Credit: John CrawfordNine Inch Nails will headline the 2018 Louder than Life festival, held September 28-30 in Louisville, Kentucky. The full lineup for the festival, which takes place over three days this year for the first time, will be announced on Monday, June 4. For ticket info, visit LouderthanLifeFestival.com. Louder than Life falls in the middle of Nine Inch Nails' Cold and Black and Infinite tour, which begins September 13 in Phoenix. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. B S Yeddyurappa's three-day tenure as the chief minister of Karnataka turned out to be one of the shortest in Indian history. The 75-year-old BJP leader was sworn in as the chief minister of Karnataka on May 17. He resigned before facing a Supreme Court-mandated floor test today. The BJP veteran's initiation to the league of chief ministers with tenures of a few days, however, happened over a decade ago. In 2007, Yeddyurappa had to resign as the chief minister of Karnataka after just eight days. Jagdambika Pal held the shortest tenure as chief minister in Uttar Pradesh in 1998. After the Kalyan Singh government was dismissed, Pal was sworn in as the chief minister late at night on February 21, a decision that was reversed by the high court the next morning, leading him to be dubbed as "the one-day CM". Among others who could sit on the chief minister's chair for barely a few days are Satish Prasad Singh in Bihar. He was made an interim chief minister for only five days from 28 January to 1 February in 1968. He had brought the Congress back to power in the state by defeating the Jana Kranti Dal government. B P Mandal, the leader who succeeded Singh, too could hold on to the post for just 31 days. In Haryana, Om Prakash Chautala had served as the chief minister for a period of five days in July 1990 and for 14 days in 1991. Similarly in Meghalaya, veteran Congress leader S C Marak remained in power only for 13 days in 1998. After the demise of M G Ramachandran -- the founder of the AIADMK -- in Tamil Nadu, her widow Janaki Ramachandran had a brief tenure of 23 days as the chief minister in January 1988. In Kerala, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader C H Mohammad Koya could enjoy the post of chief minister for 45 days in 1979. He was the shortest serving CM of the state and its only Muslim one. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ZURICH (Reuters) - Sanctions-hit Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg has repaid loans amounting to over one billion Swiss francs ($1 billion) to banks including Credit Suisse and UBS, two sources told Reuters on Saturday.Vekselberg was placed under sanctions in a crackdown by the United States on President Vladimir Putin's inner circle as retaliation for alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. The banks had until June 5 to resolve the issue, when U.S. sanctions come into effect."The credit issue with the banks is finally resolved," a source close to the matter said, adding ... Since the time the concepts of were first introduced to our modern reality, they have become the subject of discussion not only among programmers and crypto enthusiasts but also in business. People from finance, investment and banking spheres went into analyzing the possibilities and prospects of blockchain implementation and usage. Several countries and territories have advanced so far trying to create and liberalize the conditions for blockchain-based projects that got recognized as the worlds cryptocurrency centers or hubs. That refers to the Swiss city of Zug with its thriving crypto Silicon Valley, well-known to all digital currency supporters. While most countries stayed away from the innovative distributed ledger technologies, Zug took his own way and built the most advanced ecosystem for the development of blockchain and ICO projects. Hundreds of startups rush to this Swiss town in order to establish their business, register a company and conduct an Initial Coin Offering, selling the tokens to investors. According to the Crypto Valley Association study, in 2017 Swiss-based companies raised more than $600 million during crowdsales which made over 15% of the global ICO market, worth about $4 billion. Until recently Singapore has remained the main crypto hub in the Asian region. Representatives of its Central Bank see a huge potential in the blockchain technology and thus pursue a fairly soft policy in this area. Although not long ago the authorities admitted they were developing measures to control cryptocurrency ventures and reduce the risk of money laundering through digital currencies and financing of the international terrorism. Lately, the news has been revealed that soon a new safe harbour could appear on the world's cryptocurrency horizon. According to the Reuters agency, the Philippine government intends to license 10 cryptocurrency platforms and blockchain companies permitting them to operate within the Cagayan Special Economic Zone, develop cryptocurrency funds, Initial Coin Offers or go in exchange. To take advantage of the economic zone preferences, companies should invest at least $1 million over 2 years and pay license fees of $100,000. The news about the future cryptocurrency incubator in the Philippines has received a positive response from the cryptocommunity. Many well-known blockchain and fintech startups have Asian roots, so the possible emergence of a new Singapore or a Swiss Zug with a favorable infrastructure can become an impetus to even the more rapid development of the technology and accelerate its integration in various business areas. Representatives of the financial technology company Noah Project, that builds an international blockchain ecosystem offering various services to cryptocurrency owners, also commented on the exciting news from the Philippines. The distributed ledger technology can be applied in many ways - to ensure fast and seamless payments, transparent and fair transactions, protection of assets and vulnerable confidential data, says Josef Werker, spokesperson for Noah Foundation a parent organization of the Noah Project. Virtual currencies being a form of the blockchain implementation, possess enormous potential especially in the areas of finance, banking and investment. Its pleasure to see that the world becomes more friendly to digital money and gives new opportunities for creating and growing business powered by blockchain. Surely, this is only the beginning. The Noah Project team is also working to create a large-scale cryptocurrency infrastructure for everyone: business, traders, and customers. The Noah Project encompasses several directions, including a modern payment system based on NoahCoin virtual currency, convenient Noah crypto wallet, and the world's first crypto City, where Noah token holders will have access, special privileges, discounts, cash backs and loyalty programs. According to the Noah's plan, the future City will become a paradise for all crypto enthusiasts - with shops, restaurants, hotels and even resorts. In early 2018 the Noah Project successfully completed an ICO and now its coins are listed and traded HitBTC and Changelly cryptocurrency exchanges. The team is actively working on the companys expansion and implementation of the Noahs products. Everyone who wishes to become a part of the cryptocurrency future together with the Noah Project is welcome to join the growing community on Telegram, follow the project on Facebook and Twitter Peter Barelin greeting Paul Biya PRC The US Ambassador to Cameroon, Peter Henry Barlerin, has urged President Paul Biya of Cameroon to leave a legacy worth emulating especially when he leaves power. He said President Biya could leave a life similar to that of former South African and US Presidents, Nelson Mandela and George Washington respectively. Peter Henery Barlerin made these statements in a Press release following his recent visit at the Unity Palace. He said, the statement was related to upcoming Presidential elections in Cameroon. He told the press that, the ongoing Anglophone crisis was also on the agenda in which he said the month of April has been the bloodiest and that things are not getting better. He said, I discussed with the President our view that the two sides in the conflict are simply not listening to each other. On the side of the government, there have been targeted killings, detentions without access to legal support, family, or the Red Cross, and burning and looting of villages. The US Ambassador to Cameroon also condemned excesses on the part of Separatist fighters saying, On the side of the separatists, there have been murders of gendarmes, kidnapping of government officials, and burning of schools. People on both sides of the conflict have engaged in speech that dehumanizes the opposite side. We continue to call on both sides to stop the violence immediately. I asked the President to use his leadership to encourage both sides to listen to each other. Peter Barlerin concluded by saying that, One cannot have a dialogue until both sides are willing to listen to the others point of view. Both men also discussed on Boko Haram activities in the far North region with the Ambassador saying, I congratulated the President on our joint efforts to fight Boko Haram and the Islamic State in the Far North. I told him I appreciated the Minister Delegate for Defenses assurances that U.S. equipment would only be used in the fight against Boko Haram and the Islamic State. I also stressed that U.S. law prevents us from training or working with units against whom credible allegations of gross violations of human rights have been lodged. He also welcomed the recent press communique that there would be a full investigation of alleged torture of a prisoner by Cameroonian forces and that the guilty would be punished. 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. 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. Ryan Lamb can drive around the Cape, look at a place, and tell you what emergency happened there. It was that kind of knowledge helped Lamb, a Cape Coral Fire Department division chief, the role of fire chief. Lambs appointment by Cape Coral City Manager John Szerlag on Friday is effective as of Saturday. He replaces Donald Cochran, who retired in December after 26 years of service with the CCFD. The city had several candidates serve as interim fire chief. Szerlag gave Lamb a 60-day stint, followed by Mike Russell and Robert Topoleski, who indicated he wasnt interested in the position but agreed to be interim chief so to not give an advantage to the other two candidates. Lambs starting salary will be $133,000. Im humbled and honored to be able to gain this position. Its a dream come true for me because its the organization I started out with, Lamb said. I have a lot of institutional knowledge and its the place I live and I love. Lamb began his career as a volunteer firefighter in Punta Gorda and was hired by the CCFD in 2005. He has served as firefighter, engineer/driver, paramedic field training officer, acting lieutenant and battalion chief. Lamb was promoted to Fire Division Chief of Professional Standards in 2014 and was responsible for the development of policies, hiring, training, EMS and Special Operations programs within the department. In 2017, Lamb received the Chief Fire Officer designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence, which recognizes individuals who demonstrate excellence in experience, education, professional development, professional contributions, association membership, community involvement and technical competence. There are only 1,305 CFOs worldwide. Lamb holds a masters in Administration from Barry University and a bachelors in Public Safety Administration from St. Petersburg College. He currently is enrolled in the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer program Education never stops. Ive had some great mentors in my career who have pushed me to where I needed to go. Ive achieved a lot, but there is still a lot more I can achieve, Lamb said. Ryan has proven to be a professional leader and has been an integral part of the Fire Departments command staff for a number of years, said Szerlag in a prepared statement. His management style and communication skills will be assets as the department moves forward. Lamb will have much to deal with as he takes over. He will almost immediately be proposing a budget for next fiscal year, as well as oversee the progress made on Fire Station No. 11 on Burnt Store Road, which will be complete by years end, and the rebuild of Station No. 2, near City Hall, next year. Land has also been acquired for stations No. 12 and 13, while the citys real estate experts are working to find appropriate sites for more stations as the city continues to grow. Lamb said he will look at best practices on a state and federal level and see how they would work for Cape Coral and make sense for the city. My job is to run the most effective and efficient fire department I can with the funding provided. We work with our elected officials to determine what level of risk they want, Lamb said. We can put a station on every corner, but thats not the most effective way to meet those risks. Lamb said he is coming in at the right time, with the community growing and the economy back to where it was before the recession hit. He will also use the lessons learned from Hurricane Irma to improve the department further. Ive never been on a perfect incident in my career. There are always things we can do to improve and do better next time, Lamb said. Failure is if we have the same mistakes repeated. It only takes one hurricane for it to be a bad year. Photo: WFN Residents within the boundaries of Reserve No. 9 on Westbank First Nation land have been placed on a water quality advisory. The advisory, due to increased turbidity in drinking water, was issued Friday afternoon. It is recommended that children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems or those needing additional immune protection, drink boiled water or a safe alternative. Residential inquiries can be directed to the WFN Utilities Department at 250-707-3332. Commercial business inquiries, please contact the First Nations Health Authority at 778-875-3486. The advisory will be in place until further notice. The dad that said he didnt want a dog Must Watch Photo: Surveillance image A suspect has been arrested in a SkyTrain assault that was caught on surveillance cameras last month. A man splashed coffee on a woman and pushed her to the platform floor, dangerously close to the tracks, at New Westminster Station on April 6. Police identified a suspect from public tips after the images were released. The suspect, a 27-year-old Coquitlam resident, was arrested at a local hotel last weekend. He is well known to police. He was released on bail, with a promise to appear in New Westminster court. with files from CTV Vancouver Yesterday, in the Washington Post, Michael Gerson, described a societal problem of Trumpism in terms of social psychology. It reminded me of George Orwell's post-World War II writing. And Huxley's Brave New World pre-World World War II masterpiece. And Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? (1968). There were other authors who tackled the dystopian problems that Trump is thrusting on us today, Margaret Atwood (Handmaids Tale), Ray Bradbury (Fahrenheit 451), Anthony Burgess (A Clockwork Orange), Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games), Stephen King (The Running Man). "Human beings," wrote Gerson, "are wired to favor their ingroup and to view people in outgroups as interchangeable and dispensable. We are willing to form ingroups at the drop of a hat, based even on minor characteristics. We tend to believe that bad things that happen to people in our ingroup are bum luck, while bad things that happen to people in outgroups are evidence of a just universe. Because we are inherently predisposed toward stereotyping, we are particularly vulnerable to propaganda." In a Trumpian Age that's a real problem. In West Virginia, Republican Senate candidate Don Blankenship accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of creating jobs for "China people" and getting donations from his "China family" (McConnell's wife, Elaine Chao, was born in Taiwan). In Georgia, Republican gubernatorial candidate Michael Williams drives around in a bus he promises to fill with "illegals" who will be deported to Mexico. On the rear is stamped: "Murderers, rapists, kidnappers, child molesters, and other criminals on board." In Arizona, Republican Senate candidate (and former sheriff) Joe Arpaio is a proud "birther" with a history of profiling and abusing Hispanic migrants. Vice President Mike Pence recently called Arpaio "a great friend of this president, a tireless champion of strong borders and the rule of law." In Wisconsin, Republican House candidate Paul Nehlen runs as a "pro-white Christian American candidate." Randy Bryce is the progressive Democrat in Wisconsin who will prevent Paul Nehlen-- or some Paul Ryan clone-- from following Paul Ryan as the congressman for southeast part of the state. "Our campaign," he told me today, "was launched by stating we need a bigger table. Not only does everyone deserve to be heard, but, everyone deserves to begin the race from the same starting point. I am committed to working on that and will not rest until it becomes a reality. I will not sit down while nobody else is standing up to a man in the White House referring to people as animals. Every member of Congress who is silent now needs to be silenced in their ability to represent us come November. There is only one thing that I refuse to tolerate. That thing is intolerance." Yes, these are fringe figures. But they are fringe figures in a political atmosphere they correctly view as favorable. In the Republican Party, cranks and bigots are closer to legitimacy than at any time since William F. Buckley banished the John Birch Society. For some of us, this was a concern from the beginning of Donald Trump's rise-- not just the policies he would adopt but the attitudes he would encourage and the passions he would provoke. ...Whatever else Trumpism may be, it is the systematic organization of resentment against outgroups. His record is rich in dehumanization. It was evident when Trump called Mexican migrants "criminals" and "rapists." When Trump claimed legal mistreatment from a judge because "he's a Mexican" (Judge Gonzalo Curiel was born in Indiana). When he proposed a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States." When Trump attacked Muslim Gold Star parents. When he sidestepped opportunities to criticize former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. When he referred to "very fine people" among the white supremacist protesters in Charlottesville. When he expressed a preference for Norwegian immigrants above those from non-white "shithole countries." This is more than a disturbing pattern; it is an organizing political principle. And it has resulted in a series of radiating consequences. First, it has given permission for the public expression of shameful sentiments. People such as Blankenship, Williams, Arpaio and Nehlen are part of a relatively (and thankfully) small political group. But the president has set boundaries of political discourse that include them and encourage them. Even when Trump opposes their candidacies, he has enabled the bolder, more confident expression of their bigotry. The Trump era is a renaissance of half-witted intolerance. Trump's Christian supporters in particular must be so proud. Second, Trump's attacks on outgroups have revealed the cowardice of a much broader faction within the GOP-- those who know better but say little. Some leaders (see House Speaker Paul Ryan) have been willing to criticize specific instances of Trump's prejudice. But few-- and very few with a political future-- have been willing to draw the obvious conclusion that Trump is prejudiced, or to publicly resist the trend toward prejudice among the GOP base. Third, Trump's attitudes toward diversity have moved the center of gravity of the whole GOP toward immigration restrictionism. In Republican Senate primaries such as the one in Indiana, candidates have engaged in a competition of who can be the most exclusionary. Mainstream attitudes toward refugees and legal immigration have become more xenophobic. Trump has not only given permission to those on the fringes; he has changed the Republican mean to be more mean. The good news about bias against outgroups is that it can be mitigated. And that, in fact, describes the high calling of a democratic leader-- to set an aspiration of unity, to speak the language of empathy, to emphasize our common goals, our common values and our common fate as a people. The GOP waits on leaders who will make these tasks their own. 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. Tennessee (R+14 PVI, worse than Texas, South Carolina, Kansas or Alaska) was a very Trumpy state in 2016. Trump beat Hillary 1,522,925 (60.7%) to 870,695 (34.7%) and won every one of Tennessee's 95 counties except Shelby (Memphis), Davidson (Nashville) and tiny Haywood, a black-majority rural agricultural county north of Memphis. So its hardly a state you'd think the Democrats would be targeting for a big Senate race. But they are. That's because the likely Republican candidate, Marsha Blackburn, is a crackpot extremist with a crackpot extremist record she can't run away from. And independent voters don't like her or what she stands for. And they do like the Democrat, former Governor Phil Bredesen. He's hardly a Blue America candidate-- to conservative-- but he's no Kyrsten Sinema or Joe Manchin. His record as governor was mixed Yesterdaypublished a Vanderbilt poll that shows-- like all the other polls that have come out-- that this deep red state is likely to flip blue in November. Even, Bob Corker, the mainstream conservative incumbent who's retiring has been subtly indicating that he prefers Bredesen over Blackburn. Independent voters in Tennessee have a significantly more positive view of former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen than Republican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, a new poll shows, as the race to replace U.S. Sen. Bob Corker continues to heat up. Further, a majority of Republicans even say they have a favorable view of Bredesen. Both indicators, included in a new poll from Vanderbilt University, offer valuable insight into the state of the race and provide a map for each candidate. The poll, released Thursday, found 69 percent of independent respondents had a favorable view of Bredesen. Just 44 percent of independents had a positive view of Blackburn. Independent voters could play a key role in the race, which is expected to draw national attention as Democrats seek to regain control of the Senate. ...For Bredesen to have a path to victory, he needs support not just from Democrats and independents but Republicans. The latest Vanderbilt poll reveals he's experiencing more support from his opponents' party than Blackburn has among Democrats. The survey found 52 percent of Republicans had a positive view of Bredesen while just 23 percent of Democrats had a favorable opinion of Blackburn. "If you're Bredesen, these are really, really good numbers for you in terms of your overall name recognition is high, you have much higher favorables than unfavorables," said Vanderbilt University political science professor Josh Clinton, who along with political science professor John Geer, oversees the poll. Beyond the candidates' support from voters in each party, the survey found negative views of Blackburn outpaced Bredesen. Thirty-eight percent of respondents said they had an unfavorable view of the Brentwood Republican while 25 percent had a negative view of the former Nashville mayor. Sixty-seven percent of respondents said they had a favorable view of Bredesen compared to 49 percent having a positive view of Blackburn. An almost centurian's vehicle to expound at nonspecific intervals on his opinions regarding politics-local to international, health care, life,society,and perhaps religion plus periodic vignettes about Plainfield N.J. In addition to "blowing off",I enjoyed my second career as an amateur public advocate. This northwestern Bahraini village has been subjected to an unprecedented lockdown by Manamas security forces since the denaturalization of the country highest religious authority Sheikh Isa Qassim in June 2016. (AhlulBayt News Agency) - In much of the Muslim world, Ramadan is traditionally a period of piety and prayer. But for Dirazs 30,000 residents, the holy month commenced with another dose of persecution and repression. This northwestern Bahraini village has been subjected to an unprecedented lockdown by Manamas security forces since the denaturalization of the country highest religious authority Sheikh Isa Qassim in June 2016. The virtual siege also involves a ban on what was once the countrys largest Shiite congregation during Friday prayers. And this week the first Friday of Ramadan was no different. Armored vehicles were deployed to cordon off the mosque as concrete barricades and police checkpoints restricted peoples freedom of movement throughout Diraz. Rights groups have described the measures as collective punishment against the entire village, whose residents began a peaceful sit-in around Sheikh Qassims home after he was rendered stateless. Last May, security forces launched a bloody attack on the sit-in, killing five protesters and placing Sheikh Qassim under house arrest. /257 Halls Bout Bidness often turns up in Spring sets, but rarely as expansively cast as on this occasion. Everyone but Hall produced an epic-scaled solo, starting with Wojciechowskis muscular cadenza on tenor saxophone. When Bradfield took his turn on soprano saxophone, he benefited from churning rhythmic accompaniment from bassist Clark Sommers, drummer Hall and Garcia playing congas. The high point arrived when Sommers stepped into the spotlight, his riff-based solo accompanied by Halls hand claps and thigh slaps, soon enhanced by Garcias congas. Here was long-running, free-flowing jazz improvisation spun out by the musicians for quite a stretch. Alonsos sensitivity toward Kitri and Basilios subtleties, and the significance of Don Quixote in the repertoire of a company whose culture has been so heavily influenced by Spanish imperialism, are not to be understated. The failings of this ballet are not on Alonso, but on the thing itself as a means to adequately express the many intricacies of Cervantes masterpiece. The classical ballet idiom in particular is mostly a vehicle for exhibition; the characters and fluffy librettos produced during this period scrutinized by dancers and infused with much more complexity than perhaps they deserve surely cannot scratch the surface of Don Quixotes deeper meanings. When we talk about it, were talking about the citys past and its future, all the ways the city has gone wrong and how it could get better. Were talking about our failures, our hopes, our memories, our eternal arguments and fears about race, class, power. A report released this year on a two-year study by Canadas Carleton University of an SRO program covering five high schools in the Toronto area showed that it prevented or minimized property damage, injuries and deaths from violence and drug overdoses, and reduced the need for 911 calls. The study also credited the SRO program with increasing the likelihood that students will get necessary social service and health care help, as well as enhancing feelings of safety among students and staff. About 9:58 p.m. Friday in South Austin, three men were shot as they stood in an alley in the 100 block of North Leclaire Avenue. A dark car drove by and shots fired from within struck a 30-year-old man in his left knee; a 20-year-old man in his shoulder and arm; and a 34-year-old man in the left calf. All three men were taken to West Suburban Hospital, where the 20-year-old was in serious condition and the other two were stable, police said. A 65-year-old man, identified as Earnest Wilson, was shot in the face and killed around 11:35 p.m. in the block where he lived, the 7100 block of South Euclid Avenue, according to Chicago police and the Cook County medical examiners office. Officers found him unresponsive in the street in front of a midsize apartment building when checking the area following reports of gunfire. As he made reference to slavery, first loves and young loves, sacrifice, redemption, invention, innovation, the Industrial Revolution and social media, he captivated the worldwide audience. He seamlessly blended lessons of the Bible with the challenges the world faces today, integrating the two to deliver a message unlike anything ever heard before at a royal wedding. Torres is on probation from Will County, where records show he pleaded guilty to Class 3 theft in September 2016. He was sentenced to 104 days in jail and two years of probation and ordered to pay $675 in restitution, along with other fees, records show. That was for similar schemes, which he continued in Cook County after his Will County plea, according to Madigans office. Court records show the secretary of state was also involved in the Will County case. Torres failed to appear for a hearing in Will County on Wednesday, when a warrant was issued for his arrest. A public defender offered no explanation for Torres absence, Will County court records show. Protesters took to the streets across Bahrain on Friday night demanding the withdrawal of U.S. forces stationed in the Gulf kingdom. (AhlulBayt News Agency) - Protesters took to the streets across Bahrain on Friday night demanding the withdrawal of U.S. forces stationed in the Gulf kingdom. Demonstrators carried posters reading leave our land and shouted slogans against Washingtons support for the Manama regime. The highly strategic Bahrain is home to the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command as well as the U.S. Fifth Fleet. Meanwhile in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people, some of the protesters stepped on images of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu. Fridays rallies were reported in a number of towns and villages including Abu Saiba, Shakhura, Al Daih, Karbabad, and Buri. Bahrains security forces responded to the protests in some areas with force. In Bilad al-Qadeem, a suburb of Manama as well as the village of Maameer, tear gas was used to disperse the crowds. /257 Sarah Esposito, 29, was in custody at the Second District police station at 5101 S. Wentworth Ave. when she became sick with an unknown illness, according to police and the Cook County medical examiners office. The spotlight-seeking Dunkin basked in the attention at the Capitol before he was defeated in 2016. He accused Madigan of plantation politics by taking advantage of black voters and lawmakers to maintain power. He also played up his intra-party feud by once holding a news conference to declare plans to sleep in Madigans Capitol office until a budget deal is reached, bringing a sleeping bag and other props for dramatic effect. He didnt follow through on the threat. But his influence has played out on the larger stage of federal campaigns. In 2016 alone, he contributed more than $700,000 to candidates for the U.S. House and Senate, national GOP organizations as well as to Trump and a supportive political action committee, records show. Gidwitz had been an early supporter of Jeb Bush. He was a force of nature, and by that I mean, he just threw himself into his life, full force. And for him, that meant everything was relational, so it was about the people at the church, and it was about growth, and it was living out that relationship with God and being in relationship with one another, said the Rev. Jennifer Beamsley, current senior pastor at St. John Lutheran Church, who worked alongside Holmer for 13 years. He kept thinking, What should we be doing next? He was so real, and this is the thing that people loved about Peter he didnt put on airs and was fully himself in whatever he did. President Donald Trump speaks in the East Room of the White House, May 18, 2018, in Washington. Trump and his supporters claim the FBI may have planted a mole inside their campaign to bring him down. The unverified allegation has lit up conservative media and earned space on Trump's Twitter feed. (Evan Vucci / AP) Unfortunately, Illinois voters always get one but not the other. A ban on bump stocks might be a swell idea. Same for increased penalties for sex trafficking and township government consolidation and caps on overly generous severance packages. Weve supported many such narrow measures. But the elephant is not just in the room. It is the room. Illinois has the worst credit rating in the country, which raises the cost of all the lawmakers borrowing. National headlines describe Illinois as the worst-governed state, the most dysfunctional and the most debt-ridden. Workplace violence occurs in virtually all health care contexts. Though stereotypes of the violent patient abound, the data confirm that patients who behave violently are a diverse group. As with other forms of interpersonal violence, no ethnic group, socioeconomic class, or community is immune. In health care, not only do staff experience violence, they too can perpetuate it. Kass piece, which effectively blames violence on a specific group of people, is short sighted. He promotes a sense of otherness which lends itself to discrimination. How can we truly care for the well-being of these patients, their families, and their communities if we cannot recognize our common humanity? As health care providers, we are called to this task. In emergency settings in particular, we have a professional and legal obligation to care for all individuals, regardless of their personal characteristics. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called on Muslim countries and other world nations to revise their ties with the US and sever all their relations with Israel in response to their hostile policies against Palestine. (AhlulBayt News Agency) - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called on Muslim countries and other world nations to revise their ties with the US and sever all their relations with Israel in response to their hostile policies against Palestine. Speaking at the meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul on Friday, Rouhani slammed Israel's recent massacre of Palestinians in Gaza and the relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem al-Quds, and offered a number of proposals on how to put an end to such hostile policies. "In order to assist the Palestinian nation and counter the destructive decision by [US President Donald] Trump, we call on Muslim governments and freedom-seeking nations in the world to revise their political, economic and commercial ties with the US administration, and also cut all their relations with the occupying Zionist regime [of Israel] and boycott the products and companies of the Zionists," Rouhani said. At least 62 Palestinians were killed and more than 2,700 others wounded near the Gaza fence on the eve of the 70th anniversary of Nakba Day (Day of Catastrophe), which coincided this year with the relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the occupied city of Jerusalem al-Quds. The occupied territories have witnessed new tensions ever since Trump on December 6, 2017, announced Washington's recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israels capital and said the United States would move the US embassy to the city. Rouhani also offered five other suggestions, namely examination of the "illegal" relocation of the US embassy and Israel's recent crimes in Gaza at a UN General Assembly meeting, formation of an OIC expert group to formulate the required strategies, delivery of humanitarian assistance to Palestine, dismantling of Israel's nuclear weapons and inclusion of the International Quds Day in the official calendars of all Islamic countries. The Iranian president noted that Israel has been committing crimes against Palestinians for the past 70 years and said that Israel has defied all values and challenged the international community. "While hundreds of thousands of innocent people are deprived of the most basic human rights, the Zionist regime has deceitfully presented its apartheid and racist regime as a democracy and describes its religious extremism as secularism. The most saddening point is that some Western countries are justifying the aggression of the occupiers," Rouhani said. He argued that the relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem al-Quds gave Israel the green light to commit new brutal crimes against Palestinians. Rouhani called on Muslim nations to lend unanimous support to the resistance movement against Israel and said, "If Israel is surrounded with democratic and developed countries and faces a united ummah, it will never be capable of continuing its crimes so comfortably." OIC urges global support for Palestine Addressing the OIC meeting, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who presided over the summit, pledged to take the issue of Israel's atrocities in Gaza to the UN General Assembly. "Israel must certainly be held accountable for the innocent people it has massacred in front of international law. We will follow this issue in the United Nations General Assembly as well," he said. Erdogan also criticized the US for blocking every step toward justice at the UN Security Council. At the end of the Istanbul summit, the OIC issued a final communique calling for the creation of a committee to probe into the Israeli crimes in Gaza and the formation of an international force to protect the Palestinian nation. The OIC members also urged all countries to put the issue of Israeli violence on the agenda of the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly. Resistance against US moves On the sidelines of the OIC summit on Friday, Rouhani held a meeting with his Turkish counterpart in which the two sides called for the promotion of Tehran-Ankara ties in different spheres. Erdogan underlined the importance of Iran-Turkey cooperation in the promotion of regional stability and noted that many of the US measures, such as its unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA and the relocation of Washington's embassy to al-Quds, are illegitimate and unacceptable to other countries. Erdogan noted that if the world nations resist such actions, they will achieve a favorable result. /129 Sutherland refused, so the teacher left the classroom to seek assistance from a guard who was in the hallway, according to the release. While she was in the doorway, Sutherland punched the victim in the face several times, causing her to fall backward and strike her head on the floor, knocking her unconscious, the release stated. Authorities have said one of about 25 high-school-aged students at a party poured gasoline from a 5-gallon can onto the fire; that teenager was a boy who was also severely injured in the explosion, according to law enforcement. Glendale Heights police are still investigating and would not comment on the case, though they have said they dont believe the incident was malicious. Students were also invited to stop by the NU library on Friday to see some of the commemorative china and other items being sold around the world to help celebrate the royal wedding. And they were encouraged to fill out cards expressing tidings of good luck to the royal couple. At about 6:30 a.m. Friday, the officer was on patrol and saw a vehicle speeding through a construction zone. The officer, driving west on U.S. 30, was about to pull the speeding vehicle over when, as he went through the intersection with a green light at Matteson Avenue, another vehicle turned in front of him, police said. Also, Pekau said, reserve levels in the villages operating fund intended to provide a financial cushion in the event of an emergency have been dropping, Pekau said. A few years ago, reserves amounted to more than 30 percent in the operating fund, which is the fund used to pay for most village services, and the goal has been to keep reserves at 20 percent or more, he said. Elaine Kujawa wrote: As someone who was treated in much the same way in grade school and high school I can relate. I am now 73 and never did put this behind me Because of this abuse, and it was abuse, I quit school at the age of 17 to go to work. I proceeded to get my GED at the age of 43 to show myself I could do it. It was never about school classes. I have to say because of this experience I have become a strong woman. Cremeens and Ziyad Al-asuli the second person to get a permit from the city said they have no issues with the restrictions they must follow. Among them, no sales within 500 feet of an elementary or middle school during classes and one hour before or after school. Once schools out, it wont be a problem, they said. To determine the states where residents report getting the most and least sleep, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the share of adults in every state who report sleeping less than seven hours per night on a regular basis. These figures were obtained from the 2021 report by the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps , a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute joint program. For similar lists visit 24/7 Wall St. A. I think Lake Forest does not prepare you for diversity and people that are different from you. I really pride myself in that I like people who are different from me. Especially in the field of social work, I get to work with people who are different than me. I wish our community was more diverse. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei offered his condolences over the demise of prominent cleric and teacher of ethics Hojat-ol-Islam Seyed Mehdi Tabatabaei. (AhlulBayt News Agency) - Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei offered his condolences over the demise of prominent cleric and teacher of ethics Hojat-ol-Islam Seyed Mehdi Tabatabaei. In a message released by the Leaders official website, Ayatollah Khamenei expressed condolences to the relatives, friends and devotees of the senior cleric. The Leader noted that Hojat-ol-Islam Tabatabaei made good efforts to promote ethics and spirituality during his life. Ayatollah Khamenei prayed for divine grace and blessings on the clerics soul and patience for the bereaved family. Hojat-ol-Islam Tabatabaei was an Iranian Shia cleric, teacher of ethics and conservative politician who served as member of parliament, representing Mashhad and Kalat from 1984 to 1988. He also represented the districts of Tehran, Rey, Shemiranat and Eslamshahr from 2004 to 2008. He passed away on May 17, 2018, in Tehran at the age of 82. /257 Ray McGury had this dream, and to us it sounded like a great idea, to bring to the area some of the same amenities residents in the north have, Dunford said. The farmers markets there have been very well received and people enjoy using the Nichols branch of the library, and wed like to spread that experience to this section of town as well. Weve said for years we have to look for other sources to fund things for projects like our roads because the motor fuel tax decreases. Were seeing this across the board, Mosher said. Theres less money to build and maintain roads. Here in local municipalities, that affects things like pothole repairs and general road maintenance that can do a lot of damage to a car. "As of this time, we are not providing any further (information). Our detectives are still conducting an ongoing investigation and until if, and/or when, any charges are filed with the Lake County prosecutors office, we have (nothing) further to add," Banasiak wrote in an email. 121st Bell Game was a return to normalcy More than just a game, this year's Bell Game represented a return to normalcy after more than a year impacted by the pandemic. China signed 355 contracts to buy Japanese animation in 2016, making it the biggest buyer of the year, according to "Anime Industry Report 2017" by the Association of Japanese Animations. However, the country's anime artists and industry participants are looking to make a change. Led by "Once upon a Time There Was a Spirit Blade Mountain," Chinese animations are striving hard to unlock the seemingly impenetrable market across the sea. 'Once upon a Time There Was a Spirit Blade Mountain' The novel-adapted webcomic has been serialized since 2014 but the anime adaptation did not debut until January 2016. Nonetheless, it was the first Chinese animation adapted from comic books to be aired on Japanese TV channels. The immortal cultivation-themed anime was set in the Spirit Blade Sect in the year 4233. After thousands of years of producing first rate immortal cultivation geniuses, it had become one of the five biggest sects in the Ten Thousand Celestial Alliance. The Spirit Blade Sect is dedicated to peaceful development, and holds the core values of Truthfulness, Kindness and Loyalty. In order to expand the sect and bring in new blood, all heroes and geniuses have been welcomed to attend the Celestial Gathering. The anime adaptation was a joint production of Chinese and Japanese studios. The Chinese side behind the work is Tencent Comic. But as a trial in the Japanese market, the expectation was not held high. "They can see this animation aired on Japanese TV stations and they will be curious to see what it is," said Zhang Ziyu, a publicity specialist with Tencent Comic. The People's Liberation Army Air Force landed its H-6K bomber aircraft on an airport in the South China Sea during a recent exercise, marking the first time Chinese bombers have used an airport in the region. Several H-6Ks from an unidentified aviation division, headed by division commander Hao Jianke, took off from an undisclosed air base in South China and made a simulated strike against sea targets before landing on an island in the South China Sea, according to a statement published by the Air Force on Friday. The aircraft then conducted takeoff drills using the island's airport, the statement said. It noted the operation provided experience for Air Force bomber units to use islands as their bases. The division involved in the exercise has taken part in patrols over the western Pacific Ocean, South China Sea and plateaus, according to the Air Force. The statement quoted Wang Mingliang, a researcher at the PLA Air Force Command College, as saying that takeoff and landing exercises on islands in the South China Sea will help the Air Force strengthen its combat capability to deal with marine security threats. Wang Yanan, editor of Aerospace Knowledge, told China Daily that after the Air Force's bombers are able to be deployed on islands in the South China Sea, their operational range as well as China's maritime defense parameters will be tremendously extended, adding to existing prowess to deter any plots to compromise China's territorial integrity from the sea. According to the Chinese government, there are at least four large airports in the South China Sea - on Yongxing Island in the Xisha Islands and Meiji, Zhubi and Yongshu reefs in the Nansha Islands - that are capable of handling large aircraft. In 2016, large jetliners from Chinese airlines carried out landings and takeoffs using airports on Meiji, Zhubi and Yongshu reefs. The H-6K is the PLA's most advanced bomber and is capable of carrying supersonic cruise missiles to make precision strikes against land targets or ships. Foreign analysts speculate that the aircraft has a flight range of about 3,500 kilometers while China's CJ-10 series cruise missiles have a minimum range of 1,500 km, which means the bomber is able to hit targets at least 5,000 km from where it takes off. Aviation Industry Corp of China, the nation's leading aircraft maker, is developing a new long-range strategic bomber, which observers say is likely to have an operational range of at least 12,000 kilometers and a maximum carrying capacity of 20 metric tons of bombs and missiles. Alibaba Group founder and chairman Jack Ma underscored the need for new approaches to education that will better equip students for the era of artificial intelligence (AI) at a forum during the second World Intelligence Congress in Tianjin municipality on Wednesday. Speaking at a forum with the theme "Frontiers: Intelligence Technology and Industrial Innovation in China," Ma said that with the growth of AI, students may increasingly face unemployment if they receive only traditional methods of education. He said, "There is almost no chance that human beings will win if they compete with machines on memory and calculation in the future." Instead of imparting knowledge, which has been the focus of education over the past centuryan era marked by industrializationschools should do more to help students develop creativity, global vision and a sense of responsibility, he explained. Ma also noted that college education is overplayed in China and that more attention should be given to preschool, primary and secondary education, which provide the basic groundwork for cognitive growth. He also highlighted the importance of the generations born in the 1980s, '90s and '00s, who, being born in the era of the internet, are bold enough to break new ground. With the theme "The Age of Intelligence: New Progress, New Trends, New Efforts," the second World Intelligence Congress focuses on the changes and opportunities presented by AI technologies, as well as how the field can be utilized to shape a sustainable world. Flash After a day's work at the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba's, Guillermo Ruiz records a Spanish audio lesson for his 60,000 Chinese followers online. A few kilometers away at the airport of Madrid, Chinese tourist Liu Jie receives the tax refund of purchases through a Chinese mobile application. Nothing exceptional. The interconnection between the Spanish and Chinese societies has undoubtedly gone beyond what Diego de Pantoja could imagine four centuries ago -- the Spanish Jesuit had dedicated his life to exchanges between the two cultures through the Silk Road. Today, that ancient trade route is renewed with the Belt and Road Initiative, which strengthens ties between China and Spain in new areas. Increased cooperation Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on May 16 started a 9-day trip for official visits to France, Spain, Portugal and Argentina. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Spain as well as the 13th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership. In the Spanish capital Madrid, Wang held talks with King Felipe VI of Spain, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and his Spanish counterpart Alfonso Dastis. They discussed issues such as strengthening cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China in 2013. Tian Delong, researcher of the Institute of European Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the two countries have strengthened mutual political trust in recent years and promoted economic, trade and tourism cooperation, as well as cultural exchanges. "Spain has become an important investment destination for China in Europe," Tian added. China has become Spain's largest non-EU trading partner. Bilateral trade volume rose from 12 million U.S. dollars in 1973 to a record 30.9 billion dollars in 2017. Tian believed that Wang's visit to Spain will boost cooperation in more areas and through new modes. New business opportunities Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing in May 2017. He spoke highly of the Initiative, saying it has a significant impact on regional economy and cultural exchanges along its routes by promoting cooperation. He noted it is important especially for businesses "because this is about building land and maritime infrastructures that help unite the different peoples of the world and improve trade." In this sense, Spain is among the first beneficiaries. In November 2014, after a 20-hour trip, the first Yixin'ou cargo train arrived in Madrid from Yiwu in East China, passing through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany and France. Data from the foundation for Yiwu-Spain exchanges FIYE showed Spanish exports to Yiwu have increased by more than 300 percent thanks to the cargo train service. Chang Shiru, director of the Foundation of the Confucius Institute of Barcelona, thought that increased cultural exchanges helped consolidate the basis for Spain-China cooperation. He cited the fact that a large number of the Chinese language learners in Spain choose to take related linguistic exams, adding that "some of them learn Chinese in order to know more about China, but many people especially the young learn it for a better future in their careers." New cooperation model Alberto Carnero, Spain's ambassador to China, said the Belt and Road Initiative represents a great opportunity for Europe that is concerned about a rise in trade protectionism. The initiative "has renewed Europe's interest in China, and is seen as an opportunity to have more connectivity, more access to markets in one direction and another, more openness, and also to have a more balanced relationship," the diplomat said. Chinese researcher Tian also expected competition in some areas between China and Spain since the two are less economically complementary due to similar industrial structures. However, "the Belt and Road Initiative can help turn competition into opportunities for cooperation if they explore new models of collaboration," he said. Tian suggested they work together to find third-party markets and build in Spain logistics centers and e-commerce platforms. He believed that their efforts "could provide a good example for other European countries in cooperation with China." President of the Islamic Republic of Iran stressed the importance of cooperation between Iran and Turkey in resolving regional issues, especially defending the rights of the oppressed Palestinian nation, saying: Development of Tehran-Ankara relations is beneficial to both nations and contributes to strengthening of stability and security in the region. (AhlulBayt News Agency) - President of the Islamic Republic of Iran stressed the importance of cooperation between Iran and Turkey in resolving regional issues, especially defending the rights of the oppressed Palestinian nation, saying: Development of Tehran-Ankara relations is beneficial to both nations and contributes to strengthening of stability and security in the region. Speaking in a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey late on Friday, Dr Hassan Rouhani referred to the extraordinary OIC summit and said: Holding of this summit and it being welcomed in the current critical conditions of the region reflects the attention of Islamic countries to the Palestinian issue. He also referred to the brotherly relations between the two countries in various commercial, economic, cultural and political fields, saying: Faster development of banking cooperation between the two countries enables us to take the best advantage of trade potentials. Dr Rouhani went on to mention the United States unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and said: We are witnessing that most of the countries of the region are against the US administrations action and condemn it. Iran and Turkey have always been together in different situations and will continue to do so, continued the President. President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan appreciated Dr Rouhanis effective attendance at the extraordinary OIC summit and said: The authorities of the two countries have made very good efforts to deepen relations and cooperation and this trend must continue. He also referred to the cooperation between Iran and Turkey in regional issues, saying: Most of the US administrations actions such as their unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA and moving their embassy to Al-Quds are not legitimate and acceptable to other countries of the world. /257 Flash China and Spain should join hands and speak with one voice, given increasing global uncertainties and anti-globalization trends like unilateralism and protectionism, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said. Both nations should jointly promote multilateralism, build an open world economy, and protect the free-trade system with the World Trade Organization at its core, said Wang, who is also a state councilor of China. Wang made the remarks in a meeting on Thursday with Spanish Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Alfonso Dastis. Wang said Spain is a regional power and an important EU member with global influence, and is a good friend of China in Europe. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Spain as well as the 13th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership. Wang said China appreciated Spain's constant support in the Belt and Road Initiative. Both sides should strengthen the alignment of respective national development strategies and enhance cooperation in technology and tourism. Both nations should also open up cooperation in such areas as interconnectivity, infrastructure, energy and telecoms. For his part, Dastis said Spain is willing to push the Spanish-Sino partnership to a new level as both nations celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. The Spanish side, he said, spoke highly of the great potential and important opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative, and will actively participate in jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative. Spain is also willing to discuss cooperation with China in exploring the third-party market, and strengthen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, environmental protection and new technologies, Dastis said. Spain is opposed to unilateralism and protectionism, sticks to multilateralism and protects the process of globalization, he said, adding that Spain is willing to strengthen strategic communication and cooperation with China and jointly maintain global peace and stability. At a joint press conference with Dastis after their talks, Wang said that both nations have agreed to seize the historical opportunities of jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative and push bilateral relationship to a new level. Spain has recently unveiled it's a new version of its Asian strategy, in which it sets the Sino-Spanish ties as a priority and expresses willingness to align Spain's development strategy with the Belt and Road Initiative. China appreciates Spain's stance, Wang added. Flash The China-US trade talks in Washington have been "positive, constructive and fruitful," said a source who attended the talks. Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy and Vice Premier Liu He arrived in Washington, DC on Tuesday afternoon for economic and trade consultations with the US side at the invitation of the US government. Positive The US attached importance to this round of consultations, as US President Donald Trump together with Vice President Mike Pence met with Liu at the White House on Thursday, according to bullpiano, a WeChat official account that comment on international and business news. In this meeting, Trump urged economic teams of the two sides to proactively settle disputes, and Liu said China-US relations have made important and positive progress guided by two presidents. From Chinese side, the delegation members are from major economic sectors of the Chinese government, including Yi Gang, Governor of the People's Bank of China, and Ning Jizhe, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission. Constructive US officials said on Thursday that China was offering Trump a package of trade concessions and increased imports of US goods to reduce the US trade deficit by 200 billion US dollars. China denied the rumor in a press briefing on Friday, saying that the country has made no such offer, and that trade consultations are still under way. "The rumor is not true. As far as I know, the relevant consultations are still in progress, and the consultations are constructive," said Lu Kang, a spokesman for Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is absolutely impossible for the Chinese delegation to negotiate under the conditions set by the US, which has already been clear in the last round of consultations in Beijing, according to bullpiano. Fruitful In the meeting with Liu, Trump said the two sides should prioritize trade and investment cooperation on energy and manufacturing, expand agricultural product trade and market access, as well as deepen bilateral cooperation on intellectual property rights protection. It is noted that the US has an advantage in these areas, and China's appropriate increase of imports will help meet the people's needs for a better life, and it is also conducive to the formation of a domestic competitive market, according to bullpiano. The two sides achieved progress in consultations on expanding US chip and high-tech exports to China, as well as easing US energy exports to China, and consultation results are worth looking forward to, said bullpiano. Flash China said Friday that it will continue to encourage the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to build mutual trust, and make joint efforts to promote the political resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made the remarks at a news briefing when responding a question on media report that said U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday ruled out the use of the so-called "Libya model" in efforts to pursue denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, saying the DPRK could get "protections that will be very strong" if its leader agrees denuclearization. Lu said that China welcomes the United States paying attention to and is willing to resolve the security concerns of the DPRK. The essence of the Korean Peninsula issue is security, Lu said, adding that the concerns of all relevant parties should be settled in a balanced way, including the DPRK's legitimate security concerns. China advocates that a political resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue should be promoted stage by stage with concerted efforts from all relevant parties to seek a package of solutions, Lu said. "At every stage, all relevant parties should bear their corresponding responsibilities and undertake their related obligations," he said. China will continue to encourage the United States and the DPRK to move in a positive direction, build mutual trust, resolve their respective concerns through consultations, and make joint efforts to promote the political resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue, Lu said. Flash The UN Human Rights Council on Friday during a special session adopted a resolution deciding to "urgently" dispatch a commission of inquiry to investigate all violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in the Gaza Strip. The draft resolution was adopted by 29 votes in favor, two against with 14 abstentions. The two states that voted against were Australia and the United States. According to the adopted resolution, the investigation should be done in the context of the military assaults on the large-scale civilian protests that began on March 30 and to establish the facts and circumstances of the violations, including those that may amount to war crimes. The inquiry group should also identify those responsible, make recommendations, in particular on accountability measures, including individual criminal and command responsibility, for such violations. The resolution decided that the inquiry group should present an oral update to the UN Human Rights Council this September and a final, written report next March. The resolution stipulates Israel should immediately and fully end its illegal closure of the occupied Gaza Strip, which amounts to collective punishment of the Palestinian civilian population. It condemned the disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force by Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, including in the context of peaceful protests, particularly in the Gaza Strip. As requested by Palestine and the United Arab Emirates on behalf of the Arab Group of States, the UN Human Rights Council on Friday opened a special session to discuss on "the deteriorating human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem". Over 100 Palestinian demonstrators have been killed and some 12,000 wounded by Israeli forces since the new round of anti-occupation protests in Gaza began on March 30. At least 60 Palestinians were killed on May 14 when the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem officially opened despite international criticism. Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday sent condolences to Cuban and Mexican leaders respectively over an airliner crash in Cuba that caused more than 100 deaths. In his messages to Raul Castro, first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), and Miguel Diaz-Canel, president of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba, Xi said he was shocked to learn the air crash that caused heavy casualties. Mourning the dead, Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, extended heartfelt condolences to the PCC, the Cuban government and the Cuban people as well as the bereaved families on behalf of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Chinese government and the Chinese people, as well as in his own name. In his message to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Xi mourned the Mexican crew members killed in the air crash and extended sincere condolences to their families. Also on Saturday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sent a message of condolences to Diaz-Canel over the air crash. The Boeing 737-200 with 105 passengers and six crew members that include five Mexican staff on board crashed during takeoff from the Jose Marti International Airport in Cuba's capital Havana around noon Friday. So far, only three women survived the crash, all still in serious condition. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 The head of Yemen's Supreme Revolutionary Committee, Mohammad Al-Houthi, announced readiness for the unconditioned exchange of Yemeni and Saudi war prisoners. (AhlulBayt News Agency) - The head of Yemen's Supreme Revolutionary Committee, Mohammad Al-Houthi, announced readiness for the unconditioned exchange of Yemeni and Saudi war prisoners. "We are present for unconditioned exchange of war prisoners, as announced in the initiative on January 31, either directly or through the Red Cross, if they want from 10 am in the case of the Yemeni prisoners and also the Saudis" al-Houthi wrote in a tweet on his Twitter page. /129 Beijing may consider additional actions if Taiwan separatists go further and the United States continues to use Taiwan as a bargaining chip, experts said. Actions could include Beijing enhancing its military presence around the island, limiting market access or launching investigations against foreign firms that do not recognize China's territorial integrity, they said. Cross-Straits tension jumped after the US signed the "Taiwan Travel Act" into law in March, encouraging official visits between the US and China's Taiwan at all levels. A month later, the US State Department approved selling submarine technologies to Taiwan to bolster its maritime defense. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. Smart And Spicy Just as exotic spices and Marco Polo were at the crossroads of civilization, importing culture today, as well as the films that influence our culture, can shape lives. Ideas can have a profound impact; impressions, dreams, data, images affect us long after we're first exposed. Remarkable film festivals have invaded, each hard to resist, and often, directly competing on the same night for our attention, hearts, and money. You can spend that money on drinks, or expensive food, or you can purchase your exposure to ideas. Which lasts longer? Flavor-of-the-week this year appears as identity politics, factoring, whether in elections upcoming in November, or 2020's big one. Identity politics of film festivals? Sure. Ever since Marlon Brando permitted Sacheen Littlefeather, a Native American activist, to take the Oscars stage in his name wearing traditional clothing while protesting events at Wounded Knee, points of view express political identities. You saw it at this year's Oscar's. Identity politics originally concerned a history of injustice and grievance, a protesting of past behavior toward members of a self-defining group. Currently, it's appearing as a shortcut key to a group's claim it has meaning. Identity politics involves groups of people having "a particular racial, religious, ethnic, social, or cultural identity" tending to promote their own specific interests or concerns (Merriam Webster). So we get: COLCOA, the French Film Festival, supported by the French government, committed to showcasing French cinema's diversity. LAJFF, the Jewish Film Festival, which Mayor Eric Garcetti says confronts societal issues and reflects on the rich heritage of the Jewish people. LAAPFF, the Asian Pacific Film Festival, promoting Asian creatives in every field, proud to be the largest Asian film festival in the U.S. SEEurope, presenting the cultural and cinematic diversity of South East Europe. STARRING EUROPE Film Festival, presented by the European Union promoting cultural ties across the 28 countries in the E.U. The British use the expression "spoiled for choice," when you have too many good choices. Or as an old Yiddish saying goes, "You can't be one tuchas on three parties." That was the tantalizing position I found myself in concerning these film festivals. Each is worth your time; you'll learn, and perhaps grow. * * * What are the odds? Both the Opening Night film at the Asian Pacific Film Festival, and the Closing Night film at the Starring Europe Film Festival, explored the same subject: a father with a kidnapped daughter. After seeing these films, I thought of how uneasy I am when parents have a child tethered with a leash. These films erased all discomfort. Parents! Listen to me. Don't take your eyes off them for a minute. Please. That this idea transcended continents, making its way to audiences via two distinctly different, and large, demographic groups has meaning. "Searching" opened the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival. It's a film with personality split: part computer voyeur, part big brother. Seeming to unfold innocently, it quietly becomes a heartaching thriller, ultimately doing what thrillers should: it keeps you on edge. Tightly edited, everything you see on the screen, you're seeing on a screen. The whole film takes place on the computer belonging to John Cho's daughter. Starring as David Kim, Cho is implacable, flint on steel confronting the unthinkable. Home videos of the daughter gently morph to the present, at times using triptych-split screens; action happens next to texts, emails, online chats. Never leaving Cho's computer, everything's watched. Makes you consider what your own laptop might see. When his daughter can't be found, Cho's searches go deep, ultimately encircling detectives' investigations. Surprising twists to online searches keep your heart beating, as Cho never gives up on finding his daughter. This clever, intelligent thriller cuts across genres of detective, crime, murder stories. I predict it will be a big hit. In theaters August 3. LAAPF knows how to throw a party! Hot music! Everywhere you could see feet tapping as the Director Guild of America's lobby overflowed with happy film lovers. Bodies swayed as people sampled overflowing food; one caterer told me she brought 400 teriyaki chicken kebabs along with three kinds of sushi and lush fruit. As I circled back, everyone was moving in some way to the music. It was jazzy, it was sophisticated. And then I saw Annie. Offering cold brew coffee and tea, plus decaf, Annie was dancing, moving dreamily; I felt happy to watch her having fun. Best of show: First Street Catering. * * * "Pororoca" from Romania closed out the Starring Europe Film Festival. Another father with missing daughter, this time with a curiously different approach. Shot in Bucharest, the film's uneasy with what's coming. Showing what it does to a family when a child goes missing's hard to watch; the ending is unsettling. The evening opened with a salute to Romania, playing both the U.S. and Romanian national anthems. I was especially touched by hearing the Romanian Consul-General, Cosmin Dumitrescu, overflowing with emotion, discussing freedom. "Freedom is not free," he told us; the date was the anniversary of the independence of Romania; it was also Europe Day. "We celebrate today in accordance with the values of democracy and freedom." "Tolerance, openness, respect for diversity" is how he characterized Romania, which he said was the seventh largest nation in the E.U. "Maybe the sixth," he added, ending with a wish for holding the peace. * * * SEEFest, the South East Europe Film Festival, had wonderful films. The theme, Passport to Trieste, highlighted films, conferences, and industry networking. I was in Trieste once. I remember it as a gray sky place where you feel anything can happen, with small serpentine streets, the kind you'd imagine hiding spies. Or was it that I'd read too many spy novels? I remember happening by chance upon a tiny restaurant that just looked right. It surprised me when I learned it had a Michelin star. The restaurant was plain, really simple, lovely. Putting films from Starring Europe together with my memory of Trieste, I could see the honor. Trieste, a crossroads between Austrian, Italian, Slavic and Jewish cultures, stands for intrigue and mystery. "SEEfest invites you to reflect on this city as a metaphor for the ironies, uncertainties and possibilities that characterize not only the South East European experience, but many facets of our global age; shifting and disappearing borders, fervent nationalisms, placeless places and the multiplicity of identities that are confluent, and sometimes conflicting, in us all." (official festival description). The 100th anniversary of the end of World War I is this year; SEEfest did a good job of bringing a nuanced group of films to the U.S. ______________________________________________ Carole Bell is a writer interested in everything. You can write to her at: smartspicy1@gmail.com This international traveling exhibition was developed by Gab Titui Cultural Centre and is presented in partnership with the National Museum of Australia and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It is part of activities to the celebration of 45th anniversary of Vietnam - Australia diplomatic relations as well as showcases Australias unique Indigenous culture. Photo: Binh Chau The Torres Strait is a network of islands connecting Northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. Traditionally ancestors crafted the masks using materials native to the region and from the sea, such as Koerar turtle shell, fine rope fibres and wild bees wax. While rooted in ancient spirituality, today masks and mask making are expressions of artistic and cultural revival, reflecting on Torres Strait Islanders oldest and most vibrant rituals. These masks also bridge the gap between ancient Torres Strait traditions by connecting the next generation to their culture and passing down ancient knowledge. Mr Craig Chittick, Australian Ambassador said: I am very pleased to present Torres Strait masks for the first time in Vietnam through this exhibition. In this important celebration year of Australia and Vietnams diplomatic relations, we chose to share Torres Strait Islanders mask culture, a very important part of Australian diverse culture, to enhance the people-to-people links between the two countries. The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is very proud to host this wonderful exhibition which complements the 2018 International Museum Days theme Hyper-connected museums: New approaches, new publics. Digital displays of artefacts like this exhibition create more chances for Vietnamese people to enjoy cultural masterpieces of the world, said Associate Professor Doctor Vo Quang Trong, Director of the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Running until July 18th, the exhibition also offers Cracks in the mask, the first documentary ever made about Torres Strait islanders culture, history and their deeply personal connection to these ancient works of art./. The McCorquodales Sarah and Neil McCorquodale 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. She married Neil McCorquodale, a farmer and former officer with the Coldstream Guards, in May 1980. The couple have three children and two grandchildren. Close: Sarah McCorquodale, pictured, used to accompany her sister to royal events Emily McCorquodale Emily McCorquodale, 34, is the eldest of the McCorquodale brood. In 2003, aged 19, she was diagnosed with cancer while studying at Leeds Metropolitan University but was later given the all-clear. In 2012 she married husband James Hutt, whom she met on a blind date, in a ceremony in Lincolnshire, which was attended by Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The couple have two children, Isabella, three, and Henry, two. Returning the invite: Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge all attended the wedding of their cousin, Emily McCorquodale and James Hutt in 2012, pictured George McCorquodale Like Harry, George McCorquodale, 33, inherited the ginger Spencer curls. He is said to enjoy a close relationship with his cousins after joining them for family holidays on Necker, Sir Richard Bransons private island. Prince Harry was guest of honour when George married Bianca Moore, at Netherwood in KwaZulu-Nata, South Africa, in August 2016. Celia McCorquodale Bride-to-be: Celia, in her late 20s, announced her own engagement last November Celia, believed to be 28, made headlines in 2012 with an album of photos that showed her partying with friends at Leeds University. Celia will soon be following her cousin down the aisle. She announced her engagement to George Woodhouse on 13 November 2017. The Fellowes Family ties: Lady Jane Fellowes, 61, is Diana's elder sister. One of her godparents is the Queen's cousin, the Duke of Kent Lady Jane and Lord Robert Fellowes Lady Jane Fellowes, 61, is Diana's elder sister. One of her godparents is the Queen's cousin, the Duke of Kent. She is married to Robert Fellowes, a former Private Secretary to the Queen and first cousin of Ronald Ferguson, the father of Sarah, Duchess of York. In June 1999, Robert Fellowes was granted a life peerage as Baron Fellowes, of Shotesham in the County of Norfolk, after first being knighted as Sir Robert Fellowes. The couple have three children and four grandchildren. Laura Fellowes Laura, 37, is very close to William and Harry and is one of Princess Charlotte's godparents. She married equity analyst Nick Pettman in 2009 in Snettisham, west Norfolk, where her parents live in an old rectory. William and Kate were both guests. Laura writes fiction under the name Mave Fellowes her nickname is Mavis and has sons. Alexander Fellowes Alexander known as Beetle to friends is a 35-year-old investment banker. He married Alexandra Finlay at the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster in September 2013. Prince Harry attended the wedding. Alexander and Alexandra have two children, Robert, three, named after his grandfather, and 18-month-old Rose. Guest of honour: Harry was among the congregation when his cousin Alexander Fellowes married Alexandra Finlay in London in September 2013, pictured Eleanor Fellowes Eleanor Fellowes, 32, keeps a relatively low profile and is rarely seen at public events. She is believed to work as a probation officer and has published articles on issues relating to her profession. The Spencers Charles Spencer and Karen Gordon Charles, 53, the 9th Earl Spencer, is the most high profile of Princess Diana's siblings. In his eulogy at Diana's funeral, the journalist and broadcaster criticised the Royal Family and the Press on their treatment of his sister. In 1989 Spencer, then known by the courtesy title of Viscount Althorp, married his first wife, Victoria Lockwood, in Great Brington, Northamptonshire. The couple, who divorced in 1997, had three daughters and a son. Father-of-seven: Earl Spencer with wife Karen, with whom he has a daughter, five In December 2001 he married Caroline Freud, former wife of Matthew Freud. The couple had two children together, Edmund and Caroline. They divorced in 2007. Spencer married his current wife, Canadian-born philanthropist Karen Gordon, in June 2011 at the family seat of Althorp House. They have one child together, Lady Charlotte Diana Spencer, named after his sister. The couple reside at the Spencer ancestral seat, Althorp House, which he inherited on his father's death in 1992. Lady Kitty Spencer High-profile: Lady Kitty, pictured at an event last week, is an established fashion model Lady Kitty Spencer, 27, has forged a successful career as a model, most notably appearing in campaigns for Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana. The socialite, who is signed with Kate Moss's former modelling agency Storm, is a regular fixture at the world's hottest parties and is sure to cause a stir at the Royal Wedding. She is regarded as one of the most eligible young women on London's social scene, having split from her property tycoon boyfriend at the start of the summer. Lady Kitty grew up in South Africa and is now based in Fulham. Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia Spencer Lookalikes: Ladies Amelia and Eliza, 25, with their elder sister Kitty, 27, at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011. All three are expected to attend Twins Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia, 25, share their elder sister's good looks but keep a much lower profile. Like their sister, the twins were raised in South Africa and attended university in Cape Town. In 2011 Lady Amelia appeared in a South African court accused of assaulting a man on crutches in McDonald's. She was cleared of all charges. Louis Spencer Louis, 24, is the fourth child and eldest son of Earl Spencer and will therefore inherit his father's estates and title ahead of his elder sisters. He studied at Diocesan College in Cape Town and later enrolled at the University of Edinburgh. Heir: Louis Spencer, 24, pictured in 2014, will inherit his father's estates and title Edmund and Caroline Spencer The Vanity Fair report makes no mention of Edmund and Caroline Spencer, Charles' children from his second marriage, receiving an invite to the royal wedding. As Edmund, 14, and Caroline, 12, are still young, they perhaps wouldn't attend the late-night after-party. Lady Charlotte Spencer Lady Charlotte Diana, five, is Earl Spencer's youngest child and his only one with third wife Karen. Like her half-siblings Edmund and Caroline, Lady Charlotte is not named in the Vanity Fair report and would be unlikely to receive a late-night party invite because of her age. Beauty fans have been clamouring to emulate Meghan Markle's effortless natural beauty look ever since she made her debut alongside Prince Harry in 2016. And while it could potentially take a whole make-up bag to achieve her flawless glow - from her smokey eyes, perfect pout and her groomed eyebrows - there's one way to easily get Meghan's look. A beauty trend that's soared in popularity over the past few years is microblading, and one expert can use her skills to create custom brows for her clients inspired by anyone from the soon-to-be princess to your favourite celebrity. Ahead of Meghan's big day to Prince Harry, as she ties the knot at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, FEMAIL put Meghan's brows to the test. Natalie Corner visited permanent make-up specialist Sian Dellar's Harley Street clinic to tame her eyebrows. Meghan Markle's effortless natural beauty look has been an inspiration for many beauty fans hoping to achieve her flawless glow Left, before, Sian explained that my eyebrows were 'asymmetrical and flat'. Right, after, Sian evened out my brows and created an arch Sian specialises in semi-permanent make-up applied with an expert touch to deliver stunning results and enhance natural beauty. Using the microblading method, Sian delicately adds hypo-allergenic pigments to the outermost layers of the brows for the most flawless and natural result every time. Microblading is manually applied using a very fine blade to deposit pigments into the skin and can last up to 18 months before they need to be topped up. Sian explained that while not everyone can get the Meghan brow, using her natural shape as an inspiration is a good starting point. She adds that while many may want to follow the 'fashion' be aware that it doesn't always last. 'It's "not one fits all" eyebrows because they are unique to the person's face. 'The best way to Meghan's shape is to really work with your brows to enhance your own natural beauty. 'I see what suits the clients face and bear in mind when plucking away eyebrow hairs not to take too much out coming away from the original shape. 'Following the natural shape and enhancing where necessary to make a difference to the face.' After two weeks the fine strokes from the needle begin to peel - taking care not to get them wet is very tricky After the initial procedure healed, I returned to Sian where she topped up my brows making them fuller and added more depth THE PROCESS I regularly have my eyebrows threaded but on a number of occasions end up with someone who doesn't know my brow shape and ruined them. The microblading will mean that I can keep on top of maintenance without the worry a therapist will mess up the shape. MEGHAN MARKLE'S BROW SPECIALIST Meghan ensures her brows are perfectly plucked by going to stylist Sherrille Riley. A regular at Rileys Mayfair salon since 2016, Meghan favours The Audrey, a 50 shaping treatment inspired by Audrey Hepburn, which instantly lifts the face. It involves tinting, threading and tweezing and should be done two days before the wedding. Meghan visits the salon fortnightly for manicures and pedicures. Advertisement A beautician takes a before picture and applies a numbing cream to ensure there is minimal discomfort, I then discuss the shape I want with Sian and she advises me how best we can achieve a Meghan-inspired shape. The biggest issue is that my eyebrows are not even, so Sian pencils in the shape to show me exactly how she can even them out. She said: 'Your eyebrows are slightly asymmetrical and flat. So you need an arch in both brows, to even them out and make them symmetrical.' Once satisfied with the shape and colour Sian then sets about implanting the pigments into my skin using a fine needle. It's not as scary as it sounds, because thanks to the numbing cream the only thing I feel is a scratching sensation, it's the final pigment that is applied that really stings. AFTERCARE Don't be fooled if you think it's easy once you leave the clinic with your new brows - you cannot get them wet for up to ten days while they heal. That means washing your face and your hair becomes a tricky challenge - and zero make-up is allowed near them. My eyebrows no longer need filling in with make-up - the microblading doing the job of the brow pencil Sian gave me coconut oil balm that needs to be applied two to three times a day with a cotton wool bud - I used a plastic chopstick so that the bud wouldn't soak up any balm and absolutley no fingers are allowed near the brows. Four to six weeks later I book in for a top up to make any final adjustments once I've had a chance to get used to the colour and shape. FINAL RESULT I was warned that the colour would be extremely strong the first few days but for me it was just right. So I was a little disheartened to see it fade so quickly as it healed - but then after my top-up the brow became fuller and had a depth to it that needs no extra make-up to fill it in. It means I can go out make-up free and know my Meghan brows will never slip. Advertisement Meghan Markle has surprised everyone by wearing a wedding dress designed by Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller after months of speculation linking her to other designers - including Ralph & Russo and Erdem - and moved her groom to tears in the stunning classic creation. An emotional Harry told his bride 'you look amazing' after she wafted down the aisle in the classic silk gown in pure white, with a 15ft veil embroidered with flowers of the Commonwealth. The veil is made from silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza, while the look was completed by a Cartier bracelet and earrings and a Queen Mary diamond bandeau tiara, loaned to her by the Queen. Meghan chose acclaimed British designer, Clare Waight Keller, 48, from Birmingham, the first female Artistic Director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy, to design her dress after meeting in early 2018. The bespoke creation is estimated to have cost 200,000, including 78,000 for custom-made fabric and 4,000 for fittings. The pair worked closely together on the design, with Ms. Waight Keller carrying out extensive research at fabric mills throughout Europe, to develop an exclusive double bonded silk cady especially for Meghan. Together, the pair decided this was perfect for the round sculptural look required while the soft matt lustre, bonding process and pure white colour bring a fresh modernity to the dress. In a statement, Ms Waight Keller said: 'It has been an immensely rewarding experience to get to know Meghan on a personal level, one I will forever carry with me. The House of Givenchy joins me in wishing her and Prince Harry every wish of happiness in their future.' Scroll down for video The bride stunned in a classic pure white Givenchy silk wedding gown as made her way down the aisle at St George's Chapel to marry Prince Harry The dress that made Harry cry: The emotional prince told Meghan, 'you look amazing' as she arrived at the altar in her bespoke Givenchy gown The glowing bride chose an Audrey Hepburn-style gown in a classic style as opposed to the beaded number she was predicted to wear Meghan's veil is five meters long and made from silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza Meghan surprised everyone by choosing a timeless gown from Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller, who was on hand to assist the bride with her train as she stepped out of her car at St George's Chapel Meghan's designer Clare Waight Keller was on hand to assist the bride throughout the ceremony, as she did not have adult bridesmaids for her big day Meghan Markle arrives at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for her wedding to Prince Harry, wearing a dress and veil made by Givenchy Meghan's dress features a graphic open bateau neckline and slender sculpted waist, teamed with a silk tulle veil with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers The timeless gown managed to balance drama with simplicity, thanks to a beautifully embellished veil The beaming bride opted for classic simplicity for her dress design, which has been widely praised by other bridal designers and fashion experts Meghan and Harry's kiss sparked huge cheers from people outside the chapel and the 100,000 watching on the streets of Windsor Royal wave: Meghan waves gracefully as her husband smiles as the procession weaves its way through the streets of Windsor Meghan was said to be impressed by Ms Waight Keller's timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring, and relaxed demeanour and wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent who has now served as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses Pringle of Scotland, Chloe, and now Givenchy. The result was a dress which epitomises a timeless minimal elegance referencing the codes of the iconic House of Givenchy and showcasing the expert craftsmanship of its world-renowned Parisian couture atelier founded in 1952. In keeping with the heritage of the house of Givenchy, the 'pure lines' have been created using six meticulously placed seams, and features a graphic open bateau neckline and slender sculpted waist. The lines of the dress extend towards the back where the train flows in soft round folds cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza. The slim three-quarter sleeves add a note of refined modernity. Meghan's something borrowed: Which tiara did she wear? The sparkling tiara Meghan wore on her wedding was the Queen Mary's Diamond Bandeau, which was loaned to her by Harry's grandmother the Queen from the Royal Collection. Royal brides are traditionally loaned priceless heirlooms to wear on their wedding day. Meghan could have chosen the Spencer tiara - famously worn by Harry's later mother Diana, Princess of Wales when she married the Prince of Wales in 1981. But Meghan has instead selected this little known piece, which features a magnificent floral-shaped suspended brooch in the centre made of a large round diamond surrounded by nine smaller circular diamonds. It was specifically made for the Queen's grandmother Queen Mary in 1932 to accommodate the detachable brooch, which was given to Mary as a wedding present in 1893 by the County of Lincoln. The bandeau is a flexible band of 11 intricate glittering sections, pierced with interlaced ovals and pave set with large and small brilliant diamonds. The bandeau and the brooch were bequeathed by Queen Mary to her granddaughter the Queen on her death in 1953. Meghan Markle wore a diamond tiara belonging to the Queen's grandmother Queen Mary (LEFT). The stunning piece was designer for Queen Mary (right) in 1932 and features a diamond brooch she received as a wedding present in 1893 The bandeau, chosen from Her Majesty's collection, is formed as a flexible band of eleven sections, pierced with interlaced ovals and pavE set with large and small brilliant diamonds Meghan's sparkling tiara is Queen Mary's Diamond Bandeau, which has been loaned to her by Harry's grandmother the Queen Advertisement Meghan was eager to incorporate a nod to all 53 countries of the Commonwealth into her special day, and asked for a veil embellished with the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country united in a single spectacular floral composition. It's already been established that the Commonwealth family of nations will be a central part of Harry and Meghan's work after the Queen appointed her grandson as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador. Kensington Palace said that Meghan 'wanted to express her gratitude for the opportunity to support the work of the Commonwealth by incorporating references to its members into the design of her wedding dress'. Significant time was spent researching the flora of each Commonwealth country while Ms. Waight Keller spent many hours ensuring that every flower is unique. Lesotho, for example, was represented by a spiral aloe, Bangladesh was symbolised by a white water lily and Grenada had a bougainvillea. Australia was represented by golden wattles, and Nigeria had a yellow trumpet. The new Duchess of Sussex had her veil embroidered with flowers to represent the countries of the Commonwealth Meghan Markle waves from a carriage after the wedding ceremony wowed huge crowds today Meghan Markle launched her own mini-revolution as she married Prince Harry today in a relaxed and multi-cultural wedding Harry's relatives will never seen before Meghan Markle was said to have chosen the Givenchy designer after being impressed by her classic aesthetic and down-to-earth attitude Givenchy also designed the bridesmaids dresses for Princess Charlotte, Ivy Mulroney, Florence van Cutsem, Zalie Warren and Ryaln and Remy Litt The bride surprised everyone by choosing Givenchy to designer her dress for the big day Meghan Markle has surprised everyone by wearing a wedding dress designed by Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller after months of speculation liking her to other designers, such as Erdem. Her shoes, just seen, were also by Givenchy After months of speculation, Meghan provided a huge surprise on her wedding day with her choice of designer. The bride being welcome to the ceremony by the Dean of Windsor at St George's Chapel Meghan Markle has married Prince Harry in a moving service officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury and watched by millions around the world Screaming crowds: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were greeted with cheering and whoops from well-wishers lining the path The bride and groom paused on the steps of St George's Chapel to catch a moment to speak as they left the ceremony The bride and groom turned to check on their guests as they made their way out of the church ahead of Prince Charles, The Duchess of Cornwall and Meghan's mother Doria Ragland Bride and groom treated royal fans to a carriage procession on Castle Hill outside Windsor Castle after the ceremony Time to celebrate! The happy couple enjoyed a carriage ride around Windsor to greet members of the public after their ceremony at St George's Chapel England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland were respectively represented by a rose, a daffodil, a flax flower and a thistle. Each flower was worked flat, in three dimensions to create a unique and delicate design. The workers spent hundreds of hours meticulously sewing and washing their hands every thirty minutes to keep the tulle and threads pristine. In addition to the flora of the Commonwealth, Ms. Markle also selected two personal favourite flowers to be featured on the veil. How much did Meghan's wedding dress cost? Celebrity stylist Lucas Armitage told Femail that a dress like Meghan's is likely to cost in the region of 200,000. 'A whole team would be dedicated to every detail of the dress, the fabric, the pattern, the toiles all working in tandem to create the effortlessly chic piece,' he xplained. 'Don't underestimate its understated veneer, every stitch and every seam will have been meticulously planned to perfection to give it the perfect regal aesthetic. 'I predict it will have cost around the 200K mark for such a couture approach to bridal.' Bespoke fabric from a Parisian mill: 60,000 Multiple fittings: 35,000 Seamstress and toile making: 74,000 Designing and pattern cutting: 25,000 Additional alterations pre-wedding day: 4000 TOTAL: 198,000 Celebrity stylist Lucas Armitage told Femail that a dress like Meghan's is likely to cost in the region of 200,000 Advertisement One was Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox), which grows in the grounds of Kensington Palace in front of Nottingham Cottage, and the California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) the State flower from Ms. Markle's place of birth, California. Symmetrically placed at the very front of the veil, crops of wheat are delicately embroidered and blend into the flora, to symbolise love and charity. In addition to making Meghan's dress Clare Waight Keller designed Meghan's wedding shoes, based on a Givenchy refined pointed couture design made of a silk duchess satin. Meghan was giggling throughout the carriage journey after she was officially welcomed to Britain's royal family The off-the-shoulder boat neck of Meghan's Givenchy gown gave Meghan's timeless dress a fresh and modern twist Outside St George's Chapel up to 100,000 fevered well-wishers have gathered in glorious British sunshine and cheered the couple as they started their new married life in the grand Ascot Landau carriage Harry looked very emotional at points in the service and several others in the congregation were in tears on their happy day Laughter: One of the well-wishers in the crowds makes Meghan laugh and Prince Harry smile as they continue with their 25-minute tour of the royal market town The couple, who are now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, organised a wedding that reflected both their backgrounds Meghan and Harry process out of the chapel after exchanging vows in a quite extraordinary wedding today A vision in white: Meghan Markle smiles to the camera as she rides alongside her husband Prince Harry Harry looked delighted as he walked his new wife out of St George's Chapel to start their new life together The new Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the Ascot Landau carriage leave Windsor Castle during the procession after getting married Harry and Meghan leaving the church as husband and wife after exchanging vows at St George's Chapel Sealed with a kiss: The pair paused on the steps as they left from the West Door of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle Picture of happiness! Meghan was beaming from ear to ear ahead of the carriage procession Bridesmaids, including Princess Charlotte, received white leather Aquazurra shoes monogrammed with their initials and the wedding date as a keepsake. Right: Meghan's close friend Jessica Mulroney with her daughter Ivy and the Duchess of Cambridge accompanying Princess Charlotte and Florence van Cutsem She also created the six young Bridesmaids' dresses in the Givenchy Haute Couture Atelier in Paris to 'have the same timeless purity as Ms. Markle's dress'. They were made of ivory silk radzimir, and were high-waisted with short puff sleeves, hand finished with a double silk ribbon detail tied at the back in a bow. The bridesmaids' dresses included pockets and pleated skirt and each little girl also wore a flower crown chosen by Harry and Meghan, which replicated the flowers used in the bridal bouquet. The six young girls were wearing white leather Aquazurra shoes, each monogrammed with the bridesmaid's initials, and the wedding date. Kensington Palace said they were a gift from Meghan as a keepsake of the special day for Princess Charlotte, Harry's goddaughters three-year-old Florence van Cutsem, Meghan's goddaughters, Remi and Rylan Litt, six and seven respectively, and four-year-old Ivy Mulroney. In a statement released this afternoon, the designer said that it had been an honour to work on perhaps her most high profile project to date. Who is Meghan's designer Clare Waight Keller? EXCLUSIVE by Tracey Kandohla for MailOnline Birmingham-born mum-of-three Clare Waight Keller, 48, became the first female artistic director of Givenchy in 2017. The 48-year-old daughter of a legal secretary and an engineer is known for her low-key and charming demeanour, in stark contrast to previous prima donna male predecessors, such as the controversial John Galliano. Waight Keller joined Calvin Klein on the strength of her graduate collection at St Martin's, then was snapped up by Ralph Lauren to design menswear, before becoming creative director at Pringle and then Chloe. Having designed handbag after bestselling handbag, she's rumoured to have left because Chloe wouldn't agree to 'salary increases proportionate to sales'. She is married to U.S. architect Philip Keller and lives a Eurostar chic lifestyle with a farmhouse in Cornwall and a cavernous apartment on Paris's Bois de Boulogne. Her brother Will Waight told of the family's 'immense pride' in Clare as they revealed they been sworn to secrecy about the stunning gown which made Prince Harry weep. He and his parents had only been told his younger sister had been tasked with 'her best job yet' a few days before her creation was unveiled to the world. Telecoms expert Will told MailOnline: 'We had no idea Clare was the designer until she told us just two days before the wedding. There were only a few people in the know and we were all sworn to secrecy.' The dad-of-two, who watched the American actress tie the knot with her Prince on TV at his home in Birmingham, West Midlands, said: 'Meghan looked fantastic. My sister said the dress had to look just perfect and it did, they couldn't leave anything to chance.' An emotional Harry told his bride 'you look amazing' after she glide down the aisle in the timeless classic silk gown. Excited Will, 42, said: 'We couldn't wait to see the dress and we were very impressed with it. I am so immensely proud of Clare as are our parents. It's the best job she's had and she didn't let the bride down. Meghan looked beautiful and it's not surprising Harry was overwhelmed with emotion.' He said of the pure white gown with a 16ft veil embroidered with flowers of the Commonwealth: 'It makes a statement and the whole fashion world will be talking about it. I could tell it was my sister's design, ti had a spiral and she likes elegant and understated.' The acclaimed British designer - who designed a dress for pop superstar Adele for Glastonbury - was at Windsor Castle with her architect husband Philip Keller to see the bride step out in her dress. Will said: 'Clare and her husband were invited. I watched the wedding at home and our parents saw it too while looking after Clare's twin girls, who are 15, and her son of seven.' Clare is the first female Artistic Director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy and was chosen to design the dress for the wedding of the year after meeting Meghan earlier this year. There had been months of speculation linking the bride-to-be to other designers. Will told how his sister had worked extremely hard and had a natural artistic and creative flair to get to the top, saying: 'It is an onward progression for her, she keeps rising and rising and she's doing really well. She was delighted to have got the job. 'She has designed for some top names and even done stuff for Adele for Glastonbury. She is hight profile but this beats them all. We are very impressed with her. I'm very close to my sister but understand she couldn't tell me what she was working on until a few days before. 'She works in France at Givenchy and commutes between Paris and London.' Will said he had no idea how many fittings Meghan had needed but understands the already slim-line bride needed an extra one or two checks because she had lost extra weight. He said: 'They wanted perfection and it was. I'm not sure what she will be designing next but no doubt she will be in demand.' Birmingham-born mum-of-three Clare Waight Keller became the first female artistic director of Givenchy in 2017. Right: Pictured with Rooney Mara at the Met Ball in May Advertisement 'It is truly an honour to have been given the opportunity to closely collaborate with Meghan Markle on such a remarkable occasion,' she said. 'We wanted to create a timeless piece that would emphasise the iconic codes of Givenchy through its history, as well as convey modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts. 'In contract, the delicate floral beauty of the veil was a vision Meghan and I shared, a special gesture embracing the Commonwealth flora, ascending the circumference of the silk tulle. 'As a British designer at a Parisian Haute Couture house, and on behalf of all of us at Givenchy who have been able to experience such an extraordinary process of creativity, I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished and grateful to Meghan Markle, Prince Harry and Kensington Palace for allowing us to be part of this historical chapter. What's the expert verdict on Meghan's Givenchy gown? David Emanuel, one half of the design duo behind Diana's dress, said the late royal would definitely approve of Meghan's choice Princess Diana's wedding dress designer David Emanuel, one half of the duo who designed Diana, Princess of Wales' dress for her wedding to the Prince of Wales in 1981, said of Meghan Markle's outfit: 'The bride is simplicity herself.' He added: 'The dress is as I predicted - simple, stylish, elegant and understated. 'I think the story is in the silk jewelled veil - it encompasses all the Commonwealth flowers, which I think is very clever.' Asked what he thought Harry's late mother would have said about the dress, Mr Emanuel said: 'I think Diana would have approved.' Mr Emanuel also paid tribute to the decision to include flora of each of the 53 countries of the Commonwealth on her veil. 'I think the story is in the silk jewelled veil, it encompasses all the Commonwealth flowers, which I think is very clever.' Couture wedding dress designer Phillipa Lepley 'Meghan's dress is incredibly theatrical and exquisitely cut with an embroidered cathedral length hand made tulle veil. It is A-line with a relatively short train of about 70 inches from the waist, resulting in lovely movement as the bride walks. 'There are no seams in the bodice. Incredibly clean and plain dresses such as this are VERY time consuming and complicated to make, because unlike a lace dress, there is no room for any errors and you can't hide any wrinkles as the fabric has to sit perfectly. 'When you have a clean dress like that the bride really shines. You have to be very beautiful to wear a plain dress. Meghan's face really pops out, and she looks stunning. It is possibly zibeline silk or micado fabric. 'The neckline is lovely - the way the fabric is rolled, it is beautifully finished. There is very likely to be a hidden corset inside for support, and there is an invisible zip at the back. The overall look is very 50s and gorgeous.' Meghan opted for timeless elegance and surprised everyone by choosing British designer Clare Waight Keller, and according to experts the simplicity of the dress allowed her natural beauty to shine through Celebrity stylist and designer Lucas Armitage When it comes to Meghan and royal tradition all bets were off whether she would conform or do her own thing. It looks like she has combined her own dream bride moment with a nod to royal protocol. The sleeve was expected, but the off the shoulder boat neck gives a more modern clean feeling to what we have seen from previous royal weddings. It's super chic elegant yet has a super modern feel, the huge veil adds drama again in a modern way. The designer of the dress is a total surprise, Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy which is the first time a non-British design house has dressed a bride for such occasion. But Clare is London based giving another nod to tradition. When it came to wearing a tiara everyone was conflicted, for me a tiara didn't feel like a natural choice for Meghan who I see as a modern bride. However, I felt she would want to be respectful and here she gives a nod to protocol and wears a stunning diamond tiara. although it looks more modern than the lavish pearl and diamond pieces we have seen before such as he Spencer Tiara and the Lovers Knot. Style experts have likened Meghan's dress to the style of original Givenchy muse Audrey Hepburn, pictured at her wedding to Mel Ferrer in 1954 Amanda Dishaw, editor of Style Blog Meghan's Mirror 'What a dress. Classic, timeless simplicity. We love the empowerment message she subtly made by choosing Clare, the first female artistic director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy. 'It stays very true to Meghan's love of French fashion which is well-documented but also paid homage to her new British roots. 'And as for the style? It was exactly as we had thought we would see - simple, clean lines in a very traditional cut. 'There was never going to be tons of detailing and lace on this dress. 'And we love that a flower from every Commonwealth country is embroidered on her veil. 'A simple, clean A-line dress was perfectly attuned to the simplicity of her up-do, which held a stunning tiara.' Meghan's dress paid tribute to her love of French fashion as well as paying tribute to her new British roots Kate Beavis, owner and director of Magpie Wedding Audrey Hepburn was Givenchy's muse and this has a nod to her first wedding dress - with long sleeves, a boat neckline and simple, elegant fabric. It's beautiful and classic and reminds me of a demure 1960s minimal column dress. It's exactly what I thought she'd wear - sophisticated and chic. No frills or embellishment - similar to her own everyday style. The veil is long and very romantic and also so vintage in style. The whole look is elegant and not what brides are currently choosing, but now they will. Advertisement 'It has been an immensely rewarding experience to get to know Meghan on a personal level, one I will forever carry with me. The House of Givenchy joins me in wishing her and Prince Harry every wish of happiness in their future.' Meghan's choice of designer remained a closely guarded secret until this morning, and it was reported that even Prince Harry didn't know who she'd picked as he wanted a 'total surprise' on the big day. Speculation has been rife in recent weeks, but Givenchy was certainly not thought to be a frontrunner and failed to appear on the odds list being touted by bookmakers. Givenchy isn't a label she's previously been associated with, and royal watchers were convinced she'd wear a designer she's previously stepped out in, such as Burberry. Such was the secrecy surrounding Clare's commission that her family didn't even know she was the designer until two days before the wedding. A total surprise: Givenchy was not among the names being tipped for Meghan's dress designer in recent weeks Meghan walked halfway through the church before being met Prince Charles at the Quire who took her to Harry The newlyweds stare deeply into each other's eyes after the biggest and happiest day of his life A sea of smiling faces greets Harry and Meghan as they leave the church after the American-influenced service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury Congratulations! Wellwishers lined the streets to show their support for the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex And they're off! The married couple begin a procession through the streets of Windsor before they will head to the daytime reception with 600 guests at Frogmore House The couple were all smiles as they left the chapel - a stark contrast to how nervous Harry had appeared when he arrived an hour earlier Harry and Meghan's big day was a thoroughly modern affair for a new generation of royals with huge crowds all wanting to take their mobile picture or selfies A wave for the crowds: The happy couple were eager to include a carriage procession as part of their big day so that they could include members of the public who had gathered at Windsor to wish them well Proud groom Prince Harry was emotional during the ceremony as he lifted his bride's veil (left). The happy couple took part in a 30 minute carriage ride after the ceremony to give them the opportunity to greet members of the public The couple were escorted by members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment during their carriage procession on the Long Walk Newly married bliss: Harry and Meghan held hands as they passed through the Cambridge Gate into the grounds of Windsor Castle at the end of their carriage procession in Windsor On their best behaviour! The young bridesmaids and page boys did an impeccable job as they escorted Meghan to the altar Harry and Meghan turned to smile at their guests as Meghan reached the altar at St George's Chapel in Windsor Meet the newlyweds! The happy couple held hands as they made their way down the aisle after their wedding service Her brother Will Waight today told MailOnline: 'There were only a few people in the know and we were all sworn to secrecy. 'We couldn't wait to see the dress and we were very impressed with it. I am so immensely proud of Clare as are our parents. Ralph & Russo was previously expected to get the honour, with the bride-to-be rumoured to wear a hand-stitched and heavily beaded design with long sleeves. However, Meghan previously made it clear that she favoured a simple, classic look for a wedding dress. Speaking to Glamour before she emerged as Prince Harry's girlfriend, she called the late Carolyn Bessette's wedding dress as her 'everything goals'. Carolyn, then 30, wore a minimalist white gown by Narciso Rodriguez, who was at the time a little known designer to marry John F. Kennedy Jr. Describing her dream dress, Meghan added: 'Classic and simple is the name of the game, perhaps with a modern twist. Which flowers are represented on Meghan's veil? AFRICA Botswana - Ear of Sorghum and Cats Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) Cameroon - Red Stinkwood (Prunus africana) Gambia - White Variety Orchid Ghana - Caladium (Caladium) Kenya - The Tropical Orchid Lesotho - Spiral Aloe (Aloe polyphylla) Malawi - Lotus (Nymphea lotus) Mauritius - Trochetia Boutoniana Mozambique - Maroon Bell Bean (Markhamia zanzibarica) Namibia - Welwitschia (Welwitschia mirabilis) Nigeria - Yellow Trumpet (Costus spectabilis) Rwanda - Torch Lily (Kniphofia uvaria) Seychelles - Tropicbird orchid (Angraecum eburnum) Sierra Leone - Scadoxus (Scadoxus cinnabarinus) South Africa - Protea (Protea cynaroides) Swaziland - Fire Heath (Erica cerinthoides) Uganda - Desert rose (Adenium obesum) United Republic of Tanzania - African violet (Saintpaulia) Zambia - Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea) PACIFIC Australia - Golden wattles (Acacia pycnantha) Fiji - Tagimaucia (Medinilla waterhousei) Kiribati - Bidens Kiribatiensis Nauru - Calophyllum New Zealand - Kowhai (Sophora microphylla) Papua - Sepik Blue Orchid (Dendrobium lasianthera) Samoa - Teuila (Alpinia purpurata) Solomon Islands - Hibiscus (Hibiscus) Tonga - Heilala (Garcinia sessilis) Tuvalu - Plumeria (Plumeria frangipans) Vanuatu - Anthurium (Anthurium) ASIA Bangladesh - White Water Lily ( Sada shapla) Brunei Darussalam - Simpor (Dillenia suffruticosa) India - Indian Lotus (Nelumbo nucifers gaertn) Malaysia - Bunga Raya Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa sinensis) Pakistan - Jasmine (Jasminum officinale) Singapore - Vanda miss Joaquim Orchid (Miss Joaquim) Sri Lanka - Blue Water Lily (Nymphaea nouchali) CARIBBEAN & AMERICAS Antigua and Barbuda - Agave (Agave karatto) Bahamas - Yellow Elder (Tecoma stans) Barbados - The pride of Barbados (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) Belize - The Black Orchid (Encyclia cochleata) Canada - Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) Dominica - Carib Wood (Sabinea carinalis) Grenada - Bougainvillea (Nyctaginaceae) Guyana - Victoria Regia Water Lily (Victoria amazonica) Jamaica - Lignum Vitae (Guiacum officinale) Saint Lucia - The rose and the marguerite St Kitts and Nevis - Poinciana (Delonix regia ) St Vincent & the Grenadines - Soufriere Tree (Spachea perforatais) Trinidad & Tobago - Chaconia (Warszewiczia coccinea) EUROPE Cyprus - Cyclamen Cyprium (Cyclamen cyprium) Malta - Maltese centaury (Cheirolophus crassifolius UNITED KINGDOM England - Rose Wales - Daffodil (Narcissus) Northern Ireland - Flax flower Scotland - Thistle Advertisement However British bridal designer Caroline Castigliano claimed this week that Meghan had in fact given Stella McCartney the honour. 'Stella is such a perfect fit for Meghan,' she told the New York Post. 'She uses organic fabrics and her ethos is the same as Meghan. 'Her style is very underplayed, her dresses are very clean in style, very much Meghan and they are friends.' She added: 'I believe it will be a very straight, fitted dress, with a big 9-foot train that comes off the dress from the side to create the drama, and lace trickling down the top of it.' The big reveal of Meghan's wedding dress is one of the most hotly anticipated moments of the big day, but will she surprise everyone by wearing Stella McCartney (pictured in a wedding dress for Suits) British wedding dress designer Caroline Castigliano predicted that Meghan would wear a bridal dress by Stella McCartney (pictured) Odds on Meghan's dress designer Ralph & Russo Roland Mouret Erdem Christopher Oscar de la Renta Victoria Beckham Jenny Packham Giles Deacon Inbal Dror Emilia Wickstead McQueen Burberry Beulah Antonio Berardi Misha Nonoo Suzanne Neville Vera Wang 1/5 3/1 4/1 5/1 6/1 8/1 8/1 8/1 10/1 10/1 10/1 12/1 12/1 12/1 14/1 16/1 20/1 Advertisement Ralph & Russo Australian born Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo are renowned for their full-on Hollywood glamour, jewel-encrusted couture designs. Based in a seven-storey Mayfair salon overlooking the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Ralph & Russo was the first British fashion house to be invited to the Paris couture shows in a century. Adored by A-list Americans such as Beyonce and Gwyneth Paltrow, Ralph & Russo made the skirt suit that Angelina Jolie wore to accept her honorary damehood from the Queen in 2014. The design duo were first linked to Meghan when she wore their daring black sheer evening gown worn by Meghan for her official engagement portrait with Prince Harry. Priced at a staggering 55,980, the outfit comprised a silk organza skirt, hand appliqued with silk tulle ruffles, and a sheer bodice decorated with intricate gold feather thread-work and beads. And insiders have previously claimed that the retired actress has asked for a 100,000 'ornate and intricate' gown that will be more of a 'showstopper' than Kate's while still ticking the royal protocol boxes. Last month, members of the brand's haute couture atelier team visited the Royal School of Needlework, who hand-stitched lace for the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress. And earlier this month, Prince Harry was seen outside the Ralph & Russo in Chelsea last month flanked by police protection officers. It was rumoured that he was potentially making arrangements for Meghan's gown, although the building is also home to a number of other firms. Meghan had reportedly chosen Erdem (left) or a 100K ornate beaded gown by design duo Ralph & Russo, butMeghan had reportedly chosen Erdem (left) or a 100K ornate beaded gown by design duo Ralph & Russo For her official engagement portrait with Harry, Meghan wore a silk organza skirt, hand appliqued with silk tulle ruffles, and a sheer bodice decorated with intricate gold feather thread-work and beads by Ralph & Russo The brand was still the bookies favourite this morning at odds of 1/5. Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes said: 'Ralph & Russo remain the odds-on favourites, but with Meghan thought to be wearing two dresses on her big day, a gamble is developing on her good friend Roland Mouret being given the honours for her slightly less formal evening gown.' She added: 'However, it wouldn't actually be a huge surprise to see her opt for a classic American designer like Oscar de le Renta.' Erdem Erdem Moralioglu, who was born in Canada, was tipped as a fitting choice for Meghan, who may wish to make a nod to her former home. The former Suits actress, 36, previously wore the designer when she attended the wedding of a friend of Prince Harry in Jamaica. Erdem's feminine creations and fondness of lace could make him the perfect choice for Meghan's wedding gown. However, royal watchers have speculated that the brand's close association with the Duchess of Cambridge may have persuaded Meghan to choose a different designer. Erdem Moralioglu, who was born in Canada, was said to be a fitting choice for Meghan to give a nod to her former hometown of Toronto, but in the end she opted for a British designer from Birmingham BURBERRY Last month, designer Henry Holland tipped former Burberry designer Christopher Bailey as Meghan's designer. The fashion insider, 34, said he believes that Bailey, 46, may have got the job as Prince Harry's fiancee has long been a fan of Burberry. Bailey stepped down from his position as chief creative officer of Burberry after 17 years at the helm, officially handing over to successor Riccardo Tisci last month. However, he remains at the fashion label until the end of the year - and Holland believes he could design 36-year-old Meghan's dress as his 'final bow for Burberry'. Meghan most recently wore Burberry when she stepped out in the brand's 1,995 coat in Edinburgh in February, as well as wearing the designer in the past during her time as an actress. Last month, designer Henry Holland tipped former Burberry designer Christopher Bailey as Meghan's designer Hot on the heels of Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy was another of the royal's former flames - Cressida Bonas. The 29-year-old actress was spotted arriving at St George's Chapel alongside a group of brightly dressed pals on Saturday. She is reported to have arrived with fellow ex Chelsy Davy, with the pair spotted chatting together ahead of the ceremony. Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Cressida Bonas has been spotted arriving at St George's chapel for the royal wedding Cressida, who dated the groom from 2012 to 2014 at University, made sure all eyes were on her, arriving in a brightly coloured dress for the ceremony. The dress is by Eponine, a favourite designer of the Duchess of Cambridge, making a very appropriate choice for the big day. The statement frock was decorated in a Hmong print with the sleeves adorned with pom pom details. With such a brightly coloured dress Cressida kept her accessories neutral in the form of a dove grey Mary Jane heel and a matching feather fascinator. The actress appeared in high-spirits as she arrived at the venue alongside a colourful group of friends Cressida opted for an Hmong print dress by Eponine, a favourite designer of the Duchess of Cambridge, and opted for nude accessories Her golden locks were styled into elegant curls, falling just above her shoulder. The actress appeared in high spirits as she entered the church alongside a chatty group of pals. Harrys invitation to his exes will be seen by many as a sign of his maturity. The Prince's relationship with Cressida, 29, who was introduced to him by Princess Eugenie, foundered after two years. Neither she nor Chelsy Davy was keen on being a princess, with the worldwide attention that entails. Cressida dated the prince from 2012 to 2014 at University. Pictured together in 2014 It is thought that Chelsy has not received an invite to the couple's reception at Frogmore House, although it remains to be seen whether Cressida will make an appearance. The presence of Chelsy and Cressida at St Georges Chapel could stir memories of Prince Charless ex-girlfriend Camilla Parker Bowles at St Pauls Cathedral when he married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. Hamish Shephard of Bridebook.co.uk told the MailOnline: 'The presence of two of Harry's ex girlfriends is a relatively unique trend to a royal and society wedding such as this. 'Only 11 per cent of UK couples have invited an ex to their wedding (let alone two!), with only 5 per cent having attended a wedding of one of their exes.' The Duchess of Cambridge's mother reached for a trusted favourite when getting ready to attend another royal wedding today. Carole Middleton arrived at Meghan and Harry's big day wearing Catherine Walker - a favourite designer of the late Princess Diana, and the same label she wore at Kate's wedding to William in 2011. Carole, who arrived on the arm of her husband Michael, also wore Catherine Walker when her younger daughter Pippa married James Matthews last year. Today she opted for an elegant coat dress in a fresh shade of mint green, topped off with a co-ordinating statement hat. Kate's parents are seen arriving at Meghan and Harry's Windsor Castle wedding today - with Carole opting for her favourite designer, Catherine Walker Carole Middleton looked spring like and elegant in a fresh shade of mint green Sticking to her tried and tested style combination, the Duchess' mother opted for a knee length fitted dress beneath a frock coat in the same shade. She accessorised with a co-ordinating clutch, and completed her outfit with simple court shoes. A diamond pendant and matching earrings provided the finishing touch. The entire Middleton family has been invited to the royal nuptials today. Pippa Middleton, who is pregnant with her first child, showed just a hint of her baby bump this morning as she set off from London this morning for Harry and Meghan's big day with her husband James. Pippa, 34, wore a pretty 495 Hepburn silk floral dress from brand of the moment, The Fold which features a close-fitting bodice and pleated skirt. The expectant mother teamed her ensemble with nude suede shoes and a bespoke Jess Collett Milliner hat in blush with hand dyed flowers, straw honeycomb shards and a sinamay bow On Pippa's wedding day in May 2017, Carole wore a pale pink Catherine Walker coat dress and matching hat It's the same tried and tested style combination she chose on the biggest day of her eldest daughter's life, her wedding to Prince William in April 2011 She wore her brunette hair swept back in a voluminous updo and completed her look with an understated nude box clutch. Husband James - who looked dapper in a morning suit - carried a large gift wrapped box, no doubt containing a gift for Harry and Meghan. The couple were joined by Pippa's brother James who walked into St George's Chapel with them on arrival in Berkshire. Carole's younger daughter Pippa is seen arriving at Meghan and Harry's wedding today with her husband James Matthews, and her brother James Middleton Carole accessorised her chic outfit with a matching diamond pendant and earrings Advertisement The Queen has officially welcomed Meghan Markle to the royal family following her wedding to grandson Prince Harry. Earlier today the monarch bestowed the couple with the royal titles of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Following the announcement the Queen attended the ceremony at St George's Chapel in Windsor on Saturday. The Queen has officially welcomed Meghan Markle to the royal family following her wedding to Prince Harry on Saturday The monarch followed the trend of neon brights, opting for a silk dress and matching coat and hat by Stuart Parvin Her Majesty looked her elegant best in a delicately flared dress in lime, lemon, purple and grey printed silk. Her matching coat is an edge to edge coat with a frogging fastening in lime silk tweed both are by Stewart Parvin. As with any given day the monarch was not seen without her hat opting for an Angela Kelly piece of milliner, using the same lime silk tweed with sinamay adorned across the crown with handmade lace crystals and pearls made by Lucy Price. Her brooch is The Richmond Diamond Brooch with pearl drop. She was the last member of the royal family to arrive at the chapel, as is tradition with royal weddings. She was the last royal to arrive at the ceremony which is tradition among the British monarchy The Queen appeared to be in high spirits as she arrived at the chapel following the short journey from her home at Windsor castle The 92-year-old was joined by her husband the Duke of Edinburgh who made it to the ceremony despite concerns surrounding his health. Following the emotional ceremony Harry and Meghan took to the streets of Windsor in an open touch carriage to greet well-wishers. The guests are now heading to St George's Hall for a lunchtime reception hosted by the Queen. Before today's ceremony the Queen conferred the title Duke of Sussex on her grandson Prince Harry, meaning Markle will be known as the Duchess of Sussex. Prince Harry has been made the Duke of Sussex on his wedding day by his grandmother the Queen, Buckingham Palace announced. The royal groom was given a dukedom - the highest rank in the British peerage - to mark his marriage to Meghan Markle. American former actress Meghan will now become Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sussex on her marriage at the much-anticipated ceremony in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Harry also received Scottish and Northern Irish titles, becoming the Earl of of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel, which means Meghan will become the Countess of Dumbarton and Baroness Kilkeel. The 92-year-old was joined by her husband the Duke of Edinburgh who made it to the ceremony despite concerns surrounding his health Her Majesty will now host a lunch at St George's Hall for some 600 guests at the wedding Clutching her order of service Her Majesty appeared to be in high spirits as she chatted to Prince Philip following the service HOW TO ADDRESS MEGHAN AFTER SHE MARRIES PRINCE HARRY Etiquette expert William Hanson says: 'Her Majesty The Queen, as many predicted, has chosen to confer upon her grandson Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex as well as the titles Earl and Countess of Dumbarton and Baroness Kilkeel', which is how they will be known when in Scotland and Northern Ireland. In conversation it would now be the protocol to refer to Meghan as, Your Royal Highness and then Maam (to rhyme with ham, not farm). The protocol remains the same as before the wedding for Prince Harry - Your Royal Highness and then followed by Sir. In conversation it would now be the protocol to refer to Meghan as, Your Royal Highness and then Maam (to rhyme with ham, not farm) She is not Princess Meghan Meghan is not really a proper Princess and so it is totally incorrect to refer to her as Princess Meghan (American media take note). Referring to her as Duchess Meghan would also be incorrect. The style Princess FirstName is only used for blood-royalty, such as Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Meghan has technically become a Princess, but not in her own right. She is, correctly, Her Royal Highness Princess Henry, Duchess of Sussex and Countess of Dumbarton and Kilkeel. But for ease Meghan will be referred to as Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex. The history of the Dukedom of Sussex There has only been one Duke of Sussex before, which makes Prince Harry the second Duke. But there has never been a Duchess of Sussex so Meghan is the first woman to be styled Duchess of Sussex. Sussex is a fitting dukedom for The Queen to give her third grandson, Harry. Prince Augustus Frederick, the first Duke, was somewhat of a rebel himself, going against the norm and royal expectation, in particular in matters of the heart. Prince Augustus Frederick married twice, the first time to Lady Augusta Murray in 1793. Although they married in Rome and also in London, both marriages took place without the consent of the Princes father, George III, breaking the rules of the Royal Marriages Act of 1772. The couple still lived together for several years before separating in 1801. Because the marriage wasnt approved of by the King, Lady Augusta Murray was not able to be styled as The Duchess of Sussex. Prince Augustus Fredericks second marriage was also not approved by the then monarch and so his second wife, Lady Cecilia Letitia Buggin, did not assume the title of Duchess of Sussex. The first Duke of Sussex also went against royal trends by backing the abolition of slavery; by doing so causing a rift with his brother the Prince Regent, later George IV. Harry and Meghan are very clearly going to continue to be very modern royalty and so this is a fitting title. Curtsy courtesy When Meghan is with her husband Prince Harry she takes his status and rank. So people like Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice will have to bow and curtsy to Meghan. But when she is alone then she takes just the rank of Duchess and Meghan will have to curtsy to all blood royalty or anyone more senior than her, including HRH The Duchess of Cambridge. What happens if they divorce? As odd as it is to be discussing this on the wedding day, but should royal paradise be lost and they divorce the royal household will probably follow the precedent set by Sarah Fergusson and Diana Spencer and Meghan would become, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Note that absence of definite article (the). If Prince Harry were to re-marry his new, second wife would in all likelihood would become The Duchess of Sussex. Fingers crossed none of this is realised. Will their children have titles? If the royal couple were to have children it is not yet known what their titles may be or whether they will have anything at all. Prince Williams children have all been made Prince and Princesses, but as Prince Harry is currently sixth in line to the throne (not second, like his brother), his offspring may not be made Prince or Princesses. All titles are solely The Monarchs choice and decision. And we will have to wait and see what happens.' Advertisement All titles are in the gift of the Queen and it was up to the monarch to choose which one to bestow on her grandson and his new wife. Buckingham Palace said: 'The Queen has today been pleased to confer a Dukedom on Prince Henry of Wales. 'His titles will be Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel. Prince Harry thus becomes His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex, and Ms Meghan Markle on marriage will become Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex.' Harry's thoughts on the title will also have been taken into account by the royal matriarch in a private discussion between the Prince and his grandmother. Tradition dictates that royal men receive a title on their wedding - and often more than one. Had Harry not wanted to accept a title, Meghan would have become HRH Princess Henry of Wales because she is not a princess in her own right. The announcement from the palace comes just hours before Harry and his bride wed in Windsor Castle's St George's Chapel in front of a congregation of 600 and a television audience of millions. It is a small town, with a fishing fleet, on the coast of County Down, below the Mourne Mountains. Meghan and Harry's kiss sparked huge cheers from people outside the chapel and the 100,000 watching on the streets of Windsor Meghan Markle has married Prince Harry in a moving service officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury and watched by millions around the world A tearful Prince Harry grabbed his bride Meghan's hand and told her: 'You look amazing' as he saw her for the first time Meghan's dress had an extraordinary long trail that flowed out into the chapel as she married Harry today Meghan Markle waves from a carriage after the wedding ceremony wowed huge crowds today Outside St George's Chapel up to 100,000 fevered well-wishers have gathered in glorious British sunshine and cheered the couple as they started their new married life in the grand Ascot Landau carriage Royal wave: Meghan waves gracefully as her husband smiles as the procession weaves its way through the streets of Windsor And they're off! The married couple begin a procession through the streets of Windsor before they will head to the daytime reception with 600 guests at Frogmore House Important job: The two pageboys have the important task of carefully carrying Ms Markle's train up the flight of steps to the chapel Elegant: Ms Markle looks emotional but happy as she gracefully makes her way down the aisle The Duke of Cambridge and his father Prince William both laugh during the service at St George's Chapel Regal: The queen looks every inch the head of the family and state as she waves out to applauding crowds alongside husband Prince Phillip after they marry Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip arrive at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding today Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pictured moments after they married now becoming the Duke and Duchess of Sussex Husband and wife: The couple, announced today as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, share a tender moment on the steps of the chapel following the emotional ceremony Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex begin their carriage procession in the Ascot Landau Carriage after their wedding ceremony at St George's Chapel Philip reads the order of service at St George's Chapel today as he attends the the wedding, just six weeks after his hip op Harry and Meghan exchanged vows and then rings as the couple married after a whirlwind romance Meghan and Harry process out of the chapel after exchanging vows in a quite extraordinary wedding today Harry looked delighted as he walked his new wife out of St George's Chapel to start their new life together The couple, who are now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, organised a wedding that reflected both their backgrounds Laughter: One of the well-wishers in the crowds makes Meghan laugh and Prince Harry smile as they continue with their 25-minute tour of the royal market town Lady Jane Fellowes (far left) and Meghan's mother Doria Ragland (next to her, in green) stand next to Prince Charles, Camilla, George, William, Charlotte and Kate on the steps of St George's Chapel today after the wedding Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Tong Thi Phong hosted a reception for the delegation, led by UJC First Secretary Susely Morfa Gonzalez in Hanoi on May 18th. She said the visit of the UJC delegation took place on the occasion of the 128th birthday anniversary of late President Ho Chi Minh a great leader of the Vietnamese nation and people (May 19th, 1890) and the 123th death anniversary of Cuban leader Jose Marti (May 19th, 1895). Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Tong Thi Phong (R) receives First Secretary of the Young Communist League of Cuba Susely Morfa Gonzalez on May 18th (Photo: VNA) The legislator congratulated Cuba on the successful organisation of the elections of the Peoples Councils at all levels and the National Assembly of Peoples Power in March this year. She expressed her belief that the Cuban Party, State and people will continue implementing effectively the revolutionary tasks and the update of its set economic model. The NA Vice Chairwoman highlighted the special friendship and traditional relations between Vietnam and Cuba. The State-level visit to Cuba by Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong in March re-affirmed the special amity and solidarity between the two countries, which have become a symbol of the era and valuable asset of the two countries Parties and people, she said. She noted that the relations between the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Cubas Young Communist League have been reinforced and developed through cooperation programmes. For her part, Susely Morfa Gonzalez expressed Cuban leaders and peoples admiration for the resilience of Vietnamese people in the past national liberation as well as the current national construction and development. She affirmed that Cuban young generations are aware of preserving and promoting the special solidarity between the two countries./. Lady Louise proved that she is all grown up today as she attended her cousin Prince Harry's nuptials to Meghan Markle. Flanked by her glamorous mother Sophie the Countess of Wessex, 14-year-old Louise looked every bit the young lady as she walked the royal mile to the chapel. The teen opted for a fitted black and white dress with a flared skirt complete with a cropped cream jacket. Lady Louise, 14, looked all-grown up as she joined her parents Sophie Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward for her cousin Harry's wedding Louise added a grown-up fascinator in complementary colours as she joined her mother in the chapel. Sophie Wessex, 53, was her typically glamorous self in a pale blue maxi skirt with a beaded cropped top in the same shade. She completed her outfit with a statement fascinator with an elegant ostrich feather coiled around the brim. She of course joined husband Prince Edward, 54, and son James Viscount Severn, 10, who looked equally smart in suits and a waistcoat. The teen opted for a fitted black and white dress with a flared skirt complete with a cropped cream jacket Sophie Wessex was her typically glamourous self in a dove grey maxi skirt with a beaded cropped top in the same shade The mother and daughter were sat with the rest of the royal family within sight of the couple The family-of-four took their place directly behind the Duchess of Cambridge who sat alongside Charles and Camilla. The ceremony itself was an emotional one with both Harry and Meghan fighting back the tears. As she arrived at the altar Harry grabbed his bride's hand and told her: 'You look amazing' and said 'thank you, pa' after his father Prince Charles walked her down the aisle of St George's Chapel, Windsor. They sat directly behind the Duchess of Cambridge who was between Charles, Camilla and Prince Andrew The royal family couldn't keep their eyes off Meghan who stunned in a Givenchy dress But the tears turned to laughter when the star made him giggle as they exchanged vows in the extraordinarily moving ceremony watched by millions around the world. Ms Markles wedding dress has been designed by the acclaimed British designer, Clare Keller, the first female Artistic Director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy. The veil was held in place by Queen Marys diamond bandeau tiara, lent to her by The Queen, made in 1932 - an outfit that left her mother Doria Ragland, 62, in tears. Meghan arrived accompanied by two page boys who held up her train as she made her way up the chapels steps alone and entered the chapel by herself, to begin the walk down the alter, before being met by the Prince of Wales. Advertisement Doria Ragland was the picture of pride as she watched her daughter Meghan Markle marry Prince Harry at St George's Chapel on Saturday. The 61-year-old appeared to fight back tears as she took her seat in St George's Chapel, after accompanying her daughter on the short car journey from Cliveden House, where she spent her final night as a single woman. Her now son-in-law Prince Harry, eager to offer her some reassurance, was seen turning to catch her eye from the altar. Doria was Meghan's sole relative inside St Georges Chapel on her wedding day, after her father Thomas Markle - who had been due to walk his daughter down the aisle - revealed he'd suffered a heart attack and would not be travelling from the US to attend. But following the ceremony, it became clear how quickly Doria has been accepted into the royal fold, as she emerged from the chapel on the arm of Prince Charles, whose wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, was on the other side. There she posed for her first photograph as the mother to a princess, standing alongside the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Queen herself, and looking chic in a pistachio green coat and matching dress by Oscar de la Renta. Scroll down for video Mother of the bride Doria Ragland has officially been accepted into the royal fold following her daughter's wedding to Prince Harry on Saturday After the ceremony Doria posed for her first photograph as a mother to a princess standing alongside the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Queen herself Congratulating Prince Charles, Doria could be seen taking Prince Charles by the arm as they went to sign the register The pair were then seen leaving the chapel together before heading to St George's Hall where the Queen will host a lunch Doria Ragland appeared overcome with emotion as she took her pew in St George's Chapel ahead of her daughter's arrival Doria had accompanied Meghan from Cliveden House, in Taplow, Berkshire, where she spent her final night as a single woman before officially joining the royal family as the wife of the sixth in line to the British throne. Their journey gave eager royal fans their first glimpse of the bride, who looked stunning in a gown by the British designer Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy - complete with a 15ft veil embroidered with flowers of the Commonwealth. Doria beamed and gazed adoringly at her daughter in the back of her wedding car as they made the short trip to St George's Chapel. Their chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce Phantom IV, which was built and delivered to the Queen in 1950, was also used by Kate Middleton for her trip to Westminster Abbey when she married William seven years ago. The two women could be seen chatting, and a relaxed-looking Meghan gave a brief wave, as the vintage Rolls-Royce Phantom IV, left for the drive to the Windsor Castle. The spotlight on Doria Ragland dimmed in the run-up to her daughter Meghans marriage into the worlds most famous family, after it was announced the responsibility of accompanying the former Suits actress down the aisle would be given to her father-in-law-to-be, rather than her mother. It had been expected by some that Doria, a yoga instructor and social worker from California, would take on the role vacated days earlier by Meghans father, whose health issues left him unable to perform the duty. He remained in the US on Saturday as his daughter said her vows. The mother appeared to shed a tear after escorting Meghan to the church before leaving her to walk down the aisle Concerned Prince Harry, sitting with William, leans forward in an attempt to catch Doria's eye Doria sat alone for the ceremony as other members of Meghan's family were not in attendance Prince Harry glanced at his mother-in-law to give her a reassuring look as he awaited his bride's arrival As her daughter arrived at the altar Doria beamed with pride from her seat Ahead of a service witnessed by more than 100 inside the chapel, thousands outside, and millions around the world, the car journey afforded Doria her own private moment with her daughter. From her front-row seat inside the service, surrounded by the brides long-time friends Jessica Mulroney, Benita Litt and Genevieve Hillis, the proud mother could be seen enjoying the animated address by Chicago preacher, the Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry. She smiled, nodded, and appeared to bite her lip slightly during the vows. Neither Charles nor Doria could wipe the smiles off their faces having just seen their children get married The trio appeared to be getting along famously as they greeted spectators after leaving the church And, in a physical totem of her introduction into the Royal family, she accepted the outstretched hand of the father of the groom as they filed to witness the signing of the registers, before her daughter and new son-in-law were left to drink in the warm wishes of the many gathered in Windsor to witness the spectacle. Last night Meghan looked stunning as she arrived with her mother Doria Ragland, 62, after enjoying afternoon tea with the Queen. The presence of Ms Ragland, 61, who is extremely close to her daughter and still calls her flower, will have undoubtedly calmed any pre-wedding nerves for Meghan, during what has been an unexpectedly fraught and hugely emotional week. The yoga instructor flew into Heathrow on an overnight flight from Los Angeles last week. The mother of the bride stunned in a lime green dress and matching coat by Oscar De La Renta Dressed casually in a T-shirt, linen trousers and canvas pumps, and carrying a suit bag containing what is believed to be her Burberry wedding outfit, she was picked up from the steps of the aircraft by a royal fleet Jaguar. She was driven to Heathrows VIP Windsor suite, where Harrys assistant private secretary Amy Pickerill was waiting with an immigration officer. A member of staff from the private office carried her bags. Miss Ragland, described as a free spirit by her daughter and amazing by Harry, was taken straight to Kensington Palace. She did not have long to shake off any effects of jet lag - just 24 hours later she met with the Queen, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The mother-of-the-bride escorted her daughter Meghan Markle to her wedding Mother and daughter drove away in a Rolls-Royce Phantom IV, which was built and delivered to the Queen in 1950 and used by Kate Middleton for her trip to Westminster Abbey when she married William seven years ago The presence of Miss Ragland, 61, who is extremely close to her daughter and still calls her flower, will undoubtedly calm Miss Markles nerves Doria appeared to fully embrace the experience waving to well-wishers from the car Meghan Markle launched her own mini-revolution as she married Prince Harry today in a relaxed and multi-cultural wedding Harry's relatives will never seen before Meghan and Harry's kiss sparked huge cheers from people outside the chapel and the 100,000 watching on the streets of Windsor Meghan and Harry process out of the chapel after exchanging vows in a quite extraordinary wedding today The couple, who are now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, organised a wedding that reflected both their backgrounds Laughter: One of the well-wishers in the crowds makes Meghan laugh and Prince Harry smile as they continue with their 25-minute tour of the royal market town Harry and Meghan exchanged vows and then rings as the couple married after a whirlwind romance Lady Jane Fellowes (far left) and Meghan's mother Doria Ragland (next to her, in green) stand next to Prince Charles, Camilla, George, William, Charlotte and Kate on the steps of St George's Chapel today after the wedding Here they come! The couple chose to travel in an Ascot Landau Carriage for their wedding procession. The Ascot Landaus are the name of five open-topped carriages kept by the Royal Mews A vision in white: Meghan Markle smiles to the camera as she rides alongside her husband Prince Harry Meghan Markle waves from a carriage after the wedding ceremony wowed huge crowds today Royal wave: Meghan waves gracefully as her husband smiles as the procession weaves its way through the streets of Windsor And they're off! The married couple begin a procession through the streets of Windsor before they will head to the daytime reception with 600 guests at Frogmore House Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pictured moments after they married now becoming the Duke and Duchess of Sussex Regal: The queen looks every inch the head of the family and state as she waves out to applauding crowds alongside husband Prince Phillip after they marry The Duke of Cambridge and his father Prince William both laugh during the service at St George's Chapel Meghan and Harry were pronounced man and wife by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby Harry told his bride that he had missed her after their night apart and clutched her hand throughout the moving service Important job: The two pageboys have the important task of carefully carrying Ms Markle's train up the flight of steps to the chapel Support: Ms Markle delicately holds Prince Charles' arm as she walks towards the alter. This touching moment is all the more poignant after her own father was forced to drop out of the wedding earlier this week due to health problems A nervous looking Prince Harry and his best man William arrived in their Blues and Royals uniforms but he quickly warmed up and waved to the crowds Harry smiles and points at the crowds outside the doors of the church making William laugh uproariously George and Amal Clooney and David and Victoria Beckham are among the A-listers packing out Harry and Meghan's wedding in an extraordinary celebrity showing Famous face: Rock and roll legend Elton John chats away amid rumours he will performing at the exclusive reception party hosted by Prince Charles at Frogmore House later tonight Ready and waiting: Prince Harry's cousin Zara Phillips sits alongside her husband the former England rugby captain Mike Tinall (right) who joked yesterday he was snubbed from his pal Harry's stag-do No fascinator this time: Princess Beatrice, who debuted an extravagant fascinator at Prince Wills' wedding in 2011, shows off her gorgeous green headwear as she sits waiting for cousin Harry to arrive at the church The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson was the first royal to arrive at the wedding of the decade Pregnant Pippa Middleton and her husband James arrived at the steps of the church just after 10.30 Familiar faces: Carol Middleton and Michael Middleton head towards the chapel to watch their son-in-law's brother marry Meghan Markle this afternoon The Middletons: The Duchess of Cambridge's sister Pippa Middleton (left) and brother James Middleton are among the extended family members invited to today's nuptials Floral gown: Lady Kitty Spencer, right, photographed outside St George's Chapel as she waits to enter for the ceremony He has stepped in to walk Meghan up the aisle after a last-minute dropout from Thomas Markle. And the Prince of Wales was all smiles as he arrived at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle this morning with the Duchess of Cornwall. Dapper in a grey morning suit, Charles, 69, arrived in a private car with Camilla, who looked resplendent in a blush pink Anna Valentine ensemble. She teamed the pink silk marocain asymmetrical coat dress with an elaborate, ice pink feathered Philip Treacy hat. Camilla's elaborate ruffled creation was in stark contrast to Charles' pale grey morning suit. The Duchess teamed it with a snakeskin clutch bag and an oversized string of pearls The Prince of Wales waves to onlookers after arriving at Windsor Castle this morning. Charles, 69, was in high spirits after stepping in at the last minute to walk Meghan up the aisle Clad in Anna Valentine, Camilla teamed the pink silk marocain asymmetrical coat dress with an elaborate, ice pink feathered Philip Treacy hat Kensington Palace announced this week that Charles was 'pleased' to have been asked to walk his future daughter-in-law down the aisle after Thomas Markle Snr dropped out at the last minute, citing health problems. Charles met the bride halfway into the chapel this morning, as Meghan had always planned to walk in by herself. The American-born former actress asked the Prince of Wales after discussions with Harry. Charles released a statement earlier this week saying he was 'pleased to welcome her to the Royal Family in this way'. Meghan's mother Doria Ragland had been expected to step in for Thomas Markle, whose deal with a paparazzi photographer threatened to overshadow the biggest and happiest day of his daughter's life. VIP visitors: The couple were among the last to arrive this morning, minutes after Prince Andrew, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Princess Anne arrived Standing in: Dapper in a grey morning suit, Charles, 69, arrived in a private car with Camilla, who looked resplendent in a blush pink Anna Valentine ensemble Swooping in: Charles met the bride halfway into the chapel this morning, as Meghan had always planned to walk in by herself Charles and Camilla were among the last to arrive this morning, minutes after Prince Andrew, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Princess Anne arrived. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived in a chauffeured vehicle, entering the chapel through the Gailee Porch. Glamorous non-royal guests included Victoria and David Beckham, George and Amal Clooney, and Serena Williams. After leaving Clivedon House Hotel this morning, Meghan was driven from Windsor Castle to the chapel and entered at the famous West Door followed by her six bridesmaids and four page boys just before midday . The bride walked through the Nave where Prince Charles wase waiting at the start of the Quire - half way down the chapel - to take her to the altar. Advertisement The Duchess of Cambridge reached for a familiar favourite when getting dressed for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding today. Mother of three Kate, 36, wore a primrose yellow silk tailored coat by Alexander McQueen - the label behind her own wedding gown - that she's previously worn on no less than three high profile occasions. She was first seen in the designer piece for the christening of Princess Charlotte back in July 2015, and then wore it again a year later for the Trooping of the Colour in June 2016. She was seen most recently wearing it at the Passchendaele commemoration service during a visit to Belgium back in July last year. And Kate, who gave birth to her third child, Prince Louis, less than a month ago, wore her investment piece once again today at the wedding of the year, teaming it with an oversized Philip Treacy hat and Jimmy Choo heels. The Duchess accompanied Charlotte out of the chapel following the ceremony where they waved the bride and groom off in their carriage Kate's outfit choice may seem familiar to some royal watchers as she has worn the Alexander McQueen no less than three times before. Pictured, left to right: At Charlotte's christening in July 205, at Trooping of the colour in June 2016 and during her visit to belgium in July 2017 While Kate was not an official bridesmaid, the mother-of-three could be seen guiding her children Charlotte, three, and George, four, who were flower girl and pageboy, down the aisle. The Duchess was accompanied by fellow mum Jessica Mulroney, who was also helping to assemble her children who are also part of the bridal party. The Cambridge's nanny Maria Borrallo was also on hand to support the royal children in their wedding duties. Ahead of bride Meghan's arrival, the bridesmaids and pageboys were ushered in by Kate, who helped coax them into their positions with an encouraging hand on their shoulder. The mother and daughter were picture perfect as they waved off Harry and Meghan following their reception The Cambridges were reunited on the steps of the palace following the family's duties during the ceremony The family then made their way over to St George's Hall to enjoy a lunch reception hosted by the Queen Kate gazed lovingly into William's eyes while a shy Prince George hid from the cameras following his starring role The Duchess of Cambridge, standing next to the Duchess of Cornwall, stunned in a primrose yellow Alexander McQueen coat for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Saturday She and the other mothers assembled on the steps to help escort Meghan's young flower girls and pageboys down the aisle Cheeky Princess Charlotte could be seen turning back to wave to the crowds as he mother encouraged her inside Kate made a statement in an oversize hat by Philip Treacy and could be seen beaming as she arrived for Harry and Meghan's big day alongside Charlotte and George Kate took her pew in between Prince Charles and Camilla and Prince Andrew, with her husband Prince William preoccupied with best man duties Following the ceremony the royal family assembled on the steps of the chapel where they posed for photos The 36-year-old royal took her seat alongside Prince Charles and Camilla for the ceremony as her husband Prince William took his place as best man next to the groom. The trio could be seen singing in hymns as part of the ceremony ahead of the Meghan and Harry's reception at Frogmore house later this afternoon. Kate's youngest, Prince Louis, appears to have remained at home as at just three weeks old was deemed to young for the ceremony. The Duchess of Cambridge is still on her official maternity leave which began at the end of March. Aside from Thursday's wedding rehearsal and today she may appear at some family occasions during the summer but is not expected to return to official duties until the autumn, according to aides, and even then her 'primary focus' will be her children. Familiar faces: Carol Middleton and Michael Middleton head towards the chapel to watch their son-in-law's brother marry Meghan Markle this afternoon The Middletons: The Duchess of Cambridge's sister Pippa Middleton (left) and brother James Middleton are among the extended family members invited to today's nuptials Other members of the Middleton family were also in attendance today including Kate's parents Carole and Michael Middleton and her two siblings James and Pippa. The sister of the Duchess of Cambridge, who is thought to be around four months pregnant, showed just a hint of her baby bump this morning as she set off from London with her husband James for Harry and Meghan's big day. Pippa, 34, wore a pretty 495 Hepburn silk floral dress from brand of the moment, The Fold which features a close-fitting bodice and pleated skirt. The expectant mother teamed her ensemble with nude suede shoes and a bespoke Jess Collett Milliner hat in blush with hand dyed flowers, straw honeycomb shards and a sinamay bow. Following the ceremony the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge travelled to the first reception venue of St George's Hall by car with children Charlotte and George She and Camilla could be seen enjoying a catch-up as they awaited the bride's arrival at St George's Chapel The Duchess chose an outfit by Alexander McQueen, the label which designed her wedding dress The ceremony itself was an emotional one with both Harry and Meghan fighting back the tears. As she arrived at the altar Harry grabbed his bride's hand and told her: 'You look amazing' and said 'thank you, pa' after his father Prince Charles walked her down the aisle of St George's Chapel, Windsor. But the tears turned to laughter when the star made him giggle as they exchanged vows in the extraordinarily moving ceremony watched by millions around the world. Ms Markles wedding dress has been designed by the acclaimed British designer, Clare Keller, the first female Artistic Director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy. The veil was held in place by Queen Marys diamond bandeau tiara, lent to her by The Queen, made in 1932 - an outfit that left her mother Doria Ragland, 62, in tears. Meghan arrived accompanied by two page boys who held up her train as she made her way up the chapels steps alone and entered the chapel by herself, to begin the walk down the alter, before being met by the Prince of Wales. Kate appeared extremely animated as she chatted to the Duchess of Cornwall during the proceedings on Saturday Kate appeared utterly enchanted by her soon to be sister-in-law, seen gazing at her from her seat in the chapel Kate travelled to the chapel alongside the flower girls and pageboys who were happy to wave to the crowds George appeared very excitable as he took the hand of one of the Mulroney twins on their way into the church Meghan Markle launched her own mini-revolution as she married Prince Harry today in a relaxed and multi-cultural wedding Harry's relatives will never seen before Meghan and Harry's kiss sparked huge cheers from people outside the chapel and the 100,000 watching on the streets of Windsor Harry looked very emotional at points in the service and several others in the congregation were in tears on their happy day Meghan Markle waves from a carriage after the wedding ceremony wowed huge crowds today A vision in white: Meghan Markle smiles to the camera as she rides alongside her husband Prince Harry And they're off! The married couple begin a procession through the streets of Windsor before they will head to the daytime reception with 600 guests at Frogmore House Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pictured moments after they married now becoming the Duke and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle has married Prince Harry in a moving service officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury and watched by millions around the world But the tears turned to laughter when the star made him giggle as they exchanged vows in the extraordinarily moving ceremony watched by millions around the world Elegant: Ms Markle looks emotional but happy as she gracefully makes her way down the aisle Important job: The two pageboys have the important task of carefully carrying Ms Markle's train up the flight of steps to the chapel Meghan grinned while looking over her shoulder to the crowds of people who have turned out to wish her and Harry well Meghan's mother Doria Ragland, who teh star calls her rock, was in tears ahead of her daughter's big entrance Harry smiles and points at the crowds outside the doors of the church making William laugh uproariously A nervous looking Prince Harry and his best man William arrived in their Blues and Royals uniforms but he quickly warmed up and waved to the crowds Famous face: Rock and roll legend Elton John chats away amid rumours he will performing at the exclusive reception party hosted by Prince Charles at Frogmore House later tonight No fascinator this time: Princess Beatrice, who debuted an extravagant fascinator at Prince Wills' wedding in 2011, shows off her gorgeous green headwear as she sits waiting for cousin Harry to arrive at the church The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson was the first royal to arrive at the wedding of the decade Pregnant Pippa Middleton and her husband James arrived at the steps of the church just after 10.30 Oprah Winfrey has made the guest list and is seen arriving at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding This is the completed royal wedding cake the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex's guests will be tucking into at their Windsor Castle reception. Kensington Palace tweeted a snap of the non-traditional - and spectacularly pretty - bake, created by Californian Claire Ptak and made using 200 Amalfi lemons, 500 eggs, and 10 bottles of elderflower cordial made at the Queen's Sandringham estate in Norfolk. In keeping with the bride and groom's modern approach to their big day, the cake, decorated with three different types of peonies - a favourite flower of Meghan's - is not a traditional tiered creation, but features layers of different sizes displayed on individual gold plinths of varying heights. It is believed to have cost 80 per slice, with the three-part layered centrepiece rumoured to have cost up to 50,000 to make. The Palace said in a tweet that the 'light sponge' had been 'uniquely formulated' for the royal couple. The completed royal wedding cake, created by California baker Claire Ptak, has been revealed for the first time Happy day: The new Duke and Duchess of Sussex are seen waving to the crowds after exchanging vows at St George's Chapel today Bridebook founder Hamish Shepherd said the confection reflected modern wedding day trends 'perfectly'. He also said the relatively low-key bake hinted at a relaxed party ahead for guests. 'The icing is subtle and smooth (much like the material of Meghan's dress), and has only been decorated by fresh flowers, the same that were part of Meghan's bouquet and the Chapel's decoration,' he said. 'This adds a unity and consistency that only the best weddings master, and hint at the more relaxed, loose and natural nature of the less formal celebrations to follow.' Baker Georgia Green, of Georgia's Cakes, was similarly effusive in her praise for the finished result. She told FEMAIL: 'The cake has been styled beautifully. 'Separating the cake's tiers is very original and the intricate gold stands add a touch of royalty. 'Far from traditional icing, the rustic buttercream and flowers gives the cakes a modern twist,' she said. Californian baker Claire Ptak was tasked with creating Harry and Meghan's 'ethereal' elderflower and lemon wedding cake Baker Claire had said ahead of the big reveal that it would be a non-traditional presentation. The baker, who owns the trendy Violet Bakery in East London, has been working with her team of six bakers full time for five days in the large kitchens of Buckingham Palace. Slices of the cake will be served to the 600 guests at the lunchtime reception in St George's Hall. Her recipe uses 200 Amalfi lemons, 10 bottles of Sandringham Elderflower Cordial made using elderflower from the Queen's Sandringham estate, 20kg (44lb) of butter, 20kg (44lb) of flour, 20kg (44lb) of sugar and 500 organic eggs from Suffolk. The cake has been made using 200 Amalfi lemons, 500 eggs and 10 bottles of elderflower cordial made from the Queen's Sandringham estate Claire said in the days before the wedding: 'It's a lemon sponge - a special sponge that I developed just for the couple, and we drizzle the layers with elderflower cordial from the Sandringham estate so it's really lovely and as local as you can get. 'We have a lemon curd made from Amalfi lemons which to me have the most delicious flavour. And then we've got elderflower swiss meringue buttercream.' She described the flavour of the cake as being a balance of sweet and tart, combined with 'ethereal' elderflower. 'The buttercream is sweet and the lemon curd is very tart so you get a very lovely thing happening when you take a bite, which is to get all of these flavours and sensations perfectly balanced,' she added. Radiant bride: The new Duchess of Sussex is seen departing St George's Chapel today after getting married to Prince Harry The royal couple, seen during the post-ceremony carriage ride today, are said to have been closely involved in plans for their wedding cake, which is being served to guests at their reception in St George's Hall The cake, which is decorated on the outside with a white, elderflower swiss meringue buttercream, is made of layered lemon sponge, drizzled with an elderflower syrup. The layers are sandwiched with buttercream and lemon curd. Three types of Meghan's favourite peonies - Madame Claude, Bowl of Cream, and the aptly titled Duchess - in shades of white and cream decorate the cakes, along with four different white and cream roses - Patience, Purity, Jeanne Moreau and Princess Miyuki. Who is Claire Ptak? Claire Ptak is a food writer, food and prop stylist, recipe developer and consultant. Hailing from San Francisco, she founded Violet Bakery in Hackney in 2010. She started her business as a market stall on Broadway Market, originally cooking her bakes from home. All of her cakes are baked with organic flour, sugar, milk and eggs. She has written four cookbooks. Claire also hosts a podcast on which she interviews successful women 'doing everyday things with amazing results' called Violet Sessions. Advertisement The flowers will be removed before guests tuck in to the cake, but the slices will be served with edible rose petals. The baker said Harry and Meghan loved the lemon and elderflower cake after trying a number of different samples. She said: 'The elderflower is so quintessentially British to me as a Californian. It's of this moment. It's May so they're just opening this week. 'It's a kind of an ethereal, floral flavour which I think is very special, especially for a wedding.' Claire previously admitted she hadn't made a back up cake in case of a disaster, saying: 'It's cake. It can't go that wrong. We have enough cake and we don't want to be wasteful. Anything that is left over, we were going to donate to charity.' The chef had to call in some of her former workers to have enough staff to work on the cake and keep her bakery open. The royal couple are said to have been closely involved with plans for the cake, which was finally unveiled on their wedding day today When did you first start using drugs? I asked the man sitting in front of me. He thought for a moment. About two years ago, he said. I looked down at his notes. About the same time you went to prison? I asked. He nodded. Drugs are now so rife in prisons that, according to a Royal College of Nursing report this week, staff have required hospital treatment for accidentally inhaling fumes from spice I first tried heroin in prison, he said. I got hooked. I started to do a lot of crack in there, too. And cocaine. But hang on, I interrupted. You were in prison. The man laughed at my naivety. Its easier to score drugs in prison than it is outside, mate. This conversation, which took place a few years ago, was with my first patient in the drugs clinic I had started working at. The clinic was near a large prison and, on release, every convict with a history of substance abuse was sent to me. This man was the first of many I saw who not only used drugs while in prison, but became an addict there. In fact, during the time I worked in that clinic, I saw more people who had become addicts while serving time than those who had been addicts beforehand. Drugs are now so rife in prisons that, according to a Royal College of Nursing report this week, staff have required hospital treatment for accidentally inhaling fumes from spice the so-called zombie drug, a form of synthetic cannabis while treating inmates. Last year, 16 prison officers from Holme House prison in County Durham had to take time off after breathing in spice smoke in the cells. Prison officers from Holme House prison in County Durham had to take time off after breathing in spice smoke in the cells For todays inmates, it seems, prison is an opportunity to sit, stoned off your face, watching TV while someone else does your cooking for you. Its a holiday camp with drugs. And thats not my view but what patients have told me time and time again. As one said, prison is not a deterrent; its a nice break from the realities of life. Probably one of the most shocking things I heard was from one young man, not more than about 20, who said hed rather be in prison because the drugs he could get inside were better quality than the stuff being sold on the streets. I cant be alone in thinking this is utter madness. How can it be that our prisons are now places where its easier to break the law than it is outside? What kind of warped message is this giving to those we lock up? Isnt this the very antithesis of what prison should be about? It would be easy to blame the wardens, but its not their fault. Many have spoken to me about their frustration at what they see. Health care staff tell of the utter futility of trying to implement change because they are not supported from above. This is one of the reasons prison staff retention is so poor people come with the idea that a prison is a place of rehabilitation, but soon realise its little more than a holding pen. Staff leave in droves, meaning that many prisons are understaffed, which further perpetuates the problem. One young man said hed rather be in prison because the drugs he could get inside were better quality than the stuff being sold on the streets One nurse who worked in a prison told me that staff know all too well who is bringing in drugs, and how. He said dealers would sometimes throw dead pigeons stuffed with drugs over the prison walls to be collected by inmates and their contents distributed. Mobile phones are everywhere, he explained, so co-ordinating this kind of activity is easy. There have even been cases of drones dropping off supplies. Wardens see it all, but are powerless there arent the staff numbers to quell the aggravation caused when they try to clamp down. Nor is there the political will to stamp out the problem. But lets be honest its not that difficult to stamp out. If airports can prevent people smuggling drugs onto flights, then surely a prison can do the same. But in order to put in place effective mechanisms to stop the torrent of drugs flooding into prisons, the Government has to decide that this is a priority. HM Prison and Probation service needs to make a firm commitment that it is going to clamp down on drugs in prisons and do so with immediate effect. Otherwise we are making a mockery of the justice system. Prison shouldnt simply be a punishment. It should provide an opportunity for people to reflect on their crimes and to make positive changes in their lives. What it most certainly shouldnt be is a place which turns people into drug addicts. A shortage of nurses, it was estimated this week, is costing the NHS 2.4 billion a year. Thats money that could be spent on patient care and treatments, rather than being poured down the drain paying exorbitant agency fees. But, for once, the solution is easy. First, Brexit provides a wonderful opportunity to recruit nurses from outside the European Union. Once we have control of our borders again, we can decide who to allow into the country. And top of my list would be nurses. Get them to commit to a minimum of five years work in the NHS in exchange for being allowed in. Second, its important we nurture our own, home-grown nurses. Last year, fees were introduced for nursing degrees and grants were scrapped. This has seen a significant drop in applications. Of course, no one becomes a nurse because of money, but its criminal that nursing students are graduating with vast debts. We need to send a clear message to those who want to train to be nurses that we value their vocation. Scrap the fees and reinstate grants. Now. Blair's to blame for hospital shop rip-offs What a disgrace. WH Smith has been selling 80p toothpaste for 8 in a hospital shop. Although the retailer has since said it was a pricing error, and has donated the money made from the sales to a charity, exploitation of the sick is nothing new. In a hospital where I worked that had a similarly eye-wateringly overpriced WH Smith, nursing staff would often pop out to the supermarket on their lunch break to get basic necessities, such as toiletries, for patients. A 7.99 toothpaste for sale at Pinderfields General Hospital in Wakefield Why do hospitals allow this to happen? This is a legacy of Tony Blair and with the introduction of Foundation Hospitals in the early 2000s the insistence that hospitals become profit-generating businesses. There are only so many ways a hospital can actually make money and most have hit upon two things: car parking and renting out the space in the foyer to corporations. Its the latter that explains why the entrance to many hospitals now resemble shopping malls. The casualty in this has been the much-loved League of Friends shops, usually staffed by volunteers, who wanted to give something back, often as a thank-you to the hospital who helped them. Every time I pay 2.50 for a coffee in hospital, I think of the League of Friends who not only charged 20p but would throw in a biscuit, too. The way to end abuse Ive been spat at, punched, kicked, sworn at, had knives pulled on me and twice been held hostage during my career as a doctor. Sadly, my experiences are far from unique. Theres no doubt that those on the frontline of the NHS bear the brunt of some atrocious behaviour. Things are so bad that this week, at the Royal College of Nursing congress, it was suggested that NHS staff should be fitted with body cameras in an attempt to keep them safe. While attacking members of staff is unforgivable, the more pressing issue is not the staff abused by patients, but rather patients abused by staff behind closed doors. Im thinking of the elderly, the mentally ill or those with learning disabilities the most vulnerable members of society who are on the receiving end of horrific abuse and neglect, particularly in care homes. The vast majority of abuse cases that come to light do so because families have placed a camera in their relatives room. We should now start installing this as routine. In fact, if we could put them in every room, abuse would stop practically over night. Wed weed out the perpetrators and allow those who really care to get on with their jobs. Yes, its awful that we even need to consider action like this, but sadly, as so many scandals have shown, its crucial that we do. Don't tell patients to 'fight' cancer Macmillan, the cancer charity, has warned against telling patients to fight cancer, saying that talking about the disease in terms of a battle leaves sufferers feeling guilty for admitting fear and often prevents them from planning for their death. Having worked on a cancer ward where I witnessed this for myself, I couldnt agree more. I saw how the idea of fighting cancer made some people feel a failure when their condition became terminal. Its easy to see why. The words we use to describe cancer are the words of war. The cells invade and we fight back. We have an arsenal of treatments to defeat it. Cancer is the enemy. Why do we talk about cancer in this way? Because it offers us a false reassurance that the disease is something we can fight against. By using words such as fight and win, we suggest the patient is responsible for their own recovery when, in reality, the success of cancer treatment relies on drugs, radiotherapy or surgery, not willpower. Its also a great deal down to luck at what stage it was caught, whether it has spread, what organs are affected and so on. And its this arbitrary nature of the disease that makes us profoundly scared. By using active words suggestive of a war, things seem less random. But the flip side is that it implies that, when someone doesnt win the battle, they are to blame. Even if we never say this outright, its often how those with cancer feel. You should have fought harder; you were not a good enough opponent. This isnt true. Sometimes cancer is terminal and thats no ones fault, certainly not the patients. The amazing moment a British transplant patient becomes one of the first to receive a warm and beating donor heart has been captured for the first time by television cameras. The pioneering technique has the potential to transform the fortunes of hundreds of desperately ill transplant patients waiting for a lifesaving operation, say surgeons. The procedure was filmed for a moving BBC documentary Heart Transplant: A Chance To Live, which marks the 50th anniversary of the UKs first heart transplant. In extraordinary footage, the donor heart can be seen in a clear box, still beating. State-of-the-art equipment in the box allows the heart to be kept in near-perfect functioning condition with the donors own blood pumping through it as it is taken by ambulance to the recipient. Previously a donor heart had to be stopped before being transported on ice in cold storage. Bleak prospects: Joy Thomas with wife Lissy before his transplant, in a still from the film However, the longer the organ is outside a body and cut off from blood and oxygen, the less successful the transplant will be, limiting the distance it can travel. Now, thanks to the box properly called the TransMedics Organ Care System surgeons can keep donor hearts warm and beating for more than six hours outside the body, meaning organs can be transported across the country or internationally to reach a patient. The number of patients awaiting lifesaving heart-transplant operations rose by 24 per cent last year, with experts declaring an organ shortage. Both tissue and blood type need to match, and about 80 per cent of possible hearts are ultimately unsuitable because they are too diseased. Then theres the added complication of geography: in cold storage a heart can survive for no more than four hours. This ischemic window means a race against time, hugely limiting the pool of available donors. Now a handful of UK hospitals have used the new machine, which utilises a technique called ex-vivo perfusion that vastly extends the ischemic window. In the documentary we meet Joy Thomas, a 54-year-old whose own heart is functioning at just 20 per cent after he contracted an auto-immune disease. In hospital for a year, he is barely able to walk. He has been on the transplant waiting list at Newcastles Freeman Hospital for 297 days and his prospects look bleak. Then doctors learn a donor heart has become available in Northern Ireland. Transported on ice, it would not have survived the journey but a local charity agreed to pay the 40,000 cost of using the Organ Care System. Accompanied by a skilled team of surgeons, nurses and other specialists, the heart is transported to Newcastle in the box, which has two parts; a portable platform and a perfusion chamber in which the organ sits. The battery-powered platform houses wireless monitors that record vital information indicating the heart is healthy, and is fitted with an oxygen tank and pump to deliver a constant flow of warm blood taken from the donor. The transparent chamber maintains the sterile, humid and warm environment needed to keep the heart beating, and delivers a supply of nutrients. By the time it arrives at the Freeman it has been outside the donors body for almost six hours. Joys own diseased heart is removed while he is attached to a heart-bypass machine and the donor heart is stopped for a short time and drained of blood. This allows surgeons to place it in Joys body and begin the painstaking process of connecting it to the blood vessels. Ali Kindawi, a heart-transplant surgeon at the Freeman who operated on Joy, says: Previously we would be very anxious about timing, because the conventional way of transferring a heart from the donor to recipient is in a box of ice and there is no time to lose before the cells of the heart are dying. With this machine you can be more relaxed. You can see if the heart is working nicely or struggling. Just 20 minutes after being sewn into Joys body, it begins to beat and he is discharged from intensive care after five days. Then, 20 days after his transplant, the man who previously could not walk more than five steps is seen pedalling on an exercise bike. Similar perfusion techniques have been used to extend the life of other donor organs, including the lungs and kidneys. However, heart specialists are hailing the Organ Care System as the new frontier of transplant medicine. With organs able to retain their functionality, it paves the way for perfusion hubs across Britain where organs can be repaired before being dispatched to hospitals around the country. Andy Fisher, Professor of Respiratory Transplant Medicine at Newcastle University, is hugely optimistic about the possibilities offered by the TransMedics Organ Care System. He says: We can give different medications to the organ during perfusion. We could silence specific genes and give cell-based therapies. We believe we could be doubling or tripling the number of transplants that happen in the country. Its a hugely exciting prospect. Heart Transplant: A Chance To Live is on BBC iPlayer now. Visit bbc.co.uk/iplayer. Ever wonder why... ...some people are left-handed and others right-handed? About one in ten of us is left-handed, with famous lefties including actors Nicole Kidman, below, and Robert De Niro. German researchers say the secret lies in our spinal cord not the brain, as previously thought. They analysed the activity of genes in the spinal cord during the eighth to 12th week of pregnancy and detected significant right/left differences in the eighth week in precisely those spinal-cord segments that control the movements of the arms and legs. About one in ten of us is left-handed, with famous lefties including actors Nicole Kidman Health hacks Full of goodness: fresh tomatoes or a tube of puree? When it comes to pizza and pasta sauces, a tube of tomato puree can provide more health benefits than youd get if cooking fresh tomatoes. Tomato puree contains more lycopene (the antioxidant in tomatoes) than any other food, and high quantities of this nutrient have been linked to a reduced risk of cancer and heart disease. Cooking and canning tomatoes preserves lycopene, which is better absorbed by the body when it has been heated and processed. SUNDAY, APRIL 29 Everyone on Good Morning Britain is obsequiously nice to each other, in direct contrast to when I worked in Fleet Street and the febrile newsroom atmosphere was more akin to Game Of Thrones. So its always a delight when I hear something that suggests a darker glint lurks behind my colleagues perma-grins. A lady named Helen Miller, who works at Benenden hospital in Kent, tweeted me today: Dr Hilary Jones came to our grand opening and said he was going to bring Piers Morgan, but youre recovering in hospital with self-inflicted love bites. Get well soon! Now 93, Charles Aznavour, the French Sinatra has recorded 294 albums and more than 1,200 songs Im perfectly well thanks, Helen. Its Dr Hilary you need to worry about after I next see him. FRIDAY, MAY 4 President Trump today spoke at the National Rifle Associations annual conference in Dallas and NRA members were ordered by the Secret Service not to carry weapons into the hall. Of course, if they agreed then they would be allowing their coveted right to bear arms to be infringed by the very government they fear may turn tyrannical and seize their guns. They would also, by their own mantra, be leaving themselves defenceless and vulnerable in a room full of armed people. The NRA had the law on their side; nowhere in the US Constitution does it say the Secret Service can ban civilians from carrying guns. So what did they do? They disarmed themselves. Its hard to imagine a more laughable act of pathetic, snivelling, cowardly hypocrisy. SATURDAY, MAY 5 Charles Aznavour is my favourite singer. Now 93, the French Sinatra has recorded 294 albums and more than 1,200 songs, most of them about the difficult business of love. Whats the secret of true love? I asked him when we met today in a London hotel. Sincerity and openness, he replied, living like free people but always together. Hes been married to his third wife for 52 years and says theyve never had an argument. How have they avoided confrontation? One or the other has to shut up. Aznavour radiates good health, which he puts down to a 350m workout in the pool every morning (oddly, he cant swim instead he uses a harness to power-walk in the water), never talking publicly about politics, reading for an hour a night (You must keep learning!), and leading a moderate lifestyle. Nothing too excessive, he cautioned. And you must love your work. My wife pretends my mistress is my work. I said yes, and she costs me nothing I reminded Aznavour that when he first started his career, critics dubbed him too ugly, too short, terrible voice. He chuckled. And they said I wrote bad songs! But those critics are all dead now, and Im still alive. I asked if hed sing me She, which I had played at my wedding and believe to be the greatest love song of them all. No! he retorted. You sing, Ill listen. So I crooned the first few lines, as Aznavour grimaced. Not bad, eh? I suggested. Not bad, he replied, if you now stop. Aznavour, as brilliantly charismatic in person as he is on stage, performs what may be his last-ever UK concert at the Royal Albert Hall on June 30. Ill be there, and if you want to see a true maestro at work before its too late, so should you be. SUNDAY, MAY 13 Tessa Jowell has died from cancer, just days after Barbara Windsors husband Scott revealed she has Alzheimers. Ive spent a lot of time with these two great Dames over the years and they shared many traits: a caring and compassionate personality, a real love of people, and an ability to light up any party. Both women also faced up to serious health issues with inspiring courage and fortitude. Tessa has sadly lost her fight, and British politics has lost one of its most important voices. Barbara is still fighting. I emailed Scott to say how right he was to go public with her condition, and to send her my love. I just read your email to Barbara, he replied, and she smiled and said straight away, Piers is a rascal but a lovely one. It was lovely to see her smile when she said this. I suspect my own smile at this response was much bigger. Good luck, Babs. Were all rooting for you. MONDAY, MAY 14 Sue Perkins hosted the Baftas last night, and died a long, painful death as she unleashed a string of inappropriate sexist jokes. It was almost beyond parody that at an event where many women wore Times Up badges, the female host leered about black Diversity star Ashley Banjos genitalia, called Bradley Walsh a gorgeous bit of fluff and writhed her cleavage on her former Bake Off co-star Mel Giedroyc as she cried HERE ARE MY BOOBS! I didnt escape Perkinss sexually charged wit. Turns out tonight Im going to have to work alongside a massive organ, she sneered. So now I know how Susanna Reid feels on Good Morning Britain. Ho ho. Of course, if a male host had made the same crack about a woman, all hell would have broken loose. And if he was white and sexually objectified a famous black woman in the same way she leered about Ashley Banjo, hed be fired. As so often these days, the double standard surrounding feminism knows no bounds. If women want equality, as I most certainly do for them, then they need some of their most high-profile advocates like Perkins to stop behaving in such a rankly hypocritical way. Patrick Melrose Sunday, Sky Atlantic Rating: The Bridge Friday, BBC2 Rating: Innocent Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (was there no end?), ITV Rating: Patrick Melrose is based on the autobiographical novels by Edward St Aubyn and stars Benedict Cumberbatch, and what else can I tell you? Ho-hum. Let me think. Drums fingers, stares into the middle distance, picks nails. Oh yes, Ive remembered now: it will blow your socks off. I watched the first episode twice and both times it blew my socks off. I then watched ahead and episode two also blew my socks off. There will be five episodes all told, so once youve retrieved your socks, do fully expect to have them blown off again. Directed by Edward Berger, with a script by David Nicholls, it is riveting yet not easy viewing in the same way, say, Trainspotting is riveting yet not easy viewing heroin addicts are never an especially pretty sight and this did put me in mind of Trainspotting but from the opposite end of the social scale. Patrick Melrose is based on the autobiographical novels by Edward St Aubyn and stars Benedict Cumberbatch The opener is set in 1982 and begins with Patrick (Cumberbatch), who is upper class and super-wealthy, answering the phone in London. Its a crackling line from New York. His father, he is told, has died. Very sorry, Patrick Patrick slumps, falls to his knees. In grief, we assume, until we see its to pick up a fallen syringe. From here on in, Patrick is under the influence of heroin or Quaaludes or amphetamines or alcohol or cocaine, not always all together, but sometimes. This actually sounds dull oh God, not another of those descents into drug-crazed madness but thats only because I probably havent sold it very well. There isnt a dull moment, I absolutely promise. He heads to New York. Shots of him approaching the room where his fathers corpse is being held at the funeral home are cut with him approaching his fathers bedroom door, with terror, when he was a child. What happened in that room will become the focus of episode two, but for now its enough to know his father was a monster in some way, and that Patrick is in pain. Patrick twitches, throws up, slides against walls, trashes hotel rooms, contemplates suicide, showers everyone with wads of cash, hits the streets in the middle of the night in search of smack. And throughout, Cumberbatch is dazzling. Its not just the energy of the performance, which would likely be sufficient in itself, but the way he makes Patrick so vulnerable and relatable and darkly funny. It will blow your socks off unlike, for instance let me think, let me think any of the crime thrillers currently doing the rounds? Its hard to say whether I am done with crime thrillers or they are done with me. I can only tell you its one or the other. Even The Bridge, where Sagas autism is now being clumsily played for all its worth, has become monumentally annoying. The Danish head of immigration has been gruesomely murdered and theres still only a couple of cops working on the case, and theres no government or media interest, and the intelligence services where are they? So its either that, on the crime-thriller front, or its those small communities where everyone is harbouring a festering secret. You may think you dont live in a small community where everyone is harbouring a festering secret, but are you sure? As they are so rife? Small communities were everyone is harbouring a festering secret can happen anywhere, any time, but if you live by the sea where fishermens blue twine is to hand, you may want to get out especially quick. That was the setting for Broadchurch, and now its the setting for Innocent, which dragged on and on over four nights. The deal, in a nutshell: David Collins (Lee Ingleby) went down for his wifes murder but seven years later is acquitted on a technicality and returns to this place by the sea with the blue twine to hand. Did he do it? If not, was it his best friend (Elliot Cowan) or his wifes sister (Hermione Norris) or her husband (Adrian Rawlins)? There was one person who seemed above suspicion so of course it turned out to be that person. I dont think you had to be a genius to have worked that out by the end of episode two although if you insist otherwise, I can happily go with that. My plot-hole police were all over this, inevitably. The actual, initial police investigation into the murder was appalling. Evidence was obscured, witnesses not interviewed, phone records not investigated, forensics not thorough, and so on. It had to be, if the story were to work, but when it came to court either the judge would have thrown the case out or the defence would have eaten the prosecution alive. Either way, David would never have gone down in the first place. So there is that but, more importantly perhaps, if you dont put the character work in, everyone is just a cog, and charmless and forgettable. In fact, quiz me in ten minutes and Im sure I wont remember a thing Every picture tells a story Hells Kitchen begins on ITV May 23, 2004 The stress-infused cooking show saw Angus Deayton make his presenting comeback, but the leading antihero was Gordon Ramsay. He trained ten minor celebrities from Edwina Currie to Al Murray to cook as they ran a restaurant in London. Pugilistic Ramsay ensured the heat didnt just come from the food two contestants walked out after roastings from the chef, and he drew complaints for his fondness for conducting conversations purely in expletives. After series one, Ramsay bundled the show off to Hollywood, though it carried on here with presenters including Marco Pierre White and Gary Rhodes. Gwen Smith Red Wyndham's Theatre, London Until Jul 28, 1hr 30mins Rating: Tommy Cooper used to be a heavyweight boxer in the Army. I spent so much time with my nose on the canvas they called me Rembrandt, he joked. A few artist gags wouldnt go amiss in this sombre play about Mark Rothko, the great American abstract artist seen here in the late Fifties preparing a set of murals for a pricey new restaurant in New York. Alfred Molina, head shaven totally bald, plays the grumpy, bullish artist in specs whose mantra is seriousness. It is his new assistant Kens job to listen to him, mix the paints and fetch the Chinese takeaway. Alfred Molina (above), head shaven totally bald, plays the grumpy, bullish artist in specs whose mantra is seriousness In the role as workshop skivvy is Alfred Enoch, giving a lovely open-faced performance of non-confrontational calm. So when he finally turns on his impossible master, its all the more effective. Rothko didnt do modesty. Theres tragedy in every brush stroke, he says in full Anguished Artist mode. How you wish this insufferable egotist would put a sock in it as he sprinkles about the names of philosophers and great artists (like him). Its when the pair get down to work that the evening comes fully alive. Theres a terrific scene when they prime, at high speed, a big canvas from a bucket of red paint. The two end up exhausted on the floor, looking like bloodspattered axe murderers. John Logan wrote the edge-of-your-seat film Gladiator, but in this wordy play of his theres a lot of listening to Rothko to be done often while watching paint dry. Reds compensating reward is two smashing performances in a show directed by Michael Grandage and designed by Christopher Oram with enormous care and skill. Whether this rather chuntering play deserves such loving attention is another matter. Soap Spiegeltent, London Until Jun 16 Rating: Seven circus artists perform in, on and around five old-fashioned bathtubs on a stage frequently awash with water, but theres no need for Slippery When Wet signs in this frothy spectacular. Melding acrobatics, gymnastics, dance, opera, clowning and juggling, the German troupe dishes out imaginative updates on circus staples, with the neat trick of lending everything an aquatic theme. At times theyre caught between wanting to turn up the raunch dial yet needing to keep it family-clean for an early-evening slot. But their capacity to surprise irons out any inconsistencies. A bathroom symphony of drinking, gargling, spitting and brushing is typical of Soaps inventive comedy. And if youre bored of juggling, you havent seen Vanessa Alvarez on her back spinning four large towels, or tossing a guitar around with her feet. Strangely, theres no soap in Soap. Was it a typo and they meant to call it Soak? Quite possibly if the front rows in the wet zone are anything to go by. Either way, its a splish-splash smash for the summer. Mark Wareham The Be All And End All York Theatre Royal On tour until Jun 2, 2hrs 10mins Rating: This is a play about helicopter parenting mums and dads who hover over their children, determined to make sure they succeed. Mark is a rising MP, Charlotte is his publishing exec wife. Its A-level time and they are both nervous wrecks. Theyve spent a mind-bending 650,000 on their son Toms education. But he needs A* grades for Cambridge and failure looms. I found myself chuckling freely at the spiral of parental deceit and youthful rebellion. Above: Matt Whitchurch as Tom and Robyn Cara as Frida Despite some sermonising about the psychological and moral cost of educational privilege, essentially this is a juicy comedy of moral corruption and total family meltdown. Toms dad (nicely performed by the plays author, Jonathan Guy Lewis) is a jokey wag who exudes entitlement. Imogen Stubbs is both syrupy and manipulative as the mother. Matt Whitchurch is all too plausible as their exasperated, fragile son, with Robyn Cara as his cruelly compromised girlfriend Frida. I found myself chuckling freely at the spiral of parental deceit and youthful rebellion. If you have a sarky teenager at home, take them to this. They might harrumph but youll love it. Robert Gore-Langton The Be All And End All is at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, Tue-Sat, and the Theatre Royal, Windsor, May 28-Jun 2 Describe The Night Hampstead Theatre, London Until June 9, 2hrs 50mins Rating: US writer Rajiv Josephs play is a semi-fictional, semi-comic navigation through the lies and realities of Soviet history, starting in 1920 with the great writer Isaac Babels reports from Poland. US writer Rajiv Josephs play is a semi-fictional, semi-comic navigation through the lies and realities of Soviet history. Above: David Birrell and Steve John Shepherd Then there are the Thirties purges, orchestrated by the repulsive Yezhov (David Birrell, excellent), whose wife had an affair with Babel (Ben Caplan). In 1940 the policeman and writer become executioner and victim. Yezhov was in turn tortured to death by Stalin. But the play lets him live on as an old comptroller of the KGB, dispatching a young Putinesque agent to East Germany to spy on Babels (imaginary) granddaughter. Our post-truth world has its origins in the horrors of the Soviet experiment. A shame this ambitious, fantastical but rambling affair doesnt quite suck you in. At the meeting, Trung highly spoke of the development of cooperation between Vietnam and Mongolia since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in 1954 as well as Mongolias support for Vietnams struggle for national independence. Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung. (Photo: VNA) In 2019, Vietnam and Mongolia will celebrate the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, the Deputy FM said, adding that since the establishment of the diplomatic ties, the two countries have seen active cooperation in multiple fields. Particularly, there has been regular exchange of students between the two sides, he noted. The two nations see huge potential for fostering bilateral cooperation in economy and trade, he said. suggesting the governments of Vietnam and Mongolia create more favourable conditions for businesses from both sides to meet and seek partnerships. For his part, the Mongolian official said his country wants the bilateral ties to expand further and produce more practical outcomes in many fields. He noted his visit aims to learn from Vietnams experience in developing and implementing free trade agreements. He stressed that the visit has been very effective as it has helped improve awareness of the bilateral cooperation in recent years. He highlighted the trade relations between Vietnam and Mongolia, which have seen positive developments with mutual visits by the two countries ministries and agencies to discuss issues of mutual interest. He also hoped for closer coordination between the two sides at international forums./. It used to be men who had the monopoly on affairs. But the latest research shows that women are just as likely to be unfaithful and the reasons may surprise you, says Anna Moore The number of women who admit to being unfaithful has risen by 40 per cent since 1990 Quite what has been going on between Colin Firth and his wife Livia whose 20-year marriage seemed to be one of the strongest in showbusiness and the man they say has been stalking her is hard to fathom. According to their official statement, Livia became romantically involved with childhood friend Marco Brancaccia two years ago, during a period of separation from her husband, and he has stalked the couple ever since. However, some newspapers have questioned this version of events, pointing to photographs of the Firths looking very much together throughout this period of separation when Livia was involved with Brancaccia. The number of women who admit to being unfaithful has risen by 40 per cent since 1990 Meanwhile, Brancaccia strongly denies the stalking allegations (he says he sent two WhatsApp messages and an email) and insists he was deeply in love with Livia. The real story, he says, is a famous couple trying to cover up an affair. The case is now in the hands of lawyers, but whatever the truth, the tale leaves one big question unanswered: why, when youre married to Mr Darcy, with two sons, dream homes in Umbria and West London and a red-carpet lifestyle, would any woman look elsewhere? Yet more and more of us are doing so. Reliable statistics are hard to find after all, infidelity takes place under the radar but the evidence points one way. Where once the research found more men admitting to affairs than women, this has changed. According to a YouGov survey, the male/female split is now fairly even, with one in five British adults having had an affair 20 per cent of men and 19 per cent of women. Studies by the Kinsey Institute have found that the number of women who admit to being unfaithful has risen by 40 per cent since 1990 while the rate for men has stayed the same. 'I go online each encounter leaves me feeling happier, more alive' Kathryn, 42, has been with her husband for 16 years. They have a son, who is three. My husband and I had a good sex life in the past but the spark died. Like a lot of women, after years together, I went off sex with my partner. A close friend was using the website illicitencounters.com and for years I watched her having this adventurous, secret life while mine seemed dull and predictable. After our son was born, the focus was the baby, the home, the family. I didnt feel sexy or desirable. I probably wouldnt have joined the site if my friend hadnt already been on it. I was instantly inundated with offers. As a new mum, that was a massive confidence boost. Ive been very selective I go on about three dates before theres any sex. Each one leaves me feeling happier, more alive. Its invigorating. My husband and I have built a life together. Weve got our son, a lovely house, our families are close, we have big get-togethers. I love him and Im generally an honest person. Id prefer an open relationship but he believes you stay faithful to one person and thats it. If I thought his attitude was changing, maybe it would be something I could raise. Until then, we only live once. Sex is important. Adventures great. Theres no guilt. Advertisement Dr Alicia Walker, US sociologist and author of the book The Secret Life of the Cheating Wife, spent a year interviewing 40 women who were unfaithful to their husbands. She expected to find the old cliche to be true: that men cheat for sex whereas women, stuck in unhappy marriages and seeking a way out, cheat for emotional connection. What I found challenged that idea, she says. Most of the women described marriages that were good their husbands were good people, good parents, best friends. The women werent cheating because they wanted to get out of the marriage, they were cheating to stay in it while also getting their needs met. The most common of these needs was fulfilling sex. Their marriages were either sexless or not sexually satisfying, says Dr Walker. For many, this had been a problem for years or decades. They had approached their husbands numerous times, begged, pleaded, cajoled, suggested therapy, but the men didnt see it as a problem. Instead of wandering through this sexual desert, having an affair met the womens sexual needs without breaking up their families. 'Why do I cheat? I didnt marry the right man' Nicola, 54, has been married for 20 years and having affairs for the past two. She has a teenage daughter. I was in my 30s when my husband proposed and even then half of me was saying, Yes! Youve got someone to marry you you can have children. The other half was saying, Hes not the right one. Stupidly, I listened to the wrong half. We dont have a friendship: my husband is not sociable, he doesnt like going out, hes always miserable and I dont find him sexually attractive. The last time we had sex was a year or two ago. When our daughter was young I had more to distract myself with. But shes 16 now and I only work part-time so Ive got time on my hands. I dont have hobbies; I dont work out at the gym. I want to find someone I can kiss, to have that spark, that fun with. Two years ago I was really low and lonely. I found myself Googling a guy I had a relationship with 30 years ago and have never forgotten. He lives in Australia but I sent a Christmas card with my email address and before long we were emailing every day, phoning each other, getting more intense. I cheered up no end Id found someone to talk to, I was on a high and I lost a stone in weight. It ended when his wife found our emails. My friend had signed up to a dating site and met someone so she said I should try it. Since then, Ive been on more dates than I can count and probably slept with about 20 of them. Sometimes its a bit disappointing but theres one guy, who is also married, that Ive been seeing for over a year. The sex is fantastic, although we only see each other once a week. Yes, I should leave my husband, but where would I go? Could I afford it? If I had someone waiting for me, holding their hand out, that would make it so much easier. On my own it would be like stepping into the darkness. I dont know if Ill ever end my marriage. Some of the men Ive met have been great but do we have enough in common outside our little bubble? Would I trust them? At least now Im happier Im having sex, Im connected with people and having conversations Ive not had with my husband in 20 years. Lifes not boring! Advertisement Women also talked about wanting to be someone else as a driving force for having an affair. They felt the roles of wife and mother didnt leave much space to be anything else, says Walker. At home, some found it difficult to be the person they used to be, or to try out different versions of themselves. An affair allowed them to escape from that to be wild, free, dangerous or spontaneous but they didnt want to behave like that all the time. Relationship therapist Esther Perel, author of bestseller Mating in Captivity, has noted similar feelings among her clients. Marriage meets our need for safety and dependability, but we also thrive on mystery and adventure. Although its often assumed that men are the first to tire of their partners and to lose sexual attraction, research shows that its women who lose sexual interest in their partners first and more suddenly (for men, it tends to be gradual; for women, it can free fall). Women also tend to cheat sooner typically within six to ten years. (For men, theres no clear window but its commonly later than this.) 'Working away from home was my year of living dangerously' Louise, 39, has been married for nine years and has two children. If youd asked me five years ago, Id never have believed Id be unfaithful. My husband is a good man hes popular, very successful; were a good team, very committed. Three years ago I was given an amazing opportunity to work abroad for a year. It wasnt practical to uproot the family, so we decided I should go alone with a lot of FaceTime and visits in the school holidays. It was daunting but thrilling. I loved the job and I had a beautiful, minimalist apartment very different to our home, stuffed with family paraphernalia. There were networking events to help me settle in and I noticed that I was getting far more attention from men. At home, I was a fraught married mum. Here, I was a mysterious English woman on her own. What began as company for lunch or dinner turned into harmless flirting, then more as I had no family to come home to at the end of each day. My first affair was with someone at work very senior and also married. It lasted two months. I also had a few other intense relationships some just kissing, some went further. Since I returned home more than two years ago I have been utterly faithful. Its as if Ive never been away. What happened had nothing to do with my husband I see it as my year of living dangerously! Weirdly, I dont feel guilty. No one got hurt. I dont think my husband was unfaithful while I was gone, but in a way I hope he was. Advertisement Marital therapist Andrew G Marshall, author of How Can I Ever Trust You Again?, says the desire to escape, to be someone new is something he hears a lot in therapy. Women who have been unfaithful often say, I just wanted to have something for myself. Women are very good at looking after everyone else, at making everyone else happy as theyve been raised to believe that this will make them happy, too. Instead, they end up feeling empty and taken for granted and that can lead them to look elsewhere. For women unlike men cheating tends to be deliberate. It doesnt sneak up on them. Men can fall into it, Marshall says. One pattern is that when men have problems, they tend to confide in one person only their wives. When their marriage is the problem, they cant confide in their wife so instead they start talking to a female colleague, an old friend or another woman. They become closer and closer and thats how it starts. Having an affair makes a bad situation 100 times worse I dont see that with women, he continues. When they have problems with their marriages, they have lots of girlfriends to confide in. Theyre not drawn into intense relationships unknowingly. Marshall has also found that women tend to crack from the guilt of having an affair more than men. Women are more likely to confess. Men get found out, he says. And the result when they do confess or are caught out is the same as it is for cheating men: shattered lives, anger, feelings of betrayal and a lot of mess. Having an affair makes a bad situation 100 times worse, warns Marshall. If you believe youre improving your marriage by doing it, then youre lying to your husband, to your children, to your lover and to yourself. Struck down by bacterial meningitis, Rikke Schmidt Kjaergaard woke up from a coma, alert but unable to move or speak. She describes the living nightmare that followed. Rikke at home in Copenhagen today. Her gangrene-damaged fingers are one of the side effects that impact on her day-to-day life Everything was hazy, almost no light coming in. I tried to keep my eyes open, but it was hard and it hurt. My husband Peter was sitting next to me and telling me about the snow outside the window. It sounded beautiful. I loved the sound of his voice. Winter has come, he said. The children and their father loved the snow. I wanted to see it, wanted to tell them to go outside and play. But even though I could formulate those thoughts in my mind, I couldnt summon the power to speak or move my head or my hands. I could feel tubes in my mouth, but no other part of me. Where was I? What had happened to me? Everything in me was locked. My bed was like a coffin. I felt lonely, abandoned, terrified My alarm did not register with Peter, who continued talking about the snow. I tried to shout, to whisper, to wave. But everything in me was locked. Peter finally looked at me and realised that my eyes were half open. He took a deep breath. Rikke, youre in hospital, in intensive care. What was he talking about? It was difficult to keep focused. His voice became more a comforting sound than actual words I could take in. Meaning dissipated. I slowly drifted away. It was like the most horrifying, claustrophobic nightmare, except I was awake. My bed felt like a coffin. Perhaps everybody thought I was dead and they were about to bury me without giving me a chance to tell them I was alive. Over and over again when I tried to open my eyes, Peter told me what had happened. I was confused and disorientated I didnt know why I couldnt move or why no one was reacting to my thoughts. I couldnt understand why I was unable to speak, why my body wasnt obeying my orders. The only thing I could do was to listen and watch and hope that someone would notice that my eyes were slightly open and could guess what I was thinking. There are no Hollywood moments in waking from a coma. In real life, waking up is a fragmented jumble of impressions, lights and sounds. It is painful and noisy, so the urge to close the world out for ever becomes overwhelming. You dont want to wake up; you would rather go back to sleep. You drift in and out of consciousness and cant control it. What took me a few seconds before my coma could now take an entire day. Trying to remember my own name, even when I had just heard it, or trying to remember what someone had only recently told me were overwhelming challenges that drained me, making me sink into a deep, hard, dreamless sleep for hours. It took a long time before my eyes opened fully. At first it wasnt a conscious act. It simply happened. I knew nothing of it and to my family it was all going painfully slowly. I had what the doctors called sunset eyes narrow slits, barely open with only a downward gaze, letting me peek into a world I had not been a part of for ten days. Or rather, it was a chance for everybody to look in, to see if there was anybody there. The pain of being unable to touch or talk to my children is indescribable The initial sense of joy everybody felt from the first minute my eyes had started to open quickly chilled. The doctors warned Peter not to get his hopes up. Sunset eyes are typically seen in patients with severe brain damage after long-term coma. I might have some awareness of things around me, but I would probably never talk again, eat by myself, do everyday tasks, or recognise Peter or any of our children. And, if I ever did wake up, the chances were I would be a different person. I might be aggressive, less loving. I might shout or cry, not knowing why. I probably wouldnt even recognise myself. And this was if things went really well. Just as my carers and family became used to my downward gaze, tiny changes began to happen. Peter realised that my eyes closed gently if he asked me to close them and moved slightly in his direction when he spoke. He felt hope growing. He thought he could see the fight in my eyes; see the stubbornness, strength and resilience that had always been my calling card. He wanted to believe it. My family needed to believe it. Rikke at home with her family Noticing my tiny reactions, Peter and the children now had something to do, to help keep them sane and give them a sense of purpose. They could talk to me and watch for my reaction, monitor the movement in my eyes. They had derived comfort in talking to me even in the absence of a response, but when I started the long process of waking up, their mission had a new impetus. Peter read to me every waking hour, every break between checkups and tests. Now he had reason to believe that something would get through. The children were also enlivened by my progress and they took turns reading out the letters and cards friends had sent. They told me what happened at school and what they had for lunch. They asked me questions, sang to me. This created an artificial haven in which they were talking to their mother and she was listening even if there was no response. I was still oblivious, except, every now and again, I sensed their presence. The children were coping as well as possible in such a situation. One of Peters sisters had moved into our house to be with them. Daniel, who was eight, and Victoria, 14, went to school but they were ghosts, waiting for the day to end so they could dash to the hospital to see me. Johan, who was 18, was in limbo, uncertain when he would return to boarding school. Growing desperate for any kind of reaction from me, Peter asked the doctors if a good friend of mine might visit. They agreed. In a soft voice Peter told me who had come and they stood next to my bed talking to each other. Slowly I opened my eyes. The passive downward gaze that heralded a defunct brain had changed. I looked up, straight at them. Rikke! Can you see us? asked Peter, barely breathing. I blinked. Do you understand what Im saying? I blinked again. This was the first sign I had not lost all my cognitive abilities, that I could understand simple questions and recognise people. After two weeks of terror, good news at last. But the moment lasted only minutes before I drifted back into darkness. Over the next week my mind moved between a conscious and illusory state, trying to find answers to what had happened. People were patient, going through the details again and again, but my short-term memory had gone. Each time I was told I was confused, terrified and saddened. This is normal following brain damage and long-term coma. For me everything past and present was a blur and little made sense. I knew who Peter was, and the children. But I had no idea who all those other people were, checking things, taking blood and talking to me. As I woke each time the only things I was aware of were humming sounds from machines, and then commotion, loud noises, running, panic. And if Peter wasnt there I was terrified. Tears ran from my eyes with no sound because I couldnt say anything, screaming from the inside for him to come but nobody could hear. He was never gone for long, but a few minutes felt like for ever. RIKKE'S ROAD TO RECOVERY Rikke, now 43, spent five months in hospital before finally being able to go home. Ill never be as strong as I used to be, or as active, she says. I have to take care of myself, manage my day carefully and allow for breaks. If I am tired I have to rest or my body will stop functioning. I am practically blind in one eye and need glasses to read with the other. My left thumb is my only unimpaired finger [due to gangrene Rikke had nine fingers partially removed]. I know I was lucky. I got my life back even if it is a different life. Many dont. Since my recovery Ive been asked over and over what it was like to be conscious but unable to communicate. If I were to sum it up in one word it would be loneliness. I felt abandoned, desperate, frightened. It was tough and it still is. I am still me, but I have changed. My priorities are different and some months after returning to my university career in data visualisation I realised this was no longer what I wanted. With others, I have founded an educational charity, The Science Club, a mentoring network for children and young adults. I also founded a company, Graphicure, with a colleague. Our mission is to empower patients to monitor and understand their own treatment and recovery. I didnt just get my life back, I got something more: a profound desire to make my life matter not only for me, but for as many people as possible. My family has always been close but now we are even closer. In the first few years following my recovery they were on high alert for signs of me feeling unwell. I dont think that will ever go away. The shock sits with us as a family and it takes very little to take us back to where we were. But this is also a strength, a compass for how we spend our time and the choices we make. I can honestly say that it has increased our quality of life. What an utterly unexpected bonus. Advertisement All I could do was lie there, helpless, waiting while thoughts haunted me. Was this now my life? Locked inside my body, I did lots of thinking. The only other thing I could do was blink my link to the outside world. A nurse suggested one blink for no, two for yes. This altered everything. I could now participate and if they asked the right questions, I could even have things my way. Slowly I began to make tiny steps of physical progress. I started to feel pain. Your nose itches, then someone turns your body over, unaware of your itch, and in the process gets your arm in an awkward position so it hurts. You lie in discomfort for a few hours until someone comes along and starts drawing blood from your exhausted veins. The relief of one pain was the beginning of another. This is now my life, I thought. I am locked in and entirely dependent. My lips dried up and this irritated me so much I summoned everything I had left to open them slightly. This was another breakthrough as my family began to lip read. Using only the simplest words yes, no, hello I couldnt afford the energy to tell them I was pleased to see them. I will never have the words to describe the pain of being unable to touch or speak to my children. It went far beyond the physical. I wanted to protect them from the pain they were feeling and express how much I cared about them. It was like a living hell being unable to talk to them, laugh with them, or wipe away their tears and tell them it was going to be all right and it was only their presence that stopped my mind unravelling. Everybody was getting used to me being mute, my communication confined to blinks or the attempts to mouth words. Every question tailored for a yes or a no answer. This required patience and skill, but we all adapted. Then one day Johan was soothing my lips with ice, Victoria was massaging my legs and Daniel, who had been telling me a story, blew me a kiss. Suddenly something felt different. I felt a sense of control. After a few breaths, I went for it My first word came out: Weird. It made my family laugh a thousand bubbles of happiness released into the room. Its so like you to say something like that, Mum! laughed Victoria. That day changed things for them. A lightness had re-entered our lives. They started talking in normal voices around me. I was still me even if I was locked in a useless body. Weird it simply had to be my first word. I was unable to speak any more that day, but I felt I had summed up the situation pretty well. I was making progress This is an edited extract from The Blink of an Eye: How I Died and Started Living by Rikke Schmidt Kjaergaard, to be published by Hodder & Stoughton on 31 May, price 16.99, to order a copy for 12.74 (a 25 per cent discount) until 3 June, click here or call 0844 571 0640; p&p is free on orders over 15. Rikke will be talking to Bill Bryson at Hay Festival on 30 May. For tickets, visit hayfestival.org How Brussels and Remain factions at Westminster have managed to bamboozle the Government (and, for that matter, Labour) into thinking that a customs union, or something like it, is the be-all and end-all of Brexit negotiations is astonishing. It is no more than a strawman, focused on the Irish border-crossing and diverting policymakers from real prizes. As exciting as it is that the UK once again has a vibrant car design and making sector, there is no escaping the fact that when it comes to exports we are a disappointment. The most important thing which Theresa May should be shouting from the roof tops is services Britains huge strength in Europe, the US and across the globe is in services. This does not refer to haircuts and celebrity chefs, as terrific as Toni & Guy and Heston Blumenthal may be. The most important thing which the Prime Minister and Chancellor should be shouting from the roof tops is services. As the 2017 report from financial services industry body, The City UK, points out, financial services earned Britain a surplus of 57billion last year 69.3billion when related services such as legal and consulting are counted. Thats before creative services, ranging from Star Wars movies to Ed Sheeran, are added. A fat, forensic dossier on financial services has been passed by the Bank of England to the Government detailing areas of competitive advantage and potential regulatory solutions. The favoured approach is mutual recognition (or equivalence). This works for the UK at present because many of the rules originated in London. As innovation comes along, some kind of adjudication process will be required to sort out divergences. At recent Washington financial gatherings, Philip Hammond talked up the need for more open and global services deals. But no one in Westminster appears to be listening. Unless the Government takes it forward with urgency and willpower, Britains most embedded competitive advantage could be placed at risk. Bully boy This brings us to New York corporate raider Edward Bramson and his assault on Barclays. Investors in the bank will be aware that it has been an underwhelming performer, plagued by ethical problems which has slowed turnaround. Far bigger shareholders, such as long-term owners Capital Group, Qatar Holdings and Blackrock, should not allow themselves to be bullied into reshaping the enterprise by a 5pc holder focused on making himself and cohorts richer in the immediate term and not worrying about the dead bodies left behind. Edward Bramson Bramsons declared goal, unhelpfully outlined in New York, is to rip Barclays investment banking operation apart. He kindly consents to leaving mergers and acquisitions teams in place and allowing the bank to do high value public offerings and bond sales but thinks cash equities, currency and fixed trading desks can be axed. Even sceptics about the social good to be derived from casino banking have to recognise that it is part of the package if you are to be a functioning investment bank. Barclays is the last UK institution standing in this space, and for all its faults has a strong franchise having acquired (on the cheap) most of Lehmans US corporate clients. If it stops being a full-service investment bank it shrivels into territory better occupied by Lazard, Greenhill, Rothschild and the rest. Thats not good for Barclays or London as a global financial centre. Family affairs The economics of todays royal wedding are, like the monarchy, bathed in mystique. Generally speaking, the taxpayer seems to get a good deal from the 85 per cent it receives of the 328million profit derived from the 12.4billion Crown Estates. The Queens 15 per cent share, and income from the Duchy of Lancaster, are also subject to taxes since they were negotiated by John Majors government during a rare burst of republican fervour. In comparison, the cost of the nuptials held on state property at Windsor is 32million. As Britain moves to toward a European farewell, rekindling the pomp of the UK monarchy can be no bad thing. An American bride should (as International Trade Secretary Liam Fox says) underpin the transatlantic relationship. Last year 1.56m American tourists, taking advantage of a depreciated pound, travelled to the UK and spent 1.4billion. If global publicity for Harry and Meghan were to lift US tourism by just a couple of per cent, then the wedding would be paid for. Imagine the uplift if a future royal were to find a Chinese partner. Investment guru Warren Buffett famously said that the ideal length of time to hold an investment is for ever. It is a strategy which many professional investors are adopting as the FTSE 100 reaches new highs. The idea is that if you can find an investment fund or company whose share price keeps growing year after year, then there should be little reason to sell or move your money elsewhere. Holding investments for the long term can be rewarding and a cheaper way to invest. Each time you buy and sell shares it costs money, which eats into your returns. But if you only buy once, you minimise trading costs. Helping hand: Investment guru Warren Buffett advised holding shares for ever While investment funds levy a mix of ongoing charges, they will be lower if the manager is not buying and selling companies often. This is because they are not racking up trading costs. Nick Train is manager of the successful Lindsell Train Global Equity fund. He is renowned for his buy and hold style of investing. He famously once went three years without investing in a new company. The funds most recent purchase, last summer, was to buy into financial services behemoth Hargreaves Lansdown. Although some may argue it is his business to search out better investments, the results of his strategy are compelling. Over the past five years, a 1,000 investment would have more than doubled in value to 2,250. By way of comparison, an equivalent investment in the average global fund would have grown to 1,610. Train says: If you can find a company so reliable in its business performance that it carries on increasing its share price decade after decade then you would hold it forever, wouldnt you? Some do just that, but they are rare. One example he likes is Youngs brewery, which operates more than 200 pubs around the country. Its shares have soared in value from 115p in 1995 to 1615p today. Train says: As long as you expect London to remain a growing city and you expect Londoners to carry on drinking alcoholic beverages, Youngs is a good company share to buy and hold. He has also owned shares in Irn-Bru maker AG Barr for 17 years Irn-Bru is still the number one soft drink in Scotland. Train says drinks brands make great investments because the cost of ingredients is low and consumer loyalty is high. He adds: AG Barr has recently cut the sugar content of Irn-Bru so there is no excuse not to keep supping the nectar. We will see what that does for the price of the shares over the next 17 years. Finding winning shares by yourself can be tricky but investors can back those fund managers such as Train who have a strong track record of being able to root them out. Laith Khalaf is senior analyst at financial broker Hargreaves Lansdown. He says: The best strategy for building your wealth is to get rich slowly by buying and holding investment funds over the long term. Picking a fund manager who uses a buy and hold approach means their skill in picking long term winners benefits you directly. The most extreme example of this is an investment in the first ever investment trust, Foreign & Colonial, which launched 150 years ago in 1868. If you had put just 100 into the trust at launch you would now have an investment worth an incredible 12 million. Tasty tip: Regular drinkers boost Youngs brewery success While investing for 150 years is not realistic, backing an investment fund for ten, 20 or even 30 years is practical, particularly if you are investing into a pension for retirement. Investors should find an investment fund with a strong track record, with a manager whose style they like, invest and then leave their money alone for at least five years. The longer you leave your money the greater the potential investment returns. Such an approach is not only cheaper but is usually effective because it means you are not tempted to change your investments at the worst time. Rob Pemberton is investment director at financial adviser HFM Columbus Partners in Weybridge, Surrey. He says: The best advice when it comes to investing is to forget about the short-term and not get distracted by so-called market noise. This can cause you to chop and change and make poor decisions influenced by fear and greed, rather than sound logical analysis. Terry Smith is another fund manager renowned for rarely buying or selling shares. He says: Our strategy is to invest in good companies, try not to overpay for the shares and then simply do nothing but hold. His 13 billion Fundsmith Equity fund only invests in 29 companies and 12 of these have not changed since the fund launched in 2010. They include Milkybar maker Nestle, Guinness-brewer Diageo and toothpaste maker Colgate-Palmolive. Over the past five years, a 1,000 investment would have grown to 2,250. Some investment trusts take the buy and hold approach to extreme. Bankers Investment Trust has owned shares in UK bank HSBC for a staggering 129 years. The first set of annual accounts from the trust in 1889 show the banks shares listed as well as those of companies including Liebigs Extract of Meat Co, which used to be the owner of Oxo cubes. Investment trust Lowland has invested in Wiltshire-based pub company Wadworth since 1968. James Henderson, who manages the trust, says the value of the holding has increased 100 times not including dividend payments along the way. Meanwhile, there are more than 20 companies in the JPMorgan American investment trust which have been in the portfolio for a decade or more, including tech giants Microsoft and Apple. Manager Garrett Fish says: Apple has been at the forefront of innovation over the past decade and disrupted an entire industry through the introduction of products such as the iPod and iPad. Lidl is planning an online delivery service in yet another assault against the UKs biggest supermarket chains. The German discounter has created a holding company with Companies House called Lidl Digital Logistics as it gears up to enter the grocery delivery market, the Mail can reveal. Lidl chief executive Christian Hartnagel and chief financial officer Dirk Kahl have been registered as directors of the new company. Online move: It is the first time Lidl has expressed an interest in moving online Lidls move represents the latest attack on the likes of Tesco and Sainsburys, which have thriving web businesses. And just this week, online grocer Ocado secured a tie-up with US supermarket giant Kroger. Aldis German rival Aldi also has a delivery service where customers can buy wine and general merchandise such as clothing, childrens toys and DIY tools. Shoppers still have to go in store for fresh food, and its online offering is limited. Although Lidl has 700 stores in the UK and pulled in revenues of 6.1billion last year, this is the first time it has expressed an interest in moving online. The company filing comes as Sainsburys and Asda prepare to join forces to create a 14.1billion supermarket. The competition regulator has begun its investigation into the merged company which would have 2,800 stores with combined revenues of 51billion. The grocery powerhouse is likely to be viewed as a major threat to rivals as it becomes the UKs biggest supermarket. Sainsburys and Asda have vowed to slash prices if the merger goes ahead. Aldi and Lidl have already hit back and vowed to remain the cheapest option for shoppers. But experts say Lidl needs to do more to protect its competitive advantage. Natalie Berg, retail analyst at NBK Retail, said supermarkets can no longer ignore the importance of having an online business. Competition: Aldi and Lidl have hit back at Sainsbury's and Asda merger by vowing to remain the cheapest option for shoppers Discounters like Lidl have traditionally shunned ecommerce because it was incompatible with their low-cost business model, she said. Once you factored in the cost of picking, packing and delivering, theres no way Lidl could have offered the same low prices you find in store. However, the rise in third-party delivery services is opening doors for supermarkets, allowing them to cater to the growing demand for online grocery without the hefty investment in infrastructure or systems. Farida Gibbs, chief executive of technology consultancy Gibbs Hybrid, said: Without technology, no business can create and deliver its products or services while engaging with customers efficiently. Marks & Spencer is trialling a delivery service with courier firm Gophr in Camden, north-west London, and Reading as a cheaper way of getting food and drink from stores to customers. A postcode finder on its website hints it could soon be ready to launch a larger roll out. Marks & Spencer is trialling a delivery service with courier firm Gophr in a couple of locations Lidl has soared in popularity with customers since it opened its first supermarket in Britain in 1994. The German firm traces its roots back to the 1930s when it started out as an independent grocery wholesaler. It has been a hit with shoppers hunting for a bargain as an alternative to the Big Four of Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda and Morrisons. The growth of the budget supermarket chains, which account for more than one in eight sales, were one of the motivators for Sainsburys bid for Asda. Last year Lidl revealed a 1.5billion expansion plan which will see it open 60 shops a year. A spokesman for Lidl said last night: We have a digital department already established within the business and, of course, online is something were looking at, but we have no immediate plans at the moment. More than 2.5bn was wiped off the value of Glencore yesterday amid reports it faces a bribery probe by the Serious Fraud Office. Shares in the commodities giant fell 4.4 per cent, or 17.5p, to 380.35p. The SFO is believed to be looking into Glencores ties to Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler in Democratic Republic of Congo. Gertler, who once owned stakes in two of Glencores projects in DRC, was sanctioned by the US last year for opaque and corrupt mining and oil deals in the country. Glencore and the SFO declined to comment. The share slump came as the FTSE 100 eased off from its all-time high to finish the day down 0.12 per cent, or 9.18 points, at 7778.79. Troubled Carpetright has turned to shareholders in a bid to raise 60m. It has been little over a month since the struggling retailer revealed it would shut 92 of its stores and axe 300 jobs as it battles to stay alive. Shares in the group, which has 2,700 staff and 409 UK shops, are down an eye-watering 76 per cent since the start of the year. Carpetright will use 10 per cent of the money it raises to cover additional costs involved with its CVA, 12.5m to repay a short-term unsecured loan and 33m to fund its spending plans. Chief executive Wilf Walsh said the placing would provide the cash needed to refurbish and modernise its stores and upgrade its digital platform. There was a scramble for shares yesterday, which should serve as evidence that investors believe the placing will help Carpetright execute its turnaround. Certainly that must be the case for any newbie buyers, as only those who owned shares prior to the market close on Thursday are eligible for the new tranche. Shareholders are being offered 88 shares for every 27 existing shares they hold, which will be issued at 28p each a chunky 15.8pc discount from their closing price on Thursday. Walsh was delighted at the strong demand for the shares, but investors may not feel they are in much of a position to say no. Carpetrights market cap is 23.6m it means the issue of 232m shares would dilute the stake of an existing investor who chose not to participate in the issue by more than 75 per cent. A shareholder who had a 1 per cent stake in the business will see that stake drop to 0.235 per cent if they do not participate, according to analysis by Hargreaves Lansdown. And Paul Hickman, analyst at Edison Investment Research, said: This does look like a serious and comprehensive effort to lift Carpetright out of the cycle of decline that has hit other legacy retailers. Shares soared 11.3 per cent, or 3.75p, to 37p. Live Company Group is expanding into South Korea. The events business runs Brick Live exhibitions of popular brick-building toy Lego across the world. Next month the group will launch a Brick Live Kids Cafe in Seoul, displaying Lego animals and attractions such as a brick pit, race tracks and interactive graffiti wall. The company also plans to launch 100 such cafes across China by 2022. Shares leapt 5.2 per cent, or 2p, to 40.5p. The biggest shareholder in retirement firm Just Group has sold its 18 per cent stake for 237m. Private equity firm Permira offloaded its stock for 143p per share 5 per cent below market prices. Analysts said the disposal is good for investors as it means more shares are freely changing hands on the market. Earlier this week, Just unveiled a 41 per cent rise in business in the first three months of 2018 and hailed it as a strong start to the year. Shares in the group dipped 2.2 per cent, or 3.3p, to 147.1p. President Donald Trump made waves on Friday night when he tweeted about a spy implanted in his 2016 election campaign team by the Department of Justice. He quoted Fox News anchor David Asman, who said: 'Apparently the DOJ put a Spy in the Trump Campaign. This has never been done before and by any means necessary, they are out to frame Donald Trump for crimes he didn't commit'. And while neither Trump nor his lawyer Rudy Giuliani have any concrete proof a spy was implanted in the campaign, there was definitely one working around the edges. A retired American professor contacted three Trump aides during the summer and fall of 2016 while working for the FBI, The Washington Post reported. President Donald Trump said a spy had been sent to infiltrate his 2016 campaign by the Department of Justice Trump tweeted a quote from Fox News anchor David Asman, claiming the DOJ would 'frame him for crimes he didn't commit' The man, who has also provided information to the CIA, has been working as an informant for years, and has helped with the investigation into possible Russian interference in the election since before Robert Mueller was appointed as Special Counsel. His conversations with the Trump aides centred entirely around foreign policy. In late summer, he offered his expertise to the Trump campaign through campain co-chairman Sam Clovis. The informant met with foreign policy adviser Carter Page and invited him to London to work on a research paper. He also spoke with George Papadopoulos, whose boasts to Australian diplomat Alexander Downer of knowledge that Russia had damaging information on Hillary Clinton sparked the collusion investigation. The professor's meetings with the advisers began just weeks before July 31, 2016, when the FBI formally opened an investigation on Russia's attempts to influence the election. But while the professor was working around the edges of the campaign to gather intelligence, he was not 'planted' and he was not in the inner circle of the campaign. Trump, and many of his allies, are claiming there was a source within the Trump campaign, planted to frame the President for crimes he did not commit. George Papadopoulos was one of three Trump aides that met with the professor turned informant. His boasts of knowledge that Russia had dirt on Hillary Clinton to an Australian diplomat sparked the investigation into Russian collusion On whether there was an 'informant' in the 2016 presidential campaign, Giuliani told CNN on Friday: 'I don't know for sure, nor does the president, if there really was one,' though he said they have long been told there was 'some kind of infiltration.' Last week, the National Review raised the question of a possible FBI spy in Trump's campaign. The article cites work by Republican Rep. Devin Nunes, an ardent Trump supporter and head of the House intelligence committee, who has demanded information on an FBI source in the Russia investigation. Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee, objected Friday to such demands, emphasizing 'the critical importance of protecting sources and methods.' 'It would be at best irresponsible, and at worst potentially illegal, for members of Congress to use their positions to learn the identity of an FBI source for the purpose of undermining the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in our election,' Warner wrote in a statement. 'Anyone who is entrusted with our nation's highest secrets should act with the gravity and seriousness of purpose that knowledge deserves.' The New York Times reported separately this week that at least one government informant met several times with Carter Page and George Papadopoulos, both former foreign policy advisers for Trump's Republican campaign. The Times reported on Friday the informant talked to Page and Papadopoulos because they had suspicious contact linked to Russia. The newspaper attributed the information to current and former FBI officials. Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, told CNN on Friday neither he or Trump actually knew for sure if there was a spy or not Giuliani said he and Trump had been told there was 'some kind of infiltration', but they do not know what form it took Also on Friday, Giuliani said special counsel Robert Mueller has narrowed his possible interview subject areas from five to two as negotiations continue over whether the president will sit down and answer questions in the Russia investigation. Mueller is investigating possible coordination between Russia and Trump's 2016 campaign. Giuliani said Trump's legal team doesn't expect him to be asked about his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, who faces a separate criminal investigation in New York. But Giuliani did not provide many additional details, saying that some questions are still 'subject to negotiation.' As the Russia probe moves into its second year, many Trump allies, including some Republicans on Capitol Hill, have increasingly pushed for ways to paint Mueller and his investigators as political actors, not above-the-fray lawmen, in an effort to discredit his findings or justify his possible dismissal. A number of Trump outside advisers - including former chief strategist Stephen Bannon - have stepped up their attacks on the Department of Justice, calling for it to release more documents to the White House while saying a confidential source has worked against Trump. The allegation of a government-sanctioned spy is unverified, but Trump's allies have been pushing the President to act more aggressively towards the DOJ Working from his Capitol Hill town house, Bannon has consulted with Trump-friendly congressmen including Nunes and Rep. Mark Meadows, to rally support among Republicans and push Trump to act more aggressively, according to two people familiar with the discussions but not authorized to discuss them privately. Bannon, who had a falling out with the President last year, often passes his thoughts to the White House via the congressmen or Trump advisers, including former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and ex-deputy campaign manager, David Bossie, according to the people. He has long pushed for a more antagonistic approach to the probe, dismissing talk from former Trump lawyer Ty Cobb and others who he feels minimized the threat the special counsel posed. In a series of late night calls to allies, including Meadows and Fox News anchor Sean Hannity, Trump has blasted the reports of an informant as evidence that the so-called deep state of career government officials has been working against him. He has frequently fumed about the Russia probe even while in White House meetings this week about other topics, according to a White House official. Talk of the reported FBI source has rocketed through the conservative media - Hannity discussed it on his show Wednesday - and was a centerpiece of Giuliani's attacks on the probe Friday. 'I want to know because I believe, if there was an embedded person, that person cleared us because the FBI cleared us. I wonder what the heck is the legitimacy of the Mueller investigation in the first place,' Giuliani told CNN. The gunman, 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis is being held without bond on charges of capital murder and aggravated assault of a peace officer Ted Cruz was also slammed online when he said that the slain students made a 'sacrifice' Patrick made the comments during a news conference on Friday, hours after 10 people were gunned down at Santa Fe High School He also told parents who own guns to do a better job of keeping them locked away from their kids Texas Lieutenant governor Dan Patrick said in a news conference on Friday that it's time to get 'creative' when thinking of solutions to prevent mass school shootings and suggested that fewer entrances and exits at schools would fix everything. 'We pay have to look at the designs of our schools moving forward,' he said. 'And what I mean by that is there are too many entrances and too many exits to our over 8,000 campuses in Texas.' Patrick, a fierce opponent of gun control, said with schools having so many doors it's hard 'to put a guard at every entrance and exit'. 'Maybe we need to look at limiting the entrance and exits to our schools so that we can have law enforcement looking at the people who come in at one or two entrances,' he suggested. Texas Lieutenant governor Dan Patrick suggested that limiting the number of entrances and exits at schools could prevent mass shootings Patrick (pictured on the right with Sen Ted Cruz on the left and governor Greg Abbott center) made the comments Friday, hours after 10 people were gunned down at Santa Fe High School in Texas Many people were outraged by Patrick's remark and took to Twitter to bash the Texas Lieutenant governor One Twitter user said it was a 'terrible' idea because kids would be trapped inside the school with only one of two exits Patrick also shared some of his 'out of the box' ideas telling parents they need to do a better job of keeping their firearms locked away from their kids and said students should start school at different times. 'Our schools may have to have their start day, not all students show up at once so we don't have every student - there were 1,400 students at this school - trying to get in the door at once,' he said. 'We're gonna have to be creative. We have to think out of the box.' Patrick's wacky ideas not only seems to blame parents but could be extremely dangerous. As several people pointed out on Twitter, fewer entrances and exits at schools would be a fire hazard. 'Complete moron. Lt. Gov. of Texas Dan Patrick thinks less doors to school will make kids safer. Has he never heard of fire safety?' Twitter user @jeffavny posted. 'They'll die in a stampede to get away from the fire but a shooter will only have one way in the building. F***ing moron.' 'One entrance. Massive school. Has this d***head ever heard of a thing called fire?' comedian Tommy Campbell tweeted. Another Twitter user, Charlotte Clymer, said not only is Patrick's suggestion a fire hazard but it would make it easier for a school shooter to kill people. 'You clearly never served in the military because this creates a funnel effect, making it easier to kill,' the tweet read. 'As a Texan, this is embarrassing.' Another Twitter user called Patrick a moron and said less entrances and exits at schools would be a fire safety hazard Ted Cruz also came under fire for saying that the slain students made a 'sacrifice' 'They were murdered,' one Twitter user posted lashing out at the Republican senator Another social media user told Ted Cruz that a 'sacrifice' would be him giving up his NRA money and 'work to pass gun control' Republican Sen. Ted Cruz was also blasted on social media after he said during that same news conference that the slain students made a 'sacrifice'. 'Texas as a state will make it through this. This community, Santa Fe, will make it through this, leaning on each other, prayer for each other, standing for each other, we will make it through this,' he began. Cruz then added: 'And we thank the incredible heroes that we saw today. Those in law enforcement that rushed into harm's way. Teachers, studentswe know that we're going to hear the bravery that manifested in the face of evil. Bravery that we know was done at least in some instances at great cost and great sacrifice, including sacrifice of people's own lives. So we celebrate that bravery, that courage at the same time we grieve the horror of this mass murder.' Cruz's statement did not sit well with a lot of people who took to Twitter to slam the Republican senator and NRA supporter. 'Ted Cruz said the kids killed in Santa Fe today made a "sacrifice". No, you dumb f***ing a**hole, they were murdered,' wrote Twitter user Adrian Nichols. 'They didn't "sacrifice" a damn thing. They were murdered. Because of a deranged kid with guns. You know what would be a "sacrifice?" You giving up your NRA money and work to pass gun control,' Denizcan James posted. Other state officials addressed ways to improve school safety, but none of them suggested that substantial gun restrictions could be on the table. Gov. Greg Abbott, a staunch advocate for gun rights, said at a news conference after authorities say a student killed 10 people and wounded 10 others at a high school in Santa Fe, near Houston, that he will start holding 'round table' discussions on guns and school safety issues starting next week. 'We need to do more than just pray for the victims and their families,' governor Greg Abbott said. 'It's time in Texas that we take action to step up and make sure that this tragedy is never repeated ever again.' Texas Governor Greg Abbott said he will start holding 'round table' discussions on guns and school safety issues starting next week 10 people were killed and 10 others injured when gunman Dimitrios Pagourtzis opened fire inside the Texas high school Police are now trying to piece together what motive 'quiet' Pagourtzis had for carrying out the shooting Cruz, who has been a staunchly pro-gun throughout his political career, added his own sentiments, though he didn't suggest that gun restrictions might help: 'There've been too damn many of these. Texas has seen too many of these.' Calls for tighter gun controls surged in other parts of the country after the February mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, where a former student killed 17 people, but they barely registered in gun-loving Texas, where more than 1 million residents are licensed to carry handguns. Since the 2012 shooting of an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, Texas has expanded gun rights by making it cheaper and easier to get licensed and allowing handguns into college classrooms and dorms. After a gunman in November killed more than two dozen worshippers at a church in the tiny town of Sutherland Springs, near San Antonio, Texas' Republican attorney general, Ken Paxton, called for there to be more guns in churches. President Donald Trump has been looking at Texas as a possible model for his proposal to arm teachers in the wake of the Florida shooting. Abbott said Friday that he wants more safety 'resources' devoted to school safety, though he didn't offer specifics. He said he wants to include state lawmakers, educators, students, parents and gun rights advocates in his round-table discussions, which will seek to find ways to 'protect 2nd Amendment rights ... but ensure our schools are safer places.' He said he hopes to specifically invite victims from Santa Fe and Sutherland Springs. Among the ideas that could be considered are ways to keep guns from those who pose 'an immediate danger to others' and how law enforcement might better spot trouble signs or mental health issues in students, Abbott said, though authorities have said there were no obvious warning signs about the 17-year-old student behind Friday's attack. 'The answers are not always immediate,' Abbott said. 'But the answers will come by us working together.' Pagourtzis is being held without bond in the Galveston County jail on charges of capital murder and aggravated assault of a peace officer The response to Friday's mass shooting was markedly different than after the church attack, which barely moved the needle on the gun control debate in a state with some of the most permissive firearms laws in the country. Dallas hosted the NRA's annual conference earlier this month and until Friday, gun control wasn't a main issue with candidates of either party in this year's primaries. The two Democrats vying to run against Abbott in November said Friday that it is time to discuss gun control. Houston businessman Andrew White and former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez will compete in a runoff Tuesday for the Democratic nomination to run against Abbott. 'Thoughts and prayers don't replace the need for a plan,' White said. 'Our children are literally marching in the streets, demanding that we, the adults, make the change to keep them safe,' Valdez said. 'We will act to make change. There is no other option.' Democratic Rep. Beto O'Rourke, who is mounting a longshot bid to unseat Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, has gone further than other Democrats in calling for a ban on assault rifles like those used in both the Florida and Sutherland Springs attacks. Patrick also said that Santa Fe High School had recently completed a state safety course and had two officers on campus Friday. 'This is not acceptable in the state of Texas or in this country,' Patrick said. 'This must end and we must do everything we can. We can't protect every parking lot, every stadium and every building, but we can sure do better.' Boris Johnson will venture into the Amazon jungle to drum up support for trade with Britain after Brexit. The foreign secretary will touch down in Latin America as part of a five-day tour of Peru, Argentina and Chile. Mr Johnson will also view the front line efforts against the battle against the illegeal trade in wildlife. He will be the first foreign secretary to visit Argentina since 1993, as the UK tries to reset a relationship with Buenos Aires. Foreign secretary Boris Johnson will touch down in Latin America as part of a five-day tour of Peru, Aregentina and Chile Mr Johnson will be the first foreign secretary to visit Argentina since 1993, as the UK tries to reset a relationship with Buenos Aires The capital city was thrust into the deep freeze by the bellicose approach to the Falklands of presidents Nestor Kirchner and Cristina Kirchner between 2003 and 2015. The arrival of Mauricio Macri as president has seen Argentina dial down its rhetoric on the disputed islands and seek engagement with the wider world, including by hosting the G20 this year. Mr Johnson will attend a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Buenos Aires on Monday. Theresa May is also due to become the first prime minister since Tony Blair in 2001 to visit Argentina by taking part in the leaders' summit in November. Britain is already using its experience from the 2012 London Olympics to support Peru's preparations for next year's Pan Am Games in Lima, with construction contracts linked to the sporting spectacle likely to attract bids from UK firms. The capital city was thrust into the deep freeze by the bellicose approach to the Falklands of presidents Nestor Kirchner, left, and Cristina Kirchner, right, between 2003 and 2015. Mr Johnson will be joined on his trip to the Peruvian jungle by President Martin Vizcarra The three South American countries on Mr Johnson's itinerary are viewed as key targets for enhanced UK exports after Brexit. They are revered for their support for free trade and their growing middle classes creating a market for British expertise in areas such as infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and professional services. The UK currently provides only about 1% of imports in each country a figure which London believes should be higher. Peru and Chile already have free trade agreements with the EU, which the UK hopes can be rolled over after Brexit. Mr Johnson will be joined on his trip to the Peruvian jungle by President Martin Vizcarra. The pair will see the work of an animal rescue centre as well as launching a UK-funded solar project providing electricity and drinking water for a remote Amazonian school. Theresa May is also due to become the first prime minister since Tony Blair in 2001 to visit Argentina by taking part in the leaders' summit in November The visit to Peru the first by a British foreign secretary for more than 50 years forms part of preparations for a major international conference on the illegal wildlife trade, hosted by the UK in London in October. Speaking ahead of the visit, Mr Johnson said: 'This will be my first visit to the region since becoming Foreign Secretary. 'Latin America is a vibrant and dynamic part of the world that works closely with the UK on a number of issues including trade, security, science, infrastructure and education, among others. 'I am looking forward to strengthening the UK's relationship with countries in the region, as well as representing the UK at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting for important talks on climate change, the illegal wildlife trade and how to ensure girls across the world receive 12 years of quality education.' As well as attending the G20 meeting in Buenos Aires, Mr Johnson is due to hold talks with President Macri and foreign minister Jorge Faurie. In Chile, he will meet President Sebastian Pinera and foreign minister Roberto Ampuero as well as visiting a British Council-funded project which aims to train young women in coding skills. Ten years ago, an elderly Zimbabwean farmer called Mike Campbell went to court to stop Robert Mugabes thuggish government stealing his family home. Campbell grew mangoes, oranges and potatoes on 3,000 acres of land hed owned since the Seventies. But, suddenly, he was one of around 4,000 unfortunate citizens told their land was being confiscated without financial compensation simply because they were white. Zambian-born Tendayi Achiume is a powerful figure in the world of international diplomacy, working as the United Nations special rapporteur on the issue of racism These ruthless seizures were part of Mugabes controversial land reform policy which saw him try to compensate his countrys black majority population for the sins of white, 19th-century Rhodesian colonialism. In practice, it meant Mugabes violent henchmen were given freedom to grab properties and valuable agricultural land for themselves. Mr Campbells home, Mount Carmel, in particular, had been coveted by the Zimbabwean despots senior aide, Nathan Shamuyarira. Following his forced eviction, the 73-year-old farmer challenged the move at a tribunal of the South African Development Community, a 14-nation organisation charged with protecting human rights. Surprisingly, given Mugabes malign influence, the tribunal ruled that the Zimbabwean governments patently racist farm-seizure policy was illegal. Sadly, of course, this wasnt the end of the matter. Campbell was widely hated and targeted for challenging Mugabe so publicly. So his home was raided by a gang of Mugabe supporters who subjected him to a seven-hour assault. He was beaten with rifle butts, suffering broken ribs, a fractured skull and brain damage, before being forced to leave his farm which had also been torched. Displaying characteristic disdain for human rights and the rule of law, the Zimbabwean government then refused over the ensuing years to comply with multiple injunctions by the independent tribunal which had ruled against Mugabes large-scale farm evictions. In due course, Campbells ordeal was chronicled in an award-winning film called Mugabe And The White African, which critics described as a moving account of one familys extraordinary courage in the face of overwhelming injustice and brutality. Meanwhile, this ugly saga was also examined in a research paper by a legal scholar at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Its author, Zambian-born Tendayi Achiume, argued in a 36-page essay, titled Socio-political Dissonance And The Authority Of International Courts, that the tribunal which ruled in Campbells favour had made a big mistake in saying that seizing property on the basis of the colour of the owners skin constituted unlawful racial discrimination. The tribunals decision in Campbells favour, she claimed, was socio-politically dissonant, saying that it had failed to take into account the feeling of local people who may have wished to steal land from white people and beat them up. Achiume wrote arguing that tribunal which ruled in favour of Mike Campbell (pictured) had made a big mistake in saying that seizing property on the basis of the colour of the owners skin constituted unlawful racial discrimination. As a result, she argued, in typical Left-wing jargon, that the three tribunal judges had poorly adjudicated the issue of race-conscious remedies in post-colonial land reform. It follows that, in her opinion, violent state-sponsored racism can sometimes be legally acceptable, so long as the victims are of European descent. This is, at best, morally very questionable. Yet Tendayi Achiume isnt just a minor academic working in one of the more crazy corners of Left-wing academia. Today, she is a powerful figure in the world of international diplomacy, working as the United Nations special rapporteur on the issue of racism. She is spending five years travelling the world unpaid, but with expenses with a brief to examine, monitor, advise and publicly report on areas where there are xenophobia and discrimination. A few weeks ago, Achiume reported on the results of her first mission. No, it wasnt to one of the worlds most notorious trouble spots, where there is abuse of human rights, widespread racism and state brutality. No, not to Myanmar (the former Burma) where tens of thousands of minority Rohingya Muslims have been raped, murdered or forced to flee their homeland. Or Bahrain, where the Shia community lives in conditions akin to apartheid. Or even to America, where last year there were violent clashes between white supremacists and anti-racist demonstrators in Charlottesville, Virginia. Instead, Achiume decided to tour the United Kingdom. Specifically, she came here promising to examine what she called structural forms of discrimination and exclusion that may have been exacerbated by Brexit. Such an approach feels like her mind was made up in advance. Whatever the case, last week she delivered a stern end-of-mission statement, declaring that Britain is a hotbed of state-sponsored xenophobia, where austerity policies have been used as a prime instrument of racial subordination. This country, she went on to write, is so deeply racist that pregnant women from ethnic minorities are afraid to give birth in hospitals for fear that the police might be told they are illegal immigrants and remove them from the country. Significantly, she also alleged that the 2016 vote to leave the EU had made minorities more vulnerable to racial discrimination and intolerance. Achiumes 20-page statement cited no statistics in support of these conclusions, but her findings nonetheless made predictable headlines in Left-leaning newspapers they were the main story on the front page of last Saturdays Guardian and were given prominent coverage by the BBC. All of which raises an obvious question: how exactly did this UN rapporteur reach such a worrying verdict? The answer is very revealing and demonstrates very flawed methodology for someone who is an assistant professor at UCLA School Of Law, and a research associate with the African Centre For Migration And Society at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. Achiumes fact-finding mission took 11 days and included visits to London, Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast. She didnt visit the many northern towns where large minority communities live, or any market towns such as Boston in Lincolnshire, which is home to an estimated 18,000 EU migrants. Rural areas were completely ignored. It appears that the information Achiume gleaned on this whistle-stop tour was selectively filtered. In each city, her research appears largely to have been based on meetings with lobby groups and race relation charities, along with a selection of Left-leaning politicians. Achiumes fact-finding mission took 11 days but her report contains no statistics and make sweeping generalisations without citing any evidence While no full list of her meetings has been made available, shes known to have met the National Union Of Students, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, a selection of academics, a gipsy-rights lobby group called Roma Voice and a Welsh race equality council. She also met Jenny Rathbone, a Labour member of the Welsh Assembly, and Monica Lennon, who represents Labour in the Scottish parliament. Its unclear whether Achiume spoke to any Tory politician, or what interaction (if any) she had with the Government. Neither is it known how the people she met were selected. As methods of impartial research go, this hardly seems ideal. So (at risk of being accused of using a xenophobic metaphor) its perhaps inevitable that her end-of-mission statement contains more holes than a Swiss cheese. They range from the mundane (she spells Warwick Warrick) to the extraordinary: in reference to the Governments decision to scrap its Prevent counter-terror programme, which seeks to combat radicalisation, Achiume blithely denies any link between extremism and terrorism. Try telling that to the victims of the Manchester bombing, or London Bridge attack, or anyone affected by the three terrorist attacks in the UK last year. Elsewhere, Achiume made sweeping generalisations about social attitudes in Britain, without citing any evidence. She claimed the Brexit vote had led to a normalisation of hateful stigmatising discourse among high-ranking officials in the public sector. She failed to provide a single example. She blamed a rise in anti-Semitism on far-Right groups (ignoring the poisonous anti-Semitism that has been prevalent in the far-Left of the Labour Party) and declared the British court system to be biased against minorities, despite the fact that statistics show no particular link between ethnicity and jury conviction rates. Despite levelling such damaging allegations, Achiumes report concedes she didnt meet a single representative of the police or judiciary. It doesnt explain why. Perhaps she felt no need as a long-standing supporter of Dignity And Power Now, a California-based pressure group which campaigns to shut down prisons and to build a Black and Brown led abolitionist movement. Most predictably, her UN document blames the Brexit vote for an increase in hate crime. Yet it fails to point out that reports of such offences have become more common, due, in part, to the ever-widening definition of what constitutes a hate crime. Indeed, the fastest growing official category of this offence since the vote to leave the EU has nothing to do with racism, but involves verbal abuse of disabled and transgender people. Achiumes one-sided report also fails to acknowledge that opinion polls consistently show Britain to be one of the most racially tolerant countries in Europe, with attitudes towards immigration becoming less, rather than more, hostile since the Brexit vote. No wonder Achiumes findings have been condemned most notably by the former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith. This report ought to be taken to a large metal bin and dropped into it with a slow hand-clap and a raspberry, he tells me. It is utter rubbish. A classic case of someone starting with a conclusion that they want to reach and then trying to work backwards towards it. As he points out, Achiume is just the latest in a series of UN rapporteurs who have visited the UK and published contentious reports. These UN rapporteurs have become just another way for people opposed to Britains government, or to Brexit, to get publicity. They are a complete joke, and are becoming vexatious. A poster for a documentary about Mike Campbell. His property was eventually seized by the Zimbabwean government Indeed, over recent years, UN rapporteurs have visited the UK to research several charged issues. In 2011, one demanded that travellers ought not to be removed from an illegal caravan site at Dale Farm in Essex. Another, a feminist academic from South Africa called Rashida Manjoo, who was a UN investigator looking at violence against women, claimed in 2014 that there was a boys club sexist culture in this country which was worse than elsewhere (including, one assumes, in such bastions of sexual liberation as Saudi Arabia). Later that year, Francis Crepeau, the rapporteur on migrant issues, crudely claimed Britains attitude to migration to be utter bull****, arguing that we have a culture probably created 2,000 years ago and carried on, and now its being threatened by all those barbarians that are coming to our gate. Meanwhile, in 2016, a Costa Rican UN representative accused the UK of being guilty of grave or systematic violations of the rights of disabled people. Perhaps these shores most notorious rapporteur visitor was Raquel Rolnik, a hard-Left academic from Brazil, where millions live in favelas, who had the gall to visit the UK to prepare a report on our housing crisis. Britains then housing minister, Kris Hopkins, dismissed her report as a misleading Marxist diatribe. Rolnik (who stayed in a 300-a-night hotel during her visit) became a figure of public ridicule earning the nickname the Brazil nut when it emerged that, as a follower of the African-Brazilian religion Candomble, she had once offered an animal sacrifice to her political hero Karl Marx. Such ridiculous episodes were, perhaps, an inevitable result of the politicisation, over several decades, of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Its rapporteurs monitor how human rights are protected or violated covering issues ranging from the treatment of albinos to discrimination against leprosy victims. However, there is concern that they seem more inclined to scrutinise Western democracies than countries such as China and Cuba (where there is no free Press), Saudi Arabia (where women are only now gaining the right to drive), Qatar (where migrant workers are kept in conditions akin to slavery), Afghanistan and Venezuela. Indeed, rapporteurs have visited Britain 24 times since 1995, looking at issues such as toxic waste, education, the promotion of truth and racism. The UN sent roughly the same number to China, a one-party state of 1.8 billion citizens, in the same period. One factor behind this emphasis on Western nations may be that the rapporteurs largely hail from Left-wing academia or the legal profession, and have politicised their role accordingly. Of course, this brings us back to Tendayi Achiume. Born in Zambia in 1982 and raised from the age of 12 in Zimbabwe, she undoubtedly owes much of her subsequent success to the fact that she was invited as a teenager on a scholarship to study at United World College, a boarding school at St Donats Castle in Wales. Back then, she was known as Emily, the Westernised name given to her as a baby but which she appears to have dropped as her career as an expert in human rights law took off. Four years ago, she wrote an article claiming that brutal attacks against foreign nationals threaten the lives of refugees in a list of countries including Britain. No evidence was presented nor for a suggestion that refugees in the UK live in shanty towns and struggle to meet physical necessities (housing, food, clean water) and to access education and healthcare. But who needs evidence, when you have Left-wing dogma? For, as her attitude towards Mike Campbell (who died in 2011, never having recovered from the injuries he received from the attack by Mugabes thugs) shows, this UN expert only seems to call out racism when it reinforces her own narrow world view. Spain's King Felipe VI (L) shakes hands with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during their meeting in Madrid, Spain, on May 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Guo Qiuda) by Xinhua writers Chen Yao, Feng Junwei BEIJING/MADRID, May 18 (Xinhua) -- After a day's work at the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba's, Guillermo Ruiz records a Spanish audio lesson for his 60,000 Chinese followers online. A few kilometers away at the airport of Madrid, Chinese tourist Liu Jie receives the tax refund of purchases through a Chinese mobile application. Nothing exceptional. The interconnection between the Spanish and Chinese societies has undoubtedly gone beyond what Diego de Pantoja could imagine four centuries ago -- the Spanish Jesuit had dedicated his life to exchanges between the two cultures through the Silk Road. Today, that ancient trade route is renewed with the Belt and Road Initiative, which strengthens ties between China and Spain in new areas. INCREASED COOPERATION Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on May 16 started a 9-day trip for official visits to France, Spain, Portugal and Argentina. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Spain as well as the 13th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership. In the Spanish capital Madrid, Wang held talks with King Felipe VI of Spain, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and his Spanish counterpart Alfonso Dastis. They discussed issues such as strengthening cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China in 2013. Tian Delong, researcher of the Institute of European Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the two countries have strengthened mutual political trust in recent years and promoted economic, trade and tourism cooperation, as well as cultural exchanges. "Spain has become an important investment destination for China in Europe," Tian added. China has become Spain's largest non-EU trading partner. Bilateral trade volume rose from 12 million U.S. dollars in 1973 to a record 30.9 billion dollars in 2017. Tian believed that Wang's visit to Spain will boost cooperation in more areas and through new modes. NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing in May 2017. He spoke highly of the Initiative, saying it has a significant impact on regional economy and cultural exchanges along its routes by promoting cooperation. He noted it is important especially for businesses "because this is about building land and maritime infrastructures that help unite the different peoples of the world and improve trade." In this sense, Spain is among the first beneficiaries. In November 2014, after a 20-hour trip, the first Yixin'ou cargo train arrived in Madrid from Yiwu in East China, passing through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany and France. Data from the foundation for Yiwu-Spain exchanges FIYE showed Spanish exports to Yiwu have increased by more than 300 percent thanks to the cargo train service. Chang Shiru, director of the Foundation of the Confucius Institute of Barcelona, thought that increased cultural exchanges helped consolidate the basis for Spain-China cooperation. He cited the fact that a large number of the Chinese language learners in Spain choose to take related linguistic exams, adding that "some of them learn Chinese in order to know more about China, but many people especially the young learn it for a better future in their careers." NEW COOPERATION MODEL Alberto Carnero, Spain's ambassador to China, said the Belt and Road Initiative represents a great opportunity for Europe that is concerned about a rise in trade protectionism. The initiative "has renewed Europe's interest in China, and is seen as an opportunity to have more connectivity, more access to markets in one direction and another, more openness, and also to have a more balanced relationship," the diplomat said. Chinese researcher Tian also expected competition in some areas between China and Spain since the two are less economically complementary due to similar industrial structures. However, "the Belt and Road Initiative can help turn competition into opportunities for cooperation if they explore new models of collaboration," he said. Tian suggested they work together to find third-party markets and build in Spain logistics centers and e-commerce platforms. He believed that their efforts "could provide a good example for other European countries in cooperation with China." 5 1 [ Editor: Xueying ] Samples taken from the bathrooms at an A-List Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week event earlier in the week claim to have found traces of cocaine and cannabis. Four samples were allegedly collected from the men's bathroom, five from the women's bathroom and one from a disability stall between 6.05 and 8pm on Wednesday night, according to the Saturday Telegraph. Fashionistas were there to watch the I. AM. GIA show at Carriageworks in Redfern, where models draped in see-through dresses and edgy outfits strutted the catwalk. Samples taken from the bathrooms at an A-List Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week event earlier in the week claim to have found traces of cocaine and cannabis (Pictured: Still Still Studio show, which was in no way connected to the claims) Reporters from The Saturday Telegraph claim that four samples were collected from the men's bathroom (stock image of cocaine) Samples were taken from both the toilet seat and cisterns. The samples were tested by Integrity Sampling, who said that they use the same equipment that police do for their roadside testing. The publication claimed to have found cocaine traces from two samples collected from the women's bathroom and one from the men's bathroom. They also claimed to have found traces of cannabis from one of the samples from the men's bathroom. Wednesday night Five samples were also collected from the women's bathroom and one from the disability stall (Pictured: Camilla show, which was in no way connected to the claims) NSW Drug Squad Commander Peter McErlain told The Saturday Telegraph that cocaine use was a widespread problem and not just exclusive to the fashion industry. Val Edwards, a Sydney modelling agent, also told the publication that kids in the industry can be led astray and it is important to be careful when choosing an agent. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia for comment. Meghan and Harry were in floods of tears during their wedding rehearsal this week, after her father Thomas Markle confirmed he is unable to travel for the big day. A courtier has revealed the pair welled up during the service after her father decided to miss the wedding to concentrate on his health. Best man and Harry's elder brother Prince William is also said to have shed tears during the wedding run through as St George's Chapel in Windsor on Thursday. Meghan and Harry were in floods of tears during their wedding rehearsal this week, after her father Thomas Markle confirmed he is unable to travel for the big day A courtier who was there told The Sun: They were both in tears at what is going on with Meghans father in America and Prince William was pretty upset as well. Despite Meghan having pleaded with Mr Markle to make the journey, Thomas, 73, is steadfast in his decision not to travel, having apparently suffered a heart attack. Some 150,000 Royal fans from across the globe have descended on Windsor to witness Prince Harry and Meghan tie the knot. The revelation comes after Mr Markle allegedly expressed his gratitutude to Prince Charles, who will step in and walk Meghan down the aisle. Mr Markle told TMZ he was 'honoured and grateful' Charles will walk his daughter down part of the aisle during the nuptials tomorrow. He added that he had no reservations or shock about her decision - despite many assuming Ms Markle's mother, Doria, would walk her down the aisle after he pulled out. Thomas Markle (pictured with his daughter) reportedly phoned the happy couple shortly after his heart operation to say he gave Prince Charles his blessing to walk her down the aisle Mr Markle also told TMZ that Meghan and Harry had told him about the decision to let Prince Charles walk her down the aisle before the announcement, but kept it a secret. Kensington Palace revealed earlier today that Prince Charles would be accompanying Ms Markle down the aisle. He will meet her halfway into St George's Chapel, as Ms Markle planned to walk in by herself. Ms Markle's mother Doria (pictured together) had been expected to take over the honours after Mr Markle revealed he would not be able to attend Mr Markle added that Meghan told him she loved him and that she was worried about his health. He has also said he will 'proudly' watch the wedding tomorrow, adding that he will watch it on TV 'in a secluded place with friends, hopefully with no press'. He is currently recovering after having three stents implanted in arteries following a heart attack at his home in Mexico nine days ago. Prince Charles, pictured today arriving in Windsor, is set to walk Ms Markle down half of the aisle Parents of newborn babies are being asked to provide passport photos of themselves to prevent abductions. A string of stolen babies and mix-ups has led to hospitals introducing the measure for increased security. Private health provider Healthscope is asking parents to produce photo evidence at five hospitals in New South Wales, the Daily Telegraph reported. Parents of newborn babies are being asked to provide passport photos of themselves to prevent abductions (stock photo) The company's policy states that while the risk of abduction of newborns is rare 'it is nonetheless a potentially catastrophic outcome should it occur'. Northwest Private Hospital general manager Deborah Fogarty told the publication the photos help staff identify the 'appropriate parents' of the newborn babies. 'If the photos are supplied they're attached to the crib so the staff and everyone knows these are the appropriate parents or guardians,' she said. Private health provider Healthscope is asking parents to produce photo evidence at five hospitals in New South Wales (stock photo) The increased security comes after a newborn baby was kidnapped from Blacktown Hospital in October 2017. A NSW Health spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia less than 0.000016 per cent of 600,000 babies born in the last eight years in NSW public hospitals have been subject to a mix-up. No infants have been discharged to the wrong family in the last five years, she said. Northwest Private Hospital general manager Deborah Fogarty said the passport photos help parents identify the 'appropriate parents' 'Newborns have patient identification bands placed on each ankle as soon as is practical after birth and before leaving the birthing room or operating theatre. 'Maternity services in NSW public hospitals do not separate mothers and babies either in the birthing unit or on the maternity ward unless there is a medical reason... We are always looking at ways to improve the way we work so we are currently looking into the potential benefits of this additional safeguard, at NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzards request.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Northwest Private Hospital for comment. The Snohomish County Sheriff's Department announced the arrest of 55-year-old William Earl Talbott II (Pictured) The unsolved double homicide of a Canadian couple in 1987 may have been cracked after police said they used the same genealogy technology that led to the capture of alleged 'Golden State Killer' Joseph James DeAngelo. The Snohomish County Sheriff's Department announced the arrest of 55-year-old William Earl Talbott II for the murders of Jay Cook and Tanya Van Cuylenborg on Friday, according to Buzzfeed News. Police say that on the night of November 18, 1987, Cook, 20, and Van Cuylenborg, 18, drove their van to the Seattle area from British Columbia on a short overnight trip. Van Cuylenborg's body was found a week later in a ditch in rural Skagit County, Washington, with a subsequent investigation finding that she had been raped then shot to death. Cook's body was found two days later and 50 miles away, covered in a blue blanket. Detectives said he was strangled and beaten to death. All potential leads in the double homicide case has long been extinguished until Thursday, when Buzzfeed News reported that DNA evidence from the 31-year-old crime scene was placed in a public genealogy database called GEDmatch. Police suspect William Earl Talbott, a Seattle-based truck driver, of murdering of Jay Cook (R) and Tanya Van Cuylenborg (L) on November 18, 1987 Van Cuylenborg's body was found in a ditch in rural Skagit County, Washington, with investigators saying she was raped and shot (Pictured: Cook and his sister Laura Baanstra) All potential leads in the double homicide case has long been extinguished until Thursday, when DNA evidence was examined by Parabon NanoLabs (Pictured: Genealogy map) The database, controlled by a company called Parabon NanoLabs, consisted of DNA samples from 100 crime scenes and was capable of finding matches with people determined to have familial ties with potential suspects. 'The significant matches were at about the second cousin level,' Parabon genealogist CeCe Moore told reporters at a press conference following Talbott's arrest. The same genealogy technology was used to the capture alleged 'Golden State Killer' Joseph James DeAngelo (Pictured) According to Buzzfeed, Moore had to establish family tress of the great-grandparents of the people whose DNA profiles matched with evidence found at the crime scene. Moore then looked into the descendants of these people, where she found that the family trees converged on a couple who had only one son: William Earl Talbott II. Moore has since confirmed that Talbott's DNA matches the crime scene sample. Cook's sister, Laura Baanstra, later told Buzzfeed News that she's hopeful her family will finally get closure after waiting 31 years. 'Detective work has sure come a long way in 30 years,' Baanstra added. Questions still remain as to how Talbott allegedly met the couple or what his motive for the murders may have been. 'The investigation still has more work to be done,' Snohomish County Sheriff Ty Trenary told reporters. Alexander Forman, pictured, drowned in pig muck after entering a slurry tank to remove a blockage on his family's farm Two farm workers drowned in pig muck after entering a slurry tank to remove a blockage, an inquest has found. Alexander Forman, 32, and Richard Pooley, 36, collapsed and fell into the liquid after being overcome by fumes. The pair had been working on Newlands Farm in Holderness, East Yorkshire, in December 2015. Dr Richard Shepherd told Hull Coroner's Court that the men inhaled the pig manure, but would have been unconscious due to the toxic fumes from the waste. Mr Forman's partner Lucy Hartlebury-Forman told the inquest into the tragedy how she was asked to go to the farm on December 14, 2015. She said: 'I thought it was an elaborate proposal plot, then I saw Susan [his mum]. She was in floods of tears.' Ms Hartlebury-Forman said her partner was a hardworking family man, and described him as a 'doting dad' to their 10-month-old son Felix. Mr Pooley's partner, Amanda Pooley said she had called him just a few hours before the tragedy. She used the loudspeaker on her phone to enable their three-year-old son Josh, to talk with his father. Ms Pooley said: 'Josh told him, "Love you Daddy".' He relished being a father, and was 'a very good one', she added. Mr Pooley said: 'In fact, he was amazing. He was a very hardworking man. He never stopped.' She said her husband worked 12-hour days, rising at 4.30am, to provide for his family, and is convinced he had not been aware of the risks associated with entering a slurry pit. She said: 'Richard would never have put himself in that position because of his son and me.' Richard Pooley, also died in the accident. Gases including methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia and hydrogen sulphide are produced by bacteria during the decomposition of slurry which caused the two men to fall unconscious At the time of the tragedy, the farm was run by Mr Forman and his parents, Robert and Susan. Mr Forman senior said it was a 'standing instruction' that no one should enter the pit under 'any circumstances'. He said any blockage could be cleared remotely using rods or through jet washing. According to Mr Forman's father, it is a legal requirement for pigs to be given 'toys', and that they have a tendency to chew these toys 'to bits' leading to blockages from plastic build-up. Farm worker Paul Loftus, who discovered their bodies, said that earlier during the day he had entered the pit to try to clear the blockage with a hook in just his overalls and his Wellington boots. Mr Loftus claimed he had never been told about the dangers of slurry tanks. Slurry is a mixture of manure and water and is used by farmers as a fertiliser for their crops. Gases including methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia and hydrogen sulphide are produced by bacteria during the decomposition of slurry. Some of these gases are poisonous as well as being flammable. Slurry gas is heavier than air and during mixing will settle in a cloud over the top of the slurry. Bending down into the gas cloud for even a moment can cause unconsciousness. After only a few breaths, the affected party could collapse and die as the gas rapidly displaces air from the lungs and affects the nervous system. A jury returned a verdict of accidental death on both men. The foreman told the inquest: 'At some time between 14.20 and 14.30 on December 14, 2015, at Newlands Farm, Newland Road, Sunk Island, Alexander Forman entered the slurry pit and died from inhalation of slurry.' The same conclusion was given in respect of Richard Pooley. A woman is fighting for her life in a Sydney hospital after a hit and run incident that killed her dog. The 47-year-old woman was first struck by a Toyota Corolla as she ran across Fitzgerald Avenue in Maroubra with her dog about 7.15pm on Friday. NSW Police Acting Inspector Naomi Earle says they don't yet know if she was chasing her dog or if they were crossing the road together. Scroll down for video The vehicle dragged her a short distance but failed to stop after the collision The woman came to rest on the opposite eastbound lanes, but was struck by another older vehicle, which dragged her a short distance but failed to stop after the collision. She was taken to St George Hospital in a critical condition and remains in an induced coma. Her dog died at the scene, while the 19-year-old male driver of the Corolla was uninjured. Police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward, and Insp Earle on Saturday urged people involved in crashes to stop to exchange details and check on the other person. 'How would you feel if it was your daughter, your mother, your sister or girlfriend that was involved and someone has just left them there,' she told reporters in Sydney. Meanwhile, a 20-year-old woman remains in hospital following a hit and run in Villawood on Thursday night. The 47-year-old woman was first struck by a Toyota Corolla as she ran across Fitzgerald Avenue, Maroubra, with her dog about 7.15pm on Friday A fitness expert says low-carb beers are a healthy alternative to traditional larger, even though the Cancer Council claims they are a 'big fat myth.' Despite marketing low-carb brews as a healthier option the analysis conducted by the council claims the calorie difference is negligible. But Vision PT Operations Manager Gavin Aquilina says if the beer contains less carbohydrates he is happy to recommend it to people who are trying to lose weight. Vision PT Operations Manager Gavin Aquilina says if the beer contains less carbohydrates he is happy to recommend it to people who are trying to lose weight Mr Aquilina, who drinks Pure Blonde says the reality is most people are going to drink more than one or two beers and that's when the calorie count starts to add up 'If you look at beer the two main components are alcohol and carbohydrates,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'On average there are about 95 calories in a low-carb beer, and 122 in a traditional beer. There are about 30 less calories in a low-carb beer.' After analysing a range of beers the Australian Cancer Council study found that because the carbohydrate levels in beer are actually quite low, choosing a low-carb beer has little effect. A typical lager or ale had just 1.4 grams of carbohydrates per 100ml in comparison to low-carb offers such as Pure Blonde that holds 0.5 grams and Carlton Dry which has 1.6 grams. Mr Aquilina, who drinks Pure Blonde, admits if you're just going to drink one beer, the difference may be small, but says the reality is most people are going to drink more than one or two, and that's when the calorie count starts to add up. 'Most people who drink a low-carb beer aren't worried about driving, they might want to get a little bit drunk,' he said. Mr Aquilina is the Personal Training Operations Manager at Vision Personal Training He also added that 'the darker the beer, the higher the calories,' and said to avoid drinks like Guinness if you're trying to lose weight 'You're looking at an extra five minute workout per beer, which might not be much, but if you're drinking five beers it's going to add up.' 'That's about 150 extra calories, which might mean an extra 30 minute workout to burn off the extra calories.' He also added that 'the darker the beer, the higher the calories,' and said to avoid drinks like Guinness if you're trying to lose weight. And of course 'be careful with the pie or kebab at the end of the night,' he said. The Cancer Council of Australia has found that low-carb beers being healthier for consumers is a completely myth Consumers should opt for a beer with a light alcohol content if they are concerned about choosing a healthy option the council says Alison McAleese, the manager of the LiveLighter campaign, said that the best thing to do for your health is to pick a brew with less alcohol. 'The amount of carbohydrates in any beer is actually quite low between 1 and 3 per cent generally and it's not the main thing to be concerned about,' she said. 'The main thing people should watch out for is how much alcohol is actually in their beer. We found that there wasn't any relationship between low-carb claims and the amount of kilojoules, or energy, that's in the drink.' The Cancer Council is now calling on the government to put nutritional labels on alcoholic beverages. Ms McAleese says that if people could see what kilojiles they were consuming they would order up the healthier option. 'We know when people get the information about what's in their food, and this case in their drink, they do make healthier choices, and at the moment that information just isn't available.' A mariachi band proudly played music outside the home of a New York City lawyer who was filmed berating Spanish-speaking restaurant workers in Midtown Manhattan earlier this week. Police were seen on Friday putting up barricades outside the Upper West Side apartment of Aaron Schlosberg in anticipation of the rally, whose bigoted rant at the Fresh Kitchen restaurant on Madison avenue went viral. According to the New York Post, more than 100 people showed up to participate in the protest where demonstrators ate free tacos and chanted 'Ole, Ole! Throw him out!' Scroll down for video A mariachi band played music outside the home of New York City lawyer Aaron Schlossberg's buildingon Friday Police stationed themselves outside Schlossberg's building on Friday in anticipation of the event The Mariachi Tapatio de Alvaro Paulino band performs during a demonstration on Friday A demonstrator dances and sings along the Mariachi Tapatio de Alvaro Paulino band Scenes outside Lawyer Aaron Schlossberg's apt in New York after his racist tirade in a cafe where also the Mexican flag is flying atop his building They also sang along with the Tapatio de Alvaro Paulino Mariachi band, dressed in silver and black suits, and carried signs that read 'Se habla Spanish' and 'Racism, no Bueno.' 'We're basically clapping back at this fool,' electrical engineer Chris Thompson, 40, told the Post. '[It's]ridiculous! This is a multilingual city. He should expect to hear different languages. Schlossberg has not been seen since he tried to dodge reporters on Thursday after being kicked out of his rented office space on Park Avenue. Earlier in the week, he was filmed berating Spanish-speaking staff at a restaurant near his office. A video of his astonishing attack on them went viral. 'I support my fellow immigrants,' band member Alvaro Paulino told the publication. 'My family are immigrants.' Now, politicians are seeking to have Schlossberg disbarred in New York. Scroll down for video More than 100 people showed up to participate in the protest where demonstrators ate free tacos Barricades are erected outside the home of racist lawyer Aaron Schlossberg on Friday ahead of a mariachi parade protest Dozens of NYPD officers were stationed outside the man's apartment in anticipation of the event Aaron Schlossberg has not been seen since Thursday (above) when he tried to evade reporters by changing clothes after being confronted in the street and thrown out of his office space. He ditched the hat and sunglasses when he realized the get-up fooled no one Two have written to the First Department of the New York State Unified Court System citing a grievance which is the formal way of complaining about a lawyer in the state. U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-New York, told ABC News: 'We are sending this grievance to say that you cannot engage in xenophobia, bigotry, hate and get away with it. Such behavior should never be tolerated.' In their complaint, the men said Schlossberg's behavior was a 'humiliating and insulting attack on the more than 50 years of progress that this nation has made since the Civil Rights movement.' 'The egregiousness of bold-faced racism, in all its ugliness, must be rejected and replaced with the kindness, solidarity and sense of togetherness that has made this great American experiment in democracy a shining example for all the world to see and admire for over two centuries. The organizers of the protest said they contacted the NYPD ahead of time to ask if they needed any permits. Their efforts triggered the large response of officers The NYPD did not spare any expense when it came to attending the protest on Friday Police smile outside the lawyer's apartment building on New York's Upper West Side The officers were all in high spirits and seemed to be almost looking forward to the festivities A large gathering of protesters outside the lawyer's home before the mariachi band arrived 'The audacity to profile and verbally assault innocent bystanders and customers in a public commercial location is a violation of our civil society. 'We watched Aaron's video and we were disgusted,' it went on. It is now up to the First Judicial Department Attorney Grievance Committee to decide whether or not he should be allowed to continue practicing the law. The committee will not comment on the complaint. On Thursday, a mariachi band will perform outside the lawyer's luxury apartment building. They had planned to go to his office to cheer up his staff but that plan was scuppered when he was thrown out. The idea came about in a GoFundMe page where organizers appealed for donations to pay the musicians. The band which ended up agreeing has donated their time and will not accept the $1,000 that was raised. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (left) and Ruben Diaz, Bronx Borough President (right) have sent a formal grievance to the New York Court System to ask that Schlossberg lose his license It is not clear what the money will now be spent on. In the description on the GoFundMe page, organizers said extra would go towards tacos for Schlossberg's suffering staff. 'Raising $500 to send a Mariachi band to cheer up the staff and attorneys at The Law Office of Aaron M. Schlossberg Esq. P.L.L.C. after a difficult day. 'We are requesting the band to sing the famous, endearing, and warm spanish children song, La Cucaracha, the cockroach. 'We are countering hate and racism with the sound of music. 'Any leftover money will be used to send a delicious Taco Truck lunch to the staff and a copy of all federal and state statute mentioning undocumented immigrants do not qualify for welfare,' it said. The protest moved to outside his luxury building on Friday afternoon and was scheduled to begin at 4.30pm but there was no sign of them at 4.50pm. A woman was shocked to find a shotgun in her wheelie bin after taking out her morning rubbish. She was confused to discover a stranger's black Everlast track pants in her bin just outside her home on North Road in Woodridge, south-east of Brisbane. But when she reached inside the bin, she found a sawn-off shotgun wrapped around the pants at 8.30am on Thursday. A Queensland woman was shocked to find a sawn-off shotgun (pictured) in her wheelie bin after taking out her rubbish on a Thursday morning (File image) The woman found a shotgun in her wheelie bin on North Road, Woodridge, QLD. The woman was confused to discover the gun wrapped around black Everlast track pants (right) in the bin The woman told police she found the shotgun wrapped around the pants when she reached for the piece of clothing in the bin. A spokesman from Queensland police told Daily Mail Australia 'no person of interest or other items have been located.' He also said that the track pants appear to be of a men's style and fit. The police spokesman asked for members of the public who have any information to come forward. Queensland police are currently investigating. Anyone with information regarding the firearm or track pants is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersqld.com.au. Delegates attend a special session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, May 18, 2018. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on Friday warned that the violence in Gaza has reached a peak in the past week, with 60 people had been killed by the Israeli forces in just one day of May 14, a highest figure of one-day death toll in Gaza since the 2014 hostilities. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan) GENEVA, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The UN Human Rights Council on Friday during a special session adopted a resolution deciding to "urgently" dispatch a commission of inquiry to investigate all violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in the Gaza Strip. The draft resolution was adopted by 29 votes in favor, two against with 14 abstentions. The two states that voted against were Australia and the United States. According to the adopted resolution, the investigation should be done in the context of the military assaults on the large-scale civilian protests that began on March 30 and to establish the facts and circumstances of the violations, including those that may amount to war crimes. The inquiry group should also identify those responsible, make recommendations, in particular on accountability measures, including individual criminal and command responsibility, for such violations. The resolution decided that the inquiry group should present an oral update to the UN Human Rights Council this September and a final, written report next March. The resolution stipulates Israel should immediately and fully end its illegal closure of the occupied Gaza Strip, which amounts to collective punishment of the Palestinian civilian population. It condemned the disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force by Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, including in the context of peaceful protests, particularly in the Gaza Strip. As requested by Palestine and the United Arab Emirates on behalf of the Arab Group of States, the UN Human Rights Council on Friday opened a special session to discuss on "the deteriorating human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem". Over 100 Palestinian demonstrators have been killed and some 12,000 wounded by Israeli forces since the new round of anti-occupation protests in Gaza began on March 30. At least 60 Palestinians were killed on May 14 when the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem officially opened despite international criticism. [ Editor: Xueying ] Wealthy residents living in one of Australia's most exclusive apartment blocks say their million-dollar views are being spoiled by bitter disputes between neighbours. The Notts Avenue apartment block, overlooking Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach, was built with the funding of media tycoon Kerry Packer in the 1980s. The waterfront block quickly earned a reputation as one of Australia's most premium real estate spots for celebrities, with apartments selling for upwards of $5 million. But a collection of colourful residents, including a reality television star and brothel owner, have opened up about some of the downfalls of luxury living. However a resident in a Notts Avenue (pictured) apartment block, Linda Pickard, told The Saturday Telegraph that since her neighbours discovered she owned La Petite Aroma brother in Chatswood she has been snubbed One resident, Linda Pickard, told The Saturday Telegraph that since her neighbours discovered she owned La Petite Aroma brothel in Chatswood she had been snubbed. 'I am not a bad person,' the 71-year-old told the publication. 'But people won't look even at me in the lift.' The apartment block has also been spotted on reality television show The Real Housewives of Sydney. Victoria Rees, a RHOS star and the woman behind Wrinkles Schminkles, has owned a spot in the exclusive unit block for 20 years. She previously complained to The Daily Telegraph in 2017 about the fact producers did little to hide her address. Victoria Rees (pictured), the woman behind Wrinkles Schminkles and starred on The Real Housewives of Sydney, has owned a spot in the exclusive unit block for 20 years and said all her neighbours fights She also said she felt as though her neighbours were impacted by the filming process. But that didn't stop the former interior designer from dishing on her neighbours. She told the newspaper: 'They all fight. 'We have got a few really contentious, litigious people in there. 'Some people are the type who want to fight with their neighbours.' However not everyone agreed with the two women that there were tensions in the block. Chairman of the body corporate Rick Nolasco told the newspaper, referring to Ms Pickard, that: 'I've seen her talking to many people. 'And really, what does anyone in that building have to complain about?' Less than a month ago students at Santa Fe High School were protesting gun violence. On Friday, 10 people at the school were gunned down inside a classroom in the latest mass shooting. Hours after 17-year-old gunman Dimitrios Pagourtzis opened fire at the Texas high school, a photo surfaced on social media of 12 Santa Fe students protesting gun violence during a national school walkout. In the gut-wrenching photo, shared by City University of New York professor Angus Johnston, the small group of students pose together while holding a sign that reads: 'Santa Fe High school says #NeverAgain. Johnston said the photo was taken only 28 days ago. Less than a month ago, students at Santa Fe High School protested gun violence Students sat outside the Texas school with signs that read: 'Santa Fe High school says #NeverAgain in response the deadly mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida school During the April 20 protest, held on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting and in response to the February 14 rampage at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School, Santa Fe students handed out fact sheets about gun violence and read a poem by a Parkland survivor. Dimitrios Pagourtzis is being held without bond in the Galveston County jail on charges of capital murder and aggravated assault of a peace officer The group then sat in silence for 17 minutes to represent the number of students gunman Nikolas Cruz killed when he opened fire at the Florida school. Pictures from the Santa Fe protest have left many people heartbroken. 'This is powerful,' Twitter user Olay-lay wrote. 'My heart is breaking. Again.' 'This hurts. I'm so sorry that we've failed you,' Twitter user Kari Applegate posted. Another woman by the name of Carly tweeted that the photo made her cry. 'Ugggggghhhhh this rips my heart out. The fact that this keeps happening and the government literally does nothing! Columbine should have been the LAST school shooting,' Shanaa Morris tweeted. The official Twitter page for National School Walkout also commented on the photo in a statement released Friday evening. Many people said the photo of the Santa Fe students protesting broke their hearts Several people, like this Twitter user, said they started crying after seeing the photo of the 12 students outside their school One woman said the picture 'rips her heart out' and said Columbine should have been the last school shooting 10 people were killed in the Friday morning shooting, and 10 others were injured, police said 'Our hearts are breaking. Today's school shooting in Santa Fe, TX is the 3rd school shooting in the last week and the 22nd school shooting in 2018. One month ago students at Santa Fe High School walked out to protest gun violence. Today, one Santa Fe student told a news outlet: "It's been happening everywhere. I always felt eventually it would happen here, too." If that doesn't break your heart you don't have one. Gun violence is an American epidemic. Young people in our country are afraid every single day. They're afraid to go to school, to walk down the street, and to sin in their own front yards. Every day out representatives fail to act is a day that more young people lose their lives.' Former Education Secretary Justine Greening called on ministers to take a more 'active role' in encouraging a good home learning environment Parents should turn on TV subtitles to help their children learn to read, former education secretary Justine Greening has said. In yet another sign that families are abandoning the book shelf for the box set, Miss Greening highlighted the use of subtitles as a practical thing families can do to boost their youngsters literacy. She said this approach would be particularly useful for parents who are themselves weak readers, and called on ministers to take a more active role by advising parents on how they can create a good home learning environment. But critics blasted her suggestion as the nanny state at its worst and said the Government should instead focus on improving adult literacy. Miss Greening made the comments at a social mobility summit by the Sutton Trust in New York last month, the Times Educational Supplement reported. If we could just get parents having subtitles on the TV as a matter of course for a childs early years, she said. If youre not a great reader yourself, as a parent, thats one thing you can do, to help children listen and learn words. It can help. Its not going to change the world, but it can help. But Chris McGovern, of the Campaign for Real Education, yesterday said it was an inadequate solution to a serious problem. He said: Its a pitiful example of the nanny state. Governments are forever saying that parents should sit and read with their children, but a lot of parents dont because they cant read. Its not going to be solved by telling them to turn on the subtitles. What we need is an adult literacy programme. Breannah Piva should be going to university, travelling and having fun like any other young woman. But years of relentless bullying finally took their toll on the North Queensland teenager, who took her own life at age 16 after being physically, verbally and emotionally traumatised by her bullies on a daily basis. Monday will mark three years since Breannah's tragic death. On Sunday morning, her mum Joanne will be joined by her two other daughters, other family and friends on a 200 kilometre Do It For Bree bike ride from Ayr, south of Townsville, in memory of Breannah. Monday will mark three years since Breannah Piva, 16,took her own life after years of relentless bullying The Pivas are also petitioning to change laws to include tougher penalties for bullies follwing the death of their daughter Breannah in 2015 They plan to arrive in Airlie Beach on the Whitsundays Coast the following afternoon on the anniversary of Breannah's death. 'I'm trying to keep occupied, which is why where doing the bike ride,' Mrs Piva told Daily Mail Australia. 'It takes my mind off a very hard time. I never thought I'd ever doing something like this.' Along the way, she will hand out flyers about bullying, depression and youth suicide, and share her daughter's story. 'The aim is to give parents a heads up on what sign they should be looking for and give them an understanding of what their kids are going through,' Mrs Piva said. Joanne Piva (pictured right with Breannah) will set off on a 200 kilometre bike ride from Ayr this Sunday. She plans to arrive in Airlie Beach on Monday - the anniversary of her daughter's death Three years have passed since Breannah's death but the pain hasn't eased The Pivas have set up the Do It For Bree foundation to help young people to deal with bullying, depression and talk about suicide prevention and increase their self-esteem. The bike ride also aims to raise money towards the foundation's 'Words Can Hurt' anti-bullying program, which Mrs Piva hopes will be implemented in schools across Queensland and eventually nationwide. 'Our goal is to change policies and make bullies more accountable for their actions,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'Our kids are going to school and are often in the care of teachers more hours than of their parents. The main goal is to change laws so kids feel safer and make people more aware of what's going on.' The Pivas are also petitioning to change laws to include tougher penalties for bullies in the wake of other recent tragic cases of teenagers taking their own lives such as Dolly Everett. Breannah Piva (pictured) would be going to university, travelling and having fun like any other young woman if she was still alive today, according to her mum Joanne 'We want to make bullying a criminal and punishable offence,' Mrs Piva said. 'We don't want other families experience what we've been through. It breaks my heart every time I hear another child has been driven to death. It's something that needs to stop and as a nation, we need to do something about it before it gets worse.' Three years have passed since Breannah's death but the pain hasn't eased for Mrs Piva, husband Michael and their two teenage daughters. 'To me, I still feel like I'm living in that one day,' Mrs Piva said. 'We haven't moved past it at all. It's changed our lives completely.' To donate, go to the Do It For Bree Ride for Awareness GoFundMe page. Readers seeking confidential support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. An image of a Texas teenager shielding a woman with an umbrella from the scorching sunlight is racking up kudos across the Internet nearly as fast as the clicks. 'It was unbearably hot,' Louis Jordan remembered as he arrived at his mother job's in Houston to give her a lift back home. That's when Jordan saw an elderly woman waiting at a bus stop in the brutal heat, telling ABC affiliate KTRK 7 that his first thought was: 'I wouldn't want to be out there in the sun.' An image of Louis Jordan (L) shielding a woman from the scorching heat has gone viral over the Internet Bernette Botts (R) has seen this sort of kindness is her son (L) before, saying he risked his life to rescue his grandmother during Hurricane Harvey Swiftly realizing that an umbrella had been stowed away in the trunk of the car, he grabbed the device and brought it over to help shield the woman from under the sun. 'Come to find out, it was going to be a little longer for METRO Lift to come and get her,' he said. 'So we ended up waiting out there for an hour and 45 minutes. According to KTRK 7, the two have now built up a strong rapport, with Jordan making it a habit to shield his new friend, Michelle, from the sun whenever he sees her waiting at the bus stop. 'We laugh, joke,' when asked what they like to talk about. 'She's in a book club. Come to find out, she likes pork chops.' 'It was unbearably hot,' Louis Jordan remembered as he arrived at his mother job's in Houston to give her a lift back home Jordan's mother, Bernette Botts, has seen this sort of kindness is her son before, telling the local broadcaster that he risked his life to rescue his grandmother during Hurricane Harvey. 'She was trapped inside, four feet of water, no power,' Botts said. 'He called me back from my mom's and said, "I got her."' Jordan, his mother says, is a reminder that there is still a lot of good in the world and hopes that these acts of kindness are paid forward by others. "I am one proud mama," Botts told the news station, before Jordan chimes in: 'I pray that God allows me to be used every day." A man has been charged after allegedly biting a police officer's genitals, eye gouging another and attempting to steal a gun. Police were attempting to arrest the man after reports of an assault involving a metal pole in Byron Bay New South Wales. He resisted arrest 'violently' and made verbal threats against officers at the intersection of Jonson and Lawson streets, according to police. 'During the struggle the man tried to remove a police officer's firearm from its holster,' NSW police stated. A man has been charged after allegedly biting a police officer's genitals, eye gouging another and attempting to steal a gun 'He also allegedly took hold of and bit the genital area of one of the officers, and eye gouged another.' One police officer suffered a burst blood vessel in his left eye, a swollen right hand, back pain and minor abrasions. Another suffered swelling to the groin and abrasions. He resisted arrest 'violently' and made verbal threats against officers at the intersection of Jonson and Lawson streets, according to police Security officers from a nearby licenced venue helped police to bring the man under control. He was taken to Byron Bay Police Station where he was charged with affray, resist police, assault police, and intimidate police. He was refused bail to appear at Lismore Local Court on Saturday. Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to call Byron Bay police on 02 6685 9499 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. One woman has been killed and another injured in a shooting outside a high school graduation in Georgia. Police say an argument led to the two adult women being shot after the graduation ceremony for Mt. Zion High School in Clayton County, Georgia, around 9.30pm on Friday night. Cops are actively searching for a third individual involved in the shooting. A description of the suspect has not been released. Although the incident occurred on school property, police do not consider it a mass shooting, WSBTV reported. Police are seen on the scene outside Mt. Zion High School in Clayton County, Georgia, where one woman died and another was injured in an argument after a dispute The victims were described by cops as a 21-year-old female who was shot in the chest, and a woman in her 40s who was shot multiple times in the chest. The older victim who was shot multiple times did not survive. The shooting occurred in an overflow parking lot outside the Clayton County Performing Arts Center following the graduation ceremony for the Perry Learning Center, a non-tradition public high school that prepares students for careers. A large police presence responded to the scene within minutes. A large police presence responded to the scene outside the high school within minutes 'At this time we have 2 people who have been shot. One person is now confirmed deceased,' Clayton County police said in a statement. 'The incident occurred on school property,'the statement continued. 'The Clayton County Police Department has assumed the investigation and is working to gather details. More information will be provided as it becomes available.' The Clayton County Police Department said it had been asked to conduct the investigation into the shooting, but directed media inquiries to the chief of the Clayton County School Police Department. A Manhattan chiropractor is in a 'total state of shock' after his estranged wife killed herself and their seven-year-old son when she jumped Friday morning from the 25th floor of their hotel room. William Beslow, a lawyer for Charles Nicolai, told the New York Post that the 47-year-old wealthy chiropractor is distraught. 'H'es numb, as one would expect,' Beslow said, adding that the little boy, named Vincent, was the 'center' of Nicolai's life. A friend of Nicolai described him as 'an amazing, caring father' and said he does not know how Nicolai will deal with the tragic loss. Former Playboy centerfold Stephanie Adams, 46, and her seven-year-old son Vincent (pictured above in 2012) died Friday morning after jumping from a Manhattan hotel Adams, left and right in 2006, was Playboy's Miss November in 1992 'I can remember him talking about when his son first learned to read. He was a very excited father, very proud,' the friend said. 'I do know that he was very distraught and very saddened by the breakup of (his) marriage.' Nicolai's son was killed early Friday morning in a murder-suicide after the child's mother and Nicolai's estranged wife Stephanie Adams jumped from the Gotham hotel, where they had been staying. Both Vincent and Adams were pronounced dead at the scene. Their bodies were found by another guest on the balcony of a second-floor hotel room. A bell caption, who said his name is Shaun, told the Post that he suspects Adams allegedly pushed her young child out the window. 'I suspect the boy went first. The mother just tossed the child out first, then followed him. (Guests) said they heard a light sound first, then a heavier sound,' he said. 'I'm still shook up about it.' It didn't appear Adams had left a suicide note. The incident happened at the Gotham Hotel, located at 16 46th Street, near Fifth Avenue. The mother and son checked into the Gotham Hotel around 6pm Thursday. The two jumped from the 25th floor penthouse before 8:30am Friday, using a window at the rear of the building. They landed on a second-floor balcony and were both pronounced dead at the scene. The Orange, New Jersey mother jumped to her death as she was locked in a bitter custody battle with Nicolai. Scroll down for video In the afternoon, investigators removed the boy's body from the hotel Investigators are seen loading the boy's body into a can for transport A close friend told the New York Post that she was distraught that her ex wouldn't let her take her son to Europe for the summer, where her boyfriend has homes in Spain and London. Nicolai, who owns Wall Street Chiropractic & Wellness, has visitation rights, and petitioned a judge on Wednesday not to let his ex leave he country. The judge sided with him, and Adams was ordered to turn her son's passport over. 'All I want to do is take my son and get away from this nightmare for a few days,' Adams told the Post after the Wednesday hearing. 'But they won't let me.' Their relationship was so bad that the former couple reportedly conducted their custody exchanges at a police precinct in Tribeca. 'It ensures no violence takes place,' a friend told The Post in March. A hotel worker said the mother and son jumped from a window of the 25th floor penthouse, landing on a second-floor balcony at the rear of the building. The front of the building pictured later Friday, with media gathered outside The mother and son were pronounced dead at the scene. Above, the hotel pictured on Friday Adams' friend who spoke to the Post after her death said he doesn't know why she was in the hotel, saying she has a residence in lower Manhattan. 'This is really stunning. She loved that child,' he said. 'This boy was her whole life, this is terrible.' He says she loved her son so much that she homeschooled him to spend more time with him. 'The child I can't imagine she would do that,' he said. 'She was so close to that child, she wouldn't even let the child go to school. People have these lives you don't even know about. I didn't see suicide.' He said he was shocked by her death, but also revealed he had told her she could get help for her emotional problems recently. When she jumped, Adams, left, was locked in a bitter custody battle with her ex, chiropractor Charles Nicolai, right Adams was also awarded $1.2million from the NYPD, after suing the department over a 2006 incident in which she was thrown to the ground by a cop who falsely claimed she pulled a gun on him. Adams and her ex were also sued in 2013 by Dilek Edwards, a former massage therapist in Nicolai's office. Edwards told the Post that she would receive texts from Adams saying she was 'NOT welcome any longer' at her husband's practice' and to 'stay the f*** away' from him and her family. Edwards said she was let go after Nicolai claimed his then-wife was 'jealous' of 'too cute' Edwards. The lawsuit was initially thrown out, but later restored by an appeals court who said Edwards could sue for gender discrimination. Edwards said her relationship was 'purely professional' with Nicolai and she has know idea where Adams got her 'absurd suspicions' from. She added that Nicolai would tell her their sessions 'had to be secret' because if his wife heard about them 'she can create some scenarios'. Adams says she was raised by two of her aunts, who were both models, and decided to follow them into the industry at the young age of 16. In November 1992, she was the centerfold for Playboy, at the time claiming to be the first openly lesbian Playmate. But she claims on her website to have dated several famous men including Elite modeling founder John Casablancas, Calvin Klein supermodel Ted Stephenson, and Robert De Niro. She met her husband on Match.com and the two were engaged in 2009. Adams was the one who filed for divorce last year. Adams' friend said that she had hired a string of lawyers to deal with her divorce and custody battles, going through four in this year alone. During their marriage, cops responded to a domestic dispite call at the couple's residence, and cops had to separate the fighting couple. And six months ago, Nicolai was accused of knowingly feeding his son food that would cause an allergic reaction. NYPD crime scene investigators brought evidence bags to the scene on Friday Cops carried large bags into the hotel Friday morning, as investigators looked through the scene Officers in dress uniforms stood guard outside the hotel Friday morning The Medical Examiner's vehicle was also seen on the scene Friday around noon Nicolai's lawyer did not immediately respond to an inquiry about the case. A receptionist who answered the phone at Nicolai's office said he would not comment and was unreachable. Adams and Nicolai had been in 'a very tough custody case,' said Raoul Felder, a divorce lawyer who represented her for a time. The standoff was contentious enough that the former couple handed off their son to each other at a police precinct, an arrangement that's unusual but not unheard of, Felder said. Felder said he had been friends with Adams for 20 years but stopped representing her in the divorce case a couple of months ago. Still, 'she was never depressed while I knew her. She had certain problems, but depression wasn't one of them,' Felder said. Felder recalled her as 'sweet and ultra-polite' - she always called him 'Mr. Felder' despite their long friendship. She would sometimes stop by his office to say hello, bringing her son, who loved to play with a Superman statue in the office, Felder recalled. And she routinely sent him birthday cards, until his birthday passed this month without one. Above, a view inside the Penthouse suite at the Gotham Hotel, where the mother and son were staying Adams also founded a new age skincare line called GODDESSY Organics. On the website, she claims to be the author of two dozen metaphysical books, astronomy calendars and tarot cards - and describes herself as a 'generational occultist, psychic and spiritualist'. She also claims to be a direct descendant of two presidents, with a European royal lineage. 'According to her Playboy pictorial, Adams is the direct descendant of two U.S. presidents, John Adams and John Quincy Adams, later discovering that her lineage also traces back to the House of Plantagenet, Charlemagne, and Merovingian Dynasty,' the website reads. The biography goes on to say that Adams dedicates 'most of her time investing in Fortune 500 companies, enabling her to become a self-made millionaire before the age of 30'. 'Now Adams has decided to dedicate most of her time towards business, philanthropy, and developing as much of a private life as she can possibly have,' she writes on the site. Adams (pictured left and right) was also awarded $1.2million from the NYPD after a 2006 incident in which she was thrown to the ground by a cop who wrongly claimed she pointed a gun at him The Gotham Hotel, where the penthouse goes for more than $900 a night, said that police were investigating the situation and refused to comment further. The scene outside the hotel was pretty quiet Friday morning. Just a handful of police officers were inside the building, speaking with staff. The bodies have not yet been removed from the premises. Initial reports stated that the child was a baby, less than a year old, but police later corrected that initial misunderstanding. For confidential help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or click here For confidential support on suicide matters in the UK, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here Shoppers couldn't pass up a bargain as Aldi Australia's annual snow gear special buys sale kicked off this morning. Customers flocked to their local store in an attempt to snap up $39.99 kids ski jackets, adult snow pants for $49.99 and touch-screen gloves for $9.99. The attempt to grab a bargain saw customers rise early in a desperate attempt to grab their desired product. Shoppers couldn't pass up a bargain as Aldi Australia's annual snow gear special buys sale kicked off this morning Customers flocked to their local store in an attempt to snap up $39.99 kids ski jackets, adult snow pants for $49.99 and touch-screen gloves for $9.99 The attempt to grab a bargain saw customers rise early in a desperate attempt to grab their desired product Images shared on social media showed long lines in chilly weather well before stores opened and the chaos began. The company took to social media to build up hype for the event. On Twitter, they even compared the occasion to the impending royal wedding. The account tweeted: 'The biggest event today isn't the royal wedding it's ALDI Snow Gear Special Buys! Available today.' Speaking to news.com.au one customer said: 'This is nuts. I've never been in a line like this for anything before.' Many took to the Aldi Australia Facebook page to praise the company for their work dealing with the crazy sale. One user wrote: 'Well done Aldi. Were a family of four heading to the snow for the first time. We were able to stock up at the Parkes, New South Wales, store without any problem at all. Plenty of stock.' Speaking to news.com.au one customer said: 'This is nuts. I've never been in a line like this for anything before' (Pictured: Aldi Snow Sale 2017) The company took to social media to build up hype for the event. On Twitter, they even compared the occasion to the impending royal wedding. Another thanked staff for their 'good humour'. The social media user wrote: 'It was busy but everyone was polite and taking getting what they needed with minimum fuss. 'Very well organised!' However not everyone had a good experience. One person claimed they were 'coat hanged' and 'pushed' but they survived and got everything they wanted. BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- A recent survey showed that a growing number of Chinese senior citizens are interested in tourism and online shopping. According to the Survey Report on the Living Conditions of China's Urban and Rural Older Persons (2018), 14.3 percent of Chinese elderly had spent money on tourism and 12.4 percent of them had done online shopping in 2015. The report said that annual expenditures of urban and rural senior citizens have both increased thanks to higher personal incomes. A total of 222,700 Chinese aged 60 and above from across the country answered the survey, which was compiled by China Research Center on Aging and published by the Social Sciences Academic Press. [ Editor: Xueying ] In July last year Blackbourn filmed a woman showering in a Maori Hill flat, later saving it on his phone in a folder named 'the goods' A man has pleaded guilty to secretly filming women in the shower and breaking into their homes to steal underwear while they slept. Rowan Blackbourn, from New Zealand, appeared in Dunedin District Court this week charged with five counts of burglary and three of making intimate visual recordings, the Otago Daily Times reports. Blackbourn's three month crime spree ended after he dropped his phone and wallet while fleeing a woman's home on October 20. The 20-year-old refused to comment to Daily Mail Australia but said the court ruling had 'literally ruined my life'. In July last year Blackbourn filmed a woman showering in a Maori Hill flat, later saving it on his phone in a folder named 'the goods.' Three weeks later he filmed another woman showering at a nearby property. On a different occasion he filmed his flatmate's friend showering and his flatmate in the nude by hiding his phone in a toilet bag. In September Blackbourn broke into a flat and stole three pairs of underwear drying on a laundry rack. Judge Kevin Phillips said it was clear Blackbourn 'used them' while watching illicit videos. Blackbourn's three month crime spree ended after he dropped his phone and wallet while fleeing a woman's home on October 20 He was caught in October last year after he broke into a Queen Street property. A woman woke up and saw Blackbourne with a pair of underwear. He fled, dropped his phone and wallet while trying to jump over a fence. Blackbourn's lawyer said his client had been intoxicated when the offending took place, but Judge Philips said it was no excuse. 'He may have been drinking but was capable of what he was doing in a stealthy way,' Judge Philips said. 'You made the alarming comment to Probation that you got away with it, so you continued to do it.' Mr Blackbourn was sentenced to eight months' home detention, and also ordered to pay his eight victims $700 each. A suspect has been arrested in the throat-slitting murder of a nurse at an upscale mall outside of Los Angeles. Cheri Lynette Townsend, 39, was booked for murder on Thursday in connection with the May 3 killing of 66-year-old Susan Leeds in the parking garage of a Rolling Hills, California mall. Leeds' body was found inside her white 2016 Mercedes Benz SUV in the parking garage of Promenade on the Peninsula, a trendy shopping mall in the wealthy enclave. Although remaining tight lipped about many details of the case, police said in a televised Friday press conference that the crime was apparently random, with robbery as a motive. Susan Leeds, 66, is seen with her husband above. She was brutally slain in what police are calling a random attack motivated by robbery The murder took place in the parking garage of Promenade on the Peninsula, (above) an upscale shopping center in the wealthy enclave of Rolling Hills Police released these images of the victim's car (left) and the suspect's car (right) in an appeal to the public for any witnesses who might have seen something on May 3 Police say that the murder unfolded shortly after noon on May 3, a Thursday, when the Promenade parking garage was bustling with shoppers coming and going. Surveillance video shows the suspected murder spend several minutes in the victim's car in the commission of the crime. Townsend, a native of Victorville some 120 miles away, was driving a gold 2008 Chevrolet Malibu that was parked near the murder scene, according to police. Police said that Townsend parked near Leeds' car in the garage and carried out the heinous crime over the course of several minutes, as pedestrians and cars passed by unawares. 'It takes a different person that can pull a trigger versus stab somebody multiple times,' said LA Sheriff's Department Homicide Captain Chris Berger. 'It's a very violent, personal crime and to me it says there's a lot of anger.' Over the protests of the local press, cops refused to release a mugshot of the suspect, saying they want to preserve the integrity of lineups in case a witness comes forward. Surveillance video shows the suspected murder spend several minutes in the victim's car in the commission of the crime Investigators remove Leeds' body after the brutal parking garage attack on May 3 The victim's car is seen being towed out of the parking garage by police 'We don't want to try this case in the press. We still have witnesses that need to be shown photographs and we want that pure identification,' said Berger. Townsend is described in booking records as a black female with brown eyes and brown hair, standing five-foot-five and weighing 200 pounds. LA County Sheriff Jim McDonnell said that 'critical evidence at the crime scene' led investigators to Townsend, but declined to offer further details, citing the ongoing investigation. Townsend was arrested around 5am on Thursday on a street, police said. 'This was a crime that shocked the community,' McDonnell said in an appeal for potential witnesses who were in the parking garage that day to come forward. The victim's family also spoke out in a public appeal for information about the crime. 'To see such a sweet, great innocent woman go through such a horrific death is certainly beyond words,' the victim's stepson Ben Leeds (above) said 'I knew her for 28 years. Very kind very sweet, very loving,' Fred Leeds, the oldest of the victim's six step-children, said of his step-mother. 'And I spoke to my father this morning, who is not here, and he wanted to convey that he loved her very much and that she's missed by her family.' 'To see such a sweet, great innocent woman go through such a horrific death is certainly beyond words,' his brother Ben Leeds added. H said Susan Leeds was a retired Kaiser nurse, dedicated her life to helping patients with Type 1 diabetes. 'Please step forth and help the community and the family,' he said. Townsend is being held in the Century Regional Detention Facility pending bail of $2million, according to country records. It was unclear whether she has an attorney and no pending court date is listed for her. Anyone with information on the case is urged to call the LA Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Advertisement An internment camp, which once housed thousands of incarcerated Japanese-Americans, is being rebuilt with an original building as a place of remembrance. The camp, known as Amache, was wiped clean and its buildings and structures removed but is now home to an old shed that was once a recreation center. The rec hall joins three new structures at the camp, including a guard tower, according to the Denver Post. An internment camp, which once housed thousands of incarcerated Japanese-Americans, is being rebuilt with an original building A shed that was once used a recreational hall at the camp, known as Amache, was brought back to its original location on Thursday The rec hall (pictured) joins three new structures at the camp, including a guard tower From 1942 to 1945 the shed was used as a recreation center at the Granada War Relocation Center, known as Amache 7,000 Japanese-Americans were held captive at the camp during World War II From 1942 to 1945 the shed was used as a recreation center at the Granada War Relocation Center, a square mile just outside of town better known s Amache, a World War II internment where 7,000 Japanese-Americans were held captive. The rec hall was removed from the site in 1946 to serve as a city utility building. The building was carefully moved back to it's original place at the camp on Thursday. Photography instructor John Tonai was present as workers painstakingly moved the fragile shed back to its location. Tonai, who said his father spent three years at the camp, captured photos of the historical move. 'Most Japanese-Americans didn't talk much about the camps,' Tonai told the Denver Post, 'but my father did.' 'It got to the point where as a kid I forgot about the stories. Then, I came here and I could stand in his era, and all those memories of his stories came flooding back. I could stand in the doorway of a barracks and see my dad as a kid, running down the street.' Tonai's father, Minouri 'Min' Tonai, was 10 when his family was forced to move from their home to the internment camp. They left when Minouri was 13 years old. Tonai said his dad, now 89, and many others will visit the camp on Sunday as part of the Amache Pilgrimage, a remembrance of life on the camp. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the Amache Preservation Society, the Denver Post reports. Photographer John Tonai, pictured looking at the shed, said his father lived at the internment camp for three years The recreational hall still has its original windows which have '11F' etched into the sliding, referring to the block location on the Amache grid The structure will undergo some extensive work to replicate exactly how it looked all those years ago Workers will use original construction documents to not only rebuild the outside of the recreational hall but restore the inside as well. Pictured above is the Colorado Stories exhibit which shows what the inside of the rec center looked like Thousands of Japanese-Americans were held at the Amache camp from 1942 to 1945 Japanese-Americans from all over the country travel to southeastern Colorado to visit the Amache Camp. 'My dad is coming for what probably will be his last time,' Tonai said. 'I love hearing their stories. I have a better understanding of what they went through.' While the rec center is still somewhat in its original form, the structure will undergo some extensive work to replicate exactly how it looked all those years ago. According to the outlet, the original rolled-asphalt roofing was replaced with metal and now will be refitted. Part of the building was also removed when it was first taken from the camp. Workers will use original construction documents to help them re-create the missing section and restore the interior of the building. The recreational center does still have its original windows and siding is still penciled with '11F', referring to the block location on the Amache grid. 'Anything we bring back that's original is a big deal,' said John Hopper, the school administrator whose student-led Amache Preservation Society helps with projects and grounds maintenance and leads tours at the camp. 'We're always looking for ways to interpret the site, and this is another way. Getting back anything original to the site is a plus for us.' John Tonai, the photographer who captured the images, said his father and many others will visit the camp on Sunday for the Amache Pilgrimage Japanese American Ruth Ikeya , 69 (center) holds a copy of the instructions citizens of Japanese decent were ordered to follow in 1942 Japanese-Americans are seen in this photograph eating dinner at the mess hall at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center, an internment camp for Japanese Americans from California Aerial view of a Japanese-American relocation center in Amache, Colorado 7,000 Japanese-Americans were held at the camp during World War II A woman is seen making a dress at the Manzanar Relocation Center in California Students are seen attending school at an internment camp, is this photo believed to have been taken in 1943 Qantas has been blasted by Britain's largest union over fears cabin crew are being overworked due to the airline's new long haul flight between London and Perth. British-based trade union Unite, which boasts 1.4 million members, has warned the airline about 'anti-union tactics'. The union claimed that the new flight saw cabin crew staff spend as little as 25 hours resting after working the mammoth 17-hour non-stop international flight. Qantas has been blasted by Britain's largest union over fears cabin crew are being overworked due to the airline's new long haul flight between London and Perth (Pictured: long-haul flight leaving London) Unite claims that Qantas' cabin crew UK base manager Dannielle Morgan sought to dismiss concerns over fatigue (Pictured: long-haul flight leaving London) Unite claims that Qantas' cabin crew UK base manager Dannielle Morgan sought to dismiss concerns over fatigue. Lindsey Olliver, Unite regional officer said: 'While the future of flying is likely to centre on ultra-long haul operations, Qantas has a responsibility to ensure that the safety and wellbeing of its passengers and cabin crew continues to be of paramount importance. 'Qantas cabin crew must be provided with adequate rest down route between sectors to ensure they are fully able to complete their safety critical functions without impairment whilst operating on-board an aircraft.' Depending on rosters, when the London to Perth trip lands in Australia the ten person cabin crew can get anywhere between 28 and 52 hours rest. Qantas spokesperson said: 'Safety is always our main priority and were committed to working through any concerns constructively' This is in stark contrast from Unite's claims that crew only get 25 hours rest before their flight back home. When Daily Mail Australia reached out to Qantas a spokesperson said: 'Making sure our crew have enough rest is important to us and something were very used to managing given our experience with ultra long-haul flying. 'These crew had previously been operating around seven hours of flying between London and Dubai, so were conscious there is a period of adjustment. 'Safety is always our main priority and were committed to working through any concerns constructively.' A tradesman has been caught on camera yelling at a female driver after his foot was run over in a heated road rage dispute. The shocking footage shows the man screaming at the driver of a black Mazda in a no standing zone outside a Mill Park home in Melbourne at 3.40pm on Friday, 9 News reported. The 42-year-old man ordered the 69-year-old woman to move her car, and when she didnt he started kicking the vehicle, police said. A tradesman has been caught on camera yelling at a female driver after his foot was run over in a heated road rage dispute The shocking footage shows the man screaming at the driver of a black Mazda in a no standing zone outside a Mill Park home in Melbourne at 3.40pm on Friday The man and woman continue to argue before the Mazda accidentally runs over his foot. The man can be seen hopping up and down in the middle of the road after he managed to get his foot out from underneath the tyre. Family and friends rush over to assist the man. He manages to limp away from the vehicle in pain. The man was taken to hospital suffering from a broken foot. Investigations into the incident are ongoing. Marks & Spencer is rumoured to be looking at launching a home delivery service for food in response to a surge in online grocery shopping. The move would allow the giant to take on the major supermarkets, particularly direct competitors such as Waitrose and Ocado. The failure to offer online food shopping and home delivery has been a major gap in services offered by M&S. It has been looking at the idea for 10 years and, at one time, there were rumours of a partnership with Ocado, where the chairman is Lord Stuart Rose, who previously ran M&S. Marks & Spencer is rumoured to be looking at launching a home delivery service for food in response to a surge in online grocery shopping To date, M&S has shied away from going ahead because the service is massively expensive to run and will seriously erode profit margins, despite the income from delivery charges. One problem that M&S has is that people typically shop for a small basket of premium items, rather than doing a full weekly shop. This cuts the value of a typical order and means it is less financially viable. Such is the shift to online shopping, coupled with the threat posed by Amazon, which is now delivering fresh food, that M&S bosses appear to feel they must offer a service. Details of the move have been revealed by The Grocer magazine following changes to the M&S website. A postcode search function has been added to the grocery section, which would tell potential customers whether food delivery is available in their area. The company has been running so-called soft trials of home delivery of food in Reading and Camden since the autumn. These could now be extended. Members of the chain's Sparks loyalty scheme members who live within a threemile radius of the Camden and Reading stores can select express delivery for 6.99 for 20 items or less within an hour of their online checkout, 1.99 for a one hour delivery slot, or a free click and collect service. The chain has been looking at the idea for 10 years and, at one time, there were rumours of a partnership with Ocado, where the chairman is Lord Stuart Rose, who previously ran M&S A source told the Grocer that the website changes could signal the start of a full rollout of an M&S delivery service. The source said the lack of home food delivery was an 'obvious gap' and that shoppers consider such services a 'basic expectation'. The source said: 'As M&S' store numbers just aren't as high as other retailers, introducing this service could encourage more customers to shop at M&S if it was made easier and more accessible for them. 'It has quite a few hurdles to overcome to make this sustainable and economically viable, especially as shoppers don't tend to do full trolley shops at M&S.' Another source said M&S would be 'mad' to launch the service on the basis of the limited offer it currently has compared to mainstream supermarkets. The company has been running so-called soft trials of home delivery of food in Reading and Camden since the autumn. These could now be extended They warned: 'Their margins will go south given how expensive delivery services are to run.' The M&S chief executive, Steve Rowe, has accepted the retailer cannot afford to ignore the growing online grocery market, estimated to be worth 17.6bn by 2021. He is reported to have said at one internal meeting: 'We continue to review food online carefully. It has not cost us anything over the last five years by not being online with food. Our customers haven't moved yet, but they will and we need to ensure we are ready with the right response.' M&S denied it was preparing to roll out a complete grocery delivery service. A satellite TV truck was seen parked up outside Samantha Markle's house ahead of her planned royal wedding party today. The bride-to-be's controversial half sister has not been invited to the real wedding in Windsor but is throwing a formal party at home in Florida. Yesterday a large truck with a satellite dish was pictured in front of her Silver Springs home, sparking rumours she may be planning to broadcast her celebrations. Samantha, 53, has repeatedly slated Meghan, 36, in the media, dubbing her the 'pushy princess', and has been accused of cashing in on her wedding to Prince Harry, 33. A satellite TV truck has been pictured parked outside Samantha Markle's home in Florida The vehicle (pictured yesterday) was branded with DCL, which stands for Digital Comm-Link, a video production service based in Davie, Florida Meghan Markle's half-sister Samantha (pictured) is hosting a party at her home after she was not invited to the real royal wedding following a series of controversial claims she has made The vehicle was branded with DCL, which stands for Digital Comm-Link, a video production service based in Davie, Florida. Samantha has repeatedly been in the spotlight in the run up to Prince Harry's wedding, even vowing to write a tell-all book about their relationship. But despite her media rants US gossip website TMZ reported yesterday she has told her royal wedding party guests to come in formal attire and she is wearing a 'vintage art deco hat'. Samantha told the website she still loves Meghan and it will be 'bittersweet' to watch Meghan walk down the aisle. Samantha will be drafting in off-duty police officers to keep out any gatecrashers, TMZ reported. Meghan Markle's controversial half sister Samantha has not been invited to the wedding in Windsor but is throwing a formal party at her home in Florida (pictured left, truck right) The large truck with a satellite dish was pictured parked in front of her Silver Springs home, where a crowd of people (pictured) were pictured gathering yesterday In repeated rants to the media, Samantha, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair, has portrayed Meghan as 'narcissistic and selfish' and claimed her half-sister had disowned her because of her disability. Yesterday, hitting back at Meghan's reported pleas for her to stop sniping, she even invoked the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, saying angrily: 'She's not going to tell me that I can't speak about my life. I'm not going to take it.' But it is understood her views have recently mellowed and she now feels love towards her half-sister. Ms Markle previously said she had encouraged her father to do a deal with paparazzi, the discovery of which has partly led to his decision not to attend the wedding. The DCL satellite truck was seen outside Samantha Markle's home in Florida yesterday Samantha is not close to Meghan and has been accused of 'cashing in' on the royal wedding She has also hit out at Kensington Palace for not helping her and Meghan's father Thomas after his heart attack, claiming she had to send him money. She said his heart condition had been 'life-threatening' and he needed surgery, and that afterwards she had to 'send my father money twice by MoneyGram because he needed it'. Dismissing reports that Kensington Palace had offered support for her father in Mexico, she claimed: 'That is not true or he would not have been living in his place, he'd have a reliable vehicle, he'd have security.' During one of a series of TV appearances this week, she was branded a 'little vulture' by Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan. In an explosive exchange, Mr Morgan asked her: 'How much money have you made from trashing Meghan Markle?' to which Samantha replied: 'Not very much'. Saudi Arabia has arrested seven women's rights campaigners and branded them 'traitors' who were working for 'foreign entities'. Pro-government media outlets splashed their photos online and in newspapers, accusing them of betrayal for their supposed crimes. Rights activists said five of those detained were among the most prominent and outspoken women's rights campaigners in the Islamic kingdom. Aziza al-Yousef drives a car on a highway in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of a campaign to defy Saudi Arabia's ban on women driving. She and six other activists have been arrested The activists had persistently called for the right for women to drive, with the ban to be lifted in just six weeks. However, they stressed that this was only the first step toward full rights and for year also called for an end to less visible forms of discrimination. They campaigned for lifting guardianship laws that give male relatives final say on whether a woman can travel abroad, obtain a passport, or marry. Their movement was seen as part of a larger democratic and civil rights push in the kingdom, which remains an absolute monarchy where protests are illegal. All major decision-making rests with the king and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Some state-linked media outlets published the names of those detained, which include Loujain al-Hathloul, Aziza al-Yousef and Eman al-Najfan. Pro-government media outlets splashed their photos online and in newspapers, accusing them of betrayal for their supposed crimes Rights activists said Madeha al-Ajroush and Aisha al-Manae are also among the seven detained. Both took part in the first women's protest movement for the right to drive in 1990, in which 50 women were arrested for driving and lost their passports and their jobs. All five women are well-known activists who agitated for greater women's rights. Several of the women were professors at state-run universities and are mothers or grandmothers. The Interior Ministry on Saturday did not name those arrested, but said the group is being investigated for communicating with 'foreign entities'. It said they were working to recruit people in sensitive government positions and giving money to foreign circles aiming to destabilise and harm the kingdom. The stunning arrests come just six weeks before Saudi Arabia is set to lift the world's only ban on women driving next month. When the kingdom issued its royal decree last year announcing that women would be allowed to drive in 2018, women's rights activists were contacted by the royal court and warned against giving interviews to the media or speaking out on social media. Following the warnings, some women left the country for a period of time and others stopped voicing their opinions on Twitter. As activists were pressured into silence, Saudi Arabia's 32-year-old heir to the throne stepped forth, positioning himself as the force behind the kingdom's reforms. However, Human Rights Watch said the crown prince's so-called reform campaign 'has been a frenzy of fear for genuine Saudi reformers who dare to advocate publicly for human rights or women's empowerment'. 'The message is clear that anyone expressing skepticism about the crown prince's rights agenda faces time in jail,' Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said Loujain al-Hathloul was another of the seven activists branded 'traitors' who were working for 'foreign entities' Last year, Prince Mohammed oversaw the arrests of dozens of writers, intellectuals and moderate clerics who were perceived as critics of his foreign policies. He also led an unprecedented shakedown of top princes and businessmen, forcing them to hand over significant portions of their wealth in exchange for their freedom as part of a purported anti-corruption campaign. In an interview with CBS in March, he said that he was 'absolutely' sending a message through these arrests that there was a new sheriff in town. Activists said writer Mohammed al-Rabea and lawyer Ibrahim al-Mudaimigh, two men who worked to support women's rights campaigners, are also among the seven detained. Al-Mudaimigh defended al-Hathloul in court when she was arrested in late 2014 for more than 70 days for her online criticism of the government and for attempting to bring attention to the driving ban by driving from neighboring United Arab Emirates into Saudi Arabia. Those familiar with the arrests said al-Hathloul was forcibly taken by security forces earlier this year from the UAE, where she was residing, and forced back to the kingdom. In recent weeks, activists said several women's rights campaigners were also banned from traveling abroad. Their movement was seen as part of a larger democratic and civil rights push in the kingdom, which remains an absolute monarchy where protests are illegal and major decision-making rests with the king and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (pictured) Immediately after news of the arrests broke, pro-government Twitter accounts were branding the group as treasonous under an Arabic hashtag describing them as traitors for foreign embassies. The pro-government SaudiNews50 Twitter account, with its 11.5 million followers, splashed images of those arrested with red stamps over their face that read 'traitor' and saying that 'history spits in the face of the country's traitors.' The state-linked Al-Jazirah newspaper published on its front-page a photo of al-Hathloul and al-Yousef under a headline describing them as citizens who betrayed the nation. Activists said some in the group were arrested on Tuesday and at least one person was arrested Thursday. They said the detainees were transferred from the capital, Riyadh, to the city of Jiddah for interrogations where the royal court has relocated for the month of Ramadan. Activists said it wasn't not clear why the seven were arrested now. An ABC star who was flown to London to cover the royal wedding on taxpayer funds claims she is staying in a budget hotel. Annabel Crabb, who was sent to England with Jeremy Fernandez on Wednesday, took to social media to share her less-than-luxurious view from their hotel. 'I've had some questions about the nature of our accommodation; it's a budget hotel in Slough,' Crabb shared. 'Very serviceable. Here is the view (which we are not being charged for).' Annabel Crabb, who was sent to England with Jeremy Fernandez on Wednesday, took to social media to share her questionable view from their hotel (pictured) 'I've had some questions about the nature of our accommodation; it's a budget hotel in Slough,' Crabb shared however many did not hold pit for the reporter (pictured) Many did not hold any sympathy for the ABC hosts because they were 'not being charged for it' 'Good grief some people are ridiculously petty,' one social media user wrote (pictured) The national broadcaster host shared an image of their view which appeared to be part of a building site with large slabs of bricks, temporary fences and other packages. Many did not hold any sympathy for the ABC hosts. Others took to social media to take aim at the tax-payer funded network with many questioning whether the Federal Budget cuts were kicking in. 'You ABC elitists ... never satisfied,' one person wrote. 'No charge for that view?! Incredible. What a rort!!,' another shared. 'Only the best will do for our ABC journos!,' one quipped. 'Sometimes you gotta (sic) experience humble lodgings again,' another claimed. 'Good grief some people are ridiculously petty,' one social media user wrote. The ABC journalist later Tweeted a photo of Buckingham Palace, assuring her followers not to 'panic' because 'that's not where we're staying'. The taxpayer-funded national broadcaster sent Annabel Crabb and Jeremy Fernandez (pictured outside Buckingham Palace) to the British capital on Wednesday 'Only the best will do for our ABC journos!,' one person quipped online about the taxpayer funded trip to London Other suggested the Federal Budget cuts to the public broadcaster were starting to show 'Sometimes you gotta (sic) experience humble lodgings again,' another claimed (pictured) Despite claiming to have less than luxurious views from their room, Crabb told her followers not to 'panic' because 'that's not where (they're) staying' just hours later The pair were sent to report on the upcoming nuptials between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle despite the British capital already having a large bureau. Upon arrival the ABC hosts were filmed taking selfies in front of Buckingham Palace, riding in black cabs and buying tacky royal wedding souvenirs. The decision to fly Crabb and Fernandez to cover the event reportedly infuriated staff at the ABC's large London bureau, The Daily Telegraph reported. ABC's News Breakfast shared an image of Fernandez with Meghan and Harry merchandise, and Crabb featured in a 7:30 promo clip driving around the city. Crabb posted photos of herself standing in front of a London cab, and sitting in a taxi with British historian Anna Whitelock. The ABC flew two presenters (pictured is Annabel Crabb, left, with Anna Whitelock) to London to cover the royal wedding, despite having a large bureau in the city already Upon arrival the pair were filmed taking selfies in front of Buckingham Palace, riding in black cabs and buying tacky royal wedding souvenirs (pictured is Jeremy Fernandez with souvenirs) Cabinet minister Peter Dutton responded by hitting out at 'largesse' at the ABC, criticising the decision to send the special crew to London. The minister said he couldn't understand the decision to send Crabb and Fernandez to the UK for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's nuptials. 'Why they need to send people across when they've already got correspondents in the UK is beyond me,' Mr Dutton told 2GB radio on Thursday. 'If you have a look at the largesse of their studios at the ABC, these bonuses they've just paid out, I'd love to know the criteria.' The trip also caught the attention of Liberal Senator Eric Abetz, who questioned how many people are needed to cover the wedding. 'I would like to see the justification for flying those two over when there is a crew permanently in London,' Mr Abetz said. Cabinet minister Peter Dutton responded by hitting out at 'largesse' at the ABC, criticising the decision to send the special crew to London (pictured is Crabb in a London cab) He was joined by New South Wales Liberal MP Craig Kelly, who also questioned the money spent. 'The royal wedding is of national and international significance,' the broadcaster said in a statement. 'As the national broadcaster the ABC is uniquely positioned to provide quality, distinctive coverage that localises the event for all Australians. Poll Do you approve of the ABC's decision to send two presenters to London for the royal wedding? Yes No I don't know Do you approve of the ABC's decision to send two presenters to London for the royal wedding? Yes 145 votes No 564 votes I don't know 26 votes Now share your opinion 'ABC audiences expect more than simply a live feed and news reports of such a major event. 'Co-hosts Annabel Crabb and Jeremy Fernandez will enrich our coverage by providing in-depth and insightful commentary that informs, engages and entertains our audiences. 'All travel and accommodation falls within ABC guidelines.' The news comes as the ABC fends off criticism over more than $2.6million in bonuses given to over 200 employees during the last year. A freeze of $84million in allocated funding to the ABC was announced in this year's Federal Budget, prompting criticism from ABC Managing Director Michelle Guthrie. Guthrie claimed the funding freeze amounted to a budget cut, and the broadcaster attacked the funding freeze on Media Watch on Monday night. ABC News director Gaven Morris said the freezing of the annual indexation of the ABC's operational funding for three years would have 'real consequences'. 'There is no more fat to cut at the ABC', Mr Morris told the Melbourne Press Club last week. 'Any more cuts to the ABC cut into the muscle of the organisation.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted the ABC for further comment. A 36-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a pharmacist who was found dead in her home in Middlesbrough on Monday. Mitesh Patel, 36, was charged with the murder of Jessica Patel, 34, who was found dead at her Victorian semi in The Avenue, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, on Monday. Originally from Leeds, she worked with her husband at the Roman Road Pharmacy. Jessica Patel is pictured with her husband Mitesh who ran a local pharmacy with her Pictured: Jessica Patel, 34, was found dead inside a house in Linthorpe, Middlesborough on Monday evening Pictured: Her house in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough was taped off after she was found there with serious injuries and later died Mr Patel of The Avenue, Linthorpe, was remanded in custody to appear at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Tuesday by Teesside Magistrates' Court. Today, Cleveland Police released a statement from Mrs Patel's family: 'We have lost Jessica, a kind hearted, gentle and selfless person who was loved dearly by her family and friends. She was completely dedicated to all of her family and her loss has brought an unbearable pain. 'We as a family are devastated and we would kindly request that everyone respects our privacy and allows us the time to grieve in peace.' Forensic experts have been working at their home and at the chemist's shop. Earlier this week, Detective Superintendent Tariq Ali said: 'We know that Jessica was a well-liked and well-respected member of the local community, and that a lot of people knew her from working at the pharmacy.' Jessica Patel's family paid tribute to the pharmacist describing her as 'a kind hearted, gentle and selfless person' Police say a post mortem has taken place, but they are not releasing the cause of the death for 'investigation purposes'. A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: 'Around 8pm police started to arrive, four or five cars, six or seven vans and two or three ambulances. 'Police told my son he couldn't go out as they were dealing with a serious matter. 'I am very, very scared after hearing this news. They are an Asian couple, they are both chemists and they are quite quiet people. 'They have lived here for about a year, a year and a half. 'They keep themselves to themselves but this an area full of nice people, this isn't something you expect on your doorstep. 'I have lived here a long time and this is the first time I have seen that many police cars or anything like this.' The 30ha centre will be built next to Can Tho International Airport to meet the increasing demand of goods transportation by international and domestic airlines, with a capacity of transporting at least 600,000 tonnes of goods per year. Along with the construction of the logistics centre, Quang said the corporation will open new routes from Can Tho city to other destinations in the country and abroad. He said the corporation opened three logistics centres at Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat and Da Nang international airports, but it is difficult to expand these centres due to the lack of land. According to General Director of Tan Son Nhat Cargo Service Joint Stock Company Nguyen Cao Cuong, cargo throughout the Can Tho International Airport is currently 4,200 tonnes per year. Meanwhile, the output of agricultural and aquatic products and other goods of Can Tho through the Tan Son Nhat International Airport is 150 tonnes per day. Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Dao Anh Dung said the city was ready to create good conditions for Vietnam Airlines to build the planned logistics hub. He expected the corporation to work with Can Tho city to complete procedures soon to receive an investment licence in August, when the city will host an investment promotion conference. Getting from Australia to London has become quicker than ever as Qantas breaks the speed record with a flight time under 17 hours. A flight from Perth to the British capital took just 16 hours and 20 minutes, coming in 45 minutes ahead of schedule. The Qantas Boeing 787-9 reached a ground speed of 1020km/hr as it soared over the Indian Ocean, according toAirline Ratings. The flight, which left the Western Australian capital on April 24, recorded an average speed of 886km/hr. Getting from Australia to London has become quicker than ever as Qantas (pictured) breaks the speed record with a flight time under 17 hours A flight from Perth to the British capital (pictured) took just 16 hours and 20 minutes, making it 45 minutes ahead of schedule The Qantas Boeing 787-9 reached a ground speed of 1020km/hr as it soared over the Indian Ocean before landing in London (stock image) Earlier this year, Qantas launched the non-stop flight path, creating an easy gateway between England and Australia. While the flight time to London has broken a record, the journey back to Perth is even faster. The QF10 stripped 15.45 minutes off the return flight back to Western Australia last month where the ground speed hit 1114km/hr. Despite the average flight time for the trip is 900km/hr however for the QF10 journey it was 938km/hr. Qantas chief technical pilot Alex Passerini told the publication the biggest issue for the flight path was struggling with headwinds. 'It is the most technically challenging route that Qantas flies today because of that complexity of the airspace that we deal with and some of the challenges that poses,' he said. While the flight time to London has broken a record, the journey back to Perth is even faster Earlier this year, Qantas launched the non-stop flight path which created an easy gateway between England and Australia (pictured) However the speedy journey comes with criticism as the union questions fatigue of the airline staff. Unite, Britain's largest union, claims the United Kingdom based air staff only get about 25 hours rest in a hotel before needing to fly back home. A Qantas spokesperson told The West: 'making sure our crew have enough rest is important to us and something we're very used to managing given our experience with ultra-long-haul flying'. A man who took a small rock as a souvenir from the Australian outback last year claims he has been cursed ever since. Steve Hill will head back to Uluru next month to return a rock he collected during an expedition, in the hope the string of bad luck he's had in the last 12 months will end. Mr Hill claims to have been struck by the so-called 'curse of Uluru', which has jinxed tourists who have pocketed rocks and sand from one of Australia's most popular landmarks. Steve Hill (pictured) pocketed a small rock from the base of Uluru last year. He plans to return it after a year of bad luck 'Google maps indicated I was at the old campground where Azaria Chamberlain went missing, so I thought I'd take a small rock as memorabilia, you know, to put on the mantlepiece back at home,' he told Tim the Yowie Man for The Canberra Times. 'When I called my daughters and told them what I'd done, they thought I was crazy and told me to take it straight back, but I didn't.' He now thinks he was a 'complete idiot' for taking it because since then, he's forked out for $13,000 repairs to his beloved 4WD due to damage caused by kangaroos and a blown up engine. According to Tim the Yowie Man (pictured), a mystery investigator and cryptonaturalist, the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park office is inundated with parcels of souvenired rock and sand returned by tourists Mr Hill suspected the bad luck could be 'more than just coincidence' after photos taken on his Uluru trip disappeared from his phone. 'I'm going to return the rock; it's just something I've got to do. I know exactly where I took it from, so as soon as I get to Uluru, I'll be returning it,' he said. Mr Hill isn't the only tourist with a guilty conscience. According to Tim the Yowie Man, a mystery investigator and cryptonaturalist, the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park office is inundated with parcels of souvenired rock and sand returned by tourists. Many tourists who have taken rocks and sand from Uluru (pictured) claimed to have been struck by the so-called'curse of Uluru' Other people shared similar experiences on Tim the Yowie Man's Facebook page. 'While working in Kakadu I occasionally received rocks back from people overseas,'o one man commented. They had taken them from the park and claimed to have suffered great personal and/or family suffering since and were desperate to right and wrong they had committed which may have been taking the rock.' 'I first wrote a story about "conscience rocks" and the tales of woe to people who souvenired them from around Uluru in the mid-80s, another added. 'The rangers had a collection of stories of people whose lives had fallen apart after taking them.' Highly anticipated royal wedding coverage has been slammed by hundreds of frustrated viewers as Channel 9 keeps cutting to ads. Karl Stefanovic and Georgie Gardner were flown to London to cover Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's nuptials but the audience in Australia have been less than impressed. Keen royal wedding spectators are disappointed with Channel 9's commercial-laden coverage after the network claimed to be broadcasting the wedding ad-free. Scroll down for video Karl Stefanovic and Georgie Gardner (pictured) were flown to London to cover Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's nuptials but the audience in Australia seems less than impressed Keen royal wedding spectators are disappointed with Channel 9's coverage after the network claimed to broadcast the wedding ad-free 'Channel 9, Channel 7 please improve your coverage of the royal wedding and stop my wife complaining. I'm off to the pub,' one person shared 'Channel 9 said it was ad free but here I am sitting through an ad' one wrote (pictured) 'So much for Channel 9's promise of ad-free coverage of the royal wedding! I've never seen more ads in my life,' one person wrote online. 'Channel 9, thanks to Channel 7 we are watching celebs (sic) inside chapel ... all you have been showing are ads,' another shared. 'Too many ads in your coverage of this. It's killing me,' one commented. One irritated viewer claimed it was 'some of the worst coverage (they'd) seen' while another person pointed out: 'Channel 9 said it was ad free but here I am sitting through an ad'. Others were left agitated at both major Australian networks for their delayed coverage before the bride and groom even made it to the alter. 'Channel 9, Channel 7 please improve your coverage of the royal wedding and stop my wife complaining. I'm off to the pub,' one person shared. The highly anticipated royal wedding coverage was slammed by hundreds of frustrated Channel 9 viewers with constant ad breaks Others were left agitated at both major Australian networks for their delayed coverage before the bride and groom even made it to the alter 'So much for Channel 9's promise of ad-free coverage of the royal wedding! I've never seen more ads in my life,' one person wrote online One frustrated viewer claimed that there were too many ads: 'It's killing me' (pictured) Another suggested it was 'some of the worst coverage' they'd ever seen (pictured) While some did not seem fussed by the ad breaks, it was the repetitive footage of the same celebrities that annoyed others. 'I'm watching coverage of the Royal Wedding on Channel 7 and Channel 9 and I'm really sick of seeing and hearing about Amal, George Clooney and Oprah! I really don't care - show me other people please,' someone wrote. 'It's like the camera people know who the guests are, but the commentators seem to have NO IDEA! I'm talking about you Karl Stefanovic,' another shared. Not everyone was left saddened by the royal wedding broadcast with one eagle eyed viewer advising people to 'watch Channel 9 instead - exact same images but 9 has them in HD (high definition)'. The network began broadcasting the historic event from a number of locations around London from 7pm - just three hours later than rival Channel 7's coverage began. Australians have called the royal wedding gifts from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull 'hokey' and 'embarrassing'. Mr Turnbull said the country's wedding gift to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would be typically Australian, and he wasn't kidding. The couple, who marry at Windsor later on Saturday, will each be given a handcrafted Akubra hat when they visit Sydney for the Invictus Games in October. Australians have called the royal wedding gifts from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull 'hokey' and 'embarrassing' The couple, who marry at Windsor later on Saturday, will each be given a handcrafted Akubra hat when they visit Sydney for the Invictus Games in October The Prime Minister said on social media that Australia would also be making a $10,000 donation to Invictus 'in honour of your wedding'. 'Congratulations Harry & Meghan on your wedding day. With our very best wishes for a long and happy life together, Malcolm and Lucy,' he wrote. On Friday, the New South Wales government announced two newborn koalas at Taronga Zoo would be named after the royal couple. Although the sex of the joeys isn't yet know, one will be Meghan and one will be Harry. The Prime Minister said on social media that Australia would also be making a $10,000 donation to Invictus 'in honour of your wedding' Australians used social media to vent their confusion and embarrassment on the choice of gift One Twitter user said 'Australia honestly, two Akubra hats as wedding gift'. 'Does anyone else think Australia's wedding gift of Akubra hats to Meghan and Harry are, well, hokey, the sort of thing we might have done in the 1980s?' 'Should have given them a Cold Chisel box set, some thongs from Kmart and a years supply of Vegemite,' another joked. One person suggested the PM should have purchased Cold Chisel box set, some thongs from Kmart and a years supply of Vegemite Brian Blessed has launched a furious expletive-laden attack on farmers who advocate culling badgers in an effort to wipe out bovine TB. The 81-year-old actor, who was dressed as a Tudor king at the time, was hosting a dinner for pig and poultry farmers at the Coombe Abbey Hotel in Coventry. One of the 200 guests at the dinner asked the Flash Gordon star, who is an outspoken animal rights activist, what law he would enact if he was monarch. Brian Blessed was hosting a dinner for 200 farmers in Coventry when he launched his rant Blessed, pictured, was dressed as a Tudor king, file photo, when he was asked by one of the guests what he would ban if he was monarch Members of the audience booed when Mr Blessed said he would ban badger culling When he answered that he would ban badger culling, some of the farmers present began booing the star with one swearing at him. In response, Mr Blessed replied: 'Youre all c****, I hope you all die of TB.' One guest told The Sun: 'It was after dinner and the booze had been flowing. 'Brian used the C word before flouncing out. His views on animal welfare are well known and he wasnt going to back down even in a room full of farmers. 'But a few there have said it was worth the price of the ticket just to see Brian go off on one.' The star's agent Stephen Gittins said his client is well known for his support of badgers and his opposition to culling. Mr Gittins said one audience member was being 'verbally aggressive'. Prince Seeiso of Lesotho hailed Prince Harry for his 'vision and passion' in the royal's charity work during an emotional interview before he set off to the royal wedding. The youngest brother to the King of a small African nation has been a long time friend of Prince Harry's. The pair set up the Sentebale charity which works to support children affected by HIV and poverty in both Lesotho and Botswana. Harry, who married Meghan Markle today at St George's Chapel in Windsor, has had a long relationship with the African nation, having visited during his 2004 gap year. Scroll down for video Prince Seeiso of Lesotho has been admired by many on social media for his interview ahead of the royal wedding The youngest brother to the King of a small African nation, Prince Seeiso has been a long time friend of Prince Harry's Prince Seeiso, 52, who attended the wedding with his wife, Princess Mabereng, said: 'The young Harry who first arrived in Lesotho in 2004 is now a grown man getting married. 'Ive come here with all the wishes of Lesotho, Im not here on my own behalf Im here representing the entire nation who are so happy.' When speaking with Huw Edwards about their charity he added: 'We started this from zero. He has always had the passion, he has always had the vision.' He continued that the children who benefit from their charity 'all love him'. Prince Harry is 'one of us', the affectionate foreign royal had previously admitted. Social media users were quick to react to the lovely sentiments the royal shared about his long time friend ahead of his special day. One said: 'Great interview with Prince Seeiso on the BBC. Shows real relationships built between HRH and those invited to the royal wedding.' Social media users were quick to react to the lovely sentiments the royal shared about his long time friend ahead of his special day Others wrote: 'Prince Seeiso is a legend,' and 'Prince Seeiso of Lesotho seems a nice chap.' 'Prince of Lesotho, Prince Seeiso, seems very cool and down to Earth. And hes wearing a pink tie.' 'I have absolutely, damn straight, stone cold just fallen in love with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho.' Another commented: 'Prince Seeiso reminding me why I love Harry and Meghan union. They are committed to using their influence to change the world for better.' Royal wedding viewers have slammed the BBC's 'dumbing down' coverage after watching a 'slouchy and embarrassing' Dermot O'Leary. The royal wedding is one of the biggest events of the year with more than 20 million viewers in the UK expected to have tuned in to watch Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's special day in Windsor. Public broadcaster BBC chose presenters Kirsty Young, Huw Edwards along with The X Factor host Dermot OLeary for the big day. Yet many were left baffled by the talent show host's addition to the line-up alongside seasoned broadcasters such as Huw Edwards. Audiences took to social media to bemoan Dermot's skills and express their longing for David Dimbleby - who until recent years was the main presenter for important state occasions, such as the golden jubilee celebrations. Scroll down for video Public broadcaster BBC chose presenters Kirsty Young, Huw Edwards along with The X Factor host Dermot OLeary for the big day Yet audiences took to social media to bemoan Dermot's skills and express their longing for David Dimbleby Dermot was clearly very excited about his new role but viewers were left far from impressed by the reality TV presenter's attitude Dermot was clearly very excited about his new role but viewers were left far from impressed by the reality TV presenter's attitude. The BBC's programme was branded 'boring and embarrassing' yet ITV was deemed 'top class' as viewers decided who presented the royal wedding best. Fronting the ITV coverage was Phillip Schofield and Julie Etchingham from a purpose-built studio in the Berkshire town. The BBC decided to freshen up their look by employing Dermot O'Leary and Alex Jones for their main coverage, alongside Scarlett Moffatt as their Radio One royal correspondent. This is a far cry from the days when David Dimbleby was on call for any large state occasion. Many on social media have mourned the loss of veteran BBC presenter David Dimbleby and questioned why he was replaced by 'embarrassing hosts' The BBC's coverage hasn't gone swimmingly with many on social media wondering why their presenters were picked in the first place One wrote: ' BBC One royal wedding show hosted by Dermot OLeary and Kirsty Young. Two people who never front BBC One shows' Critics accused Dermot of being fidgety and 'embarrassing' while presenting the royal wedding programme One viewer asked if they were watching an episode of Ninja Warrior from the pick of presenters Many on social media have mourned the loss of the veteran BBC presenter and questioned why he was replaced by 'embarrassing hosts'. One wrote: 'BBC One royal wedding show hosted by Dermot OLeary and Kirsty Young. Two people who never front BBC One shows. 'This seems a very odd choice. Its like watching some other channel.' Another added: 'I want to enjoy the royal wedding but the BBC is foisting Dermot O'Leary on us today. Don't make me watch Sky.' Others said: 'When BBC royal wedding host Kirsty Young says something not remotely funny and Dermot O'Leary bursts into hysterical fake laughter. Every ten seconds. That.' 'Would be nice if Dermot O'Leary could act like a proper BBC presenter by sitting up straight and speaking clearer.' Another questionable host chosen by the corporation was Scarlett Moffatt, who took on the role as BBC Radio One's royal correspondent Huw Edwards was one of the more seasoned presenters chosen for the BBC's coverage of the royal wedding. Pictured here with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho Not everyone found Dermot to be a disappointing addition to the presenting line-up. As one viewer commented: 'Im very impressed that the BBC got Dermot to do the #RoyalWedding coverage.' Others were less than impressed with BBC's coverage in general, criticising it as 'boring' and 'embarrassing' 'Royal wedding broadcast boring! Too much focused on same people. Changed channel from BBC to ITV.' Yet the coverage hasn't gone swimmingly for the corporation with many on social media wondering why those presenters were picked in the first place Some said: 'The bbc commentary for the royal wedding is horrendous,' and 'the bbc coverage is embarrassing. Dermot cant even save it.' The broadcaster's royal wedding coverage began on BBC One at 9am today and finished at 2pm. In contrast to the BBC's heavily criticised coverage, the ITV's programme was deemed 'top class' and for 'nailing the mood of the nation'. Phillip Schofield and Julie Etchingham hosted this year's royal wedding after their successfully presenting the Duke and Duchess of Cambridges marriage in 2011. Phillip Schofield and Julie Etchingham hosted the organisation's coverage of the big day Many online loved the presenters on ITV and the atmosphere they were creating Speaking about hosting together again, Schofield said: 'So happy to be back with Julie, my Royal Wedding partner (we dont get to work together very often!) and the brilliant team at ITV News. Put your hat on, were going to have a party!' Many online loved the pair and the atmosphere they created with one saying: 'The royal wedding coverage from Phillip Schofield on ITV has just nailed the mood of the nation and the modern feel of this wonderful occasion!' Others wrote: 'Phillip Schofield and the ITV team are owning this wedding coverage over the BBC here in Windsor. Top class presenting! Never change Schofe!' 'ITV, gonna admit I wasn't going to watch the royal wedding. However with your coverage, especially with Schofe, I'm glued to the screen.' The organisation chose presenters Kay Burley (pictured) and Anna Botting to front their coverage from the Long Walk and Castle grounds Ms Burley lifted a fan from the crowd to get a look at her dress after declaring it one of her favourites Critics said Ms Burley was too excited and questioned whether this was a royal wedding show or a 'Kay Burley show' Another added: 'The royal wedding and Schofield what more could a girl want for on a Saturday morning.' The broadcaster's royal wedding live show began at 9.25am and ended at 3pm. First-time royal event broadcasters, Sky, didn't fair much better than the BBC in terms of viewers' reviews, with many finding presenter Kay Burley 'annoying'. One online commentator said: 'Is this the Royal Wedding or the Kay Burley show?' Another wrote: 'The presenters on Sky reporting the royal wedding are the most annoying people.' However, not everyone was disappointed by the Sky coverage with one social media user writing: 'Sky News have done excellently in the coverage of the royal wedding' People were also confused as to why Ms Burley apparently decided to take off her shoes when talking to the crowds. Yet some people were all for it, with one person writing: 'Loving Kay Burley for taking her shoes off.' Not everyone was disappointed by the Sky coverage with one social media user writing: 'Sky News have done excellently in the coverage of the royal wedding.' Ultimately, many admitted to flicking back and forth through the channels to capture every minute of the day. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle helped each other through their wedding ceremony by exchanging supportive and loving comments, lip-readers have revealed. Harry greeted Meghan to the altar of the church by quietly telling her: 'You look amazing - I missed you'. Meghan replied shyly: 'Thank you'. He also prompted Meghan for the eagerly anticipated kiss as the couple emerged from the service. As they paused on the steps, a smiling Meghan looked up at her new husband and asked: 'Do we kiss?' Harry replied with a discreet: 'Yeah.' Princes Harry and William joked about Harry's 'tight trousers' while they waited for the bride Lipreaders have revealed Harry told his bride: 'You look amazing - I missed you' at the altar The royal bride replied 'thank you' before the couple said their wedding vows Harry was meanwhile spotted telling his new wife he was ready for the reception as their carriage drew back into the grounds of Windsor Castle. As the horse-drawn carriage finished its climb up the Long Walk, Harry quipped: 'I'm ready for a drink now.' Meghan was obviously impressed by the crowds who had lined the streets, exclaiming 'wow!' as they emerged from the castle grounds. They also swapped remarks about some of the signs being held by members of the public, with Harry commenting 'huge' at one point during the procession, and Meghan saying 'how sweet'. Lip-readers have also revealed how the groom was supported by his brother ahead of the ceremony. Harry, 33, said 'I'm alright' in a heart-warming exchange with his brother, 35, as they entered the church, but joked 'my trousers are too tight' as he complained his military uniform was on the small side. As they waited for the bridge to arrive, a nervous Harry asked his brother: 'Is she here?' Wills replied: 'No not yet. I don't know actually.' The royal couple exchanged a few tender words with each other as the wedding service began Harry prompted Meghan before the newly-wedded couple shared a kiss on the chapel's steps Meghan then arrived and, after entering the church with her flower girls and page boys, was walked up the aisle by Prince Charles, who stepped in at the last minute. Harry said: 'Thanks Pa', as Charles and Meghan arrived at the altar. Meanwhile, a body language expert said Meghan 'was the strength' of her wedding ceremony and was constantly reassuring her new husband. Despite the whole experience being completely new for Meghan, who today became the Duchess of Sussex, she did not display a single sign of anxiety or nervousness, body language expert Judi James said. Ms James said Harry performed about 12 'nervous' self-touching body checks, like pulling at his gloves and wringing his hands, within a few paces of getting out his car after arriving at St George's Chapel in Windsor. However Meghan, the latest member of the royal family, maintained complete calm throughout the ceremony to 'help Harry through it'. Harry was also spotted telling his wife: 'I'm ready for a drink' as they entered the gates of Windsor Castle after their carriage procession Ms James said: 'Meghan was amazing. Walking up the aisle by herself, I looked for every smallest sign of suppressed anxiety and nervousness - there was absolutely nothing. 'I think she probably saw it as her role to help Harry through it rather than the other way round. She sat with her hand over his for quite a bit of the service as though she was reassuring him. 'To me, she was the strength when it came to the day and the actual performance.' Both Princes wore the black and gold uniforms of the Blues and Royals, similar to Harry's outfit for Wills' wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011. The uniforms they wore were tailored at Dege & Skinner on Savile Row, with the Queen giving them permission to wear their Army uniforms to the ceremony. Harry has decided to sport a beard, despite speculation he would shave it off in line with Army rules that ban facial hair. Prince Harry (left) arrived at his wedding to Meghan Markle with his brother and best man Prince William (right) to rapturous applause in Windsor this morning But as the prince is no longer a serving member of the forces, he is allowed to break with convention. As Harry's best man, Prince William will be responsible for handing over the rings, which were earlier revealed to be the work of Cleave and Company. Harry is returning the favour to his younger brother after acting as his best man seven years ago. Prince Harry will become the second Duke of Sussex when he and Meghan have walked down the aisle, with his new wife becoming the first ever Duchess of the county in History. Harry's frockcoat is made from blue doeskin. It is single-breasted in style with a stand-up collar, complete with figured braiding of Regimental pattern. The brothers walked by crowds outside the chapel as they both prepared for the ceremony The uniform was cut and made by hand. The sleeve pattern is intricate in detail and took one person one week to complete. The frockcoat is ranked to Major with large gold embroidered crowns. The badge on the left chest is Pilots' Wings attained whilst serving with the Army Air Corps for flying Apache helicopters. The four medal ribbons below the Wings are, from left to right: K.C.V.O., Afghanistan with rosette, The Queen's Golden Jubilee and The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The trousers, officially called 'overalls', are made from a blue and black wool barathea and are fastened by a leather strap and buckle underneath the boot. Both Princes (Harry left and Harry and William right) wore the black and gold uniforms of the Blues and Royals to the wedding in Windsor today The groom was pictured beaming with his brother and best man ahead of the ceremony They would have traditionally been worn on horseback. The hat is a Blues and Royals Forage Cap, while the white buckskin waist belt has a Regimental belt and slings but no sword. Prince William's uniform is the same as the groom, also the Rank of Major. The wings he is wearing are those attained flying helicopters while serving with the RAF, the two medals below from left to right are the Queen's Golden Jubilee and Queen's Diamond Jubilee ones. The Duke of Cambridge is also wearing the Garter Star. As an Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty The Queen, he is wearing the EIIR cyphers on his shoulder straps along with a gold Aiguillette on his right shoulder. Kathie Lee Gifford didn't pass up her last chance to wear an extravagant fascinator on Saturday as she anchored Today's coverage of the royal wedding from Windsor. After several days of increasingly ornate outfits, the NBC host went all out with her final look which included a swan and feathers. She was joined by her equally enthusiastic co-host Megyn Kelly who wore a hot pink number on her head. Both ladies opted for blush dresses to finish the look. Kathie Lee didn't start the day out with the swan in mind. Instead, she traded with a royal fan after spotting her in the crowd in Windsor. She gave the woman her teal fascinator, which matched her co-host Megyn Kelly's, in exchange. Kathie Lee Gifford wore a swan on her head with purple feathers shooting out the side in her most over-the-top effort to fit in with the royal wedding guests. Megyn Kelly went for a blush number The pair seemed delighted with their looks and posed for a selfie with well-wishing members of the public behind them They filmed in front of a raving crowd in Windsor with scores of royalists lining up behind them to wave British flags. It was an extension of their looks from Friday. Unlike Megyn and Kathie Lee who did not relent with their wedding guest attire, Today hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb ditched their headgear for the big day. A host of celebrities were among the estimated 100,000 people who descended on Windsor on Saturday for the historic event. Kathie Lee's swan appeared to have been made out of papier mache and there were lilac feathers all around it From the side, the swan looked as though it was nesting on the NBC host's head Al Roker was also in on the action. Instead of a top hat or morning coat, he went for a straw fedora and purple checked suit According to Guthrie, who has been there all week, most of the well-wishing members of the public are not British but American. 'I feel like I've met more people from California, Texas and Illinois than I have from England!' she said. While Kathie Lee seemed delighted with her look, Twitter users erupted with jokes and memes. Twitter users erupted with jokes about her keen look Gayle King wore a blue and yellow fascinator to anchor coverage for This Morning with Kevin Frazier The Fox News anchors didn't opt for fascinators but instead stuck to tasteful coats and dresses CNN's Anderson Cooper did not wear anything on his head either 'What did Kathie Lee do to deserve this,' said one user. 'Oh my god! Kathie Lee has got a duck on her head!' another quipped. The NBC stars weren't the only US anchors who were eager to get into the spirit of the day. CBS's This Morning host Gayle King wore a fascinator of her own. The Fox News team did not bother with headgear, instead dressing elegantly in coats and cocktail dresses. Anderson Cooper, who is in Windsor for CNN, stuck with a traditional suit. Meghan Markle's estranged sister Samantha spent the minutes of Meghan's wedding by cashing, spending it with a television crew for a paid-for appearance. Samantha, 53, had claimed to TMZ that she would host a party at her Ocala, Florida home, and hire off-duty cops as security But just after dawn, as Meghan Markle became the Duchess of Sussex, there was no sign of celebration - and instead a television outside broadcast truck remained parked outside her single-story home. Her partner Mark Phillips, 60, told DailyMail.com that she was taking part in a television appearance - and suggested that it was earning her a five-figure sum. 'You can't go in there,' he said. 'She is making big money with an exclusive TV interview.' Phillips wouldn't say what TV network paid Samantha for her expertise in her estranged sister, who didn't invite her to her big day in London. Ready for a broadcast: This satellite truck was the only sign of life outside Samantha Markle's home in Ocala, Florida - despite her claim to TMZ that she would host a party Another appearance: Mark Phillips, Samantha Markle's partner, told DailyMail.com that she was watching the wedding with a television crew in a paid for appearance Busy week: Samantha Markle had made a string of television appearances ahead of her sister's wedding - and marked the ceremony by watching it with a televison crew And here's what she was watching - for money: Meghan Markle becomes Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sussex as she is married to Prince Harry by the Most Rev Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury Another estrangement: This is believed to be among the last time the two sisters actually met - in 2008. Their relationship appears fatally fractured after Samantha's repeated outbursts aimed at her sister Neither did Phillips say how much she was paid, but his eyes lit up when he was asked if it was $25,000. Asked how many people the 'party' involved, he said there were eight people - he, Samantha, and the six-strong crew. 'I'm taking her next week where nobody knows us,' he said. 'We haven't slept in day. We haven't been in peace. 'There have been more paparazzi at the house than I have neighbors,' he said. 'It's been a constant hassle.' A passerby walking her dogs seemed shocked when she found out Meghan Markle's sister lives on her street. 'I tried to watch the wedding but I fell asleep, too many processions' said Catherine Hayes as she held mutts Dixie and Freckles on leaches. 'This house is on my daily walk but I had no idea who lives here.' When told about Samantha, Hayes said: 'The sister must not be the best of friends. Meghan looks like a nice person, though.' The final days before her sister's wedding were turbulent for Samantha Markle. She made a series of television appearances, including a bruising confrontation on Good Morning Britain with Dailymail.com columnist Piers Morgan. He called her a 'little vulture' and asked her: 'How much money have you made from trashing Meghan Markle?' to which Samantha replied: 'Not very much'. Markle said she had encouraged her father to do a deal with paparazzi claiming he had been treated 'shabbily' by the media. Whether that is true remains unclear, as her father gave a version of events to TMZ which made no mention of her involvement. Then she claimed on Thursday - again to TMZ - that she had been involved in a confrontation with paparazzi while in a car driven by her boyfriend Mark Phillips. She claimed that a photographer veered in front of them near a toll booth, causing Phillips, 60, to swerve and hit a concrete barrier - and claimed she had a suspected broken ankle and fractured knee. But DailyMail.com diclosed that cops were baffled by her explosive claims. Officers from the Florida Highway Patrol spent three hours trawling their database for details - and after their search turned up empty they even warned Phillips, could be guilty of a hit and run misdemeanor - punishable by two months in jail - for failing to report an accident. Fiery confrontation: Samantha Markle went head-to-head with DailyMail.com's Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain after her father was revealed to have co-operated with paparazzi - who she now claims caused her boyfriend to crash his car, leaving her injured Fractured claims: Samantha Markle told TMZ that she had a 'paparazzi confrontation'. She released a picture from an unnamed hospital and her partner claimed she had a broken ankle and possible fracture knee. But law enforcement can find no evidence of the crash she described Claim: TMZ said that Samantha Markle was injured after Mark Phillips swerved into a barrier near a toll booth while trying to avoid a photographer who veered in front of them to get pictures. Law enforcement say they had found no evidence to back their claim 'Even if they hit a stationary property such as a wall under Florida law you are required to report that to law enforcement,' Lt. Kim Montes told DailyMail.com. 'If you didn't that's considered to be a hit and run.' Lt. Montes said she reached out to TMZ after they splashed the story online along with a photo of Markle, who has MS and is confined to a wheelchair, receiving treatment in an unidentified hospital. Montes said the reporter for the LA-based gossip site could only say the accident happened somewhere along Interstate 4 - a 133-mile stretch of highway running coast to coast between Tampa and Daytona Beach that does not have a single toll booth. She widened her search to include all the major roads around the central Florida city of Ocala, where Markle lives, as well as the Florida Turnpike - which does have toll booths - but still couldn't find anything. The reporter could not even offer an approximate time for the alleged smash that reportedly saw Markle hurled into the windshield before ending up on the floor mat, twisting her leg backward. If the collision did happen and the car simply drove away it could lead to a charge of second degree misdemeanor property damage punishable up to 60 days in prison and a $500 fine. Lt Montes said the description of the injuries and the manner in which Markle hit the windscreen could also suggest she wasn't wearing a seat belt, another potential violation punishable by $30 fine. SAMANTHA ON MEGHAN: 'THE WORLD CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO GO AWAY' 'Hollywood has changed her. I think her ambition is to become a princess. It was something she dreamed of as a girl when we watched the royals on TV. She always preferred Harry she has a soft spot for gingers.' The Sun, November 1, 2016 'The Diary of Princess Pushy' Her planned book title - but she calls it 'a sociological journey' 'She's way out of her league to tell me I can't speak. If it's about my life or my father's, there's something in this country called freedom of speech. She's not going to tell me I can't speak about my life or my father's. The world can't wait for you to go away.' TMZ May 16, 2018 Advertisement 'Just based on my 23 years of experience you typically don't end up on the floor boards of a vehicle unless you're not buckled or not buckled properly,' she added. Cars parked outside her home the following day inclded an RV, a grey Ford minivan and a blue Dodge Caravan, both adapted for use by a disabled passenger. The Ford had scuffs and dings towards the rear of the driver's side but none of the vehicles appeared to have any damage consistent with a frontal collision. While the Florida Highway Patrol is responsible for policing all the highways and major arteries across Florida, if the crash happened on a local road it could fall under the jurisdiction of a city police department or a county sheriff. However neither the Ocala Police Department, nor the Marion County's Sheriff's Office - the agencies responsible for Ocala and the surrounding county - could find any reports as of Thursday afternoon. The mother-of-three has previously been accused of abusing her 19-year-old daughter Noel Rasmussen, who says she was spat at and thrown against a wall by her mother while growing up. A Children, Youth and Families department report said that allegations of child abuse were substantiated. The letter reads: 'The Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) has completed its investigation in response to the report(s) alleging abuse and/or neglect of your child(ren) dated: 05/14/2015.' The investigation has concluded with an overall result of: Substantiated Physical Abuse (Emotional Abuse) by Samantha Rasmussen and Mark Phillips.' Markle on Thursday tweeted a court document which she claims showed the case was dismissed with prejudice on October 2015 as the allegations 'did not allege domestic abuse' as defined by the law. But in fact the report was then used in a different case and was admitted without objection - meaning she did not legally challenge it when she could have. And she also did not challenge in court a second interview with a court-appointed physician in which Noel said she was abused physically by Markle and Phillips. The 19-year-old, whose father is Albuquerque-based film armorer Scott Rasmussen, went to live with Markle after her parents divorced in 2003. Speaking to DailyMail.com last year, Noel said: 'I do remember one [occasion] it was when I was very young, maybe about four or five. 'She had gotten very upset about something; I forget what it was but she picked me up by the arm and threw me into a wall. Ugly split: Samantha Markle's mother and daughter are both estranged from her. Roslyn Markle, her mom, has described how Samantha called Doria Ragland, Meghan's mom, 'the maid' because she is black, while Noel Rasmussen, Samantha's daughter, says she was abused by her as a child. Court document: Although Samantha denies child abuse, a court recorded the findings of a children, youth and families department investigation which said child abuse claims were 'substantiated' Samantha Markle says this shows the case was dismissed - but in fact there were two cases, one of which was dismissed but the other continued to refer to the document without her legally challenging it Sad truth: Samantha Markle had claimed that the case in which allegations of child abuse were said to be substantiated was dismissed with prejudice. But these court documents show that the report was used in a later hearing - and that she did not challenge it in court 'A few other incidents I remember probably when I was nine or ten I would get scratched, spat at, hair pulled, that sort of thing. 'This is something she did fairly often. It was more of an everyday thing.' She continued to live with her mother and Phillips until March 2015 when Noel says she was thrown out. 'There was a fight that had happened,' she told DailyMail.com. 'I can't remember what it was over but it was over three, maybe four days. 'It was just constant, constant anger [from Phillips] towards me and my mom. Eventually, my mom just said, well I'm not going to keep you and Mark in the same house and I'm not making Mark leave, so that left me to leave.' Noel says she is no longer in contact with her mother or Phillips but both continue to write unpleasant messages about her on Twitter, with Markle variously accusing her of being a 'Nazi' and of devil worship. Markle also tweeted a link to an unsubstantiated news story that repeated Markle's Nazi claim and included a comment that read: 'Oh that's right. This niece who is so lacking in credibility maybe she would be wise to say nothing. She doesn't know my nephews or Meg.' On April 15, Markle described Noel as 'deviant' in another Tweet. She wrote: 'This girl is not credible to judge me..She was just a p***ed off teenager who could not get her way with a deviant lifestyle. Too bad.' Markle has also been accused of racism by her mother, Roslyn, 72, who told DailyMail.com last year that her daughter would describe Meghan's mom Doria Ragland, 61, as 'the maid because she is black'. Roslyn of Albuquerque, New Mexico, said: 'When Tom Sr [Meghan's father] married Meghan's mom, Samantha told all her friends that Doria was the maid because she's black. She is not a nice person.' She added: 'She trashes Meghan, trashes me, her dad, her brothers she's just been trashing everybody in her life forever. 'I am very serious when I say she has dogged on Meghan forever. She has never liked Meghan and she's always been jealous of her.' >>> Ministry opens investigation into Grabs acquisition of Uber Accordingly, the Ministry of Industry and Trades agency will investigate the case in accordance with the provisions of Vietnamese competition regulations. The formal investigation period is 180 days from the issuance of the investigation decision. In cases of necessity, a 60-day extension period would be launched but may not exceed two periods. Upon the conclusion of the official investigation, the VCA will transfer the case file to the Vietnam Competition Council for handling under local regulations. Earlier on Wednesday, the VCA issued a formal notice announcing the end of a preliminary investigation over the acquisition, in which the agency announced that it had found signs of violations in the case. Since the launch of the initial investigation in mid-April, the VCA has worked with investigated parties to collect the relevant market information from specialised associations and State management agencies. The preliminary investigation has verified the contents related to the investigated parties, the relevant market, and the combined market share of both Grab and Uber in Vietnam. Preliminary results showed that the combined market share exceeds 50%, meaning the case has shown signs of violation of the regulations on economic concentration defined in Section 3 of Chapter II under the under the countrys Law on Competition 2004. The results of the preliminary investigation have led to the VCAs Friday decision on a formal investigation as stipulated in Item 2, Article 88 of the 2004 Competition Law. On March 26, Grab announced its purchase of Ubers operations in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. Later, Uber Vietnam stated that the company officially stopped operations and closed all offices in the country from 11:59 pm on April 8, which means the transaction between Grab and Uber had already been completed in Vietnam. Thomas Markle Jr. has backtracked on his astonishing attacks of his half-sister to say that he feels like an 'a**' and 'couldn't be more proud' of her on wedding day. In an unscrupulous reversal of his earlier public comments, Markle Jr., told The Mirror on Friday that he now 'doesn't blame' Meghan for distancing herself from him when she found fame on Suits. 'I feel like an a** about it but my true feelings are I couldn't be happier for her. I mean, what are the odds? 'This is every woman's dream come true, to marry a prince. So I couldn't be more happy and proud of my sister. She's incredible,' he said. He spoke in the UK after jetting in before the big day but would not say what his plans for Saturday were. He was not invited to the ceremony or reception. Thomas Markle Jr (pictured earlier this year) has reversed his attacks on his half-sister Meghan, saying now that he feels like an 'a**' and that she is 'incredible' In the last few months, he has written more than one letter to magazines trashing his half-sibling and telling Prince Harry not to marry her. Markle Jr., 51, attempted to blame his attacks on his half sister on the media attention his family has received since she and Harry began their relationship. 'Ever since it started with Meg dating Prince Harry, it's been a media storm nightmare for me and my entire family, which is entirely true. 'It puts you in a different mindframe and puts a lot of stress you don't even realize on you. Being photographed, followed, your private life turns upside down. 'It's hard on everybody. Things get done out of frustration then you look back and you know you've made a mistake,' he said. He went on to share his 'fondest' memory of hs estranged half-sibling. 'My favourite and fondest memory of Meghan is - well, it was an unfortunate time with my grandmother passing - but in the two years prior to that we would spend every other weekend together, with my grandmother, and it was a very personal time. 'She gave selfless attention and cared for my grandmother. It was incredible. Meghan would come into the room and she would light up like a Christmas tree. Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in an extraordinary ceremony at St George's Chapel in Windsor on Saturday. Thomas Markle Jr. was not invited 'It was a great time because that was the real Meghan. It is the real Meghan. I will never forget it and my father will never forget it. It's very special,' he said. He said it was 'understandable' that she threw herself into the role of a lifetime on Suits and, despite previous comments, now doesn't blame her for it. 'It's hard on everybody. Things get done out of frustration then you look back and you know you've made a mistake 'When she went to Toronto, and jumped right into that, it was her biggest role. When you jump into Hollywood like that it demands so much of you; it pulls you in every different direction, away from your family and away from contact. 'And that's completely understandable - that's Hollywood. If you ask any actress or actor they'll do that first before anything. We still remain close at heart. 'If I was in Meghan's shoes I would get caught up and forget to make that phone call. 'We didn't have a falling out, we always had a great relationship and I'm very proud of her. I was busy in my life too and I'd relocated from LA. 'Everyone gets busy. It's normal in our family,' he said. Considering himself an expert on the occasion, he predicted that the bride's dress would be 'the nicest dress anyone has ever seen'. Thomas's sister Samantha has also launched astonishing attacks on Meghan (seen together right in 2008) On Saturday, Samantha continued her cashing-in crusade by inviting a TV crew round to her Ocala, Florida, home to watch the wedding 'The dress is probably going to be the most stand out, one of a kind wedding dress ever made and she wouldn't have it any other way. 'It's going to be the nicest dress anyone has ever seen - a proper princess. I don't think being that it's her second wedding dress has anything to do with it. 'I think this is the one that counts. This is the one that matters,' he said. He added that their father, who has had his own share of embarrassment this week after it was revealed he had staged paparazzi photographs and taken money for it, backed out of the wedding at the last minute. Also not there was the bride's father Thomas Markle Sr. who embarrassed himself this week by staging paparazzi photographs and taking a sum for it. He suffered a heart attack and said that was the reason he would not attend Doria Ragland, Meghan's mother, was the only member of her family who was seen. She beamed with pride throughout her drive to the chapel with her daughter and during the emotional ceremony Thomas Markle Sr. said a recent heart attack, which he suffered days before he was due to walk his daughter down the aisle, kept him from the event. Markle Sr. said his father was happy Prince Charles stood in to accompany Meghan for some of her long walk down St. George's Chapel. 'I think my dad would be sad that he can't be here but if there was a choice he would be overjoyed Prince Charles is there,' he said. Markle Jr. added that he was sure Meghan and Harry would be eager to start their own family soon and painted her as a maternal figure who had long doted on his children. Meghan, 36, is pictured in St George's Chapel on Saturday during her wedding to Prince Harry. Her half-brother said on Friday that she is 'incredible' 'When she was young, dealing with my kids and the way she interacted with them and loved them unconditionally and played with them, it was very obvious she loves children. 'She'll be looking forward to starting her family and that's a good thing. She's going to have a great time. 'I wish them all the happiness in the world,' he said. The only member of Meghan's family who was visibly present at the wedding was her mother, Doria Ragland. Advertisement As Meghan Markle walked down the aisle to wed Prince Harry today, she was followed by her adorable bridesmaids and page boys. The six little girls, including Princess Charlotte, were dressed in all white and had flowers adorning their hair as they giggled and walked behind the beaming bride. The four page boys, including Prince George, also trailed behind Ms Markle as two held her five metre long wedding veil as she walked towards Harry. Kate helped escort the ten children into Windsor Castle, as the children were seen excitedly waving and peering out of the vintage Rolls-Royce they arrived in. After the ceremony, Prince George and Princess Charlotte stood on the steps outside St. George's Chapel and Charlotte gave a charming little wave to the spectators gathered outside. As Meghan Markle walked down the aisle to wed Prince Harry, she was followed by her adorable flower girls, including Princes Charlotte (centre) and page boys Two page boys held Meghan Markle's five metre-long veil as the excited flower girls followed behind them Meghan Markle walks down the aisle as she arrives for the wedding ceremony to Prince Harry followed by her flower girls and page boys on Saturday afternoon Charlotte beamed and waved at crowds as she stood with her mother at Windsor Castle while her older brother George looked less cheerful as he clutched at his father's hand Princess Charlotte leaves St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle after the wedding of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle Following the ceremony, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, the oldest children of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, did not follow Harry and Meghan as they made their way back up the aisle. Instead, the youngsters held their parents' hands as they made their way out of the chapel and greeted the crowds. Just before the bride entered the building, the bridesmaids and pageboys were ushered in by the Duchess of Cambridge, who helped coax them into their positions with an encouraging hand on their shoulder. The children were handed flowers behind the door when one of the little bridesmaids began to cry. The Cambridges' nanny, Maria, lifted her up to comfort her, as Prince George, four, looked up at the tearful girl. A member of Prince Harry's household bent down to help to adjust one of the bridesmaid's dresses. Harry's goddaughters Zalie Warren, two, and three-year-old Florence van Cutsem, Ms Markle's goddaughters, sisters Remi and Rylan Litt, aged six and seven respectively, and four-year-old Ivy Mulroney - the daughter of Meghan's close friend Jessica Mulroney - were bridesmaids. The other pageboys were Harry's six-year-old godson Jasper Dyer - the son of Harry's mentor Mark Dyer - and Mrs Mulroney's seven-year-old twin sons Brian and John Mulroney. When Meghan appeared through the doors of the chapel, sunlight streaming in behind her, she turned to smile and wave at the children who were standing to her right behind the door Meghan Markle arrives for the wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle Princess Charlotte attends the wedding of Prince Harry & Meghan Markle on Saturday afternoon The four page boys, including Prince George, also trailed the bride as two held her metres-long wedding veil. Pictured: Prince George arriving The four page boys, including Prince George, trailed the bride as two held her metres-long wedding veil as she walked towards Prince Harry Princess Charlotte (right) arrives for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle Kate arrived to Windsor Castle hand-in-hand with Meghan's adorable flower girls and page boys, including Prince George (far left) and Princess Charlotte (third from left), as the bride-to-be stepped out of her vintage Rolls-Royce Princess Charlotte is pictured second left with her mother Kate and father William as her brother George hides behind his legs outside St George's Chapel in Windsor When Ms Markle appeared through the doors of the chapel, sunlight streaming in behind her, she turned to smile and wave at the children who were standing to her right behind the door. As she stood in the doorway preparing to walk down the aisle, one of the page boys who was holding her intricate lace veil, appeared behind her and excitability photobombed the bride. Ms Markle arrived to marry Prince Harry in a simple but beautiful pure white dress and extraordinary long trail leaving the groom close to tears. Harry grabbed his bride's hand and told her: 'You look amazing - I missed you' and said 'thank you, pa' after his father Prince Charles escorted her down the aisle. Ms Markle's wedding dress has been designed by the acclaimed British designer, Clare Keller, the first female Artistic Director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy. The veil was held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, lent to her by The Queen, made in 1932 - an outfit that left her mother Doria Ragland, 62, in tears. Prince Harry looked nervous as he arrived at St George's with his best man William but quickly warmed up waving and grinning at crowds before greeting guests inside and outside the chapel. Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrives at the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on Saturday Just before the bride arrived, the bridesmaids and pageboys were ushered in by the Duchess of Cambridge, who helped coax them into their positions with an encouraging hand on their shoulder The Duchess of Cambridge arrives with Prince George (left) and Princess Charlotte (right) at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Kate arrived to Windsor Castle hand-in-hand with Meghan's adorable flower girls and page boys as the bride-to-be steps out of her vintage Rolls-Royce The Duchess of Cambridge and family arriving at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle with Meghan Markle's flower girls and page boys Royals including Prince Charles, Camilla, The Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Andrew and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie US actress Meghan Markle arrives for the wedding ceremony to marry Britain's Prince Harry Mini Harry and Wills: Four page boys wear miniature versions of outfits donned by the Princes Prince William and Prince George leave after the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle The four pages at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex each wore a miniature version of the Blues and Royals frock coat. The uniform draws its insignia from the Blues and Royals, which is an old Regiment of the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry. Both the groom and his brother, the best man, wore Blues and Royals frockcoats for the Wedding Day. The frockcoats were made from blue doeskin, single-breasted in style with a stand-up collar and completed with figured braiding of regimental pattern. The figured braiding was scaled down for the Pages, Kensington Palace said, as otherwise it would have gone above their shoulders. As a special memento, each page had their initials embroidered in gold on their shoulder straps. The pages were not wearing hats or white waist belts for practical reasons, the palace added. Their leg garments were made from blue/black wool barathea with three-quarter scarlet stripes fastened with a leather strap. The uniforms were cut and made by the tailors Dege & Skinner in Savile Row. Advertisement The couple exchanged vows before being pronounced man and wife by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in an extraordinarily moving ceremony watched by millions around the world. Celebrity royalty including the Clooneys, the Beckhams, Idris Elba, Elton John and Oprah Winfrey are among some of the world's biggest stars watching them marry. Britain's royals including the Queen and Prince Philip were also there to support them. Outside St George's Chapel up to 100,000 fevered well-wishers have gathered in glorious British sunshine to cheer the couple as they start their new married life. The service had a distinctly American feel with a US bishop delivering a passionate address that appeared to make some of British royals snigger and a gospel choir filling the chapel with music. It is expected to be the biggest royal wedding in Britain since Prince William married Kate in 2011 with more than 21million UK households set to watch and 23million expected to tune in from America Confident Princess Charlotte, three, excitedly waves to the crowds AGAIN as shy Prince George hides behind Wills' legs ByLara Keay For Mailonline Princess Charlotte captured the hearts' of the nation once again today as she waved enthusiastically at crowds outside the Royal wedding. The three-year-old beamed as she gave a confident wave to adoring fans outside St George's Chapel in Windsor. But her four-year-old brother George was less keen to address the public, cowering behind his father William's legs on the steps in front of the church. Both Prince William's children were part of the wedding party, with Charlotte a bridesmaid and George a page boy. Dressed in pale pink and flowers in her hair she stood smiling as she listened to This Little Light of Mine after Meghan and Harry left the chapel. Princess Charlotte enthusiastically waved to crowds outside St George's Chapel in Windsor as her older brother George cowered behind his father William's legs George was dressed in a black suit and looked more nervous in front of the cameras. Charlotte put on a repeat performance after Harry and Meghan's wedding ceremony today following the birth of her brother Louis on April 23. The nation's hearts melted as she turned to wave at crowds outside the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington last month. Twitter users commented on her confident air, compared with her older brother's more reserved nature. Charlotte, three, gave the same confident wave as she walked with her brother George, four, and father William, 35, on their way to see her baby brother Louis in hospital last month Today she was credited with 'stealing the show' from the new Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, 36, and her husband Prince Harry, 33. People posted on social media that Charlotte 'nailed that wave', calling her 'adorable' and 'a delight'. One user wrote: 'Princess Charlotte stole the show at her uncle Harry's wedding #Royalwedding' Another posted: 'Princess Charlotte is a delight! She loves the people and the people love her. God she's just amazing!' Who are the four page boys and six bridesmaids for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding? Kensington Palace has announced that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will have six bridesmaids and four pageboys at the wedding. Here is the full list: BRIDESMAIDS Kate with Princess Charlotte after Pippa Middleton's wedding in May last year Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge (aged three) The middle child and only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge has made a name for herself for her royal confidence despite being just three years old. It was Charlotte - Harry's niece - who led the way into the Lindo Wing to meet new baby brother Prince Louis, giving a regal wave as she went. Her parents have told how the fourth in line to the throne rules the roost, saying she is 'very sweet' but also feisty. Miss Florence van Cutsem (aged three goddaughter of Prince Harry, daughter of Mrs Alice van Cutsem and Major Nicholas van Cutsem) Three-year-old Florence is Prince Harry's goddaughter, and the daughter of his long-standing family friend Major Nicholas van Cutsem and Alice van Cutsem. Major van Cutsem, a major with the Household Cavalry's Life Guards, has been a friend of Harry and William's since childhood. Remi and Ryan Litt are aged six and seven Miss Remi Litt (aged six goddaughter of Meghan Markle, daughter of Mrs Benita Litt and Mr Darren Litt) Remi Litt is the six-year-old daughter of Meghan's close friend Benita Litt and her husband Darren Litt. Meghan is Remi's godmother and in a since deleted Instagram post, the actress shared a picture of herself with the family - including her two 'fairy god-daughters' - showing them happily posing in front of a Christmas tree after spending the holidays together in 2016. Benita runs her own brand agency under her name where she helps others to start businesses. Miss Rylan Litt (aged seven goddaughter of Meghan Markle, daughter of Mrs Benita Litt and Mr Darren Litt) Meghan's other goddaughter is seven years old and Benita Litt's oldest child. Ivy is the four-year-old youngest child of Meghan's best friend Jessica Mulroney Miss Ivy Mulroney (aged four daughter of Mrs Jessica Mulroney and Mr Benedict Mulroney) Ivy is the four-year-old youngest child of Meghan's stylist and best friend Jessica Mulroney. The youngster's name is actually Isabel Veronica but she is nicknamed Ivy. Jessica Mulroney runs a bridal store in Toronto, where Meghan used to film Suits, and is said to have helped the bride choose her wedding gown. She is married to Ben Mulroney - son of former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney. Miss Zalie Warren (aged two goddaughter of Prince Harry, daughter of Mrs Zoe Warren and Mr Jake Warren) Zalie is the youngest of the bridesmaids at just two years old. She is another of Harry's goddaughters and the daughter of one of his best friends, Jake Warren and Mr Warren's wife Zoe. The Warren family are closely connected to the royals through horse-racing. Jake's father John Warren is the Queen's racing manager. The father-and-son team run Highclere Stud in Newbury together. PAGE BOYS His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge (aged four) Prince George goes to meet his new baby brother at hospital in London on April 27 Prince George, who is four, is third in line to the throne and a future king. William and Kate's eldest child is said to be shyer than his younger sister Charlotte, and the duke has told how his son loves helicopters, flying and is obsessed with all things police-related. Like Charlotte, George is rarely seen in public. The duke and duchess try to ensure their children are protected from media intrusion. But the pair have appeared at key royal events such as the annual Trooping the Colour parade, and have joined William and Kate on official overseas tours. Jasper Dyer is a godson of Prince Harry's Master Jasper Dyer (aged six godson of Prince Harry, son of Mrs Amanda Dyer and Mr Mark Dyer MVO) Six-year-old Jasper Dyer is also a godson of Harry's and the son of his trusted mentor Mark Dyer and Mr Dyer's wife Amanda. Former Welsh Guards office Mr Dyer has been a key father figure to the prince since childhood. A former equerry to the Prince of Wales, he was entrusted by Charles to keep an eye on Harry. The pair travelled together in Harry's gap year and he inspired the prince's charity work in Lesotho, southern Africa, after arranging Harry's first ever stay in the country. Master Brian Mulroney and Master John Mulroney (both aged seven sons of Mrs Jessica Mulroney and Mr Benedict Mulroney) The fraternal twin sons of Jessica and Ben Mulroney are seven years old - and older siblings to Ivy Mulroney. In an interview with thestar.com in 2014, Mrs Mulroney described how the boys were best friends. 'Ben was at the MMVAs (iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards) and John did something really sweet,' she said. 'He hugged Brian from behind and said, 'Brian, you make me great'. ' The article described the children, who had two nannies, as 'incredibly well-behaved'. Brian and John Mulroney are Jessica and Ben Mulroney's twin seven-year-olds Advertisement , A celebrity chef's former staff claim they were punished if they were late for shifts or made mistakes. Ex-staff claim Shannon Bennett's managers would regularly confiscate their tips when they were 'one minute late' to their shifts at the prestigious company. Staff from several venues at the Vue Group claimed the managers would try 'any way to get rid of [their] tips', ABC News reported. A celebrity chef's former staff claim they were punished if they were late for shifts or made mistakes. Ex-staff claim Shannon Bennett's (pictured) managers would regularly confiscate their tips when they were 'one minute late' to their shifts at the prestigious Melbourne company Martina Ricci, who greeted guests before they arrived at Vue de monde, claimed she was told she wasn't allowed to take a toilet break. 'When I asked for my break, or 10 minutes to go to the toilet, they always said, "Stop drinking so much water, we don't have anyone to replace your position",' Ms Ricci told the publication. Melbourne employees were allegedly instructed to complete a 'tip test' and if they didn't know enough about the celebrity chef, who has appeared on Master Chef, or about the venue then they would reportedly lose tips. The company is also accused of confiscating tips if staff broke plates or other equipment. A former employee claimed he took a plate off a shelf and the whole shelf fell down, breaking a number of plates. 'About 10 or 15 plates broke and the response was, "no tips for six months",' the ex-staffer told the publication. Employees were allegedly instructed to complete a 'tip test' and if they didn't know enough about the celebrity chef or about the venue (pictured) then the would reportedly lose tips A former employee of the Vue Group, founded by the chef who appears on Master Chef, claimed he took a plate off a shelf and the whole shelf fell down, breaking a number of plates The Vue Group, which is owned by Bennett, said a 'small percentage' of tip money was taken to cover breakage costs. The startling claims come as the celebrity chef is in the midst of a legal battle with a company who alleged he owes then $6000 for an up market lobster tank. The millionaire commissioned Coburg Aquarium to install the glass tank at Vue de Monde in 2012 however, Bennett sold 65 per cent of the company for $15 million in 2016. The aquarium supplier lodged a legal complaint against the chef, who is married to actress Madeleine West, at the Melbourne Magistrate's Court. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Vue Group for comment. A former Sydney private school boy who was jailed in Bulgaria for a fatal stabbing has withdrawn his parole application. Jock Palfreeman was eligible for parole in December last year after spending ten-years behind bars. Now he has withdrawn his bid for freedom, claiming it was bound to fail. Jock Palfreeman, 31, (pictured)is serving a 20-year sentence after he stabbed a man to death in Sophia, Bulgaria. The 31-year-old is serving a 20-year sentence after he stabbed a man to death in the capital city, Sofia. According to the Daily Telegraph, the former King's school student has been an activist behind bars, campaigning for prisoner rights. Palfreeman received a negative parole review from the prison bosses, the publication reported. Palfreeman confirmed his withdrawal for parole claiming it was bound to fail as he received a negative review from the prison bosses Appearing at the Sofia City Court, Palfreeman confirmed the withdrawal. 'Yes, I want to terminate this proceeding,' he told judge Rusi Alexiev. Palfreeman's lawyer Kalin Angelov spoke outside of court detailing the decision to withdraw the application. 'We decided that at this stage, having in mind the documents featuring in Jock's prisoner dossier and the statement that the prison administration have given on him, it makes absolutely no sense to continue with this procedure,' he said. The former King's school student has been an activist behind bars, campaigning for prisoner rights Mr Angelov said he did not intend to submit another application for parole anytime soon. 'At least this proceeding made it possible for us to understand what the prison administration thinks about Jock,' he said. Palfreeman was holidaying in Bulgaria when he got in to a street brawl with 15 youths in December, 2007. The 21-year-old stabbed law student, Andrei Manov the son of a politically-connected psychologist. Mr Manov, 20, died of a stab wound to the side of his chest. Palfreeman has maintained he used self defence as the youths were attacking him. He also claims he doesn't remember stabbing anyone. After two years he was convicted of murder and attempted murder of another man with minor injuries. A US bishop stole the show with his fiery address at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. The Most Reverend Michael Curry has been praised for his passionate speech which touched upon slavery, the Old Testament and even quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Many of social media were delighted to see the American reverend 'shake up' the traditional royal proceedings. The preacher also provoked a few chuckles in the chapel - and even Harry and Meghan couldn't help but giggle at one point. Meanwhile Prince William seemed to be desperately trying to hold back a fit of laughter as Rev. Curry talked about how 'fire made it possible to text and tweet'. Scroll down for video A US bishop raised a few eyebrows in the chapel with his fiery address at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding The Most Reverend Michael Curry mentioned slavery, the Old Testament and quoted the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr in his unusual speech Camilla and Kate shared a look of bemusement as the reverend continued his sermon. 'We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love, and when we do that, we will make of this old world, a new world,' he quoted Dr. King. 'Don't under estimate it,' he announced. Meghan, holding hands with Prince Harry, smiled as she listened to Curry talk about how: 'Two young people fell in love, and we showed up.' Rev. Curry even mentioned slavery in his wedding speech. 'I'm talking about some power, real power, power to change the world,' he said of the 'power of love.' The passionate preacher provoked a few chuckles in the chapel - and even Harry and Meghan couldn't help but snicker at one point Meanwhile Prince William seemed to be desperately trying to hold back a fit of giggles as Rev. Curry talked about how 'fire made it possible to text and tweet' Camilla and Kate shared a look of bemusement as the reverend continued his sermon The pair also appeared to be struggling to keep a straight face during the address Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall listen to the sermon Zara Philips and her husband Mike Tindall appeared to be a little dazed by the sermon Zara sat agog, holding her bible, as the reverend talked about the power of love 'If you don't believe me there were some old slaves in America's south who explained the power of love. 'They sang a spiritual even in the midst of their captivity. It's the one that says there's a balm in Gilead, a healing balm... to make the wounded whole.' 'Love is as strong as death.' Many on social media were quick to praise Rev. Curry's unusual speech. 'I will write three thousand words on why Rev Michael Curry is the best thing to ever happen to The Royal Family, get in touch,' Dolly H Alderton tweeted. While DailyMail.com editor-at-large Piers Morgan tweeted: 'Love this guy.' Others were pleased that Rev. Curry had brought up such a controversial subject at the wedding. Andrea L. Pino tweeted: 'Rev Michael Curry is talking about slaves finding love in the South in the face of the Queen of England. This is moment is hundreds of years in the making. #RoyalWedding.' 'A BLACK CHOIR SONGING STAND BY ME? AFTER REV CURRY's WORD?!? BLACKITY BLACK BLACK #RoyalWedding,' added Freshy-Marie, Esq. Rev. Curry also spoke about loving one's neighbor so that 'poverty will become history' and said that 'when love is the way, the Earth is a sanctuary.' 'There's plenty there's of room for all God's children if we actually treat each other like we are actually family.' Rev. Curry even threw in a mention of Old Solomon and the fire of the Old Testament. The Queen and Prince Philip looked distinctly unimpressed by the whole affair The couple held hands as they listened to Reverend Michael Curry give his speech Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, looked a little emotional as she listened to the address Keeping on the theme of fire, he discussed human's ability to harness fire which gave us everything from the Bronze Age right through to the ability to 'text, tweet, email, and otherwise socially engage one another due to fire.' The reverend brought his address to an end by once again quoting Dr. King, before finally admitting that the sermon had gone on for a little longer than expected. 'With that, I got to sit down, we got to get you all married,' he said, to laughter from the crowd. The preacher later appeared on Sky News where he said that the couple thanked him following the service, and were kind and very gracious. He added that they had made eye contact throughout the wedding, and it was clear to him, and anyone watching, that they were in love. 'You could watch them looking at each other and it just sent a message of love,' he said. 'If you can visually see a relationship, we saw that. People were happy and joyful and thankful and you know what? We need some joy in this world.' The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby added that the Royal Family were excited by Currys speech, saying: This was raw God and that's the business. Rev. Curry has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, who was not invited. The bishop has previously announced plans to march in Washington D.C. and denounced the US president's leadership as 'dangerous' and a 'crisis of moral and political leadership'. Princess Beatrice looked amused by the mention of fire powered tweets David Beckham seemed to enjoy the impassioned, reverend's address, as he sat smiling in the crowd The reverend had the rapt attention of the celebrity filled crowd, which included the likes of Elton John George Clooney had a wry smile as he listened to the Reverend's speech Bishop Michael Bruce Curry during his reading during the wedding ceremony Bishop Curry publicly criticised Trump as recently as last week, in a letter which was signed by a further 22 other Christian leaders. The letter read: 'We reject the resurgence of white nationalism and racism in our nation on many fronts, including the highest levels of political leadership.' Rev Curry, from Chicago, has previously backed gay marriage and transgender rights and is the 27th presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church is an offshoot of the Church of England in the US and forms part of the broader Anglican Communion worldwide. Ms Markle was baptised by the Most Rev Justin Welby ahead of her wedding to the prince, whose grandmother, the Queen, is head of the Anglican Church. Bishop Curry said: 'The love that has brought and will bind Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle together has its source and origin in God, and is the key to life and happiness. 'And so we celebrate and pray for them today.' He is the first African-American bishop to have served as the Episcopal Church's presiding bishop, a role he has held since November 2015. Last year, Revend Curry also criticised Trump's decision to revoke the right of transgender people to serve in the US military. Rev Curry said: 'Discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation is a violation of the fundamental ideal of equality in America.' Advertisement This is the moment the world turned to watch Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as they made their way around Windsor as newlyweds in a horse-drawn carriage. The pair looked both joyful and overwhelmed as thousands of people cheered their carriage as it made its way along the Long Walk east of Windsor Castle. The crowds turned out in such numbers that they could be seen from space, as our exclusive satellite images show. Prince Harry even joked 'I'm ready for a drink now' as he and his bride Meghan Markle pulled back into Windsor Castle after their ride. The streets of the Berkshire town became a sea of Union Jack and Stars and Stripes flags as visitors from around the world crowded around the procession route to catch of glimpse of the happy couple. The newly-announced Duke and Duchess of Sussex smiled and waved to ecstatic crowds, some of whom have camped out for days to be at the front of the throng. A satellite image of Windsor taken during the royal wedding as crowds gathered to see Harry and Meghan tie the knot Crowds gathered by Windsor Castle to see the couple emerge after the service in St George's Chapel The well wishers lining the streets of the town hoping to catch a glimpse of the royal couple The satellite images show the enthusiastic crowds who thronged to the town to see Harry and Meghan Prince Harry and his wife Meghan wave as they ride a horse-drawn carriage after their wedding ceremony An aerial shot shows the massive crowds which lined the Long Walk east of Windsor Castle for the procession Meghan Markle had a chance to practice her royal wave as she and her husband toured Windsor following their wedding It is thought around 120,000 people are in Windsor today to cheer on the newly-wedded couple after their wedding The couple delighted the assembled crowds by sharing a kiss as the carriage pulled along the packed streets of Windsor The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead estimated just over 100,000 fans watched the procession along the route Prince Harry and his new bride Meghan Markle toured a jubilant Windsor today following the wedding ceremony Meghan looked touched by the massive turn-out for the occasion, with huge crowds cheering the couple around Windsor The newly-wedded couple toured a packed Windsor following their eagerly-anticipated wedding this afternoon Royal fans pictured leaning out of windows and standing on roofs as the procession made its way down Windsor's high street As the carriage pulled away from the gates and back into Windsor Castle, Harry could be seen saying he could use a drink As the carriage pulled away from the crowds into the gated grounds of Windsor Castle, Meghan seemed to be in awe of the scenes, lifting her hand to her chest and saying 'wow'. Fans cheered as the couple were brought down Castle Hill, through the crowded town centre and then back to Windsor Castle along the Long Walk, escorted by a colourful travelling Escort of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. Some have been camped out near the castle walls for days, while others arrived as early as 4am to secure a good spot. After the carriage travelled past, one royal fan, Rachael Carter-Eagleton said: 'She looked amazing. She shone like a diamond.' The Queen lent the couple her refurbished Landau carriage, which was built for Queen Victoria, which normally carries the monarch to Royal Ascot. The ceremony was played through loudspeakers hanging on the side of Windsor Castle, so the crowds gathered on the streets outside can hear but not see proceedings. During the service, a crowd in Horseshoe Cloister shouted a resounding 'We will' as the Archbishop of Canterbury posed the question inside St George's Chapel as to whether the families and friends of Prince Harry and Meghan would support them in their marriage. The Castle provided a spectacular backdrop for the procession, which includes soldiers from the Household Cavalry Here they come! The couple chose to travel in an Ascot Landau Carriage for their wedding procession. The Ascot Landaus are the name of five open-topped carriages kept by the Royal Mews After the nerves of the wedding service, Meghan looked relaxed and happy as the carriage passed through Windsor The couple looked amazed at the incredible level of support the received from the public as the pulled away from the castle Prince Harry and his bride Meghan Markle waved to crowds outside Windsor Castle after they were married today Meghan is preparing for the life of a royal, with plans to be part of foreign visits planned by Prince Harry in the coming months An aerial shot shows Meghan's huge dress wrapped around the bride, as she holds her new husband's gloved hand Crowds ten or twenty deep lined Windsor's famous Long Walk as the couple's carriage made its way back to the castle Windsor Castle provided a resplendent backdrop as the couple's carriage and mounted soldiers returned for the reception The mid-morning sun beat down on thousands of wellwishers, including some who had slept on the street overnight to bag the best spots, amid a sea of red, white and blue flags, T-shirts and bunting. Outside The Windsor Castle pub, which is along the procession route, there were women in feather boas and veils as though they were on a hen night and many others who were sporting paper crowns or fancy fascinators. A random 'three cheers for the royal couple' rang out as assistant pub manager Shauna Carabini, 22, described the atmosphere as 'quite infectious'. She said: 'There have been people sleeping on the streets who have come from all over the world. 'It is a very British kind of celebration - none of us know either of the people getting married but we are all invited to celebrate, smile and have fun. 'The weather helps and I have never seen Windsor looking so lovely and with so many police around I have never felt so safe.' Security was obvious, with scanners on entry, large sections of the centre cordoned off and uniformed officers everywhere. Huge cheers filled the air as the newly-wedded couple made the long trip down Windsor's Long Walk The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were greeted with cheering and whoops from well-wishers lining the path Perfect day: The skies above Windsor are cloudless and powder blue as thousands line the path towards Windsor Castle There has been a carnival atmosphere in Windsor this week as the Berkshire town became the centre of the world's attention There were joyous scenes on the Long Walk and the newly-named Duke and Duchess of Sussex past the crowds A Union Jack flag is waved by a member of the crowd as the couple pass along The Long Walk leading to Windsor Castle The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh waved to crowds outside the chapel as they left in their Rolls-Royce Phantom VI Happy families: Kate and William share a joke as their four-year-old son Prince George looks out to the crowds Royal superfan Margaret Tyler, 72, whose home in Wembley, north London, is full of royal memorabilia, joined the crowds in Windsor with her friend of 40 years David Jones, 82. Ms Tyler said: 'I had to come because it is such a special day,' and that Meghan Markle was 'already well on her way' to being a good member of the royal family. Mr Jones said: 'I will be having tea and crumpets to celebrate later.' Debbie Hoover, 50, with her 21-year-old twin daughters Camille and Ashlyn, of Amarillo, Texas, made the wedding the main reason for their holiday. They slept outside overnight. Mrs Hoover, who was sporting an eye-catching fascinator in the shape of a swan 'because the Queen owns swans', said: 'Every girl wants to become a princess but in America you can't - now it seems that you can. They make such a sweet couple. It is just so cool to actually be here.' Ashlyn Hoover added: 'Meghan is just following her heart with what she thinks is right. It is a true love story.' Tony Appleton, who bills himself as a town crier complete with his ceremonial outfit, said: 'I am so excited for Harry. I think at last he has found someone to tame him down. I am happy he has found this lovely American beauty.' Houses overlooking the procession route have been rented out for thousands to fans desperate to see the royal couple Women in 'I want to marry Harry' t-shirts were among the thousands lining the procession route for a view of the royals Royal fans react as they watch the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle in the streets of Windsor today Well-wishers in one cafe put up signs praising the couple and paying tribute to Harry's late mother Diana Huge crowds draped in Union Jacks and Stars and Stripes are lining the route of the procession to watch the royal couple Wellwishers have travelled from around the world to watch the couple's procession after they were married today Thousands of people from around Britain and all over the world have descended on Windsor The crowd reacts as Meghan Markle's car makes its way down The Long Walk ahead of the ceremony Fans from Britain and America have travelled to the small Berkshire town to be part of the huge event Huge crowds waving union flags have been there since the early hours or longer as they welcome the couple into married life Royal enthusiasts pictured on the Long Walk ahead of the royal wedding wearing Union Jack flags and a Queen's Guard outfit A young man from Birmingham has been accused of deceiving wealthy 'extreme explorers' by claiming to be the heir of the Bakelite fortune. According to reports in Rolling Stone Magazine and The Times the 25-year-old from Birmingham introduced himself to fellow travellers as William Baekeland, the great-grandson of Leo Hendrick Baekeland, who made his fortune from his invention Bakelite. However, Baekeland was in fact Jesse Gordon, a former student from Birmingham. To the extreme travellers it is said, Gordon had visited the majority of the 193 countries in the world and was the perfect man to arrange trips to the most inaccessible parts of the globe. The sister of Former Birmingham student Jesse Gordon, pictured centre at a cattle market in Darfur, told The Times he changed his name in 2014 to William Baekeland and claimed he was the great-grand son of the inventor of Bakelite Baekeland is accused of charging 525,000 to a group of extreme travellers by receiving cash from them to arrange trips to obscure places which have not taken place He legally changed his name from Gordon to Baekeland in 2014. According to Rolling Stone magazine, Baekeland introduced himself to a group of intrepid travellers on board a ship called the Ortelius in March 2015 which was en-route to a tiny Norwegian territory called Bouvet Island, which is located between Antarctica and South Africa. The uninhabited island is about 1,500 miles south of Cape Town. Witnesses reportedly said Baekeland had wooed those on the voyage and soon began wiring him large amounts of cash to arrange other extreme trips. The young man, who was 22 at the time, was described by fellow travellers as 'a throwback to David Livingstone'. Over the next two years, Baekeland allegedly convinced several of the group to hand over approximately 525,000 for future trips, only some of which actually took place. Baekeland's sister Jasmine Gordon said her brother was alway interested in geography According to The Times, Baekeland had not left Britain until he was aged 15 when he went on a Scout camp to Canada. His sister Jasmine Gordon revealed: 'Our parents are normal working-class people, we are not particularly wealthy. We always stayed in England for our holidays, usually Dorset. 'When he was a teenager Jesse always said he wanted to be the youngest person to go to every country in the world. He was always reading and very interested in geography.' His family apparently only realised he had changed his name when they saw his new passport in 2014. Ms Gordon added: 'When my mum asked him why he had changed his name he always came up with a different excuse. He was always a bit secretive and we never really knew what was going on. My mum was always very proud of him, but not so much recently. He told us he is now living in Scotland, but we dont know if that is true.' Joshua Radcliffe, who went to King Edward VI Grammar School in Birmingham with Baekeland denied his friend was involved in any form of a con. Radcliffe, who was listed as a director of Atlas Travel and Expeditions Limited along with Baekeland, said his friend had arranged trips to several amazing places such as Palmyra Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. He said it was his friend's intention to repay all of the clients. According to details held by Companies House, Baekeland ceased to be a person of significant control in the company in November 2017. MailOnline has approached Atlas Travel and Expeditions Limited for a comment. Advertisement Americans have gone mad cheering and toasting for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry with some even camping out in their pajamas at pubs for royal wedding viewing parties. People gathered at wedding watch parties - some well before dawn - at pubs, fancy hotels, in oceanfront towns in Florida and spots in the Rocky Mountains all so they could see an American of mixed race heritage become part of Britain's royal family. A buzzing crowd of Californians packed into a Hollywood pub for a pajama party to celebrate the couple tying the knot. British flags and pictures of Prince Harry and Meghan hung all around the Cat & Fiddle Pub early Saturday. Americans cheered and toasted the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at a viewing part at New York's Plaza Hotel on Saturday morning A buzzing crowd of Californians packed into Hollywood pub the Cat & Fiddle Pub on Saturday for a pajama party to celebrate the couple tying the knot It is just a few miles from Meghan's childhood schools. The sold-out pub was packed with guests wearing pajamas, party hats, nightgowns and crowns. Craig Young, a British actor who watched the festivities at the Cat & Fiddle Pub's viewing party said it was especially sweet for expats like him. 'There's a Los Angelean marrying into the royal family, which we never thought would happen, and which we're very excited about,' said Young, who moved to Los Angeles in 2001. He was giving a wedding-themed pub quiz as he wore a bathrobe and Prince Harry mask. In New York, people in hats, gloves, and tiaras piled into the Plaza Hotel for the early morning celebrations. The storied hotel's first royal wedding viewing party came complete with deviled eggs, black pudding, Earl Grey tea butter biscuits and cake pops with champagne and flower liqueur. Varinda Missett and Ellen Polkes donned hats, gloves and bejeweled high heels and went to the Plaza early in the morning because they 'wanted to see a California girl become a princess'. Guests dressed up to attend a wedding viewing party at the Churchill Tavern in New York on Saturday Women wore fascinators and cheered at New York's Churchill Tavern as Meghan and Harry exchanged vows People mingle during a television viewing party at the Armstrong-Turner residence in Burlington, New Jersey David Alexander Jenkins, Paula Jackson and Cherri Gregg, all of Philadelphia, react during a television viewing party in New Jersey on Saturday Laila Widgeon, 6, toasts with her mother Joy Widgeon in New Jersey as they watched the happy couple exchange vows The Churchill Tavern in New York City was packed with partygoers early Saturday morning A guest attends a viewing party for royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the Plaza Hotel in New York Attendees watch a live broadcast of the royal wedding during a viewing party held at Drink Company's pop-up bar in Washington DC Jenice Armstrong of Burlington, New Jersey takes a photo during a television viewing party of the royal wedding Paula Jackson (left) and Cherri Gregg (right) watch on during the wedding ceremony from a home in Burlington, New Jersey People partake in a viewing party at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, Canada Claire Sparks and Barbara McKenney partake in a viewing party at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto At a royal wedding watch party in Burlington, New Jersey partygoers erupted in applause upon sight of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip, but also for Doria Ragland, Markle's mother. Guest Paula Jackson gasped when Markle emerged from the Rolls Royce that brought her to St George's Chapel. 'I'm just so happy for her,' said Jackson, dressed in a jeweled blazer and tiara. 'She will be an example for our young, African-American women.' Students at Meghan's former high school, Immaculate Heart in Los Angeles, cheered as she and Prince Harry said their vows. 'It's all my family can talk about,' said 15-year-old Daniella Bueno, who got up at 3am to watch the wedding at her school where some of the dozens of students, parents and staffers who gathered to see the ceremony sometimes wiped away tears. 'She's representing our school in such a beautiful way,' Bueno said. At gatherings across the US, viewers admitted Markle's beauty and naturalness. They also marveled at the boundary-breaking, even-more-than-fairytale union between the prince who lost his mother, Princess Diana, when he was 12 and the American actress who has spoken out about coming to terms with her biracial identity as the daughter of a black mother and white father. Guests watch the British Royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during viewing party at the Churchill Tavern in New York Students at Meghan's former high school, Immaculate Heart in Los Angeles, cheered as she and Prince Harry said their vows Students at Meghan's former high school cheered as they watched her exchange vows with Prince Harry The sold-out pub in Hollywood was packed with guests wearing pajamas party hats, nightgowns and crowns as they toasted the happy couple A buzzing crowd of Californians packed into Hollywood pub Cat & Fiddle Pub well before dawn People posed alongside cut outs of the royal family at wedding viewing parties across the country The Plaza Hotel in New York had an Elton John impersonator and lavish dinner set up in the hours before the wedding The pub was packed with guests wearing pajamas, party hats, nightgowns, crowns and masks of Harry and Meghan's faces Americans hosted British-style high teas when they woke on Saturday morning to take in the royal wedding Thomas Markle has implored the rest of his family to 'shut up' and stop speaking about Meghan, the royal wedding and the fact that none of them were invited. On Saturday, after telling TMZ - his favored outlet - that he was watching the nuptials in Windsor on television with 'joy and emotion' in the morning, he gave them another quote in the afternoon to try to silence his other two children. 'I pray that Harry and Meghan can go on a nice honeymoon and rest and relax, and all of my relatives will just shut up about everything,' Markle Snr., who had to pull out of the wedding because of his health, said. Speaking proudly of Meghan, who he described as his 'beautiful baby' earlier in the day, he continued: 'My baby girl is a duchess and I love her so much. 'When you watch your child get married, every thought goes through your mind, every memory from the first day she was born, the first time I held her.' He said the service at St. George's Chapel was 'beautiful' and 'history'. 'I will always regret not being able to be there and not being able to hold my daughter's hand,' he said. Markle, 73, was said by the website to be in California, recovering from heart surgery. He had told it earlier in the week that he had three stents put in after suffering a heart attack last week. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle share a kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel to great cheers from the congregation - a moment her father watched on television before dawn in California Regret: Meghan Markle's father had been due to walk her down the aisle. Instead this week he was first in Rosarito, Mexico, where he lives and then, he told TMZ, in California recovering from heart surgery Before the wedding, Meghan's half-brother Thomas Jr. sent numerous letters to US magazines pleading with Prince Harry to call the whole thing off. Her half-sister, Samantha, gave similarly scathing attacks in a number of television interviews. Thomas Jr. has spent the week posing for photographs with British newspaper website The Mirror. On Friday, he said he regretted how he had treated Meghan and admitted feeling like an 'a**'. Samantha, on the other hand, invited a TV crew round to her home in Ocala, Florida, to watch the televised service. Her partner said she likely received a hefty sum for the stunt. The only member of Meghan's family who was visible at her wedding was her mother, Doria. Enough! On Friday, Meghan's half-brother Thomas Markle Jr (pictured earlier this year) has reversed his attacks on her, saying now that he feels like an 'a**' and that she is 'incredible' Thomas's sister Samantha has also launched astonishing attacks on Meghan (seen together right in 2008) On Saturday, Samantha continued her cashing-in crusade by inviting a TV crew round to her Ocala, Florida, home to watch the wedding She was faultless throughout the ceremony - as she has been in the months leading up to it - and watched on with pride and emotion as her daughter tied the knot. Doria has not given any interviews since her daughter's relationship was revealed. Markle Sr., on the other hand, was caught staging paparazzi photographs for a fee last week. Last Sunday, he faced embarrassment after the Mail on Sunday revealed he had colluded with LA-based paparazzo Jeff Rayner, 44, to stage pictures including shots of him apparently being measured up for a suit at a local tailors. In fact, the pictures were shot at a nearby party boutique called Moby Eventos with Markle Sr's measurements taken by bunting salesman David Flores, 17, instead. 'It was really strange,' he told the Mail on Sunday. 'This big American guy got the measuring tape out of his pocket and he was saying things in English. I dont speak good English but I understood what he wanted me to do. The photographer he was with stepped back to the street and started taking pictures. 'The big man was showing me what to do with the tape, holding it across himself. I just went along with it. I was telling him the measurements but he didnt write them down or anything. Harry looked delighted as he walked his new wife out of St George's Chapel to start their new life together. Her father watched on television Meghan and Harry's kiss sparked huge cheers from people outside the chapel and the 100,000 watching on the streets of Windsor Meghan's mother Doria Ragland, who the star calls her rock, was in tears ahead of her daughter's big entrance Support: It was Prince Charles who walked Meghan Markle on the final part of her entrance, a gesture designed to welcome her to the Royal Family Congratulating Prince Charles, Doria could be seen taking Prince Charles by the arm as he lead her from the ceremony As her daughter arrived at the altar Doria beamed with pride from her seat Mother of the bride Doria Ragland has officially been accepted into the royal fold following her daughter's wedding to Prince Harry on Saturday 'After around 20 minutes, he said "thank you" and gave me about $15 as a tip. 'He and the photographer left together in the same car. I think it was a grey or silver minivan. The photographer was driving. I had no idea who this American man was until I saw the pictures in the news. Now I know he is Thomas Markle, the father of Princess Meghan.' On Monday, Markle Sr announced he was pulling out of the wedding via TMZ and said he had recently suffered a heart attack, brought on by stress caused by older daughter Samantha Grant's fondness for trashing her sister in the press. He also said he wanted to spare Meghan from any embarrassment caused by his antics. The following day, he told TMZ he had changed his mind but then announced he was pulling out for a second time leaving Meghan allegedly blindsided by the news. Since then, he has provided regular updates about his condition from his hospital bed and has said he wants to visit his daughter in London when he recovers. What should have bee: The Prince of Wales and Doria Ragland, mother of the bride, depart from St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle today Where Thomas Markle would have been: Lady Jane Fellowes (far left) and Meghan's mother Doria Ragland (next to her, in green) stand next to Prince Charles, Camilla, George, William, Charlotte and Kate on the steps of St George's Chapel today Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the royal family including Prince Philip, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal wave after the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Windsor Castle Markle Sr is still to meet his new son-in-law Prince Harry but is thought to have spoken to the royal, 33, over the phone. On Thursday, Meghan released a statement confirming her father would not attend and said he needed to focus on his health. She said Thursday: 'Sadly my father will not be attending our wedding. I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health'. The former Suits star, 36, added: 'I would like to thank everyone who has offered generous messages of support. Please know how much Harry and I look forward to sharing our special day with you on Saturday'. That led to social media discussion about the nature of Meghan's relationship with her father and its contrast to her obvious closeness to her mother, Doria Ragland, her only family member at the ceremony. The following day, Thomas Markle told the same outlet that he was 'honored and grateful' for Prince Charles' offer to step in. But on Friday night Thomas's older brother Michael, 78, told DailyMail.com there could be no doubt about the bond between father and daughter. 'My brother was always devoted to her. Maybe because she was the little one,' he said. Thomas Markle had not been seen at his home in Rosarito since late last week. The town, which is split between a population of American retirees and local Mexicans, is just across the border from San Diego. There was no sign that its most notable resident had set off interest in the wedding. The party's off: This was the scene at Plan B, the one bar in Rosarito which had planned to stay open to mark the marriage of the town's most notable resident's daughter. It was canceled over licensing issues Dead of night: This was the scene in Rosarito at precisely the time Meghan Markle was married to Prince Harry Put out no flags: The people of Rosarito had no communal party despite its now most famous resident's daughter becoming a member of the Royal Family Thomas Markle Snr. with Meghan as a baby. His brother Michael told DailyMail.com: 'My brother was always devoted to her. Maybe because she was the little one.' Brothers: Thomas Markle's brother Michael, 78 (right) told DailyMail.com on Friday that he was recording the ceremony to watch when he got up at his Florida home. It is not known whether her other Markle uncle, Fred, 76, who styles himself Bishop Dismas, was watching at his home, also in Florida, where he was seen last year No sign: This was the scene at Frederick Markle's family home in Sanford, Florida. It is unknown whether he watched the royal wedding ceremony The streets of Thomas Markle Sr's adopted hometown Rosarito were dark and quiet this morning as his daughter Meghan married Prince Harry at 4am Pacific Time. On Benito Juarez, the main drag and home to popular tourist haunts such as the El Nido restaurant, the shutters were down and the shops were closed. Even late-night drinking establishments such as Acua Baja Bar & Mar were empty, with the popular party spot shutting at its usual time of 3am instead of extending its hours for the Royal Wedding. The only signs of life to be seen downtown were a stray dog loping down the sidewalk and a pickup crammed with laborers headed to work. Shops and restaurants at the Papellon Shopping Mall, a favorite haunt of Markle Sr's north of town, were similarly quiet the Walmart where he does his weekly grocery run dark and deserted. And in the small community where the father-of-the-bride lives, the streets were silent as his neighbors stayed in bed instead of tuning in. So marked has the lack of interest been, a viewing party at nearby cafe Coffe House was canceled due to a paucity of takers. Chris Larsen, owner of local expat hangout Plan B, had been planning to open his bar early for the wedding but told DailyMail.com that licensing problems had forced him to cancel his plans. Thomas Markle has two brothers but neither were seen Saturday. Michale Markle, 78, the oldest member of the Markle family, had told DailyMail.com on Friday at his Florida home that he planned to record the occasion and watch it when he woke at 8am - 1pm in Windsor, by which time the ceremony was over. Frederick Markle, 76, who styles himself Bishop Dismas and leads his own small church close to his home in Sanford, Florida, was not seen on Saturday morning. One Markle known to watch was Samantha, Thomas Markle's oldest daughter. She spent the ceremony in front of the television at her home in Ocala, Florida - accompanied by a television crew whose company, her boyfriend Mark Phillips told DailyMail.com, had paid a five-figure sum for her time. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Quoc Cuong said that the event is part of important activities to take place in Japan in 2018 in celebration of the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties. Besides Tokyo, the Vietnam Festival will be organised in other localities across Japan, including Fukuoka, Aichi, Osaka, Kanagawa, and Saitama, within this year, Cuong added. Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda expressed his delight at the development of the two countries relations, while hoping that the friendship will be strengthened to meet aspirations. Deputy head of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association Motoyoshi Ryoikichi told the Vietnam News Agency that the bilateral ties are in a flourishing period. There are around 240,000 Vietnamese people living in Japan, a tenfold increase compared with the figure five years ago. The Vietnam festival was first held in Japan in September 2008, becoming the biggest-ever festival of Vietnam held in the country, attracting 150,000 visitors in just three days. Since then, the festival has been organised annually and become the largest cultural exchange event between the two countries. This years event has 120 pavilions, including 60 cuisine ones, and 50 others introducing the image of Vietnamese land and people and Vietnamese goods, along with art performances. The two-day festival is expected to attract over 150,000 visitors. Florida police were called were called to a couple's home over a domestic dispute after a man refused to cuddle with his girlfriend because it was too hot. Local officials found Jared Thompson, 24, with lacerations on the left side of his face when they arrived at his Clearwater home on Wednesday. It was even noted that 'belongings and furniture' were 'tossed in the living room.' Jared Thompson, 24,claimed that Kristy Misty Mudd, 31, 'attacked him and destroyed the residence' because he refused to cuddle in their Clearwater, Florida, home Mudd denied the allegations and was said to have 'had the distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath' The man claimed that Kristy Misty Mudd, 31, 'attacked him and destroyed the residence' according to an arrest affidavit obtained by The Smoking Gun. Thompson claimed that his girlfriend was mad at him 'because he refused to cuddle, because it was hot.' At the time of the arrest, it was 88 degrees in Clearwater. Mudd was arrested for domestic battery and booked at the Clearwater County Jail on misdemeanor charge The police report states that Thompson said the woman pushed him and scratched him while he stood in the bedroom doorway. Mudd denied the allegations and was said to have 'had the distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath.' She was found to be the 'primary aggressor' after she was seen to not have any visible injuries. Mudd was arrested for domestic battery and booked at the Clearwater County Jail on misdemeanor charge. She was released on her own recognizance and instructed not to contact her boyfriend. Mudd has had previous convictions for battery, theft and violating probation. Sir Elton John gave a 'mini-concert' at a wedding breakfast in Windsor Castle where Prince Harry's speech about Meghan moved people to tears, a guest said. Charity boss Suhani Jalota described speeches by the Prince of Wales and Harry as 'lovely', saying the groom and his best man had made everybody feel 'loved'. She said: 'Essentially it was just about how Harry was as a child and growing up. And now just about the couple and how beautiful they are together. So I think it was just about their personalities and how they gel really well together.' 'He was talking about his wife and you know everybody was clapping because it was the first time he was using that term for Meghan so it was really nice.' Prince Harry surprised guests at his lunchtime reception by asking 'does anyone here know how to play the piano?' - before Sir Elton John got up and played The happy couple's special day is being described as one of the most glamorous weddings in recent history with Hollywood heavyweights dining alongside of English aristocracy The star serenaded 600 guests with four of his tunes including 'Your Song', 'Tiny Dancer', 'Circle of Life' and 'I'm Still Standing' A hoot: Elton John, 71, could be seen chatting with David and Victoria Beckham at the Royal Wedding's star studded ceremony Up to 600 guests were invited to the wedding breakfast hosted by the Queen in St George's Hall. Lucky diners quaffed on Scottish salmon, Windsor lamb, quail eggs and langoustine canapes, washed down with vintage champagne. Prince Harry surprised guests at his lunchtime reception by asking 'does anyone here know how to play the piano?' - before Sir Elton John got up and played. Jalota, the founder of the Indian Myna Mahila charity, said: 'He was incredible. It became like a mini-concert in the reception area. It was great.' The star serenaded 600 guests with four of his tunes including 'Your Song', 'Tiny Dancer', 'Circle of Life' and 'I'm Still Standing'. Menu revealed: Guests will dine on Scottish Langoustines, grilled English asparagus and free-range chicken Guests including the likes of the Beckhams, Clooneys and Tindalls will enjoy canapes and trendy bowl food which will allow people to mingle with one another (above, Scottish Langoustines) The 71-year-old was in attendance at Windsor Castles St Georges Chapel earlier with his husband David Furnish to watch as the royal bridegroom wed his American love. He was spotted in the chapel ahead of the service chatting with fellow celebrities including David and Victoria Beckham. Sir Elton has a close relationship with Harry and his brother, the Duke of Cambridge, and was friends with their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. In 1997, he famously sang a re-worked version of his hit Candle In The Wind at the princesss funeral, changing the words to Goodbye Englands Rose. Elegant: The wedding cake, pictured above, used 500 eggs and will to be served after the wedding breakfast at George's Hall Elegant: The wedding cake, pictured above, used 500 eggs and will to be served after the wedding breakfast at George's Hall Approximately 7,500 items of food were prepared by a team of 25 chefs, led by Royal Chef Mark Flanagan, for todays reception. Guests including the likes of the Beckhams, Clooneys and Tindalls enjoyed canapes and trendy bowl food which will allow people to mingle with one another. The lucky guests were served a selection of canapes, including: Scottish Langoustines wrapped in Smoked Salmon with Citrus Creme Fraiche Grilled English Asparagus wrapped in Cumbrian Ham Garden Pea Panna Cotta with Quail Eggs and Lemon Verbena Heritage Tomato and Basil Tartare with Balsamic Pearls Poached Free Range Chicken bound in a Lightly Spiced Yoghurt with Roasted Apricot Croquette of Confit Windsor Lamb, Roasted Vegetables and Shallot Jam Warm Asparagus Spears with Mozzarella and Sun-Blush Tomatoes They were followed by a trendy 'bowl food' course. This style of eating encourages guests to tuck in while standing. There were: Fricassee of Free Range Chicken with Morel Mushrooms and Young Leeks Pea and Mint Risotto with Pea Shoots, Truffle Oil and Parmesan Crisps Ten Hour Slow Roasted Windsor Pork Belly with Apple Compote and Crackling Then afterwards, sweet canapes were also served, including: Champagne and Pistachio Macaroons Orange Creme Brulee Tartlets Miniature Rhubarb Crumble Tartlets Guests washed down their food with Pol Roger Brut Reserve Non Vintage Champagne, and a selection of wines. A range of soft drinks will also be served, including an apple and elderflower mocktail, made with the same elderflower syrup as used in the edding cake, and Sandringham Cox's apple juice. Hard at work: Chefs in the royal kitchen at Windsor Castle where preparations are underway for a banquet fit for royalty A small town post office in Colorado had to close for the day on Friday after a black bear made its way into the building. The seemingly innocent story didn't have a happy ending for the bear, though, which CBS Denver's Matt Kroschel reported was later euthanized after it was captured and removed from the facility. It turns out letting itself into the Pitkin Post Office on Main Street wasn't the first close encounter the bear had with humans. But it was the last, as euthanization in this kind of situation is 'just a matter of policy,' Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Joe Lewandowski explained to the Denver Post. This black bear was euthanized in Colorado on Friday, after it let itself into the Pitkin Post Office on Main Street 'No one was hurt, but when a bear gets too familiar in a residential area like that, the danger is just too high,' Lewandoski said. The bear had already been tagged twice by wildlife officials, as can been in photos of the bear inside the post office in Pitkin on Friday. The yellow tags hanging from the bear's ears indicate prior instances when animal control authorities were called to respond to an issue concerning the animal, like coming in close proximity with humans. This time, the bear waltzed right in the front door the post office by simply opening the door. 'But the door only opens in, so it wasnt able to get out,' Lewandowski said. The yellow tags hanging from the bear's ears indicate prior instances when animal control authorities were called to respond to an issue like coming in close proximity with humans The bear was found by a postal employee on Friday morning when she went to enter the building as usual, but had a difficult time opening the door because debris was blocking the entrance. After realizing there was also a bear inside, the employee locked up and called authorities. By about 2.00pm Mountain time, wildlife officials were on the scene and trying to shoot the bear with a dart to sedate it. Not long after that, the bear was euthanized, Lewandowski said. The first incident tag for the bear is recorded as having been related to a 'food-source conflict' in Buena Vista in May 2017, Lewandowski said. The bear was captured following that situation and transferred to Custer County. From the bear, the bear traveled west to Pitkin, which is located close by the Gunnison National Forest. Although this was at least this bear's second run-in with humans, bears can be euthanized without any prior incidents tagged to them. 'You will probably be surprised to learn it only takes 1 strike and in some cases, none at all before a bear is euthanized,' he wrote with a Facebook Live video that he posted on the subject. In 2017, it's estimated that 168 bears were euthanized by Parks and Wildlife officials in the state of Colorado, and 107 were relocated, in a year that experienced an unusually high number of human-bear conflicts. This has been attributed to poor natural food supply, which has drive bears to seek out other sources of food, often left by humans in garbage cans, or even in bird feeders. The official policy is that euthanization is a last resort. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has congratulated the royal newlyweds, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding. Mr Turnbull toasted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on a prosperous life-long marriage. 'On behalf of all Australians, Lucy and I congratulate Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their marriage,' Mr Turnbull said. Scroll down for video Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has congratulated the royal newlyweds, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding 'Australia wishes you a long life and happiness together,' Mr Turnbull announced to the newlyweds. The Government presented a gift for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Saturday. Their wedding gift from Australia was a generous donation to Prince Harry's charity for injured war veterans. Malcolm Turnbull: 'Australia wishes you a long life and happiness together' As well as the $10,000 donation, Mr Turnbull has presented the newlyweds two Akubra hats. The hats were specially made for the pair and hand-crafted in Kempsey, New South Wales. 'The iconic Akubra has been proudly worn by generations of Australians. Lucy and I hope that Their Royal Highnesses enjoy their truly Australian gifts,' Mr Turnbull said. Both Prince Harry and Meghan will be gifted the hats on their trip to Australia in October this year. A young gay couple said they were kicked out of their Lyft ride when the driver saw them kiss in the back seat. The couple Butler University rising sophomore Ben Martella and Purdue University rising junior Alec Jansen said the incident occurred on May 5 around 5pm, when they were picked up by a Lyft driver on Butler's Indianapolis, Indiana, campus. Martella and Jansen were about halfway to their Broad Ripple destination, about a three-mile distance away from campus, when they said they kissed. Alec Jansen (left) and Ben Martella said that they were forced to end their Lyft ride after the driver of the car saw them 'peck' on the lips in his rear view mirror 'We basically pecked' on the lips, Martella told the IndyStar, noting that the kiss was 'nothing out of the ordinary.' Martella said that the driver, who was not named, saw them kiss in his rear view mirror and started yelling at them. The driver said, '"Im going to end your ride. I cant have that in my car. I dont have that here,"' according to Martella, who said that he was upset by the driver's alleged reaction because it 'was a big reaction for such a small display of affection between two guys.' The driver then demanded that Martella and Jansen get out of the car at an intersection. The driver shouted at the couple and kicked them out of the car at this Indianapolis, Indiana, intersection, about halfway to the couple's actual destination Martella complained about the alleged incident and Lyft refunded him the cost of the ride. The company has since said that the unnamed driver has been 'deactivated' Martella said he notified Lyft about the incident and that the ride share company refunded them the cost of the aborted ride. In an email, a company employee stated that 'the appropriate and necessary actions' regarding the reported incident had been taken, but declined to detail what had actually been done. Martella said that he would like the Lyft driver, an independent contractor, removed from the company's driver roster, considering the company's non-discrimination policy which covers sexual orientation. When reached by the IndyStar, a Lyft spokesperson said that the driver had been 'deactivated,' meaning that he cannot use Lyft to pick up passengers. Jansen (left) said that this was his first experience facing any kind of discrimination. Martella said that he is considering reaching out to Indiana's ACLU about the incident Martella said that he is considering taking additional action, potentially going to Indiana's ACLU. 'I dont know if thats the right path to take,' Martella admitted. 'There's really nothing I need out of the situation. Its my fear for others.' Jansen told the IndyStar that he 'just came out a couple months ago' and that 'this is the first time I've had any sort of discrimination.' Although Indiana does not have a state law protecting people's civil rights based on sexual orientation, the city of Indianapolis does have a non-discrimination ordinance that 'it has the power to enforce,' Indiana University Maurer School of Law associate professor Steve Sanders said. The ordinance applies to the acquisition of real estate, employment, public education and 'public accommodations,' the latter category of which the Lyft ride potentially falls under. Lyft has been named in a number of discrimination lawsuits within the past year. In September, two male passengers filed a lawsuit stating that their Lyft driver pulled a gun on them and used a homophobic slur before forcing them to get out of her car. And in December, a California transgender woman sued the company, claiming that two different Lyft drivers refused to transport her. Hours after the Texas school massacre that killed 10 sick hoaxers took to the Internet to spread lies suggesting the deaths were faked, and even posted doctored images showing the shooter in a 'Hillary 2016' hat. Several trolls sought to discredit crying child survivors by suggesting they were 'crisis actors', who were reading accounts of seeing their friends being shot and killed from a script. Some posts were quickly flagged and removed by Facebook and Twitter, but many remain online as Santa Fe High School continues to mourn the eight students and two teachers who died at the hands of 17-year-old gunman Dimitrios Pagourtzis. Fake profiles showing Texas school gunman Dimitrios Pagourtzis in a Hillary 2016 hat (left) appeared just 20 minutes after the shooting. The genuine photo is pictured right The online lies began to surface just minutes after Friday's attack in an all-too-common pattern seen in the aftermath of school shootings including Parkland in February. Many of the posts were intended to score political points, such as the photo-shopped image of Pagourtzis wearing a 'Hillary for 2016' cap, which quickly appeared on a fake profile for the shooter. Another fake account replaced Pagourtzis' existing cover photo with the logo on Antifa, the umbrella term for a series of militant anti-fascist groups in the US. Disinformation analyst Chris Sampson told the Washington Post that the first fake Facebook profile of the shooter emerged just 20 minutes after his name was made public. 'It seemed this time like they were more ready for this,' he said. 'Like someone just couldn't wait to do it.' Meanwhile, conspiracy theorists flocked to online chat rooms such as 4chan to post disinformation suggesting the shooting was a hoax. One fake Facebook profile replaced Pagourtzis' existing cover photo with the logo on Antifa, the umbrella term for a series of militant anti-fascist groups in the US One 4chan post suggested the shooting could not possibly have happened at 8.30am, as reported, because lessons only started at 9.15am. In fact, the day starts at 7.15am, as shown on the Santa Fe High School website One 4chan post suggested the shooting could not possibly have happened at 8.30am, as reported, because lessons only started at 9.15am. In fact, the day starts at 7.15am, as shown on the Santa Fe High School website. Another 4chan post, uncovered by Daily Dot, used a tenuous tie to Senator Rand Paul to suggest the massacre was faked by the political establishment. 'Rand Paul's nephew was the principal of Santa Fe HS up til a couple months ago. I smell bulls***,' the poster stated, without elaborating any further. One 4chan users claimed the lack of videos of students fleeing the shooting suggested it had somehow been fabricated. On Twitter, meanwhile, trolls responded to videos of high school students giving tearful interviews about the attack to spread the sick theory that they were 'crisis actors'. On Twitter, trolls responded to videos of high school students giving tearful interviews, which were tweeted by Talya Minsberg of the NY Times (top) to spread the sick theory that they were 'crisis actors' (bottom two tweets) Footage of Santa Fe student Paige Curry quickly drew offensive comments of this nature, with one user commenting, 'She's obviously reading from a script.' The term was thrust into the public eye after the Parkland shooting, when survivors turned activists David Hogg and Emma Gonzalez were accused of being paid actors for the gun control lobby. These theories often reach a wide audience, with one crisis actor video after Parkland rocketing to the top of YouTube's 'Trending' list. Hoaxes intending to score political points also emerged after last year's shooting in Las Vegas, with some suggesting gunman Stephen Paddock was a far-left Antifa activist. Roslyn Markle, the mother of Meghan's older half-brother and sister, has revealed she got up at 3am to watch the Royal Wedding at her home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, Roslyn, 72, described the ceremony as 'absolutely beautiful' and heaped praise on the newly minted Duchess of Sussex. 'Meghan looked wonderful and I thought her dress was classically beautiful,' she said. 'Doria looked proud and lovely.' She added: 'England is so beautiful and green. The castle grounds are pretty and the people seem lovely.' Roslyn said her favorite part of the ceremony was when a clearly ecstatic Harry was joined by Meghan at the altar and added that she thought Prince Charles looked 'handsome' and proud to be escorting the Suits actress on the final steps up the aisle. The bride stunned in a classic pure white Givenchy silk wedding gown as made her way down the aisle at St George's Chapel to marry Prince Harry The dress that made Harry cry: The emotional prince told Meghan, 'you look amazing' as she arrived at the altar in her bespoke Givenchy gown Meghan's designer Clare Waight Keller was on hand to assist the bride throughout the ceremony, as she did not have adult bridesmaids for her big day Royal wave: Meghan waves gracefully as her husband smiles as the procession weaves its way through the streets of Windsor Full of praise: Rosyln Markle, who lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with her granddaughter Noel, told of getting up at 3am to watch the ceremony and told DailyMail.com: 'Meghan looked wonderful.' Not impressed: Roslyn Markle said she had 'chewed out' her son Thomas Markle Jr over his conduct towards his half-sister A happier time: Thomas Markle Jr was a teenager when Meghan was born Mother of the bride Doria Ragland has officially been accepted into the royal fold following her daughter's wedding to Prince Harry on Saturday Congratulating Prince Charles, Doria could be seen taking Prince Charles by the arm as he lead her from the ceremony Also not there was the bride's father Thomas Markle Sr. who embarrassed himself this week by staging paparazzi photographs and taking a sum for it. He suffered a heart attack and said that was the reason he would not attend Roslyn said she now hopes the couple will go on to have a long and happy marriage, telling DailyMail.com: 'I wish them all the best. I hope they go on to have a long and happy union.' Roslyn is the first wife of Meghan's father Thomas Markle Sr, 73, who she divorced in 1976 after he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in Hollywood. On Saturday she told DailyMail.com that her former husband would have been 'a bit tearful' as he watched the wedding and offered her condolences after ill health left him unable to attend. She said: 'I'm sorry that her father missed out on this joyous occasion. I know he was watching and was a bit tearful but he was very proud.' Markle Sr has already given his verdict on the ceremony via his favored outlet, gossip website TMZ, and described the ceremony as 'emotional and joyful'. The 73-year-old, who is understood to have watched it from his hospital bed, added: 'My baby looks beautiful and she looks very happy. I wish I were there and I wish them all my love and all happiness.' The retired lighting director had been due to walk Meghan down the aisle but pulled out on Tuesday after allegedly suffering a heart attack. On Wednesday, he was admitted to hospital where he had three stents inserted. The following day, he told TMZ that he was 'honored and grateful' after Prince Charles offered to step in and give Meghan away in his place. What upset Tom Jr's mom: Roslyn says she 'chewed out' her son for his letter to Meghan, published by InTouch magazine, and other comments he has made about her More Markle relatives: Also in London for the wedding were Roslyn's grandsons Tyler (left) and Thomas (right) Dooley and their mother Tracy (second right), along with Tyler's girlfriend Sandra Bazan. They flew over to be commentators on British television - but were dropped before the big day. Tracy is Tom Jr's ex-wife. Ready for a broadcast: This satellite truck was the only sign of life outside Samantha Markle's home in Ocala, Florida - despite her claim to TMZ that she would host a party Fiery confrontation: Samantha Markle went head-to-head with DailyMail.com's Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain after her father was revealed to have co-operated with paparazzi - who she now claims caused her boyfriend to crash his car, leaving her injured Meghan, who is understood to have been keeping in touch with her father via text message, released a statement on Thursday asking for him to be given 'space' to recover. She said: 'Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding. I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health. 'I would like to thank everyone who has offered generous messages of support. Please know how much Harry and I look forward to sharing our special day with you on Saturday.' Neither of Markle Sr's other two children, both the product of his marriage to Roslyn, were invited to the wedding following weeks of sniping in the press. Markle Sr has also blamed Samantha Grant, 53, and Thomas Jr, 51, for his current plight telling TMZ that their antics have made him ill. Samantha is watched the ceremony from her home in Ocala, Florida, in the presence of a television crew working for an outlet which paid her a five-figure sum, while Thomas Jr was in Windsor the paid guest of a tabloid newspaper. Roslyn told DailyMail.com that she thinks their behavior has been an 'embarrassment' and accused her daughter of behaving in an undignified way during the run-up to the nuptials. She also revealed she had 'chewed out Tom Jr' over his antics. It may have worked; Markle Jr. has backtracked on his astonishing attacks of his half-sister to say that he feels like an 'a**' and 'couldn't be more proud' of her on wedding day. In an unscrupulous reversal of his earlier public comments, Markle Jr., told The Mirror on Friday that he now 'doesn't blame' Meghan for distancing herself from him when she found fame on Suits. 'I feel like an a** about it but my true feelings are I couldn't be happier for her. I mean, what are the odds? 'This is every woman's dream come true, to marry a prince. So I couldn't be more happy and proud of my sister. She's incredible,' he said. He spoke in the UK after jetting in before the big day but would not say what his plans for Saturday were. He was not invited to the ceremony or reception. Police are asking for assistance to help find a teenage girl who went missing from her home on Thursday. The 13-year-old has not contacted her family since she disappeared three days ago and authorities are beginning to fear for her safety. The Surfers Paradise teen has been posting on social media and in contact with friends. Police are asking for assistance to help find a teenage girl (pictured) who went missing from her home on Thursday She had made no effort to talk to her parents who are deeply concerned for her well-being. The teenager left her Queensland home in the evening and has not been seen since. She is described as 140cm tall, Caucasian, slim build, hazel eyes and long, light brown hair. Authorities have urged anyone who has seen the teenager to contact police immediately with her whereabouts. Concerned Facebook users shared the article to their feed and commented their postcode in the hope someone will be able to find the teenager safe and well. by Natalie Rahhal, health correspondent, and Mia de Graaf, health editor A kidney embolization is a simple procedure done to intentionally block off a blood vessel in the kidney. 'Embolization is a minimally invasive procedure to stop blood flow to parts of an organ (in this case kidney),' Dr Jamin Brahmbhatt, a urologist at Orlando Health, explains. 'It can be used to treat malignant and benign lesions.' WHY IS IT DONE? An embolization is often used as a first-line treatment for any kind of gastrointestinal bleeding, but it can also be preventative. It can be performed on any organ that has a growth or blood vessel clump. There are typically two scenarios for performing a kidney embolization: Preventative: to cut off a tumor's blood supply and shrink, or control a cyst it before it can rupture Emergency: to stem bleeding of a ruptured cyst on the organ There are three things on which kidney embolizations are peformed: To shrink a cancerous tumor by cutting off the blood supply To shrink a benign cyst (i.e. a angiomyolipoma) by cutting the blood supply To fix an arterial vessel malformation (a clump of blood vessels) Angiomyolipomas are benign growths. They disproportionately affect women. Eighty percent of them are spontaneous, while 20 percent of them are genetic Melania Trump's operation was reportedly for a 'benign' kidney condition. Dr Brahmbhatt believes it was like an angiomyolipoma. These growths disproportionately affect women (four times more than men), and 80 percent of them are spontaneous (compared to 20 percent which are genetic). Surgery is only recommended if it grows too big. 'If they're under four centimeters, we just monitor it,' Dr Brahmbhatt explained. 'But if it goes over four centimeters, the risk of it rupturing goes up way high, so that's when we suggest treatment.' HOW IS IT DONE? Typically, a patient is given sedation and the entire procedure is done through an X-ray view. The doctor makes a small incision near the groin, and guides very long, skinny tube, called a catheter, through a blood vessel toward the kidney. There, an 'agent' or chemical that causes the blood to clot is injected, cutting off the flow of blood to through that particular vessel. The entire procedure commonly takes up to three hours and hospital stays afterwards vary. HOW IS THE RECOVERY? 'After embolization patients often have nausea, vomiting, fever, and pain that could last a few days,' Dr Brahmbhatt said. 'These procedures are fairly low risk but still require close follow-up.' Embolizations are minor operations, with relatively low risks of complications or side effects. In very rare cases, patients may have a bad reaction to the dye used in the procedure. More commonly, some have discomfort or minor bleeding after an embolization, and as such they are monitored over night. Some people develop fever, weakness and nausea, a temporary condition called 'post-embolization syndrome,' that usually subsides within a few days. Lauren Stuart of Keego Harbor, Michigan had been researching suicide methods on YouTube and videos on how to use a Glock for weeks New details have been revealed in the tragic murder suicide of a shunned Jehovah's witness mom in Michigan. Lauren Stuart of Keego Harbor, Michigan had been researching suicide methods on YouTube and videos on how to use a Glock for weeks before she carried out the February 15th killings. Harbor, 45, shared a video calling herself 'broken' and adding that she didn't want to burden her family any more. She left a note on her dinner table and tidied up the home before texting loved ones and her husband's boss, according to the Detroit Free Press. Her last act before the killings was to turn over all the family photos on a secretary desk. 'I took my husband and kids with me so they don't have to feel my selfish act. They will sleep until Christ resurrects them,' Stuart said in a text to a cousin on February 15 at 5.07pm 'I truly hope you do better where I have failed.' Investigation documents describe the years of depression, mental scars from alleged sexual abuse and ostracism from the Jehovah Witness church that broke Stuart and pushed her to end the life of her husband, two adult children and dog before killing herself. She left a note on her dinner table and tidied up the home before texting loved ones and her husband's boss. Her last act before the killings was to turn over all the family photos on a secretary desk Police records claim that Lauren filmed a two-minute video explaining the root of her suicide on February 6 at 11pm. She claimed that she had 'many issues' and that she 'can't do it anymore' adding that she didn't want to be a burden. The next day around 1pm she made another video describing her 'path of destruction' and dealings with sexual abuse at the expense of a family member that pushed her toward suicide. A week later on February 15 at 9.24, Lauren sent a message to her husband's boss that said: 'Mark, this is Lauren. Dan had a accident this morning and has died. I can't talk now. Someone will inform you later on details at hospital.' Police say Lauren Stuart, 45, shot and killed her husband Daniel, 47, and their children Steven, 27, and Bethany, 24, before turning the gun on herself The boss responded and asked for more detail but failed to get a response. She would later send a text at 5.07pm to her cousin telling her she 'became evil' and that she 'took my husband and kids so they don't have to feel my selfish act.' Her cousin would respond: 'Lauren, you are scaring me? What are u saying????? Don't do it Lauren.' And around 9pm a neighbor reported hearing gunshots and a door slamming. The slamming was actually Lauren killing her dog, which was found in the bathtub along with the other four bodies in the house. Lauren made a video describing her 'path of destruction' and dealings with sexual abuse at the expense of a family member that pushed her toward suicide According to police, it i believed that Lauren killed 24-year-old Bethany before luring 27-year-old Steven to the house under the guise of Valentine's Day. 'This was premeditated and carefully planned out by Lauren,' police wrote in their report, believing that Steven's previous visit the day before served as a dry run. Police found the kitchen stocked and organized when they arrived on February 16. Steven was found face down on the spare bedroom floor and was believed to have been shot twice in the head while sitting in a chair when he fell. 'I allowed evil into my heart when I chose not to accept God's free love and it made me sick inside,' she wrote in a suicide note Bethany was found in her bed with a gunshot wound to the head. Police found a pillow that was placed over her head before the shooting and it had gunshots in it. Dan Stuart, Lauren's husband, was found in the basement in front of the couch with a gunshot wound to the head. His right hand was in his front pocket suggesting that he tried to react when he was shot. Lauren was found at the base of the stairs with a pistol next to her. She shot herself between the eyes after having looked up the method online. 'I allowed evil into my heart when I chose not to accept God's free love and it made me sick inside,' she wrote in a suicide note. 'I killed my family because I know my death would stumble them. At least now they will not suffer and will be resurrected into love forever in peace.' Friend Joyce Taylor told the Detroit Free Press that the family left the church five yeas ago because they wanted to send their children to college, which the group generally discourages when it comes to secular institutions. Dan Stuart, Lauren's husband, was found in the basement in front of the couch with a gunshot wound to the head. His right hand was in his front pocket suggesting that he tried to react when he was shot When anyone leaves the church, current members are no longer allowed to interact with them, even the Stuart's family members still in the church. After leaving the church, Lauren got into modeling, and still has a modeling website up with professional pictures. She also worked as a personal-trainer and cleaned houses. Her husband on the other hand, worked as a data solutions architect at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor's Center for Integrative Research in Critical Care. He was reportedly working on technology that could predict heart attacks. HANOI PERFORMANCE Ionah Show Star Galaxy 87 Lang Ha Street, Ba Dinh district 7:45 pm, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Come to the 75-minute Ionah Show to enjoy the perfect combination of circus, dance, music and theatrical arts, offering a new look into Vietnamese art and culture. The name Ionah could sound like a foreign name from a distant land, but it is in fact truly familiar. Ionah is Hanoi written in reverse, a gift originated from a love for Hanoi. Ticket prices: VND750,000 VND 950,000 Art Program Bamboo Talk 7 pm, May 24 and 25 Phu Sa Lab 21/52 To Ngoc Van street, Quang An Ward, Tay Ho District Come to enjoy a whole evening of creative performances accompanied by music played on instruments all made of BAMBOO the inspiration for every high-end show in Vietnam. Ticket: VND700,000 (dinner and 1 drink included) Lang Toi (My Village) by Lune Production 6 pm, May 25 and 27 Vietnam Tuong Theatre 51A Duong Thanh Street, Hoan Kiem district Lang Toi (My Village) is a delicate merge of tradition and innovation, where the poetic beauty of Northern Vietnams village life is presented through a new cirque approach. Farming, the building activities, traditional games, and lifestyle of the Northern villagers are recreated by ancestral bamboo props, breath-taking cirque and acrobatics performances, and rhythmic dance, to distinct folk music from more than 20 musical instruments. Ticket prices: VND 630,000- VND 1,050,000 EXHIBITION Exhibition freeze Vietnams here & now! Vietnam University of Fine Arts 42 Yet Kieu Street, Hoan Kiem district You are invited to an exhibition by German artist Lara Jaecks. Works on display are presented in various topics: the daily working life at a small fishing village in central Vietnam; the diversity and contrast between Vietnamese cities and the countryside; the charm of old women, and the special relationship between nude Vietnamese models. A larger part of the exhibits deal with the massive consumption of plastic bags in Hanoi. Exhibition Evolution: Torres Strait Masks Trong Dong Building, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology Nguyen Van Huyen Street, Cau Giay district Torres Strait is a network of islands located between Northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. The people of this area maintain vibrant artistic, spiritual and cultural traditions. The making and wearing of beautifully decorated masks is one of the regions most distinctive traditions. While rooted in ancient protocols and spirituality, masks and mask making today are celebrated as expressions of an artistic and cultural revival. Exhibition The Northwest Land VICAS Art Studio 32 Hao Nam Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi You are invited to the exhibition THE NORTHWEST LAND by artists Le Kinh Tai, Nguyen Quang Vinh, Le Minh Duc, Chu Van, and Bui Van Tuat. The exhibition displays 24 artworks on the nature and people of Northwest Vietnam, which were made during an art workshop organised and funded by the VICAS ART STUDIO in 2018. Free entry HO CHI MINH CITY PERFORMANCE Piano-Flute Duet Concert: French Impressionism 8 10 pm, May 24 IDECAF 31 Thai Van Lung Street, District 1 You are invited to a concert featuring talented pianist Helene Jeanney and flutist Nicolas Duchamp. Helene Jeanney is a brilliant pianist with sublime performances and admirable talent. Nicolas Duchamp is considered as a first-class flutist in the Austrian classical music scene. Tickets: VND300,000 VND200,000 The Mist by Lune Production 6:00 pm, May 21, 22, 23 and 24 Ho Chi Minh City Opera House 7 Cong Truong Lam Son, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1 The Mist tells the story of Southern Vietnamese farming life, expressed through neo-classic and contemporary dance performed by skilled artists. Using rice cultivation as a metaphor to appreciate the farmers dedication, from the misty dawn in the fields and the hardship and will power to rise up from the humble muddy soil and brace storms, until the moment they arrive joyously like shining pearls at harvest. The Mist is an hour of emotions, with a myriad of ups and downs, painted by sensational live music, splendid visuals, and colorful lighting effects. Ticket prices: VND630,000 VND1,050,000- VND1,470,000 EXHIBITION Exhibition Between Fragmentation and Wholeness Galerie Quynh 118 Nguyen Van Thu Street, Dakao ward, District 1 You are invited to Between Fragmentation and Wholeness an exhibition of new work by Truong Cong Tung. Curated by Arlette Quynh-Anh Tran, this is Truongs first solo exhibition at the gallery and the first comprehensive show of his work in almost a decade. The exhibition invites viewers to enter Truong Cong Tungs multidimensional reality through three main axes in the gallery space: vertically with the ruptures in urban planning and propagated doctrine; horizontally with mystical human-altered landscapes in agrarian territories; and diagonally with a mirage of blazing images extracted from the virtual domain. The Duke of Edinburgh strode into church to see his grandson get married today - just six weeks after his hip replacement. Prince Philip, 96 was all smiles as he got out of his car with the Queen and walked into St George's Chapel, Windsor this morning. Despite assurances from Buckingham Palace about his rude health in the run-up to the big day, many eyes were still fixed on the state Bentley as the Queen and her consort clambered out. He walked unaided but looked slightly tired as he waved to spectators eager to see Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tie the knot. Prince Philip was pictured waving enthusiastically at yesterday's royal wedding following his recent hip replacement Prince Philip looked visibly tired at his grandson Prince Harry's wedding today but managed to walk unaided in and out of the ceremony at St George's Chapel in Windsor Prince Philip was all smiles as he walked unaided into church to see his grandson Prince Harry get married in Windsor this morning - less than two months after hip surgery The Duke of Edinburgh, 96, is pictured climbing out of his Bentley with Her Majesty the Queen In contrast, former prime minister Sir John Major, 75, appeared to surprise some on social media after he was seen entering the chapel with a walking stick. Today he was sat in the second row next to the Queen and behind Prince William, Prince Charles and Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge during the ceremony. He wore a black suit, white shirt, blue tie and a white corsage, while the Queen sported a lime green suit with purple detailing on her hat. Having retired from royal duties last August, the Queen's husband was admitted for hip surgery at King Edward VII hospital in London on April 3. He had surgery to replace his hip joint with a prosthetic implant the next day and was discharged on April 13. The Duke was dressed in a black suit and white corsage, while the Queen opted for a lime green suit with purple detailing on her hat Pictured: The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh sat in the second row during the ceremony The 96-year-old is pictured reading from his order of service inside St George's Chapel He (third left) was sat in the second row next to the Queen and behind Prince William, Prince Charles, Camilla and Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge At the time of the procedure, Buckingham Palace said the surgery to replace the joint had been a success and Philip was 'comfortable and in good spirits'. The duke will have spent the past six weeks on a rehabilitation programme, starting with moving with the aid of a stick or crutches and gradually progressing towards increased mobility. There was no guarantee he would be well enough to attend today's wedding, but fans breathed a sigh of relief when he was seen out at the Royal Windsor Horse Show last week. Experts predicted he would use a cane or stick to help get him through the day, but he strolled confidently in and out of the chapel as thousands watched on. But his fitness was underlined further when he waved enthusiastically to the crowd as he left the chapel on Saturday, seated in the back of the state car alongside his wife. The Duke's fitness levels were confirmed when he was pictured smiling as he walked out of the chapel after the ceremony The Duke appeared happy and comfortable when at the Royal Windsor Horse Show last Sunday Jayd Gordon, pictured, has denied charges of burglary and theft during his trial at Maidstone Crown Court following a break-in at Nicole Bass's flat in Dartford, Kent on June 9 last year A man has pleaded guilty to a 'gratuitous' burglary at the home of Ex on the Beach star Nicole Bass in which paint was thrown around the flat and heads ripped off her teddies while she was holidaying in Las Vegas. Nicholas Cato, 31, from Brockley, south eastLondon, had denied burglary and theft but yesterday admitted both charges part-way through his trial. A jury at Maidstone Crown Court in Kent heard 'distinctive and expensive' designer clothing and trainers were stolen, as well as a Rolex watch, Pandora jewellery and Miss Bass's 30,000 4x4 Mercedes GLA AMG. Images of some of Miss Bass's stolen clothing were later found on Cato's phone. The 26-year-old reality TV celebrity returned from the States to find paint had been thrown around her flat and the heads of her soft toys chopped off and placed on her bed. A court heard Miss Bass, who has also appeared in The Only Way is Essex, was met by the horrifying scene at her rented second-floor flat in Dartford, Kent, on June 9 last year. It was alleged she was deliberately targeted after she posted a photo on her Instagram account indicating she was in Vegas. Giving evidence earlier this week, the glamorous brunette said the break-in not only 'violated' what was the first home she had owned, but also ruined her life. Paint covered her bed, walls, photographs and dressing room, clothes were strewn everywhere, furniture overturned in the living room, and kitchen cupboards emptied with food thrown over the floor. 'It wasn't just as if they had burgled my flat, they had absolutely violated it,' she told the jury. 'It wasn't just a burglary, it had been completely trashed and there was zero respect.' Nicole Bass had updated her fans online that she was on holiday in Las Vegas when her flat was burgled and trashed and her car was also stolen Miss Bass told Maidstone Crown Court: 'It wasn't just as if they had burgled my flat, they had absolutely violated it' The reality TV star said she had parked her 30,000 car in its designated spot and left the keys on her living room table The Mercedes, just a few months old, had been left locked in its allocated underground car park space beneath the flats and the keys on a living room table when Miss Bass left for her holiday. However, her trip was cut short due to an accident and she returned two days later to discover the burglary. Prosecutor Nina Ellin told the court: 'It was an unpleasant burglary because in addition to the theft of the valuable items, there was gratuitous ransacking and damage caused to other items of property and the fabric of the building itself.' Miss Ellin also described Miss Bass as 'a TV personality' with a social media following of about half a million. She had posted a photograph of herself while in Vegas. 'The Crown suggest this burglary was professionally planned and targeted at her while she was not there, and that fact would have been known to those involved,' added the prosecutor. A second man, Jayd Gordon, 30, from Catford, south eastLondon, is still on trial accused of the same offences. Having adjourned Cato's sentencing hearing until June 25, Judge Philip St.John-Stevens told the jury his guilty pleas had 'no bearing' on the case against Gordon. 'It is not evidence against Jayd Gordon. That plea has no bearing on his guilt or innocence and cannot provide any evidence,' he said. 'It's simply a plea of guilty on behalf of Nicholas Cato accepting his responsibility.' Cato was released on bail until he is sentenced. It is alleged both men could be linked to the break-in through mobile phone data and ANPR cameras. The court heard at the time of the break in, Ms Bass had 320,000 followers on Instagram The court heard their phones repeatedly triggered masts near the flat on the night of the burglary, and the stolen Mercedes was seen at three separate locations travelling in convoy from Dartford to London and just seconds apart with a VW Tiguan belonging to Gordon's girlfriend. Both men were in the VW when it was stopped by police in Sydenham, south east London, on June 13. Cato told police that he often 'misplaced' his phone and had left it in the Tiguan. During the trial, he also claimed he had a witness who could provide him with an alibi as to his whereabouts on the night of the burglary. Gordon told police he could not recall his where he was as he suffered from memory loss. The Mercedes was recovered in Sydenham, south east London, on June 23. Miss Bass no longer owns it and has also moved out of her rented flat, the court heard. Miss Bass posted a photo of herself in Las Vegas on her Instagram page, which at that time she estimated the number of followers being about 320,000. She spotted her car was missing as she pulled up outside her flat in Creek Mill Way in a taxi at about midday on June 9. Miss Bass then discovered her front door, accessed through a coded, communal entrance and a 'safety' door, was damaged. She told the court: 'I was completely baffed (sic) and thinking where has my car gone. 'The (flat) door had been smashed in completely. The door handle had been taken off, like a crowbar or something had been used to beat the door with. Miss Bass said she moved out of the flat immediately after seeing the damage 'I was frightened in case someone was still in there so I went downstairs to a neighbour's. She came back upstairs with me. The damage on the outside of the door was so severe it went through to the inside. 'We pushed the door open and walked in. It was just absolutely trashed. It wasn't just as if they had burgled my flat, they had absolutely violated it. 'There was paint everywhere and all my teddies had had their heads chopped off or ripped off. 'There was paint all over my photographs. It was my paint because it was my first flat and we had decorated it. But the paint had been in cupboards in storage. 'My whole flat was vandalised. It wasn't like someone had burgled it and left. They had completely ruined everything I had worked hard for for seven years. 'Paint was all over my face in photographs, my mattress was destroyed, my carpet, my walls, my clothes. Anything that wasn't stolen was covered in paint. 'There was food everywhere, they had just taken everything out and chucked it everywhere. It was just crazy, it was insane. 'It wasn't just a burglary, it had been completely trashed and there was zero respect.' Miss Bass told the jury she had left her flat spotless as she was an 'extremely clean' person. It was also from where she ran her own clothing business and even her work printer had been smashed. She listed several items stolen, including Valentino heels, and expensive jackets from Stone Island, Canada Goose and Moncler. Earrings, watches and other jewellery was also missing, including a cross necklace given to her by her mum when she was a baby. 'It's not just the fact they have burgled my house (sic) but put me out of work and destroyed my life,' she added. Miss Bass said several expensive items were stolen including a Rolex watch, Valentino heels and some designer jackets 'The paint was all over the bed and what disturbed me was that there were clothes in the wardrobe and what they hadn't helped themselves to they had thrown onto the bed and then paint over them. 'It was all over the crushed velvet bed, all over the walls, carpet and dressing table. My teddies' heads were just ripped off or cut off and it was chucked over them.' Miss Bass filmed the scene of devastation on her phone but it was not shown in court. She told the jury no one had permission to go to her flat while she was away. She described it as being in a quiet area and one she had felt safe in. 'I'm quite quiet and keep my life very personal. I don't have friends there and I go to my mum's when I see her. No had permission to go in there,' she said. 'I moved straightaway. I left because I couldn't bear staying there.' She later identified the clothing seen in the images on Cato's phone as hers, but told the court it was 'just a small fraction' of what was stolen. Miss Bass lived alone at the flat but property belonging to her brother and her then boyfriend was also stolen, as well as a jar containing 600 to 700 in loose change. The court heard Gordon had a number of coins on him when arrested which he said came from a boot fair. During cross-examination by Cato's barrister Dominic Bell, Miss Bass agreed she thought she had been deliberately targeted because of her 'celebrity status'. Of her photo posted on Instagram showing she was in Vegas, she said she believed someone 'clocked on' she was away and burgled her. But she also added the break-in could just as well have been carried out on the 'off-chance'. 'In my eyes they could have burgled me because I was away or just on the off-chance and it happened to be my flat. I just know I was burgled,' said Miss Bass. She thanked the jury as she left court. The trial of Gordon continues on Monday. Actor Eric Balfour, 41, has been accused of harassing his neighbors by photographing them through their bedroom and bathroom windows and leaving threatening notes in their mailbox in a bizarre neighbor war Actor Eric Balfour has been accused of harassing his neighbors by taking pictures of the family through their bedroom and bathroom windows and leaving threatening notes in their mailbox. Balfour, 41, is disputing the allegations believes that the family behind the claims has been waging an ongoing war against him because they are frustrated with the fact that he's remodeling his home in the pricey beach town of Venice, California. Nuanchan Suklom, a man who claims to live next door to Balfour, has requested a restraining order against the actor known for his small screen roles in 24 and Haven. The request filed by Suklom and Douglas Dick containing a list of eccentric allegations calls Balfour a 'Peeping Tom' who takes photographs of Suklom's wife and daughter in their bedrooms and bathrooms. Balfour and his wife Erin Chiamulon have been remodeling their home in Venice, California, drawing complaints from their neighbors, according to a rep for the 41-year-old actor Suklom claims that the harassment has been going on since 2015, and specifically noted May 6 as a day that Balfour allegedly snapped intimate photos of the family and put a letter in their mailbox. He alleges that Balfour has on multiple occasions rebuked the family for a dog barking despite the fact that they don't own a dog. He has also accused Balfour of frequently trespassing on their property to deliver the threatening notes as well as sending 'non-sensical emails' and phone calls. Suklom says the family feels unsafe especially because Balfour 'claimed to have a gun in his pocket one or two times'. As for Balfour's motive, Suklom said the actor has accused the family of having a beehive in their backyard, meditating too loudly and running an illegal Airbnb out of their home. A judge denied Suklom's request for a temporary restraining order until a hearing next month. Balfour is best known for his role as Milo Pressman in the action thriller TV series 24, pictured A rep for Balfour has denied the allegations and said that the actor hasn't heard anything about the restraining order. 'Eric and his wife are currently renovating their home and were aware that the neighbor has made numerous complaints to the city about their remodel,' the rep told The Blast. 'Eric has been friendly and cordial through the entire process and even agreeing to the neighbor's requested changes. 'Any news of a restraining order is unknown to us at this time.' The 41-year-old made his film debut in the 1998 drama Shattered Image followed by roles in What Women Want and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. His biggest roles to date have been as Milo Pressman in the TV series 24 and Duke Crocker in the supernatural series Haven. He married fashion designer Erin Chiamulon in 2015. The parents of the Pakistani exchange student who was murdered during a mass school shooting in Texas on Friday, are now grieving for their daughter from 8,000 miles away. Sabika Sheikh, 18, was one of the 10 people killed in Friday morning's Santa Fe High School shooting in Santa Fe, Texas, carried out by 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis. At least 10 others were wounded during his deadly rampage. She had been enrolled at Santa Fe High as part of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study Abroad program (YES) at the time of the shooting. Sabika's father, Abdul Aziz Sheikh, a businessman in his mid-40s, said he couldn't believe what happened to his daughter, the oldest of his four children. Abdul Aziz Sheikh (center) found out his daughter, Sabika Sheikh, 18, was killed during Friday's mass shooting at a Texas high school after watching a news report about the shooting on TV Sabika was at the Texas high school as an exchange student. She left her Karachi, Pakistan home in August and was due to return in mid-June 'We are still in a state of denial. We can't believe it. It's like a nightmare,' Abdul said Saturday, while sitting on the ground floor of his home in Karachi, Pakistan, surrounded by mourning friends, relatives and local politicians that arrived to give their condolences. Sabika had left Karachi in August and wasn't due to travel back until mid-June, in time for Eid al-Fitr, the religious holiday marking the end of Ramadan. Sheikh said he first found out about the tragedy when he sat down to watch TV after iftar, the fast-breaking meal. He saw a report about the shooting on a local news channel, and switched frantically between other channels to watch the live coverage of the aftermath. 'I called her but she did not reply. I kept calling and sending her messages,' Abdul said. 'My daughter always replies. Or at least sends a message saying she'll call back soon. But yesterday, that didn't happen.' Abdul then called her friends, but they weren't responding either. Sabika's father said she aspired to work in civil service and join Pakistan's Foreign Office Sabika, said to be a hard-working and accomplished student, was the eldest of four children Sabika's younger brother, Ali Aziz Shaikh 12, is seen holding an award that Sabika received Abdul (center, surrounded by family) thought Sabika would be safe while studying in the US It was only when he got in touch with the YES exchange program that he realized the bad news. Megan Lysaght, manager of the YES program, would later send a letter to students in the program confirming that Sabika was killed in the shooting. 'Please know that the YES program is devastated by this loss and we will remember Sabika and her families in our thoughts and prayers,' Lysaght wrote. Lysaght said the program would be holding a moment of silence for the girl, pictured beaming in a shirt that says 'Texas' in a photo being shared on social media. Abdul said his daughter was a hard-working and accomplished student who aspired to work in civil service, hoping one day to join Pakistan's Foreign Office. Abdul comforts a woman who arrived at his home in Karachi, Pakistan, to mourn Sabika Despite the tragedy that befell his daughter, Abdul (left) believes students shouldn't be scared of going abroad to study, but thinks governments are responsible for controlling incidents He thought his daughter would be safe in the US. 'There is a general impression here that the life is safe and secure in America, but this is not the case,' Abdul said. 'I have noted the number of attacks carried out this year (in American schools). But here there was no incident except for one, at an army school. But in America they are rampant.' He said US authorities should thoroughly investigate the Santa Fe High schooting, and that he hoped it wouldn't discourage other foreign studying abroad. 'One should not lose his heart by such kind of incidents,' Abdul said. 'One should not stop going for education to the U.S. or U.K. or China, or anywhere. One must go for education undeterred. But controlling such incidents is the responsibility of the respective governments.' US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo offered his condolences in a statement Saturday, saying that 'Sabika's death and that of the other victims is heartbreaking and will be mourned deeply both here in the United States, and in Pakistan.' The Pakistan Embassy in Washington, DC, who identified Sabika on Friday as a victim of the shooting on Twitter, wrote that 'our thoughts and prayers are with Sabika's family and friends.' Sabika was killed along with nine others in an art class on Friday morning. Substitute teacher Ann Perkins, 64, art teacher Cynthia Tisdale and students Chris Stone, Kim Vaughan, Angelique Ramirez, Aaron Kyle McLeod, Christian Garcia and Shana Fisher were among those confirmed dead. Pagourtzis, a high school junior at the school, allegedly burst into the art classroom yelling 'Surprise!' while brandishing his father's shotgun and pistol, before opening fire and gunning down students and teachers. According to a charging document, Pagourtzis picked his victims, choosing not to shoot students he liked so he could have his story told. Twitter was sent into a meltdown after Meghan Markle appeared to drop the F-bomb today during her horse-drawn carriage ride through Windsor with Prince Harry. The bride turned to her husband and seemingly laughed 'Oh f***!' and put her hand over her chest as the carriage pulled away from the crowds and into the gated grounds of Windsor Castle. People quickly took to social media to poke fun at the overwhelmed 36-year-old for her apparent blunder, while others speculate she simply said 'Oh, wow!' Twitter was sent into a meltdown after Meghan Markle appeared to drop the F-bomb today during her horse-drawn carriage ride through Windsor with Prince Harry The bride turned to her husband and seemingly laughed 'Oh f***!' and put her hand over her chest as the carriage pulled away from the crowds and into the grounds of Windsor Castle Twitter was sent into a meltdown after Meghan Markle appeared to drop the F-bomb today during her horse-drawn carriage ride through Windsor with Prince Harry Meghan wasn't the only one caught making candid remarks during the 25-minute ride through town. Prince Harry joked 'I'm ready for a drink now' as he and Meghan pulled back into Windsor Castle after a rapturous reception from crowds of jubilant well-wishers. Earlier in the day, Prince William joked to Harry, that his 'trousers are too tight' During the ride, the newlyweds swapped remarks about some of the signs being held by members of the public, with Harry commenting 'huge' at one point during the procession, and Meghan saying 'how sweet'. Fans cheered as the couple were brought down Castle Hill, through the crowded town centre and then back to Windsor Castle along the Long Walk, escorted by a colourful travelling Escort of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. Meghan Markle had a chance to practice her royal wave as she and her husband toured Windsor following their wedding Prince Harry joked 'I'm ready for a drink now' as he and Meghan Markle pulled back into Windsor Castle after a rapturous reception from crowds of jubilant well-wishers The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead estimated just over 100,000 fans watched the procession along the route The streets of the Berkshire town became a sea of Union Jack and Stars and Stripes flags as visitors from around the world crowded around the procession route to catch of glimpse of the happy couple. Some have been camped out near the castle walls for days, while others arrived as early as 4am to secure a good spot. The newly-announced Duke and Duchess of Sussex smiled and waved to ecstatic crowds, some of whom have camped out for days to be at the front of the throng. After the carriage travelled past, one royal fan, Rachael Carter-Eagleton said: 'She looked amazing. She shone like a diamond.' The couple delighted the assembled crowds by sharing a kiss as the carriage pulled along the packed streets of Windsor Prince Harry and his new bride Meghan Markle toured a jubilant Windsor today following the wedding ceremony There has been a carnival atmosphere in Windsor this week as the Berkshire town became the centre of the world's attention The Queen lent the couple her refurbished Landau carriage, which was built for Queen Victoria, which normally carries the monarch to Royal Ascot. The ceremony was played through loudspeakers hanging on the side of Windsor Castle, so the crowds gathered on the streets outside can hear but not see proceedings. During the service, a crowd in Horseshoe Cloister shouted a resounding 'We will' as the Archbishop of Canterbury posed the question inside St George's Chapel as to whether the families and friends of Prince Harry and Meghan would support them in their marriage. Barry John Faulkner (pictured) has been jailed for posing as a pilot to rip off Australians A seasoned conman has been jailed again for posing as a pilot to rip off unsuspecting Australian travellers. Barry John Faulkner is back in jail for attempting to exploit Queenslanders by acting as a commercial pilot. Known as the 'catch me if you can' conman, Faulkner has been in and out of prison his whole life with more than 80 convictions. The 68-year-old fronted Brisbane Magistrates Court on April 13 on multiple counts of fraud. He was ordered to repay his victims $6430 and was sentenced to six months behind bars. Faulkner had more than 50 false identities and has notched up over 80 convictions. His aliases ranged from a doctor, army officer, American millionaire, Olympic official and CIA agent. Faulkner has more than 50 false identities and has notched up over 80 convictions. His aliases range from a doctor, army officer, American millionaire, Olympic official and CIA agent He also posed as the guitarist from the 1960s band The Monkees. His scams generally involved offering people good offers at 'special prices'. Faulkner's first known scam was in the late 1960s when he posed as a doctor at the age of 19. Faulkner's first known scam was in the late 60s when he posed as a doctor at the age of 19 Under the guise of a doctor at the Royal Brisbane Hospital, Faulker examined two pregnant women. Faulker has promised flight up-grades, cheap electronics and duty-free products under these various identities in exchange for cash. The Brisbane crook was coined the 'catch me if you can' conman after the 2002 film about an American scammer played by Leonardo DiCaprio. The character played by DiCaprio paralleled similar cons to Faulkner. Maren Nicole Oates, 33, was arrested Thursday for allegedly having sex with a pupil A Nevada graphic design teacher has been arrested for allegedly having sex with a student. Maren Nicole Oates, 33, was arrested on Thursday and is being held on $20,000 bail. Oates taught graphic design at the Academy of Arts, Careers and Technology in Reno. She was placed on administrative leave from the school in light of her arrest. She was taken in by Washoe County School police and booked into Washoe County jail on a charge of school employee engaged in sex with a pupil, according to KOLO. The school district released a statement saying an investigation is taking place. Oates taught graphic design at Academy of Arts, Careers and Technology in Reno, Nevada She is being held on $20,000 bond. The academy, pictured above, has removed her from their staff directory online in light of her arrest 'Washoe County School Police are investigating allegations that a District employee engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a student. The employee in question has been placed on administrative leave,' the statement said. 'The safety and security of our students and staff is our number-one priority. The District cannot discuss personnel issues,' it added. She was taken off the school's website staff directory on Friday. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's wedding was one of the most exciting in recent history - but for one guest that wasn't enough to keep her awake as she appeared to nod off during the ceremony. Social media users were sent into a frenzy after noticing a guest - believed to be Princess Mabereng Seeiso of Lesotho, as reports the Sun - with her eyes closed just before Bishop Michael Curry's rousing speech. Although many joked she was having a power nap to restore her energy before the reception, it seems she was simply bowing her head during the ceremony. One Twitter user uploaded a clip of the guest bowing her head before looking around the room with the caption: 'The woman sleeping is a whole mood' Another individual said: 'Did you see the woman in back sleeping?' Social media users were sent into a frenzy after noticing a guest - believed to be Princess Mabereng Seeiso of Lesotho - was spotted with her eyes closed during the ceremony The guest had her eyes closed and her head bowed but seconds later she surveyed the room Many speculated that she had taken a nap to reserve energy for the reception later on but it appears she was actually just bowing her head The guest bowed her head just before the Bishop Michael Curry's rousing speech in which he quoted Martin Luther King Jr. and touched upon slavery One user added: 'It irks me that the woman who dressed in African print did not have the decency to stay awake.' The guest appeared to bow her head and look at her hands just before the speech by the US bishop Michael Curry. His passionate speech touched upon slavery, the Old Testament and even quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Social media users piled praise upon the bishop for 'shaking up' traditional royal wedding proceedings with his animated speech. The preacher also provoked a few chuckles in the chapel - and even Harry and Meghan couldn't help but giggle at one point. He quoted Dr. King by saying: 'We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love, and when we do that, we will make of this old world, a new world.' Meghan, holding hands with Prince Harry, smiled as she listened to Curry talk about how: 'Two young people fell in love, and we showed up.' Many users found her apparent cat nap hilarious, but other social media users have praised the bishop for 'shaking up' traditional royal wedding proceedings As the world watched the royal wedding, Jeremy Corbyn sent his congratulations to Labour's candidate in an upcoming by-election. The Labour leader appeared to strike up a friendship with Prince Charles earlier this week as they attended the unveiling of a memorial dedicated to British victims of terrorism. But while there were smiles all round at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, Mr Corbyn appeared less willing to send his congratulations to the Prince's son on his big day. Prince Charles and Jeremy Corbyn appeared to hit it off when they met at the National Arboretum The Labour leader extended his congratulations to the party's candidate in the Lewisham East by-election Mr Corbyn spent his day at Labour's State of the Economy conference, which he also tweeted about There was silence about the royal wedding, though he did wish them well earlier in the week He did, however, send a message to Janet Daby who was chosen by Labour to fight the Lewisham East by-election, sparked by the resignation of Heidi Alexander, who is going to work for London Mayor Sadiq Khan. 'Congratulations @JanetDaby who has been selected as Labour's candidate in Lewisham East. 'She has done an excellent job as Deputy Mayor and I know she will be a strong voice for the people of Lewisham East in Parliament. I look forward to campaigning with her in the by-election.' Mr Corbyn spent his day attending Labour's State of the Economy conference, which he also tweeted about. During Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons, Mr Corbyn wished the couple 'all the best' and thanked Prince Harry for his work on mental health. Following the session, a senior Labour spokesman was asked if Mr Corbyn would be watching the royal wedding on television. The spokesman replied: 'There's catch-up, isn't there?' Here, we present the top moments of Harry and Meghan's romantic wedding More than 120,000 people descended on Windsor to see today's royal wedding Harry and Meghan shared tears, laughter and a passionate kiss in front of their hundreds of VIP guests dominated by Hollywood stars. In an extraordinary journey, the girl born in LA to a white father and African-American mother became the first mixed-race member of the royal family. Harry looked tearful when he saw his bride for the first time, grabbing her hand telling her: 'You look amazing - I missed you' before tenderly lifting her veil. And now the newlyweds are celebrating after a remarkable wedding ceremony in St George's Chapel. Here, we present the top moments of Harry and Meghan's romantic royal wedding. 1. The arrival of the bride The bride arrived at her wedding to Prince Harry in a Rolls-Royce phantom as thousands cheered her on towards St George's Chapel today Meghan, who wore the glittering Queen Mary's Diamond Bandeau tiara, loaned to her by the Queen, was dressed in a delicate, stunning five-metre veil Meghan wowed the crowds in her simple, stunning pure white wedding gown by Clare Waight Keller at Givenchy. The demure dress with three-quarter length sleeves and open bateau neckline was hailed for being timeless and classic. Meghan, who wore the glittering Queen Mary's Diamond Bandeau tiara, loaned to her by the Queen, was dressed in a delicate, stunning five-metre veil. The silk tulle veil was embroidered with flowers from each of the 53 Commonwealth nations at Meghan's request. 2. The procession of the bride Two pageboys held the end of her veil, as the other pageboys and bridesmaids followed behind Meghan Markle's wedding dress was crafted by acclaimed British designer, Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller. The bride's veil was held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, lent to her by The Queen, which was made in 1932 Meghan arrived at St George's Chapel in Windsor with two page boys who held up her long train as she walked up the steps Meghan tucked her arm though her now father-in-law's, with Harry saying 'thank you' to Charles as they reached him She may be an actress used to appearing in the limelight but Meghan looked completely composed as she processed through the Nave of the chapel alone. Two pageboys held the end of her veil, as the other pageboys and bridesmaids followed behind. At the start of the Quire, she was met by the Prince of Wales, whom she had asked to accompany her down the aisle of the Quire when her father Thomas Markle pulled out of attending due to ill health. Meghan tucked her arm though her now father-in-law's, with Harry saying 'thank you' to Charles as they reached him. 3. 'You look amazing' The groom looked nervous as Meghan walked up the aisle. When they met, Harry was captivated by his bride as they met at the altar, telling her: 'You look amazing. I missed you' The couple looked blissfully in love during the ceremony, tenderly holding hands and gazing into each other's eyes An emotional Harry was captivated by his bride as they met at the altar, telling her: 'You look amazing. I missed you.' Meghan and Harry, who spent the night before the wedding apart in separate hotels, looked blissfully in love during the ceremony, tenderly holding hands and gazing into each other's eyes. 4. Preacher Michael Curry, the first black presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church, brought the service alive as he preached enthusiastically about the power of love, continuing for 14 minutes as he departed from his planned text The passionate, dramatic delivery by US Bishop Michael Curry was something not normally seen at reserved British royal weddings Rev. Curry talked about how 'fire made it possible to text and tweet' The passionate, dramatic delivery by US Bishop Michael Curry was something not normally seen at reserved British royal weddings. The Bishop, the first black presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church, brought the service alive as he preached enthusiastically about the power of love, continuing for 14 minutes as he departed from his planned text. 5. Charles and Doria The father of the groom and the mother of the bride came together as they moved to join Harry and Meghan in the side transept to witness the signing of the marriage register With the Prince of Wales flashing Doria a beaming smile, she took his hand as they stepped out of view for the only private part of the ceremony, away from the cameras The father of the groom and the mother of the bride came together as they moved to join Harry and Meghan in the side transept to witness the signing of the marriage register. With the Prince of Wales flashing Doria a beaming smile, she took his hand as they stepped out of view for the only private part of the ceremony, away from the cameras. 6. Princess Charlotte The three-year-old bridesmaid Princess Charlotte stuck out her tongue as she arrived by car Prince George and Princess Charlotte, pictured, the oldest children of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, did not follow Harry and Meghan as they made their way back up the aisle. Instead, the youngsters held their parents' hands as they made their way out of the chapel Like mother, like daughter: The Duchess of Cambridge holds her daughter's hand as Princess Charlotte epitomises the perfect royal as she politely waves to well-wishers Playful three-year-old bridesmaid Princess Charlotte stuck out her tongue as she arrived by car. The confident princess later showed how accomplished she is at royal appearances - by waving Harry and Meghan off in their carriage procession. 7. The Duke of Edinburgh The Duke of Edinburgh leaves St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle after the wedding of Harry and Meghan today Philip, who has been recovering after a hip replacement operation, did so without the use of an aid Less than two months after major surgery, Philip, 96, made a defiant, purposeful and unaided march into St George's Chapel to watch his grandson Harry get married. Philip, who has been recovering after a hip replacement operation, did so without the use of an aid. 8. The Kiss It was the moment royal fans were waiting for - and it did not disappoint. Harry and Meghan, the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex, emerged from the chapel as husband and wife hand in hand and sealed their love with a passionate kiss on the top of the West Steps The American former actress had looked up at her new husband and asked: 'Do we kiss?' Harry replied with a discreet: 'Yeah' It was the moment royal fans were waiting for - and it did not disappoint. Harry and Meghan, the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex, emerged from the chapel as husband and wife hand in hand and sealed their love with a passionate kiss on the top of the West Steps. The American former actress had looked up at her new husband and asked: 'Do we kiss?' Harry replied with a discreet: 'Yeah.' Experts from the relevant ministries, agencies and media gathered to discuss measures to boost the work at a forum hosted by the Central Steering Committee for External Information Service yesterday. They argued that building and promoting a national image is the ultimate goal of all countries. In a world of integration with fierce competition among nations, a "beautiful image" is considered as an important element in the country's "soft power" that helps to affirm its position. According to them, in recent years, the Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad have played a crucial role in propagating and promoting the image of the country to the world. Currently, Vietnam has 96 diplomatic missions abroad, with the function of conducting foreign propaganda through press information activities. Given their superiority, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative offices take the lead in providing official information related to Vietnam to international friends, scholars, the media and the Vietnamese community abroad. They also act as bridges to support businesses operating in tourism to promote the image of Vietnam to international friends. At the event, delegates also emphasised the role of the media, especially the overseas press agencies, in promoting external information. Pham Van Linh, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Communications and Education, affirmed that the work on promoting Vietnam to the world is a long-term process, attained through absorbing external experience and promoting internal capability to further develop external information work. Linh, who is also Deputy Head of the Central Steering Committee for External Information Service, urged communication agencies to control and select accurate information with effective communication methods to deliver the information to the public in many languages and various forms for effective dissemination. Advertisement Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot at Windsor Castle today in a royal wedding like no other, mixing British pomp and African-American culture in front of a celebrity congregation and cheering crowds. The new Duke and Duchess of Sussex exchanged vows in St George's Chapel in a historic ceremony, sealed with a kiss, which brought the US TV star into the heart of the British monarchy. As more than 100,000 people packed the sun-baked Windsor streets and millions watched worldwide, the Queen and the royal family were joined inside by stars including Serena Williams and George Clooney. Here is a who's who of some of the guests who saw history being made close up... Scroll down for video The great and the good were in attendance today to see Prince Harry marry his sweetheart Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle With the words 'I will', 33-year-old Harry, and US former actress Meghan, 36, declared they would love, comfort, honour and protect each other The couple held hands throughout and exchanged vows in a Church of England service modified to reflect the bride's heritage and strong sense of independence. Firebrand US pastor Michael Curry delivered a full-throttle address invoking slaves and the power of love, and a gospel choir sang classics 'Stand By Me' and 'This Little Light of Mine'. Meghan began her walk down the aisle alone with her ten bridesmaids and page boys walking behind her flowing white silk dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller at the French fashion house Givenchy. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby declared them husband and wife - sparking huge cheers from crowds outside the church, who were watching on big screens. The newlyweds then began their walk from the chapel to meet huge crowds of well-wishers Her father had been due to meet her half way but after he pulled out because of heart surgery, Harry's father Prince Charles stepped in to escort her the rest of the way to the altar. Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, looked visibly moved during the wedding and at the end, thanked Charles - the heir to the throne - for his role. With the words 'I will', 33-year-old Harry, and US former actress Meghan, 36, declared they would love, comfort, honour and protect each other. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby declared them husband and wife - sparking huge cheers from crowds outside the church, who were watching on big screens. Meghan's father Thomas Markle also followed the wedding on TV and voiced regret he was unable to attend, US celebrity news website TMZ reported. 'My baby looks beautiful and she looks very happy. I wish I were there,' he was quoted as saying. A devastating disease some insist is all in the mind led to the death of a young drama student, an inquest has ruled. Merryn Crofts, 21, weighed less than six stone and spent the last three years of her life totally bed-bound with severe ME - an incurable condition that affects 250,000 people in the UK. The youngster was unable to take more than two teaspoons of food before suffering immense gut pain and vomiting, a coroner was told. Merryn Crofts, from Norden in Rochdale, died on May 23 last year, days after her 21st birthday. She weighed less than six stone and had spent the last three years of her life bed-bound Merryn, from Rochdale, today became only the second person in the UK to have ME - myalgic encephalomyelitis - listed on their death certificate. Despite being classed as a real neurological disease, many think the condition is not real - even within the medical profession. Merryn's mum, Clare Norton, sobbed as she told Rochdale Coroner's Court how her 'beautiful' and 'energetic' daughter was left wheelchair-bound and reliant on tube feeding. She said: 'As a child, she was a bundle of energy. She didn't walk anywhere - she would hop, skip and jump. 'She was the kind of person that people gravitated towards. They wanted to be her friend. 'She was very social and loved drama. She was a total fashionista, a typical teenager. Her bedroom was a mess of clothes, hairspray and tan. The first sign something was wrong came when Merryn, then aged 15, suddenly developed severe swelling around her face, hands and feet 'But she was also stubborn and I think that helped her cope with her illness in a lot of ways. She never gave up.' In August 2011, Merryn, then 15, was diagnosed with hives and swelling shortly after coming back from a family holiday in Mallorca. Tests in early 2012 revealed that at some point she had contracted glandular fever - a virus which can trigger ME. As her symptoms worsened Merryn underwent several mental health assessments as doctors thought the illness might be psychological, a common misdiagnosis among ME sufferers Despite dozens of medical appointments - including mental health checks for panic attacks - Merryn's condition deteriorated as she suffered breathing problems, exhaustion and excruciating hypersensitivity to touch, light and sound. She was eventually diagnosed with ME in the summer of 2012. The would-be theatre star, who was forced to wear an eye mask, also suffered from severe migraines, brain fog, slurred speech and persistent infections. Stomach problems, and problems swallowing, meant her weight plummeted to just five-and-a-half stone. Coroner Catherine McKenna was told Merryn could take on just 100 calories a day because her gut caused her so much pain, and that, by 2015, even two teaspoons of nutrients were intolerable. Merryn was eventually fitted with an intravenous nutrition line but suffered intestinal failure and was given a terminal diagnosis in 2016. She died on May 23, 2017, just days after her 21st birthday. Mrs McKenna today concluded her cause of death as starvation caused by a withdrawal of supportive nutrition, caused by ME. She described Merryn as someone who 'bore her suffering with dignity and good grace'. Frustrated with the lack of progress in the NHS, Merryn went to see a specialist at a private clinic and was diagnosed with severe ME She said: 'Merryn had suffered with ME since 2012 which caused severe fatigue, gastointestinal failure, chronic pain, global hypersensitivity, loss of mobility and function. 'Despite extensive investigations no reason for her gastrointestinal failure which led to her reliance on supportive nutrition was found and most likely it was caused by her ME.' Mother Clare, who attended the inquest with daughter Amy Williams and Merryn's stepdad Dave Norton, told of her long-standing belief that ME contributed to her death. Wheelchair-bound and unable to climb the stairs, Merryn developed an excruciating sensitivity to light, noise and touch, suffered crippling stomach cramps and joint pain and began having convulsions She said: 'With ME the key symptom is post-exertional malaise. That means if someone's energy is pushed beyond what they can tolerate, it will trigger all of their symptoms. 'The best advice we were given was for Merryn to do just 50 per cent of what she felt capable of. 'But Merryn didn't even have 50 per cent to give. She was always crashing, so everything that happened to her kept pushing her further behind.' What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Also known as ME - or myalgic encephalomyelitis - CFS can affect anyone, but is most common in women in their mid 20s to mid 40s. The most noticeable symptom is extreme tiredness, but others include problems sleeping, joint or muscle pain, headaches, flu-like symptoms, and a fast or irregular heartbeat. Treatments include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), specific exercises, or medication to target nausea, pain or issues with sleeping. Source: NHS Advertisement Pathologist Daniel DuPlessis said that a post-mortem showed low-grade inflammation of nerve roots. It was suggested that this inflammation could have made her bowel hypersensitive to processing nutrients. Dr DuPlessis pointed out that Merryn had inflammation of the ganglia - gatekeepers to sensations in the brain. A post-mortem into the only other UK death attributed to ME, Sophia Mirza, 32, in 2006, also found ganglionitis. ME expert at Salford Royal hospital, Dr Annice Mukherjee, said she was convinced that the illness was responsible for triggering Merryn's intestinal failure. She said: 'I haven't come across a case of ME with life-threatening malnutrition before but I have come across many patients with severe ME that are bedbound that have global sensitivity issues and severe gut issues. 'But every single patient with ME is different, so I never see the same case twice.' The ME Association is at the forefront of improving access to care, treatment and research and removing the disease's stigma. The charity today called for Merryn's death not to be in vain. In a blog post from August 2015, Merryn gave an insight into what she was going through. 'Having severe ME is like being trapped in your own body every single day,' she wrote A spokesman said: 'Firstly, the sympathies of the ME Association are with Merryn's family today. We hope the result of this inquest provides some closure and allows them to cherish their memories of Merryn. 'It is essential that Merryn's untimely death is not overlooked and the urgent need for proper recognition of, and research into, ME is recognised. 'In our present state of knowledge, we don't know if ME can kill directly, but there are various consequences of having the illness that can increase the risk of early death. She became on the second person in the UK to have ME listed on their death certificate 'What we do know is this: ME is real. It's devastating. It leaves people, at best, struggling to work. At worst, it leaves them enduring a tortuous existence, a living death, where they are unable to take their place in society. Merryn, who loved acting, had dreams of attending a performing arts school in Liverpool and adored musical theatre like Billy Elliott and Wicked. Mental health expert, Dr Ross Overshott, told the inquest that Merryn did not suffer a psychological illness, such as depression or an eating disorder. He said: 'She was hopeful for the future, she could speak in a very involved way about her hobbies and interests, particularly musicals and films.' Before she died, Merryn revealed that she wanted her brain and spinal column to be donated to ME research. They were donated to the ME Association's Ramsay Research Fund, which conducts research into the causes of the disease. Michael Cohen's lawyers want to keep Stormy Daniels' lawyer out of Cohen's legal proceedings because he talks too much. In a Friday court filing in Manhattan's US District Court, Cohen's lawyers objected to the idea of Daniels' lawyer, Michael Avenatti, inserting himself into the court hearings over how Cohen's seized documents and electronic files will be reviewed. Avenatti is seeking admission to federal court on a pro hac vice basis, for this occasion only, so that he can represent Daniels' interests. Lawyers for Trump fixer Michael Cohen filed a court document Friday, in an effort to bar Stormy Daniels lawyer Michael Avenatti (shown) from participating in Cohen's court case Cohen's lawyers said that Avenatti should be barred from court because he is 'smearing' Cohen (shown) on TV and is only interested in creating a 'carnival atmosphere' around the case It's believed that documents regarding the $130,000 in hush money Cohen Trump's longtime fixer and lawyer paid to Daniels to keep her quiet about an alleged affair with Trump, are among the papers that were seized during an FBI raid executed on Cohen's office, home and hotel on April 9. Avenatti is representing Stormy Daniels as she sues President Trump for defamation Daniels is the porn star who is suing President Donald Trump for defamation. 'Mr. Avenatti appears to be primarily focused on smearing Mr. Cohen publicly in his efforts to further his own interest in garnering as much media attention as possible,' Cohen's attorney Stephen Ryan wrote in the filling, according to the NY Daily News. In the filing, Cohen's lawyers accused Avenatti of purposely creating a 'carnival atmosphere' surrounding the case and also implied that he violated both ethical and local court rules, which should bar him from participating in the case. In particular, Cohen's lawyers pointed to 'inaccurate statements' made in Avenatti's May 8 release of information regarding substantially large payments corporations including AT&T, Novartis and Korea Aerospace Industries made to Cohen's company, Essential Consultants, in the wake of Trump's election, according to CNBC. Avenatti is asking to be in court so that he can represent Stormy Daniels' interests. It's believed that some of Cohen's documents, which were seized during an FBI raid, are related to the $130,000 hush money payment Cohen gave Daniels FBI agents raided Cohen's (pictured with Trump) office, home and hotel room on April 9. The seized documents are being examined for potential attorney-client privilege purposes Cohen's lawyers questioned the legality of how Avenetti obtained the payment records, which appeared to have been cobbled together from a leak of confidential bank records. Trump's personal lawyers, as well as Trump Organization lawyers, have already been admitted to the case so they can make their own arguments about which of the seized documents are protected under Trump's attorney-client privilege with Cohen. Trump had originally told reporters that he did not know about any payments Cohen made to Daniels to keep her from spilling details about an alleged affair she had with Trump in 2006, not long after the birth of his youngest son. However, it has since been revealed in a financial disclosure form, that Trump reimbursed Cohen for the $130,000 Daniels payment. Former federal judge, Barbara Jones, is now reviewing Cohen's FBI-seized files to determine which ones should be withheld from prosecutors due to attorney-client privilege. Cohen's business dealings are still under investigation and he has not yet been charged. An American academic who met with the President's advisers in 2016 could have been an FBI informant for its probe into the Trump campaigns alleged collusion with Russian, reports suggest. Both the Times and Washington Post have reported that the FBI made use of a US-born academic working in the UK as an informant, and that he met with Carter Page and George Papadopoulos, two Trump aides suspected of dealing with the Russians. This came after the Daily Caller reported that both Page and Papadopoulos met in 2016 with an American professor at Cambridge University, which it named as Stefan Halper. He asked several questions about Russia which prompted suspicions. Following the reports and naming of the professor, Trump tweeted: 'If the FBI or DOJ was infiltrating a campaign for the benefit of another campaign, that is a really big deal. 'Only the release or review of documents that the House Intelligence Committee (also, Senate Judiciary) is asking for can give the conclusive answers. Drain the Swamp!' Stefan Halper is a Cambridge Academic and has been named in several reports as an FBI informant on the Trump campaign. He is pictured in an undated image speaking at the Oxford Union debating society Talk of an alleged informant has angered President Trump, who is pictured speaking at a round table event in Washington on May 16 Following the reports and naming of the professor, Trump tweeted: 'If the FBI or DOJ was infiltrating a campaign for the benefit of another campaign, that is a really big deal' Papadopoulos revealed in a plea agreement to having been told by an apparent Russian agent that the Putin government had access to a raft of hacked Hillary Clinton emails before this was made public. He has since pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. Page, meanwhile, was under surveillance by the FBI at the time he met with Professor Halper, who had links to both the CIA and MI6. Papadopoulos first met Halper after the academic invited him to England in September 2016 to discuss energy issues, two sources familiar with his account told NBC News. The Trump aide found Halper's behavior during these meetings suspicious, the sources said, and also noticed that the academics young assistant appeared to flirt with him both during and after the exchanges. Papadopoulos said Halper, who is now retired, randomly brought up Russians and Clinton's emails, adding to his suspicions. Page told the Daily Caller he met with Halper several times, including on the academic's farm in Virginia. However, Page told NBC he did not find these encounters concerning. Halper also met with a third Trump campaign official, to whom he reportedly expressed interest in helping the president's campaign. There is no public evidence that Halper was an FBI informant, and official sources have refused to comment on the subject. Halper has not given any comment on the issue. George Papadopoulos was one of three Trump aides that met with Professor Halper during 2016 Carter Page, a Trump adviser who was under FBI surveillance before the 2016 election. He is pictured on December 12, 2016, in Moscow The academic has long-established connections to both British and American intelligence services. He worked closely with former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove at the Cambridge Security Initiative, an intelligence consulting group. Meanwhile, his father-in-law was Ray Cline, who served as director of the CIA's bureau of intelligence and research. Halper also worked with a team of former CIA officials on George H.W. Bush's failed presidential bid. Allegations that the FBI planted an informant in the Trump campaign have angered the President. In a series of late night calls to allies, including Meadows and Fox News anchor Sean Hannity, Trump has used the reports as evidence that the so-called deep state of career government officials has been working against him. The President thrust the issue into the limelight with a tweet on Friday. He quoted Fox News anchor David Asman, who said: 'Apparently the DOJ put a Spy in the Trump Campaign. This has never been done before and [is not] by any means necessary, they are out to frame Donald Trump for crimes he didn't commit'. Trump has frequently fumed about the Russia probe even while in White House meetings this week about other topics, according to a White House official. Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, told CNN on Friday neither he or Trump actually knew for sure if there was an informant or not Trump tweeted a quote from Fox News anchor David Asman, claiming the DOJ would 'frame him for crimes he didn't commit' Talk of the reported FBI source has rocketed through the conservative media, with several people putting forward Halper as the likely suspect. Hannity discussed the issue on his show Wednesday - and was a centerpiece of Giuliani's attacks on the probe Friday. 'I want to know because I believe, if there was an embedded person, that person cleared us because the FBI cleared us. I wonder what the heck is the legitimacy of the Mueller investigation in the first place,' Giuliani told CNN. Trump allies have increasingly pushed for ways to paint Mueller and his investigators as political actors in an effort to discredit his findings or justify his possible dismissal. They have painted the informant as a 'spy', although this suggests an agent permanently embedded within the campaign, an impression the FBI would refute. A number of Trump outside advisers - including former chief strategist Stephen Bannon - have stepped up their attacks on the Department of Justice, calling for it to release more documents to the White House while saying a confidential source has worked against Trump. Working from his Capitol Hill town house, Bannon has consulted with Trump-friendly congressmen including Nunes and Rep. Mark Meadows, to rally support among Republicans and push Trump to act more aggressively, according to two people familiar with the discussions but not authorized to discuss them publicly.' Prince Harry took his wife Meghan Markle out for a spin in an eco-friendly Jaguar that was hailed 'the most beautiful electric car in the world'. The two left Windsor Castle in the light blue stunner as they headed to their reception at Frogmore House, a 17th-century venue in the grounds of Windsor Castle on Saturday evening. The roadster, which is adapted from a 1968 version to include a zero emissions electric motor and plug-in battery, costs a cool 350,000. The revamped classic car's number plate read 'E190518' - a tribute to the newlywed's wedding date. Prince Harry took his new wife Meghan Markle out for a spin in a Jaguar that was hailed as 'the most beautiful electric car in the world' The roadster, which is adapted from a 1968 version to include a zero emissions electric motor and plug-in battery, costs a cool 350,000 The revamped classic car's number plate read 'E190518' - a tribute to the newlywed's wedding date. It also had an EU stamp on the plate The electric car is speedy - accelerating 62mph in just under six seconds. Although its top speed is 150mph, it has a 'real world' range between 170 and 200 miles. It can be fully charged at home overnight in about six to seven hours. The E-Type Zero is one of three battery-powered cars Jaguar showcased at its Tech Fest event last year in London. Jaguar hopes to electrify every new model in its range starting in 2020. Harry helped his new wife, who was wearing a flowing Stella McCartney gown, into the car, as she held the long dress. The two left Windsor Castle in the light blue stunner as they headed to their reception at Frogmore House, a 17th-century venue in the grounds of Windsor Castle Harry helped his new wife, who was wearing a flowing Stella McCartney gown, into the car, as she held the long dress The electric car is a speedster - and can accelerate to 62mph in just under six seconds The bespoke lily white high neck gown was made of silk crepe, while her Aquazurra shoes are silky satin with soles painted in baby blue. The royal couple sped off towards Frogmore House, as around 200 guests are due to join the couple at the evening event and where Meghan is set to make a speech to guests. They travelled in a converted electric car to the English country house, which stands in the home park of Windsor Castle and is part of the Crown Estate. It is only open to individuals on three days of the year. Actor James Corden, who attended the ceremony earlier with his wife Julia Carey, is set to play the role of host and entertainer for the reception, it is reported. The royal couple sped off towards Frogmore House, as around 200 guests are due to join the couple at the evening event and where Meghan is set to make a speech to guests They travelled in a converted electric car to the English country house, which stands in the home park of Windsor Castle and is part of the Crown Estate The newlyweds smiled as they drove off in the stunning car, with Meghan beaming in the passenger seat. Speaking of the 'most beautiful electric car in the world', Tim Hannig, Director of Jaguar Land Rover Classic, said: 'We have integrated the new electric powertrain into the existing E-type structure, which means a conventional engine could be reinstalled at any point. We think this is essential as it ensures a period Jaguar remains authentic to its DNA.' 'E-type Zero combines the renowned E-type dynamic experience with enhanced performance through electrification. This unique combination creates a breathtaking driving sensation. 'Our aim with E-type Zero is to future-proof classic car ownership. We're looking forward to the reaction of our clients as we investigate bringing this concept to market.' Meghan Markle paid a touching tribute to Prince Harry's late mother Princess Diana by wearing one of her rings at their evening party at Frogmore House. The new Duchess of Sussex wore the ring on her right hand as the pair travelled in a silver blue Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero to the English country house. Ms Markle paired the emerald-cut accessory with a white halterneck evening gown by Stella McCartney - the designer who had been tipped to create her wedding dress. Princess Diana wrote a special 'letter of wishes' in which she promised her jewellery to her sons with the intention of them sharing it with their future wives. Meghan Markle paid a touching tribute to Prince Harry's late mother Princess Diana by wearing aquamarine ring Ms Markle paired the emerald-cut accessory with a white halterneck evening gown by Stella McCartney (pictured: Princess Diana wearing the ring) According to the Sun, she wrote: 'I would like you to allocate all my jewellery to the share to be held by my sons, so that their wives may, in due course, have it or use it. 'I leave the exact division of the jewellery to your discretion.' It is unclear if Prince Harry gave the ring to Ms Markle as a gift or if it was both 'something borrowed' and 'something blue' for the ceremony. The Princess of Wales first wore the stunning ring in 1996 during a trip to Australia. The ring is not the first time Ms Markle has wore something previously belonging to Diana - her engagement ring has two diamonds from her late mother-in-law's private collection. Ms Markle's engagement ring includes one stone from Botswana, where the couple holidayed, and was personally designed by Prince Harry himself. The ring is not the first time Ms Markle has wore something previously belonging to Diana - her engagement ring has two diamonds from her late mother-in-law's private collection Princess Diana wrote in a letter of wishes: 'I would like you to allocate all my jewellery to the share to be held by my sons, so that their wives may, in due course, have it or use it' Ms Markle's engagement ring includes one stone from Botswana, where the couple holidayed, and was personally designed by Prince Harry himself One of Michigan's oldest and largest mosque may ban Israeli military officers from visiting after complaints from members of its congregation. The Islamic Center of America (ICA) shared a post on Facebook on Friday that it was unaware that one Israeli officer was joining the delegation of 67 from across the globe that were visiting the mosque. 'Since its establishment the Islamic Center has been at the forefront of the Arab and Muslim community's struffle to address their needs and defend their causes, here and abroad, the Center said in the post. The Islamic Center of America (ICA) shared a post on Facebook on Friday that it was unaware that one Israeli officer was joining the delegation of 67 'Including the struggle against the illegal occupation of any Arab land.' According to the ICA, the center's board had no idea the Israeli officer would be included in the visit. 'The Center never had or will have any intention of honoring such officer,' they continued. 'Our Board of Trustees and administration will take he necessary measures to ensure that no Israeli military personnel will be received at the ICA in the future, as we continue our interfaith outreach program.' 'The Center never had or will have any intention of honoring such officer,' the statement read Leaders at ICA shared with the Detroit Free Press that a final decision would be made on whether Israeli soldiers would be allowed in the future. The ICA has hosted the delegation for the past decade under the partnership between them and the US State Department and National Defense University. The mosque is one of the largest in the country, having more than 1,200 members that are mostly Lebanese-American. The mosque is one of the largest in the country, having more than 1,200 members that are mostly Lebanese-American It attracts diverse guest and is crucial in the education of Islam and Muslim people to the outside world. The call for the discontinuation of Israeli officer visits comes after one was present among almost 70 other delegates for an April 14 visit to the mosque. For many of the congregation, the visit reminded them of the drastic impact that spawned from the 2006 conflict between Lebanon and Israel. For many of the congregation, the visit reminded them of the drastic impact that spawned from the 2006 conflict between Lebanon and Israel (pictured) Other Arab-Americans concerned about Israel's use of violence against Palestinian territories, Syria, and other places prompted for the reaction as well. 'Some people complained that with the situation in Palestine, Gaza, Syria, the mosque should not have an Israeli officer in the group' visiting, stated Ned Fawaz. The 81-year-old is an honorary board member in the mosque. 'The board will have to make the decision,' he added. 'Some people complained that with the situation in Palestine, Gaza, Syria, the mosque should not have an Israeli officer in the group' visiting, stated leader Ned Fawaz Fawaz asserts that the mosque is welcoming and adds that none of the other visitors were pressed for their private information. But following the event, members began protesting which ultimately prompted the statement from the mosque. Some of their fliers read: 'Did you know that Israeli military officers were welcomed at the Islamic Center of America,' 'Why is the board of the ICA refusing to admit to and apologize for their mistake?' and 'Why did they host Israeli soldiers in our mosque?' A former employee of a private government contractor has sued the company alleging whistle blower retaliation for the reporting of what he says constituted traveling aboard a US domestic commercial flight with explosives, along with wrongful termination and race discrimination. Mark Anderson filed a lawsuit against AeroVironment in Los Angeles Superior Court on April 18. Anderson alleges in his lawsuit that he was fired without severance after reporting to the US Department of Defense that AeroVironment employees traveled on a Delta flight in April 2015 with a drone that was rigged with explosives, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by DailyMail.com. The lawsuit states he reported the incident as a potential security breach of sensitive information that may have fallen into the hands of people who had contact with the drone, which was part of a program called 'Switchblade.' According to its website, 'AeroVironment has become the acknowledged expert and largest supplier of small, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to the Pentagon and to dozens of allied nations.' AeroVironment has called claims in the lawsuit 'baseless' and 'without merit.' Ex-employee Mark Anderson has sued private government contractor AeroVironment alleging whistle blower retaliation, along with wrongful termination and race discrimination in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on April 18 'AeroVironment believes the complaint contains baseless legal claims that are without merit,' Steve Gitlin, a spokesperon for the company, told Bloomberg in an email. It's not clear which claims, if not all, contained in the lawsuit were referred to by Gitlin as 'baseless.' Gitlin added that the firm is committed to carrying out its mission 'with the highest standards of ethics, safety and integrity.' As Anderson described it, AeroVironment employees traveled from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles on a flight operated by Delta Airlines in April of 2015. He said at least one person employed by AeroVironment was carrying a UAS in a carry-on bag, which was brought onto the plane. The lawsuits estimates the flight included about 230 civilian passengers. AeroVironment describes itself as 'the acknowledged expert and largest supplier of small, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to the Pentagon and to dozens of allied nations;' In this file photo, UAS operators for AeroVironment release a Puma All Environment UAS from the flight deck of the Coast Guard Cutter Healy during an exercise in the Arctic in August 2014 Anderson alleges that he was fired without severance after reporting to the US Department of Defense that AeroVironment employees traveled on a Delta flight in April 2015 with a drone rigged with explosives, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by DailyMail.com Anderson stated in his complaint that other employees involved in the 'drone incident' were also fired, that all of them were white, and all of them were offered severance packages, but Anderson, who is a black man, was not offered a severance package In this file photo, UAS operators for AeroVironment celebrate after successfully landing a Puma All Environment UAS onto the flight deck of the Coast Guard Cutter Healy during an exercise in the Arctic on August 18, 2014 Anderson claimed that he learned of the alleged incident in May of 2015, after which he informed the federal government. The lawsuit then states that following his reporting, over the next roughly two years that Anderson remained with the company, his day-to-day responsibilities grew less and less. He claimed that he was removed from his role as the person in charge of overseeing security for the company's Top Secret government programs some time between mid-2016 and early 2017 and was ultimately fired on April 19, 2017. Anderson stated in his complaint that other employees involved in the 'drone incident' were also fired, that all of them were white, and all of them were offered severance packages. Anderson, who is a black man, was not offered a severance package. A case management conference in the lawsuit has been scheduled for 8:30am Pacific on August 10, according to court documents obtained by DailyMail.com. DailyMail.com reached out to Mark Boyer for AeroVironment, who did not immediately return a voicemail message left seeking additional comment. Delta could not immediately be reached for comment. Mark Regev (above): I agree with Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, when he says the purpose of the ongoing violence is to breach the frontier and indiscriminately murder Israelis living in communities nearby I agree with Hamas. You would not normally expect the Israeli Ambassador to agree with a terrorist organisation guilty of murdering his people and committed to destroying his country. But its true, I do. I agree with Hamas when its founder Mahmoud Al-Zahar admitted publicly that its strategy of labelling events in Gaza as peaceful protests was a deliberate deception. He is right, because there is nothing peaceful about knives, machetes, guns, pipe bombs, Molotov cocktails and improvised explosives: all of which the Palestinians used in their peaceful protest. I agree with Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, when he says that the purpose of the ongoing violence is to breach the frontier and indiscriminately murder Israelis living in communities nearby. Mr Sinwar proclaimed, We will tear down the border and tear out their hearts. Video footage from last Monday shows a masked man who had just broken through the fence, carrying a machete while shouting: O Jews, were coming to slaughter you! This was indeed Hamas goal. I also agree with Mr Sinwar when he revealed that Hamas operatives took off their military uniforms in order to pose as innocent civilians. Unfortunately, all too many politicians and commentators in this country were successfully taken in by Hamas mendacious charade. Some have accused Israel of a calculated and deliberate policy to kill and maim unarmed protestors. But I agree with Hamas politburo member Salah Bardawil, when he acknowledged that 50 of the 62 killed on Monday belonged to Hamas, said Mr Regev. (Above, the protests at the Gaza-Israel border) Some have accused Israel of a calculated and deliberate policy to kill and maim unarmed protestors. But I agree with Hamas politburo member Salah Bardawil, when he acknowledged that 50 of the 62 killed on Monday belonged to Hamas. Israel sought to avoid any casualties on Monday. That is why our army put out broadcasts and dropped thousands of leaflets in Arabic warning people to stay away from the border Three others belonged to another terror group: Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Far from being peaceful protestors, over 85% of those killed were active members of terrorist organisations proscribed by Britain. Israel sought to avoid any casualties on Monday. That is why our army put out broadcasts and dropped thousands of leaflets in Arabic warning people to stay away from the border. That is also why Israeli forces used crowd control methods to disperse the 40,000 rioters, including tear gas and rubber bullets. Last week, Hamas founder also restated the terror groups longstanding position that Israel should be destroyed. Mr Al-Zahar told the BBC that Hamas rejects a Palestinian state alongside Israel, insisting upon everything: East Jerusalem as West Jerusalem, Gaza like Tel Aviv. Here, I cannot agree with Hamas. I cannot agree with Hamas when it writes in its charter that the Jews must be slaughtered and the Jewish state wiped off the map. I cannot agree with Hamas breaking down the Gaza border, crossing into Israel and murdering my people. If terrorists tried to storm into the United Kingdom to murder British citizens, you would expect British troops to protect you. My countrymen expect nothing less. It is one of the art world's great unsolved mysteries the daring theft of Lucian Freud's portrait of fellow artist Francis Bacon. The masterpiece, Portrait Of Francis Bacon, disappeared without trace after it was removed from its wire frame and spirited out of Berlin's National Gallery 30 years ago. But The Mail on Sunday can reveal that Bacon received a ransom demand a year later in 1989 and was apparently poised to recover the work only for the operation to be wrecked by a police blunder. Portrait Of Francis Bacon was spirited out of Berlin's National Gallery 30 years ago. Pictured: Francis Bacon and Lucien Freud Barry Joule, Bacon's close friend and neighbour in London's South Kensington, has now revealed that the artist received a phone call in his studio from 'a tough-sounding East End man, probably an associate of the Krays'. During the 1960s, Bacon fraternised with gangsters, among them Ronnie Kray. Joule recalls: '[The gangster] told him, 'If you want to get yer face picture back, get 100K together and wait by the phone for a call at noon exactly.' ' Francis called Joule who drove his black Porsche to pick up Bacon from his studio and take him to his flat. Even though he didn't own the painting, Bacon then panicked and stuffed 140,000 into a satchel, reappearing 'sweating and nervous'. They argued over whether to contact police but Bacon was 'dead set against doing that' because he still felt aggrieved by a 1968 drugs bust involving his then lover, George Dyer. People look towards the wild west-style wanted poster showing the reward for the return of the portrait of the late British artist Francis Bacon in downtown Berlin June in 2001 Instead he alerted the head of security at the Tate gallery, which had bought the picture in 1952 from Freud and had loaned it to the German museum in 1988 when it was stolen. Then they went back to the studio to await the noon call, but it never came. Leaving the studio several hours later the two men spotted 'three undercover policemen' in a Ford Fiesta. Joule said they all had their 'heads buried in newspapers'. Convinced the gangsters must also have spotted them, Bacon shouted angrily at the officers. For weeks afterwards, Bacon 'remained paranoid that the Krays and associates would be 'out to get me for grassing to the police',' said Joule, who added: 'If it wasn't for policemen sitting in their car right outside the building, Francis might have got the stolen painting back.' In a recorded interview with Joule three months after the ransom blunder, Bacon spoke of 'how much the police have gone down in my estimation'. Bacon (pictured) 'remained paranoid that the Krays and associates would be 'out to get me for grassing to the police' The 7in x 5in oil on copper was one of the few Freud paintings Bacon really liked, so much so he kept a photograph of it in his kitchen. Freud later plastered Berlin with 'Wanted' posters of the image, offering a 100,000 reward for its recovery so he could include it in a retrospective of his work. Although the Tate has never claimed the insurance money, because it has hoped to be reunited with the painting, Bacon, who died in 1992, was more pessimistic. 'Most likely it was burnt,' he says on the recording. The Tate continues to list the painting in its catalogue, simply noting 'not on display'. In 2004, Joule gave the Tate 1,200 Bacon sketches. They were then valued at about 20million. He kept about 120 sketches, and he is lending some to an exhibition in Italy, at the Foundation Sorrento museum, in Sorrento, which opens today and runs until October 21. Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Tong Thi Phong hosted a reception for the delegation, led by UJC First Secretary Susely Morfa Gonzalez in Hanoi on May 18. She said the visit of the UJC delegation took place on the occasion of the 128th birthday anniversary of late President Ho Chi Minh a great leader of the Vietnamese nation and people (May 19, 1890) and the 123th death anniversary of Cuban leader Jose Marti (May 19, 1895). The legislator congratulated Cuba on the successful organisation of the elections of the Peoples Councils at all levels and the National Assembly of Peoples Power in March this year. She expressed her belief that the Cuban Party, State and people will continue implementing effectively the revolutionary tasks and the update of its set economic model. The NA Vice Chairwoman highlighted the special friendship and traditional relations between Vietnam and Cuba. The State-level visit to Cuba by Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong in March re-affirmed the special amity and solidarity between the two countries, which have become a symbol of the era and valuable asset of the two countries Parties and people, she said. She noted that the relations between the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Cubas Young Communist League have been reinforced and developed through cooperation programmes. For her part, Susely Morfa Gonzalez expressed Cuban leaders and peoples admiration for the resilience of Vietnamese people in the past national liberation as well as the current national construction and development. She affirmed that Cuban young generations are aware of preserving and promoting the special solidarity between the two countries. The same day, UJC First Secretary Susely Morfa Gonzalez held talks with First Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) Central Committee Le Quoc Phong. Phong hailed growing ties between HCYU and UJC over the past years with the signing of the 2018-2023 cooperation agreement, considering it an important milestone in bilateral relations and helping to further improve the efficiency of cooperation between Vietnamese and Cuban youths. He suggested increasing activities to raise young peoples awareness of the Vietnam-Cuba special and long-standing friendship; actively sharing experience in youth-related activities; promoting innovation, science-technology and youth development projects as well as taking full advantage of information technology in national development. Gonzalez, for her part, thanked the HCYU Central Committee for supporting the UJC National Committee over the past years. She said experiences acquired during the visit will help UJC fulfill its task of building youth guidance policies. Ministers pledged tough new laws today to rein in the 'Wild West' internet and make Britain the world's safest country to be online. Cyberbullies, child groomers and terrorists will be the main targets in the crackdown. But proposals outlined last year for a levy on social media firms like Facebook and Twitter to fund anti-online harm measures have not yet been confirmed. Digital Secretary Matt Hancock and Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced the move after releasing new research showing that internet users often felt threatened, with six in ten seeing harmful or inappropriate content. Home Secretary Sajid Javid (pictured) announced the move after new research emerged Mr Hancock said: 'Digital technology is overwhelmingly a force for good, but we have to address the Wild West elements of the internet through legislation.' Mr Javid said more action had to be taken against criminals 'using the internet to further their exploitation and abuse of children, while terrorists are abusing these platforms to recruit people and incite atrocities'. The Ministers will consult with the internet industry, charities and the public to draw up detailed proposals. Peter Wanless of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children last night said that laws to protect children online were 'a huge step forward'. As millions of people around the world tuned in to watch Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tie the knot Saturday morning, Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon delivered spoof coverage of the Royal Wedding. The two comedy powerhouses made a mockery of the media circus surrounding the nuptials in London in an HBO special The Royal Wedding Live with Cord and Tish! Dressed as media personas Cord Hosenbeck and Tish Cattigan the pair sat behind a news desk covered in flowers, preemptively popping a bottle of champagne and wailing dramatically when the couple emerged from the church and kissed. Their hokey and melodramatic commentary bared a striking resemblance to the real news coverage seen in the months leading up to the wedding. The hilarious spoof aired Saturday morning at the same time national networks were streaming the star-studded affair, and will air again Saturday night at 9.45pm EST. Scroll down for video Will Ferrell, 50, and Molly Shannon, 53, delivered spoof coverage of the Royal Wedding on Saturday morning dressed as media personas Cord Hosenbeck and Tish Cattigan The comedic powerhouses made a mockery of the media circus surrounding the nuptials from behind a news desk adorned with flowers. They enthusiastically celebrated the couple by popping champagne and providing over the top commentary Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot on Saturday morning in London in a star-studded ceremony as millions of fans around the world tuned in Harry and Meghan share a kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle Ferrell, 50, was dressed in a light blue suit with a bald cap and thin red glasses. Next to him Shannon, 53, donned a bright yellow dress and jacket set. Both Saturday Night Live alums were fully committed to the hammy performance as they cheered on the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex like rowdy teenage groupies. Before the ceremony they killed time by explaining Markle's hit TV series Suits for viewers who hadn't seen it. 'Probably the most popular show on TV today, Suits is a show that goes behind the scenes of the high-stakes world of quality menswear, where egos are high and thread counts are higher,' Cord says in a voiceover. 'It's a world of intrigue and high fashion where everyone wears a suit.' Several of Markle's co-stars from the USA series attended the ceremony, including Patrick J. Adams, Gabriel Macht, Gina Torres and Sarah Rafferty. Before the ceremony Cord provided an inaccurate synopsis of Markle's series Suits for viewers who hadn't seen it: 'It's a world of intrigue and high fashion where everyone wears a suit' Shannon also killed time with an in-depth analysis of Harry and Meghan's astrological signs saying: 'Well, Cord, as you know Prince Harry is a Virgo and Meghan is a Leo, so that's usually a very challenging relationship' Shannon then launched into a long-winded analysis of the couple's astrological signs. 'Well, Cord, as you know Prince Harry is a Virgo and Meghan is a Leo, so that's usually a very challenging relationship because the fiery, passionate Leo can overwhelm the stable, practical Virgo, not to mention Harry's natal moon is opposite from Meghan's natal Uranus, but these two have proven that opposites really do attract,' she said. Cord interrupted her spiel saying: 'I'm gonna be a straight shooter with you and I've said it in the past, when you go on and on about this kind of stuff, I tune out.' About 35 minutes into the special Cord and Tish were in the middle of discussing what the bride had for breakfast when Harry and Meghan finally emerged from St George's Chapel in Windsor - and the TV hosts lost it. They cooed and praised the genuine show of affection as the newlyweds descended the stairs. Cord exclaims: 'Look at that train! It's got to be 80 to 1,000 feet long!' The TV hosts lost it when the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared a kiss on the steps of the chapel describing it as a 'Kay Jewelers kiss' before singing the brand's famous jingle Meghan and Harry's kiss sparked huge cheers from people outside the chapel and the 100,000 watching on the streets of Windsor, as well as from the two fake TV hosts Cord commented on the train saying: 'Look at that train! It's got to be 80 to 1,000 feet long!' Cord also explained his fear of horses as the couple got into their carriage after the ceremony One of the well-wishers in the crowds makes Meghan laugh and Prince Harry smile as they continue with their 25-minute tour of the royal market town of Windsor When Harry and Meghan kissed Cord described it as a 'Kay Jewelers kiss' before singing the jingle repeatedly and saying: 'One small kiss for man, one giant kiss for mankind.' 'Do you believe in miracles?!' Cord shrieked. When the couple got into their horse-drawn carriage Cord explained that he had a deathly fear of the four-legged animals. Tish offered to help him overcome his fear with exposure therapy, telling him to close his eyes as she pulled out a tiny plastic horse. 'They scare me,' he confessed, 'but here's where you put the journalism cap on and you try and be a pro.' When he opened his eyes and saw the tiny toy Cord panicked and said: 'Get that the f*** away from me!' Overall the performance was much more well-received than the last time Cord and Tish came out earlier this year to cover the Rose Parade. Ferrell and Shannon appeared in character on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday. Ferrell and Shannon promoted the HBO special The Royal Wedding Live with Cord and Tish! on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday Meghan Markle walked down the aisle wearing a custom silk Givenchy wedding dress - a gown so stunning that it made Prince Harry cry. The bespoke creation is estimated to have cost 200,000, including 78,000 for custom-made fabric and 4,000 for fittings. The veil was made from silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza, while the look was completed by a Cartier bracelet and earrings and a Queen Mary diamond bandeau tiara, loaned to her by the Queen. Meghan chose acclaimed British designer, Clare Waight Keller, 48, from Birmingham, the first female Artistic Director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy, to design her dress after meeting in early 2018. But how did her dress stack up against her new royal in-laws? The glowing bride chose an Audrey Hepburn-style gown in a classic style as opposed to the beaded number she was predicted to wear The beaming bride opted for classic simplicity for her dress design, which has been widely praised by other bridal designers and fashion experts Meghan's veil is five meters long and made from silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza Kate Middleton Kate famously wore a Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen lace dress when she married Prince William in 2011 and became the Duchess Of Cambridge. When Kate married Harry's brother Prince William back in April 2011, the wedding dress cost a phenomenal 250,000, making it the fifth most expensive dress of all time. The Duchess of Cambridge's stunning gown was hailed a perfect tribute to Alexander McQueen. Kate famously wore a Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen lace dress when she married Prince William in 2011 and became the Duchess Of Cambridge When Kate Middleton married Prince William (pictured) back in April 2011, the wedding dress cost a phenomenal 250,000 The design, by the late designer's protegee and successor Sarah Burton, also paid homage to another princess bride. The intricate lace applique bodice and sleeves of Catherine's dress mirrored those on the wedding gown of Grace Kelly, who became Princess Grace of Monaco when she married Ranier III, Prince of Monaco, in 1956. Kate's 1936 diamond 'Halo' tiara by Cartier was her 'something borrowed', on loan from the Queen Both gowns shared a high-waisted, full-skirted silhouette with a long, dramatic train, and were worn with the sheerest of veils and diamond tiaras. However Kate's vintage headwear was from an era that preceded Princess Grace's marriage - the 1936 diamond 'Halo' tiara by Cartier was her 'something borrowed', on loan from the Queen. The comparison reveals how very classic Kate's style is, and how timeless Princess Grace's bridal look was. Princess Diana The details of Princess Diana's dress managed to be kept a complete mystery until hours before her wedding to Charles, Prince of Wales, at St Paul's Cathedral Diana chats to five-year-old bridesmaid Clementine Hambro under the watchful eye of the Queen (left) and travelling from Clarence House to St Paul's in the royal carriage (right) Harry and William's mother Princess Diana wore a huge puffy gown designed by the Emanuel's when she married Prince Charles in 1981. Her dress was known as at the time as the 'most closely guarded secret in fashion history.' The meringue style gown, which was worth 9,000 in 1981 is approximately equivalent to 36,800 today. Details of the future princess's dress managed to be kept a complete mystery until hours before her wedding to Charles, Prince of Wales, at St Paul's Cathedral. And the grand unveiling of the gown, which back in 1981 cost 9,000, did not disappoint. Designed by husband-and-wife duo David and Elizabeth Emanuel, the intricate ivory taffeta gown later saw copycat creations made around the world. Charles and Diana with Princes Andrew and Edward (back row); pageboys Lord Nicholas Windsor (far left) and Edward van Cutsem; and bridesmaids (l-r) Clementine Hambro, Catherine Cameron, India Hicks, Sarah-Jane Gaselee and Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones However with the elaborate embroidery, 10,000 pearls and a 25-foot-long train, it is difficult to even come close to replicating her beautiful bridal look. For designers Elizabeth and David Emanuel, in their late 20s and not long out of fashion school, it was a career-defining moment. Months earlier, in March 1981, Buckingham Palace had announced, to widespread surprise, that the Emanuels had been asked to design the dress Lady Diana Spencer would wear to marry Prince Charles. It was the commission of a lifetime to make the dress of the century. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencers Wedding Day: Everything you need to know Prince Charles and Lady Diana's bridesmaids: Where are they now? Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II's Sir Norman Hartnell gown with its fitted bodice and intricate embroidery was perfect for the young 21-year-old princess to marry Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten Queen Elizabeth II's wedding dress has been hailed as 'fresh and timeless' 70 years on from when she walked up the aisle on November 20, 1947. The Sir Norman Hartnell gown with its fitted bodice and intricate embroidery was perfect for the young 21-year-old princess to marry Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten. The Duchesse ivory silk-satin creation took royal couturier Sir Norman and his team three months to finish. The Duchesse ivory silk-satin creation took royal couturier Sir Norman and his team three months to finish With a heart-shaped neckline with scalloped edge, the gown was decorated with 10,000 seed pearls, glittering crystals and featured an intricate 13ft star-patterned train. Embroidered with roses, star-shaped flowers and wheat in pearl, crystal and appliques of transparent tulle, its floral design was seen as a symbol of growth and regeneration after the hardships of the Second World War. On the day of the wedding at Westminster Cathedral, the seamstresses who worked tirelessly on the gown were given a prime spot outside Buckingham Palace as a reward. The Queen, like all British brides in the post-war days, was given 200 extra clothing coupons from the Government towards her wedding trousseau. Women across the UK, keen to ensure Princess Elizabeth would have the dress of her dreams, sent their own coupons to the young royal to help out. But it was illegal to give coupons away and the gifts had to be returned. However, The Crown gave a good idea of how much the dress might cost to make today as designers for the BBC programme created an identical gown for the wedding scene, which cost 30,000. Veteran Left-wing activist Pauline Bryan wrote she wanted to 'abolish the Monarchy and the House of Lords' One of Jeremy Corbyn's new peers was last night accused of 'bare-faced hypocrisy' after it was revealed she has demanded the abolition of the Lords. Veteran Left-wing activist Pauline Bryan also called for the Monarchy and MI5 to be scrapped. In the run-up to the 2015 Election Ms Bryan wrote that she wanted a 'federal republic of Britain: abolish the Monarchy and the House of Lords'. She backed demands in the Left-wing manifesto of The Socialist Campaign for a Labour Victory which also said: 'Disband MI5 and special police squads, disarm the police.' Last night, Tory MP Andrew Percy said: 'It beggars belief that just two years since Ms Bryan called for the Lords to be consigned to the dustbin of political history, she is now scrambling to get in there. 'Ditching her hard-Left principles in return for a peerage is just bare-faced hypocrisy.' Ms Bryan was not available for comment last night but a Labour source dismissed the hypocrisy charge, saying she was committed to replacing the Lords with a democratic second chamber. Corbyn (pictured) also faced protests over giving a peerage to race equality campaigner Martha Osamor Ms Bryan was one of three new Labour members of the Lords named on Friday. Mr Corbyn also faced protests over giving a peerage to race equality campaigner Martha Osamor, mother of Labour MP Kate Osamor. Jewish groups branded the move a 'two-fingered salute' to their community as she had backed activists suspended from the party over alleged anti-Semitism. It has been revealed that Donald Trump Jr met during the 2016 campaign with an Israeli social media manipulator and an envoy representing the crown princes of United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Erik Prince, the former head of Blackwater security contractors, arranged the August 3, 2016 meeting between Trump Jr, Israeli consultant Joel Zamel and George Nader, the envoy who offered campaign help, the New York Times reported. Alan Futerfas, Trump Jr's attorney, said on Saturday that nothing came of the meeting. 'Prior to the 2016 election, Donald Trump Jr recalls a meeting with Erik Prince, George Nader and another individual who may be Joel Zamel,' Futerfas said in an emailed statement. 'They pitched Mr. Trump Jr. on a social media platform or marketing strategy. He was not interested and that was the end of it,' Futerfas said. Donald Trump Jr (left) met during the 2016 campaign with an Israeli social media manipulator and an envoy representing the crown princes of United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia George Nader (left), an envoy representing the crown princes of United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, was at the meeting arranged by former Blackwater head Erik Prince (right) Cyprus-based Psy-Group, a company connected to Zamel, also worked on a proposal for a 'covert multimillion-dollar online manipulation campaign' to help Trump, utilizing thousands of fake social media accounts, the New York Times report said. Nader, a Lebanese-American businessman, told Trump Jr that the crown princes of Saudi Arabia and the UAE were eager to help his father win the 2016 presidential election, the paper said. Saudi Arabia and UAE are both bitter foes to Iran, which is Israel's top regional nemesis as well. Since 1974, the United States has barred foreign nationals from giving money to political campaigns and it later barred them from donating to political parties. The campaign financing laws also prohibit foreign nationals from coordinating with a campaign and from buying an ad that explicitly calls for the election or defeat of a candidate. The Saudi and UAE embassies in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The meeting took place on August 3, 2016 at Trump Tower (pictured) in Midtown Manhattan The Wall Street Journal last month reported that investigators working for U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller had met with Zamel, and that Mueller's team was looking into his firm's work and his relationship with Nader. Mueller is investigating whether Russia meddled in the presidential election and if Moscow colluded with the Trump campaign, as well as whether Trump committed obstruction of justice by trying to thwart the U.S. Department of Justice probe. Trump has denied any collusion with Russia and has called the Mueller investigation a 'witch hunt.' The new report said the meetings are an indication that other countries besides Russia may have offered help to Trump's presidential campaign. Mueller's investigators have questioned witnesses in Washington, New York, Atlanta, Tel Aviv and elsewhere regarding possible foreign help to the campaign, the report said. Peter Carr, a spokesman for Mueller's team, declined to comment on the report. Zamel's attorney, Marc Mukasey, said in a statement to Reuters that his client 'offered nothing to the Trump campaign, received nothing from the Trump campaign, delivered nothing to the Trump campaign and was not solicited by, or asked to do anything for, the Trump campaign.' 'Media reports about Mr. Zamel's engaging in 'social media manipulation' are uninformed,' Mukasey added. 'Mr. Zamel's companies harvest publicly available information for lawful use.' Kathryn Ruemmler, Nader's lawyer, told the paper that her client 'has fully cooperated with the US special counsel's investigation and will continue to do so.' Erik Prince, who is also the brother of US Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, could not be immediately reached for comment. A huge security operation was staged to ensure the Royal Wedding passed off safely. Armed police lined the route of the carriage procession and marksmen took up positions on nearby roofs, amid fears it could be targeted by terrorists. As many as 2,500 officers were on duty in a ring of steel placed around Windsor yesterday, costing an estimated 30 million. Armed police lined the route of the carriage procession and marksmen took up positions on nearby roofs Out of public view were teams from Britain's most elite police unit, known as Counter-Terrorist Specialist Firearms Officers. Dressed in military-style fatigues and armed with semi-automatic weapons, the 'Robocops' are trained to rescue hostages from sieges or tackle the aftermath of a mass shooting. Police chiefs told The Mail on Sunday there would be a 'significant' number of them on standby during the wedding but not on public patrol. Speaking earlier in the week, Deputy Chief Constable Simon Chesterman, national lead for armed policing, said: 'It's a major event for the police and the public will see some armed officers, but we hope it will be as discreet as possible.' Armed SAS troops were also hidden in the crowd in the event of a terrorist outrage. And barriers were set up around the streets to stop cars being used as weapons, while a no-fly zone was in force above the town. Advertisement One man, 32, is dead and another has been injured in a cougar attack in Washington State. The men had been on a morning mountain-bike ride in the foothills near North Bend, about 30 miles east of Seattle, when the cougar attacked. Both of them used their bikes to try and defend themselves against the big cat. The 31-year-old man who survived the ordeal said at one point his entire head was inside the cougar's mouth, but his friend began to run away, causing the cougar to drop him and chase the other man, KOMO News reported. A cougar killed one man, 32, and injured another when it attacked in Washington State on Saturday morning At one point, the cougar (pictured) had the 31-year-olds whole head in its mouth, before it chased his friend and killed him The two men had been riding mountain bikes near North Bend when the cougar began to chase them He then rode his bike to try and find reception so he could call 911. The man was rushed to Harborview hospital, where he is awake and as of Saturday night in a satisfactory condition. First responders said the cougar was standing over the other man when they found him. 'The cougar had actually dragged the victim back to the wood line and he was found dead there,' Sargent Ryan Abbott from the King County Sheriff's office said. The injured man called 911 just after 11am, and shouted 'Can you hear me? Help!' before the call cut out. When responders arrived on the scene, they say the cougar was standing over the 32-year-old's body The cougar had begun to drag the man's corpse towards the wood line, where it had to stay while officials tracked the big cat Guy in an off-road vehicle just came up to reporters on scene, says his trail cam captured a cougar on April 29 not too far from scene of attack. He showed it to fish and wildlife officer. Important to note: No way to tell right now if its the same animal@KING5Seattle pic.twitter.com/gLBdOhfU7d Michael Crowe (@MichaelReports) May 19, 2018 WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE APPROACHED BY A COUGAR Stop, stand tall and don't run. Pick up small children. Don't run. A cougar's instinct is to chase. Do not approach the animal, especially if it is near a kill or with kittens. Try to appear larger than the cougar. Never take your eyes off the animal or turn your back. Do not crouch down or try to hide. If the animal displays aggressive behavior, shout, wave your arms and throw rocks. The idea is to convince the cougar that you are not prey, but a potential danger. If the cougar attacks, fight back aggressively and try to stay on your feet. Cougars have been driven away by people who have fought back. Source: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Advertisement Wildlife officials were unable to trap the big cat initially as it ran into the woods, and officers with the Washington Department of Fish and Game spent hours trying to track it. Eventually at about 4pm, the cougar was found and euthanized, but the man who was killed could not be taken from the wood line until then, meaning his mauled body laid on the wood line for about five hours after he was killed. A local man showed reporters footage of a cougar he had seen in the same area just a few weeks ago, though there is no way to tell if the cat is the same one which killed the unidentified man. Only one other person in Washington has died from a cougar attack in the last 100 years, the Seattle Times reported. While 15 others have been attacked over the same period of time, their injuries were not fatal. The 31-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious injuries, but is now in a stable condition A Tory MP has called for Roddam Twiss (pictured) to appear before Alexis Jay's inquiry The head of the investigation into historic child sexual abuse is under pressure to summon the son of a former Black Rod as part of its inquiry into a suspected Westminster paedophile ring. A Tory MP has called for Roddam Twiss to appear before Alexis Jay's inquiry following The Mail on Sunday's disclosures last week about his links to VIPs and rent boys. The call came after two retired policemen told this newspaper that they had been banned from investigating Mr Twiss in the 1970s, at a time when his father, Sir Frank Twiss, was Black Rod, the Queen's envoy in the Lords. The police were acting on reports that Liberal MP Sir Cyril Smith, a prolific child-sex abuser, had been seen taking a rent boy to Mr Twiss's London home. Their inquiries were halted when they told superiors that Mr Twiss could be involved in a wider racket supplying rent boys to VIPs. In an interview with the MoS last week, Mr Twiss, who was jailed in 1967 for assaulting boys, bragged of his access at the time to Parliament. He was also a frequent visitor to Dolphin Square, a nearby residential estate used by politicians, which he called 'a den of iniquity'. Now North West Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen has written to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which is investigating organisations that failed to protect children from sexual abuse, to ask for Mr Twiss to be compelled to give evidence to its 'Westminster strand'. He is the son of Sir Frank Twiss (pictured), who was Black Rod, the Queen's envoy in the Lords, in the 1970s Mr Bridgen writes: 'One officer allegedly saw Cyril Smith pick up a young boy in Central London in a place known as the 'meat rack' and followed him to a house in Cricklewood, North London. The second officer said the house belonged to a Mr Roddam Twiss, a convicted paedophile who is the son of a former admiral who later went on to hold the position of Black Rod. 'Both officers said they had intelligence that prominent people were attending the flat for liaisons with boys, but that their investigation was halted once high-profile names were known and before they could establish any further evidence.' He adds: 'Can you please confirm if you intend to call the officers and Mr Twiss to give evidence to the inquiry?' Ms Jay, the head of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, has said she is determined to find out if claims of a Westminster paedophile ring were covered up. A spokesman for the inquiry said: 'We cannot say at this stage who will be called as witnesses.' Jack Marrian, 33, the grandson of the late Earl of Cawdor, was arrested in July 2016 after a raid on a shipping container carrying sugar for the commodities firm he works for in Kenya A British aristocrat embroiled in a 4.5 million cocaine smuggling case believes he may finally be cleared after a police chief admitted there was nothing to connect him to the drugs. Jack Marrian, 33, the grandson of the late Earl of Cawdor, was arrested in July 2016 after a raid on a shipping container carrying sugar for the commodities firm he works for in Kenya. Since then he has been caught up in a labyrinthine legal process and could face a 30-year sentence if convicted by a Nairobi court. Marrian has always insisted he knew nothing of the drugs and now has high hopes that his ordeal may soon be over. The US Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA) has supported him with strong evidence that the cocaine had been loaded on board the container in Brazil by an international cartel entirely without his knowledge. And a pivotal hearing in Nairobi last week proved to be disastrous for his accusers, ending with the return of his previously confiscated passport by the magistrate. During a five-hour cross-examination, Corporal Sheila Kipsoi, the chief investigating officer for Kenyas police anti-narcotics unit, was forced to admit that she and her team had never questioned the original supplier of the Brazilian brown sugar which was loaded on to the MSC Letizia on June 10, 2016. The ship left Santos in Brazil to head for Valencia. They also never questioned the company which stacked the sugar into the containers, nor the transporters who took it to the docks. Kipsoi the main prosecution witness said she had no idea where the sugar had been stored while awaiting shipping, and whether that store was guarded, nor who had loaded the containers on board. Since then he has been caught up in a labyrinthine legal process and could face a 30-year sentence if convicted by a Nairobi court Close to tears, Kipsoi agreed with Marrians lawyer, Andrew Wandabwa, that there was nothing whatsoever to connect Marrian to the consignment of cocaine. Asked if Marrian could have had any physical contact with the consignment or any responsibility for it at any stage, she answered: No. Kipsoi broke down in tears forcing magistrate Derrick Kuto to adjourn the proceedings until she recovered after she was handed a letter from the DEA virtually proving Marrians innocence. The document was addressed to the director of Kenyas Criminal Investigations police department several months ago and spelled out the details of an international drug-smuggling operation its officers had been monitoring. Kipsoi sobbed as she claimed she had never seen the letter before, despite agreeing that it was dated just days after Marrian was charged and appeared to have been sent to her team at the Kenya police anti-narcotics squad. Close to tears, Kipsoi agreed with Marrians lawyer, Andrew Wandabwa, that there was nothing whatsoever to connect Marrian to the consignment of cocaine. Asked if Marrian could have had any physical contact with the consignment or any responsibility for it at any stage, she answered: No The MSC Letizia had been under DEA surveillance as it left Santos, and members of the drugs gang involved were expected to offload the cocaine as the ship docked in Valencia. But something went wrong with the criminals operation and four of the shipping containers were instead hurriedly transferred to the MSC Positano heading to Oman then on to Mombasa. Kenyan port police, tipped off by the DEA, impounded the four containers on July 28, 2016, and found the cocaine inside one. The DEA letter obtained through Americas Freedom of Information laws has always been considered by Marrians lawyers to amount to his complete exoneration. The redacted letter stated: The DEA would like to stress that there was no indication the cocaine was to be received by anyone in Kenya or Uganda and that the company owning the consignment had no knowledge that the cocaine was secreted inside their shipment of sugar. Melvin Patterson, the DEAs spokesman in Washington DC, went further, telling The Mail on Sunday that this letter should be made available to Marrian to help establish his innocence. Marrian was later handed back the passport he had forfeited as one of his bail conditions, and a date was set for submissions from his lawyer that there was no case to answer. His ordeal started when he was arrested during a night-time raid on his home and told that 99.9kg of cocaine Kenyas biggest ever haul had been found in a shipping container addressed to his sugar-trading company Mshale Commodities. He spent several days in a cell with prisoners accused of murder while waiting for bail to be posted. Yesterday Marrian told The Mail on Sunday of his relief at the return of his passport and of his hope of an acquittal. Im looking forward to seeing the faces of my friends and family who have provided so much support over the past few years, he said. Im relieved to know that the international community is now able to see what I have known all along, and I look forward to the conclusion of the case. The billionaire backer of a controversial pro-Brexit think-tank was last night accused of trying to threaten MPs over their investigation into his Russian links. Christopher Chandler, whose London-based Legatum Institute helped Boris Johnson and Michael Gove to lobby Theresa May for a hard Brexit, has sent legal letters to six Commons committees, claiming that his right to privacy is protected under European human rights law. The letters have been interpreted by MPs as an attempt to overturn a 300-year-old tradition of parliamentary privilege, which preserves their freedom to speak out in Parliament without fear of being sued. MPs are examining claims about Mr Chandler which have been circulating among intelligence agencies. Earlier this month, Mr Chandler, who was born in New Zealand but who now has Maltese citizenship, was named in the Commons as an object of interest to the French. Officials there suspect him of working for Russian intelligence services and of being linked to money-laundering. Mr Chandler strongly denies the claims. Christopher Chandler, whose London-based Legatum Institute helped Boris Johnson and Michael Gove to lobby Theresa May for a hard Brexit, has sent legal letters to six Commons committees In the latest twist to the saga, former Labour Cabinet Minister Liam Byrne told MPs last week that Mr Chandler had threatened six Select Committee chairs with proceedings in the European Court of Human Rights if they dare to probe his links with President Putin. The MP added: I happen to believe that, if a New Zealander who is based in Dubai with acquired Maltese citizenship and a think-tank in Mayfair has suspect links, we should raise questions. Is it time to send a message from this House that we will not be bullied or intimidated by anyone? The letters also prompted Speaker John Bercow to issue an unprecedented rebuke to Mr Chandler. He wrote to the tycoon warning him that the principle of parliamentary privilege is sacrosanct. And the Speaker told Mr Byrne: I do not care who writes to me to exhort me to prevent or limit that right. It will make not the blindest bit of difference. After receiving his letter, Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the powerful Foreign Affairs Committee, consulted the judgments and academic writings of his father high court judge Sir Michael Tugendhat. Sir Michael is regarded as the countrys leading expert on privacy law. The judgments and articles make clear that parliamentary privilege cannot be trumped by any other law. Last week The Mail on Sunday revealed that Mr Chandlers brother Richard had boasted about how the pair had helped Putins associates take control of Russias energy giant Gazprom. A pamphlet published by Richard Chandlers Clermont Group stated that, after the brothers placed their own director on the board, they teamed up with Putin to launch a management coup. Christopher Chandlers aides, who deny that he was ever in cahoots with Putin, claim the passage was written in error. The Legatum Group said: Anyone in a position of power acts as a bully if they make unfounded accusations without the facts and without giving their accused the right to address the claims fairly. These MPs have refused to speak to Legatum or Christopher Chandler despite repeated and respectful approaches, which at this point can only be interpreted as a wilful disregard for truth in order to advance a political agenda. For the sake of the good name of Parliament, we ask them to withdraw their outlandish claims and apologise for the hurt caused. At the meeting, Trung highly spoke of the development of cooperation between Vietnam and Mongolia since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in 1954 as well as Mongolias support for Vietnams struggle for national independence. In 2019, Vietnam and Mongolia will celebrate the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, the Deputy FM said, adding that since the establishment of the diplomatic ties, the two countries have seen active cooperation in multiple fields. Particularly, there has been regular exchange of students between the two sides, he noted. The two nations see huge potential for fostering bilateral cooperation in economy and trade, he said. suggesting the governments of Vietnam and Mongolia create more favourable conditions for businesses from both sides to meet and seek partnerships. For his part, the Mongolian official said his country wants the bilateral ties to expand further and produce more practical outcomes in many fields. He noted his visit aims to learn from Vietnams experience in developing and implementing free trade agreements. He stressed that the visit has been very effective as it has helped improve awareness of the bilateral cooperation in recent years. He highlighted the trade relations between Vietnam and Mongolia, which have seen positive developments with mutual visits by the two countries ministries and agencies to discuss issues of mutual interest. He also hoped for closer coordination between the two sides at international forums. Cuban authorities said the fiery crash of an aging Boeing passenger jet on Friday shortly after takeoff from Havana had killed 110 people, 99 of whom were Cuban, making it the Caribbean island's deadliest air disaster in nearly 30 years. Flags flew at half-mast in Cuba on Saturday marking the start of two days of national mourning while authorities worked to identify the crash victims. Fifteen have been identified so far. Authorities told a news conference on Saturday at Havana airport that three of the passengers killed on the domestic flight to Holguin on Friday were foreign tourists - two Argentines and a Mexican - while another two were Sahrawi residents in Cuba. Police and military personnel work among the wreckage of the Boeing-737 plane that crashed shortly after taking off from the Jose Marti airport in Havana, Cuba, 18 May 2018 Flags flew at half-mast in Cuba on Saturday marking the start of two days of national mourning while authorities worked to identify the crash victims The six Mexican crew members aboard the nearly 40-year-old Boeing (BA.N) 737, leased by Cuban flagship carrier Cubana from a small Mexican company called Damojh, were also killed. Three Cuban women survived the crash, but are still in critical condition, said the head of the hospital where they are being attended. Relatives of victims of the Boeing 737 plane that crashed after taking off from Havana's main airport yesterday, react at a hotel in Havana, Cuba Distressed relatives cried and hugged one another outside the morgue, where they gave information on loved ones to authorities to aid in the identification process. 'This is a very unexpected death, she didn't deserve it. My grandmother was a strong person,' said Katherine Lucia Martinez, an 18-year-old student, bursting into tears and clinging to her father. Her 60-year-old grandmother was among the dead, and she was waiting with other relatives of the deceased at a Havana hotel for an update from authorities. President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Saturday visited the morgue, a day after reviewing the site of the crash, the first big test of his presidency after taking the reins from Raul Castro last month. Three Cuban women survived the crash, but are still in critical condition, said the head of the hospital where they are being attended (Pictured: Grieving relatives of victims in Cuba) Firefighters carry a body bag that contains human remains recovered at the site where a Boeing 737 plummeted Cuban investigators worked overnight at the site of the crash, an agricultural area some 20 km (12 miles) south of Havana, sifting through the burned wreckage for evidence, officials said. So far they have recovered the cockpit voice recorder in 'good condition,' the Cuban Transport Minister Adel Yzquierdo said on Saturday. They are still looking for the flight data recorder. 'The plane was on fire, it flipped and then nosedived,' said Marino Perez Alvaredo, a farmer who works near where the plane crashed. President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Saturday visited the morgue, a day after reviewing the site of the crash, the first big test of his presidency The Mexican transport department said on its website: 'During takeoff (the plane) apparently suffered a problem and dove to the ground.' Mexico also said it would send a team of investigators from its Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics on Saturday. Most aircraft accidents take months to investigate. The crash was the worst in Cuba since a Soviet-made Ilyushin-62M passenger plane crashed near Havana in 1989 killing all 126 people on board and another 14 on the ground. 'For the love of god, I never thought I would see this,' said Caridad Miranda, 45, whose sister and niece died in the crash. 'They should have checked that plane well.' Colditz Castle and stories of the brave British officers, who were kept there because of their determination to escape, left an indelible mark on my boyhood years. Pictures of the formidable fortress in eastern Germany, lit up by searchlights at night, were both thrilling and frightening. Growing up in the Fifties in a village in Oxfordshire, where a mere bike ride was exciting, I was frustrated that my generation had missed out on World War II. Avidly, I read the paperback memoirs of those who had pitted themselves against dastardly foes. Educational: The former BBC political correspondent (above) tries a prisoner of war bed It was, therefore, with some trepidation that I crossed the bridge over the river into the small town of Colditz, not far from Leipzig, to see what is left of the most famous prisoner-of- war camp in Germany. The bridge is no longer named after Adolf Hitler, but the enormous castle still dwarfs the town, and painted across the end of a building is a welcome sign: Willkommen in Colditz. During the long years when Colditz was part of East Germany, the castle was used as a hospital. Now most of it lies empty, with abandoned rooms and neglected corridors. You need an expert guide to point out where the legless flying ace, Douglas Bader, was carried up the stairs to his quarters. But the great 16th-century structure has survived, largely unscathed, and in many places been restored. It welcomes about 30,000 visitors a year, mostly from Britain. Its run by a non-profit association as a cultural centre, with exhibition rooms and a music school, as well as the PoW museum. It also houses a youth hostel, where we stayed. There were about 500 Allied officers at Colditz at any one time, from several countries. Over five years, only about 30 prisoners successfully escaped, with the British contingent managing 11 home runs, as they were called, getting all the way back to Blighty. Jail break: Colditz Castle is one of the most famous German prisoner-of-war camps in WWII When I was a BBC political correspondent, I met the famous Airey Neave, who was the first to make a home run. Sadly, he was killed in an Irish paramilitary bomb attack at Westminster when Margaret Thatcher was about to appoint him Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. By an extraordinary piece of luck, there were three people on my tour with a close connection to Airey Neave. Amy Perry, who runs an antiques shop in Gloucestershire, drove for eight hours from Calais, to meet up with her two brothers to visit the castle for the first time. Their grandfather, Norman Forbes, attempted a daring escape with Airey from another camp, and as a result they both ended up in Colditz. Many of the escape routes can still be seen in the castle and they were lovingly described by our friendly, informative guide, Steffi. She also revealed to Amy and her brothers that Norman had made three unsuccessful escape attempts. The most amazing exhibit was a full-size replica of the home-made glider designed to be catapulted off the roof with two escaping prisoners on board. Fortunately, Allied forces liberated Colditz before this crazy plan was put into operation. At the end of our tour, Amy was ecstatic. It has been fabulous, much better than expected, she told me, Ive learnt so much. It was a view I certainly shared. My older brother, Peter, went with me on this trip, and we also met five male friends from Stoke-on-Trent who were all thrilled to come to this legendary site. In the shop, you can buy a plate, engraved with the words Escape to Colditz and for those who like T-shirts, theres a black one with the slogan: I escaped from Colditz. It was a marvellous day, perfectly concluded by a night spent at the youth hostel, where the guards used to sleep. I never thought Colditz would be so comfortable. For those who think we hear too much about World War II, there is blessed relief to be found in Leipzig. For music lovers it needs no introduction: Bach, Mendelssohn, Schumann and Wagner all called it home. We spent a wonderful three days in this beautiful, interesting city. Overall, it was one of the best short holidays I can remember. There is no place on Earth quite like the Galapagos. It has astonished visitors from Charles Darwin to Sir David Attenborough, who finds more to love about these far-flung Pacific islands on every visit. First, there is the raw natural beauty, the gorgeous bays, lava formations, green highlands and alluring beaches. And then, of course, there is the remarkable wildlife, which helped inspire Darwins ground-breaking theory of natural selection. Unique beauty: The Galapagos Islands (above) has had a profound impact on the scientific world as a source of inspiration for Charles Darwins theory of evolution On this exclusive cruise, you will encounter many of the animals the great naturalist saw: from Galapagos penguins and age-worn giant tortoises to sea lions in the waters along the coast and marine iguanas gathered on the shore. Joining you on the exclusive tour will be Stanley Johnson, one of Britains leading environmental campaigners and an ambassador for the Galapagos as well as a born raconteur. This is a true trip of a lifetime. ABOUT SPECIAL GUEST STANLEY JOHNSON Join Stanley (above) on the exclusive cruise One of Britains leading environmentalists, Stanley, left, is an author, journalist and former Conservative member of the European Parliament, who has also worked in the European Commission. A past recipient of the Greenpeace Prize for Outstanding Services to the Environment, as well as the RSPB Medal and WWFs Leader of the Living Planet Award, Stanley is an ambassador for The Galapagos Conservation Trust as well as for the United Nations Environment Programme Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). In addition to numerous non-fiction works on environmental topics, Stanley has written ten novels, the latest of which Kompromat is being made into a six-part TV series for Channel 4. Stanley appeared last year on Im a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! Advertisement REASONS TO BOOK The Galapagos This archipelago is about 600 miles from the coast of Ecuador. Despite its tiny size and remote location, the Galapagos has had a profound impact on the scientific world as a source of inspiration for Charles Darwins theory of evolution. Follow in his footsteps, and see the birds, reptiles and marine life that Darwin saw when he visited on HMS Beagle. You will also visit some of the wildlife projects that are building on Darwins early work. Stanley Johnson A lifelong environmentalist, as well as an ambassador for the Galapagos Conservation Trust, Stanley is perfectly placed to give context to the wildlife of the islands. We are delighted he will be able to join us for the duration of the voyage. See Colonial Quito Stay in the Ecuadorian capital, enjoy its spectacular location perched high in the Andes, and get the chance to explore its colonial heritage. Sail in style Spend eight days on the beautiful, comfortable yacht Coral I. It can carry 36 guests and you will all have the privilege of seeing first-hand one of the worlds most extraordinary ecosystems. The ship has several decks and many excellent amenities, including an observation deck, restaurant, library, Jacuzzi and lounge. Unique wildlife During your time sailing the archipelago, there will be many chances to see its unique wildlife up close. Among the many species to look out for are pelicans, Darwins finches, flamingos, tropicbirds, frigatebirds, shearwaters, iguanas, giant tortoises, sea turtles, sea lions, Galapagos penguins, white-tipped reef sharks and spotted eagle rays. The Galapagos Islands are home to huge rays, as well as giant tortoises and reef sharks WHAT'S INCLUDED? Blue-footed boobies (above) live on The Galapagos Islands Internal flights in Ecuador. Two nights bed-and-breakfast stay in Quito and transfers. Seven-night full-board cruise aboard the yacht Coral I. English-speaking national- park guides. Tourist card and national park fee. Talks by Stanley Johnson. Advertisement She has been enjoying a Mexican getaway since Tuesday. And three days after arriving in Tulum, Kristin Cavallari showed off her incredible figure in low-cut white bikini bottoms with a crop top. The 31-year-old reality star highlighted her flat stomach and her pert derriere in the tiny look, adding a striped bikini top beneath the tiny cover up. Looking good: Kristin Cavallari showed off her incredible figure in low-cut white bikini bottoms with a crop top on Friday in Tulum, Mexico The mother of three highlighted her svelte figure in the barely there bottoms, which revealed most of her backside. The blonde beauty chose a sleeveless crop top, which she wore over the equally tiny black and white striped bikini top. Krisitin sported twin French braids with large framed sunglasses and no other accessories. The TV star showed off her natural beauty by wearing just a swipe of pink colored lipstick. Gorgeous: The 31-year-old reality star highlighted her flat stomach and her pert derriere in the tiny look, adding a striped bikini top beneath the tiny cover up Keeping casual: The mother of three highlighted her svelte figure in the barely there bottoms, which revealed most of her backside The stunner also took to Instagram to wrap up her trip to Tulum. The mother-of-three shared a photo of herself relaxing on a beach chair, clad in swimwear. 'Another amazing Tulum trip in the books #MyFavPlace #UntilNextTime,' wrote Kristin. The Very Cavallari star's perfectly staged shot featured her styled in the same swimwear. A hat that matched the star's ensemble was seen on a table beside her. Final day: On Friday, Kristin took to Instagram to wrap up her trip to Tulum Ocean views: The star's pal, hairstylist Kelly Henderson, shared this snap of the two along with another friend on Thursday Women's retreat: For her vacation, Kristin was joined by hairstylist pal Kelly Henderson and another friend For her vacation, Kristin was joined by hairstylist pal Kelly Henderson and another friend. While on their trip, the group visited Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar's mansion. Tulum, along with the mansion, is a go-to treat for many popular social media stars. Delicious: Tulum, along with the mansion, is a go-to retreat for many popular social media stars On July 8, the former Laguna Beach and Hills talent is set to return to reality TV with her new E! series, Very Cavallari. The show, which will not feature her children, will follow her work life as the the owner of the store, Uncommon James. 'I think Very Cavallari is the first time people will get to see the real Kristin. It's every area of my life, she began, in an interview with People. 'So it's me as a wife, it's me as a best friend, and it's me as a boss, as a business woman. So the 'b****' persona I think I've been able to kind of channel into being the boss and owning my own company, and then you get to just see who I am with the people that I love the most.' 'I'm really excited for people to finally see me after so many years of being in reality TV. This is the first time that I can really get behind it saying, "This is 100 percent me."' Sydney PR maven Roxy Jacenko has hit back at journalist Andrew Hornery for a dig he has made towards couturier Nicky Velani. On Friday, under the heading, 'Mullet Dress Swims Upstream', the Sydney Morning Herald's Hornery wrote: 'Barely 48 hours after it had hung from the fake-tanned frame of one Roxy Jacenko, the over-the-top Italian tulle "mullet" dress was back in the window of Five Dock "couturier" Velani.' Roxy, who recently wore the outfit to the Gold Dinner fundraiser - regarded as the most exclusive charity gala in Australia - told Daily Mail Australia: 'Heavens, he really is a bitter old man. 'He really is a bitter old man': Roxy Jacenko, 37, has attacked journalist Andrew Hornery for his 'ridiculing' of Australian couturier Nicky Velani, based on the location of her boutique 'Nicky Velani is a very dear friend of mine, she often makes me garments to wear for special occasions and Ill always return them as they are one-offs that we have worked on together.' Roxy, 37, continued: 'Isnt it nice to support other local designers instead of ridiculing them based on their location? 'I find the mentality of making a joke of someones work room and boutique so out of order. Who cares where someone with such talent is located?!' It is unknown whether Hornery's inclusion of Velani's location was a criticism or whether Roxy had simply interpreted the comments in that manner. Location, location: Nicky's boutique, Velani, is located at Five Dock in Sydney's inner west Velani's dress featured a micro mini hemline at the front with a train of tulle at the back measuring 10 metres. The fact that Roxy took time out of her busy schedule to comment on Hornery's story speaks volumes about her regard for Nicky. Sweaty Betty founder Roxy recently gave insight into her busy lifestyle in a 'day-in-life' story for online publication Whimn. Going with the flow: Velani's dress, as worn by Roxy, featured a micro mini hemline at the front with a train of tulle at the back measuring 10 metres The married mother-of-two begins her morning with emails over breakfast, and is described as adhering to a mantra of 'constant availability'. 'We aren't part of a champagne set out the door at five and in at nine,' Roxy told the publication. While she works hard on her company, Sweaty Betty PR, Roxy does have her personal makeup artist, Sanaz Fakhra, on call. 'I live on eating out, even when I'm at home, its delivery,' Roxy admitted recently in a story about her daily life 'I rely heavily on Sanaz for my makeup. We see each other at least three times a week and she does a great face in 25 minutes,' she told Whimn. The PR maven revealed that she very rarely cooks, saying: 'I live on eating out, even when I'm at home, it's delivery.' She's usually one of the most fashionable stars on the red carpet. But Jennifer Lawrence opted for a decidedly more casual outfit for a walk with her dog Pippi on Friday in New York. The 27-year-old American Hustle actress looked quite relaxed as she trundled along next to her Jack Russell terrier mix. Scroll down for video Two of a kind! Jennifer Lawrence opted for a decidedly casual outfit in Vans Checkboard Slip-Ons for a walk with her dog Pippi on Friday The Oscar winner flashed just a glimpse of her flat tummy thanks to a cut off white T-shirt sporting writing emblazoned on the front. High-waisted jeans complimented her hourglass hips and fit legs, while a pair of Vans Checkboard Slip-Ons rounded out her laid-back look. Accessories included a large black tote bag slung over her right shoulder, a grey hat with black band and some oversize sunglasses. Nothing fancy: High-waist jeans complimented her hourglass hips and fit legs, while a pair of black and white checkered slip on sneakers rounded out her laid-back look She also appeared to be listening to something on her phone, which she carried in her left hand. Though most of her face was obscured by her large shades, a dash of light pink lipstick was visible. JLaw's low-key ensemble was quite different from her most recent fashion-related appearance for Dior. Incog-neat-o! Though most of her face was obscured by her large shades, a dash of light pink lipstick was visible The Golden Globe winning actress posed up a storm in trousers and an overcoat for the French luxury label in the newly released campaign for the Fall 2018 collection. Jennifer, who was snapped by photographer Brigitte Lacombe, donned Dior looks while toting the brand's luxurious accessories. The movie star posed in front of a white wall with pieces of gauzy fabric and lights behind her. Beauty! JLaw's low-key ensemble was quite different from her most recent fashion-related appearance for Dior Poor Thomas Markle (pictured) has suffered a further blow Poor Thomas Markle, who has to watch on television in America as a man he's never met walks his daughter up the aisle today, has suffered a further blow. I can reveal that the Queen has decreed he will not be granted a coat of arms. It's a major snub, because the fathers of previous commoners who married into the Royal Family, including those of Kate Middleton and Sophie Rhys-Jones, were accorded the honour. Their coats of arms were made public in the weeks leading up to their weddings and featured on the souvenir programmes for the ceremonies. The decision will mean that Meghan Markle's outspoken relations are not able to boast a Markle coat of arms. Her half-sister, Samantha Grant, had already publicly discussed the expected honour. 'Mr Markle will not have his own coat of arms,' confirms a senior source at the College of Arms, which acts on behalf of the Crown in all matters of heraldry. 'We were told it would be too 'complicated'. 'The Palace has instructed us to use the example of the Duchess of Gloucester and give Meghan Markle her own coat of arms instead.' He is referring to Birgitte van Deurs, who married the Duke of Gloucester, a cousin of the Queen, in 1972. To qualify for armigerous status (the right to bear hearaldic arms), foreigners need to prove they have an ancestor who was a subject of the Crown. While this may have been a problem for Danish-born Birgitte, it posed no difficulty for Mr Markle, as his forebears include Mary Smith, a maid who was recorded in 1856 as working at Windsor Castle. Spokesmen for the College of Arms and Kensington Palace declined to comment. Prince Harry appears to be using the wedding to distance himself from some of his loyal old friends. I hear that he's put several noses out of joint by inviting pals to the ceremony and lunchtime reception for 600 people, but not allowing them to join the 200 allowed at the evening party at Frogmore House, Windsor. 'Some of Harry's friends have been shocked not to be invited,' a source tells me. 'It's proving very divisive that many of them are getting all dressed up but have to take their wives home mid-afternoon.' To add insult to injury, the evening reception seems to have turned into a networking opportunity full of showbusiness types, including George and Amal Clooney, Sir Elton John and Oprah Winfrey, whom Harry hardly knows. 'The Palace has instructed us to use the example of the Duchess of Gloucester and give Meghan Markle her own coat of arms instead' Cameron quitter Mensch 'splits up with her husband' Cameron cutie Louise Bagshawe infuriated the Tories by causing a by-election in her marginal seat of Corby when she quit Parliament in 2012 after just two years to spend more time with her new husband, the rock promoter Peter Mensch, in his native America. So her former constituents will be bewildered to hear that her seven-year marriage has now apparently hit the rocks. 'They've split up,' claims one of their friends Novelist Louise, 46, and Mensch, 65, who shared a house in New York, are too discreet to comment, but it's not the storyline she had in mind when she reflected on how she first set eyes on Peter at Oxford University. 'I was instantly attracted to him, but he was married,' she said. After their respective first marriages broke down, she 'went looking' for her old flame. For their fourth anniversary, he gave her a crystal swan 'because swans mate for life'. Ageing Bull De Niro gets a lift to beach Robert De Niro played a series of menacing characters in Hollywood films such as The Godfather Part II and Goodfellas, but he cut a feeble figure as he disembarked from a boat in Ibiza this week. Wearing a khaki sunhat, the Oscar-winner, 74, called on two sturdy fellows to carry him on to dry land so that he didn't get his tootsies wet. Not so much Raging as Ageing Bull , perhaps. When Princess Eugenie walks up the aisle at St George's Chapel in October, it could be a double wedding. For I hear that her fiance Jack Brooksbank's younger brother, Thomas, has now also become engaged. The Eton-educated investment manager, 30, is to wed Amy Rodgers, 27, who works for fashion label Paul Smith. A friend remarks: 'Wouldn't it be lovely if it was a joint wedding with Eugenie and Jack?' Nigella Lawson is regarded as one of the sexiest women in the world. But the curvaceous cook, who's been seducing television viewers for almost two decades, says she's less alluring away from the cameras. 'TV is glamorousing. I always think I must be a bit of a messy disappointment when people meet me in real life,' the 58-year-old told The Weekend Australian Magazine on Saturday. 'I always think I must be a disappointment in real life': In an interview with The Weekend Australian Magazine on Saturday, Nigella Lawson discussed her reputation as a worldwide sex symbol Nigella's first cookbook wasn't released until she was 38, and the busty Brit didn't appear on the small screen until she turned 40. Revealing why she stayed away from television for so long, she stated: 'When I was a young woman I wouldn't do TV, because I didn't want that thing where attention is paid to one's physical being'. The celebrity chef's debut series aired on the BBC back in 1999, and she has since been at the helm of a further NINE top-rated shows. Curvaceous cook: The busty Brit didn't appear on the small screen until she turned 40. Meanwhile, Nigella is set to return as a guest judge to MasterChef Australia this season. She has made cameos on two prior seasons of the cooking franchise. Earlier this week, she told Who magazine it's a 'privilege' that she gets to sample all the culinary creations. Tasty snack! Nigella has fronted ten top-rating television shows 'It's fascinating getting to know the contestants through their food and cooking, and to see how hard they work and how keen they are to learn,' she cooed. Prior to her TV career, Nigella worked as a journalist, becoming the deputy literary editor of The Sunday Times at the age of just 26. The beauty, who was educated at Oxford, is the daughter of The Lord Lawson of Blaby, a famous Conservative politician who served in Margaret Thatcher's cabinet for eight years. She was captured appearing to punch her boyfriend Joshua Ritchie in the face during a furious bust-up while they were holidaying in St Lucia earlier this week - which she later denied. But Charlotte Crosby proved they were well and truly back on track as she posted a slew of video clips kissing her beau via Instagram on Friday. Their loved-up display comes after the reality star, 28, defended her actions after footage emerged of the fight, saying she 'pushed him away' but 'not once did she hurt, punch or hit him'. Loved-up: Charlotte Crosby proved she was well and truly back on track with her boyfriend Joshua Ritchie after an explosive fight, posting a slew of video clips kissing her beau Soaking up the sun on the beach, Charlotte could be seen planting a kiss on the 23-year-old reality star. The former Geordie Shore beauty added a love heart and Cupid filter, proving they had kissed and made-up after their street fight during her birthday night out. Earlier in the day, Charlotte spoke about her argument, replying to a fan: 'I pushed joshes arm away from me and flung a plastic cup at his feet. We had a argument which isn't really the strangest thing to happen in the world is it?' Street brawl: Their loved-up display comes after the reality star, 28, defended her actions after footage emerged of the fight saying she 'pushed him away' but 'not once did she hurt, punch or hit him' The former Geordie Shore beauty added a love heart and Cupid filter, proving they had kissed and made-up after their street fight during her birthday night out Defending actions: Charlotte wrote on Instagram: 'I pushed joshes arm away from me and flung a plastic cup at his feet. We had a argument which isn't really the strangest thing to happen in the world is it? Smooch: Soaking up the sun on the beach, Charlotte could be seen planting a kiss on the 23-year-old reality star Couples getaway: The star also posted a snap of her posing on the pool with fellow Geordie Shore star Holly Hagan and her beau She continued: 'Not once did I punch/ hit or hurt him or his face. He was trying to calm me down and I was pushing him away. (sic)' Charlotte was celebrating her birthday at the Ultra Lounge with Josh and a group of friends when the argument happened. The ex Geordie Shore star can be seen in video footage obtained exclusively by MailOnline yelling at Josh, as he sat with their pals inside the venue. Night out: The ex Geordie Shore star can be seen in video footage obtained exclusively by MailOnline yelling at Josh, as he sat with their pals inside the Ultra Lounge Heated: The fight continues outside with Charlotte seen standing in the road yelling at Josh Physical: Charlotte then appeared to punch and shove her boyfriend, while shouting 'f**k you' Boozy night: A source has told MailOnline that Charlotte 'stormed out of the club and started arguing' at around 12:30am Charlotte then stormed out, followed by a girlfriend, before Josh's mate told the dawdling Ex On The Beach hunk they needed to leave. The fight continued outside with Charlotte seen standing in the road yelling at Josh, before appearing to punch and shove her boyfriend, while shouting 'f**k you'. She eventually stormed off. A source told MailOnline Charlotte 'stormed out of the club and started arguing' at around 12:30am. 'She chucked her drink at a man in a white t-shirt and stormed out. I heard someone say "we have to get her out of here" presumably because she was too drunk. I believe they must have gone home after that,' the insider continued. Moving on: Charlotte is in the throes of her passionate relationship with Josh as she mends her heartache from her split with Stephen Bear Charlotte alluded to the wild night out on her Instagram, posting a snap of herself in the same white bardot-style dress she's seen wearing in the video alongside the caption: 'HB To me. BTW Im absolutely WRECKED.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for Charlotte and Josh for comment. Charlotte is in the throes of her passionate relationship with Josh as she mends her heartache from her split with Stephen Bear. The Charlotte Show star's 11-month love affair with Stephen came to a dramatic end amid cheating claims in October last year. The Charlotte and Josh love story goes back to when they locked lips at reality star pal Aaron Chalmers' MMA win in December last year. Reality star worlds collided when they made their romance official in February as they shared a cosy Instagram together with the date '9.2.2018'. (sic) She's never one to shy from flaunting her figure. And Kylie Jenner proved on trend as she left little to the imagination in a cream colored dress on Friday. The 20-year-old mogul looked radiant as she revealed her enviable figure after greeting legions of fans at her pop up make-up store in San Francisco. Stunner: Kylie Jenner looked radiant in a cream colored dress after greeting legions of fans at her pop up make-up store in San Francisco Daring to impress, the youngest of the Kardashian clan showed off her delicate decolletage as the ensemble was low cut. Her trademark raven tresses were left long, wavy, and loose as they cascaded over her petite shoulders. And in a video posted on her Instagram stories, Kylie was seen in a dazzling white ensemble next to two male friends. She showed a close-up of her pants that featured sparkling sequins in a line vertically down the legs. Impressive: Daring to impress, the youngest of the Kardashian clan showed off her delicate decolletage as the ensemble was low cut Wow! The new mom showed off her killer curves wearing a skin-tight dress Rear view: Kylie showed off her pert derriere in the tight dress Ample: Her ample assets were on full display Meanwhile, the reality star turned make-up boss was on hand to greet her dedicated fans, who swarmed the streets outside the shop. Promoting her wildly popular make-up range - which has made her into a millionaire many times over - the new mother headed to SanFran to support the launch. 'I can't wait San Fran!' she posted on her Instagram stories. Images from her social media showed the young fans excitedly waiting outside with banners and posters to welcome the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star. Some had slept overnight after Kylie announced the last minute appearance on Thursday. Delicate: Her delicate decolletage was thrust on center stage Fun with friends; And in a video posted on her Instagram stories, Kylie was seen in a dazzling white ensemble next to two male friends Dazzling: She showed a close-up of her pants that featured sparkling sequins in a line vertically down the legs Kylie is no stranger to such excited scenes. She was greeted by hundreds of fans when she opened her first pop-up store in New York in 2016. This was followed by temporary shops across the country. The stores sell her $29 Kylie Lip Kits,as well as her eye make-up kits. Not seen with Kylie was her infant daughter, Stormi. After welcoming her first child three months ago, the new mother got straight back to work. Counting on Kylie! Young fans lined up early to greet the reality star Backlog: Images from her social media showed the young fans excitedly waiting outside with banners and posters to welcome the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star Kylie gave birth on February 1 and had already thrown herself back into her Kylie Cosmetics business two weeks after the delivery. Last week she made her red carpet return at the Met Gala. Speaking to People.com, Kylie's mother Kris Jenner - who also attended the event - said: 'That child never stops. She got right back in the saddle. And I love that about her. She's really so impressive. And she's such a good mom. She's so dedicated to her baby. Jetting off: Kylie shared pictures from her journey North from her LA-area home Travelling in style: The young businesswoman did not take the bus 'We were at the Met Ball and all she could focus on when we were done was getting home. She's like, "Come on we've got to go see Stormi!" It was really sweet to see her anxious to get home to Stormi.' Kris - who became a mother for the first time at the age of 22 when she gave birth to her daughter Kourtney - can see herself in Kylie because she's so dedicated to her baby and her business. The 62-year-old momager said: 'I do see myself in Kylie. She hasn't stopped! And she does remind me of me in that way. I'm so proud of her. I just beam when I watch her.' Shady lady: Kylie poses next to the color charts in her pop-up store Born to a family of patriots in a rich traditional revolutionary land, the young man Nguyen Tat Thanh decided to go abroad at the age of 21 to find a way to salvage his country after witnessing the pain of a country under colonial rule. With a burning desire for independence and freedom for the nation and a prosperous contented life for the Vietnamese people, he travelled all over the world to work and study the reality of the struggles of oppressed peoples and the nature of capitalism. The difficult journey led him to Marxism-Leninism as a historical necessity, which helped him to recognise that it was the only road for the struggle for national liberation, class freedom and liberating the people. In the revolution, the premise was to have a revolutionary party attached to the Marxist-Leninist ideology. Thus, he prepared all of the conditions and founded, trained, organised and led the Communist Party of Vietnam to carry out its glorious historical mission. Under the leadership of the Party, the Vietnamese revolution triumphed over numerous difficulties and challenges to earn glorious achievements. It was the August Revolution in 1945 to establish the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the first people-owned state in the history of the nation. It was the victory of the resistance war against the French colonialists, culminating in the Dien Bien Phu Victory. It was the victory of the anti-American war, ending in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign in April 1975 to reunite the divided nation. The liberated Vietnam has followed socialism since then and carried out the comprehensive Doi Moi (renovation) that has brought about a range of significant achievements with historic significance. Throughout a wholly pure and upright life, he only had one desire, the ultimate desire to make our nation independent, all people have food and clothing, and everyone is educated. President Ho Chi Minh dedicated his life to the revolution, wholeheartedly serving the Fatherland and the people. His name and career will shine forever, highlighting the history of the thousand years of national construction and defence and will remain forever in the hearts of the Vietnamese people. He not only left a great revolutionary achievement, but also gave future generations a valuable legacy, that is the Ho Chi Minh era with his noble ideology, ethics and lifestyle. His name is closely linked to the progressive and peaceful movement of mankind. This year, Vietnam commemorates the 128th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh with the joy and trust from the Party officials, Party members and the people regarding the achievements after half a term of the 12th Party Congress. In 2017, the second year of implementing the 12th Party Congresss Resolution, for the first time in many years, Vietnam fulfilled all of the 13 planned targets. GDP growth was at 6.81%, which is a high level compared to other countries in the region and around the world. After ten years, GDP in the first quarter of 2018 re-established a record again, reaching 7.38%, far exceeding the corresponding figure of 5.15% same period last year. The Party building and reorganisation has gained positive results, reinforcing the people's trust in the Party and the regime. Vietnam has never had as high a position of prestige in the international arena as today. The country is celebrating the 128th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh in the midst of the seventh session of the 12th Party Central Committee, which ended with important contents reached on strengthening the governing staff at all levels and on the reform of the salary and social insurance policies. This is also the time for the preparation of the fifth session of the 14th National Assembly that will discuss and decide many important issues. To celebrate the birthday of President Ho Chi Minh, more than ever, the whole Party, people, army, as well as each Party organisation, organs and units, should turn the sentiment and gratitude towards the beloved president into concrete works. Each Party organisation and party member, especially the leaders, should further promote their roles and responsibilities in studying President Ho Chi Minhs thoughts, morality and lifestyle in each action to prevent the recession of political thought and morals to wholeheartedly serve the people; while at the same time, to thoroughly implement and formulate action programmes to effectively realise the resolutions of the seventh plenum of the 12th Party Central Committee, in association with other resolutions of the Party, towards streamlined organisation, efficient operations and strong innovative staff. The focus should be laid on breakthroughs in concretising policies on salary and social insurance reforms in order to ensure the best interests of officials, civil servants and labourers to create new motivation in their work. In commemorating the 128th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh in the national comprehensive and synchronous renovation and international integration, amidst the intertwined opportunities, advantages and challenges, the whole Party, army and people are willing to unite to build a strong Party in association with caring for national socio-economic development in order to turn Vietnam into a stronger and more beautiful country as was President Ho Chi Minhs wish. His tangled love triangle has been causing tensions in Albert Square for weeks. But Martin Fowler finally decided to pursue Stacey Slater on EastEnders on Friday night, in a shocking twist where Sonia turned her back on his affections. As the show reached a climax with the Lothario planting a kiss on Stacey's lips and declaring his love for her, viewers flocked to Twitter to dub the new couple the 'Harry and Meghan of Walford' ahead of the Royal Wedding on Saturday. Scroll down for video The One? Martin Fowler finally decided to pursue Stacey Slater on EastEnders on Friday night, in a shocking twist as Sonia turned her back on his affections Attempting to woo her affections, he told Stacey, 'If I don't do this now then I might not have the guts again. You take guts Stacey Fowler. 'I want you back. I want us.' Planting a kiss on her lips, he concluded: 'You do my head in . . .But I love you.' Love is in the air: As the show reached a climax with the Lothario planting a kiss on Stacey's lips a, viewers flocked to Twitter to dub the new couple the 'Harry and Meghan of Walford' ahead of the Royal Wedding on Saturday Oscar-winning scenes: Attempting to woo her affections, he told Stacey, 'If I don't do this now then I might not have the guts again. You take guts Stacey Fowler' Fans took to Twitter following the heartwarming scenes, drawing comparisons to the upcoming nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. One wrote on Twitter: 'Walford has a new Prince and Princess', while another typed: 'Who needs the Royal Wedding when you have Martin and Stacey?' Another viewer predicted the romantic reunion, tweeting: 'Of course he was going back to her. It's the EastEnders Royal Wedding happy ending.' Romantic: He added: 'I want you back. I want us.' Planting a kiss on her lips, he concluded: 'You do my head in . . .But I love you.' However, others were left venting their frustrations at Martin's decision to chose Stacey over Sonia. One wrote: 'Awww I was really rooting for Sonia and Martin to get back together' and another typed: 'Nooooo! I want him back with Sonia!' During Friday night's episode, Martin was undecided on whether he should go back to 'safe' Sonia, or risk his heart getting torn in two by Stacey. After spending time cosying up to Sonia, who was looking at romantic holidays for the two of them, Martin had a change of heart. Annoyed: However, others were left venting their frustrations at Martin's decision to chose Stacey over Sonia Here comes the bride! Fans took to Twitter following the heartwarming scenes, drawing comparisons to the upcoming nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle He told the trumpet player his heart was set on making a go of things and he wanted to go away with her. However, after seeing him interact with her love rival she defiantly told him: 'This ain't for you and me, it's for me and Becks - thought it might be nice for me to give you space to fix things with Stacey,' adding she saw the pair talking by the swings where he told Stacey 'I can't have my heart broken again.' Begging Sonia to take him back, he said: 'You wouldn't rip my heart out and stamp on it for good measure.' Making a go of things: After having his ego crushed following the rejection from Sonia, Martin then walked across the road to reveal his sudden change of heart and revealed he did in fact want Stacey after all To which, Sonia replied: 'That's because you haven't given it to me.' After having his ego crushed following the rejection, Martin then walked across the road to reveal his sudden change of heart and revealed he did in fact want Stacey after all. His tangled love triangle goes back years, famously, Sonia and Martin lost their virginity to each other. The encounter left the soap favourite pregnant with daughter Chloe/Rebecca, who they gave up for adoption. They later eloped but wedded bliss didn't last long after Sonia had an affair with student Naomi (Petra Letang) and then divorced four years ago. Following their split, Martin moved in with Stacey and her daughter Lily Branning (Aine Garvey) and soon began dating. But it wasn't meant to be when Stacey discovered she was pregnant with Kush Kazemi's son and was diagnosed with bipolar diagnosis. Later they let bygones by bygones and welcomed a child of their own, Hope. Her parents, Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, are two of Hollywood's biggest talents. And it looks like daughter Maya is finally settling in to following in their famous footsteps as she takes on the acting world by storm. The 19-year-old actress and model was spotted shooting a scene for the upcoming seasons of Stranger Things with Joe Keery on Friday. Scroll down for video She's a pro! It looks like Maya Hawke is finally settling in to following in the footsteps of her famous actor parents For the third season of the 1980s-set program, Maya's costume was quite basic. The New York-native looked quite casual in a white T-shirt paired with dark, straight leg jeans. Dirty white sneakers and white socks completed her simple look. Her light brunette tresses were parted in the middle and fell straight down to her shoulders. Nothing fancy: The New York native looked quite casual in a white t-shirt and dark, straight leg jeans Light blush and rose lipstick meant the teenager was ready for her turn in front of the camera. Co-star Joe, aged 26, was wearing an equally laid back ensemble for the scene. He donned a green camouflage t-shirt, retro-style royal blue gym shorts with white stripes along with tall socks and light blue low-cut sneakers. Hiding something? At one point he apparently wrapped himself in a long blue lab coat, though it wasn't clear if that was part of the costume A pair of antique-style shades shielded his eyes, while his dark locks were mussed stylishly. At one point he apparently wrapped himself in a long blue lab coat, though it wasn't clear if that was part of the costume. Of course this shoot is only the latest for Maya, whom recently celebrated another project she was a part of with a red carpet appearance. Recently, the genetically privileged beauty joined Angela Lansbury and Kathryn Newton at a Little Women screening in Los Angeles. Star power! Recently, the genetically privileged beauty joined Angela Lansbury and Kathryn Newton at a Little Women screening in Los Angeles Busy girl: Meanwhile Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown took a break from her busy filming schedule to enjoy an ice cream sandwich as she stepped out in Beverly Hills on Friday Her name has been in the spotlight since becoming a Real Housewife of New York. But Bethenny Frankel is further defending herself online after host Sunny Hostin called her out, saying her charitable efforts were 'self-serving' during an episode of The View, according to PEOPLE magazine. The 47-year-old entrepreneur took to Twitter to thank Alyssa Milano and Joy Behar for further publicizing relief efforts surrounding Puerto Rico's Hurricane Maria before taking a jab at Hostin. Scroll down for video Talk about it: Bethenny Frankel is further defending herself online after host Sunny Hostin called her out, saying her charitable efforts were 'self-serving' during an episode of The View, according to PEOPLE magazine 'I think that the work that she has done there is helpful and I think that has been wonderful,' Hostin said Friday on The View, with Alyssa Milano sitting in as a guest co-host for the episode. 'But for me, that is just not the true meaning of charity. I don't think you go to a disaster area with personal photographers and videographers following you, watching you hug people.' Bethenny was recently chastised by Real Housewife Carole Radziwill in a blog post, saying she was happy to see her friend 'step outside her affluent bubble' to help others in need. Ouch: The 47-year-old entrepreneur took to Twitter to thank Alyssa Milano and Joy Behar for further publicizing relief efforts surrounding Puerto Rico's Hurricane Maria before taking a jab at Hostin; seen in January Out and about: Alyssa Milano sported a grey sweatshirt with the anti-NRA campaign slogan NORA across the front Gratitude: Bethenny thanked Alyssa and The View for raising awareness about her efforts 'Hey @Alyssa_Milano @TheView thanks for using your platform to help raise awareness for the hurricane ravaged areas & @sunny FYI- I've been there 6x, 1x on my bday & sent 54 planes & 50 mil in relief & 1 mil cash & only 1 trip was documented,' she wrote on Twitter. While Alyssa and Joy Behar commended Frankel for her efforts, Hostin said charity work should be done to help people, not to 'grow a platform.' 'Well, that's not really accurate @Bethenny. Your efforts were documented by you & personal photographer/videographer & then distributed to media outlets & on social media,' she wrote. 'I thank you for the important charitable work you do but question the need for the self serving publicity.' Ouch! While Alyssa and Joy Behar commended Frankel for her efforts, Hostin said charity work should be done to help people, not to 'grow a platform' 'Your efforts were documented by you & personal photographer/videographer & then distributed to media outlets & on social media,' Sunny tweeted The bitter feud kept growing throughout the day, with Bethenny and Sunny throwing jabs left and right online. 'If someone was supporting that island in a substantial way, my team there knows about it. It is a small island,' tweeted Frankel. 'Your team must be really impressive if it knows all the support being given to over 3 million people,' Hostin responded. 'Savior much?' On Friday Netflix announced that the premiere of its hit show 13 Reasons Why was cancelled. According to a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, the cancellation was due to the shooting that took place at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas on Friday morning. 'Our hearts are with the victims of the Santa Fe High School shooting, and with all victims of gun violence. In light of today's tragedy, we are canceling the 13 Reasons Why S2 premiere event tonight,' announced the streaming giant. Upsetting news: On Friday Netflix announced that the premiere of its hit show 13 Reasons Why was cancelled No doubt the cancellation had to do with the prominence of gun violence in the first season. Main character Alex, played by Miles Heizer, suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was rushed to the hospital, while Tyler (Devin Druid), a bullied high schooler, could be seen collecting a number of firearms in his room. The first season also suffered some audience backlash following the visceral depiction of character Hannah Baker's suicide (played by Katherine Langford), which was the lynchpin of the narrative. Troubling: The first season also suffered some audience backlash following the visceral depiction of character Hannah Baker's suicide (played by Katherine Langford), which was the lynchpin of the narrative Showrunner Brian Yorkey told THR in May that they were preparing to deal with difficult topics in a new way in season two. Reportedly Netflix decided to create a series of public service announcements addressing difficult plot points, and will also be providing resources and helpful information. 'There was a tremendous amount of conversation in the culture around the show,' admitted Yorkey. 'Obviously as humans in the culture we were aware of the conversation. Harrowing: Tyler (Devin Druid), a bullied high schooler, could be seen collecting a number of firearms in his room at the end of season one Aware: Showrunner Brian Yorkey announced they were preparing to deal with difficult topics in a new way in season two 'We listened to it, all different sides, all different points of view on the story and on season one,' he confirmed. On Friday morning Dimitrios Pagourtzis traveled to Santa Fe High School in Texas armed with his father's shotgun and pistol, as well as several explosive devices. Pagourtzis was clad in a 'Born to Kill' T-shirt and black trenchcoat when he embarked on his rampage during a first period art class , yelling 'Surprise!' before opening fire and gunning down eight students and two teachers, police say. She revealed her third pregnancy last month. And Kate Hudson covered her growing baby bump while out and about in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles on Friday afternoon. The 39-year-old actress rocked distressed denim pants paired with a flowing top as she left an afternoon coffee date with a gal pal. Scroll down for video Blue jean baby: Kate Hudson covered her growing baby bump while out and about in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles on Friday afternoon Hudson was certainly feeling a retro vibe as she stepped out wearing a light blue denim coat on top of her loose white blouse. Her trousers featured distressed elements across her knees and thighs, with cuffs around her ankles revealing a pair of floral sandals. The Almost Famous starlet carried a large brown purse across her shoulder with long pieces of fringe dancing in the wind. Caffeinated: The 39-year-old actress rocked distressed denim pants paired with a flowing top as she left an afternoon coffee date with a gal pal Ready to ride: Hudson was certainly feeling a retro vibe as she stepped out wearing a light blue denim coat on top of her loose white blouse She seemed to be growing out her short pixie cut as long tendrils covered her head, exposing a bit of her brown roots. Keeping her eyes shielded from the bright, afternoon sun, Kate sported a pair of dark sunglasses and appeared to be relatively makeup free. The Fabletics guru celebrated Mother's Day in style, sharing a sweet snap with her two sons Ryder, 14, and Bingham, 6. Cute: She seemed to be growing out her short pixie cut as long tendrils covered her head, exposing a bit of her brown roots So sweet: The Fabletics guru celebrated Mother's Day in style, sharing a sweet snap with her two sons Ryder, 14, and Bingham, 6 Kate is expecting a baby girl with her boyfriend Danny Fujikawa, and is said to be over the moon at the prospect of finally having a daughter. Recalling the day he found out the happy news, her brother Wyatt Russell told People magazine: 'I was happy. I was teary-eyed because I know how badly she wanted a girl. I know Danny, I'm sure in some part of every man's brain you're like, "I'd love to have a little me." 'But when he met my brother's little girl Rio [Hudson], who's the cutest thing in the entire world, she made him be like, "Okay, I want a girl." So they're really excited.' He's known for his love of fast cars and fast food, and now we have proof of just how much he loves his soft drink. KIIS FM's Kyle Sandilands, 46, was spotted on Friday at a Sydney service station filling up a shopping bag with several bottles of Coca-Cola. The bags looked to be straining under the weight of their contents as the shock jock manoeuvred around his $380K Bentley car. Sugar daddy: KISS FM's Kyle Sandilands, 46, was spotted on Friday at a Sydney service station filling up a shopping bag with several bottles of Coca-Cola Dressed casually in grey three-quarter shorts, dark-blue t-shirt and matching vest and trainers, Kyle appeared to be lugging bottles of the full-sugar 'red label' variety Coke. One 600ml bottle of full-strength Coca-Cola contains 64 grams of sugar - or 16 teaspoons - per serve. Speaking on the Kyle & Jackie O Show recently, Kyle lamented the news that Coca Cola is planning to reduce the sugar content of some of its products. Truckstop: The shock jock looked to be on a mission when he stopped for soft drink supplies The company plans to slash the sugar levels in the products it sells in Australia and New Zealand by 10 per cent by 2020. Sensibly, Kyle was perhaps prepping for the sugar 'apocalypse' to come. It's thirsty work being King Kyle - in April this year, his KIIS 106.5 breakfast radio show posted its biggest ever survey result, announcing a 12.3 per cent share of the Sydney breakfast radio audience. On the airwaves: In April, the Kyle & Jackie O Show posted its biggest ever survey result, announcing a 12.3 per cent audience share of the Sydney breakfast radio audience Kyle's breakfast co-host, Jackie 'O' Henderson, 43, could have probably done with some of the Coke's 'black Berocca' after her night out at Australian fashion Week last week. On Friday, Kyle's wife, Imogen Anthony, 27, took to her Instagram to reveal that she and Jackie were recovering after a rather wild evening. Imogen captioned a photo of herself and Jackie: 'Can we just talk about the fact that Jackie O and I went to a Fashion Week show together, then went to the after party... and we partied until almost close. Party pals: Kyle's wife, Imogen Anthony, captioned a photo of herself and Jackie 'O' Henderson (pictured): 'Can we just talk about the fact that Jackie O and I went to a Fashion Week show together, then went to the after party... and we partied until almost close' 'Then (we) walked to the bathroom for a last-minute girls' trip, both got stuck talking to a chick whose boyfriend just broke up with her.' Imogen concluded her account of their wild night out by praising Jackie O for showing up at work the next day before 6am. She's starring as Ryan Reynold's girlfriend in Deadpool 2. But Morena Baccarin discussed her desire to play the first female James Bond during her appearance on The View on Friday. 'I think pretty much like Bond, but female. I think why not," said the 38-year-old actress when asked about portraying the famous fictional British spy icon. Scroll down for video Aspirations: Morena Baccarin discussed her desire to play the first female James Bond during her appearance on The View on Friday; (pictured on Monday) 'Have her do the same things. Have her have gadgets,,' she continued. 'Also I think I like the idea of her being slightly emotionally vulnerable, but unable to make connections like he is. I think that's fascinating...that would be fun,' she added. The all female panel agreed that Morena would make a great action hero. Sarah Gilbert then asked the raven haired beauty about her other famous crime fighter devotion, Cat Woman. I spy: 'I think pretty much like Bond, but female. I think why not," said the 38-year-old actress when asked about portraying the famous fictional British spy icon Equal opportunities: 'Have her do the same things. Have her have gadgets,,' she continued; (Daniel Craig pictured as 007) 'I don't know where it came from but I've always been obsessed. Since high school. It's my high school year book quote. 'I think maybe it started with Michelle Pfeiffer,' she explained. Morena, who hails from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is the love interest for actor Ryan Reynolds' wise-cracking anti-hero Deadpool, aka Wade Wilson. Juggling roles: Sarah Gilbert then asked the raven haired beauty about her other famous crime fighter devotion, Cat Woman On Monday, she joined the 41-year-old and other cast members from the Marvel movie at the New York premiere at AMC Loews in Lincoln Square. Meanwhile, Morena is married to her Gotham co-star Ben McKenzie. They share two-year-old daughter Frances. She also has a son, Julius, four, with ex-husband director Austin Chick. It was the perfect day and the perfect setting to mark her 27th birthday - and model Rebecca Harding captured it all on camera. In a photo posted to Instagram on Saturday, Rebecca hugs boyfriend Andy Lee at scenic Cottage Point in northern Sydney, with the caption: 'A story of the luckiest birthday girl in the world, and the boy who made her smile.' Rebecca's followers flocked to Instagram to wish her well: 'So cute you two love birds!' wrote one, while another added: 'I think Andy Lee is the luckiest boy in the world just to have you.' In a touching photo posted to Instagram, model Rebecca Harding, 27, hugs boyfriend Andy Lee, 36, at scenic Cottage Point in northern Sydney, with the caption: 'A story of the luckiest birthday girl in the world, and the boy who made her smile' Others were less ebullient, with one commenting wryly: 'The caption kinda makes Andy Lee seem like your dad.' Andy's friends are reportedly convinced he is ready to start a family with Rebecca. And the 36-year-old funnyman told OK! magazine on Thursday that he's already well prepared for fatherhood. Daddy duty: Funnyman Andy says he's already well prepared for fatherhood The radio presenter said he enjoys being 'the fun uncle' to his nephews and goofing around with his friend Hamish Blake's children. When asked if he likes to 'rile up' Hamish's kids, Andy jokingly replied: 'That's generally my plan.' He added: 'It's the same when looking after my nephews! I usually just throw them around everywhere, get them as high as a kite and then say I have to go to avoid duty! Making plans? In April, Woman's Day magazine published unconfirmed claims that Andy and his girlfriend Rebecca had 'decided to try for a baby' 'I take being the fun uncle very seriously, though, and I thoroughly enjoy it.' In April, Woman's Day magazine published unconfirmed claims that Andy and Rebecca had 'decided to try for a baby'. 'Andy's such a family man and he and Bec are so in love, no one would be surprised if they were thinking about taking the next step,' alleged a source. Back in black: After a short separation in 2016, the couple are now back together and, reportedly, stronger than ever Rebecca started dating the former Hit Network personality in 2015 after she served him at a cafe in Melbourne. After a short separation in 2016, the couple are now back together and, reportedly, stronger than ever. She's one of the most recognizable supermodels in the world. So perhaps it's no surprise that Gisele Bundchen decided to lend her considerable star power to the release of a new book titled Drawdown. The 37-year-old Victoria's Secret beauty looked quite excited to be on stage for the unveiling. All smiles! Gisele Bundchen decided to lend her considerable star power to the release of a new book titled Drawdown On top, the mother-of-two opted for a white linen shirt with three-quarter sleeves and a collar. Her legendary long legs were hidden by a pair of extremely baggy beige trousers which appeared to be flared at the bottom. Tan strappy heels completed her simple but elegant outfit. Accessories included a pair of classic gold hoop earrings, several rings, a chain necklace and a very thin brown leather belt. Airy: On top, the mother-of-two opted for a white linen shirt with three-quarter sleeves and a collar Different look: Her legendary long legs were hidden by a pair of extremely baggy beige trousers which appeared to be flared at the bottom Stunner! Light blush, subtle eye make-up and peach lipstick ensured the Brazil native glowed on stage Her mixed tresses were messily parted on the left and fell in waves down past her shoulders. Light blush, subtle eye make-up and peach lipstick ensured the Brazil native glowed on stage. Apparently Gisele was quite happy with her look, as she posted a snap of herself on Instagram while flashing the peace sign. Perfectly coiffed: Her mixed tresses were messily parted on the left and fell in waves down past her shoulders A favorite? Apparently Gisele was quite happy with her look, as she posted a snap of herself on Instagram while flashing the peace sign Her caption, which was written in Portuguese, read: 'Ready for the launch of Drawdown - 100 Powerful Initiatives to Solve the Climate Crisis book. Paul Hawken has done an incredible job showing creative and effective solutions to take care of our environment. And guess who's the key to all this change? Us! So let's go!!!!!' The event was to promote the release of the new book Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming edited by Paul Hawken. According to Amazon, the tome contains 'the 100 most substantive solutions to reverse global warming, based on meticulous research by leading scientists and policymakers around the world.' She's endured a difficult few weeks in the public eye. But Jenna Dewan looked ready to let loose at the 15th anniversary party of Vegas magazine at the Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa on Friday evening. The 37-year-old dancer showed off her killer curves wearing a sheer lace gown which revealed just a hint of underboob and her long legs. Scroll down for video Back in black: Jenna Dewan looked ready to let loose at the 15th anniversary party of Vegas magazine at the Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa on Friday evening Jenna's tanned and toned body was front and center for the glitzy affair at the luxury resort. Her daring dress featured a sheer layer of black lace starting around her bust and sweeping down one leg with a thigh-grazing slit. A long strap of black fringe dangled across her midriff, revealing just a pair of black briefs worn underneath her see-through dress. Wow! The 37-year-old dancer showed off her killer curves wearing a sheer lace gown which revealed just a hint of underboob and her long legs Strike a pose: Jenna's tanned and toned body was front and center for the glitzy affair at the luxury resort She kept her short brunette tresses parted down the middle and worn straight to her shoulders. The mother-of-one highlighted her bright blue eyes with smokey liner and swiped a crimson shade of lipstick across her lips. She added inches to her petite figure with a pair of strappy black heels and opted to go accessory-free for the night out. Show stopper: A long strap of black fringe dangled across her midriff, revealing just a pair of black briefs worn underneath her see-through dress While she appeared to be having a swell night out, Jenna recently split from her husband of more than eight years, Channing Tatum. The two stars began dating after starring together in the 2006 dance film Step Up, then ultimately married in 2009. The couple's first and only child, Everly, was born on May 31, 2013 in London. Themed new era, new economy and new future, the 2018 Global Unicorn Enterprise Forum kicked off in southwestern Chinas Chengdu on May 19 and reached out to the parallel session in the USs Silicon Valley via video broadcast, Peoples Daily Online reported on Saturday. Representatives from government sectors, authorities and nearly one hundred unicorn enterprises from both China and overseas attended the event. Chinas unicorns have grown quickly in recent years and have now exceeded the US in terms of size, quoting a blue book issued at the Forum. Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Shenzhen take the lead in developing unicorns while other cities such as Chengdu, Wuhan, Xian and Nanjing are catching up through enhanced policy support. With technological innovation and strong commercial acumen, the unicorn enterprises look promising in terms of developing core technologies and digital economy, said Ma Li, President of China Internet Development Foundation, at the forum. The unicorns, as a sign of new economy, cannot grow without a sound environment for innovation and entrepreneurship, Tang Weihong, Vice President of Peoples Daily Online, said while addressing the Forum. Tang noted that People's Daily Online has concentrated on ways to help unicorns grow and boost healthy development. The cooperation with Chengdu government will explore technological innovation and economic development through Internet governance and big data. Combining technologies, the Internet and capitals, unicorns have become a mark of new economy and a significant engine that can promote economic development to grow at an immediate-to-high speed and to a high level, said Zhu Zhihong, Deputy Secretary of CPC Chengdu Municipal Committee. Chengdu is committed to aiding a number of unicorns and making them a pivot in future urban strategy, said the Party Secretary. The Forum was co-hosted by People's Daily Online and the Chengdu municipal government with guidance from China Internet Development Foundation and Asset Management Association of China. A parallel session was also held in Silicon Valley via video link. Business representatives from China and the US discussed technological revolution and innovative models, and opened a window for communication. Related: Chengdu is the newest cradle for unicorn enterprises The Chengdu High-Tech Industrial Development Zone is to set up an investment fund of 10 billion yuan ($1.57 billion) and a gradient cultivation system as part of its efforts to build a cradle for unicorn enterprises, according to a news conference held by the zone on May 18. While they may not boast blue blood, Sylvia Jeffreys and Rebecca Gibney are certainly Australian TV royalty. So it's no surprise the two blondes led the long list of local stars gearing up to celebrate the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. On Saturday, the pair joined notable names including Renee Bargh, Fitzy and Wippa and Simone Ormesher all documenting the occasion on Instagram. Scroll down for video They're TV royalty after all! On Saturday, Sylvia Jeffreys (pictured) led a long list of local stars gearing up to celebrate the Royal Wedding 31-year-old Sylvia shared a snap of herself practising her 'Royal Wave' in the back of a vintage convertible. And while the Channel Nine princess may have the hand gesture just right, she was about as far away from Windsor Castle as you can get - filming for the Today Show in the rural New South Wales town of Mudgee. 'Getting my royal on in Mudgee this morning #1918cadillac' she humorously captioned the image. The Queen of Aussie TV! Logie winner Rebecca uploaded a flashback snap, that showed her in a princess-inspired gown Meanwhile, Gold Logie winner Rebecca uploaded a flashback snap, that showed her in a princess-inspired gown. The Packed to The Rafters star, 53, told fans she shared the stunning image 'in honour of the wedding that I wont be able to watch on the telly tonight because hubby and son will ban me from the remote'. 'Happy Wedding H & M' she added to her hashtags. Chelsy Davy look-a-like: Manchester lass Simone Ormesher was ready to celebrate Bachelor babe Simone Ormesher is a born and raised Brit, so it's no surprise she's exciting for the wedding event of the year. The Manchester lass - who also bares a striking resemblance to Prince Harry's ex Chelsea Davy - appeared on the Instagram account of her BFF, Florence Alexandra. 'The Queen of England preparing for the Royal Wedding,' Florence wrote, adding a crown emoji atop the blonde's head. Someone's excited! Former Biggest Loser trainer Tiffiny Hall also took to her Instagram Stories sharing a picture that saw her with a crown emoji Regal Renee: Renee Bargh looking her regal best in Los Angeles, brandishing a tiara and a royal wave Former Biggest Loser trainer Tiffiny Hall also took to her Instagram Stories sharing a picture that saw her with a crown emoji. It appears the star is quite the fan of the Royal Family, with a framed picture of Queen Elizabeth II in her living area. Meanwhile, Australians abroad were also gearing up for the big event, with Renee Bargh looking her regal best in Los Angeles. 'The countdown is on #royalwedding,' the Extra host captioned. In on the action: Radio star Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald shared a snap from Heathrow Airport They're in the right place! The Today show's Georgie Gardner and Karl Stefanovic posed for a picture outside The Prince Harry pub in British captial A number of notable Aussies were also close to the action, live on the ground in London. Radio star Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald shared a snap from Heathrow Airport, while the Today show's Georgie Gardner and Karl Stefanovic posed for a picture outside The Prince Harry pub in British captial. 60 Minutes star Allison Langdon also took to Instagram while reporting from Windsor, captioning: 'Not long to go now!!!' Oprah Winfrey turned heads at the Royal Wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday. The 64-year-old talk show legend looked sensational in baby pink midi dress that she teamed with a glamorous feather plumed hat. The glamorous gown showed off her svelte figure by cinching in at her small waist and hugging her ample chest. Stunning: Oprah Winfrey turned heads at the Royal Wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday It flared out into a demure knee length skirt that skimmed her long legs, whilst she boosted her frame with a pair of pointed satin heels. The O magazine editor finished off the look with a wide brimmed cream hat that was adorned with an oversized pink feather and flowers. She finished off the look with a pair of oversized pink shades. Chic: The 64-year-old talk show legend looked sensational in baby pink midi dress that she teamed with a glamorous feather plumed hat However, Oprah's preparations for the Royal Wedding did not come without stress. The chat show host revealed she had to change her dress at the last minute after her original frock was too 'white'. Taking to Instagram following the nuptials, Oprah told fans: 'I would like to thank the Stella McCartney team for working all night long to get this dress finished because we had dress gate. Last minute change: However, Oprah's preparations for the Royal Wedding did not come without stress 'Wrong colour! But now we have the right colour, I think we're going to do OK. 'But no thank you so much for working all night.' She captioned the clip: 'Thank you @stellamccartney! Realized Friday morning the beige dress I was planning to wear to Royal ceremony would photograph too white for a wedding. 'Her team did this overnite. Hat is vintage @philiptreacy been in my closet since 2005 with new feathers. OMG was this an extraordinary day! #Harry&Meghan #RoyalWedding #Lovedeveryminute (sic).' Prince Harry was close to tears as he saw Meghan Markle in a simple but beautiful pure white dress. Harry then grabbed his bride's hand and told her: 'You look amazing - I missed you' and said 'thank you, pa' after his father Prince Charles walked her down the aisle of St George's Chapel, Windsor. New dress: The chat show host revealed she had to change her dress at the last minute after her original frock was too 'white' The veil was held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, lent to her by The Queen, made in 1932 - an outfit that left her mother Doria Ragland, 62, in tears. Meghan arrived accompanied by two page boys who held up her train as she made her way up the chapel's steps alone and entered the chapel by herself, to begin the walk down the alter, before being met by the Prince of Wales. Oprah had set tongues wagging that she would be attending the Royal Wedding as she posed for a selfie after watching Tina: The Tina Turner Musical in London's West End. The star was snapped with Hollyoaks star Gerard McCarthy after visiting the cast of the show backstage, with her visit to the UK coming eerily close to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's big day. Speculation has rife as to which stars will be attending the ceremony in Windsor on Saturday, with the names rumoured including David and Victoria Beckham, Priyanka Chopra and Meghan's co-stars from the USA series Suits. On the move: Oprah followed in behind Idris Elba and his girlfriend In the snap, Oprah could be seen beaming with delight as she posed next to Gerard, who took to Instagram to share the snap with the caption: 'When @oprah is at your stage door, you stop for a selfie.... right?! ;) xx' After the show, Oprah was also seen backstage with some of the cast of the West End show, including Adrienne Warren and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. The star looked effortlessly casual in satin tracksuit bottoms and white jacket as she headed backstage at the Aldwych Theatre. Is she going? Oprah had set tongues wagging that she would be attending the Royal Wedding as she posed for a selfie after watching Tina: The Tina Turner Musical in London's West End. Sweet: Prince Harry was close to tears as he saw Meghan Markle in a simple but beautiful pure white dress Delighted: Oprah was snapped backstage at London's Aldwych after enjoying a show of Tina: The Musical posing with its stars Adrienne Warren and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith Thrilled: The talk show legend's appearance has fuelled speculation that she is in London to attend the Royal Wedding Inevitably fans have begun to question whether Oprah's visit to the UK is to attend the Royal Wedding, joining the long list of celebrities rumoured to be attending the ceremony. So far no names have been officially confirmed, although strongly hinted names include David and Victoria Beckham, Priyanka Chopra, fellow Spice Girls Geri Horner and Emma Bunton, and Meghan's co-stars from the USA series Suits. Meghan will be tying the knot with Prince Harry on Saturday in front of 600 guests, and following a last minute change, Prince Charles will be walking her down the aisle. Low-key: Oprah looked effortlessly stylish in a white jacket and tracksuit as she attended the show, with fans wondering she will be heading to Windsor on Saturday Sweet: Oprah embraced Adrienne who plays the music icon Tina Turner in the show Charles will meet the American beauty halfway into the chapel because Meghan had always planned to walk in by herself, without her father and now, the Prince of Wales. The American-born former actress asked him after discussions with Harry and Charles said today he was 'pleased to welcome her to the Royal Family in this way'. Her mother Doria Ragland had been expected to step in for Thomas Markle, whose deal with a paparazzi photographer threatened to overshadow the biggest and happiest day of his daughter's life. Meghan will be driven from Windsor Castle to the chapel and enter at the famous West Door followed by her six bridesmaids and four page boys at around midday. Hinting: Oprah joins a long list of celebrities rumoured to be attending the ceremony, including David and Victoria Beckham, George and Amal Clooney and Priyanka Chopra She's the eldest child of the Beatles legend Paul McCartney and the late Linda McCartney. And Mary McCartney looked every inch the fashion maven as she attended the Eye London Book Launch for Fotografiska at the Swedish Residence in London on Friday afternoon. The photographer, 48, exuded elegance in skinny jeans and a sharp black shirt, embellished with twin bird printing. Style savvy: Mary McCartney looked every inch the fashion maven as she attended the Eye London Book Launch for Fotografiska at the Swedish Residence in London on Friday afternoon Opting for comfort, the raven-haired star donned a pair of off-white canvas trainers by Converse. Mary kept her tools at the ready as she toted her camera in one hand, while carrying a patent clutch bag in the other. The older sister of fashion designer Stella McCartney wore her tresses in a effortless ponytail, and showcased her youthful-looking complexion in minimal makeup. The photographer, 48, exuded elegance in skinny jeans and a sharp black shirt, embellished with twin bird printing Mary previously revealed she was inspired to follow in the footsteps of her mother, who was also a successful photographer. During an interview with The Guardian, the London native admitted: 'My mum was quite a wanderer...she had a real sense of adventure and a cheekiness to her, which is something I like and that I try to take into my style of work.' The artist also touched on previous discussions with Linda, who detailed her past experiences with iconic musicians. Iconic: Mary is the eldest child of the Beatles legend Paul McCartney (pictured above, May 4) and the late Linda McCartney Mary said: 'I remember once we went for an Indian lunch and I grilled her about her early career in photography and particularly about the people she was hanging out with. I was like: "I can't believe you photographed Jimi Hendrix!" I was so jealous.' Forging an impressive career in her own right, the star has created a range of intricate art pieces, including Mother Daughter, Monochrome and Colour and Twelfth Night. In an interview with ELLE, Mary spoke about the origins behind her talent: 'Over the years photography has moved from a way of documenting things to progress into an art form that allows photographers to delve deeper into more emotional and philosophical situations.' She added: 'For me any image I show in an exhibition or include in a limited edition portfolio has been considered to make sure I feel there is a real message or emotion to convey to my viewer.' She's a glamorous mother-of-two. And Nicky Hilton Rothschild, 34, showed no signs of relenting on the fashion stakes, stepping out in a statement striped blazer on Friday evening in West Hollywood. The heiress looked chic dressed in black jeans and top, clutching a candy pink bag decorated with stud detailing. Fashionista: Nicky Hilton Rothschild, 34, is showing no signs of relenting on the fashion stakes, stepping out in a statement striped blazer on Friday evening in West Hollywood Nicky wore her golden tresses loose, letting it fall in waves to her shoulders, and chose simple makeup with a pink lip. The blonde beauty was joined by her mother Kathy, 59, for dinner at trendy Los Angeles spot Craig's. Kathy opted for a more colourful ensemble, wearing a stunning blue shirt over more casual pale denim jeans. Family time: The blonde beauty was joined by her mother Kathy, 59, for dinner at trendy Los Angeles spot Craig's Chic: The heiress looked chic dressed in black jeans and top, clutching a candy pink bag decorated with stud detailing Relaxed: Nicky wore her golden tresses loose, letting it fall in waves to her shoulders, and chose simple makeup with a pink lip She also added a beautiful pair of royal blue feather earrings, and chose to wear her blonde locks in a sleek, straight style. Nicky - whose big sister is socialite and businesswoman Paris Hilton - is married to James Rothschild, grandson of the 3rd Baron Rothschild. James and Nicky tied the knot at the Orangery at Kensington Palace, the London home of William and Kate, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Nottingham Cottage, which is in the grounds of Kensington Palace, happens to be where Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will live. Power couple: Nicky - whose big sister is socialite and businesswoman Paris Hilton - is married to James Rothschild, grandson of the 3rd Baron Rothschild Style: Kathy opted for a more colourful ensemble, wearing a stunning blue shirt over more casual pale denim jeans Romantic: James and Nicky tied the knot at the Orangery at Kensington Palace, the London home of William and Kate, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Before getting married to James, Nicky married her old friend Todd Meister in Las Vegas in 2004, then had the union annulled before the year was out. Nicky and James welcomed their eldest daughter in 2016, and their younger daughter Teddy was born five days before Christmas last year. Meanwhile, Paris, who has never been married before, is currently engaged to little-known actor Chris Zylka, whom she praised to TMZ recently. She said of reports Tristan Thompson cheated on Khloe Kardashian: 'That would never happen to me. My man is amazing.' Separation: Before getting married to James, Nicky married her old pal Todd Meister in Las Vegas in 2004, then had the union annulled before the year was out Advertisement Meghan's Suits co-stars and their spouses took to social media to thank her and her husband for inviting them to the 'beautiful and joyous day.' The Suits cast arrived together on Saturday to support their friend as she tied the knot with Prince Harry at Windsor Castle. Patrick J. Adams, who was Meghan's on-screen husband on the show, arrived along with his actress wife Troian Bellisario. He shared a photo of himself and his wife on Instagram, with the jokey caption: 'Freeloaders #royalwedding.' The other cast members spotted arriving with their respective partners included Gabriel Macht, Sarah Rafferty, Gina Torres, Abigail Spencer and Rick Hoffman. Jacinda Barrett, who attended with husband Macht, shared a photo of herself and her actor husband with a sweet caption thanking the newly appointed Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Patrick J. Adams, who was Meghan's on-screen husband on the show, arrived along with his actress wife Troian Bellisario. He shared a photo of himself and his wife on Instagram, with the jokey caption: 'Freeloaders #royalwedding' Jacinda Barrett, who attended with husband Macht, shared a photo of herself and her actor husband with a sweet caption thanking the newly appointed Duke and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle's on screen husband Patrick J. Adams arrived at the Royal Wedding with his actress wife Troian Bellisario Suits actor Gabriel Macht arrives with his Australian actress wife Jacinda Barrett Suits star Hoffman posted an Instagram video after he became one of the most memorable moments of Saturday's Royal Wedding 'Congratulations Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. What a beautiful and joyous day today was with your lovely family and friends,' she wrote. 'I danced when @eltonjohn sang, laughed at Prince Charles fantastic speech and am honoured to witness your commitment and love for each other. Wishing you a long and happy life together #royalwedding #princeharry #meghanmarkle #windsor.' Suits star Hoffman posted an Instagram video after he became one of the most memorable moments of Saturday's Royal Wedding. The actor, 47 - who starred alongside royal bride Meghan Markle in the US legal drama Suits - looked grumpy throughout the ceremony, but it wasn't boredom that caused the cringing look - but someone's bad breath, he revealed. Sarah Rafferty (left) and Gina Torres (right) arrived with their rest of their Suits' costars Rick Hoffman waved to cameras as he entered Windsor Castle on Saturday morning Suits actress Abigail Spencer (left) arrived with Meghan's other actress friend Priyanka Chopra (right) Hoffman- who had already changed out of his dapper black suit and waistcoat - broke the reception protocol banning phones, to share with fans exactly why his meme-worthy face happened. 'So to answer any questions about the weird face that was made at the wedding, imagine sitting next to people to your right - not knowing which person it was - that has halitosis',' the New York native explained in a video titled 'Royal Wedding Face #Brushyourteeth'. 'Um. Hence the face. That is apparently all over the place. So it's as simple as that, Charlie. Love you guys. Yah. Halitosis. Disgusting.' The Suits cohort were all seated near each other inside the church for the lavish ceremony. Adams donned a classic suit, while his Pretty Little Liars star wife opted for an embellished bell-sleeved cream dress. His character Mike Ross wed Meghan's alter-ego Rachel in the drama Suits in its last season. The actor, who joked that he thought his co-star was popping out to 'get some milk' when her engagement was first announced, poked fun again on Saturday morning with a new Instagram snap of Meghan on the cover of a newspaper. The 36-year-old actor captioned the image: 'I'm beginning to think she might not actually be out getting milk'. Gabriel Macht, who plays formidable star Harvey Specter on the show, attended the wedding wearing a tailored tux and a plum-colored tie. The 46-year-old's wife Jacinda opted for a matching plum dress and fascinator Meghan's on-screen husband Patrick waved to the crowds wearing a classic suit, while his Pretty Little Liars star wife Troian opted for an embellished bell-sleeved cream dress Gabriel Macht, who plays formidable star Harvey Specter on the show, attended the wedding wearing a tailored tux and a plum-colored tie. The 46-year-old's wife Jacinda opted for a matching plum dress and fascinator. Sarah Rafferty, Meghan's self-described 'sister wife', looked glamorous in a navy bell-sleeved dress as she arrived with her husband Aleksanteri Olli-Pekka Seppala. Gina Torres, 49, opted for a bright print dress and a white fedora. Meghan's co-stars started filtering into London throughout the week ahead of the nuptials. Excited: Patrick J. Adams injected a hint of humour into his preparations for the Royal Wedding, as he shared a Instagram snap of Meghan Markle on the cover of a newspaper on Saturday morning Funny: The 36-year-old Suits actor (pictured right) captioned the image: 'I'm beginning to think she might not actually be out getting milk' Macht and Hoffman, who shoot their series in Toronto, each took to theirInstagram accounts this week to share images of themselves both enjoying the English capital and hinting of travel to the UK ahead of the big Berkshire bash. On Wednesday afternoon, Gabriel uploaded a romantic snapshot of himself nuzzling his wife smiling Jacinda Barrett as they relaxed by the water in Hyde Park. The actor's wife of 14 years also shared some images of her own from their leisurely excursion at the central London park - which is just a stone's throw away from Megan and Harry's residence at Kensington Palace. 'Hanging in Hyde Park. Loving our time in #london,' the 45-year-old Australian-born actress wrote beside an image of her and Gabriel hugging as they donned matching sunglasses while gazing out at the scenic views. Meghan's erstwhile Suits co-star Sarah Rafferty also snapshots of her adventures in London and Paris this week with her daughters Oona Gray, 10, and and Iris Friday, six, from her marriage to Aleksanteri Olli-Pekka Seppala. Pals: Meghan spent seven seasons on the hit TV show Suits opposite Patrick, before departing her role as paralegal Rachel Zane last year as her engagement to Prince Harry was announced Soaking up the sights: Gabriel's wife also uploaded snapshots on her own Instagram account on Wednesday, as the couple soaked up the sights at central London's Hyde Park Meghan's Suits 'sister wife' Sarah Rafferty has been spotted near Buckingham Palace with her two daughters Oona and Iris ahead of the royal wedding The day of the Royal Wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has finally arrived, following the couple's engagement in November. And presenters Scarlett Moffatt and Phillip Schofield took to their social media accounts on Saturday to share their excitement as they prepare to take on their hosting duties for the highly-anticipated event in Windsor. The Gogglebox star, 28, was joined by a host of high-profile presenters who also treated their fans to a glimpse of the nuptials, including Dermott O'Leary, Charlotte Hawkins and Ore Oduba. Beaming: Scarlett Moffatt and Phillip Schofield took to their social media accounts on Saturday to share their excitement as they prepare to take on their hosting duties for the Royal Wedding Taking on the role as BBC Radio One's royal correspondent, Scarlett appeared in high spirits as she shared a series of snaps from the glitzy location. The TV personality oozed confidence for her impressive task as she sported a pastel pink pantsuit, tied in with a plain white top. Taking to her Instagram stories, the I'm A Celebrity Star beamed with pride as she held up a Union Jack flag with Harry and Meghan's faces plastered on it. Star-studded: The Gogglebox star, 28, and This Morning's host, 56, were joined by a host of high-profile presenters who also treated their fans to a glimpse of the nuptials Scarlett captioned the image: 'Expect a full on documentary of the royal wedding on my insta story.' Phillip, 56, also took to his widely-followed account to post an picture with his co-host Julie Etchingham, penning: 'It's our second wedding!' The This Morning star put on a typically dapper display in his sharp suit, while Julie cut a demure figure in a lace midi dress. Having fun: Taking on the role as BBC Radio One's royal correspondent, Scarlett appeared in high spirits as she shared a series of snaps from the glitzy location In an interview with The Sun, Julie, 48 - who is covering the wedding with ITV - shared her eagerness for the event. She said: 'Its thrilling and one of the great privileges of this job...Phillip and I will be situated on The Long Walk where the [bride and grooms] carriage will go past.' 'The most important thing for us is not just to bring our viewers the best possible pictures at every moment, but also to soak up the atmosphere and make them feel like they are there.' Giddy: Ore, 32, also showcased his joy in hosting the event, as he wrote: 'When you're presenting on the #royalwedding from Windsor Castle but have to check you put your pants on' Glowing: Charlotte Hawkins looked utterly radiant in her pale blue frock, as she shared her excitment: 'The big day is here! On air with @itv from 9.25am-3pm for all the #RoyalWedding action' 'Harry is incredibly engaging, tactile, warm, funny and thoughtful...And I think Meghan a mixed-race American divorcee signals an extraordinary next chapter for the Royal Family.' Ore, 32, also showcased his joy in hosting the event, as he wrote: 'When you're presenting on the #royalwedding from Windsor Castle but have to check you put your pants on @bbcone from 9am LET'S GET EM MARRIED.' Charlotte, 43, looked utterly radiant in her pale blue frock, as she shared her excitement: 'The big day is here! On air with @itv from 9.25am-3pm for all the #RoyalWedding action.' Hosting duties: Presenters Alex Jones and Dermot O' Leary were also spotted attending to the event Presenters Alex Jones and Dermot O' Leary were also spotted attending to the event. Prince Harry was close to tears as he saw Meghan Markle in a simple but beautiful pure white dress. Harry then grabbed his bride's hand and told her: 'You look amazing - I missed you' and said 'thank you, pa' after his father Prince Charles walked her down the aisle of St George's Chapel, Windsor. The veil was held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, lent to her by The Queen, made in 1932 - an outfit that left her mother Doria Ragland, 62, in tears. Meghan arrived accompanied by two page boys who held up her train as she made her way up the chapel's steps alone and entered the chapel by herself, to begin the walk down the alter, before being met by the Prince of Wales. Victoria Beckham was effortlessly chic in a navy blue dress as she joined husband David in attending the Royal Wedding on Saturday. The 44-year-old fashion beauty highlighted her trim figure in the classic dress with the belted neckline as she arrived at Windsor, along with David, 43, who was dapper in a double-breasted dress suit. Victoria joined a slew of celebrities making their way into the church for the ceremony, along with Hollywood superstar Tom Hardy, actress Carey Mulligan and superstar duo George and Amal Clooney. Chic: Victoria Beckham was effortlessly stylish in a navy midi dress as she arrived at the Royal Wedding on Saturday with husband David Victoria's look proved eerily similar to the one she wore to the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011, although her dress was looser then as she was six months pregnant at the time. Finishing off her look with a simple navy fascinator and orange pointed-toe heels, the fashion designer had her brunette tresses tied back in a simple updo. Meanwhile David's suit was noticeably without his OBE medal as he chatted to celebrity guests at the ceremony and the pair were greeted by throng of fans as they made their way into the church. On point: Victoria showed off her slim physique in the navy blue dress with a midi skirt and cut-out neckline, finished the look with orange pointed toe heels and a blue fascinator Loved-up: The couple originally arrived at the star-studded nuptials hand-in-hand, with David looking dapper in a double-breasted dress uit On the guestlist: David and Victoria Beckham famously attended the 2011 wedding between the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, when Victoria was six months pregnant Throwback: The stars look for this day proved eerily similar to back then, thought Victoria's dress was more fitted Victoria's appearance came amid ongoing speculation as to whether her fellow Spice Girls had also been invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's big day. Despite Mel B's claim that all five members of the Spice Girls - Mel B (Scary Spice), Mel C (Sporty Spice), Emma Bunton (Baby Spice), Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice), and Victoria (Posh Spice) - would be attending, only three bagged an invite. A source told the New York Post's Page Six column this week: 'Only Victoria [Beckham], Emma [Bunton] and Geri [Horner] were invited, so clearly, the Spice Girls were never going to perform.' Happy: Victoria's dress sported a sleeved overlay that she had draped across her shoulders Friendly: The duo were ever-jovial as they made their way into the church, along with a slew of other celebrity guests in attendance Hello! David greeted a policeman outside the ceremony, and looked typically smart for the morning event Mr Cool: Shielding his eyes from the blazing sunshine, the football legend rocked tortoiseshell framed sunglasses with his ensemble Looking good: David and Victoria join a slew of celebrity guests in attendance for the ceremony It's said that Sir Elton John is performing instead; with Ed Sheeran previously rumoured as a potential musical guest. David and Victoria Beckham famously attended the 2011 wedding between the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Westminster Abbey. The iconic girl group have had several encounters with the royals - with Geri famous for 'pinching' Prince Charles' bottom at the Spice World: The Movie premiere in 1997. Geri insisted to The Times in 2016: 'I didnt pinch Prince Charless bum, as was reported. I patted it. 'Patting him on the bottom was against royal protocol but were all human. It was the premiere of our film, Spice World, in the late Nineties. 'There was a lot of nervous energy young women, happy antics.' When 5 become 3: Only three of the Spice Girls received an invite to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - Geri Horner, Emma Bunton and Victoria Beckham The groom, Harry, famously held hands with Victoria when he and his father Charles attended the pop group's concert in Johannesburg in 1997. All five of the girls flanked the heirs to the throne, who looked notably giddy at the time. Charles even sent a letter to Geri when she left the group in 1998 [before rejoining again in 2007]. 'What will I do without your wonderfully friendly greeting?' he penned. Old pals: The iconic girl group have had several encounters with the royals [pictured at the pop group's concert in Johannesburg in 1997] Mel B was in London last week, and met up for a second time this year with the ladies - but only Emma and Geri were present. She is now back home in Los Angeles. Back in February, Mel had hinted that the Spice Girls would be performing at Prince Harry's wedding to actress Meghan Markle - which is now only a few days away. The group are said to be in talks to take on a number of projects this year - including endorsement deals and a TV project - but had fans hoping that they would be performing at the royal wedding too. Mel was asked on the talk show The Real if she knew anyone attending the nuptials - with Mel nodding in response, and mouthing:'Yeah, Im going... I don't know if I should've said that!' When asked if anyone else they knew would be attending, Mel continued: 'Well us five Spice Girls... why am I so honest?' Cute: The groom, Harry, famously held hands with Victoria when he and his father Charles attended their concert On the list: Emma will be in attendance on Saturday, alongside three of the other Spice Girls Big fans: All five of the girls flanked the heirs to the throne, who looked notably giddy at the time While she wouldn't divulge what the invitations looked like, as she felt that was 'too personal', she did come over all coy when asked whether the Spice Girls would be performing at the wedding after the ceremony. The star didn't verbally confirm the news, but once the question was asked she threw her cue cards into the air, and quipped: 'I swear I'm just ... I need to go, I'm going to be fired. I'm gonna be fired.' However, bandmate Mel C appeared to quash her claims a month later at the Prince's Trust Awards. Speaking to HELLO!, she said: 'I've met Prince Charles lots of times. I'm going to ask him where my invite is because I haven't got mine yet, obviously Mel B said she has hers. 'I think Mel was just kind of having a bit of a joke. There are no plans to go to the wedding at the moment.' Back together: Mel B was in London last week, and met up for a second time this year with the ladies - but only Emma and Geri were present Prince Harry was close to tears as he saw Meghan Markle in a simple but beautiful pure white dress. Harry then grabbed his bride's hand and told her: 'You look amazing - I missed you' and said 'thank you, pa' after his father Prince Charles walked her down the aisle of St George's Chapel, Windsor. The veil was held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, lent to her by The Queen, made in 1932 - an outfit that left her mother Doria Ragland, 62, in tears. Meghan arrived accompanied by two page boys who held up her train as she made her way up the chapel's steps alone and entered the chapel by herself, to begin the walk down the alter, before being met by the Prince of Wales. Advertisement They are one of Hollywood's hottest couples and turn heads at every star-studded event they attend. And George and Amal Clooney attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Royal Wedding at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, England, on Saturday. Making their highly-anticipated debut at Windsor Castle, the actor 57, and his wife, 40, made sure they stayed in the spotlight as they joined the likes of Victoria and David Beckham, as well as Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian. Glamorous: George and Amal Clooney joined the likes of Victoria and David Beckham, as well as Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian as they attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 's Royal Wedding at Windsor Castle on Saturday Amal looked sensational as she showed off her slender figure and turned heads in a fitted mustard yellow dress, designed by Stella McCartney, with a matching fascinator and netting, accessorizing with some dazzling jewels from Lorraine Schwartz. The human rights lawyer styled her brunette locks into a curly blow-dried hairdo, which was elegantly swept to the side. She added a full face of glamorous Charlotte Tilbury make-up for the big day, including eye liner and a subtle dark nude lipstick. Glowing: Making their highly-anticipated debut at Windsor Castle, the actor 57, and his wife, 40, made sure they stayed in the spotlight as they dressed to impress for the special nuptials Wow! Amal looked sensational as she showed off her slender figure and turned heads in a fitted mustard yellow dress, designed by Stella McCartney, with a matching fascinator, accessorizing with Lorraine Schwartz jewels Yummy mummy: The human rights lawyer styled her brunette locks into a curly blow-dried hairdo, which was elegantly swept to the side Gorgeous: She added a full face of glamorous Charlotte Tilbury make-up for the big day, including eye liner and a subtle dark red lipstick Dapper: Meanwhile, her husband, George, looked dapper in a fitted grey suit with a light blue shirt and yellow striped tie completed with black dress shoes Meanwhile, her husband, George, looked dapper in a fitted grey suit with a light blue shirt and yellow striped tie completed with black dress shoes. The couple joined the likes of David and Victoria Beckham, Oprah Winfrey, Serena Williams, Elton John, James Corden, Idris Elba and Priyanka Chopra - to name a few, at the star-studded wedding. Victoria, 44, looked effortlessly chic in a navy blue dress as she joined her husband David, 43, at the highly-anticipated nuptials. Happy: Amal and her husband George appeared loved-up as they made their way to the wedding while smiling and laughing with each other Friendly: At one stage, the ER actor put on a charming display as he spoke and greeted a police officer who stood guard outside St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle Stunning: Amal's fascinator looked elegant with a matching mustard yellow netting with bits of gold attached to it Glamorous: The human rights lawyer accessorised her ensemble with a set of dangly diamond pendant earrings The fashion designer highlighted her trim figure in the classic dress with the belted neckline along with her husband who was dapper in a double-breasted dress suit. Oprah, 64, looked sensational in baby pink midi dress, designed by Stella McCartney, that she teamed with a glamorous feather plumed hat. The glamorous gown showed off her svelte figure by cinching in at her small waist and hugging her ample chest. Chic: Victoria Beckham was effortlessly stylish in a navy midi dress as she arrived at the Royal Wedding on Saturday with husband David Beckham On point: Victoria showed off her slim physique in the navy blue dress with a midi skirt and cut-out neckline, she finished the look with orange pointed toe heels and a blue fascinator Friendly: The former England captain shook hands with a very smartly-dressed policeman as the couple arrived at the chapel It flared out into a demure knee length skirt that skimmed her long legs, whilst she boosted her frame with a pair of pointed satin heels. The O magazine editor finished off the look with a wide brimmed cream hat that was adorned with an oversized pink feather and flowers. Serena, 35, looked sensational in a figure-hugging pink dress, which had wrap detailing at the front. Handsome: David sported a smart pair of sunglasses as the world-famous couple walked past crowds to the castle British singer and fashion designer Victoria is said to have got to know Meghan while moving in fashion circles, while David has campaigned alongside Prince Harry over the years Friendly: The duo were ever-jovial as they made their way into the church, along with a slew of other celebrity guests in attendance The tennis champion joined her Reddit co-founder husband, Alexis Ohanian, 35, at Windsor castle, who wore a black tailcoat with pinstriped trousers, a grey waistcoat and turquoise tie. Serena completed her glamorous look with matching coloured heels and fascinator, silver jewellery and a metallic clutch bag. Elton, 71, appeared in good spirits as he waved and smiled to the crowds of fans outside as he made his way to the star-studded wedding of the year. Inside the ceremony: The married couple couldn't contain their excitement and smiles as they sat inside St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle Fun guests: David and Victoria were seen talking to Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish as well as singer James Blunt after celebrities filed into the chapel Stunning: Oprah Winfrey turned heads at the Royal Wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday Chic: The 64-year-old talk show legend looked sensational in baby pink midi dress, designed by Stella McCartney, that she teamed with a glamorous feather plumed hat Strike a pose: The talk show host knew how to work her best angles as she posed up a storm outside St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle The Can You Feel The Love Tonight hitmaker looked very smart in a grey tailcoat with pinstriped trousers, a grey waistcoat and turquoise tie, he added a pair of pink circle glasses. He was joined by his filmmaker husband, David Furnish, 55, who wore a matching ensemble but added a patterned blue shirt and red tie. James, 39, who was joined by his television producer wife, Julia Carey, wore a black tailcoat with pinstriped trousers a white shirt and a dark tie. Gorgeous couple: Actor Idris Elba and his model fiancee Sabrina Dhowre give photographers a wave as they hold hands on their way into Windsor Castle for the ceremony Friends: The actor, 45, and the model, 29, were followed by Oprah as they all made their way inside to the chapel Happy: Idris Elba, a former beneficiary of The Prince's Trust, leaves St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle after the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry The Gavin & Stacey star appeared in high spirits as he stuck his thumb up to the crowds and laughed while holding hands with partner. Idris, 45, who was joined by his model fiancee Sabrina Dhowre, wore a black suit with a crisp white shirt and matching dark tie to attend the wedding. Sabrina, 29, looked gorgeous in a white dress with a red collar, she teamed the outfit with a black jacket with a red and green detailing on the hems and gold buttons. Inspirational: The Luther star, who grew up in Hackney, East London, was picked on by gangs before the charity helped him pursue his acting dream Friendly: The foursome appeared in good spirits as they smiled and waved at the crowds outside Wow!: Serena Williams, 35, looked sensational in a figure-hugging pink dress, which had wrap detailing at the front Smitten: The tennis champion joined her Reddit co-founder husband, Alexis Ohanian, 35, who wore a black tailcoat with pinstriped trousers, a grey waistcoat and turquoise tie Priyanka, 35, put on an elegant display in a stunning fitted lilac suit, with a dress and a structured jacket with buttons on it, completing her look with a matching hat, and some Lorraine Schwartz jewelry. She styled her brunette locks into a sleek sweptback hairdo, as she added a full face of glamorous make-up including a dark red lipstick. Also attending the event were Hollywood superstar Tom Hardy, Chloe Madeley, James Haskell, Jonny Wilkinson, James Blunt, singer Joss Stone and actress Carey Mulligan. Stylish: Elton looked very smart in a grey tailcoat with pinstriped trousers, a grey waistcoat and turquoise tie, he added a pair of pink circle glasses Excited: Sir Elton John (right) waves to the excited crowds gathered outside the chapel in Windsor, as James Blunt follows close behind (left) Happy: Elton, 71, appeared in good spirits as he waved and smiled to the crowds of fans outside as he made his way to the star-studded wedding of the year The big day: The superstar appeared deep in discussion as he chatted away to guests ahead of the ceremony Beaming: Sir Elton John looked cheery as he attended the Royal Wedding in smart grey suit and a pair of circular pink sunglasses Wow! Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra put on an elegant display as she attended the Royal Wedding Stunning: The actress, 35, showed off her slender figure in a stunning fitted lilac suit and matching hat, accessorizing with Lorraine Schwartz jewelry Tom, 40, looked dapper in a navy blue suit with a matching waistcoat, adding a crisp white shirt, dark patterned tie and black sunglasses - he teamed the ensemble with a silver tie pin and a gold animal brooch on his jacket. He showed off his shaved head, a necessity for his latest role as the notorious Al Capone in new film Fonzo, as he made his way inside St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. Meanwhile, his wife Charlotte Riley, 36, looked stunning as she arrived for the Royal Wedding, wearing a black dress with a floral print and frill detailing. She kept her dark tresses in a simple style, pulled back from her face, and added an intricate black fascinator dotted with beautiful flowers and a black veil. Newly-engaged Chloe, 30, set pulses racing as she showed off her toned figure in a plunging nude pink dress with gold chain detailing around the waist. Gorgeous: Charlotte Riley, 36, looked stunning as she arrived for the Royal Wedding in Windsor, wearing a black dress with a floral print and frill detailing with husband Tom Hardy On the guestlist: James Corden arrived with his wife Julia, giving a thumbs up to the crowd Power couple: The chat show host was suited and booted while Julia looked incredible in a pink dress with soft peplum sleeves Wow: Chloe Madeley, 30, showed off her toned figure in a plunging nude pink dress with gold chain detailing around the waist - pictured with her rugby player fiance James Haskell Cute: The couple posed for photographers in the castle's grounds after guests left the chapel She styled her blonde locks into a swept back hairdo, as she added a matching coloured fascinator to her look and a slick of glamorous make-up. Her rugby player fiance, James Haskell, wore a blue suit with a matching coloured waistcoat, crisp white shirt, a red tie and shiny black dress shoes. Meanwhile, James Blunt, 44, and his wife - granddaughter of the 8th Duke of Wellington, Alexandra Sofia Wellesley, 34, looked elegant at the wedding. Alexandra wore a cream dress with a colourful embroidered pattern, which also had collar detailing, with a large cream fascinator. Sweet: Rugby legend Jonny Wilkinson and his wife Shelley Jenkins arrive at the Windsor church to watch the royal wedding ceremony Expecting: The retired player cut a dapper figure in a navy suit while Shelley showed off her burgeoning bump in a pale pink midi dress Beauty: Alexandra Sofia Wellesley, 34, looked stunning in an embroided dress as she attended the Royal Wedding in Windsor on Saturday with husband James Blunt Party ready: The mother-of-one pulled back her blonde tresses in a simple style, showing off her statement gold earrings James looked dapper and very smart as he donned a black tailcoat with pinstriped trousers, a grey waistcoat, crisp white shirt, turquoise tie and black dress shoes. British songstress Joss, 31, showed off her trim physique in the delicate white frock with floral detailing as she made her way into St George's chapel. With her blonde tresses effortlessly curled and the look finished off with a cream fascinator, she looked effortlessly pretty as she attended the star-studded nuptials. Gorgeous: Singer Joss Stone, 31, was effortlessly pretty in a white floral frock as she made her way into the Royal Wedding Lovely: The usually bohemian singer joined a female companion as she made her way into the church, finishing her look with black heels and a cream fascinator Star-studded: Carey Mulligan put on a typically stylish appearance as she attended the Royal Wedding with her husband Marcus Mumford Glitzy: Looking every inch the yummy mummy, the actress slipped her slender frame into a white semi-sheer dress, embellished with delicate multi-coloured floral prints throughout Carey, 32, looked typically elegant as she slipped her slender frame into a white semi-sheer dress, embellished with delicate multi-coloured floral prints throughout. Also attending the wedding were Meghan's former Suits co-stars, such as actor Patrick Adams, 36, actress Sarah Rafferty, 45, and producer Silver Tree. George and Amal became friends with Meghan after being introduced via a mutual friend when she moved to England, with the pair even sharing the same hairdresser. 'Meghan and Amal have known each other for a while' a source told People, the insider added the human rights lawyer and the former Suits actress, 36, share 'many of the same interests'. The whole cast: Patrick Adams, Meghan Markle's on-screen lover in legal drama Suits, arrives at St George's Chapel with his actress wife Troian Bellisario Excited: Rick Hoffman, who plays Louis Litt in Suits waved to the cameras as he headed into the chapel Famous faces: Suits stars Gabriel Macht (left with his wife Jacinda Barrett) and Sarah Rafferty (right with her husband Santtu Seppala) arrive at St George's Chapel Sweet: Prince Harry was close to tears as he saw Meghan Markle in a simple but beautiful pure white dress On Saturday, Prince Charles met the American beauty halfway into the chapel - something Meghan had always planned to do, walk in by herself, without her father. Prince Harry was close to tears as he saw Meghan Markle in a simple but beautiful pure white dress, which showed off her slender figure. Harry then grabbed his bride's hand and told her: 'You look amazing - I missed you' and said 'thank you, pa' after his father Prince Charles walked her down the aisle of St George's Chapel, Windsor. The veil was held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, lent to her by The Queen, made in 1932 - an outfit that left her mother Doria Ragland, 62, in tears. Meghan arrived accompanied by two page boys who held up her train as she made her way up the chapel's steps alone and entered the chapel by herself, to begin the walk down the alter, before being met by the Prince of Wales. Wedded bliss: The loved-up couple appeared in high spirits as they waved to the adoring crowds following the grande ceremony James Corden put on an incredibly sharp display as he attended the Royal Wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with his wife Julia Carey in Windsor on Saturday. The talk show host, 39, appeared in high spirits while walking hand-in-hand with the 41-year-old TV producer, as they prepared to take their seats at the highly-anticipated event. The A League of Their Own star sported a longline suit jacket, grey striped trousers and a crisp white shirt. Loved-up: James Corden put on an incredibly sharp display as he attended the Royal Wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with his wife Julia Carey in Windsor on Saturday Complementing his suave look, James teamed his outfit with a classic black tie and patent brogues. Meanwhile, Julia wore a light pink fascinator and slipped into a matching dress, which accentuated her slender figure. The blonde beauty tied in her ensemble with a pair of nude stilettos, while toting a bedazzled clutch bag. Beaming: The talk show host, 39, appeared in high spirits while walking hand-in-hand with the 41-year-old TV producer, as they prepared to take their seats at the highly-anticipated event Injecting more glamour into her look, the mother-of-three accessorised with pearl dangle earrings and wore heavy strokes of make-up. Prince Harry was close to tears as he saw Meghan Markle in a simple but beautiful pure white dress. Harry then grabbed his bride's hand and told her: 'You look amazing - I missed you' and said 'thank you, pa' after his father Prince Charles walked her down the aisle of St George's Chapel, Windsor. Sharp: The A League of Their Own star sported a longline suit jacket, grey striped trousers and a crisp white shirt The veil was held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, lent to her by The Queen, made in 1932 - an outfit that left her mother Doria Ragland, 62, in tears. Meghan arrived accompanied by two page boys who held up her train as she made her way up the chapel's steps alone and entered the chapel by herself, to begin the walk down the alter, before being met by the Prince of Wales. Ahead of the ceremony, it was announced that Harry and his American bride will be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Harry also received Scottish and Northern Irish titles, becoming the Earl of of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel, which means Meghan will become the Countess of Dumbarton and Baroness Kilkeel. All eyes on them: Meanwhile, Julia wore a light pink fascinator and slipped into a matching dress, which accentuated her slender figure Australian actress Jacinda Barrett has turned heads at the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry to former actress Meghan Markle. The 45-year-old walked arm-in-arm with her husband Gabriel Macht, who co-starred with Meghan in the legal drama Suits, as they approached Windsor Castle on Saturday. The blonde beauty looked elegant maroon figure hugging dress and a matching fascinator. Scroll down for video Looking regal! Jacinda Barrett (pictured with husband, Suits actor Gabriel Macht) looked elegant in a maroon figure-hugging dress and a matching fascinator as she attends the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle Her frock featured pleated details on her shoulders, as well as a triangle cutout at the top of her cleavage. The bodice of her dress showcased her slender figure, which then flowed out to a pleated mid-length skirt. She teamed the look with a pair of black heels and accessorised with a matching maroon clutch and a broach on her left. Marvellous in maroon: She teamed the look with a pair of black heels and accessorised with a matching maroon clutch and a broach on her left Dapper: Alongside the Australian-born beauty was her husband, actor Gabriel Macht who looked dapper in his suit and vest. He donned a pair of black frame glasses and kept the theme of maroon in his outfit with his tie Her fascinator featured a netting material structured in an upwards fashion on the cap. Underneath the headpiece, the blonde's luscious locks cascaded down her delicate shoulders. Alongside the Australian-born beauty was her husband, actor Gabriel Macht who looked dapper in his suit and vest. Royal wedding ready! The couple looked excited as they made their way to St George's Chapel He donned a pair of black frame glasses and kept the theme of maroon in his outfit with his tie. The couple looked excited as they made their way to St George's Chapel. They walked with celebrities such as Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian, James Corden with his wife Julia Carey, as well as George Clooney and wife, international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney. Security forces are deployed around Santa Fe High School in Texas, the United States, on May 18, 2018. Eight to ten people have been killed after a shooter opened fire inside Santa Fe High School Friday morning in the southeast of Houston, in the U.S. state of Texas, local police said. (Xinhua/Steven Song) Ten people were killed and another ten wounded when a shooter opened fire inside Santa Fe High School in the southeast of Houston, in the U.S. state of Texas, Friday morning, Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed. During a press briefing near the high school, Abbott said, "It is with a very heavy heart that I can confirm that as of this time, there have been 10 lives that have been lost and another 10 that have been wounded." "We grieve for the victims who lost their lives at Santa Fe High School and we pray for the families who are suffering and will continue to suffer in the days to come," he added. The governor described the shooting as "one of the hideous attacks" that has ever happened in the histories of Texas schools, a place of learning where parents should be able to send their children without fear for their children's safety. Earlier, law enforcement identified the suspect as 17-year-old Santa Fe student Dimitrios Pagourtzis. Abbott said Pagourtzis gave himself up to the police without the courage of committing suicide which he planned to do. In his journals and computer, the suspect said he wanted to commit the shooting and then suicide. The suspect is currently at the Santa Fe Police Department, police said. The governor also confirmed that two weapons were used in the attack, a shotgun and a .38 revolver. Both weapons are legally owned by the suspect's father. There is no information whether the father is aware that the son took the weapons. Abbott said different kinds of explosive devices were detected in a home and in a vehicle of the shooter. Several law enforcement agencies are working together to analyze the explosives. Earlier in the day, an unnamed Santa Fe police officer told reporters the suspect shooter was in custody and another person was detained and questioned. "Both of them are students," he said. The officer urged local residents to stay alarmed and call 911 when seeing something suspicious. Local police also confirmed that a Santa Fe Independent School District (ISD) officer was injured in the shooting and is under surgery with critical condition. Several ambulances, including a mass casualty ambulance, along with multiple Life Flight helicopters, were seen at the site. Multiple victims were transported to a nearby hospital, some of them in critical condition. Interviewed by media, several students said they had been trained what to do when a shooting happens, but never thought a real shooting would happen. Santa Fe High School is located in Galveston County, about 54 km southeast of downtown Houston. There are about 1,400 students in the high school. Santa Fe is a city with a population of about 13,000. The school was on lockdown Friday. The county is about 360 km east of Sutherland Springs, Texas, where a gunman barged into a church last November and murdered 26 people. Spice Girls fans have eagerly anticipated the group's attendance at the Royal Wedding. However, Emma Bunton, 42, and Geri Horner, 45, did not bag an invite to the most talked about ceremony of the year. But some onlookers mistook Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, for Geri as she arrived at the chapel in Windsor. Lookalike? Some people thought that Sarah Ferguson was Geri Horner as the duchess arrived at the ceremony Not on the guest list: It appears Emma Bunton, 42, and Geri Horner (pictured), 45, did not bag an invite to the most talked about wedding of the year One commenter wrote online, 'The embarrassing moment when you confuse Fergie with Geri Halliwell', with another wrote 'Thought the Duchess of York was Geri Halliwell'. Emma and Geri were noticably absent from the star studded event at St George's Chapel on Saturday, while Victoria and David Beckham made a glamorous appearance. Emma uploaded a picture of herself after the royal ceremony with a bridal veil on, alongside the caption 'If you can't join them, be them!'. Earlier on Saturday, the former Spice Girl posted a selfie of herself wearing a hot pink fascinator with the caption 'Who else is ready for today?? #harryandmeghan #weddinghat #houseparty'. Awkward: One commenter wrote online, 'The embarrassing moment when you confuse Fergie with Geri Halliwell' Mistaken identity: Some onlookers mistook Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, for Geri as she arrived at the chapel in Windsor Having fun: Emma uploaded a picture of herself after the royal ceremony with a bridal veil on, alongside the caption 'If you can't join them, be them!' Dressed up: Emma posted a selfie of herself wearing a hot pink hat with the caption 'Who else is ready for today?? #harryandmeghan #weddinghat #houseparty' It was rumoured that the Spice Girls would perform during the big day, but one source previously told the New York Post's Page Six column: 'Only Victoria [Beckham], Emma [Bunton] and Geri [Horner] were invited, so clearly, the Spice Girls were never going to perform.' Their lack of attendance led to many people taking to Twitter to ask where they were and when they would be playing. The iconic girl group have had several encounters with the royals - with Geri famous for 'pinching' Prince Charles' bottom at the Spice World: The Movie premiere in 1997. Geri insisted to The Times in 2016: 'I didnt pinch Prince Charless bum, as was reported. I patted it. Confused: Lots of online jokers were pointing out the similarities between Geri and the duchess Gossip: It was previously rumoured that the Spice Girls would perform during the big day Where are they? Some viewers took to Twitter to voice their confusion as to where the Spice Girls were 'Patting him on the bottom was against royal protocol but were all human. It was the premiere of our film, Spice World, in the late Nineties. There was a lot of nervous energy young women, happy antics.' The groom, Harry, famously held hands with Victoria when he and his father Charles attended the pop group's concert in Johannesburg in 1997. All five of the girls flanked the heirs to the throne, who looked notably giddy at the time. Speculation: One disappointed fan wondered if the girls had been disinvited from the wedding Fans: The former band were rumoured to be playing during Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's big day Charles even sent a letter to Geri when she left the group in 1998 [before rejoining again in 2007]. 'What will I do without your wonderfully friendly greeting?' he penned. Mel B was in London last week, and met up for a second time this year with the ladies - but only Emma and Geri were present. She then flew back home to Los Angeles. Power couple: Victoria and David Beckham made a glamorous appearance at the ceremony in Windsor Prince Harry was close to tears as he saw Meghan Markle in a simple but beautiful pure white dress. Harry then grabbed his bride's hand and told her: 'You look amazing - I missed you' and said 'thank you, pa' after his father Prince Charles walked her down the aisle of St George's Chapel, Windsor. The veil was held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, lent to her by The Queen, made in 1932 - an outfit that left her mother Doria Ragland, 62, in tears. Meghan arrived accompanied by two page boys who held up her train as she made her way up the chapel's steps alone and entered the chapel by herself, to begin the walk down the alter, before being met by the Prince of Wales. Sweet: Prince Harry was close to tears as he saw Meghan Markle in a simple but beautiful pure white dress She may be the daughter of fiery Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Rinna, but Delilah Belle Hamlin is carving out a career all of her own. The 19-year-old rising model ensured all eyes were on her as she opened the Koral Activewear show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Sydney, on Thursday. The social media sensation certainly took centre-stage as she strutted down the runway in a skimpy blue swimsuit and palm-tree print hooded jacket. Commanding the catwalk: Delilah Belle Hamlin, 19, struts her stuff in a skimpy swimsuit at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week... after revealing she's the same dress size as her RHOBH mother Lisa Rinna, 54 Letting her sports-luxe look do all the talking, the blonde beauty rocked a pair of black double-strap sandals. She wore her ombre-hued tresses in a sleek middle-parting and framed her striking features with a simple slick of clear lipgloss and taupe eyeshadow. Delilah - whose younger sister Amelia, 16, is also a model - looked utterly at home on the catwalk. Looking good: The social media sensation certainly took centre-stage as she strutted down the runway in a blue swimsuit and palm-tree print hooded jacket Turning heads: Letting her sports-luxe look do all the talking, the blonde beauty rocked a pair of black double-strap sandals The reality star opened the show after jetting into Sydney from New York, and said she found that Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week was more 'chilled' than the Big Apple. Delilah got her first taste of fame after appearing on The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills alongside her mother Lisa, 54. She admitted that despite their three-decade age gap, she can wear anything from her 'shopaholic' mum's closet because they are the same dress size. Ready for her close-up: She wore her ombre-hued tresses in a sleek middle-parting and framed her striking features with a simple slick of clear lipgloss and taupe eyeshadow Here come the girls: Delilah - whose younger sister Amelia, 16, is also a model - looked utterly at home on the catwalk as she strutted her stuff for the American active label 'We have a different sense of style. Instagram and being in the fashion industry has made me realise what I like and it's always changing,' she told 9Style. 'But the great thing about my mum is that we both have the same shoe size, same clothing size. I can wear anything from her closet which is great as she is a shopaholic!' Delilah also revealed that while she is content with modelling for the moment, she would love to pursue a singing career in five years' time. 'I have long-term goals, I would love to start designing clothing and I sing so I would love to release an album,' she gushed. Famous mum: Delilah got her first taste of fame after appearing on The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills alongside her mother Lisa, 54 (pictured with Lisa and her sister Amelia) It comes after the teen hit the headlines in January, after admitted she learned her oral sex technique at the age of 12 from her mother's sex guide, The Big Fun Sexy Sex Book. In an embarrassing on-air admission, Delilah said: 'I was like 12 when I saw this. It literally teaches you how to give head.' 'Very precisely,' added her 16-year-old sister Amelia during the episode of RHOBH. 'If you're gonna learn, you better learn it right,' Rinna replied. Joanna Burgess welcomed her son Boston with her NRL star husband George, in April last year. And now the proud parents are expecting again - and this time a little girl is on the way. The 28-year-old former model took to Instagram on Saturday to show off her blossoming baby bump. Bumping along nicely! Heavily pregnant WAG Joanna Burgess flaunts her baby belly in a white T-shirt... as she and husband George countdown the weeks until they meet their 'little lady' Dressed casually in a pair of trousers and a plain white top, the expecting mum lifted up her clothing to reveal her stomach. Joanna and 26-year-old George are expecting their daughter in August, after the pair tied the knot back in December 2016. Her doting husband - who plays for the South Sydney Rabbitohs - also took to the photo-sharing site to post a baby bump picture just a few days ago. Bun in the oven! Joanna, 28, and 26-year-old husband George are expecting their daughter in August '25 weeks': George, 26, also shared a bump shot on Instagram and revealed there's only 15 weeks to go until the pair meet their baby girl The black-and-white shot zoomed in on his wife's tummy. George captioned the sweet snap: '25 weeks... 15 to go until we meet our little lady.' Meanwhile Joanna previously revealed to The Daily Telegraph that motherhood strengthened her relationship with her husband. 'It's brought us closer': Joanna previously revealed that the birth of son Boston, one, strengthened her relationship with husband George 'It's brought George and I even closer,' she gushed. 'It's been a challenge but the best challenge - words can't even describe it,' Joanna told the publication of first-time motherhood. 'There is just so much love in our life. And it's brought George and I even closer,' she continued. The interior design student also added that little Boston 'definitely looks like his dad'. Allison Langdon has accused Meghan Markle of 'copying' the wedding dress worn by Princess Mary in her 2004 wedding to Prince Frederik. The Channel Nine presenter claimed the former Suits actress' understated boat-neck gown seemed 'familiar' and wouldn't be 'setting wedding trends'. Allison also took a swipe at the Duchess of Cambridge's decision to wear her Alexander McQueen coat dress for a third time on the big day - joking that she could have 'splurged' on a new outfit. Seeing double? Allison Langdon has accused Meghan Markle (L) of 'copying' the wedding dress worn by Princess Mary (R) in her 2004 wedding to Prince Frederik Allison criticised Meghan's dress by Claire Waight Keller during her coverage of the Royal Wedding alongside fellow TV buff Kerri Elstub on Saturday. Kerri began: 'I think it was probably Meghan's version of Hollywood meets the history of the British family. Ali, it was your comment when watching it that the dress seemed familiar...' Allison declared: 'It was Princess Mary. My first thought was that we had seen the dress before. I don't think she'll be setting wedding trends.' Princess Mary donned a similarly simple ivory gown for her wedding to Prince Frederick in Copenhagen. Not impressed: Allison (L) claimed Meghan's understated boat-neck gown seemed 'familiar' and wouldn't be 'setting wedding trends' (pictured during her coverage of the Royal Wedding with co-host Kerri Elstub) Interesting: Princess Mary donned a similarly simple ivory gown for her wedding to Prince Frederick in Copenhagen Her dress - by Danish fashion designer Uffe Frank - was made of duchesse satin and featured a 19ft train. The look was finished off with a delicate antique lace veil once worn by Crown Princess Margareta of Sweden. Allison said: 'I think she did copy Princess Mary. It looked stunning on her but she went with pure white.' 'A lot of people thought she might go with an ivory number since this was not her first wedding.' Hmm: Allison said: 'It was Princess Mary. My first thought was that we had seen the dress before. I think she did copy Princess Mary' Chic look: Both wedding gowns featured a long lace-edged train. Left, Princess Margaret and right, Meghan Markle Langdon then discussed Kate's wedding attire, pointing out that she had worn it twice before. 'She was worn that outfit twice before. To Charlotte's Christening and to the Queen's birthday,' she remarked. 'She look amazing but Twitter is having the conversation about the fact that this is the third time Kate has been seen in the outfit. 'Considering who it was getting married and the importance of it, she maybe could have splurged a bit on a new outfit for today.' Opinionated: Allison also took a swipe at the Duchess of Cambridge's decision to wear her Alexander McQueen coat dress for a third time on the big day - joking that she could have 'splurged' on a new outfit However, Georgie Gardner, who was covering the wedding from Windsor with co-host Karl Stefanovic, had a different opinion. 'I think it was an overwhelming thumbs up for its eleglance and simplicity. It is what I would suggest as a timeless dress. Safe,' she commented. 'Interestingly, all that discussion about whether it with Ralph & Russo who are a lot more elaborate, she has ended up going with something very simple.' Georgie continued: 'She has let the tiara and veil do the talking and the beautiful significance of that veil representing all the Commonwealth countries with the floral compositions from all those different countries is a beautiful touch and nod to the greater role Harry is taking with the Commonwealth.' The industry's leading actresses, models, and socialites sported their most sophisticated ensembles as they flooded the star-studded 71st annual Cannes Film Festival. So it's no surprise Georgia Fowler took a well-deserved break from her strict work schedule as she enjoyed some fun in the sun with fellow model Megan Williams in Cannes on Saturday. The Victoria's Secret Angel, 25, showcased her washboard abs and leggy pins in a sizzling red two-piece as she enjoyed a refreshing dip outside Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. Time off: Georgia Fowler took a well-deserved break from her strict work schedule as she enjoyed some fun in the sun with fellow model Megan Williams (right) in Cannes on Saturday The brunette bombshell commanded attention as the skimpy bikini featured a trendy one-shoulder bralet, teamed with high-rise bottoms. Showing off her radiant complexion, the statuesque star wore minimal make-up and swept her tresses into a sleek bun. Guess star Megan, 24, looked typically stunning in bright yellow swim attire, which flashed a glimpse of her busty cleavage and slender physique. Striking: The Victoria's Secret Angel, 25, showcased her washboard abs and leggy pins in a sizzling red two-piece as she enjoyed a refreshing dip outside Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc BFFs: Guess star Megan, 24, looked typically stunning in bright yellow swim attire, which flashed a glimpse of her busty cleavage and slender physique The blonde beauty scraped her drenched locks away from her face, and accessorised with cat-eye sunglasses. The pair took to Instagram to share their idyllic relaxing session, with Georgia treating her fans to a peek at her gym-honed figure, while Megan shared a snap of herself cuddling up to her pet pooch during lunch. Georgia recently lit up the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week runway in Sydney, while opening Camilla and Marc's stylish show earlier this month. Wow-factor! The blonde beauty scraped her drenched locks away from her face, and accessorised with cat-eye sunglasses Diving in! The brunette bombshell put on a daring display as she took a leap into the large body of water In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, the model revealed why she loves being back in Australia, as she gushed about getting that 'warm, fuzzy feeling' from being in a familiar place. The leggy star said: 'It is always amazing to come home it is like a big reunion, seeing old designers, stylists and friends which are back here. It is always special.' After enjoying an illustrious modelling career since the age of 12, gracing the cover of numerous glossy magazines and walking for the the likes of Victoria's Secret - it's safe to say that Georgia has lived a jet-setting lifestyle. All eyes on her: The pair took to Instagram to share their idyllic relaxing session, with Georgia treating her fans to a peek at her gym-honed figure But the New York-based model revealed that Australia stands out from the crowd for one very particular reason. Georgia said: 'People really support each other here compared to other cities.' Besides walking for major brands such as Victoria's Secret, Georgia is also known for her rumoured fling with Harry Styles in 2015. 'Lunch with my bae': The London native shared a snap of herself cuddling up to her pet pooch following her dip During an interview with The Morning Show in November, Georgia addressed speculation that Harry's song Kiwi was about their relationship. 'I don't really know anything about it...definitely don't have a baby... that's what the song is all about [so] I think it's highly unlikely.' Whispers of a romance between Georgia and the former One Direction star, 24, began in October 2015 after she posted Snapchat videos of them together. Toni Collette has revealed how she has balanced motherhood with her Hollywood acting career. The 45-year-old described juggling both acting and family life as 'maddening' at times, during her interview with Stellar. 'But it's worth it in the end because, as I say, both areas of my life are really, really important to me,' she said. 'It's maddening at times!' Australian actress Toni Collette described juggling both acting and family life as 'maddening' at times The Golden Globe winner added the acting industry has been very accommodating to her and her family, specifically citing the crew and cast of the United States Of Tara stopping filming to allow for her to breastfeed her daughter. However the actress confessed that she and her husband, Dave Galafassi, employed extra help to take care of their kids. She said: 'We've had nannies from time to time, but we had kids because we wanted children and we want to be with them.' Worth it! 'But it's worth it in the end because, as I say, both areas of my life are really, really important to me,' she said (pictured with her husband Dave Galafassi) Toni told the publication she hates every moment she's away from her children; Sage Florence, 10, and Arlo Robert, seven, but explained that it was also good for her kids to see her enjoying her job. The actress also admitted to feeling homesick after three and a half years in the States. The Sixth Sense star, who hails from the western Sydney suburb of Blacktown, also hinted at a possible return to Australia. 'I want to return to home': The actress also admitted to feeling homesick after three and a half years in the States. The Sixth Sense star, who hails from the western Sydney suburb of Blacktown, also hinted at a possible return to Australia. 'I have got friends all around the world I am very lucky in that way. But my family is in Australia. Most of my tribe is there and I want to return,' she declared. Toni's latest project is the American supernatural horror film Hereditary, which has been dubbed as the new The Exorcist and is set for release next month. Aside from the horror movie, the next year is set to be a busy for the Australian talent who will star in two more films, Hearts Beat Loud and Velvet Buzzsaw, as well as a TV series Wanderlust. Danniella Westbrook has revealed that a clip of her 'tipsy' and 'naked' in a sauna has emerged online after her phone was stolen in Gran Canaria. The former Eastenders star went on to assure her followers on social media, after she posted the warning on Twitter, that the revelation wasn't breaking news and they shouldn't rush to cancel their Babestation subscriptions. The 44-year-old believed that the video had surfaced after had phone had been taken while holidaying in the Canary Islands. Private videos: Danniella Westbrook has revealed that a clip of her 'tipsy' and 'naked' in a sauna has emerged online after her phone was stolen in Gran Canaria The soap star has faced a very public battle with drugs and was recently offered help by Kerry Katona during a Loose Women appearance. She tweeted: 'Apparently there's a video of me naked tipsy and in a sauna doing the rounds on line. 'Seriously it's not breaking news and I wouldn't rush to cancel ya Babestation TV subscription people. She added: 'It's a 10 sec clip off a phone I had nicked in Gran Canaria my apologises now 2 all.' Warning: The former Eastenders star went on to assure her followers on social media, after she posted the warning on Twitter, that the revelation wasn't breaking news and they shouldn't rush to cancel their Babestation subscriptions Danniella's representatives have been contacted for MailOnline for comment. The tweet comes as she is yet to respond to Kerry Katona's direct message to her on Loose Women, telling her to get help if she's going through any troubles. Kerry was celebrating being nine years clean during her appearance on the ITV mainstay, following a famous battle with drugs. The Loose Women then turned their attention to Danniella, who has caused concern in recent weeks with her drastically different appearance - but claims it is due to osteoporosis, rather than drug use. Discussing the star, Kerry said: 'Me and Danniella are both in the same industry. I saw her a few weeks ago and I don't know if she was using. 'Stolen': The 44-year-old believed that the video had surfaced after had phone had been taken while holidaying in the Canary Islands 'Just because she takes drugs doesn't mean she's a bad person, she just needs to realise she needs help.' After such a troubled past herself, Kerry then sent Danniella a message live on air, which urged her to never feel alone, and seek help if she needed it. She said: 'Dan you know I'm your friend, if you want to give me a bell. You've got me on Twitter, you sent me a lovely message the other day. 'You're not alone there's nothing to be ashamed of, don't suffer in silence. The one person I turn to its myself, and I have and I know I'm not going to let me down.' Danniella reportedly spent a night in a Spanish jail after she was arrested at Malaga airport attempting to board a flight back to the UK in April. The actress was arrested over an outstanding warrant the police had in relation to an alleged driving offence in Spain last year, The Sun claims. Helping hand: The soap star has faced a very public battle with drugs and was recently offered help by Kerry Katona during a Loose Women appearance Following a night in prison, the former EastEnders star took to Twitter with tales of more woe as she claimed she had been 'robbed' and was 'heartbroken' by further news. She tweeted on Monday: 'been robbed in gran can flown to Marbella and now had news that's broken my heart.... tomorrows gonna be a better day ... cos Monday's for sure suck .... good night god bless everyone xxxx' As she was consoled by friend Sinitta, Danniella replied that it had been 'the worst 4 days of my life'. Danniella - who was said to be taken to Malaga police station at 11:50pm and appeared in court at 11:45am Tuesday -has reportedly been given bail by the court, but must return to Malaga in October to answer the charge against her. A source told The Sun Online: 'Danniella was stopped by customs last night and then arrested. She was in shock and was really scared when she was led out of the airport in handcuffs. 'Danniella hated every second of being in that cell alone it was awful for her. 'She'll be coming back to the UK next week now and is holed up with her friends now who're taking care of her.' Danniella's latest woes come just days after she was arrested for witness intimidation. The former soap star's was pictured leaving Hertfordshire police station wearing a standard police tracksuit on Wednesday. Troubles: The tweet comes as she is yet to respond to Kerry Katona's direct message to her on Loose Women, telling her to get help if she's going through any troubles A police spokesperson told MailOnline: 'A 44-year-old woman, who was arrested by Hertfordshire Constabulary at a location in Essex at 2.05pm on Tuesday, April 10 in relation to allegations of malicious communications and witness intimidation, was released on bail yesterday (Wednesday, April 11) until May 6 pending further investigation.' It was confirmed that the troubled star was wanted for questioning by police over claims of 'intimidation and malicious communication' after reportedly taking 10,000 from a former friend. Now magazine previously claimed the actress was rendered homeless after being unable to afford a rental property on her own. 'Danniella's been forced out of her home. She was staying with a friend, but the rental home came to an end and now she can't afford to rent by herself,' a source told the publication. 'She's told friends she's totally broke and is now back on benefits. If she is to get a place, she'll have to get housing benefits. She has been dating a new man following her bitter divorce from her ex-husband James Stunt. And Petra Ecclestone, 29, looked content as she stepped out with beau Sam Palmer for a shopping spree in Beverly Hills on Thursday. The blonde socialite dazzled in a neon lime green tracksuit consisting of bright hoodie and jogging bottoms, layered over a dove grey shirt. Vibrant: Petra Ecclestone, 29, looked content as she stepped out with beau Sam Palmer for a shopping spree in Beverly Hills on Thursday The mother of three forwent the heels in favour of grey trainers. Her blonde locks were styled sleek and straight while she shielded her eyes with a pair of dark shades. Her handsome boyfriend kept it casual in a white t-shirt, paired with black trousers. He shielded his face from the sun with a backwards cap and slipped on a pair of glasses as he chivalrously carried his girlfriend's bag. Style: The blonde socialite dazzled in a neon lime green tracksuit consisting of bright hoodie and jogging bottoms, layered over a dove grey shirt They are in the thick of the early stages of a sizzling romance after just seven months of dating each other as Petra continues to put her divorce behind her. While no details of the divorce settlement were released, Petra and her ex-husband James Stunt reached an agreement back in October last year. It was reported that James signed a 16 million prenuptial agreement, with Petra also awarded sole custody of the couple's three children in January. The former flames were married in an extravagant 12 million wedding ceremony at a castle in Rome, Italy, in 2011 but the couple were divorced just six years later. During their marriage, the pair splashed out 100 million on a Chelsea mansion and a further 158 million on a 123-room home in Los Angeles. Petra has found love again with Sam, who is friends with her sister Tamara's husband Jay Rutland. Its very early-on dating, the heiress told Mail On Sunday's YOU magazine in a recent interview. The whole thing is quite strange because my life didnt pan out the way I expected it to. I thought I wasnt the type who believed in divorce. 'I go to church and I got married thinking I would be with that person for the rest of my life. But things happen for a reason and, whatever that reason is, Ive now got my three kids. She announced her engagement to Andrew Brady last month following a three-month whirlwind romance. And Caroline Flack has confessed that just two days into her relationship with the Apprentice star, she realised she had finally met 'The One'. The television host, 38, who recently had to defend her romance with the 27-year-old after fans labelled him 'fame hungry' following the proposal, said their connection was 'instant' from the moment they met. Caroline Flack has confessed that just two days into her relationship with Andrew Brady she realised she had finally met 'The One' She told The Sun: 'It was pretty instant, I think it was the second day we met! 'It sounds really weird and at the time I thought, "No, dont be silly brain, go back in your shell" but when I look back on it that feeling hasnt changed.' She continued: 'Life is really good, this time last year I was in a completely different position - it just goes to show, you never know what's around the corner.' Loved-up: The television host, 38, who recently had to defend her romance with the 27-year-old after fans labelled him 'fame hungry' following the proposal, said their connection was 'instant' Caroline's confession comes after she revealed she is planning to tie the knot with Andrew in an intimate setting, adding that it could be in a pub. Speaking to The Metro, she said: 'It's going to be really close friends and family. Probably in a pub somewhere. 'My sister is going to be my maid of fun. That's the only thing I have decided.' However, the Love Island Host was recently forced to defend her engagement to Celebrity Big Brother beau on the BAFTA TV Awards red carpet. Wedding bells: Caroline's confession comes after she revealed she is planning to tie the knot with Andrew in an intimate setting, adding that it could be in a pub The TV presenter uttered her surprise that someone wanted to marry her, adding 'who would have thought it?' before adding she was 'in love'. The couple, who started dating in February, and became engaged only three months later while on holiday in Greece, haven't had a plain-sailing relationship, raising fans to question their decision to wed. The pair had dramatically split and reconciled only one month before - amid claims Andrew had been unfaithful, and was using her for fame. However, while she admits the proposal was out of the blue, Caroline recently gushed that she knew her romance with CBB star Andrew was serious from the very beginning. Speaking to the Mail on Sunday's YOU Magazine, she said: 'I had no idea he was planning on asking me to marry him! But I knew things felt different in the lead-up. 'From the very first date with Andrew I felt as though Id known him for years. Ive never had that feeling before.' It was revealed that Meghan Markle spent the night before her wedding at the luxury Cliveden hotel with rooms costing up to 1,500 per night. And Kelly Brook took to Instagram to share an image of herself enjoying a sumptuous breakfast in one of the hotel's top suites during a previous visit. The British model, 38, was clad in a fluffy white robe as she tucked into a Full English while dining on the terrace of her hotel room. Big breakfast: Kelly Brook took to Instagram to share an image of herself enjoying a lavish breakfast in one of the Cliveden hotel's top suits during a previous visit Kelly was all smiles in the throwback snap as she posed for the picture which was presumably taken by the person she was sharing breakfast with. She captioned the image: 'I imagine Megan had a FULL English before the big day too! #tb #Clivedon #LadyAstorSuite' In her haste to mention that she had stayed in the same hotel as the new Duchess of Sussex, Kelly managed to spell both Meghan's name and the name of the Cliveden hotel wrong. Luxury living: It was revealed that Meghan Markle spent the night before her wedding at the luxury Cliveden hotel with rooms costing up to 1,500 per night The room Kelly hinted that she stayed in, the Lady Astor Suite, has a starting price of 1,535 per night according to the Berkshire hotel's website. Included in the eye-watering price is a king size bed, a large private terrace, antique furniture and art, a grand bathroom and sweeping views over the River Thames. Also available to stay in at the exclusive hotel is the Spring Cottage which sleeps up to six guests and comes with its own lake, for the cool fee of 2,055 a night. Kelly also recently revealed that her other half turned down her proposal during their romantic break in Antigua two months ago. But she and Jeremy Parisi have gone from strength to strength since they got together back in 2015. Despite their amorous displays, Kelly confessed her beau rejected her when she asked for his hand in marriage during one of their many holidays this year. Recalling the moment, she told OK! magazine: 'When we were in Antigua and the sun was setting and we were up at Shirley Heights I said to Jeremy, "Will you marry me?" and he said, "Be quiet there are people around!" Oops! In her haste to mention that she had stayed in the same hotel as the new Duchess of Sussex, Kelly managed to spell both Meghan's name and the name of the Cliveden hotel wrong 'So I tried to propose but he said it was too busy and told me to be quiet! Ive asked him, but it wasnt private enough! Meanwhile, as she approaches her 40s, Kelly explained she is more confident than ever in her God given curvaceous physique. She no longer stresses about maintaining a super-slim figure as she wants to live life to the full, and instead focus on keeping fit and healthy. Kelly explained to The Sun 'To get to an age where you go, 'This is who I am, wrinkles and all, saggy boobs and all' and think, 'Whatever', just makes you really happy. I'm more confident with my body now than I was when I was younger.' People wave flags of Turkey and Palestine during a rally in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 18, 2018. Over 200,000 Turks poured into the streets in Istanbul on Friday for a massive rally denouncing the killings of more than 60 Palestinians by Israeli forces during demonstrations against the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem early this week. (Xinhua/He Canling) ISTANBUL, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Over 200,000 Turks poured into the streets in Istanbul on Friday for a massive rally denouncing the killings of more than 60 Palestinians by Israeli forces during demonstrations against the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem early this week. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and some delegates to an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) joined the rally at Yenikapi Square, where Turkish and Palestinian flags were waved by the crowd. Addressing the rally, Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah urged the world and Islamic countries to protect Jerusalem, whose status is a thorny issue in the long-running conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. "We should keep going on our way by preserving Jerusalem's own identity," said Hamdallah. In his speech, Erdogan said that not only the Islamic world but the entire world has failed in the Jerusalem cause. "Being a mere onlooker to Israel's all unfair, unlawful actions, the United Nations has tacitly become a party to this oppression," the president remarked, blaming the world body for not taking a resolute stance against Washington's embassy move. "Jerusalem is not just a city. Jerusalem is a symbol, a test, a qibla," he stressed, calling on Israeli people to take action against "the disaster" that their government is dragging them into. Turkey has, among others, recalled its ambassadors from Tel Aviv and Washington and called for an urgent OIC meeting in response to the inauguration of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem and the killings of Palestinians at the hands of Israeli forces on Monday. During the rally in Istanbul, the crowd chanted slogans like "Palestine is not alone" and "We stand for Jerusalem," carrying banners that read, "The world is blind, the world is deaf." "We came here to show our solidarity with our Palestinian brothers," said Kadir Akkaya. "We want to be the voice of Palestinians and make them heard by the world." Abdullah Ozkan, another demonstrator, urged the world to condemn Israel in the strongest way possible. "They should do whatever necessary to stop the violence of Israel and apply the international rules," he told Xinhua. Another mass rally is slated for Sunday in Diyarbakir in southeastern Turkey. Turkey is hoping for the OIC meeting to produce a joint action against Israel's use of deadly force against unarmed Palestinians. Hugh Grant, 57, is set to marry his longterm girlfriend Anna Eberstein, 39, later this month, it's been reported. The Sun write that the Four Weddings and a Funeral star will walk down the aisle with his Swedish girlfriend, marking the first marriage for the actor. Wedding banns for the couple have been posted at Kensington and Chelsea register office, near the couple's 10million home in the capital. Wedding bells: Hugh Grant, 57, is set to marry his longterm girlfriend Anna Eberstein, 39, later this month Hugh and Anna have been together six years and share three children, John Mungo, who was born in September 2012, and another child born in December 2015. Hugh's ex Elizabeth Hurley let slip in March 2018 that Hugh had had a third child with Anna, but the birth date and gender are unknown. News of the engagement emerged after wedding banns for Hugh and Anna were posted on screens in the office at Chelsea Old Town Hall. First marriage: Wedding banns for the couple have been posted at Kensington and Chelsea register office, near the couple's 10million home in the capital A source has told The Sun: 'This is a day none of Hughs friends ever thought would come. He will soon be a pensioner and has finally become a family man.' A representative for Hugh has been contacted by MailOnline for comment. As well as his three children with Anna, Hugh also shares two children with ex Tinglan Hong. The star enjoyed a 13-year romance with actress and model Hurley, splitting in 2000 but remaining great friends. It was Elizabeth who shared the news of the birth of his new baby during an interview with Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live in March. Ex: The star enjoyed a 13-year romance with actress and model Hurley, splitting in 2000 but remaining great friends She candidly said: 'He had another one last week. He has five. He was over 50 when he spawned them all.' Andy asked Elizabeth if she was shocked by it and she delightfully responded: 'No, hes an enchanting dad. Really, really sweet.' The actress then cheekily cracked up her fellow guest on the chat show, David Oyelowo when she spoke of Hugh's forray into fatherhood. She said: 'Having these kids has transformed him from a very miserable person into a fairly miserable person. Its improved him. Hes gone up the scale.' The actor also dated socialite Jemima Khan for three years before their break up in 2007. Busy month: Hugh has been on the promo trail this week for his new BBC drama A Very English Scandal (pictured here at the Radio 2 studios on Friday) Hugh has been back in the public eye this week, promoting his new BBC One drama A Very English Scandal, which sees the actor play disgraced politician Jeremy Thorpe. Hugh says he had to lose weight to portray Thorpe's hollow-cheeked appearance in the drama, which will start on BBC1 on Sunday. 'I just got thinner. He was cadaverous, Thorpe, so I bought a bicycle and went racing round Richmond Park for four months and lost quite a lot of weight.' He said playing the old Etonian, who stood trial in 1979 for conspiracy to murder his gay ex-lover Norman Scott, also required a 'genius' make-up artist. 'He knew exactly what to do,' he said. 'Clever stuff like making my cheekbones even more hollow, the contact lenses and the hair.' A Very English Scandal debuts at 9pm on BBC1 on Sunday May 20. A man has been charged over an alleged act of indecency against a 17-year-old girl on a NSW train. The incident allegedly occurred when the 53-year-old man sat across from the girl on a train bound for Newcastle in December last year. Police say they arrested him at Wyong Police Station on Friday before searching a Central Coast home. The led to the arrest of a second man, aged 41, after police seized several items including a firearm, ammunition, knives, a laser pointer, stun gun and illegal drugs. The 41-year-old was charged with 18 offences including possessing an unregistered firearm, driving while disqualified, possessing prohibited drugs and owner/occupier knowingly allowing use as drug premises. The 53-year-old was charged with committing an act of indecency. Both men are expected to face Wyong Local Court on Saturday. A 56-year-old man has been charged with murder after the body of his partner was discovered at their home on the NSW mid-north coast. NSW Police were called to the home at Argents Hill, near Nambucca Heads, at about 7.30pm on Friday after concerns were raised for a woman's welfare. Officers found the body of a 46-year-old woman at the home. AAP understands the pair lived together at the home and were current or former partners. Forensic specialists examined the scene and the man was arrested before being charged with her murder. He was refused bail and is expected to appear before Port Macquarie Local Court on Sunday. Malcolm Turnbull said the country's wedding gift to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would be typically Australian, and he wasn't kidding. The couple, who marry at Windsor later on Saturday, will each be given an Akubra hat when they visit Sydney for the Invictus Games in October. The prime minister said on social media that Australia would also be making a donation to Invictus "in honour of your wedding". "Congratulations Harry & Meghan on your wedding day. With our very best wishes for a long and happy life together, Malcolm and Lucy." On Friday, the NSW government announced two newborn koalas at Taronga Zoo would be named after the royal couple. Although the sex of the joeys isn't yet know, one will be Meghan and one will be Harry. Prince George made sure he was on his best behaviour for his uncle Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle. A year ago the young prince received a royal telling off from his mum, the Duchess of Cambridge, after having a tantrum while on pageboy duties at the wedding of her sister Pippa Middleton. But four-year-old George was in fine form for uncle Harry's nuptials at Windsor Castle on Saturday, where he joined nine other youngsters including his little sister Princess Charlotte in a team of mini pageboys and bridesmaids. When the six bridesmaids and four pageboys arrived at the chapel, George and Charlotte's mum the Duchess of Cambridge was on hand to help usher the 10 children inside moments before Ms Markle arrived. As the children were handed flowers, one of the little bridesmaids began to cry. The Cambridges' nanny, Maria, lifted the child up to comfort her, as Prince George looked up at the tearful girl. When Meghan appeared through the doors of the chapel, sunlight streaming in behind her, she turned to smile and wave at the children who were standing to her right behind the door. Holding up the delicate end of her five-metre long veil were seven-year-old twin sons Brian and John Mulroney, the sons of the bride's close friend and Canadian stylist Jessica Mulroney. The twin's sister four-year-old Ivy Mulroney was among the bridesmaids, who also included Harry's goddaughters Zalie Warren, two, and three-year-old Florence van Cutsem, Ms Markle's goddaughters, sisters Remi and Rylan Litt, aged six and seven respectively. The fourth pageboy was Harry's six-year-old godson Jasper Dyer - the son of Harry's mentor Mark Dyer. As Ms Markle made her way down the aisle, the bridesmaids held hands as Prince George and Jasper followed behind. Like the bride, the bridesmaids were dressed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, artistic director at French fashion house Givenchy, while the pageboys wore miniature versions of the Blues and Royals frockcoat, an old regiment of Harry's and his brother Prince William. Each of the high-waisted dresses was sculpted in ivory silk Radzimir and featured short puffed sleeves with a double silk ribbon detail tied at the back in a bow. After the ceremony, George huddled next to his dad Prince William at the chapel's entrance while Charlotte waved enthusiastically to the waiting crowds who were farewelling the newlyweds. A long-awaited upgrade to Queensland's Pacific Motorway is set to finally become a reality after the state government agreed to a 50-50 funding split with its federal counterpart. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Saturday committed $897 million to the project, with funding brought forward to be included in next month's budget. Half of that, or $487.5 million, will be spent between 2018 and 2022. But Ms Palaszczuk refused to say if taxes would go up or services would be cut in order to pay for the M1 upgrade. "We have budgeted in the budget for June to pay for this, it is needed and we are getting on with the job of building it," she said. The state government's funding announcement brought to an end a long-running stoush with the Commonwealth over who should foot the bill. Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad denied the government had caved and instead said it was acting in the best interests of Queenslanders. "We were just sick and tired, frankly, of (Prime Minister) Malcolm Turnbull's games," she said. "Fundamentally it is about mums and dads getting home on time to their kids." Federal Urban Infrastructure and Cities Minister Paul Fletcher said the Turnbull government welcomed the state's decision to abandon its calls for an 80-20 funding split. The state government's funding will pave the way for a widening of the M1 between Eight Mile Plains and Daisy Hill to eight lanes, while the stretch of road between Varsity Lakes and Tugun will increase to six. Police and fire investigators are trying to establish whether a suspicious fire that ripped through a Sydney school was deliberately lit. The blaze broke out on the ground floor of a Parramatta Public School building in the early hours of Saturday morning. No one was inside the building when the fire took hold but about 300 residents from a nearby apartment block were evacuated. NSW Police on Saturday evening said they were treating the blaze as suspicious and investigations into the cause were ongoing. Police are hunting a car and driver after a hit and run in Sydney that left a woman clinging to life and killed her dog. The 47-year-old woman was first struck by a Toyota Corolla as she ran across Fitzgerald Avenue in Maroubra with her dog about 7.15pm on Friday. The woman came to rest on the opposite eastbound lanes, but was struck by another older vehicle, which dragged her a short distance but failed to stop after the collision. She was taken to St George Hospital in a critical condition and remains in an induced coma. Her dog died at the scene. Police say it is concerning the other car, described only as an older model, did not stop to render assistance. They urged the driver to come forward before investigators track them down. Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, who has given birth to a "healthy boy," according to his proud father. Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, once struggled for roles but the former actress took centre-stage on one of the world's biggest shows Monday, giving birth to a "very healthy boy" who is seventh in line to the British throne. The saga of the British royal family knows no bounds and the birth of the child was eagerly awaited, at home and abroad, with the 37-year-old wife of Prince Harry determined to do things her way. The couple tied the knot at Windsor Castle last May and since then, Meghan has quickly had to get used to the strictures and criticism that comes with the monarchy. It is a long way from her former life as a television star. She made her name as savvy paralegal Rachel Zane in the US legal drama series "Suits", but cultivated a high profile for herself outside the show. She became a United Nations advocate for women's empowerment and a global ambassador for the World Vision Canada relief agency. The Los Angeles-born actress had more than two million followers on her now-closed personal Instagram account and ran a successful lifestyle blog, The Tig. Markle was also revealed as the anonymous blogger behind The Working Actress, which chronicled the struggles of hustling for parts in Hollywood. "She's very focused and someone who has been very ambitious," said royal writer Andrew Morton, who has penned a biography of Markle. "Her great phrase is 'make the change'," he told AFP. - Ancestors royals and slaves - Rachel Meghan Markle was born on August 4, 1981 to Thomas Markle, a white, Emmy Award-winning television lighting director who worked on top US shows like "Married With Children", and Doria Ragland, a black social worker and yoga instructor. On her mother's side, her ancestors were slaves who worked on cotton plantations in Georgia. Her mother's surname is taken from a slave owner. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry got engaged in November 2017 On her father's side, genealogists have traced her ancestry back to king Robert I of Scotland, who reigned from 1306 to 1329. Markle's parents split when she was two and divorced five years later. She is now estranged from her father and his other children, her older half-sister and half-brother. They made their presence felt in the wedding build-up, with Tom Junior scathing about her attitude towards the family and Samantha Grant venting forthrightly in several media outlets. Meanwhile her father set himself up for staged paparazzi photos which backfired, then suffered chest pains and needed heart surgery, causing him to miss her big day. The leaking to the press of a handwritten letter from Meghan pleading with him to stop serially leaking to journalists seems to have done irreparable damage to their relationship, given how his actions had, it said, already "broken my heart into a million pieces". Markle went to a private Catholic girls' school where she was remembered for her strong sense of right and wrong. Aged 11, her letter-writing campaign got the consumer goods giant Procter and Gamble to change a washing-up commercial, referring to people rather than just women. Determined to give herself options, Markle studied theatre and international relations at Northwestern University. She graduated in 2003, after which she landed a six-week internship as a press officer at the US embassy in Argentina. "She had all that it takes to be a successful diplomat," said Mark Krischik, her superior in Buenos Aires. - 'Suits' springboard - Returning to Los Angeles, in 2004 she fell in love with go-getting film producer Trevor Engelson, who helped her get on the acting ladder as she struggled for bit parts. They married in Jamaica in 2011. Meghan Markle met Prince Harry in July 2016 while visiting London Soon after their engagement, Markle had landed her signature role in "Suits". While she filmed in Toronto, her relationship with her then husband became a long-distance one. A series of flops followed for Engelson while the struggling actress became a star, and the marriage collapsed in 2013. Through a mutual friend, she met Queen Elizabeth II's grandson Harry in July 2016 while visiting London. Their romance quickly blossomed on a whirlwind camping trip to Botswana. After their engagement was announced in November 2017, Markle immediately began accompanying Harry on public events, with a focus on women, youth empowerment and the Commonwealth. Since their glittering wedding, seen as a moment of renewal for the royal family, media coverage has become increasingly more negative. Reports have appeared of a rift with her sister-in-law Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, of her staff quitting in droves, Meghan pushing her weight around and a "Me-Gain" nickname emerging. The vastly expensive, celebrity-laden New York baby shower also attracted criticism. Surviving in the royal spotlight may be her toughest role yet. South Korean coastgaurd picked up the two North Korean defectors off Baengnyeong island Two North Koreans defected to the South across the Yellow Sea on Saturday, a South Korean news report said, citing a government source. "A small boat was spotted in waters off the north of Baengnyeong Island" near the inter-Korean border, the source told Yonhap news agency. "They expressed willingness to defect," he said. A Korea Coast Guard official said relevant authorities were investigating the case, declining to give details. One of the men was initially identified as a soldier due to a misunderstanding and the government later corrected its statement to say they were both civilians, Yonhap said. It is the first defection by any North Korean since a historic summit between the two Koreas which saw their leaders agree to pursue the denuclearisation of the peninsula and a permanent peace. In November last year, a North Korean soldier drove to the heavily guarded border at speed and ran across under a hail of bullets from his own side. He was hit multiple times in the dramatic defection at Panmunjom truce village. In 2012 a North Korean soldier walked unchecked through rows of electrified fencing and surveillance cameras, prompting Seoul to sack three field commanders for a security lapse. In June last year, two of four crew members on a North Korean fishing boat which drifted to the South refused to return home and they were allowed resettle in the South. A month later, five North Koreans in another small boat crossed the sea border into South Korean waters and expressed their wish to live in the South. More than 30,000 North Korean civilians have fled their homeland but it is very rare for them to cross the closely guarded inter-Korean border, which is fortified with minefields and barbed wire. Most flee across the porous frontier with neighbouring China. China welcomes US expression of willingness to ensure North Korea's security, and urges both sides to shoulder their obligations to lead the peninsular nuclear issue toward a political solution, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Friday. US President Donald Trump sought on Thursday to placate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un after Pyongyang threatened to scrap an unprecedented summit, saying Kim's security would be guaranteed in any deal and his country would not suffer the fate of Libya's Muammar Gaddafi, unless that could not be reached, Reuters reported. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang praised the latest statement from Trump at a press conference on Friday. Security is at the core of the peninsular issue, Lu said, and North Korea's concerns over security should be addressed during the denuclearization process. Trump said he would not pursue the "Libya model" for North Korea's denuclearization process, and would not seek to depose Kim. The US pressured Gaddafi to give up nuclear weapons, but later supported Libyan rebels against Gaddafi's government, which led to Gaddafi's death during the civil war. "This is the first time that Trump has made a clear statement, and it is a positive response to North Korea's unhappiness over the 'Libya model' John Bolton [Trump's national security adviser] had mentioned, and shows North Korea is not the only one begging for a summit," Lu Chao, a research fellow at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday. "He [Kim] would be there, he would be running his country, his country would be very rich," Trump told media. Reciprocal action On Wednesday, North Korea threatened to abandon the planned Kim-Trump meeting in Singapore in June if Washington insists on pushing it "into a corner" on nuclear disarmament. A statement published by the state-run Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) said North Korea would never accept economic assistance from the US in exchange for unilaterally abandoning its nuclear program. The KCNA statement referred to comments made by Bolton about the Libya model being a potential option for the denuclearization of North Korea. "The US was trying to make the situation look like its sanctions and military pressure caused Pyongyang to beg for the meeting. Even North Korea bent backward by demolishing its nuclear facilities and releasing US hostages," Lu said. "Trump had made no compromise and continues to impose sanctions and conduct military drills. But both sides need the summit and a political settlement," Lu noted. North Korea's moves toward denuclearization deserve a corresponding response from relevant parties, Lu Kang said on Thursday. Significant moves from North Korea, including its announcement of a halt to nuclear tests and the dismantling of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, show the country's goodwill in promoting the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and building mutual trust with relevant parties, Lu said at a regular press briefing on Thursday. The moves deserve full appreciation and should be "encouraged, welcomed and supported" by the international community as well as receive reciprocal action from relevant sides, he said. Trump won't give up the CVID (complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization) but for the summit to happen, he will likely show his flexibility on economic compensation and sanctions, said Cheng Xiaohe, an associate professor at the Renmin University of China's School of International Studies. "Trump wants a summit with meaningful results, and the summit's schedule is unlikely to be affected, because if there is any delay, both sides will spend more time arranging a meeting, if they still want one," Cheng noted. Iraqi Shiite cleric and leader Moqtada al-Sadr (C-L) shows his ink-stained finger outside a polling station in the central holy city of Najaf on May 12, 2018 as the country votes in parliamentary election Final results from Iraq's election confirmed Saturday that an alliance spearheaded by populist cleric Moqtada Sadr has triumphed, but the fiery preacher faces a huge task to form a governing coalition. Sadr's Marching Towards Reform bloc won 54 of the 329 seats in parliament in a major upset at a May 12 vote that saw a record level of abstentions as Iraqis turned their back on a widely reviled elite. The nationalist -- whose Shiite militia battled US troops after the 2003 invasion -- faces a deeply fragmented political landscape and opposition from key player Iran after he called for foreign influence in Iraq to be cut. Sadr, who has reinvented himself as an anti-corruption crusader in an alliance with secular leftists, is looking to be the kingmaker and oversee the formation of a cross-sectarian, technocrat government from some dozen parties. An Iraqi man celebrates with a picture of Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr during the general election in Baghdad on May 14, 2018 But negotiations -- which tentatively began after the vote -- look set to drag out and it remains far from certain that Sadr's group will claim power after the first vote since the defeat of the Islamic State group. Poised in second place with some 47 seats is the pro-Iranian Conquest Alliance made up of ex-fighters from mainly Shiite paramilitary units that battled IS. The Victory Alliance bloc of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who hoped voters would reward him for seeing off the jihadists, performed worse than expected and was back in third place on 42 seats. - Regional tensions - Sadr declared on Twitter that the results showed "reform has won and corruption is weakened," but he faces a tricky regional context as he begins coalition negotiations. Writing in The Washington Post Friday, premier Abadi insisted his government would do "all it can to ensure that the transition to the next government is conducted in a stable and transparent manner". He called for "dialogue" to create a new government that "must be demonstrably non-elitist (and) representative of the people rather than dominated by one side or denomination". Abadi -- who came to power in 2014 as IS rampaged across Iraq -- has balanced off rivals the US and Iran and could still remain in position as a consensus candidate. Sadr, who has ruled himself out of becoming prime minister, is looking to be the kingmaker and to cobble together a technocrat government from a dozen parties The protracted horse-trading comes at a time of high tensions after Washington's withdrawal from a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran and fears of a tug-of-war over Iraq. Even before Sadr's victory was confirmed, Iran had already been convening meetings to try to block him from forming a government. Iran dispatched the powerful general Qassem Soleimani to Baghdad, who has met with several members of Iraq's old guard including Abadi and his predecessor Nuri al-Maliki. According to officials, Soleimani has ruled out any alliance with Sadr, who surprised many last year by visiting Iran's regional foe Saudi Arabia as Riyadh seeks increased involvement in Iraq. Soleimani's shuttle diplomacy is aimed at gathering enough parties opposed to Sadr to deny his alliance a governable majority and a route to the powerful position of prime minister -- though Sadr himself says he is not in the running for the top job. The US, which still has thousands of troops in Iraq from the fight against IS, is also looking to push its interests after the vote. Washington envoy Brett McGurk has been meeting with leading politicians in both Baghdad and the autonomous Kurdistan region to the north. Attracting the Kurds and the marginalised Sunni community will prove important for anyone seeking to come to power, as Iraq looks to carry out the mammoth task of rebuilding after the defeat of IS. Sadr "will probably try to form a large coalition, including Shiite parties, potentially involving the list of Abadi, and the Sunnis and Kurds", said Raphaele Auberty, an analyst at London-based BMI research. Prince Harry drove his bride to an evening reception himself in an open-top E-Type Jaguar with the number plate E190518 -- the wedding date Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot at Windsor Castle on Saturday in a royal wedding like no other, mixing British pomp and African-American culture in front of a celebrity congregation and cheering crowds. The new Duke and Duchess of Sussex exchanged vows in St. George's Chapel in a historic ceremony, sealed with a kiss, which brought the biracial US TV star into the heart of the British monarchy. As more than 100,000 people packed the sun-baked Windsor streets and millions watched worldwide, Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family were joined inside by stars including Oprah Winfrey, Serena Williams, Elton John, George Clooney and David Beckham. The royal newlyweds kissed in front of the Windsor crowds The couple held hands throughout and exchanged vows in a Church of England service modified to reflect the bride's heritage and strong sense of independence. Firebrand US pastor Michael Curry delivered a full-throttle address invoking slaves and the power of love, and a gospel choir sang classics "Stand By Me" and "This Little Light of Mine". Markle began her walk down the aisle alone with her 10 bridesmaids and page boys walking behind her flowing white silk dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller at the French fashion house Givenchy. Her father had been due to meet her half-way but after he pulled out due to heart surgery, Harry's father Prince Charles stepped in to escort her to the altar. Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, looked visibly moved during the wedding. With the words "I will", 33-year-old Prince Harry, and US former actress Meghan Markle, 36, declared they would love, comfort, honour and protect each other With the words "I will", 33-year-old Harry, and US former actress Meghan, 36, declared they would love, comfort, honour and protect each other. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby declared them husband and wife -- sparking huge cheers from crowds watching on big screens outside. The newlyweds later toured Windsor in an open-topped carriage, waving and smiling to the thousands of flag-waving well-wishers lining the streets. The bride's father Thomas Markle followed the wedding on television and voiced regret he was unable to attend, TMZ reported. "My baby looks beautiful and she looks very happy. I wish I were there," he told the US celebrity news website. - Diana's ring - For the evening reception at nearby Frogmore House, attended by 200 close friends and family, Meghan changed into a sleek lily white halterneck silk crepe gown by Stella McCartney For the evening reception at nearby Frogmore House, attended by 200 close friends and family, Meghan changed into a sleek lily white halterneck silk crepe gown by Stella McCartney. On her finger she wore an emerald-cut aquamarine ring formerly owned by Harry's mother Diana, a gift from her new husband. Harry drove his bride to the party himself in an open-top E-Type Jaguar with the number plate E190518 -- the wedding date. In another of the numerous personal touches, the prince hand picked flowers for Markle's bouquet from their home at Kensington Palace. Her five-metre veil also contained floral designs from her native California and all 53 Commonwealth countries. "You look amazing," Harry told his bride as she arrived. The royal couple rode in a horse-drawn carriage through Windsor after the wedding He and his brother Prince William -- his best man -- wore the blue doeskin frockcoat uniform of a major in the Blues and Royals, the regiment Harry served with in Afghanistan during his 10 years in the British army. The couple grinned during Curry's dramatic address about the power of love, in which he quoted civil rights icon Martin Luther King. "I'm talking about some power. Real power. Power to change the world," the African-American preacher intoned. There were no political leaders among the 600 guests but many celebrities, including Idris Elba, James Blunt, Tom Hardy and James Corden. The bride and groom held hands and giggled at the altar Some of Markle's former co-stars in US hit television series "Suits" attended, as did Harry's ex-girlfriends Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas. The newlyweds kissed on the chapel's West Steps after the wedding before starting their procession, to the delight of the crowds. "It's been a historic, epic day," said Leslie Owusu, from nearby High Wycombe. "It's a union of different cultures, you've got America and England and a fusion of two people that love people and life." - Meghan's speech - Hundreds of street parties and public screenings were held around Britain where the wedding is a welcome respite for a country still burdened by austerity and divided over Brexit. Revellers also packed into bars to watch as far afield as Sydney, Hong Kong and Markle's native Los Angeles, for what is likely to be the last big British royal wedding for a generation. Well-wishers cheered as they watched the wedding on a giant screen In Windsor, thousands of fans bagged their spots by dawn, bearing rugs and picnics, Union Jack flags and patriotic paraphernalia, and the bubbly was flowing freely. "It made me really emotional when I saw them coming past," said Helen Oliver, 50. The queen hosted a lunchtime reception at the castle, where Elton John performed, Charles and Harry made speeches and the guests ate pieces of lemon and elderflower cake. In another break with convention, Meghan was due to speak at the evening bash. Profiles of Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, with photos and details of wedding "She's got her own voice, a personality, and I think all that made a huge impression on everybody," said Shrabani Basu, a Commonwealth historian. The couple met on a blind date in July 2016 and had a whirlwind romance, criss-crossing the Atlantic as she continued filming "Suits" in Toronto. Harry was scarred by his mother Diana's death in a Paris car crash in 1997 when he was just 12, and he had to mourn in the full glare of the world's media. His wedding featured a hymn used at Diana's funeral, at which he and William had walked behind her casket. Sixth in line to the throne, Harry is one of the most popular royals, while Markle, a divorcee, is seen as a breath of fresh air for the monarchy. Chinese strategic bombers have landed on a runway in the South China Sea for the first time China has for the first time landed several bombers on an island in the disputed South China Sea, a move that could provoke renewed tensions between countries bordering the strategically vital maritime region. Several bombers of various types -- including the long-range, nuclear strike capable H-6K -- carried out landing and take off drills at an unidentified island airfield after carrying out simulated strike training on targets at sea, the Chinese airforce said in a statement Friday. Wang Mingliang, a defense expert cited in the statement, said the takeoff and landing exercises on islands in the South China Sea will help the air force "strengthen its combat capability to deal with martime security threats". The move comes weeks after US network CNBC reported that China had installed anti-ship and air-to-air defences on outposts in the Spratly Islands that are also claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines, citing sources close to US intelligence. Washington warned that Beijing would face unspecified "consequences" over its militarisation of the South China Sea, and said it had raised the issue with China. "I believe this is the first time a bomber has landed in the #SouthChinaSea," Bonnieh Glaser, a China expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, tweeted. In an analysis published on its website, CSIS said the location of the runway was believed to be Woody Island, China's largest base in the Paracel Islands, which is also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan. The South China Sea issue has been brewing for years, with China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam making competing claims in waters with vital global shipping routes and what are believed to be significant oil and natural gas deposits. China has engaged in years of land-reclamation efforts on reefs it controls in the region and built both civilian and military facilities in the contested area. Chinese military facilities include air bases, radar and communications systems, naval facilities and defensive weaponry including landing strips able to accommodate military planes. Candles, flowers and stuffed animals line a table during a vigil for victims of a shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas, where a student opened fire on classmates, killing 10 people Evan San Miguel, a freshman at Santa Fe High School, said he was in his art class early Friday when a fellow student burst in and yelled "Surprise!" Then the shooting started. "It was terrifying, terrifying," Evan recalled hours later. "I didn't even know if I was going to make it home or not." The 15-year-old was among hundreds of students, distraught parents, residents, grief counsellors, and politicians who gathered for a sunset vigil in this tight-knit rural community near Houston that became the scene of the latest US school massacre. Just hours after a teen gunman killed 10 people, mostly fellow classmates, and wounded 10 others, they came together near the school to light candles, pray for strength, weep for their fallen friends, and recall the morning's horror. Evan and friends were startled when a fellow student, identified as Dimitrios Pagourtzis, burst into the class, then they recoiled at the carnage that unfolded. "When he opened the door to shoot Kyle, he was like 'Surprise!' and then he shot him in the chest area," said Evan, who described how a bullet grazed his left shoulder. His knee, cut by broken glass, was also bandaged. When the shooter left their classroom, Evan and other survivors barricaded the door and waited for police, who eventually helped them evacuate to safety. Pagourtzis, a 17-year-old 11th grader at the school, is being held on capital murder charges. At the vigil, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and US Senator Ted Cruz hugged grieving family members, comfort dogs sat with students, and ministers offered prayers. Sophomore Bailee Sobnosky was at the back of the school when she heard the gunshots. Having experienced a school lockdown just three months earlier, she said she wasted no time running across the street to a nearby gas station. "I still don't feel safe," the 16-year-old told AFP after the vigil, acknowledging she was likely in shock from the tragedy. "I feel like this will really rock the community, and it'll be hard to ever go back to any type of normal again." Sobnosky said she did not know the shooter, but had seen him around school. "He seemed like a nice kid," she said, although she believed he did not have many friends. The teen recounted her story standing next to her dad, who wore a bright white cowboy hat and spat chewing tobacco onto the shoulder of the road. Deep into early Saturday hours, FBI agents were seen conducting an investigation at a blue trailer home that is believed to be connected to the suspect. - 'It hits close' - Outside the school, still partially lit up at night, a cordon of yellow police tape warned off anyone who might seek to approach the buildings. Two young women arrived, seeking to lay a bouquet of flowers nearby. Well-wishers arrived with bouquets of flowers to pay their respects for the victims of the Santa Fe High School shooting in Texas deep into the night, many hours after the incident Kali Causey, 20, a graduate from nearby Clear Falls High School who came with a friend to pay their respects to those who died, said it was unfathomable that their community has become the next on a long and tragic list. "They always used to talk about Columbine and how horrific that was. Sandy Hook," she said, referring to two of the deadliest US school shootings of recent years. "But this is here, in your home town," she paused. "It hits close." Causey dismissed the accusations that America's gun culture -- prevalent in Texas to be sure -- led to the killings. "A lot of people just blame that, but it's a bigger picture," she said, pointing to social issues like bullying and mental health conditions that are slipping through the cracks. "I think that impacts it more than the fact that guns are accessible," she said. For a community plunged into grief, Causey said the most important thing she could do now was to just be there for the families in need. "To sit in that anxiety and that heartbreak for so long and to then find out the worst part of it... I think you just have to put your arms around them as a community, and let them know that you're here," she said. The BJP's attempt to appoint a new chief minister for Karnataka has sparked protests and legal battles The chief minister of a key Indian state plunged into a political crisis that saw Supreme Court hearings and accusations of bribery quit Saturday after admitting he did not have enough support to form a government. B.S. Yeddyurappa of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stepped down after just two days in the post and minutes before he was to have faced a vote of confidence in the Karnataka state assembly. His move ended a week of mounting acrimony between Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP and the opposition Congress party. Congress, which had ruled the southern state until an election last week, will now get a new chance to form a government with a regional ally. The battle could set the tone for a national election to be held next year. The BJP deposed Congress as the biggest party after the Karnataka election last Saturday. But its 104 seats were not enough for a majority in the 224-member assembly. Congress saw its numbers slashed from 122 to 78 seats but it formed a coalition with the regional Janata Dal (Secular) which finished with 37 seats. - Blow to BJP - "The mandate was not for Congress and Janata Dal. They lost the election but they indulged in opportunist politics," Yeddyurappa told the assembly. "I have faced the test of fire all my life. I will lose nothing if I lose power. I am going straight to the governor's house to give my resignation," the 75-year-old said. Opposition lawmakers cheered and flashed V for victory signs as Yeddyurappa left the assembly followed by his supporters. The buildup to the resignation saw accusations of bribery and poaching made against the BJP after the state governor asked Yeddyurappa to try to form an administration even though he did not have a majority. Congress went to the Supreme Court to try to prevent the BJP from forming a government in the prosperous state, home to the IT hub of Bangalore. The court ruled Thursday that Yeddyurappa should be allowed to take an oath of office. But a day later it said Yeddyurappa must pass a vote of confidence to prove his majority on Saturday. India's top court met a third time Saturday to reject a move by Congress to stop Yeddyurappa appointing a speaker of his choice. Congress and its ally accused the BJP of offering up to $15 million to their members to switch sides in the vote. Modi's party strongly denied the allegation. Congress and Janata Dal even moved their lawmakers to luxury hotels outside the state to make sure they were not tempted to switch sides ahead of the vote. Reports said their mobile phones had been confiscated so they could not be contacted by rivals. Congress president Rahul Gandhi repeated the corruption charges Saturday and accused Modi of personally approving the offering of bribes. "You've seen openly how the PM directly authorised purchasing of (lawmakers) in Karnataka, so the idea that PM spreads in the country that he is fighting corruption is a blatant lie," Gandhi said. Congress has been desperate to cling on to Karnataka, its last major bastion. It has lost 12 state elections since the BJP took national power in 2014. Crowds burst into cheers as Harry and Meghan were declared husband and wife There was silence in Windsor as thousands of well-wishers listened to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle say their vows -- then the crowd erupted into cheers and popped prosecco corks as they were declared husband and wife. Crowds of colourful royal enthusiasts from around the world flocked to the historic British town on Saturday, many of them gathering on the tree-lined avenue leading up to the castle. People from as far afield as Canada, Australia and the Philippines waved Union Jack flags, donned tiaras, royal t-shirts hats and scarves, cheering and dancing as they watched the ceremony on big screens. "She looks beautiful -- it's a timeless dress," said Denise Show, 46, from southeast England, as Markle emerged in a white sculpted gown with a long veil stretching out behind her. When the choir in St George's Chapel sang "Stand by Me", the crowds outside joined in. The Long Walk was transformed into a sea of Union Jack flags when the national anthem played. "It's like a dream," said Theodora Torres, 71, who came from Los Angeles with her husband. Crowds lined the streets of Windsor to cheer the royal couple as they parade in a horse-drawn carriage after the wedding Harry and Meghan drew huge cheers as they went past in an open-topped horse-drawn carriage after the wedding, escorted by soldiers in gleaming ceremonial uniforms. - 'Much more diverse' - Three royal fans in their 50s in wedding dresses waited for the prince at the castle gates, with signs on their backs saying: "Harry I'm here." "My husband knows I'm here but he doesn't know what I'm wearing," joked Lorraine Rains, 57, from St Helens in northwest England. Karen Long, from the US state of Texas, said she felt compelled to come to Britain for the big occasion given Markle's American nationality. "I feel like she is one of us!" she said. "We all wanted to be a princess, we thought we couldn't and there she is, breaking all the barriers." Leslie Owusu, an English teacher from nearby High Wycombe, who was sporting an African tapestry over her white dress, came with her 10-year-old son Prince. "It was magical. It's been a historic, epic day for two amazing individuals to ignite a new generation of the royal family. "It's a union of different cultures. You've got America and England and a fusion of two people that love people and life. It makes that global appeal so much more diverse," she said. Two Canadians wore maple leaf onesies, while others were clad from head to foot in the British and American flags as a town crier barked out a congratulatory message. "We have travelled a long way for a very, very exciting event," said Jessica Kirsopp, a 31-year-old childcare worker from Australia. "It's something that is probably not going to happen for a little bit, until (Prince Harry's young nephew Prince) George gets married or there's another coronation." - Fanatics camped out - The royal couple waved to well-wishers as they headed for a reception after the wedding ceremony Some of the most fanatical supporters camped for days, seeking to secure the best spots to watch the happy couple ride by. "I know it is going to sound very creepy but I would love to touch them -- just shake their hand," said Kristen Henry, 34, a radio host who had travelled from Australia. Armed police, sniffer dogs and airport-style security scanners were deployed throughout the town, while huge barriers were hauled into place to prevent a vehicle attack. Police patrolling the parade route Saturday were applauded by crowds, as snipers took up positions on numerous roofs. Adele McNally, 67, one of the "royal ambassadors", volunteers drawn from the local community to assist spectators, said she was happy to miss out on seeing the ceremony and procession in order to help. "Being a part of it will be lovely," she said. "It's what being British is all about." Lesley Ward, 62, from Gosport in southern England, said: "It was such a whole fabulous package." One of the largest cheers from the crowds came when Prince Charles stepped forward to accompany Markle down the aisle, after her own father Thomas pulled out due to ill-health. However, she made part of the journey through the church on her own -- something many in the crowd applauded. "I think that shows she is a strong independent woman and it puts (a) great message across," said student Mary Grimes, 19. Markle's mother Doria Ragland prompted sighs from crowds watching when she appeared visibly moved during the wedding There were also audible sighs when the big screen focused on Markle's mother Doria Ragland, who was visibly moved by the ceremony. More than 200 people were arrested last week in a joint anti-terrorist operation in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin and Togo More than 200 people were arrested last week in a joint anti-terror and security operation in the West African countries of Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin and Togo, the Burkinabe army said. "Fifty-two individuals were arrested in Burkina Faso, 42 in Benin, 95 in Togo and 13 in Ghana", Colonel Blaise Ouedraogo told AFP late Friday. Explosives and contraband goods were also seized. At least two of those arrested in Burkina were suspected of being involved in jihadism, Ouedraogo said, adding that "40 sticks of explosives, 38 guns and 623 illegally registered motor bikes" had been found. Around 2,900 security and defence officers from the four countries took part, he added. Burkino Faso's Security Minister Clement Sawadogo said the joint operation was the result of an agreement between the leaders of the four countries in Ghana's capital, Accra, last year. He said such operations would be repeated in future "so that we can pool our resources, our expertise and our ability to overcome serious crime and terrorism." The number of deadly attacks has been on the increase in the north of Burkino Faso in recent years, as well as in the east of the country and the border areas with Togo and Benin. Abdul Aziz (R, with mourners) learned about the death of his daughter Sabika Sheikh while watching the news on TV Abdul Aziz learned about the US school shooting in which his 17-year-old daughter was killed from CNN, with the story airing live as he broke his Ramadan fast thousands of miles away in Pakistan. In those chaotic first moments of confusion and terror he called his daughter Sabika Sheikh's phone over and over. She did not answer. "I kept calling her and sent her messages on WhatsApp. Never before had my daughter failed to reply," Aziz told AFP, fighting back tears at his home in the southern port city Karachi Saturday, just hours after he and his wife had their worst fears confirmed. "We are still in a state of denial. It is like a nightmare," said Aziz. His wife sat nearby, visibly still shocked and seemingly unable to speak as friends and relatives tried to comfort her. Sheikh, an exchange student at the Santa Fe High School in Texas, was killed along with nine others after a heavily armed student opened fire on his classmates Friday. It was the latest school shooting to rock the US, and came just three months after the massacre in Parkland, Florida, in which 17 people were killed, sparking an unprecedented grassroots, student-led gun control movement. In Pakistan, the Santa Fe shooting has unleashed an outpouring of sympathy and horror over the tragic murder of Sheikh, who had been in the US for 10 months and was just weeks away from coming home. Sheikh's father said she had always excelled in school, and had dreamed of serving in Pakistan's foreign office. She had been due to return to Karachi in time for Eid al-Fitr, one of Islam's most revered holidays, marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in which families come together and celebrate with days of feasting. "She was coming back soon," her father said. "There is a general impression that... life is safe and secure in America. But this is not the case." - 'Terrorism' - The alleged gunman -- Dimitrios Pagourtzis, who at 17 is the same age as Sheikh -- was later apprehended by police and is being held on capital murder charges, meaning he could face the death penalty. Aziz said he hoped the killing of his daughter would not deter other Pakistanis from going abroad for education Police have yet to release details about a possible motive. It was the 22nd school shooting this year, according to US media reports, a disturbing statistic in a country where firearms are part of everyday life and there are more than 30,000 gun-related deaths annually. The news that a Pakistani exchange student was among the dead appeared to break through the now-routine outpouring of grief on social media after such killings, with US celebrities joining Pakistanis in expressing their sorrow "This little girl could've been my daughter. We must do more than just console the parents of these murdered kids," said American actress Mindy Kaling on Twitter, along with a picture of Sheikh in a post online. Some Pakistanis, for whom militant violence is all too familiar, branded the killing "terrorism". "My heart is crying for #SabikaSheikh we have lost our brightest asset because of terrorism," tweeted Malik Rohaina, from the southern Pakistani city of Hyderabad. Despite perennially rocky relations between Washington and Islamabad, the US has long been a favoured destination for Pakistani students studying abroad, with thousands enrolling in American schools every year. Sheikh was in the US on a State Department-sponsored exchange programme. Expressing his "deepest condolences" to her family and friends, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that Sheikh was "helping to build ties between the United States and her native Pakistan". "Sabika's death and that of the other victims is heartbreaking and will be mourned deeply" in both countries, he added. Even as he mourned the loss of his daughter, Aziz said he hoped the tragedy would not frighten fellow Pakistanis from following her lead. "Such incidents should not make people lose heart... and one should not stop going to the US or UK or China or anywhere," said Aziz. "One must go for education undeterred." Crime scene tape stretched outside Santa Fe High School, where 10 people, most of them students, were killed by a classmate February's school massacre in Parkland, Florida inspired students to launch a spirited gun control movement. Similar calls for reform are unlikely to resonate following a deadly shooting in Texas, where support for gun rights is paramount. When a teen student stormed into Santa Fe High School on Friday and opened fire on his classmates and teachers, killing 10 people and wounding 10 more, it was the latest explosion of gun violence at America's schools. But students and parents in this tight-knit rural community outside Houston said the rampage at their local school will not convince them to support stricter gun laws. "No, I think if he wanted to shoot the school he would have done it" regardless of the restriction levels on firearms, Tori White, a junior at Santa Fe High, told AFP about the suspect, 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis. In Parkland, classmates from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where a 19-year-old slaughtered 14 students and three adult staff members, have found themselves in the spotlight, as their call for stricter gun laws went national. In Santa Fe, "It's not going to happen," Jordan Flores, who graduated from Santa Fe in 2015, said as he and two friends brought donuts to state troopers posted at the high school's front gate. Tori White, a student at Santa Fe High School, say she believes a classmate would have killed 10 people at the school even if firearms laws were more restrictive The gun culture is so strong here, he said, that when reports emerged of a lockdown at the same school earlier this year, he and friends rushed to help -- armed to the hilt. "We showed up, I had a .40 on my hip, a 12-gauge on my back, he had an AK. We were ready," Flores said. Blaming guns for the actions of individuals goes against the grain, he said. "It's outside factors" that are to blame, including bad parenting, the pressures from social media, and mental health issues, Flores added. Sprawling and conservative Texas, a southern state bordering Mexico, has among the most permissive firearm laws in the United States, where a third of children live in a household with at least one firearm. The state's Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, is proud of his pro-gun position. "I'm EMBARRASSED: Texas #2 in nation for new gun purchases, behind CALIFORNIA," he memorably tweeted in 2015. "Let's pick up the pace Texans." - 'Gun racks in our trucks' - Texas The state has been the scene of several ghastly mass shootings over the years. Last November a gunman killed 26 worshippers at a Baptist church in Sutherland Springs. But residents of Santa Fe pointed to that tragedy -- when an armed citizen chased down the attacker -- as an example of the theory perpetuated by the National Rifle Association: that a good guy with a gun is often the best way to stop criminals. "I don't think gun reform is going to be an issue at all in our community or in Texas as a whole," said Geoff Anderson, a private investigator whose son is a senior at Santa Fe High School. Authorities ought to focus more on mental health issues and arming school personnel, rather than calling for limits on the proliferation of legal weapons, residents said. One father of a Santa Fe High School sophomore recalled how guns were a fabric of life in the area since back when he grew up. "We students had gun racks in our trucks. My friends would go hunting in these woods before school," said the father, who asked not to be named. "It's not the guns." Arguing the other side on Saturday outside the high school were Sandy and Lonnie Phillips, whose daughter Jessie was slain in an Aurora, Colorado theater shooting nearly six years ago. These days they live in a camper, traveling from state to state counselling students and parents after the latest tragedy. So far they have been to the scene of nine mass shootings. "Isn't that pathetic? Isn't that sad?" asked Sandy Phillips, who wore a button bearing a photograph of her late daughter. "When you have 300 million guns on the streets, it's pretty easy to have mass shootings," she said. "To say that we don't have a gun problem, that's insanity." Accepting one of global cinema's most coveted honours from jury president Cate Blanchett, Japanese veteran director Hirokazu Kore-eda said movies made him hopeful for the state of the world "Shoplifters", a heartwrenching family tale by Japanese veteran director Hirokazu Kore-eda, won the Palme d'Or top prize at the Cannes film festival Saturday, at a ceremony marked by an emotional speech from a Harvey Weinstein accuser. Spike Lee accepted the runner-up Grand Prix for "BlacKkKlansman", a searing broadside against racism with the stranger-than-fiction true story of an African-American police officer who manages to infiltrate the highest levels of the Ku Klux Klan. Jury president Cate Blanchett said the film, which explicitly links the 1970s tale and white nationalism in the Trump era, "blew us out of the cinema". But the most stunning moment of the night came when Italian star Asia Argento, who has said she was raped by Weinstein at Cannes in 1997, took the microphone and vowed to fight for justice for other victims. Italian actress Asia Argento, who has said she was raped by the Hollywood mogul at Cannes in 1997, told the ceremony he would never be welcome at the event again "This festival was his hunting ground," said Argento, who says she was 21 when Weinstein attacked her in his hotel room. "Even tonight sitting among you there are those who still have to be held accountable for their conduct against women. We know who you are and we are not going to allow you to get away with it any longer," she said to cheers from the audience. Minutes before the actress took the stage police in Paris said they had opened a criminal probe against one of France's best-known directors, "The Fifth Element" maker Luc Besson, for allegedly raping an actress. - 'Rare good news' - Cannes film festival 2018 Lebanese actress-director Nadine Labaki, one of three female filmmakers among the 21 contenders, earned the third-place Jury Prize for "Capernaum" set among the poorest of the poor in Beirut and featuring a devastating performance by a 13-year-old Syrian refugee boy. Kazakhstan's Samal Yeslyamova nabbed best actress for "Ayka" by director Sergey Dvortsevoy for her moving portrayal of a young jobless immigrant from post-Soviet Central Asia who abandons her baby in Moscow. Polish Oscar winner Pawel Pawlikowski took the prize for best director for "Cold War", a tragic love story set against the backdrop of the Iron Curtain. Pawlikowski, who won the foreign-language movie Oscar for "Ida" in 2015, caused a scandal at home when he told AFP at the festival that the film had been "blacklisted" by the nationalist government. Warsaw denied the claim. He said his award was "a rare piece of good news" for his country. US director Spike Lee poses after he won the Grand Prix for the film "BlacKkKlansman" Italy's Marcello Fonte -- who was working as a caretaker when he was discovered -- was the night's fairytale winner. He clinched best actor for his much-loved performance as a soft-spoken pet groomer who stands up to a heavy in Matteo Garrone's "Dogman". "Three Faces" by Iran's Jafar Pahahi, who was barred by Tehran from attending the festival, shared the best screenplay prize with Italian director Alice Rohrwacher's "Happy as Lazzaro". The Belgian transgender ballerina drama "Girl" won the Camera d'Or prize for best first film. It had earlier scooped the Queer Palm prize for LGBT-themed cinema and the best actor award for Victor Polster in the Un Certain Regard sidebar section. French-Swiss legend Jean-Luc Godard also got a special prize for "The Image Book", a bold, sometimes baffling meditation on the big questions of our time -- war, migration and the survival of the planet. - 'Very scary time' - "Shoplifters" was an early favourite at the 71st Cannes festival. It depicts a couple who rescue two abused and neglected children, providing the first love the youngsters have experienced even as they groom the kids to steal. US movie website IndieWire hailed it as "miraculous" while The Guardian called it "a rich, satisfying film". Spike Lee called his own movie, which many critics hailed as a return to form for the "Do the Right Thing" director, a "wake-up call" against extremism around the world. "It's a very, very scary time we live in," he told reporters. "There is a lot of change but there is a lot of stuff that needs to happen... and with the present (Trump) administration they're doing many things to roll back the clock which I feel is dangerous." Beyond the prize winners, this year's festival will linger for its off-screen moments. Hollywood stars including Blanchett, Kristen Stewart, Helen Mirren and Salma Hayek and directors Ava DuVernay and Patty Jenkins joined a red-carpet protest to demand equal opportunities for women and a "safe workplace". Two days later, festival organisers signed a pledge to encourage more diversity in its selection by 2020. Despite being one of the most sought-after tickets, the premiere of Danish bad boy Lars von Trier's "The House That Jack Built" saw audience members walk out in droves from what they called a misogynistic orgy of violence. Both its female stars, Uma Thurman and Riley Keough, were conspicuously absent from the red carpet, where Stewart on another night staged a protest of her own by slipping off her high heels and climbing the vaunted Cannes stairs barefoot. In 2017, the top prize went to Ruben Ostlund's "The Square," an art world send-up that went on to bag an Oscar nomination. HAVANA, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Only three women survived a tragic plane crash on Friday in Havana, yet authorities still haven't provided a total death toll. According to local media, initially the number of survivors was four, including three women and a man who died moments after arriving at the hospital. According to Dr. Carlos Alberto Martinez, director of the Calixto Garcia Hospital in the capital, the injured women are in stable condition, but their prognosis is reserved and critical. The plane, rented by local company Cubana de Aviacion from the Mexican airline Damojh, crashed shortly after taking off from Havana's Jose Marti International Airport. A total of 111 people were on board, including 104 passengers and an infant, Transport Minister of the island Adel Yzquierdo told local media. The official said the victims are mostly Cubans, and there were also five foreigners on the plane, and six crew members of Mexican nationality. The Cuban government decreed two days of mourning from 6:00 a.m. (1000 GMT) on Saturday to Sunday midnight. A commission to investigate the causes of the accident has been set up. Chaired by the Civil Aeronautics Institute, the commission will carry out an exhaustive enquiry in collaboration with the Interior Ministry, which has preserved the site, according to Yzquierdo. The Cuban official said the process will be complex, due to the heavy rains over Havana over the last hours. Local media also reported that Raul Castro, first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, conveyed his condolences to the victims' families. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel immediately went to the scene of the incident. In his statements to local television, he expressed his solidarity with the relatives of the deceased and announced that investigations to clarify the causes of the accident are progressing. Friday's crash was Cuba's third major accident since 2010. Last year, a Cuban military plane crashed into a hillside in the western province of Artemisa, killing eight soldiers on board. In November 2010, an AeroCaribbean flight from Santiago to Havana went down as it flew over central Cuba, killing 68 people, including 28 foreigners. HONOLULU (AP) - The first Native Hawaiian elected to Congress was memorialized Friday at the state Capitol, where he was scheduled to lie in state for 24 hours. Sen. Daniel Akaka died in April at the age of 93 after being hospitalized for several months. Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers carried the late senator's casket to the Capitol rotunda, where members of the Royal Order of Kamehameha, other Hawaiian royal societies and state lawmakers paid their respects to Akaka's family. Sen. Daniel Akaka's casket is escorted by a military honor guards to the Capitol Rotunda, Friday, May 18, 2018 in Honolulu. Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers carried the senator's casket to the Capitol rotunda on Friday where Akaka will lie in state for 24 hours. Akaka died in April at the age of 93 after being hospitalized for several months. He was the first Native Hawaiian elected to Congress. (Craig T. Kojima/Honolulu Star-Advertiser via AP) The Royal Hawaiian Band played the senator's favorite song, "Hawaiian Lullaby." The Akaka family planned services at the Capitol Friday evening and at Kawaiahao Church on Saturday. Both ceremonies were to be open to the public. Irene Hirano Inouye, widow of Akaka's fellow longtime colleague the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, said in a statement her husband had tremendous respect and admiration for Akaka. "He would often remark, 'When you open a dictionary, next to the word Aloha should be a picture of Dan Akaka,'" she said. Akaka "demonstrated, every day, that governing can and should be done with kindness, empathy and respect," she said. The Democrat served 14 years in the U.S. House before he was appointed to replace Sen. Spark Matsunaga, who died of cancer in spring 1990. Akaka won election that fall for the rest of Matsunaga's term, and voters sent him back for consecutive terms until 2012, when he chose not to seek re-election. Akaka once said his main accomplishment in Congress was obtaining federal funds for Hawaii for education, energy and Native Hawaiian programs. Born in 1924, Akaka grew up in a devoutly Christian home in Honolulu. He was the youngest of eight children of a Native Hawaiian mother and a Hawaiian-Chinese father. After serving in the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II, Akaka earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in education at the University of Hawaii. He was a public school teacher, principal and program specialist for 18 years before becoming director of the Hawaii Office of Economic Opportunity in 1971. Akaka is survived by his wife, Mary Mildred "Millie" Chong, four sons, a daughter and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. ___ This story has been corrected to show royal societies greeted the senator's casket. The late Sen. Daniel Akaka's casket arrives at the state Capitol in Honolulu on Friday, May 18, 2018. Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers carried the senator's casket to the Capitol rotunda on Friday where Akaka will lie in state for 24 hours. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy) The late Sen. Daniel Akaka's casket arrives at the state Capitol in Honolulu on Friday, May 18, 2018. Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers carried the senator's casket to the Capitol rotunda on Friday where Akaka will lie in state for 24 hours. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy) Moiurners pay their respects to Sen, Daniel Akaka at the state Capitol Rotunda, Friday, May 18, 2018 in Honolulu. Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers carried the senator's casket to the Capitol rotunda on Friday where Akaka will lie in state for 24 hours. Akaka died in April at the age of 93 after being hospitalized for several months. He was the first Native Hawaiian elected to Congress. (Craig T. Kojima/Honolulu Star-Advertiser via AP) NEW YORK (AP) - From pubgoers in pajamas to merrymakers in finery at a posh hotel, Americans cheered and teared up Saturday as they watched Meghan Markle marry Prince Harry in a royal wedding with trans-Atlantic resonance. People gathered at wedding watch parties - some before dawn - at a Hollywood pub and New York's swanky Plaza hotel, in oceanfront towns in Florida and spots in the Rocky Mountains, to see an American of mixed race heritage become part of Britain's royal family. If the U.K. and the U.S. have long enjoyed a "special relationship," this gave it a whole new meaning. People react during a viewing party of the royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry of Wales, at the Plaza Hotel on Saturday, May 19, 2018, in New York. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gazed into each other's eyes and pledged their eternal love Saturday as they married at St. George's Chapel in front of hundreds of celebrity guests and millions of viewers around the world. 2 (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) "It was a real-life fairy tale," said Erin Massa, 34, who watched at a Minneapolis pub. "If someone my age from America can suddenly become a princess, essentially, anything really is possible." About 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) away at a home in Burlington, New Jersey, Paula Jackson gasped when Markle emerged from the Rolls-Royce that brought her to St. George's Chapel in Windsor, the British royals' longtime home. "I'm just so happy for her," said Jackson, dressed in a jeweled blazer and tiara. "She will be an example for our young, African-American women." At gatherings around the U.S., viewers admitted Markle's beauty and naturalness. But they also marveled at the boundary-breaking union between the 33-year-old prince who has been open about how grief shadowed his life for decades after the 1997 death of his mother, Princess Diana, and the 36-year-old American actress who has spoken out about coming to terms with her biracial identity as the daughter of a black mother and white father. Some viewers wiped away tears as they watched the wedding from Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, Markle's alma mater. "It's all my family can talk about," said 15-year-old sophomore Daniella Bueno, who got up at 3 a.m. to join dozens of students, parents and staffers for the event. "She's representing our school in such a beautiful way." Across the country, Varinda Missett and Ellen Polkes donned hats, gloves and bejeweled high heels and went to the Plaza early in the morning because they "wanted to see a California girl become a princess," Missett said. A crowd in fascinators and tiaras gathered for the storied hotel's first royal wedding viewing party, which came complete with deviled eggs, black pudding, Earl Grey tea butter biscuits and cake pops with champagne and flower liqueur. "We love a great love story," said Maureen Farley, the hotel's director of hospitality. "This surely is one of the best." If there was a certain historical irony in Americans celebrating British royalty nearly 242 years after the Declaration of Independence, it had little sway Saturday over Americans who say they were simply rallying around love. "I think this is a wonderful new way to be royal," said Ralph Campbell, 67, who donned a three-piece dark suit and bow tie for a watch party at Brit's Pub in Minneapolis. He called the ceremony "a global wedding" and added: "I think it will only help the cause of peace in the world." Another guest at Brit's Pub, British native Victoria Rylee, had no problem with an American marrying a British prince. After all, "I married an American," Rylee, 71, said with a laugh. At a pajama-and-viewing party at the Cat & Fiddle Pub in Hollywood, California, British-born actor Craig Young was happy to watch a woman from his adopted hometown join the royal family in his homeland. It was something "we never thought would happen, and which we're very excited about," said the actor, 44, who wore a bathrobe and Prince Harry mask. For Meghan Woods, who was at the Plaza's fete in New York, the takeaway was simple. "There are so many terrible things going on in the world that when there's something like this- love bringing people together, a reason to celebrate," she said, "why not?" ___ Dalton reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Jeff Baenen in Minneapolis, Alexandra Villarreal in New York and Errin Haines Whack in Burlington, New Jersey, contributed to this report. Students and their families watch the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the gym of Immaculate Heart High School, Markle's alma mater, early Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Los Angeles. From pubgoers in pajamas to merrymakers in finery at a posh hotel, Americans cheered and teared up Saturday as they watched Meghan Markle marry Prince Harry in a royal wedding with trans-Atlantic resonance. (AP Photo/Andrew Dalton) Two women toast during a viewing party of the royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry of Wales, at the Plaza Hotel on Saturday, May 19, 2018, in New York. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gazed into each other's eyes and pledged their eternal love Saturday as they married at St. George's Chapel in front of hundreds of celebrity guests and millions of viewers around the world. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) Students and their families watch the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the gym of Immaculate Heart High School, Markle's alma mater, early Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Los Angeles. From pubgoers in pajamas to merrymakers in finery at a posh hotel, Americans cheered and teared up Saturday as they watched Meghan Markle marry Prince Harry in a royal wedding with trans-Atlantic resonance. (AP Photo/Andrew Dalton) Students and their families watch the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the gym of Immaculate Heart High School, Markle's alma mater, early Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Los Angeles. From pubgoers in pajamas to merrymakers in finery at a posh hotel, Americans cheered and teared up Saturday as they watched Meghan Markle marry Prince Harry in a royal wedding with trans-Atlantic resonance. (AP Photo/Andrew Dalton) A couple takes a selfie with wax sculptures of Meghan Markle, second left, and Prince Harry, second right, during a viewing party of the royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry of Wales, at the Madame Tussauds wax museum on Saturday, May 19, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) CAIRO (AP) - Egyptian security officials say a prominent activist and labor rights lawyer has been arrested on an array of charges including belonging to an outlawed group. The officials said Haytham Mohamedeen, arrested on Friday, is a member of the Revolutionary Socialists movement. Amnesty International criticized the arrest as "another attack on the right to freedom of expression and association" and called for his release. In 2016, Mohamedeen was arrested and later released over calling for protests against Egypt's transfer of two strategic Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. Egypt has waged a massive crackdown on dissent since the 2013 overthrow of an elected Islamist president after mass protests against his one year divisive rule. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. WASHINGTON (AP) - Deflect blame for the bad things. Take undue credit for the good things. When President Donald Trump and his environmental chief sat down with different audiences this past week, the blame game was on display. So was some chest-thumping. Trump tried to lay responsibility on Democrats for the separation of children from parents at the border, even though the policy comes from his own administration. He cited outdated numbers to boast about a decline in illegal border crossings. In this May 16, 2018, photo, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt appears before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies on budget on Capitol Hill in Washington. Pruitt claimed credit for pollution cleanups done mostly by the Obama administration while flubbing facts about his 2017 condo deal and blaming underlings for his ethical woes. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt claimed credit for pollution cleanups done mostly by the Obama administration while flubbing facts about his 2017 condo deal and blaming underlings for his ethical woes. A look at Trump's statements at a forum with California officials on immigration and Pruitt's testimony to a Senate committee: ___ TRUMP to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on Wednesday: "I know what you're going through right now with families is very tough but those are the bad laws that the Democrats gave us. We have to break up families. The Democrats gave us that law. It's a horrible thing where you have to break up families. The Democrats gave us that law and they don't want to do anything about it. They'll leave it like that 'cause they don't want to make any changes. And now you're breaking up families because of the Democrats. It's terrible." THE FACTS: Not so. No law that "the Democrats gave us" mandates the separation of children from their parents at the border. A 2008 law designed to combat child trafficking has been described by Trump and his administration as a principal reason for "catch-and-release" policies that he's trying to end at the border. The law says children traveling alone from countries other than Mexico or Canada must be released in the "least restrictive setting" - often to family or a government-run shelter - while their cases slowly wind through immigration court. It was designed to accommodate an influx of children fleeing to the U.S. from Central America. It had the support of Republicans and Democrats, passing the House and Senate unanimously. Republican George W. Bush signed it into law as one of his last acts as president. The law says nothing about breaking up families. Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently announced a "zero tolerance" policy for illegal entries, pledging to criminally prosecute people with few or no previous offenses. If parents are jailed, they are separated from children who joined them under protocols described in the 2008 law. Administration officials have acknowledged that about 700 children have been separated from their parents since October. That figure is certain to increase once the zero-tolerance policy takes hold; nearly 50,000 Border Patrol arrests since October were of people who came as families. That's about 1 in 4 arrests by the agents. ___ TRUMP: "Our numbers are much better than in the past, but they're not nearly acceptable and not nearly as good as what we could have. We're down 40 percent from those other standards, so that's really good - meaning 40 percent crossings." THE FACTS: That claim of a 40 percent drop in illegal crossings in a year is based on old statistics. Yes, Border Patrol arrests plummeted to the lowest level since 1971 during the last budget year. But they began a sharp and steady climb after Trump's first few months in office. One likely explanation is that people who initially took a wait-and-see attitude toward Trump are now taking their chances. Overall border arrests in April - which add people who are stopped at land crossings and other official points of entry - topped 50,000 for a second straight month. That was more than triple the number from a year earlier, which was the lowest tally on record since the Homeland Security Department was created in 2003. Border arrests are an imprecise measure of how many people are attempting to enter the country illegally, because the numbers who make it into the U.S. are not known. But when arrests are up, that's taken by the government to mean that more people are trying. ___ PRUITT, referring Wednesday to a man who was listed as the landlord of a bargain-priced condo Pruitt rented in Washington last year: "Steve Hart is someone that was not registered as a lobbyist in 2017. He's a longtime associate and friend." THE FACTS: That's wrong. Disclosure reports show Hart was a registered lobbyist for 35 separate entities in 2017. Among those he represented was Cheniere Energy, which owns the only operational liquefied natural gas export terminal in the U.S. The reports show Hart worked on "Issues related to the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG), approval of LNG exports and export facilities." Pruitt has been a vocal booster of LNG exports while at EPA, even taking a taxpayer-funded trip to Morocco in December to help persuade the North African kingdom to import more gas from U.S. producers. Such increases in LNG exports would probably benefit Cheniere. Pruitt rented the luxury Capitol Hill condo from a corporation co-owned by Hart's wife. He paid just $50 a night, and only paid on nights when he stayed there. A copy of the lease, reviewed by The Associated Press, shows Steven Hart was originally listed as the landlord but his name was scratched out and substituted with that of his wife, a health policy lobbyist. Pruitt used the condo last year from March through at least August. In past public comments, Pruitt claimed Hart had no business before EPA in 2017. That turned out not to be true, either. Records show Hart met with Pruitt in his office at EPA headquarters last year and the lobbyist emailed with EPA staff on behalf of his client Smithfield Foods. The meeting happened in July 2017, during the condo rental period, and was described by Hart last month as a discussion about the Chesapeake Bay. Smithfield and its charitable foundation have been involved with efforts to clean up the bay since EPA fined the company $12.6 million in 1997 for illegally dumping hog waste into a tributary. In addition to the companies he personally represented, Hart was the top executive at the powerhouse lobbying firm Williams & Jensen before retiring early as a result of the scandal over Pruitt's condo deal. Records show Hart's former firm represented a lengthy roster of companies last year with billions at stake over regulatory decisions made by EPA, including ExxonMobil Corp., the world's largest publicly traded international oil and gas company. ___ SEN. TOM UDALL, Democrat of New Mexico, to Pruitt at the Senate hearing: "Do you see a conflict of interest in accepting a pretty good housing deal from a lobbyist couple that has business before the EPA?" PRUITT: "Senator, the ethics officials at the agency actually - actually had performed two ethics reviews, saying that the lease terms are consistent with comparable rates in the marketplace." THE FACTS: That's a misleading seal of approval. EPA ethics officials were only asked to review Pruitt's 2017 condo lease after news broke about the administrator's unusual living arrangement. EPA lawyer Kevin Minoli, who wrote the reviews, later said he only considered the lease as written, specifically the claim that Pruitt only rented one bedroom for the $50 nightly rate. But it was later disclosed that Pruitt's daughter, who was a summer intern at the White House, occupied a second bedroom at no cost. Because he only paid for the nights he was there, Pruitt forked over a total of $6,100 over the six-month period he leased the property, an average of about $1,000 a month. Recent rental listings for two-bedroom apartments in the neighborhood show they typically go for far more than what Pruitt paid. A two-bedroom townhome on the same block as the one leased by Pruitt was advertised for rent in April at $3,750 a month. Another two-bedroom unit on the next block was advertised as available for $4,740 a month. ___ PRUITT, asked if he had told his security personnel that he wanted his motorcade to use sirens and flashing lights for nonemergency trips like shopping: "No, I don't recall that." He said "there are policies that the agency follows, the agents follow, and - and to my knowledge, they followed it in all instances." THE FACTS: After that comment, Udall disclosed an internal email indicating Pruitt's interest in riding around with sirens and lights. The email, written by then-EPA special agent Pasquale "Nino" Perrotta just days after Pruitt's confirmation in February 2017, has the subject line "Lights and Sirens." It added "Btw - Administrator encourages the use." Pruitt later promoted Perrotta to lead his round-the-clock personal protective detail. Former EPA officials have told AP that Pruitt made the change after Perrotta's predecessor refused to use lights and sirens in nonemergencies. Pruitt broadly denied responsibility for alleged ethical missteps that have prompted about a dozen investigations, blaming questionable actions on security agents, public affairs workers and other subordinates. ___ PRUITT: "In 2017, we removed over three times the number of polluted sites of contaminated communities across the country, as compared to the previous administration. And, in 2018, we are on pace to remove as many as 10 times the number." THE FACTS: As he has before, Pruitt is taking credit for work done by the Obama administration while disparaging its record. The EPA declared seven cleanups complete from its Superfund priority list last year, compared with two sites delisted the year before. That's indeed a more than threefold increase. But records show that construction work at all seven sites cited by Pruitt's EPA, such as removing soil or drilling wells to suck out contaminated groundwater, was completed years before Pruitt was confirmed as the agency's chief in February. Removing sites from the list is a procedural step that occurs after monitoring data show that remaining levels of harmful contaminates meet cleanup targets, which were often set by the EPA decades ago. An analysis of EPA records by the AP in January showed that the seven sites delisted last year fell short of the average pace set under the administrations of Obama and George W. Bush, even in their opening years. Trump's proposed 2018 budget sought to cut the Superfund program by 30 percent but Congress did not go along. EPA lists more than 1,300 Superfund sites that are at various stages of cleanup. ___ Spagat reported from San Diego. Associated Press writers Michael Biesecker and Jill Colvin also contributed. ___ Online: Quarterly lobbying disclosure reports for 2017: https://tinyurl.com/y7q5he4q https://tinyurl.com/ycpskln2 https://tinyurl.com/y9323mza https://tinyurl.com/ya44qahs ___ Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck WASHINGTON (AP) - Melania Trump returned to the White House in "high spirits" on Saturday following a weeklong hospitalization for kidney treatment, a lengthy stay that raised questions about whether the first lady's condition may have been more complicated than first revealed. President Donald Trump heralded her homecoming with a tweet that referred to her as "Melanie" instead of "Melania." "Great to have our incredible First Lady back home in the White House. Melanie is feeling and doing really well. Thank you for all of your prayers and best wishes!" Trump wrote before quickly superseding that tweet with another that spelled his wife's name correctly. FILE - In this May 7, 2018 file photo, First lady Melania Trump speaks on her initiatives during an event in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. The White House says the first lady returned to the White House on Saturday, May 19. She had been at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center near Washington since having an embolization procedure Monday for an unspecified kidney condition that the White House said was benign. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Mrs. Trump's quiet return to the White House, her husband and their 12-year-old son, after five days at a nearby U.S. military hospital resolved a brewing mystery about when she would eventually be released. What remain are questions about the state of her health. Her spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, has declined to release additional details, citing Mrs. Trump's right to privacy. "The First Lady returned home to the White House this morning," Grisham said in an emailed statement. "She is resting comfortably and remains in high spirits. Our office has received thousands of calls and emails wishing Mrs. Trump well, and we thank everyone who has taken the time to reach out." First ladies are under no obligation to make their medical histories public. She had been at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center near Washington since Monday, when she had an embolization procedure to treat an unspecified kidney condition the White House described as benign. Word of the hospitalization came as a surprise as there was no indication during her public appearances in recent weeks, including during a state visit by France's president, that Mrs. Trump had been ailing. One week before the procedure, a beaming Mrs. Trump, 48, presided over a splashy announcement ceremony in the White House Rose Garden to introduce her "Be Best" public awareness campaign to help teach kindness to children. Grisham said Monday that the procedure was "successful," there were no complications and that Mrs. Trump would probably remain hospitalized for "the duration of the week." The president then tweeted Tuesday that his wife would be released in "2 or 3" days, but Thursday and Friday passed without word from the White House on her whereabouts. Trump had visited her during her first three days of hospitalization. But he did not visit Thursday or Friday, leading some to wonder whether that meant the first lady had been discharged. The first lady said Wednesday on Twitter that she was "feeling great" and looking forward to going home, but gave no indication of when that might happen. On Friday, she tweeted about the deadly school shooting at a Houston-area high school but did not update her followers on her medical situation. Urologists with no personal knowledge of Mrs. Trump's condition said the most likely explanation for the procedure is a kind of noncancerous kidney tumor called an angiomyolipoma. They're not common but tend to occur in middle-aged women and can cause problematic bleeding if they become large enough, said Dr. Keith Kowalczyk of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Doctors often treat the condition by cutting off the blood supply so the growth shrinks, added Dr. Lambros Stamatakis of MedStar Washington Hospital Center. That is done with an embolization, meaning a catheter is snaked into the blood vessels of the kidney to find the right one to block. Most of the time, these tumors are found when people undergo medical scans for another reason, but sometimes people have pain or other symptoms, Kowalczyk said. Many times, embolization patients go home the same day or the next. Grisham on Saturday characterized speculation about the first lady as "uninformed," adding that every patient is different. "Mrs. Trump has a medical team that is comfortable with her care, which is all that matters," she said. "Her recovery and privacy are paramount and I will have no further comment beyond this." The question of what level of accountability should be expected of first ladies is difficult because they are private citizens, yet public figures who draw keen interest from the public, have taxpayer-supported staff and sometimes involve themselves in politics and policy. Myra Gutin, a Rider University professor who studies presidents' wives, recalled the backlash Rosalynn Carter suffered for attending Cabinet meetings; she explained that she just wanted to get things right because she was so often out and about representing President Jimmy Carter. The White House has a mixed record on disclosing information about the ailments of first ladies. Nancy Reagan revealed in 1987 that she had breast cancer and had her left breast surgically removed. But nearly two decades later, the White House found itself on the defensive for its after-the-fact disclosure that Laura Bush had skin cancer removed from her right shin in November 2006. Mrs. Bush had decided it was a private matter, but it nonetheless came to light after she was seen wearing a bandage below her right knee. The following year, the White House proactively disclosed that Mrs. Bush would have surgery to relieve pain from pinched nerves in her neck. The problem kept her from accompanying President George W. Bush on a trip to Australia. Sheila Tate, a press secretary to Mrs. Reagan, said the first lady felt it was appropriate to reveal her breast cancer diagnosis. Such disclosures by a first lady aren't "absolutely required, by any means," Tate said. "Melania is entitled to her privacy, if that's what she wants." ___ AP Medical Writer Lauran Neergaard contributed to this report. ___ Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Sri Lanka commemorated the ninth anniversary of the end of its civil war as a divided nation, with minority Tamils calling for an international investigation into alleged wartime atrocities and the government defending soldiers from allegations. President Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday presided over a war memorial ceremony in the capital, Colombo. He said even though some accuse the military of war crimes, such allegations haven't been formally levied by world bodies such as the U.N. Human Rights Council. The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights in a 2015 report said if allegations against both the government forces and separatist Tamil Tigers could be established in a court of law, they may, depending on the circumstances, amount to war crimes. Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena attends a commemorative ceremony marking the ninth anniversary to the end of Sri Lanka's civil war at the national war heroes memorial in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (AP Photo) Sirisena said there were no proper records to show the number of civilians who died in the 26-year civil war but said it could be around 100,000. The U.N. initially estimated the death toll at the same number, but it is suspected to be much higher since there were no independent witnesses to the final year of fighting. The government pledged in 2015 to carry out an impartial investigation into alleged war crimes, but has taken no action so far. In his remarks, Sirisena said that his government remained on the path to ethnic reconciliation. At another ceremony held on Friday, C.V. Wigneswaran, chief minister of Tamil-dominated Northern Province, called for an international investigation into civilian deaths during the war. "The international community without delay should set up an international strategic mechanism to ensure justice for the people affected," Wigneswaran said speaking in Mullivaikkal village, the scene of the final battle. He also called for every May 18 to be observed as "Tamil Genocide Day" and for the withdrawal of Sri Lankan armed forces from the former war zones. In the first few years since the end of the war, Sri Lanka's government barred civilians from remembering their dead and held grand victory ceremonies parading soldiers, military ware and conducting air shows. However, Sirisena, who was elected in 2015 on a platform of post-war ethnic reconciliation, has limited the victory ceremony to honoring soldiers while allowing Tamils also to remember their dead. Sri Lankan troops defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009, ending more than a quarter-century of separatist civil unrest. Both sides were accused of serious human rights violations. The government was accused of deliberately targeting civilians, hospitals and blocking food and medicine for the people boxed in the war zone. The Tamil Tigers were accused of conscripting child soldiers, holding civilians as human shields and killing those trying to escape from their control. FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) - Defense lawyers for a man facing a possible death penalty in the slaying of a Muslim teenager last year say their client likely suffers intellectual disabilities. The court filing from lawyers for 23-year-old Darwin Martinez-Torres of Sterling seeks appointment of an expert to evaluate whether he has the mental capacity to face capital punishment. The Washington Post reports an initial evaluation by a neuropsychologist found Torres suffers from poor memory and impaired judgment, and is functionally illiterate. Martinez-Torres is charged with capital murder and rape in the 2017 killing of 17-year-old Nabra Hassanen. She was attacked while walking back to a mosque with friends ahead of a pre-dawn Ramadan service in northern Virginia. A judge will hear arguments on the request later this month. The trial is scheduled for January. ___ Information from: The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com DALLAS (AP) - The wind finally blew on the new Trinity Forest course at the AT&T Byron Nelson. Aaron Wise wasn't rattled, not even by a bogey that dropped him into a tie for the lead on the final hole Saturday. Now the 21-year-old PGA Tour rookie is ready for another run at his first victory. Wise shot a 3-under 68 to pull even with Marc Leishman, four shots ahead of Matt Jones and Kevin Na going into the final round. Aaron Wise, left, and Marc Leishman, right, of Australia, watch Wise's shot off the 18th tee during the third round of the AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament, Saturday, May 19, 2018, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) It's not the first time Wise has been in this position, though. Two weeks ago, he finished tied for second at the Wells Fargo Championship, two shots behind Jason Day. Besides, Wise has won at every level - including the 2016 NCAA individual title while helping Oregon win the team championship just before turning pro. He was the first player in eight years to pull that NCAA double. "There's a little more pressure on it because there's more people and it's a bigger scene, but I felt like I did a great job of handling all that at Quail Hollow," Wise said. "Being my second chance at it, I feel like it's only going to be better than that." Leishman shot 69 after setting a 36-hole tournament record previously shared by Tiger Woods. The 34-year-old Australian had a career-best 61 in the opening round. Hometown star Jordan Spieth couldn't make a move from eight shots back, shooting par 71 and falling 10 strokes behind. Wind gusted above 25 mph at times after two rounds of calmer conditions and lower scores on the treeless, links-style layout a few miles south of downtown Dallas. The Nelson spent the previous 35 years at a more conventional venue in suburban Irving. One illustration of the struggle came late with the strong crosswind at the par-4 18th, where five of the top six on the leaderboard had bogey or worse. Na (69) and Jones (68) had to settle for 13 under. Jimmy Walker shot 70 with a double bogey on the final hole that dropped him to 12 under, with Brian Gay, who bogeyed 18 for a 72. Wise played in more wind than Leishman and most of the other leaders Friday when it kicked up in the afternoon, and still said Saturday's conditions were significantly different. And he still said it was fun. "I love playing really firm golf courses because it brings a lot of thinking in," Wise said. "I didn't have quite as many drivers as I had the last couple of days because it was firmer." With one notable exception: his 402-yard drive on the downwind par-4 ninth. All Wise had left was a flip wedge on the 504-yard hole, and he made the 11-foot putt. "It's pretty cool to be able to make decisions like that and kind of use my advantage, which is my driving when I can," he said. "But you still got to play safe. This course has enough teeth where you can't just bomb driver everywhere." Spieth was hoping for the teeth on one of his home courses, but couldn't take advantage of his experience with it. The Dallas native even admitted he's still struggling to figure out the greens. The 24-year-old had three birdies and three bogeys and is in danger of going another year without surpassing his best Nelson finish - a tie for 16th when he was a 16-year-old high school junior in 2010. "I finish 16th tomorrow and people are going to say, 'What's wrong?'" said Spieth, a three-time major winner. "It's funny how expectations change. But certainly my own do as well." Wise said the difference with strong wind on the course co-designed by Ben Crenshaw showed up quickly when his tee shot on the par-3 second hole ended up 30 yards right of his target. For Leishman, it was the long ninth hole when he hit a 3-wood to try to land short of a fairway bunker 340 yards away but "went straight in it." "That's a bit of getting used to," the three-time tour winner said. "Normally I can't hit my driver anywhere close to that." After 41 scores of 66 or better in the first two rounds, there were just two Saturday. Charles Howell III shot a 65 for the lowest and only bogey-free round of the day. "It's a lot different," Jones said. "This is what the course is built for." Leishman, who still has a chance to be a wire-to-wire Nelson winner two years after Sergio Garcia did it, retook the lead with birdies at Nos. 14 and 15. Wise answered at 16 and 17 before his three-putt at 18. "He's a solid player for I heard this morning he's only 21. I didn't realize that," Leishman said. "I guess I was in high school before he was born. You hear guys talk about that all the time, but I've never said that, I think." The Aussie will be dueling Sunday with the youngster, born in South Africa but raised in the United States. "It's easy for me to get ahead of myself," Wise said. "I'm getting some great experience for a kid this young. It's only going to serve me well down the road." Aaron Wise follows his shot off the eighth tee during the third round of the AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament, Saturday, May 19, 2018, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Marc Leishman, of Australia, and the gallery watch Leishman's approach shot to the fifth green during the third round of the AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament in Dallas, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Eric Gay') Jordan Spieth hits off the third tee during the third round of the AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament in Dallas, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Eric Gay') Wild flowers line the fair way as golfers Tom Lovelady, Rory Sabbatini and Ben Crane, walk up the first fairway during the third round of the AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament in Dallas Saturday, May 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Eric Gay') Kevin Na acknowledges applause from the gallery after his birdie putt on the 16th green during the third round of the AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament, Saturday, May 19, 2018, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) A select group of charity representatives have spoken of their delight at being handpicked to be part of Harry and Meghans big day. Two hundred people associated with organisations close to the couples hearts have taken up their prime spots outside the West Door of St Georges Chapel, the entrance and exit for the bride and groom. Being invited in to the grand surroundings of Windsor Castle grounds left some of the guests gobsmacked, while others described it as amazing. A royal fan holds knitted dolls of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ahead of their wedding in St Georges Chapel (Kirsty OConnor/PA) Charities including Sentebale, Wellchild and the Invictus Games Foundation are among those represented in Horseshoe Cloister, looking towards the flower-lined steps leading up to the Chapel. Your support enables us turn this mission and vision into reality: pic.twitter.com/Ifvbxfq67n @Sentebale (@Sentebale) May 16, 2018 Micky Yule, a former staff sergeant in the Royal Engineers, described the day as something from a fairytale. The 39-year-old from Edinburgh is now involved with the Invictus Games Foundation, founded after the success of the Invictus Games, a Paralympic-style competition for injured servicemen and women, set up by Harry. He said: Ive only ever watched this stuff (royal weddings) on telly. Its like a fairytale. Mr Yule, who said he was gobsmacked to receive an invite, praised Harry for putting injured servicemen and women on the map. He added: Weve really got a leader in him. We are really grateful to be here. Meet some of the families and nurses who will be representing WellChild at the wedding of our Patron Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle later today! #RoyalWedding https://t.co/QpbtxaaVkr WellChild (@WellChild) May 19, 2018 His wife Jody, from Southampton, said: I think its going to be really exciting. We didnt expect to be anywhere near this close. Malineo Motsephe said she hoped Harry would hear her performing a traditional celebratory African chant as he emerged from the chapel. The 70-year-old grandmother travelled from Lesotho for the wedding, having met Harry a number of times through her work with Sentebale, founded by Harry in 2006 in honour of his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, to help disadvantaged children in the southern African kingdom. Asked if she hoped Harry would spot her in the crowd, Ms Motsephe laughed and said: He will hear me. She said the couple appear to be well-matched. To me they are a very good match of people who are passionate about helping vulnerable children and adults, she said. She added: I think (inviting us) shows how down-to-earth he is. They are. Both of them. Invictus Games is coming to Sydney 20-27 October and tickets will go on sale 28 May. Be inspired. Be entertained. Be there. #GameOnDownUnder Join the journey at https://t.co/0JVdDVly4G pic.twitter.com/RyeCDPAjFr InvictusSydney (@InvictusSydney) May 16, 2018 Fifteen-year-old Dylan Bleach said he is already thinking of the story he can tell his future children and grandchildren about being part of such a historic occasion. Dylan and his mother Stacey Rowley, from Orpington in Kent, described Harry as very kind and caring, having met him previously through their work with the Wellchild charity. The teenager, who had cerebral palsy, said of the invite: I cant put it into words. Its amazing. Its a once in a lifetime opportunity. I can tell my kids and grandkids that I went to Prince Harrys wedding. Wearing a corgi bow-tie, as a nod to the Queen, Dylan added: The Prince has finally found his princess. A high school in Hangzhou is using facial recognition technology to analyze the behavior of students in the classroom, and to keep a record of their attendance, reports Beijing News. A student registers his attendance using a facial recognition camera outside a classroom at Hangzhou No. 11 High School, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, on May 15, 2018. [Photo: IC] The "intelligent classroom behavior management system" used at Hangzhou No. 11 High School incorporates a facial recognition camera that scans the classroom every 30 seconds. The camera is designed to log six types of behaviors by the students: reading, writing, hand raising, standing up, listening to the teacher, and leaning on the desk. It also records the facial expressions of the students and logs whether they look happy, upset, angry, fearful or disgusted. The information collected by system is analyzed and reported to teachers so they can better supervise the performance of their students. A teacher looks at an analysis of student facial expressions on a screen at Hangzhou No. 11 High School, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, on May 15, 2018. [Photo: IC] In response to concerns about student's privacy, Zhang Guanchao, the school's vice principal, explained that the system only collects and analyzes the results of the facial recognition analysis, and does not save the images themselves. He noted that privacy was considered in the design of the system, saying "Data collection and application focus on behavior management of the entire class rather than any individuals." He emphasized that the system is connected to a local server, not to a cloud server, in order to prevent unauthorized access to the data. Students attend class in a classroom equipped with a facial-recognition camera at Hangzhou No. 11 High School, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, on May 15, 2018. [Photo: IC] Zhang Guanchao added that the system can help teachers rethink their teaching method using statistical data, as well as cut the time needed to check class attendance to only a few seconds. Hangzhou No. 11 High School started using facial recognition technology last year, when it introduced it for students buying lunch in the canteen. It has since been extended into many areas of school life. For example, facial recognition is used to pay for purchases at the school shop and to borrow books from the school library. Crowds crammed the streets of Windsor to celebrate the royal wedding. The mid-morning sun beat down on thousands of wellwishers, including some who had slept on the street overnight to bag the best spots, amid a sea of red, white and blue flags, T-shirts and bunting. Outside The Windsor Castle pub, which is along the procession route, there were women in feather boas and veils as though they were on a hen night and many others who were sporting paper crowns or fancy fascinators. A random three cheers for the royal couple rang out as assistant pub manager Shauna Carabini, 22, described the atmosphere as quite infectious. Royal fans gather behind the barriers on the Long Walk, in Windsor (Oli Scarff/PA) She said: There have been people sleeping on the streets who have come from all over the world. It is a very British kind of celebration none of us know either of the people getting married but we are all invited to celebrate, smile and have fun. The weather helps and I have never seen Windsor looking so lovely and with so many police around I have never felt so safe. Without giving figures , she added it had been a record week for the pub. Security was obvious, with scanners on entry, large sections of the centre cordoned off and uniformed officers everywhere. Spectators gather on the procession route (James Hardisty/PA) Royal superfan Margaret Tyler, 72, whose home in Wembley, north London, is full of royal memorabilia, joined the crowds in Windsor with her friend of 40 years David Jones, 82. Ms Tyler said: I had to come because it is such a special day, and that Meghan Markle was already well on her way to being a good member of the royal family. Mr Jones said: I will be having tea and crumpets to celebrate later. Debbie Hoover, 50, with her 21-year-old twin daughters Camille and Ashlyn, of Amarillo, Texas, made the wedding the main reason for their holiday. They slept outside overnight. Mrs Hoover, who was sporting an eye-catching fascinator in the shape of a swan because the Queen owns swans, said: Every girl wants to become a princess but in America you cant now it seems that you can. They make such a sweet couple. It is just so cool to actually be here. Ashlyn Hoover added: Meghan is just following her heart with what she thinks is right. It is a true love story. Tony Appleton, who bills himself as a town crier complete with his ceremonial outfit, said: I am so excited for Harry. I think at last he has found someone to tame him down. I am happy he has found this lovely American beauty. Adoring fans in Meghans hometown of Los Angeles wept tears of joy as they packed into a bar to watch the wedding of the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Scores of well-wishers descended on the British-themed The Cat And Fiddle pub in Hollywood from 2am local time as Prince Harry and Meghan tied the knot in Windsor Castle. Guests wore fancy dress, while staff served traditional English food and drink with the wedding showing on televisions around the bar. Adoring fans wept in a Los Angeles bar as they watched the wedding (Ben Birchall/PA) Top marks for peak regal-ness at the Cat and Fiddle pub #royalwedding watch party in LA. No one daunted by 4am start. #upallnight #LAbaby pic.twitter.com/vu8HNdat8n Hannah Thomas-Peter (@hannahtpsky) May 19, 2018 At the first glimpse of Prince Harry, the crowd erupted into loud cheers and continued to welcome each royal arrival in a similar way. Many wiped away tears as Meghan emerged from her car and into the sunshine wearing her pure white gown. The crowd applauded throughout the ceremony but the biggest cheer of the morning came for the newlyweds first kiss outside Windsor Castle. As the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex left the castle, many in the bar embraced each other while wiping away tears. Alana Hutchinson, 24, came dressed in her pyjamas and joked: I loved it except for the fact that Harry is now off the market, so my dreams are crushed! She added: It was beautiful. The highlight for me was when Charles walked her down the aisle. I cried a little bit, it was really precious because I know that was such a big deal with her family, so to see her mom out there was really amazing. Cheers and laughter and and shouts of preach in the Cat and Fiddle in LA pic.twitter.com/fzFBULODOJ Hannah Thomas-Peter (@hannahtpsky) May 19, 2018 Claudia Chick, 22, is originally from London but now lives in Los Angeles. She said: The wedding was amazing, I was tearing up. Everyone was dressed beautifully, the ceremony was very passionate and it was different, which is great to see. The atmosphere here was great, everyone was glued to the screen, everyone was laughing together, everyone was crying together. Hannah Lucchesi, 22, is from Los Angeles. She said: I loved it, it was amazing, it was beautiful, I loved Meghans dress and all of the flowers, it was amazing. The highlight for me was Prince George, just because he is my favourite. The bar was so fun, I love that there are so many people, even out in LA, that care about it and everyone seemed to be really enjoying it and there were lots of cheers. She added that the Queen looked, adorable. The excitement of the royal wedding became too much for one bridesmaid, who started crying moments before Meghan entered the chapel. The occasion seemed to overwhelm one of the little girls, believed to be the youngest, Zalie Warren. The two-year-old had to be picked up and comforted by Prince George and Princess Charlottes nanny before she made her way into the church. She is one of Prince Harrys goddaughters and the daughter of one of his best friends, Jake Warren, and his wife Zoe. However, the youngster was not the only one to go off-script, with Charlotte apparently showing off her mischievous side as she was driven to the venue. Prince George stood behind her, holding the Duke of Cambridges hand. The other bridesmaids were Harrys goddaughters three-year-old Florence van Cutsem, Meghans goddaughters, Remi and Rylan Litt, six and seven respectively, and four-year-old Ivy Mulroney. As well as George, the pageboys were Harrys godson Jasper Dyer, six, and seven-year-old twin brothers Brian and John Mulroney, who held the brides veil as she walked into the chapel. The twins mother Jessica Mulroney, a close friend of Meghans, posted on Instagram: Proud friend. Proud mom. Each of the children were given a memento of the the big day. The six young girls were wearing white leather Aquazurra shoes, each monogrammed with the bridesmaids initials, and the wedding date. Kensington Palace said they were a gift from Meghan as a keepsake of the special day. The Duchess of Cambridge arrives with the bridesmaids at St Georges Chapel (Jane Barlow/PA) The four boys had their initials embroidered in gold on their shoulder straps, as their memento. The boys wore a miniature version of the Blues and Royals frockcoat that Harry and the Duke of Cambridge wore. Made from blue doeskin, they were single-breasted with a stand-up collar and figured braiding of Regimental pattern. Ms. Meghan Markle arrives at St George's Chapel #RoyalWedding pic.twitter.com/Hj79je8glV The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) May 19, 2018 Their trousers were made of blue/black wool barathea with three-quarter scarlet stripes fastened with a leather strap. The uniforms were cut and made by the tailors Dege & Skinner in Savile Row. Clare Waight Keller, who designed the bridal gown, also designed the bridesmaids dresses in the Givenchy Haute Couture Atelier in Paris. They were made of ivory silk radzimir, and were high-waisted with short puff sleeves, hand finished with a double silk ribbon detail tied at the back in a bow. The bridesmaids dresses included pockets and pleated skirt. Each little girl also wore a flower crown chosen by Harry and Meghan, which replicated the flowers used in the bridal bouquet. It was a day which captivated millions, with question marks over certain elements of Harry and Meghans wedding right up until the last moment. Here are the most frequently asked searches related to the royal wedding, according to Google: Q. How old is Meghan Markle? Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after their wedding ceremony (Paul Ellis/PA) A. She is 36. Q. How did Harry and Meghan meet? A. They were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend two years ago. Q. How long have Harry and Meghan been together? A. Their relationship began soon after their first date. They announced their engagement in November 2017. Q. What will Meghan Markles title be? A. She is now known as Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sussex. She also holds the titles the Countess of Dumbarton and Baroness Kilkeel. Q. What time do Harry and Meghan get married? A. The ceremony began in Windsor at midday. Q. How old is Prince Harry? A. He is 33. Q. What is Prince Harrys surname? A. His full name is Henry Charles Albert David Mountbatten-Windsor, although he is known as Harry. Senior members of the royal family rarely use a surname. During his military career, he was known as Harry Wales. Q. How tall is Prince Harry? A. He is reckoned to be about 6ft 1in (186cm). Q. What is a fascinator? A. The headwear is a common sight for women at weddings in England. The newlyweds are celebrating after marrying in St Georges Chapel. So what were the top moments of Harry and Meghans romantic royal wedding? 1. The arrival of the bride Meghan wowed the crowds in her simple, stunning pure white wedding gown by Clare Waight Keller at Givenchy. Meghan arrives at St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle for her wedding to Prince Harry (Andrew Matthews/PA) The demure dress with three-quarter length sleeves and open bateau neckline was hailed for being timeless and classic. Meghan, who wore the glittering Queen Marys Diamond Bandeau tiara, loaned to her by the Queen, was dressed in a delicate, stunning five-metre veil. The silk tulle veil was embroidered with flowers from each of the 53 Commonwealth nations at Meghans request. 2. The procession of the bride She may be an actress used to appearing in the limelight but Meghan looked completely composed as she processed through the Nave of the chapel alone. Two pageboys held the end of her veil, as the other pageboys and bridesmaids followed behind. Meghan Markle walks down the Nave (Danny Lawson/PA) At the start of the Quire, she was met by the Prince of Wales, whom she had asked to accompany her down the aisle of the Quire when her father Thomas Markle pulled out of attending due to ill health. Meghan tucked her arm though her now father-in-laws, with Harry saying thank you to Charles as they reached him. 3. You look amazing An emotional Harry was captivated by his bride as they met at the altar, telling her: You look amazing. I missed you. Prince Harry looks at his bride as she arrives (Jonathan Brady/PA) Meghan and Harry, who spent the night before the wedding apart in separate hotels, looked blissfully in love during the ceremony, tenderly holding hands and gazing into each others eyes. 4. Preacher The passionate, dramatic delivery by US Bishop Michael Curry was something not normally seen at reserved British royal weddings. The Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, primate of the Episcopal Church, gives an address (Owen Humphreys/PA) The Bishop, the first black presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church, brought the service alive as he preached enthusiastically about the power of love, continuing for 14 minutes as he departed from his planned text. 5. Charles and Doria The father of the groom and the mother of the bride came together as they moved to join Harry and Meghan in the side transept to witness the signing of the marriage register. Father of the groom the Prince of Wales and mother of the bride Doria Ragland in the chapel following the wedding (Owen Humphreys/PA) With the Prince of Wales flashing Doria a beaming smile, she took his hand as they stepped out of view for the only private part of the ceremony, away from the cameras. 6. Princess Charlotte Playful three-year-old bridesmaid Princess Charlotte stuck out her tongue as she arrived by car. Princess Charlotte sticks out her tongue as she rides in a car to Harry and Meghans wedding (Andrew Milligan/PA) The confident princess later showed how accomplished she is at royal appearances by waving Harry and Meghan off in their carriage procession. Princess Charlotte and the Duchess of Cambridge on the steps of St Georges Chapel after the wedding (Jane Barlow/PA) 7. The Duke of Edinburgh Less than two months after major surgery, Philip, 96, made a defiant, purposeful and unaided march into St Georges Chapel to watch his grandson Harry get married. The Duke of Edinburgh arrives at St Georges Chapel (Chris Radburn/PA) Philip, who has been recovering after a hip replacement operation, did so without the use of an aid. 8. The kiss It was the moment royal fans were waiting for and it did not disappoint. Harry and Meghan, the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex, emerged from the chapel as husband and wife hand in hand and sealed their love with a passionate kiss on the top of the West Steps. Harry and Meghan kiss after their wedding ceremony (Ben Stansall/PA) The American former actress had looked up at her new husband and asked: Do we kiss? Harry replied with a discreet: Yeah. Film maker Luc Besson is being investigated by French authorities over a rape accusation. The French director reportedly denies wrongdoing after the complaint was made on Friday. A 27-year-old woman claims Besson drugged her before the alleged incident at the hotel Bristol in Paris, a judicial official told Associated Press. Director Luc Besson denies any wrongdoing (Ian West/PA) It comes as the Cannes Film Festival closes with allegations of sexual misconduct in the film industry dominating themes at the event. Besson, a writer, director and producer, is the man behind the Taken film series starring Liam Neeson as well as 1997 French sci-fi film The Fifth Element. Fifty officers who were retired and officers in service in Tri forces obtained Excellent Service Award (Vishista Seva Vibhusana Padakkama) from President Maithripala Sirisena at a ceremony at the Presidential Secretariat this morning.(Pics Courtesy President's Media) An immediate inquiry will be conducted into reports about the administration of injectable- contraceptives to Sri Lankan housemaids, Foreign Employment Minister Harin Fernando told Daily Mirror yesterday. He directed the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) to launch an independent inquiry in the wake of an expose published by Daily Mirror on Thursday on injecting the contraceptive Depo-Provera to Sri Lankan housemaids before they are sent for employment to the Gulf countries. " It was when I saw the article that I came to know about the contraceptive injected to the Sri Lankan housemaids. As of now, it is still only speculation," the minister said. He said the formal inquiry would unearth more information about this matter and if the speculation is found to be true, necessary action would be taken against those responsible. By way of an investigation which included the interviewing of housemaids, travel agents, medical staffers and other related persons, the DM carried a report titled Passport to the murky world of contraceptives revealing the hidden practice of administrating injectable contraceptives to housemaids leaving Sri Lanka. (Piyumi Fonseka) JVP MP Vijitha Herath yesterday rejected the statement made by Minister Rajitha Senaratne where he compared the the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) with the LTTE and said it was surprising for the minister, who had led a terrorist outfit known as Pra to make such a statement. He told Daily Mirror the JVP was a political party that had stood for peoples rights, their day-to-day issues and for justice. The JVP was banned in 1981 based on false allegations against us. But we have done our politics together with the people since 1970. We were suppressed by those who could not tolerate our rise in popularity, the MP said. He said there were terrorists outfits such as Kalu Koti, Ukussa and Pra those days, which acted as an unofficial arm of the army. "Pra" was one such outfit funded by the then government and arms were provided to it by the government. Mr. Senaratne was a person who operated that outfit. It is surprising that he is pointing fingers at us, the MP said. He said the LTTE could not be compared with the JVP, because the LTTE was not an organization that worked for the rights of the people. The MP said Minister Senaratne who was also a Cabinet spokesman was disgracing the government by making such baseless statements. (Ajith Siriwardana) More than 100 people are believed dead Friday after a Cubana de Aviacion Boeing 737-200 crashed on takeoff from Havana's Jose Marti International Airport, according to Cuba's state-run media. Three female passengers were in critical condition after surviving the crash into thick vegetation just miles from the runway, the state-run newspaper Granma reported. Flight DMJ 0972, with at least 104 people on board, was headed to the eastern Cuban city of Holguin when it plummeted into in an agricultural area in the Santiago de las Vegas neighborhood at 12:08 p.m., according to Granma. A state radio broadcaster said there were 105 passengers -- 100 Cuban and five foreigners. Orestes Bentancour, who lives near the crash site, told CNN that he was drawn out of his home by the "enormous noise" the plane made on takeoff. He said the plane appeared to swerve to one side and revved its engines before crashing. Five crew members on board were Mexican nationals, according to Mexico's Civil Aviation Authority. Global Airline, which operated the flight, said there were six crew members, all Mexican nationals. The nearly 30-year-old Boeing 737-200 was owned by the Mexican airline Damojh and leased to Cubana de Aviacion, the Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement. The charter flight "suffered a failure" and crashed about six miles from the airport. Search and rescue personnel descended on the area -- with some residents helping -- as firefighters tried to extinguish the flames, according to photos and video from the scene. The Granma report included a photo from an airport terminal of a towering plume of black smoke rising in the distance. A large fireball followed by a plume of smoke was visible near the airport on the outskirts of Havana, according to witnesses. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel was at the scene of the accident, the newspaper reported. Diaz-Canel later offered his condolences to the victims' families and told reporters the cause of the crash was under investigation. The fire at the crash site had been extinguished and no one on the ground was injured, he said. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto offered his condolences via Twitter. Boeing issued a statement of condolence and said, "A Boeing technical team stands ready to assist as permitted under US law and at the direction of the US National Transportation Safety Board and Cuban authorities." Holguin is about 435 miles east of the Cuban capital. Cuban state media originally reported the flight was bound for Guyana. Cubana de Aviacion -- the national carrier -- has had to ground some of its aging fleet because of safety issues, though the cause of Friday's crash is unknown.(CNN) Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry spoke at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's urgent summit in Istanbul on the latest developments in Palestine Egypt has called for an international investigation into the use of live ammunition by Israeli occupation forces in Gaza, which left dozens of Palestinian protesters killed and hundreds injured last week. The call was made by Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in a speech on Friday at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperations (OIC) urgent summit in Istanbul on the latest developments in Palestine. "A fair and impartial international investigation into the use of live ammunition by the occupation forces and the reaffirmation of the nullity of any attempt to legitimise the occupation of the Palestinian territories are necessary, but insufficient, conditions to prevent the recurrence of the tragedy we have witnessed over the past few days," said the foreign minister. On Monday, Israeli forces killed 61 Palestinians near the Gaza-Israel barrier fence. The protesters were demonstrating against the moving of the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Since Palestinians in Gaza started their Right of Return marches last March, Israel has killed at least 108 demonstrators and wounded thousands. "The tragedy witnessed in recent days was the consequence of a political situation, which we cannot accept as it stands, Shoukry said. "The root of the problem is the occupation," he said. The foreign minister added that it is the responsibility of the international community to address the political roots of the problem and work for the immediate return to the negotiating table to end the occupation and overcome seven decades of devastating conflict that has taken the lives and rights of successive generations. The minister affirmed that the right of the Palestinian people to their land and an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital is "a fixed and genuine right, and practices by the Israeli occupation have been and will remain null and void in international law and incapable of establishing rights for the occupying power." Shoukry stressed that the Palestinian peoples right to their land is not only the stance of the member states of this organisation, but also the vast majority of countries in the world, as evidenced by the UN General Assembly resolution which Egypt contributed to preparing approved by a majority 128 countries in December 2017. "How can the occupation authorities continue to ignore the will of the overwhelming majority of the international community and continue their violations and bring down innocent victims, all amid a shameful global silence? Shoukry stressed that the international community has a clear responsibility to protect the Palestinian people, enable them to regain their stolen rights, work to end the occupation, and maintain the legal status of East Jerusalem as a land under occupation. "We need a decisive stand against the policy of systematic violation by the Israeli occupation against the defenceless Palestinian people who have been defending their legal rights and faith in the justice of their cause and legitimacy," said Shoukry. The OIC, which comprises 57 member nations, held the summit per the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the chairman of the 13th session of the OIC. "The last Islamic Summit held on 13 December 2017 clearly affirmed the rejection by all Islamic countries of any unilateral action that attempts to undermine the legal status of Jerusalem or legitimise the reality of the occupation," Shoukry said. "This summit is the second urgent meeting in less than six months, and the record of the Palestinian tragedies has shown more than 60 martyrs and hundreds wounded by the Israeli occupation authorities' policy of violating the rights of the defenceless Palestinian people, who refuse to give up on their right to freedom, life, and dignity," the foreign minister said. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt has been sending aid and medical convoys through the Rafah crossing border to ease burdens on Palestinians in Gaza The Palestinian embassy in Cairo confirmed the continued arrival of Palestinians wounded in Gaza by the Israeli occupation forces over the past week to receive treatment in Egyptian hospitals in El-Arish, Ismailia and Cairo. The embassy said in a statement that the wounded are being transported through the Rafah crossing, where they are received by a medical team led by Deputy Health Minister Arabi Mohamed. On Monday, Israeli forces used live ammunition against Palestinian demonstrating in Gaza against the moving of the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, killing 61 Palestinians and injuring hundreds. Since Palestinians started their Right of Return marches in Gaza last March, Israel has killed at least 108 and wounded thousands. According to the Palestinian embassy, the injured have been receiving treatment at El-Arish General Hospital in Sinai, and some have recently been transferred to Nasser Institute Hospital in Cairo. Emergency levels at Egyptian hospitals treating injured Palestinians have been raised to a high level to receive the wounded. The Palestinian embassy expressed its appreciation to the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Health Minister Ahmed Emad El-Din for helping save the lives of the wounded in Gaza. Since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on unarmed Palestinian protesters, Egypt has been sending aid and medical convoys to Gaza through the Rafah crossing border. On Thursday, the first day of Ramadan, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi ordered the opening of the Rafah border during the entire holy month to ease burdens on our brothers in Gaza. The Rafah border crossing is the main gateway to the outside world for 1.8 million Palestinians living in the besieged Gaza Strip. Search Keywords: Short link: A joint protocol of cooperation between Egyptian and Australian companies has been signed to extract minerals from black sand in El-Borolos area in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate, according to a statement posted on the official Facebook page of the spokesperson of the Egyptian Armed Forces. The contract was signed between the Egyptian Black Sands Company, an Egyptian joint stock company that falls under the Armed Forces' National Service Project Organisation, and the Australian company Mineral Technologies as part of the state's plan to achieve comprehensive development in all sectors and to maximise the utilisation of all available economic resources. The contract was signed in the presence of shareholders of the Egyptian Black Sand Company and representatives from the Nuclear Materials Authority, the National Investment Bank and the Egyptian Mineral Resources Company, as well as Kafr El-Sheikhs governor and the Australian ambassador in Cairo. Egypt's black sand deposits, located in the Nile Delta between Alexandria and Rosetta, contain substantial reserves of heavy-minerals. According to the statement, "the Egyptian Black Sands Company was established with the aim of activating the economic feasibility studies for the exploitation of the economic minerals from the black sands in all parts of the Republic with the adherence to the standards of international environmental and health safety, as well as achieving the added value of the extracted minerals to create national projects that contribute in the flourish of the Egyptian economy." Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed on Saturday the upcoming 2018/19 fiscal year budget with PM Sherif Ismail and a number of officials and cabinet ministers, who briefed the president on ongoing efforts of their respective ministries, according to a statement by the presidency. During the meeting, Finance Minister Amr El-Garhy told the president that the government aims for a primary surplus of 2 percent of the GDP, reducing the budget deficit to 8.5 percent of the GDP. Last March, the Egyptian government approved the budget for fiscal year 2018/19, which targets a GDP growth rate of 5.8 percent. The new budget includes investments worth EGP 100 million, up from EGP 70 billion the previous year, to be spent on national projects and public services. The budget has been referred to parliament for a vote. El-Garhy told the president that the country saw a primary surplus in its first 10 months of fiscal year 2017/18, which started in July 2017, for the first time in 15 years. According to the minister, the surplus of EGP 7 billion, 0.2 percent of the GDP, was achieved due an increase of 35 percent in public revenues, which reached EGP 578 billion. The increase in public revenues was due to an increase in tax revenues by 45 percent, reaching EGP 471 billion. El-Sisi was also briefed on the outcome of the 2017/18 fiscal year, which included a reduction of the budget deficit to 9.8 percent of the GDP from 10.9 percent the previous year. El-Sisi told the ministers to continue with the "sound implementation" of the countrys economic reform programme, stressing the importance of increased spending on sustainable development, health, education, infrastructure and social security. Electricity Minister Mohamed Shaker briefed the president on his ministry's efforts to increase the capacity of the national electricity grid to accommodate the increase in consumption over the coming period. Petroleum Minister Tarek El-Molla briefed El-Sisi on efforts to boost the energy sector's performance. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt's Meteorological Authority (EMA) said on Saturday that a nationwide heat wave is set to reach its peak on Sunday and Monday at 41 degrees Celsius. The heat wave started on Thursday, the first day of the holy month Ramadan, the EMA General Manager of Weather Analysis Ahmed Farouk told private news channel CBC on Saturday. Farouk said that the heat wave will end on Wednesday, with temperatures to drop by three to four degrees. Farouk cautioned citizens to cover their heads in direct sunlight and increase their water intake after they break their fast at sundown. This year, Muslims fasting during Ramadan will abstain from food and drink for 15 hours daily. Search Keywords: Short link: Saudi authorities have arrested seven people for suspicious contacts with foreign entities and offering financial support to enemies overseas, state news agency SPA said on Saturday. Citing a state security spokesman, an SPA statement said the suspects arrested "had suspicious contacts with foreign entities to support their activities, recruited people working in sensitive government sites and offered financial support of hostile elements overseas." They aimed at undermining the security and stability of the Kingdom and dividing national unity, the statement said, adding that work was still underway to identify everyone involved in their activities and take all legal measures against them. Saudi Arabia has arrested at least five people, mostly women who previously agitated for the right to drive and an end to the kingdom's male guardianship system, rights activists said on Friday. In September, Saudi authorities arrested some 30 clerics, intellectuals and activists in an apparent crackdown on potential opponents of the conservative kingdom's absolute rulers and amid a deepening rift between the Kingdom and its allies on one side and Qatar on the other. Saudi Arabia, alongside the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, almost a year ago cut diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar accusing it of supporting militants and Iran - charges Doha denies. 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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 A political bloc led by populist Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, a long-time adversary of the United States who also opposes Iranian influence in Iraq, has won the country's parliamentary election, the electoral commission said on Saturday. Sadr himself cannot become prime minister because he did not run in the election, though his bloc's victory puts him in a position to have a strong say in negotiations. His Sairoon electoral list captured 54 parliamentary seats. The Victory Alliance, headed by incumbent Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, trailed in third place with 42 seats, behind the Al-Fatih bloc, which won 47 seats. Al-Fatih is led by Hadi al-Amiri, who has close ties with Iran and heads an umbrella group of paramilitaries that played a key role in defeating Islamic State (IS) militants. The results were announced a week after Iraqis voted in a nationwide election, which produced surprising results amid a historically low turnout. The nationalist clerics success could be a setback for Iran, which has steadily increased its influence in Iraq - its most important ally in the Middle East - since a U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. Sadr was able to capitalise on growing resentment over Tehran-backed governments who have failed to improve basic services and build hospitals and schools in a country devastated by the war against IS and by sectarian bloodshed. It was a remarkable comeback for Sadr, who for years had been sidelined by Iranian-backed rivals and was regarded by U.S. and Iraqi officials as an unpredictable maverick. He reached out to dispossessed Shias and marginalised Sunnis, and restored links with Sunni neighbours while keeping Iran at bay. Sadr became a symbol of resistance to foreign occupation when he led two uprisings against U.S. troops, prompting the Pentagon to call his Mehdi army militia the biggest threat to Iraqs security. He derives much of his authority from his family. Sadr is the son of the revered Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Sadeq al-Sadr, killed for defying Saddam Hussein. In his Baghdad stronghold of Sadr city, where posters of his father could be seen, people expressed concerns that Sadr would be outmanoeuvered in what are expected to be long, tough talks on forming a government. "New lists and candidates have won. But they are unable to form a government because the previous politicians are foxes and I believe that they aim to form big alliances in order to isolate the new blocs," said one resident, Muied Hatim. In the 2010 election, Vice President Ayad Allawis group won the largest number of seats, albeit with a narrow margin, but he was prevented from becoming prime minister. He blamed Tehran, which manoeuvered Nuri al-Maliki into power. Winning the largest number of seats does not automatically guarantee that Sadr will be able to hand-pick a prime minister. Parties will have to align themselves to try and form a bloc large enough for the parliamentary majority necessary to nominate a candidate. The government should be formed within 90 days of the official results. "Your vote is an honour for us," Sadr tweeted moments after the official results were announced in the early hours of Saturday. "We will not disappoint you." The election dealt a blow to Abadi, but he could still emerge as a compromise candidate palatable to all sides because he has managed the competing interests of the United States and Iran - unwitting allies in the war against IS - during his term in office. Amiri is regarded as one of the most powerful figures in Iraq. He spent two decades fighting Saddam Hussein from Iran. REBUKE The victory was a surprising change of fortunes for Sadr. His bloc's performance represented a rebuke to a political elite that some voters blame for widespread corruption and dysfunctional governance. It was also bolstered by a historically low turnout across the country, estimated earlier in the week at 44.5 percent. Sadr maintains a loyal base of supporters who turned up to the polls amid widespread national apathy. Sadr's unlikely alliance with communists and secular Iraqis says it fiercely opposes any foreign interference in Iraq, which is strongly backed by both Tehran and Washington. It has promised to help the poor and build schools and hospitals in Iraq, which was battered in the war to defeat IS and has suffered from low oil prices. Before the election, Iran publicly stated it would not allow Sadrs bloc to govern in Iraq, with which it shares a border. Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani, commander of foreign operations for Irans elite Revolutionary Guards and a highly influential figure in Iraq, has been holding talks with politicians in Baghdad to promote the formation of a new cabinet which would have Irans approval. Earlier on Saturday, Sadr met a group of ambassadors from neighbouring countries, including Saudi Arabia. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: Whats Behind the Teachers Strikes The Labor-Movement Dynamic of Teacher Insurgencies By Ellen David Friedman | May/June 2018 This article is from Dollars & Sense: Real World Economics, available at http://www.dollarsandsense.org This article is from the May/June 2018 issue. As we watchraptthe unexpected teacher insurgencies in West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona, Kentucky, and Colorado, were also grasping for understanding: Why is this stunning revolt occurring where unions are weak, where labor rights are thin, and where popular politics are considered to be on the right? To understand the insurgency, we need to look at economics, and at political economy specifically. But we especially need a labor-movement analysis. A labor-movement analysis starts by understanding the political and economic conditions that shape the objective conditions of a particular group of workers (or labor market) at a given momentprevailing wages, benefits, work processes, structures of employment, stability of work, market forces in the sector, etc. Then we look at how workers respond to those material factors and conditions: how they understand their interests, how they see their own power (or lack of it), how they understand the interests of the employers and what influences them, and how they develop tactics, strategies, and institutions to bring their power to bear against the power of employers. Finally, the self-directed activity of workers (including their ideas, ideologies, methods of organization, decision-making, and what actions they take) can be embedded in the larger context of other sectors of workers, other social movements, and historical labor movements. Such an analysis can help us interpret the teacher strike wave and, perhaps, gain insights that can help us rebuild capable, fighting unions. Economics and Politics The economic motivations of these insurgencies are clear: protracted and relentless constriction of wages and benefits have driven teachers to a condition of precarity normally reserved for workers who lack college degrees. Financial insecurity is matched by erosion of job security, as statutory probation periods are lengthened (three years of probation is now standard) and tenure is watered down. Facing severe job vacancies, many states loweror eliminatehiring standards and issue emergency waivers freely. In Arizona right now, there are more than 5,000 classrooms without a certified teacher. No wonder, then, that teachers feel they are being undervalued; they are. The political economics of these insurgencies are also becoming more obvious. As tens of thousands of teachersmany of them newly politicizedrush to understand their states tax structures, they discover a fiscal system engineered to starve public services and feed corporate portfolios. This transforms their sense of being undervalued into a comprehension that they have been betrayed by big business and the state itself. Through years of frozen wages, cuts to student services, deteriorating buildings, and the hysterical drumbeat that public schools are failing and must be replaced with private charters, teachers have hunkered down and made do. That is, they have accommodated themselves to a widely promoted common sense that argued that tax cuts serve the general good by creating jobs, and increasing individuals buying power. Starting with the infamous Prop 13 in California in 1978, which severely capped property taxes, and coincides with the rise of neoliberal ideology, the redistribution of wealth away from publicly held resources (notably, public schools) and into private hands has been relentless. But modern U.S. history reminds us that when inequalities become chronically damagingas in the 1930s or the 1970sthe dominant narrative can crack and resistance can be kindled. This is when the paralysis of feeling disrespected and duped can transform into conviction and action. A Labor-Movement Analysis Challenging economic and political circumstances have certainly begun to foster a growing sense of commonality among teachers. But awareness alone does not automatically translate into action, much less the collective action we can legitimately call a labor movement. Its therefore helpful to build up a more nuanced analysis of teachers in their intertwined roles as workers, as unionists, and as members of civil society, to assess whether these insurgencies signal that teachers could emerge as leaders in a broader class movement. As workers, teachers are in a unique structural position, for several reasons. Teaching is the only wholly public profession in the United States: a regulated category of work originally created to perform public service (this is still true, as teachers in private schools arent required to hold teaching licenses). Teachers are employed and paid by public bodies and are subject to public governance. Moreover, its a highly decentralized form of public employment, with both funding and governance historically centered in towns and cities. And it is a uniquely horizontal profession where, until fairly recently, schools were sites of little hierarchy and teachers were quite self-directing. These are all structural conditions reflecting, and reinforcing, radically democratic principles. As unionists, teachers have a long history of organization. The National Education Association (NEA) was founded in 1857. Though it was not originally a labor union in function, it is now the largest union in the United States, with 3.2 million members. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), founded in 1916, now has 1.7 million members. Teaching has the highest union density of any job category in the United States; union representation is essentially universal. Before collective bargaining was legally sanctioned at the state level for teachers, which happened first in 1959 in Wisconsin, there were traditions of consultation between teachers and their school boards. Even in states where collective bargaining is affirmatively banned, there are well-established standardsa unified salary schedule based on years of experience and education level, a comprehensive benefit package, pensions, specified length of work day and year, prep time, professional development subsidies, some kind of grievance procedure, and so on. More than any other sector of workers, teachers experience a union environmentor at least an associational and consultative environmentas the norm. Teachers can be considered, in many ways, central to the project of U.S. civil society. Public education has been the main channel for incorporating future citizens into economic, social, and political engagement; and exclusion from adequate public education has been a device for exclusion from civil society more generally. And as tectonic upheavals occurReconstruction, the Jim Crow era, the build-up of industrial mass production, post-WWII consumer society, expansion of the liberal welfare state, and its deconstructionthe shifts and conflicts all play out in schools. Teachers are on the front line of interpreting every profound societal transformation, with all the tensions and challenges experienced personally in individual families. This places teachers in central positions in their communities. Because of their intimate and vital connections to parents, taxpayers, voters, providers of social services, higher education, and the job market into which students emerge, teachers can speak to, and amplify, the critical central needs of any community. The combination of these three intertwined roles has radical potential. The profession of teaching is shaped by public imperatives, grounded in democratic practices, present everywhere, and universally organized through job sites, and teachers hold the levers of social meaning and aspiration for our entire society. All the musculature of power is presentbut, until now, largely unflexed. Unflexed Musculature of Power Explanations in traditional industrial labor relations theoryand in the practice of most U.S. unionists over the last half centurysuggest that workers are strongest where there are comprehensive and enforceable labor laws that institutionalize freedom of association, protections against anti-union animus and retaliation, mechanisms to establish recognition of exclusive bargaining representation by a majority union, guarantees of collective bargaining, and of course the legally sanctioned right to strike. Our teacher unions have been considered strongest in those states where these rights existed, and where the most advanced forms of institutional practice could develop. In many states where these conditions prevail, starting in the 1960s and continuing to the present day, the AFT and NEA affiliates often became known as the best damned service unions around. Teacher locals typically grew by training up rank-and-file members to bargain contracts, cost out proposals, and rep grievanceswith all the rule-enforcing, technique-mastering power that these activities entail. Despite the very uneven quality of state teacher labor laws, the routine practice of formal labor relationswhether through meet and confer, legislative lobbying, or strict collective bargainingbecame nearly universal in the teaching sector. Reflecting the radically decentralized, bottom-up character of U.S. public education itself, every NEA or AFT local started at a school, or a school district, representing a discrete group of employees hired by a local school board. During the last half of the 20th century, the two national federations evolved as umbrellas for thousands and thousands of essentially autonomous local unionsall figuring out how to bargain and service their own contractsreflecting the fact that no union could possibly afford to hire enough professional staff to centrally service them. Under these objective conditions, innumerable rank-and-file teachers were elected, or drafted, or volunteered to learn the craft labor relations, and became a dense army of capable technicians. By the 1980s, as the numbers of unionized teachers swelled and dues revenue soared, the unions began to staff up and professionalize, precipitating a culture of negotiating instead of fighting, servicing instead of organizing, and relegating members to client status. As long as the economic tides were risingas they generally did in the 1980s, 90s, and early 2000sa complacent and increasingly bureaucratic system for maintaining the status quo seemed to make sense. This is consistent with the historically recognized tendency, articulated by Seymour Martin Lipset in 1956, as the iron rule of oligarchy through which bureaucracy supplants democracy. But bureaucracy itself isnt the main problem. The arrival of neoliberalismthe driving political philosophy of the last 40 yearshas also reshaped our unions. While we typically associate neoliberalism with market fundamentalismderegulation of financial structures, regressive tax reform, privatization, weakening of the state role in labor and environmental protectionit is the rise of neoliberal organizational principles that proved toxic to union democracy. By the mid-90s, many unions, and non-profits of every stripe, took a turn toward corporate management methods. In AFT and NEA affiliates, leaders adopted key principles such as rule by experts, inflated executive salaries, limits on internal democracy, centralization of decision-making, and intolerance of dissent. As the high-value operational aspects of the unionnegotiating contracts and processing grievancesmigrated upward into the hands of staff and top leaders, so too did power. Members were often treated paternalistically, with information and decision-making kept opaque, back-door deals struck between union leaders and politicians, and privileges accruing at the top. Salaries of top officers soared while average take-home pay of members stagnated, union halls were renovated into executive office suites while school buildings crumbled, and channels of union decision-making went from democratic to despotic, often reflecting the autocratic leadership of the employing school boards and administrators. The demobilizing of millions of teachers within their own unions should not be understood as a problem of apathetic members, though union staff and elected officers often describe it just this way. Rather, it is the logical result of unions adopting a corporate culture over the last few decades that degrades and excludes rank-and-file members. They were often grateful that someone was doing the arcane business of the union, but this was an institutional invitation to dependence and acquiescence. Many a naive newcomer goes to a union meeting and dares ask a question that is taken by leadership as a challenge; the newcomer is often patronized, ignored, disparaged, or actively marginalized. Bargaining teams disappear for months behind closed doors and then present a fully bargained tentative agreement to be ratifiedtake it or leave it. Membership meetings in many unions are dominated by one-way leadership reports or gripe sessions, where leaders are expected to take member concerns up the ladder of administration for them. It doesnt take too many of these cues before rank-and-file members stop coming around. Concurrent with these trends has been the biggest failed strategy of all: substituting the power of rank-and-file members with dependence on the Democratic Party. Union members are not taught to analyze and fight collectively on issues that matter to them, but instead to docilely make PAC contributions, join campaign phone-banks, and support whichever candidate the union leaders endorsed. The results are pretty clear: Democrats have helped restructure the economyin the interest of private wealth, at the expense of public goodas enthusiastically as Republicans. This has produced not only the well-documented upward redistribution of wealth, resulting in teacher poverty and starvation of school budgets, but also the travesty of education reformwhere standardized curricula are tied to high-stakes testing, which produces failed schools, especially in communities of color, and allows for the entry of private charters, where the culture of teacher micro-management flourishes and bullying principals thrive. This set of policy imperatives has been brought to us by governors and legislatures of every party composition. Between the financial hardship and professional affronts, the loss of voice and fear of retaliation by administrators, the degraded conditions and program losses for students, and the sense of being abandoned by the Democrats, many teachers have been teetering between shock, anxiety, and despair for years. By the time the serious fiscal, political, and social crises really began bubbling in U.S. public education around the time of the 2008 financial crisis, the vast majority of teacher union members felt powerless. They were at best distant from, and at worst angrily resentful of, their unions. Most damningly, they saw the union as being the top officers and staff, not themselves. Even in states with relatively strong labor laws and well-resourced union structures, the norm was a hollowed-out organization, with low levels of knowledge and participation at the base, and little autonomous power. Rank-and-file members who did try to turn to their leaders for inspiration or guidance frequently found neither. Re-energizing the Rank and File in Blue Cities and States But out of this paralysis and isolation, a powerful counter-trend is emerging (not unknown in the history of our labor movement): Progressive rank-and-file teacher union caucusesgroups of union members formed to push their unions into actionare coalescing in cities and states, inspired by the stunning takeover of the Chicago Teachers Union by the Caucus of Rank-and-File Educators (CORE) in 2010, and their riveting, successful 2012 strike. This movement, an internal insurgency inside our biggest unions, possesses the authentic features of a social movement: it is bottom-up, scrappy, unfunded, rooted in a critical social analysis, and committed to radically democratic values. Their common program elements show up as union democracy, dignity of educators and students, and defense of public education, and often rally under the edict that we should be the union we want our union to be. These caucuses are now in elected leadership in Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, and statewide in Hawaii and Massachusetts. They are contending foror sharingleadership in Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York City, Minneapolis, Madison, Albuquerque, Seattle, and Oakland, and organizing at the state level in North Carolina, New Jersey, and elsewhere. Through round upon round of trial and error, the caucuses are building a durable analytic framework and plan of action to guide them: Simply running to replace bad union leaders is rarely a solution to anything, if you havent built a base among members who are joined by common values, deeply committed to making the union better and willing to work tirelessly. Learn how to survive the harsh charges from old guard leaders that they are divisive and even anti-union for daring to provoke debate. Fight to open up bargaining, to insist on transparency and accountability inside the union, to risk raising critical social issuesaround racism, immigration, bullying, gentrificationand work through the resistance of fellow unionists. Reach out humbly and helpfully to parents, community groups, other unions, faith communities, and social issue organizations as a partner in the fight to rebalance power away from elites and toward the majority. Become confident in practices of inclusivity, debate, collaboration, and horizontal leadership. Learn how to fight the boss, the financial interests behind education reform, and the state, directly and fearlessly. Along the way these caucuses convened a national networkUnited Caucuses of Rank-and-File Educators (UCORE)almost organically through Labor Notes, the project that has held down the rank-and-file pole of U.S. unionism through publications and conferences for 40 years. Rank-and-File Insurgencies in Red States Insurgents in WV, AZ, KY, OK, and CO thinking about how to consolidate rank-and-file power inside their unions have found their way onto the UCORE and Labor Notes platform, too, bringing together teacher activists from the red states and blue cities, union-weak and union-strong environments, to discover that they are all after the same thing: using collective power from the bottom-up to win social progress for the majority. It is through this prism of labor-movement analysis that we can now start to understand the apparently paradoxical eruptions of teachers in states with the weakest institutional environmentregions with low union membership, weak infrastructure, no bargaining rights, and fiercely anti-union legislatures. When there is no effective access to meaningful channels for change, workers resort naturally to the only power no one can steal from themthe power to withhold their labor. This spontaneous chain of wildcat strikes may be the only recourse left for the teachers when the unions and the politicians fail them, but they are also facilitated by the very weakness of the union bureaucratic environment around them. By sharp contrast, the progressive teacher union caucuses have emerged in generally strong union environments in more progressive cities or regions, where they have had to spend more time fighting their own union bureaucracy and much less sparking the spontaneous and unified action showing up in the weak union environments. But teacher unionists in both environments are moving. They are in a movement moment. If we keep in mind the immediate affinity felt by the insurgent teachers and the caucus teachers, their sense of shared purpose, their common hope for a democratic, activist, bottom-up union culture, their willingness to risk, and their refusal to be complacent, we can start to see the potential for teacher convergence. Coming from very disparate starting points, present in every corner of the country, connected by their fierce will to protect kids and public schools, increasingly cornered by the system of manufactured austerity and therefore ever-more identified with the majority of workers, teachers could give us a generative moment, a moment to be amplifed. is a long-time organizer with the National Education Association in Vermont, a founding member of Vermonts Progressive Party, and a member of the Labor Notes Policy Committee. She facilitates the United Caucuses of Rank-and-File Educators (UCORE), the national network of progressive teacher union caucuses. Did you find this article useful? Please consider supporting our work by donating or subscribing. Pro-government forces and the Islamic State (IS) group observed a brief ceasefire in southern Damascus Saturday, a monitor said, after weeks of deadly fighting in the Islamist militants' last stronghold in the Syrian capital. The regime of President Bashar al-Assad last month launched a wide-scale offensive against IS in Damascus' Hajar al-Aswad district and the Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp. Clashes have inflicted heavy losses on both sides. "A ceasefire came into effect at midday today, ostensibly for five hours," the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP late Saturday that the truce, which may be a prelude to the evacuation of IS fighters from the area, was still in effect. He said the ceasefire had been negotiated by regime ally Russia and pro-government Palestinian factions. Syria's state-run Sana news agency however quoted a military source as denying the agreement. Loyalist forces launched a ferocious assault in southern Damascus after capturing the Eastern Ghouta rebel stronghold near the capital in April. They have already retaken the Qadam neighbourhood, but the Islamist militants retain control of around 70 percent of Yarmuk. According to Observatory, fighting in southern Damascus has killed 484 IS members and more than 250 pro-regime fighters as well as 56 civilians. Once a thriving district home to some 160,000 Palestinians and Syrians, Yarmuk's population has fallen to just a few hundred people. Syria's war has left more than 350,000 people dead since it started in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests, before spiralling into a complex conflict involving world powers and Islamist militants. Search Keywords: Short link: Considered to be the Ten Best UFO Photos Ever Taken I am sure that we could add more pictures to this list but these are considered ten o... By AJC , May 19 2018 A 17-year-old has been charged with capital murder after he allegedly opened fire Friday at a Texas high school, killing at least 10 people -- nine students and one teacher. Police have told CBS News that Dimitrios Pagourtzis shot students and school staff at Santa Fe High School, where he was a student. Read More: Join us - become an Elderado today at: LarryElder.com Follow Larry Elder on Follow Larry Elder on Twitter "Like" Larry Elder on Facebook Letters Is World History being taught Dear Editor, I have a question. Is World History being taught in our schools now? Are they being taught about Mao Z-dongs Tiananmen Square Massacre, Japans attack on Pearl Dear Editor, I have a question. Is World History being taught in our schools now? Are they being taught about Mao Z-dongs Tiananmen Square Massacre, Japans attack on Pearl Harbor, Community paramedicine may be what is needed to save lives The impact of the closure of the hospital in Oakland is already being felt across the area, with patients in emergency situations facing longer wait times before getting to a hospital and receiving Community paramedicine may be what is needed to save lives The impact of the closure of the hospital in Oakland is already being felt across the area, with patients in emergency situations facing longer wait times before getting to a hospital and receiving Letter to the editor Upon reading the article concerning the junior high football programs at Lyons Decatur Northeast (LDNE) and Oakland-Craig (O-C) I was inspired to write a short note. It gives one a Read more letters A fellow economist and friend looks back at Ashok Mitra's intellectual contributions and the wide range of his experiences, associations, and interests. Ashok Mitra led a life of rare richness. Few people manage to have the range of experiences he had, meet the range of personalities he met and befriended, and pursue the range of interests he cultivated. This was partly, of course, because of his own persona, but partly it was also the period and the setting in which he grew up. Born in East Bengal on 10 April 1928, he was old enough to follow directly the Red Armys fight against Nazism, and the Battle of Stalingrad; to witness the last stages of Indias anti-colonial struggle, including the prelude to and the horrors of Partition; to watch the post-war communist revolutionary upsurge in Asia; and to participate in the intense intellectual, artistic, and cultural ferment of the time of which Bengal in particular was a major centre. A sensitive soul and a brilliant student, he was, not surprisingly, drawn to Marxism and the communist movement, to which he remained committed till the very end. Karnatakas post-election drama raises serious questions about the state of Indias constitutional democracy. For the third time in the last four assembly elections, the electorate of Karnataka has failed to hand a decisive mandate to any one party. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claims that, having won 104 seats in the 222 seats where elections were held on 12 May, it has been given the mandate. The Congress party insists that, since it has the largest vote share and actually saw its vote share increase despite being the incumbent, there was no mandate against it. Together, with more than half the vote share and seats, the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD[S]) claim that they have the mandate to govern. Legally, Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala would have been in the clear in accepting either the BJP or the claim of the Congress and JD(S) to be invited to form the government as there is no settled law directing him to a single course of action in such a situation. The Supreme Courts judgments do not give governors any clear hierarchy in choosing between the single largest party or the single largest post-poll alliance in a hung assembly after an election. They are empowered to take the call on their best assessment of the numbers and the need to ensure a stable government. In any case, inviting any party to form the government is not a definitive call. Whoever is invited by the governor to form the government will have to prove majority on the floor of the assembly through a floor test. BMW SA Open hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni Glendower GC, City of Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, South Africa Hi, Just to thank all for advice over the past years about visas etc. My American wife has just had her Indefinite Leave to Remain approved. We live close to Liverpool Premium Service Centre and planned to go there, but they were fully booked right through to June, current visa runs out on 20th May. So we found an appointment at Solihull office. The appointment was for 10:30 am 16th May. Called to counter within 10 minutes, though quite a few people there. Presented application, and supporting documents (which we had also photocopied) 10 minutes later, sent to have fingerprints, photo taken for a biometric card. Told could take 2 hours, and we could go out and they would phone us when done. Went to have a coffee, was there about 20 minutes got call, documents done. Came back and at the reception desk was given original documents back and the letter of approval. We had the ILR approved by 11:40! The staff at Solihull office were very friendly from the security guard who searched us on way in, to the staff who dealt with us. QOFE said: What kind of accommodation will they cover? It might not be of a standard you're used to. What kind of job is it? In my opinion a six day working week is slave labour. I suppose you would be able to save something as you won't have much time to spend money. You could potentially also be spending a long time commuting if the accommodation is far way from your place of work. Click to expand... Thank you for your replyThey will have a room for me or an apartment of the company possibly shared by other people..The sector is sales. It goes usually 4 days work 1 day off and so on. So I'll be pretty much earning money as much as I sell/work.Yes, transportation is a big issue since I have to use the metro if it's located far away. I'll be working near Mirdif City Centre. Do you know if it is a good area? I will ask the company to secure a place that is very close to where I will work.. I don't know what type of place I should ask for. I doubt they will find an apartment only for myself. Hi all,I'm a 25-year-old Danish man, and I'm considering retiring and moving to Dubai.I'm in a very fortunate situation where I have recently sold my company, which has increased my liquid fortune to around 11.750.000 AED. I was born and raised in Denmark, but I have to admit that I am very tired of the country. The country is heavily influenced by socialism and everyone that earns more than 498,000 DKK (289,118 AED) per year pre-tax has to pay at least 56% in income taxes. The growth of the economy is also very slow compared to our neighbouring countries. The worst part of Denmark is, however, the mindset of most of the Danes. We have an unwritten law called "Janteloven" which basically means that "You're not to think you are anything special.". It is of course not an actual law, but the general public and the Danish media often negatively portray and criticise individual success and achievement as unworthy and inappropriate. If you are curious about this "law" you can read more about it by searching on Wiki "Law of Jante". I have sadly realised that I can't live in this country anymore (at least not for a while).Dubai, however, seems to fit the bill, but before I do anything drastic, I have some questions regarding Dubai (and the UAE in general), which I hope that you can help me withFirst of all; I'm not married, but I have a girlfriend. Are we allowed to live together?I know that a visa is required to live in Dubai, and it seems like a job is required to receive this visa. I'm currently achieving an annual return of 7%, but I don't intend to work. The return should, therefore, net me around 822.796 AED annually (this is, of course, impossible to predict, but my average annual return is around 7%). Is it still possible for me to live in Dubai?Finally, I have absolutely no friends in Dubai. Is it easy to make new friends around my age in Dubai?This is my first post, so I apologize for any mistakes I may have made, but I hope that you can help me To be honest, the US is notorious for NOT exchanging information with other countries about banking and other financial transactions. Maybe because Delaware is well known as an "offshore" haven for those looking to create phantom corporations to hide money and ownership interests. But the short answer is that there is no single "worldwide" system. It is a series of agreements between various governments who have passed laws designed to serve their own interests. The OECD is nothing but a think tank that makes suggestions to its member countries/governments. The OECD has no "enforcement" powers and doesn't actually do anything in the process other than say "this is what you ought to be doing." josemiller, you have been in and out of this forum under many guises, asking basically the same question. The truth is that no one here can answer your question definitively. It depends on the banks you're using, the amounts involved, the countries you're "hiding" your financial accounts from and in, and whether or not you're already under suspicion or observation for other reasons. Cheers, Bev Hi,Given that my engineering qualification is not part of the Washington/Dublin/Sydney accord, I had to apply for a foreign qualification from ECSA. Even though I provided them with all the details they requested, I was still put into the interview process, which is scheduled to take place in 1 week time. Has anyone gone through this interview process? If yes, what kind of questions were asked?Thanks for your replies Williamsinspain said: I was wondering if anyone here has been approached by Costa Energy Brokers? They phoned me out of the blue and offered to broker a cheaper electricity supplier on my behalf. On the face of it, the deal they've offered me is very attractive but before I commit I was hoping someone could let me know what experience, if any, they've had with their service. Thanks Click to expand... Personally I never go for anything offered over the phone or at my door. Ido if they agreed to send details that I could see and look over before I signed.The other day a young man turned up at my (Spanish) mother in laws house, I think he was from Endesa (not sure, could have been Iberdrola, but one of the big, well known companies) with an offer for gas and electricity. It was an absurd offer that had absolutely no benefit for her whatsoever. Luckily my husband and his brother were there and were able to turn the "offer" down. When asked if he could leave the paperwork for them to look over (aroundpages long!) they were told by the salesman that it was unprecedented and he'd need permission from his supervisor to do that.Whaaat? My point is that this nontransparent approach, which leads to doubts and suspicion and actually was an con, comes from a major player. Don't take risks and if you want a better deal on something, look for it yourself rather than let companies persuade you over the phone is my advice. WORKING six hours without a re-fill almost completes the story before it starts. Thats the productivity of a Duncan Renovator AS5000 air seeder, according to owners Graham Armstrong and his son Brodie, Tutunup (south Capel). The Armstrongs were the first WA farmers to buy this model from Bunbury Machinery and as they near the end of their seeding program, the third with this model, comments could be summarised as, it works well and its reliable. This year, the Armstrongs set a 890 hectare program, sowing ryegrass for grazing, silage and hay and an additional 70ha for oaten hay. The AS5300 was equipped with leading wavy coulters, which Graham said were set as deep as I could get them, 30-60 millimetres with the tine points set at 15mm. I would say they are essential for this machine because they cut the trash and leave a groove for the roots to go down and it also provides a pathway for moisture. From a seeding depth point of view, its basically set and forget so theres no worries about seed getting buried too deep. We get about 30 hectares done in about six hours without re-filling which is why we went for it because it holds 900 kilograms of seed. Its compact and road legal. The AS5300 is equipped with 36 tines and twin bins, each with 1000 litre capacity. In the Armstrongs case, both bins are used for seed only with the preference to spread fertiliser with a Marshall Multispread. The main frame is built from 75x75x8mm rectangular hollow sections while hinging and supporting steel is 20mm plate steel. It has an advanced electronic metering system and can be customised to suit the demands of the customer in different ways, including bin size and configuration, tine spacing, rollers or harrows, to make it one of the most adaptable models of its type on the market. According to New Zealand-based Duncan Ag, with a five metre (16.5 foot) working width, the AS5300 improves productivity compared with drop-box predecessors. But it retains a narrow transport width, 3.1m (10ft), to negotiate narrow gateways. The fan and air distributors are sourced from an Australian manufacturer while the 2.5 centimetre (1 inch) coil tines are sourced from South Australia. The metering units come from Europe and hydraulics from New Zealand. Duncans T-boot with tungsten leading edge is standard. The AS5300 was an easy choice for the Armstrongs, after a long partnership with a Duncan MK3 gravity-feed drill, which also provided high performance and reliability. Its still in the shed for that season when two units are needed at once. More information: Darren Pulford, Bunbury Machinery 9792 3923. Meghan Markle opted for a dress by Stella McCartney for her wedding reception. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry The 'Suits' star - who tied the knot with Prince Harry on Saturday afternoon (19.05.18) - looked stunning in a high neck gown by the British designer as she headed with her husband to the intimate reception at the nearby Frogmore House. A statement from Kensington Palace reads: "The Bride's evening dress is designed by Stella McCartney and is a bespoke lily white high neck gown made of silk crepe. The Bride is wearing shoes from Aquazurra made in silky satin, with nude mesh, with soles painted baby blue. Ms. Markle's hair has been styled for the Evening Reception by George Northwood." For her wedding, which took place at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle earlier this afternoon, Meghan opted for a gown by Clare Waight Keller, the Artistic Director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy. A statement from Kensington Palace shared at the time: "Ms. Markle expressed the wish of having all 53 countries of the Commonwealth with her on her journey through the ceremony. Ms. Waight Keller designed a veil representing the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country united in one spectacular floral composition. The veil is held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, lent to Ms. Markle by The Queen. The diamond bandeau is English and was made in 1932, with the brooch dating from 1893." Meghan worked closely with Ms Waight Keller on the dress design. The palace added: "After meeting Ms. Waight Keller in early 2018, Ms. Markle chose to work with her for her timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring, and relaxed demeanour. Ms. Markle also wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent who has now served as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses - Pringle of Scotland, Chloe, and now Givenchy. Ms. Markle and Ms. Waight Keller worked closely together on the design. The dress epitomises a timeless minimal elegance referencing the codes of the iconic House of Givenchy and showcasing the expert craftsmanship of its world-renowned Parisian couture atelier founded in 1952." Oprah Winfrey made a last minute change to her wedding outfit ahead of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's nuptials as she didn't want her dress to cause a stir. Oprah Winfrey The 64-year-old star had a last minute panic on Friday (18.05.18), worrying that her beige dress looked too white, and has thanked the Stella McCartney team for rustling something new up in less than 24 hours. Sharing a video on Instagram, she said: "I would like to thank the Stella McCartney team for working all night long to get this dress finished because we had dressgate. Wrong colour. Now we got the right color. I think we're going to do okay." And in the caption, Oprah gushed about the "extraordinary" day. She wrote on the photo sharing site: "Thank you @stellamccartney ! Realized Friday morning the beige dress I was planning to wear to Royal ceremony would photograph too "white" for a wedding.Her team did this overnite. Hat is vintage @philiptreacy been in my closet since 2005 with new feathers. OMG was this an extraordinary day! #Harry&Meghan #RoyalWedding #Lovedeveryminute (sic)" Meanwhile, Victoria Beckham - who also attended the wedding alongside her husband David Beckham - took to social media to congratulate Meghan and Harry. She wrote on Instagram: "Congratulations, an amazing day. So proud to be British! Thank you so much for including @davidbeckham and I. We are so honoured and so happy for you both. x vb (sic)" Whilst David shared on his own page: "What a proud day for our country today! Watching Harry as happy as he was makes us all proud of the man and person he has always been...what a day! @kensingtonroyal (sic)" Danny Dyer's daughter has signed up to 'Love Island' - but she's banned from having sex. Dani Dyer The 'EastEnders' star's daughter Dani has agreed to take part in the dating show when it returns to screens next month after she was forced to pull out of its sister series 'Survival of the Fittest' in January after she dislocated her shoulder during one of the first challenges. However, the 40-year-old actor isn't pleased about her new job and has warned her not to get frisky on camera because it could ruin her reputation for the foreseeable future. A source told The Sun newspaper's Bizarre column: "Danny wasn't happy about her signing up to do 'Love Island' because he doesn't want her have sex on-screen. "He thinks it could damage her reputation in years to come. No father wants to see their daughter romping on national TV. He's imposed a strict no-bonking ban as he doesn't want her to do anything she regrets. He doesn't even want her to snog anyone." However, the sex ban won't come as a surprise for the 21-year-old barmaid as Danny imposed the same strict rules when she went off to South Africa for 'Survival of the Fittest'. She said at the time: "Oh my god, I would never have sex on telly. He has already given me a warning to behave. I was like, 'I will'. He is massively protective. I haven't had many boyfriends so he has had it quite easy until now. I'll even have to resist kissing and wait until I get out. Me and my dad are really close, he's like my best mate." 'Love Island' saw the likes of Amber Davies and Kem Cetinay get it on in the last series, but producers have banned contestants from getting naked in front of any of the other islanders this year as they don't want it to be about having sex on screen. However, if they do the deed in front of the camera, those contestants will have to undergo counselling afterwards to get advice on contraception. Everyone who enters the villa is expected to be given a handbook, which will contain details about consent to remind them of the new rules. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category . . . , , , , , , , ... Google is said to be working on a standalone AR headset, and the project is for now codenamed Google A65. Now we are having more details about the project; according to the reports from Winfuture.de who claims to have documents that indicate Googles working with Taiwanese manufacturer Quanta on the AR headset. Going back in time, Google has a working history with Quanta for Pixel C tablet. The new VR headset said to feature camera sensors, microphones with a possibility to operate the headset with Google Assistant. It is said to have a custom quad-core internet-of-things-focused Qualcomm QSC603 that is based on the ARM Cortex-A75. The processor has support up to 2,560 x 1,440 resolution (WQHD), 1080p and 1030p video capture, 3D overlays and rendering interfaces OpenGL, OpenCL and Vulcan, Gigabit wireless, Bluetooth 5.1 and GPS. Furthermore, it also supports the Android Neural Networks API. However, it looks like the headset will still need to be wired to a computer despite wireless mixed-reality headsets becoming available. Google declined to comment on the new development right away. Source This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices. Following Fridays tragic school shooting in Texas that left at least 10 people dead and 10 more injured, Netflix announced that it would be canceling the premiere party for the second season of its original drama 13 Reasons Why. The popular streaming service made the decision to nix the premiere in West Hollywood just hours before stars of the show were set to appear on a red carpet. Netflix cited the deadly shooting at Santa Fe High School for its reason to cancel. The storyline of the second season follows the aftermath of a teenagers suicide, including one students thwarted plans to shoot up a school dance. The student is heavily armed with a rifle and handguns but talked out of the shooting by a classmate who ultimately helps him escape before police arrive. Netflix did not immediately return Fox News request for comment. FAMILIES BLAME 13 REASONS WHY FOR 2 TEENS SUICIDES Despite canceling the premiere party and red carpet event, the entire second season is now available on Netflix. Series producer Selena Gomez took to Twitter Friday evening to share her thoughts on the Texas shooting. The series received harsh criticism following its first season after critics said the show glamorized suicide. Last year two California families blamed the show for the deaths of their daughters claiming it acted as a trigger for the depressed teens. Netflix agreed to add content warnings to the original series in response to demands made by mental health advocates. An official website for the series also has a content warning. This show is rated MA for mature audiences, it covers many issues including depression, sexual assault and suicide, the warning reads. If you are struggling, this series may not be right for you or you may want to watch it with a trusted adult. The website includes resources for those who may be battling depression, included a crisis text line and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, the 27th Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church, delivered the address titled The Power of Love at Prince Harry and Meghan Markles wedding Saturday at St. Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle. The transcript is below: i Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: "We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world. Love is the only way." There's power in love. Do not underestimate it. Anyone who has ever fallen in love, knows what I mean. But think about love in any form or experience of it. It actually feels good to be loved, and to express love. There is something right about it. And there's a reason. An old medieval poem says it: "Where true love is found, God himself is there." The Bible, 1 John 4 says it this way. "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; Everyone who loves is born of God Whoever does not love does not know God For God is love." (1John 4:4-8) There's power in love. Love can help and heal when nothing else can. Love can lift up and liberate for living when nothing else will. And the love that brings two people together is the same love that can bind them together, Whether on mountaintops of happiness and through valleys of hardship. Love is strong as death It's flashes are flashes of fire. Many waters cannot quench love Love can see you through! There's power in love. ii But the love of which we speak is not only for couples getting married or just for interpersonal relationships. Jesus of Nazareth taught us that the way of love is the way to a real relationship with the God who created all of us, and the way to true relationship with each other as children of that one God, as brothers and sisters in God's human family. One scholar said it this way: "Jesus had founded the most revolutionary movement in human history: a movement built on the unconditional love of God for the world and the mandate to live that love." (Charles Marsh's The Beloved Community) And in so doing, to change lives and the world itself! There's a reason. An old spiritual may suggest why: "If you cannot preach like Peter, There is a balm in Gilead And you cannot pray like Paul, To make the wounded whole You can tell the love of Jesus, There is a balm in Gilead How he died to save us all To heal the sin sick soul" "Just tell the love of Jesus, how he died to save us all." He didn't sacrifice his life for himself Or anything he could get out of it He did it for others, for the other, for the good and wellbeing of others That's love How does St. Paul say it? Love is not jealous, rude, or boastful. Love does not insist on its own way. Love is unselfish, sacrificial, kind and just. Love seeks the good and the well-being of the other. Love makes room and space for the other to be. (See 1 Corinthians 13:4-7) This love, this is the way of Jesus. And it's game changer. Imagine our homes and families when this way of love is the way. Imagine our neighborhoods and communities when love is the way. Imagine our governments and countries when love is the way. Imagine business and commerce when this love is the way. Imagine our world when love is the way. No child would go to bed hungry in such a world as that. Poverty would become history in such a world as that. T he earth would be as a sanctuary in such a world as that. We would treat one another as children of God, regardless of differences. We would learn how to lay our swords and shields down by the riverside to study war no more. There would be a new heaven, a new earth, a new world. A new and beautiful human family The very dream of God Love is strong as death It's flashes are flashes of fire. Many waters cannot quench love iii The late French Jesuit, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, was at once a scientist, a Roman Catholic priest, a theologian, a true mystic. His was one of the great minds and spirits of the 20th century. He suggested that the discovery and harnessing of fire was one of the great technological discoveries of human history. Fire made it possible to cook food, thereby reducing the spread of disease. Fire made it possible to stay warm in cold climates, thereby marking human migration possible. Fire made the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, the Industrial Revolution possible. If you drove here this morning, you did so in part because of harnessed fire. I flew here from the U.S. due to controlled burn of fire. Fire is involved in broadcasting this wedding around the world. And we can text, tweet, email, and otherwise socially engage one another due to fire. Fire was one of the great technological discoveries of humanity. In light of this, de Chardin said that if human beings ever harness the energies of love, then for the second time in the history of the world, we will have discovered fire. Love is the very fire and energy of real life! Dr. King was right: "We must discover the power of love, he redemptive power of love. And when we discover that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world. Love is the only way." My brother, my sister, God love you, God bless you. My brothers, my sisters, God love you, God bless you. And may God hold us all In those almighty hands of love. Amen. They did it! After a week dominated by Meghan Markles family drama, the Suits star exchanged vows with Prince Harry at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in front of A-list guests including Oprah Winfrey and George Clooney, and, of course, the royal family. As Meghan walked down the aisle, Prince Harry appeared to tear up. She joined him at the front of the chapel and their wedding ceremony began. At the altar, Harry told Meghan, "You look amazing." When they read their wedding vows, Harry very seriously bellowed "I will," to laughs from the crowd. Meghan replied more calmly. She smiled at Harry as she recited her vows, locking eyes with her groom. They then exchanged rings, with Harry wearing a wedding ring - unlike his older brother Prince William. When they were proclaimed husband and wife, and cheers from outside could be heard inside the chapel. The American-actress-turned-royal wore a portrait neckline, long sleeve mermaid gown with a lengthy train by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. She paired it with a veil adorned with lace and a tiara, lent to her by Queen Elizabeth II and once owned by Queen Mary. Earlier, Prince Harry arrived with his brother and best man Prince William. They beamed as they made the long walk into the chapel in their military uniforms. The groom waved to the crowd as he walked inside. When Prince Harry and Meghan exited their wedding ceremony, the crowds outside erupted in loud screams and cheers to celebrate the newlyweds. The pair kissed on the steps of the chapel. Queen Elizabeth, 92, turned up at her grandson's wedding in a chartreuse dress and hat with a purple feather as the crowd stood in her honor. Meanwhile, Prince William's wife Kate arrived in a cream coat and hat and escorted the flower girls inside, just before Markle walked down the aisle. The brides mother, Doria Ragland, watched the wedding in tears. MEGHAN MARKLE'S FAMILY DRAMA EXPLAINED Guests inside the chapel including the likes of David Beckham and Elton John were seen during the service. Winfrey turned up at the chapel about two hours before the wedding in a pink feathered hat and a matching long sleeve, knee-length dress. She walked in behind Idris Elba and his fiancee. Actor George Clooney and wife Amal arrived a short while later, with Amal in a yellow hat and matching dress. James Corden also showed up at the royal affair. Earl Charles Spencer, Princess Diana's younger brother, arrived at about the same time as Oprah. James Blunt walked in a few moments later, while Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy sat in the chapel in a black hat, looking serious as she waited for the ceremony to start. Earlier in the morning, many of the first guests to arrive were part of the approximately 1,200 members of the public that Markle and Prince Harry invited to witness their wedding, some of whom were invited due to their involvement in specific charities that are meaningful to the couple. The chapel opened about two and a half hours before the wedding, and a few people began going inside the doors. ROYAL WEDDING GUEST TELLS ALL AHEAD OF BIG DAY But many royal enthusiasts got there much sooner. Some have been camped out at Windsor since Wednesday night. After their wedding concluded, Prince Harry and Meghan toured around Windsor in a carriage waving at their fans as the crowds applauded wildly. At least 100,000 people are estimated to have flocked to the streets of Windsor to celebrate the couple's wedding and wish them well. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will now officially be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Kensington Palace revealed early on the morning of the pairs wedding day. The Queen has today been pleased to confer a Dukedom on Prince Henry of Wales, the palace said in a statement. His titles will be Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel. Prince Harry thus becomes His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex, and Ms. Meghan Markle on marriage will become Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex. Meghan Markles father, Thomas Markle, said he wished he were at his babys royal wedding to Prince Harry on Saturday. Thomas Markle told TMZ his daughter looked beautiful on her big day and wished Harry and Meghan Markle all my love and all happiness. "My baby looks beautiful and she looks very happy. I wish I were there and I wish them all my love and all happiness, Markle told TMZ. Markle was in California recovering after undergoing heart surgery. MEGHAN MARKLE AND PRINCE HARRY: A LOVE STORY Thomas Markle could not attend his daughter's wedding to Prince Harry on Saturday. His daughter announced Thursday that he would not be going. Earlier this week, Markle made headlines regarding his health, and there was speculation whether or not he'd attend the royal wedding. Thomas Markle had surgery on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack last week. He checked himself back into the hospital after experiencing chest pains. The "Suits" star's father also made headlines earlier this week when it was revealed he staged paparazzi photos that showed him preparing for the wedding. The patriarch received a lot of criticism when it was reported he was paid for the posed photo op. His daughter, Meghan Markle's half-sister Samantha Grant, claimed she set up the paparazzi shot -- not Thomas Markle. KATE MIDDLETON DONS PALE SUIT AT ROYAL WEDDING, GETS SLAMMED ON TWITTER Meghan Markle announced Friday she asked Prince Charles to walk her down the aisle in her father's absence. On Saturday, Markle walked down the aisle with the Prince of Wales as her mother, Doria Ragland, watched. Ragland was the only person from Markles family to attend the wedding. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said "I do" on Saturday at St. George's Chapel at the Windsor Castle in one of the most highly anticipated weddings of the year. Fox News' Leora Arnowitz contributed to this report. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are scrambling to do damage control as Markle's family drama continues to put a damper on their royal wedding. Markle's half-siblings have stolen the majority of the limelight, sharing details and allegations about the bride-to-be's behavior in recent years. Some have fired shots at Markle's alleged betrayal of her family over the years, and at least one admits to giving her father, Thomas, ill advice to cash in on staged photos. But through it all, the couple has remained cool, releasing statements through Kensington Palace asking the public for their "understanding and respect," particularly for her father. MEGHAN MARKLE'S FAMILY TREE INCLUDES THOMAS MARKLE, DORIA RAGLAND, SAMANTHA GRANT AND BEYOND Thomas has been breaking news daily in the days leading up to the royal ceremony. He was scheduled to walk his daughter down the aisle at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. "Prince Harry and Ms. Markle are very much looking forward to welcoming Ms. Markle's parents to Windsor for the wedding," Kensington Palace said in a May 4 statement. "Both of the bride's parents will have important roles in the wedding." But plans have changed several times over the course of just a few days. Here's what you need to know about Markle and the bizarre string of events that unfolded ahead of her special day. Staged paparazzi pics Weeks before the wedding, photos of Thomas circulated online showing him trying on his tuxedo for his daughter's big day, brushing up on Britain with tourism books at a cafe, and Googling his daughter and Prince Harry. It appeared as if the dad genuinelly wanted to learn more about his future son-in-law but it was only a matter of time until the truth came out: the pictures were fake. Thomas claimed a paparazzi agency approached him about taking staged photos and he believed it would help recast his image in a more positive light. However, he admitted the photos made him appear stupid and hammy, and has since said he regrets his decision to participate in the charade .. MEGHAN MARKLE AND PRINCE HARRY'S ROYAL WEDDING: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW Markles estranged half-sister, Samantha Grant, later took responsibility for the cheesy paparazzi shots, which were taken in Mexico, where her dad lives. "The bad press over my father doing staged photos is my fault," Grant tweeted on May 14. "The media was unfairly making him look bad so I suggested he do positive photos for his benefit and the benefit of the royal family." Thomas Markle bows out then changes his mind After news about the staged photos broke, TMZ reported Thomas, 73, would no longer attend the wedding due to embarassment . The father admitted to the celebrity gossip site on May 14 that the photos looked "stupid and hammy" and he regrets posing for them. At the time, he said he suffered a heart attack six days prior. This is a deeply personal moment for Ms. Markle in the days before her wedding. She and Prince Harry ask again for understanding and respect to be extended to Mr. Markle in this difficult situation," Kensington Palace, reportedly surprised by the news, said in a statement later that day. The next day, Thomas apparently changed his mind, telling TMZ he does want to walk his daughter down the aisle. The next day, however, he was hospitalized again due to his heart condition and reportedly underwent surgery. Markle's dad undergoes heart surgery The palace has not revealed any details about Thomas' health issues, but TMZ says Thomas remains hospitalized in California after undergoing a procedure Wednesday to clear blocked coronary arteries. He reportedly told the website he was OK after three stents were inserted, but he needed to rest. Ending days of speculation, Markle confirmed on May 17 her father will not be able to attend her wedding due to health problems. "Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding," Markle said in a statement. "I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health." Paparazzi confrontation leads to broken ankle for half-sister Shortly after TMZ reported on Thomas' health status, the website got word about another family member: Markle's half-sister Samantha. Samantha reportedly suffered a broken ankle and a fractured knee after a member of the paparazzi attempted to snap photos of her and her boyfriend, Mark, while they were driving in Florida. In an attempt to avoid photos, Mark swerved and crashed into a concrete post, according to TMZ. Markle's half-brother calls her a "phony" Markle's half-brother, Thomas Jr., claimed Markle is a "phony" and has been "giving the greatest performance of her life" since she became famous. He claims they used to be close and saw each other from 2009 to 2011 pretty regularly, but she's since iced him out. Once she got into Hollywood she turned into a different person, Thomas told the Daily Mirror .. Shes clearly forgotten her roots and her family. "Dear Prince, It's not too late" In a scathing letter addressed to Prince Harry, Thomas Jr. told the royal that he still has time to back out of the wedding. MEGHAN MARKLE AND PRINCE HARRY'S ROYAL WEDDING GUEST LIST "As more time passes to your royal wedding, it became very clear that this is the biggest mistake in royal wedding history. Meghan Markle is obviously not the right woman for you," he wrote a few weeks ago in an open letter obtained by In Touch, slamming his "shallow, conceited" half-sister for not inviting some of her relatives to the event. The uninvited "Most beautiful royal" Runway model Lady Amelia Windsor, dubbed the worlds hottest royal by the press, who is 37th in line to the throne, was reportedly not invited. Spice Girls Spice Girls Mel B and Mel C were apparently not invited, Page Six revealed on May 16, officially shutting down rumors that the girl group was going to perform at the reception. Political figures President Trump, former President Obama and wife Michelle and British Prime Minister Theresa May did not make the cut. Extended family Several members of Markle's extended family including her nephews Tyler Dooley and Thomas and their mother Tracy, who was married to Markle's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr. were not invited to the royal event, TMZ reported. They will, however, act as London correspondents for "Good Morning Britain" during the ceremony. Fox News' Stephanie Nolasco and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Prince Harry will wear a wedding ring breaking tradition with his brother, William, who chose not to wear the band. Harry decided to not follow in the footsteps of his brother and grandfather, Prince Philip, who both chose not to wear wedding bands. The Kensington Palace described in detail Saturday what Harry and his bride-to-be Meghan Markle's wedding rings would look like. MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRYS ROYAL WEDDING: OPRAH, GEORGE AND AMAL CLOONEY ARRIVE Ms. Markles ring has been fashioned from a piece of Welsh Gold, gifted by her Majesty The Queen. Prince Harrys ring will be a Platinum Band with a textured finish, the palace tweeted. The two rings were crafted by Cleave and Company and will both be carried by the Duke of Cambridge who will serve as Harrys best man, the palace told Fox News. Cleave and Company, which was established in London in 2001, holds two Royal Warrants granted to the workshop by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles. Cleave and Company said they were honored to also make Markles engagement ring as well. ROYAL GUESTS TELL ALL AHEAD OF BIG DAY The wedding band will fit next to the bride-to-bes engagement ring, which Harry designed. Two of the stones in Markles wedding ring belonged to Harrys late mother, Princess Diana. William also honored his mothers memory by giving his wife, Kate Middleton, Dianas 12-carat sapphire engagement ring. On Saturday, Harry and Markle will wed at St. Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle. The celebrity-studded event included A-list guests such as Oprah Winfrey and Idris Elba. Though she stole the show in curve-hugging white gown at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridges 2011 wedding, Pippa Middleton opted for a decidedly more conservative mint ensemble for the wedding of the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. The worlds most famous bridesmaid wore a $695 tea length pale green silk dress with pink floral print with long sleeves and a drop waist by The Fold to the May 19 nuptials, People reports. Arriving hand in hand with banker husband James Matthews, Duchess Kates reportedly pregnant younger sister accessorized with a rose-colored fascinator, neat bun and strappy heels, looking perfectly the part of a royal wedding guest. HOW MEGHAN MARKLES WEDDING DRESS WILL IMPACT THE GOWN INDUSTRY Nevertheless, cheeky commentators on Twitter were quick to chime in that the 34-year-olds frock looked a whole lot like a bottle of Arizonas Green Tea. Pippa Middleton sponsored by Arizona one critic clapped. Pippa wearing arizona iced tea, another mused. MEGHAN MARKLE AND PRINCE HARRY'S ROYAL WEDDING: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW For their part, The Fold couldnt be happier that Middleton chose one of their designs for the big day. We are absolutely delighted she has worn it, representative Charlotte Sutcliffe-Smith told People. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Meanwhile, Duchess Kate is catching heat on Twitter for her own outfit choice for the May 19 celebrations, as her pale yellow Alexander McQueen ensemble appears to photograph as white. Hats off to the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex! As wedding bells rang at last for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, many female guests gave their nod of support in style with a fabulous array of hats and fascinators. In fact, donning a headpiece is actually one of the strictest royal dress code rules. ROYAL WEDDING LUNCHEON MENU REVEALED Hats are a sign of festivity for a British wedding. They are kept on inside the church, but people should be careful of the people sitting behind them, Plaza Hotel etiquette expert Myka Meier told The Associated Press. Its not the Kentucky Derby. No huge brims. Nothing too high, she said, of the royal wedding. From Oprah Winfreys blooming blossoms and Amal Clooneys timeless look to Doria Raglands sweet beret and Camilla Parker Bowles over-the-top number, take a peek at some of the greatest hats and fascinators spotted at Windsor Castle on May 19. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY'S ROYAL WEDDING CAKE SERVES UP A SLICE OF ORIGINALITY HOW MEGHAN MARKLES WEDDING DRESS WILL IMPACT THE GOWN INDUSTRY STAFF AT HOTEL WHERE MEGHAN MARKLE AND MOM ARE STAYING TOLD NOT TO WAVE AS THEY LEAVE, SOURCE CLAIMS NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! It seems like the whole planet tuned in to watch the royal wedding. It was a beautiful occasion on a beautiful day, and Harry and Meghan looked just the part. Young and in love. The wedding had it all: fascinators, celebrities, pomp, and great music. Then there was the sermon. Many people are saying the preacher stole the show. I knew it was going to be a great sermon, and I knew Bishop Michael Curry, head of the Episcopal Church in the USA, would preach about love. If you havent watched the sermon, do it now. Its the best thirteen minutes youll spend all day. The reactions among media and on Twitter were amazing. One British paper said Bishop Curry is a break-out star. Buzzfeed posted the full text of the sermon. When has Buzzfeed ever posted a sermon?! TV network commentators were gobsmacked. Of course, Bishop Curry, as amazing as he is, isnt the reason people found the sermon moving. It was not the preacher, but the subject that moved peoples hearts. Were all yearning to know that we are loved, that our lives have purpose, and that the world can be transformed. Thats the power of love, and thats exactly what Bishop Curry spoke about. Dont let this moment pass you by. Dont let love be reduced to a fleeting feeling. Let love sweep into your life and change you. Come to church. Meet people who, like Bishop Curry, are serious about love. If you found that message powerful, then go to church. Whether you havent been to church in a long time, or if youve never been, go to church. Before you get to church, you should know a few things first. The preacher probably wont be as good as Bishop Curry. The ceremony and the music wont be as impressive. There wont be celebrities at every turn, and youre unlikely to see fancy outfits. What you will find in church is better than all that, however. In church, youll find a community of people trying to figure out what it means to live meaningful lives rooted in redemptive love. The church wont look like a fairy tale, and it wont be perfect. Thats the point. The gospel of Jesus Christ begins in imperfection. You and I are broken. We have sinned, and well do it again. But the love of God in Jesus Christ can make us whole. Churches are communities of people looking for wholeness, and then sharing that healing love with a world in need. In church, week in and week out, we hear that violence, poverty, and hatred do not have the last word. We hear the Gospel, that love, hope, justice, and mercy have the final word. Thats the redemptive love that Bishop Curry was preaching about, and its the redemptive love you can experience in church. Im head-over-heels in love with the Anglican traditions of the Episcopal Church. We saw glimpses of this at the royal wedding. We pray ancient, lovely prayers. We hear and preach the word of God. We receive the sacraments. And we engage the real problems of the world with the boldness and truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In most countries of the world, there are Anglican or Episcopal churches that would love to welcome you tomorrow. But if formal liturgy isnt your cup of tea, or you prefer a different style of worship, there are all sorts and varieties of Christians who would be glad to welcome you. Baptists, Pentecostals, Roman Catholics, Methodists, Orthodox, and many others are waiting for you. Dont let this moment pass you by. Dont let love be reduced to a fleeting feeling. Let love sweep into your life and change you. Come to church. Meet people who, like Bishop Curry, are serious about love. As Bishop Curry said, Because when love is the way, we actually treat each other, well, like we are actually family. When love is the way, we know that God is the source of us all and we are brothers and sisters, children of God. My brothers and sisters, thats a new heaven, a new earth, a new world, a new human family. When the church is at its best, love is the way. Come experience that love, and join the effort to share that love with the whole world. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! In April, President Trump pardoned I. Lewis Scooter Libby Jr., top aide to former Vice President Dick Cheney, who was convicted in an abuse of prosecutorial discretion. Now the president should do the same thing for Dwight L. Hammond, Jr., 76, and his son Steven Dwight Hammond, 49, long-suffering ranchers in rural Oregon. The Hammonds were charged with terrorism and sentenced in 2015 to five years in prison, despite the outraged protests of ranchers and other citizens. The Oregonian, the states left-leaning newspaper, said in a January 2016 editorial: The Hammonds broke the law and deserve to be punished but said their sentence was excessive and that the president (then Barack Obama) should consider granting them clemency. The Hammonds are the victims of one of the most egregious, indefensible and intolerable instances of prosecutorial misconduct in history. Their situation cries out for justice that can come only from President Trump. The Hammonds crime? They set a legally permissible fire on their own property, which accidentally burned out of control onto neighboring federal land. Normally, that is an infraction covered by laws governing trespassing, and the guilty party is subject to paying for damages caused by the fire if the neighboring land belongs to an ordinary citizen. But not when a vindictive federal government is involved. The Hammonds are cattle ranchers in southeastern Oregons Harney County, the states largest, but home to fewer than 8,000 people who eke out a living. The federal government owns 75 percent of the land in the county. Congress passed the 1996 law in response to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing to deter terrorism. Lawmakers did not have in mind a ranchers efforts to eradicate noxious weeds or to prevent the spread of a lightning fire onto valuable crops. The Hammond Ranch is near the unincorporated community of Diamond, with fewer than 100 residents. Located on Steens Mountain since it was established in 1964, the ranch is made up of 12,872 acres of deeded private land. Dwight Hammond began running the ranch in his early 20s; for his son, it is the only life he knows. Like most Western ranches in federally dominated counties, the Hammond Ranch holds grazing rights on nearby federal land. In this case, that is 26,421 acres managed by the Bureau of Land Management of the U.S. Department of the Interior. In the high desert environment of Harney County and throughout the West federal, state and private landowners use controlled or prescribed burns for prairie restoration, forest management and to reduce the buildup of underbrush that could fuel much bigger fires. But sometimes the controlled fires get out of control and sweep onto neighbors land. That is legally deemed a trespass, and the landowner who set the fire is liable for any damages. Only the federal government has the power to cite the trespasser criminally for his or her actions. That is what happened to the Hammonds. It did not happen in a vacuum. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has long coveted the Hammond Ranch for inclusion in its surrounding Malheur Wildlife Refuge. The federal agency pressured members of the Hammond family for decades to follow all of their neighbors in selling their property to the federal government. For their part, Bureau of Land Management officials, agents and armed rangers too often have had an adversarial and thorny relationship with ranchers and grazing permittees, which worsened during the Obama administration. In 2001, after alerting the Bureau of Land Management, the Hammonds set a legal fire to eradicate noxious weeds. It spread onto 139 acres of vacant federal land. According to a government witness, the fire actually improved the federal land, as natural fires often do. In 2006, Steven Hammond started another prescribed fire in response to several blazes ignited by a lightning storm near his familys field of winter feed. The counter-blaze burned a single acre of federal land. According to Steven Hammonds mother, the backfire worked perfectly, it put out the fire, saved the range and possibly our home. We thought we lived in America where you have one trial and you have one sentencing. She said that federal officials just keep playing political, legal mind games with people and peoples lives. The Bureau of Land Management took a different view. It filed a report with Harney County officials alleging several violations of Oregon law. However, after a review of the evidence, the Harney County district attorney dropped all charges in 2006. The Bureau of Land Management did not give up. In 2011, federal prosecutors referencing both the 2001 and 2006 fires charged the Hammonds with violating the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, which carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years. Mugshots of the father and his son accompanied headlines calling them arsonists. Their wife and mother said: I would walk down the street or go in a store, people I had known for years would take extreme measures to avoid me. In 2012, the Hammonds went to trial. As the jury was deliberating, they agreed not to appeal the jury verdicts in exchange for the government dismissal of a slew of ancillary charges, including conspiracy to commit the offense. The jury found both Hammonds guilty of the 2001 fire and Steven Hammond guilty of the 2006 blaze; he was acquitted on charges the 2006 fire did more than $1,000 in damages. At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan concluded the fires did not endanger people or property. He declared that the law the Hammonds were convicted of violating was aimed at more serious conduct than their case involved. Hogan added that the Hammonds had tremendous character, and stated that the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution barring cruel and unusual punishment justified a sentence below the statutory minimum sentence. Consequently, Judge Hogan sentenced Dwight Hammond to three months in prison and his son to a year and a day. Both served their sentences and then returned home. But the federal government was not finished. Federal prosecutors, contending the agreement did not bar them from further action, appealed to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which, without oral arguments, quickly issued a terse ruling reversing the Oregon federal district court. Given the seriousness of arson, the appellate court ruled, a five-year sentence is not grossly disproportionate to the offense. The Hammonds are both still in prison today. Congress passed the 1996 law under which the Hammonds were convicted in response to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing in New York City and the 1995 federal building bombing in Oklahoma City in order to deter terrorism. Lawmakers did not have in mind a ranchers efforts to eradicate noxious weeds or to prevent the spread of a lightning fire onto valuable crops. That apparently did not matter to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Oregon, the Bureau of Land Management, the Fish and Wildlife Service and officials who are supposed to provide adult supervision to prevent personal animus, agency vendettas and prosecutorial abuse. We didnt think it could happen, said Susie Hammond, the family matriarch. She is still trying to hold onto the ranch, upon which four local families other than the Hammonds rely. We thought we lived in America where you have one trial and you have one sentencing. She said that federal officials just keep playing political, legal mind games with people and peoples lives. Now its up to President Trump to deliver justice to the Hammonds something the federal government has long denied them. Donald Trump Jr. on Saturday played down a report that he attended a meeting in August 2016 that included an emissary for two wealthy Arab princes who were keen to help Trump win the election. The New York Times reported that Trump Jr. met with Lebanese-American businessman George Nader -- representing princes from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- along with Israeli social media specialist Joel Zamel and Republican donor and private security contractor Erik Prince. The meeting, which took place in August, reportedly included a multimillion-dollar proposal for a social media manipulation effort to help Trump beat Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in November. An attorney for Trump Jr. said in a statement that his client recalled the meeting, but was not interested in the pitch. Prior to the 2016 election, Donald Trump Jr. recalls a meeting with Eric Prince, George Nader, and another individual who may be Joel Zamel, Alan Futerfas said in a statement. They pitched Mr. Trump Jr. on a social media platform or marketing strategy. He was not interested and that was the end of it. The Times reports that, after the election, Nader paid Zamel up to $2 million, although the exact reason was not clear. Nader is now reportedly cooperating with FBI Special Counsel Robert Muellers probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Trump Jr.s meeting is the second to draw the attention of Muellers probe. In June 2016, Trump Jr. met with a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin after he said he was promised incriminating information about Clinton. In transcripts released by the Senate Judiciary Committee this week, Trump Jr. played down that meeting, too, telling lawmakers he was skeptical about the gathering. My skepticism was justified. The meeting provided no meaningful information and turned out to be not about what was represented, Trump Jr. said. The meeting was instead primarily focused on Russian adoptions, which is exactly what I said over a year later in my statement of July 8, 2017. Fox News Jennifer Bowman and Brooke Singman contributed to this report. House Speaker Paul Ryan and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy conferred in the center aisle of House chamber late Friday morning. Lawmakers buzzed around them as the House prepared to vote on a controversial farm bill and food assistance measure. Ryan, R-Wis., and McCarthy, R-Calif., cupped their hands over their mouths like a pitcher and a catcher discussing the signs during a visit to the mound after a cross-up. House GOP leaders and members certainly got their signals crossed Friday on the farm bill. It was unclear for days whether Republicans could unilaterally pass the measure without help from the other side. All Democrats and some Republicans balked at the bill due to a provision to bolster work requirements for able-bodied persons to receive food aid. What theyre doing here is just mean, said Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson, the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee. We already have work requirements. Peterson said the GOP plan would produce a lot of red tape and hassle for those down on their luck to qualify for food assistance. And he suggested Republicans were trying to make the process so onerous that those in need will quit and give up. The work requirement provision proved pivotal. No Democrats would support the bill. But the Republican leadership was confident that the work mandate alone would secure the votes of skeptical Republicans. That is, until there was insurrection by the conservative House Freedom Caucus over immigration. A band of moderate Republicans is inching closer to executing a parliamentary gambit to go over the heads of the GOP leadership to force debate on a series of immigration and DACA measures. The Freedom Caucus then elected to push for an immediate debate on a conservative immigration plan before addressing the farm bill. Should disparate issues like immigration and border security mesh with food policy? We coupled them, said Freedom Caucus leader Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C. Meadows argued that the immigration debate was coming thanks to the push by the moderates and his group. And he said Republican leaders would be wise to address immigration right away -- especially in connection with the farm bill, perhaps the only must-pass measure hitting the floor between now and September. Ryan was suddenly hearing it in stereo as an alloy of moderate and conservative Republicans threatened to incinerate the farm bill on the floor unless the GOP leadership responded on immigration. He dismissed the fusion of immigration and farm policy when asked about it by Fox News at his weekly press conference. They are unrelated and I wouldnt describe that as accurate. Theyre trying to tie one to the other, Ryan said. Like it or not, that is the new political reality on immigration among House Republicans. Thats why the leadership offered the Freedom Caucus a chance to consider the conservative immigration plan in late June in exchange for support of the farm bill. There was still no deal. There are not enough votes to pass the farm bill, Meadows told Fox colleague Anne Ball. And so what would Ryan be willing to do to coax just enough Republicans to support the farm bill? Im not going to negotiate in the media, he replied. Were having good productive conversations with our members to advance our agenda on all fronts. But apparently, not productive enough. There was chatter Thursday that Republican leaders could yank the farm bill off the schedule if they lacked the votes for passage. But it became clear that the GOP would forge ahead, rolling the dice. Steady as she goes, observed a senior Republican leadership source to colleague Mike Emanuel. Its going to be tight, predicted one knowledgeable GOP source about the fate of the vote. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., is often emphatic in his predictions prior to big roll call votes. He sometimes declares we have the votes or replies yes when asked if a measure will pass. But Scalise was far from unequivocal as a mob of reporters followed him to the floor before the farm bill vote. We have a narrow path, he said. These are the bills that are always the toughest to pass. Scalise is right. The last farm bill melted down on the floor in epic fashion in 2013. An effort to override President George W. Bushs veto of the 2008 farm bill imploded over an embarrassing clerical error. Scalises vagueness meant one thing: No one really knew if the bill would pass. House Republicans should have had the farm bill in the bag a few days ago. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., and a coalition influential Republicans pushed an amendment to modify the federal sugar program by subjecting the commodity to market forces. Ironically, many viewed the sugar amendment as a poison pill for the farm bill as it appeared to cleave the GOP conference. The sugar amendment comes up every time, Foxx noted. The last time it failed by only seven votes. Im working really hard to defeat it, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway, R-Texas, said on Fox News Radio. If were not able to defeat it, then it calls into question whether I can pass the bill. When the sugar amendment hit the floor Thursday, it wasnt even close. The House voted 278-137 to reject the sugar modification proposal. Foxx conceded she thought the amendment would pass and certainly not experience a 141 vote beat down. In retrospect, it may have been better for the Republican leadership had the House approved the sugar amendment. Under those circumstances, Conaway and GOP leaders could have blamed the sugar amendment for the farm bills failure -- or at least given them a reason to snatch the measure off the floor. But the touchstone issue wasnt sugar. It was immigration. Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., the vice chairman of the House Republican Conference, emerged from an elevator en route to the House dais to chair the final debate and vote on the farm bill. Collins sits on an elite roster of members the leadership taps to preside when controversial bills hit the floor. He told Fox News that GOP leaders gave him no guidance to pull the bill from the floor. I just assumed that the way they were behaving that they had the votes, Peterson said. During the vote series, Ryan, McCarthy and Scalise huddled with Meadows and other Freedom Caucus leaders Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Scott Perry, R-Pa. The scrum broke up as the leaders then scurried about the chamber talking to other lawmakers. Nobody appeared panicked. They also seemed resigned to their fate. Ryan extracted an iPhone from his pocket and pecked out a message. No one recalls Ryan using an electronic device in public since he became speaker and stalked the halls with an iPod, listening to tracks from Led Zeppelin. The current House membership stands at 428 members: 235 Republicans and 193 Democrats. That means it takes 215 yeas to pass a bill if everyone votes. It also means the GOP can lose only 20 members and still prevail. But on the amendment votes, the high-water mark for lawmakers voting was 411. So, 206 was the magic number for passage. When the vote on the farm bill started, the number of GOP nays quickly hit 21. The bill was doomed, failing 213-198. This isnt over, said Scalise as he made his way to a U.S. Capitol Police SUV parked under the House carriage entrance amid a midday cloudburst. Would the GOP have been better off had they not written a bill geared to garner only Republican support? Its not a partisan bill, Scalise insisted. This was about food stamps, said Peterson after the vote. If they will listen to me, I can deliver a lot of Democrats to vote for it. Peterson said the GOP wouldnt even talk to him about his proposals. And he said that until Friday, he and Conaway, the Agriculture committee chairman, hadnt spoken in five weeks. Peterson knows something about courting moderate Democrats to vote for GOP proposals. He represents a rural district in western Minnesota that favors Republicans by 12 points. President Trump carried the district by 31 points. I decided to stick my neck out, Peterson said. In other words, if he thinks the bill is so extreme even he cant support it . Moreover, by not pulling the bill, dozens of vulnerable Republicans are now on the record, documented, as voting for the work requirement. Democrats could have a field day in campaign commercials this fall weaponizing the farm bill vote against GOPers who voted yes. Lots of lawmakers wonder whether Republican leaders would have been in this quandary if Ryan wasnt departing. The insurrection by two wings of the House GOP Conference reflects restlessness among the rank-and-file. So far, Ryan hasnt quashed that rebellion. Same with McCarthy and Scalise. This calls into question whether there is a leadership vacuum, spurred by Ryans retirement announcement. The failure of the farm bill and revolt over immigration may reflect a lack of political capital available to GOP leaders. The brass elected to push ahead with the farm bill vote amid omens they shouldnt have. This was a political cross-up. A miscommunication between battery mates. Calling for a change-up and firing an Aroldis Chapman fastball instead. This doesnt portend well for other big topics. Funding the government. The future of a higher education bill. Actually addressing immigration. Revamping the farm bill. The leadership isnt on the same page as the members. They need to get the signs down. If this isnt corrected, the next pitch will skip wildly behind the catcher and roll all the way to the backstop. First lady Melania Trump returned to the White House on Saturday after undergoing a kidney procedure earlier this week. Her office said in a statement that she is resting comfortably and remains in high spirits after returning home. The statement also thanked everyone who had sent their best wishes to her -- noting that it had received thousands of calls and emails. The first lady underwent an embolization procedure on Monday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Such a procedure is typically performed to cut off blood supply to a tumor, aneurysm or abnormal growth, typically growing in the kidney or liver, to shrink it. Her office said on Monday that there has been no complications. President Trump visited her throughout the week and had also thanked well-wishers for their support. On Wednesday, she said she was feeling great and looking forward to returning home. Fox News Jennifer Bowman and Brooke Singman contributed to this report. President Trump on Saturday said it would be "a really big deal" if the FBI and Department of Justice infiltrated his campaign during the 2016 election campaign, and he called for the DOJ to release documents being requested by Republican lawmakers' regarding the Russia probe. "If the FBI or DOJ was infiltrating a campaign for the benefit of another campaign, that is a really big deal," he tweeted, adding his support to pushes by the House Intelligence Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee to release documents about the FBI's actions during the 2016 campaign. The tweet marks the latest in a series of statements Trump has made amid reports that the FBI had an informant contact Trump campaign aides as part of an investigation into Russia's interference in 2016 campaign. This has led to speculation, particularly from Republicans and some conservative media outlets, that the FBI had an informant embedded in the campaign itself. "Reports are there was indeed at least one FBI representative implanted, for political purposes, into my campaign for president," Trump tweeted Friday. "It took place very early on, and long before the phony Russia Hoax became a hot Fake News story. If true - all time biggest political scandal!" On Friday evening, The Washington Post and The New York Times published anonymously sourced stories offering a deeper look into the FBIs actions in 2016. Both outlets had confirmed the name of the informant but chose not to reveal it. The Times' reporting was framed in an apparent challenge to Trumps claims, with the headline FBI Used Informant to Investigate Russia Ties to Campaign, Not to Spy, as Trump Claims. Both the Times and The Post reported that agents sent an informant -- an American academic who teaches in Britain -- to meet with advisers George Papadopoulos and Carter Page, seeking to probe their alleged Russia ties. He paid Papadopoulos $3,000 for a paper on a gas dispute in the Mediterranean and for a trip to London for them to speak. The Post also reported that he met with Trump campaign co-chairman Sam Clovis, offering to provide foreign policy expertise to the Trump campaign. The reports, which extensively cited people familiar with conversations and the FBIs work, did not necessarily support Trumps claim that there was a spy within the campaign itself, but they're likely to fuel concerns about whether the FBI abused its authority in surveilling the Trump campaign. Former House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz dismissed the argument in The Times headline that it was an informant, not a spy. Are you kidding me? If you have somebody who is proactively spending money to go and talk to somebody you know who is involved in a political campaign just to be an informant from the Obama administration, are you kidding me? he said on "Fox & Friends" Saturday. That is spying by its very definition. Others suggested it would depend on what basis the FBI had for sending the informant. All this devolves into whether there was a valid basis to do any of this in the first place, former DOJ official Robert Driscoll said on Americas Newsroom Saturday. If theres a valid FBI investigation, the use of confidential informants isnt particularly remarkable, but if theres not a valid investigation going on, then this could be nefarious. Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper defended the FBIs actions on CNN, however, saying that if someone was observing interactions between the Trump camp and Russia, then "that's a good thing because the Russians posed a threat to the very basis of our political system." House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., this month requested the Justice Department turn over documents about the FBI's investigation -- a request the DOJ has refused, saying that it could jeopardize the source. However, Nunes has said he did not reference any individual in his request. On Tuesday, he said on Fox & Friends that the House Intelligence Committee was trying to inform the American people: I think if the campaign was somehow set up, I think that would be a problem, right? Nunes came under fire Friday night from Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who said his actions could be illegal. It would be at best irresponsible, and at worst potentially illegal, for members of Congress to use their positions to learn the identity of an FBI source for the purpose of undermining the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in our election, Warner said in a statement. On Friday, Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani said on CNN that they were told there were two people embedded on the campaign, but he didnt know if that was accurate. But he indicated that such revelations would cast doubt on FBI Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe. "I want to know because I believe, if there was an embedded person, that person cleared us because the FBI cleared us. I wonder what the heck is the legitimacy of the Mueller investigation in the first place," Giuliani said. United States and China officials have agreed this weekend to take steps to reduce the U.S. trade deficit, the White House said Saturday. The agreement between the world's two biggest economies was made this week in Washington by high-level negotiators from both countries, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. There was a consensus on taking effective measures to substantially reduce the United States trade deficit in goods with China, the White House said, in what it described as a joint statement with China. The White House also said China would significantly increase purchases of U.S. goods and services to help Americas economic growth and to meet its own growing consumption needs, in an apparent effort to avoid an international trade war. Among the primary focuses of the consensus: an agreement to expand trade in manufactured goods and services, increase U.S. agriculture and energy exports, and protect both countries intellectual property laws. The White House also said next steps would include the U.S. sending a team to China to work out the details. President Trump has since his 2016 presidential campaign vowed to improve international trade relationships, including the one with China that last year resulted in a $337 billion trade deficit with the country. Trump on Friday called the deal "bad for our country and said, We're changing it around." After the White House announcement, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer suggested the agreement falls short on protecting Americas intellectual property. The key to a strong agreement is protecting our intellectual property here in America and stopping the Chinese from keeping out our best goods until we hand over our trade secrets, said Schumer, D-N.Y. The joint statement has nothing specific on those fronts. China recently appears to be sending signals about trying to avoid a trade war. Beijing has dropped an anti-dumping investigation into imported U.S. sorghum, which it had accused the U.S. of unfairly subsidizing. It has also given approval for a U.S. private equity firm to buy Toshiba's memory chip business. "China has come to trade," Larry Kudlow, the top White House economic adviser, told reporters. "They are meeting many of our demands. No deal yet, to be sure, and it's probably going to take a while -- it's a process." China's Commerce Ministry said Friday that it was ending its inquiry into whether the U.S. was dumping sorghum in the Chinese market at artificially low prices, saying the investigation was not in the public interest. A day earlier, Beijing cleared the way for a group led by the U.S. private equity firm Bain Capital to buy Toshiba's computer memory chip business. The moves signaled at least a willingness by Beijing to work toward a deal with Washington. "I think China is willing to make concessions," said Wang Tao, chief China economist at UBS. "The Chinese stance has been very clear -- that China wants to mute any trade dispute. But of course it doesn't mean China would heed to all the demands the U.S. would place." A White House official said China had offered to work to cut its trade deficit with the U.S. by $200 billion, while stressing that any details remained unclear. But China's Foreign Ministry denied that any such offer had been made. The Commerce Ministry said it was ending the anti-dumping probe and a parallel anti-subsidy investigation because they would have raised costs for Chinese consumers. The U.S. is China's biggest supplier of sorghum, accounting for more than 90 percent of its total imports. China's investigation, launched in February, had come as a warning shot to American farmers, many of whom support the Trump administration yet depend heavily on trade. They feared they would lose their largest export market for the crop, which is used primarily for animal feed and liquor. "Anti-dumping and countervailing measures against imported sorghum originating in the United States would affect the cost of living of a majority of consumers and would not be in the public interest," according to a notice posted on China's Commerce Ministry website. The ministry said it had received many reports that the investigation would result in higher costs for the livestock industry, adding that many domestic pig farmers were facing hardship because of declining pork prices. China's U.S. sorghum imports surged from 317,000 metric tons in 2013 to 4.76 million tons last year. Prices fell by about a third over the same period. The ministry said any deposits for the preliminary anti-dumping tariffs of 178.6 percent, which took effect on April 18, would be returned in full. The announcement came after Trump met at the White House with Vice Premier Liu He, the leader of China's delegation for talks with a U.S. team, which also includes Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. The Associated Press contributed to this report. This is a rush transcript from "Hannity," May 17, 2018. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated. SEAN HANNITY, FOX NEWS HOST: All right, Tucker. Lying pomposity, smugness, groupthink, got it. TUCKER CARLSON, FOX NEWS HOST: Amen. HANNITY: Monologue set. All right. Good show, Tucker. Thank you. Welcome to 'Hannity.' All right. This is yet, and I'm not kidding, another insane breaking news night. So, buckle up. It is now tonight day 365 of the Mueller witch-hunt. President Trump and his legal team, they are fighting back in a huge way against this corrupt special counsel investigation. We have a massive development. The president's attorney Rudy Giuliani is telling "The Washington Times" tonight that Mueller is now agreeing to narrow the scope of those questions that he wants to ask the president now the former New York City mayor will join us right here on this program. Also tonight, the great one, Mark Levin, he was correct from the get-go. The Constitution of this country is on President Trump's side. He'll explain. Plus, President Trump is now reacting to "The New York Times" inadvertently confirming our year-long reporting that in fact the Obama FBI while one part spied on his campaign, now he's calling the scandal bigger than Watergate and the president's right as we have been telling you. We also have an explosive report tonight and new details from Sara Carter reporting the DOJ IG report on the corrupt handling of the Clinton email investigation is, quote, extremely long and thorough and could in fact lead to the recommendation of criminal charges. Now, there is a big catch -- some of these deep state actors in the DOJ, they'll be able to review, possibly redact what ultimately gets released to you, the American people. We'll explain why they might not get away with it. Also, major developments in the nuclear showdown with Kim Jong-un and North Korea. We'll tell you what President Trump is saying about the upcoming meeting with Kim Jong-un. All of that, buckle up, glad you're with us, tonight's breaking news opening monologue. (MUSIC) HANNITY: Huge developments tonight. President Trump's attorney, Rudy Giuliani, will be joining us in just a few minutes. He is telling "The Washington Times" that the special counsel Robert Mueller is agreeing now finally rightly to limit the scope of potential questions he wants to ask the president. The former New York City mayor is also saying that this could result in a possible July interview, and Mueller issuing a final report by Labor Day, of course, before the midterm elections. If true, that would be a win for the president. Mueller's original questions are completely ridiculous and insane, obviously a perjury trap. What were you thinking? It doesn't matter what he was thinking. And today is the one-year anniversary of this Mueller witch-hunt, and so far, the special counsel has not provided a single shred of evidence of any collusion and collusion is not against the law. The special counsel has been so abusive, so corrupt, they are so conflicted that the president and his legal team they're now rightly going on offense to combat the illicit deep state scheme. The president tweeting earlier today: congratulations, America, we're now into the second year of the greatest witch hunt in American history and there's still no collusion, no obstruction. The only collusion was that done by the Democrats who were unable to win the election despite the spending of far more money. It's been a year and so far, all Mueller is doing is trying to get Paul Manafort to flip and bring up completely unrelated tax charges dealing with the Ukraine from 2005 to 2007. It had nothing whatsoever to do with the Trump campaign. And if that's not embarrassing enough, look at Mueller's embarrassing case against the 13 so-called Russian company bot companies. That's falling apart. How is it possible with all of these great attorneys like Andrew Weissmann that he indicted a company that didn't exist at the time? Great job, guys. Also, James Comey telling Congress he didn't think Michael Flynn lied to the FBI. Why didn't Mueller charge General Flynn anyway? There's something very off about what's happening with General Flynn. This is a monumental abuse of power, is unlike anything this country has ever seen and, of course, the media has been MIA, and it's now costing you the American taxpayers, well, President Trump is saying could cost upwards and above $10 million. Because of all of these facts, President Trump's legal team is no longer sitting back and watching Mueller and his deep state operatives and this whole disaster unfold. Yesterday, we did learn that the special counsel is no longer considering indicting the president. OK, well, we've been telling you this over and over and over that it's impossible for constitutional reasons as we have explained. And although this is impossible, there's no constitutional precedent to ever even consider this. There are long-established DOJ guidelines that we have explained already in place and former New York City mayor, the president's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani also pointing out that Mueller might not even be able to issue a subpoena because the president's legal team has already handed over, over a million documents. In other words, Mueller already has everything that they have requested and the only point of a presidential interview is to set a perjury trap. This witch hunt is now a direct threat to this American republic. Mueller is causing irreparable damage to the rule of law in this country, right. Also tonight, "The New York Times" confirming our reporting that we've had over a year and part of it is just recent, which is the Obama FBI did in fact have a mole inside the Trump campaign, and Watergate, the break-in was a big deal? Don't think for a second "The New York Times" didn't do this on purpose. They suddenly -- let's see -- decided that they want to tell the truth for once. This not -- was not a simple accident here, as evidenced by "The New York Times" purposely as Andy McCarthy said burying the lead of the story while trying to spin and cover up for those people that they wouldn't cover for an entire year, those that are involved in all of this illicit activity. What's happening now is that the deep state, they know they're about to be exposed like we are expecting the IG report after the IG report, we're going to get the 1.2 million documents that the IG looked at, that will follow and I believe what's happening is very obvious and transparent, they are leaking information to try to get out in front of this scandal that we have been exposing on this program. In other words, the information they have ignored as they talk about Russia, Russia, Stormy, Stormy. The DOJ is trying to protect themselves, leaking this information to friendly media. Oh, "The New York Times" is nobody friendlier, and as "The Wall Street Journal's" Kimberley Strassel pointed out, remember, she broke this story last Friday, pointing out these leakers are trying to literally get a head of Devin Nunes of the House Intel Committee and Congress so they can make all of this sound, well, it's not that bad, we knew about this. Remember, Congress hasn't even been able to see any of this information. Why? Because you have the deputy attorney general totally conflicted out for numerous reasons. Rod Rosenstein refusing to fork over what is rightfully Congress's role in oversight. He won't hand over. They're obstructing. And here's what we mean from this "New York Times" report, quote, the FBI obtained phone records and other documents using national security letters, a secret type of subpoena officials said, and at least one government informant met several times with Carter Page, Papadopoulos current and former officials said. So, we have a secret type of subpoena, the Obama FBI used to spy on the Trump campaign. That's on top of the FBI, the DOJ lying to a FISA judge in an original application and three subsequent applications about the Clinton bought and paid for dossier put together by a foreign national using Russian lies to get a warrant to also spy on the Trump campaign. You keeping up with me here? I know, this is the United States of America. In other words, you have all of these top people in the DOJ, in the FBI, not rank-and-file, the top people making sure they had every base of theirs covered because their goal was to get Trump by any means necessary after they helped Hillary rigged an -- obviously rigged an investigation. Exoneration before investigation. And the former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani saying this information could in fact blow up the entire Mueller investigation. He's right. Watch this. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) RUDY GIULIANI, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S LAWYER: In this case, I think we're going to look into whether we can challenge the legitimacy of the entire investigation. Maybe a special prosecutor, special counsel never should have been appointed, not based on an illegal leak, not based on a set of facts that go back to -- I mean, I'm shocked to hear that they put a spy in the campaign of a major party candidate or maybe two spies and now I'm going through my brain since you know I was a big part of that campaign. I'm trying to figure out who was the spy. Now, I'm wonder, is this person or that person or this person? Now, if there's a spy, they've got nothing from it. Look, they'd be able to bring their case right now if the spy had any incriminating information. (END VIDEO CLIP) HANNITY: The mayor will join us in a second. Here's another consequential piece of information from that "New York Times" article that we know was leaked days after they closed their investigation into Hillary Clinton's use, illegal use of a private email server, agents then the same people the ones that helped exonerate Hillary before investigating her and rigging the investigation, then they began to scrutinize the campaign of her Republican rival. That would be Donald Trump. And just like we have been saying, the small group of deep state actors, they put the fix in, they exonerated Hillary Clinton, we know she committed felonies. The evidence is overwhelming, incontrovertible, would have put every one of you in jail. Then days later, the same people, well then they went after Donald Trump. They all thought they knew better than the American people, that means you. And if all that isn't enough -- well, this part is shocking, could have serious criminal implications. Quote: 'top Australian officials, they broke with diplomatic protocol allowed the Ambassador Alexander Downer to sit for an FBI interview to describe his meeting with campaign adviser George Papadopoulos.' In order for that diplomatic protocol to be broken, well, that means that John Kerry and the Obama State Department from the get-go had to be involved they had to know from day one. And that means the Obama White House had to sign off on it from day one. Nobody else in the media is reporting this. So, clearly, this goes way beyond Comey and top-level FBI, DOJ, deep state agitators. So, the big question for Barack Obama and John Kerry, they need to explain, under oath what did they know and when did they know it. We've raised that question in the past. We have a real reason to ask because there's no way that would have happened without their approval. And as for the DOJ, the IG report that we just mentioned that's coming out, Sara carter also with us tonight breaking huge news -- a draft of this highly anticipated report on the FBI and the DOJ's handling of this Clinton email investigation, exoneration before investigation, has now been sent to Congress, finally 14, 15 months. And she says and reports tonight, it is extremely long and extremely thorough. Sarah is also reporting that this draft does not contain referrals but, of course, that would come after like in the case of Andrew McCabe. This is a big development and by the way it does come with one small catch that we've got to pay very close attention to. Fox News reporting that the FBI and DOJ, we now know they have it they're now being allowed to view the IG's draft, and that means they will maybe offer instances where they want to redact information, and that means that the deep state would be able to at least attempt to try and hide the truth. This is Rod Rosenstein and the DOJ's M.O. What do they do? They slow-walk, they stonewall, and when that doesn't work, they redact under the false guise of national security. So disgraceful. But we know that everything they'd redact so far has nothing to do with national security, had to do with embarrassing details like oh James Comey and the FBI didn't think General Flynn lied. We've been saying this for a while for the longest time. This is why we need a second special counsel that is completely independent from the FBI and the DOJ, because when push comes to shove at the end of the day, they are not capable of holding themselves accountable. And the inspector general needs to hold firm on his report tonight. Also tonight, Robert Mueller is turned over the scope memo about his investigation to federal Judge T.S. Ellis III. Remember, Andrew Weissmann leading the team. That's Mueller's pitbull and got excoriated by the judge two Fridays ago, and went after Mueller's team. Why? Because they're going after Paul Manafort. OK, on what? A 2005 already investigated tax fraud issue that had nothing to do with the election, with the campaign or even Russia itself or the Russia investigation. The same judge blasting the Mueller team, trying to get Manafort to flip. Remember Judge Ellis said, they want to put the screws to him and make him sing so they can either prosecute or impeach President Trump. Also, following tonight, one of the most egregious examples of media bias, of course, the destroy Trump media, the press, claiming the president from called illegal immigrants 'animals.' It's not the case. He was talking specifically about members of the deadly MS-13 gangs. Look at some of these headlines from so-called news organizations. They knowingly, purposely took the president out of context to try and smear him yet again. It shows why I have said over and over, news media, journalism in America is dead. And then there's this utterly shameful media coverage. I can't believe this poses as news in the United States but supposedly, it does. Take a look. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ANA NAVARRO, COMMENTATOR: The president of the United States has got to measure his words and be more careful about what he says, and it is a very slippery slope when you start dehumanizing people this way. It's what the Nazis did. It's what slave owners did. It's not what Americans do. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But it's the president who's dominating the headlines on the topic, after he referred to some undocumented immigrants as animals. CECILIA VEGA, ABC NEWS: These aren't people. These are animals. So that was during White House meeting on sanctuary cities. The comment came after someone remarked about MS-13 gang members. The president didn't make it clear whether he was talking about gang members or about immigrants in general. I got to say, immigrant communities hear this as a dog whistle and they say this is downright dangerous language. (END VIDEO CLIP) HANNITY: Let's go to the videotape what did the president actually say. It's so obvious -- listen to the question -- that he was talking about this vicious gang known as MS-13. Take a look. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REPORTER: There could be an MS-13 gang member I know about -- if they don't reach a certain threshold, I cannot tell ICE about them. DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We have people coming into the country, or trying to come in. We're stopping on a lot of them, but we're taking people out of the country, you wouldn't believe how bad these people are. These aren't people. These are animals and we're taking them out of the country at a level and at a rate that's never happened before. And because of the weak laws, they come in fast, we get them, we release them, we get them again, we bring them out. It's crazy. (END VIDEO CLIP) HANNITY: And today, the president responded to this abusively biased news media of yours. Take a look. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TRUMP: You know I'm referring to the MS-13 gangs that are coming in and I was talking about the MS-13, and also if you look a little bit further on in the tape, you'll see that. So I'm actually surprised you're asking this question because most people got it right. But I'm saying the MS-13, you don't have that where you come from, MS-13, these are animals. They're coming into our country. We're getting them out. They come in again, we're getting them out. So, when the MS-13 comes in, when the other gang members come into our country, I referred to them as animals. And guess what? I always will. (END VIDEO CLIP) HANNITY: Media bias is not the only thing the president's weighing in on today. He was also asked about North Korea's threat to pull out of the nuclear summit. Here's what he had to say about that. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TRUMP: Nothing has changed on North Korea that we know of. We have not been told anything and if it does, that's fine, if it doesn't, I think we'll probably have a very successful meeting. But we have not been told anything. We're just reading -- we're just reading stories like you are. We've heard certain things from South Korea, but we'll see what happens. We are continuing to negotiate in terms of location. The location it's to where to meet, how to meet, rooms, everything else, and they've been negotiating like nothing happened. But if you read the newspapers, maybe it won't happen. I can't tell you yet. I will tell you very shortly. We're going to know very soon. (END VIDEO CLIP) HANNITY: The president is not messing around. Joining us with reaction, Fox News contributor, she's breaking news tonight again, Sarah Carter, former U.S. attorney, "National Review" contributing editor, he has been an amazing in his writing on top of his game, Andrew McCarthy, and the author of the upcoming book, I love the title, "The Russian Hoax", he'll tell you the rest, Fox News legal analyst, Gregg Jarrett. Andy, let me start with you. I'm actually on radio all day today. I called it Crossfire Hurricane edition of the Sean Hannity radio show. And I'm going to be playing that music in a minute. But you actually wrote the same thing today. And I want you to go into what "The Times" was doing -- "The New York Times" specifically -- in their coverage yesterday and why they're trying to get ahead of this. ANDY MCCARTHY, NATIONAL REVIEW: Well, I think, Sean, what they're burying, the word that you almost never see in the whole article is counterintelligence. And the reason is that the scandal here is that they had a case in which they didn't have a criminal predicate and they didn't even really have the predicate you would need to invoke national security powers to conduct this kind of an investigation. And they used their counterintelligence powers to conduct not only an investigation on American citizens, but it was the incumbent Democratic administration employing these extraordinary tactics that are meant to protect America against foreign enemies, and they employed them against their political adversaries in the Trump campaign. That's the story. HANNITY: Yes, and as you said in your piece, rightly so, they buried the lead. I did give you attribution by the way because it was a good line. Let me go to Sara. Sara, this is interesting. You now have gotten at least some feedback on what we can expect from Michael Horowitz's report, but I want to add to that -- now we know that the actors that are -- that were investigated now will weigh in on it. Does that mean they can use phony redactions, does that mean? That they can add or try to get the -- get the inspector general to change what he wrote? SARA CARTER, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: Well, they can certainly respond. This is Korean officials and former officials both from the FBI and the DOJ, and what they're going to do is take a look at this report and remember, nobody has seen this, but the people that the inspector general is given it to, both at the FBI and the DOJ, these current and former officials and people within Congress, which I have been told had to sign non-disclosure agreements so that they wouldn't release any of the information before the people in the report had a time to respond. So, what'll happen is they will respond to that. That'll be attached to the report, and whether or not there's reactions or conversations with Horowitz before that report's released, that will happen. We don't know yet what -- (CROSSTALK) HANNITY: Just to hold the ground. CARTER: That's right, that's right. And one of the things, Sean, that I think they're going to be looking at as well is the scope of the Hillary Clinton investigation. This is the full scope of the bureau's investigation. So, this is like you said, millions of documents, over a year of investigation into this, and it'll take about three to four weeks I'm told before it will be made public. HANNITY: And then the 1.2 million documents should follow we should have access to those unless they deal with national security. I thought buried in "The Times" report too is an interesting point, Gregg Jarrett, that if the -- if they got permission to interview these Australian diplomat and that had to go through the State Department, no? Would not have been -- wouldn't that have been known from the very beginning by the Kerry State Department and probably the president himself? GREGG JARRETT, FOX NEWS LEGAL ANALYST: Well, the answer is likely yes but we don't know because they've been so secretive about everything. And the FBI and the Department of Justice has been covering up everything. But, look, the use of this confidential informant by Comey and his minions of the FBI should erase any doubt that Americans have that this is an agency of the government that abused its power in an attempt to frame Donald Trump and destroy him. They were trying to entrap people in the Trump campaign to say something incriminating and, of course, they were never charged with collusion so they said nothing of the sort. HANNITY: Collusion is not a crime. JARRETT: No, it's not. HANNITY: The irony here. Andy, I know that you've been doing great, right? Am I wrong and Hillary Clinton committed crimes that they exonerated before investigating, so it seems like it was rigged? Then you lead to the phony dossier, then you lead to a spy in the campaign, then you lead to the FISA courts being lied to for an entire year with unverified, uncorroborated and they never -- by omission they lied by not telling the Hillary paid for it. Is anything in those statements I'm saying that are wrong, sir? MCCARTHY: No, I don't think so, Sean. I think, you know, but it -- this is such an expansive, complicated story that you always need a hook that people can sort of wrap their brain around to understand it. And the only hook that I keep coming back to is that there's no objective person of good faith, left or right, whatever your ideology, whatever your party, who could look at these two investigations and say that equal justice was done in both. It's simply not possible. HANNITY: Yes. MCCARTHY: And what happened here is they bent over backwards to not make the case against Mrs. Clinton and then they scorch the earth -- HANNITY: Unbelievable. MCCARTHY: -- to invent the case against Donald Trump. HANNITY: That's the name -- by the way, that's the name of Gregg's book. That's it, in a nutshell. Andy, great work. Welcome aboard by the way and we look forward to you being our colleague. We appreciate you being with us. When we come back, President Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani is next. And you don't want to miss the great one, Mark Levin. He was right all along about the Constitution favoring the president. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) HANNITY: All right. This Crossfire Hurricane edition of 'Hannity.' Welcome back. And joining us now is the former New York City mayor, President Trump's attorney, Rudy Giuliani. You spoke today -- I watch the interview with Laura last night. I thought it was a great interview, so I want to narrow the focus into today. You spoke with the Mueller team. You're talking about narrowing the questions. And my question is, why would -- why would the president ever talk to somebody that is using the tactics that he's using and hire Andrew Weissmann? RUDY GIULIANI, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ATTORNEY: Well, you know the president as well as I do, and the president has a great desire to come forward and tell the truth if he gets a fair hearing. Our job is to make sure he gets a fair hearing, meaning Jay Sekulow and the Raskin people and Jayne and Marty and me. Our job is to make sure that he gets a fair hearing from Mueller. Now, we're not convinced that he will, but we had the first hopeful communication with him last night when I think as a result of our saying that we put in five letters to them, never gotten a response, we finally did. And I don't want to dismiss it because I think it was a good-faith attempt to really narrow the focus quite dramatically of the questioning. That doesn't end it. (CROSSTALK) HANNITY: Why not give the president a chance to just -- you've handed over everything. You've been transparent. Why not just answer the questions written, let the president take his time and not have a perjury trap? GIULIANI: Well, you know, that that could still be 1,001, if there were written answers and they might -- most probably would be under oath. Of course, they could be more carefully done and you could avoid some of the traps. If we thought there was any kind of trap, he's not doing it. And there's a whole argument that there is a trap here. Look, frankly, they could write their report right now, today. They have all the facts, 1.4 million documents, 28 witnesses, several interviewed more than once, and then every explanation that they need is already given by President Trump, in interviews. How about the Lester Holt interview when he explained precisely why he fired Comey for a non-corrupt reason? And, by the way, he didn't have to have a reason for firing Comey, and everything we've learned since then is, my goodness, he should have fired him earlier. HANNITY: Mr. Mayor, this is where Rosenstein is conflicted -- that and the fact that he signed off on one of the subsequent Pfizer renewals. Let me -- let me ask you this: look at Judge Ellis two Fridays ago, that they're using a 2005 case of Paul Manafort. This was supposed to be about Trump-Russia collusion to, put the screws to Manafort so that he will sing and the purpose -- so that they could either prosecute or impeach the president of the United States. I'm sorry, I have serious ethical issues with the entire process involved in this. GIULIANI: Well, let's go to the New York Times today which really gave us everything we need to know about how illegitimate this investigation was from day one. I mean, this goes back 100 days before the election. They had spies in the Trump camp. I'm trying to figure out, you know, who is next to me on the airplane. And here's the thing the spies found out. There was no collusion with the Russians. I repeat there was no collusion with the Russians. HANNITY: Collusion is not a crime, Mr. Mayor. GIULIANI: No. If you collude for criminal purposes then it's conspiracy. No such thing happened. No such thing happened, Sean. It didn't happened. And the president has been saying this is a witch hunt. Today's headline in the Times should have been Comey witch hunt. HANNITY: OK. Well, said. But if I wanted to get information, if I was working for your campaign you're running for president, I and wanted to get information and somebody told me, he says, I've got information on your opponent. You opponent is Hillary Clinton. Does it matter who it is, the FISA say who do you have got? GIULIANI: No. No, no, you're not responsible. How would you even know where the person got it? They're going to tell you. They're not going to come and tell you this is what we got. And you're going to accept it or reject it. In the case of this campaign, one time that happened with that Russian woman, it turned out she didn't have any information and she was trying to negotiate sanctions. And they threw, they basically threw her out. HANNITY: They want to read you talk about Russian adoption. Let me ask you this. You said last time on the program Hillary did commit felonies. You don't delete e-mails and acid washed your hard drive and subpoenaed e-mails and that's not obstruction. Do you believe as I believe that when they wrote the exoneration before the investigation that it was rigged do you also believe that when they use the dossier to get FISA warrants that that was illegal and they did it four times? Rod Rosenstein also signed off on it never verified corroborated, never told the judges Hillary paid for it. And the other part of that, now we know an FBI spy in the Trump campaign? Mr. Mayor, this is the United States. GIULIANI: You said it right. That's Watergate compounded by the fact that were many years after Watergate and we didn't think this could happened. This is a far worse crime and intrusion on democracy than a non-Russian conspiracy. And who's investigating it. I hope that this is a turnover for criminal referral and I hope for once the Justice Department wakes up and investigate something other than you know, empowering Mueller to doing an illegitimate investigation. It is illegitimate. HANNITY: Mr. Mayor, long before you save New York City and you did an amazing job. I was here I watched it, well, I can describe in detail I don't have time toning, for but you are also a prosecutor. And I'm asking this question about prosecutors. There is a -- they have a responsibility to handle over subpoena documents. They are slow walking, they are claiming they can redact in the name of national security and there's no need for it and they're not cooperating and they're obstructing. What should be the next step, should the president follow Jim Jordan and Ron DeSantis and Mark Meadows advice? GIULIANI: I don't have any problem-- (CROSSTALK) HANNITY: And Sessions to hand it over? GIULIANI: I have no problem with that. They have no reason not to hand it over to Congress just like they're intruding an article 2 with their witch hunt investigation. They're intruding now into article 1 which is the congressional power to have oversight over them. HANNITY: Right. GIULIANI: They have no right to be a warrant to themselves and that's what they're doing. HANNITY: All right. Mr. Mayor, we always appreciate you for being with us. GIULIANI: Thank you, Sean. See you soon. HANNITY: All right. This is our crossfire hurricane edition of 'Hannity.' When we come back, Mark Levin has been right from the get-go the Constitution of the United States is on the president's side. The great one, Mark Levin, next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MARK LEVIN, HOST, FOX NEWS: It's been the position of the United States Department of Justice under Republicans and Democrats in 1973 memorandum and in October memorandum under the Clinton administration that you must not and cannot indict a sitting president, not that this president would be. That's not my point. As a matter of constitutional interpretation for 44 years that's been the position of the Department of Justice. We have law professors, homeless people, would-be law professors all over TV and radio talking about obstruction of justice. We've had media types talking about it. We had members of Congress talking about it. It doesn't matter. The official position of the Justice Department is we don't charge a sitting president with a crime. (END VIDEO CLIP) HANNITY: All right. The great one Mark Levin on our program, June 20, 2017 he worked as an Ed Meese's chief of staff. Ed Meese is the attorney general. Explaining Department of Justice policy. We've been saying this forever on this program Mark broke it right here. He joins us now, host of CRTV of Levin TV at Life, Liberty, and Levin, the number one show on Sunday nights. He's the great one, Mark Levin. How are you, my friend? You know, I'm getting really ticked off because you're right. You have all of these people they say, big news, they can't indict a sitting president. No kidding, you've been saying it for over a year. We pointed it out repeatedly. The media has gotten every aspect of this wrong, they have ignored the real crime the real abuse of power and corruption scandal in this country and they've been on a witch hunt that is now going on over a year. And to me, this has to come to an end and some truth needs to come out, sir. LEVIN: The Mueller investigation oddly enough, Sean, has disclosed has revealed that the greatest perpetrator of against the American people was the federal government. The greatest perpetrator against the American people was the federal government, was the FBI, the CIA national intelligence director, and this is a very-- (CROSSTALK) HANNITY: That rank and file. LEVIN: Of course not. And I wanted to take this to the next level. Because the president of the United States will not be invited and if he is, he'll take it to the Supreme Court and he'll win. All that said now, we cannot allow this to happen again. We saw our federal government used by the prior administration by the head of the CIA, by the head of the FBI, by the head of national intelligence and many, many others used to try and destroy the candidacy of an opposition candidate in another party Donald Trump in the Republican Party. That is, the president's administration the existing administration interfering in the elections we've never seen anything like this before in American history. So here's what we need to do. We now know that the Obama administration spy. Spy. Look, it's the Obama administration, he's the president. The buck stops at his desk. He may be playing around with his library in Chicago and gone off and writing a phony book and everything. He is to be held responsible and his surrogates are to be held responsible. The FISA court failed us. The FISA court failed us. We have these national security letters that are supposed to be used in extreme circumstances being used, we have a cabal of FBI agents who took it upon themselves to investigate a candidate and his campaign, and then we have of course actual spies one or more in the Trump campaign. What the hell is this? The Soviet Union, Venezuela? It's the United States of America. So let me say this. Once Mr. Mueller, Mr. Mueller turns over his report to Mr. Rosenstein the president of the United States should do two things. He should take his favorite United States attorney not favorite because they're pals but the most professional the most competent most aggressive he can and give him an assignment. I don't care what Jeff Sessions does. He's the president and tell him, I want you to investigate the activities that took place in this election, let the chips fall where they may. The interference in this election by the FBI, the CIA, the national intelligence I want to know what Brennan did, I want to know what Clapper did. I want to know what Comey did not because I'm going to punish them. You'll make determinations about this. HANNITY: Susan Rice-- LEVIN: But something -- something is terribly wrong. More, I also would tell him and I've said this before myself. We need to fix this. We cannot have another election where the federal government our United States government is interfering with an election. And so what I think the president needs to do is appoint a commission of five or seven people I told you this on your show a long time ago, top notch men from prior administration and women and appoint them and say, fix the FBI at the top, fix the CIA, fix the intelligence agencies, we cannot allow this to happen to another president of the United States. To hell with -- sorry, Jeff. With Jeff Sessions and all these other people the president should take the responsibility themselves. (CROSSTALK) HANNITY: Don't apologize. LEVIN: You're talking about -- you're talking about spies in the Trump administration. You're talking about-- HANNITY: Mark? LEVIN: -- a failed FISA court. This is incredible stuff. HANNITY: Mark, you talk about the spies, you talk it wasn't just one FISA court judge that was given phony information that was never verified, never corroborated, never were they told that Hillary bought and paid for this information with a foreign agent. Where are the -- where's Congress won't Congress bring these FISA judges before them and demand to know how they feel about being lied to. LEVIN: I'll tell you why. I'll tell you why. Because unlike the Democrats, the Republicans scatter like rats. They scatter. (CROSSTALK) HANNITY: Weaks (Ph). LEVIN: You have certain Republicans who thronged with the Democrats because they want to destroy this president. They can't get over the fact that he got elected and they can't get over the fact the American people didn't follow them. The American people don't even know who they are. But I want to emphasize something here so your guest in the future can repeat what I'm going to say, which this is. We need an accounting of what Mr. Brennan did and what Mr. Clapper did and what Mr. Book salesman Comey did. We need an accounting of what Susan Rice did of what Samantha Powers did. We haven't even gotten to the unmasking stuff yet. HANNITY: Nope. LEVIN: Not because we want to get even. Because we need an accounting. People need to be held to account, number one. (CROSSTALK) HANNITY: I've got to run, Mark. LEVIN: Number two, we need to fix these departments and agencies. HANNITY: Mark, if we don't fix it we lose our country. (CROSSTALK) LEVIN: That's correct. HANNITY: It's not a joke. It's not a joke. You once wrote where there's a post-constitutional America it's getting scary now. All right. Great one, Life, Liberty, and Levin. Don't miss it Sunday nights 10 Eastern here on Fox. When we come back, Dr. Sebastian Gorka, Dan Bongino. The media is absolutely shameful, horrific, dishonest attack today on the president. We'll show you straight ahead. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SARAH HUCKABEE-SANDERS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: This is one of the most vicious and deadly gangs that operate by the motto of rape, control, and kill. If the media and liberals want to defend MS-13 they're more than welcome to. Frankly, I don't think the term that the president use was strong enough. MS-13 has done heinous acts. It took an animal to stab a man 100 times and decapitate him and rip his heart out. It took an animal to beat a woman they were sex trafficking with about 28 times and indenting part of her body, and it took an animal to kidnap, drugged, and rape a 14-year-old Houston girl. Frankly, I think that the term animal doesn't go far enough. (END VIDEO CLIP) HANNITY: Boo. Sarah Sanders beat down today addressing the critics and liars in the media about President Trump's comments when he was obviously talking about MS-13 gang members as animals. Here with reaction, former deputy assistant to the president Fox News national security strategist, Dr. Sebastian Gorka, NRATV contributor, former Secret Service agent, Dan Bongino. OK. This was a lie from the get-go. This is what the media does every single day and they seem to get away with it, Dr. Gorka. SEBASTIAN GORKA, NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGIST, FOX NEWS: Yes. I think it's a beautiful irony that the left wing media invented the phrase the fake news and the president has turned it around like jujitsu and he's using it against them every day and they never learn their lesson. This tells you everything you need to know. The fake and DNC wants to protect criminals. The president wants to protect Americans from criminals. MS-13 they're not just animals, Sean. They are sub-human, they dehumanize their adversaries and they wish to perpetrate crimes on U.S. soil. This president stops that. And I love what he said today. It was absolutely epic when he said I call them animals and I'm always going to call them animals. That's who Donald Trump is. HANNITY: Yes. And Dan, I have the same reaction as Dr. Gorka. I mean, really? Do we -- and you know, and Sarah going through -- that's only the short list. We didn't give you the big list. DAN BONGINO, CONTRIBUTOR, NRATV: Yes. Sean, listen, the media dictionaries kind of interesting, right. You know, Americans are referred to as deplorables, illegal immigrants is DREAMers, right, NRA members they are terrorists, and yet, MS-13 gets called animals by President Trump and these suckers in the media debated into defending MS-13. Sean, how do you think that sounds to the average American living in a middle class community but may have some crime problems and a burgeoning gang problem, how do you think that sound because these clouds in the media wear to bow ties in the coastal bubbles go out there and defend MS-13 in these communities. They sound like the clowns they are. It's a total joke. HANNITY: You know, and the thing is this is serious in these communities and you know what, innocent people are dying because of these gangs, Dr. Gorka. GORKA: Yes. We have, so this is an example I used to give when I was trying FBI agents. In Mexico just south of the border on a Saturday night the local drug cartel in the middle of the discotheque rolled severed heads onto the dance floor. These are the people that Nancy Pelosi described as having a spark of divinity as human beings with dignity that decapitate their fellow man and rolled the heads onto a dance floor. God bless Nancy Pelosi because in November the president will be riding his own red way back into the White House. HANNITY: Is this election day, Dan Bongino, at the end of the day going to come down to this the great success in the economy, foreign policy, Nancy Pelosi, wants to raise taxes and they want to impeach this president? Is that what they -- I think this is going to be one of the most important midterm elections in our lifetime, if not our history based on what the Democrats want to do. BONGINO: Yes. Sean, they don't really have much of an agenda other than we're not Donald Trump. But at the end of the day people vote for kitchen table issues and when their wallets get fatter and their jobs and their promotions start coming down that pipeline that's going to have deep impact on how they vote. I think this blue -- listen, they may be a blue wave. I can't deny that there's some anti-Trump animosity but I certainly think it's not going to be the degree that the media is hyping it. HANNITY: All right. Good to see you both, Dan Bongino and Dr. Sebastian Gorka. When we come back, fake news CNN, yes their anti-Trump so-called journalist agitator Jim Acosta made probably the most ridiculous comment about his cover to the president. You're going to want to see this next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) HANNITY: All right. CNN fake news self-righteous cry baby Jim Acosta, yes, big liberal leftist will do anything for attention, tonight he went on Jimmy Kimmel live last night claim that he was just as tough on Obama as he is on President Trump. Really? Take a look. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JIMMY KIMMEL, TV HOST: Are you their least favorite of all? JIM ACOSTA, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Probably, but as FDR once said, I welcome their hatred. KIMMEL: You do? ACOSTA: I do. And you know, listen, when I cover Barack Obama I was just as tough on him. People might not believe. KIMMEL: We were dating like we've-- (CROSSTALK) ACOSTA: Dating like-- KIMMEL: --like, we aversely dislike. ACOSTA: I am, yes. (END VIDEO CLIP) HANNITY: All right. So, Acosta CNN fake news so tough on President Obama. Take a look at this hard-hitting question we found from back in 2015. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ACOSTA: I wanted to ask you about what some people are calling your best week ever. Last week, you had Supreme Court supportive of the Affordable Care Act, gay rights, you also a speech down in Charleston that was pretty warmly received. It seems that you've fill up some political capital for the remaining months of your presidency. I'm curious how you want to use it. What hard things do you want to tackle at this point? (END VIDEO CLIP) HANNITY: Yes, he's supposed to be the journalist only missing with the pom-poms. All right. That's all -- that's all the time we have left this evening. As always thank you for being with us, at Sean Hannity on Twitter. Set your DVR. We are always fair and balanced. We'll never be the destroy-Trump media. Let not your heart be troubled. That was a great interview with Rudy last night and I was glad you ask all those questions because I had the new news today with Rudy. Copy: Content and Programming Copyright 2018 Fox News Network, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Copyright 2018 ASC Services II Media, LLC. All materials herein are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of ASC Services II Media, LLC. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. You may not know what a Bearcat is but youve probably seen them, deployed by SWAT and tactical teams responding to violent protests and barricade situations, or to save people trapped in hurricanes, floods and mudslides. Police departments nationwide have been stocking up on the Armored Incident Response & Rescue Vehicles, taking advantage of a federal program enacted in the 90s allowing law enforcement access to military-grade gear. The program was temporarily suspended by President Obama in 2015 but reinstated by President Trump last year. Mr. Trump signed an executive order lifting the ban on military gear to police departments. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said at the time that the restart would "send a strong message that we will not allow criminal activity, violence and lawlessness to become a new normal." TRUMP, DOJ REVERSE OBAMA RESTRICTIONS ON MILITARY GEAR FOR LOCAL POLICE The Bearcat is built by LenCo Armored Vehicles of Pittsfield Massachusetts, which just spent $5 million to expand production of their highly sought after all-terrain beast, purchasing and refurbishing the 70,000-square-foot building adjacent to their original factory to eventually double the output of product. LenCo has built and sold nearly 6,000 BearCats to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and 40 foreign governments. The trucks, built on a shortened Ford F-550 chassis, weigh roughly nine tons, fabricated from flat sheets of American-made bulletproof steel and bulletproof glass. The CEO of LenCo, Len Light, says it is necessary to give these departments the best tools they need to protect themselves in life-threatening situations. Critics of the vehicles call the militarization of police forces a threat to local law enforcement and community partnerships. Mathew Feeney of the Cato Institute insists Its very important local communities dont view their police department as an occupying force, saying unfortunately, the militarization of the police really does blur that distinction. It takes about four weeks to build a single BearCat, with 100 employees finishing one BearCat a day on average. The demand for the vehicle was so great it led to a back order of close to a year and a half. The expansion into the new facility is expected to bring that wait time down to eight months or less when fully operational. Currently in over 800 local departments, the BearCat has been used in nationally covered riots and protests, most notably in Ferguson, Miss. and Baltimore. The American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, launched its War Comes Home campaign, advocating against excessive militarization of American policing, and identifying the BearCat, saying it appears threatening. LenCo understands the criticism but says its vehicles save lives. Officials at the company told Fox News story after story of officers thanking them after shootouts where the vehicle prevented harm to the police and citizens. The expansion is expected to help re-brand the company as a rescue vehicle. During multiple national disasters in the past year, including floods, wildfires and mudslides, the BearCat has been utilized in a search and recovery capacity. Outfitted with a water cannon, and a 350-gallon water tank, the company hopes to attract more fire and first responder departments. The BearCat is not commercially sold, and must be purchased by a local, state or federal agency. The expansion project is expected to create about 20 percent more jobs in the western Massachusetts company. At least one person was killed and another injured Friday night in a shooting that followed a graduation ceremony in Jonesboro, Ga., authorities told Fox News. The shots were fired after an argument broke out in a parking lot near the Clayton County Schools Performing Arts Center, the Clayton County Police Department said. The lot provided overflow parking for those attending a commencement for graduates of the Perry Learning Center, an alternative high school that prepares students for careers. Everyone was stumbling over each other," Latrallo Presley, a family member attending the graduation, told FOX5 Atlanta. It was caps and gowns everywhere. People just running. Although held on the campus of Mount Zion High School, the event was not for Mount Zion students, authorities said. Police said during a news conference that the injured had been transported to a hospital. The number of suspects could not be confirmed, but anyone who could have been involved was being sought, police said. Three cars were towed away from the scene as part of the investigation, but officers said they could not release additional information. "The last thing you want to do is have a situation at a graduation that results in anyone being injured, and definitely not being shot," Clayton County schools' safety chief Thomas Trawick said. Jonesboro is about 20 miles south of Atlanta. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Fox News' Elizabeth Zwirz and the Associated Press contributed to this report. A California Superior Court judge is resisting mounting pressure to resign over his handling of a 2016 sexual assault case. Judge Aaron Persky, 56, drew outrage after sentencing Stanford University student Brock Turner to six months in jail and three months of probation for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman behind a dumpster in January 2015. Turner was found guilty in March 2015 of three felony sexually assault counts and sentenced in June 2016. Persky was criticized for being too lenient. But the judge, who calls himself the most hated man on the internet, says he has no regrets, the Los Angeles Times reported. Turners case has resurfaced in the wake of the #MeToo movement and Persky has found himself at the center of an organized recall effort. But despite pleas from friends and family to step down, Persky says he refuses to quit, the Mercury News reported. To get justice from a judge, they need someone who follows the rules. The basic rule is the rule of law, Persky told the Times. The problem with this recall is it will reassure judges to follow the rule of public opinion as opposed to the rule of law. One of the leading organizers of the recall effort is Stanford University law professor and prominent Democratic Party fundraiser Michele Dauber. We feel its important to respond strongly with a message of accountability for elected officials like Judge Persky who do not take sex crimes and violence against women seriously, Dauber told the Times. Many eyes around the country are going to be on Santa Clara County as model for how to respond to bias against women in the legal system. The recall effort, up for a vote on the June 5 ballot, has so far raised about $1.2 million. Pearl Berlin, who challenged North Carolina's refusal to recognize same-sex marriages, has died. She was 93. Berlin died Thursday, said Matt Hirschey, head of special projects for Equality NC. Berlin married Ellen Gerber in a synagogue in Greensboro in 2013 and followed with civil ceremony in Maine that year, but their marriage remained legally invalid in North Carolina. With Berlin suffering health problems in 2014, the couple rushed to join the vanguard of efforts to strike down the state ban, so that Gerber could have spousal rights over decisions about her care. The American Civil Liberties Union urged a federal judge to quickly negate the ban, which was deemed unconstitutional that same year. Berlin's memorial service will be held at UNC Greensboro on June 14. The iconic Wrigley building, which opened its doors in 1924, will reportedly be bought by a Chicago billionaire to the tune of roughly $255 million. Joe Mansueto has reportedly struck a deal with the current buildings ownership group led by BDT Capital Partners, the Chicago Tribune reported. Mansueto is the founder and former CEO of investment research firm Morningstar. The hefty price tag is approximately eight times the $33 million that the venture paid for the two-tower structure in 2011 to acquire it from Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., the paper reported citing sources. Instead of going through a broker, BDTs founder Byron Trott and Mansueto negotiated the deal themselves, according to the paper. The building, which was declared a landmark in 2012, was the headquarters of the chewing gum giant, Wrigley Company, for many years. Nearly all of the 472,000 square feet has been leased out to tenants, with the largest being architecture firm Perkins + Will that rents out more than 60,000 square feet, according to the paper. A spokesman for Mansueto declined to provide a comment to the Tribune. BDT and Zeller Realty Group did not immediately respond to the papers request for comment. Fox Business Ken Martin contributed to this report. One man is dead and another is injured after they were attacked by a cougar Saturday while mountain biking in Washington State, police said. King County Sheriffs spokesman Sgt. Ryan Abbott said the pair, whose identities haven't been released, were attacked while they were going for a mountain bike ride in North Bend, east of Seattle. It is not clear if the victims were biking together or separately. The 31-year-old survivor was taken to Harborview medical Center where he remains in serious condition, the hospital said in a statement. He was alert and was heard talking. The second victim was found dead and, according to Abbott, had not been removed from the scene. The cougar had been standing over the body of the victim when authorities arrived, KIRO reported. The Washington Department of Fish and Game was tracking the animal down, which reportedly ran into the woods following the attack. Police later confirmed that the cougar was found and euthanized. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A fire and explosion occurred at a chemical manufacturing plant in Pasadena, Texas, on Saturday, local officials said. The incident occurred at Kuraray America Eval, according to KHOU 11 News. The plant specializes in "chemical, fiber and resin production," according to the news station. The company in a statement on Facebook said that six people at the plant were receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and all onsite employees had been accounted for. Kuraray officials confirmed "that a fire occurred at the company's EVAL facility in Pasadena, Texas," around 10:43 a.m. CT. They said the fire had been put out and there was "no threat to the surrounding area." "At the time of the incident, approximately 250 employees and contract personnel were onsite. All have been accounted for," the statement said. "The company is fully cooperating with all local authorities and emergency response teams and will provide additional information as it becomes available and is confirmed." Authorities earlier reported that 20 workers were injured and one was missing. Sean Burnett, a spokesman for HCA Healthcare, told The Associated Press that seven people were treated for "non-critical" injuries at the company's two hospitals, including one who was treated and released. In a statement posted to Facebook, the City of Pasadena Office of Emergency Management said there is no danger to the public at this time, but did confirm that a fire explosion occurred in the plant. In a follow-up message, authorities said the incident was "all clear." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Melania Trump returned to the White House in "high spirits" on Saturday following a weeklong hospitalization for kidney treatment, a lengthy stay that raised questions about whether the first lady's condition may have been more complicated than first revealed. President Donald Trump heralded her homecoming with a tweet that referred to her as "Melanie" instead of "Melania." "Great to have our incredible First Lady back home in the White House. Melanie is feeling and doing really well. Thank you for all of your prayers and best wishes!" Trump wrote before quickly superseding that tweet with another that spelled his wife's name correctly. Mrs. Trump's quiet return to the White House, her husband and their 12-year-old son, after five days at a nearby U.S. military hospital resolved a brewing mystery about when she would eventually be released. What remain are questions about the state of her health. Her spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, has declined to release additional details, citing Mrs. Trump's right to privacy. "The First Lady returned home to the White House this morning," Grisham said in an emailed statement. "She is resting comfortably and remains in high spirits. Our office has received thousands of calls and emails wishing Mrs. Trump well, and we thank everyone who has taken the time to reach out." First ladies are under no obligation to make their medical histories public. She had been at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center near Washington since Monday, when she had an embolization procedure to treat an unspecified kidney condition the White House described as benign. Word of the hospitalization came as a surprise as there was no indication during her public appearances in recent weeks, including during a state visit by France's president, that Mrs. Trump had been ailing. One week before the procedure, a beaming Mrs. Trump, 48, presided over a splashy announcement ceremony in the White House Rose Garden to introduce her "Be Best" public awareness campaign to help teach kindness to children. Grisham said Monday that the procedure was "successful," there were no complications and that Mrs. Trump would probably remain hospitalized for "the duration of the week." The president then tweeted Tuesday that his wife would be released in "2 or 3" days, but Thursday and Friday passed without word from the White House on her whereabouts. Trump had visited her during her first three days of hospitalization. But he did not visit Thursday or Friday, leading some to wonder whether that meant the first lady had been discharged. The first lady said Wednesday on Twitter that she was "feeling great" and looking forward to going home, but gave no indication of when that might happen. On Friday, she tweeted about the deadly school shooting at a Houston-area high school but did not update her followers on her medical situation. Urologists with no personal knowledge of Mrs. Trump's condition said the most likely explanation for the procedure is a kind of noncancerous kidney tumor called an angiomyolipoma. They're not common but tend to occur in middle-aged women and can cause problematic bleeding if they become large enough, said Dr. Keith Kowalczyk of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Doctors often treat the condition by cutting off the blood supply so the growth shrinks, added Dr. Lambros Stamatakis of MedStar Washington Hospital Center. That is done with an embolization, meaning a catheter is snaked into the blood vessels of the kidney to find the right one to block. Most of the time, these tumors are found when people undergo medical scans for another reason, but sometimes people have pain or other symptoms, Kowalczyk said. Many times, embolization patients go home the same day or the next. Grisham on Saturday characterized speculation about the first lady as "uninformed," adding that every patient is different. "Mrs. Trump has a medical team that is comfortable with her care, which is all that matters," she said. "Her recovery and privacy are paramount and I will have no further comment beyond this." The question of what level of accountability should be expected of first ladies is difficult because they are private citizens, yet public figures who draw keen interest from the public, have taxpayer-supported staff and sometimes involve themselves in politics and policy. Myra Gutin, a Rider University professor who studies presidents' wives, recalled the backlash Rosalynn Carter suffered for attending Cabinet meetings; she explained that she just wanted to get things right because she was so often out and about representing President Jimmy Carter. The White House has a mixed record on disclosing information about the ailments of first ladies. Nancy Reagan revealed in 1987 that she had breast cancer and had her left breast surgically removed. But nearly two decades later, the White House found itself on the defensive for its after-the-fact disclosure that Laura Bush had skin cancer removed from her right shin in November 2006. Mrs. Bush had decided it was a private matter, but it nonetheless came to light after she was seen wearing a bandage below her right knee. The following year, the White House proactively disclosed that Mrs. Bush would have surgery to relieve pain from pinched nerves in her neck. The problem kept her from accompanying President George W. Bush on a trip to Australia. Sheila Tate, a press secretary to Mrs. Reagan, said the first lady felt it was appropriate to reveal her breast cancer diagnosis. Such disclosures by a first lady aren't "absolutely required, by any means," Tate said. "Melania is entitled to her privacy, if that's what she wants." ___ AP Medical Writer Lauran Neergaard contributed to this report. ___ Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap A Florida day care is suing a couple after they allegedly posted a false, negative review online about their two-year-old child being bitten by another child. Mrs. Bs Daycare, in Spring Hill, lawyered up just days after parent, Daniel Dameron, posted multiple reviews of the child care center on several websites, FOX 13 reported. I tried not to chuckle because it was just so absurd, Dameron told FOX 13 after receiving the lawsuit from the nationally accredited daycare that has been in business for 24 years. Youre supposed to be able to write these reviews because youre supposed to be able to alert the public as to a good or bad business. The couple said their daughter was bitten several times by another child at Mrs. Bs but were ignored. All I got was a shrug of the shoulders and, if you dont like it, thats just the way kids are. You can take your daughter and go somewhere else, the parent said. Damerons post started with warning: child endangerment and abusive environment, along with several paragraphs. The lawsuit demands up to $15,000 in damages Mrs. Bs incurred as a result of the negative review, but the couples lawyer said its their right. The suspect in the Texas school shooting began his attack by firing a shotgun through an art classroom door, shattering a glass pane and sending panicked students to the entryway to block him from getting inside, witnesses said. Dmitrios Pagourtzis fired again through the wooden part of the door and fatally hit a student in the chest. He then lingered for about 30 minutes in a warren of four rooms, killing seven more students and two teachers before exchanging gunfire with police and surrendering, officials said. Freshman Abel San Miguel saw his friend Chris Stone killed at the door. San Miguel was grazed on the left shoulder by another volley of shots. He and others survived by playing dead. "We were on the ground, all piled up in random positions," he said. Galveston County Judge Mark Henry, the county's chief administrator, said he did not think Friday's attack was 30 minutes of constant shooting, and that assessment was consistent with other officials who said law enforcement contained the shooter quickly. But authorities did not release a detailed timeline to explain precisely how events unfolded. Junior Breanna Quintanilla was in art class when she heard the shots and someone say, "If you all move, I'm going to shoot you all." The 17-year-old Pagourtzis walked in, pointed at one person and declared, "I'm going to kill you." Then he fired. "He then said that if the rest of us moved, he was going to shoot us," Quintanilla said. When Quintanilla tried to run out a back door, she realized Pagourtzis was aiming at her. He fired in her direction. "He missed me," she said. "But it went ahead and ricocheted and hit me in my right leg." She was treated at a hospital and spoke with a brown bandage wrapped around her wound. "It was a very scary thing," Quintanilla said. "I was worried that I wasn't going to be able to make it back to my family." In their first statement since the massacre, Pagourtzis' family said Saturday that the bloodshed "seems incompatible with the boy we love." "We are as shocked and confused as anyone else by these events," said the statement, which offered prayers and condolences to the victims. Relatives said they remained "mostly in the dark about the specifics" of the attack and shared "the public's hunger for answers." Pagourtzis' attorney, Nicholas Poehl, said he was investigating whether the suspect endured any "teacher-on-student" bullying after reading reports of his client being mistreated by football coaches. In an online statement, the school district said it investigated the accusations and "confirmed that these reports were untrue." Poehl said that there was no history of mental health issues with his client, though there may be "some indications of family history." He said it was too early to elaborate. Zach Wofford, a senior, said he was in his agricultural shop class when he heard gunfire from the art classroom across the hall. He said substitute teacher Chris West went into the hall to investigate and pulled a fire alarm. "He saved many people today," Wofford said of West. The mother of one slain student said her daughter may have been targeted because she rejected advances from Pagourtzi, who was an ex-boyfriend of her daughter's best friend. Sadie Rodriguez said her 16-year-old daughter, Shana Fisher, repeatedly told him no, and he "continued to get more aggressive." The week before the shooting, Fisher "stood up to him" by embarrassing him in class, Rodriguez said. The Houston branch of the FBI tweeted Saturday that 13 people were wounded in the attack, up from 10 previously. Hospitals reported treating 14 people with shooting-related injuries, and the reason for the discrepancy still was not clear. In addition to a shotgun and a handgun, Pagourtzis also had several kinds of homemade explosive devices, but they were not capable of detonating, Henry said. Investigators found a cluster of carbon dioxide canisters taped together, and a pressure cooker with an alarm clock and nails inside. But the canisters had no detonation device, and the pressure cooker had no explosive material, Henry said. "They were intended to look like IEDs, but they were totally non-functional," Henry said, referring to the improvised explosive devices common in the early years of the U.S.-led war in Iraq. Authorities have offered no motive, but they said in a probable-cause affidavit that the suspect had admitted to carrying out the shooting. The gunman told police that when he opened fire, he avoided shooting students he liked "so he could have his story told," the affidavit said. From first word of the shooting, at 7:32 a.m. Friday, until confirmation that the suspect was in custody, the attack lasted about half an hour. Dispatch records indicate that law enforcement first entered the building about seven minutes after learning of the assault. The suspect was said to be in custody by shortly after 8 a.m. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the assailant got a handgun and shotgun from his father, who owned them legally. But it was not clear whether the father knew his son had taken them or if the father could face prosecution. State law makes it illegal to give a gun to anyone under 18, except under the supervision of an adult for hunting or sport shooting. Pagourtzis, who appeared to have no prior arrests or confrontations with law enforcement, made an initial court appearance Friday on capital murder charges. A judge denied bond and took his application for a court-appointed attorney. The shooting in Santa Fe, a city of 13,000 people about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Houston, was the nation's deadliest such attack since the Parkland, Florida, massacre that killed 17 and energized the teen-led gun-control movement. It was also the deadliest assault in Texas since a man with a semi-automatic rifle attacked a rural church late last year, killing more than two dozen people. Meanwhile, students on Saturday were being let back inside Santa Fe High School to gather belongings they abandoned when the gunfire began. The school's grief was on display at an evening baseball game where Santa Fe players had crosses painted on their faces and the initials of shooting victims written on tape around their wrists. The team also fashioned a tape cross over the dugout with 10 sets of initials and "missed but never forgotten." ___ This version of the story corrects the 3rd paragraph to say San Miguel was grazed on his left shoulder, not the stomach. ___ Associated Press Writer Will Weissert in Austin contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the Santa Fe High School shooting here: https://apnews.com/tag/Schoolshootings . Former President Jimmy Carter took a gentle poke at President Donald Trump at the start of a commencement address to graduates of Liberty University in Virginia. Taking the podium Saturday to a standing ovation a year after Trump spoke to Liberty graduates, Carter took note of the large crowd at the university stadium. He said Liberty President Jerry Falwell Jr. "told me before we came here that it's even bigger I hate to say this than it was last year." "I don't know if President Trump would admit that or not," Carter said, drawing laughter. The remark harkened back to controversies over Trump's claim of a massive inauguration crowd exceeding 1 million, despite photographic evidence suggesting otherwise. Carter is the third U.S. president, and the first Democrat, Liberty has hosted for commencement. George H.W. Bush gave the keynote in 1990. The university is a hub for conservative politics, often frequented by candidates courting evangelical voters. Carter is an evangelical as well, but with more progressive views. The bulk of Carter's speech emphasized broad themes of human rights and equality. He said he now believes the greatest challenge in the world is "discrimination against women and girls in the world." He noted the killings of newborn girls around the world where families have preference for boys, as well as global sex trafficking networks. He called on Christians in general, and Baptists in particular, to emphasize their commonalities as opposed to their differences. Both Carter and Falwell are Baptists. He alluded to nuclear tension over North Korea and Iran. The example of Jesus Christ, he said, shows we need to learn "to get along with our potential enemies, instead of how we can prevail in combat." "We don't need enemies to fight, nor do we need inferior peoples whom we can dominate," Carter said. Justify won the Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The horse's victory in the fog and mud brought him closer in his quest to score the coveted Triple Crown, after winning the Kentucky Derby earlier this month. Preakness is the "Middle Jewel in the legendary Triple Crown where the best horses and jockeys compete for a chance at the ultimate prize in thoroughbred racing," according to the race website. "If it doesn't happen here, it doesn't happen." Justify, who was favored to win the race, and his jockey, Mike Smith, defeated seven other horses. "He got a little tired," Smith said. "This is his hardest race that he's had." Competitors Bravazo and Tenfold finished in second and third place, respectively, in the 1 3/16-mile race. Justify's record now stands at 5-0 as he looks on to the Belmont Stakes in New York on June 9. If the horse wins there, it would be trainer Bob Baffert's second Triple Crown victory in four years. "I'm so happy that we got it done," Baffert said. "I've never had one run that fast here." It's also the sixth time in six tries that Baffert has won the Preakness after winning the Kentucky Derby. His seven Preakness victories matches the record set by R.W. Walden in the 1800s. The weather in Baltimore on Saturday was similar to the rainy, muddy conditions Justify faced during the Kentucky Derby. Fox News' Jennifer Earl and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A gay couple in Indianapolis, Indiana, said they were kicked out of a ride-share vehicle earlier this month for kissing in the backseat. College students Ben Martella and Alec Jansen were sharing a Lyft to a location a few miles off of Butler Universitys campus, but a mile into the ride, after the couple shared a kiss, the Lyft driver ordered them to get out of the car at a red light, they told The Indianapolis Star. Im going to end your ride. I cant have that in my car. I dont have that here, Martella claimed the driver yelled at them at a stoplight. He tweeted about the incident May 5. Was just discriminated against by @lyft my ride kicked me out because I was kissing another man, Martella, the Butler student, said. He kicked us out and I still have to pay. Disappointed and feel unfairly judged by this service. Martella described the back-seat interaction as a peck between my boyfriend and I. Lyft reportedly deactivated the driver from ever using the service again, apologized to the couple and refunded the cost of the trip, as the San Francisco-based ride-hailing company has an anti-discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation. Martella is reportedly weighing legal action against Lyft, saying their response was not enough. The Friday morning shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas that killed 10 people and wounded 10 others left friends and family in tears and shock. The deaths came just three months after the Parkland, Fla., school massacre that killed 17 people. John Tisdale, brother-in-law of substitute teacher Cynthia Tisdale, confirmed her death in a Facebook post. We never know when our death will come. Cynthia planned on one day retiring and being a full-time grandmother, John wrote. It will never happen. TEXAS SHOOTING SUSPECT SAYS HE AVOIDED SHOOTING STUDENTS HE LIKED TO 'HAVE HIS STORY TOLD': AFFIDAVIT Cynthias niece, Leia Olinde, 25, said Tisdale was like a mother to her and helped her shop for wedding dresses last year. "She helped me put it on, she helped fix my hair," Olinde said through tears. "She was wonderful. She was just so loving." Olindes fiance, Eric Sanders, said of Tisdale that "words don't explain her lust for life and the joy she got from helping people." Sophomore Zachary Muehe of Santa Fe High School said he was in his art class when he suddenly heard three loud booms. "It was crazy watching him shoot and then pump," Muehe said of his classmate, the 17-year-old suspect Dimitrios Pagourtzis, who has been charged with capital murder. Muehe was able to flee to another classroom through a shared ceramics closet. He said Pagourtzis was wearing a trench coat and a T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan "Born to Kill." Shooting victim Angelique Ramirezs aunt Sylvia Pritchett confirmed her nieces death, also in a Facebook post. With a broken heart and a soul that just cant process all this right now, I have to announce my niece was one of the fatalities, Pritchett wrote. Please keep all the families in your thoughts, and hug your children tightly. In her grief, Pritchett wrote that she was still trying to locate her niece and cannot find her at any hospital. As of Friday evening, other families still have not located their loved ones, Fox 26 Houston reported. Sabika Sheikh, a Pakistani exchange student, was confirmed dead by Megan Lysaght, program manager of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study (YES) Abroad Program, in a letter to the other students in the program. It is with the greatest sadness in my heart that I need to inform you that one of our YES students, Sabika Sheikh of Pakistan, was killed today in the school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas, Lysaght wrote. Please know that the YES program is devastated by the loss and we will remember Sabika and her families in our thoughts and prayers. She said the program would be holding a moment of silence for the girl, who is pictured beaming in a shirt that says "Texas" in a photo being shared on social media. The Pakistan Association of Greater Houston said on Facebook that Sabika was due to go back home to Pakistan for Eid al-Fitr, a three-day holiday that marks the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. "May Allah bless her soul and may she RIP," the associations statement said. U.S. Ambassador David Hale tweeted that he called Sabikas family and offered my condolences. As an exchange student, Sabika was a youth ambassador, a bridge between our people and cultures. All of us at the U.S. Mission in Pakistan are devastated by and mourn her loss. We will honor her memory," Hale tweeted. Gayle and Jerry Beddingfield told WSB-TV that they were on "pins and needles" after learning that their niece and nephew were on campus during the deadly shooting. "We can't do anything because we're so far away. So you feel helpless," Jerry said. The uncle said when he found out his family members were OK, it was like "the birth of a child." Paige Curry, a Santa Fe High School student, told Houstons KTRK-TV that she was not surprised about the shooting. The reporter asked her Was there a part of you that was, like, This isnt real, this this would not happen in my school? No, there wasnt, Curry said shaking her head. Why so? the reporter asked. "It's been happening everywhere. I've always kind of felt like that eventually it was going to happen here, too," Curry said. "I don't know. I wasn't surprised. I was just scared." Dakota Shrader, a 16-year-old student at Santa Fe High School was stunned, the New York Times reported. Honestly, I just had the thought in my head that somebody was going to come up behind me and hurt me, shoot me, kill me. Im still jumpy from it, Shrader told the Times. I dont know who to trust anymore, at all This should be our safe place. Resident Billie Scheumack, 68, told the Times she saw students from the high school running, scared and clutching their phones, about a block from the school, the report said. In this little town, you wouldnt think something like this could happen, Scheumack said. Santa Fe, a city of about 13,000 people, is roughly 30 miles southeast of Houston. AFTER TEXAS SCHOOL SHOOTING LEAVES 10 DEAD, HUNT FOR EXPLOSIVES CONTINUES Kaitlyn Jesionowski, a student and survivor of the Parkland shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, first discovered the Santa Fe High School shooting on Twitter, the New York Times reported. I started replaying what happened to us in my head, Jesionowski told the Times. Over and over. It was the last day of the school year for seniors at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High. The deaths from the Santa Fe High School shooting re-ignited the debate over gun regulations. "Santa Fe High, you didn't deserve this. You deserve peace all your lives, not just after a tombstone saying that is put over you. You deserve more than Thoughts and Prayers, and after supporting us by walking out we will be there to support you by raising up your voices," tweeted Parkland student Emma Gonzalez, one of the gun reform movement's leading voices. Conversely, Santa Fe High School senior Logan Roberds said additional gun-control measures are not needed, citing the need for defense against intruders. "What are you going to do if some guy comes in your house and points a gun at you? You can't do nothing with a knife," he said. Friday's assault was the deadliest in Texas since a man with a semi-automatic rifle attacked a rural church late last year, killing more than two dozen people. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Michigan teen is accused of killing her father on Mothers Day because he would tease her about being fat, local media reported. Ameera Corena Stokes, 18, of Muncie, was arrested on May 14 after alerting police that her father, Donald Stokes, 53, was dead, Star Press reported. Authorities discovered Stokes body in the stairway at his home in Mt. Morris Township, about 80 miles from Detroit. Stokes allegedly had been hit in the head with a hammer and stabbed in the chest. DB COOPER IDENTIFIED? PUBLISHER SAYS MYSTERY HIJACKER WAS EX-PARATROOPER FROM MICHIGAN Ameera Stokes was charged with first-degree murder in connection with her fathers death. She was being held without bond in the Genesee County Jail. She was slated to appear in court on Thursday. Authorities said the incident occurred following an argument over life issues. It just appears as though they had a disagreement about some life issues and that basically is what ignited the situation, Mt. Morris Township Chief Terence Green told MLive.com. The teenagers mother, Gretchen L. Brasher, told WJRT her daughter had a tense relationship with her father. Brasher said Stokes father would tease her about being fat. MICHIGAN WWII VETERAN HOPES TO RECEIVE 100 CARDS ON HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY He was very verbally abusive, Brasher said. She [Ameera] had a belly, so he would tease her about being fat. He would like let her have an apple for dessert, while everybody else was having something better. Brasher also claimed the teenager stabbed one of her friends when she was 13 years old and was sent to a rehabilitation program. The mother said she believed her daughter should be punished but noted the teenager suffered from mental health issues and tried to take her life. I raised a person thats capable of such horrific murder, Brasher said. I just cant believe it. On May 18, a gunman opened fire at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas. At least 10 people were killed in the massacre, including a substitute teacher and a foreign exchange student. The suspect later was identified as Dimitrios Pagourtzis, 17. After the deadliest mass shooting since the February massacre in Parkland, Fla., President Trump said, We grieve for the terrible loss of life and send our support and love to everyone affected by this absolutely horrific attack. To the students, families, teachers, and personnel at Santa Fe High, were with you at this tragic hour, he continued. The Galveston County Sheriffs Office and the medical examiners office together released the names of the victims. Those killed were Glenda Perkins, Cynthia Tisdale, Kimberly Vaughan, Shana Fisher, Angelique Ramirez, Christian Riley Garcia, Jared Black, Sabika Sheikh, Christopher Jake Stone and Aaron Kyle McLeod. Authorities said both Perkins and Tisdale were teachers. They asked the public to keep the families in your thoughts as they mourn this tragic loss. Read on to learn what we know about the victims so far. Cynthia Tisdale Cynthia Tisdale, a substitute teacher at Santa Fe High School, died as a result of the massacre, her family said. She was wonderful. She was just so loving, Tisdales niece, Leia Olinde, 25, told The Associated Press. Tisdale, who enjoyed cooking Thanksgiving dinner for her family, was married for nearly 40 years, her niece said, adding that she had three children and eight grandchildren. She was another mother to me. Someone I could talk to about anything and go to for everything. The amount of love I will always have for this woman is endless, Olinde wrote on Facebook. Tisdales brother-in-law, John, confirmed her death on Facebook. My sister-in-law Cynthia Tisdale is now with the Lord, he wrote. Tisdale, 64, was a member of Anchor Bible Baptist Church in Pharr, Texas, according to her brother-in-law. We are all heartbroken, he wrote, adding that she planned on one day retiring and being a full-time grandmother. It will never happen. Members of Tisdales family did not immediately respond to Fox News request for comment on Saturday. Sabika Sheikh Sabika Sheikh is one of the victims of the Santa Fe High School shooting. The teen was a Pakistani exchange student, the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, D.C., confirmed on Twitter. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sabikas family and friends, said Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, according to the embassy. Megan Lysaght, manager of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study Abroad program (YES), of which Sheikh was a part of, also confirmed her death, The Associated Press reported. Please know that the YES program is devastated by this loss and we will remember Sabika and her families in our thoughts and prayers, Lysaght wrote. The 17-year-old student was slated to be home by Eid al-Fitr, a three-day holiday that marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. May Allah Bless her soul and may she RIP, the Pakistan Association of Greater Houston said in a statement posted to Facebook. "Their world has turned upside down. They are in a state of shock and disbelief and certainly tremendous grief," Aisha Farooqui, consul general of Pakistan in Houston, said of the teen's parents. Sheikh was "a very bright, confident [and] intelligent girl with big dreams for her future. At 17, the world was only opening up now for her," she told Fox News. "It's a difficult time for them and all of us," she added. Kimberly Vaughan Kimberly Vaughan, a student at the school, also died, her family said. Vaughans mother, Rhonda Hart, said on Facebook her daughter was in a first-period art class the morning of the shooting. However, its not clear if it was the same class where Pagourtzis allegedly opened fire. I have not found her. Pass this along, she wrote at the time. Later, Vaughans family confirmed her death to ABC News. Rhonda Hart declined to comment when contacted by Fox News on Saturday. Angelique Ramirez Angelique Ramirez, a student at Santa Fe High, also died on May 18, her aunt confirmed on Facebook. The news comes after Ramirezs family was informed that the 15-year-old was shot in the leg, but they were unable to locate her. The school nor police can tell us where she is. All we got info on is that she was shot in the leg. Cannot find her at any local hospital, her aunt, Sylvia Pritchett, wrote. Araceli Ramirez, who said Angelique Ramirez was her baby sister, described the teen on Facebook as outgoing, so precious, kind, beautiful and smart. I lost one of the people I held dear to my heart, she wrote. You deserved so much, you had so much planned for yourself and they took that away from you. Members of the Ramirez family did not immediately respond to Fox News request for comment. Shana Fisher Sixteen-year-old Shana Fishers mother confirmed her death to the Houston Chronicle. Fisher was beautiful, smart, funny and talented said her mother, who the newspaper did not name. The teen loved life and her dog, her mother added. She was shy and sweet, she said. She had a lot of love in her heart. Fishers mother Sadie Rodriguez said the suspect of the massacre repeatedly made advances toward her daughter in the four months leading up to the deadly shooting. Pagourtzis was an ex-boyfriend of Fishers best friend, Rodriguez added. He kept making advances on her and she repeatedly told him no, Rodriguez told the Los Angeles Times via Facebook Messenger. He continued to get more aggressive. The grieving mother said the week before the shooting, Fisher stood up to him and embarrassed him in class. Glenda Perkins Substitute teacher Glenda Ann Perkins, 64, also died, reports say. Santa Fe High School student Audrey Auzston spoke to the Daily News about her. Ann Perkins was a loved and loving person, Auzston told the newspaper. She was very sweet to everyone and didnt deserve the tragedy, much like all other victims. Sophomore Kyle Harris told The New York Times Perkins really connected with the kids, calling her an absolute angel. Christian Riley Garcia Crosby Church spoke about late victim Christian Riley Garcia, 15, in a Facebook post. He has grown up in our church, I baptized him many yrs ago, Pastor Keenan Smith reportedly wrote. I just left his wonderful, loving family and extended all of the prayers and love for them from our Church. I dont know exactly how, but I know together in Christ we can make it. From what weve gathered thus far he got in front of other students and barricaded the door, Sarah Saunders, the teen's aunt, told KHOU. He laid down his life so others could have a chance. Jared Black Jared Black, 17, also died. The teenager loved anime and art, video games and sci-fi, wrestling and wolves," The Houston Chronicle reported. Lea Gallaway is part of the teenagers church, NBC News added. He was a mommas boy, Gallaway told the outlet. He was a goofy kid. He was just real outgoing. A GoFundMe page has been set up for his family by a friend. As of Sunday afternoon, it had raised more than $6,500 out of a $15,000 goal. We are trying to help get this family to Texas from California to lay Jared to rest and to assist with other expenses, time off from work, etc, the GoFundMe says. Anything is a blessing. The Black family will not ask for help ... so we are asking for them. Christopher Jake Stone Christopher Jake Stone was among those killed in the shooting, authorities said. He was a junior at the high school, according to a reporter from ABC 13 Houston. Stone played on the school football team and was a nice, outgoing kid, teammate Aidan Gomez told Buzzfeed News. He was down-to-earth, and liked football, to hang out with his friends, and relax, Gomez told the outlet. Our next football season is going to be dedicated to him. Abel San Miguel, one of Stones classmates, told The Associated Press that he was in the art classroom during the incident, and Stone was one of the people who tried to prevent the suspect from coming inside. Stone was shot in the chest after the suspect fired through the door, San Miguel said. Branden Auzston, a 17-year-old at the school, told the wire service that Stone was really funny and one of his best friends. Auzstons mother, Nicole, said he was just a great kid. We would have done anything for him, she said. Aaron Kyle McLeod Fifteen-year-old freshman Aaron Kyle McLeod, who went by Kyle, knew how to lighten the moment and always looked on the bright side of things, his friend Kali Reeves told The Associated Press. Authorities identified McLeod as one of those killed during the high school shooting. He was never one to be a sad or down person, he always had to joke or laugh about things, Reeves said of her friend. He was just outgoing and super sweet. He definitely didnt deserve this. Fox News Amy Lieu, Zoe Szathmary, Elizabeth Zwirz and The Associated Press contributed to this report. As protests continued for a third day in the southern Iranian city of Kazerun, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted his support for the protesters in that country. Pompeo, who is due to give his first major policy speech on Iran next Monday, tweeted, We support the Iranian people who are demonstrating against an oppressive government. 3 deaths & Internet interruption show the regimes true nature." Following Pompeos tweet, Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio followed suit. Iran analyst Behnam Ben Taleblu, a research fellow at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News that Secretary Pompeos tweet is spot-on. At every juncture, the Islamic Republic continues to prove that it does not care about the interests or well-being of the Iranian people. Ben Taleblu continued, I hope concrete actions in support of the freedom of communication for the Iranian people, and against the interests and assets of the regime, complement the Secretarys tweet. Lisa Daftari, an Iran affairs expert and founding editor of The Foreign Desk, said it was significant that the secretary of state would tweet out such a message. She said: For almost four decades Irans people have believed that any political movement, including regime change, would have to be supported by the West. For that reason, statements made in support of recent protests, including Pompeos tweet, cannot be underestimated. According to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an influential coalition of Iranian opposition groups, the third consecutive day of protests began during Friday prayers. The information stated: Despite (the) dispatch of special anti-riot units to Kazerun from nearby cities, the people chanted slogans against the regimes governor at An-Nabi Mosque and turned their backs on him. Shortly thereafter, clashes began at the Friday prayer congregation, which was disrupted. People are clashing with the security forces at Shohada (martyrs) Square right now. The NCRI stated that according to local sources, the death toll had risen to three. There are also people missing. It also stated that bodies of the dead have yet to be handed over to their families and internet connections were still cut. At the same time, Iranian media, quoting local officials, claimed that just one person had been killed, and another news agency quoted the local governor as indicating that the MEK (a member of the NCRI coalition) was playing a role in the protests. Tabelu concluded that the Kazerun protests deserve greater coverage. Major protests in Iran like 2009 and 2017-2018 did not appear out of a social vacuum. They drew on unaddressed grievances for political, social, and economic change." The recent round of protests started Wednesday over a decision to split the city of some 150,000 people into two townships. Security forces opened fire against a large protest against the plan as unrest continued into its third day. Seven people in Saudi Arabia, including four prominent women's rights activists who campaigned for the right to drive, are being accused by state security of working with "foreign entities." Pro-government media outlets have splashed their photos online and on newspapers, accusing them of betrayal and of being traitors. The stunning arrests come before Saudi Arabia is set to lift the world's only ban on women driving next month. The Interior Ministry late Saturday did not name those arrested, but said the group is being investigated for communicating with "foreign entities" and providing money to foreign circles with the aim of destabilizing the kingdom. Pro-government media have published the names of those detained, which include Loujain al-Hathloul and Aziza al-Yousef. Both are outspoken and well-known activists who've pushed for greater women's rights. Ethiopia says more than 1,000 of its citizens will be released from detention centers in Saudi Arabia after a request by new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a visit to Riyadh. Ethiopia's state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate quotes government spokesman Ahmed Shide as saying the release will start Saturday. Saudi Arabia began mass deportations of illegal migrants, including tens of thousands of Ethiopians and Somalis, in November after several months of warnings. Saudi authorities have said the kingdom detained around 250,000 people violating its residency laws in a crackdown. An estimated 400,000 Ethiopian migrants were believed to be living in Saudi Arabia as of late last year. Italy is on the cusp of installing a populist government after the two potential coalition partners published a radical joint program for governing on Friday -- a program that includes slashing taxes, increasing spending and cracking down on radical Islamic associations The anti-establishment Five-Star Movement and the nationalist League have been in coalition talks for over a week to try and break the political deadlock that emerged after the countrys March elections. Five-Star emerged as the party with the biggest vote share, but fell well short of a governing majority -- leading to a scramble for parties to try and form a governing coalition. The deadlock was broken in part after former premier Silvio Berlusconi, whose Forza Italia party made a pre-election pact with the League, gave the League his blessing this month to pursue a coalition with Five-Star. But the two parties have significant differences, with Five-Star pushing an anti-establishment line that includes more spending on social services, while League has pushed a more traditional right-wing nationalist line with a particular focus on restricting immigration. That was present in the ideologically broad set of policies found in the contract. According to Italian news agency ANSA, the contract includes a two-tiered flat tax, a universal basic income and the revision of a 2011 pension reform that raised the retirement age. La Stampa reports that the tax rates would be reduced to 15 and 20 percent for individuals, while another part of the program includes tools to shut down radical Islamic associations, including mosques. "Read this contract, Five-Star leader Luigi Di Maio said, according to La Stampa. "And feel part of this wave of change that is about to break on the hopes of those who wanted everything to remain as it was and feel proud to be Italian today because a new era is about to begin." League leader Matteo Salvini hailed the measure as a victory for his party, citing victories he said included restrictions on immigration, the flat tax, the closure of Roma camps, regional autonomy and free nurseries for Italian families. While immigration, particularly from the Middle East and North Africa, has played a central role in the campaign, Italys stagnant economy was also a central factor. The radical flat tax measure could revive the nations economy and employment rate -- but critics have also raised questions as to how the coalitions program can be paid for. Such a spending plan is likely to include a push to restrict payments to the European Union. Both parties have expressed skepticism about the E.U., and a measure that would see Italy pulled out of the Euro currency was in an initial draft of the contract leaked to reporters -- but later removed. As for what can be expected, experts suggested that the nationalist-populist coalition will push a broad range of reforms in its first few months. Probably there will be tax reform, an attempt to reform pensions, a discussion with Europe about the fiscal compact, and a turning of the screw on migration and security -- a topic dear to the League that wants the Ministry of Interior, Franco Pavoncello, professor of political science at Romes John Cabot University, told Fox News. If the program is approved by their respective parties, Salvini and Di Maio will present their program -- along with a candidate for prime minister -- to President Sergio Mattarella on Monday. The two leaders have not yet said who that candidate will be. Should the coalition be approved, it would mark the latest victory for the continents nationalist populist movement which has picked up a series of recent wins in countries such as Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic. A city official says the mayor of Greece's second-largest city has been hospitalized with head, back and leg injuries after being set upon by nationalist extremists. Thessaloniki City Council President Calypso Goula said Mayor Yiannis Boutaris was attending a flag-lowering ceremony Saturday in commemoration of the so-called "Pontic Genocide," the killing of ethnic Greeks by the Turks during World War I and the subsequent Greek-Turkish war. Goula, who also was there, says about a dozen people approached the 75-year-old Boutaris and told him to leave the event, then attacked him with bottles. The mayor is known for his strong anti-nationalist stance. Goula says Boutaris fell down and was kicked in the head and legs. She says during a church service earlier commemorating the victims, attending politicians were booed. The Mexican charter company whose plane crashed in Havana, killing 110 people, has been the subject of two serious complaints about its crews' performance over the last decade. Guyana's civil aviation director says the plane was barred from the country's airspace last year after authorities discovered that its crew had been allowing dangerous overloading of luggage on flights to Cuba. The plane and crew were being rented by Cuba's state-run airline Cubana from Mexico City-based Damojh airlines by EasySky, a Honduras-based low-cost airline. A Damojh employee in Mexico City declined to comment Saturday, saying the company would be communicating only through written statements. Mexican authorities said Damojh had permits needed to lease its aircraft and had passed a November 2017 verification of its maintenance program. The big day is finally here for the royal family, and of course, the dedicated fans who have gathered from all over the world to the English town of Windsor to watch Meghan Markle and Prince Harry tie the knot on Saturday. For many of these superfans, the past few nights have been spent in a tent camped out beneath the stars near Windsor Castle in hopes of catching a glimpse of the royals and on Friday, they got their wish. Prince Harry and his brother, Prince William, who is also his best man, reportedly made an unexpected trip outside the gates of Windsor Castle on Friday afternoon, where fans were waiting to congratulate them. He looked a little subdued, a little nervous, for sure. But that makes sense. Its the night before his wedding, Elizabeth Porras of San Francisco, who traveled to across the pond to witness the historic wedding, told People magazine. You could definitely see he had the wedding glow about him, which was really adorable. Its so adorable to see him so in love. Both Harry and William went around shaking hands, smiling and laughing with many of their supporters. Prince Harry and Markle, an American actress, got in engaged in November -- and less than a year later, are set to take their vows on Saturday at St. Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle. Under the rules of the Church of England, the couple is not allowed to write their own vows and will have to stick to the traditional script of, "for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part." Thousands of people were expected to pack the streets of Windsor to witness a piece of history, according to Reuters. Donna Werner, who traveled from the United States, has spent the past four days camped outside for this very moment. "Today's the day, this is the big build-up ... I just can't wait, theyre going to pipe out the music and the ceremony so we're going to hear it, so thatll be fun," she told Reuters. Another woman from Texas -- who had a hotel room with her friends, opted for the outdoors instead because of the camaraderie she experienced with her fellow royal fans. "It was so special ... people were sharing their supplies," Jamie Williams told Reuters. "It was worth it, we all bonded last night. It's like family, we've all exchanged names, numbers and we're going to keep in touch and meet for another big royal event someday. After the hour-long ceremony, a carriage will take the royal couple in procession from St. George's Chapel through Windsor Town and then return to Windsor Castle with fans lined up to witness the historic moment. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. Increased beef production in Argentina, thanks to a changed political environment, means it could be set to take a larger slice of a new trade deal between the EU and Mercosur nations. Talks between the EU and the Mercosur Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay appeared to culminate earlier this month with 99,000t/year of low-tariff beef reportedly allowed to enter the EU in return for lower tariffs on EU goods sent to South America. This follows a period between 2003 and 2015 when the country almost disappeared from global beef export markets after a socialist, anti-farming government first stopped exports and then reopened them subject to huge taxes, in an attempt to drive domestic prices down. See also: Why an EU trade deal could hurt beef prices after Brexit As a result, beef became unprofitable and the national herd declined by 10 million head between 2008 and 2011. However, a centre-right government elected in 2015 turned things around. As a result, the national herd is gradually growing and exports to the EU increased by 16% between 2016 and 2017. Growing use of technology and increased efficiencies are also likely to drive Argentinas cost of production down, and increasing the volume of low tariff beef it can send will increase the level of competition with British farmers looking to export to the EU after Brexit. Argentina currently supplies beef to the EU under two main, high-quality beef quotas. Quota 481 is tariff-free and allows export of grain-fed beef reared on feed lots. This is set at 48,200 tonnes/year from the global market. The Hilton quota is around 66,750 tonnes at 20% export duty, with Argentina taking 29,500t of that the largest share of the quota for the Mercosur block. The Argentinian Ministry of AgroIndustry predicts the country will fulfil 90% of its Hilton quota this year. Future production increases are likely to depend on continued political stability, with the next election scheduled for 2019. Whats happening in the UK market? The most recent forecast on UK beef trade from the AHDB indicates that both import and export trade volumes are predicted to increase slightly in 2018. Increased imports are predicted to come from Ireland, as production is forecast to rise there, and Poland, which sent 275,000 tonnes of beef to the UK in 2017. This was an increase of 4.5% on the previous year, a significant increase particularly against a backdrop of a weaker pound. However, domestic prices are not forecast to be hit significantly as a modest rise in exports is also predicted, alongside a small increase in domestic consumption, with UK consumers predicted to eat 1.2m tonnes of beef and veal in 2018. Last year demand for beef in the UK increased by about 1.4% and an increase of 1% is expected in 2018. The UK is currently about 75% self-sufficient in beef, with British farmers enjoying a market share of between 60-65% of domestic production. By comparison, the EU as a whole was estimated to be 103% self-sufficient in beef in 2017. Aly Balsom visited Argentina as part of a Perkins Global Innovation Scholarship a British Guild of Agricultural Journalists Award Gaffney woman killed, infant hurt in two vehicle crash Free Access A Gaffney woman was killed and an infant was hurt Thursday evening in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 18. Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler identified the victim as Betty Ann... VICTORY DANCE Gaffney High mascot Mallory Garcia jumps in celebration with the cheerleaders Friday following a touchdown during the Indians 34-0 victory over Boiling Springs. To continue reading this article, log in... Middle school locks down for bomb threat City of Gaffney Police are investigating a bomb threat at a middle school Thursday. Gaffney Middle School was placed on lockdown Thursday afternoon as police investigated the threat. Chief Gerald... Sponsors needed to host all-star football game Informational meeting to be held at 10 a.m. today After being held in Raleigh for many years, Cherokee County has been given an opportunity to host this years Carolina Bowl Senior Showcase. An informational meeting will be held today... 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. Hey Long Beach, join us as we soar through the skies of Long Beach, California for a unique look at our great city! (Click below to watch video). A nonprofit hub for health, human and social services in the nations most populous county may have exposed years of information and an estimated 3.5 million records of interactions with residents by storing data in the cloud.Its unclear whether bad actors accessed the information collected by 211 Los Angeles County, which included an estimated 396,000 contact emails and 33,000 Social Security numbers, but the data has since been protected and its access restricted.But those familiar with the incident, which took place earlier this spring, said its a reminder that local agencies need to be vigilant as they guard large amounts of public data collected by government and affiliated entities.The incident involving 211 Los Angeles County, which operates a 24-hour hotline, came to light on March 14, according to a report from UpGuard, a cybersecurity company in Mountain View, Calif., whose cyber-risk team spotted the issue. The company had no pre-existing relationship with L.A. County, its PR Director Kelly Rethmeyer told. She characterized the discovery as basically an independent research project by a team whose whole mission is to find active data sets in unsecured websites.The finding, by Chris Vickery, director of UpGuards cyber-risk team, revealed an Amazon Web Services (AWS) S3 cloud storage bucket at the subdomain lacounty which had been configured to be publicly and anonymously accessible.Not all files were publicly downloadable, UpGuard said in its report, but those that could be included Postgres data backups and CSV (comma-separated values) exports of that data, with hundreds of thousands of rows of sensitive personal information.The company cited the 501(c)3 nonprofits dedication to preserving the confidentiality of reports, and characterized what appeared to have occurred as a technical misconfiguration, which it defined as an internal problem that emanate(s) from within the information technology (IT) infrastructure of any enterprise. No hacker or hack is necessary for massive damage to occur, UpGuard said, citing a Gartner estimate that from 70 percent to 99 percent of data breaches result from internal misconfiguration.In a statement to, Los Angeles County CIO Bill Kehoe said the agency has determined that certain personal information maintained by its 211 vendor on a cloud storage repository was vulnerable to a possible breach.Once alerted to this issue by an outside security firm, the county promptly directed that access to that information be blocked. The county has a well-earned reputation for its aggressive commitment to protecting personal data from outside intrusions, whether that information is maintained by the county or its vendors, Kehoe said.There was no compromise of their systems. This was not white hat hacking. There was no vulnerability exploited, Rethmeyer said. Someone misconfigured their cloud storage so it was publicly accessible. Its extremely easy to make that mistake, where someone clicks a button and all of a sudden those records are accessible.Once the issue was identified, UpGuard took steps to notify county officials immediately, it said, first contacting 211 and emailing a recommended contact, and ultimately reaching a member of information security.Our contact at L.A. County 211 assured us the problem would be taken care of, and in less than 24 hours, UpGuard confirmed the bucket itself was no longer publicly accessible, the company said.Several CSV files in the bucket had personal information critical to 211 service, UpGuard reported, including names, email addresses and weakly-hashed passwords for 384 users. Nearly all those email addresses were for the @211LA.org domain, meaning that if passwords were decrypted, the 211 accounts could be vulnerable along with any individual reuse of those passwords.Most of the data it discovered, UpGuard said, came from one file that contained a massive amount of personally identifiable information (PII) including actual call notes for more than 200,000 calls between 2010 and 2018.The company described 211 as a top of the funnel operation, and pointed out that while centralizing reports and technology enables administration, collaboration and efficiency, it can also increase risk.If this dataset is not carefully handled, the magnitude of exposure is far greater than if it occurred at any of the more specialized links down the triage chain, UpGuard said in the report, adding that the issue isnt unique to 211 but one confronting all organizations using the cloud and Internet applications to store and process data.Thats what were trying to do is spread awareness of how pervasive this issue is. Thats the mission of this team, Rethmeyer said. The lesson for governments, she said, is to be inwardly and outwardly vigilant, and mindful of how third-party entities are handling data.In todays day and age, especially with the cloud, the transparency of data at this point, its very pervasive. Companies need to be more vigilant in making sure their business partners are taken care of, she added.Thats exactly whats next for L.A. County, Kehoe said.In this case, the county will be closely monitoring strong assurances from the vendor that it has strengthened its data safeguards, as well as its policies, protocols, processes and oversight to avoid any future exposure of sensitive information, the CIO said. (TNS) ALBANY, Ga. Albany State University computer science students presented at the University System of Georgia Board of Regents meeting earlier this week to showcase their work in blockchain technology and their partnership with IBM, one of the countrys largest technology employers.In addition to the presentation, USG Chancellor Steve Wrigley announced blockchain technology and data analysis as two new Nexus degree program areas of study for the university system.Blockchain is a powerful technology that uses a distributed global ledger to capture transactions, issue smart contracts and perform consensus algorithms to enable secure permanent records to be shared among trusted parties, Robert Owor, interim chair and professor in the ASU Mathematics and Computer Science Department, explained. Blockchain is the original technology behind Bitcoin. It has since expanded beyond Bitcoin into corporate and enterprise systems for asset tracking, financial technologies and medical records to name just a few.Three ASU students presented during the USG board meeting. They explained how they have worked with blockchain technology through class projects and how they feel the coursework makes them more marketable to tech companies. Recent ASU graduate Myonna Douglas has been hired as a program developer with IBM and starts in June, and ASU senior Kevin McClendon and junior Melody Collins have secured internships with IBM this summer.Presenting technical and complex information to executives and public constituents will be a frequent requirement in a professional career. Our students demonstrated their skills at the Board of Regents meeting with precision, because they practiced and had a planned message, ASU Career Services Director Tracy Williams said. Mastering effective communications skills with confidence and keeping the message coherent is one of the most requested services Career Services provides to our students.Whether its preparing for an interview or a major presentation, the skills are the same; we prepare professionals.ASU offered its first blockchain technology course in the fall of 2017.In February, more than 100 people visited ASU to learn about blockchain technology from industry leaders at the Technology Link: Blockchain Conference 2018. It was the first event of its kind hosted by IBM at a Historically Black College and University, or HBCU.The one-day conference brought together students and faculty from several HBCUs, as well as students and teachers from the Dougherty County School System, other colleges and universities and area business professionals.Since partnering with IBM, twelve ASU students have been hired to work with the company. The number of technology employees nearing retirement in the state of Florida is proof positive that the so-called "silver tsunami" phenomenon is alive and well. In the video above, we caught up with Florida Chief Information Officer Eric Larson, who explains that the state's aging workforce is complicating their path to modernization, especially when it comes to legacy systems."We either have to modernize it, we have to outsource it, we have to get other people involved so we can sustain it until we can migrate to a different environment," Larson said in an interview at last month's NASCIO midyear conference As Larson explained, the Florida Agency for State Technology was directed by state lawmakers to outsource the mainframe, in part due to workforce constraints."People that have been employed the longest won't be eligible to be employed by the state anymore," he said, "so that creates a crisis where we have a defined timeline to come up with another arrangement." Cerro Dominador, a Chilean company owned by investment funds managed by EIG Global Energy Partners (EIG), signed the financing for its Concentrated Solar Power plant (CSP) located in the Atacama desert, in Chile. This will allow the company to finalize the construction of the first combined CSP and photovoltaic project in Latin America, with a total of 210 MW of capacity. The plant will supply clean, reliable energy to the national interconnected system in Chile, selling most of its power under 15-year power purchase agreements awarded at the end of 2014. The $758-million financing has been subscribed by a group of international financial institutions and the contribution of local banks. Among the financial entities involved are: Natixis, Deutsche Bank, Societe Generale, ABN AMRO, Santander, Commerzbank and BTG Pactual as well as other institutional investors in a tranche parallel to the bank financing. Other participants are expected to join the banking group in the coming weeks. The Cerro Dominador project is located in Maria Elena, near Calama, in the Antofagasta Region, an area with one of the highest solar radiation in the world. The new plant will produce clean energy, replacing the expected emissions of 640,000 tons of CO 2 per year, reachingas an integrated projecta total of 870,000 tons of CO 2 reduction per year. The company has been advised throughout the financing process by Milbank, Tweed, Hadley and McCloy (International Counsel), Morales y Besa (Local Counsel), and Astris Finance (Financial Advisor). The completion of the plant construction will be carried out by a consortium formed by world leading companies in solar technology. EIG took its control position and management oversight of the solar project at the end 2016. The first part of the Solar Project, with 62 MW of photovoltaic power started in October 2017, reaching the full 100 MW in February 2018. The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup truck will be offered with an all-new, technologically advanced 2.7L Turbo. Standard on LT and RST trims, the new engine delivers an SAE-certified 310 horsepower and 348 lb-ft (472 Nm) of torque22% more torque than the 4.3L V-6 it replaces. Developed specifically for truck applications, the new 2.7L Turbo inline four-cylinder engine delivers peak torque from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm. 2.7L Turbo with Active Fuel Management and stop/start technology, All-new 2.7L Turbo with Active Fuel Management and stop/start technology paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission (SAE-certified at 310 hp/348 lb-ft). The next-gen Silverado with the 2.7L Turbo delivers 0-60 mph performance in less than seven seconds and weighs 380 pounds less than the current Silverado with the 4.3L V-6. Compared with competitive full-size trucks, the Silverado 2.7L Turbo is expected to deliver comparable payload capability with greater torque than the 3.3L V-6 in the Ford F-150 XLT and the 3.6L V-6 in the Ram 1500 Big Horn. The cornerstone of the 2.7L Turbo is an innovative double overhead cam valvetrain that enables: Chevrolets first use of Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) on a four-cylinder engine. (Chevrolet is offering a progression of Active Fuel Management on its 5.3L and 6.2L V8sfully-variable digital cylinder deactivation technology called Dynamic Fuel Management, earlier post.) High- and low-lift valve profiles. Continuously variable valve timing. 2019 Silverado RST. Additional engine technologies supporting the engines performance and efficiency include: Dual-volute turbocharger housing for improved throttle response and low-speed torque. Chevrolets first application of Active Thermal Management, which uses targeted engine heating and cooling to improve engine performance in hot and cold ambient temperatures. An integrated exhaust manifold that is part of the cylinder head assembly and recovers exhaust heat for faster engine and transmission warmup, with quicker turbo response. Stop/start technology that automatically stops the engine in stop-and-go traffic for fuel efficiency. An electric water pump that eliminates the drag of a conventional, engine-driven pump to enhance efficiency. It also enables continual cabin heating even when the engine is disabled by the stop/start feature. The new 2.7L Turbo engine represents a clean-sheet design for Chevrolet and was developed from the outset as a truck engine. To help generate the strong low-end torque customers expect in a truck, it was designed with a long piston stroke of 4.01 inches (102 mm). The long stroke enables improved combustion and thus a higher compression ratio. Typically, a long stroke can increase the load of the pistons against the cylinder walls, generating more friction. Thats alleviated in the 2.7L Turbo with an offset crankshaft. It is slightly off-center of the cylinders, allowing a more upright position for the connecting rods during their movement. To support the high cylinder pressures that come with turbocharging, the crankshaft and connecting rods are made of forged steel and the pistons are made of a tough aluminum alloy with a cast iron ring groove insert. All elements of the 2.7L Turbo were designed for the demands of turbocharged performance in a truck environment, and the engine was subjected to the same rigorous durability standards as the Silverados proven V-8 engines. The 2.7L Turbo also features an aluminum block and cylinder head for reduced mass. The 2.7L Turbos valvetrain is GMs first to incorporate variable lift, duration and Active Fuel Management to optimize performance and efficiency across the rpm band. It is a key reason the engines peak torque is available at only 1,500 rpm. The systems electro-mechanical variable camshaft effectively allows the engine to operate with three different camshaft profiles, complementing the variable valve timing system to deliver optimized operating modes for different engine speeds and loads: High valve lift for full power. Low valve lift for balance of power and efficiency. Active Fuel Management shuts down two of the cylinders in light load conditions to further conserve fuel. Its like having different engines for low- and high-rpm performance. The camshaft profile and valve timing is completely different at low and high speeds, for excellent performance across the board. Tom Sutter, chief engineer for the 2.7L Turbo The camshaft design alters the lift of the intake and exhaust valves. As the engine load changes, electromagnetic actuators allow a movable shaft containing different cam lobes to shift imperceptibly between high-lift and low-lift profiles. Higher lift and longer duration allow more air to flow into the combustion chamber, so the systems high-lift lobe profile enhances performance at higher rpm, while the low-lift profile optimizes efficiency at low- and mid-range speeds. The 2.7L Turbo engine employs an advanced dual-volute turbocharger that elevates the performance and efficiency advantages of a conventional turbo, with quicker response and enhanced low-rpm torque production. Rather than a single spiral chamber (volute) feeding exhaust gas from the exhaust manifold to drive the turbine on the turbocharger, the dual volute design has a pair of separate chambers with two exhaust gas inlets and two nozzles to drive the turbine. The design allows the exhaust pulses of the engine to be leveraged for faster spool-up and subsequent boost production, particularly at low rpm, where the effect significantly enhances torque output and drivability. It works in unison with the engines integrated exhaust manifold/turbocharger housing, which splits the exhaust channels from the cylinder head so the exhaust flows through two separate channels in the turbo housing, based on the engines exhaust pulses. When complemented by the precision of the engines valvetrain, that separation leverages exhaust scavenging techniques to optimize gas flow, which decreases exhaust gas temperatures, improves turbine efficiency and reduces turbo lag. An electronically controlled wastegate and charge-air cooling system support the turbocharger and enhance its effectiveness. Compared to a conventional wastegate, the electronically controlled version offers more precise management of the engines boost pressure for smoother, more consistent performance. With the charge-air cooler, the pressurized, heated air generated by the turbocharger is pumped through a heat exchanger before it enters the engine. That lowers the air charge temperature by about 130 degrees F (74 degrees C), packing the combustion chambers with cooler, denser air that enhances power production. The system achieves more than 80% cooling efficiency with less than 2 psi (12 kPa) flow restriction at peak power, contributing to the engines available torque production at low rpm. Additional features of the engine include: A variable-pressure oiling system with a continuously variable-displacement vane oil pump enhances efficiency by optimizing oil pressure as a function of engine speed and load. With it, the oil supply is matched to the engine requirements rather than the excessive supply of a conventional, fixed-displacement oil pump. Active Thermal Management helps the engine warm up faster and achieve its optimal engine temperature for performance and efficiency. The system uses a rotary valve system to distribute coolant through the engine in a targeted manner. It sends heat where its needed to warm up the engine to reduce friction and heat the cab, or cools when needed for high power operation. An electric water pumpa first for Chevy truckssupports the Active Thermal Management system and further enhances the engines performance and efficiency by eliminating the parasitic drag that comes with a conventional engine-driven water pump. Direct fuel injection is used to optimize efficiency and performance. With direct injection, a higher compression ratio (10.0:1) is possible because of a cooling effect as the injected fuel vaporizes in the combustion chamber, reducing the charge temperature and improving resistance to spark knock. Direct injection also enables gas scavenging from the combustion chamber to the turbo for fast response. Dual overhead camshafts contribute to the 2.7L Turbos smoothness and high output, with dual independent continuously variable valve timing working with the valvetrain to deliver optimal performance and efficiency. The dual independent system, which allows the intake and exhaust valves to be phased at different rates, promotes linear delivery of torque with near-peak levels over a broad rpm range, and high specific output (horsepower per liter of displacement) without sacrificing overall engine response or driveability. An integrated exhaust manifold on the cylinder head assembly promotes faster engine warmup and quicker turbo response. Oil jets located in the block are employed for performance and temperature control. They target the underside of the pistons and the surrounding cylinder walls with an extra layer of cooling, friction-reducing oil. The jets reduce piston temperature, allowing the engine to produce more power and enhance long-term durability. Stop/start enhances fuel economy in city driving. The driver-selectable system shuts off the engine at stoplights and certain other stop-and-go situations, saving fuel. The engine automatically restarts when the driver takes their foot off the brake. The all-new 2.7L Turbo is matched with a Hydra-Matic eight-speed automatic transmission featuring enhancements designed to improve shift quality, as well as a new centrifugal pendulum absorber torque converter that reduces vibrations to improve smoothness. The all-new 2.7L Turbo will be built at the General Motors Spring Hill facility in Tennessee. The 2019 Silverado goes on sale this fall. EPA fuel economy estimates and towing/payload capacities are not yet available and will be announced closer to launch. Beijing may consider additional actions if Taiwan separatists go further and the United States continues to use Taiwan as a bargaining chip, experts said. Actions could include Beijing enhancing its military presence around the island, limiting market access or launching investigations against foreign firms that do not recognize China's territorial integrity, they said. Cross-Straits tension jumped after the US signed the "Taiwan Travel Act" into law in March, encouraging official visits between the US and China's Taiwan at all levels. A month later, the US State Department approved selling submarine technologies to Taiwan to bolster its maritime defense. On May 10, Taiwan held the first US-Taiwan Defense Business Forum in 16 years. Around 300 delegates, including Taiwan officials and executives from US defense contractors, met to discuss cooperation in shipbuilding, cybersecurity and aerospace industries. On May 16, 172 members of the US House of Representatives called for Taiwan's inclusion in the 71st World Health Assembly, despite Taiwan not receiving an invitation because doing so would mean WHA recognized the island as a sovereign state. Taiwan's health authorities said they would send a delegation anyway to the assembly, which starts on Monday in Geneva. "Recently, Taiwan's secession movements are gaining new momentum and confidence due to support from the US. This is not surprising considering how the US has tried to meddle in China's domestic affairs for decades through Taiwan," said Zhu Songling, director of the Cross-Straits Relations Institute at Beijing Union University. "Given that Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen and her party are now explicitly seeking better relations with the US, Beijing needs to be on high alert for US interactions with Taiwan," Zhu said. Yuan Zheng, director of US foreign relations at the Institute of American Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said it is high time that Beijing assert its position on Taiwan so the US and Taiwan separatists stop their subtle yet gradual secession effort. "China's territorial sovereignty should be the red line and absolutely nonnegotiable," Yuan said. If the US were to persist in poisoning cross-Straits relations, China would be less likely to cooperate with the US on some other issues, he added. Richard Bush, a senior research fellow at the Brookings Institution, a US think tank, described the Trump administration's Taiwan policy as "conflicting" and "chaotic" in a recent podcast. Many US officials, especially those from the Defense and State departments, want to strengthen relations with the island in all respects given its strategic value in balancing China's regional influence, he said. Yuan said China also has the right to limit market access or launch investigations against foreign firms that do not recognize China's territorial integrity. Zhu said such labeling regulations have always been in place but were poorly enforced. "China's being more assertive on these laws has sent a warning to supporters of the Taiwan secession movement," he added. As a further warning to Taiwan separatists, the People's Liberation Army Air Force has conducted several training drills encircling Taiwan since April 18. The latest confirmed drill took place on May 11. These routine training drills are necessary to improve the Air Force's combat capabilities, said Yuan. But the drills are relatively basic and reserved because one of the main goals is to survey the eastern side of Taiwan, where air defense is relatively weak, he said. If Taiwan separatists were to continue their movement, Yuan said the PLA could increase its presence by flying warplanes near or across the median line in the Taiwan Straits, or even across Taiwan if necessary. by Zheng Shibo JAKARTA, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Suicide bombings on Sunday and Monday in Indonesia's second-largest city Surabaya killed more than 20 people, while a police headquarters in Sumatra Island's Riau province was also attacked on Wednesday, with five people dead. These attacks have made the passing week as a bloody one for the largest country in Southeast Asia. The Surabaya attacks, which used children and women as suicide bombers, were linked to Indonesia's loosely organized Islamic State (IS) affiliates Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) and Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT), and the Wednesday attack was related to JAD, according to Indonesia's Police Chief Tito Karnavian. The IS claimed responsibility for attacks in Surabaya and Riau, and police said the IS possibly instructed the Surabaya bombing and one of the suspects had been inspired by radicals returning from Syria. The Indonesian government estimated that up to 700 Indonesians have joined the war in Syria and Iraq and some have traveled back. Analysts said the returning IS fighters from war zones and Philippines' Marawi, are posing a growing new threat in Indonesia as they may become a source of ideological inspiration as well as bring operational know-how to poorly-organized and poorly-equipped local networks. Tia Mariatul Kibtiah, an expert on the Middle East and Arabic studies in Indonesia's private Binus University, told Xinhua that since the IS is losing territory in the Middle East, the group may choose Indonesia, the country with world's largest Muslim population. "As a result, the individual, lone wolf and small group IS-style attacks will be widely popular in the future terrorism development in Indonesia," she said. The United Nations Security Council released a report earlier this year, which said the IS's losses in Iraq and Syria may intensify the threat to Southeast Asia, as funds and fighters disperse from the two war-torn countries. Analysts said these IS-linked attacks also exposed the lingering threat from resurgence of homegrown militants group after the collapse of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), which were convicted in relation to the 2002 Bali bombing. Michael Hart, a researcher on terrorism in Southeast Asia, posted an article on news website Asia Sentinel, which said that in the years since (the collapse of JI), several newly-formed groups like JAD, JAT, Mujahidin Indonesia Timur (MIT) along with JI's offshoots have remained active beneath the radar, posing only a latent threat to the country. In January 2016, four suicide bombers and gunmen from little-known JAD attacked a shopping area in the capital city of Jakarta, which killed eight people. JAD bombers also launched an attack at a bus station in East Jakarta in May 2017, killing the suspects and three police offices. Indonesian police also blamed last week's deadly prison riot in Jakarta's outskirts of Depok, in which five policemen were killed by terror detainees, was instigated by JAD members. Experts warned that JAD, who targets police, religious places instead of foreigners, embassies, hotels and nightclubs, may well become a more dangerous version of JI. Mujahidin Indonesia Timur (MIT), a well-established group who has strongholds in rural regions, got international attention in October 2012 after its members shot down two policemen and killed three Mobile Brigade officers two month later. In addition, three civilians were killed by an MIT member in the beginning of 2015. There have been only a few large-scale attacks in recent years due to a sustained and successful crackdown on militants following the 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people. However, in 2017, Indonesian police's anti-terror unit apprehended 172 suspects, of whom 16 were shot dead during arrest attempts. The authorities linked the militants involved to either JAD, JAT or MIT. Despite that the IS adds an extra dimension to the threat of Indonesia security, experts said the local political and religious dynamics are the central issues to cleaning up Indonesia's terrorism landscape. Kibtiah told Xinhua that radicalism in Indonesia has been flourishing and pluralism and tolerance significantly reduced since 1998 which marked the fall of long-time former president Muhammad Suharto and the dawn of the reform era. Radical groups began to advocate their mission of either implementing the Sharia law or establishing a caliphate. Extreme clerics attempt to influence ordinary Indonesians though sermons, according to Kibtiah. Based on a Pew Research study in 2015, four percent of Indonesians, or around 10 million, have favorable opinions of militant groups. Analysts said since the Indonesian society has become more conservative in recent years, this support is bound to rise. Indonesian President Joko Widodo is now demanding a revision of the 2003 Anti-Terrorism Law to give police more power to detain suspects pre-emptively and to prohibit Indonesians from joining overseas militant organizations. Experts argued that given the prison riot by terror detainees last week, Indonesia's efforts at rehabilitating the homegrown militants are off target. Kibtiah insisted that the government should intensify the international cooperation with Australia and other Western countries. Besides, the current Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) security cooperation mechanism should be immediately utilized. Indonesia's homegrown militants roughly posed a limited threat a decade after the Bali bombing under the country's intensive crackdown. However, as the infiltration of IS ideology to the region, Indonesia's terrorist movement has reached a critical point. Evan A. Laksmana, A senior researcher at Indonesia think tank the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said in an article published on the Australian Strategic Policy Institute's website that Indonesia can and should do more to address the growing and increasingly lethal IS-linked threats. "One should not rush into abandoning the current criminal justice model of counter terrorism in return for a more repressive, or 'war-fighting' one. As Indonesia's own long history tells us, repressive measures often lead to prolonged and more deadly conflicts in the future," he said. Haiti - Flag 215th : Thanks to the Haitian epic, humanity becomes universal dixit Jovenel Moise This Friday, May 18, the city of Arcahaie hosted the celebration of the 215th anniversary of the creation of the Haitian flag and the University, in the presence of the Head of State Jovenel Moise, accompanied by his wife Martine, the Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant, Ministers, Secretaries of State, Directors General, Presidents of both Chambers, the President of the Court of Cassation, deputies and senators, members of the diplomatic corps ... as well as various personalities of the national life. After the national anthem, the raising of the two-colored flag, the religious ceremony (thanksgiving mass followed by the Te-Deum) at the Church of St. Pierre of Archaie, President Moise delivered his speech on the stand official. Extract from the speech of President Jovenel Moise : "[...] 215 years ago our ancestors gathered here in Arcahaie for creating our Bicolore, May 18, 1803. Do we realize, is that today we understand where we are today, what does this event represent for us for every Haitian present here ? [...] It is time for the truth to burst forth, it is time for this truth to enter the minds and hearts of all Haitians, Arcahaie is the historic city where the freedom fighters have won the victory over the colonial and slave system that made people of beasts [...] the wealth that all must have is freedom. It is in the name of freedom, of humanity that our ancestors have put aside all that divides them, differences of colors and social, wealth, to unite in the union we made 1803 [...] they rejected division to gather. [...] Haitians do you understand the acts of our ancestors in 1804 ? The bell rings so that word is said, so that the truth gushes, Christophe, Petion, Clervaux, Gejfrard, Vernet, Capois, Gabart ... [...] I ask Captain Dieudonne to command the troops [...] [Platoon of Honor] These names we must never forget them [...] Today it is in Arcahaie that our ancestors took great decisions to change the road of history, how the world is organized. It is not only freedom, a free nation, an independent nation that they have created, the Congress of Arcahaie, the Battle of Vertieres it is the path of freedom for all peoples on the earth without difference color [...] When in a country we hear that democracy is established as a political regime, when people claim their rights we must say, Haitian we worked for that [...] Thanks to the Haitian epic humanity becomes universal, this is a truth that no one can forget, by its history, its culture and its climate, Haiti has everything a people needs to be prosperous if only we were conscious. We have everything to be rich, what do I say we are rich [...] We must not be afraid to dream, we must not be afraid to dream big and of beautiful things. Haiti can not, Haiti does not have the right to stop being the example that it has been for generations of freedom fighters all over the planet [...]" Speech by President Moise : Speech by the Mayor of Arcahaie, Rosemila Petit Frere : Speech by Fritz Deshommes Rector of the UEH : HL/ HaitiLibre Foreign investors acquired more land in Gyeonggi Province and Jeju Island but sold their properties in mountainous Gangwon Province last year. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, foreigners owned 238.9 million sq.m of land in Korea as of the end of last year, up 2.3 percent or 5.34 million sq.m from a year earlier. Their holdings account for 0.2 percent of the total land in the country. #politics Ex-PM Lee Nak-yon to appeal ruling party's primary results Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon will appeal results of the ruling Democratic Party's primary, his camp said Sunday, hours after he came up short against Gyeonggi Gov. Lee Jae-myu... #Seoul city Seoul city gov't bans labor group's planned street rallies this month The Seoul city government has prohibited South Korea's major umbrella labor group from staging street rallies this month in accordance with a law on preventing the spread of infect... Willy Coppens specialized in the most dangerous occupation of a World War I airmanflaming kite balloons deep behind enemy lines. First used by the Revolutionary French army in 1795, captive or kite balloons, also known as Drachen (dragons, an Austrian analogy for Chinese kites) and sausages, are the oldest means of aerial reconnaissance. Even after the invention of the airplane, balloons saw their most widespread service above the trenches during World War I, since they could stay in the air longer than planes, allowing an observer to scan a large portion of the front from a safe distance behind his own lines. Communicating by telephone or wireless with forces on the ground, balloon observers could detect frontline movements or direct artillery and mortars with murderous accuracy. As such, they constituted a very real menace to the other sides ground forces. Destroying enemy balloons, therefore, was a key objective before any major operation was launched. At first sight, a giant bag of hydrogen would seem an easy target, but airmen who tried to destroy enemy balloons came to learn otherwise. First and foremost, they had to fly deep into enemy territory to get at them, where they were exposed to observation, aerial interception and every enemy soldier carrying a gun. Although the balloon floated several thousand feet above the ground, when it was under attack its ground crew had a powered winch to pull it down, as well as attached antiaircraft artillery batteries and machine guns to shield it beneath a descending cone of fire. After he reached his rapidly descending quarry, the fighter pilot could not ignite the pure hydrogen that gave the balloon its buoyancy, even with incendiary bullets, until a sustained burst of gunfire allowed some to escape and mix with oxygen. If he failed to set his target alight, the pilot had two optionsgive up and head for home, or make another pass through even more intense groundfire at a lower altitude. Once ignited, a burning balloon could be seen for miles, assuring confirmation for the pilot who destroyed it. But its funeral pyre was equally visible to the enemy, and the balloon buster had to run a gantlet of anti-aircraft and groundfire, as well as vengeful enemy fighters converging on his likely escape route. Adding up those factors caused many to regard balloon attacks as suicide missions, requiring as much luck as skill on the pilots part. The few airmen who habitually volunteered for such missions were regarded as something of a special breed, possessed of a combination of pyromania and death wish known as balloon fever. Those who cheated the law of averages long enough acquired a measure of acclaimuntil their luck ran out. Among the more famous balloon busters, Frances Michel Coiffard and Maurice Boyau, Germanys Heinrich Gontermann and the United States Frank Luke and Louis Bennett did not survive the war. Coiffards frequent partner, Jacques Ehrlich, became a prisoner of war. Leading German balloon ace Fritz Roth, whose 20 accredited gasbags included a record five in one day, survived combat but fell into a postwar depression that led to suicide on New Years Eve 1918. In contrast to those doomed heroes, the leading balloon buster of all time was also one of the longest-lived. Even so, Willy Coppens, Baron de Houthulstwho also entered history books as Belgiums ace of acesdid not emerge from World War I unscathed. Born in Watermaal-Boosvoorde, near Brussels, on July 6, 1892, Willy Omer Francois Jean Coppens spent the prewar years designing wheeled, sail-propelled land yachts, building seven between 1907 and 1913. From the moment he saw his first airplane in 1910, he yearned to fly, but his artist father threatened to throw him out of the house if he did. Willy settled for building and flying kites and model airplanes until 1912, when he was conscripted into military service and joined the 2nd Grenadier Regiment. Belgium was neutral when war broke out on July 28, 1914, but Germany ignored that when it initiated General Alfred Graf von Schlieffens plan for a surprise invasion of France from the north. On August 4, German forces barged into Luxembourg and Belgium, and within two months they had driven the Belgian government and its small army into France, leaving Coppens family in Brussels and Willy imbued with a lifelong hatred of the Germans. Transferring to the Belgian Motor Machine Gun Corps, Coppens soon acquired an equal loathing for trench warfare. On September 6, 1915, he signed up for flight training at Beaumarais. The ill-equipped Belgian school proved incapable of providing the instruction he needed, so Coppens took eight weeks leave and studied privately in England. He obtained a Royal Aero Club certificate on December 9, completing his training at the French Farman School at Etampes. Coppens first frontline assignment, in early 1917, was with the 6th Escadrille dObservation, flying British-built Royal Aircraft Factory Bleriot Experimental B.E.2c reconnaissance planes from Houthem aerodrome. Promoted to sergeant first class on April 8, he transferred to the 4th Escadrille, equipped with obsolescent Farman F.40 pushers, later that same month. He was assigned a Sopwith 1 Strutter on May 1, the same day he experienced his first aerial combat. Coppens plane had not yet had its front machine gun installed, but he did his best to evade his four attackers while his observer, Captain Rene Declercq, fended them off with his Lewis machine gun. The duo returned with 32 bullet holes in their Sopwith. On July 7, Coppens and Declercq engaged a German two-seater and sent it diving away near Middelkerke. One week later the aggressive young pilot finally got what he wanteda transfer to fly single-seat fighters with the 1st Escadrille de Chasse, based at Les Moeres. There Coppens found role models in the squadrons myopic commander, Captain Fernand Jacquet, who had become Belgiums first ace by attacking German aircraft in Farman two-seat pushers; Sergeant Jan Olieslagers, a bicycle racing champion and prewar aviator who was eventually credited with six victories; and Coppens flight leader, Lieutenant Andre de Meulemeester, a sharp-eyed hunter who would survive the war with 11 victories. The 1st Escadrille was equipped with Nieuport 17s, but Coppens was assigned what was probably the last Nieuport 16 left on the Western Front. Although still inexperienced in his tricky new mount, on July 21 he attacked a German two-seater and was shot up for his trouble. Coppens was promoted to adjutant on August 19, and shortly afterward his squadron received the first of a batch of Hanriot HD.1s that the Aviation Militaire Belge had acquired because the French, sold on Spads, did not want them. de Meulemeester rejected the new fighter out of hand, as did everyone else save Coppens, whose subsequent glowing reports of its flight characteristics convinced the entire squadron to accept it. But the HD.1 had a great defect, Coppens wrote, only one machine gun, because de Meulemeester, our ace in 1917, decided it better to climb 800 feet higher; with two it climbed only just over 20,000. On September 10, a new Spad XIII fighter landed at Les Moeres with engine trouble, and from its cockpit emerged Captain Georges Guynemer, then Frances top ace with 53 victories. Having been forced to land at an unknown field, Coppens recalled, Guynemer appeared to be a little nervous, not much talkative. He was not distant nor timid, but seemed a bit uneasy because of our intense curiosity.He had shaken hands with the first of us to come to him, without knowing who we were. Then he paid attention to our mechanics at work, putting his Hispano[-Suiza engine] in order. We would have liked, all of us, to ask him questions. My old friend Jacques Ledure, a pilot who was very clever with motors, watched and gave good advice. He exchanged ideas with Guynemer and, to please me, succeeded to have a signature on my silver cigarette case.When his motor was in order and tested, Guynemer flew off, straight to St. Pol. None of us ever saw him again. Guynemer was killed in action the next day. Although confirmed successes eluded Coppens over the next several months, he gained his first measure of notoriety by making a 200- kilometer flight over enemy-held territory to Brussels on February 18, 1918. He gave his own account of the seemingly suicidal gesture: With full tanks, I took off at 8:35 in the morning. Half an hour later, at 9:05, I was at a height of 18,000 feet above Dixmuide. The enemy anti-aircraft defense was fully busy chasing two French Spads, and I think it was thanks to those circumstances that they did not aim at me and that I passed unnoticed. Shortly before 10 Coppens arrived at the Belgian capital for the first time since the Germans had overrun it 3 years earlier. Diving from 3,000 feet, he made his way to the Rue des Champs Elysees, facing the Parc Solvay, where his parents lived. The Hanriot made it possible to turn inside a very short radius and in this way I made a tour of the house five times, so low that I nearly touched the tops of the trees, he said. At the second tour, I saw and recognized my father who was looking out of one of the upper windows. I was so near that I could distinguish details of his clothing; he was wearing a brown necktie, the same color of his suit. He made wild movements of his arm and his emotion must have come up to mind. I also saw my mother, on the first floor, behind a windowthe reflection of which prevented me from seeing exactly, but it must have been she. She had been the first to hear the plane and to feel sure that it was me. At the Place Saints-Croix, quite near, there was incredible animation, which I noticed on each tour while passing the house. An hour later the whole city knew my name, and there were even a lot of people who, later on, said that they recognized me! At 10:45 I landed on Les Moeres airfield. My folly was well acknowledged. This and past brushes with death convinced Coppens that he was too lucky to let fear affect his personal war against the Germans, yet he was frustrated in his efforts to damage the enemy. Then on March 17 the Germans seized two key guard posts at Riegersvliet from elements of the Belgian Cavalry Division. Belgian efforts to recover the positions were frustrated by the presence of a German balloon monitoring the sector from Bovekerke. Sergeant Major Charles de Montigny and Coppens volunteered to bring the Drachen down, and although they lacked incendiary ammunition, they succeeded in puncturing the gasbag and forcing its observer to bail out. The pair repeated their performance on a replacement Drachen, depriving the Germans of the observation posts just long enough for the Belgian cavalry to retake both. From then on, whenever the Belgians needed a volunteer to deal with a Ger man balloon, Coppens eagerly accepted the assignment. I had started attacking the Drachen by sense of duty, he explained. I went on by pride. Coppens finally scored his first confirmed victory on April 25, a Rumpler two-seater that he and Captain Walter Gallez downed near St. Joris. Soon afterward Coppens managed to wangle an allotment of 20 incendiary rounds a month from his superiors, four of which he installed in his ammunition belt for each mission. To make them count, he initiated a policy of never firing at ranges greater than 150 yards. He first tested that tactic on May 8, when he came so close to a Drachen over Zarren that he almost struck it, but succeeded in setting it afire. Returning to his aerodrome to reload with four more incendiaries, Coppens found another balloon over the Houthulst Forest. Diving on it, he burned that one as well. For that days double success he was congratulated by King Albert I and awarded the Croix de Guerre and Ordre de la Couronne. During a foray on May 15, Coppens learned to his dismay that the morning dew would literally dampen his prospects of setting a Drachen alight. He made three attacks through heavy anti-aircraft fire in an effort to destroy another balloon over Houthulst that day, without result. Blipping his rotary engine to low speed, he came on once again at the Drachens level, firing his last 30 rounds into it. Although the balloon still refused to burn, his long burst apparently severed its cables, for just as he began climbing above it, it suddenly shot upward, colliding with his plane. Coppens immediately shut off his engine, lest his propeller foul in the fabric, and hung on in terrified suspense as his Hanriot slid and tumbled along the sagging gasbag until it finally fell over the side. At that point Coppens pointed the nose earthward to build up speed, then switched on the engine and, when it roared back to life, pulled up and away while the perforated balloon descended to the ground and exploded. When Olieslagers and de Meulemeester expressed skepticism over his claim, Coppens pointed to scars left on his propeller blades by the cables and traces of balloon fabric on his wing and undercarriage. Four days later, Coppens roasted another sausage over Houthulst, for his ace-making fifth victory. Soon after that, he received a gift from the Frenchan 11mm Vickers machine gun with incendiary ammunition, specially built for balloon busting. Delighted, he installed it on his Hanriot, then used it to dispatch balloons on June 5, 9 and 10. Disaster struck the 9th Escadrille on the night of June 13, when a German bombing raid started a fire in its hangar, destroying or damaging all of the units Hanriots, including Coppens HD.1s Nos. 17 and 24. He got a replacement on the 18th, in the form of Hanriot No. 6, but later wrote: It had been recovered at Beau marais (Calais), where they had camouflaged it in an asinine fashion. It resembled one of those varnished wooden snakes you saw in toyshops.At the first opportunity, I had my machine painted blue all over. De Meulemeester had earlier flown No. 6 with twin .303-inch Vick ers machine guns, only to reject the arrangement. Now Coppens installed his 11mm machine gun on it. Coppens destroyed another balloon over Ploegsteert and a Hannover C.L.III over Warneton on June 24, but after he landed de Meulemeester found him sitting in the cockpit, trembling. When his flight leader asked if he had been hit, Coppens whispered: I just killed a brave man, and I killed him in the worst way I could. The balloon observer didnt jumphe kept firing at me with a little handgun. The burning balloon just swallowed him up. Although that image would haunt Coppens for the rest of his life, it did not prevent him from accepting a commission as a sub-lieutenant, or from finishing June with a hat trick on the 30tha balloon over Bovekerke at 0630, another at Gheluvelt at 0830 and a third over Passchendaele four minutes later. Coppens royal blue Hanriot was becoming an all too familiar sight to the Germans, who began to refer to him as der blaue Teufel. The result of my frequent attacks was that the balloons did not go so high anymore (about 900 meters instead of 1,200) or come so near to our lines (eight to 12 kilometers, instead of six), Coppens noted. The Germans were also doubling and even tripling the number of gun batteries around their balloon nests. After taking some leave, during which he was made a Chevalier de lOrdre de Leopold, Coppens resumed his scoring on Frances Bastille Day, followed by more balloons on July 16, 19 and 20, and another triple kill on the 22nd, for which the British in that sector awarded him the Military Cross. Coppens burned a Drachen at Ruyterhoek on July 24, but while attacking another over Reutel on August 3, his plane was rocked by an explosion. He managed to return to base, where the Belgians later learned from an enemy prisoner that the Germans had sent that last balloon up packed with explosives, specifically to blast the Blue Devil back to hell. Unfortunatelyfor the GermansI had dived out of the sky before the final arrangements had been completed, Coppens wrote, and had sent the sausage down, nicely roasted, with its charge of explosive, into the center of the assembled spectators! Coppens scored another triple on August 10, and on the 22nd he was given command of a three-plane flight. Two days later he burned two more balloons, followed by more on September 3 and 4. On the 7th he donned his dress uniform to receive the Belgian Legion dHonneur from King Albert and the Croix de Guerre from French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau, who much to the aces amusement, while bending over to pin the award on the diminutive Belgian, bumped his head on Coppens helmet. Coppens subsequently added the French Legion dHonneur, the British Distinguished Service Order, the Serbian Order of the White Eagle, and decorations from Portugal, Italy and Poland to his international collection. In mid-September Coppens received two more HD.1s, Nos. 23 and 45. No. 23 had an ugly and bad camouflage painted in Calais, he stated. I had it for a second plane and painted it in a beautiful royal blue, not dark, not pale.M. Hanriot very gently gave me a larger elevator of an HD.2, which I put on my blue HD.1it rolled much better, so it turned immediately when I was attacked, made a half-roll and passed under my attacker, who did not know where I had passed, until he heard me firing at him. Coppens burned two Drachen over Leffinghe on September 27, and another two days later, although while returning from the latter raid he came under fire from a nervous British R.E.8 crew, for which he lodged a protest with the Royal Air Force. On October 2, he and Sergeant Etienne Hage drove a German two-seater down out of control, but its destruction was not confirmed. Returning to his forte, Coppens burned a Drachen on the 3rd and two more on the 5th, raising his tally to 35. The Allies were advancing on all fronts by then, and with their offensive about to resume on October 14, Coppens and Hage set out at 0540 hours to eliminate the Drachen at Tourhout. Along the way Coppens spotted another gasbag 1,800 feet over Praatbos and dived on it, expending only four rounds before it exploded. Moving on to Tourhout, the two Belgians found their quarry at 2,400 feet, but as Coppens approached he was suddenly hit by a hollow machine gun round that smashed the tibia of his left leg and severed the artery. The sudden agonized spasm caused his right leg to kick the rudder bar, throwing his plane into a spin, with his machine gun wildly spraying the air. The first of these bullets at least hit the balloon, which burst into flames, Cop pens said, but it was a thing I did not know at the time, and I did not claim a victory. Though he was in pain and bleeding profusely, Coppens was determined not to fall into German hands, dead or alive. Using his right leg to work the rudder bar, he came out of his spin and, despite a bullet hole in the inlet pipe of his engine, flew the five to six miles to Allied lines in three nerve-wracking minutes. I wanted air, ice-cold air, to bathe my face and keep me from fainting, he said, so he threw away his goggles and scarf, although he stuffed his fur-lined flying helmet in his coat. I chose a small field by the side of the road, on which a fair amount of traffic told me that I should obtain help. The field, all too small, was hemmed in with hedges, and I had to put my machine down rather heavily in order to arrest its progress. My undercarriage, which had been badly weakened by the machine-gun fire, collapsed on contact with the ground. Stretcher-bearers rushed Coppens to the hospital at La Panne, where his left leg had to be amputated. King Albert visited the wounded airman the following day and invested him with the rosette of an Officier de lOrdre de Leopold. Hage, Coppens later learned, had destroyed a third balloon over Roulers before being wounded in the arm. After the Armistice and the liberation of Belgium, Coppens was made Baron dHouthulst and persuaded to stay in the army by the king himself. When he left the service in 1940, however, he had only attained the rank of major, having spent much of his time as a military attache in Italy, Switzerland, France and Britain. During World War II he resided in Switzerland, where he married and organized resistance efforts. In the late 1960s he moved back to Belgium and lived his last five years with Jan Olieslagers daughter. Coppens memoir Jours Envoles was translated into English in 1932 as Days on the Wing. He also wrote a biography of Olieslagers and was working on one for Italian ace Fulco Ruffo di Calabria at the time of his own death on December 21, 1986. An estimated 500 kite balloons were employed by each side over the Western Front during WWI, which marked the apogee of observation balloons, both as a strategic target and as a challenge to the airmen who tried to eliminate them. They were so closely associated with trench warfare that when the Armistice went into effect on November 11, 1918, a British communique announced it by declaring, All along the Front, the balloons are down. Amid the more technically advanced aerial conflict of World War II, tethered lighter-than-air craft would be put to other work, most notably serving as barrage balloons. Willy Coppens was not only Belgiums ace of aces and the leading balloon buster of all time, but also one of the longest-lived survivors of an extremely high-risk specialty. He and his comrades represented a unique breed from a unique time, the likes of which will never be seen again. For additional reading, Aviation History research director Jon Guttman recommends his own book, Balloon Busting Aces of World War I, as well as Days on the Wing, by Willy Coppens de Houthulst. Originally published in the September 2008 issue of Aviation History. To subscribe, click here. 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. 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. iciHaiti - Flag 215th : Commemoration at the Croix-des-Bouquets As part of the commemoration of the 215th anniversary of the creation of our Bicolore, the Town Hall of Croix-des-Bouquets will sing a Te-Deum in the Parish of Our Lady of the Rosary located in the downtown of the Croix-des-Bouquets, not far from the Place Beauvais, at 8:00 am to which are invited the local elected officials, the notables of the commune political, judicial, police and civil authorities, school officials and pupils, all cruciennes ans cruciens. After the religious ceremony, a parade of students, cheerleaders and members of honor will be performed in front of the City Hall to honor our Flag, symbol of our pride of people and Nation. The City Council of Croix-des-Bouquets led by Mayor Rony Colin with this event, wants to reconnect with tradition and instill in all the cruciens the spirit of civility and patriotism. IH/ iciHaiti Reps. Jan Schakowsky (left, at mike), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (center) and Rosa DeLauro (right) speak to a crowd of workers during the Women Workers Rising rally on March 8, 2017 in Washington, DC. Jayapal, the first Indian American woman in the House, and her colleague Mia Love, have led an effort to get 130 members of Congress to sign a letter urging the Department of Homeland Security to keep intact work authorization for H-4 visa holders. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for V-Day) This photo taken on April 18 shows a Kashmiri Muslim Bakarwal nomad posing for a photograph with livestock at a temporary camp near Udhampur, some 72km north of Jammu in northern India. The Muslim nomads who lead their goats, cows and horses up and down the Kashmir hills have never felt at ease in modern India and the gruesome rape and murder of a girl from the impoverished community has heightened their fears. (Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images) May 18, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - I am in Iran speaking at a conference on the future of the Middle East. The timing for the meeting is particularly appropriate due to the recent American withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which limited the Iranian nuclear program in exchange for suspension of sanctions. Initial discussions with Iranians revealed that they are less pessimistic about the development than are the Americans and Europeans present, believing as they do that the situation can somehow be reversed either by Congressional refusal to endorse the Trump decision or by rejection of the demands being made by the White House that all parties who were also signatories to the agreement (Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany) should also withdraw or themselves face secondary sanctions. The Iranians concede that the move by President Donald Trump will bring with it additional economic suffering and will also likely upset the delicate political balancing act prevailing in their country, with President Hassan Rouhani being blamed by conservatives for having entered into the agreement in the first place. It was an agreement regarding which the president had expended considerable political equity, and he has also been accused of exaggerating its benefits, having claimed some months ago that all sanctions had been lifted, which was not the case. The stagnant state of Irans economy has produced considerable unrest in recent months and it is anticipated that more will be on the way as the economy continues to decline. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Irans hopes that Europe will develop a spine and will reject the American overtures, joined by China and Russia, is perhaps too optimistic as banks will be reluctant to lend money for Iranian projects and foreign companies will be unlikely to risk entering into anything but very short-term contracts with the Iranian government for much needed infrastructure improvement. The major debate taking place is over where one goes from here. There are two distinct schools of thought, one of which basically asks whether continuation of what is essentially a unipolar world, supported by US power, in which the United States continues to be able to assert its vision of world global good order. This has been defined by Washington as a mixture of expansion of liberal democracy plus more-or-less free trade. Even though it was Israel and Saudi Arabia that were driving the rejection of the Iran deal, it was the United states that had the economic, military and political muscle to take the steps necessary to disrupt an international agreement that had other major signatories and the endorsement of the UN Security Council. The alternative view is quite different, asserting that Washingtons blow against Iran will ultimately be a Pyrrhic victory for Donald Trump as the blatant interference in what was a universally accepted largely successful treaty in which Iran was fully compliant will produce a global backlash against American interests. US military power and economic might give it considerable leverage to protect itself against any number of adversaries, but its huge and ultimately unsustainable budget deficits and debt make it potentially vulnerable. It is therefore likely that the first counterstrokes against Trumps vision of America First will be to accelerate steps directed against the use of the US dollar as the worlds principal reserve currency. There have already been moves in that direction, but they have succeeded in going only so far before being marginalized. This time they might stick because there is a large and growing consensus that America has finally gone too far in its role as global bully. One keen observer opines that the shift to a multipolar polity has now become inevitable due to American insensitivity and political blindness. The economic shifts that will, by some judgements, sink the US economy in five to ten years and lead to the rise of competing economic centers in countries like Russia and Brazil. It will be the beginning of an era in which Washington no longer will have either the resources or the will to attempt to maintain some form of global hegemony. No surprisingly, the participants at the multinational conference I am attending would welcome the day when an interventionist leader of the free world America ceases to be. Many Americans would also welcome it, though without the economic disruption. Philip Giraldi is Ph.D., Executive Director of the Council for the National Interest. A former CIA Case Officer and Army Intelligence Officer who spent twenty years overseas in Europe and the Middle East working terrorism cases. He holds a BA with honors from the University of Chicago and an MA and PhD in Modern History from the University of London. Those rivals are explicitly identified by Washington as Russia and China, as well as to a lesser extent Iran, Lebanon's Hezbollah, Syria, North Korea and Venezuela. All are viewed as impediments to American ambitions for global hegemony. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The violence in Gaza this week by Israeli military can be seen in the context of a wider policy in Washington of provocation. The shooting dead of over 60 unarmed Palestinians in a single day by Israeli snipers and the maiming of thousands of others, including women and children, was arguably a deliberate attempt to incite greater violence across the Middle East. US President Donald Trump has embraced the right-wing Israeli leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu to articulate an extreme partisan view of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in which Palestinian rights are non-existent. The gratuitous use of lethal force, while American dignitaries gathered a short distance away in Jerusalem, seems to have been a calculated attempt to provoke a violent reaction. If the US and Israel incited armed response from Lebanon's Hezbollah or Iran parties that have long-denounced American imperialism in the Middle East then the ensuing chaos plays well for Washington. It would give the US and Israel an excuse to step up military force against these rivals. That could take the form of more US-backed Israeli air strikes on Iranian and Hezbollah bases in Syria, despite those bases being legally present. For the US, the main objective of provoking greater instability and conflict is to undermine Russia and its recently regained stature as a major international power in the Middle East, owing to its successful military intervention in Syria at the end of 2015 to defeat US-backed regime-change proxies. The defeat of foreign terrorist proxies in Syria was a major setback for the US and its British, French and Turkish NATO allies, as well as for American client regimes in Israel and Saudi Arabia which colluded in the covert regime-change assault. To salvage this momentous defeat, and more generally, strategic decline, the US seems to have embarked on a desperate policy of provocation with the assistance of its client regimes. The aggressive way that Trump pulled the US out of the international nuclear accord with Iran last week caught many observers and European allies by surprise with his hardline, obstreperous manner. Everyone knew Trump despised the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed in 2015 by President Obama. But few expected Trump to violate the deal with such bellicose threats to intensify economic sanctions on Tehran, as well as on European states doing business with Iran. Vilifying Iran as a terrorist state and ranting against Tehran over alleged secret nuclear-weapons building, Trump was ostentatiously adopting the Israeli position of demonizing Iran. The Trump administration's warnings to Europe in particular that its firms and banks would be penalized for continuing to do business with Iran, as is their right under the JCPOA, seemed to be a calculated provocation to crash the accord and incite Iran to resume past nuclear activities, which Trump, as well as Israel, has intimated would be met with military attack. So far, Trump's provocations over the Iran deal have failed. Iran and the other signatories Russia, China and the European Union have agreed to continue implementing the accord. However, given this failure, so far, to sabotage the JCPOA it can be expected that the US and its regional partners will try to ramp up provocations. The Israeli air strikes on Iranian bases in Syria the day after Trump announced the US pullout from the accord appear to have been a deliberate attempt at antagonizing Iran even further. So too were Saudi claims that a missile attack on Riyadh from Yemen were "an act of war by Iran" owing to its alleged support to the Houthi rebels. Syria, Iran and Lebanon, as well as Iraq and Yemen, are in the firing line for embroiling the region in further chaos. Ultimately, however, the bigger targets for US-induced instability are Russia and China, which Washington views as "great power competitors". The American supply of lethal weapons to Ukraine earlier this month the first such supply after years of non-lethal military aid to the Kiev regime has rankled Russia. The deployment of US military advisors to oversee use of Javelin anti-tank missiles is a move that will likely escalate the violence in Eastern Ukraine on Russia's border. And, of course, the ongoing buildup of NATO offensive forces from the Balkans to the Black Sea along Russia's Western flank presents an even bigger vista of provocation. The relaunching of the US Second Fleet in the Atlantic after years of being mothballed is evidently part of a massive NATO mobilization. Elsewhere, increasing American deployment of warships in the South China Sea over alleged "freedom of navigation" concerns near Chinese territorial waters is another manifestation of Washington's foreign policy of provocation. Trump's superficial diplomatic engagement with North Korea is now being tested with Pyongyang's warning this week that it is not going to give up nuclear weapons unilaterally on the say-so of Washington. It remains to be seen if Trump's apparent flurry of diplomacy with North Korea will give way to the previous pattern of American belligerence and threats of war. If the US is indeed operating a systematic foreign policy of provocation, as seems the case, then we can expect the recent detente with North Korea to be quickly abandoned. After decades of proclaiming itself a benign global power, the stark conclusion is that the US is clearly emerging as a scourge on international peace. US foreign policy? There seems little else to it other than the US being increasingly wired for provocation and war. Finian Cunningham has written extensively on international affairs, with articles published in several languages. He is a Masters graduate in Agricultural Chemistry and worked as a scientific editor for the Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, England, before pursuing a career in newspaper journalism. He is also a musician and songwriter. For nearly 20 years, he worked as an editor and writer in major news media organisations, including The Mirror, Irish Times and Independent. May 18, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Its got to be either one of the stupidest acts that I can recall or a very wicked plan by Washington neocons to sabotage Korean peace talks. How else to describe the decision by Big Brother USA and junior sidekick South Korea to stage major air force exercises on North Koreas border. The prickly North Koreans had a fit, of course, as always when the US flexes its muscles on their borders. Continuing South and North Korean peace talks scheduled this week were cancelled by the furious North Koreans. The much ballyhooed Singapore summit between US President Donald Trump and North Koreas Kim Jong-un is now threatened with cancellation or delay. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Who can blame the North Koreans for blowing their tops? As Trump administration mouthpieces were gabbing about peace and light, the US Air Force was getting ready to fly B-52 heavy bombers and F-22 Raptor stealth fighters around North Koreas borders and missile-armed subs lurked at sea. This provocation was the first of two major spring military exercises planned by the US and its reluctant South Korean satrap. In case North Korea failed to get the message, the second exercise is code-named Maximum Thunder. And this right after Trump and his neocon minions reneged on the sensible nuclear treaty with Iran. In a policy one could call eat sand and die, Trump demanded that Iran not only give up any and all nuclear capacity (Iran has no nukes), but also junk its non-nuclear armed medium range missiles, stop backing the Palestinians, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, roll over and be good, dont do anything to upset Israel, and pull out of Syria. In short, a total surrender policy leading to future regime change. Hardly an encouragement for North Korea. North Korea was right on target when it accused arch-neocon John Bolton of trying to sabotage the peace deal. In 2005-2006, Bolton served as the Bush administrations ambassador to the UN. He established a tradition for the post of being anti-Muslim, pro-Israel and anti-Russian, a policy continued to this day by the current US UN rep, loud-mouthed neocon Nikki Haley. In the 2005-2006 period, after years of negotiations, the US and North Korea were close to a nuclear/peace deal. Enter John Bolton. He succeeded in sabotaging the US-North Korea deal. Why? Because Bolton, as an arch neocon, was fanatically pro-Israel and feared that North Korea might provide nuclear technology to Israels foes. As usual with the neocons, Israels interests came before those of the United States. Trumps newly named Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, is also an ardent neocon. Last week, Bolton went onto US TV and actually suggested North Korea might follow the course set by Libya, of all places. Libyas then ruler, Muammar Kadaffi, bought some nuclear equipment from Pakistan so he could hand it over to the US as a gesture of cooperation after the Bush administration invaded Iraq. The handover was done with much fanfare, then the US, France and Britain attacked Libya and overthrew Kadaffi. The hapless Libyan leader was eventually murdered by French agents. Is this what Bolton has in mind for North Korea? The Northerners certainly seemed to think so. Some wondered if Bolton and perhaps Pompeo were trying to sabotage the North Korea deal. Or were at least being incredibly obtuse and belligerent. Was Trump involved in this intrigue? Hard to tell. But he cant be happy. His minions and bootlickers are promoting Trump for the Nobel Prize rather ahead of events. Or was the US military rattling its sabers and trying to protect its huge investments in North Asia? The Pentagon takes a dim view of the proposed Korean nuclear accords. The burst of sweetness and light coming from Pyongyang just sounds too good to be true. Veteran Korea observers, this writer included, find it hard to believe Kim Jong-un will give up his nuclear weapons, particularly after seeing Trumps deceit in dealing with Iran and Kadaffis murder. Speaking of de-nuclearization, why does North Korea not demand that the US get rid of its nuclear weapons based in South Korea, Okinawa, Guam and with the 7th Fleet? Many are targeted on North Korea. US nuclear weapons are based on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Others are secretly based in Japan. Why not demand the US pull out all its 28,500 troops in South Korea and some 2,000 military technicians at air bases? Conclusively halt those spring and fall military maneuvers that raise the threat of war. End the trade embargo of North Korea that amounts to high level economic warfare. Establish normal diplomatic relations. Pyongyang has not even begun to raise these issues. Smiles and hugs are premature. May 18, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - The editor-in-chief of Wikileaks and Australian citizen Julian Assange has not been charged with any crime in any country yet he now sits alone, abandoned by his government, in the Ecuador Embassy waiting to see if he will be granted asylum. WikiLeaks Australian Citizens Alliance (WACA) will hold a mass rally on the steps of the State Library in Melbourne on July 1st at noon in support of Julian Assange. Julians mother Christine Assange told WACA: Now is the time for the people of Australia to take to the streets and let Julian know the government may have abandoned him but the people havent. The US, UK, Swedish and our own government have revealed their duplicity because WikiLeaks showed us. I hope every journalist, supporter of free speech, free press and civil rights comes to the rally in Melbourne to show their support for an award winning journalist who exposed the truth to the world. Speakers at the July 1 rally include: Adam Bandt MP (deputy leader of the Australian Greens), Patrick OConnor (SEP candidate), Lizzie OShea (human rights lawyer), Robbie Thorpe (indigenous activist), Daniel Matthews (founding member of Wikileaks). More speaker will be announced soon. Rap News will also make a rare live appearance. For more details visit http://wikileaksaustraliancitizensalliance.net/ May 18, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - On 14 of May 1948 Israel declared unilaterally her independence in a foreign land, called Palestine, supported by a UN Resolution sponsored by the UK (the United Nations Partition Plan of Palestine at the end of the British Mandate (euphemism for British colony), was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 29 November 1947 as Resolution 181 II). 1948 was also the year of the UNs Universal Declaration of Human Rights this year, 2018, the UN declared Human Rights are, like Israel, celebrating their 70th Birthday (United Nations General Assembly, Paris, 10 December 1948 General Assembly Resolution 217 A). During 70 years of Human Rights, the UN has tacitly allowed Israels ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, who lived in their own land, Palestine. The UN has allowed Israels massacre of Palestine against dozens of UN Resolution to restrain Israel from their aggressions on Palestine, killing tens of thousands of unarmed Palestinians, women, children and men. Destroying their livelihood, schools, hospitals and living quarters. Worse, confining 2 million Palestinians in an open torture and terror camp, called Gaza. All this under the watchful eye of the United Nations, thousands of Blue Helmets patrolling disputed aka Israeli stolen territory from Palestine and surrounding Arab nations. And the world at large by now 193 member-nations that make up the UN watching, observing, but not saying beep loud enough to be heard. It is a shame. Israel is a miserable and criminal disgrace but a worse shame is the United Nations, the collectivity of 193 countries who collectively hide behind the mantle of the UN. Those who have dared to protest in the defense of human rights and in defense of Palestinians self-determination are few and far in between, risking the sword of the emperor and his poodles. Most have bent to and are still bending to the king bull, Washington and to its master, Israel. This is what is lamentable, that humanity has become a spineless bunch of nations all kneeling in front of the big Satan, the torturing and killing monster, the US-armed to the teeth killing machine the little dog that counts on the unlimited support from the most horrific bulldozer. That is an atrocious and unspeakable shame. At least one honorable country, South Africa, has expelled Israels Ambassador over these most recent bloody atrocities. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter That is the ignominy of our humanity in the 21st Century. Yes, there are Russia, China, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, Syria and a few more sovereign nations that stand-up in protest, trying to use the corrupted UN system to right the wrongs to no avail. Of course not. The majority counts and the majority is being blackmailed by Washington on behalf of Israel into submission or else sanctions loom, in the form of blocked trade, blocked international monetary transfers, confiscation of assets abroad or worse. Where are the all so revered Human Rights that nobody dares to even cite, let alone enforce, in the case of Israels atrocities on Palestine, with the explicit support of the United States and most of her puppet allies? When Trump in December 2017 declared that the US will transfer her Embassy to Jerusalem, he endorsed just once more a promise made over the last 30 years by several US Presidents, from the Bush dynasty to Clinton to Obama but none of them implemented that promise, lest it would undermine peace negotiations. These promises by Washington were, of course, full of hypocrisy, as Washington always knew that peace was not on the table, that neither Israel or Washington were in favor of peace. Peace would have meant, as per the 1993 Oslo Accord, a two-state solution, meaning Israel and Palestine would live side-by-side in peace; two sovereign nations with equal rights. The Oslo Accords are a number of agreements between the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization [PLO]. The Oslo I Accord, signed in Washington DC in 1993; and the Oslo II Accord, signed in Taba, Egypt, in 1995. These Accords marked the start of the Oslo process, aimed at achieving a Peace Treaty, based on UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, fulfilling the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. The Oslo Accords are valid to this day. They counter then and today the larger objective of Israel and the United States of a Greater Israel, stretching from the Euphrates to the Nile, a nuclearized Israel, dominating the Middle East and disposing of the energy and other mineral riches of the entire region. Well, Trump, has made his campaign promise true. He ordered by his darkest handlers has cut the hypocrisy, using Israels 70th Birthday, 14 May 2018 to make Israels obsessive and oppressive dream come true, officially inaugurating the US Embassy in Jerusalem to the detriment of peace and the total destitution of Palestine. The Oslo Accords saw Jerusalem as the final jewel in the mosaic for peace in a two-state solution the Capital of both Palestine and Israel. Trumps decision although refuted vehemently by the UN has not only pushed peace light-years away into a phantom distance, but it has brought about a massacre an unpardonable massacre with Israeli soldiers armed to the teeth killing with live ammunition. Tens of thousands of unarmed Palestinians were protesting on the Gaza-Israeli border, in the middle of nowhere, at least 100 km away from the US Embassy inaugural celebration in Jerusalem. Israeli soldiers and police killed at least 60, twenty or more of them children and women, and injuring about 3,000 people who could not be properly treated at hospitals. Israel has blocked the shipment of medication and is systematically bombing Palestinian health facilities. The protesters were far away from Jerusalem, where the inaugural US-Embassy celebrations took place, cordoned-off by armed security forces and where the protesters could do no harm. The demonstrations were an expression of anger, of helplessness in the face of so much injustice which nobody, but nobody on this planet manifestly and effectively objected and intervened against. Palestinians know, this will mean more oppression, more subjugation to Israels terror tyranny more killing, more starvation as Israel is blocking vital food shipments to Gaza where 50% of children below 5, are already chronically malnourished. What happened on 14 May 2018 in Palestine, those who are behind the apartheid, ethnic cleansing and outright Holocaust Israel has imposed on Palestine during the last 70 years, belong, no doubt, before a Nuremberg-type tribunal with sentences as harsh as those inflicted by the allies after WWII on the Nazis and their Holocaust. Trump and his Zion-handlers are responsible for a massacre of unprecedented dimensions since Israels war on Gaza in 2014. And how many vassals of the tyrannical and criminal pair, United States and Israel, will now also shift their Embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem just to stay in the limelight of US favors, and, of course, to cement this universal Wrong? And where are the UN declared Human Rights, ironically also celebrating their 70th Birthday this year? Under the Human Rights Act the UN has a right to intervene in countries and situations, where massive human rights infractions are committed, like in Palestine. Dozens of such resolutions had been submitted to the UN Security Council, they were all vetoed by Washington. What good is the UN? None, whatsoever. No longer, not today, the system is totally corrupted, bought and blackmailed into submission to the wishes and political whims of the US and Israel. Likewise have all the related UN agencies been corrupted and swayed to favor the Exceptional Nation and the Chosen People. There is no way that the International Courts of The Hague would ever prosecute a war crime committed by the west, let alone by the wests chief criminals, the US and Israel. Its simply not going to happen. Not while the current power structures are in place. Why then even believe in this fake justice system? And who still dares quoting them as beacons of international justice? This is a farce, if there has ever been one. The noble ideas behind the creation of the United Nations and the Declaration of universal Human Rights have in the last 70 years been corrupted to the point of non-recognition. Corrupted by political pressure, blackmailing, by fear of sanctions, or actual economic sanctions all of which is only possible because the west is also living with a totally fraudulent US imposed fiat dollar-based monetary system that controls every financial transaction of every sovereign nation, hence can block any monetary move, seize assets abroad, and block international contracts, as they (almost) all are written in US dollars. The latter is gradually fading, as nations are aware of their vulnerability by sticking to the US dollar. Many are now dealing directly in their own currencies, trying to circumvent the US monetary control. But that recognition, again, is weakened itself by the fear of sanctions, or condemnation by US courts which have in fact absolutely no jurisdiction in another sovereign land. But, since under the current western Ponzi fiat scheme all financial transactions have to flow through a US bank either in New York or London, potential non-adherence to the rule is punishable, and that mostly by economic strangulation, regime change or death. Its a vicious circle, under which Human Rights are just a slogan and a farce; and under which the rights of sovereign nations, for example of Palestine, remain not more than a pipe dream. But despite all war crimes and massacres JUSTICE as human spirituality is still there, cannot be killed. It may be pushed away, subjugated, ignored, castrated and violated, but it doesnt go away. Its in all of us; just deep down and asleep in western minds, indoctrinated and brain washed by daily propaganda lies. The combined neoliberal onslaught with impunity from all sides reaches a level of increasing awareness and rejection; the fearlessness of diabolical actions by neofascist governments is about to cause an awakening, a consciousness that dares to say enough is enough. Take Frances Macrons labor reforms since February this year France has been plagued by strikes no-end and no end is in sight. This is the worst or the best France has known since the 1968 student up-raisings. France, under Macron, the Rothchild-implant, is also the most militarized country in Europe. The European Union at least for now and since Washingtons stepping out from Irans Nuclear Deal, is distinctly distancing herself from the extremist, unfettered neoliberal politics of Washington. Its perhaps too soon to call Victory but this abject, unjustified and criminal slaughter of Palestinians, of another blow of violent oppression of Palestine (there is no word that can properly describe what happened on 14 May 2018), may signal that the monster vessel on high sea is losing notch-by-little-notch its diabolical North. Peter Koenig is an economist and geopolitical analyst. He is also a water resources and environmental specialist. He worked for over 30 years with the World Bank and the World Health Organization around the world in the fields of environment and water. He lectures at universities in the US, Europe and South America. He writes regularly for Global Research; ICH; RT; Sputnik; PressTV; The 21st Century; TeleSUR; The Vineyard of The Saker Blog; and other internet sites. He is the author of Implosion An Economic Thriller about War, Environmental Destruction and Corporate Greed fiction based on facts and on 30 years of World Bank experience around the globe. He is also a co-author of The World Order and Revolution! - Essays from the Resistance. Home Search ICH U.S. Navy Reserve Doctor on Gina Haspel Torture Victim: One of the Most Severely Traumatized Individuals I Have Ever Seen By Jeremy Scahill May 18, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - An American doctor and Naval reserve officer who has done extensive medical evaluation of a high-profile prisoner who was tortured under the supervision of Gina Haspel privately urged Sen. Mark Warner, the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, to oppose Haspels confirmation as CIA director, according to an email obtained by The Intercept. I have evaluated Mr. Abdal Rahim al-Nashiri, as well as close to 20 other men who were tortured in U.S. custody, including several who were tortured as part of the CIAs RDI [Rendition, Detention, and Interrogation] program. I am one of the only health professionals he has ever talked to about his torture, its effects, and his ongoing suffering, Dr. Sondra Crosby, a professor of public health at Boston University, wrote to Warners legislative director on Monday. He is irreversibly damaged by torture that was unusually cruel and designed to break him. In my over 20 years of experience treating torture victims from around the world, including Syria, Iraq, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mr. al-Nashiri presents as one of the most severely traumatized individuals I have ever seen. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Nashiri was snatched in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in 2002 and rendered to Afghanistan by the CIA and eventually taken to the Cats Eye prison in Thailand that was run by Haspel from October to December 2002. He was suspected of involvement in the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole off the coast of Yemen. He is currently being held at Guantanamo Bay prison. Despite Crosbys pleas, Warner and five other Democratic senators have announced their support for Haspel. Warner backed Haspel after she sent him a carefully crafted letter designed to give the impression that she had changed her position on torture while simultaneously continuing to defend its efficacy. While I wont condemn those that made these hard calls, and I have noted the valuable intelligence collected, the program ultimately did damage to our officers and our standing in the world, Haspel wrote. With the benefit of hindsight and my experience as a senior agency leader, the enhanced interrogation program is not one the CIA should have undertaken. Haspel stated that she would refuse to undertake any proposed activity that was contrary to my moral and ethical values. But Haspel has refused to renounce torture, her role in its use or to condemn the practice of waterboarding. In fact, under questioning from Sen. Kamala Harris during her confirmation hearing, Haspel explicitly refused to say that the enhanced interrogation techniques she oversaw at a secret CIA prison in Thailand were immoral. That fact renders her pledge to Warner meaningless. It took her 16 years and the eve of a vote on her confirmation to get even this modest statement, and again, she didnt say she had any regrets other than it offended some people, said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a member of the Intelligence Committee. Listen to Jeremy Scahills interview with Sen. Wyden on the latest episode of Intercepted: I urge Senator Warner to oppose Ms. Haspel, who did not have the courage or leadership to oppose the RDI program, wrote Crosby. She stated that some of the techniques used against Nashiri are still classified. In her letter to Warner, Crosby stated that among the known acts of torture committed against Nashiri while he was in U.S. custody at several U.S. facilities, included: suffocated with water (waterboarding) subjected to mock execution with a drill and gun while standing naked and hooded anal rape through rectal feeding threatened that his mother would be sexually assaulted lifted off ground by arms while they were bound behind his back (after which a medical officer opined that shoulders might be dislocated) (Crosbys service in the U.S. Naval reserve is not related to her civilian work with victims of torture and, in an email, she made clear that her statements on torture and Nashiris case do not represent the Navy or the Department of Defense.) On Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell informed senators that he was fast-tracking the vote in an executive session. If confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; the President be immediately notified of the Senates action, that no further motions be in order, and that any statements relating to the nomination be printed in the Record, read an internal email obtained by The Intercept sent to Democratic staffers. Today were seeing what amounts to a secret confirmation, Wyden said. He told Intercepted : Im worried that if you have a proceeding like this, a nominee confirmed this way with zero meaningful declassification, this is not going to be the last secret confirmation. You will see other nominees coming up, and their record will be covered up as well. Wyden blasted the CIA and Haspel for refusing to grant the Senate full access to Haspels record and choosing instead to provide carefully declassified information intended to burnish Haspels image. I want the American people to know that the agency is covering up her background. Theyre covering it up because theyre trying to prevent what I think is the threshold issue of accountability because if the American people knew what I know, I believe the Senate would have no choice but to reject her confirmation, he said, pointing out that as acting director, Haspel is in charge of what the senators see and dont see about her record. She started with an enormous institutional advantage I dont know of a similar instance where the nominee gets to decide what is declassified about her and what isnt. In a statement provided to The Intercept, Yasmine Taeb, senior policy counsel at the Center for Victims of Torture, said, Its outrageous that Republican leadership is fast tracking this vote. The Senate cannot fulfill its constitutional advice and consent responsibilities when the Senate lacks meaningful access to all the documents relevant to this nomination, and when the public whose job it is to hold their elected representatives accountable remains largely in the dark. Senators have also asked for more detailed information on Haspels role in the destruction of 92 video recordings of enhanced interrogations conducted in Thailand. In a May 7 briefing to Senate Intelligence Committee staffers, also obtained by The Intercept, Crosby asserted that during Nashiris torture unauthorized techniques were always used with authorized techniques. Crosby stated that she could not discuss these unauthorized techniques because they remain classified. She cited a public statement from one of the CIA contractors who developed the enhanced interrogation program, psychologist James Mitchell, who said he witnessed an interrogator dousing Nashiri with cold water while using a stiff, bristled brush to scrub his ass and balls and then his mouth and then blowing cigar smoke in his face until he became nauseous. She offered to brief senators with appropriate security clearances on other classified unauthorized techniques. The bottom line on the Haspel nomination, said Wyden, is that the vast amount of information about her background could be declassified without compromising sources and methods, and that really does a disservice to the American people. Crosby told Senate staffers that the CIAs methodology consisted of strategic assaults multiple traumas inflicted simultaneously, as well as consecutively, in a manner designed to instill terror and maximize harm in the prisoners. The interrogation program, she stated, showed that torture is not just a crime of physical violence, but a way of destroying someones humanity. Crosby added: It is important to note that the barbarity of the torture methods used were shrouded and concealed in sterile euphemisms. In the briefing, Crosby described the torture in graphic, albeit unclassified, terms: The terror of being kept naked in pitch-black, shackled to the ceiling while music blared, covered in urine and feces while insects crawled on their bodies, in dank cells that were freezing cold or unbearably hot. The horrific conditions in between interrogations were in some cases as bad as the interrogations. These torture methods were inflicted for hours and days, for weeks at a time, over the course of years. The men became disoriented with no sense of when the abuse would stop. Some of the men wished for death. She concluded her briefing: The devastating human cost to this torture program cannot be overstated. Unfortunately, this toll is largely hidden due to ongoing secrecy and control that the CIA exercises. This is what I can say due to security restrictions. Crosby, who is currently at the Guantanamo prison examining Nashiri, told The Intercept that she could not offer further details because they are classified and, for the same reason, cannot speak about Haspels specific role in Nashiris torture. However, a brief prepared by Crosbys organization, Physicians for Human Rights, asserts: The CIA site in Thailand formed the blueprint for the rest of the CIA torture program. After her assignment there, Haspel continued to hold senior operational roles in the program, where presumably she would have been in a position to know about other abuses at other sites . Moreover, she was an enthusiastic supporter of the program and worked to protect it from criticism. This included drafting a cable ordering the shredding of videotapes depicting torture sessions, despite a court order staying their destruction. This act of cover-up should have led to Haspels dismissal and should most certainly disqualify her from the role of leading the CIA. On Monday, The Intercept reported that a senior Warner adviser wrote an email to Democrats on the Intelligence Committee informing them that a classified memo compiled by the committees minority staff and aimed at examining Haspels full involvement with torture and destruction of evidence was removed from the Senate. It was supposed to be housed in a secure facility inside Congress, so senators and their staff could read it before voting on Haspels nomination. That memo, according to Democratic sources, provided classified details on Haspels role in torture, the destruction of evidence, and her tenure more broadly. The memo was based in part on the investigation conducted by U.S. attorney and special prosecutor John Durham into CIA activities following the September 11 attacks. On the eve of the committee vote on her confirmation, that memo was moved out of the U.S. Congress and Warners office said senators needed to ask his office in order to arrange to see it. Democratic sources have told The Intercept that few senators have read the classified memo. On Wednesday, 10 Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee wrote to Attorney General Jeff Sessions requesting that he provide the Durham report to the committee, saying that it falls under its jurisdiction over compliance with laws against torture, as well as potential violations of the Freedom of Information Act. This article was originally published by " The Intercept " - ====== Qatari man held for 13 years over links to al-Qaida: I was tortured on US soil Democrats Join in to Make Torture a Bipartisan Affair Join the Discussion It is not necessary for ICH readers to register before placing a comment. We ask that you treat others with respect. Take a moment to read the following - Comment Policy - What Or Who is Information Clearing House and Purpose and Intent of this website: It is unacceptable to slander, smear or engage in personal attacks on authors of articles posted on ICH. Those engaging in that behavior will be banned from the comment section. Search Information Clearing House === Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. May 18, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Singapore has been chosen to host the unlikely summit between U.S. president Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in early June. The choice for the summit venue went against Trumps preference for the meeting to take place at the Peace House in Panmunjeom, where the world had been captivated just weeks before by the amicable scenes of Kim walking hand-in-hand across the Military Demarcation line with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Given that Panmunejom embodies of the division of the Korean Peninsula, it is regrettable that U.S. and North Korean negotiators opted for the southeast Asian city-state instead. This is because the root of the nuclear issue stems largely from the decision by American military officers to divide the Peninsula at the 38th Parallel in the aftermath of World War II. The arbitrary divide led to a devastating war, decades of hostility between a previously unified people, and heartbreak for families forever separated from loved ones. One of the most tragic results of the division was the 1948 Jeju Uprising, which began on April 3 of that year and resulted in the deaths of over 10,000 of the islands inhabitants many of whom were civilians, including an estimated 770 children under the age of five. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The primary cause of the uprising was the 1948 constitutional assembly election, which was organized under the auspices of the United Nations with the aim of establishing a national government for Korea. Due to fears that it would exacerbate the existing division, the election was boycotted by the North Korean side and leading South Korean politicians, including Kim Gu, who had served as president of the Korean Provisional Government during the Japanese colonial period. The Workers Party of South Korea (WPSK), a communist group which had been banned by the U.S. military government in Seoul, also opposed the election and had a strong base of support on Jeju. Tensions had been running high on the island after police fired on a rally to commemorate the March 1 Independence Movement, killing five civilians and a six-year-old child. In the months prior to the uprising, roughly 2,500 of the islands residents were jailed, with many subjected to torture. On April 3, one month prior to the national election, the WPSK launched an armed revolt targeting police stations across the island. The U.S. military government responded to the uprising by blockading the island, sending in Korean national guard reinforcements, and using American advisors to coordinate counterinsurgency efforts. In August 1948, meanwhile, Syngman Rhee became the first president of the newly declared Republic of Korea, thus cementing national division. Backed by the U.S., Rhee authorized a scorched-earth campaign in Jeju during which villages were burned and thousands of suspected guerrillas summarily executed without trial. Hundreds more were rounded up and sent to prisons across the country following dubious convictions of rebellion. Rhee also deployed a paramilitary force, the Northwest Youth League, which consisted on anti-communists who had fled North Korea and were responsible for some of the worst atrocities. Conscious of this past, South Korean President Moon Jae-in recently visited Jeju on the 70th anniversary of the uprising and delivered a powerful speech at the islands April 3 Peace Park, which houses grave markers for thousands of victims whose bodies were never recovered. In his address, Moon apologized for the pain stemming from state violence and resolved to provide compensation for the victims family members and restore the reputations of those wrongly convicted by military courts. He also spoke of needing to avoid being trapped in a worn-out ideological framework. Of course, the Korean Peninsula is still trapped in an ideological framework, the seeds of which were sown in part due to the tragic events on Jeju. One clear manifestation of this conflict is the standoff over the North Korean nuclear program and the long-standing hostility between that country and the United States. At the heart of this animosity is the blame which the North Korean regime assigns the American government for its role in dividing the Peninsula in 1945. When the leaders of these two sides sit down in Singapore next month, Trump and Kim will be burdened not just with the complex issue of North Korean denuclearization, but also with historical grievances that go back decades. Establishing a sense of trust and goodwill should thus be the first issue on the agenda. Apologies can go a long way toward fostering these qualities, and perhaps nowhere does this hold truer than in Korea. After all, this is a country where hundreds still gather every Wednesday outside of the Japanese embassy to demand an apology over the issue of Korean comfort women forced to serve in brothels for the Japanese military during World War II. By following the lead of President Moon and offering an apology for the United States role in facilitating the bloodshed on Jeju and the worn-out ideological framework on the Korean Peninsula, Trump would be signaling his acknowledgement of a problem that goes far beyond the nuclear issue. Such a gesture would be warmly welcomed by Koreans on both sides of the DMZ. Most importantly, it would provide a highly effective means of putting his summit with Kim Jong-un on the path to success. May 18, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Monstrous. Frightful. Wicked. Its strange how the words just run out in the Middle East today. Sixty Palestinians dead. In one day. Two-thousand-four-hundred wounded, more than half by live fire. In one day. The figures are an outrage, a turning away from morality, a disgrace for any army to create. And we are supposed to believe that the Israeli army is one of purity of arms? And we have to ask another question. If its 60 Palestinians dead in a day this week, what if its 600 next week? Or 6,000 next month? Israels bleak excuses and Americas crude response raise this very question. If we can now accept a massacre on this scale, how far can our immune system go in the days and weeks and months to come? Yes, we know all the excuses. Hamas corrupt, cynical, no purity there was behind the Gaza demonstrations. Some of the protesters were violent, sent burning kites kites, for heavens sake across the border, others threw stones; though since when has stone-throwing been a capital offence in any civilised country? If an eight-month-old baby dies after tear gas inhalation, what were her parents doing bringing their infant child to the Gaza border? And so it goes on. Why complain about dead Palestinians when we have the Sisis in Egypt and the Assads in Syria and the Saudis in Yemen to contend with? But no, the Palestinians must always be guilty. The victims are themselves the culprits. This is exactly what the Palestinians have had to endure for 70 years. Remember how they were to blame for their own exodus seven decades ago, because they followed the instructions of radio stations to leave their homes until the Jews of Israel were driven into the sea. Only, of course, the radio broadcasts never existed. We still must thank Israels new historians for proving this. The broadcasts were a myth, part of Israels foundational national history invented to ensure that the new state far from being founded on the ruins of others homes was a land without people. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter And it was a marvel to behold the way in which the same old reporting cowardice began to infect the medias account of what happened in Gaza. CNN called the Israeli killings a crackdown. References to the tragedy of the Palestinians in many news media referred to their displacement 70 years ago, as if they happened to be on holiday at the time of the Nakba, the catastrophe, as its known, and just couldnt make it home again. The word to use should have been perfectly clear: dispossession. Because that is what happened to the Palestinians all those years ago and what is still happening in the West Bank today, as you read this courtesy of men like Jared Kushner, Donald Trumps son-in-law, a supporter of these wretched and illegal colonies built on Arab lands and appropriated from Arabs who have owned and lived on the land for generations. And so we come to the most ghastly of all fateful events last week: the simultaneous bloodbath in Gaza and the glorious opening of the new US embassy in Jerusalem. Its a great day for peace, Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced. When I heard that, I wondered if my hearing was defective. Did he actually say those words? Alas, he did. At times like this, it is an immense relief to find that journals like the Israeli daily Haaretz maintain their sense of honour. And the most remarkable piece of reportage came in The New York Times where Michelle Goldberg caught perfectly the horror of both Gaza and the embassy opening in Jerusalem. The latter, she wrote, was grotesque a consummation of the cynical alliance between hawkish Jews and Zionist evangelicals who believe that the return of Jews to Israel will usher in the apocalypse and the return of Christ, after which Jews who dont convert will burn forever. Goldberg pointed out that Robert Jeffress, a Dallas pastor, gave the opening prayer at the embassy ceremony. Jeffress, who once claimed that religions like Mormonism, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism lead people to an eternity of separation from God in hell. The closing benediction came from John Hagee, an end-times preacher who, Goldberg recalled, once said that Hitler was sent by God to drive the Jews to their ancestral homeland. Of Gaza, she added: Even if you completely dismiss the Palestinian right of return which I find harder to do now that Israel has all but abandoned the possibility of a Palestinian state it hardly excuses the Israeli militarys disproportionate violence. Im not so sure, though, that Democrats have become more emboldened to discuss Israeli occupation as she thinks. But I think shes right when she says that as long as Trump is president it may be that Israel can kill Palestinians, demolish their homes and appropriate their land with impunity. Rarely in modern times have we come across an entire people the Palestinians treated as a non-people. Amid the trash and rats of the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Lebanon oh fateful names they remain there is a hut museum of items brought into Lebanon from Galilee by those first refugees of the late 1940s: coffee pots and front door keys to houses long destroyed. They locked up their houses, many of them, planning to return in a few days. But they are dying fast, that generation, like the dead of the Second World War. Even in the oral archives of the Palestinian expulsion (at least 800 survivors are recorded), organised in the American University of Beirut, they are finding that many whose voices were recorded in the late 1990s have since died. So will they go home? Will they return? That, I suspect, is Israels greatest fear, not because there are homes to return to but because there are millions of Palestinians who claim their right under UN resolutions and who might turn up in their tens of thousands at the border fence in Gaza next time. How many snipers will Israel need then? And, of course, there are the pitiful ironies. For there are families in Gaza whose grandfathers and grandmothers were driven from their homes less than a mile from Gaza itself, from two villages which existed precisely where today stands the Israeli town of Sderot, so often rocketed by Hamas. They can still see their lands. And when you can see your land, you want to go home. May 18, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - The United Nations' top human rights body has voted to send a team of international war crimes investigators to probe the deadly shootings of Gaza protesters by Israeli forces. A resolution calling on the UN Human Rights Council to "urgently dispatch an independent, international commission of inquiry" was backed on Friday by 29 members. The members - United States and Australia - voted against and 14 abstained. Investigators must "investigate all alleged violations and abuses ... in the context of the military assaults on large scale civilian protests that began on 30 March 2018", the approved resolution said. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The commission of inquiry will be asked to produce a final report next March. The 28th Special Session of the Council "Violations of international law in the context of large-scale civilian protests in the #OPT, including East Jerusalem" has concluded. The draft Resolution has been adopted by 29 votes in favor, 2 against, 14 abstentions. pic.twitter.com/C1MOS6aTPn HRC SECRETARIAT (@UN_HRC) May 18, 2018 Earlier on Friday, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, the UN human rights chief, had backed calls for an international probe. He heavily criticised Israel's response to the weeks-long mass protests in the Gaza Strip as "wholly disproportionate". Israel was an occupying power and under international law, it was obliged to protect the people of Gaza and ensure their welfare, he said. But instead Gaza residents were "caged in a toxic slum from birth to death", added Zeid. At least 62 Palestinians were killed and thousands were wounded in a single day of protests on Monday, but Zeid pointed out that "on the Israeli side, one soldier was reportedly wounded, slightly, by a stone". "There is little evidence of any attempt to minimise casualties on Monday," said Zeid. Since protests began on March 30, Israeli forces have killed 106 Palestinians, including 15 children. More than 12,000 have been wounded, at least 3,500 by live ammunition. Speaking to the session via a video recording, Michael Lynk, UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Palestine, said Israel's use of force may amount to "a war crime". Both Israel and the United States rejected the council's resolution, saying Hamas, which rules Gaza, instigated the violence - an allegation the group denies. Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith, reporting from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, said Palestinians "do not believe they can rely on the US to put any pressure on Israel, so they are turning to international institutions for help. "They hope an investigation or a fact finding mission will expose Israel's tactics in Gaza to more international scrutiny," he added. Israel has defended the killing of protesters, saying it was acting in self-defence to protect its borders and communities. In a statement, the Israeli foreign ministry said the council was "dominated by hypocrisy and absurdity". Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters in the Gaza Strip continued rallying near the fence with Israel on Friday. Al Jazeera's Hoda Abdel-Hamid, reporting from the protest site, said the atmosphere there was more calm than in recent weeks. "Protesters burned tires, some of them tried to hurl stones, but we haven't seen the tensions we have seen in the past few weeks," she said. "We've seen a little bit of tear gas, but there hasn't been any gunfire". Some two million people live in the Gaza Strip, a coastal territory that shares borders with Egypt and Israel. Both countries maintain a blockade of Gaza for security reasons, a move the UN said has caused the territory's economy to collapse. On Thursday, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said he has ordered the Rafah border crossing to be opened for the Muslim month of Ramadan "to ensure the easing of the burdens on the brothers in the Gaza Strip". Ubi Franklin has been accused of sleeping with all House of Lunettes ambassadors. This is coming after the eyewear brand welcomed BBNaijas finalist Ceece as its latest ambassador. Ceece who had been spotted a couple of times with the serial entrepreneur has left tongues wagging just like in the case of Tboss who is also a product of Big Brother Naija! According to a non fan of Ubi Franklin, anyone sleeping with Ubi gets the favour of being signed as an ambassador of Nigerias biggest eyewear retail chain. First it was Lilian who once married to Ubi, then Tboss and now Ceece. Recall that House Of Lunettes had Lilian Esoro as its brand ambassador in 2016. -36NG Hushpuppi, who has been alleged to be one of the most popular and richest internet fraudsters from Nigeria rarely talks but his upscale lifestyle has been doing the talking for him. This time, he seems to have a story to tell after being irked. A former director of social media of the Peoples Democratic Party and self-acclaimed human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju recently recommended Hushpuppi (real name Ramoni) for investigation and prosecution by the anti-graft body, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. He made the controversial recommendation while commending the EFCC for the arrest of six internet fraudsters popularly known as Yahoo Boys in Abuja. Adeyanju believes Hushpuppi who serially flaunts his uncanny wealthy on social media is into internet fraud which the young man has also not denied. This is second time Adeyanju is recommending Hushpuppi for arrest by the EFCC operatives but the body appearing unconcerned. His recommendation which happened via Twitter went viral thereby necessitating responses from Hushpuppi. Hushpuppi is one of the most flamboyant Nigerian youths on social media. He strictly wears mostly expensive Gucci wears and holidays at the exotic locations across the world. He once expended a whopping sum of N11.5 million at one of the classiest club houses in Lagos State identified as Quilox, owned by socialite Shina Peller. Overtime, his presence on social media has intimidated hundreds of local celebrities whom he has accused of wearing fake designer clothes, shoes, wristwatches and others at different occasions. Musicians namely Phyno, Ice Prince, Kcee have had skirmishes with him over what they wear. Hushpuppi once lived in Malaysia and has reportedly moved to Dubai, United Arab Emirates where he basks in luxury doing what nobody knows. The social media tells us he is into high-profile internet fraud and the bearded young man whose mother hails from the Niger Delta region has refused to debunk the criminal stories trailing him. He seems to love the identity. He has over 1 million followers on Instagram and on his bio, you are welcomed with the bold message; The Billionaire Gucci Master Hushpuppi who has lived outside Nigeria for 8 years has threatened to drop his citizenship as he makes a response to Deji Adeyanjus apparent attack on his personality. He made a video yesterday with mixed emotions detailing his journey from poverty to luxury. Just like other picaros across the world like Pablo Escobar of Colombia, Joaquin Guzman aka El Chapo of Mexico and Lawrence Nomanyagbon Anini of Nigeria, there is a touching story about their stand against the law. He spoke about the spate of poverty in his family stemming from several generations before his parents who wallowed in poverty. He recalled how his sister died of typhoid fever as well as his personal struggles as a man to make it from nothing. He regarded the Nigerian state as a failure which has disappointed the millions of her citizens. It should be noted Adeyanju also challenged Hushpuppi to a debate in front of the EFCC office in Abuja which he has accepted but he gave his conditions. Ridiculously, Hushpuppi would also love to engage in a physical fight with Adeyanju during the death during which he hopes to do some damage on his face and make an impression of his source of money through vast injuries. Yes, I accept your debate challenge. First you have to know to invite me to Nigeria; it comes with a cost just like other people who have been inviting me for appearances in so many different countries worldwide. It comes with a cost which you have to discuss with me if you want to see me, I dont care about you. You have to realize it comes with a first class ticket, a 5-star hotel, on ground security since the country is not safe it is well known for kidnapping people and all these things, you have to provide me with my meals, I have my own preferences, you know the kind of meals I eat he said. Hushpuppi also wants the debate location to be shifted from the vicinity of the EFCC office in Abuja and taken to the people since Adeyanju claims to fight for them. Hushuppi hopes to debate with him at the Oyingbo Market in the Ebute Metta area, Idumota market and Yaba area which is close to the psychiatric hospital where he believes Adeyanju will end up as his mother opined. Funny enough, Adeyanjus source of income is also unknown but some believe he is a professional protester. It is not clear if that is a paid job anywhere in the world. Deji has been involved in several protests for and against the enemies of the state. He has been accused of benefitting from the financial corruption orchestrated by members of the then ruling party, PDP. Well, back to the issue at hand; after a series of threats to Adeyanjus life, Huspuppi gave clues about what the debate points would look like. He wants to debate on the spate of poverty in Nigeria as it riddled his family. When you are coming to this debate, please be well prepared to answer some very good questions that I have for you and Nigerians. You have to explain to me personally why is it that my elder sister, the one I was immediately born after had to die of just Typhoid in Nigeria in Gbagada General Hospital (Lagos)? Why did my sister have to die because my parents didnt have enough money? Why did she have to die cos they didnt attend to her quick in the hospital? You have to answer these questions that give me pains that I go through all the time, everyday in my life. You have to be able tell me why my parents have to suffer so much and they cant be proud of N1,000 that has been given to them by the federal government. My mother is from the Niger Delta part of Nigeria where Nigerias oil comes from. She has never benefitted one dollar from the Niger Delta, the oil-producing part of Nigeria where she comes from and she is over 60 years old he harped. He went on to explain that many generations before his parents have been stricken by poverty and he is the only one who has escaped by the whiskers. He narrates that his father has worked harder that Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Olusegun Obasanjo and yet there is nothing to show for it. According to him, only him among the children of his parents has been so far successful in life. He attributed the recent attacks on him to envy as he has been through so much hardship in life. I suffer, okada don jam me so many times, motor don jam me for the same Nigeria. I don nearly die. I come escape, I come escape una country, just few years I don dey enjoy. This enjoyment never even mature. Just this small enjoyment wey I dey enjoy never dey equilibrium with the suffer wey I don suffer. I don suffer for decades, I never enjoy reach 5 years sef. Una dey look say no, dem suppose bring me back make I come suffer, say na must say I must suffer he lamented in Pidgin English. Hushpuppi believes the government owes him an explanation as to why his father languished in penury for so long. He revealed that his fathers second wife also passed away in the course of his fathers travails. He lamented on the general sufferings in Nigeria specifically mentioning the deplorable state of people living in Badagry which is at the outskirts of Lagos, Agege, Iyana Ipaja as well as Ebonyi and Nassarawa States which according to him have been starved of developmental projects. He believes negligence on the part of the government has further impoverished the people. Hushpuppi said his story must be used as documentary to give hope to the youths. My papa when im dey 4 years old, him papa die. At the age of 7 them put am inside motor wey carry yam and cow dey go north. My papa follow motor go north. At the age of 8, 9, my papa don dey work for bakery for north from Ijebu. My papa suffer. E acquire many things, e get to where him want you know. My papa really go through a lot you know. I nor fit dey remember so many things. I nor fit open my eyes down dey talk my papa story because e dey cause me so many pains. Una know go understand. He said he travelled to Ethiopia and slept with donkeys in an uncompleted building in his first trip out of Nigeria. He recalled how he suffered in Ghana and Ashimota where he sold phones. Hushpuppi believes God answered his prayers a few years ago and alot of Nigerians believe he doesnt deserve the opulence he is basking in. He said Nigerians should be more concerned about the less-privileged in the country who are looking for opportunities to leave the shores of the country for better opportunities abroad. His story has appealed to the hearts of thousands of Nigerian youths who have turned against Adeyanju despite been left in the dark about the source of income of Hushpuppi. Rumours have it that Hushpuppi is worth over $20 million dollars which beggars belief. Watch a video of Hushpuppi making these revelations below: https://youtu.be/cP7HVElZgZ8 -Gistreel Big Brother Naija finalist, Alex came for an Instagram user who told her she needs to create her own identity separate from Tobi because she looks unserious. Alex replied by stating if the lady cant get herself a Tobi, she has a mental problem. Read their exchange below, Earlier in the week, the tall lovely served major hotness in a black dress which had her abs and her back on display when she graced a homecoming party held for her at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in Enugu. The beauty was out at the event with her bestie, Tobi Bakre who kept it simple in a white tee, black trousers and white sneakers. Sharing the photos and videos on her page, Alex wrote, There is nothing I can say or type that can show how grateful I am. Enugu,Nsukka, Im blessed with you people. Im proud to be a University of Nigeria Nsukka student. Im proud to be a federation theatre member. Im happy Im loved. You people increased my confidence in being myself. @stinblaze_da_comedian @mitchy_mike I cant thank you enough. The sponsors of my welcome, I am overwhelmed. @tobibakre you are irreplaceable. @z3lla_ I mithed u . See yasef. @teez_dora @nelly_cath God bless u. @poptvofficial Thanks for being around, the sky is a starting point. Many people to thank. Lemme come and be going before I type rubbish. May God bless you all. Never forget where you started from. #yourfavouritevillagegirl #unusual #wedyehair See photos here Leave a Comment comments Talk about beauty, exposure, class, talent fashion sense, intelligence, business sense and other qualities that could make a woman great; BamBam has them all in abundance. This must be one of the reasons why a social media influencer and Lagos socialite, Noble Igwe described her and Cynthia Cee-C Nwadiora as one of the classiest of the 20 ex housemates although he was severely bashed for that on Twitter. Today, BamBam whose real name is Oluwabamike Olawunmi is living up to the expectations of her fans. She is fantastically doing well for herself as she has floated her business enterprise known as Bam Oils which trades in beauty oils for women and she is making money from it. She has also featured in a Nollywood movie titled; The Foreigners God alongside her boyfriend, Teddy A. She is also bracing up to venture into music too as she sings like a bird. BamBam, 29, is a native of Ogun state, and she finished from Bells University of Technology in 2013. Before the house, she worked as a Marketing Manager at the Hausba Experience. She loves binge-watching movies, playing badminton and singing. She attended a film school, which was a way to overcome her parents divorce. She dropped out of the Igbinedion University due to poor academic performance. See more photos of her: Leave a Comment comments This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. A group of non-profit corporations including New Jersey Coalition of Diverse and Inclusive Schools (NJCDIS), along with New Jersey students, sued [complaint, PDF] the state of New Jersey Thursday for having racially segregated schools. In addition to relying on Brown v. Board of Education, the plaintiffs also cited the New Jersey Constitution, which expressly prohibits segregation by race in public schools. The plaintiffs used the data that 66.1 percent of Black students attend public school districts where the non-white students make up 75 percent or greater of the student population. In addition, 24.4 percent of Black students attend a public school district where 90 percent of the student body is made up of Latino or Black students. This is compared to the 42 percent of White students who attend public school districts that are made up of a student population that is 80 percent White or greater. The complaint lists three main causes of the segregation of New Jersey public schools: (1) residential segregation, (2) municipalities and school district drawn inside the segregated residential zones, and (3) state laws assigning students to schools by residency. There are three recommended forms of relief, (1) interdistrict desegregation plans, (2) interdistrict enrollment in magnet schools, and (3) regional controlled choice. These policies would include allowing schools to voluntarily send students to others outside of their residential district. CENTRAL POINT, Ore Residents of the Twin Creeks Retirement Complex in Central Point were evacuated due to an apparent bomb threat on Friday. Central Point Police Department (CPPD) said that they received a report that someone had called the retirement facility and made the bomb threat. Residents of the facility were evacuated by staff. Units from CPPD and Oregon State Police (OSP) responded immediately and swarmed the area. CPPD says that they made multiple passes inside and outside of the building and checked some packages that had arrived at the building recently, but found no evidence of an actual bomb. Police stayed on-scene for about 90 minutes. CPPD says that they requested a bomb-sniffing dog as a precaution, but none were available. An officer with CPPD said that they do not get bomb threats very often, but when they do, they take them very seriously. BY RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR and JILL COLVIN , Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) The Trump administration acted Friday to bar taxpayer-funded family planning clinics from referring women for abortions, energizing its conservative political base ahead of crucial midterm elections while setting the stage for new legal battles. The Health and Human Services Department sent its proposal to rewrite the rules to the White House, setting in motion a regulatory process that could take months. Scant on details, an administration overview of the plan said it would echo a Reagan-era rule by banning abortion referrals by federally funded clinics and forbidding them from locating in facilities that also provide abortions. Planned Parenthood, a principal provider of family planning, abortion services, and basic preventive care for women, said the plan appears designed to target the organization. "The end result would make it impossible for women to come to Planned Parenthood, who are counting on us every day," said executive vice president Dawn Laguens. But presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway told Fox News that the administration is simply recognizing "that abortion is not family planning. This is family planning money." The policy was derided as a "gag rule" by abortion rights supporters, a point challenged by the administration, which said counseling about abortion would be OK, but not referrals. It's likely to trigger lawsuits from opponents, and certain to galvanize activists on both sides of the abortion debate going into November's congressional elections. Social and religious conservatives have remained steadfastly loyal to President Donald Trump despite issues like his reimbursements to attorney Michael Cohen, who paid hush money to a porn star alleging an affair, and Trump's past boasts of sexually aggressive behavior. Trump has not wavered from advancing the agenda of the religious right. Tuesday night, Trump is scheduled to speak at the Susan B. Anthony List's "campaign for life" gala. The group works to elect candidates who want to reduce and ultimately end abortion. It says it spent more than $18 million in the 2016 election cycle to defeat Hillary Rodham Clinton and promote a "pro-life Senate." The original Reagan-era rule family planning rule barred clinics from discussing abortion with women. It never went into effect as written, although the Supreme Court ruled it was an appropriate use of executive power. The policy was rescinded under President Bill Clinton, and a new rule took effect requiring "nondirective" counseling to include a full range of options for women. The Trump administration said its proposal will roll back the Clinton requirement that abortion be discussed as an option along with prenatal care and adoption. Known as Title X, the family-planning program serves about 4 million women a year through clinics, costing taxpayers about $260 million. Although abortion is politically divisive, the U.S. abortion rate has dropped significantly, from about 29 per 1,000 women of reproductive age in 1980 to about 15 in 2014. Better contraception, fewer unintended pregnancies and state restrictions may have played a role, according to a recent scientific report . Abortion remains legal, but federal family planning funds cannot be used to pay for the procedure. Planned Parenthood clinics now qualify for Title X family planning grants, but they keep that money separate from funds that pay for abortions. Abortion opponents say a taxpayer-funded program should have no connection to abortion. Doctors' groups and abortion rights supporters say a ban on counseling women trespasses on the doctor-patient relationship. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said the administration action amounts to an "egregious intrusion" in the doctor-patient relationship and could force doctors to omit "essential, medically accurate information" from counseling sessions with patients. Planned Parenthood's Laguens hinted at legal action, saying, "we will not stand by while our basic health care and rights are stripped away." Jessica Marcella of the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, which represents clinics, said requiring physical separation from abortion facilities is impractical, and would disrupt services for women. "I cannot imagine a scenario in which public health groups would allow this effort to go unchallenged," Marcella said. But abortion opponents said Trump is merely reaffirming the core mission of the family planning program. "The new regulations will draw a bright line between abortion centers and family planning programs, just as...federal law requires and the Supreme Court has upheld," said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, a key voice for religious conservatives. Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life of America said, "Abortion is not health care or birth control and many women want natural health care choices, rather than hormone-induced changes." Abortion opponents allege the federal family planning program in effect cross-subsidizes abortions provided by Planned Parenthood, whose clinics are also major recipients of grants for family planning and basic preventive care. Hawkins' group is circulating a petition to urge lawmakers to support the Trump administration's proposal. Abortion opponents say the administration plan is not a "gag rule." It "will not prohibit counseling for clients about abortion...but neither will it include the current mandate that (clinics) must counsel and refer for abortion," said the administration's own summary. __ Associated Press writer David Crary in New York contributed to this report. EUGENE, Ore. - The Oregon Conference on Opioids, Pain, and Addiction Treatment invited community leaders, health providers, and health system leaders to find solutions for the ongoing opioid epidemic. Opioid addiction killed 63,6200 people in 2016, alone. The epidemic has hit Oregon hard. Though Oregon is no longer the #1 state for opioid addiction, it still causes more deaths per year than car crashes in the state. Michelle Marikos is a certified peer support specialist. She holds community forums that help people face their addiction and find help. She herself was dependent on opioids for 10 years. After she was pushed off of a deck 15 years ago, she found herself in chronic pain. She said she was initially on a small amount of medication but was put on even more after she had surgery. She said she felt stuck in that place. "Dark, very dark. Very depressed. Very fearful, angry. Emotional...high emotions and despair, Marikos said. Marikos said she saw the way this was hurting the people around her as well. When she wanted to have another surgery to hopefully solve her pain problems, she was told she couldnt be on these medications. She attended a pain program where she stopped using opioids. In the end, she didnt end up getting the surgery, and she learned to manage the pain on her own. One of the major parts of the opioid epidemic is overprescribed painkillers. Doctors prescribe medication to help people with chronic pain, and they end up being addicted. Dr. Jim Shames used to work in primary care. He said he understands how doctors could fall victim to this behavior. He said he, himself, just wanted to be empathetic to his patients pain and help them feel better. "If you treat people's pain, legitimate pain, they're not going to get in trouble, said Shames. You know, I kind of swallowed all that, and I think I caused some harm during my practice." Shames said looking forward, a few things need to be addressed to help solve this epidemic. One is finding the root of peoples chronic pain, as well as finding more natural ways to treat it. Another is making sure medical treatment for addiction is available to those who need it. This could help in a long-term battle and a short-term one, by saving someones life during an overdose. The conference began Thursday, May 17, at the Eugene Hilton, and will continue through Saturday, May 19. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The US Attorney for Oregon says in a memo that he will prioritize enforcement of marijuana overproduction and interstate trafficking in the state. U.S. Attorney Billy Williams is the first U.S. attorney to detail his strategy for enforcing federal drug laws in a state where marijuana is legal. The memo released Friday comes three months after Williams convened a summit in Portland to discuss what he calls a "significant overproduction" of marijuana in the state that's driving a black market and illegal trafficking to other states that have not legalized pot. Williams also says his office will focus on underage marijuana use and on cases that involve violent crime, organized crime and environmental damage. Williams notes that his office must "strategically consider" which cases to pursue given his resources. MASON CITY, Iowa- According to those with the City of Mason City, the Canadian Pacific Railroad Company is interested in tearing down train depot that is more than a century old. On Friday city workers as well as several locals came to take pictures of the old building saying they hope they can find a way to preserve the history of the depot; among those is 90 year old Lola Rhem of Mason City. Rhem said she remembers 50 years ago when her friends would take the train from Chicago and meet at a local tavern. Its those fond memories she hopes to preserve. Mason city is very dear to me, she said. I grew up here and I loved it. It hurts me to see things go down. Those with the city say the company has yet to apply for a demolition permit. ROCHESTER, Minn. A man caught by a police K9 is pleading guilty to stealing a car. Sean Alan Mikesell, 28 of Rochester, was arrested on January 27. Police say they were called about a suspicious vehicle on some property in the 6300 block of 10th Street SW. The vehicle matched a car reported stolen earlier in the day at a convenience store. Officers said when they arrived on the scene, Mikesell got out of the car and ran into a wooded area. Police say when he refused to come out, the K9 unit was called. Mikesell has entered a guilty plea to one count of theft of a motor vehicle. His sentencing is scheduled for July 9. CRESCO, Iowa The first sentence has been handed down in drug bust where five people were arrested. Billie Jean Hageman, 18 of Lime Springs, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine and possession of amitriptyline without a prescription. Shes been given up to two years of probation and ordered to pay a $315 fine. As part of a plea deal, six other drug charges were dismissed and she received a deferred judgment on the meth charge. That means is will be wiped from her record if she meets the terms of her probation. Hageman was among five arrested on December 12, 2017, after Cresco police searched a home in the 700 block of South Elm Street. Officers said they found meth and six different prescription drugs without a prescription. Michael Leyton Walter, 30 of Cresco, has pleaded not guilty to gathering where drugs are used, maintaining premises for drug use, and seven counts of drug possession. His trial is set for June 27. David Lynn Gaul, 58 of Cresco, has entered a not guilty plea to maintaining premises for drug use and two counts of drug possession. His trial is also scheduled to being June 27. Two other Cresco residents, Lance Aaron Souhrada, 44, and Kristie Jo Cobban, 43, were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Court records indicate they have not yet entered pleas. ROCKWELL, Iowa - If your commute involves Highway 65 between Mason City and Iowa Falls, be prepared for delays. This Tuesday, Iowa DOT began microsurfacing the stretch of highway, with only single line traffic alternating directions, which may mean waiting for and following behind a pilot car. Scott Huntbatch commutes from Mason City to his insurance office in Rockwell, and says that while it may be an inconvenience to some, he notes that crews are moving quickly. "It hasn't been too bad. If you just slow down, take your time, it hasn't been terribly inconvenient. They've been doing a good job of controlling traffic," Huntbatch says. If weather cooperates, Iowa DOT expects the project to be wrapped up by June 8th. FARMINGTON TOWNSHIP, Minn. Two people are hurt after a crash involving a pickup truck and three motorcycles. The Minnesota State Patrol says Carl Henry Mancilman, 64 of Pine Island, was driving a truck west on Highway 247 when he crossed the center line into the eastbound lane. The Patrol says three people riding east on Harley Davidson motorcycles laid down their bikes to avoid a head-on collision with Mancilmans truck. Two of the motorcycle riders were taken to St. Marys Hospital for treatment. Michael Alvin Hoffman, 47 of Mankato, suffered what are described as life threatening injuries while Regino Ortega, 42 of Dodge Center, suffered injuries described as non-life threatening. No one else was reportedly hurt in this incident, which happened around 11:27 am Saturday. The sheriffs Office of Olmsted and Wabasha counties, Elgin fire and ambulance, and Mayo One all assisted at the scene. FILE - In this Jan. 22, 2016 file photo, pro-abortion rights signs are seen during the March for Life 2016, in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington. The Supreme Court will not allow North Dakota to enforce a law banning abortions when a fetal heartbeat is detected as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. The justices on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, turned away the states appeal of lower court rulings that struck down the 2013 fetal heartbeat law as unconstitutional. The law never took effect and abortion rights supporters said it was the strictest anti-abortion measure in the country. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) Two North Koreans crossed the tense western sea border into South Korea on a small boat earlier Saturday, officials have said, the latest in a string of defections by North Koreans in recent years. Previously, the government said the pair was comprised of one soldier and one civilian, but corrected the statement in the afternoon, saying that both were civilian men in their 40s. There had been misunderstanding of one defector's identity, the government said. A South Korean Navy vessel spotted a small wooden boat carrying the two men in the waters north of South Korea's Baengnyeong Island near the western inter-Korean sea border, a Defense Ministry official said. The pair told the South Korean military that they were willing to defect to South Korea. The South Korean Coast Guard said its boat picked the two up after being notified by the military. The Coast Guard later handed the North Koreans over to South Korean intelligence officials in Incheon, a port city just west of Seoul, for questioning, a Coast Guard official said, without elaborating. Repeated calls to the National Intelligence Service, South Korea's spy agency, seeking comment went unanswered on Saturday. Harry Harris / AP U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday named Harry Harris, current commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, his first ambassador to South Korea at a critical diplomatic juncture on the Korean Peninsula. The White House made the announcement just weeks ahead of a nuclear summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and days ahead of a meeting in Washington between Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Harris was reported to be Trump's pick last month after initially being tapped as the U.S. ambassador to Australia. It is the first time Trump has formally named an ambassador to Seoul since he took office last year. The White House said Harris is a "highly decorated, combat proven Naval officer with extensive knowledge, leadership, and geopolitical expertise in the Indo-Pacific region." If confirmed by the Senate, Harris will serve as Washington's top envoy to Seoul at a time when the allies have been seeking close coordination on a range of issues, including North Korea's nuclear weapons program and bilateral trade. The Navy admiral was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and American father. He has led the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii since May 2015, overseeing the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea and waters near the Korean Peninsula. On foreign policy issues, he is considered a hawk, along with the latest additions to Trump's national security team -- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton. Pompeo reportedly wanted Harris in Seoul, not Canberra. South Korea on Saturday hailed U.S. President Donald Trump's nomination of Admiral Harry Harris, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, as Washington's top envoy to Seoul. South Korea and the United States have been closely consulting to ensure Harris can quickly assume his post, an official from the Foreign Ministry said. The official also said South Korea expects Harris to contribute to strengthening the Korea-U.S. alliance and friendship. The White House made the announcement on Friday ahead of next month's summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore. Trump is set to meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in next week in Washington. Rep. Kweon Seong-dong / Yonhap Prosecutors said Saturday they have sought an arrest warrant for a prosecutor-turned-opposition lawmaker over his alleged involvement in a hiring scandal at a state-run casino. Kweon Seong-dong of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party is accused of pressuring local casino operator Kangwon Land Co. in November 2013 to hire his former aide. Kweon -- the chairman of the parliamentary judiciary committee -- was not immediately available for comment. Prosecutors have also sought a warrant to arrest another opposition lawmaker Yeom Dong-yeol for allegedly asking the casino operator to hire dozens of applicants. Their arrests are subject to parliamentary consent as lawmakers in South Korea are immune from detention while the National Assembly is in session. (Yonhap) Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 81F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 64F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Angola, IN (46703) Today Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 81F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 64F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Courtesy of AXS TVPaul Rodgers, of Bad Company and Free fame, and Todd Rundgren will be featured on the latest episode of Rock & Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar, airing on AXS TV this Sunday, May 20. The program captures some of the action from the 2018 edition of the star-studded Rock Legends Cruise, which the Red Rocker hosted. In a preview of the show, we see Rodgers welcome Hagar onstage for a performance of Bad Company's "Rock and Roll Fantasy." The clip also includes an interview segment in which Rodgers tells Hagar about how he views his music career. "I don't really even think of it as a career," Paul maintains. "It's just like life is music and music is life." In another preview, Rundgren talks about the studio he built because he "wanted to change the rules of recording" for himself. Rock & Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. If you're on the waters of Prince William Sound, you'll have to be extra cautious. That's because if you run into trouble, depending on where you are, the Coast Guard says they may not hear your distress signal. The Coast Guard announced Friday afternoon that it cant hear distress VHF transmissions until vessels reach Port Wells in Prince William Sound, specifically on VHF-FM channel 16. If you are in the following areas the Coast Guard wont be able to hear a distress signal on channel 16: Northwestern Prince William Sound Port Wells Whittier Northern Culross Passage Passage Canal Hog Bay Knight Island Passage Copper River Delta to Icy Bay #ThisJustIn There's an ongoing Broadcast Notice to Mariners for areas with no VHF-FM coverage in vicinity of Whittier... Posted by U.S. Coast Guard Alaska on Friday, May 18, 2018 If you end up in trouble on the water near Whittier or Passage Canal this weekend, the Coast Guard says you should make your distress call to the nearest Coast Guard unit or call the Sector Anchorage Command Center. The number for the command center is (907) 428-4100. Verona, May 18 - A Pakistani woman forced by her family to abort the child she had conceived with a fellow Pakistani allegedly because he was an Italian citizen has been freed by police near Islamabad, sources said in her adopted hometown of Verona Friday. Pakistani police reportedly freed her in an operation, sources said. She is now safe and with representatives of Italian authorities, the sources said. The news was confirmed by Verona investigative sources. Italian police sources said the woman, Farah, was healthy and well. She has been taken to a safe location that has not yet been divulged. The police operations saw the involvement of the Italian foreign ministry, the Italian consulate in Islamabad, and the Verona police office. Former Fox News host Andrea Tantaros claims that her bosses hacked her emails, listened to private voice messages and secretly videotaped her at work were dismissed Friday by a federal judge. U.S. District Court Judge George B. Daniels ruled Tantaros failed to provide any evidence to back her allegations that she was surveilled by Fox News executives in retaliation for making sexual harassment complaints against them. The ruling also dismissed Tantaros claim that Fox News and its executives tried to intentionally inflict emotional distress through their actions. Tantaros, former co-host of the Fox News programs The Five and Outnumbered, filed the surveillance claims against the network and several of its top executives in April 2017. Advertisement The claim came after a state Supreme Court judge moved that her sexual harassment suit against Fox News should be brought to an arbitrator as stipulated in her contract. In the suit filed in August 2016, Tantaros accused Fox News of taking her off the air in retaliation for making a sexual harassment complaint against the divisions former chief executive, Roger Ailes, who was ousted in July 2016 after a sexual harassment scandal that engulfed the network. Ailes, who died in May 2017, is named in the suit along with former Fox News co-president Bill Shine. Tantaros also accused Fox News of orchestrating a cover-up and perpetuating a corporate culture of intimidation, indecency and misogyny and alleged that the 21st Century Fox unit was operated like a sex-fueled Playboy Mansion-like cult. Fox News said Tantaros was removed from the air after neglecting to allow the company to vet her book, Tied Up in Knots, before she promoted it on the air. Most Fox News hosts and anchors are contractually obligated to have their published works approved by the company. Tantaros complaint was among two dozen allegations of misconduct against Ailes. The executive was forced out of the network he founded two weeks after being sued by former anchor Gretchen Carlson, who alleged he sabotaged her career after she rebuffed his sexual advances and complained about a hostile work environment. Fox News settled most of the claims, with its parent company paying $20 million to Carlson. stephen.battaglio@latimes.com Twitter: @SteveBattaglio Petco shoppers soon can opt to see exactly what goes into their pets meals thanks to a new deal the retailer has inked with JustFoodForDogs, a Southern California purveyor of human-quality pet food. The partnership, announced earlier this week, will see San Diego-based Petco construct JustFoodForDogs-branded exhibition kitchens and pantries in hundreds of its stores. That means customers will be able to walk into select Petco stores and watch JustFoodForDogs staffers prepare the brands signature meals, made entirely from USDA-grade meats and local produce, and walk out with freshly made food for Fido. The customer has complete visibility into the process. They can see the raw ingredients, see the chef cooking the ingredients and buy the food that has just been made fresh in that store, said Rebecca Frechette, Petcos executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. Customers can smell [the food], and, if they want, even taste it. The idea is to pull back the curtain on the dog- and cat-food-making process, and, perhaps more important, bring in discerning millennial buyers to Petcos physical stores. The group, known to treat their pets like family members, often patronizes independent pet stores, where they pay a premium for raw, grain-free or organic brands. Advertisement Its pretty radical, JustFoodForDogs founder Shawn Buckley said of his companys partnership with Petco. Its one thing to put a Starbucks inside of a Ralphs, but this is crazier. Founded in 2010 and backed by venture capital firm L Catterton, JustFoodForDogs is based in Los Alamitos and operates 12 Southern California open-kitchen stores that produce a few thousand pounds of pet food per day. The start-ups first San Diego kitchen opened in September. The companys food is more expensive than off-the-shelf kibble but cheaper than buying many raw brands, Buckley said. A 7-ounce serving of JustFoodForDogs chicken and rice meal costs $3.95, while a 72-ounce supply costs $24.95. The kitchens at Petco will be near-replicas of JustFoodForDogs stores and will be staffed by JustFoodForDogs employees, who are trained to provide in-store consultations to curious pet owners. The first in-Petco kitchen should debut before years end, though similarly branded pantries, stocked with food made nearby, will arrive within a few months. Its a smart move, San Diego State University marketing lecturer Miro Copic said of Petcos decision to build the stores-within-stores. It gives Petco a point of difference for higher-spending consumers. Petco, he said, is wisely creating a better experience that will bring in curious customers with enough disposable income to spend on more than dog food. Americans spent more than $29 billion on pet food last year, according to the American Pet Products Assn., though just 5% of dog owners purchase human-quality food most often. Interest in high-end, premium pet food and treats continues to be a key driver for increased spending in the pet food category, the APPA, a trade association for pet product manufacturers, found in its annual pet industry report. The fresh-food kitchens, then, could help Petco get a leg up on its biggest rival, PetSmart, which is the nations leading retailer of pet supplies and the owner of the popular e-commerce pet food site Chewy.com. But Copic warns that Petco needs to do more than freshen up its food selection. If Im Petco Im rethinking my product selection, he said. If [Petco] is just adding the kitchens by themselves, then the company is missing a big opportunity to elevate its image and bring in consumers who are willing to spend more per purchase. Petco and JustFoodForDogs arent disclosing the financial terms of their partnership. JustFoodForDogs Buckley said the companies have a long-term, exclusive agreement, and costs are being absorbed by both partners. Van Grove writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. A website flaw at a California company that gathers real-time data on cellular wireless devices could have allowed anyone to pinpoint the location of any AT&T, Verizon, Sprint or T-Mobile cellphone in the United States to within hundreds of yards, a security researcher said. The company involved, LocationSmart of Carlsbad, in San Diego County, operates in a little-known business sector that provides data to companies for such uses as tracking employees and texting e-coupons to people who are near relevant stores. Among the customers LocationSmart identifies on its website are the American Automobile Assn., FedEx and insurance carrier Allstate. LocationSmart did not immediately respond to emails and telephone messages seeking comment on the flaw and its business practices. The LocationSmart flaw was first reported by independent journalist Brian Krebs. Its the latest case to underscore how easily wireless carriers can share or sell consumers geolocation information without their consent. Advertisement The New York Times reported earlier this month that a firm called Securus Technologies provided location data on mobile customers to a former Missouri sheriff accused of using the data to track people without a court order. On Wednesday, Motherboard reported that Securus servers had been breached by a hacker who stole user data that mostly belonged to law enforcement officials. Securus may have obtained its location data indirectly from LocationSmart. Securus officials told the office of Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) that they obtained the data from a company called 3Cinterative, said Wyden spokesman Keith Chu. LocationSmart lists 3Cinteractive among its customers on its website. Wyden said the LocationSmart and Securus cases underscore the limitless dangers Americans face due to the absence of federal regulation on geolocation data. A hacker could have used this site to know when you were in your house so they would know when to rob it. A predator could have tracked your childs cellphone to know when they were alone, he said in a statement. LocationSmart took the flawed webpage offline Thursday, the day after Carnegie Mellon University computer science student Robert Xiao discovered the software bug and notified the company, Xiao said. The doctoral researcher said the bug allowed anyone, anywhere in the world, to look up the location of a U.S. cellphone, said Xiao. I could punch in any 10-digit phone number, he added, and I could get anyones location. The webpage was designed to let visitors test out LocationSmarts service by entering their cellphone number. The service would then ring their phone or send a text message to obtain consent, after which it would display the phones location generally to within several hundred yards. But Xiao found a flaw that allowed him to bypass consent in just 15 minutes. It would not take anyone with sufficient technical knowledge much time to find this, he said. He wrote a script to exploit it. It was just surreal when I discovered this, he said. Xiaos research indicated that LocationSmart had offered the service since at least January 2017. LocationSmart touts itself as the worlds largest location-as-service company. It says it obtains location information from all major U.S. and Canadian wireless companies, with 95% coverage. Representatives for AT&T and Sprint said they dont allow sharing of location information without individual consent or a lawful order such as a warrant. Verizon spokesman Rich Young said the company has taken steps to ensure that Securus can no longer request information on the companys wireless customers and that it was reviewing its relationship with LocationSmart. T-Mobile did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Gigi Sohn, a former top aide at the Federal Communications Commission during the Obama administration, said user location data has been at high risk since last year. Thats when Congress repealed FCC privacy rules barring mobile wireless carriers from sharing or selling it without customers express opt-in consent. At a bare minimum, consumers should be able to choose whether a company like LocationSmart should have access to this data at all, she said. A musical that toys with Western views of Asia. Fresh compositions about booming cities. And a scandalous removal of public art on L.A.s Bunker Hill. Im Carolina A. Miranda, staff writer at the Los Angeles Times, with lots of culture news and one busted Picasso: NEW WORLD ORDER Composer Ellen Reid has been in demand recently, and her latest commission, the historically inspired dreams of the new world, by the Los Angeles Master Chorale, made it clear why. Reids score is wildly inventive, writes Times classical music critic Mark Swed, leaving little question about what all the fuss over her music is about. The libretto, however, is uneven, Swed says. At times, Sarah LaBries text can sing, but at others, it got mired in earnestness. Los Angeles Times Grant Gershon conducts the Los Angeles Master Chorale in dreams of the new world. (Patrick Brown ) Advertisement Swed also took in the first night of the L.A. Phils annual composer festival; this year its a three-week-long Schumann Focus. Of Robert Schumann, Swed says, He drank. He wasnt very good with money. But he was also one of the most influential composers of his time. Los Angeles Times POWER TRIP David Henry Hwang and Tony-winning composer Jeanine Tesoris Soft Power, currently at the Ahmanson Theatre, is a play within a musical that takes every Asian trope presented on a Broadway stage and flings it right back at the West. This, writes Times theater critic Charles McNulty, gives the show a radical originality. But it also makes for a story line that is overloaded. What does work are the shows phenomenal leads: Conrad Ricamora and Alyse Ann Louis. Los Angeles Times Conrad Ricamora, left, and Francis Jue star in Soft Power. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times ) The Times Jessica Gelt spent time with Conrad Ricamora, who is known for his role as Oliver Hampton on ABCs How to Get Away With Murder. Of Soft Power, which tweaks some of the most garish elements of American society, he says: This is the most uncomfortable show that Ive ever done. And I dont think thats a bad thing. I dont think its necessarily a bad thing for people to keep their brains turned on when they take their seats. Los Angeles Times Conrad Ricamora, who plays Chinese executive Xua Xing in Soft Power. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times ) In case you missed it: Times contributor Lisa Fungs take on why a musical with an Asian cast is so important. Los Angeles Times PUBLIC GOING PRIVATE For three decades, public works by Joan Miro and Jean Dubuffet have stood at what is now the Wells Fargo building on Bunker Hill part of a 1% for art program required by Californias now-defunct Community Redevelopment Agency. Now those works along with a public atrium space designed by landscape architect Lawrence Halprin are gone. The landscape was demolished, and the art was sold at auction this week by Brookfield Office Properties, which currently manages the building. This is scandalous, writes Times art critic Christopher Knight. It has breached the moral responsibility embodied in the publicly mandated and subsidized percent-for-art requirement that brought the great Miro and Dubuffet to Los Angeles in the first place. Los Angeles Times A detail of Miro's bronze sculpture La caresse dun oiseau. (Christies ) OLD SCHOOL Charles McNulty was in New York recently to catch up on musicals, and after a tour of duty through Mean Girls and Frozen he found himself most inspired by two shows he had mistakenly assumed were past their expiration dates, Carousel and My Fair Lady, re-staged by directors Jack OBrien and Bartlett Sher, respectively. The former is the perfect marriage of story and song, while of the latter, he writes: No version of My Fair Lady has moved me more. Los Angeles Times Lauren Ambrose, in white hat, plays Eliza in My Fair Lady at Lincoln Center. (Joan Marcus ) In search of more theater? Times reviewer Philip Brandes describes Antaeus Theatre Companys Southern California premiere of Native Son as electrifying. Nambi E. Kelleys new adaptation of Richard Wrights groundbreaking 1940 novel adds a new character and raises unsettling questions. Los Angeles Times The Times Daryl H. Miller also found the Southern California premiere of red-hot playwright Lucas Hnaths Red Speedo at North Hollywoods Road Theatre strongly acted but off-kilter. Los Angeles Times Miller also has the lowdown on everything happening at the citys 99-seat theaters, including a play inspired by L.A.s old Bimini Baths (the hot springs once located at Vermont near 1st and 2nd Streets) and another that takes on the difficult topic of mass shootings. Los Angeles Times RIGOLETTO MORTIS Mark Swed points out that, historically, the Los Angeles Opera hasnt had much luck staging Verdis Rigoletto. Its latest un-inspired go-around seems to be in keeping with that tradition. Despite an agile cast and some honeyed tones from soprano Lisette Oropesa, the old San Francisco Opera production with its Di Chirico-like sets, commedia dellarte courtier costumes and masks, oversaturated lighting, he writes, look as dated as the 1990s wide lapels. Los Angeles Times Lisette Oropesa as Gilda and Juan Jesus Rodriguez in the title role of Los Angeles Operas production of Rigoletto. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times ) LEGENDARY LOVERS Worthwhile is the Long Beach Operas production of The Love Potion, based on the legend of Tristan and Isolde, in a musically elegant version composed by Frank Martin. (There is one more show Saturday.) Times reviewer Rick Schultz says the opera provides a powerfully affecting alternative to Wagners more epic and revolutionary 1865 opera, Tristan und Isolde. Plus, its only two hours long shorter than an action movie. Los Angeles Times Bernard Holcomb as Tristan and Jamie Chamberlin as Isolde in The Love Potion. (Keith Ian Polakoff ) CELLIST OUT British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason was all set to play as a guest soloist with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra at the Alex Theatre in Glendale this weekend then Prince Harry and Megan Markle came calling. Star American cellist Joshua Roman will take his place, playing a program that includes Shostakovich and Vivaldi and which will be repeated at UCLAs Royce Hall on Sunday. The Times Deborah Vankin has the details. Los Angeles Times Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason: Tapped to play at the royal wedding. (Lars Borges ) JUMPING THE SHARK Apparently Damien Hirst is alive and well and headlining in Vegas. Or at least one of his sharks is. One of his formaldehyde sculptures is now decorating a new bar at the Palms Casino Resort, which also features work by a dude-list of artists, including Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Takashi Murakami. Deborah Vankin takes a tour. Los Angeles Times Damien Hirsts The Unknown (Explored, Explained, Exploded) at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. (Isaac Brekken / For The Times ) AMERICA IN PICTURES Steve Appleford talks with celebrated photography curator Anne Wilkes Tucker about her deep dive into the collection of 14 million images at the Library of Congress for the multimedia exhibition Not an Ostrich: And Other Images From Americas Library, now on view through Sept. 9 at L.A.s Annenberg Space for Photography. Her edited view of Americas story came down to 440 images, from the earliest known photograph of Abraham Lincoln and a portrait of Harriet Tubman to a picture of an initiation meeting of the Ku Klux Klan. Other images: scenes of New York City by a teenage Stanley Kubrick, Southern California bathing beauties and a house cat dressed heroically like the Valkyrie Brunnhilde, with breastplate and tiny winged helmet. Said Tucker: It just made me laugh. Los Angeles Times Anne Wilkes Tucker at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times ) IN THE GALLERIES Times contributing reviewer David Pagel has been making the rounds. This includes a visit to Mindy Shaperos convulsing installation at the Pit II in Glendale which will make you feel as if youre in a boat on the sea in a storm. An installation view of Mindy Shaperos Second Sleep at the Pit II in Glendale. (Jeff McLane ) Plus, he reports on Laurie Nyes exhuberant exhibition of paintings at the main gallery at the Pit, and Charles Christopher Hills wildly weathered art at Leslie Sacks Gallery. For more art exhibitions and events, check out my Datebook this week, which includes new video from Marilyn Minter at Regen Projects and the artifacts of Soviet hippies at the Wende Museum. Los Angeles Times IN OTHER NEWS Amid heated debate, the Chicago Plan Commission voted to approve Obamas Presidential Center. The design now moves on to zoning. Chicago Tribune L.A. needs to rent, not buy. Critic Alexandra Lange makes the case for a cheap Olympics. Curbed At Shakespeares Globe, an egalitarian production where everyone has a say. The Guardian The story of Margarita Xirgu, the radical Catalan actor and director who staged Federico Garcia Lorcas plays. New York Times Frozen the musical will launch its national tour from the Hollywood Pantages in 2019. Los Angeles Times Illicit Iraqi artifacts acquired by Hobby Lobby are returned to Iraq. Washington Post Casino mogul Steve Wynn doesnt have a whole lot of luck with the Picassos in his care. Bloomberg Artists are denied entrance into Cuba and an alternative biennial in Havana. Artnet A Dutch art dealer thinks he may have found a previously unknown painting by Rembrandt. New York Times Critic Mary Louise Schumacher is tired of biopics featuring genius men artists. So she came up with a list of genius women (which includes a suggestion by yours truly). Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sam Nzima, the South African photographer who captured a watershed image of an activist boy who was shot dead by the apartheid regime in Soweto in 1976, has died. The Guardian South African photographer Sam Nzima poses with his iconic photo in 2011. (Denis Farrell / AP ) The five winners of the Herb Alpert Award in the Arts were announced this week, and they are Okwui Okpokwasili, Arthur Jafa, Courtney Bryan, Robert OHara and Michael Rakowitz. Los Angeles Times That awkward phenomenon of the auction house painting with woman placed nearby for scale. Not like a car show with bikini babes (er, brand ambassadors) at all. Artnet Ballet with sports-style commentary is a thing. San Jose Mercury News And since we cant stop talking about Childish Gambinos This Is America video, Lynsey Chutel breaks down the African influences in the choreography. Quartz AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST I will do anything to end homelessness, except build more homes. It stings because its true. McSweeneys Sign up for our weekly Essential Arts & Culture newsletter carolina.miranda@latimes.com @cmonstah He sat in his seat, perfectly still, as if he couldnt believe the news. And he was not the only one surprised, as master Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda was the unexpected but very welcome winner of the Cannes Film Festivals Palme dOr for his Shoplifters. Kore-eda has been at the festival several times before, most recently with films such as Like Father, Like Son, After the Storm and Our Little Sister, but his brand of heartfelt, exquisitely modulated humanism is not the kind of flashy filmmaking that usually wins the big prize. This year, Kore-edas story of a family of small-time grifters whose decision to shelter an abused child causes unforeseen complications clearly touched the jury. Jury member Kristen Stewart even put her arm protectively on his shoulder during the group photo with the winners. The Palme dOr, it has to be something where all the elements come together, where the acting is extraordinary, the direction is extraordinary, where the mise-en-scene is profound and deep, the cinematography where all those elements are seamlessly interwoven, said jury president Cate Blanchett in the post-awards news conference. Advertisement In the end we were bowled over by how the performances were interwoven with the directorial vision. Were not here to judge, were here to choose. Its quite painful, but its an extraordinary film, she said. Also waiting a long time for his honor was American director Spike Lee. His sixth trip to Cannes earned him the Grand Jury Prize, the festivals second-most important honor, for BlacKkKlansman. Lee introduced Barry Alexander Brown, editor of all of Lees films since 1988, including this years submission, based on the factual story of a 1970s black Colorado police officer who successfully infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan. The film, which also includes footage of last years Charlottesville, Va., riots and President Trumps reaction, will be released this summer. The director accepted the award on behalf of the Peoples Republic of Brooklyn and said that when he is asked about the state of the world, he quotes the film title The Year of Living Dangerously. I repeat, The Year of Living Dangerously. Kore-edas victory was not the only surprise of the evening, which included the presentation of the first-ever Special Palme dOr for continuously stretching the bonds of cinema to 87-year-old Jean-Luc Godard, whose hypnotic but mystifying Le Livre dImage (The Image Book) was in this years competition. Perhaps the biggest shock of the evening came from Italian actress-director Asia Argento, one of the ceremonys presenters, who told a stunned black-tie audience by declaring that, in 1997, I was raped by Harvey Weinstein here at Cannes. I was 21 years old. This festival was his hunting ground, but Harvey Weinstein will never be welcome here again, Argento said. Even tonight, sitting among you, are those who have to be held accountable. You know who you are and, most important, we know who you are. Were not going to allow you to get away with it at any longer. Best director went to Polands Pawel Pawlikowski for the gorgeous, atmospheric Cold War. His follow-up to the Oscar-winning Ida, this film is a tumultuous love story set on both sides of the Iron Curtain between 1949 and 1964. Its the first time for a Polish film in a long time, the director said. Its a piece of great news, and we need good news in Poland these days. The festivals jury prize was awarded to Lebanons Nadine Labaki, one of three female filmmakers in competition, for Capharnaum, which depicts the horrors of life for neglected and exploited children. Also following someone whose life is a litany of desperation and chaos was Sergey Dvortsevoys Ayka, which won the best actress prize for Samal Yeslyamova, playing a woman who abandons her newborn baby and searches hopelessly for work as a blizzard envelops Moscow. Taking best actor for his work in Matteo Garrones Dogman was Marcello Fonte, who plays a put-upon dog groomer who finally has to fight back. The Italian actor was so stunned by his victory that he initially refused to take possession of his award after coming up on stage. The festival jury split the best screenplay award between two very different films: Italys Alice Rohrwacher for Happy as Lazzaro, a gentle fable about the life of an innocent in a world of exploiters, and Irans Three Faces, co-written by Nader Saeivar and director Jafar Panahi, who is banned from making films in Iran and forbidden from travel by his government, and therefore was absent from the festival. Accepting was Panahis daughter, who said that her father wanted to remember the late Iran director Abbas Kiarostami, who met him at the Tehran airport in 1995 to celebrate after Panahi won the Camera dOr for best first film for his The White Balloon. It was a moving moment in an evening filled with them. kenneth.turan@latimes.com Times staff writer Justin Chang contributed to this report. The woman said the attack happened in a dimly lit part of the jail. The officer ordered her to take off her clothes, then groped her breasts, the woman said. She claimed the lawman forced her into sexual acts again and again, threatening to remove her from educational classes if she did not comply. The womans allegations are the latest to surface aganist Giancarlo Scotti, a Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy who was arrested in September and charged with sexually assaulting six inmates at the womens jail where he worked. The former inmate, who made the accusations in a lawsuit filed Friday, also claims Sheriff Jim McDonnell and other county officials had been notified of Scottis behavior and put the deputy on probation but allowed him to maintain contact with inmates. It was during this time, in August of last year, that the woman claims she was assaulted. Advertisement The woman could be one of the six victims included in the criminal case against the deputy, said one of the womans lawyers, Araksya Boyadzhyan. The attorney said her client was interviewed by internal department investigators about the incidents but has not received a subpoena. A lawyer representing Scotti in the criminal case, Anthony Falangetti, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday evening. The 41-year-old inmate was six months into serving a DUI sentence at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood when Scotti approached her in a recreational space where there was minimal lighting, according to her lawsuit. The deputy demanded that she reveal her breasts, she said. When she tried to resist, he told her, You do what I say, or else it is going to be really bad for you here, the lawsuit says. In another incident, Scotti, 31, placed the womans hand on his penis, and on other occasions, he forcibly kissed her, according to her complaint. The woman was captured on surveillance video during at least one of the assaults, Boyadzhyan said. The lawyer said officials would have been aware of the act by looking at the footage but did not remove Scotti for at least several days. The Times generally does not identify people who report being victims of sexual assault. Deputy Scotti is still relieved of duty without pay, department spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said late Friday. We are aware of the civil claim and have been investigating the allegations. A report issued by independent auditors found that the Century facility is lagging behind on implementing federal requirements designed to prevent sexual assault and harassment in jails and prisons. The findings, made public in March, said the lockup was out of compliance on nearly every standard set by the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003. Auditors noted that some inmates could be seen while showering and that complaints could be intercepted by officers who might be the targets of allegations. The Sheriffs Department, which runs the jail, has said it has made some improvements, including educating inmates about their rights and on how to file complaints. maya.lau@latimes.com Twitter: @mayalau After discovering an error in the 2017 homeless count, statisticians at USC have reduced last years estimate of the countys homeless population by nearly 5%, officials said Friday. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority removed the 2017 homeless count report from its website Friday to make the correction, reducing the estimated number of homeless people in the county to 55,048, or 2,746 fewer than initially reported. The new total lowers the reported growth in homelessness last year from 23% to about 17%. The adjustment will also affect any increase or decrease in this years count due to be released later this month. A much larger effect appeared in the youth count, which was the source of the error and was reduced by more than half. From 5,979, representing a 61% increase across the county, the adjusted number of 3,233 is a 13% decrease. Advertisement Tom Waldman, spokesman for the homeless authority, said the adjusted count would not affect the agencys policies regarding younger homeless people. Our efforts continue unabated to direct and advocate for the resources needed to serve this vulnerable population, Waldman said in an email. Though resulting from a human error, the shifting numbers highlight the uncertainties in estimating the size of the homeless population, especially tracking changes from year to year as methodologies change. Indroduction of a special youth count in 2016 led to conflicting interpretations of that years increase, depending on whether the higher youth number was attributed to actual growth or a more accurate estimate. Over the years, the count methodology has changed in several ways. Statistical methods used to impute numbers in census tracts that were not physically counted have been phased out as the volunteer force grew large enough reach every tract. But a weighting system is still used to estimate the number of people in each tent or vehicle noted by the counters. Those weights were changed last year when the homeless authority switched contractors from the University of North Carolina to USC. The youth count, added in 2016, still relies on a sample of census tracts and uses statistical modeling to come up with numbers for the tracts that are not counted. A coding error in that calculation resulted in the inflated number, said Ben Henwood, project manager for the USC team that analyzes the count. In a formula to determine a weight for each census tract, the probability of a tract being sampled was inserted instead of its inverse, Henwood said. doug.smith@latimes.com @LATDoug UPDATES: 5:00 p.m.: This article was updated with slight revisions to the youth homeless figures. This article was originally published at 4:45 p.m. In a pine-shaded field behind Santa Fes town bank, about 1,000 people gathered Thursday evening to pray for those killed and wounded at the high school that morning. The superintendent spoke, followed by the mayor, the governor and a senator. The assembled shared stories, and tears, describing the latest school shooting in America. Ten died and 10 were wounded, and as the vigil progressed, the names of some of the fallen spread through the crowd of parents and pastors, bikers and bankers. Among those attending was Abel San Miguel, 15, who was wounded when the shooter fired into the door of the art class storage closet where he had hidden with a handful of classmates. They took refuge after hearing gunfire approaching down the hall. I was terrified. I didnt know if I was going to make it, he said. Advertisement The gunman was armed with a shotgun and a .38-caliber handgun, and Abel could see the double barrels of the shotgun. He said one of the bullets struck and killed a junior near him, Chris Stone. Another grazed Abels back. He was just trying to shoot to hit someone, Abel said. When the shooter left the room briefly, Abel and others emerged from the closet and tried to barricade the door. But the shooter pushed it open, and spotted someone he knew named Kyle. When he saw Kyle he said, Surprise, Abel recalled, adding that the gunman spoke with an angry, revenge-type voice. Then he shot the boy in the chest. Gabriel San Miguel checks the wound his son, Abel, suffered in the shooting at Santa Fe High School. (David J. Phillip / Associated Press ) Abel came to the vigil with his family. His father, Gabriel San Miguel, lifted the bandage on Abels back to check his wound. He was thinking about the parents of students who had been shot and killed. Unfortunately, the other kids didnt get grazed, said San Miguel, 46, a cabinet maker. Many in the crowd wore green Santa Fe High Indians T-shirts. They lit candles, ate hot dogs handed out by Lions Club volunteers and prayed with officials who praised their strength. Unlike the vigil after the school shooting in February in Parkland, Fla., there was no talk of gun control. No mourning parents pleaded with the president and members of Congress to change the nations gun laws. One man even showed up wearing his handgun on his hip, legal under Texas open carry law. No one challenged him, or even stared. The future will be better and bright, Gov. Greg Abbott said, as Lisa Johnson filmed him with her cellphone. Afterward, Johnson told her sons friend to go thank Abbott. But the Republican governor, who is running for reelection, was too mobbed by supporters. Like many at the vigil, Johnson, 51, an administrative assistant, was still wondering about the welfare of students she had not heard from since the shooting. She had been talking to some neighbors, the parents of a missing student. They were on their way back from a trip to Oklahoma. Shes a good Christian girl, goes to church all the time, preaches the word of the Lord to other kids, to my kids, Johnson said of neighbor Angelique Ramirez, who also baby-sat her son. Before the vigil ended, Johnsons cellphone rang. She took the call, and began to weep. Other phones also began to buzz with the news. A girl on Angeliques softball team started sobbing. Shes dead, Johnson said. We all call her Angel. Now she is one. molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com @mollyhf Police say a woman was killed and another wounded in a shooting outside a high school graduation ceremony in Georgia on Friday night. Authorities said shots were fired at a Mount Zion High School parking lot after an argument between people who had attended a graduation ceremony for the Perry Learning Center, which prepares students for careers as an alternative to traditional high schools. The graduation was held at the Clayton County Schools Performing Arts Center in Jonesboro, about 20 miles south of Atlanta. Multiple media outlets report the dead woman was shot several times in the chest. The other woman was shot in the leg. Advertisement It was unclear whether a suspect was in custody in connection with the shooting. Clayton County schools Supt. Morcease Beasley on Saturday tweeted his congratulations to the more than 200 Perry graduates, but he also expressed sadness over the senseless violence & death. Ten people were killed Friday in a mass shooting at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, southeast of Houston. The victims were formally identified on Saturday by the Galveston County district attorney as teachers Glenda Perkins and Cynthia Tisdale and students Jared Black, Shana Fisher, Christian Riley Garcia, Aaron Kyle McLeod, Angelique Ramirez, Sabika Sheikh, Christopher Jake Stone and Kimberly Vaughan. Here are their stories. Cynthia Tisdale Cynthia Tisdale, top right, with her husband, William Recie Tisdale, and niece Leia Olinde. Eric Sanders A substitute teacher at Santa Fe High, Cynthia Tisdale was a member of the Anchor Bible Baptist Church in Pharr, Texas, and dreamed of retiring one day to be a full-time grandmother. She had three children and eight grandchildren, as well as one stepdaughter and three more grandchildren, according to her son, Recie Tisdale, a police detective in League City, about 10 miles from Santa Fe. She was close to turning 64. She married my father at 17 years of age and they have been married 46 years, Recie Tisdale wrote in an email. This past year Cynthia enjoyed helping others so much she decided to go work as a substitute teacher at Santa Fe High School working with special needs kids. "I am at a loss for words, her daughter Autumn Tisdale wrote on Facebook on Saturday. All I want to do is get that phone call where she chews me out for being at the softball Fields all day and night long, working out in the heat and not taking enough drinks, or for not being able to get the stains out of my kids clothes. As mourning Texans gather for a vigil, word spreads of who was killed in the school shooting My favorite phone calls were when we just talked and she just went on and on and I just agreed with her as she talked, Tisdale wrote. I didnt think she was my best friend but now I know I was wrong she was my best friend and now all the things I would need to tell her I cant anymore. She was another mother to me, Cynthia Tisdales niece, Leia Olinde, posted on Facebook. Her aunt taught her to cook and helped her shop for wedding dresses, Olinde said. I just wished more than anything I could be with her one last time and tell her how much she means to me, she wrote. John Tisdale, her brother-in-law, described Cynthia Tisdale as an amazing person who loved her family. In a Facebook post, he said her husband, William Recie Tisdale, was recently diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung disease. As his conditioned deteriorated, he had to take early Social Security and was not able to work. To make ends meet, Cynthia took on a second job as a server at a local restaurant. Cynthia, as far as I know, never complained, her brother-in-law wrote. I am certain if we could talk to Cynthia, who is in heaven, the first thing she would say is she is concerned how Recie is going to make it...now that she can't bring in the extra money to pay the bills, he wrote. That's the kind of person my sister-in-law was! I am going to miss her. Sabika Sheikh An exchange student from Pakistan, Sabika Sheikh was studying in Texas under the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study program and was set to return home in three weeks for Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The eldest of three siblings from a middle-class section of Karachi, Sabika was the lifeline of our family and a brilliant student who had dreams of joining the Pakistani foreign service, according to her father, Aziz Sheikh. Sheikh said his daughter regularly placed among the top three students in her classes in Pakistan before she began the exchange program last August. In a photo circulated on social media, Sabika is shown smiling and wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the word Texas. After her planned return to Karachi on June 9, the family was going to spend the summer traveling across the country visiting relatives. Her father said Sabika was looking forward to observing Ramadan, which is marked by prayer, daylong fasts and family meals. She was a great soul, he said. Sabika had recently spoken to her 9-year-old sister on the phone, counting down the days before she would return to her family in Karachi. She told me that in 20 days we will be together, said Sabikas sister, Soha. She had bought so many gifts for me. Sabikas middle sibling, brother Ali, described her as his best friend. She asked me to make sure her room was neat and clean when she came back, he told Pakistani news media. She had also asked our mother to cook her favorite dishes. Sheikh said the Pakistani consul general in Houston told him that Sabikas body would be brought to Karachi on Monday. Christopher Jake Stone Christopher Jake Stone was one of 10 people killed in the shooting at Santa Fe High School. Mercedez Stone A junior and avid football player, Chris Stone, 17, arrived at his art class Friday morning after carpooling with his close friend Logan Pettus. "I took chris to school this morning laughing the whole way there, Logan, his friend since kindergarten, posted on Twitter early Saturday morning. Then 45 minutes into school he passes life hits hard. rip chris Chris' 19-year-old sister, Mercedez, described him as a fun-loving and adventurous boy who loved video games, mountain hiking, jet skiing, parasailing and ziplining. He played center, guard and defensive tackle for his high school football team, the Santa Fe Indians. He was not the biggest player but he had lots of heart, Mercedez said in a private Facebook message. Being a brother was his best job, she added. Although he was the youngest, he definitely protected his sisters as if he was the oldest. He was always there if someone needed someone to listen or some cheering up. Just a week ago, the family watched Chris dress up in a formal black tuxedo and bowtie to attend prom with his girlfriend, Reagan. He had initially been reluctant to go because he did not want his mom to have to pay $160 for both tickets plus $250 for the tux. Mom didnt care though, Mercedez said. She was just happy he was happy. His sister, Angelica, 21, a nursing student, shared a photo album on Facebook on Saturday, showing Chris laughing with family on a wooden deck, posing in his football uniform, traveling on a cruise ship and on a family vacation to Yucatan, Mexico. She said she wanted her brother to be remembered as the sweet, funny, dancing, singing, football playing young man that we all knew and loved. My brother was a son, a brother, a boyfriend, but most importantly my bestfriend, Angelica wrote on Facebook. I will never understand why you were ripped from us in this way. Kimberly Jessica Vaughan "My daughter was in first period art class at Santa Fe high school today," Rhonda Hart wrote on Facebook on Friday afternoon. "There was a shooter." In a later post, Hart added the hashtag #oneof10. Folks-call your damn senators, she urged. We need GUN CONTROL. WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR KIDS. Kimberly Jessica Vaughan was a freshman and senior Girl Scout and loved by many, according to a GoFundMe page organized by Rachel Woratschka. Hart, a former watercraft operator with the U.S. Army who works for the Santa Fe school district, is a single mother, the GoFundMe page stated. We would like to assist her in the expenses associated with this tragic loss that no parent should ever have to bear, it said. By Saturday afternoon, the page had exceeded its $10,000 goal, raising more than $15,000 for the family. Angelique Ramirez A 15-year-old with glowing red hair, Angelique Ramirez was a cheerful, loving member of her family who helped raise her younger brother, Amadeus, family friends said. With a broken heart and a soul that just can't process all this right now, I have to announce my niece was one of the fatalities, her aunt, Sylvia Pritchett, a clinical nurse manager, wrote on Facebook. Angelique was taken away from her friends and family too quickly, a family friend, Rebecca Ruiz, wrote in a GoFundMe page appealing for support. In her short time with us, Angelique proved to be a kind, compassionate and caring individual. She brought smiles to those who knew her; specifically, her mother (Robin) and younger brother (Amadeus). Angelique's smile was contagious and brightened up any room she walked into. In losing Angelique, her friends and family lost so much. "She was busting at the seams with energy and laughter, a member of the family told Houston TV station KHOU. She was a magnificent caretaker and a staple in her family. She stood up for what was right and made friends with anyone she saw as a good soul. Christian "Riley" Garcia "YOU WERE ONLY 15," Ashley Fonseca, 21, posted on Facebook about her cousin, Christian "Riley" Garcia. "RIP MY ANGEL ! I LOVE YOU BABY BOY !" In a private message, Fonseca, a criminal justice student at a community college in Austin, wrote that Riley went to church regularly and loved sailing boats and riding jet skis at the lake. "He just wanted to have fun with family," she wrote. He has grown up in our church, wrote Keenan Smith, a lead pastor at Crosby Church. He said on Facebook that he baptized Riley many years ago in Crosby, a town northeast of Houston. I just left his wonderful, loving family and extended all of the prayers and love for them from our Church, he added. I dont know exactly how, but I know together in Christ we can make it. Smith shared a photograph, which he said was taken about 10 days ago, of Riley, dressed in a blue Nike T-shirt, mirrored shades and a baseball cap, posing against a door frame of what was to be his new bedroom. In black marker pen, Riley had written a line from the Bible Psalm 46:10 on the raw wood frame: He says, Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. Glenda Ann Perkins An art teacher and substitute teacher for Santa Fe Independent School District, Glenda Ann Perkins studied at the University of Houston and is from Galveston, according to her Facebook page. "She was an amazing mom and an adored substitute who was loved by all," her daughter Ashleys former dance and gymnastics club posted on Facebook. On social media, current and former Santa Fe students posted a string of affectionate tributes to Perkins, whom many called grandma. I have many memories at Santa Fe high school and Ms. Perkins, Cody Rambin posted on Twitter. Every time I would see her in class as a substitute it would just brighten my day. Ann Perkins was a beloved teacher, family friend, & woman, @lemonylyd tweeted, along with a picture of Ann holding a glass of champagne and another of an engraved award that Ann had received as the high schools substitute teacher of the year for 2016-17. She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, & students, @lemonylyd added. She lived an impeccable life filled with traveling, love, family, & a bit of champagne. Rest easy our beautiful nurturing angel. I love you. Shana Fisher Courtesy of Sadie Rodriguez Shana Fisher turned 16 just 10 days before the shooting. My daughter was the most sweet and shy young lady, her mother, Sadie Rodriguez, posted Saturday on Facebook. She never hurt anyone. this boy. i cant even do this. i cant even finish this. it isnt even fair. Rodriguez said Shana knew the shooting suspect, Dimitrios Pagourtzis: He was her best friends ex-boyfriend. She had 4 months of problems from this boy, Rodriguez told the Los Angeles Times in a private Facebook message. "He kept making advances on her and she repeatedly told him no. Rodriguez said Pagourtzis continued to get more aggressive and Shana finally stood up to him and embarrassed him in class. A week later he opens fire on everyone he didn't like, she wrote. Shana being the first one." Now, Rodriguez said, she had to stay strong for Kaylenn, Shanas younger sister. My heart is being ripped out, she wrote. My baby is gone. i cant even go into her room. how do u continue to shoot, after seeing one die before ur eyes? After the family waited and searched for Shana all day Friday, her aunt, Ericha Fisher Farris, wrote Saturday on Facebook that her beautiful niece is gone to heaven with her classmates. Life was not supposed to end like this for our sweet girl, she wrote. She should be worrying about getting her drivers license, making plans for summer break, maybe start thinking junior year and making plans for college and what she wants be when she grows up. She should be at home rolling her eyes from fighting with her little sister. She should be worrying about young love, and getting her heart broken. She should be doing all of the things that teenagers go through. Jared Conrad Black Courtesy of Elizabeth McGinnis Jared Conrad Black turned 17 just a couple days ago and planned to celebrate with a birthday party with friends on Saturday. My brother loved to play Minecraft on Xbox, play Pokemon Go on his cell phone, and loved art, his 11-year-old half-brother, Nick Black, said in a statement. We miss him so much. We wish we could see him at least one more time. Jared's father, Robert Black, who lives in Anaheim, Calif., sat in misery Friday not knowing whether his son was alive or dead, said family friend Elizabeth McGinnis. Finally, at about 6 p.m., he got the news that Jared was among the victims. Hes just devastated and broken, said McGinnis, who has launched a fundraiser to try to help Jareds father and his family travel to Texas to lay Jared to rest. Our hearts are so sad for them, she wrote on GoFundMe. They were so blessed to have had Jared & Houston spend last summer here in California with them. It's wonderful memories like those that will remain in their hearts forever! Support our journalism Please consider subscribing today to support stories like this one. Get full access to our signature journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks. Already a subscriber? Your support makes our work possible. Thank you. Special correspondent Aoun Sahi in Islamabad, Pakistan, and Times staff writer Shashank Bengali in New Delhi contributed to this report. UPDATES: May 20, 8:57 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information on Cynthia Tisdale. May 19, 6:50 p.m.: This article was updated with the official release of all 10 victims names. May 19, 6:15 p.m.: This article was updated with information about shooting victim Jared Black. May 19, 5:35 p.m.: This article was updated with information on additional victims. May 19, 12:50 p.m.: This article was updated with staff reporting and information about additional victims. This article was originally published at 8:40 p.m., May 18. When L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti unveiled his plan to fund shelters for homeless people in every City Council district, Council President Herb Wesson was the first council member to announce that he had found a site on his turf: a parking lot in Koreatown. Its city-owned (so no private property owner to pay or haggle with), big enough to house at least 65 people, and not bumping up against any residential housing. When it comes to housing homeless people, thats as close to a dream site as you can get. Garcetti and Wesson got down to business with encouraging alacrity. The whole point of the shelter plan is to quickly create temporary housing to get homeless people out of squalid street encampments now, rather than waiting the years it will take to build thousands of units of permanent supportive housing. To their credit, council members have agreed to spread the interim dwellings across the city, putting them close to where people are encamped rather than concentrating them in a handful of neighborhoods with little political clout. But in a portent of the tribulations to come, Wessons first-out-of-the-gate plan has stirred an uproar in the Korean community. Opponents including some residents, business owners, Korean-language media outlets and activists accused the council president of not consulting community groups before announcing his plan, not holding a public hearing and not supplying many details. Even some of the Korean community groups that joined Wesson at the news conference announcing the shelter plan are now balking, saying they werent given enough information about the project. An online petition opposing the proposed shelter site, 682 S. Vermont Ave., has garnered more than 8,000 signatures. And ugly, racially charged tweets have shown up on social media [K]eep them in South Central instead of K Town. In your backyard instead of mine, reads one. Advertisement In Koreatown, which stretches across three council districts (Wessons and those of Councilmen David Ryu and Mitch OFarrell), the common fear of homeless people is overlaid with a resentment that Wesson is just the most recent in a long line of city politicians who give short shrift to the community and its needs. But here is the bottom line: Koreatown isnt being asked to do anything that the rest of the city isnt being asked to do. City leaders have committed to putting these temporary shelters in every district. And thats just the start solving the homelessness crisis may not require shelters or apartments in every neighborhood, but it will take far more than one per council district. There are 368 homeless people in Koreatown by the 2017 homeless count, and they need shelter. And it will be easier and less costly for the city to build a shelter at the site Wesson has chosen than on privately owned land elsewhere. The proposed site is in an area that already has numerous homeless encampments. And the project will not be the familiar kind of shelter for transients where people line up in the afternoon to get in and get kicked out in the morning; instead, it will provide stable lodging for people waiting for more permanent housing. Its one thing for activists in the community to call on Wesson to pay more attention to their opinions. Its another thing to look for reasons to stop a desperately needed shelter from going up. Granted, Wessons plan got off to a bad start when it didnt need to. His officewhich says it did reach out to more than a dozen groups and churches could have provided more information sooner to more of the Koreatown community. And the city should have held a public hearing earlier in the process; the first one is scheduled for Tuesday. These are lessons city and county leaders should take to heart as they embark on an effort to house homeless people at an unprecedented scale. One of the biggest challenges they face is community resistance. To overcome that, city officials have to be careful to let residents understand exactly whats going on. The first thing the public needs to understand is that their neighborhoods are not being singled out to bear a burden that others wont bear. Communities all over the city, in every council district, will be home to this kind of shelter and housing. Including Koreatown. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook To the editor: If international diplomacy is a game of give-and-take, then there shouldnt be anything unpredictable about North Korean leader Kim Jon Uns threat to pull out of the planned June 12 summit with President Trump in Singapore. While the Trump administration has dangled economic aid in exchange for North Korean denuclearization, Kim has done much more: His country cooperated with South Korea at the Pyeongchang Winter Games, he met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, and three prisoners were returned to the United States. On top of this, the U.S. and South Korea conducted joint military exercises recently. This should be a lesson for Trump and his followers to learn about diplomacy. Do Huu Chi, Garden Grove Advertisement .. To the editor: The dark cloud that looms over the scheduled meeting is Trump crowing to his supporters that North Korea must kowtow to him because of our military superiority. In this poker game, Trump does not hold four aces, and Kim has a better hand than he is getting credit for. With all the dangerous circumstances related to Iran and Syria, Trump doesnt need escalating trouble on both fronts. Hopefully all the participants in the scheduled meeting will be entitled to share a Nobel Peace Prize. Ken Hense, El Segundo .. To the editor: I wonder if it occurred to anyone in this administration to suggest canceling, or at least postponing, the joint defense exercise with South Korea. If Kim is serious about wanting to end the Korean War, which is still officially ongoing, and joining the community of nations, there is reason to celebrate. But by holding this joint exercise, known to be an irritant to the North Koreans, it seems that we do not understand what we are doing. Paul Cooley, Culver City Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: The Los Angeles Times reporting on Dr. George Tyndall, the USC gynecologist who practiced on campus for 26 years despite repeated complaints of inappropriate conduct, disgusted me more than I can express. The extent of this alleged abusers behavior and the length of time that it has been occurring is completely appalling. I am so grateful that Los Angeles has the fantastic investigative reporting staff of The Times to bring this to light to protect future students. As a former USC graduate student, I cant help thinking how easily this could have been me and how awful, embarrassed and trapped I would have felt. By sheer luck, I was a patient at the student health center on the Health Sciences Campus, and not on the main campus, and received excellent care; however, I am sick thinking about what these young women were forced to go through when they needed basic medical care. USC has utterly failed its female students. The unwillingness of the university to take decisive action after years of complaints constitutes abhorrent negligence and is a horrifying example of how women are not taken seriously when reporting abuse or in matters of their own health. It also reflects a larger problem of universities in general protecting their reputations at the expense of the safety and well-being of women. Advertisement Melissa Agnello, Valley Village .. To the editor: Once again, columnist Robin Abcarian says it like it is. Thanks to her for putting in print what it feels like to have a gynecological exam. At my age, I know when a doctors behavior is wrong, and I speak up. When I was 19, not so much. Shame on USC. Its pattern of dealing with medical abuses should perhaps be considered in students decisions as to where to go to college. Ellen Butterfield, Studio City . To the editor: The reporting on Tyndall has been great, but it could be taken a step further with some context, maybe from a law enforcement expert. These are some questions worth considering: Was the friendly behavior toward some of Tyndalls patients similar to grooming? Do photos of genitalia have to be sexual to be part of a harassment or an assault pattern? Can annoying or inappropriate behavior be part of the power and control that drives serial assaulters? Is there a common history in college cases, that they are dismissed or not acted on by those in authority because they dont fully understand what constitutes assault? Are the institutions concerned more about money and reputation? And are young victims less believable than someone respected and in power? Maureen Milliken, Belgrade Lakes, Maine .. To the editor: What is wrong with the administration at USC? First it was the drug-fueled Dr. Carmen Puliafito, former dean of the USC medical school (and dynamite donation rainmaker). Now its Tyndall, the finally suspended in 2016! gynecologist who practiced on campus for nearly 30 years. As a UCLA alumnus, I am well-positioned to say what is wrong with USC, but even I could never imagine, in my wildest nightmares, a scenario where these two men would be protected by their administration against their defenseless students and patients. Perhaps having too much money, and God-like hubris, will finally result in the disgrace and expulsion from decent society of USCs governing enablers. Charles Ruebsamen, Rancho Cucamonga Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook 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 In mid-July 2016, a retired American professor approached an advisor to Donald Trumps presidential campaign at a symposium about the White House race held at a British university. The professor took the opportunity to strike up a conversation with Carter Page, whom Trump had named a few months earlier as a foreign policy advisor. But the professor was more than an academic interested in American politics he was a longtime U.S. intelligence source. And, at some point in 2016, he began working as a secret informant for the FBI as it investigated Russias interference in the campaign, according to people familiar with his activities. The role played by the source is now at the center of a battle that has pitted President Trump against his own Justice Department and fueled the presidents attacks on the special counsels investigation. In a Thursday tweet, he called the inquiry a disgusting, illegal and unwarranted Witch Hunt. Advertisement In recent days, Trump and his allies have escalated their claims that the FBI source improperly spied on the campaign. Reports are there was indeed at least one FBI representative implanted, for political purposes, into my campaign for president, he tweeted Friday. It took place very early on, and long before the phony Russia Hoax became a hot Fake News story. If true all time biggest political scandal! There is no evidence to suggest someone was planted with the campaign. The source in question engaged in a months-long pattern of seeking out and meeting three different Trump campaign officials. The Washington Post after speaking with people familiar with his role has confirmed the identity of the FBI source who assisted the investigation, but is not reporting his name following warnings from U.S. intelligence officials that exposing him could endanger him or his contacts. The source declined multiple requests for comment. An FBI spokeswoman declined to comment. Page was one of three Trump advisors who the FBI informant contacted in the summer and fall of 2016 for brief talks and meetings that largely centered on foreign policy, according to people familiar with the encounters. There has been some speculation that he might have tried to reel me in, Page, who had numerous encounters with the informant, told The Post in an interview. At the time, I never had any such impression. In late summer, the professor met with Trump campaign co-chairman Sam Clovis for coffee in northern Virginia, offering to provide foreign policy expertise to the Trump effort. In September, he reached out to George Papadopoulos, an unpaid foreign policy advisor for the campaign, inviting him to London to work on a research paper. Many questions about the informants role in the Russia investigation remain unanswered. It is unclear how he first became involved in the case, the extent of the information he provided and the actions he took to obtain intelligence for the FBI. It is also unknown whether his July 2016 interaction with Page was brokered by the FBI or another intelligence agency. The FBI commonly uses sources and informants to gather evidence and its regulations allow for use of informants even before a formal investigation has been opened. In many law enforcement investigations, the use of sources and informants precedes more invasive techniques such as electronic surveillance. This month, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) issued a subpoena to the Justice Department for all documents related to the FBI informant. Justice Department officials have declined to provide the information, warning that exposing him could have severe consequences. In a May 2 meeting, senior FBI and national intelligence officials warned the White House that information being sought by Nunes risked the sources safety and that of his sources, and could damage U.S. relationships with its intelligence partners. The stakes are so high that the FBI has been working over the last two weeks to mitigate the potential damage if the sources identity were revealed, according to several people familiar with the matter. The bureau took steps to protect other live investigations that he has worked on and sought to lessen any danger to associates if his identity became known, said these people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence operations. For years, the professor has provided information to the FBI and the CIA, according to people familiar with the matter. He aided the Russia investigation before and after special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs appointment in May 2017, according to people with knowledge of his activities. Exactly when the professor began working on the case is unknown. The FBI formally opened its counterintelligence investigation into Russias efforts to influence the 2016 campaign on July 31, 2016, spurred by a report from Australian officials that Papadopoulos boasted to an Australian diplomat of knowing that Russia had damaging material about Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. The professors interactions with Trump advisors began a few weeks before the opening of the investigation, when Page met the professor at the British symposium. Page recalled his conversation with the professor as pleasant, if not particularly memorable. It was the first interaction they ever had, he said. The conference was held days after Page had traveled to Russia, where he had delivered a speech at Moscows New Economic School that publicly criticized U.S. foreign policy. Page had been on the FBIs radar since at least 2013, when the FBI caught two accused Russian spies on a wiretap discussing their attempts to recruit him. Later in 2016, Page became a surveillance target of the FBI, which suspected him of acting on behalf of the Russian government an assertion he denies. Page has accused the government of abusing its authority by unfairly targeting him. Page and the FBI informant stayed in touch after the conference, meeting several times in the Washington area, Page said. Page said he did not recall exactly what the two men discussed. You are asking me about conversations I had almost two years ago, he said. We had extensive discussions. We talked about a bunch of different foreign-policy-related topics. For me to try and remember every nuance of every conversation is impossible. In late August 2016, the professor reached out to Clovis, asking if they could meet somewhere in the Washington area, said Clovis attorney, Victoria Toensing. He said he wanted to be helpful to the campaign and lend the Trump team his foreign policy experience, Toensing said. Clovis, an Iowa political figure and former Air Force officer, met the source and chatted briefly with him over coffee on either Aug. 31 or Sept. 1 at a hotel cafe in Crystal City, she said. Most of the discussion involved him asking Clovis his views on China. It was two academics discussing China, Toensing said. Russia never came up. The professor asked Clovis if they could meet again, but Clovis was too busy with the campaign. After the election, the professor sent him a note of congratulations, Toensing said. Clovis did not view the interactions as suspicious at the time, Toensing said, but now is unsettled that the professor never mentioned his contacts with other Trump aides. Days later, on Sept. 2, 2016, the professor reached out to a third Trump aide, emailing Papadopoulos. People familiar with his outreach to Papadopoulos said it was done as part of the FBIs investigation. The young foreign policy advisor had been on the radar of the FBI since the summer, and inside the campaign had been pushing Trump and his aides to meet with Russian officials. Please pardon my sudden intrusion just before the Labor Day weekend, the professor wrote to Papadopoulos in a message described to The Post. He said he was leading a project examining relations between Turkey and the European Union. He offered to pay Papadopoulos $3,000 to write a paper about the oil fields off the coast of Turkey, Israel and Cyprus, a topic on which you are a recognized expert. It is a long-standing practice of intelligence operatives to try to develop a source by first offering the target money for innocuous research or writing. The professor invited Papadopoulos to come to London that month to discuss the paper, offering to pay the costs of his travel. I understand that this is rather sudden but thought given your expertise, it might be of interest to you, he wrote. Papadopoulos accepted. While in London, he met for drinks with a woman who identified herself as the professors assistant, before meeting Sept. 15 with the professor at the Travelers Club, a 200-year-old private club that is a favorite of foreign diplomats stationed in London, according to the emails described to The Post. After Papadopoulos returned to the United States and sent his research document, the professor responded: Enjoyed your paper. Just what we wanted. $3,000 wired to your account. Pls confirm receipt. Burbank police are disputing allegations a woman made during a City Council meeting Tuesday about her daughter being raped and the departments handling of the investigation, saying her statements were untrue. Tawnya Nevarez spoke before the council during the public-comment period of the meeting, alleging the city and police department have done nothing to arrest two local high school students accused of raping her daughter last summer. Nevarez also alleged that a Burbank detective said her daughter liked what she got. She said she was born and raised in Burbank but has been pushed out of the city because of the allegations and that her daughter has become suicidal. I just need help. No one wants to help us, she said. Her comments were widely shared on social media, leading the Burbank Police Department to issue a statement on Thursday contesting her allegations. Chief Scott LaChasse said in the statement the department conducted a thorough and timely investigation into the rape claims from July 2017 and added that the investigation and evidence refuted the allegations. He said statements Nevarez attributed to police were untrue. Sgt. Derek Green, a spokesman for Burbank police, said the department reviewed audio and video recordings made by officers during the investigation and found no disparaging remarks were ever made to Nevarez. Weve tried to reach out to her, and she told us, basically, that she doesnt want to speak to us, Green said. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc Alice Issai has lived in Glendale for almost four decades and now shes taking over the helm at Adventist Health Glendale as its president. Ive lived in Glendale since 1979 and this is my home, she said. Im very proud of the city, so I am thrilled to be able to give back to my community through this organization. Issai, formerly the chief operating officer for USCs Keck Hospital and Norris Cancer Hospital, will assume her new role on July 2. During her tenure at USC, she was responsible for developing high-performing teams and expanding access to affordable healthcare in Los Angeles, Adventist Health Glendale officials said. Prior to her role at the USC hospitals, she held several executive positions in finance, business strategy and operations at UC Irvine Health, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles and West Los Angeles as well as City of Hope National Medical Center. She is a graduate of Andrews University in Michigan and completed her masters degree in business at Pepperdine University. The medical staff is eager for Alices arrival in July, said Harlan Gibbs, Adventist Healths chief of staff, in a statement. With her depth of knowledge and breadth of expertise, we are confident that, working together, we will continue to improve the health of the Glendale community we passionately care for. Issai said she thinks working with major organizations has given her the leadership and problem-solving skills to push Adventist Health Glendale forward. In her past roles, she has created strong models making rounds with patients and families, which she said has helped her stay connected and identify needs in the community. Her hope is that if theres a situation or a disease or an illness, the first place that comes to their mind is Glendale Adventist health. In her first 90 days on the job, she plans to meet with employees, physicians, nurses, board members and community leaders about needs and existing services offered to the Glendale community. [I want] to continue leading this well-respected organization to a higher level of performance by providing easy access to healthcare and continue the great work on the safety and quality, she said. I am committed to ensuring that every interaction we have with patients, families and our community is a high-quality experience. alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com Twitter: @r_valejandra Glendale high schools rank among the nations best, according to a U.S. News & World Report released May 9. Crescenta Valley, Clark Magnet, Glendale and Hoover high schools all received a silver medal, which indicates its students have a high level of college readiness. Crescenta Valley High School ranked in the top 3%, Clark Magnet High in the top 4%, Hoover High in the top 10% and Glendale High in the top 12% of high schools nationally. U.S. News & World Report evaluated more than 20,500 public high schools in the country and identified which best serve their students. The report gives top schools a gold, silver or bronze medal that indicates how prepared its students are for college based on three primary crieteria: performance on state proficiency tests, participation rate and performance in AP and IB coursework and exams, and finally, graduation rates. California earned the second most gold and silver medals. Were extremely proud of the students and the staff, said Jennifer Earl, principal of Herbert Hoover High School. Were always working overtime to figure out how we can help each and every student. Earl added that Hoover High, like many public schools, has the added challenge of having many students who are first generation immigrants. About 80% of its students speak a second language and more than 60% are eligible for the free or reduced lunch program. Earl noted Hoovers tutoring programs, writing labs and intervention programs like Fresh Start, which gives freshmen who struggled in eighth grade educational assistance. We are blessed that we do get the money for intervention, she said. We always look at the data and find ways to give students the extra help they need. Ben Wolf, principal of Glendale High, said the silver medal ranking is particularly meaningful because it considers a variety of criteria, not just standardized testing scores. Wolf said the AP class participation rate at Glendale High has increased in just the last couple years. The school went from having two AP European history courses to four and from two government and economic classes to four. The school also offers free, 24/7 online tutoring by the Princeton Review for several subjects and all AP classes. In any school, you have to actively look to improve, but you also have to have great teachers, he said. Our teachers really care about the kids and want them to be successful. Principals of Crescenta Valley and Clark Magnet high schools could not be reached for comment. Hoover High ranked No. 384 in California, according to the report. It has an AP participation rate of 46%, of which 55% pass. The high school has a 69% reading proficiency and 41% math proficiency level among students. Crescenta Valley High ranked No. 90 within California, with an AP participation rate of 65%. Of that, 83% passed the AP exams. The school also has an 84% reading proficiency level and a 62% math proficiency among students. Specific data for Glendale High School and Clark Magnet High school were not available. Our talented teachers, classified staff, and administrators work tirelessly alongside our parents and community to provide an exceptional education for every student, said GUSD Supt. Winfred B. Roberson, Jr. in a statement. No matter which GUSD school our students attend, they are sure to receive a top-tier education that prepares them for a bright future. alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com Twitter: @r_valejandra Twelve Oaks Senior Living, formerly known as Twelve Oaks Lodge, will celebrate its grand reopening from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. The facility, located at 2820 Sycamore Ave. in Glendale, recently underwent a $1.5 million renovation. The reopening comes after the be.group, a Glendale-based nonprofit provider of senior-living communities, closed the facility. The Glendale chapter of the National Charity League, which managed Twelve Oaks Lodge for 30 years before handing day-to-day control over to the be.group, filed a lawsuit in an attempt to halt the closure of the facility. The league and be.group settled in 2015, and ownership of the facility was transferred to the Twelve Oaks Foundation. For more information or to RSVP for the reopening event, call (747) 255-7272, email Sandy Solis at SSolis@northstarsl.com or visit twelveoaksseniorliving.com. mark.kellam@latimes.com Twitter: @lamarkkellam Glendale City Council agreed with local residents Tuesday regarding their concerns about an overhaul of Verdugo Park and requested a new, simplified design. Officials with the citys Community Services and Parks Department presented a motion to the council to either approve one of three already-developed concept designs or use residents feedback to create a hybrid plan. After public comments, which largely echoed each other in objecting to adding amenities to the park, council members decided to reject all three designs and favored a hybrid that preserved as much greenery as possible. Onnig Bulanikian, director of community services and parks, said the councils decision not to select one of the three designs will not delay the process because council members gave staff members a clear direction on how to move forward. He said he hopes to present new design documents for the councils consideration next week. I think this is a time when we need to listen to the residents, said Councilwoman Paula Devine. Verdugo Park is known for its beauty, its tranquility, its trees, its greenery. I, too, am on the side of those who dont want to destroy that green open space with more concrete. We want to maintain the integrity of the park. Department officials originally proposed between 2,000 and 2,500 square feet of community space that could have been rented out and a granite pathway that would go through the park with an attached turnaround. They also proposed building a historic village and installing outdoor exercise equipment. After listening to residents concerns during two community meetings in June 2017 and March 2018, staff members scaled back the project, proposing a smaller community room. Members of the Glendale Parks, Recreation and Services Commission shared many of the same concerns expressed by the residents. Council members heard from an additional 15 residents during the meeting on Tuesday as well as the staffs recommendation. I moved to my current house because I love Verdugo Park, one resident said. I love walking by there and seeing it as a magnet for the city. I can see what attracts people is the open space to the north because people vote with their feet. Several public commenters said they opposed the existing plans because they would require removing trees. Why do we need to add more amenities? The public is happy with the park as it is, another resident said. What is driving this change? Mayor Zareh Sinanyan had the same question for Bulanikian, to which he responded that the project was developed out of a need to update the restrooms. Council members decided it was not necessary to add so many amenities and rejected the staffs already simplified designs. They requested a hybrid plan with minimal changes to the park, including replacement of picnic tables and adding some that are ADA compliant, updating the restrooms and adding between 1,500 and 1,800 square feet of community room space, including the restrooms. As per the publics recommendations, the council also suggested leaving the roads in the park as they are and adding a limited number of ADA-accessible parking spaces. The council opposed adding a turnaround, granite pathway and a historic village, and discussed reconsidering the design of the Shanes Inspiration park, an all-inclusive playground. Bulanikian said the new playground will be lower to the ground and have more amenities, but its unclear if it will be by Shanes Inspiration. Were happy with the councils decision, Bulanikian said. We listened to the community, the council listened to the community and, moving forward, well work on the construction documents and see that the project does finish by early 2020, hopefully earlier. After considering the councils recommendations, the project is expected to cost between $400,000 and $500,000 less than the original plans, which were estimated to cost up to $3.8 million. alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com Twitter: @r_valejandra Sorry, but a wedding no matter how royal it might be will not create Princess Meghan (Ben Stansal/AFP/Getty Images) Its shouting into the headwinds of romantic swoonery, but Saturdays wedding will not create Princess Meghan. Quaint and odd they may be, but the rules of the royal road are both clear and strict, and neither tabloids nor TV will change them. In the House of Windsor, princesses are born, not made or married. No members of the British royal family can put the title prince or princess in front of their names unless they are born royal. So technically, there can be no Princess Meghan, just as there was no Princess Diana. Yet, confusingly, Meghan Markle, like Kate Middleton, will have the style of princess of the United Kingdom essentially her job description but not the title. Its one more nugget of headache-inducing royal arcana that someone can be a princess without being called princess. What will she be called, then? Traditionally, just before a marriage, the monarch puts out what are called letters patent, a kind of royal wedding gift to the son or grandson, making him a royal duke. It sounds like a demotion from prince, but it isnt. Its a bonus. A royal dukedom is a super-duper-dukedom. Under Windsor house rules, that royal dukedom the rumor is the Queen will make Prince Harry the Duke of Sussex spares Meghan Markle from bearing the clumsy title of Her Royal Highness Princess Henry of Wales. Instead, she would be HRH the Duchess of Sussex, just as the former Kate Middleton is HRH the Duchess of Cambridge. The title doesnt come with any land they wont be getting the county of Sussex as a wedding present and the couple would be only the second Duke and Duchess of Sussex in modern royal history. The first, Queen Victorias favorite uncle, walked her up the aisle at her wedding, because her father was dead. It really is a kind of strange magic that a woman in a white dress says a few words in a church and becomes a royal highness. But when a princess born to royal rank marries a commoner, his status does not rise to match hers. Sexist, right? When Princess Margaret married a photographer, the Queen made the new husband an earl, in part so their children the grandchildren of a monarch would not be plain Mr. and Miss. The Queen has been paring back the scale of the royal family to match modern sentiment, so its probable that any children Meghan and Harry have will not be royal highnesses, but simply Lord or Lady Whatever. Thats what the Queen did with the children of her youngest son, Edward. Got it? Good. Now, cut this out and carry it in your wallet, and win those bar bets with the bold but accurate declaration, Theres no such person as Princess Meghan! All 33 Roman Catholic bishops in Chile offered to resign Friday after meeting with Pope Francis in the wake of a sexual abuse scandal that has rocked the Latin American country. The unprecedented offer by the Chilean churchs top hierarchy came after a week of tense meetings with Francis in the Vatican to discuss the harsh conclusions of a report on the Chilean scandal prepared by Malta Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna that accused church leaders of a coverup. We want to announce that all bishops present in Rome, in writing, have placed our positions in the Holy Fathers hands so that he may freely decide regarding each one of us, Bishop Juan Ignacio Gonzalez said in a news conference Friday in Rome. It was unclear whether Francis would accept any or all of the resignations. Thirty-one of the 33 bishops attended the Vatican meetings, and the two who did not attend added their names to the resignation letter. Advertisement I assume with responsibility, in communion with the rest of the church, this need to support the Holy Father, Bishop Carlos Pellegrin said after arriving Friday at the Santiago airport. After visiting Chile in February to investigate the alleged abuses of an unspecified number of victims that included minors and adults, laymen and clerics, Scicluna filed a report that slammed a coverup by church leaders of sex crimes committed by Father Fernando Karadima during his tenure at a parish in Santiago, the capital. The report blamed, among others, Karadimas superior Bishop Juan Barros, who attended the Vatican meetings. Karadima, now 87, was condemned by a special canonical court to a lifetime of penance and prayer, but he faced no criminal charges because of the statute of limitations. In his five years as pontiff, Francis has been praised for his attention to social issues and the poor but accused of failing to punish clergy who abused children. Such criticisms intensified during the popes visit to Chile in January, when he labeled the accusations against Barros as calumny. The popes words were widely criticized, even by Cardinal Sean OMalley of Boston, a key Vatican advisor on clergy abuse. Francis later apologized and asked Scicluna to investigate the matter. The pontiff also had emotionally charged meetings with three men who said they were abused by Karadima. Those meetings prompted him to write a letter to the Chilean bishops last month, saying that he felt pain and shame over the mens accounts and that he wanted to apologize to all those I have offended. One of the men who met with the pope, Juan Carlos Cruz, described their discussions as raw. Cruz said he had never seen someone so contrite. He was truly sorry, and I felt he was hurting. The night before the Chilean bishops sent Francis their offer of resignation, he sent them a letter. According to the Vatican news service, it referenced his meetings with the bishops and said, in part: In light of these painful incidents which concern abuse of minors, power, and conscience we exchanged views on their seriousness as well as on their tragic consequences, particularly for the victims. For each of them I have wholeheartedly asked for forgiveness, an action to which all of you have united in one will and with the firm intention of repairing the damage done. Sciclunas 2,300-page report enumerated a series of absolutely reprehensible acts that have occurred in the Chilean church in relation to those unacceptable abuses of power, of conscience and sexual abuse that have resulted in the lessening of the prophetic vigor, Auxiliary Bishop Fernando Ramos of Santiago said at the Friday news conference. Karadima served as spiritual guide to more than 40 priests and four of the current bishops whose future is now at stake Barros, Horacio Valenzuela, Tomislav Koljatic and Andres Arteaga. They all have denied covering up abuses. Barros was perhaps closest to Karadima, having been trained by him as a junior priest The fame of Father Karadima was extraordinary at that time; he even had a reputation of being a saint, Emeritus Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz testified at a civil court hearing in 2015, explaining why he didnt believe the accusations against Karadima in the early 2000s. Triggering the crisis was Francis appointment of Barros in 2015 as head of the Osorno Diocese in Southern Chile. Up to then, Barros had a low profile as Chilean armed forces bishop, but his alleged role in the Karadima coverup was widely known by then and many parishioners protested the appointment. On Friday in Santiago, another of the whistleblowers who exposed Karadima said Francis needed to get rid of the bishops. I hope the pope accepts the resignation of all the bishops, because none of them was willing to side with the victims, Jose Andres Murillo said at a news conference. The church must transform itself from a refuge of abusers to a refuge for the victims. Poblete is a special correspondent. Special correspondent Chris Kraul in Bogota, Colombia, contributed to this report. UPDATES: 4:45 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with staff reporting. This article was originally published at 4:40 a.m. Sabika Sheikh spoke to her 9-year-old sister on the phone from suburban Houston on Friday, counting down the days before she would complete her high school exchange program and return to the family home in Karachi, Pakistan. She told me that in 20 days we will be together, said Sabikas sister, Soha. She had bought so many gifts for me. Hours later, Americas unending cycle of campus gun violence reverberated thousands of miles away when a gunman identified as a 17-year-old junior opened fire at Sabikas high school in Santa Fe, Texas, killing her and nine others. The 17-year-old Pakistani exchange student was the lifeline of our family, her father, Aziz Sheikh, told The Times in a phone interview Saturday. The eldest of three siblings from a middle-class section of Karachi, the sprawling port city, Sabika was a brilliant student who had dreams of joining the Pakistani foreign service, he said. Advertisement She was due to return to Karachi on June 9, and the family was planning to spend the summer vacation traveling across the country visiting relatives. Her father said Sabika was looking forward to observing the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which began this week and is marked by prayer, daylong fasts and family meals. She was a great soul, he said. Sheikh said his daughter regularly placed among the top three students in her classes in Pakistan before she began the exchange program last August. In a photo circulated on social media, Sabika is smiling and wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the word Texas. The manager of the Kennedy-Lugar YES exchange program, Megan Lysaght, sent a letter to students saying the program was devastated by this loss and we will remember Sabika and her families in our thoughts and prayers. Deepest condolences to Sabika Sheikh's family & friends. May her soul rest in eternal peace. Pakistani exchange student, Sabika was 1 of 10 killed during the #SantaFeHighSchool shooting in Texas today. She did not deserve this. None of them did. #GunControlNow #GunControl pic.twitter.com/QkF1paWEEm Kashif N Chaudhry (@KashifMD) May 18, 2018 Pakistan is no stranger to campus violence. Islamist militants who view the countrys formal education system as un-Islamic have targeted hundreds of schools over the past decade, with the deadliest attack coming in 2014, when gunmen killed more than 140 people, mostly students, at an army-run school in the northern city of Peshawar. Sabikas uncle, Ansar Sheikh, described the Texas shooting as an act of terrorism and pleaded with the U.S. government to take action. I dont blame the murder of my girl on American society but on that terrorism mindset that is there in all societies. We need to fight it all over the world, he said. I do ask the American government to make sure weapons will not be easily available in your country to anybody. Please make sure this doesnt happen again. It really hurts. Sabikas middle sibling, Ali, described her as his best friend. She asked me to make sure her room was neat and clean when she came back, he told Pakistani news media. She had also asked our mother to cook her favorite dishes on June 9. As reporters swarmed the familys house in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal neighborhood of Karachi, Sheikh said he had received condolence calls from the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, David Hale, and Pakistani authorities in the United States. As an exchange student, Sabika was a youth ambassador, a bridge between our peoples and cultures, Hale said in a statement. All of us at the U.S. mission in Pakistan are devastated by and mourn her loss. This morning, I called the family of Sabika Sheikh and offered my deepest condolences. All of us at the U.S. Mission in Pakistan are devastated by and mourn her loss. We will honor her memory. #AmbHale #USEmbassyISB pic.twitter.com/Q8ZhF27gGz US Embassy Islamabad (@usembislamabad) May 19, 2018 U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo offered his condolences Saturday. I send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sabika Sheikh, he said in a written statement. Sabika was in the United States on the State Department-sponsored Youth Exchange and Study program, helping to build ties between the United States and her native Pakistan. Sabikas death and that of the other victims is heartbreaking and will be mourned deeply both here in the United States, and in Pakistan. Sheikh said the Pakistani consul general in Houston told him that Sabikas body would be brought to Karachi on Monday. She was the lifeline of our family, he said. Her mother and siblings are in deep shock. Special correspondent Sahi reported from Islamabad and Times staff writer Bengali from New Delhi. shashank.bengali@latimes.com Shashank Bengali is South Asia correspondent for The Times. Follow him on Twitter at @SBengali UPDATES: 4:50 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. This article was originally published at 5:40 a.m. Brig. Gen. Anna Mae Hays, the first woman to earn the rank in U.S. military history. Photo courtesy Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum By Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com Anna Mae V. McCabe Hays, a trailblazer as the first woman general in U.S. military history, saw the front lines of multiple Pacific wars and the halls of government in Washington, D.C. To her, the Lehigh Valley was home. She grew up here, attended high school here, graduated from nursing school here and left to pursue her distinguished military career, achieving what no woman before her had and clearing the way for others to follow. Don't Edit Hays died in January at age 97. Throughout her life, she remained connected to the area and maintained friendships, returning when she could. "I really felt like in many ways I lived part of World War II through her, because of the incredible details she told us, she described to us," said Jill Youngken, the chief curator and assistant director of the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum in Allentown, who knew Hays for more than a decade. On Saturday, Youngken will lecture on Hays' life, which will focus in part on her years in the Lehigh Valley. "The Making of a General" is scheduled 1 p.m. at the museum, 432 W. Walnut St. Ahead of the talk, here are 10 facts about the remarkable life of Anna Mae Hays, Americas first female general. Don't Edit Anna Mae Hays is a student at the Allentown Hospital nursing school in this photo circa 1940. Photo courtesy Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum Don't Edit 1. Her parents served in a different sort of army. Hays parents were Salvation Army officers, which required relocating during her childhood. She was born Feb. 16, 1920, in Buffalo, New York. The family settled in Allentown in 1932, when Hays was 12. Don't Edit 2. She considered Allentown her home. Hays attended what is now William Allen High School and went to nursing school here. The memories stuck with Hays, Youngken said. When the general visited in 2012 for her induction into the Lehigh County Hall of Fame, she and Youngken spent a week traveling around town to see old friends and landmarks. It just connected with her on so many levels, Youngken said of the city. Don't Edit Don't Edit 3. She long dreamed of becoming a nurse. "Hays had dreamed of becoming a nurse since she was a young girl, wrapping bandages around the legs of a kitchen table where her parents frequently invited the infirm to dinner," the Washington Post reported in Hays' obituary. Youngken said that Hays was obviously skilled in medical practices and management, but that the generals true passion in nursing was the personal connection with patients helping them not only physically but emotionally, as well. She had this tremendous amount of caring, for everyone, Youngken said. Don't Edit 4. She also considered a music career. For a time, Hays was torn between nursing and music, The New York Times reported in its obituary: "Though she played the piano in church and the French horn in her school band, she chose not to apply to the Juilliard School in New York because her parents could not afford it." Hays instead enrolled in the Allentown General Hospital School of Nursing, where she received her nursing diploma in 1941. A year later, she joined the Army Nurse Corps and was off to serve in World War II. She did put her musical talents to use during her tours though, assisting chaplains by playing a field pump organ for weddings and church services, according to a biography on the Army Nurse Corps Association website. Don't Edit In this copy of a photo, a U.S. Army Nurse Corps lieutenant tends to combat casualties on the island of Okinawa during World War II. NJ Advance Media file photo Don't Edit 5. She served in three wars. As a nurse, Hays served on the front lines in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. In World War II, she was deployed to a field hospital in northern India, where she treated construction workers building a road to supply the Chinese military in the fight against the Japanese, according to her obituaries in the Times and Post. Most of her staff was sick with malaria, dysentery, or dengue fever and at one time she found herself hospitalized and spotted a cobra under her bed, the Post reported. She calmly asked a guard to shoot it, later explaining, When one lives in the jungle, one can expect that sort of thing. Don't Edit In South Korea, she helped establish the first military hospital in the coastal city of Inchon, the Times said. During that war, hospital staff at one point had to evacuate on a train, which they feared would be attacked. It was one of the few times Hays feared for her life, according to Youngken. In 1967, during the Vietnam War, she oversaw the entire 4,500-person Army Nurse Corps as its chief. Don't Edit Don't Edit 6. She tended to President Eisenhower after surgery. During peacetime service, Hays became chief nurse at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. As a emergency room supervisor, she met and cared for President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who in 1953 had surgery for ileitis, an inflammation of the small intestine, the Times reported. The Times recounted a story from Eisenhowers hospitalization, citing a Morning Call report from the time: When Vice President Richard M. Nixon came to visit Eisenhower asked her advice on whether to see him. No, she replied. She left the room, shook Nixons hand in the hallway and said, Im sorry, but the president doesnt feel he is able to see you. Don't Edit 7. She was the first woman general -- the second was promoted minutes later. Hays was promoted from colonel to one-star brigadier general on June 11, 1970, by Gen. William Westmoreland, the Army chief of staff, becoming the first woman general in U.S. military history. The second woman general in U.S. military history was Elizabeth P. Hoisington, who was promoted minutes later in the same ceremony. The rank had only become possible for them three years earlier, when legislation first allowed a female general, Hays obituaries in the Times and Post noted. Eisenhowers wife, Mamie, presented Brig. Gen. Hays with the stars Eisenhower had received when he was promoted to brigadier general in 1941, the Times reported. Westmoreland reportedly referred to Hays and Hoisington as the first women generals in the Western world since Joan of Arc. Don't Edit Don't Edit In a recording later used in an NPR report, Hays remarked on the significance of the promotion. Well, it really was something, you know, to have stars on your shoulders because a woman didn't have those, she said. This was impossible. No one ever thought it was going to happen. Don't Edit 8. She cleared the way for more women to advance. Over her career, Hays helped establish maternity leave for female officers, abolished the automatic discharge for women who became pregnant and eliminated a provision limiting mothers ability to join the Army Nurse Corps Reserve based on the ages of their children, per the Post and Times. She also expanded scholarships and educational requirements for Army nurses, the newspapers said. Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit 9. She did not consider herself a feminist. Though her promotion was symbolic, Hays never identified herself as a feminist, said Youngken, who also noted the general advocated for all corps nurses both women and men. I think she just had a practical attitude, she said. It was that everyone should be able to live their lives and fulfill their dreams. Don't Edit Taps is played during a funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. AP file photo Don't Edit 10. She chose not to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Hays retired to Arlington, Virginia, and as a decorated military officer could have been buried in Arlington National Cemetery, but instead chose Grandview Cemetery outside Allentown. It was on one of Hays trips home that she made the decision, after visiting her familys graves, Youngken recalled: She said, Yes, this is where I want to be. This is home. Don't Edit MORE LEHIGH VALLEY HISTORY Don't Edit Don't Edit Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Services are Saturday for the 31-year-old Monroe County husband and expectant father killed when a tree uprooted by Tuesday's thunderstorms fell onto his car. Matthew A. Ryan, of Kunkletown, was a 2004 graduate of Emmaus High School, who went on to earn his associate's degree in applied science/professional pilot from Lehigh Carbon Community College, according to his obituary. He and his wife, Nancy Ryan, celebrated their third wedding anniversary last Nov. 1. She is due with their first child, a girl, in September. Matthew Ryan worked as a pilot for Endeavor Air-Delta Airlines based out of LaGuardia Airport in East Elmhurst, New York, his obituary states. He was on his way to work when the accident occurred, according to the West End Reporter in Monroe County. He was driving a 2016 Subaru Impreza shortly before 4 p.m. east on Jonas Road in Effort, Chestnuthill Township, when the tree came down, collapsing the roof of the car, authorities said. Ryan was pronounced dead at the scene. A GoFundMe.com effort to help Nancy Ryan and the couple's unborn child raised more than $57,000 of a $75,000 goal as of Saturday morning. In addition, Matthew Ryan's obituary lists an address to send donations to, to establish a fund for their unborn baby girl. Family and friends may call beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday at Gower Funeral Home & Crematory Inc., Route 209, Gilbert. A memorial service follows at 1 p.m. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. The school bus driver in Thursday's fatal crash on Route 80 in Morris County was attempting an illegal U-turn in the highway median moments before a dump truck struck the bus from behind, an official source told NJ Advance Media. The crash just west of exit 25 in Mount Olive killed a student and a teacher from East Brook Middle School in Paramus and left 43 others injured, some critically. The school bus driver, who has not been named, is among the injured. The bus was en route to Waterloo Village in Byram. Paramus officials said the bus, owned by the board of education, was one of three carrying students, and that the two other buses returned to the school. The school dismissed sixth, seventh and eighth graders early following the crash. The crash killed teacher Jennifer Williamson, 51, and fifth-grade student whose identity has not been revealed. Once first responders arrived on the scene, students and adults were rushed to area hospitals. 21 to Morristown Medical Center, which is a Level 1 trauma center. 10 to Hackettstown Medical Center 3 too Saint Clare's Hospital Dover 4 to Saint Clare's Hospital Denville 3 victims to University Hospital in Newark 2 victims to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Paterson Some patients have been released from Morristown Medical Center but officials there wouldn't say how many. The school is open Friday. District officials provided grief counselors. TURKEYS Voter participation is a matter of public record -- so publicizing whether a person cast a ballot in any election is legal. But mailers sent to voters before the Pennsylvania primary election appeared to try to "shame" people into voting, comparing the voting records of people and their neighbors. State Rep. Doyle Hefley, a Carbon County Republican, called the mailings an attempt to "bully" people into voting. The sender appears to be an official source, listed as Pennsylvania State Voter Program/Pennsylvania State Voter Report -- but it's not a state government entity. Envelopes say "important taxpayer information enclosed." Heffley said voters in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Alaska have received similar mailers in the past, and it's difficult to nail down who's sending them and for what purpose. WFMZ reported that the letters originated in Indiana. Locally, a chart was sent to 10 Williams Township residents, showing how they and their neighbors voted in three previous elections. Pennsylvania State Police are warning people to be aware of gift-card scams, one of which bilked a 75-year-old Lehigh County resident out of $2,000. The Weisenberg Township man received a $2,350 check in the mail, with a letter appearing to come from a legitimate business. The instructions said to cash the check, use $2,000 to buy four Reloadit gift cards, email them and keep $350 as payment for "services." The man followed through, only to find his check failed to clear, and he was out $2,000. TROPHIES Kudos to Joe Alonzo, this year's Kiwanis Club of Easton's Easton Police Officer of the Year. Alonzo, a 16-year veteran of the force, joined the department's accident reconstruction team early on and became a detective. In 2012, he was promoted to sergeant and became the night shift supervisor. He's also involved in the city's community policing. "That's been a big change in police work," Alonzo said. "You're able to engage community members on a much more regular basis." He recently earned a master's degree in criminal justice. The most impressive aspect of the Kiwanis award, Police Chief Carl Scalzo says, is that Alonzo was nominated for the award by the officers who report to him. Earlier this month runners turned out at Easton Area High School for the Monarch 5K race, which honors the memory of Mason Koch, the son of Michael and Kelly Koch who drowned in 2011. The Kochs are employees of the Easton Area School District; this is the seventh straight year runners and sponsors teamed together to support the cause. In previous years they raised $30,000 for Dream Come True of the Lehigh Valley. owner of the G. Grey salon in Bethlehem, found time in the last two weeks to give something back -- 10 free makeovers for deserving girls and boys going to the Liberty and Freedom high school proms. Grey said the idea was hatched in discussions with a client, Regina Blizzard, a speech language therapist with the school district. "These kids showed tremendous grit in the face of adversity," Grey said. "I wanted to make sure they felt this was something fun for them. That they could just come and relax and have a good time." 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 -=- Advertisement -=- Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus If you're updating Windows and receive an Update Status error, it should be a simple fix. The entire message reads "There were some problems installing updates, but we'll try again later. If you keep seeing this and want to search the web or contact support for information, this may help (0x8024402f)." Your actual error code might be 0x80073712, 0x800705B4, 0x80004005, 0x80070002, 0x80070643, 0x80070003, 0x8024200B, 0x80070422, or 0x80070020. After that, you might see "Your device is at risk because its out of date and missing important security and quality updates. Let's get you back on track so Windows can run more securely."Some might suggest youhere, but we don't think you should create a restore point of Windows while it's not working correctly.Let's address the elephant in the room. Windows is suggesting you click on. Odds are you already tried this so let's move on.It's possible you (or a third-party app) disabled or paused your Windows Updates. While the settings seem to change continually, click onin Windows updates. Poke around here and be sure nothing is stopping your updates. It might be worth checking your restart options and active hours as well.We have repeatedly found that a reboot will almost always "unstick" Windows Updates. Windows Updates will scare some people off from with a message warning youto reboot. If we had a buck for every time we rebooted regardless of that message; we'd be in the Bahamas permanently. Instead, we're here rebooting and you should too.Download and click on the. Follow the prompts, however, note there's are a couple of advanced options when you begin. The first is to run as administrator, and we recommend you turn that on as often you will be asked to later anyhow. The second option will apply repairs automatically and is on by default so we'd leave that alone.Similar: Being the Continuing Adventures of a Woman and her Trusty Kayak in New York Harbor, the Hudson River, and Beyond. (with occasional political rants just to keep things lively!) WINDSOR, England (AP) -- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gazed into each other's eyes Saturday at the altar in St. George's Chapel as a soprano sang a work by Handel to celebrate their trans-Atlantic union in front of hundreds of celebrity guests and millions of viewers around the world. The American actress arrived to a fanfare and walked down the aisle accompanied part of the way by Prince Charles, and by 10 young page boys and bridesmaids. The children included 4-year-old Prince George and 3-year-old Princess Charlotte, children of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge. Markle's sleek white dress, designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, had a boat-neck and was made of silk. Her veil came to her waist in front and billowed out for many feet behind her long train. Prince Harry and best man Prince William wore dark formal military dress, with white gloves and the frock coat uniforms of the Blues and Royals. Harry kept his full red beard intact. As they stood at the altar, Harry said to Meghan: "You look amazing." The chapel service reflected Markle's American roots. The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, leader of the Episcopal Church in America, delivered a sermon, and the musical selections included a gospel choir rendition of Ben. E. King's "Stand By Me." The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, the head of the Church of England, declared them husband and wife after the couple promised to love and cherish one another "till death us do part," and exchanged rings. The British-American pair are now officially known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and the duchess will take her place among senior members of the royal family. A host of celebrities and athletes -- including Oprah Winfrey, Idris Elba, Elton John, George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, James Corden and David and Victoria Beckham -- arrived in the bright sunshine at Windsor for the ceremony. Prior to the festivities, Queen Elizabeth II honored her red-headed, 33-year-old grandson with a new title: the Duke of Sussex. That means that Markle will become the Duchess of Sussex when she says "I will." The wedding is a global event, thanks to Harry's status as a senior British royal and Markle's celebrity after starring on the U.S. television series "Suits" for seven years. The wedding pomp and ceremony -- complete with Anglican prayers and tradition, classical music, a gospel choir and a horse-drawn carriage ride through Windsor -- will be beamed live to tens of millions of TV viewers across the world. Relatives at the ceremony included Charles Spencer, the brother of Harry's late mother Princess Diana, and Harry's cousin Zara Tindall and her husband. Also in attendance was the family of Prince William's wife Kate: Parents Carole and Michael Middleton, sister Pippa Middleton and brother James Middleton. Harry's ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy was also among the congregation, as was Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, the ex-wife of Harry's uncle Prince Andrew. Outside the castle, thousands of fans crammed the streets of Windsor. Irene Bowdry, a lawyer from California, was aboard the jammed early train to Windsor. She booked her trip to England as soon as the wedding date was announced. "An American in the royal family, isn't that so exciting?" she said. The weather was balmy and clear, bathing the ancient stones of Windsor Castle in a beautiful spring light. Royal fans have been camping outside the castle for days, and British police have stepped up security, with sniffer dogs, barricades and patrols all over town. "Windsor is absolutely bursting with excitement," said royal historian Hugo Vickers. "There are cardboard cutouts of Meghan and Harry in every shop window, virtually. There's bunting all over the place. I've never seen so many people in the streets of Windsor." Everyone is waiting to see which designer Markle has chosen for her wedding gown. Prince Charles, the groom's father, will walk Markle to the altar after her own father became too ill to attend. It is a time of transition for the British monarchy, one that seems filled with hope as William and Harry -- the two sons of Charles and the late Princess Diana -- step ever more confidently into the limelight. Many in the crowd, like Ana Karukin, a Brazilian nurse living in Florida, said they came to witness a moment of history. "We've got to be here for him and for her, my Meghan, my special girl, to support them, because it's a beautiful time," she said. "I wish that Diana was here, but she's in heaven watching over them." The brothers found the time amid the wedding hoopla to stroll outside the castle Friday evening to thank fans for coming. A smiling Harry gave a thumb's up and answered "Great, thank you!" when asked how he was feeling on the eve of his wedding. And it seems to be a time of joy for 92-year-old queen and her 96-year-old husband, Prince Philip, who plans to attend the ceremony despite his recent hip replacement surgery. She is seeing her grandson marry a woman who clearly has brought him the happiness he's often said was missing from his life after his mother's premature death. The family tableau will play out on the broadest possible stage. Dozens of broadcasters set up on the castle grounds for a visual feast. The chapel itself is a masterpiece of the late Gothic style, and Windsor Castle has been home to British sovereigns for nearly 1,000 years. After the ceremony, the newlyweds will ride a horse-drawn carriage through the streets of Windsor, flanked by a British military procession with many officers on horseback. Then it will be off to the first of two gala receptions. The first will be hosted in the afternoon by the queen -- with finger foods, wine and champagne. The second, smaller reception is being thrown by Charles. A three-hour break in between will allow for a rest and a change of outfits for the lucky 200 invited to the evening soiree. The chapel service will reflect Markle's American roots. The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, the African-American leader of the Episcopal Church, will deliver a sermon, and the musical selections will include versions of Ben. E. King's "Stand By Me" and Etta James' "Amen/This Little Light of Mine." Markle will be accompanied by her mother, Doria Ragland, when she is driven to the chapel, and many of her closest friends and some co-stars from "Suits" will be in the audience. She opted not to have a maid of honor but there will be 10 young bridesmaids and page boys, including 4-year-old Prince George and 3-year-old Princess Charlotte, the elder children of William and his wife Kate. Harry will be joined by some of his buddies from his 10 years of military service -- an experience that included tours of duty in Afghanistan -- and from many of the charities he supports, which have focused on helping wounded veterans or encouraging a more open discussion of mental health issues. The couple has made an effort to honor the memory of Harry's mother Diana, whose older sister Jane Fellowes will give a reading during the wedding service. After seeing the couple up close, Curry said Friday that he saw "two real people who are obviously in love." "When I see them, something in my heart leaps," he said. "That's why 2 billion people are watching them." SPRINGFIELD -- Nearly 500 students received their degrees Saturday, as the College of Our Lady of the Elms held its 87th commencement exercises at the MassMutual Center. The class of 2018 consisted of 338 undergraduates, who received a total of 189 bachelor of arts degrees and 149 bachelor of science degrees. Elms College also awarded 114 masters' degrees, 18 doctoral degrees and three certificates of advance graduate study. Louise C. Ivers, executive director of the Center for Global Health at Massachusetts General Hospital and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, was among those to deliver commencement remarks to graduates. Ivers, in her speech, urged graduates to take five pieces of advice away from the ceremony: Cultivate gratitude, embrace service, don't let your imagination limit your aspirations, seek excellence every day in all of your work and have the courage to stand up and speak out. Harry E. Dumay, who took over as the Chicopee-based college's president last July, also addressed the 471 graduates, family members and friends who gathered at the downtown Springfield arena for the event. Aside from the speeches, Elms College gave an honorary degree to Shirley Ann Session Edgerton, the founder and director of the Women of Color Giving Circle and Director of Youth Alive, Inc. It also presented the Via Veritatis Medal to William F. Frain, the former senior vice president at UBS PaineWebber and a current Elms College trustee. Family members accepted the award on his behalf. It recognizes an outstanding Catholic person who exemplifies Catholic life and culture at their best, and who has made significant contributions to society. A 35-year-old Cambridge man has been found guilty of first-degree murder and improper disposal of human remains for the death and dismemberment 26-year-old Jonathan Camilien three years ago, officials said. Carlos Colina was found guilty in Middlesex Superior Court on Friday for the case which Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan has called a "horrific crime." Cambridge police on April 4, 2015, began to investigate a suspicious duffel bag leaning against a fence on Binney Street. Inside the bag, the made the gruesome discovery of a human torso, Ryan's office said. Security footage from local businesses showed a man leaving an apartment building on Binney Street and placing the duffel bag against the fence. Authorities started to search the trash on each floor of the apartment building. On the third floor, investigators located two bags containing human remains, Ryan's office said in a statement. Then, outside of Colina's third-floor apartment, police detected a strong odor of bleach and could hear a vacuum cleaner being used inside, the statement said. When Colina later emerged from his apartment, he was wearing wet clothing and reeked of cleaning products, Ryan's office said. When authorities asked Colina to go to the police department, he responded, "Why am I a suspect?" In a search of Colina's apartment, authorities found trace evidence of blood under the carpet and in Colina's bathtub, Ryan's office said. There were also tool marks in the tub. Authorities also discovered CDs recorded by Colina in which he rapped about topics including murder and dismemberment, the statement said. Investigators later found victim's identification and credit cards cut into multiple pieces and thrown in the trash, as well as a broken saw and rope. Colina and Camilien, who knew each other, were seen together on security footage entering and exiting the apartment building twice on April 3, 2015, the statement said. The last time Camilien was seen entering the building was at 11:17 p.m. that night. The next morning, Colina was seen with shopping bags containing cleaning supplies. "The facts of this case are particularly disturbing," Ryan said. "After a fatal altercation with the victim, the defendant deliberately tried to cover up his crime by dismembering the victim's body and using various cleaning products in an attempt to remove any trace evidence from the scene." The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Camilien was asphyxiated prior to his death. Colina is scheduled to be sentenced Monday morning. Hartford Police Officer Jill Kidik was "alert and staying strong" Friday at Hartford Hospital after suffering stab wounds to her neck while trying to handcuff a woman after investigating a disturbance in an apartment building Thursday. Kidik, a 12-year veteran of the Hartford force, interned with the Springfield Police Department and worked out of the Springfield Police Academy while she attended Western New England University, according to a message of support posted Friday on the Springfield Police Department Facebook page. She opened her eyes Friday morning following surgery and is alert and staying strong, according to a Hartford Police spokesman's Twitter account. "This incident is just another reminder that for police officers there is no such thing as a routine call," the post reads. Kidik is expected to make a full recovery, police in Hartford tell the Hartford Courant. According to the Courant, this is the third serious assault against a Hartford police officer in six weeks. Kidik was attacked at about 10 a.m. Thursday on the ninth floor of Spectra Boutique Apartments at 5 Constitution Plaza. Thank you to the entire region for all your support. Too many peolpe to list. We are lucky to have so much support. The officer is strong. This morning, surround by family and friends she opened her eyes. She is alert and staying strong . Brian Foley (@LtFoley) May 18, 2018 The woman charged in the attack, Chevoughn Augustin, was ordered held on $2 million bail and charged with attempted murder and first-degree assault and with assault on a police officer officer, according to court papers. Building mangers called police after Augustin was seen being disruptive and removing notices from the apartment lobby bulletin board without authorization. The incident erupted after police made their way to Augustin's apartment, according to court papers. Augustin, 39, told detectives that Kidik asked her to get her identification, according to the police report. Augustin said Kidik then "had made comments that caused her not to trust her," the report said. Augustin told police she tried to leave, but Kidik was in the way. They wrestled and Augustin grabbed a knife and stabbed Kidik twice in the neck, the suspect told police. Apartment maintenance workers intervened and pulled Augustin off Kidik. SPRINGFIELD -- Police continued to search Friday night for a second suspect who was involved in a Dwight Street home invasion in the North End during the day that led to a brief lockdown of a neighborhood school. Ryan Walsh, a spokesman for the police department, said the second suspect remained at large shortly after 9 p.m. Two suspects had fled the scene with police in pursuit toward the Connecticut line. The suspects apparently ditched the car, and one was arrested in Longmeadow, police said. Police were being aided in the search by Longmeadow and Enfield police and state police from Massachusetts and Connecticut. HOLYOKE -- Representatives of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation are scheduled to discuss and take questions about a plan to reconstruct Route 141 near Lindor Heights Monday at City Hall. "This is our chance to ask questions," Council President Todd A. McGee said Thursday. Discussion about the $3 million to $6 million project will come during the meeting of the City Council Development and Government Relations Committee, which begins at 6:30 p.m., he said. The project could involve taking of some property to widen the road to three or four lanes from the current two-lane format, he said. Construction is scheduled to begin in the winter of 2021-2022, according to website of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (DOT). WEST SPRINGFIELD -- The Sisters of Providence have broken ground on Hillside Residence, a $10 million project to build 36 units of affordable, elder care housing on the 27-acre Providence campus at 2112 Riverdale St. The project calls for integrating housing for residents age 62 or older with the health services they will need as they grow older, according to Sister Kathleen Popko, president of the Sisters of Providence. "At times, the dream seemed futile," Popko told the crowd gathered Friday at the site where the housing will soon rise, recalling the ups and downs of trying to secure project funding over the years. The goal, the Catholic nun said, is to build safe, affordable housing for "frail elders" who will also require health services as they age. That is where Mercy LIFE's PACE program -- "Program for All-inclusive Care of the Elderly" -- enters the picture. PACE, a Medicare and Medicaid program, will help low-income seniors at risk of being institutionalized who also need the level of care provided in nursing facilities. Because the project has secured a commitment from the state to help with rental subsidies, the housing cost for residents of Hillside will be capped at 30 percent of their income, according to Popko. In addition to helping at-risk seniors secure a home, Joseph Larkin, executive director of Mercy LIFE, says Hillside will provide older residents with the human connection they need, including opportunities to share meals and other forms of socialization. "Loneliness is a significant risk factor," Larkin said. Popko praised West Springfield Mayor William C. Reichelt for his ongoing support of the project. "He has facilitated our efforts," she said of the mayor, calling him "a friend and supporter." Sen. James T. Welch and Rep. Michael J. Finn, West Side's Statehouse delegation on Beacon Hill, were also on hand for the event, which drew about 100 people including local and state dignitaries. Popko says Welch and Finn have been strong supporters of the project by the Sisters of Providence. "This really is the next cutting-edge of health care in Massachusetts. These are the types of projects we're always continuously looking for," Welch, Senate chairman of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, said of Hillside Residence. "Congratulations and thank you for your tenacity and stick-to-itiveness," he said, directing his remarks to the Sisters of Providence and Mercy LIFE officials in attendance. "We're all here today because we're invested in Hillside Residence," said Janelle Chan, newly appointed undersecretary for Housing and Community Development, which oversees the state's affordable housing programs, community service, and assistance for homeless people. State Elder Affairs Secretary Alice Bonner noted that Popko and Sister Mary Caritas Geary, vice president of Sisters of Providence, have been "powerful and tenacious" advocates for the Hillside Residence project, never giving up "despite rejection after rejection." "It's about creating campuses where people can age together with the services they need," said Bonner, adding that Hillside Residence will serve as a model for how to live and age well in Massachusetts. To create a truly integrated support system for older residents, "it has to be about housing plus services," she said. The project will cater to people age 62 or older with incomes at 50 percent of the area median income or lower, and those whose healthcare needs and "housing instability" can be helped by the integrated program. The project is being financed by public and private sources, including state and federal assistance, $750,000 in Community Preservation Act funds from the Town of West Springfield, and grants from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Key financing sources include the Housing Stabilization Fund, the National Housing Trust Fund, the Housing Innovation Fund Program, and the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program. Also speaking at the event were Roger Herzog, executive director of the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation, and Paul Boudo, chairman of the West Springfield Community Preservation Committee. Boudo and Popko pitched the project to the West Springfield Town Council in January. The following month, the council unanimously authorized using $750,000 in CPA funds for the project. Boudo says Hillside Residence will help West Side reach its state-mandated 10 percent affordable housing goal. Only around 3.5 percent of the town's housing is considered affordable. The project's "development team" includes Kathleen Lingenberg of Community Outcomes LLC; John Wesolowski, chief financial officer of Sisters of Providence Inc.; architects Greg Zorzi and Chris Novelli of Studio One Inc.; Randall Locklin of Locklin Construction Co., and Christopher Boino and his team at Western Builders Inc. Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, gave the closing blessing at Friday's ceremony. LUDLOW -- A 47-year-old Springfield man has been arrested and charged with murder following a Friday stabbing at a Ludlow bakery, which resulted in a man's death, officials announced Saturday. James Leydon, a spokesman for Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, reported that Franklin Conza has been charged with murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection to the death of 70-year-old Ludlow resident Carlos Santos. According to the DA's office, Conza was taken into custody Friday after police responded to Ludlow Central Bakery, located at 270 East St., just before 7 p.m. for a reported stabbing. Police, upon arriving at the bakery, found a bystander restraining Conza, who then fought officers' attempts to arrest him, Leydon said. The victim, who was the co-owner of the bakery, was found with multiple stab wounds and immediately brought to Baystate Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, the DA's office reported. Conza will be arraigned in Palmer District Court Monday morning, Leydon said. The Ludlow Police Department, Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Hampden District Attorney's Office and the Hampden District Attorney's Office Murder Unit are continuing to investigate the case, officials noted. SPRINGFIELD -- A Chicopee and Springfield man have reportedly been arrested after the vehicle they were in fled a field sobriety test, striking two officers, city police reported Saturday. According to police, officers arrested 37-year-old Abismael Martinez, of Chicopee, and 35-year-old Jason Matos, of Springfield, following an early morning pursuit that ended at a State Police sobriety checkpoint off of Interstate 291 near Page Boulevard. Springfield Police said officers attempted to pull over the vehicle around 1 a.m. after allegedly witnessing reckless driving near Chestnut and Liberty Streets. The driver, identified as Martinez, came to a stop on Hebron Street, where officers reportedly observed an open Coors Light can, bottle of Hennessy Liquor and a cup that appeared to be filled with liquor in the center console, police reported. Springfield Police said Martinez refused to exit the vehicle for a field sobriety test and allegedly sped off, striking two officers and dragging one several feet. Police reportedly spotted the car 10 minutes later on Main Street, near Grove Street, before following it onto I-291 East, where it was estimated to be traveling at a speed near 100 miles per hour. Massachusetts State Police took the lead during the highway pursuit. The vehicle then took Exit 5A off of the highway, when it drove into a State Police sobriety checkpoint and was stopped, police reported. According to Springfield Police, Martinez again refused to leave the vehicle and resisted arrest before officers and troopers could take him into custody. Police said they removed a small knife from his belt. Matos was arrested without incident, police said. Martinez, who reportedly consented to a breath test at the Springfield Police headquarters, was found to have nearly twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system, according to police. Martinez faces several charges, including: Operating under the influence of liquor, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, failure to stop for police, operating at a speed greater than reasonable, failure to obey a red lens, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon (motor vehicle.) Matos, meanwhile, has been charged with assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon (motor vehicle.) Police said the officers who were reportedly struck by the vehicle are expected to be OK. SPRINGFIELD -- City police announced Saturday that they have arrested and charged a 48-year-old Connecticut man in connection with a Friday home invasion on Dwight Street, but are still searching for the second person believed to be involved in the incident. Springfield Police spokesman Ryan Walsh said police arrested 48-year-old Jose Davila, of New Britain, Connecticut, following the reported North End home invasion, which resulted in a brief lockdown of a neighborhood school. The second suspect, however, "evaded capture," he said. Davila faces 18 charges, including four counts of home invasion, armed assault to murder, carrying a loaded firearm without an FID card, among others, according to Walsh. Police responded to a reported armed home invasion robbery near 1663 Dwight St. Friday afternoon. Walsh said the robbery suspects fled the scene toward the Connecticut state line with police in pursuit. Officers arrested one of the suspects in Longmeadow near Ely Road and Wheel Meadow Drive, according to police. The second suspect remained at large. Longmeadow and Enfield police, as well as the Massachusetts and Connecticut state police, aided Springfield officers in the search. Walsh said victims in the robbery did not require a trip to the hospital. Two men have been arrested in connection with the March killing of Michael Ross in Dorchester, Boston police said. Dawon Wright, 22, of Dorchester, and Dario Baxter, 21, of Lynn, were located and arrested Saturday by members of the Boston Police Homicide Unit and Boston Police Fugitive Unit, police said in a statement. Warrants for their arrests had been issued less than 24 hours before. Ross, 34, of Dorchester, was gunned down in the area of 112 Wayland St. on March 30. He was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead. Wright is being charged with murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a large capacity firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition, police said. Baxter is being charged with murder and accessory after the fact. "I want to praise the unyielding effort and dedication of my investigators and officers who worked tirelessly to ensure that these two violent criminals will now be brought to justice," Boston Police Commissioner William Evans said. "I specifically want to commend my Homicide Detectives for their work on this case which led to these suspects being identified and charged. "I would also like to commend my officers in the Fugitive Unit for successfully locating and arresting both suspects within 24 hours of their warrants being issued," the commissioner continued. "I can only hope that news of these arrests can bring some small level of comfort to the family, friends and loved ones of Michael Ross." When Jay Lyons was a first-grader at the Flagg Street School in Worcester in the 1970s, he already knew he wanted to be a firefighter. He drew a picture of himself as a grown-up firefighter. Emblazoned on the helmet he was wearing in his picture was the number three. Decades later, Lyons, who achieved his dream and became a Worcester firefighter, was on Engine 3 when he went into his last blaze. Lyons was one of the six firefighters who lost their lives during the Dec. 3, 1999, Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. fire. The sacrifice made by the "Worcester Six" has never been forgotten in the city. So fittingly, the Flagg Street School on Saturday kicked off its annual 5K fundraiser by unveiling the school's new mascot: A lion dubbed "Jay the Hero." Lyons' sister, Kathy Lyons, stood next to Engine 3 as 7-year-old Thomas Amos -- dressed in a lion costume and a blue T-shirt with the words "Hero Jay" printed on the back -- hopped out of the firetruck as a surprise. "More than anything, Jay wanted to be a firefighter. At night, he would ride his bike down to Winslow Street fire station and hang out with the firefighters there," Susan Amos, the vice president of the Flagg Street School parent teacher group said in a speech. "They all knew this little kid and his dream of fighting fires." When Lyons got a little older, he would head toward working fires, sometimes even taking a cab to get there, just so he could watch the firefighters at work. "He was so passionate to see how they fought to save lives," Amos said. Lyons graduated from Doherty High School, got his bachelor's degree from Clark University and master's degree from Anna Maria College. And he accomplished his dream. "His long-held passion won out. He became a firefighter, graduating first in his class," Amos said. Lyons worked his way up to the rank of lieutenant. And then he paid the ultimate sacrifice. "In December of 1999, when he was just 34 years old, Jay went into his last fire on this engine, Engine 3," Amos said. "Jay went into his last fire supporting his crew, searching to save lives." With the last name of "Lyons" and character traits like dedication and bravery that adults try to instill in children, it became an easy decision to make the lion the mascot for the elementary school. In addition to the mascot, the school now has a new logo, featuring a regal lion with the words, "With Kindness We Stand Tall." "Jay didn't need a badge to prove his courage," Amos said. "Jay exemplified the kindness, teamwork and courage that we here at Flagg Street School work toward every day." After remembering Lyons, a group of about 105 runners took off for the 8th annual Red White Blue 5K fundraiser for the Flagg Street School. "The Flagg Street School is so important to my parents and I. Jay and I both went here," Kathy Lyons said, remarking on the various tributes the school has held for her brother. "It's one of the nicest things, like you saw today. It's heartwarming." Many of the 5K runners were elementary school students, born years after the 1999 fire. Lyons considered joining fire departments in Boston or New York, but decided to stay in Worcester. "He just loved the community, the closeness of all the guys," Kathy Lyons said. "They were like family to him." In addition to Lyons, the firefighters who died in the Worcester Cold Storage blaze were Lt. Thomas Spencer, Lt. Timothy Jackson Sr., and Firefighters Jeremiah Lucey, Paul Brotherton and Joseph McGuirk. Great Podcast conversation with University of Montana Professor, business consultant and entrepreneur, Dr. Michael Braun, about current and future trends in business, business education and the intersection with technology. Well worth a listen. http://mtpr.org/post/can-do-go-wantpreneur-entrepreneur-michael-braun While producing cars and components is still expected to be a good business once cars are autonomous, providing the driving experience is seen to be the biggest and best opportunity. New research from UBS predicts that US autonomous-vehicle revenue will reach $2.3 trillion by 2030and 70% of the estimated is expected to come from selling experiences to the former drivers. The biggest opportunity$1.2 trillionwill be in robo-taxi services, moving people and things around in autonomous vehicles, according to UBS. Even though ride-sharing platforms like Uber and Lyft have an advantage through their large customer base, UBS sees their future as analogous to online travel agencies where the new ride agencies book trips with multiple robo-taxi services. Dave Edwards Helen Edwards https://qz.com/1277566/if-the-future-of-cars-is-them-self-driving-while-we-watch-ads-google-is-going-to-make-billions/ Ask Geotripper Is there something about geology that you are curious about? Do you have questions about the scientific aspects of political controversies? I can try to provide a scientist's perspective. Your questions and possible answers could be a springboard to a blog discussion, or they can be private. Anonymity is always assumed. Contact Geotripper at hayesg (at) mjc.edu. , . , . : , - . , . NEW ORLEANS, May 18, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until June 2, 2018 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against LendingClub Corporation (NYSE:LC), if they purchased the Companys securities between February 28, 2015 and April 25, 2018, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Get Help LendingClub investors should visit us at https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-lendingclub-corporation-securities-litigation-1 or call to speak to our claim center toll-free at (844) 367-9658. About the Lawsuit LendingClub and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On April 25, 2018, the Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint against the Company based on multiple charges of wrongdoing including falsely promising loans to consumers with no hidden fees and subsequently applying hundreds or even thousands of dollars in hidden up-front fees from the loans; misleading consumers as to the approval status of their loan applications; and improperly withdrawing funds from consumer accounts. On this news, the price of LendingClubs shares plummeted $0.49 per share, or over 15%, to close at $2.77 per share on April 25, 2018. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. ClaimsFiler's team of experts monitor the securities class action landscape and cull information from a variety of sources to ensure comprehensive coverage across a broad range of financial instruments. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. - Venezuela arrested two Chevron employees because of their unwillingness to participate in corruption. - International oil companies were the only reason Venezuela's oil production wasn't expected to plummet below 1 million b/d. - Now that risk is starting to increase. - In any event, even if Venezuela somehow magically keeps production flat, the global oil market deficit is -0.7 million b/d. If IOCs pullout, the deficit increases to -1.55 million b/d. Venezuela just sealed its own fate with the latest discovery that the battered oil nation arrested two employees of Chevron (NYSE: CVX ). In an exclusive published yesterday, Reuters reported that: For those of you that are not familiar with why this is so important, international oil companies (IOCs) are the only reason why oil production in Venezuela has not plummeted. In a highly recommended report written by Francisco Monaldi , an expert on Venezuela's oil industry and a fellow in Latin American Energy Policy at the Rice University's Baker Institute, here's the segment on his forecast for Venezuela's oil production this year: It is far more likely that investment remains at the current level or declines, production in PDVSA-operated fields continues to fall, and the joint-venture production stagnates or slowly declines. In this case, while production would continue falling for the next few years, it would probably not collapse. Rather, production would asymptotically reach a level (e.g., 1 to 1.2 million b/d) at which it would stagnate. This is expected because remaining production would be concentrated in newer fields, operated by joint ventures, and in the Orinoco extra-heavy Oil Belt-areas in which decline has been less pronounced. There is, of course, a risk of production collapsing much further than forecasted here, due to a combination of events such as an oil strike, a full-blown credit default, generalized international sanctions, or massive civil unrest, all possible occurrences. In the case of default and stringent sanctions, PDVSA would rely extensively on Chinese and Russian national oil companies, both for marketing the oil to limit the impact of sanctions and for operating the joint ventures. An intermediate, albeit unlikely, scenario to consider is one in which a shift within the government occurs, opening doors for limited economic reforms. Such a scenario would lead to stabilization in oil production levels at around 1.5 to 1.7 million b/d. This outlook would require that Western companies stay and slightly increase investment, in an environment of limited sanctions, debt restructuring, and some basic macroeconomic reforms, under a favorable oil price environment-a serendipitous confluence of preconditions that remains implausible. Limited natural-gas exports to Trinidad would also occur in this scenario. Finally, in a full-on successful transition scenario, Western companies would play a major role in the recovery of the Venezuelan oil sector, along with national oil companies from China, Russia, and India. As in most oil-exporting countries, PDVSA would likely continue to play a prominent role, but that would require a major restructuring of the company, refocusing it on commercial oil and gas ventures. As you can see in our highlighted section above from the article, the scenario of both stagnating production, stabilizing production, and recovery in production require none other than the help of Western companies. But will they help? Chopping the hand that feeds you In the latest scandal, Venezuela charged two Chevron employees with treason for refusing to sign a parts contract for a joint venture with PDVSA. We quote: The two Chevron employees were jailed when they refused to sign a supply contract written by PDVSA executives under an emergency decree - which skips the competitive bidding process, according to a half-dozen sources close to the case. Such decrees have been cited by Venezuela prosecutors as a means of extracting bribes in some recent PDVSA corruption cases. The Chevron employees balked when the parts were listed at more than double their market price in a contract worth several million dollars, one of the sources told Reuters. The workers oversaw operations and procurement at Petropiar, an oil upgrading project co-owned by PDVSA and Chevron to transform Orinoco Belt's extra heavy crude into an exportable product. This type of corruption has been widespread and explains in part why Venezuela's oil production looks something like this: But with the arrest of Chevron's two employees, will this start the exodus of IOCs from Venezuela? If so, what are the dire consequences? Interestingly enough, Schlumberger ( SLB ) and Halliburton ( HAL ) have now both written off their remaining investments in Venezuela. SLB took a pre-tax write-down of $938 million in Q4 2017. HAL has now written off its remaining $312 million investment. SLB's CEO, Paal Kibsgaard, took it one step further in the latest earnings call and said Venezuela's oil production was in "free fall." The negativity surrounding the loss of hope from servicing operators to the latest arrest of its JV partner employees are only piling onto the dire situation we are seeing from Venezuela, but the significance of these two events cannot be dismissed so easily because IOCs are needed in order to keep Venezuela's oil production from free falling to nothingness. What happens if IOCs pullout and what happens to the global oil market balance? Here's how you should size up the situation with Venezuela. Current production ~1.5 million b/d. Natural decline possible to ~1.1 million b/d this year. JVs holding up production from falling below 1 million b/d. OPEC production in March 2018 was 31.83 million b/d. Call on OPEC increases to ~33 million b/d by end of 2018. If Venezuela's oil production falls to ~1.1 million b/d, that will decrease OPEC's production by another ~400k b/d to ~31.4 million b/d. That would require other members to increase production by ~1.6 million b/d by the end of 2018 to prevent more storage draws. If IOCs pullout, the support underneath Venezuela could get yanked resulting in a substantial loss in production. Our view would be a free fall to ~600k b/d to ~700k b/d or an additional loss of ~400k b/d to ~500k b/d. Here's a table breakdown: Source: HFI Research As you can see in the table above, even if Venezuela kept its production flat, which in our view is the best case, the global oil market deficit remains at -0.7 million b/d. And the deficit only increases from here on out, so oil bulls can view the demise of Venezuela's oil production as a sort of margin of safety or "free call option" to the upside. Too little, too late The situation in Venezuela is simply too little too late. No matter what Maduro does for the oil industry now, nothing will correct the steep production declines we are seeing. As the tensions grow with its IOC JV partners, we think the possibility of IOCs leaving is no longer a nonexistent risk factor. In the event that Chevron decides to exit Venezuela for fear of more government retaliatory tactics like this, oil production could fall through the pivotal 1 million b/d and the real death spiral begins. For the global oil market, whether Venezuela's oil production stabilizes or declines further won't change the fact that it's in a deficit and will continue to be in a deficit into next year. For oil bulls then, this scenario analysis is pure upside. PITTSFIELD TWP., MI - Police have released photos of man who robbed a Pittsfield Township convenience store. The man, possibly a teenager, entered the Circle K at 5495 W. Michigan Ave. about 4:02 a.m. April 27. With the muzzle of a handgun protruding from his jacket pocket, he obtained cash, grabbed a large quantity of cigarillos and left the store on foot, according to the township public safety department. A police dog search was unsuccessful. He was described as Hispanic, under five feet four inches tall and wearing a grey hoodie with a bandana on his face. He had on what appeared to be dark-colored socks without shoes, police reported in a Friday update. No one was hurt in the hold-up. Anyone with information is asked to contact the department detective bureau's confidential tip line at 734-822-4958 or the front desk at 734-822-4911. ANN ARBOR, MI - Two men were shot and wounded early Saturday on N. Main Street in Ann Arbor. Their injuries were not considered life-threatening, Ann Arbor police reported. Both men, ages 28 and 29 and of the Ypsilanti area, were taken to Michigan Medicine's university hospital emergency room for treatment, Ann Arbor police reported in a statement. Emergency personnel were called about 2:20 a.m. May 19 to the 200 block, near W. Ann Street. The incident remains under investigation. No one had been arrested. A sergeant on Saturday said there were no further details to release at this time. Anyone with information is asked to call a Detective Bill Stanford at 734-764-6939, extension 49318 or anonymously at 734-764-6939. Tips also can be emailed to tips@a2gov.org. PLYMOUTH TWP., MI - An officer shot and killed an armed man Friday evening in Plymouth Township while police tried to take him into custody, Livonia police reported in a statement. He had disobeyed officers' commands to stop and fled on foot in northwester Wayne County, according to Livonia police. A Livonia officer fired shots and the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident began about 7:45 p.m. May 18. Westland police pursued a vehicle driven by the man, reported to be armed and suicidal. Police stopped the chase near Hix and Joy roads, according to police. The man was last seen running on foot, with a handgun, in a residential area north of the intersection in Livonia. Officers responded and surrounded the area to search for the person. He was located and confirmed to be armed, according to Livonia police. "We are still looking at evidence and other items to determine what exactly occurred during the Livonia officers attempt to arrest the suspect. Still early yet," Michigan State Police 1st Lt. Michael Shaw wrote Saturday afternoon in an email. An investigation, involving Livonia, Plymouth Township and Michigan State police, was ongoing. The information was considered preliminary. Plymouth Township police asked the state police Special Investigation Section to conduct an inquiry. Detectives and members of the state police crime lab were collecting physical and video evidence, interviewing witnesses and pursuing other investigative leads, the state police reported in a Tweet. Shaw said the man, in his late 30s, just moved back to Michigan from Arizona. He was staying with relatives, most recently in Livonia. Shaw said he had talked of harming himself. This was the third officer-involved shooting in the region in the last week. A Dearborn Heights police officer shot and killed a 38-year-old man armed with a rifle about 3:30 a.m. May 13 outside a barbecue restaurant. The next day, a Royal Oak officer killed 20-year-old Cody Reynolds, who had stabbed his mother and charged an officer after 3 a.m. May 14, police reported. Anyone with information on the latest shooting is asked to contact the state police Metro South Post at 734-287-5000. We will continue to update this investigation as factual information becomes available. Please remember it is early in this investigation. Anyone who has information on this incident and has not been contacted by MSP is asked to contact the Metro South Post at 734-287-5000. pic.twitter.com/gAHR8mdAr1 MSP Metro Detroit (@mspmetrodet) May 19, 2018 The suspect was struck and pronounced dead on scene. It is very early in the investigation. Detectives and members of the MSP crime lab are currently collecting evidence both physical and video, interviewing witnesses and pursuing other investigative leads. pic.twitter.com/OtD4BldSo5 MSP Metro Detroit (@mspmetrodet) May 19, 2018 After Westland terminated their pursuit in the area of Hix and Joy Road, Livonia Police became involved when the suspect ran into a residential area in their city. Livonia officers located the suspect and during an attempt to arrest the suspect shots were fired. pic.twitter.com/7m2Fc1fjWC MSP Metro Detroit (@mspmetrodet) May 19, 2018 IONIA COUNTY, MI -- Police seized nearly a half-pound of crystal methamphetamine following the arrest of three men at an Ionia area gas station. Ionia County sheriff's deputies worked with the state police and Central Michigan Enforcement Team in a collaborative effort that culminated with arrests Thursday, May 17 at a gas station along M-66 just north of I-96. The seized drugs have an estimated street value of about $20,000, police said. The three men arrested are Nathan Elferink, 32, of Kalamazoo; Brian Allan Jones, 36, of Kalamazoo; and Arieus Taylor, 34, of Kalamazoo. Elferink and Jones are both charged with delivery of methamphetamine and possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, while Taylor is charged with possession of methamphetamine. JACKSON, MI - He thinks of it as bigger than one man finishing a 5k. He is representing thousands of first responders. He is competing for the 343 firefighters who died on Sept. 11, 2001, and it has given Bob Bates a new reason to run. "I can't put it into words how big this is," said Bates, a 45-year-old volunteer firefighter in Camden, southwest of Hillsdale. Bates was the first wearing firefighting gear to finish on Saturday the second Tunnel to Towers 5k at Cascade Falls Park, which raised more than $30,000 to aid catastrophically injured veterans. He completed the course in 22:52, good for eight overall and second in his age group. The event is one of 60 or more organized across the country in memory of Stephen Siller, an off-duty New York firefighter who, unable to drive, ran about 3.5 miles with 50 pounds of gear toward the World Trade Center, where he died the day the towers fell. Siller's siblings established a foundation that builds "smart homes" for injured servicemembers and pays mortgages for families of fallen officers. Jan Ganzel, a Blackman-Leoni Township public safety sergeant and New York native, brought the race to Jackson in 2017. Bates first ran a Tunnel to Tower 5k in Berkley, near Royal Oak, in September. He won among firefighters there too, taking home a golden helmet. Already talking about bettering his performance by doing the track workouts in firefighting pants, Bates learned Saturday the foundation is flying him to New York for the original race, retracing Siller's steps. He has been running for more than three decades. He competed for Calvin College in Grand Rapids and then Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. He used to run with his 7-year-old son, Zach, born with disabilities. Zach died in 2009 and it took the Tunnel to Towers event to restore Bates' love for the sport. "This is a whole new life to running, a whole new chapter," he said, still sweaty from a race he said was "hot, extremely hot." He had pulled off his jacket to reveal a florescent tank top with Zach's picture on its front. His sons Cole, 11, and Peyton, 10, stood at his side. Around his neck was a lanyard attached to Siller's picture. This too motivated him, said Bates, featured in a marketing video placed prominently on the foundation's Facebook page. It shows him running in his fire suit and helmet through the fields of southern Hillsdale County. Behind him Saturday, a giant American flag was suspended by two ladder trucks, and in the grass along the finish line were pictures of other firefighters who died in the terrorist attacks. Charlie Gussman knew some of them. The retired New York fire commander and foundation volunteer lost 20 firefighters from his battalion that day. He came to Jackson in 2015 to present a shadowbox of steel from the World Trade Center, introduced Ganzel to the Siller organization and returned on Saturday. He and his wife were vacationing in Bermuda in the North Atlantic Ocean the day the planes hit the towers. Watching TV news like others around the world, he could not get a flight home for several days. There was nothing he could do. Gussman then spent fourth months among the wreckage. "We never saw a desk. We never saw a door. We never saw a computer... It was utter and total devastation." For more than 1,100 of the casualties, there are no remains. It is as if they disappeared, he said. "Those of us that were there, we have a new appreciation for what it is like when you leave your door, when you leave your home and you go to work... whatever your station in life, you never know when your loved one is going to return," he said. "Appreciate what you have, thank those that serve your community... don't go away mad." Gussman was speaking to the crowd before the start of the race. Girl Scouts joined him, reading the names of police officers and firefighters who have died in or were from Jackson County. Summit Township and Spring Arbor Fire Chief Tim McEldowney, in formal uniform, reminded those gathered that there are more than 400 firefighters, about 200 sworn police officers and more than 100 emergency medical service providers in Jackson County. "These are people that care about their community. They have a servant's heart," he said. "I am so proud to see how many are here." There were about 420 registered runners, up from about 300 in 2017. Among them were many firefighters. Toni Flaugher was completing her first 5k - in her fire gear. The volunteer Hillsdale firefighter, 28, said watching the towers collapse as a fifth grader moved her to fight fires. McEldowney hopes to see that number of participants grow. "Because we made a pledge on Sept. 11, 2001: We will never forget." PAVILION TOWNSHIP, MI -- Police and firefighters are at the scene of an accident involving a female struck by a train in Scotts. Rescuers responded to the accident, near 36th Street and Railroad Street, just after 7 p.m. Friday, May 18. Personnel with Canadian National Railway called 911 to report the accident. Firefighters later called for a medical examiner to respond to the scene. Kalamazoo County Undersheriff James VanDyken said the victim was an adult and, according to what he was told, had been walking on the tracks. SAGINAW, MI -- A dispute between a man and a woman that led to a fatal head-on crash in Shiawassee County after a driver sped off from a traffic stop did not originate in the city of Saginaw, according to Detective Sgt. Matthew Gerow. It did, however, originate in Saginaw County, but deputies from the Saginaw County Sheriff's Office were not involved, according to Lt. Mike Gomez. Gomez said that from what he was told from officials in Shiawassee County, a woman was giving a man a ride to Lansing when some disagreement occurred between them in the 9000 block of Sheridan Road in Saginaw County's Albee Township. The woman, who legally carries a gun, got out of the car and fired two or three shots into the ground as some kind of a warning to the man, Gomez said. "She never shot at him from what I was told," Gomez said. The woman got back into the car and they drove away, but someone saw what happened and called 911, according to Gomez. An alert to be on the lookout for the vehicle was put out for the white Cadillac sedan and at some point, Shiawassee County sheriff deputies stopped the vehicle on M-13 near Corunna Road. Somehow, the woman who was driving the vehicle exited through the passenger door and the man got into the driver's seat and took off, according to Gomez. Gomez said police in Saginaw County never encountered the couple while they were in Albee Township, which is minutes away from Shiawassee County. While the man was fleeing in the Cadillac, one deputy in an SUV held the woman at gunpoint as a Michigan Department of Corrections van that happened to be on the same road, pulled over and officers got out to help the deputy handcuff the woman. Another deputy in a cruiser went in the direction of the fleeing Cadillac and minutes later, the driver of the Cadillac crashed head-on into another vehicle near the I-69 ramp, killing an 84-year-old man and sending the driver of the Cadillac to the hospital. The name of the victim has not been released. The woman and man in the Cadillac have not been identified and it is not known where they are from. Michigan State Police are investigating the traffic stop and crash, according to MSP Lt. David Kaiser. 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. May 19, 2018 Syria Sitrep - Liberating The M5 Highway, Syria's Economic Lifeline In this situation report we look at the consolidation of the Syrian government space, discuss the upcoming operatitwelons to secure the vital M5 highway, clear up the S-300 confusion and provide a bit on the political developments. Over the last twelve months the Syrian Arab Army and its allies made a lot of progress. May 20 2017 - bigger The government held area was extended to the Euphrates and the Syrian-Iraqi border. Deir Ezzor was liberated. The border to Lebanon was secured. All "rebel" enclaves within the government held areas (except the ISIS desert pocket) were consolidated. May 19 2018 - bigger After clearing up east-Ghouta east of the capital Damascus the Syrian government forces were concentrated around the Yarmouk camp south of the city. Yarmouk, originally a Palestinian refugee camp, is a densely build-up area which was held by Islamic State fighters as well as "rebels" paid by foreign countries. The "rebels" have since given up and were evacuated to Idleb governorate. The ISIS held area is reduced to less than a square mile of dense urban terrain. There were contradicting reports today that the ISIS fighters had given up and were ready to evacuate. Whatever they decide the area will be liberated in a week or so. The Syrian capital will then be completely secure. Until two weeks ago a large area around al-Rastan between Homs and Hama was still held by mostly local "rebel" forces. The Syrian government sent its Tiger forces and an ultimatum - give up or die. The "rebels" decided to avoid a fight which they would surely have lost. They agreed to be evacuated and were dumped into Idleb. Al-Rastan is back in government hands. This move freed the M5 highway between Homs and Hama. The M5 highway is the main north-south artery of Syria. It connects Gaziantep in Turkey with Amman in Jordan. The highway runs through the main Syrian cities of Aleppo, Hama, Homs and Damascus. Before the war started all transit traffic between Turkey and the rich Gulf countries as well as most of the internal Syrian commerce ran along this road. Turkey, Syria and Jordan have a common economic interest in securing and reopening this important lifeline. M5 highway - bigger The next strategic task for the Syrian army is therefore to secure the M5 highway in its full length. In the south of Syria the M5 connection to Jordan runs through the eastern part of the "rebel" held area (green) towards al-Mafraq in Jordan. The border to Jordan is closed for the "rebels" and tightly controlled. There have been talks between Jordan and some of the "rebel" groups with the aim of ending the conflict in the south but they have so far failed. bigger The Syrian army has two possible ways to proceed in the south. It could move from the northern border triangle of Lebanon, Syria and the Zionist occupied Golan heights (purple) southwards along the demarcation line and down to the border of Jordan. UN observers could return to the Golan demarcation line, monitor the operation and prevent it from escalating into a war with Israel. The move would isolate the al-Qaeda and ISIS "rebels" in the area from their Israeli supplies. The Takfiris could then be pressured from the west, north and east and a general cleanup would follow. The move would be militarily and politically dicey as Israel would probably try to prevent it. But it would also solve an important political problem once and for all. The Russian command should talk with Israel and discuss this plan. The politically and militarily easier move is to proceed from Daraa to the Jordan border and to thereby encircle the eastern part of the rebel held area. The eastern part can then be liberated slice by slice. This would allow for unhindered M5 traffic from Damascus towards al-Mafraq and Amman but it would leave the ISIS/al-Qaeda pocket along the occupied Golan heights as a festering problem. In the north the M5 highway between Hama and Aleppo runs through the eastern part of the "rebel" held Idleb governorate. The Syrian army will have to take control of it before the road can be reopened. North of Aleppo towards Turkey the highway goes through an area which is currently controlled by Turkish forces. These are for now able to secure the road. Idleb governorate is held by various "rebel" groups with the the al-Qaeda aligned Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) being the strongest one. Idleb had been declared a de-escalation zone under Astana rules and Turkey set up twelve observation points to watch over the border of the area. There has been an immense amount of infighting between HTS (dark green) and other "rebel" groups (light green). by Suriyakmaps - bigger On May 14 and 15 Turkish, Russian and Iranian negotiators met for the ninth round of Syria negotiations in Astana, Kazakhstan. There was no announced progress but the joint statement again emphasizes "the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria." It was probably in Astana that an agreement was made about the northern part of the M5 highway. Shortly after the Astana talks a report by a well connected source (nicknamed after a Russian sniper hero) said that Turkey informed the "rebels" in Idleb governorate that they will have to evacuate the area east of the M5 highway between Hama and Aleppo. The Syrian army would move in to secure the highway. Should the "rebels" not follow the Turkish advice the Syrian army will move into Idleb governorate by force from the east and south to push the "rebels" westwards beyond the highway line. As soon as the M5 is under full control Syria's commercial lifelines to all neighbors will be reestablished. The economy of Syria will then experience an urgently needed significant boost. --- There have been discussion in the comments here and elsewhere about the Russian on and off announcement of S-300 air defenses in Syria. These discussions lacked military knowledge. Air defenses are layered: Local air defense uses man portable air defense missiles (MANPADs), 20 mm machine cannons and machine guns. Its reach is about 2,000 meters. The next level are systems with a range of up to 20 kilometers. Syria has about 40 Pantsyr-S1/2 systems mounted on trucks. (The Russian forces in Syria have about 20 additional Pantsyr-S systems to protect their bases.) These are mobile and an excellent point defense for airports and other significant assets. During its last attack on Syria an Israeli missile could destroy one Pantsyr system only because it was being reloaded and could therefore not react. The next air defense layer are mid range systems like the Syrian S-200 or the more modern Russian BUK-2. These systems have a reach of about 150 kilometers. The old S-200 systems Syria currently uses are fired from fixed positions. That makes them extremely vulnerable to pre-programmed precision missile attacks. Israeli strikes have destroyed several such systems in Syria. The fourth layer of air defense are high attitude, long range area defense systems. The U.S. has THAAD and Russia has the S-300/ S-400 systems. These have ranges beyond 300 kilometers. The longer range systems of the higher layers always need additional protection by the lower layers. An S-300 missile costs several ten-thousands of dollars but can not defeat a small toy drone of the kind ISIS uses to drop hand-grenades onto targets. It needs be protected against these. Pantsyr systems and a few dozen men with MANPADs and machine-guns can do that. It would make no sense to drop S-300 systems into Syria without having established and secured sufficient air-defense layers 1, 2 and 3 below the long range class. They would soon go up in smoke. There are also additional elements of reconnaissance (radar and electronic warfare systems) and communication, command and control that need to be more sophisticated and widespread to operate S-300 systems. All these high end long range systems need highly trained operators and are very expensive. What Syria currently needs are more Pantsyr systems. It urgently needs to replace the old S-200s with the modern and mobile BUK-2. These systems make way more sense for the Syrian battlefield than the famed S-300. They also have the advantage of being significantly cheaper. For a more general discussion of Russia's role in Syria beyond the S-300 nitpicking, I highly recommend the latest piece by Elijah Magnier: Russia is in the Middle East to halt the war, not take part in the Iran-Israel Conflict. --- On May 14 the Syrian President Assad met the Russian President Putin in Sochi. They discussed the political process needed to bring an end to the war. Assad committed to UN supervised negotiations about constitutional changes in Syria but rejected the significant changes of the Syrian system which the outside powers wanted to impose. He said: "We focused on the issue of the Constitutional Committee that should be established following the results of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress. We expect to start the corresponding work with the UN. I have confirmed to President Putin today that Syria will send the list of its delegates to the Constitutional Committee to discuss amendments to the current Constitution. It will be done as soon as possible." That this was said after a meeting with Putin confirms that the Russian attempt to write a new constitution for Syria is dead. There will be no semi-federalization for the Kurds or others which would weaken the central government and no measures that would weaken the position of a Syrian presidency. Amendments can be made, but the basic structure will stay. Posted by b on May 19, 2018 at 17:58 UTC | Permalink Comments 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. PHOENIX (AP) David Montenegro worked part-time restaurant jobs and took advantage of Arizona's lower in-state tuition as he labored through years of college. Now a senior with the goal of becoming a teacher nearly in sight, the 29-year-old Mexico-born immigrant who arrived in the U.S. at age 11 faces a new hurdle. Montenegro and more than 2,300 public college students around Arizona with deferred deportation status will have to pay thousands more for school in the fall under a state Supreme Court decision that deemed them ineligible for in-state tuition. Suddenly, they are scrambling to piece together private funding to continue their studies. Students in the U.S. illegally cannot get federal funding, but there are private scholarships such as TheDream.US and Golden Doors Scholars for students covered by the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA. Youths in the program are sometimes referred to as "Dreamers" for the DREAM Act, never-passed legislation that opponents say would reward people for breaking the law and encourage illegal immigration. Montenegro said Arizona State University counselors helped him find modest funding from donors to finish his last year, and "I should be able to do it." But he and others said they fear a growing anti-immigrant bias in the U.S. under President Donald Trump, who has made tough immigration policies a key focus. "It's upsetting to know there are people out there trying to make our lives impossible," Montenegro said. Vasthy Lamadrid, another DACA recipient in ASU's teaching program, acknowledged experiencing "a lot of anxiety and stress" after the decision. "Some students are freaking out, wondering if they need to move out of state or find other funding," the 22-year-old added. The Arizona Attorney General's Office sued the Maricopa Community College District in 2013, saying that extending in-state tuition to DACA recipients violated a 2006 voter initiative that requires people to have lawful immigration status to get public benefits. The state Supreme Court ruled in April that state and federal law do not allow DACA recipients to get Arizona's in-state tuition because they are not lawfully present in the U.S. Although federal law does not prevent unauthorized immigrants from attending public universities, state laws vary on whether those who graduated from state high schools get in-state tuition rates. The National Conference of State Legislatures says 20 states offer in-state tuition to unauthorized immigrants 16 of them through legislative action in places including California, Kansas and New York. In Hawaii, Michigan, Oklahoma and Rhode Island, the lower rate is granted through the state university systems. In New Mexico, Western New Mexico University has used social media to woo high-achieving immigrants, extending in-state tuition to DACA recipients from Arizona, Colorado and El Paso, Texas. But Georgia considers students covered by DACA ineligible for in-state tuition, a policy explored in "The Unafraid," a new documentary taking its name from an activist chant, "Undocumented! Unafraid!" Screening next month at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival in New York, the movie follows three DACA recipients in Georgia hoping to go to college. Their challenges are similar to those now faced by Arizona DACA recipients, who mostly come from lower-income families and often don't graduate until they are in their mid-20s or older because they can pay for a only class or two at a time. The annual tuition for an estimated 300 DACA recipients at Arizona's three public universities will rise from about $10,000 to $15,000 under a policy of charging non-citizen residents 150 percent of in-state tuition. Some 2,000 students with DACA status at the Maricopa County Community College District, the largest in Arizona and among the biggest in the U.S., will see annual costs for a full-time course load jump from about $2,580 to $8,900. Some students are finding a friendlier and more affordable education at private schools such as Arizona's Prescott College, which has actively recruited DACA recipients including 19-year-old freshman Itzel Rios Soto, who was 6 when she was brought here from Mexico. "When I got a scholarship, I broke down crying because it was the answer to my family's prayers," said Rios, whose tuition at the small liberal arts school is covered by its Freedom Education Fund, which students pay for with a $30 fee each semester. She's the first in her family to attend college. After the court decision, Prescott College announced it would match Arizona state universities' resident tuition rates for immigrants in the country illegally. "They were brought here involuntarily, and this is the only country they know," college President John Flicker said then. "Our state and our nation will be better if we educate them, not force them into the shadows." The DACA students graduating from the Jesuit-run Brophy Preparatory Academy in Phoenix this month decided against college in Arizona because of insufficient funding for immigrant students, said Kathy Mabry, the school's communications director. Instead, they're going to out-of-state Catholic universities or other private schools such as the University of Southern California and Emerson College in Boston. "With a college preparatory education that has given them solid academic footing, and a team of dedicated college counselors guiding them, I believe Brophy's Dreamers have been well-prepared to find other resources," Mabry said. Graduating 17-year-old Nelson Martinez said his activism supporting fellow DACA students helped him get a full scholarship to College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts. Because of his family's modest income, "paying full tuition at a state school was never a possibility," he said. ___ Follow Anita Snow on Twitter at: http://www.asnowreports.com Her past stories can be found at: https://www.apnews.com/search/Anita%20Snow Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. MONTE ZONCOLAN, Italy (AP) Chris Froome responded to his critics with a fantastic ride up Monte Zoncolan to win the 14th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Saturday. Nevertheless, British compatriot Simon Yates consolidated his overall lead. Froome attacked with about four kilometers remaining of the tough 186-kilometer route from San Vito al Tagliamento. The four-time Tour de France champion gritted his teeth on the final curves of the iconic climb and managed to finish six seconds ahead of Yates. Domenico Pozzovivo was third, 23 seconds behind Froome, whose chances of winning the race all but ended after a difficult opening week. Froome, who dropped out of the top 10 earlier this week, moved up to fifth although the Team Sky rider is still more than three minutes behind Yates. "We'll take it day by day, it's not over yet," said Froome, who is trying to become the third person to win three Grand Tours in a row. Froome crashed in training before the opening time trial, lost time in a split on stage four and injured himself again in a second crash last Saturday. "It was a very important attack, also for the morale," Froome said in Italian. "It was a very important moment for this Giro. A very famous climb, with a great story. For that reason it was a very strong motive for me to try to win here. "When I fell in Jerusalem, it's always difficult to recover after a fall like that. I didn't feel normal so I'm very happy to win today." Yates, who rides for Mitchelton-Scott, extended his lead over defending champion Tom Dumoulin to 1:24. "I tried to go for the stage," Yates said. "I did my best to catch Chris. I just didn't have enough to get it. But as far as the Maglia Rosa is concerned, it's all good to be second here." Pozzovivo moved up to third in the overall standings, 1:37 behind Yates. There were four categorized climbs ahead of the finish on Monte Zoncolan, which is regarded as the hardest climb in Europe with an average 12 percent gradient and a maximum of 22 percent. Sunday's 15th stage is another grueling leg through the Dolomite Range, with the riders almost continuously climbing and descending on the 176-kilometer route from Tolmezzo to Sappada. Monday sees the Giro's third and final rest day, before the individual time trial, Dumoulin's speciality. The Giro ends in Rome on May 27. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A look at what's happening around the majors today: CAN WE JUST PLAY? The Washington Nationals still haven't finished a full game since last Sunday. Their matchup against the Yankees at home Tuesday night was suspended in the sixth inning because of rain, and the teams were washed out Wednesday. The Nats were off Thursday and rained out again Friday night against the Dodgers. Washington and Los Angeles are now scheduled for a split doubleheader. And yep, an all-day rain is in the forecast at Nationals Park. SLUMPING Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius is in a 1-for-45 slump that's lasted two weeks. He was batting .372 in late April and was chosen the AL Player of the Month. He hit his 10th home run on April 27, but hasn't cleared the fence since then. Gregorius has struck out only four times in his last 10 games, but isn't finding any open space. NICE START Pirates center fielder Austin Meadows looks to build on his fine big league debut. The 23-year-old got two hits and stole a base Friday night at PNC Park in a 3-2 loss to San Diego. Meadows, a first-round draft pick in 2013, is filling in for injured Starling Marte. STREAKING Braves lefty Sean Newcomb (4-1, 2.51 ERA) has pitched 20 straight scoreless innings going into this start at home against Miami. The 24-year-old blanked the Marlins on one hit over six innings last weekend. INJURY BUG The A's hope their starter can stay healthy through the first few innings in Toronto. On Thursday, Oakland righty Andrew Triggs left after 2 1-3 innings against the Blue Jays because of nerve irritation in his hand and arm. On Friday, lefty Brett Anderson exited after just one inning because of a strained shoulder. Lefty Sean Manaea (5-4, 2.35) is next up in Toronto. AVAILABLE Third baseman Chase Headley is free to sign with any team. He was released by the Padres on Friday and cleared waivers a club that claimed him would've be responsible for the rest of his $13 million salary. Now, he comes at a fraction of that cost. The 34-year-old hit only .105 in 27 games. STILL RUNNING Ender Inciarte still leads majors in stolen bases despite getting dropped from the top of the Braves' order on April 29 in favor of Ozzie Albies. A five-year veteran in his third season with Atlanta, Inciarte has six of his 18 steals since the change, but manager Brian Snitker thinks he will have more chances to run as he gets more comfortable hitting lower in the lineup. Inciarte needs five stolen bases to surpass his single-season career high. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. In her eighth and what should be final major address since taking office in 2011, Mayor Teresa Jacobs touted the strong state of Orange County. Jacobs hailed community response to Maria evacuees, Pulse survivors Shared county's support for new Pulse memorial Jacobs: "The future is very bright." Before a crowd of other elected officials, as well as business and community leaders, Jacobs took to the podium Friday afternoon at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, touching upon a myriad of issues. Jacobs spoke of the county welcoming in evacuees from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, and the community uniting after tragedies like the Pulse nightclub shooting. Theres really no way to sum up the impact of that tragedy, or the depth of heartbreak and loss that so many experienced," she said. "But as overwhelming as the loss was, the response of the community was equally overwhelming. Never would I have imagined the outpouring of love and unity, or the depth of our strength and resilience. The mayor shared the countys support for the new memorial honoring the victims of the shooting, and touted successes, like building permits being issued "at a rate we havent seen in years" and app rollouts which have helped the community at large. In addition, she addressed plans to tackle the affordable housing crisis and and steps the county took to equip all law enforcement officers with Narcan to combat opioid overdoses. Following the address, Jacobs shared the top accomplishment she will take away from her eight years as mayor. I think the most important thing weve done is youth mental health and putting in response tools, in a way for parents, teachers, law enforcement, anybody who is really concerned for a childs mental health we now have a 24 hour, 7 days a week call service, Jacobs explained. Orange Countys unemployment rate fell from 10.7 percent to 3.2 percent between 2011 and 2018, according to the county, and more than 159,143 jobs were created during Jacobs' tenure. "With this generation of young people growing up, the future is very bright," Jacobs said. SANTA FE, Texas (AP) -- Students at a Texas high school where a gunman killed 10 people are being allowed inside the building to get car keys and other belongings they left behind. Students allowed into Texas school after shooting Officials said students could pick up belongings 10 people were killed in Friday's shooting Walter Braun, the school districts chief of police, said at a news conference Saturday that the students will be allowed inside Santa Fe High School in groups of no more than 10 and would be accompanied by officers. He said about 50 students had been admitted as of Saturday afternoon and that others would be allowed in for about three more hours. Braun and other officials declined to answer questions about the investigation into Fridays shooting, deferring to the FBI, which has taken the lead. Authorities say it was carried out by a 17-year-old student, Dmitrios Pagourtzis (puh-GOR-cheez), who faces murder charges. At least 10 people were injured in the attack, including a school police officer who was shot and wounded. Braun says the officer remains in critical condition. WALLINGFORD A local woman faces charges after police said she broke a mirror and a broom during an argument, causing minor injuries to three children. Mariel Jimenez, 33, of 1169 Old Colony Rd. was charged Thursday with risk of injury to a minor and breach of peace. Police responded to her home around 9:20 p.m. for a report of a domestic incident, said Lt. Cheryl Bradley, police spokeswoman. Officers determined Jimenez, who said she had been drinking alcohol, got into an argument with a juvenile and punched a mirror, breaking it. Three juveniles and another adult in the home received minor injuries from pieces of the mirror. Jimenez then broke a broom, Bradley said. When she threw the broom pieces down a stairway she hit one of the juveniles in the head. The Department of Children and Families was notified of the incident. Jimenez was released on $5,000 bond and arraigned in Meriden Superior Court on Friday. Trials of the latest Klavesin-2 unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) began at a sea range in Crimea. The craft got the official military 2R52 index which means high readiness for acceptance into service. The range in Feodosiya will be used for trials of marine robots. Experts believe the resumption of range operations will accelerate trials and introduction of naval hardware, the Izvestia daily writes. Rubin's Klavesin-2R-PM UUV The main Navy command told the newspaper the 2R52 vehicle also known as Klavesin-2 is undergoing trials at the naval range in Feodosiya. The special test vessel Viktor Cherokov of project 20360OS of the Black Sea fleet is engaged in the work. Klavesin-2 is the second generation of domestic unmanned underwater vehicles. It is bigger and heavier than Kalvesin-1 which resembles a torpedo by the appearance and size. UVV 2R52 looks like a miniature 7-meter long submarine with a diameter of close to one meter. It has a small superstructure. The vehicle weighs close to 4 tons. The submergence depth is up to 6000 meters. The bigger size increased its autonomy. Klavesin-2 carries modern and upgraded equipment compared to the previous model. 2R52 will be delivered to the area of operations by special nuclear submarines. It will be carried by the Belgorod submarine of project 09852 and the re-equipped Podmoskovye special nuclear submarine of project 09787 BS-64. The vehicle will separate from the submarine and operate as programmed. The range is up to 50 km. The operator can issue new assignments to the vehicle. Klavesin-2 can carry various equipment - hydro sonars, electromagnetic sensors, video cameras. Russian MoD video showing Rubin's Klavesin-2R-PM UUV (first) and the nuclear-armed Kanyon/Status-6 long range torpedo/drone Klavesin-2 is a multirole vehicle capable of numerous missions for the Navy, expert Alexander Mozgovoy said. "It can monitor the seabed at major depths, search and collect various objects, e.g. weapon debris. It can also reconnoiter underwater situation and collect seabed relief data for warships and robotic complexes," he said. The new Klavesin is tested at Crimean coast with unique hydrological characteristics near Feodosiya. The dead underwater volcano created major depths there. The range is also used by the Black Sea fleet for drills and live fire. Mozgovoy believes Crimea will be the main test ground for Russian robots and other naval hardware. "The climate and weather in the area allow operating round-the-year which accelerates trials. Specialized vessels and equipment are already deployed there," he said. The Soviet Union used Feodosiya range as the main test site for naval arms. New torpedoes, depth bombs, etc. were tested there. Prospective submarines underwent running trials at the range. At present work is ongoing to develop Feodosiya range into the main test ground of naval weapons. Specialized vessels the Seliger and the Viktor Cherokov are deployed there. The latter is equipped with a remotely controlled underwater craft and instruments to surface the debris of exploded torpedoes and destroyed targets from the seabed. The latest Periskop meteorological station monitors the weather along the navigation route and produces short-term forecasts, the Izvestia writes. Copyright 2018 TASS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A woman is dead after a shooting near a Clayton County, Georgia high school. Our NBC affiliate in Atlanta, WXIA, is reporting the shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. EST in the parking lot of Mt. Zion High School just south of Atlanta. A graduation ceremony just finished for another school, the Perry Learning Center. Officials confirmed there were three victims, two with gunshot wounds, taken to area hospitals. The shooting happened after an argument. WXIA reports a 21-year-old victim was taken to Atlanta Medical Center with gunshot wounds to the leg while another woman was taken to Piedmont Henry Hospital. Officials said the woman, who was pregnant, was not shot, but injured when she was pushed. The third victim, a woman in her 40s, was taken to another hospital, but was later pronounced dead. Officials said she was shot three times in the chest. WXIA reports police are still actively searching for a suspect. Read the original story By UNI BENGALURU: Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala has invited former Chief Minister and JD-S State President H D Kumaraswamy to form the next government in the State and gave him 15 days time. The JD(S) leader is set to become the chief minister for a second time on May 23. This comes in the aftermath of BJP failing to prove its majority in the house after B S Yeddyurappa who was sworn in as chief minister three days ago, resigned to the post even before proving the floor test in the Assembly session on Saturday. Speaking to newsmen after meeting the Governor on his invitation, Mr Kumaraswamy said "I was invited to form the coalition Government with Congress and will take oath as Chief Minister on Monday at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in a grand ceremony. The governor has given me 15 days time, but I will form the government much earlier," he said. Karnataka Power Tussle HIGHLIGHTS After meeting the governor, Kumaraswamy had said the swearing-in ceremony would take place tentatively between 12 and 1.50 pm at Kanteerava stadium on May 21. But later tonight, he said the swearing in ceremony would take place on May 23, but did not cite any reasons. A JDS leader said the swearing-in date has been shifted to May 23 as May 21 happens to be the date on which former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was killed in a suicide bombing at Sriperumbudur near Chennai in 1991. He said he would meet Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi on May 21 to extend his gratitude to them. "I will also discuss how many Congress and JD(S) MLAs will become ministers," said Kumaraswamy. He said a coordination committee would be formed to prepare a common minimum programme to implement the promises made by the two coalition partners. Kumaraswamy said there were no other discussions with the coalition partners other than winning the confidence vote. He said invitations have been extended to various regional party chief ministers including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Telangana chief minister Chandrashekara Rao, Andhra Pradesh chief minisiter Chandrababu Naidu, besides former up chief ministers Mayavati of UP, Lalu Prasad Yadav of Bihar, Akhilesh Yadav of UP to attend the swearing-in ceremony. Mr Kumaraswamy also said that invitations has been sent for former AICC President Sonia Gandhi and current president Rahul Gandhi. He said the modalities as to how many Ministers should take oath from Congress and JD(S) along with him as the chief minister will be decided after talks with Congress and JD(S) leaders and members. Replying to a question, he said that after formation of the Coalition government, a Consultative Committee will be formed to workout the implementation of the modalities etc. in consultation with the leaders of both the parties. Defeated in the numbers game, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had resigned on Saturday before he could face the motion of confidence in the Legislative Assembly. It put the onus back on Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala to invite Janata Dal (Secular) Legislative Party leader H D Kumaraswamy, with the support of the Indian National Congress, to form the next government . ALSO READ | Governments formed by 'unholy alliances' unlikely to last long: Amit Shah on Congress-JD(S) combine The newly-elected legislators were administered the oath by pro-tem Speaker K G Bopaiah. Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the developments in Karnataka show that money and power is not everything, but ultimately what would prevail was "the will of the people." In New Delhi, the Supreme Court gave the green signal to Mr Bopiah to conduct the proceedings. The apex court gave the go-ahead to telecast the proceedings live, as requested by the counsel of the petitioners. Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa folds hands in greetings on his arrival at oath-taking ceremony of newly elected members of Assembly house at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Saturday, 19 May 2018. | PTI After an emotion-packed address, Mr Yeddyurappa said he was not pressing the motion of confidence vote and announced his resignation. The one-day special session of the Assembly was convened after the apex court directed the Yeddyurappa government to go in for the floor test today itself, cutting short the 15-day time frame given by the Governor. After Mr Bopaiah adjourned the House sine die, the 75-year-old farmers leader rushed to the Raj Bhavan to tender his resignation which was accepted by the Governor. READ | People's mandate subverted by opportunistic Cong-JDS alliance, says B S Yeddyurappa The onus was now on the Governor to invite Mr Kumaraswamy to form the government as he had claimed he had the support of 117 lawmakers. Anxious moments The day-long oath-taking ceremony was not without some anxious moments. Senior Congress leaders scourged for two missing MLAs, Mr Anand Singh of Vijayapura and Mr Pratap Gouda Patil (Maski). Police officials were sent to a hotel where they were allegedly kept. They came to the House during the post-lunch session and took oath. The Congress party, which had leveled horse-trading charges against the Bharatiya Janata Party, released audio clippings of recorded telephonic talks in which some of its members were lured by offerings of cash and position. But the authenticity of these audio clippings could not be verified. A crest-fallen Mr Yeddyurappa returned to the House. Apparently, according to some party sources, he had been asked to resign by the BJP central leadership to avoid further damage to the party. Outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa addresses the house members before a floor test at Vidhanasoudha in Bengaluru on Saturday, 19 May 2018. | PTI When he came for the oath-taking ceremony in the morning Mr Yeddyurappa was extremely confident over winning the floor test and said that the party would get adequate majority, much more than what it had anticipated. The Congress and the JD(S) MLAs, who had been in Hyderabad for a day, returned in the small hours of Saturday by bus and reached the Assembly in time for the oath-taking. JD (S) members came after the ceremony had commenced. Mr Yeddyurappa took the oath first, and was followed by Congress legislature party leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Thereafter, in batches of five, the other newly-elected legislators were sworn in. (with input from agencies) By Online Desk Supreme court rejected Congress-JD(S) plea against the appointment of KG Bopaiah as the protem speaker. The apex court has ordered a live stream of the floor test in order to ensure fairness. Congress-JD(S) settle for the livestreaming judgement. Appointment of BJP MLA and former Speaker KG Bopaiah as the Pro Tem speaker, sparked a new controversy hours after the Supreme Court ordered floor test in the Karnataka Assembly, to decide the fate of the Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa. Michel Danino By A retired computer scientist who regularly visits an Indian institution of higher education recently told me how, in the course of his schooling in erstwhile Yugoslavia, he had studied the outline of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. He was shocked when I answered that Indian schools can do no such thing: anyone attempting to do so would immediately be branded communal and accused of undermining the secular" principles of Indian education. Who determined these principles? Just as most Indias freedom fighters had an idea of India that was far removed from our nebulous and hypocritical concept of secularism ( Our freedom fighters and secularism , 2 May 2018), most pre-Independence thinkers had much to say on what a genuinely Indian education should be. Tagore, for instance, reviled the cultural disconnect Indian students suffered from: Their education is a chariot that does not carry them in it, but drags them behind it. The sight is pitiful and very often comic. ... The education which we receive from our universities takes it for granted that it is for cultivating a hopeless desert, and that not only the mental outlook and the knowledge, but also the whole language must bodily be imported from across the sea. Gandhi echoed this view: I find daily proof of the increasing and continuing wrong being done to the millions by our false de-Indianizing education. These graduates ... flounder when they have to give expression to their innermost thoughts. They are strangers in their own homes. The great art critic and Indologist Ananda Coomaraswamy added: The most crushing indictment of this Education is the fact that it destroys, in the great majority of those upon whom it is inflicted, all capacity for the appreciation of Indian culture. Indeed, as earlier as in 1908, having served as the first principal of Bengal National College, Sri Aurobindo had defined the problem very lucidly: In India ... we have been cut off by a mercenary and soulless education from all our ancient roots of culture and tradition. ... National education ... [is] the education which starting with the past and making full use of the present builds up a great nation. Whoever wishes to cut off the nation from its past is no friend of our national growth. Whoever fails to take advantage of the present is losing us the battle of life. We must therefore save for India all that she has stored up of knowledge, character and noble thought in her immemorial past. We must acquire for her the best knowledge that Europe can give her and assimilate it to her own peculiar type of national temperament. We must introduce the best methods of teaching humanity has developed, whether modern or ancient. And all these we must harmonise into a system which will be impregnated with the spirit of self-reliance so as to build up men and not machines. Did Independent India take steps to remedy the ailment and implement this programme? Quite the contrary, it gradually took deculturalisation to greater heights, in a way that even our colonial masters would not have dreamed of. Todays school and college student is profoundly ignorant of Indias cultural, intellectual, artistic, scientific or technological heritage. Sanskrit indeed, all Indian languages has been relegated to the status of a suspicious oddity. When, in 1994, secular groups approached the Supreme Court to prevent the CBSE from offering Sanskrit as an elective, Justices Kuldip Singh (a Sikh, incidentally) and B L Hansaria rejected the whole perverse argument and asserted that The stream of our culture would get dried if we were to discourage the study of Sanskrit. Of late, the media have generously ridiculed statements by various ministers rejecting Darwins theory of evolution or asserting that India had in the Mahabharata age an Internet of its own and satellite communications. Indeed, many more such silly misconceptions could be produced from pseudo-scholarly literature. But the central point has been invariably missed by our equally ignorant media: why should there be such a total neglect of ancient Indias genuine, well-researched and well-documented knowledge systems in the first place? Why should an Indian student be allowed to learn nothing of ancient Indian mathematics, astronomy, medicine, water management, town planning, construction techniques, agriculture, environmental conservation, martial arts or board games? Nothing of Indian systems of philosophy, of psychology based on methods of self-exploration and self-fulfilment that go by the name of yoga? Nothing of systems of governance, polity, education, business, management, trade practices, ethics? Any decent book on Mesopotamia or classical Greece will have a few chapters on the science and technology created by those civilisations; standard books of Indian history have nothing comparable. Our philosophy departments teach mostly Western philosophy; psychology departments blank out the whole yogic view of the human being; Bangalore Universitys MSc programme in mathematics has a module on the history of mathematics which includes (as it should) Greek and Arab developments, but not a word on Indian ones (or Chinese ones, for that matter). And why has India not lobbied for kabaddi to be recognised an Olympic sport, when beach volleyball can be one? The list goes on endlessly and can be summed up in a single sentence: The entire Indian system of education conveys the message that India never produced any knowledge worth teaching. There may be much that needs to be discarded from Indias past, but there is also much of timeless value. We rightly complain about the vulgarisation and loss of values in Indian society, but refuse to address one of their chief causes: the misconceived secularisation of education, which, in the Indian context, has resulted in cultural nihilism. Michel Danino is an author and visiting professor at IIT Gandhinagar. Email: micheldanino@gmail.com Earlier columns in this series: The secular solution for Ayodhya , 6 March 2018 The Great Secular Confusion , 19 March 2018 Bogeyman of Majority in India , 2 April 2018 In India, is it Secularism or minorityism? , 17 April 2018 On May 15, 2018, Crown Princess Victoria attended Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Leadership Council meeting held at Stockholm School of Economics. Leadership Council consisting of sustainable development experts from academy world, business world, nongovernmental organizations and public sector supervises the activities of SDSN. At the meeting, embodiments of sustainable transformation continuing in Sweden and failing points of the action plan were discussed. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Lots of sunshine. Record high temperatures expected. High 87F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 69F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. 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/Columnist Julie Wurth is a reporter covering the University of Illinois at The News-Gazette. Her email is jwurth@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@jawurth). We have many expectations from Nikol Pashinyan Hetq interviewed Arsen Artsruni, a prisoner in Armavir Prison, sentenced to death in 1996. He was on trial in the so-called "Dro case", when 12 people were accused of forming a secret terrorist group within the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF). Charges against them ranged from withholding information to illegal possession of weapons and premeditated murder. In 2003, Artsrunis death sentence was replaced with life imprisonment. Artsruni is a citizen of Lebanon, has been a member of the ARF since 1981 and moved to Armenia in 1990. During his imprisonment, hes organized English and computer classes at Nubarashen prison. Artsruni is the first lifer in Armenia to enter university in 2007, studying psychology. He served as an example for his cellmates and other five lifers. In 2013, he conducted interviews with 62 lifers and acquired 42,000 units of correctional psychology data. As a result of his research, he has initiated turning the 4th building of Armavir penitentiary into a scientific-research block where all convicted students will work together with researchers, to prepare a rehabilitation model that will be disseminated in other penitentiary institutions. 56-year-old Artsruni could have been conditionally released in 2013, but the court has repeatedly denied the motions of his lawyers. Now the issue of conditional release is in the Court of Cassation. Artsruni has health issues and gets medical treatment. Arsen, youve been imprisoned for 24 years. How have you survived in prisons of newly independent Armenia? When we were arrested, lawyers worked like investigators, trying to extort self-confessional testimonies. Interrogation at night was the most powerful measure. And they got what they wanted. In 1996, when the verdict of the death sentence was announced, no visits or walks were allowed any longer. Before that, in the pre-trial period, I was allowed to see my relatives with a judges consent every 3-6 months. Do you recall life in Nubarashen prison during the 1990s? In 1998 we were transferred to Nubarashen Prison, High Security Department. Prisoners sentenced to death were simply dying in the cells. Even barns would have had better conditions compared to the cells. 8-12 people were kept in one little cell. Everything was done so convicts would die. When I entered the cell number 88, there were two people struggling against death. Those people died in a month. If doctors visited, they first asked why the inmates wound up in prison. Depending on the inmates reply, especially details in case of a murder, doctors would prescribe everything from tea to one aspirin. One out of two convicts died in 1991-2002. The system used various methods - not helping the sick, taking a healthy person to a cell with a mentally unstable person, leaving people hungry and cold, beating them on orders of the state. Why did they beat inmates? They did so without any reason, just because those people were sentenced to death. There were years when there was a timetable for beatings. When did the first positive changes happen? In March 2000, prisoners sentenced to death got eight cells instead of four. We were allowed TV. This made our inspectors terribly angry. At the beginning of 2003, the Council of Europe set preconditions for Armenias entry, including the right of convicts to have walks. When we were allowed to go out for the first time, many of us felt bad. People who were in prison from 1991-92 had not gone out for years. They took us for a walk 1-3 times a week, for half an hour. In 2006, lifers cells were already well-furnished, and convicts were taking English courses. You were teaching, right? Yes, I was teaching. Almost all cells were equipped with computers. In 2007, lifers were getting higher education. By the end of 2008, the conditions of lifers in Armenia was the best in the whole CIS, including Latvia. There was a conference in Kazakhstan, if Im not mistaken, dedicated to the conditions of lifers. The report was prepared by Armenian convicts - listing the meeting room, telephone booth, computer room, photos of nice rooms and computers in the cells. Europe saw this and said, "Finally, the problem of lifers in Armenia is solved. And right after that report was issued in December 2008, they came and destroyed everything, stopped the classes, and took away computers from the cells. The government only wanted to imitate creating European conditions. And its still the same. Its still impossible to convince anyone to start English language courses, or that having a computer in the cell is a tool for rehabilitation. The only thing we won was the installation of 4-person cells and the possibility of getting higher education. There are 3,700 convicts in Armenia today. My lawyers query showed that we have only six convicts getting higher education - one postgraduate and five undergraduates. You were first to start studying at university. Why did you choose psychology? Psychology was a subject I really needed, because not everybody could endure being in prison during those years. For example, one of the people convicted in our case got sick with schizophrenia because of torture. When you are convicted at an older age, not when you are 20-year-old, and you have to stay in jail for many years, it is much harder. You do not know when you will get out, and if you will have time to live. To date, except for Mher Yenokyan and one other convict, no university other than Urartu wants to accept lifers as extension students. Urartu University Rector Sedrakyan has a kind heart, and now four convicts study psychology at Urartu. We need to do something constructive rather than follow the stereotypes imposed on us we are criminals, so only bad things are expected from us. We have to fight against that. And we have a second issue - to make sense of life in prison. These two are combined in education. Let's get educated. Psychologists say that after seven years, the punishment doesnt lead to rehabilitation, since a person adjusts to the situation. What do your studies show? Prison is a catastrophe, especially in case of lifers ... The longer the imprisonment, the more likely for the convict to have cognitive issues. There are many corrective factors in the beginning. What does the system do to rehab an inmate, so that a person leaves prison with a healthy soul, mind and body? Nothing. The convict becomes more disciplined at first, with level of his posing a danger going down or staying the same or going up. The first 7-8 years pass like this, the next 8 years are more emotionally challenging, the third 8 years is challenging the cognitive - going crazy, being cut off from reality. How do you spend your days now? I have a computer in my cell - I've been allowed to have one. Im reading a book related to psychology on computer. Now, we are impatient and expectant, which is pleasant and torturous at the same time, and it applies to all. We have many expectations from Nikol Pashinyan, especially those who were imprisoned for false reasons. There are many people like that, and also people who are waiting for changes in the Criminal Code. ZANU-PF today rolls out its massive campaign for the harmonised elections expected in July with President Mnangagwa addressing two star rallies at Sakubva Stadium and Murambinda Growth Point in Manicaland. At least 30 000 people are expected to converge at Sakubva Stadium while an estimated crowd of over 15 000 will be waiting to hear the Presidents message at Murambinda. The star rallies marking the beginning of the Presidents all-out campaign follow the recent successful launch of the Zanu-PF business friendly manifesto. Observers have roundly welcomed the manifesto which resonated with the Governments thrust of attracting Foreign Direct Investment and creating a middle income economy by 2030. The manifesto is running under the theme Unite, fight corruption, develop, re-engage and create jobs. Zanu-PF Manicaland secretary for administration Cde Kenneth Saruchera confirmed that all was set for the two mega rallies. He said logistics were in place to ensure that the two rallies were a resounding success. Everything in terms of logistics is now in place, said Cde Saruchera. We have organised transport to ferry people from different areas and the venues of the two rallies are Sakubva Stadium and Murambinda Growth Point. Party structures are already on the ground and for the Sakubva rally I can confirm that there will be an overflow as we are expecting a crowd in excess of 30 000. As for the Murambinda rally in Buhera, another crowd of over 15 000 is expected to gather and hear wise words from our President. Just like in Mutare, all logistical arrangements are now a gear up in Buhera as we are not leaving anything to chance. Cde Saruchera said they feel greatly honoured to be the first province to receive the President on his campaign trail. He said they would prove that they deserved the honour and trust shown by President Mnangagwa in the province by claiming all the seats in the forthcoming elections. We want to live up to the trust shown to us by the President by delivering all the constituencies and taking all the wards in the province, said Cde Saruchera. We want to demonstrate that we deserve this trust and honour by our performance in the elections. As a province, we are in full support of our President and First Secretary Cde ED Mnangagwa. Cde Saruchera said the statistical data from the recent primary elections showed that the party was poised for victory. About 96 percent statistical data from all the constituencies and wards showed that things went on well contrary to fabrications that the process was chaotic. All the complains that were raised are being investigated and we also draw a number of lessons from these primary elections. One of the fundamental lessons we draw is that we now know the expectations of people from elected officials. We also learnt that when you are elected you are elected to serve the people and if you do not go back to the same people they will not elect you in the next election. The amount of interest displayed by the people showed that people are now interested in participating in issues of national interest. Regarding the primary elections re-run in Buhera West and Chipinge Central, Cde Saruchera said: In Buhera we completed everything and results are now there but the official announcement will be made by the national political commissar. In Chipinge Central people did not vote in three wards due to some challenges. Zanu-PF has crafted its manifesto centred on re-engaging the international community, attract investment and create jobs to improve the livelihoods of the people. President Mnangagwas call that Zimbabwe is open for business has seen investors flocking into the country in search of opportunities. Government has already secured investment commitments worth over $11 billion. After the Manicaland rallies, the President is expected to address more rallies in all the countrys provinces. Herald 2 Kids Will Never Be the Same, but Gun Owner Gets Off Easy (Newser) The ancient Greek city of Bargylia in modern-day Turkey is on the market and could be yours for just $8 million, reports MNN. Located 19 miles from Bodrum on 300 acres overlooking the Gulf of Gulluk, the property includes a theatre, fortification walls, acropolis, and necropolis, according to the Greek City Times. The property dates back to the first century BC and was founded in honor of the mythical Bargylos, who was mortally wounded by the winged horse Pegasus. Bargylia has never been officially excavated so no one is certain what artifacts might be lurking there, but treasure hunters can be heard looting the property at night. story continues below The area has been privately owned since 1927 and is currently classified as a Grade 1 archaeological site, so its off-limits for development, but that classification could be changed. Turkey is hoping that selling the property to a responsible owner will help protect it from theft and decay. Locals hope that Greeces Culture and Tourism Ministry will step in and rescue the parcel. The site was up for sale in 2015, and at the time it was described as "a first-degree archeological site, facing the Bird Heaven Lake near the Bogazici Village, with full sea and lake view," according to the Lonely Planet. The price has been reduced by $2 million, so you could say that it's dirt cheap. (Read more Bargylia stories.) (Newser) If you want to watch the royal wedding live, youd better set your alarm. CBS, for example, will start its coverage at 4am Eastern Saturday, but think Super Bowl pregame show, because the wedding wont really start until 6:30am. That's when Prince Harry will join brother Prince William at Windsor Castle, in St. Georges Chapel, prior to the arrival of bride-to-be Meghan Markle. NBC starts its coverage at 4:30am and ABC at 5am, notes CNN, while all the usual suspects on cable will be broadcasting and live-streaming as well. story continues below For a lighter touch, Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon will be covering as "Cord and Tish" on HBO, starting at 7:30am, per the Hollywood Reporter. Meanwhile, Harry and William greeted well-wishers with a surprise walkabout outside Windsor Castle on Friday, reports the BBC. So how is Harry feeling? "Relaxed, of course," he said as he was re-entering the castle. (Charles will be walking Meghan Markle down the aisle.) (Newser) Jennifer Aniston and Tig Notaro are both headed for the White House in First Ladies, a new Netflix comedy film, reports USA Today. Aniston will play the president and Notaro will play the first lady. The characters, Beverly and Kasey Nicholson, will "prove that behind every great woman... is another great woman," says Netflix. Aniston, Will Ferrell, and Adam McKay have been attached to the project as producers. Notaro will co-write the script with Stephanie Allynne, from One Mississippi, reports CNN. Both stars are busy. Aniston is also working on a TV project with Reese Witherspoon thats set behind the scenes of a morning news show. Notaro is appearing in a Netflix comedy special that airs May 22. (Read more Jennifer Aniston stories.) Turkish-Israeli relations have again reached a boiling point. Turkey has expelled Israels ambassador. As expected, the issue of recognizing the Armenian Genocide was immediately broached in the Israeli Knesset. Not only did Turkey expel Israeli Ambassador Eitan Naeh, he was also personally humiliated when asked to remove his jacket and shoes at Istanbuls Ataturk International Airport before boarding a flight to Tel Avis. No diplomatic niceties were to be afforded the ambassador. The Turkish government went so far as to invite the press to catch the historic moment live on video. Turkey says that the ambassador refused to pay to enter the VIP lounge and thus had to follow the general security measures that ordinary passengers must undergo. Ankara argues that Ambassador Naeh dis this intentionally as a provocation. In response. Israel demanded that the Turkish consul in Jerusalem leave the country. In the meantime, Turkey had recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv. The cause of the diplomatic fracas was the recent relocation of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Avis to Jerusalem and the Palestinian demonstrations that followed, resulting in the death of sixty Arabs at the hands of Israeli security forces and the injuring of some 2,700 more. These developments give rise to the following three issues that should concern citizens of Armenia. How will this recent Turkish-Israeli conflict end? To what extent will the sides exacerbate tensions? Will Israel recognize the Armenian Genocide, and if it does, how should we respond? Why is Turkey so concerned over the death of sixty Palestinians while it neglects the death of hundreds of thousands in Syria? Given that Turkey is a very important partner for Israel, the current public flare-up between the two will probably go no further. Turkey must demonstrate its willingness to defend the rights of Sunni Muslims to expand its influence in the Islamic world. Its a public relations stunt and Israel understands this very well. Its no accident that Turkey is being accused of replacing Ataturks Turkism with Ottomanism. Then too, general elections in Turkey are scheduled for June and Erdogan couldnt pass up the opportunity to bolster his credibility within the country. An article entitled Divorce and Ottoman Surname: Turkey Expelled the Israeli Ambassador, that appeared in the Israeli news site Newpress, argues that Erdogan labelled Israel a terrorist state only to raise his popularity rating and that now is the right time to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Nevertheless, Israeli Minister of National Infrastructures, Energy and Water Yuval Steinitz has said that even though Turkey has become a headache for the West, no country will sever its ties with Ankara based on realpolitik. Steinitz notes that Erdogan has taken these steps given the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for June 24 in Turkey and it would be unwise to hasten the severing of ties between the Israeli and Turkish governments. The minister is now overseeing negotiations on an important treaty between Ankara and Tel Aviv regarding Israeli gas supplies to Turkey. Meanwhile, the Jewish Home party in the Knesset has introduced a bill to recognize the Armenian Genocide. This means that the Israelis understand that Erdogan is acting, while at the same time warning him not to cross the line. The Genocide issue is yet again being wielded as a club over Turkey. Its high time that Armenias foreign ministry publicly declares that its no longer acceptable for Israel to use the Genocide as a bargaining chip to achieve its goals. Israel should either recognize the Genocide or table the issue. Cynicism and immorality in politics must have borders. Armenia should not be afraid to issue such a statement. There are many sincere and moral people in Israel who would welcome such a position and would respect Armenia for doing so. (Newser) Amid tragedy, a sliver of good news: Three women have survived the plane crash in Cuba that killed more than 100 Friday, the BBC reports. The survivors were pulled from the wreckage at the crash site and all are said to be in serious condition, per Reuters. There was a fourth survivor of the crash, but that person died after arriving at the Calixto Garcia hospital, the hospital's director says. A local paper says one survivor is between 18 and 25, the second is in her 30s, and the third is 39. "She is alive but very burned and swollen," a relative of one of the women noted. story continues below The Boeing 737, which authorities say was built in 1979 and last inspected in November, had been under lease to the Cuban state airline through the Mexican company Aerolineas Damojh, also known as Global Air. It's still not clear what brought the plane down, though witnesses tell the BBC they saw it catch on fire before crashing. Mexico's transportation department noted on its website that "during takeoff (the plane) apparently suffered a problem and dived to the ground." Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who says an investigation is underway, designated a 30-hour official period of mourning, from 6am Saturday to noon on Sunday. The last time a plane crash of this magnitude took place in Cuba was in 1989, when an Ilyushin-62M passenger plane went down near Havana, killing all 126 on board. (Read more Cuba stories.) (Newser) If Aaron Schlossberg really is bothered by people speaking in different languages, he maybe got an earful Friday night. A party of sorts, complete with music and maracas, erupted outside of the Upper West Side apartment of the New York City lawyer caught on video berating restaurant workers for conversing in Spanish, complete with a Latin theme and mariachi band, NBC News reports. The Guardian notes that a mariachi band was paid for with more than $1,000 raised on GoFundMe, with any extra money said to be put toward food, drinks, and props for attendees. NBC notes that mariachi band played earlier Friday outside the office space where Schlossberg used to work; it's not clear if the mariachi band outside his apartment was the crowdfunded one. Despite the generally festive atmosphere, however, many angry protesters made their feelings clear about Schlossberg's video rant. story continues below "We're all Latinos, we all come from different backgrounds of Latin culture, but once you insult one, you insult all of us," one demonstrator tells the Observer. "[The party is] just for him to see that we're coming together as a community." Non-Latinos also came to show their support, with one doctor from upstate New York saying Schlossberg should be "punched in the face." At one point, the crowd outside the apartment chanted, "Make racists afraid again!" The event, which saw an NYPD presence, was jump-started by three activist groups, with at least seven other groups coming on board to help organize it. The New York Daily News estimates 500 people were in attendance. It's not clear if Schlossberg was at home during the protest. (Read more racism stories.) (Newser) Seems Donald Trump Jr. had another meeting with foreigners during the election that Robert Mueller's team is investigating, the New York Times reports. According to insiders, Trump Jr. met with a small group at Trump Tower in August 2016: an envoy for two Arab princes, an Israeli expert in social media manipulation, and the founder of the private military contractor Blackwater. The envoy, George Nader, apparently said the crown princes of United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia were intent on helping his father become president. The social media whiz, Joel Zamel, said his firm could give a political candidate the edge. In fact, his firm had already written a proposal to give Donald Trump just that. story continues below Trump Jr. "responded approvingly," the Times says, but it's unclear if the Zamel plan was ever executed. As for Nader, he allied with the Trump campaign and met regularly with Michael Flynn and Jared Kushner. After Trump's election win, Nader paid Zamel up to $2 million, possibly for a pro-Trump media campaign. Blackwater founder Erik Prince arranged the meeting, and could be in trouble after telling a House intelligence committee last November, under oath, that he'd never formally met with the Trump campaign, Mother Jones reports. Now Mueller is investigating the 2016 meeting and its ramifications, including possible support from Russia. The Wall Street Journal already reported last month that Mueller's team was questioning Zamel about the activities of his Israeli firm, Wikistrat. (Read more Donald Trump stories.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region On May 19, the meeting between Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Masis Mayilyan, Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Artsakh, was held in Stepanakert. The tete-a-tete meeting was followed by talks in an expanded format, with participation of delegations. Welcoming the guest, Foreign Minister of Artsakh congratulated Zohrab Mnatsakanyan on assuming the post of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and wished him further success in his important mission. The Foreign Ministers emphasized the importance of continuous and efficient cooperation between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries, holding of regular political consultations and frequent meetings at different levels. In the course of the meeting, the sides discussed the latest developments in the process of exclusively peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. Th two touched upon the the recent contacts on that issue. The day before, Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan visited the Headquarters of the Defense Army of Artsakh, where the Commander of the Defense Army, lieutenant-general Levon Mnatsakanyan presented the situation in the conflict zone, touched upon implemented and ongoing processes aimed at strengthening the defense system of Artsakh. New Delhi: The coalition government of the Congress and the Janata Dal D-Secular would not last long as it was an "unholy nexus," Union Minister Ananth Kumar said on . The BJP alone can give a stable government," the Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kumar told reporters in Bengaluru soon after B S Yeddyurappa announced his decision to quit as Karnataka chief minister without facing the vote of confidence in the Assembly. "The new government born out of unholy nexus of Congress and JD-S won't stay for long. Only the BJP can give the stable government. The mandate was given to BJP as the people of the state had rejected Congress," Kumar said. The minister said people of Karnataka rejected the Congress and people of Chamundeshwari constituency rejected Siddaramaiah and the JD-S became a "marginal" party. "It is a shame for the Congress party that despite having 78 seats, they have fallen at the feet of JD(S) just to stop the BJP," he said. The party cadres would take the Congress' story of betrayal" to every village of Karnataka, Kumar added. New Delhi: The political ardour in Karnataka is gaining pace as the battle for the southern state--the gateway to South India--is getting murkier with each passing day. Amidst the high-pitch political dramas that have been unfolding since the day the assembly results were declared, the Supreme Court has ordered a floor test for the BJP government in the Karnataka Assembly at 4 pm on Saturday. BJP's BS Yeddyurappa was sworn in by the governor as the 23rd Chief Minister on May 17 and has to take a trust vote on Saturday. Governor Vajubhai Vala has appointed BJP MLA KG Bopaiah as the Pro-Tem Speaker to conduct the crucial test, but the Congress on Friday night moved the Supreme Court challenging his decision. A three-judge bench, headed by Justice AK Sikri heard the matter at 10:30 am on Saturday and rejected the Congress's plea challenging KG Bopaiah's appointment as the pro-tem speaker to conduct the floor test at 4 pm. Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra decided to list the matter before the bench, which also comprises Justices SA Bobde and Ashok Bhusha. Here are the Highlights on SC hearing: # 11:32 AM: The SC heard the pleas of the Congress, all their pleas have been rejected. The desperate attempts of Congress to remove him from the post has failed. I think they are scared & did not even want a floor test in the first place: Mukul Rohatgi, BJP. # 11:26 AM: Most important objective was to establish transparency. Since the statement has come from ASG that live feed of proceedings would be given, we hope & trust there would be fairness. I have no doubt that the victory would be of Congress & JD(S): Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Congress. # 11:13 AM: Supreme Court rejects Congress-JD(S) plea challenging the appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah, he will continue to be pro-tem speaker. Supreme Court rejects Congress-JD(S) plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah, he will continue to be pro-tem speaker. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/eMhgYgC0m9 ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 # 11:10 AM: Supreme Court says 'Live broadcast of floor test would be the best way to ensure transparency of proceedings.' Read the full story here. # 11:07 AM: SC says 'Law can't direct the Governor to appoint a particular person as Pro-tem Speaker. Unless convention becomes legal norm, it can't be enforced by Court'. Hearing on Congress-JD(S) plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah: SC says 'Law can't direct the Governor to appoint a particular person as Pro-tem Speaker. Unless convention becomes legal norm, it can't be enforced by Court' ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 # 11:04 AM: Kapil Sibal argues 'I am requesting that don't allow KG Bopaiah to take the floor test'. # 10:56 AM: Justice SA Bobde says 'There've been instances where senior most MLA wasn't appointed as Pro tem speaker. Kapil Sibal replies 'KG Bopaiah has different history. His decision of disqualification was set aside by this Court earlier.' # 10:53 AM: Kapil Sibal says, 'Long-standing convention has been broken after the appointment of Bopaiah', adds 'Even SC has ratified this practice in two judgments'. Hearing on Congress-JD(S) plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah: Kapil Sibal says, 'Long standing convention has been broken after the appointment of Bopaiah', adds 'Even SC has ratified this practice in two judgments'. ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 # 10:45 AM: Kapil Sibal says 'The individual appointed must be the senior most member of the House which is a convention in the Parliament also.' # 10:44 AM: Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Kapil Sibal to appear for Congress & JD(S), Sr Advocate Ram Jethmalani also present; AG KK Venugopal & ASG Tushar Mehta along with Sr Advocate Mukul Rohatgi to defend the appointment of Pro tem speaker. # 10:41 AM: Hearing on Congress-JD(S) plea challenging the appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah, begins in the Supreme Court. #Karnataka Hearing on Congress-JD(S) plea challenging the appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah, begins in the Supreme Court. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/GwKTRIMiVZ ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 # 07:14 AM: Supreme Court to hear Congress's plea regarding the appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah today at 10:30 am The Congress-JD(S) combine filed the plea through advocate Dev Dutt Kamath and placed in the evening before the SC registrar. The apex court had pointed out some defects, which were later corrected. The application was submitted late at night at the registry and the registrar of the Supreme Court rushed to the residence of the CJI for directions on the listing of the matter. In the petition, the Congress-JD-S combine has demanded setting aside of the decision to make Bopaiah as the pro tem Speaker stating it was against the rule and as per the tradition the senior most leader is supposed to hold that position. The apex court was also requested to have the live telecast of the entire floor test procedure and conducting of the same through "a 'division' into separate and segregated lobbies so that the persons in the different lobbies can be counted in a transparent manner." The Supreme Court directed the floor test a day after the Congress filed a petition, challenging Governor Vajubhai Vala's controversial invitation to Yeddyurappa to become the chief minister of Karnataka. New Delhi: Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra has landed in the United Kingdom for the much-awaited wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Saturday. The diva, who is currently winning hearts as Alexa Parish in Quantico season 3, took a break from herA tight-packed schedule to attend her close friendas marriage. The Baajirao Mastani actress and the Remember Me star have been close friends for quite some time now. Priyanka Chopra and Meghan Markle bonded while shooting for their respective shows- Quantico and Suits in Canada. After arriving in London in style, the Fashion star shared two pictures, suggesting she is all ready for the royal wedding. PeeCee posted a no make picture on her Instagram handle with the caption ''Welcomed by the UK sun... #nomakeupnofilteraa. Welcomed by the UK sun... #nomakeupnofilter A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on May 18, 2018 at 11:58am PDT Priyanka Chopra shared another picture where she can be seen having a fun time with her gal pals. The Dostana actress mentioned that she was waiting for the dress which she would wear at the wedding. The former Miss World penned an emotional write up for Meghan Markle, who featured in TIME magazineas list of 100 most influential people. aSomewhere among biryani, poutine and endless conversations, I realised just how deeply Meghan Markle cares for the world. With her, what you see is real, and what you get is a relatable young woman with her heart and mind in the right place. Her compassion, evident in the causes she supports, and her drive to break down stereotypes- obvious in her actions-will connect her to a generation in much need of kindnessaa, Priyanka wrote. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Hollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Former diplomat Madhuri Gupta, who had served at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, was sentenced to three years in jail on Saturday by a Delhi court which convicted her for passing on sensitive information to Pakistanas ISI. Additional Sessions Judge Sidharth Sharma gave her the maximum sentence for spying and wrongful communication of information protected under the law. Gupta, who was the Second Secretary at the high commission (Press & Information), was held guilty on Friday under various provisions of the Official Secrets (OS) Act. She has been granted bail by the court to allow to appeal against the ruling. While convicting her, the court had said that the e-mails, "passed on by the accused were categorically sensitive information which could have been useful to the enemy country... and its secrecy was of utmost importance". Gupta was convicted under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act which attract a maxiumum sentence of three years and fine or both. She was arrested on April 22, 2010 by the special cell of the Delhi Police for allegedly giving sensitive information to Pakistani officials and remaining in touch with two ISI officials, Mubshar Raza Rana and Jamshed. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Amid red alert, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to Jammu to lay the foundation stone of Asia's longest bi-directional tunnel-- the Zojila tunnel and inaugurate a hydro-electric project apart from other several events. On his arrival in Jammu, Modi tweeted: "I thank the wonderful people of Leh for the warm welcome. I am delighted to be here." TheA 14.2 km tunnel is expected to provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh as this route remain snow-laden for the most part of the year. It will also cut down the time taken to cross the Zojila Pass to just 15 minutes. Currently, it takes over three hours to cross the Pass. Multi-tier security arrangements have been put in place and all necessary measures had been taken for the prime ministeras visit, IGP Jammu zone, S D Singh Jamwal told reporters in Jammu on Friday. In view of the security concern amid reports of five suspected militants having infiltrated from across the International Border in Kathua district, Jamwal said they had searched the entire area and would deal with it. The security forces had been on put on high alert in Jammu and checking and frisking were being done at various entry and exit points, he added. #WATCH live from J&K: PM Modi at closing ceremony of birth centenary celebrations of 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche ina https://t.co/VoI4cCXNHv a ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 Here are the LIVE updates: # 06:30 PM:A Today I unveiled a plaque which marks the commencement of work for the Zojila tunnel. This tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh. It will also be of great strategic importance. # 05:35 PM:A J&K has the ability to reach all the peaks of development. I'm happy that more than 400 students have been awarded medals & certificates today. Special congratulations to daughters. Today, daughters are making us proud whether it be sports or academics: PM Narendra Modi in Jammu # 03:02 PM:A There is no substitute for peace & stability. I urge the youth who have lost their way to return to the mainstream. The mainstream is their parents and family. The mainstream is their contribution to the development of J&K: PM Modi. # 03:01 PM:A I am thankful to PM Modi that he thought about us and announced a unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir during Ramzan. We expected that we will get the same response from Pak but unfortunately, we didn't get it: CM Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar. I am thankful to PM Modi that he thought about us and announced an unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir during Ramzan. We expected that we will get the same response from Pak but unfortunately we didn't get it: Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar pic.twitter.com/Yuf0SDBeqb a ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 # 02:51 PM:A Our govt is working for the ecosystem that is required for the development of tourism. There will be an increase in tourists in J&K with a stronger ecosystem. The youths of the state will get new employment opportunity with it: Modi in Srinagar. # 02:32 PM:A Jammu and Kashmir: PM Narendra Modi dedicates Srinagar's Kishanganga Hydropower Station to the nation. #JammuAndKashmir: PM Narendra Modi dedicates Srinagar's Kishanganga Hydropower Station to the nation. pic.twitter.com/QnWIMDooeE a ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 # 12:01 PM:A There is great scope for agricultural growth across the state of Jammu and Kashmir. This state can play a key role when it comes to helping further holistic healthcare, says Modi. # 11:46 AM:A Jammu and Kashmir is going to get development projects worth Rs. 25,000 crore. These projects will have a positive impact on the people of the state, says PM Modi in Leh. Jammu & Kashmir is going to get development projects worth Rs. 25,000 crore. These projects will have a positive impact on the people of the state: PM Modi in #Leh. pic.twitter.com/m0aw7nAMCV a ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 # 10:59 AM:A PM Narendra Modi pays tribute to Kushok Bakula Rinpoche at the closing ceremony of birth centenary celebrations of Rinpoche in Leh. # 10:50 AM: PM Narendra Modi at the closing ceremony of birth centenary celebrations of 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche & the commencement of work on Zoji La Tunnel in #Leh. pic.twitter.com/6qspWBRgOT a ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 # 10:47 AM:A Prime Minister Narendra Modi with CM of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti arrived at the closing ceremony of birth centenary celebrations of 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche and the commencement of work on Zoji La Tunnel in Leh. Apart from inaugurating a hydro-electricity project, Modi will also join the 1ooth birth anniversary celebrations of Ladakhi spiritual leader Kushak Bakula. Modi will also participate in the sixth convocation ceremony of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), lay foundation of the ring road and inaugurate the Tarakote Marg, the alternative link road to the cave shrine of Vaishno Devi. The Zorawar Singh and the SKUAST auditoriums, where the PM would be presiding over the functions, had been made out of bounds and multi-tier security in and around the areas was in place under the command of the SPG, Jamwal said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In keeping with the tradition, Supreme Court judge Justice Jasti Chelameswar shared a bench with CJI Dipak Misra and Justice DY Chandrachud for a short period on Friday. Justice Chelameswar, who submitted his resignation on June 22, 2017, was praised by the lawyers for doing a "great job in upholding democracy." He had virtually revolted by holding a controversial January 12 presser. It is one of the customs of the Supreme Court that a retiring judge, on his last working day, is given the honour of sharing the dais with the CJI in the majestic Court no 1. Justice Chelameswar, who has been at loggerheads with the CJI over the functioning of the apex court including the allocation of sensitive cases and on the recommendation of judges for appointment to higher judiciary, maintained the tradition of sharing the dais with the CJI. The judge ended the speculation among the legal circles that he would not be a part of the bench. The speculation had gained momentum after he had refused the invitation of the Supreme Court Bar Association which was preparing a farewell function for him on Friday. Read | Karnataka floor test: SC rejects Congress's plea against Bopaiah's appointment as Pro-Tem Speaker A large number of people, besides lawyers and litigants, thronged the courtroom on Friday morning. There was no mentioning in the court no 1, which is usually flooded with cases and where 11 matters were listed for the day. The bench sat for a brief period and rose for the day at 11:15 AM. Senior Advocate Rajiv Dutta advocates Prashant Bhushan and Gopal Sankaranarayanan gave short farewell speeches to Justice Chelameswar. Bhushan thanked Justice Chelameswar for "upholding democracy" and said,"On behalf of the Bar, I would like to say that it was an honour to have appeared before you. Future generations will remember your contribution to democracy and to the country." Dutta thanked the judge for "upholding the ideals of the institution", while Sankaranarayanan expressed his gratitude towards him for the grace he has shown towards junior members of the Bar and said this would always be remembered and appreciated. Read | Karnataka government formation Highlights: Yeddyurappa government's floor test to be held at 4 pm Justice Chelameswar left the courtroom with folded hands. The judge also told the members of the bar that he had not accepted a farewell earlier when he was moving out of the Andhra Pradesh High Court to another high court. (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Residents of Nurnous, in Armenias Kotayk Province, dont like the stench emanating from a nearby mushroom factory and have closed the road in protest, calling on the government to fix the problem. The protesters have blocked the road to the Healthy Mushroom plant with stones and arent letting employees inside. One resident of the neighborhood where the plant is located told Hetq that the foul odor is nothing new. (Prime Minister Abrahamyan visiting Nurnous in 2015) Irate Nurnous residents blocked the road to the mushroom plant in 2014. In 2015, then Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, along with the health and environment ministers, visited the plant to evaluate the problem for themselves. The governments promise to resolve the odor issue never materialized. New Delhi: The Karnataka political battle which occupied centrestage in the minds of people across the country for the last many days has ended in the defeat of the BJP which came tantalizingly close to the magic number but finally lost out to the Congress-Janata Dal (S) combine in a manner that caused it much loss of face. With the resignation of BS Yeddyurappa who was chief minister for a mere couple of days, the curtain has come down on a drama that was sordid and bizarre. In an alliance that was opportunistic to the core, the two parties that had fought each other bitterly in the run-up to the electionsthe Congress and the JD-Sjoined hands to deny the BJP power. The BJP, on its part, would have done well to acknowledge that the Congress and the JD-S had the numbers on their side from the word go but they chose to try and subvert the system to cobble together a majority regardless of means. If the BJP has egg on its face it is not just on account of the politics of opportunism played by its rivals but also because it stumbled and fell where it could have enhanced its public support through a show of grace and propriety. It is a measure of the decadence that characterises politics that a government that does not reflect the will of the people is all set to be formed. The Congress party that was rejected in a vote in the recent Assembly elections which was patently anti-establishment is back in the saddle through the back door, supporting an outfit that had a mere handful of seats. While there were precedents for Governor Vajubhai Vala to call the BJP to take the first shot at power, in the Karnataka case the only way the BJP could have cobbled together the required numbers was through defections and abstentions which would have done little credit to the process of building up the numbers. That it has failed is poetic justice, howsoever bizarre the countdown to the pursuit of power by two parties that were poles apart during campaigning. That the Congress and the JD-S herded their legislators into buses and whisked them away to a destination where they were out of bounds for the BJP to influence was nothing unknown. It has been a standard practice in several similar cases but it is a reprehensible tactic that shows our democracy in poor light. If the countrys highest court wanted this brazenly-retrograde practice to be eschewed it should have ordered the legislators to be freed from virtual captivity and then given some time after they were freed, to make up their mind. That some of the legislators had reservations about supporting a group with which they were at daggers drawn during campaigning could well have been true. Yet, so insensitive have we as a people become to such subversions of the system and so immune has our legal system become to such unethical conduct that we do little beyond raising our eyebrows and letting such things to be repeated and perpetuated. That such whisked-away peoples representatives are wined and dined lavishly, away from their families with rich rewards being showered on them when they help their unprincipled parties to ride to power is known and accepted by a society that has no concern for means to any end. A recent survey done by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) found that over 93 per cent of legislators in Karnataka are crorepatis and many have a criminal record. Do we not need an overhaul of our style of democracy to make it more responsive to peoples needs and aspirations? While there would be euphoria in Opposition circles for some time as a result of the Congress-JD-S victory, the real testthe general electionsare just a year away. The outcome then would be guided by governance by the new government on the ground in Karnataka as elsewhere. One can only pray that the people would take a considered and wise decision when the time comes to elect the Central government. Washington: China has for the first time landed strategic bombers on an island in the disputed South China Sea, drawing sharp reaction from the US which said that the move will "raise tensions and destabilise the region". China's air force said that its fighter jets, including an H-6K bomber, had recently conducted take-off and landing training on an island reef in the resource-rich South China Sea (SCS). The training had elevated the air force's abilities of "reaching its full territory, assaulting in full time and space, and striking in full scope", the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted the People's Liberation Air Force (PLAF) as saying. Wang Minliang, a military expert, was quoted as saying that the bombers' take-off and landing training was "beneficial to enhance the real combat ability against all kinds of security threats in the sea". People's Daily, the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper, yesterday posted a video on its Twitter account featuring a series of the H-6K's training programmes, including take-off, landing and flying. The Chinese move invoked sharp reaction from the US which said that it will "raise tensions and destabilise the region". A spokesman at the Pentagon, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Logan, called the exercise an act of "China's continued militarisation of disputed features in the South China Sea", the Post report said. Bonnie Glaser, a China security expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said the location of the H-6K landing was believed to be Woody Island ? Yongxing island in Chinese ? on which China's Sansha city government is located. China had established Sansha City, a prefecture-level city of Hainan Province, in 2012 to administer the South China Sea islands identified by China as Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha island groups and their surrounding waters. "I believe this is the first time a bomber has landed in the South China Sea. No doubt the H-6K will soon land on an island in Spratly (Islands) since hangers there are built to accommodate bombers," the Post quoted Glaser as saying. In early May, the US said that it was prepared to take measures against militarisation of the South China Sea, after Beijing reportedly installed new missiles on outposts in the Spratly Islands ? known in China as the Nansha Islands ? that are also claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines. China claims almost all of the South China Sea but Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims. The US is periodically deploying its naval ships and fighter planes to assert freedom of navigation. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Manama : Health Ministry Assistant Undersecretary for Resources and Services Fatima Abdulwahed Al-Ahmed held a meeting with the General Organisation for Social Insurance (GOSI) Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Operation Affairs Dr. Abdulrazzak Mohammed Al-Qahtani and reviewed joint cooperation. The two sides discussed key issues including levying healthcare fees and other current and future plans to develop and streamline services. Dr. Al-Qahtani commended joint cooperation between the Ministry of Health and the General Organisation for Social Insurance (GOSI), which contributed to the success of a string of services and projects. The meeting was attended by Health Ministry financial director Mohammed Al-Attawi, GOSI executive director for financial affairs Mohammed Saleh Mohammed and IT executive director Salman Abdulrahman Al-Sayyed. Manama : The world turns today towards St George Chapel in Windsor, England, where one of the most anticipated weddings this year is beginning at 3pm (Bahrain time). Prince Harry, the sixth in the line of succession to the British throne, will marry American actress Meghan Markle, almost six months after Kensington Palace announced their engagement. The updates and preparations for the Royal Wedding have been extensively covered not only by the British media, but also news agencies across the world. Social media networks were too busy talking about the wedding. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram have been swarming with posts and updates related to the royal wedding for the past few months. Additionally, the most discussed subjects on these sites recently were topics related to the wedding. However, the broad coverage was welcomed by many and it was criticised by some. Some are ecstatic about the event and are impatiently monitoring the different media platforms to learn the latest updates, while others consider it as an overly-promoted ordinary event. Tribune spoke to some of the people who were enthusiastic about the Royal event and also heard from those opposing the overhype accompanying the wedding. Hanna, a UK citizen says she follows the updates of the wedding and that she is eagerly looking forward to the big event. Hanna said, I think its a joyful occasion. It has created a lively atmosphere here in London and I think everyone is looking forward to the event. The excitement isnt only about the wedding ceremony, but I think everyone is also excited about the marriage itself and the dynamics of the Royal Family changing with this marriage, especially considering the breaking of the traditional values of the British monarchy. I myself will watch the highlights of the wedding, I usually am not as interested in similar events but I am looking forward to seeing what the ceremony will be like, as I am expecting there to be a difference between it and the more traditional Royal weddings, Hanna added. Nahla Al Mahmood, a Bahraini wedding planner and a frequent traveller to the UK, said, I would watch the wedding to observe the arrangements, organising and to be updated on the latest trends used in such events. Watching such international events could be inspiring to people working in our field, as its important to see and benefit from ideas used and implemented in them. On the other hand, British Citizen Hadis, told Tribune she wouldnt bother watch the ceremony or follow its latest news or updates. She commented, I wouldnt watch the ceremony. I have never attended these kind of ceremonies. As a tax payer, I believe these sort of expenses are unnecessary. Also, I believe looking at Meghans background, she isnt the right bride for the Royal Family. Special gathering Senior operations manager at the British Club Bahrain Neil Maguire told Tribune that a special tent is set up within the premises of the club to receive around 400 members and guests whore expected to watch the Royal Wedding today. We received a great response and expect a big crowd today, especially that the wedding is followed by the 2018 Scottish Cup Final match. The tent has special British themes and decorations. Its well celebrated by the British people and the clubs members and guests, Maguire said. He also told that some activities will be held on the sidelines of the gathering, including a best dress contest and a raffle draw, adding that guests will be charged BD5 entrance fees while members are granted free entry. Social media role Tribune also spoke to International Social Media Club (ISMC) Bahrain Chapter Chairman Ali Sabkar about the claimed overhype in social media over the wedding and its impact on the promotion of certain events. Sabkar opined, I believe its normal for this event to become the talk of the whole world and to become one of the first trends on the different social media networks. Thats because of several reasons. First, its a wedding, a happy event and it concerns an deep-rooted Royal Family. This is one of the main reasons why its one of the top news reported by the media and social media. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are celebrities now and their wedding is an unusual marriage, because he descends from a royal family and she doesnt. People are interested to learn the updates of this bonding, Sabkar commented. He added, Social media play a strong role in the promotion of such events. People, especially the youth, are fed-up of conflicts, war and sad news. They look for happier news and love to interact and share their ideas about them, using the social media. The fundament of social media networks is the youth and such news grabs their attention and interest. People talk more about a certain information nowadays because its available, thanks to the social media networks and the advanced technologies. Unlike how situations were ten years ago, people can find quick updates about certain events online. History says so 1. Prince Edward and Princess Alexandra March 10, 1836 2. Princess Helena and Prince Christian July 5, 1866 3. Princess Louis and Marquise of Lorne March 21, 1871 4. Prince Arthur and Princess Louis Margaret March 13, 1879 5. Princess Frederica and Luitbert von Pawel Rammingen March 24, 1880 6. Prince Leopold and Princess Helena April 27, 1882 7. Princess Marie Louise and Prince Aribert July 6, 1891 8. Princess Alice and Prince Alexander February 10, 1904 9. Princess Margaret and Prince Gustaf June 15, 1905 10. Prince Edward and Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones June 19, 1999 11. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle May 19, 2018 (Today) 12. Princess Beatrice and Jack Brooksbank October, 2018 (Engaged on January 22, 2018) Manama : A tender worth BD12.9 million for the expansion of Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway and the development of its intersection with Shaikh Isa bin Salman road along with the construction of the turn-about bridge to the left has been announced by the Ministry of Works. The project includes the construction of a new two-lane high-rise bridge with a length of 13.45 meters to provide free traffic coming from the north on Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman highway directly to the east on Shaikh Isa bin Salman road. The project includes expanding Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman highway to five lanes from Saar junction to street number 13. This aims at ensuring safety around the proposed upper bridge, and to accommodate the traffic coming out of Route 13 leading to Saar. The current slope will remain in place to serve road users, either to the north on Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman highway or to the west on Shaikh Isa bin Salman road. The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority has also submitted tenders for the purchase of tourist buses. The BTEA plans to purchase two amphibious buses from the brand Aqua Bus. The authority also plans to start the 38-seater buses in Manama for sightseeing, as it will operate as a road vehicle that can enter the water to provide a sea-side of the tour. The ship/vehicle or bus will accommodate up to 38 passengers in a fully air-conditioned environment. The Bahrain Petroleum Company has submitted three tenders for the purchase of the thermal oxidation test for aviation fuel and the rates of deposit tubes, a feasibility study for the renewal of three torpedoes for electrical generators, maintenance and support services for Siemens XHQ. Geneva : The Kingdom has strongly condemned Israeli brutality and excessive use of force towards Palestinians, urging tough action from the part of international community. This came as Bahrains Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other international organisations in Geneva, Dr Yousef Abdul Karim Bucheery, participated in the special session of the Human Rights Council on the deteriorating human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. The Councils decision to hold its special session follows the formal request made by the Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates on behalf of the Arab Group, which was supported by 17 Member States of the Human Rights Council and nine observer states, including Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. The special session was attended by a large number of member states and observers, the President of the Human Rights Council, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and number of observers and non-governmental organisations, all of whom strongly condemned the dangerous escalation of extreme violations in the Palestinian territories. The escalation of violence poses serious threats to the whole region in view of the excessive use of force aimed at the Palestinian people and the unacceptable targeting of civilians by the Israeli occupation forces, the session observed. In his statement, Bucheery welcomed the decision to hold this emergency session of the Human Rights Council, in response to the request of the Arab, Islamic and friendly countries, and in light of the difficult circumstances occurring in the Palestinian territories, as the Palestine territories are witnessing a dangerous escalation. Bucheery also strongly condemned the unjustified Israeli repression and violence against the defenseless Palestinian people, their connection to the horrific killing and abuse of live ammunition against innocent civilians, and warned of the extreme dangers and negative repercussions of this dangerous escalation in the occupied Palestinian territories, specifically the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people in East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. Bucheery stressed Bahrains belief in the formation of an international fact-finding committee, in support of the independent and transparent international investigation into this heinous crime and the international communitys demand for protection for the brotherly Palestinian people, He stressed the seriousness and impact of recent events on the human rights of Palestinians, which puts before the international community and the United Nations in particular the responsibility of immediate action to ensure the elimination of this pattern and approach of continuing crimes against the Palestinian people. The Permanent Representative called upon the Human Rights Council to adopt the draft resolution, which reflects the international concern about the deterioration of the situation and stresses the need to ensure accountability and impunity. He also stressed Bahrains firm position and support for the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people to establish their independent and fully sovereign state on the borders of 4 June 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital and in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy, the two-state solution and the Arab Peace Initiative. A sake produced by a brewery in the western Japan prefecture of Yamaguchi won the top prize in its category Friday for the second year in a row at an international sake contest held in northeastern Japan. The "Trophy" of the International Wine Challenge, one of the largest wine contests outside Japan, went to "Kinsuzume 40%" from the Horie Brewing Co. Ltd. Kinsuzume 40% competed in the category of "junmai daiginjo" sake using rice kernels polished down to 50 percent or less with no alcohol or sugar added. "Although our brewery is small, our aim is to make good sake for the global market. The recognition (by the IWC) is encouraging," said Kazumasa Horie, the chief brewer at Horie Brewing. Actor Jon Heder stopped by Sato Brewpub in Buffalo for some Katsu and curry on Friday. Heder, known for his role in "Napoleon Dynamite," is in Upstate New York for the Nickel City Con at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center in Buffalo. Heder will be signing autographs at the show through Sunday. He also hosted a Q/A after a screening Friday of "Napoleon Dynamite" at North Park Theatre. The cult classic 2004 movie is about a socially awkward 16-year-old boy name Napoleon from Preston, Idaho, who lives with his grandmother and older brother. He becomes friends with Deb, a shy girl who is trying to raise money for college, and Pedro, a transfer student from Mexico. The three outcasts work together to help Pedro win a campaign to become president of their high school. Since then, Heder has been in movies such as "School for Scoundrels," and "Blades of Glory," and has provided his voice for the animated films "Monster House" and "Surf's Up." Other celebrities scheduled to appear at the Nickel convention include former WWE star Hulk Hogan, "The Incredible Hulk" actor Lou Ferrigno, "I Dream of Jeannie" actress Barbara Eden, "Power Rangers" actor Jason David Frank, "L.A. Law" star Corbin Bernsen, "A League of Their Own" actress Lori Petty, "Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back" star Jason Mewes, "Stranger Things" actress Shannon Purser (Barb!) and "Star Wars" actor Jeremy Bulloch, who played Boba Fett in "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi." Cost to attend the convention ranges from $20 to $75. VIP passes range from $75 to $150. The Nigerian Army has released reports of investigation into allegations against it by the Taraba State government and retired General TY ... The Nigerian Army has released reports of investigation into allegations against it by the Taraba State government and retired General TY Danjuma. Danjuma had advised Nigerians to defend themselves before killer herdsmen wiped them out. You must rise to protect yourselves from these people, if you depend on the armed forces to protect you, you will all die. This ethnic cleansing must stop in Taraba, and it must stop in Nigeria, the former Defence Minister had warned. On Friday, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, announced content of the report. He said in the process of conducting the operations in Taraba State, concerns were raised by some government officials and very senior citizens of the State on the approach of the Nigerian Army. In view of these allegations, the Chief of Army Staff, ai set up a 10-man Panel comprising senior Army officers (both serving and retired) and members from the National Human Rights Commission, Nigerian Bar Association and other Civil Society Organizations, to investigate the veracity of the allegations made against the Nigerian Army. The Panel was inaugurated on 9 April 18 and it visited government officials, security agencies and other stakeholders covering the 3 senatorial zones of Taraba State, including His Excellency the Governor of Taraba State. The major findings of the Investigation Panel were as follows: There was no collusion on the part of the Nigerian Army and units operating in Taraba State with any bandit(s) as stated by Lieutenant General TY Danjuma (Retired). There were few instances where locals drag soldiers outside strict military duties to intervene in civil disputes. There was good collaborations, synergy and cooperation between the Nigeria Army and other security agencies operating in Taraba State. There is sustained media campaign to belittle the military operations in Taraba State. Most of the crises over the years in Taraba State were particularly in Takum, Wukari, Ussa, Donga and Sardauna Local Government Areas. There was absence of Nigerian Army deployments in some crises prone areas in the hinterland in Taraba State. The Nigeria-Cameroon common borders in Taraba State were porous. There was a massive proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Taraba State, some of which have been recovered from warring parties, criminal and unauthorised persons. Troops deployed in Taraba State for Operation MESA were not paid RCA by the state government since February 2018. There was inadequate communication equipment in the units which impedes Nigerian Army operations. Some of the localities in the hinterland in Taraba State were not accessed by road. The Commanding Officer 93 Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel IB Gambari commands his unit effectively and professionally and was only being vilified by some people/government of Taraba State for his refusal to act outside his professional duties or do the biddings of some government officials. The Executive Governor of Taraba State made several attempts to ensure the removal of the Commanding Officer of 93 Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel IB Gambari from command for his refusal to be dragged into the state politics. Taraba State is highly heterogeneous and divided along ethno-religious lines. The Chairman of Takum LGA, Hon Shiban Tikari made several attempts to undermine the authority of the Commanding Officer 93 Bn through some officers of the unit. The troops have a good understanding of the Code of Conduct/Rule of Engagement. There were security breaches/clashes in Taraba State till date which has necessitated the deployment of troops in the state. The responses of Nigerian Army troops deployed to forestall these crises were commendable despite daunting challenges. The 20 Battalion operating at Sardauna Local Government Area lacks combat motorcycles. Some of the challenges facing the units operating in Tarana State include terrain, inadequate intelligence, inadequate communication and manpower problem. There was verifiable evidence that 2 Nigerian Air Force helicopters with registration numbers NAF 574 and NAF 575 landed in Gembu on 15 March 2018 and 11 April 2018 respectively without the knowledge of the local authority. The Nigerian Air Force helicopters and personnel that landed in Gembu area were for the proposed establishment of Nigerian Air Force Base at Gembu. Dairies and other relevant documents pertaining to some major security breaches/clashes were maintained by units operating in the State, however the units did not document the after-action review. The Panel recommended that Army Headquarters should: a. Device a means to be independent in its operation across Nigeria so as to insulate soldiers from the overbearing influence of politicians in government especially with particular reference to sponsorship of Nigerian Army operations in states. b. Address the challenges of manpower, communication and provision of adequate and timely intelligence to support Nigerian Army operations in Taraba State. c. Emphasize the need for multi-stakeholder engagement at all levels to douse tension in Taraba State. d. Beef up the manpower of units in Taraba State. e. Project its civil military cooperation relationship by creating awareness prior to the provision of people oriented programme and sustain it through vigorous pursuit and provisions to Tarabans. f. Inform the Defence Headquarters on the need for the Services to follow due process in establishment of any new military location/base in any state. g. Commend the Commanding Officer of 93 Battalion Lieutenant Colonel IB Gambari for his professionalism. h. Impress on its Commanders the need for after-action review in order to improve on future Nigerian Army operations. i. Educate the political class on the implication of polarizing the military to achieve their selfish gains. j. Impress on Taraba State government to prosecute criminal elements arrested and handed over during the course of Nigerian Army operations. The Federal Government (FG) has faulted claims by the Lagos State Government that a Federal High Court had shut down the Ikoyi marriage r... The Federal Government (FG) has faulted claims by the Lagos State Government that a Federal High Court had shut down the Ikoyi marriage registry, insisting that the report was false.The Ministry of Interior said that the court presided over by Justice Chuka Obiozor simply upheld the judgment of a Federal High Court delivered in 2002 which was not appealed.It explained that the case, Suit No: FHC/L/CS/1760/16 between Egor local government area, Edo State & 3 others Vs. Ministry of Interior & others, cited by the Lagos state government was actually struck out by Justice Obiozor in his judgment delivered on April 30,2018.The Director of Legal, Ministry of Interior, Bola Odugbesan, made the clarification in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, in reaction to a press statement on Thursday by the Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Bisi Olufuwa.Olufuwa had claimed that the Lagos state had secured a court injunction restraining the Ikoyi registry from conducting marriages.Dismissing the claims, Odugbesan presented a copy of the judgment by Obiozorwho described who described the case an abuse of court process and struck it out.He stated that Lagos State Government was not a party to the suit.Clarifying what transpired in the suit, Odugbesan said, In the case, the court was invited to interprete the provisions of the Constitution conferring on local governments, the powers to register marriages.The Minister of Interior, through his Counsel, Bola Odugbesan, argued that under item 61 of the Exclusive List, matters connected with marriage under the Marriage Act, issuing of marriage certificate and its registration are outside the purview of State and/or Local Governments.The Federal High Court in its judgment dated April 30, 2018, struck out the case of the Plaintiffs, ie, Egor LGA & Ors. The court held that the case is an abuse of the court process in view of the earlier judgment of the court in 2002 which upheld the sanctity of the rights of the Minister to issue licences to places of worship to conduct marriages, and the Registrar under the Marriage Act to register marriages. It is instructive to note that Lagos State was not a party in the case, the director explained.Odugbesan insisted that the Federal High Court never ordered the closure of Ikoyi Marriage Registry as claimed by Olufuwa. The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has chided Governor Ayodele Fayose over his allegation that the party has colluded with the ... The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has chided Governor Ayodele Fayose over his allegation that the party has colluded with the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Professor Kayode Soremekun, to recruit the students of the institution to act as presiding officers to rig the July 14 governorship election in favour of the APC.Substantiating the allegation, Fayose had on state media alleged that the vice-chancellor held a meeting with the governorship candidate of the APC, Dr Kayode Fayemi, where the duo perfected strategies to recruit FUOYE students to work as presiding officers to help APC rig the poll.In a statement on Saturday, the states Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said the party was not surprised by that spurious allegation.The party stated that the governor had become jittery since APC conducted a peaceful and crisis-free primary election that produced Fayemi as the APCs candidate.He said Fayoses current allegation was similar to his earlier blackmail of the Professor when the governor alleged during Ondo State governorship election that INEC had plotted to use Soremekun to announce a fake result declaring APCs candidate, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, as the winner.Olatunbosun faulted Fayoses claim that Soremukun met with Fayemi in Abuja to plot the alleged recruitment of his students to be used during the election as presiding officers to help APC rig the poll.This is not the first time that Fayose would blackmail Prof Soremekun of a plot to help the APC win election.Fayose did it during Ondo State governorship election when he took to the media to accuse the professor of conspiracy to help announce a fake result in favour of the APC even when the innocent Professor was not anywhere near Nigeria at the time.Fayose is jittery and apprehensive after alleged reports of his illegal activities to coral INEC and corps members to help him rig election became public knowledge. READ ALSO: Femi Fani-Kayode: The sons of Satan and theseed of Beelzebub (Part 1) Sadly the madness does not stop there. On February ... Sadly the madness does not stop there. On February 3rd 2018, Bello Abdullahi Bodejo, the President of Miyetti Allah which is the umbrella organisation of the Fulani herdsmen, said Nobody should try to remove Buhari in 2019. All the Fulani in Nigeria today, our eyes are open. All of us are behind Buhari; we have seen that they want to destroy the Fulani because of Buhari. We would not allow anybody to intimidate the Federal Government or to take Buharis mandate. We would be ready to follow him and fight it. We are ready to do anything to ensure that Buhari comes back to complete the good work he is doing. Simply put, what he is saying is that if Buhari does not come back to power in 2019 there will be war. There is another aspect of the Buhari doctrine which is worthy of consideration. Professor Ango Abdullahi, a notable Fulani leader and the spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum, exposed the mindset of the Fulani conquerors and provided the ethos and rationale for the unprecedented carnage, mass murder, genocide and ethnic cleansing that Buharis kinsmen, the Fulani herdsmen, have unleashed on the Nigerian people, and particularly Christians, over the last three years by saying the following: Where we originally came from (meaning Futa Jalon in modern day Guniea) you dont buy land: you only ask for permission to use the land. What Abdullahi did not tell the world is that where that permission is denied the practice of the Fulani and the sons of Futa Jalon is to slaughter its owners, wipe out their entire family, eliminate their tribe and steal everything that is on it. They kill our people like flies. They kill them in the same way that the Islamists, the Jihadists, the Salafists and the Wahhabists killed the Christians and Jews of Lebanon before and during their civil war. They killed the young, the old, the rich, the poor, the educated, the uneducated, the women, the children, the weak, the vulnerable and the infants. They killed everybody in sight until the heroic Christian Phalange, with their gallant fighters and courageous warriors, organised themselves, rose to the occassion, and fought back. And make no mistake about it, if the genocide does not stop, that is precisely what is going to happen in Nigeria. Mr. Tony Masha put it in a nutshell and hit the nail on the head when he wrote the following: The Fulani conquered the Hausas and Ilorin, part of Yorubaland, during the first jihad. Indeed, all the Hausa Kings, who were accused of being corrupt and not practising true Isam, were murdered and the Fulani took over their palaces and installed themselves as Emirs since 1804 till today. The Hausa, the Yoruba, and the Negroes in Nigeria never mustered enough courage to challenge the Fulani Arab and never tried to regain their freedom from them. This is what has given the Fulani the effontry to start the second jihad. And while the Chief Fulani warrior, Muhammadu Buhari, is giving the Fulani jihadists a shield, again the timid and timorous Negroes cannot organise to protect themselves from the Fulani jihadists and their Arab cousins. Masha has spoken well and captured the moment in a succinct and insightful way. To make matters worse anyone that expresses concern about this evil agenda and barbarous outrage or attempts to stand in their way is targetted for demystification, humiliation, incarceration, destruction and ultimately death. Not even their fellow Muslims are spared. Consider the following. When the reverred and highly influential Sheik Abdulraheem Aduanigba, Chief Imam Yoruba Ilorin and Chief Imam of Yorubaland, a deeply courageous, wise, God-fearing, pious, devout and righteous man called for the emancipation of the Yoruba Muslims from Fulani domination and manipulation and insisted on the liberation of Ilorin from Fulani hegemony he was promptly arrested and briefly detained by Buharis Fulani-controlled police. Yet despite this vicious persecution I make bold to say that Sheik Aduanigba, who is my friend and brother, is a rising star in the political and religious firmarment of Yorubaland and Nigeria that cannot be easily eclipsed, shot down or dimmed. He has the tacit support and respect of virtually all the Yoruba nationalist groups in the south-west and he is undoubtedly a man to watch going into the future and a powerful force to be reckoned with. Killing him, locking him up or harrasing him for speaking the bitter truth about the excesses and atrocities of the Fulani invaders and aggressors will have grave, far-reaching and disasterous consequences for the Buhari government and will not augur well for the unity of the country. As an additional insight to our precarious situation permit me to share the words of a core northern commentator by the name of Nuhu Bama. He said, I am a Muslim but not Fulani. Let me tell Nigerians the truth. The massive killing in Benue, Taraba and other areas in the country is being strategised, sponsored and carried out by you peoples President Muhammadu Buhari. It will not stop. Buhari told us that the time to Islamise Nigeria is now and must be carried out by all means. Enuogh weapons have since been purchased and people trained to carry it out. It will be worst in 2019. Nobody will stop him from winning in 2019 because he has his gunmen everywhere. The only person to stop him is Allah, the Almighty God. He has nothing good for Nigeria. If he has why does he not stop the killing? If he wants the killing to stop today it will stop. Every one should come out and condemn him. It is now! Nigerians dont sleep: evil is on the increase by this very government. If nobody will talk now, I laugh: very soon they will regret. This government is evil! These words are relevant and pertinent and they reflect the black heart and diabolical agenda of the Buhari administration. And anyone that still doubts this should consider what the government-backed Fulani terrorists and militias and the Nigerian Army and Airforce are doing to the proud and courageous Bachama tribe of Numan in Adamawa state. There is an ongoing attempt to wipe them off the face of the earth and exterminate their entire race by the powers that be and the whole thing is being spear-headed by a former Governor of the state who is a Fulani Muslim himself and who is also a farmer. This mans hatred for Christians is legendry and his farm has often been used as a launching pad and rallying point for attacks against the Bachama and other Christians in Adamawa state. Luckily for us the people of Numan have proved to be irresistable, irrepressable and unbeatable despite suffering heavy casulaties and despite the sheer torment, mass murder, ethnic cleansing and genocide that they have been subjected to. In spite of their travails they have fought back gallantly, defending themselves courageously, giving as good as they get and often repelling the vicious attacks even though the government and the military have refused to offer them any assistance and have, more often than not, joined forces with the Fulani to bomb and kill them. Yet Buhari, who is the Life Patron of the murderous Fulani herdsmen and terrorists and the master-puppeteer of this godless heathan agenda, never hid his reprehensible views or evil intentions from the start and I must say that I respect him for that. When he said that an attack on Boko Haram is an attack on the north in 2014 I knew where he was heading. When he said the Fulani herdsmen are your brothers and kinsmen: please accomodate them in 2018 I understood where he stood. When he said I will continue to show openly and inside me the total commitment to the sharia movement ALL over the country in 2001 I got the message. When he said Christians should not complain when Muslims cut off their limbs in the name of sharia: after all the limbs that are being cut off are Muslim ones and not Christian in 2001 I heard him loud and clear. And his proselytising ways and radical Islamist tendencies were confirmed by the fact that a man that he was to later appoint as his Minister of Information, another Muslim by the name of Lai Mohammed, described the proscription of Boko Haram in 2014 and its being declared as a terrorist organisation by the Jonathan administration as unjust and unconstitutional. No matter how evil and reprehensible his intentions were at least Buhari has been honest about them from day one. No-one can fault him on that or deny it. As a consequence of this I have far more respect for him than the quislings, the accursed slaves and the useful idiots from the Middle Belt and the south that surround him and that were used by him to come to power. I have more respect for him because, like his father Lucifer, he is totally committed to his evil agenda and he does not pretend that it does not exist or attempt to hide it. I consider him to be a worthy adversary and an implaccable foe who I will opppose and fight until he leaves office simply because of what he represents and stands for. Even though I despise and hate his racist and bigoted agenda that does not mean that I do not respect him. I accord him the same respect that I accord a poisonous rattle snake, a venomous viper, a starving Boa Constrictor and a hungry python. I respect him because he is dangerous, ruthless, cold-blooded, totally focused on achieving his sinister objectives, deceptively charming and exceptionally calculating. I respect him because no matter what anyone says or feels about him he still enjoys the love and support of the vast majority of his people in the core Muslim north and he champions their cause in a way that is second to none. How I wish Middle Belt, southern and Christian leaders would do the same for theirs. I have said it before and I will say it again, Buhari is not viewed as a politician in the core north: he is perceived as a religion and he is regarded as the third Muslim Mahdi of Nigeria (Usman Dan Fodio and Ahmadu Bello being the first and second respectively) and something of an Islamic messiah. Love him or hate him, that is the bitter truth. And when when we lock horns and fight in both the spiritual and physical realms with prayers and words respectively it is done with mutual respect, knowing that the struggle is till the end. Warriors and kings must always respect one another: whether they be warriors and kings of darkness or warriors and kings of light. They must respect one another because each is prepared to give his life for the struggle and for his cause. I and those that think like me and that stand behind me represent the light and Buhari and all those that are with him represents the darkness. And as the Bible says darkness cannot overcome light but rather flees before it for it comprehendeth it not. Permit me to add the following. Whether anyone likes to admit it or not many of those in the ruling APC that are being ruthlessly persecuted by Buhari today are paying the price for the senseless, self-serving, self-seeking and downright stupid choices that they made during the 2015 presidential election. Supporting Buhari comes with a heavy price. As they say, when you dine with the devil you better use a long fork and knife and if you choose to ride a tiger you better be prepared to end up in its stomach. The truth is that every single one of those that had a hand in bringing Muhammadu Buhari to power, whether big or small, will pay that price because they have offended God deeply. And whether they have had a Paulian conversion or not is neither here nor there. It is just a matter of time. Do you know how much money Buharis men have stolen over the last three years? Do you know how much they have wasted and squandered? Do you know how much they have borrowed from international monetary agencies, the Paris Club and the Bretton Woods institutions and shared amongst themselves? Do you know how much they have looted? It goes into billions of dollats and trilliions of naira! And these are the people that a cowardly turncoat, servile quisling, ranking imbecile, reprehensible reprobate, useful idiot and accursed slave like Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo, who, apart from being physically challenged, is intellectually, morally, spiritually and morally bankrupt, would have us believe are saints? The truth is that the Vice President is fast becoming one of the most hated and despised Christians in the country today simply because he has betrayed his Christian brothers and sisters, his faith and his God and he constantly seeks to defend and rationalise the actions of an administration that kills believers at will and treats them like vermin. He is indeed the Cain of our time. This is a man that claims to be a pastor but whose Lord and Saviour is not Jesus Christ but Muhammadu Buhari. Worse still this is a man who is supposedly a respected lawyer, a Professor of law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who takes pleasure in describing others as looters even when a court of law has not found them guilty of any wrongdoing. Quite apart from all that do you know how many people the Buhari administration have slaughtered and murdered in cold blood? It is an ocean of blood. Do you know how many lives they have destroyed and how many dreams they have shattered? They are legion. Do you really believe that any one of those that brought or helped to bring this monumental disaster and unprecedented affliction upon the Nigerian people, no matter how highly placed, will go scot free? God said, vengeance is mine, I will repay! He is not asleep and He will honor His word. It is only a matter of time. Whether they have repented and left Buhari or whether they are still with him they cannot escape it. Whether they are realigning today or not realigning they will not escape it. Every single one of them will pay a terrible price for their grave error of judgement and the innocent blood that is on their hands. They will suffer for aiding and abetting this vicious tyrant and supporting this villainous beast and the innocent blood that they have collectively shed shall haunt them until the day that they die. Permit me to end this contribution with the words of Sheik El Zaky. He said the following to the court registrar who went to issue a summons to him in detention a few days ago: We were brutally attacked. They opened fire on us, shot us with guns, killing over a thousand including my sons. I was also shot with my wife. I was dragged over the corpses of my sons. We were then brought here and detained. Our bodies were sore all over, riddled with bullets. As someone said, what a nation, what a leader! Can any serious-minded person doubt the fact or dispute the assertion that President Muhammadu Buhari is a heartless ingrate and wicked beast who has no sense of decency or compassion? Perhaps that is what informed Professor Farooq Kperogi when he wrote, I seriously doubt that Nigeria can survive a Buhari second term. The man simply doesnt have the temperament, emotional maturity, and intellectual preparedness to govern a complex, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious country like Nigeria. Anyone who cant see this is worse than blind. Kperogi is right. What we need in this country is a biblical Cyrus with a heart of David on the throne. We need a strong and righteous believer as our President who has no fear of the enemy or any reservations about confronting evil. We need a man who both Christians and Muslims can trust to protect and fight for their interests. We need a man who respects southerners and Middle Belters and who treats them with the same degree of decorum, dignity, decency and sensitivity as he does core northerners. We need a man who loves not just his own tribe and ethnic nationality but ALL the tribes and ethnic nationalities of Nigeria. We need a biblical Gideon and a strong-willed and courageous Jehu. We need our very own Donald Trump who has the courage of his convictions, who is prepared to keep his promises and who is not clothed in the deceitful garb of double-speak and political correctness or fettered and bound by the satanic chains of irrational fear and morbid cowardice. What we do not need or want is another four years of cruelty, evil, madness, carnage, mass murder, ethnic cleansing, genocide, monumental corruption, selective justice, persecution of the opposition and all perceived enemies, suppression of the media and dissent, unprecedented theft, deceit, lies, economic recession, poverty, hardship, suffering, northern hegemony, religious bigotry, islamisation, sheer wickedness and the covert and subterranean promotion and support of murderous islamist and ethnic terrorist organisations like Boko Haram and the Fulani herdsmen. We do not need another four years of obsessive, egocentric, hateful, divisive, rudderless, callous and insensitive leadership from the sons of satan and the seed of Beelzebub. We do not need another four years of calamity, torture, torment and failure from the disciples of Lucifer and the servants of the Prince of Hell. The federal government has reportedly not refunded the 200,000 used in the treatment of the late former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme. The federal government has reportedly not refunded the 200,000 used in the treatment of the late former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme. Ekwueme died in a London hospital in November 2017, at the age 85. Prior to that, the federal government had undertaken to fund his medical treatment abroad. Upon his death, it also set up a committee to oversee his burial. However, six months after, one of the persons involved in the events surrounding Ekwuemes treatment and burial has said the family is yet to get the money it used in treating the late icon a claim the federal government has denied. Emmanuel Chukwuma, the archbishop of Enugu ecclesiastical province, Anglican communion, who is said to be a counselor to the family, told Daily Sun that the federal government delayed the payment, forwarding the money after the family had done so. He also said the hospital had to return the money to the government but Ekwuemes family is yet to get a refund, six months after. A lot of things are wrong in this administration Right now, the money meant for Ekwuemes treatment is not yet released, the newspaper quoted him as saying. The hospital has returned the money but government has refused to release it back to the family. Over 200,000 pounds and so on and so forth. They delayed in paying the medical bill of late Ekwueme until the family paid the bill to the London clinic. When the London clinic was paid by government after the family had paid, the hospital said the family had paid and returned the money to the Central Bank. Now, the money, which CBN should refund to Ekwuemes family is now being held. This money has been signed out. Where is the medical bill refund released by the Central Bank of Nigeria, which was returned by London clinic? That is the question, where is it? It should be refunded to the family and if this doesnt happen, I am going to speak more and this is going to cause serious scandal for the federal government. FG SAYS NO TRUTH IN THE BISHOPS CLAIMS The newspaper said it was not able to get replies from both the CBN and Lai Mohammed, minister of information, regarding the matter. The newspaper said it was not able to get replies from both the CBN and Lai Mohammed, minister of information, regarding the matter. Ekwuemes burial, was quoted as saying Chukwumas claims are false. But Chris Ngige, minister of labour, who was the deputy chairman of the committee that oversawEkwuemes burial, was quoted as saying Chukwumas claims are false. He also denied that the hospital bill was up to 200,000. Billionaire Femi Otedola early Friday debunked claims that he wants to run for the governorship seat of Lagos State. My attention has been drawn to a news piece where false information from a parody account was posted. I am a man of the people and I will always be on the side of the masses but I am stating clearly via this medium that I am not running for office. Femi Ote$ (@realFemiOtedola) May 17, 2018 Rumours went rife that the oil magnate wanted Governor Akinwunmi Ambodes job when he posted a video of himself boarding the popular long bus with yellow and black stripes popularly called Molue, from Sango to Agege on Wednesday.He had posted the video of the bus ride on his Instagram page.Otedola, however, quenched the fire of the rumour when he took to his Twitter page to state that he supports Governor Ambode for second term and that the governor was doing a commendable job. A Liberty Television journalist, Aminu Nurudeen, suspected to have posted the viral video showing the Inspector General of Police, Ibrah... How did So Buhari did not see any other Police Officer in Nigeria worthy of the position of the IGP but this Idris of a man that ought not to have gone beyond the rank of Constable? Nigeria pic.twitter.com/nzo5OxIiGN I NO FIT SHOUT OOOHow did #Nigeria get to this sorry state?So Buhari did not see any other Police Officer in Nigeria worthy of the position of the IGP but this Idris of a man that ought not to have gone beyond the rank of Constable?Nigeria #Ntoor May 16, 2018 journalist, Aminu Nurudeen, suspected to have posted the viral video showing the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, struggling to read a speech at a public event in Kano, has gone into hiding. Impeccable sources revealed that the Kano State Police Command invited the reporter to its office immediately the video went viral. The video, shows the IG struggling to read his speech at the inauguration of the Police Technical Intelligence Unit in Kano, Kano State on Monday.It was learnt that Nurudeens whereabouts had been unknown since the Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Musa Magaji Majiya, invited him on Thursday.Sources said the police authorities were upset with the journalist because he had allegedly disobeyed a directive by the Kano State Police Command to journalists present at the event not to report the IGs blunder or make the video public.According to sources, the IGs blunder brought an abrupt end to the event, leading the police chiefs handlers to hurriedly usher him away from the venue of the event.The viral video showed the IG delivering an incoherent speech, which had since exposed him to public ridicule.In a part of the transcription of the footage, Idris said, I mean, transmission, I mean effort, that the transmission cooperation to transmission, I mean transmission to have effect, ehm, apprehend, I mean, apprehensive towards the recommendation, recommended formation effective and effect, I mean, apprehensive at the transmission ofand transmission and transmission for the effective in the police command.had posted the video on Wednesday. It was gathered on Friday that the IG was embarrassed by the trending video and had ordered an investigation into its release.In the video, the police boss stumbled over nearly every word in the address, pronouncing transition as transmission and generally bungling his remarks.The over two minutes video showed Idris apologising to the audience intermittently as he struggled to read the speech which appeared to be a few pages long.As he battled to read the speech, a senior police officer moved to his side to assist him, but he still flunked the speech.A source said that the IG explained away the video to his officers, describing it as doctored.He has however ordered an investigation into the leakage of the video but we are watching to see how he intends to deal with the individuals behind the viral video without further embarrassing himself and the force, a senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told one of our correspondents.It was gathered that detectives were using the police technical platform to track the original source of the video on social media.It was learnt that bloggers that posted the video might be interrogated by the police for allegedly peddling a doctored video meant to cast the IG in bad light and embarrass the police leadership.Idris, in an interactive media chat on the police Twitter handle, Nigerian Police @PoliceNG #Askthepolice, had also told Nigerians that the video was doctored.Yes, it was doctored, he said in response to a question from a twitter user who wanted to know why he bungled the speech.The mood at the Force headquarters on Friday was solemn as policemen believed the video was sponsored by the enemies of the IG.I believe the IG may not be the most intelligent officer, but he is capable of presenting coherent speeches, a Deputy Superintendent of Police who also spoke on condition of anonymity said.The police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood could not be reached for comments as he did not respond to calls.He had yet to respond to a text message as of the time of filing this report.Nigerians have, however, reacted to the video.A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, in his reaction to the video on Twitter, urged Nigerians to pray for Idris.He said, Our IG of Police needs prayers and we must treat him with compassion. What happened to him whilst reading his infamous transmission speech was not ordinary. He is the victim of dark spirits and satanic forces. We must not gloat over it or laugh at him. Instead we must pray for him.But the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Diaspora Matters, Abike Dabiri, on Twitter defended the IG, saying, This video is definitely doctored.Nigerians however asked Dabiri to prove her assertion by posting an original video.A former head of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Joe Abah, said the IG might be suffering from dyslexia.@JoeAbah, he tweeted, If this video is genuine, Ive been advised the IG may be dyslexic. If that is the case, it is no laughing matter, and not something he should be ridiculed for. A lot of kids are dyslexic. We must ensure that they are not bullied or stigmatised. They too can become IG of Police.Abah was, however, countered by critics, who said the symptoms showed by the IGP were not typical of dyslexic patients.According to a definition by NHS.co.uk, dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that can cause problems with reading, writing and spelling. Its a specific learning difficulty, which means it causes problems with certain abilities used for learning, such as reading and writing. Unlike a learning disability, intelligence isnt affected.The Nigerian Police Force has, however, claimed that the video was doctored.On its Twitter handle during a forum tagged, #AskThePolice, one Dr. Adekola Adewale asked the Force to provide clarification on the video going viral about the IG.Nigeria Police Force replied, Thank you for your question. Yes it was doctored. #AskThePolice.But a source told newsmen that police were being cautious in issuing an official statement to debunk the video in order not to further escalate reactions already generated by the clip.The source said, The video was doctored and it was meant to embarrass the Force and the IG. The police dont want to issue an official statement because no TV station, or newspaper has carried the story. The moment a statement is issued, the doctored video would be revisited and it would escalate things. Even if the police issue an official statement, it may still backfire.Another source, a senior police officer, claimed that the Force had the original version of the doctored video, dismissing allegations that the police had invited the journalist that released the video.The original version of the video is available. As far as I know, the police have not ordered the arrest of anybody in connection with the video. The journalist might say the police invited him, but there was nothing like that. There is nothing like a spell being cast on the IG. Besides, there is nothing like that in law. The video was done mischievously. IG is mentally sound and he has been coming to the office every day after that event was held, he added.The officer stated that the video was under investigation, adding that the outcome would determine the next line of action.The officer sent the original video to newsmen on Friday evening.But it was observed that though recorded at the same event, it did not capture where a man, who appeared to be the IGs personal assistant, assisted the police chief to check the speech he was presenting for correct pronunciation. A Cuban state airways plane with 104 passengers crashed shortly after taking off from Havana Friday, leaving a wreck of smoldering fusel... A Cuban state airways plane with 104 passengers crashed shortly after taking off from Havana Friday, leaving a wreck of smoldering fuselage, as the countrys president warned many people were feared dead.The Boeing 737 operated by Cubana de Aviacion crashed into a field close to a wooded area near Havanas Jose Marti airport, sending a thick column of acrid smoke into the air, an AFP journalist at the scene said.State media reported that three people had been pulled alive from the mangled wreckage and were in a critical condition in hospital. The plane was almost completely destroyed in the crash and subsequent fire, which was extinguished by fire trucks which raced to the scene along with a fleet of ambulances.Firefighters, some still hosing down the burnt fuselage, and rescue workers combed through the wreckage, lending little hope that there could be survivors. Three passengers managed to survive the accident. They are in a critical condition. They are already in hospital, the state newspaper Granma said.What appeared to be one of the wings of the plane was wedged among scorched tree trunks, but the main fuselage seemed to have been entirely destroyed. Cubas President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who went to visit the scene, told AFP there was a large number of casualties. There has been an unfortunate aviation accident. The news is not very promising, it seems that there is a high number of victims, Diaz-Canel was quoted as saying after his visit.Diaz-Canel said nine crew members were believed to have been on board, in addition to the passengers. The 58-year-old president, who succeeded Raul Castro as the islands leader only last month, appeared aghast as he surveyed the recovery efforts, wearing a short sleeved green shirt and surrounded by officials.Airport sources said the plane took off at 12:08 pm (1608 GMT) heading for the eastern city of Holguin, 670 kilometers (416 miles) away. State television said the airliner was operated by a foreign crew, but gave no details. Reports said European airline Blue Panorama had been leasing a 737-400 plane to Cubana de Aviacion for several months.In July 1997 an Antonov-24 passenger plane fell into the sea off Santiago de Cuba. All 44 aboard were killed, including two Brazilians and two Spaniards.That was followed in March 2002 by the crash of a small Antonov-2 plane travelling from Cienfuegos to Cayo Coco crashed in the central province of Santa Clara. All 16 people aboard, among them six Canadian tourists, four Britons and two Germans, were killed. The leadership of Fulani pastoralist groups yesterday rose from an emergency meeting in Kaduna, asking President Muhammadu Buhari to cal... The leadership of Fulani pastoralist groups yesterday rose from an emergency meeting in Kaduna, asking President Muhammadu Buhari to call Governor Samuel Orthom of Benue State to order over the anti-open grazing law in that state.They vowed to do everything legally possible to resist any law that is against their culture, movement and economic interests.Their position was contained in a communique jointly signed by the National President, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio-cultural Association, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejor, the Secretary, Engineer Saleh Alhassan, and Chairman Communique Drafting Committee, Garus Gololo.They condemned the call by some desperate and jobless groups agitating for the profiling and stigmatisation of Fulani pastoralists in Nigeria.They affirmed support and solidarity for the legal action taken by the Miyetti Allah Kautal HoreFulani Socio- cultural Association to challenge the negative Benue anti- grazing law at the Federal High Court, Abuja.Pastoralists, like all citizens of Nigeria,they added have the right to move freely and to reside in any part of the country. They also have a right to own property in any part of the country and enjoy the right of freedom from discrimination like any other citizen of the country.They urged the National Assembly to live up to its responsibility because the inter-state movement of pastoralists is analogous to inter-state commerce, which is an exclusive preserve of the legislative powers of the National Assembly under item 62 of the Exclusive Legislative List. To this effect, any action taken by a state Assembly is in conflict with above section of the 1999 constitution as amended.Continuing,the groups said:We are calling on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Inspector General of Police, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and our royal fathers to call the Benue State Governor to order as his actions and continuous threat to the leadership of the Fulani pastoralists by the governor are a serious threat to peaceful coexistence.We appreciate the efforts by the federal and state governments in addressing the security challenges facing the Fulani pastoralists, particularly cattle rustling , kidnapping and banditry.We totally condemn the attempt to profile the Fulani race and urge the press should investigate the veracity of their stories before going to press.Representatives of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Funali Socio-Cultural Association, Tabital Pulaaku Nigeria Chapter, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Mobgal Fulbe Development Association, Gam Allah Fulani Development Association, Fulani Title Holders Association, Pastoral Resolve (PARE), Jonde Jam Fulani Youth Association attended that meeting. The leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) say they have not changed their position on the anti-graz... The leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) say they have not changed their position on the anti-grazing law passed by the Benue state government. The law, which was passed in May 2017 and it took effect in November same year, has generated a lot of controversy, with Miyetti Allah describing it as a time bomb. In April, Samuel Ortom, the state governor, had said the association had finally accepted to adopt cattle ranching as a solution to the clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the state. I think that, in Benue, we are winning because Miyetti Allah and MACABAN have accepted that ranching remains the best option to rear cattle, Ortom had said. But in a statement by Abdullahi Bodejor, national president of Miyetti Allah, Saleh Alhassan, its secretary; and Garus Gololo, chairman communique drafting committee, the group insisted the law is a violation of its fundamental human rights. The leaders of the group reached this position on Friday after it rose from an emergency meeting in Kaduna state. They urged urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call Ortom to order, adding that his actions are a fundamental threat to peaceful coexistence and food security in Nigeria. We condemn the call by some desperate and jobless groups parading the streets of Abuja looking for crumbs from corrupt politicians agitating for the profiling and stigmatisation of Fulani pastoralist in Nigeria, the statement read. We urge the attorney-general to ignore their letter as they are hired agents by a sinking governor. We totally reject the repressive and oppressive Anti-open Grazing Law as it is fundamentally going against our culture, economic interest and constitutional rights and will deploy all the necessary legal means as enshrined in our constitution to challenge it. The group commended the action of its sister organisation which filed a suit to challenge the anti-grazing law. It also argued that it had the right to move freely in any part of the country. Consequently, we affirm our support and solidarity for the legal action taken by the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio- cultural Association to challenge the negative Benue anti- grazing law at the federal high court, Abuja, the statement read. That pastoralists, like all citizens of Nigeria, have the right to move freely and to reside in any part of the country. They also have a right to own property in any part of the country and enjoy the right of freedom from discrimination like any other citizen of the country. We call on the national assembly to live up to their responsibility because the inter-state movement of pastoralists is analogous to inter-state commerce, which is an exclusive preserve of the legislative powers of the National Assembly under item 62 of the Exclusive Legislative List. To this effect, any action taken by a state Assembly is in conflict with above section of the 1999 Constitution as amended. We are calling on the minister of justice, inspector-general of police (IGP), the senate president, speaker of the house of representatives and our royal fathers to call the Benue state governor to order, as his actions and continuous threat to the leadership of the Fulani pastoralists is a serious threat to peaceful coexistence. An embarrassing video of of IGP Ibrahim Idris stuttering through his speech is a new internet frenzy. The nations police chief made ... How did So Buhari did not see any other Police Officer in Nigeria worthy of the position of the IGP but this Idris of a man that ought not to have gone beyond the rank of Constable? Nigeria pic.twitter.com/nzo5OxIiGN I NO FIT SHOUT OOOHow did #Nigeria get to this sorry state?So Buhari did not see any other Police Officer in Nigeria worthy of the position of the IGP but this Idris of a man that ought not to have gone beyond the rank of Constable?Nigeria #Ntoor May 16, 2018 I have just received word that the Transmission Company of Nigeria has appointed IGP Ibrahim Kpotum Idris as its Brand Ambassador. Congratulations sir! Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) May 17, 2018 The case of IGP Ibrahim Kpotum Idris is a lesson on why a Commissioner of Police should not be promoted over more capable seniors and made Inspector General of Police. He is obviously unqualified for the job. Its this type of nepotism that has brought Nigeria to this sorry level Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) May 16, 2018 The Senate President Saraki is afraid of the IGP whose transmission is yet to be transmitted because he couldn't read his own speech script. At least now he knows why the IGP won't appear before the senate and why he disobeyed the President's instruction, he couldn't read it too. pic.twitter.com/pKgfXe8yC8 May 17, 2018 If that Transmission rap video by the IGP, Idris Ibrahim, was "doctored" as claimed by the NP, then what was the man in a black suit doing...? Behold, I've found another Lai Mohammed in the Nigerian Police. #AskThePolice #TeamLai May 18, 2018 An embarrassing video of of IGP Ibrahim Idris stuttering through his speech is a new internet frenzy.The nations police chief made a total mess of a prepared speech.I mean transmissiontransmission effort.I mean transfusionapprehensive.Sorrytransmission transfusion.transfusion and transmission of effective, and on and on he went. ( WATCH VIDEO HERE - IF YOU MISSED IT At one point, a gentleman in suit had to step forward to point out the correct words to Idris, but it was too little too late.Nigerians just like they did with NSCDC'sof 'Oga at the top' fame have created a new and trending hilarious video for The Gombe Police Command on Saturday deployed no fewer than 500 policemen to the venue of the APC State Congress to ensure the safety of lives and property.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gombe International Hotel, venue of the exercise, had been cordoned off, with security men allowing only those invited.Vehicles were not allowed into the hotel premises, just as those on foot were thoroughly searched.Speaking to newsmen on the security arrangement, David Junwan, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations who disclosed the number of personnel deployed to the venue, said the command did not want to take chances.Junwan said apart from the 500 policemen from the command, there were other security men who came from other places in the company of dignitaries. Political and social connections in high places by suspects in the Kwara State killer cult may have caused their transfer by the police... Political and social connections in high places by suspects in the Kwara State killer cult may have caused their transfer by the police from Ilorin to Abuja for further investigation.Six men are currently being held by the police over alleged murders in the state in the last few years.Senate President Bukola Saraki said earlier in the week that Police Inspector General Ibrahim Idris was trying to link him with cult killings in the state while Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed cautioned against being roped in.However,police sources said yesterday that it was only reasonable to transfer the men to Abuja if external interference with investigation was to be avoided.One source said: while all suspects deserve to be treated as innocent until found guilty, some of them have very solid connections within and outside the police force.The source said one of the suspects has a father who holds a high chieftaincy position in Ilorin and he was for many years, the spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force in Kwara state before he retired.The same suspect has a brother who is the head of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in one of the Southwest states.As we speak, a deputy commissioner of Police in Kwara state is being transferred out of the station for reasons best known to higher authorities in Abuja.Police Force spokesman, ACP Moshood Jimoh declined to respond to questions from newsmen on the matter yesterday.Contacted by phone yesterday,Jimoh merely said:There is an official statement about the transfer of suspects from Kwara state and another statement will be issued in due course when it is deemed necessary to do so.Saraki who has been having a running battle with IGP Idris after the police chief snubbed repeated summons by the Senate warned against rascality, intimidation and harassment.He said the crude tactics were aimed at turning the country into a police state where top officials cannot be made to obey the law, follow due process and subject themselves to constituted authorities.He claimed that the police transfer of the suspects to Abuja was part of the move by Idris to settle scores with the Senate for declaring him an enemy of democracy and unfit to hold any public office within and outside the country.Saraki informed the Senate that Governor Ahmed had told him that the Kwara State Government was in the process of arraigning the suspects in court only for the IG to order their transfer to Abuja.He said it was all about putting the suspects under duress to change the statements they had already made in Ilorin, with a view to implicating him and the Kwara State Government.The Senate resolved to send a 10-man delegation to President Muhammadu Buhari with a view to briefing him on the issue and reporting the IGP.But Idris in a swift response to Sarakis allegation said there is no iota of truth in the allegation and false assertion by the Senate President of plot against him by the IGP to implicate the Kwara State government and the Senate President in any criminal matter.He added: it is pertinent to state that there is no vested interest by the Inspector General of Police in the ongoing investigation into the several murders committed by this killer gang, other than ensuring that justice prevails in the matter. Nobody, no matter how highly placed would be allowed to interfere or obstruct Police investigation to pervert the course of justice.It is also imperative to let the public know that last year, suspects arrested over the mayhem and killings of innocent people in Ile-Ife, Osun State and those arrested in Southern Kaduna crisis in Kaduna State and suspects arrested in connection with Zaki-biam killings in Benue State were all transferred to the Force Headquarters, Abuja for further investigation before they were arraigned in court of competent jurisdiction. The Nigeria Police Force says policemen are duty-bound to submit themselves to civilians for scrutiny before they can proceed to search t... The Nigeria Police Force says policemen are duty-bound to submit themselves to civilians for scrutiny before they can proceed to search their cars or houses.The Force gave the directive via its Twitter handle, @PoliceNG, on Thursday and urged people to make such a request in a polite manner.The message was reinforced with the hash tag #AskThePolice.If an officer wants to search you in your house/car, he must first surrender himself for searching. This is the procedure. Ask politely. #AskThePolice, the tweet read.The snippet subsequently generated a lot of reactions in the social media with many Nigerians describing it as a tall dream.They likened an attempt to search policemen to an invitation of harassment, torture and signing their own death warrants, especially if the cops were operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.Casting a doubt on the workability of the directive, a Twitter user, Ebenezer Oluwaniyi @Benoluwaniyi, wrote, Who is deceiving who? You guys know yourselves well to know such can never be possible. If not, can someone ever request such from a SARS officer and will not be hit by the gun. You are wrong on this, please.Another commentator, Ikeemmanuelobinna, @obgalaxy, said, 200 slaps guaranteed if a civilian asks a policeman to surrender himself for searching.Another commentator, Olajumoke @MaryMaryk4u, while reacting to the post, said, You could have been dead before completing the sentence.Miracle @MIRACLE 15271228 said anybody that makes such a move would dig their own graves.A user, who identified himself as Lukman, @Iam_apolskils, said although it was better imagined confronting a policeman for searching, he urged Nigerians to give the Force the benefit of the doubt.It is not easy to confront an officer, especially these ugly ones called SARS. But my point is this, people are trying to get solution to it and we should support (them) especially with the online help desk. God bless Nigeria, he tweeted.Hatshepsut she-king, @lissabby000, who wrote in from Victoria Island, Lagos, said, The proper thing to do is to train the officers again and not give us tips these same officers wouldnt let us exercise. While being reformed, the citizens are updated on their rights.The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Jimoh Moshood, on Friday confirmed the tweet while speaking with newsmen.He, however, said the content was not in details, adding that it was misinterpreted by members of the public.He said, When a policeman wants to search premises, he must show what is in his pocket and his possession apart from his gun so that the man will not say he brought something to plant in his house.It is not that the man will search the policeman. That is what the tweet means. It was not expressed very well. A man was sentenced to 10 years in state prison Friday after authorities discovered him with five pounds of crystal meth that he planned to sell, the state Attorney General's Office said. Eder Gonzalez, 28, of South Gate, California, previously pleaded guilty to first-degree possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. His co-defendant, Sandra Parra-Quintero, 28, of Hermosillo, Mexico, is in the Camden County Jail after being indicted on the same charge. Superior Court Judge Benjamin Podolnick sentenced Gonzalez in Atlantic County. The Atlantic City Task Force and federal agencies learned that the two would be delivering $40,000 worth of meth to Camden on Aug. 9, 2016. Officers and agents were watching when the two pulled up in a Volkswagen Jetta with Mexican plates. They watched Gonzalez take apart the dashboard and remove nine packages wrapped in black duct tape before closing in and arresting the pair. Gonzalez pleaded guilty to the meth distribution charge in October last year. 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 A New Jersey lawmaker is calling for a hearing into school bus safety after a crash left a student and teacher dead and dozens injured. Democratic state Sen. Joseph Lagana said Friday that he wants a special transportation committee hearing to analyze safety standards, review best practices and compare New Jersey with other states. "Our hearts go out to the families of the student and teacher who lost their lives and to everyone who is part of the East Brook Middle School community. This is a tragedy that touches us all," said Lagana, a former Paramus councilman. "As we come together to support those in need, we must also begin the steps to ensure a tragedy like this does not happen again," the senator said in a statement. The chairman of the committee and the senate president both say they support the idea. "We will review every aspect of this accident to determine what went wrong and what can be done to ensure the safety of each and every school bus in every community in New Jersey," Sen. Patrick Diegnan, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, said in a statement. The bus carrying 38 fifth-graders and seven adults was traveling on Interstate 80 in Mount Olive Thursday morning on the way to Waterloo Village for a school trip when the wreck occurred. Jennifer Williamson, a 51-year-old East Brook Middle School teacher, and a 10-year-old girl died in the crash. Authorities have not commented on what caused the wreck, but a source told NJ Advance Media the bus driver attempted an illegal U-turn through a break in the highway median before the dump truck rear-ended the bus. NJ Advance Media reporters Jeff Goldman, Craig McCarthy and Noah Cohen contributed to this report. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Police were able to negotiate the surrender of a woman who was hiding in the upstairs bedroom of a Bordentown home from an armed and possibly suicidal family member after a nearly 4-hour standoff Friday, authorities said. Police responded to a Redwood Avenue home at 12:36 p.m. after receiving a call from a 33 year-old woman who lived there who said a 54-year-old family member "had armed himself with several firearms and was making suicidal statements," according to a release from the Bordentown Police. Police did not release the woman's name or that of her family member and did not say how the two are related. Police say they were able to surround the home and were eventually able to contact the woman who was "concerned for her personal safety." The New Jersey State Police and FBI were called in to help and were able to negotiate the release of the woman from the home, the release states. After they were unable to further negotiate with the man, the state police entered the home just before 5 p.m. and were able to arrest him "without incident," police said. Neither the man nor any officers were injured during the incident. Police did not say if the woman was injured during the standoff. The man was taken to an unspecified local hospital for crisis treatment. Police say criminal charges "may be filed pending the outcome" of their investigation. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. A former corrections officer was sentenced to prison Friday after a jury found that he sexually assaulted a child relative through the late 80s and into the mid-90s. Charles Helms Sr., 58, of Pittsgrove Township, worked as a senior correction officer at Southwoods State Prison in Bridgeton but was suspended without pay after his arrest. At the time of his arrest in July 2015, authorities alleged that Helms had sexually assaulted one child and may have tried to molest two others. The 20-year-old allegations were presented to the New Jersey State Police, which investigated and charged Helms. In July 2017, a jury convicted him of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault. He must also register as a sex offender and would be subject to community supervision for life. A previous version of this post stated that Helms' sentence would be subject to the No Early Release Act, which would require him to serve 85 percent of it before parole eligibility. Since the offenses occurred before that law was passed, this is not the case. 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 The four candidates seeking to lead Newark's public schools made their pitch to the public on Friday night, each angling to become the first schools superintendent picked by the local school board in 22 years. Earlier this year, the state ended its control of Newark schools, returning the power to hire and fire the schools chief back to the locally-elected board. A national search netted four finalists, including two Newarkers who work in the school district. The finalists include Newark Interim Superintendent Robert Gregory, Assistant Superintendent Roger Leon, Chief of Schools for Nashville Public Schools Sito Narcisse and former CEO of Baltimore Schools Andres A. Alonso. "The future is here and Newark's renaissance is before us," Gregory said during the forum at Science Park High School. "We must move from admiring problems to solving them. Our vision for our schools must be inclusive and remain grounded in reality." Each of the candidates was allowed 30 minutes to speak. Members of the audience were not allowed to ask questions but it was clear which way the crowd leaned. Both Gregory and Assistant Superintendent Roger Leon were welcomed with loud cheers and several nods in agreement throughout their speeches. Gregory and Leon emphasized their roots in the community -- and commitment to the city's children. Leon was greeted with a roar even before he took to the podium. "The journey of Newark has been my journey," Leon, a 25-year veteran of the district, said. "From birth until now, I have had the privilege of experiencing Newark through its many transitions and moments of strengths as well as challenges." The district hired Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA) as the search firm that created a profile for the type of superintendent the community wanted. The firm gathered information from interviews with stakeholders and community survey responses before presenting a list of candidates to a search committee. Three board members, three Newark leaders jointly selected by the mayor and education commissioner, and one member appointed by the commissioner sat on the search committee and paired down the list of applicants to four. "If I become the superintendent of Newark, my goal is to make sure we are tapping into people from Newark," said Sito Narcisse, Chief of Schools for Nashville Schools. "I tell folks all the time I will not be coming to Newark and bringing 14,000 people with me." The son of Haitian immigrants, Narcisse is the second in command in Nashville, helping oversee all 169 schools in the district. "I understand that there is a lot of pain and hurt but we will get over it and we will build together on the work," Narcisse said. Former CEO of Baltimore Schools Andres A. Alonso previously taught in Newark for 12 years. "I want to come full circle, this I feel is the job for me and I think that I could help the system immensely," Alonso said. "I will not be a superintendent that comes and leaves. This is family for me. And it will be about the kids of Newark." The School Board will interview each of the candidates on Saturday before making a final selection by May 31. The new superintendent will lead the city's 64 public schools starting July 1. More on the candidates: Sito Narcisse has worked as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent and helped open schools. As the chief of schools in Nashville, Narcisse said he helped engage parents at the district's 169 schools. "One of the things I can assure you is family involvement will be very, very important and one of the reasons why is that you cannot do this work without parents," he said. Narcisse said it was also important for the community to understand where the district was spending its money. "Community matters, you cannot do anything without the community," he said. Andres A. Alonso was born in Cuba and arrived in the U.S. when he was 12 years old. He attended middle and high school in Union City. He served as a deputy chancellor at New York City public schools and for six years led the Baltimore school district. But Alonso credits his 12 years teaching in Newark as the most influential. "This is the job I've always wanted," he said. "I say that Newark changed my moral compass." Alonso said he met twice with then-mayor Cory Booker in 2012 about the possibility of becoming the superintendent but ultimately walked away. He said he knew of "the extraordinary distrust I experienced while teaching" and didn't want to just implement a blueprint. "The work of improving schools in Newark has to be of Newark, communities need to believe in what happens in the process of change," Alonso said. Robert Gregory is a third generation Newarker who followed in the footsteps of his father -- also an educator. Gregory said he still carries the words a district leader told him when he was a first-year teacher trying to get his class under control. Deputy Superintendent Robert Gregory in Broad Street in Newark on January 24, 2018. (Alexandra Pais | For NJ Advance Media) "'Young Gregory, no one rises to low expectations,'" Gregory recalled the administrator telling him. "When we invest in people and show them we care, and organize them around clear goals and high expectations, we get results." Gregory was the founding principal of American History High School and later worked as the district's assistant superintendent overseeing high schools. He was appointed Interim Superintendent on Feb. 1 after state-appointed Superintendent Christopher Cerf resigned. "I have been preparing my entire life for this moment to arrive," Gregory said. Roger Leon graduated from Science Park High and Hawkins Elementary School and has worked in the district for 25 years. "I have lived the full spectrum of the city ... I have lived through what it was, struggled and fought through it became and will continue to implement what it has the potential to become," Leon said. He's served as the assistant superintendent for 10 years. During his presentation Friday, Leon broke at times into Spanish and even sign language. "I will be a proficient and influential agent of change because anything short of that is unacceptable," Leon said. Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook. JERSEY CITY -- Police on Friday responded to two stabbings in a 12-hour span, authorities said. Just after midnight on Friday, police responded to the area of 320 Pacific Ave., where a 27-year-old man had suffered a stab wound to his left ankle, according to city spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione. A short while later, police arrested Santana Cabrera, 21, and charged him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and unlawful possession of a weapon. Then, at 11:30 a.m., police responded to the area of 457 Montgomery St. where a Jersey City Medical Center EMS unit was tending to another stabbing victim. The 35-year-old male victim had one stab wound to his left shoulder and one to the top of his head, Wallace-Scalcione said. He was stable and his injuries were non-life-threatening. The investigation is ongoing, Wallace-Scalcione said. Corey W. McDonald may be reached at cmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @coreymacc. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. The shocking federal child pornography charge that a West New York teacher filmed a baby girl and shared the video has been dismissed, 11 days after the woman was arrested. According to a court document, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, who filed the charge on May 7, requested that the court "dismiss without prejudice" the child pornography charge against Lizandra Rios. Rios, a special education teacher at School 3 earning $73,872 a year, had been suspended by the district after her arrest. According to the criminal complaint, Rios admitted to filming a video of a child only wearing a shirt and bib being groped and massaged. The complaint described the touching as being sexual in nature. Authorities had said the video was filmed in Montclair in June 2014. The video, shot using a cellphone that records show belongs to Rios, was discovered by federal authorities conducting an unrelated investigation, the complaint said. Rios had been accused of posting the video in a group chat in March 2015 with the message "don't call DYFS on me ... but this is a throwback! Lol!!!" HudsonCountyView.com reported that the federal authorities in New York declined to comment on the case. JERSEY CITY -- A funeral Mass was held on Saturday for Joseph "Butchie" Cassidy, the former Hudson County Sheriff who died on Tuesday at the age of 76. Dozens of law enforcement officials and personnel, family, and friends came out to the St. Patrick's Church on Bramhall Avenue to honor Hudson County's longest serving sheriff, described by many as an energetic and dedicated law enforcement official. Cassidy joined the Jersey City Police Department and eventually rose to the rank of deputy chief in 1995. He held a number of other posts in the department throughout his career, including that of ABC commander, city command and chief of investigators. He was Hudson County sheriff from 1996 to 2007. He attended St. Peter's Prep and received a bachelor's degree from Rutgers and a masters degree in criminal justice from New Jersey City University. Cassidy was also a member of the Police Superior Officers Association, Jersey City Emerald Society, Jersey City Fraternal Order of Police and the Hudson County 200 Club executive board. Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari described him as "a great, professional law enforcement officer." "He is going to be missed," he added. Corey W. McDonald may be reached at cmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @coreymacc. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. JERSEY CITY -- Two men were shot multiple times early Saturday morning, according to sources at the scene. The shooting occurred at about 4 a.m. on Neptune Avenue, between Kennedy Boulevard and Romar Avenue, according to Joe Shine, a freelance photographer who was on the scene. Additional information was not available at the time of this report. A message to a city spokesperson was not immediately returned. Corey W. McDonald may be reached at cmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @coreymacc. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. Yesterday's sentencing of a New York man who left the scene of a fatal crash in North Bergen in September was postponed, officials said, but a new date has not yet been set. On March 12, Olvy Torres pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a crash resulting in a death for the Sept. 26 wreck that killed Luisa Valdez, 59. He also pleaded guilty to money laundering. Investigators said Torres, 36, was driving an SUV that jumped the curb on River Road near Palisades Medical Center and plowed through a bus stop, striking Valdez, who worked at a nearby nursing home for 27 years. Police say Torres left his vehicle at the scene and took off on foot. He was arrested a few days later after an "enormous amount of pressure" from the public resulted in his surrender to authorities. During the investigation, police recovered $1 million in cash, bags of diamonds, a motorcycle, and other valuables inside a Bergen County apartment used by Torres. The probe also led to the arrest of a Brooklyn woman and a Teaneck woman, as well as the seizure of two kilos of gold, diamond rings, a Mercedes and hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional cash. The state is expected to ask that Torres to be sentenced to seven years for leaving the scene of the crash and five years for money laundering, with the sentences to run simultaneously. "Quite frankly, there is no residence attributed to him," Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Lynne Seborowski said during a court hearing in October. "He is literally like a ghost." West Morris Mendham High School's students arrived in style Friday at the Hanover Marriott in Whippany for the school's senior prom. Prom-goers enjoyed the evening as they socialized, posed for photos and danced the night away. Check back at nj.com/morris for other local high school prom coverage. And be sure to check out our complete prom coverage at nj.com/prom. BUY THESE PHOTOS Are you one of the people pictured at this prom? Want to buy the photo and keep it forever? Look for the blue link "buy photo" below the photographer's credit to purchase the picture. You'll have the ability to order prints in a variety of sizes, or products like magnets, keychains, coffee mugs and more. Patti Sapone may be reached at psapone@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Instagram @psapo, Twitter @psapone. Follow NJ.com on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The state's public records law can be used by anyone in the country and is not limited to residents of New Jersey, a narrow argument used in the past several years by public agencies to deny records, according to a new state appellate ruling. In a published opinion released May 16, the three-judge panel affirmed the broad scope of the state's public records law, rejecting an assertion that the law's references to "citizens" meant it was to only be used by those who lived in the state. Judge Susan Reisner, writing on behalf of the panel, said the Legislature's general intent was to "make New Jersey government records open to the public, rather than expressing an intent to limit access to only New Jersey residents or domiciliaries." The ruling is particularly notable in New Jersey, which has a number of part-time residents who flock to Shore towns in the summer but who may not be considered full-time residents. In addition, it affirms the right of national news organizations and others to request records. The appellate case considered a number of lower court rulings in which a judge had denied records based on the fact that the requester was not a citizen of the state. In one instance, Harry Scheeler, who moved from New Jersey to North Carolina in 2014, requested records from the city of Cape May, but the case was dismissed by a trial court judge who found Scheeler did not have standing to make the request because he was not a citizen. In another case, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a national non-profit civil rights organization, sought records from the Atlantic City Board of Education. The same judge who dismissed Scheeler's case also dismissed the group's complaint, citing the same grounds. Both decisions were reversed and remanded for further proceedings. Christopher Baxter may be reached at cbaxter@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cbaxter1. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Gov. Phil Murphy announced Friday that flags will be flown at half staff next week in memory of a 10-year-old girl and a Paramus teacher who died in Thursday's crash involving a dump truck and a school bus on Route 80. Murphy's executive order says that American and New Jersey flags at all "state departments, offices, agencies and instrumentalities" will be flown at half staff on Monday, May 21 during the "appropriate hours." "It is appropriate to recognize and honor the devastating passing of Jennifer Marie Williamson-Kennedy, a veteran educator of more than 20 years in Paramus, and a fifth grade student of East Brook Middle School who had a bright, promising future," the order states. The student was identified Friday as 10-year-old girl by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, but her name has not been released. As Paramus students returned to school on Friday morning, one stopped and spoke to NJ.com to recall her time with Williamson. "I feel really sad and devastated," sixth-grade student Savannah Clark, who was taught by Williamson last year, said. "She made things really, really fun for us kids, but now she can't anymore." The cause of the accident is still under investigation and the prosecutor's office has not given updates on the 43 other people who were injured, the prosecutor's office said. Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera announced Friday night that there will be memorial service on Sunday at Our Lady of the Visitation at 7:30 p.m. The church is located at 234 N. Fairview Ave, Paramus. "All members of the community and all faiths are welcome," LaBarbiera said on Facebook. "This is an opportunity for the community to come together as one and pray for victims of yesterday's horrific event." Democratic state Sen. Joseph Lagana has also called for a hearing into school bus safety. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. Charity Haygood is a respected educator who has taught in Newark for 20 years, in three different schools, and has never had a single white student. In New Jersey whitest suburbs, you can probably find teachers like her who have never had an African-American or Latino student. New Jersey's schools, like New York's, are more segregated than those in Mississippi or Alabama. We may not have Sheriff Bull Connor spraying fire hoses and beating demonstrators. But we get the job done. So, what should we do about this? On Thursday, a coalition led by former Supreme Court Justice Gary Stein filed a lawsuit that takes aim at the legal backbone of this segregation -- the law requiring that students attend schools in their own geographic districts. The suit is vague on solutions. We could build magnet schools to draw students from both white and minority towns, it suggests. We could require suburban districts to accept minority students from nearby cities. We could form more regional districts, as with the successful merger of Morristown and Morris Township. It's a tool box. But the suit stops short of the nuclear option: It does not seek to force students of either race to attend schools they don't want to attend. My guess is the suit will be settled eventually, with Gov. Phil Murphy agreeing to take some of these modest steps. After all, does this sound like the kind of suit he would fight? Even that will cause a political storm. New Jersey already makes enormous efforts to support its urban schools, by order of the state Supreme Court. Camden, relying almost entirely on state aid, spends roughly twice what Philadelphia does, per student. Within the state, Newark spends about 10 percent more than Montclair. Many suburban taxpayers, and their legislators in both parties, are fed up. Asking them to do more -- to take in black and Latino students, to spend more to build magnet schools, or to fiddle with district lines -- is going to be a heavy lift. "Towns like Westfield want to control Westfield schools," says Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, R-Union, the Republican leader. "They are proud of their schools. And I believe local home rule for education is extremely important. "Everyone wants to make sure the schools are integrated. The question is how you can do that without losing home rule." That goes a bit far, since the suit does not seek to demolish home rule. But it does fiddle with it, and that is enough to pick a fight. So, before it starts, I'd like to throw two thoughts into the mix, both aimed at mostly at whites in suburban New Jersey who might be inclined to resist this. First, the money we spend on urban districts is having an impact. New Jersey's poor and minority kids do much better than their peers in most other states on standardized tests. One example: Elementary students in Newark who rely on subsidized lunch are about twice as likely to pass the PARCC math tests as similar students from Washington D.C., Maryland, or Illinois. So, the next time someone tells you this money is lost down a rathole, push back. New Jersey's racially separate schools remain unequal, but lots of good people have worked hard to shrink the gap. As for the taxes, how about taking some pride at what that sacrifice has accomplished? Second, let's not pretend the residential segregation at the root of this problem happened by accident. That is a myth that whitewashes our racist past. Segregation didn't just happen, nor did it result solely from individual choices. It followed explicit government policy at every level, actions that blocked African-Americans from the path to home ownership, even as home ownership helped create the white middle class. "We've developed a rationalization to excuse ourselves from addressing this," says Richard Rothstein, the author of "The Color of Law," an authoritative account of the history. He spoke at Seton Hall School of Law on Wednesday, by divine coincidence one day before Stein unveiled his lawsuit. Long after slavery ended, Rothstein recounted, and as the rule by terror during the lynching decades began to settle down, Franklin Roosevelt built the nation's first major wave of public housing, then aimed at middle-class families. "The federal government everywhere segregated that housing," Rothstein said. North and South, the government made room for these projects by demolishing neighborhoods that often had been integrated. When World War II came, the government built massive housing complexes for war industry workers, following the same racial playbook. It built six housing projects in Newark - three for whites, and three for blacks. It was the same in Jersey City, Richmond, San Francisco, and elsewhere. "They were creating new patterns of segregation that never even existed," Rothstein said. After the war, President Truman signed the Housing Act of 1949, which vastly expanded public housing, and kept in place the racial tests well into the 1960s. Later, the Fair Housing Act guaranteed loans to encourage building of massive developments of single-family homes in the suburbs, like Levittown in Long Island, which included 17,000 homes. To qualify, builders had to promise that they would not sell the homes to blacks. That was no subtle wink and nod - it was in the underwriting manual, distributed to appraisers. "That was an official written policy of the FHA," Rothstein said. Add in the well-documented discrimination by banks and realtors, and you have a toxic stew that blocked minority families from buying homes on a massive scale. While whites built home equity, and refinanced mortgages to do things like send their kids to college, African-Americans were largely shut out. Rothstein said that African-Americans earn roughly 60 percent what whites earn, but their wealth is less than 10 percent. "That entire disparity is attributable to unconstitutional housing policies that have never been remedied, that we've never even attempted to remedy." Bryan Stevenson, the civil rights attorney, recently opened a museum in Montgomery on lynchings, one with the names of 4,400 victims inscribed on tomb-like columns, with whatever back stories he and his volunteers could gather. His inspiration was the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin and the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. As those countries wrestled with their dark pasts, so America must confront its own history of violent white supremacy, he says. I wonder if Donald Trump's ascension to the presidency might provoke the needed discussion about our history of white supremacy, much as his bragging about sexual assault helped turbo-charge the Me-too movement. "We are living in such a polarized society now on race," says Larry Lustberg, who will handle litigation in this case, along with Stein's son, Michael. "It makes it all the more important that we live together, and go to school together, and get to know each other." For now, let's hope at least that the discussion about school segregation in New Jersey gets beyond loyalty to home rule. And that it carries a tone that shows some respect for the dark history that created the problem. More: Tom Moran columns Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or call (973) 836-4909. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Mourners gather during a prayer vigil following a shooting at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, on Friday, May 18, 2018. (Photo by David J. Phillip | Associated Press) By NJ Advance Media for NJ.com It's been 13 weeks since a rampage killer mowed down 14 high school students and three staff members in Parkland, Florida. Friday, another 10 people were murdered by a teenage mass shooter at a Texas high school, most of them students. By CNN's estimate, the slaughter at the Santa Fe High School was the 22nd shooting at an American school in 2018 and we're not half way through the year. Below, I've excerpted passages from the 13 most read opinion pieces we've posted on NJ.com since the Parkland massacre, including two opinions written by New Jersey high school students asking adults to help put an end to shootings at schools. The last opinion is by a member of a group of some 150 Americans who participated in a closed online discussion about gun violence, which I helped moderate. With New Jersey having some of the strictest gun laws in the country, do you think the rest of country is ready to listen to some of these ideas? Don't Edit (Photo courtesy of Margo Greenbaum) I am a high school student: Don't let a Parkland massacre happen again I write to today not as a Democrat, not as a Republican, but as an American citizen -- as one who never again wants to get the notification that a school shooting happened; as one who never again wants to hear that notification that 17 innocent people died at a school -- at a safe haven. I call for all politicians to put their petty differences aside and to stop playing the blame game, to stop being so one sided, and to start putting action into your words. I ask that you, in honor of all the people who died by a gun at a school, to make meaningful changes to our guns laws. Margo Greenbaum, a high school senior in Marlboro (March 14, 2018) Don't Edit Nothing in the 2nd Amendment prevents sensible gun rules The Second Amendment reads: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed." Historians have long debated whether the Second Amendment provides any protection, at all, for the individual right to own guns. There are reasonable arguments both ways. For most of the 20th century, the firm consensus among federal judges - Republican or Democratic - was that it did not provide that protection. It was not until 2008 that the Supreme Court ruled that it did. The justices were badly divided. Four members of the court agreed with the longstanding consensus. The majority opinion, joined by five justices, ruled that the Second Amendment does create an individual right of gun ownership. But the opinion, written by Justice Antonin Scalia, was modest and cautious. Justice Scalia's opinion did not come close to embracing the arguments made by those who invoke the Second Amendment as an all-purpose weapon against democratic efforts to prevent the murder of high-school kids. On the contrary, his opinion is full of permission slips for federal, state and local governments to act. In a crucial sentence, Justice Scalia wrote, "nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms." Justice Scalia also emphasized that the Second Amendment is restricted to weapons "in common use at the time." He added that the Constitution leaves government with many tools for combating the problem of handgun violence, including regulation. Cass Sunstein, a Bloomberg View columnist, is the author of"#Republic: Divided Democracy in the Age of Social Media" (Feb. 17, 2018) Don't Edit Laws we once had on the books could have prevented the Florida school shooting On another St. Valentine's day 89 years ago, seven Chicago gangsters in the employ of Bugs Moran were murdered by four members of a rival gang led by Al Capone. The four, dressed as police officers, lined up the seven against a wall and executed them. The resultant public outrage, riding a crescendo of national dismay over rising criminal violence, helped fuel growing public pressure for gun laws to stem the use of what were then called "gangster weapons" in crime. From 1927 to 1934, at least 27 states enacted laws to bar fully automatic weapons such as the notorious Tommy gun, and other gangster weapons such as sawed-off shotguns. During the same period, between seven and 10 states enacted laws that severely restricted or even barred semiautomatic weapons -- weapons that fired in the same manner as AR-type weapons of today. Moreover, concern about the ability to fire numerous rounds without reloading, whether by fully automatic or semiautomatic means, also led to restrictions nine decades ago. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, no fewer than 17 states enacted various restrictions on the number of rounds that could be fired without reloading. These growing public concerns finally led to the enactment of the first comprehensive national gun law, the National Firearms Act of 1934. In other words, robust state and federal regulations resulted from the crime epidemic of the 1920s and early 1930s. Yet in the past three decades, we've seen mostly a reversal of that trend. Robert J. Spitzer is the chairman of the political science department at SUNY Cortland and the author of five books on gun policy, including "Guns across America: Reconciling Gun Rules and Rights." (Feb. 15, 2018) Don't Edit I'm a Republican who served under Bush and Whitman: Let's ban AR-15s This is a weapon that was banned for individual ownership and usage by the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban. This 10-year ban was legislatively enacted by a Democratic President, Bill Clinton and a Democratic Congress. The ban expired in 2004 and was not renewed by the then Republican President George W. Bush and the Republican Congress. This is attributable to the enormous power of the National Rifle Association within the Republican Party. America stands alone now among Western democracies as a land of annual mass killings. The policy imperative for reinstating the Federal Assault Weapons Ban is abundantly clear. Yet given the enormous power the NRA has over both the Republican President Trump and the GOP majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate, such reenactment of the ban appears to be impossible in 2018. It will only take place if the NRA is defeated by electing a Democratic House and Senate this November. Alan J. Steinberg served as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency's Region 2 in President George W. Bush's administration and as executive director of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission under Gov. Christie Whitman. (Feb. 19, 2018) Don't Edit Don't Edit We're having a national conversation about guns whether you like it or not Following the tragic mass shooting in Parkland, Florida the most amazing thing happened, the story didn't go away. The predictable post-shooting pattern of outrage followed by meaningless platitudes about thoughts and prayers followed by complete and utter failure to act in the best interest of the people was disrupted by the aforementioned millennials when they refused to shut up and go back to class the way the gun lobby would have liked. Despite the NRA's protestations to the contrary, the nation is fed up with the proliferation of gun culture that has brought us to the point where we suffer 12,000 gun deaths and hundreds of mass shootings (a shooting with 4 or more victims not including the shooter) annually. Drew Sheneman, Star-Ledger cartoonist (March 4, 2018) Don't Edit I'm a N.J. school teacher: Arming us is a grotesque idea. Here's a better option Teachers are both bridge and buffer between your children and the ideas of those who claim to know what's best for them. Except this time, instead of dry erase markers or smart boards, they want to give us guns. And we do not want them. Armed teachers and metal detectors won't address the systemic causes of these shootings -- namely, the widespread availability of high powered firearms, and an unchecked gun industry whose lobbyists leave a trail of blood leading out from American classrooms. The gun industry has just one priority -- to sell more guns. Any call to curb gun sales is a nonstarter for them, as well as for the elected officials they control -- grieving families, friends and communities be damned. We must defend our children against shooters. But we must also defend them against a mentality that says weapons can solve a society's problems. Our survival as a species depends entirely on rising above fear and violence, not leaning into it. The idea that we can end gun violence with more guns is the fakest news. Ronen Kauffman is an elementary school teacher in Jersey City (Feb. 26, 2018) Don't Edit I survived a mass shooting. My life has never been the same Before the shooting, I didn't think much about my safety at the grocery store, or at church or the movie theater. When a mass shooting occurred, I'd hear about it in the news and think about my personal safety for a day or two, but then it left my mind. (Then again, 11 years ago, mass shootings were less deadly.) But after the Virginia Tech shooting, I thought about safety everywhere I went. I overanalyzed which seat to choose at the movies or church based on my best escape plan. My eyes scanned everyone around looking for unusual behavior. My ears could hear a pin drop. I remained in a fight-or-flight state for months. I always wanted to know: When will it be safe again? Or really, when will I feel safe again? Within seconds, the feeling of safety I'd always known was stripped away, replaced with fear, sadness, loneliness and self-doubt. Figuring out how to deal with these feelings while regaining a sense of safety, without pushing everyone and everything away -- it's challenging, to say the least. I had a tremendous fear it would happen again. People would tell me it wouldn't, but I thought, they don't know that. Because unfortunately, in our country right now, there is no guarantee that it won't happen again. I eventually regained a sense of public safety. It just took time, and counseling. I hear way too often, "A mass shooting won't happen to me. Not at my school, and not in my community." That's what I thought, too, before it happened at Virginia Tech. But the truth is that it is always somebody's school and somebody's community. And somebody's loved ones. Lisa Hamp survived the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007 and is now an advocate for school safety. (Feb. 15, 2018) Don't Edit Proud of our medical students, promoting gun violence awareness and need for further trauma research #whitecoatsagainstgunviolence pic.twitter.com/jY65Wy8REJ Nicole Krumrei (@NicoleKrumreiMD) March 14, 2018 We know what bullets do to the human body. This is a public health crisis We believe the recent nationwide activism against gun violence is a harbinger of a grassroots movement led by a new generation, of a proper balancing of constitutional rights and common sense, of a nation finally addressing one of the defining public health issues of our time. Medical schools and other health professions schools across the country -- including Rutgers' New Jersey Medical School and Rutgers' Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and students, faculty and staff from other schools at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences -- have been gathering to honor those who have died from gun violence and to advocate for change. We have been united in our message, using the social media hashtag #WhiteCoatsAgainstGunViolence. As medical and health professionals, we must recognize that our white coats and our positions stand for more than curing and treating disease. We are responsible for using our voices, positions and professional knowledge to advocate for the health and well-being of our patients, our communities and our nation. We can advocate by gathering in support of national walkouts, engaging our politicians in the conversation, screening our patients for gun violence exposure, participating in violence prevention and awareness programs and especially by contributing to the body of research on gun violence in our country. Sara Behbahani and Anna Hollembeak Olds are medical students at Rutgers-NJMS. (April 15, 2018) Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Thanks to the NRA, there's little research into gun violence You would think that the federal government would be a leader in promoting research into gun violence, much the way it backs research into other areas of public safety and health. But you would be wrong. Congress has made it hard to approve spending a nickel to study the ramification of guns in our society. That was made very clear with the Dickey amendment of 1996. Named after the late Rep. Jay Dickey, a Republican from Arkansas, the budget amendment barred the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from doing research to "advocate or promote gun control." It went so far as to strip the CDC of $2.6 million in funding it has set aside that year for gun-violence research. The fear here was that any research into gun violence would be biased and would result in more controls on gun ownership and that was something the powerful National Rifle Association wanted to stop dead in its tracks. Here it is 22 years later, and we have had too many episodes of mass shootings - The Parkland, Florida, massacre being just the latest assault to grip the country. Nationwide demonstrations have pushed some lawmakers in Washington to rethink the need for gun-violence research and there is a move afoot to undo the Dickey Amendment's stranglehold on such research. But the long reluctance of the federal government to find ways to protect us from being killed or maimed by guns has created a vacuum that some states have tried to fill. Times of Trenton Editorial Board (March 26, 2018) Don't Edit I'm a Jersey kid. I can't vote. Here's what you can do about gun violence There's been enough blood in your classrooms. Enough innocent children being gun downed with guns that shouldn't be able to be purchased by private citizens. We should not have assault rifles for any private citizens. If we want to talk about gun legislation, if we want to talk about mental health, then it needs to be a conversation that lasts more than five minutes. Zachery Dougherty is a junior at Toms River North High School. (March 23, 2018) Don't Edit Here's a gun-control measure both sides can get behind - and it works How can we prevent mass shootings while upholding the Second Amendment? As often happens, legislation stalls, the conversation cools amid other pressing issues, and the public is left feeling powerless. One policy idea, though, is being met with rare consensus by both advocates for gun control and gun rights: gun violence restraining orders (GVRO), in which law enforcement agencies, families and household members can quickly remove firearms from individuals deemed unstable or unfit to own them. Americans interested in preventing gun-related violence should know that this common-sense tool is working in California. In just the past few months, prosecutors in my office have obtained GVROs against 15 gun owners, each of whom a court determined posed a serious danger to themselves or others. Some of the respondents have a mental illness; others made public threats to kill. Mara Elliott is the elected city attorney of San Diego. (March 10, 2018) Don't Edit More than 17 cartoons about the shootings that'll make you cry, cringe, call a Congressman "How do we prevent another mass shooting? Gun control? Better mental healthcare? Stricter enforcement of gun laws? Longer prison sentences? All I know is I want to hear a rational discussion about real world solutions. What we are doing now is not working." Scott Stantis, Chicago Tribune cartoonist (Feb. 26, 2018) Don't Edit 3 ideas to reduce gun violence emerged from my conversations with 150 Americans This month, I have had the opportunity to participate in the four-week project, "Guns, An American Conversation," sponsored by Advance Local. It's a moderated, online conversation with nearly 150 people from all over the country from all sides of the gun debate. We're talking -- in a civil way -- about what we can do to make our country safer. Personally, I own a small handgun. I've summarized some of the ideas that have emerged from our group, for your consideration: 1. Suspend concealed-carry permits for improper storage. If you have your weapon stolen from your unlocked vehicle, then you should have your concealed-carry permit suspended for a specific period of time. Say up to a year. 2. Federal prison for those in possession of illegal guns. This idea comes from the Richmond, Virginia, program Project Exile. The program, which was suspended in 2016 and is now being reconsidered, was such that if you are caught with an illegal gun, you don't go to state court and get charged with the state-level crime. You go to federal court. Richmond teamed up with its local U.S. attorney to charge anyone caught with an illegal weapon, either stolen or a person prohibited from owning a weapon, with a federal crime that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years. 3. Liability insurance. People would likely change their behavior if they were on the hook for potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. David Preston, a Alabama businessman, was one of 21 people who went to Washington, D.C., in March to participate in Advance Local's "Guns, An American Conversation." (April 26, 2018) Don't Edit Don't Edit Enrique Lavin is op-ed editor for The Star-Ledger and opinion editor at NJ Advance Media. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law Friday allowing millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded raises for hundreds of public officials in New Jersey, including judges, county prosecutors, and members of the governor's cabinet. At the same time, Murphy, a Democrat, also renewed his call for a $15-an-hour minimum wage in the state. Proponents of the salary increase say they're needed to keep talented judges from going to other states that offer better pay. "This long overdue measure marks the first increase in judicial salaries in nearly a decade and is critical to ensuring that we continue to retain and attract quality legal talent to the state bench," Murphy, a Democrat, said in a statement. The pay hikes passed quietly but with bipartisan support in the Democrat-controlled New Jersey earlier this year. They will cost state and county taxpayers about $15.6 million a year once all of the raises are phased in after three years, according to an analysis from the nonpartisan state Office of Legislative Services. The law -- which takes effect July 1 -- will give the state's judges and county prosecutors a $24,000 pay increase over three years. Judges will get an $8,000 raise this year and another $8,000 at the beginning of 2019 and 2020. After that, the law allows automatic annual adjustments based on the change in the Consumer Price Index. Right now, the chief justice of the state Supreme Court, Stuart Rabner, makes nearly $193,000. Associate justices make $185,000 and Superior Court judges make between $165,000 and $175,000. The law will allow members of the governor's cabinet to make the same salary as the governor: $175,000. And it would give the same salary to top aides of the state Senate president, the state Assembly speaker, and the minority leaders of both houses. Currently, county prosecutors make $165,000 a year and gubernatorial cabinet members earn $141,000. The law will give a a $34,000 pay increase for cabinet members, who have not received a raise since 2002. It will also give raises to county-level officials, such as clerks, and sheriffs because their pay is linked to Superior Court judges. A similar measure died two years ago when it faced backlash for being tied to a separate measure that would have paved the way then-Gov. Chris Christie to get a book deal. The new bill (S1229/A3685) was not tied to such a deal. Opponents said the raises were too much for people who already made a large salary, and that legislative staff members also deserved an increase. The original measure allowed raises for those staffers. In his statement Friday, Murphy also asked for the state Legislature to "move quickly" on passing a bill to hike the state's minimum wage from $8.60 an hour to $15 an hour. That would be an increase of $6.40 an hour. "As important as it is to make sure judges and senior public servants are justly compensated, we cannot allow ourselves to forget the more than one million hardworking New Jerseyans who are currently struggling to provide for themselves and their families on a substandard hourly wage," Murphy said. "This is completely unacceptable -- and changing this unfair status quo has been a priority of mine since day one." He added that a $15 minimum wage "will not only ensure that all New Jersey workers can earn a livable wage, but will also stimulate and strengthen our economy." Murphy and top Democratic lawmakers all support a $15 minimum wage, although they have yet to agree on a final bill to do so. There have been disagreements on whether to carve out exceptions for farm workers and teenagers. NJ Advance Media staff writer Matt Arco contributed to this report. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. It was a night to remember for Pennsville Memorial High School students as they celebrated their prom at the DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware, on Friday night. Prom-goers arrived dressed to the nines as they socialized, posed for photos and danced the night away. Check back at nj.com/south for other local high school prom coverage. And be sure to check out our complete prom coverage at nj.com/prom. BUY THESE PHOTOS Are you one of the people pictured at this prom? Want to buy the photo and keep it forever? Look for the blue link "buy photo" below the photographer's credit to purchase the picture. You'll have the ability to order prints in a variety of sizes, or products like magnets, keychains, coffee mugs and more. Lori M. Nichols may be reached at lnichols@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Instagram @photog_lori and Twitter @photoglori. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. By Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media New Jersey drivers spend an awful lot of time in their vehicles. Roughly 75 percent of us drive to work alone and the ride is getting longer. With 7.1 million vehicles registered here, which ones are king of the road and queen of the driveway? We better like our vehicle because we have to live with it for hours a day and years at a time. Our vehicles are our offices, living rooms, family taxis, and dining rooms. Let's not talk about that last one. We have answers with the help of the Kelley Blue Book, which complied a list of the vehicles Jersey drivers registered in 2017. There were 519,181 vehicles sold in NJ in 2017, Heres what the Kelley Blue Book said we loved enough to drive off the lot last year. Don't Edit (Hyundai Motor America photo) 25. Hyundai Tuscon The good news for Hyundai's small crossover SUV is that in 2016, it didn't even make the top 25 list. Last year was a different story when national Tuscon sales increased 34 percent and set an all-time sales record, according to the company. In New Jersey, 4,849 new Tuscons were registered. Nationally, 114,735 Tuscons were sold in 2017, the first time the model broke the 100,000 vehicles sold mark. Don't Edit (Subaru photo) 24. Subaru Outback This is the car that replaced the Volkswagen bus for children of hippies and aging hippies. Read the bumper stickers on the back of an Outback if you don't believe it. Four Outback models were offered in 2017. The Outback set a sales record last year with 188,886 sold nationally, a 3.3 percent increase over 2016. Jersey drivers registered 5,100 of Subaru's versatile little all-wheel drive wagon in 2017. Don't Edit (Volkswagen photo) 23. Volkswagen Jetta The Jetta lost its diesel models, in the wake of the company's emissions rigging scandal and the hybrid model also got the boot in 2017. But it returned to the Top 25 list last year despite that. The Jetta was marketed as a sportier alternative to other compact sedans. Last year 5,275 cars were registered in New Jersey and 115,807 cars nationwide, a four percent drop from 2016. Don't Edit (Hyundai photo) 22. Hyundai Sonata Hyundai's four-door sedan was designed to do battle with Honda's Accord when launched in 1988. Last year, Hyundai advertised more space than an Accord and a hands-free smart trunk that opens automatically. Neither feature helped move Sonatas off the lot. It fell way short of meeting the Accord's sales in the state, with 5,294 Sonatas registered. Nationally, the Sonata was one of Hyundai's top five sellers with 131,803 sold last year. Don't Edit Don't Edit (Ford Motor Company photo) 21. Ford Fusion The Fusion made 2016's top 25 list, but that may have not been enough sales for Ford which announced this year that the Fusion would be among the cars it was discontinuing in favor of SUV's and pick-up trucks. Last year only 5,507 new Fusions were registered in the state, nationally, 209,623 Fusions were sold, a 21 percent drop from 2016. Don't Edit (Mazda photo) 20. Mazda CX-5 Mazda's five passenger crossover CX-5 boosted 250 refinements for 2017 and promised an estimated 31 mpg in the five models offered last year. The redesigned Cx-5 was introduced in March and set a sales record of 127,563 sold for the year. Despite the new designs, the CX-5 didn't zoom-zoom out of the showroom in New Jersey, with 5,576 registered last year. Don't Edit (FCA US LLC photo) 19. Ram 1500 Drivers had no shortage of Ram 1500 pick-ups to choose from with 11 models offered in 2017 from a Tradesman work truck to luxurious Limited. Last year Ram boosted a best in class mpg for the 1500 when equipped with a V-6 diesel engine and eight speed transmission. Overall, Ram truck sales increased last year when compared to 2016, but detailed sales figures were not available. In New Jersey, 6,192 new Ram 1500 pick-ups were registered last year and was the only Ram vehicle to make the top 25 list.. Don't Edit (Ford Motor Company photo) 18. Ford F-150 Ford introduced the 2018 Ford F-150 during the NFL wildcard game on Jan. 8, 2017. Did that kneecap 2017 F-150 sales? The 2017 truck did win a Kelley Blue Book best buy award for the third year in a row. But for big pick-ups, it was the king of the road over other brands in New Jersey with 6,690 F-150's registered in 2017. Nationally, Ford 896,764 F-series trucks were sold last year which includes the F-150 and several other models. Don't Edit (FCA USA LLC photo) 17. Jeep Wrangler Call 2017 the year of Jeep classic. The iconic Wrangler was part of a Jeep double shot in the top 25 last year. In 2016, the almost as iconic Jeep Cherokee was the only model that made the Top 25. But the Wranger, the great-grandchild of America's original 4X4, accounted for 6,781 vehicles registered in the state last year. National sales figures were not available. Don't Edit Don't Edit (Photo by Brian Kersey for Chevrolet) 16. Chevy Equinox How popular are crossover SUV's? Chevy says the Equinox is the second best selling vehicle after the Silverado pick-up. The small SUV is in it's third generation, which was launched in September 2016 and called a 2018 model when it went on sale in early 2017. Jersey drivers registered 6,805 new Equinox's in 2017. National sales data wasn't available, although GM crossover sales were up 17 percent over 2016 which included the Equinox. Don't Edit (David Dewhurst for Toyota USA ) 15. Toyota Highlander Sales of Toyota's mid-sized SUV were overshadowed nationally by its smaller sibling, the RAV4, the 4Runner and the redesigned Camry in 2017. Still, Jersey drivers showed some love to the third generation of Toyota's stalwart SUV that's been in production since 2001. In 2017, 6,807 Highlanders were registered in the state, nationally, 215,775 were sold last year, more than in 2016. Don't Edit (Subaru U.S. photo) 14. Subaru Forester The 2017 edition of Subaru's Forester SUV arrived in showrooms with better fuel economy and new driver assist technology to help with staying in lane and backing. Overall, Subaru reported it set a yearly sales record in 2017 and the Forester came close to matching it's smaller cousin the Outback in sales. Nationally, 177,563 Foresters were sold and 7,248 were registered in New Jersey last year. Don't Edit (Toyota U.S. photo) 13. Toyota Corolla The Corolla turned 50 in 2017 and the sedan got updated styling, a new standard lane departure, steering assist and pedestrian detection system for it's birthday. The Corolla even got a special 50th anniversary edition in two colors produced in a limited run of 8,000 vehicles. Some party, right? Well Jersey drivers weren't as impressed by the big birthday with more opting for the Camry. Only 7,551 new Corollas were registered here in 2017. While 329,196 Corollas were sold nationally in 2017, sales were off by 50,000 cars from 2016. Don't Edit (Hyundai Motor America photo) 12. Hyundai Elantra One of the cars that the Corolla was up against is the Hyundai Elantra, which introduced a new value edition that came with 13 added luxury features, including power and heated seats and a sunroof. Despite that, an eight year run of annual sales growth ended in 2017, which included a slight dip in Elantra sales nationally to 198,210 vehicles sold. Last year, 7,625 Elantras were registered in New Jersey. Don't Edit Don't Edit (Nissan photo) 11. Nissan Altima It was a big year for Nissian's mid-sized family sedan, which sold 254,996 vehicles in 2017. It wasn't as good as 2016, when the Altima was redesigned, but the Altima, offered in seven models, was Nissans' best selling car for the year. Last year 7,702 Altimas were registered in the state Don't Edit (Ford Motor Company photo) 10. Ford Escape The small SUV that introduced hybrid vehicles to Ford cracked the top 10 in 2017. The hybrid option disappeared in 2012 when Ford introduced the third generation Escape, which came with more efficient direct fuel injection and a turbo charged engine that delivered better gas mileage. The updated 2017 edition also had an automatic engine start and stop system that saves gas when the vehicle is stopped. Nationally, 308,296 Escapes were sold in 2017, more than in 2016. Last year 8,543 Escapes were registered in New Jersey Don't Edit (Ford Motor Company) 9. Ford Explorer The grand old SUV is not just for cops. Besides replacing the venerable Crown Victoria as the police vehicle of choice for many departments, the Explorer did well in the civilian market as well and has been a best seller for the past 25 years, according to the company. The big SUV offered a variety of safety systems including lane change, blind spot monitoring, cross traffic alert and front and rear cameras. Last year, 8,686 Explorers were registered in New Jersey. Nationally, the Explorer sold 238,056 vehicles, more than in 2016. Don't Edit (Nissan photo) 8. Nissan Sentra Buyers had seven Sentra models to pick from last year and they did, buying 218,451 Sentas to make it Nissan's second best selling car in 2017. Sentra's have been around for 35 years and the car is currently in its seventh generation. Last year, 8,715 Sentras were registered in the state. Don't Edit (David Dewhurst Photography for Toyota) 7. Toyota Camry What a difference a restyling and different marketing campaign can make for a sedan that was thought of as very dependable, but boring. Last year, 10,399 Camrys were registered in New Jersey. Nationally, 346,864 Camrys were sold in 2017, about 40,000 less than 2016. Don't Edit Don't Edit (A.J. Mueller for FCA USA LLC) 6. Jeep Grand Cherokee Jeep's grand old full sized SUV returned with two new models in 2017, the Trailhawk and Summit. The Trailhawk was equipped for off-roading, while the Summit was equipped with luxury features. Grand Cherokee sales increased 13 percent, compared to 2016. Specific numbers were not available from the company. In 2017, 11,148 Grand Cherokees were registered in the state. Don't Edit (Toyota photo) 5. Toyota RAV4 One of the original crossovers that hit age 21 in 2017, Toyota's RAV4 was offered in five models including a new luxury Platinum model. The RAV4 sold 407,594 vehicles nationally last year, which was a 16 percent increase over 2016. In New Jersey, 12,948 RAV4's were registered. And the name RAV4 isn't just a jumble of letters and numbers. It stands for Recreational Active Vehicle with four wheel drive. Don't Edit (Nissan photo) 4. Nissan Rogue Was it the ad campaign, tying in Nissan's crossover SUV with Star Wars Rogue One movie? The small SUV picked-up several awards last year and was extensively updated for 2017. A Rogue Sport also was introduced in 2017. Whatever the reason, the Rogue was Nissan's top seller in 2017, with 403,465 vehicles sold last year. That was more than were sold in 2016. Jersey drivers registered 15,112 Rogues last year. Don't Edit (American Honda photo) Honda CR-V That other first generation crossover, the CR-V clocks in at third place. The fifth generation CR-V was named Kelly Blue Book's best family car of 2017, among multiple awards the vehicle received from the media. The CR-V was redesigned and re-styled for 2017, getting a turbocharged engine for the first time. In 2017, 15,649 CR-V's were registered in New Jersey. Nationally, the CR-V was Honda's best selling SUV with 377,896 sold, almost six percent more than were sold in 2016. Don't Edit (American Honda photo) 2. Honda Civic The little car that is lliked by seemingly everyone continued to get the love last year. Among the reasons is there seems to be a Civic model for everyone, from families to racers and from four doors to hatchbacks. Last year Honda sold 377,286 Civics, a 3.2 percent increase over 2016. In 2017, 16,192 Civics were registered in the state. Don't Edit Don't Edit (American Honda photo) 1. Honda Accord Are you really surprised? Besides being the number one car in New Jersey in 2016, according to Kelly Blue Book, the Accord has consistently been named to Car & Driver magazines 10-best list and has rolled up other accolades. Last year, 322,655 Accords were sold nationally, down 6.5 percent from 2016. Last year, Jersey drivers registered 16,242 new Accords. Don't Edit (Alex Remnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Read more: Ford ditches all but two cars to focus on SUVs. Murphy is in the drivers seat to make NJ electric vehicle friendly. Summer could see the highest gas prices since 2014. What were the top 25 vehicles in N.J. in 2016? Hundreds filled Marine Missionary Baptist Church in Old Jefferson's Shrewsbury neighborhood on Saturday morning (May 19) to celebrate the life of 22-year-old Keeven Robinson, who died while in the custody of Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office on May 10. The church was a sea of purple and black--Robinson's favorite colors. Some mourners even shared seats, while others stood to the side and in the back for the duration of the sprawling and emotional service. In between songs, prayers and poems, cousins and friends diverted from the program and took to the podium to share stories about Robinson, whose body lay in a purple casket in the front of the church. "We've been hanging out a lot lately. And he'd sometimes get real and say, 'I'm not worrying about myself. I just want to make sure my mama and my wife and my family is straight,'" said Frederick Brooks, a friend of Robinson. He had returned only days before from a honeymoon trip to New York with his wife, Wachelle Boutte Robinson, when he died following a drug bust turned chase. "It was my birthday [on May 10] and all I wanted to do was see him after practice," said 16-year-old cousin Randy Martin, who called Robinson his childhood idol. "Now every time my birthday comes around, it is not just my day anymore. I will think about more than just myself because Keeven always thought about me and everybody else." While religion and love were the themes of the service, several speakers also called for justice and change in the wake of the young man's death. Jefferson Parish Coroner Dr. Gerry Cvitanovich announced Robinson died of compressional asphyxia while in custody, sparking national outrage and calling into question the use of force by the detectives, all of whom were white. Robison was black. 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 Robinson, suspected of dealing narcotics, was the target of an undercover drug investigation. Robinson fled in his vehicle when he spotted detectives at a Shell station in Old Jefferson. He wrecked the vehicle and then hopped fences before detectives took him into custody during a struggle in the backyard of a home. During the struggle, he stopped breathing, according to Jefferson Parish police. Before the autopsy findings, Sheriff Joe Lopinto originally said his office suspected that Robinson's death was due to his lengthy history of asthma. "That is another one of our children that is gone unnecessarily. But I promise his death will not be in vain," said Gaylor Spiller, president of West Jefferson Parish's NAACP branch. Some roared in agreement, while other let out mournful cries. Spiller later gave out her personal cell number to all in attendance. "I think of Trayvon Martin and Eric Gardner, but I never thought this would happen in our community until it does. Until it happened to Keeven," said one cousin. As the choir erupted in gospel, the three-hundred-plus crowd gathered within the church for one last visitation of Robinson's body. The mourners snaked around the rows of seats, passed the casket and spilled into the parking lot of Marine Missionary Baptist. Under the sweltering New Orleans sun, attendees hugged and mingled with one another. Some donned headdresses and pins of purple flowers, while others wore T-shirts with the dates of Robinson's birth and his death along with mottos like "Fly High Keeven." Eventually, the pallbearers clad in black shirts and purple vests loaded Robinson's casket into a hearse in front of the church. As the 22-year-old's body made its way down Andover Street, dozens flocked to the road. His father, Steven Jackson, led the procession with a solemn gaze as the purple ribbon on his chest flapped in the wind. Robinson's uncle cruised nearby on a motorcycle blasting gospel and R&B. Mardi Gras Indians danced and beat drums. One of Robinson's aunts looked at the parade and shook her head. "A whole lot of people cared about him a whole lot. I just hope for some justice," she said before turning to her car and heading to work. Orleans Civil District Court Judge Clare Jupiter died Friday (May 18) at 65 after complications from a stroke, according to a court spokesman. Funeral arrangements have not been completed, Orleans Civil District Court spokesman Walt Pierce said in a statement Friday night. Judge Jupiter was serving her second term as a Civil District Court judge, after running unopposed for reelection in 2014. She first won the office in a November 2011 election. In January, a close family member of Judge Jupiter confirmed that she was "very ill," but specifics on her condition were not provided. That month, the Louisiana Supreme Court named a temporary replacement for Judge Jupiter at the request of the Orleans civil court's chief judge. Prior to becoming judge, Jupiter served as an attorney for the Orleans Parish School Board and a reporter for The States-Item. NOLA.com| The Times-Picayune's Greg LaRose and John Pope contributed to this report. One of the 10 victims in Friday's (May 18) high school shooting in Texas was a Thibodaux native and a former Baton Rouge resident, according to WAFB. Cynthia Tisdale, 63, was a paralegal and a substitute teacher at Santa Fe High School, and she was on campus when officials say a 17-year-old student armed with a shotgun and a pistol opened fire. Tisdale's son, Recie, told The Washington Post that Cynthia "started substitute teaching because she loved to help children." "She didn't have to do it. She did it because she loved it," Recie Tisdale told the newspaper. Recie Tisdale told The Washington Post that his mother lived in Dickinson, Texas, and had been married to her husband, William Tisdale, for nearly 47 years. Recie was one of the couple's three children. CNN reports that the couple had already been having a difficult year because William Tisdale was "in bad health with a terminal lung disease," according to John Tisdale, Cynthia's brother-in-law. WAFB reports Cynthia Tisdale graduated from Broadmoor High School in Baton Rouge. The other nine victims included students and a school resource officer, who was in critical condition, according to The Washington Post on Saturday. Two people were injured in a French Quarter shooting reported early Saturday (May 19), according to the New Orleans Police Department. The shooting, which took place in the 800 block of Toulouse Street, between Bourbon and Royal streets, was reported at 2:15 a.m., police said in a preliminary report. A 27-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man were injured in the shooting, and both were brought to a local hospital by EMS, where they were in stable condition, police said. The shooting occurred after two groups "got into a verbal altercation" at a Bourbon Street bar, police said in the preliminary report. As they walked away from each other, "someone from one group opened fire at the other group, and the other group retaliated," according to police. Additional details were not yet available. In February, Caroline Rosen took over as the executive director of Tales of the Cocktail, the annual cocktail conference that draws thousands of bartenders to New Orleans each summer. By then, planning for the July event was well underway. She had to keep Tales moving forward was also changing the organization's direction, as it became a non-profit foundation under its new owners. "There are so many great things that Tales has done for so long," Rosen said. "And there are so many things that we can add to make it better." Neal Bodenheimer, co-owner of the cocktail bar Cure, Gary Solomon Jr., who owns the Solomon Group event production company, and Gary Solomon Sr. bought Tales of the Cocktail from its founder, Ann Tuennerman. They converted Tales of the Cocktail fully into a non-profit organization, now called Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, and pledged to give out $250,000 in grants this year to support education and social initiatives in the cocktail community. Those grants will be paid for with revenue from this summer's festival. Tuennerman was forced to sell Tales due to a controversy that began with her Facebook of herself in blackface while riding in the 2017 Krewe of Zulu parade. The post included a quote by Paul Tuennerman, Ann's husband and an officer at Tales, that many found offensive. Paul Tuennerman resigned from his position at Tales after the incident. But eight months later, Ann Tuennerman brought back her husband as an officer for the cocktail conference. That move sparked an outcry in the cocktail world that forced both Ann and Paul Tuennerman to resign. Paul Tuennerman is now the CEO of Dat Dog, the local hot dog chain. Rosen was previously the executive director of the John Besh Foundation. That non-profit organization has been put on "pause," according to a spokeswoman, following allegations of widespread sexual harassment at John Besh's restaurant company. The spokeswoman declined to name the current board members of the John Besh Foundation. Right now, Rosen's top priority is pulling off Tales of the Cocktail, which will be held July 17-22 at the Monteleone Hotel. Tickets went on sale this month. "I'm sure we're going to have some hiccups," she said. "But I feel confident in our team." Many New Orleans bars and restaurants credit Tales of the Cocktail with bringing them much needed business during a slow time of the year. Rosen wants to do even more for New Orleans, both its bartenders and its drinkers. "We wouldn't be here without New Orleans, without our community," she said. "But we're not engaging our bartenders throughout the year." This year, Tales of the Cocktail will offer six free seminars, and they have been scheduled so that local bartenders can attend. Rosen plans to create a quarterly speakers series aimed at New Orleans bartenders. She will also bring back Tales of the Toddy, a popular holiday season event that let local bartenders show off their skills to New Orleans' cocktail enthusiasts. "I'm excited to get through this year. They need to see us. They need to touch us," she said. "And then I'm excited to start planning 2019." For tickets and more information about Tales of the Cocktail, visit talesofthecocktail.org. *** Got a tip? Know some restaurant news? Email Todd A. Price at TPrice@NOLA.com or call 504.826.3445. Follow him on Twitter (@TPrice504) or join the conversation at www.facebook.com/groups/wherenolaeats. Legislation proposed by state Sen. Norby Chabert, R-Houma, that would have added the lieutenant governor to the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority board of directors in 2020 was voted down on the House floor, 18 to 65, on Friday (May 18). A disagreement over the bill is believed to have been behind a fistfight on Tuesday evening between Rep. Stuart Bishop, R-Lafayette, and Chabert at the River Room, a Baton Rouge bar. Both Bishop and Chabert apologized to their fellow legislators on the floor of the House and Senate the next day. Chabert, a member of the CPRA board appointed by the Senate majority leader who introduced several pieces of legislation involving the authority this year, had originally wanted his bill to include a provision that would allow a member of the House and a member of the Senate who now sit on the authority board of directors as ex-officio, non-voting members, to be able to vote. After negotiations with other legislators and the office of Gov. John Bel Edwards, he dropped that provision, and the bill was approved by the Senate with only the lieutenant governor addition on May 1. Friday's vote came after the chamber considered amendments proposed by Rep. Patrick Connick, R-Marrero, that would have required that board members representing state agencies be employed by those agencies, and would have required that no two members of the board appointed to positions representing local governments or levee districts could be from the same parish. Environmental news in your inbox Stay up-to-date on the latest on Louisiana's coast and the environment. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The CPRA board now includes 20 members, including the two legislators. Another bill proposed by Chabert transferring the Atchafalaya Basin Program and the Atchafalaya Basin Research and Promotion Board from the Department of Natural Resources to the CPRA gained final approval by the Senate on Friday, after being approved unanimously by the House on Thursday. The Atchafalaya program includes an annual list of projects aimed at improving water flow, land use and recreational opportunities within the river's long basin, which stretches from north of the Old River Control Structure above Baton Rouge to Morgan City. Chabert has argued that since many of the issues faced by the basin and the communities adjacent to it are similar to those being handled by the CPRA, that agency would be better equipped to handle them. In addition, he argued, many of the issues facing the basin involve sediment carried by the water diverted into the basin from the Mississippi River, and the CPRA's coastal Master Plan has been addressing those issues as well. Both chambers also approved legislation Chabert proposed that expands the time between coastal Master Plan updates from five years to six years. Chabert said the change would give the CPRA more time to work on the next major update of the myriad of restoration and hurricane protection projects included in the 2017 version of the $50 billion, 50-year plan. Attorneys representing environmental groups and St. James Parish residents demanded on Friday (May 18) that the state Department of Natural Resources order Bayou Bridge Pipeline LLC to stop work on its pipeline until the agency has approved an emergency response and evacuation plan for St. James residents, which they say is required by a ruling by a state judge. Judge Alvin Turner Jr., of the 23rd Judicial District Court in Ascension Parish, had ruled last month that the state Department of Natural Resources violated a law designed to protect the public and environment when it issued a permit for the pipeline, and ordered the agency to reconsider the permit. He also ordered DNR to require Bayou Bridge to develop emergency evacuation and response plans for areas the pipeline runs through before any permit is issued. His ruling became final on Wednesday. The 162-mile pipeline is jointly owned by Energy Transfer Partners and Phillips 66. Its route runs from Lake Charles to St. James Parish, including a long segment that crosses the Atchafalaya Basin. In letters sent Friday to DNR and the company, Lisa Jordan, director of the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic, said work was continuing on the pipeline in violation of that order, and that the agency had received complaints from the public about the ongoing construction, including photos of the work. "We are concerned that the DNR is in contempt of court in failing to order Bayou Bridge to cease and desist construction activities until it, and DNR, have complied with the court order and unless and until DNR issues a legal permit," said the letter sent to Blake Canfield, executive counsel for the agency, by Lisa Jordan, director of the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic. But Patrick Courreges, a spokesman for DNR, said under state law, the agency is unable to halt work until either his agency decides not to appeal it or the time to file an appeal runs out, which would be in mid-June. "We don't really have the legal wherewithal to do that," he said of the request to halt work on the pipeline. In a separate letter to James Percy, an attorney representing Bayou Bridge, Jordan demanded the company "cease construction of its pipeline in the coastal zone until such time as it has complied with the court's order and DNR has issued a legal permit." Environmental news in your inbox Stay up-to-date on the latest on Louisiana's coast and the environment. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up In that letter, Jordan said her clients "report that on May 15 and continuing through today, Bayou Bridge continues to construct in the coastal zone, in the town of St. James, including in areas that may interfere with development of an evacuation route." Officials with Energy Transfer Partners, the parent company for Bayou Bridge, did not immediately respond Friday evening to a request for comment on the demand. Jordan's letters were sent the same day that the GAIN Coalition, a group supporting energy production in the state, sent out a news release with its own interpretation of Turner's order, saying the judge's ruling only required DNR to conduct further proceedings, and did not require that work be shut down. "Contrary to the wishes of anti-energy activists, Judge Turner did not shut down construction on the Bayou Bridge pipeline," said Craig Stevens, a spokesman for the organization. "Rather, he remanded the matter back to the Department of Natural Resources to require certain emergency response and evacuation plans. Developers of the Bayou Bridge Pipeline have been vocal in their commitment to the Louisiana environment and to the safety of local communities. We are confident that all parties can work together to resolve this issue expeditiously while construction of this critical piece of energy infrastructure continues." Meanwhile, Rene Poche, a spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers, which also issued a permit for the pipeline, said it has received reports "of activities that are potentially out of compliance with the conditions of the Department of the Army permit." "These reports have included possible unauthorized spoil banks, navigation blockages or failure to meet sediment containment requirements," he said in an email responding to a request for information about permit violations. He said each report of unauthorized activity is evaluated in order of its receipt for whether it really is a violation and whether remediation measures might be required. In areas where the project is in the official state "coastal zone," the DNR Office of Coastal Management is conducting compliance checks, Poche said. "Upon completion of the work, USACE will conduct an extensive assessment of the pipeline to ensure the complete project is in full compliance, he said. Courreges said only 17 miles of the 1x2 mile route goes through that zone. On Monday, Courreges said DNR staff had made 11 site visits to the construction activities since January, when work started, and noted three violations involving construction of two temporary work spaces totaling 0.13 acre each of upland agriculture land and 0.02 acre of an agricultural drainage feature. Workers had deposited fill improperly in those areas and were directed to take the structures out. The company complied with those orders, he said. Showing off Louisiana's rapidly-expanding coastal restoration program with an aerial view, representatives of Greater New Orleans Inc., the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and several national environmental groups stressed the job link between those projects and the state's economy. From the window of a Southern Seaplane, the views provided to reporters and photographers as part of a two-day Infrastructure Week program in New Orleans included of the area's now-completed hurricane risk reduction levee system, including views of the West Closure Complex and the Lake Borgne surge barrier. But the real focus of the tour was on locations where coastal restoration projects are either planned, under way or just completed. With the state likely to be spending more than $500 million a year on restoration projects over the next 15 years, thanks to money the state will receive from legal settlements involving the BP oil spill, and other money it expects to receive for future hurricane and flooding protection projects, both industry and environmental groups say the potential for job growth is significant. And the work also is important for protecting the state's existing economic assets, including a variety of petrochemical and other industrial facilities, they said. "If we're not protecting these communities through coastal protection, through coastal rebuilding efforts, we're going to lose a lot of our critical economic assets and we're going to lose our economic competitiveness as well," said Lacy McManus, director of program development for Greater New Orleans Inc. "We recognize that we have a unique opportunity to build a huge specialized workforce and industry base of firms, of practitioners, of individuals with unique skill sets really able to tackle our land loss issues and our erosion issues," she said. And the development of that job pool will make the state uniquely positioned to export its expertise both nationally and internationally, even rivaling the Dutch in providing assistance for restoration and water resource projects elsewhere, she said. McManus said there already are 30,000 people in what she describes as water management positions, many of whom actually see themselves as focusing on infrastructure. Environmental news in your inbox Stay up-to-date on the latest on Louisiana's coast and the environment. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Indeed, the term used by McManus and environmental activists in discussing coastal restoration projects is "green infrastructure," designed to both stress the importance of rebuilding wetlands to help reduce storm surge, and to elevate these projects in the eyes of national politicians working on President Donald Trump's proposal to dramatically increase infrastructure investments across the nation. McManus said one key feature for the jobs created by these projects is that they will require a variety of education levels, including individuals with high school, junior college, technical school and college-level degrees. Some of better-paying technical positions include welders, pipefitters, crane operators and engineering technicians, she said. Much of the aerial tour focused on the coastal restoration features, including: A proposal to restore wetlands and cypress trees in the The plane also flew over the Caernarvon Freshwater Diversion, which has been operating since 1991. Visible from the plane was evidence that wetlands now cover about half of Big Mar, a failed 2,000-acre square agriculture area created in the early 1900s that had been open water. From the air, it also was clear that wetlands south and east of the diversion's outfall area remain distressed after being damaged by saltwater intrusion and wave action during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Brownish sediment-rich water also was visible through much the Bohemia Spillway area along the east bank of the river in Plaquemines Parish, the result of the flow of freshwater through a crevasse in the levee dubbed Mardi Gras Pass. While the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation and other environmental groups have urged the gap to remain open, Plaquemines Parish has requested a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers to fill it in, citing, in part, complaints about the effects of freshwater on fisheries. A former Covington High School teacher was arrested Friday (May 18) and is accused of committing a "lewd or lascivious act" with a student. Kelli Lynn Burbach, 36, of Madisonville, was arrested by Covington police on a warrant charging her with prohibited sexual conduct between student and educator, according to a news release from Covington Police chief Tim Lentz. An investigation conducted by Covington detectives determined Burbach befriended an 18-year-old student, and on at least one occasion drove the student away from campus and engaged in sexual conduct, police reported. The student recently graduated from Covington High but the encounter took place while he was still in school. On Friday afternoon, Judge Martin Coady issued an arrest warrant for Burbach after receiving information from police. With the assistance of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, Burbach was arrested without incident a short time later. After paperwork is completed, she will be booked into the parish jail, authorities said. In a past conversation about the deadly conditions at the New Orleans jail and the abusive behavior of some of the guards who work there, Norris Henderson, himself a former inmate, said something that has stuck with me. Henderson, who has become an advocate for people who are incarcerated and those who were incarcerated, said he explains to correctional officers that they don't have to try to punish inmates. An officer doesn't have to do anything extra, he said, doesn't have to be mean or surly or abusive to the people who are locked up. Their being locked up -- their inability to go home -- is the punishment. And it's punishment enough, Henderson said. It's depressing the number of people in Louisiana who don't consider jail or prison punishment enough. If there's a person who's been convicted of -- or even accused of -- wrongdoing, you can always find a person who believes that the punishment should be extended, that a little punishment lagniappe is in order. The rule preventing Louisianians on probation or parole from voting was that kind of punishment lagniappe. It gave an extra dollop of punishment to people who had already been punished behind bars. But in a development that's nothing less than stunning, the Louisiana Legislature has voted to return that right to people who've already served their time. A bill by Rep. Patricia Smith, D-Baton Rouge, survived a last-ditch effort to kill it Thursday (May 17). Now it goes to Gov. John Bel Edwards for his signature. The legislation allows people convicted of felonies who are on probation or parole to register to vote if they haven't been locked up again in the previous five years. "I really appreciate them," Henderson said Friday of the lawmakers who helped push the bill through. "It takes courage." He expressed exasperation, though, at those who opposed Smith's bill, and he sees hypocrisy in people who opposed this bill after having professed support of people returning home from prison. "Some people are just mean-spirited," he said. "People say, 'We want to help returning citizens,'" Henderson said. "Well, they're not returning citizens until they can vote." Henderson couldn't remember Friday if he still has the photo he took the first time he voted after prison, but he does remember the moment, "It was really impactful." The realization that he helped somebody get elected was powerful, he said. Louisiana, as surprising at it may be, was already more progressive than some other states in the country. There are states -- Florida, Kentucky and Virginia among them -- where the restoration of voting rights is handled on an individual, case-by-case basis. In those three states, voting rights have to be restored by the governor, and, in Florida, there's a list of crimes that a person can commit and never vote again. Louisiana has been letting people with records vote, so long as they weren't still on probation or parole. I used the word "rule" and not "law" above because Voice of the Experienced, the group that Henderson leads, had filed a lawsuit against the state, arguing that the law allowing anybody not under "an order of imprisonment" to vote should mean that people on probation or parole could vote. Because they're not imprisoned. That lawsuit is expected to continue because there still will be some parolees and probationers who aren't allowed to vote. Still, it's good that the Louisiana Legislature made it clear that people on probation or parole can vote. Henderson described Thursday's victory in the Legislature the result of a 30-year-fight. "It's been a journey to try to get this established," he said. Even after the 30 years though, he still doesn't understand the opponents. "As dismal as voter turnout is, seems like they would welcome a fresh group of people to engage." At the same time, he senses that the opponents are actually fearful of certain people participating. "People who've been a part of these systems understand these systems much better," Henderson said. If you increase the number of voters who know how police officers and jails and prisons actually operate, then you increase the likelihood of voters electing people who will change those things. It's not hard to figure out that Voice Of The Experienced -- VOTE -- has made the franchise its highest priority. Now that it seems to have won that 30-year-fight, what does VOTE do now? Multiple things, Henderson said. "Now, we got to go and register all these folks," he said. That's an important point. For years, Henderson has been trying to convince people who served their time long ago that Louisiana will let them vote if they're not on probation or parole. If the governor signs Smith's bill into law, Henderson will likely face a new set of skeptics, people who are on probation or parole. Beyond that, he said, VOTE will continue to address the barriers to employment, housing and health care faced by those returning home from prison. He called Thursday's win in the Legislature "the first step in a 1000-mile journey." Then he paused. "I think this was like a 500-mile step." Jarvis DeBerry is deputy opinions editor for NOLA.COM | The Times-Picayune. He can be reached at jdeberry@nola.com or at twitter.com/jarvisdeberry. Up to 150,000 households who otherwise wouldnt qualify including some with six-figure salaries are expected to apply for food stamps as qualifications are relaxed to help in the recovery from Hurricane Ida. An Orleans Parish Sheriff's deputy and a man who was being housed at the Orleans Justice Center jail were hospitalized Thursday (May 17) for smoke exposure after someone in the jail's disciplinary housing unit tried to set a fire, OPSO said. "The incident was contained to one cell and was quickly extinguished," OPSO attorney Blake Arcuri said in a statement. Arcuri also noted there have been "similar occurrences" within that 12-hour period in that same housing unit where the person attempted to set a fire. In Thursday's "smoke event," as OPSO described it, an inmate tried to light a flame-resistant jail uniform on fire. Arcuri did not say what was used to try to set the fire. He said the deputy and inmate were taken to a hospital "out of an abundance of caution." "The series of incidents is under investigation," he said. All of those jailed on the disciplinary housing unit, which has a capacity of 60, were temporarily relocated "due to smoke from the smoldering uniform." Today Sun and clouds mixed. High 86F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Mainly clear skies. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 88F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Washington, D.C. - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) expresses its profound concern over the lack of the minimum necessary conditions to hold free, fair and trustworthy elections in Venezuela. The IACHR urges the State to hold, in a reasonable and adequate timeframe, elections based on the full and effective exercise of human rights and democratic principles. In recent years, the Commission has observed a profound and progressive deterioration of Venezuelas democratic institutions. In its most recent report, Democratic Institutions, the Rule of Law and Human Rights in Venezuela, the IACHR concluded that in Venezuela today the population's right to exercise its political rights has, de facto, been suspended. Elections scheduled with no regard for the law or for Venezuelas Constitution According to the information available, the election process was decreed by Venezuelas National Constituent Assembly (ANC, by its acronym in Spanish), based on faculties that are not suitable for a constituent body and ignoring traditional deadlines. The election calendar was clearly set with no impartiality or objectivity. Indeed, on January 23, 2018, the ANC passed a Constituent Decree of Actions for the Defense of Peace, Democracy, Sovereignty and Independence in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. On February 7, 2018, the National Electoral Council (CNE) convened those elections for April 22, 2018. On March 1, 2018, the ANC agreed to convene for May 2018 the election process for State Legislative Councils, and to reschedule the presidential election. The CNE complied with the ANCs decisions and initially called the elections for April, but later postponed them until May 20, 2018. Based on the events that were detailed above, the IACHR believes that the process to call elections in Venezuela does not meet international standards, that its timing has been unpredictable and arbitrary, that it does not reflect a consensus with opposition forces, and that it also fails to comply with the procedures held in Venezuelas own Constitution. An election body who cannot guarantee independence or impartiality The international community generally acknowledges that an election body who can guarantee autonomy, independence and impartiality is necessary to ensure free elections. In that respect, the IACHR has repeatedly expressed its concern over the fact that Venezuelas National Electoral Council is not an independent and impartial body who can guarantee an equal application of the countrys electoral law and protect the political rights of all Venezuelans. The Venezuelan election body continues to be made up mostly of officials who have the governments trust, and their decisions have shown evidence of being partial to the ruling party. In its reports and statements, the IACHR has mentioned situations such as the following: suspending the Presidential recall referendum process; laying hurdles to obstruct the participation of opposition political candidates and parties; putting off municipal and regional elections for a long time, and then rushing them outside the timeframe that is established by law; and serious recent allegations of unfair advantages and fraud in the election for the ANC of July 30, 2017 and in the regional election of October 15, 2017. Hurdles to obstruct the free participation of political parties and candidates The election convened for May 20 is set to take place in a scenario marked by the no-validation of opposition political parties, that are thus rendered powerless. Such no-validation, ordered by the ANC for reasons that are not established by lawsuch as only allowing the participation of parties that have not taken part in immediately prior elections, has a profound and illegitimate impact on the democratic pluralism that needs to prevail in these processes. Based on the information that the IACHR has received, following these no-validations, the Venezuelan political system now consists of 17 parties, 12 of which belong to the National Governments political coalition while only five belong to the opposition. The Commission notes that there were a total of 67 political parties in the 2016 election process. Several public officials who belong to the opposition and were likely candidates to stand for elected public office were also disqualified, in order to definitively prevent their political participation. These disqualifications have significantly reduced candidate participation in these and other elections, along with the Venezuelan peoples effective access to substantial options for the Presidency, such as had been announced by the opposition. Further, according to the available information, the CNE granted insufficient time and set unreasonable requirements that prevented likely candidates from exercising their right to register for the election process and to take part in it. Universal suffrage: exclusion of new voters and of Venezuelans who live abroad The hurried call to elections and the handling of the election calendar, as detailed above, have also had a serious impact on universal suffrage guarantees and on access for new voters and for Venezuelans who live abroad. According to the figures the IACHR has had access to,more than 800,000 new voters were included in the electoral registry, but at least 1.9 million young voters did not register to cast their ballots, given the short deadlines and the lack of resources and public information. Similarly, the election process allegedly did not facilitate the timely registration of the large number of Venezuelans who have been forced to leave the country as a result of human rights violations, violence and insecurity, persecution for their political views and the effects of the economic crisis. Based on that, the Commission believes that the election process convened for May 20 currently lacks the minimum conditions necessary to hold free, fair and trustworthy elections in Venezuela, through an independent election system that guarantees the principle of universal suffrage and electoral plurality. The IACHR therefore urges the State to adopt the necessary measures to hold a different process of genuine elections that ensures an effective exercise of the right to free suffrage. Finally, the Commission stresses its request for the State of Venezuela to authorize an observer visit, so the IACHR may be able to monitor within the country the serious human rights situation it faces. A principal, autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), the IACHR derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has a mandate to promote respect for and to defend human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. The Commission is composed of seven independent members who are elected in an individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly and who do not represent their countries of origin or residence. No. 112/18 Poor planning by technocrats for government projects has made several of them to fail according to the first lady Janet Kataaha Museveni. Ms Museveni who also doubles as the minister for Education said that this is well manifested in the failure to plan for meagre resources available for development projects and their future sustainability. Many government installations, she said, have failed to live up to their expectations because of this very reason. Ms Museveni and other ministry of Education touring the newly constructed Soroti University She made these remarks in Soroti on Thursday while on a routine monitoring visit to the new Soroti University under construction. My experience in government has shown me that many of the government projects fail because of poor planning. Unless we plan well, we cannot do a good job, she said. Ms Museveni said that just like the case of Soroti University which is still seeking funds to finally take off, resources can never be enough and that to make progress with scarce resources, there is need for effective planning. Soroti University, a designated science university located in Aloet central village in Soroti district has been under construction since July 2014 and is expected to be handed over to government later this year. The university vice chancellor Prof Ikoja Odongo, dismissed media reports that the university is functional pointing out that there is still a lot to be done by government, the university council and the administration. The university is not fully established. This is just the first step. A university is not just buildings but land for a compound and other infrastructure among other things which we dont have, Ikoja said. Although not yet fully functional, the institution has put up pillars like the university council, the administration and a total of 85 staff although there are still gaps in human resource due to budgetary constrains according to Ikoja. Our policy is to build onto what we have per each academic year. We are yet to admit students mainly because certain constructions are still going on, Ikoja said. The one stop facility boasts of 8 laboratories, 16 lecture theatres, and 16 lecture halls all with the capacity to accommodate 3,500 students add 100 staff. Ikoja said that the courses which they intend to start with have been forwarded to the National Council of Higher Education although they have not yet been approved. These include Bachelor of Science in Medicine, Bachelor of Science in Biomedical science and Bachelor of Science in nursing. These will be expanded later according to Ikoja and that the number of the students who enrol at the start of the university will not matter but rather their quality. What matters is not the quantity but the quality. So as to avoid unemployable quantity, Soroti University seeks to transform knowledge into tangible effects, Ikoja said. kamogajonathan50@gmail.com The government of China has donated food aid worth $5 million (about Shs 18bn) to the World Food Programme (WFP) to support a feeding programme for vulnerable groups threatened by malnutrition in the Karamoja sub-region. More than 2000,000 people mostly school going children, infants and mothers are threatened by malnutrition in Karamoja according to official figures. Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, Zeng Zhuqiang hands over the relief food items to El-Khidir Daloum, WFPs country director and representative While handing over the relief food items at WFP warehouses in Kampala yesterday, Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zeng Zhuqiang said the Chinese contribution will ensure that at least 130,000 students in over 290 schools in the region have access to food and education. Through this grant, WFP will be able to reinstate and provide two meals to the students in both primary and secondary schools in the seven districts of Karamoja, this will encourage pupils to come and stay in school he said. The feeding programme will run for a period of 10 months under WFPs Community based supplementary feeding programme. The programme will also provide supplementary feeding to lactating women and infants. El-Khidir Daloum, WFPs country director and representative said the supplementary feeding targets 48,500 children aged 6-59 months, pregnant, breastfeeding and malnourished adults in the region. In addition to the above, we have mother and child health programme, with this contribution we will be providing foods to boost nutrition and health of over 48,000 pregnant and lactating mothers as well as children under two years to prevent stunting, he said. Daloum added; Stunting remains a serious concern in Karamoja which has the second highest stunting levels countrywide at 35.2 per cent. Quoting the Uganda Demographic Household Survey (2016), WPF said over 80 per cent of the regions population lives below the poverty line with nearly half (46 per cent) of the households deemed food insecure. Musa Ecweru, the state minster for Disaster Preparedness and Management said Karamoja region is affected by hostile climate and so the government will continue feeding the region but also look for sustainability alternatives. Ecweru observed that though climate change affected more developing countries, but poor people are more affected. in Uganda, Karamoja hunger claims lives of our people; when we get rains, the area floods or stagnates and kill tuber foods and when we receive less rain we get drought which also kills; in 2016 we had a dry spell that we have not fully recovered from, he said. John Byabagambi, the minister for Karamoja Affairs said statistics still show that malnutrition is still high but the government has started projects that will ensure that fertile areas in Karamoja produce food to feed their people. As we receive this support from China, the government is also working on programmes that will ensure that Karamoja is self sustain and this is by increasing farming acreage in Namalu, Matany and other areas, he said. However Byabagambi blamed increasing school dropouts to culture and nomadic nature of the Karamoja communities. We have built school in the whole region but because of the nomadic nature of these people, the attendance rates are still low, we are going to use the food to attract pupils to stay in schools; we are targeting a 45 per cent school attendance from the current 30 per cent, he said. justuslyatuu08@gmail.com Remarks: Thanks to Paul Robeson in the middle 1900s, this is probably the best-known spiritual that Black slaves in the US had sung in the early 1800s. It ... 5 hours ago It is difficult to fathom the cruelty that prompted someone to stuff 10 husky/German shepherd puppies into the trunk of a car with no water or air conditioning on a sweltering day ("Puppies rescued from hot trunk during Oregon traffic stop," May 14). How fortunate for those small animals that Oregon State Trooper Travis Peterson happened to stop the car's driver for speeding. While there is nothing good to be said about how those pups were transported -- all the way from southern California, apparently -- the dogs had the good fortune to have crossed over into Oregon when the car was stopped. Virtually from the time it joined the Union, this state has had some of the country's toughest animal protection laws. A large measure of credit for the existence of those statutes goes to the Oregon Humane Society, which has lobbied steadily in Salem for animal welfare since its founding in a Portland church basement in 1868. Among the first orders of business for the fledgling Humane Society was the drafting in 1885 of 39 "Articles of Faith." Under a list headed, "We believe it is our duty," the small group of civic leaders who comprised the Humane Society vowed to stop the beating of horses, introduce better laws for all states and induce owners of animals to feed them regularly. The final item seems especially timely, "And, generally, to make men, women and children better, because more humane." -- Elizabeth Mehren, Northwest Portland Member, Board of Trustees, Oregon Humane Society Updated 8 a.m. Sunday NORTH BEND, Wash. One man was killed and another seriously injured when they encountered a cougar Saturday while mountain biking in Washington state, officials said. Authorities said the two men were on a morning bike ride in the foothills near North Bend when the attack occurred. The town is about 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Seattle. The mountain lion ran into the woods and officers with the Washington Department of Fish and Game later tracked it down and shot and killed it, said Capt. Alan Myers of the state's Fish & Wildlife Police. The 31-year-old survivor was taken to a hospital in Seattle. He was initially listed in serious condition in the emergency room but was alert and talking; his condition was later upgraded to satisfactory, The Seattle Times reported. A search and rescue team was dispatched to recover the body of the deceased man. KIRO-TV reported that the injured man called 911 shortly before 11 a.m. and shouted, "Can you hear me? Help!" and then the call hung up. Authorities found the cougar standing over the body of the dead biker, the station reported. It wasn't immediately clear if the two victims were biking together or separately. In the last 100 years in North America, roughly 25 fatalities and 95 nonfatal cougar attacks have been reported, the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife said, but there was only one other fatal attack in the state. However, more attacks have been reported in the western United States and Canada over the past 20 years than in the previous 80 years. What to do if you come across a cougar - Cougars often will retreat if given the opportunity. Leave the animal a way to escape. - Stay calm and stand your ground. - Maintain direct eye contact. - Pick up children, but do so without bending down or turning your back on the cougar. - Back away slowly. - Do not run. Running triggers a chase response in cougars, which could lead to an attack. - Raise your voice and speak firmly. - If the cougar seems aggressive, raise your arms to make yourself look larger and clap your hands. - If in the very unusual event that a cougar attacks you, fight back with rocks, sticks, tools or any items available. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife There's never been a fatal cougar attack in the wild in Oregon, an official said in 2017. Over 6,000 cougars live in Oregon, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. It's rare for people to see or encounter them, the agency said, but sightings have increased. The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife says that adult male cougars average about 140 pounds but can hit 180 pounds and measure 7 to 8 feet long, counting the tail. Adult females are about 25 percent smaller. The agency says the cats can leap 30 feet from a standstill and 15 feet straight up. Their normal prey includes deer, elk, and wild sheep. This report will be updated. The Associated Press Jim Ryan of The Oregonian/OregonLive staff contributed to this report Three Lebanon High School students were arrested Friday after authorities say they were seen on campus Friday passing around a stolen handgun. The sight of the boys with the gun led to police response and temporarily not allowing anyone in or out of all schools in the town. No shots were fired and no one was injured, according Lt. Scott Bressler, a Lebanon police spokesman. The three boys range in ages from 14 to 16 and have been booked into the Linn-Benton Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm, first-degree disorderly conduct and hindering prosecution The firearm was reported stolen from a resident's home a week ago, Bressler said. He didn't know if any of the three teens were involved in the alleged theft. The high school was placed on lockdown around 9:40 a.m. after school officials learned someone was seen on campus with a gun. Students and staff locked themselves in classrooms, turned off the lights, closed the blinds and stayed silent, according to the school district. Lebanon police responded to the school along with other law enforcement agencies including members of Oregon State Police, the Linn County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, authorities said. Other schools in the area were placed on lockout as a precaution, the school district said. Around 11 a.m., police detained one of the teen boys off campus near the high school, Bressler said. The other two boys were taken into custody sometime after. Investigators found the stolen gun unloaded in a home. Bressler said he didn't know whose home the gun was found in. The case remains under investigation. The shooting threat at Lebanon High School occurred on the same day a Houston-area teen opened fire at his high school, killing 10 people and wounding at least 10 others. That male student was arrested. -- Everton Bailey Jr. ebailey@oregonian.com 503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey EUGENE The University of Oregon wants the politically conservative group Oregonians for Immigration Reform to stop using a green O logo on its website. Though the logo is not identical to the one associated with the Ducks it's skinnier and has a fir tree in the middle the university has threatened legal action if the group does not "change the stylization of its O." "We hope that this matter does not require the University of Oregon to bring legal action to force you to stop using its mark, but if it must, the University of Oregon may be able to obtain an injunction against your use" and seek financial penalties, said a letter from Portland law firm Klarquist Sparkman. The Register-Guard reports the university sent the warning letter five days after it was asked to take trademark action by a student group that supports Oregon Chicanos in higher education. Oregonians for Immigration Reform is best known for its 2014 initiative campaign in which Oregon voters overturned a state law that let unauthorized immigrants get drivers cards from the state Department of Transportation. Now, the group advocates scrapping the state's sanctuary law. The anti-illegal-immigration group did not return a phone call and email from The Register-Guard. UO spokesman Tobin Klinger said the group has told the university it's reviewing the letter: "But that's the extent of the correspondence at this point." It's not uncommon for the UO to send out such letters. The UO and its licensing partners have sent out about 20 such letters over the last three years regarding the O or other trademarked images, Klinger 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. Encircled by a wild lion, Cara Delevingne delicately hops into safety. She returns again after his trainer's green light, unfazed, ready to pose once again for her David Yarrow-shot campaign with TAG Heuer. This process is repeated each time the lion, an animal that Delevingne has tattooed on her index finger, comes too close. TAG Heuer's motto is "Don't crack under the pressure," and while Delevingne is far from cracking, you'd be fooled into thinking the situation involved no pressure at all. What comes to mind when you think of Delevingne? She's beautiful, yes. Talented, of course. Intelligent, without question. Each adjective suits the British model-turned-actress a thousand times over, but perhaps bravery and perseverance are the most applicable today. One of the most famous faces in fashion, 25-year-old Delevingne walked away from her modeling career at its pinnacle. She transitioned into film, where she's been cast in both blockbusters and indies to emerge the industry's new it girl, and is still in high-demand among the world's most luxury brands. Delevingne has vocalized her depression, her queerness, and her harassment across multiple industries; she has updated conversations and services her community no matter the cost. To celebrate her bravery and new campaign with iconic watchmakers TAG Heuer, PAPER sat down with Delevingne to talk about the pressures of progress. How are you feeling? I just wrapped a movie, so I'm a little tired; it's a project called Her Smell. It has seven lead female characters about a '90s female punk bad. Elizabeth Moss, Agyness Deyn, Ashley Benson, Amber Heard. The weather has been making me crazy the sunshine and the rain. It really fucks with me to be honest. I don't understand how anyone doesn't think global warming isn't happening. I'm scared. Listen, I was just watching the TAG Heuer campaign video... you had a real lion 10 feet behind you and weren't even worried. I'm so thankful to TAG. Imagine just going to South Africa and staying on a safari reserve and shooting? And not only that, but working with the trainer, and understanding why he does what he does. Because I know you have such a connection to lions. Well, I'm a Leo. What's your rising? I don't know, Capricorn I think? Okay, ambitious, driven. I do love astrology. The mapping of it and where you're born and when you're born is really important. Most Leos are so proud to be Leos, but to me, cats are just mesmerizing. They're so unpredictable. I love dogs and they're loyal, but they just need to be cuddled and have food. Cats don't give a fuck about shit. I have a really special connection with cats... just because I have so much respect and admiration for them I think they, kind of, fuck with me? But I always feel like cats are the boss. When they want you and when they need you, it's so flattering. So beautiful. The way they walk... [This campaign] is the situation I've been in my whole life. If you get scared, the lion senses i, and I love that so much. That first day I had to be in a cage while the lion checked me out. I would be in a cage and the lion would go around sniffing me, and I knew what it felt like to be in a zoo. "Everyone has a story and everyone should have the right to tell their stories." Well you have been in a zoo the transition from fashion to film, you're literally coming out of one lion's den and heading into another. In comparison to what else is going on in the world, they're not the most fucked up industries. They're fucked up in the sense that they have the biggest platform and the most eyes on them, but they're so behind. Still. The world has been, and still is, about power and greed. It's always been quite male-driven and more and more we have to get those young girls' voices heard. Everyone has a story to tell. [It] doesn't matter where you came from or where you went to school or how clever you are or how clever you think you are, or how pretty you are. Everyone has a story and everyone should have the right to tell their stories. And to feel beautiful. And wanted. And sexy. To feel how ever you want to feel. What are your thoughts on the industry's new orientation towards diversity and inclusion? Is that a trend or are we making genuine progress? I think the diversity part of it is not a fad. The shift has been so beneficial in terms of understanding everybody, or emotional acceptance. With people being vocal about how they feel angry and hurt that's been amazing. I'm more worried about the equal rights thing being a fad literally male/female rights. I just feel like sometimes the #MeToo movement has been amazing, but I still feel like so much has been brushed under the rug. Do you feel like "the reckoning" stopped after film? It's just taken so long in other industries like fashion, I mean... And music, it's still... Do you feel the effects of #MeToo on set? I do and I don't. It's being spoken about more, but it hasn't really shifted into being yet. I think the Harvey [Weinstein] thing is a great start, but it hasn't found itself yet. There's a hell of a lot more to go. It's so in our nature to question everything, and for women, we think "water off a duck's back." This isn't going to change with a generation, this is going to be something we teach our daughters. And our sons. Yes, education. And how men are brought up. You're such a proud queer women and you've done so much for the LGBTQ community. I want to talk to you about the debate going on with Rita Ora's song "Girls." There are bisexual women saying I feel really seen, and others argue this rhetoric sets us back. What's your take? I mean, I love all of those artists, I think it's a really great song. And I don't think there's anything wrong with it. I think it's not fair to point a finger. I love Rita. I think she's a wonderful artist and I always support her in what she does. I don't think it's right to say her experience and her words are wrong. If she hadn't ever felt that way and it wasn't true then that would be weird. She's being proud of something and saying it. Right, publicly. Yeah, she's being honest about something she may not have been comfortable before. I don't think it's wrong. And people disagreeing with it and being vocal... no one's ever going to fully back one thing that happens. There's always going to be a conversation. It's why you make music, or movies, so people can talk about it. That's the point. It was interesting that she apologized, and whether or not she necessarily should have. She didn't need to apologize. She did nothing wrong. She should be able to come forth and say, "This is the way I did this and I'm going to keep on singing this song because it's a great song." It came from the right intention and that's what's most important. To quoth our actual fave Cardi B: I don't gotta dance, I make money move. When you are literally Sean Combs aka Diddy aka Brother Love aka Love (?) and you got it like that, your money moves can go a loooooong way. Case in point: the New York Times reports that Diddy has been revealed to be the buyer of "Past Times," a monumental painting honoring Black experience by Kerry James Marshall, that sold in an auction earlier this week at Sotheby's New York. The winning bid was $21.1 million and until now, no one knew who placed it. Perhaps most astounding beyond the sales figure is the fact that "Past Times" was a record for Marshall, and the most ever paid for the work of a living African-American artist, according to Sotheby's. Additionally, this amount is double a recent appraisal, and a pretty generous return on the $25,000 spent to acquire the painting, which is in Chicago's McCormick Place. Since the sale, the painting has been replaced by a photographic mural rendering of the original. Marshall, a 62-year-old Chicago-based artist who was born in Alabama and grew up in Los Angeles, has long documented Black narratives in his work -- challenging racial stereotypes by showcasing rich, vibrant portrayals of young people and families, and overall, adding positive influence to notions of the Black experience. As such, Marshall has long been hailed a local hero in Chicago's art scene, and has been featured in several major retrospectives at the Met Breuer, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. In another report by the Chicago Tribune, it was acknowledged by New York art advisers that contemporary African-American artists and their work are often "overlooked and undervalued." It seems that in recent years, curators and collectors are catching up, and the increased demand has translated into higher prices and buying power. The New York Times reports that Diddy was turned on to Marshall's work by Swizz Beatz, an avid art collector alongside his wife Alicia Keys, and came to New York to view it at Sotheby's before purchasing. Photo via BFA Every day seems to bring about a new political frenzy, and today's reason for alarm is the news that Trump doesn't know the difference between HPV and HIV. HPV is the country's most common sexually transmitted infection, affecting 79 million Americans and potentially leading to cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancer. HIV, which is spread via sex, blood transfusions, or from mother to child during birth or breastfeeding, is a virus that leads to AIDS if untreated. There is a grim history of presidents, especially Ronald Reagan, remaining willfully ignorant about HIV and AIDs, which affects millions in the US and globally, because they were thought to only affect gay people. Bill Gates told a crowd at a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation event that he met Trump in December of 2016 and March of 2017, and on both occasions, Trump asked him to explain the difference between the two diseases which Gates aptly noted, "are rarely confused with each other." Gates also said he had to advise Trump not to commission a team to "look into ill effects of vaccines," and that the president refers to himself in the third person. Gates went on to say the Trump was oddly fixated on Gates' 22-year-old daughter's appearance and that it made Melinda Gates uncomfortable. Phew. That's... a lot of unfortunate gossip for a Friday afternoon. Our president, everyone! Image via BFA At tomorrow's Royal Wedding, the world will watch as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle get married and make history. The newest member of the Royal family is only the second American to join the court, but also the first bi-racial Black Royal woman since the 1700s. And naturally, Markle's mom showed up the occasion. Her name is Doria Ragland, and we are LIVING for these photos of them arriving at the pre-wedding hotel. Look at this royal melanin! (all photos by Steve Parsons - Pool / Getty Images) Ragland, 61, is a social worker and a yoga enthusiast. In London, Ragland is getting acquainted with the Royal fam. People reports that ahead of the wedding, she met her daughter's new in-laws none other than Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. Ragland even had tea with the Queen at Windsor Castle the day before the wedding. It's wonderful to see two families come together, especially given that the Royal family is known to be standoffish towards perceived outsiders. They are also known for, ahem, not being especially friendly towards new family members of color: Emma Tynn (nee McQuiston), Viscountess Weymouth, is of Nigerian ancestry and spoke about feeling alienated because of her race. Chatting with Tatler, the Viscountess said that "There has been some snobbishness, particularly among the much older generation. There's class and then there's the racial thing...it's a problem when someone's making you feel different or separate because of your race, or forming an opinion about you before they know you." Markle, of course, has dealt with her fair share of racism. The haters can take a seat, because Markle is about to become the newest Duchess, and we know she's going to make us all proud in her humanitarian duties. We hope Rihanna exists Kensington Palace beaming about how our new Duchess is black. (Photo: Steve Parsons/PA Wire) Today, the Pitchfork Festival announced that it is partnering with the Rape, Abuse and Incest Nation Network (RAINN) for the 2018 fest. RAINN will also receive donations out of Pitchfork's profits from the Chicago-based event. Pitchfork will place clearly-visible signs throughout the festival area detailing their "zero-tolerance" policy towards harassment, sexual or otherwise, with instructions on how to report such incidents. "Our objective is to shine a spotlight on RAINN as a first-responder resource for the Pitchfork community, at the Festival, in Chicago, and more broadly for our readership," said Adam Krefman, senior director of festivals at Pitchfork in a press release. "It's crucial that we continue to bring attention to the issue of sexual violence in the music industry and beyond, and we believe that our alignment with RAINN will make a positive impact." The festival will also include on-site "Resource and Response Center," where festival attendees can discuss and report incidents of sexual misconduct. Pitchfork says the Center will be staffed with "professionally trained counselors and a dedicated security team." They also say that attendees can access the Center to receive assistance with anxiety and crowd-related issues, as well as racial and LGBTQ+-sensitive situations. This is, of course, Pitchfork's first festival since the #MeToo movement began in October 2017. Since then, dozens of music industry operatives and musicians have been accused of sexual misconduct, leading to the industry grappling with how to proceed in this new era. The answer should be obvious: don't book known abusers, and support the victims. In the announcement, Pitchfork conceded that it has dropped the ball in the past notably, when R. Kelly headlined the Pitchfork Festival in 2013. That year, music journalist Jessica Hopper at the Village Voice interviewed Jim DeRogatis, music critic and journalist for the Chicago Sun-Times, who broke the initial story of Kelly's predatory behavior. DeRogatis' reporting led to Kelly being charged with child pornography; he was acquitted in 2008. Since then, numerous reports of sexual abuse have surfaced, and continue to surface. Kelly had denied all allegations. "In committing to raise awareness for such an important cause, Pitchfork's editors and festival staff feel it's appropriate to acknowledge a past mistake...It was wrong to book R. Kelly to perform at our festival in 2013 and we regret doing so," Pitchfork said in a statement. (Photo by Barry Brecheisen/WireImage) We're just hours away from the Royal Wedding and we are truly up in a swirl of excitement. Someone else who is up in a swirl is Susan Miller of AstrologyZone.com, one of the world's most celebrated astrologers. We're addicted to Susan's writing and had to chat with her about the royal bride and groom. It was surprising to learn about the star signs of the royal family and how they work together, and how also the late Diana, Princess of Wales seems to have had an astrological influence on both her boys when choosing a bride. Related | The New Royals What sign are Harry and Meghan? He is a Virgo with Capricorn rising and she is a Leo with Cancer rising. I think we have to define what rising means and in astrology it's very important. It's equally important to your sun sign. Let's look at the royal family because when you're getting married you marry the whole family. What's remarkable about this family is that they are all water and earth (signs), all of them. The Queen is Taurus (earth), I don't know her rising. Charles is Scorpio (water) and his wife Camilla is Cancer (water). William is Cancer (water) and Kate is Capricorn (earth) Harry is Virgo with Capricorn rising. The children: little George is Cancer (water) and his two little siblings are Taurus. If you look at this, it's remarkable. What do you use to put out fire? Water or Earth. Meghan's Cancer rising is very good and it saves the day. What's interesting is both William and Harry looked for Cancer in their mates, and these are echoes of Diana who was Cancer. So they were looking for that nurturing, loving, sweetness, that their mother had and they found it in their wives. The water rising is going to help her a lot, if she didn't have Cancer rising it would have been hard. But being a Leo and an American, you're a little bit more relaxed and a little more forward, a little less reserved and she'll have to download that part and just being an American. We're so natural. We speak up we say whats on our mind. She can be herself with him because he loves her but with the family... because you know when we're married we marry the family. It doesn't really hit home until you have children. It's not just your baby, it's the families baby. And that's the way it is because its a good thing since the family is interested in the child, buys it presents, and reads to it, everyone comes around and supports it. She's going to have the baby pretty fast by the way I think by November because she's a Leo and Jupiter is going into the fifth house of love and baby in November. Talking about changing your life you have to quickly eyeball what I wrote for Leo for this month because (?) is going into Taurus. And I wrote, wow you could become famous this month, and you may fall in love with someone foreign, and she did all these things happened. 12 Degrees Leo on January 21st. And she is 12 degrees Leo, so that eclipse was right on her sun, which would changer her life and even the way she saw herself. And because it's in the first house, it changes your name. Not only your looks but your name, and she's going to be the Duchess of something. So let's look at her chart. She's got four planets in Libra. The only other person I know with that is Kim Kardashian. They both love getting married. This is her second marriage, and Kim what was that her third. They like marriage and they want to get married, and they make good partners because they enjoy it and they want it. Jupiter's going to hit her Uranus, she may get pregnant by accident, or sooner than she was planning. October 20th, that's about the time and then she'll get pregnant or announce it, one or the other. What do you think about the date of the wedding ? You know I spent months and months picking the date my own daughter's wedding and when I found it I couldn't believe it because I had to take his chart and her chart, and the date, and the planets have to be getting along with each other. And it's very hard, you have so many planets, that you have to get in line. The most important thing when you are planning a wedding is to have a good Mercury. Mercury rules contracts and marriage in astrology and even in the law- it's considered a binding contract. They have this absolutely beautiful Mercury in perfect alignment with Saturn which is the planet of forever, ever, ever. And I like that. And they're getting married at 12 noon. It's going to be great pageantry because Leo is rising. Leo is rising at the time of their marriage and she's got Jupiter in the house of family and that's very nice so that means her family and his family blend. The one thing that worries me about this wedding day is Mars is where you encounter obstacles and difficulty. Mars is war, throwing things, shouting things, anger, or it could be physical. It was exactly yesterday. You look at the news and what's going on. Well we've got a volcano going off in Hawaii. And of all the days to move the embassy to Jerusalem they pick the worst day on the planet when everyone is mad and 27,000 people died.The problem is Mars is about to go in retrograde and I'm really glad nothing is going into retrograde on the day of the marriage and that's good. A passage from The Book about the country that lies directly north of where Im currently writing: Because of its mountains and its banks, but perhaps especially because it is a mosaic of different religions and cultures that lived harmoniously together, Lebanon was once known as the Switzerland of the Middle East. It was a symbol of the hope that the various communities of the region could someday learn to live together, peacefully and productively, in other places as well. The collapse of that dream has been painful for many in the Middle East. Much of what characterizes the area called the Levanta collective name sometimes given to the countries of the eastern Mediterraneancomes from its merchant orientation. Trade ties served, as such ties often do, to open them to new ideas, to make them more tolerant of differences. (This is the tolerance of the free market. After all, nothing should get in the way of a successful deal.) Missionaries, merchants, and diplomats came to the Levant in large numbers during the nineteenth century, bringing with them Western ideas and modes of life, which the intelligent and adaptable merchant class of the region rapidly assimilated. However, various nationalist movements came to power in the region after the close of World War I and the disappearance of the Ottoman Empire. In the same nationalist surge that fed both Palestinian aspirations and the Zionists, the old tolerance and multiculturalism of the Levant disappeared in most of the cities of the area. Minorities were not favored, and they were an affront to the nationalist spirit. It is out of this situation that the famous Turkish massacre of the Armenians ensued. And in the Arab world, cosmopolitan places such as Alexandria were changed forever. The exotic city of Lawrence Durrells Alexandria Quartet, the fascinating Alexandria of the marvelous Greek poet Constantine Cavafy, is now a rather drab, uninteresting, and somewhat dilapidated Arab port. The old Greek tavernas are gone, even if their Greek-lettered signs often remainand inside there is only the usual dull fare of lower-class Egyptian cuisine. But Beirut remained. Beirut lived on, at least among the upper classes, as an embodiment of the Levantine ideal. Neither the Muslims nor the Christians were strong enough to impose conformity on Lebanon, and they had to cooperate, to a certain extent, in making the place work commercially. Like Hong Kong, it had very few natural resources and had to rely on trade to survive. And, like Hong Kong, it was a kind of island or peninsula, backed up by a vast hinterland in which far less cosmopolitan and far less sophisticated ways were the rule. But those ways were not as foreign to Lebanon as might have appeared to a casual observer. Anyone looking very deeply might have realized that the hinterland was the real Lebanon. Beirut was an aberration, an exception. One of the revelations that came out of the collapse of Beirut and Lebanon was how superficial the Westernization of the country had been. In the countryside and among the lower classes in the cities, hardly a trace of the Levantine spirit seems to have found a permanent place.[1] Like the appearance of parliamentary democracy, the appearance of harmony and Westernization was a mirage. [1] This is very much like the situation of ancient Egypt. Alexandria may have been Hellenized, but in the countryside the old language and the old ways persisted. This was true even after the coming of Christianity: In Alexandria, Clement and Origen argued and wrote in Greek; in the hinterlands, as the Gnostic library of Nag Hammadi shows, Coptica late form of ancient Egyptianwas the language of Christianity. Posted from Jericho, Palestine News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. Paxton, IL (60957) Today A mix of clouds and sun. Record high temperatures expected. High around 85F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 68F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Former Chief Executive Officer of defunct Noble Dream Microfinance Ezekiel Owusu Afriyie, has broken his silence over the controversies surrounding his residential property at Atasomanso, a suburb of Kumasi. The property has been in dispute between the defunct Noble Dream Microfinance, its former CEO, Ezekiel Owusu Afriyie; Endurance Oti Boateng and other directors on one hand and Mr. Okyem Aboagye who had acquired it by auction, on the orders of a Kumasi High Court. On February 10, 2017, Ezekiel Owusu Afriyie filed a writ seeking a declaration that the sale of property on Plot No 8, 25th street, Atasamanso at an auction in execution of judgement of Noble Dream Financial Services to Daniel Okyem Aboagye was fraudulent. A couple of days ago the residential property of Mr. Owusu Afriyie became a subject for litigation between Bernard Antwi Bosiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi and Bantama legislator Okyem Aboagye. Member of Parliament for Bantama, Okyem Aboagye, however, vowed to use every legitimate means to take over the house at Atasomanso in Kumasi which has already been sold to the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party. According to the MP, he received a Certificate of Purchase following a declaration by a Kumasi High Court on November 15, 2016. But speaking in an exclusive interview with Kofi Agyei of Ashh FM, the man at the center of the controversy Mr. Owusu Afriyie, dismissed the claims that the house is one of the properties of Noble Dream Microfinance. According to him, the house has nothing to do with Noble Dream Microfinance, but rather his personal property which he sold to Bernard Antwi Bosiako in 2014. "In 2014, I sold a lot of my personal properties to different people which wasnt in the name of Noble Dream Microfinance," he added. Mr. Owusu Afriyie told Kofi Agyei that, he was astonished when he heard in the news that the Bantama MP is claiming ownership of the said property he has already sold to Wontumi. He hinted of taking legal action to protect his image because the impression has been created on the airwaves that he is a con man or using fraudulent means to sell off other people's assets. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video showcases the businesses in the midstate and the people who make them work. From companies who make iconic products to the small family businesses and everyone in between, we have a little bit of everything in the midstate. Midstate companies keep the economy moving, people working and communities thriving throughout the midstate. You can find business news from around the midstate at . All photos were provided unless otherwise noted. PROMOTIONS Mowery, a construction company based in Silver Spring Township has promoted the following: Seth Hughes, who previously served as Mowery's director of logistics, has been promoted to vice president of preconstruction; David Stansbury, who previously held the title of controller, has been promoted to vice president of finance; and Bill Sutton, who previously served as project manager, has been promoted to vice president of business development. Hughes has more than 20 years of experience in the industry. Stansbury has 20 years of experience as a certified public accountant and 18 years of experience in the construction industry. Sutton has extensive experience in all facets of the construction process with more than 15 years of industry experience. Victor E. Taylor, chair of the Department of English and Humanities since 2014 at York College, was named inaugural director of Graduate and Non-Traditional Programs. He will lead the college's faculty in developing and growing graduate programs, adult education programs, certificates, community education, and a variety of new rograms. Taylor will assume his duties on July 1. Chad Wheeler was promoted to executive vice president, treasurer at Customers Bank in Berks County. Wheeler joined Customers Bank in 2009 as vice president, treasurer. Prior to joining Customers Bank in 2009, Wheeler worked with Sovereign Bank, now Santander, where he held various positions including funding manager, portfolio manager, and SVP/chief investment officer. He has more than 20 years of experience in the financial industry and more than 15 years of management experience. Carla Leibold was promoted to executive vice president, chief accounting officer and controller at Customers Bank in Berks County. Leibold joined Customers Bank in 2013 as senior vice president, chief accounting officer and controller. Prior to joining Customers Bank, Leibold served as the vice president and controller for Farmer Mac from 2010-2013, and as the director of accounting and financial reporting from 2007-2010. The Wenger Group, is an agricultural products and services organization in Lancaster County, which includes Wenger Feeds, Nutrify, and Dutchland Farms. Tiffany Walters of Harrisburg was promoted to financial reporting and analysis manager. She joined The Wenger Group more than two years ago and most recently served as financial analyst. Sam Clement of Leola, was promoted to finance operations manager. He joined the Wenger Group more than two years ago and most recently served as business process supervisor. Ross Horton of Harrisburg was promoted to senior trader at Nutrify, a division of The Wenger Group. He joined the company in 2016 and most recently served as grain team leader. APPOINTMENTS Kristen B. Hamilton of the Law Office of Eric J. Weisbrod PC in Chambersburg, will begin a three-year term on the Pennsylvania Bar Association Board of Governors. Hamilton will serve as the PBA zone governor representing Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York county lawyers. Hamilton was a senior treatment clinical supervisor at Cornell Abraxas Youth Center before earning her law degree. She served as a managing partner at two law firms before joining the Law Office of Eric J. Weisbrod PC. Louise Lingenfelser was appointed to the board of the Hershey Federal Credit Union following Francois Houde who has resigned. She works full time for the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and resides in Palmyra. She is the first board member to be promoted from HFCU's associate board member program. Frank Wagner was named treasurer of the Hershey Federal Credit Union. He has been an HFCU volunteer for 34 years. Prior to joining the board in 1991, he served on the credit committee. He is employed by The Hershey Company and resides in Lebanon. The ex-fiance of a western Pennsylvania teacher gunned down in a hail of 10 bullets outside her mother's home Sunday said he voluntarily submitted to a police interview because he "has nothing to hide." As WTAE and WPXI in Pittsburgh reports, Frank Catroppa said he voluntarily went to police in Aliquippa, Beaver County, Pa., to be questioned about Sunday night's shooting death of suspended cyber teacher Rachael DelTondo, age 33. In media interviews after talking to police, Catroppa said he broke up with DelTondo over a year ago - after the two had been together for eight years. The timing of the break-up may coincide with an anonymous leak of an Aliquippa police report from 2016 that said she had been found in a parked car with a 17-year-old former male student. No charges were ever filed. However, DelTondo was suspended from her teaching job with the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School in wake of the leak last November. KDKA-TV has cited sources saying the alleged police leak about DelTondo also prompted a Pa. state police investigation of the Aliquippa Police, with DelTondo cooperating. Rachael DelTondo (left), the 33-year-old a western Pennsylvania teacher gunned down Sunday night, and her ex-fiance, Frank Catroppa (right) broke up over a year ago - after the two had been together for eight years - but Catroppa insists he knows nothing about her killing. In an interview with WPXI, Catroppa spoke fondly of DelTondo: "She was a good girl. She had a big heart. Definitely don't understand why or how someone could do something like this to her," he said. Catroppa's attorney, Stephen Colafella, made clear that his client had nothing to do with the crime - and wanted police to know the same: "In a situation like this where the indicator shows it is a crime of passion, I just wanted to make sure we got out in front of it," Colafella told WPXI. Police interviewed Catroppa for almost an hour on Tuesday, asking about his relationship with DelTondo, the last time he talked to her and where he was the night of the murder, WPXI reported. So far, no suspects have been identified in the case. However, Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier says investigators believe DelTondo knew her assailant, and that the evidence will show her murder was "a crime of passion." DelTondo was gunned down after returning home late Sunday night from an ice cream shop. The hail of as many as 10 bullets erupted as Rachael DelTondo stepped onto the driveway of her mother's Buchanan Street home. She died in the driveway. Her ex-fiance says he is hoping for justice for his former love: "For that to happen in a community that I'm very familiar with, and nobody know nothing and not see nothing and nobody coming forward, to me, is mind-blowing. It doesn't sit well with me," Catroppa told WTAE. "At the end of the day, she does deserve justice. Whoever did this needs to get found." VOLCANO, Hawaii -- Experts remained flummoxed Friday about when Hawaii's Kilauea volcano will calm down. The Big Island volcano exploded at its summit Thursday, sending ash and rocks thousands of feet into the sky. Scientists said the eruption was the most powerful in recent days, though it probably lasted only a few minutes. It came two weeks after the volcano began sending lava flows into neighborhoods 25 miles (40 kilometers) to the east of the summit, destroying 26 homes. A new lava vent -- the 22nd such fissure -- was reported Friday by county civil defense officials. Several open fissure vents are still producing lava splatter and flow in evacuated areas. Gas is also pouring from the vents, cloaking homes and trees in smoke. The fresher, hotter magma will allow faster lava flows that can potentially cover more area, said Janet Babb, a geologist with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. READ MORE: Watch as lava from Hawaii volcano spreads across Big Island subdivision: video, photos Much of the lava that has emerged so far may have been underground for decades, perhaps since a 1955 eruption. Meanwhile, more explosive eruptions from the summit are anticipated. "We have no way of knowing whether this is really the beginning or toward the end of this eruption," said Tom Shea, a volcanologist at the University of Hawaii. "We're kind of all right now in this world of uncertainty." It's nearly impossible to determine when a volcano will stop erupting, "because the processes driving that fall below the surface and we can't see them." said volcanologist Janine Krippner of Concord University in West Virginia. U.S. government scientists, however, are trying to pin down those signals "so we have a little better warning," said Wendy Stovall, a volcanologist with the observatory. Thus far, Krippner noted, authorities have been able to forecast volcanic activity early enough to usher people to safety. "If nobody warned people, and tourists were all over the place, that would have been devastating with those large rocks flying out -- those are deadly," she said. The Federal Aviation Administration still has flight restrictions in place, but for a smaller area -- up to 5,000 feet above sea level, and a 3-mile (5-kilometer) radius around the crater. READ MORE: Hawaii volcano update: If steams hits the magma, boulders and poison gas could blow into the air The greatest ongoing hazard stems from the lava flows and the hot, toxic gases spewing from open fissure vents close to homes and critical infrastructure, said Charles Mandeville of the U.S. Geological Survey's volcano hazards program. Authorities have been measuring gases, including sulfur dioxide, rising in little puffs from open vents. For now, the ash seems to be more of a nuisance, rather than a severe threat. Some Big Island residents are covering their faces to keep from breathing small particles flying through the air, and some have found thin coatings of ash as winds blew the plume away from populated areas. Lindsey Magnani said Thursday that she and her family picked up some of the 2,000 masks distributed by county officials. She also closed all the windows at home to block air, which smelled heavily of sulfur. Dr. Josh Green, a state senator who represents part of the Big Island, said the immediate health risk comes from ash particles in the air. Anyone with respiratory difficulties, such as asthma or emphysema, should limit exposure to the ash, he said. "As far as me, I'm not sure whether it would do me any good to stay," said James Clapper, 70, an evacuated resident now sleeping in his truck. "The property out there has got huge, huge cracks. Is one of those cracks underneath the house? I don't know." ___ Caleb Jones and Sophia Yan of the Associated Press wrote the story. AP journalists Jae Hong in Pahoa, Jennifer Kelleher and Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu, Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska, Seth Borenstein in Washington, D.C., and Alina Hartounian in Phoenix contributed to this report. As early as next week, Catholics in Pennsylvania could learn the names of additional priests or lay people credibly accused of child sexual abuse. At least one diocese - that of Erie - is expected to release additional names of priests or staff who face credible accusations of child sexual abuse or molestation. That is according to an attorney who has been working closely with the diocese and its head, Bishop Lawrence Persico. Mark Rush, of the Pittsburgh-based K&L Gates law firm, on Friday said the information will be posted to the website, in conjunction to the online announcement made in April by Persico publicizing a list of 34 priests and 17 lay people. Some of the individuals named are dead; others are still alive. All had, over the past 70 years, been identified in credible accusations of child sexual abuse. "We have received other information on other clergy," Rush said. "That program is organic so as we receive information from victims or frankly from the grand jury, we will follow up in the appropriate manner." Rush said the Diocese of Erie has, since the release of those names, received over 25 calls - some directly from victims and others from family members of victims. "That website has actually been a very good source of communication for folks who were from the Diocese of Erie who suffered abuse who are now calling back with their story, and, in many cases, with gratitude for the creation of the website," Rush said. As early as June, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General is expected to release the findings of a grand jury investigation into allegations of clergy sex abuse and potential cover-up across six Catholic dioceses. From top left are pictured Bishop Edward Malesic (Greensburg); Bishop Ronald Gainer (Harrisburg); Bishop Alfred A. Schlert (Allentown); Bishop Lawrence Persico (Erie); Bishop David Allen Zubik (Pittsburgh); Bishop Joseph C. Bambera (Scranton). Sources close to the investigation have indicated that the grand jury has completed its probe. In the meantime, the respective bishops of Erie, Harrisburg, Scranton, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Greensburg - have increasingly made public announcements with regards to matters of the investigative process. The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General in 2016 launched the grand jury investigation into allegations of clergy sex abuse and potential cover-up across the six Catholic dioceses. Sources close to the investigation speaking on background have indicated that the findings will be far worse than those out of the earlier investigations into the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, which were the subject of similar investigations. On Wednesday, Perisco became the first bishop to announce he would not mount a legal challenge to the findings or stall the publication of the report. Similar announcements followed from officials in the dioceses of Allentown and Scranton. The other three dioceses have hedged their stance on the matter. The Diocese of Harrisburg on Friday signaled that it might have concerns with aspects of the investigation. "The Diocese of Harrisburg wants to be clear that we strongly support the release of the Grand Jury report. However, we are also concerned about due process rights. It's important that we get this report right," Bishop Ronald Gainer said in a statement released to PennLive. Similarly, the Rev. Nicholas Vaskov, the spokesman for the Diocese of Pittsburgh, on Friday told PennLive: "We are not opposed to the release of the grand jury report and although we have not received it, we trust we will get a full and fair opportunity to review it and respond." Vaskov said he could not comment on whether the potential remained that the diocese could challenge the report. Striking a similar tone, Jerry Zufelt, the spokesman for the Diocese of Greensburg, told PennLive that Bishop Edward Malesic supports the release of the grand jury report, adding "with due process." Asked to clarify if that stance left open the potential for a legal challenge, Malesic referred PennLive to the legal counsel of the diocese. Zufelt said he could not provide specific information as the scope of the investigation in the Diocese of Greensburg. Both the dioceses in Erie and Greensburg have seen the arrest of priests as a result of the grand jury investigation. Attorney General Josh Shapiro earlier this month announced the arrest of Father David Poulson, a 40-year priest in the Diocese of Erie. Poulson, 64, was charged with sexually assaulting two boys over the course of many years. He has been charged with three felonies including indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors. Last September, authorities arrested a retired priest who had served at various parishes throughout the Greensburg Diocese. The Rev. John Sweeney, 74, is accused of sexually molesting a 10-year-old boy. Zufelt said that the Diocese of Greensburg continues to refer calls from potential victims of abuse to the state's ChildLine, which logs and refers reports of child abuse for investigation. "We leave all investigative work to law enforcement officials," Zufelt said. For now, the hedged responses from the bishops in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Greensburg are markedly different from the official statements released by the bishops in Erie, Scranton and Allentown unequivocally expressing no intention to mount a legal challenge or stall the publication. Joe Grace, a spokesman for the state Office of Attorney General, confirmed that the office had seen the latest statements from the bishops. "We look forward to actions from the Dioceses of Harrisburg and Greensburg which match their words," Grace said on Friday. "We stand on our previous public statements -- Attorney General Josh Shapiro commends Bishops (Joseph) Bambera of Scranton, (Alfred) Schlert of Allentown and Persico of Erie for not mounting a challenge that would silence the voices of victims of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church." "These bishops stand in stark contrast to the bishops of Greensburg, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh." SUNBURY - "New doors have opened" and the Sunbury police chief believes "it's just a matter of time" before a 1989 cold case homicide is solved. Chief Timothy S. Miller made the comment Friday after releasing information about an anonymous handwritten letter he received related to the disappearance and death of Barbara E. Miller, 30. The letter infers Barbara Miller's death was connected to the 1986 murder of Ricky Wolfe and the extensive drug activity at a duplex in the 700 block of North Front Street in Milton, he said. The letter did not contain anything new, but the chief said he wants the author to contact investigators because it is likely the person has more information. The letter will be sent for forensic testing, said Miller, who is not related to the woman a judge declared dead in 2002. It referred to the victim as "this Barb" and inferred she knew a lot about the situation in Milton and the Cathy situation in reference to the late Cathy Reitenbach, he said. READ MORE: Chief suspects wood chips might mean Sunbury cold case is a copy of another homicide Reitenbach, who lived in the Milton duplex, was the sister of Joseph Walter "Mike" Egan, the former Sunbury police officer identified in court documents as the lead suspect in the Barbara Miller case. He denies any involvement. Last June investigators removed a concrete wall from the cellar of the duplex as they pursued a theory that Barbara Miller's remains might be in it. The author of the letter appears desperate for police to connect the Wolfe killing with drug activity in and around the duplex, which at the time was owned by the late Northumberland County Judge Samuel Ranck, Chief Miller said. Ranck presided over the murder trial and in 2004 reduced sentences of two of those convicted from life to 10 to 20 years after a key prosecution trial witness said he lied about being present with Wolfe was killed. The anonymous letter helps debunk rumors based on threatening letters Barbara Miller received before her disappearance that an outlaw motorcycle gang was involved, the chief said. READ MORE: Sunbury chief has spoken with man identified as lead suspect in 28-year-old cold case No evidence has been found connecting her disappearance with a motorcycle gang and it is believed the threatening letters were written by someone close to her, the chief said. Investigators have encountered a lot of fear among witnesses due to motorcycle gang rumor, he said. Those fears are unfounded and anyone with information should contact police at 570-492-2809, Chief Miller said. "We have put a lot of time and effort into this investigation and we are inching closer and closer to the truth," Chief Miller said. "We have recently made some significant findings which have shed light on unanswered questions." He would not elaborate. Earlier this week he said he was awaiting results to see if DNA from members of Barbara Miller's family matched that in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons database. Her body never has been found. READ MORE: Cold case homicide linked to drug-related execution-style killing, investigator says The chief says evidence points to her being killed because she had information about the Wolfe homicide. She disappeared July 1, 1989, less than two weeks after four the men charged with killing Wolfe were ordered to stand trial following a combined preliminary hearing. Wolfe's body was found in a pool of blood at a state Fish Commission boat access area off Route 405 approximately three miles north of Montandon on Dec. 11, 1986. An autopsy showed he was severely beaten while handcuffed. Police affidavits from 1989 stated those charged with the death were suspected of cocaine trafficking, Wolfe owed money for drugs and he was considered a "snitch. By Allen C. Guelzo Stormy Daniels would probably have never been much more than a name in the catalog of porn-movie stars had it not been for Michael Cohen. On Jan. 12, the Wall Street Journal broke the story that Cohen, one of Donald Trump's personal lawyers, hadpaid Daniels [npr.org] - or arranged for Daniels to be paid -- $130,000 for her silence over an alleged affair she once had with the president. In a political climate jaded by the sexual shenanigans of politicians, many Americans were tempted to ask, "So what?" Because, as they like to say in high-stakes poker, the Daniels affair represents a whole new opening. In the nearly year-long investigation by Robert Mueller into the Trump campaign's electoral "collusion" with Russian interests, little has emerged that connects Trump with "collusion." Last week's leak to the New York Times of forty-nine questions Mueller would like to ask the president looked less like a criminal inquiry and more like a television interview, filled with questions posed as what was your opinion and what did you think and what did you mean. And federal judge T.S. Ellis's sharp rebuke to Mueller's team of prosecutors on Friday does not hold out much hope that Mueller's questions are likely to get asked anyway The same is not true of the Stormy Daniels affair. If anything, it may be exactly what Trump's sharpest critics have been looking for. On March 25, in a sensational interview on 60 Minutes, Daniels claimed not only that she had had an affair with Trump, but that she had been threatened and intimidated into signing a non-disclosure agreement in exchange for the cash Michael Cohen "facilitated." Two weeks later, the FBI raided Cohen's office and residences after the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York received a "referral" from Mueller's office. Here is where the dominoes may at last start to fall. Let us suppose that Cohen's "facilitated" payment of $130,000 to Daniels can be construed as a Trump campaign activity. If so, the payment could be understood as an unreported campaign donation by Cohen. That, of course, is a federal offense under the Federal Election Campaign Act, which contains enough vagueness to permit indictments for money-laundering and bank fraud as well. And if, as Trump's most recent comments indicate, the president had any knowledge of the payments or in some way reimbursed Cohen, then it would not be difficult for federal prosecutors to level charges of conspiracy at both Cohen and Trump. No one has ever indicted a sitting president, especially when it concerns possible crimes which occurred before the president assumed office. The Justice Department's own Office of Legal Counsel has insisted, ever since Watergate, that the Constitution gives no sanction to indicting a president, largely because indicting a president would be, in effect, a strategy for subverting the electoral process. It would shift "an awesome power to unelected persons lacking an explicit constitutional role vis-a-vis the President." But nothing prevents federal prosecutors from attaching to Trump the Nixonian stigma of being an "unindicted co-conspirator." That effectively leverages all the presumed guilt without violating the Constitutional proprieties. The Daniels strategy - depending on how the Southern District reads the documents it raided from Cohen's possession - can taint Trump with a felony, without ever actually having to charge him. That, in turn, would be fuel for Democrats who have been chanting "Impeach 45" ever since his inauguration, and chill the willingness of Congressional Republicans to resist an impeachment motion. The great weakness thus far of the Impeach45ers has been the lack of anything which reasonably rises to the Constitution's requirement of "high crimes and misdemeanors" as grounds for impeachment. In fact, the phrase "high crimes and misdemeanors" poses problems of its own, since it lacks much in the way of specificity. The Constitutional Convention borrowed the phrase from British jurists, but offered little in the way of definition, partly because the Convention was noticeably reluctant to talk about using judicial means to punish presidential misbehavior. And the cases of presidential impeachment which have occurred - Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton -- do not offer examples of happy outcomes for any of those involved. In fact, the most famous near-impeachment, that of Richard Nixon, produced a decade of foreign-policy disarray whose results (as in Iran) still haunt us. Of course, the alternative would be for the Office of Legal Counsel to revisit the issue of indicting a president. If that occurred, an indictment would render an impeachment unnecessary. But the specter of federal prosecutors free to summon grand juries and issue indictments of presidents on their own initiative could easily make the Oval Office untenable. Special prosecutors can be dismissed; career civil-service U.S. attorneys cannot, and a handful of determined prosecutors could bring the entire executive branch to a shuddering halt. Either way, however, by impeachment or indictment, the Cohen investigation poses a threat of far greater potential than the Mueller probe, and with far greater reach than many have supposed. "So what?" may turn out to be the political and judicial understatement of the decade. Allen C. Guelzo is the Henry R. Luce Professor of the Civil War Era and Director of the Civil War Era Studies Program at Gettysburg College. Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, foreground left and Jessica Mulroney arrive with the bridesmaids for the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Jane Barlow/pool photo via AP) Yolanda McClean, left to right, her mother Melinda McClean and sister Sylvia McClean watch the Royal Wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at The Princess of Wales Theatre, in Toronto on Saturday, May 19, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Marta Iwanek U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer speaks at the 9th China Business Conference at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, Tuesday, May 1, 2018. The NAFTA negotiations could continue for a while, with U.S. trade czar Robert Lighthizer signalling that he wants significant changes in multiple areas, and isn't interested in a quick, limited deal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Cliff Owen Relatives of passengers a Boeing 737 that plummeted into a yuca field with more than 100 passengers on board wait for news near airport terminal in Havana, Cuba, Friday, May 18, 2018. The Cuban airliner crashed just after takeoff from Havana's international airport. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan) Paula Jackson of Philadelphia, left, receives makeup from makeup artist Pietra Dunmore, right, while Jenice Armstrong of Burlington, N.J. looks on during a television viewing party of the royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Saturday, May 18, 2018, at the Armstrong-Turner residence in Burlington, N.J. The ceremony married the pomp and circumstance of Britain's most sacred institution with elements of black culture, drawing viewers not normally drawn to the spectacle of the monarchy.(AP Photo/Corey Perrine) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, speaks during a function to inaugurate the Kishanganga hydropower station in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Saturday, May 19, 2018. Modi inaugurated remotely a controversial hydroelectric power project built in the Gurez Valley, just a few hundred meters (yards) from the highly militarized Line of Control that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) Pirate offense sputters in loss The downpour of rain that drenched Pirate Field in the fourth quarter was probably an accurate representation of just how Perryville football coach Brent Roth and his team felt following the game.The Indians have fun in shutout victory over Bayless St. Vincent football coach Tim Schumer said that his team had a lot of fun on Friday night. The Indians scored early and often, then dominated on defense as they shutout Bayless 59-0 Destiny Kobel had a vague idea of what high school would be like, and, frankly, she was frightened before she launched into her freshman year at Kensington High in September. "I thought it was going to be scary," said Kobel, 14. "I thought it was going to be hard." But things have gone much better than planned; classes have been manageable, with teachers she can relate to, trips and activities, and a constant push to stay on target academically and personally. She chalks that up to her experience in Kensington's ninth grade academy essentially a school within a school, where freshmen have a dedicated group of specially selected teachers and extra supports. For the Philadelphia School District, ninth-grade academies are an area of focus and a planned $7.2 million investment next school year. In the race to high school graduation, ninth grade is make-or-break time: Finishing freshman year on schedule is the strongest predictor of whether a student will earn a diploma in four years, research shows. And in a city where one-third of all high school students do not graduate on time, strategies to get teens to the finish line are important. "The transition from eighth grade to ninth grade is where we lose our kids," said Jose Lebron, a 40-year education veteran and Kensington's principal. Schools around the region and across the country, particularly those in urban areas, have zeroed in on freshman year as a time to catch kids or else. Nineteen Philadelphia comprehensive high schools now have ninth-grade academies; for the 2018-19 school year, 27 high schools will have them. Cheryl Logan, who until recently was Philadelphia's chief academic officer, believes a focus on ninth graders is the path to Superintendent William R. Hite Jr.'s target of an 80 percent graduation rate by 2021, up from 67 percent in 2017. "For years, the strategy has been backward: We put all of our investment dollars in credit recovery and reengagement," said Logan, recently named the next schools superintendent in Omaha, Neb. "There's only one place to invest in raising the graduation rate, and that's ninth grade. The issues are a lot less complex when kids are 14 than when they're 19." Kensington is in its second year of the model, and it has made a marked difference, said Lebron, who is in his third year as principal. Change does not come overnight, and Kensington still has a long way to go, but the academy has begun to move the needle, administrators say. Serious incidents have been cut in half, more students are on track for promotion to 10th grade, and attendance is up. (Last year, Lebron said, just 8 percent of freshmen attended school 95 percent of the time or more, and so far this year, 30 percent of freshmen have hit that mark.) The district dollars have given the school an assistant principal dedicated solely to ninth grade, a college and career readiness coordinator, and climate supports to focus on student behavior, and extracurricular opportunities. Ninth graders have their own floor in the building and their own entrance to the school, where staff members stand outside every morning to greet them. The school's strongest educators teach freshmen, who have 90 minutes of math and English class a day, and a "freshman seminar class" that offers lessons on skills Kobel and her classmates say are helping them adapt to high school: study skills, note taking, social and emotional lessons. At regular town hall sessions, issues are aired and victories celebrated. And all 159 pupils in the freshman academy can tell you exactly where they stand on the Kensington Tiger rating wall, a long bulletin board with bright yellow backing paper and the name of every student. Every week, teachers get together to confer and bestow separate marks (red, yellow, or green) for attendance, behavior, and academics, and to share insights about individual kids, to help keep them close and to keep them publicly accountable, the ratings are posted for all to see. "If a student moves from neutral to negative, we need to know what's going on, we have to follow up," said Jamie Clark, Kensington's assistant principal for the ninth grade. Teachers make an effort to understand students' strengths and weaknesses even before they walk into the building before school begins, staffers pore over pupil records from middle school to prep for what supports the teens might need. On Wednesdays, Alyssa Morales races to the bulletin board to check her marks. Positive marks come with rewards trips, parties, other perks, and negative marks aren't just letters on a page. They come with feedback from staff on how to make changes such things as "always wear full uniform," "use professional language," "show respect for everyone." "We all strive for positive," said Morales, 15. She was in neutral for academics, she said, but she had a plan to raise the bar. "I'm going to pay more attention in class, and I'm going to finish my work all of it." Ana Ramirez, the college and career coordinator, meets with every student at least twice a year to develop individual plans for their academic careers and their future, and a road map to get there. "It's trying to change the culture, long-term, when it comes to graduation rate," said Ramirez. Nick Niedosik has taught in the imposing building on East Cumberland Street for 12 years, when it was the old Kensington High School, then when it became Kensington Business, and now, reformed as Kensington High again. As ninth-grade dean, Niedosik sees a marked improvement in culture because of the structure and supports of the academy, he said. "Some of our kids don't have a role model at home, but we make sure that everyone at school has some adult to talk to," said Niedosik. "I didn't see that when I taught other grades." A focus on ninth grade is not new, or unique to Philadelphia; Lebron used a ninth-grade academy so successfully when he led Edison High in the late 1990s and early 2000s that he also expanded the model to start a separate 10th-grade program. But education trends often come and go as administrations shift. Still, when Hite asked Lebron to take the helm of Kensington to "clean the place up," Lebron said, he knew that a focus on a highly structured freshman year would be key to improving the school, which scored just 13 out of 100 on the district's internal report card for 2017. "In the past, we were just saying, 'Here's your roster, go and do your best,' and hope that they would make it. There were all kinds of ramifications, and nothing consistent," Lebron said. "Now, we're making meaningful progress. This is going a long way to getting our students up to par." Charles Shambelan, 88, of Glen Mills, a DuPont Co. chemist who was instrumental in the development of Kevlar, a synthetic fiber used in bulletproof vests and other products, died Sunday, May 13, of heart failure at Maris Grove Retirement Community, Glen Mills. From 1957 until 1989, when he retired, Dr. Shambelan was a chemist and then a senior research fellow at a company experimental laboratory in Wilmington. Although Kevlar was invented by Stephanie Kwolek at DuPont in 1965, it fell to Dr. Shambelan and others at the research lab to make it commercially viable. Dr. Shambelan was responsible for taking the synthetic fiber from the test-tube stage and making it in large enough quantities to test its reinforcement capabilities in various products, said his longtime friend and colleague Al Goodman. Stronger than steel and lighter than fiberglass, Kevlar is best known for being the lifesaving liner of bulletproof vests and body armor, although it is also used in helmets, brake pads, tires, and other rubber products. "All I know about it is what Charlie told me," Goodman said. "He was instrumental in making the arrangements and working with the U.S. government. Kevlar was the material that had to go into anti-ballistic gear to prevent gunshot wounds. It was the barrier put into the jackets that soldiers wore." Kevlar also went into the bulletproof vests worn by police officers here and across the nation. John Hoyt, recording secretary for Lodge 5, Fraternal Order of Police, called the Kevlar-lined vests "one of the greatest advancements in officer safety in law-enforcement history." "Thousands of police officers' lives have been saved because of them," he said in an email. "Here in Philadelphia, you have to look no further than Sept. 16, 2016, when Philadelphia Police Sgt. Sylvia Young was working in the 18th District and was ambushed while sitting in her patrol car. "The gunman fired 18 rounds into her patrol car; striking Sgt. Young eight times in the chest, arm and torso." Hoyt said stories like hers make Lodge 5 members "grateful" for Dr. Shambelan's contribution to the development of the protective gear. Dr. Shambelan also worked on a second synthetic fiber, Sontara. It can be made into a nonwoven wipe that is strong and absorbent without leaving lint. Sontara has applications in the aerospace, automotive refinishing, window cleaning, pharmaceutical, and food-preparation industries. "It was a game-changer for cleaning circuit boards, airplane windows, and other uses," said Dr. Shambelan's son-in-law, Paul Nathanson. Dr. Shambelan and Franklin James Evan were granted a patent for Sontara in 1971. Later, the patent was sold to a Japanese company, Goodman said. Dr. Shambelan received recognition from DuPont for his achievements in the development of Kevlar and Sontara, Nathanson said. Born in Philadelphia, Dr. Shambelan grew up in the city during the Great Depression and worked odd jobs to pay his way through school. He graduated from Overbrook High School. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in science from Temple University and his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. He had a home in Wilmington before moving to Maris Grove 11 years ago. "Charlie was a very unusual person," Goodman said of his colleague's temperament. "He loved to talk to people. He was always pleasant. He never got angry no matter what people said." A tinkerer, Dr. Shambelan could take something that was broken and make it work. He was known at Maris Grove for his photography and watch-fixing ability. In addition to his son-in-law, he is survived by his wife of 61 years, Kay Promish Shambelan; daughters Adele Diener and Michele Nathanson; three grandchildren; and a sister. A memorial service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, at Maris Grove Chapel, 200 Maris Grove Way, Glen Mills, Pa. 19342. Interment is private. Donations in his name may be made to the Maris Grove Resident Care Fund at the address above. City Councilwoman Helen Gym, who called a hearing on juvenile placements, speaks in City Council chambers in this file photo. Read more In 2016, after 17-year-old David Hess suffocated while being restrained by staff at Wordsworth Academy, the state moved quickly to shut down the Philadelphia facility with a long, troubled history of reported rapes, sexual abuse, and physical assaults. Yet more than 1,300 young people from Philadelphia continue to be confined in 70 similar residential placement programs that are scattered around the state, and a handful as far away as Arkansas, at an average annual cost of $70,000 per child to the city and an additional $30 million to the School District and reports of mistreatment continue. At a City Council hearing on Thursday called in response to Hess' death and other incidents young people spoke about physical and verbal abuse; schools without books, teachers or grades; and solitary confinement practices in violation of state law. "We should have done more to protect you," Councilwoman Helen Gym, who called the hearing, told them. Officials pledged to do better, including continuing an effort to keep more young people out of placements and create more options closer to home. However, they also outlined the limits of their jurisdiction: For example, neither the Department of Human Services nor the School District has oversight of educational offerings at the placements. The state Department of Education reviews the programs only in a limited fashion, and only once every six years. Kids in such placements are typically aged 14 to 18. They are disproportionately African American and between 2.5 and 3.5 times more likely to require special-education services than their peers. About 45 percent come through the juvenile justice system; the rest are placed through the child welfare system. Nearly 10 percent are in psychiatric treatment facilities. "Fewer kids are in placement than once was," Gym said. "That decline was not good enough for David Hess, who was murdered at Wordsworth. That decline was not good enough for the dozens of young women sexually assaulted by staff at Wordsworth. And it was not good enough for Omega Leach, who was strangled and killed in 2007 at the Chad Youth Enhancement Center in Tennessee." As the testimony made clear, abuses continue. Beatriz Jimenez, 16, described being thrown on the floor, body-slammed, and intentionally burned by staff at a facility where she was placed starting when she was 13. "My mother thought going to a juvenile holding facility would be good for me," she said. "She thought I would be safe. She didn't realize I would be abused, strip-searched, mistreated, or that I wouldn't be able to continue my education." There was no school at the facility, she said just a TV that was only on when the guards felt like watching it. Aqilah David, 19, said a staffer threw a walkie-talkie at her head. She described receiving fifth-grade work while in 11th grade. And Jihid Mayes, 19, sustained a busted lip and broken ribs from a guard's assault, and also spent a week in solitary confinement. "It made [me] feel weak, because there was nothing I could do to get out," he testified. "There was only really me, the walls, and the floor." Chief Defender Keir Bradford-Grey showed a video of a youth who was arrested for attacking guards and spent two months in adult jail until her office obtained the footage that showed he was actually the victim of an attack, not the perpetrator. "What you're viewing," she narrated, "is the counselors pummeling this one child, and the other children are just sitting there, because this is normal to them." DHS is getting the message, Commissioner Cynthia Figueroa said. It's reduced the number of youth in placement, ended contracts with some facilities, and is developing a new assessment tool to evaluate facilities, including input from young people. The department has also issued requests for proposals for Philadelphia-based programs, and opened two new dependent group homes and an emergency shelter in the city. Part of the problem with placements, she said, is that the city and School District do not have direct oversight over the facilities. For instance, Figueroa said, she could not order a facility to fire a problem staffer. Instead, she could lean on them by refusing to allow the use of city funding to pay that staffer. But Maura McInerney, legal director at the Education Law Center, said the bigger question is why placements are still being used. "We need to look at the responsibility of DHS for placing children there, because we are responsible for the welfare of those children," she said. Rather than helping kids, Bradford-Grey said, the facilities often lead to lasting trauma and significant consequences. She said that on Wednesday, she learned that 10 young people in the Carson Valley Children's Aid facility in Montgomery County were arrested after a fight there. "Sometimes, we're sending these kids to facilities for dependency needs, and they're coming out for criminal convictions," she said. Youths in placement have a legal right to attend public schools in the community, said McInerney, but most are either prevented from doing so or do not know to ask. Instead, they fall further behind while attending on-the-grounds schools, she said. Some of those schools provide multiple-grade classrooms and uncertified teachers; others have no teachers, and leave kids to work alone on computers or from worksheets. In some cases, said Katharine Vengraitis of the Defender Association, young people are pushed through to graduation. "I've had clients who graduated from placements and tried to go to [Community College of Philadelphia] and they're told they are only reading at a third-grade level," she said in an interview. In others, they attempt to return to public school after they come home. "Too often, youth returning from placement find themselves far behind their peers academically," McInerney said. "They give up and drop out of school." The scene as firefighters battle a warehouse fire in North Philadelphia on Friday, May 18, 2018. Read more Firefighters battled a massive five-alarm fire Friday evening in what appeared to be an unoccupied warehouse-industrial building in the Swampoodle section of North Philadelphia. It took more than 2 hours to be brought under control. No injuries were reported. >> READ MORE: Cause of five-alarm fire in North Philadelphia still not known Officials said the blaze was in a four-story building in the area of 21st and Lippincott Streets, less than a block away from a commuter rail line. Officials said they got word of the blaze at 6:26 p.m. and fire crews arrived three minutes later. The fire quickly grew to four alarms and flames could be seen engulfing the structure with some of the walls collapsing. A fifth alarm was called around 8 p.m. The fire was declared under control shortly after 9 p.m., but it would be many hours before it was snuffed out, said Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel. "We're going to have more than 200 firefighters here working all night," he said. A nearby church suffered some damage from burning embers, Thiel said. Power was shut down in the immediate area to help firefighters and some residents were expected to remain in the dark into the night, Thiel said. There were some reports that the building was a former textile equipment factory. Thiel said he did not know who owned the property, and there was no word on what caused the blaze. Digital resource specialist Omelio Alexander, left, helps Carl Haines apply to a job online at the Paschalville Library in Southwest Philadelphia on Friday, May 18, 2018. The branch is the only Free Library of Philadelphia location with a Job Readiness Lab, which helps community members find and apply to jobs. Read more In a 103-year-old library in Southwest Philadelphia, where the roof is leaky, the windows are drafty, and the heating and cooling system is as finicky as an old crank, three men sat under dull lights at a bank of computers, trying to land a job. Omelio Alexander peered over their shoulders, adjusting a resume line here, helping navigate a jobs website there. His title at the Paschalville branch is "digital resource specialist," which, here, means that his job is to help people find work in a community that desperately needs it. In Paschall, the surrounding neighborhood, the unemployment rate is 17.3 percent. In the entirety of the city of Philadelphia, it's 5.8. If the role of the library is to meet the needs of the community, Alexander can sum up the needs of this one in three words: "Jobs, jobs, jobs." He runs the Job Readiness Lab there, the only one in the Free Library's 55 branches. Under his charge are three computers, set apart from the others, reserved for people looking for work. Men and women looking for a better opportunity. Residents of the homeless shelter down the street. People returning from prison, trying to overcome the gaps in their resumes and the conviction on their records. Alexander maintains a cache of neckties for job applicants to borrow for interviews. For some people who come in, the hardest part of the job search is filling out an application. "Some of it's just physical using a mouse, navigating the keys, how to look for what you're supposed to be looking for on a screen," Alexander said. Sometimes he helps with typing and capitalization. "If [employers] see any reason not to look at your stuff," he emphasizes, "they're not going to read it." The jobs lab is one of the frontline programs in Philadelphia that are expanding the notion of what a library is and what it means to the community it serves. "We need a redefinition of the word library" as something beyond just books, said Siobhan Reardon, the Free Library's president and director. "Because we happen to be in most cases the singular civic entity in a lot of communities." The debate boils down to this: "What is a city library?" Reardon asked. In Philadelphia, it's becoming increasingly clear that they are not just repositories they're dynamically responding to the needs of the people they serve. We saw that plainly perhaps more visibly than anywhere else in the country a year ago this week, when Chera Kowalski, a librarian at the historic McPherson Square branch in Kensington, began saving the lives of overdose victims on the library lawn. The need among people in the heart of the city's opioid crisis was simply to stay alive. What happened at McPherson was dramatic, but not an outlier. It's part of a philosophical shift playing out across the country. It's a conversation I'll be writing about this summer, as I visit the libraries that lend much more than books to their communities. It's a conversation that's becoming increasingly urgent in a dynamic city still marked by some of the worst poverty in the country. And then there's this stunning statistic: Half of working-age Philadelphians, about 550,000 people, lack "workforce literacy skills," and struggle to fill out job applications or follow written instructions. It's a conversation that's happening inside crumbling buildings across the city that desperately need the repairs that the city's Rebuild initiative is promising. Paschalville is at the top of the list; the branch was closed for a month in 2016 for a broken heater. It needs work "from top to bottom," said Jim Pecora, the Free Library's vice president of property management. But that initiative is in danger of becoming mired in Philly politics. City Council members have rightly raised the alarm over the need to enforce minority inclusion in the building trade unions, whose members will be repairing those struggling libraries and rec centers and it's refusing to give the go-ahead for the construction until they're satisfied. Mayor Kenney has vowed to plow ahead with the funds he has, saying the deal that he and union boss Johnny Dougherty have worked out is final. He's rightly argued that we need to act before the libraries become uninhabitable. If one thing is clear, it's that both sides both of which are raising legitimate concerns need to get to the table. Now. It's not that we should be sacrificing minority jobs for library repairs, or vice versa. It's that we need to come to compromise before we further endanger programs that are helping some of the city's most vulnerable. On Wednesday, Sonkarley Duo, a Liberian immigrant with a degree in business administration, sat at one of Alexander's computers at the Paschalville branch. The 54-year-old father of two got weary of his last job, on the graveyard shift at a T-shirt printing company that he had to take four buses to reach. He was looking for something better. And he had come to the library to do it. Alexander peered over his shoulder. "He's my teacher," Duo said, smiling. In more than 1,200 of Philadelphias 1,688 precincts, fewer than 1 in 5 registered voters showed up to vote in this month's primary election. Read more Amanda Silberling was part of a distinct minority among Philadelphians last week. She voted. Just 17 percent of registered voters bothered to show up for Tuesday's primary the 825,000 other voters didn't bother, according to official figures. The city's turnout was low even by statewide standards. Only 18 percent of Pennsylvania's registered voters cast ballots, which means that almost seven million didn't. That's a shame, said Silberling, who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania the day before voting. "It's extremely important that people engage in local government and that people educate themselves about every election that they can vote in and talk to their friends also about being aware of what's happening, both on a local and a national level," she said, standing outside the library at 40th and Walnut Streets where she had just cast her vote. Silberling's precinct has 734 registered voters; 21 of them showed up, a turnout of less than 3 percent. Although the turnout was typical of a midterm primary, this was no ordinary election, with inducements for voters on the right and left. For Democrats, on fire since President Trump's 2016 victory, this was their first chance to weigh in on federal races. New congressional maps drew a posse of candidates to competitive primary races. On the Republican side, candidates waged a ferocious campaign for the gubernatorial nomination. Yet only one precinct, Division 16 in Ward 8 in Rittenhouse Square, cracked the 50 percent turnout mark in Philadelphia; in more than 1,200 of the city's 1,688 precincts, less than 1 in 5 registered voters showed up Tuesday. Why primary elections have lower turnout than general elections The act of voting takes just a few minutes, standing in the isolation of the machine, pushing buttons before stepping back out into the real world. Getting there isn't always that simple. It requires registering, knowing the polling location, the voting hours, and perhaps taking time off from work or figuring out what to do with the kids. Oh, and you have to know the issues and the candidates. These can be major obstacles, especially for low-income people and the disabled. But for others, voting simply isn't worth the inconvenience. And besides, they might have better things to do. "I've been moving out and trying to see friends as they leave," said Aria Kovalovich, 22, who lives in Silberling's district and also graduated on Monday but did not vote Tuesday. "I passed a voting booth and I remembered, and I was like, 'I'm going to sit down and look at the candidates and make a decision and go vote,' and then I just didn't." "I think I just got wound up in friends leaving and trying to say my last goodbyes," she said. Inconvenience can be enough to deter voters, even the ones who believe in voting. "There are far more people who are kind of OK with the idea of going, but they're not itching to get there," said Laura C. Bucci, an incoming political science professor at St. Joseph's University. "Even smaller obstacles can get in the way of that as well. It's that really any obstacle means that people are just not going to go." Kovalovich's story speaks to some of the reasons turnout is lower in primary elections than in general elections. "The easiest explanation is that [a general election] is the most likely to mobilize people, people are most likely to hear about that election," Bucci said. General elections can get wider news coverage, so more people know there's an election in the first place, and large, well-funded campaigns can reach voters whom smaller local campaigns might not. General elections also pit parties against each other. "You can go and know one thing about yourself, and that's that you're a Democrat or a Republican, and you can go from there and pick," Bucci said. "You can't do that in a primary. You have to know more information, or at least be willing to guess more information." Some voters also assume that the general election is more important. And although the November election decides who wins office, May might outweigh November in Philadelphia. Democrats dominate the city, almost always winning the general elections. Voting matters because representation matters Increasing turnout is about more than civic duty or feeling good it's about representation. Whose voice is heard? Which issues matter? When turnout is low, a tiny percentage of the electorate can drive the agenda and shape policy. Those motivated to vote are more likely to be better educated, more affluent, and older than nonvoters. Different groups may have different preferences for candidates and policies, but only that small group of voters gets heard. And once in office, politicians care more about what their voters say than about their constituents writ large, said Shauna Shames, a political science professor at Rutgers-Camden. "Of course, if you're somebody who takes your job as representative seriously, you're thinking about everybody," Shames said. "But within 'everybody' there are different circles of importance, and the people who are going to vote the next time, that's a big circle. You're probably paying more attention to their issues." That means uneven turnout among interest groups is more significant than low turnout. "Young people have usually pretty different political issues from older people; lower-income folks tend to be more supportive of government programs and services than more affluent people are," said Mallory SoRelle, a government and law professor at Lafayette College in Easton. Sophie Bodek, 21, another Penn student who graduated Monday, had representation in mind when she thought about Tuesday's election. "I feel like I should be voting in all of the elections, just because you should be involved in politics. Especially in this election, after there are so many women running and other people who should have their voices heard," she said. "And so I should be more attuned to that and try to elect different, more diverse voices to office. So that, especially, this election, is important. But otherwise I think it's a civic duty that you ought to be doing." Turnout might be higher than we think. Then again, maybe lower Turnout numbers aren't necessarily accurate, and that's not a wholly bad thing. In the case of the Penn precinct, it's unclear how many of those registered voters still live there. Once they graduate, they may never vote in Philadelphia again. But for several elections, they'll remain on the voter rolls. For highly mobile populations, including homeless people and low-income families that move often, updating voter registrations can be near the bottom of a long list of things to do after each move. Officials have to balance two noble but competing interests: Having accurate and up-to-date voter rolls is important; it's also important not to disenfranchise people, and experts said registration already poses a barrier, and being unnecessarily purged from the rolls can exacerbate the problem. "List maintenance is vital to the integrity of elections," Jonathan Marks, the state's elections commissioner, said in an email. "It is also essential that the procedures be carried out with precision and due diligence to avoid the inadvertent elimination of any eligible voters from the rolls." In Pennsylvania, election officials can change registrations based on certain information provided formally: A change of address with the postal service, a change of address with PennDot, a death certificate from state or local officials. Otherwise, it takes time. Years. After five years, registrants who have not voted in two federal general elections are sent a notice in the mail. If they do not respond and do not vote for an additional two federal general elections, they are removed. "You're missing 14 elections before you're inactive. That means all those presidentials and gubernatorials and mayorals and all that in-between," said Philadelphia City Commissioner Al Schmidt, an election officer. "Fourteen elections in a row is a really significant number of elections to miss." So a college freshman who registers to vote might never again vote at that address, but will remain on the rolls for several years after graduating. And for every election in between, that ghost student contributes to low turnout. "Imagine, year after year, students come and students go, but their voter registration lives on past the time that they've left the city," Schmidt said. "That is not a voter-fraud situation. That is inactive voters who remain on the rolls because of state and federal requirements for making them inactive and then canceling them." On the other hand, many eligible voters do not register, and the turnout figure does not take them into account. In the end, primary elections are decided by a tiny minority of all the adults who could vote. Bodek, the Penn student who said she was particularly interested in last week's election because of the diverse array of candidates, went home to the suburbs to be with her family Monday afternoon after commencement. The few minutes it would have taken to vote would entail a lengthy round-trip drive. So instead of being one of the 21 people who voted in her precinct, Bodek was one of the 713 who didn't. "I do feel a little bad," she said. "But clearly not bad enough to vote." Staff writer Jonathan Tamari contributed to this article. Sharonell Fulton holds a photo of some of the children she has fostered. Read more Opening a legal front in an ongoing battle, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's social services agency has accused the city of religious discrimination for suspending its foster-care placement contracts because the agency refuses to place children with same-sex couples. In a federal lawsuit filed late Wednesday, lawyers for Catholic Social Services and three foster parents are asking a judge to order the city to resume its contracts and award damages. It said the March 15 decision halting future placements puts politics over children. "Unsurprisingly, the city's actions are creating a severe human cost," the suit says. "Available foster homes are sitting empty." City officials on Friday would not comment on the lawsuit but defended their decision to stop foster-care placements through the church agency. "As Catholic Social Services works on the city's behalf, we cannot allow discrimination against qualified couples who are ready to take on this important role simply because of who they are," said a statement from spokeswoman Deana Gamble. Catholic Social Services and a second faith-based agency, Bethany Christian Services, came under fire after the Inquirer and Daily News reported in March that Bethany had turned away a same-sex couple who sought to become foster parents. City officials said such a stance violates its contract rules, which prohibit discrimination against individuals based on sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. They suspended the contracts and launched a Human Relations Commission investigation into the practice. At the same time, the city put out an urgent call for about 300 more foster families. The two agencies together collect about $3 million a year from the city for foster-care reimbursements, and had placed more than 230 children in city foster homes. Bethany is not a party to the legal fight, but in a statement Friday said, "It is our hope that government and community organizations can work together in partnership to be part of the solution, offering services to vulnerable children and families." The lawsuit was filed by Becket, a Washington-based law firm that specializes in religious liberty cases. The Philadelphia foster parents named as plaintiffs are Sharonell Fulton, Cecelia Paul, and Toni Lynn Simms-Busch, who the suit says will no longer or will unlikely be able to foster children if Catholic Social Services is forced to close its program. According to the suit, Paul has worked with Catholic Social Services for 46 years and has fostered 133 children. She had been honored by the city in 2015 as one of its Foster Parents of the Year for her care. Simms-Busch previously worked as a foster-care social worker with a private agency and later as a child-advocate social worker who spent four years working at the Defender Association of Philadelphia, according to the lawsuit. She now cares for two very young foster children and chose to work with Catholic Social Services because of the agency's high level of care and her religious beliefs, it says. Fulton has fostered more than 40 children for more than 25 years and shares the religious beliefs of Catholic Social Services, the suit says. She has cared for children with significant medical needs and is caring for two special-needs foster children. "If the city terminates its contract with Catholic Social Services, or refuses to renew the contract in June, Ms. Fulton's two current foster children will be immediately transferred away," the suit says. Ken Gavin, a spokesman for the Philadelphia Archdiocese, said the archdiocese was "extremely disappointed" with the March decision, at a time that he said the city is "in a foster care crisis." "We hope and pray for relief from the courts so that we can continue to serve children and young people in need," Gavin said in a statement. One of the Becket lawyers, Lori Windham, noted that the agency's contracts with the city were not suspended because of any complaints by individuals about the service provided by Catholic Social Services. "The city is discriminating against them [Catholic Social Services] because of its religious belief," she said Friday. "The city is refusing to place children with parents just because those parents choose to work with Catholic Social Services." The lawsuit cites past U.S. Supreme Court decisions, including a 2017 decision in which the court held in favor of a Lutheran preschool that claimed religious discrimination after it had been denied a state grant for playground resurfacing. Rue Landau, executive director of the Human Relations Commission, said the commission had been conducting an investigation to determine if Catholic Social Services' policies and practices have intentional or unintentional discriminatory effects. She said Friday that the investigation has been stalled because of the lawsuit, but didn't elaborate, instead saying, "We are assessing our next steps in light of the litigation." When the lawyer for Philadelphia celebrity chef Jose Garces revealed the maneuver, it left his embittered business partners angry and dumbfounded. "This," said Jason Spiro, lawyer for Tom and Maria Spinner, "would rank as one of the most disgusting sham performances I've witnessed as a lawyer. It's about as low as you can get." The dispute that so upset Spiro unfolded last month at Garces' company board meeting in the offices of a Center City law firm. Garces' lawyer had unveiled a proposal to get around the partners' vehement opposition to the chef's plan to declare bankruptcy and sell out to a Louisiana food chain a plan that could cost his original partners millions. In a boardroom gambit that Garces' side said was perfectly legal, the chef divided his ownership stake into three corporate pieces and thus was able to outvote his two partners, 3-2, to approve filing for bankruptcy. In a hearing Monday, a federal judge will begin determining the legality of Garces' move and the future of the struggling restaurant empire created by the ambitious Philadelphia chef and entrepreneur. Lawyers for Garces and his opponents have filed a blizzard of legal motions, including a transcript of that contentious April 26 vote at the law office. That transcript and other documents provide an unusually unvarnished look at the dispute between Garces and the investors who had bet on his culinary genius a dozen years before when the chef opened Amada, the Old City restaurant that secured his reputation. Garces' bankruptcy plan would cost him control of his company but would free Garces of massive debts and release him from multimillion-dollar liens on his Center City home and Bucks County farm. But it also would leave those early partners food purveyor Jim Sorkin and New Jersey insurance magnate Tom Spinner and his wife, Maria out in the cold, cut off from future profits. In Sorkin's case, he would be stuck with a $3 million tab for goods his family firm trucked to Garces' restaurants. Sorkin, now 47, and the Spinners, in their 60s, put up $100,000 each to open Amada, as did Garces, 45, who also personally signed for a $700,000 small-business loan. Spinner and Sorkin also were financial angels for Tinto and Village Whiskey, two Garces restaurants near 20th and Sansom Streets that are said to remain highly profitable. Spinner was a natural to link up with Garces; he is the scion of a family that has been in the Philadelphia food trade for a century. The Spinners grew close with Garces after he mentored one of their sons as a chef. Garces has started as many as 30 restaurants since opening Amada. But he quietly put his remaining 15 or so restaurants on the block last summer, climaxing a skid that began in 2014 with the closure of the high-end Revel casino in Atlantic City, where Garces had opened four restaurants. His fiscal woes deepened after he tried to recoup by opening a new Amada in New York City. Garces closed the restaurant this spring after losing hundreds of thousands of dollars. A suitor from Louisiana As part of his bankruptcy plan, Garces has lined up a suitor for his enterprises, Ballard Brands, a firm near New Orleans that operates about 150 restaurants under a variety of names. One of its prized items is a pancake as big as a pizza cuisine seemingly a bit downscale from the Garces approach. On Friday, Garces disclosed new details about the Ballard offer. The firm has agreed to pay $2 million in cash to acquire Garces' restaurants; to cover an additional $2.8 million in prepaid gift cards and catering deposits; and to pay an additional $1.3 million in other bills, including money for employees given "retention" deals. The trouble is, as Garces has also disclosed, his businesses owe about $7 million to M&T Bank, in Buffalo, and an additional $7 million to other creditors. The biggest of those by far is Sorkin's food-distribution business, owed $3.2 million. Experts agree that under bankruptcy rules, the $2 million in cash would overwhelmingly go to the bank, a secured creditor. The unsecured creditors, notably Sorkin's business, would get little or nothing. Judge Jerrold N. Poslusny Jr., sitting in federal bankruptcy court in Camden, has scheduled hearings on the case for Monday morning. He is expected to rule relatively quickly. Should Garces prevail, his restaurant chain would be put up for auction in a sale in which, in effect, the Ballard Brand offer would become the floor for all bids. His lawyers say that the prospect of buying his operation has stirred considerable interest and that an auction could draw many bidders. They are pushing for an auction as early as June 14. Garces' restaurants Amada, Village Whiskey, Tinto, Buena Onda, the Olde Bar, Volver and JG Domestic and the event/catering division are among those included in the filing, as are his management companies for several other restaurants. (Garces Trading Co. and the Distritos in University City and Moorestown were not included in filings.) Sorkin and the Spinners contend that Amada, Village Whiskey, and Tinto may not be part of any bankruptcy proceeding. In a recent lawsuit against Garces filed in the Pennsylvania courts, they say that Garces improperly siphoned off money from those three places in a vain bid to bail out his other losing locations. Garces contends that the investors knew all along that the early restaurants were integrated into "a larger enterprise." In the fight, the Garces camp says that the Skinners and Sorkin rejected a $1.5 million offer to settle the dispute. The investors say the proposal amounted to a problematic promise of future payments, not a cash offer. The quarrel between the partners has grown heated. Lawyers for Garces' partners have freely expressed their outage, while Garces hired the crisis-public relations firm Ceisler Media and retained lawyer George Bochetto to safeguard his image. Anger in the boardroom In a filing last week, Sorkin's lawyer, William Harvey, complained bitterly about the board stratagem that Garces used to get into bankruptcy court. Harvey did not mince words. He called it "shocking, fraudulent, unethical, and absolutely unenforceable under Pennsylvania law." Going into the April 26 meeting, it seemed that there was a 2-1 majority against filing for bankruptcy. Opposed were Sorkin and the Spinners, voting a single vote as Spinner Family Holdings. But then Garces' lawyer, Warren J. Martin Jr., stunned the others with the news: On the very day of the meeting, Garces had transferred slivers of his holdings to two other businesses GR300 LLC and Garces Catering 300 LLC that he owned 100 percent. Thus, when the vote came, a proxy for Garces cast three votes on his behalf for a corporate bankruptcy. The measure had passed 3-2, Martin announced. (Garces himself did not attend the meeting.) "That's hilarious," Harvey responded immediately. "That's not going to fly. In fact, that's fraud. That's actionable fraud." In filings since, the investors say the move blatantly violated the operating agreements they and Garces signed years ago. They point to language that bans the addition of new owners or a bankruptcy filing without a majority approval. At the meeting, Martin was imperturbable, pointing to language in the agreement that he said trumped the other restrictions and permitted the action, as long as Garces had transferred a part of his stake to himself, and not an outsider. Garces' opponents were having none of it. "I don't agree at all," Harvey said. "In fact, what you're forcing us to do now is go to court." The dispute will resume Monday at 10 a.m. in Courtroom 4C in federal bankruptcy court in Camden. This story has been updated. FILE Pro-choice advocates hold signs outside the U.S. Supreme Court before rulings in Washington on June 27, 2016. Read more WASHINGTON The Trump administration is proposing a far-reaching change in the distribution of Title X family-planning funds that would make clinics that provide abortion services or referrals ineligible for the federal funding. The move would potentially defund Planned Parenthood by millions of dollars. Under the proposal filed Thursday and announced Friday by the Department of Health and Human Services, the $260 million program would require a "bright line" of physical and financial separation between Title X services and providers that perform or support abortion services or refer to abortion as a method of family planning. These requirements are similar to those that were in place, although not enforced, during Ronald Reagan's presidency. Unlike the Reagan regulation, the proposal will not prohibit counseling for clients about abortion. It does, however, take away the requirement that providers must offer pregnant women the opportunity for "neutral" and fact-based counseling regarding pregnancy termination unless she indicates she does not wish to receive such information. Neither the White House nor HHS would comment publicly on the proposal, which was sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget for an interagency review. But antiabortion activists received a briefing by phone from administration officials on Friday and were quick to praise the measure as evidence of President Donald Trump's commitment to their cause. Jeanne Mancini, president of the antiabortion group March for Life, praised the administration in a statement Friday for taking action to direct taxpayer dollars to centers that do not promote or perform abortions. "This money will now be redirected to comprehensive family health and planning centers that don't perform abortions and understand that abortion is not health care," she said. "The pro-life grass roots will be pleased to see President Trump deliver on yet another pro-life promise, and we look forward to continued progress is restoring a culture of life here in the United States." Trump has delivered on several top priorities for abortion foes since taking office. He has appointed several judges with a history of opposition to abortion to federal appellate courts, including Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. He reimposed a provision that bars federal funds from going to groups overseas that provide abortion referrals, which is known as the Mexico City policy. He signed legislation that allows states to withhold federal Title X funds from facilities that provide abortion services. And his administration has attempted to curtail the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, which funds comprehensive sex education programs that can include information about abortion. Many family planning experts, by contrast, said the plan could deprive Americans of access to the services they need to prevent unintended pregnancies. Title X-funded health centers provide several basic services such as cancer screenings, birth control, sexually-transmitted-infection screenings, pregnancy testing and well-woman exams. While the changes do not affect the level of funding the government is providing, there has been a lot of alarm about how difficult it would be for smaller, community-based providers to absorb the vast number of patients served by Planned Parenthood. The organization which receives $50 million to $60 million in Title X funds and serves an estimated 41 percent of the 4 million patients who receive care through the program is by far the largest recipient of the grants. The policy would have ripple effects far beyond Planned Parenthood. Susan Buchanan, chief executive of the Boulder Valley Women's Health Center, said in an interview Friday that it "puts us in the position of having to make a Hobbesian choice" of having to choose between the 90 percent of the clinic's patients that get a range of services from the clinic and the 10 percent that receive abortions. The center is the only Title X recipient in Colorado that provides abortions, and the funding accounts for $550,000, or roughly 20 percent, of its annual budget. Buchanan noted that the state had made major strides between 2009 and 2014 through the privately-funded Colorado Family Planning Initiative, which focused on providing women with long-acting reversible contraceptives. The state's teen birthrate dropped 50 percent during that five-year period, she said, avoiding at least $66 million in spending on entitlement programs such as food stamps. The center uses its federal funding to operate a free clinic for teenagers, which allows young women to obtain contraception without telling their parents or having to file insurance claims. "They're shooting themselves in the foot, really," she said. This week, more than 200 members of Congress including Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., expressed their opposition to the change in a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar. "The move would disproportionately impact communities of color, the uninsured, and low-income individuals, and could reverse progress made in critical areas," they wrote. Planned Parenthood as well as other proponents, such as Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, D, said Friday they were prepared to challenge the proposed rule in court. It will take several months before the rule will take effect, because HHS must first subject it to public comment, respond to that feedback, and issue a final version of the proposal. "Washington has been, and will continue to be, a state that stands with women and their right to safe and legal abortion and reproductive care," Inslee said in a statement. "Attorney General Bob Ferguson is exploring our legal options, and if this administration insists on weaponizing the Title X program, I will work our legislative leaders to make sure that no matter what happens in DC, every woman in Washington state has access to all the family planning and health care services she needs." Conservatives are confident that the new rules will withstand a legal challenge because similar Reagan-era requirements overcame a Supreme Court challenge. David Christensen, vice president of government affairs for the Family Research Council, said in an interview that those standards required operations receiving Title X funds to be physically and financially separate from those performing abortions. "Under Reagan, they could not be co-located, they couldn't refer for abortion," Christensen said. In a conference call with reporters Friday, Planned Parenthood's leaders characterized the new rules as "draconian" and "an attack" on women's basic rights and safe, legal abortion. "It's completely outrageous that a small group of people's ideological views are being pressed through these government agencies onto women's health care across the country," said Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of the organization. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists expressed deep concern about the anticipated changes, which the group says go far beyond the abortion debate. "Anticipated changes to Title X pose an egregious intrusion in the patient-provider relationship and may force physicians to omit essential, medically accurate information from their patient counseling," Hal Lawrence III, the group's executive vice president and chief executive, said in a statement. An administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the rule had not been issued yet, said that the changes would not necessarily result in the defunding of Planned Parenthood as long as the group is willing to "disentangle" their abortion-related services from family-planning services. However, Planned Parenthood officials have argued that informing women of all their choices including abortion is an integral part of the family-planning discussion, and on Friday, its leaders reiterated that they would not waver from that commitment. Buchanan noted that eight years ago, it separated its family planning and abortion provider operations to comply with requirements imposed by then-Gov. Bill Owens, R, but was disqualified from receiving state family planning funds anyway. "We separated into two different corporate structures. We had separate books, insurance, separate boards, separate everything," she said. "It doesn't matter what you do, they'll figure out a way to disqualify you. GRAND MEADOW Bear Creek Lutheran Church will host its annual Memorial Day dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 28. The cost is $9 for adults, $5 for children 6 to 12 and $1.50 for preschool children. The menu includes ham, scalloped potatoes, carrots, coleslaw, rolls, coffee and lemonade. The church is at 74727 265th St. in Grand Meadow. For more information, call 507-754-5914. Walking tour explores Franciscan values A walking tour called "Hallowed Earth: Exploring Franciscan Values" will be held 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at Assisi Heights Spirituality Center. Explore the topography of Assisi Heights 110 acres held sacred by Franciscan values of caring for the soil, respecting and living in harmony with the wildlife, and compassion for those who seek solace and peace by walking the earth. Experience some healing ways of cultivating personal renewal through this contemplative walk. You are encouraged to wear walking shoes. Sister Marlys Jax will guide this expedition. Cost is $10 preregistered, $15 on the day of program. To register, call 280-2195 or go to www.rochesterfranciscan.org. Youre invited to A Green Pilgrimage The public is invited to "A Green Pilgrimage," which will be conducted 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on grounds of Assisi Heights Spirituality Center. As winter has waned, the natural beauty of Assisi Heights has unfolded. Sister Marlys Jax will discuss the history of the land, conservation practices of prairie, solar panels and other environmental issues. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a walking stick if you so desire. Cost is $10 preregistered, $15 on the day of program. To register, call 280-2195 or go to www.rochesterfranciscan.org. Sister to celebrate 100th birthday Sister Margaret Clare Style will celebrate her 100th birthday with congregation and family at Assisi Heights on June 3. She joined the Rochester Franciscan Congregation in 1937, professing vows in 1940. Her most fond memories include the summers spent in Winona, attending classes at the College of St. Teresa, where she earned a bachelors degree, and Winona State College, where she her masters degree. Born third in a family of 12 children, Sister Margaret Clare has eight brothers are who deceased. Only the four sisters are still living, of she is the oldest. Her years in active ministry were spent teaching primary and intermediate students in parish schools, including time spent as principal of a junior high school. In total, she spent 42 years in the classroom. Today, Sister Margaret Clare is retired and keeps engaged in activities at Assisi Heights. A student at Santa Fe High School in Texas killed ten people today and wounded ten more, according to reports. The attacker used two guns a shotgun and a .38 revolver. Both were owned legally by his father, according to the same reports. One of the wounded was a retired police officer hired by the school as a resources officer. He confronted the killer, who shot him. Another resources officer also engaged the killer. This occurred early on and is thought to have limited the bloodshed. I believe armed school personnel are the key to ending the rash of school shootings because their ability to thwart shooters will deter these losers from attacking and, if not, prevent them from achieving their deadly aim. However, as I wrote yesterday after an attack in Illinois was thwarted by a police officer assigned to the school, it may take multiple armed good guys to provide safety and deterrence. Todays shootings suggest that two might not be enough. The erosion of traditional values, including respect for life, coupled perhaps with the stress associated with rapid societal change, especially in technology, has made every school in America a potential killing field. Shooting up schools seems almost like a fad among a certain kind of deeply alienated, amoral misfit. Its time to recognize this reality and to combat it directly. Since schools are now potential combat zones, we must make sure that those charged with protecting students have the firepower needed to win the battles at their inception. In addition to armed personnel, metal detectors are key. There are additional measures that can and probably should be taken, but superior firepower and metal detectors are prerequisites. Parents should demand them of the schools their children attend and strongly consider sending their kids elsewhere if the demand is not met. JOHN adds: Bearing in mind that early reports are often wrong, a few additional points may be worth mentioning. * A second person has been taken into custody and is described as a possible accomplice. So this might be a Columbine-type situation. Time will tell. * The murderer, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, reportedly told authorities that he had intended to commit suicide, but found that he didnt have the courage to commit the suicide. You can supply your own comment, mine is unprintable. * Multiple explosive devices (e.g., pressure cookers) have been found in and around the school. It isnt clear whether some of the injuries were caused by such devices, or whether all the victims were shot. * Democrats wasted no time climbing on their favorite hobby horses. The Mayor of Dallas tweeted: My statement on the latest mass murder of American children, this time in #SantaFe, Texas. This must stop. pic.twitter.com/gtkCjLzPWv Mike Rawlings (@Mike_Rawlings) May 18, 2018 What, exactly, does he want Congress to do? Confiscate all shotguns and revolvers? And pressure cookers? I honestly have no idea. There must be a special place in Hell for politicians who try to take advantage of human suffering when they have absolutely nothing constructive to offer. Why was the Watergate break-in more than just the second rate burglary Richard Nixon tried to pass it off as? Because it was directed by the presidents team at the Democratic National Committee. Thus, it was an offense against our two party system and our democracy. One political party is not supposed to steal information from the other party, and certainly not in the midst of a presidential campaign. It now appears that the FBI had an informant inside the Trump campaign [see Update]. That informant was doing essentially the same thing the Watergate burglars were trying to accomplish obtain by stealth information about what one of the two major party candidates for president was doing. The informant probably did not engage in illegal conduct like the Watergate burglars did, but the affront to the two party system is similar. The Watergate burglars had ties to the intelligence community but they were not FBI agents or informants, nor did the FBI deploy them, as apparently occurred in 2016. But this distinction doesnt make the 2016 spying more innocuous than the 1968 break-in. Indeed, if the FBI had been behind the Watergate the incident would, if anything, have been more scandalous than it was. The Watergate burglars were associated with pro Nixon forces, including the Committee for the Re-Election of the President. The informant on the Trump campaign was not dispatched by an avowedly political organization, but rather by the FBI. But the FBI was part of the Obama administration, and President Obama actively backed Trumps opponent. We know, moreover, that key members of the FBI wanted desperately for Trump to lose. Andrew McCabe, Peter Strzok, and Lisa Page may have lacked the direct connection to a presidential campaign that those behind the Watergate break-in e.g. Jeb Magruder had, but its not a stretch to view them in a similar light. In addition, there are indications that the White House was in the loop on their anti-Trump activities. The appalling James Clapper calls it a good thing if the FBI spied on the Trump campaign. Why? Because the bureau was trying to find out what the Russians were doing to try to substantiate [sic] themselves in the campaign or influence or leverage it. Here, Clapper harks back to another instance of domestic spying the FBIs surveillance of Martin Luther King. The FBI said it was investigating links between King and communists. One of Kings most trusted counselors, attorney Stanley David Levison, had secretly served as one of the top two financiers for the Communist Party USA in the years just before he met King. Theres no evidence that King was a communist. However, J. Edgar Hoover arguably had a stronger basis for investigating Kings ties to communism, at least initially, than the FBI had for investigating Trumps ties to Russia. The main basis, or pretext, for investigating Trumps ties to Russia became the dossier ginned up by his political opponents. Political operatives can always gin up something about the other side that sounds improper (e.g. Obama was born outside the U.S.) or even sinister (e.g., the Clintons had Vince Foster killed). If thats all it takes to get the FBI to spy on the political campaign of the out-of-power partys candidate and thats all it seems to have taken here then the Watergate break-in does begin to look like a second-rate burglary by comparison. UPDATE: The Washington Post, relying on FBI sources, says that the FBI used a retired American professor as its informant about the Trump campaign. Offering to provide foreign policy expertise to the campaign, he reportedly met separately, and spoke with, Carter Page, Sam Clovis (Trump campaign co-chairman), and George Papadopoulos. Thats the official story at this point. The Post nonchalantly adds: The FBI commonly uses sources and informants to gather evidence and its regulations allow for use of informants even before a formal investigation has been opened. In many law enforcement investigations, the use of sources and informants precedes more invasive techniques such as electronic surveillance. Right. But the FBI does not commonly use sources and informants to gather evidence against the presidential campaign of the out-of-power candidate. Remember too that the FBI moved on from evidence gathering by its informant to the more invasive technique of electronic surveillance. It did so by tapping Carter Pages phone as a point of entry into some private discussions of the Trump campaign. When I talk to Trump-haters, invariably the first thing they cite against him is his tweets. And, in truth, they have sometimes been impolitic. But on the whole, I think Twitter has helped him. This Associated Press news story illustrates why. President Donald Trumps attorney said Friday the special counsel in the Russia probe has narrowed the scope of potential questions for the president, even as Trump advanced an unverified theory that the Justice Department planted a spy in his 2016 campaign It comes from the New York Times, so, yeah, its unverified. and is now out to frame him. Thats true. Much of the article deals with Rudy Giulianis negotiations with Bob Mueller, which I will skip. His comments came after Trump sent out an early morning tweet that seemed intended to undercut the ongoing Russia investigation, which he has repeatedly called a witch hunt. Promoting a theory that is circulating in conservative circles, Trump quoted Fox Business anchor David Asman and tweeted: Apparently the DOJ put a Spy in the Trump Campaign. This has never been done before and by any means necessary, they are out to frame Donald Trump for crimes he didnt commit. Everyone who pays attention knows that the Hillary Clinton campaign colluded with unknown (and possibly fictitious) Russians, through the Perkins, Coie law firm and Fusion GPS, to fabricate smears against Donald Trump. On the other hand, it is clear that neither Mueller nor anyone else has evidence that anyone in the Trump campaign (unlike Perkins, Coie) colluded with Russians. And, while the details are still unknown, it is blindingly obvious that the FBI, and in all likelihood the CIA, not only spied on the Trump campaign but colluded with the Clinton campaign to spread the lies that were generated by the Clinton campaign through Fusion GPS. Of course, the AP has never reported any of this. To them, it is a theory that is circulating in conservative circles. Last week, the National Review raised the question of a possible FBI spy on Trumps campaign. Since when does the AP report on National Review articles? The article cites work by Rep. Devin Nunes, an ardent Trump supporter and head of the House intelligence committee Dont listen to Nunes, he is an ardent Trump supporter! who has demanded information on an FBI source in the Russia investigation. Whats funny is that the AP, having introduced the fact that an FBI informant spied on the Trump campaign as a theory that is circulating in conservative circles, now more or less admits that it appears to be true: The New York Times reported separately this week that at least one government informant met several times with Carter Page and George Papadopoulos, both former foreign policy advisers on Trumps Republican campaign. The newspaper attributed the information to current and former FBI officials. In a tweet Thursday, Trump cited the National Review article suggesting that the FBI source was really a confidential informant in the campaign. If so, this is bigger than Watergate! he tweeted. If true, it is 1,000 times bigger than Watergate. But until now, wild horses couldnt have pulled the facts that have been steadily emerging about the real scandals of the 2016 election out of the AP. Why does the AP grudgingly cover them now? Because they were tweeted by President Trump. Democratic Party outlets like the Associated Press know that millions of people understand quite a bit about the brewing Obama FBI/CIA/Fusion GPS/Clinton campaign/FISA scandalnot just the eggheads who read National Review, but the great many who follow the president on Twitter, or see accounts of his tweets elsewhere. More than anyone else, it is President Trump who has stood up to the swamp in the person of Bob Mueller, and is forcing the Democratic Party press to begin covering the real story of the 2016 election. Polish President Andrzej Duda visited the Illinois National Guard base in Kankakee on Friday evening (local time), where he met with US soldiers of Polish descent and spoke about cooperation between the National Gurad and Poland's Territorial Defence Force. The Polish head of state flew to the base from Chicago aboard a Black Hawk helicopter. Speaking to reporters, President Duda stressed that the base was "a site of service of our friends." "Cooperation between the Polish Army and the Illinois National Guard has lasted for 25 years. It started in 1993, when Poland was aspiring to become a NATO member," the Polish President said. He underlined that "it was Polish-US military cooperation with the Illinois National Guard which helped consolidate the ties that finally led our country to the North Atlantic Alliance." The President empasised that "the common service of Polish and US troops from the National Guard in Iraq, Afghanistan, Chad, Bosnia and Kosovo contributed to the consolidation of these ties and helped get better acquainted with each other." "And this common service also means much friendship and confidence building to Poles, who - as I heard today from US officers - are great soldiers," he went on to say. President Duda expressed his hope that his visit to the base "will consolidate the current cooperation." "Today, a formation is being built in Poland, which is in a sense to look like the US National Guard," he said, adding he was speaking about the Territorial Defence Force. The President was accompanied during his visit to the base by the commander of the Polish Territorial Defence Force, General Wiesaw Kukua, the general commander of the armed forces, General Jarosaw Mika, and Polish defence attache at the Polish Embassy in Washington, General Cezary Wisniewski. "Our soldiers learnt much from their American colleagues; Americans helped us protect EURO 2012 and the NATO summit in Warsaw," the Presidnet added. General Mark Jackson of the Illinois National Guard also emphasised the long cooperation with Poland, stressing that over that time the National Guard had conducted over 300 bilateral operations jointly with Poland. (PAP) ( Read 6233 Times) Source : Udaipur. Shakti Pumps, a leading manufacturer of Energy Efficient stainless steel, Pumps and Solar Integrated Systems in India with exports to over 110 countries, today reportedtotal income of Rs. 440 crore for the year ended Mar 31, 2018 a 2% growth and Net Profit stands at Rs.34.84 crore a 60% growth.Commenting on the results, Mr. Dinesh Patidar, Chairman & Managing Director, Shakti Pumps Limited said, The results show that the company strategy is on course. Company has announced 37% of Dividend (Of Face Value) which is around 20% of Profit.Going forward we will continue to focus on Solar Projects by MNRE, State Govts, International Solar Alliance (ISA), NABARd, Etc and expand our export business by adding new new dealers/ distributors. The announcements in the Union Budget making renewable energy a prime focus specially solar energy will benefit the Company.Also there is in an announcement of KUSUM Yojna which target to convert 17.5 lakh diesel pumps in near terms and all 30 mn agriculture pumps with Solar Pumps in next 10 years. KUSUM is an ambitious long term Scheme focusing on Solar Pumps and Solar Generation with initial outlay of Rs 50000 cr. Recently company launched an Indigenous Universal Drive SIMHA, from Raipur (CG) Which is one of the initiatives of the Company to Make in India and Digital India. This drive is the result of hard work for five years of R&D Wing. This mobile app supported solar controller is completely in-house manufactured. Shakti Pumps also received recognition from Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, Ministry of Science & Technology (Govt of India) for In-house Research & Development Unit. ( Read 8533 Times) Source : Udaipur. Toyota Kirloskar Motor today launched its versatile sedan Yaris in India fueling excitement across country. As one of the most anticipated cars of the year, Yaris boasts of advanced and emotional design, superior comfort, shining ride quality and quietness, dynamic efficiency and class-leading safety and technology. Customers can make their bookings at any of the authorized Toyota dealerships across the country with deliveries beginning from today. Toyota expects to deliver around 1000 plus Yaris to customers on first day of the delivery.Based on the 'one nation one selling price' strategy*, Yaris is now available across all dealerships (All India) at the same price at an attractive range of 8, 75,000/- to 14, 07,000/. *Prices will be same across the country at ex-showroom level, however the final on road price may vary based on local road tax and levies. Unveiled earlier this year at the India Auto Expo 2018, the new sedan comes in four grades and mated to a 7 speed CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission) or 6 speed MT (Manual Transmission) engine, offering effortless and dynamic driving. Built on the Toyota philosophy of QDR, Yaris offers 11 first-in-segment features such as the Power Driver Seat, 7 SRS Airbags, Roof Mounted Air Vents, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, Front Parking Sensors, CVT across all grades and more.Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Akito Tachibana, Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor,said Toyota is here to deliver ever better cars that set a benchmark in safety, quality, durability and reliability. Indian car market is highly competitive and customer preferences are changing with time and exposure to globalized products. Yaris is the most celebrated sedan globally and comes loaded with range of first in segment features. We have prioritized customer safety in the car offering class leading safety features. We are happy that the strengths of the product has been recognized, we are confident that Yaris will be a standard on the Indian roads when it comes to matching up with the evolving taste of Indian customers. We would like to thank customers for the confidence and trust they have shown to Toyota products over the yearsCommenting on the overwhelming response, Mr. N. Raja, Deputy Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, We have received overwhelming response from customers across India. We are happy that in less than a month of announcing the price and opening the bookings, we have collected nearly two months equivalent of customer orders. In line with our customer first approach, we had started our production last month itself to cater to be able to match our supply to the customer demand and reduce the waiting period as much as possible. We look forward to shipping around 4000plus Yaris across the country for customers by the end of May.We hope to service all these customer orders by the end of this month which will take us amongst the top 3 in sales in the petrol segment. In addition we have 60000 plus customer enquiries on Yaris which gives us the confidence that the customers are recognizing the value propositions that this product has to offer in the market. With the test drives already having begun across the country we are sure to see more conversions into customer orders taking placeToyota has always strived to keep up with the evolving customer needs and with the Toyota Yaris we have ensured that we offer unbeatable safety, comfort, quality and excellent ride handling with advanced and emotional design elements. We are confident that this car will cater to customers with a discerning taste who are constantly on the lookout for something better. With the CVT option available across all grades it will also be well accepted by woman drivers in India. The Right to Self-Defense is the Core of Liberty- Heres Why Guest Contributor Josh Montgomery. May18th, 2018 Never Again. Its a vague but catchy motto splashing across social media at the end of posts demanding gun control to prevent school shootings. Anti-gun advocates, in mourning, fear, or pure delusion, throw the phrase at legislators and gun owners in their Tweets and on their signs in marches, painting them as villains for having opposingor even just slightly more nuancedviews outside of their activist echo chamber. Most recently, David Hogg rekindled the words when he announced the June 5 release of his book, #NeverAgain: A New Generation Draws the Line. Hogg is a Parkland survivor and self-perceived overnight gun rights, Constitution, and self-defense expert. In it, he will most likely demand irrational, impossible, ineffective laws by creating the tired false dilemma between those who feel safer with their Everyday-carry option, those who know and exercise their natural rights, and the lives of kids gunned down in spite of laws already in place. Hopefully, his gaff (besides the use of a hashtag in a book title) was unintentional, but it just goes to show how ignorant the anti-gun cause truly is. His generation is not the first demanding Never Again, and its not a new generation drawing the line, but one that had a chance to study history, see that their slogan is not new, and watch what happens when those words have force behind them. Popularized by human rights activists (as opposed to anti-liberty protesters) like Meir Kahane and Elie Wiesel, Never Again is the promise of billions, a solemn oath through gritted teeth, never to let another Holocaust occur, ever again, anywhere in society. They used it to unite groups of citizens for the betterment of society, and the protection of peace and freedom. The words stand sentinel, protecting and overlooking the ashes of the unknown prisoner, at Dachau. Upon the stones of the camps, and upon the lips of those who escaped them with their lives but lost nearly everything all the same, "Never Again" is not a platitude. It is not a publicity stunt. It is not docile or non-violent. It is a pact and we who know it will use force to uphold it if necessary. Gut-wrenching as it is to see the promise detached from its history and re-purposed into the flimsy lamentations of the social media generation, perhaps it is not so surprising. A recent survey showed that 22% of millennials haven't heard of the Holocaust, let alone studied it in any capacity. Two-thirds of the millennials surveyed were unable to define Auschwitz correctly. With fast-fading knowledge of perhaps the most pivotal period in modern history, its no wonder that students who dont study Nazi Germany are sure that their government would never turn on them. Theyre good citizens. Why wouldnt their government protect them? If these millennials couldn't even say what Auschwitz was, then they probably will not know anything about the 1938 Regulations Against Jews, which stripped Jews not only of their rights to own guns but also of the freedom to any weapons of self-defense. The Left blows this out of proportion, claiming that the Right thinks that gun control is to blame for the Holocaust. That is patently false, of course. One has to be willfully blind, however, not to see the connection and the high-stakes cautionary tale. Like most gun control laws throughout history, the Regulations Against Jews were not about public safety, but the advancement of an agenda. They laid the groundwork for atrocities that increased stepwise into the Final Solution. The Regulations disarmed government opponents in order to enable oppression. If Jews were better armed, would the Holocaust have been prevented? No, because there is not a cure for that level of hate and fear, especially when spread by intense propaganda campaigns. Should the 1938 Regulations be charged in history books as an accomplice to the unthinkable crime that followed? Absolutely. So what does all of this have to do with the Second Amendment, and the right to self-defense? Listed first as an unalienable right in the Declaration of Independence is the right to Life. Then comes Liberty. Millions were deprived of both of those at the hands of tyrants. The phrase "Never Again" promises that tyrants will never again be able to dispossess anybody of those rights. The promise is one to stand against tyranny and oppression and protect ourselves, and each other, by any means necessary. Tyrants do not coax people into submission. They do not arrive on the scene with patience and pamphlets. The people cannot allow their reduction to that limited capacity. One cannot reason with oppressors, for hate fuels them. One cannot talk down a dictator or even a mass shooter, or throw the US Criminal Code at them, for they already accepted that they are breaking laws because their mission is above the laws. All that is left, then, is for the people to arm themselves and stand bravely against the tyrant of the day. Therefore, we must vehemently defend the Second Amendment, because law-abiding citizens are just that- law abiders. If the right to self-defense is legally outlawed or even reduced, these upstanding friends and neighbors must decide between never again having an impact on oppressive forces or living as outlaws. If the Second Amendment takes a hit, it becomes vulnerable to more egregious usurpations until there is nothing left. Stripping individual rights ushers in a new era of radical oppression. When the government doesn't have a healthy fear of its citizens, when it gets its power not from the will of the people but from their inability to act, they control the news, the narrative of history, the religion, and the identity of every citizen. For example, look at the press. Under the First Amendment, they can print as much fake news as they want. The government cant shut them down. The Second Amendment is the insurance for the First. Without the Second, the government could and would tighten their grips on the press until fake news became government-sponsored, and ultimately the media would become a bald-faced, unabashed propaganda machine, and an institution of the government. If 22% (and counting) of the most active portion of the population can't identify history repeating itself, "Never Again" turns into "#NeverAgain." With gun control advocates like David Hogg at the helm, Never Again is Ozymandias, a once great and powerful king of oaths, quickly eroding into meaningless ruin in the middle of a knowledge desert. Without the right to self-defense, the original pledge is meaningless. The right to self-defense is the right to pursue knowledge and spread it. The right to self-defense is the right to remember, the right to tell the stories, and the power to look tyrants in the eye, stand firm as a group of citizens and human beings, and say Never Again. And mean it. Back to Top NEW DELHI, May 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A total of 547 students including 16 PhD scholars receive their graduation degrees Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee, Inventor of the World Wide Web, addresses the students during the ceremony Shiv Nadar University, a comprehensive, multidisciplinary and research-focused university, established under the aegis of Shiv Nadar Foundation, today celebrated its fourth convocation. The University awarded 16 PhDs, 85 Masters and 446 undergraduate degrees to its students. Together a total of 547 students from various streams including Engineering, Natural Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, Business and Arts have graduated from the University, making it the largest batch of graduating students till date. The Convocation began with a commencement address delivered by Prof. Ronald J. Daniels, President, the Johns Hopkins University. Later, the students were addressed by Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee, Inventor of the World Wide Web (www) who attended the event as special guest. Speaking at the Convocation, Dr S N Balakrishnan, Chancellor, Shiv Nadar University, said, "The Shiv Nadar University's Convocation is special every year as proud parents and faculty come together with our guests of honor to celebrate the impressive achievements of our graduating students. 2018 is special as we have 16 PhDs graduating from the University, an impressive achievement given that we are only seven years old as an institution. I am truly excited to think about the incredible opportunities that these students will have of finding solutions to complex problems as they head out into the world. With the broad-based education that every one of our students receive, they will be better placed to excel at new career paths that earlier generations couldn't have thought possible. At Shiv Nadar University we have always attempted to empower our young students to recognize and grasp these new opportunities and help shape a better tomorrow." Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee, Inventor of the World Wide Web and Prof. Ronald J. Daniels, President, the Johns Hopkins University congratulated the fresh graduates on their success. They also recognized the University's effort to inculcate holistic learning amongst its students, required to succeed in the careers of the 21st century." Shiv Nadar University, spread over a 286 acres campus, has a vibrant community of approximately 2,100 students, including more than 140 PhD scholars, and 400 faculty & staff members. The University offers a wide range of programs from the undergraduate to the doctoral levels and has five schools: Engineering, Natural Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, Management & Entrepreneurship and Extended Education & Professional Development. A total of 101 companies visited Shiv Nadar University to recruit 85% students, who opted for placements, from the graduating Class of 2018. Some of the leading organizations that have recruited students from the University include Morgan Stanley, OYO, Dell, Amazon, IBM, Ashok Leyland, Daikin, Tata Power, Coffee Day Beverages, Amul, Saint Gobain, Shapoorji Pallonji, Cognizant Dassault Systems, among others. Shiv Nadar University also announced that a substantial number of students have received graduate admission and financial aid offers from top institutions and Universities across the world. Some of the top ranked institutions (in India) to roll out admission offers to the students for further education included IISc Bangalore, and IIT Bombay. Graduating students have also received offers from top global institutions such as Purdue University, University of British Columbia, Rutgers University, IE Business School, Barcelona Graduate School of Economics, Trinity College Dublin, Carnegie Mellon, University of Texas at Dallas, Australian National University, and Michigan Tech University. SOURCE Shiv Nadar University "Ever since the engagement news broke, we started to get more enquiries for smile makeovers with the desired smile being that of Meghan," recalls Peter Joseph one of the Patient Concierge Managers at Harley Street Clinic. "Often patients would ask for a smile like Julia Roberts or Cheryl Cole, whereas now, it's all about the Meghan Markle effect, which is a true reflection of the influence that she has and indeed will continue as she is a real style icon for the 21st Century." Partnering with 8outdoor media, the celebrity dentists have some 70 giant digital billboards around the UK including one of the biggest billboards in Europe which are being seen by around 5 million people per day. "What's been hilarious is that tourists are arriving into the UK for the wedding and are taking pictures of the many wonderful tourist attractions in London but are getting photographed alongside our 'Make Your Teeth Sparkle Like Meghan Markle' signs and posting the pictures on social media around the world. "The signs also include a picture of the happy couple which shows a radiant Meghan with a beautiful smile and the warm message below wishing Prince Harry and Meghan a wonderful wedding day." "YourDentist.co.uk were the first clinic in the world to introduce chauffeur driven Bentleys for our Teeth In A Day patients as well as a private jet service for international patients," continued Peter from the Harley Street Clinic, which looks more like a boutique hotel than a dental clinic, "but the increase is enquiries has been, without doubt, all about Meghan Markle and her beautiful smile. In the last week alone, we have seen an unprecedented rise in calls for Meghan's Smile Makeovers which has resulted in a 1000% increase." Contact: Peter Joseph pr@yourdentist.co.uk +44 (0) 203 633 0255 Related Links http://www.yourdentist.co.uk/ SOURCE YourDentist.co.uk Of Harley Street SRINAGAR, May 19 (AP): Separatist leaders called for a shutdown in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Saturday as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a daylong visit to review development work and inaugurate road projects. The visit came a day after archrivals India and Pakistan shelled each others security posts and villages, killing four civilians on each side and an Indian soldier. Shops, businesses and schools were shut while thousands of paramilitary troops and police in flak jackets spread out across Kashmir and closed off roads with razor wire and iron barricades in anticipation of anti-India protests and clashes. Separatist groups that challenge Indias sovereignty over Kashmir called for the strike as well as a march to the commercial hub in the main city of Srinagar to protest Modis visit. Government forces enforced a security lockdown in downtown Srinagar, the urban heart of anti-India protests, as they warned residents to stay home. Road traffic was sparse, with buses staying off the roads and few cars venturing out. Authorities detained dozens of activists overnight and put separatist leaders under house arrest to stop them from staging the protest march. They also ordered schools and colleges to be closed for the day. Modi arrived in the remote mountainous Ladakh region bordering China and Pakistan, where he inaugurated work on a strategic 14-kilometer (9-mile) -long tunnel connecting the cold desert region with the Kashmir Valley. Later in Srinagar, Modi inaugurated remotely a controversial hydroelectric power project built in the Gurez Valley, just a few hundred meters (yards) from the highly militarized Line of Control that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. He dedicated the power station to the nation at a lakeside venue. Soldiers and commandos patrolled the roads leading to the venue and laid razor wire and erected road checkpoints to prevent protests and rebel attacks. Every stone, every weapon picked up by misguided youths destabilizes their own Jammu-Kashmir, Modi said in his speech, referring to anti-India protesters. Every issue, every problem has one solution: development, development and development. Pakistan has objected to the design of the power project, invoking the Indus Water Treaty. The neighboring countries signed the treaty in 1960, brokered by the World Bank, to share the vast water resources from the Indus River system, which supplies water to both. On Friday, Pakistan expressed serious concerns over the projects inauguration. The countrys foreign ministry said in a statement that the inauguration of the project without the resolution of the dispute is tantamount to violation of the Indus Waters Treaty. It said India continued with the construction of the project despite several rounds of bilateral negotiations as well mediation under the auspices of the World Bank. This intransigence on part of India clearly threatens the sanctity of the Treaty, the statement said. India has said in the past that the project design is within the parameters of the treaty and urged the bank to appoint a neutral expert. Meanwhile, dozens of Kashmiris tried to march to the main commercial center in Srinagar after defying security restrictions imposed on the assembly of more than four people in the city. Scores were also detained after shouting slogans demanding end of an Indian rule over Kashmir. Separatist leaders said India was using its might to crush the aspirations of Kashmiris. They said the Kashmir issue was not about inaugurating tunnels and trains or announcing economic packages in the name of development. Such things have been done since 1947, but these measures couldnt change or alter the basic nature of the Kashmir dispute, they said in a statement. People of Kashmir have been offering priceless sacrifices since the past seven decades solely for the resolution of the Kashmir issue. India and Pakistan each administer part of Kashmir, but both claim it in its entirety. Rebels have been fighting Indian rule since 1989, demanding Indian-controlled Kashmir be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. Most Kashmiris support the rebel cause while also participating in civilian street protests against Indian control. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training the rebels, a charge Pakistan denies. Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the uprising and the ensuing Indian military crackdown. ___ Associated Press writer Zarar Khan in Islamabad contributed to this report. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Director Benny Tjandra's action packed spectacle SYNDICATE SMASHER continues to break audience records for its distributor Cinema Epoch. The film has remained as the #1 movie for its distributor on Amazon Prime Video. The film stars an international cast including Mel Novak (Bruce Lee's Game of Death), Laurene Landon (Maniac Cop), Cambodian newcomer David Prak, Jon Miguel (Revenge of the Samurai Cop) and Supermodel Olya Lvova. Syndicate Smasher is the labor of love for Indonesian born filmmaker/stuntman Benny Tjandra and has been called "A non-stop action packed spectacle that makes John Woo films look like Gone With The Wind." The film has been submitted to the prestigious Guinness Worlds Records organization as the film with "The most guns, bullets and bullet shots ever depicted onscreen in a motion picture." The story follows a group of mercenaries hired as contract killers are hunted down by the Mafia, the Yakuza, the Russian Mob, and the Tongs all at once. Syndicate Smasher also co-stars a group of international veteran actors including Joe Estevez (Apocalypse Now), Arthur Roberts (Revenge of the Ninja), Eiji Inoue (Memoirs of a Geisha), Naoyuki Ikeda (Blue Dream) and Nic D'Avirro (Death Wish 3). Cambodian actor David Prak, who faced death while escaping his plight from the murderous Khmer Rouge Killing Fields, makes his spectacular big screen debut. Director Benny Tjandra says: "I've loved action movies all of my life, grown up with them. I love the classic guys like Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen and international directors like Sergio Leone, John Woo and Takeshi Kitano. I hope my film reflects such a unique hybrid and merging of cultures." Cinema Epoch President Gregory Hatanaka says: "Syndicate Smasher is not only a great action thriller but its multi-cultured cast and how it was made reflects modern day America. Benny (Tjandra) is certainly a no holds barred director to watch!" SYNDICATE SMASHER is now available on Amazon Prime Video and Cable VOD in selected markets. It will expand to other digital platforms across the country in August. For media inquiries, please contact syndicatesmasher(at)gmail(dot)com Syndicate Smasher Official Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/SyndicateSmasher88 Daniel Marshall is determined to find a way to help cigar connoisseurs trade up to a top quality humidor they can trust. Marshalls goal is to demonstrate and prove how much better cigars taste and how valuable the investment in cigars can become when properly cared for with a quality humidor. From his signature Daniel Marshall Campfires to his whisky and cigar pairing events, Marshall has become an industry expert on combining cigar community and culture over the past 35 years. DM Cash for Clunkers is the first program of its kind in the cigar world. Daniel and his team were inspired by the very popular Cash for Clunkers national automotive program where consumers were able to trade in their used cars in exchange for a cash voucher to apply toward the purchase of a new car. Since the initial launch of the "DM Cash for Clunkers Humidor" program last month, 135 happy customers have cashed in their clunker humidors for a beautiful DM Humidor. Every year we hear from countless humidor owners about how they would love to one day own a Daniel Marshall humidor, said Marshall. They often inquire about ways to trade up from their average humidor to an exquisite Daniel Marshal Humidor, considered to be the Rolls Royce of humidors. Marshalls humidors have received numerous awards and reviews including Cigar Aficionados #1 Humidor in the world rating. In an effort to bring these humidor dreams to reality for cigar enthusiasts, Marshall is now offering a limited number of customers a rare chance to own a trusted Daniel Marshall humidor that will become a cherished heirloom. The highly coveted humidors are designed to keep precious cigars in optimal aging condition, guaranteed for life. Marshall noted, "It has been our daily mission and purpose since 1982 to tell the story of the humidor and how vital the humidor is to care, protect and enhance the whole cigar experience. Throughout history, the humidor has been the stepchild to the cigar, not acknowledged or value-appreciated in many parts of the world. Now that more and more people enjoy the finest cigars made, they have witnessed that the most highly sought after, collected and top rated cigars in the world are aged for a very long time in a stable, top quality humidor. The finest of humidors can be trusted to replicate the environment of cigar growing regions. With the introduction of the program, it is my hope that more cigar enthusiasts can prove the benefits to themselves." Customers can trade in any humidor and receive a $100 voucher and complimentary UPS shipping label to mail in their clunker to Daniel Marshall. The voucher can be redeemed for one of three Daniel Marshall humidors. In the words of a few that have taken advantage of the program: "You make the 'Holy Grail of humidors, I need one." I saw the cash for clunker box my dad got. I want one! Thank you for crafting amazing tasty jewels. Im turning in my Clunker. I will be buying this DM humidor as a retiring gift to myself from my wife and sending in my clunker. 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For additional details regarding the program, please visit the Daniel Marshall website or participating points of sale nationwide: http://danielmarshall.com/cash-for-clunker-discount-cigar-humidors/ About Daniel Marshall: Daniel Marshall, a 35-year veteran of the cigar industry is one of the leading names in the cigar world. He is Cigar Aficionados No.1 rated Humidor designer and creator of the coveted 24kt Golden Cigar. DM Humidors & cigars are enjoyed in the homes and offices of countless Hollywood celebrities, US presidents, dignitaries, titans of industry, fashion designers and the most discriminating cigar lovers worldwide. Marshall is also a cigar and humidor supplier of Englands Royal Family. Since 1982, Daniel Marshall has created and designed for the prestigious luxury gift houses Dunhill, Tiffany & Co., S.T. Dupont, Cartier, Hermes, Fred Joaillier, Harrods, Bally of Switzerland and Garrards of London. Daniel Marshalls humidors are historic, with a collection on display at the Smithsonian Museum. One of DMs highly collectible Governor Schwarzenegger Humidors broke sales records in 2016 at Leonardo DiCaprios Foundation Gala Fundraiser in St. Tropez. This extremely rare humidor topped the charts for highest amount paid for a modern day humidor with new world DM Cigars, raising 750,000 euros. In September 2017, a 1 of 1 humidor DM made for Prince Albert II of Monaco with Daniel Marshall Cigars was put on the block and raised 75,000 Euros to benefit our global oceans. Visit Daniel Marshalls site at http://www.danielmarshall.com. You can also find Daniel Marshall on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/danielmarshallhumidorsandcigars or follow Daniel Marshall on Twitter @DMCigarWorld or Instagram @DMCigars for real-time updates. For Daniel Marshall: Trang Trinh, 714-973-8660, info(at)danielmarshall(dot)com PolyU showcases its latest innovations at the TechConnect World. Dr KAN Chi-wai and Dr Terence LAU have exchanges with potential collaborators in industry and academic fields The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) brings glory to Hong Kong again by winning two Global Innovation Awards at TechConnect World Conference and Expo 2018 staged in the United States. It is the second year in a row that PolyU research teams snatch the accolades in the worlds largest multi-sector summit for accelerating development and commercialization of innovations. The two PolyU winning innovations are [please refer to Annex for project details]:- Composite multilayers capacitors with colossal permittivity for electronics and energy storage applications Professor HAO Jianhua, Professor & Associate Head, and Ms TSE Mei-yan, Department of Applied Physics Low cost flame retardant treatment for cotton with co-catalyst system Dr KAN Chi-wai, Associate Professor, The Institute of Textiles and Clothing Dr Terence LAU, Director of Innovation and Technology Development of PolyU, said the awards received over two years are recognition of the efforts, dedication and achievements of our research faculty members. The University will continue to push the frontiers of innovation by nurturing a culture inducive to high impact multi-disciplinary projects. Our research endeavours will continue to contribute to our society and mankind. TechConnect grants awards to the top 15% of innovations submitted, with assessment based on the potential positive impact the submitted technology will have on a specific industry sector. Around 500 submissions from about 180 organisations were received this year. Among them, 25 are presented with global awards designated for non-US-federal-funded innovations across the world. Another 55 national awards are granted to innovations with US federal funding. The award receivers include many global-renowned institutions and premier research centres, such as Stanford University, UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), Argonne National Laboratory, IBM Research, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Naval Research Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, etc. For details, please refer to TechConnect official website: https://www.techconnectworld.com/World2018/participate/innovation/awards.html The PolyU delegation received the awards in person at the TechConnect World Conference and Expo 2018 held in Anaheim, California. At the 20th-anniversary event held from 13 to 16 May, PolyU showcased a total of 15 innovations to numerous members from the industry, government and academia sectors around the world. Besides attending various exchange sessions PolyU delegates also explored product development and cooperation opportunities with various industry end-users, multinational companies and academic institutions to strive for applying the innovations for bringing greater impacts to the world. Press Contacts Ir Steven LAM Manager, Innovation and Technology Development Office Phone: (852) 3400 2864 Email: steven.tf.lam(at)polyu.edu.hk The American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) is pleased to announce the selection of Elizabeth G. (Libby) Baxley, MD, to become its next Senior Vice President beginning July 1, 2018. As Senior Vice President, Dr. Baxleys major initial focus will be to lead all aspects of ABFM activity that relate to the experience of board certified family physicians with ABFM, including residency, the early clinical years, credentials, and communications. A first priority of our efforts is engagement of diplomates as we work to make Family Medicine Certification as valuable as possible, commented Warren Newton, MD, MPH, President and CEO Elect of the American Board of Family Medicine. Dr. Baxleys dedication to the discipline of family medicine and her passion for education will prove invaluable as she works with diplomates to evolve the process of continuing certification. I am pleased that she has accepted the challenge to enhance all aspects of diplomate experience with the ABFM. A graduate of Clemson University, Dr. Baxley received a Doctor of Medicine from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. She completed a family medicine residency at Anderson Family Practice Residency in South Carolina followed by the Faculty Development Fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is currently the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Family Medicine at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, where she has served since May 2012. In that role, she led a pioneering curriculum redesign with an emphasis on integration of training in health system science competencies: patient safety, quality improvement, population health, and interprofessional education. Brody was one of only 11 medical schools nationally to be selected by the AMA in their Accelerating Change in Medical Education initiative. Prior to that she spent 18 years at the University of South Carolina (USC) School of Medicine, serving as Family Medicine Residency Director, school-wide Director of Faculty Development, and Chair of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. Her work has focused heavily on health care delivery system redesign and teaching about patient safety and quality improvement. A faculty advisor for Institute for Healthcare Improvement Open School chapters at both USC and Brody School of Medicine, she is also one of the co-founders of the I3 Collaborative, which has led residency practice redesign in primary care teaching practices across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. Dr. Baxley has an outstanding track record of leadership in Family Medicine, having taught and provided full-scope family medicine throughout the greater part of her 31-year career. In addition to her roles as a prior board member and board chair of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) and the AAFPs Residency Assistance Program Panel of Consultants, she served on the ABFM Board of Directors from 2013-2018. During her tenure on the board, she served on the certification, credentials, examination, and research and development committees, the latter of which she chaired. She became a member of the executive committee in 2016 after her election as Chair Elect and finished her final year on the board of directors as the Board Chair. Dr. Baxley has been honored with many distinctions including the American Academy of Family Physicians Exemplary Teaching Award and the James Halford Award for Leadership in Humane Education. In 2017 she was recognized by East Carolina University with a Woman of Distinction Award, and in 2016 and 2018 received the American Medical Womens Association Gender Equity Award from medical students at Brody School of Medicine. This is a critical time in history for physicians to engage in meaningful dialogue around professional self-regulation and the value proposition of board certification, said Baxley. The ABFM board members and the professional staff in Lexington, Kentucky are committed to serving as partners with diplomates to demonstrate mastery and quality of care provided by family physicians throughout the US. I am excited about the prospect of working closely with individual physicians and family medicine organizations in an effort to enhance the value of family medicine certification into the future. Lance Blais People think that riders are a specific type of person, theyre not. Riders at Motorcycle Week come from all walks of life; rich, poor, doctors, lawyers and, like me, a baker. June 9-17 Weirs Beach, New Hampshire This year marks the 95th Laconia Motorcycle Week, a tradition that has certainly piled up a lot of stories and interesting characters along the way. None more so than Lance Blais, whose first visit to the event was way back in 1952. Excuse him for not remembering the occasion, as he was just a toddler, arriving in the sidecar of his fathers motorcycle. As one of nine children (count them: Linda, Larry, Lance, Lauren, Lee, Lon, Luke, Landon and Lisa), Lance and his family have been back every year since, apart from the occasional war (Lance joined the military in 1966). With the addition of each new family member, the sidecar simply got bigger and bigger, Lance recalling a story where the trip to Laconia during a rainstorm forced 2 stops along the way. One to poke holes in a shower curtain that served as their poncho, the other to punch a crowbar through their sidecar to drain out the accumulating rainwater. Ask Lance about his experience at Laconia Motorcycle Week and hell never run short on colorful tales of his familys adventures. They were a staple at the rally, winning Best Dressed awards, nine years in a row, for their colorful, matching outfits. People think that riders are a specific type of person, theyre not. Riders at Motorcycle Week come from all walks of life; rich, poor, doctors, lawyers and, like me, a baker. Its true, Laconia Motorcycle Week attracts all kinds with a shared passion for motorcycles and riding. The event has something for everyone, hill climbs, races, live music, incredible vendors and tons of riding opportunities in one of the most scenic regions of New England. But take it from Lance who says, Motorcycle Week is a place to be yourself. Your expression is in your bike and the way you dress. I choose patriotic colors because Im proud to be a veteran. It makes me happy when people stop and take notice. Its a place to be noticed and share a little camaraderie with others that want to have a good time in a special place like the Weirs. People know me here. I started out coming with 8 brothers and sisters. Now my family includes all these people here and it makes me smile. To hear more from Lance Blais, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV1lyK-hV0A&feature=youtu.be Laconia Motorcycle Week gives great appreciation to all of our sponsors, especially our Presenting Sponsors: Progressive, AMSOIL, American Iron Outfitters and AARP as well as the State of New Hampshire for their large financial support of our rally each year. Ride Safe and Keep Away from the Centerline! Jennifer Anderson - info@laconiaMCWeek.com (603)366-2000 Modern Transportation is pleased to announce the promotion of Tammy Bennett and welcomes accomplished operations veteran, Chris Gallowitz, and top safety professional, Kevin Shiflett, to its executive leadership team. Ms. Bennett, who joined Modern as Director of Human Resources in January of 2014, has recently been named Vice President of Safety and Human Resources. Having established a transportation career marked by positions of increasing responsibility in HR, Operations, and Sales, Ms. Bennett will now assume responsibility for the overall safe performance of Modern, while continuing to guide the many facets of the Human Resources function. From the day she joined Modern, shares Moderns President, Patrick B. Cozzens, Tammy has brought an increased degree of accountability, performance, and team-building to our organization. Particularly in an industry marked by a driver shortage, Cozzens continues, she has assembled a team that continually turns challenges into opportunities for us. Modern has also recently added Kevin Shiflett as their Senior Director of Safety and Risk Management. Mr. Shiflett, who has been instrumental in developing an enhanced degree of safety accountability to companies throughout his career, brings an enhanced knowledge of Federal Safety Standards to a company that has accepted twelve consecutive Platinum National Safety Awards from Great West Casualty Company. We are extremely pleased to welcome Kevin to our team, shares Cozzens. His vast knowledge of safety regulatory compliance, coupled with his ability to effectively communicate that knowledge throughout our system, is going to provide tremendous value to our organization. Shiflett has also been tagged to advance Moderns initiative to gain certified status as a Responsible Care fleet later this year. Finally, Modern announces the addition of Chris Gallowitz. Mr. Gallowitz, an accomplished senior-level executive with a track record of successful strategic and tactical leadership within the transportation industry, assumes the position of Vice President of Operations. From his service in the United States Merchant Marines to his most recent position as President of a Texas-based logistics firm, Mr. Gallowitz has established a reputation marked with operational excellence. Chris brings so much value to our organization, shares Cozzens. From our initial interview, it was easy to see the standards of excellence to which he holds himself will serve to perpetuate our Mission throughout our company. Headquartered in suburban Pittsburgh, Modern Transportation serves the bulk raw material and chemical logistics needs of numerous clients in a multitude of manufacturing industries. Currently, Modern provides safe and reliable service from twenty-three strategically-located terminal locations throughout the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, and the South. For more information, please visit http://www.moderntrans.com. James Smith has been our police commissioner since 2015, and he and the entire TCI police department have done a fantastic job at keeping these islands safe for residents and tourists alike, says Blair MacPherson, broker and co-owner of RE/MAX Real Estate Group Turks & Caicos Islands. The Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police has released its crime statistics for the first quarter of 2018, reporting a 14 percent reduction in the overall crime rate in TCI for the period between January and April 2018, compared to the same period in 2017. This amounts to 364 fewer crimes. James Smith has been our police commissioner since 2015, and he and the entire TCI police department have done a fantastic job at keeping these islands safe for residents and tourists alike, says Blair MacPherson, broker and co-owner of RE/MAX Real Estate Group Turks & Caicos Islands. Commissioner Smith is deeply committed to public safety, which is evident by the lower crime rates. I would like to congratulate him and his entire staff on a job well done, and thank them for their service. According to Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police statistics, the 14 percent lower crime rate for the first quarter of 2018 follows a 14 percent reduction in crime between 2017 and 2016, and a 26 percent reduction between 2015 and 2016. Taken together, the overall crime in Turks and Caicos has gone down by 32 percent during the last three years. Broken down by specific types of crimes, the Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police reports there were 42 percent fewer murders for the first quarter of 2018 compared to the first quarter of 2017, from seven to four. Burglaries and aggravated burglaries have decreased by 47 percent for the same period, from 703 last year to 376 this year. The number of robberies are down 11 percent, with 118 for the first quarter of 2018 compared to 134 for the same period in 2017. There has also been a 17 percent reduction in the number of people arrested for the possession of drugs, and a 4 percent reduction in arrests for possession of drugs with intent to supply. While Turks and Caicos has never had a high crime rate and has long been one of the safest places to live and visit in the Caribbean, there was a slight peak in crime a few years back which is said to have been caused by the recession of 2014, MacPherson notes. Of course, its good to hear that even the minimal amount of crime we have had on our islands is indeed subsiding. MacPherson is always happy to talk with people who are considering relocating to Turks or Caicos or interested in TCI real estate opportunities. He can be reached by phone at 1-800-941-0465 or 1-649-432-5677, or by email at blair(at)blairmacpherson.com. RE/MAX Real Estate Group Turks & Caicos Islands specializes in luxury Turks and Caicos real estate sales and is an active member of the Turks and Caicos Real Estate Association (TCREA). About RE/MAX Real Estate Group Turks & Caicos Islands: The RE/MAX Real Estate Group Turks & Caicos offers unique, luxury real estate opportunities on the islands that are home to Grace Bay Beach, which has been named one of the world's best beaches numerous times. With breathtaking views, world-class spas and resorts, fine dining, local culture, and the awe-inspiring coral reefs, the Turks and Caicos Islands offer unique investment opportunities in that they are located in a tax-free jurisdiction. For more information, please visit http://www.remax-realestategroup-tci.com. Today Sea Hawk, the world's leading premium nautical coating brand, announced superyacht ILLUSION PLUS, Asias largest superyacht at 88.5-meters built by Pride Mega Yachts, was launched in Yantai, China coated with a Sea Hawk Antifouling System consisting of TUFF STUFF high-build epoxy primer combined with Cukote antifouling paint. Pride Mega Yachts are world-class expert yacht manufacturers with a reputation for employing only the most advanced technologies to construct luxury yachts that are next to none in quality, which includes premium hull coatings from Sea Hawk Paints to ensure extreme hull protection in the harshest environments. Delivering the maximum antifouling protection available in fresh, brackish and salt water, Cukote employs Sea Hawk proprietary PL3 technology for controlled release antifouling properties over multiple sailing seasons and is Lloyds Register certified, a testament of Sea Hawks premium quality. After using Sea Hawk systems on several projects in the United States we were happy to apply it on our 88-meter Superyacht project here in China. Our local painters easily applied the Tuff Stuff primer and Cukote antifouling by airless spray with excellent results, said Michael Turk, Paint and Exterior Outfitting Manager, CIMC Pride Mega Yachts Yantai, China. As a family company, weve worked hard over the past three decades to produce the finest antifouling systems in the world, said Erik Norrie, Sea Hawks CEO. To be part of a next-generation superyacht like ILLUSION PLUS that symbolizes the pinnacle of luxury mega yachts is really something special, Norrie added. The ILLUSION PLUS yacht project defines the superyacht of the future, featuring a unique innovative design, which illustrates ambitious craftsmanship. Her impressive architectural design, drawn up by Azure Naval, provides immense deck spaces, perfectly furnished to ensure maximum comfort. Her floor-to-ceiling windows invite a maximum amount of natural light, accentuating her spacious open interior layout and is propelled by Rolls Royce diesel-electric propulsion engines. Sea Hawk Paints Cukote is a antifouling paint that delivers exceptional, long-lasting hull protection from all types of fouling and protects in the most severe fouling areas which translates to superior hull protection for multiple boating seasons. Its self-polishing attribute wears away at a controlled rate keeping hull surfaces smooth and clean and constantly exposing a high concentration of cuprous oxide biocide to hold barnacles at bay. Cukote is ideal for all types of vessels including sailboats, motor yachts, high-speed transports, supply vessels and ferries, plus its harder ablative formulation can be burnished to the perfect racing finish and is a versatile protective coating that can be taken in and out of the water without affecting its antifouling properties. Like all Sea Hawk paints, it is hand crafted in small production batches from premium quality raw materials and is 100% quality inspected to assure uniform performance and color consistency from batch-to-batch. A trendsetter of marine bottom paints, New Nautical Coatings, Inc. and the Sea Hawk brand was established in 1978 and is dedicated to bringing only the highest quality products and customer satisfaction to todays mariner. New Nautical Coatings is family owned and operated with a commitment to excellence. It provides a wide array of application specific marine coating products that include antifouling systems, primers, solvents, and resins. Now offering innovative products globally, the Sea Hawk brand has enjoyed unprecedented growth and continues to grow as its products become more in demand worldwide. For more information, contact Michael O'Keene at MichaelOKeene@SeaHawkPaints.com and (727) 523-8053 or visit http://www.seahawkpaints.com. China proposes joint DPR of cross-border transmission line The Chinese government has proposed preparing a joint detailed project report (DPR) of the first Nepal-China cross-border transmission line. State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), the Chinese government appointed focal institution for the development of the power line forwarded the proposal to Nepal last week requesting to work together to prepare the DPR. Cosmetic dentistry improves the appearance of the teeth through a variety of treatments and techniques. - Senior Editor of Cosmetic Town Cosmetic Town, a Los Angeles-based online plastic surgery and information community, is making it easier for patients that want to improve the appearance of their teeth as well as their smile. As part of their efforts to make this information available to the public, Cosmetic Town recently published a list of the Best Cosmetic Dentists in Los Angeles. According to the senior editor of Cosmetic Town, The smile is one of the first things that is noticed when people meet each other. However, many people are afraid to smile broadly because they are not happy with the appearance of their teeth. Cosmetic dentistry improves the appearance of the teeth through a variety of treatments and techniques. A healthy set of teeth also helps a person have more self-confidence and a better self-image. The senior editor added, Cosmetic dentistry includes a number of treatment options. Patients need to schedule a consultation appointment with a board-certified dentist to undergo a thorough examination of their teeth. Some of the more popular cosmetic dentistry options include crowns, veneers, invisible braces and dental bridges. Each patient is different so the consultation appointment is a key step in determining the best option to achieve the desired results. The senior editor shared the process Cosmetic Town used to choose the doctors that made the list of cosmetic dentists. Our research team focused on cosmetic surgery and then used an intelligent algorithm in order to choose the doctors. Some of the areas that were examined during the research process included the skill level and experience of the surgeons as well as the overall satisfaction level patients had with their doctor. We also researched the number of articles written by the doctors as part of their efforts to educate patients about plastic surgery. According to the senior editor, the final decision about which doctors made the list did not include outside influence from others. The senior editor said Cosmetic Town did not accept any compensation from the doctors that made the list. The list of cosmetic dentists was created to give patients the information they desired and to make it easier to find a board-certified doctor in Los Angeles that provides natural looking results. About Cosmetic Town Cosmetic Town is an online cosmetic medicine publication that also features doctors who were endorsed and highly recommended by their peers. This reliable and streamlined database allows users to easily navigate the website and access the information they need with just a click of a button. Users can also stay informed and get the latest news on plastic surgery by reading the regularly updated news section. Visiting the forum page is also another way for users to stay engaged and keep each other up to date. President Jimmy Carter delivers the Commencement address at Liberty University on May 19, 2018. One of the things we have to learn is how to get along, to do good for one another in other words, just following the mandates of the Prince of Peace. President Jimmy Carter Crowds assembled inside Liberty Universitys Williams Stadium on Saturday morning, not letting the rain dampen their spirits as they celebrated the 45th Commencement. The Class of 2018 is the largest in Libertys history, with close to 20,200 graduates, including over 16,700 who earned their degrees through the online program. About 8,000 graduates participated in the ceremonies on campus. (Read more Class of 2018 facts.) It was also a historic day as graduates heard from President Jimmy Carter, the third Liberty Commencement speaker to have held the office of U.S president. The university has hosted two U.S. presidents while in office George H.W. Bush in 1990 and Donald J. Trump last year. Every one of us decides, This is the kind of person I choose to be, the 39th President of the United States told the crowd. Were the ones who decide, Do I hate or am I filled with love do I think only about myself or do I care for others?' There are no limits to our ambitions as human beings. Carter talked about the challenges humanity faces today: division, rising prison populations, wealth disparity, discrimination, human trafficking, and the threat of nuclear war. One of the things we have to learn is how to get along, to do good for one another in other words, just following the mandates of the Prince of Peace. We dont need enemies to fight, nor do we need inferior people whom we can dominate, Carter said, quoting Galatians 3:28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither male or female, there is neither slave nor master, for ye are all one, all one, in Christ Jesus. He challenged the graduates to use their platform from a land of freedom and opportunity in an ever-connected world to make a difference. Right now, you have the maximum opportunity to use the three gifts that God gives every one of us life, freedom, and an opportunity to live a completely successful life as judged by God, Carter said. We have a perfect example to follow if we are in doubt; we just have to remember the perfect life of Jesus Christ. Before Carters speech, Liberty President Jerry Falwell recalled how he met Carter at a private worship service on the morning of Trumps inauguration and was impressed by Carters kind demeanor, humility, and warmth. Falwell called it one of the highest honors of his life to introduce the president at Liberty. He gave Carter a tour of campus on Friday. Falwell celebrated Carter for living with the courage of conviction. During his presidency (1977-81), Carter defied his own party to oppose federal funding for abortion. He advocated for the poor and downtrodden in office and, in the decades that followed, started The Carter Center and served with Habitat for Humanity. (LU students recently completed a home for the organization). In 2002, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his lifetime of service. I am proud that Christians are uniting here today on issues where they agree rather than fighting over issues where they disagree, Falwell said. I pray that more men and women aspire to serve in public office with such courage. During Commencement, Carter was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree. Liberty also presented an honorary Doctor of Business to Don Hershey, owner of Hershey Equipment and Libertys first million-dollar donor, and an honorary Doctor of Science to famed neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson, the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Carson shared a few words with the Class of 2018, challenging them to love their neighbors and build a better world for those around them. Weve got plenty of people who are smart but not a whole lot of people who care about everybody else, Carson said. That is what we are hoping for you graduates today. He encouraged them with the wisdom from Proverbs, which he says he reads every day: Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. Carson was the keynote speaker at the Degree Presentation Ceremony for the first graduating class from Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine, held later in the afternoon. Liberty also awarded three honorary doctorates during Friday nights Baccalaureate Service: Assistant Commonwealths Attorney and Liberty Law alumnus Mark Hicks, Lynchburg businessman Danny Moon, and financial advisor Horance Buck Floyd. At Commencement, Liberty thanked the more than 6,200 military service members, veterans, and military spouses in the Class of 2018 for their service. (These graduates were also honored at a special ceremony Friday night.) In his address to graduates, Falwell talked about the miracle that is Liberty University. He recounted some of the hardships that his father, Liberty founder Dr. Jerry Falwell, and his grandfather faced. My own dad would not have been born had it not been for the tragedies that his parents faced, Falwell said. We usually cant make sense of our sorrows as we are going through them but God knows what He is doing and He can be trusted. All you have to do is look around this campus and look at these wonderful graduates to see how joy grew out of suffering. Falwell also celebrated the recent birth of his first grandchild, Virginia Rose Falwell, the latest manifestation of Gods faithfulness in one family my family. Throughout campus, graduates shared hugs and selfies. Gail Wiggins, who earned her masters degree in human services marriage and family counseling, said she was ecstatic and grateful to be in the stadium. She was honored to hear from Carter. I feel like everything he said can be just nuggets of knowledge for our toolbox, Wiggins said. He had so much life experience to share with us. Devin Nicholson, who earned a bachelors in interdisciplinary studies, survived a serious car crash four years ago and felt blessed to have overcome so much to make it to her graduation. Here I am. I can walk. I can jump. And Im walking in Commencement, she said. I cant stop smiling. About Liberty University Liberty University, founded in 1971, is the largest private, nonprofit university in the nation and the largest university in Virginia. Located near the Blue Ridge Mountains on more than 7,000 acres in Lynchburg, Va., Liberty offers more than 550 unique programs of study from the certificate to the doctoral level. More than 250 programs are offered online. Libertys mission is to train Champions for Christ with the values, knowledge, and skills essential for impacting tomorrows world. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: He told the "After Hours" show hosted by Mikki Osei Berko on TV3 that he is the king of Dancehall because he is the originator of the "African Dancehall" genre. He said: "African Dancehall is the genre I created so Im still the King for that. Foreign market for African Dancehall is huge. "Africa is doing Dancehall from the authentic point of view so then it becomes a specialised genre from Africa. Ghanaians or West Africans do Dancehall music almost close to how Jamaicans do it. Shatta Wale has also claimed to be King of Dancehall music in Ghana. READ MORE: Samini spends quality time with daughters in Jamaica The royal couple were proclaimed husband and wife by the Archbishop of Canterbury in at the St. George's Cathedral in Windsor Castle. before they will travel through the town in an open-topped carriage. Actress Markle, 36, looked every bit the radiant bride in a wedding dress by designer Clare Waight Keller, the first female Artistic Director at French fashion house Givenchy. Prince Harry, 33, alongside his brother and best man, Prince William also looked great in his excellently cut frock coat uniform of the Blues and Royals. The couple, their loved ones, and their guests [see here for the celebs and VIPs invited] will continue celebrations after the couples scheduled travel through the town in an open-topped carriage. Harry took his bride's hand and told her: 'You look amazing' and said 'Thank you, pa' after his father Prince Charles walked her down the aisle of St George's Chapel, Windsor. Meghan's father, Thomas refused to show to up to walk her down the aisle because of some paparazzi scandal he was involved in just one week before his daughter's big day. Meghan arrived accompanied by two page boys who held up her train as she made her way up the chapels steps alone and entered the chapel by herself, to begin the walk down the altar, before being met by the Prince of Wales. [You can check here for all the adorable little kidsinvolved in this beautiful nuptials - including Prince George and Princess Charlotte] Hearty cheers to the newest royal couple from Pulse weddings. READ MORE: Speaker Oquaye asks gays to seek medical treatment for deformity I think people have heard what President Mills said when the issue came up. Theyve heard what people like Museveni and Buhari and other African leaders, including Mugabe have said. It is totally alien to Ghanas culture for homosexuality to be promoted, he said. He continued: It will not happen whether Im President or not. Ill fight it anywhere and any day as a good Christian and Im sure that Muslims will also have the same sense of total disgust. Dr Garbrah's comments come days after the Jubilee House issued a statement saying president Nana Akufo-Addo will not legalise homsexuality. Markle made her name as savvy paralegal Rachel Zane in the US legal drama series "Suits", but cultivated a high profile for herself outside the show too. She became a United Nations advocate for women's empowerment and a global ambassador for the World Vision Canada relief agency. The Los Angeles-born star had more than two million followers on her now-closed Instagram account and ran a successful lifestyle blog, The Tig. Markle was also revealed as the anonymous blogger behind The Working Actress, which chronicled the struggles of hustling for parts in Hollywood. "She comes across as very poised, eloquent, thoughtful," said royal writer Andrew Morton, who has penned a biography of Markle. "She's very focused and someone who has been very ambitious and really wants to give back. Her great phrase is 'make the change'," he told AFP. "Meghan's a smart girl. She knows exactly what she's getting into." Ancestors royals and slaves Rachel Meghan Markle was born on August 4, 1981 to Thomas Markle, a white, Emmy Award-winning television lighting director who worked on top US shows like "Married With Children", and Doria Ragland, a black social worker and yoga instructor. On her mother's side, her ancestors were slaves who worked on cotton plantations in Georgia. Her mother's surname is taken from a slave owner. On her father's side, genealogists have traced her ancestry back to king Robert I of Scotland, who reigned from 1306 to 1329. Markle's parents split when she was two and divorced five years later. She is now estranged from her older half-sister and half-brother. They made their presence felt in the wedding build-up, with Tom Junior scathing about her attitude towards the family and Samantha Grant venting forthrightly in several media outlets. Meanwhile her father set himself up for staged paparazzi photos which backfired, then suffered chest pains and needed heart surgery, causing him to miss her big day. Markle went to a private Catholic girls' school where she was remembered for her strong sense of right and wrong. Aged 11, her letter-writing campaign got the consumer goods giant Procter and Gamble to change a washing-up commercial, referring to people rather than just women. Determined to give herself options, Markle studied theatre and international relations at Northwestern University. She graduated in 2003, after which she landed a six-week internship as a press officer at the US embassy in Argentina. "She had all that it takes to be a successful diplomat," said Mark Krischik, her superior in Buenos Aires. 'Suits' springboard Returning to Los Angeles, in 2004 she fell in love with go-getting film producer Trevor Engelson, who helped her get on the acting ladder as she struggled for bit parts. They married in Jamaica in 2011. Soon after their engagement, Markle had landed her signature role in "Suits". Filmed in Toronto, their relationship became a long-distance one. A series of flops followed for Engelson while the struggling actress became a star, and the marriage collapsed in 2013. Through a mutual friend, she met Queen Elizabeth II's grandson Harry in July 2016 while visiting London. Their romance quickly blossomed on a whirlwind camping trip to Botswana. After their engagement was announced in November, Markle accompanied Harry, now sixth in line to the throne, on several public events. Arthur Edwards, The Sun newspaper's royal photographer since 1977, said her style at public engagements was unusual. "I've seen Meghan do selfies and give autographs, which the royals never do." But Majesty Magazine editor Ingrid Seward told AFP that some readers "don't like her way of being outspoken, saying what she thinks, having views on politics and everything else". jpegMpeg4-1280x720She added: "Everybody's intrigued by Meghan, whether they like her or not". Her acting career behind her, Markle's royal duties are likely to focus on youth, the Commonwealth and women's empowerment. The approach of trying to create a coalition that is centered around converting Republicans has failed Democrats in the state of Georgia for the last 15 years, Abrams said after mingling with diners in this North Georgia town. Her rival in Tuesdays Democratic primary, former state Rep. Stacey Evans, has scorned Abrams strategy as unrealistic and unhealthy for democracy. The dispute between the two well-regarded contenders is not merely the latest Democratic feud over how to break the Republican lock on the South. The stark differences in strategy and the choice of candidates themselves reflect the conflict among Democrats over the types of voters and the kinds of politicians that the party should elevate in the Trump era. Democratic candidates nationwide are wrestling with whether they should try to reclaim some of President Donald Trumps supporters or try to maximize support from their racially diverse, liberal base. At a time in the countrys politics when issues of race and gender are central, with women at the forefront of an uprising against the president, Abrams candidacy looms even larger. Even some Democrats believe that nominating a single, black, unabashedly liberal woman at this racially charged moment and in the old Confederacy, no less is nothing less than political suicide. But if Abrams, who is expected to prevail Tuesday, goes on to win in November, her victory would demonstrate the intensity of the Trump backlash in a state that is nearly half nonwhite. And the shock waves would be felt far beyond Georgias borders. It would be earth-shattering, said Shirley Franklin, who was the first black female mayor of Atlanta. And it would be a breakthrough for other people, not just for African-Americans, but for Hispanics and Asians. Abrams candidacy is also pressuring national Democrats and liberal interest groups to demonstrate that what is shaping up to be a Year of the Woman is not defined by white women wearing pussy hats. With black women playing a crucial role in the victory of Doug Jones, a Democrat, in the Alabama Senate race, activists are more aggressively pushing the party to recognize them not only as a faithful constituency, but as candidates. Yes, #thankblackwomen, said Adrianne Shropshire, referring to a social media hashtag that emerged after Jones victory. But also #electblackwomen. The progressive ecosystem needs diverse candidates, said Shropshire, who heads BlackPAC, a group airing commercials and sending mailers in support of Abrams. A litany of progressive and feminist groups, recognizing the historic nature of Abrams candidacy and the need to demonstrate their commitment to inclusion, have heeded the call. On Saturday, national leaders from womens groups such as Naral Pro-Choice America and Emilys List planned to join Abrams for a get-out-the-vote rally in Atlanta. In Georgia, questions about how much time Democrats should spend courting rural and suburban whites have sparked an intense intraparty debate, particularly after the 2014 losses of Jason Carter and Michelle Nunn, two moderate Democrats who had run for governor and senator seeking conservative votes. The two were criticized by fellow Democrats like Kasim Reed, Atlantas mayor at the time, who said that the path to victory lay not in courting working-class Southern whites, but in expanding the growing base of likely Democrats to be found among hundreds of thousands of nonwhite people, many of whom were unregistered to vote. Abrams has endeavored to do this, in part with the New Georgia Project, a group she founded in 2014 to focus on registering what it calls the New American Majority people of color, those 18 to 29 years of age, and unmarried women. The project says that the group makes up 62 percent of the voting-age population in Georgia, but only 53 percent of registered voters, and Abrams supporters believe that they could propel her to victory without the help of a single Trump voter. But such voters are precisely those who are the least likely to turn out in a midterm election. And declining to look for votes among white swing voters is folly, said Evans, who grew up in the small, majority-white, North Georgia city of Ringgold. The truth is, no Democrat or Republican has won the state of Georgia without a significant amount of votes from the other side, Evans said after an NAACP-sponsored forum in Atlanta. Andra Gillespie, an associate professor of political science at Emory University, said Abrams strategy could be considered a moral victory if she made it to the November election and matched or surpassed the votes Nunn and Carter posted even if she lost. It should silence risk-averse Democrats who fear that putting candidates of color on the ballot actually ends up costing them votes in the long run, Gillespie said. And it may point to a way forward for Democrats, she said, since nonwhite residents are the growth market for Democratic votes, given the states long-term demographic shifts. Abrams, though, was emphatic that she means to notch more than a symbolic victory. I do not run for office as some sort of quixotic endeavor, she said. Black Democrats like Abrams face a kind of double hurdle running statewide: that of perception and that of reality. The first is based on questions of viability, whether racism will impede their chances. It can be a self-fulfilling prophecy, said Daniella Gibbs Leger, a senior official at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank. The challenge can be even more difficult for black women, who make up nearly 59 percent of the black electorate nationwide but constitute just a quarter of the African-Americans in statewide elected office, according to a study conducted by the Center for American Women and Politics and Higher Heights, which advocates black female candidates. Only seven black women in the countrys history have been elected statewide in their own right. The statistics are abominable, said Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama. Often, the loudest skeptics come from the fatalists in their own party. They were well intentioned, but you know, people would say, Oh, Im ready for you but I dont know if anybody else is. May not be your time,' recalled Sen. Kamala Harris of California, the only black woman in the Senate, referring to what was said when she ran for attorney general in 2010. In the primary, Abrams is facing a woman with her own powerful narrative. Evans, 40, grew up poor and credits her success to Georgias lottery-funded Hope Scholarship for college students. She has assailed Abrams for supporting cuts to the popular scholarship in 2011, when the program was facing financial problems. Abrams, 44, could be vulnerable to other lines of attack in a general election. She lent her campaign $50,000 even while she owed $50,000 in back taxes, and she has called for the removal of the Confederate carvings on the side of Atlantas Stone Mountain. And even as Atlanta booms, luring African-Americans to a capital of black America and immigrants from abroad, Georgia remains a conservative-leaning state where liberal candidates have struggled in recent years to win statewide office. In Abrams favor, though, is the fury toward Trump, particularly from women and minorities, and ambivalence about him from some wealthy suburbanites. And Republicans are being tugged to the right as much as Democrats are drifting to the left. Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, a Republican, is the front-runner for the governors nomination, but his challengers are displaying what the GOPs Trump-era base demands. A candidate named Michael Williams has been riding around in what he calls a deportation bus, that he has promised to fill with murderers, rapists, kidnappers and send back to Mexico. Ads for another candidate, Secretary of State Brian Kemp, have him making a similar vow, though with his own pickup truck. The ads also feature him on a porch jokingly pointing a double-barreled shotgun at one of his daughters suitors. If Republicans cannot pivot toward the political center, they may offer Democrats an opening to win the governorship for the first time in two decades. And should Abrams win Tuesday, her prospects may then depend on the sort of pride expressed by Rosemary Ringer, an official in Rome who, outside a restaurant, enveloped the candidate in a hug and assurances of victory. Ringer then told a reporter that Abrams candidacy would deal a blow to lingering stereotypes about the inferiority of African-American women. It dispels that myth, she said of a candidate who has a law degree from Yale. Thats what it says about the South. And wed dispel that myth with names like Keisha, Ayesha and Stacey. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Prithvi Man Shrestha is a political reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering the governance-related issues including corruption and irregularities in the government machinery. Before joining The Kathmandu Post in 2009, he worked at nepalnews.com and Rising Nepal primarily covering the issues of political and economic affairs for three years. Which embassy would be next? Netanyahu wanted to know, running through a list of other countries with strong evangelical churches. Guatemala, Paraguay and Honduras had followed the United States in announcing their intention to move their embassies to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, but what about Brazil, India or even China? The prime minister was very excited, recalled Mario Bramnick, the Cuban-American pastor of a Pentecostal church near Miami and a Trump supporter who attended the meeting. The culmination of decades of lobbying, the dedication of the embassy in Jerusalem this past week doubled as the most public recognition yet of the growing importance the Netanyahu government now assigns to its conservative Christian allies, even if some have been accused of making anti-Semitic statements. While Israel has long depended on the support of the Jewish diaspora, the Netanyahu government has made a historic and strategic shift, relying on the much larger base of evangelical Christians, even at the risk of turning off American Jews who may be troubled by some evangelicals denigration of their faith. The paradox is well known: The beliefs of many evangelical Christians that Israel is special to God and, for some, a marker in apocalyptic prophecies lead many to hawkish support of the Jewish state while they simultaneously insist that salvation awaits only those who accept Jesus as their savior. Netanyahus calculation mirrors that of his strong ally in Washington, where Trump has tapped a wellspring of evangelical support. Many of his top evangelical advisers attended the embassy dedication as well as private meetings with Netanyahu last week. But liberal Israelis warn that the increasingly close ties between the Israeli right and the Christian right are accelerating a polarization that is turning support for Israel into a partisan question in Washington; not one Democratic lawmaker attended the embassy opening. Liberal Jews also complain of a double standard, noting that Netanyahus right-wing government is far more vigilant about allegations of bigotry on the political left than among its conservative backers. There are a heck of a lot more evangelical voters than there are Jews, noted Rabbi David Sandmel, director of Interreligious Engagement for the Anti-Defamation League. So the Israeli government may say that for the sake of that support we are not going to put as much emphasis on this or that statement we may find problematic. Those trade-offs were on vivid display last week when Robert Jeffress, an early and vocal Trump supporter and the pastor of a Southern Baptist megachurch in Dallas, delivered an opening prayer at the embassy dedication. Jeffress has warned that you cant be saved by being a Jew, and that Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Mormonism lead followers to an eternity in hell. In his opening prayer Monday, he alluded to biblical prophecies about a Second Coming, referring to the founding of the modern state of Israel 70 years ago as a regathering of Gods people. Then he closed his prayer in the name and the spirit of the Prince of Peace, Jesus our Lord, a Christian flourish that troubled even some Jewish organizers of the evangelical alliance. You have this evangelical who ends his prayer knowing full well that its inappropriate, that the Jews there are going to be upset that he did that, and not able to answer amen to his prayer, said Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, founder of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Such an explicitly Christian prayer, he warned, revived old fears of many Jews that evangelical support for Israel is a way to sweeten us up and get us soft to get Jesus through the back door. Sandmel of the Anti-Defamation League said Jeffress had often made statements the group deemed unacceptable, noting that throughout history assertions such as his admonitions that Jews were damned to hell had led to anti-Semitic violence. It was a gut punch for most American Jews, the liberal Israeli newspaper Haaretz wrote in an editorial published Friday. The editorial charged that the evangelical alliance erodes Israels standing in its traditional power centers above all U.S. Jews, who view evangelicals as a concrete threat to their values and risked alienating supporters it may need as soon as November, in the event the Democrats win control of the U.S. Senate or the House of Representatives. Netanyahu was seated in the front row next to Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and Middle East adviser, and both clapped politely before and after Jeffress delivered his prayer. The Rev. John C. Hagee, a televangelist who gave the closing benediction, has said the Holocaust happened because Gods top priority for the Jewish people is to get them to come back to the land of Israel, a prelude to the Second Coming. In an email, Hagee said his comments, in a sermon about the problem of evil in a world of Gods creation, were taken out of context, and he has apologized for any offense. David M. Friedman, the U.S. ambassador to Israel who presided over the embassy dedication, said evangelical Christians support Israel with much greater fervor and devotion than many in the Jewish community. Youre running a country, you need friends, you need alliances, you need to protect your people, he said in an interview. Many Israelis, especially on the right, shrug off the beliefs of their Christian allies as a theoretical matter. When the Messiah arrives, runs an old joke, we will ask him whether the visit is his first or his second. Netanyahu has had rocky relations with liberal American Jews, partly over what they see as his lack of interest in resuming peace talks with the Palestinians, but even more over his acquiescence to Israels ultra-Orthodox rabbis on contentious debates with Reform and Conservative leaders involving conversions to Judaism and prayer at the Western Wall. The alliance with evangelicals may free him of the need to appease liberal Jews. He believes theyre going to assimilate and wont be interested in their Jewish identity, Anshel Pfeffer, author of a biography of Netanyahu, said in an interview. He sees the Orthodox minority of American Jews, much more in line with his right-wing thinking, becoming the majority of American Jews in a generation or two. And he sees the Republicans and the Christian evangelicals as being the real base of support for Israel in the U.S., rather than American Jews. Public opinion polls show support for the Israeli government growing on the American right as criticism builds on the left. Demographics show Jews declining as a percentage of the American voters, with non-Orthodox Jews in the steepest decline. Ron Dermer, the Israeli ambassador to Washington and a regular participant in events there to rally evangelical support, said devout Christians were now the backbone of the U.S. support for Israel. Its got to be a solid quarter of the population, and that is maybe 10, 15, 20 times the Jewish population, he said in an interview. But Dermer insisted that Israel was hardly writing off Democrats or liberal American Jews. You could say theres a shift here or there, but obviously for us, its important that we have strong support thats very broad and bipartisan, he said. You cant fly a plane with one wing. Worldwide, the proportion is even more staggering, with the number of evangelicals estimated at 600 million, led by the boom in traditionally Catholic Latin American countries. Israeli liberals say Netanyahus embrace of American evangelicals is not the only instance when his vigilance against anti-Semitism has appeared to be selective. Last fall, for example, the right-leaning government of Hungary launched a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign attacking liberal financier and Holocaust-survivor George Soros for his support of open immigration, including billboards that attracted anti-Semitic graffiti. The Israeli ambassador to Hungary denounced the advertisements with an allusion to the Holocaust, saying the campaign evokes sad memories but also sows hatred and fear. But then Netanyahus government issued a clarification, saying that the ambassador had only meant to disavow anti-Semitism in general. In no way was the statement meant to delegitimize criticism of George Soros, who continuously undermines Israels democratically elected governments, the governments statement said. Still, Sandmel of the Anti-Defamation League argued that if evangelical Christians sometimes sounded chauvinistic about their faith, some might contend that their support for the state of Israel helped offset such views. Left-leaning critics who complain about a conspiratorial Jewish lobby, on the other hand, seldom counterbalance those views with support for Israel. Netanyahus relationship with conservative Christians in America is much closer than his ties to almost any other constituency abroad. Eckstein, of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, said Netanyahu was far more popular with evangelicals than any previous Israeli prime minister. He can speak their language, Eckstein said. He is comfortable with them. He has reciprocated with that kind of love affair. Friedman said he had invited Jeffress and Hagee because theyre two of the most followed leaders of the evangelical community, and I wanted to honor the community for having been so constructive in helping to move this along. Netanyahu, for his part, invited more than a hundred high-profile visitors to the Foreign Ministry for a celebration on the eve of the embassy dedication and publicly thanked Hagee for his longtime support for Israel. Ive known Prime Minister Netanyahu for many years and am proud to call him a friend, Hagee said in an email interview, calling him in many ways the Churchill of our time. Elie Pieprz, an Orthodox Jew who represents an organization of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, said, If there is one person who has helped Israel and the Jews of the world raise money and build political support, that is Pastor Hagee. Jeffress called it ridiculous to equate common Christian beliefs about salvation with anti-Semitism. The fact that Christians believe that faith is Christ alone is neither bigoted or newsworthy, he said in an interview. The Jewish people and Israel understand that, and they count evangelicals as their most supportive friends. He said he had a great relationship with the presidents daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, who are Orthodox Jews. I count them as friends, and I know they count me as a friend, he said. Its no secret the left absolutely hates this move to recognize Jerusalem as the capital, and they are going to attack it from any angle they can, he added. This is part of a bigger attempt to discredit President Trump, and it is having no effect whatsoever. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. They are the agents of Facebook. And they have the power to decide what is free speech and what is hate speech. This is a deletion center, one of Facebooks largest, with more than 1,200 content moderators. They are cleaning up content from terrorist propaganda to Nazi symbols to child abuse that violates the law or the companys community standards. Germany, home to a tough new online hate speech law, has become a laboratory for one of the most pressing issues for governments today: how and whether to regulate the worlds biggest social network. Around the world, Facebook and other social networking platforms are facing a backlash over their failures to safeguard privacy, disinformation campaigns and the digital reach of hate groups. In India, seven people were beaten to death after a false viral message on the Facebook subsidiary WhatsApp. In Myanmar, violence against the Rohingya minority was fueled, in part, by misinformation spread on Facebook. In the United States, Congress called Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks chief executive, to testify about the companys inability to protect its users privacy. As the world confronts these rising forces, Europe, and Germany in particular, have emerged as the de facto regulators of the industry, exerting influence beyond their own borders. Berlins digital crackdown on hate speech, which took effect on Jan. 1, is being closely watched by other countries. And German officials are playing a major role behind one of Europes most aggressive moves to rein in technology companies, strict data privacy rules that take effect across the European Union on May 25 and are prompting global changes. For them, data is the raw material that makes them money, said Gerd Billen, secretary of state in Germanys Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection. For us, data protection is a fundamental right that underpins our democratic institutions. Germanys troubled history has placed it on the front line of a modern tug-of-war between democracies and digital platforms. In the country of the Holocaust, the commitment against hate speech is as fierce as the commitment to free speech. Hitlers Mein Kampf is available only in an annotated version. Swastikas are illegal. Inciting hatred is punishable by up to five years in jail. But banned posts, pictures and videos have routinely lingered on Facebook and other social media platforms. Now companies that systematically fail to remove obviously illegal content within 24 hours face fines of up to 50 million euros. The deletion center predates the legislation, but its efforts have taken on new urgency. Every day content moderators in Berlin, hired by a third-party firm and working exclusively on Facebook, pore over thousands of posts flagged by users as upsetting or potentially illegal and make a judgment: Ignore, delete or, in particularly tricky cases, escalate to a global team of Facebook lawyers with expertise in German regulation. Some decisions to delete are easy. Posts about Holocaust denial and genocidal rants against particular groups like refugees are obvious ones for taking down. Others are less so. On Dec. 31, the day before the new law took effect, a far-right lawmaker reacted to an Arabic New Years tweet from the Cologne police, accusing them of appeasing barbaric, Muslim, gang-raping groups of men. The request to block a screenshot of the lawmakers post wound up in the queue of Nils, a 35-year-old agent in the Berlin deletion center. His judgment was to let it stand. A colleague thought it should come down. Ultimately, the post was sent to lawyers in Dublin, London, Silicon Valley and Hamburg. By the afternoon it had been deleted, prompting a storm of criticism about the new legislation, known here as the Facebook Law. A lot of stuff is clear-cut, Nils said. Facebook, citing his safety, did not allow him to give his surname. But then there is the borderline stuff. Complicated cases have raised concerns that the threat of the new rules steep fines and 24-hour window for making decisions encourage over-blocking by companies, a sort of defensive censorship of content that is not actually illegal. The far-right Alternative of Germany party has been quick to proclaim the end of free speech. Human rights organizations have warned that the legislation was inspiring authoritarian governments to copy it. Other people argue that the law simply gives a private company too much authority to decide what constitutes illegal hate speech in a democracy, an argument that Facebook, which favored voluntary guidelines, made against the law. It is perfectly appropriate for the German government to set standards, said Elliot Schrage, Facebooks vice president of communications and public policy. But we think its a bad idea for the German government to outsource the decision of what is lawful and what is not. Richard Allan, Facebooks vice president for public policy in Europe, put it more simply: We dont want to be the arbiters of free speech. German officials counter that social media platforms are the arbiters anyway. It all boils down to one question, said Billen, who helped draw up the new legislation: Who is sovereign? Parliament or Facebook? The deletion center here is run by Arvato, a German service provider owned by the conglomerate Bertelsmann. The agents have a broad purview, reviewing content from a half-dozen countries. Two agents looking at the same post should come up with the same decision, says Karsten Konig, who manages Arvatos partnership with Facebook. When Nils applied for a job at the center, the first question the recruiter asked him was: Do you know what you will see here? Nils has seen it all. Child torture. Mutilations. Suicides. Even murder: He once saw a video of a man cutting a heart out of a living human being. You see all the ugliness of the world here, he said. The issue is deeply personal for Nils. He has a 4-year-old daughter. Im also doing this for her, he said. The arrival of nearly 1.4 million migrants in Germany has tested the countrys resolve to keep a tight lid on hate speech. The law on illegal speech was long-established but enforcement in the digital realm was scattershot before the new legislation. Posts calling refugees rapists, Neanderthals and scum survived for weeks. Many were never taken down. Researchers reported a tripling in observed hate speech in the second half of 2015. Billen, the secretary of state in charge of the new law, was alarmed. In September 2015, he convened executives from Facebook and other social media sites. A task force for fighting hate speech was created. A couple of months later, Facebook and other companies signed a joint declaration, promising to examine flagged content and block or delete the majority of illegal posts within 24 hours. But the problem did not go away. Over the 15 months that followed, independent researchers, hired by the government, twice posed as ordinary users and flagged illegal hate speech. During the tests, they found that Facebook had deleted 46 percent and 39 percent. They knew that they were a platform for criminal behavior and for calls to commit criminal acts, but they presented themselves to us as a wolf in sheep skin, said Billen. By March 2017, the German government had lost patience and started drafting legislation. The Network Enforcement Law was born, setting out 21 types of content that are manifestly illegal and requiring social media platforms to act quickly. Officials say early indications suggest the rules have served their purpose. Facebooks performance on removing illegal hate speech in Germany rose to 100 percent over the past year, according to the latest spot check of the European Union. At Facebooks Berlin offices, Allan acknowledged that under the earlier voluntary agreement, the company had not acted decisively enough at first. It was too little and it was too slow, he said. But, he added, that has changed. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Access Bank Plc acquired 75% stake in Intercontinental Bank Plc in March 2012. The Supreme Court gave the order on Friday, May 18, 2018, after it dismissed Akingbolas appeal challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal for lacking merit. Justice Tanko Muhammad led five-man panel of the Supreme Court, while delivering judgement on the appeal unanimously affirmed February 20, 2015, judgement of the Court of Appeal in Lagos which had overturned the Federal High Courts decision striking out the charges. The court accordingly ordered that the case is remitted to the Federal High Court and handled by another judge in the Lagos Division. Justice Sidi Bage, who read the lead judgement of the apex court also ordered that the case is given an accelerated hearing. Court judgement in 2012 Justice Charles Archibong (now retired) had in a judgement delivered on April 2, 2012, struck out the 26 counts contained in a charge numbered FHC/L/443C/2013 filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against Akingbola. Justice Archibong in striking out the suit held that the prosecution was not diligent in the handling of the case. He had described the EFCC prosecution team as a drain in the public purse and directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to disband the team. The decision in the case later earned him a compulsory retirement from the bench by the National Judicial Council. Who is Erastus Akingbola? Erastus Akingbola was the Chief Executive officer and Vice Chairman of Intercontinental bank limited. He was charged and removed as Bank CEO for fraud-related offences by the former CBN governor, in 2009. Akingbola was later declared wanted in connection with the fraudulent abuse of credit process, insider trading, capital market manipulation and money laundering running into billions of Naira by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, in 2009 alongside the former defunct Oceanic Bank boss, Cecilia Ibru The comedian whose alter ego is an Anglican priest, took to his Instagram page early this morning, Saturday, May 19, 2018, to share the happy news. ALSO READ: Dolapo Oni welcomes baby boy Ajewole who is also an actor and director shared a picture collage of his cute baby boy, himself and his lovely wife as well as his alter-ego, Woli Agba. See his post below: Big congrats to him. Another celebrity and actor who recently welcomed a baby is Ivie Okujaye. Ivie Okujaye welcomes baby girl! Ivie Okujaye has given birth to a bouncing baby girl. The beautiful actress announced the big news via her Instagram page on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, where she posted a photo of the baby with a sweet story to tell about the birth as the caption. It would be recalled that back in December 2017, Ivie announced that she would be expecting her second baby with husband, Ezie Egbo on her Instagram page. ALSO READ: Comedian welcomes baby girl Ivie Okujaye got married to her husband, Ezie Egbo in 2015. The couple had a very glamorous wedding ceremony which was held in Lagos. Instablog9ja reports that one of the suspects identified as Sani Ibrahim, confessed to the crime, stating that he became a dealer in fake Naira notes in a bid to survive the harsh economic situation in Nigeria. ALSO READ: Man paraded by NSCDC for printing fake currency While reacting to the allegation against them, Ibrahim said, It is not my wish to produce fake Naira notes. It was one Alhaji who brought me into this line of illegal business last year when the economy became tough for me and I approached him for assistance. He added, We operate in Gombe and Nasarawa states because that is where we have people who trade in our fake currency. Similarly, the Economic Finance and Corruption Commission (EFCC) arrested a fake currency dealer in Nassarawa State back in April, 2018. EFCC arrests man with $400, 000 worth of fake currency A suspected fraudster identified as Samson Otuedon was arrested by officers of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), on Saturday, April 7, 2018, at Masaka, Karu LGA of Nasarawa State for currency counterfeiting. According to the reports, Otuedon, who specialized in counterfeiting foreign currencies, was arrested after being accused of defrauding unsuspecting victims in Masaka area of the State. The arrest was reportedly made following an intelligence report on Friday, April 6, 2018, on the activities of a syndicate of fraudsters working within the area. ALSO READ: Pastor docked over N58M fraud Fake foreign currencies totalling over $400,000, were recovered following the arrest. During his interrogation, Otuedon confessed that the fake dollars were given to him by other members of his syndicate based in Lagos. According to him, as part of their mode of operation, the syndicate would give people genuine dollars as well as fake dollars making it easy to have the fake currencies filtered into the system. And yes, we also find it freakish that Godwin's wife, who he says designed his suit, unknowingly predicted Prince Harry's suit for one of the most historic weddings of all time. The media personality took to Twitter to share the exciting if slightly strange news. We can only imagine that this would boost business for the innovative designer with grand tastes. Meet Bishop Michael Curry who officiated Meghan Markle, Prince Harry's wedding Reverend Michael Curry has quickly become an Internet sensation since officiating the royal wedding between Meghan Markle and Prince Harry today, Saturday, May 19, 2018. Described as a "stunning preacher" by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Curry delivered an inspiring address during the historical wedding. The London Standard reports that the priest quoted Martin Luther King during the address while speaking about the power of love. Even Twitter users who were following the proceedings were quick to note that Bishop Curry seemed to have unnerved Harry's cousin, Zara Tindall. One user shared a picture of Zara, with the caption, "the priest has her shook". At this point, you might be wondering who Bishop Michael Curry is. Bishop Michael Curry was born in 1953, in Chicago, but grew up in Buffalo, New York, America. ALSO READ: 5 key moments from the event Aged 65-year-old, Bishop Curry was ordained as a deacon in June 1978 and then moved on to become a priest six months later. ALSO READ: Venue steeped in history The London Standard reports that the priest quoted Martin Luther King during the address while speaking about the power of love. Even Twitter users who were following the proceedings were quick to note that Bishop Curry seemed to have unnerved Harry's cousin, Zara Tindall. One user shared a picture of Zara, with the caption, "the priest has her shook". At this point, you might be wondering who Bishop Michael Curry is. Bishop Michael Curry was born in 1953, in Chicago, but grew up in Buffalo, New York, America. ALSO READ: 5 key moments from the event Aged 65-year-old, Bishop Curry was ordained as a deacon in June 1978 and then moved on to become a priest six months later. Meghan was walked down the aisle by her future father-in-law Prince Charles as she was seconds away from quite literally meeting her Prince. Harry took his bride's hand and told her: 'You look amazing' and said 'Thank you, pa' after his father Prince Charles walked her down the aisle of St George's Chapel, Windsor. Meghan Markles wedding dress has been designed by British designer, Clare Keller, hailed as the first female Artistic Director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy. The veil was held in place by Queen Marys diamond bandeau tiara, lent to her by The Queen, made in 1932. Meghan arrived accompanied by two page boys who held up her train as she made her way up the chapels steps alone and entered the chapel by herself, to begin the walk down the altar, before being met by the Prince of Wales. Meghan famously wore a N28m Ralph & Russo dress for her official engagement photos with Prince Harry. The hefty price tag sparked outrage with people claiming that it was to lavish a dress for the Royal Family. In recent months, online betting sites have seen a frenzy of activity over Markle's dress designer, with Erdem, Roland Mouret, Jenny Packham, and Alexander McQueen who are the big favourites. Bookmakers, Paddy Power revealed they'd had a 'flood of bets' on McQueen's fashion house designing the bridal gown, leading the odds to fall from16/1 to 8/1 and then into the two's. They said: Melaye who was granted bail by the Court on Wednesday, made the disclosure via Instagram on Friday, May 18, 2018. The lawmaker accused the Police of illegally arresting and harassing Nigerians for a long time. Police illegal arrest and harassment did not start now, Melaye said. This was four years ago. Where Court awarded 10-million -damage to me that Police is yet to pay. Fear not him that can destroy or damage the body, fear only Him that can destroy both the body and the Spirit. My Spirit and resolve is unshakable, he added. Melayes troubles Melaye was arrested in April by the Police over the case of alleged gunrunning and conspiracy. The lawmaker however jumped off a moving Police vehicleenroute Lokoja, the Kogi state capital. He landed at the hospital following injuries during the incident. He was under arrestduring his stay at the medical facility. Melaye was denied bail by the court in Kogi state and remanded in prison. Okonjo-Iweala said it is not enough to send people to jail and splash it all over the media, adding that if the root cause is not fixed, people will keep taking advantage of the loopholes to steal money. She said this while speaking about her new book - Fighting Corruption is Dangerous, at the London School of Economics and Political Science. According to Daily Post, the former minister also said People are happy to see the symptoms being taken care of, punitive measure, you know it makes big headlines when people are hauled off to jail and the media blasts the story, which is good, there ought to be consequences and punitive actions but its not enough. If you dont fix some of the root causes, the next set of people will come in, and with those opportunities, they might do the same thing. Okonjo-Iwealas battle with Jonathans aide The former minister, at another forum, shared how she was locked outof the presidential villa during former President Goodluck Jonathans administration because she refused to play ball. She also shared how a presidential aide who didnt want a policy to take off because of vested interests, told her to back off. She was subsequently stopped from praying with Jonathan and his family inside Aso Rock, like she had always done, when she refused to succumb to the threats. The presidential aide told me that he wanted to convey a message to me that there were people not happy with the port reforms especially the abolishment of the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN). And he asked me, indeed advised me to reinstate it. I was dismayed, she added. Crucial EPG meeting on June 1-3 in Kathmandu The ninth meeting of Eminent Persons Group on Nepal-India relations is taking place in Kathmandu on June 1-3. The meet is said to work on the final report before the groups tenure ends on July 4. President Buhari in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina joined family members, friends and professional colleagues of the cerebral lawyer in celebrating the milestone. The president noted with delight that Falanas career as a lawyer had been marked with honours and awards for forthrightness and advocacy for the good of every Nigerian. He therefore commended his sense of patriotism over the years, and his advisory roles to leaders, institutions and governments, especially on the value of good governance. President Buhari believed that Falanas antecedents had been most exemplary and commendable in advocating for a better life for the poor and underprivileged. NAN also reports that the congress was conducted under peaceful atmosphere, with adequate security presence. Speaking during the exercise, Chairman, Committee for the Congress, Alhaji Zubairu Abubakar, said all the executives were returned through affirmation. There was no election; it was only affirmation; the party has arranged everything even before our arrival, it was easier for us, he said. He described the exercise as the most peaceful and devoid of rancor, adding that other states should emulate Gombe. In his remarks, former governor of the state and now a serving senator, Danjuma Goje, called for the unity of the party, which he said was the only way to win the general election in 2019. Our unity is the only path to victory; it is possible for us win the governorship in 2019, he said. Gang members have stormed a hospital in La Linea de la Concepcion, which lies on the border with Gibraltar, to free a top trafficker from police custody, as well as disguising themselves as police officers to steal drugs from rival gangs. "The surge in violence by drug traffickers is increasing. There are more and more attacks" against police, Juan Encinas, the provincial delegate in Cadiz of the Unified Association of Civil Guards (AUGC), told AFP. Spain's central government has responded by sending police reinforcements to the region, but unions say it is not enough. Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido has vowed not to allow the region to become "dominated by narcos" and points to a sharp rise in drug seizures as proof the government's strategy is working. Record cocaine seizure He said Spanish authorities had seized the same amount of cocaine in the Strait of Gibraltar by the end of April as in the whole of 2017, when 11.8 tonnes was confiscated. Police announced their biggest-ever cocaine seizure in April, when they found 8.7 tonnes hidden in a container ship that arrived from Colombia in the port of Algeciras in Cadiz. The situation in La Linea, which just a few months was one of the hardest hit areas, is now "under more control" thanks to the police reinforcements, La Linea mayor Juan Franco told AFP. But for police unions, the rise in seizures merely reflects a jump in the amount of drugs entering the country. It is estimated that only about 20 percent of the drugs coming to Spain are detected. The situation has locals worried. Hundreds gathered in Algeciras' main square on Thursday night to protest against the increasingly violent drugs trade. It came after nine officers were attacked with sticks and broken bottles as they left a restaurant on the weekend. A nine-year-old boy also died on Monday after the boat he was in with his father was struck by another vessel linked to the drug trade. Rise of a 'drug cartel'? Police unions have said that 30 groups dedicated to drug trafficking operate in the region, with more than 3,000 direct collaborators. Among the biggest groups are "Los Castanas", thought to be the largest hashish smuggling ring in the Strait, and a clan headed by Abdellah el Haj, a Moroccan dubbed the "Messi of hashish". "These clans have always been rivals, but they are starting to carry out activities together and it's not unreasonable to think it could give rise to a real drug cartel," warned Juan Fernandez, AUGC's national spokesman. This possibility has been strongly rejected by Spain's interior minister, and experts contacted by AFP are dubious. "The difference between a cartel and a criminal group is that a cartel has already colonised the area and it has the power to penetrate institutions," said Ricardo Magaz, a criminologist at Spain's UNED university, adding however that the problem "is serious and getting worse". Colombian mafias are establishing themselves in the region, according to press reports in the South American country, the world's biggest cocaine producer. But Encinas said police unions have no evidence of this. Drug traffickers are taking advantage of Spain's physical proximity to Morocco, a major hashish producer, and its close ties to its former colonies in South America, a major cocaine producer. Cadiz's unemployment rate of 31.25 percent, one of the highest in Spain, makes it easy to find helping hands. "A teenager who pretends to be fishing and alerts people when a helicopter or patrol boat departs can earn 1,500 euros ($1,750)," said Fernandez. Unloading the drugs can fetch double that, while driving a car or boat loaded with drugs pays even more, he added. "It is seen less and less as a crime and more as a way of life," said Fernandez. Three women pulled alive from the mangled wreckage are the only known survivors. The Boeing crashed shortly after taking off from Havana's Jose Marti airport, coming down in a field near the airport and sending a thick column of acrid smoke into the air. The mourning period was to last to midnight on Sunday (0400 GMT Monday), the Communist Party leader and former president Raul Castro said. Flags were flown at half-mast throughout the country. The plane was on a domestic flight from Havana to the eastern city of Holguin. Most of the 104 passengers were Cuban, with five foreigners, including two Argentines, among them. The plane was almost completely destroyed in the crash and subsequent fire. What appeared to be one of the wings of the plane was wedged among scorched tree trunks, but almost nothing remained of the main fuselage. Cuban authorities have not said whether they have recovered the plane's black box flight recorders. Built in 1979, the plane was leased from a small Mexican company, Global Air, also known as Aerolineas Damoj. Mexico said it was sending two civil aviation specialists to help in the investigation. The six crew members were Mexican nationals. Boeing issued a statement saying that a "technical team stands ready to assist" and offered condolences to friends and relatives of the victims. Diaz-Canel, who succeeded Castro as the communist island's leader only last month, appeared aghast as he surveyed the recovery efforts, wearing a short-sleeved shirt and surrounded by officials. Castro sent his condolences to families bereaved in the "catastrophic accident," a statement read, as Russian President Vladimir Putin and a string of Latin American leaders also expressed sympathy. Pope Francis asked the church in Cuba to convey condolences to families "who mourn the unexpected disappearance of loved ones." 'The explosion shook everything' The plane took off from Havana at 12:08 pm (1608 GMT) Friday heading for Holguin, 670 kilometers (415 miles) to the east. From the supermarket where he works near the airport, Jose Luis, 49, said he saw the plane lifting off before it banked and plunged to the ground. "I saw it taking off. All of a sudden, it made a turn, and went down. We were all amazed," he said. Yasniel Diaz, a 21-year-old musician, said the pilot appeared to attempt an emergency landing, but crashed instead. "The explosion shook everything," he said. "I started running, I was so afraid." At the capital's morgue, Ignacio Ramirez, 46, told of how he lost his 22-year-old cousin, Carlos Santos, in the crash. "He had come to Havana to get a girlfriend who had arrived from Mexico, and was returning to Holguin," he said. Santos's mother, who lives in the US, was traveling to Cuba to give a DNA sample to confirm her son's identity. Anguish in Mexico Global Air said the plane was flying with a crew of six Mexicans -- the pilot, co-pilot, three flight attendants and a maintenance technician. In Mexico City, anguished relatives and colleagues of the crew gathered outside the company's offices demanding information -- some of them hugging and crying. "I was friends with the captain, with the co-pilot, with the head flight attendant," said a former Global Air employee, 44-year-old Ana Marlene Covarrubias. "When I heard the news on the phone, I thought it was one of those jokes people play," she told AFP. Global Air had the necessary permits to lease it, and had passed inspections in November last year said the company, which has a fleet of three planes, all Boeing 737s. Prior to Friday's crash, Cuba's most recent air accident was in April 2017, in which eight military personnel died when a Russian-made AN-26 transport aircraft went down in western Cuba. But more than the prize winners, the 71st Cannes festival may linger more for its off-screen moments in the first edition since the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault scandal broke. Hollywood stars including Blanchett, Kristen Stewart, Helen Mirren and Salma Hayek and directors Ava DuVernay and Patty Jenkins joined a red-carpet protest to demand equal opportunity and a "safe workplace". Two days later, festival organisers signed a pledge to encourage more diversity in its selection by 2020, saying they hoped it would set an industry standard. Despite being one of the most sought-after tickets, the premiere of Danish bad boy Lars von Trier's slasher flick "The House That Jack Built" saw audience members walk out in droves, as reviewers slammed what they called a misogynistic orgy of violence. Both its female stars, Uma Thurman and Riley Keough, were notably absent from the red carpet, where Stewart on another night staged a kind of protest of her own by kicking her high heels and climbing the vaunted Cannes stairs barefoot. Even hardened critics shed tears for "Whitney", an explosive new British documentary on the tragic life of superstar Whitney Houston which alleges she was sexually abused as a child. Anti-Trump tirade The glamour-drenched festival spotlighted dissident directors including Jafar Panahi of Iran and Russia's Kirill Serebrennikov, who were barred by their governments from attending. Their films drew lengthy standing ovations, while a single seat marked with their names remained empty. Polish Oscar winner Pawel Pawlikowski, who won the foreign-language movie Oscar for "Ida" in 2015, caused a scandal at home when he told AFP at the festival that the film had been "blacklisted" by the nationalist government. Warsaw denied the claim. Critics swooned over Pawlikowski's latest, the slow-burn period love story "Cold War". Political realities dominated the Cannes race, as Lebaki won hearts with "Capernaum" set among the poorest of the poor in Beirut and featuring a devastating performance by a 13-year-old Syrian refugee boy. "While this is unquestionably an issue film, it tackles its subject with intelligence and heart," industry bible Variety said. Spike Lee scored a hit with "BlacKkKlansman", the stranger-than-fiction story of an African-American police officer who manages to infiltrate the highest levels of the Ku Klux Klan. The film, which several critics called a return to form for the "Do the Right Thing" director, explicitly links the tale set in the 1970s with white nationalism in the Trump era. Lee attacked the US president with an expletive-filled tirade at his press conference that quickly went viral on social media. Critics fawned over Asian masters like Lee Chang-dong who scored a record 3.8 out of 4 stars in a Screen magazine poll for "Burning", about a young man's mounting rage over thwarted ambitions set near the North Korean border. Hirokazu Kore-eda of Japan moved audiences with "Shoplifters", about a family of small-time crooks who take in a child they find on the street. Film website IndieWire called it "heart-wrenching". 'Less America-centric' Garrone, best known for mafia tableau "Gomorrah", later delighted them with "Dogman" about a soft-spoken Italian dog groomer who stands up to a local heavy. In 2017, the top prize went to Ruben Ostlund's "The Square," an art world send-up that went on to bag an Oscar nomination. There were less lavish parties this year and fewer A-list stars on the Croisette seaside boulevard. However industry insiders dismissed talk of a festival in crisis, saying the sprawling annual event was returning to its roots in the face of showbiz "disruption". US magazine Vanity Fair called 2018 a "pivot year", as movie studios plump for social media to promote their blockbusters instead of the splashy French Riviera promotions of old. "We've found a festival with a renewed spirit," Vanity Fair said. "In making the festival a little less America-centric than it has been lately, Cannes has re-asserted itself as the premier destination for daring, provocative international cinema." Variety noted that Cannes remained a "major hub" for the film rights trade and said "many projects for sale are embracing inclusiveness, with a raft of sales for female filmmakers". 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! Oli urges citizens to celebrate Republic Day Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday urged Nepali citizens to celebrate Republic Day with patriotic fervor and not treat it as government day. PM Oli gave this patriotic call at an event hosted at the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Capita. The PM is the Chairman of the Republic Day Celebration Main Organising Committee. 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 Storm leaves banana farmers reeling in Bara Banana farmers of Bara district are reeling from a recent storm that devastated their produce worth millions of rupees. Banana is planted across 450 bigha of land in Bara.The storm affected farm products such as banana, corn, mango and litchi planted in the northern region of the district that includes Nijgadh, Singaul and Tangiya. 'The BJP is no longer the BJP. It has become the Bharatiya Janata Poaching Party.' 'They talk of black money and here they are ready to pay Rs 100 crore to MLAs.' IMAGE: Congress Spokesperson Dr Shama Mohamed says the Congress will do whatever it can to defeat Narendra D Modi and Amit A Shah. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo 'Prime Minister Narendra Modi is corruption,' charged Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday, May 19, shortly after B S Yeddyurappa quit as Karnataka chief minister. His allegation came after audio tapes were released by the Congress party which purportely showed BJP leaders trying to bribe their MLAs and induce them to switch sides to vote for the BJP government in Karnataka. "They could not have got the numbers other than horse-trading or threatening (the MLAs) with Enforcement Directorate and other government agencies," Congress Spokesperson Dr Shama Mohamed tells Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf. What is your reaction to Yeddyurappa resigning as chief minister as he could not prove his majority on the floor of the House? This is the victory of democracy. This is the victory of our Indian Constitution. This is the victory of the Supreme Court judgment which did not postpone the confidence vote; the governor of Karnataka, Vajubhai Vala, had given 15 days to Yeddyurappa to prove his majority. The Supreme Court gave the BJP and Yeddyurappa just one day to prove their majority. Horse-trading could not take place and, therefore, it is a victory of democracy. The observation that is being made is that the party that emerged third in the elections won, and that the party that had the most number of seats lost today. Is this what Indian democracy has come down to? What happened in Meghalaya? The BJP had two seats, but they formed the government. They came in last and still they formed the government. Let us not forget that. Here we were 117 in number and they were 104. We were asking them how are they going to get the numbers to prove their majority? They could not have got the numbers other than horse-trading or threatening (the MLAs) with Enforcement Directorate and other government agencies. That is why we were very sure they will fail the floor test and that is what happened today. Our MLAs stood with us and that is the victory of democracy. Your party leaked tapes of BJP leaders allegedly trying to bribe Congress MLAs to vote for them. How genuine were those tapes, as several claim they were fake? Who is saying the tapes are fake? The party which brings out fake news every other day; the same party which brings out fake tapes on JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University) and other incidents. Even before the Karnataka elections, I saw a lot of fake news that the Popular Front of India is with the Congress on a national news channel. Our tapes are genuine. Our party MLAs got this call and they have put out the tape. It is all out there. You can hear it. There is Sriramulu, Yeddyurappa and Yeddyurappa's son (allegedly heard on tape). These are genuine tapes. Which other way could they get MLAs? The BJP is no longer the BJP. It has become the Bharatiya Janata Poaching Party. And we wonder where is the money coming from. They talk of black money and here they are ready to pay Rs 100 crore to MLAs. (Janata Dal-Secular leader H D) Kumaraswamy also said the BJP is ready to pay Rs 100 crore to his party MLAs. You are making wild accusations against the BJP. Prime Minister Modi is known for his honesty. He has won elections on the anti-corruption plank. Good question, but tell me who enacted the Lokpal? We enacted the Lokpal. The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government enacted the Lokpal before we left in 2014, so we did not get enough time to appoint the Lokpal. What is the function of the Lokpal? To see that there is no corruption. Why has Modi not appointed a Lokpal in the last four years? Why did he fight against the Lokayukta and not appoint one in Gujarat even though he was Gujarat chief minister for three terms? He even went to the Supreme Court and fought that he did not want the Lokayukta in Gujarat. And we now have the Rafale deal which is big. The UPA got cheaper aircraft, so why are we now paying more money for the Rafale planes under the Modi regime? With this, Make in India has also gone, so where is the corruption? The corruption is with the BJP. What happened to the Nirav Modi scam? IMAGE: Congress workers celebrate after Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa announced his resignation on Saturday. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo Will the Yeddyurappa government's fall have some bearing on the national elections of 2019? Of course. It shows that the BJP tried every method that is possible. The BJP had plan A, plan B and plan C ready. They went to the governor and he gave them 15 days. We were not given 15 days in Goa. And in Goa, they told us we did not have a pre-poll alliance whereas they too had no pre-poll alliance with the Goa Forward Party. In Meghalaya and Manipur too, they did not have a pre-poll alliance, but had a post-poll alliance. The Congress and JD-S had the numbers in Karnataka. We went to meet the governor at 4.30 pm, but he refused to meet us. They go and he meets them at 5 pm. (The BJP's lawyer) Mukul Rohatgi told the Supreme Court that he had the numbers as well as the names of the MLAs. When the Supreme Court asked for names and the number of MLAs, Rohatgi said he did not have the numbers and the names, but he (Yeddyurappa) will show it tomorrow at the plot (assembly). That is again a lie. Are you alleging the BJP lied to the Supreme Court? Of course. They have been lying. You see, when the top man lies, everybody else also lies. Modi accused former prime minister Manmohan Singh, former army chief General Deepak Kapoor, former vice president Hamid Ansari of sedition during the Gujarat elections. Where is the proof? In the Cambridge Analytica case too, they accused us of various things and when I asked for proof, (Information Technology Minister) Ravi Shankar Prasad said he will provide the proof next week. Have you ever seen any evidence from the BJP? We only say give us the evidence, but they do not give any evidence. PM Modi's integrity and honesty is respected across India. Where is the integrity and honesty? He is the first prime minister who has never conducted a press conference. So where is his integrity? If he is not corrupt, then he should have taken the high moral ground and investigated his party president son's business dealings. You must be elated, but this is just one victory among many losses. The BJP won because of backdoor politics. We won Goa, Manipur, Meghalaya and Bihar. But they won by backdoor politics and therefore, we were very careful this time. As Rahulji said today, this governor goes, another puppet comes in. This is the problem we are facing. All our institutions and other agencies are compromised and the only way to defeat them is when people vote against them. You got to respect the Constitution of India. During the election campaign, Rahul Gandhi called the JD-S the BJP's 'B team'. Now you have joined hands with them. Won't the voters feel cheated? We are both secular parties and that is the common thing between us. Now you tell me what is common between the PDP (the Peoples Democratic Party) and BJP in Jammu and Kashmir due to which they have formed the government? What is common between the Goa Forward Party and the BJP? The GFP campaigned strongly against the BJP and they then joined hands in a post-poll alliance. In Bihar, what did the BJP do? They joined hands with Nitish Kumar. So please tell the BJP to practise what they preach. Will the victory in Karnataka revive the Congress? We will fight till our last breath to throw these fascists out. We are the oldest party in the country. When we are pushed to the wall, we will not give up. We don't want BJP-mukt Bharat, but they want Congress-mukt Bharat. We would love an Amit Shah and Modi-mukt Bharat because they are not the BJP of (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee. They tell people that we criticise them, but look who is criticising them. (Former BJP leader) Yashwant Sinha and their own member of Parliament Shatrughan Sinha are criticising them. Their own ally Shiv Sena on Friday said it was a 'murder of democracy'. The Shiv Sena is not our ally. The Telugu Desam too is not with them. Don't you think Yeddyurappa will win sympathy after quitting like Vajpayee did in 1996? What sympathy? People are seeing that the Congress was not given a chance to form the government when they were the single largest party like in Goa. Moreover, we have 38 per cent of the votes, which is 2 more per cent of the votes than the BJP in Karnataka. The Congress and JD-S together have 56 per cent of the votes. The people are seeing all this. Just today Prakash Javadekar said two parties have come together without an ideology, so he must tell us what is he doing with the PDP in J&K? Don't talk nonsense. Practise what you preach. A message from KCR on Thursday evening persuaded the Congress to take its MLAs to Hyderabad. Archis Mohan reports. IMAGE: Janata Dal-Secular leader H D Kumaraswamy -- Karnataka's next chief minister -- with Srisri Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji of the Adichunchungiri Mutt in Bengaluru. Photograph: PTI Photo It was a red letter day for the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular, which saw a crucial partnership between D K Shivakumar and H D Kumaraswamy. More so because two neighbouring chief ministers -- N Chandrababu Naidu of Andhra Pradesh and K Chandrashekar Rao of Telangana -- provided moral support to the Karnataka alliance. The Congress also made a list of its legislators who were likely to be approached by the rival side. In order to prevent this, it asked all of them to install an app to record phone conversations. These were eventually leaked to the media and helped the Congress build its case that the BJP was 'blatantly' trying to poach their newly-elected members. But Rao, commonly referred to as 'KCR', and Naidu's support came in at a crucial time. On Thursday evening, the Congress forced to drop its earlier plan to fly its newly elected legislators in chartered flights to Kochi. Earlier, there was a plan to take its legislators to Kerala as it governed by a non-BJP party. But air traffic control in Bengaluru put a spanner on that plan. The Congress desperately needed to take its MLAs away from Bengaluru after Shivakumar found that a former BJP minister's son was with Congress legislators at the Eagleton Resort. The man was thrown out of the resort, but Shivakumar realised the vulnerability of keeping his flock in Bengaluru for the next fortnight. It was only on Friday morning that the Supreme Court overruled the governor and asked B S Yeddyurappa to prove its majority by 4 pm on Saturday. IMAGE: Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, centre, with Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, right. Photograph: ANI It was a message from KCR on Thursday evening that persuaded the Congress leaders to take the bus route to Telangana's capital Hyderabad. Telugu Desam Party leaders also sent messages of support. Both KCR and Naidu had been in touch with Kumaraswamy during the election campaign, and had appealed to Telugus living in Karnataka to vote against the BJP. According to sources in the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and TDP, KCR and Naidu are upset in the manner in which the BJP leadership treated them in the last four years. They have vowed to help Opposition parties fight the 2019 polls. Meanwhile, Shivakumar and Kumaraswamy, both Vokkaligas, either met or called up Congress legislators who had allegedly received threats. Shivakumar withstood raids from central agencies ever since he kept Congress MLAs from Gujarat in a resort in the run-up to the Rajya Sabha election where Congress leader Ahmed Patel was a candidate. "His presence itself was a source of strength for the legislators," a Congress source said. Shivakumar is likely to be the next chief of the Congress' Karnataka unit, with current state unit chief G Parameshwara, the party's Dalit face, likely to be the deputy chief minister. The Congress leadership has also recognised the 'positive' role played by former chief minister Siddaramaiah, who rather than blocking any move to have an alliance with the JD-S, facilitated it. He set aside the bitterness he shares with the JD-S leadership and reached out to H D Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy. Sources said the cabinet has already been decided, but the true test for the alliance will be the three Lok Sabha by-elections in the state, and elections to the two remaining assembly seats. There will also be a by-election for one of the two seats that Kumaraswamy has won and would vacate. The Congress-JD-S alliance is not going to be eaasy. The BJP will be on the lookout to unearth scams to embarrass the government in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The JD-S has been out of power for over a decade and is starved of funds, while the Congress also needs funds for its 2019 battle. Apart from Karnataka, Punjab is the only big state that the Congress currently rules. A Congress-JD-S alliance also means that the BJP is likely to up the ante on its Hindutva politics in Karnataka, and spread to regions where it has traditionally been weak, like southern Karnataka. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked people in Srinagar to accept his 'salaam' and wished them health and prosperity. He spoke passionately for about 30 minutes highlighting the importance of 'Kashmiriyat'. Photograph: S Irfan/PTI Photo Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday appealed to misguided youngsters to shun the path of violence and join the national mainstream, saying every stone or weapon picked by them led Jammu and Kashmir to the path of instability. Speaking for the first time after the government announced an halt to anti-militancy operations in the state during the holy month of Ramzan, the prime minister said there is no alternative to peace and stability. My appeal to these misguided youths is to return to the national mainstream, which is their own family, and participate in the development of Jammu and Kashmir, he said while dedicating the 330-MW Kishanganga power project to the nation. Its progress was monitored by the Prime Ministers Office. Amid the chanting of Modi, Modi, the prime minister inaugurated the project and laid the foundation stone for the Srinagar Ring Road at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre. The 42.1 km, four-lane Srinagar Ring Road will link Galandar in west Srinagar to Sumbal in Bandipora district and reduce traffic congestion. Modi was on a one-day visit to the states three regions of Leh, Kashmir and Jammu, launching new projects through remote inaugurations. In Leh, Modi launched the construction of Zojila tunnel to provide all-weather connectivity to Ladakh. From Jammu, he opened a new track to the Vaishnodevi shrine and also laid the foundation of the Pakal Dul hydroelectric project on Chenab. Beginning his speech in Kashmiri, Modi asked people in Srinagar to accept his salaam and wished them health and prosperity. He spoke passionately for about 30 minutes highlighting the importance of 'Kashmiriyat. He said former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a fan of the concept, and I am also a follower. Modi said the state government and the Centre have a policy, determination and strength to take bold decisions. He said the halt to operations during Ramzan will help expose those who have been spreading terrorism in the name of Islam. He said there were many vested interests who do not want to see a prosperous Jammu and Kashmir. But friends, we need to reply to these foreign powers by keeping our march to prosperity going, he said. The state government and the Centre are striving hard to bring into the mainstream the misguided youths who are under the influence of false propaganda from a foreign power, he said. Every stone or weapon picked up by the youth of this state is only meant to destabilise their own state. We have to take the state out of instability for our future generations, he said. The misguided youths will not only have to join Jammu and Kashmir but also the national mainstream of the country, he added. On the alienation of the youth, the prime minister said, There is no power which can create a wedge between two brothers... People who have been engaging in creating a wedge between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of the country are now on the verge of extinction. Dwelling upon Kashmiriyat, he said, Last year, I spent my Diwali with the jawans in Gurez and today I am amidst you during the holy month of Ramzan. He reiterated his Independence Day address from Red Fort last year where he had said, Na gaali se samasya sulajhne wali hai, na goli se, samasya suljhegi har Kashmiri ko gale lagane se (The Kashmir problem cannot be resolved by either bullets or abuses. It can be resolved by embracing all Kashmiris). He said for ensuring permanent stability, the Centre has appointed a special representative to whom anyone can go and put forth their viewpoint. From the side of the government, we are leaving no stone unturned for ending the cycle of violence. But the onus on ensuring an alliance between Kashmiriyat and democracy lies with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he said. The prime minister concluded his speech in Kashmiri, telling people that may God bless them. Earlier, in her welcome address, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti thanked the prime minister for announcing the halt to anti-militancy operations during Ramzan. Let me share with you Prime Minister sir, today the mothers of the Kashmir Valley are sleeping peacefully as they know that there wont be any operations. She said she knew it was a difficult decision, But such decisions are taken when the Centre has the will and the determination and you showed your magnanimity in announcing such a decision. It definitely needs lot of courage, she said. If the Centre has taken one step towards the people of Kashmir, the people will take 10 steps to come close to New Delhi, to come out of the cycle of violence, she said. Mehbooba regretted that despite efforts by Delhi, Pakistan is yet to respond. We had an unfortunate incident yesterday at the border in Jammu region where civilians and BSF personnel were killed. She thanked the prime minister for agreeing to the consensus at an all party meeting where it was resolved to have a 'unilateral ceasefire. JD-S sources read it as an attempt by Modi to sow seeds of doubt in the Opposition ranks. Archis Mohan and M J Antony report. IMAGE: Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, centre. Photograph: ANI Speculation, claims and counter-claims of defections and threats by leaders of the parties in the fray -- the Bharatiya Janata Party on one side, and the Congress and Janata Dal-Secular alliance on the other -- continued in Bengaluru. BJP sources claimed they were in touch with Congress legislators while JD-S sources warned the BJP not to push them to engineer defections from the BJP. The Congress alleged two of its legislators, including Anand Singh, were 'missing', but said the remaining 76 were with the party. Friday was also JD-S leader and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda's 85th birthday. And, like in the past four years, Prime Minister Narendra D Modi tweeted: 'Spoke to our former prime minister Shri HD Deve Gowda ji and conveyed birthday wishes to him. I pray for his good health and long life.' This time, however, the PM's tweet was different in that it pointedly stated that he spoke to Deve Gowda, which JD-S sources read as an attempt by Modi to sow seeds of doubt in the Opposition ranks. JD-S sources asserted its flock of 37 newly-elected legislators, and lone legislator of ally Bahujan Samaj Party, was united. BSP chief Mayawati called up the JD-S leadership to take stock of the situation. JD-S leader H D Kumaraswamy has been speaking to all of his party's legislators and also those of the Congress who have allegedly received threats of being under scanner of central probe agencies. In the Congress, D K Shivakumar is shouldering the responsibility of keeping the lawmakers together. On Thursday night, the Congress had taken its legislators to Hyderabad through buses. They would now be brought back to Bengaluru in time for the administration of oath. Former chief minister Siddaramaiah said the BJP has 104 members, when they need 112 to reach the majority mark in the 222-member assembly. He said an Independent and the lone member of the KPJP, a Karnataka-based party, had supported the Congress-JD-S. the With Congress' 78, JD-S and BSP's 38, and Independents, the number adds up to 118. As Kumaraswamy has won two seats, it stands at 117. In the Supreme Court, while there was intense speculation on the list submitted by B S Yeddyurappa to the governor, the letter disclosed did not contain names of the supporting legislators but only an assurance that he has the support of the majority of members, which included names of BJP members and unnamed 'others'. Senior counsel Mukul Rohtagi, representing the chief minister, sought more time for the floor test from the Supreme Court bench, saying the opposite group had 'locked up' its members in a Kochi hotel and it would require at least 48 hours for gathering all members. The Supreme Court rejected the demand. It passed similar orders cutting short period for floor test in the cases of Goa and Meghalaya. The Supreme Court order is of an interim nature and the main petitions are still kept pending before it. No date has been fixed for the next hearing and the court is going on a long recess from Saturday. On Friday evening, the Congress elected Siddaramaiah its legislature party leader. It also released an audio clip where BJP leader Janardhan Reddy was purportedly trying to woo a Congress lawmaker. The BJP termed the audio clip fake. The New Communists Let us congratulate Oli and Prachanda for finally merging their two parties to create a big fat Communist party in the country. Yes, it took them seven months of chiya guff, whiskey talk and what not to finally get their thulo mancheys together to agree to create the biggest left party in the nation. I recently wrote about a sermon that Andy Stanley, pastor of one of the largest churches in America, North Point Community Church near Atlanta, GA, preached titled Aftermath, Part 3: Not Difficult (you can watch it here). In the sermon, Stanley argues that Christians should completely unhitch their faith from the Old Testament. You can read my broad critique here (http://www.davidprince.com/2018/05/10/a-response-to-andy-stanley-jesus-and-the-old-testament-what-god-has-joined-together-let-not-man-separate/) but in this article I want to zero in one Stanley assertion that his message to Christians is "Thou shall not obey the Ten Commandments." Contrary to Stanley's admonition, Jesus does not diminish the Old Testament law or its summary found in the Ten Commandments one jot or title. Rather, Jesus declared that he fulfilled the law (Matt 5:17-20). Therefore, Christians must not reject the law that Jesus fulfilled, but rather embrace it, allowing it, through faith in Christ, to shape how we live. Christians are the only people who can truly live out the purpose of the law. The law was not, and is not, to be thought of as a ladder to climb for salvation. The Ten Commandments reveal the impossibility of our being justified by works of the law and point us toward the fulfillment of the law's demands for us by our Lord and Savior. The Christian does not abandon the law Christ fulfilled but rather abandons love of law as a Savior (Rom 10:4). Prior to the coming of Christ, the law functioned as a kind of prophecy revealing our need of the true and only law keeper to come. Jesus kept the righteous law perfectly, including the Ten Commandments, and clarified the law's meaning and depth for us. Apart from Jesus we cannot have a right understanding of the law of God or its summary in the Ten Commandments. The ethics of the commandments are a reflection of the character of God. This triune God reveals himself most decisively in his son, Jesus Christ. The moral vision of the Ten Commandments plays a central role in both Old and New Testament ethics. It is striking that when Peter, James, and John saw Jesus in his glory on the mount of Transfiguration that they also saw Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus. Moses was the great law giver and Elijah was the representative of the prophets. Neither Moses or Elijah spoke but rather everyone gathered there heard the father's voice declare, "This is my son, whom I love. Listen to him!" Clearly, the point of this awe-inspiring event was not a rejection of the law and the prophets but rather a visual demonstration of fulfillment of them in Jesus. What was written by the very finger of God on tablets of stone would be perfectly fulfilled by the living Word of God, Jesus. As Sinclair Ferguson has beautifully written, "The law-maker became the law-keeper, but then took our place and condemnation as though he were the law-breaker."1 The law in the Old Testament was never meant to be understood as an abstract moral code. The Ten Commandments were given to a people who had already been chosen and redeemed by grace. They do not begin conditionally, "If you will keep the following commandments, I will be your God." Rather, they begin with a statement of saving grace, "I am the Lord your God" and then continue with a recollection of redemption from bondage in Egypt: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery" (Ex 20:1-2). God's love gave redemption and God's love gave the summary of the law in the Ten Commandments. Through faith in Christ, the Ten Commandments provide Christians a path for enjoying God and living in the freedom he provides. Whereas the Ten Commandments were the unbeliever's accuser; they become the believer's exhorter toward blessing. Before salvation they threatened and after salvation they provide loving direction. Only the gospel motivates faithful obedience but the Ten Commandments help guide the way toward obedience. Andrew Fuller wrote, "First, to prove that the ten commandments are binding, let any person read them, one by one, and ask his own conscience as he reads whether it would be any sin to break them Is the believer at liberty to have other gods besides the true God? . . . Every conscience that is not seared as with a hot iron must answer these questions in the negative."2 Martin Luther asserted that the Ten Commandments cannot damn one who has faith in Christ, but he also added, However, the Ten Commandments are still in force and do concern us Christians so far as obedience to them is concerned. For the righteousness demanded by the Law is fulfilled in the believers through the grace and the assistance of the Holy Spirit, whom they receive. Thus, all the admonitions of the prophets in the Old Testament, as well as of Christ and the apostles in the New Testament, concerning a godly life, are excellent sermons on, and expositions of, the Ten Commandments.3 What the Ten Commandments teach about how we should relate to the true and living God (commandments 1-4) and fellow image bearers (commandments 5-10) has no expiration date. The Ten Commandments focus on permanent obligations for God's redeemed people. All of the commandments reflect the character and righteousness of Jesus Christ. Jesus is not a reflection of the Ten Commandments; the Ten Commandments are a reflection of Jesus. Thus, Jesus alone perfectly kept the Ten Commandments in thought and deed. Christ's person and work were not a reaction to an unrelated law code but rather Jesus, the eternal word become flesh, fulfilling his own personal word as the King of the cosmos--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To honor Jesus as Lord, we must honor his word. Let's be perfectly clear, detaching oneself from the Ten Commandments is detaching oneself from the words of Jesus. To know the God of the Ten Commandments is to know Christ. As Paul explained to those justified by faith alone in Christ alone, "Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully" (1 Tim 1:8). Luther sums 1 Timothy 1:8 up well, "To sum up all of this: Use the Law as you wish. Read it. Only keep this use away from it, that you credit it with the remission of sins and righteousness. ... Good works are necessary and the Law must be kept, but the Law does not justify."4 1. Sinclair Ferguson, Devoted to God: Blueprints for Sanctification (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 2016), 178. 2. Andrew Fuller, (1988). "The Moral Law the Rule of Conduct to Believers: A Letter to a Friend," The Complete Works of Andrew Fuller: Expositions--Miscellaneous, J. Belcher, Ed., Vol. 3 (Harrisonburg, VA: Sprinkle Publications, 1988) 585. 3. Martin Luther, Luther's Works, Sermons on the Gospel of St. John: Chapters 1-4, vol. 22, J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald, & H. T. Lehmann, eds. (Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1999), 38-39. 4. Martin Luther, Luther's works, vol. 28: 1 Corinthians 7, 1 Corinthians 15, Lectures on 1 Timothy, J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald, & H. T. Lehmann, Eds., (Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1999) 231-232. Sherente Harris of Charlestown will head off to college with a scholarship from the Rhode Island Foundations Carter Roger Williams Initiative. Harris celebrates with her grandmother and parents: (L-R) Dawn Dove, Thawn Sherente Harris, (Harris) and Eleanor Dove Harris. Articles Sorry, there are no recent results for popular articles. Images Sorry, there are no recent results for popular images. The yearning for a spiritual, peaceful space Nabaraj Lamsal is a familiar name in the field of Nepali literature, journalism, and cultural studies. The voice behind popular literary radio programmes Madhuban and Soor Sangam, 48-year-old Lamsal is also deputy director at the state-owned Radio Nepal. Kira Brown, who passed away from DIPG last year, was the inspiration for a successful brain cancer awareness campaign. Traffic police book over 500 taxi drivers Lalitpur Traffic Police have booked over 500 taxis drivers in for various violations in the last one month, a senior officer said on Friday. Villagers laud new food depot in Bajhang Villagers living in remote Durgathali and Chhabis Pathibhera Rural Municipali-ties in Bajhang district have lauded Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) for distributing subsidized rice from a newly opened depot near their villages. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Report: Yemen army, committees kills dozens of coalition troop over 24 hours [19/May/2018] br> SANAA, May 19 (Saba) The Yemen army and popular committees have carried out military offensive operations, including missile, artillery and sniping attacks, which targeted Saudi-led aggression coalition soldiers and their mercenaries sites and gatherings, killing dozens of them over the past 24 hours, according to army Media repots obtained by Saba News Agency on Saturday. Saudi-led aggression Coalition media admitted killing three of its soldiers and injuring another by the armys fires in beyond border fronts. UAE announced the death of one of its soldiers, hours after Bader-1 ballistic missile hit Anad military base in Lahj province. Sniper unit of the army shot dead 13 mercenaries in Taiz, Jawf and Serwah fronts. In southern province of Jizan, a ballistic missile, Bader-1, was fired toward Jizan Economic City. Also in Jizan, artillery shelling targeted mercenaries gatherings in Tewal. In Najran border Saudi province, the army repelled a mercearies advance toward Qathamil in Boqea desert, killing and wounding dozens of the mercenaries. A Saudi-backed militia was killed by the fires of the army in Boqea front. In Taiz province: A mercenaries armored was burned by artillery shells in West coast, killing all its crew. In Yemens province of Jawf, three military vehicles of mercenaries were destroyed in an airtight ambush carried out bt the army and committees in Khub-washaaf district, killing all who were on vehicles boards. In Bayda province, the army and committees carried out an offensive operation on mercenaries sites in Qaifa, killing and wounding dozens. In Dhalea province, a Saudi-paid mercenary was killed by the army and committees fires in Muris front. Writing by Sameera al-Mahdi Saba Saba BJP President Amit Shah on Saturday said that the ceasefire announced by the Centre in Jammu and Kashmir during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan does not apply to militants. "Don't take the ceasefire decision in a wrong way," Shah said while speaking at the India TV Conclave here. "When the army or paramilitary forces take action, it is not limited to terrorists only," he said. "A big area has to be covered, schools and homes have to be vacated and after that action is taken. So, the decision was taken to take no action during Ramadan." At the same time he said that if militants carry out attacks, "our soldiers are free to take action". "This ceasefire is not for terrorists. This ceasefire is for people to discharge their religious rituals in a peaceful manner," Shah said. "The BJP government has taken the decision to ruthlessly uproot terrorism," he added. The Centre on Wednesday announced a ceasefire in the troubled state, asking security forces to halt their operations during the Ramadan to help "peace loving Muslims" observe the holy month in a peaceful environment. Referring to the surgical strike carried out by the Indian Army in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in 2016 following the cross-border terror attack on an army camp in Uri that claimed the lives of 19 Indian soldiers, the BJP President said that "had this government of India under (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi not taken the decision, the Indian Army would not have carried out surgical strikes, and the people of India could not have said with pride that our country's soldiers cannot be played with". "After the surgical strike, the world's view of India has changed,a Shah said. "Now, the whole world accepts that after the US and Israel, if any country can take revenge against terrorists, it is India." Regarding Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed, the alleged brain behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Shah said that India has broken his back and his men. "The BJP government has selectively targeted them and threw them away," he said. Family bond brought John and Ashley to Samoa. The couple is here to visit Johns cousin, who has been living in Samoa for two years now. They chose a holiday getaway to visit families overseas. Samoa is really beautiful, everyone is friendly around here. The scenery is amazing, John said. One thing that I enjoyed was that in America, everything is so grey and brown and here all the houses are colourful and it is so green around. That was really nice to see. Ashley added: Very colourful, very beautiful and the weather is nice. Not only did they take in the laid back and relaxed atmosphere in Samoa, they took time to visit Johns cousin who teaches in a local school and help out. Local dishes were also a highlight for them. We had taro, fish, palusami, almost everything. I enjoyed it, some a bit more than others, but it was good to try something new, John said adding some of the places they have been to. We went to the blowholes in Savaii and saw some waterfalls. The difference between Savaii and Upolu is that here it is more a hustle and bustle and way more to do. Savaii is just relaxed. Before they bid their farewells, they still have a few places to visit in the islands before it is back to the big city life. We had a great time here. I am sad that our vacation is coming to an end, but we have got to go home sometime. Maybe we will return. I have a cousin here that would be a reason, but one thing is, it is a long flight from America, John said. Meet Helen Dalzell and Donald Barrance. The couple chose Samoa to celebrate Donalds 60th birthday. They do not have anything special planned for the celebration because for them every day spent in Samoa is a celebration. Dear Tourist met the two New Zealanders brushing through the busy market in town. They shared that Samoa is one of the places they havent visited in the Pacific, so they had to come. Donald has been to Fiji about five times and Helen has been to Vanuatu, Fiji and the Cook Islands. The weather is one reason we are fascinated by the Pacific area, Helen said. The purpose of their stay is on one hand an escape from the cold weather back home, and the other to take a break. It is just a week of break, Donald explained. From what Ive experienced, the people here are really friendly. What I enjoy here is there is not a lot of pressure on you when you go out. In Bali for example, they drain you to buy things. The Samoans, to be honest, are very laid back and dont put pressure on you. Compared to other Pacific Islands, Helen has been to, Samoa is a bit different. It is definitely less commercialised here. If you want to do something, it is your choice they dont put pressure on you. We went to the Piula Caves and when we arrived, there was a group of Americans, one of them said Samoa is like Hawaii 10 years ago and we both agreed that this is a good thing, she shared. Helen and Donald are staying at the Sinalei Reef Resort and Spa for six nights. They spent Mothers Day down at the beach. It has been really romantic, Donald said. Both of them agreed that they like the island atmosphere. The only thing they miss is the variety of things that they can do. We just had to get used to it. We had to ask a lot before the people come to us, Helen said. It is something really simple but for example, we are used to having eggs for breakfast, then we see someone else having it. They did not actually tell us that there would be eggs as well. It is just the little things that make the difference. But of course this is okay, it is maybe more like a part of the culture, how the people are, Donald added. All in all their stay here has been relaxing and enjoyable. We had the umu, which was really cool, Helen said. I love the place, it is great here, Donald added. They are definitely thinking of returning. San Diego attorney and California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) critic Michael Aguirre won one and lost one in court Friday. A U.S. District Court judge tossed out a lawsuit Aguirre filed on behalf of a client complaining about the CPUC and commission president Michael Picker in relation to the 2007 wildfires that scorched San Diego County. For the record: This story has been updated to show the correct number of people who evacuated to Qualcomm Stadium during the 2007 wildfires. But the judge also dismissed the CPUCs request to fine Aguirre and law partner Maria Severson $1,000 each for keeping the lawsuit going in the first place a request Aguirre earlier this year called intimidation tactics. Filed on behalf of San Diego Gas & Electric customer Ruth Henricks, the lawsuit claimed the CPUC and Picker acted improperly when considering whether SDG&E should recover $379 million from ratepayers for costs related to the fires that killed two people, injured 40 firefighters and forced more than 10,000 to seek shelter at Qualcomm Stadium. Advertisement All five of the CPUCs commissioners last November turned down SDG&Es request. That, the commissions lawyers said, made the lawsuit filed by Aguirre and Severson a moot point. But Aguirre and Severson refused to withdraw the suit, pointing to the fact that SDG&E has filed an application with the CPUC to have commissioners hear the case again. Picker, along with fellow commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves expressed reservations during the November vote. Picker said a record could support a finding that SDG&E acted prudently in most decisions, given the information available at the time. Two other investor-owned utilities in California, Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison, have also filed for a rehearing. Aguirre has called the lawsuit an insurance policy, saying he would not withdraw the suit until it was clear the CPUC would not reverse its decision. On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Michael Anello agreed with the CPUC and dismissed the suit. The Commission issued its decision, and the proceeding is closed, Anello said in a 17-page decision. Should a rehearing be granted, Henricks will still have the right to participate in the rehearing through written briefing and oral argument. At the same time, though, Anello rejected a call from the CPUC to fine Aguirre and Severson for pressing on with a lawsuit that wastes the time and resources of the Commission and the Court. The commissions attorneys said the $1,000 fines would go to the court, not the commission, and would deter future frivolous litigation without inappropriately chilling the meritorious. But Anello turned back those arguments, saying the complaint is not frivolous and pointed out that the suit was filed before the CPUC held its 5-0 vote. While the Court disagrees with Plaintiff (Henricks) and concludes that her claims are moot, the Court is not persuaded that Plaintiffs claims are baseless, Anello wrote. Aguirre said he was gratified Anello rejected the call for the fines, saying the CPUC wanted to try to smear our reputation. However, while Aguirre said we have profound respect for Anello, an appeal will be filed to try to reverse the dismissal of Henricks lawsuit. The possibility of a rehearing (of the SDG&E decision) leaves it an open question, so it hasnt ultimately been ruled upon, Aguirre said. And the fact that (the CPUC) is allowing PG&E and Southern Cal Edison to continue to participate in the case, we think, is a violation of the due process clause. The CPUC declined to comment on Fridays ruling. Business rob.nikolewski@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1251 Twitter: @robnikolewski Grammy Award winners Arturo OFarrill, Regina Carter and Antonio Sanchez are among the more than two-dozen international musicians set to perform a politically inspired free concert next Saturday evening on the Tijuana side of Friendship Park at the U.S.-Mexico border. OFarrill is now in discussions with Latin music vocal superstar Alejandro Sanz, who has expressed interest in possibly joining the lineup. The concert is being presented as part of next weekends two-day Fandango Fronterizo Festival, which this year is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The festival was created as a border-less celebration of music and culture by Texas-born, Tijuana-based Jorge Castillo. A recently retired librarian, he is a champion of son jarocho, a centuries-old string music style from the southern Mexican gulf-coast state of Veracruz. Our main purpose is to unite people through music, Castillo said. Fandango is a border-less event, despite being right in the middle of the border. OFarrills performance next Saturday with his acclaimed Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra and various guest artists will be recorded for inclusion on his next album and filmed for a documentary. Both are due out in the fall, if all goes according to plan, along with an accompanying book. Advertisement The centerpiece of the 6 p.m. concert next Saturday will be the debut of The Tiny Little Walls Suite. The border-inspired piece is the newest composition by three-time Grammy winner OFarrill, who was born in Mexico City, grew up in New York and became an American citizen in the early 1990s. We want to make a very powerful statement that music is border-free and always has been border-free, OFarrill, 57, said Friday from a concert tour stop in San Jose. He is the son of the late Afro-Cuban jazz legend Chico OFarrill. If we allow our culture, art and community to rule our lives, then we dont have to suffer through barbaric moments in history like the one were suffering through right now. The world is our nation the religion of all is the religion that sets us free. We are inter-dependent on each other for our survival. To underscore OFarrills belief in the universality of music, next Saturdays concert will feature virtuoso Iranian stringed-instrumentalist Sahba Motalebbi, New York cellist Akua Dixon, Veracruz-based violinists/composers the Villalobos Brothers and Iraqi-born oud master Rahim al Haj and his trio. The lineup also includes acclaimed jazz violinist Carter, a Detroit native, and jazz drum dynamo Sanchez, the Mexico City native who composed and performed the score for Birdman, the 2015 Best Picture Oscar-winner. The most recent solo album by Grammy Award-winning drummer and composer Antonio Sanchez is entitled Bad Hombre. (File photo ) A longtime member of the Pat Metheny Group, Sanchez became a U.S. citizen in 2016. The title of his latest solo album, last years Bad Hombre, was inspired by then-presidential candidate Donald Trumps 2016 statement about undocumented Mexican immigrants in this country: We have some bad hombres here, and were going to get them out. Sanchez will share drum duties here next weekend with Vince Cherico, the drummer in OFarrills 18-piece Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra. The first week of June will see the ensemble do additional recording in New York. The resulting album will, by design, mix live recordings from the U.S./Mexico border and anothjer Tijuana venue with studio sessions. As a matter of fact, well re-record everything in the sterile environment of a New York City recording studio, said OFarrill, who hopes his genre-leaping new album will help tear down the artificial walls that exist between different styles of music. The other wall I want to tear down is the aesthetic wall that causes people to think live and field recordings are somehow inferior to the pristine setting of a studio, he continued. So what Ill try to do is have pieces on the album where the music floats from field and live recordings to the studio. Well blur the lines, so people understand that the spirituality of the performance is not violated by either being (entirely) live or in a sterile studio setting. Excellence is really in the heart of the moment of a performance. A longtime New York resident, OFarrill visited Friendship Park here last August. How did he learn about the park and the Fandango Fronterizo Festival in the first place? Somebody on the board of directors of our Afro Latin Jazz Alliance sent me a New York Times article two years ago about the Fandango, he replied. Reading it, I was really moved by the power and fearlessness of Jorge Castillo and his fellow musicians to actually meet at the border and perform on both sides to show how much bigger humanity is than any political ideology. The performance by OFarrill and his colleagues will be at least the second major concert to take place at or adjacent to Friendship Park and the U.S.-Mexico border this year. In January, as part of the San Diego Symphonys Its About Time festival, 70 or so percussionists led by La Jolla Symphony & Chorus Music Director Steven Schick performed John Luther Adams Inuksuit on both sides of the border wall and in the enclosed Friendship Circle area of the park in between. According to Fandango Fronterizo Festival founder Castillo, the California State Parks San Diego office has approved a permit to allow 25 people at a time into Friendship Circle for both days of next weekends festival. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency restricts access to the circle to just a few hours on weekend days. OFarrill is hopeful he and some of his musical collaborators will also be permitted to perform in the circle Saturday evening as part of their Tiny Little Walls Suite concert. However, the current permit only allows the festival access to the circle between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. I dont know how all this will turn out next weekend, OFarrill said. But we know that at any moment the Border Patrol could arbitrarily be very gracious or restrictive. When we recorded our album in Cuba (in 2014), nobody knew exactly what the circumstances would be like there, either. Those unable to attend next Saturdays open-air concert will have a second option. Next Sunday, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., OFarrill, his band and their various musical guests including a Tijuana youth choir will rehearse, perform and record at Casa Cultura, which is located at Paseo Playas de Tijuana 777, Jardines Playas de Tijuana, 22517 Tijuana. The schedule for next Sunday includes an outdoor rehearsal on the plaza in front of Tijuanas Bull Ring by the Sea, which is close to the Tijuana side of Friendship Circle. Admission is free. For more information on the Casa Cultura performance, call 52 664 630 9714. More information on the Fandango Fronterizo Festival is available online at facebook.com/FandangoFronterizo/. george.varga@sduniontribune.com Twitter @georgevarga Thousands of Palestinians protested along the Gaza Strips eastern border Friday, vowing to press on with a seven-week campaign to reclaim ancestral homelands in what is now Israel. They were the first significant demonstrations in the enclave since Israeli forces shot and killed 59 people and injured hundreds more during protests Monday coinciding with the 70th anniversary of Israels creation and the formal opening of a new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. The United Nations human rights chief, Zeid Raad Hussein, delivered a sharp rebuke against Israel on Friday, saying, There is little evidence of any attempt to minimize casualties on Monday. Addressing a special session of the U.N. Human Rights Council, he said the stark contrast in casualties on both sides was suggestive of a wholly disproportionate response. Advertisement More than 110 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the protests began March 30. An Israeli soldier was injured by a stone Monday, Hussein said, but there have been no deaths on the Israeli side. The council voted 29 to 2 to set up a commission of inquiry to look into the deadly crackdown, a move decried by Israel and the United States. Charging bias against Israel, the two countries representatives noted that Fridays resolution made no mention of Hamas, the armed Islamist movement that controls Gaza and which they regard as a terrorist group. Most of those killed this week were members of the group, a senior Hamas official said Wednesday. If in the last round, 62 were martyred, 50 of them were from Hamas, and 12 were other peoples sons, Salah Bardawil, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said in an interview with the local Baladna Channel, a Palestinian news outlet that broadcasts via Facebook. This is an official figure Im giving you. And before that, you can say that 50% at least of the martyrs were from Hamas. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh rallies protesters Friday at the Gaza Strips border with Israel. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times ) Bardawil did not specify whether these were fighters or civilian supporters of Hamas. But Israeli officials who have accused Hamas of using the protests as cover to try to wage attacks against its soldiers and civilians seized on the comments as evidence that the protests are not the peaceful gatherings that organizers portray. It was clear to Israel and now it is clear to the whole world that there was no popular protest, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said Wednesday. This was an organized mob of terrorists organized by Hamas. Hamas leaders had said the protests would reach a climax Tuesday, when Palestinians commemorate what they call the Nakba, or catastrophe, of 70 years ago, when hundreds of thousands of their forebears were displaced or fled their homes. But after Mondays bloodshed, the focus shifted Tuesday to burying the dead, and the crowds at the border were much smaller. On Friday, prayer leaders across the densely populated enclave urged Gazans to return to the border fence. At a mosque in Gaza City, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said that for all the painful farewells, good things had come from the protests, including a refocusing of international attention on the plight of Palestinians and real steps to ease a crippling blockade that has sharply curtailed the movement of goods and people to and from the strip since Hamas took over in 2007. He cited a decision by Egypt to keep the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip open throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the longest period since 2013. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi said in a tweet posted on his official account late Thursday that the move would alleviate the burdens of the brothers in the Gaza Strip. Haniyeh said the protests would continue until the blockade was completely lifted. Several injured Gaza residents with Jordanian citizenship were also allowed to cross into Israel on Friday with their relatives to be taken to Jordan for medical treatment, the Israeli military said. The military said it had transferred large quantities of equipment to Gaza earlier in the week, but all of it was returned by Hamas. Palestinians on Friday wait to board buses to transport them to a Gaza border protest camp to break their Ramadan fast. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times ) Later in the afternoon Friday, buses departed from mosques loaded with men, women and children who wanted to break their Ramadan fast at the main protest camp east of Gaza City. Most kept a safe distance from the Israeli soldiers on the other side of security barriers. But several hundred surged forward, swinging slingshots and burning tires to create a thick, black smokescreen. Israeli forces responded with volleys of tear gas and the occasional gunshot. But casualties were much lower than on Monday: 56 people were treated for gas inhalation, according to Gaza health officials. Hazem Naizi, who brought his 7-year-old son to the protests, planted a pair of plastic stools in the sand so they could watch the spectacle. I brought him here so he can know his land, Naizi said, pointing in the direction of agricultural fields on the other side of the security barrier. He shrugged off the danger: If he doesnt die from a bullet at the border, he will die from the siege, Naizi said. Mohammed Abu Marasa, 20, was shot in the ankle Monday but returned to the protest camp Friday leaning on a cane with a bandaged leg. I want to take [a bullet] in the head for the sake of Jerusalem, he said. It is better than this life. Conditions for most Gazans are desperate: Unemployment is close to 50%, the tap water is undrinkable, homes and businesses receive only a few hours of electricity a day, and hospitals are running out of supplies. On the Israeli side, fire crews struggled to keep up as kites carrying flaming rags floated over from Gaza during an unseasonable heat wave. There were too many fires to count, a soldier stationed amid the fields of Nahal Oz kibbutz said. While the green jojoba fields resisted the flames, dry wheat sheaves almost ready for harvest acted like kindling. Police later said they were looking into the possibility that some of the fires were the result of an arson attack, rather than incendiary kites from Gaza. In the rest of Israel and the West Bank, the first Friday of Ramadan passed quietly. Some 100,000 people prayed at Jerusalems Al Aqsa Mosque, one of the holiest sites in Islam, including 40,000 Palestinians who were issued special permits to enter the city, Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. About 7,000 others in the West Bank prayed at Hebrons Ibrahimi Mosque, a site known to Jews as the Cave of the Patriarchs, where a Sabbath service was held late Friday on the other side of the same ancient building. Special correspondent Tarnopolsky reported from the Nahal Oz kibbutz in Israel. Special correspondent Hana Salah in Gaza City contributed to this report. alexandra.zavis@latimes.com Twitter: @alexzavis UPDATES: 4:15 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with staff reporting. This article was originally published at 2:25 p.m. Its all a fairy tale! came the excited cry from a woman inside the Prince Harry pub in Windsor as images of Meghan Markle being driven to meet her royal groom flashed on the television. The crowd around her cheered loudly with delight, their eyes glued to the screen as they got the first glimpse of the dress, then watched the young page boys and bridesmaids adorably carrying the brides train through St. Georges Chapel, and finally saw Prince Harrys face as he laid eyes on his future wife. Ive got pins and needles! They are changing history, one woman, decked out in red, white and blue, said to her friend. The streets around Windsor Castle started to fill up in the early morning, and by the time the noon ceremony started and the sun was high overhead, there were thousands of people packed all along the procession route. Advertisement Crowds wave to Harry and Meghan after their wedding at Windsor Castle. (Victoria Jones / Associated Press ) It was a sight to behold in a town that usually has a population around 32,000 and is used to tourists visiting Windsor Castle, but nothing of this magnitude. They wore fascinators and fancy wide-brimmed hats over sparkly outfits in the colors of the Union Jack or their finest gowns and suits. Some wore T-shirts emblazoned with images of the newlyweds. One bore the slogan: When Harry Met Meghan. A few women walked around the crowd in wedding dresses and tiaras, hopeful that Prince Harry might have a last-minute change of heart and choose them instead. Full Coverage: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are wed amid pomp and pageantry at Windsor chapel I just love him, said Victoria McRae, 24, who held a sign saying: Its not too late. She was dressed in a white bridal gown and admitted her boyfriend wasnt entirely supportive of her decision to fly over from Sydney, Australia, at a cost of roughly $2,000 just for this occasion. I think he will be happy when its all behind me, she said. After this, I probably have to let [Harry] be. The crowds came from around the world, reflective not only of how much global interest there is in the royal family, but also the uniqueness of this particular union: a British prince who served in the military and a biracial American actress. American well-wishers hold a banner in the streets before the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Windsor, England, on May 19, 2018. (Ray Tang / Pool ) The American accents in the crowd were impossible to miss and far more plentiful than on the last major royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. They were all eager to see the making of an American princess even though Markle will technically not be a princess. She was bestowed with the title Duchess of Sussex by the queen on Saturday morning. While the service was underway, loudspeakers carried audio from the chapel into the streets, and in some places large video screens broadcast the ceremony live. When the gospel choir sang a rendition of Stand By Me, the crowd outside joined in and swayed. And when it finally came time for Harry and Meghan to say I do, the sense of excitement and celebration was palpable. A hush fell over the crowd, then cheers and bells rang out when they were pronounced husband and wife. This feels more like a party, said Janet Gordon, 64, who also was on hand for Prince Williams wedding but described that as more of a state occasion. The atmosphere here is brilliant. Once the ceremony was over, the newlyweds rode in an open carriage through the streets to raucous cheers and applause. Then the grassy areas around Windsor Castle transformed into a huge outdoor picnic. Ballgames and card games sprung up, amorous couples cuddled on blankets in the sunshine, a grandmother playfully chased her grandson around the lawn. Some revellers slept off the excitement and perhaps also the effects of too much free-flowing champagne so early in the day. It felt like a truly British affair, full of all the pomp and pageantry that only the royal family can deliver. But heavily armed police served as a chilling reminder that the event was not as carefree as it appeared. As the crowds slowly made their way home, a young man walking to the train station with his two friends took stock of the days events. There isnt going to be another wedding that people care about until Prince George gets married, he remarked, referring to William and Kates toddler. How depressing is that? Ill be 60 by the time that happens. Boyle is a special correspondent. The Navy fired the skipper of the Harpers Ferry on Thursday, the fourth senior San Diego-based amphibious warship leader to be relieved of duty over the past year. Rear Adm. Cedric Pringle, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3, relieved Cmdr. Tammy Sue Royal, 48, after superiors lost confidence in her ability to effectively lead sailors and carry out her duties, according to Naval Surface Warfare spokesman Doug Sayers. In a telephone interview, Sayers said that sustained poor performance during an era when readiness is a focal point for the Navy were keys to Pringles decision. On April 12, Pringle fired Capt. William Sherrod, skipper of the amphibious warship Somerset, following an investigation into concerns about his command climate. Advertisement Last May, the Navy removed both the captain and executive officer of the Somersets sister ship, the Anchorage, after commanders said they lost confidence in their ability to lead. The Somerset and the Anchorage are San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks. Commissioned in 1995, the aging Harpers Ferry was the first in a class of landing ship docks, but all three vessels are used to move Marines to shore during amphibious assaults. A native of Georgia, Royal has been reassigned to the staff of Coronado-based Naval Surface Forces. Cmdr. Gervy Alota, a top aide to Pringle at Expeditionary Strike Group Three, assumes temporary duty of commanding the Harpers Ferry until a permanent replacement can be named. Royals warship recently returned from shipyard maintenance and her crew was beginning the initial phase of basic training. She did not return messages seeking comment on Friday. Royal served nine years as an enlisted electronic technician before she entered the Navys commissioning program. She graduated from Norfolk State University in 2000. Royal did tours aboard the amphibious warships Rushmore, Austin, Fort McHenry and Iwo Jima before becoming the executive officer of the Mount Whitney. She also spent seven months in Baghdad as the operation officer for the Project Contracting Officer. Royal took command of the Harpers Ferry on March 9, 2017. I am excited to be your new commanding officer, Royal told her new crew, according to the Navy, adding that it was her responsibility to give you the tools, training and time and to be able to trust you to go out and do your job properly. Royals decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, seven Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, the Joint Achievement Medal and five Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals. Military Videos On Now D-Day paratrooper from Coronado jumps again in France at age 96 On Now Remembering war's fallen, one name at a time On Now In Ramona, an airplane and an aviator provide living lessons on World War II 1:43 On Now Video: Navy's newest vessel sails into San Diego and a new future in surface warfare On Now Video: U.S. Navy files homicide charges over warship collisions On Now Stopping Marine hazing On Now Video: U.S. Navy Air Crew Grounded After Creating Vulgar Sky Drawing On Now Navy says Asia Pacific ship collisions were avoidable On Now Hundreds of recruits get sick at Marine boot camp On Now Cutler Dawson Talks Navy Federal cprine@sduniontribune.com It was just after 9 p.m. on April 27 when Border Patrol Agent Jamie Renteria spotted a group of 18 people walking north from the fence that marks the international border between the U.S. and Mexico in an area called Goat Canyon. Within a few minutes, Renteria had arrested all of them 13 from Honduras, one from Guatemala, one from Mexico and three from India. A few hours earlier a second, smaller group of seven was arrested by another agent not too far away. The arrests were not unusual for a Friday night at the border. But since the arrests, which came as a a caravan of Central American migrants arrived at the border in Tijuana, a legal battle over some of those who were charged with illegally entering the country has been shaping up in San Diegos federal court. At issue is the claim from 11 people facing charges of illegal entry into the U.S., typically a routine misdemeanor charge, that they are being singled out for prosecution by the Justice Department because they are from Central American countries. Advertisement Lawyers for the defendants said that others arrested in the same group, such as the three from India, are not facing charges. Such selective prosecution is unconstitutional and also flies in the face of the Trump administrations publicized vow of zero tolerance for any illegal border crossers regardless of the country they came from, the lawyers argue. The case is scheduled for a key hearing next week. Federal prosecutors in court papers deny anyone was singled out because of where they are from, but instead argue that the defendants were trying to cut the line of other caravan members, who were planning to seek asylum at ports of entry. The government said that public statements by Department of Homeland Security officials and the Border Patrol warned that asylum seekers from the caravan would be accepted but those trying to sneak in illegally would be prosecuted. Defense lawyers want the charges dismissed entirely. To bolster their case, they point to public statements from the administration tweets from President Trump and a series of statements from Atty. Gen.Jeff Sessions that they say show a specific targeting of Central American immigrants. The government cannot choose its defendants based on their alleged country of citizenship, but thats exactly what it did here, Eric Fish, a federal public defender, argued in court papers on behalf of one of his clients, Olga George. The 31-year-old Honduran woman came to the border with her four minor children, seeking asylum, Fish said. The court battle is unusual in what are normally open-and-shut illegal entry cases. The overwhelming majority end up with quick guilty pleas. A first offense carries a sentence of up to six months in prison, though defendants who dont have prior offenses are usually offered a deal where they are credited with time served since their arrest, and are soon deported. In court papers the government contends that those who were arrested were all part of a caravan of more than 200 migrants that came north through Mexico to Tijuana, intending to seek asylum in the U.S. In the weeks before the caravan arrived, both Trump and Sessions made public statements about the caravan that Fish contends show that only Central Americans were targeted. He quoted a Trump tweet from April 3 warning of the big Caravan of people from Honduras heading toward the border. Similarly, Sessions in an April 23 news release referenced the so-called migrant caravan which press reports indicate consists mostly of Honduran nationals. Coupled with those statements was a memo Sessions issued on April 6 ordering federal prosecutors on the border to adopt a zero tolerance policy and prosecute anyone arrested for misdemeanor illegal entry. Prosecuting only those from Central America and not the three people from India undercuts the zero tolerance stance, Fish argued, and, coupled with the public statements, shows the discriminatory intent behind the prosecutions. He further argued that its unclear exactly how the government determined those who were criminally charged were from the caravan. George, court records show, did not tell the agent she was a member of the caravan. Government lawyers countered that the prosecutions were not selective but were targeted at people who illegally entered the country and then claimed asylum. That was unfair to caravan members who waited, many for days, to apply for asylum at the port of entry. Filing charges against people who jumped the line also acted as a deterrent, lawyers argued. The three Indian men who were caught with George were not prosecuted simply because they were not members of the caravan, the government contends. A prosecution of the Indian nationals offers no pointed deterrence toward the hundreds of caravan members assembled near the port of entry, Assistant U.S. Atty. Michael E. Lasater wrote. In addition, he noted that one non-Central American caught with George, a Mexican man, was also prosecuted, which the government argues undercuts the claim of selective prosecution. Moran writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. greg.moran@sduniontribune.com Faced with an uproar in his district over a temporary homeless shelter, City Council president Herb Wesson convened a rally Friday at which he urged Angelenos across the city to support bridge housing for those living on the streets. To a crowd of a couple hundred homeless advocates, service providers, labor groups and activists assembled on the City Hall lawn, Wesson called homelessness the most important issue in the city of Los Angeles. He called the temporary shelters, to be built in each of the 15 council districts, a bold and creative solution. The announcement earlier this month that the first of the shelters will be built in a central corridor of Koreatown has been met with a groundswell of opposition, with residents and business owners staging their own rallies to protest that that site was chosen without input from the community. More than 9,000 people have signed an online petition protesting the site, which opponents contend is not optimal because of its proximity to schools and businesses. Wesson, accompanied by Mayor Eric Garcetti and five members of the City Council, said at Fridays rally that it takes power, it takes leadership to get the temporary housing built. Advertisement People at the rally hold signs in support of the homeless. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times ) Its urgent because thousands and thousands of people are only one or two paychecks away from a room, he said. Homeless advocates and City Council members who spoke in support of Wesson and the shelters said he was paying a political price for stepping up and being the first to commit to a shelter in his district. Mel Tillekeratne, executive director of skid row service provider Monday Night Mission, said that in the fight to end homelessness, the city was in front of a roadblock. We are gonna get through Koreatown, we are gonna get through West L.A., we are going to get through Orange County and the whole state of California, he said. Councilman Mike Bonin, whose district includes Venice, where groups have sued over City Council laws around permanent supportive housing and motel conversions for the homeless, said the rally showed support from the various neighborhoods of L.A. We will show we are not Orange County, he said. We will show that we are not NIMBYs. Donnie Anderson, chairman of the California Minority Association, attends the rally. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times ) Alexandra Suh, executive director of labor group Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance, said that although her group supports the shelter and help for the hundreds of homeless on the streets of the neighborhood, the way the decision was made and announced to the community was problematic. We could have done this in a different way and not come to this, she said, calling the outrage that has unfolded in Koreatown heartbreaking. We all need to work together, we need to be communicating not dig down and say, Were going to push this through. She said the consensus among Koreatown community leaders was that residents and community members are supportive of a shelter in the neighborhood, but are concerned about the particular site and lack of engagement with the community. Some question whether this is the best site, a reasonable question when there has not been adequate discussion, she said. In addition to groups working on homeless issues including United Way, St. Josephs Center and the Asian American Drug Abuse Program, the crowd included many corralled by labor groups, including the Carpenters Union and Ironworkers. Also at the rally were lobbyists and special interest groups with business in City Hall, including those wearing T-shirts representing Airbnb or marijuana industry groups. Some wearing shirts for the California Minority Alliance, which advocates for the inclusion of people of color in the marijuana industry, stood on the steps alongside Wesson. A Wesson spokeswoman said the rally was free flowing and lots of folks found themselves on stage. It was open to everyone, spokeswoman Vanessa Rodriguez said of the rally. A homeless man sleeps on the lawn at City Hall on Friday during the rally. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times ) Not present was Councilman David Ryu, whose district only brushes the edges of Koreatown but who has been under pressure from the community to convey their opposition as the first and only Korean American member of the City Council. A spokesman for Ryu, who last week met with Korean community groups along with Wesson and Garcetti, said he had a previously scheduled family matter. Vincent McDonald, 58, was at the rally holding a sign that said Homeless Lives Matter. McDonald said he lived in his car for about a year before moving into a temporary home run by the Asian American Drug Abuse Program about a month ago. McDonald, who worked maintenance at UCLA for years and lived in a Westwood apartment until he retired, said he never imagined he would become homeless until the death of his father and grandmother sent him on a downward spiral. Im bouncing back and feeling better about myself, he said of the shelter. Jenny Seon, immigrant rights project director for the Korean Resource Center who lives in Koreatown a few blocks from the site of the proposed shelter, said she hoped the Korean community could see past the fairness of the process and assess the shelter for what it is. The temporary housing will be a lot easier to explain to the communitys children than the homeless encampments that are currently on their walk to school, she said. Its wonderful for kids to see that the community will build housing for people on the street, she said. victoria.kim@latimes.com Twitter: @vicjkim It was just after 9 p.m. on April 27 when Border Patrol Agent Jamie Renteria spotted a group of 18 people walking north from the fence demarcating the international border between the U.S. and Mexico in an area called Goat Canyon. Within a few minutes, Renteria had arrested all of them 13 from Honduras, one from Guatemala, one from Mexico and three from India. A few hours earlier a second, smaller group of seven was arrested by another agent not too far away. The two sets of arrests were not highly unusual for a Friday night at the border. But since the arrests, which came as a group of 400 members of a caravan of migrants mostly from Central America arrived at the border in Tijuana, a legal battle over some of those who were charged with illegally entering the country has been shaping up in San Diegos federal court. At issue is the claim from 11 people facing charges of illegal entry into the U.S., normally a routine misdemeanor charge that is a staple of the workload in the downtown federal courthouse, that they are being singled out for prosecution by the Justice Department because they are from Central American countries. Advertisement Lawyers for the defendants point to the fact that others arrested in the same group, such as three people from India arrested by Renteria are not facing charges. Such selective prosecution is unconstitutional and also flies in the face of the Trump administrations publicized vow of zero tolerance for any illegal border crossers regardless of the country they came from. The case is scheduled for a key hearing next week. Federal prosecutors in court papers have rejected the notion the defendants were singled out because of where they are from, but instead argue the defendants were trying to cut the line of other caravan members, who were going to seek asylum at the ports of entry. The government said that public statements by Department of Homeland Security officials and the Border Patrol warned that asylum seekers from the caravan would be accepted but those trying to sneak in illegally would be prosecuted. Undeterred defense lawyers want the charges dismissed entirely. To bolster their case, they also point to public statements from the administration tweets from President Donald Trump and a series of statements from Attorney General Jeff Sessions that they say show a targeting of Central American immigrants. The government cannot choose its defendants based on their alleged country of citizenship, but thats exactly what it did here, Eric Fish, a federal public defender, argued in court papers on behalf of one of his clients, Olga George. The 31-year-old Honduran woman came to the border with her four minor children, seeking asylum. The court battle is unusual for what are normally open-and-shut illegal entry cases. The overwhelming majority end up with quick guilty pleas. A first offense carries a sentence of up to six months in prison, though defendants who dont have prior offenses are usually offered a deal where they are credited with time served since their arrest, and are soon deported. In court papers the government contends that those who were arrested were all part of the caravan migrants that came north through Mexico to Tijuana, intending to seek asylum in the U.S. In the weeks before the caravan arrived, both Trump and Sessions made public statements about the caravan that Fish contends show that only Central Americans were targeted. He quoted a Trump tweet from April 3 warning of the big Caravan of people from Honduras heading toward the border. Similarly, Sessions in an April 23 news release referenced the so-called migrant caravan which press reports indicate consists mostly of Honduran nationals. Coupled with those statements was a memo Sessions issued on April 6 ordering federal prosecutors on the border to adopt a zero tolerance policy and prosecute anyone arrested for misdemeanor illegal entry. Prosecuting only those from Central America and not the three people from India undercuts the zero tolerance stance, Fish argued, and coupled with the public statements shows the discriminatory intent behind the prosecutions. He further argued that its unclear how, exactly, the government determined those who were criminally charged were from the caravan. George, court records show, did not tell the agent she was a member of the caravan. Government lawyers countered that the prosecutions were not selective but were targeted at people who illegally entered the country and then claimed asylum. That was unfair to caravan members who waited, many for days, to apply for asylum at the port of entry. Filing charges against people who jumped the line also acted as a deterrent, lawyers argued. The three Indian men who were caught with George were not prosecuted simply because they were not members of the caravan, the government contends. A prosecution of the Indian nationals offers no pointed deterrence toward the hundreds of caravan members assembled near the port of entry, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Lasater wrote. In addition, he noted that one non-Central American caught with George, a Mexican man, was also prosecuted, which the government argues undercuts the claim of selective prosecution. Twitter: @gregmoran greg.moran@sduniontribune.com Superior Court Judge Peter Deddeh reached back in time Friday as he pulled bits of San Diego history out of a copper box. Newspapers, coins, stamps, government documents, history books and tapes were laid out one by one. The time capsule contents had been sealed up for nearly 56 years, since shortly after the 1961 dedication of what was then a new, seven-story San Diego Superior Court House at 220 West Broadway. The building, with asbestos in the ceilings, failing utility systems and expensive maintenance problems, is due to be demolished. Advertisement The time capsule was removed from a niche in an exterior wall, near the front entrance, at the end of last year with safety measures because of the asbestos. Even the box was lined with asbestos sheets. 1 / 32 Presiding Judge Peter C. Deddeh , held up a copy of the San Diego Union from February 21, 1962 that was taken out of the time capsule. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 32 Courthouse employees lined up to look at the contents of the time capsule. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 32 The copper, asbestos lined time capsule that was opened before the ceremony but waiting to be unpacked. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 32 Courthouse employees and visitors lined up to get a closer look at the contents of the old courthouse time capsule. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 32 San Diego History Center Executive director Bill Lawrence, right, and media members looked at the contents removed from the copper time capsule that was removed from the old county courthouse in a noontime ceremony witnessed by courthouse employees and the media. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 32 San Diego History Center Executive director Bill Lawrence, , left, and Donna Jorgensen from the State Judicial Council, right, looking at contents of the time capsule. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 32 Presiding Judge Peter C. Deddeh , left, and court spokesperson Karen Dalton unpacked the copper time capsule that was removed from the old county courthouse in a noontime ceremony witnessed by courthouse employees and the media. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 32 Presiding Judge Peter C. Deddeh , holds up a piece of glass made of honey and glue, like what was used in Hollywood stunt scenes, that was broken instead of a ribbon cutting to open the courthouse at the dedication in 1961. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 32 Presiding Judge Peter C. Deddeh , left, and court spokesperson Karen Dalton unpacked the copper time capsule that was removed from the old county courthouse in a noontime ceremony witnessed by courthouse employees and the media. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 32 Spectators watched as San Diego History Center Executive director Bill Lawrence, Presiding Judge Peter C. Deddeh , and court spokesperson Karen Dalton unpacked the copper time capsule that was removed from the old county courthouse in a noontime ceremony witnessed by courthouse employees and the media. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 11 / 32 Spectators watched as San Diego History Center Executive director Bill Lawrence, Presiding Judge Peter C. Deddeh , and court spokesperson Karen Dalton unpacked the copper time capsule that was removed from the old county courthouse in a noontime ceremony witnessed by courthouse employees and the media. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 12 / 32 Presiding Judge Peter C. Deddeh, unpacked a copy of the San Diego Union from 2/21/1962 from the copper time capsule that was removed from the old county courthouse in a noontime ceremony witnessed by courthouse employees and the media. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 13 / 32 San Diego History Center Executive director Bill Lawrence, left, answered questions from people lining up to look at the contents that were removed from the time capsule. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 14 / 32 Items removed from the time capsule. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 15 / 32 Copies of letters from former Presidents of the United States. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 16 / 32 Someone taking photos of the contents of the time capsule. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 17 / 32 $0.04 cent commemorative Project Mercury stamps taken from the time capsule. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 18 / 32 Copies of letters from the Governor of California right, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme court, left. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 19 / 32 Copies of letters from former Presidents of the United States. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 20 / 32 A piece of Hollywood fake glass that was broken instead of a ribbon cutting at the dedication of the courthouse in 1961. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 21 / 32 A program from the dedication of the courthouse. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 22 / 32 Letter on White House stationary. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 23 / 32 Four cent $0.04 stamps commemorating the Mercury flight. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 24 / 32 Set of 1961 proof coins from the US Mint. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 25 / 32 County Water Authority annual report from 1960. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 26 / 32 February 21st, 1962 San Diego Union. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 27 / 32 Tape recording of the courthouse dedication ceremony, prepared by KEBS, former radio station at San Diego State College. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 28 / 32 A letter from the County Board of Supervisors. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 29 / 32 A copy of San Diego Magazine, November 1961. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 30 / 32 February 20th, 1962 Evening Tribune. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 31 / 32 A card from Rufus Parks, Chief of the Construction Division for the county of San Diego. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 32 / 32 A container of microfilm. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) The state Judicial Council is to hand over the old court property to the county at the end of the month. No date for demolition is set. Plans for the site include commercial development. The old courthouse closed to the public at the end of last year as the state opened its newest courthouse, San Diego Central Court, at C and Union streets a block away from the old building. Before a crowd of about 100 court employees, judges, sheriffs officials and reporters gathered in the Central Court jury room, Deddeh displayed the time capsule items including: The dedication ceremony program dated Dec. 15, 1961. Copies of letters signed by presidents Harry Truman, Herbert Hoover and Dwight Eisenhower congratulating the county on its modern facility. 4-cent Mercury Program postage stamps. A Feb. 20, 1962 extra edition of the Evening Tribune headlined, 3 Times Around, Glenn Safe, after astronaut John Glenn orbited Earth three times, and a San Diego Union newspaper a day later headlined, Glenn Triumph Hailed. A Mar. 19, 1962 county Board of Supervisors agenda. A business card and photograph from Rufus Parks, chief of the county construction and repair division. Some mystery remains even after the box was emptied. While 1960s civic leaders thought they were being progressive by preserving history on reel-to-reel audio tape and microfilm, todays courthouse had no machinery on which to play them. Bill Lawrence, executive director of the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park, said his staff can handle both now-outdated media. Lawrence told those gathered for the first look at the box contents that time capsules are a touchstone to our past. We choose what we want our future community to know about us. ... History isnt boring. It is about who we are as a community. The History Center will house the time capsule contents except for two items the courts are keeping, said Superior Court spokeswoman Karen Dalton. Those are the dedication ceremony program and an odd bit of Hollywood fake glass, made of honey and glue. A label on the clear but yellowed shard indicated it was saved from a larger sheet that the 1961 Board of Supervisors chairman broke instead of cutting a traditional ribbon. Deddeh noted that a lot of memories are attached to the old courthouse. Think of all the millions of decisions made at 220 West Broadway and the lives that were changed, he said. He noted that in 1961, the city had a population of 573,000 while today at stands at 1.4 million. In 1960, the Chargers had just moved to San Diego, he added, to laughter in the crowd. From Los Angeles, he added, to even more laughs. The new Central Court got its own time capsule after construction. Dalton said items placed in a 3-foot box include newspapers, a book on court operations, and a bit of current technology an iPhone, with a charger. Sheriffs officials donated a photo of their court services bureau staff. The Public Defenders Office added its own advice for the ages, a T-shirt with the logo: You have the right to remain silent. Use it. pauline.repard@sduniontribune Twitter: @pdrepard On Nov. 28, 2016, the ballots were all counted and Rep. Darrell Issa was declared the winner of his ninth term in Congress. He also won the distinction of getting elected by the thinnest margin of any member of Congress. The competitive result in a district that should have been an easy GOP win placed a magnifying glass on the 49th Congressional District that is still focused there today. Four Democrats soon lined up to challenge the apparently vulnerable incumbent, itching for the chance to replace one of the countrys most prominent Republican legislators. Then before the fight got started, Issa announced that he would not seek re-election and several Republicans scrambled into the fray. The contest quickly turned from a Democratic fight against a common enemy to no-alliance cage match. Advertisement In all, there are four Democrats (none have served in office before), eight Republicans (including four who are currently in elected office), three third-party candidates and one independent. The top two candidates will face each other in Novembers general election, and its possible that those two contenders could be from the same party. The candidates are focused on health care, the environment and education and if theyre Democrats President Donald Trump. But theyre also campaigning about the nuclear material at San Onofre and a toll road planned to run through the northern part of the district. Thirty-seven percent of voters in the 49th District are Republicans, while 31 percent are Democrats. Another 26 percent do not belong to a party. The district runs from La Jolla to Dana Point and includes Vista, Oceanside, San Clemente and Encinitas. In addition to its often scenic oceanfront, it also includes all of Camp Pendleton, about half of the University of California San Diego, the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station and many of the regions biotechnology companies. Democrat Doug Applegate Applegate, a retired Marine Corps colonel who now works as a trial attorney, is running again after his narrow loss to Issa two years ago. The 64-year-old Democrat from Oceanside is quick to note that the 2016 election was an anomaly and that the race didnt really start until after that years primary showed he was within striking distance in the general election. That race, which brought an endorsement from then-President Barack Obama and connections to donors and major name-ID, also makes him the most viable candidate this year, he said. Its different because I get to talk to 153,000 people who already voted for me once. Nobody knew my name the first time around, Applegate said. This is a different race because people actually have a different choice. And the only candidate that is really well-known is the guy who ran in 2016. The incumbent is gone so I have a different starting point. Like before, hes campaigning on education, the environment, national security, expanding the Medicare health care program to all Americans and easing income disparity. Hes also questioning why Congress hasnt voted on the use of military force in Syria, a decision that could have implications for Marines at Camp Pendleton. Congress has not done their job to vote on the War Powers Act...That is absolute dereliction of duty, he said. They need to, they should, and they havent. I cant say that my party has done any better on it than the Republicans. If you are going to vote yes on the use of American force, you better be able to articulate why. In 2016 Applegate faced attacks related to restraining orders issued in 2002 and 2004 during his divorce from his former wife, a record that has chased him into the #MeToo era. Like before, Applegates former wife is denouncing his opponents weaponization of their marital problems. We went through a difficult divorce as many people have, but to take things out of context and make Doug out to be an abuser is absurdI support his run for Congress and I will be voting for him in June and November 2018, Applegates former wife, Priscilla Greco, said in a statement released by the campaign. Campaign finance records show he raised $816,704 this election cycle and has $235,520 left in the bank. Republican Rocky Chavez Holding steady in first or second in the polls, Chavez said the election will be won by the candidate who best understands the district. As a former Oceanside City Council member and now a state legislator, he said he has that advantage. I know the district, Ive been elected here since 2002, he said. Plus, as a retired Marine Corps Colonel and a former undersecretary and acting secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs, hes made inroads with the Camp Pendleton community and the veterans who have made the district their adopted home, he said. Hes said hes a solid conservative, but he also said hes not a typical Republican. He said hes comfortable as an outsider who clashes with his partys establishment and believes the legislative branch is obligated act independently of the White House so he wont roll over for the president. When people say Were with Trump all the way, I come back and say that I am a constitutionalist and I believe that our founding fathers wanted actual friction between legislators and the executive, Chavez said. He has been at odds with the GOP in particular since he and seven other Republicans supported a bill that extended a cap-and-trade program that requires businesses to buy permits to emit greenhouse gases. Some Republicans said the policy betrayed businesses by increasing their costs. For an assemblyman representing a coastal district where outdoor activities are important, the bill made sense, Chavez said. Thats why you need to be friendly and understanding of the environment. Were a tourism district, and people surf and we bike ride and people are here for a reason. Thats kind of the crux of the matter, he said. Chavez, who is 66, is a member of New Way California, a group of Republican Assembly members who feel that they no longer have a place in the GOPs mainstream circles. They want conservative answers to problems like climate change, immigration and poverty, and to be more than a coalition of anti-Democrat lawmakers. He said he didnt get the endorsement from the Orange and San Diego county Republican parties because members are looking for typical GOP lawmakers. But he noted that he has received support from the mayors of North County cities that know him best. Chavez has raised $203,747, including $100,000 he gave to his own campaign. Republican Kristin Gaspar After serving as Encinitas mayor and on its City Council and nearly 18 months on the county Board of Supervisors Gaspar wants to go to the House. I know I fit this district very well, and I have not only had a lot of appeal to not only Republicans, but crossover appeal to Democrats as well, she said. Gaspar noted that she was elected mayor even though Republicans had a significant voter registration advantage, and joined the Board of Supervisors when Democrats had a small voter registration lead. Her experiences in public office gave her the opportunity to study how government works and how it doesnt, she said. Now that Ive seen that, it has frustrated me to a level that in my first year of service, I hopped on a plane and flew to Sacramento and flew to Washington to fix this dysfunction, she said. The chief financial officer of a physical therapy company, she got into politics after she felt that local government wasnt tuned in to business interests. After the Trump Administration sued California over restrictions on how police officers can cooperate with federal immigration authorities, Gaspar worked with a board colleague to have the county side with Trump. She most recently met with the president at the White House to discuss the county governments efforts. There are people who do not want to follow our laws, she said. She said that in the coastal district the environment is also a concern for voters. She would not say if she believes that climate change and the ensuing sea level rise is caused by human activity, and explained that people get entangled debating the cause and before they can ever collaborate on a solution. My position is that we carefully navigate all of these issues to make sure that our environment is being protected, our residents are being protected, and our businesses are being protected, she said. Gaspar has raised $261,252 since launching her campaign and has $185,494 left after expenses. Democrat Paul Kerr A first-time candidate, Kerr is running on his life story and the empathy he built from his working class-roots. He watched his mother struggle with a terminal illness, climbed from a start as a listless Navy veteran to study at San Diego State University and become a self-made millionaire with a massive real estate empire. How many more Harvard-educated, Ivy League sons and daughters of wealthy families coming down from their thrones to do us the favor helping us, the low people, do we need? he said. Im so fed up with that. If we keep doing that were just going to perpetuate the system we have now. He spent the first part of his childhood in a small town in Arizona. His father was laid off when he was in his early teens and then his mother was diagnosed with Lou Gehrigs disease but didnt have health insurance. His fathers old employer was sympathetic and re-hired him, but the family had to move to San Diego. Kerr said his father struggled with bills while the family cared for their matriarch before she died from her illness. It was the longest and shortest three years of my life, he said. He enlisted in the Navy after leaving Orange Glen High School in Escondido as a junior, trained as a boatswains mate and was assigned to destroyers before he left after three years in uniform. He had $1,500, moved into a garage in National City and worked as a busboy. He was a waiter, bouncer, clerk at Sears and restaurant floor manager until he went to San Diego State 14 years after he was discharged. He studied economics and real estate and became an appraiser. He later met his business partner and they now own their own firm, a company that owns about 2,500 apartment units, about 750,000 square feet of office space, and two industrial buildings. They also manage about 3,000 rental units and about 110 employees, he said. Its my experience with health care, its my experience with veterans issues, its my experience with income inequality...The truth is, more so than any other candidate in this race, I struggled in my life, he said. After watching his mother through her illness and his familys financial struggles, hes campaigning heavily for a single-payer health care system and removing the age requirements for Medicare. One large government insurance system wont have to seek profits and will also have greater bargaining power with providers and drug companies, reducing costs by as much as 45 percent compared to the various state systems and hundreds of private insurers, he said. Campaign finance reports show that his campaign has raised $1,956,672 by the end of March, the most of any of the contenders. Of his funds, $1,612,728 was self-financed. He has $344,955 cash-on-hand. Republican Diane Harkey A former Dana Point Mayor turned-State Assemblywoman turned Board of Equalization member, Harkey, a Republican, wants to go to Capitol Hill next. Endorsed by the San Diego and Orange County Republican parties as well as Issa Harkey spent her career in corporate finance and banking. Her background, she said, helped make her a foe of anti-business government red tape as well a strong advocate for taxpayers. Thats why I am really focused on keeping the seat in the Republican column, she said over the phone. Ive got 30 years of banking and corporate finance experience and thats really important to understanding how business work. She said that shes in the best position to improve the economy in the district. I understand what it takes to earn a living and I understand what it takes to be employed and have employees, she said. A pro-growth Republican, she said shes looking to expand the number of high-paying jobs. Illegal immigration and the states sanctuary policy are common topics on the campaign trail, she said. I do support the wall, she said, referring to the Trump Administrations proposed barrier at the United States border with Mexico. I support the wall because its really a national security and public safety issue. She said that people can still come into the country through legitimate ports of entry, but it deters people who are entering without permission. Its totally passable, workable, for anybody who wants to come back and forth to our country for an honest reason, she said. While Harkey is campaigning as a taxpayer advocate, the Board of Equalization, as detailed in audits, had a series of scandals and problems during her tenure and was stripped of many of its powers. Harkey said that critical audits were about earlier board members and not her. One investigation from last spring found misuse of government staff and a conference, which Harkey sponsored, had 23 sessions but only two were about taxes. There were sessions about desk yoga, leadership development and negotiations. The board was also dogged by scandals, including an instance where $350 million in sales tax revenue was put into incorrect accounts. State lawmakers overhauled the board during Harkeys tenue, cutting its staff and shifting workers to the new California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. The new Office of Tax Appeals took over the boards duty to hear appeals. Harkey said that the board was improving while she was leading. We were making a lot of reforms, those are on tape. Unfortunately the legislature chose to break up the board. I think the taxpayers lost their representation, she said. She said that she also helped resolve tax disputes, re-wrote regulations to make them more user friendly and had outstanding constituent services. Harkey has raised $312,509 as of the end of March, and has $179,284 cash on hand, and $31,499 in campaign debt. Democrat Sara Jacobs Jacobs grew up in the district and is returning to her hometown after working in foreign affairs. At 29 shes both the youngest of the candidates across the large field and the only Democratic woman running. She said these two demographics will be pivotal to her campaigns success. We have seen women and young people energized and excited and I think we need to make sure that were giving them someone who looks like them and who can adequately represent their interests and views, she said. Her team phone-banks 14 times per week, has more than two dozen college and high school interns, does direct voter contact every day and will reach 10,000 households at their door before the campaign launches its get-out-the-vote effort, she said. A lot of people are saying this year that for them, what leadership means is listening. Theyre sort of tired of politicians who come with their talking points and give their speeches, she said. Jacobs grew up in northern San Diego County and graduated from Torrey Pines High School before leaving for school at Columbia University where she earned her bachelors and masters degrees in international affairs. She worked for the United Nations for about seven months, on big-data projects at UNICEF for about ten months, and then for a federal contractor on State Department projects before joining former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons Campaign in November 2015. After the 2016 election she started a non-profit organization that tracks access to the internet at schools to increase connectivity and education around the world. She moved from New York City to Encinitas in October and announced her campaign a month later. We have an opportunity to really shake things up and not settle for how things have always been done, she said. She said she brings a type of nuance to the race that the other candidates lack. All the Democrats support universal background checks on gun purchases, banning so-called bump stocks and other common Democratic policies to reduce gun violence, but she is the only one who is emphasizing the particular risks that domestic violence victims face when their abusers own firearms. So were going to need to address domestic violence if we are going to really address gun violence, she said. The biggest issue in the district, she said, seems to be unequal access to opportunities and the underlying causes behind them. While the district has some of the countrys nicest homes and neighborhoods, there are also parts that are struggling and constituents who want to work but find that there are barriers like expensive childcare that get in the way of their success. I talk a lot about the need for affordable childcare, and the lack of affordable childcare is one of the main barriers to women in the workforce, she said. Campaign finance reports show that she has raised $1.69 million since launching her campaign, including $1.09 million she has given to her own campaign. Democrat Mike Levin Of the Democrats, Levin has the longest political resume. The former executive director of the Orange County Democratic Party and a member of several campaign teams including Clintons 2016 run for president, hes campaigning to serve in Congress. A lawyer, his career has been centered around environmental law and renewable energy, and he has worked in government relations advocating on both of these issues. Levin said his professional and political experiences make him the best-qualified candidate. My background as a clean energy advocate and a clean energy attorney is important, he said. I have over a decade of public policy experience. Levin, who is 39 and from San Juan Capistrano, spent most of his childhood living in southern Orange County before moving to Los Angeles. He was the student body president at Stanford University and later went to law school at Duke University. He returned to Orange County after law school and became the head of the local Democratic party for two years. His professional career has revolved around green energy and includes co-founding a green energy industry group and he worked in government affairs to influence energy policy in his latest job. Over the years he has worked on a waste-to-energy pilot program, tax credit for solar and wind and fuel cell technology, the development of hydrogen fuel cell stations (he owns two cars powered by fuel cells) and a state bill that calls for long-term reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. He began thinking about running after Trump was elected and after he and his wife attended the first Womens March together. I think that the most important issue, and its not a surprise to anybody, is the president and his performance on the job. But health care, the environment, education and immigration, those are the big issues of the day, Levin said. He said that he supports a national health plan, that Medicare-for-all is popular in the district and that voters want the government to use its large purchasing power to negotiate cheaper prescription drug prices. Congress also needs to expand and protect the Social Security pension system, particularly since about half of the district doesnt have retirement beyond the program. He said hes worried that the expanded deficit created by the new tax law will make Social Security a target for cuts. Levin has raised $1.57 million since launching his campaign with all but $40,000 from individual contributions, more than all the other candidates. Republican Brian Maryott A newly-retired financial planner, San Juan Capistrano Councilman Maryott is running on his fiscal experience and an interest in public service and policy that first bit him when he worked in the Massachusetts state house decades ago. A member of the council since 2016, Maryott, who is 55 years old, said hes been cast as a pro-Trump candidate but said that while he supports the president on some issues, he disagrees on other issues and on the presidents temperament. Ive always known one thing about Trump this guy has a ferocious work ethic, Maryott said over the phone. And the results that are coming in and the ambition and determination thats behind his strategy is very, very impressive. The noise? I black that out. He said he disagrees with the presidents so-called travel ban, which blocked people from several mostly Muslim countries from entering the United States. He said that the administrations plan to expand offshore oil drilling is unnecessary. But he backs the GOPs tax plan and criticized Issa for voting against it after the retiring congressman cited concerns that it would eliminate or reduce tax credits that helped people in the district. Maryott said that the new law increased his own familys taxes, but said it was good for the country as a whole. For a conservative Republican that was an indefensible vote. Weve needed corporate tax relief for decades and even Democrats were calling for it, Maryott said. There needs to be major economic expansion to make up for the revenue shortfalls created by the new tax plan, he said. We are going to have to have a period of growth like the early 50s and early 60s, he said. Health care keeps coming up with the voters, Maryott said. Generally, people fall into two camps: one portion loved their insurance policies as they were before the Affordable Care Act was implemented and another group that wants universal health care and are worried that the insurance exchanges will collapse. He said that theres a place for both. Weve got to get back to the table on health care...We can have a highly robust, competitive, ambitious private healthcare system alongside a modest single payer system for people of meager means or people who want it, he said. He credits the ACA for showing that its vital for insurance programs to cover mental health care and pre-existing conditions, two provisions he called wonderful wins for the people. Campaign finance reports show that he has raised $420,828 since launching his campaign, including $400,000 he has given himself. He has $59,241 left after expenses. Other Candidates Eight other candidates with low name-ID and few financial resources at their disposal are also running. Polls have shown them with about 1 percent support of likely voters. They include: Republican David Medway, a physician. Republican Craig Nordal, a real estate businessman. Nordal is probably best known for protesting yoga at Encinitas Union School District and calling the exercise routine the anti-Christ. Republican Mike Schmitt, a neuroaudiologist and small businessman. Republican Joshua Schoonover, a patent attorney. Green Party candidate Danielle St. John, a human rights advocate. Libertarian Joshua Hancock, a Marine Corps veteran. Peace and Freedom candidate Jordan Mills, a professor. Surgeon and businessman Robert Pendleton. He created the K9 party, a new political organization with a platform based on attributes of domesticated dogs. Twitter: @jptstewart joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1841 A sheriffs deputy has been arrested and on suspicion of groping a 14-year-old girl while she waited in line at a North County fast food restaurant, Sheriff Bill Gore announced Friday. Timothy Wilson Jr., 32, is accused of fondling the girl on March 21 at a Panda Express in Vista and then fleeing. Wilson, who worked at the Vista jail, has been booked into the downtown central jail and placed on unpaid leave. He has been with the Sheriffs Department 10 years. Gore said at a news conference that Wilson was being held on one felony count of committing a lewd act with a child. Wilson allegedly grabbed the girls buttocks before leaving the restaurant on Main Street near South Santa Fe Avenue. Advertisement On April 9, San Diego County Crime Stoppers released surveillance video of the assailant and asked for the publics help indentifying him. One of Wilsons coworkers saw the video on May 9 and notified authorities, Gore said. I am deeply disappointed in Mr. Wilsons conduct, but proud of the men and women of this department who do not tolerate criminal acts in the community or within our own ranks, the sheriff said. After receiving the tip about Wilson, Gore said, the department began an investigation that included victim interviews and the execution of search warrants. We have no reason to believe, at this time, theres other victims, he said. Anyone with information about the incident can call the Sheriffs Department sexual assault unit at (858) 974-2316, or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. City News Service contributed to this report. dana.littlefield@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @danalittlefield Its a little nondescript building along busy East Vista Way, the sort of bland structure passersby might not even notice. But authorities did notice the place, calling it the last known medical marijuana dispensary operating in Vista. On Friday morning, sheriffs deputies raided the storefront of Laughing Leaf, capping several weeks of similar takedowns at other allegedly illegal medical cannabis shops throughout the city. Authorities said this is the first time since 2011 that there are no known storefronts operating in Vista city limits. Advertisement One of the other dispensaries raided since March was in a trailer tucked behind a home near an elementary school. Another was in a building on Thibodo Road that once housed a sheriffs substation. The raids come even as Vista officials and voters, come November grapple with whether to legalize storefronts offering medical weed. Vista forbids marijuana businesses, including medical marijuana dispensaries. Storefronts operating in the city are doing so in violation of city ordinances. For the last few years, Vista has spent roughly $500,000 to $600,000 a year to go after the shops, according to Vista City Manager Patrick Johnson. The aggressive crackdown has included bringing criminal misdemeanor charges against landlords and leaseholders not for violations of drug laws, but of city ordinances such as operating without a permit. People think that for some reason, Vista is going to be seen as an easy place to set up shop. I am hoping that this gives them the answer, the pushback that we are not going to be easily targeted, Councilwoman Amanda Rigby said Friday as she and Johnson stood outside the raided shop. The San Diego Union-Tribune was not immediately able to reach the dispensarys owners or attorney. In the face of the battle, it will be up to voters in November to weigh in on as many as three ballot measures regarding whether to allow marijuana businesses in the city. In recent years, public attitudes about marijuana have shifted toward acceptance. A city-funded poll of 400 Vista voters last year found that more than half backed the idea of allowing dispensaries. And well more than half of the citys voters also backed Proposition 64, the 2016 ballot measure that legalized marijuana for recreational use. Last year, a group with ties to medical marijuana dispensaries gathered enough signatures to qualify a ballot measure calling for at least one medical marijuana dispensary for every 10,000 residents in Vista. That amounts to at least 11 storefronts. All would be medical marijuana dispensaries. Recreational sales would not be allowed. Opponents fear the initiative would be too lax. With that issue landing on the November ballot, some council members are considering throwing a counterpunch: drafting the citys own measure for voters to also consider. Council members are toying with a ballot proposal that would allow for two medical marijuana storefronts with no on-site consumption and a host of restrictions, including no packaging that appeals to children. The city is also thinking of adding a separate ballot measure specifically outlining tax on marijuana sales and more. And aside from all that, there is yet another bid by a different outside group to put another marijuana-related item on the ballot. It would allow for recreational sales at storefronts. Sgt. Jason Scroggins runs the team that tackles what he said are quality of life issues in Vista, including busting the storefront operations. And I wholeheartedly believe this is a quality of life issue, he said of illegal dispensaries Friday. For deputies, targeting pot shops has long been a whack-a-mole game. Some dispensaries have been known to reopen the next day after a raid. Given the amount of money the shops are suspected to bring in, Scroggins said, raids are like a bee sting to dispensaries. Its not clear, but maybe something has shifted. In March, Vista deputies raided six shops. Last month, they hit two. So far, none have popped back in the same spot, Scroggins said. I think because of our proactivity and enforcement actions that some of the upstarts have just decided that Vista is not the place for them, and they go elsewhere, Scroggins said. By Friday afternoon, the East Vista Way storefront was listed on weedmaps.com as closed. Inside the shop, Scroggins said, the deputies busted open two large safes, suspected to hold product and cash. The banging could be heard from outside. They brought out boxes of products, including pot-laced gummy candies. In all, they seized upwards of 450 pounds of marijuana and marijuana products, as well as cash. No arrests were made. As deputies worked inside the shop, two people each at least 50 years old separately approached the storefront, only to be turned away by deputies informing them that the business in closed. teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com (760) 529-4945 Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT President Trump endorsed Republican John Cox for California governor on Friday, backing that could help Cox consolidate the GOP vote in the June primary and increase his chances to win a spot on the November ballot. California finally deserves a great Governor, one who understands borders, crime and lowering taxes. John Cox is the man hell be the best Governor youve ever had, the president tweeted Friday afternoon. Cox, who did not vote for Trump for president in 2016, said he was honored and deeply grateful for the endorsement. I am looking forward to working with [the president] to make California great again, said Cox, who alluded to potential support from Trump during a recent debate in San Jose, when he noted that he had recently visited the White House. Like the President, Im a businessman who knows how to get things done. Were going to secure the border, empower California small businesses, lower taxes, and make our state affordable for everyone. Advertisement Trump overwhelmingly lost California to Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton received nearly 8.8 million votes in the state compared to Trumps 4.5 million., But if Cox receives anything close to Trumps support it should be more than enough to give him a second-place finish on June 5. Trumps endorsement of Cox is a major blow to GOP rival Travis Allen, an assemblyman from Huntington Beach and the favorite of many California conservatives. Both men failed to win the endorsement of the California Republican Party earlier this month, but Trumps backing is arguably more powerful. Allen supporters fumed over the presidents announcement, and said he had been misled. California finally deserves a great Governor, one who understands borders, crime and lowering taxes. John Cox is the man - hell be the best Governor youve ever had. I fully endorse John Cox for Governor and look forward to working with him to Make California Great Again! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2018 Im angry. Im angry at President Trump, said Celeste Greig, a longtime conservative leader in the California GOP, who travelled to Washington, D.C., to attend Trumps inauguration in 2017. When she heard the news Friday, she promptly donated an additional $300 to Allens campaign. I love the president. I have supported him, but hes made some misjudgements and this is one. He shouldnt have done it, he shouldnt. I will never, never support John Cox. Throughout the campaign, Allen has hammered Cox for supporting Libertarian Gary Johnson in the 2016 presidential race. Cox says he cast his ballot for the former New Mexico governor because, at the time, he didnt trust that Trump was a true conservative. Cox has since said he regretted that vote because he has been pleased by Trumps actions in office, including the tax overhaul, though he wishes the president would tweet less. Allen voted for Trump and often boasts that hes the only major candidate in the governors race to have done so. But Allen has struggled to raise funds for his campaign while Cox, a wealthy businessman from Rancho Santa Fe, has poured more than $4 million of his own money into his gubernatorial bid. The fact that Allen does not have the funds to compete makes this significant, Republican political consultant Rob Stutzman said. Allen cant really counter it effectively. Stutzman, Greig and others suspect House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) may have encouraged the president to back Cox. Having a Republican on the top of the ticket in November as opposed to two Democrats could drive GOP voter turnout and help House Republicans in tight races that are key to the party holding on to control of Congress. The only reason for Donald Trump to tweet out support for a candidate for California is going to be House seats, said Jon Fleischman, an influential conservative blogger from Orange County who plans to vote for Allen but said Trumps endorsement helps Cox. There is delicious irony in tweeting support for a candidate who was boasting about not voting for him. Attempts to reach McCarthy were unsuccessful on Friday. But Allen told more than 400 supporters on a conference call Friday evening that the presidents endorsement would not hinder his chances, and said Trump wrongly decided to listen to political advisors in the swamp, and Kevin McCarthy chief among them. This does not stop us. This doesnt even slow us down, Allen said. All this does is put a smile on our faces, because ladies and gentlemen, as God is my witness, my name is Travis Allen and Im going to be the next governor of the state of California. Not even the president of the United States is going to stop that. Democratic front-runner Gavin Newsom responded to Trumps tweet by aligning Cox with the president, who is widely unpopular in California. No surprise youre endorsing a candidate in your own image: one who attacks immigrants while opposing common sense gun laws and equal rights, Newsom tweeted. Time & time again, the people of California have rejected your brand of hate. The people of California will reject @TheRealJohnHCox too. Newsoms campaign to be the states next governor will be much easier if he faces a Republican in the general election, rather than one of the other top Democrats in the race a fact driving his strategy. No Republican candidate has won a statewide election in California since 2006, and Democrats have a 19% edge over the GOP in voter registration. Under Californias top-two primary system, the two candidates who receive the most votes in the June 5 primary advance to the November election, regardless of party affiliation. The other top Democrats in the race include former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, state Treasurer John Chiang and former state schools chief Delaine Eastin. Democrats and their allies have been spending millions of dollars to weigh in on Coxs candidacy. Newsom released an ad contrasting himself with Cox that notes Coxs alignment with Trump on gun issues. The ad is being aired on broadcast television during programming popular with conservatives, including the Roseanne reboot, and will probably make Cox more appealing to GOP voters. Meanwhile, backers of Villaraigosa who is scrapping with Cox for the second spot in the primary are airing an ad on Fox News and other stations that paints Cox as a Chicago carpetbagger and onetime Democrat who cant win elections. While living in Illinois, Cox unsuccessfully ran for office multiple times. During a testy televised debate earlier this month in San Jose, Newsom was asked whom he would prefer to face in the general election. The lieutenant governor quickly said he hoped to battle a Republican. A Republican would be ideal in the general election, Newsom said with a grin, then glanced over at Cox and Allen. Either one of these would do. Be careful what you wish for, Gavin, Cox said. seema.mehta@latimes.com; phil.willon@latimes.com Twitter: @LATSeema, @philwillon Updates on California politics The recent ruling by a Riverside County judge to overturn Californias End of Life Option Act stands in stark contrast to the 76 percent of Californians who in 2015 supported the law, which allows medical aid in dying as an option for terminally ill adults. Weve both lost loved ones Dans wife Brittany Maynard to cancer and Kellys sister, Betsy Davis, to ALS. Fortunately, each experienced a gentle dying process thanks to medical aid in dying. However, our vastly different experiences give us unique perspectives, and make the case for defending Californias law. Dans wife Brittany died on Nov. 1, 2014, from an aggressive, incurable brain tumor. At the time, California did not have its End of Life Option Act. So Dan and Brittany left their home in California and moved to Oregon so Brittany could have the option of a gentle passing using Oregons death-with-dignity law. Betsy was diagnosed with ALS in July 2013. There is no cure for ALS, and by June 2016, when the End of Life Option Act took effect, Betsy was barely able to move or speak and had difficulty swallowing and breathing. Both her primary care doctor and her specialist at Cedars-Sinai gave her less than six months to live. Advertisement Unlike Brittany, who had to uproot her life to die on her own terms, Betsy passed away surrounded by family and friends, after inviting loved ones to her house in Ojai for a two-day, joy-filled, re-birth celebration. Terminally ill individuals like Betsy and Brittany are not choosing between living and dying. The brain tumor was ending Brittanys life; the option of living was no longer available to her. She was only choosing between two different methods of dying. One method would be gentle. The other would occur after suffering from intensifying and worsening symptoms, including increasingly frequent brain seizures. Prior to the state Legislature enacting our medical aid-in-dying law, Betsy had researched other ways to end her suffering because she knew shed likely die by suffocation. Relying on a ventilator or feeding tube to prolong her life literally being trapped in her own body, unable to communicate was not what she wanted. During the final few months of her life, Brittany decided to speak up and advocate for medical aid-in-dying legislation in California and other states. She felt it was a huge injustice that she had to move from her home during such a tumultuous time. Californians deserve better than this, she said. We all do. The plaintiffs in this case seem determined to send us backwards to darker times when end-of-life medical options sometimes left patients worse off, or put caregivers and family members at risk of prosecution. In just two years, Californias End of Life Option Act has brought about an open and honest dialogue about all end-of-life care options, including hospice and palliative care, not just medical aid in dying. Patients and physicians are having candid, necessary conversations, which improve overall end-of-life care, regardless of whether a terminally ill individual pursues medical aid in dying. Brittanys advocacy was her promise to speak up for others in her predicament. Betsys being able to remain at home surrounded by her loving friends and family was the fulfillment of that promise. Each of their voices helped the nation understand the relief that comes with the option of medical aid in dying. We hope the appeals court overturns this decision and ask Californians to contact their elected officials and voice their support for this vitally important law. Davis lives in San Diego County. Diaz lives in Contra Costa County. The correction ran on the upper left corner of B1 May 12. Experienced news readers know that if a correction runs on a front page, the error has to be big. Indeed, it was. The entire premise of the Michael Smolens column that ran the day before was erroneous. Smolens, a highly experienced former political reporter and government editor, wrongly reported that John Cox, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, discusses issues with disgraced ex-San Diego Mayor Bob Filner. The factual error was bad enough, but it also has led to suspicions of biased coverage and gotcha journalism over fairness. What appeared to be a tantalizing news lead came out of a meeting Cox had with the U-T editorial board April 23. Smolens was sitting in on the meeting to gather possible subject matter for his column. Cox was talking about getting a statistic on pensions and developing a relationship with Bob Fellner NOT Filner. Advertisement Robert Fellner is director of research for TransparentCalifornia, a database of state public employee pay and pension information. Besides the similar sounding name that raised interest, Cox said, You know who Bob Fellner is? According to Smolens column, he said it jokingly. It added to the mistaken belief that Cox was talking about the former Democratic mayor. I thought it was odd, Smolens recalled when he heard what sounded like Filner. He (Cox) then paused and asked, do you know who he is? Someone on the editorial board deadpanned, or so I thought, Never heard of him. At the time others thought he said Filner. Peculiar as it seemed, I also knew that Filner these days does discuss policy issues on his website, so it didnt seem totally unreasonable that Cox might have come across that. But looking back, it didnt make sense. Why would Cox, a Republican who contributed $10,000 to recall Filner from the mayors seat in 2013, be interacting with the liberal Dem? The column idea would have quickly evaporated if Smolens had simply called Cox. But he didnt, and that failure of journalism 101 was in itself a huge error. Thats my big mistake, Smolens said, in addition to a complete lack of critical thinking. I hadnt thought of doing anything with it (the comment at the meeting) until more than two weeks later when during a debate he discussed his role in helping pressure Filner to resign. It all demanded a follow up. It was an inexcusable mistake, and I failed to follow basic journalistic protocols. I called John and apologized, Smolens said. Its something not expected from a journalist of Smolens caliber. Managing Editor Lora Cicalo, Smolens editor, trusted the accuracy and didnt ask if Smolens had discussed the subject further with Cox. Im an editor as well, and in all honesty, I would not have asked Smolens either. I would have assumed the premise was accurate. Michael and I discussed his column before he started writing, and he relayed the exchange from the editorial board meeting including Coxs aside to those in attendance about whether they knew Bob (Filner) Fellner, Cicalo said. In the context of the discussion and the way in which the comment was made and received I failed to see any red flags, especially since several other people heard the same thing. More significantly though, I should have asked specifically whether Michael had followed up with Cox. That one question could have prevented the error. Cox said this week that the B1 correction was inadequate. (The column was removed from online.) While it dealt with the factual error of the name, the correction didnt address other points in the column, which Cox believes were unfair. The erroneous Filner connection provided a jumping-off point for the column. The piece also mentioned Coxs idea of community councils and thousands of neighborhood representatives who would select state legislators. And the column included his proposal for state legislators to wear stickers identifying their big donors. The goal of the ideas would be to lessen the influence of special-interest money. Cox said the references in the column were treated superficially. They lacked context and explanation. The end result, he said, was the implication that he isnt serious. Although he is dead serious about fighting the power of special interests to corrupt, tongue is firmly planted in cheek on the subject of lawmakers wearing donor decals, he said. The column added to Coxs feeling that U-T reporting is unfair to him. The candidate also has taken issue with a story by politics reporter Joshua Stewart on the subject of drug use and hospitalization vs. incarceration. That story ran in print April 25. The piece said that at a gubernatorial candidates forum in March, 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. At the April 23 editorial board meeting, Stewart asked him more questions on the topic. Stewart repeats that quote from the forum and Cox replies, Yeah. The conversion continues on how to best deal with drug users. The first sentence of the April 25 story reads, Businessman John Cox of Rancho Santa Fe, a Republican running for California governor, says that marijuana users should be hospitalized. The story also says Cox reaffirmed at the editorial board meeting the statement he made at the candidates forum in March. Cox has since claimed with other media that he wasnt talking about hospitalizing marijuana users. He insists he was talking about heroin or opioid users. He said the U-T reporting has the scent of gotcha. I dont entirely agree with Cox. He indeed spoke of marijuana users receiving treatment. He also continued that thought during discussions at the editorial board meeting. Fairness cuts both ways here. Out of fairness, a reporter should present the essence of a news figures position. And that might require more conversations. I think that opportunity occurred with Cox at the editorial board meeting. At the same time, I think it is unfair for Cox to be claiming he did not say marijuana users should receive hospital care. I believe Coxs stance on how drug users should be treated can be clarified and expanded upon in future stories. That would be fair. adrian.vore@sduniontribune.com Consider this your virtual invitation to the royal wedding of Britains Prince Harry and American actress and philanthropist Meghan Markle. Even if youre an entire ocean or an entire ocean and an entire continent away from the ceremony, you can still tune in via social media, television and online streaming. This is 2018, after all. Theres much about the event to interest Americans paying attention across the pond, starting with the fact that Markle has Southern California roots. But theres also the fact the Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, a U.S. leader of the Episcopal Church, will deliver a sermon during the ceremony. Hes the son of an American civil rights activist, a decendent of African slaves and the first black presiding bishop of the Episocpal Church. Ready to watch? Youll have to wake up pretty early here on the West Coast, but heres what you need to know. When is it? The wedding is on Saturday. Heres the schedule (with all times in Pacific Daylight Time.) 1 a.m. Guests scheduled to arrive at the chapel. 3:20 a.m. Members of the royal family scheduled to arrive for the wedding. 4 a.m. The wedding service is scheduled to begin and to last about an hour. 5 a.m. The couple are scheduled to exit the church and ride around Windsor in a horse-drawn carriage. Where is it? The couple has chosen St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the location. Read all about it, including the other royal weddings it has hosted, here. What will take place? The wedding service will begin at St. George's Chapel at midday and will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor, The Rt. Rev. David Conner. The Most Rev. and Right Honorable Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, will officiate. After the ceremony, the couple will travel around Windsor in a horse-drawn carriage. Then there will be a reception in St. Georges Hall. How to watch The wedding will be broadcast on The Royal Channel on YouTube starting just ahead of the arrival of the royal family. Numerous U.S. television stations plan to cover the wedding, starting at the following times, (PDT). ABC: 2 a.m. BBC America: 1 a.m. CBS: 1 am. CNN: 1 a.m. Fox News: 2 a.m. NBC: 1:30 a.m. MSNBC: 1 a.m. PBS: 1 a.m. Telemundo: 1 a.m. What to look for on social media Yes, your Twitter, Instagram, Facebook feeds and more will be packed with images and commentary from the wedding, but the official accounts for the royal family will be some of the best to follow. Facebook The British Monarchy Facebook page Youtube The Royal Channel Will you be watching? 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 royal wedding below. Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @abbyhamblin ALSO Why Meghan Markle makes the royal wedding a fairy tale women can love Interest in proving the innocence of Kevin Cooper, a black man accused and convicted of a gruesome 1983 murder in Southern California, renewed this week with calls for Gov. Jerry Brown to allow the use of DNA testing that might exonerate him. As of Friday, Brown had not yet signaled whether he would allow it. Among those advocating for Brown to act was Sen. Kamala Harris, D-San Francisco a former prosecutor who in a Facebook post said her career has been marked by fierce opposition to the death penalty while still upholding the law and a commitment to fixing a broken criminal justice system. So who is Kevin Cooper? And why is Sen. Harris now calling on Californias governor to allow DNA testing in his case? Heres a quick recap of the 1983 murder, the investigation that followed and how Cooper ended up in death row at San Quentin Prison for a crime he says he didnt commit. Who is Kevin Cooper? Cooper, now 60, is a death row inmate in San Quentin Prison who was convicted of murdering a family in Chino Hills, nearly 40 miles east of Los Angeles, in 1983. Since his conviction in 1985, Cooper has maintained his innocence. He has exhausted all appeals for his conviction. At the time of the murder in 1983, Cooper was 27 and had just escaped from a minimum-security prison in Chino, the town next to Chino Hills, the Los Angeles Times reported at the time. Cooper had fled to Tijuana and Ensenada before he was recaptured on an island 20 miles south of Santa Barbara. Why did his case resurface now? Nicholas Kristof, a columnist for The New York Times, on Thursday published online an opinion column that suggests Cooper was framed in the murder. Kristof said that he interviewed numerous people, including Cooper, and that in his 34 years at the Times, hes never come across a case in America as outrageous as Kevin Coopers. In the piece, Kristof writes that the sole survivor of the murder said it was actually three white men who had committed the crime but that police were instead focused on Cooper. The opinion column was shared by many people on Twitter including Sen. Harris, actress Mia Farrow, and NBC News national correspondent Peter Alexander. Why does Coopers fate rests on Gov. Jerry Brown? According to Kristof, proof of Coopers innocence hinges on touch DNA testing on evidence collected from the crime scene a tan T-shirt, a hatchet used in the murder, blond or brown hairs found in the hands of the victims. Cooper says he never wore that T-shirt, and that DNA can prove it. Brown has the power to authorize the use of DNA testing in Coopers case. Additionally, as governor, Brown can invoke his clemency powers to spare Coopers life. Why now whats the urgency? Coopers time is running out. In 2016, California voters passed a death penalty reform measure that speeds up executions. The last time California executed a death row inmate was in 2006. Kristof writes that with the new law, Coopers execution could come within the next year. What do others say about his case? Kristofs column along with his research and reporting elicited strong reaction on social media, and it cast doubt on the police work that followed the 1983 murders. The story is being called unbelievable, infuriating, a terrible miscarriage of justice, and a prime example of why there should be a right to DNA testing. This story will be updated should Gov. Brown make a decision. In the meantime, read the column and share your thoughts. Do you believe Kevin Cooper is innocent? Was he framed? Should DNA testing be used in all death row cases? Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @RunGomez Read The Conversation on Flipboard. 1. Yes. The medical data shows it will be beneficial to get one. The sooner the better. 2. Yes. Theres no rush, but I plan to get one sometime in the next few months. 3. No. Im not sold on the need for a booster. Besides, the case numbers are falliing. 4. No. I havent been vaccinated for COVID-19, and I dont plan to get the booster, either. 5. Unsure. It may be smart to wait and see how beneficial the booster shots prove to be. Vote View Results 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) -- 05/19/2018 -- The U.S. and China market for asthma and COPS drugs is anticipated to showcase a steep trajectory for growth in the coming years. According to a report by Transparency Market Research (TMR), the leading companies in the U.S. and China asthma and COPD drugs market accounted for just under 64.0% in 2015, demonstrating the consolidated nature of this industry, along with high levels of competition among the established players. Merck & Co. Inc., Novartis AG, Astrazeneca plc, GlaxoSmithKline plc and Boehringer Ingelheim are currently among the leading names in the market. According to the report, the market is slated to ascend from a valuation of US$13.0 bn in 2015 to be worth US$18.7 bn by the end of 2024. On the off chance that these numbers remain constant, the market is expected to exhibit a healthy 4.1% CAGR over the forecast period. Request a Brochure of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=15857 Combination Drugs Segment to Emerge as Leading Segment Due to High Demand Based on the different classes of drugs in the U.S. & China, the report bifurcates the future extent of development for assortments, for instance anti-inflammatory drugs, bronchodilators, combination drugs and monoclonal antibodies. Of these, the fragment of combination drugs is directly the leading market segment in the coming years. It represented a 54% of the U.S. and China asthma and COPD drugs market in 2015 and is relied upon to keep on dominating all through forecast duration. Combination drugs advantage from the suggestions from organizations such as the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), which see blend sedates as the more secure course of overseeing asthma and COPD. The rise of new medication applicants in this section will reinforce its development potential in the market over the years to come. Govt Support to Offer Lucrative Market Opportunity Asthma and COPD are two maladies encountering expanding pervasiveness comprehensively because of a mix of variables, including the maturing populace and the rising contamination levels, especially in rising nations. COPD is one of the best five reasons for inability and demise in industrialized nations and the fourth-driving reason for deaths over the world. The utilization of medications has risen as a successful answer for the treatment of COPD and asthma, which will lead to high market opportunity. Request For Discount On This Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=15857 The market is driven by the developing patient COPD and asthmatic populace, and also FDA endorsements for the novel items and its wide acknowledgment among the patient populace. Expanding government activities to control COPD and asthma additionally fuel the development for this market. Increment in presentation of non-specific medications, and rising predominance of asthma combined with geriatric populace and lifestyle changes are the main considerations that credit to the ascent in growth of this market. About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge. Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMR's syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement. US Office Contact 90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/18/2018 -- Persistence Market Research's latest market study on outboard engines projects that increasing participation in water sports, considerable growth in the fishing businesses and a rise in recreational tourism are expected to drive the demand for outboard engines in the upcoming years. Key findings from the study reveal that the global outboard engines market will expand robustly at a CAGR of 8.7% and reach a value of US$ 8.1 Bn by the end of the forecast period, 2017-2026. In the foreseeable future, the demand for outboard engines equipped with four-stroke electronic fuel injection technology is anticipated to gain traction. It is estimated that in 2017, over US$ 1.5 Bn worth of outboard engines running on four-stroke electronic fuel injection technology will be sold across the globe. Higher efficiency of this technology in delivering maximum torque at minimal fuel consumption is anticipated to boost its adoption over other technologies namely, two-stroke carburetion, two-stroke electronic fuel injection, two-stroke direct injection system, and four-stroke carburetion. Request For Report Sample: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/20314 Europe to Register Highest Sales of Outboard Engines A regional analysis on the global outboard engines market has been provided in the report. According to the findings, Europe is anticipated to dominate the global outboard engines market in terms of revenues. Robust growth in Europe's fishing industry and increasing investments in maritime operations will continue to drive the sales of outboard engines in the region. The report also projects that North American and Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) will emerge as leading regions in the global outboard engines market through 2022. High proximity to beaches will continue to propel the use of boats for recreational activities across countries such as the US, Canada, Indonesia, Singapore and South Korea. During the forecast period, North America's outboard engines market is anticipated to register expansion at 9.4% CAGR, while the APEJ market will create around US$ 1 Bn of incremental opportunity. The study has further analyzed the global outboard engine market on the basis of power, wherein low and medium power engines are anticipated to procure more than three-fourth share of global revenues through 2026. In addition, the start type of outboard engines is also viewed as a key factor changing the dynamics of the global market. In 2017, outboard engines with electric starters sold across the globe will bring in over US$ 2.7 Bn in revenues. The study also estimates that in 2017, nearly one-third of outboard engines being sold in the global market will be used on recreational boats. Request For Report TOC: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/20314 Leading Manufacturers of Outboard Engines The report has also profiled leading players in the global outboard engines market, which include, Krautler Elektromaschinen Gmbh, LEHR, LLC, Johnson Outdoors Inc., Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., Tohatsu Corporation, BRP Inc., Suzuki Motor Corporation, Brunswick Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and DEUTZ Aktiengesellschaft. Manufacturers of outboard engines are likely to focus on reducing engine failures due to corrosion. New materials are being tested to change the shaft blades and rotors that tend to corrode due to exposure to saline water. In the near future, companies manufacturing outboard engines will also focus on providing routine servicing by creating stations across prominent beaches and waterways. While the basic construction and design of outboard engines is less likely to witness transformation, several manufacturers are anticipated to work towards improving fuel efficiency of these engines. valley cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/18/2018 -- The MEA data storage market was valued at US$ 2,790 Mn in 2016 and is projected to reach US$ 8,431.3 Mn by 2025 end. Sales revenue is expected to increase at a CAGR of 13.6% during the forecast period i.e. 20172025. According to a new report published by Future Market Insights titled "Data Storage Market: Middle East & Africa Industry Analysis (2012-2016) and Opportunity Assessment (20172025)," major factors responsible for the growth of the data storage market in MEA include increased investments in infrastructure, a notable shift in data centre investments from being server centric to more data and storage centric, and increased adoption of entry-level and mid-range storage devices. MEA Data Storage Market: Prominent Trends Adoption of hybrid cloud storage solutions by small and medium enterprises and software defined storage solutions by large enterprises Demand changes in OPEX and CAPEX Emergence of enterprise flash controllers Demand for secure data storage solutions in defence, aerospace and BFSI verticals Adoption of cloud based data storage solutions with hyper-converged infrastructure Request for sample Report:https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gc-1237 MEA Data Storage Market: Segmental Analysis The MEA data storage market covers consumer data storage devices and enterprise data storage solutions. For each of these categories, the market has been segmented on the basis of end user, vertical and region. On the basis of storage type, the GCC data storage market is segmented into consumer storage and enterprise storage. In terms of revenue, enterprise storage is projected to be the most attractive segment in the GCC data storage market during the forecast period. The enterprise storage segment is also expected to register high Y-o-Y growth rates throughout the forecast period and is expected to expand at a robust CAGR between 2017 and 2025. On the basis of end user, the GCC data storage market is segmented into commercial and residential segments. The residential segment was valued at US$ 467.8 Mn in 2017 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 14.7% during the forecast period. MEA Data Storage Market: Forecast by Region The GCC region is segmented into Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE. In terms of revenue, UAE followed by Qatar are the two leading data storage markets within the GCC data storage market. UAE is the fastest growing regional data storage market within GCC with a growth rate of 15.7% during 2017 2025. In terms of revenue, UAE is projected to be the most attractive market in the GCC data storage market during the forecast period and is also expected to register high Y-o-Y growth rates throughout the period of assessment. Visit For Table of Contents: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gc-1237 MEA Data Storage Market: Key Players IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, VMware, Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., NetApp Inc., Open Text Corp., SanDisk Corporation, Hitachi Data Systems, EMC Corporation (Dell Inc.), and Nexenta Systems are some of the key players operating in the MEA data storage market. Press Release May 18, 2018 Speech of Senator Loren Legarda 5th Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources (SDSWR) "How ASEAN Governments are Shifting to Green Growth" May 18, 2018 | Grand Hyatt Singapore I thank the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) for this opportunity, as well as my fellow panelists and delegates, as we all commit today to a more resilient and more sustainable ASEAN community. Our gathering today also serves as an important platform to sustain the discussions during the recently held Bonn Climate Change Conference leading to the upcoming 24th Conference of Parties (COP24) in Poland, primarily, for the accomplishment of the Paris Agreement rulebook, due this December. The importance of countries' Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement should be a recurring theme in climate talks because it emphasizes the urgency of operationalizing the mechanisms on climate finance, capacity building, and technology transfer, all of which the vulnerable countries need to transform their economies towards a low carbon development path. For the Philippines, climate action is a matter of survival. According to the 2018 Global Climate Risk Index of Germanwatch, we rank 5th in the list of countries most affected by climate change for the period of 1997 to 2016. This entails an annual average loss of 2.89 billion US dollars or 0.6% of our GDP within the last two decades.[1] We share this unfortunate reality with three other ASEAN countries that are also included in the same list: Myanmar at number 3; Viet Nam at the 8th spot; and Thailand ranking 9th. The ASEAN Region, which heavily relies on agriculture, has experienced a downward trend in rainfall from 1960 to 2000 and rise in sea levels to 1 to 3 millimeters per year, as well as more intense and more frequent heat waves, droughts, floods, and tropical cyclones.[2] Projected economic losses include a decline of up to 50 percent of rice yield potential by 2100 and a loss of 6.7 percent of combined gross domestic product (GDP) each year by 2100.[3] For us, we embrace adaptation and mitigation because our lives truly depend on it. However, we contend with what limited resources on finance, technology, and capacity that we have. While we acknowledge that the means of implementation of the Paris Agreement will be critical in order to unlock the full potential of our country's resilience, it will be a disservice to the millions of Filipinos if we wait for these means to become available before deciding to take action. There really is no other recourse for us but to usher in green growth and transform our economy towards a low carbon and climate-resilient path. We pursue this path not only because we know it is the best way to protect our people and climate, but also because we know it will spur economic growth. While more can still be done, I believe that the Philippines already has the enabling environment for this green transformation to transpire and prosper. Our Philippine Development Plan (PDP) encourages the transitioning of our critical sectors by promoting and supporting green technology innovations; climate-smart infrastructure and designs; and low-carbon and energy-efficient urban transport systems. As for legislation, we've already covered the basics. We have already enacted laws for clean air, clean water, Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM), rainwater catchment facilities, renewable energy, and other measures that protect the environment and address climate change and disasters. Furthermore, our Green Jobs Act, which is the first in the world, will support the transformation of our sectors by promoting the creation of green jobs and fostering a just transition towards a green economy. We are working with development partners to establish the Green Jobs Standards, Accreditation, and Certification System, which will streamline the processes for businesses applying for accreditation or certification, as well as provide incentives for green practices. As a legislator, allow me also to emphasize one crucial task expected from us that many other legislators across the world seem to not take advantage of, and that is the power of the purse that rests on Congress. Many, if not all, of our plans and strategies for climate action and green growth will remain as ideas if there is no appropriate budget to implement them. This is why, for three budget cycles in a row, I have advocated and ensured that our national budget is a climate budget. This falls on my capacity as Chair of the Philippine Senate Committee on Finance, which allowed me and my colleagues, to enshrine climate change adaptation and mitigation, as well as disaster risk reduction, in the budgets of our government agencies, especially those dealing at the frontlines. We recognize that all these national policies will be for naught if they are not mainstreamed at the local level. In partnership with local stakeholders in the academe, civil society, and private sector, we are harmonizing these policies with the local development systems and processes of our communities by enhancing the knowledge, skills, and capacity of our local government units (LGUs). We abide by the principle that building resilience is local; therefore, in order to sustain green growth it must also be from the bottom-up. We also foster this grassroots approach in finalizing our NDCs, which will be part of our commitment to the Paris Agreement. In order for our sectors to be on board with the process, we have collaborated with sectoral leaders in conducting validation meetings, consultations, and workshops for our NDC sectoral targets. It is clear to us that our NDCs will be crucial in sustaining green growth. We don't consider reducing further our carbon emissions as a sacrifice, but an opportunity. The cost estimate to implement the identified mitigation actions for our energy, forestry, industry, and transport sectors alone is 4.12 billion US dollars for the period of 2015 to 2030.[4] In the ASEAN Region, the demand for additional ASEAN green investments from 2016 to 2030 is an estimated US$3 trillion across four sectors: infrastructure (US$1,800 billion); renewable energy (US$400 billion); energy efficiency (US$400 billion); and food, agriculture, and land use (US$400 billion).[5] Focusing on energy efficiency, it is estimated that US$300 billion is needed to improve end-use in the building, industrial, and transport sectors by 2030. Industry experts also projected that US$100 billion of investment is required to scale up electric vehicles across the region.[6] This huge financial resource requirement to transit towards a low carbon economy would indeed require external support. Lending institutions have a critical role to play to unlock more investments, including those from the private sector, in the pursuit of low-carbon and climate-resilient growth. A strong partnership among the government, the private sector, and the lending institutions will be greatly needed to put in place the right conditions to attract domestic and foreign low-carbon investments.[7] In the Philippines, while we have banks that already finance green investments, green banking initiatives are not yet prioritized. In my many consultations with banks and financial institutions, these investments are considered too risky, which ultimately affects their bankability. To encourage investments, a national loss and damage registry and vulnerability assessment could help our banks assess the need and urgency of a proponent for a certain project in a particular area. The government should also provide technical assistance to assist the private sector in addressing regulatory challenges, as well as share the cost and risk in these climate investments. I have also proposed the creation of a Philippine Green Bank, which would have natural bias to finance green projects. This could be developed and sustained using taxes on coal, other green financing reserves, or grants from foundations and corporations that support climate investments. One groundbreaking action we did in the Philippine Senate is to impose higher taxes on coal, which, for decades, had enjoyed minimal taxes at 10 pesos or 20 US centavos per metric ton. There was stiff opposition, but we were able to increase the taxes to 50, 100, and 150 pesos for the next three years. The new taxes are four times lower than what was originally proposed, but to break the wall that could not be penetrated on against dirty energy is, for us, already a monumental feat. We welcome bold pronouncements from other countries phasing out coal, and personally, the Philippines must also consider fossil fuel as a thing of the past. We need to fully harness our immense access to renewable sources of energy, such as solar, hydro, and wind. Implementing carbon pricing policies is one other measure that we intend to undertake in order to further support green growth and build resilience. Our emissions are very minimal, only at 0.33%, but we are committed to do this, also to sustain the call for the 1.5-degree Celsius climate goal that we have lobbied and fought for in the Paris Agreement. The ASEAN community should lead by example and inspire the rest of the world to carry out their responsibilities and deliver on what is expected from them and more. As one region, we need to carry the voice of the vulnerable. We can no longer remain silent. We must further demand for a planet where not just the ASEAN community but all communities around the world could truly prosper. We don't exist in isolation of each other. Whether industrialized or developing, we should all realize that we are on this one planet together. The transformation towards green growth is an uphill battle, but it is one crusade that we must all fight and win. Thank you. ________________________ [1] 2018 Global Climate Risk Index, Germanwatch. https://germanwatch.org/de/download/20432.pdf [2] ASEAN Cooperation on Climate Change. http://environment.asean.org/asean-working-group-on-climate-change/ [3] Ibid. [4] Based on the Philippines Mitigation Cost Benefit Analysis (updated report, June 2015 version) by the Climate Change Commission through USAID under the Building Low Emission Alternatives to Develop Economic Resilience and Sustainability (B-LEADERS) project [5] United Nations Environment Programme and DBS. Green Finance Opportunities in ASEAN. https://www.dbs.com/iwov-resources/images/sustainability/img/Green_Finance_Opportunities_in_ASEAN.pdf. [6] Ibid. [7] Green Finance: Key business considerations for financing a sustainable low-carbon economy. BIAC Discussion Paper. June 2016. Press Release May 19, 2018 De Lima enlists youth's support in fight vs human rights abuses With the deteriorating human rights situation across the nation, Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has reiterated the greater challenge for the public, especially the youth, to stand by human rights and defend it at all costs. In her recent message read before the gathering of foreign and local youth groups, De Lima said young people of different nationalities coming together to register their voices and make a difference is a step in a right direction. "This grim human rights situation is not exclusive to the Philippines as we witness the rise of populist leaders, the resurgence of xenophobia and anti-migrant sentiments in developed countries and the worsening inequality across nations and people," she said. The gathering, organized by the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) and Akbayan Youth, was attended by young advocates of human rights from different countries, last May 12. The Senator from Bicol said the youth has her full support both in dreaming and working for a just and human society that respects, protects and fulfill the dignity and rights of every person without discrimination. "I have always been inspired by youth groups putting their idealism and boundless energy to good use by combatting racism, sexism, killings and other forms of human rights violations whenever and wherever they encounter such transgressions," she said. De Lima shared that the Duterte administration's effort to keep her in a protracted pre-trial and illegal detention on politically-motivated drug charges only strengthened her resolve to fight for human rights instead of dampening her spirit. "Human rights is the real bone of contention between me and the President," shared De Lima, who earned the ire of Duterte after leading a Senate inquiry into the summary killings related to administration's war on drugs in July 2016. As then chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in 2009, De Lima also investigated the rampant extrajudicial killings of crime suspects including youth offenders in Davao City under the watch of then mayor Duterte. De Lima, who was recognized by Amnesty International as one of the notable Women Human Rights Defenders Under Threat, also urged the youth to stand up against any attempts by leaders like Duterte to publicly malign and threaten individuals and institutions who are vocal champions of human rights. In the Philippines, De Lima said, "they are doing this because they know that human rights is the formidable roadblock to this regime's agenda to monopolize and hold on to power beyond the limits set by the 1987 Constitution." She added, "we also witnessed how the rule of law and due process were bastardized to persecute political opponents and wrest control of independent institutions like what is happening now to Chief Justice Sereno of the Supreme Court." Considered as the staunchest critic of the Duterte administration's war on drugs, De Lima was arrested in February 2017 based on trumped-up charges that have no basis but the perjured testimonies of convicted felons. Press Release May 19, 2018 Dialogue with Legislators and Human Rights Institutions International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) and Akbayan Youth activity Message HON. LEILA M. DE LIMA Senator 12 May 2018, Luxent Hotel, Timog Ave., Quezon City Good morning to all of you. I wish to thank the International Union of Socialist Youth and Akbayan Youth for this honor to speak before you today. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances imposed upon me, I could not be there to personally convey my message of solidarity to all of you. To our foreign guests, you probably know by now my situation and how this Duterte administration used the State machinery to unjustly detain me on trumped-up drug charges because I dared speak out against the human rights violations of this regime. But they failed to silence me, instead, they gave me more reason to fight back. I was jailed not because they have valid evidence against me but because I, as head of the Senate's Committee on Justice and Human Rights initiated an inquiry into the summary killings related to the Duterte government's war on drugs back in July 2016. At that time, the number of drug suspects killed during police operations and by masked assassins were just around 150 but by the end of 2017, it exponentially increased to 20,322 as reported by the Philippine National Police. Another reason is that this vindictive President has an axe to grind against me. Way back in 2009, in my capacity as chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), I investigated the rampant extra-judicial killings of crime suspects including youth offenders in Davao City under the watch of then mayor Rodrigo Duterte. So, human rights is the real bone of contention between me and the President. This government has publicly maligned and threatened not only me but individuals and institutions, including foreigners like Sr. Patricia Fox who are vocal champions of human rights. They are doing this because they know that human rights is the formidable roadblock to this regime's agenda to monopolize and hold on to power beyond the limits set by the 1987 Constitution. We also witnessed how the rule of law and due process were bastardized to persecute political opponents and wrest control of independent institutions like what is happening now to Chief Justice Sereno of the Supreme Court. With these intensifying attempts to disregard human rights, comes the greater challenge to stand by it and defend it at all costs. Some are saying that because of Duterte's popularity, human rights advocacy is a lost cause. On the contrary, I fervently believe that the fight for human rights is so fundamental that we cannot give up on this under any circumstances. This grim human rights situation is not exclusive to the Philippines as we witness the rise of populist leaders, the resurgence of xenophobia and anti-migrant sentiments in developed countries and the worsening inequality across nations and people. But I am not daunted. I have not given up on this battle because this is about standing up for the truth and for what is just and right. And besides, I know that I am not alone. I am especially elated when I see young people like you, coming together to register their voices and make a difference. I have always been inspired by youth groups putting their idealism and boundless energy to good use by combatting racism, sexism, killings and other forms of human rights violations whenever and wherever they encounter such transgressions. Thus, allow me to join you as we both dream and work for a just and humane society that respects, protects and fulfill the dignity and rights of every person without discrimination and without leaving anyone behind. Lastly, please convey my sincerest thanks to your comrades, the members of Party of European Socialists and also the European Parliament for coming out with a resolution calling for my immediate release and urging the Philippine government to allow me to perform my mandate as a senator. Thank you, and may you have a great day ahead of you. The Supreme Court had on Friday ordered a floor test in the Karnataka assembly at 4 pm on Saturday, drastically slashing the 15-day window given by Governor Vajubhai Vala to Bharatiya Janata Party Chief Minister Yeddyurappa to prove his majority. :The 3-day old B S Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka collapsed on Saturday, with the chief minister announcing his decision to resign without facing a trust vote. I am going to resign as chief minister... I will go to Raj Bhavan and submit my resignation. I will not face confidence vote... I am going to resign, he told the assembly after a brief emotional speech. Yeddyurappa said he would now go to the people. Saying he was not greedy for power, Yeddyurappa said he quit and said that he will work hard to ensure that BJP wins 28 of the 28 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In an emotional speech in the Assembly, BS Yeddyurappa said, "I will lose nothing if I lose power, my life is for the people." He said there was no way he could have served the people of Karnataka as the Congress was not even allowing the MLAs to speak to their family members. He then said that he will resign as the chief minister of Karnataka. He will meet the governor after the Assembly session and submit his resignation. The floor test was always going to be tricky for Yeddyurappa to win as the BJP only had 104 seats, followed by the Congress with 78, Janata Dal-Secular with 37 and three seats have gone to others in the 224-member assembly where elections were held for 222 seats. His resignation will pave the way for formation of a government led by Janata Dal-Secular state chief H D Kumaraswamy, who has the backing of the Congress. The newly formed alliance has claimed support of 117 MLAs in the 224-member House with an effective strength of 221. Polling for two seats was not held due to various reasons, while Kumaraswamy won from two places. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Dr. Brahim Ardolic, chairman of emergency medicine at Northwell Health's Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH), has been appointed executive director of the 666-bed hospital. He will now oversee SIUH's North and South campuses. Dr. Ardolic succeeds Donna Proske, a registered nurse, who recently retired after leading the hospital since 2013. Dr. Ardolic has been instrumental in transforming SIUH's Department of Emergency Medicine into a modern academic facility with a regional and national presence. He has served as the hospital's chair of emergency medicine since 2007. Earlier this year, he was named western region vice president of Northwell Health's emergency medicine service line, with administrative oversight of the health system's emergency departments in Manhattan, Staten Island and in Westchester County. "Brahim Ardolic has been a rising star in Northwell Health since joining Staten Island University Hospital more than a decade ago," said Michael J. Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health. "A long-time Staten Islander, his commitment to the community has been proven time and time again, especially during super storm Sandy and during the current opioid epidemic that has impacted thousands of families on Staten Island," Dowling added. "Brahim's leadership and forward thinking in developing new programs and uninterrupted emergency care in response to public health issues facing the island make him an ideal choice to lead the hospital and its nearly 6,600 employees." As chair of emergency medicine, Dr. Ardolic helped design SIUH's 74-bed emergency department. He developed IT systems and initiated numerous process efficiencies. During the past five years, he worked to support SIUH's training programs and expanded its grant-funded portfolio as vice president of research. Among his proudest achievements, however, was the establishment of the hospital's Emergency Medicine Residency Program, which has improved quality by building a pipeline of talented emergency medicine physicians, and assisting local residents during Hurricanes Sandy and Irene. Despite dealing with one of Staten Island's worst natural disasters in super storm Sandy, Dr. Ardolic's team managed patient care while keeping core treatment services readily available to borough residents. Dr. Ardolic joined SIUH in 2004 as administrative director of emergency medical services and is a graduate of Northwell Health's inaugural Physician High Potential Program. He began his career as an attending physician at King's County Hospital Center. He has published a number of articles on emergency medicine, and is currently president of the New York Chapter of American College of Emergency Physicians (NYACEP), where he's served on the Board of Directors for eight years. Dr. Ardolic's family immigrated to the United States From Montenegro in 1973 and settled in Prince's Bay. He graduated from Tottenville High School and earned his medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center and his bachelor of arts degree from Brooklyn College. Currently residing in New Jersey, Dr. Ardolic and his wife, Emma (formerly of Stapleton), have two sons, 13 and 10 years old. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The landscape of Staten Island is shifting -- quite literally -- from the development of St. George to new businesses and housing on the South Shore. Local community boards give residents an opportunity to offer input in the decision-making process for many of these long-term projects. Community Board meetings are open to the public and afford a great way to learn more about what's going on in your neighborhood and to get involved. If you have something you would like to speak out about, all you need to do is sign up -- before the meeting is called to order -- to speak in the public session. The following meetings are scheduled for the week of May 21 to May 25. COMMUNITY BOARD 1 Arlington - Castleton Corners - Clifton - Concord - Elm Park - Fort Wadsworth - Graniteville - Grymes Hill - Livingston - Mariners Harbor - New Brighton - Port Richmond - Randall Manor - Rosebank - St. George - Shore Acres - Silver Lake - Stapleton - Sunnyside - Tompkinsville - West Brighton - Westerleigh There will be a Waterfront Committee Meeting on Monday, May 21, at 7 p.m. at the Lighthouse Museum, 200 Promenade at Lighthouse Point. On the agenda: High Watermark Locations on the North Shore Fishing on the North Shore RFP for the esplanade along Bay Street Landing The board office is located at 1 Edgewater Plaza, Suite 217, Stapleton. The office phone number is 718-981-6900. The board chairman is Nicholas Siclari; the district manager is Joseph Carroll. COMMUNITY BOARD 2 Arrochar - Bloomfield - Bulls Head - Chelsea - Dongan Hills - Egbertville - Emerson Hill - Grant City - Grasmere - High Rock - Lighthouse Hill - Midland Beach - New Dorp - New Springville - Oakwood - Ocean Breeze - Old Town - Richmond - South Beach - Todt Hill - Travis There are no Community Board 2 meetings scheduled for the week of May 21. All committee and full board meetings are in the board office, which is located in the Lou Caravone Community Service Building on the campus of Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Center and Home, 460 Brielle Ave., Sea View. The office phone number is 718-317-3235. The chairman of the CB 2 board is Dana T. Magee; the district manager is Debra A. Derrico. COMMUNITY BOARD 3 Annadale - Arden Heights - Bay Terrace - Charleston - Eltingville - Great Kills - Greenridge - Huguenot - New Dorp - Oakwood - Pleasant Plains - Prince's Bay - Richmond Valley - Richmond - Rossville - Tottenville - Woodrow There will be a General Board Meeting on Tuesday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m. in Woodrow United Methodist Church Hall, 1075 Woodrow Rd. All committee meetings take place at the Community Board 3 office, located on the second floor of 1243 Woodrow Rd. All general board meetings take place at the Woodrow Methodist Church Hall located at 1075 Woodrow Rd. The office phone number is 718-356-7900. The CB 3 board chairman is Frank Morano; the district manager is Charlene Wagner. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Incumbent Rep. Daniel Donovan was endorsed for re-election by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani on Friday. Giuliani, also a Republican, said he planned to "take a break" from his responsibilities as President Donald Trump's lawyer to campaign with Donovan (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) ahead of the June 26th Republican primary, according to Donovan's campaign. Giuliani praised Donovan's record in Congress and said he wants voters to keep him there to continue "fighting for President Trump's 'America First' agenda," a statement said. "From day one, Dan has fought against bad trade deals and the importance of securing our borders. Now, we need to show our loyalty to him by keeping him in Washington, fighting for us and working with President Trump to deliver on their shared agenda," Giuliani said. He continued, stating that it's "critical" to keep the only New York City Republican congressman in Washington. Donovan said having Giuliani's support is humbling. "Rudy has been a loyal supporter of both me and President Trump over the years, and one of the things we love about him is his willingness to speak the truth and fight for what's right,'' Donovan said in a statement. "I know how much his endorsement means to the voters in this election, and I can't wait for him to get a hero's welcome when we bring him home to hit the campaign trail." After the Parkland school shooting, President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos set up a federal commission on school safety. But with the latest school shooting at Texas' Santa Fe High School, many are asking if Trump is actually serious about combating gun violence. Trump insists he's not afraid of the NRA like most politicians, but critics think Trump is bought and paid for by the NRA just like everyone else. What do you think? PERSPECTIVES The school shooting at Santa Fe High School has left 10 dead and several others injured. Trump offered his condolences. We grieve for the terrible loss of life, and send our support and love to everyone affected by this horrible attack in Texas. To the students, families, teachers and personnel at Santa Fe High School we are with you in this tragic hour, and we will be with you forever... pic.twitter.com/LtJ0D29Hsv Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2018 Trump has focused on mental health as the main cause of gun violence. Republicans and gun rights advocates have consistently claimed mental health -- not access to firearms -- is "the critical ingredient" in mass shootings in America. Law abiding gun owners should not be punished for the actions of a deranged few. Focusing on firearms rather than the motivating factors that would lead an individual to commit a heinous act of violence is not productive. Trump established a federal commission on school safety in March specifically tasked with preventing incidents like Parkland from happening again. He also told reporters he's committed to keeping weapons out of the hands of dangerous people. Clearly he's taking this problem seriously. But some pointed out that Trump and his commission haven't actually done anything since the last major school shooting in Florida. According to VICE: It's been two months since Trump set up the federal commission on school safety. Today, a mass shooting at a Texas high school left at least 8 people dead, and It's unclear what the commission has been doing, if anything. https://t.co/A5OVMuSJhq Tess Owen (@misstessowen) May 18, 2018 Trump seems to be all talk and no action when it comes to combating gun violence. Trump again pledged action on school shootings today. Here's everything that's happened on that front since the Parkland massacre: https://t.co/ouTnErW2yt Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) May 18, 2018 #NeverAgain turns into #AgainAndAgainAndAgain Trump and Pence proved that their allegiance is to the #NRABloodMoney and not to our kids. How many more kids have to die on the altar of the gun lobby? #SantaFeHighSchool #VoteThemOut pic.twitter.com/QDiRDrSlAm Storm (@StormResist) May 18, 2018 The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Digital, Inc. property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Staten Island man accused last year of running a drug ring with his brother claims he is "brain damaged," which may deem him incompetent, his lawyer said. Joseph Calabria has a severe learning disability and will undergo a psychological exam by a court-appointed doctor, according to Brooklyn federal court records. Calabria, a former felon, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone, and has been incarcerated since his arrest in February 2017. In a superseding indictment, he is also charged with possession of a firearm; felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud; and healthcare fraud. His brother, Michael Calabria, a lifetime parolee; Stephen DelPriore, Ugo Gallo, Carol Monforte, Glenn DePaulo, Maria DePaulo, Devida Lombardo and Brooklyn resident Vincent Maniscalco were also charged in the drug-trafficking ring. They allegedly operated on Staten Island over a five-month period from September 2016 to January 2017, officials said. According to a criminal complaint, the DePaolos, Maniscalco and Monforte supplied oxycodone to Joseph Calabria, who distributed the drug to others. Joseph Calabria was heard a number of times on wiretaps discussing oxycodone purchases with those four defendants, said the complaint. The foursome typically refilled oxycodone prescriptions containing 120 to 180 pills and sold most of the drugs to Calabria, the complaint alleges. A second criminal complaint accuses Michael Calabria of supplying heroin to Gallo, who then distributed the narcotics. Michael Calabria transacted tens of thousands of dollars with Gallo, and Calabria generally sold heroin to customers in $10 bags, that complaint said. DelPriore is accused, along with Michael Calabria and unnamed others, of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin. The Calabria brothers, Lombardo and others allegedly conspired to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone. Michael Calabria is on lifetime parole after serving a sentence of three years to life for a 1990 drug-dealing conviction in Brooklyn. His current case is still pending. Last month, the DePaolos pleaded guilty to acquiring oxycodone by fraud. Manforte, Maniscalco and Lombardo pleaded to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, officials said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Island residents will soon have the opportunity to discuss the borough's glaring transportation issues with some of the leading experts in the field. Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis will host a forum on the future of the MTA, and other transportation issues, on Thursday, June 7, at 7 p.m. in the McGinn Educational Center Auditorium at Staten Island University Hospital, 475 Seaview Ave., Ocean Breeze. "The MTA is behind the times in meeting the population growth and economic demands of today. I am bringing together three transportation experts for a positive and informative discussion on how we can fix the MTA and provide better transportation options to New Yorkers," said Malliotakis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn). The expert panel will include Manhattan Institute senior fellow Nicole Gelinas, transportation engineer and designer of the Move NY Plan Sam Schwartz and NYC planning commissioner and former MTA board member Allen Cappelli. "I believe our panelists will have unique perspectives on the changes necessary to improve our transportation network and bring it into the 21st century," Malliotakis said. The discussion, moderated by Malliotakis, will touch on various issues, including tolls, congestion pricing, infrastructure investments and how the city's mass transit system can adapt to meet growing demand. "Despite pumping lots of money into the system through Verrazano Bridge tolls, Staten Island remains one of the city's largest transportation deserts," Malliotakis said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - The NYPD is asking for the public's assistance identifying an individual in connection with a bank robbery in Dongan Hills. On Friday, May 18, at approximately 12:50 p.m., police say an unidentified individual entered M&T Bank, located at 1591 Richmond Rd., and passed a note to the teller demanding cash. The teller complied, and the man removed $5,000 and fled on foot in an unknown direction, according to a statement from the NYPD's Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. The male did not display any weapons and no injuries were reported in the incident, according to police. The individual is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 25 years old, 5-feet- one-inch tall, and 130 pounds. He was last seen wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and tan pants. Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are kept strictly confidential. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Didn't get invited to the Royal Wedding? No worries! You can still soak up all the splendor as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry exchange their vows at Windsor Castle Saturday morning -- and you don't even have to change out of your pajamas. You can catch every moment - including 3-year-old Princess Charlotte's debut as a bridesmaid, and her 4-year-old brother, Prince George, as a page boy, on your television, laptop or phone -- no tux or tiara required. Markle will be accompanied by six bridesmaids, all under the age of 8, and reportedly will not have a maid of honor. The prince will have his brother, Prince William, as his best man. U.S. TELEVISION COVERAGE The ceremony will take place in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle at noon London time - 7 a.m. here. The service will be followed by a carriage procession from St. George's Chapel through Windsor Town, returning to Windsor Castle via the Long Walk. Pre-show coverage begins even earlier. CBS will begin its coverage at 4 a.m. Eastern Time, with a pre-show hosted by Gayle King and Kevin Frazier. NBC's coverage, featuring the hosts of the "Today" show, will begin at 4:30 a.m., with ABC beginning its coverage at 5 a.m., hosted by "Good Morning America's" Robin Roberts and "World News Tonight's" David Muir. Fox News will begin with a 5 a.m. episode of "Fox and Friends" from Windsor Castle, co-hosted by Ainsley Earhardt. Coverage of the main event will begin at 6 a.m., hosted by Shepard Smith and Sandra Smith. HBO will air "The Royal Wedding Live With Cord and Tish!" at 7:30 a.m., with Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon hosting the event while in character. BBC America will air the wedding live, and also cover the carriage procession. PBS will cover the event at 4:15 a.m. Eastern Time. STREAMING The event will also be streaming live across a number of platforms. CBS will begin streaming its coverage of the event at 4 a.m. on CBSN Live. ABC will begin streaming the event at 5 a.m. on ABCNews.com, GoodMorningAmerica.com, its mobile apps and social platforms. The New York Times and BBC America will also be streaming the event from their respective websites. THEATERS Fathom Events will be airing the royal wedding in movie theaters across the United States beginning at 10 a.m. The closest participating theaters include: BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- Senior U.S. District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano is a proud Staten Islander who relished his role as the borough's assemblyman. "It was like a love affair for me," said Vitaliano during his portrait unveiling ceremony Friday in Brooklyn federal court. "I treated my service as an extension of Vitaliano the lawyer, and it was my job to represent Staten Island. I never had a client I loved more. And I'm grateful of that." Dozens of friends, family, colleagues and Staten Island politicians gathered at the Honorable Jack. B. Weinstein Ceremonial Courtroom to congratulate Vitaliano on being only the second Staten Islander to have his portrait hanging in the Brooklyn courthouse. His four children, Halle, Abigail, Emma and Michael, did the honors of unveiling the beautiful black-and-white portrait. The piece aptly captured the man Vitaliano is, said U.S. District Judge Edward R. Korman. "It's a day of gratitude and humility," said Vitaliano, a Dongan Hills resident, after receiving a standing ovation from the packed house. The first Staten Islander to be honored with a portrait was Judge Mark A. Costantino. Vitaliano was Costantino's first clerk. He is the 53rd judge in the court's history, and his vacancy is the original one created by Abraham Lincoln in 1865. But his clerkship was his second stint at the Eastern District of New York. Fifty years ago, Vitaliano got his first job at the courthouse when he spent a summer as a U.S. Marshal. He fondly recalled some of his duties, including marching jurors to lunch at nearby restaurants and driving prisoners to Rikers Island in his own car. "It was the scariest place," he said of the prison. Decades later, in 2006, Vitaliano took the bench at Brooklyn federal court. There he shaped clerks, lawyers and even caught the attention of some jurors. "'I like this judge,'"a juror once sent in a note to Vitaliano during a trial, said his former clerk, Sparkle L. Sooknanan. "'He looks like Columbo.'" Before taking the bench, Vitaliano served as a New York State Assemblyman representing Staten Island. During his distinguished tenure in Albany, Vitaliano was instrumental in shutting down the former Fresh Kills Landfill. "For Staten Islanders, today marks a culmination of a 40-year career in public service," said Assemblyman Michael J. Cusick (D-Mid-Island). "He loved the community of Staten Island. The people of Staten Island are very proud of Eric Vitaliano." His family and colleagues shared heart-warming stories about the funny family man, the dedicated judge and the dear friend. His son, Michael Vitaliano, said he and his sisters had fond memories of the time they spent in Albany with their dad, falling asleep in his chair. "We were raised in a home full of love," he said. "We marvel at your brilliance. You are the champion of the little guy." Vitaliano joked that being a dad was his greatest title -- until one of his kids makes him a grandfather. "Nothing is more important to me than family," he said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A woman whose Jeep collided with a Fire Department truck seven months ago in Huguenot alleges the city and FDNY are liable for the injuries she suffered. Gabriella Catanese, 20, suffered "serious" injuries in the Oct. 28, 2017, crash at Huguenot Avenue and Drumgoole Road East, a civil complaint in a recently filed lawsuit alleges. Those injuries aren't specified. Drumgoole Road East is a service road of the Korean War Veterans Parkway. According to Advance reports, police said a black 2015 Jeep collided with a truck from Battalion 23 at about 10:30 a.m., according to Advance reports. The Jeep's entire front was mangled, and parts were strewn along the sidewalk on the overpass near the intersection. Three people, including two firefighters, were injured and taken to Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, the Advance reported, citing a Fire Department spokesman. The spokesman said the injuries weren't life-threatening. Michael J.R. Mule, Catanese's lawyer, said it's his understanding his client had a green light when the vehicles hit. He said he didn't know whether the FDNY truck was responding to an emergency. However, Mule said the fire truck's lights and siren were not on. "We're still parsing through the facts," he said. The suit alleges the defendants, including the FDNY truck driver, identified as William Lee, "reckless(ly) and careless(ly)" caused the crash by failing to keep the vehicle "under reasonable and proper control" and "failing to heed traffic controls." In addition, the truck was driven "at such speeds at said location as to cause the same to be of danger to others," contends the complaint. Filed in state Supreme Court, St. George, the suit seeks unspecified monetary damages. Public records indicate Catanese lives near the accident site. The city Law Department and FDNY did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment on the suit. CAY HILL:--- On May 16th, a simulation exercise was organized for ESF 6 by the Ministry of VSA and the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), with support of IHE Delft. The 6th Emergency Support Function (ESF) is in charge of the health sector during disasters and crises. ESF 6 was confronted with a computer based scenario of a tsunami developed by IHE Delft within the European Commission funded PEARL project and were given insight in the consequences and dilemmas that need to be addressed in the situation of a crisis. Step by step the participants were taken in the different phases of the scenario in order to clarify the different roles and responsibilities. The table top focused on decision-making and communication processes and the strategic management of healthcare institutions during crisis situations and with chain partners. The table top (a simulation-workshop) was a follow-up to the workshop of March 28th. The input gathered by the first workshop in March and the specific material developed afterwards were tested in this table top. Besides giving insights in the roles and responsibilities, Lianne van Driel, disaster coordinator of the Ambulance Service of Brabant in the Netherlands and attached to the recovery project of VNG International, developed a concrete task chart for ESF 6; a checklist to support analysing the required incident information and to define action. Following this table top, the information that has been gathered by testing in this table top will be further used to improve the specific material developed and strengthen the processes of disaster management preparedness. ESF6 is made up of health agencies that all aid in the achievement of the roles and responsibilities of the group, as listed in the Landsbesluit Rampenplan St. Maarten. These supporting agencies consist of Sint Maarten Medical Centre, White Yellow Cross Foundation, Pharmacist Association, WIMA, General Practitioners, SLS Laboratory, Red Cross Foundation, WIEMS (Windward Islands Emergency Medical Services), Ambulance Services, Mental Health Foundation, VSA, Preventive health department. A Cuban-operated airliner with at least 110 people aboard has crashed and burned in a field just after take-off from the Havana airport. The ruling Communist Party newspaper, Granma, said there were three survivors. Five of the passengers plus the crew were foreign citizens, media reports said. The Mexican Government said Mexican citizens were among the dead, without providing further details. The aircraft, on a domestic flight to Holguin in eastern Cuba, crashed shortly after taking off from Havana. State TV said the jet veered sharply to the right after leaving the runway. There were 105 passengers, including five children, and nine crew members onboard."There is a high number of people who appear to have died," Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel said from the scene, adding that the survivors were seriously injured. "Things have been organised, the fire has been put out, and the remains are being identified." Mr Diaz-Canel said authorities were investigating the cause of the crash. Wreckage was strewn over the area 20 kilometres south of Havana, a witness said, and blackened parts of the fuselage were visible."The only thing we heard, when we were checking in, an explosion, the lights went out in the airport and we looked out and saw black smoke rising and they told us a plane had crashed," Argentine tourist Brian Horanbuena said at the airport. Skies were overcast and rainy at the airport at the time of the incident."We heard an explosion and then saw a big cloud of smoke go up," said Gilberto Menendez, who runs a restaurant near the crash site in the agricultural area of Boyeros. Carlos Alberto Martinez, the director of Havana's Calixto Garcia hospital, said four victims of the accident had been brought there.One had died and three others, all women, were in a serious condition, he said. "She is alive but very burnt and swollen," said a distressed relative of one of the survivors at the hospital. The flight was leased by airline Cubana from a small Mexican airline called Damojh or Global, Cuban state media said. Holguin has some of the island's most pristine beaches, and attracts tourists. A Damojh representative in Mexico said, "we are gathering what we can to give correct information". The nationality of those on board was not immediately clear. State media said that the crew were foreign, but provided no further details. Flight tracking websites indicated the flight was CU972, departing Havana at 11am local time. Cuban First Vice-President Salvador Valdes Mesa met with Cubana officials on Thursday to discuss improvements to its service. The airline blames its spotty record on a lack of parts and planes because of the US trade embargo against the communist-run country. It was Cuba's third major aviation accident since 2010. Last year a Cuban military plane crashed into a hillside in the western province of Artemisa, killing eight soldiers. In 2010, an AeroCaribbean flight from Santiago to Havana went down in bad weather, killing all 68 people aboard, including 28 foreigners, in what was the country's worst air disaster in more than two decades. Reuters/AP GREAT BAY:---We are happy that the Anguilla Literary Festival invited writers Dr. Patricia Turnbull and Faizah Rochelle Ward to Anguilla to read their published work, to speak, and participate on a publishing panel, said Sample. Dr. Turnbull is the keynote speaker at our Maverick Lunchtime Presentation After the Storm, said festival member Carla Harris. The poolside presentation takes place at Coral Cove Resort, at 12:15 noon. Between 10 10:20 AM and after her presentation, Dr. Turnbull will sign copies of her childrens book Ti Koko and Kush Kush (HNP, 2018) for the book fairs island and tourist guests, said Sample. Ti Koko and Kush Kush is a great book to help children cope with their own loss or feel for other children affected by a natural disaster such as a hurricane or a man-made crisis such as war, said the publisher. The anthology Where I See the Sun Contemporary Poetry in the Virgin Islands (HNP, 2016), which contains poems by Dr. Turnbull, will be available too, said Sample. Dr. Turnbull is a historian and well-known VI educator based in Tortola. Her writings have also appeared in literary books from her native St. Lucia. St. Martin poet, blogger, and teacher Faizah Rochelle Ward, will recite her poetry at Saturdays Rise and Shine Breakfast session, starting at 8:30 AM, said Sample. At the 10:20 AM blogging panel Ward will be one of the main persons among our Anguilla bloggers, said Harris. Wards poems are in Where I See the Sun Contemporary Poetry in St. Martin (HNP, 2013). Her writings are blogged at saltfishandlace.com. According to author Lasana Sekou, Faizah is at the leading edge of St. Marins new generation of poets. This is Wards second Anguilla Lit Fest appearance. Its always an investment in the critical development of the regions literature when our literary artists and authors are invited to present at Caribbean book fairs or literary festivals, said Sample. Among the guest authors from the USA and the Caribbean at Anguilla Lit Fest 2018 are a number of Anguillan writers. Were doubly happy that the festival is featuring Alexis Ryan, Vanessa Croft Thompson, and Marnair Claushaun Richardson, Anguillan poets published by HNP in Where I See the Sun Contemporary Poetry in Anguilla (HNP, 2015), said Sample. Ryan, a 2018 Malliouhana Poetry Competition winner, Thompson, and Richardson are scheduled to recite at the popular poolside morning session at Coral Cove Resort, said Harris. The Hague:--- A Chinese delegation organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of China Commercial Enterprise Management visited I.S. Cleanings office in The Hague on Friday afternoon. I.S. Cleaning is a commercial and domestic cleaning company founded in 2013 by St. Maarten Entreprenuer & Student Leandra Leslie. Operations Manager Luis Hurtault also from St. Maarten attended the meeting via skype to answer questions that the Chinese delegation would have and to explain I.S. Cleanings operations and core values. The Chinese delegation comprised of 20 enterprises which included Environment Protection technology companies, cleaning companies and property management companies. Their visit was organized in able for the association to exchange ideas and to learn about the cleaning service industry in the Netherlands and how enterprises in the various cities provide public service area, cleaning services. One of the delegations goal was to understand the operating system, the daily management experience and I.S. Cleanings cleaning standards. Marketing Manager & Business Relations Officer Kimberly Nijon also from St. Maarten gave a presentation of IS Cleanings organization and webshop activities. The delegation got to tour I.S. Cleanings facilities and were introduced to I.S. Cleaning products and technologies. I.S. Cleanings Founder and Chief Financial Officer Leandra Leslie said, I am delighted to have the opportunity to share our business expertise and success with the China delegates and to also explore opportunities of working together in the future. Executive Vice President of the Cleaning Branch of China Commercial Enterpriseq Management Association, Ms. Gong Na said, China has a very large market of cleaning, environment protection technology and property management companies that have developed since several years ago. However, recently studies carried out show that China has much room for growth in this sector. At the end of the visit Business Relations Officer Kimberly Nijon exchanged gifts with the delegation and thanked them for their generous visit. The delegation hopes to further promote investment and economic exchanges for both parties, and to pursue other cooperation opportunities. Founder Leandra Leslie hopes to explore similar business opportunities in St. Maarten. The relentless cycle of school shootings in the United States Santa Fe, United States, May 18 (AFP) May 18, 2018 The United States is the only developed country in the world that suffers from a relentless cycle of school shootings, such as the rampage that took yet more lives at a Texas high school on Friday. Ten people were killed and another 10 injured when a student armed with a shotgun and a revolver opened fire just as classes were starting at the school in Santa Fe. There is roughly one school shooting a week in the United States, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, an organization that is pushing to limit the proliferation of firearms in the country. US schools have become less and less a safe havens for children, as the country grapples with an epidemic of gun violence that claims around 33,000 lives each year, and many Americans appear fatalistic. Unless there is a high body count, most school shootings don't even make the national press. According to a database compiled by the Washington Post, more than 214,000 primary and secondary school students have experienced a school shooting in the United States since 1999. At least 139 students, teachers and others have been killed over the same period. The familiar television images of students fleeing for their lives across playing fields, or tearfully recounting their near-death experiences, prompt the inevitable same questions: Should all schools have security gates? Should teachers be armed? Just three months ago, in February, a young man armed with a semi-automatic, assault-style weapons killed 17 people at his old high school in Florida. That particular rampage, in a school whose surviving students spoke out movingly and articulately against gun violence, prompted a fresh movement to demand legislation that would impose stricter controls on firearms. That led to a wave of marches across the country and overseas on March 24 that brought as many as two million people on to the streets to demand action. The hundreds of thousands of school kids were portrayed as the "school shooting generation" or the "Columbine generation," named for the school where two students in Colorado gunned down 12 of their schoolmates and a teacher in 1999. Yet there has been no progress towards legislation that would dent the rampant gun violence, aside from a few minor measures introduced in a handful of states. President Donald Trump himself has proposed arming teachers. - Disturbing trends - The actual definition of what constitutes a school shooting varies, hence the difference in the reported numbers of such incidents. But the simple fact remains that there are far more of them in the United States than in the rest of the developed world, and the long-term trends are disturbing. The Federal Bureau of Investigation carried out a study of "active shooters" between 2000 and 2013 and found that the numbers of mass shootings are on the rise nationwide. In 70 percent of cases, the killings and injuries occur within five minutes or less, giving law enforcement a very short time to react. And 24.4 percent of all gun rampages take place in schools or other educational establishments. Shooters who open fire in schools or colleges are, for the most part, students or former students, as was the case in Santa Fe on Friday. And the FBI also notes that school shootings are becoming deadlier. Some of the more prominent attacks have had a lasting impact on the national psyche, such as Columbine in 1999, Virginia Tech in 2007 or the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012, when 20 kids aged between six and seven were shot dead by a gunman. Since that slaughter, emergency "active shooter" drills have been stepped up in schools to prepare students to react when a gunman attacks their classroom. N. Korea military officer defects to S. Korea: Yonhap Seoul, May 19 (AFP) May 19, 2018 A North Korean military officer, accompanied by a civilian, defected to the South across the Yellow Sea on Saturday, a South Korean news report said, citing a government source. "A small boat was spotted in waters off the north of Baengnyeong Island" near the inter-Korean border, the source told Yonhap news agency, adding that the officer, who holds the rank of major, and a civilian were aboard the vessel. "They expressed willingness to defect," he said. A Korea Coast Guard official said relevant authorities were investigating the case, declining to give details. The defection was the 14th involving a North Korean soldier since 2000. The last defection by a North Korean military officer took place in 2008, YTN TV said. It is the first defection by any North Korean since a historic summit between the two Koreas which saw their leaders agree to pursue the denuclearization of the peninsula and a permanent peace. In November last year, a North Korean soldier drove to the heavily-guarded border at speed and ran across under a hail of bullets from his own side. He was hit multiple times in the dramatic defection at Panmunjom truce village. In 2012 a North Korean soldier walked unchecked through rows of electrified fencing and surveillance cameras, prompting Seoul to sack three field commanders for a security lapse. In June last year, two of four crew members on a North Korean fishing boat which drifted to the South refused to return home and they were allowed resettle in the South. A month later, five North Koreans in another small boat crossed the sea border into South Korean waters and expressed their wish to live in the South. More than 30,000 North Korean civilians have fled their homeland but it is very rare for them to cross the closely guarded inter-Korean border, which is fortified with minefields and barbed wire. Most flee across the porous frontier with neighbouring China. The big winners and losers in Iraq's election Baghdad, May 19 (AFP) May 19, 2018 Iraq's general election has brought dozens of new candidates into parliament, while some long-serving players lost their seats, as many voters sought to call time on the elite. But voters' frustration was also evident in a record high abstention rate -- turnout was just 44.52 percent, the lowest since the country's first multi-party elections in 2005. Here is a rundown of some of the main winners and losers from the May 12 poll, as the 329-seat parliament begins to take shape, ahead of what could be a convoluted bargaining process to cobble together a viable coalition. - All Eyes on Sadr - Firebrand cleric Moqtada Sadr's Marching Towards Reform bloc won a better-than-expected 54 seats, making it the biggest single player in the next parliament. The nationalist -- whose Shiite militia battled US troops after the 2003 invasion -- faces a deeply fragmented political landscape and opposition from regional player Iran, as he seeks to reduce foreign influence in Iraq. Sadr, who has reinvented himself as an anti-corruption crusader in an alliance with secular leftists, is looking to be the kingmaker and oversee the formation of a cross-sectarian, technocrat government from some dozen parties. - Still in the game - Poised in second place with 47 seats is the pro-Iranian Conquest Alliance made up of ex-fighters from mainly Shiite paramilitary units that battled the Islamic State group. The Victory Alliance of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who declared victory over IS in December, performed worse than expected, slotting into third place, with 42 seats. - Mixed fortunes for Maliki - Nobody got more votes than Nuri al-Maliki, despite making way as prime minister under a cloud for Abadi in 2014 after IS seized a third of the country's territory. With more than 100,000 votes, Maliki got twice the number of ballots won by Abadi. But experts say Maliki's vote haul will not be enough for him to take back the reins of power, since his Rule of Law Alliance only took 26 seats, compared to 92 last time around. - Elected on a shoestring - The first session of the next parliament will be presided over by Mohammad Zeini, who, at 79 years old, becomes parliament speaker, pending the selection of a new legislative president. The new entrant, a graduate in hydrocarbon economics from the University of Colorado, ran in Baghdad with the cheapest campaign in Iraq's electoral history. Zeini's campaign was entirely internet based and he won 7,300 votes, eclipsing the 4,000 secured by the outgoing speaker Salim al-Juburi. South African international climate activist and human rights defender Catherine Constantinides has been recognised by the Saharawi National Commission for Human Rights (CONASADH) as an honorary member. She was awarded this membership earlier this week at the Saharawi refugee camps, south-west of Algeria. She has been working actively in the camps for the past four years. The president of CONASADH, Abba Salek Elhassan, said: This is an expression of gratitude to her steady defence of the Saharawi peoples right to self-determination and for her global efforts in favour of the respect of human rights in Western Sahara. Constantinides has been working to educate civil society and communities around the world about the forgotten people of Africa, the Saharawi. She is no stranger to international platforms, including the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. Constantinides was quoted as saying: I do all that I do because, simply put, I have seen the truth. I can never rest until justice is done and the Saharawi people are treated with dignity and respect, and until the Saharawi people are given their inalienable right to self-determination and freedom to choose their destiny, we cannot rest. I will tell their story and share the truth at every opportunity I have, and I will be there on the day that they celebrate their independence. It is a great honour to receive this membership. As a South African I am proud to be able to stand in solidarity with my fellow African brothers and sisters, the Saharawi people. I will carry this membership with both honour and dignity and an immense responsibility to amplify efforts as we work on the struggle of policy and power, ensuring that the question of Western Sahara remains on the agenda until their right to self-determination is realised. The Western Sahara is illegally occupied by Morocco and has been since 1975. It is dubbed the Last Colony in Africa. It was previously a Spanish colony between 1884 and 1975, when Spain failed to finish the decolonisation process it promised to achieve. Instead, Spain, Morocco and Mauritania signed a secret agreement to divide this African territory into two parts, to be militarily controlled by Morocco from the north and Mauritania from the south, while Spain maintained privileged economic interests, especially in the illegal exploitation of the rich fisheries and phosphate of Western Sahara. Constantinides is one of the champions behind an international solidarity campaign being launched by the Saharawi National Commission for Human Rights alongside other NGOs, both in the refugee camps and occupied territory, and human rights activists from around the world. The campaign will be launched on Africa Day, May 25. (SPS) 062/SPS https://comarochronicle.co.za/157969/human-rights-champion-honoured/ Donate to Stonekettle Station Like anybody else, I have a mortgage and a kid in college and a powerful need to eat once in a while. As Stonekettle Station has increased in popularity, it takes up more and more of my time to write the content you come here for, and that means I've got less time to do the things that actually pay the bills. I have no desire to move Stonekettle Station behind a paywall, I'll stop writing before I do that, but if you think what I do here is worth a bit of your hard earned money well then I'm not too proud to accept a token of your appreciation. And thank you. American troops are now being issued a new pistol and acceptance has been good. This follows the January 2017 announcement that the U.S. Department of Defense, after a ten year search, had decided on a new standard pistol, to replace the elderly and unpopular Beretta M9. The new M17 pistol is a variant of the SIG Sauer P320, which lost out to the Baretta in 1985 because the Baretta 9mm was a little cheaper. The M9 replaced the M1911 11.4mm (.45 caliber) pistol. The M9 replacement first appeared in 2014 as a civilian/police weapon modified to compete to replace the M9. The basic characteristics of the military and civilian versions are the same. Both are 836 g (29 ounce) weapons that are 203mm (8 inches) long and have a 17 round magazine (with an optional 21 round extended magazine). There is a compact version (M18) with a shorter (by 20mm/.8 inch) barrel making it more useful for concealed carry. Combat zone testing in Afghanistan during late 2017 discovered a few problems with the militarized P320 and SIG quickly fixed these by making a few component modifications. This quick response was part of the contract for the new pistol and is expected to continue if more problems are encountered. The Baretta was notorious for having problems that took a long time to verify and even longer (if ever) to fix. SIG has a reputation for moving faster in this area and demonstrated it right away. To help with the user testing and debugging SIG is releasing 5,000 M18s to the commercial market, selling for $650 each. The military buys them in large quantities for less than half that price. While most civilian owners wont treat their M18s as roughly as troops or use them under harsh conditions for extended periods, these civilian users tend to be more experienced, often ex-military and another source of insightful user feedback. The Department of Defense currently plans to buy 421,000 M17/M18 pistols. Most, 195,000 are for the army while 130,000 are for the Air Force, 61,000 (M18 only) for the navy and 35,000 for the marines. The army and marines are issuing more pistols to infantry units, recognizing that there are a lot of situations where several troops should be armed with pistols. This includes clearing caves, tunnels or other confined spaces. The M17 and the new holster were selected with this in mind and using a lot of feedback from combat experienced soldiers and marines. This feedback led to the few modifications that turned the SIG P320 into the M17 and made it much easier to train troops to quickly become quite effective (and accurate) with the M17. Since the 1980s, when the M9 appeared there have been numerous new accessories for pistols, many of them used a lot by special operations and police (SWAT and the like) forces. Many troops bought their own 9mm pistols (SIG and Glock were common) equipped with these accessories and used them in combat. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) would pay for any successful (in combat) pistols and accessories. A key factor in selecting SIG was its history of firing a large number of rounds without any jams or malfunctions. That is a crucial factor for combat troops who now have a pistol that is recognized as an offensive weapon and when it is needed must be reliable. Experienced military and civilian pistol users agree that the P320 was the best choice although the Glock was a strong alternative choice. The militarized P320 has modifications to improve performance in combat conditions. That meant tweaks that make it more reliable when exposed to mud, sand and all manner of crap associated with combat zone operations. Other modifications made it easier to take apart for cleaning under field (outside, cramped quarters, low light) conditions. Other modifications for military use included improved single handed performance, easier use with either hand, able to easily install military type night and day sights and improved accuracy. The M17 also has the modification to allow a silencer to be attached. The M17 decision came after the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force joined forces in 2014 to speed up the seemingly unending selection process. Another development that speeded things up was the fact the SOCOM had already adopted a number of other pistols to replace the M9. For example in 2011 the U.S. Navy SEALS adopted the SIG Sauer P226 9mm pistol as their Mk25 standard sidearm. This pistol was actually the same Sig Sauer P226 the SEALS have been using since the 1980s, but with a better accessory rail, a few other minor changes, and a new name. The Sig Sauer P320 is, to most users, an updated version of the P226. This is ironic because back in the early 1980s the Berretta and Sig Sauer pistols had both scored about the same on the American evaluation tests and the Berretta won mainly on the basis of price. The P320 is cheaper than the P226 but the contract to replace as many as 500,000 army M9s is worth over half a billion dollars. The selection of the P320 was criticized mainly because it took the Department of Defense (mainly the army) a decade to select what their own evaluation team approved of back in the early 1980s and that SOCOM user experience confirmed before the 1980s were over. SOCOM came into being a few years after the M9 was adopted and immediately began planning to bring back .45 caliber pistols for its commandos while also allowing the use of alternative 9mm pistols as needed. SOCOM always had the right to do that and the army and marines often pay close attention to, and adopt, new weapons and equipment SOCOM has selected and then used successfully in action. Thus the SOCOM decision to keep using the .45 and select a different 9mm pistol. Actually, many Special Forces and SEAL operators never gave up using the original army .45, as it was the ideal pistol for many commando operations. As the U.S. Army Special Forces discovered, if you are well trained and know what you are doing you should carry a pistol, in addition to your rifle. Not the official issue M9 pistol but something with a bit more stopping power. The SOCOM operators more frequently operate in small groups and fight up close. The Special Forces prefer new model 11.4mm (.45 caliber) pistols, although 10mm weapons are also popular. The reason for this is that you are most likely to be using the pistol indoors, where your target is going to be really close. You want to knock the enemy down quickly before he can get at you with a knife or even his hands. In Iraq and Afghanistan, soldiers and Marines brought their own pistols and most commanders have been lenient on this issue. The army and air force do not have the same needs as SOCOM and simply want a 9mm pistol with fewer flaws and more of the latest pistol tech than the existing M9. The air force tried to replace the M9 in 2007 and was ordered by the Department of Defense to back off. The M9 is a 914 g (33 ounces empty), 217mm (8.5 inch) long weapon that has a 125mm (4.9 inch) barrel and a magazine that holds 15 rounds. It replaced the World War I era M1911 .45 (11.4mm) caliber ACP. This is a 1.1 kg (39 ounce empty), 210mm (8.25 inch) long weapon with a 127mm (5 inch) barrel and a 7 round magazine. Both pistols were only accurate at up to about 50 meters, which is fine for a pistol. The M1911 had more hitting power, while the M9 was a bit more accurate. Loaded, each pistol weighs about 230 g (half a pound) more. The M17 is more accurate than the M9 and uses a new pistol round that has more stopping power than most other 9mm rounds. By 2014 the army and air force had a very compelling case for change. The army, in particular, found that many of its oldest M9s were, literally, falling apart from old age. Some components (especially the barrels, frames and locking blocks) tend to break on older, especially heavily used, weapons. Since September 11, 2001, the army has used its M9s a lot, much more than originally expected. There are also a host of other problems, like the shape (too awkward for some users), trigger pull (too heavy) and lack of a Picatinny rail for easy mounting accessories. The safety switch is in an awkward position and troops in combat often accidentally put the safety on when cocking the pistol. That can be fatal (for the user) in combat. More modern designs (like SIG Sauer) have something more efficient (and less of a dirt catcher) than the open-slide and spent cartridge ejection system of the M9. Another sign of the times is that the M9 is not equipped to screw on a silencer, an accessory that is more commonly used these days. Indeed, most of the problems with the M9 result from the fact that it is a design that is over three decades old. Pistol technology has improved a lot since the late 1970s and that can be seen in the pistols that are popular with police forces. Cops can often buy their own pistols and tend to get the most modern, but proven in action, models. Thus many troops in the combat zone leave the M9 they were issued back at the base and go into the field with a 9mm pistol they bought themselves and will continue to use when they leave the military. This is often a Glock 19, which is a police favorite and popular with troops in other countries. Many armies do not replace pistols as frequently as police forces, or special operations troops. But in Afghanistan and Iraq regular combat troops used pistols a lot, and the M9 was not only old but as far as features went, the design was obsolete. As you can see, its not just the wear and tear, its also obsolescence in the face of advances in pistol design. Meanwhile, in 2012 the army had to order another 100,000 M9 9mm pistols, each costing $640. This was just to replace the M9s that were falling apart. The U.S. military (mostly the army) already has over 600,000 M9s and that purchase keeps the M9 in service at least until the end of the decade. The U.S. military adopted the 9mm pistol in 1985 largely to standardize ammunition with NATO and to replace the M911 .45 caliber (11.4mm) pistol with something smaller and lighter. All other NATO states used 9mm for pistols. At the time it was noted that most 9mm pistols were carried by officers and support personnel, who rarely used them, in combat or otherwise. Many American combat veterans disagreed with the switch to a 9mm pistol but that advice was ignored, except in SOCOM. But times have changed. Since 2002 American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan discovered, through combat experience, what types of weapons worked best at close range to take down the enemy. It was the same with SWAT teams and commandos all over the world. When conducting a raid and finding yourself up close and personal with someone trying to kill you, there is a need for a heavy caliber pistol or a shotgun (firing 00 shot or slugs). The premier pistol for ensuring you take down someone is still the .45 caliber (11.4mm) or .40 caliber (10mm, but only with a heavy bullet) pistols. There is also a .50 caliber (12.7mm) pistol, but only very large people can handle this one. The 11.4 and 10mm pistols are light and handy, compared to assault rifles or shotguns, and have a long history of quickly taking down an armed and determined foe. An acceptable alternative is a modern 9mm pistol design that is reliable, has the right accessories and uses a round with more stopping power. Brexit: Exit from the EU to an FTA View(s): Brexit is Britains exit from the European Union (EU). On June 23, 2016 the majority of British people voted for Brexit. Britain is now packing its suitcase to leave the EU. The departure date is fixed as March 29, 2019. However this departure too is a gradual process allowing for a smooth transition which is due to complete by December 31, 2020. On January 17, the UK Prime Minister Theresa May presented the exit plan. Although everyone calls it Brexit, it is actually the UK that is getting ready to exit. Many are using the two terms interchangeably, but Britain comprises England, Wales and Scotland, while the UK includes Northern Ireland as well. This is a source of another dilemma in Brexit. It seems that an exit is more problematic than an entry. Today we try to look at some of the economic issues of integration and disintegration. At the same time, we will also look at the specific issue of Northern Ireland. Exit plan There were two important points in the speech of the UK Prime Minister which I like to pinpoint: The first is that she wanted Britain to be more outward-looking than ever before; this means that Britain is ambitiously looking forward to become global, going beyond the borders of Europe. The second is that Britain is looking forward to enter into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with EU; this means that Britain does not want to lose the benefits of free trade with EU members even after leaving the EU. The underlying economics of the two points are very clear. Britain is better off being integrated with the rest of the world including EU rather than being in isolation. It is easy to grasp the meaning of the first point. Britain was so far integrated more with EU than with other countries in the world. After leaving the EU, Britain which is already one of the most diverse and multi-cultural countries in Europe is looking forward to integrate with or open to the world rather than to Europe. The second point going back to the EU with a proposal for FTA, requires little more details to understand the meaning. Levels of integration There are different levels of integration. The FTA is the most basic form of integration under which cross-border trade in goods and services is free from tariffs and other trade barriers. The second level is known as Customs Union under which the member countries should have common trade barriers to non-member countries. The EU established its Customs Union in 1968. The third level of integration is a Common Market or Single Market. This level of integration requires the free movement of goods, services, capital and, people. There are two types of rules and regulations: The first type is cross-border barriers between the member countries which have to be removed. The second type is the inconsistent rules and regulations that are applied internally within member countries, which have to be harmonised. The EU as a Single Market was established in 1992. There are even higher levels of integration such as the one which applies to Euro Zone; it is an Economic and Monetary Union under which member countries require to have harmonised or surrendered macroeconomic policies as well. The Euro was launched as the single currency of the Euro Zone in 1999, while its notes and coins were introduced in 2002. However, the UK did not become a member of the Euro Zone. Out of the 28 member countries of the EU, 19 belong to the Euro Zone. From single market to FTA It is now clear that where Britain comes from and where it wants to go: It was a member of the EU Common Market where goods, services, capital and, people are allowed to move freely across the borders. In fact, the peoples vote for Brexit was more political than economic. Free movement of people had created an influx of immigrants causing Britain to lose its English authenticity. However, it is not a wise thing to lose everything due to Brexit. Therefore, according to Prime Minister Theresa May, Britain will pursue a bold and ambitious Free Trade Agreement with the European Union. This means, even after leaving the EU, Britain is committed not to sabotage its free trade in goods and services with EU. Economics of EU The European Union economy which is home to over 510 million people is as big as the US which has over 320 million people. The EU is a US$16 trillion economy whereas the US is $18 trillion economy. The UK is a strong economy in the EU which accounts for more than 15 per cent of the entire EU economy. What is even more important is that the EU is stronger than the US in terms of export growth and the resulting healthy trade balance lies mainly in its strong economies. As a region, export of goods and services from the EU is about 43 per cent of its GDP. Compared with that, the US has a persistent trade deficit, while its exports account for about 12 per cent of GDP. A striking feature of EU trade is that their trade within the EU is greater than that with the countries outside the EU. About two-thirds of EU exports are traded within the EU itself. Therefore, it is obvious that the UK does not want to fall down from the economic prosperity that it enjoys by being in the EU. That is why at least an FTA with the EU is important for the UK. Brexit dilemma The biggest Brexit problem is not any of the above, but the Ireland border which is also the UKs physical boundary with the EU. While Ireland (Republic of Ireland) is an independent sovereign state and a member country of not only the EU but also the Euro Zone; everything there however looks more European than English. Northern Ireland which looks more English than European, is part of the UK; therefore, Northern Ireland together with Britain has to break away from the EU. Because both Ireland and the UK were members of the EU, the land border between Ireland and Northern Ireland was irrelevant; there was free movement of goods, services, capital and people. After the breakup of the UK from the EU, this border will have to be controlled with check points. This is a difficult choice since Ireland is the major trading partner of Northern Ireland. Nevertheless, as the UK Prime Minister emphasized, the UK will be pursuing a bold and ambitious FTA with the EU. This means that the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland (or in other words, between the EU and the UK) has to be open for free trade but closed for free movement of people. Prime Minister May emphasized that family ties and bonds of affection that unite our two countries (Ireland and the UK) mean that there will always be a special relationship between us. What she proposed is the maintenance of the Common Travel Area (CTA) between the two countries ensuring their special relationship, while safeguarding the integrity of the UKs immigration system. This also looks little tricky because opening a CTA with Ireland means that the UK is open for the EU through Ireland. Impact on Sri Lanka While the EU is Sri Lankas major export market which accommodates about 30 per cent of total exports, one-third of that is destined to the UK. However since the UK is not planning to reverse its free trade policy, there are no significant direct implications for Sri Lankas export trade. If Sri Lanka is going to lose any EU concessions that were applied to the UK as well, there will be a need for re-negotiation. One important indication in the Prime Ministers Brexit Plan is to enhance the UKs global economy beyond the EU which would improve its economic ties with other countries. In a transition process of UK as such, the countries that are prepared to hold it will move ahead. (The writer is Economics Professor at the Colombo University and can be reached at sirimal@econ.cmb.ac.lk) Dockyard seals contract to build two vessels for Iraq View(s): Colombo Dockyard PLC (CD) has secured a contract with Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) of Japan to build two vessels; Pilot Station Vessel and Buoy Tender Vessel, for General Company for the Port of Iraq (GCPI). TTC and GCPI signed the contract on April 27 in Dubai, CD said in a media release. TTC is a trading and investing company which is also a group company of TOYOTA. By recognising the potential of CD, TTC decided to collaborate with the Sri Lankan company for this project to compete and submit bid proposals in response to a tender floated by GCPI in July 2017, it said. After the selection of the bid proposal submitted by TTC in collaboration with CD, there were contract negotiation meetings in Basrah, Iraq and in Colombo, Sri Lanka. These negotiations and discussions were able to strengthen the relationship between the parties to enter in to a successful contract. The two vessels are to be delivered in Iraq in April 2020. CD was established in 1974 mainly for shipbuilding and ship repairing activities, and in the span of 44 years has earned a reputation internationally, of being one of the most competitive and dynamic shipbuilding and ship repairing facility in the South Asia region. CD operates in joint collaboration with Onomichi Dockyard Company Limited of Japan which owns a stake of 51 per cent at Colombo Dockyard. CD also has a 35 per cent shareholding from Sri Lankan Government institutions. Investment from Scandinavian countries grow by 54 % since 13 View(s): The Nordics Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland which have a global reputation for excellent performance in investing that emphasises on Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) standards and Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) and related international rankings are eyeing Colombos stocks. Investments from Scandinavian countries have grown by 54 per cent per annum compound annual growth rate (CAGR) since 2013, Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) data shows. These are funds which believe that deliberately investing in companies with good behaviour or agitating to improve the behaviour of offenders can deliver results. Scandinavian ESG funds and their business communities and government policies are often held up as an example to other countries. In general, socially responsible investors encourage corporate practices that promote environmental stewardship, consumer protection, human rights, and diversity. Some avoid businesses involved in alcohol, tobacco, fast food, gambling, pornography, weapons, contraception/abortion, fossil fuel production or the military. There is a high degree of homogeneity among the Nordics in terms of all this in cultural as well as institutional investments. In 2018 (January to April), Scandinavian countries have invested Rs. 7.8 billion in the Sri Lankan stock market, which constitutes 22 per cent of the total foreign purchases during the period, the Business Times research showed. Amongst them Tundra and Coeli stand prominent. Tundra has US$ 150 million is in its Frontier Sustainability Fund, which has invested $ 20 million (12 per cent) of the fund portfolio in Sri Lanka. Coeli, a Swedish asset manager is now at number 3 in the shareholder list at Nestles PLC as at March this year with 308,500 shares (0.57 per cent). Coeli Frontier Markets Fund has 7.5 per cent country allocation to Sri Lanka as at April 2018. Opalesque, a publication which scours professional news services to participants in the alternative investment sector, has said that global service provider Northern Trusts recent survey of 50 Nordic institutional investors in Stockholm found that 80 per cent among them expect investor allocations to alternative assets to increase within the next five years. Notably, half of these expected a greater focus on ESG factors within the investment process, with 25 per cent of these even saying ESG credentials would make or break deals. Analysts say that foreign investment can be driven by ESG and that specifying the underlying mechanism of foreign investors stock picking behaviour. They say that ESG compliant firms can attract foreign investment. According to the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance (GSIA), assets valuing over $21.4 trillion have incorporated ESG concerns into their investment selection and management globally, representing 30.2 per cent of the total assets under management. Analysts say that foreign investment can be driven by ESG and that specifies the underlying mechanism of foreign investors stock picking behaviour. They say that ESG compliant firms can attract foreign investment. President orders removal of crippling gem levies By Quintus Perera View(s): View(s): President Maithripala Sirisena recently ordered the removal of crippling levies on the gem and jewellery trade followed concerns raised by the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA). Association officials said a decision about 2-3 months ago by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) to impose a levy of Rs. 25,000 per 100 carat on gem export sales or contracts and increasing the licence fee to half a million rupees from only Rs. 35,000 earlier brought the trade to crisis-point proportions. After a delegation from the association briefed the President on the ad-hoc levies, the head of state had instructed the NGJA to remove these levies and the license fee. Accordingly the NGJA board decided to remove these levies and the decision was conveyed to the SLGJA, officials said thanking the President profusely for reversing a decision that would impact heavily on the trade. The recently-fixed rates had resulted in a slide in gem exports. The industry has been enjoying income tax exemption for the last 40 years since 1979, but the new Inland Revenue policy has removed this exemption, despite elaborate representations made to the government to reinstate this relief, they said. The SLGJA pointed out earlier that due to the new tax policy, supplies from Africa which now comprise up to 70 per cent that are imported and re-exported from Sri Lanka, was affected. These rough gem stones from Africa to Sri Lanka have in fact started to go to competitor countries like Thailand and Hong Kong, the SLGJA lamented. Officials point out that in order to facilitate good gem stone supplies and re-export quality products, good gem stones should be supplied to the gem cutting sector. While the recent budget approved the removal of the NTB on gem stone exports, the authorities are yet to implement this proposal. While the online gem stone and jewellery sales market is becoming very large and a multi-billion dollar market in the world, current export procedures and changes pursued by the authorities render it infeasible to carry out an on-line business. The recent 15 per cent tax on gold imports has also badly affected jewellery manufacturers, retailers and exporters in the country. There should be an immediate solution to facilitate gold bullion at competitive rates to the legitimate jewellery manufacturers, exporters and retailers, one official explained. The gem export process should be liberalized on par with such countries like Thailand and Hong Kong where companies in those countries are able to efficiently and competitively cater to the demands of the international market, the SLGJA points out. Sri Lanka grappling with economic nationalism, says Eran By Raj Moorthy View(s): View(s): Sri Lanka is grappling with economic nationalism by imposing tariffs and other restrictions on the movement of labour, goods and capital. The country must open up from this state of ideology, argues State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratne. Attending the Boost your Business programme organised by Facebook and Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) at Hotel Galadari in Colombo on Wednesday, the Minister also said: Its a dilemma in the tourism, tea, rubber and coconut industries in Sri Lanka whereas its high time the country focuses on exporting technology that is developed in the country. We want to connect Sri Lankan companies to global value chains. At the forum, State Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, Harsha de Silva elaborated on some of the obstacles the Sri Lankan technology sector faces. Infrastructural delays in providing Internet facility, insufficient human resources, lack of financing and no proper payment platform are some of the obstacles the industry faces, he pointed out. Constructive engagement of people through social media while creating a digitally empowered society is what the government is looking at through Facebook after the recent incident in Digana, ICTA Chairman Rohan Samarajiva stated. Governments concerns should be communicated to the partners through social media platforms, he added. Meanwhile Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure, Harin Fernando stated that Facebook has become very smart by helping entrepreneurs boost their businesses via social media. Marketing is a very big issue within the government. The right reasons for making use of social media have not been focused on yet, he noted. He also mentioned that people have more negative stories to share on social media than the positive news articles. Facebook Business Development Manager for South Asia, Kushagra Sagar explained how entrepreneurs can boost their businesses through Facebook. He said, There are 2.2 billion Facebook and 1.5 billion WhatsApp users worldwide. Creating a page for your business, posting and promoting it, doesnt take much time. What you post and who your audience is, is what matters. People dont want to read lengthy posts and content that doesnt make sense. Strong content articulated in short format attracts people to read. Also based on how responsive a page is, it is likely for businesses to get more reaches and that in turn generates sales and leads. An advertisement must create the curiosity among people to view or play it if its a video ad. A brand has to tell a story to the people for them to purchase the product online or by visiting the outlet, noted Mr. Sagar. Contestations of victimhood and flawed patriotism View(s): Somewhere, someone remarked to me this week that patriotism is at its most virulent when stalking the minds and intellects of human beings rather than when it cloaks itself in the deceptively heroic guise of (most always) men waging war against each other on the battlefield. Patriots parading their stuff That remark may well be true. Is it overstating the case to say that nine years after fighting between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the state military ended in the Wanni, Sri Lankas ethnic communities are no closer to each other than they were in the propaganda-driven triumphalist Rajapaksa post-war years? All the signs point to this. Hatred and distrust drives the national debate with voices of reason and moderation being few. Despite the absence of fighting, the bruising rhetoric of ethnicity and communalism rides high by patriots parading their stuff in the uncontrolled domains of the social media, most probably living overseas rather than in this country. Unhappily, the month of May each year has become a trigger for vitriol rather than a time of pensive reflection and remembrance. Menacing games are played out in public while politicians (and others) on either side of the divide are unsurprisingly quick to reap the dividends of flawed contestations of victimhood. Sinhala nationalists insist on deifying a supremely ridiculous notion of a brutal war being fought without casualties and without atrocities by agents of the state. Tamil nationalists refuse to accept that the Tamil community has not been the only victims of conflict in this country or indeed, to recognize the savage character of those lauded as liberators of the Tamil nation. Common pain of victimhood As pictures of the dead and dying in the Wanni during May 2009 cause anguish and pain, it may well be remembered that when the Government quelled the southern insurrection of the (Sinhalese) Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna in the nineteen eighties, (Sinhalese) soldiers went into far Southern villages suspected of having sympathies with the insurrectionists and while shooting at (Sinhalese) mothers carrying little children, continued to shoot the children as they dropped from the arms of their mothers. At that time, there was no social media to portray those horrors and no smartphones to capture the images. But the brutalities and the pain that resulted were real all the same to the victims. Let it be said quite clearly that there is no exclusive right to victimhood on the part of any one community, though the range of atrocities may differ. Meanwhile, there are typically grim absurdities on display. In the spirit of the May madness that grips the nation, Sri Lankas Megapolis & Western Development Minister Champika Ranawaka had apparently taken upon himself to claim that the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) could not be compared with the LTTE as even though the JVP was responsible for a large number of political killings, it never conducted any mass killings or destroyed religious places of worship (Daily Mirror, 19/05/2018). This, by itself, is undoubtedly rich assertion, betraying the racist tendencies of the speaker if not crass idiocy to say the least. This shows the visibly different lens with which Sinhala terrorists and Tamil terrorists are viewed. Why there is little healing But regardless of the mindless mumblings of ministers, this Government has to answer for deplorable omissions, which is one reason why Sri Lankas fractured communities show little sign of healing. Three years ago when a new regime was ushered into power and exuberance was high, Colombo was flooded by visiting experts on transitional justice accompanied by their local counterparts. Statements issued by foreign missions were dime a wearying dozen. It was then cautioned in these column spaces, that if the emphasis does not shift to the far North and the far South to touch the hearts and minds of the ordinary people who have actually suffered as a result of war rather than engage in contrived exercises engineered from Colombo for periodic consumption in New York and Geneva, this exuberance will be short lived. Projects and donor funded exercises on community reconciliation between Sinhalese, Tamils or Muslims as the case may be, are no substitute for vibrant peoples movements that take and twist these academic notions of reconciliation (the lifeblood of conferences), into real and living things, however much we may fondly believe or protest to the contrary. It is no secret that change has most happened in countries when activism is deeply rooted in the communities themselves rather than imported from rarefied climes. South Africas post-apartheid reconciliation process, despite its limitations, was a classic illustration. It was not a dreary and passionless exercise operating on the basis of donor funded priorities. Rather, the movement was led by national figures of stature, whose professional credibility and reputations commanded respect even from their detractors. There was tremendous energy in holding together a deeply divided nation at the time even though now, staggering economic inequalities of black South Africans have resulted in societal ruptures. How many deaths will it take? Sri Lankas post-war reconciliation should have focused first and foremost on bringing justice and closure to victims, at least in closing emblematic cases of grievous human rights violations still languishing in the bowels of Sri Lankas courts. But even that basic minimum was not done. Today, the architecture of transitional justice is being painfully constructed, brick by brick. That this is happening even belatedly is a good sign. These developments must be constructively supported but also critiqued where such a critique is needed. As the national unity Government fails most spectacularly on its promise to work together for the benefit of the country disregarding party politics, the coming tides of racist political fortunes may be so devastating that it may sweep away even the modest gains in the Rule of Law that we have seen recently. So in the final result, it seems that thousands of deaths through the decades are still not enough. It is as if all the barbarities which stunted the growth of this country, killed good men and women (some of outstanding ability) and stripped governance institutions bare of any decent functionality have yet not taught us a lesson. Dylans iconic fury comes to mind when he asked as to How many ears must one person have, before he can hear people cry? And how many deaths will it take till he knows that too many people have died? More conflict, more fury is needed to satiate a bloodthirsty monster which lies yawning in cavernous depths of savagery, to rise with intent when needed. That is our collective tragedy. Fuel price: Commendable political courage to adopt rational economic decision View(s): The decision to implement a cost reflective pricing policy for fuel was a rare instance of political courage in economic decision making. This unpopular decision to increase the price of petroleum products on May 9 was in the interests of the economy. It was an act of political courage at a time when the Government is required to regain its popularity in the run-up to elections in 2019 and 2020. Had domestic prices not been increased, the Government would have had to incur losses that would have increased the fiscal deficit and caused considerable economic instability. Furthermore, keeping domestic fuel prices low means that fuel imports would remain high and cause a serious dent in the trade balance, and would in turn affect the balance of payments adversely. Given the countrys balance of payments situation and the impending large foreign debt repayment next year, restraining import expenditure on oil is imperative. International prices Keeping domestic prices in line with fluctuations in international prices is essential to contain the fiscal and trade deficit. Unfortunately successive governments have not followed this practice. Prior to 2014 when oil prices were low, the gains were not passed on to consumers. In 2015, as part of the new Governments promise to bring down the cost of living, fuel prices were reduced. This was at a time when international prices had fallen. Since then the domestic oil prices were kept low despite international prices rising. International prices that were around US$ 35 in 2015, had risen to US$ 77 on the night the decision to increase prices was taken. The next price revision would be in July. International prices may rise or fall by then. Most predictions are, however, of a further increase in prices towards US$ 100. Trade restrictions on Iran, sluggish oil production in some Middle Eastern countries, and speculation are expected to increase international fuel prices. The countrys balance of payments predicament is such that even if international prices fall, the reduction of domestic prices is ill-advised as oil import expenditure is an important reason for the countrys large trade deficit. Impact Overall price increases are inevitable owing to the increases in fuel prices. The increase in fuel prices would increase the cost of living, both directly and indirectly. Transport costs would increase for persons and goods. Consequently articles of mass consumption, including food, would increase by more than the actual increase in transport cost, as is usually the case. Furthermore even when the price of oil is reduced, other prices are likely to remain at the original level. Economists call this phenomenon of prices tending to remain at the level it reached as the ratchet effect. Expectations The twin expectations of the cost reflective pricing are the avoidance of a government subsidy on fuel consumption that will not increase the fiscal deficit and curtail oil imports so as to not strain the trade balance and balance of payments. The first objective will be achieved if the entire cost of the price increase is passed on to consumers. The second objective of curtailing oil consumption and import is difficult to achieve owing to several reasons. Inelastic demand The general law of demand is that when prices rise, consumption or demand decreases. However in the case of fuel consumption it has an inelastic demand. When prices rise the demand does not decease proportionately. This is due to fuel being an essential consumer item and having few substitutes. For instance the fuel price increase that increases the cost of bus travel will not reduce transport needs proportionately, as travel is essential. Some travel would of course be curtailed. The second reason for the price increase not leading to a substantial decrease in fuel consumption is that the number of vehicles is increasing. For instance, vehicle imports increased by more than 100 percent in February this year, in comparison to figures for February last year. This increase in vehicle imports implies new demand for fuel. Furthermore, the increase in fuel prices was, in fact, marginal and most motorists will continue to run their vehicles in much the same way. The huge number of luxury and high powered vehicles implies that these consumers are not likely to curtail their consumption of petrol and diesel. Government consumption That the Government is a large consumer of fuel is a huge constraint to reducing fuel consumption. The security forces, politicians who use helicopters, nearly 100 ministers and deputy ministers who use big fleet of large luxury vehicles are consumers without constraints in spending on fuel. Public sector If a serious curtailment of fuel imports is to be achieved there must be a control on such public sector fuel consumption. Quantitative restrictions on government use of vehicles are essential to contain fuel consumption. Unless there are measures to contain fuel consumption by the public sector, the cost reflective policy is unlikely to reduce imports of fuel. The Government must concern itself on the vast expenditure on oil imports and not only the fiscal expenditure on an oil subsidy. The proportion of expenditure on oil imports is rising sharply to increase the trade deficit. It is likely to be over 30 percent of total imports. Summing up Despite the unpopularity of increasing domestic prices of fuel in line with international price increases, the Government must be congratulated on a politically courageous correct economic decision. While it will, no doubt, increase the cost of living, there are reasons to doubt that the much-needed reduction in fuel imports may not be realised owing to the inelasticity of demand and the large government expenditure on fuel. It is important for the Finance Ministry to devise complementary policies to ensure that fuel imports are contained at about 25 percent of the import bill. The opposition would, no doubt, exploit the unpopularity of the increase in prices to gain political mileage. A more responsible opposition concerned with the economic interests of the nation would have lauded this correct economic decision. Malaysia predicament in Mahindas comeback trail View(s): My dear Mahinda maama, I thought I must write to you, as people are talking about you once again especially after that Mahathir chap returned to power in Malaysia at the ripe old age of ninety-two. That almost makes it sound as if you are too young to run for high office when the next elections are held in two years! The parallels with Malaysia are quite similar, arent they? The people were dissatisfied with the government in office because those in high places were accused of corruption. That Mahathir chap left the party he had been with for decades and joined a new alliance to contest the elections and he won. It is tempting to think that history will repeat itself in our paradise, Mahinda maama. There is no reason to believe it wont, after the elections for the local councils in February. It is three months since then and both the Blues and the Greens have shown they havent learnt from their mistakes. Still, Mahinda maama, there is one big difference between our Paradise and Malaysia. In Malaysia, that chap Mahathir could run for the top job, because there was no limit on the number of times he could be PM. In Paradise, however, you cant run for the top job and that is a big problem, isnt it? Now you have to find a candidate to run the race for you in less than two years time. It reminds me of how you were mocking the opposition three years ago when they were trying to find a common candidate. It does seem as if the wheel has turned full circle and now you are in the same plight! It is good to talk about democracy within your camp but you will have to find someone from the family to run for you, Mahinda maama, because you cant trust anyone in this business, can you? Certainly not after what Maithri did after being your loyal and faithful servant for more than ten years. It is not as if you could ask anyone else from your ragtag crew in the Joint Opposition to run for you either. If you had Vasu, Wimal, Udaya or even that GL fellow contesting, they wouldnt get any votes. Dinesh may have a chance but I think he is too honest a politician to able to win a dirty contest. I suppose you are lucky because you can always rely on the sahodara samaagama your company of brothers to stand for election for you. There is Chamal, Basil and Gota to choose from, but that has its own share of its problems because you would then have to choose which one it would be. For some reason, Gota seems to be the odds-on favourite for the task. That is interesting because, of the three brothers, he is the only one who has never been a politician or been in Parliament. That is not a problem because when Satellite became PM, she too had never been in Parliament before. Gota is slowly going about building his image, giving speeches that project him as the chosen one. His track record as Defence Secretary and winning the war should stand him in good stead. Besides, as we can all plainly see now, being a military officer is better training than being a grama sevaka! However, Gota has to clear a few hurdles first. He is still a citizen of Trump Land. Then there are also all those stories about white vans and abductions in which his name is being mentioned. He hasnt been found guilty of any of that yet, but if that was to happen, your plans might be disrupted. That is why some are mentioning Basil as a possible candidate. He too has the same problem, doesnt he, Mahinda maama? There are all those allegations about corruption against him but then, the yahapalanaya chaps couldnt prove anything all these years, so it is unlikely they can do so now. Then there is Chamal. He appears to be squeaky clean compared to the other brothers but he will be eighty in two years time although that is still quite young by Mahathirs standards. The problem, however, is that he is the gentle type and he might find that to be a disadvantage if he is contesting. I dont envy you, because you must take a decision soon. There might be another option too: Maithri as the candidate after the two factions of the Blues unite, promising to make you PM. I hope you are smart enough not to fall for that trick, Mahinda maama after seeing what he did to the Green Man! Yours truly, Punchi Putha PS: After Mahathir returned to power, he has promised to retire and make way for his former rival who he had previously jailed. Even if you follow in Mahathirs footsteps, Mahinda maama, I dont think there is any chance of you making way for the Field Marshall, is there? Royal pageantry amid Britains political chicanery View(s): By the time this column appears the much looked forward to Royal Wedding would be over. The Britons are famous for switching on the pomp and pageantry which they have been doing for centuries. All that would have, by now, been wound down. Even the royals, these days, have to scale down their expensive ways. The hundreds of common people who attracted by their monarchy or still worshipping it, especially the loveable Prince Harry, found positions however uncomfortable and inconvenient along the route the Royal couple would take and had settled down in their places days ahead of the event. It might be considered unpardonable to compare this genuine sit-down to one of the farce-unto-death stunts of the publicity-seeking Wimal Weerawansa that suddenly came to mind. That momentary and unfortunate recall should not detract from what one might call la grande occasion yesterday. But while Britain had been preparing several months ahead for this rather unusual Royal wedding, government bureaucrats especially in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, have been readying themselves to do the dirty on Sri Lanka, as it would on any country that is not willing to accept its diktat. So in the quiet of the mother of all parliaments, Labour MPs who depend on Tamil diaspora votes to see them through in several marginal seats have been keeping the LTTE escutcheon alive and fluttering. The Conservative ministers such as the FCOs Mark Field have helped keep the subject of Sri Lankas international commitment to the UNHRC Resolution 30/1 of October 2015 simmering because they need to camouflage the UKs own fractured and deliberately distorted view of civilian casualties in the last months of the LTTE war and allegations of war crimes on the radar screen. Twice in recent days Mark Field, one of those rather vacuous juniors who keep surfacing in Conservative benches as Prime Minister Theresa May struggles to fill empty posts with competent Tories, repeated parrot like some rubbish put to him by the relevant desk at the FCO about how Britain was keeping the pressure on Sri Lanka to fulfill its international commitments such as on human rights and international law. How could British pressure Sri Lanka or anybody when it has so much of dirty linen which obviously it cannot wash in public All the while, of course, this great country that proudly says it stands for human rights and for its own commitment to international humanitarian and international law, is supplying arms to oil-rich states such as Saudi Arabia which has little or no concern for human rights, so it can bomb the daylights out of villages in Yemen. It was a few months ago that fragments of a British-made cluster bomb were found in a Yemeni village. It may well be that this one piece of crates- full of ordnance that was sold to Saudi Arabia several years ago. But the fact is, as some military observer pointed out at the time, these cluster bombs could only be dropped from a particular British manufactured aircraft several of which are still in use in Saudi Arabia. So when it comes to helping kill innocent Yemeni civilians, it seems all those international and other laws that the UK cites should only be observed by countries such as Sri Lanka which fought a vicious three-decade long war, but not by permanent members of the Security Council who should help in maintaining peace in the world without bombing West Asia into the stone age. The problem is that today the UK is a second rate power some might even say third but still wants to be in the big league playing a world power as it did in colonial times. I remember during my years in Hong Kong there was an obnoxious former British army brigadier who was some big noise in the British Chamber of Commerce. He was riled by some of my columns and what I had to say of the British administration of Hong Kong over the years. Pointing to some of the prominent Hong Kong Chinese present at a cocktail party at one of the territorys leading hotels he told me they dont want the sun to set on the British empire. Unable to resist a comeback, I remember quickly adapting some old saying and retorting that is because nobody trusts the Brits in the dark. That did not endear me to the retired brigadier because I had another encounter with him at another reception. As British history and a decade of Hong Kong experience taught me was the arrogance and hypocrisy of the colonial power even when it was going down the tube and how it betrayed the minorities in Hong Kong who were going to be handed over to the new sovereign power when Hong Kong returned to China in 1997. Only the last Hong Kong governor Chris Patten tried to help out the minorities by appealing that the minorities, especially Indians and Pakistanis be given British citizenship but to no avail. Even worse was the treatment meted out to the Gurkha regiment stationed in Hong Kong. These famous Nepali soldiers who had fought and died for King/Queen and Country and had won the most prestigious battle field awards for bravery were treated so shabbily that they had to file action in British courts to win the right to live in the UK. They fought in the same wars as British troops and unlike the British on behalf of another country. Yet when it came to salaries and pensions the Gurkhas were treated like third class soldiers. That is the UK which hectors on human rights in Sri Lanka, on how to fight wars and most of all concocts figures on civilian casualties in the last stages of the war and hides or buries the reports of its own official defence attache in Colombo because the British are unable to face the truth, a truth that would reveal British chicanery to the world. That is why the three-year old battle to get at the truth by Lord Naseby has evoked stupid remarks and tepid rejoinders by not only British officialdom but high octane gibberish from the Sri Lanka government and its own foreign ministry and from a spokesman of the Tamil diaspora organization GTF. After the Sri Lanka Government was found wanting having first ignored Lord Nasebys findings extracted with difficulty from Whitehall, which would have helped the government to argue its case more vigorously, the Foreign Ministry made a statement that would surely go down in the annals of the ministry as one of the stupidest and confusing responses to emerge from a ministry that once produced great and respected diplomats. It was tantamount to undermining Lord Nasebys painfully extracted information from the FCO and providing support to Sri Lankas critics and one of the lead sponsors of the anti-Sri Lanka resolution. One can understand the British High Commissioner James Dauris making inane remarks. He was quoted as saying that Naseby does not represent the British Government or was a spokesman for it or words to that effect. Surely that would have been obvious even to a FCO diplomat. If Naseby had spent three years trying to find what precisely its Defence Attache reported about civilian casualties and British officialdom was resisting releasing such information it should be clear to the dumbest diplomat London could send to Colombo that Naseby was not on the side of the government but was attempting to reach a balanced view if not the entire truth. After Vasantha Senanayake, the state minister in the foreign ministry broke the ice by thanking the lord and President Sirisena managed to awaken from his slumber and send off a message to Naseby, came the piece de resistance from Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana, the third foreign minister that emerged in a few months. Marapana said in the House that the Naseby findings which the foreign ministry had discarded as irrelevant would be used as an ace. We will certainly use it, said the presidents counsel. When would that be, the people clamoured to know, like the Roman citizenry gathered before Caesars body. At the proper time and the appropriate forums, said yahapalanayas Mark Antony.But the time has come and gone. That was in March in Geneva which the other rather open-mouthed yahapalanite Harsha de Silva who seems to believe that he is competent to speak on most subjects, even those beyond his intellectual reach had dismissed as wrong place. So back to Marapana. Could he please tell the public what would be the proper time and the appropriate forums. It seems that the Geneva conferences and other meetings do not fit the bill. In the meantime where is Marapana hiding his ace? It surely cannot be up his sleeve. Perhaps a search party would need to be sent to Sirikotha to unearth it. Reparations Bill: Why the secrecy? View(s): The ninth anniversary of the defeat of the scourge of a bloody separatist terrorist campaign that enveloped this country for three decades passed without much ado yesterday (May 19). Yet battling with the continuing demand by some foreign governments to hold the security forces that ended that scourge to account, the Government has now presented a comprehensive draft outlining what has been proposed as reparations for the victims of that virtual civil war. Our front page story refers to the Governments plan which was kept somewhat secret and handed over to the RTI Commission by the Department of the Attorney General representing the Office of the Prime Minister only a few days ago (Tuesday, May 15) during the hearing of an RTI appeal. Promised by the Government as part of its transitional justice package to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Resolution 30/1 (UN HRC 30/1), the Reparations Bill was announced as ready many moons ago. Though shared with those in the know in Colombo, the general public, its intended targets, remained in the dark. It took an RTI request by a persistent information seeker who went all the way to the RTI Commission for it to be publicly released. This shows how difficult it is to get information that must naturally be in the public domain. The Bill itself indicates confusion in respect of RTI disclosure. On the one hand, it provides for an Information Officer and a designated officer to be appointed in terms of the RTI Act, No 12 of 2016. On the other hand, it also imposes a duty on the Office, its members and others to preserve confidentiality on matters communicated to them in confidence, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other law. The bar on confidential information will not apply where a person giving the information has consented. This is better than the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) Act where families of victims have complained that, even if consent is given to making information public, the OMP is not bound to do so. But why does the Government feel that its transitional justice mechanisms, (next will most likely be a Truth, Reconciliation and Justice Commission) must be shielded from RTI? The RTI Act itself protects confidential information given by third parties or when privacy is invaded. So why provide for separate exceptions? The public interest may apply to release information under RTI cases certainly. But if that is a concern, is the Government saying that the public interest should not apply in these cases? Meanwhile, the Reparations Bill proposes monetary and non-monetary relief for victims including those affected by conflict in the North and East or in connection with political unrest or civil disturbances. Presenting it to the Cabinet on March 5, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had explained that this is meant to help victims of war, families of police and security forces and civilians in what were then known as border villages. That inclusiveness is welcome as the scourge of terrorism and the States efforts to defeat it, has resulted in grief and pain for thousands across all communities, not one community alone. But who will give the money for all of this? How will a cash-strapped Government take on the major spending required for the purpose? Hampered by over-ambitious promises made in Geneva sans adequate local foresight and with a deteriorating economy, will victims actually be helped or is this merely to appease the international community? We will see the answers to these questions soon enough. World peace in pieces There is a local saying about poking the eye of a child who is waiting to cry. The US Presidents utterly insensitive, devil-may-care decision to open his countrys embassy in the controversial and contested city of Jerusalem came on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the creation of the state of Israel and the displacement of the Palestinian Arabs who refer to their displacement as Al Nakba (the catastrophe). At least 60 protesting Palestinians, including some children were killed by the Israeli Defence Forces this week alone in the Gaza region where they have been holed up for years. The US simultaneously jettisoning a nuclear deal with Iran and imposing sanctions on that country has raised the ire of European nations that were firming up lucrative business deals with Iran. They have called current US foreign policy capricious assertiveness. On Friday, Turkey hosted an Islamic summit condemning Israel for its actions in the Gaza and accused the state of running an apartheid regime. The problem in the Arab world is the disunity between the Sunni kingpins, Saudi Arabia and the Shiite proponents, Iran, differences deftly cultivated and exploited by the US over the years to divide the Islamic world. The US Presidents autocratic decision over Jerusalem was patently mala fide compounded by its pretentious role as the honest-broker in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. How and why the Palestinians continue to rely on US peace initiatives is beyond comprehension. That the US Establishment is so heavily reliant on the cash-rich Jewish lobby in its domestic politics is bad enough. The bluff has to be called on President Trumps unashamed, unabashed bias towards Israel. Britain also put forward its ex-PM Tony Blair notwithstanding his own bias to undo the British Balfour Declaration that created Israel in 1948. At a meeting in Colombo, he said that he had visited the region one hundred times to no avail, which should surprise no one given his rather poor standing in the Arab world. The two-state solution as the only via-media to this seven decade-long conflict, which is at the root of most of the violence and enmity in international relations, is now in tatters. The one-state solution with Palestinians having equal rights as the Israelis seems a pipe-dream. The United Nations has abandoned its role as the worlds peace maker allowing the US to hijack the peace process, which now is nothing but a cruel joke. On the other hand, the Iranian-backed Hamas group calling for the total extermination of the state of Israel is only giving the hardline Israeli Government reasons to justify its fears, and complain. Earlier this month, Israel bombarded whom it called Iranians in Syria. This spike in the violence brings into focus the situation in that part of the world, alas, only to be forgotten once the smoke recedes and then to flare up again in a never-ending cycle of violence, hate and fear. How much longer this will go on is anyones guess. With the US action stoking the fires rather than putting them out, what is certain is that there will be no immediate end to the pain, agony, the fears, and to the detriment of world peace. The people are disgusted with the king This article is part of a continuing series on Sri Lankan history View(s): View(s): The Governor of Jaffna, Antonio de Amaral de Meneses, requested the released prisoners to come to the rescue of Mannar. It was successful. The Governor was able to strengthen the fort in Mannar. After that, the Governor built another fort in Kayts as it was the door to Jaffna. In the meantime the king had to face a lot of internal trouble. There were two things that worried him most. One was to chase away the Portuguese. The other was his friendly party claiming possession of Colombo, without any idea of returning it. The dire need to stop the Dutch from claiming possession of Colombo, made the king stay away from the capital for several months. As a result of the king taking decisions on his own and also owing to the government that existed, the people were used to fight in endless battles. This was also a reason for the subjects to be angry with the king. In his dealings with the foreign powers, the king displayed his weakness and this too worried his people. The people got disgusted when the king tried to end connections with one foreign power and then embrace another. The people thought that this action was similar to giving ginger in exchange for chillies. These actions worried them so much that they even tried to get rid of the king by poisoning him. That too failed. The king severely punished those involved in this matter. By Halaliye Karunathilake Edited and translated by Kamala Silva Illustrated by Saman Kalubowila A treat for foodies as Sri Lanka gets its first Atrium View(s): The term foodie has been coined over the growing interest between people and their food. Gone are the days where meals were just eaten. Now food has become an experience and now with the rapid economic development Sri Lankas experiencing, its ready for something new. Thats where Food Studio comes in, bringing with it an innovative new concept. Opening July 27 with the grand public opening of the Colombo City Centre Mall on August 3, it will be the first food atrium in Sri Lanka. But what does the company mean by a food Atrium? At first glance, Food Studios explanation makes it sound exactly like a Food Court; different outlets serving different food variations or dishes in a large space where dining takes place. But the Food Studio team explains that the idea of a Food Court in Sri Lanka is different from what you would experience in Singapore for instance. Food Studios Atrium caters more to the foodie generation who want more out of their dining experience. It will house 15 outlets both local and international, and patrons will be able to choose from authentic Indonesian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Sri Lankan, Malaysian and Singaporean cuisine as well as fusion and Western selections. Outlets will keep their offerings fresh and current, changing them based on what patrons want. The look and feel of the space itself has been specially designed including an all-purpose VIP Business Room and a terrace bar with spectacular views of Colombo. Food Studios second opening will be at Shangri-Las One Mall in June 2019. Cooking up a dish for ones eyes and taste buds Tarini Pilapitiya talks to Chef Kenjiro Hatch Hashida who went from cleaning tables at his fathers restaurant to creating haute Japanese cuisine View(s): View(s): Chef Kenjiro Hatch Hashida loves looking at peoples faces when they eat his food. The celebrity chef is known for chatting up patrons and educating them about their meals. Chefs shouldnt be behind the counter, he states adding they should talk to the customers and try to learn what the customer wants. Operating behind the kitchen counter is Hatchs own personal hell he laughs. We meet Chef Hatch at the Shangri-La, Colombo on May 10, where hes making his first appearance in Sri Lanka, straight after a five-day stint in Sydney and 10 days in Indonesia. With only one chef to assist him here, Chef Hatch has brought the best seasonal produce with him along with his familys secret sauce. The sauce has 40 variations of which Hatch has brought three with him. On May 10 and 11, Colombo Supper Club diners were to be treated to an evening of Japanese haute dining, with a selection of family recipes that have been in the Hashida family for years, with Shangri-La Colombos Executive Chef, Paul Lenz, working alongside Chef Hatch. Chef Hatch was invited to Sri Lanka by founder of the Colombo Supper Club (CSC) Singaporean Naserah Tyebally. This will mark the first time I brought a Japanese chef of his stature to Colombo, she remarks. Its also her first partnership with Shangri-La. The idea behind this venture will be to allow people to have a personal relationship with the hands behind their food. A second generation celebrity chef from Tokyo, Chef Hatch (pronounced Haa-chi) is the son of Master Chef Tokyo Hashida from one of Japans legendary sushi restaurants Hashida Sushi. A graduate of Japans top culinary school LEcole Tsuji Tokoyo (Tsuji Culinary Institute) with more than two decades of experience, Chef Hatchs talents extend beyond the sushi counter. He has founded two clothing brands, one in his late 20s called Girluza and Pi, the other brand, a couple of months back teaming up with a friend Takeshi Nagashima. However his true passion lies in his sushi, which he repeatedly likens to a work of art. The youngest and only son in his family, he and his older sisters were forbidden from entering his fathers restaurant premises. When he was 12, his father gave him his first job in the restaurant cleaning tables. Asking his son whether he enjoyed his work, to which Hatch gave a ready Yes, his father gave him a permanent job doing menial labour around the restaurant. Gradually, Hatch was able to earn the skills of a sushi chef climbing his way up the ladder of his fathers business through hard work. Although under his fathers stern tutelage, Chef Hatch branched out founding Hashida Sushi, Singapore on the fourth floor of the leading shopping centre Mandarin Gallery. His work over the years has brought him many awards and accolades. Travelling is very important to me he shares, adding Its the best teacher of my craft as I can explore a countrys culture, history and people. When he was 25, Hatch informed his father that he didnt want a salary instead opting to spend his cheque on travelling and networking. The lessons I learnt from my father were very important to me, he says. These values have stayed with him throughout his career. At a young age my father taught me the importance of quality over quantity. The creation and idea behind my food is what makes it upscale, he says adding Im technically charging diners based on my lifes work and skills. Catering allowed Hatch to network and learn from various people. He recalls catering for an event, surprised when his queue of around 60 people waiting to be served sushi, were suddenly enticed by the dainty macaroons of another chef, a stall away.Curiosity drove him to try his hand at the confection. I wanted to make my own version of macaroons, he stated adding that his are very soft and can be broken even with the back of a teaspoon! The process of making the recipe was a crazy time he laughs recalling how he sampled around 300 macaroons a week for a period of six months before finally creating a satisfactory recipe. Hatch now sells around 200 boxes of macaroons a week his Sakura macaroons and Hojich Tea Macaroon always in demand. Presenting food that is aesthetically pleasing is exceedingly important to him for he states People eat with their eyes, adding that social media is a result of this outcome. Moreover, the experience of eating Japanese cuisine starts with the eyes and ends with your taste buds Chef Hatch informs us adding that the experience of dining at a Hashida restaurant is like a show. Pamper yourself with Body Shop loyalty View(s): British beauty brand The Body Shop recently introduced its popular loyalty programme for customers in Sri Lanka. At a launch event at its Fairline building, Colpetty store, friends and fans of The Body Shop were introduced to the Love Your Body Programme, the exciting loyalty membership of the brand while being treated to the best of The Body Shops new offers, one-on-one skin care consultations and makeovers by trained beauty specialists. The Love Your Body programme offers reward points, earning opportunities and points redemptions to surprise gifts. The first of its kind by a beauty brand in Sri Lanka, it will allow access to exclusive member-only previews, and events as well as sneak peeks into new The Body Shop innovative, 100% vegetarian and animal cruelty free products. We are very excited to bring the Love Your Body Club member programme to Sri Lanka, says Sanjali Giri, General Manager for The Body Shop who was present at the event. There are two tiers of membership: Club and Friend tier. Club tier offers exceptional benefits, for an annual membership fee. In addition to an instant 10% off welcome reward on full price products, members get to accumulate rewards points, birthday discounts, and are eligible for special members-only promotions and events. Customers can enrol for the Love Your Body Friend Membership with any purchase made at The Body Shop stand-alone stores in Sri Lanka. Members will be entitled to a free Club membership upgrade on certain accumulated annual purchases. Guests at the launch. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara Sri Lanka from different angles 15 members of the Photography Society of Sri Lanka (PSSL) will showcase their work in Tokyo View(s): View(s): Capturing the melting pot of cultures that makes up Sri Lanka, 15 photographers from the Photography Society of Sri Lanka (PSSL) have been invited by the Photographic Society of Japan (PSJ) to collaborate with them on their project Month of Photography Tokyo -2018. The annual exhibition will showcase the works of international photographers under the category Asia Photographers, celebrating their craft in four galleries in and around Japan during the months of May/ June. Titled The Sacred & Beautiful Island Sri Lanka , the exhibition will feature on the work of 15 selected photographers Henry Rajakaruna, Panduka De Silva, Ravi Ranasinghe, Shehan Trek, Pandula Bandara, Sameera Kotelawala, R. H. Samarakone, Ranjani Perera, Chandrasena Perera, Inoka Dias, Nayomi Thomas, Hiranthi De Silva, Mahinda Jeevananda, Marcel Bandaranaike and Mohan Gurusinghe. Their pictures will highlight the many aspects of the country from its people, their lifestyles, religions, culture, infrastructure etc. On May 29 to June 26 Henry Rajakaruna, Panduka De Silva, Ravi Ranasinghe and Shehan Trek will be displaying their work at the Canon S Gallery in Tokyo. The Nikon, Gallery 1 will feature works by Mahinda Jeevananda, Hiranthi De Silva, Mohan Gurusinghe and Marcel Bandaranaike from May 29 to June 4. R. H. Samarakone, Pandula Bandara, Ranjani Perera and Sameera Kotelawala will exhibit their pictures from June 1 to June 7 at the Sony Gallery whilst Chandrasena Perera, Inoka Dias and Nayomi Thomas will present their work from May 28 to June 3 at the Place M Gallery. Five members of the PSSL along with its President Romesh De Silva and Vice President Shamini Atukorala will visit Japan to be a part of the opening ceremony and deliver talks at the galleries. Dating back to 1906, the Photographic Society of Sri Lanka has enjoyed a rich history of capturing moments promoting photography as a hobby, art and craft. Founded as the Amateur Photographic Association of Ceylon by Henry Lorenz Wendt, the society was renamed and revamped by Lionel Wendt who further developed the work initiated by his late father. To date the society continues to thrive conducting competitions, programmes and activities to keep their members engaged. One of the societys much awaited events on their calendar is their annual international competition which will be celebrating its 63rd anniversary this year. The invitation to attend the PSJ exhibition was extended last year, the PSSL sent in submissions by 15 members only to be pleasantly surprised that all 15 were chosen to exhibit their work. Speaking to the current president of the society Romesh De Silva on the pictures submitted he shares The pictures look like realistic paintings! He elaborates that although the invited photographers are professionals in their craft, photography is a hobby for most. The members of PSSL who come from all walks of life have dipped their fingers into a variety of professions and skills thus allowing them to capture realistic images of Sri Lanka as they themselves are a reflection of the melting pot of identities in our country. The serenity of the pictures can be seen from the softness of the captured subjects Romesh states adding that the friendliness of the people, the power of religion, the beauty of nature are just flavours of the country which these photographers have managed to capture on film. TP Stepping out to a wider dance platform By Tera Jayewardene View(s): View(s): Rangi Fernando will be soon taking wing to take part in the American Dance Festival this June. Rangi is the principal dancer and the most senior member of the Mesh Dance Academy, the contemporary dance school that Umeshi Rajeendra started in 2015 and will be the second Sri Lankan to attend the Festival. She will be joining more than 400 modern dance students, teachers, choreographers and performers from around the world in Durham, North Carolina where the American Dance Festival is taking place. The American Dance Festival is one of the leading dance festivals in the field of modern and contemporary dance and has a five-week-long training period where Rangi will be taking classes of her choice while auditioning to work under different choreographers. Umeshi went through the same course when studying dance at Denison University, and was the first Sri Lankan to be invited as an International Choreographer in Residency in 2016. During my time as a student and as an International Choreographer in Residency, I built a relationship with ADFs director Jodee. We both felt the best way to start is through a pilot period whereby Mesh will send one or two students each year for three years to experience the training and be inspired by it. I felt Rangi was the strongest candidate, says Umeshi. Jodee Nimerichter, director of the American Dance Festival, talks about the relationship between the American Dance Festival and Mesh Academy. ADF has formed a wonderful partnership with Umeshi that allows dancers from Sri Lanka to come be part of the international community of dance at the festival. The training and exposure that these dancers receive during six weeks provides them with incredible knowledge and resources to take back and share with others at home. Rangi has been dancing for 20 years. She started when she was seven with Kandyan dancing before moving on to LatinAmerican and joined the Mesh Academy of Dance when it was created in 2015. In addition, she has three years of contemporary dance experience as well as pre-professional training. A business entrepreneur at MAS Holdings she is actively involved with dance related internal competitions and often judges and helps out with the organizing. I was able to receive training in contemporary dancing because of Mesh Academy, she says adding that she is extremely grateful to Umeshi for this opportunity and feels incredibly privileged to be able to be a part of the festival. She is also thankful to MAS for their continued support and is looking forward to learning more and different styles of dancing as well as sharing what she has learnt with her peers. Trigeminal neuralgia: Taking the shooting pain away By Kumudini Hettiarachchi View(s): View(s): Unbearable and excruciatingit comes in sudden waves, leaving the person grimacing in agony. Just as it comes, it will leave, but the very fear of recurrence is debilitating. The descriptions vary like a lance hitting the face; sharp and shooting; and as if an electric shock has struck the jaw. It is Trigeminal neuralgia (TN). For 20 long years, H.D. Patrick, an electrician, living in Battaramulla had to live with it. From one doctor to another he went but to no avail. Uhulanna beri, ivasanna beri, amaruvak thibbe. Dath kekkumata wediya daha gunayak wedei, he says, explaining that it was unbearable and 10 times more than a toothache. The pain was on the right side of his face, above the nose and below the eye. He could not eat, taking blended food and he could hardly talk. Some doctors gave him tablets and he would carry them in his wallet and pop them every four hours. He also kept the alarm every night and swallowed tablets four-hourly. Four years ago, two doctors suggested that he see Consultant Neurosurgeon Dr. Jayantha Liyanage who reassured himBaya wenna epa. Mama operation ekak karannam. (Dont be frightened. I will perform an operation.) More women than men are hit by this devastating pain, MediScene learns and to find out what this ailment which is murmured about fearfully, we sought out Dr. Liyanage whose skill and technique have helped provide relief to many. TN is one of the most or even the most agonizing pain a person can suffer, says Dr. Liyanage, explaining that this lancinating type of severe pain affects one side of the face. Painkillers hariyanne ne, is his verdict, as he says that initially, the pain may be trivial or feel like a numbness of the face, progressing to extreme severity, very quickly. The sufferer, because of the severity, duration and frequency of the pain, feels that life is not worth living, according to Dr. Liyanage. In its wake will follow severe anxiety, affecting even the persons hygiene, work and life. In almost all cases the cause is obscure, he points out, with the pain generating from the 5th(trigeminal nerve) of the 12 cranial nerves. This is one of the most widely-distributed nerves in the head. Looking closely at the trigeminal nerve, this Neurosurgeon says that it has three branches that conduct sensations from the upper, middle and lower portions of the face and the oral cavity, to the brain. The three branches of the trigeminal nerve are: Upper or ophthalmic branch supplying sensation to most of the scalp, forehead and front of the head. Middle or maxillary branch stimulating the cheek, upper jaw, top lip, teeth and gums and also the side of the nose. Lower or mandibular branch supplying nerves to the lower jaw, teeth and gums and bottom lip. More than one nerve branch can be affected by the disorder, MediScene learns. Dr. Liyanage says that the contributory factors are unknown, but there is an assumption that it could be due to neuronal damage caused by the vascular loop as the nerve emerges from the brain stem (pons). This could be affecting nerve conduction, propagating severe pain. The prevalence is about 4 cases per 100,000, in those above 40, with a female preponderance. Commonly, the maxillary and mandibular branches of the trigeminal nerve are affected, with the pain pattern being stereotypical (having a sameness) and lasting year after year, making the patients life miserable, he says. The clinical picture depends on symptoms, as there are no neurological abnormalities. Diagnostic scans, even Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) show nothing, with serological tests being negative. The pain is paroxysmal (on one side) and comes about without any provocation. The triggers include simple and routine actions such as talking, brushing of teeth, shaving, eating or drinking cold stuff or even exposure to wind, MediScene understands. Dr. Liyanage explains that the clinical presentation is sensitivity in the trigger-zones which is a small area of the face, where a light touch can set off the pain. The trigger zones are around the mouth and the chin and just beyond the brow. The criteria for diagnosis of TN are: Paroxysmal attack of pain, lasting seconds to about two minutes, with or without the presence of aching in-between. The pain being intense, sharp and stabbing and superficial. We take down the history and perform a thorough intraoral examination which includes orthodontic (by referring to a Dental Surgeon) and non-orthodontic examinations, he says, adding that there is also meticulous examination of the cranial nerves 5, 7 and 8, with the doctors ordering a CT scan and MRI to exclude growths adjacent to the trigeminal nerve. Cranial nerve 5 sensation, corneal reflex and ability to chew will be checked. Cranial nerve 7 musculature of face will be checked by closure of eye, taking mouth to a side and getting the person to blow out air. Cranial nerve 8 hearing will be checked. For Mr. Patrick there is no more pain and there is no carrying of tablets around. Nearly four years ago, on October 23, 2014 he underwent microvascular decompression. Devi kenek wage, is his compliment to Dr. Liyanage for dispelling the pain and the grimacing and paving the way for him to smile again. The best option There are two ways of dealing with trigeminal neuralgia, MediScene learns. The two options are pharmacological or surgical.n Pharmacological therapy Two sets of medications are prescribed, with each set consisting of three medications taken orally. The first set comprises carbamazepine, baclofen and lamotrigine and the second clonazepam, gabapentin and topiramate. Sometimes a cocktail (mix) of these drugs are given.n Surgical option This has three methods: the minimally-invasive percutaneous stereotactic radiofrequency lesioning (RFL) of the trigeminal ganglion; gamma-knife radiation of the trigeminal route; and microvascular decompression (MVD) through posterior fossa approach. The latter is to relieve abnormal compression of a cranial nerve. Stressing that pharmacological therapy has its limitations due to recurrence, side-effects caused by taking medications long-term and high expense for the patient in buying the drugs, Dr. Jayantha Liyanage points out that the surgical option is better and tolerated well. However, in the surgical option, the gamma-knife radiation is not available in Sri Lanka, while the minimally-invasive RFL does not address the cause, as such with a high chance of pain-recurrence. Dr. Liyange says that MVD, meanwhile, addresses the cause of the pain and brings about a cure. He speaks with evidence in hand, having performed MVD on 15 patients, with even the first patient, H.D. Patrick, who underwent this procedure four years ago having no recurrence of pain. MVD: Step-by-step explanation Consultant Neurosurgeon Dr. Jayantha Liyanage performs microvascular decompression (MVD), with the patient undergoing the procedure sitting up and not lying down. Then identification of deep structures is easy, there is less refraction and bleeding is minimal, he says. Here is a step-by-step explanation from this Neurosurgeon how he performs this operation: The patient is placed under general anaesthesia with intubation. With the patient being kept seated up, the neck is rotated towards the side of the lesion. The field of surgery is marked and the other areas are covered with drapes. A prophylactic dose of antibiotics is administered. Anaesthetic parameters are thoroughly observed. A scalp incision is made behind the ear (sub-occipital) of the affected side. A small craniotomy (surgical removal of part of the bone from the skull to expose the brain) is performed. The bone flap is removed temporarily and replaced after the procedure is concluded. With the exposure of the dura of the brain (the thick membrane that surrounds the brain), the buddy-halo retractor is put into place to keep the axis in the deep structures of the posterior fossa (a small space in the skull, found near the brain stem and cerebellum). Thereafter, the 7th nerve is identified and secured and the arachnoid (the delicate middle membrane of the three membranes covering the brain) opened up. This is to unearth the trigeminal nerve emerging from the pons (a structure in the upper part of the brain stem) and entering the ganglion (nerve cell cluster) as well as the vascular loop (a branch of the superior cerebellar artery) impinging on the nerve route.Then the artery is dissected carefully, keeping a close eye on the perforators (small blood vessels) to avoid damage. The vascular loop which is impinging on the trigeminal nerve is then separated from the nerve. The space so created is secured with a synthetic fabric such as talfar or gel-foam. To prevent vascular spasms, the area is infiltrated with papaverine. After performing haemostasis (stoppage of blood flow), there is routine closure. The surgery takes about four hours. Allegations of tender fixing mar Central Banks CCTV move By Namini Wijedasa View(s): View(s): A tender for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of an internet protocol (IP) closed-circuit television (CCTV) system for the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) is being challenged on the grounds that the bid consultant has designed the prequalification criteria to tilt the contract in favour of a pre-selected entity. In a letter to the CBSLs Director Facilities Management Department, Akro (Pvt) Ltdwhich has done maintenance of the Banks CCTV system for a decadehas complained that guidelines for the relevant tender, drafted by a private consultant, are discriminatory and inconsistent with the overall objective of the desired services. The criteria, it believes, have been designed to eliminate specifically dedicated commercial entities from competing on an equal platform and instead grant the tender to a selected entity upon elimination of a viable competitor, the letter said. Many Sri Lankan commercial entities which possess the required technical knowledge, product skill and expertise are immediately disqualified as a result. One condition to qualify for the tender is that the applicant shall, at a minimum, have an average turnover as prime contractors (defined as billing for works in progress and completed) over the past five years of Rs 100 million a year. Another is that the applicant shall have successful experience as prime contractor in the execution of at least three projects of value not less than Rs 20 million each, within the same premises during the last five years. Commercial entities with specific and focused business models catering to the services and products of the impending tender with precision are made completely redundant as a result of this criterion, the complainant points out. Accordingly, we write to raise strong objection to the criterion provided for in the document and seek immediate review of the same, Akro appeals. It calls for an equal platform to be given to both large entities and emerging businesses to compete on an equal footing, on the basis of the quality of the products and services, rather than the arbitrarily imposed financial barriers to deter potential bidders. The tender involves, among other things, the supply and installation/replacement of approximately 250 IP-based CCTV cameras. Prequalification was open only to local contractors and firms. Attempts to smuggle out US$ 208,000: Finance Ministry keeps file View(s): The Finance Ministry has retained the Customs file containing evidence on the November arrest of Jaya Sudhir Jayaram, a Malaysian businessman, who was attempting to smuggle foreign currency out of the country, authoritative sources said. US dollar notes amounting to US$ 50,000 were found in the hand luggage of Mr. Jayaram. Two others also had US$ 50,000 each in their possession while the fourth carried US$ 58,000. This is a total of US$ 208,000 or Rs 31.8 million. A file containing evidence against the suspects (including messages of them canvassing powerful political personalities to have them released) was taken from the custody of the relevant Customs officials by the Director General of Customs, the sources said. It was then sent to the Ministry of Finance on request. It has still not been returned to the Department of Customs for further action. Neither have the relevant Customs officers been paid their rewards for the sizeable detection. The suspects are now trying to influence the authorities in Sri Lanka to have the moneywhich was confiscatedreturned to them, the sources claimed. It was not immediately clear who was blocking the investigation from proceeding or punitive action from being taken. Mr Jayaram had claimed the money was the proceeds of a win at a popular casino in Colombo. However, he could not offer documentary evidence of this claim. The group was allowed to leave on payment of a fine of Rs 400,000 (Rs 100,000 each) while the currency was forfeited. The Customs detection took place on November 10 last year. Due to substantial political pressure, Mr Jayaram was released without penalty, reliable BIA sources said. He left the country (for Kuala Lumpur) shortly after his detentionbefore an inquiry could be conductedafter handing over the US$ 50,000 that had been in his possession to one of the other suspects. He has given a guarantee that he will return for an inquiry when it is scheduled. The inquiry into non-declaration of currency by two other suspects (who were detained at the gate) was held on the same day. They were fined Rs 200,000 each and released. The undeclared currency was forfeited. The inquiry into the actions of the fourth suspect was postponed till November 23. All three left for Kuala Lumpur in the night of the same day. Mr Jayaram was released in the morning. Neither Mr Jayaram nor the fourth suspect honoured their word by presenting themselves for the subsequent Customs inquiry, the Sunday Times reliably learns. The proceedings were, therefore, conducted ex-parte. The undeclared currency was forfeited with no penalty imposed. The offence the group was booked on is non-declaration of currency. Under regulations, anyone taking more than US$ 10,000 in any form of foreign currency, including notes, bank drafts or travel cards, must declare it to Sri Lanka Customs. Anyone taking currency notes of more than US$ 5,000 must also declare it. Brace for month of monsoon mayhem By Nadia Fazlulhaq View(s): View(s): Weather extremes ranging from high-intensity rainfall triggering flash floods, landslides and rock-falls, lightning strikes, sea surges and gusty winds toppling trees are expected as experts warn of the coming days causing mayhem in highly-populated districts. The Disaster Management Ministry is making swift preparations to face the oncoming south-west monsoon that is to strike the Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha, Kandy, Puttalam and Badulla districts. Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Deputy Director (Early Warning) Pradeep Kodippilli said the DMC had organised an emergency preparedness and coordination meeting over possible flash floods in urban areas and landslides in the hill country. The discussions on the monsoons intensity, potential impact and response preparedness involved stakeholders such as the DMC, district secretariats, the Meteorology Department, National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), Electricity Board, Fisheries Minsitry, the armed forces and the police. Disasters triggered by monsoonal rains last year claimed 219 lives and caused more than Rs.70 billion in damage from floods and landslides. In 2016, 93 people lost their lives and the damages amounted to Rs. 99 billion. Disaster Management Minister Duminda Dissanayake said this week that authorities had been instructed to immediately clear drains and canals, cut down trees and branches that can cause risk to lives and property, and to be prepared for the early evacuation of people settled in high-risk hill areas and river banks. The minister said Disaster Management Units were equipped with boats and lifesaving jackets and arrangements had been made to provide prepared food and dry rations in case of emergency. He said temporary shelters had also been identified. According to the Meteorology Department, the present showery weather is a mix of the tail-end of the inter-monsoon (evening thundershowers), the beginning of the south-west monsoon (heavy rain to the south-western parts of the country and the central hills) and atmospheric disturbances in the Indian Ocean. Director (Forecasting) Anusha Warnasooriya said the current conditions would affect all parts of the country, with heavy rainfall of about 100mm expected in the Western, Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva and North-Western provinces and in the Ampara, Batticaloa, Galle and Matara districts. Motorists are advised to be cautious in misty conditions expected in the Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces during the mornings. Coastal areas, especially in the south and west, will experience sea surges. Very strong gusty winds upto 70-80 kmph and rough seas can be expected during thundershowers, the Meteorology Department warned. This condition will last a few days. However, we are expecting the full onset of the south-west monsoon by Tuesday (May 22). This monsoon is accompanied by heavy rains to south-west parts of the country, the department said. Fishermen and Navy personeel are advised to take precautions in the rough seas expected. The NBRO sent out early warnings, asking the public to be watchful about the possibility of landslides, slope failures, rock falls, and ground subsidence. All mountainous areas, man-made cut slopes and roads within the Passara, Lunugala, Badulla, Hali Ela, Bandarawela, Ella, Haputale and Haldummulla divisional secretariat divisions and surrounding areas are at risk, the warning stated. NBRO Director of the Landslide Research and Risk Management Division, R.M.S. Bandara, warned about travel in these high-risk areas, especially during evenings when showers are heavy. The NBRO is working 24/7 and will immediately announce evacuation and road closures if heavy rainfall is reported in high-risk areas and there is a risk for those living in the areas and motorists, Mr. Bandara said. Heavy rains on May 12 resulted in 1920 families being displaced in Galle, District Secretary Pradeep Ratnayake said. The Kadawathsathara, Akmeemana, Bope, Poddala and Balapitiya areas in Galle have suffered damage from the intense rains, with more than 150 houses damaged from rock falls. Passara, Welimada, Haputale and Haldumulla were severely hit by landslides with more than 500 people affected and about 75 houses damaged. Displaced families and families from risk areas are settled in the Galkanda and Bandaraeliya Tamil schools. Kandy recorded incidents of damage from strong winds, flash flood, high wind, lightning and heavy rains in Pathadumbara, Gangawatakorale, Harispattuwa, Minipe, Pasbage Korale, Pathahewaheta, Yatinuwara,Udapalatha, Medadumbara, Deltota and Udunuwara, with more than 93 families affected, and a death reported from Pasbage Korale. In Eheliyagoda, Ratnapura a rock-fall was reported, and nine families in a high-risk area were rehoused in temporary shelters. In the Kalutara district, Panadura experienced heavy rains with 157 families affected. Galewela in Matale district experienced flash floods last week while earlier this month several families from Naaula were affected by strong winds and heavy showers. There were flash floods from heavy rains in Siyambalanduwa in the Moneragala district. Very heavy rain in the Kegalle district caused incidents of trees falling, flash floods, lightning strikes, strong winds in Mawanella Yatiyantota, Galigamuwa, Bulathkohupitiya, Dehiowita, Deraniyagala and Warakapola. Police reported five deaths from lightning this month in Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Minneriya, Kantale and Kurunegala. A number of spill gates were also opened last week, with warnings sent to people living downstream. Professor S.A. Norbert of Colombo Universitys Department of Geography said the damage from the south-west monsoon is severe as it affects the countrys most populated districts. The past 3-5 weeks had extreme warm weather, and it is possible to have high-intensity rains just after warm weather. This phenomena can induce flash floods, especially in the south-western part of the country, said Prof. Norbert, who added that global warming will have an added impact on extreme weather changes. He said local authorities should look into drainage systems to prevent floods in cities caused by intense rainfall. The south-western winds come from the vast Indian Ocean and the moisture-laden clouds travel to the central hills and release vast amounts of water. This will result in raised water levels in inland water reserves, he added. Govt. to amend KDU Act to absorb 982 SAITM undergrads By Abdullah Shahnawaz Terms & Conditions governing KDU intake of SAITM undergrads still to be resolved View(s): View(s): The Government is to effect amendments to the existing Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Act (1981), to enable the 982 SAITM students to be absorbed into the KDU. This will be put forward at the next Cabinet meeting on Tuesday (22), Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe told the Sunday Times. Meanwhile, SAITM students are concerned by the Governments failure to inform them on the progress, in response to their queries. SAITM Student Action Committee Secretary Chathushka Rambukwella said that while they were happy that something was finally happening and a Cabinet paper to absorb them into the KDU was approved, there were other things they needed to clarify, including but not limited to, when the proposed solution would materialise. The approval of a Cabinet paper is not the end of our problems. And now, there is a new Cabinet paper to amend the KDU Act. Maybe this is the Legal procedure, but it is the Governments responsibility to let us know exactly what is going on. So far, what we know is through the media and other third party sources, said Mr Rambukwella. He said the students had many questions that needed clarifying from the Government and other authorities. Our main concern is to have a definite answer from the Government, on when the solution would be implemented, he said. Also of concern to the students is that of payment. Mr. Rambukwella said it would be unfair to expect the students who have paid their fees in full to SAITM, to pay again. Ten of the 14 batches have already paid their fees in full. The Government hasnt told us anything about what happens to such students. We hope to discuss this as well as some terms and conditions regarding our admission to the KDU, for which, so far, we havent been able to schedule an appointment with any official. Another issue concerns the two batches that have already graduated. SAITM Medical Graduates Association Co-Convener Tharindu Ruwanpathirana said the Government hadnt specified anything regarding the two batches that have finished their course of study. Our case is different from the undergraduates and should be looked at separately. Our main demand is that we receive provisional registration from the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) and thus be able to start our internship and practise as house doctors, said Mr Ruwanpathirana. He said they had spent 9 years on their MBBS and, if nothing was done before November, (the next internship intake) it would be 10 years. This is a crime, he said. We received our Degrees from a University Grants Commission recognised Degree-awarding institute but, because its not recognised by the SLMC, we cant start our internship. He said the Government had to tell them whether they would be receiving an MBBS (KDU) instead, to replace the existing one from SAITM and, if they had to sit another exam in order to obtain one. We are willing to take a test, if they want to determine our qualifications, but asking us to prepare and sit for another final exam would be a waste our time. We need to make it for this Novembers internship intake. Minister Rajapakshe told the Sunday Times that these were not the most important things at the moment and that, he would provide answers for them once the KDU Act was amended. HRCSL painstakingly vets 204 troops for UN peacekeeping By Namini Wijedasa View(s): View(s): The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka is now vetting a list of 204 military personnel nominated by the Sri Lanka Army for UN peacekeeping missions. This includes a contingent of 49 sent to Lebanon in February without review by the Commission, which hadnt been told these officers were required to be released early. Sri Lankas deployment of soldiers to the United National Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) without vetting was raised again by journalists at the UN headquarters in New York this week. It was last brought up in April. A journalist questioned the Secretary-Generals Deputy Spokesman about a long, outstanding issue raised to DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations] about Sri Lankans that were sent un-vetted by the Government to Lebanon and another commander that was sent to one of the missions in Africa. The HRCSL was conducting an additional tier of vetting for 49 Sri Lankan officers who have already been deployed to UNIFIL, he replied. The Commission is also undertaking the vetting of the remaining 101 military personnel who are scheduled to be deployed, he said. We are working together with the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure that the screening arrangements with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka comply with UN policy, he said. Compliance with these arrangements will be required before the UN can receive any further deployments or rotations from Sri Lanka. HRCSL Chairperson Deepika Udagama said, however, that she did not know what was meant by an additional tierwhen the 49 military personnel had not been vetted to begin with. There is no additional tier because there was never any vetting done before they left and the vetting is being done only now, Dr Udagama told the Sunday Times. It was not immediately clear whether anyone found unsuitable would be recalled. The Chairperson also said the Commission had only undertaken to carry out this process at the invitation of the Sri Lankan Government because we felt we add value by giving credibility to the contingents from Sri Lanka and that, by the HRCSL providing a thorough vetting within a proper structure would encourage the members of the tri-forces and police to be professional and compliant with standards. All UN Member States that nominate or provide personnel to serve with the UN must screen and certify that such personnel have not committed, or are alleged to have committed, criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. Those who seek to serve with the UN must attest the same and, where necessary, provide relevant information. The processes by which this can be done are outlined in Decision 2012/18 of the UN Secretary-Generals Policy Committee. According to the UN, Sri Lanka is the first nation to be granted the opportunity to vet military personnel for peacekeeping operations by a national Human Rights Commission. But despite the Army agreeing to clear itsnominees through the HRCSL, one group was despatched to Lebanon without scrutiny. We are still trying to figure out how the DPKO deployed them, Dr Udagama said. They are the final arbiters. It is learnt that the DPKO is in direct contact, not with the HRCSL, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The 204 names are the first to be submitted for vetting since it was agreed in June 2016 between the Sri Lanka Government, the UN and the HRCSL that the Commission will review the records of military personnel to be deployed on peacekeeping operations. The HRCSL, since starting the process, has struggled to get specific input needed for thorough vetting from the military regarding personnel nominated for missions. For instance, required information it sought regarding the group of 204, including the ones that were sent to Lebanon, only came in the middle of April. However, the Commission does have a mechanism in place to conduct the vettingprovided the necessary information is given, she said. HRCSL had been accused of delaying the process but it is a painstaking task. To do the type of vetting anticipated and from an objective point of view, we need comprehensive information and time, she said. If the wrong personnel are cleared, the Commission will have to bear the brunt of it. Immigration officers threaten work-to-rule repeat if demands unresolved By Sandun Jayawardana View(s): View(s): Immigration officers warned they are prepared to resume their work-to-rule campaign next week, if the Government fails to follow through on its guarantee to address their grievances by Tuesday (22). Sri Lanka Immigration & Emigration Officers Association (SLIEOA) President Aruna Kanugala told the Sunday Times, they called off their work-to-rule campaign on Friday (18), following talks with the subject Minister of Internal Affairs & Wayamba Development S.B. Nawinne. The Minister promised to present a proposal to Cabinet on Tuesday, regarding our demands, and get it approved. We temporarily called off our trade union action based on this guarantee, Mr Kanugala explained. The 3 key demands made by the SLIEOA are the establishment of a Service Minute for the Immigration & Emigration Service, reinstatement of the Departmental Prosecution Unit and to attach Immigration & Emigration officers to Missions abroad. Pointing out that the SLIEOA has been silently pushing authorities on these issues for 20 years, the SLIEOA President said they had finally been shoved into serious trade union action, as the demands had been repeatedly ignored. He pointed out that the SLIEOA also gave time to a 5-member committee appointed by the Prime Minister in January, to resolve their service issues, but to no avail. We are now prepared to continue with our work-to-rule campaign next week, should the Government go back on its word to finally resolve these issues, he insisted. The SLIEOA launched a work-to-rule campaign midnight Thursday, causing travel chaos at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), with long delays experienced at the airports Departure Terminal. State carrier SriLankan Airlines was forced to urge all departing passengers to arrive at the BIA at least 3 hours prior to departure time, in order to minimise delays. While the Government was serious on granting the demands of the Immigration officers, delays at various Government Depts which must coordinate on the issues, was why a solution was not found, Minister Nawinne said. We can minimise these delays once we obtain approval from Cabinet. Im not saying these demands can be granted overnight, but once it becomes official Government policy, things will move a lot more smoothly, he opined. Jeremy Corbyn labours for minority vote by flogging Tamil cause By Neville de Silva in London View(s): View(s): Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn and big beasts of the party threw their weight behind the Tamil community saying that crimes against the Tamils is still going on in Sri Lanka. At a meeting held in the House of Commons, to commemorate a series of events connected with crimes against the Tamils, Corbyn promised to make human rights and international justice the centre piece of foreign policy in any future Labour government, that would help further the Tamil cause. He stressed, the party would back the right of the Tamil people to self determination and agreed with the Tamils for Labour agenda, that included an international judicial mechanism to bring to justice those guilty of war crimes and other violations of international law. The much-hyped, new look Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn that was supposed to swamp the tattered Conservative Government under Theresa May, after its earlier showing at the last general elections here, has not materialised. Labour made few gains in the May 3 Local Government elections even in London. While Labour has consistently supported the Tamil community and hoped to garner the minority vote, especially in electorates considered marginal, the local elections showed that the Corbyn phenomenon which threatened to overwhelm the heavily bruised Tories, since David Camerons resignation three years ago, has waned even among Labour supporters, because his old -style leftism has not endeared him to moderate Labourites. So he wants to rally minority support. The chances of Labour coming to power, to implement its proposed foreign policy, seems slim at the moment, unless the Tories make a hash of things in the coming months. Megapolis Ministry dumps WB loan for Puttalam garbage project By Namini Wijedasa View(s): View(s): The World Bank (WB) and the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development this week split hairs over the ministrys decision not to take WB funding for a sanitary landfill at Aruwakkalu in Puttalam. Issues regarding the project procurement process were first highlighted by the Sunday Times in January this year. China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) won the US$ 100.9 million (LKR 15.64 billion) contract which includes building transfer stations at Kelaniya and Aruwakkalu and railway connectivity lines. The deal was signed in December last year. But losing bidder M/s Kolon-Hansol-KECC, a joint venture from South Korea, complained to the Procurement Appeal Board (PAB) saying CHEC had not met the mandatory criteria to be eligible for consideration. It said the bidder must either have landfill design experience or submit its application with a joint partner who had such expertise. Kolon-Hansol-KECC also said CHEC had not provided documentary evidence of its eligibility and qualifications to perform the contract, no joint venture agreement or letter of intent to enter into such agreement, and no bid security or bid security declaration. All were mandatory requirements. The PAB found merit in the appeal and declared that both CHEC and Kolon-Hansol KECC had not fulfilled conditions in the bid document. It observed, however, that three out of five other rejected parties had met mandatory requirements but were struck off on not fulfilling lesser critical areas such as not giving full details of personnel, equipment, subcontractors and manufacturers, etc. The PAB recommended opening the other five financial proposals; obtaining required clarifications from all bidders; and allowing the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (SCAPC) to negotiate with the bidders who met the essential specifications with the objective of obtaining a realistic offer, to ensure a tenderer is found within the acceptable cost range. Yet the Government proceeded with awarding the contract to CHEC (after opening the financial bids of the rejected parties, as advised). The company had qualified because it submitted a letter of intent to form a consortium with the Designer, Southwest Municipal Engineering Design and Research Institute of China (SMEDRIC), a spokesman maintained. No negotiations were conducted with the failed bidders as their overall responsiveness was below the acceptable level. The PAB has the right to submit its opinion based on its own analysis, the spokesman pointed out. However, in the case of this procurement, the responsiveness of the bid submitted by CHEC was clearly established giving sufficient clarifications. It has now emerged that the WBwhich had offered funding of US$115 million towards the solid waste management projecthad also raised concerns. The two sides had discussed the loan, the WB said in a statement. It was agreed that the Government would proceed with procurement. The Bank would reimburse payments so long as the procurement processes followed by both GoSL and World Bank procurement rules and the selected contractor met all technical, social and environmental requirements. The GoSL considered these requirements and has decided to use its own funding to finance the urgently needed landfill contract, the Bank also said, in response to a query from the Sunday Times. The proposed loan was not yet submitted to the World Bank for consideration and, therefore, there is no loan cancellation by the World Bank. The ministry maintained this week that the Government has not taken any decision not to use the World Bank loan for the project. But the sanitary landfill is being funded by the Government using consolidated funds disbursed through the ministry, a spokesman also said. The project is expected to be finished by November next year. The World Bank had flagged issues about procurement, he confirmed, but indicated that it was over the opening of the financial bids of technically nonqualified bidders during the procurement process before award of the contractwhich was done on PAB counsel. The ministry said the WB wanted to complete all environmental and social requirements before starting any operations on the ground. However, it was an almost impossible and difficult task since the ministry had already started its initials work with determined target of completing the project within a span of 18 months, the spokesman asserted. (The project was originally planned for three years but expedited after the Meethotamulla tragedy). This is not to say the ministry wanted to avert social and environmental considerations, he insisted. But these are usually fulfilled in parallel with implementation. The project involves loading municipal solid waste into sealed containers to be transported by rail to a sanitary landfill in Aruwakkalu. No greater sacrifice than this View(s): We enjoy peace today because of the sacrifices the war heroes made during the 30-year war. As the nation remembered them yesterday in ceremonies to mark the ninth anniversary of the defeat of the separatist rebels, a proud mother sits in silent contemplation at the foot of the memorial for the fallen soldiers at Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte. Pic by Indika Handuwala. Reparations Bill ready, compensation for war-affected people Details of draft kept secret till RTI was put to use View(s): View(s): The Cabinet approved the draft Reparations Bill setting up the Office of Reparations is now in the final stages of drafting. The proposed law will enable all Sri Lankan citizens, including families of Police and Security Forces, civilians in what were known as border villages, and the north and east and elsewhere in the country to submit claims for compensation if they were affected by the three decade long northern insurgency. The Bill was approved by the Cabinet on March 6 this year following a proposal tabled by Prime Minister and National Policies and Economic Affairs Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Instructions have been given to the Legal Draftsman to finalise the legislation based on the draft. This was a signal announcement made by the Government at the thirty seventh session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in late March, even though details of the Bill and what had been proposed were not made available to the public thereafter. The draft Bill with the relevant Cabinet Memorandum was this week released by the Prime Ministers Office to the Right to Information Commission (RTIC) following an RTI application filed by a Mannar-based activist Shreen Sarror. The activist asked for copies of proposals, draft legislation, concept notes and documentation relevant to commitments made by the Government of Sri Lanka in the United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 30/1. The draft Bill proposes that the Office for Reparations is to be a situated in Colombo, and will consist of five members appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Constitution Council and responsible to Parliament. Provision has been made for the functioning of regional, temporary or mobile offices as may be necessary to ensure that reparations are accessible to victims and their relatives. In terms of the powers of the Office, the Bill proposes that the Office is empowered to receive recommendations as to reparations from the Office of Missing Persons and to receive claims from victims of serious human rights violations for monetary and non-monetary reparations, to verify the authenticity of the claims and assess eligibility. The Office has also been enabled to formulate and recommend Reparations Policies to the Cabinet on the basis of individual and collective reparations including the criteria for eligibility, the form and quantum of reparations and the prioritising of the claims. It is provided that in formulating these Policies, consultations should be conducted with the victims and that the Policies should be non-discriminatory, victim centered and fair. The term victim has been defined to include a person who has suffered a serious violation of human rights or humanitarian law as a result of the conflict in the North and East or its aftermath, in connection with political unrest or civil disturbances or in the course of systemic, gross violations of the rights of individuals, groups or communities of the people of Sri Lanka or due to an enforced disappearance. The Office has meanwhile been tasked to provide protection, with the assistance of law enforcement authorities, to victims or their relatives under threat. In addition, it has also been authorised to request and accept necessary assistance for the purpose of achieving its objectives from State, governmental, provincial or local agencies or from any other body or person. It is proposed that the Fund of the Office take over all funds presently lying to the credit of the Rehabilitation of Persons, Property and Industries Authority and will include all such sums as may be voted upon by Parliament and the money received from outside Sri Lanka channeled through the External Resource Department. The Bill also proposes offences in the form of contempt against the Office reportable to the Court of Appeal and states that any order, decision, act or omission of the Office or any member, officer or servant may be questioned in writ proceedings before the Court of Appeal or in fundamental rights challenges before the Supreme Court. Criminal and civil proceedings against those persons in respect of acts of good faith are barred. Dont make this paradise isle a hell for animals View(s): How does animal cruelty impact on the tourism industry of a nation? In some tourist resorts in Sri Lanka, there are cruel methods of dealing with stray dogs and cats. Tourist hotels are the latest addition to a list of public places like hospitals, state universities, parks and the streets, with the authorities claiming that stray animals are a nuisance and a rabies risk, and require removal for metropolis beautification. Many dogs have disappeared with eyewitness accounts of their brutal capture, but with no information of their fate. Dogs and cats have been found dead en masse; a few even buried alive.Most of these are animals sterilized, vaccinated against rabies and cared for by the community. Animal welfare campaigners frequently receive information of dogs and cats in some tourist hotel premises being killed,the most recent being at a hotel in Trincomalee. The common method of destruction is poisoning, where the animals die in agony. Hotel staff who care for these animals are helpless when the managements policy is elimination. Many tourists feed these animals and help to treat the sick or injured. Most tourists are fond of animals a hotel in Galle is frequented by cats only during the tourist season as the tourists do not stone them, but show affection. Horrified by the cruelty they see, some tourists vow never to return and share their traumatic experiences, discouraging others from visiting Sri Lanka. This is detrimental publicity for a nation reliant on the tourist industrys contribution to its economy and already receiving black marks for sexual and other assaults on tourists. As Diana Webster, attorney and travel industry business professional highlights in a report on The Economic Impact of Stray Cats and Dogs at Tourist Destinations on the Tourism Industry, For many tourists, encountering cats or dogs that are obviously strays, starving, sick, or suffering, while on vacation leaves a lasting negative impression. From recent research, we have learned that once tourists have such an experience, many are less likely to return to that destination and will also share the incident with friends, family members, colleagues, and on travel review sites. Some tourists even refuse to travel to certain destinations because they dont want to see stray cats and dogs suffering or have heard that the destination country controls stray populations through inhumane and brutal mass killings These tourists represent a substantial number of socially conscious consumers who may vote with their wallets to avoid seeing animals suffer, potentially impacting travel company profits and tourist destination economies in a big wayCompassion is a key driver in tourist choices and it makes both fiscal and ethical sense for tourism companies and destination governments to develop sterilization programs as a means of humanely curbing overpopulation. In Thailand, at Pattaya Citys World Dog Centre, rescued dogs entertain visitors to the beach resorts, while awareness is created on dog history, their intelligence and societal role and the importance of neutering them. Samui Palm Beach Resorts supports local dog rescue centres to keep strays healthy and safe as guests do notwant animals harmed. The TUI Group with its chain of animal-friendly hotels in over 30 countries recommends that, Its hotel partners put up feeding stations on the hotel grounds to ensure that they are properly fed and that they stay away from the restaurants. Hoteliers can qualify to display the animal-friendly hotel label if they meet certain criteria, including castration of all cats and dogs living on hotel premises, regular veterinary examination and vaccination of the animals, and cooperation with local animal welfare associations. Awareness raising among hotel guests encourages them to behave kindly to animals and only feed them at designated stations using appropriate animal feed. The Lemon Tree Hotel Companys 27 hotels in India has a delightful Pooch Policy. Anjali Nambissan narrates how within this policy, each hotel adopts a stray dog or two from the vicinity, gives them full board plus loads of love and even a job Vice Chairdog, Company Mascot or Senior Food Critic! As the Companys Sustainability Initiatives Vice President Aradhana Lal, says One would consider a hotel to be a place frequented by all types of people, with varying degrees of tolerance for the four-legged, but patrons are never bothered by these hospitable dogsWe receive a variety of guests at our hotels, each with different likes and dislikes. We are careful not to inconvenience guests and ensure that our hotel dog is restricted to back-of-the-house areas. There are heart-warming reports of tourists taking cruelly treated stray dogs home, like Karen Garner who spent nearly 3,000 to take to Scotland, an emaciated stray dog she found in Mauritius. With the then Presidents No Kill Policyof 2006, the World Health Organization recommended Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate and Release (CNVR) became our humane stray dog population control alternative to horrific gas chambers.The Government agency responsible for CNVR is the Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH). Animal welfare organizations too regularly conduct CNVR. Tourist hotels can, therefore collaborate with the DAPH or the welfare organizations to resolve issues humanely without resorting to senseless killing. In Sri Lanka, an inspiring example of the hospitality industry promoting kindness to animals comes from Jetwing Hotels which fully support the animal welfare work of the Dogstar Foundation which sterilizes, vaccinates and treats not only strays living at or near the Jetwing Hotels, but also those elsewhere in Negombo.A few hotels have accepted offers by animal welfare campaigners to have strays sterilized, rather than eliminating or abandoning them where they cannot survive. So there are plenty of humane options for our tourist resorts to pursue.That may help this land like no other to be viewed as a paradise isle and not hell for animals. In defence of art as a social reality With the upcoming Colombo International Theatre Festival being held to felicitate film director and playwright Dharmasiri Bandaranayake, the veteran artiste talks to Randima Attygalle View(s): View(s): While Dr. Lester James Peries called Dharmasiri Bandaranayakes maiden cinematic labour, Hansa Vilak a dazzling debut which displays a remarkable feel for the medium and imaginative, experimental and very exciting, scholar and critic Reggie Siriwardene lauded him for a form and style which went further than any Sinhala film before in taking us into the world of inner psychological experience. To have found the means of reflecting through the form and techniques of the film, the pressures of society and the family in the mind of a bewildered and tormented individual is Dharmasiri Bandaranayakes great achievement, Reggie Siriwardene wrote. In Bandaranayakes own words, Hansa Vilak is a slice of my own life. Having played Nissanka in the film, Bandaranayake cannot fathom even after three decades and more that it was his own work of direction and his own portrayal of a man entangled in the web of love, lust and loss. This self-wonder is what sets his Suddilage kathawa, Thunweni yamaya, Bawa duka and Bawa karma apart from his dazzling debut, he says. If Im to do a film again, I will certainly pick up from where Nissanka left and walk with him till his end. Would he play the world-weary Nissanka today, put on trial by life? Why not? he is quick to reply! Dharmasiri Bandaranayake was picked by Dayananda Gunawardene as a 17-year-old to play Premadasa in his maiden cinematic effort, Bakmaha Deegaya, an adaptation of the French drama, Marriage of Figaro. For young Bandaranayake, it was more than being infatuated by lamatheni! (played by Irangani Serasinghe). It marked his film debut as an actor followed by his lead role as Sarath in Wasantha Obeysekeres Palagetiyo. From Dayananda Gunawardenes Bakmaha akunu as a schoolboy (which inspired his film Bakmaha deegaya later) to his own production Trojan Women as a feted dramatist, Bandaranayakes journey had been a bitter-sweet one. The sweetness of this theatrical journey is attributed to his formative years as a young artiste during which he was mentored by the top brass in the industry including Henry Jayasena, Sugathapala de Silva and Bandula Vithanage. It is bitter, says Bandaranayake who mourns the cultural vacuum which arose with the demise of the parting veterans and the eroding social setting for theatre and cinema. We will not find another Lester whose life was cinema and cinema alone, nor will we find another Sarathchandra who translated Maname and Sinhabahu to a social dialogue, he reflects. Accolades and stardom do not move Bandaranayake. The Colombo International Theatre Festival this year which unfolds from May 24 30 is in his honour and he is only humbled. The quest for universality in theatre transcending class and language barriers is an ardous journey, says the dramatist. This, he has achieved with finesse and in style. Be it Eka adhipathi, Makarakshaya, Yakshawagamanaya, Dhawala bheeshana or Trojan Women, a full-house in any theatre speaks for the fact. My focus is on expression, notes the dramatist in whose hands, Hecabe and Cassandra transcend Greek borders to become our own war-time women. Whether this all-time validity of his productions has made Bandaranayake complacent in his movie-making and theatre undertakings is often raised. To this he responds candidly: Its a mismatch. If I have a good script, I cannot afford it financially and if there is willing financial assistance, I need to become a pawn. If its win-win, he will certainly do it all over again, he says. Bandaranayake was credited for his reconciliation-centric documentaries long before reconciliation became a buzz word. For him, documentary-making is an intermission in his cinematic career. The next phase of his much sought-after political documentary Paradise in Tears keeps him busy these days. A man mooting the acceptance of common roots and social realities, he questions if reconciliation is ever possible in a fabric shrouded with hypocrisy. The education system today had made a generation of heartless future citizens, oblivious to tragedies around them. It is a double tragedy when theatre remains insensitive to them, maintains the dramatist asking if anyone ever came forward to translate the recent tragedies of Rathu Paswala, Salawa or Meethotamulla. Be it theatre, cinema or any form of art, it needs to be people-centric. It is the fundamental, he says. The Colombo International Theatre Festival being held to felicitate Dharmasiri Bandaranayake features 12 plays from Sri Lanka, Italy, India, Kosovo, Turkey, Argentina, Austria and Germany to be staged at the Lionel Wendt along with Workshops at the Indian Cultural Centre and an international directors conference, the Colombo Theatre Forum at the Goethe Institut. For more details see www.citfsrilanka.com and on facebook: https:/web.facebook.com/CITFSriLanka/ Letters to the Editor View(s): We all shout about traffic jams, but nothing seems to move! Traffic blocks are endlessly talked about. In fact, this column itself has published so many articles addressing the woes faced by commuters. And yet, the problem persists. Traffic blocks are endlessly talked about. In fact, this column itself has published so many articles addressing the woes faced by commuters. And yet, the problem persists. Traffic jams during rush hours are inevitable- true- and are common enough around the globe, but they can be minimized! There may be many reasons that can be cited for the cause of traffic jams such as the increase in population and vehicles, the road system remaining the same, the flouting of rules, etc. One of these reasons is undeniably the extremely civilized conduct displayed by our bus drivers. I choose not to even write about the three wheeler drivers! Without a doubt, not all bus drivers are the same. In the midst of these uncouth fellows, there are gentlemen who know road rules. Drivers who dont honk unnecessarily; who stick to their lanes. If only some sort of regulation and training could be provided to the drivers, a definite change will be visible. Lets illustrate a simple situation here: In a junction, take one lane that falls into the junction. This lane will most probably have two sub lanes, one leading straight on and the other leading to the side roads (turning). Sometimes the straight lane traffic lights turn red while the turning lane remains green. But certain bus drivers who have to go straight (and sometimes other vehicles as well) drive in this lane and stay there, right in front (so that they can be the first to go when the light turns green), blocking all the vehicles that want to turn. Commuters on Galle Road will know what is being referred to here (this happens in other routes as well). Not only is this frustrating and downright rude, but also directly causes the traffic to stagnate and increase. Furthermore, some drivers seem unable to decide which lane to stay on even when going straight. If the lane in the right is moving, they must go there: then the left lane moves so they come back zigzagging, and sometimes, drive in the middle of both lanes! When the vehicle that is doing this is a MASSIVE bus, the problem is amplified manifold blocking both lanes! These problems have to be addressed, and soon. So many tired workers going home get more exhausted because they get stuck in these endless traffic jams. The effect on development is also enormous with lost time. It is also a major problem for youth, and students. We have a well distributed system of public transport; trains and buses. All that is left to be done is regulation and strict enforcement of discipline. Occasional upgrading wont hurt either. Security cameras can be used to detect rule-flouters, and the fines can be posted to the registered owner of the guilty number plate after a stipulated time, say maybe monthly, instead of the archaic method currently being used. The slow and arduous process of fining is one reason why rule breakers get away at peak times. L.Rauff Via email Holistic long term plan needed to resurrect tea industry Nimal Sanderatne in his column titled Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs in the Sunday Times of May 13, quite correctly indicates that a new resolve to enhance productivity and increase production of tea to increase exports could be of immense benefit to the economy. Although tea is considered the highest export earner, its performance during the last five years has been dismal. Production of tea during this period has shown a downward trend from 340 million kg in 2013 to 307 million kg in 2017 except for a marginal increase during 2017. The average tea yield (kg/ha) does not show any substantial increase and in fact, has decreased during the last two years. About 95% of the tea produced is exported. The weight of tea exported during the period 2014-2017 has continued to decrease from 327 million kg to 288 million kg. Export earnings from tea in US dollar terms has not increased by any substantial amount during this period. In fact it has decreased during 2015 and 2016. A number of factors could be attributed to this state of affairs in the tea sector. Low yields: The average tea yields are considerably lower than the potential yields. It has been reported that some of the cultivars developed by the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka had been yielding around 8,000 kg/ha in South India under commercial conditions. However, the average tea yield in Sri Lanka is much lower. In the smallholder tea sector the average yield is around 1800 kg/ha and in the estate sector it is about 1200 kg/ha. Increasing cost of production The cost of production of tea (Rs/kg) has continued to rise during the last few years. The average cost of production of tea, has risen from Rs. 390 /kg in 2010 to Rs. 434 in 2014. In 2017 COP is Rs. 466/kg. It is likely that it will increase in the present year due to the rise in fuel cost. This is mainly due to rising prices of all the inputs such labour, power, fertilizers, pesticides and decreasing yields. Land degradation: Productivity of tea lands indicated by yield/ha has declined during the last few years possibly due to undesirable weather, and soil erosion leading to infertile soils. Land degradation due to soil erosion is evident in many parts of the country. In the up and mid country, i.e lands above 300 m, severe land degradation has been reported. In up country districts such as Nuwara Eliya, tea is one of the main crops cultivated and in those lands where proper soil conservation practices are not carried out soil erosion takes place. At the first national workshop on Sustainable Land Management held a few years ago, Dr. M.A. Wijeratna of the Tea Research Institute revealed that around 40 t of soil/ha/year is lost due to soil erosion in the mid and up country tea lands. There are some tea lands in which the average yield is as low as 600kg/ha/years and this is likely to be due to depletion of soil fertility due to soil erosion Old crops: A considerable part of the tea crop is old. For example, according to Tea Research Institute data, about 40% of the tea extent is under seedling tea and about 90% of the seedling teas are over 60 years old and need replanting. Around 30% of the VP tea is more than 30 years old and these also need replanting. The annual extent replanted has decreased from 1857 ha in 2011 to 1067 ha in 2017. Low replanting is mainly due to high costs involved. There are nearly 400,000 tea small holdings mostly in Ratnapura, Galle, Matara, Kandy, Badulla, Kalutara, Nuwara Eliya and Kegalle and their productivity is much higher than those of the commercial tea plantations. Hence they need to be provided assistance to replant. As Mr. Sanderatne has indicated we need to emphasize on increasing production and improving productivity in tea holdings. To achieve this objective it is essential to address these issues. In view of the important role played by the tea sector on the socio-economic development of the country it is important that the factors which limit the productivity and profitability are given serious consideration. Medium-long term measures There are some tea lands in which the annual production is even less than 500 kg. A survey needs to be done to identify these unproductive lea lands. These unproductive tea lands need to be diversified. Such tea lands may be put under pasture and have cattle. This will reduce our expenditure on milk imports, and also degradation of the lands will be reduced resulting in less silting of the reservoirs. There are many other crops such as spice crops etc. which could be cultivated on the unproductive tea lands. These crops would give better returns to the cultivators. Those tea lands which are not going to be diversified need to be managed better. In this regard, infilling, cultivation of better tea cultivars and their effective management including better fertilizer and pest management practices, increased rate of replanting, reducing soil degradation and conservation practices are essential In this regard, cultivation of better tea cultivars and their effective management including better fertilizer and pest management practices, diversification, improved manufacturing and value addition of the produce, increased rate of replanting, reducing soil degradation and conservation practices are essential. All these activities would involve a high level of capital investment and also, effective implementation of policies. In the National Plantation Industry Policy Framework developed some time back, it was estimated that around Rs. 83 billion is necessary during 2007-2016 for improvement of the tea sector. It is essential that a holistic long term national plan to resurrect the tea industry and to develop better land use practices is developed. Such a plan should look into all aspects of tea production including cultivation, processing and marketing. It may be worthwhile to consider reducing the extent under unproductive tea and bring the land made available under a different land use system, and concentrate on the improvement of the productivity of the productive tea lands. By adopting this approach, the land productivity as well as the worker productivity could be improved while minimizing the cost of production. Dr. C.S. Weeraratna Via email Yashodhara, a must see film Yashodhara, directed by Professor Sunil Ariyaratne (his 22nd film) woven around the beloved wife of Siddartha Gautama was released recently. We criticise when a film is poorly made but we very often fail to praise a good film. I urge Sinhala film lovers to go and see this film. At a time when the Sinhala film industry is flooded with low quality films that do not educate or give a meaningful message to society, we thank the director Professor Ariyaratne and producer H.D. Premasiri for their excellent work. The film was shot on a massive set at Ranminitenne cinema village in Hambantota with the filming taking 45 days. The title roles of Prince Siddhartha and Princess Yashodhara are played by Indian stars A. Chowdry and Pallavi Subash. Very often films copy Hindi and Tamil films, and making money is their only aim. This is different. There is a lot for us to learn from Yashodhara. It tells us what a marriage is, what mutual understanding entails, what qualities a young girl should have, what qualities a young man should have, how you respect others, what discipline is, the importance of honesty and good conduct, importance of spiritual values etc. D. Weeratunga Via email Linking rail lines to promote tourism K. Wickremasinghe of Piliyandala writing in the Sunday Times on the CGR mindset and the attitude change needed in running the colonial Railways inherited from the British Raj was most welcome. The British laid the track with economic objectives. The Rail network is not second to any railway line in the world with regard to its capacity for tourism. It runs through mountains, different climates and along the coast reaching the wild life sanctuaries. As the writer said, the importance of linking Mannar via Wilpattu along the coast route will facilitate the route to link with Kataragama being the final destination for the tourist. This investment will promote tourism since many tourists come here to travel on the coastal route. It is one of the rare rail routes along the beach front with a view of the Indian Ocean. As the writer suggests like the Bharatha Darshan we can have the Samudra Darshan when we link the Mannar Kataragama rail route. Over to CGR GM! Bandula Nonis Via email Credit: Danny ClinchIf you aren't headed out to Wine Country later this month to catch California's BottleRock festival, you can still experience Muse's headlining performance from the comfort of your own home. Select sets from the festival, including the British rockers, will stream live online via Twitter. Other artists on the livestream schedule include Phantogram, The Revivalists, Alice Merton and Mondo Cozmo. BottleRock 2018 takes place May 25-27 in Napa, California. The lineup also features The Killers, Incubus, The Head and the Heart, Bleachers and The Struts, among others. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. A group of diverse but like-minded individuals, the members of ARC have come together in their common desire to fight hatred, bigotry, intolerance and violence because of the harm these antisocial behaviors cause to our society. In that effort, we will not use or sanction the use of illegal actions (such as violence or intimidation) in pursuit of our desired aims and if we learn of anyone who does use these unethical methods we will report those individuals to the authorities. Instead, we will use the guarantees found in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that ensure freedom of legal speech and expression. Relive those disco nights with Boney M. hits View(s): Remember Daddy Cool, Brown Girl in the Ring and Rivers of Babylon? Boney M. were the disco-kings of the late 70s with their toe-tapping beats blasting at every party. The Euro-Caribbean band comprising Liz Mitchell and Marcia Barrett from Jamaica, Maizie Williams from Montserrat and Bobby Farrell from Aruba was formed in 1976 by German record producer Frank Farian and sold more than 80 million records in their heyday. Boney M. first broke into the music world with Daddy Cool when late summer 1976, they appeared on the German TV show Musikladen. It reached No.1 in Germany, and Sunny followed. Daddy Cool reached No.1 in Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, and Austria and both were also Top 10 hits in the UK. Boney M. were on their way. 1978 was the groups best year. Their double A-sided single, Rivers of Babylon/Brown Girl in the Ring, swept through Europe, reaching No. 1 in many countries. One of the biggest selling singles of all time in the UK it was their most successful single in the United States, reaching No. 30 on the U.S. pop singles chart. With Nightflight to Venus their next album came hits such as Rasputin and Painter Man. Their Christmas release Marys Boy Child Oh My Lord made it to the top in the UK and became another of the biggest selling singles of all time there. Hooray! Hooray! Its a Holi-Holiday, which became another Top 10 hit across Europe followed in 1979 along with their fourth album, Oceans of Fantasy, containing two hit singles Gotta Go Home/El Lute and Im Born Again/Bahama Mama. Oceans of Fantasy reached No.1 in the UK and was certified Platinum, though their run of Top 10 singles had now ended with Gotta Go Home peaking at no.12 and Im Born Again peaking at 35. In 1980, Boney M. released a greatest hits album, The Magic of Boney M. 20 Golden Hits, which also contained two new songs, My Friend Jack and I See a Boat on the River. It made the No. 1 spot in the UK, but turned out to be their last big-selling album in the UK. The group went their separate ways after their 10th anniversary in 1986. Enjoy your favourite Boney M. songs from the past with Boney M, featuring Liz Mitchell the bands original lead vocalist accompanied by the full 8-piece band, live in Sri Lanka on June 16 at SLECC. Tickets are priced at Rs 5000, Rs 7, 500, Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 and are available at the Events desk at the Galle Face Hotel or on www.bookmyshow.com. More details are available on http://www.avpr.lk/boneym/ and events@avpr.lk or call 0112 699215. Share some great moments with Nigella! View(s): Since the publication of her first book in 1998, Nigella Lawson has inspired and nurtured home cooks around the world with her relaxed and accessible cooking style and engaging personality. The award-winning British food writer, broadcaster, journalist and well-loved television personality will be in Sri Lanka for a series of exclusive events from June 21 23, hosted by Cinnamon Life. Nigella will be the third celebrity chef to be brought to Sri Lanka by Cinnamon following the visits of renowned Michelin star chef Marco Pierre White and Australian chef, restaurateur and MasterChef judge, George Colombaris. Nigella will tour the island and experience Sri Lanka through the vibrantly inspired Cinnamon properties before she makes her formal public appearances for high tea, a book signing, a brunch, a cocktail and a black box challenge. In 1998 her first cookery book, How to Eat became an instant best-seller. Her second book in 2000, How to Be a Domestic Goddess won her the British Book Award for Author of the Year. In 1999 she presented her own cooking show series, Nigella Bites, on Channel 4, accompanied by another best-selling cookbook Nigella Bites which brought her a Guild of Food Writers Award. She hosted the Food Networks Nigella Feasts in the United States in 2006, followed by a three-part BBC Two series, Nigellas Christmas Kitchen, in the UK, which led to the commissioning of Nigella Express on BBC Two in 2007. Her latest book At My Table was published in 2017 and celebrates home cooked meals, remaining true to her roots. Nigella also featured as a guest judge in MasterChef Australia 2018, where she was invited for the 10th anniversary season of the popular reality show. She has her own cookware range, Living Kitchen and has sold more than 10 million cookery books worldwide to date, with around 1.2 million followers on Instagram. Everyone loves good food, and we are happy to be at the forefront of this fascination and present Sri Lanka with new and celebrated gastronomical experiences, said Chief Marketing Office- Property Sector, JKH, Roshanie Jayasundera-Moraes. Cinnamon Life Colombos life capital, envisioned as an icon for Sri Lanka is one of the most ambitious projects in the region in terms of scope, design and the exclusive lifestyle it promises to deliver. The event featuring Nigella Lawson is yet another stepping stone, paving the way to the hub for gastronomy which Colombo will soon become. Cinnamon Life presents Nigella Lawson in Colombo - in association with HSBC Premier, transport provider Jaguar Land Rover, airline partner Sri Lankan Airlines, high tea partner Spa Ceylon gourmet tea, indulgence partner Imorich Ice cream, inbound travel partner Walkers Tours, outdoor media partner Emerging Media, Official partner of the everyday Beko, print media and web partners the Sunday Times, Daily Mirror, Daily FT, Life online, Daily Mirror.lk, Hi Magazine and HI TV, radio partner Lite FM, cinema partner Scope Cinema and domestic airline partner Cinnamon Air. For more details see www.cinnamonboxoffice.com Gratiaen Prize: Three shortlisted authors share their writings By Yomal Senerath-Yapa View(s): View(s): As a storm raged outside, some of the shortlisted authors for the 2017 Gratiaen Prize came together for a convivial evening where they delved into their writings in particular as well as the craft in general, within the snug library of the British Council Colombo . Sunela Jayawardene, the enviornmental architect who in The Line of Lanka produced a book deeply saturated with her passion for Sri Lankas buried history and heritage, introduced an intriguing note to the discussion with readings culled from her journeys to far flung corners of the island, probing into folklore, myth, legend and landscape that may still remember what the people had long forgotten. These included reconstructing the story of the historical Ravana, villified into a demon in the Indian epic. Sunela would take us on a hunt for toponymy and local tales in Balangoda, yieding exciting clues as to the real story of Ravana who commanded missiles as well as flying machines, or tracking Nittaewo, a pygmy race that once hunted in the jungles of the north east, where the Veddhas and traditional villagers still recount hair raising stories of these half human creatures. Neshantha Harischandra, meanwhile, spoke of her mothers village that was the inspiration for her novel, a House Down Queer Street. She had always known that her first novel would be about this village which so fascinated her during Avurudu visits. She found it necessary to stress that the novel is woven around so many elements of the traditional village because this was the milieu that she always found intriguing; not because she was suffering from what Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha called the village well syndrome; a guilt complex to assert ones Sri Lankanness. She read passages that fascinated with insight into the lives of a quaint village gentry or middle class of a bygone age. The book sparkled out as a social satire and a humorous, observant and sympathetic if often ironic look at this group of people no longer living and breathing. Chiranthi Rajapakses readings revealed an observant eye for modern Sri Lankan life in all its variety captured in Names and Numbers, her collection of short stories. The cover of the book, a mosaic of lunu-dehi, pickled lime laid to dry in the sun, reflects the Sri Lankan ethos the stories celebrate while giving a hint of the sour-sweetness that oozes out of the tales. It was a dynamic evening when the audience interacted with the writers to create a pulsating discourse on issues like the universality of our writing, addressing audiences and the important question of editing. As the evening ended there lingered an exciting sense of the build-up to the Gratiaen, to be announced on Saturday, May 26, especially as this years shortlist comprises four women writers (including Jean Arasanayagam with her collection of poetry The Life of the Poet ), representing the four genres of short story, novel, poetry and travelogue/memoir. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A 15-year-old stole a Dodge Caliber and crashed it into a Centro bus shelter on James Street after refusing to stop for officers, according to Syracuse police. At approximately 7:02 p.m. on Friday, officers saw the car fail to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Oakwood Avenue and East Taylor Street, police said. Officers tried to pull the car over, but the driver refused to pull over and sped away, police said. At the corner of James Street and Catherine Street, the teen lost control of the car, which hit the Centro bus shelter, police said. A 60-year-old man suffered leg and facial injuries and he was taken to Upstate University Hospital, police said. The man is currently stable, police said. The 15-year-old ran out of the car but was caught at 500 Catherine Street, the address of Kleen Foods, police said. He was charged with unlawful fleeing of a police officer, reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, failure to comply, resisting arrest, grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, police said. The teen is being held at Hillbrook Juvenile Detention Facility, police said. During the immediate aftermath of the crash, an officer asked for an AMR ambulance to get there as quick as possible, according to scanner reports. The crash shut down James Street, from the corner of McBride Street to nearly the corner of Lodi Street. National Grid arrived at the scene to take a look at wires that had drooped after the crash downed a pole on the sidewalk. The car was left at the scene of the crash until approximately 9 p.m., when a truck from Pascarella Towing removed it. Officers left the scene shortly after. LODI, NY -- Dano Hutnik, the European-born chef who introduced the concept of Austrian "heuriger" dining to the Finger Lakes wine country, has died unexpectedly, according to his restaurant's Facebook page and other reports. Hutnik was 69. He had operated the successful Dano's on Cayuga restaurant in Ithaca before achieving wider acclaim starting in 2005. That's when he and his wife, pastry chef Karen Gilman, opened Dano's Heuriger on Seneca, located on Route 414 overlooking Seneca Lake. The restaurant, believed to the first of its kind in the United States, offered pairing of wines, often served in mugs, and small plates of food meant for sharing. At the heuriger, Hutnik was a champion of Finger Lakes wine and local foods, including items he foraged nearby. The famed James Beard House in New York City, where Dano's cuisine was sometimes showcased, once nicknamed him "the ultimate do-it-yourself chef." He was twice nominated -- in 2012 and 2104 -- as best chef in the Northeast, for the annual James Beard Foundation Awards, considered the Oscars of the food world. Dano's posted this announcement on its Facebook page Friday night: It is with the deepest of sadness that we announce the untimely passing of our beloved founder and chef Dano Hutnik.... Posted by Dano's Heuriger on Seneca on Friday, May 18, 2018 Hutnik's death was mourned throughout the Finger Lakes wine and food community. "Shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of our friend Dano Hutnik," Peter Becraft, winemaker at Anthony Road Wine Co, wrote in a Facebook post. "He and his wife Karen have entertained and pleased so many diners at their very special restaurant. One of the Finger Lakes' finest restaurants. We are sure that wherever he may be he has found the secret spots to forage. Thank you for your support and kindness to our family Dano." Foraging in the Finger Lakes was a passion of Hutnik's. His restaurant Facebook page posted this on Thursday: Look at these beautiful Morel mushrooms Dano found! I can't wait to see the specials he makes with them this weekend!! Posted by Dano's Heuriger on Seneca on Thursday, May 17, 2018 Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. Syracuse, N.Y. -- The former Environmental Protection Agency administrator for New York said today the Trump administration is "the worst ever" for the environment. "This is a real threat to public health," said Judith Enck, who served as Region 2 administrator from 2009 to 2017, in an interview. "I think we're going to look back and see that our drinking water will be dirtier and our air will be dirtier." Judith Enck Enck was a keynote speaker at the Climate Change Summit held today at Fowler High School. More than 100 people attended the event, which included presentations and workshops on renewable energy, energy efficiency, green jobs and environmental justice. Enck criticized current EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt for rolling back at least 20 environmental regulations and proposing to do away with twice that many. Chief among them, she said, was the Clean Power Plan, created under President Obama, that would have required power plants to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. "That was the premiere climate change regulation of the Obama administration," Enck said. Carbon dioxide is considered a greenhouse gas because it traps heat, which climate scientists say is warming the planet. An EPA spokesman declined to directly address Enck's remarks, but emailed an excerpt of an EPA news release from March. "In just one year, we have made tremendous progress implementing President Trump's agenda by refocusing the agency to its core mission, restoring power to the states through cooperative federalism, and adhering to the rule of law," the release quoted Pruitt as saying. Enck, who lives in Rensselaer County and works for a Washington, D.C., environmental group, also urged activists to oppose a large trash incinerator proposed for the town of Romulus, which sits between the two largest Finger Lakes, Cayuga and Seneca. "This is really frightening to me," Enck said. "With everything we know about pollution from incinerators, to have a huge incinerator in the heart of the Finger Lakes is a disaster." Contact Glenn Coin: Email | Twitter | Google + | (315) 470-3251 Gloria Fredkove sits outside Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum in Oswego on Friday, May 18, 2018. Fredkove and her family arrived in Oswego as refugees fleeing Europe during World War II. In August 1944, Gloria Fredkove arrived in Oswego with her mother, brother, grandmother and other Jewish refugees fleeing war-ravaged Europe and Nazi death camps. For 18 months during World War II, Oswego's Fort Ontario would be home for her and more than 980 other refugees from the war. On Friday, Fredkove, now 75, returned to Oswego for the first time. "Oh my God," she whispered as she walked into Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum, which is dedicated to remembering the refugees who stayed in Oswego during World War II. Coming back to Oswego and seeing the museum was something she said she always wanted to do. "I wish my mom could have been around to see how momentous and historic this was, and how her struggles wound up in victory over the Nazis, and that we're here to tell our stories and to tell the future generations what happened," Fredkove said through tears. Fredkove and her brother, Jake Bass, returned to Oswego Friday for the Oswego Sunrise Rotary Club and the Safe Haven museum's fourth annual fundraiser. They both planned to speak at the event this evening. Kevin Hill, president of the board of directors at Safe Haven, said Oswego played a vital role in American history during the war. "We lose sight of the history, the importance of Oswego, and I think when we have refugees come back to the area, it reminds us of the humanity and the good that comes out of people," he said. Gloria Fredkove takes a picture of her family's names at Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum in Oswego on Friday, May 18, 2018. She was one of the 982 refugees who came to the U.S. from Europe during World War II. The shelter, officially called the Fort Ontario Emergency Refugee Shelter, was the first and only refugee center established during World War II in the United States for Jewish refugees fleeing World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered its establishment in June 1944, and two months later, the refugees left Italy and arrived in ships at Fort Ontario. Because Roosevelt had circumvented the strict immigration laws, the refugees had no legal standing in the country. They were kept behind fence and barbed wire at Fort Ontario, forbidden from leaving. They were "guests" expected to return to Europe after the war. Back in 1944, Fredkove -- then Yolanda Bass, 15 months old, who would later be renamed Gloria -- was waiting in an internment camp in Italy trying to survive along with thousands of other refugees. Her maternal grandfather would die in the camp. Somehow during the war, her family was separated from her father and would never see him again. The fate of the surviving family - Fredkove, her mother, Eva Bass; her brother, Joachim Bass, 12; and her grandmother - was determined by a lottery: The winners got to come to the United States. They were the few lucky ones: It is estimated that around six million Jews were killed in World War II during the Holocaust. Fredkove and her family made the trip by ship, arriving in Oswego with the other refugees to the new home, the refugee center. Her mother was pregnant when the family fled Italy, and her sister, Susanna, was born in the refugee center. Officials there believed her mother was not mentally or physically strong enough to care for a newborn baby, Fredkove said. Her sister was given to a childless family in Buffalo and the family has never heard from her again. When the shelter closed in February 1946, President Harry S. Truman permitted them legal entry into the United States; the refugees could choose to return to Europe or stay in the U.S. Fredkove and her family moved to New York City. Her grandmother died a few years later, and her mother, who suffered from heart problems for most of her life, died in the 1970s. After her mother's death, Fredkove met her husband, Joe Fredkove, and moved with him to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where her brother also lives. She and Joe have identical sons, Jonathan and David, and three grandchildren. On Friday Fredkove said she was excited and nervous to speak at the museum event, but she thinks it's necessary to tell her story. "It's an opportunity to thank the city of Oswego. It's an opportunity to remind people of their own history here in the 1940s and for what they did for us and what we went through," she said. To the Editor: National Cancer Survivors Day is Sunday, June 3, 2018. On this day, Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY will honor those in our community who are living with and beyond cancer. We will join hundreds of communities worldwide in celebrating life as part of the 31st annual NCSD celebration. Thousands of cancer survivors, caregivers, family members, friends and healthcare professionals will gather across the globe to honor cancer survivors and to show the world that life after a cancer diagnosis can be fruitful, rewarding and even inspiring. A survivor is anyone living with a history of cancer - from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life. While each person's path is different, most cancer survivors and their loved ones experience fear of the unknown and a challenging physical battle. Talking with others who have traveled a similar road is often helpful, as is maintaining a positive attitude. Our Cancer Survivor Celebration provides people with opportunities for both of those options, along with inspiring speakers, food, a live band, door prizes and more. This free event is a powerful healing experience for survivors and our staff, which is why even in pouring rain last year, more than 500 people attended. We encourage all cancer survivors and their loved ones to join us! For more information, people should call (315) 472-7504 ext. 1362 or visit hoacny.com. Maryann Roefaro CEO Hematology-Oncology Associates East Syracuse Students of Moravia Central School celebrated at their junior prom Friday, May 18, 2018. The event was held at Springside Inn in Auburn. Our gallery of photos can be found above. Want to buy a photo? As you're browsing the gallery, look for the "BUY IMAGE" link to order high-quality reprints and other products. More prom photos See all photo galleries from proms, senior balls, and other formals around Central New York. May 19--By nightfall Friday, the number of power outages in Orange, Sullivan and Ulster counties was down to about 5,450 and dropping. And those outages were expected to continue decreasing through the weekend, as crews from the three utilities that serve the mid-Hudson continue to repair damage from Tuesday's storm that pummeled the region. On Friday, Orange and Rockland Utilities spokesman Mike Donovan said the company is still estimating it will be Sunday afternoon before all of Sullivan County's electricity customers are back online. The two utilities that serve Sullivan -- O&R and NYSEG -- had a combined total of about 4,300 out late Friday. Donovan said the National Weather Service confirmed Thursday night that destructive, straight-line 95 mph winds extending 16 miles from Narrowsburg to Eldred to Forestburgh carved a path of destruction in the county at about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. The powerful winds flattened trees, shattered utility poles and snapped power lines. Donovan said O&R sent a fresh shipment of about 6,000 pounds of dry ice to Mamakating Town Hall at 2948 Route 209 in Wurtsboro on Friday. A majority of the O&R company and contractor overhead line and tree removal crews have been assigned to Sullivan County to expedite repair work. On Friday, Sullivan County Manager Josh Potosek extended the state of emergency through the weekend for the towns of Highland and Tusten. The emergency declaration expires at 5 p.m. Friday for the towns of Bethel, Cochecton and Forestburgh, based on conversations with their supervisors. In Orange County, O&R, NYSEG and the other utility that serves Orange County, Central Gas & Electric Corp., had a combined total of about 980 out late Friday. Most of those were expected to see service restored Friday or Saturday. Central Hudson spokesman John Maserjian said the utility has already exceeded its goal to have 90 percent of all customers' power restored by 11 p.m. Friday. Central Hudson has 470 line workers and 180 tree trimmers, including outside contractors and mutual aid workers from other power companies from as far away as Michigan, working to restore power. While workers for other companies could be recalled if needed in their own regions, right now all are able to work through the weekend, working on repairs in isolated areas that suffered the most damage, Maserjian said. Late Friday, NYSEG said it expects to have power restored to the vast majority of all its customers in the six counties it serves by 11:45 p.m. Saturday. The exceptions will be a few small pockets of customers in highly damaged areas that require rebuilding of customer and company infrastructure, the utility said. NYSEG said it has more than 1,800 personnel responding to the storm. - By Michael Randall and Richard J. Bayne, The Times Herald-Record, Middletown, N.Y. ALBANY, N.Y. -- An Upstate New York man has admitted to pretending to be a teenage girl to trick a 13-year-old boy into sending sexually explicit photographs. James Mattison, 46, of Fort Edward in Washington County pleaded guilty Thursday to sexual exploitation of a child following an October 2016 exchange in which he pretended to be a teen named Megan Mattison. He got the boy to send the photos by threatening to commit suicide if the boy refused, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office of Northern District of New York. As part of his plea, Mattison said he exchanged over 7,100 text messages with the boy, whom he met online using the Live.me phone application. He has been in custody since his arrest in September 2017 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 10. Fort Edward man, who sexually exploited a child, pleads guilty in U.S. District Court https://t.co/KcmeTM4uzG The Post-Star (@poststar) May 18, 2018 Mattison faces at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to lifetime post-imprisonment supervised release and a maximum $250,000 fine, officials said. He also will have to register as a sex offender upon release. The case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the New York State Police and Washington County Probation Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Giovannetti. The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse, led by the U.S. Attorney's Office. -- Amanda Fries, Times Union, Albany, N.Y. The new Nokia X6 Android smartphone has officially launched in China, sporting a display notch, dual cameras, a 19:9 aspect ratio, and other neat specs at an affordable price. Meet The New Nokia X6 The smartphone had been previously leaked as the Nokia X, sparking plenty of interest, and now, it made its official debut in Beijing under HMD Global's umbrella. The Nokia X6 launches as the first Nokia-branded smartphone to feature a display notch, which not everyone might appreciate. Apple was the first to introduce a display notch with its iPhone X and the feature proved to be highly controversial, but it nonetheless seems to be catching on. Nokia X6 Specs The smartphone has a 5.8-inch full HD display with a 19:9 aspect ratio, thin bezels, and a good screen-to-body ratio. It has a glass design that lends a sleek aspect, but also makes the device more prone to damage if dropped. The glass back is also a fingerprint magnet generally, but a protective case should solve the problem. Under the hood, the Nokia X6 packs an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor, 4 GB or 6 GB of RAM, and 32 GB or 64 GB of internal storage space. Other specs include a dual rear camera setup consisting of a 16-megapixel lens and a 5-megapixel monochrome sensor, and a 16-megapixel front camera for selfies and video calls. All cameras have f/2.0 apertures. Nokia also equipped the handset with various software features to enhance the photography experience, including automatic image enhancements using artificial intelligence, such as facial recognition. Other camera features include a "Bothie" mode that allows users to use the rear and front cameras at the same time, as well as an HDR photo mode for more vibrant and vivid images. The Nokia X6 further features a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, a USB Type-C port, a 3,060 mAh battery, and Android 8.1 Oreo on board out of the box. Nokia X6 Pricing And Options The new Nokia X6 went up for pre-order in China, available in three configurations and three color options: Black, Silver, and Dark Blue. The base configuration with 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of native storage space costs CNY 1,299, or about $200. A model with the same amount of RAM but double the storage costs CNY 1,499, or approximately $235. Lastly, a beefed up version with 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of native storage space goes up to CNY 1,699, or roughly $265. Nokia has yet to announce a specific release date or clarify when or if the Nokia X6 will reach other markets as well. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 5 killed in Cambodia lightning strike Phnom Penh, May 19 (AFP) May 19, 2018 Five people, including a four-year-old child, were killed instantly in a lightning strike in southwestern Cambodia, officials said Friday, as the onset of the rainy season draws near. The group was sheltering from a downpour in a mountainous area of Koh Kong province's Thmar Baing district on Thursday, police chief for minor crimes Lay Meng Laing told AFP, adding that three victims were from the same family. The tropical Southeast Asian country of winding rivers and lakes is prone to lightning storms, a problem that some believe is worsening with the ravages of climate change. Keo Vy, a spokesman for Cambodia's National Committee for Disaster Management, said the number of lightning deaths has now reached 50 people since January, while 41 died last year in the same period. He said the government had conducted education seminars to warn residents in rural areas about the threats, encouraging them to avoid taking shelter under a tree and not to stand in pools of water. The strikes also hit livestock, killing 36 cows since January. Helicopters rescue residents after fresh Hawaii volcano lava flow Los Angeles, May 19 (AFP) May 19, 2018 Helicopters were rushed in to rescue four trapped residents after lava flowing from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano isolated a cluster of homes, local officials said late Friday, one day after the volcano erupted and shot a huge plume of ash miles (kilometers) into the sky. Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim wrote on Twitter that "fast moving lava from Fissure 20 has crossed Pohoiki Rd near Malama Ki Place," near the Puna forest reserve. The lava is "isolating appx 40 homes in area," he wrote, adding that four people were "safely evacuated" by Hawaii County and National Guard helicopters. "If u r still in area stay in safe place & await official instructions," Kim warned. The US Geological Survey, which monitors volcanos and earthquakes worldwide, said via Twitter that "fast-moving lava flow from fissure 20 advancing at 300-400 yards (meters) per hour." It added that "poor air quality from elevated gas emissions and smoke from burning vegetation contributing to poor air quality in lower Puna." Kilauea is the world's most active volcano and one of five on Hawaii's Big Island. It started erupting on May 3, prompting about 2,000 people to flee from their mountainside homes. Scientists believe the volcanic activity may be a precursor to a major eruption similar to the one that shook the island in the mid 1920s. But they say they expect no loss of life given that the most exposed residential areas have been evacuated and the region where the volcano is located -- on the southeastern part of the island -- is lightly populated. So far, about 40 homes and other buildings have been destroyed by the red-hot lava that has been flowing from the volcano since early May. Authorities have warned residents to stay away from the neighborhoods evacuated, warning that toxic sulfur dioxide seeping out of nearly two dozen fissures could prove deadly. Thursday's violent explosion within Kilauea's Halemaumau crater -- the biggest since the volcano became more active on May 3 -- produced a volcanic plume that reached 30,000 feet (9,000 meters) into the sky. Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission At royal wedding watch party in Baton Rouge, a 'good excuse' to have a ball (and take some must-see photos) Louisiana legislators ended the 2018 regular session on Friday more than two weeks ahead of schedule, giving lawmakers about a three-day break before they begin yet another special session to try to sort out the state's finances. Lawmakers worked into the evening Friday, finalizing key pieces of legislation, to wrap up a regular session that has largely been dominated by concerns over the budget and the nearly $650 million "fiscal cliff" the state faces when temporary tax measures expire June 30. Thousands of Louisiana felons likely to have voting rights restored after this final step is done Louisiana could soon restore voting rights to thousands of people convicted of felonies who remain on probation or parole, after a years-long House passes final version of spending plan, but work will start again in special session next week The Louisiana Legislature is sending a budget proposal to Gov. John Bel Edwards that nearly no one believes is adequate to fund state services But lawmakers managed to pass some key legislation over the past 10 weeks. Louisiana voters will have an opportunity this fall to decide whether the state does away with a Jim Crow-era law that has allowed non-unanimous juries to convict people of felonies, and for the first time since the 1970s some felons on probation and parole will have an opportunity to register to vote starting in March. And the state is adopting stricter penalties for hazing leading a national movement that has spawned in the wake of high-profile, hazing-related deaths on college campuses, including at LSU last fall. The Legislature normally waits until the last day of session to finalize a budget, but because of the impending special session and the large gap in revenue in the coming year, lawmakers quickly finalized a placeholder House Bill 1 on Thursday, sending it to Gov. John Bel Edwards. The Legislature cannot take up most revenue-raising measures during regular sessions in even-numbered years and a special session earlier this year ended without any action to bridge the budget gap, leaving lawmakers waiting for what all believed to be an inevitable second special session. The special session starts Tuesday and must end by June 4, which would have been the end of the regular session had the Legislature not wrapped up its work on Friday. With the budget out of the way, legislative action on Friday took place mostly behind-the-scenes among leaders as they attempted to hash out an agreement over a proposal to extend an exclusive contract for Harrah's New Orleans. The effort ultimately collapsed shortly before 9 p.m., sending the House and Senate into the final rush of tying up loose ends before formally closing the session. For much of the day, as leaders met behind closed doors on final negotiations, members, lobbyists and others at the Capitol awaiting the official end to session, milled about the building. At one point, House Speaker Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia, implored members not to leave out of fear that they would dip below the required number present to pass legislation. "I know everyone wants to get home, no one more than me," Barras announced to the chamber. "I understand how anxious everyone is to leave. Please hang with us." Earlier in the day, members had fine-tuned some of the final pieces of legislation that passed each chamber in slightly different versions that had to reconciled between small groups of representatives and senators. With the end in sight, relaxed legislators joked with one another, a rare sight during the often-tense proceedings over the past 10 weeks. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Many idly chatted about weekend plans and about what to expect during the special session. The House made a last-ditch effort to resurrect a push to expand the ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft. But after the move won lopsided House approval Senate President John Alario ruled it was not germane to the bill, killing the bid. The House and Senate gave final approval to legislation House Bill 676 aimed at expanding access to affordable early childhood education from birth to age 4. Another bid for a constitutional convention this one a Senate-passed task force to study whether one is needed failed in the House 28-55. The House gave final approval to Senate Bill 59, which will allow voters to decide whether to ban using state road and bridge funds for State Police. But legislators have expressed pleasant surprise at the bills they managed to pass this session. Rep. Randall Gaines, a LaPlace Democrat who chairs the Legislative Black Caucus, noted on the final day of session the historic nature of legislation that will allow people who have committed felonies but remain on probation or parole to register to vote five years after they leave prison and a referendum that will allow voters to decide this fall whether Louisiana will remain one of only two states that allow felony convictions without a unanimous jury. "For all of those who have given their lives for justice and freedom, from the Black Caucus, we say 'Thank you.'" Gaines said in a speech on the floor. The Max Gruver Act, which was one of three key pieces of anti-hazing legislation, will mean stricter criminal penalties when someone dies in a hazing ritual. It's named for an 18-year-old LSU freshman who died last fall. Efforts to significantly roll back the last years criminal justice revamp aimed at lowering Louisianas incarceration rate were sidetracked as was a push to expand the new laws that make it easier for prison inmates to seek parole. In the end, the Legislature approved a compromise, Senate Bill 389, that returned some discretion to individual judges and gave the courts the ability to keep an inmate on probation for two more years until requirements like drug treatment and anger management programs are completed. Check back with The Advocate for more details. Gov. John Bel Edwards announces his intent to call a special session to deal with the fiscal cliff starting Tuesday May 22nd and ending June 4th as part of legislative action Monday May 14, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. Plans are for the regular session now meeting to adjourn Friday May 18th. A watered down bid to let public school teachers take part in student-led prayer during school time won final approval Friday night. The plan, Senate Bill 512, originally would have allowed teachers, at the invitation of students, to take part in prayer sessions if parents and guardians submitted a signed request for them to do so. That version breezed through the state Senate 29-0 on April 26. But the state House, worried about the possibility of lawsuits if the legislation became law, narrowed the proposal. Louisiana school prayer bill nears final legislative passage, despite litigation concerns A proposal that could allow Louisiana school employees to pray with students during the class day edged closer to final legislative passage Tu Under the House-passed version, teachers would only be permitted to "quietly bow" during a student-led prayer session as a show of respect and deference to what the students were doing. House members took the action after state Rep. Alan Seabaugh, R-Shreveport and others predicted the original plan would trigger a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union, and cost school districts thousands of dollars in legal fees. House members approved the narrower version 99-0. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Ryan Gatti, R-Bossier City. Efforts by a House-Senate negotiating committee to hammer out a compromise on the final day of the session failed. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Rep. Rob Shadoin, R-Ruston, who handled the bill in the House, some members of the House are convinced "even though there is no case law that they can cite" passing the bill would "be opening up yet another attack and cost the state to have to come and defend it." "I don't agree with them but nonetheless they feel strongly about it," Shadoin said. Two members of the negotiating committee, Reps. Nancy Landry, R-Lafayette and Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, declined to sign what Gatti hoped would be a compromise agreement that could then be voted on by the House and Senate. In an interview, Landry said even House leaders who normally back such measures opposed Gatti's, including Edmonds, a longtime Baptist minister. "I am deferring to them on this," she said. "We have a constitutional law expert and a pastor both saying there are some serious problems with it." "Like I told the author, I don't think it would have passed the House without the amendment that the House put on it," Landry said. "He wants to take that amendment off." That amendment revamped the Senate-passed bill, adding the "quietly bow" language and removing the signed form provision. Landry is chairwoman of the House Education Committee. Gatti was in the House chamber shortly before adjournment trying to convince skeptical House members to go along with his plan. Shortly before 8 p.m. he said he was still working on getting his version of the bill agreed to. Unable to reach agreement, Gatti agreed to go with the House version moments before adjournment, winning Senate approval 28-1. The Louisiana Legislature is sending a budget proposal to Gov. John Bel Edwards that nearly no one believes is adequate to fund state services Senator Regina Barrow speaks during a March for Our Lives rally at the Louisiana State Capitol, Saturday, March 24, 2018, in downtown Baton Rouge, La. It is not an easy thing for a Ryan White clinic or community health center to serve the needs of all their clients who are living with or affected by HIV. In fact, in the current political climate where receiving level funding year after year is often the best-case scenario, providing the extensive amount of care required is often impossible. That most Ryan White clinics and community health centers have been able to survive and even expand during these lean budgetary times is remarkable. In many cases, such success has only been achievable through the utilization of the 340B Drug Pricing program, which enable Ryan White clinics, community health centers and safety net hospitals that serve vulnerable populations to purchase certain medications from pharmaceutical companies at a reduced cost while being reimbursed for the full cost of the drug, allowing them to spend the savings on additional care and services for their clients. Despite the tremendous success of the program -- or perhaps because of it -- and courtesy of a substantial lobbying push from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the 340B program has found itself under close scrutiny by a slew of Congressional committees. Earlier this week, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee (HELP) held their second hearing this year on the 340B Drug Pricing program and heard testimony from representatives from the Office of the Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office on the 340B program. For the most part, the testimony from these federal officials revolved around 2 issues: 1) a desire to see increased transparency from both the safety net hospitals and pharmaceutical manufacturers involved in the program (Ryan White clinics and community health centers already face stringent reporting requirements), and 2) wanting to ensure that the 340B program stayed to true its original intended purpose to "stretch scarce federal resources as far as possible, reaching more eligible patients and providing more comprehensive services." Related: Drug Pricing Program That Supports AIDS Service Organizations Is Under Attack The responses and questioning from the members of the Senate HELP committee were largely supportive of the safety net hospitals and other entities benefiting from the 340B program, with the bulk of the committee's ire saved for the pharmaceutical industry and, in the case of the Democrats who spoke, the Trump administration's handling of the issue. Throughout the course of the hearing, Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) repeatedly stressed the fact that the Trump administration had delayed the implementation of a rule to ensure that drug companies could not overcharge hospitals or clinics for the drugs they sell them until July of 2019. In their eyes, such actions removed any legitimacy from the speech President Trump gave on lowering drug prices the previous week. "If the President was truly worried about the connection between high drug prices and the 340B program, he could start by implementing the law that congress wrote to actually stop drug companies from cheating on their discounts", said Senator Warren. During the question and answer portion of the hearing, Dr. Debra Draper of the GAO cited a 2005 study conducted by her agency that found that 14% of purchases in June 2005 by 340B hospitals and clinics were in fact over the mandated ceiling price, which pharmaceutical companies aren't required to share with providers, resulted in $3.9 million in overcharges. Speaking up in agreement from across the aisle was Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), who cited the Maine Hospital Association in saying that limiting or eliminating the 340B program would decimate the state's safety net hospitals and took her own swipe at drug companies, describing the lack of transparency in the industry as "a major problem in the pharmaceutical network". Even Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), the author of the HELP Act which would place a 2-year moratorium on new non-rural 340B hospitals and one of the few members of the HELP committee to attack the safety net hospitals themselves in lieu of the drug companies, had to concede that "some of them are fantastic", and that without them low-income Americans would be unable to access the medication and services they need. Despite broad levels of support it seems clear that the 340B program will continue to be scrutinized for the foreseeable future. Of particular concern are remarks put forth by Dr. Debra Draper, director of the health care team at GAO, who stated that -- in her opinion -- the intent of the program was not entirely clear, a view that could create some desire to review specifically who benefits from the program.AIDS United and other advocates are concerned that such a review could lead to a misguided shift toward directing savings to individuals rather than the health care organizations that serve those individuals.The Senate HELP committee will be holding a third hearing sometime later this year with representatives from the Health Services and Resources Administration. Subscribe to AIDS United's weekly policy update to make you get all the latest coverage on 340B and all other HIV-related news at the federal level. [Note from TheBody: This article was originally published by AIDS United on May 18, 2018. We have cross-posted it with their permission.] TheBody is sad to share the news of the recent death of David Plunkett, a survivor of HIV criminalization in New York who served half of a 10-year sentence. David would have turned 54 today. Plunkett was released in 2012 after a ruling by the New York Court of Appeals in his case that the saliva of a person with HIV could not be characterized as a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument. By many accounts, Plunkett brought humor and a positive spirit to what he had endured. "He was intelligent, and for all he'd been through, he had a surprisingly positive perspective on life," said Audrey Baron Dunning, who represented Plunkett at the appellate level and took his case to the Court of Appeals. "We always laughed whenever we talked." After his release, Plunkett became certified as a paralegal. Although the details of his passing are not fully known at this time, TheBody received confirmation from the Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office near his current home in Rome, New York. We will update this story with more information as it is received. "At 43 years old, I never imagined how different my life would be because of my arrest and incarceration," Plunkett said on the occasion of the 2014 release of a guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice on the need to reform or eliminate HIV criminalization laws. "I also never realized the stigma attached to those with HIV and especially those who also have a criminal record. I should have been able to focus on my health and career, not battling a system that incarcerates those who live with a chronic illness and remains uninformed about the nature and transmission of HIV." David contributed an essay to the catalog for Cell Count, an exhibit curated for Visual AIDS opening on May 31 in New York City. Plunkett's piece is below. "It's deeply unfortunate that David won't be there to feel the rallying support we hoped to provide for him and others through this project. I'm glad that he knew this was happening," said Asher Mones, one of the exhibition's curators. "He expressed a lot of joy knowing that people were organizing around reforming criminalization, and I think he would be happy to know that his story will not be lost." (TheBody thanks Brian Carmichael, an imprisoned artist living with HIV whose work will be featured in Cell Count, for informing us of Plunkett's passing.) Here is David Plunkett's essay on being criminalized in New York: I don't know how many young women come to this blog or how many are parents of teenage or young adult women, but here are some safety tips from Kelsey's Army: T I P S 1. Trust your instincts - If something feels wrong then something probably is wrong.2. Know your surroundings - know who and what is around you.3. Always have a plan for where you would go and what you would do if a situation arises.4. Be willing to make a scene in order to be noticed.5. Let someone know where you are going and when you will be back.Remember the acronym TIPS:ake Chargenform others of your whereaboutsrepare for any situationurvival Mentality (role play situations so you will respond should they happen)For more information, go to Kelsey's Army It's been 50 years since Jil Sander founded her own fashion house as a plucky twenty-something in postwar Germany, creating modern, minimalist clothes that would go on to redefine the working woman's wardrobe. But although she took her last runway bow in 2013, fashion's "Queen of Less" isn't resting on her laurels yet. The 74-year-old recently delved into her archives for her first-ever solo exhibition in Frankfurt, a large-scale retrospective spanning the breadth of her career and an unexpected move by the publicity-shy designer. "I was positively surprised by the fact that many of the designs didn't seem dated to me," Sander told AFP in a rare interview by email. The exhibition, whose six-month run ended this month, showcased everything from Sander's expertly tailored coats and dresses to her popular cosmetics line and artistic collaborations, highlighting her lasting impact on what is considered modern in fashion even today. Matthias Wagner K, the director of Frankfurt's Museum Angewandte Kunst (Museum of Applied Arts) who persuaded Sander to do the show, said the artist always had a knack for "capturing the zeitgeist" while staying true to herself. "To me, Jil Sander is one of the most important fashion designers of her generation," he said. Drawing over 100,000 visitors, the "Jil Sander: Present Tense" exhibition has been one of the museum's most successful to date and Wagner K is in talks to bring the show to Japan and the United States next. Read also: Fashion's invisible man Margiela lifts his veil (a little) - Practical business woman Just 24 years old when she created her label in her native Hamburg in 1968, Sander says it was her own need for elegant, no-nonsense business clothes that spurred her on. "In the 60s, as a woman, you couldn't find a decent pair of trousers. In order to be taken serious, I felt, I needed a less ornamented wardrobe." Marvelling now at the "naive confidence" with which she built her brand, she says she was emboldened by the sense of renewal that swept through Germany in the decades after World War II, "the hope that things could be constructed with the back to the past". Perhaps ahead of her time, it wasn't until the 1980s and 1990s that her muted palette and menswear-inspired look really took off, turning the Jil Sander name into a global brand. In 1999, Sander sold a controlling stake in her company to the Prada Group. Almost immediately, she fell out with her new bosses and famously quit soon after. She was wooed back in 2003 to boost disappointing sales, before walking out again the following year. The company then changed hands twice, with current owner, Tokyo-based Onward Holdings, buying it for 167 million euros in 2008. Sander returned to the label in 2012 but stepped down for good three seasons later, citing "personal reasons". According to German media she wanted to be with her long-term partner Angelica Mommsen, who was battling cancer and died in 2014. Sander says she still feels "very connected" to her eponymous brand despite no longer being professionally linked to it -- likening it to rooting for the children after a divorce. "You want them to strive and be in a good place." - Reluctant feminist Often hailed as a feminist icon for giving women a practical, feminine wardrobe that eschews overt sexiness, Sander herself demurs at the moniker. "I would hesitate to call myself a feminist, because my nature isn't militant. We should work together," Sander said, stressing that she "never felt at a disadvantage" to male colleagues. Sander says she has been "troubled" by the accounts of sexual harassment and assault in the fashion industry that have emerged in the #MeToo era -- setting her apart from compatriot Karl Lagerfeld who recently said he was "fed up" with the moaning. "It should be possible to deal respectfully with models," Sander said. Read also: Fashion label dies with us, say Dolce and Gabbana - New projects Despite retiring from her own brand, Sander isn't done nurturing her creative side. "My mind doesn't stop playing and experimenting with ideas," she said. She continues to visit textile fairs and is still "very much involved" with contemporary art, a longtime source of inspiration. And of course, she can't help but pay attention to what women are wearing today. "I'm happy to see that overdressing is no longer popular," she said. "You don't need much grooming, knowing what works for you and employing pieces with great fit and comfort, no matter how basic, does a lot." And while she made her name as a luxury designer, Sander insists quality doesn't have to be expensive. The low-cost clothes she designed for high-street retailer Uniqlo between 2009 and 2011 are among her all-time favourites, and she still wears them. "But I'm slowly getting desperate for new pieces." A gospel choir will sing Stand By Me at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding on Saturday, while a hymn sung at his mother Diana's funeral will trigger emotional memories. The ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle will be a traditional Church of England service, but US TV star Markle has ensured that her marriage into British royalty will have a strong American flavour. After a firebrand US preacher revs up the sermon, The Kingdom Choir will sing Stand By Me, the stirring, soulful tune released by Ben E. King in 1961, that topped the charts in both the United States and Britain. And the service will have further touching moments for Harry, being supported by his best man, brother Prince William. The last hymn before the newlyweds leave will be Guide me, O thou great redeemer -- the last hymn sung at their mother Diana, princess of Wales's funeral in 1997. The bride and groom have put their own modern twist on their big day. The music, the springtime flowers and lack of political bigwigs show they have set the tone and feel of the event, within the framework of a classic Anglican wedding ceremony. Printed before Markle's father Thomas definitively pulled out on Thursday having undergone heart surgery, the order of service says he will walk her down the aisle. Harry's father Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, will fill in. - 'Stand By Me' - David Conner, the Dean of Windsor who is the chapel's senior cleric, will give the introduction. "The gift of marriage brings husband and wife together in the delight and tenderness of sexual union and joyful commitment," he was to say. Conner will ask "anyone present who knows a reason why these persons may not lawfully marry, to declare it now". Assuming no objections, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury who is the Church of England's spiritual leader, will oversee the declarations. The couple will pledge to love, comfort, honour and protect each other, both using the answer "I will". Diana's sister Jane Fellowes will read from the Song of Solomon, before Michael Curry, the head of the Anglican church in the United States, gives the ceremony's main speech. A lively, animated speaker in the US tradition, the primate of the Episcopal Church will deliver his own address on the nature and duties of marriage. The church's first African-American leader, Curry could be the star turn in a setting more used to rigid formality. He is immediately followed by Stand By Me, the prelude to the couple exchanging their vows. The couple have chosen vows using modern rather than traditional language, meaning they will say "you" instead of "thee" and "thou". They have perhaps noted how several previous brides have muddled up the royals' multiple given names, so Markle will refer to the groom as simply Harry rather than Henry Charles Albert David. Read also: Guide to Britain's royal wedding on May 19 - Till death us do part - And like recent royal brides, Markle will not vow to "obey" her husband. They will pledge to take each other "to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part." Welby then declares them legally wed, saying: "I therefore proclaim that they are husband and wife." The prayers will be read by the Jamaican-born Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Queen Elizabeth II's chaplain, and Archbishop Anba Angaelos, the head of the Coptic church in Britain. Guide me, O thou great redeemer, the final hymn, was also the first hymn sung at the 2011 wedding of William and his wife Kate. The song is effectively a Welsh national hymn and is often sung at rugby internationals. It will be seen as a nod to Harry's 33 years as, formally, Prince Henry of Wales. The couple then go to sign the marriage register. When they return, the service will end with the national anthem, God Save the Queen. Harry will bow to Queen Elizabeth and his bride will curtsey as they leave, stepping out onto the church's West Steps to greet the world as husband and wife. A stream of news on terrorism has been part of our daily lives for the past few weeks. It is unavoidable as we need the information to help us stay alert and take safety precautions, but exposure to violence and terror can be harmful to young minds. According to psychcentral.com, children, especially those under 5-years-old, are the most vulnerable to this kind of exposure. They cannot understand and become frightened. Dr. Anita Gadhia-Smith, clinical social worker/therapist who is also the author of From Addiction to Recovery, shares a few tips as follows: - Limit their TV exposure time. - Encourage dialogue where they feel comfortable expressing their feelings and telling you what they are seeing and what their friends are talking about. - Convince them that you are someone they can talk to when they are scared, and that they can talk to other people they trust. - Give them space to build a bigger belief in themselves than fear. - Help them to have faith so that they understand that there is something big in charge of us. It is not just the bad guys who are in charge. The American Psychological Association as quoted by nytimes.com also recommends asking children how they feel about violent and terrorist-related news. Anne Marie Albano, a clinical psychologist and director of the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders, says that terrorists want to see the population change their practices. They hope that we will be forced to change our ways. Read also: How to spot and combat fake news Dr. Albano went on to say that if we go out of our way to avoid interacting with strangers, to refuse to take mass transportation, it could stoke fear and anxiety in children. Sean Rogers, a psychotherapist who works with children and teenagers also emphasizes the importance of listening to children. He told The Times on a Facebook live appearance that listening is curative, and that it is the basis of all therapies. (mut) Hardy campers and early risers turned the town of Windsor into a sea of red, white and blue on Saturday, bringing the carnival spirit ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. "It's like a fairytale" gasped one tourist as the first train from London pulled into the station -- rebranded as "Harry and Meghan Central" for the day -- in the shadow of Windsor Castle, where the wedding will take place. Throngs stepping off the train under cloudless skies were met by armed police, sniffer dogs and airport-style security scanners before hitting a wall of thousands of royal fanatics lining the procession route, many of whom had braved the cold and camped overnight. "It was so cold last night, I've not had one wink of sleep, but nobody gave up," pensioner Maureen Hayward, who arrived on Friday afternoon to stake out a spot, told AFP. "It was good, it was cold, but we all had a few drinks, tried to have a sleep but couldn't," said Pippa Natschall, who had travelled from Australia for the event. "There's only one toilet in the village, which was worse, there was a big line," added the 46-year-old, who had marked out her camp with Union Jack flags. Red, white and blue bunting festooned the quaint streets, with people dressing up for the special day. Two Canadians wore maple leaf onesies, one man dressed as Mr. Bean was entertaining the crowds while others were dressed from head to foot in the British and American flags as a town crier barked out a congratulatory message. The party started early for bleary-eyed fans on the first train from London's Paddington station as crowds packed onto the platform, although in true British tradition, the trip was delayed on departure. "I woke up at four in the morning when I was 12 to watch Princess Diana get married and I've been hooked ever since," Heather Miller, 49, from Colorado, told AFP as she waited for the train, wearing a Harry and Meghan t-shirt and a fascinator. She was accompanied by friend Karen Wallace, 53, originally from Chicago, and Miller's reluctant husband. "After the week she's had she needs some support," she added. "I think her half-siblings are so jealous -- they want their 15 minutes of fame." The wedding plans were thrown into disarray on Thursday when it was confirmed that Markle's father Thomas would not attend due to health problems after becoming caught up in a paparazzi fiasco. Her half-siblings also caused a stir with unflattering comments about the bride-to-be. The crowd in Windsor was expected to swell to around 100,000, with at least 5,000 journalists, according to Thames Valley Police. Some of the most fanatical supporters camped for days, watching as the security forces moved in to turn the picturesque town into an impregnable fortress. Huge barriers have been hauled into place to prevent a vehicle attack and many roads are now closed in the town of 30,000 inhabitants, 30 kilometres (19 miles) west of London. Snipers have also taken up positions on roofs. Early arrivers got a taste of the drama on Thursday, when Meghan and Harry arrived for a dress rehearsal, with the couple making a brief appearance, surprising crowds milling around the rehearsal route by pulling in to Windsor Castle via the famous Long Walk promenade. Retired nurse Cynthia Osborne travelled from her home in Cardiff, Wales to catch the train, wearing an array of Union Jack branded clothing and a Welsh dragon hat. As she waited for the train, an American visitor asked her for a photograph. "I think they're a little bit envious of us, not just the Americans but the Europeans too," she said. "I think this brings people together." Royal fans gather outside Windsor Castle ahead of the wedding of Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Windsor, on May 19, 2018. (AFP/Phil Noble/POOL) Read also: Invited to the royal wedding? Pack your picnic The circus arriving in town was also good news for local retailers, many of whom had set up tables outside their shops, covered with Union Jack towels and flags, and Harry and Meghan t-shirts. "It's going to be a lovely day, but I don't think I'll be able to retire" on the profits, joked shopkeeper Irshan, who had entered the party spirit with a Union Jack turban. Meghan Markle will begin her walk down the aisle on her own when she marries Prince Harry before being joined by his father Prince Charles, officials said Friday after a last-minute upset when her own dad pulled out. Despite sadness at her father Thomas Markle's absence, the US former actress said she felt "wonderful" as she and her mother Doria Ragland arrived at the plush Cliveden House Hotel to spend the night before the wedding. Meanwhile Harry and his best man, brother Prince William, went to greet the crowds outside Windsor Castle, where many will spend the night to secure a good spot for Saturday's events. Thomas Markle will not be escorting his daughter at St. George's Chapel as planned, after he underwent a heart operation and became mired in a row over staged press photos. Despite speculation that Ragland could step in, the palace said the bride had asked her future father-in-law to do so. "The Prince of Wales is pleased to be able to welcome Ms Markle to the royal family in this way," a spokesman for Kensington Palace added. It later emerged that Markle will start walking down the aisle on her own, followed by six bridesmaids and four pageboys, before being joined by Charles, the heir to the throne. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who will marry the couple, said Friday they were "very sensible" and "self-possessed". "There's profound affection between them which is wonderful and a deep understanding and mutual support," he said. "You see (it) in the way they respond to each other, caring for each other." Father 'honoured and grateful' In the wedding build-up, Kensington Palace appears to have been caught off guard by the chaos surrounding the Markle family. Thomas Markle complained about paparazzi hounding at his home in Mexico before staging his own photos. The apparent bid to control his own image backfired badly. Two of his children -- Meghan's half-siblings, who have not been invited -- have also caused a stir by repeatedly speaking out about her in the media, and not always in the most flattering terms. "Kensington Palace has missed a trick with the whole family," royal biographer Penny Junor told AFP, saying it might have been prudent to invite them. "They are very ordinary people, the Markles, leading very ordinary lives -- and totally ill-prepared for what has hit them." A recovering Thomas Markle told US celebrity news website TMZ that he was "honoured and grateful" that Charles would give his daughter away. He said he would "proudly" watch the wedding on television "in a secluded place with friends". The 73-year-old said he had spoken with his daughter and Harry and hoped to visit them soon. Impromptu walkabout The bride and groom went to Windsor Castle on Friday to join Queen Elizabeth II for tea with Ragland. Harry and William later delighted crowds of well-wishers outside the castle. The brothers walked along a line of flag-waving spectators, shaking hands and chatting. When asked how he was feeling, Harry, sixth in line to the throne, replied: "Great." The 33-year-old told a woman who had travelled from Toronto: "Thank you so much for coming all this way." Harry sported a neatly-trimmed beard, triggering suggestions that he would not be wearing army uniform for his wedding. Meanwhile Markle, wearing a black dress, said she was feeling "wonderful", as she arrived at her overnight hotel. Harry and William are staying at the Coworth Park hotel. Harry's close friend Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, with whom he established a charity helping the country's AIDS orphans, said the African kingdom wanted the newlyweds to visit. "Harry's Harry. He doesnt fit any mould," he told ITV television. "That inner child in him is visible. "For us, Harry is one of us. His taking a person who has African roots again cements our love for Harry and his respect for the African continent." Read also: Britain's Prince Charles to walk Meghan Markle down the aisle at royal wedding 'Ethereal' cake In east London, the Violet Bakery was on Friday applying finishing touches to the wedding cake, an "ethereal" lemon and elderflower creation. Security measures in Windsor, meanwhile, have transformed the picturesque town into a fortress, with snipers posted on building roofs. Around 100,000 spectators are expected to turn out. Diehard royalists have been camping out along the carriage route to secure the best viewing spots. "I came here on Wednesday with all my friends," Sam Perez, 50, from New York, told AFP outside the castle gates where he had set up camp. "We're going to party tonight," he added. "The people from the town, they're really, really good, they bring coffee, cookies, hot tea." Britain's Prince Harry and US TV star Meghan Markle tie the knot on Saturday in a globally-watched ceremony at Windsor Castle filled with traditional pomp and modern twists. Some 100,000 people were expected in picturesque Windsor, west of London, for the historic moment and street parties were being readied around the kingdom. Thousands of fans, many decked out in royalist paraphernalia, camped in the town overnight or arrived on the first trains from London, pulling into a station renamed "Harry and Meghan Central" for the day. From Markle's native Los Angeles to Queen Elizabeth II's scattered realms, royal watchers were also set to tune in to see the grand-scale event. The service at noon (1100 GMT) inside Windsor Castle will marry the old and the new -- a traditional Church of England wedding but with unusual turns including a gospel choir singing "Stand By Me" and a lively US pastor delivering the address. Ahead of the nuptials, Queen Elizabeth granted Harry and Meghan the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex. It is the last big royal wedding of 92-year-old Queen Elizabeth's reign and the last on this scale for a generation until Prince William's children, Harry's niece and nephews, tie the knot. Markle, 36, is to start her walk down the St. George's Chapel aisle on her own, interpreted by some commentators as a sign of her feminist credentials. Besides starring in the US legal drama "Suits", she was also a United Nations advocate for women's empowerment. Her father Thomas Markle, recovering from a heart operation in Mexico, pulled out on Thursday -- though he still appears in the printed order of service. The reclusive Emmy Award-winning former television lighting director was caught in a fiasco, posing for staged photographs after complaining of media harassment, then performing several U-turns over whether he would attend. In her father's absence, Markle has asked Harry and his best man William's "Papa" Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, to bring her to the altar. Besides royalty, the wedding will be attended by celebrities including Markle's former "Suits" co-stars. Read also: Gospel choir to bring soul to royal wedding - Profound affection - Before they retired for the night in separate hotels, Harry, 33, told well-wishers he was feeling "great", while Markle said she felt "wonderful". The couple met on a blind date in July 2016 and quickly had a whirlwind romance, criss-crossing the Atlantic as she continued filming "Suits" in Toronto. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who will marry the couple, said they were "very sensible" and "self-possessed". "There's profound affection between them which is wonderful and a deep understanding and mutual support," he said. The groom, officially Prince Henry of Wales, is expected to be given a new title to mark his wedding day. Following the service, the bride and groom will ride through Windsor in an open-top carriage. Royal fans camped out for several nights for a front-row view. Singing and laughing, Audrey Wilde, 66, from Newcastle in northeast England, wore a black t-shirt with the British flag featuring the couple on it. "We want to be the nearest we can so we needed to get up early!" she told AFP. "The atmosphere will be electrifying!" Karen Wallace, 53, from Chicago, said she wanted to give the bride some backing after the so-called Markle debacle over her father. "After the week she's had, she needs some support," she said. "I think her half siblings are so jealous -- they want their 15 minutes of fame." Retired nurse Cynthia Osborne, from Cardiff, wore a Welsh dragon hat. "I think they're a little bit envious of us, not just the Americans but the Europeans too," she said of the international attention. Read also: Capturing hearts and TV ratings: Britain's glittering royal weddings - Stars were aligned - Markle, a biracial divorcee from Los Angeles, is seen as a breath of fresh air for a royal family often seen as overly traditional. "I think it's really nice that he's marrying someone that's representative of modern society," said Sam Lukes, 28, who came from nearby Reading to see the procession. But feuding in Markle's fractious family overshadowed the wedding build-up. Her estranged older half-siblings, who have not been invited, have been regularly popping up and venting forth on multiple media outlets. Meanwhile her even more distant half-brother's ex-wife and son Tyler, a cannabis farmer, have jetted into Britain to make merry beyond the castle walls. When Harry and Markle met, she was a divorcee of three years; he had a few foundered relationships and his 10-year army career recently behind him. Harry was scarred by his mother Diana's death in a Paris car crash in 1997 when he was just 12, and he had to mourn in the full glare of the world's media and got close to breakdown in his rebellious youth. Markle has had her own share of heartbreak. She married producer Trevor Engelson in 2011 but the relationship collapsed in 2013 after she moved to Toronto. Security was tight in Windsor ahead of the event, with armed police officers and snipers posted around the town. The event is a welcome respite for a country still burdened by austerity and deeply divided over Brexit, although polls have shown that only around a third of the population is interested in the wedding. Even sceptical Britons can at least rest assured of a financial boon from the nuptials, with Brand Finance estimating a benefit to the economy of around 1.0 billion (1.1 billion euros, $1.3 billion). African-American bishop Michael Curry electrified the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with a 14-minute, barnstorming sermon on the power of love that won smiles in the ancient British chapel and praise across the internet. Curry, the first black head of the Episcopal Church in the United States, started by quoting civil rights hero Dr Martin Luther King and powered on citing spirituals, medieval poetry and the experiences of slaves in the American south. "Theres power in love. Do not underestimate it. Anyone who has ever fallen in love knows what I mean," he said at the start of an address that jolted the congregation after a long period of serene choral music and formal ceremony. By the end, he was referring to Harry and Meghan as "my brother, my sister," and telling them "God love you, God bless you" before the opening notes of the soul standard Stand By Me started up. Meghan smiled throughout as Harry looked on intently. Members of the royal family, including Harry's brother Prince William and cousin Princess Beatrice, could be seen on TV smiling during the lengthy address. The reaction online was overwhelmingly positive. "Quoting Dr. Martin Luther King from the altar of a British royal wedding. This sermon by Rev Michael Bruce Curry is very American, very boisterous, very passionate. Love it," said New York Times reporter Katie Rosman on Twitter. Karen Attiah, Global Opinions Editor of the Washington Post, called the whole wedding "an overt celebration of black American culture". "I wrote back in the fall that I didnt think Meghan (Markle) was going to be very outspoken about race once she married into the royal family. Maybe she will prove me wrong?," Attiah tweeted. Read also: Harry and Meghan hold hands at emotional wedding service "Discover love" Barely glancing at the transcript of his speech on a tablet computer in front of him, Curry talked directly to a congregation that included Queen Elizabeth and celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Elton John and David Beckham. He told them that love was not just for married couples but part of God's plan with the power to change lives. "Dr King was right. We must discover love, the redemptive power of love, and when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world," Curry said in hushed tones, grasping the lectern. "Imagine our neighborhoods and communities when love is the way. Imagine our governments and countries when love is the way," he said in a rare nod to politics in a highly orchestrated British state occasion. The Episcopal Church - the U.S. arm of the Anglican Communion which also includes the Church of England, headed by the Queen has taken a strongly liberal stand on social issues, including gay marriage which it allows. Curry was born in Chicago in 1953 and went on to become the bishop of North Carolina. At his installation at the head if the Episcopal church in 2015, he called for economic and racial unity at a time of rising racial tensions. In 2016 he said he lamented the decision by the wider Anglican Communion to slap sanctions on the U.S. church over its support of gay marriage. Take a boat out to sea an hour from Boston and whale lovers are in for a treat. The vast Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is one of the best whale-watching spots in the world, with a high concentration of humpback, sei and minke whales, as well as the endangered fin whales. The humpbacks are the most popular, easily identifiable by their long fins that generate easy maneuverability and see them loved for their acrobatics. More than 40 feet (12 meters) long and numbering 1,500 to 2,000 in the North Atlantic, visitors can watch them hunt sand eels using a technique known as "bubble netting," said New England Aquarium spokesman Tony LaCasse. Two or three humpbacks will work together, encircle a school of sand eels, while one dives to the bottom to blow bubbles. The eels will be fearful and make a tighter school, and another whale will dive in -- and swallow a giant mouthful of the little fish. Eels that escape are caught by seagulls, who perch on top of the whales, ready to ambush. Harder to spot so close to the coast are sei whales, longer and slimmer than the humpback but no less spectacular. Read also: Does size matter? The charm of Papua's whale sharks Around 30 of the threatened species were visible in mid-April, a rare concentration so close to the mainland, LaCasse said. Usually, only up to a dozen are spotted each season hunting down copepods, a group of small crustaceans, found in the waters of Cape Cod. Only the luckiest get to see the right whale, which can weigh up to 70 tonnes. It's an almost extinct species, with only around 430 left in the North Atlantic after decades upon decades of hunting. Boats are not allowed to approach closer than 500 yards (meters). There was silence along the Long Walk in Windsor as thousands of well-wishers listened to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle say their vows -- then the crowd erupted into cheers and popped prosecco corks as they were declared husband and wife. Crowds of colourful royal enthusiasts from around the world flocked to the historic British town on Saturday, many of them gathering on the tree-lined avenue leading up to the castle. People from as far afield as Canada, Australia and the Philippines waved Union Jack flags, donned tiaras, royal t-shirts hats and scarves, cheering and dancing as they watched the ceremony on big screens. "She looks beautiful -- it's a timeless dress," said Denise Show, 46, from southeast England, as Markle emerged in a white sculpted gown with a long veil stretching out behind her. When the choir in St George's Chapel sang "Stand by Me", the crowds outside joined in. The Long Walk was transformed into a sea of Union Jack flags when the national anthem played. "It's like a dream," said Theodora Torres, 71, who came from Los Angeles with her husband. Harry and Meghan drew huge cheers when they went past in an open-topped horse-drawn carriage after the wedding, escorted by soldiers in gleaming ceremonial uniforms. Three royal fans in their 50s in wedding dresses waited for the prince at the castle gates, with signs on their backs saying: "Harry I'm here". "My husband knows I'm here but he doesn't know what I'm wearing," joked Lorraine Rains, 57, from St Helens in northwest England. Karen Long, from the US state of Texas, said she felt compelled to come to Britain for the big occasion given Markle's American nationality. "I feel like she is one of us!" she said. "We all wanted to be a princess, we thought we couldn't and there she is, breaking all the barriers." Two Canadians wore maple leaf onesies, while others were clad from head to foot in the British and American flags as a town crier barked out a congratulatory message. "We have travelled a long way for a very, very exciting event," said Jessica Kirsopp, a 31-year-old childcare worker from Australia. "It's something that is probably not going to happen for a little bit, until (Prince Harry's young nephew Prince) George gets married or there's another coronation." Read also: Sealed with a kiss, Harry and Meghan are married Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex ride in the Ascot Landau Carriage during their carriage procession on Castle Hill outside Windsor Castle in Windsor, on May 19, 2018 after their wedding ceremony. (AFP/Andrew Matthews/Pool) - Fanatics camp out - Some of the most fanatical supporters camped for days, seeking to secure the best spots to watch the happy couple ride by. "I know it is going to sound very creepy but I would love to touch them -- just shake their hand," said Kristen Henry, 34, a radio host who had travelled from Australia. Armed police, sniffer dogs and airport-style security scanners were deployed throughout the town, while huge barriers were hauled into place to prevent a vehicle attack. Police patrolling the parade route Saturday were applauded by crowds, as snipers took up positions on numerous roofs. Adele McNally, 67, one of the "royal ambassadors", volunteers drawn from the local community to assist spectators, said she was happy to miss out on seeing the ceremony and procession in order to help. "Being a part of it will be lovely," she said. "It's what being British is all about." One of the largest cheers from the crowds came when Prince Charles stepped forward to accompany Markle down the aisle, after her own father Thomas pulled out due to ill-health. However, she made part of the journey through the church on her own -- something many in the crowd applauded. "I think that shows she is a strong independent woman and it puts (a) great message across," said student Mary Grimes, 19. There were also audible sighs when the big screen focused on Markle's mother Doria Ragland, who was visibly moved by the ceremony. Meghan Markle picked Paris fashion house Givenchys Clare Waight Keller to design her royal wedding dress, a boost for the British designer who is the companys first female artistic director since its founding in 1952. Waight Kellers timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring, and relaxed demeanor played a role in Markles selection, Kensington Palace said in a statement on its website as the American actress married Prince Harry at St. Georges Chapel in Windsor Saturday. Markle also wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent and the two worked closely together, according to the statement. We wanted to create a timeless piece that would emphasize the iconic codes of Givenchy throughout its history, as well as convey modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts, Waight Keller said in an emailed statement. She was appointed last year as artistic director of Givenchy, one of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuittons key fashion brands, after serving as creative head of Chloe and Pringle of Scotland. Markle, the newly titled Duchess of Sussex, has set herself apart from previous royal brides by choosing a dress that was extremely pared back, refined, with no lace or embroidery, said Hugo Toucas, a celebrity stylist based in Paris. Its classic but at the same time very modern, Toucas added. Its unexpected in its simplicity. At Markles request, Waight Keller also designed the brides veil, which included floral designs representing all 53 of the Commonwealth nations. Read also: Sculpted simplicity: Givenchy designs Markle's wedding dress Givenchy is one of the 70 houses controlled by LVMH, including Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton and Fendi. The brand became synonymous with modern elegance in the mid-20th century as the favored couturier of Jackie Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn. Founder Hubert de Givenchy, who sold the fashion house to LVMH in 1988, died in March at 91 years old. Givenchy grew strongly under the guidance of Waight Kellers predecessor Riccardo Tisci, a favored designer of pop icons like Beyonce and who designed the wedding dress for Instagram and reality-TV star Kim Kardashian. With Markles wedding dress, Waight Keller is marking her territory at Givenchy, announcing to the world a clear break with the aesthetic that Tisci had created for the house, Toucas said. The fashion house has 50 directly operated stores and is present in 69 countries, according to the LVMH website. It plans to open more than 20 boutiques a year as it seeks to continue its overseas expansion by focusing on the U.S., Middle East, Europe and Asia. LVMH shares have risen 26 percent this year amid strong first quarter sales underpinned by demand from China. The royal wedding was seen as a moment of modernization for the royal family. It was a melding of cultures and, while still steeped in tradition, often broke from the expected. One such surprise was the brides wedding gown, the singular defining style the world was waiting to see. And it was no fairy tale princess dress. Meghan Markle chose a simple, sculptural design by Givenchy that was absolutely elegant. Made of double bonded silk cady, it had a wide bateau neck just easing over the edge of each shoulder. It was topped by a five-meter-long veil of silk tulle trimmed in hand-embroidered flowers. The American brides flowing train heightened the drama as she strode past the friends, family and celebrities in attendance to meet Prince Harry in St. Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle. Other couture labels got shout-outs at the wedding as well, thanks to the star-studded guest list. Their entrances had all the buzz of a Hollywood red carpet. Serena Williams wore a pink Versace dress, Amal Clooney wore custom Stella McCartney, and Priyanka Chopra wore a grey suit from Vivienne Westwood. But Meghan was the star. A royal wedding-stamp of approval means spectacular exposure for a fashion designer, given the familys powerful influence on fashion as representatives of sophistication and glamour. When Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, or Markle, her new sister-in-law, wear an outfit in public, its quickly dissected by the glossies and made shoppable for all thanks to an army of knockoffs. This massive commercial enterprise even applies to the clothing worn by the royal children, seen at the wedding Saturday trailing Markle down the aisle. Of course, all of these items often sell out in a hurry. For designers, its not just money that flows from the sartorial choices of the royalstheres also recognition. In 2011, Kate Middleton wore a dress by Sarah Burton, creative director of Alexander McQueen, when she tied the knot with Prince William. Burton won designer of the year accolades at that years British Fashion Awards and The Fashion Museum Bath declared her creation the dress of the year. Read also: Fans cheer and stars gather to celebrate Harry and Meghan's wedding Rumors about what Markle would wear ran rampant in the months before the event, with tabloid and fashion magazine reports that she would don a number from London label Ralph & Russo, British designer Stella McCartney or storied fashion brand Burberry. Gamblers placed bets on whod end up designing the dress (the royals were expected to attract a total of $4 million in various bets this year). Vogue Paris told the to-be Duchess to listen up and suggested haute couture looks from Christian Dior, Chanel and Valentino. Markles dress is now such a cultural focal point that even before the wedding copycats prepared to duplicate it. Los Angeles-based bridal brand Floravere announced in the run-up to the wedding that itd be designing its own remake of the gown immediately following the nuptials. Itll have a sample conjured in less than a week. Dresses will be available for purchase within six to eight weeks. Fashion critics loved Markles choice of Givenchy. The New York Times Vanessa Friedman said it was everything people had hoped. The Washington Posts Robin Givhan pronounced it very chic. After the ceremony, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex got in a carriage, waved to the throngs gathered as they rolled past, then returned to a lunch with their wedding guests of slow-roasted pork belly, fine wines and lemon elderflower cake. Traditionally, the royals eat fruit cake at their weddings. Yet another tradition set aside on a day that saw many discarded as the British monarchy continued its pivot into the 21st century. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung, West Java Sat, May 19, 2018 07:33 1240 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e4e2e2f 1 National bandung,zoo,deer,bears Free Bandung Zoo in West Java and Surakarta Zoo in Central Java are set to exchange Javan rusa deer for breeding purposes. Of the 15 deer at Bandung Zoo, three males will be sent to Surakarta Zoo in exchange for one male and two females. An earlier study on the Bogor Palaces collection of spotted deer suggested that to prevent inbreeding, [the palace] would need 400 more deer. Bandung Zoo didnt have enough deer to prevent inbreeding, thats why we are exchanging deer, Bandung Zoo curator Panji Ahmad Fauzan said in Bandung on Friday. Inbreeding increases the chances of offspring being affected by deleterious or undesired recessive traits. We are exchanging deer to prevent [their offspring] from being affected by harmful traits. Every conservation body needs to do this, he said. Bandung Zoo marketing communications officer Sulhan Syafii said an exchange agreement was signed in November 2017. However, the plan only materialized in May. We were waiting for approval from the Natural Resources and Ecosystem Directorate General because the deer are a protected animal, Sulhan said. Bandung Zoo also agreed to give Surakarta Zoo a 9-year-old female sun bear as a gift. The animals will be transported at night to prevent them from suffering from dehydration. (swd) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, May 19, 2018 08:04 1240 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e4e4d61 1 City East-Jakarta,subdistrict,office,rent Free Jatinegara subdistrict in East Jakarta is in limbo over its office, as its new building is under construction while it cannot afford the rent at its temporary premises in a rented house on Jl. Puskesmas. East Jakarta official Dewi Purnamasari said the subdistrict could only afford rent until June. We have tried negotiating with the landlord saying that we do not have the available funds for the rent just yet. Even if funds are made available they would only be approved in November. However, the landlord is demanding payment before then, she said in a video uploaded to the Jakarta administration's YouTube account. The worst case scenario is that we will have to pay the rent using our own money. We are still trying to deliver services for residents, Dewi said as quoted by kompas.com on Thursday. She said another option was to rent a building belonging to PT Jakarta Industrial Estate Pulogadung (JIEP), a city-owned company. The company asked for Rp 30 million (US$2,118) per year as rent. Jakarta official Saefullah said government officials should not use their private money to pay for office rental. Saefullah urged the East Jakarta administration to request Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to send a letter to PT JIEP requesting that it allow one of its assets to be used by the Jatinegara subdistrict office. (ami) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, May 19, 2018 10:02 1240 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e4eb93f 1 City brawl,teenagers,Tangerang Free At least seven junior high school students have been arrested by the Tangerang Police in Banten, as a clash between groups of youths broke out in the wee hours of Friday on Jl. Baru in Kelapa Indah subdistrict. Tangerang Police chief Comr. Ewo Samono said all of the people arrested were students from several senior high schools in Tangerang. They were reportedly carrying sharp weapons during the brawl. We seized four sickles during the arrest, Ewo said on Friday, as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com. The seven youths were from Kampung Buaran, Tangerang. We arrested the teenagers during Operasi Cipta Kondisi [public safety operation], Ewo said, The teenagers along with the evidence were taken to the Tangerang Police station [for further investigation], he added. (vny) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, May 19, 2018 18:17 1240 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e4ff0f3 1 City mosque,Monas,monas-park,Ramadan-2018,tarawih Free The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has questioned the Jakarta administration's plan to hold a mass tarawih (evening Ramadan prayers) at the National Monument (Monas) compound and has suggested relocating it to mosques instead. The administration has announced its intention to hold the mass prayer at Monas on May 26. Governor Anies Baswedan previously revised a law that prohibited religious activities from being held at the iconic location. According to Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno, the reason behind the decision to hold the mass night prayer at Monas was because Monas is a symbol of Jakarta and a symbol of unity. This reasoning was questioned by one of MUI's leaders Cholil Nafis. I doubt that the reason for holding the tarawih at Monas is for unity. Wheres the logic in that?, which community needs to be united when only muslims will attend the event? he said Saturday, as quoted by kompas.com. He added that it would be better to observe the prayer at the right place, in mosques. Dont use religious services as a tool to show off, Cholil said. MUI's deputy secretary general Amirsyah Tambunan agreed with Cholil, saying it would be more solemn to perform the prayer in mosques. "There is nothing wrong [with holding the mass prayer at Monas] of course, but it's better [to perform prayers] at mosques," he said, adding that prayers were supposed to be performed at mosques, which were specifically designed for prayers. Besides, according to Amirsyah, conducting the prayer at mosques would provide an opportunity for Jakarta's officials to extend silaturahmi (islamic brotherhood) to members of the mosques as well as better understand the condition of mosques in the city. (Fac) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Alexandre Grosbois (Agence France-Presse) Havana Sat, May 19, 2018 13:46 1240 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e4f0b0f 2 World plane-crash,Cuba,mourning,aviation,accident Free Cuba begins two days of national mourning Saturday for victims of the crash of a state airways plane that killed all but three of its 110 passengers and crew. President Miguel Diaz-Canel said an investigation was under way into Friday's crash of the nearly 40-year-old Boeing 737, leased to the national carrier Cubana de Aviacion by a Mexican company. Three women pulled alive from the mangled wreckage are the only known survivors. The Boeing crashed shortly after taking off from Jose Marti airport, coming down in a field near the airport and sending a thick column of acrid smoke into the air. The mourning period is to last from 6:00 am (1000 GMT) Saturday to midnight on Sunday, the Communist Party leader and former president Raul Castro said. Flags are to be flown at half-mast throughout the country. The plane was on an internal flight from Havana to the eastern city of Holguin. Most of the passengers were Cuban, with five foreigners, including two Argentines, among them. The plane -- carrying 104 passengers -- was almost completely destroyed in the crash and subsequent fire. Firefighters raced to the scene put out the blaze along with a fleet of ambulances to assist any survivors. What appeared to be one of the wings of the plane was wedged among scorched tree trunks, but the main fuselage was almost entirely destroyed. Built in 1979, the plane was leased from a small Mexican company, Global Air, also known as Aerolineas Damoj. Mexico said it was sending two civil aviation specialists to help in the investigation. The six crew members were Mexican nationals. A press conference is scheduled for 1900 GMT. The 58-year-old Diaz-Canel, who succeeded Castro as the communist island's leader only last month, appeared aghast as he surveyed the recovery efforts, wearing a short-sleeved green shirt and surrounded by officials. Castro sent condolences to families of the victims of the "catastrophic accident," a statement read, as Russian President Vladimir Putin and a string of Latin American leaders also expressed sympathy. The plane took off from Havana at 12:08 pm (1608 GMT) Friday heading for Holguin, 670 kilometers (415 miles) to the east. From the supermarket where he works near the airport, Jose Luis, 49, said he could see the plane taking off before it banked and plunged to the ground. "I saw it taking off. All of a sudden, it made a turn, and went down. We were all amazed," he said. Yasniel Diaz, a 21-year-old musician, said the pilot appeared to attempt an emergency landing, but crashed instead. "The explosion shook everything," he said. "I started running, I was so afraid." Images from Cuban television showed rescue workers at the scene removing what appeared to be a survivor on a stretcher as rain began to fall. Global Air said the plane was flying with a crew of six Mexicans -- the pilot, co-pilot, three flight attendants and a maintenance technician. In Mexico City, anguished relatives and colleagues of the crew gathered outside the company's offices demanding information -- some of them hugging and crying. "I was friends with the captain, with the co-pilot, with the head flight attendant," said a former Global Air employee, 44-year-old Ana Marlene Covarrubias. "When I heard the news on the phone, I thought it was one of those jokes people play," she told AFP. The Mexican communications and transportation ministry said the plane was built in 1979. Global Air had the necessary permits to lease it, and had passed inspections in November last year, it said. The company, formed in 1990, had a fleet of three planes, all Boeing 737s. Prior to Friday's crash, Cuba's most recent air accident occurred in April 2017, when eight military personnel died when a Russian-made AN-26 transport aircraft went down in western Cuba. The country's last major airline disaster was in November 2010 when a Cuban Aerocaribbean jet crashed on a flight from Santiago de Cuba to Havana, killing all 68 people on board, including 28 foreigners. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Bandung Sat, May 19 2018 Bandung Zoo in West Java and Surakarta Zoo in Central Java are set to exchange Javan rusa deer for breeding purposes. Of the 15 deer at Bandung Zoo, three males will be sent to Surakarta Zoo in exchange for one male and two females. An earlier study on the Bogor Palaces collection of spotted deer suggested that to prevent inbreeding, [the palace] would need 400 more deer. Bandung Zoo didnt have enough deer to prevent inbreeding, thats why we are exchanging deer, Bandung Zoo curator Panji Ahmad Fauzan said in Bandung on Friday. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, May 19, 2018 13:36 1240 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e4f08df 1 National niqab,Lukman-Hakim-Saifuddin,Religious-Affairs-Ministry,Islam,prejudice Free Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin has called on the public to respect Muslims who choose to wear niqab amid rising security concerns over the use of the face veil on the heels of a series of deadly bombings in East Java. We have to respect those who wear niqab, just as we respect those who wear other religious attributes, the minister said as quoted by Antara on Friday. Lukman acknowledged that the bombings in Surabaya had triggered suspicions against women in niqab. It was reported that the female members of the family responsible for the bombings at three churches in Surabaya last Sunday wore face veils when they carried out the attack. The female suicide bombers have been identified as Puji Kuswati and her two daughters. Puji did not usually wear niqab, her neighbors said. The minister said it was unfair to generalize all niqab-wearing Muslims as terrorists, as those who wore them believed it was a religious obligation. Most Indonesian Muslims practice a moderate form of Islam and believe that wearing niqab is not compulsory or even excessive. However the Muslim garment has become more popular in recent years, with women wearing the veil now more visible in public spaces, particularly universities. Lukman encouraged niqab-wearing women to mingle with their community to avoid suspicion, saying that mutual respect was what was needed now. Both sides have the obligation to create a sense of security. (ahw) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Alexandre Grosbosis (Agence France-Presse) Havana Sat, May 19, 2018 07:36 1240 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e4e36bc 2 World plane-crash,aviation,Crash,Cuba Free A Cuban state airways plane with 110 passengers and crew on board crashed shortly after taking off from Havana Friday, leaving a mass of twisted and smoldering fuselage, as the country's president warned many people were feared dead. Cuban state media reported that three people had been pulled alive from the mangled wreckage and were in critical condition in hospital. There was no other official mention of survivors from a nearly 40-year-old Boeing 737 operated by Cubana de Aviacion, which crashed into a field close to a wooded area near Havana's Jose Marti airport, sending a thick column of acrid smoke into the air. The 110 aboard included six Mexican crew, said Aerolineas Damojh, the Mexican-based company that leased the plane to the Cuban carrier. The plane -- carrying 104 passengers -- was almost completely destroyed in the crash and subsequent fire, which was put out by firefighters who raced to the scene along with a fleet of ambulances. Emergency personnel combed through the wreckage, lending little hope that there could be other survivors. "Three passengers managed to survive the accident. They are in a critical condition. They are already in hospital," the state newspaper Granma said. What appeared to be one of the wings of the plane was wedged among scorched tree trunks, but the main fuselage was almost entirely destroyed. Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who went to visit the scene, told AFP there was a large number of casualties. "There has been an unfortunate aviation accident. The news is not very promising -- it seems that there is a high number of victims," Diaz-Canel said. The president said nine crew members were believed to have been on board, but he was unsure if they had been included in the total of 104 passengers. The 58-year-old president, who succeeded Raul Castro as the island's leader only last month, appeared aghast as he surveyed the recovery efforts, wearing a short-sleeved green shirt and surrounded by officials. In a statement later, the president said an investigation into the cause of the accident was underway. "The bodies are being identified. The ministry of transport has set up a commission to investigate the facts. We will gather all the relevant information and we will communicate that to the people as soon as we will get it," he said. Mexico's government said the plane was built in 1979 and said it had a crew of five Mexicans -- the pilot, co-pilot, and three flight attendants. However, in a later statement, Aerolineas Damojh said a maintenance technician was also on board. Aerolineas Damojh, also known as Global Air, is a charter company formed in 1990 that had a fleet of three planes. Mexico's ministry of communications and transportation said the plane had passed inspections in November last year. Airport sources said the plane took off at 12:08 pm (1608 GMT) heading for the eastern city of Holguin, 670 kilometers (about 415 miles) away. From the supermarket where he works near the airport, Jose Luis, 49, said he could see the plane taking off before it banked and plunged to the ground. "I saw it taking off. All of a sudden, it made a turn, and went down. We were all amazed," he said. Images from Cuban television showed rescue workers at the scene removing what appeared to be a survivor on a stretcher as rain began to fall. Prior to Friday's crash, Cuba's most recent air accident occurred in April, 2017. Eight military personnel died when a Russian-made AN-26 transport aircraft went down in western Cuba. The country's last major airline disaster was in November 2010 when a Cuban Aerocaribbean airliner crashed while on a flight from Santiago de Cuba to Havana, killing all 68 people on board, including 28 foreigners. In July 1997, an Antonov-24 passenger plane crashed into the sea off Santiago de Cuba. All 44 aboard were killed, including two Brazilians and two Spaniards. In March 2002, a small Antonov-2 plane travelling from Cienfuegos to Cayo Coco crashed in the central province of Santa Clara. All 16 people aboard, among them six Canadian tourists, four Britons and two Germans, were killed. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Dubai Sat, May 19, 2018 15:51 1240 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e4f36f0 2 World Saudi-Arabia,driving,lawyers,arrest,conservatism,gender Free Saudi authorities have arrested seven prominent women's rights advocates, just weeks before the kingdom's longstanding driving ban on women is set to be lifted, Human Rights Watch said Saturday. Without identifying those detained, Saudi Arabia's state security apparatus said seven people had been arrested for "attempting to undermine the security and stability of the kingdom... and to erode national unity". "Work is still underway to identify everyone involved" and take legal measures against them, a security spokesman said in a statement published Saturday by state news agency SPA. Those arrested are facing accusations including making "suspicious contact with foreign parties", providing financial support to "hostile elements abroad" and recruiting government workers. The crackdown comes even as the kingdom breaks with long-held restrictions on women, with the driving ban slated to end June 24. But there were warnings that Riyadh would not tolerate those pushing for change outside its authority. Activists told HRW that in September 2017, "the royal court had called the country's prominent activists... and warned them not to speak to the media." "The calls were made the same day the authorities announced that they would lift the driving ban on women," the watchdog said. The detainees rounded up since May 15 include Loujain al-Hathloul, Aziza al-Yousef and Eman al-Nafjan, women who have long opposed the driving ban and who continue to oppose the kingdom's enduring guardianship laws. Saudi Arabia's guardianship system requires women to obtain permission from their fathers, brothers, husbands or even sons for a host of life decisions. "Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's 'reform campaign' has been a frenzy of fear for genuine Saudi reformers who dare to advocate publicly for human rights or women's empowerment," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at HRW. "It appears the only 'crime' these activists committed was wanting women to drive before Mohammed bin Salman did," she said. Activists Hathloul and Nafjan in 2016 signed a petition to abolish Saudi Arabia's male guardianship system, according to HRW. They also participated in a campaign against the driving ban, before a royal decree announced it would be lifted. Hathloul was previously arrested at age 25 when she drove from the neighbouring United Arab Emirates to the Saudi land border in November 2014, HRW said. She was held in juvenile detention for 73 days. The detainees also include a semi-retired lawyer who has stepped in to represent Saudi human rights advocates in recent years, according to activists. Saudi Arabia's 32-year-old crown prince is seen as the force behind a series of reforms including those aimed at getting women into work. Women now no longer need male permission to start a business and scrapping the driving ban next month will give them the much-needed mobility to join the workforce. But Saudi activists say social change will only be cosmetic without dismantling the kingdom's guardianship system. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Daniel Kramer and Chris Lefkow (Agence France-Presse) Santa Fe Sat, May 19, 2018 09:45 1240 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e4eaaa6 2 World shooting,shooting-incident,mass-shooting,Texas,US,guns,gun-control,school Free Ten people, mostly students, were killed when a teenage classmate armed with a shotgun and a revolver opened fire in a Texas high school Friday, the latest deadly school shooting to hit the United States. The gunman, arrested on murder charges, was identified as Dimitrios Pagourtzis, a 17-year-old junior at Santa Fe High School. He is being held on capital murder charges, meaning he could face the death penalty. Governor Greg Abbott said 10 people died and another 10 were wounded in "one of the most heinous attacks that we've ever seen in the history of Texas schools." "Nothing can prepare a parent for the loss of a child," Abbott told reporters in Santa Fe, located about 30 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of Houston. Abbott said the gunman apparently carried out the attack with a shotgun and a .38 revolver that were legally owned by his father. The Houston Chronicle said Pagourtzis also threw pipe bombs into a classroom at the start of the school day. But with gun reform a divisive issue in the United States, Abbott focused on the need to better address mental health concerns and to arm schools, rather than call for limits on the proliferation of weapons. At dusk, hundreds of people, including many children, turned out for a candlelight vigil as the community sought to cope with the tragedy. People prayed and sang "Amazing Grace," tears streaming down some faces. There were hugs, and dogs providing emotional support. Abbott said searches were being conducted at two residences and "explosive devices" had been found, including a "CO2 device" and a Molotov cocktail. He said journal entries by the gunman suggested he wanted to commit suicide but "he gave himself up." Abbott said there were no "warning signs" about the suspect, who had no criminal history, although he did post a picture on his Facebook page of a T-shirt with the words "Born to Kill" on it. Law enforcement authorities were questioning two "people of interest," the governor said. One may have "certain information," he said, and the other had some "suspicious reactions." Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said most victims were students. "Officers inside encountered a bloody mess in the school," a law enforcement official told the Houston Chronicle. Area hospitals said two victims were in critical condition. One of the wounded was a police officer, John Barnes, who engaged the gunman and was shot in the elbow, officials said. The shooting was the latest in what has become an all-too-familiar situation in American schools, where gun violence has become a part of everyday life, part of a broader toll taken by firearms which are responsible for more than 30,000 gun-related deaths annually in the US. "My friend got shot in the art hall," weeping student Dakota Shrader told reporters. "I shouldn't be going through this," Shrader said as her mother comforted her. "It's my school. This is my daily life. I feel scared to even go back." Shrader said fire alarms went off "and everybody just started running outside. "And the next thing you know everybody looks and you hear 'boom, boom, boom' and I just ran as fast as I could to the nearest forest so I could hide and I called my mom." Earlier this year, 17 people were killed at Marjory Douglas Stoneman High School in Parkland, Florida, -- a massacre that prompted survivors to launch a grassroots campaign against gun violence that led to the largest gun reform rallies in nearly two decades. Friday's was the second mass shooting in Texas in six months. Twenty-six people were killed in a Texas church in November 2017 by a 26-year-old Air Force veteran. Abbott, the Texas governor, said he would convene roundtable discussions to look into ways of preventing such mass shootings in the future. President Donald Trump expressed "sadness and heartbreak" over the shooting and ordered US flags to fly at half-staff for the next few days. "This has been going on too long in our country," Trump said, speaking at an event on prison reform at the White House. "We're with you in this tragic hour." Trump, who has previously shied away from gun control and proposed arming teachers, said he was "determined to do everything in our power to protect our students, secure our schools and to keep weapons out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves and to others." The shooting erupted before 8:00 am, as the first classes of the day were starting. "It was pretty quiet for a few seconds, and then we just hear someone shoot a gun, and just a 'pow-pow-pow,'" student Hunter Mead, 14, told AFP. "And everyone just kind of freaked out. You know, everyone has the instinct, 'Just go, get out of here.'" The Santa Fe shooting came three months after the Florida massacre led to mass protests and their call of "Never again!". "We are fighting for you," tweeted David Hogg, a Stoneman Douglas student who has emerged as a leader of the gun control campaign. Another Stoneman Douglas student, Delaney Tarr, added: "We cannot let this continue to be the norm. We cannot." Former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton urged lawmakers to take action. "Every day that we fail to act on gun violence, we are failing our children," Clinton said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) South Tangerang Sat, May 19, 2018 18:14 1240 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e4fe130 1 City traffic-accident,truck,South-Tangerang,accident Free A truck reportedly hit six kiosks on Jl. Raya Puspitek, Cisauk, South Tangerang in the wee hours of Saturday. No casualties were reported. The driver of the truck, identified as Roni, 32, was reportedly passing through Jl. Raya Puspitek heading to Serpong at around 4 a.m. when he lost control of the steering wheel, causing the vehicle to flip onto its side before hitting the kiosks by the roadside. The driver was allegedly drowsy South Tangerang Traffic Police chief Adj. Comr. Lalu Hedwin said as quoted by tribunnews.com on Saturday. Total damages from the single-vehicle accident have yet to be disclosed. A tow truck was deployed to the scene to remove the truck from the road.(iwa) AirAsia X has been named the worlds cheapest airline for international flights. According to the 2018 Global Flight Price Ranking released by travel planning website Rome2Rio, the low cost carriers international flights cost 0.07 US cents per kilometer, making it the cheapest in the world. For international flights, the top three rankings were dominated by Asian airlines, namely AirAsia X, Air India Express and Indonesia AirAsia. Kirsteene Phelan, the chief operating officer of Rome2Rio told the Telegraph that the AirAsia Group dominated the rankings with three of its airlines in the top 20. Read also: Singapore-Kuala Lumpur is world's busiest international air route Although Qantas (eighth) ranks highly for value, we are often seeing travelers from the UK to Asia and Australia booking with carriers such as Etihad (sixth), Royal Brunei Airlines (19th), China Southern (20th) and Emirates (25th), said Phelan, This suggests that while overall value may be high for one airline over another, specific route pricing can vary greatly and travelers need to be vigilant for deals to ensure the best price to their destination. As for domestic flights, Tigerair Australia was named the cheapest with 0.06 US cents/km followed by Jetstar with 0.08 US cents/km and Indonesia AirAsia with 0.09 US cents/km. The ranking was compiled based on the airline price comparison on economy-class airfares displayed on the website in January and February. Airlines sometimes offer highly non-competitive fares for shopping queries, so for this analysis we included only fares that fell within two times the cheapest price available for each shopping query, stated Rome2Rio, stressing that they only focused on economy-class for this study. (jes/wng) Creative England has announced the final five short films chosen for this year's shortFLIX competition, including one directed by a former National Student writer Ben Robins . The initiative, currently in its second year, is open to any filmmakers between the ages of 18 and 25 who are not in full-time education or employment. In the final five are Dior Clarke and Blain Ho-Shing's Batty Boy; Abena Taylor-Smith's lesbian drama Ladies Day; former National Student writer Ben Robins' Losing It; Luna Carmoon's Nosebleed; and Henry Gale's Together, They Smoke. Read more about the selections here Among shortFLIX's ambassadors are Doctor Who's Noel Clarke, Game of Thrones' Ella Kendrick, and Four Lions' Riz Ahmed. Ahmed enthused that the shortFLIX initiative is "exactly what we need right now as an industry and as a society - fresh voices and fresh stories that open up the conversation about who we are." Clarke and Kendrick both praised the competition for making it easier for young filmmakers to get into the otherwise-difficult industry. The shortFLIX final selection will air on Sky Arts on May 24th at 10:30pm, and will be available on Sky Arts demand after the air date. US president reaffirms security guarantee for N. Korea By Yi Whan-woo U.S. President Donald Trump said he pursues a "South Korean model," not a "Libyan model," for the denuclearization of North Korea. Speaking at the White House, Thursday, Trump also said North Korea will be "tremendously industrious" under the "South Korean model" and that Kim Jong-un will receive "very adequate protection" in return for his nation's possible denuclearization. His remark is seen as a bid to reassure the Kim regime's survival, ahead of their planned June 12 summit in Singapore. It also came as both the U.S. and North Korea are playing hardball with each other in a possible attempt to take the initiative before the summit. Pyongyang was apparently infuriated early this week over White House National Security Adviser John Bolton's suggestion of the "Libyan model" for U.S. policy on North Korea. Calling the suggestion an "awfully sinister move," North Korea said it would even "reconsider" the summit with the U.S. Trump downplayed the "Libyan model," under which Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi _ later killed after his regime was toppled _ conceded to Western demands to give up his weapons of mass destruction in 2003 in return for sanctions relief. Still, the unpredictable American president warned a "Libyan model" is likely, should he and Kim fail to make a deal. "The Libyan model isn't the model we have in mind at all while we are thinking of North Korea," Trump said during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Calling Kim Jong-un by his initials, Trump said things will be different for the North Korean despot. Unfortunately, The Content Is Not Here You have arrived at this page because the page or post you were looking for no longer exists. Please check our main navigation pages for other content: Home Page Dr. H. Boima Fahnbulleh, Jr. In recent times, there has been a fierce intensification of the spiteful campaign of slander and frontal vilification of Dr. H. Boima Fahnbulleh, Jr. (HB) by savages of the most reactionary and rotten layer of the bankrupt Liberian ruling clique, which is in deep crisis and riven with unsolvable contradictions. In their blatant absurdity, the midgets dismiss Dr. H. Boima Fahnbulleh, Jr. as an insignificant figure. However, strangely, they consistently hurl vitriolic venom at him while, at the same time, pronouncing he is insignificant. Curious to understand why they have intensified a deafening salvo of slanders against this remarkable Liberianwe pose the question - is Dr. H. Boima Fahnbulleh, Jr. insignificant? Or is he being feared because of his profound clairvoyance and bold politics of nationalism? To these inquiries, we endeavor to unpack the reasons for the sudden upswing in an attack against him. Fear is either an indirect submission of the superiority of a being or the realization that a particular being or thing is capable of devouring you. Against this background, this can only be the plausible conclusion for the attack against this noble Liberian. It is so increasingly clear that the lackeys and mediocrities of the bankrupt Weah government and the reactionary CDC fear this man because of his ideas, his politics of nationalism, his concept of a better Liberia, and his sublime intellectual capability. Such attributes are sufficient weapons to mobilize the masses behind a revolutionary agenda. In the dialectics of it, these simpletons have uncritically confirmed the interpenetration or unity of opposites in a striking way. On one hand, the lousy scoundrels assert Dr. H. Boima Fahnbulleh, Jr. is a dead wood. On the other hand, they spew out a heap of calumnies against him. Such juxtaposition of two polar opposites is an unconscious confirmation of the significance of him in the politics of Liberia. In addition, it contradicts their claim that he is not relevant, as nobody who is not relevant is subjected to such vilification. Notwithstanding, their action is not without precedence. In all societies where the ruling clique is sapped by ideological decay, the rise of irrational proclivities or the penchant for paranoia is so very rife. It is this logic of history that one must use to understand McCarthyism the practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence. In this commixture of hysterical outburst and stark ignorance, one can understand the nervousness of the neo-McCarthyist of the CDC and their derivatives of carpetbagger and the lackey types. Suffice it to mean, in spite of the malicious attacks to which they have subjected HB, rancid elements of the CDC are aware that he remains the single person who can give the regime a run for its money. This is confirmed by the fact that the attack against him is not only consistent but also increases in intensity. It is part of the ploy to pigeonhole him or evoke public sentiment against him. But such absurdity is the height of folly, showing the utter bankruptcy of thoughts of the clique. Dr. H. BoimaFahnbuleh, Jr. is a fearless fighter who has struggled against implacable tyrannies in the homeland. He has always been at the forefront of noble causes and struggles aimed at extricating the people from the stranglehold of oppression. Against such aberration, he has struggled for the last thirty years of his life. Thus, no amount of sterile finger-pointing and feeble propaganda attacks will discourage him from his calling. Even at the peril of his existence, he will speak out loud against naked corruption. The least he is worried about is the misfire from toddlers in diapers. Indeed, at the appropriate time, he will resurface on the political stage. Make no mistake, the Weah government is like a rotten apple which will free fall from the tree. It seeds of destruction has been embedded in its abdomen. Its arch-opponents are the NPP cut-throats who have emerged from obscurity to amass loot. Its wreckers are the gang of illiterates who have been replicated at every agency of government to perform a task which they have no idea. Its rabble-rousers will be radical students who will not sit supinely and allow the homeland relapse into the abyss. The last straw that will destroy it is the antagonistic split in the clique. In a desperate attempt to dissuade the attention of the Liberian people from its floundering performance and international snub, the debased ruling clique has sought refuge in unleashing its propaganda stray dogs to lampoon decent people. This tactic will not be given a bit of attention, as the focus is to ceaselessly unmask the incompetence and blunders of the clique which presides over the homeland. The IMF snubbed the clique due to the fact it has no program to undertake meaningful transformation. It sees the Weah government as a collection of parasites on high alert to engage in industrial swindling. The United States of America, knowing Liberia has a flamboyant mediocrity who is president, sent no representation to his inaugural program, but, conversely, President Donald Trump sent a high power delegation to the inaugural program of President Julius M Bio of Sierra Leone. In diplomacy, action speaks louder than words. It is clear Weah has been snubbed by Washington. If this is not a brazen diplomatic rejection of the political farce in Liberia by its stepfather in the United States of America then I dont know what is. The questionable construction of three houses at separates locations in Monrovia by conman George Weah, the 4g purchasing of a house by the vulgarian Minister of State in Nathaniel McGill, the violation of the PPCC act, the violation of the act of LEITI, the collection of discredited parasites of the NPP serving in senior positions in the governmentare reasons that have eroded international confidence in the regime. Even the Chinese government which was generous to the erstwhile regime has echoed it has no free cash to dash the regime. Against this reality, the regime has unleashed scandalous canon fodders to launch brazen attacks against perceived opponents. But such subterranean ruse will not distract our attention. Our eyes are on the big issues, not the crude red herring from slavish minions, acting on impulse to please their wheel-dealer who is at the helm of power. In a conversation with an Arcelor Mittal contractor, I was told that Arcelor Mittal has had to cut back on production and exportation of Liberian iron ore because of the fall of iron ore price on the world market. That took me off guard because it simply just didnt make sense. Why would Arcelor dare do such an unthinkable thing when it made more sense to pay a lower price for one's inputs (iron ore) into its steel production, especially when steel price was going UP. So I ask the question, what is Arcelor up to? Maybe this is what Arcelor is saying in its reports to the Government- that it is slowing down on production and shipment of iron ore because of the low prices. But here are some facts, before we start to see the logic into the situation. Arcelor extracts ore from Liberia and ships the ore to a related (another Arcelor Mittal) company in Europe and Asia. Arcelor does not sell iron ore. The iron ore from Liberia is used by Arcelor Mittal to produce steel. If the ore price falls, the cost of steel production reduces, and the profit for Arcelor outside Liberia goes up. Meanwhile, the profit for Arcelor in Liberia that extracts and exports the ore reduces. For the Arcelor group, therefore, they lower their cost of steel production, but make windfall profits on steel sales. They also lower their payments to the Liberian Government (royalty and tax on profit), which contribute to the budget shortfall of the Government. Arcelor benefits; Liberia doesnt. Arcelor wins; Liberia loses. So I placed a call to an expert at the Liberian Revenue Authority- a very senior official, to ask how they know what Arcelor is up to. Im told LRA depends on Arcelor to tell LRA what Arcelor is up to. I then asked, How do you know that Arcelor is telling the truth? Response: Arcelor pays Bivac (before the Ebola outbreak it was SGS) to convince the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning that Arcelor is telling the truth. If Bivac is being paid by Arcelor, to convince the Government, then I worry about the objectivity and independence of Bivac. In my mind, I have concluded that we really dont know the quantity of ore being shipped. But my good friend at LRA assures me that very soon, the LRA will start collaborating with the receiving port of iron ore shipment that would detail, from the receiving ports own independent evaluation and examination, the exact quantity and quality of iron ore from Liberia, that will then be used to corroborate the information from Bivac and Arcelor. In Liberia, we say thats futuristic, the dry meat conundrum. I wasnt satisfied. I believed the Liberian authorities needed their own experts to confirm the quantity and quality of iron ore being shipped. They could not just depend on Arcelor and Arcelors paid agent (Bivac) to tell us what Arcelor was up to. So I placed a call to another friend at the Ministry of Lands, Mines, and Energy (LME). This official informed me also that LME only knows about Arcelors operations from what Arcelor reports to the Ministry every quarter. In fact, he didnt even seem to remember if any of those quarterly reports were ever read and discussed by officials at the Ministry. Instead, the reports were simply received and shelved. This tells me that there is no counter-checking of the information provided by Arcelor and Bivac, in the form of a reconciliation. When I asked about the role our top Geologists at LME played in all of this, I came across a brick wall- zero. I then decided that we as a country (Liberia) did not know exactly the quantity of iron ore that Arcelor was really shipping out of the country. If Arcelor were lying, we couldnt checkmate them. At very low international market prices of iron ore on the world market, we were shipping objectively and independently unconfirmed and unverified quantities of iron ore to Arcelors steel producing plants abroad. Next, my focus shifted to quality: quality of iron ore being extracted and shipped by Arcelor Mittal. My LME resource chap made it very clear that Arcelor was mining the high-grade ore in violation of the concession agreement. According to him, the agreement required Arcelor to build a beneficiating processing facility that would allow Arcelor to blend both the low-grade ore and the high-grade ore so that both grades would be exploited profitably. This I was told was a requirement of the mineral development agreement, which is consistent with global industry practice. The rationale is that if the low-grade ore is not mined along with the high-grade ore, the chances of the low-grade ore ever reaching the market would be very low because of the unprofitability of the low-grade ore. My LRA expert also confirmed that Arcelor was mining and shipping the high-grade ore only, and not the low-grade ore. Where did Arcelor get the authority from to digress from the concession agreement and thus rip off the country? Rip off the country? Yes, rip off the country. Heres the implication: if Arcelor only mines the high-grade iron ore, Arcelor will deplete the stock of high-grade iron ore in no time. As soon as Arcelor completes depleting the stock of high-grade iron ore, Arcelor will pack off and leave Liberia because there will be no need for them to continue their operations in Liberia. The low-grade iron ore is not profitable by itself, so there will be no need to continue operating in Liberia for low-grade ore. Instead of the stipulated duration of their operation in the MDA, Arcelor will terminate the agreement in less than half the duration of the MDA and depart Liberia, leaving us with the low grade that is not profitable. Nimba mountain will then become Nimba holes, just like Bomi Hill has become Bomi Holes. So we have a double whamming: we dont know the exact quantity of iron ore being shipped, and Arcelor is shipping our best quality of iron ore in violation of the MDA. Worst still, our best iron ore is being shipped at a time when Arcelor is using very low and (still) falling international market prices for our high-grade ore. Smart Arcelor; dumb Liberia! Profitable Arcelor; budget-shortfall Liberia! I am still researching how Arcelor got the audacity to violate the MDA- who gave Arcelor the permission and authorization to mine only the high-grade iron ore? Folks who were at LME say they most definitely did not grant such authorization. The MDA was never revised through the legislative process to grant that authorization. This, along with the exorbitant privileges enjoyed by Arcelor, warrants a John Magufuli (of Tanzania) type fine. In Tanzania, President John Magufuli slapped a bill of $190bn fine on concessionaire Acacia as unpaid taxes. Liberia too needs to compute the monetary value of all exemptions, holidays and waivers of taxes, customs and other import levies that Arcelor enjoys. We also need to monetize the violations, opportunity cost and social cost of all privileges extended to Arcelor to determine the loss Liberia is incurring. We can then drag Arcelor to the negotiating table with this bill in hand. Otherwise, Arcelor could be out of here before we know it since we really do not know what Arcelor is up to. Paul Columbus Collins holds an MSc in International Business Economics and a Ph.D. with an emphasis in Economics. He is also a Liberian Certified Public Accountant, a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) of the UK, a Certified Internal Auditor of the USA, and a July 2018 candidate for the Master of Law (LLM) degree in International Commercial Law. He can be reached at yuahcollins@yahoo.com and +231(0) 886641187/776641184. In just a little over one week, we will be observing Memorial Day, a day in which we as U.S. citizens remember and honor those in our armed forces who died while serving our country. It is a day to pay our solemn respect to those who sacrificed with their lives so that we can enjoy the freedom and liberties we have today. It is something we should not take lightly or for granted. It is something we should try and think about every day, not just on Memorial Day. We owe those who we remember on this day, including our POWs and MIAs, at least this much. I encourage all of you to attend a Memorial Day service. For those attending our Pierce County service at Memorial Hall, you will witness a special addition to the program this year. At this service, three additional names will be added and remembered on our Memorial Wall just outside the building. Two of these war casualties are from WWI and one from the Vietnam War. Special thanks go to Dale Niewoehner for doing the research needed to add these names. Also, a thank you goes to Rugby American Legion Post 23, our Pierce County Recorder staff, and all others involved who helped make this happen. This addition of names to our Memorial Wall is again a reminder of the patriotism, humble gratitude, and love of country demonstrated by the residents of Pierce County. On this day, we are once again acknowledging that whether 50 years have passed since Vietnam, or 100 years since WWI, we will not forget the ultimate sacrifice made by our local heroes. No matter the amount of time passed, we will continue to find ways to remember and honor them. So again, this Memorial Day, let us recommit ourselves to remember all those who gave their life for our country. May God bless their memory, their sacrifice and may we live our lives in a way to honor them and worthy of the sacrifice they have made for us. I would like to close this column with a quote from December of 1862. It was during this time President Lincoln called for 75,000 troops to support the Union at the beginning of the Civil War. Although Minnesota was the newest state in the union, it was the first to volunteer 1000 soldiers to the cause. In December of 1862, the First Regiment of Minnesota Volunteers was preparing to leave Fort Snelling for the battle ground in the east. Realizing they did not have the flag of the new state, Governor Alexander Ramsey had his wife, Anna I. Ramsey, present them with the Minnesota flag to take with them. Upon presenting them with the flag she then spoke these eloquent words. The words she chose indicated her hope they would safely return. I have slightly changed these words to reflect those who did not return and to all those, from all wars, that we remember today. To you is reserved a proud destiny. When the troubles that agitate the nation have passed, when the rebellion is suppressed, and once more peace folds her white wings among us, you will receive that praise and gratitude which you have nobly earned, and in after years, amid the avocations of peaceful lives, men will remember you and say: There is one who when his countrys liberty was in danger, abandoned everything and rushed to her rescue. There was a soldier of the great Army of Freedom. The Heart of America Medical Center announced last week that after fiscal challenges it has turned the corner. In the wake of the challenges, the hospital reached out to a national consulting firm that placed two interim consultants, one from Texas and the other from Arizona, in the facility to identify areas needing improvement. The hospital also did a comparative analysis of its staffing ratio and that of other North Dakota hospitals and nursing homes. The hospital underwent employee position restructures; employee salary and benefit reductions; and cutting expenses. The hospital also began collecting patients co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles at the time of service, and opened Kids Next Door-the on-site daycare-to the public. The Good Samaritan Health Services Foundation, which provides support for the hospital through providing equipment and critical operating needs, also played a role in resolving financial issues. The hospital auxiliary assisted departments, and the volunteer program helped continue customer service. The hospital had been experiencing fiscal challenges for over two decades, however they came to head last year. One of those challenges was Medicare withholding nearly $800,000 in reimbursements in October 2017. According a HAMC release, Medicare reevaluated the withholding and will reimburse nearly $400,000 to the hospital. The hospital has also been seeking grants and fundraising for 3-D mammography equipment, and has resumed hiring for staff and leadership positions. A new chief financial officer is slated to start mid-June. Its been a very difficult road to travel, each and every staff member has made sacrifices in one way or another, HAMC CEO Patrick Branco said in the press release. Weve made a great deal of progress right-sizing the organization and becoming more efficient. Going forward, it will always be a part of the way we do business. Tribune Staff Report This month, Bob Pollman, 93, was awarded the 70-year certificate of membership in the American Legion by Commander William Fecho in Rugby. Pollman served in Europe in WWII with the US Army Signal Corp. Fecho spoke with pride about Pollmans service in the American Legion. Bob gave us many fine years of service with the American Legion, but I can tell you one thing that stands out in my memory which personally affected my family. You may remember last year, on August 13, 2017, Lawrence Fechos remains were returned from WWII from the Pacific where he died during the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Fecho explained. My uncle was brought home from WWII after identification of his exhumed remains positively confirmed him from over 400 sailors from the USS Oklahoma. This was accomplished after an intense DNA process that took years. The Bottineau County sailor was buried in an unmarked grave in Hawaii for 76 years but last year he was buried at the Willow Creek Cemetery of the Immanuel Lutheran Church near Willow City. Pollman, having survived battles in Germany and France, and 76 years, walked Fechos remains home to his final resting place during a full military funeral for Fecho. Bob Pollman, who could barely walk himself, insisted that he walk the road with my uncles remains at the cemetery. I told him he could sit down. Pollman firmly replied, No! I will walk. And walk he did alongside a brother soldier who gave his life for freedom. Pollman, now a resident of Heart of Americas Medical Center, Care Center may be 76 years older now, but he walked with military pride to finish the job he started many years agoservice to his country, until the end. The other recipient of the 70-year honor, Don Diepolder was featured in last weeks edition of The Pierce County Tribune. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Posted Tuesday, May 22, 2018 4:50 am As of 5 p.m. today, Candidate filing week for 2018 has passed in Washington State. From May 14 through 18 those looking to run for a variety of seats had a chance to file statewide for elected positions up for grabs this year. Locally the races for the U.S. House of Representatives and Clark County Council have attracted the most candidates, though seats in the Washington legislature and other county-wide offices brought in challengers. U.S Senate The most high-profile race on the 2018 ballot is for Washingtons U.S. Senate seat, currently filled by Democrat Maria Cantwell. Vancouver resident and political-activist Joey Gibson is challenging Cantwell as a Republican. Among other things, Gibson is calling for term limits as he campaigns against an incumbent currently seeking to win her fourth six-year term. Gibson has received national attention due to his activism which included hosting rallies that attract right-wing supporters, in some cases members of alt-right groups with fascist and/or racist ties. Gibson himself has denounced affiliation with such groups. Other local candidates for the federal office included RC Smith and Brad Chase, both of Vancouver. In total 29 candidates filed for the seat. 3rd Congressional District More regionally, the race for Washingtons 3rd Congressional District features a slew of candidates with a few new names added to those who had previously declared. Incumbent Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, is running for a fifth term, but has six challengers vying for a spot in Congress including ones from her own party. Republican Earl Bowerman of Camas announced his intent to run against Herrera Beutler in April. Bowerman, a retired agriculture professor, felt the incumbent was not working well with the Trump Administrations agenda, taking particular issue with her decision not to vote for the now-president. Another Republican joined the race officially this week: Micheal Cortney, a retired electrician from Vancouver. On his campaign website, Cortney noted some differences he had with more mainline GOP members such as a positive view of more taxes on the rich and at one point stating that the Citizens United campaign finance court decision was one of the worst Supreme Court decisions in (his) lifetime. Alongside Bowerman and Cortney are four Democrats looking to unseat Herrera Beutler. First to file was a surprise to those following campaigns as Martin Hashs paperwork went through 30 minutes after filing opened. Hash had previously run against State Rep. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, in the 2016 election but was defeated by the incumbent. Hash joins three Democrats who had previously announced their intent to run for the position. Vancouver businessman and lawyer David McDevitt is taking another shot at Herrera Beutler, having ran against the Representative in 2016, failing in the August primary. McDevitt has touted himself as having the most funding out of the challengers; according to Federal Elections Commission data he had more than $400,000 cash on hand per the latest quarterly filings, far above all other challengers. McDevitt, whose campaign chest was largely funded by personal loans from himself, isnt the only candidate with six figures on hand, as Herrera Beutler has close to $770,000. Another Democratic challenger has also raised more than $100,000, as WSU Vancouver Political Science Professor Carolyn Long had $167,000 on hand per the latest filing. Long has been seen as the Democratic front-runner given several high-profile endorsements she has received, including Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson and former Washington governor Christine Gregoire. Rounding out the candidate field for the Third Congressional District is Dorothy Gasque, a combat veteran and progressive activist. She has received a number of endorsements from progressive groups including the Washington State Progressive Caucus and the Justice Democrats among others. Clark County Council Three of the five seats on Clark County Council are up for election this year. The race for council Chair is headed to a primary election as four candidates have filed for the seat. Incumbent Marc Boldt (no party preference) has filed to retain his position but has challengers from both parties also seeking election. Washington State Progressive Caucus Vice Chair Eric Holt is running as a Democrat, hoping to break Republican dominance on council. Republican challenger Eileen Quiring is no stranger to council as she currently serves as the member from the countys rural District 4. Another Democrat, Christy Stanley, also filed late May 18 listing a Battle Ground residence as her address. The race for the District 1 council seat is fairly competitive with a slate of four candidates, including two Democrats. Incumbent Jeanne Stewart, a Republican, is running again, filing within the last hour of the period. In April Stewart told The Reflector she had yet to make up her mind, explaining she saw tough competition in candidate Jim Moeller, a former elected official in both city and state government. He too filed in the last hour, having previously announced his intent to run in March. There will be even more Democratic competition as Temple Lentz has filed for the District 1 seat. Lentz was previously a part of Clark Countys home rule charter process which in 2015 significantly changed the way county government is run. Alongside Lentz is Veny Razumovsky who has filed to run under the CascadiaNow party. Clark County Councils District 2 seat will see exclusively Republican competition as both candidates who filed did so as GOP members. Incumbent Julie Olson will be seeking re-election to her post, though she has a challenger in newcomer Elizabeth Veneman. 17th Legislative District Both races for the 17th District are competitive, with one going to a primary election in August. The race for Position 1 includes incumbent Vicki Kraft, R-Vancouver, and two challengers, both Democrats. Tanisha Harris, a Court Appointed Special Advocate Program Specialist for YWCA Clark County, is running for Krafts seat. Harris, a former candidate for Clark County Council in 2016, has received several endorsements including Battle Ground Mayor Mike Dalesandro and Clark County Prosecutor Tony Golik. The Position 1 race also features James Tolson, a military veteran and co-founder of Concerned Humans Against Poverty. Much of Tolsons campaign focus is on issues of poverty, in particular a push to repeal a prohibition on rent control passed by the state in 1981. Position 2 in the 17th District also has a competitive race, as incumbent Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, will go against challenger Damion Jiles in November. Previously, Jiles has listed his chief policy points as infrastructure, healthcare and education, noting the inability to replace the Interstate 5 bridge as particularly frustrating. 18th Legislative District The race for Position 2 features all newcomers, as current Rep. Liz Pike, R-Camas, announced earlier this year she would not seek another term. Republican Larry Hoff has received a number of endorsements from his party including Rep. Brandon Vick, R-Felida, who represents Position 1 in the district. Hoff, a retired credit union CEO, is up against Democrat Kathy Gillespie, a retired newspaper editor who recently stepped down from her role as Vancouver Public Schools Board Director. The race for Vicks seat, which is also up for election, was looking to be a foregone conclusion until late Friday when a challenger jumped into the fray. Chris Thobaben, a Democrat, filed against the incumbent ensuring a contest in November. 20th Legislative District Representatives for Woodland and the northernmost parts of Clark County are off to the races this year as both incumbents have challengers for their seats. Position 1 Rep. Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis, is set to face newcomer John Thompson, a Democratic challenger out of Silver Lake. For Position 2, incumbent Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama has two challengers, neither Republicans. Chehalis School District board member Brennan Bailey announced his run against Orcutt in July 2017. Bailey, a Democrat, is joined by Mark Smith, owner/operator of Eco Park Resort, who is running as an independent in the race. Other races A handful of county posts are also up for election this year, with many being competitive races. Clark County Assessor Peter Van Nortwick filed for re-election and faces competition in the August primary from two competitors, Norbert Schlecht and Darren Wertz. Wertz, a councilor for the City of Ridgefield, had ran against Nortwick previously in 2014, falling to the incumbent. Both Van Nortwick and Wertz have declared Republican party preference with Schlecht claiming none. The election for Clark County Clerk is also competitive, as incumbent Scott Weber, a Republican, will face Democrat Barbara Melton in November. Clark Public Utilities has a race going to a primary election as its District 1 seat is up for grabs. Incumbent Jim Malinowski seeks to continue on for another six-year term though he has competition in challengers Judy Chipman and Sherry Erickson. The nonpartisan position covers a large jurisdiction featuring all of North Clark County. Those races with three or more candidates will go to a primary election Aug. 7 where the top two will continue on to the Nov. 6 general contest. Those with only two candidates go straight to the November vote. Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below. D.C. writes: A person with the same name as me and living in my village died last month. I never even knew of his existence. His sister went into NatWest in Doncaster, taking the death certificate. The bank found my records and without checking the different date of birth or the different address handed over a list of all my direct debits and standing orders. Even though the deceased lived alone, the bank included my wifes regular payments as we have a joint account. The sister challenged NatWest as the payments included the cost of Sky TV, a dog, car and mobile phone and her brother had none of these. The bank assured her the list was correct and that someone must have got her brother to pay their bills. The sister then cancelled all the payments. Shocker: The NatWest debacle played out like a comedy horror movie This started out almost like comedy film Late Afternoon Of The Living Dead. But it quickly went downhill. Two hours after the sisters visit to NatWest, your mobile phone stopped working. You contacted O2 and were told your sister Tracy had reported your death. You assured O2 you did not have a sister called Tracy and you were still alive. You laughed it off. But later that afternoon your daughter answered a hammering at your front door. She was confronted by a muscular tattooed man with two companions. They had used three vehicles to block your road. Muscle Man angrily demanded to know why you were using his dead uncles bank account to pay your road tax, mortgage, council tax and so on. Now, it is bad enough to be accused of being dead. It is even worse to be accused of robbing the dead. You were forced to prove that you, yourself, paid all your bills. But the trio then threatened to go to your youngest daughters address, as NatWest had told them their dead relative was paying her phone bill as well. Again, you had to convince them it was you that footed the bill. It then dawned on everyone that NatWest had made the most monumental mistake. But it was too late. The sister Tracy had spent hours calling everyone you and your wife paid and she had cancelled all your services. You turned on your TV. Sky was not working. You picked up your landline phone. It was not working. You tried the internet. It was not working. Tracy had even started to claim on your life insurance. Next morning you went to NatWest. The manager told you she personally had dealt with Tracy. But it was all just human error and not a big issue and no harm had been done. She had been busy, she said. You are still picking up the broken bits of your life in the wake of this damaging leak of personal information. At one point Sky even labelled your account as in arrears because its collection staff did not like to press your bereaved family for payment. One of the worst aspects of this whole episode is that the NatWest manager gave a mountain of private information to someone who walked in off the street, armed only with a death certificate. Anyone can buy a copy of a death certificate. It does not give them any legal power over the deceaseds assets, let alone power over the bank account of a complete stranger who happens to share the deceaseds name. What possessed the manager not to point out that yours was a joint account, and that only your wife, the other account holder, had any right to its details? I asked officials at NatWests head office to look into what you told me. I think they were as shocked as I was. After a short investigation they said: We let down Mr and Mrs C and for this we are sincerely sorry. We have robust processes in place to ensure this does not happen. Unfortunately in this case, these were not followed. The branch staff involved have been given additional training and we have compensated Mr and Mrs C. You are now 3,000 better off, which reflects the seriousness of the matter. In all good horror stories, there is a sting in the tail. This is no exception, so here is the sting. Your dead namesake does not appear to have had a NatWest account in the first place. If it had not been for the simple coincidence of your names, none of this would have happened. Not surprisingly, the Information Commissioner has joined those asking just how all this could happen. Bank switch that came with a hitch Ms M.G. writes: B Bank part of Yorkshire Bank offered an incentive of 250 to switch accounts to them. I switched, followed their rules and called to check that I met its criteria. I was told I would receive 250 in February, but the money did not arrive. Saving grace: B Bank - part of Yorkshire Bank - offered an incentive of 250 to switch accounts to them The 250 incentive came with some complicated strings attached that meant new customers had to set up direct debits as well. You spotted this and you set up two direct debits, but when you contacted the bank again to ask why the 250 had not arrived, you were told you had failed to qualify as you only set up one. You had another try at getting an explanation. This time the bank agreed you did set up two direct debits, but said you still failed to qualify because the direct debits needed to be started within 31 days. This was even more confusing as the rules of the offer suggested the time limit was 62 days. Finally, you were given a different reason why you could not have the 250. You failed, the bank said, because one of your direct debits was set up before the switch to B Bank was finalised though it is hard to see how anyone could set up a direct debit for an account that did not yet exist. I put all this to Yorkshire Bank and asked for copies of any recordings it held of phone calls. This proved unnecessary. A spokesperson for the bank said: There was an error in our communication with the customer and we have been in touch to confirm she is eligible for our 250 switching offer. The bank has given you an apology and, of course, your 250. According to romania-Insider website, US defense group Raytheon will deliver its latest Configuration 3+ of the Patriot air defense missile system to Romania, the one currently used by the US Army, according to Mike Ellison, country manager of Raytheon Romania, local News.ro reported. M901 launcher unit of Patriot air defense missile system at Paris Air Show in June 2009 The systems have new hardware and software components, added in 2017. The most modern/current variant of Patriot is called Patriot Configuration 3+, not PAC-3. PAC-3 is one of the missiles used by Configuration 3+, but as Patriot is an entire system, not just a missile, the Config 3+ enhancements involve a whole suite of upgrades and capabilities. One of them is enabling the system to take advantage of the PAC-3 MSE capabilities, but there are many other things, such as a better user interface and increased reliability, that Config 3+ has. Mike Ellison, country manager of Raytheon Romania, said that Romanian specialists will contribute in the future to optimizing and modernizing this system. Some components of the Patriot systems, namely parts of the radar, may be produced in Romania, by local company Aerostar Bacau, Raytheon announced earlier this year. According to Ellison, the partnership between Romania and Raytheon has an important role in strengthening NATOs Eastern flank as Europe faces the biggest challenges since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Romania has already paid the first Patriot system, which has a cost of USD 910.1 million. The total cost of this program is USD 4.64 billion, VAT included. The MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, the primary of its kind used by the United States Army and several allied nations. Patriot uses an advanced aerial interceptor missile and high performance radar systems. The Patriot system is modular and highly mobile. A battery-sized element can be emplaced in less than 1 hour. The latest version is the PAC-3. Due to miniaturization, a single canister can hold four PAC-3 missiles (as opposed to one PAC-2 missile per canister). The PAC-3 missile is also more maneuverable than previous variants, due to 180 tiny pulse solid propellant rocket motors mounted in the forebody of the missile (called Attitude Control Motors, or ACMs) which serve to fine align the missile trajectory with its target to achieve hit-to-kill capability. The PAC-3 can hit ballistic missile up to 20km. With mortgage rates still at an all-time low, securing an affordable home loan should be easy. But many borrowers still face obstacles from the self-employed, those with poor credit records to first-time buyers. Here, The Mail on Sunday investigates. SELF-EMPLOYED When a former boss of the City regulator recently revealed how she had struggled to remortgage as a result of a change in her employment circumstances, it highlighted the difficulties many people are faced with when applying for a new home loan. Lynda Blackwell, a former mortgage head at the Financial Conduct Authority, fell foul of a lending system she had helped introduce one designed to ensure borrowers can afford the debt they take on. She struggled to remortgage with her bank as a result of becoming self-employed. Keys to success: Louise Forshaw and husband Gavin Naylor ILL HEALTH DID NOT STOP US GETTING A LOAN Black marks on a credit record caused by ill health or job loss can scupper a mortgage application. This prospect faced 43-year-old Louise Forshaw from Preston, Lancashire. She was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago which meant her husband Gavin Naylor, 35, temporarily gave up work as a joiner to care for her. After returning to work two years ago, Gavin began rebuilding the familys finances so they could buy their council home. Louise, who is now cancer free, says: Our bank said we could not have a joint mortgage because of my poor credit record. But Louises son from a previous relationship directed her to his lender, Manchester-based Together. She says: It looked at all our details and listened to us. Together agreed a loan of 44,000 to enable Louise and Gavin to buy their home. Louise says: Now we own our house and are not throwing away money on rent. Ishaan Malhi, founder of online broker Trussle, says tainted credit scores do not spell the end for hopeful homebuyers. He says: It is more difficult to get a mortgage if you have a bad credit score but lenders such as Kensington, Aldermore and Magellan Homeloans are experts at providing finance. Certain black marks can also be easily erased. Malhi says: Your rating may be impacted by forgetting to register to vote or failing to close a credit card account that you no longer use. Saving for a larger deposit can also prove creditworthiness. If you take out a credit card aimed at borrowers with an impaired credit record you can improve your credit rating by making repayments on time and in full. Check your credit history at CallCredit, Equifax and Experian but avoid being tied into an expensive subscription. Like many newly self-employed borrowers, she was hampered by lack of evidence of income. Blackwell now says it is a mistake for mainstream lenders not to make a more informed assessment of situations like hers and her struggle was not an intended consequence of the rule changes she helped bring about. The reality is that most newly self-employed borrowers have to go the extra mile to obtain a loan. The minefield is best navigated with the help of a mortgage broker most of whom are clued up on which lenders look favourably on newly established sole traders or company owners. Consider London & Country and John Charcol. Alternatively, find a broker through unbiased.co.uk. Gemma Harle is managing director of Intrinsic Mortgage Network, part of Old Mutual Wealth. She says: If you have financial accounts going back two years or more, a standard lender should be able to help. But if you have just a years worth behind you then it will be the smaller, more flexible lenders that are probably more willing to help out. Loan rates will usually but not always be higher. Building societies Saffron and Newcastle and specialist lenders Kensington and Precise are among the most self-employed friendly. MORTGAGE PRISONERS Millions of homeowners have become mortgage prisoners trapped in an expensive loan and unable to switch to a better one. They are stuck because they do not meet affordability criteria or cannot pass strict lending stress tests. Their fate is to put up with a lenders standard variable rate and look on jealously at bargain rates enjoyed by others as much as a fifth of what they are paying. They are typically stuck on a rate of 4.75 per cent. But there are armies of borrowers who are prisoners of their own mortgage apathy. This group could save a fortune by asking their lender for a better deal or moving to another provider. David Hollingworth, of broker London & Country, says: A borrower with a 150,000, 25-year repayment mortgage would be paying 855 a month if on a rate of 4.75 per cent. If they have at least 35 per cent of equity they could switch to Monmouthshire Building Societys two-year fix at 1.34 per cent and see their repayments drop to 589 an annual saving of 3,198. There is a 999 fee but all valuation and legal work is free. If borrowers are comfortable with their current monthly payments, they could opt to continue paying the same amount, meaning their loan will be cleared more quickly. FIRST-TIME BUYERS The bigger the deposit, the better the potential loan deal for a first timer. Consider saving using a Help to Buy Isa or a Lifetime Isa, both of which offer Government-funded bonuses to help achieve that goal faster. Those struggling to save for a significant downpayment should consider a Help to Buy: Equity Loan. This allows buyers of new-build properties to borrow up to 20 per cent (40 per cent in London) of the cost of the propertys value up to a maximum 600,000 in England or 300,000 in Wales. The buyer must stump up at least 5 per cent in cash as a deposit and then look for a 75 per cent mortgage. The advantage is that rates tend to be more attractive on a 75 per cent loan-to-value deal than for a 95 per cent mortgage. The Government equity loan is interest free for five years after which borrowers pay interest starting at 1.75 per cent. Another product worth considering is a guarantor mortgage. This is where a friend or family member guarantees the loan. This means if the buyer misses a mortgage repayment the guarantor must step in or risk losing their own property. Unstuck: Lynda Blackwell, a former FCA boss, fell foul of loan rules Aldermore offers a deal where the buyer can borrow 100 per cent of a propertys value but a parent or grandparent guarantees only the portion above 75 per cent of the homes value. The Family Link mortgage, from the Post Office, also lets a borrower take a loan without a deposit with 10 per cent raised as security against a close relatives debt-free home. Another option is the Post Offices First Start, where a buyer applies alongside a relative who acts as a co-borrower with their income taken into account when considering affordability and a loans size. Offset loans are also worth looking at. This is where a family members savings can be earmarked as the property deposit but this is then held in an account with the lender and they receive little or no interest. Providers include building societies Family and Yorkshire, and banks Barclays and Lloyds. Harle warns: Financial advice is vital for guarantor-style loans as family situations are often complicated. INTEREST ONLY One in five borrowers has an interest-only mortgage. This worries the Financial Conduct Authority, which fears many will not be able to repay the loan and risk being forced out of their homes. Borrowers hurtling towards the end of their loan term need to check whether they have the means to pay off the original loan. If the sums do not add up, then it is worth considering requesting an extension to the loan term. Or ask to extend the term and switch the loan to a repayment basis. This will cost more but guarantees the loan will be paid off. OLDER BORROWERS Age matters and those heading towards their twilight years can find it harder to change their mortgage. Each lender has different rules. While some refuse to lend beyond retirement, others are more flexible even lending to those who have already retired. Age caps tend to be 70 or 75 although this is changing. Halifax imposes a maximum age of 80 and Nationwide 85 (for those already retired). Family Building Society now lends to age 95 and Aldermore to 99. Trussles Ishaan Malhi says: You will need to prove you have adequate income to cover the repayments post-retirement such as evidence of pension payments. If years away from retirement, you will need to provide a forecast of future pension income. Senior MPs are preparing to trigger a major inquiry into Sainsburys merger with rival supermarket Asda amid concerns Britains farmers could face unprecedented demands for price cuts. The plan to investigate the impact of the historic deal which will create a 51 billion giant would mean scrutiny on two fronts because the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced its own investigation on Friday. The proposed merger, announced last month, will produce a powerful new force outranking Tesco as Britains biggest grocer. One parliamentary source said: There are concerns a newly created duopoly will crush British farming. Many farmers cannot reduce production costs any more. Joint letter: Members of Parliament Rachel Reeves and Neil Parish MPs fear the impact of the merger on small suppliers will not be fully considered by competition authorities, whose main interest is the effect on shoppers. Neil Parish, chairman of the Commons food and rural affairs committee, has already conducted private hearings on the matter with a view to launching a full select committee inquiry. Parish, Tory MP for the Devon constituency of Tiverton and Honiton, said: They [farmers] are nervous. Theyre aware the deal has been referred to the CMA and are holding back some of their fire. But Im suspicious and I need some reassurance. The role of the select committees is to look at the process and say: Is it going to deliver the right things? Are the primary producer and the consumer both going to be treated fairly? Business Minister Andrew Griffiths, whose responsibilities include consumers, small businesses and the retail sector, is understood to have been invited before the food and rural affairs committee to discuss the deal as part of preliminary hearings. Sources said the parliamentary inquiry could be extended to include other select committees but discussions were at an early stage. Labour MP Rachel Reeves, chair of the Commons business committee, earlier this month wrote a joint letter with Parish to the CMA to ask it to include supplier evidence in its own inquiry. The decision to hold an inquiry into the merger raises the prospect that Sainsburys chief executive Mike Coupe and Asda boss Roger Burnley may also be called before a parliamentary hearing for questioning. In a letter sent to Griffiths, Parish said: Farmers and suppliers are already in a difficult position. This announcement and the increase in the market share for the combined supermarket tips the already unbalanced scales further away from farmers. He wants more scrutiny of the way the supermarket sector operates so everyone, right the way through the supply chain must benefit, from the consumer to the farmer. One potential line of inquiry is the possibility of strengthening the powers of the trade watchdog, the Groceries Code Adjudicator. Business Secretary Greg Clark has reportedly written to the CMA to ask it to look at the possible impact on the supply chain. In a letter sent to suppliers last week, Sainsburys said the deal offers a great opportunity to make your supply chains more streamlined, to develop differentiated product ranges and to grow your business as we grow ours. Sainsburys last night said it strongly believed the deal will benefit both customers and suppliers alike. It said: Our strong track record of working closely with our suppliers will not change. Asda said it had long-term relationships with suppliers. But some farmers fear they will pay a heavy price because Coupe has said the enlarged business would cut shop prices of some grocery items by 10 per cent and he has told the City a merger will boost profits by 350 million from access to better-harmonised buying terms. Charles Sercombe, chair of the National Farmers Union livestock board, said: There is massive nervousness out there, especially when Mike Coupe says hes going to try to drive the price down 10 per cent. Usually when they drive down prices theyll still take their margins, as will the processors, and farmers are worried. Coupe has already sought to douse suggestions of a squeeze on smaller suppliers. He said 85 per cent of products come from the biggest 100 suppliers, many of which are giant multinational firms. The company says dairy farmers, for example, 'get a fair price for the milk they produce and are able to continue to invest in their own businesses for the future'. But Ian Giles, head of competition in London at law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, believes we may yet see a much broader inquiry. He said: One of the concerns is increased pressure on suppliers, farmers and others who might struggle to negotiate sustainable pricing with the large retailers. The CMA are interested in looking after consumers and, ultimately, supermarkets have succeeded in driving prices down. But what you could see is that this prompts the Government to think about whether the whole supermarket sector is ripe for review. Support: Tory MP Julia Lopez wrote to David Gauke Several MPs including Kevin Hollinrake and Julia Lopez have thrown their weight behind calls for an investigation into a group set up to sue Royal Bank of Scotland. The demands follow Mail on Sunday scrutiny of the RBoS Shareholders Action Group, which has already been brought to the attention of the Ministry of Justice. Lib Dem Norman Lamb has asked Justice Secretary David Gauke to look into the group, which he feels should be regulated. Now a number of other MPs have backed the campaign including Hollinrake, a Conservative MP who co-chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Business Banking alongside Lamb. The Mail on Sunday has also learned that Lopez, Tory MP for Hornchurch and Upminster, last week wrote to Gauke on the matter after a constituent raised concerns. And Labours Steve Pound has written to Nicky Morgan, the chair of the Treasury Select Committee. Lamb called for an urgent inquiry into the group after a seven-month Mail on Sunday investigation into a fraudster at the company. Gerard Walsh, who has been described as a fraudster by a civil court, is trying to claim 3.75 million out of a 200 million settlement shareholders agreed with RBS last summer. Investors have only been paid around 25 million so far as a legal battle is waged between the action group and Manx Capital, the investment vehicle of Trevor Hemmings which took control of the mass legal claim shortly before the 200 million agreement. Hollinrake said last night: Clearly Gerard Walsh is unregulated, the action group is unregulated, and, despite this huge settlement being secured by the shareholders, a very small fraction of that has been paid out so far. Are you affected by this story? Contact william.turvill@mailonsunday.co.uk NatWest has sweetened the deal for current account switchers with a 100 cash carrot if you move to the bank before 15 June. The new sign-up perk means those with one of its popular Reward Accounts could earn an average 183 from their account in the first year, more than some rivals. The deal is also available to some existing customers (see below). It follows a string of incentives launched by the bank this year, including the recent announcement that some of its customers won't have to pay extra fees to use their debit card abroad this summer. It's back: NatWest is offering customers 100 cash to switch, so should you? These eye-catching incentives come after some disappointing figures for the bank last year. Recently released stats from Bacs showed that in the third quarter of 2017 the bank had lost 16,583 customers - more than any other bank. No doubt in response, the bank has also since trialled a recommend-a-friend bonus for some customers, offering up to 500 if friends and family sign up. But should its latest sign-up bonus be enough to tempt you? We take a closer look. What's on offer? To get your hands on the cash switchers must apply for one of the banks accounts online before 15 June and use the current account switch service (CASS) to move direct debits and balances over from an old account. These include the Select, Reward, Reward Silver, Reward Platinum and Reward Black accounts. You will need to deposit at least 1,500 into the account and log in online or through mobile banking before 13 July. The cash will then be paid into your account by 10 August. Rewarding? NatWest has a range of accounts under its 'Reward' umbrella offering monthly cashback on bills What about existing customers? If you already have a bank account with NatWest, whether you can get your hands on the cash bonus will really depend on whether you already use it as your main account. Its website says it requires using the CASS to switch from another bank into your existing one. This in essence means being able to move over a balance and any payments to your existing NatWest account, and closing your other account. Their aim being that in doing so you make NatWest your primary bank. Is it worth switching? If you are just after the cash bonus, switchers can open the no-frills Select Account to get the 100 bonus. Alternatively the popular Reward Account already pays 2 per cent cashback on household bills, which the bank claims earns the average customer 83 a year. However, the account also comes with a 2 monthly fee, which means overall customers would actually earn slightly less at 159 taking into account the sign-up bonus. The average figure is based on spending 345 per month on seven different household bills but you can work out how much you would earn using the cashback calculator here. One thing to watch out for, NatWest overdrafts can be expensive. It charges a 6 per month usage fee and 19.89 per cent interest on agreed borrowing and 8 per day for any unagreed amounts over a 10 buffer. That said this is still a fairly decent incentive, particularly as it comes as cold hard cash paid into your account compared to the likes of First Direct which recently switched up its new customer deal. First Direct withdrew its long-standing 125 cash perk to be replaced by a range of freebies including enticing tech such as Bose on-ear headphones and a Fitbit Charge HR or a 150 Expedia voucher. First Direct has other reasons for us to recommend it: firstly its customer service record, which has earned the bank a handful of awards over the years; secondly, its 250 free overdraft. M&S Bank offers marginally more than the value of the First Direct perks, with a possible 185 in vouchers in the first year - this comes in the form of a 125 gift card, and a 5 monthly top up. Again though, how valuable this is to you will really depend on how often you shop with M&S, but it does also come with a decent 100 free overdraft buffer. Another comparable deal is Halifax. It offers slightly less than all of the others with a 75 cash bonus. But this is paid the quickest, taking just a week to land in your account. Its Reward Account also pays 3 per month in rewards, meaning over the first year you earn 111. >You can read more about all of these account in our regularly updated round up on the best banks to switch to BMW has recalled a further 88,000 cars over a glitch which causes them to catch fire taking the total number of vehicles recalled over safety issues to 400,000 in the past two weeks. The German car giant issued a safety recall of 312,000 vehicles on May 9 over a technical issue which could cause them to suddenly lose power. And yesterday the firm said 294,000 of its 3 Series cars had a separate fault. This relates to wiring in the blower regulator controlling the heating and air conditioning unit which can overheat and catch alight. While 206,000 of the 3 Series models which have this heating fault had already been recalled over the problem of losing power, the other 88,000 vehicles affected by the latest technical glitch had not been previously recalled. Scroll down for video The German car giant issued a safety recall of 312,000 vehicles on May 9 over a technical issue which could cause them to suddenly lose power. Pictured: A BMW 3 Series The latest issue affects BMW 3 Series models built over a seven year period between December 2004 and July 2011. BMW said it was aware of six cases of cars in the UK catching alight which it has reported to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). It stressed no one was hurt. But last night the firm was facing questions over why it has been so slow to take action in Britain as it recalled 672,000 cars in the US last November over the same issue. This means some motorists in the UK could have been driving around in potentially dangerous cars for more than thirteen years. Labour MP Andy Slaughter, who has campaigned for tougher safety recall rules in the UK after a series of fires caused by faulty tumble dryers said: It looks like BMW have known about these faults for a long time and done nothing. It also looks like they have been very selective about the information they have given to customers. Last night the firm was facing questions over why it has been so slow to take action in Britain as it recalled 672,000 cars in the US last November over the same issue. Pictured: A BMW 3 Series 'This is a pattern we are seeing across a lot of different products and manufacturers. The reason is there is not sufficient policing of product safety in the UK. The DVSA can order car manufacturers to issue safety recalls, but it cannot force them to do so. Less than two weeks ago BMW issued a safety recall for owners of the BMW 1 Series, 3 Series, the Z4 and X1 petrol and diesel models manufactured between March 2007 and August 2011. The fault saw the cars battery lose its connection to the fuse box as the wires rubbed together. A spokesman for BMW said: We are taking the opportunity of the existing recall to pro-actively check and replace the wiring harness of the blower regulator. 'In doing so we are taking every precaution in terms of safety while minimising disruption and inconvenience to affected customers'. Pictured: A BMW 3 Series An inquest into the death of a former Gurkha soldier who died on Christmas Day 2016 after crashing into a stalled BMW car was told the firm had been alerted to the safety flaw in 2011. Even after the fatal accident BMW only initially recalled 36,410 petrol cars made between December 2009 and August 2011. It was forced to increase this almost ten-fold following the inquest and an investigation by BBCs Watchdog. BMW said it made the announcement yesterday after meeting officials from the DVSA. It said it decided to take action now because many of the cars affected by the first safety recall were affected by the fire risk problem and that the two wires are close together. This means that both problems can be fixed at the same time. A spokesman for BMW said: We are taking the opportunity of the existing recall to pro-actively check and replace the wiring harness of the blower regulator. 'In doing so we are taking every precaution in terms of safety while minimising disruption and inconvenience to affected customers. 'BMW has notified the DVSA this morning of its intention to recall and will begin the recall process immediately. BMW said it will write to all affected customers within three weeks but retailers will commence contacting their customers directly next week. Ethiopian mega project GERD progressing with unreserved support The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam progressing with unreserved support Advertisements Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his high-profile accompanying delegation concluded on 3rd May, 2018 a two-day visit to Sudan where they held talks with President Omar al-Bashir, and a number of Sudanese ministers and senior officials, according to Sudan Tribune. It said the two sides affirmed their keenness to consolidate relations between Sudan and Ethiopia in all areas. The meetings touched on the latest political, economic and security development in the Horn of Africa, in addition to international economic transitions. Meanwhile, earlier Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry said he had invited the foreign and irrigation ministers and intelligence chiefs of Ethiopia and Sudan for a meeting, which was set to take place on April 20, 2018, according to Middle East Monitor. It said the meeting was aimed to resume discussions on the (GERD) following the failure of the recent talks which were held in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. It was said Shoukry regretted the fact that Addis Ababa and Khartoum didnt respond to his invitation.We had not received any response neither from the Ethiopian nor the Sudanese side on our invitation to resume negotiations over the GERD, Shoukry said adding we lost another chance to reach a solution for the Dams technical problem. The minister explained his country had exerted all efforts during the Khartoum meeting, and negotiated in good faith and appreciation of the interests of all the partners, stressing that Cairo proposed a vision that benefits everyone. He stressed , despite all our efforts, we did not see a reciprocal interest from the other side [Sudan and Ethiopia] and Egypt will wait until there is a desire from our partners to raise the matter once more. However, analysts are stating that the language employed by the minister is ordinary and it expressed business as usual. Action speaks louder than words. Egypt is known for its stealthy and stubborn stand on Nile. Everyone is stating that Egypt is blowing hot and cold while it is creating hassles on the process of negotiation; it said the 1959 colonial agreement is binding while Ethiopia and the rest of Nile basin countries are not signatories (except Sudan). Imagine a country that has formulated and has been implementing deconstructive policy to hinder other Nile Riparian countries from utilizing Nile water currently discussing in good faith. Secret in public, Egypts water security policy is based on a Nile water obsession. It attempts to block all venues that can lead to a fair and equitable distribution of the Nile waters. In some cases, where a co-basin country lays a plan to use the water in its own territory, the Egyptians have often reacted by making threats of war and conflict-laden statements (Tafesse 2001:8391). In line with this, the London-based BRICS POST stated that Egypt has no rational diplomatic efforts and its new water preservation policies are not enough to save the country from a looming water crisis. Besides, unfortunately, Ethiopia simply has no other alternative to compromise its interest except continuing negotiation and striking fair deal. Therefore, the BRICS POST recommended that Egyptian leadership needs to mull over changing its approach: First, it has to say enough wit secrecy and colonial agreements that are bilateral: Egypt has understandably remained tight-lipped on all the details of disagreement for fear of ruining its chances of securing a fair deal. Taking in to account that the negotiations are failing, Egyptian authorities should steer themselves off the enigmatic and subversive policies that focus on prohibiting other Nile Riparian countries from utilizing Nile water. Statistics has proved that Ethiopias electricity demand is growing by 25% per annum and it is difficult for Ethiopia to meet this huge demand without pursuing economic growth and industrial development using untapped renewable water resources. Therefore, development of renewable energy sources is predominant objective and exigent task of Ethiopia to satisfy its insatiable demand of energy and sustain its well-oiled economic progress: Ethiopia has formulated green development economy founded on utilization of renewable energy resources such as hydropower. Advertisement Ethiopia undoubtedly wants to use Nile for electrification purposes. The water only rotates turbines and resumes its natural course, no reason for Egypt to panic. There would be negotiation and rational filling. Colonial times and their defunct agreements are non-binding to all countries and are unacceptable these days; the only way out is negotiation. Egypts intransigence and holier than you stand is already nullified by the emergence of Nile Basin Initiative (NBI). Ethiopia had last March celebrated the seventh year progress of the GERD with various assortments. The foundation for the GERD was laid on March 24, 2003 E.C. by the Ex-Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Since then, construction activities are being carried out non-stop to help finalize the project. With the aim to pursue further economic growth, Ethiopia has launched country-wide scheme to mobilize its abundant water resources for poverty alleviation and economic transformation: Among several large hydropower projects that are in progress now, the GERD is the overriding one. Up on finalization, with storage capacity of 73 billion m3 of water, the GERD would be the largest dam in Africa. A lot has been said about the GERD. Currently, close to 11,000 workmen and women are dauntlessly toiling up the hills of Guba, in Benishangul Gumuz State, where the GERD is located. Their unconquerable spirit defying the scorching environment is tempered by patriotism and national vision to finalize the project and benefit from huge electrification. As part of the effort to show their partnership, thousands of Ethiopians across the country including farmers, merchants, athletes, artists and journalists had been endlessly contributing in cash and in kind. They have also been visiting site to help rally more support. They said that the construction is well on progress and confirmed that construction is awesome and vowed to support the project until finalization. The GERD has witnessed that nation has built the capacity to undertake mega projects worth billions of dollars. Everyone knows that this capacity was unimaginable some decades before (radical U-turn from the world tarnishing the image of Ethiopia as famine-stricken). Up on finalization, the project will make Ethiopia well known for its huge capacity of electricity generation and taming of the wilderness of Blue Nile (proves Ethiopias engineering prowess to check the unchecked run of Nile to the benefit of its citizens). Unflappable stand of the country and far-sighted decision of the government to construct the GERD has played key role to the success gained in the construction. As a springboard to the present success, the government has formulated workable policy and strategy to improve energy supply and materialize nations vision of poverty reduction. And GERD is the predominant development stance of Ethiopia to showcase its insuperable endeavor to fight poverty through electricity production (from utmost exploitation of natural resources). Indubitably, the project would contribute its own to become self-reliant in electricity production. The mega project being undertaken on Nile has raised national pride to unparalleled zenith and heralded the capacity of nation to undertake giant projects. It has also motivated citizens to work tirelessly and cast out the specter of `` impossible `` entrenched for many years in connection with exploiting Nile (it is a secret in public that we do have lots of songs and hymns that praise Nile as insurmountable monster). Ethiopians are proud of their capacity of constructing gigantic Dam as big as the GERD. Until now, over 65 percent of the construction has been finalized. And preparations are well under way to start generation of 750 MW of electricity from two turbines in the coming September, though some time behind schedule due to instability that rocked the country for two years. GERD is being financed by the contribution of the people of Ethiopia and it has overcome short-term agenda of politics, time and place. Hence, it has become unshakable pillar of national unity, consensus, pride and emblem of poverty alleviation. It has become major flag carrier structure being erected on Blue Nile. Waiting to be realized with the solidified effort of people, the Project has unified all people for noble cause of development: alleviation of poverty in a meaningful manner and realization of renaissance of the country. Striding slowly but surely, GERD has become sure to be finalized as the participation of citizens abroad and at home has been increasing with time. And the amount of financial and in kind assistance flowing to the Project has been burgeoning time after time. The assistance has been continuing unabated (despite reluctance of some individuals to pay the amount they pledged on due time). More or less, the Project is witnessing tangible increment and it is expected to be fruitful soon. Ethiopia will move heaven and earth to fully materialize Nile cooperation reverse age-old and selfish use of the river (perverted by the propagandists of Mubarak and colonialists of Britain). Similarly, the activity started to strengthen cooperation through GERD will continue relentlessly. Advertisement Indisputably, nation will keep on its unreserved effort to finalize the construction and employ it for development; prioritizing its development agenda and poverty alleviation mission (without surrendering to any regional and international hegemony and pressure as has been seen until the start of the construction of the GERD). The GERD is sure to be finalized. Currently, all citizens are providing unreserved assistance. Citizens are willingly supporting the project as a symbol of national pride and self-funded construction. Let alone citizens at home, Diaspora Ethiopians are supporting the GERD as much as they could. Indisputably, Ethiopia will keep on its unreserved effort to finalize the GERD and employ it for development; prioritizing its development agenda and poverty alleviation mission. Kansas Governor Signs One of the Strongest Compensation Laws in U.S. Today, Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer signed one of the strongest laws in the nation providing state compensation for innocent people who were wrongfully convicted ( House Bill 2579). This makes Kansas the 33 rd state to enact a wrongful conviction compensation law. Historic pushback against the prison industrial complex and a great many people who have been unjustly incarcerated. Read more: The shooting happened around 9:45 p.m. outside the Genesis Health Club at Ward Parkway shopping center. Police said a man came out of the gym and a black man wearing a white t-shirt began firing at him. The man tried to run away, and the suspect chased after the man, continuing to shoot until he was hit. "As soon as the first one started, I came out the door and started walking toward Ward Parkway Mall," a neighbor said. "I heard the gunshots going and I hear a guy screaming 'No! No! No! Don't do it! Don't do it!'" A late night workout session ended in a spate of gunfire through a shopping mall parking lot and left one man dead at the scene.Witnesses report at leastrounds of gunfire that left a bullet hole in nearby gymn window.Description:More . . .Check the links:The 44th homicide so far this year matches last year's historic homicide count that totaled nearly 150 - A number that nearly matches the all-time KCMO murder record.Developing . . . A few days ago the world's Muslims began observing their annual holy month of Ramadan, which runs through mid-June. And unlike last year, when President Donald Trump issued a Ramadan statement that focused on terrorism, this year his statement was... Guv Greitens Always Comes Out On Top GOVERNOR ERIC GREITENS IS UNTOUCHABLE Show-Me Sen. Claire Pushing Back Council Dude Wagner On The Rise Springtime for the Kansas City discourse reveals some surprising feats of rhetorical strength andcomebackswhich, very much like the newsworthy hotties featured above, leave voters bracing for impact as politicos battle it out.Let's take a look:Heand a flimsy case against him was. Moreover, an incompetent prosecutor claims thatAnd so, from Jeff City to KC to STL . . .and is thereby the strongest politico Missouri has seen in generations.At least that's the case at the outset of the impeachment special session.Amid the GOP slap-fight over the Guv's troubles. Sen. Claire is gaining ground, campaigning harder than the GOP front runner and raising way more moneyIt was a good week for Kansas City's Mayor Pro-Tem who took the lead on a few important taxpayer subsidy issues and attempts to distinguish himself as Kansas City's only hope for the Northland.As always . . .This list has been compiled according toand it's a weekly comprehensive guide to local powerful people, trends and our times. Today, HRC blasted Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer for signing a patently discriminatory bill, SB 284, which is a license to discriminate with taxpayer funds against prospective LGBTQ foster or adoptive parents, single parents, or other qualified families. Kansas and Oklahoma are the only two states this year to allow anti-LGBTQ legislation to become law. Saturday Stormy Weather Report LIVE UPDATES: Severe weather possible Saturday Hide Transcript Show Transcript WEBVTT PARTLY CLOUDY CONDITIONS BY NINE :00. -- 9:00. YOU'LL PROBABLY NEED THE UMBRELLA HEADING INTO SATURDAY. OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES ARE KEPT ON TO 65 IN LAWRENCE. CHILLICOTHE, 62. AT LEAST, THE AC GETS A BREAK. 6:00 A.M., WHEN CHANCE. Kansas City Trivia Teachable Moment 2nd grade teacher in SMSD wins big in Jeopardy KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A local 2nd grade teacher won Friday afternoon in the Jeopardy Tournament of Teachers. Friday afternoon, Larry Martin, a 2nd grade teacher at Belinder Elementary School in the Shawnee Mission School District, won the Jeopardy Tournament of Teachers, besting two other competitors in the two-day episode. Missouri governor to sign bill providing peer counseling to first responders KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- What has been a law in the state of Kansas for three years, only needs the governor's signature to become a law across the state line. Since 2015, Missouri has been working on a bill that would help first responders better cope with trauma or stress they encounter everyday on the job. Rolling Tribute To KCMO Murder Victim Friends pay tribute to murdered KC tattoo artist who loved cars with memorial ride KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Hundreds revved up their cool, classic Chryslers, custom made Carmaros, pretty exotic Porsches and a lot more to honor a KC tattoo artist killed in the Northland one week ago. Show-Me Faux Flesh 'Fake Meat' Labeling Bill Passes in Missouri Missouri is one step closer to being the first state to enact labeling that makes it clear if 'meat' is sourced from an animal or not. The Missouri Senate passed an omnibus bill on May 17 with bipartisan support of 125-22 voting. Newsies On The Road To Kansas Five strangers, one canceled flight: Our epic overnight carpool to Kansas Airports have a funny way of reflecting the face of humanity. If you want to get a sense of how we're doing as a human race, go sit in an airport and observe interactions between spouses, patrons and employees, parents and children, and especially those between strangers. Local Slice Of Life Longtime Liberty Fruit CEO retires KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Liberty Fruit Co. CEO Arnold Caviar celebrated his last day as CEO with friends, family and business partners May 18. After 47 years in charge of the Kansas City wholesaler, Caviar becomes chairman of the board and will no longer have any day-to-day dealings with the business, said Liberty Fruit president Allen Caviar. KC Comeback & Ned Yost Win 1.1K After an Endurance Test, the Yankees Lose to the Royals KANSAS CITY, Mo. - It may have been the seven days between starts, or perhaps the bizarre travel delay the Yankees endured in suburban Washington from Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Either way, C. C. Sabathia lacked his usual effectiveness on Friday night against the Kansas City Royals, a team he had beaten 21 times, more than any active pitcher except Justin Verlander. Hottieis a Brit favorite and international modeling hottie who has garnered newsworthy Instagram fame and works quite a bit harder than the Queen.Closer to home, we're checking these local links:is the song of the day and this is thefor right now . . . CREDIT TO TKC TIPSTERS FOR PUSHING BACK AGAINST SKETCHY "EARLY RELEASE" PLANS FROM THE KCPS THAT HAVE BEEN DUMPED FOR NOW!!! Early Release Some of the best and brightest of our blog community caused a major shift in Kansas City policy by way of our lovable brand of online advocacy.To wit . . .and word of massive push back led by some of the very best local parents who sent the news our way.And now . . .Here's the note from the KCPS honcho taking back the move:To all KCPS Stakeholders:After careful consideration and thoughtful deliberation regarding our decision to implement early release on Wednesdays, we do not believe it is in our school systems families best interest to move forward for the 2018-2019 school year.Kansas City Public Schools has received a tremendous amount of feedback through our various 2-way communication outlets. Stakeholders have spoken through our website, on social media and email. Overwhelmingly, the feedback supported increased professional development time, but many felt it would cause an unmanageable hardship on families, administrators and staff. As a team, we take pride in listening and responding to all voices.When I accepted this position, I vowed to not place our families in harms way. While early release would not create hardships for all of our families, more stakeholders than we are comfortable have expressed concern of an additional burden to find childcare on those days. That added stress is not something our administration wants to place on our families. While we still believe our educators need an increased amount of professional development to move our system forward, we need to make sure, when implemented, there is stability for the students we serve.Finally, Id like to thank the Board of Directors for trusting us with the authority and flexibility to make these decisions. We will continue this dialogue with staff, parents and students with the goal of finding solutions for increased professional development time for our educators, while protecting the interest of our families at the same time.Yours in education,Dr. Mark T. BedellKansas City Public Schools############ More than 100 people have died after a Boeing 737 airliner crashed near Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, reported BBC citing Cuban state media. The plane was carrying 110 passengers and crew, according to the Mexican firm from which the plane was leased. Two days of national mourning have been declared, after Cuba's worst air disaster since the 1980s. According to state media, the Boeing 737-201 crashed at 12.08 (16.08 GMT) on Friday, shortly after taking off from Havana on an internal flight to Holguin in the east of the island. Three female passengers are in critical condition after surviving the crash into thick vegetation just miles from the runway, repotrted CNN citing the state-run newspaper Granma. Earlier Friday evening, Granma reported that one of the three survivors had died. Shortly afterward, Granma issued a correction, saying that all three women are alive. There were six Mexican crew members on board; the passengers were mainly Cuban, with five foreigners among them, state-run website Cubadebate reports. "There has been an unfortunate aviation accident. The news is not very promising, it seems that there is a high number of victims," Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said after visiting the crash site. The plane had been leased to state airline Cubana de Aviacion by the Mexican company Aerolineas Damojh. The Mexican authorities said the plane was built in 1979 and had been successfully inspected last November. Aerolineas Damojh, also known as Global Air, has three planes in operation. Boeing said that it was ready to send a technical team to Cuba, "as permitted under US law and at the direction of the US National Transportation Safety Board and Cuban authorities". A US trade embargo has been in force against Cuba for many decades. sanjiv@tribunemail.com New Delhi, May 18 The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued summons to absconding diamantaire Nirav Modis father Deepak Modi, sister Purvi Mehta and her husband Mayank Mehta as part of its probe in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, an official said here on Friday. Deepak, Purvi and Mayank have been asked to appear before ED investigators at its Mumbai office to record their statements in the case as the agency is in the process of filing chargesheet in a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Mumbai, expectedly by the next week. ED investigators said Nirav Modis relatives were summoned in the first week of this month and were given 15 days to appear before it in the ongoing money-laundering probe of over Rs 13,000 crore. An ED official said further notices would be issued to the three in case they fail to respond to the first summons, an ED official said. Deepak is reportedly based in Antwerp, Belgium, while Purvi and her husband are settled in Hong Kong. They were sent summons through mail, the official said. Purvi is under EDs radar for her alleged role in round-tripping of Nirav Modis laundered money via foreign direct investment (FDI) back to India while her husband is suspected of supporting the diamond merchant in similar operations. The multi-crore fraud was committed in connivance with PNBs Mumbai Brady House branch officers between 2011 and 2017. IANS sanjiv@tribunemail.com New Delhi, May 18 The government has decided not to hike prices of foodgrains sold via public distribution system (PDS) for one more year, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Friday. Foodgrains are supplied at a highly subsidised rate of Rs 3 per kg for rice, Rs 2 per kg for wheat and Rs 1 per kg for coarse grains via ration shops under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The Prime Minister has approved to keep central issue price of rice, wheat and coarse grains unchanged at the rate of Rs 3, 2 and 1 per kg, respectively, for one more year, Paswan said. By keeping the central issue price of foodgrains unchanged under the NFSA, the government has shown its commitment towards the well-being of depressed class, he said. Under the NFSA, which was passed in Parliament in 2013 during the UPA regime, there is a provision for revision of the issue prices of foodgrains every three years. PTI sanjiv@tribunemail.com Girja Shankar Kaura Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 18 Anil Ambani-controlled Reliance Communications (RCom) on Friday said it was in advanced talks with Swedish gear maker Ericsson to resolve their dispute over the telcos dues worth over Rs 1,000 crore. In a statement issued here, RCom spokesperson said, We confirm that RCom and Ericsson are at an advanced stage of discussions to expeditiously resolve commercial issues. This will enable Reliance Communications to exit the NCLT (National Company Law Tribunal) process. The company added that it is confident of speedily proceeding with its plan to sell wireless assets to Reliance Jio for Rs 18,000 crore to trim its Rs 46,000-crore debt from as many as 31 domestic and international banks. RCom is confident to expeditiously proceed with its monetisation plan with Reliance Jio and overall resolution plan with the lenders, keeping in mind interests of all stakeholders, the spokesperson added. The talks to settle the dues comes a few days after the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) admitted three petitions filed by Ericsson against RCom and its subsidiaries and ordered bankruptcy proceedings against the telecom operator. A settlement outside the insolvency process, if allowed, may help RCom to move ahead with a plan to sell its wireless assets spectrum, towers, fibre network and switching nodes to Reliance Jio for Rs 18,000 crore. Ericsson had signed a seven-year deal in 2014 to operate and manage RComs nationwide telecom network but has not been paid for the service. editorial@tribune.com Mohit Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 18 After conducting a raid at the fruit and vegetable market in Sector 26 last month, the Health Department has been going soft on people involved in artificial ripening of fruits. The use of calcium carbide is rampant in the fruit market. Besides, the market is full of sachets of the Chinese ethylene powder. It is being sold as a legal fruit ripening agent. In common parlance, both products are known as masala. Sources said many small-time grocers were keeping calcium carbide with them. However, due to the fear of the department, the chemical was sold only to select fruit traders. However, it was easily available in the market and nearby Ram Darbar. Prof JS Thakur from the School of Public Health, PGI, while sharing his experience, said: Recently, I visited a vegetable market to buy fruits. I asked a vegetable seller whether he was using masala on the fruits. He said all fruits in the market were being ripened by using masala. If the claim of the seller was true, it is a serious health hazard and the department should take a serious note of it. Sources said tonnes of mango, papaya and banana reached mandis across the country. As natural ripening of banana and other fruits takes time, traders use calcium carbide to meet the demand of buyers on time. Ripened artificially with calcium carbide, fruits, including banana and papaya, pose health issues such as headache, dizziness, sleep disorders and even memory loss. Despite knowing the health hazards and legal implication of using artificially ripened fruit, the fruit sellers are indulging in the menace. We sell what people demand. Customers ask for ripened fruits. Hence, as per demand, we are supplying products. If I will not sell the same then someone else will, said a fruit seller in Sector 46 vegetable market. Gurpreet Kaur, a housewife, while purchasing fruits said it was difficult to decipher between artificially or naturally ripened fruit. She said the department should create awareness among consumers to check the illegal practice. Director, Health Services, Chandigarh, Dr G Dewan, said Sukhwinder Singh, designated officer-cum-licensing authority, Food Safety, was the right person to speak on the matter. However, despite repeated attempts Sukhwinder was not available for comments. Artificial sweeteners used in watermelon Even watermelons being sold in markets nowadays are artificially ripened. Vendors offer bright red pieces of melons to attract consumers. Sources said sweetener and colour agents were used to make the fruit look attractive. The crackdown On April 12, a team of the Health Department had conducted a raid and seized artificially ripened bananas from the Sector 26 market. The department had destroyed 3.5 quintals of banana, mango and papaya. Symptoms Dizziness, stomach disorder/ infection, sleep and memory disorders. Effects Harmful for kidney and liver. How to identify Fruits ripened with calcium carbide are overly soft but are inferior in taste and flavour. They also have a shorter shelf life. The fruit ripened with calcium carbide may develop uniform attractive surface colour, but the tissue inside would not be ripe or may remain green or raw. A health official said: While buying bananas, one can spot dark patches. Such bananas could have come in touch with calcium carbide. Artificially ripened fruits lack consistency. An artificially ripened papaya and mango will remain raw on one side. How chemical works When calcium carbide comes into contact with moisture, it produces acetylene gas, which is quite similar in its effect to the natural ripening agent, ethylene. Acetylene acts like ethylene and accelerates fruit ripening. Calcium carbide is rolled in a newspaper and kept in a box of bananas. DM bans use of chemicals Ajit Balaji Joshi, District Magistrate (DM), Chandigarh, while exercising powers under Section 133 of the CrPC, has prohibited the use of chemicals for artificial ripening of fruits as well as storing such fruits in the city. The DM has also ordered all SDMs of Chandigarh to conduct regular checking of storage spaces within their jurisdiction and also places used by wholesalers and retailers of fruits. If chemically adulterated fruits are found, the DM has asked them to destroy these immediately. TNS editorial@tribune.com Mohit Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 19 In a major breakthrough, the School of Public Health of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has been selected to conduct a study for ascertaining the cost on health care services in the country. The one-of-its-kind study will be conducted in 10 states across the country, including Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Sources said the study was being conducted for the successful implementation of Ayushman Bharat, a mega scheme to provide free health treatment up to Rs 5 lakh to people living below poverty line. The objective of the study is to help the government in ascertaining the insurance claims of particular ailment. Dr Shankar Prinja, Additional Professor of Health Economics at the PGI and Principal Investigator, lauded the role of the Department of Health Research for providing support to conduct the national-level study which will involve more than 500 health facilities, including sub-centers and district hospitals. We have identified 73 health procedures which constitutes 80 per cent of medical insurance claims in the country. We will focus on these procedures and ascertain the cost of their treatment. The study will be used as evidence for the government in setting the reimbursement rates under the National Health Protection Scheme, said Prinja. He further added that the study would provide information to the government on cost of various treatments/procedures for making informed choices and determining the package rates for the same with the insurance companies. For this purpose, Prof Rajesh Kumar, Dean (Academics) at the PGI, had also organised the first national workshop to train participants from 10 states on costing of health care services from May 16 to 18. The workshop was held in collaboration with the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. A total of 30 senior researchers and academicians from leading organisations and medical colleges of the country such as the Department of Health and Research (DHR), New Delhi; TISS Mumbai, MCC Madras; KGMU, Lucknow; SMIMER, Gujarat; SMS Medical College, Jaipur; VSSMC (Burla), Odisha; Seth GSMC and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, were part of this workshop. Ayushman Bharat to benefit 10 crore families Touted as the worlds largest government-funded health care insurance programme, Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM) will provide an insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family annually and benefit more than 10 crore families belonging to the poor and vulnerable sections of society. The Centrally-sponsored scheme will target deprived rural families and identified occupational category of urban workers families, who constitute 8.03 crore in rural and 2.33 crore in urban areas, respectively, as per the latest Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data, and will cover around 50 crore people. The Health Ministry has prepared a detailed timeline to ensure completion of all steps to enable rolling out of the scheme anytime after July, while allocating around Rs 10,000 crore for the project. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 18 The Education Department had floated a voluntary teaching scheme and invited applications from the public in 2016, but within two years, the number of volunteers reduced from 112 to 25. Those who are left have called for reviving the scheme. Wing Commander JS Bhalla (retd), who is 81 years old, said, The schools need to induct volunteer teachers. They should be considered a part of the schools. Lack of encouragement is also one of the reasons. Wing Commander Bhalla comes five days a week to take classes at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, Chandigarh, where he teaches political science to Class IX and XII. Recently, he helped the school in a mock Parliament and the Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations. Initially, teachers were not ready to give him their lectures, but slowly things changed. I feel a part of the school, he said. On the lukewarm response from registered volunteers, Neeraj Gulati (65), a former Director (Technical) at the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN), who is a voluntary maths teacher, said, The city is full of volunteers. People shouldnt think that schools would do something for them. It is wrong. Students in government schools are deprived. They need to be guided. Col Harjinder Singh (retd), who teaches English, said the Administration should revive the scheme by issuing an advertisement. Besides Wing Commander Bhalla, the GMSSS, Sector 44, is planning to engage other voluntary teachers, attached with the school. There are five at the school. We have called them in July. All of them are responding, said Renu Rajan, a coordinator of the scheme. When the scheme was floated, prominent personalities such as former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, former Chandigarh SSP Naunihal Singh and Haryana bureaucrat SK Setia had got registered. Of them, only Setia has continued. The spirit was that retired people continued on p9 Rajesh Ramachandran Rajesh Ramachandran Every time the BJP wins an election there is a collective gasp of disbelief and a sigh of resignation from the liberal elite. A large section of the commentariat often fails to understand or analyse election results that go so completely contrary to its prognosis. Well, it is simply because there exists a terrible disconnect between the masses, that is the voters, and the liberal elite and its commentariat. This chasm has grown bigger in the last three decades of economic reforms and liberalisation. Now, there is no organic link between the city and the village. The migration of the village to the city is into the slums not into its middle class colonies. The cities have become independent modern republics which cannot understand or converse with the pre-modern villages. They talk different languages and idioms and their belief systems are often mutually contradictory. MN Srinivas talked about the migration of the village elite reinforcing their dominant caste status in Rampura, the locus of his field work. But there are no Cities of Gold any longer, turning carpetbaggers into tycoons overnight. In fact, migration now doesn't ensure empowerment or affluence to unskilled or semi-skilled aspirants at all. Post-liberalisation even the patterns of migration have been skewed. The migrant labourers, domestic helps and rickshaw pullers remain outside the limits of the city's imagination. The city is only for those who speak English, study in English medium schools with a universal syllabi like that of the CBSE or the ICSE, gain degrees from respectable institutions and universities and use a global idiom of what is supposed to be fashionably liberal and progressive. This post-liberalisation or, if I may, po-lib intellectual idiom, interestingly, is something that has turned the village into the other, the enemy. The first casualties of the po-lib intellectual or political project were the Indian Left, Gandhi, Nehru and the rural-urban continuum. To be politically fashionable, the media, the publishing houses and the universities had to ridicule the Left, call venerable old leaders like EMS names and to trample on everything that was held sacred by the generation of freedom fighters. Nobody was ready to tell the po-lib intellectual that calling Gandhi a casteist and a Hindu was like accusing Martin Luther King of being a Klu Klux Klan activist. For this new-generation political activists in the universities, religious secessionism of the militant Islam variety was suddenly kosher, with a new far Left platform coming up to project an idea of India that is divisive, secessionist and elitist, all in the name of the unwashed masses. This was a cynical attempt to knowingly or unconsciously reframe the colonial perception of India as a conglomeration of conflicting identities, groups, and even nations (let us not forget the Adhikari thesis). But wasn't that exactly the colonial construct: There is no, and never was, an India, or even any country of India no Indian nation, no people of India that men of the Punjab, Bengal, the North-West Province and Madras should ever feel that they belong to one great Indian nation, is impossible, wrote Sir John Strachey in late 19th century. It could as well have been a fiery liberal elite Indian intellectual from any of the countrys big universities in 21st century seeking a separate nation for a community. The colonial project failed because of the vision of the leaders of the national movement and their idealism. For instance, The Tribune wrote on March 19, 1881, We do not believe in the theory that India is an assemblage of countries and that her people are an assemblage of nations. The vast continent from the Himalayas to Cape Comorin, and from the Brahmaputra to the Indus, forms one great country, and Bengalis, Punjabis and Mahrattas, the Rajputs of Mewar, the Nairs of Travancore and the Gurkhas of Nepal, the Hindus, the Sikhs and the Mohammedans, all constitute members of one great nation, bound together by affinities of language and similarities of manner and customs, and by a community of intellectual, social and political interest. That was the national mainstream sentiment till liberalisation brought new capital into media, publishing and the universities. Along with Nehruvian socialism, his idea of India too was discarded. All the ills of the nation were attributed to him (yes, todays trolls are but unlettered, unintelligent versions of edit page arguments of early 1990s). But the new economy and new liberalism were limited to the cities, where CBSE schools mushroomed. There was no capital infusion into rural educational institutions which remained backward, regressive and superstitious. That was the beginning of the making of two Indias. A rural student educated in a regional language medium school could become anything three or four decades ago, but no longer. The best example is KR Narayanan who went on to become Harold Laski's favourite student at London School of Economics. When the elite or the dominant castes withdrew their wards from government schools, these schools became mere dole-dispensing mechanisms for shameless teachers who never taught. The city was getting more liberal, logical, reasonable and globally connected, but the village was getting poorer, isolated and destined to serve the city forever. In fact, even the city is only a metaphor now. The labourers, domestics, autodrivers and delivery boys from villages numerically dominate the urban space and its elections. No wonder Delhi is now a poorvanchali or an East Indian city - a geographical contradiction indeed. These poor villagers do not understand the underlying liberalism in the slogans of secession and the elite's intense hatred for things the masses claim as their customs. Unless the po-lib intellectual finds a new idiom, the masses will drift towards false narratives and find security in a past which didn't exist. The ideas of Rani Padmini's honour and internet during the Mahabharata times are but symptoms of a disease deep-rooted in a pre-modern mind that is fearful of the modern. Unfortunately, the cynical po-lib politician is worse than the intellectual. He has no agenda to transform the lives and politics of the villages. He merely pushes the masses into the waiting laps of the Ram Lila troupe, which just needs grease and grime to turn men into beasts. editorial@tribune.com Bijendra Ahlawat Tribune News Service Faridabad, May 19 At least 700 employees have been hired on a temporary basis for cleaning the city. The new employees started the sweeping work here on Saturday under police protection after a gap of 11 days. The regular sanitation workers of the MC went on an indefinite strike on May 9. The civic body has more than 3,500 employees. Mohammed Shayin, Commissioner, MC, said the new employees had been deputed in all three zones of the NIT, Ballabgarh and Old Faridabad. He said the new employees were hired in the wake of the indefinite strike of the regular employees since May 9. He said the work of removal or disposal of the garbage had already been started by Eco Green, a company hired in December 2017, while the work of cleanliness was still the job of the regular staff. He said the civic body had been left with no option but to hire new workers. He said the sweeping work would also be carried out during the night and police protection had been provided to the workers. It may be recalled that threat of a clash had forced the authorities to stop garbage removal for a few days when the strike begin. The Joint Commissioners and senior officials have been directed to supervise the cleanliness drive and ensure the removal of garbage from all parts of the city, said Shayin. However, a group of striking staff took out a protest rally against the hiring of new employees for the cleaning work. Local Congress leaders sat on a dharna in support of the striking workers on Friday. District BJP chief Gopal Sharma on Saturday assailed the Congress for supporting the strike. Sanitation workers hamper garbage lifting, detained Sonepat: The police detained several sanitation workers who tried to hamper garbage lifting in various parts of the city. They were taken to the Police Lines and were released later. Meanwhile, Congress MLAs Jai Tirth Dahiya Rai and Jaiveer Balmiki met striking employees on the premises of the Sonepat Nagar Nigam office on Saturday and assured them of all support. Volunteers belonging to NGOs, social organisations, market and residential associations led by Rajiv Jain, media adviser to the Chief Minister, and Deputy Commissioner Vinay Singh lifted garbage from the Police Lines and other areas during a seven-hour exercise. Similar cleanliness drives were launched in Gannaur, Gohana and Kharkhoda towns with the help of volunteers. OC editorial@tribune.com Sushil Manav Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 19 Clamour for giving reins of the state Congress to former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was witnessed in a meeting of party workers held here on Saturday to mobilise support for the second phase of the rath yatra to be launched from Samalkha in Panipat on June 3. Leaders after leaders, who addressed the meeting of party workers from Ambala, Kurukshetra, Panchkula and Yamunanagar districts held here, raised this demand. The countdown has already begun for the BJP government and if the Congress high command did not rise to the occasion now and asks Hooda to lead the party in the upcoming Parliament and Assembly elections, a Congress government will be a far cry in Haryana, said Subhash Chaudhary, a former Congress MLA amidst noise of approval from the workers. In the past three-and-a-half years, not a single decision taken by the BJP government has been in the favour of people. This has forced me to step out and launch the Jan Kranti Rath Yatra to rid people of this government, said Hooda. Hooda termed the government as anti-farmer, anti-trader and anti-people and said all sections of society were fed up with the government. He alleged that mustard crop was not being purchased and farmers were not getting a fair price for vegetables like potatoes and tomatoes. Hooda termed the HSSC as Haryana Services Sales Counter and alleged that corruption was at its peak under the BJP and all democratic values were being throttled. He ridiculed the state government for renaming Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) as Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) and said that this was done because HUDA sounded like his last name. Hooda called upon party workers to bring the maximum number of people for the June 3 rally at Samalkha on the launch of the second phase of his Jan Kranti Rath Yatra. Former state Congress president Phool Chand Mullana accused the state government of trying to frame Hooda in false cases, because of the fear of his growing popularity. Former minister Nirmal Singh, who was recently released on bail after in a case of attempt to murder, alleged that the BJP was misusing the CBI to settle political scores with opponents. Former MP Kailasho Saini also said that the party leadership should ask Hooda to lead the party at this difficult time. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Kurukshetra, May 18 The Jind police have arrested Kashmiri Singh for allegedly poisoning his three minor daughters to death. A Jind court on Friday sent the accused to 14-day judicial remand. The accused allegedly administered poison his four children and wife on Tuesday. Alewa SHO Hari Om said the condition of Singhs wife Suman and daughter Sneha had reportedly improved. The victims relatives on Friday shifted Suman to a private hospital in Panipat, whereas Sneha is being treated at the PGIMS, Rohatk, said the SHO. A resident of Bhigana village, Kashmiri, a daily wage earner, was an alcoholic and poisoned his family in an inebriated state, said the police. Kashmiri has been booked on charges of murder and other sections of the IPC on the statement of Singhs daughter Komal, who later died at hospital. The deceased have been identified as Komal (17), Kafi (14) and Kiran (7). In her statement to the police on Thursday, Komal had alleged that all of them were forcibly poisoned by their father. The girl also alleged that her father used to beat them up regularly and keep them hungry for several days. A few hours after registering her statement, in presence of a magistrate, the girl died, said the SHO. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Hisar, May 19 The man, who threw oil on Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, has apologised for shocking behaviour. Praveen, a resident of Jakhod Khera village in the Adampur Assembly segment of the district, was produced in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Nidhi Bansal after a one-day police remand on Saturday. The court remanded him in 14-day judicial custody. Parveen told mediapersons outside the court that he was upset due to the divorce case of his sister. The divorce case of my sister has disturbed me a lot. I presumed that a BJP leader has been helping my brother-in-law in the case. This provoked me, and I threw oil on the Chief Minister. However, I regret the incident as the Chief Minister is a humble man. I want to apologise to the Chief Minister for my act, he said. He would urge a village panchayat to approach the Chief Minister to seek an apology on his behalf. Asked about his political affiliation, he said his family had been a supporter of former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal and later he was impressed with the INLD leadership. However, he is not an active member of the party. Praveens uncle Bhoop Singh said he was mentally upset due to a domestic issue. He has been mentally unstable for the last few years and is under treatment at a Sirsa hospital, he said. The police had booked Praveen under Sections 353, 332, 186, 336, 355 of the IPC on a complaint by Inspector Krishan Kumar, in charge of the Economic Offences Wing in the district police, who was deployed at the Devi Bhawan temple during the Chief Ministers visit on Thursday evening. shalender@tribune.com Geetanjali Gayatri Tribune News Service Gurugram, May 18 Friday namaz had been a routine affair for the citys Muslims until a fortnight ago when right-wing activists objected to prayers in the open. These are now being held at earmarked places amid a lingering fear and tight security even as mosques are constrained to hold prayers in shifts to accomodate the swelling numbers on account of Ramzan. In the citys Anjuman Masjid, namaz is being held in four shifts and at Chamkhera Masjid in two shifts. The Muslims, who account for 4.57 per cent of Gurugram's population, feel fettered. Yet they have chosen to keep mum. "Till last month, I could park my two-wheeler by the roadside and offer namaz in a park. But open spaces don't seem safe anymore," rues Alam, who now travels from Badshahpur to the idgarh located at the city's Rajiv Chowk to pray. Jama Masjid Imam Jaan Muhammad says after right-wing activists disrupted prayers in at least 10 locations across the city on May 4, the number of those praying at the masjid has doubled from 5,000 to 8,000. With 10 to 12 masjids and a lone idgah catering to lakhs of community members, a 15-member committee has now sought the administration's help to get Wakf properties vacated. "There are 19 such properties in villages that are under the control of private individuals. If we get these back, the issue of prayers in open spaces will be resolved," explains Zuber Ahmed, a member of the committee a link between the administration and the community since the controversy. Acknowledging that police presence in open spaces is of much help, the Muslims point out that this cannot be a permanent solution. "This arrangement can't go on forever. The lasting solution lies in getting Wakf properties vacated," says Idgah Imam Mohammad Farukh, at pains to explain that there is no Hindu-Muslim divide in the city. "Barring 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans by some activists, there has been no such incident," he says. In Tau Devi Lal Park where prayers are scheduled for 1.30 pm, the police are the first to arrive. As they keep a watch from a distance, durries are spread and the faithful begin pouring in, some in mammoth groups of 500 and more. Among them is young Wasim. "But for the presence of the police, we could not have prayed in peace," he remarks. Those accompanying him nod in assent. A few youngsters, not keen on giving their names, gather in Sector 23. Wary, they refuse to engage in a conversation as they quietly unroll their prayer mats. But persistence pays and finally, one of them agrees to speak out: "It is not the right time to raise our voice, even if things appear unjust under the present dispensation." His voice is soft and timid. Commissioner of Police Sandeep Khirwar says the police are committed to protecting all citizens and that the minority community has nothing to fear. "But what is a prayer worth if we have to fight to offer it," asks an indignant Alam. "Is it not better to move to another place instead of squabbling?" editorial@tribune.com Our Correspondent Kangra, May 19 All shops and business establishments remained closed at Nagrota Bagwan on Saturday after a minor girl from one community was teased by three youths of another community on Friday. Three persons from Uttar Pradesh were arrested by the police. Some Hindu organisations, including the VHP, had given a bandh call. Angry youths held a protest. They gathered in groups at different places and marched in the town. In view of the tension that prevailed here, there was heavy deployment of police to avoid any untoward incident and Additional Superintendent of Police Dinesh Kumar was in the town to supervise the law and order scenario. The SDM, Kangra, and SDPO were also stationed in the town. VHP district organising secretary Sahil Walia and district vice-president Amit Sharma handed over a memorandum to the SDM to be given to the Chief Minister. The VHP leaders alleged that persons from a particular community, mostly from Uttar Pradesh, were indulging in anti-social activities. MLA Arun Kumar Mehra said no one would be allowed to disturb the peace here and anti-social elements would be dealt with sternly. Protesters demanded that the government should verify the credentials of the people coming from outside the state. ASP Dinesh Kumar said the arrested persons were produced before Kangra court and were remanded in police custody till May 30. The ASP suggested that migrants should get themselves registered with the local police stations, otherwise, legal action would be initiated against them. editorial@tribune.com Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, May 18 Confronted with the problem of checking illegal felling and unauthorised constructions, the state government will get drone mapping done of its forests and tourist towns of Shimla, Manali, Dharamsala and Kasauli, which have become centres of unauthorised constructions. With the issue of regularisation of over 25,000 unauthorised constructions in the state hanging fire, the government is faced with the dilemma of finding a way out to deal with the situation. The Supreme Court, National Green Tribunal and High Court is monitoring the situation. Besides checking illegal felling and coming up of buildings in violation of norms, what we need to ensure is accountability of officials concerned so that the illegality is checked while it is being committed and not later, said Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while talking to The Tribune. He said with so much of advancement in technology, it had been decided that drone mapping of popular tourist destination where commercial value of property was high would be undertaken. With the help of drone mapping we can have exact count of every tree and building. Satellite imagery can be used to get a timeline and in case of dereliction of duty by officials, suitable action can be taken, he said. Checking illegal felling of trees has become a major challenge for the government. Several cases have come to the notice, especially during the previous Congress regime, where hundreds of trees were cut and forest officials failed to detect the crime. The State Council for Science, Technology and Environment got the drone mapping of two wards of Jakhu and Kanlog under the Shimla Municipal Corporation, having the highest concentration of forests, done a few days ago. So far in India, drone mapping has been undertaken only in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka, where it is not just the number of trees but also their species has been specified in the mapping. A Chandigarh-based firm has undertaken drone mapping of Shimla forests. The mapping can confirm any case of felling with the canopy count being recorded in the mapping exercise. The preliminary results have indicated that the use of drones for undertaking forest mapping is successful and can help in checking illegal felling to a great extent. It can also be useful to check illegal constructions, which are a major problem in most towns, especially tourist destinations. editorial@tribune.com Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service Dharamsala, May 18 Just a fortnight after a woman Town and Country Planning Department officer was shot dead while supervising the demolition drive in Kasauli, another woman officer had a narrow escape late on Thursday. Neha Pathania, a young forest guard posted in Pong Dam wetland area along with three forest officials, tried to prevent some members of Gujjar community from leaving their animals for grazing in Pong wildlife sanctuary area, which was nesting ground for many rare bird varieties. She was attacked with stones and sticks by members of Gujjar community. The forest officials, along with Neha, had to run to save their life. They escaped with minor injuries. Neha, while talking to The Tribune, said that she along with three other forest guards Anita, Ankush and Vipin Kumar had gone to Chalwara area in Pong Dam wildlife sanctuary to stop Gujjar who bring their buffalos in large numbers to the wetland area for grazing. The Gujjars then planned an attack on them. As soon as we reached there and started scaring away buffalos from the wetland area, the Gujjars including women, attacked us with stones and sticks. Unarmed, we had to run for our safety. The attackers pursued us and threw stones at us. We sustained minor injuries but managed to escape, Neha said. Neha alleged that their range and block forest officials who tried to brush the matter under the carpet. The said officials did not lodge a police complaint despite our request. We had to go to the police station ourselves in the night and register a police complaint, the forest guard alleged. The police late on Thursday registered a case under sections 353, 332, 147, 149 of the IPC at police station Jawali on the statement of Forest Guard, Special Duty Nagrota Surian Range. The forest guard in her complaint to police has alleged that she along with Forest Team had gone to place Chalwara to sensitise local inhabitants to leave flood prone area and to shift from there to safer place. But while they were discharging their official duty, some local inhabitants of Gujjar Community named Nisha, Murad Ali, Kalu, Ramjaan, Gaddu, Marid Mohammed, Gora, Salmaan used criminal force upon them and caused injuries. DFO Wildlife, Krishan Kumar reached Pong Dam to review the situation. While talking to The Tribune the DFO said that Gujjars from Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir come in large numbers in this season in Pong Dam wildlife sanctuary area. They bring with them about 20,000 buffalos and other animals which are left to graze in wetland area. As per rule 4 of the wetland management rules grazing of domestic animals is strictly prohibited in the wildlife sanctuary area. There is fear in our officials. We are trying to take the matter to logical conclusion so that the culprits do not escape scot free, the DFO said. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News service Shimla, May 19 Security has been beefed up for the five-day visit of President Ram Nath Kovind to Shimla from May 20 to May 24. Elaborate security and other arrangements have been made for his maiden visit as the President and security forces have been deployed in strength at all vulnerable locations, especially The Retreat, summer holiday resort of the President, the Kalyani helipad located closeby, Peterhoff, Dr YS Parmar University, Nauni (Solan), the Annandale helipad and the routes of the Presidents carcade. A strict watch is being kept on all suspicious persons and security has been beefed up at all entry points and, besides companies of the reserve police, security men in plain clothes have also been deployed. As many as 1,000 policemen have been deployed on various duties. The President is likely to land at the Kalyani helipad at Chharabra near The Retreat. The option for the Annandale helipad has been kept open if there is a problem of landing due to inclement weather. Three carcades have been positioned at Kalyani, Annandale and Nauni and rehearsals have been conducted to ensure foolproof arrangements, said DGP Sita Ram Mardi. As per tentative schedule, the President will attend the seventh convocation of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali (Punjab), on May 20. Himachal Governor Acharya Devvrat will host a banquet in his honour on the same evening here, preceded by a cultural programme. The President will deliver his address at the ninth convocation of the Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry at Nauni (Solan) on May 21 and attend the civic reception hosted by the state government at Peterhoff, Shimla, on May 22. The President will host a reception for dignitaries, including ministers, judges, civil and military officers, journalists and prominent citizens, and leave for Delhi on May 24. When he was not allowed in The Retreat The Retreat, summer holiday resort of the President, is bracing for extending a warm welcome to the President, who was denied entry into the premises on the pretext that he did not have the permission when he came here last year on May 28 as the Governor of Bihar. Destiny took a turn and Kovind had little inkling that later he would be the President and would need no permission to visit The Retreat. Roads to avoid editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Jammu/Leh, May 18 Festive mood has gripped the Ladakh region ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Leh on Saturday. The Prime Minister is scheduled to join the 100th birth anniversary celebrations of Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, the architect of modern Ladakh, and to lay the foundation stone of the Asias longest (14.2-km) bi-directional Zojila tunnel, connecting Kashmirs Sonmarg with the Gumri area in Kargil district, through remote control. Since taking over the reins of the country, this will be the second visit of the Prime Minister to the strategically important Ladakh region that shares vast border with China and Pakistan. Earlier, Modi had visited the region to inaugurate the Leh-Kargil-Srinagar transmission line and an NHPC power project on August 12, 2014. Rigzin Norbu from the Skara area in Leh said the PMs visit was a great honour to the Buddhist leader and Ladakh. We hope Modi will look into problems of Ladakh and announce something for the youth, Nobru said. Religious organisations, including Ladakh Buddhist Association, Anjuman Imamia, Anjuman Moin-ul Islam, and Christian Association of Ladakh have come together to make the PMs visit a grand event. Ladakh Buddhist Associations Rinchan Namgial said they were mobilising people to attend the function. Wide publicity is being given to the event through loud speakers and other media, like local radio. editorial@tribune.com Arteev Sharma Tribune News Service Katra, May 18 Aesthetic ambience and attractive wayside amenities on the newly constructed Tarakote Marg, the 7-km track between Banganga and Adhkuwari en route the holy cave shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi, have made the arduous pilgrimage easier for people. The track will be formally e-inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. The new track is the brainchild of Governor NN Vohra, who is the chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board that manages the affairs of the pilgrimage. The shrine board had approved the Governors proposal to construct the new track between Banganga and Adhkuwari, to decongest the rush of pilgrims on the existing 6-km track from Banganga to Adhkuwari. The track proposal was mooted keeping in view the progressively increasing number of pilgrims to the cave shrine. The Governor, who had been monitoring the completion of the new track on a daily basis, has travelled on the Tarakote Marg several times to review the nature of wayside facilities for the pilgrims. He has recently directed the urgent installation of additional water ATMs to provide free filtered water for the pilgrims, place more benches and dustbins at regular intervals for the convenience of pilgrims. At the request of the business community and local residents of Katra and Purana Daroor, the track has been linked with the existing BangangaAdhkuwari track at a point which takes off near Gulshan Langar. The 1.5-km link road provides the pilgrims the choice of walking on the existing BangangaAdhkuwari track or on the Tarakote Marg, once they have crossed the Darshani Deodi. editorial@tribune.com Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, May 19 Hailing people of the Jammu region for their patience and bravery, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said Dogras are a blessed community as they are living in a place where the holy cave of Goddess Vaishno Devi is situated. Saying this in Dogri, Modi started his speech after inaugurating various developmental projects of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board for the holy cave. In his bid to strike an emotional chord with people, Modi began and concluded his half-long speech in Dogri. He also invoked Vaishno Devi in the beginning and conclusion of his speech. Although he did not touch some Jammu-centric issues raised by Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta, he hailed Dogras as warriors who also have strong patience. In his welcome address, Gupta had highlighted some Jammu-centric issues, including decades old demand of West Pakistan refugees to get basic human rights, problems of the business community and problems of other categories of refugees. This land of Dogras is known for producing warriors. Apart from their bravery, residents of this land also have great patience, he said, adding that the keeping in view the tradition, the Central government had started a special recruitment drive for the youth of this belt. Over 20,000 youth of J&K have been recruited in the Army and Central forces, he said. Furthermore, Modi said the land was famous for the fragrance of its world famous Basmati rice. I am fully confident that with the blessing of Mata Vaishno Devi, inhabitants of this region would progress in every field, he said. amansharma@tribunemail.com Tribune News Service Leh/Srinagar/Jammu, May 19 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged the misguided youths in Kashmir to return to the mainstream and contribute to the development and progress of the country, as he unequivocally declared that development alone was the key to solving all problems that plagued Jammu and Kashmir. Modis pitch for peace and his appeal to stone-throwers and youths wielding the gun came in his centrepiece speech in Srinagar on the second leg of his day-long visit to the state, during which he touched all three regions Ladakh, Kashmir and Jammu either inaugurating or laying stones of projects worth Rs 25,000 crore. The PM delivered a powerful message in Srinagar where he commissioned the 330-MW Kishanganga hydro-electric project. He said the recent decision on Ramzan ceasefire preceded by withdrawal of cases against thousands of students (charged with stone-throwing) was to mainstream misguided youths, as also to expose external forces instigating terrorism to make those wielding the gun and stone-throwers to inflict wounds on their motherland. The appeal comes against the backdrop of the Union Governments announcement to halt all anti-militancy operations in the state during the holy month of Ramzan. The PM pleaded with the misguided youths to return to the mainstream, which he interpreted as return to their families and parents, to give a push to the development process. The developmental theme was woven from his first stopover in the cold desert region of Ladakh, where he laid the foundation stone of the Rs 6,800-crore Zojila tunnel, expected to be Asias longest at a height of nearly 12,000 feet, while in Srinagar he inaugurated the Kishanganga project. In Jammu, he inaugurated a new track leading to the Vaishno Devi cave shrine and kickstarted work for the Srinagar Ring Road, besides laying the foundation of the largest-ever hydro power project, Pakal Dul, with a 1,000 MW capacity, in Kishtwar district. Speaking passionately on the importance of Kashmiriyat, PM Modi said former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a fan of the concept, and so is Modi. He said the 125 crore population of the country was working towards the New India concept and hoped that the people of J&K would become a part of it. Cautioning against those indulging in violence under the garb of Islam, he said the only way to resolve issues was talks an obvious reference to the Centres special representative, Dineshwar Sharma. Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, state and Central ministers were among those present. editorial@tribune.com Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, May 18 The helpless West Pakistan Refugees have reminded Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is arriving in J&K on Saturday, of his unfulfilled promise to grant fundamental rights to them to end their miseries. During the 2014 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, the BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had repeatedly assured to solve the problems of West Pakistan refugees, who have been struggling since 1947 to get their basic human rights. We are hoping that the Prime Minister during his visit to J&K will make some announcements to end our plight, chairman of the West Pakistan Refugees Action Committee Labha Ram Gandhi told The Tribune. He said since the formation of the NDA government at the Centre, delegations of the West Pakistan refugees have met the Prime Minister twice to remind him of his promises, but nothing concrete has been done so far. All BJP leaders, from time-to-time, had promised to solve our issues after getting into power but we are still waiting for the promises to be fulfilled, he said and recalled that PM Narendra Modis Lalkar Rally in Jammu on December 1, 2013, and Bharat Vijay Yatra on March 26, 2014, at Hiranagar, where he had promised to solve our issues. Gandhi, however, minced no words in attacking the local BJP leadership for not pursuing their case seriously. BJP ministers in the J&K coalition have no time to address our humanitarian issues because we are deprived of voting right in the Assembly elections. So, they are not taking our problems seriously, Gandhi observed, adding that also, a majority of the West Pakistan refugees are OBCs and Dalits, so caste-prejudice is another reason for not addressing our problems. Victims of the Partition holocaust, West Pakistan refugees are struggling since 1947 to get citizenship and other fundamental rights. sanjiv@tribunemail.com The first batch of 57 students of the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM) has got placement offers from 80+ reputed development organisations. The students have got the opportunity of getting placed in multiple kinds of development organisations, including domestic and international NGOs, social foundations, CSR/Corporate foundations, social enterprises, social consulting organisations, funders, ecosystem creators and research organisations. The organisations include Central Square Foundation, Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiative, Actionaid, Samagra Development Associates, Wadhwani Foundation, Ashoka Innovators, PATH, Charities Aid Foundation etc to name a few. Over 250 job roles from these reputed organisations is a strong indication that social sector is rapidly evolving as one of the primary career destination and is moving beyond the traditional roles of volunteering or field jobs. Talking about the achievement, Gaurav Shah, Founder and Director, ISDM said, It gives me immense contentment to see that the social sector offering such a rich variety of career options and not being restricted to just particular kind of roles (volunteers, field roles etc.). We are confident that as professional leaders and managers, our bright students of first batch will make a significant difference to the impact, scale and sustainability of organizations working for the betterment of society and especially improving the quality of life of the underserved. MoU for business analytics course BSE Institute Ltd, a leader in financial education, has signed an MoU with IIT Madras to offer joint programme in Business Analytics. The MoU was exchanged at IIT Madras campus between Ambarish Datta, MD and CEO, BSE Institute Ltd and Dr. Ashok Kumar Mishra, Professor. Dept. of Chemistry and Dean-Academic Research, IIT Madras. Both BSE Institute and IIT Madras endeavor to provide world-class education to students through collaborative programmes. In addition, the collaboration will also lead to opportunities of joint research and facilitate industry exposure for students of both the institutions. It will provide excellent opportunities to students from both the cities. Business Analytics programme enables working professionals with in-depth understanding of the key technologies used in analytics, viz. data mining, machine learning, visualisation techniques and statistics. Through this programme one can turn the sheer complex data into a competitive advantage with the efficient use of Business Analytics & thereby fostering/ supporting the decision making. The programme is designed on a schedule that minimises disruption of work and personal pursuits, spread over one year (part-time) focusing on overview of the field of analytics so that you can make informed business decisions. Coding curriculum in Indian schools Adani Foundation has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Cambridge University Press, to introduce cutting edge curriculum such as coding in Indian schools and aim to transform the teaching-learning experiences in the education system. The Cambridge Language Solution is a digital language lab for schools, with the core focus on sharpening the two key skills of listening and speaking. The learning methodology offered by the language lab blends well with the curriculum requirement that is targeted to cater to the learning needs of the students. The Coding Sandpit programme being adopted by Adani Foundation has been designed to offer a transformational experience of teaching and learning of Computational Thinking and ICT in schools. The objective of this program is to make youth develop flexible, accurate, automatic execution of standard algorithms, and use these competencies to solve problems and make them skill ready for a Digital India. Innovation incubator JK Lakshmipat University, Jaipur , has been selected to implement the Atal Innovation Mission(AIM) by establishing an Atal Incubation Center after the recent evaluation by the NITI Aayog. Less than 3 per cent of those who applied made it through the selection process and JKLU is among the 72 selected across the country. This selection is another recognition of the new developments at JKLU, as it rapidly emerges as one the premier innovative Universities in India with its brand of experiential learning. The selection means that a grant of Rs 10 crore will be provided to the center which can be used for supporting and providing seed-funding to start-ups by the Universitys students. It is one of two institutions of excellence chosen in the entire state of Rajasthan. The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at JKLU has already nurtured several successful startups by its students namely, Pixels, Keyroyce, Act of future, Engiology, Stylx, Sizot and GS Unite. It is also supported by the National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN) and the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation(RIICO). 547 receive degrees at Shiv Nadar varsity convocation Fourth convocation of Shiv Nadar University, Noida, was held on Saturday. The University awarded 16 PhDs, 85 masters and 446 undergraduate degrees to its students. Together a total of 547 students from various streams, including Engineering, Natural Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, Business and Arts have graduated from the university. The Convocation began with a commencement address delivered by Prof. Ronald J. Daniels, President, the Johns Hopkins University. Later, the students were addressed by Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee, Inventor of the World Wide Web (www) who attended the event as special guest. The university also announced that a substantial number of students had received graduate admission and financial aid offers from top institutions and universities across the world. Graduating students have also received offers from top global institutions such as Purdue University, University of British Columbia, Rutgers University, IE Business School, Barcelona Graduate School of Economics, Trinity College Dublin, Carnegie Mellon, University of Texas at Dallas, Australian National University, and Michigan Tech University. sanjiv@tribunemail.com When you have a job with 762 billion dollar worth company, which is among the most valuable ones in the world, it is not easy to quit it; but some employees are doing exactly so over moral reasons. Three months ago, the search giant entered into a contract with United States Defense Department to provide artificial intelligence to them for a controversial drone programme Project Maven through which the unmanned flying machine can automatically differentiate between the objects and people by analysing its own footage. Some of the employees are not at ease with this project. Having ethical concerns over giving so much power to a machine, about dozen of them are resigning in protest, according to Gizmodo. In addition to this reason, they are also not happy with the search giant's involvement in military work and lack of transparency in the firm regarding such decisions, which, according to them, could lead to erosion of trust at the user's end. Apart from these resignations, nearly 4,000 Google employees, in an internal petition, have expressed their opposition to Project Maven and urged the higher-ups to immediately cancel the contract and form a policy banning the company from taking up military work in future. However, all this seems to have no effect on the top executives, as they have defended their work on the project. This is not all, the company may also bid for another Pentagon's project the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure, a cloud computing contract. ANI shalender@tribune.com Meghan wears dress by Clare Meghan Markles wedding gown desgined by an acclaimed British designer Clare Waight Keller had a selection of flora, including an Indian Lotus, in her veil as she walked down flower-bedecked nave of the iconic St Georges Chapel. The veil of Meghans boat-necked, sculpted white dressgown represented the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country united in one spectacular floral composition, Kensington Palace said in a statement. Meghan, 36, wore the dress designed by the acclaimed British designer, Clare Waight Keller, Meghan expressed the wish of having all 53 countries of the Commonwealth with her on her journey through the ceremony. Indias Lotus, Pakistans Jasmine and Bangladeshs White Water Lily were part of Meghans five-metres long silk tulle veil. PTI A vow, a statement Meghan chose to omit the word obey from her vows, following in the footsteps of Princess Diana and Kate Middleton. Her omitted wedding vow read, I Meghan, take you, Harry, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part; according to Gods holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow. With the intentional removal of the word obey from her wedding vows, Meghan has once again shown support to feminism, a cause she has been a crusader of for a long time. No such change was observed in Prince Harrys vows, which read, I Harry, take you, Meghan, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part; according to Gods holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow. ANI PeeCee sports lilac ensemble Internationally acclaimed Indian actress Priyanka Chopra looked ravishing in a lilac-hued outfit as she attended her friend and actress Meghan Markles wedding at the St. Georges Chapel on Saturday. Priyanka, 35, was seen sporting a single-breasted blazer paired with lilac coloured pencil skirt. IANS ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Ludhiana: Members of the Muslim community and residents of Preet Vihar came face to face late Friday evening over the issue of performing namaz in a plot meant for constructing a masjid. Residents allegedly scuffled with the Muslim community members as they were against the construction of a masjid in the area. To prevent any communal clash, the administration deployed the Rapid Action Force (RAF) in the area. Mohd Noor of Mujaddid Alf Sani Committee said there was a huge population of Muslim community in Preet Vihar and about four years ago, the committee bought a plot in the area to construct a masjid. However, the area residents protested it. He said Muslims have to perform namaz in the Ramazan month and on Friday evening when they performed the namaz, several residents of the area and some outsiders cornered them and told them not to do so. He said the administration should allow them to perform the namaz on the land, which was bought to construct a masjid, adding that they would not construct the masjid without taking the consent of area residents. He demanded action against those who attacked them. TNS 400 booked for blocking NH Ludhiana: The Division No. 6 police have booked around 400 unidentified persons for blocking the National Highway near Sherpur Chowk. No one has been arrested by the police so far. On Friday, residents of Giaspura flats held a protest march and were reportedly on the way to meet ADCP-IV Sandeep Sharma. When they reached near Apollo Hospital, they raised slogans against the police. A large police force accompanied the protesters to prevent them from disrupting the law and order situation in the area. They were demanding financial help for the youth Sunny, who got injured after falling from a transformer he climbed in protest against the MC and police action against illegally occupied flats in Giaspura. ADCP Sandeep Sharma said a case under Sections 353, 186 of the IPC and 8B of the National Highways Act was slapped on protesters, as they created hurdle in the highway traffic, which led to a huge jam. The police, on Friday, had to cane-charge protesters and some of them reportedly sustained minor injuries as well. On May 17, violence erupted in Giaspura flats when MC officials along with the police went to take action against the illegally occupied flats. A youth Sunny, 19, climbed a transformer in protest and got injured. Due to the violence, the MC had to abandon its drive to vacate the flats. TNS editorial@tribune.com Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 19 The Measles-Rubella campaign has taken a toll on the teachers as they are finding it difficult to convince the parents for vaccinating their kids. Hardev Singh Mullanpur, member of the Sanjha Adhayapak Morcha said that to achieve 100 per cent vaccination target, some of the medical teams were building undue pressure and creating panic among teachers. The members of these medical teams should not force the teachers into anything and they should be asked by the administration to check their behaviour, he said. He said that the medical teams should win the confidence of the parents by citing them facts but in reality they are developing undue pressure on teachers. All these pressure tactics adopted by the medical teams is actually making the teachers wary about the MR campaign instead of being enthusiastic, he said. Hardev Singh alleged that the medical teams at Government Senior Secondary School, Manupur, misbehaved with the teaching faculty. Daljeet Samrala, another member of the Morcha said that 86 per cent of the vaccination has been done in the schools still unwanted pressure is being applied on teachers. On Saturday the delegation of Sanjha Adhayapak Morcha submitted a memorandum to Additional Deputy Commissioner, Development (ADC-D) in this regard. What the DIO has to say... District Immunisation Officer Dr Jasbir Singh said they are working really hard to make this drive successful but fail to get support from the parents. We have been conducting meetings with the principals of the schools and asking them to convince the parents. In this particular school, the gates of the school were not opened for the medical team. We fail to understand why the parents are so scared of the vaccine. It is for the benefit of the children and even if one kid is left without vaccination, the entire drive will turn into a fiasco, he said. Harshvardhan Singh Harshvardhan Singh My heart pains whenever I see young able bodied people shirking from the call of duty on one pretext or the other. Such instances take me back to the times which I witnessed as a child living with my maternal grandfather, who was a brain stroke victim and an asthmatic. As a devout Sikh, he would get up in the morning at 4 a.m., take a bath without assistance and perform the daily 'Nitnem'(daily prayers) while being short of breath throughout. The wheeze from his chest could be heard from a distance. Undeterred, he stuck to the routine till his last day. He worked in the Zonal Hospital and well after his retirement, people would recount this man's dedication towards work. India witnessed another civil unrest in 1984. The communal turbulence did not touch our house. The reputation of that noble and pious soul must have restrained the conscience of the perpetrators of the genocide. There were incidences of looting and destruction of property in and around the town and our isolated house would definitely have been an easy target. God was just to him. As a child, I remember a German lady doctor visiting our town who offered a treatment for respiratory disorders. Nana Ji was given a pump kind of thing which he never used fearing that it would become a habit. Being a doctor now, I can correlate that therapy at that time was in its nascent stage in India and did not find acceptance in individuals and communities. Had he accepted and adhered to the new therapy, it would have definitely improved the quality and added years to his life. Hosting an alert mind in a challenged body, Nana ji was fluent in Pashto and would converse with my mother in the language whenever there was something they didn't want us to know. At times, I would mischievously intervene by claiming to know what they were talking about; he would laugh it away calling me a Sarkoozea (Rascal) or a times calling me a Khar (Donkey). I always follow and quote many of his advices which have stood the test of time. He would always say bacheyan te janinian di ladai vich kade ni paina chahida; jaldi hi doven ikk ho jande (Never side with anyone in kids and ladies quarrels; they quickly reconcile). He was always against giving unwanted advice and said the recipient of such counsel may think isne isme bhi kuch kamaya hoga! (he must cornered a cut). He was forced into a civil litigation by a neighbour who also cut water to our house thinking the old, ill man from a minority community would give up and migrate. But he stood up and ultimately won the legal battle after countless visits to the court, all the while maintaining his mental poise in spite of the multiple physical challenges.. Living with paralysis, he would not shirk from preparing the refreshing drinks and daily lunch every afternoon on our return from school with his perennially shaking hands. I do not remember a single occasion when he used his disability as an excuse. I wish the younger generation draws a little inspiration from the life of this man. True to his name, he was really a God's own lion hearted strong man Hari Singh. shalender@tribune.com Sushil Manav Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 18 Terming it worrisome, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij has sought a report from the state Health Department on the 24 deaths in five months in the catheterisation laboratory (Cath Lab) that he inaugurated on December 11 last year in Panchkula Civil Hospital, the countrys first government hospital to get a National Quality Assurance Certification (NQAC). Tests and procedures like ablation, angiogram, angioplasty and implantation of pacemakers are carried out in a Cath Lab. Vij said we set up these Cath Labs for providing cheaper services. If there are deficiencies, we will remove these. The state government has set up Cath Labs in five government hospitals, including at Ambala Cantonment, Faridabad and Gurugram, in the public-private partnership (PPP) mode in collaboration with Kerala-based Meditrina Hospitals. While Haryana provided the building and pays for the electricity and water supply, Meditrina Hospitals has installed the equipment and deployed doctors and paramedics. Patients can go directly to the Cath Lab or through reference of government doctors, but the facility is supposed to charge fees authorised by the government. Dr Rajiv Wadhera, Senior Consultant in the Department of Medicine in the Civil Hospital, who heads the team of doctors conducting the deaths audit, said of the 24 deaths since the lab was opened, nine occurred after angioplasty, 12 before cardiac procedures could be performed and one each died post-pacemaker installation, during procedures and for other reasons. During this period, the doctors in the Cath Lab examined 3,000 patients in the OPD and performed 661 angiography and 331 angioplasty procedures. Dr Sanjeev Trehan, Principal Medical Officer, said the Panchkula hospital being NQAC accredited, audit meetings were part of the standard operating procedure. Dr N Prathap Kumar, chairman of Meditrina Hospitals, however, said the Cath Lab was providing the best of healthcare services at the lowest possible cost. Deaths do occur in a cardiac centre, but there was no deficiency in service on part of the Meditrina staff, he claimed. Meanwhile, the Health Department has also sought reports of deaths in Faridabad, Gurugram and Ambala Cantt Cath Labs. Over-charging under lens Following complaints of overcharging, the Health Department also plans to take up a financial audit of the Panchkula Cath Lab. Sources said as per the MoU signed by Meditrina Hospitals with the government, it was to charge 69 per cent of the CGHS rates for different procedures from patients. However, the Cath Lab displays the rate of Echo test as Rs 982 against the approved rate of Rs 335 for 2-D and Rs 445 for 3-D tests. The MoU provides that consumables will be included in the procedures, but the patients are being made to pay through the nose in the name of additional consumables. Even pathological tests are being referred to outside labs against the spirit of the MoU, alleged a senior doctor in the Health Department. Refuting allegations of overcharging, Dr N Prathap Kumar said the Echo tests being performed in the Cath Lab were Doppler tests that cost more. BAMS DOCTORS performing duty IN ICU? Doctors with a degree in Ayurveda have been deployed in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Cath Lab, a fact admitted by Dr Rajiv Wadhera, Senior Consultant in the Department of Medicine in the Civil Hospital. Dr N Prathap Kumar, chairman of Meditrina Hospitals, however, refuted it. shalender@tribune.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 18 When Chief Minister BS Yedyurappa enters the Assembly to prove he has the numbers to form the government, on test will be his might and also the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, popularly known as the anti-defection law. Amid possibilities of the BJP engineering MLA abstentions from the House to win the vote, constitutional experts are worried that the Tenth Schedule might stand compromised. Contrary to the prevailing narrative that the rigours of the anti-defection law apply after an elected MLA takes oath of office, the law actually comes into force the moment a candidate is elected on the symbol of a certain political party and is issued an election certificate by the Election Commission. Oath is required only later for purpose of voting in the House. Under the Tenth Schedule, an MLA can be disqualified if he leaves the party on whose symbol he was elected or even if he defies the party whip. But PDT Achary, former Lok Sabha Secretary General, conceded to a major lacuna in the law which has of late been exploited for political expediency. The anti-defection law doesnt prescribe any time limit for the Speaker to disqualify a member for violations. Disqualification of a violating MLA is on the discretion of the Speaker, who may or may not act against the MLAs who defy the law. Even the Supreme Court cannot order the Speaker to act in this matter in a certain period of time because the law is silent on the time within which a defaulting MLA should be disqualified, Achary said. There are past examples of Speakers sitting on MLA disqualifications for years despite sufficient evidence for the Tenth Schedule having been disregarded. This means if the BJP engineers defections of some Congress or JD(S) lawmakers to reduce the effective strength of the Assembly and win the vote, the disqualification of the abstaining lawmakers under the anti-defection law would depend on the authority of the Speaker, who may act against them or may choose to let time lapse, thereby enabling the MLAs in question all privileges of the House. Achary says the writers of the anti-defection law had placed complete trust in the Speakers as constitutional authorities who would act as per the law, which was why they didnt prescribe any time within which to disqualify a member found violating the law. Former chairman of Lok Sabha Ethics Committee KC Deo said the same law also said that the party could claim the support of other MLAs only in a situation of a two-third merger by the party of these stated MLAs. The BJP can claim the support of Congress or JD(S) lawmakers only if two-thirds of the MLAs of each of these parties support the BJP. Anything less than that would attract the anti-defection law provisions, he said. The BJP has 104 MLAs in a House of 222 and needs 112. It can either show support of eight non-BJP lawmakers or see to it that some of the elected non-BJP MLAs abstain from voting, thereby reducing the effective strength of the Assembly lower than 222. shalender@tribune.com Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 18 As the Karnataka nataka enters in its final act, it is said to be anyones game on Saturday. But as help from Opposition parties from South India poured in for the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress looking for safe havens to park their MLAs, BJP leaders say they too are not taking anything for granted. For the BJP, its newly appointed Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa winning the floor test in Vidhan Souda on Saturday is critical because of many reasons, including its prospects in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Amid the high-voltage drama and allegations of poaching (including Congress new ally JD(S) touching base with the BJP leadership), horse-trading and money/muscle power from both sides, an important political development went relatively unattended. While the JD(S) and the Congress were looking for safe places for their MLAs, Opposition leaders of almost all South Indian states, including the Left, extended support. Saffron leaders claim they have the numbers but add that they are also aware of the strong backing (money and logistics) that the other side has. Hinged on Saturdays end-result are hopes of several regional players TDP, TRS, TMC, SP, BSP, BJD et al and of nascent federal front and NDA allies. Karnataka results have dealt a huge blow to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who campaigned actively in the neighbouring Karnataka, asking Telugu voters to defeat the BJP. While Naidu had reasons to back the other side given that he had just broken off with the BJP-led NDA over the denial of special status to Andhra Pradesh, his counterpart in Telangana K Chandrasekar Rao is among those trying to cobble together a secular/federal front ahead of 2019. So, while for regional players a non-BJP government in Karnataka is just the push they are looking for in their efforts to take on the BJP might, for the saffron party it is important that it nips the efforts well in time. PM greets Gowda on birthday Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called up JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda to wish him on his birthday. Spoke to our former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda ji and conveyed birthday wishes to him. I pray for his good health and long life, Modi tweeted. Gowda, who served as prime minister from June 1, 1996 to April 21, 1997, turned 85 on Friday. PTI shalender@tribune.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 18 The Congress is wary of the appointment of BJP lawmaker KG Bopaiah as pro-tem speaker of the Karnataka Assembly as the Yedyurappa confidant was castigated by the Supreme Court for his conduct as Speaker in 2011. In 2011 when the then BS Yedyurappa government was to face a trust vote in the Assembly, Bopaiah, the Supreme Court ruled at the time, violated the Constitution by disqualifying 11 rebel BJP MLAs on an application submitted by Yedyurappa who claimed the MLAs had resigned voluntarily and must be disqualified as per anti-defection law. MLAs, however, claimed they had quit the BJP under duress due to Yedyurappas corruption and lack of governance and the Speaker unfairly disqualified them without even hearing them. The disqualified MLAs had in 2011 moved the Karnataka High Court against the Speaker and lost. They, however, won an appeal in the Supreme Court, which ruled: Proceedings conducted by the Speaker on the disqualification application filed by BS Yedyurappa do not meet the twin tests of natural justice and fair play. The Speaker in our view proceeded in the matter as if he was required to meet the deadline set by the Governor for the trust vote of the government. This irrespective of whether in the process he was ignoring the constitutional norms set out in the Tenth Schedule and the Disqualification Rules 1986 and in contravention of the basic principles that go hand in hand with the concept of fair hearing. The SC said even if disqualification rules were only directory in nature, sufficient opportunity should have been given to the appellants to meet the allegations levelled against them. The fact that the show-cause notices were issued to them within the time fixed by the Governor to hold the trust vote may explain the service by affixation at the official residence of the appellants though without the document which Yedyurappa submitted to the Speaker with his disqualification application, the SC said then. Bopaiah had disqualified the MLAs in question on October 10, 2011 and Yedyurappa won his trust vote on October 11, 2011. Congress leaders Abhishek Singhvi and Randeep Surjewala on Friday said these grounds of Bopaiahs past misconduct were enough for the party to exercise legal options against his appointment by Governor Vajubhai Vala as pro tem Speaker. The Congress says as per conventions, the senior-most MLA Congress RV Deshpande should be pro tem Speaker. rchopra@tribunemail.com Ramakrishna Upadhya HOPELESSLY outsmarted by the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) in the numbers game, three-day-old Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa on Saturday announced his resignation on the floor of the Assembly even before facing the trust vote. As the House met at 11 am with a mandate to take up the trust vote at 4 pm, as per the orders of the Supreme Court, there was nervous tension in both camps. Bleary-eyed Congress and JD(S) MLAs, who had travelled to and back from Hyderabad over two nights journey to ward off poaching, made it to the Vidhana Soudha in the morning in time for oath-taking. Pro tem Speaker KG Bopaiah set aside the convention of allowing members to take oath individually and they were huddled into groups of five to speed up the process to meet the court deadline. While the JD(S) was able to keep its flock of 37 MLAs together, two Congress MLAs, Anand Singh and Pratapgouda Patil, had been holed up in a hotel, allegedly kidnapped by the BJP. But both arrived in the Assembly at 3.15 pm, much to the relief of Congress benches. The BJP needed at least seven Opposition MLAs to cross-vote, or 14 MLAs to abstain from voting for the party to win the confidence vote. As the day progressed, it became increasingly clear that strategists in the BJP camp had failed to muster either of the numbers. With the House proceedings being telecast live, as directed by the Supreme Court to ensure transparency, there was no way the BJP could indulge in any hanky-panky to claim majority through a voice vote, using the Speaker as its ally. Earlier in the morning, the Supreme Court Bench brushed aside the Congress-JD(S) plea to replace Bopaiah as pro tem Speaker and asked the Assembly secretariat to record the proceedings. What possibly unnerved the BJP was the Congress coming up in a matter of an hour with four video recordings, allegedly involving Yeddyurappa, his son Vijayendra, Janardhana Reddy and Sriramulu, offering allurements of cash and Cabinet berths to Congress MLAs. The allegations were hotly denied by the BJP, but the damage had been done. Realising the BJPs game was up, Yeddyurappa got up at 3.45 pm, made an emotional speech and announced he would shortly meet Governor Vajubhai Vala and submit his resignation. With that announcement, while the BJP members trooped out of the House, Congress and JD(S) MLAs thumped the desk and began celebrating. Shortest tenure as CM The Congress and the JD(S) had partnered in a coalition arrangement in 2004, but it ended bitterly in less than two years as the JD(S) pulled out and later joined hands with the BJP to form another government. The next one too fell within 20 months when the JD(S) refused to honour its commitment to hand over power to BS Yeddyurappa of the BJP. Thus, Yeddyurappa became a CM with the shortest tenure in Karnatakas history. His earlier two stints too had lasted seven days and 39 months. PM is corruption The PM authorised, encouraged buying off MLAs. He talks of fighting corruption, but he is corruption. People saw how BJP MLAs, Speaker left the House before the national anthem was played. It shows they dont respect institutions. Rahul Gandhi, Cong Chief Surrender deal There is a surrender deal by Congress with JD(S) that dont inquire into our corruption. Prime Minister has done no corruption, while the Congress is synonymous with corruption. We started the process of transparency, which they are opposing. Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister Proud day for all This is not an ordinary victory. Entire people of the country will be happy. It is a proud day for all of us. N Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh CM KARNATAKA Yeddyurappas three-day stint as CM among shortest BJP stalwart BS Yeddyurappas three-day tenure as the Chief Minister of Karnataka turned out to be one of the shortest in Indian history. The 75-year-old BJP leader was sworn in as the CM on May 17 and resigned before facing the floor test on Saturday. In 2007, Yeddyurappa had to resign as the Karnataka Chief Minister after just eight days. Satish Prasad Singh, 5 days Congress leader Satish Prasad Singh was made Bihar interim Chief Minister for only five days from January 28 to February 1 in 1968. He had brought the Congress back to power in the state by defeating the Jana Kranti Dal government. Jagdambika Pal, one day BJP leader Jagdambika Pal held the shortest tenure as Chief Minister in Uttar Pradesh in 1998. After the Kalyan Singh government was dismissed, Pal was sworn in as the Chief Minister late at night on February 21, a decision that was reversed by the high court the next morning, leading him to be dubbed as the one-day CM. SC Marak, 13 days In Meghalaya, veteran Congress leader SC Marak remained in power only for 13 days in 1998. Janaki Ramachandran, 23 days After the demise of MG Ramachandran the founder of the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, his widow Janaki Ramachandran had a brief tenure of 23 days as the Chief Minister in January 1988. BP Mandal, 31 days Congress leader BP Mandal succeeded Satish Prasad Singh, who remained the Bihar Chief Minister for five days in 1968, but he too could hold on to the post for only 31 days. CH Mohd Koya, 45 days In Kerala, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader CH Mohammad Koya could enjoy the post of Chief Minister for 45 days in 1979. He was the shortest serving Chief Minister of the state and its only Muslim one. Om Prakash Chautala, 5 days In Haryana, Indian National Lok Dal leader Om Prakash Chautala has the distinction of serving two brief terms as the Chief Minister one of period of five days in July 1990 and the other of 14 days in 1991. 2 missing Congress MLAs traced to hotel Bengaluru: Two missing Congress MLAs were on Saturday located at a hotel here and brought to the Karnataka Assembly by the party leaders under police protection ahead of the crucial trust vote to be sought by Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa. Anand Singh and Pratap Gouda Patil were not present in the Assembly when their names were called out for taking the oath during the special session. Based on a tip-off that they were in the hotel, the Congress issued a whip directing them to come to the House and sought police help to bring them for the floor test. PTI Justice Sikri: Let us enjoy our holidays New Delhi: Now, let us enjoy our holidays, this is how the Supreme Court concluded the hearing on the Karnataka power row on Saturday. The courtroom burst into a bout of laughter as Justice AK Sikri, who headed the three-judge Bench, made the jovial remark. The court had been witnessing tensed, high-voltage arguments during emergency hearings on the bitter power tussle in Karnataka. The Congress had moved court against the appointment of KG Bopaiah, a three-time MLA, as pro term speaker. PTI shalender@tribune.com Patna/Panaji/Imphal, May 18 Seeking a uniform rule for a Governor to follow in a hung assembly, the RJD in Bihar and the Congress in Goa and Manipur today staked claim to form the government, citing the example of Karnataka where the BJP was invited after it emerged as the single largest party. However, questions were raised on the surprising move by the two allies, more than a year after elections were held to the respective assemblies which appeared to be aimed at embarrassing the BJP. BJPs Goa state unit president Vinay Tendulkar called the Congress move a stunt. Also, the numbers were completely in NDAs favour in all the 3 states. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, accompanied by the Congress, Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and CPI(ML) leaders, had a meeting with Governor Satya Pal Malik during which he demanded that his party be invited to form a government in Bihar since it was the single largest party and also constituted the single largest pre-poll alliance. We met the Governor and submitted a memorandum stating that we have support of 111 MLAs. If we are asked for floor test, we are confident of winning, as more legislators are likely to vote in our favour, he told reporters outside the Raj Bhavan in Patna. Yadav, who is the Opposition Leader in the Assembly, said, The point we are trying to make is that there has to be one rule in the country. If the Karnataka Governors decision to invite the BJP on the ground of it being the single largest party was proper, then the same yardstick should be applied to Bihar. The RJD, by virtue of its being the single largest party in the state, should be allowed to form government here. The RJD was relegated to opposition last year after the JD(U) walked away from the three-party alliance, which also involved the Congress, and joined hands with the BJP to form a new government under Nitish Kumar. Assembly polls in Bihar were held in November 2015. In the 243-member Assembly, the RJD is the single-largest party with 80 MLAs, while JD(U) has 71 and the BJP has 53. NDA constituents LJP and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party have two seats each. The Congress has 27 MLAs. PTI shalender@tribune.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 18 A six-member Delhi Police team today questioned Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for over three hours in connection with the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash. After the questioning at the CMs office here, Kejriwal said the police conducted the exercise in a very good environment, and that they (police) were under pressure from the BJP-led Centre to file false cases against him, his party colleagues and relatives to malign AAPs image. The Union Government has, through the Delhi Police, filed several fake cases against me, my ministers, MLAs and relatives, which are gradually being quashed by courts. For the first time in Indias history, a CM has been questioned in a false case and his house was raided, Kejriwal said in a statement. Kejriwal said they would cooperate in each case with the investigation agencies. The questioning is understood to have been led by Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Harendra Singh and videographed by a team tasked by the police for the job. The CM had requested that the proceedings be recorded. It is learnt that some members of the probe team arrived at the office to make arrangements for the recording. Around three-four lawyers were also present. Kejriwal had yesterday agreed to join the probe in response to a notice sent by the police on May 16. The police have already questioned 11 AAP MLAs present at the Chief Ministers during the alleged assault. Two of the party MLAs Amantullah Khan and Prakash Jarwal were arrested. Kejriwals Private Secretary Bibhav Kumar and former adviser VK Jain, who was also present at the meeting on the intervening night of February 19-20, have been questioned. Sisodia is also likely to be summoned in the case, sources said. On February 23, a police team had examined the CCTV camera system installed at the Chief Ministers residence in the Civil Lines area and seized the hard disk, a forensic report of which is awaited. amansharma@tribunemail.com New Delhi, May 19 After serving for two days, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader B.S. Yeddyurappa resigned from the post of Karnataka Chief Minister ahead of a floor test in the Assembly. In 2007 also, Yeddyurappa had served as the state's CM for eight days-September 12-19. However, he is not alone to serve as CM for a short duration. There are some more leaders who could hold the position of CM for just a little longer than a day. Jagdambika Pal: Congress leader who served as CM of Uttar Pradesh from February 21 to 23, 1998. On February 21, Pal took oath as CM of the state after Kalyan Singh government was dismissed by then Governor Romesh Bhandari. However, on February 23, Singh won by an easy majority and the Allahabad High Court reinstated Kalyan Singh as the CM. Nitish Kumar: Contesting election as Samata Party leader, Nitish Kumar became CM of Bihar for the first time in 2000. Kumar was sworn in as CM on March 3 and failing to prove majority, was made to resign on March 10. Currently the CM of Bihar, he has taken oath as leader of the state government six times since his shortest tenure. Om Prakash Chautala: After serving a brief five-month stint as CM of Haryana from December 1989 to May 1990, Om Prakash Chautala was made CM again the same year. His second stint was fated to be even shorter and lasted only five days-from July 12, 1990 to July 17. The period is also remembered for one of the most violence-marred episodes in the electoral history of the state when Chautala locked horns with another popular leader Anand Singh Dangi for Meham seat in Rohtak district, for the bypolls. Satish Prasad Singh: Considered the youngest CM of Bihar, Singh held the position for five days, from January 28 to February 2, 1968. It began with the Congress party's revolt against then Chief Minister Mahamaya Prasad Sinha in January 1968. The group selected Sanjukta Socialist Party (SSP) leader B.P. Mandal as Sinha's successor. The SSP backed Mandal for CM's post, but ended up choosing Singh, who took oath on January 27, 1968. - IANS rchopra@tribunemail.com Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 19 In a bid to boost ties with India, the Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte will be on a two-day official visit to the country on May 24 and 25. Ruttes visit comes after his re-election as the PM last year and follows PM Narendra Modis visit to the Netherlands in June 2017. Significant political exchange is expected between the two sides on the US pullout from the Iran nuclear deal which the ally European Union (EU), that the Netherlands is a part of, condemned strongly in its meeting this week. Rutte called Trumps unilateral action clumsy and reportedly said, As Europe, we have a major role in the world, but Europe will need to develop more self-confidence to pursue that role. You can see that now with Iran. We want to try and keep the deal in place as much as possible. India is studying implications of the American pullout of the 2015 agreement and secondary sanctions it could face for the ongoing projects with Tehran, including the Chabahar port. The visit also comes close on the heels of the Modi-Putin informal summit in Sochi next week. Over the alleged use of chemical gas by Kremlin to assassinate two Russians in Salisbury, the Netherlands expelled Moscows ambassador in solidarity with the UK while India asked for fair investigation into the case at the meeting of OPCW (Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) in The Hague. Accompanied by Ministers for Agriculture, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Infrastructure and Water Management, and Medical Care, Ruttes visit will focus on investment and partnerships in the Modi governments flagship projects, including smart cities. This is a multi-sector comprehensive approach to stepping up relations with India in a major way. Our bilateral relations have never been better. Efforts are on by both sides to give it a huge impetus, said Venu Rajamony, Indias Ambassador to the Netherlands speaking to The Tribune from The Hague. Interestingly, the Tata Group Chairman will interact separately with Rutte where the issue of US tariffs on steel imports leading to possibility of flooding of EU markets is likely to figure. As many as 231 business delegates representing 130 companies are part of the Trade Mission accompanying Rutte. The India-Dutch CEOs forum will also be held in Delhi. Rutte will also visit Bengalurus ISRO campus. The Netherlands is home to a 2,35,000-strong Indian diaspora, the largest in mainland Europe. shalender@tribune.com Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 18 Amid allegations of horse trading, the Supreme Court on Friday ordered the BS Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka to prove its majority on the floor of the House at 4 pm on Saturday. A three-judge Bench headed by Justice AK Sikri which had refused to stop Yeddyurappas swearing-in after a post-midnight hearing on Thursday said ultimately an early floor test was the solution. The BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 104 members, while the Congress secured 78, the JD(S) 37 and others three in the 224-member House. Since elections were held only for 222 seats, 112 is the magic figure. Governor Vajubhai Vala had given Yeddyurappa 15 days to take the floor test, but the Congress-JD(S) combine alleged that the BJP was using such a long time to poach on their MLAs. The Bench said the floor test would be conducted as per rules of the House and a pro tem Speaker would preside over the proceedings. It made it clear that voting would not be through secret ballot. It also directed the DGP to make adequate security arrangements for the MLAs. The Bench was informed that there was no move to nominate any Anglo-Indian members to the Assembly. The newly inducted CM has been asked not to take any major policy decisions. The Bench, which included Justices SA Bobde and Ashok Bhushan, said it would examine after 10 weeks if the Governors decision to invite Yeddyurappa to form the government was valid. At first, the Bench said the floor test would be at 10.30 am but then made it 2 pm and finally 4 pm. Timeline May 12: Assembly elections held in Karnataka May 15: EC announces results. BJP emerges as single-largest party with 104 members. Cong with 78 and JD(S) with 37 MLAs stitch an alliance. Both BJP and Cong-JD(S) combine stake claim to form government May 16: Karnataka Governor invites BJP to form govt and asks BS Yeddyurappa to take oath as Chief Minister the next day; Congress moves Supreme Court late evening against Governors invitation to BJP May 16-17: SC opens its doors at midnight for an urgent hearing May 17: Hearing begins at 2.11 am and concludes at 5.28 am. SC refuses to stay oath-taking ceremony of Yeddyurappa; Yeddyurappa sworn in as CM at 9 am May 18: SC orders floor test at 4 pm on May 19 monicakchauhan@gmail.com Patna, May 19 PATNA: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav was on Saturday admitted to a government-run hospital here after he complained of breathing problem and chest pain, a party leader said.was on Saturday admitted to a government-run hospital here after he complained of breathing problem and chest pain, a party leader said. According to RJD leader Bhola Yadav, Lalu Prasad suddenly complained of breathing problem and pain in his chest after which he was admitted to the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science. "Lalu is under observation..." he said, adding that Lalu Prasad has been suffering from as many as 16 ailments. The convicted RJD chief was granted provisional bail of six weeks earlier this week after nearly five months at the Birsa Munda Central Jail where he is serving a jail term since December 23, 2017 in connection with the fodder scam. Lalu Prasad was admitted to RIMS in Ranchi on March 17. He has been convicted in four fodder scam cases since 2013, the latest being the Dumka treasury case in which a special CBI court sentenced him to 14 years in jail. IANS amansharma@tribunemail.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 19 As the lotus withered in Karnataka on Saturday, the Congress humbly acknowledged the need to work with other Opposition allies to keep the BJP away from power across India. The Opposition stood against the BJP in Karnataka and stopped it. We will continue to do so. We will work together. The Opposition will unite and coordinate to defeat the BJP and the RSS, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said minutes after Karnatakas two-day Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa resigned before the floor test in dramatic developments that have presented the Congress-JDS combine with a chance to form the government now. Rahul Gandhis public applause of JDS supremo HD Deve Gowda on Saturday marks an important shift in the grand old partys coalition strategy indicating openness for pre-poll coalitions to consolidate the non-BJP vote. Pre-poll coalitions havent been Congress style. The party has always preferred post-election pacts. But Rahul signalled new hope on Saturday when he said, I thank Congress workers and Deve Gowda ji not just for defending the peoples mandate but also for explaining to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the RSS that there are limits to arrogance; that institutions of the country and the will of the people cannot be disrespected. The Congress presidents fresh take on allies comes at a time when party leaders have privately begun to admit that what TMC chief Mamata Banerjee said immediately after the Karnataka results is right. Had the Congress and JDS allied, the results would have been different, very different, she had said. The turn of events in Karnataka may well herald a new era in coalition politics in India with regional forces uniting against the BJP, though historically, such alliances have been formed against the Congress. Rahul attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the front calling him corruption personified and telling him you are not above the country. My message to the Prime Minister is he is not bigger than India. He is not bigger than the people, than the Supreme Court and the MPs. The PM must stop thinking hes bigger than all institutions but I am doubtful if he will ever understand this because he has been trained to respect only one institution the RSS, Rahul Gandhi said after earlier accusing the PM of encouraging horse trading in Karnataka. He had said, The idea of the PM fighting corruption is a blatant lie. He is corruption himself. He is doing everything to encourage corruption. There are phone conversations from Karnataka that say this In calculated criticism of the saffron fold, the Congress leader reminisced how BJP leaders, including the pro tem speaker, in Karnataka left the Assembly on Saturday even before the National Anthem was played. Did you see that? This is what we are fighting againstthe idea that you can rubbish any institution, disrespect anyone simply because you happen to be in power, said Rahul Gandhi, recalling how the BJP and RSS disregarded the peoples mandates in Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya by preventing the Congress, the single largest party in all these states, from forming governments. In a message to the people of the state, Rahul also said I am proud that the BJP and PM have been shown by Karnataka that in India, power, money and corruption are not everything, the will of the people is. Says Good idea for Guv to quit Congress president Rahul Gandhi said it was a good idea if Karnataka Governor Vajubha Vala resigned but added, That issue is not whether the Governor should resign or not. The issue is the Governor has no power since the power vests in the Prime Minister and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The next man will do the same. shalender@tribune.com Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 18 It may sound bizarre, but a government-funded project is all set to be launched in Punjab to treat thalassaemia with goat blood, injected in the rectum. The treatment described in Ayurveda as raktabasti is expected to be started at Government Ayurvedic Hospital in Model Gram, Ludhiana, by September. The Central government has already released Rs 35 lakh and the state Rs 13 lakh for the project, according to Dr Hemant Kumar, Medical Officer at the hospital. According to him, the only other such programme is being run successfully at Akhandanand Ayurvedic Hospital in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, since 1984. In this treatment, goat blood is injected into the patients body as enema, i.e., through the rectum. Dr Hemant says: This does not let the haemoglobin level in the patient drop, and over a period the need for blood transfusion goes. If initially goat blood has to be administered four times to bring the haemoglobin level up, the next time it would be three, thereafter tapering off gradually till the patient is completely cured. According to Dr Hemant, Dr Atul Barkar first started the treatment in Ahmedabad, where the project is being run successfully. A few doctors from Punjab, including Dr Hemant and another Medical Officer at the Ludhiana hospital, Dr Shevali Arora, went to Ahmedabad for training. The goat blood will be procured from the municipal slaughter house and tested for infection before use. Dr Rakesh Sharma, Director, Ayurveda, Punjab, says at present many children are being taken to Ahmedabad for the treatment by parents; now the treatment will be available in Punjab. Funds from both Central and state governments have arrived, now the only issue left is procurement of machines. Ayurveda books dont mention the term thalassaemia, but the condition for which goat blood is recommended in Ayurveda is very similar to thalassaemia, Dr Sharma says. Dr Gauhar Vatsayayan, an Ayurveda expert not connected with the hospital, says this is a 5,000-year old method, but nobody was practising it in modern times till Dr Atul Barkar tried it successfully. However, Dr Aikaj Jindal, Assistant Professor in Transfusion Medicine at Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, says there is no substantial proof in the form of a randomised control trial (RCT). Whenever there is any new treatment, an RCT is conducted. If those who are practising it are so sure, then they should publish the same in international journals. Without scientific proof, it is not possible to comment on the treatment, Dr Jindal says. Artsakh, one of the most important pillars of the history in this period of our identity, is the most important. May 19, 2018, 10:52 Armenia FM: Karabakh is the most important STEPANAKERT, MAY 19, ARTSAKHPRESS:The new Foreign Minister of Armenia, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, told the aforesaid to reporters, after his talk with President Bako Sahakyan of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic). When asked what they had discussed, the Armenian FM responded as follows: We spoke about the precepts, spoke about what Artsakh means to Armenia, [and] spoke about Artsakhs security, Artsakhs development. Also, we spoke about the fact that Artsakh refers to all Armenians because Artsakh, one of the most important pillars of the history in this period of our identity, is the most important; and in that sense, this is our united responsibility. In addition, Mnatsakanyan noted that Nagorno-Karabakh will remain among the priorities of their diplomatic front. It will be [as such] until the moment, until we will be sureas I saidthat Artsakhs security, Artsakhs development is going on its normal course. Saturday, May 19, 2018 If youre anything like me, youve spent the last few days procrastinating studying the drama unfolding at CBS. (If youre not aware, heres an article summarizing the state of play; the rest of this post assumes readers are familiar with the basic facts). Theres a lot to chew on here, and Im sure that as the case develops, there will be much more to say, but here are some off-the-cuff initial thoughts, in no particular order. [More under the jump] First, in its TRO briefing, CBS argued that its proposal to issue a dilutive dividend was not unprecedented, in part because of the Hollinger case involving Conrad Black. See Hollinger International, Inc. v. Black, 844 A.2d 1022 (Del. Ch. 2004). As Brian Quinn pointed out on Twitter, Hollinger is distinguishable due to the criminality of the controlling shareholder; nothing like that exists here. In fact, even in Hollinger, the board did not propose to dilute Blacks existing voting power for all purposes; it adopted a poison pill that would take effect upon certain specified actions. Indeed, in Johnston v. Pedersen, 28 A.3d 1079 (Del. Ch. 2011), the court invalidated a dilutive issuance meant to block the controller, even in the face of allegations that the controller had committed fraud or other types of serious misconduct. Ive tried to think of any other scenario in which a board was permitted to issue shares for the sole purpose of diluting the vote of existing holders, without giving prior warning before the holders acquisition that it intended to do so. I.e., poison pills typically give warning to a would-be acquirer that if they obtain a specified number of shares, then their holdings will be diluted; they dont usually attempt to dilute existing voting power. The only instance I can come up with where a board was explicitly permitted to issue shares solely for the purpose of diluting existing voting power without any warning to holders that such action would be forthcoming before they acquired their shares is in the context of JPMs takeover of Bear Stearns. But that was a New York court interpreting Delaware law, not a Delaware court, and the case was, shall we say, controversial. (In In re Quest Software Inc. Shareholders Litigation, 2013 WL 5978900 (Del. Ch. Nov. 12, 2013), such a share issuance was approved by the board, but it was never explicitly permitted by a court; the court simply mentioned it in the context of a settlement hearing). In fact, in Franz Mfg v. EAC, 501 A.2d 401 (Del. 1985) which, in light of the bylaw developments, is actually the most on point the Delaware Supreme Court explicitly drew the distinction between measures that prospectively threatened to dilute holdings based on new stock acquisitions, and measures that dilute the holdings of existing holders. That said, I dont have the encyclopedic knowledge of Delaware case law that others have; are there examples Im missing, whether or not they involve controllers? The authority to permit dilution of existing holders is, as far as I can tell, entirely traceable to dicta in Mendel v. Carroll, 651 A.2d 297 (Del. Ch. 1994). There, the court said: Where a board of directors acts in good faith and on the reasonable belief that a controlling shareholder is abusing its power and is exploiting or threatening to exploit the vulnerability of minority shareholders, I suppose that the board might permissibly [dilute the controllers stake]. Thus, while I continue to hold open the possibility that a situation might arise in which a board could, consistently with its fiduciary duties, issue a dilutive option in order to protect the corporation or its minority shareholders such a situation does not at all appear to have been faced [here]. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the legality, I gotta say. With, it seems to me, good reason for essentially the rationales laid out in the Chancery opinion denying CBS its TRO. Namely, controllers actions can be invalidated after the fact, and injunctions can be obtained to prevent them from acting prospectively. There seems little reason to dilute their voting power for all purposes, especially since controllers are generally granted freedom to cast their votes selfishly. See Thorpe v. CERBCO, Inc., 1993 WL 443406 (Del. Ch. Oct. 29, 1993). I suppose this is the fundamental rationale behind CBSs estoppel argument (see below); thats how it gets to the claim that Shari Redstone should be permanently prevented from exercising control over the company. Second, in NAIs filings, it argued that it had no intention (before this dispute) of replacing the Board with one exception. It claimed that it had notified CBS that it wanted to remove a single director, Charles Gifford, due to (unspecified) incidents in 2016 and 2017. Notably, however, CBSs proxy filing for its 2018 Annual Meeting (now delayed) makes no mention of NAIs objection to Gifford, and in fact states that NAI planned to support the election of the full slate. Was NAI or CBS planning to tell the public at some point that one director was slated for removal? Because I realize the public vote was something of a charade but youre still not permitted to make misleading omissions on a proxy filing or, for that matter, under Rule 10b-5. Third, CBSs complaint details the unimpeachable independence of its Board, and identifies that independence as a source of value. Which really stands in marked contrast to the opinion in Fueur v. Redstone where, at least for pleading purposes, the court accepted that the Board had committed waste in awarding Sumner Redstone compensation simply, well, for being Sumner Redstone. To be fair, the current board is slightly different than the board under consideration in that case, but. Still not a great look. Fourth, as an example of Shari Redstones abuse of her control, CBS cites her refusal to entertain third party offers for the company, including her apparent efforts to forestall third party bids for the Boards consideration. This, of course, is a difficult position to take, because it is well-established that controlling shareholders have no obligation to sell their shares to a third party acquirer even if doing so would benefit the minority shareholders. See Mendel v. Carroll, 651 A.2d 297 (Del. Ch. 1994). CBS is clearly aware of this fact, and so tries to frame it as an argument that if it were able to at least receive third party bids, it could use those bids as a bargaining point in its negotiations with Viacom. I am not persuaded, given that Viacom would surely, you know, know that Redstone would never accept a third party bid. Fifth, CBSs main legal argument which the court accepted as at least as colorable is that the Redstones repeatedly represented to public shareholders that the Board would operate independent of their influence, public shareholders purchased their shares in reliance on this representation (which added to the stocks value), and therefore the Redstones should now be estopped from violating that promise. In support of that argument, CBS cited two cases, Shamrock Holdings v. Iger, 2005 WL 1377490 (Del. Ch. June 6, 2005) and Dousman v. Kobus, 2002 WL 1335621 (Del. Ch. June 6, 2002), both of which court itself cited in its ruling. Both cases seem to me, however, to be distinguishable. The first involved an intentional lie to influence a specific shareholder action (running a proxy contest); the second involved misdescription of existing corporate procedures, on which shareholders relied when soliciting consents. Here, however, the claim is not necessarily that the Redstones misrepresented the truth at the time the statements were made, or even misrepresented their intentions at the time, but simply that Shari Redstone may have changed her mind and/or disagreed with Sumner Redstone when she later gained control. The most on-point case therefore may be In re Delphi Financial Group Shareholder Litigation, 2012 WL 729232 (Del. Ch. Mar. 6, 2012) (disclaimer: I worked on Delphi when I was in practice). There, a company went public with a dual-class share structure that awarded high vote shares to the controller. The charter stated that the high vote shares would have the same economic interest as the low vote shares, and therefore would receive the same consideration in any merger. Despite that fact, when a merger was proposed, the controller refused to sell his shares without a charter amendment permitting him to receive disparate consideration. The court found that this potentially violated the controllers fiduciary duties and possibly even his contractual obligation of good faith and fair dealing, on the theory that public investors paid a higher price for their shares in reliance on the controllers promise. Now, obviously, Delphi dealt with a charter and not simply a public statement, but nothing in the companys charter technically forbade the actions proposed by the controller, and the reliance interest of the public shareholders was as in CBS the fact that they presumably paid a higher price for their shares. Sixth, it seems fairly evident, at least to me, that CBSs concerns over Shari Redstone and the actions she might take, such as dismantling the Board were based at least in part on private conversations and interactions. But CBS also didnt want to admit as much in public filings the closest it came was a statement in oral argument that NAIs private conduct doesnt often match the public statements so instead it based its arguments on things that had been reported in the press. That, of course, gave NAI an opening to argue that CBSs concerns were based on unsourced media reports and conjecture. Seventh, just before the court hearing, NAI used written consents to amend CBSs bylaws. First, it required that dividend issuances be approved by 90% of the directors (which would make it impossible for the independent directors to act without the cooperation of the Redstones). And second, it required that any director action to amend the bylaws would, again, require a 90% vote. The second bylaw was necessary; under Delaware law (though not the MBCA) there is nothing so far that prevents a bylaw war, so that shareholders enact a bylaw and directors repeal it and so on and so forth, except that shareholder-enacted bylaws pertaining to the number of votes necessary to elect directors cannot be repealed by directors. See DGCL 216. So you could end up with things like the Bank of America situation, where the Board unilaterally repealed a shareholder bylaw, though it eventually caved to shareholder demands and held a vote to ratify the change. (The shareholders did so ratify.) CBS apparently intends to argue that Redstones bylaws are invalid. It has been reported that CBS plans to argue no bylaw changes take effect for 20 days, and per Twitter (here and here) I have learned that the basis for this argument is apparently Rule 14c-2, though its application to written consents solicited by stockholders is perhaps contested. Now in Franz, a new controller used written consents to alter the corporate bylaws to limit actions that the incumbent board could take, and the Delaware Supreme Court upheld the bylaws; CBS may also intend to argue that, unlike Franz, in this case, the bylaw amendments were simply inequitable (which was an argument that prevailed in Hollinger). Eighth, theres a subtext in all of this, and its that Shari Redstone in particular is an untutored interloper, interfering in a business that she knows little about having finally managed to wrest control from her ailing and often-estranged father. Thats explicit in this NYT article, its implied in CBSs briefing (arguing that Shari Redstone is violating Sumner Redstones promise of independence and improperly meddling in corporate affairs), and it was adverted to in oral argument, when Ted Mirvis stated, A dual-class controlling stockholder is not a founding entrepreneur but a legacy claim, an inheritor. That, of course, is not true I mean, its true in this case but its not true as a defining characteristic of a dual-class holder, though it does represent one of the main concerns about dual-class stock structures. So what do I make of this? Its hard not to wonder about something of a gendered undercurrent in this kind of commentary, and that, in turn, taints CBSs general depiction of Shari Redstone as a gossipy and they dont use that word but that is the implication when they allege that Redstone basically is saying mean things about people busybody in corporate affairs. Yet regardless of the merit of CBSs argument (and by the market judgment, anyway, CBS has the right of it), and despite the views of some, Im not certain this case is really the vehicle for a challenge to the dual-class system. It certainly illustrates the problems, in the sense that the Redstone family is able to maintain control of one/two powerful public companies for decades without serious challenge to their stewardship, but simply from a doctrinal perspective, if and when Shari Redstone forces through a merger, courts can evaluate the deal simply as a controlling shareholder transaction without the need for a fundamental rethink of dual-class shares. The issue with respect to dual-class shares is that everything from the business judgment rule to independent shareholder ratification is predicated on the notion of one-share/one-vote, but those concepts arent going to be in play here anyway. That said, if Delaware wants to start engaging this issue, it could take the dual-class structure into account when evaluating any mergers overall fairness: for example, it could use Redstones outsize voting power relative to her equity interest as a factor in concluding the process was unfair though honestly, given recent events, Delaware courts arent exactly going to be hurting for evidence of unfairness. More likely, the case may serve as a warning shot for the market with respect to dual-class share structures. It could even serve as Exhibit A for regulators or creators of market indexes. So, we might see investors approach dual-class shares with more trepidation, or we might see initiatives for some type of regulatory control. But I dont think this particular case requires Delaware courts to re-evaluate their approach, unless theyre spoiling for the fight. So where are we now? What it comes down to is, a lot of CBSs arguments are on shaky legal ground. That said, I agree with Ronald Barusch that the main purpose of these legal skirmishes may be less to actually limit NAIs power than to create an extraordinarily persuasive record that any attempt Shari Redstone may make to combine CBS and Viacom will be accomplished over the objection of the independent directors, and in violation of her duties as a controller. And that leaves Redstone with unattractive choices: proceed with a merger and face a potential injunction on the front end and/or very high damages on the back end, or give up the attempt entirely. And putting Redstone in that position? Is likely CBSs ultimate goal. https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/business_law/2018/05/lets-talk-about-cbs.html editorial@tribune.com KV Prasad Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 19 History has an uncanny way of repeating itself. Twenty-two years to the day, albeit 10 days short, for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Atal Bihari Vajpayee moment revisited the organisation. It was on May 29, 1996, that then Prime Minister Vajpayee preferred to announce his resignation on the floor of the Lok Sabha instead of facing a trust vote his government was certain to lose. On May 19, 2018, BS Yeddyurappa chose to throw in the towel, realising herculean efforts to woo support from across the aisles remained a tall order and was simply not happening. The irony does not end there. In the summer of 1996, Vajpayee bowed out of office unable to break the combined Opposition which rallied behind Karnatakas son of the soil HD Deve Gowda. This time around, the humble farmer, as Gowda describes himself, quietly tilled the political ground and circumstances did the rest as the Congress backed the Janata Dal (Secular). It was Gowdas son HD Kumaraswamy the Opposition threw its weight behind. Yet, the factors that dictated political alignments in the country in 1996 are far different three decades later. Today, the BJP is not untouchable, a label that Vajpayee and Advani worked hard to banish. What complicated the ground for the BJP, under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah, was that it was entangled in its own narrative and enmeshed in the skilful manoeuvres in states like Manipur, Goa and Bihar. Since proclaiming mandate is with us version in Karnataka and stubbornly persisting with Yeddyurappa as the CM, the BJP attracted scorn and even frowns from discerning followers. A flurry of jokes on the social media reached the apex court too. Both PM Modi and Shah, known for dexterous calculations on the political matrix, must have decided it was better to lose the battle and set sights on winning the 2019 General Election. In the run-up, inherent contradictions in the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress arrangement were bound to aggravate. Though the JD (S) get to lead the coalition, reports suggest all is not well within the Gowda family and his other son HD Revanna. The Congress, whose former Chief Minister Siddharamaiah does not enjoy the best of relations with the senior Gowda, will be the counter-pull. Just as Vajpayee left on a note of caution in 1996 that even though the BJP was the single-largest it was being made to sit in the Opposition, Yeddyurappa walked out of the Karnataka Assembly after an emotional speech, hoping the tide would turn sooner than later. shalender@tribune.com Suresh Dharur Tribune News Service Hyderabad, May 18 Karnatakas political drama has briefly shifted to Hyderabad with three busloads of Congress and JD(S) MLAs being put up at hotels here to prevent them from being poached by the BJP. The legislators spent the entire night travelling amid the unfolding drama in Bengaluru. The Congress contingent is staying at hotel Taj Krishna while their JD(S) counterparts checked into Novotel at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre near the Hi-Tec City. All the legislators are expected to leave for Bengaluru around midnight in order to be present at the legislative Assembly ahead of the trust vote scheduled for 4 pm on Friday as per the Supreme Court order. Their travel plan was advanced after Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala summoned the Assembly to meet at 11 am on Friday to enable the members to take oath. In the evening, former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah flew down by a special flight for an informal Congress Legislature Party meeting held at Taj Krishna. The meeting was aimed at chalking out a strategy to be adopted during the floor test on Friday, the party sources said. It is learnt that 76 of the 78 Congress members were present. The JD(S) joined them later for informal consultations. Meanwhile, Congress leaders from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana volunteered to host their Karnataka counterparts. The first choice for the guests was Park Hyatt, owned by Congress MP T Subbarami Reddy. However, the hotel was fully booked as the IPL Sunrisers Hyderabad team and their entire support staff were contracted to stay here. The team is staying here ahead of their game with Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday. The Congress buses then headed to Taj Krishna, a couple of kilometres away. The ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) made arrangements for JD(S) leaders stay at Novotel hotel. Let them offer Rs 100 crore or Rs 200 crore each. But, we are all united. None of us is ready to take the bait. We are leaving for Bengaluru today evening or tomorrow morning, the JD(S) MLA-elect GT Deve Gowda told reporters. Congress MLA-elect DK Shiva Kumar alleged that the Centre had prevented them from flying to Kochi. The MLAs reached here by road in the wee hours after the JD(S) alleged yesterday that chartered flights that were to fly them from Bengaluru to Keralas Kochi were denied permission by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation at the last minute. editorial@tribune.com Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 18 The Congress governments much-hyped crop loan waiver scheme seems to have made things only worse for the indebted farmers of the state. A majority of them will not just be deprived of interest subvention on fresh loans because of default or irregular repayments, they will also not be able to get any retail or education loan owing to poor credit history. The scheme has slowed down the total lending to agriculture by banks and the recovery process of loans, leading to high NPA (non-performing assets) in the sector. This was revealed in the 144th meeting of the State Level Bankers Committee for Punjab, convened by Punjab National Bank here on Friday. The data released presented a rather dismal picture of institutional credit availability for the state farmers. The growth in loans to farmers has slowed down by 2.39 per cent over last year. In 2016-17, the growth in advances to farmers was 6.21 per cent, which has slowed down to 3.82 per cent in 2017-18. This means that farmers are now at the mercy of arhtiyas and private moneylenders for credit. The NPAs have shown an increase from 5.79 per cent in 2016-17, to 7.55 per cent in 2017-18. The SLBC data also showed that recovery of banks dues from defaulting farmers too had slowed down by 6.22 per cent as compared to last year, because of the waiver scheme. As against a demand to recover Rs 19,412 crore from farmers, the banks could recover Rs 13,764 crore. Government officers, present in the meeting, made it a point to ask bankers to assess if there was a systemic failure within the banking system for poor recoveries, while asking banks not to blame the revenue officials for not helping them in the recovery process. The meeting saw the expected blame game, with bankers accusing the government of not being able to implement the scheme, thus creating a bad credit culture with small and marginal farmers refusing to repay loans for two years, and Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Vini Mahajan blaming the banks for not uploading the debt relief claims on the debt relief portal and delaying the scheme. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh/gurdaspur, May 18 Environment Minister OP Soni on Friday ordered the sealing of the sugar mill, located at Kiri Afghana in Gurdaspur, from where molasses spilled into the Beas and caused the death of hundreds of fish. He also ordered seizure of security deposit worth Rs 25 lakh of the mill, belonging to Chadha Sugars and Industries Pvt Ltd. The minister constituted a probe committee and sought a report within three days and warned of strict action if the mill management is found guilty. Mills location raises eyebrows The incident has raised a question mark over the mills location. Chadha Sugars and Industries is owed by the family of deceased liquor baron Ponty Chadha. The mill is located barely 1.5 km from the Beas. Tonnes of fish were killed on Thursday after an exothermic reaction (in which heat is released) led to the discharge of molasses from a giant storage tank into an adjoining rivulet, Kahnuwan drain, which further leads to the Beas. A similar incident had taken place on April 28, 2015, when thousands of fish died following discharge of effluents from the same mill. Owners choose to remain mum The mill management refused to talk on the matter. One of its officials tried to downplay the incident saying that villagers were trying to make a mountain out of a molehill. He, too, refused to come on record. Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Gurlovleen Singh Sidhu said the flow of water into the Beas had been increased from the Madhopur head works, which is located upstream, in a bid to dilute contamination. The effort has been successful. There is no threat to fish now as confirmed by PPCB officials, he said. The DC, along with Batala SDM Rohit Gupta and officials of the PPCB, Wildlife and Drainage departments, visited the mill on Friday morning and held talks with the management. Another such meeting was later held in Gurdaspur. monicakchauhan@gmail.com Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 18 CHANDIGARH: For third-eye surveillance on police patrolling parties and other cops, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked Punjab Director-General of Police to telephonically contact his counterpart in Kerala or any other senior police officer there for obtaining information on body cameras. The direction came less than a week after the Bench made it clear that it was in favour of body cameras being provided to all patrolling parties for monitoring the apprehension of criminals, especially in drug matters, to prevent false implication. The Chandigarh Police have already supplied body cameras to its challaning officers, while counsel for the State of Haryana has sought time to place on record the report of a committee headed by Panchkula Commissioner of Police in this regard. The developments before the Bench of Justice Amol Rattan Singh came on a bunch of four petitions filed by Mohit Nayyar and other petitioners against the State of Punjab and other respondents. As the case came up for resumed hearing, an affidavit of Punjab Director-General of Police Suresh Arora was placed before Justice Amol Rattan Singhs Bench. Among other things, it said Deputy Commissioner of Police, Headquarters, Delhi, has supplied requisite information, including documents on specification of 'body worn cameras', along with instructions. Referring to the information, he said such cameras have only been issued to the Delhi Traffic Police. On the issue of contacting Kerala DGP to provide requisite information at the earliest, the affidavit said his reply was awaited. As to why a letter was the only means of communication with the DGP, Kerala, is not being commented upon. The DGP, Punjab, would telephonically contact the DGP, Kerala, or any other senior police officer of Kerala and obtain information with regard to body cameras provided to patrolling parties and other police personnel, in Kerala. The DGP would then file an affidavit as to the information obtained, Justice Amol Rattan Singh added. Available information suggests body cameras are wearable audio, video, or photographic recording system. Also knows as body worn video (BWV), body-worn cameras, or wearable cameras, these are often utilised by law-enforcement agencies in several countries to record interactions with the public or to collect video evidence at crime scene The Bench, during the course of hearing, was told that 24x7 power backup for CCTV cameras has already provided through generators, solar power and inverters. Another affidavit stated just two bids were received for supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance of CCTV surveillance system at 434 police stations in the State. As such, the last date was being extended. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 19 Accusing the state government of ignoring the problem of pollution in rivers and other water bodies, Leader of the Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Saturday asked the government to declare an environment emergency in the state. Khaira visited Walipur Kalan village in Ludhiana district where the highly polluted the Buddha Nullah meets the Sutlej. When Khaira reached the village, people from nearby areas told him about the menace of hepatitis due to the polluted water of the Buddha Nullah. The Buddha Nullah contains untreated chemicals which are released into the Sutlej. Even the waste generated by hospitals is dumped into the nullah. Around 7.50 lakh litres of water is released into the Sutlej from the nullah every day. The Punjab government is playing havoc with the nature, Khaira said. People are suffering from hepatitis and cancer due to the polluted water. Villagers from the affected areas told me they had lost up to 10 family members due to hepatitis. The cattle are falling ill too, Khaira said. Captain Amarinder Singh claims to be the protector of Punjabs waters but he has done nothing to save Punjab from getting polluted. The Chief Minister went to Manali on a vacation instead of paying attention towards polluted water channels. Now, I will move the National Green Tribunal, he said. The government should call the Assembly session as there is an emergency-like situation. It is the responsibility of the government to stop pollution in rivers, canals and drains of the state, he added. "Though the water was stinking, people were seen collecting the dead fish. They later complained of diarrhoea and vomiting." Ram Prasad, labourer, Faridkot SAD demands judicial probe Chandigarh: The SAD on Saturday condemned the massive damage to the environment and aquatic life due to discharge of molasses into the Beas by the family of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singhs religious adviser Paramjit Singh Sarna and demanded a judicial probe into the entire incident. In a statement here, SAD secretary general Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa said the callous attitude of the mill owners had played havoc with the aquatic life in Punjab. TNS editorial@tribune.com Perneet Singh Tribune News Service Bathinda, May 18 A day after The Tribune carried a news report, Banks building pressure on farmers to recover loans, highlighting the plight of a poor farmer grappling to repay his debt to a cooperative bank in Bathinda, Kirpal Singh Dhooria, a Mohali resident, on Friday came forward to help him. Talking to The Tribune on the phone, Dhooria, who retired as MD, Bhogpur Sugar Mill, said: I am moved by the farmers plight. I will repay the entire debt of Narinder Singh that he owes to the cooperative bank. I have had a word with bank officials in Chandigarh as well as Bathinda. They have told me that the total outstanding dues of the farmer are around Rs 43,000. I will make the payment. He said he was extending help to the farmer in distress on humanitarian grounds. He also urged the bank authorities as well as the police not to harass the farmer. I want him to be free from debt and not think about taking the extreme step as is being done by a number of the farmers in the state these days, he said, while expressing hope that others too would come forward to help the farming community, which is passing through a bad phase. Meanwhile, Narinder Singh has also received a call from the branch manager of the cooperative bank concerned, informing him that a Mohali resident has approached them to repay his debt. It has come as a huge respite to me. I cant thank him enough, he said. editorial@tribune.com Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 19 A team of agriculture and horticulture experts associated with the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has suggested measures to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to prolong the life of the three historic bers standing in the circumambulation of the Golden Temple. The five-member team, comprising Dr Jaswinder Singh Brar, Dr NP Singh, Dr Jagjit Singh Sarabha, Dr Sandeep Singh and Dr Karanbir Singh, on Saturday wrapped up their two-day visit to the Golden Temple and Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib. Dr NP Singh said the visiting team asked SGPC secretary Roop Singh to prevent devotees from offering flowers at the three bers, known as Dukhbhanjani Ber, Ber Baba Buddha Sahib and Lachi Ber. Besides, the members requested him to provide more open space around the Dukhbhanjani Ber. The SGPC official responded in the affirmative, Dr NP Singh said. The team also observed the condition of the historic ber at Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib. The visiting team treated the tree for termite attack and initiated measures for improving its weak immune system. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 19 To check the rapid decline and deterioration of groundwater, three major cities of the state will be provided with canal water instead of groundwater. Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday said in-principle approval had been accorded to the project costing Rs 3,500 crore for Ludhiana, Amritsar and Patiala. In a press release, Sidhu said the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs had accorded technical clearance to all three water supply schemes and forwarded it to the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance, Government of India. A meeting was held on Saturday in the office of Department of Economic Affairs wherein the approval had been given to the proposed surface water supply schemes for all three cities. Sidhu said the Union Government would now send the proposal to the World Bank for Ludhiana and Amritsar and to the Asian Development Bank for Patiala, to get assistance and fund allocations. The process of approvals and sanctioning of loan from the lending agencies and further selection of contractors was expected to be completed within 12-14 months after which work was expected to begin on the ground. The minister said these cities had witnessed a sharp decline of groundwater levels in recent years. The situation was worsening due to the unregulated extraction of groundwater, he added. singhking99@yahoo.com Sarika Sharma Ten years ago, voice of Mal Singh, a prisoner of war from the First World War, came to India. Held captive at the Half Moon Camp in Germany, the man was batting for hope, remembering the good times in India the butter he would eat and the milk he would drink.... He was desperate to return home, but doubted if he ever would. As the voice reached Punjab 100 years after it was recorded at the Camp as an experiment, Mal Singh was traced to Moga after The Tribune highlighted it in a story. We got to know that he had made it back home after all, lived life fully, perhaps had the milk and butter he so longed for too, and died in the 1970s. His voice had been among the thousands of voice recordings at the Humboldt Universitys Sound Archive, Lautarchiv, Berlin. Now, 70 more recordings of soldiers from what was the then Punjab have reached home, waiting to tell how they lived as prisoners in a war that they fought to earn a better living for their families. These soldiers were from 15th Ludhiana Sikhs, 47th Sikhs and 4th Gurkha Rifles, among others. The archive has now shared the voices with Col Perminder Singh Randhawa (retd) to understand these recordings from Indian point of view. Jochen Hennig, Central Collection Commissioner at the Humboldt-University, shared these voices as part of the commemoration of 100 years of the war. The access has been given to all those who can understand their forefather-soldiers languages. The Indian soldiers, fighting the war under the British Army, were taken captive by the Germans at the Western Front. Around this time, Thomas Edison had come out with his latest invention, the wax-cylinder phonograph and the recording experiments were carried out on these soldiers. German scientists, who were awed by their exotic, turban wearing prisoners, were employing them in various experiments. Royal Prussian Phonographic Commission, founded in 1915, was one of them. The recordings were done under this project. Among the voices is a recording of Bela Singh, a soldier from Amritsar. In almost verse form, he speaks of how they came to the city of Marseille and were ordered to set out for the war, how they fought and how they were captured. There is a recording of Baryam Singh from Ludhiana. He says that when someone decides to do something with all his heart, he does it well. As if reading from a paper where he pauses to decipher the words (which may or may not have been written by him), he says he loves Hindustan because it is his land. He says no lure can buy him. His recording is peppered with the word ji, a word that denotes respect. Sepoy Sunder Singh begins his recording with Ek Onkar, a central tenet of Sikh religious ethos. Apparently referring to a copy of Guru Granth Sahib, which they seem to have been given in confinement, he expresses happiness that the Guru has blessed his ilk. He says that the only one thing that could bring him as much happiness would be a peace treaty. He adds that the Sikhs consider the Guru Granth Sahib a holy book and revere it more than anything else. It appears that the Guru Granth Sahib was not accompanied by Rumala Sahib, which hurt the sentiments of Sikhs in the camp. So while he begins by praising the Germans for providing them Guru Granth Sahib, he later says that if it is disrespected, a true Sikh will take his own life then and there. These are a handful of stories; there are around 70 more that are desperate to reach their loved ones in Punjab. Colonel Randhawa says the Germans kept the voices safe with them for a year, digitised these and have now decided to send these back to where the PoWs came from to understand their context. Why did Mal Singh say what he said? What did it mean? They dont have an answer? They want us to find out an answer? We must remember that this could have been their last testimony, he says. For Colonel Randhawa, who has been translating and analysing these voices, these soldiers are like whistleblowers, who shared what went on in the camps, often in a veiled way. Mal Singhs recording could well be reflective of the quality of food there. He rues the government has not taken any initiative to bring these voices to India and find out what happened to these soldiers. Is the government ignoring the First World War story under pressure from Britain and others? Or are they scared of skeletons in the cupboards coming to the fore. These were not British soldiers; these were Indian soldiers. We fought the war, won it, won Victoria Crosses too, but what was happening behind the scenes, let that also be known, he says. While Mal Singhs voice was able to reach his family in Moga, Colonel Randhawa feels that voice of the other soldiers should reach their loved ones, some of whom might be in Pakistan today. Also, he says that there is no information on whether these soldiers returned home or not. He feels that while we are still commemorating the FirstWorld War, Let us at least hear what they had to say. Let us see what lessons we can draw for the youth. These voices have been seized for a hundred years. It is time we heard them now. The recording project Founded in 1915, Royal Prussian Phonographic Commission was set up to record languages spoken by the PoWs. Around 30 scientists were involved in this project. With experts from the field of linguistics, musicology and anthropology, the commission recorded the different languages spoken by these PoWs. Under linguist Wilhelm Doegen, 1,650 recordings were made. In an article in 2011, Prof Britta Lange wrote that these scientists, mainly professors at Berlin University, asked the prisoners about their traditional songs and texts. For this reason, many of the gramophone recordings.... contain legends, fairytales, fables, religious texts and chants from individual ethnic groups. Texts freely formulated by the prisoners themselves, describing their personal situation in the German prisoner of war camp, revealing details of their biographies or the force of war-time circumstance that brought them to Germany are more rare. Not lost The Germans were meticulous in documentation. Along with each recording is a transcript of the script in Punjabi and in English. There is a page on biodata of the PoW in question in both English and German. It lists out details like name, birthplace, regiment, religion, languages known and date of recording. To hear some of the voices, log on to www.tribuneindia.com editorial@tribune.com B L Chakoo True is a tricky word, and asserting the truth of anything, including deep ideas in philosophy or psychology, is a tricky business. In fact, one big lesson from Buddhism is to be suspicious of the intuition that an ordinary way of perceiving the world brings the truth about it. Some early Buddhist writings even raise doubts about whether such a thing as truth ultimately exists. On the other hand, the Buddha, in his most famous sermon, lays out what are commonly called The Four Noble Truths, so its not as if the word true has no place in discussions of Buddhist thought. This is what Robert Wright writes at the very beginning of this exhilarating book. Wright has taught in the psychology department, University of Pennsylvania, and religion department, Princeton University, where he also created the popular online course Buddhism and Modern Psychology. Skeptical, Wright tries to proceed with appropriate humility as he makes his argument that Buddhisms diagnosis of the human predicament is fundamentally true and correct, and that its prescription is valid and important. Beautifully written and persuasively argued, Why Buddhism is True is the most accessible book on some of Buddhisms extraordinary, even radical, claims. It details Wrights straightforward, scientific interpretations of the fundamentals, found across the major Buddhist traditions, even if they get different degrees of emphasis, and may assume somewhat different form, in different traditions. Steeped in evolutionary psychology and cognitive neuroscience, Wright bridges in this captivating study the philosophical subtleties of Buddhism and brain science with ease. A groundbreaking synthesis of the science of Buddhism, the book presents fascinating and lucid explanations of dukkha (commonly translated as suffering or as unsatisfactoriness); anatta (non-existence of ones self), the impermanence of the things we think of as parts of the self, and enlightenment that in the Buddhist sense has something in common with enlightenment in the Western scientific world. In fact, these explanations can let you experience your own feelings love, anger, pain, sorrow, happiness or pleasure with new sensitivity. The book draws upon the latest research to show how to stimulate and strengthen your brain through meditative practices for more fulfilling relationships, a genuine spiritual life, and a greater sense of inner confidence and worth. This incisive book also investigates the American obsession with the Buddhas brain. His brain has become more than a philosophical and mysterious organ, acquiring a near-neuroscientific status. Powerful, eloquent, spiritual and scientific, this book takes the understanding of Buddhism, Buddhist meditation and neuro-psychology to a new level. First five chapters Taking the Red Pill, Paradoxes of Meditation, When are Feelings Illusions? Bliss, Ecstasy, and More Important Reasons to Meditate, and The Alleged Nonexistence of your Life elucidate the power of Buddhas mind and delineate complex concepts at the boundaries of current inquiry into the nature of Buddhism, its acquisition and use, its evolution. The three chapters, Mental Modules that Run your Life, Self Control and Encounters with the Formless, that follow are quite interesting and unique. Packed with personal anecdotes, private revelations and academic intelligence, these chapters, however, may not sit well with the books idea of scientific method in understanding Buddhist radical world-view and moral clarity. The concluding chapters The Upside of Emptiness, Nirvana in a Nutshell, Is Enlightenment Enlightening? and Meditation and the Unseen shed new light on complicated ancient and multi-dimensional concepts as emptiness, nirvana, morality and free will while also offering the fullest picture yet of the origins of Buddhist meditation and xenophobia and true peace. These invite us to zoom in on the Buddhist approach which is to maintaining equanimity, to preserving a sense of calm and well being [which] involves transcending both your natural aversion to unpleasant things and your natural desire for pleasant things. In brief, the book is a leading evolutionary psychologists visionary journey, a creative and compelling exploration of the Buddhas mind. It offers you an insightful analysis of the impact of the Buddhas brain on our contemporary understanding of identity, subjectivity, thoughts that bubble into consciousness, natural selection and optical delusion. editorial@tribune.com Jaskiran Chopra The exquisite hills and dales of Uttarakhand are known for their colourful festivals. Some of these are traditional festivals of this region; others celebrate the rich biodiversity and natural splendour of this hill state. The musical Kumaoni Holi, which stretches through the winters to the actual day of Holi, the flower festival of Phooldei where little children place flowers at peoples threshold praying for well-being and happiness, the Vasantotsav held every spring at Raj Bhawan (Dehradun) and the butter festival of Dayara Bugyal in Uttarakashi are some of them. Close on the heels of the 5th Uttarakhand Spring Bird Festival, which was held in March, comes a unique festival to be held in Devalsari in Tehri from May 31 to June 3. This will be Indias first-ever butterfly festival. More than 140 species of butterflies and 250 species of moths have been recorded and identified at Devalsari. The village is tucked away in the Aglar Valley in Tehri district. The snow-capped peaks of the middle Himalayas loom in the distance and there are marvelous deodar, oak and rhododendron forests, surrounded by terraced fields. The area is home to some stunning varieties such as the Common Peacock (Uttarakhands state butterfly), Golden Emperor, Bluetail Jester, Brown Argus, Siren, Grand Duchess, Western Courtier, Wonderful Hairstreak, Water Hairstreak, Fawn Hairstreak and Walnut Blue amongst many others. With more than 500 species of butterflies and innumerable moth species, Uttarakhand is a haven for butterfly and moth watchers. Titli Trust and the Devalsari Environment Protection and Technology Development Society (consisting of village youth) with support from the Ecotourism Wing of Uttarakhand Forest Department and some other organisations, now plans to hold annual butterfly and moth festivals in the state. It is intended to have two Titli Utsavs every year at different locations, pre- and post-monsoon, based on suitability of the location. The primary purpose of these Titli Utsavs will be to promote lesser-known destinations in Uttarakhand, ensure benefits to local communities through community ecotourism and to support the conservation of butterflies and moths through citizen science. Sanjay Sondhi of Titli Trust, Dehradun, says it is proposed to establish an annual butterfly festival at Devalsari. The festival is targeted towards visitors who have some interest and enthusiasm to watch butterflies and moths, but also targeting more serious butterfly and moth enthusiasts, he says and claims that the festival has no external funding and is being organised by local hill people. It is eco-friendly and close to nature . A completely independent initiative. Locals feel such an event can go a long way in promoting ecotourism in the hill state that is rich in biodiversity and needs initiatives that would help maintain the balance between preserving the environment and promoting tourism on which the hill economy is dependent. It may be mentioned here that Arunachal Pradesh has been hosting events related to butterflies, co-organised by Butterflies and Moths of Sikkim, Northeast Indian Butterflies Group and other organisations. It is known as the Northeast Butterfly Meet. On the cards Ajay Banerjee in New Delhi Ajay Banerjee in New Delhi Faced with Chinas rapidly expanding military prowess, Indian Air Force recently tested itself to tackle a 1962-type of attack from across the Himalayas. The drill also factored in multiple scenarios such as interdiction of key maritime supply routes and tackling a collusive China-Pakistan threat in case of a short and intense battle. The two-week (April 10-23) Gagan Shakti is seen as the biggest military exercise since the Indian Armys watershed Brasstacks in 1988. The IAF used its entire fleet of fighter jets, helicopters, special operations planes C-17 and C-130J, radars and airborne surveillance platforms, totalling 1,100. Almost a month after the exercise ended and the data analysed, the conclusion was: Not only have we achieved our objective, but we have also gone beyond it. The IAF was not used in 1962. The two-front war doctrine is about a decade old, more in focus since China-Pakistan cemented a military alliance. Chinas numbers Chinas inventory is estimated at 2,100 combat aircraft (including fighters, strategic bombers, tactical bombers, armed UAVs and attack aircraft). It is backed by long-range Dong Feng series of missiles. It also possesses the ability to rapidly deploy troops, equipment or tanks at Tibetan plateau. Beijing is making a decisive shift towards more offensive operations and long-distance mobility, all requiring air-cover. Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (retd) says We are well placed for now. But to tackle threats ten years hence, our plans have to fructify. Chinas projects like J-20 stealth fighter jet, planned a decade ago, are rolling in now and the numbers will grow adding to the technological asymmetry, he says. A US Department of Defense (DoD) report, titled The Military and Security Developments Involving the Peoples Republic of China 2017 warns: The PLAAF (Peoples Liberation Army Air Force) continues to modernize and is closing the gap rapidly with western air forces across a broad spectrum of capabilities. This development is gradually eroding the significant advantage held by the United States. IAFs battle plan Gagan Shakti was aimed at real-time coordination, deployment of air power for a short, intense battle. In the Indian context a short and swift conflict is most likely, says a serving IAF officer. The tempo of operations in such a conflict will reduce time for recuperation for the enemy. Capabilities were tested from Thoise in Ladakh to Walong in Arunachal Pradesh, some 3,800 km apart. Elsewhere, the IAF hit at targets on land, sea and air, its air defence responses mated with radars were tested. Separately, it carried out a surge or the ability to sustain a high number of attack sorties around the clock. A battalion (some 700 men and equipment) was airdropped at night behind enemy lines. At sea, the Navys maritime reconnaissance plane, the Boeing P8-I guided the Sukhoi-30 pilots. The Light Combat Aircraft, the Tejas, performed very well and its variants hold the future. The IAF wants more of these, and quickly. It was in 1962 that the Armys supply line and communication links snapped at Walong. This time, the IAF quickly transported Army troops and guns using MI-17 helicopters from nearby Tezu valley to be inserted at Walong that sits on far-eastern edge of Arunachal Pradesh facing China. On vehicles it could have taken two days. It was done in a couple of hours. Air Vice Marshall SJ Nanodkar (retd) terms this as most realistic operational assessment of IAFs capability conducted almost after three decades. Air Vice Marshall Bahadur says: Mobilisation of men and equipment is a major part of work in conflict. The numbers game India could be hampered by its own numbers in case of a conflict. Against a mandated 42 squadrons (16-18 planes in each) of fighter jets, the IAF is operating with just 31. There are about 240 Sukhoi-30 MKI, the only fourth generation jets and New Delhis decade-long quest with Russia for a jointly produced fifth-generation plane has hit a road block. The US DoD report says China has 600 fourth-generation planes, and it estimates it will become a majority fourth-generation force and is still developing fifth-generation fighters, including the J-20 and FC-31. GS Paul in Amritsar GS Paul in amritsar In the Provident Fund (PF) account of Amritsar Municipal Corporation (AMC), Rs 1.21 crore was misappropriated through 26 transactions in 2015-17. Call it a clerical lapse or administrative lacunae, the cheques issued on behalf of the MC Commissioner got cleared in the names of other persons. A government inquiry later revealed that payments were made to fictitious persons. For instance, PF account No 8262 of Asha Rani, wife of Sham Lal, was tampered with and shown in the name of Thana, son of Inder, who retired in 2002. The probe further revealed that Rs 58.15 crore was deposited between Dec 6, 2013, and May 16, 2017, in an HDFC bank account no. 501100028499581, opened illegally in the name of Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT). From this account, cheques amounting to Rs 15.16 crore were issued. Separate pay orders were issued to Satnam Singh, a clerk, and another to Narinder Nath, father of Daman Bhalla, Deputy Controller Finance and Accounts (DCFA). Similarly, 53 self cheques from this account were also issued and another Rs 19.25 crore was withdrawn illegally. The property tax department had issued nearly 65,000 receipts (1,311 G8 books signifying deposits) out of which cash collected against 8,096 receipts between September 2013 and March 2017 was never deposited with the government treasury. The loss is estimated to be Rs 2.42 crore in property tax alone. The advance payment register speaks volumes about misappropriation of public money. On March 31, 2017, Rs 7.41 crore was advanced to various departments/employees. Some cases pertain to a period before the year 1970. Not a paisa has so far been recovered. These are the highlights of an interim report of Independent Review and Forensic Audit (IFRA) of two urban local bodies: the AMC and the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) in April 2007-March 17. Officials of the Indian arm of the international auditing firm, Grant Thornton India LLP, are being assisted by the departments Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) Sudeep Manak. The initiative for the investigation came from local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu months after he took charge last year. Sidhu surmised embezzlement of over Rs 100 crore in his own department in Amritsar. His revelation can lay bare the rot in other local bodies if a third-party audit is conducted. Sidhu has also said that at least 5 lakh-acre government land has been illegally occupied by the land mafia in Punjab. Imagine, if encroachment is removed, it can rejuvenate Punjabs economy, he said (see interview). Fleece machine The accused would deposit money in different bank accounts in the name of the AMC/AIT, and then would withdraw the amount under various fictitious works such as disbursal of salaries, miscellaneous daily expenses or public friendly works. The preliminary inquiry revealed that drafts were made in the names of relatives who got them cashed. For a decade, no audit was done and no accountability fixed, resulting in AMC and AIT embezzlement spiralling into crores going unchecked. The tendering process of AMC and AIT was opaque. To evade identification of a work and its time-frame, verifiable detailed notice inviting tender (DNIT) was not prepared, nor were ward maps kept ready. The files, correspondence, contractor agreements, site inspection, material testing reports and bidding documents were missing. In AIT, the data related to e-tendering has been deleted from Punjab Infotech site on account of a new portal of nic.in and was not available for review. Blind spot: Cash books From 2013 to 2017, the cash book, a holy grail for an accounts department, remained unsigned by a designated officer. Since March 2013, the instructions from the local bodies department were clear: maintain double entry accounting system. Yet in ULBs of Amritsar, single entry accounting system was followed. This makes a transaction difficult to detect. The double entry accounting system is a globally accepted system of accounting for transparent and fair transaction with multiple hands involved in it. The CVO in its probe concluded that in AMC, the cash books did not reconcile with bank statements from 2008 onwards. A similar situation has prevailed in AIT since 2017. This has meant cheques and notings on vouchers were assigned to only one official without any oversight. In AMC and AIT, multiple accounts -- 71 in AIT and 52 in AMC were kept. The CVO says 23 bank statements are yet to be received from the AMC. The money was withdrawn in a fraudulent manner from around 70 accounts by issuing 49 cheques, DDs, pay orders since 2013. The money was transferred by the accused in their family members accounts. Many bank accounts were not entered in the cash book of the department. Fictitious contracts The AMCs advertisement wing earns revenue from the ad tax and user tax from unipoles, elevated road pillars and gantries where hoardings are installed. An amount of Rs 6.50 crore is still pending to be recovered in the last two-and-a-half years. In case of unipoles, e-tendering was done for 250 pieces divided into five categories (A, B, C, D and E) comprising 50 unipoles each. The probe revealed that two companies are yet to pay up to Rs 1.5 crore. The MC had sanctioned 217 unipoles for putting up ads. While 200 could be mapped on physical verification, the rest were awarded to unknown persons. Fixing accountability Last year, the vigilance department registered cases against AITs three estate officers Arvind Sharma, DC Garg and Paramjit Singh besides DCFA Daman Bhalla, CA Sanjay Kapoor, accountant Tina Vohra and bill clerk Satnam Singh. The common charges against them are related to misappropriation of public money amounting to nearly Rs 80 crore. While Bhalla is behind bars, others have secured interim bail from the High Court. The investigation continues. In March 2018, the Vigilance Bureau (VB) had arrested Harjinder Singh Walia, a clerk and president of Karamchari Talmel Dal Union of the AMC for corruption and disproportionate assets. The probe was ordered following a complaint lodged by a local rights activist, Ricky Bhalla, who alleged that during Walias posting in the octroi department in 2006-07, he allowed vehicles loaded with clothes and yarn to pass without charging octroi causing loss of crores of rupees. What officials say MC commissioner Sonali Giri: Two FIRs are already lodged in PF and G8 receipt scam, in December and March, respectively. It was unfortunate that this forensic audit report has not been shared with us. I presume that the records are not updated when this report was made. An advisory has been issued to all departments to update their records. AIT Estate Officer Ripan Kakkar: We cannot make any recovery till we get results of the investigation which is still underway. Let the investigation reach a conclusion. We will demand action against the accused through a procedure. shalender@tribune.com TURNING to the deeper aspect of the controversy, we need scarcely say that our sympathies are entirely with Mrs. Besant and entirely against Mr. Satyamurti's amendment. We do not know by what means Mr. Satyamurti has convinced himself that the statement that India is in peril of invasion is a "red herring" by the Government. Most people will perhaps agree that nothing would have delighted the Government more than not to talk of this peril at all. One has only to remember how at least one Provincial ruler talked of the "arm of the Sircar being long," to avoid giving the people any impression that things are out of the ordinary. If inspite of this anxiety, Sir Michael O'Dwyer said at the war meeting, that the danger of invasion, though not immediate, is certainly real, it is nothing but short-sightedness to dispose of this statement as a mere "red herring." ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Hasan Suroor in London With his characteristic penchant for self-deprecation, Khushwant Singh famously described himself as not a nice man to know, a phrase which he later chose as the title of his delightful memoirs. So, he must have had a good chuckle if (from his perch in heaven) he were watching the proceedings at Londons plush May Fair hotel on Thursday (May 17) as his admirers lined up to gush about him declaring instead that he was such a nice man to know! In a humorous take that Khushwant Singh would have approved of, poet Imtiaz Dharker said: An ego-breaker, a whiskey-guzzler, a ghazal lover, he was not a nice man to know. I wish I had known him longer! She said he was the first editor to publish her poetry at a time when young poets were struggling to get a foot in the door. How could he not be a nice man? The occasion was the first London edition of the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival a replica of the Kasauli KS Litfest held every year since his death six years ago. Kasauli comes to London, declared his son Rahul Singh welcoming Londons literati to the day-long pop-up festival around the theme of IndoAnglian writing. Mind you, were deliberately spelling IndoAnglian as one word with both I and A in capital letters to underline the close interaction between the two cultures, he explained. The theme was chosen to reflect the flavour of the ongoing India-UK Year of Culture. Speaking to The Tribune, he said the festival was part of his efforts to preserve and promote his fathers legacy at a time when many of the values he cherished and espoused were being challenged by a culture of populism and philistinism. But why London? My father loved London. It was one of his most favourite European cities. He studied here and later served in the Indian High Commission as press attache under Krishna Menon. He wasnt very fond of him Im afraid. He was something of an Anglophile and regarded England as his second home. He loved English poetry, and used to call English as his mother tongue which, of course, infuriated a lot of people. My father was also a big admirer of British values and its democracy. The idea to bring the festival to London had been brewing for three years when the then Indian High Commissioner Navtej Sarna, himself a writer and an ardent Khushwant Singh fan, offered to help with sponsorship. It was to be held at Nehru Centre. But then he went to Washington and at the last minute Nehru Centre pulled out. We were told they had another event the same day though we had decided on May 17 after consulting them. We had to suddenly look for another venue and thats how we ended up at the May Fair, said Rahul Singh. But alls well that ends well. Despite the last-minute flutter, it all came together in the end, said Niloufer Bilimoria, co-director of the festival. It was nearly full house with an impressive line-up of writers, academics and broadcasters Pakistani novelist Moni Mohsin, historian Zareer Masani, British chronicler of the raj Charles Allen, Indologist Rachel Dwyer, and economist Meghnad Desai among others. Organisers were keen to make a distinction between KS Litfest and other literary festivals pointing out that unlike others, it was more focused. And the focus was on a few specific areas that were of particular interest to Khushwant Singh such as womens empowerment, environment, rise of nationalism, Indias ancient heritage, and India-Pakistan relations. The opening session was, perhaps, the most interesting with four famous women writers (Imtiaz Dharker, Jaishree Misra, Seema Anand, and Neelima Dalmia) mentored by Khushwant Singh recalling their memories of him. And the role he played in shaping their career. They described him as a larger-than-life figure humorous, provocative, and unpretentious with an extraordinary capacity to laugh at himself. Often, he did things simply to shock people. He wrote his own obituary...and that was some 40 years before his death! He wanted to contest the notion that an obituary was only about dead people, said Rahul Singh. According to Neelima Dalmia, he broke all rules of men and God. He told me he loved to receive more hate mail than fan mail. The verdict at the end of the day was that it was hard to think of another modern Indian writer whose appeal and popularity cut across such a large cross-section of readership as Khushwant Singhs. He was admired not only in India, but across the border in Pakistan, said Charles Allen. As the festival wound up, it was not clear whether it was a one-off event, or is it likely to become an annual feature of Londons literary calendar. Certainly, not a one-off, but lets see, was the message from organisers. sanjiv@tribunemail.com Tribune News Service Dehradun, May 18 District Magistrate Murugeshan on Thursday appealed to the people of Dehradun to participate in Mission Rishiparna the Rispana rejuvenation programme beginning from May 19 in a big way and make it a success. He was addressing a gathering during the last minute preparatory meeting. The Rispana, which criss-crosses Dehradun, has turned into a big drain. Nearly two lakh saplings will be planted alongside the river as part of the programme. According to information, the mission will be conducted in two phases. In the first phase, pits will be dug while plantation would be carried out in July during the monsoon. The District Magistrate said it was the flagship programme of Chief Minister Trivendra Rawat aimed at reviving the Rispana river. He said to make the programme a success, the Uttarakhand Science and Education Research Centre is undertaking a 3D modeling of the river whereas the State Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board is working to block the drains that directly flow into the river. He said local residents and NGOs had taken responsibility for plantation. An eco-task force and police and forest officials will also extend help in the plantation drive. sanjiv@tribunemail.com Tribune News Service Dehradun, May 18 Eleven pilgrims on way to famous Purnagiri temple of Kumaon were killed after being run over by a truck on Friday morning. The mishap occurred around 9 am while a batch of pilgrims, after making a night halt at Chakrapur, was travelling on foot to Tanakpur to pay obeisance at Purnagiri temple in Champawat district. While nine persons died on the spot, 13 were injured. Two of them later succumbed to their injuries. The injured were taken to the Government Hospital, Tanakpur. Seven of them were later referred to a medical facility at Khatima. Those killed included Vishal (17), Rajkumar (16), Sonu (16), Veer (18), Keshar (16), Deendayal (35), Maakhan Lal (12), Kamal (25), Babu (12) and Ram Swaroop (45). All those killed belonged to Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh. The truck driver fled after the incident. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has expressed grief over the demise of pilgrims. He directed Champawat District Magistrate to ensure that the injured got all medical help. sanjiv@tribunemail.com Houston, May 18 A student opened fire at a high school in the US state of Texas today, killing at least 10 people, mostly students, in the latest such incident in the country. The incident took place at Santa Fe High School in the city of the same name, located about 50 kilometres southeast of Houston. An unidentified law enforcement officer was shot, but sources said he was clipped and was not seriously injured. At least 10 personse nine students and a teacher were killed in the gunfire, CNN quoted a law enforcement official as saying. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said that the two people who were taken into custody, including the person believed to be the gunman, are students at the school. The attacker was armed with an AR-15-style rifle, a pistol, a shotgun and pipe bombs, an official said. Todays bloodshed is the worst mass shooting in America since February, when 17 persons were gunned down at a high school in Parkland, Florida. PTI ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Beijing, May 19 China has for the first time landed strategic bombers on an island in the disputed South China Sea, drawing sharp reaction from the US, which said the move would raise tensions and destabilise the region. Chinas air force said that its fighter jets, including an H-6K bomber, had recently conducted take-off and landing training on an island reef in the resource-rich South China Sea (SCS). The training had elevated the air forces abilities of reaching its full territory, assaulting in full time and space, and striking in full scope, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted the Peoples Liberation Air Force (PLAF) as saying. Wang Minliang, a military expert, was quoted as saying that the bombers take-off and landing training was beneficial to enhance the real combat ability against all kinds of security threats in the sea. Peoples Daily, the Chinese Communist Partys official newspaper, on Friday posted a video on its Twitter account featuring a series of the H-6Ks training programmes, including take-off, landing and flying. The Chinese move invoked sharp reaction from the US, which said that it would raise tensions and destabilise the region. A spokesman at the Pentagon, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Logan, called the exercise an act of Chinas continued militarisation of disputed features in the South China Sea, the Post report said. Bonnie Glaser, a China security expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said the location of the H-6K landing was believed to be Woody Island Yongxing island in Chinese on which Chinas Sansha city government is located. China had established Sansha City, a prefecture-level city of Hainan Province, in 2012 to administer the South China Sea islands identified by China as Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha island groups and their surrounding waters. I believe this is the first time a bomber has landed in the South China Sea. No doubt the H-6K will soon land on an island in Spratly (Islands) since hangers there are built to accommodate bombers, the Post quoted Glaser as saying. PTI ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Seoul, May 19 South Korean journalists may not be allowed to cover the closure of Pyongyang's nuclear test site, as the North Korean government has not accepted their visa applications, media reported on Saturday. This comes less than a week after they were reportedly invited. The dismantlement, which involves blowing up tunnels under the Punggye-ri complex, could take place on May 23, CNN reported quoting North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs as announcing on Saturday. Journalists from China, Russia, South Korea, US, and UK were to be invited to watch for transparency's sake. IANS monicakchauhan@gmail.com Abuja, May 19 Three persons, including a school principal have been arrested in Nigeria for allegedly tying two students to makeshift crucifixes and flogging them for coming late to school, police said. Investigators found evidence that pupils were being flogged by a teacher in front of their school in the remote town of Ayetoro in Ogun state. Photographs showed a Nigerian boy tied to a cross for coming late to the private school on May 16, CNN reported. "They were tied to a wooden tree made to look like a crucifix when a policeman on patrol saw them. When the principal and the school proprietor were requested to untie them, they refused. "They even beat one of the people who intervened," Abimbola Oyeyemi, Ogun State police spokesman told CNN. The state's police command said it was investigating the case and said the school's principal, owner, and a teacher have been charged with assault and intention to cause grievous bodily harm. The school authorities could not be immediately reached for comments, CNN said. Corporal punishment is a common form of discipline in many Nigerian schools despite increasing evidence of its negative outcomes on children. Nigeria is not among the 60 countries states and territories that have banned its use against children though internationals organisations are calling for it to be outlawed. The UN children agency estimates that around 300 million children aged two to four receive some form of physical discipline from their parents or caregivers on a regular basis. IANS sanjiv@tribunemail.com Seoul, May 18 South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been riding high after a string of successes with North Korea, seeing his popularity surge after his historic meeting with Kim Jong Un as he looks ahead to the U.S.-North Korea summit he helped engineer next month. But just days before a key meeting with US President Donald Trump, Pyongyang has made Moons role as a diplomatic go-between much harder, calling his government ignorant and incompetent and pulling out of inter-Korean talks. Moon heads to Washington next week with the daunting task of crafting a unified approach between the two allies ahead of the June 12 meeting between Trump and Kim in Singapore. While publicly supporting Trumps campaign of sanctions and military threats, Moon has long called for reconciliation with the North and has pushed Washington to engage with Pyongyangs overtures. North Koreas threat this week to scrap the Trump summit if Washington continues to press for unilateral denuclearisation and complaints about US-South Korea military drills has done little to advance Moons hope for a peace deal. Moon did an impressive job building up political capital with both leaders - with Trump throughout 2017 and Kim more in 2018 - and has spent some of it to create a situation that brings North Korea and the US to the table, said Andray Abrahamian, adjunct fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute. Hes still in a position to act as a go-between, but only as far as the other two parties take bridgeable positions. The Norths outburst aimed at Moons government appeared partially driven by anger over South Korea allowing Thae Yong Ho, a former North Korean diplomat to Britain who defected to the South in 2016, to hold a press conference on Monday at the South Korean National Assembly for his publication of his memoir. In his memoir, Password from the Third Floor, Thae describes North Korean leader Kim as impatient, impulsive and violent. In rambling remarks in the White Houses Oval Office in which he also sharply criticised China over trade, Trump said that as far as he knew the meeting with Kim was still on track, but that the North Korean leader was possibly being influenced by Beijing after two recent visits he made there. North Koreas renewed ties with China certainly has emboldened Kim by making him less reliant on a successful summit with Trump, but Beijing is unlikely to be directing the latest outbursts, said Zhao Tong, a North Korea expert at the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center in Beijing. Moon is scheduled to meet with Trump on Tuesday in Washington. South Koreas presidential Blue House, however, says it hopes Moons meeting with Trump will help set the stage for more progress with North Korea. Reuters monicakchauhan@gmail.com HAVANA, May 18 More than 100 people were killed when a Boeing 737 crashed soon after taking off from Havana in what appeared to be Cuba's worst air disaster in nearly 30 years, and there were only three survivors, officials and state media said on Friday. The passenger plane, on a domestic flight to Holguin in eastern Cuba, crashed at 12:08 pm (1608 GMT). There were 105 passengers, including five children, plus crew members, state media reported. Five of the passengers and the crew were foreign, according to media reports. Two Argentine citizens and an unspecified number of Mexicans were among the dead, the Argentine and Mexican governments said. President Miguel Diaz-Canel said in broadcast comments that a high number of people appeared to have been killed. He said the fire from the crash had been extinguished and authorities were identifying bodies. Diaz-Canel said authorities were investigating the cause of the crash. Cuba declared an official period of mourning from 6 a.m. on May 19 to 12 p.m. on May 20, during which the flag would be flown at half-mast outside state and military institutions. Former Cuban president Raul Castro, who now heads the country's ruling Communist Party, offered his condolences to the families of those who died in the crash as he recovered from a hernia operation, State media reported This was the first time Cuba reported on a health issue for Castro, 86, who last month handed over the reins of power to his right-hand man Diaz-Canel. Castro "who is recovering satisfactorily from a recent planned surgery to get rid of a hernia is staying up to date on the situation and has given the relevant guidance," the Communist Party newspaper Granma reported. Blackened wreckage of Flight CU972 was strewn over the crash site, 20 km (12 miles) south of Havana. "We heard an explosion and then saw a big cloud of smoke go up," said Gilberto Menendez, who runs a restaurant near the crash site in the agricultural area of Boyeros. The flight's destination, Holguin, is the capital of a province popular with tourists for its pristine beaches. Carlos Alberto Martinez, director of Havana's Calixto Garcia hospital, told Reuters that four victims of the crash had been were brought there and one died. Three others, all women, were in a serious condition, he said. "She is alive but very burnt and swollen," said one of the women's relatives at the hospital. The Mexican transport department said on its website, "During take-off (the plane) apparently suffered a problem and dived to the ground." The Boeing 737-201 aircraft was built in 1979 and leased by Cuban airline Cubana from a small Mexican company called Damojh, according to the Mexican government. Damojh in Mexico said it did not immediately have any more information. Cubana declined to comment. Mexico said it would send a team of investigators from its Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics on Saturday. Most aircraft accidents take months to investigate. A US State Department official said the agency was not aware of any request for US assistance at this time, but the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration had offered to assist in the investigation. The State Department has spoken with the Cuban ambassador to offer condolences, the official said. Boeing Co said in a statement that its technical team stood "ready to assist as permitted under US law and at the direction of the US National Transportation Safety Board and Cuban authorities." The United States has a decades-old trade embargo on the island. The earliest Boeing 737s like the one that crashed use engines made by Pratt & Whitney, part of U.S.-based industrial group United Technologies. On Thursday, Cuba's First Vice-President Salvador Valdes Mesa met with Cuban bosses to discuss public complaints about its service, according to state-run media, including numerous cancellations of domestic flights this year and long delays. Earlier this month, the company was ordered to suspend flights of its six Russian built AN-158 aircraft, of which most had reportedly already been grounded, according to state-run media. The last fatal crash in Cuba was in 2017, the Aviation Safety Network said. It was a military flight and all eight on board were killed. In 2010, a commercial Aero Caribbean plane crashed in central Cuba and all 68 people on board were killed. In the worst Cubana disaster, a Soviet-made Ilyushin-62M passenger plane crashed near Havana in 1989 killing all 126 people on board. Reuters sanjiv@tribunemail.com London, May 18 Sergei Skripal, the ex-Russian spy poisoned with a powerful nerve agent in the UK in March, triggering a fierce diplomatic standoff with Russia, has been discharged and taken to an undisclosed location, it was announced today. The 66-year-old former Russian double agent and his daughter Yulia were found slumped on a bench on March 4 along with his daughter, Yulia, after being exposed to novichok, a military-grade nerve agent. They were hospitalised in critical condition and spent weeks in critical condition. Yulia, 33, recovered more quickly than her father and was discharged last month and also taken to an undisclosed location. This is an important stage in his (Skripals) recovery, which will now take place away from the hospital, said Lorna Wilkinson, director of nursing at Salisbury District Hospital, where the Skripals were treated since being admitted. While these patients have now been discharged, their right to patient confidentiality remains and limits us from giving detailed accounts of the treatment these individuals received, a hospital statement said. The poisoning incident had triggered a major diplomatic crisis after the British government accused the Kremlin of organising the attack Skirpal and his daughter. Following the incident, the UK expelled 23 Russian diplomats who had been declared as unidentified intelligence officers. PTI Day of Constitution and National Flag was celebrated in Turkmenistan on a large-scale. The main festive events took place in Ashgabat, including flower laying ceremonies at the Constitution Monument and the Central Flag of Turkmenistan attended by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The flower laying ceremonies were also attended by government officials, heads of the Mejlis (parliament), military and law enforcement agencies, ministries and departments, heads of the diplomatic missions accredited in Turkmenistan, honorary elders, representatives of public associations, mass media and guests of Ashgabat. Festive events marking Day of Constitution and National Flag of Turkmenistan were held in all the regions of the country. TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2021 | By Chris Zang Outside it was raining but inside Royal Farms Arena sunny smiles were in abundance as students of the Class of 2018 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) received their degrees at commencement ceremonies. The class of 2,250 students from UMBs six professional schools and interdisciplinary Graduate School were treated to life lessons from a number of speakers, headlined by Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen, PhD, MSW, an alumna and former faculty member of the University of Maryland School of Social Work. President Jay A. Perman, MD, and University of Maryland School of Nursing Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, bestow an Honorary Doctor of Public Service degree upon Mary Catherine Bunting, MS 72, CRNP, an alumna of the School of Nursing who represented the Bunting family in 2017 when her grandfather, George Avery Bunting, was named a Founding Pharmapreneur by the School of Pharmacy. Sworn in as Peace Corps director in March, a humbled Olsen told the graduates to utilize the wide-ranging hands-on lessons theyve learned at UMB, which confers the majority of health care, human services, and law professional degrees in Maryland each year. We prepare briefs for the state legislature and research new, life-sustaining drugs, Olsen said. We conduct surgeries and perform root canals; we measure diabetes indicators, counsel drug offenders, and exercise torn muscles. We learn how to manage health bureaucracies and time pressures. Thats a lot of doing to help improve peoples lives. Olsen has spent decades helping improve peoples lives through the Peace Corps, the countrys pre-eminent international service agency, serving as acting director in 2009, deputy director from 2002 to 2009, chief of staff from 1989 to 1992, regional director of North Africa Near East, Asia, Pacific from 1981 to 1984, and country director in Togo from 1979 to 1981. Fortunately for us, UMB President Jay A. Perman, MD, said in his introduction, this lifetime of service came with a few hiatuses, and Dr. Olsen spent one of them an eight-year stint right here at UMB. As director of our Center for Global Education Initiatives, Dr. Olsen came to shape how UMB approaches interprofessional global projects, and how we use the lessons learned overseas to effect change in our own home communities. Olsen recalled serving as a Peace Corps volunteer at a maternity clinic in Tunisia when she was 22. I was focused, innocent, and naive, she said. I was charged by the ministry of health with counseling soon-to-be and new mothers with how to care for their children, while having not yet become a mother myself. Olsen said she learned a lot from the women, many of whom were raising their families in dwellings with no water, electricity, or sanitation. Those lessons provided a foundation as Olsen traveled to more than 100 countries in the Peace Corps. She used them during her UMB stay as well. Do I listen, focusing on each word? Do I take in what is said and not said, and create safety to disengage from fear? Olsen told the graduates of the lessons she learned. Do I understand what they are not saying but wish they could? Do I share enough of my own vulnerabilities to demonstrate that I trust them and that they can trust me? Do I ask, pause, and listen for their stories? Do I tell them mine? Often our patients or clients come to us afraid, vulnerable, uncertain, and with words and questions that do not make sense to us. Many times, by the point they access the health care system, they are not in comfort, they are in stress. How do we see them as whole people even as we treat a specific problem? Such questions apply to all of us, in all our professions, in Baltimore, throughout the United States, and the world, said Olsen, who also related stories from the summer research trips she led UMB students on to Malawi, Central America, and South Asia, stressing interprofessional teamwork among the medical, law, dental, pharmacy, nursing, and social work students. She urged the graduates to go forth and see the person, not just the problem. My hope is that, when your clients and patients are sitting across the desk from you, on the exam table, in the counseling room, in the courtroom beside you, that youll see and know the person, Olsen said. Youll know them by name, not by case number. Youll know them by story, not by diagnosis. Youll know them not just as they are, but as who they hope to be. We are eager to see what you will do, who you will be, and how you will change your community and your world. Before Olsens encouraging words, James Fielder Jr., PhD, secretary of higher education, and Gary Attman, JD, system treasurer, brought greetings from the governor and the University System of Maryland, respectively. Then Aarti Sidhu, who was graduating from the Carey School of Law, joined the celebration as the student remarker. When my parents moved to this country from India almost 40 years ago, they did so to provide better opportunities for me and my siblings, she told the crowd. I am so proud to be here surrounded by all of you, from different countries, different racial and cultural backgrounds, and with different gender identities. Despite being told time and time again that we cant do something because of who we are or what we look like we did it. Sidhu wasnt the only member of the Class of 2018 featured. The national anthem was sung by the Hippocratic Notes, four graduates of the School of Medicine (Brendan Bui, Joshua Olexa, Grace Lee, and Jennifer Reid), and a video by Courtney Miyamoto, a third-generation graduate of the School of Dentistry, was shown. The procession into the arena was led by marshals Mary M. Rodgers, PT, PhD, FAPTA, FASB, FISB, and Jill Whitall, PhD, both of the School of Medicines Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, and Karen Kauffman, PhD, CRNP, RN, FAAN, retired chair of the Department of Family and Community Health at the School of Nursing. Four familiar figures at the University received honorary degrees of public service. Carolyn Frenkil is a community activist, businesswoman, benefactor, and longtime friend of the School of Medicine. Her late husband, James Frenkil, MD, introduced her to the school, which she has supported with a number of innovative endeavors including a course in pharmacogenomics and collaborative research in the schools Program on Aging, Trauma, and Emergency Care. Mary Catherine Bunting, MS 72, CRNP, is an alumna of the School of Nursing who became a nun and nurse practitioner for 34 years and practiced at Mercy Southern Health Center. Granddaughter of the pharmacist who invented Noxzema, she has endowed scholarship support at the school and elsewhere, including Mercy Medical Center. Fred G. Smith, DDS 78, MS, and Venice K. Paterakis, DDS 81, both graduates of the School of Dentistry, have been heavily involved in charitable efforts at UMB, in the city of Baltimore, and beyond. In 2015, the couple established the first endowed professorship at the dental school. (Read more about members of the platform party.) But in the end, the ceremony was about the graduates, who braved rain that drove their Party in the Park (link) indoors for the first time in its four-year history. After the diplomas had been distributed, Perman sent the graduates off with a few parting words of advice. I wish you hard work and good luck always and I ask that you remember your alma mater as you make your mark on the world, he said. Well look forward to your help. And were all so very proud of you. Visit the commencement website for pictures, video, and more information. UN warns of deteriorating climate for human rights defenders in Guatemala New York, May 19(UNI) The United Nations Human Rights Office on Friday warned that its becoming increasingly dangerous to defend the rights of indigenous people in Guatemala, following the murder of three activists over the past 10 days. We are concerned about what appears to be a deteriorating climate for the defence of human rights in Guatemala, Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), told reporters in Geneva, urging the state to ensure a safe working environment free from threats and attacks. On 9 May, a rights officer working on behalf of peasants and indigenous peoples, was killed in the town of San Luis Jilotepeque Jalapa. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser Australia's ANZ bank exits Cambodian joint venture, Picture: AFP/ Torsten Blackwood. The Australian-listed company said late Thursday it would continue to own its 55 percent stake and manage the joint venture -- ANZ Royal Bank -- for up to 12 months as it transfers the business to J Trust. The bank has already divested its retail and wealth management arms in six Asian countries, and recently completed the sale of its stake in Shanghai Rural Commercial Bank. "The sale is in line with our efforts to exit minority investments and partnerships to focus on our institutional business in Asia," ANZ group executive for its international arm Farhan Faruqui said in a statement late Thursday. ANZ did not reveal the value of the deal but said it would record an estimated loss of Aus$30 million (US$22.5 million) after the sale is completed. The sale is subject to regulatory approval from the National Bank of Cambodia and the country's commerce ministry. ANZ earlier this month reported a 14.2 percent jump in interim net profit of Aus$3.32 billion (US$2.5 billion) for the six months to March 31. Shares in ANZ were trading 0.38 percent higher to Aus$28.10 mid-day in Sydney Friday. Dong Nai provinces authorities expect to turn Bien Hoa I Industrial zone into a commercial and service area. Photo: cafef.vn The Peoples Committee of Dong Nai Province gave approval for Sonadezi, an industrial zone development company, to implement the project. The Bien Hoa I Industrial Zone has 80 businesses, 40 of which have a land-lease contract until 2051. The province said it would take back land from businesses that have expired land- lease contracts. For those businesses that still have land-lease contracts, the province will offer compensation so they can relocate as soon as possible. According to Sonadezi, the total cost of the project is VN15 trillion ( US$ 658 million), including VN2.4 trillion for construction and equipment, VN 7.5 trillion for compensation and clearance, and VN1.3 trillion for supporting businesses and labourers. The project is expected to be completed by 2025. Businesses in the industrial zone emit more than 9000m3 wastewater per day. Millions of people in Bien Hoa Province and southern provinces are affected by the polluted water from the Dong Nai River. Tran Van Vinh, deputy chairman of Bien Hoa Provinces Peoples Committee, said that most businesses in industrial zones have outdated technology. To protect water sources of the Dong Nai River, they need to be relocated. Nguyen Phu Cuong, secretary of Dong Nai Provincial Party, said that, in order to solve environment problems, by the end of 2022 the province would shut down Bien Hoa I Industrial Zone. The project is expected to bring great benefit, solve environmental problems, and develop the province, he added. The province proposed this project 10 years ago, but it was delayed due to the authorities changing dates on when the industrial zone should be shut down. BMW expands UK car recall again, BMW logo (File photo | AFP) The announcement -- the second in two weeks -- comes after it had already expanded an initial recall to 312,000 diesel and petrol vehicles on May 9 due to a risk of engines cutting out. It will now examine another 88,000 cars, plus 200,000 cars that were already affected by the earlier safety checks. "BMW has chosen to expand on its existing battery connector recall," a company spokesman said, adding it would replace two wiring connections. Models affected by the latest recall are all 3 Series petrol and diesel cars manufactured from December 2004 and July 2011. The models affected in the May 9 recall are the BMW 1 Series, the 3 Series, the Z4 and its X1 cars that were produced between March 2007 and August 2011. "We are taking the opportunity of the existing recall to proactively check," the spokesman added on Friday. "In doing so we are taking every precaution in terms of safety while minimising disruption and inconvenience to affected customers." The initial recall was launched last year after former Gurkha soldier Narayan Gurung died on Christmas Day in 2016. He had crashed his Ford Fiesta into a tree while trying to avoid a stalled BMW in the town of Guildford in southern England. The EU launched formal steps aimed at sparing European firms fallout from US sanctions on Iran as part of efforts to preserve the nuclear deal with Tehran. (Photo: AFP/Emmanuel Dunand) The European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, moved to help EU firms skirt US penalties and have member governments directly pay Iran's central bank for oil. The commission, which took two other steps, said it was acting on a "green light" EU leaders gave at a meeting in the Bulgarian capital Sofia on Thursday. The commission "launched the formal process to activate the blocking statute by updating the list of US sanctions on Iran falling within its scope," it said. The executive said it hopes the statute will be in force before Aug 6 when the first batch of reimposed US sanctions take effect. President Donald Trump last week pulled Washington out of the 2015 international deal with Iran to curb its nuclear programme in return for easing sanctions. The statute, which the 28 EU member states and the European Parliament must endorse, is aimed at reassuring European firms that invested in Iran after the deal. "The blocking statute forbids EU companies from complying with the extraterritorial effects of US sanctions," the commission said. It also "allows companies to recover damages arising from such sanctions from the person causing them, and nullifies the effect in the EU of any foreign court judgements based on them," the executive added. POTENTIAL BARGAINING CHIP The "blocking statute" is a 1996 regulation originally created to circumvent Washington's trade embargo on Cuba, which prohibits EU companies and courts from complying with specific foreign sanction laws. However, the Cuba row was settled politically, so the blocking regulation's effectiveness was never put to the test, and its value may lie more in becoming a bargaining chip with Washington. Since the US withdrawal, the remaining parties have all pledged to stick to the deal if Tehran respects its terms. Tehran has warned it is ready to resume no-holds-barred "industrial-scale" uranium enrichment unless Europe can provide solid guarantees to preserve Iran's economic benefits under the deal. During talks in Brussels on Tuesday, Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said efforts to save the deal were on the "right track". The commission said the political directors or deputy foreign ministers from the EU, Britain, France and Germany will meet on May 25 in Vienna with their counterparts from China and Russia. EU officials said it will be their first such meeting with envoys from Beijing and Moscow - which are also trying to save the deal - since Washington pulled out. 'CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES' On a second front, the commission said it is encouraging EU member states to explore the idea of "one-off bank transfers" to the Central Bank of Iran. The approach, it said, could ensure Tehran receives its oil-related revenues if US sanctions target EU firms active in oil transactions with Iran. An EU official told reporters the bloc's energy and climate commissioner Miguel Arias Canete will discuss the issue during his weekend visit to Tehran. The official said the EU wants to explore how to "facilitate payment" of oil imports from Iran, but "equally importantly, the repatriation of Iranian funds" currently in the bloc. The commission also moved Friday to remove hurdles for the European Investment Bank (EIB) to finance activities outside the EU, such as in Iran. It said the move will "allow the EIB to support EU investment in Iran," particularly involving small and medium-sized companies. The commission also called for doing more to help Iran's energy sector and small and medium-sized companies, as part of "confidence-building measures". In pulling out, Trump complained the nuclear deal does nothing to stop Iran's ballistic missile programme or its interference in conflicts across the Middle East from Syria to Yemen. A foreign customer poses with one of Vinhs bonsais Mini bonsai trees are less than 15 centimeters tall. Their prices range from millions of Vietnam dong to thousands of dollars. A mini bonsai that Vinh imported from Japan. It can live in harsh environments The trunk, roots, branches and shape are factors for evaluating a mini bonsai It takes four and a half to seven years for a mini bonsai to become an artwork. An exotic bonsai shall be selected from thousands of trees. A bonsai artisan needs to take care of the trees not only by skills but also by his love, emotions, knowledge, experience, enthusiasm and patience. A plot of land for sale in Phu Quoc. Kien Giang has temporarily banned the subdivision and repurposing of land on the island to control a rush of speculation. Photo tuoitre.vn Last month Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc instructed related authorities to tackle land-use rights violations and speculation on Phu Quoc Island, Bac Van Phong in Khanh Hoa Province and Van Don in Quang Ninh Province. They are slated to become special administrative zones if approved by the National Assembly at a session next October. The designation would allow them to offer incentives to investors, meaning land speculators have been targeting land plots there. In respond to the PMs request, Pham Vu Hong, chairman of Kien Giang Province home to Phu Quoc -- has instructed departments to stop subdividing and repurposing land on the island this week. Earlier the Phu Quoc Peoples Committee had petitioned the Natural Resources and Environment Office to put a stop to all subdivision of land plots. The province Peoples Committee had admitted it was becoming difficult to control violations of land-use regulations on Phu Quoc. The island has seen an increase in the illegal appropriation of unplanned lands, subdivision of lands without approval, illegal construction, and speculators buying up lands. A river in Duong Dong town was reduced from 20 metres in width to four metres after people slowly encroached land in it. The prices of certain lands which have been divided into lots have quadrupled in the last year to VND1 billion now. Yet, every day hundreds of transactions are recorded at notary offices on the island. The violations and speculation have made things hard for land administration authorities and affected the development of the property market. Van Don and Bac Van Phong are in exactly the same situation. In the last four months there have been 2,400 property transactions in Khanh Hoas Van Ninh District where the Bac Van Phong special administrative economic zone will come up. In Van Don District in Quang Ninh, some land plots have seen prices go up five to seven times since last year. Authorities begin crack-down Quang Ninh Province has temporarily stopped all land-related activities including sales in Van Don except for special cases. This has come in for sharp criticism, with experts saying this could have a devastating effect on the district property market. Khanh Hoa has only banned the repurposing, sale and subdivision of agricultural and forest lands. A property expert in Quang Ninh said as prices and the number of transactions skyrocket, authorities are keeping a closer eye and uncovering many cases of fraud. Van Dung Chinh of the Vina Real Groups board said stopping the repurposing and sales of lands in the special economic zones is necessary to stop the price surge seen in the last few months. The provincesdecisions have helped cool off the market. In Van Don for instance, prices have fallen by VND2 million a metre in some places. At the Van Ninh District land registration office, the number of customers queuing up for land in Bac Van Phong has decreased by half. Notary offices in Phu Quoc are also seeing fewer transactions, with the number declining to around 100 a day from hundreds earlier. However, the Ganh Dau Commune Peoples Committee said in certain places land prices are still increasing since people are trading illegally. Starbucks closes 8,000 stores to organise awareness education due to impact of social network commnunity On April 17, Starbucks Coffee Company announced closing its more than 8,000 company-owned stores in the US in the afternoon of May 29 to conduct racial-bias education geared towards preventing discrimination in the stores. The training will be provided to nearly 175,000 partners (employees) across the country, and will become part of the onboarding process for new partners. I have spent the last few days in Philadelphia with my leadership team listening to the community, learning what we did wrong and the steps we need to take to fix it, said Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson. While this is not limited to Starbucks, we are committed to being a part of the solution. Closing our stores for racial bias training is just one step in a journey that requires dedication from every level of our company and partnerships in our local communities. All company-owned Starbucks retail stores and corporate offices will be closed in the afternoon of May 29. During this time, partners will go through a training programme designed to address implicit bias, promote conscious inclusion, prevent discrimination, and ensure everyone inside a Starbucks feels safe and welcome. "The company's founding values are based on humanity and inclusion," said executive chairman Howard Schultz, who joined Johnson and other senior Starbucks leaders in Philadelphia to meet with community leaders and Starbucks partners. We will learn from our mistakes and reaffirm our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for every customer," Howard Schultz added. It was the latest bid by the behemoth coffee chain to recover from the last incident in Philadelphia, which was captured on video and went viral, getting millions of views. The video posted on Twitter by a Starbucks client shows uniformed police questioning and then handcuffing two men who offer no resistance as a white client repeatedly asks an officer, "What'd they do? What'd they do?" Philadelphia police said they received a 911 call from a Starbucks worker who said the men were trespassing, after refusing to buy anything. Police said officers had "politely" asked the two to leave before finally arresting them. They reportedly asked first to use the bathroom, but were told it was only for paying customers. The two men's lawyer, Lauren Wimmer, told a CBS affiliate in Philadelphia that they had been waiting for a third man to arrive for a business meeting. GrabBike hit by sexual harassment scandal According to Laodong, in the past two days, the social networks have been ablaze with outrage over the alleged verbal sexual harassment of a nine-year old girl by a GrabBike driver in Hanoi. According to information posted on Facebook by the girls mother, the driver was suspected to have verbally harassed her daughter during the route from her home to school. The police of Buoi Ward in Tay Ho district have received the report of the mother and they are investigating the incident. After receiving information about the incident, Grab sent an apology to the customer, while simultaneously proposing to pay for psychologist as well as a private car to take the girl to school while the local authorities resolve the incident to ensure her psychological wellbeing. Firms must be clever and flexible in dealing with scandals, otherwise they risk facing a boycott as the power of the social network community is growing and solidifying. Trung Nguyen's coffee shop in Singapore. Photo: VTC News Three year divorce with no end in sight Most recently, the dispute between Trung Nguyen Group and Le Hoang Diep Thao, the groups former deputy general director, is causing a stir again as it has been revealed that the groups subsidiaryTrung Nguyen Instant Coffee JSC (Trung Nguyen IC)in mid-2017 sued Thao at the Bac Giang Peoples Court for illegally seizing the companys seals and the Bac Giang branchs legal documents. Trung Nguyen IC asked Thao to pay a compensation of $75.2 million. On May 16, Thao rejected Trung Nguyen IC as well as her husband Dang Le Nguyen Vus accusations. Thao argued that Vu was not Trung Nguyen ICs legal representative because at the time Vu was the legal representative of Trung Nguyen Group, thus his dual representative positions would have led to a clash of interests and was against the companys charter. The dispute exploded in April 2015, when Vu suddenly dismissed Thao from her position as the groups deputy general director. In a complaint sent to the Binh Duong Peoples Court in November 2015, Thao said that in October of the same year Vu organised a board management meeting without her to dismiss her from her positions as the chairman of the board of management and deputy general director. Thao filed for divorce at the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Court in November 2015. Until now, after nearly three years, the divorce proceedings have yet to end, mainly because of the division of common assets. Accordingly, in August 2017, the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Court applied the urgent interim measures to ensure the joint ownership rights over their common assets, which include 93 per cent of Trung Nguyen Groups tangible and intangible assets, including the subsidiary Trung Nguyen IC. Broken ambitions of dominating the global coffee market Dang Le Nguyen Vu Dang Le Nguyen Vu, the founder of Trung Nguyen, Vietnam's leading coffee branch, was called the Vietnamese coffee king by Forbes magazine in 2012. Western businesses in Vietnam estimated that Vus total assets may reach $100 million. To date, Trung Nguyens coffee products are present in 60 markets in the world, including the US and China. Vietnamese coffee legend Dang Le Nguyen Vus dream of dominating the global coffee market has been set back by the dispute which covers all of Trung Nguyens business activities. When the US coffee giant Starbucks opened its first coffee shop in Vietnam in 2013, Vu announced plans to beat Starbacks at its home market, the US. We will definitely take over Starbucks by supplying real coffee to US consumers. Despite the US not having put much value on our products, we will conquer the market, Vu announced. Accordingly, Vu shared plans to sell 15 per cent of Trung Nguyen Groups shares to buy coffee grinder factories in the US and open coffee shops in Seattle, New York, and Boston. However, between the plans that have yet to come true, at the end of 2013, Trung Nguyens boss appeared on mass media with a different image: starving himself and meditating for 49 days for a healthy mind to think bigger. In early 2014, Vu shared his business philosophy with the media, talking about his desire to conquer the world for young Vietnamese people. Meanwhile, in the US, Trung Nguyens business activities ran into strict competition from competitors, including Starbucks. According to a survey of the US Coffee Association, 70 per cent of coffee consumed in the country is imported from Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico, while the remaining 30 per cent is imported from Vietnam and Indonesia. According to the Vietnam Coffee Cocoa Association, in the 2013-2014 crop year, Trung Nguyen only ranked 36th among the 100 leading coffee exporters, behind many smaller enterprises, including Tin Nghia Corporation, Intimex JSC, and PETEC Coffee JSC. According to VTC News, only a modest volume of Trung Nguyen coffee was consumed in the US, while the overall demand for coffee was huge (one million tonnes per year). Coffee cannot be grown in the US, which means the entire demand needs to be satisfied from imports. VTC News also stated that Vietnamese coffee enterprises made up 10-15 per cent of the US market, meaning Trung Nguyen only had a small market share as its annual export turnover is quite modest. These numbers show that Trung Nguyen is having difficulties with entering this picky market. In addition, the long divorce may affect the groups Vietnamese business activities, too, placing the dream of global domination even farther away. Vladimir Putin: Mr President, I am happy to see you in Russia. At the beginning of our meeting I would like to congratulate you on the start of the holy month of Ramadan. I would also like to congratulate you on the major success of the Syrian Government Army in the struggle against terrorist units. Due to the efforts of your army recently, important steps have been made towards the further consolidation of the legitimate government. Terrorists have laid down arms in key areas of Syria, which made it possible to restore the countrys infrastructure, push them back and practically end their operations near the Syrian capital. And, of course, after these military successes, additional conditions have certainly been created for the resumption of the full political process. Much has been done during the Astana process. Much was accomplished at the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi. Now we can take further steps jointly with you. The next goal is, of course, economic recovery and humanitarian relief for the people who have found themselves in a predicament. As you know, we are in contact with all sides of this complicated process, including the United Nations and Special Envoy of the Secretary-General Staffan de Mistura. I would like to discuss with you all of these areas of our joint work. Welcome! Bashar al-Assad (retranslated): Thank you very much, Mr President. First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the start of your new term in office. I believe that this election success proves the correctness of your policy both domestically and internationally since the Russian people see that the positions of your country on the global stage are becoming stronger thanks to your actions. And I am happy to meet with you in Sochi again after our meeting several months ago. A great many positive changes have occurred in between these two meetings. First of all, the fight against terrorism. The terrorist-controlled areas have decreased significantly. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have been able to return to their homes in recent weeks, millions more Syrians are on the way. Stability is improving, and this opens doors for the political process that we launched some time ago. I always said, and I will repeat it now, that we always enthusiastically support the political process that should unfold alongside the fight against terrorism. We know that it is not going to be easy as there are countries that do not want stability in Syria. However, we will firmly move on with you and with our other partners on the issue of the peace process to achieve peace. Todays meeting gives us a good opportunity to work out our joint positions for the coming period regarding the negotiating process in Astana and Sochi. Thank you again, I would like to especially thank the Russian Armed Forces, particularly the Aerospace Forces, which have played a very important role in fighting terrorism. Vladimir Putin: Thank you. On May 20, a presidential election will take place in Venezuela. According to the National Electoral Council of Venezuela, the preparations are ongoing. The incumbent president, and opposition candidates are in the process of active campaigning. A trial vote took place on May 6 in a calm atmosphere with a high voter turnout. All these signs indicate a high degree of the countrys readiness for a peaceful completion of the electoral process. The Venezuelan people are aware of the importance of this historic moment, and that there is no alternative to resolving political differences through elections, within the constitutional framework, in compliance with the national legislation. The aim of the moratorium on rallies and protests from May 18 to 21 imposed by the Venezuelan authorities is to create the necessary environment for a free and peaceful expression of the peoples will. Yet, allegations about this election campaign being illegitimate continue to be circulated; calls are heard for a disruption of the voting process. The ongoing humanitarian crisis rhetoric further amplifies tension and provokes popular discontent with the government policy. Planting such information is undisguised interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state. We urge everyone to abandon this destructive practice. No one has the right to deprive a countrys citizens of the opportunity to express their will through voting in a legitimate framework, without pressure, violence, or provocations. We see the forthcoming expression of peoples will as a chance for Venezuelan political forces to return to a nationwide dialogue to find the solutions necessary for the countrys progress along a stable economic development path. A group of the Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) officials will take part in the international support of the Venezuelan elections at that countrys invitation. We sincerely wish friendly Venezuela to have an organised, peaceful and successful election. For our part, we will continue to strengthen the Russian-Venezuelan strategic partnership. Washington (AsiaNews / Agencies) - In a surprise move, China has ended an anti-dumping probe on the US sorghum, which could have blocked its imports. Almost at the same time, last night, China offered to cut the surplus of its trade with the United States by 200 billion dollars. The United States suffers a trade deficit of 375 billion dollars (in 2017). Beijing had threatened duties on sorghum last February as a reprisal for duties that Washington wants to put on many Chinese products, also accused of dumping (state aid to lighten prices). Today the Beijing Ministry of Commerce declared that the sanctions on grains would be to the detriment of Chinese farmers. Sorghum is used primarily as animal feed. These signals of reduced tension between China and the US seem to cancel out the mutual threat of a tariff war. The US has long called for a reduction in trade surplus with China, accusing Beijing of supporting its exports and stealing or forcing technology transfers. This is why President Donald Trump has proposed a series of duties for 50 billion dollars on Chinese products. China had responded with duties on American products as a countermeasure. Beijings conciliatory moves come in the wake of a recent visit by Vice-President Liu He to Washington (see photo). Liu is the highest economic advisor to President Xi Jinping. The 200 billion surplus reduction meets Trumps request, who wanted a reduction of at least 250 billion dollars. The issue of copyright defence and the mandatory transfer of technologies to US industries that want to operate in China in joint-ventures remains open. Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 3 Vote(s) - 2.33 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Analysis: California Solar Panel Mandate Lowers Emissions by 0.32% She Man lop guest User ID: kaput 05-19-2018 01:27 AM Post: #1 Analysis: California Solar Panel Mandate Lowers Emissions by 0.32% Advertisement Rooftop solar panels are a much more expensive way of increasing renewables on the grid, costing between 12.9 and 16.7 cents per kilowatt-hour, more than twice the cost of utility-scale solar systems, according to the report. By demonstrating a very expensive way to reduce greenhouse gases, I think this could very likely be used in other states and countries as an argument against moving towards renewable energy, Borenstein said. The California Energy Commission claims the added costs to homes will be more than made up for in energy savings. If they save on electricity bills, however, it will be because customers who do not have solar panels are subsidizing them. Yup, the cost of energy is more expensiveand those without solar will be paying LOTS more to subsidize your new home with solar. In the real world that is called theftdemanded by government. Another example of why California is so expensiveSacramento wants the middle class out of Californiaand policies will push us out. http://freebeacon.com/issues/california-...4-45573117 If the cost to a homeowner to add solar panels, mandated by the Confederate State of California, only costs $12,000, that really means, due to financing a cost of $24,000 added to the cost of a home. Peanuts in California these days. But it also takes away the right of homeowners to determine the type of energy to use. Government is making a loser of wind turbines, biomass, oil and other alternative forms of energy. Worse, it does nothing to save the Earthor even a little farm in the Central Valley.Rooftop solar panels are a much more expensive way of increasing renewables on the grid, costing between 12.9 and 16.7 cents per kilowatt-hour, more than twice the cost of utility-scale solar systems, according to the report.By demonstrating a very expensive way to reduce greenhouse gases, I think this could very likely be used in other states and countries as an argument against moving towards renewable energy, Borenstein said.The California Energy Commission claims the added costs to homes will be more than made up for in energy savings. If they save on electricity bills, however, it will be because customers who do not have solar panels are subsidizing them.Yup, the cost of energy is more expensiveand those without solar will be paying LOTS more to subsidize your new home with solar. In the real world that is called theftdemanded by government. Another example of why California is so expensiveSacramento wants the middle class out of Californiaand policies will push us out. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 01:35 AM Post: #2 RE: Analysis: California Solar Panel Mandate Lowers Emissions by 0.32% I doubt it is that much when you consider the effort to construct the panels, and the construction required to install them and then maintain them. Maggie Gyllenhaal. Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Vulture Festival Maggie Gyllenhaal sat down at the 2018 Vulture Festival to talk about five of her favorite projects, all of which involve a lot of crying. From 2002s Secretary to the upcoming second season of HBOs The Deuce, the actress has spent plenty of time inhabiting the lives of women who are having a rough time. But things could be about to lighten up. When asked if she would be interested in doing a comedy as a change of pace, the actor announced that she and her husband, The Looming Tower star Peter Sarsgaard, are already working on one. We are developing a comedy together, she said. Its about Mary Matalin and James Carville. You know, Mary Matalin ran George Bushs presidential campaign and James Carville ran Clintons campaign, and as they were campaigning against each other they had a love affair; fell in love. The actor didnt offer further details, but the project could be based on Carville and Matalins 2014 book Love & War: Twenty Years, Three Presidents, Two Daughters and One Louisiana Home, which details the couples party-line-crossing marriage. Gyllenhaal didnt clarify whether she and her hubby would star in the film, but its hard not to get excited about the possibility of Sarsgaard with a bald cap and a Louisana drawl. Okay, so Phoebe-Waller Bridge claims on The Graham Norton Show that she did, in fact, search the word droid before her Solo: A Star Wars Story audition. However, she also asserts the results didnt specifically say a robot. Which makes us wonder if there is some special Google available only to British multihyphenates, because, hey, that definition is definitely coming up on the first page of search terms. Even if the Killing Eve writer and producer didnt find the Star Wars meaning of droid, she would have found the Motorola phone definition, which honestly would have put her closer to the role. She ended up nailing it anyway, so it sounds like it all worked out for the best. Now we just need that cab driver and his entire family to explain themselves on The Graham Norton Show and well be good to go. Aisha Dee, Meghann Fahy and Katie Stevens. Photo: Bryan Bedder/2018 Getty Images What if Kat had not gone with Adena to Iran? What if Jane didnt leave her job at Scarlet? Or how about if Sutton and Alex continued a different office dalliance? The stars of The Bold Type shared some of the different endings that were shot leading up to the first season finale at Vulture Festival, and lets just say were so glad these didnt pan out. So are Katie Stevens (Jane), Aisha Dee (Kat), and Meghann Fahy (Sutton), who will be back on Freeform in June for the shows second season. But why were there alternate endings in the first place? The finale, it turns out, was shot before they heard that the show was picked up for another two seasons. Stevens character, for instance, had an alternate ending that saw her staying at Scarlet magazine rather than following her professional dreams at Incite. Im just really happy it ended up the way it did! she says. Dee, a bit unsure of how much she could divulge, said there might have been an ending in which Kat and Adenas romance did indeed end at the airport when the Muslim ban forced her to return to the Middle East. As for Sutton lets just say she might have chosen a different guys office to hook up in. They were tightlipped about what happens next season, only teasing a road trip, the arrival of a hot Australian doctor in Katies life, and a body-positivity episode that hits home. For the episode, says Dee, they chose to feature things about which they personally feel insecure about. FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - An Indiana woman has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for trying to poison her infant niece by adding crushed painkillers to a bottle of breast milk. Nineteen-year-old Sarai Rodriguez-Miranda was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to attempted murder in March. Authorities say the Fort Wayne woman tried to poison her niece in January 2017 because she was angry that her mother was allowing her brother, his fiance and the then 11-week-old baby to live with them for longer than expected. Rodriguez-Miranda was arrested in Michigan in September. Court documents state that a bottle of milk stored in a refrigerator contained enough crushed painkillers to kill an adult. Doctors found the baby wasn't poisoned. The child's mother told WANE-TV after Friday's hearing that she's "just glad this is over." ___ Information from: WANE-TV, http://www.wane.com/ (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) The general manager of a hotel in Alabama has been charged with human trafficking. Sixty-five-year-old Shirley Sparks was arrested Thursday at the LaQuinta Inn in Tuscaloosa on charges of second-degree human trafficking. Tuscaloosa Police Lt. Darren Beams tells The Tuscaloosa News that Sparks arrest comes as part of an investigation into prostitution and human trafficking in the area. The investigation began last year when James Edward Warren was arrested for second-degree human trafficking. Beams says Warren used the LaQuinta Inn and that new evidence discovered this past year implicated Sparks. Beams said Sparks benefited financially from Warrens crimes. The Tuscaloosa County District Attorneys Office presented evidence to a grand jury last week that led to indictments against Sparks and upgraded Warrens charges to first-degree. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Alabamas unemployment rate is holding steady at 3.8 percent. The governors office announced Friday that Aprils preliminary, seasonally adjusted jobless rate was the same as the March rate. While unchanged, the rate is well below the rate of 4.8 percent in April 2017. Alabamas declining jobless rate follows a national trend and is one-tenth of a percent lower than the U.S. rate of 3.9 percent. The national rate is at its lowest point in 17 years, and Alabamas wage and salary employment is the highest in 11 years. Shelby County has the states lowest unemployment rate at 2.6 percent, and Wilcox County in western Alabama is highest at 8.6 percent. JONESBORO, Ga. (AP) - Police say one person was killed and another wounded in a shooting between people leaving a high school graduation ceremony in Georgia. A Clayton County Police statement said "one person is now confirmed deceased" after the shooting, which followed a ceremony for graduates of the Perry Learning Center, which prepares students for careers as an alternative to traditional high schools. The county schools' safety chief, Thomas Trawick, said people going to their cars got into an argument that led to shots being fired. He said it happened on the campus of Mount Zion High School, which provided overflow parking for people attending the ceremony at the Clayton County Schools Performing Arts Center in Jonesboro, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Atlanta. (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) 5/18/2018 10:37:44 PM (GMT -5:00) For the first time in months, all four GOP candidates for Alabama Governor were under the same roof. Governor Kay Ivey, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, State Senator Bill Hightower and Preacher Scott Dawson spoke five minutes each at the Madison County Republican Men's Club meeting. Governor Kay Ivey has a sizable lead and has consistently told news outlets she wont be debating. But the Governor said she's been coming to this event for years and wasn't about to miss it. "That's her business," said Governor Kay Ivey. That's Governor Kay Ivey's response when WAAY 31 asked about State Representative Patricia Todd losing her job offer as the executive director of the gay advocacy group, One Orlando Alliance. One Orlando withdrew its offer after Todd sent out a tweet suggesting that Governor Ivey is gay. "This was an attack on me personally, on me personally. Disguising lies. Bald faced lies," Ivey said. Mayor Tommy Battle said though this meeting wasn't a debate, it still helps republican voters decide who they want as their next Governor. Battle said he's feeling positive about the election. "Our poll numbers are coming up, the Governors poll numbers are coming down. May have been why she attended today," said Mayor Tommy Battle. State Senator Scott Dawson and Bill Hightower said this meeting was what they expected: voters wanting to better know the candidates. "I think people are starting now to look at the race. Definitely," said State of Representative Bill Hightower. "I believe the people in this room got a distinction of someone who's offering a vision with a plan and opportunities we can bring together," said Preacher Scott Dawson. Governor Ivey also responded to Dawson criticizing her for supposedly giving money to Free2Be. It's shut down now. The Huntsville based non-profit catered to the gay community. "We've got to look at ADECA and make sure we're accountable for the people," Dawson said. ADECA is the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.The Governor said Dawson doesn't have his facts straight. The federal money came to Alabama with lots of strings attached. Something she wants changed. "He was very well misinformed on a lot of facts. And there was no tax dollars in that. The grant was done according to federal guidelines and federal requirements," Governor Ivey said. With the clock ticking, all four candidates got to speak briefly on their campaign platforms. "We should make sure every child by the time he or she hits the third grade, they should be doing reading, writing and doing arithmetic. I was the one who tweeted out, 'it's time to get rid of common core and bring back common sense to the state of Alabama,'" said Dawson. "Right now, we are fixing roads and we are building new roads. We have brought in jobs," Mayor Battle said. "I want to make adoptions easy and low cost. I want to sell all the state land. You wouldn't believe the amount of assets the state has," Hightower said. "I will fight to bring in more jobs to the state and I will fight to protect our conservative values," Governor Ivey said. Primary Election is June 5th. The last to register to vote for the primary election is on Monday May 21st. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Bruce Boynton is a civil rights pioneer most people have never heard of. History books tell the story of his lawyer Thurgood Marshall, the first black U.S. Supreme Court justice, and Rosa Parks, who wouldnt give up her bus seat to a white man. Many even recall Boyntons mother, Amelia Boynton Robinson, who was savagely beaten while demonstrating for voting rights in 1965 and was honored by then-President Barack Obama 50 years later. Yet Boynton is largely unknown, a historic figure seemingly forgotten by history. Admirers are trying to change that. A black man arrested 60 years ago for entering the white part of a racially segregated bus station in Virginia, Boynton started a chain reaction that helped kill Jim Crow laws in the South. Boynton contested his conviction, and his appeal resulted in a Supreme Court decision that helped inspire the landmark Freedom Rides of 1961. For all that and more, he was honored Friday in Montgomery. His life is a teaching lesson for all of us about how we can make a difference, said U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson, who helped organize the event. All he wanted was a cheeseburger, and he changed the course of history. Now 80 and in frail health, Boynton is pleased to have accolades coming his way. I am very happy that at this stage of my life that there is this type of recognition, Boynton said during an interview earlier this month at his home in his native Selma. Boynton was attending law school at Howard University in Washington, D.C., when he boarded a Trailways bus bound for Alabama in 1958. Public facilities including bus stations were separated by race across the South at the time, despite federal laws banning segregation in interstate travel. The bus pulled into a station in Richmond, Virginia, for a break, and Boynton went inside to eat. Seeing that the part of the restaurant meant for blacks had water on the floor and looked very unsanitary, Boynton said he sat down in the clinically clean white area. He told the waitress hed have a cheeseburger and tea, he said. She left and came back with the manager. The manager poked his finger in my face and said Nigger, move, said Boynton, whose mother and father were both early civil rights activists. And I knew that I would not move and I refused to, and that was the case. Convicted of trespassing, Boynton appealed and his case wound up before the Supreme Court with Marshall, then the nations leading civil rights attorney, as his counsel. In a 7-2 decision with the majority written by Justice Hugo Black, an Alabama native who had once been in the Ku Klux Klan, the court ruled in 1960 that federal discrimination prohibitions barring segregation on interstate buses also applied to bus stations and other facilities linked to interstate travel. The next year, dozens of black and white students set out on buses to travel the South and test whether the law was being followed. The Freedom Riders were arrested or attacked in Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina, and a bus was burned. Then-President John F. Kennedy ordered stricter enforcement of federal anti-discrimination laws. Boyntons act of defiance was a catalyst for the entire episode, but he didnt get much credit, said Thompson, who in 1980 became the second black federal judge to serve in Alabama. I think you can clearly say that he pretty much led to the Freedom Rides movement, but hed never been acknowledged, said the judge. Now is the time to recognize Boynton, Thompson said. Boynton paid a price for what he did. Back home in Alabama following law school, Boynton wasnt able to get a law license even though he attempted to keep a low profile. I didnt try to give any publicity to the case at the very beginning, he said. Boynton moved to Tennessee to practice law and finally was admitted to the Alabama bar in 1966. He spent most of his career as a civil rights attorney before retirement. The ceremony for Boynton was held in Thompsons courtroom, which previously was used by the late U.S. Circuit Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr., who issued some of the most important decisions of the civil rights era. Boynton will speak about his life, Thompson said, and the talk will be recorded on video for historical archives. Thompson said he most wants to hear why Boynton refused to leave that whites-only restaurant in 1958. He did something that very few people would have the courage to do. He said no, said Thompson. To me hes on a par with Rosa Parks. Russellville police are looking for a man who they said is a person of interest in a Friday morning vehicle theft. Police released a surveillance video image of the man, who they said is a person of interest in the theft. Police didn't specify what business the vehicle was taken from. Anyone with information about the theft or the man in the picture is asked to call the Russellville Police Department at 256-332-2230 or Shoals Area CrimeStoppers at 256-386-8685. Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 2 Vote(s) - 1 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Page: 1 2 3 Empty stomachs drive Venezuela soldiers to desert in droves RiskyRob ( Lop V.I.P.) User ID: kaput 05-19-2018 02:13 AM Posts: 8,137 Post: #1 Empty stomachs drive Venezuela soldiers to desert in droves Advertisement On the Venezuelan island of Margarita, soldiers in olive green uniforms and rifles slung over their shoulders openly wander the market each morning begging merchants for fruits and vegetables. In the western city of Maracaibo, Ruth Bravo, 21, said she sent her husband into the army for food benefits so she and her two young children could eat. But such help seldom comes, forcing her to beg on the streets each day for survival. Even the rations served in military mess halls have dramatically diminished in size and quality. To compensate, soldiers are often given leave several hours during the day to hunt for meals off base, several told the AP. Soldiers once made up a privileged class at the height of Venezuela's oil boom under Chavez, who himself was a former tank commander. They had access to quality housing, cars and home appliances at subsidized prices. But the largesse has dried up under Maduro, who has tried to compensate by giving top-ranking officers an even bigger slice of power. They head nearly half of Venezuela's ministries, including control of the primary food-supply program. https://www.yahoo.com/news/empty-stomach...47163.html Ascended Master On the Venezuelan island of Margarita, soldiers in olive green uniforms and rifles slung over their shoulders openly wander the market each morning begging merchants for fruits and vegetables.In the western city of Maracaibo, Ruth Bravo, 21, said she sent her husband into the army for food benefits so she and her two young children could eat. But such help seldom comes, forcing her to beg on the streets each day for survival.Even the rations served in military mess halls have dramatically diminished in size and quality. To compensate, soldiers are often given leave several hours during the day to hunt for meals off base, several told the AP.Soldiers once made up a privileged class at the height of Venezuela's oil boom under Chavez, who himself was a former tank commander. They had access to quality housing, cars and home appliances at subsidized prices.But the largesse has dried up under Maduro, who has tried to compensate by giving top-ranking officers an even bigger slice of power. They head nearly half of Venezuela's ministries, including control of the primary food-supply program. Ascended Master (This post was last modified: 05-19-2018 02:14 AM by RiskyRob .) LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 02:22 AM Post: #2 RE: Empty stomachs drive Venezuela soldiers to desert in droves hungry soldiers = coup RiskyRob ( Lop V.I.P.) User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 02:26 AM Posts: 8,137 Post: #3 RE: Empty stomachs drive Venezuela soldiers to desert in droves LoP Guest Wrote: (05-19-2018 02:22 AM) hungry soldiers = coup Believe it or not, they prevent officers from talking to enlisted soldiers, just to prevent conspiracy. Believe it or not, they prevent officers from talking to enlisted soldiers, just to prevent conspiracy. Ascended Master LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 02:30 AM Post: #4 RE: Empty stomachs drive Venezuela soldiers to desert in droves How many nations has the US starved because they wouldn't accept our dominion over them? RiskyRob ( Lop V.I.P.) User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 02:39 AM Posts: 8,137 Post: #5 RE: Empty stomachs drive Venezuela soldiers to desert in droves LoP Guest Wrote: (05-19-2018 02:30 AM) How many nations has the US starved because they wouldn't accept our dominion over them? Perhaps Hugo Chavez's daughter and Nicolas Maduro can pool the billions of dollars they've pilfered from the Venezuelan people and import some food? http://www.latinpost.com/articles/71424/...illion.htm Perhaps Hugo Chavez's daughter and Nicolas Maduro can pool the billions of dollars they've pilfered from the Venezuelan people and import some food? Ascended Master (This post was last modified: 05-19-2018 02:42 AM by RiskyRob .) LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 02:44 AM Post: #6 RE: Empty stomachs drive Venezuela soldiers to desert in droves RiskyRob Wrote: (05-19-2018 02:39 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (05-19-2018 02:30 AM) How many nations has the US starved because they wouldn't accept our dominion over them? Perhaps Hugo Chavez's daughter and Nicolas Maduro can pool the billions of dollars they've pilfered from the Venezuelan people and import some food? Yeah but they import food and sell it priced with the black market dollar which raises by the thousands on a daily basis making prices unreachable to the venezuelan people. $1 is just over 900.000 bs and climbing. You`ll see that next week after the coming elections on Sunday, the black market dollar will go as high as 1.500.000 bs. The Venezuelan economy has been dolarized, that is why people cant buy food, with a minimun wage salary of $4 per month. Yeah but they import food and sell it priced with the black market dollar which raises by the thousands on a daily basis making prices unreachable to thevenezuelan people. $1 is just over 900.000 bs and climbing. You`ll see that next week after the coming elections on Sunday, the black market dollar willgo as high as 1.500.000 bs. The Venezuelan economy has been dolarized, that is why people cant buy food, with a minimun wage salary of $4per month. RiskyRob ( Lop V.I.P.) User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 02:49 AM Posts: 8,137 Post: #7 RE: Empty stomachs drive Venezuela soldiers to desert in droves LoP Guest Wrote: (05-19-2018 02:44 AM) RiskyRob Wrote: (05-19-2018 02:39 AM) Perhaps Hugo Chavez's daughter and Nicolas Maduro can pool the billions of dollars they've pilfered from the Venezuelan people and import some food? Yeah but they import food and sell it priced with the black market dollar which raises by the thousands on a daily basis making prices unreachable to the venezuelan people. $1 is just over 900.000 bs and climbing. You`ll see that next week after the coming elections on Sunday, the black market dollar will go as high as 1.500.000 bs. The Venezuelan economy has been dolarized, that is why people cant buy food, with a minimun wage salary of $4 per month. It's terrible for the people. Their survival should be the primary goal for Maduro. It's terrible for the people. Their survival should be the primary goal for Maduro. Ascended Master LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 02:57 AM Post: #8 RE: Empty stomachs drive Venezuela soldiers to desert in droves RiskyRob Wrote: (05-19-2018 02:49 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (05-19-2018 02:44 AM) Yeah but they import food and sell it priced with the black market dollar which raises by the thousands on a daily basis making prices unreachable to the venezuelan people. $1 is just over 900.000 bs and climbing. You`ll see that next week after the coming elections on Sunday, the black market dollar will go as high as 1.500.000 bs. The Venezuelan economy has been dolarized, that is why people cant buy food, with a minimun wage salary of $4 per month. It's terrible for the people. Their survival should be the primary goal for Maduro. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 02:58 AM Post: #9 RE: Empty stomachs drive Venezuela soldiers to desert in droves RiskyRob Wrote: (05-19-2018 02:49 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (05-19-2018 02:44 AM) Yeah but they import food and sell it priced with the black market dollar which raises by the thousands on a daily basis making prices unreachable to the venezuelan people. $1 is just over 900.000 bs and climbing. You`ll see that next week after the coming elections on Sunday, the black market dollar will go as high as 1.500.000 bs. The Venezuelan economy has been dolarized, that is why people cant buy food, with a minimun wage salary of $4 per month. It's terrible for the people. Their survival should be the primary goal for Maduro. It is. People go without food for days. There is one option to stablize the economy but Maduro wont touch it. If they officially dolarize the economy and people get paid in dollars, maybe things can get back in the right track but they wont. Look at how fat Maduro and company have become. They dont care about people. They never did. There is much more behind what it is really going on down there. The worst humanitarian crisis ever and I dare to say in any country. Things are about to collapse and there will be a social explotion the likes you have never seen before. It is. People go without food for days. There is one option to stablize the economy but Maduro wont touch it. If they officially dolarize the economyand people get paid in dollars, maybe things can get back in the right track but they wont. Look at how fat Maduro and company have become.They dont care about people. They never did. There is much more behind what it is really going on down there. The worst humanitarian crisisever and I dare to say in any country. Things are about to collapse and there will be a social explotion the likes you have never seen before. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 03:27 AM Post: #10 RE: Empty stomachs drive Venezuela soldiers to desert in droves Look, obama/Trump supporter believing Yhoo! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 03:30 AM Post: #11 RE: Empty stomachs drive Venezuela soldiers to desert in droves Aren't they all Catholics? Where's the Pope on this? LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 03:33 AM Post: #12 RE: Empty stomachs drive Venezuela soldiers to desert in droves I have a hunch same thing is going on in North Korea and this the reason rocket man is bending the knee to Trump. Cant lead a country with a deserting army. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 03:59 AM Post: #13 RE: Empty stomachs drive Venezuela soldiers to desert in droves What happened to all the Bananas? Let them eat their mustaches!What happened to all the Bananas? RiskyRob ( Lop V.I.P.) User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 04:32 AM Posts: 8,137 Post: #14 RE: Empty stomachs drive Venezuela soldiers to desert in droves LoP Guest Wrote: (05-19-2018 03:59 AM) Let them eat their mustaches! What happened to all the Bananas? Think of your fellow human beings, now in crisis, and forget about jokes. Think of your fellow human beings, now in crisis, and forget about jokes. Ascended Master RiskyRob ( Lop V.I.P.) User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 04:35 AM Posts: 8,137 Post: #15 RE: Empty stomachs drive Venezuela soldiers to desert in droves LoP Guest Wrote: (05-19-2018 02:58 AM) RiskyRob Wrote: (05-19-2018 02:49 AM) It's terrible for the people. Their survival should be the primary goal for Maduro. It is. People go without food for days. There is one option to stablize the economy but Maduro wont touch it. If they officially dolarize the economy and people get paid in dollars, maybe things can get back in the right track but they wont. Look at how fat Maduro and company have become. They dont care about people. They never did. There is much more behind what it is really going on down there. The worst humanitarian crisis ever and I dare to say in any country. Things are about to collapse and there will be a social explotion the likes you have never seen before. If not dollars, some other stable currency. Get the oil industry back to full production, and make sure the revenue isn't pilfered. If not dollars, some other stable currency. Get the oil industry back to full production, and make sure the revenue isn't pilfered. Ascended Master Advertisement Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 6 Vote(s) - 3 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Page: 1 2 3 4 5 ... 14 BREAKING: Heres How Comey and Brennan Used Peter Strzok To Set Up Trump Donald J Trump Homer's University of GREATNESS User ID: kaput 05-19-2018 04:38 AM Posts: 6,934 Post: #1 BREAKING: Heres How Comey and Brennan Used Peter Strzok To Set Up Trump Advertisement Heres How Comey and Brennan Used Peter Strzok To Set Up Trump and Flynn By Patrick Howley - May 17, 2018 WASHINGTON More and more details are pouring out about the underhanded conspiracy to damage and impeach President Donald Trump by Obama operatives John Brennan, James Comey, Andrew McCabe, Sally Yates and a few others. The effort even has a special code name: Operation Crossfire Hurricane. Strzok interviewed Hillary Clinton without putting her under oath, and granted immunity to Cheryl Mills and Clintons other associates right before he flew to London to meet with Christopher Steele to work on the anti-Trump dossier, which was sponsored by the Clinton-funded firm Fusion GPS. That dossier was used to fraudulently obtain FISA warrants to surveil Trump Tower. Barack Obama read bits of the dossier in his daily presidential briefings, courtesy of Brennan. Fusion GPS, meanwhile, sent operatives into Trump Tower to entrap Don Jr. and Jared Kushner in a meeting with planted Russians. Comey Sent Strzok To London To Meet With The Australians About George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was surveilled in real time by the FBI. Who set him up? Peter Strzok, whose meeting with the Australian ambassador in London provided key basis for the creation of Robert Muellers investigation, according to none other than the New York Times. Strzok also withheld information about the Hillary case from Congress according to this text: Strzok Sets Up Flynn On January 24, 2017, Peter Strzok interviewed General Michael Flynn inside the White House alongside another agent. Flynns lawyer was not present. Flynn apparently did not tell the White House about his meeting. Guess who did? Sally Yates, the anti-Trump deputy attorney general whose underling told the FBI to shut down the Clinton Foundation case. Yates informed the White House on January 26 that Flynn met with the FBI. Strzok and Pages Texts Revealed Their Anti-Trump Plot Strzok: God Hillary should win. 100,000,000-0. Strzok: Just went to a southern Virginia Walmart. I could SMELL the Trump support Strzok: I am riled up. Trump is a f***ing idiot, is unable to provide a coherent answer. Clapper Tried To Use The Supreme Court To Block Trumps Inauguration Brennan Plotted For Years To Get Trump, Starting with a Fly-By-Night Operation in Reno House Speaker Paul Ryan is a wild card in the Deep State wars. More: They used Peter Strzok as their go-to guy, which is why their operation is now falling apart. Strzoks massive illegal activities and incompetence could open up the entire Crossfire Hurricane team to numerous federal charges.Strzok interviewed Hillary Clinton without putting her under oath, and granted immunity to Cheryl Mills and Clintons other associates right before he flew to London to meet with Christopher Steele to work on the anti-Trump dossier, which was sponsored by the Clinton-funded firm Fusion GPS. That dossier was used to fraudulently obtain FISA warrants to surveil Trump Tower. Barack Obama read bits of the dossier in his daily presidential briefings, courtesy of Brennan. Fusion GPS, meanwhile, sent operatives into Trump Tower to entrap Don Jr. and Jared Kushner in a meeting with planted Russians.Comey Sent Strzok To London To Meet With The Australians About George PapadopoulosGeorge Papadopoulos was surveilled in real time by the FBI. Who set him up? Peter Strzok, whose meeting with the Australian ambassador in London provided key basis for the creation of Robert Muellers investigation, according to none other than the New York Times.Strzok also withheld information about the Hillary case from Congress according to this text:Strzok Sets Up FlynnOn January 24, 2017, Peter Strzok interviewed General Michael Flynn inside the White House alongside another agent. Flynns lawyer was not present. Flynn apparently did not tell the White House about his meeting. Guess who did? Sally Yates, the anti-Trump deputy attorney general whose underling told the FBI to shut down the Clinton Foundation case. Yates informed the White House on January 26 that Flynn met with the FBI.Strzok and Pages Texts Revealed Their Anti-Trump PlotStrzok: God Hillary should win. 100,000,000-0.Strzok: Just went to a southern Virginia Walmart. I could SMELL the Trump supportStrzok: I am riled up. Trump is a f***ing idiot, is unable to provide a coherent answer.Clapper Tried To Use The Supreme Court To Block Trumps InaugurationBrennan Plotted For Years To Get Trump, Starting with a Fly-By-Night Operation in RenoHouse Speaker Paul Ryan is a wild card in the Deep State wars.More: https://bigleaguepolitics.com/heres-how-...and-flynn/ "Go with the flow, like a twig on the shoulders of a mighty stream" Del Griffith (This post was last modified: 05-19-2018 08:13 AM by Donald J Trump .) LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 04:41 AM Post: #2 RE: Heres How Comey and Brennan Used Peter Strzok To Set Up Trump and Flynn Nah. It's all a deepstate shitshow to convince idiots like yourself that Trump is legit. To keep you reactionary idiots in line. While Israel rapes the USA with a hamfist straight up our asses. GJ, tool. Donald J Trump Homer's University of GREATNESS User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 04:45 AM Posts: 6,934 Post: #3 RE: Heres How Comey and Brennan Used Peter Strzok To Set Up Trump and Flynn "Go with the flow, like a twig on the shoulders of a mighty stream" Del Griffith Donald J Trump Homer's University of GREATNESS User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 04:47 AM Posts: 6,934 Post: #4 RE: Heres How Comey and Brennan Used Peter Strzok To Set Up Trump and Flynn LoP Guest Wrote: (05-19-2018 04:41 AM) Nah. It's all a deepstate shitshow to convince idiots like yourself that Trump is legit. To keep you reactionary idiots in line. While Israel rapes the USA with a hamfist straight up our asses. GJ, tool. "Go with the flow, like a twig on the shoulders of a mighty stream" Del Griffith LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 04:50 AM Post: #5 RE: Heres How Comey and Brennan Used Peter Strzok To Set Up Trump and Flynn LoP Guest Wrote: (05-19-2018 04:41 AM) Nah. It's all a deepstate shitshow to convince idiots like yourself that Trump is legit. To keep you reactionary idiots in line. While Israel rapes the USA with a hamfist straight up our asses. GJ, tool. Nailed it Nailed it Donald J Trump Homer's University of GREATNESS User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 05:14 AM Posts: 6,934 Post: #6 RE: Heres How Comey and Brennan Used Peter Strzok To Set Up Trump and Flynn By Patrick Howley - May 16, 2018 Evidence now clearly shows that General Michael Flynn was targeted for prosecution under a charge of lying to federal investigators because Robert Mueller was trying to flip him into participating in the Russia probe against President Donald Trump. Flynn, who was felled by his alleged lie to Vice President Pence, was the first scalp claimed by the media in the Trump administration, which opened up the floodgates for a while on administration firings before Trump recently consolidated more control of his administration. Flynn plead guilty after Mueller threatened Flynns family, including his son Michael Jr. According to sources close to Flynn family, Mueller threatened Flynn on multiple occasions that if he did not plead guilty to lying to the FBI, Mueller would investigate other Flynn family members. Including his son. And rack up thousands more dollars in legal fees. I didnt do anything illegal so this notion that one of the thing the Special Counsel could do to get my father to accept a plea deal was threaten me has always been odd, Michael Flynn Jr. told True Pundit. On Friday, the House Intelligence Committee released an unredacted version of their final report on Russia, and the unredacted documents tell a completely different story than their redacted counterparts. Deputy Director McCabe stated that, we really had not substantiated anything particularly significant against General Flynn, says the newly unredacted version of the document. But why would this have been redacted in the first place? The public was under the impression that Flynn lied to the FBI. McCabe says plainly that that there was no case against Flynn. But it gets worse. Disgraced former FBI director James Comey was in on the scheme. REPORT: Mueller Coerced Flynn Into Pleading GuiltyByPatrick Howley -May 16, 2018Evidence now clearly shows that General Michael Flynn was targeted for prosecution under a charge of lying to federal investigators because Robert Mueller was trying to flip him into participating in the Russia probe against President Donald Trump.Flynn, who was felled by his alleged lie to Vice President Pence, was the first scalp claimed by the media in the Trump administration, which opened up the floodgates for a while on administration firings before Trump recently consolidated more control of his administration.Flynn plead guilty after Mueller threatened Flynns family, including his son Michael Jr. According to sources close to Flynn family, Mueller threatened Flynn on multiple occasions that if he did not plead guilty to lying to the FBI, Mueller would investigate other Flynn family members. Including his son. And rack up thousands more dollars in legal fees.I didnt do anything illegal so this notion that one of the thing the Special Counsel could do to get my father to accept a plea deal was threaten me has always been odd, Michael Flynn Jr. told True Pundit.On Friday, the House Intelligence Committee released an unredacted version of their final report on Russia, and the unredacted documents tell a completely different story than their redacted counterparts.Deputy Director McCabe stated that, we really had not substantiated anything particularly significant against General Flynn, says the newly unredacted version of the document.But why would this have been redacted in the first place? The public was under the impression that Flynn lied to the FBI. McCabe says plainly that that there was no case against Flynn.But it gets worse. Disgraced former FBI director James Comey was in on the scheme. https://bigleaguepolitics.com/report-mue...ng-guilty/ "Go with the flow, like a twig on the shoulders of a mighty stream" Del Griffith MAGNETO lop guest User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 05:28 AM Post: #7 RE: Heres How Comey and Brennan Used Peter Strzok To Set Up Trump and Flynn 5* Real news Thanks! Hamburgerwagon lop guest User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 05:31 AM Post: #8 RE: Heres How Comey and Brennan Used Peter Strzok To Set Up Trump and Flynn Greatness again! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 05:31 AM Post: #9 RE: Heres How Comey and Brennan Used Peter Strzok To Set Up Trump and Flynn LoP Guest Wrote: (05-19-2018 04:41 AM) Nah. It's all a deepstate shitshow to convince idiots like yourself that Trump is legit. To keep you reactionary idiots in line. While Israel rapes the USA with a hamfist straight up our asses. GJ, tool. Exactly!! Exactly!! Donald J Trump Homer's University of GREATNESS User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 05:34 AM Posts: 6,934 Post: #10 RE: Heres How Comey and Brennan Used Peter Strzok To Set Up Trump and Flynn John Brennans Leak To Harry Reid Is Now Under Scrutiny By Patrick Howley - May 17, 2018 WASHINGTON Former Obama administration CIA chief John Brennan is coming under scrutiny for a leak he made to Senator Harry Reid at a key moment in Operation Crossfire Hurricane, the covert plot to attack and undermine President Donald Trump. Brennan, in his role at the CIA, used James Comeys fixer Peter Strzok at the FBI to carry out missions writing official memoranda stating that Vladimir Putin wanted Trump to win the election, but without confirming any collusion between Trump or Russians. Brennan also convened with foreign spies from a diverse coalition of nations during the compilation of Fusion GPS Christopher Steele dossier. So until election day, the working group at Langley was trying to dig up dirt on the Trump campaign and wasnt coming up with any. But Brennan didnt want his efforts to go to waste, so he leaked to Senator Harry Reid the existence of the counterintelligence probe into the Trump campaign. He couldnt leak any damning findings from that probe because there werent any. But he could inflict political damage by getting Reid to tell the press darkly of the probes existence. He also got Reid to write a public letter to Comey about the probe, which was designed to deepen the FBIs reliance on Hillarys paid dirt-digger, Christopher Steele. Reid, as a reliable Democratic hack in the tank for Hillary, went along with Brennans scheme, but he felt manipulated enough by Brennan that he complained to Corn and Isikoff about Brennans odd intensity an ulterior motive that Reid sensed in Brennan. https://bigleaguepolitics.com/john-brenn...-scrutiny/ "Go with the flow, like a twig on the shoulders of a mighty stream" Del Griffith LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 05:36 AM Post: #11 RE: Heres How Comey and Brennan Used Peter Strzok To Set Up Trump and Flynn Gina Haspel Refuses to Answer Senator Rand Pauls Questions About CIA Involvement in Steele Dossier http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/05/...e-dossier/ Sorry to rain on your parade. Trump picked a Brennan acolyte to head the CIA, Gina Haspel. She also refused to answer Rand Paul on questions regarding her involvement in the ongoing slow motion coup of Trump, specifically he knowledge of the Steele dossier.Gina Haspel Refuses to Answer Senator Rand Pauls Questions About CIA Involvement in Steele DossierSorry to rain on your parade. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 05:44 AM Post: #12 RE: Heres How Comey and Brennan Used Peter Strzok To Set Up Trump and Flynn LoP Guest Wrote: (05-19-2018 05:36 AM) Trump picked a Brennan acolyte to head the CIA, Gina Haspel. She also refused to answer Rand Paul on questions regarding her involvement in the ongoing slow motion coup of Trump, specifically he knowledge of the Steele dossier. Gina Haspel Refuses to Answer Senator Rand Pauls Questions About CIA Involvement in Steele Dossier http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/05/...e-dossier/ Sorry to rain on your parade. His picks are unremarkable people who are DC careerists at best, antiTrump swamp coup abettors at worst. It is like Trump forgot there is an entire Nation of the best and brightest from which he can look and choose. And he picks Bolton. And he picks Haspel. And he picks Sessions. And he picks Wray. And he picks Rosenstein. Etc etc. Something clearly is fucky. Again, sorry to rain on your parade. His picks are unremarkable people who are DC careerists at best, antiTrump swamp coup abettors at worst.It is like Trump forgot there is an entire Nation of the best and brightest from which he can look and choose. And he picks Bolton. And he picks Haspel. And he picks Sessions. And he picks Wray. And he picks Rosenstein. Etc etc.Something clearly is fucky.Again, sorry to rain on your parade. Donald J Trump Homer's University of GREATNESS User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 05:45 AM Posts: 6,934 Post: #13 RE: Heres How Comey and Brennan Used Peter Strzok To Set Up Trump and Flynn MAGNETO Wrote: (05-19-2018 05:28 AM) 5* Real news Thanks! Hamburgerwagon Wrote: (05-19-2018 05:31 AM) Greatness again! "Go with the flow, like a twig on the shoulders of a mighty stream" Del Griffith LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 05:45 AM Post: #14 RE: Heres How Comey and Brennan Used Peter Strzok To Set Up Trump and Flynn LoP Guest Wrote: (05-19-2018 05:44 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (05-19-2018 05:36 AM) Trump picked a Brennan acolyte to head the CIA, Gina Haspel. She also refused to answer Rand Paul on questions regarding her involvement in the ongoing slow motion coup of Trump, specifically he knowledge of the Steele dossier. Gina Haspel Refuses to Answer Senator Rand Pauls Questions About CIA Involvement in Steele Dossier http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/05/...e-dossier/ Sorry to rain on your parade. His picks are unremarkable people who are DC careerists at best, antiTrump swamp coup abettors at worst. It is like Trump forgot there is an entire Nation of the best and brightest from which he can look and choose. And he picks Bolton. And he picks Haspel. And he picks Sessions. And he picks Wray. And he picks Rosenstein. Etc etc. Something clearly is fucky. Again, sorry to rain on your parade. homer doesn't care about truth he's just shilling for shekels. homer doesn't care about truth he's just shilling for shekels. Donald J Trump Homer's University of GREATNESS User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 05:49 AM Posts: 6,934 Post: #15 RE: Heres How Comey and Brennan Used Peter Strzok To Set Up Trump and Flynn LoP Guest Wrote: (05-19-2018 05:31 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (05-19-2018 04:41 AM) Nah. It's all a deepstate shitshow to convince idiots like yourself that Trump is legit. To keep you reactionary idiots in line. While Israel rapes the USA with a hamfist straight up our asses. GJ, tool. Exactly!! "Go with the flow, like a twig on the shoulders of a mighty stream" Del Griffith Advertisement Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average 1 2 3 4 5 A bridge too far: Washington Examiner calls for Russian infrastructure to be bomb LoP Guest lop guest User ID: kaput 05-19-2018 04:46 PM Post: #1 A bridge too far: Washington Examiner calls for Russian infrastructure to be bomb Advertisement A bridge too far: Washington Examiner calls for Russian infrastructure to be bombed Just imagine if a Russian newspaper urged the Canadian Air Force to launch strikes on Brooklyn Bridge. Thered be outrage, and rightly so. But wheres the Western condemnation of the Washington Examiner for publishing an article calling for the bombing of the new Crimean Bridge, which opened this week? Its been hailed as one of the greatest feats of modern engineering. The dual-purpose span bridge, which connects the Taman Peninsula of Krasnodar Krai with the Kerch Peninsula in Crimea, is all of 11.2 miles long, making it the longest such construction in both Russia and Europe. It will now be much easier for people to get to the Crimea from the rest of Russia, and the Crimean economy will greatly benefit. But not everyone is happy. Step forward one Tom Rogan, a columnist for the neo-con Washington Examiner. Tom calls the construction of the bridge a formal physical and psychological appropriation of Ukrainian territory. And this armchair warrior who holds a BA in War Studies from Kings College, London, wants the Ukrainian Air Force to blow it up. He more or less admits that would mean casualties, but says that the length of the bridge would mitigate the risk to those traversing it at the time. In a follow-up piece Rogan stated: I could have been a little clearer in arguing that this action could (and of course ought to be) carried out with zero casualties. Quote: Tom Rogan, who wants Ukraine to blow up the Kerch Strait Bridge connecting Crimea to mainland Russia, also thought US/UK's illegal war on Iraq in 2003 was a good idea https://twitter.com/theLemniscat/status/...wsrc%5Etfw Where does one start in responding to such hate-filled incitement, masquerading as commentary? The whole premise of the diatribe, that Russia has appropriated Ukrainian territory is false, as Crimeans voted in a referendum to return to Russia following an illegal putsch against a democratically-elected government in Kiev in 2014. Without the Western-backed regime change op, Crimea would still be part of Ukraine today. But of course this very important background information is not mentioned in the piece. If youre peddling Russophobia, then facts are an irritant which simply get in the way. If the Ukrainians do take Rogans advice and bomb the bridge, then a full-scale war will break out with Russia. President Vladimir Putin would have to respond by ordering Russian air strikes on Ukrainian air bases. A full-scale military conflict in Europe might seem a bit of a larf for some US neocons, sitting in front of their laptops thousands of miles away, and monitoring with glee the rise in their defense industry stocks. However, it wouldnt be a joke for those on the front-line. In fact the war could soon go global, especially if, as Rogan advocates, Uncle Sam provides full support to the Ukrainians. continued https://www.rt.com/op-ed/427200-crimea-b...-examiner/ Just imagine if a Russian newspaper urged the Canadian Air Force to launch strikes on Brooklyn Bridge. Thered be outrage, and rightly so.But wheres the Western condemnation of the Washington Examiner for publishing an article calling for the bombing of the new Crimean Bridge, which opened this week?Its been hailed as one of the greatest feats of modern engineering. The dual-purpose span bridge, which connects the Taman Peninsula of Krasnodar Krai with the Kerch Peninsula in Crimea, is all of 11.2 miles long, making it the longest such construction in both Russia and Europe. It will now be much easier for people to get to the Crimea from the rest of Russia, and the Crimean economy will greatly benefit.But not everyone is happy. Step forward one Tom Rogan, a columnist for the neo-con Washington Examiner. Tom calls the construction of the bridge a formal physical and psychological appropriation of Ukrainian territory.And this armchair warrior who holds a BA in War Studies from Kings College, London, wants the Ukrainian Air Force to blow it up. He more or less admits that would mean casualties, but says that the length of the bridge would mitigate the risk to those traversing it at the time.In a follow-up piece Rogan stated: I could have been a little clearer in arguing that this action could (and of course ought to be) carried out with zero casualties.Where does one start in responding to such hate-filled incitement, masquerading as commentary? The whole premise of the diatribe, that Russia has appropriated Ukrainian territory is false, as Crimeans voted in a referendum to return to Russia following an illegal putsch against a democratically-elected government in Kiev in 2014. Without the Western-backed regime change op, Crimea would still be part of Ukraine today. But of course this very important background information is not mentioned in the piece. If youre peddling Russophobia, then facts are an irritant which simply get in the way.If the Ukrainians do take Rogans advice and bomb the bridge, then a full-scale war will break out with Russia. President Vladimir Putin would have to respond by ordering Russian air strikes on Ukrainian air bases. A full-scale military conflict in Europe might seem a bit of a larf for some US neocons, sitting in front of their laptops thousands of miles away, and monitoring with glee the rise in their defense industry stocks. However, it wouldnt be a joke for those on the front-line. In fact the war could soon go global, especially if, as Rogan advocates, Uncle Sam provides full support to the Ukrainians.continued LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 05:08 PM Post: #2 RE: A bridge too far: Washington Examiner calls for Russian infrastructure to be bomb Yeah why not? Roddy's Creed Registered User User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 05:17 PM Posts: 5,434 Post: #3 RE: A bridge too far: Washington Examiner calls for Russian infrastructure to be bomb If WW3 blows, this SOB should be in the front line. I do not label myself. What I stand for is based on my own convictions, and I don't care which box - the left one or the right one - they happen to belong. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-19-2018 06:08 PM Post: #4 RE: A bridge too far: Washington Examiner calls for Russian infrastructure to be bomb Roddy Wrote: (05-19-2018 05:17 PM) If WW3 blows, this SOB should be in the front line. If "WW3 blows" we are all in the front line. If "WW3 blows" we are all in the front line. Livingston County man charged with murder following an altercation Saturday night Police Hiring Officers for Every City School Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 18, 2018 | MADISONVILLE, KY By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 18, 2018 | 06:41 PM | MADISONVILLE, KY The City of Madisonville has announced that the police department will be hiring five officers as School Resource Officers, so that every school in the city will have its own full-time officer. We have partnered with the Hopkins County School System to provide these officers, said Madisonville Police Department Chief Chris Taylor. Officers for these positions will be retired law enforcement through the Kentucky Retirement System. This requirement will allow the city to employ experienced law enforcement officers and save the city in employee benefits. The annual salary for one officer is approximately $34,000 a year, with the Hopkins County School Board approving a measure to provide fifty percent of each officers salary. The officers will have an assigned school and will report to that school every day during the school year. School violence has crept ever so closer to home, said Mayor David Jackson. That is why, with the unanimous support of the Hopkins County Board of Education, we will be taking the necessary measures to place a full-time resource officer in every school, every day that the school is in session. The new officers will be responsible for all law enforcement activities on school property and any after school programs where law enforcement presence is needed. The Police Department will also use these officers for special events during the summer months to assist in reducing overtime expenses, but they will not perform regular patrol duties during the summer breaks. The expansion to the School Resource Officer Division will begin on July 1st, in preparation for the 2018-2019 school year. The safety and well-being of our citizens is and always will be the utmost priority, said Jackson. And, the most valuable and most vulnerable among us are our children. DUKE ENERGY TO SELL LAKE SUMMIT DAM DUKE ENERGY IS SELLING THREE DAMS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA Duke Energy officials said the company is selling five hydroelectric plants, three of which are here in the mountains...including the one at Lake Summit in Tuxedo. The plants are being sold to Arizona-based Northbrook Energy. Duke will purchase power from the dams under a five-year agreement with Northbrook once the deal closes, which is expected to happen early next year. The dams in the Western North Carolina area are the one in Tuxedo, another in Whittier and one in Franklin. "This sale will deliver long-term benefits for our customers and shareholders," Randy Herrin, Duke Energy vice president, Carolinas Regulated Renewables, said in a news release. "Over the past few years, the cost to operate these facilities has risen significantly. Through this transaction, the plants will continue to serve our customers with clean renewable energy, but at a lower cost." "Northbrook is pleased with the opportunity to supplement its renewable hydroelectric portfolio in the Carolinas and leverage its local operating efficiencies," Northbrook Energy president Chuck Ahlrichs said in the release. "Nearly 22 years after our first purchase of hydropower assets from Duke Energy, we are excited to build on our success in the region by expanding employment opportunities and proffering hydropower's baseload capabilities in support of the region's demonstrated desire to deploy intermittent renewables such as wind and solar." by Melani Manel Perera Eyewitnesses place two senior army officers at the place where the missing disappeared. The military is hostile to the website set up to to make public the names of the missing people. Colombo (AsiaNews) The list of 280 people who went missing in 2009, during the last weeks of the civil war fought between the regular army and the Tamil Tigers rebels, include at least 29 Tamil children, this according International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP), a South African-based NGO. "This is the largest single group of enforced disappearance in Sri Lanka's history hundreds of people disappearing at the same time and place with multiple eyewitnesses both inside and outside the country," said ITJP Executive Director Yasmin Sooka. "We have written to the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) saying this is the first case they should investigate if they are serious about criminal accountability for enforced disappearance, she added. They can start by questioning Major General Shavendra Silva and General Jagath Jayasuriya, whom eyewitnesses say personally observed the surrenders and those security forces in whose custody they were placed." She added. The NGO notes that the children went missing on 18 May when former president Mahinda Rajapaksa announced victory and the end of hostilities. According to UN investigators, the 58th Division was led at the time by General Silva, an alleged war criminal who was promoted by the current government to the post of Adjutant General of the Sri Lankan Army. ITJP believes that General Silva was present on the Wadduvakkal bridge on 18 May 2009 to welcome the surrender of Tamil rebels accompanied by Fr Francis Joseph, a Catholic priest who also died at the hands of security forces. The South African NGO has also complained that Sri Lankas military has been hostile to the website (in English and Tamil) set up to make public the names of the missing people. Some of the boxes on the website have been left empty to indicate that the list is not final. "We urge anyone with information or photos to contact us by email in English or Tamil," said Ms Sooka. This "is by no means a complete list or a perfect one but it is a start and what it reveals is that the extent of the crime is much larger than previously known." Photo credit: Melani Manel Perera Ohio's highest court Thursday unanimously upheld the death sentence imposed on the Warren County man convicted of murdering U.S. Navy recruit Justin Back in 2014 - despite the fact that the then-teenager insists he never touched the murder weapon. Austin Myers, now 23, asked the Ohio Supreme Court to overthrow his 2014 murder conviction and death penalty sentence, arguing, among 16 other issues, that he received a harsher sentence than his co-defendant, Tim Mosley, who struck the fatal blow. Mosley, 23, also faced the death penalty, but struck a deal with prosecutors requiring him to testify against Myers in exchange for removing the death penalty from his possible sentence. In evaluating Myers' appeal, the state's justice were presented with a tale of two defendants, both equally culpable, but who, Myers' attorneys argued, received disproportionate sentences. "The imposition of the death penalty was so grossly unfair that it shocks the conscience in that the actual killer Mosley received life without (parole), while the accomplice Myers received the death penalty," wrote Myers' appellate attorneys, Timothy McKenna and Roger Kirk, in the 2016 appeal. But Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell argued that Back would still be alive but for Myers, who they say not only targeted his childhood friend, but also helped carry it out by restraining Back during the attack. "Austin Myers killed Justin. Tim was his weapon of choice," Fornshell argued in a December appearance before the high court. Back's mother, Sandy Cates, still doesn't know what led Myers back to her doorstep that frigid January day in 2014. Back, 18, didn't know Mosley, but he had befriended the quiet and reserved Myers in middle school before Myers moved away. "Justin tried to mentor Myers in the eighth grade. He was always befriending the misfits and loners, inviting them to his lunch table," she said. "He looked out for them." Later, she would learn that her son's death had all been elaborately planned. Myers and Mosley would later confess to police their goal was to execute a "clean kill." They cased the house and formulated a shopping list: Wire cable and handles to form a garrote; ammonia to destroy traces of DNA; septic enzymes to douse the body with to aid in decomposition. Materials in hand, Myers and Mosley drove to Back's home in rural Waynesville under the pretense of hanging out. Although Back hadn't seen Myers in six years, the gregarious teenager readily invited the pair in to watch movies. The plan unfolded in the kitchen. Myers asked for a drink. As Back reached into the refrigerator, Mosley attacked from behind with the garrote while Myers grabbed him. But the device caught on Back's chin and the three tussled. Panicking, Mosley pulled out a pocketknife and stabbed Justin in the back. Myers looped the garrote around Back's neck and pulled as Mosley plunged the knife another 20 times in Back's chest and stomach. "Help me, Austin!" Back cried out to Myers. "It will all be over soon," Myers replied, as Back lay dying in his lap. The assailants cleaned up the crime scene, wrapped Back's body in a blanket and took some of his clothes and electronics to make it look like he ran away from home. They dumped his body below "Crybaby Bridge" in southwest Preble County. There, Myers fired two shots into Back's corpse with a gun stolen from the home before dousing the body with septic enzymes. Myers' attorneys, who did not respond to a request for comment, argued in his appeal that because Mosley wielded the knife that killed Back - a knife Mosley admitted Myers didn't know he had or planned to use - he was the more culpable of the duo. "In this case, if anyone was most deserving of execution, it was the principal offender Tim Mosley who repeatedly stabbed the victim," the appeal says. "If he was not given the death penalty, then accomplice Myers should not be given the death penalty either." The court's justices rejected that argument, pointing to the "abundant" other evidence presented showing that Myers actively participated in the murder scheme and restrained Back while Mosley stabbed him. "That the murder was not accomplished in precisely the way he and Mosley had planned does not alter the fact that they did plan it," the justices wrote. Moreover, Mosley earned his plea agreement, Fornshell said. Mosley cooperated with police early in the case even before a plea deal had been struck and pointed investigators to evidence that independently corroborated his story. Myers, Fornshell said, continued to minimize his involvement in the case, never expressed remorse and even planned to return to Back's home to kill his stepfather after the pair disposed of Back's body. Legal experts say that executions of people who did not directly kill their victims are incredibly rare. The Death Penalty Information Center lists just 10 such cases out of the more than 1,400 executions since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. But Mark Krumbein, a former prosecutor turned defense attorney who's defended more than a dozen clients in capital murder cases, says the fact that Myers received a harsher punishment over Mosley in this case is not unusual. "I'm not surprised that Mr. Fornshell, like many prosecutors, feel that the person that planned the murder is the most important target," he said. "They may see the actual person who did the killing as sort of a lackey or follower, and oftentimes their bigger emphasis is to go after the person who planned it and ultimately caused it to happen." Sandy Cates still lives in the same sunlit home where her son died crumpled on the kitchen floor. His spirit fills the house, she said, and she talks to him each day. She vehemently rejects the notion that Myers carries less culpability simply because he didn't wield the knife that killed her son. "Mosley did not know Justin," she said. "Myers knew Justin. Myers chose Justin. If not for him, it wouldn't have happened. Myers could have stopped it, but he didn't." Mosley, she and her husband Mark believe, took ownership of his role in the murder and showed remorse. But Back would still be alive but for Myers, and for that, his parents believe he deserves the harshest sentence of all. Myers is the second youngest of 140 Ohio prisoners facing the death penalty. Damantae Graham, 20, convicted of killing a Kent State University student, is the only one younger. The court gave Myers a 2022 execution date, but Myers' attorneys now have the option of appealing the high court's decision at the federal level. For Cates, the continued efforts to reverse the sentence leaves her reliving the worst day of her life, but she's hopeful that one day justice will be served. "When these things come up, it puts you right back to where you were on that day," she said. "If everything goes right, one day we'll have closure." UTICA The Old Main building in Utica will once again open its doors for free tours this spring. Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi announced Thursday that the state Office of Mental Health will be providing free educational tours of the historic Old Main building at the Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center in Utica on Friday, June 8. A total of 500 people will be taken on the tours, which take place every 15 minutes from 4-8 p.m., and group sizes are limited to 25 people. Old Main was built in 1843 and it was the first publicly-funded facility to treat mentally ill people in New York State. It was designed by William Clark and the buildings iconic columns are reportedly the larges outside of Greece. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. The tours are being provided with help from the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica, and they will focus on the history of the building and the role it played in Americas early mental health system. The Office of Mental Health is excited to once again provide this opportunity to visit the historic Old Main Building in Utica, said Dr. Ann Sullivan, commissioner of the state Office of Mental Health. The tours highlight the magnificently preserved architecture of the building, and the evolution of New Yorks public mental health system. Its a tour worth taking. If youre interested in touring the building June 8, youre asked to make reservations by June 3 by emailing oldmaintours@omh.ny.gov. Youre asked to include the names of the individuals interested in the tour, the time youre interested in taking the tour, the organization or school affiliation if there is one, and any necessary arrangements for wheelchair access. 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 Dennis Radstrom steered clear of trouble to lead the FIA Junior WRC category by more than four minutes after an action-packed Saturday at Vodafone Rally de Portugal. The Swede was embroiled in a thrilling fight with fellow countryman Emil Bergkvist and held a slender 1.2sec advantage before Bergkvist rolled his Ford Fiesta R2 in this mornings Amarante speed test, the longest of the rally. That eased the pressure on Radstrom, but Estonias Ken Torn took up the challenge, only to be denied when a broken driveshaft dropped him out of contention. That left Callum Devine in second, but a final stage puncture cost the Irishman almost three minutes. Radstrom returned to the Matosinhos service park with a comfortable 4min 03.7sec advantage over Devine ahead of tomorrows final leg. I think today went well, we had a good plan and progressed it well. We stuck on the safe side and that benefited us. The roads were pretty rough but I think we managed them really well. We did push quite hard but at the same time we had our eyes open for any problems, said Radstrom. Enrico Oldrati held third in only his fourth rally and the Italian had a near four-minute advantage over Dave Holder. The Kiwi rolled this morning, but retained third until a puncture and broken driveshaft in the final stage dropped him out of the podium positions. Torn was fifth with Turkeys Bugra Banaz completing the top six. Tom Williams rolled out of sixth and Julius Tannert stopped in the final stage with a puncture and broken driveshaft. Head to WRC+ to watch All Live from Vodafone Rally de Portugal, including every stage broadcast live, breaking service park news and expert studio analysis. Video More News Elfyn Evans cut Thierry Neuvilles Vodafone Rally de Portugal lead after an aggressive start to Saturday mornings action. Stage info: SS10/11 SS10: Vieira do Minho 1, 17.50km The stage has a little of everything sandy sections contrast with a clay surface and wide roads are followed by narrower stretches. Some parts have been regraded with dust and dirt placed on top and compacted. It winds its way between big boulders in the opening few kilometres while the finish section brings challenging corners which the drivers will relish. SS11: Cabeceiras de Basto 1, 22.22km It is generally sandy based, wide and fast and the soft surface will cut up for the second pass. The opening few kilometres have not been regraded since last year and could be rough and rutted. After starting on narrow roads, it widens at 8km, with more loose gravel, and heads downhill until a hairpin at 11.1km where it levels out. At 18.8km its back to a sandy, narrow road to the finish. The Welshman, trailing the Belgian by 17.7sec overnight, conceded another second in the opening Vieira do Minho speed test. He then charged to fastest time in Cabeceiras de Basto, reclaiming almost six seconds in his Ford Fiesta to cut the deficit to 12.7sec. The opening stage was slippery in places and the car was sliding quite a lot. I would say the grip was less than we had in the first pass yesterday. It was a good run in the next stage. The smooth roads help, it was so difficult yesterday with the conditions we had, he said. Neuville was unperturbed. I was a bit too careful with the tyres. It was quite abrasive and we need them for the next stage, said the Hyundai i20 driver, with a wary eye on the following 37.60km Amarante, the longest stage of the event. The stages in the Cabreira mountains, north-east of the rally base in Matosinhos, brought a quieter opening than the carnage which engulfed yesterday. A sunny morning with temperatures round 20C prompted all the leading drivers to opt for Michelins soft compound rubber. Dani Sordo remained third but the gap to Evans widened to 11.6sec. The Spaniard felt his i20 was too soft in the opener and stiffened the suspension before Cabeceiras de Basto to improve his feeling. Teemu Suninen and Esapekka Lappi traded seconds, Lappi narrowing the gap to his fellow Finn to 9.3sec. Mads stberg completed the top six a further 11.2sec back in a Citroen C3. Jari-Matti Latvala, restarting after retiring yesterday with broken suspension in his Toyota Yaris, was fastest in Vieira do Minho but another returnee, Andreas Mikkelsen, wasnt on the same pace in his i20. Driving wise its OK, but its lacking in power. Its because of what happened yesterday, we had to make changes to make it last, said the Norwegian, who retired yesterday afternoon with low engine oil pressure. Hayden Paddon did not restart following yesterday afternoons accident. He was taken to hospital complaining of back pain and remained overnight for observation. He is due to be released this morning. Head to WRC+ to watch All Live from Vodafone Rally de Portugal, including every stage broadcast live, breaking service park news and expert studio analysis. VIDEO More News Clwyd South AM welcomes investment into local primary school This article is old - Published: Sunday, May 20th, 2018 A major investment into a Wrexham primary school has been welcomed by the Assembly Member for Clwyd South. Ysgol Penycae recently underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment; bringing together the schools infants and junior schools under one roof for the first time. A total of 2.6 million has been spent on the new build and revamp, which boasts four new classrooms, a new hall, improved kitchen facilities and a playground area. It celebrated its official opening earlier this month. The works were carried out under 21st Century School funding from the Welsh Government which was match funded by Wrexham Council. The refurb has been welcomed by Clwyd South AM, Ken Skates said: Im proud that Welsh Government investment is producing tangible benefits for children in Clwyd South and Im thoroughly looking forward to visiting Ysgol Penycae in a couple of weeks to see the new facilities first-hand. This programme represents the largest investment in Welsh schools and colleges since the 1960s and will help achieve the Welsh Governments aim of raising standards and delivering an education system that is a source of national pride and public confidence. Mr Skates added: Im delighted that the Welsh Government is investing in the future of children in Clwyd South Im looking forward to catching up with headteacher Tim Newbould and his team soon. Coleg Cambria represents north east Wales in netball tournament This article is old - Published: Saturday, May 19th, 2018 Coleg Cambria were recently represented in the Welsh National Inter-Counties netball competition. Sally Jones, the deputy director of curriculum of sport and public services at Coleg Cambria, has represented North East Wales county teams since being a teenager. She had also represented Wales and the Wales University side whilst studying for a degree in Sport and PE in UWIC (now Cardiff Met). Held at Deeside Leisure Centre, the Welsh National Inter-Counties netball competition saw county teams from across Wales take part. North East Wales team finished runners-up with Glamorgan Valleys winning the event. Commenting on the event, Sally said: I really enjoyed the experience of competing in the Inter-Counties alongside some great players. We played some great netball against some high quality sides. I am passionate about developing netball at Coleg Cambria, to enhance players skills both on the court, and in the classroom. I am looking forward to working with Kyra Jones (Head of Netball at CAVC and Welsh Netball Player), so together, we can provide support for our talented netball players across Wales. President Donald Trumps plans to propose a new rule that would bar abortions at facilities that receive federal family planning funds marks an escalation of the administrations attack on a womans constitutionally protected abortion rights. At the same time, the move will punish low-income women in particular from receiving family planning services, increasing the likelihood of unwanted pregnancies and births. Though the exact language of the proposed rule has not yet been released publicly by the White House, Trump is expected to issue new guidelines for Title X, the only federal program dedicated to paying for birth control. The new rule would require a physical as well as financial separation between entities that receive Title X funds and those that provide abortions. Trumps rule stands in direct contradiction to the 1973 US Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which said that states cannot ban abortions before viability of the fetus. The rule would not affect federal funding through Medicaid, which is already barred from using federal funds for abortions. The move is the latest chapter in the Republican Partys years-long crusade to end funding to Planned Parenthood, the womens health care provider that currently uses Title X funding to provide contraceptives to an estimated 40 percent of the 4 million people receiving it for family planning services. Planned Parenthood stands to lose an estimated $50 million in funding. Earlier this month, more than 190 members of the US Congress sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to restore a Reagan-era rule imposing the physical and financial separation of facilities receiving Title X funding and those providing abortions. Reagans rule, which was eventually upheld by the US Supreme Court but never implemented, was ended under the Clinton administration. Title X was launched in 1971 to fulfill President Richard Nixons pledge that no American woman should be denied access to family planning assistance because of her economic condition. It is an indication of the rightward lurch of the entire political establishment that Nixons promise now stands in stark contrast to Trumps reactionary rule. If implemented, a program that was initially set up to provide access to family planning to low-income women will now deny these services to millions. A Trump administration official made the spurious claim that the proposal does not necessarily defund Planned Parenthood, as long as theyre willing to disentangle taxpayer funds from abortion as a method of family planning, which is required by the Title X law. The official added, Any grantees that perform, support, or refer for abortion have a choicedisentangle themselves from abortion or fund their activities with privately raised funds. How this disentanglement would work in practice exposes the falsity of such claims. Critics of the rule have likened it to a gag rule, prohibiting health care providers from mentioning abortion in the exam room. Planned Parenthood said in a statement: The Trump-Pence administrations new rule would block patients from care at Planned Parenthood. It would also prohibit doctors, nurses, hospitals, and community health centers across the country from being able to refer their patients for safe, legal abortion. This gag rule is not only unconscionable, but it undermines medical ethics by forcing health care professionals to withhold accurate and timely medical information from patients, Jenn Conti, a fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health, told Politico. If I cant mention the word abortion, then I am not providing my pregnant patients who want to know all of their options with complete, accurate, unbiased medical information. The ban could prevent a health care provider from mentioning abortion, even under life-and-death situations, such as when a pregnant woman also has cancer or another medical condition that poses danger to her and her pregnancy. Those people who rely on government-subsidized initiativesincluding working class, poor and immigrant womenwould be most affected by the rule. Black mothers, who make up 30 percent of Title X recipients, are currently dying at a rate three or four times higher than white mothers in child birth. The shutting of womens health clinics due to Trumps rule would both exacerbate the inequities in care while diminishing services for all women. Not only would women be barred from abortion counseling and services at entities that provide both family planning and abortions, but they would not get birth control, cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, or even general womens health exams. Planned Parenthood is the countrys largest abortion provider, performing just over 330,000 in 2009, or about 40 percent of all abortions that year. More than one-third of low-income women who get birth control through Title X currently do so at one of Planned Parenthoods 817 clinics. Forcing Planned Parenthood to separate its facilities that provide abortions from locations that provide other womens health services would inevitably result in withholding vital health services to millions of women. A new analysis from the Guttmacher Institute estimates that there are over 103 counties in the US where Planned Parenthood is the only provider of publicly funded contraceptives. Some 90 percent of Planned Parenthood clinics report being able to provide emergency contraceptives, compared to 34 percent of federally qualified health clinics. And more than 80 percent of the organizations clinics provide same-day access to intrauterine devices (IUDs), compared to just 30 percent of other clinics. President Trumps executive move follows recent initiatives to curb abortion rights at the state level. Earlier this month, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed so-called heartbeat legislation that bans abortions once a fetal heartbeat has been detected, at about six weeks, with certain exceptions. Critics have pointed out that many women may not even be aware that they are pregnant at six weeks. A ban on abortions after 15 weeks was signed into law by Mississippi Governor Phil Bryan in March. Also that month, the Kentucky House of Representatives passed a bill banning dilation and evacuation, a procedure often used in abortions if a patient is over 11 weeks pregnant. Both measures are facing court challenges. Texas has been experimenting with cutting off abortion providers from state-level family planning grants. Data published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that blocking Planned Parenthood from state programs resulted in a 35.5 percent drop in women receiving long-acting, reversible contraceptives, including IUDs and birth control implants. Trumps assault on abortion and reproductive health care is of a piece with the administrations assault on health care in general. In particular, HHSs decision to provide waivers to states enabling them to impose work requirements for Medicaid recipients will kick tens, and potentially hundreds of thousands of people out of the health care system altogether. Such people seeking care at Planned Parenthood and other clinics will find that their services are no longer an option. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat of New York, appeared Friday on CNN to denounce Trumps new rule. I think this is an issue that should enrage the American public, particularly women, because its an attack on them, she said. I dont know why members of Congress think its their job to tell women what to do with their health care. As with the attacks on Medicaid, however, such rhetoric will soon fade. More of concern to Congressional Democrats is reform of the Congressional Accountability Act, which set up the process for handling sexual harassment complaints on Capitol Hill. The legislation would hold lawmakers personally liable for paying settlements, rather than allowing them to use taxpayers money to settle claims. Such legislation will pose little threat to the bank accounts of the millionaires and billionairesboth men and womenwho inhabit the halls of the US Congress. Likewise, the pending attack on Planned Parenthood and other health care providers under Title X will have zero effect on senators and representatives, who are well insured and have access to the best health care money can buy. While Trump seeks to deny womens health care services, the US maternal mortality rate has increased by more than 50 percent since 1990, placing the nation in the company of some of the worlds poorest nations in sub-Saharan Africa. The defense of abortion and reproductive rights is a social question that must be resolved in the arena of the class struggle. As the wealth gap between affluent women and working-class women has widened dramatically over the past several decades, so too has social and income inequalitywith the chasm growing between a tiny wealthy elite and the vast majority of ordinary Americans. Such social rights must be defended by the working class in opposition to the ruling class and its political representatives, both Democratic and Republican, in the fight for a socialist program that places human rights above the capitalist drive for profit. The author also recommends: The condition of working-class women on International Womens Day [9 March 2018] Teachers and other state employees will gather at the State House in Columbia, South Carolina today to protest low wages and poor working conditions. The demonstration follows Wednesdays rally of 20,000 teachers in North Carolina and is part of an ongoing wave of teacher strikes and demonstrations across the US and internationally. Salaries and working conditions for educators in South Carolina are abysmal. The average salary stands at $10,000 below the national average, while the minimum starting salary is only $30,113 a year. Working conditions are extremely poor. Among the worst are those schools located in the 36 districts along Interstate 95, exposed in the award-winning 2005 documentary, Corridor of Shame: The Neglect of South Carolinas Rural Schools. Raw sewage mixed with worms and insects flowed into the hallways of Ridgeland Elementary in Jasper County, where it was tracked into classrooms by students. In other schools, holes in the floors of some classrooms allowed students to see into the classrooms below them. Teachers used old rags and sandbags to prevent a flood of rainwater coming in through cracks in the walls. Libraries were filled with shockingly few books, and those on hand were so outdated that one teacher recalled finding a book that predicted, One day man will land on the moon. Low pay and poor conditions have produced an exodus of teachers. The Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention & Advancement reported that 4,900 teachers left the school system in 2016-2017, and that there were 500 vacant positions at the start of the school year, an increase of 16 percent over the previous year. Todays rally has been organized by the South Carolina Association of Educators, the South Carolina State Employees Association, and a host of pro-Democratic Party organizations, including SC Progressive Network and Progress South Carolina. The aim of the demonstration is not to oppose the conditions facing teachers or conduct a struggle, but to channel workers anger behind the dead-end of support for the Democratic Party. The Democrats, no less than the Republicans, are enemies of public education. The conditions facing teachers are the outcome of an offensive carried out under both big business parties, at a state and federal level. In the wake of the 2008 financial crash, South Carolinas government, under Republican Governor Mark Sanford and his successor, Nikki Haley, the current US ambassador to the United Nations for the Trump administration, passed severe education cuts, including $800 million in 2010 alone, and the elimination of 3,600 teaching positions. From 2008 to 2014, K-12 funding was cut by 14.2 percent. While the Democrats have claimed to oppose these measures, they have advocated the raising of revenue through the imposition of regressive taxes on the working class, including on cigarettes. Moreover, where they have been in office, as in neighboring North Carolina, under Governor Bev Perdue, the Democrats have overseen no less severe attacks, through the slashing of hundreds of millions in education funding and wages. Over the same period, the Obama administration, under the Race for the Top program, oversaw the laying off of 300,000 school workers and the expansion of charter schools. The administration tied funding to states that implemented reactionary education reform measures, including by targeting so-called "underperforming" schools and scapegoating teachers. There is immense opposition among teachers to these attacks. An online petition, created by the pro-Democratic Party Progress South Carolina, calling for an increase in public sector worker salaries has been signed by more than 2,300 people. Sabrina Swinney from Marion, South Carolina, wrote on the petition yesterday, Ive been with the State for 35 years, 28 of those years has been in Education. I have a BS from Coker College, a Masters from Capella University and 30+. I am not certified so I make $24,000 yearly. Damian A. Days, Sr. wrote, Teachers teach everybody, so we should be compensated. We teach future doctors, lawyers, and teachers. Without this foundation we have nothing. Martha Kinard Johnson from Greenville wrote, How dare our state talk about tax cuts with poor teacher pay and horrid roads! Arianna S. Derrick commented, I am a retired SC public school teacher, administrator, and technical college instructor. I know that this state cannot function without dedicated public service workers. It is very shortsighted to try to run this state on the cheap by not paying a living wage. Mark Stockman from Saint Helena Island wrote, I am a state employee who has to work two full time jobs. Beaufort County is among the highest cost of living counties in the state, yet the salaries for most state employees leaves them struggling to make ends meet each month. Wheres all the prosperity Trump promised? The greatest obstacles to teachers waging a struggle are the trade unions, including the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and their state affiliates. The unions have betrayed all the struggles that have erupted since the beginning of the year, including in West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona and Colorado, where they have shut down strike without meeting teachers main demands. The unions are declaring that all teachers can do is vote for the Democratic Party. Todays demonstration itself is being called only three days after the rally in North Carolina of 20,000 teachers, which was used by the unions to promote Democratic Governor Roy Cooper and prevent an extended walkout. On Wednesday, the SCEA called on teachers to wear red to support the North Carolina walkout, but opposed any united action. The unions have worked above all to isolate the expanding wave of teacher strikes on a state-by-state basis and prevent it from linking up into a national movement. The development of a struggle for public education and decent wages, jobs and conditions requires the building of new organizations, rank-and-file committees, democratically controlled by teachers themselves, and hostile to the strike-breaking unions and both big business parties. The far-right Lega (formerly the Northern League) and the protest Five Star Movement presented a 58-page coalition agreement in Rome on Thursday. It is the programme of a reactionary government with semi-fascist characteristics. The proposed coalition plans to impose the dictates of the financial markets and reduce state indebtedness in a country racked by poverty and unemployment. Both parties explicitly confirmed this in the coalition agreement. The agreement states, The governments actions will be based on a programme to reduce the debt burden. To achieve this, tax rates on the wealthy are to be radically cut. A so-called flat tax at levels of 15 and 20 percent is planned. According to the theory of the agreement, the reduced burden on business will result in an increase in gross domestic product. Asked how reduced tax revenues will be offset, both Lega and the Five Star Movement have declared they will sharply reduce the expenditure for the state bureaucracy. In addition, they insist that special measures for the south, the Mezzogiorno, will be eliminated. This is necessary in the interest of homogeneous economic development throughout the entire country. This already gives a sense of the extent of the attacks on the working class contained within the coalition agreement. Tens of thousands of jobs in the public sector are threatened, as well as jobs in businesses in southern Italy previously subsidised by the state. At the same time, reduced tax revenues will lead to cuts in social spending. These attacks are barely concealed by the promise of a basic citizens income (Reddito di cittadinanza). In reality, the basic income is restricted to 780 (US$ 920) per month and tied to strict conditions, much like Germanys Hartz IV welfare benefit. Anyone who fails to cooperate or refuses a job offer will be denied any state support. In addition, only people with Italian passports will receive the basic income. The widely publicised announcement withdrawing the 2011 pension reform, the Legge Fornero, turns out on closer inspection to be a non-binding project. The agreement states that anyone who can prove that the total of his or her age plus the number of years he or she paid in to the pension system is more than 100 has a right to a full pension. This would mean, for example, that all those who have gaps in their contributions due to unemployment would be left empty-handed and have to labour into old age. The attacks on workers and the most vulnerable sections of society are combined with a brutal anti-refugee policy. This policy pursues two goals: Firstly, Lega and the Five Star Movement want to scapegoat the most vulnerable members of society, the refugees, for the social crisis and thereby divide the working class. Secondly, the policy will be used to justify a vast strengthening of the repressive state apparatus. The coalition agreement identifies a figure of 500,000 illegal immigrants who must be deported within 18 months. This means that half a million people will be forcibly expelled if necessary! The state must resort to Nazi-style methods if it is to crack down so savagely on immigrants. The coalition agreement states that the state must obtain the necessary resources to combat terrorism and launch a crackdown on radical Islamists. Another goal explicitly mentioned is the closure of all nomad camps on Italian territory. Reportedly, some 40,000 Roma live in such camps. The agreement goes on to state that the Schengen and Dublin agreements on borders and immigration have failed and must be renegotiated with the European Union (EU). People smuggling across the Mediterranean must be stopped together with other EU states, it adds. The Lega-Five Star agreement has been criticised by the EU and the European media in recent days. But the establishment critics do not oppose the inhumane refugee policy, and they have only occasionally mentioned the flat tax. Significantly, they have focused in particular on the basic income and the vague promise to overturn the pension reform. Nonetheless, it is obvious that Lega leader Matteo Salvini and Five Stars Capo Politico, Luigi Di Maio, are seeking with the coalition agreement to reach an accommodation with the EU. The financial markets responded nervously to a first draft released at the beginning of the week. It contained the demand for the European Central Bank (ECB) to forgive a portion of Italys 2.26 trillion state debt. The Milan stock exchange declined sharply, while risk premiums on government debt rose dangerously high. Responding with concern, EU Commission vice president Dimitris Avramopoulos urged that the EU stability pact be observed, while Italian president Sergio Mattarella warned he was not obliged to sign off on such a government programme. The president still has the task of approving the government, he added. In the current draft, Lega and the Five Star Movement have retreated from making any concrete demands on the ECB. They merely note the necessity of renegotiating certain aspects of the stability pact, aspects that are not spelled out. The call for a possible exit from the euro, or even a referendum on it, has also been dropped. Instead, the agreement now states that cooperation with the EU Commission and other agencies is essential and serves as the best protection for Italian interests in Europe. In addition, the importance of a strong Italian state for Europe is emphasised. This includes Italys participation in international missions. However, these are to be re-evaluated according to national interests. The new coalition commits to the transatlantic alliance with the United States as a privileged partner, but is also open to Russia. The latter country is not an enemy, but an increasingly important economic and trading partner, states the agreement. It goes on to assert, In addition, it is necessary to pay more attention to the south. In the struggle against Islamic extremism and uncontrolled immigration, cooperation is necessary with countries engaged in combatting terrorism. In plain language, this means Italys increased involvement in North Africa, and in oil-rich Libya in particular, which at one time was Italys largest colony. The agreement also states that the repressive state apparatus must be strengthened. More resources must be given to personnel in the armed forces, the Carabinieri, and the forces of law and order, the police. They must be better protected and financed so that they can accomplish their task, the protection of Italys territory and national sovereignty. The arms industry and high-tech defence research must also be protected, insists the agreement. The aggressive imperialist character of the programme is partially concealed in a few places to placate Five Stars supporters. For example, on clean water and clean environment, there is a promise that the state will keep drinking water supplies under its control and will take action to protect the environment. Since the referendums of 2011, these demands are part of the five stars in the symbol of Grillos movement. Another heavily promoted point in the programme says, Agriculture and fisheries: Made in Italy. This is aimed at the rural petty bourgeoisie, the farmers and fisheries associations, and domestic producers, who are being offered unabashed nationalism as a defence against competition from the EU and world markets. It is worth recalling in this regard that the Five Star Movement collaborated with Lega once before, during the Pitchfork protests against the government in Rome several years ago. Another paragraph contains a code of ethics for government members. Nobody can be a minister if he or she has a criminal record or was involved in corruption, has links to the mafia or was involved with the Freemasons. This point is obviously aimed at Silvio Berlusconi. The courts recently confirmed that in spite of his conviction for tax evasion, he could now stand for political office. The Five Star Movement has repeatedly promised its voters it would not join a government including Berlusconi. An online poll of Five Star Movement members began yesterday. Salvini and Di Maio intend to meet with the president on Monday and inform him of their decision on the sole outstanding point, their nomination for prime minister. Although the Five Star Movement was by far the largest party in the March 4 vote with 32.7 percent, it may voluntarily give up that post. The formation of a Lega-Five Star government could still falter, whether due to a failure to agree on a prime minister, a lack of support from the membership or other reasons. Mattarella would then be prepared to impose a non-elected technocratic government. Although Ontarios June 7 provincial election is still nearly three weeks away, it is clear that the governing Liberals are headed for a massive defeat. After 15 years in power, during which time they have slashed public spending, repeatedly criminalized worker job-actions, privatized public utilities, and further reduced taxes for big business and the rich, the Liberals are struggling to stay above 20 percent in the polls. To this point, it is the right-wing, populist businessman Doug Ford who has been the principal beneficiary of the popular anger against the Liberals, who have been eagerly supported by the trade union bureaucracy throughout their tenure in office. After waging a Trump-style campaign to win the Progressive Conservative (PC) leadership earlier this year, Ford has largely been accepted by the corporate elite and its media mouthpieces as Ontarios premier-in-waiting. A concerted media campaign has sought to downplay his similarities to Trump, even though his calls for slashing billions in government waste, cutting already minimal corporate taxes and environmental and workplace regulations, and demagogic attacks on the elites resemble nothing so much as the fascist-minded billionaires 2016 election campaign. Fords sudden rise to the leadership of Ontarios traditional alternate party of government was no accident. The position of PC leader came open in late January when Patrick Brown, a former Stephen Harper acolyte, was felled by unsubstantiated charges of sexual misconduct. The PC leadership, frustrated by Browns efforts to pick up votes by shifting the party to the center, threw him to the wolves within a matter of hours of the allegations coming to light. As the World Socialist Web Site noted at the time, Nothing progressive can come out of the removal of BrownThe anti-democratic and right-wing character of the #MeToo witch hunt, together with the media hysteria being whipped up around Brown, will be used to push the political climate in Ontario and across Canada further right. Big business demands a further lurch right The ruling elites determination to shift politics sharply right in Canadas most populous province is bound up with the deepening crisis of Canadian capitalism, under conditions of mounting global geopolitical and economic instability. Trumps America First program, which has included massive additional tax handouts to the corporate elite and the adoption of economic nationalist measures that threaten to sideswipe the Canadian bourgeoisie, has led to increased calls within ruling circles for an even more aggressive assault on the working class, so as to bolster Canadian competitiveness. Last week, Magna CEO David Walker claimed rising costs were placing the future of its Ontario auto-parts plants at risk, while Royal Bank of Canada CEO David McKay said governments need to address Canadas competitiveness challenge with tremendous urgency. Big business has becoming increasingly critical of the two-and-a-half-year-old federal Liberal government, with which the Ontario Liberals are closely allied. There is much griping over the Liberals failure to push through the building of oil pipelines to tidewater in the face of public opposition and to press forward with the wholesale privatization of public infrastructure through their new Canadian Infrastructure Bank. Additionally, while there is universal support within the ruling circles for the Liberals militarist program, including a 70 percent hike in defence spending over the next decade, military-security experts and much of the media complain that Trudeau is not moving fast enough to implement it, especially in the area of military procurement. Such concerns have yet to translate into an open revolt by sections of the ruling elite against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the federal Liberal governments. But there is a strong establishment consensus that Kathleen Wynne and her Ontario Liberal government are long past their best before date. Big business is furious that the Liberals, having enforced ruthless austerity, especially from 2010 through 2016, made a cynical feint left over the past year in the hopes of avoiding an electoral rout. This included raising the provincial minimum wage to $14 an hour, and promising some modest social spending increases, financed through deficit-spending, in their pre-election budget. Another major concern for the ruling elite, albeit one that at this point is less openly discussed, is the growth of working-class struggle. In line with strikes by teachers across the United States, industrial workers and public servants in Germany, and railway workers in France, strikes and protests by workers in Ontario and other provinces have increased over the past year. Moreover, in many of these struggles, including recent strikes at two auto plants in Ajax and Windsor, Ontario, and at Caesars Hotel and Casino also in Windsor, workers have voted down concessionary contracts negotiated by their ostensible union representatives. In the final hours before the Ontario legislature was dissolved due to the impending election, the Liberals unsuccessfully attempted to pass an emergency law illegalizing the now two-and-half month-old strike by 3,000 York University contract faculty and graduate assistants (see: Ontario Liberals attempt to legislate end to York University strike). The unions close alliance with the Liberals was their response to the last period of major class battles in Ontario, when hundreds of thousands took to the streets to protest the Common Sense Revolution of PC Premier Mike Harris. In the fall of 1997, teachers mounted an illegal strike to oppose the Harris governments assault on public education. But when Harris declared his government would not relent, clearly posing the need for a political general strike aimed at driving his government from office, the unions shut the strike down and scuttled the anti-Harris movement. Soon after the Canadian Auto Workers union (the current-day Unifor) and the teachers unions formed the Working Families Ontario coalition to funnel millions of dollars into campaigns to elect Liberals, who were touted as progressives and friends of labour. The NDPs rightwing record Fearful that their identification with concession-contracts and their close ties to the pro-austerity Liberals have undermined their ability to police the working class as it enters a new era of bitter class struggles, many of Ontarios unions have now decided to distance themselves from the sinking Liberal ship. Instead of championing strategic voting for the Liberals, a growing number of unions are throwing their political and organizational muscle behind their longtime ally, the social-democrats of the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP).This began last fall, when to the dismay of the Unifor, the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) voted to endorse the NDP in the 2018 provincial election. Earlier this month, the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, which like the other teachers unions was long closely allied with the Liberals, also endorsed the NDP. Although big business, and the political machines of ex-Premier Harris and Conservative Prime Ministers Harper and Brian Mulroney have rallied behind Ford, it is far from a foregone conclusion that the PCs will secure a parliamentary majority or even win the election. Whilst Ford, exploiting the unions identification with Wynne and systematic suppression of the class struggle, has been able to garner support among sections of working people, especially in economically hard-hit south-western Ontario, among the majority of workers and youth there is deep-felt opposition to Ford and his reactionary agenda, which includes appeals to the religious right. This opposition has found distorted expression in rising support for the NDP, which after years of garnering support from little more than a fifth of the electorate, is now polling over 30 percent support. Well aware that there is mounting anger in the working class, sections of the media and the trade union bureaucracy are now endeavoring to promote ONDP leader Andrea Horwath as an advocate for working people and a true progressive. Horwaths platform, released last month and praised by the Liberal-aligned Toronto Star, contains a number of modest social spending proposals that, in the unlikely event they were implemented, would do nothing to end deep poverty, economic insecurity and social inequality in Canadas traditional industrial heartland. Any suggestion the NDP would even begin to reverse the decades of attacks on the working class is refuted by the partys long record of supporting and implementing right-wing policies in Ontario and across Canada. The social democrats responded to the 2008 economic crisis, which was used the world over by the ruling class to tear up workers rights and make available billions to the banks, by seeking a coalition with the Liberals at the federal level. The abortive coalition agreement included pledges to slash corporate taxes by $50 billion, wage war in Afghanistan, and make fiscal responsibility the governments first priority. While the ruling elites continued support for Harpers Conservatives prevented the NDP from entering government with the big business Liberals in Ottawa, the NDP first under the late Jack Layton and then the ex-Quebec Liberal cabinet minister Tom Mulcair continued to boost the Liberals as a progressive alternative to Harper. Horwath pursued essentially the same policy at the provincial level, albeit by propping up a minority Liberal government at Queens Park rather than joining the cabinet as part of a coalition government. This arrangement, which lasted between 2012 and 2014, allowed Wynne to pass two austerity budgets that included devastating cuts to health care and education spending. During the 2014 election campaign, Horwath was so determined to win a hearing from big business that she campaigned to the right of the Liberals, who regained their majority with the support of the OFL and its Stop Hudak! Anybody but Conservative campaign. The intervening period has only served to underscore the utterly fraudulent character of the claim workers could stop the big-business assault by supporting the Liberals. Social inequality is at unprecedented levels in Ontario, low-wage and precarious employment have exploded, and public services have been cut to the bone. The fact that the corporatist trade union bureaucracy is now gravitating towards Horwath and the NDP is a further warning that if the social-democrats come to power, she will lead a right-wing, anti-working class government. The publication of this weeks open letter by leading academics protesting Googles role in the militarys drone assassination program exposes the close partnership between the major technology giants and the US military/intelligence complex. The letter, now signed by nearly 1,000 academics, declares that Google has moved into military work without subjecting itself to public debate or deliberation, either domestically or internationally. It adds, While Google regularly decides the future of technology without democratic public engagement, its entry into military technologies casts the problems of private control of information infrastructure into high relief. In March, Google admitted to helping the Pentagon develop artificial intelligence software to identify objects in video recordings captured by drones, within the framework of a program called Project Maven. While Google claims that the technology is not being used to kill people, the letters authors note that the system can be easily modified to identify human beings for assassination. The letter by the academics follows an open letter from Google workers protesting the companys involvement in Project Maven, supported by over 3,100 employees. A recent report by Gizmodo cited the resignation of a dozen workers following the revelations. In considering the operations of Google, a distinction must be made between the corporation and the technology workers who are employed by it, many of whom may have been attracted to the company by its original (recently removed) corporate motto, Dont Be Evil. The involvement of Google in the US militarys drone program points to the extraordinarily dangerous amalgamation of giant technology corporations and the major capitalist states. It is increasingly difficult to tell where the CIA and the Pentagon end, and the technology companies begin. Google itself has many ties to the state and the military. Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Googles parent company, Alphabet, serves as an advisor to the Pentagon and the chair of its Defense Innovation Advisory Board. Schmidt plays a leading role in the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx), a private/military joint partnership located just minutes from Googles main headquarters. Google is by no means an exception. Amazon is a leading supplier of cloud computing infrastructure to the Pentagon and intelligence agencies. Verizon, AT&T and other internet service providers have served as willing partners in the National Security Agencys program of global and domestic surveillance, as exposed by leaks from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Googles relations with the military put into sharper focus the significance of the changes it made to its search algorithms, beginning in April of last year. When Google first announced these measures, it claimed that its actions were aimed at improving its search system and helping people find what they are looking for. It told a New York Times reporter that its actions were free of political bias. In fact, the companys involvement with the military and its manipulation of search results are two sides of the same process, both done for political purposes. In the one case, it is providing the state with artificial intelligence technology to aid its military and intelligence operations. In the other case, it has initiated a massive program of censorship, also using powerful artificial intelligence technology, to suppress domestic opposition. As the WSWS has documented, the changes to Googles algorithms have significantly impacted search traffic to left-wing, anti-war, and socialist publications. The WSWS is itself a central target of these repressive measures. Its search traffic fell by 75 percent, and, when it first reported the decrease, the top 45 search terms that previously linked readers to the WSWS no longer did so. By the latest count, the top 61 terms that previously brought readers to the WSWS no longer do so. In the year since Google announced its censorship measures, it, together with Facebook and Twitter, have hired thousands of additional content moderators, many with backgrounds as intelligence agents, prosecutors, and police officers, to censor political speech. By the end of this year, more than half of the people employed at Facebook and Google will be assigned to its security and moderation departments. The claims by Google, Facebook and other social media companies that, in manipulating their algorithms, they are acting as private corporations, are untenable. Such rationales do not justify actions that suppress free speech and political views. Moreover, these companies are not acting by themselves, but in close coordination with the capitalist state, speaking on behalf of the ruling class as a whole. The integration of corporations and the military-intelligence-state apparatus is not a new phenomenon. It is 57 years since President Eisenhower issued his famous speech warning of the military-industrial complex. However, amidst feverish preparations for war and domestic repression, this integration is taking on new and ever more ominous forms. Moreover, the military is rapidly moving to incorporate into its operations the most advanced artificial intelligence technologies, developed by companies like Google. The fight against this military-intelligence-censorship complex can only be carried forward on the basis of a revolutionary, socialist program. The domination and control of the Internet and associated technologies by gigantic corporations, run by billionaires, has the direst consequences for democratic rights. The ending of corporate control of the Internet must be connected to the mobilization of the international working class to abolish the stranglehold of the financial oligarchy over economic and political life, transform all giant corporations into publicly-owned utilities, and reorganize global economy on the basis of social need, not private profit. Following a weeks-long campaign of economic blackmail waged by Amazon and other large corporations, the Seattle City Council unanimously passed a watered-down version of the head tax on big business last Monday. The tax will fund housing construction and services for Seattles large and growing homeless population. The bill will cost the company just $10 million annually, which represents less than the amount Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos makes in an hour. Under the legislation passed Monday and signed into law on Wednesday, for-profit businesses with annual gross revenue of at least $20 million in Seattlerepresenting the top 3 percent of businesseswill be taxed at a rate of $0.14 per employee for every hour worked in the city, or roughly $275 annually for a full-time employee beginning in 2019. The measure will produce an estimated $47 million in revenue that will be used to build low-income housing and provide hygiene and other vital services to a fraction of Seattles roughly 12,000 homeless residents. The measure also contains a sunset clause that effectively ends the tax after five years unless renewed by a vote of the city council. This represents just half the revenue that would have resulted from the original version of the bill proposed by Democratic Party councilmembers Teresa Mosqueda, Mike OBrien, Lorena Gonzalez, and Lisa Herbold on April 20. This version of the bill would have placed a tax of $0.26 per employee hour workedor $500 annually per employeeon large businesses. This employee hours tax (EHT) would then have been phased out in favor of a 0.7 percent payroll tax in 2021. Almost immediately after its introduction, a coordinated campaign of threats and propaganda by large corporations, led by Amazon, was mounted against the first head tax proposal. In numerous editorials, opinion pieces, and open letters to the city council, the measure was denounced as a tax on jobs and many of Seattles largest employers threatened to leave the city or wind down operations if it were passed, even though the city actually had a head tax until it was repealed in 2009. This campaign reached a crescendo on May 2, when Amazon announced in a statement that it had halted construction on its Block 18 office building in Seattle pending the city councils decision on the head tax, potentially costing the city 7,000 jobs. At the same time, the company began publicizing increased staffing levels in several other cities, including Boston, Chicago, and Vancouver, British Columbia. Amazons announcement caused great concern within the Seattle political establishment, which over recent months has responded to Amazons search for a second headquarters (or HQ2) with an effort to reset relations with the e-commerce giant by offering further incentives for the company to base its operations in the city. With 45,000 employees, Amazon is Seattles largest employer. The next day at a press conference outside Amazons new headquarters complex, Socialist Alternative City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, who backed the tax plan, was confronted by a group of men dressed like construction workers from the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. As Sawant began to speak, the men began chanting No head tax! to drown her out. Sawant made no effort to defend the head tax or draw attention to the rising cost of living for workers in the city. Instead she handed over her microphone to a trade union bureaucrat, who used the opportunity to praise Amazon for the thousands of family-wage jobs it has brought to the area and to deflect anger away from the corporation, which is directly responsible for rising rents and homelessness in the city. The union bureaucrat made no mention of Amazons reliance upon thousands of super-exploited warehouse workers laboring in sweatshop conditions around the world, nor of its dubious distinction as one of the most dangerous companies to work for in the United States. On May 11, after remaining silent on the head tax for months, Seattles Democratic Party Mayor Jenny Durkan announced her opposition to the first version of the head tax and threatened to veto the measure. Following a weekend of negotiations, a deal was reached between the Mayors office and the city council to reduce the tax from $500 annually per employee to $275, or just over half of the original amount. The city council approved the new measure unanimously after buckling to Amazons pressure campaign. Sawant also supported the capitulation, defending it from a pro-corporate standpoint in a speech last week: There is no way this tax will be a burden on big business in Seattle. Sawant postured throughout the heated debate as an anti-establishment advocate for low-income workers and the homeless, denouncing billionaires and big business and at one point proposing a higher tax. But her role in the capitulation proves that Sawant serves the interests of the corporations and the Democratic Party by presenting their rotten backroom deals as victories for the working class. In a tweet on May 14 shortly after the second bill passed, Sawant wrote: Given extortion from @JeffBezos & Goliath-like clout of @amazon, even a smaller tax is huge victory & pushback on corporate bullying. BUT imagine what our movement couldve won with council members who fought with us rather than limiting themselves to whats acceptable to big biz & establishment. A May 15 article posted on the Socialist Alternative website proclaimed: TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT WINS IN SEATTLE! The article praises the victory of SAs Tax Amazon campaign and compares passage of the head tax to the $15 minimum wage ordinance enacted in 2014. This comparison is indeed fitting. Under Sawants leadership, Socialist Alternative, other pseudo-left groups, and various trade unions mounted a yearlong campaign for an immediate increase in the citys minimum wage to $15 under the $15 Now campaign. That effort culminated in another compromise that incrementally increased minimum wage to $15 over several years and ensured that the real minimum wage would never reach $15 an hour, which is still far less than is actually needed live in Seattle. While expressing disappointment with the outcome, Amazon announced Monday that it has resumed work on Block 18, underscoring the fact that its threats were nothing more than a cynical political maneuver to achieve its desired policy outcome. The bill will have practically no impact on its bottom line. To a massive company like Amazon, even the $20 million originally proposed is chump changethe equivalent of $30 in a year to a worker who makes $15 an hour. The head tax signed into law this week will cost the company $12 million per year, a mere rounding error for a company that grossed $178 billion in revenue last year. However, the difference between the $500 and $275 EHT amounts to a reduction in the number of housing units to be constructed from 1,780 to 591 in a city with a homeless population that is third-highest in the nation behind only New York and Los Angeles, leaving thousands more people on the street for the sake of preserving a miniscule slice of the Amazons profits. In reality, none of the head tax proposals represent a serious effort to address the housing crisis in Seattle, which saw a record number of homeless people die on the streets last year. The resources exist to provide everyone with a home and decent standard of living. But as the head tax capitulation demonstrates, this can only be achieved through an independent struggle of the working class against the capitalist politicians and the corporate interests they serve, and for the socialist reorganization of society. Despite ongoing strike action by railway workers against the planned privatisation of the French National Railway Company (SNCF), the trade unions are moving toward a capitulation to President Emmanuel Macrons government in the face of this politically explosive attack. The union leaders are aware of the strong opposition to Macrons reforms among workers, but above all they oppose a struggle to bring down his government. Amid an international radicalisation of workers, they fear a social explosion that could escape their control, like the May-June 1968 general strike 50 years ago. They are therefore launching a series of manoeuvres to cover over the fact that their talks with the government are all predicated on agreeing to the imposition of the so-called reform. In the wake of a meeting between officials of the French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT) and the National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions (UNSA) with Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne last Friday, all the parties involved are working intensively to reach an agreement on the measures they plan to impose on the workers. This week, CFDT Assistant General Secretary Sebastien Mariani hailed the results of the meeting: We have begun very precise work in an exchange that could be called a real negotiation. Today, we are really opening up, you could say. We have been able to examine all of our 42 proposed amendments, which will still lead to a lot of discussions, even though we havent yet been able to go into detail on each one of them yet. UNSA official Roger Dillenseger said, Our draft amendments have been received and are being looked at in detail. Now, we are starting work that will continue this entire weekend because the schedule is a bit tight. After the meeting with the CFDT and UNSA, Borne said: Here are two trade unions that want to be forces for constructive proposals, and with whom we will have ongoing dialogue in the coming days. She also announced the holding of a specific working meeting in order to clearly explain the basic position of the government. The Stalinist General Confederation of Labour (CGT) and Solidarity-Union-Democracy (SUD) unions have refused so far to meet with Borne. But they are meeting Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, claiming talks with him will give better results than meeting with Borneeven though Philippe has stressed that the precondition for talks is acceptance of the transformation of the SNCF into a private company, the end of the railway workers statute and the opening of the railways to private competition. The CGT-SUD strategy is not fundamentally different from that of the CFDT and UNSA. After the May 7 meeting between Philippe and the union federations, CGT-Railways General Secretary Laurent Brun hailed this meeting on France-Info: The prime minister has confirmed with us today that he would personally involve himself on this issue. This is a very positive element for us. He made certain overtures to us on peripheral matters involving SNCF debt and the company contract. Brun added, These discussions are extremely clear and frank. We are not in full agreement, but at least everything is in the open, it seems as though the government wants to clarify a certain number of points, and that is a good thing. Obviously, it is stressing that it will be firm with the strikers, so the strikers must show they are firm, too, if they want the government to come back and make concessions on its plans. These comments alone demonstrate that the urgent question for workers in struggle against Macron is to take the strike into their own hands and build organisations independent of all the trade unions to coordinate their struggle. Philippe has stressed that he will not budge on the planned privatisation and attacks on rail workers wages and legal conditions, and negotiating with Macron under these conditions can only signify accepting the governments conditions and working for a sell-out behind the backs of the workers. Calling on workers to continue strike action under these conditions, without offering any perspective for a political struggle against Macron, is simply empty and dishonest demagogy. At the same time, by holding a referendum on Macrons reform in the SNCF work force, a measure made possible by the anti-democratic labour law passed by the Socialist Party (PS), the trade unions are working to give the weakest possible expression of opposition to the reform. Of particular significance are union statements welcoming the participation in the referendum of management staff, who are more favourable to the reform on average than the workers. After the trade unions announced this referendum, the WSWS warned: Even if a no vote wins, it leaves the door open for negotiations to continue between the unions and Prime Minister Edouard Philippe. If the yes vote were to win, due, for example, to the participation of managers in the referendum, or the votes of non-striking workers or strikers suffering the loss of wages, the unions will use the outcome to call off the strike. SUD-Rails Bruno Poncet even went on LCI [all-news television channel] to announce that he would have preferred a format where workers had the choice of which reform to propose, thus making clear that the unions also want to impose a reform on the rail workers. The course of the referendum vote, which has been prolonged to May 22, is bearing out this warning. Brun, the CGT-Railways chief, boasted that the referendum is having great success, including among management staff and despite opposition from the company. He said there are many voters more than we could have imagined, but that certain establishments or branches of management are refusing to allow ballot boxes for the referendum on their premises. Workers must be warned: the CGT is congratulating itself on management staffs participation in the reform, although it knows full well this is more likely to push the outcome of the vote in Macrons favour. The trade unions conduct in a struggle against Macrons attack on one of the most well-known and symbolic public companies in France is a warning that they are incapable of and hostile to defending any of the social gains of the working class. The Toplumsal Esitlik (Social Equality) group of Turkish supporters of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) condemns the massacre carried out by Israeli troops against unarmed Palestinians in Gaza, and reiterates its support for their right to return to the homes and villages from which their families were violently expelled by Zionist forces 70 years ago. The Gaza massacre has exposed not only the Trump administration, which flagrantly supports the Israeli government, but the complicity of all imperialist governments, including Berlin and London. They cynically call for an investigation or independent commission to be organized into the slaughter of unarmed Palestinians in broad daylight, while their regional allies issue cynical statements criticizing the Israeli governments disproportionate use of force. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, by contrast, have seized on the Gaza events to once again posture as defenders of the Palestinian people. They hope to manipulate the anti-imperialist and anti-Zionist sentiments of the masses, this time on the eve of the Turkish snap legislative and presidential elections. On May 14, the Turkish government declared three days of national mourning to honor the Palestinians slaughtered in Gaza that day and recalled its ambassadors to the United States and Israel for consultations. Speaking to Turkish students on May 15 in London, Erdogan said, No matter from what side, whether from the US or Israel, I condemn this humanitarian tragedy, this genocide, and those who remain silent to it. Israel is conducting state terrorism. Israel is a terrorist state. What Israel is doing is genocide. At a mass rally held on May 18 in Istanbul, Erdogan likened the actions of the Israeli government against the Palestinians to the Nazi persecution of the Jews in World War II. There is no difference between the atrocity faced by the Jewish people in Europe 75 years ago and the brutality that our Gaza brothers are subjected to. Then he added: I will say openly and clearly that what Israel is doing is banditry, brutality and state terror. These statements reek of hypocrisy. They come from a government that has brutally suppressed domestic political opposition, especially on the part of the Kurdish people and Kurdish nationalist groups, while invading northern Syria. For years, thousands of members of the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), including its former chairperson and presidential candidate Selahattin Demirtas, have been behind bars. Under the Turkish state of emergency, imposed shortly after the failed July 2016 US-backed coup against Erdogan, 150,000 people have been detained and nearly the same number sacked from their jobs. More than 120 journalists have also been detained and more than 180 media outlets closed. Moreover, the horrific scenes in Gaza are not fundamentally different from those in the Kurdish provinces of Diyarbakir, Mardin and Srnak, where 10,000 Turkish military and police forces launched operations supported by tanks and helicopters in late 2005. In military operations, mounted under the pretext of a fight against terrorism and targeting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), thousands of homes were razed by heavy artillery, forcing some 200,000 people to flee their homes in just a few months. While demonstratively claiming their support for the Palestinians, Turkish government spokespeople are conspicuously silent on whether Ankara will impose any sanctions against the United States and Israel. However, behind the scenes, economic relations between Ankara and Tel Aviv continue to grow. According to the figures on the TankerTrackers web site, Israel has received 1.5 million barrels of oil from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq through Turkeys southern Ceyhan Port, within the last 30 days. No credence can be given to the Erdogan governments show of criticizing Israel. While beating the drum of Turkish nationalism and posturing as anti-imperialist and anti-Zionist to manipulate public opinion, the Turkish government in reality is continuously seeking a rapprochement with its imperialist NATO partners and their Mideast outpost, Israel. The Turkish government supported the illegal missile strikes the US, Britain and France launched against Syria last month. Moreover, until they had a falling out over Washingtons alliance with the YPG, the PKKs Syrian offshoot, the Erdogan government was spearheading the US-fomented war to overthrow Bashar al-Assad and impose a pro-US government in Damascus. The hypocritical condemnations of the Zionist states latest horrific crime by the AKP government and by its pro-NATO and pro-European Union opponents in the Turkish ruling class deserve only the contempt of workers and youth. The Israeli states brutality in Gaza is only another symptom of the crisis of the bourgeois nation-state structure in the Middle East, artificially created after World War I by the imperialist powers. Encouraged by Washingtons decision to relocate the US embassy to occupied Jerusalem, and Pentagons escalating war drive in the Middle East, the Israeli slaughter is an urgent warning to workers and youth of the brutality that the bourgeoisie of all countries will resort to against class struggles for real peace, social equality and democracy internationallythat is, for socialism. The only social force that can end the escalating imperialist-Zionist violence is the working class of the Middle East, united across all national, ethnic, religious and sectarian boundaries, and allied with their class brothers and sisters in the United States, Europe and around the world. For a successful struggle against imperialism and its regional allies, the Israeli, Arab, Turkish, Iranian, Kurdish etc. ruling classes, the workers and poor of the Middle EastMuslim, Christian and Jewishneed a clear socialist perspective and political program, based on all the historical and international experiences of the working class. Only one political tendency provides workers and the youth of the Middle East with such an internationalist, revolutionary and socialist perspective and program, developed in decades of struggle against imperialism and its petty bourgeois nationalist and pseudo-left allies: the International Committee of the Fourth International. Toplumsal Esitlik calls all workers and youth of the Middle East to follow, discuss and circulate the daily organ of the ICFI, the World Socialist Web Site, and participate in the struggle to found ICFI national sections, Socialist Equality Parties, in all countries across the region. No to imperialist wars for the re-division of the world! For the United Socialist States of the Middle East! President Trump and prominent Republicans have responded to reports that one or more Federal Bureau of Information informants played a central role in the Justice Department investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election and Trump campaign collusion by stepping up their charges of a political witch-hunt. On Wednesday night, the New York Times posted a front-page article detailing the far-reaching intervention of the FBI and the Central Intelligence Agency in the Trump election campaign, even as the FBI was intervening against the campaign of Hillary Clinton through its investigation of Clintons emails. Trump responded with a series of tweets denouncing the Russia investigation led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Included in the 4,000-word Times account was the assertion that at least one government informant met several times with [Trump campaign aides] Mr. Page and Mr. Papadopoulos, current and former officials said. The Washington Post reported Friday: The source is a US citizen who has provided information over the years to both the FBI and the CIA, as the Post previously reported, and aided the Russia investigation both before and after Muellers appointment in May 2017, according to people familiar with his activities. Indicating that the informant is involved in other intrigues by US police and spy agencies both abroad and within the US, the Post added, The stakes are so high that the FBI has been working over the past two weeks to mitigate the potential damage if the sources identity is revealed, according to several people familiar with the matter. The bureau is taking steps to protect other live investigations that the person has worked on and is trying to lessen any danger to associates if the informants identity becomes known, said these people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence issues. Trump tweeted Wednesday that the Obama FBI SPIED ON THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN WITH EMBEDDED INFORMANT. If so, this is bigger than Watergate! On Friday, he said of reports of an FBI informant inside his 2016 campaign, if true it is the all time biggest political scandal! Congressional Republicans and right-wing media outlets such as Breitbart News are escalating their demands that Justice Department officials overseeing Muellers probe honor subpoenas issued by the House Intelligence Committee for documents on the origins of the investigation, including information on the reported FBI spies. In an interview given Thursday to the pro-Trump Sinclair Broadcasting Group, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (Republican from California) reiterated his call for Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to be held in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over the documents. The Democratic response has been to rush to the defense of the FBI and declare unqualified support for its operations, as well as those of the Central Intelligence Agency and other federal police and security agencies. The Democrats are backing FBI Director Christopher Wray, who told a Senate appropriations subcommittee that the agency opposed revealing the identity of its informants to Congress, which legally and constitutionally has oversight power over the FBI. Wray justified this assertion of unchecked police powers on the grounds that revealing the identity of human sources would jeopardize their lives and the lives of their families. Invoking the justification for police state measures that have been implemented on the pretext of fighting the war on terror, he added, The day that we cant protect human sources is the day the American people start becoming less safe. The latest developments in the political warfare in Washington underscore the reactionary and anti-democratic character of both factions within the ruling class and the state. For the working class, there is absolutely nothing to choose from in the struggle between the ultra-nationalist, anti-immigrant and pro-corporate forces fronted by the billionaire real estate and gambling mogul and the no less pro-corporate allies of the FBI, CIA and National Security Agency who are represented by the Democratic Party and most of the corporate media. The Democrats are doing nothing to oppose Trumps attacks on Medicaid, food stamps and a host of other social programs, or his tax handouts for the rich. They fully support his massive increase in military spending. They instead oppose Trump from the reactionary standpoint that he is too soft on Russia and too reluctant to escalate the US military intervention in Syria. This is combined with concerns that he is not up to confronting the threat to the entire political and economic system posed by the growing resistance of the working class to capitalist austerity and inequality. Minority Leader Charles Schumer (Democrat from New York) responded to Trumps tweets in a speech delivered Thursday from the floor of the Senate. Schumer declared: I would say to the president, its not a witch-hunt when 17 Russians have been indicted. Its not a witch-hunt when some of the most senior members of the Trump campaign have been indicted. Its not a witch-hunt when Democrats and Republicans agree with the intelligence community that Russia interfered in our election to aid President Trump. In other words, its not a witch-hunt if the intelligence and police agencies of the capitalist stateresponsible for countless crimes, assassinations, wars, frame-ups and coups, all based on liessay its not a witch-hunt. Fridays Washington Post carried an op-ed piece by Democratic columnist Ruth Marcus headlined The witches are real. She wrote: Our systemin particular, a Justice Department that is part of the executive branch but that maintains necessary independence from political meddling; prosecutors who operate in appropriate secrecy but within guidelines and with judicial oversightis working as intended Nothing in the conduct of the Mueller probe suggests anything other than the diligent professionalism that he is known for. No evidence has been presented to substantiate the allegations of Russian government meddling in the US elections or the claim that Vladimir Putin was instrumental in tipping the electoral vote to Trump. The widely cited proof of Russian efforts on social media to sow discord, discredit American democracy and boost Trump actually points to the concocted character of the entire anti-Russian narrative. The alleged purchase by unidentified Russians of $100,000 worth of Facebook ads, even if true, would be less than a footnote in a $4 billion presidential campaign. On the other hand, the recent press reports add to a wealth of information showing that the US intelligence and spy agencies, operating behind the backs of the American people and without any democratic accountability, manipulated the 2016 elections on a scale that massively outweighed anything Moscow could have attempted. The real threat to the democratic rights of the American people comes not from Russia or foreign terrorists, but from the US government itself, which is completely controlled by a vast military/intelligence complex allied to the financial oligarchy. Both major parties are beholden to this deep state machine for surveillance and repression. The Democratic Party evinces not the slightest concern or opposition to this police state apparatus. Its ringing defense of the FBI and CIA coincides with its critical role in supplying the votes necessary to confirm black site torturer Gina Haspel as CIA director earlier this week. It comes, moreover, in the midst of a congressional election campaign in which the Democratic Party is fielding dozens of candidatesone quarter of all Democratic challengers in competitive House districtswho come from the intelligence agencies, command positions in combat units in Iraq and Afghanistan, or civilian positions in the Pentagon, State Department or National Security Council. The author also recommends: The CIA Democrats (Pamphlet available from Mehring Books) [7 March 2018] Zaynub Afinnih lives thousands of miles away from Sudan, but the story of a 19-year-old woman who was sentenced to death there for killing her rapist inspired her to start a global campaign calling for justice. "I don't know her ... I've never spoken to her," the 16-year-old activist told CNN from her family's home in Rouen, France. "But she is my sister in humanity. I can't let her die for defending herself against the man who raped her." Noura Hussein was imprisoned in Omdurman, Sudan, last year after fatally stabbing the man she was forced to marry, who she says raped her as his relatives held her down. The harrowing details of her case have set social media ablaze and captured international attention with the hashtags #JusticeforNoura and #SaveNoura. Afinnih first came across Hussein's story on Instagram, and then read more about her in a blog post. She said she was shocked by the story. "It was just horrific. I couldn't read the story and go back about my normal day," Hussein said. "After that I made the petition. I felt like I had to do something." From the ground-floor flat she shares with her Nigerian mother, two sisters, and brother, Afinnih decided to create a change.org petition appealing to the Sudanese government to save Hussein's life. The petition has gone viral, garnering more than 700,000 signatures so far. After starting the petition from the bunk bed of her bedroom, Afinnih shared it with her followers on Instagram and Twitter, calling on her friends to do the same. "She's a hero," Afinnih said of Hussein. "She's representing all the women who have been oppressed in their lives." Hussein's family compelled her to marry at 15 -- one year younger than Afinnih -- but she refused and ran away for three years. Her father forced her to complete the wedding ceremony last April. After refusing to have sex with her husband on their "honeymoon," she says he raped her as his brother and two cousins restrained her. Calls for mercy mount Since Hussein was sentenced on May 10, calls for mercy have mounted internationally. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres demanded Sudan stop any attempt to execute Hussein, and urged respect for her claim of self defense against attempted rape. Saying that Guterres was following the case closely, UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told CNN that the UN "calls for halting any steps being taken toward her execution, which, on the basis of the information made available to us, would violate international human rights law and standards, thus constituting an arbitrary execution." Amnesty International has collected 174,000 letters from people around the world asking for her release -- they've sent 150,000 of those letters to Sudan's Ministry of Justice, Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director for East Africa Seif Magango told CNN on Thursday. Amnesty is waiting for a response, he adds. READ MORE: Lawyer for Sudanese teen who killed her rapist facing intimidation "What we ask the international community is to stand with us to free Noura," he said. "She doesn't deserve to die for defending herself." A representative from the US State Department told CNN it "echo(es) the statements of many in the international community and within Sudan, condemning early and forced marriage and violence against women and girls." "We have raised this case with the government of Sudan, and note that it is still going through a judicial process; we look forward to an appropriate resolution of her case, consistent with Sudan's international human rights obligations." The Sudanese government has not responded to CNN requests for comment on the case. Anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's political coalition has won Iraq's parliamentary election, the election commission announced late Friday. The Saeroon Alliance led by al-Sadr, the Shia who many US military officials hold responsible for the deaths of US troops, won by taking the most number of seats in the May 12 parliamentary elections. Moments after the results were announced Friday, al-Sadr tweeted, "Your vote is an honor for us." He added, "Iraq and reforms have won with your votes...We will not disappoint you...the blame, all the blame is on those who failed Iraq." The Saeroon Alliance claimed 54 of the 328 seats in the parliament, the most of any coalition. The Fatah Alliance, led by Hadi al-Amiri, took 48 seats, while the Victory Alliance, led by Washington's preferred candidate, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, won 42 seats. Al-Sadr, who in 2008 was named as one of Time Magazine's 100 most influence people, campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, allied himself with the Communist Party and rode a wave of populist sentiment to victory. An opponent of Iranian influence in his country, al-Sadr is also a longtime foe of the United States and its role in Iraq. Al-Sadr was once the leader of the Mehdi Army, a powerful Shia militia, which was blamed for some of the worst violence between 2005 and 2008 in Iraq. Some of his militiamen fought and killed US and Iraqi soldiers. He formally disbanded the group in 2008, announcing that it was transitioning into a movement to oppose secularism and Western thought. The Shia, once united, are now splintered Under the power-sharing system installed after the 2003 US-led invasion, the position of prime minister is reserved for a Shia. Abadi, who's been in power since 2014, hoped to retain the top job, but Iraq's Shia bloc has splintered into five major coalitions. Al-Sadr will still need to reach out to other blocs, including Sunni and Kurdish coalitions, to form a governing alliance. While Iraqis have celebrated the routing of ISIS fighters from major cities in the country's north, they are also frustrated by the limited change they've seen in their daily lives. Among their complaints are a dearth of job opportunities, a struggling economy and a crumbling infrastructure with frequent power cuts. They also lament poor government services and slow reconstruction in areas such as Tikrit, Falluja and Mosul, places that were ravaged in the fighting against ISIS. Corruption, another major issue, is blamed by many Iraqis for their country's failure to translate the wealth from its natural resources into a better life for all its citizens. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Police say an arrest is not likely to happen after a Thursday night stabbing in Terre Haute. The reason? The victim is currently not cooperating with police. It happened just before 10:30 near 20th and Deming Streets. LINK | STABBING INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY NEAR 20TH AND DEMING STREETS Police told News 10 two women were fighting over a man before the stabbing happened. During the fight, police said one woman got a knife and allegedly stabbed the boyfriend. The injury was non-life threatening. HAVANA (AP) A 39-year-old airliner with 110 people aboard crashed and burned in a cassava field just after taking off from the Havana airport Friday, leaving three survivors in Cubas worst aviation disaster in three decades, officials said. The Boeing 737 went down just after noon a short distance from the end of the runway at Jose Marti International Airport while on a short-hop flight to the eastern city of Holguin. Firefighters rushed to extinguish the flames that engulfed the field of debris left where Cubana Flight 972 hit the ground. There is a high number of people who appear to have died, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said from the scene. Things have been organized, the fire has been put out, and the remains are being identified. Relatives of those aboard were ushered into a private area at the terminal to await word on their loved ones. My daughter is 24, my God, shes only 24! cried Beatriz Pantoja, whose daughter Leticia was on the plane. State TV said the jet veered sharply to the right after takeoff, and Diaz-Canel said a special commission had been formed to investigate the cause of the crash. A Cuban airliner with 113 people on board plummeted into a yuca field just after takeoff from Havanas international airport on Friday. There was no immediate word on casualties. (May 18) The only thing we heard, when we were checking in, an explosion, the lights went out in the airport and we looked out and saw black smoke rising and they told us a plane had crashed, Argentine tourist Brian Horanbuena told The Associated Press at the airport. Skies were overcast and rainy at the airport at the time of the incident, with winds reportedly around 4 mph (6 kph). Authorities said there were 104 passengers and six crew members on the flight operated by the Cuban state airline. Mexican authorities said the Boeing 737-201 was built in 1979 and rented by Cubana from Aerolineas Damojh, a small charter company that also goes by the name Global Air. A statement from the countrys Transportation Department identified the pilot and co-pilot as Capt. Jorge Luis Nunez Santos and first officer Miguel Angel Arreola Ramirez. It said the flight attendants were Maria Daniela Rios, Abigail Hernandez Garcia and Beatriz Limon. Global Air said maintenance worker Marco Antonio Lopez Perez was also aboard. Outside the companys Mexico City offices, former Global Air flight attendant Ana Marlen Covarrubias said she had worked for the company for over seven years and knows nearly all the crew members. I dont have the words. Im very sad. Were in mourning, a she said in tears. It was something really, really, really terrible; a tragedy for us. In addition to the Mexican crew, Cuban Communist Party newspaper Granma reported that the passengers were mostly Cubans plus five foreigners from countries it did not identify. Argentinas Foreign Ministry said two of its citizens had died in the crash. In November 2010 a Global Air flight originating in Mexico City made an emergency landing in Puerto Vallarta because its front landing gear did not deploy. The fire was quickly extinguished, and none of the 104 people aboard were injured. That plane was a 737 first put into service in 1975. Mexican aviation authorities said a team of experts would fly to Cuba on Saturday to take part in the investigation. Cubana has had a generally good safety record but is notorious for delays and cancellations and has taken many of its planes out of service because of maintenance problems in recent months, prompting it to hire charter aircraft from other companies. Four crash survivors were taken to a Havana hospital, and three remained alive as of mid-afternoon, hospital director Martinez Blanco told Cuban state TV. State media reports stopped short of openly declaring the rest on board were dead, but there was no word of other survivors by Friday evening. Cuban First Vice President Salvador Valdes Mesa had met with Cubana officials on Thursday to discuss improvements to its service. The airline blames its spotty record on a lack of parts and airplanes because of the U.S. trade embargo against the communist-run country. Graphic locates Jose Marti International Airport outside Havana, when a jetliner crashed May 18. It was Cubas third major aviation accident since 2010. Last year a Cuban military plane crashed into a hillside in the western province of Artemisa, killing eight soldiers. In 2010, an AeroCaribbean flight from Santiago to Havana went down in bad weather, killing all 68 people aboard, including 28 foreigners, in what was the countrys worst air disaster in more than two decades. The last deadly accident involving a Cubana-operated plane was in 1989, when a charter flight from Havana to Milan, Italy, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 126 people on board and at least two dozen on the ground. Cubanas director general, Capt. Hermes Hernandez Dumas, told state media last month that the airlines domestic flights had carried 11,700 more passengers than planned between January and April. He said 64 percent of flights took off on time, up from 59 percent the previous year. ___ Associated Press writer Amy Guthrie contributed to this report from Mexico City. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Gov. Eric Holcomb has directed flags across Indiana to be flown at half-staff to honor the victims of the shootings at Santa Fe High School in Texas. Holcomb says flags should be flown at half-staff until sunset on Tuesday. He also asked businesses and residents to lower their flags to half-staff until then. The shootings Friday morning killed 10 people, most of them students, and wounded 10 others. The Indiana Blood Center announced it was shipping blood and platelets Friday evening to the University of Texas Medical Branch in response to a request for help. VINCENNES, Ind. (WTHI) - Construction is underway in Vincennes and the focus is on Main street. This is the first of three phases and extends from 22nd street to Jamestown Square apartments. Phase one is completely funded locally through the Redevelopment Commission. Thursday night the commission approved a five million dollar bond to supply this funding. Crews are currently installing water lines. However, once funding comes in crews will begin working on main street itself. Vincennes city engineer John Sprague explains that as this area of town has changed, so have the needs. Sprague says, "The need for this project has been there since they constructed Clark middle school. The high school is out there. Main Street is narrow, it's basically a rural road from 22nd street on out. There are no shoulders, there are no sidewalks, no curbing. It's ditches." Sprague says the main construction will begin when an INDOT project on Hart street finishes up this summer. CUMBERLAND, Wis. (AP) Police had praise for students who created an illusion for a senior class prank that appeared to show a car crashed into the principals office. Students at Cumberland High School in Wisconsin used a junk car, some bricks, some tape and a black tarp to make it look like the car had crashed into their school. Police arrived on the scene only to realize it wasnt really a wreck. The Cumberland Police Department wrote on Facebook that it was one of the best senior pranks. The school district also congratulated the students for their ingenuity. Cumberland is about 90 miles (144 kilometers) northeast of Minneapolis. WINDSOR, England (AP) Meghan Markle will have an heir to the British throne walk her down the aisle and have her mother and friends on hand for support when she marries Prince Harry at Windsor Castle. Fridays announcement that Markle has asked her future father-in-law, Prince Charles, to offer a supporting elbow, stepping in for Markles father after he became ill, meant arrangements were almost complete for Saturdays royal wedding. The events mix of royalty, celebrity, pomp, and ceremony has drawn stratospheric levels of interest around the world and will be broadcast live to tens of millions. Kensington Palace said Prince Charles is pleased to be able to welcome Ms. Markle to the royal family in this way after Markles father Thomas was unable to attend due to illness. Thousands of well-wishers descended Friday on Windsor amid final preparations for the wedding, which has drawn royal fans and an international media throng to the castle town and royal residence 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of London. Union Jacks have been unfurled, security barriers and police patrols put into place and fans were already camping out to capture the prime viewing positions for Saturdays royal carriage ride through the town. Meghan Markle and her mother arrived at the Cliveden House Hotel in Berkshire on Friday, a day ahead of her wedding to Britains Prince Harry. Harry and Prince William greet crowds of well-wishers in Windsor ahead of the royal wedding. (May 18) Harry and Prince William, his brother and best-man, delighted royal fans when they emerged from Windsor Castle late Friday afternoon to greet well-wishers. If Harry was feeling nervous, he didnt show it. The smiling prince gave a thumbs up and answered Great, thank you when asked how he was feeling on the eve of his wedding. The 33-year-old prince accepted a teddy bear from one well-wisher as he chatted to people from Britain, the United States, Canada and elsewhere. Tens of thousands of spectators, including many Americans who have come in support of the California-born Markle, are expected in Windsor to soak up the royal atmosphere. British police say they will be subject to airport-style security scanners and bag searches. Metal barriers have also been erected to stop vehicle attacks like the ones that killed several people on London and Westminster bridges last year. Sniffer dogs and mounted patrols are also out and about, and well-wishers have been asked not to throw confetti when the newlyweds ride through town in a horse-drawn carriage Saturday. It poses a potential security risk and its a bit of a pain to clean up! said Thames Valley Police. Buckingham Palace also announced that Queen Elizabeth IIs husband the Duke of Edinburgh will attend the royal wedding, just a few weeks after undergoing a hip replacement operation. Harrys 96-year-old grandfather has largely retired from public duties and it had not been clear earlier whether he would be well enough to attend. Markles mother, Doria Ragland, flew to England from her California home earlier in the week and had tea Friday with the queen at Windsor Castle. It was her first meeting with a head of state within whom shes about to share a family bond. On Thursday, Ragland dined with Williams family and a day earlier she met Charles and his wife Camilla. Ragland had been was the bookies favorite to escort the bride down the aisle, but Charles has a lifetime of experience in appearing at large-scale public events amid intense scrutiny. I think some people will be disappointed people who were looking forward to the historic moment of a woman walking her daughter down the aisle, and a woman of mixed race heritage from America. It would have made an historic shot, said royal historian Robert Lacey. But, he added, for Prince Charles, the future king, to walk a bride down the aisle, what more could Meghan dream of? Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who will conduct the wedding ceremony, said Charles is a very warm person and that hes doing this is a sign of his love and concern and support. And I think its wonderful. Its beautiful. The archbishop also said Harry and Markle are a very self-possessed couple and the atmosphere in rehearsals has been relaxed, laughing and enjoyable. Its not the first time a royal bride hasnt been walked down the aisle by her father. The monarchs sister, the late Princess Margaret, was walked down the aisle by Prince Philip because her father was dead. Queen Victoria walked two daughters down the aisle. Roseline Morris, a 35-year-old fan from Basildon, England, noted that Charles hasnt got a daughter himself. Hes never going to get the chance to walk a daughter down the aisle, so this will be nice for him as well, she said. Having the father of the groom escort the bride is yet another twist in a royal wedding that is proving to be different from many others. Master baker Claire Ptak said Friday that the royal wedding cake a three-part layered lemon and elderflower cake will have an ethereal taste and be presented in a non-traditional way. Markle will not have a maid of honor but there will be 10 young bridesmaids and page boys, including 4-year-old Prince George and 3-year-old Princess Charlotte, the elder children of William and his wife Kate. The 600 invited guests include members of the royal family and celebrity friends of Harry and Meghans including, its rumored, Elton John. Also invited are several of Markles co-stars from the legal TV drama Suits. The couple will be married by Welby in a Church of England ceremony, but the Most Rev. Michael Curry, the first black presiding bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church, will also deliver a sermon. Curry the son of an American civil rights activist and the descendant of African slaves has spoken out for gay rights and plans to join a march on the White House next week to reject U.S. President Donald Trumps America first stance. On Friday, Curry said seeing the couple up close, he saw two real people who are obviously in love. When I see them, something in my heart leaps, he said. Thats why 2 billion people are watching them. __ Lawless reported from London. Danica Kirka contributed from London. ___ For complete AP royal wedding coverage, visit https://apnews.com/tag/Royalweddings BOONEVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) - A man from Booneville faces burglary charges. On Tuesday, May 15, Matthew Branch Arnold, 30, was arrested and charged with four counts of burglary. Booneville police say officers have been investigating a series of commercial burglaries committed since April 30. Police say three counts relate to the burglary of a business on Adams Street. The fourth count is in relation to the burglary of a business on East Church Street. Police say majority of the stolen property has been recovered. His case will be presented to the Prentiss County grand jury. LAMAR COUNTY, Ala.(WTVA) - Residents and students in Sulligent, Alabama, lined the streets to welcome home John Corbell. The 15-year-old was in Nashville since April recovering from a heart transplant. "It was awesome," said he said. "I just thought that you can't really get this from a big city, only small towns that are as close as family." Sulligent High School and the communities of Vernon and South Lamar have raised about $55,000 to help the family. "It has been overwhelming since day one the support that we've had," added Sabrina Corbell, John's mother. "Theyve continued to support us while we've been in Nashville." Sabrina hopes their story will encourage others to be organ donors. "Without it, he wouldn't be here," said Sabrina. "It is definitely the gift of life." THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WTXL) - Brian Kemp, a Georgia gubernatorial candidate, is responding to the attention over his campaign ads. In one, Kemp is seen holding a gun across his lap while talking to a young man. This ad has received backlash from viewers who think the gun is pointed in the teen's direction. In a second ad, Kemp talks about deporting illegal criminals and sending them back home, which some say is hateful. Kemp, however, tells us that these ads were meant to be light-hearted. "We're trying to use humor and I guess political satire, if you will, to draw attention to our issues that are our there. Make no mistake, those issues are real when you think about cutting government regulations, making Georgia number one in small business," said Kemp. Kemp also believes the Georgia government should have a spending cap for tax reform and should deport criminal illegal aliens. THOMASVILLE, GA (WTXL) -- It's no secret that tourism is huge in Tallahassee, but what about some of the smaller towns in rural Georgia? It turns out, tourism is on the rise throughout the Peach State. "If you build a town that people want to live in, you've made a town that people want to visit," says Bonnie Hayes, the Tourism Director for the City of Thomasville. Just take one look around Thomasville, and you'll see that statement is true. In fact, tourism in the Rose City is up about three percent over the course of the year. "We're so happy to see that people are finding Thomasville, exploring Thomasville, come in, stay with us and leave those dollars with us," continues Hayes. For the residents of Thomasville, the more dollars that are spent by visitors, the less money they have to pay in taxes. Local businesses and eateries really feel the impact from tourists coming into town not only for the big events, but all throughout the year. "We have people that are out of town, like far away, that have come in and say, 'oh, i heard about you guys from a relative that lives here. We had to come try you out when we come through,' and have just really loved it and have come back, from far like far away," explains Robin Kelly, a manager for The Scoop Deli and Ice Cream. It's the word of mouth that has really helped this restaurant grow in popularity in recent years. "We have definitely, I wouldn't be scared to say doubled, in the last five years," says Stephanie Edenfield, another manager at The Scoop Deli and Ice Cream. "We see a lot of new faces on Saturdays. We get a lot of people from Tallahassee and other towns. And that economic boost is a big deal to businesses across southwest Georgia. Hayes says she hopes to continue promoting Thomasville to areas even further away to entice more people to visit the city. A member of security forces stands guard at a car bomb attack site in Gao, Mali, on Jan. 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhao Ziquan) UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous Wednesday condemned the suicide attack targeting a military camp in Mali, saying it was clearly aimed at derailing the peace process. "This is an ignoble attack, which should be condemned in the strongest possible terms," Ladsous told a UN Security Council meeting, adding that the bombing attack, which killed at least 50 and injured some 60 others in the northern city of Gao, is "a direct attack on the peace process" . "There was no other objective behind this attack than to derail the peace process by undermining confidence between the parties and the population that aims to undermine the most recent progress in the security arrangements for the peace agreement," he said. Ladsous said that the peace process is at a critical juncture though little significant progress has been made after over 18 months of interim period following the signature of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. The peacekeeping chief stressed the urgency to make progress and called on the signatories to fully engage in the implementation of the agreement. "I really want to share with you a sense of urgency. The peace process in Mali is at a concerning state and yet this remain the only possible way to achieve peace and reconciliation. Therefore it is necessary for everybody to commit wholly to its implementation and we don't have much time to do so," he said. On May 15, 2015, in absence of the Mali's main rebel coalition Coordination of Azwad Movements (CMA), which include three major rebel groups in northern Mali, Mali's government signed the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation with pro-government militias as well as some of the country's minor rebel groups. CMA signed the agreement in the African country's capital Bamako a month later, completing the signing process of the accord that is aimed at ending hostilities and launching development programs in the troubled northern Mali, as well as restoring peace and stability to the nation. BRUSSELS, May 18 (Xinhua) -- A two-year-old migrant girl was found dead in a van carrying 30 Kurdish migrants which was chased by police for an hour in southern Belgium, the RTBF quoted the autopsy as reporting on Friday. The girl died Thursday morning from a gunshot wound in the vehicle with migrants. The chase began on the E42 motorway outside the town of Namur, reported the Belgian newspaper "La DH". At the end of the chase between Namur and Mons, the vehicle was blocked after shots from the police. There is no indication at this point that the child was shot by the police. It took 15 police cars and some 30 police officers to bring the incident to an end at around 3 a.m. on Thursday. Belgian Interior Minister Jan Jambon lamented the incident and stressed the dangers of human trafficking. "Tragic event with dramatic consequences. The investigation is in progress. This event again highlights the sad circumstances in which human trafficking flourishes", he wrote Thursday on twitter. "The first report prepared by the emergency services was misleading: it established that a head trauma was the cause of the death, but the autopsy found that a lost bullet was the cause of death", said a spokesperson at the Tournai prosecutor's office. The case is under investigation in Mons for intentional homicide, with possible non-assistance to persons in danger, malicious interference with traffic and armed rebellion. Hours after the incident on Thursday, a group of some 60 migrants reacted by blocking a motorway near Dunkirk, France. Migrants staying at the nearby Grande-Synthe camp had known the girl who had died as she was part of a family who had been staying in the gym, said French police. BERLIN, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) ordered the luxury carmaker and Volkswagen subsidiary Porsche to recall more than 60,000 new diesel vehicles, German magazine SPIEGEL and radio station Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) reported on Friday. According to the reports, the latest episode in the German diesel emissions scandal affects 53,000 diesel vehicles of the Porsche model Macan and 6,800 vehicles of the Cayenne model. "Due to the installation of defeat devices, the vehicles can release higher Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions during operations (than measured in test settings)," a spokesperson for the ministry of transport told SPIEGEL and BR. Embarrassingly for Porsche and the German government, the vehicles in question were all fitted with newest Euro6 type of diesel motors which are being marketed as a cleaner alternative to older diesel vehicles. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has recently sided with carmakers in rejecting growing calls for comprehensive technical updates and argued that subsidies to incentivize customers to be newer, allegedly less-polluting, diesel cars offered a better way to lower NOx emissions levels in cities. The revelations come shortly after the European Union (EU) filed formal charges against Germany for failing to comply with urban air regulations on Thursday. The development has reignited tensions within the federal government over the handling of the diesel emissions scandal, with the German Social Democrats (SPD) urging the Christian Social Union (CSU) and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to finally take a firmer stance against fraudulent companies in the national automotive industry. Only recently, Volkswagen admitted that the KBA had discovered illegal defeat devices to falsify actual NOx emissions which were also installed in the current production series of Audi A6 and A7 vehicles. Both models were advertised with an "environmental premium" of up to 10,000 euros (11,800 U.S. dollars) which customers would receive if they agreed in the sale to have their older diesel cars demolished. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 05:17:02|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close SANTIAGO, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The Chilean economy grew by 4.2 percent in the first quarter of 2018, the largest quarterly growth since 2013, the central bank announced Friday. According to the institution, most sectors of the economy saw growth, especially mining, which climbed by 19.3 percent year-on-year. The central bank also highlighted the growth of trade and personal services, while the fishing and forestry sectors both contracted. The central bank President Mario Marcel praised this robust economic growth and emphasized this was not a temporary trend. Marcel said that "the economy is entering a phase of larger growth but this growth must always be considered in the medium-term." He added that "we have projected a growth range of between 3 and 4 percent for the whole of the year." Chile's President Sebastian Pinera, who came to power in March, made the economic slowdown seen under the previous left-wing government one of his main campaign slogans. Chile has seen a long period of economic slowdown since 2013, largely due to sustained low prices of copper, its main export. For all of 2018, the the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have projected GDP growth of 3 percent in Chile although the local government has estimated it will reach 4 percent. PRAGUE, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Czech financial group J&T Private Investments (JTPI) has decided to take control of the management of the CEFC Europe, a Czech-based European branch of the Chinese conglomerate CEFC China Energy. The reason for this step, according to the JTPI statement on Thursday, was the unpaid debts that CEFC Group didn't pay on time. Since 2015 the CEFC has a 9.9-percent stake in the JTPI. As known from the companies, CEFC took loans from the JTPI in the period from January to March 2018 for a total of about 450 million euros (about 530 million U.S. dollars). The JTPI representatives claimed that the CEFC had not paid back the loan towards JTPI. In this regard, the JTPI made a decision on Thursday to take over the management of the CEFC's European branch, which meant dismissing the board of directors, represented by the Czech chairman Jaroslav Tvrdik, and launching the anti-crisis process. A financial and legal audit is being prepared. The dismissed chairman of the CEFC Europe Jaroslav Tvrdik said on his Twitter that 475 million euros were already stored on a special account at the Ceskoslovenska obchodni banka (CSOB), and CEFC intended to make a transfer to the JTPI. Tvrdik added that JTPI was aware of that plan and unjustifiably refused to accept the money. The JTPI, however, claimed the opposite -- the payment deadline expired on May 15. The JTPI shortened the pay-off deadline plan as they had been receiving the information about the financial problems of the Chinese group. Jiri Ovcacek, Czech president's spokesman, said on Friday that the Castle would not comment on the current issue. According to the Prime Minister Andrey Babis, this is a matter of private companies. "It is in the interests of the companies to make clear who the owner is, let's hope it will clear up as soon as possible," he was quoted as saying. At the moment, the JTPI entered into negotiations with the Chinese state-owned conglomerate CITIC, which recently became a co-owner of the CEFC Europe with a 49-percent stake. CITIC, in a letter dated May 8, undertook a right to repay the debt of the CEFC within the next five working days, which was until May 15. The payment, however, did not happen. This allowed the JTPI used the situation in their favor and took over the Czech branch, establishing the anti-crisis management. JTPI co-owner Patrik Tkac said on Friday that he considers CITIC to be a trustworthy and transparent partner. The Czech side is ready to immediately receive the money and transfer the control back to the CEFC. CEFC China previously selected the Czech Republic as the seat of its European activities. It had bought shares in several companies. In the Czech Republic, CEFC Europe manages assets over 1.5 billion euros. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 06:57:26|Editor: Liu Video Player Close Police cars are seen around Santa Fe High School in Texas, the United States, on May 18, 2018. Eight to ten people have been killed after a shooter opened fire inside Santa Fe High School Friday morning in the southeast of Houston, in the U.S. state of Texas, local police said. (Xinhua/Steven Song) WASHINGTON, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Sorrow and anger were pouring after an armed student killed 10 people, mostly fellow students, in the state of Texas on Friday, in the latest bloody school shooting to hit the United States. A 17-year-old shooter was taken into custody after opening fire inside Santa Fe High School in the southeast of Houston, local police said. President Donald Trump addressed the shooting shortly after the news broke, vowing to take actions to protect students and secure schools. "This has been going on for too long in our country," Trump said during an event at the White House. "We grieve and send our support and love to everyone affected by this absolutely horrible attack." However, Trump did not say what actions his administration will take to protect students. The shooting at the Texas school came just over three months after a shooting killed 17 students and faculty at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, state of Florida. Several students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High reached out social media to voice their sadness and outrage. "Our children are being MURDERED and you're treating this like a game," student Jaclyn Corin wrote in response to the president's Twitter comments about the Texas shooting. "This is the 22nd school shooting just this year. DO SOMETHING." Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas expressed his prayers on social media to students and faculty at the school as well as first responders at the scene. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia noted that there have been 22 school shootings in the United States in 2018 and three of them occurred in the past week alone. "How many times must our hearts break hearing news like this," Kaine tweeted. "This has to stop." "More tragic bloodshed & heartbreak caused by cruel gun violence," said Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. "Congress is complicit." The February shooting in Parkland has rekindled the country's debate and movement over gun control but no major federal gun controls have been imposed since then. "Santa Fe High, you didn't deserve this," wrote Stoneman Douglas student Emma Gonzalez, a vocal survivor of the Parkland shooting. "You deserve peace all your lives, not just after a tombstone saying that is put over you," added Gonzalez, also an organizer of the "March for Our Lives" rally in Washington D.C. in March. "My heart is so heavy for the students of Santa Fe High School," wrote fellow Parkland student Corin. "It's an all too familiar feeling no one should have to experience. I am so sorry this epidemic touched your town - Parkland will stand with you now and forever," Corin said. An unnamed police also confirmed that explosives were found at the campus of Santa Fe High School. The gunman, who was taken into custody on murder charges, was identified as Dimitrios Pagourtzis, a 17-year-old junior at the school. He was using a shotgun and a .38 revolver belonging to his father to carry out the attack, according to Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Those weapons were legally owned. Abbott described the shooting as "one of the most heinous attacks that we've ever seen in the history of Texas schools." "Nothing can prepare a parent for the loss of a child," Abbott told reporters. Interviewed by media, several students said they had been trained what to do when a shooting happens, but never thought a real shooting would happen. "My friend got shot in the art hall," Santa Fe student Dakota Shrader, told reporters. "I shouldn't be going through this," Shrader said. "It's my school. This is my daily life. I feel scared to even go back. Santa Fe High School is located in Galveston County, about 54 km southeast of downtown Houston. There are about 1,400 students in the high school. Santa Fe is a city with a population about 13,000. The school was on lockdown Friday. The county is about 360 km east of Sutherland Springs, Texas, where a gunman barged into a church in November and murdered 26 people. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 07:37:34|Editor: Liu Video Player Close Image provided by the Cuban News Agency shows that Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel arrives at the site where an airplane crashed near the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, Cuba, on May 18, 2018. At least three people have been found alive, but in critical condition, after a Boeing 737 passenger plane crashed near Havana on Friday, according to state newspaper Granma. (Xinhua/Cuban News Agency) HAVANA, May 18 (Xinhua) -- At least three people have been found alive, but in critical condition, after a Boeing 737 passenger plane with 104 passengers on board crashed near Havana on Friday, according to state newspaper Granma. Local media reported that more than 100 have died after the plane crashed shortly after takeoff. Mexican authorities said five Mexican crew members were on board. A statement from the Mexican Ministry of Communications and Transportation listed the names of the crew members, and said that the plane had been built in 1979, and its type is Boeing 737-201. The Boeing passenger plane carrying 104 passengers crashed Friday morning shortly after taking off from Havana's Jose Marti International Airport. The plane was covering the regular route from Havana to the eastern city of Holguin city. It is reported that the aircraft belonged to the Mexican company Damojh and had been rented by Cubana de Aviacion. Damojh Global Air is a commercial aviation company registered in Mexico, which offers charter flights. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel rushed to the scene of the disaster, accompanied by officials from the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Transportation. Speaking to Cuban television, he said that "the news is not good, it seems there is a high number of victims." It was also reported that three survivors in critical condition are being treated at the General Calixto Garcia University Hospital. Dr. Carlos Martinez, director of the hospital, told the press that four passengers had been brought in, one man and three women, but that the male passenger had died. Martinez explained that the hospital had activated all emergency measures, including releasing beds, preparing surgery and ensuring supplies of blood were available. The causes of the accident are under investigation. Cuban authorities deployed emergency rescue teams, supported by firefighters, to attend to the crash. Witnesses reported hearing explosions and seeing a high column of smoke near the airport. The authorities closed the main highway from the city to the airport and allowed only ambulances and official vehicles to pass. Related: Backgrounder: Timeline of airplane accidents in Cuba Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 07:59:36|Editor: mmm Video Player Close Delegates attend a special session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, May 18, 2018. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on Friday warned that the violence in Gaza has reached a peak in the past week, with 60 people had been killed by the Israeli forces in just one day of May 14, a highest figure of one-day death toll in Gaza since the 2014 hostilities. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan) Francis receives a Thai Buddhist delegation. Christians and Buddhists "are witnesses in the world of the values of justice, peace and the protection of human dignity". Dialogue and peace in the meeting with a delegation of Dharmic religions. Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Buddhists and Catholics need to "grow increasingly closer, advance in knowledge of one another says Pope Francis in a greeting he addressed this morning to a Buddhist delegation from Thailand, received before the general audience in the Paul VI hall. "I offer you a warm welcome - said Francis - and I thank you for the precious gift of your Sacred Book translated into todays language by the monks of Wat Pho Temple. It is a tangible sign of your generosity and of the friendship that we have shared for so many years, a journey made of many small steps. I think in particular of the meeting in the Vatican between Blessed Pope Paul VI and the Venerable Somdej Phra Wanaratana, whose portrait can be seen in the entrance of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, which you have visited in these days". "It is my heartfelt wish that Buddhists and Catholics will grow increasingly closer, advance in knowledge of one another and in esteem for their respective spiritual traditions, and offer the world a witness to the values of justice, peace, and the defense of human dignity. He concluded With renewed gratitude for this meeting, I invoke upon on all of you the divine blessings of joy and peace ". Previously, in Santa Marta, Francis had met a delegation of the Dharmic religions, who participated in the conference on " Dharma and Logos Dialogue and Cooperation in a Complex Age ", which took place yesterday in Rome. An initiative, Francis recalled, which involves Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs. "Dialogue and cooperation are essential at a time like our own, when complex and unprecedented factors have led to increased tensions and conflicts, accompanied by violence on both a small and a large scale. It is a cause for thanksgiving to God when religious leaders actively foster a culture of encounter by offering an example of fruitful dialogue and by working together effectively in the service of life, human dignity and the care of creation". Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 07:57:38|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Police cars are seen around Santa Fe High School in Texas, the United States, on May 18, 2018. Eight to ten people have been killed after a shooter opened fire inside Santa Fe High School Friday morning in the southeast of Houston, in the U.S. state of Texas, local police said. (Xinhua/Steven Song) HOUSTON, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Ten people were killed and another 10 wounded on Friday when a student armed with a shotgun and a revolver opened fire at a high school in the U.S. state of Texas in the latest incident of gun violence against students. Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed the number of victims at Santa Fe High School, southeast of Houston, and called the shooting "one of the most heinous attacks that we've ever seen in the history of Texas schools. During a press briefing near the high school, Abbott said, "It is with a very heavy heart that I can confirm that as of this time, there have been 10 lives that have been lost and another 10 that have been wounded." "We grieve for the victims who lost their lives at Santa Fe High School and we pray for the families who are suffering and will continue to suffer in the days to come," he added. The governor described the shooting as "one of the hideous attacks" that has ever happened in the history of Texas schools, a place of learning where parents should be able to send their children without fear for their children's safety. Identifying two goals going forward, Abbott said the immediate goal is to "ensure this crime is going to be prosecuted appropriately while also work to ensure that we provide the families, the victims and all the children in the schools the support and resources and counselling they need." The second goal, Abbott said, is to "take action to step up and make sure this tragedy is never repeated ever again in the history of state of Texas." Santa Fe student Logan Roberds told Xinhua that he was at the back of the school building when the shooting happened. "Hearing those gunshots, my heart was racing. It was just very very terrifying, very scary. I was at the back of the school and teacher told us to run. So I end up running," the student told Xinhua. The boy said he remembered there were three gunshots before they were told to run by the teachers. "There is no if or but or anything, we had to leave." Terrifying and scary were the only words he can think of to describe his experience. "I'm saying scary a lot, because it was. You never know the shooter could come outside where we were and could probably shot us," he said. Roberds said he had some friends who were close to the encounter and police safely got them out. Earlier, law enforcement identified the suspect as 17-year-old Santa Fe student Dimitrios Pagourtzis. Abbott said Pagourtzis gave himself up to the police without the courage of committing suicide which he planned to do. In his journals and computer, the suspect said he wanted to commit the shooting and then suicide. The suspect is currently at the Santa Fe Police Department, police said. The governor also confirmed that two weapons were used in the attack, a shotgun and a .38 revolver. Both weapons are legally owned by the suspect's father. There is no information whether the father is aware that the son took the weapons. Abbott said different kinds of explosive devices were detected in a home and in a vehicle of the shooter. Several law enforcement agencies are working together to analyze the explosives. Earlier in the day, an unnamed Santa Fe police officer told reporters the suspect shooter was in custody and another person was detained and questioned. "Both of them are students," he said. The officer urged local residents to stay alarmed and call 911 when seeing something suspicious. Local police also confirmed that a Santa Fe Independent School District officer was injured in the shooting and was under surgery with critical condition. Several ambulances, including a mass casualty ambulance, along with multiple Life Flight helicopters, were seen at the site. Multiple victims were transported to a nearby hospital, some of them in critical condition. Interviewed by media, several students said they had been trained what to do when a shooting happens, but never thought a real shooting would happen. Santa Fe High School is located in Galveston County, about 54 km southeast of downtown Houston. There are about 1,400 students in the high school. Santa Fe is a city with a population of about 13,000. The school was on lockdown Friday. The county is about 360 km east of Sutherland Springs, Texas, where a gunman barged into a church last November and murdered 26 people. According to tracking website Gun Violence Archive, 5,414 people were shot dead so far in 2018 in the United States and 9,819 people were wounded. There are altogether 21,804 shooting incidents in the country this year. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 08:14:49|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close People visit exhibits at OTE Telecommunications Museum, in Athens, Greece, on May 18, 2018. Greece celebrated the International Museum Day on Friday by providing free admission to visitors and hosting several special events at museums nationwide. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 08:22:42|Editor: ZD Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) shakes hands with Spanish Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Alfonso Dastis before meeting in Madrid, Spain, May 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Guo Qiuda) MADRID, May 18 (Xinhua) -- China and Spain should join hands and speak with one voice, given increasing global uncertainties and anti-globalization trends like unilateralism and protectionism, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said. Both nations should jointly promote multilateralism, build an open world economy, and protect the free-trade system with the World Trade Organization at its core, said Wang, who is also a state councilor of China. Wang made the remarks in a meeting on Thursday with Spanish Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Alfonso Dastis. Wang said Spain is a regional power and an important EU member with global influence, and is a good friend of China in Europe. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Spain as well as the 13th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership. Wang said China appreciated Spain's constant support in the Belt and Road Initiative. Both sides should strengthen the alignment of respective national development strategies and enhance cooperation in technology and tourism. Both nations should also open up cooperation in such areas as interconnectivity, infrastructure, energy and telecoms. For his part, Dastis said Spain is willing to push the Spanish-Sino partnership to a new level as both nations celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. The Spanish side, he said, spoke highly of the great potential and important opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative, and will actively participate in jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative. Spain is also willing to discuss cooperation with China in exploring the third-party market, and strengthen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, environmental protection and new technologies, Dastis said. Spain is opposed to unilateralism and protectionism, sticks to multilateralism and protects the process of globalization, he said, adding that Spain is willing to strengthen strategic communication and cooperation with China and jointly maintain global peace and stability. At a joint press conference with Dastis after their talks, Wang said that both nations have agreed to seize the historical opportunities of jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative and push bilateral relationship to a new level. Spain has recently unveiled it's a new version of its Asian strategy, in which it sets the Sino-Spanish ties as a priority and expresses willingness to align Spain's development strategy with the Belt and Road Initiative. China appreciates Spain's stance, Wang added. ZHENGZHOU, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Suffering coronary heart disease, 79-year-old Wang Funi was amazed to find out that she can have her routine medical tests done at her rural home in central China's Henan Province. In the past, it would take her 50 minutes to travel by electric tricycle to visit the nearest county hospital and her husband or children would have to take a break from their farming work to accompany her on the trip. "It's time-consuming. Now there's no need for the trip. All the basic tests can be done at home free of charge," she said. With help of a new portable all-in-one diagnostic device, Zhang Xiaozhan, a doctor in Erpuying Village where Wang lives, conducted eight tests on Wang within 20 minutes ranging from measuring the electrical activity of her heart to checking her blood pressure. "The device offers the biggest benefits for elderly and chronic disease patients, reducing their need to travel long distances to hospitals and wait in long queues," said Zhang. At the start of this year, the city of Jiaozuo purchased around 600 all-in-one diagnostic devices and offered them to local family doctor teams. Weighing just five kilograms, the device can run multiple routine tests, from measuring blood pressure to urine and blood analysis. Li Zhenhui, sales manager with mobile healthcare company Garea which provides the device, said that the machine can do more tests if auxiliary medical equipment is connected. The company usually sends experts to train village doctors how to use the device. The test results are stored as electric files on the city's family doctor service platform as a reference for further diagnosis and treatment. A family doctor team consists of at least one general practitioner, a nurse, and a public health physician. They can handle most minor illnesses, while they will register and transfer patients with serious illnesses to major hospitals through an internal fast track system. Wang's family doctor team has six members. Liu Yingying, a general practitioner at the health center in Jiayingguan Township, is one of them. Liu said that their team has signed contracts with more than 4,000 local residents including a priority group consisting of over 500 patients. "Some have chronic diseases, while others are rehabilitating and need special attention," Liu said. The team needs to visit each patient in the priority group at least four times per year. "It's a formidable task. The all-in-one diagnostic device can improve the quality and efficiency of our service," said Liu. According to China Statistical Yearbook, every 1,000 Chinese urban residents had access to 3.92 practicing (assistant) physicians in 2016, much higher than the number of physicians for every 1,000 rural residents which stood at 1.59. In recent years, technology such as the internet, artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing are providing benefits for health care in China's rural areas and reducing the urban-rural health disparities. Tian Qingfeng, health management researcher at Zhengzhou University, said that there is an uneven distribution of health care resources in China with advanced diagnostic and treatment equipment as well as the best doctors concentrated in big cities. "Technology can improve rural access to quality health care and is an effective tool for urban and rural areas to share medical resources," said Tian. To promote the sharing of medical resources, Jiaozuo set up a telemedicine platform covering hospitals at township, county, and city levels. Doctors at township clinics can seek also online guidance from top doctors in Beijing, said Song Qinghua, an official with Jiaozuo's health and family planning commission. "Life will become more convenient. I don't fear being sick anymore," said Wang. By Matthew Rusling WASHINGTON, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The easy availability of guns, together with the Internet and a growing sense of social isolation, could turn some people into ticking time bombs. With yet another mass school shooting on Friday, these three factors, taken together, warrant a closer look, experts said. Friday saw the latest U.S. mass shooting, when an armed student went on a killing spree at a high school in the U.S. state of Texas, with a reported death toll of 10. This is not long after the previous one in February in the U.S. state of Florida, which left 17 dead. Many experts point to the ready availability of firearms as the main reason there's been a stark uptick in U.S. mass shootings over the past decade. But other experts say it's not quite that simple. Indeed, firearms have always been relatively easy to obtain in the United States, but the past decade has seen four of the deadliest shootings in U.S. history. In 2007, a student at Virginia Tech killed 32 people; in 2012, a deranged gunman claimed 28 lives in the Sandy Hook elementary school massacre, including 20 children; in 2016, a gunman killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando. And October's Las Vegas shooting - in which nearly 60 people died and 500 were wounded -- dwarfed all three of these incidents in terms of the death toll. Aside from guns, there are two additional factors that experts say are worth noting as possible causes for a rise in mass shootings in recent years. Firstly, there's an increased level of social isolation in the country. Many believe this is because people, especially young people, are spending more time than ever on social media, the Internet and smart phones. This deprives them of the human interaction that psychologists and sociologists say all people need to stay mentally healthy. Too much isolation can result in a mentally unstable person falling off the edge and committing acts of violence, goes the argument. Recent studies have also found a major increase in depression among young people. Major U.S. insurance company Blue Cross Blue Shield, in a recent report, found a 33-percent increase in diagnoses of depression from 2013 to 2016. Secondly, the Internet provides the promise of instant fame for someone who commits a violent act. In the Internet age, one can instantly become famous around the world by committing a mass murder. Within seconds after police release the name of a mass murderer, the Internet goes into overdrive, broadcasting the killer's name all over the world. For killers seeking revenge for a perceived sense that society has wronged them, publicized killings are the ultimate revenge, experts say. Joseph A. Toomey, assistant professor and director of the forensic psychology concentration at William James College, told Xinhua that one common pattern among mass shooters is a failure to cope with loss and a response to those types of things that fits the pattern of isolation. Often such individuals are the people "who have felt bullied or persecuted for a good deal of their life," Toomey said, referring to mass murderers. "And then when these losses occur they don't deal with them well. They become very angry, they ruminate over the losses, they externalize blame for the losses. They put the blame on those around them, or circumstances within society." "And so they kind of lash out at a response to that," Toomey said. Christopher Galdieri, assistant professor at Saint Anselm College, told Xinhua: "If nothing else, it seems that mass shootings have become more common, and each one results in a flood of news coverage in a way that you didn't see, say, 25 years ago, when there was one cable news channel and few people used the Internet." "They (perpetrators) know their name and picture will go around the world and that may encourage them to engage in actions that previously would have been far more limited in scope," Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua. "This is the reason some news outlets are starting to stop mentioning the names of perpetrators in order to deny them visibility," he said. West also believes that frequent mass shootings are a result of the ready availability of firearms in the country. "With this incident coming after so many similar incidents, we see again the tragic consequences of malevolent persons with easy access to firearms," Dan Mahaffee, senior vice president and director of policy at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, told Xinhua. Mahaffee also urged actions to improve the situation. "No incident has a one-size-fits-all solution from gun control, but a major element of it will have to be improved background checks; licensing or restrictions on more powerful, high capacity weapons; improved mental health screening and the ability to remove guns from those with mental issues; and better security and hardening of schools," Mahaffee said. However, experts said that despite the uptick in mass violence, Washington is unlikely to take any action. 8 killed, 45 wounded in Afghan stadium bomb attack Source: Xinhua 2018-05-19 11:38:07 JALALABAD, Afghanistan, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were killed and 45 others wounded in a bomb attack in a sport stadium in Jalalabad city, capital of Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar overnight, the provincial government said Saturday. Editor: ZD Related News Back to Top Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 12:18:14|Editor: Liu Video Player Close HAVANA, May 18 (Xinhua) -- A source from the Chinese Embassy in Cuba told Xinhua that there was no Chinese on board the Boeing 737 crashed Friday while taking off at the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana. The embassy said this after preliminary communication with the Cuban Foreign Ministry, said the source. KINSHASA, May 18 (Xinhua) -- At least three new cases of Ebola were confirmed Friday in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the country's health minister announced in the evening. DRC Minister of Health Oly Ilunga said in a statement that the three new cases have been confirmed in the health zone of Wangata, one of the three health zones affected by the epidemic in the province of Equateur. The confirmation increased the number of people affected by Ebola in the country to 17 from 14 based on the test results in the mobile laboratory on the spot. On Friday, the minister inspected the city of Mbandaka, which has a population of nearly 1.2 million in northwestern DRC and is a major transportation hub with routes to the capital Kinshasa. The city already has reports of Ebola cases. During a working session with Mbandaka officials in charge of local response to the epidemic, Ilunga once again stressed the importance of monitoring the contacts with the affected. He said that it is very important to anticipate the evolution of the epidemic and to break the chain of transmission. The African country received Wednesday thousands of doses of vaccine against the Ebola virus sent by the WHO. The vaccination campaign will be targeted at exposed health professionals, those who have been in contact with confirmed cases. According to the health ministry's statement on Thursday, the total number of Ebola cases in the DRC was 45, including 10 suspected cases, 21 probable cases and 14 confirmed cases. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 12:23:16|Editor: ZD Video Player Close BAGHDAD, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The political coalition led by prominent Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr won most seats in Iraq's parliamentary election on May 12, the Iraqi electoral commission said Saturday. According to final results announced by the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), Sadr's al-Sa'iroon Coalition garnered 54 seats in the 329-seat Council of Representatives (parliament), while al-Fath coalition, led by Hadi al-Ameri, came in second with 47 seats. The al-Nasr Coalition, led by current Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, came in third with 37 seats, and the State of Law Coalition headed by Vice President and former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki garnered 25 seats, according to the electoral commission. The two major Kurdish parties -- Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), headed by Masoud Barzani, and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) -- took the lead in the Kurdish region and in the ethnically-mixed province of Kirkuk with 25 seats for the KDP and 18 for the PUK, according to IHEC figures. The announcement came as an emergency session, called by Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jubouri on Thursday, will be held at 1 p.m. (1000 GMT) on Saturday at the request of some 80 lawmakers to discuss the results of the parliamentary elections. Many Iraqi parties, especially in the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan and some disputed areas, have complained about alleged irregularities and forgery in the parliamentary election. The complaints put the electoral commission under pressure to carry out manual recount of many ballot boxes after it had only collected the electronic count of the votes. Also on Thursday, the United Nations special envoy to Iraq Jan Kubis issued a statement, calling on the IHEC to carry out an immediate and thorough investigation into all complaints concerning the election. Earlier, Riyadh al-Badran, head of the electoral commission, told a press conference that "there is no justification for a manual recount yet" despite many accusations of voter fraud. On May 12, millions of Iraqis went to 8,959 polling centers across the country to vote for their parliamentary representatives in the first general election after Iraq's historic victory over the Islamic State (IS) group last December. Some 90 political entities and 7,000 candidates were vying for 329 seats in the parliament. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 12:43:18|Editor: ZD Video Player Close WASHINGTON, May 18 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and two others were injured in a shooting attack near a high school in the U.S. state of Georgia Friday night, local authorities said. The shooting reportedly occurred in the parking lot of Mount Zion High School in Jonesboro, a city about 24 km south of Atlanta. Local officials said that a woman in her 40s died after she was shot three times in the chest. She was taken to an area hospital but later pronounced dead. Two other victims were also transported to hospitals. A 21-year-old was treated for gunshot wounds to the leg, while the other, a pregnant woman, was hospitalized for non-shooting injuries, according to local reports. Police said shots were fired after an argument broke out as people were leaving a graduation ceremony at the Clayton County Performing Arts Center. It is unclear if the victims, who were not students, were attending the ceremony. The Clayton County Police Department is investigating the incident. No arrests have been made so far. The shooting happened just hours after 10 people were killed during a shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 13:03:21|Editor: ZD Video Player Close Spain's King Felipe VI (L) shakes hands with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during their meeting in Madrid, Spain, on May 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Guo Qiuda) MADRID, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Spanish King Felipe VI said on Thursday that his country will more actively participate in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, and explore cooperation in areas such as trade, tourism, culture and education, while expanding third-party market collaboration. The king made the remarks at the Zarzuela Palace in a meeting with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. "The 'Belt and Road' (B&R) Initiative is of great significance to regional and global development and prosperity, and Spain will participate in it more actively," the king said, adding that his country will expand third-party market cooperation with China in Latin America and Africa. Wang said that Spain has historical and geographic advantages to join the B&R, and China is willing to enhance the alignment of B&R with Spain's national development strategies to explore new room and potential for cooperation. Wang said China is willing to constantly deepen exchanges and cooperation with Spain in areas including culture, education, tourism, sports, finance, telecommunications, and renewable energy under the B&R framework, and actively broaden third-party markets in Latin America and Africa. Touching on the international situation, the Spanish king said both the international situation and the situation in Europe are changing profoundly, and China is playing a more and more important role in the world. "President Xi Jinping's foresight on national and global governance not only benefits China, but also benefits the whole world," the king said, adding that he eagerly looks forward to Xi's visit to Spain. The two sides agreed to strengthen communication and coordination in international and regional affairs to inject more positive energy into world peace and prosperity. Taking advantage of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between the two countries, China will carefully design and be well prepared for exchanges of high-level visits so as to further promote Sino-Spanish comprehensive strategic partnership, Wang said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 13:33:27|Editor: ZD Video Player Close BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Mikell Brown lives in Utah and works two jobs, both from home. As a mother of two girls, aged three and five, she spends much of the day taking care of her children. But in the early mornings, she teaches English to children in China on her laptop . Mikell has worked for an online English-learning app called VIPKID for almost one year. The app, mainly for children under 12, has hired over 40,000 native speakers in North America, mostly in the United States, to teach English on the app. "That was my first thought: What? I can work from home? What? I can make this money?" she said. "I really thought it was too good to be true." The online English learning service has been welcomed by more Chinese parents over the past two or three years and is building a bridge over cultural differences by meeting demand from both China and overseas. RISING ONLINE LEARNING SERVICE By doing an online class based on selected textbooks, a child can communicate with a native speaker teacher face-to-face. One class, usually less than an hour, generally costs more than 100 yuan (15.7 U.S. dollars). With a number of online English learning companies for children emerging, the number of customers is expected to reach nearly 8 million and the market value may exceed 5 billion yuan in 2019, according to an analysis report released by China's consulting company iResearch in 2017. In August last year, VIPKID finished its series D financing and received investment totaling 200 million dollars. "More parents now want their children to grow up with a global vision," said Xu Zhe, CEO special assistant of VIPKID, which now has more than 300,000 customers. "Parents are spending more on children's education, and more people have accepted online products," said Yao Shuwen, vice president of public relations of DaDa, another leading online English-learning service provider in China. EMERGING REMOTE JOB OPPORTUNITIES While meeting demand for more accessible and convenient English-learning, companies like VIPKID and DaDa also benefit people living in the United States, Canada and other countries by providing remote jobs. Working for the online learning service, teachers can publish schedules online based on their own time arrangements and teach classes from wherever there is Internet access. VIPKID was listed as the first of 100 top companies with remote jobs in 2017, surpassing big companies like Amazon and Dell, by flexible job searching website FlexJobs in January this year. Though the company had only over 100 teachers when it first started four years ago, now it receives 40,000 to 50,000 job applications every month from overseas. All applicants need to meet several requirements, including a bachelor's degree and teaching experience. "Most of our teachers are doing a part-time job," Xu said. Many of the staff have difficulty trying to juggle a full-time job because of various commitments. Mikell gives about 25 lessons of 25 minutes-long a week and earns around 800 U.S. dollars a month. Her husband Nick, who also works as a teacher for the app, teaches 55 classes a week and is paid about 2,000 U.S. dollars per month. "It gives me the best of both worlds. I'm able to stay at home with my children, which is extremely important to me, and it also provides me a sense of knowing that I'm being useful outside of the home," said Mikell, who used to work as a full-time teacher but is now busy with the care of her young children. "Apart from teaching classes, teachers can also participate in interviewing or training other teaching staff, and even help designing the classes," said Yao, who works for DaDa. "The one-to-one classes also build a close relationship between teachers and children," Yao said. "Some teachers even come to tears when their students stop taking classes." BRIDGING CULTURAL GAPS For many of the teachers, a relationship is built not only personally but also culturally, as they get a chance to learn more about China when teaching Chinese children English. VIPKID started its online Chinese learning service last year, and has more than 10,000 students now, many of who are children of the company's English teaching staff. "Some of our teachers even take trips together to China, visiting cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Xi'an," said Li Bo, public relations director of VIPKID. Mikell, who previously gained most of her knowledge about China from movies, has also leant things about Chinese festivals, as well as greetings and simple words in Chinese from her students. "Culturally it has just opened my eyes to the beautiful, wonderful country," said Mikell, who has taught over 800 children, together with her husband. "Even my children, anytime they hear about China, they say: 'Oh, my mom works in China.' And they love it." As communication has widened, emerging business should further grow and benefit people from both sides. "While more people have embraced the online English-learning service, only a few people are actually paying for the service now, meaning that the market has great potential," Yao said. "Online English-learning services are helping Chinese people go global, and people overseas to better realize their values via more job opportunities," Xu said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 13:43:29|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait has circulated a draft resolution urging the UN Security Council to send international force to protect civilians in Gaza, diplomatic sources said here Friday. Kuwait also demands that Israel "immediately cease its military reprisals, collective punishment and unlawful use of force against civilians, including in the Gaza Strip," the sources added. Israel's ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon has responded to the draft resolution in a statement which has been obtained by Xinhua. The statement said that "Israel will continue to defend its sovereignty and the security of its citizens against the terror and murderous violence of Hamas." The United States has defended Israel's actions in Gaza and will very likely veto the resolution if it is put to a vote, the sources noted. The draft resolution came after the Security Council couldn't agree on a statement about the violence in Gaza Monday that left some 60 Palestinians dead. Palestinian officials said it was a "massacre" of protesters demonstrating against a decade-long blockade. Israel said it was defending its border against a terrorism-fueled mob. "This is a purely man-made conflict," said Hanan Ashrawi, a Palestinian scholar and the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). KATHMANDU, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Nepali photojournalist Purnima Shrestha scaled the world's highest peak Mount Qomolangma on Saturday, becoming the first photojournalist from Nepal to stand atop, authorities confirmed. This is the first ascent of 27-year-old Shrestha to the 8,848-meter high Qomolangma, known as Sagarmatha in Nepali language. "Purnima Shrestha reached summit on Saturday morning at 8:10 a.m. local time," Gyanendra Shrestha, an official at the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, told Xinhua via telephone from the base camp. Temba Tsheri Sherpa, a world record holder Qomolangma climber and the head of Sherpa Khangri Outdoor, a company which handled Shrestha's expedition, shared with Xinhua, "I feel very happy to share that she made it to the top along with other Chinese climbers in the team. The team will hopefully get back to base camp by Sunday." Shrestha, who hails from Gorkha district of Nepal, had left for the summit bid on Tuesday from the base camp. According to Sherpa, it usually takes four to five days for the climbing team to reach the top from the base camp via four different high camps. Shrestha, who has been doing photo journalism for last five years, is affiliated with Karobar national daily along with Food and Wine magazine. Besides the summit, she also organized a solo photo exhibition in the Qomolangma region, the first of its kind under the theme "Smiling Nepali Women," featuring portraits of Nepali women from all walks of life. "The major objective of the exhibition is to promote Nepali culture and tourism of the country. It will enable the world climbers and trekkers gathering in the region to know other aspects of Nepal," the photojournalist told Xinhua earlier from the base camp. The exhibition was supported by Nepal Tourism Board, government's body to promote tourism, and Photojournalists' Club of Nepal (PJ Club). "Purnima has created a history by becoming the first Nepali photojournalist to reach the top of the world. It is a proud moment for all of us and it will definitely inspire other photojournalists to follow the path of dreams," Bikash Karki, Chairman of the PJ Club, told Xinhua. According to Nepal's tourism department, the official government body which issues climbing permits for the Qomolangma expedition, 346 mountaineers from Nepali and foreign teams have taken the permits this year. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 13:58:33|Editor: Liu Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The Brazilian Foreign Ministry on Friday issued an official statement of condolences to Cuba over the plane crash that killed over 100 people earlier in the day. In the statement, the Brazilian government expressed its consternation over the tragedy and its solidarity with the Cuban government. "The Brazilian government ... presents its profound condolences to the families of the victims and expresses solidarity to the Cuban people," the Ministry said. The Brazilian embassy to Cuba is monitoring the situation, and so far there is no news of Brazilian citizens among the victims, according to the statement. A total of 111 people were on board, including 105 passengers, the island's Transport Minister Adel Yzquierdo told local media. There are only three survivors, all in critical condition. The Boeing 737 aircraft, rented by local company Cubana de Aviacion from the Mexican airline Damojh, crashed shortly after taking off from Havana's Jose Marti International Airport. The majority of the victims were Cuban citizens, according to local authorities. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 13:58:33|Editor: ZD Video Player Close HAVANA May 18 (Xinhua)--The First Secretary of ruling Cuban Communist Party Raul Castro recovers from a surgery to remove a hernia, a government release said. Castro, 86, sent condolences to the family members of the victims of the plane crash on Friday noon near the Havana International Airport Jose Marti, according to a note broadcasted by the national television on Friday night. "Raul recovers satisfactorily from a recent surgical intervention, scheduled in advance to remove a hernia, and keeps aware of the situation and has given the necessary indications," said the note. Last April, the Cuban political leader handed over the presidency of the country, after 10 years in office, to his then First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who was elected by direct and secret voting by over 600 deputies of the People's Power National Assembly (unicameral parliament). The aircraft, a Boeing-737 of the Mexican company Damojh, leased by Cubana de Aviacion, crashed with 104 passengers aboard minutes after taking off from the Havana airport. It crashed in an agricultural area close to Santiago de las Vegas, nearby the airport. Only three women survived. One of them died hours later while receiving medical assistance in the hospital, and the other two remain in serious condition. The list of passengers has not yet been disclosed, but among them are five foreigners. The Embassy of Argentina in Havana confirmed two citizens of the South American nation. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel visited the area of the accident and ordered an in-depth investigation into the causes of the disaster. HAVANA, May 18 (Xinhua) -- A source from the Chinese Embassy in Cuba told Xinhua that there were no Chinese nationals on board the ill-fated Boeing 737 which crashed Friday during taking off at the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana. The embassy said this after preliminary communication with the Cuban Foreign Ministry, said the source. A total of 111 people were on board the aircraft, including 104 passengers and an infant. There were also six crew members of Mexican nationality, according to Transport Minister Adel Yzquierdo. So far, only three women survived the crash, all still in serious condition. The Cuban government declared two days of mourning from 6:00 a.m. (1000 GMT) on Saturday to Sunday midnight. The plane, rented by local company Cubana de Aviacion from the Mexican airline Damojh, crashed shortly after taking off from Havana's Jose Marti International Airport on Friday. The plane was a Boeing 737-201 built in 1979, according to a statement issued Friday by the Transport Ministry. In his statements to local television, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel announced that investigations to clarify the causes of the accident are still in progress. Two experts would fly to Cuba on Saturday to take part in the investigation, according to Mexican aviation authorities. Friday's crash was Cuba's third major accident since 2010. Last year, a Cuban military plane crashed into a hillside in the western province of Artemisa, killing eight soldiers on board. In November 2010, an AeroCaribbean flight from Santiago to Havana went down as it flew over central Cuba, killing 68 people, including 28 foreigners. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 14:23:37|Editor: ZD Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, May 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. aircraft giant Boeing Co. Friday announced its readiness to provide technical assistance to Cuba following a deadly air crash that killed more than 100 people earlier in the day. "A Boeing technical team stands ready to assist as permitted under U.S. law and at the direction of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Cuban authorities," Boeing said in a statement. It also extends "deepest condolences to the families and friends of those on board Flight 972" operated by Global Aerolineas Damojh on behalf of Cubana de Aviacion outside of Havana, capital of Cuba. More than 100 people are believed dead Friday after the Cubana de Aviacion Boeing 737-200 crashed during takeoff from Havana's Jose Marti International Airport. Three people have been found alive and are in critical condition, Cuban state newspaper Granma said. The aircraft carried 105 passengers and six crew members, including five Mexican staff. The plane belongs to the Mexican company Damojh but is leased to Cubana de Aviacion, Cuba's national carrier. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 15:03:43|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Starbucks has planned an ambitious expansion in the fast-growing Chinese market by doubling its number of coffee shops to 6,000 across China by fiscal 2022. To this end, the Seattle-based coffee chain plans to build 600 new stores annually over the next five years in China's mainland, the company announced at its first-ever China Investor Conference, held in Shanghai. Starbucks is also looking to more than triple revenue and more than double operating income in China by the end of 2022 from the 2017 levels, according to a press release from the company. "We are committed to long-term investment in China," said Kevin Johnson, Starbucks president and chief executive officer, who expressed confidence in the company's future growth in the dynamic market. He said the company will continue to promote coffee culture in China "where the reward will be healthy, long-term, profitable growth for decades to come." China is the Starbucks's second-largest and fastest-growing market globally, with 3,300 stores in 141 Chinese cities currently. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 15:08:45|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (R in center) walks with visiting Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (L in center) after their meeting in Putrajaya, Malaysia, May 19, 2018. Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong paid a visit to his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad on Saturday, becoming the second Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leader after Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei to call on the newly elected Malaysian prime minister. (Xinhua/Chong Voon Chung) KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong paid a visit to his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad on Saturday, becoming the second Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leader after Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei to call on the newly elected Malaysian prime minister. Lee, who had a warm relationship with former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, said he is intent on working with Mahathir "for our mutual benefit" when announcing the visit on Wednesday. Both sides talked for 30 minutes about bilateral ties, according to a tweet posted by Mahathir on his Twitter account. It is widely believed that the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail project, scheduled to be operational by 2026, is among the topics raised by Lee. After the meeting, Lee also paid a visit to Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in Putrajaya, local media reported. During Mahathir's first stint as the prime minister in the 1990s, Lee and Anwar were deputy Prime Ministers of Singapore and Malaysia respectively. Anwar, who just got released after a royal pardon, is the designated successor to Mahathir, though he has said he is in no hurry to join the cabinet. LISBON, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Portuguese government on Friday defended its decision not to order an environmental impact study for an oil project facing criticism in parliament. The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), a public institute within the scope of the Environment Ministry, announced Wednesday that an environmental impact assessment would not be requested for the oil project in south Portugal. Joao Matos Fernandes, Portugal's environment minister, said it was "a technical decision, not a political one." But Heloisa Apolonia of the Green Ecologist Party (PEV) said the decision "had totally discredited the government in terms of environmental policy." A consortium comprising Portugal's Galp Energy and Italy's Eni told the Lusa Portuguese News Agency on Thursday that they planned to drill the oil exploration later this year. It would mark the resumption of drilling in Portugal after a long hiatus. The site of the oil project is some 46 km from Aljezur, a coastal town south of Lisbon. The consortium was granted a concession to explore the presence of hydrocarbons in the area in December 2014. Opponents of the project say potential damage to the environment and the tourism industry has not been given due consideration. "As happened with previous Social Democrat, Central Social Democrat (CDS) and Socialist Party (PS) legislatures, the Environment Ministry is showing its total lack of political force within government," said Apolonia. Fernandes said there was no legal obligation to conduct an assessment. But Paulo Sa of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) said an assessment should be conducted whether legally required or not, "because the local residents and council demand one." Jorge Costa of the Left Block (BE) said the government's oversight is "extremely serious" and asked authorities to reconsider. Given that the PEV, PCP and BE are the PS government's three informal coalition partners, the dispute was seized upon by the opposition parties. Helder Amaral of the CDS said that in matters as important as this, the coalition proved "totally pointless." Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 16:43:58|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close by Raul Menchaca and Ovidio Acosta HAVANA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- "I still do not believe it," says Jorge Castillo, a thin man in his fifties, who was one of the first to have arrived at the site where a Boeing 737 plane crashed on Friday. The plane, leased by local company Cubana de Aviacion from the Mexican airline Damojh, was en route to Holguin in eastern Cuba. It fell shortly after taking off from Havana's Jose Marti International Airport, killing more than 100 passengers and crews, with only three survivors. Castillo tells Xinhua with nervousness that he was walking along a secondary road of the La Catuca settlement, near the airport, when he saw the aircraft coming down. "I threw myself to the ground first and then I ran to the remains where I set out to help the victims", he narrates with visible shock and acknowledges that this "has been the biggest scare of my life". In the rescue efforts, Castillo met with Luis Manuel Vega, who is visiting Havana, and was helping his relatives in the cassava field near the site where the accident occurred. "The smell is what I remember the most," says Vega, with a rueful look as he passes a dirty handkerchief across his forehead. Still in shock, the man says that when he closes his eyes, he can relive the horror of the disaster, which could have been worse if the plane had crashed a kilometer ahead over the houses near the airport. Later that day, Vega returned by bus to his house in the municipality of Rafael Freyre, which is in the same province with Holguin, the destination of the aircraft. Several witnesses said that the plane tried to take off, made two erratic movements and leaned irretrievably to the right before rushing to land in an agricultural area with few houses in the vicinity. People nearby mobilized quickly to help the victims. They reportedly managed to pull six people alive from the wreckage, although two of them died on the way to the hospital while another died in hospital. The tragic incident took place almost a year after a military plane crashed on a hill in the western province of Artemisa in April 2017, killing eight soldiers on board. Now, the charred remains are scattered on a railway line, barely a kilometer from the Terminal One of the country's main airport. After the flames were extinguished and the smoke dissipated, specialists of the Central Laboratory of Criminology, dressed in white robes, worked among the remains despite heavy rain. The police has cordoned off the area and prevented access, including journalists, in full view of a few large triangular vestigial remains from just 150 meters away, presumably of the tail or a wing. The Institute of Civil Aeronautics of Cuba, an entity of the Ministry of Transport, is in charge of the investigations to determine the cause of the tragedy. In the nearby facilities of the Cubana de Aviacion airline, relatives of the passengers were delivering personal information to the authorities to facilitate the identification of the victims. Family members, filled with sorrow and pain, have been receiving medical and psychological attention from the authorities, which have been trying to stave off the damage of one of the most cruel air accidents on the island in recent years. Newly appointed president Miguel Diaz Canel, along with a good part of his ministerial cabinet, went to the accident site, while the first secretary of the Cuban Communist Party, Raul Castro, conveyed his condolences to the victim's families. After the plane crash, the Cuban Council of State declared two days of national mourning, starting from 06:00 a.m. (1000 GMT) Saturday, when the Cuban flag will be lowered to half-mast during this period. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 16:54:01|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- China's exports are expected to maintain steady growth in the coming two or three months, according to official data. The Export Leading Indicator (ELI), a barometer of export development, came in at 41 in April, unchanged from the previous month, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC). The ELI is a comprehensive index covering changes in indicators including the yuan real exchange rate, foreign direct investment, demand at major markets, and a monthly online survey of domestic exporters. The index ranges between 0 and 100. A higher reading suggests improving export performance in the next two or three months, and a lower reading indicates downside risks. The GAC said the monthly online survey of around 2,000 export companies, whose aggregated export value accounts for 37 percent of the country's total, showed that export managers' index was 44 in April, down by 0.3 point from the previous month. The new export order index edged up to 47.9 from 47.8 in March, while the export managers' confidence index declined to 50 from 50.8. The survey showed 30.3 percent of the companies recorded increasing value in their new export orders, up from 29.8 percent in March. Some 37.6 percent of them saw falling new order value, down from 38.3 percent in March. It also confirmed downside risks, with an increasing number of companies taking a dim view of the export outlook for the next two or three months and more of them reporting higher export costs. The country's exports in yuan terms rose 3.7 percent year on year in April to 1.27 trillion yuan (about 198.5 billion U.S. dollars). ATHENS, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Greek parliament decided on Friday to send back the corruption cases of ten high-level current and former officials to judicial authorities for further investigation. The parliament decided that judicial authorities should continue the probe to determine whether two former prime ministers, the current governor of the Central Bank of Greece Yannis Stournaras, European Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos and other prominent politicians should be prosecuted. Under the Greek law, when names of ministers appear in judicial probes, the files must be automatically sent to parliament, regardless of whether there is any wrongdoing, so that lawmakers can decide whether they will refer the case to the justice department. The allegations of corruption and bribery span a decade from 2006 to 2015, before the current government assumed office. Some 50 million euros (62 million U.S. dollars) were given as kickbacks by Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis to politicians, public officials and doctors among others for favorable price fixing, prosecution sources told Greek national news agency AMNA. All former officials implicated in the Novartis case have strongly denied any wrongdoing. Some have accused the government of interfering with justice. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 17:14:06|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and U.S. business executives, investors and hi-tech representatives met in Silicon Valley Friday to discuss the ecosystem of global unicorn enterprises and their strategic development in the future. At the first 2018 Global Unicorn Enterprise Forum, which opened in Silicon Valley late Friday, the participants, including speakers from sophisticated unicorns like Alibaba Cloud and U.S. ride-hail giant Uber, talked about the ecosystem for unicorns in Silicon Valley. David Haubert, mayor of Dublin city in East Bay Area in western California, said the number one relationship in the world is the one between China and America. He said he has been to China for many times and each time he went back to China, he would see something "new and amazing," and he sees "a bright future" for China. "China can do anything, and with technological advancements and by working together with the United States, we can together accomplish anything," he said. Chinese Consul General Luo Linquan said in his speech at the forum that China and the United States are the two largest economies in the world, with their total economic output accounting for 40 percent of the world's total. "The economic and trade cooperation based on mutual benefit and win-win results has always been the ballast of Sino-U.S. relations," he said. "Unicorn enterprises that are constantly emerging in both countries best testifies that the deeper reach of global multinational companies and technological innovation on a global scale offer new opportunities and impetus for more extensive cooperation between China and the United States," he added. Silicon Valley, as the birthplace of innovation and unicorns in the world, boasts successful development experience and a sound investment environment for many startups, he said. He hoped the long-distance video-conference dialogue between the participants in Silicon Valley and their counterparts in Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan province in southwest China, will serve as a platform for them to contribute their ideas on the future development of global unicorns, and the cooperation between the two places. The participants agreed that China and the United States are the two countries with the largest number of unicorn enterprises and mega-sized unicorns. A report by Deloitte and China Venture says that China accounts for 38.9 percent of the total number of unicorns globally, and the U.S. takes up 42.1 percent. In the parallel conversation with their peers in Chengdu via the video conference, panelists from J.P. Morgan, BGI Genomics, and Quanergy, as well as entrepreneurs from China, shared their insights on innovation and the phenomenal growth of unicorns in the two countries. The forum, jointly hosted by People's Daily Online and the Chengdu Municipal Government, attracted over 100 participants from China and America. Source: Xinhuanet| 2018-05-19 17:49:02|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close Photo taken on May 10, 2018 shows Zhaxi Yangjin, head of Douyu Township of Longzi County in Shannan, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. As a deputy to the 12th National People's Congress, Yangjin attaches great importance to the protection and inheritance of the Luoba culture. (Xinhuanet/ Ma Yimeng) With a population of over 3,000, the Luoba ethnic minority group, mainly living in Longzi county of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, remains a mystery for many people. Unique Luoba culture includes Luoba language, dresses, sword and sword dance. Luoba dress was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008, said Zhaxi Yangjin, head of Douyu Township of Longzi County in Shannan, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The extensive use of black and white in color and decorating with sword are the distinctive features of the Luoba dress, said Zhaxi Yangjin. Luoba dance is rooted in the peoples lives, integrating hunting, farming and other culture of the Luoba people. Speaking of the protection and promotion of the Luoba culture, Zhaxi Yangjin highlighted the governments policy to protect and develop the fine traditional cultures of ethnic minorities. The inheritance of Luoba culture lies in childrens education. Nowadays, the Luoba language has been promoted in local primary and middle schools, she noted. LUSAKA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government has temporarily suspended a circular banning health workers from engaging in extra work in the private sector after it received a backlash, a health official said on Saturday. In a circular addressed to all provincial medical directors, early this week, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Kennedy Malama directed that no medical doctor, nurse, midwife, clinical officer or indeed any other public service employee employed in the Ministry of Health shall be allowed to work in any private institution as it was an abrogation of their conditions of service. However the circular received a backlash from health workers who rejected it, saying there was no law in the country that stops citizens from engaging in extra activities outside their jobs. But Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya said the circular has been withdrawn in order to allow for more consultations with stakeholders. He said in a statement that a final circular will be issued at the end of this month which will also include views from other stakeholders. The Zambian minister however said the government will not condone a clique of health workers who were only spending 30 percent in delivering services in public health institutions while they spent 70 percent at private institutions. LILONGWE, May 19 (Xinhua) -- At least 31.5 billion Malawi Kwacha (about 42.5 million U.S. dollars) has been set aside for Malawi's 2019 tripartite elections from country's 2018/2019 National Budget of 1.5 trillion Malawi Kwacha. Presenting the proposed budget to Members of Parliament, in the country's capital Lilongwe Friday, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Goodall Gondwe explained that the 31.5 billion Malawi Kwacha would among others, cover voter registration and verification, education and outreach, election materials, vehicles and polling stations. "This represents the total budget for the general elections the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) will require," explained Gondwe who further disclosed that Malawi would independently fund its entire election process without donor support as had been the case previously. During the tripartite elections slated for May 2019, Malawians are expected to elect a President, Members of Parliament and Ward Councillors. Gondwe also disclosed that the government had set aside funds to cater to the recruitment of 10,500 primary school teachers, 500 secondary school teachers, and 1,000 medical personnel, a development which would address the country's public outcry on poor service delivery in education and health sectors. "Starting from this year, teachers and other personnel will be recruited soon after their graduation. The practice that started in 2013 of recruiting teachers one year after graduation will no longer be necessary," he explained. The budget has also projected wages and salaries at 392 billion Malawi Kwacha, which has seen salaries for the country's junior civil servants go up by 20 percent with senior civil servants getting a 10 percent pay hike. Meanwhile, the parliamentarians will, for the next two weeks, regroup into clusters where they will scrutinize the budgetary allocations, after which the proposed budget will be debated by vote. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 17:54:12|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close BAGHDAD, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The prominent Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr pledged Saturday to launch reforms after his coalition won most seats in the final results of the country's May 12 parliamentary elections. In a tweet on his Twitter page, Sadr said "with your votes, Iraq and reform have won. We will not disappoint you." Early on Saturday, the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced the final results of Iraq's parliamentary election, which showed that the political coalition al-Sa'iroon, led by Sadr, won most seats in the polls with 54 seats in the Iraqi 329-seat Council of Representatives (parliament). The electoral commission said that al-Fath coalition, led by Hadi al-Ameri, came in the second place with 47 seats, while the al-Nasr Coalition, led by current Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, came in third with 42 seats, and the State of Law Coalition headed by Vice President and former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki garnered 25 seats. The two major Kurdish parties, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), headed by Masoud Barzani, and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), took the lead in the Kurdish region and in the ethnically-mixed province of Kirkuk with 25 seats for the KDP and 18 for the PUK, according to IHEC figures. Earlier, Sadr's followers frequently held massive rallies during the past years to protest corruption of leading parties. In one occasion, the protestors broke into part of the Green Zone, including storming the parliament building. Sadr's coalition promised in its campaign to fight corruption and free the ministries and other country's institutions from the domination of the political parties. On Friday, a statement by Sadr's office said that Sadr had received the ambassadors of the neighboring countries of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Kuwait. Sadr urged the visiting ambassadors to "support Iraq in its effort to form a government run by technocrats," according to the statement. However, IHEC announcement came as an emergency session, called by Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jubouri on Thursday, will be held at 1 p.m. (1000 GMT) on Saturday at the request of some 80 lawmakers to discuss the results of the parliamentary elections. Many Iraqi parties, especially in the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan and some disputed areas, have complained about alleged irregularities and forgery in the parliamentary election. The complaints put the electoral commission under pressure to carry out manual recount of many ballot boxes after it had only collected the electronic count of the votes. Also on Thursday, the United Nations special envoy to Iraq Jan Kubis issued a statement, calling on the IHEC to carry out an immediate and thorough investigation into all complaints concerning the election. Earlier, Riyadh al-Badran, head of the electoral commission, told a press conference that "there is no justification for a manual recount yet" despite many accusations of voter fraud. On May 12, millions of Iraqis went to 8,959 polling centers across the country to vote for their parliamentary representatives in the first general election after Iraq's historic victory over the Islamic State (IS) group last December. Some 90 political entities and 7,000 candidates were vying for 329 seats in the parliament. Namibia's Deputy Health Minister, Juliet Kavetuna (L) was pictured at the handover ceremony of medical equipment in Windhoek with Chinese Ambassador to Namibia, Zhang Yiming on May 18, 2018. (Xinhua/ Musa C Kaseke) WINDHOEK, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's health ministry on Friday received medical supplies worth 279,000 U.S. dollars from the Chinese government to help with eye surgeries in the southern African country. The donation that took place on Friday in Windhoek is set to complement the Brightness Action program (or Brightness Journey) that aims to provide free cataract surgeries to 200 patients in Namibia's capital Windhoek and the rural area of Rundu. Namibia's deputy health minister Juliet Kavetuna at the handover ceremony said the donation was another milestone in enhancing China-Namibia relations. "The donation we received is most needed and it came at a very opportune tine. It is set to enhance our health capabilities and we will use the equipment accordingly and assist those communities in need," she said. At the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Namibia Zhang Yiming praised the program for enhancing the friendship between the two countries and for gaining precious experience for future China-Africa medical ties. The program featuring Chinese doctors and nurses providing free surgeries is expected to assist the cataract fight in Namibia, which has suffered from a shortage of eye specialists. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 18:19:15|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close QALAT, Afghanistan, May 19 (Xinhua) -- At least three Afghan policemen were killed and two others wounded during an ongoing clash with Taliban militants in the Daychopan district of Zabul, the country's southern province, an official said Saturday. "Taliban militants launched an offensive from four sides and surrounded Daychopan district since early Thursday, triggering clashes which caused three police personnel killed and two others wounded," Ata Jan Haqbayan, chairman of provincial Council, told Xinhua. He said that the clashes were still ongoing as of Saturday morning and if the government did not dispatch reinforcing troops to Daychopan, the Taliban may overrun the district in northern of the provincial capital. The Taliban-led insurgency has been on the rampage since the beginning of 2015 when the Afghan security forces assumed full responsibilities of security from the United States and NATO troops. The militants also intensified attacks against security forces and staged several coordinated attacks against Afghan cities and districts after they launched a yearly rebel offensive on April 25. ATHENS, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Greece seeks a long-lasting solution in the name dispute with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Saturday while briefing President Prokopis Pavlopoulos on the latest developments of UN-mediated talks. "We are at a crucial juncture in negotiations with the neighboring country as we seek a mutually accepted solution. We want a long-lasting solution," Tsipras said, according to an e-mailed press statement issued by the Greek Presidency. Athens will insist Macedonia adopting a compound name which will be used internationally and domestically. It also wants the country to review its constitution to remove clauses Greece views as expression of irredentist ambitions. The row between Athens and Skopje started in 1991 when FYROM declared independence from Yugoslavia choosing the name Macedonia, which is also the name of a northern Greek province. Greece 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. On Thursday after talks in Sofia on the sidelines of the EU-Western Balkans Summit, the prime ministers of the two countries said that progress has been made. Any agreement must be approved by the parliaments of the two countries.Tsipras will brief leaders of opposition parties the issues over the phone during the weekend, according to government sources. Main opposition conservative New Democracy (ND) party President Kyriakos Mitsotakis was informed over phone by Tsipras on Friday that the name under discussion is "Republic of Ilinden Macedonia," which has been turned down as it remained "irredentist," ND sources told Greek national news agency AMNA. The name commemorates an early 20th century uprising by nationalistic forces against the then Ottoman rule to establish a Slavic state in an area which included regions within the boundaries of the Greek state, Greek daily Kathimerini reported. Uganda's State Minister for Relief and Disaster Preparedness Musa Ecweru (R) and Chinese ambassador to Uganda Zheng Zhuqiang (C) attended the food aid handover ceremony on May 18, 2018. (Xinhua/Joseph Kiggundu) KAMPALA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday donated emergency food aid worth 5 million U.S. dollars to Uganda to support World Food Program (WFP) projects in the semi-arid northeastern region also known as Karamoja. Handing over the food aid to Uganda at the WFP warehouse, Zheng Zhuqiang, Chinese Ambassador to Uganda said the money was got from the South-South Cooperation Fund and will benefit vulnerable women, children below the age of two years and school going children. He said the emergency food aid project is also an important part of the implementation of the cooperation initiatives announced in the Forum on China Africa Cooperation summit held in 2015 in South Africa. El Khidir Daloum, WFP Country Director said the relief food which will last 10 months will enable over 130,000 children have two meals a day at school instead of one and they will be encouraged to attend and concentrate better in their classes. Daloum said over 96,000 women and children will receive nutritional fortified food that will cure acute malnutrition or prevent stunting, a damaging condition that affects more than a third of young children in Karamoja. "This contribution is very timely and critical for WFP, as we were facing funding shortages for nutrition and school feeding activities in Karamoja. Last year we had to reduce the number of school meals from two to one," he said. Musa Ecweru, minister of state for disaster preparedness and refugees, said that over the last six decades, Karamoja which has faced long dry spells has depended on food aid. He said government is working with partners to ensure that the region is food secure. ADDIS ABABA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) and the United States have exchanged views on ways and means to further enhance the partnership between the two sides. The Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday had a telephone conversation, whereby the two officials took the opportunity to talk over a number of issues, according to a statement from the pan-African bloc on Saturday. The Chairperson of the AU Commission has invited Secretary Pompeo to visit the AU headquarters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa on the occasion of the next AU-U.S. Strategic Dialogue. The Chairperson and the Secretary of State have exchanged views on issues, including the African Continental Free Trade Area and the promotion of peace and security on the African continent. The Secretary of State reiterated the U.S. continued support to AU's efforts to advance integration and address conflict and crisis situations on the continent, as well as to the ongoing institutional reform process of the Union, according to the statement. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 18:59:22|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) and Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva shake hands at the end of a joint press conference in Lisbon, Portugal, May 18, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) LISBON, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva here Friday, agreeing to enhance bilateral cooperation. Wang said China highly values China-Portugal relations and would like to deepen high-level contacts with Portugal. China stands ready to synergize its Belt and Road Initiative and Portuguese development strategies to give full play to their respective advantages, and strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, energy, finance and other fields. Meanwhile, both countries will tap new cooperation potentials, broaden maritime cooperation, thus injecting powerful impetus into China-Portugal ties, he added. Wang said both sides should continue to make good use of the China-Portugal forum to expand cooperation in third-party markets in Africa, Latin America and other areas, and boost exchanges in international and regional affairs. Silva said China's investment is reliable and has played a key role in creating jobs and promoting economic development in Portugal. The Belt and Road Initiative has bright prospects, and is of great significance in promoting regional inter-connectivity and achieving common development and prosperity. Portugal would like to actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, and deepen cooperation in trade, investment, education, culture and other fields through the Portugal-China forum to achieve more pragmatic results. Portugal is the third leg of Wang's four-nation trip, which has taken him to France and Spain and will take him to Argentina. The Chinese foreign minister also met with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Antonio Costa in Lisbon. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 19:04:25|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- A senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Saturday met with Tibetan Buddhists who have received the "Tho Ram Pa" degree, one of the highest academic degrees for Tibetan Buddhism. You Quan, member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat, also head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, urged Tibetan Buddhists to uphold the correct political direction, safeguard the country's reunification, and make contributions to the development of Tibetan Buddhism in the new era. The Tho Ram Pa, equal to a university doctorate, was launched in 2004 in an effort to improve the study of Tibetan Buddhism and the training of outstanding monks by incorporating elements of modern education. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 19:54:35|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) and Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva shake hands at the end of a joint press conference in Lisbon, Portugal, May 18, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) LISBON, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday said China and Portugal agree to work as important cooperation partners in implementing the Belt and Road Initiative. Wang made the remarks after meeting with Portugal's Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva during an official visit here. China appreciates Portugal's consistent support for the Initiative and is willing to discuss and sign intergovernmental cooperation agreement on it to facilitate its alignment with Portugal's development strategies, he told a joint press conference. Making Portugal a key hub on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road will bring new prospects and stimulus to the development of bilateral ties, Wang said, adding that China attaches great importance to a bilateral "blue partnership" proposed by Portugal, and believes that combining this with building the Belt and Road will boost collaboration in the marine, cultural and other areas. Wang said the two countries will continue to promote investment and trade cooperation. Beijing encourages Chinese enterprises to increase investment in Portugal and welcomes Portuguese companies to do business in China, he said. Detailing their complementary advantages, China is willing to work with Portugal on third-party cooperation in regions including Africa and Latin America. Meanwhile, China is willing to expand the import of agricultural products from Portugal, while exploring cooperation in areas such as energy and finance, the Chinese foreign minister said. The year 2019 marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties. Wang said China and Portugal agree to take the opportunity to expand cooperation and lift the development of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level. He said the two sides will increase exchanges and communication at various levels in order to boost mutual trust and consolidate the political basis for pushing forward bilateral relations. Given more uncertainties and destabilizing factors as well as a rise in protectionism in the world, China and Portugal will enhance strategic coordination in a joint effort to maintain rules-based multilateral trade system and build a more inclusive global economy, Wang said. During the visit, Wang also met with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Antonio Costa in Lisbon. by Maria Spiliopoulou, Valentini Anagnostopoulou ATHENS, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The 1st Athens Military Music Festival started on Friday against the backdrop of the marble Zappeion Hall, one of the most emblematic buildings in the heart of the Greek capital. The two-day event which features more than 300 artists from top army orchestras and choirs, soloists, and dance troupes from Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Italy and Greece aims to introduce this music genre to the Greek audience. Although according to the organizers, like Valerios Smirnov, President of the Athens International Music Military Festival, military music has roots in ancient Greek mythology, it is not popular in Greece today. "Music was like a shield protecting the city... (Today) our target is to show that military music is not only what unfortunately most people have in mind. It is not only music for military parades in squares," Smirnov told Xinhua. Artists who performed in Athens for first time on Friday enchanted the Greek audience like the mythical Amphion with the powerful music, combined with impressive choreographies and parades. Marcella Pontes, a tourist from Brazil, was mostly impressed with the band of Kazakhstan's Presidential Guard. "I loved it so much, it is amazing. This is my first day here and it is the first time (I see) this," she said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 20:24:39|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Prince Harry (L), Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex leave Windsor Castle in a carriage during a procession after getting married in Windsor, Britain, on May 19, 2018. The UK's Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle has tied the knot Saturday at St. George's Chapel in Windsor. (Xinhua/Pool/Lionel Hahn/ABACAPRESS) WINDSOR, Britain, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The UK's Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle has tied the knot Saturday at St. George's Chapel in Windsor. The one-hour service, solemnized by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, got under way in front of some 600 guests at noon time. Prince Charles walked Markle down the aisle, as Markle's father, Thomas, was unable to attend the wedding after undergoing heart surgery. All of Markle's bridesmaids and pageboys are children, including Princess Charlotte and her brother Prince George. Prince William is the bestman, while there is no maid of honour because Markle didn't want to choose between her closest friends. After the service, the newlyweds traveled in an open carriage as part of a 25-minute procession from St. George's Chapel through Windsor town. An estimated 100,000 people are lining the carriage procession route, waiting to wave and cheer at the new royal couple. Some royal fans have arrived at Windsor days earlier and camped out to secure prime places with better view. Nicholas Pervez drove five hours from Yorkshire to Windsor to watch the procession. He said that Markle, to some extend, shows a "beacon of light" to many ordinary people that they can also change their lives once they try to push aside the limits in life. "It is a monumental event so I had to make it," he told Xinhua. Jimmy-Lee flew all the way from Texas, the United States, four days ago for the wedding. He told Xinhua he was excited to see Markle, as an American, was happily married into the British royal family. "It's a big change and it happens," he said, indicating the monarchy is more open than two decades ago. Ahead of the marriage, Prince Harry was given the title Duke of Sussex, meaning Markle will become a duchess once the couple marry. Later that day there will be a private reception at Frogmore House for the couple and 200 close friends and family. About 250 members of the armed forces are on patrol and about 3,000 policemen are working to guard off any unpleasantness. Former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno THE Judicial and Bar Council will wait for the final ruling of the Supreme Court on the ouster of erstwhile Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno before starting the application and nomination process for aspirants to the top judiciary post. The JBC will wait for the finality of the quo warranto decision, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said. Sereno was ousted last week as chief justice after the Supreme Court voted 8-6 to grant the quo warranto petition against her, finding her unqualified for the position because she failed to file her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Wortha failure that nine justices believed was a violation of the Constitution. Her camp said Sereno would file a motion for reconsideration to appeal the SC decision on her quo warranto case.Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, also a JBC member, also confirmed the information. Former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, one of Serenos counsel, said the latter could file a quo warranto to unseat her successor if the political environment changes. In a related development: Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman on Saturday said the Supreme Courts 8-6 vote to oust Sereno through a quo warranto petition had aggrieved the nation and ignited a widespread and collective condemnation never seen before in the high courts 117-year history. In a statement, Lagman said the publicincluding some citizens, legislators, lawyers, law deans and the clergyhas actively condemned the unconstitutional decision. Never in the 117-year history of the Supreme Court has any of its decisions ignited such a widespread and collective condemnation from an aggrieved nation than the 8-6 decision ousting Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in an improvident and unwarranted quo warranto petition, Lagman said. In a forum on Saturday, Hilbay said filing a quo warranto was one of the possible actions Sereno might take against her successor if she truly believes she is unlawfully removed. We have to realize [that] Sereno would have stayed chief justice until 2030 and you have presidential elections in 2022, the former solicitor general said.He also suggested that when President Rodrigo Dutertes successor agreed that the Supreme Court ruled incorrectly, the ball may change in favor of Sereno. According to the rules of court, the government can initiate quo warranto proceedings against a person who usurps, intrudes into, or unlawfully holds or exercises a public office; a public person who commits an act that serves as a ground for the forfeiture of the position; or an association which acts as a corporation in the Philippines without being legally incorporated or without lawful authority to act. Sereno was ousted last week after the Supreme Court found her unqualified for the position because she failed to file her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Wortha failure that nine justices believed was a violation of the Constitution. Hilbay is Calidas predecessor at the Office of the Solicitor General. Those who voted against this recourse were Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Marvic Leonen, Benjamin Caguioa, Estela Perlas Bernabe, Presbitero Velasco Jr., and Mariano del Castillo. Hilbay said Sereno might likely file a motion for reconsideration next week seeking to reverse her colleagues decision to unseat her as the Supreme Court chief. Serenos counsel said her camp was looking into several grounds to reverse the SC ruling. He said the SC had failed to include as parties the Senate and Judicial and Bar council. Aside from that, the MR may contain an argument on the Senates resolution noting that the Senate is the only chamber that has a power to try and resolve the removal of certain impeachable official. Hilbay, however, admitted their appeal to have a re-hearing might take time. Its up to the Court when they will hear or rule [on] the motion for reconsideration, he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 20:24:39|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close by Huang Heng SALT LAKE CITY, the United States, May 18 (Xinhua) -- "Monolingual in our country is dangerous to our future, we need to connect with the rest of the world and the most important place for us to connect is China, China is America's future," Howard A. Stephenson repeated his opinion in an exclusive interview to Xinhua. "We cannot ignore that. No country in the world should ignore that," he said in the interview during the 11th National Chinese Language Conference held in the state of Utah from Thursday to Saturday. Stephenson is Utah Senate National Education Coordinator, a veteran politician who has been working as a Utah State Senator for 26 years and a leading advocate for advancing language program in the Beehive State. He said his passion for Chinese language learning began 18 years ago when he was asked to speak at a conference in Beijing, in which he found surprise that among the 1,000 college students joining the event, including those from Russia, America and China, only the Chinese were bilingual. "I wanted that for U.S. students too. In order to compete and cooperate with China, I knew our people needed to be bilingual," he said. Since then, with help of China's Confucius Institute, Utah became one of the successful states in the nation to promote Chinese learning in public schools, especially in field of the immersion program, which is a technique used in bilingual language education in which two languages, both English and Chinese, are used for instruction in a variety of topics, including math, science, or social studies. According to Utah State Governor Gary Herbert, more than 20 percent of American students learning Chinese now live in his state and data provided by the Confucius Institute showed 32 elementary schools and 23 junior high schools with over 10,000 students in the state are taking Chinese classes in 2018 and nine more middle schools will join the program. Stephenson told Xinhua that students have a choice of various languages in Utah dual language immersion, so far Spanish has the most applicants with Mandarin being second. "We have more in Spanish because we are in this hemisphere where there are a lot of Spanish speakers, but Chinese would be first place," he said. "Because every American parent wants the best for their child," he explained to Xinhua. Since more and more local parents believe that the Chinese language skill will increase their children's intellect and employability, they compete to be able to get their child into the immersion program. He said the biggest challenge for the program is that there are no so many Mandarin teachers. "That's why we are so grateful for the Confucius Institute and Han Ban teachers being supplied to our schools, these dedicated teachers who come here to teach our children and our children get the best of dual language immersion," he showed his respect to his partner. Stephenson shrugged off the claims from some politicians saying that Chinese education programs in the Untied States pose national security concerns. "It makes me laugh," he said, "Because I have spent hundreds of hours with Confucius Institute leaders. I have spent much time with Han Ban teachers. I know how Utah education leaders choose the Han Ban teachers. They get 250 candidates and they pick 30 of them who know how to teach math and science effectively in Mandarin." "The fear that somehow these teachers are indoctrinating our children is outrageous, it shows up a lack of of knowledge on the part of those who are making the claims they have not looked," he said. Stephenson revealed that he is leaving the Senate at the end of the term this November, then he plans to give his full effort to promoting dual language immersion particularly dual language immersion Chinese across the nation. The United States should optimize those opportunities emerging out with China's development and should make every effort to increase access to Chinese language learning for all student, Stephenson concluded. "So that we can have the most positive relationships possible and share our economic and cultural and educational expertise with each other because that benefits the whole world when we do that," he said. JUBA, May 19 ( Xinhua) -- Jacinto lee Ziki, 73 years old, lies calmly on his hospital bed with white smoke rising from several needles inserted across his back and waist, while a group of three trainee medical students passing-by shouted through the window. "What is that thing burning on his back?" They immediately rushed to the ward to inquire. When approached, Ziki raised his head up and said, "Don't worry. I'm receiving treatment for back pain." The young medics were thrown into surprise. After a short while, Tang Jiejie, a Chinese acupuncture doctor working in South Sudan walked in to check on his patient and the students shifted their attention to him, asking series of questions about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). "I heard about the Chinese doctors two years ago and I have been coming here regularly for treatment of back pain," said Ziki who has suffered prolonged Osteoarthritis for many years. "I have been enrolled for seven-month acupuncture treatment. My hope is now on the traditional Chinese medicine because I don't have money for operation in India," said Ziki. Like Ziki, many South Sudanese are now embracing acupuncture since it was introduced to the world's youngest nation by the China medical team in 2016. Based in South Sudan's biggest public health facility, the Juba Teaching Hospital, the TCM clinic treats patients seeking medication for general joint pain, back pain, tooth ache, stroke and many others. In another ward just a few metres away from Ziki's, Marith Aldo Reech lies motionless and speechless on his bed. His eyes were the only organs sensitive to any form of movement in the room. But when the Chinese doctor started pricking his skin with several acupuncture needles, he moved his left leg and hand uncontrollably. Reech's son, Daniel Deng told Xinhua that his father suffered severe stroke a few weeks ago in the central region of Aweil and that the stroke left his entire body nearly paralyzed. Luckily, they were referred to Juba Teaching Hospital where Reech received a combination of physiotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine that has helped him regain some sensitivity. "When I brought my father here. His left hand and leg were paralyzed. He was unable to open his eyes or even eat. But with the joint efforts of the South Sudanese and Chinese doctors, he is now improving," Deng said. "The Chinese doctors have been giving him medicine every day and that has helped him a lot. I thank the Chinese for their assistance to the people of South Sudan," Deng added. According to TCM specialist Tang, many south Sudanese do not still understand how the TCM works, but that did not deter them from seeking acupuncture services as he can now treat between 8 and 10 patients per day. Tang said his clientele of patients seeking traditional acupuncture, cupping and massage is growing on daily basis. "I think step by step, more South Sudanese people will know more about traditional medicine. I like to help more and more people to relieve their pains," Tang said. Tang explained that acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine used to treat body pains and several physical and emotional illnesses through pricking the skin or tissues with needles. Jacob Pitia, a physiotherapist at Juba Teaching Hospital also agrees that South Sudanese are embracing the TCM since its introduction about two years ago. "The traditional Chinese medicine received mixed reactions at the beginning. Some people like it and others used to fear the needles. But now we are now seeing an increasing number of people coming for acupuncture," said Pitia. For the past six years running, China has dispatched five medical teams to the East African nation who offered specialized medical care and surgeries to thousands of patients across South Sudan. Julia Daniel, 49, who suffered from chronic rheumatoid arthritis in 2016, said she has been a regular visitor of the TCM clinic in Juba after being introduced to the Chinese doctors in 2016. Daniel told Xinhua that the Chinese medicine has improved her health and she can now perform domestic duties without difficulties. "This is the second time for me to come for the acupuncture treatment. I first got Chinese treatment in 2016 in Egypt. Their medication reduced the pain and I can now move my hands without difficulty," said Daniel. "I urge the people of South Sudan to seek medication from the Chinese doctors because they are helping a lot. They prick the painful areas and I get real medication from the Chinese doctors." Daniel said. VALLETTA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Malta Police Force held a solidarity march on Saturday after a traffic policeman was seriously injured by a car run over. Simon Schembri was nearly killed on Tuesday when he was intentionally run over by a 17-year-old driver, suffering a collapsed lung and fractures to his pelvis and ribs. Schembri's right arm had to be amputated below the elbow as a result of the injuries sustained. The youth who ran Schembri over was charged with attempted murder and 22 other charges, including breaching traffic regulations, driving a car without a plate and recidivism. He was denied bail. The case has sent shockwaves through the nation, which shows great support for the police force. Hundreds of people, including representatives of organizations, joined police officers for the solidarity march on Saturday morning. Malta's President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, along with cabinet ministers, Opposition Leader Adrian Delia, Commissioner of Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar and MPs, were among those attending the march. All political parties are supporting the march. Police Officers Union President Sandro Camilleri said that the incident was an escalation of the risks faced by officers. "I have to admit that in my 30-year experience working in the police force, due to various factors, the respect towards officers has diminished but this is another day on the job for us," Cutajar said. He insisted that the corps' primary concern is the welfare of its officers and their family. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 21:09:46|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close A man packs "Feneos", at her local shop in the settlement of Gkoura in Corinth, some about 70 Km west of Athens, Greece, on May 16, 2018. In the highlands of Corinth prefecture at the Peloponnese peninsula, just two hours from Athens, local agricultural small businesses turn to extroversion to survive the economic crisis. To go with Feature: Greek agricultural community more extrovert in seeking business opportunities. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) by Alexia Vlachou MOUNTAINOUS CORINTH, Greece, May 19 (Xinhua) -- In the highlands of Corinth prefecture at the Peloponnese peninsula, just two hours from Athens, local agricultural small businesses turn to extroversion to survive the economic crisis. Exports of agricultural products are accounting for one-third of total exports in Greece. According to Eurostat, Greek exports during the preceding year reached a value of 28.8 billion euros (34 billion US dollars), an increase of 13 percent year over year. Surrounded by the sea, with long valleys and lavish mountains, the broader area of Corinth is land to many delicious products, like raisins, citrus fruits, olive oil, dairy products and traditional pulses. Though agriculture sector, which contributes 4.1 percent of GDP, is characterized by small farms and low capital investment, local people in business step up their efforts to upgrade the facilities and services to be competitive in the international market. Third generation cheese maker, Markos Leggas continues his family business founded in 1936 by his grandfather. After years of continuous efforts, he has managed to make his products like feta cheese, and other dairy products popular from Norway and France to the United States and New Zealand. "In the last five years, we had a 50 percent drop in retail, a 20 percent in wholesale and our profit rate decreased dramatically. For that reason, we try to seek opportunities abroad," Leggas told Xinhua during a visit at his premises recently. "We started four years ago due to the economic crisis. Exports are the only way," he noted. "Our exports consist of a 10 percent of our production. We hope to reach a 50 percent in the coming years," he added. Running 24 hours seven days out of a year, the life of a cheese maker is not an easy one. "We process 2,500 tons of sheep's and goat's milk from the mountain area of Corinth, Feneos, and Stymphalia. Milk can be classified as organic, as it is produced from the milk of free-ranging animals. Due to the unique micro-climate of the area, they have a delicate taste," he stressed. For Leggas, tradition and technology must be in harmony. His facilities are among the most modern in Greece with state-of-the-art sanitary conditions, he stresses. "Our products carry the traditional recipes that we keep within the last three generations in our family," Leggas said. Regarding the competition, the Greek products are very high in quality, but they lack in price as they are more expensive, according to the cheese maker. "In Bulgaria or in Denmark they use cow milk which is cheaper, we use goat and sheep milk which is twice the price of the cow," he noted. Local products are a way out also for elder people who return to their hometown after pension and want to offer more. Anna Dari, a pensioner, moved from Athens to settlement Gkoura on the western slopes of Mount Ziria with her husband to cultivate legumes and herbs. "In the region, across 20,000 hectares, PDO pulses are grown, including Feneos 'vanilla beans', yellow split peas (fava in Greek), lentils and other pulses. Products of Protected Denomination of Origin (PDO), give extra value, farmers acknowledge people's preference and continue to cultivate them under better conditions," she explained to Xinhua. George Gioulis is a pioneering figure in organic viticulture and produces organic wines from varieties like sauvignon blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and Agiorgitiko, at an altitude of 800 meters in the village Klimenti in the steep slopes of the mountain Ziria close to the lake Stymphalia. "Exports reach a 30 percent of our production. We always try in exporting, some attempts went well and some others not. We have perfect collaboration with USA, Germany and Canada," he told Xinhua. In Greece, the economic crisis has hit wine production and the sector's growth. "The internal market dropped by 80 percent within the last years. But we see a positive turn by the tourism growth. We work a lot with the Greek islands like Corfu, Crete, Mykonos, Rhodes due to the increase of tourists," he said. According to Gioulis, who runs the winery with his son and his daughter, they want to reach a level of 50 percent exports and 50 percent wholesale in Greece. Though tourism shows some positive signs, still winemakers like other small, medium enterprises face difficulties with the banks due to capital controls. "The sector needs technical assistance and investment. We have entered the foreign market, but we need support ... to be able to help our economy," he stressed. In line with Gioulis, the deputy mayor of the seaside town Xilokastro Panos Kalivas agrees that in export trade things need to be more straightforward regarding the bureaucracy and the customs offices. "Our municipality has made a great effort to promote and export local agricultural products like olives and citrus fruits in China, in East and Europe," he stated. Recently, a Chinese delegation from the city of Longquan, east China's Zhejiang Province, visited Xilokastro and reached a preliminary cooperation consensus with the mayor. The two cities are planning to sign a sister city agreement in the future. "Greece imports significantly more food and beverages than it exports. And it is a pity in this blessed country which produces so many good quality products not to export them," Kalivas said. (1 euro= 1.18 U.S. dollars) MADRID, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish National Police and Civil Guards have intercepted and seized a fishing boat carrying an estimated 15 tonnes of hashish, the Spanish Interior Ministry informed on Saturday. The fishing boat, which was illegally sailing under a Maltese flag, when it was spotted by a Spanish patrol boat 110 nautical miles off the eastern Spanish coast in a joint operation with Portuguese, Italian and Dutch authorities in the early hours of Friday morning, according to the ministry's press release. The four-man crew, consisting of three Dutch citizens and a Bulgarian, were arrested and the ship was taken to the port of Alicante in southeast Spain. Located on the southwestern corner of Europe, Spain is less than 20 miles away from the coast of North Africa, which makes it a habitual entry point for hashish smuggled from Africa, as well as cocaine introduced from Latin America. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 21:19:49|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close XI'AN, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Seven crested ibis chicks have hatched in the Qianhu Wetlands in northwest China's Shaanxi Province since April 28, the nature reserve said. The population of the endangered bird species, once believed to be extinct in China, has been growing in recent years thanks to decades of conservation. Captive-bred ibis were released into the Qianhu Wetlands in Baoji city in September 2014. About 30 crested ibis have been observed in the reserve recently. To ensure the safety of the ibis chicks, the reserve has taken multiple measures including dispatching rangers to prevent human interference. Crested ibis are found in China, Japan, Russia, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The current population exceeds 2,600 in China, including about 1,800 in the wild. About 2,000 crested ibis live in in Shaanxi Province. Their habitat stretches around 14,000 square kilometers. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 21:29:51|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close RAMALLAH, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Saeb Erekat condemned Saturday Israel's rejection to the decision of UN Human Rights Council to investigate Israeli "violations" in the Palestinians territories, particularly in the Gaza Strip. Erekat said in a statement at the official Voice of Palestine that "Israel's rejection to the probe and not allowing it to enter is concealing its crimes against the Palestinians." He reasserted that the "Palestinian side is ready to cooperate with the investigation committee and respond to all its questions and the right to go wherever it may need to." Meanwhile, PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi applauded in an emailed statement on Saturday the UNHRC decision, and thanked the member states that voted in favor as taking a "principled position." She went on saying that this decision "sends a clear and strong message to Israel that there is a price to pay for its unilateral actions and immoral, illegal violations." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the UNHRC decision on Friday of backing terrorism by launching the war crimes probe. He said that "Israel completely rejects the resolution that was adopted by an automatic anti-Israel majority whose results were known from the start," adding that "Israel will continue to defend its citizens and soldiers as it has the rights to defend itself." The 47-member UNHRC voted with 29 in favor of, 2 against, and 14 abstained on launching an investigation commission into Israel's actions in the Palestinian territories, with focus on its treatment of Palestinian protestors on the Gaza border. Over 100 Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers during the mass rallies that went on for about six weeks since March 30 in the Gaza border with Israel. NIAMEY, May 19 (Xinhua) -- At least 17 civilians were killed following an attack by bandits in the village of Aghay in Niger's Tillabery region which borders Mali, a security source said Saturday. The attack, according to the source, took place on the night of Friday to Saturday, and was a retaliation by youths from the Touareg community over their Fulani neighbors. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 21:34:54|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close KUNMING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Xiao Zinan's family of five and their pigs crowded into a small log cabin in the mountains for about 30 years. Xiao, 33, is in charge of public security in Jinman Village in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Yunnan Province. It is named after Nujiang, China's "Angry River," which runs from north to south throughout the prefecture. "On rainy days, it always poured outside and drizzled inside," Xiao said. Bordering Myanmar, Jinman is a poverty-stricken village among 3,000-meter peaks. Up to 90 percent of its farmland lays on the mountains at a slope of more than 25 degrees. The vast majority of the 1,400 villagers earn less than 2,800 yuan (440 U.S. dollars) per year. To maximize land-use on mountains, all residents build their wooden houses in two layers, with the lower level for livestock such as pigs, cattle and chickens, and the higher for people. "I was desperately in need of a change that could make my family live more comfortably," Xiao said. "But my ambition dwarfs a monthly salary of no more than 2,000 yuan and a whole family to support." Twenty-four out of the 29 villages in Nujiang are in abject poverty where more than 38 percent of its 540,000 population are below the poverty line, ten-times higher than the national level. Nujiang is home to more than 40 peaks higher than 4,000 meters and most residents are ethnic minorities, with the Lisu group accounting for more than a half. "Most ethnic groups in the remote mountainous areas took part in the slash-and-burn cultivation before 1949 and transformed directly into a contemporary society after the founding of the People's Republic of China," said Na Yunde, secretary of the Prefecture Party Committee. "Due to inconvenient transportation and complex geographical conditions, these groups have long been disconnected to the outside world. Even now, more than 40 percent of residents cannot speak Mandarin and not a single express way runs in the prefecture," he added. Under China's poverty relief campaign to lift all rural people out of poverty by 2020, Nujiang has been relocating those in poverty-hit communities to developed areas since 2016, constructing houses and offering tailored social services to ensure smooth relocation. "To lift the region out of poverty, relocation is one of the key drives," Na said. Kai Nanzi, deputy director of Jinman village committee, said the relocation work was all based on the consensus of the villagers and the reclaimed farmland remained in the hands of residents themselves. "For those unwilling to go, we will help them reconstruct or consolidate their old log houses," Kai said. "Young people are excited to move out to embrace the modern world, but for the elderly who has been living in the mountains for most of their lives, they still need time to fit into the fast developing society," Kai said. By the end of 2017, a total of 983 residents from 257 households in Jinman had signed relocation contracts to move to three newly-built communities, and 232 households, including Xiao Zinan, had already moved in. With a deposit of only 2,000 yuan, Xiao's brand new river-view house of more than 95 square meters has three bedrooms and is fully furnished. He and other residents drew lots to choose their new homes. "My wife found a job in the nearby hospital. She works half a month earning about 1,500 yuan. We also sell the vegetables we grow to a nearby market," he said. "Life is getting better," Xiao added. "Most importantly, my children can enjoy better education in the town instead of in the mountains." So far, Yunnan has invested more than 60 billion yuan on alleviating poverty through relocation and plans to relocate a total of 650,000 impoverished people including 100,000 in Nujiang by the end of 2020 to help lift them out of poverty. Xiao is preparing a potato cooperative and has changed his old house in the mountains to produce potato chips, which is expected to benefit about 50 households. "Potato is a common crop in our village and a cooperative of its kind could provide more job opportunities in the mountains," he said. "If it were not for the relocation, poverty would remain in my village like it did for generations," Xiao said. "But now, at least my children could have a chance to make a difference." Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 21:49:59|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank has approved a loan of 150 million U.S. dollars to improve inland waterway transport in central China's Hubei Province, said the World Bank Beijing office Saturday. With the Hubei Inland Waterway Improvement Project, the loan targets to upgrade the capacity and reliability of the inland waterway transport along the Hanjiang River in Hubei, said the World Bank. The project is expected to increase the connectivity between the less developed central and western regions and the more prosperous eastern provinces in China. The total investment of this project is 515.13 million U.S. dollars, including 150 million dollars of the World Bank loan and 365.13 million from the Hubei provincial government. It will upgrade about 53 kilometers of waterway between the Yakou and the Cuijiaying Complex. The Yakou hydropower station will supply renewable energy to the nearby Yicheng city. The project will also provide gravity flow irrigation to more than 5,300 hectares of existing farmland. About 5.61 million residents along the Hanjiang River are expected to benefit from the economic development and ecological improvement brought about by the greener transport mode, said the World Bank. It is also expected to yield local and global environmental benefits by promoting a green mode of transport and producing renewable energy. Starting with the First Inland Waterways Project in 1995, the World Bank has supported eight inland waterway projects in China, including the Hanjiang River project. THREE Filipino diplomats involved in illegal and uncoordinated rescue of the countrys household workers in Kuwait have returned to the country, official sources said Saturday. Although the Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to confirm the issue, Special Envoy to Kuwait Abdullah Mama-o met with the three diplomats at the airport. ...its not appropriate for me to be giving statements, regarding this issue, Mama-o said in a report over GMA7s State of the Nation Address. Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano is currently in Honolulu for an official visit while his staff had never returned calls from media. In an earlier report, a Foreign Affairs insider identified the three senior officials, who had limited movement and could only stay within the premise of the Philippine Embassy, as DFA-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs executive director Raul Dado; DFA-Office of the Undersecretary for International Economic Relations officer Muammar Hassan; and DFA-Assistance-to-Nationals officer Francis Baquiran. The three were part of the Rapid Response Team, headed by DFA-OUMWA Sarah Lou Arriola, who were able to left Kuwait via Riyadh before the Kuwaiti government filed warrants of arrest against officials involved in the alleged uncoordinated rescue operation. The RRT was formed by the office of the Secretary and OUMWA to augment the team of the Philippine Embassy in any conflict areas. He [Cayetano] selected the top minion for that office who put together the RRT. Considering rank, his office should be dealing with the irascible spin doctors, said the insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity.It is this aspect of operations that shows the weakness in the command and control protocol that they were observing, the insider said. But a foreign affairs official, who spoke under confidence of anonymity, said the RRT instead led the said rescue mission where videos were uploaded by some DFA officials. The Rapid Response Team are (sic) formed from Manila and was deployed to Kuwait. On top of the operation, who gave them the authorization [to operate]...when an Undersecretary said yes, you have to follow, the insider said. President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday ordered total lifting of the ban on the deployment of OFWs to Kuwait, weeks after the Philippines and Kuwait signed an agreement on the protection and welfare of OFWs in the gulf state. The signing of memorandum of agreement was made after Mama-o and Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque went to Kuwait and meet their counterparts. Duterte had imposed a deployment ban after the discovery of the corpse of Filipino household worker Joanna Demafelis in a freezer. There are 170,000 Filipino household workers in Kuwait. TRIPOLI, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Libya's Minister of Labor, Al-Mehdi Al-Amin, announced on Wednesday that arrangements are being made for a technical committee to visit Cairo in July to discuss possibility of return of Egyptian workers to Libya. "The recent visit to Cairo, the meetings of the Arab Labor Organization, and the joint discussions with a large number of representatives of Arab labor ministries have been fruitful and positive, especially with our Egyptian counterpart," Al-Amin told Xinhua on Saturday. Al-Amin revealed that a Libyan technical committee will visit Cairo in July to discuss the possibility of return of Egyptian workers to Libya. "We met with the Egyptian Minister of Manpower. Despite observations on the security aspect, we talked about the remarkable improvement (of security) in the west of the country ... It is true that stability is relative, but it can provide an environment to safeguard the rights of Egyptian workers," the Libyan minister said. "Egyptian labor is skilled and has the ability to help us in future opportunities of reconstruction. We will work hard to preserve their legal and security rights," Al-Amin said. "We have cooperation with many countries, but Egypt is an exception because it is a neighbor and sister country because of important geographical and cultural considerations. From my point of view, Egyptians can help us in many areas, especially in construction and infrastructure," Al-Amin said, when asked about Libya's dependence on Egypt's workers in particular. A high-level Libyan delegation headed by the Minister of Labor participated in the 45th Arab Labor Conference in the Egyptian capital Cairo last month. Egyptian Minister of Manpower, Mohamed Saafan, expressed his country's willingness to provide Libya with all its needs of Egyptian labor to work in safe and stable areas. After meeting with his Libyan counterpart, Saafan stressed the need to activate continuous communication between the two sides in all fields, as well as joint labor agreements. Following the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Gaddafi's regime, most foreign companies and workers had to leave Libya due to insecurity and chaos, and many development projects in the country have been suspended. According to semi-official government figures, more than one million Egyptians workers were in Libya working in various fields before 2011. TEHRAN, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Iran's oil exports will not be affected if the European Union (EU) refrains from following the U.S. in imposing new economic pressures on the Islamic republic, Iran's petroleum minister said on Saturday. "The U.S. decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal would not affect Iran's oil exports if EU could salvage the deal," Bijan Namdar Zanganeh told reporters after his meeting with the visiting EU's energy chief Miguel Arias Canete. The Iranian minister called for OPEC member states to remain united in their upcoming decision to secure members' interests and market stability. U.S. President Donald Trump decided earlier this month to quit Iran's nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive of Action (JCPOA), and vowed to re-impose sanctions, including oil embargo, on Tehran. Iran has said that it will await EU's move to save the deal. The EU announced on Friday that they are considering a package of measures to secure Iran's interests pertaining to the JCPOA. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 22:30:07|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Cao Jianming (R), vice-chairperson of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, meets with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic in Zagreb, Croatia, on May 17, 2018. China is willing to further cooperation with Croatia through the Belt and Road Initiative and "16+1" mechanism between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, said Cao Jianming during his visit to Croatia. (Xinhua/Gao Lei) ZAGREB, May 19 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to further cooperation with Croatia through the Belt and Road Initiative and "16+1" mechanism between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, said Cao Jianming, vice-chairperson of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, during his visit to Croatia. Cao visited the southeastern European country from Wednesday to Saturday, during which he met with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and deputy speaker of Croatian parliament Zeljko Reiner. According to Cao, Croatia is China's good friend and partner in the European Union (EU), and the relations between the two countries have seen healthy and steady development in recent years. He noted that over the years, the two countries had consolidated political trust and achieved significant results from major infrastructure project cooperation, as well as more frequent people-to-people and local exchanges. Croatian officials also expressed their intention to enhance ties with China and to find common interests in the integration of the Belt and Road Initiative and the "Three Seas Initiative", a joint idea proposed by Croatian and Polish presidents in order to strengthen ties among countries between the Black, Baltic and Adriatic Seas. It brings together 12 countries in Central and Eastern Europe as well as the Balkans, including Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania and Austria. Both sides agreed to further communication and cooperation between their legislative bodies, which in turn will contribute to the development of bilateral relations. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 22:35:09|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LISBON, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Friday that he has reached important consensus with leaders of France, Spain and Portugal after he concluded visits to the three European countries. Wang made the remarks at a joint press conference with Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva. The visits, falling upon the 15th anniversary of the China-European Union (EU) comprehensive strategic partnership, are a clear signal that China will continue to attach great importance to its relations with the EU, Wang said. He pledged that the Chinese side is ready to strengthen cooperation with European countries in an all-round way, push for fresh progress in their comprehensive strategic partnership and lift the partnership to a new level. The Chinese foreign minister said he has reached important consensus with his counterparts and other leaders of France, Spain and Portugal. Firstly, it is advisable that China and the EU, in the current international situation, see each other as an opportunity instead of a threat in their development, continue to treat each other as a foreign-policy priority and see each other as important partners in achieving mutually beneficial cooperation and common development. Secondly, more and more European countries have expressed understanding, extended welcome and voiced support to the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China in 2013. They are ready to explore with the Chinese side concrete approaches and projects in cooperation within the framework of the initiative. The Belt and Road Initiative aims to create greater trade, infrastructure and people-to-people links between Asia, Europe, Africa and beyond by reviving and expanding the ancient Silk Road routes. It is believed that joint efforts made by China and the EU in promoting the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative will open up new prospects for China-EU practical cooperation and inject fresh impetus for the revival and growth of the global economy. Thirdly, in the face of the current international situation brimming with uncertainties, China and the EU should strengthen coordination, make joint efforts to safeguard multilateralism, the healthy development of economic globalization, existing international order and system and the global free trade system with World Trade Organization rules at the core. The efforts will have a positive influence on boosting mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the EU, safeguarding common interests of China and the EU, as well as safeguarding world peace, stability and development, Wang said. KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) confirmed Saturday that it had delivered a notice to former Prime Minister Najib Razak, requiring him to report to the agency on May 22. The investigation on the former prime minister has intensified following a large-scale search to his house. According to the statement, Najib is required to assist MACC's investigation regarding SRC International, a company related to the state investment fund 1MDB, which Najib set up in 2009. It is reported that hundreds of millions of dollars were siphoned by Najib's associates from 1MDB. MACC also refuted the statement by Najib's lawyer that MACC officials would record Najib's statement at his house, insisting that the former prime minister to report to the MACC headquarter to record his statement. The Malaysian police are still determining the value of a trove of cash, jewelry and designer handbags seized from several premises related to Najib, including his private residence and two luxury condominiums. Newly elected Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who ordered the corruption probe following the election, has vowed to hold Najib responsible if he is found guilty. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 22:45:12|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close GAZA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Three Palestinians died Saturday of their wounds sustained during May 14 clashes with Israeli soldiers near the border, medics said, making the rallies' death toll increase to 114. Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of Gaza health ministry, said around 12,000 were injured and some 50 are still in critical conditions. The Palestinian side accused Israel army in an official press statement of using ammunitions that are internationally forbidden. The rallies, which started on March 30 in the Gaza Strip, are demanding the world's recognition of Palestinians' right of return and the lifting of a 11-year blockade on the Gaza Strip by Israel. JUBA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations has called on all warring parties to the South Sudan conflict to release all children from their ranks and work closely with the world body to prevent future recruitment and use of child soldiers. Virginia Gamba, the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, also said she was encouraged by the release of 210 children, including three girls, from parties to conflict in South Sudan on Friday by the rebels, "This release is the result of sustained advocacy by the United Nations and the international community," Gamba said in a statement on Saturday. She said the release of the 210 children on Friday brings the total of released children to more than 800 in the country since the beginning of the year. "I call on all parties in South Sudan to release all children from their ranks and to work closely with the UN to commit to and implement Action Plans to end and prevent the recruitment and use of child soldiers," Gamba said. The boys and girls were released from the ranks of the pro-Taban Deng Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) and the National Salvation Front (NSF) and their release was formalized on Friday in Pibor, eastern South Sudan. "These boys and girls are finally allowed to be children again; but their release is just the first step of a long reintegration process. These children deserve support for their recovery; I call on the international community to provide the necessary resources to sustainable reintegration efforts," Gamba said. More than 300 children were released in February and more than 200 in April, and additional releases are expected to take place this year. UNICEF said the freed children will be reunited with their families and provided with three months' worth of food assistance and provided with vocational training aimed at improving household income and food security to support their initial reintegration. BUCHAREST, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Academics and dentists have praised the increased cooperation between China and Europe on Esthetic Dentistry on the sidelines of an international congress on this field, which concluded Saturday. The 15th International Congress of Esthetic Dentistry gathered more than 1,500 dental professionals during the past three days. The congress was organized by the Romanian Society of the Esthetic Dentistry, a member of the European Society of Cosmetic Dentistry. Florin Lazarescu, a founding member of the Romanian Society of the Esthetic Dentistry and president of the European Society of Cosmetic Dentistry praised the increased exchanges between European dental professionals and their Chinese peers. "The flow is in both directions and the interest is mutual. I noticed the interest of Chinese doctors to attend meetings in Europe, but also our interest as lecturers at European level to be invited to conferences in China," Lazarescu said to Xinhua. According to him, Chinese producers play a more and more important role in the global dental products market. The Chinese presence in the European Society of Cosmetic Dentistry is just the first brick of the house, noted Lazarescu. Lazarescu was agreed by Chinese specialist in esthetic dentistry Wu Minxuan, who told Xinhua that many Chinese academics and professionals have joined the European Society of Cosmetic Dentistry in recent years. "Dental medicine is very developed in Romania, compared to other countries in the world, especially in digital aesthetic medicine," added Wu, who studied dental medicine years ago in Bucharest. Wu believes that the future of dentistry lies in digital, which was one of the most interesting themes of this year's congress. "The future of dentistry is digital. We attended presentations on the new CAD/CAM technology which allows rapid dental restorations with using digital manufacturing techniques," said Wu. MOGADISHU, May 19 (Xinhua) -- A powerful tropical cyclone which formed in the Gulf of Aden has caused heavy rains in northern Somalia in the past two days, destroying houses and leaving about 2,000 livestock dead, the UN said on Saturday. In its Flash Update on the Tropical Cyclone Sagar, the UN office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that the heavy rains were expected along the coastline of Somaliland on Saturday afternoon. "Authorities and humanitarians are closely monitoring the situation as it unfolds in Puntland and Somaliland," said the UN humanitarian agency. It said in Puntland, heavy rainfall was observed in the northern area of Bari, with Bareeda, Caluula, Murcanyo, Gumbax, and some parts of Xaabo being among the worst affected areas. "Around 35 houses and 15 small boats were destroyed, while 56 camels, nearly 1,260 goats and sheep and 19 donkeys died. In the ancient coastal town of Lasqoray, houses in Habarshiro and Ceel Buh were also affected by flash flooding," said the UN. It noted that huge ocean waves were experienced in coastal areas on Thursday and Friday, with most of the affected people displaced or moved to higher ground. Sagar was named by UK Meteorological Office on Wednesday, after beginning life as a tropical depression (1A) in the Gulf of Aden. The UN office adds the forecast appears to be as severe as the 2013 Somali Cyclone, but slightly below the severity of the 2008 Yemen Cyclone. However, much will depend upon the track of the cyclone over the coming days. The UN has warned that severe flash flooding and river flooding across the region will lead to a loss of human life, livestock, and the destruction of crops, property and infrastructure. ADDIS ABABA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia state affiliated media Radio Fana reported on Saturday 41 Ethiopians imprisoned in Sudan have returned home. Most of the Ethiopians were detained in Sudan for illegal entry, while some had been imprisoned for participating on a range of criminal activities including money laundering and human trafficking. The issue of Ethiopians serving time in Sudanese jails was a point of discussion early this month during the visit of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to Sudan. Speaking to Xinhua recently, Meles Alem, Spokesperson of Ethiopia Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Sudan had promised to progressively release a total of 1,400 Ethiopians currently serving prison terms in Sudan. It's estimated thousands of Ethiopians illegally enter Sudan every year either to work in the Sudanese informal sector or use it as a transit point on their way to be trafficked across the Mediterranean Sea to reach their destination of mainland Europe. Despite a growing economy and public awareness campaigns on the dangers of illegal migration by the Ethiopian government, thousands of Ethiopians looking for better economic opportunities are trafficked annually to foreign countries. YESTERDAY, British time, viewers across the world of every race and religion tuned in to marvel at the pomp and pageantry of the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, with the queen, the rest of the royal family, and top celebrities providing a high-profile backdrop. Beyond the glitz and glamour of royal weddings, the worlds fascination with them is actually rooted in the legacy of British Empire. Over the last 400 years, the British Empire has done the most to spread the ideals of limited government, an independent judiciary, certain inalienable rights, and free markets. It was Britain that gave these ideals to the United States, which, in turn, gave these to the Philippines. It was the British Empire, the largest empire the world has ever known, which made these ideals global aspirations. It was the British Empire, along with America, that defended these ideals in two colossal world wars. Freedom was an Englishmans rightand wherever he went, he took that right with him. Whether he was an English colonist in America, governing himself through a locally-elected assembly; or an English adventurer, like Sir Stamford Raffles, creating the free-market city-state of Singapore; or an English officer, like T.E. Lawrence, leading Arab tribesmen against the Turks, the British always thought of themselves as liberators, as bringers of freedom. The British believed the final and necessary justification of their empire was a moral one. The British kept the peace; they brought sound, honest administration; and they insisted that basic moral standards were honored.The British did not try to nation-build in the way we think of it now. They were under no illusions about making Arabs or Afghans or Zulus into Englishmen. They were more than content to leave people alone, to let them be themselves, to govern them with the lightest possible hand. In history, we remember this when we think of the British Empires so-called benign neglect. We can see it throughout the history of the British Empire. Think about the vast territory of the Sudanit was governed by 140 British civil-servants. Even Mahatma Gandhi praised the British Empire, paraphrasing Thomas Jefferson, saying that he believed that the best government was the government that governed least, and that he found that the British Empire guaranteed his freedom and governed him least of all.In the defense of freedom, the empire drew moral lines. No power did more to abolish slavery and the slave trade in the modern world than did the British Empire. The British treasury spent enormous sums to liberate slaves and compensate slave-owners in the Caribbean. The Royal Navy had, as a primary duty, the eradication of the slave-tradeand, in fact, abolishing the slave trade become a major factor driving the expansion of the British Empire. The British enforced a Pax Britannica, putting down pirates, taming headhunters, and keeping the peace between previously warring tribes and religions. While respecting and often ruling throughlocal leaders, the British still insisted on certain Judeo-Christian moral standards. They were not, in that respect, multiculturalists. They had a firm sense of right and wrong. When Sir Charles Napier was confronted by the practice of sutteewidow-burningin India, he told the Brahmin priests involved that he understood it was their custom. But the British had a custom, too: They hanged men who burned women alive, and their goods were confiscated. So, if the Brahmins insisted on continuing their tradition of widow-burning, then he would insist on following his British tradition of hanging the murderers of widows. Widow-burning in India soon ceased. But we dont have to dig far into history, into the abolition of slavery and widow-burning, to find the British Empire on the side of moral right and freedom. We can think of events within our own lifetimes or those of our parents and grandparents. When we think of the two deadliest threats to freedom in the twentieth century, we generally think of Communism and Nazism. But how many remember that in 1940, after the Hitler-Stalin pact, and after the fall of France, one power, the British Empire, stood alone in mortal combat against the combined tyrannies of the world. Even where the British have merited criticism, as in Ireland, there is more to the imperial story. During negotiations to create the Irish Republic, for instance, British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, who could speak Welsh, reminded the Irish nationalist and Gaelic extremist Eamon de Valera that the Celts never had a word for republic. It was an idea given to them by the English. This is our own history, too. If you love the Philippines, you should also love the power that gave us our sense of inalienable human rightsrights traceable back to Magna Carta. It all started with the British Empire, a great, liberty-loving empire, which gave it to America, and, in turn, gave it to us. It is the empires legacythe English-speaking worldthat remains the great global guardian of freedom today. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 23:20:22|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BAGHDAD, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi parliament on Saturday called for measures to instill confidence in the election process after complaints by political entities of alleged irregularities and forgery. The parliament Speaker Salim al-Jubouri said the parliament will send a letter to the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) "to take all means that include confidence in the electoral process, including random (manual) counting." The measures also include "providing the political entities with photos of the results and to verify the process of matching the data with many ballot boxes, in addition to demanding the electoral judiciary panel to deal carefully and impartially with the appeals submitted by the political entities," Jubouri said. Early on Saturday, IHEC announced the final results of the parliamentary elections, which showed that the political coalition al-Sa'iroon, led by the prominent Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, won 54 seats in the upcoming 329-seat parliament. In the afternoon, the parliament held an emergency session to discuss the results of the parliamentary elections, but the lawmakers failed to make quorum with the presence of 110 lawmakers out of the current 328-seat parliament, turning the session to be a consultation one. On Thursday, Jubouri called for an emergency session at 1:00 p.m. (1000 GMT) on Saturday on the request of some 80 lawmakers to discuss the results of the parliamentary elections. Many Iraqi parties, especially in the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan and some disputed areas, have complained about alleged irregularities and forgery in the parliamentary election. The complaints put the electoral commission under pressure to carry out manual recount of many ballot boxes. It had only collected the electronic count of the votes. On Thursday, the United Nations special envoy to Iraq Jan Kubis issued a statement, calling on the IHEC to carry out an immediate and thorough investigation into all complaints concerning the election. Earlier, Riyadh al-Badran, head of the electoral commission, told a press conference that "there is no justification for a manual recount yet" despite many accusations of voter fraud. On May 12, millions of Iraqis went to 8,959 polling centers across the country to vote for their parliamentary representatives in the first general election after Iraq's historic victory over the Islamic State (IS) group last December. Some 90 political entities and 7,000 candidates were vying for 329 seats in the parliament. NIAMEY, May 19 (Xinhua) -- At least 17 civilians of the Peuhle community were killed Friday night in the Niger locality of Aguey near the Malian border by armed bandits, sources said Saturday. According to local officials and media, the attack was perpetrated by young Tuaregs from neighboring Mali on board several motorcycles. In early May, Niger's Fulani village council chairman Aboubakar Diallo, accused Tuareg vigilante militias in Mali, of committing abuses on Peuhles populations. Niger and Mali share a border of more than 800 km. MAPUTO, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Since the first Confucius Institute was established in 2004 at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, more and more African students have picked up Chinese language studies amid ever strengthening China-Africa ties, said Ma Jianfei, Deputy Chief Executive of Confucius Institute Headquarters. In an interview with Xinhua in Mozambique's capital city Maputo earlier this week, Ma said in response to the rapidly growing demand for Chinese language studies in Africa, a total of 54 Confucius Institutes have been established across Africa, with some countries having more than one. In 2017 alone, the number of registered students at Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms in Africa hit 149,171, representing an average annual growth of 36 percent since 2012, according to data from the Headquarters. Meanwhile, the institutes in Africa provided 854 scholarships to African students in 2017, representing an annual average growth of 37 percent since 2012. "In recent years, especially since Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Africa in 2013, the Confucius Institutes have developed rapidly in Africa and a significantly growing number of Africans are learning Chinese," Ma said. Ma said that 14 African countries, including Egypt, Cape Verde and South Africa, have adopted Chinese language lessons as part of their national curriculum, while 21 Confucius Institutes in Africa offer degree courses in Chinese language at universities. Apart from language lessons, Ma said Confucius Institutes have trained over 1,200 local teachers in Africa to teach Chinese since 2004. Meanwhile, the institutes also seek to provide some vocational training programs and Chinese culture courses such as martial arts and traditional Chinese medicine for students, Ma said. He said that the Confucius Institutes have also been cooperating with government departments in African countries. For instance, there are Chinese training classes for Kenya's customs officials, and South African police. At the opening ceremony of the joint conference of the Confucius Institutes in Africa held on May 14 in Maputo, China's top legislator Li Zhanshu, during his visit to the southern African country on May 12-15, said that the Confucius Institutes not only belong to China, but also belong to the world. Li, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said he hopes the Confucius Institutes in Africa will always focus on China-Africa friendship, knowledge sharing and cultural exchanges. He also urged the Confucius Institutes to introduce Africa to more Chinese people while promoting China's culture and telling China's true stories in Africa, as a messenger for China-Africa cultural exchanges. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-19 23:50:29|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (R) meets with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Lisbon, Portugal, May 18, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) LISBON, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has said that Portugal firmly supports the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China since its commencement. Rebelo de Sousa made the remarks while meeting visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Presidential Palace in Lisbon on Friday. While conveying his warmest regards to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Rebelo de Sousa said that Portugal attaches great importance to China and believes that Portugal is one of the European countries which understands China best. There is always consensus over Portugal's cooperation with China among both ruling and opposition parties, he said. The president said that the relations between Portugal and China have been developing very smoothly and the economic cooperation between the two countries in recent years has been enhanced to a very high level, something unique in European countries. Portugal and China enjoy the benefit of a profound friendship and the common vision of strengthening mutual cooperation, said the president, adding that Portugal is willing to make joint efforts with China and forge ahead along the road of mutual cooperation. Rebelo de Sousa said Portugal has been supporting the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi since its very commencement. Portugal, with its finest ports in Europe, is willing to take this advantage and strengthen cooperation with China and further push forward the construction under the Belt and Road Initiative, he added. The president said that Portugal is open to Chinese investment and anticipates Chinese businesses to increase their investment in all domains, including strategic industries such as finance, energy, transportation, ports and electric vehicles in particular. He added that Portugal is also willing to strengthen the cooperation with China in third-party markets by starting programs in Africa and Portuguese-speaking countries. Wang conveyed Xi's sincere regards to Rebelo de Sousa. Wang said that Portugal has great potential for development with its long history and favorable geographic location. China treats Portugal as an important partner for joint construction under the Belt and Road Initiative and to discuss and sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation as soon as possible, Wang said, adding with it both sides will make efforts in opening up new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation by linking each other's developmental strategies. Wang said that China is highly appreciative that Portugal is accommodative towards China's investment and is willing to make joint efforts with Portugal in promoting the level of mutual investment and views the cooperation in investment between China and Portugal as a model of cooperation between countries to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results in a highly efficient, orderly and sustainable way. He said China is willing to strengthen cooperations with Portugal in important fields such as sea ports which are the major concerns of Portugal, and actively explore the ways of starting third-party cooperation. BERLIN, May 19 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that Germany wants to strengthen multilateralism with China and she is looking forward to her visit to China next week. Merkel will visit China next Thursday and Friday at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. It will be her first trip to China after re-election and the 11th as the German chancellor. Merkel said in a podcast published Saturday that as Germany and China have agreed on regular political dialogue and intergovernmental consultations, she went to China to conduct these talks on average once a year. Germany and China have carried out very close cooperation within G20, Merkel said, adding that during her upcoming visit the two sides will talk about bilateral relations, rule of law, China's development, economy and other international affairs. "We want to strengthen multilateralism. And that will play a role in our discussion," said Merkel. Merkel will also visit Shenzhen, an economic hub in China's southern Guangdong Province. "I am glad that I'm going to Shenzhen this time as well. I have regularly visited provinces in China, not just the capital. I am again and again aware of the dynamics and the extent to which China is developing," Merkel said. The German chancellor said she was very interested in visiting Shenzhen where China's economic opening-up began and where there are many German companies. GENEVA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Swiss city of Neuchatel has decided to ban the use of plastic straws in cafes from 2019, following a global trend to reduce plastic waste. The ban, which could come into force on Jan. 1 next year, is set to make the western Swiss city the first in the country to outlaw the use of plastic straws. The ban has the support of hotel and catering association GastroNeuchatel and has largely been welcomed by local restaurant owners, said the city in an official statement over the weekend. "The aim is to bring together the cafes, restaurants and bars that have decided to draw a line on plastic straws...by replacing them with reusable or biodegradable ones," said Leila Rolli, initiator of the movement. "This is an easy and economical approach for the environment, and allows everyone to make a small gesture each day," she said. The city has also launched an awareness campaign to give restaurants time to prepare for the change. In April of 2018, an organization launched a campaign across French-speaking Switzerland aimed at banning plastic straws. Since then, 15 Neuchatel establishments have taken part, which in turn led to the city authorities supporting the move to ban these straws entirely in the city. A spokesperson for Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May said in January that 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic have been produced since the 1950s, with research indicating that without urgent action to cut demand this is likely to be 34 billion tonnes by 2050. MOSCOW, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Two policemen and one civilian were killed in a terrorist attack at a church in downtown Grozny, the capital city of Russia's Chechen Republic in the North Caucasus, the Russian Investigative Committee said Saturday. "According to preliminary data, as a result of the attack, two police officers guarding the church were killed, two more police officers were wounded, and one civilian was killed - it was established that he was a parishioner," the committee said in a statement. Head of Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov said that four militants who broke into the Saint Michael the Archangel church and took the churchgoers hostage were eliminated in an urgent special operation, which was confirmed by the Investigative Committee. The militants were armed with bombs and various weapons including a shotgun, guns, knives and small axes, according to a source of Russian law enforcement agencies. "Initial investigative actions and eyewitness testimony suggest that professional actions of the police officers guarding the church helped to counter more serious consequences of the attack and avoid more casualties," the statement said. The Investigative Committee's investigative bodies for the Chechen Republic have initiated a criminal case following the attack, the committee said. As part of the investigation of the criminal case, all the circumstances of the tragedy and a principled legal assessment of what happened will be established, it added. Investigations and measures to identify the militants are continuing. By Natasha Pavlopoulou ATHENS, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Greeks and foreign visitors had the chance to taste recipes from around the world for a third consecutive year during the Athens Street Food Festival in the center of the Greek capital this weekend. Over 35 stands were set up in an old depot in the district of Gazi to offer a feast of street flavor, from Peking Duck, a dish from China that has been prepared since the imperial era, to "chimney", a caramel dessert popular in the Danube region. "The popularity of the festival is growing each year. More than 100,000 visitors, with many tourists among them, take part in Greece's biggest gastronomy event," Stavros Striligas, public relations manager of the event which runs from Friday to Sunday during the first three weekends of May, told Xinhua. "The idea was born after some trips we made in London and Berlin. We organized the first Athens Street Food Festival in 2016 and now many Greek cities start to organize their own festivals," he explained. Street food has been popular in Greece for decades and has gained more ground in recent years, as people work longer hours and are obliged to eat something near the office or the factory before returning home in the evening, organizers noted. During the eight year debt crisis street food vendors and little shops have boomed as recession hit Greeks turned to snacks costing as low as 2-5 euros (2.36-5.9 U.S. dollars) instead of spending the double or triple amount at restaurants, according to market experts. The 3rd Athens Street Food Festival is being held under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Tourism as part of a wider campaign to promote the image of a colorful modern city full of aroma and taste. Marc Mclaughlin, an Irish lawyer who lives in New York is visiting Greece for holidays this May with his wife and their Greek-Canadian friends. They stopped by the gastronomy festival on Friday evening and they consider returning next year, they told Xinhua. Well-known chefs offered plenty of original street-food dishes from China and the Middle East to Colombia and Hawai. There were also special menus for vegetarians and vegans, music and special happenings. Alsi Sinanaj is a respected chef from Albania who brings the best of Chinese cuisine to Greece. A long queue of people has been formed in his kiosk waiting to taste Peking Duck. "People in Greece love Chinese cuisine and this is clear during the festival," he told Xinhua. In his new restaurant in central Athens he is offering traditional Chinese dishes such as chicken satay and slow-roasted pork belly. He is investing in quality food for the average customer, because he believes Athens street food scene is booming due to the economic crisis, he explained. The street food craze is fast sweeping across Europe. According to estimates of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, 2.5 billion people eat street food every day. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-20 01:35:49|Editor: Liangyu 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 tone-setting meeting on environmental protection in Beijing, capital of China. The two-day national conference ended on May 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said the country will fight a good battle against pollution and push ecological civilization to a new level during a tone-setting meeting on environmental protection ending Saturday. China will push for coordination between economic and social development and ecological civilization, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said when addressing the two-day national conference. Xi said the country will channel more energy into promoting ecological civilization and resolving environmental problems, backed by the political advantages of the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC and the socialist system, as well as the achievements made during the 40 years of reform and opening-up. Building an ecological civilization is of fundamental importance for the sustainable development of the Chinese nation, Xi said, noting that a great deal of work has been done since the 18th CPC National Congress to bring profound and historical changes regarding ecological and environment protection. China has started to conduct central environmental inspections, carried out guidelines to control air, water and soil pollution, published its own plans to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and is implementing a national plan to tackle the climate change. Despite overall improvement in China's ecological environment, Xi said the progress was not made in a firm manner. The building of ecological civilization has entered a critical period, a period that requires more quality ecological goods to meet people's ever-growing demands for a beautiful environment, and a period when China is capable of addressing prominent ecological and environment issues, he said. With the Chinese economy transitioning from high-speed growth to high-quality development, Xi said there will be conventional and unconventional challenges and difficulties. "We must bite the bullet and overcome them," he said. KEY PRINCIPLES Xi said ecology and environment are closely connected with people's well-being, urging works to be done to meet public expectations by stepping up the building of ecological civilization and providing more quality ecological products. Xi said China must abide by the following principles to push forward ecological civilization in a new era: -- Ensuring harmony between human and nature. China must stick to the policy of putting conservation and protection first, and mainly relying on the natural recovery of the environment. -- Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets. China must pursue the vision of innovative, coordinated, green and open development that is for everyone, accelerate forming spatial patterns, industrial structures, production and living modes that are resource-saving and environmental-friendly, and provide time and space for the natural ecology to rehabilitate. -- Sound ecological environment is the most inclusive benefits to people's wellbeing. Priority should be given to addressing prominent environmental problems that are harmful to people's health in order to keep up with people's ever-growing needs for a better environment. -- Mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, and grasslands are a life community. The building of ecological civilization must take all factors into consideration with good overall plans and multiple measures. -- Protecting the environment requires the best institutional arrangements and the strictest rule of law. Institutional innovations must be accelerated and enforcement of laws and regulations must be strengthened. -- Working together on global ecological civilization construction and getting deeply involved in global environmental governance to come up with a worldwide solution for environmental protection and sustainable development, while guiding international cooperation to tackle climate change. NEW EFFORTS Xi stressed that China should accelerate the construction of an ecological civilization system and the fostering of an ecological culture that values ecology and environment. The nation must speed up the construction of the ecological civilization system, to ensure that by 2035, there will be a fundamental improvement in the quality of the environment, and the goal of building a Beautiful China will be basically attained. Xi called for comprehensive efforts to promote green development, which is not only an inevitable requirement to develop a modernized high-quality economy but also a fundamental solution to tackle pollution. Key emphases of the work, he said, shall be adjusting economic structure and energy structure, optimizing the layout of the development of territorial space, improving the industrial layout in different regions and river valleys, fostering and expanding industries concerning energy conservation,environment protection, clean production and clean energy, encouraging simple, moderate, green, and low-carbon ways of life. He said that prominent environmental problems shall be tackled firstly as they concern the people's wellbeing. The top priority is winning the battle against air pollution to return the blue sky to the people, Xi said, calling for concerted efforts to basically eliminate heavy pollution days. Action plan for the prevention and control of water pollution must be advanced to ensure the safety of drinking water, and black and odorous water shall be rarely seen in cities. Comprehensive efforts must be taken to implement the action plan concerning the prevention and control of soil pollution, while key regions and sectors and major pollutants shall be targeted and the restoration of polluted soil shall be intensified so that people can have peace of mind about the food they eat and the place they live in. Consistent efforts shall be made to improve rural living environments and preserve beautiful idyllic scenery in Chinese villages. Xi called for effective prevention of ecological and environmental risks, as ecological and environmental security is an important part of national security, as well as an important guarantee to achieve sustainable and healthy development of the Chinese economy and society. Ecological risk management shall become a regular practice while a whole-process and multi-level risk prevention system shall be put into place, he said. Xi urged improved environmental governance, saying that China will make full use of market means, improve resources and environment pricing mechanisms, and strengthen support for public-private partnership projects. Technological research will receive more support, and countermeasure study for major ecological and environmental issues will be initiated. China will also push forward building a fair, reasonable and win-win global climate governance system in promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. Xi stressed the importance of strengthening the party's leadership in the urgent and tough battle against pollution. Major leaders of local party committees and governments shall be held responsible for environmental protection in their own administrative regions, Xi said. A scientific and reasonable evaluation system will be established to assess the performance of officials, and those damaging the environment will be held accountable. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, also made a speech during the meeting. Li emphasized the need to earnestly study and understand the speech made by President Xi Jinping. He said that efforts must be made in line with the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to develop a system for building an ecological civilization, strengthen institutional building and the rule of law, and fight a good battle against pollution. Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, also member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the concluding speech. Han also emphasized the need to thoroughly understand the speech made by President Xi Jinping, urging local governments and relevant departments to make detailed plans and take feasible measures to implement the instructions of the meeting. Also attending the meeting were several other members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee -- Wang Yang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Wang Huning, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, and Zhao Leji, secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. Russian special Interior troops forces officer passes a blast site of a car on the outskirts of the village of Yekazhevo in Ingushetia, 10 July 2006. (AFP PHOTO) MOSCOW, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Two policemen and one civilian were killed in a terrorist attack at a church in downtown Grozny, the capital city of Russia's Chechen Republic in the North Caucasus, the Russian Investigative Committee said Saturday. "According to preliminary data, as a result of the attack, two police officers guarding the church were killed, two more police officers were wounded, and one civilian was killed - it was established that he was a parishioner," the committee said in a statement. Head of Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov said that four militants who broke into the Saint Michael the Archangel church and took the churchgoers hostage were eliminated in an urgent special operation, which was confirmed by the Investigative Committee. The militants were armed with bombs and various weapons including a shotgun, guns, knives and small axes, according to a source of Russian law enforcement agencies. "Initial investigative actions and eyewitness testimony suggest that professional actions of the police officers guarding the church helped to counter more serious consequences of the attack and avoid more casualties," the statement said. The Investigative Committee's investigative bodies for the Chechen Republic have initiated a criminal case following the attack, the committee said. As part of the investigation of the criminal case, all the circumstances of the tragedy and a principled legal assessment of what happened will be established, it added. Investigations and measures to identify the militants are continuing. THE world of Philippine letters lost some of its brightest luminaries recently when three eminent writers passed away in quick successionNational Artist Cirilo F. Bautista, architect Augusto Villalon, and 35-time Palanca Awardee Ed Maranan. I did not have the honor of knowing the first two, but I did know Ed. I first met him in September 2015, on the occasion of the Nick Joaquin Literary Awards night of Philippines Graphic magazine. Ed had won first place in the short fiction contest, veteran US and Philippine journalist Beting Laygo Dolor second, and myself third. Ed was the winningest Palanca Awardee and he garnered many other recognitions as well. I didnt know the first time I met him, being a comparative newbie to the creative writers community. But he was warm, humble, and friendly, and he and Beting made it a point to reach out to me, something Id not experienced from other NJLA co-winners in the other years Id placed. Ed made sure to add me on Facebook, and from then on shared interesting news about books and travel. He sent books hed written. He was there at the launch of my book of short stories, Fictionary, in April 2016, and his presence was a great surprise and a huge honor. In the short time that I knew him, he blessed me and many other folks with his wisdom and friendship. He is very much missed. * * * The National Committee on Historical Research Executive Council of the National Commission for Culture and Arts is seeking nominations for the 2017 Young Historians Prize. The award recognizes young scholars on the basis of a single work in the field of history. Winners will receive a certificate of recognition and P50,000 cash. Nominees must be aged between 21 and 40 and submit an original work, written in proper academic style and using primary sources that can contribute to the enrichment of Philippine history and historiography. Here are some works that have previously won: in 2014, The Pulahan Movement in Leyte, 1902-1907 by George Emmanuel R. Borrinaga, University of San Carlos Cebu; Sakdal: Kasaysayang Pangkalinangan ng Isang Kilusang Panlipunan, 1930-1938 by Marlon Delupio, De La Salle University-Manila; and History of the Filipino History Book by Vernon Totanes, Ateneo de Manila University; In 2015, Observatorio de Manila: Institusyong Pang-agham at ang Ambag nito sa Pagsusulong ng Meteorolohiya sa Pilipinas, 1866-1933 by Kerby C. Alvarez, University of the Philippines Diliman; And in 2016, Epizootics, Veterinary Science and the Filipinos, 1899-1939 by Arleigh Ross D. Dela Cruz, DLSU-Manila.For details and requirements, visit ncca.gov.ph. * * * The National Book Development Board is giving travel grants to would-be participants of the 70th Frankfurt Book Fair to be held from Oct. 10 to 14 this year in Frankfurt, Germany. The NBDB is a government agency under the Department of Education tasked with developing, supporting, and promoting the Philippine book publishing industry. The Frankfurt Book Fair is the worlds largest trade fair of books. NBDB and many Philippine authors, publishers, and book industry experts have been participating in the yearly fair for quite some time. NBDB has invited NBDB-registered publishers to participate in the Philippine stand at the fair, where they can display their books and meet with industry professionals from foreign markets. Being invited to apply for travel grants are NBDB-registered authors, illustrators, independent publishers, and other industry experts to talk at Philippine-hosted events. The deadline for sending in travel grant applications is May 30, 2018. * * * Meanwhile, to make existing works written in Filipino or other Philippine languages accessible to the global market, NBDB is offering a Translation Subsidy Program. Registered publishers may apply for translation of their books into English or other foreign languages. The deadline for application to the program is June 29, 2018. For requirements and details, visit nbdb.gov.ph, e-mail [email protected] , or call Ryan or Camille at (02) 929-3887 loc. 801/812. Dr. Ortuoste is a writer and communication consultant. FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO DAR ES SALAAM, May 19 (Xinhua) -- China said on Saturday good progress was being made on negotiations with the Tanzanian government on the 10 billion U.S. dollars Bagamoyo mega port and special economic zone, paving way for the long-delayed construction work to begin. "Negotiations between the governments of China and Tanzania on the Bagamoyo port project are progressing well. This is a huge and important project in our bilateral cooperation," Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Wang Ke told journalists in Dar es Salaam during a visit to the Ministry of Finance and Planning. "Tanzanian and Chinese governments have consulted widely on this project. I hope that we will be able to reach agreement on relevant contracts so we can start this project as soon as possible to benefit the people of Tanzania," she added. The initial framework agreement for the Bagamoyo port was signed way back in 2013, but progress has been slow in concluding a final agreement for the major investment undertaking. The state-run China Merchants Holdings International (CMHI) and Oman's State General Reserve Fund (SGRF) are teaming up with the Tanzanian government to invest in what is expected to become one of the biggest ports in Africa. The World Bank said in 2016 that inefficiencies at the Dar es Salaam port cost Tanzania and its neighbors up to 2.6 billion U.S. dollars a year. Government officials said the envisaged Bagamoyo port would be able to handle mega-ships -- with a container vessel size of 8,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) -- after the first phase was completed, with room for expansion. The whole project including roads, railways and the economic zone is expected to take 10 years to complete, but it was unclear in how many phases it will be carried out. Former President Jakaya Kikwete officiated at a groundbreaking ceremony for the project in October 2015 in the final weeks and days of his presidency and vowed that construction of phase I of the project would be completed in three years. But three years down the line, construction work is yet to start, amid suggestions that President John Magufuli's government has decided to shelve the project and instead focus on the expansion and modernization of the Dar es Salaam port. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-20 02:20:57|Editor: ZD Video Player Close WASHINGTON, May 19 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States issued a joint statement on Saturday on economic and trade consultations, vowing not to launch a trade war against each other. Based on the directions of Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump, the Chinese and U.S. delegations conducted constructive consultations on trade on Thursday and Friday, the statement said. The Chinese delegation was led by Xi's special envoy and Vice Premier Liu He, and the U.S. officials included Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, according to the statement. Liu arrived in Washington on Tuesday afternoon for economic and trade consultations with the U.S. side at the invitation of the U.S. government. Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chief of the Chinese side of the China-U.S. comprehensive economic dialogue, leads a delegation whose members come from major economic sectors of the Chinese government. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-20 02:41:02|Editor: ZD Video Player Close DAMASCUS, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Perhaps the major two points of Syria's future political solution are the withdrawal of foreign forces from Syria and the making of a new constitution, or enhancing the current one. Both have been pointed out in the recent meeting between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Sochi on May 17, almost four months after their last meeting in the Black Sea resort city. Unlike previous meetings, where both sides had discussed the war on terror and ways to deal with challenges on the ground, both leaders this time seemed ready for the practical steps of the political solution. Assad said his meeting with Putin is an "opportunity to put forward a mutual vision for the next stage for the peace talks either in Astana or Sochi." For his side, Putin has congratulated Assad on the "big achievements" made by the Syrian army in the war against terrorism, noting that the military successes have created suitable conditions for the resumption of the political process. Putin said the mutual goal is the rebuilding of the Syrian economy and providing humanitarian help, noting that his administration is in contact with all concerned sides for the political "complicated process," including the UN. Putin has said that with the notable military achievements in Syria and the activation of the political process, "all foreign forces must withdraw from Syria." For his side, Assad said that many positive changes have taken place as the terrorists' arena in Syria has become much smaller and hundreds of thousands of Syrians have returned to their homes and millions of others are on their way back. "This stability is a wide door opened for the political process," Assad said, agreeing to send a list of his government's nominees to the United Nations for the membership of the constitutional committee, which was agreed upon in the last Sochi talks on Syria earlier this year. This committee is expected discuss amendments to the current constitution, at least for now. So what both leaders have basically emphasized is that time has become ripe for implementing practical steps on the political path now that the situation is much better on ground in terms of the massive defeat the rebels have suffered as well as the terror-designated Islamic State (IS). After this declaration, most of the focus was shifted to the formation of the constitutional committee, which should include representatives from the government and the opposition to look into the constitution and propose new amendments or possibly come up with a new one. This point was actually of a problematic nature as the government wasn't so confident in this step, especially when the UN envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, was said to have been mulling a list from the opposition, which didn't attend the previous Sochi talks. The government expressed its dismay and disapproval as the constitutional committee was supposed to be formed from the government and opposition figures who had actually attended the Sochi talks, not others who boycotted it. Still, the Assad remarks about sending the list of nominees means that he and Putin are on the same page regarding this particular matter. Anas Joudeh, the founder of the Nation Building Movement, said that launching the topic of the constitutional committee as long as the national dialogue and elections are the basics of the political process. He said that it's important now to positively deal with the committee and to consider the discussion within it as part of the national dialogue, not a wrestling arena to score more points. For his side, Ayham Mahmoud, a Syrian journalist and writer, told Xinhua that the withdrawal of the foreign forces from Syria is as important or even more than the constitutional committee point. He cited the recent decision of the Donald Trump administration to stop assistance in northwestern Syria, which is said to be freezing 200 million U.S. dollars in funds earmarked for efforts to strengthen and stabilize the local society. Mahmoud said the U.S. is showing that it doesn't want to stay in Syria, as previously stated by the U.S. administration. He noted that the withdrawal of foreign forces would mean that the war in Syria is coming to an end, noting however that if such withdrawal didn't take place, the situation would go toward further escalation. Mahmoud said that the IS should be completely defeated in Syria so that the United States won't have a pretext to stay, noting that IS should be cleaned first from a pocket in the countryside of the Deir al-Zour province. But the fact is that when talking about foreign forces in Syria it actually means all of them, including those who are fighting alongside the Syrian government. Mahmoud said that the United States won't withdraw unless they have received guarantees that the Iranians are withdrawing as well, as the withdrawal of Iran from Syria is something that the United States wants to see. As for the Russians, they have decreased the number of their forces in Syria and when such a withdrawal for foreign forces takes place, they are believed to remain in two bases they have in Syria, namely the air base in Hmeimim in the countryside of Latakia city and the naval base in Tartus city. Mahmoud said that it could be a bit early to talk about an imminent withdrawal of the foreign forces, but bringing this up by Putin surely sends clear messages to the United States and Turkey, which also has forces in northern Syria. He noted that both the withdrawal of forces and the constitution issue complement each other and are crucial on the path of political solution in Syria. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-20 02:51:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CHICAGO, May 19 (Xinhua) --- Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) agricultural commodities closed mixed over the trading week which ended May 18, with soybean futures falling 0.47 percent amid trade tensions between China and the United States. The most active corn contract for July delivery rose 6 cents weekly, or 1.51 percent, to 4.025 dollars per bushel. July wheat delivery added 11.75 cents, or 2.32 percent, to 5.1825 dollars per bushel. July soybeans went down 4.75 cents, or 0.47 percent, to 9.985 dollars per bushel over the week. Corn futures this week ended higher amid competing fundamental input. There's little doubt that the U.S. Department of Agriculture(USDA) & Brazil's CONAB are too high by 3-5 million tonnes on Brazil's 2018 harvest. The U.S. exports continue to exceed the pace needed to meet the USDA's target. Analysts' climate work suggests there's an elevated risk of Black Sea dryness this summer. China looks to boost sorghum demand moving forward. But the lack of agreement on NAFTA will keep trade concern intact, particularly amid rising prices and fund length. Wheat futures ended the week higher as more attention is being paid to ongoing and severe dryness in Australia with as cumulative rainfall in Ukraine and Russia is down sharply on recent years. Wheat needs a weather problem to score new highs. It's premature to adjust balance sheets and the world trade matrix until more known about June weather. Major price moves now hinge almost solely on non U.S. weather in June, and there is a growing body of evidence that suggests dryness there may be lasting. However, traders should be mindful that so far there's been no material boost in U.S. demand. Amid improving Plains weather, U.S. end stocks could exceed 1.0 billion bushels without ongoing weather issues in Ukraine and Russia. Soybeans fell on liquidation and extended losses into the weekend on Chinese cancellations of imports of U.S. soybeans. The Argentine drought has been fully priced and the market is struggling to deal with record large U.S. soybeans stocks. Large fund length in soybeans and meal weighed heavy on late week trade. It was a good week for planting progress, but the gains were again limited in the Northern Midwest and Plains states while producers in the Central Midwest were able to work around the rains. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-20 03:06:06|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close ANKARA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- As Turkey's general elections looming, People's Alliance established by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), as well as opposition parties, are both aiming at a parliament majority. Turkey's opposition parties develop a strategy to win at least 301 lawmakers in the 600-seat parliament in the upcoming general elections, in a bid to proceed the presidential election to a second round, local experts said. The opposition parties' first goal is winning more lawmakers and have enough quorum, said Kemal Ozkiraz, former chairman of Eurasia Research Center and now parliament member nominee for main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). The opposition parties will run their own candidates for the first round of the presidential elections, he said, adding that the polls will see second round if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the votes in the first round. The opposition parties then will support the highest-polling candidate among their nominees, the expert said. CHP's leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu has been working on this strategy for the past three months, he said. The upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections on June 24 sees intense alliance and cooperation efforts focused on competition mainly between two blocks. The main opposition CHP, the IYI (Good) Party, the Felicity Party (SP) and the Democrat Party (DP) compose an alliance running against the People's Alliance. The ruling party passed a legislative change and made pre-election alliances possible for upcoming elections. Hence the 10 percent election threshold will be calculated based on the sum of votes of all parties in an alliance. The opposition block constitutes of the "No" block members in the 16 April referendum last year, which passed with 51.41 percent of vote the change from a nearly century-old parliamentary system to an executive presidency. Only pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) is not part of the opposition alliance. Although they have not declared a position for the second round of presidential elections, it will not be a surprise if the party lends support to the opposition block. However, if the HDP can not exceed the election threshold, then the ruling AKP will receive almost 70 more seats at the parliament, putting the opposition block's plans for the majority at risk. If the opposition block wins majority in parliament in June 24, they will gain the psychological upper hand for the second round of presidential elections on July 8. According to the CHP, all opposition parties must be in parliament, Gul said, adding therefore some small parties with threshold problem could take part in the CHP's candidate lawmakers list for the parliament. One crucial outcome of opposition alliance is that it is not about overcoming the electoral threshold, but the alliance has turned the June 24 elections into a second referendum on the country's regime model, Sedat Ergin, daily Hurriyet columnist wrote. The elections are a turning point for the AKP and its leader President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as well. The AKP and the MHP have already endorsed Erdogan as their candidate for president and are set to focus on preparing lists of potential lawmakers and campaigning strategies. Leader of the AKP President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister from 2003 to 2014, has been serving his post as Turkey's first popularly-elected president. If he wins the June 24 election, Erdogan will be the country's first leader under the executive presidency system. Erdogan has two targets at the elections, according to Abdulkadir Selvi, daily Hurriyet columnist. One is to win the presidential elections overwhelmingly at the first round, he said. For the general elections, Erdogan wants the MHP-AKP alliance get a majority which will enable any constitutional change, Selvi said. The upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections will be also determined by young voters, as there are 1.5 million new, young voters who will be participating in the elections for the first time on June 24. The referendum held on April 16, 2017, which paved the way for constitutional amendments, lowered the minimum age of eligibility for Parliament from 25 to 18. It is believed that interest in the elections among young voters will increase, and participation of young people in politics will rise as well. CAPE TOWN, May 19 (Xinhua) -- High rate of youth unemployment constitutes the greatest challenge to social and economic development in South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Saturday. Ramaphosa was speaking as he toured the Volvo Assembly Plant in Amanzimtoti, south of Durban. "We all share a responsibility to ensure that young people gain the confidence, capabilities and exposure to succeed in the working environment," Ramaphosa said as he applauded Volvo for making youth development an integral part of its social investment program. That is why the government has prioritized the development of pathways into work for young people, he said. The president urged companies to joined in the Youth Employment Service initiative, launched in March. This initiative, which provides work experience opportunities for young people on a scale never seen before in this country, is the result of effective collaboration between the government, business and labor. "It demonstrates the willingness of business to be part of finding solutions to youth unemployment," Ramaphosa said. He called on companies to join the program, not only to increase the chances of employment for many thousands of young people, but also to enable the companies themselves to develop the young workforce that they will need to expand and grow. "We all share a responsibility to develop the skills of young South Africans and ensure that these skills are suited to the needs of the economy, now and into the future, said Ramaphosa. "The success of our efforts will be judged by the extent to which they create more employment and education opportunities for young people," Ramaphosa said. According to figures released on Tuesday by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), South Africa's official unemployment rate remains at 32.4 percent amongst 15-34 working youth age group, the highest youth unemployment rate in the world, followed by Greece (25.2 percent) and Spain (22.2 percent). Ramaphosa said his country is working to address the decline over many years of its manufacturing capacity, which has deeply affected employment and exports. "We are working to re-industrialize on a scale and at a pace that draws millions of job seekers into the economy," he said. In its National Development Plan (NDP), the government sets the goal of halving youth unemployment to six percent by 2030. In his maiden State of the Nation Address (SONA) in February, Ramaphosa announced that a jobs summit would be held within the next few months to harness the energies of business, labor and government behind a major job creation initiative. The summit is expected to bring together the country's best minds to boost job creation, particularly for the youth. MUTARE, Zimbabwe, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Saturday that he will proclaim the 2018 election date at the of May. Addressing a rally in Mutare, Manicaland province marking the start of the ruling ZANU-PF election campaign, the president said the party will intensify its campaigning once the election date is proclaimed. According to the country's constitution, the elections must be held between July 21 and August 21. Zimbabwe's parliament last week passed the Electoral Amendment Bill which now awaits presidential assent to become law. The bill seeks to give legal effect to the bio-metric voter registration system that was done by the national electoral body for the first time. As political parties gear up for the polls, ZANU-PF has finished selecting its candidates while the main opposition party the MDC Alliance is still to conclude candidate selection. President Mnangagwa, who took over from former president Robert Mugabe in November last year, will fight it out with the youthful leader of MDC Alliance Nelson Chamisa in the presidential poll. As the nation edges towards the polls, voters' roll inspection opened on May 19 and will run until May 29. About 5.4 million people in Zimbabwe are registered to vote in the elections. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-20 04:46:25|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Image provided by the Cuban News Agency shows that Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel arrives at the site where an airplane crashed near the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, Cuba, on May 18, 2018. At least three people have been found alive, but in critical condition, after a Boeing 737 passenger plane crashed near Havana on Friday, according to state newspaper Granma. (Xinhua/Cuban News Agency) HAVANA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Saturday visited the survivors and relatives of the victims of Friday's plane crash, which saw 110 people killed when the Cubana airlines flight plummeted to the ground and burst into flames. The Boeing 737, which was rented from Mexican airline Damojh, was carrying 113 people at the time of the accident, Transportation Minister Adel Yzquierdo said at a press conference on Saturday. Diaz-Canel visited the three women who survived, but were in serious condition and receiving treatment at the Calixto Garcia Hospital in Havana, according to a national television news broadcast. The president also met with the relatives of the victims as they arrived at the Forensics Institute in Havana to help identify their loved ones. Authorities are investigating what went wrong with the domestic flight, which crashed shortly after taking off from Havana's main airport on its way to the eastern province of Holguin. The Cuban government arranged for the relatives to stay at a hotel, as most came to Havana from Holguin, some 700 kilometers east of Havana. Flags were flying at half mast on Saturday as part of two days of mourning following the worst air disaster in Cuba in three decades. Witnesses told Xinhua the plane zigzagged as it was taking off, then crashed at 12:08 p.m. local time (16:08 GMT) just a kilometer away in an agricultural field. Forensic experts continue to sift through the rubble. Mexico's Civil Aviation Agency was expected to send a team of specialists to Cuba on Saturday to help with the investigation. Cubana operated the aircraft under a wet lease arrangement, meaning it came with a flight and maintenance crew, usually including two pilots, three flight attendants and a technician. Built in 1979, the plane passed its last inspection in November 2017, Mexican officials said. LUSAKA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Seven refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have drowned after a boat they were in capsized in a lake in Zambia's Chiengi district in Luapula Province, the police said on Saturday. Esther Mwaata-Katongo, Zambia Police Spokesperson said the victims were part of 35 refugees from a transit refugee center in Zambia's Nchelenge district in the same province who left the camp without authorization and hired a boat which is believed to have been overloaded. According to the police spokesperson, four bodies, all juveniles with the youngest being 17-months-old, have since been retrieved while the search for the others has continued. She said the accident happened when a small boat which was carrying luggage and a few people and was being towed by an engine boat capsized due to strong winds before the engine boat also capsized, resulting in the drowning of the victims. She added that 22 people survived the accident while the coxswain of the boat has been detained for the offense of causing death by dangerous navigation. The small boat is not yet retrieved, she added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-20 06:06:34|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy and Vice Premier Liu He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chief of the Chinese side of the China-U.S. comprehensive economic dialogue, receives an interview in Washington, the United States, on May 19, 2018. China and the United States issued a joint statement on Saturday on economic and trade consultations, vowing not to launch a trade war against each other.(Xinhua/Wang Ying) WASHINGTON, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy and Vice Premier Liu He said here Saturday that China and the United States have reached consensuses on economic and trade issues, pledging not to engage in a trade war. Liu arrived in Washington on Tuesday afternoon for economic and trade consultations with the U.S. side at the invitation of the U.S. government. Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chief of the Chinese side of the China-U.S. comprehensive economic dialogue, leads a delegation whose members come from major economic sectors of the Chinese government. He told media in an interview on Saturday that the two sides agreed not to launch a trade war and to stop slapping tariffs against each other, which are the most remarkable fruits of the consultations. Noting that his visit to the United States is positive, pragmatic, constructive and productive, Liu explained that the most important reason for the achievements is the important consensus reached previously by Xi and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump, and the fundamental cause is the needs of the two peoples and the whole world. The two sides will enhance their trade cooperation in such areas as energy, agriculture products, health care, high-tech products and finance, Liu said. Such cooperation is a win-win choice as it can promote the high-quality development of the Chinese economy, meet the people's needs, and contribute to the U.S. effort to reduce its trade deficit, he added. Meanwhile, the two countries will also strengthen their cooperation in mutual investment and intellectual property protection, Liu said, adding that it not only benefits the two nations, but also helps support the stability and prosperity of the global economy and trade. He underlined that China, with a large middle-income population, will become the world's largest market. The Chinese market will be highly competitive, he said, adding that nations longing for the market have to improve the competitiveness of their products and service, so as to attract the Chinese people. China is ready to buy goods not only from the United States but also from around the world, Liu said. The Chinese vice premier added that China welcomes all countries to attend the first China International Import Expo to be held in Shanghai in November this year. Liu also said that China will accelerate implementation of Xi's remarks at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018 earlier in April, when the Chinese top leader proposed to further China's efforts to facilitate the market access, build a more attractive investment environment, strengthen intellectual property protection and increase imports from other countries. China learns from its past 40 years of reform and opening up that the opening-up can promote reform and development, Liu said, adding that Beijing will stick to the approach in the future. It is natural for the two countries to reach consensuses this time, Liu said. However, it should be noted that it takes time to resolve the structural problems in the bilateral economic and trade ties, he said. The healthy development of China-U.S. economic and trade relations is in line with the historical trend, Liu said, adding that the two countries should properly handle their differences through dialogue and treat them calmly in the future, he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-20 06:36:39|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ANKARA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish diaspora and Western intelligence have warned of an assassination attempt by Turkish citizens against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his upcoming visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, state-run Anadolu Agency reported Saturday. The information provided by Turkish nationals in Macedonia didn't give any details on the assassination attempt, including the date and location, according to Turkish intelligence sources. Meanwhile, Western intelligence agencies also informed Turkish intelligence units on the death threat against Erdogan. An in-depth investigation is underway by Turkish intelligence units. "These warnings of assassination threats are not new, and have always been there," Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said on his Tweeter account late Saturday. Erdogan is slated to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday, during which he will hold talks with Chairman of Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bakir Izetbegovic. According to the presidential press office, Erdogan will address a large rally of the European-Turkish supporters of his ruling Justice and Development Party in Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as part of the campaign for parliamentary and presidential elections on June 24. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan makes a speech at an extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 18, 2018. (Xinhua/Anadolu Agency) ANKARA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish diaspora and Western intelligence have warned of an assassination attempt by Turkish citizens against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his upcoming visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, state-run Anadolu Agency reported Saturday. The information provided by Turkish nationals in Macedonia didn't give any details on the assassination attempt, including the date and location, according to Turkish intelligence sources. Meanwhile, Western intelligence agencies also informed Turkish intelligence units on the death threat against Erdogan. An in-depth investigation is underway by Turkish intelligence units. "These warnings of assassination threats are not new, and have always been there," Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said on his Tweeter account late Saturday. Erdogan is slated to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday, during which he will hold talks with Chairman of Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bakir Izetbegovic. According to the presidential press office, Erdogan will address a large rally of the European-Turkish supporters of his ruling Justice and Development Party in Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as part of the campaign for parliamentary and presidential elections on June 24. By RALPH ANSAMI [email protected] Ironwood Plans to repair the boat launch on Lake Superior at Little Girls Point were discussed Thursday by the Western Upper Peninsula Citizens Advisory Council. The work is scheduled to begin Monday, according to Doug Rich, western Upper Peninsula Department of Natural Resources parks and recreation supervisor. Its hoped the short-term project can be completed by the end of June because Saxon Harbor and Black River Harbor boat landings are also closed in a summer that is shaping up as a nightmare for area boaters. The mouth of the Omans Creek will be rebuilt following the flash flood of July of 2016 that destroyed the Saxon Harbor marinas. A total of $140,000 is being provided from a Waterways Capital Outlay Fund. The west side of Omans Creek will be armored with boulders the size of Volkswagens by Angelo Luppino Construction, of Iron Belt, Wis., according to Rich. The goal of the project over the next six weeks will be to rebuild the boat launch area to pre-storm conditions. That will mean dredging after debris is removed from the site. On the long-range basis, a groin that could cost $2 million is still planned to be built into the lake. Rich said $40,000 a year has been allocated for dredging at the creek, with the MDNR partnering with the Gogebic County Forestry and Parks Department. Boat enthusiasts and Little Girls Point residents attending the meeting offered input and suggested the dredging be more flexible, so if there is more than one storm in a week, the creek launch wont be shut down for many days. Eric Oman suggested fill be placed where the boulders will be situated, so boats wont be damaged by crashing into the rocks. Rich said 90 percent of the groin project, planned to prevent erosion, has been designed. One Point resident said he has been waiting for 60 years for a viable solution to the creek erosion problem. A Point resident said in the past it gets to the point where planning requires big dollar expenditures and the talk then ends. One resident praised the DNR for its recent efforts. Rich said that included a brainstorming session of 45 people at the Little Girls Point County Park last October. WINNERS OF annual honors from the Wakefield Chamber of Commerce hold their plaques at a Thursday evening ceremony at the municipal building. From left are Lee and Tom Brown, organizers of the open community dinner program at Wakefield United Methodist Church; chamber president Dennis Ferson; Linda Dewitt, founder of Linda's Helping Hands, and Joel Laessig, owner of Sunday Lake Kayak Rentals. By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] Wakefield - The Wakefield Chamber of Commerce bestowed annual honors for organization of the year, individual of the year, and business of the year at a Thursday evening reception in the community room of the Wakefield municipal building. The organization winner was the open community dinner program of the Wakefield United Methodist Church. Individual winner was Linda Dewitt, founder of Linda's Helping Hands, and business winner was Joel Laessig, owner of Sunday Lake Kayak Rentals. Organization of the Year As honorees and other guests enjoyed an array of refreshments, chamber president and emcee Dennis Ferson said the dinner program of the Wakefield United Methodist Church was the only serious candidate for the organization award. "This is not a soup kitchen," said Ferson of the Thursday evening supper offering beef roast, lasagna, chicken cordon bleu, and holiday ham and turkey "through the long and cold U.P. winter." Church Pastor Ted Trudgeon told the Globe that husband and wife team Tom and Lee Brown organized the dinner program five years ago. He said about half of the congregation's 29 members help with the dinner every week, and they include young people such as Kayden Otis, Kyler Macarty, Jadelyn Abigale Breese, Mason and Hudson Connor, and Katie and K.C. Juntunen Jr. "It's a labor of love," said the pastor, crediting members Sue Hocking as "our conscience" and Margaret Running and others for success via a "team effort." According to Trudgeon, the church served 25 weekly meals, including more than 1,600 total individuals served, from October of last year through April of this year. Donations are not required, but he said they covered all but $14 of the $7,000 cost of the past winter's program. Although the food is good, the pastor said one of the most important components of the program is "the fellowship." Individual of the Year Ferson described individual winner Linda Dewitt as "a lady of boundless energy, limitless compassion, and an overwhelming desire to help those in need." He said Dewitt has transformed her former greenhouse business into "Linda's Helping Hands," so as to help people in need "get on with their lives." According to Ferson, Dewitt's five greenhouses no longer house plants, but rather are filled with donations of all sorts. As a result, he said, "If you were in trouble, go see Linda. She could help with clothes. She could help with furniture. She could help with food." Dewitt told the Globe that her husband, John "Jack" Dewitt, has had two strokes since 2002, but she added, "He cheers me on." She said the donations she receives from the community make it possible for her to help emergency victims, such as a family whose house burned down or a person leaving an abusive home. But she added that many folks she helps are "people that just don't have money." She said her storage includes baby items, books, toys, dishes, etc. "Some people leave with a small bag," she said. "Some leave with huge boxes." Dewitt said Melody Davey is one of her special volunteers. "She's a good helper," said Dewitt. "She comes every day she can." Business of the Year When the chamber chose its business of the year, Ferson said, "We didn't look at the size of the business, the number of jobs it created, or the economic impact." Instead, he said, they decided Sunday Lake Kayak Rentals deserved recognition for its "revitalization of Wakefield's greatest asset, Sunday Lake." Ferson described the business run by Joel Laessig as "a most positive impact on our community." He added, "I personally spend a lot of time in our Visitors' Center, and I find it uplifting to see the brightly colored little boats bobbing around on the lake. Visitors seeing Wakefield and Sunday Lake for the first time often comment on what a pleasant place it seems to be." Laessig told the Globe of himself and his wife, "Diane and I both enjoyed kayaking. We're both from here, but we lived 35 years in Illinois." They bought kayaks when they returned here, but recalled they could rent them in Illinois. He said they wondered, "Wouldn't it be nice if there were a place for people to rent kayaks here?" Hence, the Wakefield business was born, and now Laessig said, "Our 1,000th customer was August of last year. It kind of coincided with our one-year anniversary." Ferson also commended Laessig's business for its innovation including the premiere of Saturday night kayaking. 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... HAVANA: More than 100 people were killed in a fiery crash of a Boeing 737 passenger plane in Cuba on Friday, with just three seriously injured survivors in hospital after being pulled from the wreckage, officials and state media said. The aircraft, on a domestic flight to Holguin in eastern Cuba, crashed shortly after taking off from Havana at 11 am (1500 GMT). There were either 104 or 105 passengers, including five children, plus nine crew members, various state media said. "We should expect that the news will not be good, as there are a high number of people who appear to have been killed," President Miguel Diaz-Canel said in broadcast comments. The fire from the crash had been put out and authorities were identifying bodies, the president said. The cause of the crash was not immediately known and Diaz-Canel said authorities were investigating. The Boeing 737-201 aircraft was built in 1979 and leased by Cuban airline Cubana from a small Mexican firm called Damojh, according to the Mexican government. That would make it significantly older than most planes in service. Damojh in Mexico said it did not immediately have any more information. Cubana declined to comment. Cubana has been the subject of complaints over service and delays in recent months, according to state media. Wreckage of Flight CU972 was strewn over the crash site area 20 km (12 miles) south of Havana, a Reuters witness said, and blackened parts of the fuselage were visible. Its destination Holguin is the capital of a province that is popular with tourists for its pristine beaches. "We heard an explosion and then saw a big cloud of smoke go up," said Gilberto Menendez, who runs a restaurant near the crash site in the agricultural area of Boyeros. Carlos Alberto Martinez, the director of Havana`s Calixto Garcia hospital, told Reuters that four victims of the accident had been brought there. One had died and three others, all women, were in a serious condition, he said. "She is alive but very burnt and swollen," said a distressed relative of one of the survivors at the hospital. The reason for the plane going down was unclear. "During take-off (the plane) apparently suffered a problem and dived to the ground," the Mexican transport department said on its website. Most aircraft accidents take months of investigation to explain and are typically caused by a cocktail of different factors, according to aviation experts. CUBANA COMPLAINTS Boeing Co said in a Twitter post: "We are aware of news reports out of Cuba and are closely monitoring the situation." Boeing 737 aircraft use engines made by CFM International, the supplier of the world`s most-used engines, built by a joint venture of GE and France`s Safran . On Thursday, Cuba`s First Vice President Salvador Valdes Mesa had met with Cubana bosses to discuss public complaints about its service, according to state-run media. Problems included the cancellation of numerous domestic flights this year, and long delays which the company said were caused by technical problems with its aircraft. Earlier this month, the company was ordered to suspend flights by its six Russian built AN-158 aircraft, of which most had reportedly already been grounded. The last fatal crash in Cuba was in 2017, the Aviation Safety Network said. It was a military flight that killed all eight on board. In 2010, a commercial Aero Caribbean plane crashed in central Cuba. All 68 people on board were killed. The latest available information on Cuba from U.N. safety aviation agency ICAO, dating back to 2008, ranks it above the global average, though that preceded the latest three crashes. Reuters In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. ~ New Delhi: Bhojpuri hot cake Anjana Singh had a great time shooting her film 'Munna Mawali with Pramod Premi and Poonam Dubey. During a shot, Anjana played a prank on her co-stars during a swimming pool sequence. Anjana is known to be the most notorious among the actors and therefore people are very fond of her. The film is directed by Ravi Sinha and the story is written by Rakesh Pandey. 'Munna Mawali' also stars hot cake Anjana Singh and sensational Poonam Dubey in the lead opposite Premi. The film is a love triangle between the lead actors and the makers claim that it has been smooth ride so far shooting the venture. Premi has scenes with both the actresses in the film as it is a romantic story but often finds it hard to make things work comfortably between the two actresses. Munna Mawali' is currently being shot at Panvel, Mumbai. The director revealed that the chemistry between Premi, Anjana and Poonam is brilliant. They get along quite well and we encountered no issues while filming. The makers maintained that the entire cast and crew is loving and caring. Director Ravi Sinha said, The cast of 'Munna Mawali' is loving and we work in a fun way. The working atmosphere is quite good on the sets and the shoot has come out quite well. The film is a complete package as there is romance, action and everything. The songs are also catchy. 'Munna Mawali' has an ensemble star cast with actors like Manoj Tiger, Nagesh Mishra and Ayaz Khan while dialogues are by Surendra Mishra. PATNA: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav was rushed to the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science (IGIMS) after his health deteriorated on Saturday. The veteran Bihar politician, who is out on bail these days, was rushed to the hospital after he complained of breathlessness. He is being attended by the doctors at IGIMS at the moment. According to RJD leader Bhola Yadav, Lalu Prasad suddenly complained of breathing problem and pain in his chest after which he was admitted to the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science. "Lalu is under observation..." he said, adding that Lalu Prasad has been suffering from as many as 16 ailments. Former Bihar chief minister Lalu Yadav, who has been convicted in several fodder scam-related cases, was on May 11 granted a 6-week provisional bail by the Ranchi High Court. The provisional bail to veteran Bihar politician was granted on 'medical grounds'. The convicted RJD chief had by then spent nearly five months at the Birsa Munda Central Jail where he is serving a jail term since December 23, 2017, in connection with the fodder scam cases. Lalu Prasad was admitted to RIMS in Ranchi on March 17. He has been convicted in four fodder scam cases since 2013, the latest being the Dumka treasury case in which a special CBI court sentenced him to 14 years in jail. (With Agency inputs) Gujarat: At least 19 people were killed and seven others were seriously injured after a cement-laden truck overturned turtle on Bhavnagar-Ahmedabad highway on Saturday. According to initial reports, the mishap occurred near Bavalyali village in Bhavnagar. Gujarat: 19 people killed, 7 injured after a cement laden truck turned turtle on Bhavnagar-Ahmedabad highway, near Bavalyali village in Bhavnagar this morning. pic.twitter.com/2RIkj90nBx ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 Local police and district officials have reached the accident site and the rescue work is on. The injured are being rushed to the nearby hospital for treatment. More details are awaited. A quick glance at the top news of the day: 1. Deja vu for BJP? 13 days for Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1996, 2 days for Yeddyurappa now It must be a deja-vu moment for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In 1996, the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had to resign in just a matter of 13 days as he was not able to prove majority in the Lok Sabha. Read full report 2. Emotional Yeddyurappa resigns minutes before Karnataka Assembly floor-test The political thriller in the state of Karnataka had a rather timid climax when a visibly emotional BS Yeddyurappa of BJP announced he will give his resignation as CM just minutes before he was to prove majority in the assembly. Read full report 3. PM Narendra Modi kickstarts work for Asia's longest Zojila tunnel PM Modi started his day-long visit to Jammu and Kashmir by kickstarting Asia's longest Zojila Tunnel, part of Rs 25,000 crore projects to be unveiled or dedicated to the nation on Saturday, saying it showed New Delhi's committment to all-round development of the state. Read full report 4. Rahul Gandhi flays BJP MLAs, Protem Speaker for walking out during national anthem Questioning their patriotism, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday tore into BJP's Karnataka MLAs and Protem Speaker KG Bopaiah for walking out without waiting for the national anthem to be played inside Karnataka Assembly. Read full report 5. Sanjay Nirupam faces ire for comparing Karnataka's Governor Vajubhai Vala to dogs As BS Yeddyurappa resigned as the Chief Minister of Karnataka two days after taking the oath, Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam attacked the Governor of the state comparing his loyalty with that of dogs. Read full report New Delhi: For the first time, the railways will use artificial intelligence to control air circulation, signages and even supervision and maintenance work in the 10.28 km-long tunnel in Imphal as part of its 110 km railway line from Jiribam to Manipur's capital city. While the national transporter is already using this technique to detect flaws or problems in the signalling system on a real-time basis and rectifying it in order to avoid possible delays and mishaps, this is the first time that such a technology will be used in a tunnel in the country. "The system will control air circulation in the system, along with other aspects. It will alert the passenger in case of fire and help us in quick evacuation in case of any issue. This tunnel is specially unique as it also has a safety tunnel at every 500 meters," said Yogesh Verma, deputy chief, construction, Northeast Frontier Railway. "So, in case of an accident or any mishap, all a passenger has to do is go 500 meters into the safety tunnel and through signages find his way out. The entire thing will be controlled by artifical intelligence," Verma said. This tunnel is one of 47 such tunnels in the Jiribam-Imphal line and part of the railways' project to bring connectivity to the capital city. The system will continuously monitor signals, track circuits, axle counters and their sub-systems of interlocking, power supply systems, including the voltage and current levels, relays, timers collect the data on a pre-determined interval and send them to a central location. While it will help run trains safely through the tunnel, it will also help its management and maintenance. As tunnels deteriorate, officials said, they become more dangerous to the public and more costly to repair. By properly maintaining these tunnels, much of this unnecessary danger and cost can be avoided. AI will help engineers and inspectors organise and analyse data collected about specific tunnels. The results of this data can then be evaluated and used to predict future tunnel deterioration patterns and corresponding maintenance needs, officials said. This system will also be used in the Hyderabad, Mumbai and Ahmedabad metros. Patna: A court here on Saturday summoned Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad Yadav, who is serving sentences in three fodder scam cases in a Ranchi jail and is out on a six-week provisional bail on medical grounds, in connection with a defamation case. Sub-judge Om Prakash passed the order, taking cognizance of a complaint lodged by a member of the Bihar Disaster Management Authority, Udaykant Mishra, who has accused the RJD chief of making disparaging remarks about his friendship with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The court posted the matter for further hearing next month. The RJD supremo had allegedly made the defamatory remarks at a rally in Bhagalpur in September last year. He had also attacked the Nitish Kumar government over the multi-crore-rupee Srijan scam in Bhagalpur. Prasad had allegedly referred to the close friendship between Mishra and Kumar and claimed that the chief minister stayed at the former's house and not at the circuit house, whenever he toured Bhagalpur. The Srijan scam, which involves fraudulent withdrawal of money from the treasury by an NGO, is being investigated by the CBI. Srinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived in Leh town and attended the birth centenary celebrations of 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche and to oversee the commencement of work on Zoji La Tunnel in Ladakh region. The PM, who is on a day-long visit to Jammu and Kashmir, will later inaugurate the 3330 MW Kishanganga Hydropower Station in Srinagar. PM Narendra Modi at the closing ceremony of birth centenary celebrations of 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche & the commencement of work on Zoji La Tunnel in #Leh. pic.twitter.com/6qspWBRgOT ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 He was received at the Leh Airport by Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in addition to senior civil and military officials. PM Narendra Modi paid tribute to Kushok Bakula Rinpoche at the closing ceremony of birth centenary celebrations of Rinpoche in Leh. PM Narendra Modi pays tribute to Kushok Bakula Rinpoche at the closing ceremony of birth centenary celebrations of Rinpoche in #Leh. pic.twitter.com/A1hcoh0Lpk ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 The Prime Minister will also unveil a plaque to mark the commencement of work on the Zojila Tunnel, India's longest road tunnel and Asia's longest bi-directional tunnel. PM Modi will later inaugurate the Kishanganga Project, which has seen resistance from by Pakistan, claiming that it violates the landmark Indus Water Treaty. PM Modi is expected to dedicate the power project to the nation at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), reported news agency ANI. NHPC in a statement in April had said that the third unit (110MW) of the project was successfully synchronised with the grid and that it has achieved its rated full load successfully. Expected to generate 1,713 million units per annum by diverting water from Kishanganaga river to an underground powerhouse, the project is expected to benefit several north Indian states. Pakistan has raised several objections in the past but India has maintained the project would not have any impact on rivers flowing into the neighbouring country. JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) is likely to declare RBSE Class 12 results 2018 on May 20, Wednesday. However, there is no confirmation from the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) on the result date. The results will be released on the official Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan (BSER) website rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in. The results will also be available on examresults.net/rajasthan, indiaresults.in. While there's no official confirmation on the date of results, media 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 University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all varsities and higher educational institutions to ban use of plastic cups, lunch packets, straws, bottles and bags on their campuses. The directive by the commission comes after the Union Environment Ministry issued an advisory, saying India is the global host of this year's World Environment Day celebrations, the largest UN-led celebration on environment, and the theme for this edition is 'Beat Plastic Pollution'. "Ban take-away coffee cup, lunch wrapped in disposable plastic packaging, plastic bags, disposable food service cups, plates, containers made in polystyrene foam and plastic straws. Restrict single-use plastic water bottle and encourage use of refillable bottles instead," the UGC said in a communication to all vice-chancellors. The commission has also asked varsities to conduct networking activities on mass awareness on disposal of plastic and cleanliness drives under the Swachh Bharat Mission in municipalities. "Hosting this prestigious event is a step towards our commitment to undertake global leadership on addressing all forms of pollution, reducing emissions and investing in sustainable development efforts. "This is an opportunity for collective efforts to reduce the use of plastic and the HRD Ministry has desired that the students be encouraged to refuse, reduce, and re-use plastic product in their daily uses," the letter said. In the run-up to the World Environment Day celebrations on June 5, the Environment Ministry has also asked schools to stop the use of plastics in their premises and constituted 19 teams to undertake cleaning of 24 beaches and an equal number of polluted riverfronts and lakes across the country. Jammu: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the 330 MW Kishanganga Hydropower Project in northern Kashmir's Gurez on Saturday. PM Modi is expected to dedicate the power project to the nation at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), according to new agency ANI. Here is all you need to know about the Kishanganga project - -The 330 MW power project is located in the Gurez Valley of Bandipora district, north of Srinagar. -It also lies to the north of Wular Lake, the site of another Indian project that Pakistan has attempted to stop. -The project is expected to generate 1,713 million units per annum by diverting water from Kishanganaga river to an underground powerhouse. -The project is expected to benefit several north Indian states. -The state of Jammu and Kashmir would be provided with 12 percent of the power generated by the project, according to a statement by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). -PM Modi is expected to dedicate the power project to the nation at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC). -The Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project is a run-of-the-river project that includes a 37-meter high concrete rockfill dam across the Kishanganga River, located just before it flows across the Line of Control (LoC) into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). -It diverts the water to an underground powerhouse through a 23.25 km tunnel. -The project features three power generating units of 110 MW each, all of which were successfully commissioned at the beginning of April. -NHPC has said that all three units have been synchronised with the grid and the project achieved full generation of its rated 330 MW capacity. -Pakistan has raised several objections to the Kishanganga Project in the past. -Pakistan has complained that the Kishanganga Project affects its own Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Plant. -However, India maintains that the project would not have any impact on rivers flowing into the neighbouring country. The Lan Do field "Red Orchid" is located in Block 06.1, 85 km inside an area claimed by China and Vietnam. Hanoi: "Operations are authorized and carried out in areas under Vietnamese sovereignty and jurisdiction". Experts fear for Sino-Russian relations. Hanoi (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Rosneft Vietnam BV, a unit of the Russian state-owned oil company Rosneft, is drilling in waters claimed by Beijing, which is likely to exacerbate tensions in the South China Sea. Three days ago, Rosneft announced that it had started drilling the LD-3P well, part of the Lan Do field "Red Orchid", in Block 06.1. It is located 370 km south-east of Vietnam. The block is located within the area outlined by the "nine-point line", with which Beijing delimits a portion of the sea that extends for about 1,800 km south of mainland China. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said that no country, organization, company or individual can, without the permission of the Chinese government, carry out exploration and exploitation of oil or gas in waters under the jurisdiction of Beijing. "We urge stakeholders to respect China's sovereign and jurisdictional rights and not do anything that could affect bilateral relations or the peace and stability of this region," the official said yesterday. The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry said that oil and gas activities are conducted in accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Ministry spokesman Le Thi Thu Hang reiterated that "operations are authorized and carried out in areas under Vietnamese sovereignty and jurisdiction". Taking advantage of the ambiguity of international law, Beijing claims most of the sea (almost 85 per cent). In addition to the Spratly, Chinas claim includes the Gulf of Tonkin (disputed by Vietnam and China), the Paracel Islands (disputed by Vietnam, China, and Taiwan), the Scarborough Shoal (disputed by the Philippines, China and Taiwan). To ensure the control of important maritime routes that cross these waters (more than a third of global trade), the Chinese government has started building a series of artificial islands, with military installations and lighthouses. Beijing has even imposed unilateral fishing bans. The Chinese government claims sovereignty over large sections of the exclusive economic zone of Vietnam. The maps of the area indicate that Block 06.1 is about 85 km inside the disputed area. In recent years, China has increasingly patrolled and strengthened the area, claiming historic rights to resources and islands within it. In March, following pressure from Beijing, Hanoi interrupted an oil drilling project in the nearby "Red Emperor" block. The latter is licensed to the Spanish energy company Repsol, which has asked Vietnam for compensation. The Russian companies Rosneft and Gazprom have important development projects in the Vietnamese waters that fall within the area claimed by China. Analysts say it would be a blow to the Sino-Russian agreement if Beijing were to ask Moscow to end its energy plans in Vietnam. Beijing has become Russia's main export destination, mainly because Moscow is its main supplier of oil and gas. Rosneft drilling is important for Vietnam. The country already receives about 30% of its gas needs from block 06.1, thanks to oil and gas operations that were established for the first time more than 15 years ago. The block is operated by Rosneft and is owned by a consortium consisting of ONGC, Rosneft and Petro Vietnam. For picture posts from 2010 and earlier, see the Earlier Picture Posts Page Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Satruday termed the collapse of the two-day-old BS Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka a "victory of the people's mandate" and asked the central government to resign on moral grounds. An emotional Yeddyurappa resigned as chief minister of the southern state without facing a trust vote, ordered by the Supreme Court on a petition by the Congress and JD(S) challenging Governor Vajubhai Vala's decision inviting the BJP to form the government. "Today, the people's mandate has prevailed over money power," Yadav wrote on Twitter in Hindi. "Those who thought they could buy everyone have learnt the lesson that there are still people left who don't consider politics a business," he tweeted. "The central government should also resign on moral grounds," he added. Jubilant scenes were witnessed at the Congress office here after Yeddyurappa resigned as Karnataka chief minister. Senior Congress leader Pramod Tewari and his daugher Aradhana Misra, who is an MLA, distributed sweets among party workers. "It's a victory of democracy," Tewari said. Yeddyurappa's resignation will pave the way for formation of a government led by JD(S) state chief H D Kumaraswamy, who has the backing of the Congress. The newly formed alliance has claimed support of 117 MLAs in the 224-member House with an effective strength of 221. Polling for two seats was not held due to various reasons, while Kumaraswamy won from two places. New Delhi: Just when one thought the political discourse revolving around Karnataka could not get any lower, Sanjay Nirupam of Congress stepped in and took it to the pits - comparing Karnataka Governor to dogs for his supposed loyalty towards BJP. And sharp reactions came thick and fast - as was expected. Nirupam pointed towards Governor Vajubhai Vala first inviting BS Yeddyurappa to take oath as CM despite Congress-JDS' post-poll alliance crossing the majority mark. Governor Vala had then nominated three-time MLA KG Bopaiah as Protem Speaker to conduct the floor-test in the assembly. On both occasions, Congress had vehemently cried foul. While the floor-test never happened because Yeddyurappa tendered his resignation, it was not enough to mute Nirupam. #WATCH Derogatory statement by Congress' Sanjay Nirupam, says, 'Iss desh mein wafadari ka naya kirtimaan sthaapit kiya hai Vajubhai Vala (#Karnataka Guv) ji ne, ab shayad India ka har aadmi apne kutte ka naam Vajubhai Vala hi rakhega kyunki isse zyada wafaadaar koi ho nahi sakta' pic.twitter.com/P0EtWWo58i ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 BJP fired back by questioning Congress' opinion of sacred institutions and offices responsible for a vibrant Indian democracy. "Congress does not respect institutions and this statement is just an evidence of that," said Prakash Javadekar. "Is this how they show respect towards the post of the Governor?" While Congress eventually did distance itself from his statement, it is hardly the first time that Nirupam has made a controversial remark. He previously questioned the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army and in 1998, had called iconic Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar as a 'Pakistani.' Bengaluru: Janata Dal Secular (JDS) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Saturday accused BJP of resorting to dirty tricks to poach his party's newly-elected MLAs in order to win the crucial floor test in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly this evening. Speaking to media, Kumaraswamy said, Till 4 pm, BJP will try all tricks to poach our MLAs, but not worry as we are united.'' For me, today is not an important day, the important days will come in future. Up to 4 pm, BJP will try to poach our MLAs. All the MLAs are together, no one is going to go to the other side. None of our MLAs are trapped. Me & Siddaramaiah will go together: HD Kumaraswamy, JD(S) pic.twitter.com/v0i2hQa9wf ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 His remarks came even as most of the newly-elected Karnataka MLAs reached the assembly to take oath and attend the floor test proceedings scheduled for 4 pm. As directed by the three-member bench of the Supreme Court, the floor test will be held under the supervision of a Protem Speaker this evening. Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala had on Friday appointed KG Bopaiah as the Protem Speaker. However, this has not gone down well with the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular, which later challenged Bopaiah's appointment in the top court. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is also due to hear today an application by the Congress and the JDS challenging the appointment of KG Bopaiah, a relatively junior MLA, as the Protem Speaker. Advocate Dev Dutt Kamat, who filed the application in the Supreme Court at 7.45 pm on Friday, said that the matter will come up for hearing before a bench of Justice AK Sikri, Justice SA Bobde and Justice Ashok Bhushan at 10.30 am on Saturday. Bopaiah is to preside over the floor test on Saturday to ascertain whether newly-appointed Chief Minister Yeddyurappa enjoys a majority support in the assembly. Seeking the setting aside of the appointment of Bopaiah as Protem Speaker and appointment of the senior most member in his place, the application has sought the videography of the floor test proceedings. The plea by both Congress and JD(S) has said that except for administering the oath and conducting floor test, the Protem Speaker should be restrained from exercising any other power. The Congress has contended that Bopaiah is not the senior-most member in the newly-elected House and as per the parliamentary convention, it is only the senior-most member in terms of the number of times he has been elected to the Assembly who can be a Protem Speaker. Earlier in the day, the party alleged Bopaiah`s appointment was made "with the sole intent of manufacturing a majority out of minority for Yeddyurappa". Pointing to the "brazen unconstitutional action" in appointing Bopaiah after the passing of the order earlier on Friday morning, the application by both the Congress and JD(S), said that despite the settled parliamentary convention and practice that the senior most member of the assembly in term of number of times he has been elected to the assembly, a junior MLA KG Bopaiah (BJP) has been appointed as Protem Speaker. The application said that Bopaiah has a "dubious and controversial record of passing biased disqualification orders'' a charge rejected by the BJP. Amid dramatic developments, BS Yeddyurappa was sworn in as Chief Minister on Thursday at a simple ceremony at the Raj Bhavan. Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala had earlier given Yeddyurappa 15 days for a test of strength. However, this time was slashed by the top court which, on Friday, asked him to take a floor test at 4 pm on Saturday. The BJP is eight members short of the 112-majority mark in Karnataka. It has 104 MLAs but one of its lawmakers has been picked as a Protem Speaker. The Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) combine has 115 lawmakers and the two sides have taken extraordinary steps to prevent defections. The Congress and JDS allege that the lawmakers were threatened and also offered Rs 100 crore bribes and ministries. One of the lawmakers, Anand Singh, was "kidnapped", the Congress claimed. Another Congress legislator also went MIA after putting down his signature on a list of party legislators. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa today exuded confidence that he will comfortably prove that he has the required numbers to stay in power. ''I am going to have an absolute majority,'' BS Yeddyurappa said in a brief statement to media before leaving for the Shangri-La hotel here. New Delhi: Minutes after BS Yeddyurappa tendered his resignation as Karnataka CM, BJP's Subramanian Swamy took to Twitter to claim that his party had managed to 'snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.' Swamy, known for being vocal about his opinions, tweeted that his party's arrogance may have cost it power in Karnataka - just two days after Yeddyurappa had taken oath by the virtue of BJP being the single-largest party. "The real issue in recent events in Karnataka is that BJP snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Monopoly and arrogance causes that," Swamy tweeted. (Also read: Who said what) Even as Congress-JDS combine was celebrating and termed the developments as a victory for democracy, Swamy - almost an hour after his first tweet - fired a second shot on the micro-blogging site. "Let us not forget bottom line: BJP increased MLAs 2 1/2 times to 104 and first past the post. Two big losers banded together and are slated to form the government." Swamy was not alone in making big - and rather controversial - statements on Saturday. Congress' Sanjay Nirupam compared Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala to dogs for his loyalty to BJP while Congress President Rahul Gandhi called Prime Minister Narendra Modi corrupt for 'allowing his party to indulge in horse trading.' NEW DELHI: It must be a deja-vu moment for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In 1996, the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had to resign in just a matter of 13 days as he was not able to prove majority in the Lok Sabha. In 2018, BS Yeddyurappa resigned just two days after he was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. The BJP had emerged as the single-largest party in Karnataka in the 2018 assembly elections. With the support of 104 MLAs, the BJP staked claim to form the government. But the Congress and the Janata Dal Secular (JDS) had a different gameplan. Adamant on doing everything to keep the BJP at bay, the Congress and the JDS formed a post-poll alliance and showed the combined strength to form a government. Despite the numbers not being on the BJP's side, Governor Vajubhai Vala invited BJP as the single largest party to prove the majority and Yeddyurappa was sworn in as the Chief Minister on Thursday. The BJP tried its best to get the numbers but the Congress and JDS kept its MLAs close to its chest. Despite all its efforts, the BJP was on Saturday forced to pull the plug as it was unable to show enough numbers on its side. An emotional Yeddyurappa announced his resignation on the floor of the House and lamented how just a few more seats could have changed the equation and made the BJP the party with the majority in the state. The two-day CM before resigning vowed to work for the people of the state. Yeddyurappa's emotional speech on Saturday had a glimpse of what Atal Bihari Vajpayee had said in 1996 when he had to resign as the PM in just 13 days. Vajpayee was the first person from the BJP to have become the prime minister of India. In the 1996 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had emerged as the single-largest party. Congress had won 140 seats while BJP had 161 in its kitty. Vajpayee was thus sworn in as the 10th PM of India. The BSP had promised support to Vajpayee but minutes later in the House, Mayawati rose to speak and said that she would be opposing the government. The numbers went against the government and Congress extended its support to the third largest party Janata Dal led by HD Deve Gowda. Vajpayee was left with no choice but to submit his resignation to the President. In a stirring speech then, he had said: "The seats we won are not by a stroke of luck. We reached out to the people and worked hard to spread our message. And today we are suddenly being judged because we couldn't get just a few more seats? Ok, I agree that was a little bit of our own weakness." "President gave us the opportunity (to form government) and we took that opportunity. We could not succeed but that is a different matter. But we will still sit here as the largest opposition party and you will have to take our support to make this House work. Don't ever forget that. And I assure you, we will support you in running the House properly. We assure you that while you want power, we want to work for this country and we will never sit and rest in this endeavour," he had said in that famous speech. New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi on Saturday came out all guns blazing against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged that BS Yeddyurappa's resignation as Karnataka CM was a befitting considering how BJP leaders were 'rampantly indulging in corruption.' Brazenly calling Prime Minister Modi as corrupt, Rahul said that he had allowed BJP to use power of money to buy out Congress and JDS MLAs - a move which he said fell flat. "You've seen openly how the PM directly authorized purchasing of MLAs in Karnataka. So the idea that PM spreads in the country that he is fighting corruption, is a blatant lie. He is corruption," he said in a press conference. "BJP has been attacking every institution of democracy. I am proud that opposition stood together and defeated the BJP (in Karnataka) and we will continue to do so." You've seen openly how the PM directly authorized purchasing of MLAs in Karnataka, so the idea that PM spreads in the country that he is fighting corruption, is a blatant lie, he is corruption: Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/ydsmBGd2x6 ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 Accusing the current government of being dictatorial in nature, Rahul said Yeddyurappa's decision to resign even before the floor-test showed just why 'truth matters above everything else.' "Did you notice that after the entire exercise in Karnataka Vidhan Sabha, the BJP legislators and speaker chose to leave the house before the national anthem? It shows they can disrespect any institution if in power," he said. Congress and JDS have been celebrating since Yeddyurappa's decision to resign - a decision that he announced in an emotional speech in Karnataka Assembly. Bengaluru: The political thriller in the state of Karnataka had a rather timid climax when a visibly emotional BS Yeddyurappa of BJP announced he will give his resignation as CM just minutes before he was to prove majority in the assembly. While sources had already begun hinting to Zee News that BJP had told Yeddyurappa to tender resignation if there was any doubt about numbers, he himself made a speech in which he said his was a life of trial by fire and that he was proud of what BJP had achieved in the most-recent elections. "If only people would have given us 113 seats instead of 104, we would have made this state a paradise," he said. "Whether I stay in power or not, I will continue to work for the people. And we will get 28 out of 28 seats in Lok Sabha. For now, I will go to Raj Bhawan and tender my resignation." The entire political drama unfolded when BJP emerged as the single-largest party, forcing Congress to offer unconditional support to JDS. Together, the two parties staked claim to form government. BJP countered by saying since it was the single-largest party, it had the right to form government - an argument accepted by Governor Vajubhai Vala who also gave 15 days to Yeddyurappa to prove majority. Congress counterattack came in two forms. While in Bengaluru, the party - as well as JDS - swiftly moved to confine its MLAs in a resort to ensure they are not lured away by BJP, Congress in Delhi moved Supreme Court against the Governor's decision. The apex court reduced the time given to Yeddyurappa to prove majority and ordered that the floor test take place on Saturday at 1600hrs. Since, the verbal battles have been torrid with Congress-JDS repeatedly accusing BJP of indulging in horse-trading while BJP maintaining it has the numbers. Congress suspected Governor Vala nominating three-time MLA Bopaiah as Protem Speaker was flouting the norm and once again reached the apex court which ordered the floor-test to be broadcast live. In the end though, there was no floor-test to be broadcasted with Yeddyurappa's latest term as CM proved to be good for only a little more than two days. Bengaluru: After days of political mudslinging and attempts to grab power in Karnataka by both BJP and Congress-JDS, BS Yeddyurappa - who had taken oath as CM just two days back - tendered his resignation minutes before a crucial floor test. While he was visibly emotional, Congress and JDS MLAs just could not stop celebrating. #WATCH:Congress workers celebrate in Delhi after BS Yeddyurappa resigned as Karnataka CM ahead of #FloorTest pic.twitter.com/4hzop2GR8W ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 Scenes of absolute jubilation spread across where the MLAs from both parties were seated in the Karnataka Assembly as Yeddyurappa announced he will tender his resignation at the Raj Bhawan. A smiling DK Shivkumar - Congress' Karnataka leader - smiled from ear to ear even as reports started emerging that the Congress-JDS could be invited for swearing-in ceremony as early as on Sunday. "Congratulate MLAs of Congress and JDS and independents who resisted to all sorts of temptations and arm-twisting by the central government and central government agencies," he told mediapersons. "I would also like to thank the judiciary which rose to the occasion." A number of Congress leaders also hailed the decision of Yeddyurappa to resign as triumph of truth. Others like Mamata Banerjee took to Twitter to hail the development. Democracy wins. Congratulations Karnataka. Congratulations DeveGowda Ji, Kumaraswamy Ji, Congress and others. Victory of the 'regional' front Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 19, 2018 Congress had been claiming it has the numbers to form government after combining with JDS, and also had been alleging that BJP is indulging in horse-trading. BJP had hit back saying the allegations were false and that they would emerge victorious. Minutes before the floor-test though, Yeddyurappa conceded 113 instead of 104 seats would have helped his party turn Karnataka into a paradise. "If only people would have given us 113 seats instead of 104, we would have made this state a paradise. I still thank the people for putting their faith in us and making us the single-largest party," he said in a speech on the floor of the House. The Supreme Court on Saturday disposed off an application by the Congress and the JDS challenging Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala's decision to appoint KG Bopaiah as the Protem Speaker in the assembly. The court said he will remain the interim speaker and ordered a live telecast of the assembly proceedings at 4 pm when Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa takes the floor test. The court also noted that several regional channels will be provided with live feeds for the telecast. The bench comprising justices A K Sikri, S A Bobde and Ashok Bhushan said in its order, "there shall be no other item in the agenda that shall be taken up during the trust vote." Full text: What SC said while rejecting Congress, JDS plea on the removal of KG Bopaiah as Protem Speaker Though a number of prayers are made in this interlocutory application for modification of this Court's order dated 18.5.2018 and further directions, in view of the statement of Mr. Tushar Mehta, learned Additional Solicitor General appearing on behalf of the State Government as well as the Governor, it is not even necessary to go into these prayers. We may place on record that the statement of Mr. Mehta, learned Additional Solicitor General, is that there would be live telecast of the proceedings in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly in respect of Floor Test to be held at 4.00 P.M. today. It is also stated that the Secretary of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly will record the same. Mr. Mehta, learned Additional Solicitor General, also informed that several local news channels would be provided with the live feed of the proceedings to enable them to have live telecast of the proceedings on their respective channels. Mr. Kapil Sibal and Dr. A.M. Singhvi, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the applicants, have not pressed their prayers made in the instant interlocutory application in view of the aforesaid statement made by Mr. Mehta, learned Additional Solicitor General. We also clarify that there shall be no other item in the Agenda that shall be taken up during the Trust Vote today. In view of the aforesaid, the instant application stands disposed of. No orders on the application for impleadment of Mr. K.G. Boppaiah as party respondent no.4, are passed. NEW DELHI: In a major blow to the Congress-JD(S) combine, the Supreme Court on Saturday rejected its plea challenging the appointment of KG Bopaiah as the Protem Speaker and directed the latter to conduct the crucial floor test in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly this evening. The three-member bench of the top court also directed that the proceedings of the floor test should be telecast live to prevent any ambiguity. Supreme Court rejects Congress-JD(S) plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah, he will continue to be pro-tem speaker. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/eMhgYgC0m9 ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 Rejecting the Congress-Janata Dal-Secular petition challenging KG Bopaiah's appointment as Protem Speaker by Governor Vajubhai Vala, the top court bench said, ''If you (Congress) want us to probe Protem Speaker's role, the floor test will have to be delayed.'' The court also noted that there have been several instances in the past where junior MLAs have been appointed Protem speakers. The bench said that it can't quash the appointment of the Protem Speaker without hearing KG Bopaih and, if that has to be done, it would delay the floor test in the assembly. ''We can't order the Governor to appoint another Protem Speaker,'' the bench said, while adding that it will also not lay down how MLAs should vote during the floor test. Despite facing a setback, the Congress welcomed the apex court ruling. ''Most important objective was to establish transparency. Since the statement has come from ASG that live feed of proceedings would be given, we hope and trust there would be fairness. I have no doubt that the victory would be of Congress & JD(S),'' Abhishek Manu Singhvi said. Most important objective was to establish transparency. Since the statement has come from ASG that live feed of proceedings would be given, we hope & trust there would be fairness. I have no doubt that the victory would be of Congress & JD(S): Abhishek Manu Singhvi #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/bIBCybpRxQ ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala had on Friday appointed KG Bopaiah as the Protem Speaker. However, this did not go well with the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular, which later challenged Bopaiah's appointment in the top court. The application was filed by an advocate Dev Dutt Kamat on behalf of the Congress and JDS. The matter came up for hearing before a bench of Justice AK Sikri, Justice SA Bobde and Justice Ashok Bhushan at 10.30 am. Bopaiah will now preside over the floor test to ascertain whether newly-appointed Chief Minister Yeddyurappa enjoys a majority support in the assembly. Challenging the appointment of Bopaiah as Protem Speaker and replacing him with the senior most member, the application had sought the videography of the floor test proceedings. The plea by both Congress and JD(S) said that except for administering the oath and conducting floor test, the Protem Speaker should be restrained from exercising any other power. The Congress contended that Bopaiah is not the senior-most member in the newly-elected House and as per the parliamentary convention, it is only the senior-most member in terms of the number of times he has been elected to the Assembly who can be a Protem Speaker. The party further alleged that Bopaiah`s appointment was made "with the sole intent of manufacturing a majority out of minority for Yeddyurappa". Pointing to the "brazen unconstitutional action" in appointing Bopaiah after the passing of the order earlier on Friday morning, the application by both the Congress and JD(S), said that despite the settled parliamentary convention and practice that the senior most member of the assembly in term of number of times he has been elected to the assembly, a junior MLA KG Bopaiah (BJP) has been appointed as Protem Speaker. The application said that Bopaiah has a "dubious and controversial record of passing biased disqualification orders'' a charge rejected by the BJP. Amid dramatic developments, BS Yeddyurappa was sworn in as Chief Minister on Thursday at a simple ceremony at the Raj Bhavan. Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala had earlier given Yeddyurappa 15 days for a test of strength. However, this time was slashed by the top court which, on Friday, asked him to take a floor test at 4 pm on Saturday. The BJP is eight members short of the 112-majority mark in Karnataka. It has 104 MLAs but one of its lawmakers has been picked as a Protem Speaker. The Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) combine has 115 lawmakers and the two sides have taken extraordinary steps to prevent defections. The Congress and JDS allege that their lawmakers were being threatened and also offered Rs 100-crore in bribes and lucrative ministries. One of the lawmakers, Anand Singh, was "kidnapped", the Congress claimed. Another Congress legislator also went MIA after putting down his signature on a list of party legislators. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa today exuded confidence that he will comfortably prove that he has the required numbers to stay in power. ''I am going to have an absolute majority,'' BS Yeddyurappa said in a brief statement to media before leaving for the Shangri-La hotel here. NEW DELHI: Shortly after BS Yeddyurappa announced resignation as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that democracy has won. Calling the development as a victory of the 'regional' front, she congratulated the Congress and the JDS leaders. Democracy wins. Congratulations Karnataka. Congratulations DeveGowda Ji, Kumaraswamy Ji, Congress and others. Victory of the 'regional' front Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 19, 2018 Yeddyurappa who had sworn in as the CM on Thursday announced his resignation minutes before the most-awaited floor test. While he broke down during his speech inside the Karnataka Assembly, Congress and JDS MLAs started off with their celebrations. Karnataka had thrown a hung assembly with BJP winning 104 seats, Congress with 78 and JDS with 38 seats (37 JDS plus 1 BSP seat). As none of the parties reached the magic number of 112 of the 222 seats on which counting was held, it was the discretion of Governor Vala to invite a party to form government. The BJP staked claim on the argument that it is the single largest party while the Congress joined hands with the JDS and claimed that they have the majority in the House. Bengaluru: A crucial floor test is being conducted in the Legislative Assembly of Karnataka to ascertain whether Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa enjoys a comfortable majority in the House to stay in power. As directed by the country's top court the proceedings of the floor test are being aired live so as to prevent any ambiguity. The floor test proceedings began around 4 pm after all newly-elected MLAs were administered the oath of office and secrecy by the Protem Speaker KG Bopaiah. Watch live streaming, telecast of floor test proceedings in Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Zee News Earlier in the day, a judge bench of the Supreme Court had rejected the Congress-Janata Dal-Secular petition challenging Governor Vajubhai Vala's decision to appoint Bopaiah as the Protem Speaker. Disposing off an application by the Congress and the JDS questioning Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala's decision to appoint KG Bopaiah as the Protem speaker in the Assembly, the Supreme Court on Saturday said he will remain the interim speaker and there will be a day-long live telecast of the Assembly proceedings involving administering of oath to the newly-elected members, followed by floor test of Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa at 4 pm. A bench comprising Justice AK Sikri, Justice SA Bobde and Justice Ashok Bhushan recorded a statement by the Karnataka government that there will be a live telecast of the Assembly proceedings, currently in progress. The court also noted that several regional channels will be provided with live feeds for the telecast. BENGALURU: Just hours before the trust vote in the Karnataka Assembly, sources are claiming that Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa has been told to resign before the floor test if he feels he does not have the majority to win. As per sources, he has prepared a 13-page speech which he will deliver ahead of the trust vote. The BJP government led by Yeddyurappa is facing a crucial trust vote on Saturday in the Karnataka Assembly. The Assembly session began on Saturday with legislators of the BJP, Congress and JD-S taking oath. Chief Minister Yeddyurappa was the first to take oath followed by Congress legislature party leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Janata Dal Secular (JDS) legislature party leader HD Kumaraswamy. Yeddyurappa requires the 112-halfway mark to win the motion or one more than the half of the members present when the floor test is conducted in the House with an effective strength of 222. Of the 222 seats, the BJP won 104, Congress 78, JD-S, 37 and one each by Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party (KPJP) and an Independent. As the single largest party, the BJP is eight short of the 112-halfway mark in the House. As Kumaraswamy won from both Channapatna and Ramanagaram segments, the party's effective strength in the House is 36 as he can cast only once. Though the Governor directed Yeddyurappa to seek a vote of confidence on the floor of the House within 15 days from the date of assumption of office as the Chief Minister, a three-judge bench of the top court ordered the floor test on Saturday, rejecting his plea for a week`s time to prove his majority. Karnataka Assembly has turned into a fortress ahead of the trust vote. There is heightened security and extra vigil in and around the House. "Elaborate security arrangements have been made at the secretariat and the nearby legislators' home to facilitate smooth conduct of the assembly proceedings for the floor test," Director General of Police Nilamani Raju said. MUMBAI: The famous 'Dabbawalas of Mumbai' celebrated the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle by distributing sweets to patients of a government hospital here on Saturday. "Today is special for us because of Prince Harry's wedding. All the dabbawalas have contributed money to get the sweets and we are distributing it to the patients undergoing treatment here. We wish the couple a beautiful future together," said Subhash Talekar, spokesperson of the Dabbawalas association. The Dabbawalas association also sent a pair of traditional Maharashtrian attire for the bride and groom with the help of the consulate. Courtesy to their friendship with Prince Harry's father, Prince Charles, the Mumbai Dabbawalas Association bought a Paithani saree, a salwar kurta, complete with a kolhapuri pheta -a traditional Marathi wedding attire- from the same shop where they bought the wedding gift for Prince Charles and his second wife, Camilla Parker back in 2005. The Dabbawalas' relationship with the British royal family goes back to 2003 when Prince Charles visited Mumbai. Since then, a special friendship was forged and the Dabbawalas even attended his second wedding. The Dabbawalas were not invited this time, but it didn't dim their excitement or their well wishes for the couple. The royal wedding took place on May 19 at England's Windsor Castle. Windsor: An Indian-origin chef and social entrepreneur invited by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to their wedding arrived with some specially-baked treats at Windsor Castle today. Rosie Ginday, dressed in a bright yellow flowery dress, said she felt really special to be chosen to be a part of the royal couple's special day. "It is really exciting. They have used their special day to shine a light on organisations working to impact communities, which is so lovely and I hope they have a lovely day," said Ginday, born in the UK to Punjabi parents. The 34-year-old is the founder of Miss Macaroon, a social enterprise that produces and sells "macaroons", which are small round-shaped biscuits typically made from ground almonds and coconut. The company ploughs back its profits into employment training opportunities for young people as part of a Macaroons that Make A Difference (MacsMAD) programme. The Birmingham-based enterprise had impressed Harry and Meghan when they visited the city as an engaged couple in March this year and had also got a taste of some of the macaroons. "I have some of my macaroons with me for the picnic at the Castle," said Ginday, who is among a select 1,200 members of public invited to the grounds of Windsor Castle in recognition of the impact they make in their communities. The entrepreneur set up Miss Macaroon in 2011 from a desire to combine her passion for social enterprise and premium quality baking. She trained as a high-end pastry chef at University College Birmingham and moved on to working in Michelin starred kitchens across Britain before turning into an award-winning businesswoman. Her business model is based on creating hand-crafted and gluten-free macaroons, as well as bespoke logo-printed macaroons for other businesses and designer brands for branding and event purposes. She also owns Birmingham's first macaroon and prosecco bar, which opened in the city in October 2016. "My personal reward is that, as well as seeing young people flourish in what is a highly competitive industry and work confidently and diligently in the pressurised environment of a professional kitchen, I know my customers are also investing in these young people with the purchase of our products," she says. Prince Harry, the sixth in line to Britain's throne, and his former actress bride chose to depart from protocol by having no official guest list of political leaders, choosing members of the public as their guests instead. British Prime Minister Theresa May and US President Donald Trump are conspicuously absent from the guest list of the royal wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. New Delhi: Just a few hours before the most talked about the wedding, Kensington Palace released the official vows of the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The vows divulged that Meghan has chosen to omit the word 'Obey' from her vows, following in the footsteps of Princess Diana and Kate Middleton. Her omitted wedding vow will read, " I Meghan, take you, Harry, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part; according to God's holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow." With the intentional removal of the word 'obey' from her wedding vows, Meghan has once again shown support to feminism, a cause she has been a crusader of for a long time. No such change was observed in Prince Harry's vows which read, " I Harry, take you, Meghan, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part; according to God's holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow. "Apart from the wedding vows, the whole official 'Order of Service' revealed the detailed schedule of the wedding, detailing about the royal family's arrival, selected readings, and hymns and songs. It was revealed on Friday, a day before the royal wedding, that Meghan has asked HRH Prince Charles to walk her down the aisle. The revelation came after the news broke out that Meghan's father, Thomas Markel, would not be able to attend the wedding, citing health issues. The duo will read their vows on May 19 in St. George's Chapel which also saw the weddings of Prince William and Kate in 2011 and of Princess Diana and Prince Charles in 1981. The small chapel is a part of the Windsor Castle premises. Windsor: Royal bride Meghan Markle will make a striking feminist statement in her wedding to Prince Harry on Saturday, choosing not to be chaperoned for much of the procession down the aisle of St. George`s Chapel here in London, CNN has learned. In an unprecedented step for a royal bride in the UK, Markle will walk unescorted down the aisle of the chapel nave, after being met at the West Door by a member of the clergy. She will be accompanied in this first part of the wedding procession only by her bridesmaids and page boys, with the senior church figure walking ahead, CNN said. Prince Charles will join her when she reaches the Quire, where the main royal guests will be seated. The Prince -- Harry`s father -- will walk Markle down the Quire aisle to the foot of the altar. But Charles will not give her away to her husband-to-be in the traditional sense -- instead, he will stand back as Markle approaches Prince Harry. CNN said that Markle came up with the plan herself. It was always the intention that her father Thomas would meet her at the Quire and she would walk the first part alone. Ill health has since prevented him from coming, the CNN report added. Both Charles and Harry are delighted with the plan, CNN said. No other royal bride in the UK has walked unescorted down the aisle at their wedding ceremony. Markle`s decision indicates that she wishes to assert herself as a strong, independent woman who is prepared to challenge royal norms, analysts told CNN. "Meghan Markle has asked His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to accompany her down the aisle of the Quire of St George`s Chapel on her Wedding Day," Kensington Palace said in a statement. "The Prince of Wales is pleased to be able to welcome Ms. Markle to The Royal Family in this way." In 2016, Charles walked Alexandra Knatchbull -- a goddaughter of the late Princess Diana -- down the aisle when she married Thomas Hooper, as her estranged father watched from the pews. As preparations continued on Friday, Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Harry`s grandfather Prince Philip, 96, will attend the wedding on Saturday, less than two months after he had hip surgery WINDSOR: Flanked by page boys and bridesmaids, American actress Meghan Markle walked down the aisle of the 15th Century chapel in Windsor Castle where she will marry Prince Harry in a dazzling display of British pomp and pageantry. After entering St George's Chapel unescorted, Markle - wearing a dress designed by Clare Waight Keller - made her way towards the Quire, halfway down the church where Prince Charles will walk her to his son, Harry. White roses, favourite flowers of Harry's late mother Princess Diana, adorned the chapel. Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, 61, appeared tearful. Prince Harry, dressed in a military frock coat uniform, and his brother, best man Prince William, waited for Markle at the altar. Tens of thousands of fans lined the route Markle took towards the castle, waving British flags and cheering as the Rolls-Royce limousine drove past with the bride and her mother. Air traffic controllers for the nearby Heathrow Airport, one of the world's busiest, said the airspace over Windsor was being closed for 15 minutes before the ceremony. Hours before, Queen Elizabeth bestowed the title of Duke of Sussex on her grandson, a step that means the American actress, star of the TV drama "Suits", will become a duchess when she marries Harry. Under clear skies and glorious sunshine, a military band in scarlet uniforms and bearskin hats entertained excited fans gathered behind barriers. Police armed with semi-automatic rifles patrolling streets and watching from rooftops. Windsor: US actress Meghan Markle will become a duchess when she marries Prince Harry on Saturday after Queen Elizabeth bestowed the title of Duke of Sussex on her grandson hours before their glittering wedding. Thousands of fans gathered in the English town of Windsor for the marriage at the 15th-century St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, a ceremony that will propel the star of the TV drama "Suits" to the senior ranks of the British royal family. As dawn broke over the castle's stone walls, excited crowds gathered behind barriers lining Windsor's genteel lanes, many draped in British and American flags. Police armed with semi-automatic rifles patrolled streets and watched from rooftops. "This is a moment when we can all celebrate the rebirth of the royal family," said Kenny McKinlay, 60, who had come down from Scotland and was heading to Windsor by train. "It's a time when all the nation can come together rather than being divided. It`s a day when you can be proud to be British." More than 100,000 fans are expected to cram the narrow roads of Windsor, about 20 miles (30 km) west of London. Visitors had to pass through police search points set up around the castle, home to 39 English monarchs since 1066. The world`s media has been gripped by the union of Harry, 33, sixth-in-line to the British throne, and Markle, 36, a divorcee whose mother is African-American and father is white, and hundreds of TV crews have descended on Windsor. To some black Britons, the wedding personifies the breakdown of barriers and reveals a more modern Britain where background is no bar to even the most elite and traditional of institutions. To others, it is an irrelevance or mild distraction from the schism of Brexit, which has deeply divided the United Kingdom; polls suggest that most Britons will not bother tuning in. The hour-long ceremony begins at 1100 GMT. The bride will arrive at the church with her mother, Doria Ragland, 61, with whom she spent Friday night at a luxury hotel. Harry was staying at another hotel with elder brother and best man Prince William, whose daughter Charlotte and son George will be among the bridesmaids and page boys. England: Prince Harry and U.S. actress Meghan Markle will get married on Saturday in a lavish ceremony that unites the traditional pomp of British royalty with Hollywood glamour, injecting new life into a monarchy striving to stay relevant in the modern age. Millions around the world are expected to watch when Elizabeth's popular grandson and the American star of the TV drama "Suits" tie the knot at the 15th Century St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. As dawn broke over its ancient stone walls, excited crowds began to assemble, many draped in British and American flags. "I just think it will be magical. There will be so much shouting and cheering and noise. I love the royal family," said Ronda Musgrove, 59, who camped overnight on the street opposite. More than 100,000 fans are expected to cram the narrow roads of Windsor, about 20 miles (30 km) west of London. Security was tight and visitors had to pass through police search points set up around the castle, home to 39 English monarchs since 1066 The world's media has been gripped by the union of Harry, 33, the sixth-in-line to the British throne, and Markle, 36, a divorcee whose mother is African-American and father is white, and hundreds of TV crews have descended on Windsor. To some black Britons, the wedding is a fairytale which personifies the breakdown of barriers and reveals a more modern Britain where a person's background is no obstacle to even the most elite and traditional of institutions. To others, it is an irrelevance or mild distraction to the schism of Brexit which has deeply divided the United Kingdom, and polls have suggested that most Britons will not bother tuning in to watch the event. The hour-long ceremony begins at 1100 GMT, with weather forecasts predicting blue skies and sunshine. The bride will arrive at the church with her mother, Doria Ragland, 61, with whom she spent Friday night at a luxury hotel. Harry was staying at another hotel with elder brother and best man Prince William, whose daughter Charlotte and son George will be among the bridesmaids and page boys. London: Two of Prince Harry's ex-girlfriends were among thousands of guests who attended the star-studded royal wedding at the iconic St George's Chapel on Saturday. Chelsy Davy, 32 and Cressida Bonas, 28, were all smiles as they arrived at the Chapel to watch their ex-boyfriend take Meghan Markle, 36, to be his lawfully wedded wife. Le ex di Harry, Chelsy Davy e Cressida Bonas #RoyalWedding pic.twitter.com/ldL3sA2eNx emi (@_lexismart) May 19, 2018 Davy had an on-off relationship with the 33-year-old Prince between 2004 and 2011. They have remained friends after going their separate ways seven years ago and she has been a regular feature at royal functions, The Telegraph reported. Davy arrived in a navy Alaia dress and matching fascinator, with Bonas was seen wearing a colourful gown by Eponine London. Harry is also said to have remained on friendly terms with Bonas since their relationship ended in 2015. Davy and the Prince originally met in Cape Town, South Africa, while he was on his gap year, the report said. Bonas dated Harry for three years between 2012 and 2015. It is thought that the pair were originally introduced through Princess Eugenie. She apparently struggled with the scrutiny of her love life and wanted to pursue her career as an actress. She is on amicable terms with the Prince and attended the Invictus Games after they split, but they are not particularly close, the report said. "2,640 people were invited ? from charities close to the couple, as well as 1,200 people who were nominated by their Lord Lieutenants," The Royal Family tweeted. New Delhi: Rajinikanth's starrer 'Kaala', which is one of the most-awaited films of the year, is all set to release in the first week of June. Interestingly, Rajinikanth is collaborating with Nana Patekar in the film. Rajinikanth, the protagonist, will be next in the role of a gangster whereas Nana will be seen as a baddie. On Saturday, the makers unveiled a fresh poster of the film which has upped the excitement level further. The new poster shows Rajini and Nana's face while the south superstar's quirky expressions cannot be missed. Nana Patekar is sporting a grim expression that will leave the fans intrigued. It's Rajinikanth versus Nana Patekar this June... Presenting the new poster of #Kaala #KingOfDharavi [Hindi]... 7 June 2018 release... Produced by Dhanush... Directed by Pa. Ranjith. pic.twitter.com/l26P7qAFJc taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) May 19, 2018 The plot of 'Kaala' revolves around the oppressed Tamils of Mumbai, and Rajinikanth will be reportedly playing the role of a feared and revered don. 'Kaala' has been produced by Rajinikanth's son-in-law Dhanush and directed by Pa. Ranjith. This would be Ranjith's second outing with the 67-year-old actor after their earlier gangster film, 'Kabali,' which released in 2016. Apart from Nana Patekar and Rajinikanth, multi-lingual 'Kaala' also features Huma Qureshi, Samudrakani and Eshwari Rao in key roles. Santosh Narayan has scored music for the film and the movie's teaser has already hyped expectations amidst movie buffs, especially the fans of Rajinikanth. Earlier, Dhanush had shared a poster from the film that showed the superstar sitting on a chair, petting a dog - a clear play on his name in the movie and its association of the form of the Hindu god Shiva most associated with complete annihilation, Kaal Bhairav. Meanwhile, the Rajini-starrer is set to face a box-office clash with 'Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom', which will hit the screens across India on June 8 and Salman Khan's 'Race 3', which releases on June 15. Open source Ukrainian soldier hoisted on an unidentified explosive device in Joint Forces Operation zone, as Dmytro Hutsulyak, Defence Ministry Speaker, said at the briefing in Defence Ministry, 112.ua reports. As at 9:00 one of our soldiers was injured today. He hoisted on an unidentified explosive device, the details of the incident are being determined. His health condition is critical, he stated. Besides, the Spokesperson added that in total 11 attacks were performed by the militants over the past 24 hours. In particular, the militants used artillery, mortar launchers, small arms of various types and calibres and grenade launchers in Luhansk sector. The shootings were performed near Zalizne, Novozvanivka and Popasna. At the same time, as Hutsulyak said, it was relatively quiet in Donetsk sector. The militants were attacking the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine within 20 minutes near Shyrokyne from small arms at around 2 oclock at night. The situation changed at dawn the enemy performed three attacks using 120- and 82-mm mortar launchers and infantry fighting vehicle near Avdiivka. As it was reported, the militants fired at the Armed Forces positions 43 times on the demarcation line on May 18. No casualties reported. Poroshenko stressed that Ukraines future is in Europe Petro Poroshenko, Ukraines President, signed a decree on withdrawal of all Ukraines representatives from all CIS charter bodies, as he stated in Vinnytsia delivering a speech at the event dedicated to Europe Day, broadcasted by 112 Ukraine. Today we did all possible to cross the Rubicon returning to the European Union. Today I signed a relevant decree on withdrawal of all Ukraines representatives from CIS charter bodies, the Head of the State notes. Besides, Poroshenko stressed that Ukraines future is in Europe. Earlier, Poroshenko stated that Ukraine stops its activity in CIS coordination bodies. In early May, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) supported the offer to stop the participation of Ukrainian delegation in CIS bodies. NSDC entrusted Ukraines Foreign Ministry to take measures to terminate separate international agreements. As it is noted, Trump expressed his support the Secretary-Generals efforts to improve the effectiveness of UN work Donald Trump, the U.S. President, had a meeting with Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, and discussed the issues of mutual interest, as it was reported on the White House website. The parties discussed issues of mutual interest, including North Korea, Syria, Iran, and reform of the United Nations, the message says. As it is noted, Trump expressed his support the Secretary-Generals efforts to improve the effectiveness of UN work. The two committed to work together in the months ahead to address these and other common threats and challenges, the website says. Earlier, Antonio Guterres stated that he was deeply disappointed with the U.S. decision to leave Iran Nuclear Deal. 112 Agency In the city of Saarbrucken in Germany at about 14:30 (15:30 Kyiv time), the man started shooting of passers-by on the street, reports Spiegel Online. The incident occurred in the area of Fehingen near one of the houses. As a result of shooting, two people were killed, several passers-by were wounded. Law enforcers managed to detain the attacker on the spot. His motives are still unknown. Representatives of local authorities and police work at the scene. According to the publication, the two dead and the striker were relatives. Related: Ukraine congratulates Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding Reuters The Council of Bishops of the Polish Orthodox Church insists on observing the canonical norms on the issue of granting autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. This is reported by the Synodal Information and Educational Department of the UOC-MP (Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarhate). It is reported that the meeting of the Bishops' Council of the Polish Orthodox Church took place on May 9, 2018. It addressed the issue of the autocephaly of the UOC. The decisions taken are addressed to the Primate of the UOC Metropolitan Onufriy, as well as Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and Patriarch Kirill of the Russian OC. "In connection with the issue of granting autocephaly in Ukraine, the Bishops' Council of the Polish Orthodox Church emphasized the fundamental necessity of observing the canonical norms of the life of the Church and noted that" the status of autocephaly can be recognized only for one Church existing in the state. In Ukraine there are several schismatic church groups, which first of all should bring repentance to return to the canonical Church. Only then we can talk about the recognition of autocephaly, "the UOC MP reported. Representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate also report that, according to the expressed opinion of the Local Orthodox Churches, autocephaly can be provided only by the Mother Church and only after agreement with the priests of all local churches. "Irrelevant and premature decisions on the autocephaly case in Ukraine can lead to further divisions," insisted the representatives of the UOC-MP. Also, it is specified in the message, the Council urged not to be guided in the decision of similar questions by political reasons. We recall, on April 17, the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko wrote a letter to the Ecumenical Patriarch asking for the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine and urged parliamentarians to support such an initiative. Related: German ultra-right appeal to court with complaint about Merkel migration policy 112 Agency The Embassy of Ukraine in the UK joined the congratulations on the marriage of Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle. The diplomatic mission posted a congratulatory card on Twitter. On the card there is a photo of the newlyweds. "We wish the best to the royal couple and many years of happiness and love," the message says. Note that politicians all over the world congratulated the new married couple. Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau wished the Duke and the Duchess of Sussex to live in happiness. British Prime Minister Theresa May, other British politicians, as well as the US ambassador to Britain, congratulated Harry and Meghan on social networks. "My best wishes to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding day. A wonderful day for all who join the national celebrations during the festivities and other events, "wrote May. We recall that today, May 19, Prince Harry and his beloved American actress Meghan Markle officially became husband and wife. Related: Storm warning announced in Kyiv and Kyiv region The New Mexico Humanities Council has joined up with the historic KiMo Theatre to present a film and discussion series titled Fake News: Journalism Goes to Hollywood. The series is hosted by Alibi Film Editor Devin D. OLeary. (Yup, thats me!) Once a month Ill be at the KiMo leading a guest reporter or scholar through a discussion of the topics that each film raises. The hope is to examine the evolving role of the press in democratic societiesas viewed through the lens of Hollywood. Audiences are invited to ask questions and engage in conversation with the guests. The series starts this Sunday, May 20, at 6pm with a screening of the 2017 Academy Award-nominated film The Post. The film looks at female newspaper publisher Key Graham (Meryl Streep) and hard-driving editor Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks), who pushed to publish the Pentagon Papers, classified documents that revealed the US government's 30-year involvement in the Vietnam War. Following the film there will be a discussion with special guests Scott Armstrong, an investigative journalist and former Washington Post reporter, and Megan Kamerick, freelance journalist and host of Morning Edition at KUNM. Admission to these screenings is free to the public, thanks to a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and its generous support of the Democracy and the Informed Citizen Initiative. The Fake News screenings will take place, once a month, through November. Future film screenings include Ace in the Hole (June), Almost Famous (July), Spotlight (August), Salvador (September), Shattered Glass (October) and All the Presidents Men (November). The KiMo is located at 423 Central Ave. NW. For more info go to kimotickets.com. Inspire curiosity and creativity with more than 70 interactive booths, mind-blowing demos and performances as well as talks with scientists, engineers, artists and other professionals. NM Science Fiesta EXPO is New Mexicos biggest interactive science event, FREE to the public, open to adults, families, and children of all ages and interests. The Science Fiesta Expo inspires curiosity, creativity, and innovation with more than 70 interactive booths, mind-blowing demos and performances! Meet scientists, engineers, artists, and other professionals. Presenters will host activities and share their excitement for science, technology, engineering, art, and math, and the vital roles they play in our everyday lives. Take this opportunity to Bring out your inner scientist! while engaging in experimentation and conversation with New Mexicos educational and professional science community. The EXPO will be a great opportunity to: Increase your understanding of STEAM and its importance in your life.Gain confidence about STEAM industries.Understand more about how to pursue or encourage children to pursue STEAM careers. Live performances and presentations on the main stage (18th St.) 11:20 am Science of Breakdancing with Dancing Turtle and students from Nex+Gen Academy 12:00 pm Welcome, Speech by First Lady Keller, and the 2018 Launch to Learn Kick-Off 12:40 pm ABQ BioPark Raptors 1:20 pm Air Force Research Laboratory New Mexico Demos 2:00 pm 12 Months of Math Demos 2:40 pm Science Girls Lab This event is part of NM Science Fiesta 2018, a week of events celebrating science and art, May 14-19. Visit www.nmsciencefiesta.org for full event schedule! 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 19, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan received Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan on May 18, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of MFA Armenia. Congratulating Zohrab Mnatsakanyan on the occasion of being appointed Foreign Minister, President Sahakyan wished him success in his responsible mission. Thanking for the warm wishes, Minister Mnatsakanyan emphasized that its natural that his first visit should be to Artsakh. Artsakh is of key importance for all the Armenians. Its one of the cruicial pillars of our identity. Our primary responsibility is ensuring the security of Artsakh and its people, the Armenian FM said. The interlocutors referred to the negotiation process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. In this context Minister Mnatsakanyan introduced the preparatory works of meeting with the Minsk Group Co-chairs in the near future. Artsakhs President highlighted the continuation of consultations and meetings between Stepanakert and Yerevan, underlining that it gives an opportunity to discuss various issues related to foreign policy, outline the ways for their solution and joint steps. ENGLISH: Editor/Translator Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Defense Minister of Armenia Davit Tonoyan and Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan visited military positions located in the south-western section of Armenia-Azerbaijan border (Nakhichevan direction) on May 18, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Defense Ministry of Armenia. The Defense Minister tasked the Command staff of the Army corps to always be vigilant, not to submit to any provocation, and to strictly prevent any adventurism of the adversary. Afterwards, Defense Minister Tonoyan departed for the Republic of Artsakh on a working visit, where he met with Artsakhs Defense Minister, Commander of the Defense Army Lieutenant-General Levon Mnatsakanyan who presented the situation in the conflict zone. ENGLISH: Editor/Translator Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. The relatively stable situation was preserved on Artsakh-Azerbaijan contact line from May 13-19, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of Artsaks Defense Ministry. In the mentioned period Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire regime nearly 250 times, firing in the direction of Armenian border guards over 2000 bullets. In addition to the mentioned violations, in the eastern part of the contact line the Azerbaijani armed forces also used automatic grenade launcher (6 projectiles). Defense Army front line units continue to keep control of the situation, taking counter-measures in case of necessity. ENGLISH: Editor/Translator Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Representatives of ethnic minorities of Armenia paid tribute to the memory of the victims of the Pontic Genocide at Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex. ARMENPRESS reports, 3 MPs representing ethnic minorities, as well as Vice President of the National Assembly Eduard Sharmazanov and MP tachat Vardapetyan also visited Tsitsernakaberd. The minority representatives and the MPs laid flowers at the eternal fire. In an interview with the reporters, Eduard Sharmazanov reminded that in 2015 the parliament of Armenia unanimously recognized the Genocide of the Pontic Greeks. It is a great honor for me to have been the keynote speaker. At the same time we implemented much work with our Greek and Cypriot partners and carried out successful struggle against denialism. Both Greece and Cyprus have condemned Turkish denialism, but this is not enough. We have to manage to combine the power of Greek, Assyrian and Armenian communities in the diaspora and the unity of our countries against Turkish denialism, Sharmazanov said. According to him, as far as there is denialism, there is the threat that new genocides will take place. Moreover, the massacres of Sumgayit in 1988, the atrocities of Azerbaijan during the April war against both civilians and servicemen are the consequence of the Turkish denialism. One thing is clear we are a struggling people and have to struggle. We will win because God is with us and because our struggle is not against something, but for the sake of freedom and protection of human rights, the Vice President of the parliament said. On March 24, 2015 the Armenian Parliament unanimously adopted a declaration condemning the Greek and Assyrian genocides in the Ottoman Empire. 117 MPs voted for the adoption of the declaration. The Pontic Genocide has been officially recognized and condemned also by Greece, Cyprus and Sweden. ENGLISH: Editor/Translator Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Director of the National Security Service of Armenia Artur Vanetsyan denies the information about the arrival of a group of investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to Armenia. There are no FBI investigator in Armenia, Vanetsyan said. A number of Armenian media outlets spread information recently about the visit of an FBI group to Armenia, noting that the group members will launch an investigation into illegal capital outflow. At the request of ARMENPRESS to comment on the reports of some media outlets about the alleged visit of the FBI group to Armenia on May 10, the U.S. Embassy in Armenia said, As a matter of policy we do not confirm, deny, or discuss law enforcement investigations. ARMENPRESS also tried to get information from the General Prosecutors Office. The Prosecutors Office of the Republic of Armenia has no information about the visit of such a group for the mentioned goal, a Prosecutors Office employee said. ENGLISH: Editor/Translator Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian sent a congratulatory message to Honorary Member of the Board of Trustees of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, philanthropist Mrs. Louise Simon Manukyan on the occasion of the 85th birthday anniversary. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Presidents Office, the letter runs as follows, Dear Louise, I warmly congratulate you on the occasion of your birthday. You are known and appreciated in Armenia, Artsakh and Diaspora as a dignified benefactor and a patriot. Committed to family traditions, you are always supportive to the Motherland, the Armenian Church and people, like your patriotic parents - Armenian National Hero Alex Manoogian and Mrs. Mari Manoogian. Your personal services multiplied as a result of your devoted activities in AGBU. And today, as an Honorary Member of the Board of Trustees of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, you stand with the Motherland and all of us, for which, honorable Mrs. Louise, please accept my sincere words of gratitude and appreciation. Once again congratulating you on the birthday I wish you good health and all the best. ENGLISH: Editor/Translator Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian sent a condolence letter to President of the Council of State of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel over the crash of the airplane in the vicinity of the Havana airport, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Presidents Office. The letter runs as follows, It was with great grief that I learned about the tragic crash of the airplane in the vicinity of Jose Marti Airport that claimed lives of numerous people. I extent my deep condolences and solidarity to you, conveying words of sympathy and comfort to the families and relatives of the victims. ENGLISH: Editor/Translator Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan talked about the problems in the judicial system of Armenia in a live Facebook broadcast and presented the ways to solve them. ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan underlined that no representative of the Armenian authorities will order the court to make this or that ruling. Its a red line for me and I cannot allow any representative of the authorities to cross that line, because its necessary to ensure two things for having an independent judicial system. First, we have to give the judges an opportunity to make rulings in the framework of their powers and second, we have to block all the channels of solving issues by giving bribes, Pashinyan said. The Prime Minister hopes that the public will support that approach. Pashinyan emphasizes that no one in Armenia has the right to interfere in the in the works of the judicial system. Referring to the practice of applying pre-trial detention as a preventive measure, PM Pashinyan said that people should be released if the detention is not justified. Its necessary to avoid the situations when prisons are overcrowded and were the prisoners sleep one after another. These are torture cases, he said. ENGLISH: Editor/Translator Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi sent a congratulatory message to Nikol Pashinyan on the occasion of being elected Prime Minister of Armenia. ARMENPRESS reports, citing the official website of the Prime Minister of Armenia, the message runs as follows, Indias relations with Armenia are historic, warm and friendly. I am confident that these relations will further strengthen and expand in the upcoming years. I expect to work with you in this direction. Taking the opportunity, I convey my best wishes for the welfare and success of Your Excellency, as well as the progress of the friendly people of Armenia. ENGLISH: Editor/Translator Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. The National Security Service of Armenia makes efforts to expose corruption chains, NSS Director Artur Vanetsyan said in a meeting with heads of media outlets. In a short period of time you will witness the exposure of people enriched via corruption schemes who will stand responsible in line with law. This does not mean that we will take the path of repressions or revenge. Any case against anyone will be public, ARMENPRESS reports Vanetsyan said, adding that illegally enriched people should return the sums. According to him, there are nearly 350 individuals in Armenia who are unaware that companies that evade taxes are registered in their names. They are unaware, they are people living in difficult social conditions whose passports were taken for 5,10,20 thousand drams and companies were registered in their names, Vanetsyan said, promising to present the exposures to the public soon. ENGLISH: Editor/Translator Tigran Sirekanyan A missing 13-year-old girls family hold concerns for her safety. She was last seen at Surfers Paradise, on Queenslands Gold Coast, on Thursday evening and police are seeking help from the public to find her. Since Thursday, the girl, who is pictured below, has posted on social media and spoken to friends. But she has not contacted her family who hold concerns for her safety. She is described as 140cm tall, Caucasian with a slim build, hazel eyes and long, light brown hair. Police are appealing for her or anyone who has further information to contact police on 07 5570 7971. Hirokazu Kore-eda -- who won the top prize at the Cannes film festival Saturday -- is Japan's answer to Ken Loach, a director whose stories about struggling ordinary people never fail to touch. His gentle slices of ordinary life have been praised for their humanism, with "Shoplifters", about a group of Tokyo misfits and crooks who form a kind of alternative family, called a "modern day 'Oliver Twist'". Variety said its "protagonists' rough-and-ready lifestyle demonstrate that people can find comfort even in the worst economic conditions". Critics said that the film also exposes how the "state fails its neediest individuals". Kore-eda -- who won the third prize at Cannes in 2013 -- told reporters that the film was perhaps his most socially conscious to date. But he said he was hopeful that we can make the world a better and kinder place. "Maybe because of the cinema, the people who usually fight each other, the countries that are fighting each other, may be able to come together," he said. "Still, the point of entry to the story is the family," he added. "I kind of ask if people who are not related by blood can build a family by spending time together -- can they make ties that are just as strong." Kore-eda, 55, scored a big international arthouse hit with his baby-swap tale "Like Father, Like Son", which won the jury prize at Cannes five years ago. It tells the story of a workaholic father called Ryota and his neglected wife who pours her energy into their six-year-old boy Keita. But one day their lives are turned upside-down by a phone call from the hospital where he was born saying that a nurse had switched him with another infant. The other couple, a fun-loving shopkeeper and his adoring wife, are pinched financially but raising a happy brood of three kids. - Cinematic clan - Lawyers get involved and Ryota insists that he should raise his biological child instead of the sweet-natured but directionless Keita, who only knows him as a father. Critics praised it as a beautifully worked take on the nature-versus-nurture debate. Born in Tokyo, Kore-eda set out to be a novelist but then began working in television. His first film "Maborosi" won prizes at both the Venice and Chicago film festivals. He first made the shortlist for the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 2001 with "Distance", his examination of the devastating effect a cult massacre has on the families of its victims. But it was not until three years later with "Nobody Knows" that Kore-eda really had his breakthrough outside Japan. Like many of his films, it was inspired by a real-life event -- four young brothers and sisters abandoned in an apartment by their mother. Most of his movies since have been shown at Cannes. His sensitive, melancholic style has been compared to that of the legendary Japanese master, Yasujiro Ozu, who made the classic "Tokyo Story" in 1953. Like in his Cannes film "Shoplifters", Kore-eda has constructed his own cinematic family of actors who appear in many of his films, including Hiroshi Abe and Kirin Kiki, who often plays nasty grandmother figures. "We are all about the same generation, and we have made a film together in our forties and fifties and maybe we will do another in our sixties," he said. Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-Eda poses after he was awarded with the Palme d'Or for the film "Shoplifters (Manbiki Kazoku)" Ousted Malaysian premier Najib Razak is already in hot water over allegations he looted state funds, but his legal woes could worsen as calls grow for a fresh look at an even darker past scandal involving the grisly slaying of a young model. The lurid earlier affair centred on allegations that Malaysian officials took huge kickbacks in the 2002 purchase of Scorpene submarines from France when Najib was defence minister. The sensational saga transfixed Malaysia for years until the authoritarian former regime used its leverage to eventually bury it, though whispers persist that Najib, 64, and his wife Rosmah Mansor were deeply involved. But Najib was trounced in a stunning May 9 election and Malaysia's new government has vowed to investigate not only current allegations that Najib stole billions from sovereign wealth fund 1MDB, but also lift the lid on other unresolved scandals under the graft-plagued former government. "We are very encouraged by the quick moves so far on (1MDB) and that the government is taking previous corruption seriously," said Cynthia Gabriel, who heads the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4), a Malaysian NGO. "In this regard, scandals like Scorpene cannot be ignored. Pressure is building and its going to get more interesting." Najib's immediate concern is allegations that he, his family, and cronies pillaged billions from 1MDB. He is barred from leaving Malaysia and police have seized large amounts of cash, jewels and luxury items from his home and other sites. - Alleged cover-up - But 1MDB pales in many ways to the Scorpene affair, which has sex, submarines, assassins on the run, and an unfortunate Mongolian model and translator. It centres on allegations that French submarine maker DCNS paid "commissions" of more than 114 million euros ($134 million) to a shell company linked to Abdul Razak Baginda, a close Najib associate who brokered the $1.1 billion submarine deal. Najib's opponents said the payments were kickbacks. Abdul Razak's Mongolian mistress Altantuya Shaariibuu, who was said to have demanded a payoff for working as a translator in negotiations, was shot dead, her body blown up with military-grade plastic explosives near Kuala Lumpur in 2006. Allegations that Najib and Rosmah were involved in the killing -- carried out by two government bodyguards -- were steadfastly denied by Najib. He also was forced to publicly deny having had an affair with Altantuya. The case sank off the radar after a Malaysian court in 2008 cleared Abdul Razak of abetting the murder, sparking allegations of a huge cover-up to protect Najib, promoted to deputy prime minister by then. But a key figure now looms as a potential game-changer. Sirul Azhar Umar was convicted along with another police bodyguard in the killing, but he has said they were patsies for "important people" who ordered the murder, and has previously threatened to tell all. Before he could be jailed, Sirul somehow managed to flee in 2015 to Australia, where he is believed to be in custody. - Calls for new trial - Leading Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim, released from jail last week in the wake of the election and who is expected to eventually become prime minister, told AFP on Thursday that Sirul and his accomplice Azilah Hadri should be granted fresh trials. "At that time, the judiciary was compromised," Anwar, 70, said in an interview. "I don't know to what extent Najib was involved or not, but he's certainly implicated in some way," he added. He noted that all traces of Altantuya entering Malaysia before her murder were eliminated, saying that "had to be a higher-up decision". Also looming is a slow-moving effort in French courts that could reveal more. French judicial sources last year told AFP that investigators there had indicted two former top French executives linked to the Scorpene deal, as well as Abdul Razak. Following Malaysia's election, C4 publicly called for an immediate investigation of Najib and others over the submarines and Altantuya's murder, calling the affair "one of the (previous) government's greatest robberies". Gabriel admits that the sheer backlog of scandals under the former government, including dodgy land deals, looting of timber resources, and numerous suspicious deaths of government critics while in police custody, could delay justice for Altantuya. Powerful vested interests also remain, including former establishment figures now aligned with the new government. "It might be tricky. But if they truly are now behind the rule of law, no stone should be unturned," she said. Dredging up the truth in the Scorpene case can be risky. In 2008, a private investigator deeply involved in the affair, P. Balasubramaniam, implicated several government officials, including Najib, in the murder. He quickly recanted, later saying he had been threatened, and fled to India. He returned in 2013 vowing to tell all in the scandal, just as Najib was facing crucial elections, but died two weeks later. Authorities blamed a sudden heart attack. Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak is barred from leaving Malaysia and police have seized large amounts of cash, jewels and luxury items from his home and other sites Altantuya Shaariibuu (R), the Mongolian mistress of Abdul Razak Baginda (L), a close associate of ousted Malaysian premier Najib Razak, was blown up with military-grade plastic explosives near Kuala Lumpur in 2006 Whispers persist that ousted Malaysian premier Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor were deeply involved in a sensational scandal linked to the 2002 purchase of Scorpene submarines from France "Shoplifters", a heartwrenching family tale by Japanese veteran director Hirokazu Kore-eda, won the Palme d'Or top prize at the Cannes film festival Saturday, at a ceremony marked by an emotional speech from a Harvey Weinstein accuser. Spike Lee accepted the runner-up Grand Prix for "BlacKkKlansman", a searing broadside against racism with the stranger-than-fiction true story of an African-American police officer who manages to infiltrate the highest levels of the Ku Klux Klan. Jury president Cate Blanchett said the film, which explicitly links the 1970s tale and white nationalism in the Trump era, "blew us out of the cinema". But the most stunning moment of the night came when Italian star Asia Argento, who has said she was raped by Weinstein at Cannes in 1997, took the microphone and vowed to fight for justice for other victims. "This festival was his hunting ground," said Argento, who says she was 21 when Weinstein attacked her in his hotel room. "Even tonight sitting among you there are those who still have to be held accountable for their conduct against women. We know who you are and we are not going to allow you to get away with it any longer," she said to cheers from the audience. Minutes before the actress took the stage police in Paris said they had opened a criminal probe against one of France's best-known directors, "The Fifth Element" maker Luc Besson, for allegedly raping an actress. - 'Rare good news' - Lebanese actress-director Nadine Labaki, one of three female filmmakers among the 21 contenders, earned the third-place Jury Prize for "Capernaum" set among the poorest of the poor in Beirut and featuring a devastating performance by a 13-year-old Syrian refugee boy. Kazakhstan's Samal Yeslyamova nabbed best actress for "Ayka" by director Sergey Dvortsevoy for her moving portrayal of a young jobless immigrant from post-Soviet Central Asia who abandons her baby in Moscow. Polish Oscar winner Pawel Pawlikowski took the prize for best director for "Cold War", a tragic love story set against the backdrop of the Iron Curtain. Pawlikowski, who won the foreign-language movie Oscar for "Ida" in 2015, caused a scandal at home when he told AFP at the festival that the film had been "blacklisted" by the nationalist government. Warsaw denied the claim. He said his award was "a rare piece of good news" for his country. Italy's Marcello Fonte -- who was working as a caretaker when he was discovered -- was the night's fairytale winner. He clinched best actor for his much-loved performance as a soft-spoken pet groomer who stands up to a heavy in Matteo Garrone's "Dogman". "Three Faces" by Iran's Jafar Pahahi, who was barred by Tehran from attending the festival, shared the best screenplay prize with Italian director Alice Rohrwacher's "Happy as Lazzaro". The Belgian transgender ballerina drama "Girl" won the Camera d'Or prize for best first film. It had earlier scooped the Queer Palm prize for LGBT-themed cinema and the best actor award for Victor Polster in the Un Certain Regard sidebar section. French-Swiss legend Jean-Luc Godard also got a special prize for "The Image Book", a bold, sometimes baffling meditation on the big questions of our time -- war, migration and the survival of the planet. - 'Very scary time' - "Shoplifters" was an early favourite at the 71st Cannes festival. It depicts a couple who rescue two abused and neglected children, providing the first love the youngsters have experienced even as they groom the kids to steal. US movie website IndieWire hailed it as "miraculous" while The Guardian called it "a rich, satisfying film". Spike Lee called his own movie, which many critics hailed as a return to form for the "Do the Right Thing" director, a "wake-up call" against extremism around the world. "It's a very, very scary time we live in," he told reporters. "There is a lot of change but there is a lot of stuff that needs to happen... and with the present (Trump) administration they're doing many things to roll back the clock which I feel is dangerous." Beyond the prize winners, this year's festival will linger for its off-screen moments. Hollywood stars including Blanchett, Kristen Stewart, Helen Mirren and Salma Hayek and directors Ava DuVernay and Patty Jenkins joined a red-carpet protest to demand equal opportunities for women and a "safe workplace". Two days later, festival organisers signed a pledge to encourage more diversity in its selection by 2020. Despite being one of the most sought-after tickets, the premiere of Danish bad boy Lars von Trier's "The House That Jack Built" saw audience members walk out in droves from what they called a misogynistic orgy of violence. Both its female stars, Uma Thurman and Riley Keough, were conspicuously absent from the red carpet, where Stewart on another night staged a protest of her own by slipping off her high heels and climbing the vaunted Cannes stairs barefoot. In 2017, the top prize went to Ruben Ostlund's "The Square," an art world send-up that went on to bag an Oscar nomination. Accepting one of global cinema's most coveted honours from jury president Cate Blanchett, Japanese veteran director Hirokazu Kore-eda said movies made him hopeful for the state of the world Italian actress Asia Argento, who has said she was raped by the Hollywood mogul at Cannes in 1997, told the ceremony he would never be welcome at the event again Cannes film festival 2018 US director Spike Lee poses after he won the Grand Prix for the film "BlacKkKlansman" Saudi authorities have arrested seven prominent women's rights advocates, dividing public opinion just weeks before the kingdom is set to lift its driving ban on women. Without naming those detained, Saudi Arabia's state security apparatus said seven people had been arrested for "attempting to undermine the security and stability of the kingdom... and to erode national unity". "Work is still underway to identify everyone involved" and take legal measures against them, according to a security spokesman quoted Saturday by state news agency SPA. Those arrested are facing accusations including making "suspicious contact with foreign parties", providing financial support to "hostile elements abroad" and recruiting government workers. The crackdown comes even as the kingdom breaks with long-held restrictions on women and the mixing of the genders, with its driving ban on women slated to end June 24. But there were warnings that Riyadh would not tolerate those pushing for change outside its authority. Activists told Human Rights Watch that in September 2017, on the same day authorities announced the driving ban would be lifted, the Royal Court had called up prominent activists and warned them not to speak to the media. - 'Chilling smear campaign' - With a front page reading "Your betrayals have failed", Al-Jazirah newspaper named two of those arrested as activists Loujain al-Hathloul and Aziza al-Yousef. On Twitter -- a popular tool of communication for Saudi Arabia's young population -- opinions were sharply divided. "No place for traitors among us," SaudiNews50 wrote. The news website's post also carried images of five of those detained: Hathloul, Yousef, Eman al-Nafjan, Mohammed al-Rabiya and lawyer Ibrahim al-Madmyegh. Supporters of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, seen as the architect behind a succession of social reforms emanating from Riyadh, backed the sweep. Referring to the detainees as "agents of the embassies", political analyst Naif al-Asaker tweeted that anyone who did not support their arrest was either a "covert partner" or simply "ignorant". Amnesty International condemned the commentary of the arrests as a "chilling smear campaign" and an "extremely worrying development for women human rights defenders" in the country. For other Saudis, the treatment of trailblazers who fought for many of the reforms now coming to fruition was a shock. "This round of arrests was strictly targeting Saudi feminism," tweeted Saudi-American activist Nora Abdulkarim. Abdullah al-Aoudh, a Saudi-educated scholar now at Yale Law, said the charges did not add up. "For those who consider these arrests to be in defence of religion and religious scholars, I'd just like to remind you that the scholars and intellectuals of the country are in jail... in the same scenario," he tweeted. - Reform 'frenzy of fear' - The detainees had not only fought for the lifting of the driving ban, but also against the kingdom's enduring guardianship laws. Saudi Arabia's guardianship system requires women to obtain permission from their fathers, brothers, husbands or even sons for a host of life decisions. Activists Hathloul and Nafjan in 2016 signed a petition to abolish Saudi Arabia's male guardianship system, according to HRW. Madmyegh, a semi-retired lawyer, has stepped up to represent fellow rights advocates in recent years. "Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's 'reform campaign' has been a frenzy of fear for genuine Saudi reformers," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at HRW. Many Saudi activists say social change will only be cosmetic without dismantling the kingdom's guardianship system. A Saudi woman practices driving in Riyadh, on April 29, 2018, ahead of the lifting of a ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia in the summer A Saudi woman test-drives a car during an automotive exhibition for women in the capital Riyadh on May 13, 2018 Frantic bargain hunters across the country lined up for hours waiting for Aldi stores to open to snap up cheap snow gear at the retail giants winter sale but not everyone left a happy customer. With the supermarket chains annual sale marked on the calendar of thousands of Australian snow enthusiasts, savvy shoppers braved the cold and lined up around the block at some stores. But the early birds got their worms. Shoppers who arrived early enough took home waterproof jackets for $59.99, goggles from $14.99, gloves for as little as $4.99 and boots for less than $30. This year, customers came prepared with a game plan to ensure they did not leave empty-handed amid the frenzy. Sunshine Coast woman Emily Wood, who was shopping at the Maroochydore store for gear for an upcoming New Zealand trip, saw a tactic some used she believed was unfair. Frantic bargain hunters across the country lined up for hours waiting for Aldi stores to open, in hopes of snapping up cheap snow gear at the retail giants winter sale. Source: russenterprises / Instagram I started to notice a lot of trolleys being filled to the brim with things and I saw people going through their trolleys, trying things on and dumping stuff they didnt want, she told News.com.au. They had clearly gone in with a trolley, scooped up an armful of the same thing and hoped that their size was there. Story continues Shoppers snapped up mens and womens ski jackets for $59.99, which are waterproof to 12,000mm. Source: ALDI I found this a tad unfair for people that were really trying to find their size but these other people had dumped their unwanted clothes in different aisles. Victorian woman Cindy Chambers described a similar scene at her store today, with shoppers using their trolleys to barricade the sale items, and filling multiple trolleys to the point of overflow. When you have families of people banding together to barricade the stock with their trolleys and children so that others can not get in and have a fair go to shop thats a clear sign that its out of control, she wrote on the Aldi Australia Facebook page. I saw people using trolleys to push others out of the way, kids were getting squashed and hit, a father had his newborn strapped to his front and was completely elbowed by a person who just did not give a hoot. To the families that barricaded the stock and had filled like 5 trolleys each to the point of overflow I dont think that is fair for all the others whom patiently waited whilst you all happily shopped like you were the only ones in the store. Despite the mayhem, other shoppers praised Aldi staff for their coordination during the popular Special Buys sale. Well done to the Mornington Peninsula home store with their snow sale, Mishie Ivy said. They were fantastic and well organised. Shop was set out in a easy to find way! No issues! No fighting! Especially dealing with a crowd that was over 100 people! Praises were also sung by Andrew Newton, who wrote: Well done Aldi. Were a family of 4 heading to the snow for the first time. We were able to stock up at the Parkes NSW store without any problem at all. Plenty of stock. US First Lady Melania Trump returned to the White House on Saturday after undergoing a procedure for a kidney condition and is "doing really well," President Donald Trump said. "Great to have our incredible First Lady back home in the White House," the president said on Twitter. "Melania is feeling and doing really well. Thank you for all of your prayers and best wishes!" The Slovenia-born former model underwent an embolization procedure on Monday for a "benign" kidney condition, according to her communications director Stephanie Grisham. Embolization is most frequently used to cut off the flow of blood to a tumor or growth. While the procedure is often performed on an outpatient basis, it is not uncommon to stay overnight to treat the pain. The White House offered no explanation the First Lady's longer stay. US First Lady Melania Trump underwent a procedure to address a kidney condition After leaving the Iran nuclear deal, Washington wants to move forward by offering to build a "coalition" to counter the multiple "threats" posed by the Tehran regime -- but Europeans intent on saving the 2015 accord may thwart that effort. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday will unveil a new "diplomatic roadmap" for Iran -- how America plans to "address the totality of Iran's threats," according to the State Department's director of policy planning, Brian Hook. Washington is looking to draft a "new security architecture and a better security framework, a better deal," Hook told reporters ahead of the speech, the first major policy address by Pompeo since he became America's top diplomat. "The US will be working hard to put together a coalition," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said, flagging Washington's bid for a multilateral approach after its unilateral withdrawal from the accord. President Donald Trump has long trashed the deal with Iran -- concluded under his predecessor Barack Obama, together with Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- saying it did not do enough to curtail Tehran's nuclear ambitions. The Republican leader also said it did not go far enough in restricting Iran's ballistic missile program, or its intervention in regional conflicts from Yemen to Iraq and Syria. "We need a new -- a framework that's going to address the totality of Iran's threats," Hook said. So far, the guidelines of this new strategy are unclear. The big unknown is whether European leaders, who were bitterly disappointed by Trump's decision to ditch the deal, would be willing to return to talks with his administration any time soon. For now, the European Union is trying to persuade Iran to stay in the 2015 agreement, even without Washington's participation. - Punishment strategy - The re-establishment of the US sanctions that were lifted after the Iran nuclear deal was signed will force European companies to choose between investing in Iran or trading with the United States. In reality, there is no choice -- European companies cannot afford to forsake the US market. And with investment from Europe -- which had been the main carrot dangled before the Iranians to right their struggling economy -- now stymied, Tehran may have little incentive to hold up its end of the bargain. The Europeans have tried to squeeze a little flexibility out of Washington to help out their firms, but to no avail. "They tell us, 'We want the sanctions to hurt, there won't be any exemptions,'" said one European official. Some in the US administration are calling for a "North Korea scenario," meaning the imposition of sanctions so severe that they force Iran back to the negotiating table. By reimposing the sanctions, Washington aims to "bring economic pressure to bear on Iran," Hook said. "It was economic pressure that brought the Iranians to the table a few years ago." But Jake Sullivan, a former Obama administration official who is now a researcher at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said "the idea that we are going to be able to reconstruct sanctions at the same level (as 2015) is a flawed concept." "The more aggressive the US is in telling the Europeans basically, 'We have you under our thumbs,' the more the Europeans are going to say: 'We will find any means we possibly can to not let you do that to us,'" he said Friday. Washington has meanwhile sought to downplay the differences with its allies. "We agree with the Europeans on much, much more than we disagree on," said Hook, citing "a lot of progress" during talks with Paris, London and Berlin that aimed to find solutions to Trump's concerns. The US official also mentioned French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal of a "new deal," based on the 2015 accord, but offering a broader strategy on Iran. But those negotiations, and Macron's proposal, pre-dated the abrupt US withdrawal from the accord. Are they still on the table? And how could an accord be reached now if it was impossible 10 days ago? "We are waiting to see more details," said a European official. Another European official warned: "But if it is a question of building a coalition to push for regime change in Iran, the Europeans won't be on board." For Sullivan, the next phase is one in which "the punishment is the strategy -- squeezing Iran and keeping them in the penalty box for as long as possible, and as much as possible, with the hope of regime change, but if it's not regime change, (then) a weaker regime." US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) will unveil Donald Trump's new strategy on Iran on Monday in his first major foreign policy speech The US decision to leave the nuclear deal with Iran has sparked protests in Tehran A bus loaded with the students from Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES arrived at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 8. They came for a class session of cleanup and work at Parsell Cemetery on Martin Road in Owasco. They are the students of Al Pola's criminal justice class and were met by me and Harvey Bell, who is a local volunteer for Find A Grave (findagrave.com). The students were divided into teams of five by student leaders Stareon Gibson and Haylee Simons. Each team was assigned to do one of the following: 1. Check for the graves of the Revolutionary War soldiers buried there. Report missing or broken headstones. 2. Using probes provided by Harvey, look for headstones buried in the ground. 3. Turn up any headstones that were upside down and unreadable. 4. Cut the brush at the top of the knoll and locate the De Groff family burials. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The Auburn Police Department has released the name of a motorcyclist driven to a Syracuse hospital after a crash Thursday night in Auburn. Police said that Russell D. Brown, 63, 6 Wright Ave., Auburn, was turning from Arterial West onto Columbus Street and collided with an eastbound car around 8:49 p.m that night. Sgt. Donald Gosline did not know Brown's current medical condition Saturday but previously said that Brown had been transported to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse for an "apparent concussion." Anthony D. Westmiller, 19, 2122 W. Genesee Street Road, Aurelius, who was driving the car, was uninjured. Gosline did not have any additional information Saturday about the status of the investigation into the crash or whether any tickets would be issued. 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 With North Korea, however, there can be no trust. The Leader-Herald, Gloversville A survey done last fall by the Adirondack Council found that people really DO love NY, particularly the Adirondack High Peaks region, where close to 80 percent of all trailheads leading there and to surrounding Wilderness areas were routinely above their capacity on fall weekends. Make no mistake, drawing large numbers into the Park is a good problem to have. But it is a problem. From a tourism standpoint, bringing people here is a good thing. But from an environmental and ecological standpoint, overuse of the wilderness areas trails, campsites and summits has already led to erosion, soil compaction, loss of fragile vegetation and impacts on sensitive wildlife. The state needs to find a way to find a balance and keep it in check. It's little secret that some of the High Peaks are overused and the recent survey bears that out. For instance, the trail to Cascade Mountain one of the more popular climbs has a parking lot capacity of 73 cars. Last fall, that lot had an average of 240 cars parked there, according to the Council survey. "They say you can follow a conga line up the trail," Sheehan said. A Wake County Superior Court has ruled against the state of North Carolina in a lawsuit seeking a permanent injunction against enforcement of the state's distribution cap and franchise laws on breweries.The complaint - filed last year by Craft Freedom LLC, The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery LLC, and NoDa Brewing Co. - says the distribution cap and franchise laws injure and threaten to impose additional damage on the brewers. They can produce no more than 25,000 barrels of beer each year without contracting with a distributor.A subsequent motion filed by the state says the complaint should be dismissed with prejudice, and asserted the challenge, according to statute, must be heard by a three-judge panel of the Superior Court.Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour, who heard the complaint March 20, issued the ruling Tuesday, May 15.Drew Erteschik and Bob Orr, lawyers for the brewers, said in a statement.The ruling allows the lawsuit to proceed toward a trial.Olde Mecklenburg founder John Marrino said.Craft Freedom, in a news release, announced it immediately issued subpoenas to distributors and others.The plaintiffs challengeThe complaint tackles two state laws - the distribution cap,- and the franchise law. That law, says the complaint,The plaintiffs' brief includes a deposition by N.C. ABC Commission Administrator Robert Hamilton.the brief says,Craft Freedom says that includesDustin Canestorp, founder of Beer Army, LLC, filed an affidavit Tuesday morning. It provides an account of a recorded phone conversation and email exchange between Canestorp and Freedom Beverage Co., a distributor, and the way Freedom has handled the distribution agreement.Beer Army, says the affidavit, is a nonprofit fundraising company with the mission of organizing beer festivals to raise funds for various charities, including charities focused on helping veterans.Canestorp says in the affidavit.Canestorp says.Special Deputy Attorney General Matt Tulchin on March 20 argued the state, specifically the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, does indeed have far-reaching authority in controlling alcohol consumption and sale. The commission has, over the years, developed a complex statutory scheme toward that end, beginning with the 21st Amendment and the implementation of the state ABC system in 1937.Tulchin said in court. Decisions regarding those rules are left to the state.Marrino said in a statement. The state's top legislative leaders say they're eager to talk to teachers gathering in Raleigh on Wednesday, May 16, about a 6.2 percent average pay raise they'll receive next year.Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, and House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, held a news conference on the eve of the teacher protest touting healthy increases in education spending under Republicans, and a fifth consecutive pay raise pledged to teachers as part of a $23.9 billion 2018-19 budget.Berger said the teacher walkouts from 40 school districts with 1 million students is political gamesmanship that has increased since Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper took office.rhetoric and misinformation from the N.C. Association of Educators, Berger said. He said the NCAE is closely aligned with the Democratic Party, and shares its partisan positions.In a May 14 email to undisclosed recipients, the NCAE said it wasIt said the gathering on the opening day of the legislative sessionBerger and Moore both said they've carved time out of their schedule Wednesday to meet with teachers from their legislative districts to discuss GOP education policies. Other lawmakers are doing the same.Cooper spokeswoman Noelle Talley said in response to Republicans' $23.9 billion spending plan.Cooper's budget puts North Carolina on track to reach the national average in teacher pay in four years, and to be a Top Ten Educated State by 2025, Talley said. It adds 2,000 pre-K slots, $25 million for textbooks and digital learning, and providing educators a $150 stipend to cover out-of-pocket classroom supplies.The National Education Association ranked North Carolina No. 2 nationally for fastest rising teacher pay in 2018, and No. 1 in 2017. Berger said lawmakers are interested in improving base pay, but also shifting more toward merit pay measures based on performance.The average 6.2 percent teacher pay raise in the coming year hikes the average salary to $53,600 annually. That doesn't include local supplements, which push pay higher.Moore said.Berger said the $53,600 average salary is $8,600 more than in 2013-14. It's a 19 percent raise. More than half of all teachers - 44,000 - will receive at least $10,000 more since 2014. Teachers with 25 years or more of experience will be paid $9,040 more than they received in 2014.Republicans have revised the pay schedule so it takes just 15 years to reach the top of the scale, compared to 32 years in 2011. Annual education spending is on track to be $2 billion more than in 2010-11, when Democrats still controlled the legislature.Berger and Moore said there was no interest in Cooper's $24.5 billion budget with an 8 percent teacher pay raise. That money would come from freezing the corporate income tax rate at 3 percent instead of the scheduled drop to 2.5 percent, and eliminating a scheduled reduction in the personal income tax rate from 5.499 to 5.25 for those making more than $200,000.Berger said. When Democrats say they plan to raise taxes only on the rich,Cooper's budget is athousands of cuts to supplemental staff, pay freezes, andBerger said.Moore said funding is provided for new textbooks, but the legislature is splitting spending with digital materials to keep pace with a technology-based society and business culture.Cooper's budget includes $130 million to hire more student support personnel in schools, such as school resource officers, nurses, and counselors, and to upgrade facilities to be more secure.Moore said the GOP budget has additional funding for more school nurses, psychologists, and counselors as part of the school safety initiative.The lawmakers emphasized that much about the budget remains to be decided, spending and other bills will be introduced in the short session, but they hope to finish their business quickly. There was a time when the MSM simply exaggerated or, as they do so well, lied by omission (funny how much they forget to include in their usually biased, often single-sourced stories). But now they're just telling bald-faced lies.said The New York Times in its Thursday paper.said the article's lead.MSNBC celebrity "journalist" Andrea Mitchell parroted the same thing, saying TrumpPresident Trump during California #SanctuaryCities Roundtable:said The Washington Post.And USA Today said it. And Vox. And the BBC. And CBS.President Trump used the harsh rhetoric to describe some undocumented immigrants during a California "sanctuary state" roundtable. https://cbsn.ws/2IpNIvOAnd the Associated Press.Trump referred to those crossing US border illegally as "animals" and slammed California sanctuary state laws as "deadly." https://t.co/TEdwe4Qevq - The Associated Press (@AP) May 17, 2018And the New York Daily News. And . . . you get the idea.But The Hill, an inside-the-Beltway publication for people interested in politics, added a couple words to its headline, words that completely changed the entire meaning:Oh, wait, gang members are animals? No, not "some unauthorized immigrants" (by the way, what's an "unauthorized immigrant"? You've either gone through the immigration process, or you sneaked across the border, which makes you an illegal alien).That's right, Trump was talking about - and only about - members of a dangerous and deadly gang known as MS-13.And to show you just how far the media will go to misrepresent what the president said, here is the transcript for the entire section in which Trump discusses "animals," after Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims explains to Trump during a roundtable at the White House just what her department is up against (with key parts bolded):Okay, Margaret?Thank you, Mr. President. You know, sheriffs in California are now in an untenable position when it comes to trying to figure out - now, we have state law, we have federal laws, and here we are stuck in the middle. Sheriffs, especially, because most of us run our county jails.When there became a legal challenge to the 48-hour holds for ICE, it was very frustrating for us. So what I did is I invited ICE to put their officers in my jails so they're able to do their work. We didn't have the staffing to be able to help figure out who they wanted to talk to or didn't. I said, come on in, work with our people to keep our community safe. Two weeks later, Mr. President, Kate Steinle was murdered.Now, I wasn't the only sheriff to do that. Sheriff Youngblood did, Sheriff Christianson. And it was perfect - because we didn't have to take our time, with our staff, to do anything. ICE was in there doing their work in a safe, controlled, environment. And then, the initiatives started happening - the TRUST Act, the TRUTH Act, and finally, SB 54, the Values Act. And that is causing us all kinds of turmoil.So here we are, stuck in the middle, trying to decide. We have federal law, we have state law. And that's why I welcomed Attorney General Sessions's lawsuit, because that will provide us the clarity that we need and direction that we need. What do we do? Because here we are.And I appreciated Mr. Homan and ICE. We had a great relationship; we still do. But now ICE is the only law enforcement agency that cannot use our databases to find the bad guys. They cannot come in and talk to people in our jail, unless they reach a certain threshold. They can't do all kinds of things that other law enforcement agencies can do. And it's really put us in a very bad position.It's a disgrace. Okay? It's a disgrace.It's a disgrace.And we're suing on that, and we're working hard, and I think it will all come together, because people want it to come together. It's so ridiculous. The concept that we're even talking about is ridiculous. We'll take care of it, Margaret. We'll win.Thank you. There could be an MS-13 member I know about - if they don't reach a certain threshold, I cannot tell ICE about it.We have people coming into the country, or trying to come in - and we're stopping a lot of them - but we're taking people out of the country. You wouldn't believe how bad these people are. These aren't people. These are animals. And we're taking them out of the country at a level and at a rate that's never happened before. And because of the weak laws, they come in fast, we get them, we release them, we get them again, we bring them out. It's crazy.The dumbest laws - as I said before, the dumbest laws on immigration in the world. So we're going to take care of it, Margaret. We'll get it done. We're going to ask that man right there, because that man can do it. (Laughter.) Right now he's the most important man in the room. Kevin can do it.Kevin? Please.So there you have it. Trump is clearly talking about MS-13 gang members, but Andrea Mitchell - quoting California Gov. Jerry Brown, no less - wants you to believe Trump thinks all immigrants are animals.Sure, you'd think this column would end with "the MSM oughta' be ashamed," or something like that, but it can't, because the MSM clearly no longer feels any shame about . . . anything. Years from now, people will look back on this time period - the exact one we're in right now - as the moment the media first began to lose its credibility.It is salvageable, but not by running stories like this. Press Briefing by Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie Press Release: James S. Brady Press Briefing Room May 17, 2018 1:25 P.M. EDT SANDERS: Good afternoon. As you all know, President Trump is deeply committed to our veterans. These brave men and women have given so much to our country and deserve our absolute best, which is why this President is fighting for reform and accountability at the VA. In keeping with his campaign pledge, the President donates his salary on a quarterly basis to further important projects. Today, the President is proud to donate his 2018 first-quarter salary to the Department of Veterans Affairs to support their caregiver programs. Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie is here to accept the check. I'd like to bring him up to say a few words about how these funds will be used. And make sure that I give you - ACTING SECRETARY WILKIE: Thank you very much, Sarah. SANDERS: - the all-important actual check. ACTING SECRETARY WILKIE: Thank you very much, Sarah. And good afternoon. Before I address the President's generosity, I want to say a couple of things about what happened in the House yesterday. I want to send my thanks and the thanks of Veterans Affairs to the Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Dr. Roe, and thank him for the bipartisan coalition that he forged together. The vote yesterday was overwhelming, 347 to 70. And this is long-awaited legislation that our veterans have been waiting in anticipation of. This takes seven community care programs that we have been using for the last 15 to 20 years and condenses them into one. It also makes it much easier for our veterans to obtain care that they need at the moment that they need it, in homes and in facilities closest to where they live. This also opens up the Caregiver Program to long-waiting communities within our veterans' world - those veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf War who have not had access to a community caregiver program that was opened up for those who have served in the military since 9/11. So with this strong bipartisan support, we urge the Senate to take up the House bill and give it to President Trump, hopefully before Memorial Day. But I also want to single out the major veteran service organizations. Thirty-eight of them signed a letter in support of this legislation to the House and Senate leadership. Their people have been walking the halls of the Congress for the last week. They will be in the Senate next week, and we can't thank them enough for their support for our nation's 20 million veterans. And Sarah, I want to thank you for the announcement. I want to thank you for President Trump's generosity. The President's gift underscores his promise to do all that he can for veterans, which includes supporting those who care for our veterans - not just those of us at VA, but the husbands, the wives, the families, and the community caregivers who are out there day in and day out making life easier for those who have borne the battle. President Trump understands the critical role of caregivers in meeting the essential needs of America's veterans. So we have already earmarked this gift for caregiver support in the form of mental health and peer support programs, financial aid, education training, and research. I am deeply grateful to President Trump for providing me the opportunity to serve America's veterans and for his generosity in supporting them. So thank you, Sarah, and thank you to President Trump. I know how much this means to American's veterans. Thank you. SANDERS: Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Lastly, this week is set aside each year to honor those across our country who wear the badge. In the spirit of Police Week, I want to read a quick letter from Samuel of San Antonio, Texas that he sent the President: "Dear Mr. President Donald J. Trump, Last year, I raised about $375 for our police. I went down to McDonald's and bought 75 $5 gift cards so the police officers could get coffee or lunch. It would be really cool to meet you. I wish I could vote for you, but I'm only 11. But my mom voted for you. I'm starting a fundraiser called, "A Break for the Blue." I listen to your talks, and I went to the inauguration and saw you. You're awesome. Sincerely, Samuel" Thankfully, I had the honor of meeting Samuel earlier today. He was adopted by his family in Guatemala. He is incredibly grateful to be an American, and he's very grateful to all of the law enforcement officers around the country. The President is very proud of Samuel and believes our country needs more young people like him who give back to their communities. And he's a really, really great kid and it was great to meet him. And with that, I will take your questions. John. Q Sarah, we haven't had a chance to hear of any kind of an in-depth analysis here. Where are we with the summit with Kim Jong-un? And the statements that we've heard over the last few days out of North Korea, do you think that these throw in jeopardy the idea of a summit? Or is this just North Korea doing what it does in trying to get the best deal possible? SANDERS: Look, the President is prepared and will be ready to meet, and we're continuing to move forward with the preparations at this point. And if the North Koreans want to meet, we'll be there. And at this point, there is not a lot of change beyond that, and certainly not in our process. Q So what North Korea is saying now about the joint military exercises after Moon Jae-in said Kim knows that these take place and he understands that they have to take place. I mean, what game is North Korea playing? SANDERS: You'd have to ask North Korea what game they're playing. I can tell you what we're doing, and we're continuing to move forward in preparations. And the President, as we've said all along, will be prepared and ready to meet. And there's really not a lot to add beyond that point. Jon. Q Thanks a lot, Sarah. What leverage does the U.S. have as it relates to having this meeting take place on June the 12th? And to that meeting actually taking place, when it takes place - if it takes place - what leverage does the U.S. have over accomplishing the American goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula? SANDERS: We're continuing in the maximum pressure campaign. But again, nothing has changed on our end. This was an invitation that North Korea offered and that we've accepted, and we're continuing to move forward in those preparations. Q But on another issue on - SANDERS: Sorry, I'm going to keep going because we're really tight on time today. Steve, go ahead. Q If I could just follow up on that. What the North Koreans also announced was they were stopping the dialogue with South Korea. So is it possible that there could be a meeting between the United States and North Korea if that whole dialogue between the North and South is on ice? SANDERS: The meeting that would take place on June 12th is between the United States and North Korea, should it take place. We're going to meet with President Moon next week. And beyond that, again, there are no changes at this point to our schedule or anything else. Blake. Q Sarah, does President Trump believe that the FBI had a spy at one point inside his campaign? SANDERS: I haven't spoken with him directly about that, but certainly seen the reports. And if there is any truth to that, it should certainly be looked into. Q And what is - SANDERS: Sorry, I'm going to keep going just because we're tight. Emerald, go ahead. Q Thank you. Following up on Blake's question - if it is proven without a shadow of a doubt that there was a spy planted in the Trump campaign, does that change the President's position on firing Robert Mueller? SANDERS: I'm not going to speak about hypotheticals or get into what could happen if. We'll move forward in the process and make a determination at that point. John. Q Thank you, Sarah. The Iraqi elections are over and it's very clear that the two big winners - the two top vote-getters - were the party that was linked to Muqtada al-Sadr, a sworn enemy of the United States and someone aligned with the Iraqi Communist Party. And the second-place finisher was the party aligned with Mr. al-Amiri, a warlord who was once backed by Iran. What's the U.S.'s attitude on a government in Baghdad having either of those individuals as the key player? SANDERS: I'll start with the fact I'm glad you said the names and not me - (laughter) - because I probably wouldn't have gotten them right. But in terms of our policy, we don't have any new policy announcements with a potential change there. Q So you don't care if either of them is - SANDERS: Certainly we care, but I don't have any specific changes in U.S. policy while that's happened. Jeff. Q Sarah, what does the United States expect out of negotiations today with China on trade? And what are the President's intentions on helping or changing the policy towards Chinese company ZTE? SANDERS: In terms of the meeting, I'll start there. Those conversations are ongoing. When we have something from that, I'll be happy to share it with you. But right now, those are just discussions and there's nothing to add to that at this point, since they're just now taking place. I can say that we expect that the President will meet with the head of the Chinese delegation later this afternoon. Q And ZTE? SANDERS: On ZTE - look, the United States and China relationship has a lot of issues that we have regular, ongoing conversations about: national security, trade, and ZTE is one of them. As we've said before, and as the President has stated, he's asked Secretary Ross to look into the issue and do whatever is consistent with the law and regulations. But right now it's just something that he's asked them to look into. Julie. Q Thanks, Sarah. Also on trade, the President said yesterday that Mexico does nothing for us, especially for the border. We know there are talks today on NAFTA - today and tomorrow. And I wonder if the administration is going to condition any NAFTA deal on a safe third-country agreement with Mexico, or Mexico stepping up to do more to absorb asylum-seekers and other migrants who are seeking entry to the U.S. SANDERS: I'm not going to get into the trade conversations at this point because they are ongoing and those are negotiations that we're in the middle of. But I can tell you that the President does want to see Mexico step up and do more. There's a lot that comes through their country, and he wants them to be tougher and more aggressive on that front. Jeff. Q Thank you, Sarah. This morning, the President marked the one-year anniversary of the Mueller investigation, saying it's disgusting, illegal, unwarranted, and a witch hunt. But his own FBI director yesterday said it's not a witch hunt. Does the President - why does the White House still believe it's a witch hunt? And why did he cancel his news conference this afternoon, which was originally set for three o'clock with the NATO Secretary? SANDERS: Different topics. But the President knows that there was no collusion in the campaign and he has been quite clear about this. It's gone on for over a year. They found no evidence of collusion and still strongly believe that it's a witch hunt. I'm not sure how we could be any more clear and certainly not sure how the President could be any more clear about his beliefs in his opinion. In terms of a press engagement, the President will have press at his event here shortly, which is why we're going to have to keep it quick and short today and likely take a few questions at that event. Jordan. Q Thanks, Sarah. On immigration, there seems to be - we're moving closer to action in the House of Representatives and I'm wondering what bill the President would accept anything short of the four pillars that he laid out earlier this month. Something like border security and DACA, it seems to be a proposal that is gaining steam. Is that something that the President could support? SANDERS: The President definitely supports border security, as he's laid out multiple times and again talked about some yesterday. He would like to see the border security, he would like to see the loopholes closed. Our priorities have not changed in the immigration conversation at all. Ayesha. Q Thank you. Just going back to North Korea, you have said that the President would be willing to meet with North Korea if North Korea is. So does that put North Korea in the driver's seat here? Is it North Korea that's going to decide whether a meeting takes place? And also, the President said yesterday that the White House hadn't heard anything from North Korea. Has that changed? Have you heard anything since these talks were called off with South Korea? SANDERS: They're certainly not in the driver's seat. Nothing could be further from the truth. But they're the ones that extended the invitation; we've accepted it. If they want to meet, we're happy to do that. If they don't, as the President has said, we'll see what happens. But we're going to continue the maximum pressure campaign in the meantime. Yahoo! JAPAN Yahoo! JAPAN News / Local by Staff Reporter POLICE in Bulawayo were on Tuesday involved in a high speed chase with burglars who raided Elitsheni Primary School in Inyathi, Matabeleland North, getting away with $650 and a safe box.A police highway patrol unit got suspicious when they spotted a motorist driving a Honda Jazz along Bulawayo-Khami Road with the car's boot open and a safe box protruding.A source said the officers waved the driver to stop, but he sped off forcing the patrol unit to give chase."Instead of complying with police orders to stop, the driver suddenly sped off raising suspicion among the patrol unit. The unit gave chase in what ended up being a high speed pursuit of the vehicle along Bulawayo-Khami road," said the source.The highway patrol unit, added the source, was forced to engage in a high speed chase of up to 200km per hour in an area where the normal speed limit is 80km per hour as the suspects headed towards Solusi.He said the safe box fell out of the boot when the suspects decided to change course near Emthunzini suburb."That's when the vehicle's boot got closed allowing the highway patrol unit to note down the vehicle's number plate. After noting down the number plate, they allowed the driver to escape without a chase. They then established that the safe box belonged to Elitsheni Primary School after studying its contents," the source said.Inside the safe box were the school's receipts and Grade Seven certificates among other documents.Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango yesterday said as the highway patrol unit was still doing its rounds, they identified the Honda Jazz parked in the city centre."They used its number plate to trace its owner from Beitbridge who told police officers that he had sold the car to a man from Bulawayo's Mpopoma suburb. The man has been found and is assisting police with investigations," said Insp Simango."It was also discovered that during the burglary, $650 was stolen from the school. We urge schools to bank all the money in their possession to avoid future raids. As police we will continue to watch with an eagle's eye activities of Honda Fit drivers. Most of them have been linked to serious crimes in and around the city". News / National by Agencies A fierce battle for control of the Norton house of assembly seat is brewing ahead of the watershed 2018 general elections, Zimbabwe Partnership for Prosperity (ZIPP) led by Dr Blessing Kasiyamhuru holds its rally at Norton's Koshen Grounds on Saturday 19 May.Amid chaos and toxic imposition of MP candidates by ZANU PF and MDC Alliance, the destructive jostling forward the party name by the MDC's splinter groups and confusion rocking the much celebrated MDC Alliance's candidate selection process, there is a breeze of fresh air from Zimbabwe Partnership for Prosperity (ZIPP) led by Academic and businessman Dr Blessing Kasiyamhuru.ZIPP has changed Zimbabwe's political landscape both organisationally and tone. Those non-violent and non-abusive Zimbabweans of all ages who dreamt of a peaceful political home have now found a God fearing political establishment that preaches tolerance, respect, unity, prosperity and posterity for all Zimbabweans.Guided by their famous 3 pillars God at the Apex, Generational Outlook and ldentity/Africaness, Dr Kasiyamhuru has managed to tape into the patriotism of the country's youth and poor something that was lacking in Zimbabwean politics.History has the Zimbabwean youth and poor being used as pawns in Zimbabwean politics, yet ZIPP is promising participation in the economy of the country to all Zimbabweans regardless of race, tribe, religion or political affiliation.President Kasiyamhuru said ZIPP's advantage compared to other political parties lies in its willingness to embrace all Zimbabweans regardless of whether they come from the different factions of Zanu pf or MDC. "We have one constituency, and is Zimbabwe- a Zimbabwe ready and suitable for our great great great grand children", he said.Dr Kasiyamhuru preaches of a generational mandate given to the youth of 2018.With his consistent message of peace , no hate speech and insults Dr Kasiyamhuru has promised to build a $150 billion dollars super economy within the first 5 years of ZIPP government ,and making Zimbabwe an ideal investment destination once again.ZIPP has played a very robust role as an opposition party outshining other political parties, its focus has mainly been on the Women,Youth ,the poor and marginalised , and to that extent they have had an influence on the attention given to the issues that were not focussed on.ZIPP asipiring candidate Norton House of assembly constituency Mr Tendai Muchemwa has promised long suffering Norton residence restoration of water supplies and sinking more boreholes and healthy facilities in all affected areas something that has troubled previous administrations for 20 years, giving priority to areas like Maridale which have been neglected for decades.Norton residents have accused the MDC -T dominated council of corruption and mismanagement and on the other hand Residents Forum Norton (RFN) has accused independent MP Mliswa of interfering with the operations of the Council, harassment of its employees and threatening to assault them if he doesn't get his way. A star from the east is indeed descending on Norton in the form of Marange born Dr Blessing Kasiyamhuru. Opinion / Columnist If you are on social media there are a couple of home truths.Munyaradzi Mitchell Gumbo must have a secret degree in gynaecology we see his posts to that effect once in a while. Prince Noble is a futuristic Socrates whose sound bites are a cocktail of genius and mental derangement in superbly sweet doses. Plot Mhako is the lord of the spoiler alert.Yes those are all home truths. That and the fact that when Wellence Mujuru opens his mouth, all the seven plagues of Egypt are unleashed upon the Webosphere.And so he torched yet another storm this week, this Wellence Mujuru thorn on the flesh. This fellow whose hands we smelled and found out from the residue that it was indeed he that had thrown the proverbial so high up that it eventually hits the fan. And when the proverbial hits the fan we all know that spells terrible trouble.The internet of things in Zim Facebook is not for the faint hearted and this week was no different.I had unleashed the issue years ago when I stumbled upon the fact that revered artiste Jah Prayzah had been the master of theft and had stolen an award winning track by Ghanaian artiste Samini and put together a hotchpotch of nursery rhyme like words to come up with 'Sisi Makachena', correctly named Mwanasikana.Samini was not amused and my friend Emmanuel Kwame Amoh in Ghana and I in Harare had penned the article that had left people knowing full well that the Emperor's New Clothes were in fact not clothes at all. The Emperor was undressed!Well anyway, Wellence Mujuru ran his own exposes this week and the biggest revelation was that the hit song that we all jump to and think is revolutionary, Mutupo by Juntal, is in fact a bastardisation of a quite catchy rhythm from Cote d'Ivoire by artiste Bebi Philips (don't get excited, he is a dude!). A song entitled Balaumba in fact.JuntalMany expressed outrage while many others showed total shame and embarrassment totally.Surely we can be original in our music.Over at Military Touch Music, we got sadness from the revelation by Wellence that perhaps the unique golden touch of DJ Tamuka was just his night-time surreptitious listening to East and West African songs which he then strips undressed and smoothens out then adds the no doubt golden touch of one ExQ.Effectively, thanks to Wellence Mujuru, we now sadly know that MTM is not a studio, but just like the legendary J Master's car-breakers where songs are chopped up and the parts distributed to become other cars, and in this case become other songs.It was a very shocking discovery. A more poignant example of how people felt cheated was that it was like false marketing to them. Like someone selling them a dead cow and passing it off as sleeping. Kuvatengesera mombe yakafa uchiti yakakotsira. That it is fast asleep. Only to make the shocking discovery when the flies start landing on the beast as if they were plane on a runway. At Heathrow. Then alas, the shock and sadness and disappointment sets in.And so, is Zimbabwe a land that lacks creativity? Are we the land of thieves and crooks in arts industry terms? Or is there a perfect explanation to all of this? A perfect way to fix this even?Wellence MujuruWell, don't steal the thunder from Sulumani Chimbetu. He dragged old Tuku to the studio saying, presumably, "daddy I have made a gem of a song and want your golden voice on it." That song was Kwedu.When it was discovered that the song was in fact originally Kajituliza Kasuku sung by Les Wanyika, the sadness was palpable.Truth is there is a thin line between theft and artistry. And it is ultimately Zimbabwean artistes and producers at fault and they should be called out as thieves.Remember Tracey Zengeni and Conrad Nduna? They had the project Musatize but were never called out as thieves. What difference is there?Simple. Attribution. The moment you attribute a song or harmony as previously done by another artiste-the original artiste, your product becomes perfect and acceptable. The moment you try to pass it off as your own then you attract problems. And Wellence gets something to do with his bundles. And the Webosphere knows Wellence has a lot of those bless his soul!When Mase, Puff and Biggie performed Mo' Money Mo' Problems, they picked an interpolation of 'I'm Coming Out', the hit 1980 release by Disco diva Diana Ross. On their album credits, they clearly stated that the song had an interpolation.In fact, it is nothing to be ashamed of to sample music. A DJ infuriated people when he said it is insignificant. It is significant.However it is not if one simply pay tribute when due to whomsoever it is due.It is not copying. It is artistically sampling and manipulating to expertly send the message that you can reinvent a sound, an era or a character. Which is why we all love Hesi Kani Tindo, a remake of Despacito done by rising rogue protege Alchemy. He never passed it off as his own.At the end of it all, even here in the world of writers. Great writers that is. People are influenced by the thoughts and thought processes of others. Which is perhaps the reason why I attributed the spark of this topic to Wellence. It doesn't take anything away from you.If only our artistes know it is not a source of shame to emulate and give attribution then we will cease to be seen as the land of thieves.After all there is a saying; What a good thing Adam had. When he said a good thing, he knew nobody had said it before (Mark Twain). Border agents from Windsor may go to Quebec after the Canada Border Services Agency said it will provide help after an influx of immigrants. In a memo, the CBSA said interested officers can apply to help asylum seekers. The RCMP's latest figures indicate 7,612 people entered the country outside official ports of entry during the first four months of 2018. More than 7,300 of them have crossed the Canada-U.S. border into Quebec. If border guards do leave the area on assignment, it could end up slowing the border crossing in Windsor. Laurie Tannous, a special advisor at the Cross Border Institute said the area is already experiencing significant delays, with more expected to come. "As you know being here in Windsor, every summer we are inundated with all sorts of traffic, so to hear that we could lose officers to a different location is definitely of concern," she said. The CBSA memo said the assignment would start May 28, 2018 and go until September 16, 2018 or beyond. One of the potential crossings that could be affected is the Ambassador Bridge. Stan Korosec, the director of Canadian Government Relations and Security with the Detroit International Bridge Company said not to worry. He spoke with the regional director from the CBSA. "He said that we can be assured that if any CBSA officers are taken from this area to any major port that they're going to maintain the current levels. They'll supplement them from other not-as-busy ports of entry," he said. Korosec said he knows tough decisions needed to be made, but feels confident that current staffing levels will be maintained at the bridge. "They realize the importance, especially of our border crossing in Detroit, Windsor and what it means to commuters and to trade," he said. She's described as a "feisty and resourceful" 10-year-old Indigenous girl who lives in rural Alaska with her mom, dad and dog Suki. Meet Molly Mabray the eponymous Gwich'in and Koyukon lead character in "Molly of Denali," an animated series set to debut on CBC (and PBS in the U.S.) next year. "The audience is four to eight-year-olds, but I have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of adults are going to be watching the series as well," said Princess Daazhraii Johnson, creative producer for the series. Johnson, a Neets'aii Gwich'in woman who lives in Fairbanks, Alaska, said she hopes the show now in production will offer Indigenous northerners "an image we can feel good about." "When I was growing up, all I saw was really stereotypical, inaccurate, and oftentimes negative portrayals of Native people. And very seldom did I see any Alaska Native representation in media," Johnson said. The show is being produced by WGBH, a PBS affiliate in Boston, with CBC as one of several co-producers. It will debut on TV in summer 2019. A PBS news release said the show will focus on Molly's daily adventures in Alaska, "from fishing to building snow forts to delivering a camera to friends on a volcano via dog sled." It said Molly lives in the fictional village of Qyah, Alaska, where she helps her parents run the Denali Trading Post. The show is "teeming with all kinds of wonderful characters," Johnson said. The concept and characters were developed with the help of a "cultural advisory team" in Alaska, Johnson said, to keep it authentic. She said the land and wildlife will play a big role in the series, as will Indigenous traditional knowledge. "When I first heard about the project, I was just so excited to have the opportunity for us to share our culture and our values," Johnson said. "I hope people will be very excited to see especially our young children their lives reflected in a modern sense in the show." By Heekyong Yang SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea has declined to accept a list of South Korean journalists hoping to observe the closure of its nuclear test site, South Korea said on Friday, raising new questions about the North's commitment to reducing tension. North Korea had invited a limited number of journalists from South Korea and other countries to witness what it said will be the closing of its only nuclear weapons test site at Punggye-ri next week. The North Korean offer to scrap the test site has been seen as major concession in months of easing tension between it, on the one hand, and South Korea and the United States on the other. But the remarkable progress appears to have been checked in recent days with North Korea raising doubts about an unprecedented June 12 summit in Singapore between leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump, and calling off talks with the South. The South Korean Unification Ministry, which handles dealings with the North, said on Friday North Korea had "declined to accept" the list of journalists submitted by the South for the test site dismantling. The ministry did not elaborate but the North Korean decision is likely to raise doubts about its plan for the test site. Trump on Thursday sought to placate North Korea after it threatened to call off the June summit, saying Kim's security would be guaranteed in any deal and his country would not suffer the fate of Muammar Gaddafi's Libya, unless that could not be reached. North Korea had said on Wednesday it might not attend the Singapore summit if the United States continued to demand it unilaterally abandon its nuclear arsenal, which it has developed in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions to counter perceived U.S. hostility. On Thursday, North Korea's chief negotiator called South Korea "ignorant and incompetent" and denounced U.S.-South Korean air combat drills and threatened to halt all talks with the South. Trump, in rambling remarks in the White House's Oval Office, said as far as he knew the summit was still on track, but that the North Korean leader was possibly being influenced by Beijing. But he also stressed that North Korea would have to abandon its nuclear weapons and warned that if no deal was reached, North Korea could be "decimated" like Libya or Iraq. 'PEACEFUL MEANS' China, responding to U.S. President Donald Trump suggestion that Beijing may be influencing North Korea's new hardline stance, said on Friday it stands for stability and peace on the Korean peninsula and for settlement of confrontation over its development of weapons through talks. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang, asked about Trump's comments, said China's position had not changed and he reiterated that it supported the goal of denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula. "We are consistently supporting all relevant parties in resolving the peninsula issue through political consultations and peaceful means," Lu told a regular briefing. Kim has made two visits to China recently for talks with President Xi Jinping, including a secretive train trip to Beijing in late March, his first known visit outside North Korea since coming to power. He flew to the port city of Dalian this month. Both times, Kim's encounters with Xi were cast by Chinese state media as friendly. They included beachside strolls and Xi saying that previous generations of North Korean and Chinese leaders had visited each other as often as relatives. The warmth between the two leaders marks a sharp reversal in what had been months of frosty ties, as China ratcheted up sanction pressure on North Korea in response to its relentless missiles and nuclear tests last year. China is North Korea's largest trading partner and considers it an important security buffer against the U.S. military presence in region. What had seemed until this week to be rapidly warming ties between North Korea, on the one hand, and South Korea and the United States on the other, had fueled fears in Beijing that it might be left out of a new deal on the peninsula, according to analysts. (Additonal reporting by Micheal Martina, in BEIJING; Writing by Christian Shepherd; Editing by Josh Smith, Robert Birsel) By Robin Pomeroy and Hanna Rantala CANNES, France (Reuters) - The actors in a film tipped for prizes at Cannes were not only amateurs plucked from the streets, they were also living lives as precarious as those of their characters, with one thrown in jail during the shoot and another deported afterwards. "Capharnaum", a realist drama set in the slums of Beirut, follows the life of Zain, a 12-year-old boy trying in vain to prevent his younger sister being married off as she comes into puberty. The film starts and ends with a courtroom scene in which he is suing his parents, who have countless children and another on the way, for giving birth to him - the only plot contrivance in a film that otherwise sticks to facts witnessed by the director and lived by many of the cast. Daily Telegraph critic Robbie Collin called it "a social-realist blockbuster fired by furious compassion and teeming with sorrow, yet strewn with diamond-shards of beauty, wit and hope" that he predicted would win the Palme d'Or, to be awarded at the end of the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday. Nadine Labaki, one of three women directors among the 21 in competition for the prize, said she filmed 520 hours of footage over six months as her novice actors, many of them young children, improvised - to achieve the intense realism. ACTING'S "EASY" The protagonist is played by Zain Al Rafea, whose family fled the Syrian war and who, like his character, has been working from a young age rather than going to school. "It's easy," the 13-year-old told a news conference when asked about acting. "She asks me sometimes to be sad, sometimes to be happy - that's it." Things were far harder for his co-star, Yordanos Shiferaw, a refugee from Eritrea who plays Rahil, an illegal immigrant who takes Zain under her wing but then disappears, leaving him with her year-old baby. We later learn she has been arrested and locked in an overcrowded jail cell. "After the arrest scene, I was arrested for real," she told reporters, tears streaming down her face. "I lived exactly the same thing." After two weeks the movie producers managed to get her released and she returned to complete filming. The baby boy, whom Zain pulls around town on a pram he has improvised from a large cooking pot atop a stolen skateboard, is also a real-life refugee. Born in Beirut to parents from Africa, Boluwatife Treasure Bankole, the infant actor, actually a girl, was deported in March to Kenya with her mother. Her father was sent back to his home in Nigeria, the other side of Africa. "Capharnaum", a word that Webster's Dictionary defines as "a confused jumble", is a film about these people, and, as Labaki said, "the absurd importance of this paper (identity documents) that we need to prove we exist." (Writing by Robin Pomeroy; editing by Andrew Roche) HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade said on Friday it had launched an in-depth investigation into ride-hailing company Grab's takeover of Uber Technologies' Southeast Asia business after an initial probe found it might breach antitrust law. The investigation will take 180 days and could be extended by up to 120 days, the ministry said in a statement. The ministry said earlier this week its initial probe suggested the deal might have violated antitrust law It warned last month the transaction could be blocked if Uber and Grab's combined market share in Vietnam exceeded 50 percent, the maximum allowed in the country. Uber [UBER.UL] and Grab announced a deal in March under which Uber would take a 27.5 percent stake in Grab in exchange for its Southeast Asian business. The U.S. company had previously sold operations in China and Russia to local rivals. Uber and Grab did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comments. (Reporting by Khanh Vu; Editing by Keith Weir and Mark Potter) Every year, the Manito Ahbee festival draws thousands of Indigenous people from across North America to Winnipeg. The powwow on Saturday and Sunday is open for anyone to attend, and is visually beautiful, but there are other cool events and after parties worth checking out if you are in Winnipeg on Friday. Indigenous Music Awards The Indigenous Music Awards coincide with the Manito Ahbee festival every year and are a chance to celebrate Indigenous music. Get a chance to experience the red carpet and witness some of Canada's most seasoned Indigenous musicians, as well as the next generation of artists. The show will include live performances by: Ansley Simpson, Chase Manhattan with Theland Kicknosway, Dakhka Khwaan Dancers with DJ Dash, Indian City, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Pat Vegas (Redbone) and more. - Where: Club Regent Event Centre, 1425 Regent Ave. W. - When: Red Carpet starts Friday at 6 p.m. Awards show starts at 8 p.m. Paul Rabliauskas standup comedy special Paul Rabliauskas has been a regular on the local comedy scene for a long time, but he is on his way to becoming one of the best (Indigenous) comedians in Canada.The show will be taped for a comedy special, and if comedy is your thing, Rabliauskas is that dude. - Where:The Park Theatre, 698 Osborne St. - When: Doors open Friday at 7 p.m. Show starts at 8 p.m. Next Wave after-party For people looking to catch some of the newest sounds from Indigenous musicians, you will want to check out the Next Wave after party. It's being headlined by up and coming hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids. Forth is a small scale spot for artists to get on stage and do their thing. Featuring performances by Ansley Simpson, Raye Zaragoza and local DJ Boogey the Beat. - Where: Forth. 171 McDermot Ave - When: Friday 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. Manitoba Aboriginal Music Fest 2018 after-party For music fans looking for more of a rock and blues sound, look no further than this event. The Regal Beagle is going to be showcasing some of the finest Indigenous talent that Manitoba has to offer. People will get a chance to see the legend himself, Ernest Monias. Featuring performances by The Mosquitoz, Kimberley Dawn, C-Weed Band, Richard Farrow and more. Story continues - Where: Regal Beagle, 331 Smith St. - When: Friday and Saturday 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. Hellnback Album Release party w/special guests Hip-hop veteran Hellnback will be releasing his new album #fourteen91 with his friends. Expect some really good hiphop and top notch Indigenous artists from across Turtle Island. Special guests include Supaman, Mob Bounce and CJ the Grey. - Where: X-Cues lounge, 551 Sargent Ave. - When: Doors open Friday at 9 p.m. Appellate Court of Illinois, Fifth District. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JERRY H. BUNNING, Defendant-Appellant. NO. 5-15-0114 Decided: May 17, 2018 Attorneys for Appellant, Michael J. Pelletier, State Appellate Defender, Ellen J. Curry, Deputy Defender, Elizabeth M. Crotty, Assistant Appellate Defender, Office of the State Appellate Defender, Fifth Judicial District, 909 Water Tower Circle, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864 Attorneys for Appellee, Hon. Michael M. Havera, State's Attorney, Christian County Courthouse, 101 S. Main Street, Taylorville, IL 62568; Patrick Delfino, Director, David J. Robinson, Deputy Director, Erin Wilson Laegeler, Staff Attorney, Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor, Fourth Judicial District, 725 South Second Street, Springfield, IL 62704 OPINION 1 After a jury trial in the circuit court of Christian County, defendant, Jerry H. Bunning, was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse (720 ILCS 5/11-1.60(c)(1)(i) (West 2012)) and was sentenced to five years in the Department of Corrections to be followed by two years of mandatory supervised release. Defendant appeals the denial of his motion to reconsider his sentence. The issue raised in this direct appeal is whether the trial court erred by considering in aggravation the psychological harm or threat thereof suffered by the minor victim in sentencing defendant. We affirm. 2 FACTS 3 Defendant was charged by information with a single count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse for having the victim, M.B., who was under 13 years of age, touch his penis over his clothing. Id. M.B. is defendant's step-granddaughter. At trial, M.B., age nine, testified that approximately two years earlier defendant showed her pornography on a computer and made her touch him on his bad spot over his clothes. She pointed to the bad spot on a diagram. M.B. said it happened in the computer room at her grandparents' house. M.B. estimated that it happened approximately four times, usually at night while her grandmother was asleep. 4 After hearing all the evidence, the jury found defendant guilty. The trial court ordered a sex offender evaluation and presentence investigation (PSI) prior to sentencing. The sex offender evaluation showed that defendant is at a low risk for recidivism. The evaluator recommended defendant undergo [s]ex offender-specific treatment utilizing group-centered, cognitive-behavioral techniques as recommended by the Illinois Sex Offender Management Board and [s]ex offender-specific guidelines/requirements and specialized monitoring if [defendant] is at some point placed/released under community supervision via probation or parole. 5 The presentence investigation showed defendant has one 1977 conviction for disorderly conduct. It also showed that defendant was gainfully employed as a truck driver by the same employer for 18 years. With regard to a proposed plan of supervision, the report concluded: Due to the severity of the current offense and the defendant's failure to take full responsibility for the offense, it appears the defendant lacks empathy for others. In addition, the defendant lacks involvement in an organized group or activity. If the court were to sentence the defendant to a term of probation, the targeted interventions and supervision strategies listed above as well as maximum level of supervision, would be priorities in a supervision case plan. A revised level of service inventory suggested that defendant receive a medium level of supervision/service and placed defendant's probability of recidivism at 23%. 6 M.B.'s mother submitted a victim impact statement in which she set forth the ways in which she, M.B., and her family had been impacted by defendant's abuse of M.B. In her letter, she discussed how, over the course of the previous two years, her family members' lives have been turned upside down. She explained how the family has had to rearrange our lives to keep all of the counseling appointments, court dates, and advocate meetings. She said she and her husband missed more than 30 days of work because of such appointments, causing them to lose money because neither has a job that gives them paid time off for such matters. She also noted that the victim has had to miss many days of school and some fun activities with her friends. She believes M.B. is not the same girl she used to be and defendant took her childhood away. 7 A sentencing hearing was conducted on July 31, 2014. The State did not offer any additional evidence in aggravation. The defense called defendant's wife and defendant to testify. Both testified about the hardships it would cause their family if defendant were incarcerated. 8 In sentencing defendant, the trial court said it considered the PSI; the history, character, and attitude of the defendant; and the evidence and arguments that were presented by the parties. The court noted mitigating factors, including no prior history of delinquency, albeit one conviction years earlier, the sex offender report which indicated a low risk of recidivism, and the excessive hardship on defendant's dependents which would be caused by defendant's incarceration. The trial court also pointed out that even though defendant indicated in the PSI and in court that he was willing to comply with sex offender treatment, such treatment is not usually successful unless a defendant is willing to admit guilt. 9 As to factors in aggravation, the trial court noted that one of the factors to be considered is whether the offense caused or threatened serious harm. The court noted that this does not mean only physical harm, specifically stating as follows: [I]n cases like this, physical harm is often not the issue. The issue is, emotional psychological harm that may, obviously has occurred at least in some respects because the child has apparently been in treatment for some time. I think the evidence I heard in this case in a pretrial hearing was that she was. I think that is one of the first things that was done even before the police were involved is that the mother took her to some type of counseling. Uh, and unfortunately for us, we're not going to know the nature and extent of the harm caused by this act, these acts probably for quite some time. There is a real danger that [M.B.] is going to have a lot of issues in the future dealing with trust, dealing with relationships with other men, whether it is, you know, paramours or otherwise. Uh, it is just part of what happens in these kinds of unfortunate situations. The trial court further found in aggravation that defendant held a position of supervision and trust with regard to M.B. by virtue of the fact that he was the only grandfather she ever knew. 10 The trial court pointed out that the abuse happened more than once and was well orchestrated by defendant in that defendant waited until his wife was asleep before abusing M.B. The trial court also pointed out that even though defendant denied committing any acts of abuse, he was caught in repeated lies about the incidents: And what I have seen in the past with sexual offenders is what I have seen with [defendant]. And that is, it starts out like this. This is what happened in this case. They find, they accuse him of having pornography on the computer. He says, no, I don't; no, I didn't, I didn't have. He didn't know anything about computers. His wife found the porn on the computer relatively quickly. I don't know how it got there. I didn't put it there. Lie number two. Uh, well we don't believe that. There has got to be a way that that got there. Well, maybe I accidentally got it there. And then it was, okay, fine; and then give up just a little bit more every time, but falling short of actually coming clean and admitting what he did. Then he would say, well, okay, yeah, I was watching pornography and I didn't know [M.B.] was there. When I found out that she was there, I told her that this is what adults do, it wasn't appropriate for her, and I shut it down. Uh, of course, we don't want to tell anybody though, which is another hallmark of sexualWe can't tell anybody because, I think the words were, grandma would kill me. And then it is, well, the accusation is that she touched your penis. Well, that didn't happen. Well, wait, let me think about that. Well, there was this time that I got out of the shower, and she came running into the bathroom and smacked me in the penis; and I told her, you know, that is not appropriate, don't do that. But again, I won't tell, if you won't tell. Concealment. So it is just give you just enough each time, but the lies just compound and compound. And so if you are asking what differentiates a probationable case from a nonprobationable case, I think these facts and circumstances certainly do. The trial court went on to state that probation would not only deprecate the seriousness of this particular crime but also would be inconsistent with the ends of justice. The trial court then sentenced defendant to five years in prison to be followed by two years of mandatory supervised release. 11 Defendant filed a pro se motion to reduce sentence, arguing that the State failed to present any evidence of physical or emotional harm to M.B. Appointed counsel later filed an amended petition to reduce sentence in which he incorporated the allegations in defendant's pro se motion by reference and added some additional arguments. The motion to reduce sentence alleged that the trial court failed to give proper weight to the factors in mitigation, failed to give appropriate weight to defendant's sex offender evaluation, and gave improper weight to the seriousness of harm to the victim when there was no indication in the record from counselors or otherwise that there was serious harm done to the victim. 12 After a hearing, the trial court denied the motion to reduce sentence. The trial court said it considered both the factors in aggravation and in mitigation in sentencing defendant and noted that one of the factors it considered in aggravation was whether there was actual or threatened serious harm. The trial court found that any time a child is sexually abused by someone that is close to them, there is a possibility that could threaten serious harm. The trial court believed there was harm to M.B. because she was in treatment for it. There was no question about that. The trial court also pointed to the factors in aggravation in this case, which include (1) defendant's position of trust relative to the victim, (2) lack of remorse on the part of defendant, and (3) multiplicity of incidents of abuse. The trial judge said nothing new had been presented that would cause him to change his mind and reduce defendant's sentence. Defendant now appeals. 13 ANALYSIS 14 The issue raised in this appeal is whether the trial court erred by considering in aggravation the psychological harm or threat thereof suffered by M.B. in sentencing defendant. Defendant argues that the trial court improperly considered in aggravation that defendant's conduct caused or threatened serious psychological harm because the record fails to show either evidence of actual harm caused or circumstances that would be expected to cause harm beyond that inherent in the charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The State replies that the trial court did not rely on an improper sentencing factor because the record sufficiently demonstrates that M.B. suffered psychological harm or, at the very least, the threat thereof, as a result of defendant's abuse. We agree with the State. 15 We are aware of the general rule that a factor inherent in the offense for which a defendant has been convicted cannot also be used as an aggravating factor in determining his sentence. People v. Phelps, 211 Ill. 2d 1, 11 (2004). The rationale for this prohibition against double enhancement is premised on the assumption that our General Assembly considered the factors inherent in the offense in designating the range of punishment. Id. at 12. However, the rule that a court may not consider a factor inherent in the offense should not be applied rigidly because sound public policy demands that a sentence be varied according to the circumstances of the offense. People v. Spicer, 379 Ill. App. 3d 441, 468 (2007). In determining whether the trial court based its sentence on proper aggravating and mitigating factors, a reviewing court should consider the record as a whole rather than focusing on a few words or statements by the trial court. People v. Dowding, 388 Ill. App. 3d 936, 943 (2009). 16 If a sentence falls within the statutory limits, it will not be overturned on appeal absent an abuse of discretion. People v. Perruquet, 68 Ill. 2d 149, 153 (1977); People v. Stroup, 397 Ill. App. 3d 271, 274 (2010). An abuse of discretion occurs only if a sentence greatly varies from the spirit and purpose of the law or where it is manifestly disproportionate to the nature of the offense. People v. Stacey, 193 Ill. 2d 203, 210 (2000). A trial court is granted deference because it is generally in a superior position to weigh such factors as defendant's credibility, demeanor, general moral character, mentality, social environment, habits, and age. People v. Streit, 142 Ill. 2d 13, 19 (1991). 17 We first note that defendant's conviction for aggravated criminal sexual abuse is a Class 2 felony. See 720 ILCS 5/11-1.60(g) (West 2012). A Class 2 felony carries a statutory limit of not less than three years and not more than seven years. See 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-35(a) (West 2012). Consequently, the sentence imposed upon defendant by the trial court was within the statutory limits. 18 Contrary to defendant's argument, many cases have held that the psychological harm inflicted upon a child victim of a sex crime is a proper factor to consider in aggravation. For example, in People v. Kerwin, 241 Ill. App. 3d 632, 636 (1993), this court rejected the defendant's argument that harm is inherent in the offense of aggravated criminal sexual assault and found it proper that the trial court considered the emotional harm to the nine-year-old victim as an aggravating factor. In People v. Fisher, 135 Ill. App. 3d 502, 506 (1985), our colleagues in the Third District specifically stated, Proof of medically diagnosed psychological harm is unnecessary. In that case, the defendant, who was charged with inter alia two counts of indecent liberties with a child, argued that psychological harm could not be considered where it was not proven. The court rejected that argument, finding that the defendant's acts created a strong probability of permanent psychological harm and was therefore properly considered. Id. 19 In People v. Huddleston, 212 Ill. 2d 107, 134 (2004), our supreme court reviewed [t]he vulnerability of children to sexual predation and the psychological damage that results to the developing psyches of these young victims. The court found that long-term follow-up studies of child sexual abuse victims show the sexual abuse is grossly intrusive in their lives and is harmful to their normal psychological, emotional and sexual development. (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Id. at 135 (quoting Yale Glazer, Child Rapists Beware! The Death Penalty and Louisiana's Amended Aggravated Rape Statute, 25 Am. J. Crim. L. 79, 87 (1997), quoting Christopher Bagley & Kathleen King, Child Sexual Abuse: The Search for Healing 2 (1990)). 20 Nevertheless, defendant contends that without specific evidence to show that a child victim suffered psychological harm, any psychological harm must be limited to that implicit in the offense itself. In support of its argument, defendant relies on People v. Calva, 256 Ill. App. 3d 865 (1993). In Calva, the defendant pled guilty to six counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault committed against A.G., a six-year-old girl. Id. at 867. At sentencing, the trial court told the defendant his actions psychologically injured and scarred A.G. for life. Id. at 869. On appeal, the court found it was improper for the trial court to consider any psychological harm to A.G. because no evidence was offered to show any psychological harm to A.G. Id. at 875. 21 Calva is distinguishable from the instant case for at least three reasons. First, in Calva the defendant pled guilty, whereas this case went to trial. The trial court was able to observe M.B. firsthand as she testified. M.B. specifically testified that she was abused by defendant on four different occasions. Second, unlike Calva, the trial court set forth, both at sentencing and in denying defendant's motion to reconsider sentence, that there was evidence of M.B. having been in treatment. Third, M.B.'s mother submitted a victim impact statement in which she outlined the upheaval caused by defendant's abuse and specifically referred to counseling appointments. She noted that [e]ven with the tools the counselors have given M.B., she is still concerned M.B. will be a victim again. She concluded that M.B. is not the same girl she used to be. 22 After careful consideration, we find the record before us supports a finding of psychological harm to M.B. or at least a reasonable inference that M.B. suffered psychological harm. Therefore, the trial court did not err in considering psychological harm as an aggravating factor. The record also shows that the trial court properly considered the factors in aggravation and mitigation. 23 In addition to psychological harm to M.B., the trial court found other factors in aggravation. The trial court specifically found in aggravation: (1) the position of supervision and trust defendant held over M.B., (2) the fact the abuse happened more than once, (3) defendant's concealment of the abuse, and (4) defendant's refusal to take full responsibility for the repeated acts of abuse. And, as previously set forth, the trial court's sentence falls within the statutory limits prescribed by the legislature. Under these circumstances, we cannot say the trial court erred in sentencing defendant. 24 CONCLUSION 25 For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Christian County. 26 Affirmed. JUSTICE GOLDENHERSH delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion. Justices Moore and Overstreet concurred in the judgment and opinion. The "blocking statute will serve to curb the effects of the White House measures against Tehran. EU companies will be able to ignore sanctions and cover costs. Russia and China ready to take advantage of signing billionaire contracts. Washington wants to launch an international "coalition" against "the Iranian regime". Brussels (AsiaNews / Agencies) - To circumvent the new sanctions against Iran issued by the White House, the European Union (EU) is ready to revive a 1996 law, drafted (but never applied) to counter US sanctions against Cuba .This morning, European experts began working on the so-called "blocking statute", which will apply to the recent measures taken by Washington against the Islamic Republic. It will allow Union companies to ignore sanctions or receive compensation for damages incurred. Europe continues to move its pawns to keep the JCPOA and business with Teheran alive, in response to US President Donald Trump's decision to cancel the nuclear deal and introduce new sanctions. In recent days, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif went to Brussels, the last stop on a tour that touched Russia and China. Outlining the provision, EU President Jean-Claude Juncker states that the objective is to "protect EU companies" and "their business". The law, he adds, intends to mitigate the effects of "extra-territorial" sanctions that have an "impact" on the EU. After all, last year alone European exports to Iran reached 10.8 billion euros. Imports from the Islamic Republic have slightly exceeded 10 billion (10.1), with a figure that almost doubled compared to 2016 data. The fear is that the new US sanctions will jeopardize billions of dollars and open the doors of trade to China and Russia, ready to take advantage of it. Yesterday in Astana, Kazakhstan, the Iranian representative signed an interim agreement aimed at free trade between Tehran and the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), led by Moscow. It allows Iran to buy goods and products from member countries at a reduced price. Beijing, for its part, moves from behind the scenes to replace the French oil giant Total - present in Iran with billion dollar contracts - with a Chinese state company (CNPC). China - always hungry for hydrocarbons and Iran's first commercial partner - is looking with increasing interest to Iran, clarifying in a note that it will continue "the normal and transparent" collaboration with Iran in spite of US sanctions. In this situation of increasing head-on collision on the Iranian dossier (on the one hand the United States, Israel and Arab nations against the EU, Russia, China and Turkey) the White House responded announcing the project of an "international coalition" against "the Tehran regime " . In the coming days, the head of the US Diplomacy Mike Pompeo will explain the details of the initiative, which wants to show the world "all destabilizing activities" of Iran. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Beirut, May 18, 2018Two unknown gunmen killed Ibrahim al-Munjar, a correspondent for the Syrian news website Sy24 in the southern Syrian province of Daraa. Al-Munjar was killed in the city of Saida on May 17, according to his employer, news reports, and the Syrian Journalists Association. Two unknown gunmen riding a motorcycle shot al-Munjar in front of his house in Saida, east of Daraa, hitting him in the neck and killing him instantly, according to news reports and Ghaith Hammour, editor-in-chief of Sy24. Hammour told CPJ, Al-Munjar covered social and humanitarian issues. The last story he covered for Sy24 was an award ceremony for outstanding students in the countryside of Daraa. However, he received many threats from [the militant group] Islamic State [IS] last year. That is why he had to move to Saida from his hometown Tal Shibab. Hammour added, He used to cover the clashes between the Free Syrian Army and IS in Daraa province before he joined Sy24 six months ago. Prior to joining Sy24, al-Munjar had worked for other Syrian outlets that criticized and documented violations by the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, including the Shaam News Network and the SMART News Agency. The killing of Ibrahim al-Munjar shows that journalists working in Syria continue to be exposed to a wide range of lethal threats, CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour said from Washington, D.C. We urge all sides to do their utmost to guarantee the safety of journalists and allow them to do their job freely and without fear of retaliation. Since they retook eastern Ghouta in April 2018, the Syrian government and its allies have been preparing an offensive on rebel-held Daraa, according to news reports. Troops aligned with al-Assad have recently shelled the city of Daraa and rebel factions, including IS-backed Jaysh Khaled Ibn al-Waleed, have been engaging in clashes in Daraa province, according to the London-based human rights organization Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Syria is one of the deadliest countries in the world for journalists. At least 119 journalists have been killed in that country in relation to their work since the conflict began in 2011, according to CPJ research. According first of its kind study of NASA, India is among hotspots where overuse of water resources has caused sharp decline in availability of freshwater. The study was conducted by scientists from NASAs Goddard Space Flight Centre by using an array of NASA satellite observations to track global hydrologic changes. About Study Scientists had used 14 years of observations from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) spacecraft mission, a joint project of NASA and German Aerospace Centre, to track global trends in freshwater in 34 regions around the world. This is for first time scientists had used observations from multiple satellites for assessment of how freshwater availability is changing everywhere on Earth. Key Facts The study revealed that wetter parts of earths were getting wetter and dry areas getting drier due to variety of factors, including human water use, climate change and natural cycles. Areas in northern and eastern India, West Asia, Australia and California (US) are among hotspots where overuse of water resources has caused serious decline in availability of freshwater. In northern India, groundwater extraction for irrigation of wheat and rice crops has led to depletion, despite rainfall being normal. The groundwater extractions has already exceed recharge during normal precipitation does not bode well for the availability of groundwater during future droughts. TALLINN, ESTONIA: A rural Estonia town whose name literally means "cannabis" has voted to adopt a marijuana leaf as its official logo, a local official said Thursday. Located in southern Estonia, Kanepi's highly unusual name is rooted in a traditional cottage industry that sprang up around the processing of hemp into oil and fabric centuries ago. Hemp is a type of cannabis used for industrial purposes with little or no psychoactive effect. Designer Tonu Kukk holds a paper with a design of Kanepi flag featuring a cannabis leaf.A logo showing a cannabis leaf captioned "Mari Jane" proved to be the most popular; it was chosen by some 12,000 out of more than 15,000 people who voted in the poll.#cannabis #MariJane pic.twitter.com/wGyRcldX5b TV5 News (@tv5newsnow) May 18, 2018 "Today the cannabis leaf is seen primarily as a recreational drug, but in fact, hemp-type cannabis has been used in practical ways for years and it has hundreds of uses," Kanepi council member Andrus Seeme told AFP, adding that he saw "nothing wrong" with the town's new logo. "We have a few local businesses producing organic hemp oil and flour," Seeme said, adding that a local bakery also sells bread with hemp seeds while another business produces concrete using hemp. Kanepi first appeared on the map as a small village in the 16th century. It expanded to a town of 5,000 residents last year after it joined forces with other nearby villages to establish rural municipality. The new municipality then launched an online poll to choose its logo, flag and coat-of-arms in a vote that was open to any Estonian interested in participating. When the results came in this week, a logo showing a cannabis leaf captioned "Mari Jane" proved to be the most popular; it was chosen by some 12,000 out of more than 15,000 people who voted in the poll. Despite marijuana still being illegal in Estonia, Kanepi town leaders decided to submit the winning logo to Estonia's heraldry commission where it won approval. Estonia's Green Party and the Ravikanep NGO are lobbying to legalise medical marijuana in the IT savvy EU Baltic state of 1.3 million people, but their campaign has so far met with little success. Vous etes confrontes a une infestation par la puce, la punaise de lit ? Voici plusieurs actions qui sont a mettre en uvre pour faire [] COIMBATORE: A 22-year-old Engineering student was held at Coimbatore airport on Saturday for allegedly peddling 50 grams of ganja. Airport sources said, Mohamed Tariq Salik Sadole, a youth from Sudan staying in the city and studying final year in a private Engineering college here, was allegedly in possession of the stuff. Mohamed Tariq was about to fly to Sharjah by Air Arabia flight around 3 am in the wee hours today. During baggage check the officials found 50 grams of ganja packet inside his hand bag luggage. The youth was denied permission to fly along with the narcotic packet and was handed over to Peelamedu police along with the seized ganja packet, sources said. Peelamedu police have lodged a complaint and started further investigations. According to energy firm Naftogaz's expectations, Ukraine will earn around $3 billion from transit in 2018. Ukraine will offer Gazprom discounted fees for natural gas transit to ensure a flow from Russia to Europe after 2020, European Commission Vice President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic said on Friday. Russia's Gazprom and five European companies, with German backing, plan to build the North Stream 2 gas pipeline on the Baltic seabed to connect Russia directly with Germany, bypassing eastern Europe and limiting the flows via Ukraine, Reuters wrote. Read alsoPutin says gas transit via Ukraine to continue after Nord Stream 2 launch The pipeline will double Russia's gas export capacity to Germany but threatens to cost Ukraine valuable revenues, while increasing European Union reliance on Russian gas. "Ukraine is saying they want to maintain the transit of Russian natural gas to Europe and will seek solutions that would guarantee the higher the volume the cheaper for Gazprom," Sefcovic told Reuters at the Globsec security forum. The volume of transit would have to be "commercially viable" for Ukraine, Sefcovic added. According to energy firm Naftogaz's expectations, Ukraine will earn around $3 billion from transit in 2018. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday after meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel that Moscow was ready for talks with Ukraine on continued gas transit through the country. The operations of the Donetsk Filtration Station, supplying water in Avdiyivka, were once again suspended after the facility came under fire, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has said. "Donetsk Filter Station, supplying water to 345,000 people in east of Ukraine, has stopped today due to shelling. Chlorine pipes were also damaged risking the lives of Donetsk water workers. We are calling on all parties to avoid shelling water equipment. Water is not a target," UNICEF Ukraine said on Twitter on Friday night. Russian-led forces mount 43 attacks on Ukraine army in Donbas in past day with no casualties reported Russian-led forces have mounted 43 attacks on Ukrainian troops in Donbas in the past day, with no casualties reported, the operation's press center said. "The situation in the area of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) remains difficult. Over the past 24 hours, along the whole contact line, Russian-occupation troops and illegally created military formations continued testing the defense of Ukrainian troops to destruction. Russian-led forces mounted 43 attacks on Ukrainian troops, using artillery systems and 120mm and 82mm mortars 10 times. Our troops conducted an active defense and gave an adequate response to the enemy," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said in an update on Facebook on Saturday morning. Active military operations continued in the Luhansk sector near the town of Popasna, and the villages of Novozvanivka and Troyitske. In the direction of the town of Horlivka, the enemy was active near the villages of Zaitseve and Zalizne, as well as near the Avdiyivka industrial zone and the village of Pisky, which are in the Donetsk sector. In the Mariupol sector, the hostilities continued near the villages of Vodiane, Lebedynske and Shyrokyne. "A sniper pair was spotted near Vodiane. The fire was quickly suppressed by counter-sniper measures," reads the report. According to intelligence data, two militants were killed, while three others were wounded. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine calls on the world community to condemn the May 17-18 attacks in Troyitske (Luhansk region) and Svitlodorsk (Donetsk region) and strengthen political and diplomatic pressure on the Kremlin. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine strongly condemns the new crimes of the Russian occupation forces against civilians in Donbas. In particular, in the evening of May 17, they targetedly fired shells at the residential estate of Troyitske village (Luhansk region) which led to the death of two civilians, including an infant child. Two other people were seriously injured. The shelling was made from the temporarily occupied territory of Pervomaisky district of Luhansk region with 152 mm caliber heavy artillery prohibited by the Minsk agreements," the Foreign Ministry said in its statement posted on Friday. The ministry said that yet another crime by Russian occupants indicates that "Russia continues to ignore its obligations under the Minsk agreements, break the cease-fire agreement reached within the framework of the Trilateral Contact Group and deliberately resort to escalation." "The escalation of the situation in Donbas and the continued suffering of the civilian population is yet another proof that there is an urgent need to deploy the peacekeeping operation in Donbas as soon as possible," it said. It also says that the crimes committed by Russia and its proxies in Donbas require "more resolute and effective response by the international community." As reported, in the morning of May 17 the Russian occupation forces conducted artillery shelling on the central part of the city of Svitlodarsk (Donetsk region). One of the shells hit the courtyard of a local school with 387 children and 46 employees present there at the time. In addition, in early hours of May 18, the Russia led forces fired the residential area of the village of Troyitske (Luhansk region), which resulted in the death of two civilians, two more were seriously injured. The shelling was conducted from the 152 mm heavy artillery banned by the Minsk accords from the temporarily occupied territory of the Pervomaisky district. Ukrainian law enforcement agencies qualified both attacks as terrorist acts and initiated criminal proceedings under Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Following is a list of companies that could be affected by U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from an international nuclear deal with Iran and impose sanctions on Tehran: French gas and power group Engie, Polish gas firm PGNiG and German lender DZ Bank were the latest companies on Friday to say that their business dealings with Iran would be affected by the re-imposition of U.S. sanctions. * French gas and power group Engie said on May 18 it would end its engineering contracts in Iran by November. * Poland's dominant gas firm PGNiG has suspended a gas project in Iran because of the risk from U.S. sanctions, its deputy chief executive said on May 18. * French oil major Total said on May 16 it would pull out of the South Pars project and unwind all related operations by Nov. 4 "unless Total is granted a specific project waiver by U.S. authorities with the support of the French and European authorities." The company had signed the South Pars deal in November 2016, becoming the first oil major to agree a big transaction with Tehran in the wake of the 2015 international nuclear agreement. Industry sources said in October 2017 that China's top oil and gas company CNPC would consider taking over Total's stake in the project if the French company left. * Norwegian oil and gas company DNO said in November 2016 it was the second Western energy company after Total to sign a deal with Iran under which it agreed to study the development of the Changuleh oilfield in western Iran. * Shell signed a provisional deal in December 2016 to develop Iranian oil and gas fields South Azadegan, Yadavaran and Kish. But its annual report published in 2017 showed it had bought only three cargoes of Iranian oil since the easing of sanctions, in a sign of the legal difficulties hampering trade. * South Korea's Daewoo Engineering and Construction (Daewoo E&C) signed a MoU in 2015 to carry out construction of an oil refinery in Bandar Jask on the southern coast of Iran. * Norway's Aker Solutions signed a MoU in May 2016 to modernise the Iranian oil industry. * Austria's OMV signed a MoU in May 2016 for projects in the Zagros area of western Iran and the Fars field in the south. In June 2017, OMV and Russia's Gazprom Neft announced a MoU to work in Iran's oil sector. * Italy's Saipem signed MoUs in 2016 to cooperate on Iranian pipeline projects, upgrading of refineries and development of the Tous gas field in the northeastern province of Khorasan Razavi. * BASF's Wintershall oil and gas exploration arm signed a MoU with the National Iranian Oil Company in April 2016. In February 2017, it said it was in talks about a possible investment in Iran, but no decision was on the cards because of uncertainty over the status of economic sanctions. * In January 2017, Iran named 29 companies from more than a dozen countries as being allowed to bid for oil and gas projects using a new, less restrictive contract model. The firms included Shell, Total, Italy's Eni, Malaysia's Petronas and Russia's Gazprom and Lukoil, as well as companies from China, Austria, Japan and elsewhere. * Italy's Eni signed an agreement with Iran in June 2017 for feasibility studies to develop an oil field and a gas field. * India's Oil and Natural Gas Corp Ltd in late February signed an initial non-binding agreement with an Iranian company to develop the Susangerd oilfield in the south of Iran, a company source said. * The National Iranian Oil Company signed a deal in March with Russias Zarubezhneft to develop two oilfields in Iran fields, according to SHANA, the news site of the Iranian oil ministry. SHIPPING The saber-rattling over the decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to pull out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or Irans nuclear deal with world powers, has intensified between the two rival camps in Iran. Friday Prayer ceremonies across the country presented a platform for supporters of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to use Washingtons withdrawal from JCPOA as a tool to attack President Hassan Rouhanis performance in the 2013-2015nuclear talks. In response, Ali Akbar Nateq Nouri, a former right-leaning prominent cleric who recently joined the reformist camp, said conservatives are using the JCPOA news as an excuse to settle scores with Rouhani and his supporters. Some of the local critics of JCPOA, either intentionally or inadvertently, are using Washingtons withdrawal from the nuclear deal to settle scores with the government, he said. Nateq Nouri, a veteran politician and mid-ranking cleric, told journalists on May 18, Those who deliberately table devastating criticism against the government to settle political scores are not aware that their behavior paves the way for the failure of the internal front and the success of enemy designs. Nateq Nouri also served as chief of Khameneis Inspection Bureau but resigned from the influential post last year to support the incumbent Rouhanis re-election. He recently became more active in the reformist camp led in tandem by Rouhani and former President Mohammad Khatami. In an unprecedented session last April, prominent reformists -- including Khatami and Nateq Nouri -- cautioned Rouhani against stalling on his campaign promises. Five days before Nateq Nouris defense of Rouhani, a statement attributed to the influential Assembly of Experts (AE) lambasted Rouhanis administration for JCPOA and the United States withdrawal. The statement, later relabeled as the AE chairmans personal communique, maintained that Khamenei had reservations about the nuclear deal but had accepted JCPOA after repeated requests by Rouhani and his team. AE Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati demanded that Rouhani apologize for not respecting the red lines set by Khamenei. Several close allies of the supreme leader echoed the comments, casting doubt on Rouhanis ongoing talks with Europe to keep JCPOA alive. The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Ali Jafari, implicitly blasted Rouhani and his nuclear talk team by criticizing certain officials who turn to foreigners, adding, I hope recent events will lead us to end our trust in the West and the Europeans. The Europeans have repeatedly proved they are not capable of resisting U.S. sanctions, the IRGC-run Fars news agency cited Jafari as saying. Though the deal now looks shaky after Trump announced the U.S. withdrawal from it earlier this month, Rouhani and his team are maneuvering to keep it alive by seeking unspecified guarantees from the remaining countries still party to JCPOA. Conservative allies of Khamenei, however, apparently see no point in remaining loyal to JCPOA after Washingtons withdrawal. They blame Rouhani and his nuclear team for the failure of the deal. Immediately after Trump announced his decision to drop JCPOA, 100 conservative MPs issued a written protest admonishing Rouhani for not seeking sufficient guarantees to prevent violations of the deal. You should have demanded powerful and indestructible guarantees, including a written commitment to lifting sanctions imposed on Tehran, signed by the president of the U.S.A. and the EU, the conservative MPs said. In response, government spokesman Mohammad Baqer Nobakht said on May 15, We have no more time to confront enemies on one front and watch our friends on the other lest they stab us in the back. The notorious anti-Rouhani Friday Prayer leader in the city of Mashhad, mid-ranking cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Alam al-Hoda, continued to censure the government for its doomed nuclear talks. From day one, the supreme leader insisted that he did not trust them [the United States and its European allies]. He said we would achieve nothing from negotiating with them save losses and damages, he said. Yet his eminence let the government go ahead and see for itself that they [U.S. and EU] would not stay committed to their promises. After the deal was signed, the leader noted that the deal would be worthy only when the U.S. president commits himself in writing to lifting all sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic, he continued. The head of Tehrans Justice Department, Gholamhossein Esmaeili has admitted that the trial of hundreds of Gonabadi dervishes is underway at public and Revolutionary Courts behind closed doors. Earlier, a Telgeram channel close to the Sufi order had disclosed, Dervishes on trial have been forced to sign a petition against the managers and reporters of Majzooban Noor (Enchanted by Light). Majzooban Noor, a currently inactive website, used to publish news concerning dervishes of Gonabadi order. Four managers and several reporters from the website have been imprisoned since Februarys clashes between dervishes and security forces on Tehran. More than 500 members of the dervish community were arrested on February 20 following clashes with security forces supported by plainclothesmen. The dervishes were protesting the arrest of members of their religious order, as well as widespread rumors that their 91-year-old leader, Nourali Tabandeh, would soon be detained by police, despite assurances by the authorities that they had no such intention. In an interview with Young Journalists Club (YJC) a news website affiliated with state-run Radio and TV organization, Esmaeili said on Saturday, May 19, Fifty legal suits concerning clashes at Pasdaran street have been referred to Branch 1180 of Tehrans Criminal Court. However, according to Esmaeili, most of the cases related to Gonabadi dervishes have been presented to Revolutionary Courts, which are used against critics and dissidents and are known for the harsh sentences they hand down. In the meantime, the head of Branch 1180 of the Revolutionary Courts, Judge Jabbari said, most of the detained dervishes, whose cases have been referred to his branch are charged with disturbing public peace and order. Speaking to judiciary-run Mizan website, Jabbari promised that the dervishes will be firmly dealt with. The Gonabadi dervishes consider themselves followers of Twelver Shia Islam, the official state religion in Iran, but authorities have persecuted them for their religious beliefs in recent years, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said in the past. On March 8, authorities placed Tabandeh under house arrest. He was forced to disown Majzooban Noor, which led to the inactivity of the site and social media accounts. Judicial authorities also shut down the Haqiqat publishing house and the Reza Charity institution, both of which belong to Gonabadi dervish members. Most of the trials, according to human rights activists, are held behind closed doors, while the accused are deprived of access to lawyers. According to Amnesty International (AI), at least 11 women from Irans Gonabadi dervish religious minority have been arbitrarily detained in inhumane conditions without access to lawyers since February 20, following the violent dispersal of a protest held by the Gonabadi dervishes in Tehran. AI issued an Urgent Action on March 29 condemning the arbitrary arrest and ill treatment of the women from the Gonabadi religious minority. On February 19, security forces violently arrested at least 60 women from Irans persecuted Gonabadi dervish community for participating in a protest in Tehran which turned violent after security forces resorted to beatings, firearm use, water cannons, and tear gas to disperse the crowd, AI said. The women were taken to the Vozara detention center, where they said they were subjected to intrusive body searches by female officers, intimidating interrogations, insults, and yelling, AI noted. While the trial of hundreds of dervishes is under way, Sufi bus driver Mohammad Salas, who was sentenced to death in Iran for running over three policeman, says he was forced to confess after being tortured while under interrogation. Salas told me he was so stunned by the blows during interrogation that he was not aware of what was happening, his attorney Zeinab Taheri told Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) on May 15. After meeting Salas at Rajaee Shahr Prison near Tehran on May 14, Taheri said, Extracting confessions like this has no legal validity. Salas revealed he was almost tortured to death by agents to the point that he suffered 17 skull fractures, nearly lost his sight, and suffered serious hearing loss. He was forced to make confessions under these conditions. Referring to the hundreds of dervishes on trial, HRW noted, Attacks on police forces are criminal acts, but Iranian authorities should not extend criminal responsibility to an entire group of protesters. Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty in all circumstances because it is an inherently irreversible, inhumane punishment. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Leman Zeynalova - Trend: The European Union (EU) must be able to contribute to a peaceful solution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Javanshir Feyziyev, co-chair of the EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (PCC) said in an interview with EURACTIV. He pointed out that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict keeps the entire region from development. As the biggest political power of the continent, the EU must be able to contribute to a peaceful solution of the conflict. Azerbaijan expects from the EU a transparent, fair and honest approach toward the situation and contribution to a solution of the conflict in accordance with international norms and principles, within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, added Feyziyev. 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, April 19 Trend Azerbaijan invites US companies to invest in the non-oil sector of the economy, Azerbaijan's Deputy Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies Elmir Velizade said at the panel discussion on investment and trade within the framework of the Trans-Caspian Forum held in Washington on May 17-18. "Azerbaijan has improved its position in the leading international business ratings, and new opportunities for cooperation in the non-oil sector, including transport and logistics, high technology, infrastructure, industry and others, have been created for US companies," said Velizade. He further spoke about the state policy in the trade, transport and transit spheres in Azerbaijan, and gave detailed information about the recent reforms carried out in the country under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, and the achieved results. Brian McFeeters, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the US Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, in turn, expressed his country's support for the Trans-Caspian Corridor, which is an important component of the modern Silk Road. He stressed the important role of this corridor in realizing cargo transportation from East to West, adding that the US is interested in becoming a partner in this. Brian McFeeters said that the countries of the region are implementing important infrastructure projects in the development of this corridor, and noted the importance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, which was put into operation last year. The US is ready to work closely with the countries of the region in this direction, he said. The representative of the State Department said that he intends to visit the region in the near future. Generally, the event was attended by more than 200 representatives of government agencies, academic organizations, business and political circles of the United States and the diplomatic corps. The forum is held with the joint organization of the US chamber of Commerce, with more than three million members, and the Caspian Policy Center. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Ilkin Shafiyev - Trend: Azerbaijans Textile Producers and Exporters Association plans to attract well-known foreign companies to establish clothing production in the country in the future, Mehriban Akhundova, chairperson of the Association, told Trend. She said this can be done after solving the issue of reducing the cost of production. "Presently, reducing the cost of textile production in Azerbaijan, bringing the price of finished products to the average level are the topical issues," she said. "This can be done by lowering customs duties on imports of such materials as glue, locks, buttons, etc. Lowering customs duties will lead to the development of garment production, which basically fulfills state orders. At the same time, clothing more affordable in price is imported to the Azerbaijani market from Pakistan, Turkey and China. This clothing is manufactured using synthetic materials." She added that the Association prepares an appeal to the government of Azerbaijan in order to resolve this issue. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @IlkinShafiyev Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Kamyar Eghbalnejad, Ali Mustafayev Trend: Iran and Azerbaijan will strengthen bilateral cooperation despite the present difficult situation on the international arena and the expected US sanctions against Iran, Dr. Ahmad Alireza Beigi, a representative of the parliament of Iran, told Trend. "Even taking into account the recent events with the US, it is still possible for both Azerbaijan and Iran to strengthen ties. The two countries are engaged in cooperation for a long time, with a common culture and interests, and our cooperation will undoubtedly develop in future. Both countries will continue the expansion of friendly relations, contributing to the regional stability," Beigi said. He added that the two countries will experience no problems in trade and other spheres of cooperation after the imposition of new US sanctions on Iran. "Even if nuclear deal had no benefit for us, it overturned the US scenario about Iran. Iran is a powerful country, and the US moves mark nothing more than their defeat from Iran in the Middle East. The world recognizes Iran as a democratic country, which has goodwill in international affairs," Beigi said. President Trump warned on May 8 that the country will walk away from the nuclear accord of 2015, reached between Tehran and the six world powers. Trump also announced that Washington re-imposes the "highest level of economic sanctions" on the Islamic Republic. The move has been strongly criticized by other P5+1 members - Moscow, London, Beijing, Paris, Berlin and Brussels, who have confirmed their commitment to the deal. The agreement was signed on July 14, 2015, and ensured that Iran's nuclear program remains peaceful in exchange for sanctions relief. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Ali Mustafayev Trend: President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev inspected the new Boeing-787 Dreamliner airplane at the Tashkent international airport on his return from Washington, Uzbek media outlets reported. The airliner, made of composite materials and ensuring fuel efficiency, is capable of making non-stop flights up to 14,000 kilometers. The airplane, equipped with smart technologies and comfortable interior, meets the demand for modern amenities. Previously, Uzbekistan Airways purchased two such aircraft. The Dreamliner was purchased after the order of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, given in February 2017. The airplane was delivered to Uzbekistan after the official visit of the head of state to the United States. Mirziyoyev inspected the aircraft and got acquainted with its capabilities and conditions for the service. Uzbek president also stressed the need to increase the volume of passenger transportation by the countrys national airlines, creating greater amenities. Uzbekistan Airways recently signed an agreement with the national carrier and the American Boeing company. Uzbekistans fleet will be replenished with two more Dream liners in 2019 and in 2020. Follow the author on Twitter: @Ali_Mustafayev Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Leman Zeynalova - Trend: Sangachal oil and gas terminal in Azerbaijan is ready for the first commercial deliveries of gas from the Phase 2 of development of Azerbaijans Shah Deniz field, BP, the operator of the terminal, said on Twitter. Reportedly, 10, 000 people were involved in peak construction, which took 50 million man hours. BPs Sangachal terminal in Azerbaijan meets world safety standards and now is ready for first commercial deliveries in 2018, said the company. Within the implementation of Shah Deniz Stage 2, gas production will increase from 9 to 25 billion cubic meters per year. The produced gas will be exported to Turkey and the European markets through the expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of the Trans-Anatolian (TANAP) and Trans-Adriatic (TAP) gas pipelines. A contract for development of the Shah Deniz offshore field was signed on June 4, 1996. The field's reserves are estimated at 1.2 trillion cubic meters of gas. The shareholders in the contract are BP (operator - 28.8 percent), AzSD (10 percent), SGC Upstream (6.7 percent), Petronas (15.5 percent), Lukoil (10 percent), NIOC (10 percent) and TPAO (19 percent). Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Azercell continues its participation in Career Fairs in the country by supporting students and alumni in entering the labor market and helping with their employment over 22 years of its operation. Representatives of Human Resource Department and Customer Channel Management Department have joined next career fairs at Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry and University of Azerbaijan. They briefed the visitors about active vacancies in the company, as well as Student Bursary and Internship Programs, and answered questions about selection of employees and recruitment process. The visitors of the career fairs which offers hundreds of internship and job opportunities were informed about the latest achievements and services offered by Azercell. Students and graduates also received various gifts at Azercell stand at the event. The career fairs organized in the country are aimed to connect students and employers and give them opportunity for network with each other. It should be noted that Azercell Telecom LLC was ranked among top 3 employers by ACT global research and consulting company in terms of attractive compensation package, favorable working environment, corporate culture, perspective professional development and other criteria. The company is the best employer company among mobile operators in the country. In addition, according to the research conducted by Ernst & Young Azerbaijan among students and professional candidates, Azercell was listed among top 10 employers in the market. Furthermore, Azercell is the only company in Azerbaijan and CIS region awarded International Gold Certificate Investors in People. For more information, please contact [email protected] The leader of the mobile communication industry, the largest taxpayer and the biggest investor of the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan Azercell Telecom LLC was founded in 1996. With 48% share of Azerbaijans mobile telecom market Azercells network covers 80% of the territory (excluding 20% of the occupied territories) and 99.8% of population of the country. Currently, 4.5 million subscribers choose Azercell services. Azercell has pioneered an important number of innovations in Azerbaijan, including GSM technology, advance payment system, mobile internet services, Metro coverage, 24/7 call centre service, 7 day/week Front Office service, M2M services, one-stop-shopping approach Azercell Express offices, mobile customer services, Online Customer Care and Social Media Customer Care services, mobile e-signature service ASAN Imza etc. Azercell deployed first 4G LTE services in Azerbaijan in 2012. According to the results of mobile network quality and wireless coverage mapping surveys by international systems, Azercells network demonstrated the best results among mobile operators of Azerbaijan. Azercell is the only company in Azerbaijan and CIS region awarded International Gold Certificate Investors in People . Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Ali Mustafayev Trend: Air Astana JSC announced an open tender for provision of consulting services to assess the possibility of creating a cargo airline. The deadline for submitting applications for participation in the tender through the electronic procurement information system (EPIS - www.tender.sk.kz) is 17:00, May 1, 2018. For further information, please call: 8 (727) 258-41-36 (ext. 4700) Follow the author on Twitter: @Ali_Mustafayev Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Ali Mustafayev Trend: Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov expressed concern over the worsening of the situation in Palestine, speaking at the extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan said in a message. He said that the use of armed force against civilian population is unacceptable, and called on the international community to take all possible measures to immediately end the violence. The extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul was convened on the initiative of the incumbent chairman of the Organization of the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in connection with the events in the Gaza Strip on May 14, 2018. Speaking at the summit, Abdrakhmanov also stressed that an attempt to change the historical status of Jerusalem threatens stability in the Middle East, since it remains a home to representatives of different ethnic and religious groups. The head of Kazakhstan's foreign ministry also stressed that the Palestinians and Israelis should respect each other's right to live in Jerusalem. Reiterating Kazakhstan's adherence to the implementation of the decisions and resolutions of the UN General Assembly and Security Council, Abdrakhmanov said that Kazakhstan stands for full and comprehensive settlement of the situation in the Middle East in the framework of constructive political dialogue. Follow the author on Twitter: @Ali_Mustafayev Students and local residents of Kyrgyzstan are becoming acquainted with the culture and history of Japan. Days of Japan in Osh were held in Osh State University. Rector of the university Kanybek Isakov said that Japan has long been an advanced country in the economy, and it is developing dynamically. He said that Osh State University is always ready to cooperate with Japan in the field of education and that 50 students are studying the Japanese language, culture, tradition. Secretary of the Embassy of Japan in the Kyrgyz Republic Satoshi Ijitsu said that Osh University has been participating in events related to Japan for the third time. He hopes that cooperation between Japan and Kyrgyzstan will further develop and noted that the embassy welcomes the strengthening of ties between the university and the embassy. The participants were briefly taught the basics of the Japanese language, besides, there was a presentation about the culture and customs, the holidays of the Japanese people, master classes in martial arts: Sumo, Aikido and Kendo, Osh State University students sang famous Japanese songs and danced folk Japanese dances. In addition, the audience was invited to the first concert of a group of Japanese drums "Ooedodayko", which will be held on May 18 at the Osh National Drama Theater. A delegation of the Internal Affairs Ministry of Tajikistan will visit the State Forensic Examination Committee of Belarus, the committee's press service told BelTA. The visit is scheduled for Q3 2018. It will take place in continuation of the working meeting, which took place in Tajikistan this week. During that meeting Chairman of the State Forensic Examination Committee of Belarus Andrei Shved and Tajik Internal Affairs Minister Rahimzoda Ramazon Hamro discussed concrete measures to implement the agreement on cooperation between the two agencies. The document was signed on 15 May. The sides intend to come up with concrete agreements on how the Belarusian agency will train Tajik experts as the Tajik Internal Affairs Ministry delegation visits Belarus. Agreements on cooperation in the sphere of forensic examination were signed as Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko visited Tajikistan. The agreements were signed with the Internal Affairs Ministry and the Justice Ministry of Tajikistan and are designed to enable sharing cutting-edge practices and advancing bilateral relations between expert institutions of the two countries. An agreement on cooperation in the sphere of forensic medicine was also signed with the Health and Social Protection of the Population Ministry of Tajikistan. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 19 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Orazmuhammet Charyev has been appointed Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Turkmenistan in Jordan, says the published decree of the President of the country. The diplomat will remain at the same time the head of the diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia. Political consultations between Turkmenistan and Jordan were held in Amman in April. The spheres of energy, transport and agriculture were noted among the areas of mutual interest. The spirit of the countries' cooperation was stimulated by the official visit of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Jordan at the end of June 2009 and his talks with king Abdullah II, at which the "coincidence of views" on the urgent problem of contemporary times the energy security was noted. Turkmenistan plays the role of one of the key actors in the energy market of the Caspian region and Central Asia, as it has the world-scale natural gas reserves. Tehran, Iran, May 19 By Kamyar Eghbalnejad - Trend: Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan Timur Suleymanov described Iran as the most economical route for his countrys exports. The geographical position of Iran and Kazakhstans lack of access to the high seas have turned Iran to the most economical route for Kazakhstans exports, Suleymanov said on May 19 during a meeting with Iran's Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Mohammad Shariatmadari in Astana. Iran has a long record in the fields of science and research, he added, stressing that the two nations could boost their cooperation in the sectors of science and education, Fars news agency reported. The Iranian minister, for his part, stressed the need for enhanced ties between the two sides in the various fields, particularly banking and economic industries. Shariatmadari has travelled to Astana to participate in the Astana Economic Forum, Eurasias leading conference on economic matters, underway in the Kazakh capital. The eleventh Astana Economic Forum kicked off in the Kazakh capital on May 17, welcoming 5,000 participants from 111 countries and more than 500 speakers, including former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, former French President Francois Hollande and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. Organized in Astana since 2008, this years event focuses on global trends and challenges. The event will come to an end on May 19. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 Trend: Iran has signed a HoA (heads of agreement) with international consortium Pergas for development of its Karanj oil field. The deal was signed by the National Iranian South Oil Company (NISOC) head, Bijan Alipour and Pergas managing director Colin Rowley, in a ceremony attended by Irans Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh and British Ambassador to Tehran Robert Macaire, Ali Kardor, managing director of National Iranian Oil Company(NIOC) in Tehran, the official website of NIOC reported. If the final agreement is reached, the consortium will develop the oil field under Iran's recently designed oil and gas contract model, called Iran Petroleum Contract (IPC), in order to produce 200,000 barrels of oil per day. The contract would bring the fields total oil output to 655 million barrels within 10 years. Approximately $1.16 billion of direct investment and $187 million of indirect investment will be needed for the fields development. The agreement envisages increasing the pressure of the oil fields reservoirs by three times, construction of gas compressors for injection of 800 million cubic feet per day of gas, construction of gas collection and transportation facilities with the capacity of 280 million cubic feet per day, construction of a desalination plant with a capacity of 110,000 barrels per day, drilling 35 wells in Asmari and Pabdeh reservoirs as well as drilling two delineation wells and repairing 15 existing wells. Also, a pilot EOR (enhanced oil recovery) plan will be implemented in the field for five years, in order to increase the oil extraction rate. The pilot project results would became operational if the sides reach an agreement as well. The UK based Pergas International Consortium (PIC), comprising European, Asian and Canadian firms, established in 2001, has carried out many projects in the Middle East, South East Asia and Africa over these years of operation. NISOC signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with Pergas consortium in December 2016 to study two oil fields and submit the study results and development proposals to NISOC within six months. Under the agreement, the consortium undertook studies in Irans Karanj (including Asmari, Pabdeh and Khami reserves) and Shadegan (including Asmari and Bangestan reserves) oil fields. The Karanj oil field, located in Irans southern Khuzestan Province, was discovered in 1963 and holds an estimated 11 billion barrels of in-place oil. It was yielding 200,000 bpd of nearly 34 degrees API crude at its peak, but its reserves were seriously depleted. So far, 40 wells have been drilled in the field in total. The fields current output stands at 110,000 barrels per day. The field is owned by the state-owned National Iranian Oil Company and is operated by the National Iranian South Oil Company. Tehran, Iran, May 19 By Kamyar Eghbalnejad - Trend: Offering gold coin to individuals, who already registered by the Central bank of Iran has led to a decline in demand, Mohammad Keshtiara, head of National Union of Iranian Jewelry and Gold, said. Over a month about one million registered coins were received by the people, and the supply of coin to registered people by the central bank reduced demand in the market," Keshtiara told Trend May 19. "I think that this supply will lead to production stagnation because the investment is made in a factor that does not have any economic return and capital is being held in homes, he added. However, he said, this measure has a positive aspect as well, which is management and control of the market by the central bank. Commenting on the gold market situation, Keshtiara said that two factors have already led to a decline in gold prices. First factor, a decline of about $40 in the global markets, and the second one is offering gold coin by the central bank via registration system, he said. He also touched upon the issue of unified currency exchange rate, saying that single exchange rate has always been one of the ideals of the country's economy, which can help stabilize trade and prevent price increases, which I hope will continue. In April the Iranian government decided to unify the countrys official and open market exchange rates. The decision was made following fluctuations in the country after the rial declined to an all-time low. Following that the government put the price of the US dollar at 42,000 rials in both markets, and for all business activities. The CBI also banned offering foreign currencies in exchange shops across the country. The administration also imposed a 10,000-euro ($12,400) ceiling on the amount of foreign currency that citizens can hold outside banks. Tehran, Iran, May 19 By Kamyar Eghbalnejad - Trend: Tehran Chamber of Commerce Chairman Masoud Khansari said selling the dollar at a rate of 42,000 rials to individuals and businesses could drain off the governments coffers. "We believe that setting 42,000 rials for a dollar is lower than its true value in the market and this can increase the demand for it," Khansari said. He added this rate could finally drain off the state coffers, Trend news agencys correspondent reported May 19. The chairman of Tehran Chamber of Commerce further warned against shutting down foreign exchange offices and said, The NIMA online system (Integrated System for Hard Currency Transactions) registers sellers and buyers information, paving the way for the US to easily trace their place and expand its list of sanctions (on individual and entities). He expressed the hope that the government could address this problem as soon as possible. Some commodities, including cosmetics, should be excluded from the unified rate plan, Khansari stressed, calling on the government to prepare the ground for a secondary foreign exchange market. On April 9, Iran unified the countrys official and open market exchange rates after its currency, the rial, plunged to an all-time low on concerns over a return of crippling sanctions. The US dollar jumped in a day from 54,700 rials to 60,000 rials in the open market in Tehran at the time. A dollar was worth 36,000 rials in mid-September. After an emergency cabinet meeting, Irans First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri was quoted by the state media as saying that from April 10 the price of the dollar would be 42,000 rials in both markets, and for all business activities. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Kamyar Eghbalnejad, Ali Mustafayev Trend: Turkey doesnt see any reason why the US has withdrawn from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), since Iran was standing by its commitments in the agreement, contributing to international peace and security, ambassador of Turkey to Iran Reza Hakan Tekin told Trend. "We were disappointed with the US decision to withdraw from the JCPOA. We work to support the regional stability, together with Azerbaijan and Iran and we would like to see the full implementation of the international agreements. Irans position on the agreement was also supported by the International Energy Agency and many other countries and organizations," said the ambassador. He added that the countries of the region and beyond it must cooperate to gain strengthen their development and achieve peace and stability. "We hope to continue the work on building a better world for our peoples. Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkey will continue to expand trilateral cooperation, supporting regional security and prosperity, increasing benefits for all the three countries," Hakan Tekin said. US President Trump warned on May 8 that the country will walk away from the nuclear accord of 2015, reached between Tehran and the six world powers. Trump also announced that the Washington re-imposes the "highest level of economic sanctions" on the Islamic Republic. The move has been strongly criticized by other P5+1 members, Moscow, London, Beijing, Paris, Berlin and Brussels, who have confirmed their commitment to the deal. The agreement was signed on July 14, 2015, and ensured that Iran's nuclear program remains peaceful in exchange for sanctions relief. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 Trend: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Jordans King Abdullah II met in Istanbul, Turkey a first between the heads of the two countries in last 15 years, Tasnim news agency reported May 19. The two leaders held a short meeting May 18 on the sidelines of an emergency session of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul about the recent developments in the Gaza Strip. The last similar meeting occurred in 2003, during the King Abdullahs visit to Tehran, the first visit by a Jordanian monarch to Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, where he held meetings with Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mohammad Khatami. Relations between Amman and Tehran have been tepid for decades, reaching their lowest level during the Iraq-Iran War in the 1980s, although some experts believe that there was a willingness by Jordan to improve ties after the election of Rouhani as Irans president in 2013. When Iranian protesters attacked the Saudi Embassy in Tehran in January 2016, Jordan did not sever ties with Iran but recalled its ambassador instead. Earlier in January, king Abdullah accused Iran of meddling in a number of Arab countries affairs including Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon. In response, Irans Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi slammed the Jordanian kings allegations against Tehran and its regional role, saying such a stance runs counter to the realities on the ground and to the peoples call for peace and security. The Georgian Defence Minister Levan Izoroia has announced the launch of the "most ambitious US-Georgia project-Georgias Defence Readiness Program (GDRP), which will be carried out with the United States over the course of three years to boost the countrys self-defence capabilities, Agenda reports. The trainings will take place at the NATO standards Combat Training Center (CTC) built in Vaziani, on the outskirts of Tbilisi, which was officially opened yesterday. "I can announce a new era in Georgia-US relations, which, in the long-term perspective, will boost Georgias defence capacities and provide higher security for each citizen of the country, Izoria stated. The 43rd battalion of the 4th Mechanized Brigade of the Georgian Armed Forces is the first that will undergo trainings with the help of American instructors. Saudi Arabia has agreed to release 1,000 Ethiopian nationals who have been in prison in the Gulf state for a variety of offences, Reuters reported citing Ethiopian state affiliated media. The decision was made following a request by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who was in Riyadh on an official visit this week, Fana Broadcasting Corporation reported. The agency said among the detainees were 100 women. It did not disclose what the charges were. Hundreds of thousands of Ethiopian nationals live in the Gulf region, mostly in Saudi Arabia. Officials in Riyadh are in the process of deporting more than 500,000 illegal Ethiopian migrants. So far, 160,000 have arrived back in the Horn of Africa country. Iran could resume its 20 percent uranium enrichment if the European signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal failed to keep it alive following Washingtons withdrawal, the head of Irans Atomic Energy Organisation said on Saturday, Reuters reports. If the other side keeps itself committed to its promises we also will be keeping ourselves to our promises... Our policy is wait and see now ... for just the few weeks time ... There are all kind of possibilities, we can ... start the 20 enrichment, Ali Akbar Salehi told reporters. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she would address trade issues such as reciprocal market access and intellectual property protections during her visit to China next week, Reuters reports. The four-term German leader said both countries recognized the rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and would push for increased multilateralism at a time of rising global concern about protectionist trade measures undermining growth. In a weekly videocast released on Saturday, Merkel said the discussions would also center on important issues such as the rule of law and ensuring equal access to each others markets. German companies have complained for years about barriers to the Chinese market, and the theft of intellectual property. Germanys domestic intelligence agency last year said industrial espionage by China, Russia and others cost German industry billions of euros each year. Merkels two-day visit will include talks with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, a government spokeswoman said on Friday. Merkel travels to China about once a year. Her visit this year comes at a time of sharply increased tensions with the United States over its withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by six world powers, including Germany and China. It follows her meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week. This time, Merkel will also visit the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, home to several major technology companies, and the cradle of Chinas economic opening to the West. For that reason it is also very interesting for me to visit this dynamic city, where many German companies have their headquarters and production sites, Merkel said. The European Union and Iran have agreed to hold a high-level seminar on nuclear cooperation in Brussels in late November, European Commissioner for Energy Miguel Arias Canete said after talks with Head of Irans Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi on Saturday, TASS reported. As the European commissioner said in a statement circulated in Brussels, the parties agreed that the third high-level seminar on nuclear cooperation would be held in Brussels in late November 2018. Canete and Salehi also confirmed the commitment of the EU and Iran to the Iranian nuclear deal. On May 8, US President Donald Trump announced Washingtons withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. According to Trump, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) left the door open for Iran to circumvent restrictions and develop a nuclear bomb. The US president said that old sanctions would be restored and new ones would be introduced in case Tehran attempted to pursue its nuclear ambitions. At the same time, Trump called for making a new agreement. However, Trump actually advanced unfulfillable conditions for Tehran. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Theresa May, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel issued a joint statement calling on all other parties to the JCPOA to stay committed to their liabilities under it. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stated that the European Union should guarantee Iran the observance of its interests under the nuclear deal to keep the agreement in force. At the same time, Iran reiterated its commitment to the deal, saying Teheran will continue to implement its liabilities. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called the US withdrawal from the JCPOA a violation of the UN Security Council resolution and noted that Russia would seek to keep the agreement in force, despite Washingtons plans to resume the sanctions regime against Tehran. Three new Ebola cases have been confirmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's sprawling northwest, taking the number of suspected infections to 43, Health Minister Oly Ilungao says, Press TV reported. "Three new cases were reported (in Mbandaka) and tested positive for the Ebola virus," Ilungao said in a statement seen on Saturday. "In total, 43 cases of hemorrhagic fever have been flagged in the region of which 17 are confirmed, 21 are probable and five are suspected cases," he added. Alarm bells sounded on Thursday after the outbreak, previously reported in a remote rural area of the country, notched up its first confirmed case in Mbandaka, a city of 1.2 million. In Geneva, the UN's World Health Organization (WHO) put the death toll at 25, but said 45 cases have been recorded, 14 of which have been confirmed by lab tests. WHO on Friday said the latest Ebola outbreak did not warrant being labeled an emergency of "international concern," adding that Kinshasa's response along with its own had been "rapid and comprehensive." In a statement, the UN agency said WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus would convene an emergency committee to discuss the matter. The government announced the outbreak of the deadly virus in northwestern Equateur province on May 8. In the WHO's parlance, "a public health emergency of international concern" is an "extraordinary event" in which a disease may spread across borders and requires a vigorous international response. Ebola is both lethal and highly contagious, which makes it difficult to contain -- especially in urban environments where people are mobile and come into more contact with others. It is notorious for its high fatality rate and extreme symptoms, which can include internal and external bleeding. The current outbreak -- the ninth to hit the DRC since Ebola was identified in 1976 -- involves the same strain of the virus that struck three West African countries in 2013-15 and sparked an international panic. It went on to kill more than 11,300 people in the deadliest ever. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) confirmed Saturday that it had delivered a notice to former Prime Minister Najib Razak, requiring him to report to the agency on May 22, Xinhua reported. The investigation on the former prime minister has intensified following a large-scale search to his house. According to the statement, Najib is required to assist MACC's investigation regarding SRC International, a company related to the state investment fund 1MDB, which Najib set up in 2009. It is reported that hundreds of millions of dollars were siphoned by Najib's associates from 1MDB. MACC also refuted the statement by Najib's lawyer that MACC officials would record Najib's statement at his house, insisting that the former prime minister to report to the MACC headquarter to record his statement. The Malaysian police are still determining the value of a trove of cash, jewelry and designer handbags seized from several premises related to Najib, including his private residence and two luxury condominiums. Newly elected Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who ordered the corruption probe following the election, has vowed to hold Najib responsible if he is found guilty. A meeting between the US and North Korean leaders, Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, will create a good environment for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Argentinas Clarinnewspaper, TASS reports. "A meeting in Singapore between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-up that is planned for June 12 will have a major importance," he said. "If the sides refrain from advancing intentionally unacceptable demands to each other and demonstrate readiness for a mutually respectful dialogue, it will give good perspectives to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." He recalled that Moscow had always been calling on Seoul and Pyongyang to normalize their relations, even when the situation on the Korean Peninsula was very tense. "We are convinced that the entire spectrum of regional problems, including the nuclear one, can be resolved only by political and diplomatic means," the Russian top diplomat stressed. "In this context, we are satisfied that the negotiating process between North and South Koreas has been successfully developing in the recent months and that the Panmunjom Declaration passed after a meeting between the two leaders has committed to paper the basic principles of peaceful co-existence of the two states, their aspiration to develop relations and denuclearize the peninsula through common efforts. On our part, we will continue our assistance in the implementation of the intra-Korean agreements." At the same time, the Russian foreign minister noted that practical aspects of the Korean settlement were to be agreed in multilateral consultations on peace and stability in Northeast Asia. "It is obvious that the peninsulas nuclear problem cannot be tackled in isolation from other challenges to regional security or to the prejudice of interests of either of the sides," he said. "The previous experience and history of mistakes demonstrate it only too well." "Apart from that, in the light of the current situation around the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program), an unprecedented mechanism of mutual guarantees will be needed and such a mechanism can be developed only through consolidated efforts of all countries of the region," Lavrov stressed. Germany expressed their support for the implementation of the Nord Stream-2 pipeline project, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov informed journalists after the negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, TASS reprots. "We have heard a confirmation at the level of the chancellor, before that the same confirmation was made by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas during his last weeks visit to Moscow: Germany supports Nord Stream-2," the Russian foreign minister said. He added that Germans want to find solutions that would not complicate their relations with the US. Lavrov noted that Russia understands the concerns of Germany and does not wish to create any artificial problems. "We are completely confident that, with good will of the parties, we can find a solution that would satisfy everyone," he concluded. One person was killed and a second was injured in a shooting in the parking lot of a Georgia high school, according to WXIA. The shooting happened at Mount Zion High School in Jonesboro. The Clayton County Fire Department told WXIA there were three victims taken to hospitals. Two were taken to hospitals with gunshot wounds and one of those victims has died. The third victim was a pregnant woman who was injured when she was pushed. The deceased victim has been identified as a woman in her 40s. WXIAs Ashley Johnson, citing police, previously reported that three people were shot and that the shooting happened at a graduation ceremony. No additional details have been released about suspects, a motive or the victims. Jonesboro is a city about 15 miles south of Atlanta. The shooting comes just hours after 10 people were killed at a shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas. KYODO NEWS - May 19, 2018 - 15:29 | All, Japan Japan and Pacific island countries on Saturday called on North Korea to take concrete actions toward denuclearization by complying with U.N. sanctions over its nuclear and missile development, as they wrapped up a two-day summit meeting in northeastern Japan. In the joint declaration released after the gathering in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and leaders from 14 Pacific island nations expressed "deep concerns" over the North evading international sanctions by transferring cargoes at sea. The leaders "strongly called on North Korea to immediately take concrete actions" in accordance with the U.N. Security Council resolutions and pledged "their commitment to exerting continued pressure on North Korea." "The leaders stressed the importance of seeking a peaceful and diplomatic resolution toward complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction (WMD), including biological and chemical weapons, and ballistic missiles as well as related facilities of North Korea," the declaration said. It is the first time for Japan and the Pacific island countries to mention the North Korean issue in their declaration. Japan has hosted a regional summit with the Pacific island nations every three years since 1997. "We reaffirmed our bond and toward further cooperation as the region faces various challenges," Abe told a press conference after the summit. (Japanese PM Shinzo Abe vows to back the Pacific island nations in Fukushima.) On the flurry of diplomatic development surrounding the Korean Peninsula, Abe and Pacific island leaders welcomed an agreement reached on April 28 between South and North Korea toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. They also expressed hope that the upcoming summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore on June 12 "would deliver North Korea's concrete actions for such goals." The participants at the 8th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting also stressed "the importance of addressing humanitarian concerns, including the immediate resolution of the abductions issue," referring to Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s. "The leaders underscored the importance of a free, open and sustainable maritime order based on the rule of law in the Pacific and acknowledged that it will contribute to peace, stability, resilience and prosperity of the region," the declaration said. The "free and open Indo-Pacific strategy" is a policy the Abe administration has pushed ahead with in an apparent effort to counter the growing maritime assertiveness of China. The participants also agreed to work closely together in the area of maritime security while noting their obligation to "protect and preserve the maritime environment and to take necessary measures to protect and preserve rare or fragile ecosystems as well as the habitats of depleted, threatened or endangered species and other forms of maritime life," according to the declaration. In a keynote speech at the outset of the summit, Abe also pledged to support the Pacific island countries in enhancing their maritime security capabilities, given their vulnerable coastal security. "Japan will be unstinting in its assistance toward improving countries' capacity to 'protect the sea,' including each country's legal enforcement capabilities," Abe said. "It is the rule of law that gives protection to the nations, big and small, for their inherent rights," he said. Abe also vowed Japan's engagement in human resource development and people-to-people exchanges involving 4,000 people over the next three years to help ensure sustainability of ocean resources in the region and maintain the maritime order. The summit also focused on building infrastructure, including ports. The forum brings together Japan, the 14 Pacific island nations, Australia and New Zealand, as well as French Polynesia and New Caledonia, both of which are French territories. The 14 Pacific island countries are the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The previous meeting also took place in Iwaki, an area in northeastern Japan devastated by the massive 2011 earthquake and ensuing tsunami. Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi co-chaired the meeting with Abe. KYODO NEWS - May 19, 2018 - 11:22 | World, All Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will be questioned by the country's anticorruption agency next Tuesday over the $700 million found in his personal bank account allegedly from the state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad, a source from the agency told Kyodo News Friday. "Yes, a notice has been served to Datuk Seri Najib requesting him to appear before MACC next Tuesday," the source from the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission said. The notice was personally delivered by MACC officials to Najib at his home Friday. This will not be the first time for MACC to question him over the transfer of funds. He had his statement taken in December 2015 following an explosive report in July of that year by the New York-based Wall Street Journal claiming Najib misappropriated nearly $700 million from companies linked to state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad, including some from SRC International Sdn. Bhd. SRC International used to be an energy company controlled by 1MDB but is now under the Finance Ministry. Najib was the founder and, until 2016, chaired the advisory board of 1MDB. He was also the finance minister in charge of overseeing 1MBD, which currently faces multiple probes on various fronts. MACC at that time was also probing whether there was a conflict of interest when Najib chaired a cabinet meeting that approved a government guarantee on a 4 billion ringgit ($1.1 billion) loan to SRC International from the civil servants pension fund known as Kumpulan Wang Persaraan or KWAP. The probe was scuttled when Najib axed then Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail and replaced him with Mohamed Apandi Ali. (Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak) In January 2016, Apandi declared that the massive sum found in Najib's bank account was a personal donation from the Saudi royal family and that there was no sign of abuse of power in the approval of the government guarantee to SRC International. He cleared Najib of any criminal wrongdoing and ordered the graft agency to close the case. But following Najib's downfall in the wake of the May 9 general election that saw his once-mighty National Front coalition routed by an unlikely coalition led by 92-year-old Mahathir Mohamad, the 1MDB investigation has been reopened. Mahathir, who previously ruled from 1981 to 2003, was sworn in for his second turn as Prime Minister last Thursday. Among his first acts were ordering Apandi to go on leave and barring Najib, his wife and others linked to 1MDB from traveling abroad. Meanwhile, as part of their parallel investigation into money laundering allegations and other criminal elements involving the state fund, the police have undertaken an extensive search spanning more than two days on six premises linked to Najib, including his private home and his former office. Documents were seized from the Prime Minister's Office while hundreds of designer handbags and dozens of suitcases stuffed with cash, jewelry and other valuables were confiscated from various locations, according to Amar Singh of the Commercial Crime Investigation Department. According to the Auditor General's report on 1MDB that was declassified on Tuesday, mismanagement and dubious dealings led to 1MDB incurring debt to the tune of almost 42 billion ringgit ($10.58 billion) by March 2014. It said 1MDB's activities at present would not generate enough revenue to pay off its debt. The fund is now a subject of investigations in various countries including the United States, Switzerland and Singapore. U.S. authorities said an estimated $4.5 billion has been embezzled from the fund by those close to Najib, including his stepson Riza Aziz, for purchases such as jewelry, art and luxury condominiums in New York and London, as well as to produce Hollywood movies. Two cyclonic circulations in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal each will bring in heavy rainfall in much of central and peninsular India over next two days. The Japanese government cannot set a numerical goal for curbing annual growth in its social security spending from fiscal 2019 to 2021, informed sources said Friday. On the issue, the Finance Ministry, aiming to set a tighter goal, is at odds with the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, which is eager to maintain the spending growth cap at around the current level of 500 billion yen. The two ministries have failed to resolve the row, the sources said. In addition, the ruling parties are reluctant to cut public spending on medical and nursing care services to shift the burden to the users, ahead of next year's House of Councillors election. Instead of including a numerical target, the government is expected to state in its new fiscal consolidation plan that it will limit growth in social security spending to the increase caused by the aging of population, the sources added. The Zen of Erlang This is a loose transcript (or long paraphrasing?) of a presentation given at ConnectDev'16, a conference organized by Genetec in which I was invited to speak. I assume most people here have never used Erlang, have possibly heard of it, maybe just the name. As such, this presentation will only cover the high level concepts of Erlang, in such a way that it may be useful to you in your work or side projects even if you never touch the language. If you've ever looked at Erlang before, you've heard about that "Let it crash" motto. My first encounter with it had me wondering what the hell this was about. Erlang was supposed to be great for concurrency and fault tolerance, and here I was being told to let things crash, the entire opposite of what I actually want to happen in a system. The proposition is surprising, but the "Zen" of Erlang is related to it directly nonetheless. In some ways it would be as funny to use 'Let it Crash' for Erlang as it would be to use 'Blow it up' for rocket science. 'Blow it up' is probably the last thing you want in rocket science the Challenger disaster is a stark reminder of that. Then again, if you look at it differently, rockets and their whole propulsion mechanism is about handling dangerous combustibles that can and will explode (and that's the risky bit), but doing it in such a controlled manner that they can be used to power space travel, or to send payloads in orbit. The point here is really about control; you can try and see rocket science as a way to properly harness explosions or at least their force to do what we want with them. Let it crash can therefore be seen under the same light: it's all about fault tolerance. The idea is not to have uncontrolled failures everywhere, it's to instead transform failures, exceptions, and crashes into tools we can use. Back-burning and controlled burns are a real world example of fighting fire with fire. In SaguenayLac-Saint-Jean, the region I come from, blueberry fields are routinely burnt down in a controlled manner to help encourage and renew their growth. To prevent forest fires, it is fairly frequent to see unhealthy parts of a forest cleaned up with fire, so that it can be done under proper supervision and control. The main objective there is to remove combustible material in such a way an actual wildfire cannot propagate further. In all of these situations, the destructive power of fire going through crops or forests is being used to ensure the health of the crops, or to prevent a much larger, uncontrolled destruction of forested areas. I think this is what 'Let it crash' is about. If we can embrace failures, crashes and exceptions and do so in a very well-controlled manner, they stop being this scary event to be avoided and instead become a powerful building block to assemble large reliable systems. So the question becomes to figure out how do we ensure that crashes are enablers rather than destructors. The basic game piece for this in Erlang is the process. Erlang's processes are fully isolated, and they share nothing. No process can go and reach into another one's memory, or impact the work it's doing by corrupting the data it operates on. This is good because it means that a process dying is essentially guaranteed to keep its issues to itself, and that provides very strong fault isolation into your system. Erlang's processes are also extremely lightweight, so that you can have thousands and thousands of them without problem. The idea is to use as many processes as you need, rather than as many as you can. The common comparison there is to say that if you had an object-oriented language where you could only have 32 objects running at a any given time, you'd rapidly find it overly constraining and quite ridiculous to build programs in that language. Having many small processes does ensure a higher granularity in how thing break, and in a world where we want to harness the power of these failures, this is good! Now it can be a bit weird to picture how these processes work exactly. When you write a C program, you have one big main() function that does a lot of stuff. This is your entry point into the program. In Erlang, there is no such thing. No process is the designated master of the program. Every one of them runs a function, and that function plays the role of main() within that single process. We now have that swarm of bees, but it is probably very hard to direct them to strengthen the hive if they cannot communicate in any way. Where bees dance, Erlang processes pass messages. Message passing is the most intuitive form of communication in a concurrent environment there is. It's the oldest one we've worked with, from the days where we wrote letters and sent them via couriers on horse to find their destination, to fancier mechanisms like the Napoleonic semaphores shown on the slide. In this case you'd just take a bunch of guys up into towers, give them a message, and they'd wave flags around to pass data over long distances in ways that were faster than horses, which could tire. This eventually got replaced by the telegraph, which got replaced by the phone and the radio, and now we have all the fancy technologies to pass messages really far and really fast. A critical aspect of all this message passing, especially in the olden days, is that everything was asynchronous, and with the messages being copied. No one would stand on their porch for days waiting for the courier to come back, and no one (I suspect) would sit by the semaphore towers waiting for responses to come back. You'd send the message, go back to your daily activities, and eventually someone would tell you you got an answer back. This is good because if the other party doesn't respond, you're not stuck doing nothing but waiting on your porch until you die. Conversely, the receiver on the other end of the communication channel does not see the freshly arrived message vanish or change as by magic if you do die. Data should be copied when messages are sent. These two principles ensure that failure during communication does not yield a corrupted or unrecoverable state. Erlang implements both of these. To read messages, each process has a single mailbox. Everyone can write to a process' mailbox, but only the owner can look into it. The messages are by default read in the order they arrived, but it is possible, through features such as pattern matching [which were discussed in a prior talk during the day] to only or temporarily focus on one kind of message and drive various priorities around. Some of you will have noticed something in what I have mentioned so far; I keep repeating that isolation and independence are great so components of a system are allowed to die and crash without influencing others, but I did also mention having conversations across many processes or agents. Every time two processes start having a conversation, we create an implicit dependency between them. There is some implicit state in the system that binds both of them together. If process A sends a message to process B and B dies without responding, A can either wait forever, or give up on having a conversation after a while. The latter is a valid strategy, but it's a very vague one: it is unclear if the remote end has died or is just taking long, and off-band messages can land in your mailbox. Instead Erlang gives us two mechanisms to deal with this: monitors and links. Monitors are all about being an observer, a creeper. You decide to keep an eye on a process, and if it dies for whatever reason, you get a message in your mailbox telling you about it. You can then react to this and make decisions with your newly found information. The other process will never have had an idea you were doing all of this. Monitors are therefore fairly decent if you're an observer or care about the state of a peer. Links are bidirectional, and setting one up binds the destiny of the two processes between which they are established. Whenever a process dies, all the linked processes receive an exit signal. That exit signal will in turn kill the other processes. Now this gets to be really interesting because I can use monitors to quickly detect failures, and I can use links as an architectural construct letting me tie multiple processes together so they fail as a unit. Whenever my independent building blocks start having dependencies among themselves, I can start codifying that into my program. This is useful because I prevent my system from accidentally crashing into unstable partial states. Links are a tool letting developers ensure that in the end, when a thing fails, it fails entirely and leaves behind a clean slate, still without impacting components that are not involved in the exercise. For this slide, I picked a picture of mountain climbers roped together. Now if mountain climbers only had links between them, they would be in a sorry state. Every time a climber from your team would slip, the rest of the team would instantly die. Not a great way to go about things. Erlang instead lets you specify that some processes are special and can be flagged with a trap_exit option. They can then take the exit signals sent over links and transform them into messages. This lets them recover faults and possibly boot a new process to do the work of the former one. Unlike mountain climbers, a special process of that kind cannot prevent a peer from crashing; that is the responsibility of that peer by using try ... catch expressions, for example. A process that traps exits still has no way to go play in another one's memory and save it, but it can avoid dying of it. This turns out to be a critical feature to implement supervisors. If you haven't heard of them, we'll get to them soon enough. Before going to supervisors, we still have a few ingredients to be able to successfully cook a system that leverages crashes to its own benefit. One of them is related to how processes are scheduled. For this one, the real world use case I want to refer to is Apollo 11's lunar landing. Apollo 11 is the mission that went to the moon in '69. In the slide right there, we see the lunar module with Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong on board, with a photo taken by a person I assume to be Michael Collins, who stayed in the command module for the mission. While on their way to land on the moon, the lunar module was being guided by the Apollo PGNCS (Primary Guidance, Navigation and Control System). The guidance system had multiple tasks running on it, taking a carefully accounted for number of cycles. NASA had also specified that the processor was only to be used to 85% capacity, leaving 15% free. Now because the astronauts in this case wanted a decent backup plan in case they needed to abort, they had left a rendezvous radar up in case it would come in handy. That took up a decent chunk of the capacity the CPU had left. As Buzz Aldrin started entering commands, error messages would pop up about overflow and basically going out of capacity. If the system was going haywire on this, it possibly couldn't do its job and we could end up with two dead astronauts. This was mostly because the radar had known hardware bugs causing its frequency to be mismatched with the guidance computer, and caused it to steal far more cycles than it should have had otherwise. Now NASA people weren't idiots, and they reused components with which they knew the rare bugs they had rather than just greenfielding new tech for such a critical mission, but more importantly, they had devised priority scheduling. This meant that even in the case where either this radar or possibly the commands entered were overloading the processor, if their priority were too low compared to the absolutely life-critical stuff, the task would get killed to give CPU cycles to what really, really needed it. That was in 1969; today there's still plenty of languages or frameworks that give you only cooperative scheduling and nothing else. Erlang is not a language you'd use for life-critical systems it only respects soft-real time constraints, not hard real time ones and it just wouldn't be a good idea to use it in these scenarios. But Erlang does provide you with preemptive scheduling, and with process priorities. This means that you do not have to care, as a developer or system designer, about making sure that absolutely everyone carefully counts all the CPU usage they're going to be doing across all their components (including libraries you use) to ensure they don't stall the system. They just won't have that capacity. And if you need some important task to always run when it must, you can also get that. This may not seem like a big or common requirement, and people still ship really successful projects only with cooperative scheduling of concurrent tasks, but it certainly is extremely valuable because it protects you against the mistakes of others, and also against your own mistakes. It also opens up the door to mechanisms like automated load-balancing, punishing or rewarding good and bad processes or giving higher priorities to those with a lot of work waiting for them. Those things can end up giving you systems that are fairly adaptive to production loads and unforeseen events. The last ingredient I want to discuss in getting decent fault tolerance is network awareness. In any system we develop that we need to stay up for long periods of time, having more than one computer to run it on quickly becomes a prerequisite. You don't want to be sitting there with your own golden machine locked behind titanium doors, unable to tolerate any disruption with effecting your users in major ways. So you eventually need two computers so one can survive a broken other, and maybe a third one if you want to deploy with broken computers part of your system. The plane on the slide is the F-82 twin mustang, an aircraft that was designed during the second world war to escort bombers over ranges most other fighters just couldn't cover. It had two cockpits so that pilots could take over and relay each other over time when tired; at some point they also fit it so one would pilot while the other would operate radars in an interceptor role. Modern aircrafts still do something similar; they have countless failovers, and often have crew members sleeping in transit during flight time to make sure there's always someone who's alert ready to pilot the plane. When it comes to programming languages or development environments, most of them are designed ignoring distribution altogether, even though people know that if you write a server stack, you need more than one server. Yet, if you're gonna use files, there's gonna be stuff in the standard library for that. The furthest most languages go is giving you a socket library or an HTTP client. Erlang acknowledges the reality of distribution and gives you an implementation for it, which is documented and transparent. This lets people set up fancy logic for failing over or taking over applications that crash to provide more fault tolerance, or even lets other languages pretend they are Erlang nodes to build polyglot systems. So those are all the basic ingredients in the recipe for Erlang Zen. The whole language is built with the purpose of taking crashes and failures, and making them so manageable it becomes possible to use them as a tool. Let it crash starts making sense, and the principles seen here are for the most part things that can be reused as inspiration in non-Erlang systems. How to compose them together is the next challenge. Supervision trees is how you impose structure to your Erlang programs. They start with a simple concept, a supervisor, whose only job is to start processes, look at them, and restart them when they fail. By the way, supervisor are one of the core components of 'OTP', the general development framework used in the name 'Erlang/OTP'. The objective of doing that is to create a hierarchy, where all the important stuff that must be very solid accumulate closer to the root of the tree, and all the fickle stuff, the moving parts, accumulate at the leaves of the tree. In fact, that's what most trees look like in real life: the leaves are mobile, there's a lot of them, they can all fall down in autumn, the tree stays alive. That means that when you structure Erlang programs, everything you feel is fragile and should be allowed to fail has to move deeper into the hierarchy, and what is stable and critical needs to be reliable is higher up. Supervisors can do that through usage of links and trapping exits. Their job begins with starting their children in order, depth-first, from left to right. Only once a child is fully started does it go back up a level and start the next one. Each child is automatically linked. Whenever a child dies, one of three strategies is chosen. The first one on the slide is 'one for one', enacted by only replacing the child process that died. This is a strategy to use whenever the children of that supervisor are independent from each other. The second strategy is 'one for all'. This one is to be used when the children depend on each other. When any of them dies, the supervisor then kills the other children before starting them all back. You would use this when losing a specific child would leave the other processes in an uncertain state. Let's imagine a conversation between three processes that ends with a vote. If one of the process dies during the vote, it is possible that we have not programmed any code to handle that. Replacing that dead process with a new one would now bring a new peer to a table that has no idea what is going on either! This inconsistent state is possibly dangerous to be in if we haven't really defined what goes on when a process wreaks havoc through a voting procedure. It is probably safer to just kill all processes, and start afresh from a known stable state. By doing so, we're limiting the scope of errors: it is better to crash early and suddenly than to slowly corrupt data on a long-term basis. The last strategy happens whenever there is a dependency between processes according to their booting order. Its name is 'rest for one' and if a child process dies, only those booted after it are killed. Processes are then restarted as expected. Each supervisor additionally has configurable controls and tolerance levels. Some supervisors may tolerate only 1 failure per day before aborting while others may tolerate 150 per second. The comment that usually comes right after I mention supervisors is usually to the tune of "but if my configuration file is corrupted, restarting won't fix anything!" That is entirely right. The reason restarting works is due to the nature of bugs encountered in production systems. To discuss this, I have to refer to the terms 'Bohrbug' and 'Heisenbug' coined by Jim Gray in 1985 (I do recommend you read as many Jim Gray papers as you can, they're pretty much all great!) Basically, a bohrbug is a bug that is solid, observable, and easily repeatable. They tend to be fairly simple to reason about. Heisenbugs by contrast, have unreliable behaviour that manifests itself under certain conditions, and which may possibly be hidden by the simple act of trying to observe them. For example, concurrency bugs are notorious for disappearing when using a debugger that may force every operation in the system to be serialised. Heisenbugs are these nasty bugs that happen once in a thousand, million, billion, or trillion times. You know someone's been working on figuring one out for a while once you see them print out pages of code and go to town on them with a bunch of markers. With these terms defined, let's look at what should be their frequencies. Here I'm classifying bohrbugs as repeatable, and heisenbugs as transient. If you have bohrbugs in your system's core features, they should usually be very easy to find before reaching production. By virtue of being repeatable, and often on a critical path, you should encounter them sooner or later, and fix them before shipping. Those that happen in secondary, less used features, are far more of a hit and miss affair. Everyone admits that fixing all bugs in a piece of software is an uphill battle with diminishing returns; weeding out all the little imperfections takes proportionally more time as you go on. Usually, these secondary features will tend to gather less attention because either fewer customers will use them, or their impact on their satisfaction will be less important. Or maybe they're just scheduled later and slipping timelines end up deprioritising their work. In any case, they are somewhat easy to find, we just won't spend the time or resources doing so. Heisenbugs are pretty much impossible to find in development. Fancy techniques like formal proofs, model checking, exhaustive testing or property-based testing may increase the likelihood of uncovering some or all of them (depending on the means used), but frankly, few of us use any of these unless the task at hand is extremely critical. A once in a billion issue requires quite a lot of tests and validation to uncover, and chances are that if you've seen it, you won't be able to generate it again just by luck. The next connection I want to make is regarding the frequency each of these types of bugs have in production (in my experience). There's no obvious proof that there is any connection between the use of finding bugs and their incidence in production systems, but my gut feeling would tell me that such a connection does exist. First of all, easy repeatable bugs in core features should just not make it to production. If they do, you have essentially shipped a broken product and no amount of restarting or support will help your users. Those require modifying the code, and may be the result of some deeply entrenched issues within the organisation that produced them. Repeatable bugs in side-features will pretty often make it to production. I do think this is a result of not taking the time to test them properly, but there's also a strong possibility that secondary features often get left behind when it comes to partial refactorings, or that the people behind their design do not fully consider whether the feature will coherently fit with the rest of the system. On the other hand, transient bugs will show up all the damn time. Jim Gray, who coined these terms, reported that on 132 bugs noted at a given set of customer sites, only one was a Bohrbug. 131/132 of errors encountered in production tended to be heisenbugs. They're hard to catch, and if they're truly statistical bugs that may show once in a million times, it just takes some load on your system to trigger them all the time; a once in a billion bug will show up every 3 hours in a system doing 100,000 requests a second, and a once in a million bug could similarly show up once every 10 seconds on such a system, but their occurrence would still be rare in tests. That's a lot of bugs, and a lot of failures if they are not handled properly. So really, how efficient is restarting as a strategy? Well for repeatable bugs on core features, restarting is useless. For repeatable bugs in less frequently used code paths, it depends; if the feature is a thing very important to a very small amount of users, restarting won't do much. If it's a side-feature used by everyone, but to a degree they don't care much about, then restarting or ignoring the failure altogether can work well. For example, if the facebook 'poke' feature were to be broken (would it still exist), not too many users would notice or see their experience ruined by its failure. For transient bugs though, restarting is extremely effective, and they tend to be the majority of bugs you'll meet live. Because they are hard to reproduce, that their showing up is often dependent on very specific circumstances or interleavings of bits of state in the system, and that their appearance tends to be in a very small fraction of all operations, restarting tends to make them disappear altogether. Rolling back to a known stable state and trying again is unlikely to hit the same weird context that causes them. And just like that, what could have been a catastrophe has become little more than a hiccup for the system, something users quickly learn to live with. You can then make use of logging, tracing, or a variety of introspection tools (which all come out of the box in Erlang) to later find, understand, and fix the issues so they stop happening. Or you could just decide to tolerate them were the effort required to fix the issues too large. This question was asked to me on a forum where I was discussing programming stuff and discussing the Erlang model. I copied it verbatim because it's a great example of a question a lot of people ask when they hear about restarting and Erlang's features. I want to address it specifically by giving a realistic example of how a system could be designed in Erlang, which will highlight its peculiarities. With supervisors (rounded squares), we can start creating deep hierarchies of processes. Here we have a system for elections, with two trees: a tally tree and a live reports tree. The tally tree takes care of counting and storing results, and the live reports tree is about letting people connect to it to see the results. By the order the children are defined, the live reports will not run until the tally tree is booted and functional. The district subtree (about counting results per district) won't run unless the storage layer is available. The storage's cache is only booted if the storage worker pool (which would connect to a database) is operational. The supervision strategies I mentioned earlier let us encode these requirements in the program structure, and they are still respected at run time, not just at boot time. For example, the tally supervisor may be using a one for one strategy, meaning that districts can individually fail without effecting each other's counts. By contrast, each district (Quebec and Ontario's supervisors) could be employing a rest for one strategy. This strategy could therefore ensure that the OCR process can always send its detected vote to the 'count' worker, and it can crash often without impacting it. On the other hand, if the count worker is unable to keep and store state, its demise interrupts the OCR procedure, ensuring nothing breaks. The OCR process itself here could be just monitoring code written in C, as a standalone agent, and be linked to it. This would further isolate the faults of that C code from the VM, for better isolation or parallelisation. Another thing I should point out is that each supervisor has a configurable tolerance to failure; the district supervisor might be very tolerant and deal with 10 failures a minute, whereas the storage layer could be fairly intolerant to failure if expected to be correct, and shut down permanently after 3 crashes an hour if we wanted it to. In this program, critical features are closer to the root of the tree, unmoving and solid. They are unimpacted by their siblings' demise, but their own failure impacts everyone else. The leaves do all the work and can be lost fairly well once they have absorbed the data and operated their photosynthesis on it, it is allowed to go towards the core. So by defining all of that, we can isolate risky code in a worker with a high tolerance or a process that is being monitored, and move data to stabler process as information matures into the system. If the OCR code in C is dangerous, it can fail and safely be restarted. When it works, it transmits its information to the Erlang OCR process. That process can do validation, maybe crash on its own, maybe not. If the information is solid, it moves it to the Count process, whose job is to maintain very simple state, and eventually flush that state to the database via the storage subtree, safely independent. If the OCR process dies, it gets restarted. If it dies too often, it takes its own supervisor down, and that bit of the subtree is restarted too without affecting the rest of the system. If that fixes things, great. If not, the process is repeated upwards until it works, or until the whole system is taken down as something is clearly wrong and we can't cope with it through restarts. There's enormous value in structuring the system this way because error handling is baked into its structure. This means I can stop writing outrageously defensive code in the edge nodes if something goes wrong, let someone else (or the program's structure) dictate how to react. If I know how to handle an error, fine, I can do that for that specific error. Otherwise, just let it crash! This tends to transform your code. Slowly you notice that it no longer contains these tons of if/else or switches or try/catch expressions. Instead, it contains legible code explaining what the code should do when everything goes right. It stops containing many forms of second guessing, and your software becomes much more readable. When taking a step back and looking at our program structure, we may in fact find that each of the subtrees encircled in yellow seem to be mostly independent from each other in terms of what they do; their dependency is mostly logical: the reporting system needs a storage layer to query, for example. It would also be great if I could, for example, swap my storage implementation or use it independently in other systems. It could be neat, too, to isolate the live reports system into a different node or to start providing alternative means (such as SMS for example). What we now need is to find a way to break up these subtrees and turn them into logical units that we can compose, reuse together, and that we can otherwise configure, restart, or develop independently. OTP applications are what Erlang uses as a solution here. OTP applications are pretty much the code to construct such a subtree, along with some metadata. This metadata contains basic stuff like version numbers and descriptions of what the app does, but also ways to specify dependencies between applications. This is useful because it lets me keep my storage app independent from the rest of the system, but still encode the tally app's need for it to be there when it runs. I can keep all the information I had encoded in my system, but now it is built out of independent blocks that are easier to reason about. In fact, OTP applications are what people consider to be libraries in Erlang. If your code base isn't an OTP application, it isn't reusable in other systems. [Sidenote: there are ways to specify OTP libraries that do not actually contain subtrees, just modules to be reused by other libraries] With all of this done, our Erlang system now has all of the following properties defined: what is critical or not to the survival of the system what is allowed to fail or not, and at which frequency it can do so before it is no longer sustainable how software should boot according to which guarantees, and in what order how software should fail, meaning it defines the legal states of partial failures you find yourself in, and how to roll back to a known stable state when this happens how software is upgraded (because it can be upgraded live, based on the supervision structure) how components interdepend on each other This is all extremely valuable. What's more valuable is forcing every developer to think in such terms from early on. You have less defensive code, and when bad things happen, the system keeps running. All you have to do is go look at the logs or introspect the live system state and take your time to fix things, if you feel it's worth the time. With all of this done, I should be able to sleep at night, right? Hopefully yes. What I included here is a small pixelated diagram from a new software deploy we ran at Heroku a couple of years ago. The leftmost side of the diagram is around September. By that time, our new proxying layer (vegur) had been in production for maybe 3 months, and we had ironed out most of the kinks in it. Users had no problem, the transition was going smoothly and new features were being used. At some point, a team member got a very expensive credit card bill for the logging service we were using to aggregate exceptions. That's when we took a look at it and saw the horror on the leftmost side of the diagram: we were generating between 500,000 to 1,200,000 exceptions a day! Holy cow, that was a lot. But was it? If the issue was a heisenbug, and our system was seeing, say 100,000 requests a second, what were the odds of it happening? Something between 1/17000 and 1/7000. Somewhat very frequent, but because it had no impact on service, we didn't notice it until the bandwidth and storage bill came through. It took us a short while to figure out the error, and we fixed it. You can see that there is still a low rate of exceptions after that, maybe a few dozen thousands a day. They're all things we know of, but are impact-free. Two years later and we haven't bothered to fix it because the system works fine despite that. At the same time, you can't always just sleep at night. Failures can be out of your control despite your best design efforts. A couple of years ago I was on a flight to Vancouver starting on its descent when the pilot used the intercom to tell us something a bit like this: "this is your captain speaking, we will be landing shortly. Do not be alarmed as we will stay on the tarmac for a few minutes while the fire department looks over the plane. We have lost some hydraulic component and they want to ensure there is no risk of fire. There are two backup systems for the broken one, and we should be fine." And we were fine. In this case the airplane was amazingly well designed. The image for this slide isn't that flight though, it's another one I was on two weeks ago, while the Eastern US were being burrowed under 24 inches of snow. The plane (flight United 734), which I'm sure was as reliable, landed on the runway. When it came time to break though, it made a loud noise, what I assume is the ABS equivalent of aircrafts, but it still kept going. We ran over the red lights at the end of the runway you see on the picture, and at the end of the tarmac, the plane skid off the runway, missed the onramp, and the front wheel ended up in the grass. Everyone was fine, but this is an example of why great engineering cannot save the day every time. In fact, operations will always remain a huge factor in successful systems being deployed. This slide is heavily inspired (pretty much stolen in fact) from presentations by Richard Cook. If you don't know him, I urge you to go watch videos of his talks on youtube, they're pretty much all fantastic. Proper system architecture and development practices can still not replace, or can be broken by inadequate operations; the efficiency and usefulness of tools, playbooks, monitoring, automation, and so on, all tend to implicitly rely on the knowledge and respect of well-defined operating conditions (throughput, load, overload management, etc.) If defined at all, these operational limits let you know when things are about to go bad, and when they are good again. The problem with these limits is that as operators get used to them, and get used to frequently breaking them without negative consequences, there is a risk of slowly pushing the envelope towards the edge of the danger zone, where nasty large-scale failures happen. Your reaction time and margin to adapt to higher loads erodes, and you eventually end in a position where things are constantly broken with no respite in sight. So we have to be careful and aware of this kind of thing, and to the importance that people using and operating the software has on it. It is always harder to scale up a good team than it is to scale up a program. Plan for emergencies even if they don't happen; they will some day and you'll be happy you ran simulations and have recipes to follow to fix it all up. In the case of my flight, as I said, nobody was injured. Still, this is the circus that was deployed for it all: busses to escort passengers back to the terminal, since moving a stranded plane could be risky. Pick-up trucks to escort the busses safely from the runway to the terminal. Police cars, a whole lot of fire trucks, and that black car that I don't know what it does but I'm sure it's super useful. They deploy all of that despite everyone being fine, despite planes being super reliable. They do things right. Here's another bunch of things you gain by using Erlang. I don't really have much to say about them, just that I do tend to have some kind of interest in you switching to use it, so here it is. The last point is worth commenting though. One of the risks that happen in languages that are very flexible in their approach in system design is that libraries you use may not want to do things the way you feel would be appropriate in your case, and you're left either not using the lib, or having to operate codebases with an incoherent design. This doesn't happen in Erlang as everyone uses the same proven approach to do things. In a nutshell, the Zen of Erlang and 'let it crash' is really all about figuring out how components interact with each other, figuring out what is critical and what is not, what state can be saved, kept, recomputed, or lost. In all cases, you have to come up with a worst-case scenario and how to survive it. By using fail-fast mechanisms with isolation, links & monitors, and supervisors to give boundaries to all of these worst-case scenarios' scale and propagation, you make it a really well-understood regular failure case. That sounds simple, but it's surprisingly good; if you feel that your well-understood regular failure case is viable, then all your error handling can fall-through to that case. You no longer need to worry or write defensive code. You write what the code should do and let the program's structure dictate the rest. Let it crash. Thats the Zen of Erlang: building interactions first, making sure the worst that can happen is still okay. Then there will be few faults or failures in your system to make you nervous (and when it happens, you can introspect everything at run time!) You can sit back and relax. [caption id="attachment_13143" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Greta Lichtenbaum, partner with O'Melveny & Myers. Courtesy photo. [/caption] President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States would withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and renew trade sanctions that were eased during the Obama administration after years of negotiations. China, the European Union, France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom also were parties to the agreement that Iran adopted in 2015, which is formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and had agreed to lift some economic sanctions provided that Iran stopped certain aspects of its nuclear program. These other parties havent indicated they will join the United States in withdrawing from the JCPOA.Greta Lichtenbaum, a partner at OMelveny & Myers based in Washington, D.C. who specializes in international trade and U.S. regulatory compliance and writes and speaks often on the subject, said the reimposition of trade sanctions is expected to have a significant impact" on multinational companies with business interests in both the U.S. and Iran.As she explained in a contributed article for Corporate Counsel in 2016, when the economic sanctions against Iran were loosened, sanctions are on two levels: There are primary sanctions, which broadly prohibit U.S. companies from directly engaging in nearly all business with Iran; and secondary sanctions that deny foreign entities access to U.S. markets if they engage in certain business in Iran particularly around energy, financial services transactions and transportation. Here Lichtenbaum answers five questions about what compliance lawyers and others engaged in international commerce involving Iran need to know about the re-imposed sanctions. The interview has been edited for clarity and length.Corporate Counsel: Who is most affected by the renewed U.S. trade sanctions on Iran?Greta Lichtenbaum: U.S. companies with foreign subsidiaries that have been conducting business in Iran under the general licenses that were issued after the JCPOA are very affected, because they will have to wind it down between now and early November. And non-U.S. companies that conduct business in Iran that have U.S. ties also can be affected, because some of their activity will be potentially sanctionable under so-called secondary sanctions based in U.S. law. Obviously, Iranian companies are affected.Also, there are many European companies and multinational companies based outside the U.S. that have very significant operations here, so they need to pay attention to U.S. restrictions. Any energy sector, oil and gas petrochemical company has to look carefully at these changes, and the banking and insurance industry, and the automotive industry as well. Those are some of the sectors most affected. Certainly, Airbus [and Boeing] because now they are no longer going to be able to sell aircraft to Iran with U.S. content.What are the some of the major changes from the immediate past?By way of context, the U.S. has maintained broad economic sanctions against Iran since 1995. U.S. companies cannot do business there, except in very limited circumstances. Then, between 2010 and 2015, the U.S. broadened the secondary sanctions, which apply to non-US companies. Under secondary sanctions, if you conduct certain activity in Iran you may lose access to some benefits of the US market. Then, under the JCPOA, the president waived secondary sanctions associated with Irans nuclear program. But now all of those are going back in place. The practical effect is 1) U.S. foreign subsidiaries were able to do business in Iran and now they cant; and 2) multinational non-US companies have to be worried about those secondary sanctions. That is the change.When do the renewed sanctions take effect?Companies currently engaging in activities that will now be subject to sanctions because of the United States withdrawal from the JCPOA have been given time to wind down their activities, in some cases three months -- August -- and in other cases six months -- November.Why should companies and their compliance officers care? They should care because if they dont pay attention, U.S. companies can pay very significant fines and penalties in the hundreds of millions of dollars. This also can apply to non-U.S. companies if they are acting in the U.S. There have been fines in the high hundreds of millions involving non-U.S. banks using U.S. banks to clear their transactions involving sanctioned countries. If you run afoul of primary sanctions, they can pay fines into hundreds of millions and individuals can be imprisoned for willful violations. And for non-U.S. companies that engage in activity subject to secondary sanctions, it can drastically affect their ability to do business in the United States. They can face significant sanctions that will make it very difficult to do business in the U.S. or to have access to the U.S. market.How should compliance officers respond?The response should be to assess how these reimposed measures will affect their existing business and take steps to address the changes, either through ceasing certain activity, or putting in place procedures to make sure transactions subject to sanctions dont occur. For example, if your foreign subsidiary in Dubai is doing business in Iranas they are now allowed to domake sure they are taking steps to wind down the business within the time frame that is required.Another thing that companies need to be aware of with this change in the law, is that they need to be very careful about their counterparties who are non-U.S. firms who may still be doing business in Iran. You could find yourself in a position where you are facilitating a non-U.S. business in Iran. That is a risk. China Life Insurance Company Limited (SEHK:2628) delivered an ROE of 11.81% over the past 12 months, which is an impressive feat relative to its industry average of 11.54% during the same period. On the surface, this looks fantastic since we know that 2628 has made large profits from little equity capital; however, ROE doesnt tell us if management have borrowed heavily to make this happen. Well take a closer look today at factors like financial leverage to determine whether 2628s ROE is actually sustainable. See our latest analysis for China Life Insurance Breaking down Return on Equity Return on Equity (ROE) weighs China Life Insurances profit against the level of its shareholders equity. It essentially shows how much the company can generate in earnings given the amount of equity it has raised. While a higher ROE is preferred in most cases, there are several other factors we should consider before drawing any conclusions. Return on Equity = Net Profit Shareholders Equity Returns are usually compared to costs to measure the efficiency of capital. China Life Insurances cost of equity is 9.14%. Given a positive discrepancy of 2.66% between return and cost, this indicates that China Life Insurance pays less for its capital than what it generates in return, which is a sign of capital efficiency. ROE can be broken down into three different ratios: net profit margin, asset turnover, and financial leverage. This is called the Dupont Formula: Dupont Formula ROE = profit margin asset turnover financial leverage ROE = (annual net profit sales) (sales assets) (assets shareholders equity) ROE = annual net profit shareholders equity SEHK:2628 Last Perf May 19th 18 Essentially, profit margin shows how much money the company makes after paying for all its expenses. Asset turnover reveals how much revenue can be generated from China Life Insurances asset base. And finally, financial leverage is simply how much of assets are funded by equity, which exhibits how sustainable the companys capital structure is. Since ROE can be inflated by excessive debt, we need to examine China Life Insurances debt-to-equity level. At 32.40%, China Life Insurances debt-to-equity ratio appears low and indicates the above-average ROE is generated from its capacity to increase profit without a large debt burden. Story continues SEHK:2628 Historical Debt May 19th 18 Next Steps: ROE is a simple yet informative ratio, illustrating the various components that each measure the quality of the overall stock. China Life Insurances above-industry ROE is encouraging, and is also in excess of its cost of equity. ROE is not likely to be inflated by excessive debt funding, giving shareholders more conviction in the sustainability of high returns. Although ROE can be a useful metric, it is only a small part of diligent research. For China Life Insurance, Ive compiled three important factors you should look at: Financial Health: Does it have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Valuation: What is China Life Insurance worth today? Is the stock undervalued, even when its growth outlook is factored into its intrinsic value? The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether China Life Insurance is currently mispriced by the market. Other High-Growth Alternatives : Are there other high-growth stocks you could be holding instead of China Life Insurance? Explore our interactive list of stocks with large growth potential to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! To help readers see pass the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. The left-wing Five Star Movement and the far-right Lega released their plans for the next executive Friday morning. The plan would potentially end more than two months of political instability in the third largest euro zone economy. The agreement, revealed Friday, also called for an end to EU sanctions on Russia. The power-sharing agreement between Italy's two populist parties is likely to raise concerns for officials at the European Union. The left-wing Five Star Movement (M5S) and the far-right Lega are on the brink of clinching power in the southern European nation, forming a coalition after neither party gained enough seats to govern alone at March elections. They released their plans for the next executive Friday morning which would potentially end more than two months of political instability in the third largest euro zone economy. The plan will be voted on by their members over the weekend and, if approved, could bring further problems for the EU. Their plan aims for a "necessary" re-discussion over European treaties, a "reduction" of the powers coming from Brussels, and a return to a pre-Maastricht setting. Under an accord signed in the city of Maastricht in 1992, European countries are supposed to comply with euro-wide fiscal rules. This means that their debt-to-GDP (gross domestic product) ratio should not exceed 60 percent and their public accounts should not register a deficit above 3 percent of GDP. Italy's debt stands at about 132 percent of GDP and the country registered a deficit of 2.3 percent in 2017. The two Italian parties want to increase public spending when in power. As a result, they want a relaxation of EU rules to be able to fill those campaign promises. However, some Brussels-based officials have been sending public warnings. The European Commissioner Valdis Drombroskis said earlier this week that independently of who's in charge in Italy, the government will have to respect the EU rulebook. Story continues The agreement, revealed Friday, also called for an end to EU sanctions on Russia. Since the annexation of Crimea, in 2014, the EU has applied restrictions to Russian companies and citizens. The document included some criticism of the EU's response to migration. Italy is, along with Greece, the biggest recipient of illegal migration from war-torn countries. Some member states have refused to receive some of those migrants and give them shelter. M5S and Lega also demand a renegotiation of how much Italy pays into the EU budget. Rome is one of the top contributors to the common European basket, which is used to pay civil servants, infrastructure projects across the region, as well as sponsoring student exchanges, among others. The two parties also included a line on trade, saying they are against large trade deals, like the one signed with Canada and the agreement that was being negotiated with the U.S. prior to the arrival of the President Donald Trump administration. Italian borrowing costs surged following the announcement of the government program. The yield on the 10-year Italian note rose to 2.21 percent at about 11.40 a.m. London time Friday. The sovereign bond was on track for its biggest weekly jump since June 2015. The euro also fell on the news to $1.1775 from $1.1810. More From CNBC election malaysia mahathir muhamad Aaron Favila/AP Malaysia's opposition party won the country's general election Wednesday. They defeated a coalition that has ruled Malaysia for more than six decades. A Moody's analyst said the election left Malaysia in "uncharted territory." After a stunning political upset, the future of Malaysia's economy is anything but certain. Ninety-two-year-old former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad on Wednesday led the country's opposition party to victory in a historic general election, defeating a coalition that has ruled Malaysia for more than six decades. Some think Mohamad could eventually offer Malaysia, which has not seen a change in government since it gained independence from Britain in 1957, relief from major structural issues that have plagued the economy. "His victory opens up the possibility that Malaysia will finally start to tackle some of the institutional problems that are holding back the countrys long-run prospects," said analysts at Capital Economics. Prime Minister Najib Razak has faced a spate of corruption allegations, including embezzling more than a billion dollars from a state development fund. It's likely the scandals at least partly propelled Mahathir, who has vowed to clean up the government, to victory. But in the short- to medium-term, analysts are taking a more cautious tone. Moody's analyst Anushka Shah said the win left Malaysia in "uncharted territory" and expressed concern about policy proposals Mohamad floated on the campaign trail. Mohamad has vowed to scrap the country's goods and services tax, which has been unpopular with voters but highly effective for government revenue. It raked in 42 billion ringgit last year more than double that of the previous system. At the same time, Mohamad has also made big spending promises, including a reintroduction of fuel subsidies. Those policies, if implemented as is, would be "credit negative," according to Shah. Story continues Malaysia already has one of the highest levels of debt in the region, adding up to more than half of gross domestic product. And the deficit is likely to continue jumping under Muhamad, according to analysts. "With spending likely to rise sharply this year, a big increase in the budget deficit looks inevitable," Capital Economics analysts said. "This would imply a sharp tightening of fiscal policy later in the forecast period." For now, Malaysia's central bank is remaining calm. Bank Negara Malaysia officials left rates unchanged at 3.25% in a policy meeting hours after the election. They didn't mention the new government or take questions from reporters, according to Reuters. The ringgit's one-month non-deliverable forwards fell 2.3% overnight. Analysts at Macquaries called it a "knee jerk sell-off" and said they expect pressure to fade. NOW WATCH: Jeff Bezos reveals what it's like to build an empire and become the richest man in the world and why he's willing to spend $1 billion a year to fund the most important mission of his life See Also: SEE ALSO: Oil surges to a fresh high as Middle East tensions spark violence Dividends play a key role in compounding returns over time and can form a large part of our portfolio return. ONEOK Inc (NYSE:OKE) has returned to shareholders over the past 10 years, an average dividend yield of 4.00% annually. Does ONEOK tick all the boxes of a great dividend stock? Below, Ill take you through my analysis. Check out our latest analysis for ONEOK 5 checks you should use to assess a dividend stock Whenever I am looking at a potential dividend stock investment, I always check these five metrics: Is its annual yield among the top 25% of dividend-paying companies? Has it paid dividend every year without dramatically reducing payout in the past? Has dividend per share amount increased over the past? Can it afford to pay the current rate of dividends from its earnings? Will the company be able to keep paying dividend based on the future earnings growth? NYSE:OKE Historical Dividend Yield May 19th 18 How well does ONEOK fit our criteria? The current trailing twelve-month payout ratio for OKE is 187.97%, meaning the dividend is not sufficiently covered by its earnings. Going forward, analysts expect OKEs payout to reduce to 125.16% of its earnings, which leads to a dividend yield of 5.58%. However, EPS should increase to $2.66, meaning that the lower payout ratio does not necessarily implicate a lower dividend payment. Reliablity is an important factor for dividend stocks, particularly for income investors who want a strong track record of payment and a positive outlook for future payout. In the case of OKE it has increased its DPS from $0.76 to $3.18 in the past 10 years. It has also been paying out dividend consistently during this time, as youd expect for a company increasing its dividend levels. These are all positive signs of a great, reliable dividend stock. Compared to its peers, ONEOK produces a yield of 4.78%, which is high for Oil and Gas stocks. Next Steps: Keeping in mind the dividend characteristics above, ONEOK is definitely worth considering for investors looking to build a dedicated income portfolio. Given that this is purely a dividend analysis, you should always research extensively before deciding whether or not a stock is an appropriate investment for you. I always recommend analysing the companys fundamentals and underlying business before making an investment decision. There are three key aspects you should further research: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for OKEs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for OKEs outlook. Valuation: What is OKE worth today? Even if the stock is a cash cow, its not worth an infinite price. The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether OKE is currently mispriced by the market. Other Dividend Rockstars: Are there better dividend payers with stronger fundamentals out there? Check out our free list of these great stocks here. To help readers see pass the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. (Corrects name of engine maker in paragraph 22) By Sarah Marsh and Nelson Acosta HAVANA, May 18 (Reuters) - More than 100 people were killed when a Boeing 737 crashed soon after taking off from Havana in what appeared to be Cuba's worst air disaster in nearly 30 years, and there were only three survivors, officials and state media said on Friday. The passenger plane, on a domestic flight to Holguin in eastern Cuba, crashed at 12:08 p.m. (1608 GMT). There were 105 passengers, including five children, plus crew members, state media reported. Five of the passengers and the crew were foreign, according to media reports. Two Argentine citizens and an unspecified number of Mexicans were among the dead, the Argentine and Mexican governments said. President Miguel Diaz-Canel said in broadcast comments that a high number of people appeared to have been killed. He said the fire from the crash had been extinguished and authorities were identifying bodies. Diaz-Canel said authorities were investigating the cause of the crash. Cuba declared an official period of mourning from 6 a.m. on May 19 to 12 p.m. on May 20, during which the flag would be flown at half-mast outside state and military institutions. Former Cuban president Raul Castro, who now heads the country's ruling Communist Party, offered his condolences to the families of those who died in the crash as he recovered from a hernia operation, State media reported This was the first time Cuba reported on a health issue for Castro, 86, who last month handed over the reins of power to his right-hand man Diaz-Canel. Castro "who is recovering satisfactorily from a recent planned surgery to get rid of a hernia is staying up to date on the situation and has given the relevant guidance," the Communist Party newspaper Granma reported. Blackened wreckage of Flight CU972 was strewn over the crash site, 20 km (12 miles) south of Havana. "We heard an explosion and then saw a big cloud of smoke go up," said Gilberto Menendez, who runs a restaurant near the crash site in the agricultural area of Boyeros. Story continues The flight's destination, Holguin, is the capital of a province popular with tourists for its pristine beaches. Carlos Alberto Martinez, director of Havana's Calixto Garcia hospital, told Reuters that four victims of the crash had been were brought there and one died. Three others, all women, were in a serious condition, he said. "She is alive but very burnt and swollen," said one of the women's relatives at the hospital. The Mexican transport department said on its website, "During take-off (the plane) apparently suffered a problem and dived to the ground." The Boeing 737-201 aircraft was built in 1979 and leased by Cuban airline Cubana from a small Mexican company called Damojh, according to the Mexican government. Damojh in Mexico said it did not immediately have any more information. Cubana declined to comment. Mexico said it would send a team of investigators from its Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics on Saturday. Most aircraft accidents take months to investigate. A U.S. State Department official said the agency was not aware of any request for U.S. assistance at this time, but the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration had offered to assist in the investigation. The State Department has spoken with the Cuban ambassador to offer condolences, the official said. Boeing Co said in a statement that its technical team stood "ready to assist as permitted under U.S. law and at the direction of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Cuban authorities." The United States has a decades-old trade embargo on the island. The earliest Boeing 737s like the one that crashed use engines made by Pratt & Whitney, part of U.S.-based industrial group United Technologies. On Thursday, Cuba's First Vice President Salvador Valdes Mesa met with Cubana bosses to discuss public complaints about its service, according to state-run media, including numerous cancellations of domestic flights this year and long delays. Earlier this month, the company was ordered to suspend flights of its six Russian built AN-158 aircraft, of which most had reportedly already been grounded, according to state-run media. The last fatal crash in Cuba was in 2017, the Aviation Safety Network said. It was a military flight and all eight on board were killed. In 2010, a commercial Aero Caribbean plane crashed in central Cuba and all 68 people on board were killed. In the worst Cubana disaster, a Soviet-made Ilyushin-62M passenger plane crashed near Havana in 1989 killing all 126 people on board. (Reporting by Sarah Marsh, Nelson Acosta and Marc Frank in Havana Additional reporting by Anthony Esposito, Julia Love, Christine Murray, Dave Graham and Lizbeth Diaz in Mexico, and Lesley Wroughton in Washington Writing by Rosalba O'Brien Editing by Grant McCool, Toni Reinhold) FILE PHOTO: President of En+ Group, Oleg Deripaska attends an agreement signing ceremony with the Krasnoyarsk region's government, in Moscow, Russia December 12, 2017. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin/File Photo MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian sanctions-hit businessman Oleg Deripaska has resigned from the board of directors of Russia's En+, the company said on Friday, in a move that could help alleviate sanctions pressure on the firm. Washington imposed sweeping sanctions last month on some of Russia's biggest companies and businessmen, including En+, striking at allies of President Vladimir Putin to punish Moscow for alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and other so-called malign activities. En+, which manages Deripaska's aluminum and hydropower businesses, said it would propose that Philippe Mailfait, an independent director at the group, replace Deripaska on the board of directors of Rusal, Russia's largest aluminum producer. The group on Friday reported first-quarter net profits of $667 million, with its revenue increasing 17 percent year-on-year to $3.4 billion. It said the long-term effects of the U.S. move and the threat of additional sanctions were difficult to determine. The group's chairman said this month it was working on a plan it hoped would lead the United States to lift the sanctions. Deripaska has tried to distance himself from the companies. He agreed last month to lower his stake in En+ Group to less than 50 percent, after Washington said it could lift the sanctions against the company if he relinquished control. But Deripaska has yet to cede his stake in the group. The Russian government has pledged to assist Russian companies that experience financial troubles because of the U.S. sanctions. But on Monday, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said Russia was not considering buying stakes in En+ and Rusal. (Reporting by Polina Devitt; writing by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Dale Hudson) Aluminium ingots stored at the foundry shop of Rusal'S Krasnoyarsk aluminium smelter in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, November 9, 2017. REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin/Files By Melanie Burton and Katya Golubkova MELBOURNE/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian aluminium giant Rusal on Friday warned of expeccted harm to its business from U.S. sanctions, sending its shares down more than 7 percent despite the company reporting a 20 percent jump in first-quarter core profit. Washington last month announced sanctions on Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska and several companies in which he is a large shareholder, including Rusal, En+ Group and GAZ Group, in response to what the United States said were Russia's "malign activities". Though Rusal, the world's biggest aluminium producer, said longer-term effects of the sanctions and the threat of additional future sanctions are difficult to determine, the company said it warned that the impact is highly likely to be "materially adverse". "In present circumstances, any forecast or outlook made or previously made should be deemed unreliable and may become irrelevant due to ongoing developments on the market at this period of time," it said. Rusal's Hong Kong-listed shares were down 7.4 percent by 0759 GMT, reducing its market capitalisation to $4.2 billion, according to the ThomsonReuters data. The company has lost about 60 percent of its value since the sanctions were announced on April 6. The company had earlier reported that adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 20.4 percent year on year to $572 million in the three months to March 31 on revenue up 19.5 percent at $2.7 billion. SLIDING CASH FLOW Profit was bolstered by a 16.7 percent rise in the LME aluminium price over the period, while Rusal's aluminium output increased 2.3 percent year on year to 931,000 tonnes. Net profit including returns from Rusal 28 percent share in Norilsk Nickel rose 22.4 percent to $531 million. Rusal's net debt slightly rose to $7.89 billion at the end of March from $7.65 billion at the end of December and net cash flow dropped 46 percent year on year to $116 million. Story continues The U.S. Treasury last month gave investors an additional month to divest or transfer their holdings in sanctions targets Rusal, En+ Group and GAZ. The extension followed an earlier U.S. Treasury announcement that it would give American companies until Oct. 23 instead of June 5 to wind down business with Rusal. The company plans to overhaul its board and management in an effort to persuade the United States to lift the sanctions, which have led customers to stop buying its aluminium, sources close to the company told Reuters last month. Deripaska has agreed in principle to reduce his stake in En+ Group, which holds his 48 percent stake in Rusal, after the United States said it could remove Rusal from the sanctions list if he ceded control. (Additional reporting by Diana Asonova and Anastasia Lyrchikova in MOSCOW; Editing by David Goodman) Last week in this space I pondered the possibility that, for political reasons, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping might prefer a protracted standoff over trade to a negotiated settlement. In the wake of Chinese economic adviser Liu Hes visit to Washington this week, it appears that I was wrong. Both sides now seem eager to do a deal. On Monday, Trump stunned Republicans and Democrats alike by announcing via Twitter that he had ordered the U.S. Commerce Department to reverse a ban on sales of U.S. products to Chinese telecommunications company ZTE. On Thursday, it emerged that his ZTE U-turn was part of a broader accord in which the U.S. would withdraw its threat to slap tariffs on $150 billion of Chinese imports in exchange for promise that China would forego pending tariffs on U.S. sorghum exports and dramatically ramp up purchases of American products. It has been widely reported in the U.S. press that Beijing will commit to reducing Chinas current $375 billion trade surplus with the United States by $200 billion over the next two years, mainly by increasing Chinese purchases of American soy beans, natural gas and commercial aircraft. Its hard to know what to make of such a grand bargain. The reported terms of the deal are difficult to justify on economic or national security grounds. Even allies were baffled by Trumps claim that he was reversing the ZTE deal for fear that too many Chinese jobs would be lost; wasnt the whole point of his trade war to protect American jobs? His about-face has offered a reprieve to a company that blatantly flouted U.S. import sanctions against Iran, even as Trump moved to scrap the existing nuclear accord with Iran on the grounds that it wasnt tough enough. The real puzzler is Trumps offer to abandon tariffs in exchange for a Chinese promise to reduce the bilateral trade deficit. It remains unclear what, exactly, Beijing has proposed. U.S. accounts notwithstanding, reports in Chinas state-owned media deny Beijing has committed to reducing the deficit by a specific dollar figure. Economists and trade experts, meanwhile, warned almost unanimously that reducing the deficit by $200 billion within two years is an impossible task. Story continues For one thing, the U.S. economy is functioning at or near full capacity, so its unclear where American companies will find the workers, factories and equipment to answer increased demand from China. For another, the trade math doesnt add up. Even under the most optimistic assumptions, increased U.S. farm exports to China wont reduce the deficit by anywhere close to $100 billion. Boeing might be able to increase the overall number of aircraft it produces over the next two years by a handful of planes, but not enough to slash the deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars. The company might shift to Chinese airlines some of the aircrafts it is producing for customers in Europe, but that would affect only the bilateral trade balance with China while leaving Americas global deficit unchanged. The Chinese would happily increase their consumption of U.S. semiconductors and other high-tech products. But U.S. legislators in recent years have sought to restrict such sales rather than encourage them. Similarly, China would love to be able to purchase American-made military hardware, but the U.S. has banned arms sales to China since leaders of the Communist Party ordered Peoples Liberation Army forces to open fire on democracy advocates in Tiananmen Square in 1989. The deal makes more sense if seen through the prism of Trumps parallel parlay with North Korean dictator Kim Jung-un, who this week called an abrupt halt to preparations for a summit with Trump in Singapore to finalize arrangements for dismantling North Koreas nuclear missile program. As Trump himself observed this week, Kim threatened to back out of the summit immediately following a May 8 meeting with Xi Jinping. Trump has speculated publicly that Xi might be influencing Kim. So has Trump concluded that the only way he can close a deal with Kim is to back off on Xi? Is he betting that Chinas pledge to reduce the deficit gives him enough of a fig leaf to declare his China policy a success in the 2020 presidential campaign, and that the vagueness and implausibility of that promise wont matter if he signs an historic accord with North Korea? Its far easier to understand why a deal focused solely on adjusting the U.S.-China trade balance would appeal to Xi. The Chinese leader will simply order state-owned firms to shift purchases of soy beans, gas, and other products to the U.S. at the expense of other trade partners. If all the U.S. cares about is reducing the deficit, Beijing will remain free to protect home-grown firms, pressure foreign companies to surrender cutting -edge technology as the price of entry into Chinas market, and lavish state subsidies on domestic players in high-priority sectors like semi-conductors, industrial robots and artificial intelligence. The perverse outcome of Trumps insistence that the Chinese government do whatever it takes to reduce the trade imbalance would be an even larger role for the state in Chinas economy. The terms of the U.S.-China trade deal, at least as they have been reported thus far, will only perpetuate the industrial policies and political structures that created that imbalance in the first place. As an anonymous source quoted in Politico put it, this isnt the art of the deal, its the art of the bad deal. Politics and Policy No hawkers. During a visit to Beijing two weeks ago, China hawk and trade advisor Peter Navarro exchanged sharp words with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, signalling a disagreement over how to handle trade negotiations. On Wednesday, Navarros name appeared to be absent from a list of diplomats due to be involved in this weeks trade talks. However, on Thursday a White House official reported that Navarro would be involved after all. Bloomberg As easy as ZTE. On Wednesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray told a Senate panel that the agency is deeply concerned about a company like ZTE gaining influence in the US telecommunications market. On Thursday, in a further blow to Trumps sudden goodwill towards the tech firm, a bipartisan House committee voted unanimously to uphold the sanctions currently placed on ZTE. This amendment would prevent the commerce department from renegotiation of the sanctions is just enacted last month, said republican Dutch Ruppersberger. The Hill Korea path. China foreign minister Wang Yi counselled America to remain calm in its response to North Koreas threat to call off the Kim-Trump meeting next month. Trump did exhibit a que sera, seramind-set during a press conference this week when he said, We may have the meeting; we may not have the meetingWell see what happens. However, later the president speculated that China might have been behind the Norths sudden change in heart. President Xi could be influencing Kim Jong-un, he said. Real Clear Politics Just not on my turf. Despite trying to silence activism that emerged last month around the alleged sexual assault cases against a former Beijing University professor, the Chinese government has now expressed deep concern over similar allegations of sexual abuse of Chinese students that have emerged around former University of Southern California gynecologist George Tyndall. LA Times Technology and Innovation Bye to Baidu. Baidu chairman Qi Lu has stepped down from all active management roles in the internet search giant, less than two years after the star hire from Microsoft was tasked to reshape almost every aspect of its business. Lu, who was spearheading Baidus AI efforts as he did at Microsoft, left for family reasons and because he was unable to continue working in China full-time, the company said. He remains vice chairman. Bloomberg Safety straps. Ride-hailing service Didi Chuxing has announced a slate of new safety measures, a week after the alleged rape and murder of a 21-year-old female passenger by one of its drivers led to a public chastising from Chinas Ministry of Transport. The additions include suspending night-time rides on its ride-sharing Hitch platform, building in an emergency call function and tracking its drivers through facial recognition software. The latter has been widely criticised as the flaw that allowed the unregistered driver to go undetected. Sixth Tone Facebooks China profits. Though Facebook is still banned in China, almost 10% of the firms global ad revenue comes from the country, according to a new research report. Chinese advertisers will spend an estimated $5 billion in Facebook ad revenue over the course of 2018, if not more. This makes China the second-largest country for Facebook ad revenue after the US. Quartz See you in court, again. Beijing-based Bytedance Tech, the company behind popular news aggregator Jinri Toutiao and video platform Douyin, has issued separate lawsuits against Baidu and Tencent on the same day. Toutiao has accused Baidu of unauthorised streaming of its proprietary talk show, while Douyin is suing Tencent for defamation, after Tencent CEO Pony Ma and Bytedance founder Zhang Yiming publicly bickered over a WeChat article berating the Douyin app for being harmful to children and their safety. TechNode Celestial empire. China launched its first privately-made rocket on Thursday. The Chongqing Liangjiang Star rocket was developed by Beijing-based OneSpace Technology, which was founded in 2015. This is the first rocket developed and built entirely with homegrown technology, founder and CEO Shu Chang claimed. Although OneSpace is privately-held, it has entered partnerships with state-owned firms, such as Chongqing Liangjiang Aviation Industry Investment Group. The two inked a deal to co-build an R&D centre last year. CNN Just for the hack of it. Def Con,an event that has been described as the Olympics of Hacking, held its first event inside China last weekend. Despite the government warning local hackers against participating in international hacking contests, there were over 1,300 attendees at the conference in Beijing. The event was brought to China in partnership with Baidus internet security arm. Financial Times In Case You Missed It Amazon brings its cross-border ambitions to Alibabas backyard Bloomberg Chinese school installs facial recognition camera to keep an eye on pupils SCMP Chinese and South Korean investors are buying real estate on North Koreas borders Quartz Dubbed the Chinese Buffett, he may be one of Chinas richest men Week in China Chinese divorce themselves from royal wedding of Britains Prince Harry to Meghan Markle SCMP Trade and Economy A shares aboard. The MSCI this week announced that it will be adding 234 China A shares traded on the Chinese mainland to its global and regional indexes on June 1. The stocks to be added include those of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and China Construction Bank, Chinas two largest banks, and Oil major PetroChina, Chinas biggest oil producer. Financial Times Tencents tumble.Chinese traders are continuing to dump Tencent stocks, despite the company posting record quarterly profit and better-than-expected margins on Thursday. Traders based in Shanghai and Shenzhen sold a net $176 million worth of shares in the Chinese Internet giant on Thursday and Friday, the biggest disposal since early February, when a US volatility spike prompted a selloff across global equity markets. Bloomberg Serving up a lawsuit. Chinese coffee start-up Luckin is suing Starbucks for monopolistic practices and unfair competition. Luckin was officially launched last week after a five-month soft opening, during which it opened 400 stores in 13 cities (compared to Starbucks 3,300 stores in 141 cities), and complained that Starbucks exclusive contracts with commercial property owners prevents them from securing locations. Starbucks has brushed the lawsuit off as a publicity stunt. Sixth Tone Summaries by Debbie Yong and Eamon Barrett. Find past issues, and sign up for other Fortune newsletters. The White House hopes tech employees will drive government innovation The Trump administration has a major ask to make of big tech companies. In a According to new reporting from The Washington Post, President Trump personally pushed United States Postal Service head Megan Brennan to jack up shipping prices on Amazon and other firms. The story comes from unnamed sources, who suggest that, thus far, the postmaster general has held out against pressure from the president. If enacted, the new pricing structure would likely cost the online retailer and others billions. Amazon has been in Trumps crosshairs from some time, of course. In late March, he took to Twitter to personally call out a scam he believed was costing the USPS billions, writing, If the P.O. increased its parcel rates, Amazons shipping costs would rise by $2.6 Billion. This Post Office scam must stop. Amazon must pay real costs (and taxes) now! Brennan has reportedly pushed back on the notion that deals with companies like Amazon have been a bad deal for the postal service, offering evidence of the upsides of such partnerships in meetings with the president. She has also noted that such multiyear contracts wouldnt be easy to break. But Trumps criticism of Amazon clearly has a personal element. Heres a nice compendium of the many times hes gone after the company and its owner Jeff Bezos on Twitter at least through late-March. The criticism really started to hit its stride around 2015. Bezos, of course, also own The Washington Post, a paper Trump has regularly called out for reporting fake news. Further clouding all of this is the fact that the USPS hasnt released the specifics of its pricing deals with Amazon, for fear of given competing delivery services an unfair advantage. It has, however, insisted that its made money on its deals with Amazon, in spite of the fact that the service reported a $2.7 billion loss in 2017. Got a few bucks for the president? He needs it to settle a score. President Trump has been pressuring the postmaster general to double the shipping rates the U.S. Postal Service charges e-commerce giant Amazon, according to a nearly unbelievable account in the Washington Post. Can Trump really do that? Its a question weve asked many times during the last 16 months. The answer this time is probably not. Trump, of course, has been attacking Amazon for months, out of personal animosity toward its CEO, Jeff Bezos, who also owns the Washington Post, which routinely publishes unflattering Trump material (like the postal scoop it just got from, well, who knows). So in the august tradition of historys best statesmen, Trump wants to use his power as president to punish a single company for petty personal reasons. It must gall Trump that he cant. Amazons rates with the USPS are set by contract, and even the president cant abrogate a contract. That contract isnt public, so we dont know the rates Amazon gets or how long theyre locked in. Most analysts, however, think Amazon gets the same rates as other big shippers, with the USPS turning a tidy profit on its business with Amazon. That contract will end, however, perhaps this year or next. Thats when Trump might have leverage. Lets say he got his way and forced the U.S. Postal Service to double delivery fees for Amazon. The company would do what companies always do. First, it would look for other, cheaper delivery sources, such as UPS and FedEx. But if the Postal Service raised delivery rates, competitors would be able do to the same thing. Rates could even go up for non-Amazon shippers, such as Walmart. One company and millions of households Amazon would also try to pass on as much of the added cost to its customers as it could. And Amazon can get away with thatit just raised its annual fee for Prime members by 20 bucks, to $119 per year. More than 100 million consumers have an Amazon Prime account, most of them in the United States. Trumps shipping surtax wouldnt be huge a dollar or two per package, say but it would be spread across a ton of people. All in all, it would be an extraordinary fee for a president to impose on one company and millions of households. Story continues [Check this out: Amazon is way more popular than Trump.] Trump has other plans that would raise costs for consumers. He has already imposed new tariffs on some steel and aluminum imports, driving up costs for businesses that purchase those commodities as components in other products. Some of those firms say the move will hurt business and jeopardize jobs. Trump has also threatened to impose a much larger set of tariffs on up to $150 billion worth of imports from China. That would undoubtedly push up the cost of some products, which is why economists consider tariffs a hidden tax. Trumps recent decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal could push up gasoline prices. Trump plans to reimpose sanctions on Iran meant to cut off its ability to sell oil. If it works, there will be a bit less oil flowing into global markets, pushing prices up. Anticipation of this eventuality is one reason oil prices have risen by about $12 a barrel this year, to around $72. The average price of gas will probably crest $3 per gallon soon, and could drift toward $3.50 by mid-summer. In negotiations over the North American Trade Agreement, Trump reportedly wants Mexico to raise its average wages for auto workers from around $2 per hour to $15. Thats obviously a giant, and implausible, increase. The idea is to make it more expensive to build cars in Mexico, creating an incentive for manufacturing more cars in the United States. But if it happened, it would push car prices up, as well. Trump, of course, signed a big set of tax cuts in December, which hes been bragging about ever since. That legislation slashed the tax rate most businesses pay, with modest tax savings for middle-class workers. But with the other hand, Trump is pushing polices that are lot less friendlier to businesses and consumers. There are checks on what Trump can get away with. Amazon seems sure to sue over any government policy that seems anticompetitive or targeted at it alone. Trump faces political risks, as well. Few voters will be happy paying a Trump surcharge on package delivery or gasoline or Chinese-made products. Trump is already facing blowback for his trade policies that could cost Republicans votes in the November midterm elections. Imagine, on top of that, a line on your Amazon fee statement that says Trump tax. Even a dollar or two would be a dollar or two too much. Confidential tip line: rickjnewman@yahoo.com.Click here to get Ricks stories by email. Read more: Rick Newman is the author of four books, including Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump has personally pushed the postmaster general to double the rates the U.S. Postal Service charges Amazon.com and other companies to ship packages, the Washington Post reported on Friday, citing three unnamed sources. Postmaster General Megan Brennan resisted Trump's suggestion in private conversations in 2017 and 2018, telling him that package delivery rates are set by contract and reviewed by an independent commission, and that the arrangements have helped the financially challenged Postal Service, the sources told the newspaper. Trump has claimed without evidence that deliveries for Amazon were costing the service money. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment and a spokesperson for the Postal Service could not be immediately reached. (Reporting by Eric Walsh; Editing by Tim Ahmann) FILE PHOTO: The YM Bamboo, a container ship operated by the China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) is docked at the Port of Oakland in Oakland, California January 14, 2011. REUTERS/Beck Diefenbach/File Photo By Ginger Gibson and David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China has agreed to significantly increase its purchases of U.S. goods and services, the two countries said on Saturday, but made no mention of a $200 billion target the White House had touted earlier. Beijing and Washington agreed they would keep talking about measures under which China would import more energy and agricultural commodities from the United States to close the $335 billion annual U.S. goods and services trade deficit with China. A joint statement issued at the conclusion of intensive trade talks in Washington did not indicate whether the two countries would delay or drop their tariff threats on billions of dollars worth of each country's goods, which has sparked fears of a wider trade war and roiled financial markets. "There was a consensus on taking effective measures to substantially reduce the United States' trade deficit in goods with China," the joint statement said. "To meet the growing consumption needs of the Chinese people and the need for high-quality economic development, China will significantly increase purchases of United States goods and services." U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on up to $150 billion on Chinese goods to combat what his administration says is Beijing's misappropriation of U.S. intellectual property through joint venture requirements and other policies that force technology transfers. Beijing denies such coercion and has threatened equal retaliation, including tariffs on some of its largest U.S. imports - among them aircraft, soybeans and autos. A report by China's state-run Xinhua news agency described the statement from the two governments as "vowing not to launch a trade war against each other." While the statement said the two sides would engage at high levels and "seek to resolve their economic and trade concerns in a proactive manner," it made no mention of tariffs. Story continues It said there was consensus between Washington and Beijing on the need to create "favorable conditions to increase trade" in manufactured goods and services. This could be a reference to China's previous pledges to open up more economic sectors to services. U.S. LNG EXPORTS The United States will also send a team to China to work out the details of increased agricultural and energy exports, the countries said, without specifying timing. A senior U.S. official said that during discussions with a member of President Xi Jinping's office, China was considering a package that relied on major purchases of U.S. liquefied natural gas, including a contract for a U.S. firm to build LNG receiving and processing facilities in China. The package, which also would include new commitments on intellectual property protections, could be agreed by a potential mid-year visit to Washington by China's Vice President Wang Qishan, the official said. Trump made cutting the U.S. trade deficit with China a promise in his presidential campaign. During an initial round of talks earlier this month in Beijing, Washington demanded that China reduce its trade surplus by $200 billion - a figure most economists say is impossible to achieve because it would require a massive change in the composition of commerce between the two countries. As of late Thursday, U.S. officials were still pressing China to agree to that size reduction. But economists say that level would be extremely difficult to achieve, especially as U.S. tax cuts are spurring demand for more imports. The $200 billion figure is equivalent to about 90 percent of Boeing Co's annual aircraft production and is larger than all of the United States' global annual agricultural and oil exports. Eswar Prasad, a Cornell University trade professor and former head of the International Monetary Fund's China division, said that Beijing had clearly balked at a specific quantitative commitment. "It is a very limited and tentative agreement mainly designed to deescalate tensions," Prasad said of the joint statement. IP VAGUENESS The statement was vague on the Trump administration's core intellectual property complaints, saying that both countries "attach paramount importance to intellectual property protections ... China will advance relevant amendments to its laws and regulations, including the Patent Law." There are concerns among some legislators and trade experts that Trump could give priority to a narrower trade deficit over tackling what they say is China's abuse of intellectual property rights. Any deal under which China would import more goods could easily be reversed, economists say. The statement made no mention of whether there would be a relaxation of paralyzing restrictions on Chinese telecommunications equipment maker ZTE Corp <000063.SZ> <0763.HK> imposed last month by the U.S. Commerce Department. The action, related to violation of U.S. sanctions on Iran, banned American companies from selling semiconductors and other components to ZTE, causing the Shenzhen-based company to cease operations. Earlier this week, Trump tweeted that he directed the Commerce Department to put ZTE back in business and said the company's situation was part of an overall trade deal with China. (Reporting by Ginger Gibson; editing by Steve Orlofsky and G Crosse) United Continental Holdings, Inc.s UAL wholly owned subsidiary United Airlines announced Gerry Laderman as the acting chief financial officer (CFO) following the resignation of Andrew Levy. United Airlines will soon begin looking for Levys permanent replacement. Laderman was hitherto serving as the senior vice president of finance, procurement and treasurer plus a member of the senior executive leadership team. In the past, he held legal and financial positions for around 30 years and will continue working on the companys financial strategy, cost management, capital allocation as well as balance sheet optimization. Levy joined United Airlines in August 2016, previously having served in the discount carrier Allegiant Travel Company ALGT. Since the last couple of years, growth of low cost carriers such as Spirit Airlines, Inc. SAVE and Southwest Airlines Co. LUV has been posing a threat to the legacy airlines like United Airlines. Given his expertise in low-fare flights, United Airlines introduced air tickets at cheaper rates (Basic Economy Fares) to combat this challenge. It now remains to be seen how Laderman deals with the situation given his lack of experience in the low-fare category. United Continental Holdings, Inc. Price United Continental Holdings, Inc. Price | United Continental Holdings, Inc. Quote Moreover, since the past few years, United Airlines has been in a soup, drawing a lot of flak. The April 2017 passenger fiasco, which saw a flyer being offloaded from an overbooked flight, had sparked a large-scale customer criticism and significantly affected the stocks value as well. Earlier this March, the carrier was again portrayed in a bad light when three consecutive unpleasant pet-related incidents took place over a short span. One such tragic event caused the death of a passengers pet. Despite such setbacks, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company has consistently bounced back. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone! It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market. Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020. Click here for the 6 trades >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) : Free Stock Analysis Report United Continental Holdings, Inc. (UAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Spirit Airlines, Inc. (SAVE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Allegiant Travel Company (ALGT) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. The leader of the U.S. Central Command says the Taliban in Afghanistan cannot win militarily despite an uptick in attacks launched by the militants. General Joseph Votel made the remark during a visit to Tajikistans capital, Dushanbe, on May 11. "The message I would send to the Taliban is that they cannot win militarily. The international coalition, led by the United States, is focused on providing the military pressure, in conjunction with social pressure and diplomatic pressure, that will force them to come to the table, Votel said. Votel also urged the Taliban to take advantage of the very generous offer put forward by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Ghani has offered the Taliban unconditional peace talks accompanied by a cease-fire, recognition of them as a political party, and the release of some prisoners, among other incentives. NATO is also open to talks between Kabul and the Taliban on the future role of the international community in the country. The Taliban has insisted that international troops must leave. Votels comments come amid fresh reports of a Taliban attack on a security post in Farah Province. Violence has spiked in Afghanistan since the Taliban announced last month the start of its annual spring offensive. Mohammad Naser Mehri, spokesman for the provincial governor, said the attack took place on May 10 in Bala Buluk district. The gunbattle lasted several hours and at least seven security forces were killed, he said. Another local official, however, gave a much higher death toll. A member of the provincial council, Abdul Samad Salehi, said the attack was massive and killed 22 and wounded two. He said the Taliban "arrested" three security forces. There was no immediate response from the Taliban. Farah Province has been a key battleground for the Taliban for months. With reporting by AP and Reuters Hindustan wrote: Thanks Sid. That does help. So does that mean that the MBA resume should still have an objective title: example: Objective: To seek an exignent position in XXX, by YYY....ZZZ. Having as above looks like i am applying for a job, but in reality its just school, so i should not have the objective title? No. Also, for hte love of god, don't use the word exigent. It REEKS of thesaurus.Here is my advice.Remember a few things.1) Your objective here is not to get a job, its to get into graduate school.2) With that in mind, write more about your leadership and less about your day to day tactical responsibilities.3) Remember that the adcom may not be in your field, so telling him/her that you developed a "bifurcated distilling multi optional drill bit" probably won't mean a thing. Similarly, they are going to care less if you have experience with "C++/Java/COBOL/PASCAL" whatever, again, because it means little to them other than "It's a programming language". Your job title would make it clear you are a developer anyway. Specific skills in this regard aren't going to win you jack.Focus less on industry terminology and more on selling yourself. For example, lets say you are in the car manufacturing industry, if an interviewer asked you about your role you might say "I developed Ford's double intake valve for us in the RJ392 engine, increasing airflow and fluid viscosity by 22%." Great for the interviewer who knows about that. Bad for the adcom. If someone you never met asked you what you did for Ford, you'd reply: "I developed a modifcation for the engine you probably have in your focus. It reduces the reaction time between you push the pedal and the car snaps forward. Makes it snappier." Good. You are almost there. Now, take that and make it a real improvement as if you wanted to impress. "Developed new engine technology increasing vehicle responsiveness by roughly 22%. My design is now part of every Ford Focus made."Take the first statement:"I developed Ford's double intake valve for us in the RJ392 engine, increasing airflow and fluid viscosity by 22%."And the last:"Developed new engine technology increasing vehicle responsiveness by roughly 22%. My design is now part of every Ford Focus made."Same thing right? But what packs more punch?Lets do the same for computer science for, I don't know, Geico."Utilized .NET 2.0 framework to develop new ASP.NET driven customer focused website on a SQL Server 2000 backend."Yawn.What do you do for Geico again?"I developed a new website for their customers to use."Great, now tell me again what you do for Geico, but impress me."Developed new website for global rollout of claims processing at Geico. The website now recieves over a half million visitors a year, is utilized by a staff of over 2,000 global claims officers, and process up to $100M in claims a year. This reduced claim turnaround time from an average of 14 days to 3."Get it yet? Trumps threat: otherwise, the Libyan model is "very likely". Xi Jinping accused of trying to influence Kim Jong-un. North Korea reiterates that it will not resume talks with Seoul until the issues are resolved. Today, the commission of the Revolutionary Army of North Korea has met to "strengthen" national defence. Washington (AsiaNews / Agencies) - In case of agreement, there will be no "Libyan model" for North Korea: Kim Jong-un will remain in power. This is the reassurance that US President Donald Trump addressed yesterday to Pyongyang, in response to the socialist country's threats to withdraw from the Kim-Trump summit scheduled for June 12. Last weekend, US security adviser John Bolton unleashed Pyongyang's ire by suggesting that the denuclearization of the North would follow the Libyan model of Muammar Gadhafi in 2003. The Libyan dictator had agreed to renounce nuclear weapons. The agreement was followed by a period of grace for the government, interrupted abruptly by the Arab Spring of 2011: Gaddafi was ousted and killed by some rebels supported by NATO. Trump contradicted his advisor, assuring Kim Jong-un of a model in which "he will be in his country and will govern his country. Your country will be very rich ". However, to the promise that in case of agreement Kim will be "very, very happy", Trump added a clear threat: without agreement, the Libyan model will be "very likely". The US president has also accused his Chinese colleague Xi Jinping of being behind the North Korean u-turn. "It is very likely that he is influencing Kim Jong-un." Some analysts point out that the halt in dialogue came shortly after the highly publicized meeting between Kim and Xi Jinping. For its part, North Korea reiterates that it will not resume dialogue with the South until the problems are resolved. In particular, Pyongyang blames ongoing military exercises involving the US and South Korean armies. Today, the influential military commission of the ruling party held a meeting to bring about a reshuffle of the personnel and "to further strengthen the party's revolutionary army in military and political aspects, and to improve the nation's overall defence efforts". 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 Islamabad, May 18 (IBNS): Pakistan on Friday summoned Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria over the issue of 'unprovoked ceasefire violations' by Indian armed forces along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary. Pakistan's foreign ministry said Acting Foreign Secretary, summoned the Indian High Commissioner and 'condemned' the incident. "The Acting Foreign Secretary, summoned the Indian High Commissioner today and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary on 18th May 2018 (which still continues), in Pukhlian, Cahprar, Harpal, Charwah and Shakargarh Sectors, resulting in the shahadat of 4 innocent members of the family of Mr. Noor Hussain (including his wife, two (2) daughters and a son) in Village Khanoor, and injuries to 10 others," Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. "The Indian forces along the Line of Control and the Working boundary are continuously targeting civilian populated areas with heavy weapons. In 2018, the Indian forces have carried out more than 1050 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary, resulting in the shahadat of 28 innocent civilians, while injuring 117 others. This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017, when the Indian forces committed 1970 ceasefire violations," claimed the foreign office. "The Acting Foreign Secretary urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire arrangement; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary," read the statement. The Foreign Ministry said he urged that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions. UN Photo/F. Charton New York, May 19 (IBNS): Its becoming increasingly dangerous to defend the rights of indigenous people in Guatemala, the United Nations human rights office warned on Friday, following the murder of three activists over the past 10 days. We are concerned about what appears to be a deteriorating climate for the defence of human rights in Guatemala, Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), told reporters in Geneva, urging the State to ensure a safe working environment free from threats and attacks. On 9 May, a rights officer working on behalf peasants and indigenous peoples, was killed in the town of San Luis Jilotepeque Jalapa. A community leader from the grassroots social justice group known as Comite Campesino de Desarrollo del Altiplano (CCDA), was murdered on 10 May, and another member of the organization was found dead on 13 May. The two most recent killings took place in an area of Guatemala where CCDA, and other civil society organizations, have been working with the Government, on an agreement to address more than 50 land conflicts in the country. We call on the authorities to promptly investigate these murders and other attacks and threats against human rights defenders, and to ensure that those found responsible are held accountable, Shamdasani said.Other rights defenders have also suffered threats and attacks in recent months, OHCHR said. We share the deep concerns about the protection of indigenous peoples who claim rights to land, as expressed by UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, during her visit to Guatemala earlier this month, she added. Washington, May 19 (IBNS): US President Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind Republican John Cox, who is in the race to be the next governor of California. Promoting Cox, Trump has promised to Make California Great Again, a line inspired from his original campaign slogan, Make America Great Again "California finally deserves a great Governor, one who understands borders, crime and lowering taxes. John Cox is the man - hell be the best Governor youve ever had. I fully endorse John Cox for Governor and look forward to working with him to Make California Great Again!" his tweet read. Ironically, Cox did not vote for Trump in the 2016 elections, however, he said he's thrilled to receive support from the US Preisdent. "I am looking forward to working with [the president] to make California great again," Cox said. "Like the President, I'm a businessman who knows how to get things done. We're going to secure the border, empower California small businesses, lower taxes, and make our state affordable for everyone." The polls are scheduled for Jun 5, 2018. Image: Facebook Algerian-backed Polisario separatists announced the organization on May 20 of military parades and drills in the locality of Tifarity, east of the Sahara buffer zone in a blatant violation of UN agreements. Resolution 2414 has called on Polisario to withdraw immediately from the buffer zone and warned that Polisarios military incursions are a violation of the ceasefire agreement and a serious threat to the political process which UN Secretary Generals Personal Envoy Horst Kohler is trying to launch. The Polisario leadership has also announced the organization of festivities and moving temporarily the proceedings of their so-called parliament to Tifariti. Morocco has warned that any change in the status of the area east of the berm will require a firm response that may amount to a military reaction. The Kingdom, which holds Algeria responsible for Polisarios provocations, has cut ties with Iran against the backdrop of an alliance between Tehrans proxy Hezbollah and Polisario. Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said that Hezbollah offered military training to the Polisario and supplied it with surface to air missiles with Algerias consent. The new provocation east of the berm came as noose tightens over the Polisario and its ally Algeria both accused of connivance with terrorist groups. Polisarios recurrent violations of the ceasefire agreement put the UN to the test and unveil the intention of the separatists and their mentor Algeria in sabotaging the negotiation process for a mutually acceptable solution. Morocco offers the region autonomy under its sovereignty as a lasting solution, a proposal that was met with deaf ears in Algeria, which has pre-judged the UN process by insisting on arming the Polisario separatists and diplomatically backing the self-proclaimed SADR republic. As the conflict drags, the thousands of Sahrawis held against their will under the yoke of the Polisario continue to suffer. Welcome to KARMABrooklyn! We hope that the news and other information we post on this b log will be useful to residents and merchants in Kensington and Windsor Terrace. If you'd like to contact us, write to us at karmabrooklyn [at] gmail [dot] com. NSBAs Council of Urban Boards of Education Re-elects CUSD Board President Micah Ali to 2018-2019 Leadership President Micah Ali of Compton Unified School District was unanimously re-elected Chair of The National School Boards Associations (NSBA) Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE) during its annual business meeting at NSBAs Annual Conference in San Antonio, TX. President Ali will serve a second term in leadership over the national committee, focused on addressing issues impacting urban school districts. CUBE Board Member Nani Sekou, member of the Virgin Islands Board of Education, nominated Ali for a second term. Micah has been a meaningful voice for those who are underrepresented and disadvantaged and has made many inroads during his term including helping establish and articulate NSBAs equity statement, vision and goals, said Sekou, I feel it is important that he completes the important efforts he has begun as our Chair. Ali was first elected to the Compton Unified School District (CUSD) Board of Trustees in 2007. He was reelected by historical margins in 2011 and 2015. During his tenure at CUSD he, along with the Board and Superintendent, led the dramatic turnaround in the district, eradicating an over $30 million deficit, initiating valuable partnerships with industry giants such as Apple, Google and Capitol Records; and implementing instructional improvements that have resulted in increased achievement scores and a high school graduation rate that is approaching 90 percent. ADVERTISEMENT President Ali is a committed champion for public education and for our countrys high-needs and historically underserved children. He has helped facilitate major inroads in policies directly impacting the most vulnerable of student populations, including low-income students and students with disabilities. This is a proud moment and confirms that our district is nationally recognized in urban education, shared CUSD superintendent, Dr. Darin Brawley. A voice for the wellbeing of urban students, Ali is a member of the Board of Directors of the California School Boards Association (CSBA) and served as President of the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association. Mr. Ali is a stalwart and unyielding advocate for urban education and urban educators and I am confident he will continue to represent the students, parents and educators in urban school districts across the country, including Compton. I know he will make a great impact in ensuring that every child can access a quality education regardless of their background or where they live, said Margie Garrett, fellow CUSD Board Member, who was present at the meeting in which Ali was re-elected. Recently, Ali has enthusiastically launched advocacy efforts to bring to the forefront the needs of students with disabilities. In partnership with Congresswoman Nannette Barragan, who represents Californias 44th District, Ali is calling on Congress to make this student population a priority by addressing the underfunding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. ADVERTISEMENT I am humbled by this appointment and am looking forward to locking arms with my fellow steering committee members toward an impactful year on behalf of our nations urban schools. We have made tremendous inroads this past year due to the dedication and commitment of our CUBE membership and leadershipa truly stellar group of professionals who are passionate about equity and access in education. I fully expect 2018-19 to bring great triumphs on behalf of students in urban schools, inclusive of students with disabilities and am looking forward to serving them another year, said Ali. The fight against poverty needs to work aggressively on improving the health and education of young people and the defenseless. That was the opinion of non-government organization and development officials who spoke at the Milken Institute Global Conference. The meeting took place earlier this month in Los Angeles, California. One speaker was World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. He said that social unrest will spread without increasing attention to basic human needs. He said dealing with humanitarian causes should be businesslike. His comments come at a time when China is becoming more active in international development and the World Bank is preparing a rating of nations to show their investments in people. One in 10 people worldwide lives in extreme poverty. The World Bank defines extreme poverty as earning less than $1.90 a day. Nearly 6 million children under the age of 5 die every year. Many of those deaths are from preventable diseases, like pneumonia, diarrhea or malaria. Poor nutrition, undersized growth, and cognitive impairment affect more than 150 million young children around the world. They live mainly in South Asia and African countries south of the Sahara Desert. The World Bank president said that failure to deal with these problems leaves citizens unprepared for the automated economy of the future. In Afghanistan, half of all young children develop at a slower rate than other children. And in Indonesia, one in three children are underdeveloped. Jim Young Kim told the conference that the numbers are improving, but not fast enough. Many, many, many people will find themselves undereducated and without the skills to be able to compete in the economy of the future and so many countries are going to go down the path of fragility, conflict, violence, and then of course, extremism and migration. That's going to happen if we don't change the mindset. Kim said the thinking has to change. Too often, he said, national leaders and finance ministers want investments in roads and railways and industrial parks. Kim said they often ignore studies that show links among health, education and productivity. The World Bank plans to release a nation-by-nation rating measuring health and education in October. Kim said the report will push world leaders to consider social investments more seriously. Rajiv Shah is president of the Rockefeller Foundation, a private group. He told the conference that some countries have had great success in fighting disease and improving child education. When you look at countries like Rwanda, theyve achieved a 70 percent reduction in child mortality in just one decade. So, we know that nations can be successful. What it takes, though, is more political will, more focus on science and technology. Shah said improvements in health and education produce measurable economic results. A dollar invested in community health generates $7 to $10 dollars in economic value, he said. He added that improving the health of children and reducing child deaths results in families having fewer children and investing more in their education. In recent years, China has joined the United States as a major development lender and donor. China has provided loans and aid to 140 countries. Experts estimate that China has given more than $350 billion over a 14-year period. In March, China announced creation of a new aid agency, called the International Development Cooperation Agency. Its purpose is to direct the countrys overseas development efforts. Critics say the Chinese loans and aid come with fewer restrictions than those required by Western agencies. They note that Western countries are more concerned about corruption, governance and human rights. Another goal of the agency is to work in support of Chinas Belt and Road project. The aim is to improve roads and other infrastructure in neighboring countries as a way to expand trade and extend Chinese influence in the area. Last year, the World Bank provided nearly $59 billion to transportation and energy projects, refugee resettlement and basic needs like health and education. Kim said all are important, and directing more attention on people is good for business. Im Jonathan Evans. Michael OSullivan reported this story for VOANews.com. Jonathan Evans adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story achieve v. to get or reach something by working hard automated n. run or operated by using machines, computers, etc., instead of people to do the work cognitive impairment n. a state in which a person has trouble remembering, learning new things, concentrating, or making decisions that affect their everyday life focus n. a subject that is being discussed or studied : the subject on which people's attention is focused fragility n. the manner in which something is easily broken or destroyed generate v. to produce something or cause something to be produced malnutrition n. the unhealthy condition that results from not eating enough food or not eating enough healthy food; poor nutrition mortality n. the quality or state of being a person or thing that is alive and therefore certain to die; the quality or state of being mortal American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at [email protected] | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. Carl and Sandy Levin being sworn in together in 1990. Sandys son Andy is bidding to continue that family dynasty this year. Photo: Maureen Keating/CQ Roll Call As huge numbers of Americans either stayed up crazy late or got up crazy early to watch the royal wedding, its as good a time as any to review our countrys own dynastic tendencies, which have from the very beginning belied our officially republican credo. Its hardly news that a number of families have held multigenerational power over elected and appointed office. Former Brookings Institution fixture and scholar of the presidency Stephen Hess once penned a point system for ranking political dynasties based on their accumulation of high-level posts (for the record, the Kennedys ranked first). A number of these dynasties occupied the White House at some point: not only the Kennedys of Massachusetts (and New York), of course, but the Bushes of Texas (and Connecticut and Florida), the Roosevelts of New York, the Harrisons of Ohio and Indiana, the Tafts of Ohio and yes, the Clintons of Arkansas and New York. Powerful dynasties that fell short of the White House have existed all over the country, from the Lodges of Massachusetts to the Rockefellers (and Aldriches) of Rhode Island, New York and West Virginia; to the Breckinridges of Kentucky; to the Browns of California; the Byrds of Virginia; the Udalls of Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado; the Longs of Louisiana; the Talmadges of Georgia; the Romneys of Michigan, Massachusetts and Utah; the Gores of Tennessee; and on and on. In the old days, political machines often made dynastic successions possible. But they persist today, because whatever a famous political name may now lack in patronage jobs or sheer Election Day muscle, it still possesses via high name recognition; relationships with donors, activists and media; and in many cases, personal wealth. According to a David Hawkings column for Roll Call in honor of the royal wedding, the percentage of members of Congress preceded on Capitol Hill by family members has for the last two decades ranged from 4 to 6 percent. Right now its at 5 percent, or 29 members, 15 of them Democrats and 14 Republicans. Three congressional royals are retiring this year, including Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen of New Jersey, whose father also served in the House, while four of his forebears were U.S. senators. Another retiree is Michigan Represenative Sandy Levin, who served alongside his brother, Senator Carl Levin, for over two decades. But that dynasty may live on without interruption, since Sandys son Andy is running for the House seat his father is vacating. Perhaps cultural anglophilia, or distant filial loyalty to the mother country, explains some of the American fascination with the royals. But while dynastic successions here are not literally hereditary or automatic, they most definitely exist, though without the crowns. Nabors Industries Ltd. engages in the provision of platform work over and drilling rigs. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Drilling, Canada Drilling, International Drilling, Drilling Solutions, and Rig Technologies. The U.S. Drilling segment includes land drilling activities in the lower 48 states and Alaska, as well as offshore operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The Canada segment consists of land-based drilling rigs in Canada. The International segment focuses in maintaining a footprint in the oil and gas market, most notably in Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Argentina, Colombia, Kazakhstan, and Venezuela. The Drilling Solutions segment offers drilling technologies, such as patented steering systems and rig instrumentation software systems that enhance drilling performance and wellbore placement. The Rig Technologies segment comprises Canrig, which manufactures and sells top drives, catwalks, wrenches, drawworks, and drilling related equipment, such as robotic systems and downhole tools. The company was founded by Clair Nabors in 1952 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Read More Anadarko Petroleum Corporation engages in the exploration, development, production, and marketing of oil and gas properties. It operates through three segments: Exploration and Production, WES Midstream, and Other Midstream. The company explores for and produces oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). It is also involved in gathering, processing, treating, and transporting oil, natural-gas, and NGLs production, as well as the gathering and disposal of produced water. The company's oil and natural gas properties are located in the United States onshore and deepwater Gulf of Mexico; and Algeria, Ghana, Mozambique, Colombia, Peru, and other countries. As of December 31, 2018, it had approximately 1.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent of proved reserves. The company was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas. Read More Grupo Supervielle SA operates as a holding company. The firm engages in the provision of banking services. It operates through the following segments: Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, Treasury, Consumer, Insurance and Asset Management and Other Services. The Retail Banking segment involves in granting of loans and other credit products such as deposits of physical persons. The Corporate Banking segment focuses in advisory services at a corporate and financial level, as well as the administration of assets and loans targeted to big clients. The Treasury segment operates with Government Securities of the Group, syndicated loans, and financial lease. The Consumer segment consists of loans and other credit products targeted to middle and lower-middle income sectors and non-financial products and services. The Insurance segment comprises insurance products, with a focus on life insurance. The Asset Management and Other Services segment offers mutual funds and other products and services. The company was founded on October 8, 1979 and is headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Read More 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 Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is among the wealthy charter school supporters who are financing a lavish gubernatorial ad campaign for Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images; Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images The conventional wisdom going into the 2018 California gubernatorial contest was that Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, both Democrats, were likely to finish first and second in the June 5 primary. Under Californias top two system, in which all candidates regardless of party run in the same primary, that would place them both in the general election. A January poll from the highly reputable Public Policy Institute of California showed the two virtually tied with Newsom at 23 percent and Villaraigosa at 21 percent, with no other candidate in the large field in double digits. But as the campaign took shape, Newsom gained strength while Villaraigosa steadily lost ground. A March PPIC poll showed Newsom at 28 percent, with self-funding Republican John Cox (who had been running early ads) moving ahead of Villaraigosa with 14 percent as opposed to the former mayors 12 percent. Indeed, Villaraigosa looked to be in danger of slipping into fourth place behind another Republican, state legislator Travis Allen, who had 10 percent. But then the cavalry came to the rescue for Villaraigosa in mid-April, as the San Francisco Chronicle reported: A big-money ad war in Californias governors race officially started Thursday when a billionaire-backed independent expenditure campaign touting Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa launched a seven-figure buy that will blast a commercial on TV screens statewide for at least a week. That ad, and more like it (along with fliers and other attention-grabbers in what will likely be a low-turnout primary) was the product of an independent expenditure effort backed by the California Charter Schools Association, which has been a big force in battles with teachers unions over charter schools in Los Angeles and at the state level as well. Its backers, a nationwide network of billionaires supporting expanded charter schools, as California political reporter Lauren Rosenhall noted, raised $17 million for the Villaraigosa ad effort, including $7 million from Netflix CEO Reed Hastings; $2.5 million from former housing developer Eli Broad; and $2 million each from from investment firm manager William Oberndorf and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. The charter backers had found an ally when in Villaraigosa (whose own background was in the labor movement) during his tenure as mayor from 2005 to 2013: [A]s mayor, he became the most prominent Democrat in California to criticize teachers groups, blasting Los Angeles union as the largest obstacle to creating quality schools. He unsuccessfully tried to seize control of the Los Angeles Unified School District, arguing that city schools needed to be dramatically overhauled because they were failing the neediest students. He eventually took over more than a dozen struggling campuses through a nonprofit he founded. While Newsom has not opposed charter schools, he has called for a freeze on their expansion until proper accountability measures have been adopted, and won the endorsement of Villaraigosas old enemies in the California Teachers Association. So an old war has been renewed with the California governors race being simply a new landscape. The ads the charter billionaires are running dont dwell on education policy, and in fact, focus on aspects of Villaraigosas record that might appeal to voters otherwise attracted to the Republican candidates with whom he is battling for a general election spot: This strategy could help down the road if Villaraigosa does finish second and needs the votes of serious Republicans in a general election battle with Newsom, who is being backed by most progressive political organizations. Team Villaraigosa caught a break recently when the California Republican State Convention failed to make an endorsement for Cox or Allen, leaving both of them fighting for the same relatively small pool of voters. But now Donald Trump has jumped into the race with an endorsement of Cox, so the race for second could be close. A Survey USA poll taken shortly after the pro-Villaraigosa ad blitz began showed him regaining some ground and moving ahead of Cox. But the buzz about his wealthy backers could present a problem; its hard to say, since Californias voting is increasingly tilted toward mail ballots, which are already being returned. Tactical maneuvering abounds. Newsom ran an ad attacking Cox that was widely thought to be aimed at helping him among Republicans by stressing his solidarity with Trump and the NRA. This accords with the private views of some progressives who want to sideline Villaraigosas wealthy backers so that they can devote their own resources to Kevin de Leons challenge to Senator Dianne Feinstein. But some Democrats who will ultimately back Newsom could vote for Villaraigosa in order to keep the general election an all-Democratic affair. That was one problem faced in the 2016 U.S. Senate race by Democrat Loretta Sanchez, who finished a solid second in the primary but did poorly in the general election against Kamala Harris. Like Newsom, Harris was a progressive from the Bay Area; like Villaraigosa, Sanchez was a Latino candidates from L.A. Villaraigosa is also being hammered by a third Democratic candidate, State Treasurer John Chiang, who is showing some upward movement in the polls. It will all play out in just a short week-and-a-half. But if Antonio Villaraigosa does make the top two, one of the big questions will be exactly how far some of the deepest pockets in the country are willing to dig to take their battle all the way to November and whether their candidate pays a political price for their support. 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 Foreign policy scholar and alleged FBI informant Stefan Halper at an event in 2012. Photo: Screencap/Oxford Union/YouTube If youve been diverting all your energy to the royal wedding the last couple of days, you might have missed that President Trump has glommed on to a new pet conspiracy theory: that an FBI informant embedded in the Trump campaign conspired to undermine him during the 2016 campaign, thus proving all his rantings about a hostile deep state true. Wow, word seems to be coming out that the Obama FBI SPIED ON THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN WITH AN EMBEDDED INFORMANT. Andrew McCarthy says, Theres probably no doubt that they had at least one confidential informant in the campaign. If so, this is bigger than Watergate! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 17, 2018 Reports are there was indeed at least one FBI representative implanted, for political purposes, into my campaign for president. It took place very early on, and long before the phony Russia Hoax became a hot Fake News story. If true - all time biggest political scandal! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2018 The allegation has been floating around for weeks, with President Trumps loyalists in Congress, most notably Representative Devin Nunes, wielding it as another tool to undermine special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. On Friday, the Washington Post and New York Times published articles that shed much more light on the matter. There was an FBI informant gathering information about Trump campaign officials. But, unsurprisingly, Trump and Nuness version of events doesnt quite track with reality. Heres what we know so far: Why was there an informant in the first place? In summer 2016, as the FBI grew increasingly concerned about possible ties between Russia and the Trump campaign, it launched a top-secret investigation named Crossfire Hurricane. Only a handful of FBI agents knew the particulars of the inquiry, in stark contrast to the more wide-ranging investigation into Hillary Clintons emails. The informant was one part of the early, stutter-stop efforts to investigate possible collusion. Crossfire Hurricane was eventually folded in to Muellers ongoing investigation. What did the informant do? The source was not planted within the Trump campaign, as the president alleges. Instead, he reportedly tried to ferret out information over the course of months from multiple Trump campaign advisers who have been caught up in the collusion investigation, including George Papadopoulos, Carter Page, and Michael Flynn. Papadopoulos is the Trump foreign policy adviser who sparked the FBIs investigation in the first place when he told an Australian diplomat in spring 2016 that Russia had damaging information on Clinton in the form of thousands of emails, months before WikiLeaks released its batch of damaging messages. The informant made contact with Papadopoulos in an effort to learn more. The Times reports that he posed as an academic, asking Papadopoulos in an email if he was interested in writing a research paper on a disputed gas field in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, a subject of Mr. Papadopoulos expertise. The offer also included a $3,000 honorarium and a trip to London, where the two could meet. Papadopoulos accepted. During multiple conversations, the informant pressed Papadopoulos on information about Russian efforts to sway the election by that point, Clintons hacked emails had been made public but Papadopoulos denied any knowledge. The informant met several times with Carter Page, the eccentric then-Trump adviser, who was under FBI surveillance over his suspicious ties to Russia. There has been some speculation that he might have tried to reel me in, Page told the Washington Post in response to Fridays story. At the time, I never had any such impression. The informant also met Sam Clovis, then Trumps co-campaign chairman, for coffee in Northern Virginia in late summer 2016. Cloviss lawyer told the Post that their conversation focused on China, and that Russia never came up. The Times reports that the informant also had contacts with Flynn, Trumps erstwhile national security adviser, who has since pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators. The informant reportedly first met Flynn in 2014 at an intelligence seminar, and was alarmed by the generals apparent closeness with a Russian woman who was also in attendance. Exactly when the informant began his work, the full extent of his contact with Trump campaign officials, and what information he ultimately gathered from his meetings remains unknown. Who is the informant? The New York Times and Washington Post are aware of his identity, but chose not to publish it. The Times said it made its decision because it typically does not name informants to preserve their safety. The Post reports that it received warnings from U.S. intelligence officials that exposing him could endanger him or his contacts, and that the stakes are so high that the FBI has been working over the past two weeks to mitigate the potential damage if the sources identity is revealed, according to several people familiar with the matter. The Justice Department has strongly pushed back on revealing the informants identity, and Senator Mark Warner has called outing him potentially illegal. However, on Thursday, the Daily Caller reported that Page had met with Stefan Halper, a foreign policy scholar and author who has worked in the Nixon, Carter, and Reagan administrations, and played a major role in a CIA spying operation involving the 1980 election. That followed a March Daily Caller report on Papadopolouss strange meetings with Halper. The abundance of details in the Post and Times stories that the informant is an American academic who lives in England, the timing and locations of his meetings with Page and Papadopoulos made it easy to connect the dots and all but confirm Halper as the informant. Is what the informant did aboveboard? By all accounts, launching a counterintelligence investigation to ensure that campaign officials arent vulnerable to foreign influence and blackmail is standard operating procedure at the FBI, not a scandal. There is no indication that Halper went beyond this mandate, nor is there any sign that anyone at the FBI actually took steps to damage Trumps campaign in the public eye by attempting to reveal the ongoing investigation to the public. In an op-ed, former FBI agent Asha Rangappa writes that relying on a covert source rather than a more intrusive method of gathering information suggests that the FBI may have been acting cautiously perhaps too cautiously to protect the campaign, not undermine it. What do Trump loyalists want? Nunes, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and one of the presidents fiercest attack dogs in Congress, has been pushing for weeks to get the Justice Department to hand over its records concerning the informant, going so far as to subpoena the agency and threatening to hold Attorney General Jeff Sessions in contempt of Congress. But the DOJ has resisted. Nunes has been joined in his quest by Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who said this week that the confirmation of a confidential source would render Muellers probe completely illegitimate. Nunes seemed somewhat mollified after a meeting last week with DOJ officials, but undoubtedly hell find a way to keep attacking the judiciary, even with the identify of the informant now publicly known. Meanwhile, conservative media has run with the notion that the FBI was actively trying to sabotage Trumps campaign. But, as Jonathan Chait notes, theres just one problem with this theory: The FBI did not reveal any of the damaging information it had assembled before the election, and sources at the agency got the New York Times to falsely report that they saw no ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. The agency did, however, unleash an October surprise on Clinton. Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox speaks during a debate at the California Theatre on May 8, 2018, in San Jose. Photo: Aric Crabb/San Jose Mercury News-Bay Area News Group via AP In an unexpected intervention 18 days before Californians vote in their top two primary, Donald Trump tweeted an endorsement on Friday of one of the two Republicans in the gubernatorial race, businessman John Cox: California finally deserves a great Governor, one who understands borders, crime and lowering taxes. John Cox is the man - hell be the best Governor youve ever had. I fully endorse John Cox for Governor and look forward to working with him to Make California Great Again! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2018 Cox is a wealthy self-funder who has for the most part been the strongest GOP candidate in polls leading into the June 5 primary, in which the top two finishers, regardless of party or percentage, will move on to the November general election. Right now Republicans are in danger of being shut out of that general election thanks to Cox and state legislator Travis Allen splitting the GOP vote, even as Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom steadily leads the field and fellow Democrat and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa surfs a wave of TV ads paid for by wealthy charter school supporters. Republicans hoped to solve the problem at their state convention earlier this month with an official endorsement, but Cox fell short of the 60 percent of delegates needed to make that happen. So now Trumps giving him a push. Coxs wealth and poll standing made him a logical pick, though one might also discern the hand of the presidents good buddy Kevin McCarthy, the House majority leader from California, who is backing Cox. But it still has to be a bitter pill to swallow for Travis Allen, an avid MAGA-man and grassroots conservative favorite who incessantly reminded Republicans that Cox voted for Libertarian Gary Johnson rather than Trump in November 2016. Cox has expressed regret for that vote, of course, and now claims to be on board the Trump train. So apparently all is forgiven. Wall Street analysts have given Centennial Mining 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 Centennial Mining wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. 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 Wall Street analysts have given iShares Latin America 40 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 Latin America 40 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 MSCI Thailand ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares MSCI Thailand ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Texas Pacific Land Corp. operates as a landowner in the State of Texas. Its surface and royalty ownership allow revenue generation through the entire value chain of oil and gas development, including through fixed fee payments for use of the firm's land, revenue for sales of materials used in the construction of infrastructure, providing sourced water and treated produced water, revenue from its oil and gas royalty interests, and revenues related to saltwater disposal on land. The company also generates revenue from pipeline, power line and utility easements, commercial leases, material sales and seismic and temporary permits related to a variety of land uses including midstream infrastructure projects and hydrocarbon processing facilities. The company operates through following segment: Land and Resource Management and Water Services and Operations. The Land and Resource Management segment focuses on managing oil and gas royalty interest and surface. The Water Services and Operations segment offers operators an unparalleled breadth of service across the majority of the Permian Basin. The company was founded in April 2020 and is headquartered in Dallas, TX. Read More Supreme Mufti Sheikh Kasule Ndirangwa has spoken about the special significance of fasting in the Islamic faith as Muslims in Uganda prepare to begin Ramadan tomorrow, Thursday on May 17. Ndirangwa told The Observer recently that when Muslims fast, they get closer to God and also become more compassionate to those in need. He said Ramadan is a special month since Allah made al-Qadr (the night of power) in this month. A mother being helped carry her Ramadhan food package donated by Hear Uganda On the night of Al-Qadr, people pray the whole night asking God for rewards and forgiveness of their sins, Ndirangwa said. This month Allah opens the gates of paradise and closes the gates of hell, and also chains up the devils. And every night Allah has people whom he redeems from fire or hell. During this period Muslims are expected to learn patience, repentance, discipline and sacrifice. This years 30-day fasting period will end with Eid al Fitr on or about June 16, depending on the sighting of the moon. Hajji Nsereko Mutumba, public relations officer at Uganda Muslim Supreme Council appealed to fellow Muslims to repent, pay sadaq, read the Quran, help the poor and widows during this Ramadan. I advise women also to dress well during this month for rewards from Allah, he said. Ahmad Sentamu , the head communications Hear Uganda said, they are going to donate about 1,500 packages of food worth about Shs 100m to the poor in different parts of the country since donation is the best worship during Ramadan. Its our responsibility as Muslims to rescue others during Ramadan. This is why as part of our relief aid operation; we distribute food packs as fitar meals throughout the month of Ramadan, he said. Sentamu said, they donate food items to mostly desperate people which include widows, orphans, people with disabilities, the poor, old people, refugees and helpless. The food packages they donate include 10kgs of maize flour, 5kgs of rice, 2 litres of cooking oil, 2kgs of wheat flour, 10kgs of sugar and salt. Among the beneficiaries is Sheikh Jamil Bukenya of Mengo Kisenyi in Kampala, says the food package will save them from buying expensive food during Ramadan and they fast with one heart. I thank Allah for this food package since I was scared of how to feed my family during this holy month. May Allah reward the people donated to us, he said. Hajji Jaffer Senganda, the president Muslim Center for Justice and Law, advised Muslims to donate food to others during Ramadan especially those in villages who are very poor. Lets help people in villages with food because they fast but have nothing eat while breaking the fast. People should also avoid zina (adultery) during Ramadan, he said. zuraneetah2015@gmail.com Vodacom has released its annual results for the year ended 31 March 2018, stating it added 4.5 million subscribers during the financial year. Its prepaid customer base increased by 4.3 million, up 13.4%, and it added 229,000 contract subscribers. The growth was a result of its segmented acquisition strategy, said Vodacom. This includes its youth proposition called NXTLVL. Listed companies like Vodacom, MTN, and Telkom are required to release their subscriber figures regularly, while Cell C has previously released is user numbers. Active subscribers Vodacoms latest results show it has 41.6 million mobile users in South Africa. MTNs latest trading update showed it had 29.8 million mobile subscribers locally, following the implementation of its new subscriber definitions. Telkom had an active mobile subscriber base of 4.4 million in its interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2017. Cell C announced earlier this year that its active subscriber base at 31 December 2017 was 16.3 million. The police top management has ordered police commanders at different police stations across the country to recover all police property in the hands of crime preventers. These include among others office furniture, T-shirts, computers, laptops and motorcycles. The property was given to the crime preventers by the former inspector general of police Kale Kayihura to facilitate their work. Crime preventers He also favoured the crime preventers and gave them lucrative procurement deals in the force. Kayihura used the crime preventers to spy on his officers, which created hatred among the two groups. Police records indicate that there are more than 11 million crime preventers under the leadership of Crime Preventers Association of Uganda. Some of the crime preventers received training at Kabalye police training school as part of the community policing program. The crime preventers also received more than 1300 motorcycles from Kayihura through their national coordinator, Blaze Kamugisha to ease their operations in different parts of the country. The directorate of logistics of police has already evicted the crime preventers from their Naguru based offices. Apparently, district and divisional commanders have also begun recovering motorcycles and t-shirts from the crime preventers. Patrick Onyango, the deputy police spokesperson, says the decision to recover police property in the hands of crime preventers stems from the president's announcement that they will now be under the Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF) reserve force. "I remember a while back, my boss the president said that crime preventers are now under the UPDF. When you are moving from one agency to another, you leave the equipment you have been using there. It's on this basis that if they are going there, they should leave all the police equipment that they have been using with us" The decision by police to recover its property hasn't gone down well with some of the crime preventers. On Monday, some crime preventers intercepted the president at Queen's Way along Entebbe road and accused police of harassment and taking away their motorcycles. The president was in a hurry but promised to meet the crime preventers later. Attempts to speak to Kamugisha, the national coordinator of crime preventers and his deputy, Brian Mauso, were futile as they would neither pick nor return our calls. The Napa Valley Unified School District Board of Education announced last Thursday that Rosanna Mucetti has been offered the position of superintendent. Mucetti, 43, who will replace the retiring Patrick Sweeney, would be the first woman and Hispanic to lead the school district, which has a majority of Latino students. She is currently deputy superintendent of educational services for San Leandro Unified School District in the South Bay. San Leandro has 8,638 students, compared to the NVUSDs nearly 16,900 students. The school board plans to officially welcome Mucetti at its next meeting scheduled for May 31, according to board President Joe Schunk. She will officially take over as superintendent on July 1. We are excited and pleased to have verbally offered Dr. Rosanna Mucetti the position as superintendent, Schunk said during Thursdays meeting. Reached by phone Friday morning, Mucetti said she is excited and honored for the chance to serve the students and families in the district. Im looking forward to collaborating with the school board and the community to meet the goals of the district, said Mucetti. Im very, very impressed with the districts focus on educating the whole child. Napa Countys unemployment rate hit a 17-year low in April, dropping to 2.8 percent, the Employment Development Department (EDD) reported Friday. The countys jobless rate was 3.2 percent in March and 3.6 percent the year before. This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 3.8 percent for California and 3.7 percent for the nation during the same period. The last time Napa Countys jobless rate reached 2.8 percent was in May 2001. There were 73,700 people in the Napa County labor force in April 2017, compared to 72,600 this April. The number of job seekers declined 19 percent over the past year, from 2,600 to 2,100 people. Employers with the most job ads included St. Joseph Health, Napa Valley Unified School District, Auberge du Soleil, Constellation Brands Inc., Meritage Resort And Spa, Wyndham Worldwide, Target Corporation, Marriott, Las Alcobas and Silverado Resort and Spa. Even with Napa Countys decline, eight other counties had even lower jobless rates in April: San Mateo, Marin, Sonoma, San Luis Obispo, Orange, Santa Clara, San Francisco and Alameda counties. San Mateo had the lowest jobless rate: just 2 percent. 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. Please log in to keep reading. Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Supervisor Diane Dillon represents Napa County on the Broadband Consortium. She said communication approaches for emergencies could include everything from encouraging people to keep portable radios to having mobile cell towers that can be quickly deployed. I think the really important thing to remember is theres no one magic bullet, Dillon said. A number of survey respondents described in the report how they lost cell phone service and didnt receive county emergency alerts as the life-threatening fires moved toward their homes. We had zero notification of the pending fire, one person said. Some residents in Soda Canyon did not even know there was a fire until the next morning. We need sirens, not cell phones. The phone system is extremely poor and instantly failed. No power equals no cell, no water, no lights. Another respondent expressed frustration at the information void. The county used its Nixle system to send text message and email alerts, but with electricity down and cell towers not working, not everyone received them. A pair of buildings is slated to begin life as Napa Polices temporary headquarters then turn into a base for city maintenance workers. City staff on Thursday released plans for two single-story modular metal structures, totaling nearly 25,000 square feet, at the Napa corporation yard at 796 Jackson St. They would replace an existing building at the yards southwest corner, with one earmarked for equipment storage and the other for storage and, eventually, a second radio dispatch center for public safety departments. The presentation to the Planning Commission offered a glimpse into future plans for the corporation yard, which Napa officials have targeted as an eventual site for affordable housing that is in chronically short supply. Tearing down the existing building and installing new ones will help open up space elsewhere on the 8.9-acre grounds for more dwellings, said Ernie Cabral, a city Public Works civil engineer. Departing from earlier plans for a single 25,000-square-foot structure, designers opted for a 200-foot-long office building along Jackson Street and a separate, 215-foot shop structure along the Napa Valley Vine Trail. Education reform and civil rights groups are clamoring for more accountability on how the money is being spent and what effect, if any, it is having. Brown, however, continues to preach subsidiarity, saying that local educators are best positioned to do what needs to be done. That pleases the education establishment, especially school unions, because it implicitly leaves more money on the table for them to seek in contract negotiations. While he takes that attitude vis-a-vis K-12 education, Brown is moving in precisely the opposite direction on higher education, demanding more accountability for outcomes. Thats especially true of community colleges which, like K-12 schools, are under the control of locally elected boards. Brown, in fact, launched his political career in the 1960s as a community college trustee in Los Angeles. His final state budget seeks to overhaul community college financing, shifting away from an enrollment-based model into one that provides financial carrots and sticks to push colleges into creating more positive outcomes for their students. It gives teeth to a policy of the state community college board. But it irritates local community college officials, who believe they are already doing a great job and dont need more direction from Sacramento. The majority of Americans are not extremists when it comes to politics. They are neither very blue nor very red. They are somewhere in between. Before we call them purple, its best to recognize the state of mind many of them have about policy issues ranging from education to gun control to tax policy and entitlement reform, namely: uncertainty. Thats right, uncertainty. The majority of Americans do not believe that they know with certainty how to address the problem of gun violence, whether charter schools are a good idea, what to do about Syria and North Korea or how to reform Social Security. They do not have the cognitive state of mind of certainty. Nor do they feel comfortable in their beliefs. They see some value in both progressive and conservative perspectives. The key to formulating a political point of view that will address the dysfunction in Washington and the angry polarization that infects our country is to harness the uncertainty of those in the middle. This does not mean we should have politicians who will propose that we accept uncertainty as a state of being and do nothing to address it. Of course not. Saakashvili's condition worsens on tenth day of hunger strike Armenia lawyer: Most ridiculous thing is that only COVID-19 statistics are stated in rationale for legislative amendment Russian MOD issues statement on murder of peaceful Armenian civilian by Azerbaijanis in Karabakh Iran FM: Tehran has no intention to be dependent of Russia Karabakh Central Electoral Commission reports 59.2% voter turnout in elections Aliyev declares that 'a new era for Karabakh is beginning' Saakashvili answers questions about his personal life Veolia Water reports stoppage of water supply in Armenia's Syunik Province on Oct. 11 MP: Armenia is the only country in Europe where 3 opposition MPs are arrested and ambassadors are silent Garibashvili: New peace initiative was discussed during meeting with Pashinyan Iran is ready to participate in construction of transit route leading to Georgia through Armenia Citizens holding rally demanding release of Mikheil Saakashvili near parliament in Tbilisi Armenia President to visit Holy See with Mrs. Nouneh Sarkissian, to hold personal talks with Pope Francis Armenia Shirak Province governor appoints acting heads of communities Karabakh Central Electoral Commission reports 46.6 % voter turnout in elections as of 5 p.m. Cross-stone commemorating 14 martyrs of 44-day war unveiled at school in Armenia's Abovyan "Ribbon of Eternity" monument in Armenia vandalized again Russia's Putin to meet with Armenia PM on Oct. 12 Azerbaijani Navy to hold military exercises in Caspian Sea Karabakh Central Electoral Commission reports 36.1 % voter turnout in elections as of 2 p.m. Iran declares presence of Israelis on border with Azerbaijan again Karabakh Central Electoral Commission reports 15.1% voter turnout in elections as of 11 a.m. 4 Armenian families displaced from Karabakh already provided with dwellings in Armenia L-410 plane crashes in Tatarstan, leaving 16 dead Karabakh MP: Azerbaijanis took villager's car and then returned it, they are obstructing harvest 20 new cases of coronavirus reported in Karabakh, 6 patients are in severe condition Armenian human rights activist: Opposition truly believes Armenia is legal state and it can restrain authorities Armenia MOD leaves for Moscow Armenia President attends Aurora Prize Ceremony at St. Lazar's Island 1,151 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President sends condolence telegram to Georgian counterpart Iraq holding snap parliamentary elections Armenia territorial administration and infrastructure minister, India ambassador discuss opportunities for collaboration President visits Armenia honorary consulate in Veneto region of Italy Burned body of man, 65, found in Armenia rural community Armenia MOD: Serviceman wounded at Yeraskh village section of border with Azerbaijan is contract soldier Turkey detains 6 foreigners on suspicion of espionage Hraparak.am: Armenia soldier wounded at Yeraskh village section of border with Azerbaijans Nakhchivan Armenia Constitutional Court finds bill tabled by parliament speaker to be in accordance with Constitution Opposition MP: Armenia authorities obsessed with false ideas of building dialogue with Turkey, Azerbaijan Ukrainian tourist, 64, dies suddenly near Armenias Temple of Garni Artsakh civilian, 55, killed by Azerbaijan sniper (PHOTOS) UK House of Lords member thanks opposition Armenia Faction in parliament Modernas Spikevax vaccine against coronavirus is distributed to Armenia polyclinics, mobile points India FM to visit Armenia for first time in history Armenia PM condoles with Georgia counterpart Spain man, 40, found dead in Armenia October 11 declared a day of mourning in Georgia Armenian priest continues his religious service at Dadivank Monastery of Artsakh (PHOTOS) China, US discuss lifting customs duties, sanctions 4 people killed in single-engine plane crash in US 1,331 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia President awarded with highest medal of University of Bologna Vanetsyan: Armenias Pashinyan, by me, Azerbaijans Aliyev, by his NSS head, had exchanged closed envelopes Armenia premier, his staff conceal fact of 'operative link' with Azerbaijans Aliyev Residential building collapses in Georgias Batumi Chile court considering case against president based on Pandora Papers leaks Newspaper: Selective investigation being conducted into Armenia criminal case on arms supply Newspaper: Armenia PM worries about delay in actual 'process' of illegal property confiscation OSCE Minsk Group: Co-Chairs discussed possible de-escalatory and humanitarian measures Sergey Markedonov: What axis between Yerevan and Tehran? Armenia Parliament Speaker: It's very important to be able to turn the page over and establish peace in the region Legendary Armenian gymnast Albert Azaryan's daughter, teacher Zhanna Azaryan dies from COVID-19 Georgia citizens to hold rally in support of Saakashvili in central Tbilisi on Sunday Armenia sets up governmental commission for funeral of Ambassador Vigen Chitechyan Armenia opposition MP: Yerevan, Baku are synchronously working to destroy Armenian statehood Slovenia Ambassador to Armenia: Armenian-Slovenian economic relations not adequate to existing potential Cavusoglu: Ukraine has applied to obtain observer status in Turkic Council Turkey building a wall on border with Iran Basque Country Parliament, affirming European Parliament's stance, adopts resolution on Armenian POWs Turkish FM touches upon Armenia-Azerbaijan relations Armenia FM receives Apostolic Nuncio of Holy See Jose Avelino Bettencourt Saakashvili's father calls on son to stop hunger strike Armenian and Belarusian MFAs hold political consultations Digest: Russia offers 3+3 Caucasus regional platform, more on COVID-19 vaccination in Armenia Armenia MOD receives Diaspora Armenian benefactors Armenia Ambassador presents credentials to Turkmenistan President Armenia Parliament Deputy Speaker and Russia Ambassador: We are interested in expansion of cooperation Armenia finance ministry-European Investment Bank cooperation development directions discussed One dollar drops below AMD 480 in Armenia Hague court announces dates for considering petition for Armenian captives return, urgent measures against Azerbaijan Armenia minister, Rosatom representative discuss cooperation in new sectors for infrastructure development Armenia PM underscores need for effective investigation of criminal cases on 44-day war circumstances Armenia MFA: Servants, followers of Armenian Church should have unimpeded access to cathedral in Artsakhs Shushi Armenia opposition With Honor Faction lawmaker: MPs can be part of any parliamentary delegation Turkish Armed Forces' 3rd army corps commander visits Nakhchivan Sergey Markedonov: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not over Opposition 'Armenia' faction: There is always a threat of war, but it is less likely in the near future Armenian and Greek competition protection authorities sign Memorandum of Cooperation Georgia FM comments on possibility of his country joining 3 + 3 format proposal including Armenia Ruling power MP: Armenia needs to consider, grasp opportunities of 3 + 3 negotiation format 12 new cases of coronavirus reported in Karabakh FM meets with Sweden ambassador, stresses need for return of all Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan Ukraine MP who penned Armenian Genocide recognition draft decision dies Azerbaijan organizes another visit to occupied Shushi of Artsakh Ombudsman in Rome, presents Armenian captives issue to international media ANCA calls on US Congress to investigate State Department failures related to Armenia, Artsakh Armenia opposition MP: Tatev bypass road will not resolve all our problems in current situation (PHOTOS) 1,202 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Opposition Armenia bloc challenges, at Constitutional Court, community enlargement law package Moscow hopes that US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran is not connected with US plans to attack Tehran or change the regime there, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, Sputnik reported. "It is difficult to judge how the events will develop. I would like to hope that the US withdrawal from the agreement is not connected with plans to attack Tehran or change the regime there," Lavrov told the Argentine newspaper Clarin. "We are open for cooperation in the interests of the JCPOA and aim for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation with Tehran," Lavrov said. The minister expressed hope that the JCPOA will be retained despite the US withdrawal from the deal. "We believe that it is crucial that Iran has not chosen escalation and continues to fully meet its obligations to the international community. That was once again confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Other parties, including Russia, also remain committed to the agreement," Lavrov said. The minister said that it is a sign of cautious optimism that the deal might be saved. After the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, it is necessary to create an unprecedented mechanism for mutual security guarantees in order to resolve the situation around North Korea, the Russian foreign minister said. A former 40 year Atheist analyzes Atheism, without resorting to theism, deism, or fantasy. *** If You Don't Value Truth, Then What DO You Value? *** If we say that the sane can be coaxed and persuaded to rationality, and we say that rationality presupposes logic, then what can we say of those who actively reject logic? *** Atheists have an obligation to give reasons in the form of logic and evidence for rejecting Theist theories. Pius Bigirimana Umeme shareholders have rejected ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development permanent secretary Pius Bigirimana as one of its board of directors. The shareholders, at their annual general meeting held at Sheraton Kampala hotel voted by a simple majority against the inclusion of Bigirimana on the board for the next one year. Bigirimana had been nominated by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) as a non-executive director of Umeme. NSSF is the biggest shareholder in Umeme and is partly under the ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. Other nominees included Anthony March, Andrew Buglass, Stephen Emasu and Riccardo Ridolfi. After the nominees presented their credentials, they went out to allow for a vote, after some shareholders refused to endorse them without a vote. After a simple vote, the shareholders accepted all other nominees except Bigirimana. They now join the board led by Patrick Bitature with members Gerald Sendaula, Florence Namatta Mawejje, Pieter Adriaan Falling, Selestino Babungi, the managing director, and Florence Nakimbugwe Nsubuga. Directors who resigned from the board are Charles Chapman, a founding management director of Umeme, Stuart David Michael Grylls, Christopher Nicholson and Adrian Mucalov. A source that attended the meeting told URN that the shareholders rejected Bigirimana because they were uneasy about his tainted image over alleged corrupt practices. When URN arrived at the venue of the closed meeting, Bigirimana was moving out, apparently soon after being rejected. Commenting on the rejection of Bigirimana at a press conference on the sidelines of the meeting, Bitature said it was the voice of the shareholders who have the powers to appoint the directors. Bitature said some shareholders opposed the nomination of Bigirimana but declined to divulge the reasons. He said if NSSF, which appointed Bigirimana, if aggrieved it can still demand for a poll, by virtue of its shareholding power. Meanwhile, the shareholders approved a dividend of Shs 7.5 per share, and Umeme will role out Shs 12 billion to its shareholders. In 2014, Bigirimana launched an anti-corruption book, Corruption; A Tale of Two Wolves in Sheeps Clothing but was accused by legislators and some members of civil society of failing to take responsibility when over Shs 50 billion of donor money meant for Karamoja and post-war reconstruction of northern Uganda was stolen under his watch at the Office of Prime Minister. Last week, Bigirimana also came under scrutiny before the land probe commission after he reportedly requested and received Shs 504 million from the Land Fund in 2016 for 50.5 acres of land on plot 5 Bulemeezi, block 103 that had been encroached on by squatters despite not qualifying for the compensation. "Because you knew it was not a normal transaction, you knew Mr Bigirimana that you did not qualify why didnt you return that money to government. We know you as a corruption free man, zero corruption. That is the concept that you [portray] but am a bit out for whether you stay in honour of that in view of these transactions that you have made", said land probe commissioner Robert Ssebunya. The commission's lead counsel Ebert Byenkya said that Bigirimana's documentation is covered in inconsistencies and that he did not qualify for compensation. According to Byenkya, the first registration dated May 14, 2004, was in the name of Joseph Nsubuga, the administrator of the late Nsubuga and the second registration of Fenekansi Kalyesubula strangely captured for a previous date of May 13, 2004. Bigirimana's registration on the land title is April 19, 2008. Bigirimana told the commission that he never paid attention to the dates, triggering questions on the intent of the purchase of the said land and a debate on how government officials are conniving to swindle resources set aside for the common man. Bigirimana pleaded that he never got to know that he did not qualify for the compensation but if the commission thinks he did not qualify, he is ready to follow their recommendation. Recently, in an interview with CBS radio after being ordered to vacate Nommo gallery, Security minister Gen Elly Tumwiine branded Bigirimana and secretary to the treasury in ministry of Finance, Keith Muhakanizi as "thieves". Both Pius Bigirimana and Keith Muhakanizi are thieves, I told them point blank in their faces, they are the thieves in prime ministers, they are accounting officers according to section 55 of the finance act, if you lose money, you are held responsible, Gen Tumwine said. Bigirimana's Gender ministry had demanded that Tumwiine starts paying rent for using Nommo gallery but Tumwiine argued, saying the gallery was given to the artists by then President Milton Obote and that its not government property. 2018 WRC: Thierry Neuville leads after a crazy opening day at Rally de Portugal Posted by: ASkyler on May 18, 2018 - 07:37 PM 2018 WRC: Thierry Neuville leads after a crazy opening day at Rally de Portugal Chaotic opening leg destroys hopes of many Vodafone Rally de Portugal frontrunners. The lead changed hands on six occasions on rock-strewn dirt roads near the Spanish border before the Belgian Thierry Neuville took a 17.7sec advantage in his Hyundai i20 over Elfyn Evans. Dani Sordo was a further 6.6sec adrift in third. WRC leader Sebastien Ogier, previous round winner Ott Tanak, Toyota Yaris team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala and Hyundai duo Andreas Mikkelsen and Hayden Paddon were all sidelined as the gruelling roads took a heavy toll. Neuvilles gamble to select soft tyres for this afternoons second loop of three speed tests appeared to have backfired as temperatures rose and the tracks became rougher than expected. He held his nerve and jumped from sixth to first as bedlam broke out around him, retaining his advantage over two asphalt stages in the streets of central Porto. Today was tough but we managed to stay out of trouble. It was very rough and there were many, many surprises so I tried to save the car a bit. It was a risky tyre choice which was maybe not great but we made it work, he said. Evans held second in a Ford Fiesta until a spin dropped him down the order but the Welshman vaulted from seventh to second in the twists and turns of the final dirt road stage. Sordo topped the leaderboard midway through the leg in his i20. Like team-mate Neuville, the Spaniard opted for soft tyres this afternoon but regretted his decision and had to slow as they became worn. Teemu Suninen was fourth in another Fiesta, the Finn avoiding the carnage to trail Sordo by 10.1sec and head Esapekka Lappi in the sole-surviving Toyota Yaris by 11.4sec. Mid-leg set-up changes resolved Lappis traction problems. Mads stberg was sixth in a Citroen C3, half a minute clear of team-mate Kris Meeke, who twice led. Tyre troubles forced Meeke to drive the final Porto stages with just a wheel rim on the rear left of his car and he conceded a minute. Ogier was fourth until he broke a steering arm in his Ford Fiesta after hitting a tree root and he crashed at the next bend. Tanak hit a rock and damaged his engines cooling system, forcing him to retire from the rally. Toyotas turmoil continued when Latvala hit a rock and broke his front right suspension. Paddon retired from the lead after a heavy impact damaged the front left of his i20 and blocked the stage. The Kiwi was taken to hospital for precautionary checks after complaining of back pain. Broken power steering accounted for team-mate Mikkelsen. Tomorrows (Saturday) leg is the longest of the event, journeying east of the rally base in Matosinhos to demanding roads in the Cabreira Mountains. Three stages are driven morning and afternoon covering 154.64km. Leading positions: 1. T Neuville / N Gilsoul BEL Hyundai i20 1hr 37min 30.7sec 2. E Evans / D Barritt GBR Ford Fiesta + 17.7sec 3. D Sordo / C del Barrio ESP Hyundai i20 + 24.3sec 4. T Suninen / M Markkula FIN Ford Fiesta + 34.4sec 5. E Lappi / J Ferm FIN Toyota Yaris + 45.8sec 6. M stberg / T Eriksen NOR Citroen C3 + 48.3sec PaddockTalk Perspective The Armenian nuclear power plant managed to purchase equipment at one of the best prices on the market, Director General of Rusatom Service company Yevgeny Salkov said during the Atomexpo 2018 forum in Sochi, Sputnik Armenia reports. According to him, due to the competent organization of tenders, it was possible to purchase more than it was planned. Our task was to create competitiveness in the procurement, including for large equipment, such as generators, separator-superheater, etc. We invited many participants: from Russia, Ukraine, Czech Republic and France. The NPP got a price, I would say, one of the best from those on the market for such equipment, he said. "Rusatom Service" is a subsidiary of Rosatom corporation and the general contractor for the repair of the Armenian NPP. The Russian government has allocated a loan of $ 270 million dollars and a grant of $ 30 million for the repair that should be completed in the period from 2020 to 2021. The goal is to extend the operation of the NPP until 2027. Home | News | General | Nigerians and right to healthcare By Rose Moses President Muhammadu Buhari the other Friday, returned to the country from the United Kingdom, after another round of medical holiday, though this time very brief. Before then and shortly before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in April, Mr. President had undertaken a private visit to the UK, where his doctors are known to reside, five clear days ahead of CHOGM. So, when his whereabouts was unclear after his departure from Washington DC, where he later travelled to on a state visit, some Nigerians obviously read differently a press statement indicating he made a technical stop-over for aircraft maintenance in London. Their speculations on the press statement that was dubbed, presidential technical stop-over in some quarters, would later be confirmed when another press statement explained that in the course of the technical stop-over in London, the Presidents doctor requested he returns for a meeting, which he agreed to. And so, on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, some members of the presidents cabinet were again at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to bid him farewell as he departed the country for the meeting with his doctor(s) in London. Unlike similar trips in the past, the president returned, even a day earlier than was announced. He said he was in good condition and indeed, told reporters at the airport he did not return earlier than expected. In his words: I just went for a further medical check-up and I am alright, thank you. If most Nigerians appear uncomfortable with their presidents penchant for medical vacation in foreign land, you may do well to understand where they are coming from. On May 7, 2017, President Buhari left for London for a second round of treatment for an undisclosed ailment. He didnt return until August, after more than 100 days away. He had earlier left the country on January 19 for London to undergo routine medical check-ups during a short holiday. He returned March 10, after an extended period of treatment. His absence then was greeted with rounds of protest and calls for his resignation by different groups. This last medical trip, like previous ones, also generated reactions, more so when it was coming at a time health workers embarked on an indefinite nation-wide strike that was already about three weeks old, and still on even as I write. The ongoing industrial action by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Health Care Professionals (AHPA) calls for better working conditions and more funding and is not the first industrial action by health workers in less than a year. Medical doctors, who incidentally are not part of the ongoing strike, had, some months back, paralyzed the sector with their demand, also, for better working condition and honouring of agreement reached with government over the years. The issues this time with JOHESU also border on agreements reached with the Federal Government in 2009, 2014 and 2017, which government is yet to honour. JOHESU, therefore, blames the Federal Government for any effect their action may have on patients left without care in all public hospitals across the country, some of who are already dead as a result. On the other hand, the Federal Government disagrees with the union, describing their demands, instead, as unrealistic. Under the circumstance, nonetheless, not many would hail a president that often jets out of his country looking for the best treatment abroad for ailment those who elected him in office are told they have no right to know, even as they are left with health facilities that merely exist by name. And to think the president in question is one that had earlier warned that his government would no longer bear the cost of medical treatment of public officials abroad, especially for ailments that can be handled locally, makes matter even worse. In fact, the whole idea of these medical trips by the President and the rich in Nigeria merely makes mockery of the country since it is hard to justify that a little of the enormous resources Nigeria is blessed with cannot be harnessed to fix a few hospitals that everyone can be treated in Nigeria. If, for instance, about N25bn can be used to build an office for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), why cant such be done for health? In any case, what kind of corruption will a country that abdicates it responsibilities of providing good health care, and also education, for its people be fighting? What message, really, are our leaders passing to the world with their preference for medical treatment abroad? If indeed the actions of political office holders, especially that of the president, matter a lot in restoring confidence in the health sector, what our leaders are simply telling ordinary Nigerians with their constant trips abroad for medical treatment in the midst of rot in the health sector is that they should all go and die because they do not have a right to good healthcare. And that is so unfortunate. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | We are determined to rescue Nigerians in 2019 Professor Alkali Prologue: The political behemoths, the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the opinion of a legion of pundits, are the only platforms with vast spread and membership to win the 2019 general elections, particularly, the Presidency. Given this generally held belief, spokespersons of both parties, have in recent times, spoken highly of their chances at the polls while accusing each other of betraying the Nigerian cause. Recently, Senior Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu defended the ongoing fight against corruption, citing the number of pending cases in courts; a claim spokesperson of the largest opposition party, Kola Ologbondiyan dismissed by a wave of the hand. For Ologbondiyan, Buharis anti-corruption crusade is selective, arguing that Nigerians are now wiser and would make informed choice come 2019. They both spoke on the Channels Television breakfast show, Sunrise Daily which was monitored by this reporter. However, erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the PDP and chieftain of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Professor Ahmed Rufai Alkali told this medium that his new party is set to offer Nigerians a new taste of democratic dividends if only they would trust the party to make the difference in the next general elections. In the words of the Professor of Political Science, Nigerians are now tired of the old order, having seen the nation struggling to make a headway developmentally, despite a near two decade of unbroken democratic governance. Is this a mere boast, considering the proximity to the elections? Professor Alkali thinks otherwise, insisting the party is poised to take the political space by storm, much to the surprise of Nigerians, home and in the Diaspora. Excerpts! Is there a relationship between the Social Democratic Party (SDP) of the present and that of the military era? Alkali: Well, as you rightly observed, there was an SDP in the 1990s which was part of the transition that led to elections in 1993. At that time, the SDP was able to make a huge impact in getting many of its members elected into the National Assembly and subsequently, the SDP Presidential candidate, Chief M.K.O. Abiola of blessed memory, won. I believe after that episode, the SDP, like most other political parties, rested. But about four, five years ago, Chief Olu Falae and other leaders of the SDP felt it was time to revive it because of its history; two, because of the brand; three, because of the successes it achieved at that very difficult time and the kind of ideological position of the party. Therefore, Chief Falae who is right now the national chairman of the party worked very hard through all the legal processes and revived the party. Though it did not have much showing in 2015, but in a number of states, where its candidates stood for elections, they were able to make some impact. Recently, some people expressed concern about the status of the PDP and APC and looking at some other political parties already on ground and those that were registered recently, it appeared that people were saying that the SDP has a long history and made an impact on Nigerian psychology should be brought back. For us, long before the Supreme Court judgment on the PDP leadership tussle, there were many people who were thinking that it would be very difficult for the Supreme Court to pass judgment in favour of the PDP that was chaired by Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi and that in the event that the verdict did not favour the mainstream, people must prepare a fallback position on the way out. Some of our leaders and elders engaged with most of the political parties at the background, discussing with them and negotiating with them including but not limited to All Progressive Grand Alliance, Labour Party, Accord Party, Peoples Redemption Party and others. So, the feeling was that, yes, in the event that the Supreme Court gave the judgment to the faction that did not belong to the mainstream, others will move to the SDP. But as God would have it, the judgment from the Supreme Court became historic and handed over the party back to the people. So, for that reason at that time, it was felt that there was no need to move to another party. But again, some of our leaders were saying lets again see what happens if as we move to the convention, whether we had learnt our lessons and whether it is possible that those people who stood firm and fought hard to rescue the party, would play a role for the party. But I think we have seen what happened at the convention and it has become part of Nigerias history. I dont want to belabour the point. I believe that from then on, we felt again that we must revisit our Plan B and really go back to the drawing board and see how we could move forward. Thats why our leaders and elders reopened the conversation; in fact, it was not closed, with the leadership of the SDP. Finally, on the 1st of March, 2018, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between key leaders of our former party and we agreed to merge and form a formidable force and on March 8, there was a presentation of the interim executives of the SDP under the leadership of Chief Falae and other hardworking, dedicated members for the various positions. Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali What informed your decision to leave PDP? Lets put it this way. First and foremost, most of us who are professionals in our various callings decided to join politics even at early stages in our careers. We did so because of our love for this country. We believe in Nigeria, we believe in the unity of Nigeria, we believe in the progress of Nigeria, we believe in the future of Nigeria and we believe no matter what we do outside, if we are not part of the process, we will not be able to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of our people. We are concerned about the future of our people because if you noticed, in the 50s, and 60s, there were prominent Nigerians who stood up to fight against colonial masters and they stood up because they believed that there was the need to stand up at that time to liberate our people. Some of us in our university days, used to criticize them that they were not progressives or radical enough. We even sometimes claimed that the independence given to us was given on a platter of gold. But we also know that many people made very huge sacrifices during that period of transition to independence. I dont want to go back to what happened before the (PDP) elective convention. For me, I had already made a promise and I have fulfilled it. I said am not going to run away but I will walk away. I will not run away because I know that when a ship hits an iceberg, that is the most convenient time for many people to just run away. But do I know how the water works? Do I know what is inside that water? Do I know how far that ship is from the harbour? What is the guarantee that I can get any life saver? So, I thought it was better to either sink with the ship or wait until we are able to re-float the ship and then, move on. So, you know, staying with a sinking ship is always a dangerous thing. Having looked at all the trajectories, all the issues, after wide consultations, I think the advice of all the people who have followed me, who have supported me at every level, my time is up in the PDP. Fortunately, the slogan of SDP is Progress. Therefore, I think I am moving forward. You appeared to not have shared a healthy relationship with the governor of your state, Gombe, Ibrahim Dankwambo, ever since you indicated interest in governorship. What role does that have in your exit from PDP? The reality is that I am a systems man and if Im part of the system, I operate as a member of the system. I respect the authority and of course, if you noticed over the past years, you hardly found me engaging in unnecessary controversy. Not because I could not make noise but I found that making noise did not serve any purpose. So, I can tell you with all sense of responsibility that nobody will ever tell you that I personally, have any problem with my governor. The only way you can know whether somebody has a problem with his governor is one, have I ever been engaged in unnecessary criticism, condemnation in the media? Or have I engaged in organizing groups and associations or have I allowed people around me to use any opportunity under my purview to say bad things against the government or the governor? Or have I been given any responsibility that I refused to perform? Even now as a member of the SDP, if he calls me as my governor, I can go because hes my governor until the time he hands over in 2019. But thats being as a governor. But I have no problem with him. But that does not mean people will not create problems between people. So, I have no personal problems with him. Indeed, I have shown evidence that I can work under any circumstances to support him. My own concern is the progress of our state. As a young student, I had the rare privilege of participating in the creation of Gombe state. As a young student, we were the people who launched the Kano chapter of the Movement for Gombe state. We even wrote long essays which were published in the newspapers fighting for the state. And when we got the state, I also had the privilege of serving as a pioneer commissioner. And subsequently, after the 2003 election, I went back. So, I have been very consistent that I have no problem working with the governor. But the decision to leave the PDP is a personal one. I believe I have done my own; I have contributed to the progress of the party. I think at this stage, I need to also step forward. Despite Bode Georges anger and disappointment over the outcome of the PDP national convention, he chose to remain in the party. Is that too much a sacrifice for you to have made too? May be if you know what I have gone through, what I have seen or what I have heard over the past few years, you will understand the situation even better. we have never ever shied away from sacrificing for our country, sacrificing for our party and sacrificing for our people. I believe like I said, after what has happened over the past two or three years, after consulting widely, I took my time to consult those close to me, those not close to me, some of my leaders, elders, friends, associates and I think we have come to a conclusion that we have made our own contribution to PDP and like I told you, its time to move forward. Nationwide, there is the problem of youths, problem of women and problem of despondency creeping into the system. If somebody cannot liberate himself, how can he liberate others? Somebody who cannot protect himself, how can he protect others? I think the SDP is providing an opportunity for us to also see what we can do. Fortunately, if you look at the manifesto of the party, not many people know that its truly a social democratic party because what it offers Nigerians is something that if it comes to pass, will be very good for us. So, I believe in our own rural setting where we are trying to empower our people, where we want to change the narrative where the despondency syndrome is creeping in, we have to look for options. And I believe we are working hard at rebuilding the party. Will the SDP be willing to work with the coalition against the PDP and APC in 2019? During the inauguration of the interim executives of the SDP, our chairman, Olu Falae, did state the party is in consultation with various groups and other political parties to extend its base. But of course, you know these are tactical issues and not issues that can just be discussed and elaborated on anyhow. Whats important is that no political party is static. Even if you are big, you want to become bigger. Certainly, if you think you are small, if you know what you are doing, youre organized, you cannot call yourself small. Whats important is the goodwill of our people that matters most because it is the people that make the party. Its not the party that makes the people. Therefore, with this process of consolidating SDP, I am surprised myself by the kind of goodwill, the kind of people who have been coming forward, people who are calling me and saying, Alkali, if you are there, we are there. So, it encourages me because I was thinking when I move, I was going to move alone. But when I moved, people said lets do it together. For the future of our state, you have to work hard to bring glory back to the state. So, in simple terms, at the national level, its expanding and at our level too, we are also moving. I believe in the near future, the true picture will come out. I know that SDP is not the only political party apart from the ruling or the main opposition. There are others but their approach, method and style are completely different. This is a serious business and I believe that we have to do something for our country because we must go beyond sitting down and lamenting. Even though the SDP is an old name, there is the suggestion that it may not be able to achieve enough mileage by 2019. Whats the objective of the SDP for 2019? I dont know why you say the time is short. Its not short. Why I say the time is not short is that it is the spirit, it is in the mind, the commitment, the dedication that you want to make a difference. And if you want to make a difference, you do it systematically. The approach is that it is going to be an open platform, it is going to be where everybody has a say. Its an opportunity to follow due process. It is an opportunity where nobody imposes his views over others. One of the things that breed anger and frustration is alienation. No matter how much you are committed to a project, idea or a cause, if you notice some alienation, you will begin to find out that you have no value in that project. So, that is why by opening this democratic space, people are coming and its not a question of counting our fingers, how many people have come, how many have not come. No, thats not our concern. Its going to be systematic. By the time it comes out, you will see the impact. So, the tempo is going to rise very high. We are going to move very fast and we should be able to make a difference in our own style, in our own way, in our means of doing things. I dont think its worthwhile making noise, shouting all over the place. The most important thing is that Nigerians are looking for something like this and we should encourage it. There are so many political parties but some of them have been there on ground for many years. You hardly hear about them. We are making a big push in a short period of time that will surprise you. It is the commitment of our people and determination that will make the difference. Ologbodiyan Vs Shehu When two veteran journalists square up in a game tasking their intellect to the limit, a bumper harvest awaits the audience. This was the situation a few days ago when the two fellows met to defend and protect their respective territories. For Kola, the security challenges in the land and its poor handling by the Commander-in Chief is enough to show the gangling retired soldier turned politician the exit door at the expiration of his first tenure in 2019. His words: The federal government has not taken any strategic measures to engage the asymmetric war situation that we have in the country today. They are just sitting down and saying oh, lets bring up the excuse and sell that to the people and if it doesnt stick, lets look for another. On the fight against corruption, the PDP publicity scribe was even less diplomatic, as he urged Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to keep his peace if he cannot substantiate the figure he constantly bandies about these days. The Vice President is going about the places banding figures that he cannot substantiate. We established all the anti corruption agencies that are fighting corruption in Nigeria today and we are not against the real trials, but political or media trials of members of our party who are alleged to have been involved in corruption, he noted even as he lampooned the Buhari administration for its fixation on members of the PDP. Some of our members are invited to come and explain how they built their houses, not that monies were found on them and not that they were working with government. How do you explain this? Ologbondiyan asked, adding the Vice President cannot continue this way. If he has an allegation, he is a professor of law and our law provides that one is presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law. He further said the PDP would never defend corruption or corrupt elements but insisted the rule of law should be respected while prosecution of graft-related cases lasts. While urging President Buhari to exterminate corruption root and branch, the PDP image maker noted that close associates of the first citizen had credibility burden on their shoulders owing to graft-related conduct in the past. Under the nose of Mr. President and under the villa today, we have Nigerians who looted their states and used the money to elect the President into office. We have a case of a governor whose properties were seized under our government over corruption allegation. He has been rescued out of the court processes and all properties returned to him. What do you say about that, he asked, looking the Presidential aide in the eyes. Buhari, not providing cover for party members Shehu Responding, Shehu said those accusing the President of shielding alleged corrupt members of the APC are being economical with the truth. According to him, Buhari is a President who will never provide cover for corrupt people even family members. He will never overrule the courts because he doesnt have the power to do so. He urged Nigerians to remember that the in the history of the country, a highly-ranked government official was sanctioned and removed from office by the President Buhari administration on allegations of graft; a reference to immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal. The verdict At the end, it was neither a question of who spoke better than the other nor rattled the other to submission. It is a matter of who convinced Nigerians the most and which of the parties is likely to get the nod of the electorate in the months ahead. PDP has tendered an apology to Nigerians and APC insists the President needs additional four years to consolidate. The SDP says it is the new bride, the political virgin with the innocence needed to give the nation and her citizens a new beginning. These pages pledge a continuous dialogue with the political class, including stalwarts of all registered political parties in the weeks ahead. Stay with us! CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Interior ministry approved transfer of 90 terrorism cases to military courts for trial KARACHI: The interior ministry has approved transfer of 90 terrorism cases, including the Nishtar Park and Abbas Town bomb blasts cases, to military courts for trial, it emerged on Friday. Sources told reporters that the federal government had approved a total of 90 cases for trial by military courts established under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952. Suspects to be tried in these cases by the military courts are said to be associated with banned militant outfits, including Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LJ), Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Tehreek-i-Taliban Swat (TTS). The sources said that the home and tribal affairs department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Sindh home department had referred cases to the interior ministry in June and November, 2017, respectively, seeking transfer of trials to military courts. Judicial sources told reproters that 13 cases, including the 2006 Nishtar Park bombing, 2013 Abbas Town blast and armed attacks on law enforcers in Karachi, were referred by the Sindh home department. The transfer of 90 cases, including 13 referred by the Sindh government, to military courts was approved, they added. The sources said these cases were currently pending trial against 11 arrested and 14 absconding suspects in the antiterrorism and sessions courts concerned in Karachi and Sukkur since some held suspects had been shifted from the metropolis due to security concerns. An official notification, a copy of which is available with Dawn, revealed that on top of the list of cases being sent for trial by military courts pertained to the Nishtar Park bombing which was pending trial before ATC-VII in Karachi since 2006. More than 50 people, including several religious leaders, were killed and over 100 others wounded in the massive bombing that ripped through a 12th Rabiul Awwal congregation at Nishtar Park in April 2006. Sultan Mahmood alias Saifullah, Mufti Zakir Hussain Siddiqui, Mohammad Amin alias Khalid Shaheen, and Rehmatullah, said to be associated with the banned LJ, were held for their alleged involvement in the act of terrorism. Sultan has already been convicted in the Allama Hassan Turabi murder case. Although the accused were arrested in 2007, the case, one of the major acts of terrorism in which the Sunni Tehreek lost its top leadership, was still fixed for evidence of prosecution witnesses. Official documents stated that three suspects, Amanullah alias Mufti Ilyas, M. Khalid Abrar alias M. Yousuf and Qari Abid Iqbal were still at large. The second high-profile case pertains to twin blasts targeting the Shia-dominated Abbas Town neighbourhood in Karachi in which around 50 people were killed and 150 were injured in March 2013. Six suspects, including Khairuddin alias Mansoor, M. Ishaq, Inamullah alias Mola, Alam Sher alias Patay, Irfan and M. Shafiq alias Bashir all said to be associated with LJ have been arrested. Despite the fact that the Supreme Court had taken suo motu notice of the deadly attack and had the Sindh government surrender the services of the then inspector general of police along with a DIG, the trial lingers on in court till this day, remarked a judicial officer. The official added that nine other suspects including Fareedullah, Maulvi Khalid, Rehmat Usmani, Aslam Gul, Iqbal, Abid Muchchar, Hafiz Mehsood, Umar Mesood and Fida were still at large. The cases of a suspected militant, Shaikh M. Mumtaz alias Firaun, who escaped from the Karachi Central Prison along with Mohammad Ahmed alias Munna, were also included in the list. Mumtaz alias Firaun was allegedly involved in the killing of over 60 people. Accused M. Ishaq alias Bobby alias Abdul Jabbar is also named in a case pertaining to the killings of law enforcers in Karachi. The sources said that after approval by the interior ministry Karachi Corps Headquarters authorities had asked the Sindh government to hand over judicial files and custody of the accused persons to the military authorities concerned so that these cases could be finalised/disposed of expeditiously. Home | News | General | The icing on the cake: a final royal wedding digest With less than a day until the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the final touches are being put on the wedding cake and Kensington Palace has announced who will walk her down the aisle. Here is a digest of Fridays wedding news: Royal well-wishers prepare to bed down for the night in Windsor on May 18, 2018, the eve of Britains Prince Harrys royal wedding to US actress Meghan Markle. Britains Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / The cake Speculation is in overdrive on the design of Meghans dress, which palace officials are determined to keep under wraps until she arrives at St Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle for the ceremony. But those without an interest in fashion have become fixated on the details of the wedding cake which will also be unveiled on the big day. On Friday tabloid The Sun reported cake-makers Violet Bakery saying it would have a non-traditional layout, fuelling further speculation over the confection. It is suspected that former American actress Meghan will bring a Hollywood twist to both the dress and cake, traditionally conservative elements of past royal weddings. It is already known that ingredients for the cake include 200 Amalfi lemons, 500 eggs and 10 bottles of elderflower cordial. The bridal party arrives Meghan announced on Thursday that her father Thomas Markle would not fly from Mexico to walk her down the aisle owing to health problems. But on Friday tabloid paper The Sun reported that Meghans actress friends had begun to arrive in London to support her on the day. The paper printed images of Sarah Rafferty, who acted alongside Meghan in US legal drama Suits, in the British capital. Friend Jessica Mulroney, from Toronto, was also photographed in west London by the paper along with her daughter Ivy who will be one of Meghans six bridesmaids on Saturdays ceremony. On Friday Kensington Palace confirmed that Harrys father Prince Charles would walk Meghan down the aisle, bucking speculation that her mother Doria Ragland would step into the role. Travel chaos? One hundred thousand wedding spectators are expected to descend on Windsor, a town of 30,000 inhabitants, 30 kilometres (19 miles) west of London. But London mayor Sadiq Khan has been criticised for the decision to shut down parts of the capitals underground and overground transport network for maintainance work on the day, The Daily Mail reported Friday. It is feared the decision will cause delays in well-wishers travelling from the capital. It is very short-sighted of the mayor to allow these engineering works to take place. They should have planned for this weeks ago, Conservative MP Steve Double told the paper. Foreign interest Britains 2011 royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was shown on Russian state TV, but doubts circled over whether this weekends ceremony would be aired as relations sour between the two countries. On Thursday tabloid The Express reported that both Channel One and Russia 24 would decline to show the ceremony for political reasons in the fallout of the Salisbury nerve agent attack. But Russians will in fact be able to view the ceremony, AFP discovered on Friday. It will be broadcast on the Pyatnitsa cable channel, usually reserved for family reality TV and reruns of blockbuster movies. The forecast With just one day to go, weathermen are honing in on the conditions likely to make or break the wedding for the thousands of spectators lining the outdoors procession route. On Friday BBC weather reported that clear blue skies and sunshine were expected to last throughout the day, with highs of 21 degrees Celsius (70 Fahrenheit) in the late afternoon. Those camping out the night before, however, will be forced to endure temperatures plunging to 7 degrees Celsius, and tents have been banned for security reasons according to UK media. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | 210 child soldiers released in South Sudan UNICEF No fewer than 210 children have been released by armed groups in South Sudan, the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) said. child soldiers UNICEF said it was the third time in 2018 that hundreds of children were released by armed groups in the conflict-torn country. The UN agency said since the beginning of the year, 806 children had been released. Additional releases are expected in the coming months that could result in more than 1,000 children being freed. Today is the start of the long journey of reintegration for these children and they will need a lot of support along the way. Every time children are released and able to return to their family, its a source of great hope for their future and for the future of the country. We also hope there will be many more of these events until there is no longer any child in the ranks of armed groups, said Mahimbo Mdoe, UNICEFs Representative in South Sudan. During the reception, the children were formally disarmed and provided with civilian clothes. Previous ceremonies took place in February and April in Yambio town, south of the country where 348 and 248 children were released respectively. The 210 children released included three girls and largely came from the opposition group the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement-in-Opposition, with eight being associated with the National Salvation Front (NSF). An estimated 19,000 children continue to serve in the ranks of armed forces and groups in South Sudan. UNICEF urged all parties to the conflict to end the recruitment of children and to release all those in their ranks. Medical screenings would now be carried out and they would receive counselling and psycho-social support as part of the reintegration programme, which is implemented by UNICEF and partners. Once reunited, the children and their families would be provided with three months worth of food assistance to support their initial reintegration. They would also be provided with vocational training, aimed at improving household income and food security. UNICEF and partners would also ensure the released children have access to age-specific education services. (NAN) CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | UNNs ASUU hails FGs releases N1.3b earned allowance By: Chinenyeh Ozor Federal government has released a whopping sum ofN1,.3 billion earned allowances to Academic Staff Union of universities, university of Nigeria , Nsukka chapter. University of Nigeria Nsukka Dr Ifeanyichukwu Abada, Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Nigerian universities UNN chapter (ASUU) disclosed this in an emergency Congress of ASUU at the university of Nigeria, Nsukka held at the social sciences auditorium of the university, adding that the aim of the emergency congress was to inform union members that UNN has received the sum of N1.3bn from the government as part of earned allowance arrears for 2009 to 2012 to ASUU members. I called this emergency ASUU congress to inform members that government has released N1.3b earned allowance for members who have been academic staff in the university from 2009 to 2012. Total earned allowance government is expected to pay ASUU-UNN is N3b, he said. He explained that the Vice-chancellor of UNN Prof Benjamin Ozumba, who informed the union of the release of N1.3b this week said government would be paying the arrears of earned allowances in batches, as another batch of earned allowance money would be expected to be released next week. I commend Ozumbas efforts to ensure that earned allowance owned workers of the university is paid by government While N1.3b is released for academic staff about N400m was released to Non-academic staff of UNN, he said. The ASUU boss described Ozumba as a good leader, noting that in spite of rumour by some workers of the university that federal government had paid the money and his administration diverted it was falsehood and unfounded. The vice-chancellor was not deterred by such unfounded allegation in his efforts to ensure that workers earned allowance was released by federal government. I advise university workers to always cross-check their facts to avoid circulating unfounded and baseless information against an innocent person. Rumour peddlers even said that Ozumba gave me N20m to seal my mouth, that is why am not talking as ASUU chairman in UNN. . But with the release of this N1.3b earned allowance to ASUU-UNN this week I and the vice-chancellor have been vindicated, he said. Abada commended government for releasing the first batch of earned allowance of UNN academic staff and urged government to ensure that the remaining amount were released as promised . I commend government for its decision to start paying earned allowance of UNN academic staff and plead that the remaining amount be released as promised. Government should after paying the remaining arrears of earned allowance, consider to build the earned allowance into workers monthly salary. This will help to stop the backlog of arrears and incessant strike by university workers as result of non-payment of earned allowance which disrupt academic calendar on federal universities, he said. Mrs Ginika Nwannani and Mr Canice Anyachukwu secretary and internal auditor respectively of ASUU-UNN were among executives present during the press briefing Some of members of academic staff who spoke to Vanguard expressed happiness on the money released by federal government for payment of arrears of earned allowance in UNN Some of the members said this would make lecturers to be more dedicated as well as stop future strike at federal universities in the country. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General NAB questioned Hamza Shahbaz in Punjab Saaf Pani Company scam LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday questioned PML-N chief Shahbaz Sharifs son Hamza Shahbaz in the Punjab Saaf Pani Company scam, questioning his alleged role in awarding of certain contracts and making appointments despite not being a member of the board of directors. Hamzas brother-in-law Imran Ali Yousaf is also being investigated by the bureau for renting out an office in his plaza in Gulberg to the company on exorbitant rates. A three-member combined investigation team of NAB Lahore quizzed Hamza for about 90 minutes at its Thokar Niaz Beg office. It asked him to explain in which capacity he chaired numerous meetings of the board of directors of the company as he was not even a member, a source told Dawn. He said the team also questioned him about his role in the award of certain contracts of the company and making appointments. The source said as Hamza could not give satisfactory answers to the investigators, he was handed over a questionnaire to respond to by May 24. Hamza Shahbaz could not offer justification for chairing the meetings of Punjab Saaf Pani Company BoD. Several illegalities had been committed in the companys affairs during the period he looked after it, but he kept insisting before the investigators that he had nothing to do with its affairs, the source added. The source said investigation against Hamza was also being conducted in the light of findings from the recently held five former top officials of the company. The suspects, NAB said, with mala fide intentions managed to install 116 water filtration plants in Bahawalpur region on exorbitant rates. After his appearance before NAB, Hamza admitted that he was not a member of the BoD of the company. I was not a member. I had attended five meetings of the board that was why NAB summoned me, he told reporters. Parrying questions about NABs investigations against him, his father and brother-in-law, Hamza said he had gone through NABs accountability during the Musharraf regime and was also imprisoned for six months. I have appeared before NAB because of the supremacy of law and will appear again before it if summoned. He also quoted his father as saying that a coffin had no pocket. The Punjab finance minister, two PML-N MPAs (as members of BoD) and three provincial secretaries have also appeared before the bureau in the same case and recorded their statements. The Punjab government was previously involved in a tug of war with the NAB over handing over of company records. However, after months of wrangling, the Shahbaz administration finally surrendered the records to the bureau. Like Hamza, his brother-in-law is also in the dock in the same case. The NAB had quizzed Imran Yousaf for renting out an office to the Saaf Pani Company in November at an annual rent of over Rs28 million, which the NAB believed was exorbitant as compared to the market rate. Mr Yousaf is also accused of having Rs120m deposited to his bank account from the account of the Punjab Power Development Company (PPDC). Besides, investigation against him is also under way for possessing assets beyond known sources of income. Some six months ago, the NAB had launched a thorough probe into the affairs of 56 public sector companies formed by the Shahbaz Sharif administration in Punjab for their alleged involvement in corruption. These companies are accused of certain irregularities, recruitment in violation of procurement rules and merit, nepotism, and non-completion of various projects in time. Home | News | General | Money should be spent on the living, not the dead Peter Obi The Catholic Bishop of Enugu has commended former Gov. Peter Obi on his edifying philosophies of life and appeal to other Nigerians to emulate him. Speaking yesterday at the requiem mass for Obis elder Sister at St. Josephs Catholic Church, Ukana, Enugu State, he said his idea of making burials modest and use the money that would have gone into it to add value to humanity was a lesson with learning. Ex-governor of Anambra state, Mr. Peter Obi Amidst criticisms against the former Governor of Anambra State for not ensuring that his Sister was buried like people of his status would ordinarily do, Obi, while answering questions from Journalist after the requiem mass said he was aware of the criticisms, but that those not happy should respect what the family has chosen to do. Asked what informed the decision, Obi said that he would not speak for Adani or Obis family, but that he was personally pleased with what people call ordinary burial that was accorded his sister. Obi said it had always been his belief that money should be spent on the living and those in need of help rather than on those that were already dead. Hs words: Sometimes I shudder on what people do for the dead as if they are marketing commodity. All the dead needs from the living is decent burial after they must have taken care of him while living. As I Catholic What I owe her now are prayers and booking of masses for happy repose of her soul and not an opportunity to display wealth that should rather be used to add value to humanity. Obi lamented that Igbos are spending unnecessary money in burials and other celebrations, saying that what Igbos usually spend in a week on burials on other social events can rehabilitate over hundred schools and at least can be used to build a factory. Obi who commended some bishops that have started to look into the cost of burial, said he personally shunned adverts and other gifts from people in support of the burial of his sister and that he rather asked anybody that wanted to buy anything for him should give him the cash. He said from the money he collected, he would add to it and rehabilitate a school as well as build a brand new Health Centre in honour of her Sister at Adani, where she was married to. I think she will be happier that his death has brought succour to the people rather than in the number of cows killed for her, which may end up causing health issues to some people. Speaking on the issue of brochure for burial, Obi said that brochures should be simple to reflect the mood of the time rather than showcases of the Persons life which it has been turned into. Even from the angle of creating unnecessary burden to ourselves, have you asked yourself the stress involved in countless calls and emails to people for condolence messages that would be published in a brochure? I mean, all this things are unnecessary burdens, Obi concluded. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | NAFs helicopter gunships unleash firepower on Boko Haram terrorists By Joseph Erunke ABUJA-THE Nigerian Air Force on Saturday morning, said its newly acquired Mi-35M helicopter gunships have successfully unleashed their firepower on Boko Haram terrorists in the ongoing Operation Thunder Strike in the North East. Members of the Nigerian Special Forces Unit rappel from a helicopter during the African Land Forces Summit (ALFS) military demonstration held at General Ao Azazi barracks in Gwagwalada on April 17, 2018. The African Land Forces Summit (ALFS) is a weeklong seminar held in Nigeria, bringing together land forces from across Africa to discuss and develop cooperative solutions and improve transregional security and stability. / AFP PHOTO / The Air Force, in a statement by its spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, said the two war gunships successfully bombed the terrorists at a camp, 9.7km South East of Bonne. An earlier Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance report had indicated the significant presence of terrorists in the camp, following which Mi-35M helicopter gunships were deployed to attack them on 15 May 2018,he said. The statement added:On approaching the target, the Mi-35M helicopter gunships successfully launched rocket and cannon attacks on the camp, in rapid succession. The footage of the attack, as captured by the helicopters airborne camera system, indicated the destruction of the targets as the structures within the BHT camp were engulfed in fire while all the terrorists within the camp were also neutralized. It would be recalled that the NAF took delivery of the second batch of 2 brand new Mi-35M helicopters on 30 April 2018, following which the helicopters were unveiled during the NAFs 54th Anniversary celebrations in Kaduna and later deployed for operations. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Biafra : No sit at home on May 22 anniversary MASSOB BY UGOCHUKWU ALARIBE ABA- Ahead of the May 22 celebration of the rededication of Biafra, the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign States of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike faction, has declared that there will be free movement of persons and businesses across the old Eastern region. Biafra anniversary parade celebration along Opi-Nsukka Road, Enugu State, yesterday. Photo: Kelechukwu Iruoma. File Photo The group stated that schools, markets , banks and other business centres would be open throughout the celebration, stressing that MASSOB cannot be seen inflicting suffering on the same people it is seeking to liberate from bondage . In an interview with Sunday Vanguard in Aba, MASSOB Leader, Abia South zone, Mr.Fred Onyenaucheya, explained that May 22 is celebrated annually as the date on which the Biafra was rededicated by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, at 175 Faulks road, Aba, on May 22, 2000 and urged Biafra people to come out en mass and rejoice. He disclosed that some foreign delegations from Biafra friendly nations have started arriving to monitor the celebrations, and described the development as a sign that the struggle to actualize an independent state of Biafra is on course. Onyenaucheya stated that the event which would hold simultaneously in the 11 states of the old Eastern region will feature dances, march past, concert and competition in some sporting events. We are celebrating the rededication of Biafra on May 22 in the old Eastern region. Our leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike rededicated Biafra on May 22, 2000, at 175 Faulks road, Aba. Before, then nobody dared to mention the word, Biafra. It is an annual event where we march round the town and make merry on the basis that the actualization of Biafra is at hand.From Asaba to Owerri to Ikom , Uyo, Aba, Yenagoa and Port Harcourt, it will be celebrations on May 22. During the celebration, business centres will be open. There will be free movement of persons. No closure of school, market or any business centre. People are free to go about their normal duties without fear of molestation. MASSOB urges the Biafra people to come out en mass and celebrate the rededicate of new Biafra. It is a day we have set out to celebrate our freedom because the actualization of an independent state of Biafra is at hand. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Statement of Nawaz Sharif to be recorded in the Avenfield corruption reference ISLAMABAD: As the statement of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to be recorded before the Islamabad Accountability Court in the Avenfield corruption reference on Monday, the Sharif family has approached the Supreme Court to seek certified copies of miscellaneous applications submitted to the apex court when it was hearing the Panama Papers case. We have moved an application before the Supreme Court to seek the certified copies, said an informed source privy to the development. Later, senior counsel Khawaja Haris Ahmed who is defending Mr Sharif and his family members also informed accountability court Judge Mohammad Bashir about the filing of the application before the Supreme Court office. On May 9 when the Supreme Court had taken up the request of the Islamabad Accountability Court seeking extension of time to complete the corruption references against the Sharif family, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed had asked Khawaja Haris about the defences intention to produce witnesses before the court. At this, the counsel had replied that he was not in a position to inform the court about defendants plans of producing their witnesses or not. The documents sought from the apex court pertain to the money trail Hussain Nawaz and Maryam Nawaz, the children of Mr Sharif, had moved before the Supreme Court about the sale deed of the Gulf Steel Mills, agreements with the Al-Ahli Steel Mills, etc. On Nov 15, 2016, the children of Mr Sharif Hussain, Hassan and Maryam Nawaz had taken the plea that no amount was ever transferred or remitted from Pakistan for setting up, financing or running of steel mills in the UAE. In their 86-page statement submitted to the Supreme Court, they had explained that the four Park Lane flats in London were purchased by the Al-Thani family but ownership was secured through two companies Neilson Enterprises Limited and Nescoll Limited, though the bearer share certificates of the properties were kept by the Al-Thani family in Qatar. On account of the longstanding business and personal relations of the Al-Thani family with Mian Muhammad Sharif, the late father of Mr Sharif, the Al-Thani family allowed Mian Sharif and his family to use the properties whilst bearing all expenses relating to the properties, including the ground rent and service charges, said the statement which was submitted through Advocate Muhammad Akram Sheikh. After his exile from Pakistan on Dec 10, 2000, the late Mian Sharif advised the Al-Thani family that his investment, together with the cumulative return would be for the benefit of his eldest grandson Hussain Nawaz. In 2006, the account between the Al-Thani family and Hussain Nawaz was settled through which the properties were transferred by delivery of the bearer shares of the entities to nominee of Hussain Nawaz. The document again emphasised that Maryam Nawaz was a trustee for the benefit of Hussain Nawaz in pursuance of the 2006 trust deed, executed between the two. Thus from 2006 onward, the London properties were owned by Hussain Nawaz. Tracing the earlier history, the statement explained that in 1973, after severe victimisation and unfair treatment of the then government, the late Mian Sharif moved to the UAE to set up Gulf Steel Mills there in 1974. Mian Sharif carried on this business through his nephew Muhammad Tariq Shafi while Muhammad Hussain was a partner in the mill. The then government of Dubai, respecting the knowledge, know-how and experience of Mian Sharif, not only granted leased land for the factory but also granted all utility connections required for the factory. The steel factory was thus established by obtaining loans from domestic bank in Dubai, Mr Sharifs children had stated. When Muhammad Hussain passed away, his legal heirs through a cessation letter transferred their share, including the rights and liabilities, in favour of Tariq Shafi, the only remaining shareholder who was holding the shares on behalf of Mian Sharif. In 1978, Mian Sharif decided to sell off 75 per cent shares of the mill to Abdallah Kayed Ahli to settle its outstanding liabilities with a bank in Dubai, the children claimed. Consequently, in 1978, Tariq Shafi sold 75pc shares of the mill through a tri-partite agreement, emphasising that the money obtained from the sale of 75pc shares of the Gulf Steel Mills was utilised exclusively to settle its outstanding liabilities. Simultaneously with the execution of the tri-partite agreement, it was agreed that the business of the factory would be run under the name of Ahli Steel Mills Company". Of AED 28,500,000 capital of the Ahli company, Abdallah Kayed Ahli subscribed to 75pc shares while the remaining 25pc shares were treated as having been contributed by Tariq Shafi in accordance with the tri-partite agreement. In this manner Abdallah Kayed Ahli came to own 75pc of the business which was previously exclusively owned by Mian Sharif. A fresh partnership agreement was executed between Abdallah Kayed Ahli and Tariq Shafi. In 1980, Mian Sharif decided to disengage himself from his steel business in Dubai whereby the 25pc shares in the Ahli company were sold to Mohd Abdallah Kayed Ahli against a total sale consideration of AED 12 million. From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As... The new President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, has said he will introduce free primary and secondary education for all children from September. He told the opening session of parliament in Freetown that the education budget would be almost doubled. President Bio said the money would come in part from spending cuts in other areas - and he would also seek funding from international donors. Sierra Leone is one of the world's poorest countries, and more than half the population cannot read or write. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Trump warns North Korea of Libya-style decimation if no deal made U.S. President Donald Trump warned Thursday that North Korea would be met with the same decimation as Libya if a deal was not made regarding the countrys nuclear weapons. (Article by Mikael Thalen republished from InfoWars.com) The president was asked while speaking with reporters in the White House about repeated claims from National Security Advisor John Bolton that the Libya model was being used for North Korean denuclearization. Boltons remarks refer to a 2003 deal in which Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi agreed to shutter his countrys nuclear weapons program in an attempt to strengthen ties with the U.S. While attempting to distance himself from Boltons stance, Trump appears to have confused the Libya denuclearization model with the 2011 NATO campaign that saw Gaddafi overthrown and brutally killed by U.S.-backed insurgents. The model, if you look at that model with Gaddafi, that was a total decimation. We went in there to beat them, Trump told reporters. Now, that model would take place if we dont make a deal, most likely. Concerns over Boltons comments arose earlier this week when North Korea threatened to back out of the Trump-Kim summit set for June 12 in Singapore. In a statement Tuesday from North Koreas First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Kye Gwan, Pyongyang accused the Trump administration, citing Bolton specifically, of making unrealistic demands. World knows too well that our country is neither Libya nor Iraq which have met miserable fate. It is absolutely absurd to dare compare the DPRK, a nuclear weapon state, to Libya which had been at the initial stage of nuclear development, Gwan wrote. We shed light on the quality of Bolton already in the past, and we do not hide our feeling of repugnance towards him. Though attempting to reassure North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that a deal would work in his favor, Trumps threat may have inadvertently confirmed Pyongyangs biggest fears concerning the West. Boltons Libya model and Trumps Libya model are two different things; by emphasizing the latter, Trump showed North Korea that it had been right all along to be wary of Boltons comments, The Diplomats Ankit Panda writes. For North Korea, a Libya-style disarmament deal with the United States sets the Kim regime down the road to a painful and undignified end. Pyongyang pointed to the death of Gaddafi in 2011 as one of the primary reasons it could not trust the U.S. in making a nuclear deal. It was fully exposed before the world that Libyas nuclear dismantlement, much touted by the U.S. in the past, turned out to be a mode of aggression whereby the latter coaxed the former with such sweet words as guarantee of security and improvement of relations to disarm itself and then swallowed it up by force, North Korean state-run media said. Aside from threatening to end the Trump-Kim summit before it begins, North Korea this week cancelled high-level talks with South Korea and barred members of its media from attending next weeks closure of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site. Intelligence officials speaking with the Washington Times say North Koreas current posturing is part of a highly calculated strategy to harden its negotiating position against a quick Libya-style surrender. North Korea has thus far declined to respond to the presidents remarks. Read more at: InfoWars.com The New Zealand dollar continues to be negative overall as Thursday was very soft. I think that the market is probably going to look towards the 0.68 level, which is a longer-term floor in the market. This is a very negative turn of events, and I believe there will be a huge battle there. The New Zealand dollar has broken down a bit during the trading session on Thursday, slicing through the 0.69 level, an area that shows signs of major support on longer-term charts. It looks like the market is going to test that area eventually, and I think that eventually signs of negativity will appear on short-term charts that you can continue to short. The 0.69 level above is an area that would make sense as it is a large come around, psychologically significant figure. The 0.68 level underneath is massive support going back several years, so I think that if we were to break down below there the market could unwind rather drastically. I think we are going to continue to see US dollar strength over the course of the summer, so it makes sense that we would see this market fall. I think the 0.70 level above is going to be massive resistance, but if we were to turn around and finally break above that level, then I think the markets could continue to go much higher. Expect volatility, but with a strengthening US dollar it could hurt a lot of commodity markets. If that happens, that should also put bearish pressure on the New Zealand dollar. The market breaking down below the 0.68 level sends this market looking for the next major support level in the longer-term charts, the 0.65 handle. This would of course be a major turn of events, so I think short-term selling is probably the best way. NZD/USD Video 18.05.18 This article was originally posted on FX Empire More From FXEMPIRE: Hasta cuando? Colombia Hoy Para nunca olvidar Paginas vistas en total 'Parasite' painted on a statue of Queen, Elizabeth in Kent, England Sin palabras La UE le apunta a la paz Cada vez mas solo Precio del Brent To get the BRENT oil price, please enable Javascript. Precio del WTI To get the oil price, please enable Javascript. Dolar USA Vs Euro Precio del Oro To get the gold price, please enable Javascript. LULA y su Pueblo Bye Bye Homenaje al genial Quino Fueron ellos Una imagen que resume Tan bajo ha caido que se deja tocar el trasero? Porky y el Nene (archiconocido narcotraficante) Ladrones al poder Asi mira el perrito a su amo Crazy Clamor popular La nueva inquisicion Bolivia Chile Hoy Eso es todo amigos! Piensalo! Pinerachet No More Trump Adios Macri, hasta nunca La Marioneta se desinfla Asi o mas cinico Almugre Mexico en 1794 Mas arrastrado imposible Hasta cuando! La pura verdad Solidaridad con Palestina Serie Capitalismo Espejismos de la clase trabajadora Asi es! Comerciantes o delincuentes No pasaran! Asi es la vida USA HOY 01/01/1959 La avaricia no tiene limites AYUDA HUMANITARIA? Chile Hoy Asi son las cosas Mapa Electoral de Venezuela Patagonia argentina? Un aniversario mas del mayor genocidio de la Humanidad Retrato del franquismo en Espana Visca Catalunya! El Chulo de Madrid Cuando la policia se roba la democracia Una imagen dice mas que mil palabras La purita verdad Asi gobierna la maldita burguesia Mi pobre clase media Como Chavez nadie Comparte La Colmena via twitter Twittear Programa de la MUD Asi o mas clarito Por que Trump no ataco Corea del Norte? Hace 15 anos Por que la OEA no se pronuncio? Una verguenza nacional La luz que nos guia La Union Europea Premio Nobel de la Paz? Feudalismo ayer y hoy Obama, el mentiroso Curiosa coincidencia Un mundo de cerdos No es extrano? La Marioneta Los ricos protestan, los pobres celebran MARICORI Y OBAMA Cuantas muertes este ano? USA TODAY USA HOY 6 USA HOY 5 USA HOY 4 USA HOY 3 USA HOY 2 USA HOY (1) Insaciable Cronologia de un agresor Guarimbear en USA Mexico hoy Bolivar y Chavez Primero Amargado Dios los cria y ellos se juntan USA hoy (III) USA hoy (II) USA hoy Mexico hoy Mexico hoy Mexico hoy Obama La verdad sea dicha Los ricos Que no nos vea Obama Pobre Obama SOS PALESTINA VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN Archivo del blog Archivo del blog marzo (4) abril (9) mayo (8) junio (10) julio (11) agosto (10) septiembre (17) octubre (11) noviembre (15) diciembre (10) enero (9) febrero (10) marzo (8) abril (5) mayo (6) junio (8) julio (13) agosto (10) septiembre (7) octubre (12) noviembre (8) diciembre (15) enero (17) febrero (11) marzo (11) abril (12) junio (6) julio (11) agosto (15) septiembre (5) octubre (15) noviembre (14) diciembre (11) enero (13) febrero (9) marzo (10) abril (8) mayo (7) junio (12) julio (12) agosto (8) septiembre (8) octubre (4) diciembre (8) enero (35) febrero (20) marzo (29) abril (19) mayo (21) junio (27) julio (21) agosto (28) septiembre (40) octubre (47) noviembre (21) diciembre (34) enero (62) febrero (81) marzo (117) abril (141) mayo (114) junio (111) julio (126) agosto (98) septiembre (160) octubre (234) noviembre (493) diciembre (319) enero (219) febrero (267) marzo (230) abril (291) mayo (347) junio (223) julio (179) agosto (191) septiembre (239) octubre (350) noviembre (406) diciembre (353) enero (284) febrero (202) marzo (274) abril (250) mayo (232) junio (251) julio (188) agosto (249) septiembre (230) octubre (178) noviembre (141) diciembre (164) enero (187) febrero (147) marzo (211) abril (190) mayo (199) junio (164) julio (162) agosto (174) septiembre (182) octubre (225) noviembre (114) diciembre (132) enero (223) febrero (147) marzo (133) abril (108) mayo (387) junio (465) julio (785) agosto (748) septiembre (485) octubre (681) noviembre (754) diciembre (805) enero (708) febrero (896) marzo (735) abril (831) mayo (723) junio (555) julio (658) agosto (619) septiembre (457) octubre (455) noviembre (295) diciembre (269) enero (534) febrero (556) marzo (205) abril (119) mayo (194) junio (255) julio (294) agosto (182) septiembre (207) octubre (340) noviembre (351) diciembre (281) enero (114) febrero (128) marzo (216) abril (195) mayo (116) junio (141) julio (182) agosto (181) septiembre (50) octubre (72) noviembre (104) diciembre (88) enero (168) febrero (102) marzo (151) abril (207) mayo (43) junio (72) julio (35) agosto (146) septiembre (54) octubre (25) Chavez Cuanto te queremos! Por culpa de Chavez Cerveza Polar Algun dia Colombia volvera a la ideologia de Bolivar Translate LOS REVOLUCIONARIOS NO TOMAN CACA-COLA No se trata solamente de un capricho, sino de una sana actitud en todos los sentidos. Desde la solidaridad con el pueblo colombiano donde la empresa Caca-Cola ha cometido los mas grandes abusos contra sus trabajadores incluyendo el presunto secuestro y asesinato de los dirigentes del sindicato, hasta la proteccion de la salud de nuestros hijos, enviciados por ese jarabe de cola y azucar, que les produce obesidad prematura. Pensemos tambien los revolucionarios, que ese dinero que gastamos en los refrescos es utilizado por esas empresas para financiar el terrorismo en nuestro pais. Es cierto, no se trata solo de la Caca-Cola, sino tambien de la cerveza, de los cigarrillos y todos esos articulos innecesarios y mas que eso, daninos para nuestra salud. Podriamos incluso pensar en un dia de parada para cada uno de ellos. Es cuestion de irnos organizando. Pero para empezar, que tal si dejamos de comprar Caca-Cola y sus similares? Cuando lo extraordinario se vuelve cotidiano... Discurso del Acto de Grado en Barinas en 12 de Febrero del 2005 Queridos Graduandos: Mas que un discurso, quiero dirigirles algunas palabras que escribi anoche, despues de visitar en las clinicas, a los estudiantes heridos, a consecuencia de los enfrentamientos con la policia de hace apenas dos dias. Me ha tocado por razones del destino, ser la persona que les otorgue el titulo que bien merecieron con sus estudios. Y me siento sumamente orgulloso de serlo. Me consta que la Universidad de Los Llanos Occidentales Ezequiel Zamora, a pesar de lo dicho por los enemigos de esta universidad, es una universidad de primera. No tendremos la mejor planta fisica, en los salones hace calor. En el comedor hace calor. Pero no es en lo material que las cosas deben valorarse. El mayor capital es el ser humano. Y en eso, nuestra UNELLEZ, lo digo con conocimiento de causa, esta sobrada. Los llaneros venezolanos son nobles, valientes, de coraje. En la UNELLEZ hacen vida, en este momento, aproximadamente 67000 personas. El 97% de ellas son estudiantes. Jovenes que, como Ustedes hasta el dia de hoy, buscan ese titulo, que constata los anos de dedicacion y de estudio. Los jovenes son el rio de la vida, ustedes graduados deben ser los capitanes de esos barcos que naveguen por el rio de la vida. Nuestra Patria atraviesa momentos muy dificiles porque decidio dejar de ser esa matrona de edad vetusta y complaciente, para ser joven, rebelde y altanera. Nuestra imagen ya no es la de una acaudalada ricachona mayamera. En nuestro rostro brilla ahora la sonrisa del Che Guevara, con su diente delantero torcido, su pelo largo y su boina con la estrella. Entender esto, a mi me ha tomado practicamente toda la vida. Tengo 53 anos, y ya perdi mi oportunidad de derramar sangre joven a causa de un ideal. Ustedes son jovenes, estan en la flor de la vida. No cometan por favor el error de renunciar a su instinto de rebelion. El Che Guevara fue Ministro de a Economia en Cuba. Los billetes y las monedas se adornaban con su rostro. Nada de eso le importo. Primero fue a Angola donde paso un penoso ano de combate. Despues se fue a Bolivia, donde encontro la muerte. El Che era el ultimo que comia, el que cargaba la mochila mas pesada. Siempre se sacrificaba por los demas en un estoicismo que mas parecia fervor religioso que ideologia marxista. Si quieren un modelo de vida. Ahi lo tienen. Dije hace unos momentos que el 97% de la poblacion de la UNELLEZ es estudiante. Se imaginan Ustedes la Universidad que podriamos tener si todos los estudiantes tuvieran la abnegacion, la combatividad del Che? Los momentos que se avecinan van a requerir de una gran unidad del pueblo venezolano. La alternativa de continuar siendo libres o regresar a la pobreza se nos planteara en los proximos dias de forma enmascarada, o quizas peor, desenmascarada, vestida con uniforme de soldado del Imperio. Por nuestra parte podemos esperar lo mejor. La macroeconomia no podria ir mejor, la justicia social ha mejorado notablemente. Las misiones ocupan un papel muy importante en el pago de dicha justicia social. Aqui en Barinas ya hemos cumplido con dos de las misiones, la mision Robinson y la mision Sucre. No hay analfabetismo y no hay exclusion en la educacion superior, en estas tierras de Zamora. Pero ay malhaya! Son precisamente estos exitos los que nos hacen mas antipaticos al Imperio. Para ellos, somos inclusive un mal ejemplo que se esta contagiando al resto del continente y cuidado sino al resto del mundo. Nunca venceremos al Imperio. Estara siempre ahi, acechando. Por lo menos hasta que el mismo no se autodestruya. Porque, sepanlo senores, el neoliberalismo es canibal. Cuando le ataque el hambre, se devorara a si mismo. Ustedes, queridos graduandos, a partir de hoy pasan a conformar la elite profesional que debe sostener este pais en los proximos cuarenta o cincuenta anos. Anos decisivos para el logro de nuestra libertad y del rescate de nuestra Soberania. No se dejen comprar. No se dejen corromper. No se dejen gritar. No se dejen pisar. Que nadie les diga que comer, o que vestirse, o que leer. Sean siempre autenticos, rebeldes, contestatarios. Pero eso si, profundamente patriotas, dignos de ser hijos de Bolivar. Muchas gracias y que Dios los bendiga. Alguna duda? Medio siglo de Holocausto Palestino Oscar Zanartu Nacio en Caracas en 1960. Ha realizado exposiciones individuales en las galerias Minotauro, Clave y San Francisco, y en salas de Coro, estado Falcon, y Puerto Ordaz, estado Bolivar. En Paris su obra ha sido exhibida en el Centro Cultural Tanagra, en la Exposicion Cite Internationale des Arts, en las galerias De Mars y Arver Space, al igual que en la Galeria Municipal Levallois, en Levallois Perret (Francia). En muestras colectivas, su obra se ha expuesto en Belgica, Francia, Estados Unidos y Venezuela; en Caracas intervino en la exposicion "Del genesis a la memoria", 1995, organizada por la Fundacion La Previsora. En 1982 obtuvo el Premio Nacional Critven y en 1990 la Mencion de Honor Jose Antonio Paez, en la Embajada de Venezuela en Paris. En 1991 se le concedio el primer premio de Pintura Itinerante, en Levallois Perret, Francia. OZ1 OZ2 OZ3 OZ4 Homenaje a Jason Galarraga La Victoria de Samotracia Odalisca Mas fotos de la nevada del pasado agosto 2008 La Sierra Nevada de Merida Nuestro precioso Churum Meru Homenaje a Picasso Autoretrato Sabes lo que bebes en una Coca-Cola? La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar. Mi profesion? Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos. Sal en la Coca Cola? A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar. De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla: Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gusto Acido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido) azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa) Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantas Mucha Cafeina Conservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o Potasio Dioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebe Sal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracion El uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja. Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos. Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja. En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero). Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma. La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate. Bebidas Light? Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal. Publicado por loretahur En realidad, la formula secreta de la Coca-Cola se puede detallar en 18 segundos en cualquier espectrometro optico, y basicamente la conocen hasta los perros. Lo que ocurre es que no se puede fabricar igual, a no ser que uno disponga de unos cuantos millones de dolares para ganarle la demanda que te metera la Coca-Cola ante la justicia (ellos no perderian).La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar.Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos.A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar.De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla:Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gustoAcido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido)azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa)Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantasMucha CafeinaConservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o PotasioDioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebeSal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracionEl uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja.Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos.Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja.En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero).Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma.La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate.Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el aspartamo , despues de tres semanas mojado, pasa a tener gusto de trapo viejo sucio.Para evitar eso, se agregan una infinidad de otros productos quimicos, uno para alargar la vida del aspartamo, otro para neutralizar el color, otro para mantener el tercer quimico en suspension porque sino el fondo de la gaseosa quedaria oscuro, otro para evitar la cristalizacion del aspartamo, otro para realzar el sabor, dar mas intensidad al acido citrico o fosforito que perderia su sabor por el efecto de los cuatro productos quimicos iniciales... y asi sucesivamente.Un consejo final !!Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal.Publicado por loretahur MARGARINA o MANTEQUILLA La margarina fue producida originalmente para engordar a los pavos; cuandolo que hizo en realidad fue matarlos.Las personas que habian puesto el dinero para la investigacion quisieronrecobrarlo asi que empezaron a pensar en una forma de hacerlo.Tenian una sustancia blanca, que no tenia ningun atractivo como comestible,asi que le anadieron el color amarillo, para venderselo a lagente en lugar de la mantequilla.Que tal esa?... Ahora han sacado algunos nuevos sabores para vender mas alos incautos como usted y yo.CONOCE USTED la diferencia entre la margarina y la mantequilla?Siga leyendo hasta el final... porque se pone bastante interesante!Comparacion entre mantequilla y margarina: 1.- Ambas tienen la misma cantidad de calorias. 2.- La mantequilla es ligeramente mas alta en grasas saturadas: 8 gramos,comparada con los 5 gramos que tiene la margarina. 3.- Comer margarina en vez de mantequilla puede aumentar en 53% el riesgo deenfermedades coronarias en las mujeres, de acuerdo con un estudiomedico reciente de la Universidad de Harvard. 4.- Comer mantequilla aumenta la absorcion de gran cantidad de nutrientesque se encuentran en otros alimentos. 5.- La mantequilla provee beneficios nutricionales propios mientras lamargarina tiene solo los que le hayan sido anadidos al fabricarla. 6.- La mantequilla sabe mucho mejor que la margarina y mejora el sabor deotros alimentos.7.- La mantequilla ha existido durante siglos mientras que la margarinatiene menos de 100 anos. Ahora... sobre la margarina: 1.- Es muy alta en acidos grasos trans. (Si, esos que recien ahora loscientificos descubrieron que son malisimos y los gobiernoscomenzaron a prohibirlos) . 2.- Triple riesgo de enfermedades coronarias. 3.- Aumenta el colesterol total y el LDL (el colesterol malo) y disminuye elHDL (el colesterol bueno). 4.- Aumenta en cinco veces el riesgo de cancer. 5.- Disminuye la calidad de la leche materna. 6.- Disminuye la reaccion inmunologica del organismo. 7.- Disminuye la reaccion a la insulina. Y he aqui el factor mas inquietante (AQUI ESTA LA PARTE MAS INTERESANTE! ):A la margarina le falta UNA MOLECULA para ser PLASTICO...!!Solo este hecho es suficiente para evitar el uso de la margarina de porvida, y de cualquier otra cosa que sea hidrogenada (esto significaque se le anade hidrogeno, lo cual cambia la estructura molecular de lassubstancias).Usted puede ensayar lo siguiente:Compre un poco de margarina y dejela en el garaje o en un sitio sombreado.Dentro de unos dias notara dos cosas: * No habra moscas; ni siquiera esos molestos bichos se le acercaran (esto yale debe decir a usted algo). * No se pudre ni huele mal o diferente porque no tiene valor nutritivo; nadacrece en ella. Ni siquiera los diminutos microorganismos puedencrecer en ella.Por que? Porque es casi plastico!! No a la guerra, Si a la Paz Misterios de la ciencia... Los costos de la guerra medicos y capitalismo... Capitalismo... medicos (2) Quien educa a nuestros hijos? Los Medios... Sin Palabras... Chistes feministas - Cual es el problema, Eva? - Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas. - Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas... - Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti. - Que es un hombre? - Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente. - Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente. - Cual es el truco?. - Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion. - Cual? - Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer. Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas? Porque todos son unos cerdos Un dia, en el Paraiso, Eva llamo a Dios: Tengo un problema.- Cual es el problema, Eva?- Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas.- Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas...- Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti.- Que es un hombre?- Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente.- Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente.- Cual es el truco?.- Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion.- Cual?- Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer.Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas? Porque todos son unos cerdos Ellas... Ellas (2)... Tres venganzas femeninas VENGANZA NUMERO 1 Hoy mi hija cumple 21 anos y estoy muy contento porque es el ultimo pago de pension alimenticia que le doy, asi que llame a mi hijita para que viniera a mi casa y cuando llego le dije: -Hijita, quiero que lleves este cheque a casa de tu mama y que le digas que: Este es el ultimo maldito cheque que va recibir de mi en todo lo que le queda de su puta vida!!! Quiero que me digas la expresion que pone en su rostro. Asi que mi hija fue a entregar el cheque. Yo estaba ansioso por saber lo que la bruja tenia que decir y que cara pondria. Cuando mi hijita entro, le pregunte inmediatamente: -Que fue lo que te dijo tu madre? -Me dijo que justamente estaba esperando este dia para decirte que no eres mi papa! VENGANZA NUMERO 2 Un hombre que siempre molestaba a su mujer, paso un dia por la casa de unos amigos para que lo acompanaran al aeropuerto a dejar a su esposa que viajaba a Paris. A la salida de inmigracion, frente a todo el mundo, el le desea buen viaje y en tono burlon le grita: - Amor, no te olvides de traerme una hermosa francesita Ja ja ja!! Ella bajo la cabeza y se embarco muy molesta. La mujer paso quince dias en Francia. El marido otra vez pidio a sus amigos que lo acompanasen al aeropuerto a recibirla. Al verla llegar, lo primero que le grita a toda voz es: - Y amor me trajiste mi francesita?? - Hice todo lo posible, - contesta ella - ahora solo tenemos que rezar para que nazca nina. VENGANZA NUMERO 3 El marido, en su lecho de muerte, llama a su mujer. Con voz ronca y ya debil, le dice: - Muy bien, llego mi hora, pero antes quiero hacerte una confesion. - No, no, tranquilo, tu no debes hacer ningun esfuerzo. - Pero, mujer, es preciso - insiste el marido - Es preciso morir en paz. Te quiero confesar algo. - Esta bien, esta bien. Habla! - He tenido relaciones con tu hermana, tu mama y tu mejor amiga. - Lo se, lo se Por eso te envenene, hijo de puta!!! machismo y cibernetica Chiste machista La NASA ha enviado al espacio una mision experimental tripulada por dos monos y una mujer.Apenas abandona la atmosfera, se establece comunicacion con Houston. -Atencion, simio 1, verifique sistemas hidraulicos, controle adecuada presion de los propulsores de arranque. A 60.000 pies disminuya un 25% la velocidad. El simio hace la sena de OK. -Atencion, simio 2, nivele al cruzar la estratosfera y active sistemas anticongelantes. No olvide monitorear sistemas de comunicacion e indicadores de presion. Comprendido?. El simio hace la sena de OK. -Atencion, Houston llamando a mujer: no se olvide. -Mujer: Si, si, ya se! -interrumpe enojada- que no me olvide darles de comer a estos monos de mierda y que no se me vaya a ocurrir tocar nada!. .Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti. Un abogado mantiene un romance con su secretaria.Al poco tiempo, esta queda embarazada y el abogado, que no quiere que su esposa se entere, le da a la secretaria una buena suma de dinero y le pide que se vaya a parir a Italia.Esta pregunta: Y como voy a hacerte saber cuando nazca el bebe ? El abogado responde: Para que mi mujer no se entere, tan solo enviame una postal y escribe por detras: Spaghetti. Y no te preocupes mas, que yo me encargare de todos los gastos. Pasan los meses y una manana la esposa del abogado lo llama al bufete, algo exaltada: Querido, acabo de recibir el correo y hay una postal muy extrana viene desde Italia. La verdad, no entiendo que significa.El abogado, tratando de ocultar sus nervios, contesta:Espera a que llegue a casa, a ver si yo entiendoCuando el hombre llega a casa y lee la postal, cae al suelo fulminado por un infarto.Llega una ambulancia y se lo lleva. Ya en el hospital, el jefe de cardiologia se queda consolando a la esposa y le pregunta cual ha sido el evento que precipito tan masivo ataque cardiaco. Entonces la esposa saca la postal y se la muestra diciendole: No me explico, doctor; el solamente leyo esta postal. Vea usted mismo lo que trae escrito.Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti."Tres con salchicha y albondigas y dos con almejas Gol !!!! Chistes de Borrachos Entra un borracho a su casa todo manchado con lapiz labial por todos lados hecho un desastre, y la mujer le pregunta:-Hombre que te paso?Y el borracho le responde:-No me vas a creer, me pelee con un payaso! Este es un borracho que entra en un bar y le dice al camarero:-Me da cinco copas de whisky?Al rato:-Me da cuatro?Al rato:-Me da tres copas?Despues:-Me da dos copas?Luego le dice:-Me da una copa?Y le dice al camarero:-Ves? Cuanto menos bebo, mas borracho estoy! WHAT? GAY AND ASIAN? ON TV? WHAT KIND OF MYSTIC CREATURE IS THAT? Reply Thread Link Whats interesting is all but one of the white dudes bfs on the show have been non-white. Reply Parent Thread Link Aw cute. Reply Thread Link As an american, I want to say that Australians should be so proud of themselves for voting for gay marriage. If memory serves every state voted for it. I can't even imagine every state in the US voting for it unfortunately. It took the supreme court for the US finally allow it. Reply Thread Link I'm glad that it was an overwhelming yes result though I still think the postal vote was a terrible idea Reply Parent Thread Link Yes I agree with you that we shouldn't even be allowed to vote on a persons civil rights. Gay marriage should have been legal already. People shouldn't have to fight that hard for their rights. The campaign was so hard but they finally won. Reply Parent Thread Link I love their story-line and they are..... hot. Reply Thread Link Cute Reply Thread Link aww that was as cute as the non white guy is, bless! Reply Thread Link shook this is like the second gay asian character they have had! Reply Thread Link So all the qt3.14 actors of the entire country were unable to play these roles? but besides the awful acting, that was cute af. i envy you Australia :( Edited at 2018-05-19 05:01 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link The acting is so so bad. But at least both of them are nice to look at and have nice chemistry with each other. /shallowpool Reply Thread Link YAAAS NEIGHBOURS Reply Thread Link this was cute but i'm still confused as to why he proposed with a watch? lol Reply Thread Link Wow, the one guy's got some poofy armpit hair. Reply Thread Link ungh so rushed. Let David be out and gay for a bit longer before marrying his off to his first boyfriend who he only got back together with like last week. Reply Thread Link This is graduation weekend for so many schools and even more schools will have graduations next week and I'm scared for everyone involved. Reply Parent Thread Link There is no point in doing that, since there's always going to be a next school shooting. In fact there was 1 this afternoon. Reply Thread Link if anything should be done, it's working on gun control Reply Parent Thread Link There's many shootings that don't get publicized so they probably pray the next one is one of those. Reply Parent Thread Link right? like, "let's hope this is a low-fatality one this week!" smh Reply Parent Thread Link With all the school shootings and the guy on my way to work with signs in his yard saying "MURDER MUELLER" and "LIBERALS HAVE NO PLACE IN AMERICA" and "CIVIL WAR IS COMING", I have no hope for this country or this world. *sigh* Reply Thread Link are they doing this cause this season they are going ahead with the mass shooting plot they were hinting last season? fuck this show Reply Thread Link [ Spoiler (click to open) ] the kid who was going to do the mass shooting went away and actually got help, came back with a better attitude and seemingly didn't want to kill anyone because he'd gotten treatment and then he's jumped in the bathroom where one of the other students beats the shit out of him and rapes with with a broomstick so he gets all his guns and brings them to the school but is stopped before he can kill anyone these are just spoilers that i got from reading bout the finale but tw rape Reply Parent Thread Expand Link What the fuck???? This show is such trash. Reply Parent Thread Link what the fuck Fuck selena gomez and this trash ass show omg Reply Parent Thread Expand Link weeeeeeell I am done watching this season then, holy shit. Reply Parent Thread Link Wtf is this show... Reply Parent Thread Link Uh what the fuck Reply Parent Thread Link I refuse to watch this but I was reading about the season and how fucked up it is and honestly the writers of this series need to talk to someone because they're like obsessed with rape and making things as graphic and fucked it as possible, it's terrible. Reply Thread Link seriously what in the everloving fuck is this show?! Reply Parent Thread Link This season is definitely a clusterfuck of shock events. I'm nearly done with watching it myself and I'm just..."Why?" Reply Parent Thread Link i'm on episode 5, and i like the season so far. but like other commenters have said, there's no point in cancelling (except out of respect obv) bc we always have shootings anyway :/ Reply Thread Link this show rubs me the wrong way. on the one hand I get it that this is reality for teens these days but also it feels like its glorifying rape,suicide,violence Reply Thread Link i was not hf men explaining why the rape scenes were, like, totally necessary, dude. esp when you consider that the book's author (one of the guys defending the graphic shit) has been accused of sexual harassment himself. Edited at 2018-05-19 04:43 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link oh shit jay asher?? i didn't hear about this Reply Parent Thread Expand Link yup Reply Parent Thread Link yeah i just feel like its not a good representation. shows like my mad fat diary and please like me handled mental health/suicide a lot better in my opinion. Reply Parent Thread Link Another shooting? Jfc. Reply Thread Link I get that there are people out there who identify with this series and truly enjoy so no disrespect to them... but I HATE this show. USA Today gave this shit ONE STAR. Reply Thread Link mte. they keep saying they're facilitating discussion~ on mental health, but this is not the type or the way to facilitate it. They're sending the wrong msg, its so poorly done ffs. Reply Parent Thread Link [ Spoiler (click to open) ] bringing hannah back as a ghost yeah that makes me so mad, the discussion they're facilitating is not the discussion that needs to be had and it's not productive.sealed the deal for me because it makes clear that it's a huge weird revenge fantasy which is exactly what appeals to kids who are at risk. Reply Parent Thread Link I hated it too. It was aggravating. Reply Parent Thread Link i just read a synopsis of the season finale and this show is super fucked up. how do you people watch this? Reply Thread Link You would not believe how many people were in the post about this season's official trailer literally getting mad/defensive over people not liking this show. Reply Parent Thread Link they need help. this show really seems to take an almost sadistic pleasure in violence against children. it's fucking weird. Reply Parent Thread Link I watched the first episode of season 2 and it was terrible Reply Thread Link i had to stop watching after i read what happened in the last episode, i can't fucking stomach that Reply Thread Link oh what happens? Reply Parent Thread Link I thought season 1 of this show was...a lot. I thought it was fine, clunky, but parts of it were well-written and some performances were really good. I agree with everyone that it was completely irresponsible of the producers and the writers and Netflix to release this show with no trigger warning and no real consideration of the graphic images they allowed in a show marketed to teens. Im 9 episodes into season 2 and its just unnecessary tbh. It feels like its trying to justify its own existence. Theres still some great acting, but the story is flimsy and the people behind the show obviously misread all the critique and backlash they got for season 1. Actually scratch that. They read it all right. They just didnt give enough of a fuck to care or change. The only thing Ill take away from this season really is a longing for a summer coming of age romcom starring Ross Butler and Katherine Langford because those flashbacks in episode 6 are probably the best thing the show will ever produce Edited at 2018-05-19 05:14 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link I heard that Dylan kid is phenomenal on the show. Variety said he gives the most complex emotional performance on tv right now And my head went immediately towards bish please, have you seen Barry's performance? lol sorry but had to After Season 1, I'm not sure a Season 2 was justifiable Reply Parent Thread Link I know it has been like a year since I watched it but I'm pretty sure each episode that needed it DID have a warning at the beginning?? Reply Parent Thread Link Netflix added more warnings after the backlash. Reply Parent Thread Link So are you just saying skip straight to episode 6 and forget the other bs?? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Season 1 was heavy as hell, and I"m old enough to grabble with the context/actions of the teens But younger kids, I don't think so. This show just made me feel depressed and I was like glad I watched it to be in the know about but never again. Reply Thread Link I agree. I'm a grown woman (who was abused in my teens) and this show makes me feel like I want to end it all. To be honest I don't feel like they're handling these subjects well at all. Reply Parent Thread Link Bees help pollinate 90 percent of the world's major crops The United Nation's food agency and the European Union on Saturday called for global action to protect pollinators, and bees in particular, which are crucial for ensuring food security. "It is not possible to have food security if we don't have pollinators," the head of the UN's Food and Agricultural Organization, Jose Graziano da Silva, told a conference in Slovenia ahead of the first-ever World Bee Day. Pollinators, such as bees, birds, bats, butterflies and beetles "are responsible for most of the crops and food that we eat," he said. To cope with the impact of pesticides, shrinking forest areas and reducing wildlife, the world needs to find "ways to increase, preserve biodiversity," he said. To underline the importance of the issue, and following a Slovenian proposal, the UN has named May 20 as World Bee Day, as it marked the birthday of Anton Jansa (1734-1773), a Slovenian pioneer in modern beekeeping. Bees help pollinate 90 percent of the world's major crops, but in recent years many have been dying off from "colony collapse disorder", a mysterious scourge blamed partly on pesticides. The UN has warned that 40 percent of invertebrate pollinatorsparticularly bees and butterfliesrisk global extinction. EU environment commissioner Karmenu Vella, also attending the conference, announced that Brussels is scheduled to present its action plan to protect pollinators on June 1. "Basically, we'll be addressing the threats, the causes, the consequences but also the actions that we have to take," to protect pollinators and stop the decline of biodiversity, Vella told journalists. "We have to take actions not just in Slovenia, not just in Europe, but globally," he added. Last month, EU countries voted for a ban on the use of three neonicotinoid pesticides in fields, allowing its use only in covered greenhouses where they cannot get into the environment. Graziano da Silva saw the ban as "the right way forward." Explore further Slovenia, a land with beekeeping in its genes 2018 AFP UC geology professor Amy Townsend-Small uses gas chromatography to study water samples taken from groundwater wells in Ohio. Credit: Jay Yocis/UC Creative Services A study of drinking water in Appalachian Ohio found no evidence of natural gas contamination from recent oil and gas drilling. Geologists with the University of Cincinnati examined drinking water in Carroll, Stark and Harrison counties, a rural region in northeast Ohio where many residents rely on water from private underground wells. The time-series study was the first of its kind in Ohio to examine methane in groundwater in relation to natural gas drilling. The results were published in the journal Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. "Some people had elevated concentrations of methane in their groundwater, but the isotopic composition showed it wasn't from natural gas" said Amy Townsend-Small, associate professor of geology in UC's McMicken College of Arts and Sciences. "What we found is in most cases it was probably from underground coal in the area or biological methane produced in groundwater." UC researchers collected 180 groundwater samples in total at homes in the three counties. Some of the sites were sampled multiple times. In particular, researchers looked for evidence of methane, the primary compound in natural gas. They also studied changes in the acidity or pH of the water, and changes to its conductivity. They found no increase in methane concentration or composition in groundwater over the four years of the study, despite the presence of new shale gas wells drilled in the study area. Likewise, they did not find higher methane levels in closer approximation to shale drilling. Researchers did find wide variability in methane concentrations in the drinking water, ranging from 0.2 micrograms per liter to 25.3 milligrams per liter, which is strong enough to catch fire in enclosed spaces. But researchers found no relationship between the methane observed in drinking water and the new gas wells. "Clearly, additional monitoring is needed to determine whether methane concentrations and source signals in this region change as the number of oil and gas wells continues to increase," the study concluded. A time-series map shows the Ohio counties where UC researchers collected water samples. Red circles indicate active natural gas wells. Blue diamonds are sites where time series groundwater samples were taken. Light blue circles represent sites where a single sample of groundwater was collected. Groundwater sample locations are noted when samples were taken between the years noted in each map. There was a large increase in active natural gas wells from 2013 to 2014. Credit: Claire Botner/UC Researchers identified the chemical composition of the water using gas chromatography, isotope ratio mass spectrometry, and radiocarbon dating in a UC geology lab. Understanding the chemical composition helps identify the source of methane found in drinking water: from natural gas extraction, organic decomposition or even from the digestive systems of nearby cows. Lead author and UC graduate Claire Botner said the study solicited participation by homeowners who were willing to let researchers test their wells. The study area has seen increasing interest from natural gas companies in recent years. It's located above a geological feature called the Utica Shale formation, which is known to harbor oil and natural gas. When UC launched its methane study in 2012, Ohio had issued 115 drilling permits for the region. By the study's end in 2015, nearly 1,600 permits had been issued, primarily for Carroll County. Hydraulic fracturing is a process by which pressurized water, sand and chemicals are pumped into natural-gas wells more than a mile deep to break apart shale to release pockets of oil and natural gas. Researchers hypothesized that methane concentrations in the drinking-water wells they sampled would increase over time with the growth of natural gas drilling in the area. This is a correlation researchers observed in Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale region. But that's not what UC's water tests revealed. The study concluded that methane observed in groundwater was "biogenic," or naturally occurring and independent of natural gas drilling. "The study researchers in Pennsylvania thought the contamination issue was a failure of the well casings in the fracking wells," Townsend-Small said. "Hopefully, that doesn't happen often. And that apparently didn't happen with the wells of homeowners we worked with for our study." Townsend-Small has spent much of her career researching groundwater and methane. She and other UC geologists are studying the influence of the Great Miami River on groundwater in southwest Ohio at UC's C.V. Theis Groundwater Observatory. She also has studied atmospheric methane in relation to algae blooms in the Great Lakes and methane in arctic lakes in Alaska. UC graduate student Jacob Deighton uses a vacuum line to prepare a water sample in a geology lab. Credit: Jay Yocis/UC Creative Services "Some people had elevated concentrations of methane in their groundwater, but the isotopic composition showed it wasn't from natural gas. It was from a different source," Townsend-Small said. "What we found is in most cases it was probably from underground coal in the area or biological methane produced in groundwater." Study co-authors included UC professor emeritus David Nash and UC assistant professor of geology Joshua Miller. Botner said if researchers were to replicate the study, she might recommend expanding it to include other hydrocarbons such as propane or look for carbonate isotopes associated with natural gas drilling. "It's a controversial topic," Botner said. "But that's why science is so valuable. Maybe another study would confirm our findings or maybe they would find something else. Regardless, we would welcome more well testing." Carroll County Commissioner Robert Wirkner said the findings were good news for residents. Like many of his neighbors, he gets drinking water at his house from a private well on his property. Wirkner said gas companies test the drinking water of nearby homes before and after they drill a well to observe any changes in water quality. "My water has been tested multiple times," he said. "So we're happy to hear the findings." Townsend-Small said protecting wells from contamination is especially important in rural areas because there are few alternatives for clean drinking water. Digging a new or deeper well is expensive and would not necessarily solve a pollution problem. And there are few opportunities in rural areas to connect to public water lines. "It would be great if homeowners had access to ongoing monitoring," she said. "In cities, you are reassured that your drinking water is safe. We pay the public water utilities to test the water every day. But if you have a private well, you just have to hope that it's not contaminated on a day-to-day basis." Explore further Tapping a valuable resource or invading the environment? Research examines the start of fracking in Ohio More information: E. Claire Botner et al, Monitoring concentration and isotopic composition of methane in groundwater in the Utica Shale hydraulic fracturing region of Ohio, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (2018). E. Claire Botner et al, Monitoring concentration and isotopic composition of methane in groundwater in the Utica Shale hydraulic fracturing region of Ohio,(2018). DOI: 10.1007/s10661-018-6696-1 We need 6000 MT of pine wood chip per year in fuel, around 15% moisture content, in 40 HQ Container. In your SCO specify which country this wood-chips comes from and what could be the price CIF Germany -Brake Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Lu Qi will no longer assume the office of the company's president and COO from July this year for personal reason, while still maintain his role as Baidu's vice chairman. Meanwhile, the current vice president Wang Haifeng will be promoted as senior vice president and take charge of the AIG (artificial intelligence group), according to Baidu's official WeChat account. Lu Qi has been regarded as a vital leader for the group's revival. During his tenure, the share price of Baidu has jumped nearly 60% with its make valuation at the peak of around $ 100 billion. Lu Qi joined Baidu in January, 2017 as group's COO and president and has served as vice chairman of the board of directors since February, 2017. He was in charge of the companys products, technologies, sales, marketing and operations as well as intelligent driving businesses. Prior to joining Baidu, he had worked in Microsoft as its global executive vice president since December, 2008. Earlier in his career, Lu Qi joined Yahoo! in 1998 and later became senior vice president, who was in charge of search and advertising technologies, and subsequently became its executive vice president in 2007. Lu possesses both bachelor and master degrees in computer science from Fudan University in Shanghai and a Ph.D. in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University. Wang Haifeng, holding a master degree from Harbin Engineering University, joined Baidu in 2010 and was promoted as vice president in October 2013. He is currently responsible for the research of machine learning, big data, computer vision, natural language processing, voice technologies, image recognition as well as AR (augmented reality). 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 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 Lonmin Plc explores, mines, refines, and markets platinum group metals in South Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. The company explores for platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium, and gold, as well as chrome, nickel, copper, and cobalt deposits. Its flagship property is the Marikana mine located on the Western Limb of the Bushveld igneous complex in South Africa. In addition, the company holds 100% interest in Pandora mine. The company was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Melrose North, South Africa. Read More Shirley Contreras lives in Orcutt and writes for the Santa Maria Valley Historical Society. She can be contacted at 623-8193 or at shirleycontreras2@yahoo.com. Her book, The Good Years, a selection of stories shes written for the Santa Maria Times since 1991, is on sale at the Santa Maria Valley Historical Society, 616 S. Broadway. Learning that their child is struggling with a substance-use disorder is any parents nightmare. But, especially if the child is still a minor Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Portugal is a country "open" to Chinese investment and could play a "constructive" role in economic relations between China and the European Union, the foreign minister of the Asian economic powerhouse said Friday. Speaking to reporters alongside his Portuguese counterpart Augusto Santos Silva, Wang Yi praised Portugal's "open" attitude to foreign investment, adding that he hoped "Portugal will be able to continue to play a positive and constructive role in the economic, trade and investment relationship between China and the european Union". He said he hoped this would allow Portugal to "adequately address the differences that exist between China and the European Union". Beijing, for its part, would "continue to encourage Chinese companies to invest regularly" in Portugal, he added. In order to get out of the 2011 debt crisis, Portugal welcomed several Chinese investors in the energy, insurance and banking sectors. Last week, the Chinese energy behemoth Three Gorges announced a takeover bid of Portugal's electricity company EDP, of which it is already the largest shareholder. EDP rejected the offer as too low on Tuesday. Chinese breast cancer survivors mastectomy photos used for adverts without her consent A breast cancer survivor who shared pictures of her body on social media after a mastectomy was shocked to find the images used in adverts without her permission, a news website has reported. Some of the advertisements even claimed she got cancer because she did not use their product. Li Li, 50, a former model from Shanghai who had a breast removed in 2016, is demanding the companies apologise for using her images and has threatened legal action, Thepaper.cn reported. After her surgery, she shared images with friends on the messaging app WeChat and later started a campaign to increase awareness of breast cancer among women, the report said. Im not advertising underwear: UK Nobel laureate in fake claims row with Chinese firm To sisters who love their breasts, it doesnt matter if you lose one of them. We can still live a brilliant life, Li wrote in the captions for her pictures. Like a goddess, I am proud of myself! Its using my misfortune to mislead and deceive customers Li Li However, she recently discovered the photographs were being used in misleading adverts ranging from promotions for bras, breast massaging machines, beauty salons and acupuncture therapists. They also gave her differing names and identities. Shockingly, one advert said: A bra to reduce your chance of breast cancer. Would you like that? Another said: Youve been ignoring advice to do massage, now youre losing your breast. God is fair. Company fined HK$200,000 over misleading property adverts Li was quoted as saying she wants apologies from the advertisers and for them to detail the true nature of the pictures. She also said she would sue if her photographs were used again without her permission. Its not just a matter of portraiture rights. Its using my misfortune to mislead and deceive customers, she was quoted as saying. This article Chinese breast cancer survivors mastectomy photos used for adverts without her consent first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. There was silence in Windsor as thousands of well-wishers listened to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle say their vows -- then the crowd erupted into cheers and popped prosecco corks as they were declared husband and wife. Crowds of colourful royal enthusiasts from around the world flocked to the historic British town on Saturday, many of them gathering on the tree-lined avenue leading up to the castle. People from as far afield as Canada, Australia and the Philippines waved Union Jack flags, donned tiaras, royal t-shirts hats and scarves, cheering and dancing as they watched the ceremony on big screens. "She looks beautiful -- it's a timeless dress," said Denise Show, 46, from southeast England, as Markle emerged in a white sculpted gown with a long veil stretching out behind her. When the choir in St George's Chapel sang "Stand by Me", the crowds outside joined in. The Long Walk was transformed into a sea of Union Jack flags when the national anthem played. "It's like a dream," said Theodora Torres, 71, who came from Los Angeles with her husband. Harry and Meghan drew huge cheers as they went past in an open-topped horse-drawn carriage after the wedding, escorted by soldiers in gleaming ceremonial uniforms. - 'Much more diverse' - Three royal fans in their 50s in wedding dresses waited for the prince at the castle gates, with signs on their backs saying: "Harry I'm here." "My husband knows I'm here but he doesn't know what I'm wearing," joked Lorraine Rains, 57, from St Helens in northwest England. Karen Long, from the US state of Texas, said she felt compelled to come to Britain for the big occasion given Markle's American nationality. "I feel like she is one of us!" she said. "We all wanted to be a princess, we thought we couldn't and there she is, breaking all the barriers." Leslie Owusu, an English teacher from nearby High Wycombe, who was sporting an African tapestry over her white dress, came with her 10-year-old son Prince. "It was magical. It's been a historic, epic day for two amazing individuals to ignite a new generation of the royal family. "It's a union of different cultures. You've got America and England and a fusion of two people that love people and life. It makes that global appeal so much more diverse," she said. Two Canadians wore maple leaf onesies, while others were clad from head to foot in the British and American flags as a town crier barked out a congratulatory message. "We have travelled a long way for a very, very exciting event," said Jessica Kirsopp, a 31-year-old childcare worker from Australia. "It's something that is probably not going to happen for a little bit, until (Prince Harry's young nephew Prince) George gets married or there's another coronation." - Fanatics camped out - Some of the most fanatical supporters camped for days, seeking to secure the best spots to watch the happy couple ride by. "I know it is going to sound very creepy but I would love to touch them -- just shake their hand," said Kristen Henry, 34, a radio host who had travelled from Australia. Armed police, sniffer dogs and airport-style security scanners were deployed throughout the town, while huge barriers were hauled into place to prevent a vehicle attack. Police patrolling the parade route Saturday were applauded by crowds, as snipers took up positions on numerous roofs. Adele McNally, 67, one of the "royal ambassadors", volunteers drawn from the local community to assist spectators, said she was happy to miss out on seeing the ceremony and procession in order to help. "Being a part of it will be lovely," she said. "It's what being British is all about." Lesley Ward, 62, from Gosport in southern England, said: "It was such a whole fabulous package." One of the largest cheers from the crowds came when Prince Charles stepped forward to accompany Markle down the aisle, after her own father Thomas pulled out due to ill-health. However, she made part of the journey through the church on her own -- something many in the crowd applauded. "I think that shows she is a strong independent woman and it puts (a) great message across," said student Mary Grimes, 19. There were also audible sighs when the big screen focused on Markle's mother Doria Ragland, who was visibly moved by the ceremony. Iran said Saturday it would wait to see whether Europe produces tangible results in overcoming US sanctions before it decides whether to stay in the nuclear deal, as a top EU official visited Tehran to present plans for maintaining trade ties. "The ball is in the court of the EU. They have presented different proposals, we will see if they materialise," said the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, Ali Akbar Salehi. He was speaking after meeting European Union Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete, the first high-level Western official to visit Iran since the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers earlier this month. Canete called the nuclear deal "fundamental for peace in the region" as he outlined EU plans to continue oil and gas purchases and protect European companies from US sanctions as they are phased in over the next six months. He also had detailed talks with Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh on practical solutions, which he said included plans for direct payments between central banks and state-backed insurance for shipments. A group of experts later met their Iranian counterparts to hash out the details. Zanganeh said there were no plans to change Iran's pattern of oil exports, which amount to 3.8 million barrels per day, with 70 percent going to Asia and 20 percent to Europe. Salehi acknowledged Europe's efforts to protect trade but said: "We want tangible results, otherwise we take our own decisions. I personally don't want to see such decisions being taken." Iran has threatened to resume industrial uranium enrichment "without limit" unless its interests are preserved by the remaining parties to the deal, which also include China and Russia. Salehi said the Iranian people had lost trust in the nuclear agreement and that if trade benefits were not protected "they will lose more confidence... and we will be forced to leave." - EU firms eye exit - Despite vows by European leaders to protect EU firms from US sanctions, several companies -- including France's Total and Holland's Maersk -- have already said it will be impossible to stay unless they receive explicit exemptions from Washington. On Friday, French energy giant Engie said it would begin pulling out of all projects in the Islamic republic in order to avoid being hit by US sanctions. "For sure there are clear difficulties with the sanctions," Canete said at a press conference alongside Salehi. "We will have to ask for waivers, for carve-outs for the companies that make investments." Canete was due to meet Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday. Iran's trade with the European Union is worth around 20 billion euros a year, evenly split between imports and exports. Oil accounts for some 90 percent of EU imports from Iran, going primarily to Spain, France, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands and Germany. Iran has the world's fourth-biggest oil reserves and second-largest gas reserves. But it has only finalised two major energy deals since the sanctions were lifted: Total's $4.8-billion South Pars 11 project with the China National Petroleum Corporation, and a $740 million deal with Russia's Zarubezhneft to develop the Aban and Paydar oilfields. Analysts say Iran's hardliners remain wary of foreign involvement in the energy sector, and the Revolutionary Guards have sought to maintain their privileged position in major projects -- delaying negotiations with Western firms. Russia and China are less vulnerable to economic pressure from Washington, and analysts say they could benefit from Europe's difficulties in Iran. Lebanon is hosting its first ever women-only classic car rally, with female drivers flying in from across the world for the occasion. The 28 drivers in the two-day Rallye des Graces event include women from France, the United Kingdom, China and Algeria. They set off Saturday from the Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon, a seaside club in Kislik, north of Beirut, and are to tour the country, as far east as the Bekaa plain along the border with Syria. Organiser Chahrazad Rizk told AFP she wanted to bring the event to Lebanon after taking part in similar rallies in Switzerland. "The idea is to organise a women's rally each time in a different Middle Eastern country," said Isabelle Labrousse, a driver who made her first visit to Lebanon for the occasion. After leaving Kislik, the cars parked briefly under searing sun at the ancient port of Byblos. "I'm very happy to participate in this event, it's magical," said Rima Lucas, a Lebanese driver at the wheel of an old red Porsche. Laurence Boule, on her first visit to Lebanon, said she was happy at "the prospect of spending a day in these beautiful old cars... with all these women from around the world". But she said Lebanon's rugged terrain and the lack of road signs had complicated matters. "Our first kilometre went very well until we got lost," she said. "But we only found charming Lebanese people to redirect us". A two-year-old girl of Kurdish origin who died after police gave chase to a van carrying illegal migrants in Belgium succumbed to a bullet wound to the face, prosecutors said Friday. The police had opened fire to stop the van after a highway chase between Namur and Maisieres, a suburb of the city of Mons. The child, who was on board the van with her parents, died in the ambulance on her way to hospital. "The autopsy determined that the cause of death was a bullet that entered the cheek," prosecutor Frederic Bariseau told reporters in Tournai near the French border. Police have opened an internal investigation to determine the circumstances of the girl's death, Bariseau said. "We cannot exclude that this bullet came from a police officer's gun," he said. "The investigation will have to determine whether there were other shots, and from which police officer if it was a police officer, or someone in the van who could have been armed," he said. Rules of engagement "are strict. Police are free (to open fire) if they deem themselves in danger," he said. The prosecutor's office initially said on Thursday that the girl had "not died as a result of the police shooting". In the van intercepted by the police were 30 people including 26 adults, all of Kurdish origin, who are now in custody. Authorities initially evoked a number of possible causes of death, including illness or reckless driving during the chase. The prosecutor said the incident began with a routine patrol by police at a parking lot in Namur, the capital of the Belgian region Wallonia. Police determined that the plates on the van were fake and approached the vehicle, which drove away. "A first arrest attempt was made in Sambreville when the vehicle pretended to stop and then accelerated," the prosecutor said. "That's when the police called for reinforcements and why we found ourselves with a fairly large number of police officers," he said. The shots were fired by police at the end of the chase near Mons, he added. The death caused a stir on Thursday in the migrant community of Grande-Synthe, near Dunkirk in France, as the girl was a member of a family currently housed there, French authorities said. The Belgium border region near France has become a magnet for migrants, with many heading towards Grande Synthe or Calais to try to board lorries and reach Britain. President of Mongolia Khaltmaagiin Battulga delivers a speech during a session of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia September 7, 2017. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin/Fies By Simon Cameron-Moore and Fathin Ungku KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - The potential reopening of a probe into the murder 12 years ago of a Mongolian model could spell more trouble for former Malaysian premier Najib Razak, as the new government pressed ahead with investigations into alleged corruption. On Saturday, Mongolia's president requested Malaysia's new leaders to find justice for the dead woman, Altantuya Shaariibu, while a fugitive policeman convicted of the crime said he would cooperate with any new probe if he was given a full pardon. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has already barred Najib from leaving Malaysia after surprisingly defeating his one-time protege in an election on May 9. The new government is seeking answers to how billions of dollars disappeared from a state fund that Najib founded, and its anti-graft agency has asked the ex-premier, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, to make a statement at its headquarters on Tuesday. In the case of the murdered Mongolian model, two policemen from Najib's security detail were convicted, and have death sentences hanging over them, but the question of who ordered them to kill 28-year-old Altantuya has never been answered. While released on bail during an appeal one of those officers fled to Australia. Speaking from an immigration detention centre, where he has been held since 2015 for overstaying his visa, Sirul Azhar Umar told news portal Malaysiakini that he would help any move by the government to resurrect the case so long as he walked free. "Hence, I am willing to assist the new government to tell what actually transpired provided that the government grants me full pardon," he was quoted as saying. Najib, who was deputy prime minister and defence minister at the time of the murder, has denied knowing Altantuya or playing any role in her death, but the mystery has haunted his political career. Calls by Reuters to Najib's spokesman for comment on the latest developments went unanswered. Story continues His relative and one-time close associate, Abdul Razak Baginda, a defence consultant and political analyst who was said to have been the dead woman's lover, had been charged with abetting the murder but was acquitted in 2008. Mongolian President Battulga Khaltmaa's call for justice was made in a congratulatory message to the 92-year-old Mahathir. "As president of Mongolia, I pay special attention to the aggravated crime, that on October 18, 2006, a citizen of Mongolia and mother of two children, Shaariibuu Altantuya, was murdered in Malaysia," he said in the letter to Mahathir that was also posted on his office's website. ANWAR ADVOCATES NEW CHARGES Mahathir, asked on Monday whether he would consider commuting Sirul's death sentence, said: "We cannot do everything at the same time at one go." Anwar Ibrahim, the rival who allied with Mahathir to topple Najib, said judges' reluctance to call key witnesses in the murder case had "made a mockery of the law". "The best way is to proffer a new charge and allow for a full hearing of the case," Anwar told The Australian newspaper following his own release from prison earlier this week after a royal pardon quashed a politically-motivated sodomy conviction. In his interview with Malaysiakini, Sirul thanked Anwar "for calling for a fresh trial". Civil society groups have alleged Altantuya's murder was linked to her role as an interpreter and associate of Najib's adviser, Abdul Razak Baginda, during Malaysia's negotiations to buy two submarines from French shipbuilding giant DCNS in 2002. Najib has denied allegations of links to Altantuya or graft during the deal. LUXURY HANDBAGS, CASH On Saturday, Najib and his wife hit out at the media and police, after investigators seeking evidence of corruption were filmed seizing box loads of jewelry, luxury handbags and cash. Items seized by police from Najib's residence and other locations linked to the couple included Birkin handbags from French designer firm Hermes, some costing more than a sports car. Dozens of the luxury bags were filled with cash and jewelry. Najib's lawyer, Harpal Singh Grewal, told reporters waiting outside the house that the former prime minister and his family were "really very unhappy" that police had confiscated clothes and shoes belonging to his children. "No attempt was made to verify whether these dresses, shoes, baby clothes and all had anything to do with the investigations which are ongoing," he said. His wife, Rosmah Mansor, whose lavish taste has made a her a focus for anger, also issued a statement through her lawyers calling on law enforcement agencies to avoid "feeding social media trolls" and a "premature public trial". (Additional reporting by Tom Westbrook in KUALA LUMPUR and Munkhchimeg Davaasharav in ULAANBAATAR; Writing by Simon Cameron-Moore; Editing by Andrew Bolton) The new owner of Cambodia's beleaguered Phnom Penh Post on Friday denied links to the country's authoritarian government and defended a stormy takeover which saw journalists resign en masse over fears for editorial independence. The May 4 takeover of the English-language daily by Malaysian investor Siva Kumar G after he purchased the paper last month sent a shudder of dread through advocates of free expression in the kingdom, where premier Hun Sen has crushed all criticism in the run-up to July elections. The buyer also owns Asia PR, a company that once worked for Cambodia's government, stirring alarm over apparent cosy links with the ruling party. Hun Sen has dismantled the fragile democracy's once-vibrant media scene over the past year, with the Post one of few remaining watchdogs in the graft-riddled country. The paper's main rival, the Cambodia Daily, was among media closed last year as part of a wider crackdown on critics ahead of 2018 polls that Hun Sen is determined to win. In a combative press conference Friday, Siva said he took over Asia PR in 2011, long after any business it might have had with Hun Sen's administration, insisting no ties remain. "I wish to clarify there is no government involvement," he said of the sale, admitting that it had gotten off to a "rocky start". Citing his own background as a journalist by training, Siva said the sale was a "simple and honest business venture" and that he had been "demonised by certain journalists at the Phnom Penh Post". Most of the foreign staff members resigned after refusing to take down an article about the sale while the Cambodian editor-in-chief was fired. One former employee disputed Siva's comments about the ex-staffers, saying the article was a "straight news report in order to be transparent about the sale of the Phnom Penh Post". Siva, whose full name is Sivakumar Ganapathy, hinted on Friday at new restructuring plans, saying he had appointed a transition team. The Post was founded by American journalist Michael Hayes in 1992, just as Cambodia was set to hold democratic elections after years of civil strife and the bloody reign of the Khmer Rouge. Cambodia plunged 10 places in this year's media freedom ranking by Reporters Without Borders. A court spokesman in Phnom Penh told reporters on Friday that two former Radio Free Asia journalists arrested and accused of espionage late last year would have their pre-trial detention extended. The rapid decline of the kingdom's media scene has followed a lurch into greater authoritarianism. The main opposition party -- Hun Sen's only real rival -- was dissolved in a court ruling last year. Both the US and EU have pulled support for the July 29 vote, which the leader's Cambodian People's Party is expected to dominate. "Shoplifters", a heartwrenching family tale by Japanese veteran director Hirokazu Kore-eda, won the Palme d'Or top prize at the Cannes film festival Saturday, at a ceremony marked by an emotional speech from a Harvey Weinstein accuser. Spike Lee accepted the runner-up Grand Prix for "BlacKkKlansman", a searing broadside against racism with the stranger-than-fiction true story of an African-American police officer who manages to infiltrate the highest levels of the Ku Klux Klan. Jury president Cate Blanchett said the film, which explicitly links the 1970s tale and white nationalism in the Trump era, "blew us out of the cinema". But the most stunning moment of the night came when Italian star Asia Argento, who has said she was raped by Weinstein at Cannes in 1997, took the microphone and vowed to fight for justice for other victims. "This festival was his hunting ground," said Argento, who says she was 21 when Weinstein attacked her in his hotel room. "Even tonight sitting among you there are those who still have to be held accountable for their conduct against women. We know who you are and we are not going to allow you to get away with it any longer," she said to cheers from the audience. Minutes before the actress took the stage police in Paris said they had opened a criminal probe against one of France's best-known directors, "The Fifth Element" maker Luc Besson, for allegedly raping an actress. - 'Rare good news' - Lebanese actress-director Nadine Labaki, one of three female filmmakers among the 21 contenders, earned the third-place Jury Prize for "Capernaum" set among the poorest of the poor in Beirut and featuring a devastating performance by a 13-year-old Syrian refugee boy. Kazakhstan's Samal Yeslyamova nabbed best actress for "Ayka" by director Sergey Dvortsevoy for her moving portrayal of a young jobless immigrant from post-Soviet Central Asia who abandons her baby in Moscow. Polish Oscar winner Pawel Pawlikowski took the prize for best director for "Cold War", a tragic love story set against the backdrop of the Iron Curtain. Pawlikowski, who won the foreign-language movie Oscar for "Ida" in 2015, caused a scandal at home when he told AFP at the festival that the film had been "blacklisted" by the nationalist government. Warsaw denied the claim. He said his award was "a rare piece of good news" for his country. Italy's Marcello Fonte -- who was working as a caretaker when he was discovered -- was the night's fairytale winner. He clinched best actor for his much-loved performance as a soft-spoken pet groomer who stands up to a heavy in Matteo Garrone's "Dogman". "Three Faces" by Iran's Jafar Pahahi, who was barred by Tehran from attending the festival, shared the best screenplay prize with Italian director Alice Rohrwacher's "Happy as Lazzaro". The Belgian transgender ballerina drama "Girl" won the Camera d'Or prize for best first film. It had earlier scooped the Queer Palm prize for LGBT-themed cinema and the best actor award for Victor Polster in the Un Certain Regard sidebar section. French-Swiss legend Jean-Luc Godard also got a special prize for "The Image Book", a bold, sometimes baffling meditation on the big questions of our time -- war, migration and the survival of the planet. - 'Very scary time' - "Shoplifters" was an early favourite at the 71st Cannes festival. It depicts a couple who rescue two abused and neglected children, providing the first love the youngsters have experienced even as they groom the kids to steal. US movie website IndieWire hailed it as "miraculous" while The Guardian called it "a rich, satisfying film". Spike Lee called his own movie, which many critics hailed as a return to form for the "Do the Right Thing" director, a "wake-up call" against extremism around the world. "It's a very, very scary time we live in," he told reporters. "There is a lot of change but there is a lot of stuff that needs to happen... and with the present (Trump) administration they're doing many things to roll back the clock which I feel is dangerous." Beyond the prize winners, this year's festival will linger for its off-screen moments. Hollywood stars including Blanchett, Kristen Stewart, Helen Mirren and Salma Hayek and directors Ava DuVernay and Patty Jenkins joined a red-carpet protest to demand equal opportunities for women and a "safe workplace". Two days later, festival organisers signed a pledge to encourage more diversity in its selection by 2020. Despite being one of the most sought-after tickets, the premiere of Danish bad boy Lars von Trier's "The House That Jack Built" saw audience members walk out in droves from what they called a misogynistic orgy of violence. Both its female stars, Uma Thurman and Riley Keough, were conspicuously absent from the red carpet, where Stewart on another night staged a protest of her own by slipping off her high heels and climbing the vaunted Cannes stairs barefoot. In 2017, the top prize went to Ruben Ostlund's "The Square," an art world send-up that went on to bag an Oscar nomination. Actress and director Asia Argento, whose allegations against Harvey Weinstein were one of the initial bombshells in the current wave of the #MeToo movement, gave a blistering speech at the Cannes closing ceremony about the film industrys role in enabling Weinstein. She was on stage with director and Cannes jury member Ava DuVernay to give out the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress (Samal Yeslyamova won for her performance in Ayka), but Argento skipped the traditional pablum about the magic of acting for a short, personal account of the ways her industry has treated actresses. In 1997, I was raped by Harvey Weinstein here at Cannes, Argento bluntly told the audience. This festival was his hunting ground. She went on to warn abusers in the crowd, You know who you are. But most importantly, we know who you are. And were not going to let you get away with it any longer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Discours tres fort et tres applaudi de l'actrice d'Asia Argento en ce debut de Ceremonie de Cloture avant l'annonce du prix d'interpretation feminine. Vivez le 71eme #FestivalDeCannes sur myCANAL > https://t.co/i22ZzfViGr #Cannes2018 pic.twitter.com/P1n9GcjCtO CANAL+ (@canalplus) May 19, 2018 Her speech is an outlier in award ceremony activism: Generally the speaker frames things under the assumption that the people in the roomand the film community in generalagree with their political position, and its the rest of the world thats the problem. Even Michael Moore, in his famously divisive Bowling for Columbine speechbooed by the people attending the Oscars for the now-uncontroversial statement that we were going to war in Iraq for fictitious reasonswent to the trouble of getting the rest of the Best Documentary nominees on stage for a speech that used the word I twice and the word we nine times. (Sacheen Littlefeathers speech is a notable exception, but Marlon Brando pointedly sent an outsider to deliver it.) Argento is no outsider, but as she forcefully reminded the audience, some of the insiders are the problem, even if Harvey Weinstein is gone. Advertisement Advertisement Here are Argentos complete comments: In 1997, I was raped by Harvey Weinstein here at Cannes. I was 21 years old. This festival was his hunting ground. I want to make a prediction. Harvey Weinstein will never be welcomed here ever again. He will live in disgrace, shunned by the film community that once embraced him and covered up for his crimes. And even tonight, sitting among you, there are those who still have to be held accountable for their conduct against women, for behavior that does not belong in this industry, that does not belong in any industry or workplace. You know who you are. But most importantly, we know who you are. And were not going to allow you to get away with it any longer. Advertisement Advertisement Update, May 19: Argento tweeted the text of her speech, dedicating it to all the brave women who came forward denouncing their predators, and for all the brave women who will come forward in the future: The 71st Cannes Film Festival wrapped up on Saturday with a closing ceremony that not only featured blunt talk from Asia Argento but also the festivals usual awards, Variety reports. Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-Eda took home the Palme dOr, the highest honor at Cannes, for Shoplifters, a drama about a family whose larcenous secret causes a crisis. Spike Lee won the Grand Prix for BlacKkKlansman, a true story about a black police officer who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in the late 1970s. Lee, who forcefully denounced Donald Trump at one of the festivals panels, accepted his award on behalf of the Peoples Republic of Brooklyn. And Jean-Luc Godard, despite not attending, was given a Special Palme dOr for his contributions to the cinema over his decades-long career. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Jury Prize went to Lebanese director Nadine Labaki for Capernaum, a film about a street urchin who sues his own family. Pawel Pawlikowski, the Polish director who won the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 2015 for Ida, won best director for his relationship drama Cold War. Marcello Fonte won best actor for his performance in the Italian film Dogman, while Best actress went to Samal Yeslyamova for Ayka. Best screenplay was shared by two films: Happy as Lazzaro, written by Alice Rohrwacher; and Three Faces, written by Jafar Panahi and Nader Saeivar. The competition jury this year was headed by actress Cate Blanchett and included Kristen Stewart, Ava DuVernay, Lea Seydoux, and Denis Villeneuve. On June 1, the Mormon church will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the revelation that black men should be allowed to be full members of the church. In anticipation of the event, top leaders of the Mormon church, including president Russell Nelson, met this week in Salt Lake City with national leaders of the NAACP. The meeting was significant, given the history of tension and enmity between the groups; the NAACP led a march in the city against the churchs racial policies in the 1960s, for example. But the substance of the meetingeducation initiatives, humanitarian work, and a shared commitment to civilitywas hardly revolutionary. Advertisement Hours earlier, however, a forceful statement appeared online, labeled as an official church release and looking every bit the real thing. President Nelson Meets With NAACP; Offers Apology for History of Racism, the headline announced. The statement included what was described as a statement Nelson would deliver at the meeting with the NAACP. I offer a full unqualified apology for the error of racism which was taught from this office and in the tabernacle and over the pulpits of our churches the world over, the statement read, before a detailed repentance of the churchs wrongs toward black members. Our souls are harrowed up by the memory of this sin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The full-throated apology left many Mormons, especially black Mormons, in a state of happy shock. The local Fox outlet posted an article about the apology (now removed). But within hours, word had spread that the letter was a sophisticated fake. The URL included an extraneous hyphen, for example, and the fine print included a reference to the churchs official pasquinadesatiricalnewsroom. The revelation devastated many of the same people who had celebrated it just hours before. Advertisement And if the LDS Church doesnt respond in the way they want, then what? There are black members whove been wanting them to say this for DECADES. So your brilliant plan was to throw black folks emotions under the bus to MAYBE get the Church to react? That is some white savior BS. Janan (@jananamirah) May 17, 2018 My phone was BLOWING UP because of the churchs apology and Im in my bed crying. Sobbing. Weeping. And the apology turns out to be fake. Whoever wrote is going to hell. Melodie (@Kid_melodie) May 17, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with an ounce of sense or empathy would instantly know this is cruel and wrong, Steve Evans, an author at the Mormon site By Common Consent, wrote to me Thursday when it was still unclear who had posted the fake. If well-intentioned, its a vivid demonstration of white privilege. At the time, some critics were speculating that the statement had been designed in part to mock black Mormons. Advertisement Race is a sensitive issue within the LDS church, which has made fitful attempts to reckon with its history in recent years. Until 1978, the church prohibited black men from the priesthood, a category encompassing basically all male church members. The ban originated under the churchs second president, Brigham Young, who attributed it to the supposed curse of Cain. The church formally disavowed the ban in 2013. Just 1 percent of Mormons in America are black, according to Pew, although black people make up 1 in 10 converts to the faith. Advertisement Some critics saw a particularly Mormon cast to the deceptive statements medium. Max Perry Mueller, an historian who wrote a 2017 book about race and 19th-century Mormonism, connected the parody statement to the work of forger Mark Hoffman, who crafted false historical documents intended to discredit the churchs founders in the 1980s. Mormons are, by divine mandate and culture, a textual people. They look to prophets words, especially written ones, for guidance, Mueller told me. Both Hoffmans work and this weeks fake apology attempted to take advantage of Mormons faith in their prophets written pronouncements. Advertisement By Thursday night, the prankster had revealed himself as Jonathan Streeter, a former Mormon in Texas who blogs about issues related to the church. Streeter, who is white, told a Fox affiliate in Salt Lake City that he had hoped to start a discussion on racism in the church. Acknowledging the emotional roller coaster he had launched, he suggested some of his detractors were directing their anger toward him because it was emotionally safer than being angry at an institution they are still devoted to. They could either criticize the leaders of the church for not living up to that aspirational depiction in the parody website, or they could hate me for creating it, he said. Im hoping the discussion continues. Advertisement Advertisement But plenty of Streeters critics are perfectly capable of condemning both the cruelty of the prank and the failures of the church. Zandra Vranes, a black woman who co-created the blog Sistas in Zion, read the fake statement in a teary, forceful Facebook Live video on Thursday morning. Vranes scorned the heartless poster (still anonymous at that point) for retraumatizing black Mormons by raising and then dashing their hopes. But she also criticized the church itself. She lamented the vagueness and weakness of the actual statement released by the church on the occasion of the NAACP meeting, which included no apologies, and did little more than reiterate that all people are Gods precious children. What we actually got, she said, it was nothing. From the Givenchy gown to the gospel choir, Saturdays royal wedding had something for everyone. But one of the most memorable moments at St. Georges Chapel came from Bishop Michael Curry, who preached the sermon at the heart of the ceremony. Curry is the head of the American Episcopal Church, a denomination that is related to the Church of England. But Curry is also a black preacher from Chicago, and his styleenergetic, urgent, and with touches of repetition for emphasisappeared to make some members of the royal family uncomfortable. He also made an immediate impression on viewers at home: Advertisement A black reverend preaching to British royalty about the resilience of faith during slavery is 10000000% not what I thought I was waking up for, the royal wedding is good Elamin Abdelmahmoud (@elamin88) May 19, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Currys delivery style was not the only thing that made his sermon a departure from royal tradition. It was also a subtly radical piece of theology. Advertisement Yes, Curry quoted the Bible, a theologian, and the lyrics to a few old songs. But that doesnt quite capture the subversiveness of his message. Curry opened and closed his sermon with quotes from Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.: We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love, he began. And when we discover that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world. Love is the only way. Advertisement Advertisement The scripture he quoted included the Old Testament prophet Amos, a favorite passage of Kings: Let justice roll down like a mighty stream, and righteousness like an ever-flowing brook. The lyrics he chose included the black American spiritual There Is a Balm in Gilead, which he introduced by noting that slaves in the American South had sung it even in the midst their captivity. The official transcript of Currys sermon does not include the mention of slavery, suggesting he was riffing just a bitnot unusual for a preacher, but notable considering Curry riffed in the direction of referencing slavery in front of the queen, not to mention hundreds of wealthy British dignitaries, some of whose family fortunes surely were built on the backs of enslaved people. Advertisement Advertisement The scholars he referenced included the 20th-century Jesuit paleontologist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, whom the Vatican has long held at arms length. Curry also quoted Charles Marsh, a religious studies professor at the University of Virginia. Jesus had founded the most revolutionary movement in human history, Curry quotes Marsh writing, a movement built on the unconditional love of God for the world and the mandate to live that love. The quote comes from Marshs 2005 book, The Beloved Community, which traces the influence of faith on the Civil Rights movement and argues that the spiritual underpinnings of that movement can serve as a source of moral energy today. Advertisement Marshs book is essentially an argument for the enduring power of progressive Christianity. So was Currys sermon, whose central argument was the world-transforming power of love. On the surface, this is pretty standard fodder for a wedding homily, of course. But Curry explicitly defined love as something much larger than romantic attachment. Imagine our governments and countries when love is the way, he told the crowd, as he approached the sermons climax. No child would go to bed hungry in such a world as that. Poverty would become history in such a world as that. The Earth would be as a sanctuary in such a world as that. This is a core tenet of the kind of robust mainline Christianity that many people will have been introduced to for the first time on Saturday: both a call to faith and a call to action. Seeing that message delivered so forthrightly to millions of people enjoying the silly pomp and extravagance of a royal wedding was bracing. If it left you hungry for more, go to church. A Boeing 737 operated by Cubana de Aviacion crashed shortly after takeoff Friday, killing everyone aboard except for three female passengers who are in critical condition. A fourth passenger had also survived the crash but died in the hospital. The Associated Press says there were 110 people aboard the plane at the time of the crash, but media outlets are reporting slightly different numbers for what was the worst aviation disaster in Cuba in 30 years. Flight DMJ 0972 was headed from Havana to the eastern Cuban city of Holguin when it crashed into thick vegetation mere miles from the runway. Cubas new president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, traveled to the site of the crash and said a special commission would investigate the cause as the country declared an official period of mourning from 6 a.m. Saturday to noon on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harrowing video captures moments after passenger jet carrying 104 passengers hit the ground in Cuba, exploding into a massive fireball. https://t.co/AheZpJc6CO pic.twitter.com/XiFsGagjtC ABC News (@ABC) May 18, 2018 Most traveling in the 39-year-old jet were Cuban, except for five of the passengers and the crew. Cuba has been struggling to operate with a decrepit fleet of planes that it has blamed partly on the longstanding economic embargo imposed by the United States, notes the New York Times. It was the third major air accident in Cuba since 2010. The 17-year-old student who confessed to opening fire at his high school in Santa Fe, Texas told investigators he consciously spared some students when he shot and killed 10 people while wounding 10 others. Dimitrios Pagourtzis has apparently waived his right to remain silent and gave a statement admitting to shooting multiple people, authorities said. In an affidavit, a law enforcement investigator wrote that Pagourtzis said he did not shoot students he did like so he could have his story told. The death toll could still rise as several of the wounded are in critical condition. Advertisement Although authorities said there were no clear warning signs, Gov. Greg Abbott said Pagourtzis wrote about his apparently meticulously planned attack in journals on his computer and his cellphone. Not only did he want to commit the shooting, but he wanted to commit suicide after the shooting, Abbott said, adding that Pagourtzis told law enforcement officers he didnt have the courage to kill himself. Abbott emphasized that in other shootings we have what are often categorized as red-flag warnings, and here, the red-flag warnings were either nonexistent or very imperceptible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This photo shows Dimitrios Pagourtzis, who has been identified as the suspect in the deadly school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas today. Law enforcement officials have taken him into custody. https://t.co/4Gaancpu6r pic.twitter.com/CKeP4oMhuT Fox News (@FoxNews) May 18, 2018 Advertisement Pagourtzis used a shotgun and a .38 revolver to open fire on his classmates. Both guns were legally owned by his father, and it remains unclear whether he knew his son had taken the weapons. The choice of guns was seen as critical, because they both have a slower firing rate than those that have been used in recent mass shootings, such as the AR-15. Authorities also found explosive devices in and near the school, including pipe bombs and pressure cookers. But officials said none of the devices were actually functional. The at least attempted use of explosives was reminiscent of the 1999 Columbine school shooting where two large propane bombs failed to detonate. Most of those killed were students, including an exchange student from Pakistan, Sabika Sheikh. A substitute teacher, Cynthia Tisdale, was also killed. Pagourtzis was charged with capital murder and did not enter a plea. Although two other people were interviewed amid suspicion they may have been involved, authorities now believe they werent connected to the shooting; investigators now believe Pagourtzis acted alone. First Lady Melania Trump returned to the White House on Saturday after undergoing a surgical procedure that her office said was to treat a benign kidney condition. In a statement, the White House said that The First Lady returned home to the White House this morning. She is resting comfortably and remains in high spirits. Trump welcomed his wife home with a tweet that referred to his wife as Melanie. Great to have our incredible First Lady back home in the White House. Melanie is feeling and doing really well. Thank you for all of your prayers and best wishes! Trump wrote before quickly deleting that and writing another tweet that spelled his wifes name correctly. Advertisement Trump misspells Melania's name as "Melanie." pic.twitter.com/6i6lO2GsKG Clare Foran (@ckmarie) May 19, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Great to have our incredible First Lady back home in the White House. Melania is feeling and doing really well. Thank you for all of your prayers and best wishes! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 19, 2018 Advertisement The first ladys return from the hospital came amid increasing speculation about when she would be getting back home and what exactly had caused her to be in the hospital for so long. Melania Trump had been at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center since Monday, where she had a procedure that experts say has a one-day recuperation period. Doctors say the embolization procedure, which cuts off blood supply to a certain part of the body, is mostly even done as an outpatient procedure, meaning no overnight hospital stay is usually necessary. Still, experts say its difficult to judge without having more details about the procedure and any other underlying medical conditions. For now, White House officials have been rather cagey in their answers to questions about the first ladys health, claiming she has a right to privacy. The rich remain: The Atlantics recent cover story rehashes a popular book to make the argument that its the 9.9 percent, not the richest among us, who are responsible for the inequality problem in the United States. Jordan Weissmann explains why blaming suburban professional overachievers still isnt correct. No luck: No, Mark Joseph Stern writes, Aaron Schlossberg, the racist lawyer caught on tape haranguing immigrant workers in a Manhattan Fresh Kitchen, wont be disbarrednor should he be. New to me: Despite being Muslim, Aymann Ismail first heard of taqiyyathe conspiracy-theory idea that Muslims are permitted, per their religion, to lie to non-Muslimsin 2016. In the latest installment of his video series, he tries to figure out where this concept came from. One more: I was completely tired of reading about Yanny and Laurel, but this fascinating piece by Pascal Wallisch only starts with an examination of this weeks audio illusion. Its really about the making of scientific knowledge. For fun: How to make MLB games even longer. Ahahahah nooooo, Rebecca No more sneaking around. Its now official Starbucks policy that anyone can sit in their cafes and use their bathrooms without having to actually purchase anything. Store managers and baristas have long complained that the companys policy on the issue was vague at best, but now there should be no confusion on the issue. In a letter to employees Saturday the company said any person who enters our spaces, including patios, cafes and restrooms, regardless of whether they make a purchase, is considered a customer. The new Starbucks policy applies to its more than 8,000 company-operated stores in the United States. Advertisement The move isnt exactly a surprise considering Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz had made it clear earlier this month that was the direction the company was headed. We dont want to become a public bathroom, but were going to make the right decision 100% of the time and give people the key, he said. The companys unclear policy on the use of its facilities came to the forefront after two black men were arrested last month at a Philadelphia store. The men said they were waiting on a third person for a meeting. They spent four hours in jail. The men later settled with Starbucks for an undisclosed sum of money as well as an offer of a free college education. Despite the new permissive policy, Starbucks still made it clear to employees they still need to deal with customers who are behaving in a disruptive manner. Sousliks in Slovensky kras survive winter European ground squirrels are a significant part of raptor food. European sousliks, ground squirrels, are doing well at two revival localities, Gemerska Horka and Hrhov in Slovensky kras. 330 of them survived the winter, which is a significant number when taking into consideration the high death rate during hibernation, as the organization Raptor Protection Slovakia said. Despite the long winter, we have the best spring conditions after a number of years, including in other localities in Slovakia, said Ervin Hapl from Raptor Protection Slovakia, as quoted by the SITA newswire. Supplemental feeding before hibernation and warm spring weather also helped, he added. About 400 sousliks went into hibernation in Gemerska Horka and Hrhov. First, females that had young during the summer hibernate. Males join later and young ones are the last to sleep. Sousliks hibernate from 150 to 210 days. During this time, half a population can die. The ground squirrel population in Gemerska Horka and Hrhov was beginning to die out, but thanks to the LIFE Energia project the situation is now stable. Well-fed souslik females may have even 10 young. European sousliks live 15 months on average, up to a maximum of 5 years. Sousliks used to be a significant portion of raptor food, such as for the saker falcon, the eastern imperial eagle and the lesser spotted eagle, which are the focus of the project LIFE Energia. Sousliks are a social species; when one notices danger, it warns others by whistling. They live in locations that are regularly cut or grazed. 19. May 2018 at 7:45 | SITA, Compiled by Spectator staff Vietnams authorities have imposed fines on five local establishments for producing and trading poor-quality chili powder, which have been found containing excessive amount of a carcinogen, or cancer-causing agent. The five facilities have been collectively fined VND110 million (US$4,840) and had all their products confiscated and destroyed by the working teams from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, despite having certificates of food safety conditions. Chili powder is dried, pulverized chili pepper that is used as a spice to add pungency or piquancy and flavor to dishes. The punishment is the result of three rounds of inspections at many chili powder-making facilities in Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Thap, Dong Nai, Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Binh Phuoc. Officers collected 262 samples of chili powder and dried chili in these localities and found that 95 of them, or 36.25 percent, exceed the allowed residue level of aflatoxin, a carcinogen that can cause liver or colon cancer. Among those contaminated products, more than 30 percent came from production and storage facilities, over 48 percent were made by households and traded in traditional markets, and those on sale in supermarkets accounted for more than 21 percent. An inspector from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development observes the production process at a chili powder-making establishment . Photo: Tuoi Tre Mainly due to improper storage Chili powder on sale without packaging, label and quality information, but stored in large bags of several dozen kilograms each, are easy to find in wholesale markets in Ho Chi Minh City, including Binh Tay in District 6, and Thi Nghe and Ba Chieu in Binh Thanh District. T., a chili powder wholesaler in Ba Chieu told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the products are not packaged because most of the products are bought from small, family-run establishments. Nguyen Nhu Tiep, director of the National Agro-Forestry Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD), said chili powder could easily be infected with aflatoxin if improperly stored and preserved. According to Tiep, before being pulverized into powder, fresh chili peppers are often smashed and dried manually without any pieces of equipment. The finished products are then packaged in cursory fashion and under inappropriate moisture. "If processed this way, chili powder is often contaminated with aspergillus flavus and aspergillus parasiticus fungi, the two main causes of aflatoxin," Tiep said. Not really worrying? According to Le Hong Minh, manager of sales department at Binh Tay Market, traders would source chili powder from household producers, which are likely to ignore food safety standards. Nguyen Van Tien, acting chief of inspectorate of the agriculture ministry, said there is aldready a complete legal framework to hold people accountable for producing or trading unhealthy food products. For instance, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development oversees the production, processing and wholesale businesses, whereas its industry and trade counterpart controls the retail markets and supermarkets, and the health ministry promulgate national technical regulations on food safety, he elaborated. The problem is that the food manufacturers, processors and traders just do not comply with the law, Tien explain. This is worsened by the fact that the inspection, supervision and coordination of relevant agencies on food safety have not been properly and strictly implemented. A farmer dries chili under the sun on a field in Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre But some experts believe that the chili powder quality, as exposed by the inspection, is not necessarily worrying. Pham Khanh Phong Lan, head of Ho Chi Minh City's food safety management agency, said it is not unusual for aflatoxin to be found in agricultural products. What counts is whether its content exceeds the allowable levels or not, she said. In addition, chili powder is often used at a small amount so the risk is not high. Despite this, Lan acknowledged that consumers should be wary about the information. Sharing her view, Do Thi Ngoc Diep, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Nutrition Center, the harmful effects aflatoxin can cause to one consumer vary, depending on many factors, such as their body weight or the amount of intake. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A government council responsible for conferring professorship in Vietnam has required that an official report on the case involving one of its members, who has been accused of plagiarism, to be made in the wake of media reports of the putative wrongdoing. The State Council for Professor Title of Vietnam on Thursday asked its lower-level body, the Council for Linguistics Professor Title, to launch a probe to verify whether Professor Nguyen Duc Ton plagiarized some texts of one of his famous Vietnamese fellows and the works of two students. The linguistics council is supposed to clarify any information related to Tons supposedly improper practice and make informed conclusions on the suspected academic dishonesty. The case must be resolved in accordance with right procedures, as it may damage personal reputation, a member of the State Council for Professor Title of Vietnam said. The State Council for Professor Title of Vietnam makes no cover-up but remains cautious. We dont rely on public opinion to handle the case, but ground our conclusion on expert analysis and assessment. The decision followed local news reports in which linguists in Vietnam pointed out some signs of plagiarism in several works of Ton, who is a member of the linguistics council and the director of Vietnams Institute of Linguistics. Tran Ngoc Them, a renowned professor serving as the councils director, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that one of Tons books has five chapters smacking of plagiarism, with the first chapter resembling a section of a research students doctoral thesis. The other ones are virtually the same as portions of two undergraduates dissertations, one of them under his supervision, Them clarified. He also said that the contents in three or four pages from his book, which has been reprinted multiple times, were copied by Ton, who subsequently put them in another book. The stealing was carried out in a both subtle and flagrant fashion, Them said. Its unacceptable that Ton made plagiarisms in his published book at the time when he was already a professor, Them said, adding that Ton even appropriated a UNESCO definition of culture without acknowledging the source. Tons applications for a professorship in 2002 and 2006 were twice eliminated due to plagiarism, and only received the title three years later, when the Council for Linguistics Professor Titles board had new members. Check out the news you should not miss today, May 19 Politics -- Party, State and Vietnam Fatherland Front leaders paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi on Friday, one day ahead of the late leaders 128th birth anniversary today, May 19. -- Three Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri, Shakti and Kamorta will be making a port call at Tien Sa Port in the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang from May 21 to 25, as part of ongoing operational deployment of the Indian Navys Eastern Fleet ships to South East Asia and North West Pacific region. -- Vietnam and Mongolia look to further expand relations as the two countries are going to celebrate the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2019, Vietnmese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung and State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia Davaasuren Damdinsuren shared the view during a reception in Hanoi on Friday. Society -- Nearly 3,300 qualified helmets have been presented to primary students in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai in the 2017 2018 academic year as part of the Helmets for Kids project led by the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation, the organizer said at a conference on Friday. -- A projectile exploded on Friday at a demining center in the south-central province of Binh Dinh, killing two officers and injuring three other military men. -- Education authorities in the central city of Da Nang will offer free swimming courses to 28,000 local students during the summer vacation, which starts in late May. Business -- Domestic trade and services have played an important role in meeting peoples consumption demand and contributing to the economys growth in recent years, Nguyen Van Hoi, deputy director of the domestic market department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, remarked at a workshop in Hanoi on Friday. -- Vietnams stock market saw a record total transaction value of more than VND35 trillion (US$1.54 billion) on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange on Friday, with the newly listed Vinhomes (VHM) having nearly 268 million shares worth over VND30.7 trillion ($1.35 billion) traded. Lifestyle -- The Australian Embassy in Vietnam kicked off an exhibition entitled Evolution: Torres Strait Masks at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi on Friday, introducing one of the typical Australian cultural features to the Vietnamese public. Sidewalks in Ho Chi Minh City, some of the most contested land in the southern metropolis, are being reclaimed by local businesses pushed off the walking paths during recent efforts to return public spaces to pedestrians. Restaurants and informal street-side eateries are illegally re-appropriating sidewalks for dining space and parking lots throughout the city. On Thu Khoa Huan, Tran Hung Dao, Le Thi Rieng and Nguyen Trai in District 1, parked motorbikes take precedence over pedestrian safety as they occupy sidewalks and force local citizens to dodge oncoming traffic as they move between shops. The situation is no better in District 5, where illegal sidewalk eateries on An Duong Vuong and Nguyen Tri Phuong have squeezed themselves in between the already overcrowded sidewalks. Several districts in Ho Chi Minh City have repeatedly tried to clear sidewalks of street vendors, parked vehicles, and illegal construction, gaining momentum from a determined and aggressive months-long crusade launched last year by Doan Ngoc Hai, deputy chairman of the District 1. Motorcycles are parked on the pavement on Nguyen An Ninh Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Motorcycles are parked on the pavement on Le Cong Kieu Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Motorcycles are parked on the pavement on Thu Khoa Huan Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Patrons and motorcycles crowd part of the sidewalk along Nguyen Tri Phuong Street in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Diners at a roadside eatery near a bus station on An Duong Vuong Street in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Parked motorcycles and food vendors are seen along An Duong Vuong Street in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre A car parked on the pavement on Nguyen Van Cu Street in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Motorcycles park in front of a karaoke bar on Duong Ba Trac Street in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Cars stop near a no-parking sign on Alexandre De Rhodes Street in District 1. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Cars park near a white banner that discourages illegal parking on Han Thuyen Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Pedestrians walk along Han Thuyen Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Motorcycles park along the sidewalk on Nguyen Trai Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, forcing pedestrians to walk in the street. Photo: Tuoi Tre Motorcycles overflow into Le Anh Xuan Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Sidewalk officials stand in front of a restaurant on Hoang Sa Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Sidewalk officials stand in front of a restaurant on Hoang Sa Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, asking illegally parked motorcycles to move. Photo: Tuoi Tre Motorcycles fill a sidewalk on Hoang Sa Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, despite an earlier order from officials to move the illegally parked motorcycles. Photo: Tuoi Tre Coffee shop customers sit on a sidewalk on Tran Hung Dao Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Motorcycles flood part the sidewalk on Tran Hung Dao Street in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Four Corners screens a cutdown version of the 2017 human rights documentary Complicit, directed by Heather White & Lynn Zhang. Filmed over 3 years it investigates the Chinese workers paying the price for our mobile phone obsession. There were iPhone screens and Nokia screensI held the phone screen in my left hand, and a piece of cloth in my right hand Wiping was the only thing I did besides eating and sleeping. Teenage worker Mobile phones, smartphones and tablets have revolutionised the way we communicate but the technology we are addicted to has had toxic consequences. I knew we worked with chemicals, but I had no idea that its poison. Young worker China produces approximately 90% of the worlds consumer electronics. The factories making the components for these electronic goods are filled with young workers. Some have been exposed to poisonous chemicals, with devastating results. Many co-workers developed the exact same symptoms. When I walked, it looked like I had uneven legs. It would take 10 minutes to take a two-minute walk. My legs felt too heavy to move. Worker This investigation, filmed secretly over four years, exposed the use of harmful chemicals in the factories producing the products many of us use. Hidden cameras captured the working conditions inside the factories churning out these products. It was the cleaning solution he used, which contained benzene, when he was working at the electronics factory that caused his disease. Father of sick worker The film charts the growing realisation amongst the workers that their illnesses stem from their work and follows their fight for compensation. After we discovered so many workers with leukemiamore media reports followed up and showed that these workers were chemically poisoned. Worker activist The landmark investigation led Apple to ban the use of benzene, a known carcinogen, and n-hexane, a chemical that damages the nervous system. But the ban does not apply to subcontractors who make up two-thirds of Apples supply chain. And around 500 other chemicals are still used to produce electronics, mostly in the developing world, where there are few or no regulations to protect the workers who make them. Many of the workers that Ive helped got occupational diseases due to exposure to toxic chemicals. Many are from the electronics industry. They made cell phones, computers, semiconductors etc. Worker activist Monday 21st May at 8.30pm on ABC. Pop music icon Madonna is set to bounce back in style with her first single in three years, after the recent announcement that Beautiful Game will be released soon. The original Material Girl has backed up her pledge by adding what appears to be accompanying artwork on her social media platforms, with imagery having played a key part in the promotion of her songs over the years. Crown of thorns imagery Fifty-nine-year-old Madge wears a crown of thorns in the picture, with the title of the new song shown above her to provide an obvious link. It also indicates continuity with the look she portrayed when performing Beautiful Game live on stage at this months Met Gala in New York. Collaborated with Mirwais again Madonna has reunited with a familiar face for her new material, with the French producer Mirwais once again being called upon to assist her with the final product. He had previously collaborated with the Queen of Pop on former successful albums such as Music and American Life. Met Gala performance Besides the rather prickly headpiece, Madonna once again demonstrated her flair for the theatrical by adding a religious overtone to proceedings at the Met Gala, as she was accompanied on stage by a choir wearing monks robes. It was in keeping with the glitzy annual events theme of Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination. The multi-million record selling superstar also wowed fans with her surprise appearance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art event by reaching back into her enviable back catalogue, as she performed Like A Prayer. That track proved to be a massive hit in 1989, topping the charts globally but also courting some controversy in its message and video content along the way. Controversial past The popular (at least with music critics and her fans) "Like A Prayer" song offended some groups at the time of its original release, with a central theme about an emotional young girl who was in love with God and makes him the only male figure in her life. It was the accompanying video that led to the most discontent among family and religious groups though, as it included Catholic symbols such as stigmata, images of a Ku Klux Klan-style cross burning and even a dream featuring the kissing of a black saint. It outraged the Vatican to such an extent that they condemned the video and there were protests by others about its broadcast, with many people boycotting products by soft drink manufacturer Pepsi to demonstrate their strong feelings. Pepsi had utilised the song in one of their commercials but decided to cancel the sponsorship deal with Madonna after the bad press. Working on a new album Whilst Madonnas most controversial years may be behind her, she still has something to add to the cosmopolitan music industry of the current day it seems. She has been working on her 14th studio album in her stellar career and keen to engage with her fans has been providing regular updates via social media on her progress. Egypt Today A banner reads Thank you Egypt! in Gaza Youm7 photo CAIRO 19 May 2018: The Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip appreciated the Egyptian support of the Palestinian cause and placed a big banner that reads "Thank you Egypt!" at the entrance of Ouda refugee camp in eastern Beit Hanoun town, on the northeast edge of Gaza. The Palestinians extended their gratitude for the Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi for his decision to open the Rafah border crossing throughout the holy month of Ramadan. I issued directives to take the necessary measures to keep the Rafah border crossing open throughout the holy month of Ramadan in a bid to relieve some of the burdens suffered by our brothers in the Gaza strip, the Egyptian leader. Last September, Hamas announced the dissolution of its administrative committee in the Gaza Strip, inviting the Government of National Reconciliation to assume its duties and hold general elections. The movement affirmed it would comply with the Social Reconciliation Accord signed in 2011. Since signing the agreement between Fatah and Hamas, several Egyptian delegations have been visiting Gaza, and vice versa, in order to coordinate implementing all of the agreement points and articles; however, a few points still need further discussions between the Palestinian parties. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that there is no country as vital to the Palestinian cause as Egypt due to its historical and political position in the region. Egypt has an opinion, a position and an interest in the Palestinian cause, said Abbas. FILE PHOTO: The logo of semiconductor manufacturer Infineon is seen at its Austrian headquarters in Villach, Austria, August 1, 2016. REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader By Kirsti Knolle VIENNA (Reuters) - Germany's Infineon Technologies plans to build a 1.6 billion euro (1.4 billion pound) chip facility in Austria, in a major strategic bet on Europe at a time of growing trade and political uncertainty in Asia. The plant will become the firm's second facility after one in the east German city of Dresden that can make power chips on 300 millimetre-diameter wafers - a large, thin, format where Infineon claims a technology and cost lead over its competitors. The investment is a coup for Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's right-wing coalition government, with Infineon preferring Austria to its other foreign base in Malaysia, which has just seen a dramatic election upset. It follows a $1.2 billion (890 million pound) greenfield investment by Germany's Robert Bosch last year in Dresden, where GlobalFoundries has also invested a total of $12 billion in semiconductor production since the 1990s. Infineon has long been present in Austria and the plant, in the Carinthian city of Villach, will be based on an existing research facility that specialises in developing the high-performance chips produced at the Dresden facility. Construction will begin in early 2019 with investment to be spread over six years. The new plant will enter production in early 2021, target annual sales of 1.8 billion euros, and create 400 new jobs. "We will be in a position to deliver from two locations," Infineon CEO Reinhard Ploss a news conference in Vienna attended by Kurz and other Austrian government leaders. "Our customers are pouring in through the doors and it's important for us to be able to serve them." Ploss, who is German, has spent much of his career in Austria. He was country CEO for Infineon in the early 2000s, after it was spun out from conglomerate Siemens . DIGITAL REVOLUTION Infineon's power-management chips are used to extend the battery life of smartphones and laptops; maximise the driving range of electric vehicles; and optimise the performance of wind turbines or solar collectors. Story continues That makes its product range a play on the major industry trends of digitalisation and renewable energy. The company, headquartered in Munich, is also developing chips to enable futuristic technologies such as self-driving cars. Villach will also explore using silicon carbide, a semiconductor seen as more efficient than traditional silicon in managing electric-vehicle batteries that has been championed by rival STMicroelectronics . Kurz said he was delighted by an investment of such size in a country of just 8.8 million people. "Especially in key technologies it is important for us in Europe not only to catch up, but to get ahead," he told reporters. Austria made available a package of subsidies to land the investment. Details weren't revealed but officials said the sums involved would be covered by existing spending plans. The decision also reflects a massive vote of confidence by management in an industry known for its boom and bust cycles. Dresden is expected to hit maximum capacity in 2021, the year Villach is due to enter production, the company said. Infineon, which according to IHS Markit is the global market leader in power chips, recently nudged up its guidance for revenues in its business year to Sept. 30, citing strong orders. It now expects revenues to grow by between 4 and 7 percent. Infineon's shares traded down 0.9 percent in Frankfurt, valuing the company at 27.7 billion euros. (Reporting by Kirsti Knolle; Writing by Douglas Busvine; Editing by Maria Sheahan/Keith Weir) LONDON, May 19 (Reuters) - The outgoing UK and Ireland (Other OTC: IRLD - news) chief executive of retailer Dixons Carphone (Frankfurt: CWB.F - news) is in discussion with Marks & Spencer (Frankfurt: 534418 - news) about joining the firm's board, Sky News reported on Saturday (Shenzhen: 002291.SZ - news) . Dixons Carphone said in April that Katie Bickerstaffe would be leaving the company. A spokesman at the firm did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment sent by Reuters. Marks & Spencer could not be immediately reached for comment. (Reporting by Costas Pitas, Editing by William Maclean) north korea REUTERS/Jacky Chen Two North Koreans reportedly defected to South Korea by boat. One of the defectors was a military officer. Two North Koreans defected to South Korea early on Saturday and were found in the Yellow Sea, Seoul-based news agency Yonhap reported, citing a government source. Yonhap said that South Korean military spotted two people in a boat near the inter-Korean sea border, one of whom was a military officer, and they showed willingness to defect to the South. South Korea's unification ministry was not immediately available for comment. The defection came after North Korea declined to accept a list of South Korean journalists hoping to observe the closure of its nuclear test site on Friday, raising new questions about the North's commitment to reducing tensions in the region. (Reporting by Dahee Kim, Joori Roh; Editing by Kim Coghill) NOW WATCH: Freemasons told us what it's like to be part of a secret society, and what they get out of it See Also: Passengers on a Mother's Day Alaska Airlines flight got a special hello from the pilots and ended up being a part of history for the airline. Captain Tara Wright came out of the cockpit before the Portland-bound flight on Sunday to introduce herself and her co-pilot, First Officer Mallory Cave, to their passengers in person instead of over the intercom. Wright also announced that theirs would be the first Alaska flight ever flown by two pilots who were also black women. Before mentioning the historic moment, Wright welcomed passengers aboard. "Today is a, is a fun day, right?" she said. She said she hoped to be connecting mothers with their families or vice versa with the flight, and mentioned that it was her father's 80th birthday. Trending: High School Tennis Team's 'Racist' Photo Shows White Students with Bags over Their Heads Then she said, "You're sharing a pretty interesting piece of Alaska Airlines history this morning. You'll be piloted by two African-American female pilots for the first time in Alaska Airlines's history," she said to a cheering cabin. "You're making [history] this morning whether you're awake or not." Before heading back into the cockpit for the flight, Wright said, "Once again, welcome aboard, happy Mother's Day, we're glad to have you." The pair then posed for a photo at a passenger's request. Alaska Airlines shared the video to its Facebook page and wrote, "History in the flying. Alaska Airlines Flight #361 from San Francisco to Portland, OR. Our first ever flight piloted by 2 African-American women. What Bessie Coleman started in 1921, we continue here. #iAmAlaska" Don't miss: Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia Are Having Their Homes Raided, Even in Remote Towns In 2017, only 14 percent of all active airmen certificates in the United States, including those held by students, recreational flyers and other classes of flight, were held by women, according to data from the Federal Aviation Administration. Story continues Alaska Airlines did not immediately respond to Newsweek's request for comment. alaska airlines flight Daniel Slim/Getty Images This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek A "global collapse" of the power of anti-fungal drugs could spread of disease and threaten food crops around the world, a team of international scientists has warned. The looming crisis is comparable to the so-called antibiotic apocalypse but is under-recognized and under-appreciated, according to the authors of a review paper published in the journal Science, lead by researchers from Imperial College London and the University of Exeter in the U.K.. The world is in the midst of an "unprecedented" rise of fungi strains that cant be attacked with common drugs, they said. Individuals with compromised immune systems, particularly cancer patients and organ donor recipients, are most vulnerable, as the arsenal of medication used to treat yeast- and mold-related infections in humans and livestock is depleted. Trending: What Will Meghan Markle's Title Be? After Royal Wedding, Prince Harry's Fiancee Becomes a Princess Experts are particularly concerned about the weakening power of azoles. Identified in the 1950s to treat yeast infections, they are the primary treatment used by doctors. They also make up a quarter of the total fungicides used to combat disease in crops. patient-hospital-istock Getty Images The scientists estimated that more deaths are caused by fungi worldwide than breast cancer or malaria. Resulting deaths are believed to have hit the same figures as tuberculosis. As for food, fungi is already responsible for a 20% of annual losses in crop yields around the world. Industrialized farming practices used to grow relatively small varieties of crops play key role in anti-fungal drug resistance. Don't miss: U.S. Is Trying to Kill Major Gas Deal Between Russia and Germany A combination of more people, animals and crops moving around the world than ever before, and the overuse of existing treatments has fueled the rise in resistance, the team said. Such processes enable fungi to mutate and reproduce quickly. Story continues Professor Matthew Fisher of the School of Public Heath at Imperial College London and the lead author of the study said in a statement: The scale of the problem has been, until now, under-recognized and under-appreciated, but the threat to human health and the food chain are serious and immediate. Alongside drug discovery and new technology to tackle fungal pathogens, we urgently need better stewardship of existing antifungals to ensure they are used correctly and that they remain effective." As new species and variates of fungi spread across the world, they are a growing threat to human and crop health, he warned. "It is essential that we have means to combat them. However, the very limited number of antifungal drugs means that the emergence of resistance is leading to many common fungal infections becoming incurable." Most popular: Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links Crusaders Battlegrounds: Every Card in New Box Professor Fisher continued: The emergence of resistance is leading to a deterioration in our ability to defend our crops against fungal pathogens, the annual losses for food production has serious implications for food security on a global scale." Professor Sarah Gurr, from the University of Exeter, added: "Emerging resistance to antifungal drugs has largely gone under the radar, but without intervention, fungal conditions affecting humans, animals and plants will become increasingly difficult to counteract." Pointing to the fact that some fungal infections had mortality rates of over 50%, professor Gordon Brown, director of the Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, told BBC News: "These disturbing trends suggest that even our limited ability to treat these diseases is being severely compromised." This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Scientists think someone is producing a banned, ozone-depleting chemical under the radar. Countries were supposed to phase out CFC-11 by 2010, but scientists have spotted the release of far more than governments are reporting. If rogue production continues, it might just hold back the fragile recovery of Earth's vital ozone shield, despite years of success. CFC-11 is a chlorofluorocarbon. The chemical was used in aerosol cans, in foam and even in novelty drinking birds, until scientists realized it was seeping into the atmosphere and eating the ozone layer. Trending: Republicans Could Allow Sale of Abused Dogs, Horse Meat and Shark Fins With Farm Bill Amendment Ultraviolet rays break down CFCswhich can survive in the atmosphere for some 50 years. This produces chlorine, which destroys ozone molecules. The ozone layer shields life on Earth from damaging UV, which can cause eye damage and skin cancer in humans. Production of CFC-11 was phased out under the United Nation's Montreal Protocol in 2010. But, someone, somewhere has started churning the out the gas. 5_17_Ozone Measuring NOAA CFC-11 emissions, the researchers found, have risen by a quarter over the last six years. Although countries have reported next to zero emissions since 2006, from 2014 to 2016, 14,000 extra tons per year were seeping into the atmosphere. Don't miss: What Will Donald, Melania Trump Get Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for Royal Wedding Gift? White House Reveals Present Ive been making these measurements for more than 30 years, and this is the most surprising thing Ive seen, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientist Stephen Montzka, who led the new research published in Nature, told the Washington Post. I was astounded by it, really. Story continues Data suggests the emissions culprit might be located in eastern Asia, but more research is needed to be certain, Montzka said in a statement. Somebodys cheating, Durwood Zaelke, founder of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development told the Post. Theres some slight possibility theres an unintentional release, but [the study team] make it clear theres strong evidence this is actually being produced. Most popular: India Gets New Nuclear Submarine Missiles, Joining Only Russia, China, U.S. and France The researchers considered a number of explanations for the rise, but none could account for the volume released. Movement of gases around the atmosphere, the destruction of buildings harboring CFCs from the 1970s and the failure to capture the chemical during the production of other chemicals could all lead to a rise in CFC-11, but not nearly enough to explain the results. Rogue production, the scientists wrote, seemed to be the best explanation. If authorities can lock down the source of the rogue emissions, ozone damage should be small, Montzka said in the statement. If not, our ozone layer's fragile recovery could be under threat. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi is urging President Donald Trump to remain calm as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un casts uncertainty over whether he will meet with the U.S. to discuss Pyongyangs nuclear program. The two leaders are expected to meet in Singapore on June 12 for historic negotiations. But on Tuesday Kim threatened to pull out of the planned meeting with Washington. North Korean vice minister of foreign affairs Kim Kye Gwan released a statement taking a direct swing at Trumps national security adviser, John Bolton, who had suggested that North Korea should be treated like Libya. High-ranking officials in the White House and the Department of State including Bolton, White House national security adviser, are letting loose the assertions of so-called Libya mode of nuclear abandonmentThis is not an expression of intention to address the issue through dialogue. It is essentially a manifestation of awfully sinister move to impose on our dignified state the destiny of Libya or Iraq which had been collapsed due to yielding the whole of their countries to big powers, the statement from North Korea reads. Trending: What is Prince Harry's Last Name And Will Meghan Markle Take It? According to the statement, It is absolutely absurd to dare compare the DPRK [North Korea], a nuclear weapon state, to Libya which had been at the initial stage of nuclear development...We shed light on the quality of Bolton already in the past, and we do not hide our feelings of repugnance toward him. The statement came after Bolton suggested in several public interviews that North Korea should give up its weapons the way Libya did in 2003. Bolton never said publicly that the U.S. should promote regime change in North Korea, but U.S.-allied rebels killed former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Gaddafi's demise is widely viewed as a symbol of the vulnerability leaders could face if they give up their nuclear weapons, and North Korea appears determined to assure the world that its leader will not suffer a similar fate. Story continues Don't miss: Jason Reitman on 'Tully,' Motherhood and His Films Sharpest Critics: 'The Movie Is Not About Mental Health' Meanwhile, North Koreas leadership is also unhappy that the U.S. and South Korea are continuing to stage joint air force drills. It is unclear whether Pyongyang is serious about canceling the meeting with Trump or if the countrys leadership is just trying to strengthen its position in the upcoming negotiations. Nevertheless, other world leaders are worried that Trumps characteristic impulsivity could derail the entire endeavor. Most popular: Trump Loves Golfing But His Presidency Hasn't Helped His Golf Courses During a trip to Paris this week, Chinas Wang Yi stressed that North Koreas efforts to reduce tension on the Korean peninsula should be acknowledged. All parties, especially the United States, should cherish this opportunity for peace and should not work as a barrier, he said. So far, Trump has refrained from making any bold statements about North Korea's threat to cancel the meeting in Singapore. During a press conference Wednesday with the President of Uzbekistan, reporters lobbed questions about the upcoming North Korea summit, to which the President responded that "we haven't seen anything, we haven't heard anything. We will see what happens." This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Vladimir Putin has wished Sergei Skripal "good health" after his release from his hospital on Friday - adding that the former spy would be dead if he had been targeted with "a military-grade poison". The Russian president's remarks are in keeping with the Kremlin's stance that Moscow was not behind the attack on Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia on 4 March. He was speaking at a press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Sochi, Russia, when he was asked about the 66-year-old's discharge from Salisbury District Hospital. Mr Putin said: "God grant him good health, if a military-grade poison had been used, the man would have died on the spot. "Thank God he recovered and that he left (hospital)." Mr Skripal's release from hospital follows that of his daughter 33-year-old Yulia after both of them were poisoned with the nerve agent novichok in Salisbury, Wiltshire. The pair were found unconscious and frothing at the mouth on a park bench in the cathedral city after coming into contact with the military-grade agent. DS Nick Bailey, who was exposed to novichok while investigating the attack, was the first to be discharged from hospital on 22 March. Salisbury District Hospital Chief Executive, Cara Charles-Barks, said: "While these patients have now been discharged, their right to patient confidentiality remains and limits us from giving detailed accounts of the treatment these individuals received. "However, treating people who are so acutely unwell, having been poisoned by nerve agents, requires stabilising them, keeping them alive until their bodies could produce more enzymes to replace those that had been poisoned." Mr Skripal's good friend Ross Cassidy told Sky News he was delighted to hear his pal has been discharged. He said: "It's great news that Sergei is well enough to come out of hospital at last, because like everyone else, I had at first feared the worst. Story continues "We hope to see Sergei soon, but I imagine he will be under some security." Detectives were still questioning Mr Skripal on Thursday as he continued his recovery nearly 10 weeks after the attack. :: What is a nerve agent and how does it work? Officers wanted to know more about his frequent train journeys to London and his alleged monthly meetings with a former MI6 handler in a Salisbury restaurant. Russia has accused the UK of "forcefully containing" the Skripals as the Kremlin continues to insist it was not behind the attack, which sparked a wave of tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions. The former spy and his daughter have since turned down offers of help from their home country. Alexander Yakovenko, Russia's ambassador to the UK, said at a press conference in London: "We are happy that he is all right." He added: "We are still demanding access to these people. We want to understand how they feel. "We want them to tell (us) personally what they want. If they don't want our assistance, that's fine, but we want to see them physically." Mr Yakovenko has claimed the UK is violating international law by not granting access to the Skripals The UK's national security adviser Mark Sedwill told MPs on 1 May that no suspects have been identified in the police investigation. Mr Sedwill had previously told NATO that Russian intelligence had been spying on the Skripals for at least five years. A Scotland Yard statement said: "Detectives from the UK's Counter Terrorism Policing network continue to investigate the attempted murders of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury in March this year. "They are both making good progress and we are pleased that Mr Skripal has now also been released from hospital, which was announced by the NHS earlier this morning. "This is a complex investigation and detectives continue to gather and piece together all the evidence to establish the full facts and circumstances behind this dreadful attack. "In the interests of Sergei and Yulia's safety, we will not be discussing any protective or security arrangements that are in place." Alastair Hay, Professor of Environmental Toxicology at Leeds University, has previously told Sky News that the Skripals had managed a "miracle" recovery. He added: "The nerve agents are deadly. "That's why they were chosen as chemical weapons. If you are exposed to a number of lethal doses then invariably it is fatal." Professor Hay continued: "The Skripals have survived because they've had great medical care." A Boeing 737 crashed shortly after taking off from Jose Marti International Airport in Havana on Friday, initial reports said. Cuban state-run newspaper Granma said the plane was carrying 104 passengers, three of whom survived. An airport employee told the Associated Press that workers were told of the crash. Cuban state television reported that the plane, leased by national airline Cubana de Aviacion, was en route to the city of Holguin. Trending: Terry Crews Talks Brooklyn Nine-Nines Season 5 Finale, Cancellation and Revival "It seems that there is a high number of victims," Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said, according to Agence France-Presse. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness tweeted about the situation Friday afternoon. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to our Caribbean neighbours in Cuba after a Boeing 737 passenger jet crashed this afternoon at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport in Cuba," he wrote. "We pray for the safety of the passengers and flight crew." Don't miss: Kidnappers Threatened To Murder Texas Teen In Text Messages To Mother A foreign crew was aboard the plane, Granma reported. The Mexican Embassy in Cuba said it activated its "emergency protocols" in the wake of the crash. A photo from the airport posted on social media showed a thick plume of black smoke nearby. The cause of the crash remains unknown. A flight tracker on the Jose Marti Airport website showed a flight operated by Cubana de Aviacion scheduled to leave Havana at 11:00 CDT and arrive in Holguin at 12:20 CDT. A 737 can seat anywhere from 126 people to 178 people, according to Boeing. Boeing said that it was "aware of news reports" and that it was "closely monitoring the situation." Most popular: Who Is Meghan Markle's Maid-of-Honor? Why She Didn't Pick Jessica Mulroney This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. Story continues GettyImages-959891132 ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP/Getty Images flight tracker Jose Marti International Airport Flight Tracker GettyImages-959885272 ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP/Getty Images This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Israeli security forces cracked down on a pro-Palestinian protest organized by Israeli-Arabs in Haifa on Friday, May 18, arresting at least 21 people, according to Israeli media. Protesters were rallying in solidarity with protesters in Gaza, where scores were reportedly killed by Israeli security forces during demonstrations on Monday. Protesters in Haifa accused Israeli security forces of using excessive force. Haaretz reported that the protest took place with a permit and that organizers said some activists were warned not to participate. Jafar Farah, head of the Mossawa Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens in Israel, was among those arrested, according to reports online. Knesset member Haneen Zoabi was also participating in the demonstration. Credit: Najwan Berekdar via Storyful Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia Are Having Their Homes Raided, Even in Remote Towns Law enforcement officials in Birobidzhan, Russia, a small town close to the border with China, raided 20 homes belonging to Jehovahs Witnesses, according to members of the religious organization. The raids were conducted by around 150 police officers, who nicknamed their operation Judgement Day, Jarrod Lopes, a member of the Jehovahs Witnesses, told Newsweek. Police confiscated photographs, bank cards, money and electronic devices from the houses they searched, said Lopes. A criminal case was opened against a man named Alam Aliev, who will be kept in pretrial detention until July, members of the religious group said. Trending: Donald Trump Mocked by Porn Industry Group For Not Knowing HIV, HPV Are Different The raids are part of an ongoing crackdown against the Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. In April 2017, a Russian court officially labeled the Jehovahs Witnesses an extremist organization. The groups administrative center in St. Petersburg has since been seized, and Jehovahs Witnesses have been forced to practice their religion in secret. Despite staying out of the public eye, members of the Jehovahs Witnesses have had their houses raided on numerous occasions, and some have been charged with extremism. A similar raid took place a day earlier in the Orenburg region, in southwest Russia, where three people were allegedly brought into custody. Don't miss: BBC, J.K. Rowling Troll President Donald Trump With Royal Wedding Crowd Photographs Jehovahs Witnesses are calling on the international community to help them protect their right to worship freely. These raids are further evidence that Russia is brazenly persecuting Jehovahs Witnesses, despite the fact that respected international human rights organizations have condemned their actions. These outright abuses of our religious freedom are not going unnoticed, David Semonian, international spokesman for Jehovahs Witnesses at their world headquarters in New York, told Newsweek. Story continues We hope that the harassment of our fellow worshippers will end and that those taken into custody will be released and returned to their families as soon as possible, Semonian said. At least 175,000 Jehovahs Witnesses live in Russia, and an estimated 250 reside in Birobidzhan, which has three congregations. Birobidzhan is a historically Jewish town, but today, only a tiny fraction of the local population is Jewish. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek ROCKPORT, Maine (AP) Maine's Gov. Paul LePage is crediting a bicycle helmet for saving his life when he says he was hit by an uninsured driver last fall in Florida. LePage tells MaineToday Media that the impact cracked his helmet into two pieces and "sent me flying 40 feet." The crash exacerbated a shoulder injury, necessitating shoulder surgery in the near future. "Without a helmet, I wouldn't be here," he said Friday. LePage revealed the news about the accident Friday at Maine International Trade Day, saying he was knocked off his bike on the day before Thanksgiving. The Republican acknowledged keeping the matter quiet and initially brushed off questions before providing more details. The accident happened on Nov. 22 while he and his wife, Ann, were riding their bikes in Daytona Beach, not far near their Florida home in Ormond Beach, he said. He said a young woman who was uninsured and distracted cut him off while making a turn, hitting him as his wife followed behind. LePage was taken to the hospital but his wife was unhurt. A Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman declined to say if the governor had been accompanied by his state police security detail while on the bike ride. The topic of the accident came up Friday when LePage mentioned that the surgery could interfere with his plans for a trade mission to Taiwan before he leaves office in January. This isn't the first time LePage kept medical details to himself. In September 2016, he underwent a weight-loss operation at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston; the bariatric surgery wasn't disclosed until months later. See Also: On Sunday, China hopes to start the next stage of its ambitious lunar exploration agenda with the launch of a communications satellite. That instrument is designed to smooth the way to the far side of the moon, where no mission has ever gone before. The satellite, called Queqiao, is essentially infrastructure for China's lunar plans. After the satellite launches, it will make its way to hover over the far side of the moon, to perch at what astronomers call the Lagrange L2 point, some 40,000 miles above the surface. That's one of a handful of parking spots where satellites can easily hold their position. From there, Queqiao will be well poised to bounce signals between Earth and the far side of the moon. Trending: Kidnappers Threatened To Murder Texas Teen In Text Messages To Mother The location has a second perk as well, and one that the Netherlands will be taking advantage of. The rocket launching Sunday will also carry a Dutch radio antenna designed to catch faint celestial signals from the early days of the universe. Radio astronomy can be tricky on Earth because it gathers the same type of light waves that we use in communications and navigation technology. This means that even on the parts of the Earth where human influence is weakest, it can be difficult to separate astronomical signals from artificial chatter. From the Lagrange L2 point, the moon's bulk will block all those signals bouncing around Earth, leaving the antenna with a crystal-clear view of the universe. Don't miss: Who Is Meghan Markle's Maid-of-Honor? Why She Didn't Pick Jessica Mulroney 05_18_china_moon_change STR/AFP/Getty Images After Queqiao, China's next step is the Chang'e 4 mission, slated to launch in November of this year. That mission is to include a lander, which the country hopes will be the first to explore the far side of the moon. Both of this year's launches are preludes to the Chang'e 5 mission, the culmination of China's lunar dreams. That mission is due to launch next year and, if successful, will mark the first retrieval of a sample of moon rock since 1976. Story continues This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek A young tourist has fell to his death off a cliff at a popular attraction in Western Australia while attempting to take a dangerous selfie. At around 3 p.m. on Thursday, a group of international students watched as the man, who has not been named, plunged 130ft from a viewing platform onto rocks at The Gap, Albany. He was just very careful, just to take a picture and he just slipped down there, on the hill, Sahil Singh, the victims friend, told ABC News. "I would like to say just it was an [accident], it can happen to anyone, so please be aware." Trending: New NASA Space Telescope Photo Reveals Thousands of Stars, and Maybe Planets Too GettyImages-614381654 Getty "We were studying in the same college. He was a very good man," Singh said, adding that the group were devastated. After he was seen falling off the edge of the cliff, the man landed on the rocks below and reportedly stopped moving. The tide then immediately pulled his body out to sea. Don't miss: Saudi Arabia Arrests Women's Rights Activists Who Violated Driving Ban, Watchdog Says Sea Rescue crews were then called in to retrieve the body. Upon arrival, they quickly found him floating face down on his front around 33ft away from the shore. They transported him onto land but were unable to revive him. According to one of his companions, the man and around seven friends traveled from Perth to visit The Gap, a natural rock formation that provides stunning views of the Southern Ocean. You've got to stay on the path. You've got on that platform. It is dangerous and it's such a sad situation again having to try family, next of kin, and tell somebody they've lost a loved one," Superintendent Dom Wood, of the Great Southern police district, said. In any circumstances for someone to lose their life... is just horrible. It's horrible for the family, its horrible for the first responders, it's horrible for the people who witnessed this event. Story continues "It is a dangerous area but if you take precautions and stay between the bounds, then these things won't happen." The Gap is an attraction that has been known famously for being a hazardous location. According to 9News, there have been at least seven incidents that have resulted in death over the past 45 years. In 2016, the site was renovated to include a large viewing platform, safety fences around the edges and signs warning people to be cautious around dangerous spots. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek There seems to be an endless stream of "misunderstandings" when black people are being criminalized for literally doing everyday things these days. The trend is black people having the police called on them for doing everyday tasks creating a potentially highly volatile situation for them. After which there are claims of a misunderstanding. Earlier this week, rapper T.I., whose birth name is Clifford Harris Jr., was arrested for not having the keys to his gated, suburban community. He was denied entry to his home and charged with three criminal acts. Over the last month, black people have had the police called on them for waiting in a Starbucks, sleeping in a common area at Yale University, barbecuing in an area designated for barbecuing in a park, checking out of an Airbnb, and moving into their own apartment. These are just a few viral instances that need to be named for what it is. They are not misunderstandings but acts of racism. Why is it important to name these acts as racist? Calling racist acts misunderstandings, or anything less, tends to trivialize a serious matter. It personalizes a systemic disease plaguing the social, economic, and political fabric of a country still steep in racist rhetoric. Naming racist acts maintains the sting needed for America to fully wake up to the ever-evolving elephant in the room. Some Americans believe that the civil rights movement sufficiently placed discrimination in the past and the society is now truly color-blind. Nothing is further from the truth as proven by the use of language like "feeling fearful" or intentionally naming the color of the person or their own when reporting any incident that involves black people. These reports often solicit the use of unnecessary force by law enforcers who claim to only be doing their jobs while white suspects are treated more humanely, given the benefit of the doubt or given far lesser charges. This going back to my point of racist people INTENTIONALLY CALLING THE POLICE TO GET BLACK PEOPLE HARMED. She knew full well what she was doing. This was not based stereotype or misunderstanding. Black people, some racist people are dumb but they are DECEPTIVELY smart & Minista_Chuuch (@AntwainStewart) May 15, 2018 Thankfully, technology today makes documentation easy with the click of a button. New videos and articles come out every day about how claims of misunderstandings are just plain being racist. These claims come from both law enforcers and ordinary white citizens alike. Words matter and the differences in the language used when dealing with black as opposed to white people sets the tone for racial profiling. Witnessing a black student taking a nap in their own dorm building is not a legitimate reason to call the police. Its time for America to reckon with the dangerous assumption that black people dont belong. #BlackLivesMatterhttps://t.co/vaV90a0Gj9 ACLU (@ACLU) May 10, 2018 Social scientists will tell you that language is not simply how people communicate but the basis of how people form a community and a sense of camaraderie. Language is critical to people feeling like a part of a community; like they belong. As it stands, the language being communicated is that black people do not belong in certain spaces across America for no other reason than the color of their skin. The black real estate investor whose white neighbor yelled at him to leave the neighborhood without a logical explanation is why black people feel like they do not belong. Similarly, the three black women leaving an Airbnb and had six police officers and a helicopter surround them because a white neighbor claimed they were not polite is communicating that they do not belong either. The list grows exponentially each day and the language that fuels the who belongs where narrative is eerily similar to racial segregation systems of the past. However, the difference between then and now has more to do with the language used to justify it than a specific societal structure, according to Michelle Alexander in her bestseller book, "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the age of colorblindness." She further states that rather relying on race, we use our criminal justice system to label black people criminals and then engage in all the practices we supposedly left behind." In other words, the more things change, the more they stay the same. And language is key to the racial justice facade that too many white and some black Americans want to believe. This cements the importance of naming racist acts for what they are. To name racism is to take on the issue directly and address the root cause. This process will reveal that black people have been disproportionately affected for far too long. By mislabeling racist actions as misunderstandings take the power and relevance away from the issue. If this continues, decision-makers and the overall public will never change their attitude and behavior towards acts of racial profiling. Going forward? Naming racism is like calling out bullies. It needs to be intercepted quickly and directly to have the desired effect. Being clear might be difficult at first, especially with so many counterarguments trying to prove otherwise. But eventually, more people will at least engage in conversations about racism and racial profiling. This is a step in the right direction if the country wants to rid itself of racist acts instead of evolving into another elaborate oppressive scheme. Rumors recently came out that Matt Roloff and his girlfriend Caryn Chandler were over. It was reported by Blasting News that Caryn is no longer working at the Roloff farm. An insider that works at the farm shared this information. This really made fans wonder what was going on with them. At the time, Matt hadn't pictured her in any posts in a long time either. Matt responds to the rumors At first, Matt and Caryn stayed quiet about the rumors, but now Matt is saying something it just isn't much. Right now, Matt Roloff is on vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and it looks like he is alone. It is very odd that she wouldn't be there with him. A fan asked him all about it and said, "Wheres Caryn? Did you guys break up? Then Matt responded, but only said, We did not break up." He didn't give any other information other than that. The fans are still curious why Matt Roloff hasn't pictured her and why she didn't go with him on the trip. Matt Roloff didn't explain those details at all. Maybe there is more to this story than he is ready to tell. It doesn't seem like Matt is going to be saying much but maybe fans will get lucky and he will respond to a few more questions on social networks. What could be going on? One thing is that Caryn has made it clear whenever Amy Roloff was ready for her to leave the farm she would do it. Caryn has quit working at the farm, so maybe this is the reason. It could have nothing to do with the fact that Caryn and Matt's relationship isn't great. There has been some tension between the two these last few years. Amy wasn't thrilled to hear that Matt was dating someone who works for them. On a recent episode, Caryn Chandler said, "I dont want to invade anyones space, and the moment Amy doesnt want me coming around anymore, I wont." If Caryn and Matt are still together, then you have to assume that this could have something to do with it. Maybe it will all end up playing out on an upcoming episode of "Little People, Big World." Right now, fans are a bit confused on if the show is still airing this season or not. There wasn't a new episode last week, but hopefully, it will return soon. For now, fans are just going to have to wait and see what happens. The fans really want to see these two together again before they totally believe they are together. Don't miss new episodes of "Little People, Big World" when they air on TLC. This show has such a huge fan base that you can assume they will return with more episodes pretty soon. Andy Cohen brought together Lisa Vanderpump and the rest of the cast of 'Vanderpump Rules' to discuss several serious moments on the 2017 season of the show. Fans of the hit Bravo reality television show know that there is more to the eye. So what is exactly brewing underneath the attitudes of Lisa Vanderpump, Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz at the 2018 reunion of the shows cast members? Will unsaid words at the show's reunion cause Lisa to return to sole ownership of the future Tom Tom restaurant and bar. The creation of the partnership between Lisa Vanderpump, Tom Sandoval, and Tom Schwarts was a large part of this years season of reality television on Bravo. Fans tuned in to watch these young men start their journey into the world of real estate and restaurants. Both men learned a lesson about partnership when Tom Sandoval was caught airing his frustrations to his girlfriend at SUR. These junior partners were pushed into the world of business meetings when part of the cast met in Las Vegas, Nevada for a business meeting with Lisa Vanderpump and a future designer for 'Tom Tom'. While there were some mistakes made by these two men, they proved that they had the maturity to help create a new restaurant during the 2017 - 2018 season of this show. Then why did Lisa Vanderpump dryly throw some shade towards her new business partners by calling them "very junior partners" at the reunion of the cast members? Though Tom Sandoval tried to sweep the issue under the table by stating that the issue would be handled within the next two weeks, it was Jax Taylor who questioned Lisa about not having everything in writing. Why didn't either of her business partners speaks up for themselves during the show? Is Lisa Vanderpump hesitant about the professionalism of junior partners of "Tom Tom"? Both of her partners do have several strikes against them in regards to their real estate partnership with Lisa. Tom and his girlfriend are caught talking about Lisa and her husband in the place that they work. A business venture turns into a night to party in Las Vegas. Tom Schwartz is acting like he has no clue how a business partner should act when everyone is meeting together. Though is Lisa Vanderpump really giving them the opportunity to mature and become the business partners that she needs. Fans of the show have watched her become very tight-lipped about Tom Tom. Does she feel that since the two men made such a small investment in her eyes that they shouldn't know about the details of their investment? Does Tom Sandoval have a drinking problem? After Lisa Vanderpump, Tom Sandoval, Tom Schwartz, and Jax Taylor have their say about the lack of business contracts for Tom Tom, Tom Sandoval is filmed pulling a silver flask out of his shirt pocket and taking a sip. Is the stress of the reality television show and dealings with the new restaurant causing him to turn to alcohol to deal with the stress? This isn't the first time that Tom Sandoval has been caught drinking during an important time of his life. Let's not forget fans that everyone saw him do it. Should Lisa have given Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz more credit during the reunion? Yes, Lisa Vanderpump and her husband have several well-known restaurants on her own but some of the fans believe that the businesswoman and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star need to listen to the words of a partner who is the same age as her future customers. Lisa Vanderpump has two restaurants sitting in the middle of Tri-West. "Tom Tom" is planned to have a location between West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Yes, Lisa Vanderpump looks fabulous for almost being sixty years old but Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwarts may have a better pulse on the clients living near the area. Why? According to City-Data, the average age in the community is 35-40 years old men and women who are not married. So there is definitely an age difference between Lisa and her future clientele. Should Lisa and her husband listen to Tom about the wine cooler? Instead of creating fresh new cocktails, Lisa seems to want to use the new bar to market Vanderpump Rose and other wines that she is working on. The restaurant is going to be called 'Tom Tom'. Shouldn't Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz obtain a bigger percentage because an amount of the restaurant's popularity will be due to the two men being on 'Vanderpump Rules'? Fees are saved due to having an in-house mixologist who is also a business partner. Sure one hundred to five hundred dollars per drink recipe is a drop in the bucket for some. Honestly without a Chef dealing with the food and new attractive well-made drinks at the bar, the new restaurant will be just a fancy building. Should Tom Sandoval be cautious about Lisa Vanderpumps business ethics? Partnerships with just a handshake rarely go well. Without a contract, there could be future arguments about the name of the restaurant. Issues may arise with the creation of signature drinks for the restaurant. If a contract is not signed, the cocktail book that Ariana Madix is trying to put together could have issues. Lisa Vanderpump may claim that certain cocktails are stolen from her restaurant if Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz are not partners on a legal binding document. Until that document is created and sign, Lisa Vanderpump has the ability to do what she wants. So will Lisa Vanderpump finally return the two checks to Tom and Tom during season 7 of Vanderpump Rules? She is under a lot of stress with owning three restaurants, dealing with the death of her fur babies, and the death of her brother. Fans will just have to wait and see. Be sure to watch Bravo Vanderpump Rules Monday Night at 9/8 central. Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un want to hold a summit in Singapore next month to decide on international issues like denuclearization, but no one appears to be worried about the plight of the North Koreans. They need humanitarian aid and a section of South Koreans have risen to the occasion. They want to spread the spirit of goodwill and show that they care. CNN reports that there are people who regularly send messages in bottles for their less lucky brethren. They float the bottles stuffed with uncooked white rice and a single US dollar bill, along with a selected range of common medicines and a USB. This device contains information from the outside world along with videos that feature interesting subjects. The message says - "God loves you." The plight of North Koreans According to the UN, nearly 41 percent of the population in North Korea is undernourished. They do not get proper medical care. Doctors had found worms in the stomach of a defector he was a soldier who fled across the DMZ last year. Groups of well-wishers, irrespective of religious beliefs, have been sending across food and information into the hermit kingdom. One of them is Tim Peters, an American missionary who has lived for years in South Korea. He passes on small plastic bags full of seeds. He met Donald Trump in the White House and had apprised him about the living conditions in North Korea. When Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in met at the DMZ in late April, it was hailed as a historic occasion. It led to many emotional reactions from the people on both sides. However, no one has bothered to highlight the pathetic condition of the North Koreans. Kim is likely to meet Donald Trump for the summit in Singapore and the issue of human rights should figure in the talks. Actions for peace identified One of the first decisions taken at the meeting between Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in, was to remove all loudspeakers that broadcast propaganda material at the border and also stop the distribution of leaflets to the other side. This was meant to de-escalate tensions. However, the authorities in South Korea wants the activists to discontinue the practice of sending across messages and humanitarian aid in bottles. Those who send the bottles filled with food, medicines, and information have no means of knowing whether their mission helps their brethren on the other side of the border. However, the feedback they have from South Korean border guards is positive. It seems the North Korean soldiers and civilians do collect the rice-filled bottles once they wash up on the shore. Let us hope that the sensitive issue of human rights will be on the agenda of the summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in Singapore Acacia Mining plc, together with its subsidiaries, mines, processes, and sells gold in Africa. The company has three gold mines in north-west Tanzania, including Bulyanhulu, Buzwagi, and North Mara; and a portfolio of exploration projects at various stages of development in Tanzania, Kenya, Burkina Faso, and Mali. It also produces co-products, such as copper and silver. The company was formerly known as African Barrick Gold plc and changed its name to Acacia Mining plc in November 2014. The company was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Acacia Mining plc is a subsidiary of Barrick Gold Corporation. Read More 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 Royal Dutch Shell plc operates as an energy and petrochemical company worldwide. The company operates through Integrated Gas, Upstream, Oil Products, Chemicals segments. It explores for and extracts crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids; markets and transports oil and gas; produces gas-to-liquids fuels and other products; and operates upstream and midstream infrastructure necessary to deliver gas to market. The company also markets and trades natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), crude oil, electricity, carbon-emission rights; and markets and sells LNG as a fuel for heavy-duty vehicles and marine vessels. In addition, it trades in and refines crude oil and other feed stocks, such as gasoline, diesel, heating oil, aviation fuel, marine fuel, biofuel, lubricants, bitumen, and sulphur; produces and sells petrochemicals for industrial use; and manages oil sands activities. Further, the company produces base chemicals comprising ethylene, propylene, and aromatics, as well as intermediate chemicals, such as styrene monomer, propylene oxide, solvents, detergent alcohols, ethylene oxide, and ethylene glycol. Royal Dutch Shell plc was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands. Read More World-renowned Dutch firm MVRDV has released plans to transform Albania's communist-era pyramid into a new centre for technology, art and culture, featuring mega urban staircases that reach to the peak point. MVRDV's initial design was presented to the public with the presence of Prime Minister Edi Rama, Mayor Erion Veliaj, The Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF) and the members of the Municipality of Tirana. Details about the presentation with the history of the Pyramid will be online soon on WAC. Image Gent Onuzi The 11,800-square-metre former communist monument will act as a large multifunctional technology education centre for young people. "This project will completely change the current building, putting it in service of innovation, technology, art and culture, not only in Albania but to the entire region," said Mayor Erion Veliaj during the presentations. MVRDV's Tirana Pyramid is expected to be completed in June 2019. Located in the city centre and former Enver Hoxha Museum, the Tirana Pyramid was opened in 1988. It was designed in honour of Albania's former communist leader by a group of architects including Hoxha's architect daughter, Panvera Hoxha. The building has undergone several uses over the years. It served as a temporary base for NATO during Balkan Wars, and Post-War, it has been used as nightclub and event space. The pyramid has a unique silhouette which gives it a strong physical presence in its locale, and it has long served as a prominent gathering point for numerous social and political events even though most recently it went into decay and at the same time became a favourite spot for young people who climbed up onto its roof. MVRDV's concept embraces its multifunctional use and makes the roof officially available for all visitors. The studio transforms the dark interior into an open, bright and green technology education centre. "Though in the past, there were plans to transform this monumental building into a national theatre, this never materialised which left this fantastic building in ruin for more than a decade," said Winy Maas, co-founder of MVRDV. "The Pyramid of Tirana will rise again by becoming a new centre of technology and learning for young people. Maas continues It is a symbol for many Albanians. For the older generation, it is a memory to the cultural events during communist times, for the recent generation it became the place to celebrate the new era." "They will use it as a hangout, as a place to glide of, and for concerts and gatherings. We will open it up to its surroundings as a structure in the park, that can be populated by people, trees, and containers for co-working. We will make the beams accessible and safe so that we can all climb to the top and celebrate the structure, with views of the city of Tirana. We create an inhabited monument," Maas added. Featuring the generous use of glass on the outer facade, the building is currently closed and inaccessible. MVRDVs design scheme will open up the ground level on all sides, making the entire program porous and accessible. The firm will also convert the current darkened atrium into a light-filled and attractive interior space, as well as lift the current dreariness of interior spaces making them more welcoming. Due to the vast ceiling height within, trees and other greenery will be introduced into this monumental atrium. "The concrete beams will be used for sightseeing, temporary events and will also be populated with pop-up structures of sorts, such as pavilions, platforms and settlements," said MVRDV in a project statement. "The aim here is to give the building back to the city and its inhabitants by transforming the current facade, giving roof access, and presenting a new perspective to the city from above," added the firm. "Essential to MVRDV's vision is the respect of the current informal use of the building mostly by young citizens of Tirana, and to strengthen this use by inviting all citizens to share this function." The new building will be run by TUMO, a new kind of learning program where teenagers are in charge of their own education at the intersection of technology and design. MVRDV collaborates with the Municipality on this design as a commission of the Municipality of Tirana. Project facts Location: Tirana, Albania Year: 2018+ Client: Municipality of Tirana Program: 11,800m2 educational facility for youths Budget: Undisclosed Design: MVRDV - Winy Maas, Jacob Van Rijs and Nathalie De Vries Design Team: Winy Maas, Stefan de Koning with Ronald Hoogeveen, Boris Tikvarski, Stavros Gargaretas, Leo Stuckardt and Guido Boeters. Partners Youth centre management: TUMO Images: MVRDV, Gent Onuzi Al images MVRDV, unless otherwise stated > via MVRDV Baird Park recreation trail open, ready for visitors The Baird Park Recreation Trail is now open and ready for visitors. JAKARTA, Indonesia Indonesian prosecutors on Friday demanded death for radical Islamic cleric Aman Abdurrahman, who is accused of ordering attacks including a January 2016 suicide bombing and gun attack in the capital that killed four civilians and four attackers. Abdurrahman, who police and prosecutors say is a key ideologue for Islamic State militants in the worlds largest Muslim nation, sat impassively as the prosecution announced the sentencing demand before a panel of five judges. Prosecution lawyer Anita Dewayani said Abdurrahmans acts had resulted in deaths and injuries and there was no reason for lenience. Abdurrahmans next hearing was set for May 25 where he and his lawyer, appointed by the court after the cleric refused to be represented, will respond to the prosecution. Ill do my own defense, Abdurrahman told the court. Prosecutors say Abdurrahmans instructions from prison, where he was serving a terrorism-related sentence, resulted in several attacks in Indonesia. They included the January 2016 attack on a Starbucks in Jakarta, an attack on a bus terminal in the capital that killed three police officers and an attack on a church in Kalimantan that killed a 2-year-old girl. Several other children suffered serious burns from the Kalimantan attack. Prosecutors said Abdurrahman founded Jemaah Anshorut Daulah, a network of extremists that pledged allegiance to IS and was opposed to Indonesias secular government. Reflecting a dire lack of supervision of militants in Indonesias overcrowded prisons, Abdurrahman was able to spread radicalism and communicate with his supporters on the outside through visitors and video calls, they say. Authorities deployed dozens of elite counterterrorism and paramilitary police officers to guard Fridays hearing at the South Jakarta District Court following a wave of attacks by IS-inspired militants. Suicide bombings Sunday and Monday in Surabaya, Indonesias second-largest city, killed 26 people, including 13 attackers. Two families carried out the attacks, using children as young as 7. Police said they were part of the same militant network that Abdurrahman played a key role in. Abdurrahman was sentenced to prison in 2004 after a bomb he made prematurely exploded at a house in West Java, and again in 2011 for his role in helping set up a jihadi training camp in a mountainous area of Aceh province. Hannah Y. Kim is traveling to Korean War memorials in all 50 states to honor the soldiers who died and were wounded, physically and emotionally, by their fighting. She says their sacrifices directly affected her life, opening up opportunities she wouldnt have had otherwise. Her tour, which stops in Albuquerque Saturday at 11 a.m. for a wreath-laying ceremony at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial, aims to raise awareness and funds for the construction of a Wall of Remembrance at the National Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C. The wall, she says, was federally authorized but hasnt been funded. This for me is all so extremely personal, and the cause is to actually bring awareness and raise funds for the wall of remembrance, she said from her stop in Colorado, her last before hopping a flight to Albuquerque on Friday. I hope people can come out with their family, even if they are not descendants of Korean War veterans. It is on their account we are enjoying the freedoms we enjoy. That statement for her, she says, is absolute truth. She says the international intervention, populated mostly by American troops, in the Korean civil war in the early 1950s ultimately opened the path for South Korean immigration to the U.S. Kims parents immigrated to the U.S. in the wave of Korean immigration that come in the 1970s and 1980s, and now, she said, she looks back at her life full of opportunity she never would have had. Literally they saved South Korea, and South Korea became free, and many South Koreans have been able to immigrate, she said. There are 2 million Korean-Americans not just living but thriving in America. Thats the American dream. And I am doing this journey because it wouldnt be possible without them. Its a fact. I wouldnt be here. Kim, from Los Angeles, started the group Remember727 when she was 24 after working as a spokeswoman for a federal representative in Washington, D.C.. The group honors Korean War Armistice Day, which was in 1953 on July 27 hence the 727. She worked for remembrance of the war, its semi-resolution and for a wall remembering those killed in the conflict, considered the first of the Cold War. She livestreams her events on the Remember727 Facebook page, a link to which can be found on the Remember727.org webpage. From Albuquerque, Kim will make her way to Phoenix and then east zigzagging her way to every state. Im visiting all 50 states because there was a casualty in each state, and I would like for people locally to kind of viscerally feel that freedom isnt free. Their neighbors went and died and were wounded and sacrificed, and people dont have to travel to all 50 states more than 15,000 miles like me to say thank you. They can come to the park and say thank you there. Its a little bit easier. At least 228 New Mexicans were killed in the Korean War and at least 44 New Mexicans who went to fight on the Asian peninsula are recorded as unaccounted for. Transportation remained a key point of questioning from state lawmakers and citizens over a proposed interim storage site for the nations spent nuclear fuel in southeast New Mexico during a Friday meeting of the Legislatures Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Committee in Santa Fe. But a top engineer with Holtec International, the company behind the proposal, said the focus is currently on the storage facility itself, not the technicalities of getting the waste there. It has a feel of putting the cart before the horse, so to speak, in a rather significant way for the state of New Mexico, committee chairman Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, said. Stefan Anton, the vice president of engineering and licensing at Holtec, agreed that there is a bit of a chicken and egg problem, but the current application being reviewed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission deals mostly with the storage aspect of the project. The transportation aspect goes to (the U.S. Department of Transportation) and shipment operator who in the end would organize these shipments, Anton said. Skeptics and opponents of the project have contended that the U.S. railroads cannot bear the enormous weight of the waste-laden casks that would be used to transport the waste. Anton said its not necessarily a question of weight, but more of the weights distribution. The capacity of railroads does not only go on weight, its the number of axles, he said. During a Community Perspectives portion of the meeting, Jimmy Carlile of Fasken Oil and Ranch Ltd. said he is worried over the effect the proposal could have on both industries, and the decisions made affect more than New Mexico. We dont believe that this is a local issue. We dont believe this is a state issue, Carlile said. We see this as a regional issue. Wearing the cowboy hat of a rancher, Carlile said any risk to the areas groundwater is unacceptable, though he was quickly called out by Rep. Cathrynn Brown, R-Carlsbad, on the risks that could be posed to groundwater by oil and gas development. Carlile said other ranchers in the region agree with him in opposing the project. He added that the oil and gas industry struggles to attract workers to the Permian Basin due to quality of life issues there. He worried the addition of the storage facility could further deter people from moving their families to the area to live and work. What family wants to move their family to that part of the world and have a high level nuclear waste site sitting there within fairly close proximity? he said. JONESBORO, Ga. Police announced the arrests of two people Saturday in a fatal shooting outside a high school graduation ceremony in Georgia. One woman was killed and another was wounded by gunfire Friday night following an argument in a high school parking lot across from the Clayton County Performing Arts Center, where the Perry Career Academy had just held its commencement for graduating seniors. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Clayton County Police spokeswoman Marcena Davis confirmed the arrests, but said their names and charges are not being released yet. Local media reported that police said two people began shooting at each other after the argument, and that one victim was fatally wounded with shots to the chest, while the other was taken to a hospital with leg wounds. The arrests were made after investigators interviewed several people late into the night, Davis said. We are still openly investigating this fluid incident and want to provide the most accurate information available, Davis said in a news release. Clayton County Public Schools Superintendent Morcease Beasley tweeted Saturday that hearts are made heavy by the violence. The shooting happened in Jonesboro, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Atlanta, in a high school parking lot used for overflow parking outside the graduation of more than 200 students from the career academy. We are saddened that such an incident has occurred that overshadows such a positive ceremony involving an exceptional group of graduating seniors, Beasley said in a statement. The Clayton County Police Department is investigating. Repeated attempts to reach officials there by telephone went unanswered. Clayton County schools safety chief Thomas Trawick, the designated spokesman, could not be reached Saturday for comment. Late Friday, he said he couldnt provide details. He said his initial reaction wasnt pleasant, given news of a fatal shooting earlier Friday at a Texas high school that left 10 people dead. The last thing you want to do is have a situation at a graduation that results in anyone being injured, and definitely not being shot, Trawick said. Two Republicans are competing for the nomination to succeed Rep. Jim Smith in an East Mountains-based district that includes Tijeras and Placitas. Smith, a Tijeras Republican with a reputation for bipartisan work, stepped down this year to join the Bernalillo County Commission, following eight years in the state House. Now Republicans are choosing between Merritt Hamilton Allen, a Navy veteran who owns a strategic communications firm, and Gregg Schmedes, a surgeon at the University of New Mexico. The winner will face Democrat Jessica Velasquez, an educator and business owner, in the general election. Allen, the daughter of former state Rep. Dianne Hamilton of Silver City, has picked up endorsements from Smith, in addition to campaign contributions from two ex-lawmakers from the East Mountains: former Rep. Kathy McCoy and former Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort. The campaign committee for House Minority Leader Nate Gentry of Albuquerque has also donated to Allens campaign. Schmedes, in turn, has won endorsements from former Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Redmond of Los Alamos, Gun Owners of America Political Victory Fund and New Mexico Right to Life, a group that opposes abortion and euthanasia. Schmedes said he would aim to be a servant leader for the people of District 22. When I look at politics around New Mexico, he said, I see a lot of it being rooted in the candidates themselves and not the actual issues that New Mexicans want solutions for. I see a lot of people trying to advance their friends or their own careers, and theyre not really addressing the big issues in New Mexico, like crime, education and the economy. Allen said shes a lifelong New Mexican with deep roots in the East Mountains, giving her the experience needed to serve the district well. And shes no stranger to the personal sacrifices that come with serving the public, she said, given her own background in the Navy and her fathers career in the Marine Corps. Im a pretty fast read, she said, and I have a very open mind with regard to my constituents. Both candidates say the scarcity of water is a key issue in the district, where many residents rely on private wells and face the threat of forest fires. The district covers much of the East Mountains and part of the Interstate 25 corridor just north of Albuquerque, including parts or all of San Felipe Pueblo, Algodones, Placitas, Sandia Park and Tijeras. Bernalillo County commissioners have nominated Allen to fill the unexpired term of Smith, though no legislative sessions are scheduled until after this years elections and the governor hasnt made an appointment. The district also includes part of Sandoval and Santa Fe counties. SANTA FE Expanded early voting for New Mexicos 2018 primary election begins today at dozens of designated polling locations around the state. In Bernalillo County, there are 19 voting centers where registered members of major political parties can cast their ballots. In some smaller counties, however, early voting is available only at the county clerks offices. An increasing percentage of New Mexicans who cast ballots have voted early or absentee in recent years. Early voting makes it easier to fit voting into our busy lives, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver said Friday. I want all New Mexico voters to be aware of all the voting options available to them so no one misses their chance to participate in the electoral process. Absentee voting started earlier this month and will continue through the June 5 primary election day. As of Friday morning, the states 33 county clerks had accepted 20,099 absentee ballot applications, according to the Secretary of States Office. In addition, New Mexico voters have taken advantage of a new option to request absentee ballots online, requesting a total of 951 absentee ballots via the internet since earlier this month. Meanwhile, this year will mark the second primary election in state history in which some 17-year-olds are allowed to vote. Thats due to legislation approved and signed into law in 2016 by Gov. Susana Martinez. However, only 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the time of the November general election are eligible to vote. Under New Mexicos closed primary system, only voters registered with major political parties Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians can vote in the primary election for their parties candidates. Recent attempts to allow independents and voters belonging to minor political parties to participate have been unsuccessful. As of last month, there were more than 1.2 million New Mexicans registered to vote in the primary. Of that amount, about 46 percent or 563,171 were Democrats and roughly 29 percent or 374,723 were Republicans. The rest were registered Libertarians, declined to state a party affiliation, or were registered with minor political parties. For early voting locations in other counties, go to nmvote.org. Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Jason Christopher Davis, 45, of Las Cruces made an initial appearance in federal court Friday on child pornography charges. The Las Cruces Police Department executed a search warrant for an email account Davis used to upload a file with child pornography. Police and Homeland Security Investigations seized numerous items including digital media linked to the case Wednesday, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Mexico. Davis is being prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, created to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. He remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing May 23. Too often the news media are pegged with focusing on the negative stories of crime and poverty, violence and inequity. And while there is a steady stream of such news, it shouldnt overshadow recent stories in the Journal that inspire, encourage, and set the record straight on the many good things and people in our communities. Theres Caroline Fraser of Santa Fe, who won the Pulitzer Prize. The Pulitzer committee describes Frasers Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder, as a deeply researched and elegantly written portrait of Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the Little House on the Prairie series, that describes how Wilder transformed her familys story of poverty, failure and struggle into an uplifting tale of self-reliance, familial love and perseverance. Theres 22-year-old Philip Hall, who smelled smoke and heard screams, then climbed over two fences and kicked down a third to pull 2-year-old Kierre Caldwell from a flaming tent. Both were severely burned and airlifted to out-of-state hospitals, and both face numerous surgeries and long recoveries. Theres the Daniels Fund and United Way of Central New Mexico, committed to helping central New Mexico produce 60,000 new graduates with college degrees and certificates by 2020. The Daniels Fund recently gave United Way a $230,000 grant toward its Mission: Graduate initiative. The Daniels Fund has awarded more than $96.7 million to New Mexico nonprofits and students. The scholarships it provides have benefited hundreds of young New Mexicans. And Mission: Graduate has recorded an increase in the number of degrees despite declining enrollment. There also are the many hard-working, successful business owners who are defying the stereotypes often slapped on the immigrant community in these build-a-wall times. Cuban-born Cecilia Portal came to the United States in 1981 and Albuquerque in 1991. Her Mexico nursing certification doesnt allow her to practice here, so her Valley Community Interpreters trains bilingual individuals for professional Spanish-English oral interpretation in the medical, education and social service fields. Mexican immigrants Jose and Mayanin Velez recently registered their home-based construction business with the state so they can access commercial property jobs. Carmen Bacas Carmens Cuts in the International District has been an incubator for other hair professionals two stylists have started their own salons nearby. Bacas family came to the U.S. 18 years ago from Mexico, looking for a better life. She saved for years until she could pay for her lease and equipment in cash. Ghana native Jesse Dompreh went from an internship in Illinois to graduate studies to 30 years in New Mexico, raising a family and opening his own insurance agency. His first client was a Mexican immigrant, and Dompreh says both seemed to take comfort in the fact they spoke English with an accent. And Uyen Nguyen, born in international waters as her parents fled Vietnam in 1977, co-owns and operates Coda Bakery with her mother and father. The Vietnamese deli and tofu house features authentic flavors balanced for American customers. Yes, often the news is dominated by a tragic story of things gone horribly wrong. But it is also filled with stories like these, stories of hard work and curiosity, self-sacrifice and success, of people going above and beyond to make their lives and the lives of their fellow New Mexicans better. And there is nothing fake about that. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal Former U.S. Attorney Damon Martinez was a popular target late Friday as his Democratic competitors tossed barbed questions his way during the only televised debate of the campaign to represent Albuquerque in Congress. Martinez faced questions about a law enforcement operation in the International District during his tenure and whether it was an exaggeration to say he was fired by President Donald Trump. I didnt realize I was so popular, he joked at one point. But he said he was proud of his law enforcement record of pursuing justice and that, yes, he was one of 46 U.S. attorneys across the country forced out by Trump. The back-and-forth came during a 90-minute debate taped at KOAT-TV late Friday and set to air Sunday morning. The six Democrats campaigning in the 1st Congressional District answered questions from Journal Senior Editor Kent Walz, and KOAT anchors Shelly Ribando and Doug Fernandez. They also had a chance to question one another. Pat Davis, an Albuquerque city councilor and former police officer, confronted Martinez about a federal law enforcement operation in the International District that according to a report by the news organization New Mexico In-Depth swept up a disproportionate number of African Americans and low-level offenders. Davis questioned whether Martinez was more interested in real prosecutions or press conferences. The operation was carried out by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in 2016. Martinez was the U.S. attorney for New Mexico at the time. Martinez said the operation came as Albuquerque wrestled with an incredibly high rate of violent crime. I was doing it for justice, Martinez said of his tenure in the office that handles federal prosecutions. Im not sure what your approach was. Countering Trump The debate was a chance for the six Democrats to distinguish themselves in a wide-open race. Incumbent Michelle Lujan Grisham is forgoing a re-election bid to run for the Democratic nomination for governor. During the debate, former state Democratic Party Chairwoman Deb Haaland pitched herself as someone who would bring a unique perspective to Congress, noting that she would be the first Native American woman elected to the U.S. House. In this era of Trump, she said, we need strong new voices. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, a retired University of New Mexico law professor, said she didnt set out to become a politician but was drawn in by the need to confront President Trump. We need more than just an ally, she said. We need a champion and an advocate. Damian Lara, an immigration attorney, spoke Spanish in parts of the debate and described working in the field pulling potatoes as a youth, characterizing himself as an antidote to Trump. Im living proof that everything he says about immigrants is wrong, Lara said. Paul Moya, CEO of a business strategy consulting firm, described himself as someone who can get things done, with practical experience that would help promote economic development. Overt partisanship isnt serving us, he said. People are putting party over country. Davis said he is attracting attention as the gay former police officer whos taking on the NRA, but he said he has a strong track record as a city councilor and founder of ProgressNow New Mexico. Martinez said he is the only military veteran in the race. He said his experience in the U.S. Justice Department and as a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve would be an asset in a state dotted with federal installations, including Air Force bases. Voting underway Fridays debate was jointly sponsored by the Journal and KOAT. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Janice Arnold-Jones and Libertarian Lloyd Princeton in the Nov. 6 general election. Democrats have held the 1st Congressional District for about 10 years. It covers almost all of Bernalillo County, all of Torrance County, and small parts of Sandoval, Valencia and Santa Fe counties. Election Day is June 5, and expanded early voting starts today. Internal campaign polling has pegged it as a close race. Sedillo Lopez, Haaland and Martinez have emerged as the best fundraisers. Watch the debates on KOAT Friday nights congressional debate will air on KOAT-TV, Channel 7, at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. A gubernatorial debate will air live at 6 p.m. Sunday. NEW YORK From pubgoers in pajamas to merrymakers in finery at a posh hotel, Americans cheered and teared up Saturday as they watched Meghan Markle marry Prince Harry in a royal wedding with trans-Atlantic resonance. People gathered at wedding watch parties some before dawn at a Hollywood pub and New Yorks swanky Plaza hotel, in oceanfront towns in Florida and spots in the Rocky Mountains, to see an American of mixed race heritage become part of Britains royal family. If the U.K. and the U.S. have long enjoyed a special relationship, this gave it a whole new meaning. It was a real-life fairy tale, said Erin Massa, 34, who watched at a Minneapolis pub. If someone my age from America can suddenly become a princess, essentially, anything really is possible. About 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) away at a home in Burlington, New Jersey, Paula Jackson gasped when Markle emerged from the Rolls-Royce that brought her to St. Georges Chapel in Windsor, the British royals longtime home. Im just so happy for her, said Jackson, dressed in a jeweled blazer and tiara. She will be an example for our young, African-American women. At gatherings around the U.S., viewers admitted Markles beauty and naturalness. But they also marveled at the boundary-breaking union between the 33-year-old prince who has been open about how grief shadowed his life for decades after the 1997 death of his mother, Princess Diana, and the 36-year-old American actress who has spoken out about coming to terms with her biracial identity as the daughter of a black mother and white father. Some viewers wiped away tears as they watched the wedding from Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, Markles alma mater. Its all my family can talk about, said 15-year-old sophomore Daniella Bueno, who got up at 3 a.m. to join dozens of students, parents and staffers for the event. Shes representing our school in such a beautiful way. Across the country, Varinda Missett and Ellen Polkes donned hats, gloves and bejeweled high heels and went to the Plaza early in the morning because they wanted to see a California girl become a princess, Missett said. A crowd in fascinators and tiaras gathered for the storied hotels first royal wedding viewing party, which came complete with deviled eggs, black pudding, Earl Grey tea butter biscuits and cake pops with champagne and flower liqueur. We love a great love story, said Maureen Farley, the hotels director of hospitality. This surely is one of the best. If there was a certain historical irony in Americans celebrating British royalty nearly 242 years after the Declaration of Independence, it had little sway Saturday over Americans who say they were simply rallying around love. I think this is a wonderful new way to be royal, said Ralph Campbell, 67, who donned a three-piece dark suit and bow tie for a watch party at Brits Pub in Minneapolis. He called the ceremony a global wedding and added: I think it will only help the cause of peace in the world. Another guest at Brits Pub, British native Victoria Rylee, had no problem with an American marrying a British prince. After all, I married an American, Rylee, 71, said with a laugh. At a pajama-and-viewing party at the Cat & Fiddle Pub in Hollywood, California, British-born actor Craig Young was happy to watch a woman from his adopted hometown join the royal family in his homeland. It was something we never thought would happen, and which were very excited about, said the actor, 44, who wore a bathrobe and Prince Harry mask. For Meghan Woods, who was at the Plazas fete in New York, the takeaway was simple. There are so many terrible things going on in the world that when theres something like this love bringing people together, a reason to celebrate, she said, why not? ___ Dalton reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Jeff Baenen in Minneapolis, Alexandra Villarreal in New York and Errin Haines Whack in Burlington, New Jersey, contributed to this report. PHOENIX David Montenegro worked part-time restaurant jobs and took advantage of Arizonas lower in-state tuition as he labored through years of college. Now a senior with the goal of becoming a teacher nearly in sight, the 29-year-old Mexico-born immigrant who arrived in the U.S. at age 11 faces a new hurdle. Montenegro and more than 2,300 public college students around Arizona with deferred deportation status will have to pay thousands more for school in the fall under a state Supreme Court decision that deemed them ineligible for in-state tuition. Suddenly, they are scrambling to piece together private funding to continue their studies. Students in the U.S. illegally cannot get federal funding, but there are private scholarships such as TheDream.US and Golden Doors Scholars for students covered by the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA. Youths in the program are sometimes referred to as Dreamers for the DREAM Act, never-passed legislation that opponents say would reward people for breaking the law and encourage illegal immigration. Montenegro said Arizona State University counselors helped him find modest funding from donors to finish his last year, and I should be able to do it. But he and others said they fear a growing anti-immigrant bias in the U.S. under President Donald Trump, who has made tough immigration policies a key focus. Its upsetting to know there are people out there trying to make our lives impossible, Montenegro said. Vasthy Lamadrid, another DACA recipient in ASUs teaching program, acknowledged experiencing a lot of anxiety and stress after the decision. Some students are freaking out, wondering if they need to move out of state or find other funding, the 22-year-old added. The Arizona Attorney Generals Office sued the Maricopa Community College District in 2013, saying that extending in-state tuition to DACA recipients violated a 2006 voter initiative that requires people to have lawful immigration status to get public benefits. The state Supreme Court ruled in April that state and federal law do not allow DACA recipients to get Arizonas in-state tuition because they are not lawfully present in the U.S. Although federal law does not prevent unauthorized immigrants from attending public universities, state laws vary on whether those who graduated from state high schools get in-state tuition rates. The National Conference of State Legislatures says 20 states offer in-state tuition to unauthorized immigrants 16 of them through legislative action in places including California, Kansas and New York. In Hawaii, Michigan, Oklahoma and Rhode Island, the lower rate is granted through the state university systems. In New Mexico, Western New Mexico University has used social media to woo high-achieving immigrants, extending in-state tuition to DACA recipients from Arizona, Colorado and El Paso, Texas. But Georgia considers students covered by DACA ineligible for in-state tuition, a policy explored in The Unafraid, a new documentary taking its name from an activist chant, Undocumented! Unafraid! Screening next month at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival in New York, the movie follows three DACA recipients in Georgia hoping to go to college. Their challenges are similar to those now faced by Arizona DACA recipients, who mostly come from lower-income families and often dont graduate until they are in their mid-20s or older because they can pay for a only class or two at a time. The annual tuition for an estimated 300 DACA recipients at Arizonas three public universities will rise from about $10,000 to $15,000 under a policy of charging non-citizen residents 150 percent of in-state tuition. Some 2,000 students with DACA status at the Maricopa County Community College District, the largest in Arizona and among the biggest in the U.S., will see annual costs for a full-time course load jump from about $2,580 to $8,900. Some students are finding a friendlier and more affordable education at private schools such as Arizonas Prescott College, which has actively recruited DACA recipients including 19-year-old freshman Itzel Rios Soto, who was 6 when she was brought here from Mexico. When I got a scholarship, I broke down crying because it was the answer to my familys prayers, said Rios, whose tuition at the small liberal arts school is covered by its Freedom Education Fund, which students pay for with a $30 fee each semester. Shes the first in her family to attend college. After the court decision, Prescott College announced it would match Arizona state universities resident tuition rates for immigrants in the country illegally. They were brought here involuntarily, and this is the only country they know, college President John Flicker said then. Our state and our nation will be better if we educate them, not force them into the shadows. The DACA students graduating from the Jesuit-run Brophy Preparatory Academy in Phoenix this month decided against college in Arizona because of insufficient funding for immigrant students, said Kathy Mabry, the schools communications director. Instead, theyre going to out-of-state Catholic universities or other private schools such as the University of Southern California and Emerson College in Boston. With a college preparatory education that has given them solid academic footing, and a team of dedicated college counselors guiding them, I believe Brophys Dreamers have been well-prepared to find other resources, Mabry said. Graduating 17-year-old Nelson Martinez said his activism supporting fellow DACA students helped him get a full scholarship to College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts. Because of his familys modest income, paying full tuition at a state school was never a possibility, he said. ___ Follow Anita Snow on Twitter at: http://www.asnowreports.com Her past stories can be found at: https://www.apnews.com/search/Anita%20Snow WASHINGTON Scrutiny of the 33-year spy career of new CIA director Gina Haspel has focused on her undercover role in the harsh interrogation of suspected terrorists, but she cut her teeth in intelligence operations against Russia. Shes sure to tap that latter experience as she takes over at the nations premier intelligence agency at a time of rising tension with Moscow. President Donald Trump has characterized it as worse than during the Cold War, and its been aggravated by investigations into Moscows interference in the election that brought Trump to power. The 61-year-old Haspel, confirmed by the Senate this past week as the CIAs first female director, began her career in the mid-1980s when the Soviet Union was in its twilight. Even after the communist power disintegrated, U.S. and Russian spy services held to Cold War mode. Haspel worked in the shadows to counter Kremlin efforts to infiltrate the U.S. government. Russia has been a priority target throughout her career. That was clear when former Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., introduced Haspel at her Senate hearing: She is a clear-eyed, hard-nosed expert on Russia, he said. Haspel, an Air Force brat from Ashland, Kentucky, joined the CIA in January 1985 when she was 28. At the time, then-CIA Director William Casey was working to counter Soviet expansion, curtail Moscows influence, win the Cold War, and bolster up U.S. intelligence operations. She didnt become a reports officer, analyzing information from the field; that was the most likely career track for a woman in the CIA at that time. Instead, Haspel chose to be a case officer out in the streets, meeting assets and collecting intelligence. Details of Haspels career are sketchy because much of it remains classified, including places where she was posted, but the CIA has provided an overview. Her first posting was in Africa, where she had a memorable encounter with Mother Teresa. On her return, Haspel spent time learning Russian and Turkish. By then, the Berlin Wall had fallen and the Soviet Union was about to break apart. Frosty relations between Washington and Moscow warmed. Within a few years, President Bill Clinton was trading jokes with Russian leader Boris Yeltsin in what was dubbed the Boris and Bill show. But the CIA saw a continuing threat from Russian intelligence. The Soviet Union collapsed, but their intel services did not collapse, said former senior CIA official Dan Hoffman, who knows Haspel well and agreed to talk to The Associated Press about her career. They were still running penetrations of the U.S. government. The CIA also knew it had a KGB mole in its midst, but it wasnt until February 1994 that Aldrich Ames was arrested. The turncoat had disclosed the names of Russians who had been helping the CIA. Several were later executed. The arrest of Ames and other double agents underscored the need for a strong counterintelligence capability and that means recruiting Russians, said Hoffman, who was finishing his first tour in Moscow when Haspel was working in Russian operations. That was what we were doing. Haspel would go on to serve as deputy group chief of Russian operations in the CIAs Central Eurasia Division, which manages Russian spy cases around the world and efforts to target and develop potential sources, according to John Sipher, who replaced Haspel in that position. Those involved in Russian operations at the end of the 1990s had a front row seat to a time of great transition in Russia, said retired senior CIA official Mark Kelton, who also worked with Haspel on Russia. Vladimir Putin, a KGB agent, had moved to Moscow, becoming acting president of Russia on the last day of 1999 when Yeltsin resigned. Russia is a formidable, strategic challenge now so understanding where these people came from and how they got where they are is crucially important, Kelton said. The Russian services remain the most professional adversaries we face. In all, Haspel has spent 17 of her 33 years in the agency overseas. Kelton said her ability to synthesize information quickly was quite impressive and she also ably handled the rough school of Russian operations. There wasnt a lot of wasted time on small talk, Hoffman said about Haspels demeanor. Thats not her style. She was just right down to business lets get the job done. In addition to Russia, Haspel also was deeply involved in the CIAs fight against terrorism. As station chief in an undisclosed country in Eurasia, she helped in the successful arrest of two al-Qaida associates linked to 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania that killed 158 people, including 12 Americans. Their capture also led to the seizure of computers containing details of a terrorist plot, according to a U.S. intelligence official with knowledge of the incident. The official was not authorized to publicly discuss the case and spoke only on condition of anonymity. After 9/11, Haspel joined the CIAs Counterterrorism Center, and it was during this time that she supervised a secret site in Thailand where suspected terrorists were subjected to harsh interrogation, including waterboarding, which simulates drowning. Her work in the program drew impassioned protests from human rights activists and other critics and made her confirmation vote the closest for any CIA director in seven decades. One of the detainees at that site was Abd al Rahim al-Nashiri, a Saudi accused in the bombing of the U.S. Navy destroyer Cole off the coast of Yemen that killed 17 American sailors. Al-Nashiri is aware that Haspel was picked to lead the CIA, according to Dr. Sondra Crosby, who met with him this past week at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where hes been detained since 2006. Crosby, who has treated 20 people tortured in the fight against terrorism, including two at CIA secret sites, is happy that Haspel has pledged not to allow the CIA to engage in the use of such harsh interrogation techniques again. Still, shes wary. Mr. al-Nashiri is probably the most severely damaged person Ive ever seen, Crosby said, adding that he continues to have chronic nightmares and recurrent flashbacks. Ive been really struck about just how his trust in humanity has been fractured, she said. I dont think hell ever recover. A Washington-area doctor was sentenced to three years in prison for slipping an abortion pill into his pregnant ex-girlfriends drink, causing her to miscarry. Sikander Imran, a former doctor at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, was sentenced Friday after his former girlfriend, Brook Fiske, asked a judge for a more lenient punishment, ABC affiliate WJLA reported. Imran was charged last June with premeditated killing of a fetus of another and illegally causing abortion or miscarriage. Online records show he was also charged in November with assault and altering food, drink and drugs. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to fetal homicide, The Associated Press reported. Imran and Fiske both lived in New York and had dated on and off for three years. Around the time that Imran left Rochester, New York, and moved to the Washington region for a new job, Fiske found out she was pregnant. But Imran didnt want to have a baby and tried to convince Fiske to have an abortion, she told WROC. In May 2017, Fiske, who lives in Farmington, New York, said she went to Arlington, Virginia, to talk to Imran about raising their child. Unbeknown to her, Imran slipped a pill into her drink, she said. When I was drinking my tea in the evening, I got to the bottom of the cup and there was a gritty substance in there. And when I looked at it, I can tell that it was a pill that had been ground up, Fiske told WROC last year. Fiske began having contractions a few hours later and was rushed to Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, where she lost her baby. She was 17 weeks pregnant. Fiske said Imran gave her 800 milligrams of the pill Misoprostol, which is used to start labor, cause miscarriage and prevent stomach ulcers. A nurse at the hospital told her 200 milligrams is enough to induce labor, Fiske told WROC. The incident, she said, left her feeling betrayed and devastated. Imran cried that night and admitted what he had done, she said. During Imrans sentencing hearing Friday, his attorney argued that hes dealing with mental-health issues, according to WJLA. The Washington Post was unable to reach Fiske on Saturday, but WJLA reported that she didnt want her ex-boyfriend to serve a long prison sentence. Fetal homicide, a Class 2 felony, is punishable by up to 40 years in prison. A judge sentenced him to 20 years, with 17 years suspended. I think that when something tragic happens, it is really important to find a way to move forward and to use it for good, Fiske said. Online jail records show Imran is being held at Arlington County Detention Center. Talentedge, an Ed-Tech firm, that provides Live & Interactive digital learning, has forged an exclusive partnership with JetPrivilege, the award winning loyalty and rewards programme and the frequent flyer programme of Jet Airways, to provide JPMiles to all JetPrivilege members, when they enrol into any online executive course available on the Talentedge website. This partnership enables customers of Talentedge to earn JPMiles on successful enrolment into any of their courses. JetPrivilege members will now earn 10 JPMiles on every INR 100 spent on the Talentedge website. The offer is valid only for fresh course registrations through JetPrivilege. Aditya Malik, CEO & MD, Talentedge said, In todays fast-moving world, skill enhancement, especially for working executives, is the need of the hour. Our courses not only help professionals learn through experienced faculty from IIMs, XLRI and other highly rated Indian & International B Schools; they also help individuals take their next career step. This strategic partnership with JetPrivilege will help us reach a larger working audience Commenting on this association, Manish Dureja, Managing Director, Jet Privilege Private Limited said, At JetPrivilege, we endeavour to constantly add value for our members through innovative and rewarding opportunities. Our partnership with a brand like Talentedge provides our members an additional avenue to earn JPMiles while at the same time elevating their career prospects. 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. A man who said he was racially profiled at a Hobby Lobby in Trussville while trying to return a machine that cuts paper for craft projects has hired a lawyer. Christopher Burrell, of the law firm Burrell & McCants in Birmingham, said Hobby Lobby called Trussville police on his client, Brian Spurlock, as Spurlock tried to return an item on Monday. Police confirmed in a statement to AL.com that an officer was responding to a call from Hobby Lobby. Employees told police they believed Spurlock was a man who had committed fraud against the store in the past, but police said Spurlock was not the fraud suspect. Burrell said Spurlock didn't do anything wrong and that the incident mirrors other recent occurrences of racial profiling against people of color across the nation. In April, two black men were arrested on trespassing charges while waiting for a friend at a Philadelphia Starbucks. About two weeks later, a graphic video of white Saraland police officers arresting a black woman at a Waffle House spurred outrage and protests. Earlier this month, a white Yale University student called police on another black student who was sleeping in the common area of a dorm. Burrell said he sent letters to both Hobby Lobby and Trussville police on Thursday asking both parties to preserve any video evidence of the incident, including dash and body camera footage and surveillance video from the store. Burrell said that when Spurlock hired him on Thursday, Spurlock still seemed shocked about the situation. "(Spurlock) just kept saying that he was very hurt about it," Burrell said. "You go in a store to return an item that you purchased rightfully. To have the police called on you, especially in today's climate, that can be troubling and disheartening for anybody." Burrell said Spurlock was returning a malfunctioning Cricut paper cutting machine. Burrell said that employees told Spurlock's girlfriend, Ashley Maddox, the day she bought the item that it could be returned to the store if it wasn't working properly. When Spurlock handed the employees the opened package with the receipt, Burrell said an employee told Spurlock he couldn't return it to the store and should send it to the manufacturer instead. Spurlock then asked to see a supervisor and the employee stepped away. "The next thing you know, the police are getting involved," Burrell said. "He didn't do anything wrong. There was absolutely no reason for them to have called the police. He was simply questioning the return policy." Trussville Police Lt. Phil Dylan said in a statement that dispatch received a call from Hobby Lobby about someone store employees believed had written bad checks and made fraudulent returns to the store. Hobby Lobby asked for police assistance. When the officer came into the store, Trussville police said the officer asked Spurlock for an Alabama identification card. The police said Spurlock asked why. After giving him an explanation, Spurlock gave the officer an ID. When the officer ran the ID, it came back expired. According to the police statement, the officer gave the ID back to Spurlock and told him to call someone to pick him up since he didn't have a valid driver's license on him at the time. "Hobby Lobby did have a picture of the person that was writing bad checks and making fraudulent returns and it looked somewhat like the person in the store but it did not appear to be him," Dillon said. Spurlock was ultimately able to make the return and get his money back. Spurlock called Maddox who recorded the rest of the exchange between a store employee and Spurlock. In the video, Spurlock tells an employee, "I wasn't disrespectful towards nobody." An employee responded by saying that they were just following directions from upper management and walked away to give Maddox and Spurlock the number to customer service. As the couple waited for the number, the employee said in the video that if Spurlock wanted to get loud, "I mean, if he wants to get loud I can have him (trespassed) for disturbing the peace." Maddox responded that Spurlock wasn't getting loud. "He's not yelling, you know," Maddox said in the video. "Is that getting loud? Him just talking like you and me are talking? That's how he speaks. His voice has bass in it. He's a man." Hobby Lobby's corporate office hasn't responded to a request for comment by AL.com. Maddox said she and Spurlock called customer service the same day of the incident. She said a customer service representative apologized about the incident that day and promised to get back to them. But they haven't heard any more from Hobby Lobby since. Burrell said he had tried to contact Hobby Lobby's corporate headquarters, but hasn't had any luck. "Stores need to better train their employees about certain implicit biases and things along those lines," Burrell said. "It's a sad day when people are going about their everyday lives and they are being questioned by police for things that people do every single day." A Midfield man charged with capital murder has pleaded guilty and was sentenced to prison. Jarrod Artez Hill, 25, was originally charged with capital murder for the Jan. 14, 2016 slaying of Corey Walker, who was gunned down in his car. Hill pleaded guilty to murder, a lesser charge, on May 14 and was sentenced by Jefferson County Circuit Judge Laura Petro to 20 years in prison, split with 5 years to serve. Following his release from prison, Hill was ordered to a probation term of two years. Birmingham police West Precinct officers were dispatched about 12:30 a.m. Jan. 14 to the 500 block of 16th Way S.W., where Walker was found inside a vehicle suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Investigators at the time said they believe the shooting stemmed from a possible robbery. Court records show Hill was arrested two times for possession of marijuana that was intended for something other than personal use. In 2014, he was indicted on charges of possession of marijuana and cocaine. Between 2012 and 2013, he was convicted on charges of possession of an altered firearm, receiving stolen property and third-degree escape. In 2009, he was charged with attempted murder but that charge was eventually dismissed. "It's still just unbelievable,'' his sister, LaToya Walker, said several days after the killing. "My brother wasn't a bad person. The only thing I ever saw him do was show love." Deputy District Attorney Kylie Jernigan prosecuted the case, and attorneys Bill Dawson and Jim Sears represented Hill. The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund is asking the nation's highest court to review the case of an black man who was killed by police in Alabama by tasing. According to the petition from the LDF, the group is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse an appeals court decision that ruled the officers responsible for Khari Illidge's death were entitled to relief from an excessive force claim. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the officers were entitled to summary judgment. The petition was filed on behalf of Gladis Callwood, the mother of 25-year-old Illidge. The man was killed in 2013 by a Lee County deputy sheriff and, according to the lawsuit, was tased 13 times by an officer while Illidge was on the ground and in the process of being arrested by two officers. After 19 tasings, Illidge died from cardiac arrest. The repeated taser use violated taser guidelines and police training, the LDF said in a press release. According to the release, an officer on the scene testified the only reason for Illidge to be tased after he was on the ground would have been to cause the 25-year-old pain and "shut down his nervous system." Illidge was suspected of trespassing when officers tried to arrest him. He was unarmed, the lawsuit says. The petition says the Supreme Court should review the case and reverse the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals' decision because "it goes against... precedent holding that police can use force during arrest only if it serves a legitimate purpose," the LDF said in a press release. The group also argues the appeals court's ruling conflicts with decisions from other circuits and does not reflect evidence in the case. Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel at LDF, said in a press release that the court should review the case and make a correct ruling. "Officers responded to an unarmed black man in mental health crisis by using extreme force that had no purpose other than to inflict pain. Using force in this way serves no legitimate law enforcement purpose...,"she said. The petition was filed by the LDF with Wiggins Childs, Pantazis, Fisher & Goldfarb, LLC, and Schnapper-Casteras PLLC. Gubernatorial candidate Kay Ivey came to Huntsville on Saturday, shaking hands and posing for pictures during a rare public campaign event. She also spoke for her allotted five minutes to the audience of about 300 people at the Madison County Republican Men's Club, chatted with reporters in her usual post-event gaggle afterward and skipped the traditional receiving line at the breakfast event. It was an unusual event simply because Ivey was there. The Alabama governor has mostly stumped for votes in private events and away from the spotlight, eschewing debates and forums with her three rivals for the Republican nomination. In fact, those rivals all said Saturday that all four GOP gubernatorial candidates had not been together at an event in more than three months - a Feb. 13 candidates' forum in Vestavia Hills. Since then, Tommy Battle, Scott Dawson and Bill Hightower have participated in 16 debates and forums in their efforts to unseat Ivey as governor. Sixteen events, the candidates say, in which Ivey was not there. Tommy Battle, Bill Hightower and Scott Dawson hold up cards after Huntsville forum that say 16: As in 16 forums/debates they have attended and Gov Kay Ivey has not. pic.twitter.com/gOnusqdLwn Paul Gattis (@paul_gattis) May 18, 2018 "I've been answering people's questions ever since we started," Hightower, a state senator from Mobile, said after the forum. "Our interim governor hasn't had to answer those questions, stand on the stage for an hour and half and answer question after question after question. We have. That ought to mean something to people in Alabama." The forum Saturday - part of a monthly club meeting that typically attracts candidates for public office to make brief speeches - gave Ivey an opportunity to address voters without having to answer questions. She took her five minutes last following an alphabetical lineup of Battle, Dawson and Hightower. "As I travel across our great state, I am so thrilled to be able to tell my people that Alabama is working again," Ivey said. While Hightower acknowledged that "five minutes is so short to get anything across," Ivey's campaign speech touted achievements during her time as governor without a look to what she would aim to accomplish if elected to a full term. "I've also signed into law the largest middle-class tax cut in a decade," Ivey said after global companies such as Google (held groundbreaking following 2015 announcement) and Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA (announced it would build $1.6 billion facility in Huntsville) made headlines during her tenure as governor. The tax was cut the first in Alabama since 2006. "With all that good news, I assure you I am not done," Ivey said. "More work to do and I'm proud to do it. When these companies come into Alabama, they need to be able to employ the people who live here and that will only happen when we make sure people have the education they need and deserve. As your governor, I admit I have spent a major portion of my time on education policy and I will continue to work as hard as I can for our schools, our teachers and the education system." Ivey also said that, "Alabama is better off and stronger than it was a year ago." Battle made the point that he's concerned about the status of Alabama roads - including I-565 in Huntsville. The construction of additional lanes is not scheduled to begin until 2043, according to documents on the Alabama Department of Transportation website. Ivey has said widening I-565 is a "high priority" and ALDOT officials said the documents are out of date. The issue of the I-565 project bubbled into a source of friction earlier this month between Battle and Ivey. And with the governor sitting a few feet away, Battle again brought up I-565. "If you've been in stoppage on I-565," he said, "you know we've got to do something before 2042. If we start in 2042, it will be 2052 by the time it's finished and I'm not sure I'm going to be here." Afterward, like Hightower, Battle made it clear that Ivey has not been responding to questions from voters. "I would love to have the opportunity for all of us to sit down and talk about our vision and dreams, let people ask questions," he said. "We've been at the last 16 forums and we've been asked question after question after question. "And really, by the time people get finished listening, they know what direction we're going to take the state and what our ideas are for the state." For Dawson, the people at the meeting had the rare opportunity to hear all four gubernatorial candidates for the GOP nomination at one time. "I believe the people in this room got a distinction of someone who is offering a vision with a plan with opportunities we can bring together," he said. "And someone that's the sitting governor and I'll let you decide what you heard." If Alabama voters reflect the statements by Gov. Kay Ivey's rivals in the Republican gubernatorial primary, the suggestion that the governor is gay will not be an issue. Ivey and her campaign have issued statements strongly denying the suggestions in Todd's postings on Twitter and Facebook. Prior to Thursday night's candidate forum in Huntsville, Tommy Battle, Scott Dawson and Bill Hightower were asked by AL.com about the social media statements suggesting that Ivey is gay by state Rep. Patricia Todd. None of the candidates said they believed it would be a factor in the minds of voters when they go to the polls on June 5. And none of the candidates were eager to discuss the issue. Ivey did not attend the forum. "We're going to stay talking about the issues," said Battle, the mayor of Huntsville. "That's not our issue. That's not what our campaign is about. Our campaign is about talking about the success that we've had here in north Alabama. We're going to stay there. Some people call it taking the high road, some people call it doing other things. That's not part of our campaign." Battle issued a press release a day after Todd's comments on Tuesday, describing the conversation about Ivey personal life as "deeply upsetting to me. We're better than this." At the forum, the issue of Todd's comments never came up in either the questions to the candidates from a moderator or in about 15 questions asked by those in the audience. "There's so many other things we need to focus on," said Hightower, a state senator from Mobile. "I want to take the higher priority items first." Asked if he believed suggestions that Ivey is gay would be a priority in the minds of some voters, Hightower said, "Issues and vision are what's going to matter. Alabama/s got some big challenges. And we always tend to get distracted on the smaller things. Let's focus on the bigger things like education, like public safety, like what are we going to do with tax reform or let's implement term limits." About 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Todd posted identical comments on Twitter and Facebook. "Will someone out her for God's sake ... I have heard for years that she is gay and moved her girlfriend out of her house when she became Gov. I am sick of closeted elected officials," Todd wrote on Facebook and Twitter. The Twitter account has been protected since the post so that only approved followers can see Todd's tweets. And the Facebook post appears to have been deleted. On Wednesday, Ivey responded with this statement: ""This most recent personal attack against me is beyond disgraceful. It's a disgusting lie being pushed by a paid left wing liberal political operative. There is absolutely no truth to it. It's false. It's wrong. It's a bald-faced lie. And I'm not gonna let them get away with it. Whether these attacks are malicious or ignorant or both - they represent everything that's wrong with politics today." The social media posts came near the end of a day that including Birmingham evangelist Scott Dawson raising questions about grants given to Free2Be, a now-defunct Huntsville LGBTQ nonprofit organization by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. Dawson, in a series of press conferences around the state on Tuesday, pointed to Ivey as allowing the grants - which began in 2014 - to continue during her watch. Ivey, the governor's office and ADECA said in response to Dawson's statements that the grants were federally mandated and that no tax dollars were a part of the grants. On Thursday, Dawson said questioning the ADECA grants was not an effort to raise questions about Ivey's personal life. "I think when the governor addressed it, she's covered it," Dawson said. "We just move on. To me, I hate for anybody to be put in that position to have to say that. It's just one of those things, it was never our intention, it was never our direction. I just hate that for the governor. "But we're going to move on, move forward and when people go to the polls on June 5, I think their major decision is do they want to go with the status quo or are they looking to see a change happen in Alabama. And only Alabama voters can give you that direction." They know it can happen any day, anytime, on any call. But that doesn't make it any easier when police officers and their families lose one of their own. The names of two heroes were added today to the Alabama Law Enforcement Memorial in Anniston. Fallen policemen Justin Billa and Keith Earle are now among the more than 500 Alabama officers honored on the memorial. Billa, a 27-year-old Mobile police officer, was fatally shot in the line of duty Feb. 19. Earle, a longtime Huntsville police officer, died in the hospital following a March 26 on-duty crash. "To the Earle and Billa families, please know you have my prayers," said Gov. Kay Ivey during a ceremony today at the memorial. "And you also have the love and support of the people of Alabama. "When we depart here today, let's always remember that to protect our freedom and to maintain order in a free society, we need brave, selfless, dedicated people, like officers Earle and Billa," Ivey told the audience. "In a time when law enforcement around the world is being demeaned, let us in Alabama proclaim our sincere appreciation for their service." Earle's wife, Tarsha, and several other family members attend today's service, clad in T-shirts that honor his life. Earle's wife sat alongside Billa's wife, Erin, Huntsville police chief Mark McMurray and Mobile Chief Lawrence Battiste. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said Billa's 1-year-old son will know his father was a hero. "Just as everyone that knew officer Earle, that came into contact with him over 25 years, knows that he was a hero," Marshall said. "We have no finer example in our communities." McMurray said the law enforcement community will continue to support the families of the fallen officers. "We all know it could happen at anytime," the chief said. "But that certainly doesn't make it any easier." Next week marks one year since former House Speaker Mike Hubbard of Auburn filed his first appeal brief with the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, but the five-member court has not issued a ruling. Jenny Carroll, a professor at the University of Alabama School of Law and former defense attorney, said the time span before a decision is "perhaps on the long side" but not surprising under the circumstances. "There's nothing about this delay that gives me pause that they are giving him some special treatment or there's something nefarious going on," Carroll said, noting that it's a complicated case with multiple counts and complicated instructions to the jury. A Lee County jury convicted Hubbard of 12 felony ethics violations in June 2016, finding that he used his public position for personal profit. Judge Jacob Walker sentenced Hubbard to four years in prison. Hubbard, perhaps the most powerful politician in Alabama before his indictment in 2014, remains out on bond pending his appeal and has denied wrongdoing. Hubbard filed his first appeal brief with the Court of Criminal Appeals on May 24, 2017. The attorney general's office, which prosecuted Hubbard, filed a response in July 2017, and Hubbard filed a reply in August 2017. The court has also not yet ruled on the request by Hubbard's lawyers to present oral arguments. Court of Criminal Appeals Clerk Scott Mitchell said the Hubbard case includes 16,225 pages of documents and transcripts. "It's one of the largest records on appeal this court has had in recent history," said Mitchell, who has been the clerk for five and a half years. Carroll said the constitutional requirement for a speedy trial does not apply to appeals. Carroll said that while trial courts make decisions on questions like the admissibility of evidence relatively quickly, appeals courts are more deliberative. "Instead of having to make those snap judgments, the court of appeals is really supposed to be the place that thinks carefully and kind of long-term about the state of the law," Carroll said. "It really has to have that tough job of looking back at the decisions that were made in that moment and asking are those decisions so egregious that they either violate the defendant's constitutional rights or are they really just contrary to what we want from the criminal justice system." Hubbard was convicted of voting on legislation with a conflict of interest, of receiving money through consulting contracts and investments from people and businesses that lobby the Legislature, and of lobbying the governor's office and using his state office to benefit a business client. Hubbard's appeal claims that the prosecution was based on an expanded interpretation of the ethics law and that the consulting contracts and investments he received were not connected to his public position, among other claims. The Court of Criminal Appeals is not likely to have the final word. The case could be appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court, and Carroll said Hubbard has raised issues that could end up in federal court, as well. Carroll said the judges on the Court of Criminal Appeals want to get it right and not be overturned by a higher court. "One thing you can count on from courts is they take their job seriously and nobody likes to be told they got the answer wrong," Carroll said. Judge Mary Becker Windom, presiding judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals, has recused from the case. President Trump and Melania Trump aren't attending the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. They are, however, sending a gift. The White House told US magazine the Trumps were making a donation in honor of the couple. "President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will be making a contribution to one of the seven charities the royal couple has designated in lieu of gifts," White House spokesperson Lindsay Walters said. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who are set to wed on Saturday, had earlier requested those wanting to give gifts to donate to charities selected by the couple. "The couple have personally chosen 7 charities which represent a range of issues that they are passionate about, including sport for social change, women's empowerment, conservation, the environment, homelessness, HIV and the Armed Forces," Kensington Palace said. The charities selected by the couple are: CHIVA (Children's HIV Association); Crisis, a national charity for homeless people; Myna Mahila Foundation, a charity that works with impoverished women in Mumbai, India; Scotty's Little Soldiers, an organization for children who have lost a parent while serving in the British Armed Forces; StreetGames, a sports-education based charity; Surfers Against Sewage, a marine conservation agency; The Wilderness Foundation UK, a charity that promotes the benefits and enjoyment of nature. The Trumps did not stipulate which charity received their donation. The president and his wife won't be attending the wedding and the guest lists is absent other political figures as well. "It has been decided that an official list of political leaders -- both U.K. and international -- is not required for Prince Harry and Ms. Markle's wedding," Kensington Palace said in a statement. "Her Majesty's Government was consulted on this decision, which was taken by The Royal Household." All eyes will be on St. George's Chapel Saturday as Prince Harry, sixth in line to the British throne, weds American actress Meghan Markle. As many as 3 billion people are expected to tune into the wedding. The ceremony will start at noon UK time, or 7 a.m. ET or 4 a.m. PT at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. You can go here to see all the network plans for airing the wedding. You can also follow along here: Who will walk Markle down the aisle? The bride's father, Thomas Markle Sr., is not attending the event due to ill health. Prince Charles, the groom's father, will escort her down the aisle for at least a portion, Kensington Palace announced. The bride's mother, Doria Ragland, will be in attendance. The Queen, the groom's grandmother, will be the last person to arrive before the bride makes her appearance in the chapel. Ms. Meghan Markle arrives at Cliveden House Hotel, accompanied by her mother Ms. Doria Ragland #RoyalWedding pic.twitter.com/SqOFhb0Wr5 Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 18, 2018 An interesting song choice The official wedding program (you can download it here) reveals an interesting song choice. Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir are set to perform the 1961 classic "Stand By Me." What will the bride wear? The details of Markle's dress won't be revealed until Saturday, but Kensington Palace has provided a look back at other famous royal wedding attire. While the details of Ms. Meghan Markle's Wedding Dress won't be revealed until Saturday, with the help of @RCT, take a look at what other Royal Brides have worn on their Wedding Day: https://t.co/ZmZMEXU37U#RoyalWedding pic.twitter.com/QbT0jl6zI5 The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 16, 2018 Who is attending? In addition to royals and celebrities, also attending will be 1,200 members of the public who received special invitations; 200 people from organizations and charities the couple is associated with and100 school students. Who won't be attending? Most political figures. Kensington Palace issued a statement saying their presence isn't required as the wedding isn't an official state occasion like the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump announced their gift on Friday. The cake Claire Ptak, an American pastry chef who is based in London has been chosen to create a lemon elderflower wedding cake for Prince Harry and Markle. 200 Amalfi lemons 500 organic eggs from Suffolk 20kgs of butter 20kgs of flour 20kgs of sugar 10 bottles of Sandringham Elderflower Cordial The baking of the #RoyalWedding cake is under way! pic.twitter.com/b3jhwtOwOP Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 18, 2018 Best man Prince William will serve as his brother's best man. All three siblings of Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, will be in attendance and Lady Jane Fellowes, Diana's youngest sister, will give a reading. No maid of honor? Markle said she did not want to choose from her group of close friends therefore won't have a maid of honor. The bridesmaids will include Princess Charlotte, the 3-year-old daughter of Prince William and Duchess Catherine Middleton; two of Prince Harry's goddaughters; and 2 of Markle's goddaughters. Page boys are Prince George, 4, oldest child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; Prince Harry's godson; and two children of two family friends of Markle's. After the wedding After the ceremony, Prince Harry and Markle will ride through Windsor in a carriage procession. After the procession there will be a lunchtime reception hosted by the Queen. The Prince of Wales will host a smaller reception later in the evenings. JONESBORO, Ga. -- One person was killed and another wounded in a shooting Friday night between people leaving a high school graduation ceremony in Georgia. A Clayton County Police statement said "one person is now confirmed deceased" after the shooting. The incident followed a ceremony for graduates of the Perry Learning Center, which prepares students for careers as an alternative to traditional high schools. The county schools' safety chief, Thomas Trawick, said people going to their cars got into an argument that led to the shooting. He said the incident happened on the campus of Mount Zion High School, which provided overflow parking for people attending the ceremony at the Clayton County Schools Performing Arts Center in Jonesboro. That's about 20 miles south of Atlanta. A heavy police presence remained at the scene late Friday night. Most good columns have a hook to draw the reader in--something that invites feeling or wonder. This week began with dozens of deaths at the Gaza border as Israeli soldiers clashed with Palestinian demonstrators. It ended with a 17-year-old opening fire on his classmates, killing nine of them and a teacher in Santa Fe, Texas. If this week's headlines are any indication, it's a wonder we feel at all. As I worked on this column, my oldest son called out to me. I heard the excitement in his voice. He'd discovered something. From the sound of his voice, I was sure it was a veritable scientific breakthrough. When I walked out on the front porch, he beamed, thrust a finger in my face and showed me one of the strangest looking caterpillars I'd ever seen. We speculated about the taxonomy of the specimen as we investigated the matter further with a Google search on my phone. On our front porch safari, we discovered the caterpillar of the legendary definite tussock moth. Unburdened by the tragedies in the world around him, my son found joy in the wonder of discovery. He wanted me to share that with him. In what amounted to a momentary distraction from my work, I was truly present with my son. It didn't lessen my awareness of the evils in our world; I simply remembered there is light and hope along with the darkness. His emotions stirred mine. I too often become numb. I can't process all the horrific realities plucked from our world, distilled by modern media and mainlined into my consciousness. I feel tremendous pressure to develop deeply held personal perspectives regarding issues or events that I wouldn't even know about but for the 24-hour news cycle. I become so emotionally engrossed in something like an eloquent pontification about Israeli-Palestinian engagement that I could have easily missed my son's porch safari. I don't want to minimize the real tragedies in our world, but neither do I wish to be consumed by their gloom. At times, I struggle to understand how such evils exist simultaneously with the innocence and exuberance I see in my three sons. The horrors always make for better television ratings than the strange caterpillars. The common element in so many of these violent tragedies is someone who doesn't believe he has anything to lose. It might be an angry, frustrated teen, an impoverished Palestinian or someone who simply doesn't feel like anyone cares whether he exists or not. Ultimately, we seem to be too frequently failing each other. How do we reach these people before they do unspeakable things? Mother Teresa is popularly attributed as saying, "Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you." The same could be said addressing the great challenges we face today. As much as I'd love to find the big solution for gun violence, rancor in the Middle East or a host of other issues, I simply don't have that capacity. I can invest in my sons. I'm able to teach them how to befriend someone who needs them. I can offer support to other families in my community. Those efforts aren't indifference to what's happening elsewhere, it's responsiveness where I have reach. The alternative is far worse. What if my hand wringing over the headlines keeps me from responding to my son? He becomes numb at a much younger age than I ever could have. If I don't value his joyful discovery, he'll determine that it must not be that big of a deal after all. The light I see in him will dim by the same degree that I put him off. That pathway not only erodes his ability to uplift those around him, but it endangers his own future. I refuse to throw up my hands in surrender because of the enormity of the problems we face, but I also realize that the answers to many of them begins with a caterpillar crawling from my son's hand to mine. Cameron Smith is a regular columnist for AL.com and vice president for the R Street Institute, a think tank in Washington, D.C. Using stand-up comedy as a way to address stereotypes, a group in Istanbul finds humour in bleak experiences. Were walking down the street, and I wanted a charger for my iPhone. I had 15 lira. So I picked it up and this is my way of bargaining Im Syrian pretending to be Turkish so I get the price lower. The guy selling me is Syrian pretending to be Turkish to get the price higher. I met an American girl. We went on a date. I took her to a Syrian restaurant, because thats the only place I can afford. Im like, What would you like to have? And shes like, I dont know, what should I have? And Im like, Well theres shawarma. She looks at me and says, No, Im a vegan. Im like, What does that mean? Shes like, We dont eat meat or chicken. Im like, Oh a vegetarian. Shes like, No, a vegan. We dont eat eggs, milk, chicken, yoghurt, or honey. And Im like, Oh a Syrian refugee. Jokes by Omar Mohammad Romantic comedies are my favourite type of movies. My favourite scene in every romantic comedy movie is the airport scene you know, where she leaves him and he goes and gets in a plane right away and follows her. Thats so romantic. I saw that scene and I thought, What if that guy was Syrian? Youre not going anywhere buddy! Like 30 percent of the movie will be in the visa office, right? Running from place to place, getting stamps. At the end, you get the final stamp: Rejected. Othman Nahhas Put two Arab guys in one room and have them talk for five minutes about their parents, and it will turn up into a competition over who used to get kicked harder by their parents. Osamah Shhadat A selection of Syrian sweets are served at a comedy event in Istanbul, where several refugees are trying their hand at stand-up [Kristina Jovanovski/Al Jazeera] Istanbul, Turkey Standing in front of an audience of more than 100 people, 21-year-old Syrian comedian Omar Mohammad jokes about his mothers harsh discipline, trips to the cinema with friends, and desperately trying to get a girl to like him when he first moved to Istanbul. I want people to know Syrians away from the news, he says. On this Wednesday night, Mohammad has organised an event Halalarious Stand-Up Comedy where people from across the world take the stage to perform a mix of improv and stand-up. He has been performing stand-up for two years in the bustling city of Istanbul, finding humour in sombre subjects including the refugee trail, the dangers of going out to sea, and integrating into Turkish culture. If it wasnt for my refugee background, if it wasnt for all the experiences that happened to me I would have never had material to get on stage. After the comedy show, he recounts the story of how he arrived in Turkey from Syria. He left with his family in 2012, first moving to Iraq. His father became ill, so it was down to Mohammad to support the family, working 14-hour days as a janitor at a furniture company. Mohammad said he cried every day. Eventually, his family went to Turkey and immediately headed towards the coast, hoping to get to Greece. On the second attempt, his family was robbed at gunpoint. It was then on his knees, fearing for the lives of his mother and younger siblings that he promised himself never to be sad again if they made it out alive. I talk about being a refugee. I joke about it a lot and a lot of Syrian people get angry at me because I'm joking about Syrian refugees but I'm always just showing the different point of view of a Syrian refugee. Omar Mohammad, Syrian refugee and comedian They did, and Mohammad told his family he would build a life for himself in Istanbul instead of attempting to go to Europe again. He got an apartment but didnt speak the language and was eager to make friends. He was inspired to try stand-up comedy after watching performers on Youtube. Omar Mohammad and his family were robbed at gunpoint as they attempted to reach Europe [Kristina Jovanovski/Al Jazeera] In August 2016, he did his first performance at an open-mic night. I talk about being a refugee. I joke about it a lot and a lot of Syrian people get angry at me because Im joking about Syrian refugees [but] Im always just showing the different point of view of a Syrian refugee, Mohammad says. People who were, lets say, disagreeing with me or didnt like it, slowly started to like it because they were also laughing. He then started encouraging other Syrians to take part. One of them was Syrian-French Rama Rata, who was studying in Turkey at the time. When you are doing comedy, people don't see you like you're in Syria or another place. When you are on stage, you create a person that is not totally you I think maybe it will change people's minds. Rama Rata, French student and comedian She first tried stand-up in Istanbul at an event to raise funds for school supplies for Syrian children in Turkey. Rata said after the war broke out, people in France assumed she was a refugee, despite the fact that she was born and raised in the country. Performing allowed her to escape being stereotyped. When you are doing comedy, people dont see you like youre in Syria or another place. When you are on stage, you create a person that is not totally you I think maybe it will change peoples minds. Mohammad says he organises his own Arab-themed nights in the hope of showing Syrians beyond the headlines. Farah Hallaba, a 22-year-old university student who attended the Halalarious show, said such events increase her understanding of the refugee experience on a more personal level. Making fun of their own tragic realities, its definitely breaking the stereotypes Youre more tempted to hear the story this way than on the news, she says. A study in February by the Istanbul Bilgi University and German Marshall Fund found that 67 percent of respondents thought Syrians were raising crime rates in Turkey, and 66 percent believed Turkish values and traditions were in danger because of Syrians. Changing perceptions Othman Nahhas hopes to change some of those perceptions. As a liberal atheist, he says his jokes about family, relationships and God give him a chance to fight the typical labels of Syrians in a non-combative way. When you confront people with it, they get cagey, but when you make jokes about it it gets them thinking, Oh, theyre just people. Everyone has their own beliefs.' He left Syria in 2013 at the age of 17 to avoid conscription. He reached Belgium, where he attended university, but, as his father was unable to find work in Turkey, Othman moved to Istanbul to support his family. He had first performed stand-up in Belgium, realising it was a way of channelling his restless energy. When I make fun [of], for example, about how Syrians cant go anywhere, how we cant travel, a) Im educating the people that you have more rights b) Im venting and c) Im making people laugh, so its a win-win-win kind of situation. I got interested in comedy to let people know how we were living. Osamah Shhadat, Syrian refugee and comedian Also at the Halalarious event, 21-year-old Osamah Shhadat says he was inspired by the confidence and success of Lebanese-American comedian Nemr Abou Nassar. But Shhadats nerves get the best of him at the beginning of his set. He forgets some of his lines under the bright lights. The crowd cheers him on. He regains composure and starts joking about Syrian fathers beating their children as a form of discipline. Laughs ensue and his performance ends with enthusiastic applause. Shhadat arrived in Istanbul as a refugee in December 2015. He now works at a sweets shop, where he says some tourists turn away from him because they are scared of interacting with a Syrian. He hopes comedy allows people to understand his culture better. I got interested [in comedy] to let people know how we were living, he says. Investigate Australias offshore processing of asylum seekers by chatting to those at the heart of the story. Australia maintains a hard line on immigration: Any asylum seeker who arrives by boat will never be resettled in the country. While the Australian government says this policy has stopped the boats, helped prevent drownings at sea and enabled them to control their borders, critics say the indefinite detention of people on remote Pacific islands to prevent them from landing in Australia is a deliberate attempt to circumvent their international obligations and hide the horrors of offshore detention. What do you think? Investigate the issue by talking to those at the heart of the story. Select who you want to chat to from a range of different perspectives then opt to have your say through an opinion poll. Behrouz Boochani Journalist and refugee on Manus Island Stephen Keim Australian barrister Peter Dutton Australias minister for immigration and border protection Kate Schuetze Amnesty International Father Clement Taulam Papua New Guinean Catholic priest on Manus Island Jana Favero Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Rafiullah Yousefzai Manus refugee transferred to the US This interactive chat experience is based on real interviews and was built using InterviewJS, an open-source tool developed by Al Jazeera to bring you journalism through a messenger platform. Start the story now: InterviewJS is an open-source Digital News Initiative (DNI) & Al Jazeera-backed web app for newsrooms that enables journalists to compose and manage scripted chats for a more immersive storytelling experience. Visit: www.interviewjs.io On April 21, 2018, an open letter was published in France by Le Parisien under the title Manifesto against the new anti-Semitism. The manifesto was written by the former director of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, Philippe Val, and signed by more than 250 famous authors, journalists, and politicians. Interestingly enough, former President Nicolas Sarkozy and former Prime Ministers Manuel Valls and Bernard Cazeneuve were also among the signatories of this strange text. The manifesto claims that, based on recent attacks on members of the Jewish community, a new anti-Semitism is rising in France and implies that Muslims are responsible for it. The text opens with the declaration that anti-Semitism is a problem for everyone, not just Jews, stating that the country has become a deadly theatre of anti-Semitism and adding that France without the Jews is no longer France because French history, for geographic, religious, philosophical, and juridical reasons, is deeply linked to various cultures among which Jewish thought is decisive. Those who wrote this manifesto are perhaps unaware that they are contributing to the marginalisation of nearly six million Muslims living in France, who on top of suffering the consequences of widespread Islamophobia, are now standing accused of being responsible for anti-Semitism as a whole. The signatories of this manifesto did not only blame Muslims but also claimed that Islam and its holy book, the Quran, are tools used to encourage anti-Semitic crimes. The manifesto ends with these sentences: The verses of the Quran calling for murder and punishment of Jews, Christians, and nonbelievers must be struck to obsolescence by religious authorities, as were the inconsistencies of the Bible and Catholic anti-Semitism abolished by the Second Vatican Council, so that no believer can rely on a sacred text to commit a crime. We expect French Islam to lead the way. This call is extremely ignorant in three ways. First: There has never been a proposition to make obsolete phrases that supposedly evoke anti-Semitism from the Christian sacred texts in the Second Vatican Council document nor any other. Second: The Quran is not a book that commands the killing or the punishment of Jews, Christians or non-believers because of their beliefs. In Islam, human life is sacred. {articleGUID} Third: There is no church nor council in Islam. It is not individuals and institutions that constitute religious authority in Islam, but the book itself. Nobody can touch a single letter of the Quran. This book is under the protection of God. I will briefly explain each one of these. As it is known, the Second Vatican Council convened between 1962 and 1965 to adapt the Catholic Church and its institutions to the modern world. In order to put an end to rising anti-Semitism in Europe, Pope John XXIII assigned one of his cardinals the task of preparing a document that regulates relations with Jews. The scope of the document was extended to include Muslims and members of other religions, over the concern that it would damage the relations with them. The document was published under the name Nostra Aetate, or the Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions of the Second Vatican Council. This document called for Christians, and especially Catholics, to establish dialogue with non-Christians. The fourth article of this document is about Jews, and nowhere in this document is there a proposal or suggestion to make obsolete anti-Semitic expressions from the Christian sacred texts, contrary to the claims of the manifesto. It can be argued that members of the Roman Catholic Church were, directly and indirectly, responsible for spreading anti-Semitic ideas. When European countries began to grant Jews equal rights in the 19th century, the biggest objection came from Roman Catholic Church leadership. Pius XII, who served as the pope during the Nazi genocide, had been a cardinal in Germany beforehand and had allied with Adolf Hitler in 1933. The Nostra Aetate was prepared to regulate the relations of Catholic Christians with Jews to reduce the intensity of the anti-Semitic wave, which originated in the Middle Ages and peaked with the Holocaust during World War II. But as one can see, the Second Vatican Council does not even imply that passages from the Christian holy texts should be made obsolete. The claims made in the manifesto, suggesting that the Quran commands the killing of Jews, Christians, and nonbelievers are absurd since Allah Almighty commands Muslims in the Holy Quran (Mumtahanah, 7) to protect the innocent and act justly towards them regardless of their religious or ethnic identities. I want to remind the people making these accusations of three important acts of kindness shown to the Jewish community by the very Muslims whose holy book is accused of commanding their killing: 1 When the Jews in and near Roman-occupied Jerusalem rebelled against Rome in 66 AD, the Romans not only quelled it but also destroyed the Second Temple. When the Jewish rebellion led by Simon bar Kokhba against Rome between 132-135 AD was defeated, this time the Romans expelled the Jews from Jerusalem and banned them from living in the city. Even after the adoption of Christianity, Roman emperors kept the ban. But after Caliph Omar bin Khattab conquered Jerusalem in 637, he gave Jews the freedom to enter the city as they pleased. 2 When the Crusaders conquered Jerusalem in 1099 during the First Crusade, they massacred many of the Muslims and Jews in the city and expelled the rest. Salah ed-Din took Jerusalem back from the Crusaders in 1187 and allowed the Jews to return. 3 After Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon ordered the expulsion of Spains Jewish population in the late 15th century, about 100,000 Jews, facing conversion o Christianity or death, took refuge in the Muslim Ottoman Empire. These three events clearly show that Muslims, who today stand accused of anti-Semitism, helped Jews and gave them refuge. If the Quranic verses the authors of the manifesto want to delete existed before these three events, and if Muslims are supposedly ordered to kill Jews by those verses, then why have Muslims disobeyed this command and chosen to support Jews and protect them when they faced oppression by the Christians? Trying to marginalise not just the history of Islam, but also all of its sacred values and depict them as the source of evil by focusing on a vile and murderous terror organisation like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is a result of reasoning infused with Islamophobia is both irrational and unfair. Should Muslims understand the West and judge its values on the basis of its history of genocides, Nazism or colonisation? Absolutely not! Because throughout history, there have been and will be murderers and murderous gangs without any belief in values. But Islam teaches us to protect our values and respect those of others. One only needs to look at the basic principles of Islamic law to understand this fact. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. From South Africa to Palestine to the US, there is a systematic attempt to whitewash the crimes of white supremacy. On May 2, representatives of Afriforum, a controversial South African organisation, travelled to the US on a mission to lobby the US government to take a stance against what they called a racist theft of land in South Africa. Afriforum had launched an international campaign to stop the South African government from making constitutional changes that would allow the state to appropriate land without compensation and resettle thousands of landless black peasants. The measure would affect predominantly white South African landowners. Afriforum CEO Kallie Kriel and his deputy Ernst Roets met representatives from USAID, staffers with Republican Senator Ted Cruz, and controversial National Security adviser and longtime Republican hawk, John Bolton. As their tour ended with a media storm in South Africa, Gaza came into the international spotlight. The Israeli government and its allies in the West were rushing to gloss over the mass killing of peaceful Palestinian protesters who had marched to demand their occupied land be returned. Western media rushed to parrot Israeli rhetoric that Hamas was responsible for the civilian deaths. Palestinians, just like South Africans and other dispossessed peoples around the world, have been facing a concerted effort by ever-growing right-wing forces to obfuscate their reality. This is part of a broader campaign around the world to normalise colonialism, white supremacy and privilege, and rewrite history. It is not a coincidence that it is now that an organisation like Afriforum is reaching out to a US government that is staunchly supportive of Israel and is engaged in applying its own racist policies. Historical revisionism in South Africa Beyond lobbying against a law that could affect rich white landowners in South Africa, Afriforum has engaged through its public statements in systematic historical revisionism. In the past, the organisation has called consequences of apartheid so-called injustices. In a recent interview, its CEO Kriel claimed that apartheid was wrong but was not a crime against humanity. He also appeared to believe that apartheid and the Holocaust could not be compared. He said: [A] crime against humanity is the gassing of six million Jews in gas chambers. In my view, you cannot equate that to the 700 people that were killed by the security police during apartheid. What this narrative aims to do is to dissociate South African apartheid from other crimes committed in the name of white supremacy and privilege. This wild, ingenious and unsympathetic observation demonstrates an anti-liberal attempt to amend historical truths, manufacture new moralities and retain white economic and social privileges. To remember that apartheid was much more than the killing of 700 people, one just needs to walk around the resource-starved black townships like Tembisa, 40km north of Johannesburg, or visit an informal settlement in Cape Town, where thousands of very poor and marginalised black people live. Then one should visit a traditionally white Johannesburg suburb like Randburg, Rosebank, or Bedfordview, and see what post-apartheid white wealth and prosperity looks like. Colonialism and apartheid created a massive underclass of poverty-stricken folks who, despite welcoming the policy of racial reconciliation Nelson Mandela supported, and accepting the skewed economic situation that accompanied the founding of the new South Africa in 1994, must bear the incredible indignity of flimsy, hurtful and inconsistent interpretations of the violence bred through colonialism and apartheid, and its effects. {articleGUID} And Afriforum is not the first political actor to peddle this revisionist brand of calculated recollection. In March 2017, former Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, Helen Zille celebrated colonialism and asserted how that historical injustice introduced benefits that previously disadvantaged blacks should be thankful for. She tweeted: For those claiming legacy of colonialism was ONLY negative, think of our independent judiciary, transport infrastructure, piped water. Then, despite the public outcry against this and subsequent tweets, in June 2017, she went on to say: There is a big difference between genocide and colonialism. The holocaust was a deliberate attempt to murder 11-million people. There is a difference between colonialism and a deliberate genocidal project. Historical revisionism is one of many tools that the likes of Zille and Kriel have to continue the fight to maintain white privilege. What is worrying is that their narratives find acceptance not only within South Africa but also abroad. Kriel and his associate were clearly well received in the US. White supremacy and continuing oppression But beyond whitewashing the reality we live in, these statements Apartheid in South Africa is not holocaust, Apartheid is not a crime against humanity, Colonialism is not genocide have another sinister goal. What this narrative aims to do is to dissociate South African apartheid from other crimes committed in the name of white supremacy and privilege and to whitewash them. They aim to cover up the truth that apartheid in South Africa was just one of many expressions of a worldwide race-based system of domination and privilege that to this day feeds wealth and prosperity to the selected few whites at the top. {articleGUID} It is for this same reason that Zionists (despite themselves suffering from the crimes of white supremacy) rush head over heels to claim that what is happening in Palestine is not like South Africas apartheid and that the comparison is malicious and slanderous. It is for this reason that they fear and vehemently denounce the outreach between the US movement Black Lives Matter and Palestinian activists. It is for that reason that they insist on presenting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a religious issue, which needs inter-faith dialogue. It is for this reason that they claim that it is religious extremists who are responsible for violence, that it is terrorist Hamas that is responsible for Israeli killings in Gaza. Indeed, last week, Naftali Bennett, Israels education minister, went as far as saying that unarmed protesters gathering at the fence near the border should be treated as terrorists. The rhetoric caught on. White House deputy spokesperson Raj Shah ascribed responsibility for the killings to Hamas and declared squarely that Israel has the right to defend itself from unarmed protesters. Spokespersons for various other Western governments mumbled the same accusations and called for restraint on both sides as though this is a conflict between two equals and not between an occupier and the occupied. That Israel is finding such staunch support in the Trump administration and that Afriforum thought theyd find understanding in Washington is unsurprising. Trump came to power riding on the wave of white fears that their privilege might be lost, and since then has fostered them. He has also not been shy about his own racism, making disparaging remarks about people of colour and a whole continent, and has sought to ban Muslims from entering the US. The far right and its revisionist agenda have found plenty of support from his administration. Curiously, there have also been people of colour who have joined that project and have attempted to whitewash the history of slavery. Housing Secretary Ben Carson referred to slaves as immigrants last year. This year, rapper and Trump supporter Kanye West declared that slavery was a choice. Indeed, one can see the same strategies of playing down crimes, of manipulating language, of systematically undermining established historical truths from South Africa to Palestine to the United States. In the face of this powerful and deliberate campaign to recalibrate collective and individual moralities, modify historical memory, and justify heinous crimes, we have to resist. We have to insist that our experiences of white supremacy oppression are real and they dont end with the end of slavery or the collapse of the apartheid regime. We have to make it clear that we know Gaza in 2018 is Soweto in 1976 is Selma in 1965. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. The Trump administration should not take John Boltons advice to pursue the Libya model. It simply wont work. There were worrying signs this week that the United States, not North Korea, is putting the likelihood of denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula at risk. Pyongyang has demonstrated for the first time in years a willingness to sit down for serious negotiations. Missing this chance would be a grave mistake. As Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, the US should cherish this opportunity for peace. The realistic possibility of a denuclearised Korean Peninsula is there for the taking unless US President Donald Trump wilfully ignores the clear language from Pyongyang. Unfortunately, Trumps national security adviser, John Bolton, may be a problem with his talk of unilateral denuclearisation and the Libya model. Bringing up the 2003 Libyan disarmament deal, which ended Tripolis nuclear weapons programme, and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafis eventual fate just ahead of the US-North Korea summit is dangerously insensitive and misconceived. The Trump administration has a unique opportunity to end decades of tensions on the Korean Peninsula, and it should not waste it over ill advice. Security guarantees There are sound reasons for thinking that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will agree to denuclearisation if there is a corresponding formal commitment from Washington to ensure the future security of North Korea. Nothing matters more to Pyongyang than a peace treaty, including a non-aggression pact, that would remove the threat of future military action by the US and ensure regime survival. North Koreas position was formally articulated through the office of the South Korean president on March 6. North Korea would have no reason to keep nuclear weapons, the statement said, if the military threat to the North was eliminated and its security guaranteed. This is the offer on the table, but it is not clear that those advising Trump can see it. North Korea is prepared to bargain, not capitulate. Beijing understands the significance and symbolism of a peace treaty. It has repeatedly urged the US to adopt a dual-track approach with the object of both denuclearising the peninsula and establishing a peace mechanism. If the US insists on unilateral denuclearisation by North Korea, there will be no deal. Pyongyangs offer of denuclearisation has always been conditional upon a peace treaty that will end the unfinished war and ensure security on the Korean Peninsula. Chinas Xi Jinping and South Koreas Moon Jae-in want the same. North Korea is prepared to bargain, not capitulate. It deliberately escalated its development of a nuclear and missile arsenal in 2016 and 2017 notwithstanding the known risk of economic sanctions in order to put it in the position it is now in. {articleGUID} It is delusional to expect that North Korea will agree to unilateral denuclearisation in isolation from a guarantee of its security. It is now a nuclear state, a major factor that was absent from previous negotiations that have taken place in the past. And Kim Jong-un is a millennial with a Western perspective; he is younger, smarter and better advised than his father, Kim Jong-il. The only viable path to North Korean denuclearisation is through the transformation of relations by ending the state of war, guaranteeing North Koreas security and eliminating the constant military threat to its existence. A mercurial President Trump, unshackled by almost 70 years of groupthink on the part of Washingtons military and foreign policy establishment, may be the one to do it unless he is led in the wrong direction by his advisors. History should not be repeated In July 1953, commanders of the US Army, the Korean Peoples Army and the Chinese Peoples Volunteer Army signed an armistice that ended fighting in the Korean War. It was intended to be a temporary measure to ensure the cessation of hostilities until a final peace deal was concluded. It was premised on the mutual obligation of political leaders on all sides of the conflict to negotiate a peace treaty in good faith. A year later, the Geneva conference was convened to negotiate the terms of the treaty. It was then that the US demonstrated that it had no intention of concluding such a deal. Then-Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, a staunch anti-communist, refused to shake the hand of Chinese Foreign Minister Zhou Enlai, turned his back and walked away. {articleGUID} In 1957, the US sabotaged the armistice when against the advice of the State Department, in knowing violation of the treaty terms and despite the concerns of its allies it abrogated paragraph 13(d) of the armistice treaty and introduced nuclear weapons onto the peninsula. It should be no surprise that North Koreas ambition to build a nuclear and missile arsenal dates from that time and in response to that provocation. Since then, talks have been held and have failed many times. Since Kim Jong-un became North Koreas supreme leader in early 2012, he has made official demands for a peace treaty on five separate occasions. This last one offers a solid opportunity not to repeat the mistakes of the past. The danger this time is that Washington continues to be fixated on unilateral North Korean denuclearisation without recognising the need for a quid pro quo: a genuine bargain for the formal resolution of the continuing conflict and a guarantee of North Korean security. A peace treaty should be politically acceptable, especially if it results in complete and verifiable denuclearisation. It will satisfy the long-held ambition of the Pyongyang regime and ensure security on the peninsula. It should finally bring about the dismantling of the existing military architecture of the war, including the highly fortified demilitarised zone, the outdated United Nations Command and the related Combined Forces Command. It may eventually mean the phased withdrawal from South Korea of the remaining contingent of 23,500 US troops. It should lead eventually to the return to Seoul of wartime operational control of its own vast 500,000-strong South Korean military force, to which the Pentagon has clung since 1950. The separate issue of some form of reunification of the peninsula is a distant and uncertain prospect. But if North Korea denuclearises, if security is restored to the peninsula by a formal peace treaty and the ever-present US threat is removed, the two Koreas may take their own course. The world, and Washington in particular, should let them. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Will the Lebanese group stick around in Syria, and how will it repair its image among ordinary citizens? Beirut, Lebanon Safaa Smeen sits propped between a Quran, some bright decorations and her sons grave. Of course I agreed, she says, when asked about her sons request to fight for Hezbollah in Syria, where the Lebanese political party and militia helped turn the conflicts tide in favour of the government of President Bashar al-Assad. I said that I would be happy if he went. I would be happy for him to go to protect his people, his religion and his country, said the 54-year-old, from south Beirut. Actually, I encouraged him to go. Shortly after coming back from Syria, Safaas son Ibrahim was killed in a double suicide bomb attack on the Iranian embassy in Beirut in November 2013, which left 23 people dead. He was honoured as a martyr the description Hezbollah gives to its fighters killed in battle. It was incidents like that claimed by an al-Qaeda linked group that Hezbollah used to justify its presence in Syria. The Iran-backed Shia group claimed that takfiri attacks in Lebanon by groups accusing others of irreligiosity would only increase if it did not send men across the border. We send our sons to protect us, says Safaa, in a mausoleum in southern Beirut built specially for those who fought with Hezbollah in Syria. I feel sad and cry for them [the dead]. But at the same time, I feel it is a victory for us. Syria intervention Hezbollahs intervention in Syria became public five years ago during the spring offensive for al-Qusayr, a strategic town near the border with Lebanon. However, analysts believe that Hezbollah commanders advised the Assad government from the early days of the popular uprising in 2011. The Syrian governments survival was made possible with the support of tens of thousands of Iran-backed fighters including Hezbollah on the ground, and Russian air power. Hezbollahs popularity peaked in 2006 amid growing regional anti-Israel sentiment, but its involvement in the Syrian war has angered many in the region. Still, Hezbollah has used the experience to become a military power. In March, Naim Qassem, Hezbollah deputy chief, said the group would return to Lebanon if the warring sides reached a political solution, but that it would stay in Syria as long as necessary. However, analysts believe that Hezbollah is not likely to give up its territorial gains and influence in Syria any time soon. Loyalty to Iran Strategically, Iran will not want to see Hezbollah leave Syria, they say. The party is now not only the Islamic Republics most dependable ally in the Middle East but also the defender of its supply line. Wherever Iran will have interests, Hezbollah will be and will be called to be present, said Lokman Slim, a Beirut-based analyst from Lebanons Shia community. This myth of a Syria war ending and each militia going back to its home is just delusional. According to David Daoud, a Hezbollah analyst at the Washington, DC-based United Against Nuclear Iran advocacy group, Syria is critical to Hezbollah first and foremost as its umbilical cord to Iran both militarily and ideologically. Hezbollah and the Iranians are the force on the ground; theyre in control, Daoud told Al Jazeera. Assad needs them, and he is never going to ask them to leave; and if he does, they are going to say, No, we are not, what are you going to do about it? We control your country. In March, a Farsi-language, state-linked Iranian media outlet published an article detailing a private speech given by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut. We do not fight to preserve Bashar al-Assad, but rather to protect the principle of Shiism, Nasrallah reportedly told his audience, stressing the groups loyalty to Iran. The article was later retracted, and Hezbollah denied that its chief had given a speech. Syria deployments The US government believes that the party has deployed up to 7,000 men at a time to Syria. Analysts say Hezbollah will also likely maintain advisers around Syria, particularly in the capital, Damascus. It may adopt a US-army style model with fighters carrying out tours of duty in Syria before returning to Lebanon. They will probably do as the United States does, said Daoud. They will have bases throughout Syria and send guys for a few months, replace them with another batch, and so on and so forth. It will likely concentrate that presence on the Lebanese border near the Bekaa Valley, where the group maintains training camps and weapons stores. Hezbollahs support base in Lebanon has started to believe that the party will maintain a long-term presence in Syria and that this is essential in not only fighting threats from Syria but Israel too. Hezbollah will stay in Syria, alongside its allies, to back the resistance and to put an end to Israeli violations in Syria and Lebanon, said Abbas, 23, from the Lebanese city of Baalbek where support for Hezbollah is strong. Israeli authorities have also suggested that fronts with Lebanon and Syria have merged. There is now only one front in the north composed of Lebanon, Syria, Hezbollah, the Bashar al-Assad regime and all those who help his regime, Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said last winter. Analysts say that Hezbollah will not only maintain a military presence in Syria to propagate Irans interests and protect weapons supply lines, it will likely also benefit economically from Syria. The same happened in Lebanon, where the party helped the Shia community prosper. Hezbollah has won support through creating wealth and jobs, and there is a strong economic element in its involvement in Syria the hospitals that treat the wounded, the death industry around the martyrs, Lokman Slim, a Beirut-based analyst from Lebanons Shia community, told Al Jazeera. It has even provided construction jobs for Lebanese people around cities where it has a presence in Syria. Damaged reputation While its involvement in Syria has benefitted it, both in terms of battlefield practice and regional clout, Hezbollah has still work to do to repair the damage to its reputation among ordinary Syrians. Although there are no statistics on its popularity in Syria, dozens of interviews conducted by Al Jazeera suggest that support for its intervention in the conflict has declined. Ghaith Alhallak, 33, was a sergeant in the Syrian army until 2013. He remembers serving at the main checkpoint on the Damascus-Homs motorway and answering to the Hezbollah commanders controlling it. They would order the troops to demean Sunni Muslims passing through the checkpoint, he said. I received orders from them to deal in a bad way with Sunnis, he told Al Jazeera from Italy, where he received asylum in 2016. It would be weird orders, like, Take their [ID] cards and go and have your lunch, making them wait maybe for one hour. Such views are supported by the findings of international conflict resolution organisations that have documented Hezbollahs sectarian-tinged military intervention in Syria. Once acclaimed by Arabs for struggle against a common enemy, most recently in the 2006 Lebanon war, it [Hezbollah] is widely viewed as a sectarian Shiite militia and, in parts of Syria, a ruthless occupier, found a 2017 report by International Crisis Group. Hezbollahs involvement in Syria currently appears open-ended, which will not help to heal the sectarian wounds gouged by the war. There are many types of Syrians today with many ideas about the war and Hezbollah, said Alhallak. Those people who support their presence are those who will benefit from them in a way. But I am sure that those people who lost their homes and families because of Hezbollah, they will not accept it. Back in Lebanon, Hezbollah supporters such as Safaa and Abbas claim pride in fighters killed in Syria. In reality, however, Hezbollah will find greater popular support for continued intervention in Syria when there are fewer young men coming back across the Syria-Lebanon border in coffins. The party refuses to reveal fighter death tolls, although analysts believe more than 1,200 have been killed in Syria, and graveyards across Lebanon have expanded to accommodate the dead. Additional reporting by Mahmoud Bitar Republicans from across Europe meet in London to call for an end to monarchy amid royal wedding celebrations in the UK. London, UK Republican sentiment has seemed as welcome as an unruly wedding guest in Britain in recent weeks. Still, away from the pomp and ceremony laid on for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, a group of anti-monarchists gathered to mark the occasion in their own way. Around 130 people attended the International Republican Convention on Saturday, the culmination of a four-day meeting of the Alliance of European Republican Movements in the centre of the UKs capital, London. Representatives of republican groups in Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom addressed the audience. And while the turnout was small compared with pro-royal celebrations elsewhere, the strength of feeling on display was no less impassioned. The monarchy carries on an elitism that is so unfair, said Irene Pinner, who had travelled from Dorking, just outside London, to attend the convention. They [the royal family] dont represent me. David Hurst, a former British soldier who once swore an oath of allegiance to the Queen, added of the royal system: Its just so outdated people in this country look on the Queen as a higher being. According to Republic, the group that hosted the convention and has long campaigned for an elected head of state in the UK, the convention sought to showcase the arguments for getting rid of the monarchy. We need to look past the fluff of the wedding and focus on the serious issues, Republic chief executive, Graham Smith, told Al Jazeera. The monarchy is unprincipled and undemocratic now is the time for reform. The Republic International Convention was held in central London [Erica Jenkin/Al Jazeera] Republic of Britain? Mustering widespread support for the republican cause remains an uphill task, however. Britain operates under a system of parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. While its politicians are elected, Queen Elizabeth II is its hereditary head of state. Support for an end to this system has barely risen above 20 percent at any time over the past 30 years, according to research by polling firm Ipsos Mori, while a survey commissioned by Republic and undertaken by YouGov earlier this week found that 60 percent of the British population liked the Queen. Separate YouGov data, meanwhile, shows that support for the royal family remains strong across every age demographic. Proponents of Britains monarchy say the royal family provides continuity, tradition and a neutral head of state that is above the fray of party politics. According to Alexander Shayler, senior spokesperson for the British Monarchist Society and Foundation, the royal family also brings a net financial benefit to the UK in terms of attracting tourists, trade and inward investment. A report by UK business valuation consultancy, Brand Finance, estimated the monarchy generated $1.76bn for the countrys economy in 2017. Republicans argue the royal family is a burden on UK taxpayers [Erica Jenkin/Al Jazeera] Republicans, however, question the veracity of these figures and highlight the cost to taxpayers of providing security and travel to members of the royal family, as well as for the refurbishment of properties such as Buckingham Palace. Tommy Sheppard, a Scottish National Party member of parliament and long-time republican, said that even if Britain moved to a model where a head of state was elected, the royal family could still play a role in public life. While wishing the newly married royal couple happiness together, Sheppard said the argument for people to be able to elect a head of state is really an unanswerable one, whatever the truth about the financial costs or benefits. Court of public opinion But even though there was a captive audience for these kind of arguments at Saturdays convention, convincing the wider British public of their merits still appears a long way off. At a royal wedding party at the Southbank Centre across town, hundreds gathered to watch the wedding on a big screen, waving mini Union Jack flags as the royal couple completed their vows. Maria Yoneda travelled from Newcastle, a city in the north of England, to take part in the occasion with her boyfriend, James. I think it brings people together, Yoneda said, shortly before raising a glass to the newly married couple. People like it, get together, party its nice. Nearby, Dan Fries was wearing a Prince William face mask. The royal family is part of the UK and part of being British, he said. Im proud of the royals. Less than 20 percent of the UKs population favours abolishing the monarchy, according to polling firm Ipsos Mori [Erica Jenkin/Al Jazeera] Republic chief executive, Smith, remains unperturbed. He vows to campaign relentlessly to bring an end to the monarchical system. Smith is buoyed by Republics recent YouGov survey finding that while the vast majority of respondents are content with the Queen, her son and next in line for the throne, Prince Charles, is far less popular. He also points to data showing that although 60 percent said they liked the Queen, only a third said they liked her a great deal, while 66 percent said they were not bothered about the royal wedding. Support for the monarchy is high but shallow, he argued. Most people are happy to carry on with the status quo, they dont care that much, added Smith. Its all to play for if those people can be persuaded. Until that happens, however, Britains monarchy doesnt appear to be going anywhere. The bias in Israeli media coverage of Gaza protests Many Israeli journalists rely on the military for information and access to areas where news is happening. Fear of losing that access stops reporters from challenging the militarys narrative that the protesters were trying to invade Israel. Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza is seeking a constitutional amendment allowing him to rule until 2034. An opposition coalition in Burundi has said it will not accept the results of a referendum on constitutional reforms that could extend President Pierre Nkurunzizas time in office, calling the process a parody and undemocratic. In comments made on Saturday to The Associated Press, Agathon Rwasa, head of the Amizero yAbarundi bloc, alleged that government forces had arrested perceived opponents ahead of Thursdays ballot and threatened to assassinate those who voted against amending the constitution. The referendum asked voters to decide yes or no on proposed constitutional amendments, including whether the current five-year presidential terms will be increased to seven years. No change to the limit of two terms in office is proposed. If approved, Nkurunziza, whose current term expires in two years, could run for two more terms and be in power until 2034. We will not accept the outcome of this referendum because it is a fantasy, said Rwasa, one of the few opposition leaders still in Burundi, a country plagued by a political and security crisis since 2015. Some of our members have been kidnapped, others beaten while some people were forced to vote yes and during counting our representatives were expelled. Rwasa called on Burundis Electoral Commission to redo the ballot in a free and fair manner. More than five million people registered to vote in the referendum, according to the commission, with official results expected to be announced imminently. The changes will be adopted if more than 50 percent of voters selected yes. Results published on Friday by a group of 15 public and private radio stations showed a majority yes vote in at least 14 of Burundis 18 provinces. Widespread abuse, fear and pressure Before the vote, human rights groups said the campaign period had been marked by intimidation and abuse. And after the ballot, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said at least 15 people opposing the referendum had been killed, while six others were raped and eight abducted. The full scale of abuse is likely significantly higher, HRW said on Friday, with many victims and witnesses unwilling or unable to report abuses. Ida Sawyer, HRWs central Africa director, said the vote had taken place amid widespread abuse, fear and pressure a climate that is clearly not conducive to free choice. But Willy Nyamitwe, Nkurunzizas presidential spokesman, praised the peace in which the ballot was held. I was LIVE on @AlJazeera to refute @hrw's false allegations on #Burundi. I said that some NGOs are rather embarked in a campaign of lies. Al Jazeera journalists on the ground witness the peace that prevails in the country during the Referendum period.#VoxPopuliVoxDei pic.twitter.com/kxrLhnrD1W Amb. Willy Nyamitwe (@willynyamitwe) May 18, 2018 Constitutional controversy The referendum comes three years after Nkurunziza won a controversial third term as president during a 2015 election, which was boycotted by the opposition. Nkurunziza first came to power in 2005, five years after the signing of a nationwide peace deal known as the Arusha Accords, which paved the way for the ending of a 12-year-long civil war that saw more than 300,000 people killed. According to a provision in the peace deal, no leader could serve more than two five-year terms. But in early 2015, Nkurunziza claimed it was legal for him to run in the elections because for his first term he had been appointed to the presidency by parliament as opposed to being voted in. A political crisis ensued, with the opposition calling Nkurunzizas bid unconstitutional. An attempted coup was quashed, while a crackdown on anti-government protests resulted in the killing of at least 1,200 people. More than 400,000 others, including opposition leaders, fled the country. The International Criminal Court has said it is investigating alleged state-sponsored crimes against humanity in the country. Last year, Burundi became the first country to leave the Hague-based court. As well as allowing Nkurunziza to prolong his rule, Thursdays proposed changes to Burundis constitution would also allow the revision of ethnic quotas currently protected under the accords. The new document would also scrap one of the countrys two constitutionally enshrined vice presidents and shift a number of powers away from the government to the president. Three survivors pulled from wreckage remain in critical condition as investigation into disasters cause continues. Cubas worst aviation disaster in decades has killed 110 people, including five children, the countrys transport minister confirmed. As two days of national mourning began on Saturday, Adel Yzquierdo said just three people had survived the crash, all of whom were critically injured and are receiving treatment at a hospital in Cubas capital, Havana. The Boeing 737-201, on a domestic flight to the eastern city of Holguin, crashed at 12:08pm on Friday (16:08 GMT), shortly after taking off from Havanas Jose Marti International Airport. Yzquierdo said those on board Flight 972, operated by state airline Cubana de Aviacion, included 102 Cubans, three tourists, two foreign residents and six crew members from Mexico. The 39-year-old jet with its crew had been leased to Cubana de Aviacion by a Mexican company, Global Air, also known as Aerolineas Damojh. Maite Quesada, a member of the Cuban Council of Churches, announced that 20 pastors from an evangelical church were among the dead. Argentinas foreign ministry said earlier that two of its citizens had died in the crash. The three survivors, who were pulled from the wreckage, were Cubans. One of the planes two black boxes has been recovered in good condition and handed to investigators, Yzquierdo said, with the other expected to be found in the next few hours. This was Cubas third major air accident since 2010 and its worst since 1989 when 150 people were killed after a passenger plane crashed near the capital. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel (C) said a high number of people were feared dead [Adalberto Roque/ AFP] Skies were overcast and rainy at the time of the latest disaster, and Cuban state TV said the jet veered sharply to the right after departing. The only thing we heard, when we were checking in, an explosion, the lights went out in the airport, and we looked out and saw black smoke rising, and they told us a plane had crashed, Argentine tourist Brian Horanbuena told The Associated Press news agency at the airport. Fire crews and ambulances rushed to the scene, while images posted on social media showed a thick column of smoke rising above the crash site. The plane was almost completely destroyed in the crash and subsequent fire. Investigation organised Cubana has had a generally good safety record but is notorious for delays and cancellations. In recent months, it took many of its planes out of service because of maintenance problems, prompting it to hire charter aircraft from other companies. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said a special commission had been formed to find the cause of the crash. Things have been organised, the fire has been put out, and the remains are being identified, he said, after visiting the site. Boeing has offered to assist with the investigation. Were in mourning Relatives of those on board were ushered into a private area at the terminal to await word on their loved ones. My daughter is 24, my God, shes only 24! cried Beatriz Pantoja, whose daughter Leticia was on the plane. A statement from Mexicos transportation department identified the pilot and co-pilot as Captain Jorge Luis Nunez Santos and first officer Miguel Angel Arreola Ramirez. It also said the flight attendants were Maria Daniela Rios, Abigail Hernandez Garcia and Beatriz Limon. Global Air noted maintenance worker Marco Antonio Lopez Perez was also on board. Outside the companys Mexico City offices, former Global Air flight attendant Ana Marlen Covarrubias said she had worked for the company for more than seven years and knew nearly all the crew members. I dont have the words. Im very sad. Were in mourning, she said, in tears. It was something really, really, really terrible; a tragedy for us. In November 2010, a Global Air flight originating in Mexico City made an emergency landing in Puerto Vallarta because its front landing gear did not deploy. The fire was quickly extinguished, and none of the 104 people on board was injured. That plane was a 737 first put into service in 1975. Cubas First Vice President Salvador Valdes Mesa had met Cubana officials on Thursday to discuss improvements to its service. The airline blames its spotty record on a lack of parts and aeroplanes because of the US trade embargo against the communist-run country. Last year, a Cuban military plane crashed into a hillside in the western province of Artemisa, killing eight soldiers. In 2010, an AeroCaribbean flight from Santiago to Havana went down in bad weather, killing all 68 people on board, including 28 foreigners, in what was the countrys worst air disaster in more than two decades. Outbreak, first reported in a remote rural area, has its first confirmed case in Mbandaka, a city of 1.2 million. Three new cases of Ebola have been confirmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congos (DRC) sprawling northwest, taking the number of suspected infections to 43, according to the health minister. The outbreak, previously reported in a remote rural area of the country, recorded its first confirmed cases in Mbandaka, a city of 1.2 million, as the spread of the haemorrhagic fever raised alarm. {articleGUID} Three new cases were reported (in Mbandaka) and tested positive for the Ebola virus, Health Minister Oly Ilunga said in the statement. In total, 43 cases of haemorrhagic fever have been flagged in the region of which 17 are confirmed, 21 are probable, and five are suspected cases, he said. In Geneva, the United Nationss World Health Organization (WHO) put the death toll at 25 but said 45 cases have been recorded, 14 of which have been confirmed by lab tests. WHO: No global emergency The WHO on Friday said the latest Ebola outbreak did not warrant being labelled an emergency of international concern, adding that Kinshasas response along with its own had been rapid and comprehensive. The government announced the outbreak of the deadly virus in northwestern Equateur province on May 8. In the WHOs parlance, a public health emergency of international concern is an extraordinary event in which a disease may spread across borders and requires a vigorous international response. Ebola is both lethal and highly contagious, which makes it difficult to contain, especially in urban environments where people are mobile and come into contact with others more often. It is notorious for its high fatality rate and extreme symptoms, which can include internal and external bleeding. The current outbreak, the ninth to hit the DRC since Ebola was identified in 1976, involves the same strain of the virus that struck three West African countries in 2013-2015 and sparked an international panic. It went on to kill more than 11,300 people in the deadliest ever Ebola epidemic. Hundreds of schools closed in the western Farah province as Taliban attacks continue across the country. A sense of normality appears to have slowly returned to the Afghan city of Farah after it witnessed some of the heaviest fighting in the country in months. Taliban fighters on Tuesday attacked the city, capital of the western province of the same name, and overran several security checkpoints. A battle between government forces and the fighters ensued, lasting for about 24 hours. A second Taliban assault was launched in the early hours of Thursday. Officials said the fierce fighting left at least 25 security personnel and 300 fighters dead. The numbers could not be independently verified. The citys main square was under Taliban control for hours before Afghan special forces, backed by US airpower, were able to drive the fighters out. Farah is getting back to normal, Al Jazeeras Jennifer Glasse said from the capital, Kabul on Saturday, after returning from the city, which is home to more than 50,000 people. Some shops are open, and people are gradually coming out to the streets a couple of trucks delivering supplies but the scars of what happened just four days ago are still there, she added. Residents complaints While Afghan and allied US security forces have since regained control of the city, the Taliban offensive came as a shock to the government and security forces who seemed ill-equipped to deal with the situation. Reinforcement and commandos had to be brought in, and the US air force got involved overhead assisting the Afghan air force in driving the Taliban out of the city. A delegation of high-level officials, including the ministers of interior and defence and the chief of intelligence, headed to Farah on Saturday, where they met local representatives. According to Glasse, many residents complained that officials had not heeded their warnings. People say they had warned the government that the Taliban was threatening the city, she said. They have asked for more attention from the government because they say this is such a key transit point. The ministers said they will bring all those things back to Kabul and that leaders who didnt perform will be changed. They recognise that the forces didnt do as well as they could have. Meanwhile, authorities have shut down hundreds of schools across the western province. Mohammad Sadiq Halimi, deputy head of the department of education in Farah, said 411 educational facilities had been sealed off, according to DPA news agency. The sites included 379 primary schools, 32 higher education institutes and a teacher training centre. The education ministry said on Thursday the recent closures are temporary and aimed at protecting students and school staff. They are set to re-open at the end of Ramadan, around June 12. Some 1,000 schools are closed across the country due to the ongoing conflict, according to the ministry. Afghan forces have struggled to combat the Taliban in recent years, as the fighters seized several districts across the country. The US and NATO formally concluded their combat mission at the end of 2014, but still provide support. Hundreds protest in New York City in solidarity with Palestinians after another week of bloodshed in the Gaza Strip. New York City, US Iris Tatian remembers the first time she splashed red paint on an Israeli flag. Horrified by an Israeli assault on the Jenin refugee camp in 2002, Tatian says she stitched a mini American flag on to the Israeli one and flicked red paint on both so that the flags would look drenched in blood. She says she did it to showcase Israeli brutality and US complicity. Now in her late sixties, she didnt expect to be still carrying it to Palestine protests all these years later. That was 16 years ago, and nothing has changed. I have carried this flag for years to protests, the soft-spoken Tatian told Al Jazeera during a Palestinian solidarity rally in New York City on Friday. And yes, I am tired of carrying this flag, but imagine the Palestinians. It has been 70 years for them, imagine how they must feel, she said. Tatian was one of at least 800 people who descended on Times Square on Friday to join a demonstration organised by the NY4Palestine coalition in solidarity with Palestinians after another week of bloodshed in Gaza. About 800 people participated in the rally in New York City [Azad Essa/Al Jazeera] At least 64 people were killed and a further 2,700 injured when Israeli military opened fire on Monday on tens of thousands of protesters a day before the commemoration of the Nakba, or Catastrophe, when over 700,000 Palestinians were expelled from historical Palestine in 1948. Since the Great March of Return protests began on March 30, the Israeli military has killed 113 people, including 15 children. At least 12,000 others have been injured, including 3,500 with gunshot wounds. Wholly disproportionate The carnage on Monday prompted Zeid Raad al-Hussein, the UN human rights chief, to describe Israels response to the protests in Gaza as wholly disproportionate and call for an investigation. Noura Farouq, spokesperson for the NY4Palestine coalition that organised the rally in New York City, one of several cities to host solidarity events for Palestinians over the past week told Al Jazeera they had set up the event to commemorate 70 years since the establishment of the state of Israel and the widespread expulsion of Palestinians from their homelands. It was also organised as a response to the [US President Donald] Trumps administration opening of US embassy in Jerusalem, Farouq said, referring to the relocation of Washingtons diplomatic mission from Tel Aviv, which also took place on Monday. {articleGUID} Fully kitted out with keffiyehs, large Palestinian flags, posters and placards, the crowd that assembled under the dazzling lights of Times Square roared with songs and chants in support of Palestine. A dozen speakers, community leaders, activists and academics, roused a boisterous crowd by linking the Palestinian struggle to the global fight against capitalism, racism, inequality and injustice. Shellyne Rodriguez, a teacher and artist, told Al Jazeera that she was at the rally to make sure that the Palestine issue would not be made invisible. It is outrageous that colonialism would still exist in 2018; it is long overdue that Palestine is recognised and that their struggle against apartheid is recognised, the 40-year-old from the Bronx said. Likewise, Marshall Douglas, a 67-year-old US citizen, said that Israel had to be recognised for what it was: a sadistic state. What happened earlier this week shows that Israel wants to close off any form of Palestinian expression. This is grossly unfair. It just has to be rectified, Douglas said. Protesters carried banners and posters in support of Palestinians [Al Jazeera] IfNotNow, a Jewish movement that focusses on urging Jewish Americans to withdraw support for Israels continued occupation of Palestinian territory, also held a vigil on Friday night for the Palestinians killed in Gaza. The group said in a statement that they were gathering to mourn the Palestinians killed by the Israeli army and make it clear that the future of the Jewish community rejects Israels horrific, deadly violence and the further entrenchment of the Occupation. While outrage and demands for accountability over the killings in Gaza continued to grow, there were others who came out to show support for Israel, describing the killings as self-defence. Small counter rally Across the picket line from Fridays rally in solidarity with the Palestinians on 42nd Street and Broadway, about 20 people held a counter-rally in support of Israel. Some protesters screamed expletives at the Palestinian supporters, calling the diverse crowd Hamas sympathisers and anti-Semites. Others screamed Jerusalem is Jewish, F*** Palestine and All of you under the shoe. Elise Nahum, 47, who described herself as a Puerto Rican Jew, claimed that most at the Palestinian rally were paid to be there. Its always the same people who come to protest against Israel, she told Al Jazeera. And look, we are not looking for trouble. Trump kept his promise to move the embassy and did it. We want to live in peace, and there are Arabs and Israelis who live in peace in Israel. These [here] are just troublemakers, Nahum said. Another protester, Ariel Kohane, 47, holding a Jews for Trump poster, said that these supporters of Palestine were simply against peace. Israeli soldiers bend over backwards not to hurt anyone. Only as a last resort do Israeli soldiers open fire on Palestinians, Nahrum Kohane told Al Jazeera. Responding to such claims, Douglas shook his head and said that excuses for Israeli soldiers violent actions were wearing thin. They arent allowed to fight, they arent allowed to protest peacefully even if they throw Molotov cocktails, everyone knows it is mostly symbolic; these dont hurt or impact anyone, Douglas says. Looking on at the handful of pro-Israel hecklers trying to disrupt the Palestinian rally, Iris Tatian, clutching her bloody Israeli flag tightly, says that she feels pity for protesters across the road, on the wrong side of history. They are uninformed and therefore fearful. They have been sold the Israeli narrative of victimhood. And in the end, they are just doing what was done to them, Tatian says. Follow Azad Essa on Twitter: @AzadEssa Gaza violence: Iranian scholars demand justice This Friday, Iranians dedicated their protests and their prayers to the people of Palestine. Iraq election: Al-Abadi will have to negotiate his future The incumbent prime minister did not win the majority he was expecting to in Iraqs election, trailing behind Muqtada al-Sadrs Sairoon Alliance and Hadi al-Amiris Fatah. What is Beneath N. Oregon Coast's Seaside? Trippy Geologic Answer Published 05/18/2018 at 5:25 AM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Seaside, Oregon) Have you ever looked around the north Oregon coast town of Seaside and wondered: what on Earth is beneath you? What is under all that sand? The answer is a little mind-boggling, especially when compared to other beaches along the Oregon coast. Theres a lot. All that sand goes really, really deep before theres anything solid. Tom Horning, the famed geologist every coastal tourism official loves to have around, provided the trippy answer. Theres about 150 feet of sand before you get to solid Earth. Contrast that with Cannon Beach, Horning said, where the sand is only about three feet above the hard rock surface. Other spots around the Oregon coast can show their bedrock fairly often albeit briefly when winter storms scour out sand levels. They pop up at Newport, Pacific City and even parts of Lincoln City at times. At Seaside, however, youll never get to see bedrock. Horning said there are dunes rising up just above sea level. After that things get really down and dirty. Literally. Then beach sands for 20 feet, then silty offshore sands down several dozen more feet, Horning said. Depending on where you are, these young sediments go down to nearly 100 feet below sea level. If you want to see what Seaside looks like underneath, head to Cannon Beach. He pointed to bedrock and cliffs with layers stretching across that tell all sorts of geologic tales, even providing this picture. The end of the Ice Age meant a huge rise in sea levels around here, where the beaches were probably a few miles west from where they are now. Then, somewhere after 10,000 years ago, the ice melted and the seas rose, swallowing up old formations and random stuff they left behind, like gravel from creeks. Probably, those sediments at 125 below sea level include creek gravels laid down in streams before rising sea level flooded the coastal plain in this area, roughly 7000 years ago, Horning said. Under all these young sediments, it is good old mudstone of the Astoria Formation, what makes up the hills around Cannon Beach. Horning provided a graphic spotlighting the Gearhart area, but its largely the same as Seaside. In it, you see layers of plants, fossils and crumbled bits of basalt. The Astoria Formation is like the ground floor of most Oregon coast beaches. Not like most of the headlands such as Tillamook Head or Neahkahnie, which are made of basalt (former lava flows), the Astoria Formation is softer. Sometime around 18 million years ago or so, a massive area along what would eventually become the northwest United States had already been carved out by various kinds of erosion. About then, it started filling back up with other rock debris, primarily sandstone and similar materials. It was all underwater or around the tideline, and it formed a layer of sandstone and mudstone that was eventually named the Astoria Formation, running from the central Oregon coast up to the north coast. It's part of a massive underlying structure. This is softer stuff and gray, not black like basalt. It was actually a kind of fill-in mish mash of a variety of materials, much of it coming from eroded basalt from around Oregon, including the Gorge and other sources. Thats what youre walking when you see bedrock during the winter at Hug Point or Arch Cape. Its the same stuff lying 150 feet below Seaside. Lots of fossils are embedded in these mudstones and sandstones, which can be seen at Hug Point and especially Newports Moolack Beach in winter. When sand levels drop like this, it makes you a kind of time traveler. Seaside Hotels in these areas - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted OIC Palestine pledge calls for international protection The pledge was issued during the extraordinary summit called in Istanbul on Friday. Sabika Sheikh, 17, was among at least 10 schoolchildren killed when a gunman opened fire at the Sante Fe High School. Islamabad, Pakistan Sabika Sheikh, a 17-year-old Pakistani student on a foreign exchange programme in the United States, was among those killed in the Sante Fe school shooting, her family and the programme have confirmed. Sheikh was among at least 10 schoolchildren killed when a gunman opened fire at the Sante Fe High School, about 50km southeast of Houston, on Friday morning. A 17-year-old boy, identified by police as Dimitrios Pagourtzis, has been taken into custody following the attack, the 22nd school shooting in the US this year. Sheikh, 17, hailed from the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, a sprawling metropolis of more than 18 million people that is the largest city in the country. She was extraordinary, genius, and talented, Abdul Aziz, her father, told reporters at their home in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal neighbourhood. My daughter never came fourth [in class] only ever first, second or third. At such a young age she would say such huge things, that sometimes I couldnt believe it. Even now I cannot believe that my daughter is gone, he said, his voice breaking with emotion. Abdul Aziz said he attempted to call his daughter immediately after hearing news of the shooting, but she did not pick up her mobile phone. I called [the foreign exchange programmes] coordinator there, I spoke to them, and they told me [] about three hours later, at 11pm [18:00 GMT, about five hours after the shooting], they confirmed that she was dead. Bridge between cultures Sheikh was visiting the US under the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) programme, a State Department-funded programme that provides scholarships to Pakistani students to attend high school in the US for a full academic year. Students live with host families in the city they are placed in and are immersed in academic and cultural programmes. Sabika Sheikh was visiting the US under a State Department-funded programme that provides scholarships to Pakistani students [Twitter] Since 2003, more than 1,100 Pakistani high school students have studied in the US under the YES programme, according to the organisations website. Megan Lysaght, manager of YES, wrote to students in the programme confirming that Sheikh was killed in the shooting. It is with the greatest sadness in my heart that I need to inform you that one of our YES students, Sabika Sheikh from Pakistan, was killed today in the school shooting in Sante Fe, Texas, she wrote in an email. Please know that the YES program is devastated by this loss and we will remember Sabika and her families in our thoughts and prayers. David Hale, US ambassador to Pakistan, said embassy staff were devastated by the news, and called Sheikhs family to express condolences. As an exchange student, Sabika was a youth ambassador, a bridge between our peoples and cultures. All of us at the US Mission in Pakistan are devastated by and mourn her loss. We will honor her memory, he said, according to a statement. Venezuelans are heading to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president and representatives for the state councils. Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro won a new six-year term on Sunday, the election board announced in what is being seen as a controversial vote. The turnout at the Venezuelan presidential election amounted at 46.01 percent the official date revealed. The elections were initially scheduled for December, then changed to April 22, then delayed again to May 2018. This electoral process has been heavily criticised by the opposition and the international community, who have said they will not recognise it. Here is what we know: What is the country voting for? Venezuela will hold its presidential elections on May 20, but the country will also vote to choose the members of state and municipal legislative councils. Just over 20 million citizens can vote in the presidential election, and a total of 19 million can choose their representatives in the state legislative councils. Only Venezuelans living overseas and in Caracas can participate in the presidential elections. Who is running for president? Four candidates are running for president. But the two main players are Nicolas Maduro and opposition candidate Henri Falcon. The main opposition coalition has decided to boycott the elections. Nicolas Maduro Nicolas Maduro, 55, has been Venezuelas president since former President Hugo Chavez died in 2013. Under Chavez, the country turned towards socialism. Maduro continued many of the Chavez policies and during his campaign has promised to create a new economy in the country. Maduro stated he had followed Chavezs legacy, adding: I will dedicate my life to fixing the economy of this country. My spirit is renewed, my energy recharged. Henri Falcon Falcon is Maduros primary opponent and was once a Chavez supporter. A lawyer and former governor of Lara State, he broke with the ruling party in 2010, and in 2013 was the campaign chief for opposition candidate Henrique Capriles. In 2018, he decided to break with the opposition and run as an independent candidate. In an op-ed written for the New York Times, Falcon said he decided on the break because electoral boycotts almost never work. In country after country, opposition forces that abandoned the field of electoral competition have lost ground and allowed rulers to consolidate power. Among his proposals are the use of the US dollar as a currency instead of the Bolivar to try to stabilise the economy. He also said he would accept foreign aid to Venezuela and would consider working with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Javier Bertucci Bertucci is an evangelical pastor who announced his candidacy on February 18, 2018. He calls himself an independent candidate with no political history. Bertucci has said he would eliminate exchange controls and attempt to increase foreign investment. He also said he would not eliminate the social programmes initiated by Chavez Bolivarian Revolution. Reinaldo Quijada: Quijada is an electrical engineer who follows the Chavista movement; he announced his candidacy on April 22. The engineer defends Bolivarian Revolution but does not support Maduros government. If he wins, Quijada claims he will continue the revolutionary process started by Chavez in Venezuela. Translation: This is a mock-up of the election card for May 20. Ten spots support Maduro vs seven others supporting other candidates from other parties. Note: Maduro is not wearing red in his clothing. Este es un modelo (no valido) de tarjeton de la eleccion del proximo 20 de mayo. 10 tarjetas apoyan a Maduro en la reeleccion vs. 7 a candidatos de otras corrientes. Detalle: Maduro prescindio del rojo en su vestimenta pic.twitter.com/Yt8zgm7p5t Dayimar Ayala Altuve (@Dayidayi) April 29, 2018 What is the opposition boycotting? The Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), a coalition of parties that in recent years worked together and represented the opposition against Chavez and Maduro, declared it would boycott the election. But the coalition faced internal division between those who think that taking part in this election would legitimise Maduros rule and those who believe that participation is an opportunity for change. In a statement, the MUD said the election was premature and lacked proper conditions, and called it a show by the government to give an impression of legitimacy that it does not have in the midst of Venezuelans agony and suffering. Most of the candidates who might have run against Maduro have been barred from running, including Henrique Capriles and Leopoldo Lopez. Capriles was banned from holding office for 15 years due to administrative irregularities, and Lopez is facing house arrest. Henri Falcon broke with the MUD and decided to run against Maduro. You will disappear as politicians and as parties for not understanding the dynamics of a country that demands solutions and not conflict, Falcon told the MUD. What is the government saying? Maduro says Venezuelas electoral system is clean and accuses the US of leading a right-wing international conspiracy to end socialism and take over his nations oil. Im ready for the battle, ready to make history, Maduro said. Who is it who gets to elect the president of Venezuela? A military coup? The government of Colombia? . Donald Trump? Maduro said during Thursdays event in Caracas. The government has support across different sectors; according to various estimates, about a quarter of eligible voters continue to support Maduros political ideology and policies. I dont think the opposition parties are offering a real alternative to bring change, Zumira Cardozo, a government supporter, told Al Jazeera. We reached to this point, due to the economic war they have imposed against the government, she added. The only actor that must recognise the elections is the Venezuelan people, and the only institution that has the faculties to give results and legitimise the process is the National Electoral Council of Venezuela, the Ministry of Peoples Power for Communication and Information wrote. Key issues Economy: The central issue the country is facing is the economic crisis, with current inflation and long queues for food and medicines. The cost of living and lack of basic goods has led to street protests in recent years. The IMF expects the economy to shrink by 15 percent in 2018, and also expects unemployment to rise to 36 percent by 2022. Hyperinflation, along with a $70bn bond default means that basic food and medicine can not be imported. The military has been put in charge of food distribution, and the government is running out of cash. Oil industry: Venezuela has the worlds largest oil reserves, but domestic sector is currently failing to meet local needs. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) says oil production is down to a 30-year low of around 1.4mn barrels a day. Insufficient investments, US sanctions, and the plunge in global oil prices have hammered the oil industry. In the private sector, US energy company ConocoPhillips has seized assets belonging to the Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA over a $2bn dispute over unpaid debts. Leaving the country: Many citizens are choosing to leave the country. Roughly 550,000 Venezuelans left for Colombia at the end of 2017, according to migration authorities. What is the international community saying? Turkey, Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua and Russia have voiced their support for this process. The Lima Group which brings together 12 nations mostly from Latin America expressed its strongest rejection and stated that this process will lack all legitimacy and credibility. On February 23, the Organization of American States (OAS) approved a resolution that called on the Venezuelan government to cancel the presidential elections. The European Parliament also said in February that it would not recognise the election unless several conditions are met, such as the release of political prisoners. May 21 Citizens are expected to know the results by Monday, May 21. Venezuela elections: Maduro bans rivals Venezuelans will head to the polls against a backdrop of a worsening economic, social and healthcare situation. Kashmiris react with disbelief to Modis speech, saying India is failing to solve the regions serious political issue. Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said development is the only solution to Indian-administered Kashmirs problems, as separatist leaders called for a strike to protest against his day-long visit to the region. Modi opted for a soft tone on Saturday as he addressed a group of officials, politicians and media in a highly-guarded venue in the restive regions main city of Srinagar. I want everybody to invest energy only in the development of Jammu and Kashmir, he said. All problems, all differences have only one solution development, development and development. Authorities imposed a curfew in most parts of Srinagar including the closure of schools and colleges ahead of Modis visit. The measures came as separatist leaders called for a rally in Srinagars commercial hub and a complete shutdown to protest against the prime ministers visit. Kashmir, which remains a long-pending dispute between India and Pakistan, has been grappling with a surge in violence. In recent years, anti-India street protests attended by many young people have become frequent, as have gun battles between fighters and security forces particularly in the southern parts of the region. Modi said there is no substitute for peace and stability, urging the youth to return to the mainstream. The mainstream is their parents and family; the mainstream is their contribution to the development of Jammu and Kashmir, he said. Every stone thrown by the misguided youth destabilises the Kashmir. On Friday, India and Pakistan said eight civilians and a soldier were killed in cross-border shelling. End the deadlock On Wednesday, in a departure from their tough stance, the BJP-led (Bhartiya Janta Party) government announced a unilateral ceasefire and ordered security forces in Kashmir not to launch any operation during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. While backing the ceasefire, Modi repeated a line used during his Independence Day speech last year, saying that the problems in the region cannot be solved with bullets and abuses but by embracing Kashmiris. But analysts in the region were not convinced. These speeches have been heard by people in the past too, Noor Ahmad Baba, a Kashmir-based political scientist based, told Al Jazeera. Calling development secondary, Baba said Modi ignored the political aspect of the issue. Something more needs to be done, he added. The gun is not the solution Rivals India and Pakistan each administer part of Kashmir, but both claim it in its entirety. Rebels have been fighting Indian rule since 1989, demanding that the Indian-administered part of Kashmir is united either with Pakistan or be free as an independent country. Anti-India sentiment runs deep among the Muslim-majority Kashmiris who openly support the cause of rebels against India. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training the rebels, a charge Pakistan denies. Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the two-decade conflict. During his visit, Modi also marked the beginning of work on the construction of a 14km-long tunnel between the cities of Srinagar, Kargil and Leh, as well as a semi-ring road project in Srinagar. He also laid the foundation for the controversial 330-MV Kishenganga hydroelectric power project, which continues to be a point of contention between India and Pakistan. But for Muhammad Ashraf, a 39-year-old Kashmiri resident, such temporary measures failed to address the regions serious political problem. Even India has realised now that the gun is not a solution, but they cannot also solve the dispute with development, he told Al Jazeera. It is better to hold a dialogue with Pakistan. The ceasefire, if successful, will end in a month, then again there will be killings. The ability of Big Brother (or the Deep State, or whatever other appellation best fits your political viewpoint) to spy on every single American citizen by recording our every digital move is a new and dangerous phenomenon, unlike any other we have encountered before. If our government not just the current administration, but any future one as well starts scheming about ways to impose increased control on society, it will need to pressure Facebook into playing along, willingly or (most likely) not. The threat posed by the nexus of emerging new technologies (such as those employed by Facebook) and the goals of overreaching government, seeking to mold its citizenry into some desired image, is the greatest it has ever been and grows rapidly. So what would such a government want to see from Facebook? "Playing along" would inevitably lead to Facebook effectively cooperating with the government on every level, perhaps even Facebook being fused, in some way, into the government structures. Controlling the mass media would not be enough; the same strictures would have to be imposed on social media as well. Was calling Mark Zuckerberg before a Senate committee an effort to ensure his full cooperation in making his company amenable to the state's perceived needs? It may well be better for him in the long run to become part of the system of controls than to resist government incursions and harassment. This scenario is not merely the creation of an academic exercise. Our governmental bureaucracy has been growing increasingly out of control over the past few decades, grasping ever more deeply at most aspects of our social interactions. The government has decided that it knows better than the rest of us what we should think on various social issues, what politically correct language we should use, what views we should have of different racial or religious groups (for example: Muslims are nice and peaceful, white males are suspect, American patriots are the neo-Nazis, Israel is an apartheid state, and most Christians are bigoted). The overreaching government has exerted ever growing control over public school curricula, and it even tells us what we should eat (NYC has banned sodas over 16 ounces). Some of these government initiatives are well meaning, like forcing restaurants to post calorie counts of meals, but teaching students what to think instead of how to think is a scary tendency. In medical services, the government is already playing a major role and wants to expand it into single-payer, total government control. The U.K. case of medical bureaucratic euthanasia of little Alfie Evans sends chills down one's spine. All this amounts to ever growing intrusion into our private lives. Centralized control over all financial activity has reached the point where there is talk of abandoning cash for all-electronic transactions, the better to flesh out the state's dossiers on all of us. Various security measures allow eavesdropping on our telephone conversations, monitoring our internet access, and taking photos of us in public places. Moreover, there are many who want the government to be the exclusive possessor of all kinds of firearms, so that we, the people, no longer even think about defending our rights and freedoms. Where does all this lead us? In the direction of a Big Brother state, as harrowingly depicted by George Orwell in 1984, a socialist pseudo-utopia where the government routinely rewrites history to serve its current needs. In other words, to the creation of a system of complete enslavement of all citizens, by controlling their minds through mass media. At its extreme, such a despotic system of government will subject every aspect of our lives to inspection and manipulation. A terrifying possibility. As the old saw tells us, money is the mother's milk of politics and always has been. But our liberty and our privacy were never as seriously threatened by mere money as they are now by the new technologies that can control the "news" we receive (fake news included), that shape and manipulate our actions and views. Money was and is used to buy politicians' loyalty and support; however, the new technologies are used to control us directly. Money was always the force behind the evil created by the government, but it did not create the conditions for Big Brother government. It is the emergence of new technologies that endangers the free society. The society must counter them by legal and political means, to retain control of the government rather than ceding that control to the Deep State. Money was created as a vehicle to grease the wheels of commerce, a way to transact business without having to trade two swords for a horse. And money provided an accurate method of valuing disparate objects: a pair of shoes is worth three chickens, but you no longer need the chickens to acquire the shoes. Or a night in a motel is equivalent to seven ceramic building tiles, or 23 forks. Money's only purpose is to facilitate free trade. But in a Big Brother state, free trade will wither and die, eliminating the need for money. The centralized machinery of the Big Brother state will distribute all goods, according to a centrally run ledger. Everybody will receive goods in quantities deemed fair and proper by the bureaucrats, and the recipients will have no say in the matter. So we might see a family of four allotted three towels and six bars of soap each year; one loaf of bread a week; and a two-bedroom, one-bath apartment. No need to determine the price of the soap or the apartment; these items, like all others, will be assigned by Big Brother. Money may be eliminated from politics, but that does nothing to save us from the disaster that is a Big Brother state. Many of these observations arise from my personal experience. I grew up in socialist Poland in the 1950s and 1960s. I have lived through the preliminary stages of the Big Brother. Never again, please. Graphic via Flickr. Despite easing down, sporadic protests have been ongoing across Iran and have been widely energized by words and support from President Donald Trump and the hope for more substantial support. Despite its vast oil and gas resources, the Iranian economy is in shambles. More than three decades of rule by the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) has not only failed to achieve the security and well-being of its people, it has ensnared the nation in a stifling theocracy where the rights of the governed are routinely violated for the benefit of the governing. The revolution of 1979 that brought down Mohammad Reza Shah in the hope of instituting a democratic government was quickly usurped by a religious autocracy. For the past 40 years, the Islamic Republics response to the legitimate peaceful protests and demands of the people has been an iron fist in the form of heartless beatings of the demonstrators -- both men and women -- there have been arrests, torture, and rape of some in secretive compounds, and even shooting the unarmed in the streets, a standard stock of dictatorships, yet the surest way of swelling and solidifying the ranks of the dissenters. The time has arrived to end the Mullahs reign of terror. Unfortunately, both the New York Times and the Washington Post who have offices in Tehran, and other liberal news media are not reporting accurate stories from inside Iran. Millions of Iranians from all walks of life are gearing up to end this horrific nightmare. President Donald Trump has a historic mission to redeem a flawed policy followed by his predecessor, President Obama. In 2009, people in the streets of Tehran were chanting Obama are you with us or with them? Regrettably, President Obama stayed with the mullahs, which emboldened them to massacre the protesters. The internal dynamics within Iranian society has drastically altered. Iranians no longer fear the brutal Mullahs and demand regime change. These protests have become mainstream. Even students from an elementary school in a remote village dare to say: Death to Khamenei. These Islamic rulers are aware they are slowly losing complete legitimacy (if they ever had any legitimacy at all), and will be toppled, in a violent confrontation with similarly sized demonstrations. There may be a handful of regime officials who are struggling for reform, but the entire Islamic regime is aware of the looming threat from their citizenry. The mullahs regime still exists because the U.S. and its allies have failed to pursue a workable strategy to end it. It is, at best, appeasement to make deals with the sworn enemy of the United States of America. How clearly and how often do the mullahs have to proclaim their irreconcilable and irreversible hostility toward the U.S. and Israel? These mullahs believe their own delusions of grandeur. They think that they can win their brinkmanship and they do firmly believe that they will outsmart America and rest of the world, and will have their way. In the process, they are more than willing to do whatever services their objective, by any and all devious means. Dealing with the mullahs brings to mind the "peace in our time" that Neville Chamberlain brought to England by his deal-making with the Fuhrer. Except that this time the stakes can be much higher and deadlier. I am personally opposed to any military action in Iran. So, that's out. Let us be reminded that we have invaluable allies on the ground in Iran. There are some 50 million Iranians who are the best hope of the world in that part of the world. These enlightened Iranians despise the Mullahs and have no animosity toward Israel or the United States. Most of these people are well-educated and smart and have broken away from the slavery and fraud of Islamism. They are in the best position to send the Mullahs packing for good. Instead of throwing a lifeline to the sinking ship of the Mullacracy, we must act resolutely in doing everything non-violent to help them defeat the Mullahs. It is our best bet. The only viable approach is not half-hearted but a full court press of restrictive economic measures against the Islamic rulers. Unfortunately, it would make the Iranian people, particularly those outside the ruling apparatus, suffer hugely. Yet, a temporary hurt of this nature is the price that people are willing to pay to get rid of this scourge that is the IRI. And by full measure, I mean just that -- a complete, unyielding crippling of the oil industry and all banking operations. Severe shutdown of the Persian Gulf States backdoor for the mullah's transactions with the world. Entice China for full cooperation. Even bribe Putin to join in. A Herculean task. The best strategy that stands the greatest chance of success and entails the least risk of starting a cataclysmic chain reaction is for a coalition of the willing, to borrow a phrase, to rally behind the Iranian opposition. It is the democracy-seeking secular Iranians who are thoroughly capable of dislodging the tyrannical Mullahs. The call of the opposition should be resoundingly answered by President Trump and all other nations and leaders, not only for humanitarian reasons, but in furtherance of their own national interests. But, once the regime falls, it would be the greatest thing since the fall of Soviet communism. It would subvert virulent Islamism by creating a truly democratic secular strong nation allied with Israel in the heart of the Islamic Umma (Muslim world). It would be an answered prayer both for the world and for Iranians. How many Iranians would leave Islam? Millions have already left, in fact, Christianity is the fastest growing religion in Iran. We hope our insightful administration sees the handwriting on the wall and takes drastic action. The ripple effect throughout the entire Middle East would be monumental. In a nutshell, Islamic terrorism would eventually cease to exist. While much of the world's attention is on the fairy-tale story of the latest British royal wedding, out on the other side of the Earth, the Chinese have been up to creating problems, throwing out a new challenge to the status quo, sending in the bombers to the disputed Paracel Islands out on the South China Sea. According to the BBC: China has for the first time landed bombers on disputed territory in the South China Sea, its air force said, prompting fresh US warnings that it is destabilising the region. The long-range H-6K bomber was among those which took part in drills on islands and reefs to improve China's ability to "reach all territory". The sea, a key trade route, is subject to overlapping claims by six countries. China has been accused of militarising the sea to support its vast claims. The latest move could provoke new tension in the region. What this shows is that China's claims about being interested only in "peaceful" purposes for its South China Sea grab are increasingly hollow, and the stepped up pace of the activity signals an accelerating pace toward warfare. It's good reason to be concerned. What is this about? Global power. A few decades ago, China didn't even want these islands, but it changed its mind as it studied up on American power, according to the reporting of Robert D. Kaplan, who is the master at recognizing the outlines of this geopolitics. In doing this, they learned that the entire linchpin of U.S. global influence has always been in its Great White Fleet, and that U.S. naval influence, centered on keeping sea lanes open on the Pacific Rim, is what has enabled East Asia to rise in just one generation from the begging bowl nations it was to the sleek economic superpower it has collectively become. Image credit: Holger Behr via Wikimedia Commons, public domain. What a miserable spectacle it is to see China trying to take all of that away with these bomber runs and island grabs, in the interest of forcing them all back into their begging bowl status this time with China as the colonial master. Take a gander at how China treats its vassal states, in hock to its loans, in the piece I wrote here. The recent news suggests that the Trump administration has put the Chinese on the run. Maybe so, but it doesn't look like it with this new move to grab real estate and power. Business Insider even claims that China has chased the U.S. out, which seems to be a gleeful exaggeration. But there isn't much good news I can glean from this. Hasn't the U.S. upped its naval capacity in budget increases, the ones President Trump signed under protest? Answer: Not much. The budget boosts for the Navy, at 7%, are for new ships that are mostly backloaded, scheduled for years to come, not right now, when we need them. Does China maybe have a crummy military budget compared to the U.S., the way most countries, even adversaries, do? Nope. China's defense budget is $173.4 billion (which would include all its armed forces), with $139 billion going to its naval buildup. The U.S.'s is $597 billion, with its naval component at $194.1 billion. Too close for comfort, because the U.S. naval component has to cover the entire Earth, not just the sea lanes on the Pacific. China's, by contrast, covers just the Pacific. Next year, the U.S. budget will rise to $716 billion. But China is also rapidly developing bases in far-flung corners to increase its global footprint. Maybe China has bad technology that is dwarfed by ours? Couldn't find anything very good on that, either. Jane's reports that China's tech has a lot of indigenous development, given that the country was shut out of Western tech in the 1990s. The Chinese steal a lot through their spies, too, and are masters at reverse-engineering, so there is trouble there as well. How about China's military quality? Don't the Chinese just hire peasants by the bushel to keep them from running around without jobs and revolting? No, they have done quite a bit to lay off their cannon fodder and professionalize their military. It's been in the news. The only thing left, then, is leadership. President Trump has appointed an impressive new four-star admiral, Phil Davidson, who has a specialty in anti-submarine warfare, to lead the Pacific Command, the U.S. Navy's most important one, and we can be sure he's aware of the challenges ahead. As an auxiliary element of support, it would help a lot if President Trump rejoined the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement with our wonderful Asian allies that excludes China and is meant to strengthen regional resolve as China flexes its muscles. President Trump has made many moves in this direction, and it's important that he keep doing this. Most populist Americans, unfortunately, do not understand the underlying source of American power. It's important for Trump himself to educate them, because right now, the odds are starting to look as though China is an even match for us. In 21st-century America, if a woman complains about a man in a Denny's women's restroom, who gets the blame: the man or the woman? Unfortunately, we all know the answer: A Republican congressional candidate harassed a transgender woman [sic] at a Denny's restaurant in California and proudly live-streamed the whole thing. This article is so filled with Orwellian doublethink that I will have to translate line by line. First of all, "transgender woman" refers to a man disguised as a woman. According to liberals, men can pretend to be women and yet can't quite call themselves women, but they can call themselves "transgender women," which is supposed to be the same as women, only different. Are you following? When the disguised man entered the bathroom, a woman already there felt threatened. In this age of sensitivity to sexual harassment, the presence of disguised men in women's bathrooms doesn't count as harassment. Jazmina Saavedra, who is running to represent California's 44th District, recorded herself confronting a transgender woman [disguised man] for using the women's restroom and posted it on Facebook Tuesday. "She wasn't a lady, she was a man. I heard his voice. I came with my camera, on my phone, to ask him why he was in the women's restroom," she said. In her video, Saavedra is shown attempting to use the restroom when she realized there was a transgender woman [disguised man] in the stall. She said that it was an "invasion of privacy" that a trans woman [disguised man] was using the restroom. She said: "Anyone can say he feels as a woman and go into the restroom and attack a woman. Why should I feel insecure because these people have a problem with their identity?" Denny's Corporation said transgender customers and staffers are allowed to use the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity. "Gender identity" is a made-up term, which means whatever people want it to. It has nothing to do with actual gender, now called "birth gender" by liberals, as if it is something that changes over time. The company clarified that the transgender guest was asked to leave because a employee "observed drug paraphernalia on the floor near the guest" not because she [sic] was using the women's restroom. In other words, Denny's has no problem with disguised men in women's bathrooms. The only problem was the drugs. Frankly, I'm surprised the disguised man was even accused of having drugs. Couldn't he have simply redefined the drugs as something else, like "Transobject Candy"? Because if gender can be redefined to mean anything, so can anything else. If it's okay for men to unilaterally redefine themselves as women, how long before some men redefine the unwanted touching of women's bodies as "friendly greetings"? If perpetrators gets to redefine reality, that's what it will come to. It's curious how the feminist movement has a blind eye for this. For now, we live in a country where perverts who want to do drugs in women's bathrooms are heroes, and women who object are "harassers." The next time you enjoy fine dining at Denny's, bring your pepper spray, just in case. Ed Straker is the senior writer at Newsmachete.com. Leadership made an offer to the Freedom Caucus that they could pick any date they wanted in June for a floor vote on a hard-line immigration bill crafted by Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), according to a source familiar with the discussion. In the end it, it wasnt enough. Meadows said his members needed more of a commitment from leadership on the Goodlatte bill. It was not fully clear, Meadows said of the offer from leadership. Leadership expressed disappointment after the vote, as did President Trump. "President Donald J. Trump is disappointed in the result of todays vote in the House of Representatives on the Farm bill, and hopes the House can resolve any remaining issues in order to achieve strong work requirements and support our Nations agricultural community," said White House deputy press secretary Lindsay Walters. The White House vowed to "continue to work with Congress to pass a farm bill on time." "Look, the farm bill got sidetracked by the immigration debate, just like America is getting sidetracked for the immigration debate," said McHenry, who took a shot at the Republicans who voted against the bill. Pity French president Emmanuel Macron. When he returned to France from his visit to Washington, he caught holy hell. The French are irate not only that their president came home empty-handed on matters like the Obama-Iran nuclear deal, the Paris Climate Accord, and the steel and aluminum tariffs, but also for the warm embrace he gave to Donald Trump. This latter point seems to have ticked the French more than anything else. Here's a sampling of the French reaction to President Macron's bromance with Donald Trump. Leftist French lawmaker Clementine Autain said, "France should bang its fist of the table rather than courting Donald Trump." What would that accomplish other than perhaps providing some comic relief at the Trump-Macron meeting? But then again, maybe the woman has point. I have a cat who is a stone-cold killer when it comes to rodents. One day, he cornered a field mouse out in the backyard. The cat's head was about a foot away from the mouse, and he was ready to move in for the kill. Suddenly, the little mouse reared up on its haunches and squeaked at Tiger. To my surprise, the cat cocked his head in utter amazement and soon ambled away, leaving the mouse unscratched. So maybe sometimes it does pay for a mouse to roar. Another lawmaker, center-right Daniel Fasquelle, said, "France prostituted itself before the U.S.," while Patrick Cassan, a civil "servant," said Macron served as Mr. Trump's dishrag. J.C. Icart, a French intellectual, was quoted as saying Macron's demeanor before Trump was a sign of "vassalage." Well, if France and Germany want to formulate their own foreign policy and not be thought of as vassals, then they can begin by providing for their own defense. One of the quotes most insightful to French thinking comes from a Macron supporter in Parliament. Herve Berville defended his president's tactile (hugging, backslapping, hand-holding, and dandruff removal) approach to Donald Trump by claiming the French president would not have gotten anywhere deploying the kind of strategy reason and logic that might have worked on President Obama. So, in this man's mind, Macron had to use an emotional strategy. Berville concluded his assessment by adding "with irrationality, you can deploy physical contact, touching." There you have it. To the French and Europe in general for a U.S. president to put American interests first is an indication of irrationality. Au contraire. Trump is not irrational. Rather, his actions are further proof that past U.S. presidents, both Democrat and Republican, have too often neglected their country's own national interest for the sake of comity with our trans-Atlantic friends. In doing so, they have spoiled the Europeans in the areas of trade and defense and have allowed European pretensions of grandeur grow to unreasonable limits. The reorientation process that President Trump has initiated may be uncomfortable for Europe, but it is necessary. This reality is sinking in. Emmanuel Macron gave a speech last week in Aachen, Germany, assessing his visit to Washington. There, he called for a more muscular Europe, one that can presumably stand up to the big boys in international affairs. For that to happen, however, several obstacles stand in the way, the greatest being that the European Union is apt to fragment before it can be further unified and muscled up. A lot of us are asking how President Trump's personal lawyer's attorney-client records got into the hands of a sleazy porn star's lawyer named Michael Avenatti, who then blew the records all over the press for his own political gain. It was reminiscent of the sort of stunts Larry Flynt used to pull with his calls to pay for confidential information to embarrass political opponents, except it seemed even creepier. Here we saw the Washington leak game taken to new lows, raising questions for the rest of us about whether anyone's attorney-client records were ever safe. What's more, as with most of these Washington power games, the leakers would get away with it meaning that it would always be de facto "legal" to pull this sort of thing, because nobody ever gets caught. Well, maybe not this time. That is reason for all of us to cheer. Bloomberg is reporting that the leaker of those records, like a snail, left a slimy electronic trail that investigators are now getting their hands on. The identity of the law enforcement official who supplied details of Michael Cohen's banking activities to media-savvy lawyer Michael Avenatti probably won't remain secret for long, according to people who work in the field. Anyone who gains access to the government's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network database of bank-generated suspicious activity reports, known as SARs, leaves an audit trail, they explained. So whoever searched for FinCEN reports filed against personal or business accounts associated with Cohen, President Donald Trump's longtime personal lawyer, left a digital record that is almost certainly under review. Once the information became public through news reports, the Treasury Department's inspector general began an inquiry into the suspected leak. The Bloomberg account is interesting because it traced back to the leaker, who talked to Ronan Farrow of the New Yorker, justifying his leak to the sleazy lawyer by claiming he couldn't find some documents he wanted to read. (It's unknown whether he had any business reading them, but given the experience of the "unmaskings" by President Obama's officials, one can guess.) And like James Comey, the leaker wanted to make it all right through what he thought were secret leaks to the press, using the porno lawyer, who we know is in all kinds of trouble for his ethical practices in at least two states, and certainly being investigated for it in one. Doesn't sound like the right way to make a wrongful situation right particularly considering the political gain that resulted for the left in the nonstop coverage of the Stormy Daniels porn star hush money story. In fact, the whole thing sounds like excuse-making from some sneak who realizes he got caught and now wants to get on his high horse. How very nice it is to know that there actually are safeguards for consumers in this disgusting episode, which above all was about the violation of attorney-client privilege by crazed leftists still upset about the 2016 election and still addicted to the Alinskyite maxim of "by any means necessary." America is a nation that's ruled by law and, despite the damage the Obama administration did to it, still has a few tattered remnants of law to protect it. How nice it will be to see the leaker exposed in this one. He wanted to embarrass President Trump and damage his capacity to govern. Now he's getting his career ruined and the new label of sneak for his inability to act professionally. Betcha he didn't see that one coming. Another leftist shot ten schoolchildren yesterday, this time in Texas. On Facebook, he published photographs of his trench coat, on which two well known symbols of close, but not identical, leftist ideologies communism and national socialism are clearly visible: the sickle and hammer and the Iron Cross of the Third Reich. The ideological affinity of all leftists means that all these leftist movements pursued the same portions of the electorate. Perhaps that is why the USSR fought on the side of the Third Reich about one third of the Second World War and two thirds against it (unlike other allied countries that ideologically were on the opposite end of the political spectrum both from the USSR and the Third Reich). The proximity of the Soviet and German schools of socialism is well known, but few people know that the differences were already laid down in the names. The left-wing labor movement headed by Hitler was national (National Socialism), but the movement in the USSR was always international. In 1930s Germany, this led to numerous bloody street brawls between supporters of national and international versions of socialism. Nowadays, as in the last century, few people pay attention to details. As before, it is enough to add prefix "anti" to something hated to be known as a humanist. But this, as we know, is not at all the case. Not only people with a low I.Q. but also Nobel laureates have taken this bait. For example, Ernest Hemingway was a fierce anti-fascist all his life, which does him credit, but this did not make him a proponent of right-wing ideology. On the contrary, the convinced anti-fascist Hemingway steadily moved ever farther and farther left, until eventually, he became an agent of the NKVD named Argo (he did nothing in this field, but that is another story). Leftists suspect themselves to be fascists, so they defensively feel the need to label themselves anti-fascists. Simultaneously, they attempt to tag the right as fascists. However, anti-fascism is just the denial by the leftists of one of their own branches of ideology. The murderer of schoolchildren in Texas understood that the Soviet sickle and hammer, on the one hand, and the Nazi Iron Cross, on the other hand, are symbols belonging to the same ideological direction. We do not yet know how strong the ideological convictions of this murderer are. But we know one thing: America does not want to endure the massacres of children anymore as we do not want to see another gun-free zone filled with blood. I would like to describe one episode that happened to my family and me. What happened makes it possible to hope that our country will eventually make the right decision without changing the Constitution. Many years ago, we bought a new house not very far from the former, but in another town (and another county). The closing of the sale was scheduled for early October. The children were already of school age, so a dilemma arose to start school in September in the former town, and in a month to transfer the children to a new school, or to start a new school year in a new school in a new town. The principal of the new primary school did not mind but warned that we would have to bring the children to school ourselves because he did not have the opportunity to send a school bus outside the county. So for one month I drove my children to school in the morning, and at 3 P.M., I came to pick them up. On the very first day that I came to pick them up, I found that the doors to the school were closed. I called, and the door was opened by a middle-aged policeman. I explained that I had come for the children, and he pointed me to a white strip on the floor about ten feet from the door: "Stand here. Wait. And do not cross the white line. I shoot without warning." During the month of our conversations, we became good friends. Sometimes he received some messages on the radio, and once two more policemen from the corner of the corridor of the school suddenly appeared. So, we, the parents, learned that all halls of the school are patrolled continuously by armed to the teeth policemen. These police officers may never have heard of the political spectrum, and may not understand all the nuances of the fact that fascism is an extremely leftist ideology. But they were ready to protect our children from the right and left terrorists, from the mentally ill, and from any other ideologically savvy killer revolutionaries. Being taxpayers, our police officers must protect our children from fascists and anti-fascists alike, shooting without warning if someone crosses the line. Massacres in Israeli schools are non-existent nowadays, just like gun-free zones. American schoolchildren deserve the same protection as their Israeli counterparts. Being a small country, Israel armed whom it could to protect their children: their teachers. In America, it makes no sense to arm the teachers for a variety of reasons. We should allow our teachers to arm themselves, but it should not be a government policy. Paradoxically, in order not to turn our country into a police state, we need police officers in every school. Gary Gindler is a conservative Russian-American blogger at Gary Gindler Chronicles. The royal wedding is on, and for those of us watching, it was a relief to see that tradition abounded. Meghan Markle looked splendid in her beautiful simple white wedding gown, with an exquisite lace-trimmed veil. Harry looked so handsome in his black military uniform, alongside his identically dressed brother, faintly redolent of the Edwardian era; the last tsar; or, better yet, the Titanic thing. The bride's mother in her mint green mother-of-the-bride dress was sweetly weeping, the way mothers of brides do. The queen looked dignified and rather natty in a grandmotherly chartreuse and purple matched outfit and performed with her specialty: sitting still, just as we expect. The daughters of Andrew and Fergie finally got their outfits right. Even the celebs at the event, such as the Clooneys, and the Beckhams, and Oprah, looked very wedding guest-like. Beautiful majestic traditional church hymns were sung, and the archbishop of Canterbury repeatedly appealed to God. They did it right. Source: Twitter. This makes much of the speculation about the wedding, from left-wing media such as Teen Vogue, out to lunch. No, Meghan didn't make "a feminist statement," as the left-wing Pop-Tarts threw out there. Look at this idiocy. The British royal family knows the secret to survival, and its survival involves legitimacy, and legitimacy involves tradition. So the royals went for it. They especially went for it due to the bride's unconventional background American, part black, native of South Central famous for its riots, Hollywood career, one divorce... She was lovely and went all out for fitting in with the royal ethos. She will fit in. And we know that the royals wanted Harry married off and happy, so it was possible to see that they were willing to bend the traditions a bit to allow the entry of Meghan into the family. In any case, the queen was obviously pleased with her she gave her the fancy title of duchess of Sussex upon her marriage, something she didn't give to her own daughter-in-law, Countess Sophie, who has been married to Prince Edward for years. The other thing worth noting is that the royals kept the pols out: no politician, sitting or previous, got an invitation or was allowed in. That goes back to British tradition, too Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's royal consort, first urged and instituted the custom of keeping royals out of politics. The official reason was that the wedding was "a private ceremony," unlike the earlier wedding of Prince William. Whatevs. The Prince Albert precedent was what it was about. President Trump took that graciously and, despite not being invited, sent gifts the traditional official bowl, of course, and also donations to Harry's and Meghan's favorite charities, likely out of his own pocket. And with additional class, he sent gracious warm wishes. The press grudgingly reported that. But after all the wall-to-wall speculation about whether he or President Obama would get an invitation, and quite a few in the press thought President Obama would, the press was curiously silent about whether President Obama was just as magnanimous as President Trump. I Googled and Googled, and nada, zip, nothing. If he sent a present, the press is weirdly derelict of duty, because we know that the journalists would have told us about it. The Obamas made much of their supposed friendship with the royals during the Invictus Games in Canada not too long ago. Well, with all that friendship, pretty strange we aren't hearing about them sending a wedding gift. Given the press's suckuppery to the Obama clan, doesn't it seem likely that if they gave a gift, the press would report it? Nope, the evidence for now is that the Obamas sent nothing. This would be about par for them. They never gave their kids Christmas gifts, for one. And the previous gifts they gave to the royal family have been utterly tacky tapes of Obama's speeches on iPods and other junk nobody in his right mind would keep. They aren't good at this. You'd think they'd be bigger about it anyway. Thus far, nothing from the press. Maybe we will hear about a gift sent late, after people start to notice. For now, what a cheapskate. Chinese original equipment manufacturers are all presently focusing on ramping up their efforts to produce bezel-less mobile displays with an 18:9 (2:1) aspect ratio and bring them to a wider variety of products, including entry-level offerings, DigiTimes reports, citing trends observed at the latest iteration of the recently held China Information Technology Expo. Besides mostly border-free panels, the largest OEMs in the Far Eastern country are now also placing an additional focus on screen cutouts, i.e. display notches, another emerging trend in the mobile industry thats been gaining significant traction in recent months. While select entry-level Android smartphones such as the Alcatel 1 and Lenovo K320t have already adopted such tall display panels, display notches still havent trickled down to the low-end segment of the market, though some products showcased at CITE suggest cutouts will start being featured on budget-friendly devices from the second half of the year. Chinas flat display manufacturers remain committed to flexible AMOLED panels and while their overall designs have changed, shifting from 16:9 form factors to 18:9 ones with notches, that underlying display technology should remain their focus in the immediate future, Digitimes Research predicts. CITE saw several manufacturers announce WVGA (480p) modules with 18:9 aspect ratios and notches, indicating that hardware will be ready for mass production in the coming weeks. Chinas companies are now also looking toward technologies such as under-display fingerprint readers, with the country already yielding the first two smartphone manufacturers to commercialize such solutions this year Vivo and Huawei, in that order. In-screen fingerprint sensors still arent expected to trickle down to the entry-level segment until at least 2020, with industry watchers predicting that kind of biometric authentication will only become a staple feature of Android flagships next year. The same is said of depth-sensing solutions using 3D cameras such as the one found inside Apples iPhone X. The Android ecosystem has yet to yield a similar device, with recent reports suggesting Xiaomis Mi 8, previously thought to be called the Mi 7, will be the first product equipped with such hardware, being set to launch in the third quarter. Outside of the scope of smartphones and tablets, Chinas small panel manufacturers are also increasing their efforts in the TFT LCD segment, having signaled theyre doing so with the goal of supporting wearables such as smartwatches and virtual reality headsets. A group of technology companies including Google, Qualcomm, Facebook, and Apple is asking the United States Federal Communications Commission to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for the 6GHz band, having vowed to protect the existing incumbents from harmful interference. The consortium that also consists of HP, Microsoft, Intel, Cisco, and Broadcom claims any such interference from unlicensed devices is already minimal in theory, adding that the need for more unlicensed spectrum is growing at a rapid pace due to frequent advances in augmented and virtual reality segments, as well as new and improving gaming and video streaming applications. The same group already provided the FCC with an RKF Engineering Solutions-authored wireless analysis that shows spectrum sharing between unlicensed clients and incumbent operations is technologically possible, having proposed a system called Radio Local Area Network. Much like its name implies, RLAN is essentially a LAN solution that relies on radio transmissions instead of a physical connection, i.e. wires. A Monday filing from the technology firms saw them argue that previous concerns raised by AT&T, NSMA, and the FWCC dont invalidate the viability of 6GHz-based RLAN networks but further confirm such solutions are possible and come with minimal trade-offs, i.e. harmful interference, that can be avoided altogether if all of the involved parties are to collaborate. The consortium is now seeking further dialogue on the topic of circumstances that could see Fixed Services (FS)-based RLAN setups pose a significant risk of harmful interference and what kind of mitigation mechanisms should be put into place to account for such scenarios, as per its latest filing with the FCC. FS incumbents previously questioned the validity of the RKF-authored study delivered earlier this year, with the technology group now arguing its findings have been misunderstood, having claimed as much on six occasions in its new plea sent to the FCC. The telecom regulator has yet to signal when it intends to address the issue of unlicensed 6GHz usage. Jon Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of advertising and customer relationship management company Mobile Posse, penned an open letter to wireless carriers and original equipment manufacturers earlier this weak, calling for a smarter phone revolution meant to address the constantly growing consumer expectations and usher in the new era of handset technologies. The letter is essentially calling for new initiatives meant to bring more high-quality content to mobile devices, adding that such efforts automatically require a new take on the concept of a smartphone. Mr. Jackson identified three key areas of consideration meant to help deliver the smarter phone revolution, with the first one being strategizing for scale, i.e. placing a larger focus on solutions that can be easily rolled out across all devices instead of platform-exclusive functionalities such as Samsungs Bixby. That point ties into the second consideration, true device integration meant to put an end to bloatware and replace it with native content. Lastly, the Mobile Posse CEO called for OEMs and carriers to be fully committed to the mission and explore content discovery opportunities across all mobile aspects. While the telecom industry is already on the right path toward this future, it needs to move faster and with a more defined plan, the letter suggests. The communication specifically mentions Verizon by commending its $10 billion investment in creating Oath from AOL and Yahoo assets, calling the new media unit as a massive mobile opportunity, though noting that the largest wireless carrier in the United States has yet to take advantage of its holdings. Three years after Verizon acquired AOL, its time to wait less and do more, Mr. Jackson concluded. The industry veteran unsurprisingly sees Mobile Posse as a crucial player in this smarter phone revolution, urging carriers, OEMs, and other entities interested in fulfilling that vision to contact the company. The full contents of the open letter authored by the head of the Arlington, Virginia-based mobile advertising firm can be accessed by referring to the banner below. The Sonos One became the worlds first speaker to support both Amazons Alexa and Google Assistant late last year but the Santa Barbara, California-based audio company had to press Google in an aggressive manner in order to deliver such a product, The Information reports. While Alphabets subsidiary historically opposes devices supporting both Alexa and Google Assistant, it made an exception for Sonos due to its vast patent portfolio that the company threatened to leverage in order to either get what it wants or draw Google into a lengthy legal battle, according to unnamed industry veterans. The exact patents in question remain unclear, though they were likely related to the Google Home Max speaker given the timing of the talks between the two. Sonos holds a wide variety of patents in the audio segment, with arguably its most important one being a method of controlling multi-speaker setups described and secured in 2004. Both Apple and Google now use such solutions, among other electronics manufacturers. Sonos IP Vice President Mark Triplett declined confirming playing patent hardball with Google when questioned by The Information, having only noted that IP is somewhat intended to level the playing field, thus reflecting on the fact that Sonos is presently competing in a market where much larger companies such as Amazon and Google already have a significant presence and much more money to throw around. Sonos is still the only company in the industry offering a smart speaker that supports both Alexa and Google Assistant, with the unique manner in which it reportedly managed to deliver such a product making new rivals offering identical features unlikely to appear anytime soon. That state of affair bodes well for its planned initial public offering meant to take place next month, increasing the chances that investors see Sonos as the safest smart speaker bet capable of keeping up with industry trends regardless of whether Google Assistant ends up pushing out Alexa, the opposite happens, or the two end up sharing comparable market share. Founded in 2002, Sonos raised some $250 million over the next fifteen years and struck a major partnership with Swedish furniture and appliances giant IKEA last year thats believed to have resulted in the recently announced ENEBY speaker lineup. The companys annual revenue reached $1 billion last year, with the current industry consensus being that Sonos is mature enough for a stable public market listing. Samsung Rips Apple For Throttling iPhones In New Ad Trending News: Samsung Dropped A Sick Burn On Apple And That's Gonna Leave A Mark Long Story Short Apple users might want to switch to Galaxy out of shame. Long Story Remember that mess where Apple got caught slowing down older iPhones? Basically, it meant that if you had an older iPhone, Apple was purposely making it slow down. Apple ended up fixing the issue, but Samsung hasn't forgotten. In its latest ad, the South Korean company brings up the iPhone throttling issue and it's painful to watch. In the video, a woman with an iPhone 6 is sh*t out of luck with her slower phone. Meanwhile, Samsung users are having a grand ol' time. The solution? Upgrade to Galaxy. OK, as an iPhone user, I have to say something here. Maybe for top-level Samsung phones, you'll be good for a while with your older phone, but not for every model. Dare I bring up Samsung's exploding Galaxy Note 7? If you had one of those you would have been very sh*t out of luck. This isn't the first time Samsung has set Apple users in the crosshairs. In November, Samsung mocked the iPhone X in another stingingly true commercial. Own The Conversation Ask The Big Question What's better: iPhone or Galaxy? Drop This Fact Rumors suggest Apple will come out with three new iPhone Xs, all at reduced prices. With its research into autonomous vehicles in full swing, the carmaker announced earlier this week it will set up a research and development center in Beijing, China.The new location will be in charge with requirement management, testing and validation as well as development of services and systems. Over 1,100 people are to be employed by the carmaker at the new location.For us, China is a driving force of innovation, a place of inspiration particularly in the field of electrification and digitalization we think China is the lead market in these fields already today, said Klaus Frohlich, BMWs chairman of the board.We expect that the increase of our Chinese R&D activities and the collaboration with more and more top class Chinese tech companies will make a strong contribution to our global R&D outcome, especially in areas such as electro mobility and digitalization.For the remainder of the year, the Beijing location will conduct test with 70 vehicles across China, hoping to achieve a total mileage of five million kilometres, or over 3.1 million miles.Prior to announcing the opening of the new center, the Germans announced they became the first international vehicle manufacturer to obtain an autonomous road test license in China.This license would see BMW entering an increasingly competitive self-driving car market in China. 60 experts in autonomous driving would be conducting tests on several 7 Series models in the 5.6 km (3.5 miles) facility located in Shanghai.Back in April, BMW said it completed work on the new tech campus in Unterschleiheim, Germany. This unit will be in charge with creating new technologies in the area of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analysis.Their research would be put to the test including in China. China's air force announced in a statement on Saturday that it conducted take-off and landing training for nuclear-strike capable bombers on unidentified islands in the South China Sea, per The Guardian. Why it matters: The South China Sea and who exactly controls it is one of the most hotly contested issues between the United States and China, and the U.S. has threatened consequences for increased activity in the area. The U.S. response: Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Logan, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement: "Chinas continued militarization of disputed features in the South China Sea only serves to raise tensions and destabilize the region. The big picture: A third of world trade passes through the area and billions of barrels of oil are beneath the seabed. China's claim, which lies within a boundary it calls the "nine-dash line," includes about 80 percent of the South China Sea. An international tribunal has rejected the scope of that claim, but its ruling is unenforceable and China ignores it. Other tensions in the South China Sea: Last December, China ramped up its military presence in the sea while the U.S. focused its interests in the region on dealing with North Korea's nuclear provocations. China ramped up its military presence in the sea while the U.S. focused its interests in the region on dealing with North Korea's nuclear provocations. At the start of 2018, the Pentagon's National Defense Assessment noted China's presence in the South China Sea as one of the greatest threats facing American security interests. the Pentagon's National Defense Assessment noted China's presence in the South China Sea as one of the greatest threats facing American security interests. In March, a security firm announced that it noticed Chinese spies hacking computer systems at U.S. engineering and maritime firms, particularly those with interests in the sea. a security firm announced that it noticed Chinese spies hacking computer systems at U.S. engineering and maritime firms, particularly those with interests in the sea. Earlier this month, China deployed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles on several of the outposts it built in the Spratly Islands in the sea. Another issue: Similarly, China and Japan both lay claim to islands they believe essential to their security interests in the East China Sea. Researchers and reporters have been slowly uncovering the massive scale of political re-education camps housing members of the Muslim minority in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in Western China. Beijing is concerned about separatism, terrorism and Islamic extremism. Why it matters: The apparent scale of human rights violations is staggering, and yet so far foreign governments have said little. But given China's crackdown on Muslims, will the China become nearly as hated across the Muslim world as America? Might drawing the anger of the Muslim world hurt the prospects for the Belt And Road Initiative, and its long game for influence in the Muslim world? Adrian Zenz, a scholar in Germany, has used official Chinese documents to conclude in a new paper that: While estimates of internment numbers remain speculative, the available evidence suggests that a significant percentage of Xinjiangs Muslim minority population, likely at least several hundred thousand, and possibly just over one million, are or have been interned in political re-education facilities. Gerry Shih of the Associated Press recently interviewed several men who had gone through the political re-education camps: The internment program aims to rewire the political thinking of detainees, erase their Islamic beliefs and reshape their very identities. The camps have expanded rapidly over the past year, with almost no judicial process or legal paperwork. Detainees who most vigorously criticize the people and things they love are rewarded, and those who refuse to do so are punished with solitary confinement, beatings and food deprivation. Go deeper: Axios' Erica Pandey on China's long game for Middle East influence. More than 40 prominent figures in the conservative movement plan to send an open letter to Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), urging the Freedom Caucus member to declare himself a candidate for Speaker at once to replace Paul Ryan. Axios has obtained a letter circulated by Ginni Thomas, longtime leader in the conservative movement and spouse of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas stating that current House Republican leadership "has utterly failed" and "proven that its part of the Swamp," and that Jordan is the solution. Richard Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, and Jenny Beth Martin, Chairman of the Tea Party Patriots, are among the more th 40 people who have also signed on. Why it matters: Ryan has chosen to remain Speaker through the midterm elections despite announcing his retirement. But behind the scenes, the Republican conference has been restive and many members privately question whether its tenable for him to last out the year as a lame duck Speaker. Now, conservative leaders who have long loathed Republican leadership are seizing this opportunity to promote Jordan. Along with his Freedom Caucus colleague Mark Meadows, Jordan has been a bane of leaderships existence during his time in Congress. What they're saying: "Our supporters want to see Jim Jordan be the Speaker, and theyve wanted that for several years," Jenny Beth Martin told Axios. "Weve also called for Paul Ryan to step down as Speaker prior to him announcing he would not run for reelection." Asked about the letter, Jordan told Axios: "The American people want results, and Im committed to bringing that change. Its as simple as this doing what we told the voters we would do. The backdrop: Ryan has already endorsed Republican Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy to succeed him, but McCarthy allies have told Axios they worry he wont do well in a protracted period of uncertainty, which would allow his opponents plenty of time to criticize him. Donald Trump Jr. participated in an August 2016 meeting at Trump Tower that included suggestions that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates wanted to help his father win the 2016 presidential election, according to a New York Times report. Why it matters: The meeting is "the first indication that countries other than Russia may have offered assistance to the Trump campaign," per the Times. Who was there: Erik Prince, the founder of private security firm Blackwater, arranged the meeting. It also involved George Nader, a Lebanese-American businessman with ties to the UAE, and Joel Zamel, an Israeli social media specialist who wanted to pitch his firm's work to the Trump campaign. (Nader also assisted Prince in assembling another international get-together in the Seychelles.) White House adviser Stephen Miller, known for his strong views on immigration, was also in Trump Jr.'s office when the meeting began. The big takeaway: There's no evidence that the Trump campaign actually worked with Saudi Arabia or the UAE which would be illegal under federal law though top campaign officials were reportedly not worried about the meeting. In that way, it's comparable to Trump Jr.'s prior Trump Tower meeting, where he, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort sat down with a Russian lawyer after being promised dirt on Hillary Clinton. It's also unclear if the Trump campaign utilized Zamel's social media pitch, which "specialized in collecting information and shaping opinion through social media" at Psy-Group, his company staffed with former Israeli intelligence officers though Trump Jr. "responded approvingly" at the meeting. Trump Jr.'s response to the Times: Prior to the 2016 election, Donald Trump Jr. recalls a meeting with Erik Prince, George Nader and another individual who may be Joel Zamel. They pitched Mr. Trump Jr. on a social media platform or marketing strategy. He was not interested and that was the end of it. Other bites: " The revelations about the meetings come in the midst of new scrutiny about ties between Mr. Trumps advisers and at least three wealthy Persian Gulf states. Besides his interest in Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, Mr. Mueller has also been asking witnesses about meetings between White House advisers and representatives of Qatar, Saudi Arabias bitter rival." The revelations about the meetings come in the midst of new scrutiny about ties between Mr. Trumps advisers and at least three wealthy Persian Gulf states. Besides his interest in Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, Mr. Mueller has also been asking witnesses about meetings between White House advisers and representatives of Qatar, Saudi Arabias bitter rival." "Mr. Nader explained to Donald Trump Jr. that the two crown princes [of Saudi Arabia and the UAE] saw the elder Mr. Trump as a strong leader who would fill the power vacuum that they believed Mr. Obama had left in the Middle East, and Mr. Nader went on to say that he and his friends would be glad to support Mr. Trump as much as they could, according to the person with knowledge of the conversation." "Mr. Nader was also in discussions with Mr. Prince, the former head of Blackwater, about a plan to get the Saudis to pay $2 billion to set up a private army to combat Iranian proxy forces in Yemen." Worthy of your time: Read the full piece by the New York Times. By Trend A conference marking the 80th birth anniversary of Koichiro Matsuura, UNESCO Director-General from 1999 to 2009 has been held at UNESCO headquarters. First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva attended the conference. First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva made a speech at the event. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva has met with UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay at the organizations headquarters in Paris. UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay thanked the Azerbaijani First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva for attending the event organized on the occasion of the 80th birth anniversary of Koichiro Matsuura. She noted that apart from marking the 80th jubilee of Koichiro Matsuura, the event promotes UNESCOs mission, objectives and activities. Director General Audrey Azoulay pointed out that after being elected to this position she learned more about the rich history of Azerbaijan-UNESCO relations, and hailed the high-level of bilateral relations between the country and the organization. She noted that she will contribute to the development of bilateral ties during her tenure. Azerbaijans First Vice-President, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva pointed to the Baku Process, the initiative of the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, saying this year marks the first decade of the process. The First Vice-President noted that another World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue will be held in Baku next year. Azerbaijans First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva thanked Audrey Azoulay for including Azerbaijans cultural samples in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva pointed out that this year also marks the centenary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, saying Azerbaijan has made great strides over the past 100 years. The most important of these is granting voting rights to women, which corresponds to UNESCOs objectives, mission and mandate, she said. The sides reviewed joint organization of the events within the year in this regard. First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva invited the Director General Audrey Azoulay to pay a visit to Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijan, as a country located at the junction of civilizations, cultures and religions, has much to offer to the world community in terms of intercultural dialogue, tolerance and respect for others, First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva said. She was speaking May 18 in Paris at a conference marking the 80th birth anniversary of Koichiro Matsuura, UNESCO director-general from 1999 to 2009. First of all, I want to express my gratitude for the invitation and I am very happy to be here among my friends and colleagues at UNESCO. Let me to congratulate you, dear Mr. Matsuura, on the occasion of the 80th jubilee and wish you good health and success. We highly appreciate the work you have done in the capacity of the Director General of UNESCO. The reforms that you carried out during your office enabled to strengthen UNESCO's reputation in the world. Your name is always mentioned when it comes to a number of successful humanitarian projects, for example, the international project "Education for All" and many others. Under your leadership, relations between UNESCO and our country have become even stronger. We recall with a deep gratitude your visit to Baku, your personal participation in joint forums and conferences, Mehriban Aliyeva said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The decision of the President of the United States of America to recognize the city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to transfer there the US embassy raised concerns as it runs counter to international law and the UN Security Council resolution 478 (1980), Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said during his speech at OIC Extraordinary Islamic Summit Conference. "First of all, let me underline that this Extraordinary Islamic Summit of the Heads of State and Government, organized by the initiative of President of Turkey, is yet another example of Turkeys contribution to the Islamic solidarity and the cause of justice. Killing of more than 60 and injuring of 2000 Palestinians is beyond comprehension. We, Member States and OIC, should spare no effort to condemn and stop this bloodshed. Azerbaijan, as always, remains ready to contribute to this end and we reaffirm our full solidarity and support for the just and comprehensive solution of the Palestinian issue. The peaceful settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict should be based on the two-state principle with East Jerusalem being the capital of the State of Palestine. The decision of the President of the United States of America to recognize the city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to transfer there the US embassy raised concerns as it runs counter to international law and the UN Security Council resolution 478 (1980). As became evident despite multiple warnings, this act deteriorated the prospects for achieving a just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and, moreover, had all the dangerous implications. In 2013, with the aim of helping the State of Palestine, Azerbaijan hosted a constituent conference of the Islamic Financial Safety Network and a donor conference in support of the development of the city of Jerusalem. In 2017, the Year of Islamic solidarity in Azerbaijan, we hosted the International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem in Baku under the auspices of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and with the support of the OIC, which has been concluded with the introduction of a communique on behalf of its organizers condemning the closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and restrictions on worshippers therein. As You know, last month, in the capacity of the Non Alignment Movement (NAM) Troika, Azerbaijan hosted the 18th Mid-term Ministerial Meeting of the NAM, titled Promotion International Peace and Security for Sustainable Development. Within the framework of this event the meeting of NAM Ministerial Committee on Palestine was organized. In the Final Baku Declaration were reiterated urgent calls for serious, collective efforts to bring a complete end to the violations. Azerbaijan, upon the request of the Palestinian authorities, is also planning to assist in the organization of the Annual Meeting of the State of Palestine Ambassadors accredited in the Asian countries by the end of 2018. As representative of Azerbaijan, I cant escape this opportunity to express gratitude of my country to the OIC and its member-states for their full support of Azerbaijan in the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Despite multiple UN Security Council Resolutions and decisions by number of international organizations, including the OIC, for more than 25 years, Armenia has been holding 20 per cent of our lands under illegal military occupation with dire humanitarian consequences for the indigenous Muslim population and the Islamic culture", Mammadyarov said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Port Arthur Police Chief Patrick Melvin resigned Friday, according to Mayor Derrick Freeman. His resignation is "pending City Council's acceptance, Freeman said. "We have a council meeting Tuesday to finalize." Interim City Manager Harvey Robinson "requested the chief's resignation," said former city council member Willie "Bae" Lewis, whose term on City Council ended this month. Melvin and Robinson could not immediately be reached for comment. Melvin, 53, was hired by the Port Arthur City Council in September 2016 with an annual salary of $123,000. He spent 21 years with the Phoenix Police Department before leaving in 2006. He resigned from the Salt River, Arizona Police Department in early 2016 after being put on administrative leave. In November, members of the Port Arthur Police Association, the local affiliate of a statewide police union, voted that they had "no confidence" in Melvin and his administration. The union said that "a significant void in leadership occurred as a direct result of Chief Melvin's leadership style and philosophy." Melvin responded that he was pleased with the progress made since he was hired. "Change is often uncomfortable and a possibly painful process," he told the Enterprise. "Our job is to protect and serve the citizens of Port Arthur, not the status quo of a broken system." In December, he was named one of six finalists for police chief of St. Louis, Missouri, but was not selected. "As a career law enforcement professional, it was a privilege to be recruited and considered for the Chief of Police role by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the City of St. Louis," Melvin said in a statement at the time. "I am delighted to continue to serve the citizens and my fellow officers within the City of Port Arthur." "This is my home state comprised of family and friends," Melvin said. "My career has been defined by my ability to bring about change to Police Departments. Port Arthur is no different. I look forward to moving forward with our efforts to improve the department and bring greater transparency and build greater trust between the community and this department." In a 41-page letter to Robinson on Dec. 18, obtained by the Enterprise through a public information request, Port Arthur Police Association President Greg Mouton told the interim city manager that the officers "have lost all trust, faith and confidence" in Melvin. "It's evident now that Chief Melvin is seeking other employment opportunities," Mouton wrote. "Respectfully saying, why not assist him in his departure for the better of all that have been affected under his leadership." LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/LizTeitz The U.S. Surgeon General and board-certified anesthesiologist Jerome Adams, MD, assisted in a medical emergency on a Delta flight from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to Atlanta May 16, The Washington Post reports. Here are five things to know. 1. Dr. Adams tweeted that the crew of Delta flight 1827 asked if there was a physician on board to assist with a medical emergency. Dr. Adams and two nurses responded to the medical emergency while the plane was on the tarmac at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. 2. The passenger-turned-patient lost consciousness and Dr. Adams determined it was necessary to return to the gate and have the patient evaluated in a hospital setting. According to Dr. Adams, the patient is doing well. 3. Dr. Adams previously served as the health commissioner of Indiana. President Donald Trump nominated Dr. Adams as surgeon general in June 2017, and he assumed the position in August 2017. 4. As U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Adams oversees the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, more than 6,600 uniformed public healthcare personnel who work in the federal government. 5. Dr. Adams received his medical degree from the Indianapolis-based Indiana University School of Medicine and earned a master of public health degree from UC Berkeley. More articles on anesthesia: The American Society of Anesthesiologists awards Dr. Michael Lewis: 3 notes Synopsis Healthcare, Plexus Technology Group partner to offer anesthesia solution in the US, Europe Spindletop Capital Management invests in Tricity Pain Associates and Interventional Pain Management 5 insights Salem (Ohio) Regional Medical Center said it is not being bought out by any organization, including Cleveland-based University Hospitals, but it will eliminate10 full-time equivalent positions, according to a Salem News report. The medical center partnered with UH Seidman Cancer Center on cancer care last year. However, the hospital confirmed a buyout is not in the works. The partnership with UH Seidman Cancer Center "means that we affiliated with the UH Seidman Cancer Center as one of the nation's top cancer providers to offer local access to advanced cancer care. We remain committed to continuing to serve our patients as an independent, nonprofit community hospital," Anita Hackstedde, MD, medical center president and CEO, told the Salem News via statement. The hospital is realigning core services due to decreased demand for maternity services. Those efforts include the recent closure of the hospital's maternity ward, as well as plans to close Salem Women's Health Partners for gynecology and obstetrics on June 30, according to the report. Dr. Hackstedde said the hospital's "investment in outpatient primary care services, world-class cancer care, advanced orthopedics, and state-of-the-art specialty and diagnostic capabilities are [also] important parts of our strategic plan that align SRMC with the growing demand for these services." Amid the realignment, SRMC plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 26 full-time equivalents. Dr. Hackstedde said most of the reductions will take place by decreasing hours and not filling open positions. Ten full-time equivalent positions will be eliminated. "Staff reductions and/or reduced work hours are focused on areas that should not have a significant impact on patient care, with the exception of those affected by the maternity unit's recent closure. The majority of these staff adjustments will occur in nonclinical departments as we realign our workforce and services to focus on the needs of our aging population and address the region's growth in cancer, chronic disease and outpatient demand for improved population health and wellness. Although these decisions are extremely difficult, and we do not take them lightly, they will make SRMC a stronger hospital and enable us to enhance our services and respond to the needs and preferences of our communities," she said. The medical center attributed the job cuts and service realignment to challenges from national healthcare industry trends such as the move toward outpatient care and reduced reimbursement from third-party payers. At the same time, Dr. Hackstedde said the hospital is experiencing local changes as a result of an aging population and increasing demand for chronic disease care. More articles on leadership and management: Why Johns Hopkins physician interns won't wear short white coats anymore Former Baptist Health CEO passes away Trump should put high Rx drug costs on table at trade talks, Mount Sinai CEO says In his opening remarks at a May 18 prison reform summit, President Donald Trump said he plans to nominate Robert Wilkie to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Here are five things to know about the nomination. 1. Mr. Wilkie has been the acting VA secretary since David Shulkin, MD, left the role. He is also the undersecretary for personnel and readiness in the Defense Department. 2. The nomination came as a surprise. "Acting Secretary Wilkie, who, by the way, has done an incredible job at the VA, and I'll be informing him in a little while he doesn't know this yet that we're going to be putting his name up for nomination to be Secretary of the Veterans Administration," President Trump said. "I'm sorry that I ruined the surprise." 3. Mr. Wilkie served in the Navy as an intelligence officer and currently is a reserve officer in the Air Force, assigned to the Office of the Chief of Staff. From 2005 to 2009, he served as assistant secretary of defense for Defense Secretaries Robert Gates and Donald Rumsfeld. He has also served as an adviser to various senators. 4. His views on privatizing the VA are unknown, according to CNN. However, in his short tenure as acting secretary, Mr. Wilkie has overseen the closure of the $10 billion, 10-year VA-Cerner deal and has been working with VA employees to stabilize the agency, according to CNN. 5. Mr. Wilkie's appointment as acting secretary has been met with mixed reactions. While some veterans groups support him, others believe Deputy Secretary Thomas Bowman was next in the chain of command. Two left-leaning advocacy groups have sued the White House, claiming President Trump violated federal law in passing over Mr. Bowman for the acting secretary position, according to the Army Times. The case hinges on whether Dr. Shulkin stepped down from his role independently or if he was fired. If he resigned, as the White House has reported, then President Trump did not violate the law. Mr. Bowman's policy views have reportedly clashed with those of the White House, according to the report. More articles on leadership and management: Why Johns Hopkins physician interns won't wear short white coats anymore Former Baptist Health CEO passes away Trump should put high Rx drug costs on table at trade talks, Mount Sinai CEO says Four of the largest for-profit hospital operators have each entered into several transactions this year. Some of the companies are selling off facilities to strengthen their hospital portfolios, while others are exploring ways to expand their reach. Here's a breakdown of the transactions the for-profit hospital companies have entered into so far this year. Community Health Systems After selling off 30 hospitals in 2017, Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems announced late last year it intends to sell a group of hospitals with combined revenue of $2 billion. During the first four months of 2018, CHS sold one hospital and signed definitive agreements to sell six others. CHS signed a definitive agreement in late January to sell Tennova Healthcare-Jamestown (Tenn.) to West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Rennova Health. Rennova announced earlier this month it expects the deal to close on June 1. In February, CHS agreed to divest Leesville, La.-based Byrd Regional Hospital to Allegiance Health Management in Shreveport, La. CHS agreed in March to sell three of its Tennessee hospitals to Jackson-based West Tennessee Healthcare. CHS completed the sale of Bayfront Health Dade City (Fla.) to Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based Adventist Health System on April 1. Later that month, CHS entered into a definitive agreement to sell Ocala, Fla.-based Munroe Regional Medical Center. Orlando-based Florida Hospital, a subsidiary of Adventist Health System, will assume the lease and operations of the 421-bed hospital. CHS is using the proceeds from the transactions to reduce its debt load. CHS' long-term debt totaled $13.86 billion as of March 31, a slight decrease from $13.88 billion as of the end of last year. HCA Healthcare Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare has entered into a few transactions so far this year. In February, HCA expanded its market presence in Georgia when it acquired Savannah-based Memorial Health, which includes a 612-bed academic medical center and primary and specialty care network. The company now has eight hospitals in Georgia. In late March, HCA announced it was looking to expand into North Carolina with the acquisition of Mission Health, a six-hospital, nonprofit system based in Asheville, N.C. The two parties signed a letter of intent and are currently negotiating a definitive agreement. Under the proposed transaction, HCA would use Mission Health as its platform for growth and expansion across the state. In April, Austin, Texas-based St. David's HealthCare, which is jointly owned by HCA and two nonprofit foundations, acquired The Austin Diagnostic Clinic, a physician group with nine locations. LifePoint Health Brentwood, Tenn.-based LifePoint Health has engaged in far fewer transactions than the other major for-profit hospital operators this year. In March, the company said it is selling three Louisiana hospitals to Allegiance Health Management in Shreveport, La. Under the deal, LifePoint will sell the following hospitals to AHM: Mercy Regional Medical Center in Ville Platte, La.; Acadian Medical Center in Eunice, La.; and Minden (La.) Medical Center. Once the transaction is completed, LifePoint will only have one hospital in Louisiana: Teche Regional Medical Center in Morgan City. Tenet Healthcare After reporting a net loss in the third quarter of 2017, Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare launched a $150 million enterprisewide cost reduction initiative. In December, the company expanded the plan, which involves cutting jobs, renegotiating contracts with suppliers and vendors, and divesting hospitals in non-core markets, to $250 million. Tenet's hospital divestiture plan is expected to yield more than $1 billion of proceeds. A presentation published with the company's first-quarter financial results said Tenet received approximately $550 million from divestitures in the first quarter of this year. In January, Tenet announced plans to sell St. Louis-based Des Peres Hospital to St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo. That transaction closed May 1. Tenet entered into a definitive agreement to sell its last two Philadelphia hospitals to American Academic Health System, an affiliate of El Segundo, Calif.-based Paladin Healthcare, in 2017, and the transaction was completed in January. In March, Tenet divested MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, Ill., and sold its minority interest in four Texas hospitals. More articles on healthcare industry transactions: Northwestern, Centegra seek to finalize 10-hospital merger ProMedica to acquire nursing home chain creating $7B health network KentuckyOne Health sells 25-bed critical access hospital From Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System agreeing to pay $1.9 million to settle improper billing allegations to a Texas physician charged for his role in a healthcare fraud scheme that involved falsely diagnosing patients with various degenerative diseases, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines. 1. Blue Cross denied appeal in suit alleging it sank $40M hospital deal In April, a federal judge denied Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island's motion for summary judgment in an antitrust suit filed by Boston-based Steward Health Care. Last week, the judge denied the insurer's request to immediately appeal the April ruling, meaning BCBS of Rhode Island will have to face the antitrust suit. 2. DOJ: Texas physician misdiagnosed patients to fund 'opulent lifestyle' A Texas physician was charged in a recently unsealed indictment for his role in a $240 million healthcare fraud scheme that involved falsely diagnosing patients with various degenerative diseases and then administering chemotherapy and other toxic drugs to patients based on the false diagnoses. 3. Memorial Hermann will pay $1.9M to settle improper billing allegations Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System agreed to pay the federal government $1.9 million to resolve allegations three of its hospitals improperly billed Medicare for inpatient services provided to beneficiaries that should have been billed as less costly outpatient care. 4. Nicklaus Children's Hospital sues Florida to stop opening of competing trauma center Miami-based Nicklaus Children's Hospital, which operates the only pediatric trauma center in Miami-Dade County, is suing the Florida Health Department over a state law that would enable a competing level 1 trauma center operated by Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare to open in the region without full review. 5. Chicago area hospital sued, accused of failing to recognize patient's painkiller addiction A patient's family is suing Geneva, Ill.-based Delnor Hospital and the patient's physician for allegedly failing to follow protocols that aim to recognize patients at risk of becoming addicted to pain medications. 6. Kansas hospital's interim CEO was allegedly part of 20-hospital kickback scheme Karsten Randolph, CFO and interim CEO of Shawnee (Kan.) Mission Health, part of Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based Adventist Health, feared he would go to jail over a kickback scheme at his former job. 7. UnitedHealth, AARP face lawsuit for $400M illegal rebate scheme UnitedHealth and AARP face a class-action lawsuit for allegedly diverting $400 million a year through a Medigap premium rebate scheme that violates Connecticut law, breaches the terms of contract with enrollees and misleads consumers about the insurance offering. 8. Texas man convicted in multimillion-dollar Cerner fraud scheme A federal jury convicted a Texas man for his role in a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud Cerner, the EHR vendor, by conspiring to impersonate the company in business and legal activities. 9. 3 former execs at medical billing company face criminal charges in $300M investment fraud scheme Three former executives of Constellation Healthcare Technologies, a now-bankrupt medical billing company, were charged May 16 with orchestrating an elaborate scheme to defraud investors out of more than $300 million. 10. Sutter Health motions to dismiss California AG's antitrust lawsuit: 5 things to know Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health filed a motion with the San Francisco Superior Court May 14 asking the court to dismiss state Attorney General Xavier Becerra's antitrust lawsuit against the health system, claiming the lawsuit would upend its business practices. 11. California state judge overturns physician-assisted suicide law: 4 notes A state judge tossed out California's physician-assisted suicide law May 15, claiming the legislation was unconstitutional because it was introduced in the wrong forum. 12. Attorneys general can intervene in ACA lawsuit, court rules A coalition of attorneys general will be allowed to intervene in a lawsuit seeking to dismantle the ACA. More articles on legal and regulatory issues: 23-hospital system enters $14M settlement with feds over improper physician payments Nurse collects $6M in whistle-blower lawsuits against Banner, Christus and Renown Health CEO, CFO of Missouri hospital allegedly received $100k in inappropriate reimbursement An investigation by FDA scientists revealed numerous data inaccuracies in reports that data vendor IQVIA provided to the agency, including data on opioid drug products, the agency announced May 16. IQVIA is contracted by the FDA to gather data measuring the volume of pharmaceuticals manufacturers and wholesalers sell to pharmacies and hospitals. The FDA frequently uses multiple data streams from IQVIA. "Data integrity and validity are critical to the work FDA does on behalf of the American public," the agency said. "When we discover irregularities or inconsistencies in the data we use, we take such deficiencies very seriously." When analyzing data to estimate the amount of prescription opioids sold in the U.S., the FDA found a discrepancy in the IQVIA data that showed a more than 20 percent decrease in the reported amount of fentanyl sold for a minimum of the last five years, compared with what IQVIA's database previously reported. As a result of this discrepancy, the FDA launched an investigation and found IQVIA overestimated past data due to an error in its methods. "We believe [the error] resulted from IQVIA utilizing the wrong weight-based conversion factors to determine the amount of fentanyl in a given unit [such as a single fentanyl patch] for a subset of prescription fentanyl products," the agency said. The error caused IQVIA to overestimate the total amount of fentanyl put into the marketplace when the estimated volume was expressed in kilograms. IQVIA told the FDA it is conducting a review of the data to ensure it now is using the correct conversion factors for fentanyl products and that the new lower estimates are accurate, the agency said. The FDA requested IQVIA tell customers who buy access to the data about the error. The FDA also identified data quality problems linked to several other controlled substances, including oxymorphone and hydrocodone. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, called upon IQVIA to retain a qualified independent, third-party auditor to launch a review of the data quality and quality control procedures of controlled substances. The FDA said it is working with other federal partners to address these issues and will provide updates to the public when appropriate. Church officials said both the diocese and the priest were cooperating fully with the police. A priest has stepped aside from his position to allow for a police investigation into a historic "safeguarding allegation". Police said they are investigating a complaint made in April. The Diocese of Dromore confirmed the priest would be stepping aside in a statement on Saturday evening. It said both the diocese and the priest were cooperating fully with the police. "While this allegation is being investigated, and as part of the diocesan Safeguarding Procedures, the priest has voluntarily stepped aside from all public ministry pending the outcome of the investigation," it said. "The diocese cannot make further comment at this time whilst an investigation is ongoing. The Diocese advise anyone who may have a concern of a safeguarding nature to contact the PSNI, Social Services, or the Diocesan Designated Safeguarding Officer on 077 8991 7741." The diocese has been at the centre of a scandal over how it handled allegations of abuse against one of its priests. The PSNI has established a special unit to investigate complaints of abuse against the now deceased Father Malachy Finnegan. He was a teacher at St Colman's College in Newry up from 1967 to 1976 and its president until 1987 and was accused of sexually abusing 12 boys. Allegations about the disgraced teacher and cleric were highlighted in a BBC Spotlight programme, although the first allegation against him came to light in 1994. He was never prosecuted although claims made against him were reviewed by the National Board for Safeguarding Children - a clerical abuse watchdog set up by the Catholic Church. Although the disgraced cleric died in 2002 and can therefore no longer be held accountable for his crimes, the PSNI's public protection branch said other areas needed to be investigated. These include taking action against any living person from that time and assessing any current child safeguarding risks. Former Bishop of Dromore John McAreavey resigned from his position over the matter. He had celebrated Mass alongside the priest he knew was a paedophile. He had known about allegations of child abuse against the disgraced cleric as far back as the mid-1990s. He conducted Finnegans 2002 funeral. He admitted he'd made "an error of judgement" by officiating at the funeral of the paedophile teacher whose actions he described as "abhorrent, inexcusable and indefensible". He said his decision, made when he was a priest, to say the Mass "was the wrong one". Since the abuse claims came to light, there have been more come forward to say they were abused by the now-deceased priest. There is no suggestion Dr McAreavey is involved in any police investigation. A PSNI spokesman said: "PSNI Public Protection Branch are currently investigating an historical allegation of abuse against a member of clergy in the Diocese of Dromore. "This allegation was reported to PSNI in April 2018. "As this is an ongoing investigation it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time." A former health chief has said that women from Northern Ireland could cross the Irish border to access abortion services if a yes vote is passed in next week's referendum. John Compton, the former chief executive of Northern Ireland's Health and Social Care Board, said a yes vote would require the Irish government to introduce policies for women living here. Voters in the Republic go to the polls on May 25 to decide whether to repeal the Eighth Amendment of the Irish constitution, which makes abortion illegal in all but exceptional circumstances. If passed, it would see Ireland legislate for abortions for up to 12 weeks of pregnancy without restriction. Speaking to BBC NI, Mr Compton said that the referendum added "momentum for a debate about change" in Northern Ireland. "There is no issue to stop people going there, particularly if they had an Irish passport, there would be no issue about that at all. "Whether or not they are going to be treated there or not, I think there would need to be policy decisions that would need to flow from whatever legislative change was made." He added that the issue was "not straightforward" as there are two jurisdictions. He continued: "The real issue here is there are two jurisdictions and you will have potentially two different legislative frameworks for dealing with what is a very complex problem." His comments came as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that it was "only a matter of time" before a woman died in Ireland from using abortion drugs bought online. He said: "If there is a No vote on Friday, I think it's only a matter of time before somebody haemorrhages or bleeds to death or dies as a result of using these pills unregulated." The Taoiseach said that women seeking abortion services would be required to see a doctor and subsequently wait 72 hours before making a decision. Mr Varadkar added that a doctor would have to confirm that the pregnancy was less than 12 weeks. "It really defines how we are going to treat women in crisis for the next generation," he said. Mr Varadkar added that every day, nine women travel to the UK and other countries to terminate their pregnancies. The funeral of Aidan McAnespie passes through the checkpoint where he was shot in 1988 The family of a man shot dead at a border checkpoint 30 years ago have said they are shocked to learn that a body part belonging to him has been disposed of. Aidan McAnespie was killed in disputed circumstances by a soldier as he walked towards a GAA club outside Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, in 1988. Relatives have campaigned for seven years for the return of part of his breastbone, which was removed at the time a post-mortem was carried out at Craigavon hospital. A letter sent from the coroner's office, from state pathologist Dr James Lyness to the family's solicitor Darragh Mackin, confirmed that the body part, which "contained the exit bullet wound", had been "disposed of". Mr Mackin has written to the coroner's office calling for all notes and records taken by the state pathologist who performed the autopsy on Mr McAnespie's body to be handed over to the family. Mr McAnespie (23) was killed in close proximity to an Army checkpoint at Aughnacloy, on the Tyrone-Monaghan border. He was walking towards Aghaloo GAA grounds when he was struck with bullets fired from a gun held by Grenadier Guardsman David Holden on February 21, 1988. Holden, who was discharged from the Army on medical grounds in 1990, initially faced manslaughter charges. However, these were subsequently dropped and he was fined by the Army for negligent discharge of his weapon before being allowed to return to duty. Mr McAnespie's brother, Vincent, told the Belfast Telegraph that discovering the missing part of his brother's remains are lost to the family has added insult to injury and left them with many more unanswered questions. "For the past seven years the family has wanted Aidan's remains left back with us because we wanted a Christian burial in consecrated ground but that has been denied to us," he said. "We believed there was no reason for anyone to be holding on to them, but we were sent from pillar to post trying to get answers. "Now we find out from the justice department that Aidan's body part had been disposed of shortly after the post-mortem. It shocked us to the core to see that written down and it just left us wondering just exactly what they meant by 'disposed of'. "For seven years they knew what had happened but they said nothing which just added insult to injury. "My father is 83 now and I had to go and break this to him which wasn't an easy thing to do. "He has lost his wife, our mother, and our sister too since Aidan was killed, so it was very difficult for him to hear that." In his letter to Mr Mackin, confirming that part of Mr McAnespie's breastbone had been retained but was disposed of, Dr Lyness also confirmed the existence of "notes and records that the State Pathologist holds in relation to Aidan McAnespie". Vincent McAnespie said information still being held about his late brother should be released immediately. He added: "It is incredibly hard to accept that such an important piece of evidence was just disposed of. We want to get to the truth of what happened to Aidan and we will try all avenues so we can get that. "We knew the soldier who pulled the trigger was doing what he was told to do - we want to know who gave that order. We also want to know who gave the authority for the post-mortem in Craigavon and who gave the authority to retain the part of Aidan's breastbone that had the bullet hole. "We also want to know who gave the order to dispose of it; there are people in authority that have the answers we need." The Coroner's Office did not respond to requests for comment. A convicted armed robber with over 190 convictions was yesterday handed a suspended sentence for allowing his van to be used after a cash-in-transit hold-up. Cecil Stephen Walsh (51), of Breton Park, Lisburn, pleaded guilty to a charge of encouraging or assisting an offence of theft or handling stolen goods linked to the robbery. Belfast Crown Court heard that the charge related to the robbery of a G4S cash-in-transit truck almost six years ago. A total of 25,000 was taken from a cash box. A prosecution lawyer said a G4S guard was robbed at the Centra store on Belfast's Ormeau Road on Sunday, September 8, 2012. Judge Geoffrey Miller QC heard that Walsh's co-accused, Patrick McMahon, was later jailed for 10 years after he admitted the robbery. The court was told that following the robbery, Walsh's Volkswagen Caddy van was seen by police on the Ravenhill Road in south Belfast, and at Glenview Street and Torrens Avenue in north Belfast. On September 11, 2012, Walsh was arrested after he was seen driving the Caddy van and his mobile phone was seized which revealed he had been in contact with McMahon. "By his plea of guilty," said the prosecutor, "this defendant accepts that he assumed or believed that the handling stolen goods or theft was to take place by McMahon." The court was told that as a result of Walsh's "significant criminal record", the prosecution was applying for the father-of-three to be made the subject of a Serious Crime Prevention Order (SCPO) and also the forfeiture of his van. Defence counsel Martin O'Rourke QC said Walsh had a substantial criminal record which he said was mostly made up of road traffic offences and two convictions for robbery. He told the court that Walsh had not come to the attention of police since the 2012 incident, and was now working as a taxi driver. Judge Geoffrey Miller was told Walsh came before the court with 194 previous convictions, the first of which was when he was 13. His record included 134 road traffic convictions, 26 for fraud offences and two for robbery, the last being in 2007 when he received an 11-year sentence for robbery and was released on licence in November 2010. "The fact that he was in breach of his licence at the time of this offence is an aggravating factor," the court was told. The judge said he would take into account that five and a half years had passed since the offence was committed, and would allow Walsh a 30% discount for his guilty plea. "The sentence of the court is one of 28 months. Given the length of time since the offence was committed, I will suspend that sentence for a period of three years." Judge Miller refused to make Walsh the subject of an SCPO but did grant the forfeiture of the VW Caddy van. BBC Northern Ireland's broadcast of an unchallenged attack on Christians during its royal wedding coverage was described as a "new low," by DUP MP Ian Paisley. The North Antrim MP made the comment following the contribution of Belfast comedian Nuala McKeever on BBC Radio Ulster flagship programme Good Morning Ulster on Friday. The two-and-a-half-hour show extensively covered the royal wedding including Northern Ireland people who had been invited to Windsor for the occasion as well as a group from the Shankill on their party plans for the big day. It also had a local reporter at Windsor to report on the latest preparations. Ms McKeever was presented as giving an anti-royalist sentiment for one part of the show. She wondered what "right wing Christians" would make of Prince Harry marrying a "black divorcee". DUP MP Paisley described the comments as an attack on Christians and a "new low" for the "biased BBC" from a commentator who "couldn't help using it to make anti Christian comments". He added: "It was a disgrace and an unacceptable attack on people - think if she had made an attack on people of a different faith." Harry and Meghan Markle will tie the knot in a hotly anticipated wedding on Saturday. Ms Markle is the first mixed race person in modern history to marry a senior British royal. Ms McKeever said that while she was not adverse to the wedding itself she thought there needed to be "perspective" on where the event sat in terms of world affairs. The Give My Head Peace star said she would have an interest in news reports and on that dress but was not in any way "gearing up" for the day. "I was invited to go to a party and thought 'do you know who I am,'" she said. "For some here it's the glorious celebration for others they are asking why the BBC is leading with Meghan Markle's father and not the slaughter of 53 people in Gaza?" Presenter Nikki Gregg pointed out it had been a "tough week on the news front" and for some it was light relief and an opportunity to celebrate something positive. "It's always a question of priority and perspective," continued McKeever, "who am I to say don't get excited about something... each to their own. "It highlights a little the excessive inequality in the UK. When you see the cake costs 50,000 and you just think of all these people who struggle to get by. "And I know it has always been thus but in theory they are a modern couple and things are moving on. "I do laugh to think 'I wonder how a lot of right wing Christians are coping with fact he is marrying a black divorcee'. "Other than that I wish them well of course. I am just not a particular fan of the idea of us paying for the monarchy and money always being available for their things." She added: "They also represent a system that is inherently inequal - any reform is grand but doesn't challenge the root attitude there are certain people in society deserving of being fawned over." To which presenter Gregg cut in asking about the "mindfulness day" the comedian had planned for Saturday instead of taking in the wedding coverage. "I am not bah humbug at all [over the wedding] good for them but there needs to be priority," she continued. "I am more distressed by the fact that the BBC which I pay for is spending so much time covering that as opposed to things like Israel actions in Gaza. I think [the BBC] has become a little biased that way but each to their own." To which the presenter ended the interview outlining how the public can follow the coverage with the BBC. The BBC has been asked for a comment. Arlene Foster has said she will be watching the royal wedding on television and enjoying the special day, along with so many others across the United Kingdom. The DUP leader's sentiments were echoed by the heads of some of Northern Ireland's other political parties ahead of Harry and Meghan's nuptials today. "A wedding is always a time of great excitement and even more so when it is a royal wedding," said Mrs Foster. "Harry and Meghan are a young couple reflecting a new generation of the Royal Family and I know everyone will wish them a very long and happy married life together. "Whilst it is a very personal and family occasion, it is fantastic that they will be joined by so many members of the public. "Having been at Balmoral Show over the last few days I know how many people have been talking about the wedding and the good feeling such a national event creates. "I'll be amongst those watching on television and enjoying this very special occasion." Ulster Unionist Party leader, Robin Swann MLA, said it was a day for happiness and celebration. "Today will see much excitement across the nation and the world as the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle takes place. "I wish the couple much happiness and fulfilment, both today and in their future married life together. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close US actress and fiancee of Britain's Prince Harry Meghan Markle (L) arrives with her mother Doria Ragland at Cliveden House hotel in the village of Taplow near Windsor on May 18, 2018, the eve of her wedding to Britain's Prince Harry. AFP/Getty Images Royal fans lean out of windows as they watch Britain's Prince Harry and his best man Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, greet well-wishers on the street outside Windor Castle in Windsor on May 18, 2018, the eve of Prince Harry's royal wedding to US actress Meghan Markle. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / Adrian DENNISADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US actress and fiancee of Britain's Prince Harry Meghan Markle arrives with her mother Doria Ragland (not pictured) at Cliveden House hotel in the village of Taplow near Windsor on May 18, 2018, the eve of her wedding to Britain's Prince Harry. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / STEVE PARSONSSTEVE PARSONS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US actress and fiancee of Britain's Prince Harry Meghan Markle arrives with her mother Doria Ragland (not pictured) at Cliveden House hotel in the village of Taplow near Windsor on May 18, 2018, the eve of her wedding to Britain's Prince Harry. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / STEVE PARSONSSTEVE PARSONS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Britain's Prince Harry greets well-wishers on the street outside Windsor Castle in Windsor on May 18, 2018, the eve of Prince Harry's royal wedding to US actress Meghan Markle. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / Odd ANDERSENODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Britain's Prince Harry greets well-wishers on the street outside Windsor Castle in Windsor on May 18, 2018, the eve of Prince Harry's royal wedding to US actress Meghan Markle. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / Odd ANDERSENODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND - MAY 18: Meghan Markle arrives at Cliveden House Hotel on the National Trust's Cliveden Estate to spend the night before her wedding to Prince Harry on May 18, 2018 in Berkshire, England. (Photo by Steve Parsons - Pool / Getty Images) Getty Images Britain's Prince Harry greets well-wishers on the street outside Windsor Castle in Windsor on May 18, 2018, the eve of Prince Harry's royal wedding to US actress Meghan Markle. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / Odd ANDERSENODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND - MAY 18: Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland arrive at Cliveden House Hotel on the National Trust's Cliveden Estate to spend the night before her wedding to Prince Harry on May 18, 2018 in Berkshire, England. (Photo by Steve Parsons - Pool / Getty Images) Getty Images BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND - MAY 18: Meghan Markle arrives at Cliveden House Hotel on the National Trust's Cliveden Estate to spend the night before her wedding to Prince Harry on May 18, 2018 in Berkshire, England. (Photo by Steve Parsons - Pool / Getty Images) Getty Images BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND - MAY 18: Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland arrive at Cliveden House Hotel on the National Trust's Cliveden Estate to spend the night before her wedding to Prince Harry on May 18, 2018 in Berkshire, England. (Photo by Steve Parsons - Pool / Getty Images) Getty Images BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND - MAY 18: Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland arrive at Cliveden House Hotel on the National Trust's Cliveden Estate to spend the night before her wedding to Prince Harry on May 18, 2018 in Berkshire, England. (Photo by Steve Parsons - Pool / Getty Images) Getty Images BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND - MAY 18: Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland arrive at Cliveden House Hotel on the National Trust's Cliveden Estate to spend the night before her wedding to Prince Harry on May 18, 2018 in Berkshire, England. (Photo by Steve Parsons - Pool / Getty Images) Getty Images Britain's Prince Harry returns after greeting well-wishers on the street outside Windsor Castle in Windsor on May 18, 2018, the eve of Prince Harry's royal wedding to US actress Meghan Markle. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / Odd ANDERSENODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Britain's Prince Harry greets well-wishers on the street outside Windsor Castle in Windsor on May 18, 2018, the eve of Prince Harry's royal wedding to US actress Meghan Markle. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / Odd ANDERSENODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Britain's Prince Harry greets well-wishers on the street outside Windsor Castle in Windsor on May 18, 2018, the eve of Prince Harry's royal wedding to US actress Meghan Markle. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / Odd ANDERSENODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Britain's Prince Harry greets well-wishers on the street outside Windsor Castle in Windsor on May 18, 2018, the eve of Prince Harry's royal wedding to US actress Meghan Markle. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / Odd ANDERSENODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND - MAY 18: Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland arrive at Cliveden House Hotel on the National Trust's Cliveden Estate to spend the night before her wedding to Prince Harry on May 18, 2018 in Berkshire, England. (Photo by Steve Parsons - Pool / Getty Images) Getty Images BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND - MAY 18: Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland arrive at Cliveden House Hotel on the National Trust's Cliveden Estate to spend the night before her wedding to Prince Harry on May 18, 2018 in Berkshire, England. (Photo by Steve Parsons - Pool / Getty Images) Getty Images Members of the public arrive on the Long Walk ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday May 19, 2018. See PA story ROYAL Wedding. Photo credit should read: Peter Summers/PA Wire PA Armed police patrol on the Long Walk leading to Windsor Castle ahead of the wedding and carriage procession of Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Windsor, on May 19, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMENTOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Britain's Prince Harry (R) and Prince Harry's brother and best man Prince William, Duke of Cambridge greet well-wishers on the street outside Windsor Castle in Windsor on May 18, 2018, the eve of Britain's Prince Harry's royal wedding to US actress Meghan Markle. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Jonathan BradyJONATHAN BRADY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Royal fans bedecked with Union flags and crowns pose along the Long Walk in Windsor the day before the Royal wedding (AFP PHOTO / Odd ANDERSENODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Royal fans wearing the colours of the Union flag meander along the Long Walk in Windsor on May 18, 2018, the day before the Royal wedding. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMENTOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Royal fan Joseph Afrane, bedecked in Union flag colours, poses along the Long Walk in Windsor on May 18, 2018, the day before the Royal wedding. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMENTOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Souvenirs in Windsor ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Saturday. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday May 18, 2018. See PA story ROYAL Wedding. Photo credit should read: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire PA American TV presenter Gayle King CBS (right) outside Windsor Castle ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Saturday (Owen Humphreys/PA Wire) PA Royal fans in Windsor ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Saturday. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday May 18, 2018. See PA story ROYAL Wedding. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA Royal fans in Windsor ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Saturday. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday May 18, 2018. See PA story ROYAL Wedding. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA Royal fans outside Windsor Castle ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Saturday. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday May 18, 2018. See PA story ROYAL Wedding. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA Royal fans in Windsor ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Saturday. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday May 18, 2018. See PA story ROYAL Wedding. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA Pictures of Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle are seen in a box on a pavement in Windsor on May 18, 2018, the day before the Royal wedding. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / Paul ELLISPAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Royal fans including John Laughry (C) and Terry Hutt (R) are pictured near Windsor Castle in Windsor on May 18, 2018, the day before the Royal wedding. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMENTOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Royal fans including John Laughry (C) and Terry Hutt (R) sing for the television in Windsor on May 18, 2018, the day before the Royal wedding. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMENTOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A barrista poses with a 'Megharryccino', a Royal Wedding-themed coffee decorated with the faces of Britain's Prince Harryand Meghan Markle, in a coffee shop in Windsor )AFP PHOTO / Odd ANDERSENODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Fans spend the night in front of Windsor castle, England, Friday, May 18, 2018. Preparations continue in Windsor ahead of the royal wedding of Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Saturday May 19. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) AP Visitors take a selfie photograph near Windsor Castle in Windsor on May 18, 2018, the day before the Royal wedding. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMENTOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A woman selling flags featuring Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle near Windsor Castle in Windsor on May 18, 2018, the day before the Royal wedding. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMENTOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A picture shows Royal Family Top Trumps cards, a card game where you compare ratings and values to try to 'trump' and win your opponents card, showing (L-R) Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Britain's Prince Harry, hanging on a barrier in Windsor on May 18, 2018, the day before the Royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / Paul ELLISPAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A man with a Royal Wedding souvenir flag rides a bicycle past Windsor Castle in Windsor on May 18, 2018, the day before the Royal wedding. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / Odd ANDERSENODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images TOPSHOT - Royal fan Joseph Afrane waits near the proposed route of the carriage procession of Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle, in Windsor on May 17, 2018, two days before the Royal wedding. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFFOLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Royal fans wait along the proposed route of the carriage procession of Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle, in Windsor on May 17, 2018, two days before the Royal wedding. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFFOLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Royal fans wait along the proposed route of the carriage procession of Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle, in Windsor on May 17, 2018, two days before the Royal wedding. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFFOLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images TOPSHOT - A pedestrian walks past cut-out figures of Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle in Windsor on May 17, 2018, two days before the Royal wedding. Britain's Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. / AFP PHOTO / Oli SCARFFOLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WINDSOR, ENGLAND - MAY 17: Military personnel take part in a dress rehearsal of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle outside Windsor Castle on May 17, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) ***BESTPIX*** / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp US actress and fiancee of Britain's Prince Harry Meghan Markle (L) arrives with her mother Doria Ragland at Cliveden House hotel in the village of Taplow near Windsor on May 18, 2018, the eve of her wedding to Britain's Prince Harry. "This is a time for the country to come together and enjoy the day," he commented. Alliance leader Naomi Long also wished the couple well, revealing that her own journey down the aisle was not without hitches. "In the run-up to my wedding almost everything that could go wrong did go wrong," she said. "My dress went missing en route to the shop and only arrived a few days before the wedding. One of the tiers of my wedding cake was dropped on the way to the hotel and had to be redone - it was like something from a rom-com. "But, just like in the movies, on the day it all fell into place and we had a ball. "Ultimately, a wedding is just one day - the marriage afterwards is what matters." She added: "I wish Prince Harry and Meghan a wonderful wedding day but more than that, I wish them every happiness for their future together." The SDLP and Sinn Fein did not respond to requests for comment. Meanwhile, in Scotland, a tiny village that shares its name with Prince Harry's bride-to-be is set to celebrate today's royal wedding in style. Residents of Markle in East Lothian are planning an outdoor party for the locals to toast the happy couple, Local woman Lorna Field (63) said of Harry: "I think it's really good he's got something really nice and positive in his life. "I think they're probably going to experience more challenges because they've got to balance their own lives along with what is expected of them because of their role in the royal family. "I think if they look after themselves and keep focused on the fact that they got together for a reason and a purpose then they'll have a really good, fruitful life." Two men were left shocked but uninjured in a petrol bomb attack in Antrim. A large stone was thrown first smashing a window of the Parkhall Road property and landing in the living room floor at around 11.30pm on Friday. The petrol bomb was thrown afterwards, hitting only the window but causing smoke and scorch damage to its frame and the exterior wall. Two men, who were in the living room of the house at the time of the incident, were left shocked but uninjured, police said. Detective Sergeant Miller said: When officers arrived at the scene, along with colleagues from the NI Fire and Rescue Service, we found that the object had partially exploded outside the property. We are treating this as arson with intent to endanger life and are following a number of lines of enquiry. However, we would appeal to anyone who has any information or saw suspicious activity in the local area in the time leading up to the incident, to contact us on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1620 of 18/5/18. Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime. Gardai speak to people outside the farmhouse where the body of Anastasia Kriegel was found Gardai are confident DNA found at a murder scene will positively identify schoolgirl Anastasia Ana Kriegels killer. The 14-year-old was beaten to death with bricks and sticks, and subjected to a serious sexual assault in an abandoned farmhouse in Lucan, Co Dublin. Gardai are eager to question a 13-year-old boy, who was known to Ana, and who they believe is key to this murder investigation. He was one of two teenage boys who were the last to see Ana on Monday evening, the day she disappeared. Gardai believe she was murdered that day. Detectives spoke to the boys the day after she was reported missing as part of their investigation. Senior investigating officers hope to recover the killers DNA from the victim, her clothing, which was found near the body, and bloodstains in the building. The results from DNA tests are expected over the weekend. A forensic examination of a mobile phone owned by the murdered girl may also yield vital clues to the identity of her killer. A post-mortem examination by the Republics state pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy yesterday confirmed that Ana died from blunt force trauma to the head. She had been savagely assaulted with a blunt weapon, possibly a brick, in the farmhouse at Clonee Road, near St Catherines Park. The teenager was then left for dead. Her body was found without clothing, which was scattered nearby, on Thursday lunchtime at around 1pm. Gardai believe the murder weapons were at the farmhouse rather than brought to the scene. Its believed Ana was murdered soon after she went missing. Her worried parents contacted gardai at 8.30pm on Monday when she hadnt returned to her Leixlip, Co Kildare, home as it was out of character for her. The popular teenager was last seen in St Catherines Park, Lucan, at 5.30pm that evening. Her disappearance sparked an extensive search by gardai. They had been tracking her phone signal which was pinging off a nearby mast and showed that the phone was within the St Catherines Park area. Officers are now trying to track down friends and social media acquaintances, who had been in contact with Ana either earlier on Monday or over the weekend. They have already contacted the families of some of her friends with the intention of taking statements to help build up a picture of her final hours. Ana, who was originally from Russia, was adopted by her parents at the age of two and has a younger brother. Supt John Gordon said the murder victims family were extremely distressed and appealed for privacy. Officers yesterday combed the large field, searching for any evidence or clues to assist the murder investigation. They believe Ana travelled through the field before being beaten to death at the abandoned farmhouse. A primary theory being explored by detectives is that her killer had good local knowledge of the area. Officers have urged anyone with information to contact them. Guwahati : When the National Register of Citizens (NRC) updation process is going in Assam to detect illegal foreigners, a Foreigners Tribunal (FT) in Assam has served notices to a BJP legislator from southern Assams Barak valley and members of his family asking them to prove their Indian citizenship before the tribunal. According to the reports, the Foreigners Tribunal No 1 at Cachar had served a notice to BJP legislator of Borkhola assembly constituency Kishor Nath and six other members of his family including his wife as doubtful voters and asking them to prove with documentary evidence that they are Indian citizens. Apart from the BJP MLA, the tribunal had served similar notices to the BJP MLAs wife Nilima Nath, his four brothers Matilal Nath, Pradip Nath, Jagdish Nath, Manik Nath and sister-in-law Rakhi Nath. The BJP MLA and his family members will now have to appear before the tribunal in June next and have to prove that they are Indian citizens. Reacting over the tribunals notice, Kishor Nath said that, he is a son of the soil and they have been living in Barak Valley for three generations. We will submit our all documentary evidence before the tribunal that we are the Indian citizen. I am the elected MLA of Borkhola constituency. I shocked after receiving the tribunal notice, the BJP MLA said. The BJP MLA alleged that, the previous Congress government had directed the government officials and targeted them to file such type of cases in weekly, monthly basis. The newly married Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their way to the evening reception (Steve Parsons/PA) The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their own way to their evening reception with Harry at the wheel of a Jaguar with both bride and groom sporting a change of clothes. Meghan switched from her stunning elegant, formal pure white wedding gown by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, to a glamorous lily white halter neck design by Stella McCartney for the black tie evening do. Harry drove his new wife from Windsor Castle in a silver blue classic convertible Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero which was originally manufactured in 1968 and has been converted to electric power. Expand Close The newly weds changed clothes before the evening's festivities (Steve Parsons/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The newly weds changed clothes before the evening's festivities (Steve Parsons/PA) The happy couple waved and smiled as they headed to meet their friends at the celebration, which is expected to stretch into the early hours. Meghan wore shoes from Aquazurra made in silky satin, with nude mesh, with soles painted in baby blue. Expand Close The Jaguar bore a number plate detailing the wedding date (Steve Parsons/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Jaguar bore a number plate detailing the wedding date (Steve Parsons/PA) Her hair, in a relaxed up do, was styled for the reception by George Northwood. The cars number plate bore the date of the wedding, E190518. Guests were able to rest and change before the start of the evening celebrations following the lunchtime reception in the castles medieval St Georges Hall hosted by the Queen. Expand Close Close up of the ring worn by the newly married Duchess of Sussex (Steve Paresons/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Close up of the ring worn by the newly married Duchess of Sussex (Steve Paresons/PA) The closest friends of the newlyweds will be among those in attendance including Canadian stylist Jessica Mulroney and other confidantes such as Benita Litt and designer Misha Nonoo. The 17th century royal residence stands about half a mile south of Windsor Castle in Windsor Home Park. Expand Close Harry helps Meghan into the car before driving to Frogmore House (Steve Parsons/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Harry helps Meghan into the car before driving to Frogmore House (Steve Parsons/PA) It offers the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex the privacy to celebrate their marriage away for the cameras. Crowds crammed the streets of Windsor to celebrate the royal wedding. The mid-morning sun beat down on thousands of wellwishers, including some who had slept on the street overnight to bag the best spots, amid a sea of red, white and blue flags, T-shirts and bunting. Outside The Windsor Castle pub, which is along the procession route, there were women in feather boas and veils as though they were on a hen night and many others who were sporting paper crowns or fancy fascinators. A random three cheers for the royal couple rang out as assistant pub manager Shauna Carabini, 22, described the atmosphere as quite infectious. Expand Close Royal fans gather behind the barriers on the Long Walk, in Windsor (Oli Scarff/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Royal fans gather behind the barriers on the Long Walk, in Windsor (Oli Scarff/PA) She said: There have been people sleeping on the streets who have come from all over the world. It is a very British kind of celebration none of us know either of the people getting married but we are all invited to celebrate, smile and have fun. The weather helps and I have never seen Windsor looking so lovely and with so many police around I have never felt so safe. Without giving figures , she added it had been a record week for the pub. Security was obvious, with scanners on entry, large sections of the centre cordoned off and uniformed officers everywhere. Expand Close Spectators gather on the procession route (James Hardisty/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Spectators gather on the procession route (James Hardisty/PA) Royal superfan Margaret Tyler, 72, whose home in Wembley, north London, is full of royal memorabilia, joined the crowds in Windsor with her friend of 40 years David Jones, 82. Ms Tyler said: I had to come because it is such a special day, and that Meghan Markle was already well on her way to being a good member of the royal family. Mr Jones said: I will be having tea and crumpets to celebrate later. Debbie Hoover, 50, with her 21-year-old twin daughters Camille and Ashlyn, of Amarillo, Texas, made the wedding the main reason for their holiday. They slept outside overnight. Mrs Hoover, who was sporting an eye-catching fascinator in the shape of a swan because the Queen owns swans, said: Every girl wants to become a princess but in America you cant now it seems that you can. They make such a sweet couple. It is just so cool to actually be here. Ashlyn Hoover added: Meghan is just following her heart with what she thinks is right. It is a true love story. Tony Appleton, who bills himself as a town crier complete with his ceremonial outfit, said: I am so excited for Harry. I think at last he has found someone to tame him down. I am happy he has found this lovely American beauty. Prince George with his parents and sister (Andrew Matthews/PA) Prince George is already an old hand at public appearances before even turning five. The future king hid behind his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, during some of Saturdays wedding ceremony for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. It was thought to be his first public appearance in long trousers, and he certainly looked the part as he continues what will be a life led in the spotlight. Expand Close George makes his public debut in the arms of his mother outside the Lindo Wing (Jonathan Brady/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp George makes his public debut in the arms of his mother outside the Lindo Wing (Jonathan Brady/PA) Expand Close The Duchess of Cambridge carries her son Prince George following his christening (John Stillwell/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Duchess of Cambridge carries her son Prince George following his christening (John Stillwell/PA) Expand Close Prince George with his father as he prepares to meet baby sister Charlotte (Anthony Devlin/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Prince George with his father as he prepares to meet baby sister Charlotte (Anthony Devlin/PA) Expand Close Prince George picks up a few tips on being a monarch from his great-grandmother at Sandringham (Chris Jackson/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Prince George picks up a few tips on being a monarch from his great-grandmother at Sandringham (Chris Jackson/PA) Expand Close George wore pyjamas when he met then US president Barack Obama/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp George wore pyjamas when he met then US president Barack Obama/PA) Expand Close Prince George during his visit to Canada (Dominic Lipinski/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Prince George during his visit to Canada (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Expand Close Royal duties can be fun as George found out when he had a play in a helicopter in Germany (Dominic Lipinski/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Royal duties can be fun as George found out when he had a play in a helicopter in Germany (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Expand Close George on page boy duty at the wedding of his aunt, Pippa Middleton (Justin Tallis/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp George on page boy duty at the wedding of his aunt, Pippa Middleton (Justin Tallis/PA) Expand Close The first day at school is daunting for any child (Richard Pohle/Times/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The first day at school is daunting for any child (Richard Pohle/Times/PA) Expand Close George with his father at Warsaw Chopin airport (Dominic Lipinski/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp George with his father at Warsaw Chopin airport (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Expand Close George and Charlotte, with their father, braved the media when they met baby brother Louis (Kirsty O'Connor/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp George and Charlotte, with their father, braved the media when they met baby brother Louis (Kirsty O'Connor/PA) A massive security operation is under way in Windsor for the royal wedding (Kirsty OConnor/ PA) Police marksman, airport-style scanners and a plea for no confetti form part of the royal weddings security operation as more than 100,000 fans are expected to descend on Windsor. A ring of steel has effectively been created around Windsor Castle as it plays host to Prince Harry and Meghans wedding, with the costs expected to run into the millions. By 9.40am, British Transport Police (BTP) had already reported more than 20,000 passengers streaming through the towns stations. Officers with sniper rifles were spotted on roofs around the town in what is one of the largest public events handled by Thames Valley Police (TVP). We've seen some 20,000+ passengers pass through Windsor's stations so far! Crowds are still busy, please continue to use London Waterloo train services, capacity is much higher. Travel updates from @SW_Help, @GWRHelp and @nationalrailenq pic.twitter.com/jrOAiRG1He British Transport Police (@BTP) May 19, 2018 In a bid to ward off vehicles being used as weapons, as seen in the terrorist atrocities committed on London and Westminster Bridges, metal barriers have been installed around the Berkshire town. Armed officers, dog handlers and mounted police are also on the ground while, in the air, drones have been banned from flying over the estate and aircraft are restricted from flying below 2,500ft. Police on horseback make their way up Castle Hill in Windsor. #royalwedding pic.twitter.com/tFCF7xB2lP Catherine Wylie (@wyliecatherine) May 18, 2018 While confetti is not banned, TVP requested fans do not throw the potential security risk or other items throughout the day, particularly during the procession. Along with the security scanners, visitors are being warned not to leave belongings unattended and that they could be subjected to inspections. Out and about in Windsor? Please do not leave your bags unattended - you may find our officers inspecting them to check if they are a potential security issue! #RoyalWedding pic.twitter.com/6bbvWsqyXM Thames Valley Police (@ThamesVP) May 19, 2018 The operation was in progress months before the big day itself, and police were seen manning barricades outside the castle and sniffer dogs performing checks on Friday. The US actress is a big draw for American fans as well as Britons and police estimated more than 100,000 revellers would descend on the event. With huge crowds expected along the carriage ride route, it may be closed to latecomers if a safety issue is suspected. Confetti at the #RoyalWedding Please do not throw confetti or any other items at any time during the day, particularly during the procession. It poses a potential security risk and it's a bit of a pain to clean up! We hope everyone enjoys the day pic.twitter.com/wrMlIe8Hfy Thames Valley Police (@ThamesVP) May 18, 2018 TVP would work with Network Rail and BTP if this proved the case, and could order trains to stop coming to Windsors two stations. Almost every TVP officer is working on Saturday as Harry and Meghans 600 guests attend their wedding, 200 of which will celebrate at an evening reception hosted by the Prince of Wales at Frogmore House. The security operation for the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge cost police more than 6 million, according to figures revealed in April, with nearly half of that spent on overtime costs alone. But the cost of this royal spectacle cannot yet be confirmed. No arrests in relation to Windsors wedding celebrations had been made by 2pm, according to TVP and BTP. Three people have survived after an aging Boeing 737 with 110 people aboard crashed and burned shortly after taking off from Havana airport. It was Cubas worst aviation disaster in three decades and its third major air accident since 2010. My daughter is 24, my God, she's only 24!Beatriz Pantoja Skies were overcast and rainy at the airport at the time of Fridays disaster and Cuban state television said the 39-year-old jet veered sharply to the right after departing on a domestic flight to the eastern city of Holguin. The only thing we heard, when we were checking in, an explosion, the lights went out in the airport and we looked out and saw black smoke rising and they told us a plane had crashed, Argentine tourist Brian Horanbuena said. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said a special commission had been formed to find the cause of the crash. The plane had 104 mainly Cuban passengers and six crew members. Things have been organised, the fire has been put out, and the remains are being identified, he said. State airline Cubana, which operated the flight, has generally had a good safety record but is notorious for delays and cancellations and has taken many of its planes out of service because of maintenance problems in recent months, prompting it to hire charter aircraft from other companies. Mexican officials said the Boeing 737-201 was built in 1979 and rented by Cubana from Aerolineas Damojh, a small charter company that also goes by the name Global Air. Expand Close Mexico Cuba Plane Crash AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mexico Cuba Plane Crash Cubana Flight 972 went down just after noon a short distance from the end of the runway at Jose Marti International Airport. Firefighters rushed to extinguish the flames that engulfed the debris left where the jet hit the ground in a cassava field. Four crash survivors were taken to a Havana hospital, and three remained alive as of late Friday. State media reports stopped short of openly declaring that the rest on board were dead, but there was no word of other survivors by Friday night. Relatives of those aboard were ushered into a private area at the terminal to await word on their loved ones. My daughter is 24, my God, shes only 24! cried Beatriz Pantoja, whose daughter Leticia was on the plane. A statement from Mexicos Transportation Department identified the pilot and co-pilot as Captain Jorge Luis Nunez Santos and first officer Miguel Angel Arreola Ramirez. It said the flight attendants were Maria Daniela Rios, Abigail Hernandez Garcia and Beatriz Limon. Global Air said maintenance worker Marco Antonio Lopez Perez was also aboard. Expand Close Cuba Plane Crash AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cuba Plane Crash Outside the companys Mexico City offices, former Global Air flight attendant Ana Marlen Covarrubias said she had worked for the company for over seven years and knows nearly all the crew members. I dont have the words. Im very sad. Were in mourning, she said in tears. It was something really, really, really terrible; a tragedy for us. In addition to the Mexican crew, Cuban Communist Party newspaper Granma reported that the passengers were mostly Cubans plus five foreigners from countries it did not identify. Argentinas Foreign Ministry said two of its citizens had died in the crash. In November 2010 a Global Air flight originating in Mexico City made an emergency landing in Puerto Vallarta because its front landing gear did not deploy. The fire was quickly extinguished, and none of the 104 people aboard were injured. That plane was a 737 first put into service in 1975. Mexican aviation authorities said a team of experts would fly to Cuba on Saturday to take part in the investigation. First Vice President Salvador Valdes Mesa had met with Cubana officials on Thursday to discuss improvements to its service. The airline blames its spotty record on a lack of parts and airplanes because of the US trade embargo against the communist-run country. Last year a Cuban military plane crashed into a hillside in the western province of Artemisa, killing eight soldiers. In 2010, an AeroCaribbean flight from Santiago to Havana went down in bad weather, killing all 68 people on board, including 28 foreigners, in what was the countrys worst air disaster in more than two decades. The last deadly accident involving a Cubana-operated plane was in 1989, when a charter flight from Havana to Milan, Italy, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 126 people on board and at least two dozen on the ground. Cubas President Miguel Diaz-Canel, third from left, walks away from the site where a Boeing 737 crashed (Enrique de la Osa/AP) Three survivors have reportedly been taken to hospital in a critical condition after a plane crashed on take-off from an airport in Cuba. The Boeing 737 operated by Cubana de Aviacion crashed after leaving Jose Marti International Airport in Havana. The plane, with 104 passengers and nine foreign crew aboard, ploughed into a farm field where firefighters sprayed the charred fuselage with hoses. Residents living near the site said they saw at least some survivors being taken away in ambulances. A military officer said there appear to have been three survivors in a critical condition. Expand Close There were more than 100 passengers on board (Ramon Espinosa/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp There were more than 100 passengers on board (Ramon Espinosa/AP) Its a disaster, the officer said. State media also reported there were three survivors. An employee of a Mexican charter firm said the plane belonged to the company and it had a six-person Mexican crew. My daughter is 24, my God, shes only 24! cried Beatriz Pantoja. Her daughter Leticia was on board the plane. She and other family members were rushed to a private area inside an airport terminal in the afternoon. Expand Close More than 100 passengers were on board (Ramon Espinosa/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp More than 100 passengers were on board (Ramon Espinosa/AP) Cubana has placed many of its planes out of service due to maintenance problems in recent months. An employee who answered the phone at the Mexico City office of Aerolinea Global Air said that the Mexican crew included a pilot and a co-pilot. Firefighters rushed to extinguish flames engulfing the plane, which was meant to be on a short jaunt to the eastern Cuban city of Holguin. Government officials including President Miguel Diaz-Canel rushed to the site, along with a large number of emergency medical workers. On Thursday, Cuban First Vice President Salvador Valdes Mesa met with Cubana officials to discuss improvements to its service. The airline is notorious for its frequent delays and cancellations, which Cubana blames on a lack of parts and planes due to the US trade embargo on the island. Fridays crash was Cubas third major accident since 2010. WINDSOR, May 19: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gazed into each others eyes and pledged their eternal love Saturday as they married at St. Georges Chapel in front of hundreds of celebrity guests and millions of viewers around the world. The American actress arrived at a fanfare and walked down the aisle accompanied part of the way by Prince Charles and by 10 young page boys and bridesmaids. The children included 4-year-old Prince George and 3-year-old Princess Charlotte, children of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge. Markles sleek white dress, designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, had a boat neck and was made of silk. Her veil came to her waist in front and billowed out for many feet behind her long train. Harry and best man Prince William wore dark formal military dress, with white gloves and the frock coat uniforms of the Blues and Royals, and Harry kept his full red beard intact. As Charles and Meghan drew close to the altar, Harry said: Thank you, Pa. To Meghan, Harry said: You look amazing. Markle seemed poised and confident as she delivered her vows without so much as a quiver in her voice. She smiled broadly as the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby declared them husband and wife. Harry seemed a bit nervous but happy. A host of celebrities and athletes including Oprah Winfrey, Idris Elba, Elton John, George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, James Corden and David and Victoria Beckham watched the ceremony in the gothic chapel at Windsor Castle. Prior to the festivities, Queen Elizabeth II honored her red-headed, 33-year-old grandson with a new title: the Duke of Sussex. That means that Markle is now the Duchess of Sussex. The wedding was a global event, thanks to Harrys status as a senior British royal and Markles celebrity after starring on the U.S. television series Suits for seven years. The wedding pomp and ceremony complete with Anglican prayers and tradition, classical music, a gospel choir and a horse-drawn carriage ride through Windsor was beamed live to tens of millions of TV viewers across the world. Relatives at the ceremony included Charles Spencer, the brother of Harrys late mother Princess Diana, and Harrys cousin Zara Tindall and her husband. Also in attendance was the family of Prince Williams wife Kate: Parents Carole and Michael Middleton, sister Pippa Middleton and brother James Middleton. Harrys ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy was also among the congregation, as was Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, the ex-wife of Harrys uncle Prince Andrew. Outside the castle, thousands of fans crammed the streets of Windsor. Irene Bowdry, a lawyer from California, was aboard the jammed early train to Windsor. She booked her trip to England as soon as the wedding date was announced. An American in the royal family, isnt that so exciting? she said. The weather was balmy and clear, bathing the ancient stones of Windsor Castle in a beautiful spring light. Royal fans have been camping outside the castle for days, and British police have stepped up security, with sniffer dogs, barricades and patrols all over town. Windsor is absolutely bursting with excitement, said royal historian Hugo Vickers. There are cardboard cutouts of Meghan and Harry in every shop window, virtually. Theres bunting all over the place. Ive never seen so many people in the streets of Windsor. It is a time of transition for the British monarchy, one that seems filled with hope as William and Harry the two sons of Charles and the late Princess Diana step ever more confidently into the limelight. Many in the crowd, like Ana Karukin, a Brazilian nurse living in Florida, said they came to witness a moment of history. Weve got to be here for him and for her, my Meghan, my special girl, to support them, because its a beautiful time, she said. I wish that Diana was here, but shes in heaven watching over them. The brothers found the time amid the wedding hoopla to stroll outside the castle Friday evening to thank fans for coming. A smiling Harry gave a thumbs up and answered Great, thank you! when asked how he was feeling on the eve of his wedding. And it seems to be a time of joy for 92-year-old queen and her 96-year-old husband, Prince Philip, who plans to attend the ceremony despite his recent hip replacement surgery. She is seeing her grandson marry a woman who clearly has brought him the happiness hes often said was missing from his life after his mothers premature death. The family tableau played out on the broadest possible stage. Dozens of broadcasters set up on the castle grounds for a visual feast. The chapel itself is a masterpiece of the late Gothic style, and Windsor Castle has been home to British sovereigns for nearly 1,000 years. After the ceremony, the newlyweds will ride a horse-drawn carriage through the streets of Windsor, flanked by a British military procession with many officers on horseback. Then it will be off to the first of two gala receptions. The first will be hosted in the afternoon by the queen with finger foods, wine and champagne. The second, smaller reception is being thrown by Charles. A three-hour break in between will allow for a rest and a change of outfits for the lucky 200 invited to the evening soiree. The chapel service will reflect Markles American roots. The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, the African-American leader of the Episcopal Church, delivered the sermon, and the musical selections included versions of Ben. E. Kings Stand By Me and Etta James Amen/This Little Light of Mine. Harry invited buddies from his 10 years of military service which included tours of duty in Afghanistan and from many of the charities he supports, which have focused on helping wounded veterans or encouraging a more open discussion of mental health issues. Updated at 11:15 a.m. ET on 2018-05-21 Four years ago, members of the Royal Thai Army seized power in their second bloodless coup in eight years, convinced that deep societal and political cleavages were an existential threat. Despite their pledge to return power to civilians within two years, the military has clung to power, forestalling elections until mid-2019, barely even coming up with justifications any more. Many Thais and apologists for the military-royalist elites often justify coups as a necessary corrective. But this coup was different from the outset. Gen. Prayuth Chan-o-cha made it clear from the start that he was not going to make the same mistakes as his predecessor in 2006, with a quick restoration of democracy. Prayuth and his junta settled in for the long haul. The Orwellian-named National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) installed military officers in almost all branches of government and established a rubber-stamp parliament, of which over 58 percent of its members were uniformed or recently retired military, and 5 percent police. The remainder were ultra-royalist elites. There was no broader societal or socio-economic representation. The opposition was arrested, parties banned and dissent quashed. Ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was under investigation for mismanagement, fled the country in August 2017 and is living in exile with her brother, Thaksin. The junta, of course, demands their return, but it delighted with the prospect of a leaderless opposition. Power to issue royal pardons One of the underlying justifications for the coup was to ensure military control over the Royal succession. The revered monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, died in October 2016. Prince Vajiralongkorn, who commands none of his fathers popular respect, ascended the throne. To date, he has been managed by the military, which has appeased the capricious young monarch. The junta has no choice but to, as the king has one thing over them: the power to issue royal pardons to ousted prime ministers Thaksin and Yingluck. Should the king try to make his imprimatur on politics, or try to shore up his popular legitimacy, he could easily pardon the Shinawatras. That would make them untouchable. Nothing scares the junta more. Consolidating power The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has passed about 298 laws since 2014 and issued 500 orders. But in that time, the country continues to stagnate. The culmination of the NLAs efforts was the promulgation of the 2017 Constitution. The junta has pledged that future coups will become unnecessary. There is some truth to that: the 2017 Constitution consolidates power in the hands of unelected elites and military-appointed bodies. A prime minister can simply be appointed and political parties are weakened. The 250 man-senate will be appointed by the military, and will include the six senior-most military officials. There are all checks, but no balances. Nonetheless, the junta has pushed back voting some 0 times. Elections may be held in March 2019, at the earliest, but many think mid-2019 is more likely. Prayuth is actively campaigning to keep his job and working to build a new political party, all the while hamstringing the opposition. The insecure government has banned political gatherings of more than four people and criminalized peaceful protests. It has threatened opposition leaders with sedition charges to silence dissent. Since the coup, 94 people have been charged with lese majeste 75 with sedition, and more than 500 arrested. Civilians can be tried in military courts. Ahead of the anniversary of the coup, leaders of the opposition Pheu Thai Party were charged with sedition for holding a press conference. Article 44 of the interim Constitution gave the junta absolute power to act in anyway it saw fit. And yet, it has failed to fundamentally make any meaningful reforms. Obviously, Thailands scores in international surveys of democratization, human rights and rule of law have plummeted. The Economist Intelligence Unit rates Thailand as a hybrid regime, well past being a flawed democracy, but neither a full-fledged authoritarian regime. Between 2014 and 2017, its score in the EIUs democracy index fell by 14.1 percent, citing sharp declines in the categories of civil liberties, electoral process and pluralism. The annual Fragile State Index has seen sharp declines across most of the 12 categories it measures. But what is most striking is how much worse, some of them got between 2014 and 2017. For example, the politicization of security forces has increased by 16 percent between 2006 and 2014, but accelerated by 19 percent by 2017. Group grievances, which improved slightly between 2006 and 2014, fell by 6.3 percent in 2017. The coup, which was supposed to resolve factionalized elites, has done nothing of the sort. Thailand, according to FSI, has one of the most factionalized elites in the region, while its decline in human rights scores between 2014 and 2017 superseded almost every other country in Southeast Asia. Global Rule of Law Index has seen steady declines, as well. Across its range of measurements, Thailand is in the bottom third in Southeast Asia, but between 2016 and 2017, the trends intensified. Thailands score fell by 7 percent. Media freedom In terms of freedom of the press, Thailand continues its race to the bottom. In 2005, Reporters Without Borders rated Thailand 107th in the world. In 2018, it had fallen to 140th. The regime has a host of tools at its disposal to muzzle the press, including criminal sedition and defamation along with Article 112 (lese majeste) of the criminal code. The 2006 Computer Crimes Act was strengthened in 2016 giving the government broad, poorly defined and sweeping powers to censor the internet. A 2016 executive order allows the government to shut down any media on the grounds of national security. Journalists have regularly been charged with sedition, while the editor of the Bangkok Post, Umesh Pandey, was sacked this month for overly critical coverage of the thin-skinned junta. The Bangkok Post said in a statement that it was committed to editorial autonomy, rejecting any notion that there was government interference in editorial issues. Endemic corruption The lack of accountability and any meaningful checks and balances have ensured Thailand's endemic corruption has gotten worse. Although one of the justifications for the coup was to combat corruption, the junta and NLAs financial disclosures revealed soaring amounts of unexplained wealth, making an absolute mockery of any pretense that this was about eliminating fraud and profiteering. Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan is publicly derided for his luxury watch collection. According to Transparency Internationals Corruptions Perceptions Index, Thailands score fell between 2014 and 2017, and in global rankings it fell from 85th to 96th in the world. The juntas own anti-graft agency is currently investigating about U.S. $4 million in misappropriations from a program to help the poor. Anemic growth While the economy in 2017 grew at its fastest rate in the past five years (3.8 percent), the 10 years since the last coup saw anemic growth of only 3 percent. Growth is expected to slow in 2018 and 2019, with an over-valued baht, hurting exports, domestic consumption and private-sector investment. Thailands robust tourist sector has been a lifeline for the junta. The Fragile State Index has actually downgraded Thailands economy between 2014 and 20017. And its easy to understand why: the agricultural sector which is 8 percent of the overall economy, but one third of the population has been really hard-hit by the juntas policies. On a per capita basis, the bottom 45 percent of society is earning less than they did in 2014. Reuters recently reported that GDP growth has only increased 1 percent since the coup, but that the agriculture sector has seen negative growth since 2014. Say what you will about the Shinawatras and their populism, they did improve the livelihoods of the rural population. The government has announced 1.5 trillion baht (U.S. $46 billion) in infrastructure spending as a stimulus. But as is always the case in Thailand, the majority of that is concentrated in and around Bangkok. And with Thailands education system overly politicized and forced to focus on the 12 Core Thai Values enunciated by the junta, it is hard to imagine that the future workforce will be sufficient to get Thailand out of the middle-income trap. Double standard The Thai coup has done inordinate damage to Thailand diplomatically. Sanctions from Washington automatically kicked in, limiting engagements, especially in military-to-military relations. This infuriated the Thais, who are always quick to point to Americas double standard with its relations with Egypt. The junta quickly reached out to China, and to a lesser extent Russia, to supplant the U.S. alliance. The Thai military, now engaged in a range of bilateral military exercises with the Chinas Peoples Liberation Army, have ramped up arms imports from Beijing, including the purchase of three submarines, and are in discussions about establishing an armaments production and repair facility. Thailand quickly joined the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank and is part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. Nonetheless, the nation seem to be falling into the Chinese debt trap through a major high-speed railway project funded by Beijing at less than friendship rates. Diplomatically, Thailand was once a leader of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Today it still is, just for the authoritarian regimes that seek to emulate it. Cambodia has just passed its own lese majeste law to further stifle dissent. Political stability through force Prayuth vowed to return happiness to the people. The coup has done anything but that. There is more political stability, but that is only through force. The fissures in Thai society are as deep as ever, they have been papered over. Thailand, once an exemplar in the region for democratization, returning the military to the barracks, free speech and human rights, has continued to set itself back. A stultified polity, lagging economy that is being surpassed by its peer competitors, sinking political legitimacy and growing popular resentment bodes poorly for a junta that continues to cling to power. And the election in Malaysia that brought an end to the ruling Barisan Nasionals 61 year hold on power and investigations into former Prime Minister Najib Razak, are making Prayuth and Prawit all the more insecure. The best part about military coups is that they have so much ammunition to shoot themselves in the foot. Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College in Washington and the author of Forging Peace in Southeast Asia: Insurgencies, Peace Processes, and Reconciliation. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Defense, the National War College or BenarNews. Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (left), performs Friday prayers beside former Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in Kuala Lumpur, May 18, 2018. Updated at 9:15 a.m. ET on 2018-05-19 Former Prime Minister Najib Razak is to appear Tuesday before Malaysias anti-graft commission as investigators reopen a probe into how nearly U.S. $700 million of 1MDB state-fund money ended up in his bank accounts in 2013, agency sources confirmed Friday. A source said Najib was to appear before the investigators on Tuesday morning at the headquarters of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in Putrajaya. So far he is the only one called in for questioning, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity and was not authorized to speak to the media, told BenarNews. In 2015, MACC launched a probe into SRC International, a subsidiary of indebted state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad following the discovery that hundreds of millions of dollars linked to 1MDB had been deposited into two of Najibs personal bank accounts. He has claimed the money was a gift from a Saudi royal. The investigation ceased on Dec. 31, 2015, as then-Attorney General Apandi Ali declared his department had found that Najib committed no criminal offense. Najib has been the subject of a police searches at his residences and former office since Wednesday night, when he was served with a warrant. Early Friday, investigators said they had seized 72 suitcases that held cash, jewelry, watches and other valuables from an apartment unit in an affluent neighborhood of Kuala Lumpur. They said they also confiscated 284 boxes containing luxury handbags. The raid at a Pavilion Residences condominium building was one of six simultaneous raids, which police said were linked to a 1MDB investigation. The police said they searched four current residences linked to Najib, as well as his former official Prime Ministers Office and former official residence as PM. On May 9, Najibs Barisan Nasional coalition lost the general election, after which he was replaced as prime minister by Mahathir Mohamad the next day. Najibs lawyer, Harpal Singh Grewal, acknowledged that he had heard about the notice to appear before the anti-graft agency but declined to elaborate. I was not there when the document was delivered so I cannot say anything about it, Grewal told BenarNews, telling a reporter to contact the MACC as they will know more. On Monday, Dzulkifli Ahmad, a Najib-appointed MACC chief commissioner, resigned from the post he held since Aug. 1, 2016. Dzulkifli had replaced Abu Kassim Mohamed who was transferred to a minor position at a local university. Abdul Razak Idris, former MACC director of intelligence and investigations, told BenarNews that Abu Kassims transfer was a retribution for his investigation into 1MDB. Also on Monday, Abdul Razak went to the Kuala Lumpur MACC office to lodge a report against Najib on a charge that could carry a jail term of up to 20 years. Jho Low whereabouts In other developments on Friday related to the 1MDB affair, former Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin said he had a rough idea where Jho Low is, referring to Low Taek Jho, an adviser for 1MDB and close friend to Najib who has been described as being the mastermind behind the financial scandal. Daim called Jho Low, who has denied any role in 1MDB, the best witness in the scandal and urged the 36-year-old businessman to return to Malaysia and testify. I hope since he claims he is innocent, he would come back and assist us, Daim said. He also called for the authorities investigating the case to observe the rule of law, especially with regard to the individual rights of persons of interest. People must be treated with dignity. It doesnt matter, there must be equal treatment for everybody, Daim said. Reminding investigators that Najib is a former prime minister, Daim asked police to give him due respect. Nobody is stopping police from doing investigations, but not at 3 a.m., he said. Police began searching Najib-linked properties and his old office as prime minister Wednesday night and continued into Friday. On Thursday, after investigators had been in the former prime ministers private home for hours and safe crackers were drilling open a first-floor safe, his lawyer complained that police were harassing Najib and his family. The family is very stressed and tired with the noise and the long duration of the whole thing, Grewal told BenarNews. Najibs successor responded, saying the searches were conducted at the discretion of the Royal Malaysia Police. During the electoral campaign, Mahathir, 92, vowed to recover billions of dollars allegedly stolen from 1MDB and to prosecute any officials complicit in the scandal. In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice is trying to recover more than $1.7 billion in real-estate and other assets allegedly siphoned off through complex transactions from 1MDB. Najib formed the investment fund in 2009 ostensibly to pursue projects that would benefit citizens through development projects. CORRECTION: An earlier version erroneously reported that 284 designer handbags were seized as part of the police searches in Najib-linked residences. Worship These Hindu Gods For Love Faith Mysticism oi-Renu There are many Hindu Gods for love and not just Kamadeva. Even Lord Krishna, Chandra Dev, Goddess Parvati, Rati are few Hindu Gods worshiped for love. We all know the romantic side of Lord Krishna. That is why, many devotees worship Lord Krishna to get a handsome man like Him. Most of the people do not know but even Lord Shiva is worshiped as one of the Hindu Gods for love. Women fast on Mondays to impress Lord Shiva and get a loving husband like Him. Even Goddess Parvati is considered as the Hindu God for love and devotion. So, if you want to succeed in love and have the blessing of Him on your head, then worship these Hindu Gods for love. Hindu Gods For Love: Kamadeva: Kama means sensuous love, wish, desire, longing or sexuality and Deva means heavenly or divine. In the Atharva-Veda, Kama is described as desire and not sexual enjoyment. He is often compared to Eros of the Greeks, and Cupid of the Westerners. Kamadeva is also believed to be a demigod of the heavenly planets that are responsible for inducing lusty desires. There are myths that the young and handsome Kamadeva is the son of Brahma (created from the mind of Brahma). Kamadeva is also known as Manmadhan or Kama. Lord Krishna: The handsome and flirtatious Lord Krishna is also worshiped as one of the Hindu Gods for love and lust. Couples worship Lord Krishna and Radha to bring in love like Radha and Krishna. Rati: She is considered as the Hindu Goddess of love, carnal desire, lust and sexual pleasure. Rati is described as the daughter of Prajapati Daksha. Rati is the assistant of Lord Kamadeva. Women worship Rati to get love and physical compatibility. Lord Shiva: You would see a lot of women worshiping the idol of Lord Shiva. The calm and loving God is worshiped in different cultures to get a good and caring husband like Lord Shiva. Shivaratri, the festival of Lord Shiva is celebrated by women through fasting and offering prayers. It is said that fasting on Mondays for Lord Shiva helps one get married easily and get a loving partner like Him. Chandra Dev: Chandra means moon. The shining moon is worshiped to get a gorgeous and pure love. Chandra Dev is also worshiped as the Hindu God of lust and purity. These are few Hindu Gods for love who can be worshiped to get the love of your life. Guwahati : Two people were killed in a firing incident in Upper Assams Tinsukia district on Friday evening. The incident took place at Rupai Saiding area under Doomdooma police station in the Upper Assam district at around 8-10 pm. According to the reports, two armed miscreants had come into a shop and tried to snatch money from the shop owner. When people gathered at the area, the miscreants firing and tried to escape. In the firing incident, an employee of the shop and a civilian seriously injured and rushed to nearest hospital where they succumbed their injuries. One of the deceased persons has been identified as Jeet Barma. Meanwhile, Tinsukia police had arrested one miscreant and seized a motorcycle. Tinsukia district Superintendent of Police (SP) Mugdhajyoti Mahanta said that, police has launched operation to nab the another miscreant. Kathmandu, Nepal: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has been nominated as the parliamentary Party leader of the newly constituted Nepal Communist Party (NCP). A meeting of the NCPs parliamentary party held on Saturday unanimously nominated Prime Minister Oli, who is also the partys Co-chair, as the parliamentary party leader. SINDHULI, May 19: Public vehicles having more than 18 seats have been prohibited for operation along the BP Highway. The decision to this end was taken, bearing in mind road safety and safe travel. According to the District Police Office, Sindhuli's Superintendent of Police, Rameshwar Prasad Yadav, public vehicles with more than 2,000 mm wheelbase and 18 seats have been banned from plying on the highway. Permission from the Transport Office is required if any vehicle more than 18 seats needs to be operated here. Likewise, containers weighing more than 10 tons are also banned on the highway also known as the Banepa Bardibas Highway. Vehicles that are used to transport heavy equipment and construction materials need to acquire permission from the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport for the operation on the highway. He said they are committed to enforcing the decisions taken by the Department of Transport Management in response to an increasing number of road accidents resulted in from the overflow of vehicles more than the capacity of a highway. We wish to develop the highway as a safe zone for travel, SP Yadav added. The highway is not suitable for the operation of heavy and large vehicles. Sindhuli's Chief District Officer Gyan Prasad Dhakal said the District Administration Offices in Kavrepalanchowk, Dolakha, Ramechhap, Udyapyr and Mahottari districts have been urged to not pass vehicles failing to meet the above-mentioned criteria. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/5/2018 (1240 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us In 1968: Souris Valley division closing one-room schools SIXTY YEARS AGO After eight months of operations, the Brandon Transit System still shows a profit reading. In the four months from the first of the year to the end of April, city buses carried 358,342 passengers a total of 113,650 miles and showed a profit of $2,632.63 for doing so. G.D. Crawford, J. Willis Moore and Eric H. Davies, longtime members of the Brandon Kinsmen Club, have been honoured for their service to the club with appointments as life members. FIFTY YEARS AGO The Beautiful Plains School Division has had its plan to purchase the Burgess building on Hamilton Street in Neepawa as a division office approved. Snow and 40 F temperatures gave the May long weekend at Clear Lake an extremely slow start as only 2,371 people in 935 cars passed through the gate. Trustees of Souris Valley School Division at its recent meeting decided to close several one-room schools. Hebron and Millian schools close June 30 and students will go to Souris school. Grand Clairiere and Maple Leaf schools will also close and their students go to Hartney. The two-room school at Nesbitt will be closed and its students transported to Wawanesa school. Carroll school will remain open for students from Grade 1 to 6, with two teachers. Grade 7 and 8 students will be transported to Souris. Lauder school will remain open. FORTY YEARS AGO The official opening of The Poppe Shoppe at 34th Street and Victoria Avenue takes place today. At 1031 Rosser Ave., Joe Persins Pastry Palace has been open for business unofficially since May 12. However, acting Mayor Rick Borotsik will cut the ribbon for the official opening today. The Manitoba Liquor Control Commission has announced price increases of $3.10 on Cognac (from $16 to $19.10) and 75 cents on Scotch whiskey (from $8.70 to $9.45). A number of wines from France, Germany, Italy and Spain will increase ranging from 15 cents a bottle to $6.15 a bottle. THIRTY YEARS AGO Increasing demands of the worlds population, now heading toward six billion, are damaging the basic natural resources on which all life depends, said an annual UN report released this week. The 1988 State of the World Population Report said the Earth is gaining 80 million people a year, losing topsoil and tropical forests and creating desert lands. Brandon firefighters worked to extinguish a fire at 331 Cornwallis Cres. Smoke alarms may have saved the lives of three juveniles who were awakened by the alarms. Most of the interior of the $130,000 home was destroyed. TWENTY YEARS AGO Assiniboine Community Colleges international co-ordinator, Paul Derksen, will be leaving ACC in June to take up a position as team leader for a project in Bangladesh designed to help local farm groups adopt new production and marketing methods for their produce. The son of Mennonite missionaries, Derksen grew up in Congo (formerly Zaire). Last week, Christian Heritage student Jonathon Perrin, 17, was awarded a one month trip to Israel at the Canada Wide Science Fair in Timmins, Ont., for his efforts building a better bulk coffee bin. Don Allan, the general manager of the Brandon Economic Development Board, is resigning and soon moving to B.C. to take a similar position with the Prince Rupert Development Commission. TEN YEARS AGO Despite slightly above average visitor numbers at Riding Mountain National Park, a Wasagaming RCMP spokesman said this years Victoria Day long weekend was extremely quiet. "It was the best weekend weve ever had," Cpl. Brian Huff said. There was hardly anything at all. Our calls were at a bare minimum." As of yesterday afternoon, Huff said police had taken only 19 people into custody since Friday, all of them liquor related. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/5/2018 (1240 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Andrea Allingham said she couldnt have asked for a better child. Growing up, her daughter was smart, talented and creative, Allingham said, interested in art and horseback riding. To this day, Allingham describes her daughter as very kind and compassionate. Shes also an addict. "Theres a misconception that addicts suddenly become evil," Allingham said. "Shes still kind, shes still compassionate, shes still considerate of us if she was sitting here right now, you wouldnt think she was struggling with anything." But at 23 years old, Allinghams daughter is struggling with a serious opiate addiction. Allingham said she noticed a change when her daughter switched high schools in Grade 9. She started drinking occasionally when she stayed over at friends houses and started smoking. She was introduced to marijuana. All things Allingham chalked up to being a normal, rebellious teenager. Allingham said her daughter started going out for longer periods of time, and she was introduced to harder drugs at some point along the way. She knows there was a time when her daughter was doing crystal meth, Allingham said, but believes shes using morphine now. She isnt sure if her daughter is taking it orally or injecting it. "Over the past two years its been really bad. I think shes been suffering," Allingham said. "Its not fun for her its work just trying to avoid the symptoms of going off the drugs." Her daughter has detoxed by herself twice, Allingham said, but wasnt able to make it through the second attempt. She wants to get treatment, but doesnt think any public systems will help her. "I dont know what I expected. I was very judgmental before this happened to us thinking well, those people (addicts) have problems because they came from people who didnt look after them properly, or they were neglected," Allingham said. "I think thats part of the stigma and why we have this whole issue of no one wanting to talk about it Ive heard in my own circle of family and friends that (addicts) are kind of getting what they deserve, and you feel kind of ashamed. I feel ashamed that I let this happen to my child. People can tell you that it isnt your fault, but still in (your heart) you still wonder." Linda Sitter lays awake some nights, she said, wondering what she could have done differently in raising her youngest daughter a meth addict who has turned to selling drugs, theft and prostitution to feed her addiction. "Ive searched every little corner and thing I can think of that I might have said things that we should have done differently," Sitter said. "As much as my mind is at peace that I didnt do anything to cause the addiction, my heart is not there. In my heart, I still feel like I must have done something." Sitter said her daughter has always been her "wild child," sneaking out of the house at an early age and fooling around with alcohol and drugs. Sitter thought she would settle down once she met her now ex-husband, she said. But one summer she went away to work at the fair and came back with a "full-blown addiction." "Its been a long road thats still ongoing. Its now evolved into a life of prostitution, a life of crime sort of a natural progression, I mean, they have nothing else," Sitter said. "The hardest part right now is every day checking Facebook to see if shes posted anything to see if shes OK. Every day is checking Backpage (to) see if shes posted for her career of choice. Every day is checking the police blotter. Every day is wondering is today going to be the day that Im going to get the phone call. I dont try to dwell on it, Ive been doing this long enough that I know it doesnt help, but its always there." There have been times Sitters daughter has reached out for help in an attempt to get her life back on track, Sitter said, but has fallen back into her addiction each time. Its put a strain on her family. Her and her husband have been married for 47 years, she said, adding they should be settling down and enjoying life. "It consumes every part of your life If youre the parent of an addict, its almost like youre addicted to the addiction," Sitter said. "You spend a lot of time and energy focused on the addiction you are addicted to the addict." The moment Jill Kennedys 30-year-old son admitted to her he had a meth addiction and asked for help getting clean, she jumped in feet first to help him. "I just sort of put my life on hold to help him He slept over that night and as he was sleeping I was on the internet, looking up crystal meth and symptoms," Kennedy said. "Thats when I learned everything he was displaying was classic meth psychosis. Paranoia, delusions, fear theyre being followed, just really irrational thoughts." Kennedy remembers driving with her son once when he became convinced someone was following them, she said. He scribbled instructions for her on a piece of paper to take him to the edge of town and drop him off, but to keep talking as if he was still in the car. Kennedy got her son into the Behavioural Health Foundation in Winnipeg, she said, but had to help him detox in her home. "He had so many sores on his face I took the mirror out of the bathroom so he wouldnt be trying to get at (the sores) I guess it felt awful so he was trying to squeeze the crystals out of his skin," Kennedy said. "He didnt want people to see him either, the way he looked. He was very self-conscious." Three weeks into his treatment, however, he ran away from the facility, got a bottle of vodka from the liquor store and drank it. He woke up in the hospital after passing out on a roadway, and was immediately kicked out of the treatment program. "Ive learned to let go. As a parent you cant control what theyre going to do. Its one of the hardest things that youre going to learn as a parent, is that you have to let them fall down," Kennedy said. "People say, theyre not ready until theyve hit rock bottom, but thats not true. When it comes to these harder drugs, rock bottom could be death. Im more than happy to help him do whatever he needs to get better It has to be when hes ready. He has to make the choices." When Jen Does boyfriend hit rock bottom, she said she almost lost him. Until that point, he had been hiding a cocaine addiction from her for two years, Jen said, but the addiction spiralled to the point he had to quit his job. Jens real name is not being published by The Brandon Sun at her request, in order to stay anonymous. "He attempted suicide, it got really bad," Jen said. "He did several grams of coke that day trying to kill himself by overdosing We literally sat in the hospital emergency room all day. Hes going through withdrawals hes puking, hes peeing his pants, hes convulsing it was really bad." After learning there was nowhere to detox, Jen said they decided to do the detox at home. "It was a very stressful and long process. We did it at home with traditional medicines and marijuana, which helped him a lot actually. He called the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba every day, saying, "I need help, I need to get in," Jen said. "Not a lot of people can detox at home, it was hell quite honestly. If I didnt have his moms help, I dont know what we would have done. I think its dangerous to be doing it at home. Im not a medical professional." At the time of the original interview, Jen said her boyfriend completed the AFM program and was maintaining sobriety. Since then, she said her boyfriend relapsed and the two have separated. "Sometimes trying to hold on to an addict is like trying to hold on to a cactus," Jen said. "The harder you squeeze, the more youre going to get hurt." For Johanna, whose name is also not being published, changed, remembering her daughters struggle with an addiction to cocaine brings her to tears. Johanna realized her daughter had a problem in the fall of 2014, she said, when she went missing for 10 days. "It just broke our hearts," Johanna said. "We knew somehow drugs were involved now we know it was cocaine." They ended up finding her daughter in a hotel through her friends, but her daughter didnt want to see her, Joanna said. "It was so out of character. I dont think that was the first time she used, but it might of been the first big binge that went too far She didnt want to see us when she was in this state. She was too embarrassed." Her daughter tried to quit a few times, on her own as well as attending AFM, Johanna said, but each time she relapsed. It got to the point where her daughters boyfriend called them one night because she was suicidal. "She admitted she was in a bad state. She said, Im just walking by the counter looking at knives I just think it could be over in a minute, it could be over. I took her to emergency the doctors treated her really good and she was admitted to (the Centre for Adult Psychiatry)," Johanna said, wiping tears from her cheek. Eventually her daughter made the decision to seclude herself at the family cabin in an attempt to get clean once and for all, Johanna said. She has been clean ever since. "We were so proud of her that she did this on her own," Johanna said. "She did let some of the immediate family know (about her addiction) eventually, they were all so supportive. It was a very private thing that I would talk to my counsellor about, and thank goodness her dad and I have a very strong marriage that we were able to handle something like this." Johanna, like Jen, Kennedy, Sitter and Allingham, have found solace in the Westman Family of Addicts support group. "Its totally different to talk to other people whove been through that, its amazing," Johanna said. "To share stories and talk to other people who have so much common and be able to support each other, its been great its really good healing." Kennedy said she hopes that, as a group, theyll be able to make a change in the community. "(Addiction) is not going to go away and what we have in common is a loved one who is battling an addiction," Kennedy said. "The more that we bring it to the forefront, we make it acceptable to talk about the problem we can remove the stigma, which is really crucial." edebooy@brandonsun.com Twitter: @erindebooy What began as an in-house project at her local school has earned a 14-year-old student from Westman a gold medal at a national science fair in Ottawa. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/5/2018 (1240 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us What began as an in-house project at her local school has earned a 14-year-old student from Westman a gold medal at a national science fair in Ottawa. Amy Gudmundson received the top prize in the junior category at the Canada-Wide Science Fair this week for her project on worm composting, otherwise known as vermicomposting. SUBMITTED Fourteen-year-old Ecole Jour de Plaine student Amy Gudmundson with her gold medal from the Canada-Wide Sciene Fair in Ottawa. The Grade 8 student from Ecole Jours de Plaine in Laurier, just north of McCreary, was a gold-medal winner and runner-up in the best of fair category at the Western Manitoba Regional Science Fair last month, earning her a spot at the national fair out east. After a few days of public events and tours around Ottawa, Gudmundson received the news that she had won first place at the fairs awards gala on Thursday night. "I was very shocked," she said. "It was something that I was not expecting and so it was wonderful when they called my name up." Her project, "Notre avenir avec le vermicompostage!" or "Our future with vermicompost!" was based on a pair of experiments she conducted using vermicompost, a method that uses worms to break down organic material. SUBMITTED Grade 8 student Amy Gudmundson, from Ecole Jour de Plaine in Laurier, with her gold-winning Western Manitoba Regional Science Fair project "Notre avenir avec le vermicompostage!" or "Our future with vermicompost!" Gudmundson started a vermicompost program at her school in April of last year, collecting food and vegetable waste in each classroom and composting them using the same process. The aim was to introduce a project at school that was environmentally-friendly and could help reduce their carbon footprint by limiting the amount of organic waste that ends up in a landfill. After receiving a lot of positive feedback her first couple of months, Gudmundson decided to continue her work the following school year. With the Western Manitoba Regional Science Fair approaching and a recent outbreak of E. coli in romaine lettuce, Gudmundson decided to use the fair as an opportunity to answer some questions she had: How much compost would you need to successfully grow a plant and could you compost certain foods safely? "Since vermicomposting isnt something that is very well known, and I couldnt find much scientific proof and research to back up some questions I was asking, I decided to lead my own experiments," she said. Her first experiment tested different proportions of vermicompost, while the second tested the soil for pathogenic bacteria, such as E. Coli or salmonella. The results showed that soil made up of 70 per cent vermicompost higher than her initial hypothesis of 50 per cent was the best proportion to use for indoor plants. Her second experiment, meanwhile, found that the soil contained no presence of pathogenic bacteria, as she had expected. Her findings not only won her a pair of gold medals, but earned her a $4,000 entrance scholarship to Western University in London, Ont., and the chance to showcase her project at different schools in Ottawa. "Its really nice to be able to broadcast elsewhere and have people as interested in science as I am and ... letting me explain my work that Ive done," she said. Following her gold-medal finish, Gudmundsons classmates sent her a video congratulating her on the win. She will be joining them this weekend in Quebec for a planned French trip with her school. As for next year, Gudmundson hopes to keep her vermicompost project going as she moves on to Grade 9 at Jours de Plaine. But coming off of a successful science fair, she said she was thankful for the support she has received from her school. "Its really nice to know that Ive got everyone backing me up at home." mlee@brandonsun.com Twitter: @mtaylorlee By Kalyeena Makortoff Wells Fargo is leaning towards a Brexit contingency plan that could see the US bank bulk up its Dublin office with hundreds of staff. It is understood that an enlarged operation in Ireland is one of the most likely options for the group, which has said it will confirm its post-Brexit arrangements in the coming months. The prospective move would involve a notable increase to its approximately 115-strong workforce in Dublin, with one source saying the number of additional staff could be in the low triple digits signalling anywhere from 100 to 300 positions. It is likely that roles would be filled through a mix of relocations and local hiring. Dublin is home to the head office of Wells Fargos regional banking operations, while London hosts additional entities including its investment bank. Wells Fargo has a total of about 1,200 staff in London. Wells Fargo declined to comment, but said it was committed to its EMEA business and clients and was actively recruiting across the region including in Ireland. The Dublin-based roles will support the business-as-usual activities of WFBI and its customers in the EEA countries, the company said. An announcement on our post-Brexit arrangements will be made in the coming months. We continue to monitor Brexit negotiations and we expect to be operational when the UK leaves the EU bloc. It is understood that Wells Fargo is still in discussions with several regulators including the Central Bank of Ireland. Wells Fargo is currently preparing to move its 1,200 London staff into a new UK headquarters on Londons King William Street later this year. Reports of the 300m (344m) deal to buy the building were widely regarded as a significant commitment to the UK in the months following the Brexit vote. If Wells Fargo follows through on a decision to bolster operations at its Dublin office, it would join another large US bank, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, which recently detailed plans to relocate up to 125 UK staff to its Irish site. The corporate filing explained that the relocations would affect Bank of America staff working in control and support function roles including finance, risk, compliance, tech and operations as well as wholesale credit starting in July this year. Press Association The 88 members of An Garda Siochana who lost their lives in the line of duty were remembered earlier. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan was among those in attendance at a commemoration event in Dublin Castle. Minister @CharlieFlanagan: Everyday An Garda Siochana works to protect us when we are at our most vulnerable. It is appropriate that we take a moment today to remember those members who have lost their lives over the years in service of others. pic.twitter.com/fyOvc5OAhS Department of Justice (@DeptJusticeIRL) May 19, 2018 He paid tribute to the courage of those who 'sacrificed so much'. President of the Garda Representative Association, Ciaran O' Neill outlines the important of today's ceremony, saying: "Today was the ninth anniversary of this annual event that takes place in Dublin Castle. "It commemorates the lives of the 88 people who sacrificed their lives for the country. Minister @CharlieFlanagan: We remember with pride the courage of those who sacrificed so much so that we may go about our daily lives without fear. On behalf of the Government, I wish to express my deepest sympathies to the families of those whose lives were cut so short. pic.twitter.com/aNul8yXm1O Department of Justice (@DeptJusticeIRL) May 19, 2018 "From the Association's point of view, we think it's very valuable - particularly for the family members - and our thoughts today are with all the family members of the deceased members of An Garda Siochana. "It just shows the dangerous job that we do. Every day we put on the uniform, we never know what is going to happen." A 27-year-old man has been charged with possession of firearms in Dublin. Keith O'Reilly with an address at Bunratty Drive in Coolock was arrested on Thursday evening and appeared before Criminal Courts of Justice this morning. A submachine gun and four handguns were recovered in Coolock on April 3. The firearms were located in a backpack which had been discarded a short time earlier. He has been remanded in custody to appear before Cloverhill District Court on Wednesday. - Digital Desk Update: Gardai investigating the murder of a 14-year-old girl in Dublin are awaiting DNA results. Ana Kriegel was found dead in Lucan on Thursday after going missing on Monday. Ana Kriegel went to school on Monday and later that evening visited the local St. Catherine's Park but did not return home and was reported missing. It sparked a major search by gardai including local officers, the water unit and civil defence. The body of the 14-year-old was discovered in a derelict farmhouse on the Clonee Road in Lucan on Thursday afternoon. Door to door enquiries are being carried out by gardai in the area, while a forensic examination is being carried out at the scene. No arrests have been made. Officers are trying to trace her last movements and are appealing for witnesses to contact Lucan Garda Station. Earlier: Gardai investigating murder of 14-year-old Ana Kriegal make no arrests No arrests have been made by Gardai investigating the murder of Ana Kriegel in Dublin. They are trying to trace the last known movements of the 14-year-old who was found dead in a derelict farmhouse on the Clonee Road in Lucan on Thursday afternoon. The discovery was made after she was reported missing on Monday evening. Flowers at the derelict house and farmyard on the Clonee Road, Lucan where the body of 14-year-old Ana Kriegal was found. Gardai began treating her death as murder after a post-mortem was carried out by the State Pathologist Marie Cassidy in the early hours of Friday morning. It has been reported that Ms Kriegel was the victim of a violent assualt. State Pathologist, Dr. Marie Cassidy at the scene at a derelict house and farmyard on the Clonee Road, Lucan. The teenager had been missing from her home in nearby Leixlip on Monday, her family reported her missing at around 8pm that evening. She was last seen at St Catherine's Park outside Lucan at around 5.30pm on Monday - around a kilometre from the farmhouse where her body was found three days later. Gardai are now focusing on who Ana was with and how she made her way from the park to the unused buildings. There are a number of routes from the park to the derelict farmhouse and invesitgators are trying to figure out what route Ana took. The derelict house and farmyard on the Clonee Road, Lucan where the body of a female was found this afternoon. Photo: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin. A family friend has said it would be completely out of character for Ana not to be in contact with her family. Speaking to KFM, local TD and family friend Catherine Murphy says her parents knew something was wrong when she went missing on Monday evening. She said: She was a permanent communicator and they knew very early this was out of character for her. "I think people are afraid and until this is resolved they will continue to feel that. "This is just such an unusual crime, it is very hard to process it and the community are feeling that." Gardai at the scene at a derelict house and farmyard on the Clonee Road, Lucan. Her school Confey Community College released a statement saying it is a terrible tragedy for the Kriegel family, their school and community. It also says they are deeply saddened by Anastasia's death and their thoughts are with the Kriegel family and friends. The school issued a letter to parents and an advice sheet for students on how to cope when something terrible happens. Ana was also a member of local dance group Dance LA who have also expressed their sadness at the news of Ana's death on Facebook. An appeal has been made for anyone with any information to come forward. Gardai want to hear from anyone who was in St. Catherine's Park or the Clonee road area on Monday evening and are also appealing for anyone with dashcam footage to come forward. Flowers at the derelict house and farmyard on the Clonee Road, Lucan where the body of 14-year-old Ana Kriegal was found. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin. Superintendent John Gordon from Lucan Garda Station is leading the investigation, he says every support is being given to Ana's family, who are "extremely distressed." He said: As you can imagine at this time they are receiving a lot of support from An Garda Siochana but they are extremely distressed and they are also looking for the public's assistance and privacy as well. "They have another child in that house so they need to be careful around that." Garda forensic team at the scene outside a deserted building in Lucan. He said the body was found as part of a gardai search for Anastasia. Gardai had been searching the 200-acre St Catherine's Park since the teenager went missing. They found her body in a disused farmhouse on the Clonee Road at about 1pm on Thursday. The scene at Clonee Road remains sealed off as the Garda's technical examination continues. Gardai at the scene at a derelict house and farmyard on the Clonee Road, Lucan. - Digital Desk Update 5.50pm: By Olivia Kelleher A campaign for accountability and change in relation to the Cervical Cancer controversy cannot afford to lose momentum with the women of the country needing to ensure that the issue is kept on the agenda, the organiser of a rally in Cork warned today. Hundreds of women and men gathered at Bishop Lucey Park this afternoon at 3pm and marched to the city centre bearing placards which said "Women's Lives Matter." One of the individuals behind the protest, Lisa Ryan Bermingham, said the women impacted by faults in Cervical Check were showing tremendous courage and composure in the face of horrific trauma. She admitted she was furious at the extent of the scandal. "They (the HSE) took our lives for granted at the end of the day. We are not just standing up for women around today. We are standing up for future generations. "Can you trust (the Government) with anything? We want to keep it in the limelight even if we have to protest every month. "We need the people to support us. We have to be in this for the long haul. We have to go up outside that Dail." Crowds gathering at Bishop Lucey Park for the protests against the #CervicalCheck scandal pic.twitter.com/UzygaZSgWz Fiona Ryan (@CllrFionaRyan) May 19, 2018 Lisa said Cork based widower, Stephen Teap, who lost his wife Irene to cervical cancer amid deficiencies in her screening had reached out to them sending a "beautiful message." "He was robbed of his wife and their kids of a mother. Her parents were robbed of their daughter." Blogger Nikola Barrett, who brought people together for the march, said she was infuriated by the situation. "People are angry. They are very saddened and upset as well. We decided action has to happen. The message is accountability, consequences and change. CervicalCheck has to be overhauled and torn down and rebuilt. We want no more outsourcing of the smears." Nikola says women are fed up of the health sector. "The carnage and devastation that has been left behind. There was no regard for them (the women) at all when the decision was made not to disclose the information about their health. Something has to be done." She said the putting of faces to the names of the victims of the scandal had galavanised her to action. Meanwhile, a mother and daughter were among the attendees at the vigil. Linda Keating from Shandon in Cork said she was outraged by how women such as Vicky Phelan and Emma Mhic Mhathuna were treated. "I think it is a disgrace about how the women were treated. I am here in solidarity for the women who have passed and the women who are currently going through treatment. It is all young women. It is horrific." #cervicalcheck our fight song. Women won't stop fighting for justice pic.twitter.com/6ZJYxFttte Little Miss Sunny McNothin (@sunbabe08) May 19, 2018 Her mother Christine Meldrum from Ballyvolane in Cork said whole swathes of the HSE needed to be fired. "It is getting worse and worse. It is disgraceful and they need to go." A number of women wore pink for the march. The march was originally due to be held outside St Finbarr's Hospital on the South Douglas road in Cork. However, it was moved to the city centre because the interest required a bigger venue. Earlier: Protests to take place in Dublin and Cork following CervicalCheck scandal Protests are being planned in Cork and Dublin today, in response to the fall-out from the CervicalCheck Scandal. In Dublin, a group of concerned women called Protest Cervical Check will meet outside the Dail at noon - after setting up social media accounts on Twitter and Facebook. In Cork, a march is taking place at 3pm from Bishop Lucey Park - with the organisers urging marchers to wear bright pink. Crowds gathered in Tralee in support of Emma Mhic Mhathuna. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says the Government has been taken unprepared by the controversy and have been grappling to deal with it. He said: "When it comes to a lot of issues, whether it's Brexit or the budget or even Storm Ophelia or Storm Emma, we knew those things were coming, we were able to prepare for them. "This was very different. We are only finding out facts at the same time as the media were or the opposition were. "We weren't able to respond to it in the way we might like to have so I understand the dissatisfaction that a lot of people feel around that." - Digital Desk Police say one person has been killed and another wounded in a shooting between people leaving a high school graduation ceremony in Georgia. A Clayton County Police statement said "one person is now confirmed deceased" after the Friday night shooting. When Remonda's daughter Sophia, 9, gets upset, Remonda will ask her if she "needs to go bounce it out". Sophia will then go outside and spend five minutes jumping on a trampoline, a strategy Remonda adopted from her daughter's school, which has recently installed a trampoline and a swinging seat to help children with behaviour management issues feel calmer and more ready to learn. Cook School recently brought in outdoor and indoor trampolines and other playground equipment to use endorphins to help balance students' moods. Credit:Louise Kennerley Cook School, in Sydney's west, has also given students "calm cards" that they can use to ask for some time out of the classroom. "If a child feels like things are getting too heated, they can pull the card out and take a breather or go on a little trampoline in the classroom's calm corner," Ms Constandinou said. Glover, who plays Lando, concurs. "I feel like part of the reason we do any of this is for the process," he says. "Like, we are going to go through this process, but at the end it will have to be this exact thing. And nobody will see an imitation." The character of Han Solo was introduced in the first Star Wars film, a smuggler boasting of having made "the Kessel run in 12 parsecs" who is paid to transport the old Jedi knight Obi-Wan Kenobi and farm boy Luke Skywalker to Alderaan to deliver the stolen Death Star plans to Princess Leia's adoptive father, Viceroy Organa. The second Star Wars film, 1980's The Empire Strikes Back, introduced Lando Calrissian, by then the administrator of Cloud City who initially offers Han Solo and Princess Leia safe haven from the Empire but ultimately sells them out to the Emperor's sinister apprentice Darth Vader and the bounty hunter Boba Fett. (Fear not, he later comes good.) In that film Ford and Williams spent perhaps eight minutes in shared scenes; in the next chapter, Return of the Jedi, only a few minutes more. For Ehrenreich and Glover that was not as substantial a reference point for the shared chemistry between the two characters as needed. "A lot of [the chemistry] comes in the writing and I think one of the things that they did a great job of with the script is not only talking very much to the language of these characters and their rhythms and dynamics but kind of taking moments that happened in the early movies and extrapolating them into whole sequences or storylines," Ehrenreich says. For he and Glover, Ehrenreich says, it was "just about hanging out and feeling that out". "It was easier because you could make mistakes and be not quite there yet with those things and it's not the opposite. It would be different if I was playing afterwards, then I would be like what happened and I have to make up a bunch [of stuff]." Adds Glover: "I think it's easier to pretend the beginning of a relationship because it's the beginning of a relationship." As for the story itself, there is scant detail. "It's a story about Han Solo when he is younger," says Ehrenreich. "And there's Lando and a ship called the Millennium Falcon and there's a guy who is a Wookie ..." OK, so here are a few more details: Woody Harrelson plays Han's mentor Tobias Beckett, Emilia Clarke plays Qi'ra, Han's "best friend", Phoebe Waller-Bridge voices Lando's droid L3-37 and the film features, among other things, a "Papillon-like" jailbreak side story which is where the friendship between Han and Chewbacca, played by Joonas Suotamo, is cemented. (Footnote for the diehard fans: Anthony Daniels, who plays C-3P0 in the Star Wars films, cameos as a Wookie.) The film is described as a space Western. "I think [that applies to] certain sequences in the movie," Ehrenreich says. "One of the things that's great about the movie is that it's such a big adventure film, it happens on many different worlds and some of those worlds have a very Western feel to them." The film's screenwriters, Jonathan and Lawrence Kasdan, are notably fans of the genre. "They love those movies and they really brought that feel to it," Ehrenreich says. "And Han being a space cowboy in certain ways, it's kind of appropriate." (Additional footnote for the diehard fans: the elder Kasdan, Lawrence, co-wrote The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, The Force Awakens and Raiders of the Lost Ark) "They speak Star Wars," Ehrenreich says. "They know the language and they know the detail and they know the characters inside and out. It was a wonderful resource to have them there and it also makes you feel like you are part of the original lineage." Star Wars creator George Lucas also visited the set, Ehrenreich adds. "Feeling like you are a part of this thing which people care so much about is great, and particularly this one, in particular being a part of this one, because it's so fun." Ehrenreich says. "This is the one that I think I would most want to go see." Perhaps the most dramatic moment in the making of the film was its headline-creating change of directors. Six months after principal photography began Lord and Miller were let go with "creative differences" blamed. According to reports, Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy was unhappy with their shooting style and their emphasis on comedy over the more serious tone of the existing Star Wars franchise films. Seemingly at the eleventh hour, though a substantial reshoot followed, Ron Howard a friend and collaborator of Lucas' was brought in to take over directing duties. "I'm beyond grateful to add my voice to the Star Wars Universe," Howard said at the time. By all accounts the results are solid, and early reaction to the film's trailers has been overwhelmingly positive. "I loved Phil and Chris and it was just really what they said ... just a difference of feeling," Ehrenreich said. "When Ron came in, I think he had a week to prepare or something, he just spoke the language so quickly. I don't know if that is because of his relationship with Lucas or just being around it. "I think [Ron] went opening day to A New Hope and he watched it and left and then went right back in and watched it again," Ehrenreich adds. "So it's kind of in him and it was wonderful. He understood where everyone was at, [he was] so gracious in that way." For Ehrenreich and Glover, the real joy was standing in Han Solo and Lando Calrissian's first footsteps. "We were just talking about Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and the opening sequence and how fun it is to see [the younger] Indiana learning and falling into the snake pit," Ehrenreich says. "There is so much of that and so much building of that world [in Solo] and to me it is a really great early chapter." Glover agrees. "It's so hard to make something satisfying, especially the shorter it is, like a movie, it's really hard," Glover says. "And this does a lot of satisfying things and it really feels satisfying, which is the hardest thing." Though there is no on-screen baton handover, both Ehrenreich and Glover spoke to their predecessors in the roles of Solo and Calrissian, actors Harrison Ford and Billy Dee Williams. Williams told Glover to be charming. "That's literally it," Glover says, laughing. He wasn't even looking at me when he said it. He just walked in, said it, and walked out. But I think that was true and I like simple things. That was enough." And Ford? "Harrison said, 'If they ask, tell them I told you everything you need to know and that you are not allowed to tell anybody'," Ehrenreich says. The popularity of urban beekeeping is taking off in Canberra in the wake of a worldwide bee shortage. There are currently more than 400 registered amateur beekeepers in the capital, up from about 100 just a few years ago. This year, the inaugural World Bee Day is being held on Sunday to promote the importance of bees in nature, and to encourage more people to take up beekeeping as a hobby. Theyre elusive, shy, even a little mysterious -- and increasingly vulnerable. Two rare dolphin species have been the subject of years of research along the Queensland coastline, as their habitat comes under increasing pressure. The Australian snubfin dolphin is an elusive, shy creature hard to track. Credit:Capricorn Cetacean Project The Australian snubfin dolphin and the Australian humpback dolphin, both endemic to Australian waters, have been closely monitored by a research project based out of Southern Cross University. Dr Daniele Cagnazzi from the universitys Marine Ecology Research Centre described his years of painstaking tracking, study and reporting on the elusive dolphins as a love-hate relationship. Spiders named after Australian surfer Mick Fanning and American actor Jack Nicholson which were discovered by a Queensland scientist have been officially recognised in scientific literature. Ornodolomedes mickfanningi, Ornodolomedes nicholsoni and 21 other new species discovered by Queensland arachnologist Dr Robert Raven have been verified by the scientific community. Ornodolomedes mickfanningi A worldwide competition last year attracted hundreds of online entries and named the Queensland water spider in Fanning's honour, with the winning name coming from a Brazilian arachnologist who was also a surfing fan. Dr Raven told Fairfax Media last year that the spider named after Fanning was quite delicate and ornate with a beautiful pattern on its back. Autism groups have expressed shock and disappointment at reports the agency administering the National Disability Insurance Scheme is looking to cut the number of autistic people who are virtually guaranteed of qualifying for support. Advocates said they believed the National Disability Insurance Agency was working on plans to rein in costs by changing the qualification criteria so that many people would have to be individually assessed to determine their need for support. The Australian reported on Saturday that the secret plan meant people with the second-most severe of the three recognised categories of autism would no longer be placed on so-called List A, which virtually guarantees help under the scheme. The agency published part of its new plan last week but swiftly removed it and apologised, saying it was a mistake. Nicole Rogerson, chief executive officer of Autism Awareness Australia, said the government appeared to be backing away from the commitment to properly fund kids with disabilities for simple cost-cutting reasons. China is building a $2 billion fish farm in French Polynesia - its second-largest investment in the Pacific - as a string of US officials have raised concerns about Chinese activity and warned that Washington and Canberra need to do more in the region. The massive fish farm project on Hao atoll has raised eyebrows in Canberra because it will sit next to the airport the French military previously used to carry out nuclear tests in the Pacific - though the French Polynesian government says the Chinese investor will not control the four-kilometre airstrip. Hao atoll, French Polynesia. The airstrip can be seen at the North eastern point of the island. Credit:Google Earth Two senior US defence figures have recently expressed concern about Chinese soft loans creating potential debt traps among the Pacific nations and giving Beijing leverage over island governments. Joe Felter, the Pentagons deputy assistant secretary for South-East Asia, likened Chinas expansion into the Pacific to its recent history in the Indian Ocean, where it has taken control of assets including a strategic port in Sri Lanka after the country defaulted on loan repayments. The spectre of former Darling Range MP Barry Urban still looms large over politics in the West as the major parties prepare for a byelection in his old seat. Hey, big spender Liberal frontbencher Peter Collier ripped into Premier Mark McGowan this week, labelling a trip to China and Japan a "junket" and the government's delay in making the cost public "bullshit". Mr McGowan, three ministers and a small army of advisors chalked up more than $250,000 in airfares, accommodation and associated costs for the 10-day trip. The Premier said the opposition was pathetic for trying to point-score off the delegation. In other words, she is many things the royal family is emphatically not. Already, Britain's monarchy is poised at the edge of an unpredictable modernisation: Queen Elizabeth II has reigned for 65 years, providing a beacon of continuity during a period of social turmoil and decline in British power. And many of the monarchy's supporters worry that the conservative traditions the queen represents including emotional distance and political neutrality will fall by the wayside when the younger generation takes control. The more "normal" the royals seem, they say, the less people will see the point of the institution of monarchy. Markle did not introduce this tension, which has divided palace traditionalists from modernisers for generations. But, at an anxious moment in Britain, she seems to personify it. "That is my biggest concern, that they will turn the monarchy into celebrity," said June Ash, the chairwoman of the Arts Society on the island of Jersey. "We're talking about medieval times, there's a history that carries through. You can't just say that it's celebrity. If we go down that route, it would be wrong. I hope it will stop at a certain point." Though there were similar worries before Catherine Middleton's marriage to Prince William, Ash added, with Markle, it seems more serious. Kate Middleton, Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge. "Kate, again, she is British, she knows the rules," Ash said. "American people are much more free in their way of thinking and their attitudes." These fears have not been alleviated by the publicity in the lead-up to the wedding, in which Markle's friends effusive, deeply tanned residents of Los Angeles praised her as a change agent. "She will break convention, but in a good way, in a healthy way," Hammer, chairwoman of NBCUniversal Cable, said on "Inside the Royal Wedding. She will somehow take this monarchy and open it up to modern living, to modern women." Loading To an outsider, the British royal family's relationship with fame can seem peculiar. Though they lavishly promote the institution of the monarchy recent months have seen a barrage of news releases on icing flavours (buttercream) and carriage upholstery (gold), accompanied by an orgy of personalised tea towels and coffee mugs they are also visibly uncomfortable with all the attention. There is a reason for this, a palace insider explained: in the royal family, self-promotion is considered a cardinal sin. Unlike the Scandinavian royals, who happily pose for photographs when walking into charity events, the British royals tend to stride by with their heads down, which can make them seem aloof and awkward. Markle is not like that. She connects. In January, when a 10 year-old girl on a rope line asked her for an autograph, she grabbed the paper, wrote "Hi, Kaitlin," and drew a smiley face. This circumvented an unwritten rule of the royal family, for a reason that dates back centuries: if a royal signature is made public, it can be forged. Her most sharp-eyed monarchist critics, mostly women who caucus anonymously on social media, noted it down. A few weeks later, she did it again, hugging a 10-year-old girl. (Tradition dictates a handshake or "small curtsy.") In this, Markle is similar to Harry's mother. Diana was congenitally unable to maintain a formal distance, something that endeared her to ordinary people "commoners," as they are sometimes called in the UK but that drove her palace handlers crazy. She was insistently human, and this stripped the royal family of some of its sheen. Particularly damaging was a television interview she gave in 1995, describing her private struggles with bulimia, depression and her husband's infidelity. A more relaxed princess, Diana. Credit:PA Diana's sons have made it clear that they plan to follow her model. Harry, in particular, has stepped forward as an advocate of modernisation, telling Newsweek last year, "Even if I was king, I would do my own shopping." This plan worries conservative royalists, as did the emotional interviews the princes gave on the 20th anniversary of their mother's death. "Each time you do one, you're slightly peeling back the layers of the monarchy," said television presenter Piers Morgan, who has logged time on a series of Fleet Street tabloids. This, he is convinced, will be the way of the future. As the younger generation rises in prominence, "you're going to see a more Diana-esque royal family," he said, more "touchy-feely and emotional and heart-on-sleeve." Morgan also sees echoes of Diana in Markle, who he predicted would chafe at the "never complain, never explain" ethos imposed by senior courtiers. "When women feel suffocated and trapped by that world, they tend to go rogue," he said. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Credit:AP Dickie Arbiter, a former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, expects Markle to struggle with the ban on expressing opinions on political matters, something the British tabloids will watch closely. An example came early this year, when her future sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge, disappointed activists by refusing to wear black to a film and television awards ceremony as a sign of solidarity with the #MeToo movement. Markle, who has gone out of her way to express support for the #MeToo movement, would be expected to keep her views to herself. "She's marrying into an institution," Arbiter said. "It's apolitical. It has to sustain that, because that's what the constitutional monarchy is all about. That's why Charles I had his head chopped off." Morgan was no less foreboding, though his worries about Markle are more general. He went so far as to invoke Wallis Simpson, the American divorcee whose love affair with King Edward VIII prompted him to abdicate the British throne. Simpson died in 1986, but she remains one of the most hated people in Britain. "If Meghan has got a couple of kids and decides to take them back to California," he said, "she will make Wallis Simpson look like a tea party." But the wedding is almost upon us. The day will be given over to bodices and bustles and edible flowers, a medieval spectacle shot through with an electric current of sex. Harry and Markle are still in the first flush of genuine attraction, as anyone with access to a television can attest. (Compare those images to the 1981 interview of his parents, in which Prince Charles, asked if he was in love with Diana, responded, "Whatever 'in love' means.") Prince Charles and Princess Diana in Australia in 1985. Credit:AAP The monarchy needs this charisma badly. By the late 1990s, ordinary Britons felt increasingly alienated from a "privileged, inward-looking, inbred royal family that was obviously dysfunctional," said Mark Leonard, co-author of a 1998 report that recommended swift and comprehensive modernisation. The royal family instituted new policies in an effort to keep up with the times, decommissioning the royal yacht and declaring that the queen would begin paying taxes. But it is the rise of Diana's sons telegenic and more tethered to the world of ordinary Britons that has been its salvation. When she arrives at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday on the arm of her mother, Meghan Markle will represent the latest of these changes. She has shuttered her blog and social media accounts, with their traces of deeply held opinion. Colleagues say she is fiercely disciplined on the set, intent on saying every line as it is written on the page. But she is also the girl whose childhood bedroom, her biographer wrote, featured a poster of Rosie the Riveter, sleeve rolled up and bicep flexed, under the motto "We Can Do It!" Sochi: Russian President Vladimir Putin has handed ministerial jobs to a former bodyguard and the son of an ex-intelligence chief, promoting trusted lieutenants with security ties at the start of what, under the constitution, will be his last term in office. In a new Cabinet line-up approved by Putin, established big-hitters, such as veteran Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, kept their jobs, suggesting there would be little change of tack on policy in the new presidential term. One new entrant to the Cabinet was Yevgeny Zinichev, 51, a former deputy director of the Federal Security Service (FSB), who becomes head of the high-profile Emergencies Ministry. A biography carried by state-run media said he was born in St Petersburg, which is also Putin's home city. Then from 1987 to 2015 he served in the state security services, a similar career path to the one taken by Putin, himself a former KGB spy. Bishop Michael Curry at Windsor. He was elected head of the Episcopal faith in conservative Utah but defends the rights of LGBTI people to marry in church. A graduate of the prestigious Yale Divinity School, he went on to write a book called Crazy Christians. The Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry - the US bishop who transfixed the world at the Royal Wedding - is a man of contrasts. Gaza's boundaries were established in a 1949 armistice agreement between Egypt and Israel, halting the conflict after the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. During the Arab-Israeli war of that period, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced from their homes or fled, many to Gaza, and they and their descendants have been classified as refugees by the United Nations. Egypt occupied Gaza until the Six-Day War or Arab-Israeli War of 1967, when Israel seized the territory. The first Gaza-Israel fence went up in 1994 as a way to control Palestinian movement after the Oslo Accords the agreement aimed at ending the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians and establishing a Palestinian state. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, vacating all Israeli settlements and removing its soldiers. But Israel maintains control of the northern and eastern land boundaries Egypt controls the southern crossing, known as Rafah and Israel controls the air and sea approaches. Most Gaza-bound food, fuel and other aid flows through Israeli-controlled crossings. Like the Israelis, the Egyptians have in recent years restricted the movement of people and goods in and out of Gaza. Both Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on Gaza after Hamas, the Palestinian militant organisation that denies Israel's right to exist, took control there more than a decade ago. The deprivations in Gaza have continually worsened. Most of its people rely on aid from the UN and other outside groups, and the inability of residents to freely leave has created what human rights advocates call an open-air prison. From left: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wife Sara, the Prime Minister, senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, the US President's daughter Ivanka Trump and US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin at the opening ceremony of the new US embassy in Jerusalem. Credit:AP Why is the conflict flaring up now? The "March of Return", as Palestinians are calling the once-weekly protest campaign that began in March, was intended by its creators to publicise global awareness that about two-thirds of Gaza residents are considered Palestinian refugees. The Israelis have accused Hamas, which Israel, the United States and several other countries consider a terrorist organisation, of exploiting the "March of Return" to physically attack Israel. "Hamas has used 'non-violent protests' to attempt to overrun Israel's border and kill its civilians, and it is Hamas that bears responsibility for the recent bloodshed," the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, an influential lobby group in the United States, said on Wednesday in countering critics of Israel's behaviour. No Israelis are known to have died in Monday's bloodshed. Israeli firefighters extinguish tractor tires in a farmland set on fire by a kite with attached burning cloth launched from Gaza on the Israeli side of the border, Tuesday, May 15, 2018. Israel faced a growing backlash Tuesday and new charges of using excessive force, a day after Israeli troops firing from across a border fence killed dozens of Palestinians and wounded more than 2,700 at a mass protest in Gaza. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov) Credit:AP So is the fence a legal border? It is not recognised as a border like that between two sovereign nations. While Israel has created what it regards as a defensive buffer zone inside Gaza for security, Israel has not altered the original 1949 armistice line that delineated the territory. Supporters of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict foresee Gaza as part of a future Palestinian state. But for now, Gaza's status is complicated. "Gaza is not a Palestinian state," said David Makovsky, an expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "Part of the problem is that nobody wants Gaza." While Egypt could theoretically do more to ease the travails of Gaza's population, Makovsky said, "Egypt sees it as political quicksand." The Palestinians and UN human rights officials say Israel remains an occupying power in Gaza, making it subject to certain obligations to protect civilians under international law, because the Israelis exert effective control over most of Gaza's land, air and sea borders. Israel has rejected that argument, asserting that it voluntarily departed Gaza 13 years ago. "The political point is that each side of this conflict has their own narrative about the status of the Gaza Strip and Israel's role," said Tamara Cofman Wittes, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution's Centre for Middle East Policy. "The argument is not whether this is a border. The argument is whether Israel is occupying Gaza." Israel races a growing backlash over its use of lethal force against Palestinian protesters at the Gaza border. Credit:AP Do border protests violate Israel's sovereignty? Israel considers attempts by Palestinian protesters to approach the fence a threat to its sovereignty, and has framed its responses to these protests as a lawful defence of the Israeli border. The Israeli authorities have dropped leaflets over Gaza warning Palestinians to not approach the fence. "The Israel Defence Forces is determined to defend Israel's citizens and sovereignty against Hamas' attempts at terrorism under cover of violent riots," the leaflets read, a position reiterated by Ronen Manelis, a spokesman for the IDF. "A sovereign nation cannot allow this," he said. The question of whether the protesters threaten Israeli sovereignty is part of the broader dispute, Middle East scholars say. Nadia Abu al-Haj, co-director of the Centre for Palestine Studies at Columbia University, argued that Israel's own actions across the fence meant that it was not a border. "A border implies a place where one state's authority ends and another's begins," Haj said. "Israel has never recognised the fence as a limit to its authority. Through closure and military incursions, Israel sustains its sovereign authority over the territory." Palestinians carry the body of Mousab Abu Leila, 29, during his funeral after he was killed during Monday's protest on the border with Israel. Credit:AP Is deadly force at the fence defensible? While Israeli authorities have justified the military's use of deadly force, many international monitoring groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have condemned it. A number of countries at the UN have asked for an independent inquiry into the deaths. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that defending the border fence with lethal force was necessary. "I don't know of any army that would do anything differently if you had to protect your border against people who say, 'We're going to destroy you, and we're going to flood into your country,'" Netanyahu told CBS News. Other Israelis have said that if thousands of angry Palestinians breached the Gaza fence, the outcome would be far bloodier. The Israeli military maintains it is only targeting those instigating violence, and has sought to use non-lethal deterrents including drones that drop tear gas to counter the protests. US officials have backed Israel's actions. Heather Nauert, the State Department spokeswoman, said "Israel has a right to defend itself," while Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said Israel had responded with "restraint". She walked out of the session discussing the matter this week. The ongoing political tussle in Karnataka has drawn attention from every circle, even the betting market. The satta bazaar is following the developments in the southern state with a keen eye as Rs 5000 crore has been staked on the outcome of the floor test in Karnataka Assembly. The newly elected Karnataka MLAs would meet in state assembly at 4:00pm today for a confidence vote against the BS Yeddyurappa government. The satta market seems to be betting on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) victory today in Karnataka floor test. Bookies are confident that 14 MLAs from the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance will not participate in the vote of confidence in Karnataka Legislative Assembly, clearing the way for BJP to rise to power in the state. In the betting market, the chances of winning increase as the bhaav (rates) go down. According to inputs from top satta traders, BJP is the top choice with a rate of 45 paise. The Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance is the lesser favourite pick with a rate of Rs 2.25. This means if someone was to put a satta of (bet) Rs 1 lakh on BJP, and the party wins the floor test, the person will get Rs 1.45 lakh in return. If Congress and JD(S) manage to form government in Karnataka, the return on the same Rs 1 lakh would be Rs 3.25 lakh, amounting to a staggering profit of Rs 2.25 lakh. If Congress-JD(S) loses the vote of confidence, the person will get his money back without any returns or profit. Yeddyurappa was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka after Governor Vajubhai Vala invited BJP to form government in the state despite lacking the required number of MLAs. While the Supreme Court refused to stay the swearing-in ceremony, it did ask Yeddyurappa to face a floor test to prove that he had the required number of MLAs supporting him. Bharatiya Janata Party's BS Yeddyurappa chose to step down as the Chief Minister today instead of facing a confidence vote on the floor of Karnataka Legislative Assembly. He ended his 53-hour long chief ministerial stint by submitting his resignation to Governor Vajubhai Vala on Saturday evening after failing to muster the numbers required to form a government in the state. Following this, HD Kumaraswamy of Janata Dal (Secular) met the Governor to stake claim to form the next government in Karnataka. Under a post-poll alliance, Congress, the second largest party in the state with 78 seats, has extended external support to JD(S). On the day of election results, Sonia Gandhi had called JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda to offer the Chief Minister's office to his party, with Kumaraswamy being the obvious choice for the position. Siddaramaiah, the legislative party leader of Congress, has already made it clear that he is fine with Kumaraswamy becoming the next CM. The swearing in ceremony will be held on Monday between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm, Kumaraswamy told reporters outside Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru. He also said that Congress and JD(S) MLAs would convene tonight to discuss the agenda of the alliance and to find out ways to run a stable government. The oath taking ceremony on Monday will also see senior Opposition leaders convene on personal invitation from Kumaraswamy. "I have personally invited Mamata Banerjee, Mayawati, Chandrababu Naidu and Chandrashekhar Rao. I will personally invite former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi on Sunday," Kumaraswamy told reporters outside Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru. After taking oath, Kumaraswamy will have to prove his strength on the floor of Karnataka legislative assembly. This should not be a problem, with the Congress-JD(S) combine having 115 seats between them. The alliance also has the support of two independent MLAs. Everything will be fine in a few days, Kumaraswamy said while talking to media personnel. While the BJP emerged as the single largest party in the Karnataka elections 2018 after winning 104 seats, it failed to cross the halfway mark of 111. Despite this, it was invited by the Karnataka Governor to form a government in state. This was challenged in the Supreme Court, but the apex court refused to stay Yeddyurappa's swearing in. Instead, Yeddyurappa was directed by the Supreme Court to prove his strength on the floor of Karnataka legislative assembly within 48 hours instead of 15 days as stipulated by the Karnataka Governor. Today, BJP's claims that it has enough MLAs to assume power in the state came undone during the Karnataka floor test, and Yeddyurappa chose to quit instead of fighting a lost battle. India has dragged the US to the World Trade Organisation's dispute settlement mechanism over the imposition of import duties on steel and aluminium, an official said. India has stated that the decision will impact exports of these products to the US and it is not in compliance with global trade norms. "India has filed a dispute under the aegis of the WTO on the issue of imposing import duties by the US on certain steel and aluminium products," the official said. The country has sought consultations with the US under the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism. Seeking consultation is the first step of dispute settlement process. If the two nations are not able to reach a mutually agreed solution through consultation, India may request for a WTO dispute settlement panel to review the matter. On March 9, US President Donald Trump imposed heavy tariffs on imported steel and aluminium items, a move that has sparked fears of a global trade war. Trump signed two proclamations that levied a 25 per cent tariff on steel and a 10 per cent tariff on aluminium imported from all countries except Canada and Mexico. India too has sought exemptions from the hefty tariffs. Biswajit Dhar, the professor of economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said the US decision would not only impact India's export of these goods but would also affect global trade. India's exports of steel and aluminium products to America stood at about USD 1.5 billion every year. Some experts, however, opined that dragging the US in the dispute over the issue is not in favour of India as New Delhi has a trade surplus with America. India's exports to the US in 2016-17 stood at USD 42.21 billion, while imports were USD 22.3 billion. Both the countries are already involved in disputes at the global trade body. The disputes are in the areas of poultry, solar and steel. The US recently filed a dispute against India on export incentives alleging these support measures harm its workers by creating an uneven playing field. Amid reports of massive breach of social security numbers along with identity theft, US lawmakers, encouraged by India's Aadhaar, explored the possibility of biometrics as an option, but privacy issues prevented experts from arriving at a consensus. In the US, a Social Security Number (SSN) is a nine-digit number issued to American citizens, permanent residents and temporary working residents. "Congress must not replace the SSN with a national biometric identifier. This would be a very bad idea," Samuel Lester, Consumer Privacy Counsel, Electronic Privacy Information Center told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing on future of social security numbers. This approach, he said, would pose serious privacy and security risks. "These risks would only be compounded if the US were to move towards a national biometric identifier," Lester said. Paul Rosenzweig, senior fellow, R Street Institute tended to disagree. "It really is a difference between a centralised database in a distributed database. Biometrics as a localised identifier is actually something that the President (Barack) Obama's White House supported as a substitute for passwords because they are a more readily usable by most citizens than the password system," Rosenzweig said responding to questions on biometrics from Congressman John Larson. According to Steve Grobman, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, McAfee, said India opted for the biometric system because they needed to ensure that an individual only registered a single time for benefits. "So, by using biometrics, it prevented an individual from registering in one town and then walking down the road to another town and registering again. In that case, bio-metrics was a practical technology in order to solve that specific problem," he said. The US does not has that problem at India's scale, he said. "Therefore, we should look for other less privacy intrusive mechanisms as a first step. Things such as smart cards can be a much more rapid practical option that could be distributed without requiring every citizen to have biometric," Grobman said. But if a key requirement is that an individual's identity is not transferable, or that an individual can't have multiple IDs, then biometrics may be worth considering, he said. "India has moved to a national biometric identity programme, allowing 1.3 billion citizens to prove their identities through fingerprints, facial recognition and eye iris scans. The country faced an even more difficult problem than compromised SSNs because there was no single starting database of citizens. "Because benefits came with being a citizen, there were concerns that an individual might attempt to register in one town under one name and then register in another town under another name. The Indian government addressed this issue by creating a biometrics database to register its population," Grobman said. "If your biometrics were already in the database, the government would know that you were a duplicate person. It also provided a mechanism that let you walk into any government office and reprove that you were you," he said. Lester said when Congress passed the Privacy Act in 1974, they were explicitly responding to and rejecting calls for a national identification system. There are national identification systems that rely on biometrics and other countries that raise really grave civil liberties and privacy concerns, Lester said while responding to a question during the hearing. "For example, in India their new biometric system Aadhaar was recently breached, compromising the biometric data on its 1.2 billion citizens," he said, adding that any problems with a biometric system are demonstrated by the recent breach of the US Office of Personnel management. Paul Rosenzweig said that the idea of a Smart card is a good interim solution. "But the smart card, a security system is not itself a terribly robust. We've all experienced a credit card fraud as well," he cautioned. Chinese state-owned oil giant China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) is mulling taking over Total SAs stake in the South Pars gas field in Iran if the French company is forced to pull out of the multibillion-dollar project to avoid U.S. sanctions against Iran. The French company said in a statement issued Wednesday that due to the U.S. decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, the company will terminate all the operations at the South Pars natural gas field before November 4 if it fails to secure an exemption from the sanctions the U.S. vowed to re-impose on Iran earlier this month. Total is working with the U.S. and French governments to explore the possibility of an exemption, but for now has halted all new investment in the project. Companies will be allowed up to 180 days to wind up existing contracts with Iranian counterparties and reduce purchases of Iranian crude, according to an article by the New York Time citing the U.S. Treasury Department. CNPC, Chinas largest oil and gas supplier, told Caixin that the state-owned conglomerate is considering acquiring the Totals majority stake in the project if the French company pulls out. A CNPC source told Caixin that CNPCs wholly owned overseas business subsidiary, China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Corp., is leading research into the possible purchase of Totals stake and would handle negotiations of any deal with Total. A consortium led by Total and CNPC signed a 20-year contract in July 2017 to develop Phase 11 of Irans South Pars field with an expected total investment of $4.8 billion. Total holds a 50.1% stake in the consortium, while CNPC owns a 30%s share. The state-owned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) owns the remaining 19.9% via its subsidiary Petropars. Production from the project is set to start in mid-2021. The development was still underway until March, according to the CNPC-owned industry newspaper. The project would need a new operator if Total withdraws. Total warned that its U.S. shareholders and the U.S. banks with which it does business would suffer from the U.S. sanctions, threatening the companys future operation in the U.S. Bank of America, the second largest U.S. bank by asset size, accounts for fully 90% of the companys U.S.-based financing while U.S. investors hold more than 30% of Totals outstanding shares, the French company said in a statement. U.S. President Donald Trump announced May 8 his decision to withdraw the U.S from the Iran nuclear deal, calling the agreement signed in 2015 during Obama administration "decaying and rotten," and re-imposing economic sanctions against the Persian state. Americas main European allies wanted to preserve the deal but failed to persuade Trump to keep the U.S. in. The South Pars gas field, which was discovered in the 1970s and started production in the 1990s, is by far the world's largest gas reservoir, straddling the border between Iran and Qatar in the middle of the Persian Gulf. The reserves in the huge field account for about 8% of total gas reserves in the world, according to a Petropars press release. The Iranian portion of the field comprises almost half that nations domestic gas reserves. Due to previous U.S. sanctions, the Iranian portion of the gas field has not been fully explored. Capital investment and technological support could become major bottlenecks for development of the project because of the U.S. sanctions, so it remains possible CNPC will not pursue the plan to take over Totals stake. Industry experts say developing the field will require offshore compressor platforms and liquefied natural gas storage tanks, among other equipment. Chinese suppliers will have difficulty sourcing all the necessary equipment, given their ability to purchase foreign-made equipment will be restricted by U.S. sanctions. Contact reporter Pan Che (chepan@caixin.com) news, latest-news The annual kangaroo cull in Canberra is saving endangered reptiles and restoring native grasslands - signs that the controversial program is the right thing to do, say Canberra ecologists. The rare striped legless lizard and earless dragon, native to Canberra and in serious decline in recent years due to drought and over-grazing, are now at stable numbers, and grasses are returning to their normal, varied levels, says ecologist Melissa Snape. Dr Snape, a senior researcher in the ACT governments Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate, says in the lead-up to each yearly cull, she and her team spend many hours counting local kangaroo populations, and deciding how to keep them to sustainable levels. We've got a really good understanding of what grass structure is best for biodiversity, and we've also looked at what levels of kangaroo grazing create that sort of grass structure, she said. From monitoring the results of the conservation culling, we've been able to show that the culling has been effective in terms of reducing kangaroo density to the levels that we expect. In some reserves, we've reduced kangaroo numbers to levels that we're happy are sustainable in terms of maintaining grass structure, so we don't have to cull those reserves every year anymore. This meant that the cull could then move to other over-populated reserves, which explained the fluctuating numbers of kangaroos being culled each year. This year, the program has a culling target of up to 3253 kangaroos, 1000 more than last year, while shooters move into new areas such as West Majura and Aranda. In the meantime, Dr Snape said, less grazing meant a better variable grassy layer, able to provide the right habitat for various small native species, as well as enough food for the remaining kangaroo population to thrive. But many animal liberationists maintain that the science being carried out by Dr Snape and her fellow ecologists is faulty, and that Canberrans have been misled for the past 10 years about the over-abundance of kangaroos in the first place. Frankie Seymour, from the Animal Protectors Alliance, said the cull had nothing to do with environmental considerations. As far as we're concerned, as far as pretty much every independent scientist in Australia is concerned, there is no ecological basis for the cull, she said. We believe that it is entirely motivated by support for development and support for farmers. She said evidence from ACT government or even Australian National University scientists supporting the culls could not be trusted, and was not adequately peer reviewed. [The culling program] is extremely cruel and it's also ecologically catastrophic because they are actually going to get rid of all these kangaroos, she said. She said the argument that rising kangaroo populations were due to a lack of any natural predators was absolute nonsense. We have foxes in the ACT and the foxes take up to 90 per cent, sometimes even 100 per cent of young joeys, so they've got just as many predators as they've ever had, she said. Dr Snape agreed that while foxes were potential predators of joeys in urban reserves - along with domestic dogs, eagles and cars - the numbers actually being killed varied depending on the site and the year. By counting reserves every year, we are able to carefully document population growth rates even accounting for any culling so we are quite confident in these figures and our capacity to predict site-specific growth rates, she said. ACT Parks and Conservation Service director Daniel Iglesias agreed that the scientific findings about the consequences of persistent over-grazing were clear, and many of the studies were published on the government's website. Some people just do not agree with killing animals for any reason, and I'm not going to judge that, but my perspective is not that one, he said. My perspective is environmental health, and if the evidence says that for the benefit of the environment this needs to happen, then I've got to propose to do it. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/709de0dd-02bb-4916-b896-0bf9c374df6d/r0_100_2000_1230_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Her son was crying and Naimah Talib was running out of options. The international student had already tried expressing milk under a veil in a prayer room at the Australian National University. But today she was a long walk from one of only eight parenting rooms spread across the sprawling 145-acre campus and her little son was hungry. She ended up breastfeeding in a toilet stall. "That wasn't good, it's not hygienic," she said. "There's nowhere to go that's close. Sometimes, I'd miss classes." A new survey by the ANU's post-graduate and research student association, PARSA, paints a bleak picture of life on campus for students juggling study and parenting. Out of 81 postgraduate respondents, 73 per cent rated university support for parents as very poor to average. While some shared stories of supportive lecturers allowing children in tutorials, many said they were routinely forced to miss class altogether, had been priced out of childcare on campus and could not find family-friendly student accommodation. Now that her son is older, Ms Talib can leave him with her partner during the day. But some of her classmates weren't so lucky, she said, staying home or else dropping out entirely to care for their young children. "My friend just gave birth and she never comes to school," Ms Talib said. PARSA president and postgraduate student Alyssa Shaw said she'd heard of both students and academics walking for half an hour to find a place to express milk. Some international students surveyed described making the harrowing decision to leave their children behind to study in Canberra on a scholarship, without funding for reunion visits. One student said he spent thousands on a return ticket home to see his son after the little boy "asked my partner to give birth to another father because he wants to see me". "Some of the stories we've heard are really shocking," Ms Shaw said. "Parents are really struggling, it's heart-breaking." The ANU recently expanded the number of parenting rooms on campus to eight, but an audit by the association found three such spaces were multi-purpose first-aid or prayer rooms and did not have all the appropriate facilities. Most students surveyed hadn't used ANU parenting facilities at all and only 16 per cent made use of on-campus childcare. Pro vice-chancellor of university experience Professor Richard Baker said the ANU would consider the survey's recommendations in determining "what other improvements can be implemented". "We know it can be tough for students who are also parents, and the university strives to be as family friendly as possible," Professor Baker said. "The university will also develop a full breastfeeding policy across campus and ensure that building facilities consider including parenting facilities." In December, the ANU applied for a breastfeeding-friendly accreditation from the Australian Breastfeeding Association, after its previous accreditation lapsed in 2010. A spokeswoman confirmed on Friday the university was still in talks with the association, which did not respond to requests for comment. Professor Baker said the ANU was also looking at more accommodation options for postgraduate students, including those with children. For Lauren Reed, that news can't come soon enough. The mother of three has just been told she only has a few months to find a new place to live. "There's nothing on campus for us, it look me months to find a place to begin with when I moved up from Melbourne," Ms Reed said. "I already put off going back to uni [for about five years] until my children were school-age because I knew otherwise it would just be impossible." When he moved to the capital from Bangladesh with his young family, research student Haribondhu Sarma also struggled to find a place to live, applying for more than fifty different apartments in just a few weeks. It would be three months before he finally found a place, leaving his children to "sit idle" in temporary accommodation missing out on school. While Mr Sarma said his supervisor was flexible about family commitments, he still wanted more support from the university itself. "I'm international, the Australian government is not my authority, the university, they are my authority, they should do something," he said. In March, the ANU expanded its parental leave program for staff, offering up to 26 weeks for new parents. Research students are only entitled to five working days of paternity leave. Professor Baker said the university had recently opened a fourth childcare centre on campus, but acknowledged the "cost of childcare an also be expensive for many students". While the survey found international students struggled with parenting the most, they also felt more looked after, with only 20 per cent rating support as poor or very poor compared to almost half of domestic students. Ms Shaw said postgraduate students made up more than half of the university's cohort but continued to miss out on necessary support services. "People think the typical student is this fresh-faced undergrad. That's not what we look like." Do you know more? Get in touch at sherryn.groch@fairfaxmedia.com.au /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/c540e73f-2993-4789-95e4-651df64e8f59/r0_288_5338_3304_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg I was a complete idiot to take it, I should have just left it there, laments Steve Hill from the Weston Creek suburb of Stirling. Hill believes a string of bad luck, including costly repairs to his 4WD, following a visit to Uluru last year in which he illegally souvenired a small rock, is more than just coincidence. My friends and family told me not to take it, but I did, says Hill, who believes he has joined a long list of other jinxed tourists who have pocketed rocks and sand from the outback landmark only to subsequently fall victim to the so-called curse of Uluru. Hill says it was during a solo trip to Australias spiritual heartland last June while walking around the base of Uluru, I saw this rock and just had to have it. Google maps indicated I was at the old campground where Azaria Chamberlain went missing, so I thought Id take a small rock as memorabilia, you know, to put on the mantlepiece back at home. Hill admits that although hed heard of the curse prior to his visit, he thought it was a load of baloney, so decided to take the rock anyway. When I called my daughters and told them what Id done, they thought I was crazy and told me to take it straight back, but I didnt. Since pocketing the rock, Hill has since been subjected to a long line of misfortune that has cost him more than $13 000 in repairs to his 4WD and considerable heartache. First, on the way home through outback Queensland, kangaroos started jumping at my Prado, it was just crazy, instead of moving out of the way, they were actually slamming into the car, says Hill, who eventually limped across the NSW border and into Bourke for repairs. Ive driven extensively through the outback and never seen such behaviour from kangaroos. It was at that point I started to think maybe I shouldnt have taken the rock and that maybe Id fallen victim to the curse. But for Hill, his bad luck was only just beginning. A couple of months later while driving in northern Queensland, the engine in Hills Prado started blowing blue smoke and then blew up. The mechanics are still mystified as to what caused the engine to fail, says Hill, who believes it was no doubt a result of the curse. Not surprisingly, the rock has never made it onto Hills mantelpiece. I thought it was too risky to take inside, explains Hill, who stashed it on a shelf in his garage where friends wont even touch it for fear of falling victim to the curse. Hill says he has constantly felt nervy since taking the rock and when, recently, all the photographs of his ill-fated trip to Uluru mysteriously vanished off his phone, he decided enough was enough. Ive been planning a trip to Cape York for some time, but have decided to not only bring it forward to next month, but also make a 3000-kilometre detour via Uluru, says Hill. Im going to return the rock; its just something Ive got to do. I know exactly where I took it from, so as soon as I get to Uluru, Ill be returning it. Before his run of bad luck, Hill had dismissed any curse as new-age mumbo jumbo. Hill isnt alone in returning a stone stolen from Uluru, its just that most others return them via the post. In fact, each year the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park head office receives dozens of parcels containing souvenired rock and sand, sent by guilty tourists from all around the world. In some cases, it has taken troubled tourists up to 40 years to return their rocks. The largest return to date weighed in at 32 kilograms. Most of these keepsakes are returned with an apology note, hence why in 2004 social researcher Jasmine Foxlee of the University of Western Sydney coined the returned items as sorry rocks. Of those seeking forgiveness, Foxlees research indicated that almost 15 per cent write of bad luck associated with the rocks. While the park staff welcome the gestures of returning rocks to Uluru and also the nearby Kata-Tjuta, it has become a complex managerial issue. To return them to the wrong spot would be disrespectful to the local Anangu people, the traditional owners of Uluru, reports Foxlee. As a result, the rocks are usually placed in a neutral space, a creek bed, not far from the Uluru Cultural Centre. While Anangu law governing life and land does not recognise a specific curse associated with removing rocks, there are consequences for disrespecting the land. An Anangu elder once made the following statement about people visiting his country: They hear a little about this place and a little about that place and they put it all together in one bucket and shake it up. Everything gets broken and mixed up, and when they pour it out in their own country to try to remember, they dont know what pieces go together. They should take it home in their hearts. Then theyd remember. Curse or nor curse, these words of wisdom will no doubt be echoing in Steve Hills head when he sets off on the long drive to Uluru next month. Fingers crossed he has a safe journey. Was a series of tragic events surrounding the opening of Australias Provisional Parliament House in Canberra in 1927 just a string of bad luck or was it, as some have suggested, the result of a curse? Here are the facts, Ill let you make up your own mind. On May 9, 1927, during the opening of what we now refer to as Old Parliament House by the Duke and Duchess of York, a plane performing as part of the first mass flying display by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) crashed in front of horrified onlookers. The aircraft, a single-seater SE5 biplane, piloted by Flying Officer Francis Ewen, nosed-dived and crashed on Rottenbury Hill near the current site of St Marks Church in Barton. The dedication ceremony for the site of the church had been attended by thousands of people the day before. Remarkably, that wasnt the only plane crash associated with the opening. On April 21, as the people of Melbourne welcomed the royal couple to Australia, two RAAF bombers collided mid-air, killing all four crew. But the bad luck didnt stop there. Following the official opening, one of the RAAFs Canberra-based SE5 fighters was given the job of flying official photos and film of the event to Melbourne. Unfortunately, en route the plane experienced engine troubles and crashed near Mt Buffalo in Victoria. Thankfully the pilot survived but the plane was destroyed and its precious cargo lost. Due to this series of misfortunes, John Laws and Christopher Stewart, in Theres always more to the story (Macmillan, 2004), speculate about a curse. Some suggest that the royal visit was plagued with disaster because it was cursed that as the royal couple was coming to a ceremony on traditional Aboriginal land without permission from or involvement of owners, their journey was troubled. The series of unfortunate events continued even after the royals returned to England, with the first Clerk of the new house, Walter Gale, suffering a fatal heart attack in his office on July 27, 1927. Then, somewhat ironically, on September 28, soon after delivering Gales condolence speech in Parliament, Gales successor John McGregor also collapsed and later died in hospital. Curse or coincidence? Cubby nostalgia This columns recent spotlight on bush cubbies prompted Jeanette Atkins to dig up one of her treasured photo from the early 1970s in which she is sheltering inside a bush cubby on Wodens Mt Taylor. Every school holiday my neighbours and I couldnt wait to head up to the hill to make cubby houses, recalls Atkins. They were often destroyed by other kids but wed just rebuild or make them inside if it was raining. One reader unhappy about the recent increase in bush cubbies in nature reserves is Waltraud Pix of the Friends of Mt Majura who reports their construction destroys habitat and damages native vegetation. Some of the many that I find on Mt Majura are large structures, some with grass and fresh branches or large bits of bark ripped from trees, reports Pix, who believes bush cubbies should be restricted to designated nature play parks. Cryptic Clue: Not in the back room (extra points if you know what year the TV was made)Degree of difficulty: Medium Last week: Congratulations to Robin Brown of Yarralumla who was the first reader to correctly identify last weeks photo, sent in by Matthew Higgins of Ainslie, as a view of Mt Tennent from just south of Caloola Farm in the Naas Valley, south of Tharwa. Higgins, who took the photo on a recent bushwalk, says the vista reminds him of Elioth Gruner (1882-1939), an artist best-known for his ability to capture the transient effects of light on the landscape. Gruner spent considerable time in the Canberra region, often staying with pastoralists and painting landscapes, including his prize-winning On the Murrumbidgee 1929 and Weetangera, Canberra 1937. Some readers may recall the exhibition, Elioth Gruner: the texture of light, held at Canberra Museum and Gallery back in 2014 which featured many of his works. The clue of precursor to Ned related to the 1375-metre-high peak which rises above Tharwa being named after Canberras own bushranger, escaped convict John Tennant, who according to local lore, hid some of his loot in a secret rock crevice. Some believe it may still be there, waiting to be discovered by an opportunistic bushwalker. For the adventurous, Mt Tennent is a 15-kilometre return walk (including 800-metre altitude gain) from the Namadgi National Park Visitors Centre (Naas Road, Tharwa). Depending on fitness, the walk can take from four to eight hours, or longer if you are trying to find bushranging bounty. Phone the visitor centre on 6207 2900 for more information and a map (to the peak, that is, not the treasure). How to enter: Email your guess, along with your name and address, to timtheyowieman@bigpond.com. The first email sent after 10am, Saturday May 19, 2018, will win a double pass to Dendy. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/a50cd073-6367-43f1-898f-b82fdbf052f4/r0_426_4608_3030_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news With a Federal election due next year, or possibly even earlier, parties are scrambling to get their candidates in place, and there is good reason for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to be wary of the pre-selection season now under way. Liberal leaders in particular are vulnerable with their authority on the line. Labor, by contrast, has internal mechanisms that take the heat off the leader. The stock reply to a question about Liberal Party pre-selection matters is that it is a party matter, not one for the leader. But the fact remains that a leaders powers of moral suasion can be sorely tested by local pre-selection battles. The Liberal Party patriarch, Sir Robert Menzies, prime minister from 1949 to 1966, was not normally one to intervene in local party matters, but should he find matters not to his liking, a quick phone call, or even just a raising of those prominent eyebrows, would generally result in an outcome to his liking, such was his authority within the party he helped found. John Howard, in his first incarnation as Liberal leader in the 1980s, learned the hard way. The Liberal Party, then as now, was in insurrectionary mood, and the hard right (the dries) was making its presence felt, stalking the moderates (wets). Howard, very much in tune with the dries, stood back and did nothing while a prominent moderate in Victoria, Ian Macphee, a former senior minister in the Fraser government, was put to the sword. Howard, already in trouble over his remarks on Asian immigration and his failure in the 1987 election, simply by his inaction alienated his remaining support among the moderates, and within a week he was gone, replaced by Andrew Peacock. Fast forward to John Howard as prime minister, and we find a leader keenly aware of the explosive potential of contentious pre-selections. When a leading moderate, Marise Paine, now Defence Minister, was threatened by the right with demotion on the NSW Senate ticket, Howard, no political friend, intervened to protect her. What it did was underscore Howards authority. John Hewson, as Liberal leader in the early 1990s, was faced with a major problem when the Liberal Party in NSW went against his advice and decided to stand candidates against sitting Nationals in state elections. Inevitably, it spilled over into the federal arena, immediately posing a threat to one of Hewsons most experienced and capable frontbenchers, Wal Fife. A redistribution in 1992 had altered the boundaries of his rural seat of Hume, along with those of two neighbouring electorates held by the Nationals. Attempts were made to avoid a damaging row with the Nationals and a situation in which Fife would be forced to run against fellow Coalition frontbencher, John Sharp. Hewson fought doggedly to save Fife, but in the end no compromise could be found, and Fife decided to retire. Media speculation was that Hewson had walked away from a fight, but the reality was that he had fought hard and lost. Both the perception and the reality hurt Hewson, who was dumped after the 1993 election. Malcolm Turnbull knows full well the pitfalls of becoming embroiled in party pre-selection disputes. In his first stint as Liberal leader, he sought to help Peter Dutton win pre-selection for a safer seat in Queensland, but was unceremoniously rebuffed by the local party organisation. It might have won him Duttons loyalty, but it cost him dearly in terms of his apparent influence in the wider party. Now, with the controversial dumping of Assistant Minister, Jane Prentice, in the safe Brisbane seat of Ryan, Turnbull, for all his apparent championing of women, has decided to sit on his hands. He praised Prentices performance as an assistant minister but ruled out intervening on her behalf. It is bad for him for several reasons. For starters, the Coalition has a gender problem. Of the 24 ministers in cabinet, women hold just five places, while only one out of six outer ministry positions is held by a woman. In the cohort of 12 assistant ministers, Prentice is one of just four women. Prentice has held Ryan, in Brisbanes western suburbs, since 2010 after a decade serving on the Brisbane City Council. A week ago, her former staffer, and current Brisbane councillor, Julian Simmonds, was chosen to replace her, winning the vote 256 to 103 the biggest pre-selection vote in Brisbanes history. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, who attended the pre-selection ballot as the prime ministers representative, was curiously effusive in his praise of Simmonds, lauding him as an energetic personsomebody whos demonstrated his capacity to deliver for local residents in the western suburbs. The abnormally high turnout of voters is interesting, suggesting there has been a serious recruitment drive in Brisbane, where the Coalition parties are a single entity, the Liberal National Party. The LNP was never happy about the dumping of Tony Abbott in 2015, and has been in a morose mood since failing to dislodge Labor in the state election last year Jane Prentice, who was sufficiently regarded by the Prime Minister to be promoted to Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services after the 2016 election, is considered to be a moderate (a minority in Queensland) and a Turnbull supporter in the party room coup against Abbott. This might well be a case of belated retribution in a party that is showing increasing signs of insurrectionary behaviour. In Victoria, several pre-selections have been put on hold as the religious right starts to make its growing presence felt in Liberal Party forums. In South Australia, meanwhile, reports suggest Senator Lucy Gishuhi, the Kenyan-born former Independent who defected to the Liberal Party in February, will be placed in the unwinnable fourth position on the Liberal Senate ticket. When her defection gave the Government a much-needed extra vote in the Senate, Malcolm Turnbull described her as an inspiration and a true Australian success story. But she looks likely to make way on the ticket for Adelaide City Councillor Alex Antic. Again, an impotent silence from the Prime Minister, and twin blows against the Coalition on both the gender and diversity fronts. There are many ominous signs here for a Prime Minister still trailing in the polls. The repercussions from his ousting of Abbott continue to resonate almost three years on, no matter how compelling the case against Abbott, arguably the most inept prime minister of all. A perception of Turnbulls limited authority within the party makes it easier for his opponents to continue to undermine him. And with a slew of important pre-selection battles still ahead, Malcolm Turnbull will be keenly aware, if history is a guide, that both inaction and failed action pose potential formidable threats to his leadership, even in the shadows of the looming election Dr Norman Abjorensen, of the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy, is the author of three books on the Liberal Party and its leaders. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/887a0ff4-6a3e-4a6a-9826-2a1c88016143/r0_67_1024_646_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg 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. The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has released an employment notification calling out for aspirants to apply for the post of Lecturer. Those interested can check out the eligibility, salary scale, how to apply and the complete details of the government job here. Selected candidates can earn up to INR 34800. The last date to apply for the government job is June 12, 2018. BPSC Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Post Lecturer Organisation Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) Educational Qualification BUMS in a recognized university and postgraduate degree in a relevant field Maximum Age Limit 27 to 45 years Skills Required Teaching skills Salary Scale INR 9300 to INR 34800 Job Location Bihar Industry Civil services Experience Desirable Application Start Date May 16, 2018 Application End Date June 12, 2018 How To Apply For The BPSC Recruitment 2018 In order to apply for the BPSC Recruitment 2018, follow the steps given here: Step 1: Download the application form from the BPSC official website. Step 2: Take a printout of it and enter your particulars in the fields provided. Step 3: Send the application to Bihar Public Service Commission. Bihar Public Service Commission Mailing Address And Application Format Superscribe on the envelope, "Application for the post of Lecturer" and send it to: Joint Secretary-Cum-Examination Controller, Bihar Public Service Commission 15, Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg (Bailey Road), Patna-800001. Applications have to be sent on or before 12.06.2018 till 05.00 P.M. Click here to read the detailed official notification. Toyota has finally launched the Yaris in India and has said that it aims to sell between 30,000-40000 units of its new C-segment sedan annually. The Japanese automaker is optimistic about the sales figure and remains positive that this could increase over the next 12 months. On first glance, this would seem a bit high considering that this line of cars has become the next target for the SUV/crossover storm that is gripping our car market. But if you look at the numbers across the competition all the major players that form this group of cars average a monthly figure that would work out to this annual sales number. However, their sales figure also comprises diesel powered models and that is something that Toyota will have to find a way to take on. The word is that the Yaris will get a hybrid version to take on its diesel powered rivals. Such a setup exists with the latest generation Yaris hatchback that was brought to Europe recently. This hybrid setup comprises the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol unit found in the India spec Yaris, but now with a 45kW electric motor and offered only with a CVT. The company has said that with rising fuel costs, hybrids are the logical way forward before moving to full-fledged electric car environment in the future. But in order to do this viably, the Centre would need to revive the subsidy for green vehicles. In our opinion, hybrids also seems logical for Toyota as it already has a a set up in place to assemble hybrid models at its Bengaluru facility and has produced a version of the Camry hybrid previously. Toyota Yaris N/A Onwards Toyota | Yaris | Toyota Yaris Photo: Contributed Cannabis-related tourism has the potential to bring big bucks into the Okanagan Valley, but the emerging legal cannabis industry will have to navigate some tricky roadblocks before it can truly capitalize on weeds tourism potential. A group of tourism-industry experts tackled the issue yesterday, at NICHE Canadas Cannabis and our Community forum in Kelowna. Along with finding a way to create tourism experiences within a system that doesn't really allow for public consumption, experts says cannabis-industry educators and regulators will have to bring illicit pot growers "into the light." For more on their reasoning, check out the full story on Castanet's sister business news website, Okanagan Edge. Photo: uk.businessinsider.com By the time you read this, asteroid 2010 WC9 will have passed the Earth at around 12.8 kilometres a second (46,000 kilometres an hour), at a distance of roughly 200,000 kilometres, about half the distance between the Earth and moon. The asteroid is roughly 70 metres in diameter, although it could be a bit larger. If it is made of basalt, the most common rock in the solar system, it would weigh about half a million tonnes. Being hit by it would have been a disaster, although we as a species would probably survive. Since there are many such objects, some smaller, some larger, in orbits crossing the Earth's path around the sun, and almost certainly many more we have not yet detected, there is a definite risk of being hit. The Earth has been hit many times over its 4.5-billion-year history. We see a record of this in the oldest rocks, such as those of the Canadian Shield. For example, the mineral riches of Sudbury, Ont., are due to the impact some 1.98 billion years ago of an object 10-15 kilometres in diameter. Another large object hit us some 65 million years ago. It was a major cause of the extinction of about 75 per cent of animal species. If we were hit by a similar object today, it would be a disaster. With people inhabiting most of the Earth's surface, and our lives depending on a world-wide infrastructure of trade and communications, we are now highly vulnerable. What can we do to avoid being hit by an asteroid? Basically, at least for the immediately foreseeable future, not very much. Our problem is reliably predicting the collision in time to prevent it. An asteroid made of basalt, a dark-coloured rock, almost certainly covered by a layer of basalt dust, would be extremely hard to see. Unless very lucky, we normally only see the small ones when they are very close, just in time to see them whizz past. If we want to deflect an asteroid like 2010 WC9, coming toward us at 12.8 kilometres a second, and already quite close, we would have to attach a very large rocket motor to it. This would involve transporting it to the asteroid, matching speeds and then soft-landing it on its surface. To do a last minute change to half a million tonnes of rock will need an extremely powerful rocket. Even if we had such a rocket, it is unlikely we would be able to deliver it to the asteroid in time. In movies, we have the heroes blowing up the threatening asteroid with a very large bomb. This would not be the greatest idea. Blasting one object, which would have impacted one part of the world, into many, impacting all over the world, would be far worse. If we could detect threatening asteroids years before the predicted collision, we could soft-land a low-power rocket motor on them, possibly using the asteroid's own material as fuel. Given enough time, even a low thrust rocket motor could slowly change the asteroid's orbit into a less threatening one. However, it is very hard to predict impacts with any certainty years in advance. The problem is that the asteroids' orbits are being continually tweaked by the gravitational attractions of the other planets, mainly the giant planet Jupiter. The result is that our predictions contain uncertainties. We can only guarantee that at the forecast encounter time, an asteroid will pass through a volume of space with the Earth lying in it. To avoid disaster, the uncertainties in our prediction have to be much smaller than any change our low-power rocket can make to the asteroid's orbit, so that we can be sure we are making the right correction. This requires better position measurements over more of the asteroid's orbit. People are working hard on this. After sunset, Venus is spectacular in the west and Jupiter almost as spectacular in the southeast. Saturn rises around midnight and Mars around 2 a.m. The moon will reach first quarter on the 22nd and will be full on the 29th. According to the dictionary, Memorial Day is the day on which those who died in active military service are remembered, traditionally observed on May 30 but now officially observed on the last Monday in May. But according to some who live in certain states, Memorial Day means something different. Keep reading to find out which states celebrate Confederate Memorial Day and why and when. 1. Some states celebrate Confederate Memorial Day According to CNN, some Southern states still celebrate Confederate Memorial Day, an occasion on which they commemorate those who died fighting for secession from the U.S. over slavery and states rights. And thats not all. Alabama even celebrates Robert E. Lees birthday on the same day as Martin Luther King Jr.s in January and Confederate president Jefferson Davis birthday (in June). Pretty shocking, isnt it? Next: The backstory 2. How Confederate Memorial Day began According to AL.com, celebrating Confederate Memorial Day goes back to 1866 when the Ladies Memorial Association in Columbus, Georgia, chose a day to honor Confederate soldiers who died in battle. At the time, Southern women set up memorials and spruced up Confederate cemeteries. The campaign gathered steam and today, those dedicated to representing the Souths history and culture still celebrate the day. Next: A costume parade 3. Alabamas celebration On April 23, 2018, Alabama government offices were closed for Confederate Memorial Day, according to U.S. News. Per usual, a group held the annual commemoration to Confederate soldiers killed in battle on the grounds of the Alabama Capitol. In addition, many attendees wore Confederate costumes to pay tribute to their ancestors who died fighting for the South. Not everyone in Alabama celebrated the day, however; an organization called Faith in Action held an event to urge the state to ban the holiday. Next: Mississippi wants to preserve its heritage. 4. Mississippis celebration Mississippi closed its government offices on April 30 to celebrate Confederate Memorial Day, according to CNN. In 2016, Gov. Phil Bryant declared April as Confederate Heritage Month in Mississippi, saying history deserves study and reflection, no matter how unpleasant or complicated parts of it may be. A year later, declared April 24 Confederate Memorial Day to honor those who served in the confederacy. It is important for all Americans to reflect upon our nations past, to gain insight from our mistakes and successes, and to come to a full understanding that the lessons learned yesterday and today will carry us through tomorrow if we carefully and earnestly strive to understand and appreciate our heritage and our opportunities which lie before us, reads Bryants proclamation. But historically, some residents of these states have taken issue with the holiday. Next: Mississippi backlash 5. Mississippi Rising Coalition strikes back Im troubled that in a state made up of 40% people of color, our leadership continues to openly sanction the use of taxpayer funds to endorse a neo-Confederate agenda, wrote Mississippi Rising Coalition President Lea Campbell in a Facebook post in 2017. It is time to move forward, she wrote. We can be proud Southerners and honor our heritage and the sacrifices made by our ancestors without use of taxpayer funds to promote a racially unjust agenda. Next: Same holiday, different name 6. Georgias celebration Georgia also celebrates Confederate Memorial Day, only under a different name. In 2015, according to CNN, lawmakers struck Confederate Memorial Day and Robert E. Lees birthday from the state calendar. Instead, a generic official State Holiday is celebrated on April 26 ( in 2018 the state celebrated on April 23). Confederate Memorial Day and Robert E. Lees birthday were taken off the state calendar when a white supremacist killed nine parishioners in a South Carolina church in 2015. Next: These states celebrate, too. 7. Other states that celebrate Confederate Memorial Day Florida and South Carolina also have unofficial Confederate Memorial Day celebrations. And Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey fully supports her states offical holiday. According to Slate, she blasted folks in Washington and out-of-state liberals for attempting to tell the state what to do. Up in Washington, they always know better, said Ivey. Politically correct nonsense, I say. Ivey also defends the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act of 2017, a state law, which requires state permission to alter and/or rename buildings and monuments that are 40 years or older. Although the law doesnt actually say it applies to Confederate memorials, most people know about its intended purpose. Next: The truth about the Confederacy. 8. The Confederacy was built on slavery The Confederacy was established with the purpose of preserving the institution of slavery period. When Alabama seceded from the Union in January 1861, it stated that the institution of African slavery now existing in the slaveholding states was a moral, social, and political blessing, according to Vox. Given that fact, should anyone be able to celebrate anything related to the Confederate States of America? The decision is torn. In the summer of 2017, white nationalists gathered in Charlottesville, Virginia, to prevent the government from taking down a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. The problem with that is that the statue wasnt put in place and dedicated until 1924, 59 years after the war ended. Clearly, the South disagrees on many things surrounding celebrating the Confederacy. Read more: You Wont Believe How Many Presidents Owned Slaves at the White House Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! When New York business and commercial law attorney Aaron Schlossberg went into the Fresh Kitchen restaurant on Madison Avenue and ranted at the manager after overhearing a conversation in Spanish between a customer and an employee, he likely didnt realize what the aftermath would be. Keep reading to find out what happened and take a look at the actual rant on page 5 them find out whats in store for Schlossberg. 1. Post rant After attorney Aaron Schlossberg finished his racist rant in the Manhattan restaurant, social media did the rest. Former Daily News Columnist Shaun King posted the video on Twitter at 8:15 a.m. on Wednesday, according to NBC News. King asked his nearly 1 million followers to help him identify the bigot in the white shirt. It didnt take long before he was able to ID Schlossberg. Next: Lawmakers take action. 2. A formal complaint On Thursday, just a day after Schlossbergs rant, two New York lawmakers Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D.-N.Y. filed a formal complaint against him. Not only did the video go viral, the New York Daily News showed Schlossbergs face with a Spanish headline that the tabloid translated as Screw you, idiot. Next: What the lawmakers had to say 3. The actual complaint against Schlossberg According to NBC News, the Ruben and Espaillat had this to say to a New York attorney grievance committee: What we witnessed in the vile video from Mr. Schlossberg, which has since gone viral, is a humiliating and insulting attack on the more than 50 years of progress that this nation has made since the civil rights movement. We watched Aarons video and we were disgusted. Next: The tweet 4. This tweet didnt do Schlossberg any favors Former Daily News Columnist Shaun King was definitely angry about Schlossbergs conduct. Dear Midtown Manhattan Attorney Aaron M Schlossberg, 7 of your college classmates from @JohnsHopkins & @GWtweets contacted me and said this is you & they arent surprised. I am asking the New York Bar Association (@nysba) to also look into your bigoted hate here & across NYC, tweeted King. Next: Watch the rant now. 5. The rant (Please post video from this link: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/new-york-politicians-file-formal-complaint-against-lawyer-whose-racist-n875006) As you can see in the video, Schlossberg was angry that the staff was speaking Spanish to customers because they should be speaking English. The crowd wasnt open to his remarks, but that didnt faze him. He went on to say, My guess is theyre not documented so my next call is to ICE to have them kicked out of my country, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. I pay for their welfare. I pay for their ability to be here. The least they can do is speak English. At the end of his rant, Schlossberg made fun of a woman eating a sandwich. Maybe you shouldnt eat that sandwich, said Schlossberg. Maybe you should take a break from the food. Next: Schlossbergs reaction to being busted 6. Schlossberg laid low Schlossberg laid low on Thursday, the day after his rant. He didnt return telephone calls, and the contact function on his company website which says does business in Spanish and other languages seemed to be turned off, according to NBC News. When Schlossberg left his Manhattan apartment which is right near the Mexican consulate, ironically enough there was a slew of reporters on the stoop. He hid under an umbrella and zipped his lip. Next: A little background 7. Schlossbergs cred Schlossberg is not a member of the New York State Bar Association, according to NBC News. And so far, records show that there is no report of public discipline against him on file with the association. A little background work revealed that he contributed $500 to the campaign of President Donald Trump in May 2016. Fun fact: Schlossbergs LinkedIn profile says he studied in Madrid, Spain, and speaks French, Hebrew, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. Perhaps its OK for people to speak other languages if he can make money from them. Next: Whats next for Schlossberg? 8. What will happen with Schlossbergs career? Stephen Gillers, a professor of legal ethics at New York University, said Schlossberg could be disciplined if he is convicted of something such as disorderly conduct. I think the most serious discipline he could face would be a private admonition if he has a clean record, wrote Gillers in an email to NBC News. On the other hand, Schlossberg may claim his conduct is protected by the First Amendment, which if true would prevent discipline, wrote Gillers. Whether the conduct constituted disorderly conduct or is protected by the First Amendment are decisions that will turn on close analysis of the tape and the testimony of those who felt themselves threatened. Next: Schlossberg will likely have to move. 9. Schlossberg should be looking for a new office address Although Schlossberg is not likely to be disbarred, he will have to find a new business address, according to NBC News. He met with clients and collected mail at the Corporate Suites business center at 275 Madison Ave. in Manhattan, but the landlord give him his walking papers after seeing the video. His actions are contrary to what we believe in as a community and goes against our rules and regulations, said Hayim Grant, president of Corporate Suites. Next: This wasnt Schlossbergs first rant. 10. Schlossbergs history of rants Schlossberg has been caught spewing other racist rants, according to the website heavy. Willie Morris posted a video that shows Schlossberg on a New York street calling him an ugly f*cking foreigner over an issue regarding sidewalk etiquette. Morris was walking with a friend and Schlossberg wouldnt shift his path a bit to walk around them. And thats how Schlossberg reacted. Schlossberg also was caught delivering a racist rant when he attended a Manhattan protest on May 25, 2017 against Jews supporting Palestine. In the video, Schlossberg is saying to Jewish people, You are not a Jew, chanting Milos name and swearing at them. Read more: 9 Reasons Why President Trump is Having Trouble Retaining Lawyers Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook Colorado's love for SUVs is stronger than ever, even as climate warms A federal district court in Arizona ruled that a Phoenix homeowner who held weekly Bible studies in his backyard must serve jail time for failing to comply with building, zoning, fire and safety codes applicable to churches, Christianity Today reports. In 2008, the city of Phoenix ordered Michael Salman to comply with code requirements for a church after neighbors complained about his Bible studies, which drew 50 people to a gazebo in his backyard. Salman refused, saying the order violated his free exercise rights, and was fined $12,000, sentenced to 60 days in jail and given three years of probation, during which he could not have more than 12 people in his home. On Friday, the federal district court dismissed Salman's attempt to halt the judgment because a lower federal court had already heard his complaint and dismissed it for failing to first exhaust his legal options at the state level. Plane crashes on take-off in Cuba, killing more than 100 More than 100 people were killed when a Boeing 737 crashed soon after taking off from Havana in what appeared to be Cuba's worst air disaster in nearly 30 years, and there were only three survivors, officials and state media said on Friday. The passenger plane, on a domestic flight to Holguin in eastern Cuba, crashed at 12:08 pm (16.08 GMT). There were 105 passengers, including five children, plus crew members, state media reported. Five of the passengers and the crew were foreign, according to media reports. Two Argentine citizens and an unspecified number of Mexicans were among the dead, the Argentine and Mexican governments said. President Miguel Diaz-Canel said in broadcast comments that a high number of people appeared to have been killed. He said the fire from the crash had been extinguished and authorities were identifying bodies. Diaz-Canel said authorities were investigating the cause of the crash. Cuba declared an official period of mourning from 6 am on May 19 to 12 pm on May 20, during which the flag would be flown at half-mast outside state and military institutions. Former Cuban president Raul Castro, who now heads the country's ruling Communist Party, offered his condolences to the families of those who died in the crash as he recovered from a hernia operation, State media reported This was the first time Cuba reported on a health issue for Castro, 86, who last month handed over the reins of power to his right-hand man Diaz-Canel. Castro 'who is recovering satisfactorily from a recent planned surgery to get rid of a hernia is staying up to date on the situation and has given the relevant guidance', the Communist Party newspaper Granma reported. Blackened wreckage of Flight CU972 was strewn over the crash site, 20 km (12 miles) south of Havana. 'We heard an explosion and then saw a big cloud of smoke go up,' said Gilberto Menendez, who runs a restaurant near the crash site in the agricultural area of Boyeros. The flight's destination, Holguin, is the capital of a province popular with tourists for its pristine beaches. Carlos Alberto Martinez, director of Havana's Calixto Garcia hospital, told Reuters that four victims of the crash had been were brought there and one died. Three others, all women, were in a serious condition, he said. 'She is alive but very burnt and swollen,' said one of the women's relatives at the hospital. The Mexican transport department said on its website, 'During take-off (the plane) apparently suffered a problem and dived to the ground.' The Boeing 737-201 aircraft was built in 1979 and leased by Cuban airline Cubana from a small Mexican company called Damojh, according to the Mexican government. Damojh in Mexico said it did not immediately have any more information. Cubana declined to comment. Mexico said it would send a team of investigators from its Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics on Saturday. Most aircraft accidents take months to investigate. A US State Department official said the agency was not aware of any request for US assistance at this time, but the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration had offered to assist in the investigation. The State Department has spoken with the Cuban ambassador to offer condolences, the official said. Boeing Co said in a statement that its technical team stood 'ready to assist as permitted under US law and at the direction of the US National Transportation Safety Board and Cuban authorities'. The United States has a decades-old trade embargo on the island. The earliest Boeing 737s like the one that crashed use engines made by Pratt & Whitney, part of US-based industrial group United Technologies. On Thursday, Cuba's First Vice President Salvador Valdes Mesa met with Cubana bosses to discuss public complaints about its service, according to state-run media, including numerous cancellations of domestic flights this year and long delays. Earlier this month, the company was ordered to suspend flights of its six Russian built AN-158 aircraft, of which most had reportedly already been grounded, according to state-run media. The last fatal crash in Cuba was in 2017, the Aviation Safety Network said. It was a military flight and all eight on board were killed. In 2010, a commercial Aero Caribbean plane crashed in central Cuba and all 68 people on board were killed. In the worst Cubana disaster, a Soviet-made Ilyushin-62M passenger plane crashed near Havana in 1989 killing all 126 people on board. 1. The 17th Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. The latest installment in the Womens Murder Club series. Detective Lindsay Boxer searches for a killer in San Francisco. 2. The Fallen by David Baldacci. Amos Decker, known as the Memory Man, puts his talents toward solving a string of murders in a Rust Belt town. 3. Twisted Prey by John Sandford. The 28th book in the Prey series. A federal marshal looks into the actions of a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. 4. The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner. A woman is separated from her son when she begins two consecutive life sentences in a California correctional facility. 5. The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy. A missing baby unnerves a group of new mothers who meet in Prospect Park twice a week. 6. The Forgotten Road by Richard Paul Evans. The second book in the Broken Road series. After surviving a plane crash, a man decides to walk the length of Route 66. 7. Adjustment Day by Chuck Palahniuk. Young men take on geriatric politicians who are pushing the country toward a third world war. 8. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. A South Carolina lawyer learns about the questionable practices of a Tennessee orphanage. 9. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. An artist upends a quiet town outside Cleveland. 10. The Hellfire Club by Jake Tapper. Charlie Marder, a World War II veteran and unlikely congressman, gets entangled in a dangerous series of events in 1950s D.C. Nonfiction 1. A Higher Loyalty by James Comey. The former FBI director recounts cases and personal events that shaped his outlook on justice, and analyzes the leadership styles of three presidents. 2. Ill Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara. The late true-crime journalists search for the serial murderer and rapist known as the Golden State Killer. 3. War on Peace by Ronan Farrow. The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist chronicles the deterioration of U.S. diplomacy. 4. Fascism: A Warning by Madeleine Albright with Bill Woodward. The former secretary of state examines the legacy of fascism in the 20th century and its potential revival. 5. Educated by Tara Westover. The daughter of survivalists, who is kept out of school, educates herself enough to leave home for university. 6. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson. A straightforward, easy-to-understand introduction to the universe. 7. The Light Within Me by Ainsley Earhardt with Mark Tabb. A memoir by one of the hosts of Fox & Friends. 8. The Assault On Intelligence by Michael V. Hayden. A former director of the NSA and the CIA identifies domestic and international threats to the U.S. intelligence community. 9. Obama by Pete Souza. More than 300 pictures of the former president by his White House photographer, with behind-the-scenes stories. 10. Suicide of the West by Jonah Goldberg. A senior editor at National Review assesses issues plaguing the left and the right. New York Times Hurricane Harvey shattered many records biggest storm ever to hit Houston, the state of Texas and, by some measures, the United States. The rainfall was so great in some areas that it exceeded what scientists believed the atmosphere was capable of producing. Dozens died. Thousands lost their livelihood. The fourth-largest city in America will never be the same. Harvey put a punctuation mark on the previous devastating storms of 2015 and 2016. While the Tax Day floods and Memorial Day floods were historic in their own right, Harvey is the one that forever will carry the moniker game changer. The storm roused the public and public officials and hammered home many lessons about Houstons relationship with its primary natural threat. Among them: The public, and public officials, need to rethink risk: Harvey made clear that many, residents and officials alike, were not prepared for the storms magnitude because they never thought an event so severe would happen during their lifetime. For example, Addicks and Barker dams were never upgraded or improved largely because events like Harvey were considered rare. Partly as a result, thousands of homes took on water upstream as the reservoirs flood pools backed up into subdivisions, and downstream as officials made releases to relieve the aging dams. The same mentality disbelief that such a large scale disaster could actually happen also contributed to more than 80 percent of Harris County buildings lacking flood insurance coverage. Harvey drove home that, while rare, massive storms can happen, and when they do, many wish they had better foresight. Better information is needed: It is not easy to gauge risk properly when the information is not all there. Harvey laid bare deep holes in what we know today. Many residents, for example, had no idea their homes were built within the Addicks and Barker reservoirs. Laws mandating disclosure of flood risk and past flooding history do not mandate that buyers or renters be made aware of the risks. Flood plains the only regions formally mapped for their risk of flooding do not capture a large proportion of the flooding problem in Harris County, as they only model how water spills out of the bayou and not how water flows toward the bayous. Three-quarters of the homes that flooded during Harvey were outside the flood plains. Nearly half of the 2,500 miles of waterways do not even have mapped flood plains. Officials are studying how to better communicate these risks. Defenses must be bolstered: The regulations to prepare for and protect against flooding, as well as the various dams, levees, bayous and detention basins that help protect against flooding, need to be upgraded. Both the City of Houston and Harris County have increased regulations governing building in high-risk areas: for example, all new development in the city will have to be built two-feet above that which would flood in a 500-year storm. Harris County and the City of Houston are also re-examining the regulations that force developers to offset the paving over of flood-absorbent ground. Addicks and Barker dams both need to be studied and upgraded, and officials appear to have coalesced around the idea of building a third dam and reservoir northwest of the city. County and city officials also say buyouts of flood-prone homes need to be ramped up, and even are examining the possibility of building massive tunnels deep underground to carry storm water to Galveston Bay. Meanwhile a chorus of voices has begun to question whether engineering is the right answer, suggesting instead that the areas concrete-lined bayous be returned to a more natural state because they believe a natural landscape can better absorb flood waters as well as improve Houstons concrete aesthetic. Money is short and consensus is fractured: Hardening the Houston area against flooding will be very costly. The Harris County Flood Control District operates on roughly $60 million in new funds every year for capital projects. The local cost to repair existing infrastructure damaged by Harvey and past floods will exceed that amount. Meanwhile, overlapping jurisdictions and responsibilities make accountability difficult: while the Addicks and Barker dams exist in Harris County, with flood control district managed waterways flowing in and out of the reservoirs, they are the sole jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Houston and Harris County officials as well as some members of U.S. Congress say the state should chip in more money. While billions of dollars appropriated by Congress in February and a possible local flood control bond will help fill the gaps, officials agree nobodys contribution is enough, resulting in gridlock and inaction. Science must evolve: Preliminary data from a federal study indicates that current models vastly underestimate what a 100-year storm would look like, meaning that most regulations fall short of what they are intended to do. That likely will change when study results roll out later this year. Meanwhile, while Harvey was the worst Houston has seen, some are cautioning that it could have been even more damaging if the hurricane had made a direct hit on the city, resulting in not only possible rainfall, but also a storm surge up the Houston Ship Channel with deadly winds. Late at night, after a day of terror came to a close and a Santa Fe High School student finally slept, her mother sat down and wrote a painfully detailed account of May 18, 2018. Deedra Van Ness entitled the Facebook note "The longest day of my life." Van Ness' daughter, Isabelle, hid in the closet during the Friday morning mass shooting in an art classroom with other students, some of whom died next to her. Van Ness got a call from Isabelle while the gunman's bullets flew. "As I answer the phone, she is whispering and I can barely understand her," Van Ness writes. "Then I hear her whisper...mom, they are shooting up the school, I'm hiding in a closet. I love you mom. In the background I hear gunfire. I beg her to stay on the phone and she says other kids with her want to call their parents and don't have phones." Hours later, Isabelle apologized to her mother for calling and upsetting her. READ THE ENTIRE POST IN GRAY MATTERS: At Santa Fe High School, my daughter phoned: 'I'm hiding in a closet. I love you, Mom.' The family was finally reunited after her parents waited outside all day, watching one busload after another drop off children. "We watch these children walk off looking lost while their eyes search the crowds for their loved ones," Van Ness writes. When Isabelle finally arrived, her parents rushed her home, where Isabelle's brother, Kam, told his parents tearfully that his best friend died in the shooting, and Isabelle began to talk about the attack. "There's a door at the back of the room to which the kids are running...only to discover the door is locked and they are trapped. Seeing the kids turning back from the door, she immediately starts running towards items to hide behind. "She's moving from item to item as the gunman continues to fire into the classroom. She is now covered in dust from the bullets hitting the walls around her. Kids are scrambling trying to hide / escape and she finds an area where he can't see her, but she can see him. She finally runs for the supply closet where she and 6 other kids hide. They are able to lock one door and begin blocking the other door as another girl runs into the closet with them. As they are moving heavy items in front of the door, the gunman screams...Surprise M*****F****** and begins shooting into the closet. The gunman hits 3 of the 8 kids in the closet...killing 2 of them instantly. He leaves to chase other kids who ran out of the room and they hear more gun shots. Then he comes back." Isabelle told her parents that she called police during the shooting and was told that help was on the way. She could hear the gunman yelling "Woo Hoo!" as he fired shots into the classroom next door. He then returned to Isabelle's classroom and shot into the closet where she was hiding once again. She heard the police as they arrived and the gunman surrender before he was taken into custody. At home, students were reaching out to each other on social media, or watching live television coverage while they waited to hear about the status of their missing or injured classmates, Van Ness said. As her family tried to comfort her and process their own grief, Isabelle became determined to share her experience, after hearing accounts of the day from other students, some of whom blamed her on social media for not doing more to help her classmates. "Isaelle becomes more and more upset over the TV, as they are interviewing people that weren't in the area where the gunman was and they are reporting incorrect information," Van Ness writes. Meanwhile, the family learned of other friends and family members who were victims of the shooting. One of those victims is Isabelle and Kam's cousin, Van Ness said. Isabelle tried to visit with other students who were not near the shooting area, and finds she is unable to do so, so the family returned home. "We get home and she asks her daddy if she can sleep with me. He left to go take care of Kam and I'm sitting her watching her sleep. I'm so proud of her and her bravery and caring heart," Van Ness writes. "She saved herself, called the policy, shared her phone with others who were afraid, spoke to a reporter to share her story, and stayed strong until she was able to transfer her burden to us. So far, she's sleeping peacefully. No tossing, turning... nothing I anticipated. But as she dreams, she knows that I'm sitting her watching over her and I hope that's enough for her to find peace in her slumber." A 16-year-old boy held at a juvenile lock-up died overnight at a youth prison in south Texas, officials said Saturday. It's not clear what caused the death and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department did not immediately identify the Nueces County teen. "I am heartbroken to announce that a youth was discovered unresponsive last night at the Evins Regional Juvenile Center and was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital," said Camille Cain, TJJD executive director. "Despite the best efforts of the medical staff, the youth could not be revived and was pronounced dead." The agency is notifying the parents and the Office of the Inspector General will launch an investigation. READ MORE: Teens who escaped Texas juvenile prison captured in Montgomery County "I will provide additional information as it becomes available, and our thoughts and prayers are with the youth's family and friends," Cain added. News of the death comes just weeks after a pair of teenage felons escaped from a TJJD facility between Austin and Houston, only to be captured less than a day later. The two Houston-area 16-year-olds - Brice Ryan Karalis and Bryan Ernando Villanueva - slipped out of their dorm at the Giddings State School and stole an unlocked car, officials said. They were spotted in a local park later that night before fleeing to Montgomery County, where they were picked up. The past year has been a trying time for the troubled juvenile justice agency. TJJD saw a string of officer arrests in 2017, when a number of staffers were accused of having or trying to have sex with youths in their care. In the months that followed, the state's juvenile justice system weathered a number of high-level shake-ups, including the appointment of a new executive director, the ouster of the longtime independent ombudsman, and the replacement of the board chair. In February, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced the arrest of four current and former juvenile justice employees accused of tampering with records and using excessive force in handling jailed teens. Weeks later, a leaked email revealed more departures and restructuring. A foreign exchange student. A teacher. A Harry Potter lover who would have certainly been a Ravenclaw. The day after a gunman barged into a first-period art class at Santa Fe High School and killed 10 people, family and friends shared memories of those who were lost. Chris' ever-present smile even when his football coach was yelling at him. Sabika's "big thoughts" that made her seem so much older than 17. Kim's love of Girl Scouts and her mother, who deemed herself "world's okayest mom" on Facebook. The tributes surfaced throughout the community and on social media, through videos, photos and public comments even as others closed their doors to grieve in private. Some wanted prayers; some wanted action. Educators Glenda Perkins and Cynthia Tisdale who began the school day in the art room were among those killed. As were students Jared Black, Shana Fisher, Christian Riley Garcia, Aaron Kyle McLeod, Angelique Ramirez, Sabika Sheikh, Christopher Jake Stone and Kimberly Vaughan. The list of those killed in the mass shooting Friday in northern Galveston County struck a cross-section of the town of Santa Fe, a rural, family community where paved and gravel roads open up to large front lawns and humble, well-cared for homes. Where families with young children are more common than in a typical American city. "Unique, established, competitive, traditional, rural, ever-changing," last year's high school yearbook announced. "Full of energy, ideas and traditional, this school is a kaleidoscope of change." A 17-year-old student, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, has been charged with capital murder and with aggravated assault of a school police officer, who was among 13 injured. Facebook Jared Black Jared Black turned 17 on Wednesday and was excited for a pool party this weekend to celebrate. Black was a quiet, kind kid who loved art and anime, video games and sci-fi, wrestling and wolves. He took medicine every day for attention deficit disorder and drew cartoons all the time. "He's a great kid," stepfather Travis Stanich said early Friday. "He loves people. He's very creative." Black had two brothers, Houston, 13, and an older brother, Anthony, who lives and works in Odessa. Anthony, his wife and children were coming to visit for Black's birthday. The Staniches had bought a new above-ground pool, and already filled it up for the party. Instead, the family planned his funeral. Shana Fisher Shana Fisher had just turned 16 earlier this month. "She was shy and sweet," said her mother, Sadie Baze. "She had a lot of love in her heart." She often kept to herself, according to her mother, who believes she may have been intentionally targeted by Pagourtzis, who was an ex-boyfriend of one of Fisher's best friends. "He kept making advances on her and she repeatedly told her no," Baze said. Over the course of four months, the advances got more aggressive. "She's the sweetest young lady anyone would ever meet," her mother said. While Fisher wasn't always outgoing at school, she tried her hand at creating a YouTube channel, posting photos she'd taken and pictures she'd drawn on her computer. She loved flowers and cats, and playing silly with her youngest relatives at big family gatherings. Mostly, she loved her dog, Kallie. At the end of one of her YouTube videos, made a couple years ago when she was just learning the ropes, Shana signed off, bidding love to whomever might stumble upon her artwork: "be a flower my luv's!!!" Facebook Christian Riley Garcia Christian Riley Garcia was a devout member of Crosby Church, which he had attended with his family his entire life. Less than two weeks ago, the 15-year-old took a black marker to the studs that would frame his bedroom in the house being built for his family. "He says be still and know that I am God; I will exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth," he quoted Psalm 46:10, in handwriting that was both tall and thin just like him. "Riley you are greatly loved and greatly missed," his pastor wrote on the church's Facebook page Friday, asking his congregation to "please continue to lift up this family and all the others in your prayers." His cousin, Ashley Fonseca, took to social media to ask friends and strangers to pray for her baby cousin, who according to the Washington Post, was a waterbug who liked being tugged around the lake on water skis and night-fishing trips in Crosby. "Riley your Name will live on forever," she promised him in a tweet. Facebook Aaron Kyle McLeod Aaron Kyle McLeod's home was scattered with bouquets of blue and yellow flowers Saturday evening, as friends and neighbors stopped to leave silent mementos. "He's a very special kid," neighbor Harry Monych said. "He's a very good young man." The 15-year-old's friends remembered him as cheerful, smiling, and ready to crack a joke about anything. Kali Reeves, 15, got close to the slain teen in eighth grade. "He was never one to be a sad or down person; he always had to joke or laugh about things," Reeves said. "He was just outgoing and super sweet. He definitely didn't deserve this." She joked to her boyfriend that if she FaceTimed McLeod, he would have "made a joke about him getting shot." When the violence broke out Friday, Reeves texted her friend to check in. He didn't respond. But she kept checking and eventually sent one final message, saying she hoped he "gets better." Not long after that, she learned from Facebook that he had been killed. Facebook Glenda "Ann" Perkins Glenda Perkins had been a trusted substitute teacher at Santa Fe High School for years, earning respect from teachers and students alike. "She always had a smile on her face," said Jay Mann, a junior. She was the type of substitute who took the time to learn students' names, and became part of the fabric of the school, where her grandchildren are students. "She never got mad at anybody for doing something stupid. I mean, she just had a great attitude," Mann said. "She was always patient with everyone in the classroom," former student Emily Evans said. Perkins was a member of Tutu Live Krewe, an all-female marching krewe that participated in Galveston's popular Mardi Gras celebration. The group posted a Facebook remembrance Friday. "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we report the loss of Krewe member Ann Perkins due to the senseless school shooting at Santa Fe High School today. Many posts online indicate she was the favorite teacher of countless students." Angelique Ramirez Angelique Ramirez was a 15-year-old with "fire-red hair." Her family announced her death online. "With a broken heart and a soul that just can't process all this right now, I have to announce my niece was one of the fatalities," her aunt, Sylvia Pritchett, wrote on Facebook, hours after putting out a post requesting help finding the teen. "All we got info on is that she was shot in the leg." At first, friends and supporters poured out their concern in the comments. Then, concern turned to condolences. "She was a wonderful young lady and will be greatly missed," wrote one person who knew her. "I'm so sorry," wrote another supporter. "I don't know what else to say. Peace to all of you, and to this beautiful girl." Fareed Khan/Associated Press Sabika Sheikh Sabika Sheikh, an exchange student from Pakistan, was in Santa Fe through the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study program, sponsored by the State Department. Sheikh came to study in Santa Fe at the beginning of the school year, and was due to return home to her family in Karachi, Pakistan, in just three weeks, after the start of summer vacation, and just in time for the holiday marking the end of Ramadan. Though she didn't grow up in America, she excelled in her third-period U.S. history class, where she always knew the answer but rarely raised her hand. She was brilliant, classmates said, but shy. When she did speak up, she was sweet and kind, they said. Her father, Pakistani businessman Abdul Aziz Sheikh, told reporters at his home that he tried to call his daughter when he saw news of the shooting on television, but couldn't reach her or any of her friends. Three hours later, he received confirmation of his daughter's death from the foreign-exchange program. "She was extraordinary, genius and talented," according to her father. Always at the very top of her class. Family Chris Stone Chris Stone was the "life of the party," the kind of guy who made everyone smile, his sister and friends said. The youngest of three siblings, and the only boy, he tried to protect the others. Those who knew him described him as "so sweet." The 17-year-old junior was a football player and he loved it. His dad had coached him since he was a little kid, his sister Mercedez Stone said. A photo she shared shows him posing proudly with his mother, wearing a shirt emblazoned with "Indians 63." He wanted to become a plant operator after graduation and went hunting for the first time at Thanksgiving, nailing his first deer, she said. He didn't particularly like art, the elective that put him in death's way Friday, but took it as a requirement. He was more the adventurous type, she said. Hiking, zip-lining. In a video she shared, Stone is shown as a typical rambunctious, fun-loving teenager, bopping around to Smash Mouth, a 1990s rock band. He went to prom last weekend, his cousin, Bresdon Perez said, who shared photos of him in a tuxedo. "My little cuz may be gone, but never forgotten," he said on Twitter. Another friend, Regan Brantley, said on Twitter that they had both been on a friend's quinceanera court. "How much fun it was to dance with you," she said. "We both had two left feet but you made sure we would make it work for her special night." She said that he would be remembered as sweet, kind and genuine. "Myself and so many others will never ever forget your kind smile and your infectious laugh," she said. "And when God takes you back he'll sing 'Hallelujah, you're home.'" Cynthia Tisdale Facebook Cynthia Tisdale was a deeply religious woman, a caretaker for everyone who knew her and a dedicated teacher's aide who died doing what she loved. "She lost her life protecting students, trying to get them out of the room," one relative said. The 64-year-old Dickinson woman left behind a husband and three grown children, including one who works as a League City police detective and was one of the first responders at the scene, her family said. She has multiple grandchildren. And she was popular with students. "She gave me candy and gum and food and answers all the time and talked us through everything," one teen wrote on Twitter. "I love you and miss you so much. My heart is broken." She shepherded kids through tough times with love and support but she dreamed of spending more time with family. "We never know when our death will come," her brother-in-law John Tisdale wrote on Facebook. "Cynthia planned on one day retiring and being a full-time grandmother. It will never happen." Her husband of 47 years, Rev. William Recie Tisdale, suffers from an incurable lung disease, and Cynthia did her best to support him. "She worked at the Santa Fe High School and then took a second job as a server at a local restaurant in order to help make ends meet," wrote her brother-in-law. "I am certain if we could talk to Cynthia, who is in heaven, the first thing she would say is, she is concerned how Recie is going to make it now that she can't bring in the extra money to pay the bills." Kimberly Vaughan Courtesy Kimberly Vaughan was a Girl Scout and an art student. If she'd lived in the Harry Potter world, one family friend said, she would have been in the Ravenclaw house, where students are known for their wit, intelligence and originality. Her mother, Rhonda Hart, raised Vaughan and her brother Tyler, working as a bus driver for the Santa Fe school district. On Friday, according to a family friend, Hart was behind the wheel of a school bus, comforting distraught children for hours as she struggled to find out what happened to her girl. Early in the day, she put out a call on Facebook, asking for help finding the teen. "My daughter was in first period art class at Santa Fe high school today," Rhonda Hart wrote on Facebook. "There was a shooter. I have not found her." In a later post, she added the hashtags #fightforkim and #oneof10. "We need to fight for our kids," she wrote. Robert Downen, Jose Gonzalez, David Hunn, Samantha Ketterer, Lomi Kriel and Monica Rhor and the Associated Press contributed to this report. One man was killed after gunfire erupted at a card game in north Houston early Saturday and another was injured after fleeing the scene in a hail of bullets and crashing his car, police said. Houston police officers said they they found a man dead from a gunshot wound around 1 a.m. after arriving at a trucking company at Hartwick and Hirsch. The victim, who was not immediately identified, was playing cards with a group of people when an argument broke out and the men began shooting at one another, police said. The high school junior accused of gunning down 10 students and teachers at a Santa Fe school is facing a capital murder charge - but hell never face the death penalty, even in Texas. Some day, hell even be eligible for parole. Though Dimitrios Pagourtzis was charged as an adult and jailed without bond, even if hes found guilty he cant be sentenced to death because of a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. And in the Lone Star State, he cant be sentenced to life without parole as the result of a 2013 law that banned the practice for minors. In Texas, after the Supreme Courts decision, they passed a law that basically says that its a life sentence if youre under 18 at the time of the crime, said attorney Amanda Marzullo, executive director of Texas Defender Services. The Court has said that it is cruel and unusual to execute an individual who is under 18 at the time of the offense. The Santa Fe High School student admitted to the mass shooting that killed 10 and wounded at least 10 others early Friday, according to court documents. He planted fake explosives and selected his targets so as to spare the students he liked, he later told police. READ MORE: Perry forced to commute teens' death sentences For an adult, that sort of crime could lead to the death chamber. Murders involving multiple victims can be charged as capital offenses, and for adults that leaves two options: death or life without parole. At one time, those options were both on the table for teens, too. But then in 2005, Christopher Simmons, a Missouri killer condemned to die, won a landmark case in the Supreme Court. After surveying practices in death penalty states, the justices decided that the national consensus was against executing minors. Only a few states - including Texas - were the outliers still carrying out death sentences for those convicted of crimes committed as minors. Aside from considering prevailing norms, the court weighed in on traits that make teenage criminals different - and possibly more sympathetic - than their adult counterparts. The court looked at teen offenders and said that juveniles are categorically different from adults in several very important ways, said Robert Dunham of the Death Penalty Information Center. Among those considerations: teens were more immature, more prone to peer pressure and more likely to have a shot at rehabilitation, the justices said. The court was aware that some kids may do horrible things, Dunham said. And some individual kids might have sufficient moral culpability to be punished as adults. But as a class, the courts said, the distinctions between juveniles and adults were so significant that juveniles should not be subject to the death penalty. Before the courts decision, Texas had been the biggest executioner of juvenile offenders, Dunham said. Across the nation, there were 22 convicts executed for crimes committed as juveniles - and more than half of them were in Texas. After the court eliminated the practice, in June 2005 Gov. Rick Perry commuted a slew of death sentences to life, removing 28 prisoners from death row, including 12 from Harris County. Then in 2012, the Supreme Court took it one step further when the justices struck down mandatory life without parole sentences for juveniles. The following year, Texas legislators passed a law making life with parole - instead of life without parole - the only sentencing option for minors charged with capital crimes. For life sentences where parole is an option, Marzullo said, the first chance at release comes after 40 years in prison. Whether or not hes ultimately convicted, the accused Santa Fe shooter will be behind bars for the foreseeable future. During his first court appearance Friday night, a judge opted to hold him without bond. "At the moment he's in solitary confinement," Judge Mark Henry said after the teen's first court appearance Friday evening. "He's going to be here a while." AUSTIN The Trump administrations plan to yank federal funding from clinics that provide or recommend abortions would make the controversial procedure even more more difficult to get in Texas. Thats what people on both sides of the abortion debate are saying as they await rules from President Donald Trump his staff said will to mirror a Reagan-era policy that survived a legal challenge but was never fully implemented. It has implications beyond just, Planned Parenthood is going to lose funding. It can actually impact health care on a larger scale, said Heather Busby, former executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Texas who now directs the Circle of Health International's advocacy efforts on Texas sexual reproductive health. The Trump administration had planned to announce the new rule Friday, dealing a win just before election season to anti-abortion conservatives who want the president to curtail access to the controversial procedure. Although the administration has yet to release details, people close to the president say the policy would withhold money from facilities or organizations that either promote or refers patients to abortion providers. MORE: Supreme Court declares Texas abortion rules unconstitutional Should the rule go into place, it would force facilities like Planned Parenthood to either abandon providing abortions to continue receiving Title X federal funds or lose the funding. It would likely also spur a legal challenge. We would hope that they would chose to provide health services for women and get out of the abortion industry. We dont think theyre going to do that, said Joe Pojman, executive director of Texas Alliance for Life, an anti-abortion group active in Texas politics. The state has a long history of trying to limit abortion access on its own. In 2014, Texas required clinics that provide abortions to meet the standards of an ambulatory surgical center, requiring wide corridors and other expensive renovations inside facilities. The law also mandated that doctors performing surgical or medical abortions have admitting privileges a hospital within 30 miles. The law was quickly challenged but took until 2016 for the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down those provisions in the law, ruling the regulations created an undue burden on women seeking abortion. By then, the number of clinics providing the procedure had dwindled from 41 clinics to around 20. Since then, only a few clinics have reopened. MORE: Texas law on second-trimester abortion procedure ruled unconstitutional on appeal The Reagan-era rule from 1988 banned facilities receiving Title X family planning funding from discussing or recommending abortion with their patients. The U.S. Supreme Court eventually ruled in favor of the policy, saying it was an appropriate use of executive power. President Bill Clinton rescinded the rule, replacing it with a policy that required nondirective counseling provide women with a range of options. Pojman, who wants to see the Trump administration implement the rule, said hes confident the Supreme Courts past ruling in favor of the policy means the Trump version will likely win in a court challenge. No taxpayer dollars are currently used to fund abortion. However, lawmakers both in Texas and across the country have targeted Planned Parenthood and abortion providers. Last year, Gov. Greg Abbott unsuccessful pushed a bill to ban cities from contracting with facilities that provide abortion. However, lawmakers passed into law a restriction on a common second-term abortion procedure and required the remains from an abortion be buried. Both laws are tied up in the courts. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andrea Zelinski covers politics for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook. Send her tips at andrea.zelinski@chron.com. A north Texas woman whose three children and boyfriend were killed by her ex-husband grieved from her hospital bed on Facebook Live recordings posted on Wednesday and Thursday. "I have relived it over and over and every time I close my eyes ... I see my babies. I see them dead," Amanda Simpson said on her Facebook page. By 4:40 p.m. on Thursday, the Facebook Live videos were deleted from Simpson's page. SHOCKING: Montgomery County officials raid Willis care facility following allegation of physical, sexual abuse Simpson's ex-husband, Justin Painter, 39, shot and killed their three children, Odin Painter, 8; Drake Painter, 4; and Caydence Painter, 6, at a home in the 600 block of Lonestar Park Lane in Ponder on Wednesday morning, Capt. Orlando Hinojosa of the Denton County Sheriff's Office told Chron.com. Painter also shot and killed Simpson's boyfriend, Seth Richardson, 29. Officers found Painter dead at the scene. Hinojosa did not disclose how Painter died. The case is still under investigation. Richard Theis / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm In the Wednesday Facebook Live recording, Simpson said Painter had been trying to reconcile their past relationship. "I told him that I couldn't. He didn't like it," Simpson said in the recording. The sheriff's office and the Ponder Police Department first got a call about a possible murder in progress at 8:28 a.m. on Wednesday. Hinojosa said Ponder police confirmed five people were dead at the scene when they arrived. The Ponder Fire Department transported Simpson to a hospital in Denton. GRISLY: He lured young men looking for weed; their bodies turned up in a pig roaster Simpson posted three different Facebook Live recordings from a hospital bed between Wednesday and Thursday, recounting her recovery and shock. She said she will cremate her children. She plans to take them with her everywhere so she'll "always have them by my side." "You never think you'll lose a child. I always watched the news ... then I stopped watching it because so many children get killed," Simpson said in the Wednesday Facebook Live recording. "I just don't know what to do." Simpson said a bullet from the shooting traveled through her right shoulder and is lodged under her left shoulder blade. She said doctors are determining when they'll perform surgery on her to remove the bullet and that the police plan on keeping it for evidence. TEXAS DEATH ROW: Federal judge pauses former death row inmate Alfred Brown's quest for compensation The shooting victim also told members of the media not to contact her family. Reporters who want to learn more about the case should contact her, Simpson said. She plans to move to Virginia for her recovery and to be closer to family. "Justin couldn't accept that I made a decision to make myself happy," Simpson said of the shooting. Will Axford is a digital reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com. Follow him on Twitter. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump pressed Congress on Friday to deliver federal prison reform legislation modeled on innovations to reduce recidivism that were pioneered in Texas. "Get a bill to my desk and I will sign it," he said. In a showy White House conference moderated by journalist-activist Van Jones and Brooke Rollins, president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Trump said "America is a nation that believes in the power of redemption." He preceded his remarks with a tribute to the victims of Friday's school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas, calling it "a very sad day." The conference came a week after White House adviser Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, had been scheduled to tour Seagoville Federal Correctional Institution outside Dallas with Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, the Republican author of a bipartisan legislation to help inmates reenter society. Kushner had to cancel the trip due to a scheduling change, but he took part in Friday's conference as the administration's face on prison reform, linking it to the president's vow to help the nation's forgotten and disenfranchised. "There's nobody more forgotten or underrepresented than people in prison," Kushner said. The White House event was intended to boost the First Step Act, bipartisan legislation Cornyn has pushed as a successor to reforms in Texas over the past two decades. It would provide partial or early release to halfway houses or community supervision programs if prisoners complete job, education and drug treatment programs in prison. Former Texas Governor Rick Perry, now U.S. Energy Secretary, said similar reforms in Texas led to the closing of eight state prisons and billions of dollars in savings, while crime rates dropped. "What we were doing in Texas, we were putting young people in prison for really long periods of time," Perry recalled of the tough-on-crime mandatory sentencing policies of the 1990s. "The result was we were ruining a lot of lives, lives we didn't have to ruin." Although prison reform legislation enjoys broad consensus in Congress, it has become bogged down in debate over calls to add sentencing reform measures that would reverse policies mandating long prison sentences even for some for non-violent crimes. Kushner, however, said the White House would prefer to pass prison reform legislation immediately, without tying it to sentencing reform. "Right now that's an issue that still needs debate," Kushner said. "We're not here to have a debate. We're here to do." The conference was timed to the release of a report by the White House Council of Economic Advisors finding that programs that address prisoners' mental health and substance abuse problems can reduce crime and lessen long-term incarceration costs. "There is no substitute for personal accountability and there is no tolerance for those who take advantage of society's generosity to prey upon the innocent," Trump said. "But if we want more prisoners to take charge of their own lives, then we should work to give them the tools to stand on their own two feet." Said Rollins: "We are a country of second chances." AUSTIN -- Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew White called Saturday for Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session of the legislature to immediately redeploy hundreds of millions of dollars in state border security funding to amp up security at Texas schools. The call comes just a day after a 17-year-old gunman killed 10 and injured 10 at Santa Fe High School just south of Houston in the worst Texas school shooting in decades. White earlier had proposed transferring the $800 million from border security to paying for a variety of education reforms, though he said Saturday school safety should now be a top priority in the aftermath of the Friday shooting. Within hours of the tragedy on Friday, Abbott proposed beginning a series of roundtable meetings with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to get input on solutions, and hinted he will quickly announce his plan to ramp up school security. "#NeverAgain just happened again, and it's going to keep happening until our leaders do more than send thoughts and prayers," White said while campaigning in the final days of a Tuesday runoff with rival Lupe Valdez. "At this moment, we want nothing more than to hug and cry with the parents who lost their children yesterday. We know they are being cared for by close friends and relatives, but like so many Texans, we want to do more for them. Just as law enforcement had a job to do and medical responders had a job to do, our political leaders have a job to do as well. And, they aren't doing it." As for Abbott's move on Friday, White said: "I believe he is failing on this." He added, "I don't want to wait until January 2019," when the legislature is slated to come back to Austin for its regular meeting. White on Saturday called on Abbott to move immediately to transfer remaining funding from the $800 million already allocated over two years for border security to upgrade security at the 3,000 high schools in Texas. He estimated that total could be as much as $500 million. If a special session is required, White said, "then Abbott owes the parents of every school kid in Texas the same degree of whole-hearted representation he gave to fringe voters from his party who sought to pass the bathroom bill." "We know how to protect our capitol, military bases and airports," he said. "Surely, we can protect our schools too. Using proven technology, we can restrict and secure entry points along the exterior perimeter of school grounds to create a safe campus in and around the school." White said his plan does not call for arming teachers, as some state officials have suggested. "Most high schools currently employ armed security personnel, although additional personnel may be required," he said. In addition, White said, "common-sense gun safety legislation" should be quickly implemented, including universal background checks; raising the age to buy a gun to 21, with an exemption for the military, (exclusion for military), new laws to red-flag potential shooters, and a ban on "militarized weapons with high capacity magazines or bumps stocks." "By God, nothing is more important than keeping our kids safe. Can we stop playing politics to protect our kids?" White said. "Even Gov Rick Scott - the A+ rated by the NRA, Republican governor of Florida - softened his heart as he mourned with the parents who lost children in the Parkland shooting. "I call on Gov Abbott to soften his heart and open his mind to protect our kids. In Texas, 'do right and risk the consequences' has been replaced with 'do the expedient and follow the NRA'. Texas can do better." Abbott's campaign had no immediate comment. In past months, he has said he is opposed to calling a special session of the legislature to consider additional funding for recovery from Hurricane Harvey, insisting that federal aid will cover the costs and that lawmakers can make those decisions about state funds in January 2019. Nine months after Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, the storm is playing an outsize role in determining who will represent one of the hardest-hit sections of Houston and Harris County in Congress. While every one of the nine members of Congress that represent pieces of Harris County will be working on Harvey recovery for years, the winner of Tuesdays GOP primary battle for the open 2nd Congressional District between Kevin Roberts and Dan Crenshaw could well be facing an almost three-front war in protecting the region. The recovery is this biggest issue moving forward, said U.S. Rep. Ted Poe, the Republican from Atascocita who is retiring from Congress, which led to Tuesdays battle between Roberts and Crenshaw. On the western side, the oddly shaped district reaches the shadows of the Addicks and Barker reservoirs that inundated neighborhoods. On the eastern side it takes in Lake Houston and the San Jacinto River, which floods even in moderate rains. And on the northern side, the district faces discharges from Lake Conroe in Montgomery County that can flood downstream homes like in Kingwood and Humble. Theres no doubt its the most important issue, Crenshaw, a 33-year-old retired Navy SEAL, said of the recovery efforts and how to prevent future flooding. Crenshaw has used his military experience as a key selling point. The U.S. Navy taught him how to research complex and often classified issues and seek solutions, he said. But Roberts, 52, said hes a proven legislator, having served two years in the Texas Legislature working on the flooding issues. And he stresses that for the last 17 years hes been part of the community learning the flooding issue firsthand. I was talking about these issues long before Harvey hit, Roberts said. Both candidates share many of the same conservative views on key issues including gun rights, abortion and border security. The bigger difference is in the leadership styles they brought to the table in ads, candidate forums and media interviews since the campaign started in December. SEAL turns to politics Growing up near Katy, Crenshaw said he knew at an early age what he wanted to do after reading a book on the Navy SEALs that had a huge impact on him. That was it for me, said Crenshaw, who lives in the Heights with his wife, Tara. Everything I did centered on that goal. After graduating from Tufts University, Crenshaw spent 10 years in the SEALs that included tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He nearly lost his vision when an IED blast in Afghanistan nearly cost him his life and put him into a coma for five days. He survived, but lost his right eye and now wears an eye patch. Despite his injuries, Crenshaw remained in the Navy and deployed again, including in South Korea. I kept my faith and I persevered, said Crenshaw, who has been endorsed in the race by iconic astronaut Buzz Aldrin and former Texas Governor and current U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry. When he left the military, Crenshaw earned a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University in 2016. He then spent part of 2017 working for U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, as a legislative aid focused on military and veterans issues. When Poe announced he would not seek re-election, Crenshaw said he passed on an opportunity to work in the private sector and decided to run for Congress. He said he saw it as a continuation of his public service. In campaign mailers and on his website, Crenshaw said hes tried to give voters a deep dive into his policy ideas on how to tackle the flooding problems. Flooding is the most urgent issue that Houstonians are facing, Crenshaw says in mailers. Leaning on experience Roberts grew up in Amarillo and was raised mostly by his grandparents. Roberts and his wife Holly have two children. He has a bachelors degree from Texas Tech University and works as the executive director of the Lanier Law Firm. The founder of the firm, Mark Lanier, is Robertss brother-in-law. Roberts runs the business side of the firm and is not a lawyer. Roberts said his grandparents were able to provide for him, but they didnt have a lot of extra money while he was growing up. He started working at an early age to save up money to put him through college and became the first person in his family to earn a degree. Roberts has often stressed his 30 years in business as a selling point to voters. He said it gives him real-world experience. My family and I have spent 17 years in the community, said Roberts, who touts local endorsements from Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and Harris County Commissioner Jack Cagle. We are part of the community. We have businesses in the community. Roberts ran for the Texas House in 2016 after previous state Rep. Patricia Harless did not seek re-election. He said his time in the Legislature gives him experience in not only passing legislation and voting on tough issues, but also in battling bureaucracies and working with the different levels of government that members of Congress must deal with. In television ads, Roberts points to being part of the response to Harvey on the state level since it happened. And in another video after a moderate rain in April, Roberts stood on the banks of the San Jacinto River and talked about his knowledge of the issues facing the community. Like Crenshaw, Roberts devotes a section of his website talking about support of another reservoir and the need to put more pressure on the bureaucracies to work faster. Bad blood The battle over experience and credentials has also become the biggest source of friction in the race, stirring negative attacks in mailers and television ads. It really took off during a forum hosted by the Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Houston when Roberts bristled at Crenshaw touting his public policy training at Harvard as an asset. You want to get bad policy? Roberts asks the crowd of business leaders. Send a bunch of people who have never worked in the real world. For you to be able to pass good policy you need real-world experience. Roberts added that it doesnt matter what you read at Harvard its different from the real world. That brought a sharp response from Crenshaw who said Roberts questioning his real world experience after serving in combat zones and having to bury his fellow soldiers showed a lack of respect for veterans. This latest attack by Kevin Roberts deserves a response, Crenshaw says in an intro to the YouTube clip. In his video, Crenshaw talks about confronting danger in the dead of night and attending funerals of men and women who fought by his side. All the while, the video flashes images of Crenshaw in uniform in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as pictures of a veterans cemetery. Roberts called the response a low blow. He said he was clearly talking only about Harvard and was not referencing Crenshaws military service. He said he respects Crenshaws service and, given his father is a veteran, would never diminish the service of anyone who wore the uniform. Roberts and Crenshaw finished first and second, respectively, in the March 6 GOP primary that originally had nine candidates in the race. Since neither earned more than 50 percent, a runoff was required. Crenshaw had to stage a furious comeback to make it this far. After absentee ballots and early voting were counted in the first round, Crenshaw was in a distant third place behind Roberts and Republican Kathaleen Wall, who spent more than $6 million of her own money in a bid to win the seat. Crenshaw outperformed both those candidates on Election Day and slipped into second place by just 145 votes. The winner of Tuesdays race will advance to November. Democrat Todd Litton and Libertarian Patrick Gunnels are already guaranteed to be on the ballot. The winner of the November election will get a 2-year term that pays $174,000 a year. jeremy.wallace@chron.com Twitter.com/JeremySWallace Elected officials from Gov. Greg Abbott to President Donald Trump promised to take immediate action to address school and gun safety in the aftermath of the school shooting in Santa Fe that left 10 dead and 10 more injured. "We need to do more than just pray for the victims and their families," Abbott said in a press conference, adding that he will start looking for solutions beginning next week. "It's time in Texas that we take action to step up, and make sure this tragedy is never repeated ever again in the history of the state of Texas." In the wake of recent mass shootings in Texas and elsewhere, lawmakers have promised to make public policy changes, but little has changed. After the shooter in Las Vegas used "bump stocks" to accelerate his gun's shooting rate last October, Trump and lawmakers said they would ban sales of the devices. Some states have instituted bans on their own, but the federal government has not, although the Justice Department is working on a proposed federal ban. After a shooter killed 17 students in a Parkland, Fla., school in February, Abbott demanded all school districts comply with state-required safety and security audits or risk public humiliation. But there is no review process for the self-reported audits, and there is no state law that allows the state to penalize districts that are out of compliance. 'Too damn many of these': Ted Cruz speaks out in wake of Santa Fe shooting Texas Sen. John Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, has repeatedly pushed his colleagues to vote for a narrow measure to improve data reporting to the national background check system for gun purchases. His advocacy for the incremental change began after 26 people were killed at a church in Sutherland Springs. His bill stalled for months, until March when it passed as part of a spending bill. On Friday, reacting to news of the Santa Fe shooting, Trump said his administration is determined to do "everything in our power" to protect students, secure schools and "keep weapons out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves and to others. Everyone must work together at every level of government to keep our children safe." Sen. Ted Cruz said lawmakers need to do "be doing everything humanly possible to stop this from ever happening again, to stop violent criminals to stop them from getting firearms, to stop them from getting access to schools, to stop them from illegally purchasing firearms." Abbott said he will hold roundtable meetings beginning next week with lawmakers and community members to work on "swift solutions." The governor had been scheduled next week to unveil a new school-safety plan next week, and aides said Friday that the plan was being reviewed in the wake of the shootings. Houston lawmaker: 'Y'all been sending thoughts and prayers for two freaking decades' The plan reportedly included "hardening" schools to provide additional security measures at entrances and on school grounds, expediting background checks for gun purchases and additional mental health screening for gun purchasers. Those measures would likely need to be approved by lawmakers during the next legislative session, which begins in January 2019. Abbott wants to include two members of the Texas Senate and House, families, victims, educators and students in his discussions. Abbott also wants to hear from those impacted by other shootings, such as victims from Sutherland Springs, and from those who "believe in making sure that gun rights are protected." Shannon Watts, the founder of gun control advocacy group Moms Demand, criticized Abbott, saying he doesn't believe gun laws work and pointed to his speech earlier this month at the NRA convention in which he said, "the answer (to gun violence) is to strengthen the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. The problem is not gun, it's hearts without God." State Rep. Chris Turner, the chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, said House Democrats welcome the roundtable. However, he said, the state needs to act immediately by passing universal background checks, requiring the reporting of stolen guns and implanting a campaign to encourage the safe storage of guns. Time to 'harden' schools? Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick suggested Texas would "harden" its schools. Schools had too many entrances and exits, and there are not enough security guards to patrol every doorway in Texas' more than 8,000 schools. Falkenberg: Santa Fe shooting reminds us that no one is safe Santa Fe ISD received a safety certification from the state's now-defunct School Safety Certificate Program between 2013 and 2017. Some 180 school districts out of 1,200 in the state received the certification. Patrick said the school and the district had "done everything they could to protect the students." There were two officers from the school district's police department assigned to Santa Fe High School, plus a roving officer. "We may have to look at the design of our schools, moving forward, and retrofitting schools that are already built," he said. Schools may have to limit the number of entrances or stagger their start time so that there aren't "1,400 students at the school trying to get through the door at once." "We are going to have to be creative. We are going to have to think out of the box," Patrick said. Aside from asking parents to lock up their guns, Patrick made no mention of possible gun controls. Outgoing Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, R- San Antonio said he hopes school safety will be a top priority when the Texas Legislature convenes in 2019. "Elected leaders should take significant, concrete action to prevent school shootings," he said. "Just talking about school safety is not enough." Mike Ward, Andrea Zelinski and Kevin Diaz contributed to this report. Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect Sen. John Cornyn's measure to improve data reporting to the national background check system for gun purchases passed in March. Alejandra Matos covers politics, education and immigration policy. Follow her on Twitter. Send tips to alejandra.matos@chron.com. AUSTIN -- Nearly 380,000 voters have already cast ballots in the state's largest counties in advance of Tuesday's statewide primary runoff elections that will determine the final lineup for general election battles for governor, Congress and other offices. About 240,000 have voted in person in the largest 15 counties, while the rest have cast absentee ballots by mail. That turnout through early and absentee voting is better than previous primary runoff elections in 2016 and 2014, but way behind vote totals from the March primary when nearly 900,000 voted before Election Day. The Democratic Primary includes a statewide battle for governor between Lupe Valdez and Andrew White. Republicans have no statewide primaries runoffs, but they do have several hotly contested congressional battles around the state. In 2014, the last midterm primary election that had a runoff, just 313,000 people voted early or through absentee ballots. In Harris County, nearly 68,000 people have cast ballots in the runoffs. That includes 33,768 votes in the Republican primaries and 33,706 in the Democratic primaries. About 12,000 people have cast ballots in Fort Bend County. About 7,700 voted in the Democratic Primary and about 4,700 in the Republican Primary. In Montgomery County just over 10,000 people have voted. About 8,400 of those votes were in the Republican Primary and about 1,700 in the Democratic Primary. Jeremy Wallace writes about state politics and government for the Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter at @JeremySWallace. Pressure increases for digital transformation and strategic alignment The 2018 State of the CIO report from IDG found that while strategic goals for CIOs have increased across the board, functional duties have all but vanished. This leaves todays leaders to perform challenging balancing acts in order to accomplish work thats both transformational and operational. Though the end game to transform, modernize, and provide ongoing value may be similar, the righteous path and its drivers of transformation greatly vary from company to company; what one organization needs to simply survive may help another thrive. There is, however, a foundational approach that can help in navigating the challenges of nearly any transformational initiative from choosing the right strategic pursuit and effectively managing change to continuously assessing ROI and thats with modern analytics. Data-driven decision making informs more impactful transformations Data can empower a deeper understanding of the business to help strategic leaders more accurately assess requirements, risk, and ROI of large-scale projects. Simultaneously, greater clarity into the nuances of the organizations challenges enables a more targeted, data-driven approach to addressing the needs of the business, meaning strategic initiatives are less of a gamble. Modern analytics can help steer the organization through change management as well, from identifying centralized goals to communicating a percent complete to stakeholders. Perhaps most importantly, analytics help measure the effectiveness of transformational projects on an ongoing basis whether internal, like engagement or overhead costs, or metrics that analytics leaders have aligned to business goals, like the impact on revenue or customer retention. As promising as modern analytics may be, a recent article from the Harvard Business Review explained that many organizations investing in artificial intelligence still lack foundational data-driven cultures. This can ultimately lead to failure, as trust in modern analytics will remain the main barrier to success. While many have deployed modern technology solutions that promise to address their data challenges, they lack that propensity to pull data into their everyday business, weaving data-driven decision-making into the behavioral fabric of the organization's operations. This gap has persisted for a number of years, in spite of modern analytics high rank on the list of strategic investments that CIOs (or perhaps chief data or analytics officers) are making to derive more value from their data. And many of the sexy, high-risk, high-reward analytics trends such as predictive modeling or IoT integrations that rely on AI depend on a strong data foundation to be successful. To close this gap, analytics leaders need to consider not only how to scale the technology, but the adequate support, training, and management structure to effectively navigate change management alongside adoption, overcoming the cultural roadblocks to a data-driven enterprise. Then theyll see how insight begets innovation; a data-driven organization is better positioned to make shiny trends more useful and capitalize on more of the benefits of their transformational efforts, like modernization and market differentiation. Closing the modern analytics gap is a transformation itselffor both the business and IT Data-driven decision-making is immensely transformational when secure, trusted data is embraced everywhere from the top to the front lines. Supported by the right roles and resources, modern analytics can speed up time to insights and up-level individuals with valuable data literacy skills, encouraging faster, more intelligent decisions and less emotional bias in everyday work. This transforms the role of IT in the analytics workflow, too. While IT retains a seemingly traditional duty of providing the business with a technology solution from evaluation and deployment to security, governance, and ongoing management the way in which the business actually gets answers from their data no longer burdens IT on a cycle of requirements and reports. IT-enabled, business-led analytics allows IT to focus on how the data is ingested, stored, and distributed, giving the business freedom to ask their own questions through the access and exploration of governed, trusted, and secure data. For IT execs, this shift to enable a new analytics process leaves room for more focus on strategic goals and transformative work, helps manage the great balancing act, and encourages a better working relationship between IT and the business. Its important to remember that the analytical transformation is not all or nonenor is it ever done. Some data flowing through the analytics pipeline may need to remain in the traditional, centrally-managed, highly governed model, while more responsibilities to author and curate content are delegated to the business as their skills grow over time. It falls on analytics leaders to work closely with and influence cross-functional teams to understand how pains, needs, and strategic goals evolve as analytics continues to inform new insights and transformational initiatives. The incident happened about 2:30 p.m. near the intersection of Courtland and Seward avenues, according to a statement from Akron police. Authorities are not releasing the man's name until the family is notified. The man struggled with two people in what police say appeared to be a robbery. One of the people pulled out a gun, fired several shots, then drove off in a silver car. The man was found on the street with gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead on the scene. Another man with the victim was not injured. No arrests have been made. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Saturday's crime and courts comments section. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Most Rev. Michael Curry, who gave the sermon at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding on Saturday, has close ties to Ohio and visited Cleveland in November. Curry is the head of the Episcopalian House of Bishops, one of the two governing bodies of the church. He had the world's attention when he delivered an impassioned sermon at St. George's Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle. He's the first black man to serve as presiding bishop. Watch the full sermon recorded by CNN in the video player at the bottom of this post. Curry was in Cleveland in November to celebrate the Diocese of Ohio's bicentennial. The diocese was the first founded outside of the 13 colonies and at the time covered the entire state. It now serves 48 northern Ohio counties and 16,000 members. Curry also was once rector at a church in Lincoln Heights, a suburb of Cincinnati. The sermon is normally given by Church of England clergy. The American Episcopal church is an offshoot of the Church of England. Both are part of the Anglican communion. Markle is American and biracial, both of which sparked conversation about representation in the royal family when she became engaged to Prince Harry in November 2017. Curry's sermon quoted Martin Luther King Jr. and openly discussed slavery and racial issues. Curry focused on love as a healing power. "There's power in love to lift up and liberate when nothing else will," Curry said in the sermon, according to CNN. "There's power in love to show us the way to live." When in Cleveland, he said the Episcopal Church is at a turning point and may experience a "new Reformation." "In many respects I am convinced we need a brand of Christianity that actually reflects the love of God we know in Jesus," he said in an interview with cleveland.com in November. "That is committed to making this world a better place for everybody. That is nonpartisan in its love and its willingness to engage that love and to take risk to help us as a community and a society." This story has been updated to correctly reflect that Curry gave the sermon at the royal wedding, but did not marry Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- German director Wim Wenders is a legend in the world of New German Cinema. He is a three-time Academy Award nominee. Some of his most well-known films are "Paris, Texas" (1984), "Wings of Desire" from 1987 and the 1999 documentary "Buena Vista Social Club." His new documentary is called "Pope Francis: A Man of His Word," playing at the Cedar Lee Theatre, 2163 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights. Wenders answered some questions about the film by email. How did the project come about? In an unusual way: in the form of a letter by the Vatican that arrived in my office one day. Would I be inclined to discuss a project with them involving Pope Francis? I had to take a deep breath first. Yes, indeed! I had been excited about his papacy ever since we were all introduced to the new pope and for the first time heard the name he had chosen for himself: Francis! Wow! What a promise that was! No pope had ever dared to take up this name ... It stood for a radical identification and solidarity with the poor and the outcast, it was synonymous with a deep care for nature and "Mother Earth" and for a renewed effort to instigate peace between the religions. So I had followed Pope Francis' first year with enthusiasm, realizing he was indeed serious about transposing Saint Francis' ideas into the 21st century. I was really eager to find out the conditions for a film about this man. When I went to Rome and spoke with the prefect of the secretariat for communication, he made it clear to me that I should look at this "invitation" as a Carte Blanche, that I could conceive the film on my own, that it had to be an independent production and that the Vatican was not going to interfere. How is this different from your other documentaries? A film with the pope will be different from anything that any filmmaker has ever done, it will stick out from anybody's filmography. Then again, I think it's consistent with my other documentaries. If you look at "Buena Vista Social Club," for instance: I made this film out of sheer enthusiasm for the music of these forgotten and almost obsolete musicians in Havana, and I wanted to share this intoxicating music with as many people as possible. Or "Pina," my film on choreographer Pina Bausch: Her dance theatre was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen, a whole new art form, and it had enriched my life so much! Again, I wanted to share that with the world. Or "Salt of the Earth," which happened out of admiration for the social photography of Sebastiao Salgado ... Looking at "Pope Francis: A Man of His Word" now, in hindsight, I think this film is again driven by the same impulses. I love this man and his mission and I admire his courage. So I envisioned a film that would place his message into its center. My documentary films do not try to establish a "critical distance" - other people are good at that, much better than me. On the contrary: My films put themselves at somebody else's service, put somebody else's art or issues into the focus of attention. To find a language for that is still a highly personal task, even if I try to disappear myself as much as possible. Because if you enter somebody else's universe, you can, just as well, be swallowed up. Unless your love or admiration finds its very own form which then can become the backbone of that film. What kind of religious upbringing did you have? I grew up in a Catholic family, and that really formed me and was the basis of my education and of who I became. At the age of 16, I considered becoming a priest. But along came rock 'n' roll, pinball machines and jukeboxes. Along came studies in medicine and philosophy - I was briefly an existentialist - and then came cinema. In film school (mind you, that was in 1968 ...), between the age of 22 and 25, I was an ardent socialist, later I was interested in Eastern religions, in short: I did all these things people were tempted by in the Seventies and Eighties, only to return, after a huge detour to the belief and faith of my childhood, realizing I had never really left it and I had never lost that knowledge deep inside that I was seen by a loving God. I did convert and became a Protestant, though. Now this has all settled down. I'm a Catholic and a Protestant at the same time, and I like them both for their differences. My favourite thinker of the 20th century is the Jewish philosopher Martin Buber, and the American mystic and theologian Thomas Merton had a big influence on my spiritual growth. Now I love reading the Franciscan writer and teacher Richard Rohr. So maybe in the end the Catholic in me is still pretty much alive, but then again, I'd like us all to overcome these limitations. We are too close to be that far apart! Did making this documentary have an effect on your spiritual views? Pope Francis' positive attitude and his altogether optimistic energy is really contagious. Yes, that left a deep impression on me. And especially this attitude of his when he was asked about the gay community: "Who am I to judge?" was utterly uplifting, I felt. Did the Vatican give you final cut? Yes, they did. I showed the film in several editing stages, but not for "approval." They kept their promise of letting me make exactly the film I wanted to make and did not have any request for editing or cutting whatsoever. What was the pope like off-camera? He wasn't a different man when they cameras stopped running. He was the same kind and humble person with that powerful ability to connect and communicate. Do you realize that to Americans the pope comes off as the anti-Trump? I don't think it is his intention to be an anti-anybody. But I understand your question as a definition of a "moral authority." At this moment in history, we face the fact that many of the world leaders and men in power don't radiate any moral competence. We rather witness a decline in decency and a general disregard for the notion of truth. Truth has rather become an endangered species. In politics, the "common good" is no longer a priority, but instead all sorts of political, financial and economic interests, all of which rather tend to separate, segregate or exclude. Pope Francis' concern is "community," and he does represent an authority to speak about that, not just for Christians. And there are not many people left who earned the right to call for a "moral revolution." And that is exactly what is needed, and many people across religions and nationalities and social backgrounds know that. Did you know how charismatic he was going into this? I had that suspicion, but you only really feel that when somebody is looking you in the eyes. And that's why I ended up shooting our interviews in a way that I could share that privilege with the audience. As an audience, you're now really eye to eye with Pope Francis, literally. Did the Vatican produce or finance the film? No, this is an independent production, a Swiss-Italian-French-German co-production, released and distributed by an independent company, Focus. How much footage in the film was pre-existing? Traveling along with Pope Francis would have completely exceeded our small and modest budget. For all the travel footage, I had access to the Vatican archive and to the footage produced mainly by the two really great cameramen who followed Pope Francis on all his journeys. We also used footage from TV stations from all over the world. Ourselves, we shot the long interview sessions with Pope Francis, the re-enactments involving Saint Francis and everything around the city of Assisi. MAYFIELD, Ohio -- After Mayfield-based Discovery Tours suddenly closed its doors last week and declared bankruptcy, schools from all over the state that had class field trips planned were left in the lurch. An internet search shows news reports from Ohio cities such as Toledo, Troy, Maumee, Port Clinton and more where students were left disappointed. Thanks to some caring people, however, a school located very close to the closed business' former offices is not forgoing its trip. Seventh-grade students and their teachers from Mayfield Middle School boarded a bus Wednesday morning (May 16) and went, as planned, on their trip to Chicago. One person who was instrumental in making the trip possible is Highland Heights' Daniel Greve. "I saw it (Discovery Tours' closing) in the newspaper and on TV and thought that I wanted to do something about it," said Greve, a parent of three Mayfield City Schools students. "No one from the schools asked me to do this, I just felt it was important." Greve began an online GoFundMe page to try and raise money so that the seventh-graders could make the Chicago trip from May 16-18. It is an annual trip for Mayfield Middle Schools seventh-graders. During its first 12 days, the GoFundMe account has grown, through the donations of 146 people, to $11,165. Greve has set a goal of $15,000. "My wife (Jolene) and I were really concerned about this," Greve said. "My wife is a Mayfield (High) graduate and I love Mayfield Schools. We just felt that we had to do something." The Greves' son, Anthony, now an eighth-grader at Mayfield Middle School, went on the Chicago trip last year. The Greves are also parents of Mayfield High School sophomore Michael, and Joseph, who graduated from the high school a few days ago. But, as Daniel Greve points out, the fundraising didn't stop with the GoFundMe page. "Paul Destino, the principal of Mayfield Middle School, went on a mission and got a lot of people to donate. What Paul did was like dialing for dollars. "Some people didn't call him back, and some were incredibly generous. Paul did a fantastic job," Greve said. Destino began by making a call to the teachers' union. Teachers receive a stipend for overnight stays on field trips, and the union allowed that stipend to be waived and the money be given toward helping pay for the trip. In addition to the Chicago trip, eighth-graders took their annual trip to New York City this week. In all, 41 teachers and staff were traveling on the two trips, and all donated their stipends, which amounted to approximately $11,000. Speaking about the New York trip, Destino said, "I didn't use Discovery Tours for that one." The principal added, "I'm not going to bash Discovery Tours." Destino also received donations from former district teachers and caring residents and, through his non-stop phone calling, was granted discounts from the bus line, Lakefront Tours; Connie's Pizza; the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, where students are scheduled to visit; and the Hard Rock Hotel, where the students will be eating free breakfasts. The students are to be entertained in Chicago by the Blue Man Group. Ten staff members volunteered not to attend the show to further reduce costs. "I don't want to get into naming all the people who donated," Destino said. "I might leave some out and I don't want to do that." As of early this week, combining the GoFundMe page and Destino's efforts, $24,638 has been raised -- still not enough to fully cover the cost of the Chicago trip. But the efforts haven't yet ended. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 19, Mayfield Middle School, 1123 S.O.M. Center Road, will hold a benefit car wash. The school is asking residents to donate or sign up to help wash cars. Those who want to help are asked to bring a bucket, sponge and soap, or to donate these items. Doughnuts and pizza will be provided for children who help. Anyone who has questions regarding the car wash is asked to contact Meghan Clancy at megrclancy@gmail.com. Further, the GoFundMe page is still accepting donations. Donations can be made here. Destino, in his 12th year as principal, would not state the exact amount of money needed to cover the costs of the Chicago trip. He said that it is likely the cost will not be fully recouped through donations. If it is and any money is left over, Destino said that money would be used for scholarships for next year's trip. As for the Greves, Destino said: "Dan is a great guy. I've known the Greves for years. They're always willing to give back to Mayfield Schools." As for all the help and support he has so far received to help pay for the trip, Destino said: "I'm not shocked. This community always steps up when it is needed. That's what makes this community so special." KENT, Ohio -- "Come and take it." The statement emblazoned in white lettering across Kaitlin Bennett's Kent State University graduate cap was brought to life with the AR-10 rifle she slung across her back. These were her graduation pictures, taken on campus and posted to Twitter as a statement about the campus's weapons ban. Now that I graduated from @KentState, I can finally arm myself on campus. I should have been able to do so as a student- especially since 4 unarmed students were shot and killed by the government on this campus. #CampusCarryNow pic.twitter.com/a91fQH44cq Kaitlin Bennett (@KaitMarieox) May 13, 2018 The school bans students, staff, faculty and people doing business with the university from carrying "deadly weapons" on its campus, which includes firearms and explosive devices. Kent State spokesman Eric Mansfield told Fox 8 that the photos were taken the Sunday after commencement and since Bennett was no longer a student that the ban didn't apply. She also notified officials that she was going to take the pictures. Visitors to campus can't carry weapons into school buildings, but can have them on property. On May 4, 1970, four students were killed and nine were wounded at Kent State after the Ohio National Guard opened fire on a crowd of students who were protesting the war in Vietnam. The shooting sparked student-led strikes which closed universities across the country. Since tweeting the pictures, Bennett, who is 22 and from Zanesville, has gotten national attention. The tweet has more than 19.6 thousand likes and 4.8 thousand retweets. Bennett's explained her photos to the Washington Post and made an appearance on Fox and Friends, calling the university's weapons policies "insulting" to students because it allows visitors to carry weapons but not students. "It doesn't make sense to me," she said. Discussing why I took graduation photos with an AR-10 rifle at Kent State and why I support #CampusCarryNow with @foxandfriends this morning. pic.twitter.com/o2RATs3gtK Kaitlin Bennett (@KaitMarieox) May 17, 2018 Bennett graduated with her degree in biological sciences, according to the Washington Post. She's the grassroots director of a right-wing group called Liberty Hangout and was one of the organizers of an open-carry protest at the university in April. That protest followed national gun control walkout days and the March for Our Lives in Washington D.C. where hundreds of thousands of people protested for reform after a mass shooting in Parkland, Florida. The shooter at Stoneman Douglas High School killed 17. "They can do their gun control walkouts, they can march in the streets or skip class but it's not going to work," Bennett told WKYC during the April open-carry protest. "We're not going to give our guns up." Do you agree with Bennett's stance on Kent State's weapons ban? Voter in our poll above. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A pair of Franklin County judges ruled this week against stopping Ohio's medical marijuana program, siding with state regulators and patients who said any further delay in the program would prevent sick people from getting their medicine. Unsuccessful applicants to grow medical marijuana wanted the court to pause the program while state regulators consider their appeals. The Department of Commerce, which oversees the cultivation part of the medical marijuana program, put all appeals hearings on hold and said it could take a year to get through all 67. On Thursday, Common Pleas Judge Kim Brown dismissed most of a lawsuit brought by CannAscend Ohio LLC and four other companies because they had not yet exhausted all their appeals, including a Department of Commerce-sponsored administrative hearing. On Friday, Judge Richard Frye concluded the Department of Commerce failed to give timely appeals hearings to rejected applicants and ordered the agency to hold an administrative hearing for Ohio Releaf LLC within 15 days. But Frye declined to order a preliminary injunction to stop the department from issuing final licenses to the 12 large-scale growers selected in November. The pair of rulings is a win for the Department of Commerce, companies chosen to grow medical marijuana and patients who worried the lawsuits would slow down the already sluggish rollout of Ohio's medical marijuana program. "In two separate, detailed decisions, two separate judges have confirmed that Ohio's medical marijuana program is operating appropriately and has a green light to continue," Commerce spokeswoman Kerry Francis said in a statement. "The program that the General Assembly created in 2016 has never been done in Ohio before, has many moving parts and, above all, must be run with integrity. These rulings can reassure Ohioans that that is happening." Rob Ryan of Ohio Patient Network, which intervened in the CannAscend case, said patients have been waiting too long for the program to be delayed. "It's important for patients for this program to proceed without any undue delay," Ryan said. "Stopping the program would have made a huge impact on people's lives and whether or not they would still be alive." What did the judges decide? The Department of Commerce awarded 24 provisional cultivator licenses in November -- 12 for up to 25,000 square feet of grow space and 12 for up to 3,000 square feet. Losing applicants could appeal their scores to a hearing officer appointed by the department, and the agency's director would have the final say on the outcome of the hearing. But the department delayed hearings and later put them on hold so a third-party accounting firm could validate all scores. Attorneys for the state argued lawsuits were premature until after applicants exhausted all other remedies, namely the administrative appeals. Brown agreed and dismissed all claims except a few public records-related complaints in the lawsuit filed by CannAscend Ohio LLC, Appalachian Pharm Products LLC, CannaMed Therapeutics LLC, Palliatech Ohio LLC, and Schottenstein Aphria LLC. Ohio Releaf argued that it could not get relief from an administrative hearing because the department wasn't holding any. Because the commerce department's rules limited the initial number of growers to 24, Ohio Releaf argued, it would be shut out of the industry by waiting months or longer to have its appeal heard. Frye agreed but decided against putting the program on hold because it would hurt companies that have invested millions of dollars into cultivation sites and patients who have been waiting two years since Ohio passed its medical marijuana law. "Halting ongoing licensing could result in significant harm to businesses that have already invested significant time and money premised on their provisional licenses, while not really aiding the plaintiff in its pursuit of a license," Frye wrote. "Beyond these commercial realities, the court cannot disregard the risk to potential patients having one of the 23 specified medical conditions for which Ohio has concluded marijuana may be efficacious." What did the marijuana companies say? A spokesman for Ohio Releaf said Frye's decision prompting an administrative hearing is a win for the company. "The judge recognized that the state refused to follow the rules that they created. The judge rightly held the state accountable and ordered them to hold a hearing," spokesman Mike Gonidakis said. Gonidakis said the state made it clear during the case that it can award additional licenses beyond the 24 limit. Earlier this week, the department awarded a 25th grow license to a company edged out of top applicants because of a department employee's error. Larry James, attorney for CannAscend, was surprised that Brown upheld the administrative hearing process. The CannAscend lawsuit alleged several missteps by department officials and application reviewers. "Obviously, this is a major surprise and clearly from any reading of any of the testimony of that hearing and our presentation, [an administrative hearing] is not a viable option," James said. Ohio's House will elect Gallia County Republican Ryan Smith as the House's new speaker on Tuesday, the House's senior Republican predicted late Friday. Rep. Kirk Schuring, a suburban Canton Republican who is acting speaker, said the House will meet at 11 a.m. Tuesday. He said Smith has lassoed the necessary 50 votes to become speaker of the 99-seat House. (Republicans hold 65 seats, Democrats, 33, and there's ex-Speaker Clifford Rosenberger's vacant GOP seat.) And Schuring said the House will also vote next week on a long-stalled bipartisan payday-lending reform, House Bill 123, sponsored by Reps. Kyle Koehler, a Springfield Republican, and Mike Ashford, a Toledo Democrat. Koehler and Ashford introduced HB 123 early in 2017, but relentless opposition from Statehouse payday loan lobbyists had kept the bill bottled up for almost 15 months. If Smith is elected speaker Tuesday, he would succeed Rosenberger, of Clinton County's Clarksville. In April, the GOP's Rosenberger resigned from the House after revealing he's under federal investigation. One thing said to interest federal sleuths is a junket Rosenberger took to London. Among those on the London trip: payday loan lobbyists. Smith, of Gallia County's Bidwell, and ex-Speaker Larry Householder, of Perry County's Glenford, had already been competing to succeed Rosenberger as speaker for the 2019-20 session; Rosenberger would have been term-limited home on Dec. 31; he wanted Smith to succeed him. Schuring declined to predict whether Smith would attract more than 50 votes, and, if yes, how many. Householder, asked to comment on Schuring's prediction of a Smith victory, said that, so far as Householder knows, those caucus members opposed to Smith hadn't changed their minds. Tuesday, in a closed-door caucus, House Republicans had failed to decide who should serve out the remaining seven months of Rosenberger's speakership - Smith, or a lame-duck House Republican who'd be term-limited out of the House in December. Arguably, naming Smith speaker for the remainder of 2018 could give him an edge over Householder when the House picks its 2019-20 speaker on Jan. 7 (assuming Republicans keep their House majority in this November's election). Smith's perceived advantage in landing the speakership now could be offset by a Householder advantage for the 2019-20 session: Almost every Republican candidate Householder backed for open House seats in May 8's GOP primary won. And those nominees will likely capture those seats (for 2019-20) on Nov. 6. When GOP newcomers arrive at the Statehouse in January, their first vote will be to elect a speaker for the 2019-20 session. And someone may remind them of a favorite Ronald Reagan maxim: A candidate who wins an election should "dance with the one that brung ya." The speakership battle may be insider trivia to many Ohioans, but for this: If there's no House speaker, the House can't pass any bills. The Ohio House's rules, and the House's backup rulebook (composed by Wilmington native Edward W. Hughes, a longtime General Assembly parliamentarian who died in 1938), don't provide for a stand-in speaker when the job is vacant. True, Democrats could provide a Republican House faction with enough votes to make that faction's candidate speaker, but Democrats instead seem to be lolling in their La-Z-Boys and enjoying the show. Blame them? So unless and until the House elects a speaker, whether it's Ryan Smith or a seven-month placeholder, the House won't be able to approve legislation. That'd mean, in effect, that Ohio House members would be getting paid for doing nothing. But in fairness, given the record so far of the General Assembly's 2017-18 session, what would be new about that? Thomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens. To reach Thomas Suddes: tsuddes@cleveland.com, 216-999-4689 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. PARMA, Ohio -- When a cardiac episode takes place, the proximity for the victim to an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is imperative. With this in mind, the Parma Fire Department and University Hospitals' EMS Training and Disaster Preparedness Institute recently donated an AED to Mission BBQ, which is located at the Shoppes Of Parma. "We chose Mission BBQ due to their continued support and dedication to the city of Parma, our fire and police departments, their service to the veterans and their geographical proximity within the Shoppes of Parma," Fire Department Chief Mike Lasky said. Mission BBQ General Manager Kara Peters added: "We're so very proud to be part of the Parma community. We're eternally grateful for the generosity of the Parma Fire Department and University Hospital Parma." In addition, members of the fire department provided restaurant employees with AED training, including proper techniques and equipment usage. The AED is a portable electronic device that automatically detects and diagnoses life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Each unit provides step-by-step instructions. "Our efforts to educate our community in CPR have existed for several years," UH Department of EMS Training and Disaster Preparedness Manager Joe Toth said in a press release. "Through implementation of the PulsePoint initiative, which began in spring of 2017, we have taken a proactive technological approach to saving lives throughout the community. Training in CPR and the effective use of an AED is a quick and simple process that we encourage everyone to know," he said. Fire Department Public Information Officer T.J. Martin said PulsePoint is a free smartphone app that lets community members know when someone may be experiencing a cardiac emergency in a public place and that CPR is needed. Also, the app provides community responders with the location of the nearest AED in case of emergency. The recent donation is the first of its kind in Parma. Martin noted that the presence of AEDs throughout the community is imperative. Currently, the Parma Fire Department isn't planning any other similar donations this year. "The units are costly," Martin said. "We aren't financially able to provide this lifesaving equipment to everyone. We're always open to the generosity of a benefactor; however, we rely on our community members to join us in the fight to save lives through the purchase of their own AED and the training of their staff." CLEVELAND, Ohio - Friday's high temperature will peak this evening ahead of a system bringing us a round of rain. The showers could strengthen into storms for Saturday and may leak into Sunday. An area of showers popping up in advance of a low-pressure center will move across Northeast Ohio Friday night, and some may bring a few rumbles of thunder. Winds will pick up so if you're out, make sure to grab an umbrella. Temperatures will stay in the 60s. As the storm center continues to push along northern Ohio Saturday, its close proximity in combination with southerly winds warming us will help showers strengthen into scattered thunderstorms. Northeast Ohio is under a marginal risk of severe weather, says the Storm Prediction Center. That means isolated severe storms are possible, but they would be limited in duration, coverage and intensity. High temperatures will near 80 degrees for many. Saturday's severe weather threat as of Friday afternoon. (NOAA/Storm Prediction Center) Sunday, a few sprinkles could linger in the wake of Saturday's storms, but I think the day will stay mostly dry. As winds shift from the north, highs will cool back into the low 70s. National Weather Service high temperature forecast for this weekend across northern Ohio. (NWS Cleveland) Check out the forecast: Temperatures Temperature forecast. Precipitation chances Precipitation forecast. Winds Wind speed and direction forecast. Pollen Pollen forecast. Live radar Keep checking cleveland.com/weather for daily weather updates for Northeast Ohio, and don't forget to submit any weather questions you have! Kelly Reardon is cleveland.com's meteorologist. Please follow me on Facebook, Twitter @KellyRWeather and Instagram. MELBOURNE, May 19 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will travel to China later this year to smooth over bumpy diplomatic ties that have now developed into trade problems for some of Australia's biggest wine and beverage exporters, Fairfax Media reported. Relations between the two trade partners have cooled significantly in recent months, after Turnbull's conservative coalition government proposed a bill to limit foreign influence in Australia, including political donations, but which Beijing has interpreted as "anti-China". No dates were immediately available for Turnbull's trip. Several Australian businesses that export to China have complained that the cool diplomatic ties had spilled over into business, with delays and extra scrutiny being applied at customs and distribution. Australia's Treasury Wine Estates Ltd - the worlds biggest listed winemaker and owner of the Penfolds, Wolf Blass and Rosemount labels - has reported unusual delays of its exports hitting Chinese shelves. Several unidentified Australian business owners who operate in China told Fairfax Media on the weekend that Chinese authorities had been unfairly targeting Australian products. Trade Minister Steven Ciobo is already in Shanghai on a trade mission, the first visit from an Australian minister this year, but said that there was "limited scope" to resolve issues involving Australian businesses. 1/8nL3N1SP1YS 1/8 "We do have irritants from time to time, but you know what? We have irritants pretty much in every relationship that we have globally," Ciobo told reporters on Friday. "So there's nothing unique about that," he added. "We talk through it, we work through it in a constructive way for the mutual benefit of both China and Australia." His visit is restricted to Shanghai, which has raised concerns over how he can intervene in the trade issue without meeting with senior government officials, who are based in Beijing. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will meet with her Chinese counterpart next week. (Reporting by Alana Schetzer; Editing by Kim Coghill) An influential Senate Democrat warned on Friday that attempts to expose an FBI source during an active investigation was "potentially illegal," amid reports that a secret informant has fed the bureau information relevant to the ongoing probe of Russia's electoral interference. With questions still being raised about what Trump campaign officials knew about Russian meddling in the 2016 election, news reports this week suggested that a confidential source has provided the FBI with intelligence on the matter. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump reacted to the suggestion of potential FBI spying as being "bigger than Watergate." Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported this week that allies close to the president were working to expose the source. However, Virginia Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a series of posts on Twitter Friday that attempting to unmask a confidential source was "irresponsible" and "potentially illegal" potentially opening up a new front between Trump and those he views as political antagonists. "Publicly outing a source risks not only their life, but the lives of every American, because when sources are burned it makes it that much harder for every part of the intelligence community to gather intelligence on those who wish to do us harm," Warner posted on Twitter, as he linked to The Post's article. WARNER TWEET "Anyone who is entrusted with our nation's highest secrets should act with the gravity and seriousness of purpose that knowledge deserves," Warner added. Trump and the FBI have been locked in an unprecedented public battle. The president and his allies have long complained about a "deep state" agenda of government officials actively working to undermine his presidency. In an interview with The Post this week, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani Trump's personal lawyer accused law enforcement officials of "covering" for actions committed by the Obama administration. Giuliani added that an informant could make Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation "completely illegitimate." Even royal weddings have their fair share of drama. Just ask Meghan Markle. But what if that drama turns into something more serious, which forces you to cancel your big day altogether? With the average cost of a wedding topping $33,000, according to weddings website The Knot, it may be a good idea protect that investment with some insurance as long as you read the fine print. First, there's one important thing to remember: No insurance policy will cover a change of heart. So before taking the plunge, make sure the one is actually the right one for you. Aside from that, experts say buying nuptial insurance can provide peace of mind in case things go wrong on your big day. "It's definitely a smart idea to find it in your budget," Kristen Maxwell Cooper, editor-in-chief for The Knot, told CNBC's "On the Money" in an interview. "It costs between $200 and $550 depending on amount you want covered, which is a small price to pay for something that could go terribly wrong that day," she added. What Wedding Insurance Covers There are two types of wedding insurance: Depending on your situation you may want to consider both, or just one. "There are two primary products and they are very different," said Steve Lauro, vice president of WedSafe, a division of Aon Insurance that sells special event policies. The first is liability insurance, which is often required by nontraditional venues such as a vineyard, farm or museum. These policies protect you should a guest fall, or if there's damage to the site during your event, Lauro said. If you're going the more traditional route by using a catering hall or resort, they should have their own liability insurance. Event cancellation insurance is another type of policy, and it comes in handy when unforeseen issues force you to call the whole thing off. "Severe weather, bankruptcy of venues, permits of venues being revoked last minute or a medical emergency for key members of the wedding party, would be covered," said Lauro. China's push to open up its financial sector to foreign banks and financial institutions will be based on the principle of reciprocity and will not reward protectionism by other countries, an official said on Saturday. China wants to accelerate the process of opening up, but countries afraid of exposing their own financial sectors to competition would not benefit, Chen Wenhui, the vice-chairman of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC), told a forum. Without naming any names, Chen said some countries have imposed restrictions on the overseas expansion of Chinese financial institutions, partly because their own banks were unable to operate freely in China. "Our country's opening must be based on the principle of equality and mutual benefit. It will not be carried out on a 'one-size-fits-all' basis, and should stress mutual benefit and reciprocity." "For countries and regions that are afraid of opening and implement protectionism, their long term competitiveness will definitely suffer as they only look at short-term gains," he added. Central bank governor Yi Gang said last month that China would allow domestic and foreign firms to compete on an equal footing and would expand the business scope for foreign banks in China. China has been put under heightened pressure by the United States over access to its markets, and has promised to allow foreign investors to enter into trust, financial leasing and auto and consumer financing by the end of this year. Chen said the market share of foreign banks made up just 1.32 percent of total banking assets in China by the end of 2017, down from a high of 2.5 percent previously. "The market share has been falling recently, which is not a good thing," he said. Opening up the financial sector to foreign firms would improve domestic resource allocation and support the economy, Chen noted, adding that some foreign financial institutions had already expressed intentions to set up operations in China or buy bigger stakes in their Chinese counterparts. It would also encourage other countries to open up their financial sectors to Chinese entities, he said. Promoting the opening of China's financial industry to the outside world and further improving the fairness and transparency of the domestic financial market will help create a more favorable policy environment for the overseas development of China's financial institutions," he said. SHANGHAI, May 19 (Reuters) - China is planning to grant more countries visa-free access to Hainan, the state-owned Securities Times quoted an official as saying on Saturday, in a move aimed at further opening up the southern island province to foreign investment. Chi Fulin, the head of the Hainan-based China Institute for Reform and Development, told a forum on Saturday that the visa-free access policy would be expanded to tourists from all countries that have diplomatic ties with China. "(The implementation) of the policy won't take long," Chi was quoted as saying by the state media. Under the current arrangement, tourists from 59 countries, including the United States, can visit Hainan visa-free and stay there for up to 30 days. He said he expected Hainan's population to grow to around 15 million from around 9 million now. China aims to establish a free trade zone in Hainan by 2020 and will encourage multinational companies to set up their international and regional headquarters there as part of its plans to open the province's economy up to foreign investors. (Reporting by Winni Zhou and David Stanway, editing by Ros Russell) because of U.S. sanctions@ (Corrects to say PGNiG "plans to suspend" instead of "suspends" in line with the intentions of the deputy chief executive) KRAKOW, Poland, May 18 (Reuters) - Poland's dominant gas firm PGNiG plans to suspend a gas project in Iran because of the risk from U.S. sanctions, the company's deputy chief executive said. "There is not much we can do about the contract in Iran. Any moment the sanctions will be put in place and nobody wants to take a risk," Maciej Wozniak of the state-run PGNiG told Reuters. "We can take risks when we are drilling and looking for hydrocarbons, but we will not take risks playing politics," he said, adding the project consisted of providing technical expertise in gas extraction in Iran. (Reporting by Wojciech Zurawski Writing by Marcin Goettig; Editing by Adrian Croft) (Adds additional detail) WASHINGTON, May 19 (Reuters) - China has agreed to take measures to boost imports from the United States to reduce America's trade deficit, the two countries said on Saturday, although without mentioning the $200 billion target the White House had touted earlier. Beijing and Washington agreed they would keep on talking about measures under which China would import more commodities from the United States to close a $335 billion annual trade gap between the two countries that has threatened to ignite a global trade war. "There was a consensus on taking effective measures to substantially reduce the United States trade deficit in goods with China," the joint statement said. "To meet the growing consumption needs of the Chinese people and the need for high-quality economic development, China will significantly increase purchases of United States goods and services." The statement concluded joint talks on Thursday and Friday between the two countries, which included several U.S. cabinet secretaries and China's State Council Vice Premier Liu He. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on up to $150 billion on Chinese goods to combat what he says is Beijing's misappropriation of U.S. technology through joint venture requirements and other policies. Beijing has threatened equal retaliation, including tariffs on some of its largest U.S. imports, among them aircraft, soybeans and autos. Trump made reducing the trade deficit between the United States and China a key campaign promise. Washington demanded that China reduce its trade surplus by $200 billion, a figure most economists say is impossible to achieve. Such a reduction on a sustainable basis would require a massive change in the composition of commerce between the two countries. The figure is larger than all of the United States' global annual agricultural and oil exports. The statement says that China will "advance relevant amendments to its laws and regulations" to allow for more American imports, including changes to patent laws. There are concerns among some legislators and trade experts that Trump could give priority to a reduction of the trade deficit over tackling what they say is China's abuse of intellectual property rights. Any deal under which China would import more goods could easily be reversed, economists say. The statement made no mention of whether there would a relaxation of paralyzing restrictions on Chinese telecommunications equipment maker ZTE Corp imposed last month by the U.S. Commerce Department. The action, related to violation of U.S. sanctions on Iran, banned American companies from selling semiconductors and other components to ZTE, causing the Shenzhen-based company to cease operations. Earlier this week, Trump tweeted that he directed the Commerce Department to put ZTE back in business and said the company's situation was part of an overall trade deal with China. (Reporting by Ginger Gibson; Editing by Steve Orlofsky) Jack Dorsey has become one of the most influential techology entrepreneurs in the world, joining the ranks of Steve Jobs and Elon Musk. He boasts the unique distinction of running not just one but two major companies, Square and Twitter. The dual role has earned Dorsey a net worth more than $4 billion, according to Forbes. The 41-year-old is best-known for co-founding Twitter in 2006, but his tenure there hasn't exactly been smooth. In 2008, Dorsey was fired from the social media network he helped invent, before returning as its chief seven years later. The company went through some growing pains in his absence. Upon Dorsey's return in 2015, Twitter's stock had been steadily trending downward, but the tide has started to turn. Shares have jumped more than 30 percent this year. Then there's Dorsey's lesser-known but still prominent and rapidly expanding mobile payments company, Square. In fact, it has been growing even faster than rival PayPal, according to Nomura Instinet. Since early 2016, Square Cash app downloads have averaged 128 percent year-over-year growth each month versus Venmo's 74 percent. Venmo is a unit of PayPal. Here are some things you may not know about the billionaire. 1. Dorsey was obsessed with emergency dispatch communications as a kid. His love of trains later led to his obsession with emergency service vehicle dispatch. He was fascinated with the voices on the police scanner. "They're always talking about where they're going, what they're doing and where they currently are and that is where the idea for Twitter came," Dorsey told the CBS program "60 Minutes." 2. He hopes to someday run for mayor of New York City. Dorsey is a big fan of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He once praised Bloomberg as a "guiding light" for tech entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. Although he currently lives in San Francisco, Dorsey once told Vanity Fair that he loves the Big Apple, saying just thinking about it feels like "a rush of energy." 3. Twitter is part of Dorsey's morning routine. Dorsey likes to wake up and check the weather. But there's one other thing he always checks: Twitter. The first thing he does is go to Twitter search, so he can see "exactly what's happening exactly right now in the world." 4. The Twitter creator almost went to work for Facebook. Dorsey reportedly spoke with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg around the time he was ousted as the CEO of Twitter, according to reporter Nick Bilton in "Hatching Twitter: A True Story of Money, Power, Friendship, and Betrayal." Zuckerberg who at the time mulled buying Twitter sought to hire Dorsey, but the lack of a defined role prompted Dorsey to set his sights elsewhere, according to an excerpt from Bilton's book. 5. Dorsey hacked his way into his first job literally. The budding entrepreneur was trying to get a job at a large dispatch company in New York. But when there was no contact information on their website, Dorsey told "60 Minutes" he found a security hole and emailed the company telling them how to fix it. He was hired just a week later. 6. Dorsey doesn't have an office or even a desk at Square HQ. The Square chairman and CEO doesn't have a corner office like you might expect. He prefers to use his iPad and have the freedom to roam around the office. When asked why he doesn't have an office, Dorsey told "60 Minutes" that "there's a self-awareness that other people work here it's not just you." 7. His fellow Square co-founder Jim McKelvey used to be his boss. Dorsey was just 15 years old when he became an intern at McKelvey's software company, Mira Digital Publishing. McKelvey was immediately impressed with Dorsey. He even started calling him "Jack the Genius" because there was nothing the young Dorsey couldn't do. 8. Dorsey says Square not Twitter will fundamentally change the way people communicate. Dorsey sent out the very first tweet on Twitter 12 years ago. The social platform has gone on to amass around 100 million daily active users. TWEET But Dorsey claims his other business Square will be the one to fundamentally change the way people communicate because it speaks the one language we all know: Money. He told "60 Minutes" that it's the one thing that "touches every single person on this planet and at one point in their life they feel bad about it." Types of obituaries The Missourian publishes two types of obituaries family obituaries and life stories. A family obituary is the version submitted by a funeral home or family. Please see the submission form for details on cost and deadlines. Family obituaries A life story is a closer look at a person's life and involves a reporter contacting family and friends. Life stories are based on newsworthiness and consent of the family. Life stories. Have you heard about those special bags, cases and wallets that protect your electronics from hack attacks? Its a signal-blocking container, basically a tinfoil hat for your gadget. Tinfoil hats are associated with conspiracy theorists concerned about secret government mind-control programs. But when it comes to your wireless gadgets, they really are out to get you. For example: Its not a conspiracy theory to believe that companies youve never heard of are tracking your location. In the past two weeks, weve learned that a company called Securus Technologies sold the real-time location data of millions of people. It got this data from another company called LocationSmart, which itself was buying the data from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. Yes: Wireless carriers sell access to your location to many companies. It gets worse. A hacker compromised Securus servers and nabbed 2,800 usernames, email addresses and phone numbers, mostly belonging to police officers. We also learned that a free and publicly available demo on the LocationSmart site enabled anyone with access to the internet to look up the location of just about anyone without having to log in or identify themselves in any way. Its also not a conspiracy theory to believe that crooks can steal the car in your driveway using the wireless smart key fob in your bedroom. The internet was stunned last fall when police in the U.K. released security video showing a so-called relay crime, whereby the wireless signal from the keys of a Mercedes was relayed to a special box to unlock and start the car in the driveway. Two shady characters in hoodies rolled up in a car and, after a few minutes of transmitting wireless signals, rolled away in two cars. Its not a conspiracy theory to believe that, if youre traveling abroad and paying for data by the megabyte, your devices might incur unwanted charges by connecting to the cellular data network and downloading updates or backing up photos and videos. (This happens to me almost every time I travel.) Its not a conspiracy theory to believe that some long-term health problem might arise from keeping your smartphone in your front pocket every day, all day. And, of course, its not a conspiracy theory to believe that hackers want to steal your data or use your devices for DDoS attacks, crypto-mining and other malicious purposes. As computing goes increasingly mobile and wireless, its important to remember that our devices are packed with radios. An average smartphone has 2G, 3G, 4G and/or 5G radios, as well as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and probably NFC radios. How creative hackers might exploit these radios in the future is anybodys guess. Thats why its time to revisit an old idea: the Faraday cage. Faraday uncaged The concept of a Faraday cage was developed in 1836 by English scientist Michael Faraday. Its a specially designed enclosure made using a mesh of electrically conductive metal that prevents usable wireless signals from going in or coming out. Fortunately, the concept doesnt actually require a cage. Companies can and do use a range of flexible materials to create Faraday sleeves, Faraday phone cases, Faraday bags, Faraday wallets, Faraday dry bags and other Faraday accessories. In fact, all kinds of Faraday accessories are available, from companies such as Silent Pocket, MOS Equipment (make of the Mission Darkness bag pictured above), RF Safe, Vest, Wavewall, SafeSleeve, Incipio, Faraday Defense, Mobile Safety and others. These are not mainstream products. Most users dont buy them. Certain kinds of Faraday containers are routinely dismissed by some security experts. For example, RFID-blocking wallets and passport holders are considered unnecessary because of the effort required to extract data from credit cards and passports. The hackers need conspicuous, specialized equipment and also to get very close to your stuff. There are simply much faster, easier and more scalable ways to steal this data. And so the experts say RFID wallets are probably unnecessary. Its also unlikely that a laptop will be hacked as youre carrying it around with the lid closed. More likely is that it would be compromised while its on and open and youre connected and using it. However, its impossible to predict what sort of malware might be planted on it or which radios or sensors it might put into service. Its possible that the code might instruct the laptop to connect later while youre carrying it around, or even to ping networks and record location. Despite these objections, there are three powerful reasons to embrace the Faraday way to protect your data. People are lazy. You and your staff, co-workers and colleagues could protect against most mobile risks by always turning off location tracking and putting phones into airplane mode or turning them off completely between uses. Of course, we could just power our laptops and tablets down all the way every time. But most people arent going to do that. Attacks are unpredictable. Even the worlds top security experts cant know exactly how future attacks will occur. We always find out about them after its too late. Faraday bags end a long list of worries. Each potential mobile malady you could think of is statistically unlikely. But taken together, they add up. Hack attacks, car theft, RFID theft from credit cards and passports, radiation exposure, location tracking all these unlikely worries add up to one big worry, which is ended by simply choosing a different bag or case. Who uses a Faraday bag, anyway? It turns out that, for professionals who are truly serious about mobile data security, Faraday bags are standard. Christopher Steele, the former spy responsible for the Steele dossier, carries his phones in a Faraday bag, according to a feature in The New Yorker. The handbook for police forensic examiners, called Digital Forensics for Handheld Devices, says forensics experts need to use Faraday bags and cages for transporting and examining phones, laptops and other devices to prevent electronic tampering with the evidence. And police in the U.K., where the majority of those wireless relay crime car thefts take place, strongly recommend that everyone keep their car keys in a Faraday bag. Whats wrong with Faraday bags? Of course, the Faraday solution isnt without problems of its own. For starters, you cant receive phone calls while your phone is in such a bag or case. If you leave all the radios on, your phone can burn through battery hunting for networks and devices. The Faraday way isnt perfect. But its almost certainly better than what youre doing now. Even experts cant predict tomorrows new hack attacks. But you dont have to be an expert to buy low-cost Faraday accessories for all your gear, or for the devices carried by your staff or company. Faraday containers are the cheapest, fastest and easiest way to know that your keys, credit cards, passport, phone, tablet and laptop arent sending or receiving signals while youre sleeping, traveling, driving, walking or in meetings. Use the links above to buy yourself some Faraday bags. Its an old idea whose time has come. Brexit: Eurosceptics preparing to push back against latest border plan keeping the whole UK aligned with EU customs tariff rates. The Times New backstop must not last longer than two months, says Duncan Smith Daily Telegraph Varadkar insists Britain maintains Single Market ties Daily Mail DUP MP urges the Government not to back down Belfast Telegraph May to force confrontation with pro-EU Tories next month Daily Express Eurosceptics are preparing to fight to make sure Britain is tied to the EUs customs union beyond the end of 2020 only on a short-term basis as it emerged that there are limits to the type of trade deals possible under the plan agreed by the cabinet this week. Senior cabinet figures expect a series of difficult meetings of the Brexit war cabinet in the next three weeks about what kind of immigration system Britain will offer after Brexit and the level of divergence from the single market. These matters need to be settled before the European Council meeting at the end of June. On Tuesday Theresa May secured the war cabinets agreement to a proposal to break the deadlock over the Irish border by Analysis: Cabinets trade compromise with the EU may finally sink May James Forsyth, The Sun Ten reasons Brexiteers are currently losing the argument Sam Coates, The Times >Today: ToryDiary: Will Italys new government blow the bloody doors off? Dont get your hopes up. (Or your fears either.) >Yesterday: ToryDiary: A lesson from Wednesday evening in the Commons. May might win a Customs Union vote after all. May says Sturgeon is only opposing Brexit legislation to push for independence Theresa May has argued that the only reason Nicola Sturgeon opposes the Governments Brexit Bill is that the SNP leader wants to use the row in her fight to break up the United Kingdom. Mrs May told the Welsh Conservative conference that Ms Sturgeon is the only First Minister in the UK who has rejected the EU Withdrawal Bill and argued this was directly linked to the fact she is the only First Minister who wants to break up the United Kingdom. In an outspoken intervention that increases the pressure on Scottish Labour and the Scottish Liberal Democrats, both of which backed Ms Sturgeon, the Prime Minister argued that politicians should support the legislation if they believe in the UKs integrity, value and future. The Scottish Tories also demanded that Richard Leonard, the Scottish Labour leader, spell out why his MSPs refused to give their consent to the Bill when it was supported by the Welsh Labour government in Cardiff. Daily Telegraph Does Scottish politics need another Salmond comeback? The Scotsman Interview: Tories wont be forgiven for getting Brexit wrong, says Morgan The Times Syed Kamall: Ending free movement will allow us to fix a racist immigration system I believe part of the mess is due to targets over immigration. Since so-called freedom of movement from the EU means that we cannot put caps on EU migrants, most of whom happen to be white, it means we put restrictions on non-EU migrants, most of whom happen to have dark skin. This leads to a racist immigration system. O Ministers 1) Hands says Government will protect NHS during trade talks ne of the reasons I voted to leave the EU was that I want to see a fair immigration system based on the needs of the British economy rather than crude caps on non-EU migrants. Some have accused all Leave voters of racist motives yet it was the Remain campaign which put out a leaflet that boasted of stopping non-EU families coming to the UK. During the referendum campaign, I met a number of people who voted Remain who told me they were in favour of immigration, but wanted to see the right sort of immigration. What they really meant was they preferred the white sort of immigration. Daily Telegraph Ministers have vowed to defend the National Health Service against White House attempts to use post-Brexit trade negotiations to force it to pay more for prescription drugs. There is a real threat that the United States will force the NHS to pay billions of pounds more for drugs after a senior Trump administration official pledged to increase pressure during forthcoming trade talks. Greg Hands, the international trade minister, insisted that the government would protect the health service during negotiations with the US. I think the most important thing to understand, with all trade agreements, is that no trade agreement prevents a country from having the domestic right to regulate, he told The Times. We have always been clear that, in all trade agreements, the NHS will be protected. NHS England already spends about 16 billion a year on drugs. The Times Johnson to visit Argentina on Brexit tour The Sun Ministers 2) Government considers new rules on internet abuse Ministers 3) Eustice open-minded about latte levy UK ministers are leaning towards tougher standards to tackle internet abuse, in a sign of politicians mounting frustration with technology companies. The new rules, which are intended to protect the mental health of young people in particular, could lead to internet users seeing fewer sexist and racist comments online. The government had previously appeared content to play a coordinating role, leaving Facebook, Google and other technology giants to agree voluntary codes of conduct. A consultation document published last October said the government would address online safety by bringing groups across society together and called for close partnership with industry, drawing on their technology and engineering expertise. FT A latte levy of 25p to discourage the use of disposable coffee cups moved a step closer yesterday as environment minister George Eustice said the Government had an open mind about introducing such a charge. The Daily Mail has called for a levy as part of the campaign to turn the tide on plastic debris which pollutes our seas. There are more than 2.5 billion plastic cups used each year, but just one in 400 is recycled. The Environmental Audit Committee has suggested a 25p charge would discourage their use a so-called latte levy. During a backbench debate yesterday, Mr Eustice said suggestions that the levy idea had been abandoned were incorrect, adding: We do believe this is a very important issue. A Treasury consultation on single-use plastics, including coffee cups, closes today. Daily Mail Incineration tax could boost plastic recycling The Times More tax: Treasury plans new squeeze on self-employed Daily Telegraph May increases pressure on Bercow The Speaker wont go quietly Rob Wilson, Daily Telegraph Shame on MPs committee for double standards! Peter Oborne, Daily Mail as shes challenged to come clean over nuclear deal Theresa May today said it is unacceptable for the Commons Speaker to call a senior Cabinet minister a stupid woman and f*****g useless, if the allegations are true. John Bercow is said to have muttered the foul-mouthed phrase about Andrea Leadsom during an angry exchange in the Commons after PMQs on Wednesday. Mr Bercow is already facing multiple allegations of bullying his staff,, and the latest allegation has renewed calls for him to quit from the influential parliamentary role. Commenting on the allegation today, the Prime Ministers official spokeswoman said: We have seen the alleged remarks, and clearly the Prime Minister thinks they are unacceptable, and if an official complaint is made it should be properly investigated.' Daily Mail The PM was urged to come clean on Friday over claims a Japanese firm is being paid 13billion for a new UK nuclear plant. Sources in Tokyo said ministers had offered Hitachi loans to construct the power station in Anglesey, North Wales. According to Reuters a deal could be unveiled as early as next week. It comes a fortnight after company execs met the Prime Minister. According to Reuters a deal could be unveiled as early as next week. It comes a fortnight after company execs met the Prime Minister. A Business Department spokeswoman said: We dont recognise these reports. Discussions are commercially sensitive. Experts say Britains ageing nuclear reactors, which supply more than 20 per cent of our power, will go offline by 2025. The Sun and makes new appointments to the Lords Prime Minister names new peers despite calls to trim Upper House FT Lilley, Pickles, and Tyrie join the Lords The Guardian Corbyns new peer defended members suspended over antisemitism Daily Telegraph Did the Lords overstep the mark on Brexit? FT A close friend of Theresa May and a woman who claims that Jeremy Corbyn embodies the spirit of Keir Hardie are among a list of 13 political appointments to the House of Lords today. Downing Street slipped out the latest tranche of political appointees late yesterday, a day before the royal wedding, in a move critics said was clearly designed to minimise scrutiny. Lady Meyer, who has repeatedly spoken of her friendship with the Mays, is among nine new Conservative peers. The 65-year-old founder of campaign group Action Against Abduction, and wife of former diplomat Sir Christopher Meyer, defended the prime minister after her disastrous speech to the Conservative Party conference last year. The Times Comment: The Lords may save us from hard Brexit, but its still ridiculous Rafael Behr, The Guardian >Yesterday: Tory peer who fought for Leveson Two signals the retreat A Tory peer who tried to resurrect plans for another multi-million-pound Press inquiry yesterday told his fellow plotters it was time to give up. Lord Attlee urged the Lords to abandon any more challenges after the Commons rejected an attempt to stage a further Leveson-style probe for a second time earlier this week. The peer, who was one of three Tories to back a rebel amendment to the Data Protection Bill, said they should not seek to hold the legislation to ransom. He added: We have had a good battle and now we have lost. We should not pursue it further. We should not hold a time-sensitive Bill to ransom in order to force the Government to change policy. In my opinion, that would be wrong. Daily Mail Watsons job is to fix Walsall traffic, not hammer the press Jeremy Clarkson, The Sun Scottish Tory leader says party must embrace a more liberal outlook Fellow Tories, Im afraid the post-crash generation just dont trust us Ruth Davidson, The Guardian Conservatives must embrace a more open, liberal outlook in order to win over younger voters who see the party as anathema, says the leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson. Writing in the Guardian, Davidson argues: The crash generation simply dont trust the motivation of the right. Given the hand theyve been dealt in the past decade, theres little wonder. A bolder narrative about the benefits of our free society and a bit more practical delivery is required if were to show we want to speak to all, and act for all. Pointing to depressing polling conducted by YouGov for the Centre for Policy Studies, which revealed that nearly half of 18- to 24-year-olds would never vote Tory, Davidson acknowledges that voting Conservative has become counter-cultural for the under-40s and urges the party to learn from her success in Scotland. The Guardian >Yesterday: Claire Ward in Comment: If the Conservatives really want to work with trade unions, they will back one in its struggle with Boots Rayner throws her hat into the leadership ring Labours Education boss Angela Rayner threw her hat in the ring for the party leadership last night saying she was as good as anyone else. In a direct challenge to Jeremy Corbyn she said she could do a better job than the PM. In the interview with the BBCs Nick Robinson for his podcast she said it would be a disservice to the feminist movement not to put herself forward as Labour leader. She said: One of the things that Ive learnt through the feminist movement, and Harriet Harman says in her book she felt shed let the feminist movement down because she didnt actually go for leader and she could have been the leader and shes the best female leader we never had So if I look at what Theresa May doing at the moment for example, I could do a better job than Theresa May. The Sun Labour front bencher caught plagiarising Obama Royal wedding is today A Labour frontbencher has been caught out plagiarising Barack Obamas famous 2008 acceptance speech when she was re-elected as an MP last year. Parts of Kate Osamors address after being re-elected are nearly identical to the speech the former US President made after winning the race for the White House. But the shadow international development secretary swapped out Mr Obamas references to America for Edmonton her constituency in north London. Ms Osamor today denied stealing the extracts and insisted it was meant as a nod to the Mr Obama who made history when he was elected the USs first black president in 2008. Daily Mail Prince Harry has been spotted leaving his hotel as he today ties the knot with Meghan Markle. The 33-year-old royal and US actress will today marry in the wedding of the year, with fans already descending on Windsor to catch a glimpse of the loved-up couple. The 36-year-old bride spent her last night as an unmarried woman with her mum Doria Ragland at Cliveden Hall, yesterday saying she felt wonderful ahead of the big day. She will today walk down the aisle at St Georges Chapel entering by herself before being joined by her future father-in-law Prince Charles. The US actress own father Thomas Markle officially pulled out of the wedding after a tumultuous week where it was revealed he had posed in staged paparazzi photos. The Sun News in Brief: The House of Islam: A Global History by Ed Husain This is an excellent book which should be read by anyone of a conservative disposition who feels baffled by the Muslim world. For Ed Husain brings out, without labouring, the blinkered attitudes of the modern West, which render that world incomprehensible. He observes that we have replaced the idea of Christendom with a strident secularism which is so sceptical and materialist, it cannot even imagine, let alone approve, a way of life informed at every step by a sense of the divine, conveyed through traditions of behaviour and belief. In the West, we think of each individual choosing what to believe, with religion (if any) a matter of private observance, an activity to be carried on behind closed doors, rather than a communal endeavour engaged in by society as a whole, in which the soul finds peace through surrender to God. But I am in danger of giving a misleading impression of the book, which consists of 20 chapters describing the many aspects of the House of Islam, from the origins of the Koran and of the Sunni-Shia schism, to attitudes to the Jews, education, and sex. Husain is like the best kind of guide to what might seem at first glance like an unmanageably large and historic building. He is terse and clear, tells you about the amazing people who lived here, and once you have seen the main exhibits in a room, takes you on to the next before you have time to get bored. His account is animated by burning sense of indignation at the way in which the Muslim faith has been narrowed and traduced by the rise of Salafi literalism, which as he says is eerily similar to the puritanism which from the 16th century afflicted the Christian world. The generous tradition of Islamic pluralism is attacked and suppressed by the Wahhabis of Saudi Arabia, who represent fewer than five per cent of the worlds Muslims, yet consider themselves entitled to kill anyone who disagrees with them. In Husains previous book, The Islamist, he described his time as that kind of extremist. In this new book, he gives us the tolerant and life-enhancing Sufi vision of Islam, which turns out already to be known to us through FitzGeralds wonderful translation of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam: Awake! for Morning in the Bowl of Night Has flung the Stone that puts the Stars to Flight: And Lo! the Hunter of the East has caught The Sultans Turret in a Noose of Light. Dreaming when Dawns Left Hand was in the Sky, I heard a Voice within the Tavern cry, Awake, my little ones, and fill the Cup Before Lifes Liquor in its cup be dry.' As Husain says, after a few pages in which he recounts Khayyams life and work: So one of our greatest scholars, poets and Sufis was a drinker as were many others before and after him, including caliphs. Let the drinkers drink, and let the rest of us abstain. It is not the business of governments or clerics to interfere and condemn people to be flogged in the name of their literalist Islam. Wherever that happens, hypocrisy reigns. I have seen this at first hand in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, where the elite drink wine and whisky imported from Europe and Russia, but poor lorry drivers and village folk who drink homemade concoctions languish in prison or are flogged in public. Sexual repression promotes extremism and violence, atrocious treatment of supposedly respected women, and the oppression of Yazidis as sex slaves. As Husain remarks, If todays Muslims had the sexual candour of earlier writers like Hafez of Persia, with his stirring, life-affirming and unashamedly erotic yet profoundly spiritual poetry, our world might be a better place. What became of this tolerant form of Islam, which flourished in the Ottoman Empire? In Husains account, which I find entirely convincing, it was destroyed by the French Revolution, and by the triumph of Rousseau and Voltaire over Edmund Burke. The mockery of Muslims by Voltaire set a fashion for regarded them as backward, and obscured the many respects in which they had been ahead of Christian Europe. Napoleon invaded Egypt, and was defeated, not by Muslims, but by Nelson. The Islamic world entered a period of humiliation which has not yet come to an end. Politically and technologically, it could no longer compete with the West, and found itself subjugated. But nor, after the retreat of the French, British and American empires, can it run its own affairs with any degree of success. Sovereign nation states, conceived at the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648 and today expected to be run on democratic lines, have seldom taken root, and the outcome of the Arab Spring has been the agony of civil war tempered by merciless dictatorship, by the flight of millions of refugees into dismal camps or leaky boats, and by ineffectual interventions by Western liberals who continue to believe in Western democracy as the only universal verity. What unites Muslims, and indeed what divides them, cannot be expressed in national terms, so national democracies seldom put down roots. Political failure breeds anger, and a victim mentality which ends in suicide bombings by people who seek dignity through death after failing to find meaning and worth in life. Burke, whom Husain quotes with approval, understood the importance of religion and tradition, and knew that trying to eradicate them would end in disaster. Husain laments that in the Islamic world, Leftist activists and NGOs help spread the secularising and revolutionary ideas of Voltaire, Rousseau and Marx, but not the conservative, faith-accommodating philosophy and economics of Burke and Adam Smith. Yet the latter resonate among peoples who were traders and merchants for millennia, and maintained a conservative balance between monarchs, merchants, mullahs and the masses in their political systems. At the end of his book, Husain urges the creation of a Middle East Union. It is perhaps the least convincing element in his analysis. But as an exposition of the Muslim world, this work is first-class, and for a Christian reader, inspiring in its account of how life and faith can be combined. We have been here before. In 1992, Danish voters rejected the Maastricht Treaty in a referendum. For a moment, that seemed to herald the end of it. But next year, after Denmark was given four opt-outs from the treaty, a second referendum approved it. In 2001, Irish voters rejected the Nice Treaty, again in a referendum. The following year, after reassurances on defence policy and enhanced co-operation had been offered to Irish voters, a second referendum approved the treaty. In 2005, French voters rejected the European constitution in yet another referendum. This time there was no second vote. A second version of the constitution was later approved by Frances parliament. More recently, Greek voters rejected bailout conditions agreed between their government by the EU. Even more stringent ones were then applied. When the Euro was launched, some British eurosceptics believed that it might collapse. It is still there. When Philippe Seguin opposed Maastricht, and later became president of Frances National Assembly, some hoped here that he might turn the tide in France against ever-closer union. He didnt. Yanis Varoufakis outwitted neither Germanys leaders nor the EU Commission in Greece. Viktor Orban is migrant-hostile, populist and anti-liberalbut pro-EU. Now our point is not to assert that the EU wont somehow bust up, at some point, because of east-west tensions over immigration; or north-south ones over money transfers; or because of the structural weaknesses of the Euro, or because (most likely of all) of what Donald Rumsfeld called unknown unknowns, rather than these known unknowns. Or even, turning at last to our actual subject, if Italian banks at last go under, sparking a wider financial crisis. Rather, it is to plead for a sense of proportion about the formation of what is being called Europes first populist, eurosceptic government. Maybe the tensions between Italian debt and German-led austerity will become too great to endure, and the country will be forced out of the Euro. Perhaps the new government will bring about the same end by different means issuing fiscal credit certificates. Maybe Italian voters are made of tougher stuff than the Greeks, their hostility to Brussels and Berlin runs deeper, and the size of the country makes it less easy to browbeat. None the less, British Eurosceptics should learn from having their fingers burned so many times. Any coalition between Lega and Five Star is unlikely to be a stable one the tax-paying and tax-eating populists, as Garvan Walshe described them on this site. Italy has a way of conjuring up fresh elections or temporary government by bureaucrats when administrations become gridlocked. Silvio Berlusconi is waiting in the wings which will surprise Italian voters as little as it will astound British ones. He himself was the product of a wave of previous populists who themselves rose and fell. One day the countrys voters may dig in against the long squeeze imposed on them from northern Europe. But dont be too sure it will happen yet. 100% Website smoking-models.com uses latest and advanced technologies like: Php. It supports HTTPS. The main html page has a size of 115162 bytes (112.46 kb uncompressed). This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-04-15, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. CORNWALL, Ontario The Cornwall and District Horticultural Society hosted their 13th annual Bark and Compost Day on Saturday, May 12 at the Cornwall landfill site. Were in partnership with the city, said Sandra Mitchell, the Horticultural Society President. We bag up the compost and the mulch, or you could buy a scoop from the backhoe. Bags were on sale for $3 and scoops were $25. This was the organizations major fundraiser of the year. We donate to the tulips at the Cenotaph, we put pots at senior buildings, we put flowers at the RCAF Wing, we do the bridge [flower] boxes, said Mitchell. As many things as we can get involved in, we try to do as much as we can. According to the past President of the Horticultural Society, Lynn Blanchard, $1 of every purchase is put towards the Childrens Christmas Fund Cereal Drive at the end of the year. Both Mitchell and Blanchard are hoping that more high school students will seek out volunteer opportunities with the organization. We are trying to get some younger people out here to help, said Blanchard. We will sign for their hours. The Horticultural Society is hosting a plant and bake sale at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15 at the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Association Wing. Anyone who is interested in volunteering is encouraged to call Lynn Blanchard at 613-330-7460. LANCASTER, Ontario On Saturday May 19, community organizations came together to retrieve garbage pollution from the St. Lawrence River. Efforts started at 10 a.m. at the South Lancaster Wharf. This is our first year in Lancaster, said Mike Seguin, who works with the Ministry of the Environment. So we chose the Wharf as a starting point. Well have divers in the water today and theyre working with the South Lancaster Fish and Game Club. The club is providing the boats. Well be working around the Wharf today and the Glengarry Carin. According to Karen Douglas Cooper, who works with the St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences, this is the third year of cleanup efforts between South Lancaster, Cornwall and Akwesasne. Lancaster was chosen for the tenth cleanup event. Since 2016, over 20 tons of garbage has been removed from the St. Lawrence River by everyone who makes the Great St. Lawrence River Cleanup possible. People were concerned they were seeing debris in the water, said Douglas Cooper. We noticed at the River Institute too, things like shopping carts and bicycles. The shopping carts are actually killing the fish, so we are really concerned about that. Some of the organizations and community groups present at the cleanup were the South Glengarry Fire Department, St. John Ambulance, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the Seaway Valley Divers, the Cornwall Lunker Club, the St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences and the South Lancaster Fish and Game Club. Over the last two years, over 700 volunteers have helped to clean up our river. We all really care about the river, said Douglas Cooper. The Cornwall Harbour cleanup will take place on July 22, and the Akwesasne cleanup will take place on Aug. 3. For more information about volunteering, contact Karen Douglas Cooper or Pam Griffiths at 613-936-6620 or email kcooper@riverinstitute.ca. Face Off At the CRN Test Center, two of the laptops we most look forward to trying out with each new generation are Dell's XPS 13 and Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon. Both laptops have long been a delight to use -- but this is especially true of the 2018 updates. For laptops that combine portability with power, both the newly redesigned XPS 13 and the latest X1 Carbon are feats of engineering. But there are some important differences that we uncovered in our tryouts of each laptop. Which is a better fit for you? In the following slides, we break down how Dell's new XPS 13 for 2018 compares vs. the 6th gen Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon on specs and price. I never thought a column on pensions would move me to write a letter to the editor, but some statistics cited and comments made in Dan Haars piece (An old pension warriors mission, May 17, 2018) compelled me to act. Re: It makes no sense to sacrifice annual returns to make the world cleaner, nicer, safer, more inclusive. Those are all political agendas in the end, right? Wait a second. Since when are cleaner, nicer, safer and inclusive political? Responsible, perhaps. Or humane. Or longsighted, versus shortsighted. Haar notes that Connecticut achieved only 5.14 percent gains on average in the ten years ending in 2016. I find the only misleading. U.S. state pension plans returned a median annualized 5.9 percent for the 10 years ending June 30, 2016, according to the industrys Pensions & Investments. I appreciate fully funding our states pension funds and removing politics from investing, but singling out socially responsible investing as somehow contrary to this makes little sense nor cents. Consider the MSCI KLD 400 Social Index, which averaged a 10.1 percent annual rate of return for the 15-year period ending March 2018. The socially responsible index bested the S&P 500 indexs 9.8 percent, according to Morningstar Direct. Socially responsible investing could, in fact, be one of the few bright spots in Connecticuts pension fund. Carol Leonetti Dannhauser Fairfield HARTFORD Sixth-term state Rep. William Tong could become the states first Asian-American attorney general after he picked up the Democratic partys endorsement Saturday at the state convention in two rounds of voting. Weve made history, Tong said. Weve done something nobody in Connecticut has ever done. Together, 2,000 of us have for the first time ever nominated an Asian-American for constitutional office in the state of Connecticut. The Ivy League-educated son of Chinese immigrant parents, Tong, 44, won the nomination with 46 percent in the first round, and 63 percent in the second. The Stamford resident was challenged by state Sen. Paul Doyle, who received 15 percent in the first round and qualified for the August primary, former federal prosecutor Chris Mattei, who also qualified with 33 percent in the first round and 38 percent in the second. Former assistant attorney general Clare Kindall ended the first round of voting with 5 percent after she threw her support behind Tong. Having qualified for the primary, Doyle dropped his name from the ballot in the second round and instructed his delegates to vote their conscience to come up with an endorsed candidate. He accepted congratulations as he navigated the crowd during the second round, asking people for their support in the primary. The current attorney general, Democrat George Jepsen, is not seeking re-election. The vote for attorney general reflected significant horse-trading. Doyle eked over the 15 percent threshold by 21 votes, in large part with the help of 60 votes from Bridgeport the result of his support for Mayor Joe Ganim in the voting for governor an hour earlier. Doyle helped Joe with some delegates, explained Ernie Newton, a Bridgeport City Council member and former legislator who pleaded guilty to corruption charges. I served with him in the House ... hes a good guy. Some Tong supporters said they voted for Doyle in the first round in order to give Doyle the 15 percent he needed to qualify for a primary thereby freeing his supporters to switch to Tong in the second round and push Tong over the 50 percent he needed to win the endorsement. Mattei led the public corruption unit in the U.S. attorneys office in Connecticut, sending disgraced former Gov. John G. Rowland, a Republican, back to prison for campaign fraud. Doyle, a fiscally conservative Democrat from Wethersfield, sided with Republicans on a key budget vote last year. Sue Hatfield, a former registered nurse from Pomfret who has been a state prosecutor for the last 13 years, won the Republican nomination for state attorney general. To the Republican nominees Sue Hatfield, and Mark Boughton and Joe Markley ... If you think youre going to ride a wave of bigotry and hate, youre going to have to come through me and all of us and we are not afraid of you, Tong said during his acceptance speech. Dan Haar contributed to this report. MIDDLETOWN A New Hampshire judge ordered court records unsealed this month in a suit filed by Nathan Carmans aunts to prevent him from collecting his mothers share of his multimillionaire grandfathers estate. In March, the court ordered all files in the case closed to public view. A reporter from the Union Leader newspaper in Manchester, N.H., objected and filed a motion to unseal the documents on March 29. Carman, who now lives in Vermont, is under investigation by state and federal authorities in the disappearance of his mother, Linda, 54, in September 2016 after a boating accident that left him adrift at sea. After eight days, he was rescued off the coast of Massachusetts by a passing freighter. His mother, who lived in Middletown, was never found. No charges have been filed in connection with her disappearance. The Coast Guard said Linda Carman is presumed dead. This is a big win for open government, attorney Justin Silverman, executive director of the Massachusetts-based New England First Amendment Coalition, said in a news release. Now we can monitor this high-profile case with little secrecy. A probate appeal was filed in July 2017 by Valerie C. Santilli, executrix for Carmans grandfather, John C. Chakalos, and her sisters Elaine Chakalos and Charlene Gallagher. The suit asks the court to declare the 24-year-old their fathers killer. Chakalos daughters filed a slayer action complaint in New Hampshire Probate Court last July, petitioning the judge under an inheritance law provision that prohibits a person who kills someone to reap monetary gain from the deceased. NEFAC, which defends, promotes and expands public access to government and the work it does, according to its website, requested the court provide an opportunity for an oral argument in support of unsealing the documents. NEFAC supported the reporters motion in an April 10 memorandum submitted to the court, and filed a motion to intervene. The courts of New Hampshire have always considered their records to be public, absent some overriding consideration or special circumstance, attorney Gregory V. Sullivan, speaking on behalf of the coalition and the Union Leader, said in the memorandum. He is a member of NEFACs Board of Directors. The Union Leader and NEFAC have since filed multiple motions asserting that no substantial reason has been offered to justify placing the exhibits under seal, the judge wrote, according to the release. The court concludes that the publics right to access to court records would be unreasonably restricted if those documents remain under seal, it concluded. Police have also deemed Carman a person of interest in the slaying of his wealthy grandfather, 87, who was shot to death at his Windsor home in December 2013, a month after his wife of 59 years died of cancer. He had gunshot wounds in his head and back, police said. Family members have said Nathan Carman is on the autism spectrum. Unlike Nathan Carman, his aunts have taken lie detector tests, fully cooperated with the investigation into John Chakalos murder and promised to donate Linda Carmans inheritance to a charity in her name if they win the slayer action case, Daniel Small, Holland & Knight attorney, said in a prepared statement. Nathans family has asked him repeatedly to cooperate with investigators and answer basic questions and discovery requests. Meanwhile, Nathan refuses to cooperate with the authorities, and even refuses to answer questions about the likely murder weapon, let alone produce it. Nathans attempt to attack the victims is simply another desperate ploy to deflect attention from his guilty behavior. And finally, Nathans decision to fire his lawyers was a strategic decision, not a money decision, the statement concluded. Nathan Carman was unable to be reached for comment. During an April 3 court hearing in Concord, N.H., Carman represented himself after firing his attorneys some time in February. Lawyers for Carmans family hoped to force him to turn over documents about a semi-automatic rifle he bought, which was similar to one used in the death of his grandfather, according to the Associated Press. Carman has granted very few media interviews but has sat down with ABC News on a few occasions. In the television program, 20/20 Lost at Sea: The Story of Nathan Carman, which aired last February, he denied sabotaging his boat. Managing Editor Cassandra Day can be reached at cassandra.day@hearst mediact.com or Twitter @cassandrasdis. For Subscribers What we learned: Windber tested; Berlin's bright future; Hemminger leads way; Shirley making plays A look at what we learned in Week 7 of the high school football season. Windber gets test. Berlin will be good for a while. Somerset senior leading way. Township QB is playmaker. As the Karnataka Assembly met for the floor test today (May 19), a visibly shaken BS Yeddyurappa stood up and gave an emotional speech reminiscing his days as a Jan Sangh MLA and attacking the Congress-JDS combine for ganging up against BJP after the election. Though Yeddyurappas speech might have been the farewell speech of a vanquished man who knows his time as Karnataka BJPs numero uno is finally up, it was also a last-ditch attempt at gaining some moral high ground after trying virtually everything to emerge victorious. Alas, there was none to be gained. In fact, this whole episode played out in the aftermath of Karnataka Assembly elections would go down in Indias political history as one of the most brazen attempts at stealing the mandate. Although some people might have an issue with post-poll alliances and how the Congress and JDS came together to prevent the BJP from coming to power, it is not unheard of in Indian politics to have such post-poll alliances; especially in the first-past-the-post Westminster system with multiple parties contesting against each other. What is truly alarming is that despite falling eight short of a simple majority and the Congress-JDS combine clearly commanding the numbers, BJP did not back off from attempting to form a government. In what came across as a blatant pursuit of power, BJP pulled all stops to try and somehow get enough defectors following the model employed in 2008-now infamously referred to as "Operation Kamal". It seems BJPs leaders have lately come to believe that they can get away with anything after similarly managing to outwit Congress in the aftermath of successive state elections. Having wheeler-dealers in key party positions and sitting on a bottomless pit of fortune with media houses acting as propaganda agents, it didnt entirely come as a shock to hear a general secretary replying with we have Amit Shah to a question on how they intended to form the government in the event of falling short. For a change, Congress was ready for all eventualities on this occasion and quickly took the call to back the JDS post-poll catching the BJP by surprise. It is a move that has huge ramifications for general elections in the context of opposition unity even if the immediate aim is to keep the BJP from marching into the south. Congress Karnataka strongman DK Shivakumar, who was instrumental in ensuring the Congress legislators didnt defect and ensured their presence in the Assembly, deserves special mention. DK Shivakumar is a self-made man, (much like a Himanta Biswas Sarma in Assam) who was recently passed up for the post of Pradesh Congress Chief owing to his controversial image as a strongman. Rahul Gandhis zen-like attitude and philosophical approach to successive losses might accrue moral victories but politics is a game of chess and when you are up against a marauding opponent like the Modi-fied BJP, you need such people in your ranks to hold off and foil attempts of poaching. Prime Minister Narendra Modis grandstanding will come under a severe cloud with this episode that played out in full public view. Whatever spin is sought to be given to this episode by propaganda channels, people would make up their minds based on what unfolded in front of them. The four tapes released by Congress which had top BJP leaders allegedly trying to bribe and induce opposition MLAs involving G Janardhan Reddy, Muralidhar Rao, BS Vijayendra, Sriramulu and Yeddyurappa himself would cause a political earthquake later if its proved to be authentic. Rhetoric like na khaoonga na khane doonga would come across as hollow when its repeated again this winter. In fact, BJP had already let go of their anti-corruption plank for political expediency in Karnataka when they chose a scam-tainted Yeddyurappa as their chief ministerial candidate and afforded eight tickets to Reddy brothers and their associates. As for the Congress, this comes as much-needed relief ahead of the general elections as BJP was attaining an air of invincibility. At the 84th Congress plenary in March, Rahul Gandhi likened the BJP to the Kauravas in Mahabharatha in the contest of their lust for power. If Congress fancies itself as the Pandavas or the underdogs, they should recall how Pandavas got the better of Kauravas in Mahabharatha. Suffice to say, it wasnt straightforward. When faced with an opponent who could go to any extent to win, it is ultimately a game of survival and one hopes Congress will be all the more wiser for this experience. Also read: Our prayers have been answered we Anglo-Indians don't want to be used as pawns by any political party The mentally deranged US dotard has met his match in the little rocket man. US President Donald Trump and North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un have kept the world on the edge with their unpredictability and volatility. Such has been their fickleness that the US-North Korea relations have swung 180 degrees from the brink of a war to a historic face-to-face dialogue in Singapore on June 12. Fire & fury It is interesting to see the turn of events. Enraged by Kims missile tests, Trump tweeted on April 9, threatening Pyongyang of fire and fury like of which the world has never seen. On April 11, he upped the ante by saying: Military solutions are now fully in place, locked and loaded should North Korea act unwisely. Hopefully, Kim Jong-un will find another way. In his maiden speech at the UN General Assembly on September 18, 2017, Trump said that the rocket man was on a suicide mission, and threatened to destroy North Korea. Kim didnt hold back either. Pointing out that a frightened dog barks louder, he called Trump a political heretic... unfit to hold the prerogative of Supreme Commander and gangster fond of playing with fire. A day after Trumps UNGA speech, Kim returned his compliments, he would surely tame the mentally deranged and mentally dotard with fire. The North Korean threats werent just verbal. On September 28, 2017, Pyongyang successfully launched its intercontinental ballistic missile, Hwasong-15, which David Wright, a missile expert, thought had a range of 8,078 miles that could reach Washington and other American cities on the West coast, Europe, Japan and Australia. As expected, the US, Russia, China and European countries expressed their concern. According to Melissa Hanham of the James Martin Institute of Non-Proliferation Studies, it was the North Korean way of saying we have achieved what we wanted. Was this the Cuban Missile Crisis moment for Trump and Kim? Like John F Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev, havent they pulled back from the brink of a precipice? They seem to be practising realpolitik: put maximum pressure on your opponent before going for talks, and engaging the enemy from the position of strength, not of weakness! Besides Trump and Kim, the credit for diffusing the situation should go to the Chinese and South Korean Presidents. In August 2017, Moon Jae-in said, There must be no more war on the Korean peninsula. Whatever ups and downs we face, the North Korean situation must be resolved peacefully. I am certain the United State will respond to the current situation calmly and responsibly in a stance that is equal to ours. It was the strongest public message to the US. Historic summit Chinese President Xi Jinping, whom Trump has constantly been pushing to stop Kim from launching missiles, has twin objectives: to ensure that the beleaguered North Korean regime doesnt collapse in spite of sanctions; and, the Trump-Kim verbal salvos dont degenerate into an open conflict that will invariably force China to take a side. Chinas crucial role is underlined by Kims second visit to China as early as last week. The historic summit between the North and South Korean Presidents on April 27 has gone reasonably off well, despite some last-minute hiccups. Warm handshakes, bear hugs and positive words said it all. President Moon hailed a new era of peace and pledged, There will be no more war on the Korean peninsula. But does it means the same thing about Trump and Kim? Kim shares an ambitious reunification dream. Using one language, one culture, and one history South and North Korea will be reunited as one country, thus enjoying everlasting peace and prosperity. In this backdrop, and given the turbulent history and interests of the US and China, only time will tell how far and how fast Moon and Kim can move. Nonetheless, they intend to gradually realise arms reduction when the military tension is removed and trust is practically established. Nuclear deal A lot, however, will depend on the outcome of the Trump-Kim summit on June 12. Mindful of the fate that befell Colonel Gaddafi, total surrender by Kim of all his nuclear weapons looks unlikely. Above all, Kim will demand security of his regime. Trumps decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and re-impose sanctions on Iran might heighten Kims apprehensions about any denuclearisation deal with the US. A drastically amended version of the Iran nuclear deal guaranteed by China, South Korea and Russia could possibly have been a workable template. As for Trump, he hasnt opened his cards except uttering some conciliatory words about Kim after the return of three imprisoned Americans. But he realises that, thanks to strong opposition from South Korea and China, any punitive action against the North is unrealistic. In that sense, Trumps pressure on Kim may be working to an extent, but he is equally being influenced by powers like China. And, it is still a long way before the North Korean crisis is suitably resolved. For, Kim may still trump the US. (Courtesy of Mail Today) Also read: BJP sees humiliating defeat in Gorakhpur and Phulpur by-polls: 10 takeaways Aareal Bank AG, together with its subsidiaries, provides financing, software products, digital solutions, and payment transaction applications for the property sector and related industries in Germany and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Structured Property Financing, Banking & Digital solutions, and Aareon. The Structured Property Financing segment offers property financing and refinancing solutions for office buildings, hotels, and shopping centers, as well as retail, logistics, residential properties, and student apartments. This segment also provides deposits, registered and bearer Pfandbriefe, promissory note loans, medium-term notes, debt securities, private placements, other bonds and subordinated issues, mortgage Pfandbriefe, and public sector Pfandbriefe. The Banking & Digital solutions segment offers various services and products for the housing, commercial property, and energy and waste disposal industries. Its services include specialized banking, payment systems, and optimized business processes. The Aareon segment provides IT systems consultancy and related advisory services, enterprise resource planning systems, software solutions, hosting and software as a service, and in-house services. Aareal Bank AG was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Amphenol: ARCAS Automotive Group (Luxco 1) S.a.r.l., AUXEL FTG, AUXEL FTG India Pvt Ltd., AUXEL FTG Shanghai Co., AUXEL S.A.S., Air LB International Development S.A., All Systems Broadband, Amphenol (Changzhou) Advanced Connector Co., Amphenol (Changzhou) Connector Systems Co., Amphenol (Changzhou) Electronics Co., Amphenol (Maryland), Amphenol (Ningde) Electronics Co., Amphenol (Qujing) Technology Co., Amphenol (Tianjin) Electronics Co., Amphenol (Xiamen) High Speed Cable Co., Amphenol Adronics, Amphenol Advanced Sensors Germany GmbH, Amphenol Advanced Sensors Puerto Rico, Amphenol Air LB GmbH, Amphenol Air LB North America Inc., Amphenol Air LB SAS, Amphenol Alden Products Company, Amphenol Alden Products Mexico, Amphenol Antenna Solutions, Amphenol Assemble Tech (Xiamen) Co., Amphenol Australia Pty Ltd, Amphenol Automotive Connection Systems (Changzhou) Co., Amphenol Bar-Tec, Amphenol Benelux B.V., Amphenol Borisch Technologies, Amphenol CNT (Xian) Technology Co. Ltd., Amphenol Cables On Demand Corp., Amphenol Canada Acquisition Corporation, Amphenol Canada Corp., Amphenol Comercial, Amphenol Commercial Interconnect Korea Co., Amphenol Commercial Products (Chengdu) Co. Ltd., Amphenol Commercial and Industrial UK, Amphenol ConneXus AB, Amphenol ConneXus Ou, Amphenol Custom Cable, Amphenol DC Electronics, Amphenol Daeshin Electronics and Precision Co., Amphenol EEC, Amphenol East Asia Electronic Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Amphenol East Asia Limited, Amphenol FCI, Amphenol FCI Asia Pte. Ltd., Amphenol FCI Connectors Singapore Pte. Ltd., Amphenol Fiber Optic Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Amphenol Finland Oy, Amphenol France Acquisition SAS, Amphenol France SAS, Amphenol Germany GmbH, Amphenol Gesellschaft m.b.H., Amphenol Goldstar Electronic Systems (Baicheng) Co. Ltd., Amphenol Goldstar Electronic Systems (Yulin) Co. Ltd., Amphenol Holding UK, Amphenol Intercon Systems, Amphenol Interconnect India Private Limited, Amphenol Interconnect Products Corporation, Amphenol Interconnect South Africa (Proprietary) Limited, Amphenol International Ltd., Amphenol Invotec Limited, Amphenol Italia S.r.l., Amphenol JET (Haiyan) Interconnect Technology Co., Amphenol Japan Ltd., Amphenol Kai-Jack (Shenzhen) Inc., Amphenol LTW Technology Co., Amphenol Limited, Amphenol MCP Korea Limited, Amphenol Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Amphenol Middle East Enterprises FZE, Amphenol Nelson Dunn Technologies, Amphenol Netherlands Holdings 1 B.V., Amphenol Netherlands Holdings 2 B.V., Amphenol Omniconnect India Private Limited, Amphenol Optimize Manufacturing Co., Amphenol Optimize Mexico S.A. de C.V., Amphenol PCD, Amphenol PCD (Shenzhen) Co., Amphenol Phitek Limited, Amphenol Printed Circuits, Amphenol Provens SAS, Amphenol RF Asia Limited, Amphenol Sensing Korea Company Limited, Amphenol Shouh Min Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Amphenol Singapore Pte. Ltd., Amphenol Socapex SAS, Amphenol Sunpool (Liaoning) Automotive Electronics Co., Amphenol T&M Antennas, Amphenol TCS (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Amphenol TCS Ireland Limited, Amphenol TCS de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Amphenol TFC Fios E Cabos do Brasil Ltda., Amphenol TFC MDE Participacoes Ltda., Amphenol TFC do Brasil Ltda., Amphenol Taiwan Corporation, Amphenol Technical Products International Co., Amphenol Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Amphenol Technology (Zhuhai) Co., Amphenol Technology Macedonia Dooel Kocani, Amphenol Tecvox LLC, Amphenol Tel-Ad Ltd., Amphenol Thermometrics, Amphenol Thermometrics (UK) Limited, Amphenol Times Microwave Electronics (Shanghai) Limited, Amphenol Tuchel Electronics GmbH, Amphenol Tuchel Industrial GmbH, Amphenol Tunisia LLC, Amphenol USHoldco Inc., Amphenol-Borg Limited, Amphenol-Borg Pension Trustees Limited, Amphenol-TFC (Changzhou) Communication Equipment Co., Anytek Electronic Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd, Anytek International (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Anytek International Co. Ltd., Anytek Technology Corporation Ltd, Asia Connector Services, Berg UK Ltd., Blueline Product Limited, C&S Antennas, C&S Antennas Limited, CSA Limited, Casco Automotive (Suzhou) Co., Casco Automotive Group, Casco Automotive Singapore Pte., Casco Automotive Tunisia S.a.r.l., Casco Holdings Co. Limited, Casco Holdings GmbH, Casco Imos Italia S.r.l., Casco Logistics GmbH, Casco Products Corporation, Casco Schoeller GmbH, Casco do Brasil Ltda., Cemm Thome Corporation, Cemm Thome SK, Cemm-Mex, Changzhou Amphenol Fuyang Communication Equipment Co., ContactServe (Proprietary) Limited, East Asia Connector Services, Edwin Deutgen Kunstofftechnik GmbH, Ehrlich Werkzeug & Geratebau GmbH, FCI Besancon SA, FCI Connectors (Shanghai) Ltd., FCI Connectors Canada, FCI Connectors Dongguan Ltd, FCI Connectors Hong Kong Limited, FCI Connectors Italia S.r.l., FCI Connectors Korea Ltd., FCI Connectors Malaysia Sdn Bhd, FCI Connectors Sweden A.B., FCI Connectors UK Ltd., FCI Deutschland GmbH, FCI Electronics Hungary Kft, FCI GBS India Private Limited, FCI Japan K.K., FCI Nantong Ltd, FCI OEN Connectors Limited, FCI PRC Limited, FCI Taiwan Limited, FCI USA LLC, FCIs-Hertogenbosch B.V., FEP Fahrzeugelektrik Pirna, FEP Fahrzeugelektrik Pirna GmbH & Co. KG, FEP Fahrzeugelektrik Pirna Verwaltungs GmbH, Fiber Systems International, Filec Production SAS, Filec SAS, Friedrich Gohringer Elektrotechnik GmbH, GE - Advanced Sensors Business, Guangzhou Amphenol Electronics Co., Guangzhou Amphenol Sincere Flex Circuits Co., Guangzhou FEP Automotive Electric Co., Hangzhou Amphenol JET Interconnect Technology Co., Hangzhou Amphenol Phoenix Telecom Parts Co., Holland Electronics, Intelligente Sensorsysteme Dresden GmbH, Invotec Circuits Holdings Limited, Invotec Circuits Limited, Invotec Group Limited, Invotec Holdings Limited, Ionix Aerospace Limited, Ionix Holdings Limited, Ionix Systems Limited, Ionix Systems Ou, Jaybeam Limited, Jaybeam Wireless SAS, KE Elektronik GmbH, KE Ostrov Elektrik, KE Presov Elektrik, Konnektech, Kunshan Amphenol Zhengri Electronics Co., LPL Technologies Holding GmbH, LTW Technology (Samoa) Co., LTW Top Tech (Samoa) Co., Lectric SARL, Martec Limited, Mocorp Holding A/S, Nantong Docharm Amphenol Electronics Co., PROCOM, PT Casco SEA, PerLoga Personal und Logistik GmbH, Piezotech, Piher Sensors & Controls S.A., Piher Sensors And Controls, Precision Cable Manufacturing Corp. de Mexico, Procom A/S, Procom Antennas AB, Procom France SARL, Pyle-National Ltd., RSI International Limited, S.C.I. Palin, SEFEE SA, SGX Europe SP. z.o.o., SGX Sensortech (IS) Limited, SGX Sensortech China Holdco Limited, SGX Sensortech China Limited, SGX Sensortech GmbH, SGX Sensortech SA, SSI Control Technologies, STEMFI SA, SV Microwave, Shanghai Amphenol Airwave Communication Electronics Co., Shanghai Amphenol Electronics Technology Co., Shanghai Tecvox Trading Co., Shenyang Amphenol Sunpool Automotive Electronics Co., Sine Systems Corporation, Skymasts Antennas Ltd., Societe dEtudes et de Fabrications Electroniques et Electriques, Spectra Strip Limited, TCS Japan K.K., TFC South America S.A., Tecvox Europe S.r.l., Telect, Telect Mfg., Telect de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Teradyne Connection Systems, Thermometrics Mexico, Tianjin Amphenol KAE Co., Times Fiber Canada Limited, Times Fiber Communications, Times Microwave Systems, Times Wire and Cable Company, U-Jin Cable Industrial Co., Zhongshan Feisaide Electromechanical Co., and i2s-sensors. Cequence Energy Ltd. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of petroleum and natural gas reserves in Western Canada. It primarily focuses on the development of its Simonette asset located in the Alberta Deep Basin. The company was formerly known as Sabretooth Energy Ltd. and changed its name to Cequence Energy Ltd. in July 2009. Cequence Energy Ltd. was incorporated in 2000 and is based in Calgary, Canada. Read More Zurich Insurance Group AG is a holding company. The Company and its subsidiaries provide insurance products and related services. Its segments include General Insurance, Global Life, Farmers, Other Operating Businesses and Non-Core Businesses. The General Insurance segment provides a range of motor, home and commercial products and services for individuals, as well as small and large businesses. The Global Life segment is engaged in providing unit-linked, protection and corporate propositions through global distribution and proposition pillars. The Farmers segment, through Farmers Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, provides certain non-claims administrative and management services to the Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange, Truck Insurance Exchange, and their subsidiaries and affiliates. The Other Operating Businesses segment includes the Company's Holding and Financing activities. The Non-Core Businesses segment includes its insurance and reinsurance businesses. Read More 12 Wall Street equities research analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Hammerson in the last year. There are currently 5 sell ratings, 6 hold ratings and 1 buy rating for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street equities research analysts is that investors should "hold" Hammerson stock. A hold rating indicates that analysts believe investors should maintain any existing positions they have in HMSNF, but not buy additional shares or sell existing shares. View analyst ratings for Hammerson or view top-rated stocks. The following companies are subsidiares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise: 3Com International Inc., 3PAR Inc., Apogee, Aruba Networks Inc., Aruba Networks International Cayman, Aruba Networks International Limited, BlueData Software, Cloud Cruiser, Cloud Technology Partners, Cloud Technology Partners Inc., Compaq Computer (Mauritius), Compaq Trademark B.V., Cray, Cray Inc., EDS World Corporation (Far East) LLC, EYP Mission Critical Facilities Inc., H3C Holdings Limited, HP Enterprise Services Australia Pty Ltd, HP Financial Services (Australia) Pty Limited, HP Financial Services (Chile) Limitada, HP Financial Services (Japan) K.K., HP Financial Services Arrendamento Mercantil S.A., HP Financial Services Company (Korea), HP Financial Services International Holdings Company, HPE Government LLC, HPFS Global Holdings I LLC, HPFS Global Holdings II LLC, HPFS Rental S.R.L., Hangzhou H3C Technologies Co. Ltd, Hewlett Packard Caribe BV LLC, Hewlett Packard Colombia Ltda., Hewlett Packard Enterprise (China) Co. Ltd., Hewlett Packard Enterprise B.V., Hewlett Packard Enterprise B.V. Amstelveen Meyrin Branch, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Co., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Co. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Cie, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Costa Rica Limitada, Hewlett Packard Enterprise GlobalSoft Private Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise India Private Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Ireland Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Luxembourg SCA, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Polska sp. z o.o., Hewlett Packard Pathfinder LLC, Hewlett Packard Taiwan Ltd., Hewlett-Packard (Israel) Ltd., Hewlett-Packard (M) Sdn. Bhd., Hewlett-Packard (Nigeria) Limited, Hewlett-Packard (Schweiz) GmbH, Hewlett-Packard (Tanzania) Limited, Hewlett-Packard (Thailand) Limited, Hewlett-Packard ApS, Hewlett-Packard Argentina S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Australia Pty Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Belgium SPRL/BVBA, Hewlett-Packard Bermuda Enterprises LLC, Hewlett-Packard Brasil Ltda., Hewlett-Packard Bulgaria EOOD, Hewlett-Packard Caribe B.V., Hewlett-Packard Caribe Y Andina B.V. LLC, Hewlett-Packard Chile Comercial Limitada, Hewlett-Packard Cyprus Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Hewlett-Packard Egypt Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Financial Services (India) Private Limited, Hewlett-Packard Financial Services Canada Company, Hewlett-Packard Financial Services Company, Hewlett-Packard France SAS, Hewlett-Packard G1 SPV (Cayman) Company, Hewlett-Packard Gesellschaft mbH, Hewlett-Packard Ghana Limited, Hewlett-Packard GmbH, Hewlett-Packard Guatemala Limitada, Hewlett-Packard HK SAR Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Hellas EPE, Hewlett-Packard Holdings Ltd., Hewlett-Packard International Bank Designated Activity Company, Hewlett-Packard International Bank Public Limited Company, Hewlett-Packard International Sarl, Hewlett-Packard Italiana S.r.l., Hewlett-Packard Japan Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Korea Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Leasing Limited, Hewlett-Packard Limited, Hewlett-Packard Luxembourg Enterprises LLC, Hewlett-Packard Macau Limited, Hewlett-Packard Manufacturing Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Marigalante Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Hewlett-Packard Middle East FZ-LLC, Hewlett-Packard Mocambique Limitada - Sociedada em Liquidacao, Hewlett-Packard Nederland B.V., Hewlett-Packard New Zealand, Hewlett-Packard Norge AS, Hewlett-Packard OY, Hewlett-Packard Operations Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Hewlett-Packard Peru S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Philippines Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Portugal Lda., Hewlett-Packard SARL, Hewlett-Packard SIA, Hewlett-Packard Servicios Espana S.L., Hewlett-Packard Singapore (Sales) Pte. Ltd., Hewlett-Packard South Africa (Proprietary) Limited, Hewlett-Packard Sverige AB, Hewlett-Packard Technology Center Inc., Hewlett-Packard Teknoloji Cozumleri Limited Sirketi, Hewlett-Packard The Hague B.V., Hewlett-Packard Venezuela S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Vision Limited, Hewlett-Packard d.o.o., Hewlett-Packard s.r.o., Limited Liability Company Hewlett Packard Enterprise, MapR Technologies, New H3C Technologies Co. Ltd., Niara Inc., Nimble Storage, Nimble Storage Inc., Nimble Storage Israel Ltd, Nimble Storage Japan GK, Nimble Storage UK Limited, Plexxi, RedPixie, SGI (Silicon Graphics), Sapphire Holding Co, Scytale, Shanghai Hewlett-Packard Co. Ltd., Silver Peak, SimpliVity, Sinope Holding B.V., Trilead, UAB ES Hague Lietuva, and Unis Huashan Technologies Co. Limited. Wall Street analysts have given iShares MSCI France ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares MSCI France ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. The following companies are subsidiares of Crown: Adularia Inversiones 2010 S.L., Angleboard Sweden AB, Bates Cargo-Pak ApS, Butimove, CMB Machinery and Technology (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CROWN AP (Thailand) Company Limited, CROWN Aerosols & Promotional Nederland, CROWN Aerosols Italia Srl, CROWN Aerosols Nederland BV, CROWN Aerosols UK Limited, CROWN Americas LLC, CROWN Arabia Can Company Ltd, CROWN Asia Pacific Holdings Pte. Ltd., CROWN Asia Pacific Investments (T) Limited, CROWN Bevcan Espana S.L., CROWN Bevcan France SAS, CROWN Bevcan Slovakia s.r.o., CROWN Bevcan Turkiye Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, CROWN Bevcan and Closures (Thailand) Company Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans (Cambodia) Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans (Dong Nai) Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Beijing Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Changchun Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Danang Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hangzhou Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hanoi Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Heshan Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hong Kong Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Huizhou Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Malaysia Sdn Bhd, CROWN Beverage Cans Nanning Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Putian Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Saigon Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Shanghai Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Sihanoukville Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Singapore Pte. Ltd., CROWN Beverage Cans Ziyang Limited, CROWN Beverage Packaging LLC, CROWN Beverage Packaging Puerto Rico Inc., CROWN Cans Ghana Limited, CROWN China Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited, CROWN Commercial Belgium BVBA, CROWN Commercial France SAS, CROWN Commercial Germany GmbH & Co. KG, CROWN Commercial Hungary Kft, CROWN Commercial Netherlands B.V., CROWN Commercial Vermogensverwaltung GmbH, CROWN Cork & Seal USA Inc., CROWN Embalagens Metalicas da Amazonia S.A., CROWN Emballage France SAS, CROWN Emirates Company Limited, CROWN Envases Mexico S.A. de C.V., CROWN Famosa S.A. de C.V., CROWN Food Packaging (Thailand) Public Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan (Hat Yai) Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan (Nakhon Pathom) Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan Germany GmbH, CROWN Foodcan GmbH, CROWN Imballaggi Italia Srl, CROWN Imgallaggi Italia Srl, CROWN Italy Finance srl, CROWN Khmer Beverage Cans Limited, CROWN Maghreb Can, CROWN Magyarorszag Csomagoloipari KFT, CROWN Metal Packaging Canada Inc., CROWN Metal Packaging Canada LP, CROWN Middle East Can Co. Ltd., CROWN Packaging (Barbados) Limited, CROWN Packaging Holdings LLC, CROWN Packaging Investment (H.K.) Limited, CROWN Packaging Ireland Ltd, CROWN Packaging Jamaica Limited, CROWN Packaging Polska Sp.z.o.o., CROWN Packaging Technology Inc., CROWN Packaging Trinidad Limited, CROWN Packaging UK Limited, CROWN Promotional Packaging UK Ltd, CROWN SIEM, CROWN Senegal, CROWN Societe Malgache d'Emballages Metalliques, CROWN Speciality Packaging BV, CROWN Speciality Packaging Investment Pte. Ltd., CROWN Specialty Packaging UK Ltd, CROWN TCP Beverage Cans Company Limited, CROWN Verpakking Belgie NV, CROWN Verpakking Nederland B.V., Caretex Asia Ltd., CarnaudMetalbox Engineering Ltd, CarnaudMetalbox Food South Africa (Pty) Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Group UK Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Overeseas Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Overseas Limited, Cierres Hermeticos S.A. DE C.V., Constar International, Crown Americas Capital Corp., Crown Americas Capital Corp. II, Crown Americas Capital Corp. III, Crown Americas Capital Corp. IV, Crown Americas Capital Corp. V, Crown Americas Capital Corp. VI, Crown Brasil Holdings Ltda., Crown Canadian Holdings ULC, Crown Closures Spain S.L., Crown Colombiana S.A., Crown Comercial de Envases S.L., Crown Commercial Italy Srl, Crown Commercial Polska Sp. z.o.o., Crown Consultants Inc., Crown Cork & Seal Company (DE) LLC, Crown Cork & Seal Company Inc., Crown Cork & Seal Deutschland Holdings GmbH, Crown Cork & Seal Receivables (DE) Corporation, Crown Cork & Seal de Portugal Embalagens S.A., Crown Cork Kuban, Crown Cork and Seal Receivables II LLC, Crown Developpement SAS, Crown European Holdings, Crown Food Espana S.A.U., Crown Foodcan Turkey Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Crown Hellas Can Packaging SA, Crown Heshan Trading Company Limited, Crown Holdings Italia Srl, Crown Holdings Spain S.L., Crown International Holdings B.V., Crown International Holdings Inc., Crown Luxembourg Holdings, Crown Mexican Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., Crown Overseas Investments B.V., Crown Packaging Commercial UK Limited, Crown Packaging Distribution UK Limited, Crown Packaging European Division GmbH, Crown Packaging European Division Services SAS, Crown Packaging European Holdings GmbH, Crown Packaging Lux I S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Lux II S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Lux III S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Manufacturing UK Limited, Crown Packaging Maroc, Crown Receivables III, Crown Services Iberia, Crown UK Holdings Limited, Crownway Insurance Company, Dacro B.V., EMPAQUE, Fabricas Monterrey S.A. de C.V., Form Koruyucu Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Foshan Continental Can Co. Limited, Foshan Crown Easy-Opening End Co. Limited, Glass & Silice S.A. DE C.V., Globoplastt s.r.o., Gunther S.A.S., Haloila Bulgaria EOOD, Interstrap B.V., Josef Kihlberg AB, Kiwiplan GmbH, Kiwiplan Inc, Lachenmeier ApS, Liljendals Bruk AB, Litec France S.A.S., Mezger Heftsysteme GmbH, Mima Films S.a.r.l., Mima Films Sprl, Mima Packaging Systems S.A.S., Mivisa, Nordic S.A.S., Norsk Signode AS, Oy M. Haloila AB, PT CROWN Beverage Cans Indonesia, Package Design and Manufacturing, Prolatamex S.A. DE C.V., Quandel Verpackungs- und Foerdertechnik GmbH, SMB Schwede Maschinenbau GmbH, SMP Schwede Maschinenbau Weischlitz GmbH, SPG Denmark, SPG France Holdings SAS, SPG Germany Service Management GmbH, SPG Industrial Packaging S.a.r.l, SPG Netherlands B.V., SPG Packaging Ireland Limited, SPG Packaging Systems GmbH, SPG Packaging UK Ltd, Scybele S.A.S., Shippers Europe S.p.r.l., Signode BVBA, Signode Brasileira Ltda, Signode Hong Kong Limited, Signode Industrial Group, Signode Industrial Group AB, Signode Industrial Group Colombia S.A.S., Signode Industrial Group GmbH, Signode Industrial Group Holdings Lux S.a.r.l., Signode Industrial Group Holdings US Inc, Signode Industrial Group Lux S.A., Signode Industrial Group Mexico, Signode Industrial Group Sweden AB, Signode International Holdings LLC, Signode International IP Holdings LLC, Signode International Investment LLC, Signode Kabushiki Kaisha, Signode Korea Inc, Signode NZ Limited, Signode Netherlands B.V., Signode Packaging (Qingdao) Co., Signode Packaging (Shanghai) Co., Signode Packaging Espana S.L., Signode Packaging Group (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Signode Packaging Group Australia Pty Ltd, Signode Packaging Group Canada ULC, Signode Packaging Group NZ, Signode Packaging Systems Limited, Signode Pickling Holding LLC, Signode Polska sp. Z.o.o., Signode Singapore Pte. Ltd., Signode Sweden Holdings AB, Signode System GmbH, Signode System Packaging GmbH & Co. KG, Signode Systems (Thailand) Ltd., Signode US IP Holdings LLC, Silice De Veracruz S.A. DE C. V., Silice Del Istmo S.A. DE C.V., Silices De Veracruz, Societe Civile Immobiliere Rousseau-Ivry, Societe Civile Immobiliere des Baquets, Societe de Participations CarnaudMetalbox, Stopak India Pvt. Ltd, Strapex Austria GmbH, Strapex Embalagem L.d.a., Strapex Holdings Limited, Strapex S.A.S., Strapex Srl, Superior Investments Holdings Pte. Ltd., Superior Multi-Packaging Limited, TopFrame LLC, V.A.C. B.V., Vichisa S.A. de C.V., and Warehouse Automation Iberia S.L.. Yext, Inc. is an emerging growth company engages in software development. It offers a cloud-based digital knowledge platform, which allows businesses manage their digital knowledge in the cloud such as financial information, resources and performance of these resources on a consolidated basis and sync it to other application such as Apple Maps, Bing, Cortana, Facebook, Google, Google Maps, Instagram, Siri and Yelp. It offers the Yext Knowledge Engine package on subscription basis, which has an access to Listings, Pages, Reviews and other features. The Listing feature provides customers with control over their digital presence, including their location and other related attributes published on the used third-party applications. The Pages feature allows customers to establish landing pages on their own websites and to manage digital content on those sites, including calls to action. The Reviews presence enables customers to encourage and facilitate reviews from end consumers. The company was founded by Howard Lerman, Brent Metz, and Brian Distelburger in 2006 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Read More American Electric Power Co., Inc. engages in the business of generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. It operates through the following segments: Vertically Integrated Utilities, Transmission & Distribution Utilities, AEP Transmission Holdco and Generation & Marketing. The Vertically Integrated Utilities segment engages in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity for sale to retail and wholesale customers through assets owned and operated by its subsidiaries. The Transmission & Distribution Utilities segment engages in the business of transmission and distribution of electricity for sale to retail and wholesale customers through assets owned and operated by its subsidiaries. The AEP Transmission Holdco segment engages in the development, construction and operation of transmission facilities through investments in its wholly-owned transmission subsidiaries and joint ventures. The Generation & Marketing segment engages in non-regulated generation and marketing, risk management and retail activities. The company was founded on December 20, 1906 and is headquartered in Columbus, OH. Read More Bluegreen Vacations Holding Corp. is a holding company, which engages in the real estate, real estate joint ventures, and middle market operating businesses. It operates through the following segments: Bluegreen, BBX Capital Real Estate, Renin, and BBX Sweet Holdings. The Bluegreen segment markets, sells, and manages real estate-based vacation ownership interests in resorts located in popular, high-volume, and drive-to vacation destinations. The BBX Capital Real Estate segment includes acquisition, development, construction, ownership, financing, and management of real estate and investments in real estate joint ventures. The Renin segment involves in the design, manufacture, and distribution of sliding doors, door systems and hardware, and home decor products and operates. The BBX Sweet Holdings segment engages in the ownership and management of operating businesses in the confectionery industry, including IT'SUGAR, Hoffman's Chocolates, and Las Olas Confections and Snacks. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Bristol-Myers Squibb: 1096271 B.C. ULC, 345 Park LLC, A.G. Medical Services P.A., AHI Investment LLC, AbVitro LLC, Abraxis BioScience Australia Pty Ltd., Abraxis BioScience Inc., Abraxis BioScience International Holding Company Inc., Abraxis BioScience LLC, Abraxis BioScience Puerto Rico LLC, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Adnexus, Adnexus a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company, Allard Labs Acquisition G.P., Amira Pharmaceuticals, Amira Pharmaceuticals Inc., Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Apothecon LLC, B-MS Generx Unlimited Company, BMS Benelux Holdings B.V., BMS Bermuda Nominees L.L.C., BMS Data Acquisition Company LLC, BMS Forex Company, BMS Holdings Sarl, BMS Holdings Spain S.L., BMS International Insurance Designated Activity Company, BMS Investco SAS, BMS Korea Holdings L.L.C., BMS Latin American Nominees L.L.C., BMS Luxembourg Partners L.L.C., BMS Omega Bermuda Holdings Finance Ltd., BMS Pharmaceutical Korea Limited, BMS Pharmaceuticals Germany Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals International Holdings Netherlands B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Korea Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Mexico Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Netherlands Holdings B.V., BMS Real Estate LLC, BMS Spain Investments LLC, BMS Strategic Portfolio Investments Holdings Inc., Blisa Acquisition G.P., Bristol (Iran) S.A., Bristol Iran Private Company Limited, Bristol Laboratories Inc., Bristol Laboratories International S.A., Bristol Laboratories Medical Information Systems Inc., Bristol-Myers (Andes) L.L.C., Bristol-Myers (Private) Limited, Bristol-Myers Middle East S.A.L., Bristol-Myers Overseas Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Israel) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Proprietary) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Taiwan) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (West Indies) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb A.E., Bristol-Myers Squibb Aktiebolag, Bristol-Myers Squibb Argentina S. R. L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Axia Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb B.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Belgium S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Business Services Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada International Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Delta Company Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Denmark Filial of Bristol-Myers Squibb AB, Bristol-Myers Squibb EMEA Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Egypt LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Epsilon Holdings Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Ltda., Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Portuguesa S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb GesmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holding Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings 2002 Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ireland Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Pharma Ltd. Liability Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Ilaclari Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb India Pvt. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Company Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Investco L.L.C., Bristol-Myers Squibb K.K., Bristol-Myers Squibb Kft., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg International S.C.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb MEA GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Manufacturing Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Marketing Services S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Middle East & Africa FZ-LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Norway Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Nutricionales de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Peru S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (HK) Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (Thailand) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Holding Company LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Ventures Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Polska Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Products SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico/Sanofi Pharmaceutical Partnership Puerto Rico, Bristol-Myers Squibb Romania S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.A.U., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Holding Partnership, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Service Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Services Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Spol. s r.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Theta Finance Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Trustees Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Colombia S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Costa Rica Sociedad Anonima, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Guatemala S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb/Astrazeneca EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership, Bristol-Myers de Venezuela S.C.A., CHT I LLC, CHT II LLC, CHT III LLC, CHT IV LLC, CR Finance Company LLC, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celem LLC, Celem Ltd., Celgene, Celgene A.B., Celgene AS, Celgene Ab (Finland), Celgene Alpine Investment Co. II LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. III LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. LLC, Celgene ApS, Celgene B.V., Celgene BVBA, Celgene Brasil Produtos Farmaceuticos Ltda., Celgene CAR LLC, Celgene CAR Ltd., Celgene Chemicals Sarl, Celgene China Holdings LLC, Celgene Co., Celgene Corporation, Celgene Distribution B.V., Celgene EngMab GmbH, Celgene Europe B.V., Celgene Europe Limited, Celgene European Investment Company LLC, Celgene Financing Company LLC, Celgene Global Holdings Sarl, Celgene GmbH [Austria], Celgene GmbH [Germany], Celgene GmbH [Switzerland], Celgene Holdings East Corporation, Celgene Holdings II Sarl, Celgene Holdings III Sarl, Celgene Ilac Pazarlama ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Celgene Inc., Celgene International Holdings Corporation, Celgene International II Sarl, Celgene International III Sarl, Celgene International Inc., Celgene International Sarl, Celgene K.K., Celgene Kft., Celgene Limited [Hong Kong], Celgene Limited [Ireland], Celgene Limited [New Zealand], Celgene Limited [Taiwan], Celgene Limited [UK], Celgene Logistics Sarl, Celgene Ltd, Celgene Luxembourg Sarl, Celgene Management Sarl, Celgene NJ Investment Co, Celgene Netherlands B.V., Celgene Netherlands Investment B.V., Celgene Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Celgene Pte. Ltd., Celgene Pty Ltd, Celgene Puerto Rico Distribution LLC, Celgene Quanticel Research Inc, Celgene R&D Sarl, Celgene RIVOT LLC, Celgene RIVOT Ltd., Celgene RIVOT SRL, Celgene Receptos Limited, Celgene Receptos Sarl, Celgene Research Incubator At Summit West LLC, Celgene Research S.L.U., Celgene Research and Development Company LLC, Celgene Research and Development I ULC, Celgene Research and Development II LLC, Celgene Research and Investment Company II LLC, Celgene S. de R.L. de C.V., Celgene S.L.U., Celgene S.R.L., Celgene SAS, Celgene Sarl AU, Celgene Sdn Bhd, Celgene Services Sarl, Celgene Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Celgene Sp. Z.o.o., Celgene Sro [Czech Republic], Celgene Summit Investment Co, Celgene Switzerland Holding Sarl, Celgene Switzerland II LLC, Celgene Switzerland Investment Sarl, Celgene Switzerland LLC, Celgene Switzerland Sarl, Celgene Tri A Holdings Ltd., Celgene Tri Sarl, Celgene UK Distribution Limited, Celgene UK Holdings Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing II Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing III Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing Limited, Celgene d.o.o., Celgene sro [Slovakia], Celmed LLC, Celmed Ltd., ConvaTec Divestiture, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals AB, Crosp Ltd., Delinia Inc., Deuteria Pharmaceuticals Inc., DuPont Pharmaceuticals, E. R. Squibb & Sons Inter-American Corporation, E. R. Squibb & Sons L.L.C., E. R. Squibb & Sons Limited, EWI Corporation, EngMab Sarl, F-star Alpha, FermaVir Pharmaceuticals L.L.C., FermaVir Research L.L.C., Flexus Biosciences, Flexus Biosciences Inc., Forbius, Galecto Biotech, GenPharm International L.L.C., Gloucester Pharmaceuticals LLC, Grove Insurance Company Ltd., Heyden Farmaceutica Portuguesa Limitada, IFM Therapeutics, Impact Biomedicines Inc., Inhibitex, Inhibitex L.L.C., Innate Tumor Immunity Inc., JuMP Holdings LLC, Juno Therapeutics GmbH, Juno Therapeutics Inc., Kosan Biosciences, Kosan Biosciences Incorporated, Linson Investments Limited, Mead Johnson (Manufacturing) Jamaica Limited, Mead Johnson Jamaica Ltd., Medarex, Morris Avenue Investment II LLC, Morris Avenue Investment LLC, MyoKardia, O.o.o. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Oy Bristol-Myers Squibb (Finland) AB, Padlock Therapeutics, Padlock Therapeutics Inc., Pharmion LLC, Princeton Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Receptos LLC, Receptos Services LLC, RedoxTherapies Inc., Route 22 Real Estate Holding Corporation, SPV A Holdings ULC, Seamair Insurance DAC, Signal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Sino-American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Societe Francaise de Complements Alimentaires(S.O.F.C.A.), Squibb Middle East S.A., Summit West Celgene LLC, Swords Laboratories, VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Westwood-Intrafin SA, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals Inc., X-Body Inc., ZymoGenetics, ZymoGenetics Inc., ZymoGenetics LLC, ZymoGenetics Paymaster LLC, iPierian, and iPierian Inc.. The following companies are subsidiares of Dominion Energy: 96WI 8me LLC, Alamo Solar LLC, Align RNG Arizona LLC, Align RNG Arizona-Snowflake LLC, Align RNG California LLC, Align RNG California-Corcoran LLC, Align RNG Grady Road LLC, Align RNG LLC, Align RNG Magnolia LLC, Align RNG North Carolina LLC, Align RNG North Carolina-Bowdens LLC, Align RNG Utah LLC, Align RNG Utah-Milford LLC, Align RNG Virginia LLC, Align RNG Virginia-Waverly LLC, Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC, Azalea Solar LLC, BOE Holdings Inc., Blackville Solar Farm LLC, Blue Ocean Energy Marine LLC, BrightSuite Home LLC, BrightSuite Inc., BrightSuite Solar CT Inc., BrightSuite Solar SC Inc., BrightSuite Solar VA Inc., Buckingham Solar I LLC, CEA Americus LLC, CEA CO-Fort Morgan LLC, CEA Clovis LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Colorado LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Georgia LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Idaho LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Nevada LLC, CEA Dairy RNG New Mexico LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Texas LLC, CEA Greely LLC, CEA Mason LLC, CEA TX-Dimmitt LLC, CID Solar LLC, CNG Coal Company, CNG Power Services Corporation, Carolina Gas Transmission Corporation, Catalina Solar 2 LLC, Clean Energy Asset USA LLC, Clean Energy Enterprises Inc., Clipperton Holdings LLC, Consolidated Natural Gas Company, Correctional Solar LLC, Cottonwood Solar LLC, Cove Point LNG LP, Cove Point LNG Limited, DE Arlington Solar LLC, DE Fluvanna Solar LLC, DE Hanover Solar LLC, DE Henrico Solar LLC, DE King William Solar LLC, DE Louisa Solar LLC, DE Newport News Solar LLC, DE Powhatan Solar LLC, DE Virginia Beach Solar LLC, DECP Holdings Inc., Dairy RNG Holdings LLC, Dairy RNG NY LLC, Dairy RNG NY-Curtin LLC, Dairy RNG OH LLC, Denmark Solar LLC, Dominion ACP Holding Inc., Dominion Alternative Energy Holdings Inc., Dominion Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC, Dominion Capital Inc., Dominion Cogen WV Inc., Dominion Energy Fuel Services Inc., Dominion Energy Gas Distribution LLC, Dominion Energy Generation Marketing Inc., Dominion Energy Inc., Dominion Energy Kewaunee Inc., Dominion Energy Marketplace LLC, Dominion Energy Nuclear Connecticut Inc., Dominion Energy Overthrust Pipeline LLC, Dominion Energy Payroll Company Inc., Dominion Energy Questar Corporation, Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline LLC, Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline Services Inc., Dominion Energy RNG Holdings II Inc., Dominion Energy RNG Holdings Inc., Dominion Energy Services Inc., Dominion Energy Solar CA LLC, Dominion Energy Solutions Inc., Dominion Energy South Carolina Inc., Dominion Energy Southeast Services Inc., Dominion Energy Technical Solutions Inc., Dominion Energy Technologies II Inc., Dominion Energy Technologies Inc., Dominion Energy Terminal Company Inc., Dominion Energy Wexpro Services Company, Dominion Equipment III Inc., Dominion Equipment Inc., Dominion Fairless Hills Inc., Dominion Fowler Ridge Wind LLC, Dominion Gas Projects Company LLC, Dominion Generation Inc., Dominion Greenbrier Inc., Dominion High Voltage Holdings Inc., Dominion High Voltage MidAtlantic Inc., Dominion Investments Inc., Dominion Keystone Pipeline Holdings Inc., Dominion Keystone Pipeline LLC, Dominion MLP Holding Company III Inc., Dominion Mt. Storm Wind LLC, Dominion Nuclear Projects Inc., Dominion Oklahoma Texas Exploration & Production Inc., Dominion Person Inc., Dominion Privatization Florida LLC, Dominion Privatization Georgia LLC, Dominion Privatization Holdings Inc., Dominion Privatization Kentucky LLC, Dominion Privatization Maryland LLC, Dominion Privatization Pennsylvania LLC, Dominion Privatization South Carolina LLC, Dominion Privatization Texas LLC, Dominion Privatization Virginia LLC, Dominion Products and Services Inc., Dominion Projects Services Inc., Dominion Resources Capital Trust III, Dominion Retail Gas Holdings Inc., Dominion Solar Construction and Maintenance LLC, Dominion Solar Gen-Tie LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings I LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings II LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings III LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings IV LLC, Dominion Solar Projects A Inc., Dominion Solar Projects B Inc., Dominion Solar Projects C Inc., Dominion Solar Projects D Inc., Dominion Solar Projects I Inc., Dominion Solar Projects II Inc., Dominion Solar Projects III Inc., Dominion Solar Projects IV Inc., Dominion Solar Projects V Inc., Dominion Solar Projects VI Inc., Dominion Solar Projects VII Inc., Dominion Solar Services Inc., Dominion State Line LLC, Dominion Voltage Inc., Dominion Wholesale Inc., Dominion Wind Development LLC, Dominion Wind Projects Inc., ESCT-SA-Suffield LLC, Eagle Holdco Solar LLC, Eagle Solar LLC, Eastern Shore Solar LLC, Enterprise Solar LLC, Escalante Solar I LLC, Escalante Solar II LLC, Escalante Solar III LLC, Four Brothers Solar LLC, Fremont Farm LLC, Granite Mountain Holdings LLC, Granite Mountain Solar East LLC, Granite Mountain Solar West LLC, Greenbrier Marketing Company LLC, Greenbrier Pipeline Company LLC, Greensville County Solar Project LLC, Hardin Solar Energy LLC, Hecate Energy Cherrydale LLC, Hecate Energy Clarke County LLC, Hope Gas Inc., Imperial Valley Solar Company (IVSC) 2 LLC, Indy Solar Development LLC, Indy Solar I LLC, Indy Solar II LLC, Indy Solar III LLC, Innovative Solar 37 LLC, Iron Springs Holdings LLC, Iron Springs Solar LLC, Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas, Maricopa West Solar PV LLC, Moffett Solar 1 LLC, Moorings Farm 2 LLC, Mulberry Farm LLC, Mustang Solar LLC, PSNC Blue Ridge Corporation, PSNC Cardinal Pipeline Company, Pavant Solar LLC, Phone House, Pikeville Farm LLC, Prairie Fork Wind Farm LLC, Public Service Company of North Carolina Incorporated, QPC Holding Company LLC, Questar Corporation, Questar Energy Services Inc., Questar Field Services LLC, Questar Gas Company, Questar InfoComm Inc., Questar Southern Trails Pipeline Company, Questar White River Hub LLC, RE Adams East LLC, RE Camelot LLC, RE Columbia Two LLC, RE Kansas LLC, RE Kent South LLC, RE Old River One LLC, Richland Solar Center LLC, Ridgeland Solar Farm I LLC, SBL Holdco LLC, SCANA, SCANA Communications Holdings Inc., SCANA Corporate Security Services Inc., SCANA Energy Marketing LLC, SCANA Pharmacy LLC, SRFI LLC, Scana Corporation, Scott-II Solar LLC, Seabrook Solar LLC, Selmer Farm LLC, Siler Solar LLC, Sol Madison Solar LLC, Somers Solar Center LLC, South Carolina Fuel Company Inc., South Carolina Generating Company Inc., Southampton Solar LLC, Summit Farms Solar LLC, Sussex Drive Solar Project LLC, TA - Acacia LLC, TWE Myrtle Solar Project LLC, The East Ohio Gas Company, Trask East Solar LLC, Tredegar Solar Fund I LLC, VP Property Inc., Virginia Electric And Power Company, Virginia Power Fuel Corporation, Virginia Power Nuclear Services Company, Virginia Power Services Energy Corp. Inc., Virginia Power Services LLC, Virginia Solar 201 Projects LLC, Wakefield Solar LLC, Wexpro Company, Wexpro Development Company, Wexpro II Company, Wilkinson Solar LLC, Wrangler Retail Gas Holdings LLC, and Yemassee Solar LLC. Wall Street analysts have given El Paso Electric 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 El Paso Electric wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Genworth Financial, Inc. is a financial services company, which engages in the provision of insurance, wealth management, investment and financial solutions. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Mortgage Insurance, Australia Mortgage Insurance, U.S. Life Insurance, and Runoff. The U.S. Mortgage Insurance segment offers mortgage insurance products predominantly insuring prime-based, individually underwritten residential mortgage loans. The Australia Mortgage Insurance segment offers flow mortgage insurance and selectively provides bulk mortgage insurance that aids in the sale of mortgages to the capital markets and helps lenders manage capital and risk. The U.S. Life Insurance segment offers long-term care insurance products as well as service traditional life insurance and fixed annuity products in the United States. The Runoff segment includes the results of non-strategic products which are no longer actively sold but continue to service its existing blocks of business. Its non-strategic products primarily include variable annuity, variable life insurance, institutional, corporate-owned life insurance and other accident and health insurance products. The company was fo Read More Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. engages in the mining of copper, gold and molybdenum. It operates through the following segments: North America Copper Mines, South America Mining; Indonesia Mining, Molybdenum Mines, Rod and Refining, Atlantic Copper Smelting and Refining and Corporate, Other and Eliminations. The North America Copper Mines segment operates open-pit copper mines in Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita and Miami in Arizona and Chino and Tyrone in New Mexico. The South America Mining segment includes Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile. The Indonesia Mining segment handles the operations of Grasberg minerals district that produces copper concentrate that contains significant quantities of gold and silver. The Molybdenum Mines segment includes the Henderson underground mine and Climax open-pit mine, both in Colorado. The Rod and Refining segment consists of copper conversion facilities located in North America and includes a refinery, rod mills, and a specialty copper products facility. The Atlantic Copper Smelting and Refining segment smelts and refines copper concentrate and markets refined copper and precious metals in slimes. The Corporate, Other and Eliminations segment Read More Wall Street analysts have given iShares Gold Trust a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares Gold Trust wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. The following companies are subsidiares of Lennar: 360 Developers LLC, Alliance Financial Services Inc., Ann Arundel Farms Ltd., Aquaterra Utilities Inc., Arbor Mill Veteran Project 2018 LLC, Asbury Woods L.L.C., Astoria Options LLC, Autumn Creek Development Ltd., Aylon LLC, Azusa Associates LLC, B2 Milpitas LLC, BB Investment Holdings LLC, BCI Properties LLC, BMR Communities LLC, BMR Construction Inc., BMTD LLC, BPH I LLC, Bainebridge 249 LLC, Bay Colony Expansion 369 Ltd., Bellagio Lennar LLC, Belle Meade LEN Holdings LLC, Belle Meade Partners LLC, Black Mountain Ranch LLC, Blue Horizons Estates LLC, Bonterra Lennar LLC, Bramalea California Inc., Bressi Gardenlane LLC, Breton Park Lennar LLC, CAP IL 1 LLC, CL Ventures LLC, CML INACTIVE LLC, CML-MO HAF LLC, CML-MO HAF PARKING LLC, CP Block 6aS LLC, CP Block 8aS LLC, CP Block 9aS LLC, CP Center Apartments LLC, CP Center Garage LLC, CP Red Oak Partners Ltd., CP Vertical Development Co. 1 LLC, CP/HPS Development Co. GP LLC, CP/HPS Development Co.-C LLC, CPFE LLC, CPHP Development LLC, CalAtlantic Financial Services Inc., CalAtlantic Group, CalAtlantic Group Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Arizona Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Georgia Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Texas Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Washington Inc., CalAtlantic Mortgage Inc., CalAtlantic National Title Solutions LLC, CalAtlantic Title Agency LLC, CalAtlantic Title Group LLC, CalAtlantic Title Inc., CalAtlantic Title LLC, CalAtlantic Title of Maryland Inc., Camarillo Village Park LLC, Cambria L.L.C., Candlestick Retail Member LLC, Cardiovascular Medical Specialists LLC, Carolina Blue LLC, Carson 175 LLC, Cary Woods LLC, Casa Marina Development LLC, Central Park West Holdings LLC, Cherrytree II LLC, Club Bonterra Lennar LLC, Coco Palm 82 LLC, Colonial Heritage LLC, Columbia National Risk Retention Group Inc., Commonwealth Incentive Fee LLC, Concord Station LLP, Coventry L.L.C., Creekside Crossing L.L.C., Crest at Fondren Investor LLC, DBJ Holdings LLC, DCA Financial LLC, DTC Holdings of Florida LLC, Darcy-Joliet L.L.C., Durrell 33 LLC, EL Ventures LLC, EV LLC, Eagle Bend Commercial LLC, Eagle Home Mortgage LLC, Estates Seven LLC, Evergreen Village LLC, F&R QVI Home Investments USA LLC, FLORDADE LLC, Faria Preserve LLC, Fidelity Guaranty and Acceptance Corp., Fidelity Land LLC, Fox-Maple Associates LLC, Friendswood Development Company LLC, GDI MANAGER LLC, Garco Investments LLC, Greystone Construction Inc., Greystone Homes of Nevada Inc., Greystone Nevada Holdings LLC, Greystone Nevada LLC, Greywall Club L.L.C., HCC Investors LLC, HPS Development Co. LP, HPS Vertical Development Co. LLC, HPS Vertical Development Co.-B LP, HPS Vertical Development Co.-D/E LLC, HPS1 Block 1 LLC, HPS1 Block 48-1A LLC, HPS1 Block 48-1B LLC, HPS1 Block 48-2A LLC, HPS1 Block 48-2B LLC, HPS1 Block 48-3A LLC, HPS1 Block 48-3B LLC, HPS1 Block 50 LLC, HPS1 Block 51 LLC, HPS1 Block 52 LLC, HPS1 Block 53 LLC, HPS1 Block 54 LLC, HPS1 Block 55 LLC, HPS1 Block 56/57 LLC, HSP Arizona Inc., HTC Golf Club LLC, Hammocks Lennar LLC, Harbor Highlands Group LLC, Harveston LLC, Haverton L.L.C., Heathcote Commons LLC, Heritage Pkwy East Holdings LLC, Heritage of Auburn Hills L.L.C., Hewitts Landing Trustee LLC, Hingham Properties LLC, Huntley Venture L.L.C., Inactive Companies LLC, Independence L.L.C., Independence Orlando LLC, Isles at Bayshore Club LLC, KMC Real Estate Investors LLC, Kendall Hammocks Commercial LLC, Kentuckiana Medical Center LLC, Kingman Lennar LLC, LB/L Duc III Antioch 330 LLC, LCD Asante LLC, LCI Downtown Doral Investor LLC, LCI North DeKalb Investor GP LLC, LCI North DeKalb Investor LP LLC, LEN - Belle Meade LLC, LEN - OBS Windemere LLC, LEN - Palm Vista LLC, LEN BPT Investor LLC, LEN Mirada Investor LLC, LEN Notarize Investor LLC, LEN OT Holdings LLC, LEN Paradise Cable LLC, LEN Paradise Operating LLC, LEN-CG South LLC, LEN-Cypress Mill LLC, LEN-Ryan 1 LLC, LEN-Touchstone LLC, LENH I LLC, LENNAR HOMES OF TENNESSEE LLC, LFS Holding Company LLC, LH Eastwind LLC, LHI Renaissance LLC, LMC 10th & Acoma Holdings LP, LMC 144th and Grant Investor LLC, LMC 2401 Blake Street Holdings LLC, LMC 2401 Blake Street Investor LLC, LMC 360 Acoma Holdings LP, LMC 410 S Wabash Holdings LLC, LMC 808 Gateway Holdings LLC, LMC 808 Gateway Investor LLC, LMC 8th Avenue Apartment Investor LLC, LMC 990 Bannock Holdings LLC, LMC Axis Westminster Holdings LLC, LMC Axis Westminster Investor LLC, LMC Berry Hill Lofts Holdings LLC, LMC Berry Hill Lofts Investor LLC, LMC Block 42 Holdings LLC, LMC Build to Core III Investor LLC, LMC Build to Core III LLC, LMC Burnside Holdings LLC, LMC Burnside Investor LLC, LMC Chandler and McClintock Holdings LLC, LMC Charlestowne Holdings LLC, LMC Charlotte Ballpark Developer LLC, LMC Cityville Oak Park Holdings LLC, LMC Cityville Oak Park Investor LLC, LMC Cobalt Holdings LLC, LMC Costa Mesa Holdings LP, LMC Crest at Park West Holdings LP, LMC Denver Gateway I Investor LLC, LMC Denver Gateway II Holdings LLC, LMC Development LLC, LMC Downtown Doral South Holdings LLC, LMC Durham Gateway Holdings LP, LMC Evans School Holdings LLC, LMC Gateway Investor LLC, LMC Gateway Venture LLC, LMC Gilman Square Investor LLC, LMC Horton Street Holdings LLC, LMC Huntington Crossing Holdings LLC, LMC Inactive Companies LLC, LMC Lakeside Holdings LP, LMC Leya Holdings LLC, LMC Living Illinois LLC, LMC Living Inc., LMC Living LLC, LMC Living TRS LP, LMC Millenia Investor II LLC, LMC NE Minneapolis Lot 2 Holdings LLC, LMC New Bern Investor LLC, LMC North Park Holdings LP, LMC Parkfield Holdings LLC, LMC Parkfield Investor LLC, LMC Righters Ferry Holdings LLC, LMC River North Holdings LLC, LMC Spring Street Investor LLC, LMC Stonewall Station Investor LLC, LMC Triangle Square Investor LLC, LMC Venture Developer LLC, LMC Verbena Holdings LLC, LMC West Loop Investor LLC, LMCFX Investor LLC, LMCPNW Marymoor Holdings LLC, LMI - Jacksonville Investor LLC, LMI - South Kings Development Investor LLC, LMI - West Seattle Holdings LLC, LMI - West Seattle Investor LLC, LMI - West Seattle LLC, LMI Cell Tower Investors LLC, LMI City Walk Investor LLC, LMI Collegedale Investor LLC, LMI Collegedale LLC, LMI Contractors LLC, LMI Glencoe Dallas Investor LLC, LMI Lakes West Covina Investor LLC, LMI Largo Park Investor LLC, LMI Las Colinas Station LLC, LMI Naperville Investor LLC, LMI Pacific Tower LLC, LMI Park Central Two LLC, LMI Peachtree Corners Investor LLC, LMI Peachtree Corners LLC, LMI-JC Developer LLC, LMI-JC LLC, LMV 1640 Broadway REIT-DC LP, LMV 1701 Ballard REIT-DC LP, LMV 19H REIT-DC LP, LMV 2026 Madison REIT-DC LP, LMV 85 South Union REIT-DC LP, LMV ATown REIT-DC LP, LMV Annapolis REIT-DC LP, LMV Apache Terrace REIT-DC LP, LMV Block 42 REIT-DC LP, LMV Bloomington REIT-DC LP, LMV Bolingbrook REIT-DC LP (DE), LMV Central at McDowell REIT-DC LP, LMV East Village I REIT-DC LP, LMV Edina REIT-DC LP, LMV Fremont WS I REIT-DC LP, LMV Glisan REIT-DC LP, LMV Grand Bay REIT-DC LP, LMV II Grand Bay Pod V Holdings LP, LMV II Kierland Holdings LP, LMV II NoMo Holdings LP, LMV II Venture Developer LLC, LMV II Wynwood Holdings LP, LMV Kirkland REIT-DC LP, LMV Little Italy REIT-DC LP, LMV M Tower REIT-DC LP, LMV Millenia II REIT-DC LP, LMV Milpitas REIT-DC LP, LMV NE Minneapolis REIT-DC LP, LMV Oak Park REIT-DC LP, LMV One20Fourth REIT-DC LP, LMV QR Build to Core Manager LLC, LMV Rio Bravo REIT-DC LP, LMV Scottsdale Quarter REIT-DC LP, LMV Tysons REIT-DC LP, LMV Vallagio III REIT-DC LP, LMV Victory Block G REIT-DC LP, LMV Warren Street REIT-DC LP, LNC Communities II LLC, LNC Communities IV LLC, LNC Communities V LLC, LNC Communities VI LLC, LNC Communities VII LLC, LNC Communities VIII LLC, LNC Pennsylvania Realty Inc., LNC at Meadowbrook LLC, LNC at Ravenna LLC, LS College Park LLC, LS Terracina LLC, LV Opendoor Investor LLC, LV Opendoor JV LLC, LW D'Andrea LLC, Lagoon Valley Residential LLC, Lakelands at Easton L.L.C., Legends Club LLC, Legends Golf Club LLC, Len - Little Harbor LLC, Len FW Investor LLC, Len Paradise LLC, Len-Angeline LLC, Len-Hawks Point LLC, Len-Land LLC, Len-Land West LLC, Len-MN LLC, Len-Verandahs LLP, LenCom LLC, LenFive LLC, LenFive Opco GP LLC, LenFive Sub III LLC, LenFive Sub LLC, LenFive Sub Opco GP LLC, Lenalto CMBS LLC, Lencraft LLC, Lennar Aircraft I LLC, Lennar Arizona Construction Inc., Lennar Arizona Inc., Lennar Associates Management Holding Company, Lennar Associates Management LLC, Lennar Avenue One LLC, Lennar Berkeley LLC, Lennar Bevard LLC, Lennar Bridges LLC, Lennar Buffington Colorado Crossing L.P., Lennar Buffington Zachary Scott L.P., Lennar Carolinas LLC, Lennar Central Park LLC, Lennar Central Region Sweep Inc., Lennar Chicago Inc., Lennar Cobra LLC, Lennar Colgate Urban Renewal Development LLC, Lennar Colorado LLC, Lennar Colorado Minerals LLC, Lennar Commercial LLC, Lennar Communities Development Inc., Lennar Communities Inc., Lennar Communities Nevada LLC, Lennar Communities of Chicago L.L.C., Lennar Concord LLC, Lennar Construction Inc., Lennar Cory Road LLC, Lennar Courts LLC, Lennar Developers Inc., Lennar Ewing LLC, Lennar Financial Services LLC, Lennar Flamingo LLC, Lennar Fresno Inc., Lennar Gardens LLC, Lennar Georgia Inc., Lennar Greer Ranch Venture LLC, Lennar Heritage Fields LLC, Lennar Hingham Holdings LLC, Lennar Hingham JV LLC, Lennar Homes Holding LLC, Lennar Homes LLC, Lennar Homes NJ LLC, Lennar Homes of Arizona Inc., Lennar Homes of California Inc., Lennar Homes of Indiana Inc., Lennar Homes of Texas Land and Construction Ltd., Lennar Homes of Texas Sales and Marketing Ltd., Lennar Homes of Utah Inc., Lennar International Holding LLC, Lennar International LLC, Lennar Lakeside Investor LLC, Lennar Layton LLC, Lennar Living LLC, Lennar Lytle LLC, Lennar MF Holdings LLC, Lennar MPA LLC, Lennar MPA WIP LLC, Lennar Mare Island LLC, Lennar Marina A Funding LLC, Lennar Massachusetts Properties Inc., Lennar Middletown LLC, Lennar Monmouth Redevelopers LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture GP LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture GP Subsidiary LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture GP Victory Block G Mezz LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture II GP LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture II GP Subsidiary LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture II LP LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture II Manager LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture LP LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture Manager LLC, Lennar Multifamily Builders LLC, Lennar Multifamily Communities LLC, Lennar Multifamily Venture DC LP, Lennar New Jersey Holdings LLC, Lennar New Jersey Properties Inc., Lennar New York LLC, Lennar Northeast Properties LLC, Lennar Northwest Inc., Lennar OHB LLC, Lennar PI Acquisition LLC, Lennar PI Property Acquisition LLC, Lennar PIS Management Company LLC, Lennar Pacific Inc., Lennar Pacific Properties Inc., Lennar Pacific Properties Management Inc., Lennar Plumsted Urban Renewal LLC, Lennar Point LLC, Lennar QR Build to Core GP LLC, Lennar QR Build to Core LP LLC, Lennar Realty Inc., Lennar Reno LLC, Lennar Riverwalk LLC, Lennar Sacramento Inc., Lennar Sales Corp., Lennar Sierra Sunrise LLC, Lennar Spencer's Crossing LLC, Lennar Sun Ridge LLC, Lennar Texas Holding LLC, Lennar Ventures LLC, Lennar West Valley LLC, Lennar Winncrest LLC, Lennar at Franklin LLC, Lennar at Jackson LLC, Lennar at Marlboro 79 LLC, Lennar at Monroe LLC, Lennar.com Inc., Longleaf Acquisition LLC, Lori Gardens Associates II LLC, Lori Gardens Associates III LLC, Lori Gardens Associates L.L.C., Lorton Station LLC, Lyons Lennar Farms LLC, Madrona Ridge L.L.C., Madrona Village L.L.C., Madrona Village Mews L.L.C., Majestic Woods LLC, Maple and Broadway Holdings LLC, Menifee Development LLC, Mid-County Utilities Inc., Miralago West Lennar LLC, Mission Viejo 12S Venture LP, Mission Viejo Holdings Inc., Motomic Diagnostics LLC, Multibank 2009-1 CML-ADC Venture LLC, Multibank 2009-1 RES-ADC Venture LLC, NC Properties I LLC, NC Properties II LLC, North American Asset Development LLC, Northbridge L.L.C., OHC/Ascot Belle Meade LLC, One SR L.P., PD-Len Boca Raton LLC, PG Properties Holding LLC, POMAC LLC, PT Metro LLC, Pace Drive Holdings LLC, Palm Gardens At Doral Clubhouse LLC, Palm Gardens at Doral LLC, Palm Springs Classic LLC, Palm Vista Preserve LLC, Patuxent Infrastructure Inc., Pioneer Meadows Development LLC, Pioneer Meadows Investments LLC, Plaza Condominium Ventures LLC, Portside Marina Developers L.L.C., Portside SM Associates L.L.C., Portside SM Holdings L.L.C., Portside Shipyard Developers L.L.C., Prestonfield L.L.C., Quail Roost Lennar LLC, RCCF GP II LLC, RCCF GP III LLC, RCCF GP IV LLC, RCCF GP LLC, RES-FL EIGHT LLC, RES-FL SEVEN LLC, RES-FL VISION ONE LLC, RES-FL VISION TWO LLC, RES-GA CASCADE LLC, RES-GA DIAMOND MEADOWS LLC, RES-GA KAP LLC, RES-GA SOUTHERN PLANTATION LLC, RES-GA THIRTEEN LLC, RES-GA TWELVE LLC, RES-GA WEST LLC, RES-IL ONE LLC, RES-NC ONE LLC, RES-PA LSJ LLC, RES-PA POM LLC, RES-TX BOULEVARD LLC, RH Insurance Company Inc., RH MOA BBCMS 2017-C1 LLC, RH MOA CF 2017-C8 LLC, RH MOA LLC, RH MOA U 2017-C4 LLC, RH MOA U 2017-C6 LLC, RIAL 2014-LT5 CLASS B LLC, RIAL 2014-LT5 LLC, RL BB FINANCIAL LLC, RL BB INACTIVE LLC, RL BB-AL LLC, RL BB-FL ALHI LLC, RL BB-GA LLC, RL BB-GA RMH LLC, RL BB-IL LLC, RL BB-IN AA LLC, RL BB-IN KRE LLC, RL BB-IN KRE OP LLC, RL BB-IN KRE RE LLC, RL BB-MS LLC, RL BB-NC LLC, RL BB-OH LLC, RL BB-SC BROOKSA LLC, RL BB-SC CLR II LLC, RL BB-SC CLR III LLC, RL BB-SC CLR IV LLC, RL BB-SC CLR LLC, RL BB-SC CRRC LLC, RL BB-SC RACEDAY LLC, RL BB-TN BRISTOL LLC, RL BB-TN LLC, RL BB-TN RACEDAY TOWER LLC, RL BB-TX LLC, RL BB-WV LLC, RL CMBS Holdings LLC, RL CML 2009-1 Investments LLC, RL REGI ARKANSAS LLC, RL REGI Alabama LLC, RL REGI FINANCIAL LLC, RL REGI Florida LLC, RL REGI GEORGIA LLC, RL REGI INACTIVE LLC, RL REGI KANSAS LLC, RL REGI MISSISSIPPI LLC, RL REGI MISSOURI LLC, RL REGI NORTH CAROLINA LLC, RL REGI SOUTH CAROLINA LLC, RL REGI TENNESSEE LLC, RL REGI VIRGINIA LLC, RL REGI-AL HP LLC, RL REGI-AL VRC LLC, RL REGI-FL CRC LLC, RL REGI-FL ESH LLC, RL REGI-FL FT. PIERCE LLC, RL REGI-FL GDL LLC, RL REGI-FL ITALIA LLC, RL REGI-FL MRED LLC, RL REGI-FL RDI LLC, RL REGI-FL SARASOTA LLC, RL REGI-FL TPL LLC, RL REGI-FL VARC LLC, RL REGI-GA DRAD LLC, RL REGI-GA HAY DB LLC, RL REGI-GA MHU LLC, RL REGI-GA MPD LLC, RL REGI-GA RLR LLC, RL REGI-MO GMB LLC, RL REGI-MO MOSCOW MILLS LLC, RL REGI-MS Double H LLC, RL REGI-MS OCEAN SPRINGS LLC, RL REGI-NC CIL LLC, RL REGI-NC LITTLE WING LLC, RL REGI-NC MLD LLC, RL REGI-NC Mland LLC, RL REGI-NC RALEIGH LLC, RL REGI-NC SUGARM LLC, RL REGI-NM LLC, RL REGI-SC CTL LLC, RL REGI-SC LAKE E LLC, RL REGI-SC TDG LLC, RL REGI-SC TIG LLC, RL REGI-TN OAK LLC, RL REGI-TN SEVIERVILLE LLC, RL RES 2009-1 Investments LLC, RMF Alliance LLC, RMF Commercial LLC, RMF PR New York LLC, RMF Partner LLC, RMF SUB 1 LLC, RMF SUB 2 LLC, RMF SUB 3 LLC, RMF SUB 4 LLC, RMF SUB 5 LLC, RMV LLC, Raintree Village II L.L.C., Raintree Village L.L.C., Ral-Len BM LLC, Ral-Len LLC, Rannel Capital WeWork Series D LLC, Rannel Holdings LLC, Rannel Interests LLC, Rannel Investments LLC, Rannel Mortgage Investments LLC, Rannel Proprietary Investments LLC, Renaissance Joint Venture, Reserve @ Pleasant Grove II LLC, Reserve @ Pleasant Grove LLC, Reserve at River Park LLC, Reserve at South Harrison LLC, Rialto Commercial Mortgage Securities LLC, Rialto Credit Partnership GP LLC, Rialto Mezz Partners GP LLC, Rialto Mortgage Finance LLC, Rialto Partners GP II LLC, Rialto Partners GP III - Debt LLC, Rialto Partners GP III - Property LLC, Rialto Partners GP LLC, Rialto RSSF GP LLC, Riverwalk at Lago Mar LLC, Rocking Horse Minerals LLC, Rutenberg Homes Inc. (Florida), Rutenberg Homes of Texas Inc., Rye Hill Company LLC, Ryland Homes Nevada Holdings LLC, Ryland Homes Nevada LLC, Ryland Homes of California Inc., S. Florida Construction II LLC, S. Florida Construction III LLC, S. Florida Construction LLC, SC 521 Indian Land Reserve LLC, SC 521 Indian Land Reserve South LLC, SPIC CPCO Inc., SPIC CPDB Inc., SPIC CPRB Inc., SPIC Del Sur LLC, SPIC Dublin LLC, SPIC Mesa LLC, SPIC NC Fremont LLC, SPIC Otay LLC, SPIC Springs LLC, San Felipe Indemnity Co. Ltd., San Lucia LLC, San Simeon Lennar LLC, Schulz Ranch Developers LLC, Seminole/70th LLC, Siena at Old Orchard L.L.C., Sierra Vista Communities LLC, Silver Springs Lennar LLC, South Development LLC, Southbank Holding LLC, Spanish Springs Development LLC, St. Charles Active Adult Community LLC, St. Charles Community LLC, Standard Pacific 1 Inc., Standard Pacific Investment Corp., Standard Pacific of Colorado Inc., Standard Pacific of Florida, Standard Pacific of Florida GP Inc., Standard Pacific of Las Vegas Inc., Standard Pacific of Orange County Inc., Standard Pacific of Tampa GP, Standard Pacific of Tampa GP Inc., Standard Pacific of Tonner Hills LLC, Standard Pacific of Walnut Hills Inc., Standard Pacific of the Carolinas LLC, Stoney Holdings LLC, Storey Lake Club LLC, Storey Park Club LLC, Strategic Holdings Inc., Strategic Technologies LLC, Summerfield Venture L.L.C., SunStreet Energy Group LLC, SunStreet Manager LLC, TCO QVI LLC, TICD Hold Co. LLC, TIH Hold Co. LLC, Talega Associates LLC, Temecula Valley LLC, Terra Division LLC, Terra/Winding Creek LLC, The Baywinds Land Trust, The Bridges Club at Rancho Santa Fe Inc., The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe Sales Company Inc., The LNC Northeast Group Inc., The Oasis Club at LEN-CG South LLC, The Preserve at Coconut Creek LLC, The Vistas Club at LEN-CG South LLC, Titlezoom Company, Treasure Island Holdings LLC, Treasure Island Member LLC, Treviso Holding LLC, Two Lakes Lennar LLC, U.S. Home Corporation, U.S. Home Realty Inc., U.S. Home of Arizona Construction Co., U.S. Insurors Inc., U.S.H. Realty Inc., UAMC Holding Company LLC, UB 2018C14 MOA LLC, USH - Flag LLC, USH Equity Corporation, USH LEE LLC, USH Leasing II LLC, USH Leasing LLC, UST Lennar HW Scala SF Joint Venture, VII Crown Farm Investor LLC, Venetian Lennar LLC, Vineyard Land LLC, Vineyard Point 2009 LLC, Vista Palms Clubhouse LLC, WCI Communities, WCI Communities Inc., WCI Communities LLC, WCI Towers Northeast USA Inc., WCI Westshore LLC, WCP LLC, WIP Lennar OHB LLC, Waterview at Hanover LLC, West Lake Village LLC, West Seattle Project X LLC, West Van Buren L.L.C., Westchase Inc., Westchase Ltd., Westfield Homes USA Inc., White Course Lennar LLC, Wild Plum JV LLC, Willowbrook Investors LLC, Winncrest Natomas LLC, Woodbridge Multifamily Developer I LLC, Wright Farm L.L.C., and YLRichards4Acres 2015 LLC. Kinder Morgan, Inc. operates as an energy infrastructure company. The firm engages in the operation of pipelines and terminals that transport natural gas, gasoline, crude oil, carbon dioxide (CO2) and other products and stores petroleum products chemicals and handles bulk materials like ethanol, coal, petroleum coke and steel. It operates through the following segments: Natural Gas Pipelines, CO2, Terminals, Product Pipelines and Kinder Morgan Canada. The Natural Gas Pipelines segment engages in the ownership and operation of major interstate and intrastate natural gas pipeline and storage systems, natural gas and crude oil gathering systems and natural gas processing and treating facilities. The CO2 segment focuses on the production, transportation and marketing of CO2 to oil fields that use CO2 as a flooding medium for recovering crude oil from mature oil fields to increase production. The Terminals segment consists of the ownership and operation of liquids and bulk terminal facilities located throughout the U.S. and portions of Canada that trans load and store refined petroleum products, crude oil, chemicals, ethanol and bulk products, including coal, petroleum coke, fertilizer, Read More Wall Street analysts have given MFS Municipal Income Trust a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but MFS Municipal Income Trust wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. The following companies are subsidiares of Occidental Petroleum: 1PointFive Inc., 1PointFive P1 LLC, APC Aviation Inc., APC International Holdings LLC, APC Midstream Holdings LLC, APC Venezuela Srl, ARCO Long Beach, Altura Energy, Amarok Gathering LLC, Anadarko 20-25 Company, Anadarko 20-36 Company, Anadarko 20-47 Company, Anadarko 20-48 Company, Anadarko 20-49 Company, Anadarko Algeria Block 403 c/e Company, Anadarko Algeria Block 406B Company, Anadarko Algeria Company LLC, Anadarko Algeria Oil & Gas Company, Anadarko Brazil Investment I LLC, Anadarko Brazil Investment II LLC, Anadarko Canada E&P Limited, Anadarko China Holdings 2 Company, Anadarko Colombia Company, Anadarko Consolidated Holdings LLC, Anadarko Cote d'Ivoire Block 103 Company, Anadarko Cote d'Ivoire Company, Anadarko DBMOS Operator LLC, Anadarko Development Company, Anadarko Development Holding Limited, Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC, Anadarko Egypt Holdings Company, Anadarko Energy Holding Limited, Anadarko Energy Services Company, Anadarko Exploracao e Producao de Petroleo e Gas Natural Ltda., Anadarko Finance Company, Anadarko Gabon Company, Anadarko Ghana Mahogany-1 Company, Anadarko Global Energy S.a.r.l, Anadarko Global Funding 1 Company, Anadarko Global Funding II Ltd., Anadarko Guyana Company, Anadarko Holding Company, Anadarko International Development S.a.r.l, Anadarko International Energy Company, Anadarko International O&G Company, Anadarko International Trading Corporation, Anadarko Jordan Company, Anadarko Kenya Company, Anadarko LMM S.a.r.l, Anadarko Land Corp., Anadarko Mexico B.V., Anadarko Mexico S.a.r.l, Anadarko Midkiff/Chaney Dell BR Corp., Anadarko Midkiff/Chaney Dell LLC, Anadarko Natural Gas Company LLC, Anadarko New Zealand Company, Anadarko OGC Company, Anadarko Offshore Holding Company LLC, Anadarko Offshore Well Containment Company LLC, Anadarko Oil & Gas 5 LLC, Anadarko Peru B.V., Anadarko Petroleum, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Anadarko Realty LLC, Anadarko Rockies LLC, Anadarko Royalty Holdings Company, Anadarko UK Corporate Limited, Anadarko US Offshore LLC, Anadarko USH1 Corporation, Anadarko Venezuela Company, Anadarko Venezuela LLC, Anadarko Venezuela Srl, Anadarko WCTP Company, Anadarko West Texas BR Corp., Anadarko West Texas LLC, Anadarko Worldwide Holdings C.V., Atlantic Rim Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Aventine LLC, Baseball Merger Sub 2 Inc., Bear Branch Exploration LLC, Big Island Trona Company, Bitter Creek Coal Company, Bravo Pipeline Company, Cain Chemical, Cain Chemical Inc., Carbon Finance Labs LLC, Concord Petroleum Corporation, Conn Creek Shale Company, D.S. Ventures LLC, DMM Financial LLC, Deerwood Exploration LLC, Downtown Plaza II, Elk Hills Field, FLAG Development LLC, FP Westport Commodities Limited, FP Westport GmbH, FP Westport LLC, FP Westport Limited, FP Westport Services LLC, FP Westport Trading LLC, Fosters Mill Exploration LLC, Glenn Springs Holdings Inc., Globrep Representaciones S.A., Grand Bassa Tankers Inc., Grupo OxyChem de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Headwater II LLC, Houndstooth Resources LLC, INDSPEC Chemical B.V., INDSPEC Chemical Corporation, INDSPEC Chemical Corporation, INDSPEC Chemical Export Sales LLC, INDSPEC Holding Corporation, Ingleside Cogeneration GP LLC, Ingleside Cogeneration Limited Partnership, Interore Trading Ltd., Joslyn Partnership, KERR-McGEE TT E&P LTD., KM BM-C-Seven Ltd., KM International Insurance Ltd., Kerr-McGee Corporation, Kerr-McGee Natural Gas Company Inc., Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Onshore LP, Kerr-McGee Shared Services Company LLC, Kerr-McGee Stored Power Corporation, Kerr-McGee U.K. Energy Corporation, Kerr-McGee Worldwide Corporation, Kerr-McGee do Brasil Ltda., Kerr-McGee of Canada Northwest Ltd., Laguna Petroleum Corp., Laguna Petroleum LLC, Liwa Oil & Gas Ltd., MC2 Technologies LLC, Mariana Properties Inc., Marico Exploration Inc., Miller Springs Remediation Management Inc., Moncrief Minerals Partnership L.P., NGL Ventures LLC, Natural Gas Odorizing Inc., New OPL LLC, OEVC Energy LLC, OEVC Midstream Projects LLC, OIH LLC, OLCV CE Holdings ULC, OLCV CE US Holdings Inc., OLCV Net Power LLC, OLCV Services LLC, OOG Partner LLC, OOOI Chem Holdings LLC, OOOI Chem Sub LLC, OOOI Chemical International LLC, OOOI Chile Holder LLC, OOOI Ecuador Management LLC, OOOI Oil and Gas Sub LLC, OOOI South America Management LLC, OPM GP Inc., OPM Holdco LLC, OTCF LLC, OTH LLC, OXY CV Pipeline LLC, OXY Campus LLC, OXY Inc., OXY LPG LLC, OXY Libya E&P Area 103 BR4 B.V., OXY Libya E&P Area 35 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P Concession 103 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 102 B.V., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 1981 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 1985 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P NC 143 144 145 150 B.V., OXY Libya Exploration SPC, OXY Libya LLC, OXY Little Knife LLC, OXY Mexico Holdings I LLC, OXY Mexico Holdings II LLC, OXY Middle East Holdings Ltd., OXY Oil Partners Inc., OXY PBLP Manager LLC, OXY Support Services LLC, OXY Tulsa Inc., OXY USA Inc., OXY USA WTP LP, OXY VPP Investments LLC, OXY West LLC, OXY of Saudi Arabia Ltd., OXYCHEM (CANADA) INC., OXYMAR, Oakwood Exploration LLC, Occidental (Bermuda) Ltd., Occidental (East Shabwa) LLC, Occidental Advance Sale Finance Inc., Occidental Al Hosn LLC, Occidental Angola Holdings Ltd., Occidental CIS Services Inc., Occidental Canada Holdings Ltd., Occidental Chemical Asia Limited, Occidental Chemical Belgium B.V.B.A., Occidental Chemical Chile Limitada, Occidental Chemical Corporation, Occidental Chemical Export Sales LLC, Occidental Chemical Far East Limited, Occidental Chemical Holding Corporation, Occidental Chemical International LLC, Occidental Chemical Investment (Canada) 1 Inc., Occidental Chemical Receivables LLC, Occidental Chemical de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Occidental Chile Investments LLC, Occidental Chile Minority Holder LLC, Occidental Colombia (Series G) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series J) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series K) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series L) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series M) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series N) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series O) Ltd., Occidental Crude Sales Inc. (Canada), Occidental Crude Sales Inc. (International), Occidental Dolphin Holdings Ltd., Occidental Energy Marketing Inc., Occidental Energy Ventures LLC, Occidental Exploradora del Peru Ltd., Occidental Exploration and Production Company, Occidental Hafar LLC, Occidental International (Libya) Inc., Occidental International Corporation, Occidental International Exploration and Production Company, Occidental International Holdings Ltd., Occidental International Oil and Gas Ltd., Occidental International Services Inc., Occidental Joslyn GP 2 Co., Occidental LNG (Malaysia) Ltd., Occidental Latin America Holdings LLC, Occidental Libya Oil & Gas B.V., Occidental MENA Manager Ltd., Occidental Middle East Development Company, Occidental Midland Basin LLC, Occidental Mukhaizna LLC, Occidental Oil Asia Pte. Ltd., Occidental Oil Shale Inc., Occidental Oil and Gas (Oman) Ltd., Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation, Occidental Oil and Gas International Inc., Occidental Oil and Gas International LLC, Occidental Oil and Gas Pakistan LLC, Occidental Oil and Gas of Peru LLC, Occidental Oman (Block 27) Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 51 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 51 LLC, Occidental Oman Block 65 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 65 LLC, Occidental Oman Block 72 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 72 LLC, Occidental Oman Gas Company LLC, Occidental Oman Gas Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oman North Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oriente Exploration and Production Ltd., Occidental Overseas Holdings B.V., Occidental PVC LLC, Occidental Peninsula II Inc., Occidental Peninsula LLC, Occidental Permian Ltd., Occidental Permian Manager LLC, Occidental Permian Services Inc., Occidental Peruana Inc., Occidental Petrolera del Peru (Block 101) Inc., Occidental Petrolera del Peru (Block 103) Inc., Occidental Petroleum (Pakistan) Inc., Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Occidental Petroleum Corporation Political Action Committee, Occidental Petroleum de Venezuela S.A., Occidental Petroleum of Nigeria, Occidental Petroleum of Oman Ltd., Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd., Occidental Power Marketing L.P., Occidental Power Services Inc., Occidental Qatar Energy Company LLC, Occidental Red Sea Development LLC, Occidental Research Corporation, Occidental Resource Recovery Systems Inc., Occidental Resources Company, Occidental Shah Gas Holdings Ltd., Occidental South America Finance LLC, Occidental Specialty Marketing Inc., Occidental Tower Corporation, Occidental Transportation Holding Corporation, Occidental West Texas Overthrust Inc., Occidental Yemen Ltd., Occidental Yemen Sabatain Inc., Occidental del Ecuador Inc., Occidental of Abu Dhabi (Bab) Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi (Shah) Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi Holdings Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi LLC, Occidental of Abu Dhabi Ltd., Occidental of Bahrain Ltd., Occidental of Bangladesh Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Chipiron) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Cosecha) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Medina) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Putumayo) Ltd., Occidental of Colombia (Teca) Ltd., Occidental of Colombia PUT-36 LLC, Occidental of Dubai Inc., Occidental of Iraq Holdings Ltd., Occidental of Iraq LLC, Occidental of Oman Inc., Occidental of Russia Ltd., Occidental of South Africa (Offshore) Inc., Occidental of Yemen (Block 75) LLC, Oceanic Marine Transport Ltd., Opcal Insurance Inc., Oryx Crude Trading & Transportation Inc., Oxy BridgeTex Limited Partnership, Oxy C & I Bulk Sales LLC, Oxy Canada Sales Inc., Oxy Carbon Solutions LLC, Oxy Carbon Storage LLC, Oxy Climate Ventures Inc., Oxy Cogeneration Holding Company LLC, Oxy Colombia Holdings LLC, Oxy Colombia TopCo Ltd., Oxy Delaware Basin LLC, Oxy Delaware Basin Plant LLC, Oxy Dolphin E&P LLC, Oxy Dolphin Pipeline LLC, Oxy Energy Canada Inc., Oxy Energy Services LLC, Oxy Expatriate Services Inc., Oxy FFT Holdings Inc., Oxy Holding Company (Pipeline) Inc., Oxy International Ventures Ltd., Oxy LPG Terminal LLC, Oxy Levelland Pipeline Company LLC, Oxy Levelland Terminal Company LLC, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures LLC, Oxy Midstream Strategic Development LLC, Oxy Oleoducto SOP LLC, Oxy Overseas Services Ltd., Oxy Permian Gathering LLC, Oxy Permian Plaza LLC, Oxy Petroleum de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Oxy Renewable Energy LLC, Oxy Salt Creek Pipeline LLC, Oxy TL LLC, Oxy Taft Hub LLC, Oxy Technology Ventures Inc., Oxy Transport I Company LLC, Oxy Vinyls Canada Co., Oxy Vinyls Export Sales LLC, Oxy Vinyls LP, Oxy Westwood Corporation, Oxy Y-1 Company, OxyChem Ingleside Ethylene Holdings Inc., OxyChem do Brasil Ltda., OxyChile Investments LLC, Oxychem Shipping Ltd., Permian Basin JV Tax Matters Member LLC, Permian Basin Limited Partnership, Permian VPP Holder LP, Permian VPP Manager LLC, Phibro, Placid Oil LLC, Ramlat Oxy Ltd., Rio de Viento Inc., Rodeo Midland Basin LLC, San Patricio Pipeline LLC, Scanports Shipping LLC, SequestCo LLC, Stetson Exploration LLC, Sun Offshore Gathering Company, Swiflite Aircraft Corporation, Transok Properties LLC, Troy Potter Inc., Turavent Oil GmbH [in liquidation], Tuscaloosa Holdings Inc., UP Petroleo III Ltd., Upland Industries Corporation, Venezuela US SRL, Vintage Gas Inc., Vintage Petroleum, Vintage Petroleum Argentina Ltd., Vintage Petroleum Boliviana Ltd., Vintage Petroleum International Finance B.V., Vintage Petroleum International Holdings LLC, Vintage Petroleum International LLC, Vintage Petroleum International Ventures Inc., Vintage Petroleum Italy Inc., Vintage Petroleum South America Holdings Inc., Vintage Petroleum South America LLC, Vintage Petroleum Turkey Inc., WGR Asset Holding Company LLC, WGR Canada Inc., Wardner Ranch Inc., Western Gas Resources Inc., Western Gas Resources-Westana Inc., Western Midstream Holdings LLC, Woodlands International Insurance Ltd., and YT Ranch LLC. The following companies are subsidiares of Owens Corning: 0979301 B.C. ULC, AS Paroc, Asahi Glass - Composites Business, Crown Mfg. Inc., Deutsche Foamglas GmbH, Dutch OC Cooperatief Invest U.A., European Owens Corning Fiberglas SPRL, FOAMGLAS (Italia) SRL, FOAMGLAS (Nordic) AB, FiberTEK Insulation, Fibreboard Corp., Finefiber (Shanghai) Building Material Co. Ltd., Finefiber Insulation Co. Pte. Ltd., IBCO SRL, IPM Inc., InterWrap, InterWrap (Hong Kong) Ltd., InterWrap (Qingdao) Trading Co. Ltd., InterWrap Corp., InterWrap Corp. Private Ltd., International Packaging Products Pvt. Ltd., Inversiones Owens Corning Chile Holdings Limitada, Northern Elastomeric, OC Canada Finance Inc., OC Canada Holdings General Partnership, OC Celfortec Company, OC Latin American Holdings GmbH, OC NL Invest Cooperatief U.A., OC PRO CV, OC Steklovolokno AO, OCCV1 Inc., OCCV2 LLC, OCV (Thailand) Co. Limited, OCV Chambery France, OCV Chambery International, OCV Finance LLC, OCV Intellectual Capital LLC, OCV Italia Srl, OCV Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., OCV Servicios Mexico S.A. de C.V., OOO Paroc, Owens Corning (Australia) Pty Limited, Owens Corning (China) Investment Company Limited, Owens Corning (Guangde) Rock Wood Manufacturing Co. Ltd, Owens Corning (Guangzhou) Fiberglas Co. Ltd., Owens Corning (India) Private Limited, Owens Corning (Nanjing) Building Materials Co. Ltd., Owens Corning (Shanghai) Fiberglas Co. Ltd., Owens Corning (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Owens Corning (Tianjin) Building Materials Co. Ltd., Owens Corning (Xian) Building Materials Co. Ltd., Owens Corning Alloy Canada GP Inc., Owens Corning Alloy Canada LP, Owens Corning Argentina Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Owens Corning Automotive LLC, Owens Corning BM (Korea) Ltd, Owens Corning CV GP LLC, Owens Corning Canada GP Inc., Owens Corning Canada Holdings B.V., Owens Corning Canada Holdings ULC, Owens Corning Canada LP, Owens Corning Cayman (China) Holdings, Owens Corning Celfortec Canada GP Inc., Owens Corning Celfortec LP, Owens Corning Composite Materials Canada GP Inc., Owens Corning Composite Materials Canada LP, Owens Corning Composite Materials LLC, Owens Corning Composites (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Owens Corning Composites (China) Co. Ltd., Owens Corning Construction Services LLC, Owens Corning Corporate Services LLC, Owens Corning Elaminator Insulation Systems LLC, Owens Corning Enterprise (India) Pvt. Ltd., Owens Corning Fabrics (Changzhou) Co. Ltd., Owens Corning Fiberglas (U.K.) Pension Plan Ltd., Owens Corning Fiberglas A.S. Limitada, Owens Corning Fiberglas Espana SL, Owens Corning Fiberglas France, Owens Corning Financial Services ULC, Owens Corning Finland Oy, Owens Corning Foam Insulation LLC, Owens Corning GlassMetal Services (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Owens Corning Global Holdings II Limited Partnership, Owens Corning Global Holdings Limited Partnership, Owens Corning HOMExperts Inc., Owens Corning HT Inc., Owens Corning Holdings 1 CV, Owens Corning Holdings 3 CV, Owens Corning Holdings 4 CV, Owens Corning Holdings 5 CV, Owens Corning Holdings Holland B.V., Owens Corning Hong Kong Limited, Owens Corning Industries (India) Private Limited, Owens Corning Infrastructure Solutions LLC, Owens Corning Insulating Systems Canada GP Inc., Owens Corning Insulating Systems Canada LP, Owens Corning Insulating Systems LLC, Owens Corning Intellectual Capital LLC, Owens Corning InterWrap Canada GP Inc., Owens Corning InterWrap Canada LP, Owens Corning International Holdings C.V., Owens Corning Japan LLC, Owens Corning Kohold B.V., Owens Corning Korea, Owens Corning Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Owens Corning Mineral Wool LLC, Owens Corning Non-Woven - Blythewood LLC, Owens Corning Non-Woven Technology LLC, Owens Corning Receivables LLC, Owens Corning Reinforcements (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., Owens Corning Remodeling Systems LLC, Owens Corning Roofing S. de R.L. de C.V., Owens Corning Roofing and Asphalt LLC, Owens Corning Sales LLC, Owens Corning Science and Technology LLC, Owens Corning Supplementary Pension Plan Limited, Owens Corning Technical Fabrics LLC, Owens Corning Treasury Services LLC, Owens Corning U.S. Holdings LLC, Owens Cornings (Hangzhou) Fiberglass Co. Ltd., Owens-Corning Britinvest Limited, Owens-Corning Cayman Limited, Owens-Corning Fiberglas Deutschland GmbH, Owens-Corning Funding Corporation, Owens-Corning Veil Netherlands B.V., Owens-Corning Veil U.K. Ltd., Paroc AB, Paroc GmbH, Paroc Group, Paroc Group Oy, Paroc Limited, Paroc Oy Ab, Paroc Polska Sp. z o.o., Pittsburgh Corning, Pittsburgh Corning (United Kingdom) Limited, Pittsburgh Corning (Yantai) Insulation Materials Co. Ltd, Pittsburgh Corning Asia Limited, Pittsburgh Corning CR S.R.O., Pittsburgh Corning Europe N.V., Pittsburgh Corning France, Pittsburgh Corning Gesellschaft m.b.h., Pittsburgh Corning LLC, Pittsburgh Corning Nederland B.V., Pittsburgh Corning Singapore Pte. Ltd, Pittsburgh Corning Suisse SA, Qingdao Novia Polymer Co. Ltd., SIA Paroc, Soltech Inc., The Modulo /ParMur Group, Thermafiber, Thermafiber Inc., Transandina de Comercio S.A., UAB Paroc, UC Industries, and Vitro Fibras. Avient Corp. engages in the business of thermoplastic compounds. It specializes in polymer materials, services, and solutions with operations in specialty polymer formulations, color and additive systems, plastic sheet and packaging solutions and polymer distribution. The firm is also involved in the development and manufacturing of performance enhancing additives, liquid colorants, fluoropolymers and silicone colorants. It operates through the following segments: Color, Additives and Inks; Specialty Engineered Materials; and Distribution. The Color, Additives and Inks segment provides custom color and additive concentrates in solid and liquid form for thermoplastics, dispersions for thermosets, speciality inks, plasticols, and vinyl slush molding solutions. The Specialty Engineered Materials segment makes polymer formulations, services, and solutions for designers, assemblers, and processors of thermoplastic materials. The Distribution segment distributes engineering and commodity grade resins, including PolyOne-produced solutions, principally to the North American, Central American, and Asian markets. The firm's products include polymer distribution, screen printing inks, and thermoplastic elastomers. Its services include IQ design and color services. The company was founded on August 31, 2000 and is headquartered in Avon Lake, OH. Read More "Federalism and Constitutional Criminal Law" | Main | Noting the distinctive juve sentencing realities to face the Texas school mass murderer May 19, 2018 Interesting discussions of new prison units dedicated to offenders who are veteran The start of this local article, headlined "Allegheny County Jail designates cell block for inmates who are veterans," really struck me: The new veterans pod at the Allegheny County Jail made David Francis feel welcome in a way he didn't experience when returning from Vietnam. (The pod) gives veterans hope where there hadn't been any, Francis said. We were not liked when we came back from Vietnam. We weren't welcomed in coming home. It wasn't like other wars. So this is a blessing. Here is more from the piece: An American flag and other patriotic images are also painted near the pod's entrance the work of three inmates over the weekend. The paintings are the only visual difference between the pod and others in the jail. It consists of two levels of cells in a circle surrounding a common area, where jail and county officials held a news conference Monday. The difference, though, will be the specialized services offered to veterans, as well as a chance to interact with their fellow veterans on a daily basis. We decided we need to do something for the veterans in our facility and prepare them for a successful re-entry into society, said Warden Orlando Harper, an Army veteran himself. At least 86 prisons and jails across the country have pods designated for veterans. Many of them have been created in the past five years, according to an Associated Press report in January. Nationally, veterans account for about 8 percent of all inmates.... Placing many of the jail's veterans all in one place makes it easier for organizations to serve them, as well as less costly for the county, officials said. We want more veterans assistance programs, Harper said. Many have already committed to participate. The Allegheny Intermediate Unit will offer workforce literacy classes, including help with cover letter and resume writing, according to a county news release. Veterans Administration Veterans Justice Outreach will help the inmates apply for enrollment in the VA health care system, discuss treatment options and legal issues, along with presentations on post-traumatic stress, suicide prevention and job opportunities. Organizations Soldier On; PAServes; the Veterans Leadership Program; the Duquesne School of Nursing; and Veterans Thinking for Change-Pittsburgh Mercy also have committed to providing services. The AP article referenced above is available at this link and reports on some encouraging data emerging from this form of prison reform: Inmates and officials say the Albany pod is cleaner and less troublesome than other tiers. When a guard was attacked here in 2016 by an inmate from another unit, the pod inmates ran from across the common area to the guards aid. We send all these young men and women overseas and when they come back, a lot of them with PTSD, domestic violence, drug issues, said Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple, who started the veterans pod more than three years ago. And I just felt we could have treated them better or done something for them. Apple said 6 percent of the roughly 331 participating veterans in Albany over the years have returned to jail, far better than the typical jail recidivism rates of more than 40 percent. It helps that Soldier On also provides post-release services like housing. So when Tommy Hartmann was released from the Albany jail last year after 90 days he had a place to go. The 29-year-old Army veteran moved into Soldier Ons transitional housing in Leeds, Massachusetts. He also got a job with Soldier On, on the resident staff. When the group helped serve a holiday meal recently, Hartmann returned to his old block to chat up inmates he knew. This time he wore khakis and a tie. And he got to go home at the end of the night. They set me up to succeed when I got out, Hartmann said before his visit. Rather than just sitting on the tier, playing cards, watching TV, doing pushups, whatever, I was doing positive stuff toward my recovery and becoming a better part in society. These stories lead me to want to call modern prison reform efforts another important way to support our troops. May 19, 2018 at 12:01 PM | Permalink Comments Post a comment Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers. It also offers investment and wealth advisory services; digital investing services; financial services and solutions; and investment management, and trust and custody services to institutional, retail, and high net worth investors. In addition, the company provides life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, and annuity products; creditor and travel insurance to bank customers; and reinsurance solutions. Further, it offers client's debt and equity capital-raising services, as well as loan origination and syndication, balance sheet management, and treasury management; strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and recapitalizations, as well as valuation and fairness opinions; and trade finance, risk mitigation, and other operating services. Additionally, the company provides research and access to markets for institutional, corporate, and retail clients; trading solutions that include debt, foreign exchange, interest rate, credit, equity, securitization and commodities; new product development and origination services, as well as risk management advice and services to hedge against fluctuations; and funding and liquidity management services to its clients. It operates through approximately 1,400 bank branches and 4,800 automated banking machines in Canada and the United States. The company was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Tenet Healthcare: 1 Subsidiaries of this entity in which Tenet Healthcare Corporation directly and indirectly held a 95% ownership interest at December 31 2020 are set forth in the table below., 25 East Same Day Surgery L.L.C., 300 PBL Development LLC, 45th Street MOB LLC, 601 N 30th Street I L.L.C., 601 N 30th Street II L.L.C., 601 N 30th Street III Inc., AHM Acquisition Co. Inc., AIG Holdings LLC, AIGB Global LLC, AIGB Group Inc., AIGB Holdings Inc., AIGB Management Services LLC, AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #1 L.L.C., AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #2 L.L.C., AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #3 L.L.C., AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #4 L.L.C., AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #5 L.L.C., AMI Information Systems Group Inc., AMI/HTI Tarzana Encino Joint Venture, APN, ARC Worcester Center L.P., ASC Old Co. LP, ASC of New Jersey LLC, ASJH Joint Venture LLC, Abrazo Health Network EP Clinical Services LLC, Abrazo Surgical Outpatient Center LLC, Advanced Ambulatory Surgical Care L.P., Advanced Center for Surgery Vero Beach LLC, Advanced Regional Surgery Center LLC, Advanced Surgery Center of Metairie LLC, Advanced Surgery Center of Sarasota LLC, Advanced Surgery Center of Tampa LLC, Advanced Surgical Care of St Louis LLC, Advanced Surgical Concepts LLC, Advantage Health Care Management Company LLC, Advantage Health Network Inc., AdventHealth Surgery Center Celebration LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Center Mills Park LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Center Wellswood LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Center Winter Garden LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Centers Central Florida LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Centers West Florida LLC, Adventist Midwest Health/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Alabama Cardiovascular Associates L.L.C., Alabama Digestive Health Endoscopy Center L.L.C., Alabama Hand and Sports Medicine L.L.C., Alamo Heights Surgicare L.P., All Star MOB LLC, Allegian Insurance Company, Alliance Surgery Birmingham LLC, Alliance Surgery Inc., Alvarado Hospital Medical Center Inc., Ambulatory Surgical Associates LLC, Ambulatory Surgical Center of Somerville LLC, American Institute of Gastric Banding Ltd., American Institute of Gastric Banding Phoenix Limited Partnership, American Medical (Central) Inc., Amisub (Heights) Inc., Amisub (Hilton Head) Inc., Amisub (North Ridge Hospital) Inc., Amisub (SFH) Inc., Amisub (Twelve Oaks) Inc., Amisub of California Inc., Amisub of North Carolina Inc., Amisub of South Carolina Inc., Amisub of Texas Inc., Anaheim Hills Medical Imaging L.L.C., Anaheim MRI Holding Inc., Anesthesia Partners of Gallatin LLC, Arizona Care Network Next L.L.C., Arizona Health Partners LLC, Arlington Orthopedic and Spine Hospital LLC, Arrowhead Endoscopy and Pain Management Center LLC, Asia Outsourcing US Inc., Aspen Healthcare, Atlanta Medical Center Inc., Atlanta Medical Center Interventional Neurology Associates L.L.C., Atlanta Medical Center Neurosurgical & Spine Specialists L.L.C., Atlanta Medical Center Physician Group L.L.C., Atlantic Coast Surgical Suites LLC, Atlantic Health-USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Avita/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., BBH BMC LLC, BBH CBMC LLC, BBH DevelopmentCo LLC, BBH Imaging Jasper LLC, BBH NP Clinicians Inc., BBH PBMC LLC, BBH SBMC LLC, BBH WBMC LLC, BCDC EmployeeCO LLC, BHC-Talladega Pediatrics LLC, BHS Accountable Care LLC, BHS Affinity LLC, BHS Integrated Physician Partners LLC, BHS Physician Performance Network LLC, BHS Physicians Alliance for ACE LLC, BHS Physicians Network Inc., BHS Specialty Network Inc., BT East Dallas JV LLP, BW Cardiology LLC, BW Cyberknife LLC, BW Hand Practice LLC, BW Office Buildings LLC, BW Parking Decks LLC, BW Physician Practices LLC, BW Retail Pharmacy LLC, BW Sports Practice LLC, Bagley Holdings LLC, Baptist Accountable Care LLC, Baptist Diagnostics LLC, Baptist Health Centers LLC, Baptist Physician Alliance ACO LLC, Baptist Physician Alliance LLC, Baptist Plaza Surgicare L.P., Baptist Surgery Center L.P., Baptist Womens Health Center LLC, Baptist/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Bartlett ASC LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Baylor Plano LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Blue Star LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Granbury LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Mansfield LLC, Baylor Surgicare at North Dallas LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Plano LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Plano Parkway LLC, Bear Creek Surgery Center LLC, Beaumont Surgical Affiliates Ltd., Bellaire Outpatient Surgery Center L.L.P., Berkshire Eye LLC, Bloomington ASC LLC, Blue Ridge/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Bluffton Okatie Primary Care L.L.C., Bluffton Okatie Surgery Center L.L.C., Bon Secours Surgery Center at Harbour View LLC, Bon Secours Surgery Center at Virginia Beach LLC, Bozeman Health/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Bozeman MOB LLC, Briarcliff Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Bristol Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Broad River Primary Care L.L.C., Brookwood - Maternal Fetal Medicine L.L.C., Brookwood Ancillary Holdings Inc., Brookwood Baptist Health 1 LLC, Brookwood Baptist Health 2 LLC, Brookwood Baptist Health 3 LLC, Brookwood Baptist Imaging LLC, Brookwood Center Development Corporation, Brookwood Development Inc., Brookwood Diagnostic Imaging Center LLC, Brookwood Garages L.L.C., Brookwood Health Services Inc., Brookwood Home Health LLC, Brookwood Occupational Health Clinic L.L.C., Brookwood Parking Associates Ltd., Brookwood Primary Care - Homewood L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care - Inverness L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care - Mountain Brook L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care - Oak Mountain L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care - Vestavia L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care Cahaba Heights L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care Hoover L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care The Narrows L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Network Care Inc., Brookwood Specialty Care - Endocrinology L.L.C., Brookwood Sports and Orthopedics L.L.C., Brookwood Womens Care L.L.C., Brookwood Womens Diagnostic Center LLC, C7 Technologies LLC, CGH Hospital Ltd., CHIC/USP Surgery Centers LLC, CHN Holdings LLC, CHRISTUS Cabrini Surgery Center L.L.C., CHVI Tucson Holdings LLC, CML-Chicago Market Labs Inc., CRNAs of Michigan, CS/USP General Partner LLC, CS/USP Surgery Centers LP, California Joint & Spine LLC, Camp Creek Urgent Care L.L.C., Camp Lowell Surgery Center L.L.C., Captive Insurance Services Inc., Cardiology Physicians Associates L.L.C., Cardiology Physicians Corporation L.L.C., Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Associates L.L.C., Cardiovascular Clinical Excellence at Sierra Providence LLC, CareSpot of Austin LLC, CareSpot of Memphis LLC, CareSpot of Orlando/HSI Urgent Care LLC, Carmel Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Carondelet St. Marys-Northwest L.L.C., Cascade Spine Center LLC, Castle Rock Surgery Center LLC, Catawba-Piedmont Cardiothoracic Surgery L.L.C., Cedar Hill Primary Care L.L.C., Cedar Park Surgery Center L.L.P., Centennial ASC LLC, Center for Advanced Research Excellence L.L.C., Center for the Urban Child Inc., Central California Healthcare Holdings LLC, Central Carolina Physicians - Sandhills L.L.C., Central Carolina-IMA L.L.C., Central Jersey Surgery Center LLC, Central Texas Corridor Hospital Company LLC, Central Valley Quality Alliance LLC, Central Virginia Surgi-Center L.P., Centura Ventures Surgery Centers LLC, Centura/USP Colorado Springs Surgery Centers L.L.C., Chalon Living Inc., Chandler Endoscopy Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Charlotte Endoscopic Surgery Center LLC, Chattanooga Pain Management Center LLC, Chesterfield Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Chesterfield Anesthesia Associates of Missouri LLC, Chico Surgery Center L.P., Childrens Hospital of Michigan Premier Network Inc., Citrus Heights ASC RE LLC, Clarkston ASC Partners LLC, Clarksville Surgery Center LLC, Coast Healthcare Management LLC, Coast Surgery Center L.P., Coastal Carolina Medical Center, Coastal Carolina Medical Center Inc., Coastal Carolina Physician Practices LLC, Coastal Carolina Pro Fee Billing L.L.C., Coastal Endo LLC, Colorado GI Centers LLC, Commonwealth Continental Health Care Inc., Community Connection Health Plan Inc., Community Hospital LLC, Community Hospital of Los Gatos Inc., Conifer Care Continuum Solutions LLC, Conifer Ethics and Compliance Inc., Conifer Global Business Center Inc., Conifer Global Holdings Inc., Conifer Health Solutions LLC, Conifer Holdings Inc., Conifer Patient Communications LLC, Conifer Physician Services Holdings Inc., Conifer Physician Services Inc., Conifer Revenue Cycle Solutions LLC, Conifer Value-Based Care LLC, Conroe Surgery Center 2 LLC, Coral Gables Hospital Inc., Coral Ridge Outpatient Center LLC, Corpus Christi Surgicare Ltd., Covenant/USP Surgery Centers LLC, CreAtiv Management Company Inc., Creekwood Investors LLC, Creekwood Surgery Center L.P., Crown Point Surgery Center LLC, DH/USP SJOSC Investment Company L.L.C., DH/USP Sacramento Pain GP LLC, DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital Premier Clinical Co-Management Services LLC, DMC Education & Research, DMC Harper University Hospital Premier Clinical Co-Management Services LLC, DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital Premier Clinical Management Services LLC, DMC Imaging L.L.C., Dallas Surgical Partners LLC, DeTar/USP Surgery Center LLC, Delray Beach ASC LLC, Delray Medical Center Inc., Delray Medical Physician Services L.L.C., Denton Surgicare Partners Ltd., Denton Surgicare Real Estate Ltd., Denville Surgery Center LLC, Des Peres Physician Network LLC, Desert Cove MOB LLC, Desert Regional Medical Center Inc., Desert Ridge Outpatient Surgery LLC, Desoto Surgicare Partners Ltd., Destin ASC RE LLC, Destin Surgery Center LLC, Detroit Education & Research, DigitalMed Inc., Dignity/Abrazo Health Network LLC, Dignity/USP Folsom GP LLC, Dignity/USP Grass Valley GP LLC, Dignity/USP Las Vegas Surgery Centers LLC, Dignity/USP Metro Surgery Center LLC, Dignity/USP NorCal Surgery Centers LLC, Dignity/USP Phoenix Surgery Centers II LLC, Dignity/USP Phoenix Surgery Centers LLC, Dignity/USP Redding GP LLC, Dignity/USP Roseville GP LLC, Dignity/USP/John Muir East Bay Surgery Centers LLC, Doctors Hospital of Manteca Inc., Doctors Medical Center Neurosciences Clinical Co-Management LLC, Doctors Medical Center Orthopedics Clinical Co-Management LLC, Doctors Medical Center of Modesto Inc., Doctors Outpatient Center for Surgery LLC, Doctors Outpatient Surgery Center of Jupiter L.L.C., EPHC Inc., EPIC ASC LLC, East Atlanta Endoscopy Centers LLC, East Cobb Urgent Care LLC, East Cooper Coastal Family Physicians L.L.C., East Cooper Community Hospital Inc., East Cooper Hyperbarics L.L.C., East Cooper OB/GYN L.L.C., East Cooper Physician Network LLC, East Cooper Primary Care Physicians L.L.C., East Portland Surgery Center LLC, East West Surgery Center L.P., Eastgate Building Center L.L.C., Effingham Surgical Partners LLC, Einstein Montgomery Surgery Center LLC, Einstein/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., El Mirador Surgery Center L.L.C., El Paso Center for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy LLC, El Paso Day Surgery LLC, El Paso Urology Surgery Center Curie LLC, Emanate/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Emanuel Medical Center, Emerson Surgery Center LLC, Encinitas Endoscopy Center LLC, Endoscopy Center of Hackensack LLC, Endoscopy Center of South Sacramento LLC, Endoscopy Consultants LLC, European Surgical Partners Ltd., Eye Center of Nashville UAP LLC, Eye Surgery Center of Nashville LLC, FMC Medical Inc., FMCC Network Contracting L.L.C., FPN Frisco Physicians Network, FREH Real Estate L.L.C., FRS Imaging Services L.L.C., FSC Hospital LLC, FSH IT Services LP, First Choice Physician Partners, Flatirons Surgery Center LLC, Folsom Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., Fort Bend Clinical Services Inc., Fort Worth Hospital Real Estate LP, Fort Worth Surgicare Partners Ltd., Foundation Bariatric Hospital of San Antonio LLC, Foundation San Antonio Borrower Sub LLC, Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center, Fountain Valley Surgery Center LLC, Franklin Endo UAP LLC, Franklin Endoscopy Center LLC, Fresno Surgery Center L.P., Frisco Medical Center L.L.P., Frontenac Ambulatory Surgery & Spine Care Center L.P., Frye Regional Medical Center Inc., FryeCare Boone L.L.C., FryeCare Morganton L.L.C., FryeCare Physicians L.L.C., FryeCare Valdese L.L.C., FryeCare Watauga L.L.C., FryeCare Womens Services L.L.C., GCSA Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Gamma Surgery Center LLC, Gardendale Surgical Associates LLC, Garland Surgicare Partners Ltd., Gastric Health Institute L.L.C., Genesis ASC Partners LLC, Geneva Surgical Suites LLC, Georgia Endoscopy Center LLC, Georgia Gifts From Grace L.L.C., Georgia Musculoskeletal Network Inc., Georgia North Fulton Healthcare Associates L.L.C., Georgia Northside Ear Nose and Throat L.L.C., Georgia Physicians of Cardiology L.L.C., Georgia Spectrum Neurosurgical Specialists L.L.C., Georgia Spine Surgery Center LLC, Glen Echo Surgery Center LLC, Golden Ridge ASC LLC, Good Samaritan Medical Center Inc., Good Samaritan Surgery L.L.C., Grapevine Surgicare Partners Ltd., Grass Valley Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., Graystone Family Healthcare - Tenet North Carolina L.L.C., Great Lakes Surgical Suites LLC, Greater Dallas Healthcare Enterprises, Greater Northwest Houston Enterprises, Greenville Physicians Surgery Center LLP, Greenwood ASC LLC, Greystone Internal Medicine - Brookwood L.L.C., Gulf Coast Community Hospital Inc., HCH Tucson Holdings LLC, HCN Emerus Management Sub LLC, HCN Emerus Texas LLC, HCN Laboratories Inc., HCN Physicians Inc., HCN Sunnyvale Holdings LLC, HCN Surgery Center Holdings Inc., HDMC Holdings L.L.C., HMA/Solantic Joint Venture LLC, HMH-USP Surgery Centers LLC, HMHP/USP Surgery Centers LLC, HNMC Inc., HNW GP Inc., HNW LP Inc., HPI Holdings LLC, HPI North LLC, HPI Physicians LLC, HSRM International Inc., HSS Palm Beach Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, HSS/USP Surgery Center LLC, HUG Services Inc., HUMC/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Hacienda Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Hagerstown Surgery Center LLC, Hardeeville Medical Group L.L.C., Hardeeville Primary Care L.L.C., Harlingen Physician Network Inc., Harper-Hutzel AHP Services Inc., Harvard Park Surgery Center LLC, Haymarket Surgery Center LLC, Hazelwood Endoscopy Center LLC, Health & Wellness Surgery Center L.P., Health Horizons of Kansas City Inc., Health Horizons of Murfreesboro Inc., Health Horizons/Piedmont Joint Venture LLC, Health Services CFMC Inc., Health Services HNMC Inc., Health Services Network Care Inc., Health Services Network Hospitals Inc., Health Services Network Texas Inc., HealthCorp Network Inc., Healthcare Compliance LLC, Healthcare Network Alabama Inc., Healthcare Network CFMC Inc., Healthcare Network DPH Inc., Healthcare Network Georgia Inc., Healthcare Network Holdings Inc., Healthcare Network Hospitals (Dallas) Inc., Healthcare Network Hospitals Inc., Healthcare Network Louisiana Inc., Healthcare Network Missouri Inc., Healthcare Network North Carolina Inc., Healthcare Network South Carolina Inc., Healthcare Network Tennessee Inc., Healthcare Network Texas Inc., Healthcare Partners Investments LLC, Healthmark Partners Inc., Healthpoint of North Carolina L.L.C., Heart and Vascular Institute of Michigan, Heritage Park Surgical Hospital LLC, Hershey Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., Hialeah Hospital Inc., Hialeah Real Properties Inc., Hickory Family Practice Associates - Tenet North Carolina L.L.C., Hill Country ASC Partners LLC, Hill Country Surgery Center LLC, Hilton Head Health System L.P., Hilton Head Regional Healthcare L.L.C., Hilton Head Regional OB/GYN Partners L.L.C., Hilton Head Regional Physician Network LLC, Hilton Head Regional Physician Network Georgia L.L.C., Hinsdale Surgical Center LLC, Hitchcock State Street Real Estate Inc., Holston Valley Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Holy Cross Hospital Inc., Home Health Partners of San Antonio LLC, Hoover Doctors Group Inc., Hoover Land LLC, Horizon Ridge Surgery Center LLC, Hospital Development of West Phoenix Inc., Hospital RCM Services LLC, Hospital Underwriting Group Inc., Houston Northwest Partners Ltd., Houston PSC L.P., Houston Specialty Hospital Inc., Houston Sunrise Investors Inc., Hyde Park Surgery Center LLC, ICNU Rockford LLC, Imaging Center at Baxter Village L.L.C., InforMed Insurance Services LLC, Integris/USP Health Ventures LLC, International Health and Wellness Inc., Irving-Coppell Surgical Hospital L.L.P., JFK Memorial Hospital Inc., JFP UAP Sugarland LLC, Jackson Surgical Center LLC, Jacksonville Endoscopy Centers LLC, Journey Home Healthcare of San Antonio LLC, KHS Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, KHS/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Kingsport Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Laguna Medical Systems Inc., Lake Endoscopy Center LLC, Lake Health Care Facilities Inc., Lake Lansing ASC Partners LLC, Lake Surgical Hospital Slidell LLC, LakeFront Medical Associates LLC, Lakewood Regional Medical Center Inc., Lakewood Surgery Center LLC, Lancaster Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Lansing ASC Partners LLC, Lawrenceville Surgery Center L.L.C., Lebanon Endoscopy Center LLC, Legacy Warren Partners L.P., Legacy/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Leonardtown Surgery Center LLC, Liberty Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Lifemark Hospitals Inc., Lifemark Hospitals of Florida Inc., Lifemark Hospitals of Louisiana Inc., Lone Star Endoscopy Center LLC, Longleaf Surgery Center LLC, Los Alamitos Medical Center Inc., Lubbock ASC Holding Co LLC, MASC Partners LLC, MCSH Real Estate Investors Ltd., MH Memorial City Surgery LLC, MH/USP Bay Area LLC, MH/USP Brazoria LLC, MH/USP Kingsland LLC, MH/USP Kingwood LLC, MH/USP Kirby LLC, MH/USP Main Street LLC, MH/USP North Freeway LLC, MH/USP North Houston LLC, MH/USP Richmond LLC, MH/USP Sugar Land LLC, MH/USP TMC Endoscopy LLC, MH/USP West Houston L.L.C., MH/USP Woodlands Parkway LLC, MSH Partners LLC, MSV Health/USP Surgery Centers LLC, MVH/USP Surgery Centers LLC, MacNeal Management Services Inc., MacNeal Medical Records Inc., MacNeal Physicians Group LLC, Magnetic Resonance Imaging of San Luis Obispo Inc., Magnolia Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Manchester Ambulatory Surgery Center LP, Maple Lawn Surgery Center LLC, Marion Surgery Center LLC, Mary Immaculate Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Mason Ridge Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Mayfield Spine Surgery Center LLC, McLaren ASC of Flint LLC, Meadowcrest Hospital LLC, Medical House Staffing LLC, Medical Park Tower Surgery Center LLC, Medplex Outpatient Medical Centers Inc., Medplex Outpatient Surgery Center Ltd., Memorial Hermann Bay Area Endoscopy Center LLC, Memorial Hermann Endoscopy & Surgery Center North Houston L.L.C., Memorial Hermann Endoscopy Center North Freeway LLC, Memorial Hermann Specialty Hospital Kingwood L.L.C., Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Surgical Hospital L.L.P., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Brazoria LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Cypress LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Katy LLP, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Kingsland L.L.C., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Kirby LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Main Street LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Memorial City L.L.C., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Northwest LLP, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Pinecroft LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Preston Road Ltd., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Richmond LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Southwest L.L.P., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Sugar Land LLP, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Texas Medical Center LLP, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Woodlands Parkway LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center The Woodlands LLP, Memorial Hermann Texas International Endoscopy Center LLC, Memorial Hermann West Houston Surgery Center LLC, Memorial Hermann/USP Surgery Centers II L.P., Memorial Hermann/USP Surgery Centers III LLP, Memorial Hermann/USP Surgery Centers IV LLP, Memorial Surgery Center LLC, Memphis Urgent Care #1 L.L.C., Memphis Urgent Care #2 L.L.C., Merced Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Mercy/USP Health Ventures L.L.C., Metro Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Metro Surgery Center LLC, MetroWest HomeCare & Hospice LLC, Metrocrest Surgery Center L.P., Metropolitan New Jersey LLC, Michigan ASC Partners L.L.C., Michigan Pioneer ACO LLC, Michigan Regional Imaging LLC, Mid Rivers Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Mid State Endo UAP LLC, Mid-State Endoscopy Center LLC, Mid-TSC Development LP, Middle Tennessee Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Midland Memorial/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Midland Texas Surgical Center LLC, Midwest Digestive Health Center LLC, Midwest Pharmacies Inc., Midwest Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Millennium Surgical Center LLC, Mobile Imaging Management LLC, Mobile Technology Management LLC, Modesto Radiology Imaging Inc., Monocacy Surgery Center LLC, Mountain Empire Surgery Center L.P., Munster Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Murdock Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, NHSC Holdings LLC, NICH GP Holdings LLC, NKCH/USP Briarcliff GP LLC, NKCH/USP Liberty GP LLC, NKCH/USP Surgery Centers II L.L.C., NKCH/USP Surgery Centers LLC, NMC Lessor L.P., NMC Surgery Center L.P., NME Headquarters Inc., NME Properties Corp., NME Properties Inc., NME Property Holding Co. Inc., NME Psychiatric Hospitals Inc., NME Rehabilitation Properties Inc., NSCH GP Holdings LLC, NSCH/USP Desert Surgery Centers L.L.C., NUCH of Georgia L.L.C., NUCH of Massachusetts LLC, NUCH of Michigan Inc., NUCH of Texas, Nacogdoches ASC-LP Inc., Name of Entity, National ASC Inc., National Ancillary Inc., National Diagnostic Imaging Centers Inc., National HHC Inc., National Home Health Holdings Inc., National ICN Inc., National Imaging Center Holdings Inc., National Medical Services II Inc., National Outpatient Services Holdings Inc., National Surgery Center Holdings Inc., National Urgent Care Holdings Inc., National Urgent Care Inc., Network Management Associates Inc., New Dimensions LLC, New England Physician Performance Network LLC, New H Acute Inc., New Horizons Surgery Center LLC, New Medical Horizons II Ltd., New Mexico Orthopaedic Surgery Center LLC, New Salem ASC RE LLC, Newhope Imaging Center Inc., North Anaheim Surgery Center LLC, North Atlantic Surgical Suites LLC, North Campus Surgery Center LLC, North Carolina Community Family Medicine L.L.C., North Central Surgical Center L.L.P., North Denver Musculoskeletal Surgical Partners LLC, North Fulton Cardiovascular Medicine L.L.C., North Fulton Hospitalist Group L.L.C., North Fulton Medical Center Inc., North Fulton Primary Care - Willeo Rd. L.L.C., North Fulton Primary Care - Windward Parkway L.L.C., North Fulton Primary Care - Wylie Bridge L.L.C., North Fulton Primary Care Associates L.L.C., North Fulton Pulmonary Specialists L.L.C., North Fulton Womens Consultants L.L.C., North Garland Surgery Center L.L.P., North Haven Surgery Center LLC, North Miami Medical Center Ltd., North Shore Medical Billing Center L.L.C., North Shore Medical Center Inc., North Shore Same Day Surgery L.L.C., North Shore Surgical Suites LLC, North State Surgery Centers L.P., NorthPointe Surgical Suites LLC, NorthShore/USP Surgery Centers II L.L.C., Northern Monmouth Regional Surgery Center L.L.C., Northridge ASC RE LLC, Northridge Surgery Center L.P., Northwest Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Georgia Orthopaedic Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Regional ASC LLC, Northwest Regional Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Surgery Center LLP, Northwest Surgery Center Ltd., Novant Health/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Novant/UVA/USP Surgery Centers LLC, OCOMS Imaging LLC, OCOMS Professional Services LLC, OLOL/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Okatie Surgical Partners L.L.C., Oklahoma Center for Orthopedic and Multi-Specialty Surgery LLC, Old Tesson Surgery Center L.P., Olive Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Olive Branch Urgent Care #1 LLC, Ophthalmology Anesthesia Services LLC, Ophthalmology Surgery Center of Orlando LLC, Optimum Spine Center LLC, OrNda Healthcorp, OrNda Hospital Corporation, Orlando Health/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., OrthoArizona Surgery Center Gilbert LLC, OrthoLink ASC Corporation, OrthoLink Physicians Corporation, OrthoLink Radiology Services Corporation, OrthoLink/ Georgia ASC Inc., OrthoLink/Baptist ASC LLC, OrthoLink/New Mexico ASC Inc., Orthopedic Associates of the Lowcountry L.L.C., Orthopedic South Surgical Partners LLC, Orthopedic and Surgical Specialty Company LLC, PAHS/USP Surgery Centers LLC, PDN L.L.C., PHPS Inc., PHPS-CHM Acquisition Inc., PHS/USP Health Ventures LLC, PM CyFair Land Partners LLC, PMC Physician Network L.L.C., PPRE LLC, PSS Patient Solution Services LLC, Pacific Endo-Surgical Center L.P., Pacific Endoscopy and Surgery Center LLC, Pain Diagnostic and Treatment Center L.P., Paley Institute Global LLC, Palm Beach Gardens Community Hospital Inc., Palm Beach International Surgery Center LLC, Palm Valley Medical Center Campus Association, Palos Health Surgery Center LLC, Paramus Endoscopy LLC, Park Cities Surgery Center LLC, Park Plaza Hospital Billing Center L.L.C., ParkCreek ASC LLC, Parkway Recovery Care Center LLC, Parkwest Surgery Center L.P., Patient Partners LLC, Peak Gastroenterology ASC LLC, Pediatric Surgery Center Odessa LLC, Pediatric Surgery Centers LLC, Physician Performance Network L.L.C., Physician Performance Network of Arizona LLC, Physician Performance Network of Detroit, Physician Performance Network of South Carolina LLC, Physician Performance Network of Tucson LLC, Physicians Performance Network of Houston, Physicians Performance Network of North Texas, Physicians Surgery Center at Good Samaritan LLC, Physicians Surgery Center of Tempe LLC, Physicians Surgical Center of Ft. Worth LLP, Physicians Surgery Center of Chattanooga L.L.C., Physicians Surgery Center of Knoxville LLC, Piccard Surgery Center LLC, Piedmont ASC LLC, Piedmont Behavioral Medicine Associates LLC, Piedmont Cardiovascular Physicians L.L.C., Piedmont Carolina OB/GYN of York County L.L.C., Piedmont Carolina Vascular Surgery L.L.C., Piedmont East Urgent Care Center L.L.C., Piedmont Express Care at Sutton Road L.L.C., Piedmont Family Practice at Baxter Village L.L.C., Piedmont Family Practice at Rock Hill L.L.C., Piedmont Family Practice at Tega Cay L.L.C., Piedmont General Surgery Associates L.L.C., Piedmont Internal Medicine at Baxter Village L.L.C., Piedmont Physician Network LLC, Piedmont Pulmonology L.L.C., Piedmont Surgical Specialists L.L.C., Piedmont Urgent Care Center at Baxter Village L.L.C., Piedmont Urgent Care and Industrial Health Centers Inc., Piedmont/Carolinas Radiation Therapy LLC, Placentia-Linda Hospital Inc., Pleasanton Diagnostic Imaging Inc., Point of Rocks Surgery Center LLC, Practice Partners Management L.P., Premier ACO Physicians Network LLC, Premier ASC LLC, Premier Adult and Childrens Surgery Center LLC, Premier Endoscopy ASC LLC, Premier Health Plan Services Inc., Premier Medical Specialists L.L.C., Prince William Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Professional Anesthesia Services LLC, Professional Liability Insurance Company, Pros Temporary Staffing Inc., Providence/UCLA/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Providence/USP Santa Clarita GP LLC, Providence/USP South Bay Surgery Centers L.L.C., Providence/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Pueblo Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, R.H.S.C. El Paso Inc., RE Plano Med Inc., RHC Parkway Inc., RLC LLC, Reading Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Reading Endoscopy Center LLC, Reagan Street Surgery Center LLC, Redmond Surgery Center LLC, Renaissance Surgery Center LLC, Republic Health Corporation of Rockwall County, Resolute Health Physicians Network Inc., Resolute Hospital Company LLC, Resurgens East Surgery Center LLC, Resurgens Fayette Surgery Center LLC, Resurgens Surgery Center LLC, Rheumatology Associates of Atlanta Medical Center L.L.C., Richmond ASC Leasing Company LLC, Rio Grande Valley Indigent Health Care Corporation, River North Same Day Surgery L.L.C., Riverside Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Rock Bridge Surgical Institute L.L.C., Rock Hill Surgery Center LLC, Rockwall Ambulatory Surgery Center L.L.P., Rocky Mountain Endoscopy Centers LLC, Roseville Surgery Center L.P., Roswell Surgery Center L.L.C., SCNRE LLC, SFMP Inc., SFMPE - Crittenden L.L.C., SL-HLC Inc., SLH Physicians L.L.C., SLH Vista Inc., SLPA ACO LLC, SLUH Anesthesia Physicians L.L.C., SMSJ Imaging Company LLC, SMSJ Tucson Holdings LLC, SPC at the Star LLC, SRRMC Management Inc., SSI Holdings Inc., Sacramento Midtown Endoscopy Center LLC, Safety Harbor ASC Company LLC, Saint Agnes/Dignity/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Saint Agnes/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Saint Francis Cardiology Associates L.L.C., Saint Francis Cardiovascular Surgery L.L.C., Saint Francis Center for Surgical Weight Loss L.L.C., Saint Francis Hospital Billing Center L.L.C., Saint Francis Hospital Medicare ACO LLC, Saint Francis Hospital Pro Fee Billing L.L.C., Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett Inc., Saint Francis Medical Partners East L.L.C., Saint Francis Medical Partners General Surgery L.L.C., Saint Francis Physician Network LLC, Saint Francis Quality Alliance LLC, Saint Francis Surgery Center L.L.C., Saint Francis Surgical Associates L.L.C., Saint Francis-Arkansas Physician Network LLC, Saint Francis-Bartlett Physician Network LLC, Saint Thomas Campus Surgicare L.P., Saint Thomas Surgery Center New Salem LLC, Saint Thomas/USP Surgery Centers II L.L.C., Saint Thomas/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Saint Thomas/USP Baptist Plaza L.L.C., Saint Vincent Physician Services Inc., Salmon Surgery Center LLC, Same Day Management L.L.C., Same Day SC of Central NJ LLC, Same Day Surgery L.L.C., San Antonio Endoscopy L.P., San Fernando Valley Surgery Center L.P., San Gabriel Valley Surgical Center L.P., San Martin Surgery Center LLC, San Ramon ASC L. P., San Ramon Ambulatory Care LLC, San Ramon Network Joint Venture LLC, San Ramon Regional Medical Center LLC, San Ramon Surgery Center L.L.C., Santa Barbara Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Santa Clarita Surgery Center L.P., Savannah Endoscopy Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Schertz Surgery Center LLC, Scripps Encinitas Surgery Center LLC, Scripps/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Seaside Surgery Center LLC, Shands/Solantic Joint Venture LLC, Shelby Baptist Affinity LLC, Shelby Baptist Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Shore Outpatient Surgicenter L.L.C., Shoreline Real Estate Partnership LLP, Shoreline Surgery Center LLP, Shrewsbury Surgery Center LLC, Sierra Pacific Surgery Center LLC, Sierra Providence Health Network Inc., Sierra Providence Healthcare Enterprises, Sierra Vista Hospital Inc., Silicon Valley Outpatient Surgery Centers LLC, Silver Cross Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Silver Cross/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Sinai-Grace Premier Clinical Management Services LLC, Siouxland Surgery Center Limited Liability Partnership, Solantic Corporation, Solantic Development LLC, Solantic Holdings Corporation, Solantic of Jacksonville LLC, Solantic of Orlando LLC, Solantic/South Florida LLC, South Carolina East Cooper Surgical Specialists L.L.C., South Carolina Health Services Inc., South Carolina SeWee Family Medicine L.L.C., South County Outpatient Endoscopy Services L.P., South Denver Musculoskeletal Surgical Partners LLC, South Florida Ambulatory Surgical Center LLC, South Fulton Health Care Centers Inc., SouthCare Physicians Group Neurology L.L.C., SouthCare Physicians Group Obstetrics & Gynecology L.L.C., Southeast Ohio Surgical Suites LLC, Southern Orthopedics and Sports Medicine L.L.C., Southern States Physician Operations Inc., Southwest Ambulatory Surgery Center L.L.C., Southwest Childrens Hospital LLC, Southwest Endoscopy LLC, Southwest Orthopedic and Spine Hospital LLC, Southwest Orthopedic and Spine Hospital Real Estate LLC, Southwestern Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Spalding Regional Medical Center Inc., Spalding Regional OB/GYN L.L.C., Spalding Regional Physician Services L.L.C., Specialty Surgery Center of Fort Worth L.P., Specialty Surgicenters Inc., Spinal Diagnostics and Treatment Centers L.L.C., Spine & Joint Physician Associates, Springfield Service Holding Corporation, St. Augustine Endoscopy Center LLC, St. Christophers Pediatric Urgent Care Center - Allentown L.L.C, St. Josephs Hospital Surgical Co-Management LLC, St. Josephs Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, St. Josephs Surgery Center L.P., St. Louis Physician Alliance LLC, St. Louis Surgical Center LLC, St. Louis Urology Center LLC, St. Lukes/USP Surgery Centers LLC, St. Marys Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, St. Marys Hospital Cardiovascular Co-Management LLC, St. Marys Hospital Surgical Co-Management LLC, St. Marys Levee Company LLC, St. Marys Medical Center Inc., St. Vincent Health/USP LLC, St. Vincent/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Stockton Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Subsidiaries of USPI Holding Company Inc., Suburban Endoscopy Center LLC, Summit View Surgery Center LLC, Sun View Imaging L.L.C., Sunrise Medical Group I L.L.C., Sunrise Medical Group II L.L.C., Sunrise Medical Group IV L.L.C., SurgCenter Camelback LLC, SurgCenter Northeast LLC, SurgCenter Pinellas LLC, SurgCenter Tucson LLC, SurgCenter at Paradise Valley LLC, SurgCenter of Deer Valley LLC, SurgCenter of Glen Burnie LLC, SurgCenter of Palm Beach Gardens LLC, SurgCenter of Plano LLC, SurgCenter of Southern Maryland LLC, SurgCenter of St. Lucie LLC, SurgCenter of White Marsh LLC, Surgery Affiliate of El Paso LLC, Surgery Center at Mount Pleasant LLC, Surgery Center at University Park LLC, Surgery Center of Atlanta LLC, Surgery Center of Canfield LLC, Surgery Center of Columbia L.P., Surgery Center of Coral Gables LLC, Surgery Center of Okeechobee LLC, Surgery Center of Pembroke Pines L.L.C., Surgery Center of Peoria L.L.C., Surgery Center of Richardson Physician Partnership L.P., Surgery Center of Santa Barbara LLC, Surgery Center of Scottsdale LLC, Surgery Center of Tempe Real Estate II L.L.C., Surgery Center of Tempe Real Estate L.L.C., Surgery Centers of America II L.L.C., Surgery Centre of SW Florida LLC, Surgical & Bariatric Associates of Atlanta Medical Center L.L.C., Surgical Clinical Excellence at Desert Regional LLC, Surgical Elite of Avondale L.L.C., Surgical Health Partners LLC, Surgical Institute Management LLC, Surgical Institute of Reading LLC, Surgical Specialists at Princeton LLC, Surgicare of Miramar L.L.C., Surginet Inc., Surgis Inc., Surgis Management Services Inc., Surgis of Chico Inc., Surgis of Phoenix Inc., Surgis of Redding Inc., Surgis of Victoria Inc., Sutton Road Pediatrics L.L.C., Sylvan Grove Hospital Inc., TENN SM LLC, TFPS IV L.L.C., TH Healthcare Ltd., TH International Services Florida LLC, THV Park Cities LLC, THVG Arlington GP LLC, THVG Bariatric GP LLC, THVG Bariatric L.L.C., THVG Bedford GP LLC, THVG Bellaire GP LLC, THVG DSP GP LLC, THVG DeSoto GP LLC, THVG Denton GP LLC, THVG Fort Worth GP LLC, THVG Frisco GP LLC, THVG Garland GP LLC, THVG Grapevine GP LLC, THVG Irving-Coppell GP LLC, THVG Lewisville GP LLC, THVG North Garland GP LLC, THVG Park Cities/Trophy Club GP LLC, THVG Rockwall 2 GP LLC, THVG Valley View GP LLC, TLC ASC LLC, TMC Holding Company LLC, TOPS Specialty Hospital Ltd., TPG Hospital LLC, TPR Practice Management LLC, TPS VI of PA L.L.C., TRMC Holdings LLC, TSPE LLC, Tamarac Surgery Center LLC, Tempe New Day Surgery Center LP, Templeton Imaging Inc., Tenet Business Services Corporation, Tenet California Inc., Tenet Central Carolina Physicians Inc., Tenet EKG Inc., Tenet El Paso Ltd., Tenet Employment Inc., Tenet Finance Corp., Tenet Florida Inc., Tenet Florida Physician Services II L.L.C., Tenet Florida Physician Services III L.L.C., Tenet Florida Physician Services L.L.C., Tenet Fort Mill Inc., Tenet Global Business Center Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Bucks County L.L.C., Tenet HealthSystem Graduate L.L.C., Tenet HealthSystem Hahnemann L.L.C., Tenet HealthSystem Medical Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Nacogdoches ASC GP Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Philadelphia Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Roxborough LLC, Tenet HealthSystem St. Christophers Hospital for Children L.L.C., Tenet Hilton Head Heart L.L.C., Tenet Hospitals Limited, Tenet Network Management Inc., Tenet Patient Safety Organization LLC, Tenet Physician Resources LLC, Tenet Physician Services - Hilton Head Inc., Tenet Rehab Piedmont Inc., Tenet Relocation Services L.L.C., Tenet SC East Cooper Hospitalists L.L.C., Tenet South Carolina Gastrointestinal Surgical Specialists L.L.C., Tenet South Carolina Island Medical L.L.C., Tenet South Carolina Lowcountry OB/GYN L.L.C., Tenet South Carolina Mt. Pleasant OB/GYN L.L.C., Tenet Unifour Urgent Care Center L.L.C., Tenet Ventures Inc., TenetCare Frisco Inc., Terre Haute Surgical Center LLC, Teton Outpatient Services LLC, Texan Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Texas Endoscopy Centers LLC, Texas Health Venture Arlington Hospital LLC, Texas Health Venture Baylor Plano LLC, Texas Health Venture Carrollton LLC, Texas Health Venture Centennial LLC, Texas Health Venture Ennis LLC, Texas Health Venture Fort Worth L.L.C., Texas Health Venture Granbury LLC, Texas Health Venture Heritage Park LLC, Texas Health Venture Keller LLC, Texas Health Venture Las Colinas LLC, Texas Health Venture Mansfield LLC, Texas Health Venture Plano Endo LLC, Texas Health Venture Plano LLC, Texas Health Venture Plano Parkway LLC, Texas Health Venture Texas Spine LLC, Texas Health Ventures Group L.L.C., Texas Orthopedics Surgery Center LLC, Texas Regional Medical Center LLC, Texas Regional Medical in Sunnyvale, Texas Spine and Joint Hospital LLC, The 6300 West Roosevelt Partnership, The Ambulatory Surgical Center of St. Louis L.P., The Healthcare Insurance Corporation, The Healthcare Underwriting Company a Risk Retention Group, The Huron Corporation, The Outpatient Center LLC, The Southeastern Spine Institute Ambulatory Surgery Center L.L.C., The Surgery Center at Jensen Beach LLC, The Surgery Center at Williamson LLC, The Tresanti Surgical Center LLC, Theda Oaks Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Center LLC, Titan Health Corporation, Titan Health of Chattanooga Inc., Titan Health of Hershey Inc., Titan Health of Mount Laurel LLC, Titan Health of North Haven Inc., Titan Health of Pittsburgh Inc., Titan Health of Pleasant Hills Inc., Titan Health of Princeton Inc., Titan Health of Sacramento Inc., Titan Health of Saginaw Inc., Titan Health of Titusville Inc., Titan Health of West Penn Inc., Titan Health of Westminster Inc., Titan Management Corporation, Titusville Center for Surgical Excellence LLC, Toms River Surgery Center L.L.C., Total Joint Center of the Northland LLC, Tower Road Real Estate LLC, Tower/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Treasure Coast ASC LLC, Trophy Club Medical Center L.P., True Medical Weight Loss L.P., True Medical Wellness LP, True Results Georgia Inc., True Results HoldCo LLC, True Results Missouri LLC, Tucson Digestive Institute LLC, Tucson Hospital Holdings Inc., Tucson Physician Group Holdings LLC, Turlock Imaging Services LLC, Turlock Land Company LLC, Tuscan Surgery Center at Las Colinas LLC, Twin Cities Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Twin Cities Community Hospital Inc., UAP Las Colinas Endo LLC, UAP Lebanon Endo LLC, UAP Nashville Endoscopy LLC, UAP Scopes LLC, UAP of Arizona Inc., UAP of California Inc., UAP of Missouri Inc., UAP of New Jersey Inc., UAP of Oklahoma Inc., UAP of Tennessee Inc., UAP of Texas Inc., UCC Tucson Holdings LLC, UMC Surgery Center Lubbock LLC, UMC-USP Surgery Centers LLC, USC/Norris Cancer Hospital, USP 12th Ave Real Estate Inc., USP Acquisition Corporation, USP Alexandria Inc., USP Assurance Company, USP Athens Inc., USP Atlanta Inc., USP Austin Inc., USP Bariatric LLC, USP Beaumont Inc., USP Bergen Inc., USP Bloomington Inc., USP Bridgeton Inc., USP Cedar Park Inc., USP Chesterfield Inc., USP Chicago Inc., USP Cincinnati Inc., USP Coast Inc., USP Columbia Inc., USP Connecticut Inc., USP Corpus Christi Inc., USP Creve Coeur Inc., USP Denver Inc., USP Des Peres Inc., USP Destin Inc., USP Domestic Holdings Inc., USP Effingham Inc., USP Encinitas Endoscopy Inc., USP Fenton Inc., USP Festus Inc., USP Florissant Inc., USP Fort Lauderdale Inc., USP Fort Worth Hospital Real Estate Inc., USP Fredericksburg Inc., USP Fresno Inc., USP Frontenac Inc., USP Gateway Inc., USP HMH Surgery Center at Shore LLC, USP Harbour View Inc., USP Houston Inc., USP Indiana Inc., USP International Holdings Inc., USP Jersey City Inc., USP Kansas City Inc., USP Knoxville Inc., USP Little Rock Inc., USP Long Island Inc., USP Louisiana Inc., USP Lubbock Inc., USP Maryland Inc., USP Mason Ridge Inc., USP Mattis Inc., USP Michigan Inc., USP Midland Inc., USP Midland Real Estate Inc., USP Midwest Inc., USP Mission Hills Inc., USP Montana Inc., USP Morris Inc., USP Mt. Vernon Inc., USP Nevada Holdings LLC, USP Nevada Inc., USP New Hampshire Inc., USP New Jersey Inc., USP Newport News Inc., USP North Carolina Inc., USP North Kansas City Inc., USP North Texas Inc., USP Northwest Arkansas Inc., USP OKC Inc., USP OKC Manager Inc., USP Office Parkway Inc., USP Ohio RE Inc., USP Oklahoma Inc., USP Olive Inc., USP Orlando Inc., USP Philadelphia Inc., USP Phoenix Inc., USP Portland Inc., USP Reading Inc., USP Richmond II Inc., USP Richmond Inc., USP Sacramento Inc., USP San Antonio Inc., USP Santa Barbara Surgery Centers Inc., USP Securities Corporation, USP Silver Cross Inc., USP Siouxland Inc., USP Somerset Inc., USP South Carolina Inc., USP Southlake RE Inc., USP St. Louis Inc., USP St. Louis Urology Inc., USP St. Peters Inc., USP Sunset Hills Inc., USP TJ STL Inc., USP Tennessee Inc., USP Texas Air L.L.C., USP Texas L.P., USP Torrance Inc., USP Tucson Inc., USP Turnersville Inc., USP Virginia Beach Inc., USP Washington Inc., USP Waxahachie Management L.L.C., USP Webster Groves Inc., USP West Covina Inc., USP Westwood Inc., USP Winter Park Inc., USP Wisconsin Inc., USP-HMH Surgery Center at Central Jersey LLC, USP/Carondelet Tucson Surgery Centers LLC, USP/SOS Joint Venture LLC, USPI Group Holdings Inc., USPI Holding Company Inc.1, USPI Holdings Inc., USPI Physician Strategy Group LLC, USPI San Diego Inc., USPI Stockton Inc., USPI Surgical Services Inc., Ulysses True Results NewCo LLC, Underwood Surgery Center LLC, United Anesthesia Partners Inc., United Real Estate Development Inc., United Real Estate Holdings Inc., United Surgical Partners Holdings Inc., United Surgical Partners International, United Surgical Partners International Inc., Universal Medical Care Center L.L.C., University Surgery Center Ltd., University Surgical Partners of Dallas L.L.P., Upper Bay Surgery Center LLC, Upper Cumberland Physicians Surgery Center LLC, Urgent Care Centers of Arizona LLC, Utica ASC Partners LLC, Utica/USP Tulsa L.L.C., VB Brownsville LTACH LLC, VBOA ASC GP LLC, VBOA ASC Partners L.L.C., VHM Services Inc., VHS Acquisition Corporation, VHS Acquisition Partnership Number 1 L.P, VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 1 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 11 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 12 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 3 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 4 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 5 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 6 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 7 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 8 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 9 Inc., VHS Arizona Heart Institute Inc., VHS Brownsville Hospital Company LLC, VHS Chicago Market Procurement LLC, VHS Childrens Hospital of Michigan Inc., VHS Detroit Businesses Inc., VHS Detroit Receiving Hospital Inc., VHS Detroit Ventures Inc., VHS Harlingen Hospital Company LLC, VHS Harper-Hutzel Hospital Inc., VHS Holding Company Inc., VHS Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital Inc., VHS Imaging Centers Inc., VHS New England Holding Company I Inc., VHS Outpatient Clinics Inc., VHS Phoenix Health Plan Inc., VHS Physicians of Michigan, VHS Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan Inc., VHS San Antonio Imaging Partners L.P., VHS San Antonio Partners LLC, VHS Sinai-Grace Hospital Inc., VHS University Laboratories Inc., VHS Valley Health System LLC, VHS Valley Holdings LLC, VHS Valley Management Company Inc., VHS West Suburban Medical Center Inc., VHS Westlake Hospital Inc., VHS of Anaheim Inc., VHS of Arrowhead Inc., VHS of Huntington Beach Inc., VHS of Illinois Inc., VHS of Michigan Inc., VHS of Michigan Staffing Inc., VHS of Orange County Inc., VHS of Phoenix Inc., VHS of South Phoenix Inc., Valley Baptist Lab Services LLC, Valley Baptist Physician Performance Network, Valley Baptist Realty Company LLC, Valley Baptist Wellness Center LLC, Valley Health Care Network, Vanguard ASC LLC, Vanguard Health Financial Company LLC, Vanguard Health Holding Company I LLC, Vanguard Health Holding Company II LLC, Vanguard Health Management Inc., Vanguard Health Systems, Vanguard Health Systems Inc., Vanguard Holding Company I Inc., Vanguard Holding Company II Inc., Vanguard Medical Specialists LLC, Vanguard Physician Services LLC, Ventana Surgical Center LLC, Veroscan Inc., Victoria Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Virtua-USP Princeton LLC, WHASA L.C., Walker Baptist Affinity LLC, Walker Street Imaging Care Inc., Warner Park Surgery Center LLC, Watermark Physician Services Inc., Webster Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Wellington Endo LLC, Wellstar/USP Joint Venture I LLC, Wellstar/USP Joint Venture II LLC, West Boca Health Services L.L.C., West Boca Medical Center Inc., West Boynton Urgent Care L.L.C., West Bozeman Surgery Center LLC, West Palm Healthcare Real Estate Inc., West Suburban Radiation Therapy Center LLC, Westgate Surgery Center LLC, Westlake Hospital LLC, Westlawn Surgery Center LLC, Westminster Surgery Center LLC, Westminster Surgery Centers LLC, White Fence Surgical Suites LLC, Willamette Spine Center Ambulatory Surgery LLC, Wilmington Endoscopy Center LLC, Wilshire Rental Corp., Winter Haven Ambulatory Surgical Center L.L.C., Wisconsin Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Wymark Surgery Center LLC, and YNHHSC/USP Surgery Centers LLC. National Australia Bank Limited provides financial services to individuals and businesses in Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. It operates through Business and Private Banking, Personal Banking, Corporate and Institutional Banking, and New Zealand Banking segments. It operates through Business and Private Banking; Personal Banking; Corporate and Institutional Banking; New Zealand Banking; Corporate Functions and Other; and MLC Wealth segments. The company accepts transaction accounts, savings accounts, deposit accounts, and term deposits; and specialized accounts, such as foreign currency, business interest, statutory trust, community free saver, farm management, and project bank accounts, as well as farm management deposits. National Australia Bank Limited also provides home loans; personal loans; business loans; vehicle and equipment finance; and trade and invoice finance, as well as business overdrafts and bank guarantees. In addition, the company offers insurance products consisting of car, home and content, landlord, travel, caravan and trailer, life, and business insurance products; and pension, superannuation, self-managed super funds, cash management, and financial planning and advisory services. Further, it provides investment products; credit, debit, and business cards; payments and merchant services; travel services; online and internet banking services; small business services; international and foreign exchange solutions; and industry specific banking services. National Australia Bank Limited was founded in 1834 and is based in Docklands, Australia. Read More InterXion Holding N.V. provides carrier and cloud-neutral colocation data center services in France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The company enables its customers to connect to a range of telecommunications carriers, cloud platforms, Internet service providers, and other customers. Its data centers acts as content, cloud, and connectivity hubs that facilitate the processing, storage, sharing, and distribution of data between its customers. The company offers colocation services, including space and power to deploy IT infrastructure in its data centers; a range of output voltages and currents; connectivity services that enable its customers to connect their IT infrastructure to exchange traffic and access cloud platforms; and systems monitoring, systems management, engineering support, and data backup and storage services, as well as installs and manages physical connections running from its customers' equipment to the equipment of its telecommunications carriers, Internet service providers, Internet exchange customers, and other customers. It provides its services to telecom operators, Internet service providers, and content delivery networks; content and cloud providers; and enterprises through direct sales forces, as well as through tradeshows, networking events, and industry seminars. As of December 31, 2018, it operated 51 carrier and cloud neutral colocation data centers in 13 metropolitan areas in 11 countries. The company is also involved in real estate management/holding businesses. InterXion Holding N.V. was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of NOV: AG Holding UK, APL France SAS, APL Management Pte Ltd, APL Norway AS, APL do Brasil Ltda., ASEP Group Holding B.V., ASEP Otomotiv Sanayi Ticaret Ltd., Ackerman Holdings C.V., Ackerman Holdings GP LLC, Ackerman International Holland B.V., Advanced Production and Loading, Advanced Wirecloth, Aggregate Plant Products Co., American Pipe and Construction International, Ameron B.V., Ameron Holdings Pte. Ltd., Ameron International, Ameron International Corporation, Ameron Pole Products LLC, Ameron Polyplaster Industria E Comercio de Tubos Ltda., Ameron Singapore Holding, Ameron Singapore Poly Holdings Pte. Ltd., Ameron Trading Holdings Pte. Ltd., Andergauge Limited, Andergauge Redback, Andergauge USA, Arabian Rig Manufacturing Company, Axiom Process Limited, Belco Manufacturing Company, Big Red Tubulars Limited, Bondstrand Ltd., Bowen Downhole Inc., Bowen Downhole LLC, Brandt Interests, Brandt Oilfield Services (M) Sdn. Bhd., C.M.A. Canavera S.R.L., CJSC Fidmash, CJSC Novmash, CSI Inspection, Camco Drilling Group Limited, Chemineer, Coil Services Middle East LLC, Containment Solutions, Containment Solutions Services, Couoperatie Intelliserv Holding U.A., Couoperatie NOV NL U.A., Danco AS, Denali Incorporated, Denali Management, Devin International, Dreco Canada L.P., Dreco DHT, Dreco Eastern Europe ULC, Dreco Energy Services ULC, Dreco International Holdings ULC, Dreco LLC, E.C. Motors, Elmar Far East Pty Ltd, Enerflow Industries, Enerpro de Mexico, Environmental Procedures LLC, Ershigs, Fabricated Plastics Acquisitions Limited, Fabricated Plastics Limited, Fiber Glass Systems, Fiber Glass Systems (Qingdao) Composite Piping Co., Fiber Glass Systems Holdings, Fiber Glass Systems Oman L.L.C., Fiber Glass Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fiberspar, Fiberspar Australia Pty. Ltd., Fiberspar Corporation, Fiberspar Linepipe Canada Ltd., Fibra Ingenieria y Construccion S.A., FidService, Fjords Processing (Shanghai) Co., Fjords Processing 1 AS, Fjords Processing AS, Fjords Processing Australia Pty Ltd, Fjords Processing France SAS, Fjords Processing Korea Co. Ltd., Fjords Processing Limited, Fjords Processing UK Ltd., Fryma S.a.r.l., GOT German Oil Tools GmbH, GP USA Holding LLC, GPEX, German Oil Tools (Middle East) FZE, Grant Prideco (Jiangsu) Drilling Products Co., Grant Prideco (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Grant Prideco AB TCA Holding LLC, Grant Prideco European Holding, Grant Prideco Holding, Grant Prideco III C. V., Grant Prideco Inc., Grant Prideco Jersey Limited, Grant Prideco L.P., Grant Prideco Mauritius Limited, Grant Prideco Netherlands B.V., Grant Prideco PC Composites Holdings, Grant Prideco S. de R.L. de C.V., Grant Prideco USA, Grant Prideco de Venezuela, Greystone Technologies Pty. Ltd., GustoMSC B.V., GustoMSC U.S., Hebei Huayouyiji Tuboscope Coating Co., Hitec AS, Hydralift AmClyde, Hydralift France SAS, Hydralift Holdings UK Limited, Inspecciones y Pruebas No Destructivas, IntelliServ Norway AS, Intelliserv, Intelliserv GP Holdings LLC, Intelliserv International Holding, Intelliserv LLC, Interval LLC, JiangYin Tuboscope Tubular Development Co., Merpro Group Limited, Merpro Products Limited, Merpro Tortek Limited, Midsund Bruk AS, Mono Group Pension Trustees Limited, Mono Pumps New Zealand Company, Monoflo NOV S.A.I.C., Moyno Inc., Moyno de Mexico S.A. de C.V., NKT Flexibles I/S, NOV (Asia), NOV (Barbados) Holding SRL, NOV (Barbados) SRL, NOV (Caymans), NOV (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., NOV - Oil Services Angola LDA., NOV APL Limited, NOV ASEP Elmar Mexico, NOV Africa Pty Ltd, NOV Australia Pty Ltd, NOV Azerbaijan LLC, NOV Brandt Europe France, NOV Brandt Oilfield Services Middle East LLC, NOV CV1 GP LLC, NOV CV2 GP LLC, NOV Completion Tools AS, NOV Completion Tools LLC, NOV Completion and Production Solutions Korea Ltd., NOV DH de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., NOV DHT Canada Holding ULC, NOV Denmark Cooperatief U.A., NOV Downhole Argentina, NOV Downhole Bolivia S.R.L., NOV Downhole Colombia, NOV Downhole Comercializacao de Equipamentos para Petroleo Ltda., NOV Downhole Congo, NOV Downhole Eurasia Limited, NOV Downhole Europe B.V., NOV Downhole Germany GmbH, NOV Downhole Italia S.R.L., NOV Downhole Kazakhstan, NOV Downhole Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., NOV Downhole Pty Ltd, NOV Downhole Thailand, NOV Dreco GP LLC, NOV EU Acquisition SNC, NOV Elmar (Middle East) Limited, NOV Elmar NL B.V., NOV Elmar Pte. Ltd., NOV Enerflow ULC, NOV Eurasia Holding LLC, NOV European Holding LLC, NOV Expatriate Services, NOV FGS Malaysia Sdn Bhd, NOV FGS Singapore (Pte.) Ltd, NOV Fiber Glass Systems Fabricacao De Tubos E Conexoes Ltda, NOV Flexibles Equipamentos E Servicos Ltda., NOV Flexibles Holding ApS, NOV Floating Production AS, NOV Fluid Control B.V., NOV GEO GP LLC, NOV GEO LP1 C.V., NOV GEO LP2 C.V., NOV GP Holding L.P., NOV GP1 Holding LLC, NOV Gabon SARL, NOV Germany Holding GmbH, NOV Ghana Limited, NOV Grant Prideco Drilling Equipment Manufacturing LLC, NOV Grant Prideco Drilling Products Middle East FZE, NOV Grant Prideco L.L.C., NOV Holding Danmark ApS, NOV Holding Germany GmbH & Co KG, NOV Holding Germany Management GmbH, NOV Holdings B.V., NOV Hydra Rig Pte. Ltd, NOV India Private Limited, NOV Intelliserv UK Limited, NOV International Holdings C.V., NOV International Holdings GP LLC, NOV Intervention & Stimulation Equipment US LLC, NOV Intervention and Stimulation Equipment Aftermarket Comercio de Equipamentos e Servicos Ltda., NOV Kenya Limited, NOV Kostroma LLC, NOV Kuwait Light & Heavy Equipment Repairing & Maintenance Co., NOV LP (Trading), NOV MSI Pipe Protection Technologies Inc., NOV MSI Pipe Protection Technologies Mexico, NOV Mexico Holding LLC, NOV Middle East FZCO, NOV Mission Products UK Limited, NOV Mozambique Limitada, NOV NL Mexico Holding B.V., NOV Netherlands Finance Holding C.V., NOV Netherlands Finance Holding LLC, NOV North America I/P, NOV Oil & Gas Services Egypt (S.A.E), NOV Oil & Gas Services Uganda Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Ghana Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Namibia (Proprietary) Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Nigeria Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services South Africa (Pty) Limited, NOV Oilfield Services Tanzania Limited, NOV Oilfield Services Vostok LLC, NOV Oilfield Solutions Ltd., NOV Park II B.V., NOV Process & Flow Technologies AS, NOV Process & Flow Technologies Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., NOV Process & Flow Technologies Pte. Ltd., NOV Process & Flow Technologies UK Limited, NOV Process & Flow Technologies US, NOV Rig Solutions Pte. Ltd., NOV Romania, NOV Saudi Arabia Co. Ltd., NOV Saudi Arabia Trading Co., NOV Services Ltd., NOV Servicios de Personal Mexico, NOV Subsea Products AS, NOV TV2 LLC, NOV TVI LLC, NOV Tanajib Kuwait for Services and Maintenance of Oil Rigs Refineries and Petrochemicals, NOV Tuboscope Italia S.R.L., NOV Tuboscope Middle East LLC, NOV Tuboscope NL B.V., NOV Tubulars and Connectors Ltd., NOV UK (Angola Acquisitions) Limited, NOV UK Finance Limited, NOV UK Holdings Limited, NOV UK Korea LP, NOV Wellbore Technologies Norway LLC, NOV Wellbore Technologies do Brasil Equipamentos E Servicos Ltda., NOV Wellsite Services Germany GmbH, NOV Worldwide C.V., NOV-BLM SAS, NOVM Holding LLC, NOW Downhole Tools, NOW International LLC, NOW Nova Scotia Holdings LLC, NOW Oilfield Services, NQL Holland B.V., National Oilwell (U.K.) Limited, National Oilwell Algerie, National Oilwell DHT, National Oilwell Middle East Company, National Oilwell Services de Mexico, National Oilwell Varco (Beijing) Investment Management Co. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco (Thailand) Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Algeria, National Oilwell Varco Almansoori Services, National Oilwell Varco Bahrain WLL, National Oilwell Varco Belgium SA, National Oilwell Varco Denmark I/S, National Oilwell Varco Egypt LLC, National Oilwell Varco Eurasia, National Oilwell Varco Guatemala, National Oilwell Varco Guyana Inc., National Oilwell Varco Hungary Limited Liability Company, National Oilwell Varco Korea Co., National Oilwell Varco MSW S.A., National Oilwell Varco Mexico, National Oilwell Varco Muscat L.L.C., National Oilwell Varco Norway AS, National Oilwell Varco Peru S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco Petroleum Equipment (Shanghai) Co., National Oilwell Varco Poland Sp.z.o.o., National Oilwell Varco Pte. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Rig Equipment Trading (Shanghai) Co., National Oilwell Varco Romania S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco Solutions, National Oilwell Varco UK Limited, National Oilwell Varco Ukraine LLC, National Oilwell Varco de Bolivia S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco de Chile - Servicios Limitada, National Oilwell Varco do Brasil Ltda., National Oilwell de Venezuela, National-Oilwell Pte. Ltd., National-Oilwell Pty. Ltd., PT Fjords Processing Indonesia, PT H-Tech Oilfield Equipment, PT NOV Oilfield Services, PT National Oilwell Varco, PT PROFAB INDONESIA, Pesaka Inspection Services SDN.BHD., Pipex Limited, Pipex PX Limited, Pipex Structural Composites Limited, Pridecomex Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., Pridecomex TA Industries, Procon Engineering Ltd., Profab Engineering Pte. Ltd., Profab Services Pte Ltd, Quality Tubing FSC, R&M C.V., R&M Canada Cooperatief U.A., R&M Energy Systems Australia Pty Ltd., R&M Energy Systems de Argentina S.A., R&M Energy Systems de Venezuela, R&M Environmental Strategies, R&M Singapore Holding LLC, R&M UK Holding LLC, RE.MAC.UT. S.r.l., RHI Holding LLC, ReedHycalog, ReedHycalog International Holding, ReedHycalog LLC, ReedHycalog UK Limited, Robannic Overseas Finance A.V.V., Robbins & Myers, Robbins & Myers (Suzhou) Process Equipment Company Limited, Robbins & Myers B.V., Robbins & Myers Foundation, Robbins & Myers GP LLC, Robbins & Myers Holdings, Robbins & Myers Holdings UK Limited, Robbins & Myers Inc, Robbins & Myers Italia S.R.L., Robbins & Myers N.V., Rodic S.A. de C.V., Romaco S.a.r.l., STAR Sudamtex Tubulares S.A., STBH2O TUNISIE, STSA, Screen Manufacturing Company Unlimited, Seabox AS, Slip Clutch Systems Limited, Smart Drilling GmbH, Soil Recovery A/S, South Seas Inspection, Subseaflex Holding ApS, T-3 Energy Preferred Industries Mexico, T-3 Energy Services, T-3 Energy Services Cayman, T-3 Energy Services Cayman Holdings, T-3 Energy Services India Private Limited, T-3 Energy Services Mexico, T-3 Investment Corporation IV, T-3 Mexican Holdings, TVI Holdings, Telluride Insurance Limited, Tianjin Grant TPCO Drilling Tools Company Limited, Tube-Kote, Tubo-FGS, Tuboscope & Co. LLC, Tuboscope (Holding U.S.) LLC, Tuboscope Brandt de Venezuela, Tuboscope Machining Services AS, Tuboscope Norge AS, Tuboscope Pipeline Services Inc., Tuboscope Services, Tuboscope Vetco (Deutschland) GmbH, Tuboscope Vetco (France) SAS, Tuboscope Vetco (Oesterreich) GmbH, Tuboscope Vetco Canada ULC, Tuboscope Vetco Capital Limited, Tuboscope Vetco Moscow CJSC, Tuboscope Vetco de Argentina S.A., Tubular Coatings Solutions Ltd., Tucom Composites Polyester Sanayi Ticaret Ltd., Varco BJ B.V., Varco CIS, Varco Canada ULC, Varco I/P, Varco International de Venezuela, Varco L.P., Varco US Holdings LLC, Vetco Coating GmbH, Vetco Enterprise GmbH, Vetco Saudi Arabia Ltd., Visible Assets, Wilson International, Woolley, XL Systems, XL Systems Antilles, XL Systems Europe B.V., XL Systems International, voestalpine Middle East Free Zone Establishment, voestalpine Tubulars Corporation, voestalpine Tubulars GmbH, and voestalpine Tubulars GmbH & Co KG. Medtronic Plc is a medical technology company, which engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of device-based medical therapies and services. It operates through the following segments: Cardiac and Vascular Group; Minimally Invasive Technologies Group; Restorative Therapies Group; and Diabetes Group. The Cardiac and Vascular Group segment consists of products for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of cardiac rhythm disorders and cardiovascular disease. The Minimally Invasive Technologies Group segment focuses on respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, renal system, lungs, pelvic region, kidneys, and obesity diseases. The Restorative Therapies Group segment comprises of neurostimulation therapies and drug delivery systems for the treatment of chronic pain, as well as areas of the spine and brain, along with pelvic health and conditions of the ear, nose, and throat. The Diabetes Group segment offers insulin pumps, coninuous glucose monitoring systems, and insulin pump consumables. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Read More Noting the distinctive juve sentencing realities to face the Texas school mass murderer | Main | Vera Institute of Justice reports on "People in Prison 2017" May 19, 2018 The latest political back and forth, on both sides of the aisle, as federal prison reform efforts gain momentum Politico has two fascinating new articles about on-going political debates and maneuvering surrounding the FIRST STEP Act. That proposal, as reported here, received a 25-5 vote in favor in the House Judiciary Committee ten days ago, and it seems to be the top federal criminal justice reform bill with a real chance to get to the desk of Prez Trump in the coming months. Here are the full headlines and the start of each Politico article: "Trump pushes for prison reform bill that divides Democrats: The split among Democrats over whether to support a narrow bill or push for sentencing reductions spilled into the open on Friday": The letter came just hours before a White House prison reform summit spearheaded by the president's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, which was designed to promote the bill ahead of a crucial House floor vote expected next week. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence delivered remarks alongside Energy Secretary Rick Perry whose home state of Texas is seen as a model of prison system overhaul and liberal activist Van Jones, who supports the bill Jeffries helped negotiate. Trump vowed in his remarks that his administration would make circumstances "far, far, far greater than ever before" for former prisoners looking to rebuild their lives. But other leading Democrats are fighting Jeffries' approach, pushing for the sentencing reductions, which are opposed by the Trump administration. Jeffries' rebuke came in response to a letter [posted here] criticizing the narrower prisons bill circulated on Thursday by Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), among others. "Cotton jolts prison reform negotiations": Multiple law enforcement groups say Sen. Tom Cottons office approached them about opposing a bipartisan prison reform bill a key legislative priority for President Donald Trump according to emails reviewed by POLITICO. Cottons office says it made no direct request for groups to oppose the bill. But the outreach from the Arkansas Republican, one of Trump's closest allies in Congress, has left supporters of the prison reform effort suspicious that he is trying to tank the Trump-backed legislation before it reaches the Senate. Cotton is a stalwart critic of broader criminal justice overhaul proposals but has yet to publicly come out against the narrower, prison-focused approach that Trump is backing. However, the emails reviewed by POLITICO show at least two leading law enforcement groups discussing a call by Cottons office this week for letters of opposition on prison reform ahead of a White House summit Friday on the issue. In one instance, the request from Cottons camp appears to have lost the prisons bill a supporter: The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, which had declared its endorsement in February, wrote to House and Senate Republican leaders on Friday announcing it was reversing that position and would oppose the prison reform bill, citing changes made to the measure in recent weeks. A member of the organization said Cottons office had asked the group to send a letter of opposition, according to one of the emails reviewed by POLITICO. The FLEOA did not return a request for comment. In a separate email shared with POLITICO, another top law enforcement group said it and other similar organizations had been contacted by Cottons office with a request to oppose the bill in writing. Cotton spokeswoman Caroline Tabler said the office had not directly requested any public opposition. Senator Cotton believes its important that we get prison reform right, and that any legislation must fully protect law-abiding Americans. Hes consulted with Arkansans and several law enforcement groups and is actively working with his colleagues to address his concerns with the current bill, Tabler said in a statement. I suspect that there are not many examples of Senator Tom Cotton and Senator Kamala voting similarly on a high-profile piece of legislation, but the latest news and developments concerning federal criminal justice reform suggests they may both end up voting no (albeit for different reasons) if and when the FIRST STEP Act comes up for a vote in the Senate. Interesting times. Some of many prior related posts: May 19, 2018 at 04:40 PM | Permalink Comments Cotton is interested in making himself look good, nothing else. He goes off half cocked, with no accurate info, nor does he understand the fed guidelines. That pretty well sums up his career. Posted by: MidWestGuy | May 19, 2018 9:58:45 PM If I were Cotton, I would not bother opposing this bill. Its provisions are trite, small, and meaningless. They will have no impact whatsoever on crime. It is for the display of false piety. If it proves to be a bipartisan success that makes people feel a little better about themselves in the Congress, it is worth enacting. They are having a rough year. Posted by: David Behar | May 20, 2018 12:36:10 AM MidWestGuy: I cannot help but wonder if AG Sessions may be urging Cotton's work here, especially as a means to provide a counter-point to all the folks in both parties in the Senate eager to see a bill bigger than the FIRST STEP Act moving forward. Posted by: Doug B | May 20, 2018 11:24:57 AM Post a comment The following companies are subsidiares of PPG Industries: AIPCF V Texstars Blocker Inc., AkzoNobel, Alermac Inversiones S.A. de C.V., Alpha Coating Technologies LLC, Alpha Coatings Inc., Broad Range Development Limited, Brown Brothers Distribution Limited, CG Holdings Manufacturing Co., Centro de Investigacion en Polimeros S.A. de C.V., Chemfil Canada Limited, Chorlton Trade Paints Limited, Comercial Mexicana de Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Comex, Comex Industrial Coatings S.A. de C.V., Consorcio Comex S.A. de C.V., Cristacol S.A., Cuming Microwave Corporation, Deutek SA, Dexmet Corporation, Dexmet Holding Corporation, Distribuidora Kroma S.A. de C.V., EPIC Insurance Co. Ltd., Eberle Design Inc., Empresa Aga S.A. de C.V., Ennis Canadian Holding Company, Ennis Flint Soluciones Seguras Para Trafico, Ennis Highway Traffic Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Ennis Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, Ennis Paint Australia Holding Pty Ltd, Ennis Paint Boya Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., Ennis Paint Canada ULC, Ennis Paint Germany GmbH, Ennis Paint Netherlands Holdings LLC, Ennis Paint U.K. Holding Company Limited, Ennis Prismo Italio S.r.l., Ennis Traffic Safety Solutions Pty Ltd, Ennis Flint Mexico, Ennis Flint New Zealand, Ennis Flint New Zealand Holding Pty Ltd, Ennis-Flint, Ennis-Flint Africa (Pty) Ltd, Ennis-Flint Inc., Foshan Bairun Chemicals Co. Ltd., Fpu Industrial S.A. de C.V., Grupo Comex S.A. de C.V., Hemmelrath Automotive Coatings (Jilin) Co. Ltd., Hodij Coatings B.V., Homax Products, Industria Chimica Reggiana I.C.R. SPA, Johnstones Paints Limited, Kalon Investment Company Limited, Kalon South Africa Proprietary Limited, Manchester Thermoplastics LLC, Masterwork Paint, MetoKote Canada Limited, MetoKote Corporation, MetoKote Mexico Holding Inc., MetoKote UK Limited, MetoKote de Mexico S. de RL de CV, PPG AC - France SA, PPG ALESCO Automotive Finishes Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., PPG AP Resinas S.A. de C.V., PPG Aerospace Materials (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., PPG Architectural Coatings (Puerto Rico) Inc., PPG Architectural Coatings Canada Inc., PPG Architectural Coatings Ireland Limited, PPG Architectural Coatings Italy S.r.l., PPG Architectural Coatings UK Limited, PPG Architectural Finishes Inc., PPG Asian Paints Private Ltd., PPG COATINGS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD., PPG Canada Inc., PPG Cieszyn S.A., PPG Coatings (Hong Kong) Co. Limited, PPG Coatings (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., PPG Coatings (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Thailand) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Wuhu) Company Ltd., PPG Coatings (Zhangjiagang) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings B.V., PPG Coatings Belgium BV, PPG Coatings Danmark A/S, PPG Coatings Deutschland GmbH, PPG Coatings Europe B.V., PPG Coatings Manufacturing SARL, PPG Coatings Nederland BV, PPG Coatings S.A., PPG Coatings South Africa (Pty) Ltd., PPG DYRUP S.A., PPG Deco Czech a.s., PPG Deco Polska sp. z.o.o., PPG Deco Slovakia s.r.o., PPG Deutschland Business Support GmbH, PPG Deutschland Sales & Services GmbH, PPG Distribution S.A.S., PPG Europe B.V., PPG Finance B.V., PPG France Business Support S.A.S., PPG France Manufacturing S.A.S., PPG Guadeloupe SAS, PPG Hellas S.A., PPG Hemmelrath Coatings Inc., PPG Hemmelrath Lackfabrik GmbH, PPG Holdco SAS, PPG Holdings (U.K.) Limited, PPG Holdings Argentina USA LLC, PPG Holdings Latin America USA LLC, PPG Iberica S.A., PPG Iberica Sales & Services S.L., PPG Industrial Coatings B.V., PPG Industrial do Brasil - Tintas E. Vernizes - Ltda., PPG Industries (Korea) Ltd., PPG Industries (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., PPG Industries (UK) Ltd, PPG Industries Argentina S.R.L., PPG Industries Australia PTY Limited A.C.N. 055 500 939, PPG Industries Colombia Ltda., PPG Industries Czech Republic s.r.o., PPG Industries Delfzijl B.V., PPG Industries Europe Sarl, PPG Industries France S.A.S., PPG Industries International Inc., PPG Industries Italia S.r.l., PPG Industries Kimya a Sanayi VE Ticaret AS, PPG Industries LLC, PPG Industries Lipetsk LLC, PPG Industries Middle East FZE, PPG Industries Netherlands B.V., PPG Industries New Zealand Limited, PPG Industries Ohio Inc., PPG Industries Poland Sp. Z.o.o., PPG Industries Securities LLC, PPG Industries de Mexico S.A. de C.V., PPG Italia Business Support S.r.l., PPG Italia Sales & Services S.r.l., PPG Japan Ltd., PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes Canada LP, PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes U.K. LLP, PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes U.S. LLC, PPG Luxembourg Finance S.aR.L., PPG Luxembourg Holdings S.aR.L., PPG Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Mexico S.A. de C.V., PPG Packaging Coatings (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., PPG Paints Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Performance Coatings (Hong Kong) Limited, PPG Powder Coatings (Shanghai) Limited, PPG Romania S.A., PPG SSC Co. Ltd., PPG Switzerland GmbH, PPG Trilak Kft., PPG Vietnam Co. Ltd., PRC-DeSoto Australia Pty Ltd., PRC-DeSoto International Inc., PT. PPG Coatings Indonesia, Painter's Supply, Paintzen, Peintures de Paris SAS, Plasticos Envolventes S.A. de C.V., Polymeric Systems Inc., Prismo Road Markings Limited, ProCoatings B.V., ProCoatings BV, Protec Pty Ltd. A.C.N. 007 857 392, Reno A&E LLC, Revocoat France SAS, Revocoat Holding SAS, Revocoat Iberica SLU, Revocoat S.A.S, Road Infrastructure Investment Holdings Inc., SEM Products Inc., Sealants Europe SAS, Sierracin Corporation, Sierracin/Sylmar Corporation, Sigma Marine & Protective Coatings Holding B.V., SigmaKalon (BC) UK Limited, SigmaKalon Group, SigmaKalon Middle East B.V., Sikar (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Spraylat International Ltd, Texstars LLC, The Crown Group Co., The Crown Group Inc, The Homax Group, Tikkurila Group, Traffic Safety Intermediate LLC, Traffic Safety Parent LLC, United International Business NV, Vanex Inc., Vernisol S.p.A., Versaflex, Viasa S.A. de C.V., Whitford, Whitford B.V., Whitford Corporation, Whitford Jiangmen Ltd., Whitford Ltd. (HK), Whitford Ltd. (UK), Whitford Pte. Ltd., Whitford S.r.l., Whitford Worldwide Company LLC, Worwag Coatings, and Zaganite Industries Pty Ltd. The following companies are subsidiares of Aramark: 1ST & Fresh LLC, AIL Servicos Alimenticios e Participacoes Ltda., AIM Services Co. Ltd., AMP Limited Partnership, ARA Catering and Vending Services Limited, ARA Coffee Club Limited, ARA Coffee System Limited, ARA Food Services Limited, ARA Marketing Services Limited, ARA Offshore Services Limited, ARAMONT Company Ltd., Active Industrial Unif, Alcatraz Hospitality, AmeriPride Services, American Snack & Beverage LLC, Aramark (BVI) Limited, Aramark Airport Services Limited, Aramark American Food Services LLC, Aramark Asia Management LLC, Aramark Aviation Services Limited Partnership, Aramark B.V., Aramark Beverages Limited, Aramark Business & Industry LLC, Aramark Business Center LLC, Aramark Business Dining Services of Texas LLC, Aramark Business Facilities LLC, Aramark CCT Trustees Limited, Aramark Campus LLC, Aramark Canada Ltd., Aramark Canadian Investments Inc., Aramark Capital Asset Services LLC, Aramark Catering Limited, Aramark China Dining Services (Shanghai) Limited, Aramark China Holdings Limited, Aramark Chugach Alaska Services LLC, Aramark Cleaning S.A., Aramark Cleanroom Services (Puerto Rico) Inc., Aramark Cleanroom Services LLC, Aramark Co. Ltd., Aramark Colombia SAS, Aramark Concessions Services Joint Venture, Aramark Confection LLC, Aramark Construction Services Inc., Aramark Construction and Energy Services LLC, Aramark Consumer Discount Company, Aramark Correctional Services LLC, Aramark Defence Services Limited, Aramark Denmark ApS, Aramark Distribution Services Inc., Aramark Educational Group LLC, Aramark Educational Services LLC, Aramark Educational Services of Texas LLC, Aramark Educational Services of Vermont Inc., Aramark Entertainment LLC, Aramark Entertainment Services (Canada) Inc., Aramark Executive Management Services USA Inc., Aramark FHC Business Services LLC, Aramark FHC Campus Services LLC, Aramark FHC Correctional Services LLC, Aramark FHC Healthcare Support Services LLC, Aramark FHC Kansas Inc., Aramark FHC LLC, Aramark FHC Refreshment Services LLC, Aramark FHC School Support Services LLC, Aramark FHC Services LLC, Aramark FHC Sports and Entertainment Services LLC, Aramark FSM LLC, Aramark Facility Services LLC, Aramark Food Service LLC, Aramark Food Service of Texas LLC, Aramark Food and Support Services Group Inc., Aramark Global Group S.a.r.l., Aramark Global Inc., Aramark GmbH, Aramark Gulf Limited, Aramark Gulf Limited Catering Services LLC, Aramark Healthcare Support Services LLC, Aramark Healthcare Support Services of the Virgin Islands Inc., Aramark Healthcare Technologies LLC, Aramark Holding Deutschland GmbH, Aramark Holdings GmbH & Co. KG, Aramark Holdings Ltd., Aramark Industrial Services LLC, Aramark Intermediate HoldCo Corporation, Aramark International Finance S.a.r.l., Aramark International Holdings S.a.r.l., Aramark Inversiones Latinoamericanas Limitada, Aramark Investments Limited, Aramark Ireland Holdings Limited, Aramark Japan Holdings Limited, Aramark Japan LLC, Aramark KSA LLC, Aramark Kazakhstan Ltd., Aramark Lakewood Associates, Aramark Limited, Aramark Management GmbH, Aramark Management LLC, Aramark Management Services Limited Partnership, Aramark Manning Services UK Limited, Aramark Mexico Group, Aramark Mexico S.A. de C.V., Aramark Monclova Manufacturing de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Aramark Monclova Support S.A.de C.V., Aramark Norway SA, Aramark Organizational Services LLC, Aramark Partnership Limited, Aramark Personnel Services, Aramark Peru S.A.C., Aramark Peru Servicios de Intermediacion SRL, Aramark Processing LLC, Aramark Property Services Limited, Aramark Qualified Opportunity Fund, Aramark Quebec Inc., Aramark RBI Inc., Aramark Rail Services LLC, Aramark Receivables LLC, Aramark Refreshment Group, Aramark Refreshment Services LLC, Aramark Refreshment Services of Tampa LLC, Aramark Regional Treasury Europe DAC, Aramark Remote Workplace Services Ltd., Aramark Restaurations GmbH, Aramark S&E/QCF Joint Venture, Aramark S.A., Aramark S.A. de C.V., Aramark S.R.O., Aramark SARL, Aramark SCM Inc., Aramark SM Management Services Inc., Aramark SMMS LLC, Aramark SMMS Real Estate LLC, Aramark School Catering Facility Ltd., Aramark Schools Facilities LLC, Aramark Schools LLC, Aramark Senior Living Services LLC, Aramark Senior Notes Company LLC, Aramark Service Industries (China) Co. Ltd., Aramark Services Inc., Aramark Services SA, Aramark Services of Kansas Inc., Aramark Services of Puerto Rico Inc., Aramark Servicios Industriales S. de R.L. de C.V., Aramark Servicios Integrales S.A., Aramark Servicios Mineros y Remotos Limitada, Aramark Servicios SRL, Aramark Servicios de Catering S.L., Aramark Servicos Alimenticos e Participacoes Ltda., Aramark Sports Facilities LLC, Aramark Sports LLC, Aramark Sports and Entertainment Group LLC, Aramark Sports and Entertainment Services LLC, Aramark Sports and Entertainment Services of Texas LLC, Aramark Sub Investments Limited, Aramark Technical Services North Carolina Inc., Aramark Togwotee LLC, Aramark Trademark Services, Aramark Trustees Limited, Aramark U.S. Offshore Services LLC, Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel Group Inc., Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel LLC, Aramark Uniform Holding de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Aramark Uniform Manufacturing Company, Aramark Uniform Services (Canada) Ltd., Aramark Uniform Services (Matchpoint) LLC, Aramark Uniform Services (Rochester) LLC, Aramark Uniform Services (Supply Chain), Aramark Uniform Services (Syracuse) LLC, Aramark Uniform Services (Texas) LLC, Aramark Uniform Services (West Adams) LLC, Aramark Uniform Services Japan Corporation, Aramark Venue Services Inc., Aramark WTC LLC, Aramark Workplace Solutions (UK) Ltd., Aramark Workplace Solutions Yonetim Hizmetleri Limited Sirketi, Aramark Worldwide Investments Limited, Aramark-Clarksville Club, Aramark-FINCO of Texas LLC, Aramark-Gourmet DPS LLC, Aramark-KWAME of St. Louis LLC, Aramark-SFS Healthcare J.V. L.L.C., Aramark/Dasko Restaurant and Catering Services S.A., Aramark/GM Concessions Joint Venture, Aramark/Giacometti Joint Venture, Aramark/Globetrotters LLC, Aramark/Gourmet HE-1 LLC, Aramark/Gourmet HE-2 LLC, Aramark/HF Company, Aramark/HMS LLC, Aramark/Hart Lyman Entertainment LLC, Aramark/Martin's Stadium Concession Services OPACY Joint Venture, Aramark/QHC LLC, Aramark/SFS Joint Venture, Avendra, Avendra Canada Inc., Avendra Gaming, Avendra Replenishment, Avoca, Avoca Handweavers Designs Limited, Avoca Handweavers Limited, Avoca Handweavers NI Limited, Avoca Handweavers Shops Limited, Avoca Handweavers UK Limited, Beijing Golden Collar Dining Ltd., Boompjes Hotel BV, Brand Coffee Service Inc., BuyEfficient, CDR Mantenimiento Integral S.A., Campbell Catering (Belfast) Ltd., Campbell Catering (N.I.) Ltd., Campbell Catering Holdings Limited, Campbell Catering Limited, Campbell Catering Ltd., Campbell Catering Services, Canadian Linen and Uniform Service Co., Canyonlands Rafting Hospitality LLC, Catering Alliance Limited, Caterwise Food Services Limited, Central Multiservicios S.R.L., Central de Abastecimiento Limitada, Central de Restaurantes Aramark Limitada, Central de Restaurantes Aramark Multiservicios Limitada, Central de Restaurantes S.R.L., Centrapal S.R.L., Centro de Innovacion y Servicio S.A., Cliff House Hospitality, Comertel Educa SLU, Comertel Residencia SLU, Comertel SA, Complete Purchasing Services Inc., Corporate Coffee Systems LLC, Crater Lake Hospitality, D.G. Maren II Inc., Delicious on West Street LLC, Delsac VIII Inc., Distributor JV Limited, Dongguan Best Property Management Co., Doyon/Aramark Denali National Park Concessions Joint Venture, Effective Partnerships Limited, Filterfresh Coffee Service, Filterfresh Coffee Service LLC, Filterfresh Franchise Group LLC, Fine Host Holdings LLC, Food JV Limited, Freedom Ferry Services, GTB Gastro Team Bremen GmbH, Gestion de Alimentacion y Limpieza Colectivadades SLU, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Concessions LLC, Glen Canyon Rafting Hospitality, Glenrye Properties Services Limited, Golden Collar, Good Uncle Services, Gourmet Aramark Services LLC, Guaranty Energy Group 1981, HPSI Purchasing Services LLC, Harrison Conference Associates LLC, Harrison Conference Services of North Carolina LLC, Harry M. Stevens Inc. of New Jersey, Harry M. Stevens Inc. of Penn., Harry M. Stevens LLC, Hunters Catering Partnership Limited, Institutional Processing Services, Instituto ICS S.A., Inversiones Aramark Chile Limitada, Inversiones Centralcorp Limitada, Inversiones Palm Limitada, Inversiones en Aseo y Mantenimiento S.A, Irish Estates (Facilities Management) Limited, L&N Uniform Supply LLC, Lake Tahoe Cruises LLC, Landy Textile Rental Services LLC, Lifeworks Restaurant Group LLC, Lotus Facilities Management, MESA, Masterplan, Medical Equipment Solutions & Applications Sagl (MESA), Mill Mount Weavers Limited, Muir Woods Hospitality, MyAssistant Inc., New Aramark LLC, Nissho Linen, North Rim Hospitality, Old Time Coffee Co., Olympic Peninsula Hospitality LLC, Orange Support Services Limited, Overall Laundry Services Inc., Paradise Hornblower LLC, Pelican Procurement Services Limited, Philadelphia Ballpark Concessions Joint Venture, Prem Hospitality Limited, Premgroup Franchise Services Limited, Premier Management Company (Dublin) Limited, Premier Partnership (Catering) Limited, Quebec Linge Co., ReMedPar, Restaura Inc., Rocky Mountain Hospitality LLC, Rushmore Hospitality LLC, SeamlessWeb, Seguricorp Servicios S.A., South Rim Hospitality LLC, Spokesoft Technologies Limited, Stuart Cabeldu Catering Limited, Sun Office Service Inc., Tarrant County Concessions LLC, The Aramark Foundation, The Original Food Company Limited, Travel Systems LLC, Trinity Hospitality Services GmbH, Trinity Hospitality Services SARL, Trinity Purchasing N.V., Vector Environmental Services Limited, Vector Workplace and Facility Management Limited, Veris Plc, Veris Property Management Limited, Veris UK Limited, WearGuard, Wilderness River Adventures, and Yosemite Hospitality LLC. The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. Ltd., Abbott Operations Uruguay S.R.L., Abbott Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Overseas Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Overseas S.A., Abbott Oy, Abbott Point of Care Canada Limited, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Abbott Poland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Procurement LLC, Abbott Products (Philippines) Inc., Abbott Products (Spain) S.L., Abbott Products Algerie EURL, Abbott Products B.V., Abbott Products Distribution SAS, Abbott Products Egypt LLC, Abbott Products Limited, Abbott Products Limited Liability Company, Abbott Products Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Products Operations AG, Abbott Products Operations LLC, Abbott Products Romania S.R.L., Abbott Products Tunisie S.A.R.L., Abbott Products Unlimited Company, Abbott Resources Inc., Abbott Resources International Inc., Abbott S.r.l., Abbott Saudi Arabia Trading Company, Abbott Scandinavia Aktiebolag, Abbott Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Abbott South Africa Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Strategic Opportunities Limited, Abbott Trading Company Inc., Abbott Universal LLC, Abbott Vascular Devices (2) Limited, Abbott Vascular Devices Limited, Abbott Vascular Inc., Abbott Vascular Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Abbott Vascular International, Abbott Vascular Japan Co. Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc., ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics. Weatherford International plc, an oilfield service company, provides equipment and services for the drilling, evaluation, completion, production, and intervention of oil and natural gas wells worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Western Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere. It offers artificial lift systems, including reciprocating rod, progressing cavity pumping, gas, hydraulic, plunger, and hybrid lift systems, as well as related automation and control systems; pressure pumping and reservoir stimulation services, such as acidizing, fracturing and fluid systems, cementing, and coiled-tubing intervention; and drill stem test tools, and surface well testing and multiphase flow measurement services. The company also provides safety, downhole reservoir monitoring, flow control, and multistage fracturing systems, as well as sand-control technologies, and production and isolation packers; liner hangers to suspend a casing string in high-temperature and high-pressure wells; cementing products, including plugs, float and stage equipment, and torque-and-drag reduction technology for zonal isolation; and pre-job planning and installation services. In addition, it offers directional drilling services, and logging and measurement services while drilling; services related to rotary-steerable systems, high-temperature and high-pressure sensors, drilling reamers, and circulation subs; managed pressure drilling, conventional mud-logging, drilling instrumentation, gas analysis, wellsite consultancy, and open hole and cased-hole logging services; reservoir solutions and software products; and intervention and remediation services. Further, the company provides equipment and drilling tools; tubular handling, management, and connection services; equipment rental services; and onshore contract drilling and related services through a fleet of land drilling and workover rigs. Weatherford International plc was incorporated in 1972 and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland. Read More Corindus Vascular Robotics, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells robotic-assisted systems for use in interventional vascular procedures in the United States and internationally. The company offers CorPath system, a medical device with robotic-assisted precision for coronary and peripheral interventional procedures. Its CorPath system allows the physician to perform procedures with a control console located within an interventional cockpit; and CorPath GRX system enables the precise robotic-assisted control of guide catheters, guidewires, and balloon/stent devices from the safety of a radiation-shielded interventional cockpit. The company sells its products through direct sales force, as well as through distributor and partnership relationships. It serves vascular, coronary, peripheral vascular, neurointerventional, and structural heart markets. Corindus Vascular Robotics, Inc. is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Read More New Delhi: To ensure 24X7 power supply to people, Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday urged ministries of railways, power and coal to work in coordination and also asked power plants to increase their plant load factor (PLF), an official statement said. Plant load factor is the amount of power a plant is producing as against its total capacity. In this regard, Goyal, who is minister of railways and coal, chaired a detailed review meeting with R K Singh, Minister of State (IC) for Power and New and Renewable Energy here, the Ministry of Coal said in a statement. "Goyal stressed on the necessity to increase PLF of various power plants of the country. He said all pithead plants with sufficient coal supply should run at 100 per cent PLF. (He) urged that team work and better coordination among ministries to ensure 24X7 power supply for the people of India," it said. According to the statement, the minister has also instructed the officials of the three ministries to keep a close vigil on the power production and supply situation in the country and remain in contact with chief secretaries and power secretaries of the states. At the meeting, the minister also reviewed power supply requirement during the ongoing summer and forthcoming winter season besides discussing short-term, medium-term and long-term measures to improve the coal stock position in power plants of the country. "Further, the minister stressed on the need for states located far from mines to use provisions under 'flexibility of utilisation of coal' rules, so that this coal can be used by those power stations near the coal source," the statement said. Gujarat and Maharashtra have already been using these provisions, it added. Besides Goyal and Singh, other senior officials of the three ministries also attended the meeting. The passage of time is the medium that crated this sense of national loss at the passing away, at a relatively young age of 54, of Sridevi. Sridevi left for the heavenly abode in February at her nephew Mohit Marwahs wedding in Dubai, and today, three months, her death still remains a mystery. The officials claimed she died of accidental drowning, but that doesnt reason much with her fans who think the death could be murder. Now Free Press Journal went on to report that retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Ved Bhushan, who runs a private investigation agency (PI) in Delhi feels Sridevis death looks more like a planned murder than an accident. "Its very easy to put someone in bathtub forcefully until victims breathing stops without leaving evidence of the crime, and then label it as an accidental death. This looks like a planned murder," said the ex-cop. Sridevi was recently honoured at Cannes 2018 after receiving the National Award back in India for Mom. Boney Kapoor, Janhvi and Khushi had received her awards. Meek Mill is scheduled to go to the White House on Friday to be part of a meeting regarding prison reform, something thats famously close to Meeks heart. However, it is not known whether it is to meet the president or someone else. The rapper is still dealing with a judge in his probation violation case, whom he believes is unfair and out to get him. Multiple sources also tell TMZ.com that some celebrities have contacted Meek, urging him not to go. A report in the journal Pediatrics warns that watching 13 Reasons Why, a popular Netflix series about a teen girls suicide, may be inadvisable for some youngsters. Mental health professionals have raised alarms that the series - which closes with a graphic depiction of the main character killing herself - could push other young people toward suicide. The second season of the show will air on May 18, while the first season remains available on Netflix. In an article titled, 13 Things Pediatricians Should Know (and do) About 13 Reasons Why, Dr. Michael B. Pitt and colleagues of the University of Minnesota Masonic Childrens Hospital in Minneapolis encourage doctors to warn vulnerable young patients - and their parents - away from the show. The first thing that we have been surprised by is how few of our colleagues even know about this show, Pitt told Reuters Health by email. While 13 Reasons raised a pop culture buzz amid concerns the show might trigger a wave of suicides, he added, there hasnt been much digging deep into what the science was. Best practices established by the World Health Organization, the International Association for Suicide Prevention, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others address how the media can portray suicide in ways that do not trigger copycat deaths among vulnerable individuals. The CDC guidelines, published in 1994, state that simplistic explanations for suicide, reports that serve as a how to for suicide, and coverage that glorifies the person who died by suicide, among other factors, can promote suicide contagion. One of the best practices is not to portray suicide, period, Pitt said. What struck me watching this now as a parent is the nature of the kind of hero worship that happens. It essentially makes her the most popular kid in school after shes killed herself. In reviewing records at their own health system, the authors identified more than 60 documented references to the show by 31 pediatric patients treated in the six months after 13 Reasons first aired. Three-quarters of the patients were receiving treatment related to a suicide attempt, and more than half of the childrens parents said they feared the show had made their childs mental health symptoms worse. The authors urge pediatricians to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics new guidelines calling for universal depression screening for patients aged 12 and older, and to ask their patients about their media consumption. Physicians need to not only be aware of the show and the potential ramifications, but also really become comfortable asking their patients about whether or not they are thinking of suicide, Dr. Kimberly OBrien, a research scientist at Boston Childrens Hospital Education Development Center and an instructor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, told Reuters Health by phone. Dr. OBriens research focuses on suicidal adolescents, but she did not take part in the new study. OBrien said she and her colleagues saw a huge spike in people admitted to inpatient psychiatric care who reported identifying with the shows main character, and wanted to kill themselves like she did, in the few months after the show first aired in 2017. In recent years, she noted, suicide has climbed from the third to the second leading cause of death among teens. Were also seeing a spike in attempts in this age range, and its disproportionately affecting certain demographics like sexual- and gender-minority youth, she said. While watching the show may not be harmful for someone who has never had suicidal thoughts, for the kids who have been struggling with suicidal thoughts for perhaps their whole lives, this could be really detrimental for them to watch, OBrien said. I think really the most problematic piece of the whole show was how they depicted Hannah Bakers suicide. I really feel they could have had the same positive impact without actually showing it in such graphic detail, she added. I do have some hope for the second season that they will really listen to us and make the changes that need to be made, she said. In an email to Reuters Health, a Netflix spokesperson cited a recent survey from Northwestern University that found the show led to conversations about bullying, suicide and mental health between teens and their parents. That said, we want viewers to be informed and make the right choice for themselves and their families, which is echoed in the video warning message from the cast that plays before each season, the spokesperson said, noting that Netflix offers a range of parental controls to restrict what kids can watch. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gazed into each other's eyes Saturday at the altar in St. George's Chapel as a soprano sang a work by Handel to celebrate their trans-Atlantic union in front of hundreds of celebrity guests and millions of viewers around the world. (Photo: AP) Windsor: Prince Harry and US TV star Meghan Markle were married in Windsor Castle on Saturday in a star-studded and emotional ceremony watched live by cheering crowds and beamed into homes around the world. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the spiritual leader of the world's Anglicans, declared the couple husband and wife after they exchanged vows and rings. Also read: Royal Wedding Live: Meghan and Harry are married Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gazed into each other's eyes Saturday at the altar in St. George's Chapel as a soprano sang a work by Handel to celebrate their trans-Atlantic union in front of hundreds of celebrity guests and millions of viewers around the world. Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their wedding at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Photo: AP) The American actress arrived to a fanfare and walked down the aisle accompanied part of the way by Prince Charles, and by 10 young page boys and bridesmaids. The children included 4-year-old Prince George and 3-year-old Princess Charlotte, children of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge. Markle's sleek white dress, designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, had a boat-neck and was made of silk. Her veil came to her waist in front and billowed out for many feet behind her long train. Prince Harry and best man Prince William wore dark formal military dress, with white gloves and the frock coat uniforms of the Blues and Royals. Harry kept his full red beard intact. ritain's Prince Harry, left, walks with his best man, Prince William as they arrive for the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London. (Photo: AP) As they stood at the altar, Harry said to Meghan: "You look amazing." A host of celebrities and athletes - including Oprah Winfrey, Idris Elba, Elton John, George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, James Corden and David and Victoria Beckham - arrived in the bright sunshine at Windsor for the ceremony. Gabriel Macht and wife Jacinda Barrett arrive for the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. (Photos: AP) Sabrina Dhowre and Idris Elba arrive for the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. (Photo: AP) Abigail Spencer and Priyanka Chopra arrive for the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. (Photo: AP) Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian. (Photo: AP) Prior to the festivities, Queen Elizabeth II honored her red-headed, 33-year-old grandson with a new title: the Duke of Sussex. That means that Markle will become the Duchess of Sussex when she says "I will." The wedding is a global event, thanks to Harry's status as a senior British royal and Markle's celebrity after starring on the U.S. television series "Suits" for seven years. The wedding pomp and ceremony - complete with Anglican prayers and tradition, classical music, a gospel choir and a horse-drawn carriage ride through Windsor - will be beamed live to tens of millions of TV viewers across the world. Relatives at the ceremony included Charles Spencer, the brother of Harry's late mother Princess Diana, and Harry's cousin Zara Tindall and her husband. Also in attendance was the family of Prince William's wife Kate: Parents Carole and Michael Middleton, sister Pippa Middleton and brother James Middleton. Harry's ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy was also among the congregation, as was Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, the ex-wife of Harry's uncle Prince Andrew. Outside the castle, thousands of fans crammed the streets of Windsor. Irene Bowdry, a lawyer from California, was aboard the jammed early train to Windsor. She booked her trip to England as soon as the wedding date was announced. "An American in the royal family, isn't that so exciting?" she said. The weather was balmy and clear, bathing the ancient stones of Windsor Castle in a beautiful spring light. Royal fans have been camping outside the castle for days, and British police have stepped up security, with sniffer dogs, barricades and patrols all over town. "Windsor is absolutely bursting with excitement," said royal historian Hugo Vickers. "There are cardboard cutouts of Meghan and Harry in every shop window, virtually. There's bunting all over the place. I've never seen so many people in the streets of Windsor." Everyone is waiting to see which designer Markle has chosen for her wedding gown. Prince Charles, the groom's father, will walk Markle to the altar after her own father became too ill to attend. It is a time of transition for the British monarchy, one that seems filled with hope as William and Harry - the two sons of Charles and the late Princess Diana - step ever more confidently into the limelight. Many in the crowd, like Ana Karukin, a Brazilian nurse living in Florida, said they came to witness a moment of history. "We've got to be here for him and for her, my Meghan, my special girl, to support them, because it's a beautiful time," she said. "I wish that Diana was here, but she's in heaven watching over them." The brothers found the time amid the wedding hoopla to stroll outside the castle Friday evening to thank fans for coming. A smiling Harry gave a thumb's up and answered "Great, thank you!" when asked how he was feeling on the eve of his wedding. And it seems to be a time of joy for 92-year-old queen and her 96-year-old husband, Prince Philip, who plans to attend the ceremony despite his recent hip replacement surgery. She is seeing her grandson marry a woman who clearly has brought him the happiness he's often said was missing from his life after his mother's premature death. The family tableau will play out on the broadest possible stage. Dozens of broadcasters set up on the castle grounds for a visual feast. The chapel itself is a masterpiece of the late Gothic style, and Windsor Castle has been home to British sovereigns for nearly 1,000 years. After the ceremony, the newlyweds will ride a horse-drawn carriage through the streets of Windsor, flanked by a British military procession with many officers on horseback. Then it will be off to the first of two gala receptions. The first will be hosted in the afternoon by the queen - with finger foods, wine and champagne. The second, smaller reception is being thrown by Charles. A three-hour break in between will allow for a rest and a change of outfits for the lucky 200 invited to the evening soiree. The chapel service will reflect Markle's American roots. The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, the African-American leader of the Episcopal Church, will deliver a sermon, and the musical selections will include versions of Ben. E. King's "Stand By Me" and Etta James' "Amen/This Little Light of Mine." Markle will be accompanied by her mother, Doria Ragland, when she is driven to the chapel, and many of her closest friends and some co-stars from "Suits" will be in the audience. She opted not to have a maid of honor but there will be 10 young bridesmaids and page boys, including 4-year-old Prince George and 3-year-old Princess Charlotte, the elder children of William and his wife Kate. Harry will be joined by some of his buddies from his 10 years of military service - an experience that included tours of duty in Afghanistan - and from many of the charities he supports, which have focused on helping wounded veterans or encouraging a more open discussion of mental health issues. The couple has made an effort to honor the memory of Harry's mother Diana, whose older sister Jane Fellowes will give a reading during the wedding service. After seeing the couple up close, Curry said Friday that he saw "two real people who are obviously in love." "When I see them, something in my heart leaps," he said. "That's why 2 billion people are watching them." Chennai: In a scuffle to thwart a gang of four from snatching mobile phones from passengers at Chennai Central, a Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable sustained cut injuries on his head after snatcher attacked with a knife, on wee hours of Friday. The injured constable Yogesh Kumar Meena was treated at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, while another constable Ratan Lal Meena managed to parry the attack. When both the constables were on regular duty at the Chennai Central Suburban railway station at 4 am on Friday, one of the passengers approached and informed them about his stolen phone. Following the complaint, Yogesh Kumar and Ratan Lal stopped a four-member gang in their early 20s, who were seen roaming in a suspectable manner. S.Vijay, the accused But the suspected persons tried to flee the spot. Moreover, one of them took a long knife that he was concealing and attacked Yogesh Kumar. He had sustained a minor cut injury on his head, the police said. Nevertheless, Ratan Lal had managed to subjugate the man and caught him. The police also said that other three persons escaped. During the interrogation, the arrested person was identified as S. Vijay (21) of Triplicane. The RPF also informed the Periamet Police about the incident and the police registered a case and are searching other 3 persons, who had escaped.The police also confiscated a knife and 4 mobile phones from Vijay. The RPF officials said that Yogesh Kumar, along with another RPF constable, recently subdued college students who went amok in Basin Bridge Railway station. Hearing the elderly mans cries for help, other passengers tried to catch Manikandan but he managed to elude them for nearly a kilometre. Chennai: After being caught by a section of passengers for his alleged cheating of an elderly man, a 21-year-old fraudster played the victim card to create arguments between his subjugators and other passengers, on Friday. According to a Government Railway Police source, Manikandan (21) of Kancheepuram had approached an 80-year-old man in the guise of helping him to buy a train ticket. Believing him, the elderly man handed over Rs 200 and sat on a bench, the police said. But, after standing for a while in the queue, Manikandan was said to have tried to slip away from the spot deceitfully. Hearing the elderly mans cries for help, other passengers tried to catch Manikandan but he managed to elude them for nearly a kilometre. The passengers brought the man back to the railway station to hand him over to the police. But he shouted for help and alleged that the passengers who had caught him were threatening with a knife for his belongings, the source added. Believing him, a few passengers started to argue with them. However, the commotion ended after the deception of Manikandan was exposed. He was handed over to the Government Railway Police. However, the elderly man refused to file a formal complaint as he was in a hurry to catch the Pallavan Express, the police said. Meanwhile, during the interrogation, it had emerged that Manikandan has been deceiving elderly passengers in city railway stations. Hyderabad: In a major success, West Zone police arrested the kingpin and a gang that had cheated several persons of about Rs 58 crore on the pretext of selling them high-end cars at discounted prices. The kingpin, Akash Goud, a B.Tech graduate from Medak, had escaped to Bangkok after the scam. He had conned some persons in the business, film and political circles by promising them high end cars at a 30 per cent discount. West Zone DCP A.R. Srinivas said Goud delivered a few cars only to build his reputation as someone who could secure the discounts. Explaining his method of cheating, the official said brokers spread the word that Goud was providing the cars at a discount. Following this, Goud would contact the targets. He would make them call those to whom he had provided cars with the 30 per cent discount. He would then persuade the targets to transfer money to his bank accounts. He never provided the cars, making it an elaborate ponzi scheme using high-end cars. The West Zone Task Force which started investigating the case found that an MPs son had given Goud Rs 1 crore and was cheated. Many complainants were emerging now, demanding their money back, said a police source. Mr Srinivas said Goud had has delivered 60 vehicles so far, and bookings were done for around 200 more. He promised an SUV like a Fortuner for Rs 25 lakh, and hefty discounts on a Rs 2.5-crore Porsche. Police said he kept the car documents with himself and used those to apply for bank loans. According to sources, four men were arrested and Goud was brought in for questioning from Bangkok. All the names coming out in the investigation will be pulled in for questioning. B S Yeddyurappa's resignation will pave the way for formation of a government led by JD(S) state chief H D Kumaraswamy, who has the backing of the Congress. (Photo: PTI) Bengaluru: The 3-day old B S Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka collapsed on Saturday, with the chief minister announcing his decision to resign without facing a trust vote. The Supreme Court had on Friday ordered a floor test in the Karnataka Assembly at 4 pm on Saturday, drastically slashing the 15-day window given by Governor Vajubhai Vala to BJP Chief Minister Yeddyurappa to prove his majority. "I am going to resign as chief minister....I will go to Raj Bhavan and submit my resignation. I will not face confidence vote....I am going to resign," he told the Karnataka Assembly after a brief emotional speech. Also Read: Karnataka drama: From missing Cong MLAs surfacing to an about-turn B S Yeddyurappa said he would now "go to the people". His resignation will pave the way for formation of a government led by JD(S) state chief H D Kumaraswamy, who has the backing of the Congress. The newly formed alliance has claimed support of 117 MLAs in the 224-member House with an effective strength of 221. Polling for two seats was not held due to various reasons, while Kumaraswamy won from two places. Chennai: The price of coconuts, already up by more than 10 per cent in the last one month due to multiple factors ranging from consecutive monsoon failures and the delay in releasing Cauvery water to farmlands in delta regions, is set to surge by another 15 per cent in the coming days due to drastic dip in coconut production. While the failure of monsoon has affected the yield in Pollachi and Coimbatore, the failure of timely release of Cauvery water has affected coconut production in Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Pondicherry. Last month, the Pondicherry coconut was priced around Rs 22 and Pollachi, Rs 27. The current price stands anywhere between Rs 29 and Rs 45. This has drastically reduced the profits and the farmers say they do not see any bright days, this summer, neither so do we, said R.Ranganayaki, a tender coconut vendor at Ekkatuthangal. According to farmers at Pollachi and Thanjavur that DC contacted, there has been an 80 per cent drop in production of coconuts because of a surge in the need for tender coconuts. Comparatively, the time for production is lesser and it is sold at higher price. So, in the very little yield we get, 70 per cent of it is tender coconuts, while we leave the rest to ripen, said one of the farmers. Comparatively in the months of May and June, the sale of coconuts is usually low and this time, it is worse. The price rose from Rs 25-30 to Rs 35-45 in May and the patronage has already reduced post the surge, rued a coconut seller at Velachery. Also, though the prices have been increasing, the coconut farmers are not getting a good price, they say. Due to involvement of middlemen at various stages in the coconut business, the product cost is reaching eight times the cost price. The farmers sell the tender coconuts at Rs 8 - Rs 10. Consumers can expect the situation to worsen next month, as the demand for coconuts will further increase due to the Tamil months of Chithirai and Vaikasi when temples use a lot of coconuts for festivities. Coconut is cultivated in more than 3.1 lakh hectares in the State. While the tree needs an average of 100 litres of water a day, due to scarcity the farmers are providing not even 30-40 litres. Thousands of trees lay parched due to this. Bengaluru: Politics took a backseat for Janata Dal (S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, who turned 85 on Friday as wishes poured in from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president, Rahul Gandhi, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and a host of other Congress leaders as he celebrated with his family in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh. While Mr Modi did not talk politics and wished Mr Gowda a long life, Mr Rahul Gandhi apologised to him, saying he was sorry if he had hurt his feelings by making personal attacks during the election campaign, party sources revealed. The former Prime Minister had left Bengaluru Thursday evening in the midst of the political tumult over government formation with around 11 family members and MLC Saravana for Tirumala to worship at the temple in the Andhra town. Having done a nithya pada pooja and an abhisheka, he returned to Bengaluru in the evening to a celebration by his party workers, who had a large cake ready for him to cut in a pandal near his house in Padmanabhanagar. Obliging them and cutting the cake, Mr Gowda referred briefly to the uncertain political environment in the state, saying he was not worried whether his son and state Janata Dal (Secular) president H D Kumaraswamy became Chief Minister or not. I am only pained by the fact that we have not been able to come to power on our own,' Mr Gowda said. The bench also stayed the proceedings initiated by the Press Council of India (PCI) under the Press Council Act against some of the media houses for disclosing the identity of the child victim in the rape case. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Google and other social media platforms have done a great disservice to the nation by uploading contents which revealed the identity of an eight-year-old girl who was raped and killed in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Delhi High Court said Friday. The court issued notice to social media platforms Google, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube after their Indian subsidiaries told the bench that they were not the concerned entity to reply to the court's notice on the issue. "You have done a great disservice to the nation. India has been branded... It is an injustice to the nation and to the victim's family. This kind of publication is not permissible," a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Hari Shankar said. The bench also said messages and images were circulated on Whatsapp showing India in a bad light. It also observed that the entities cannot absolve themselves for the illegal activities on their websites and the law was the same for everyone. The court was informed by the counsel for the social media platforms that the court has arrayed as parties the Indian subsidiaries which were not responsible for the contents on the websites and it should make the parent companies a party. It also asked the counsel for the foreign entities to take instructions as to how much they were willing to deposit to the Jammu and Kashmir Victim Compensation Fund as compensation for the victims. The bench also stayed the proceedings initiated by the Press Council of India (PCI) under the Press Council Act against some of the media houses for disclosing the identity of the child victim in the rape case. PCI has initiated the proceedings on receiving a reference from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting regarding the suo motu cognisance taken by the high court in the Kathua rape case. The court listed the matter for further hearing on May 29. It was also informed by one of the counsel that in Srinagar, the child victim's photographs were pasted on autos and buses. To this, the court said it was conscious of its boundaries and limitations and would pass such orders which could be executed. The bench had earlier observed that the names or photographs of a sexual abuse victim should not be revealed as such actions have long term "detrimental consequences". It had on April 18 directed 12 media houses to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for revealing the identity of the minor rape victim. It had also indicated that it may enhance this amount, which has to be deposited in the Jammu and Kashmir Victim Compensation Fund. The media houses had apologised before the court. Later, the bench added several other media houses and websites and asked them to pay the amount and file their response as to why action be not taken against them for disclosing the identity of the rape victim. In its news reports connected with the case, The Press Trust of India had not disclosed the name or put out a photograph of the victim. The court had directed that wide and continuous publicity be given to the statutory provisions of the law regarding the privacy of victims of sexual offences and punishment for revealing their identities. While Section 23 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act lays down the procedure for the media to report cases of sexual offences against child victims, Section 228A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) deals with disclosure of identity of victims of such offences. The penal law provides for jail term of two years with a fine. On April 13, the high court had issued notices to 12 media houses and prohibited all of them "from effecting any publication including the name, address, photograph, family details, school details, neighbourhood or any other particulars which may have an effect of leading to the disclosure of the identity of the child victim". The eight-year-old girl from a minority nomadic community had disappeared from near her home in a village near Kathua in Jammu region on January 10. Her body was found in the same area a week later. The state police's Crime Branch, which probed the case, filed the main chargesheet against seven persons and a separate chargesheet against a juvenile in a court in Kathua district last week. The chargesheet revealed chilling details about how the girl was allegedly kidnapped, drugged and raped inside a place of worship before being killed. While bilateral defence trade figure of USD 15 billion is very compelling, but increasing this figure will hinge on not only how the two countries agree to sign foundational agreements, but also to come to an understanding on the contracts and all the other kinds of things that have to happen as a function of concluding some of these deals. (Photo: PTI) Washington/ New Delhi: Noting that India and the United States are currently having discussion on a wide variety of state-of-the-art military hardware, a senior US official insisted that New Delhi signing the foundational agreements with it would broaden the scope and potential of bilateral defence relationship. Ahead of her visit to India next week, Tina Kaidanow, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, told a group of reporters that it is important for Indian officials to understand these foundation agreements because it allows them to do so much more. These are the kinds of things that we conclude with all of our friends and allies. It broadens the scope of the potential for the defence relationship, she said. Our hope is that the Indian government has the sovereign right to decide obviously but for all these agreements that we can come to a good understanding because that allows us to do so much more in the defence space, Kaidanow said in response to a question. India-US bilateral defence trade has risen from near zero to USD 15 billion since 2008. India is projected to spend billions on military modernisation over the next decade. Her talks in India will focus on expanding the security cooperation while furthering opportunities for American industry. Referring to the Lockheed-offer to relocate its F-16 manufacturing base to India under Make in India, she said a lot of what the two countries are talking about here is indeed in the co-production, co-development arena. My hope is that the Indian government can come to some relevant decisions in the not so distant future, she said. While bilateral defence trade figure of USD 15 billion is very compelling, but increasing this figure will hinge on not only how the two countries agree to sign foundational agreements, but also to come to an understanding on the contracts and all the other kinds of things that have to happen as a function of concluding some of these deals. Thats the reason for a trip like mine is to see how far we can further some of those efforts, the senior US official said in response to a question. The scope of India-US defence trade relationship has expanded fairly dramatically over the last decade and the Trump administration would like to see that expand even further. We consider the Indians to be important partners for us, she said adding that the US is currently engaged with India in a very good, very productive, very robus conversation on a whole host of things that they might choose to acquire from Washington at some point. Much recently, a US team was in India to look at some of these things and to talk more with their Indian counterparts, she noted. When asked about Indias interest in armed drones and some of the other high-tech military hardware, Kaidanow said the US is still in the process of trying to discern exactly what their requirements are and then how it can provide the right tactical equipment that will meet those requirements. Part of this will be not just our decision but also the Indian governments decision as to what they procure, she said. We are having a full conversation on the entire array of things that India might be interested in. Nothing is necessarily precluded. Its just a function of what meets the requirements and what we can provide to meet the necessary requirements, Kaidanow said. "I can't forget the love and affection I received from people," says B S Yeddyurappa ahead of the floor test. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) Bengaluru: Minutes ahead of the floor test, B S Yeddyurappa resigned as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. Yeddyurappa has submitted his resignation to Governor Vajubhai Vala. The Governor will now call the second largest party, which is Congress and Janata Dal Secular alliance, to form the government in the state. Yeddyurappa was the chief minister for barely 55 hours, after a Supreme Court order truncated the 15-day window the Governor gave him to prove majority. Here are the LIVE updates from Karnataka: 07:22 pm: JD(S) H D Kumaraswamy reaches Raj Bhavan to meet Governer Vajubhai Vala, to stake claim for forming government in Karnataka. 06:51 pm: JD(S)'s H D Kumaraswamy will meet Governer Vajubhai Vala at 7:30 pm, to stake claim for forming government in Karnataka. 06:02 pm: "I just spoke with Kumaraswamy Ji and congratulated him. He invited me for the oath taking ceremony on Monday," tweets Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. I just spoke with Kumaraswamy Ji and congratulated him. He invited me for the oath taking ceremony on Monday @hd_kumaraswamy Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 19, 2018 05:43 pm: BJP's B S Yeddyurappa submits his resignation as Chief Minister of Karnataka to Governor Vajubhai Vala. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) 4:05 pm: B S Yeddyurappa resigns as the Chief Minister of Karnataka ahead of the floor test. 04:05 pm: "I will lose nothing if I lose power, my life is for the people," B S Yeddyurappa ahead of floor test 04:03 pm: "We will get 28 out of 28 seats in Lok Sabha," B S Yeddyurappa ahead of floor test. 04:02 pm: "If only people would have given us 113 seats instead of 104, we would have made this state (Karnataka) a paradise: B S Yeddyurappa ahead of floor test 03:52 pm: "I have traveled throughout the state for the last two years and have seen pain on the faces of people. I can't forget the love and affection I received from people," says B S Yeddyurappa ahead of the floor test. 03:50 pm: "People have blessed us with 104 seats. The mandate wasn't for Congress or JD(S)," Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa ahead of floor test. 03:42 pm: Congress MLAs Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil, who were said to be missing, take oath as an MLA in Karnataka's Vidhana Soudha. 03:27 pm: Somashekara Reddy, BJP MLA and brother of Janardan Reddy said, "I was with my brother in Taj West End. Nobody was in my contact. I don't even know who are they, Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil (Congress MLAs). I did not even go to Goldfinch Hotel." 03:14 pm: Visuals of Congress MLA Pratap Gowda Patil, who was said to be missing, entering Vidhana Soudha. #WATCH: Dramatic visuals of the moment when Congress MLA Pratap Gowda Patil who was said to be missing, entered Vidhana Soudha. #KarnatakaFloorTest pic.twitter.com/XINBGZvped ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 03:01 pm: Union Minister Ananth Kumar and Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa are present in the CM chamber in Vidhana Soudha. 02:51 pm: Congress MLA Pratap Gowda Patil having lunch at Vidhana Soudha, Congress's D K Suresh and Dinesh Gundu Rao present with him. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) 02:39 pm: "Pratap Gowda Patil has come. He will take oath as an MLA then he will vote for the Congress. He will not betray the Congress party," says DK Shivakumar of the Congress. 02:38 pm: "I am sure he (Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa) will resign before the trust vote," says Congress' D K Shivakumar. 01:58 pm: One of the 'missing' Congress MLA Anand Singh seen leaving Bengaluru's Goldfinch hotel. 01:27 pm: Security tightened outside Goldfinch Hotel in Bengaluru where reportedly the two 'missing' Congress MLAs are holed up. Security tightened outside Goldfinch Hotel in Bengaluru where reportedly the two 'missing' Congress MLAs are holed up #karnatakafloortest pic.twitter.com/sEJFPvwAlS ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 12:58 pm: BJP MLA G Somashekhar Reddy is with the two 'missing' Congress MLAs Anand Singh and Pratap Gouda: ANI sources 12:55 pm: VS Ugrappa, Congress said, "He (BJP's BY Vijayendra) called the wife of a Congress MLA and asked her to request her husband to vote for Yeddyurappa. He said, we'll give your husband a ministry or else we'll give Rs 15 crore to your husband: 12:30 pm: Veerapa Moily of the Congress said, "BJP will be exposed to the whole world. They know very well that they are 104, still they are trying everything and anything to buy our MLAs. However, our MLAs are intact. Two of our MLAs are still not here, whenever they come they will surely support us." 11:55 am: Proceedings underway inside Vidhana Soudha JD(S) MLAs HD Kumaraswamy & HD Revanna inside Vidhana Soudha in #Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/WBvD0PechF ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 11:46 am: After winning assembly elections, B Sriramulu & BS Yeddyurappa have resigned from Lok Sabha, their resignations have been accepted by the Speaker. 11:38 am: Two Congress MLAs Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil have not yet come to the assembly for oath-taking. 11:30 am: "The SC heard the pleas of the Congress, all their pleas have been rejected. The desperate attempts of Congress to remove him from post has failed. I think they are scared and did not even want a floor test in the first place," said senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi. 11:12 am: Supreme Court rejects Congress-JD(S) plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah, he will continue to be pro-tem speaker 11:10 am: Siddaramaiah takes oath as MLA at Vidhana Soudha (Photo: ANI/Twitter) 11:09 am: Hearing on Congress-JD(S) plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah: Supreme Court says, "Live broadcast of floor test would be the best way to ensure transparency of proceedings." 11:08 am: Hearing on Congress-JD(S) plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah: Supreme Court says, "Law can't direct the Governor to appoint a particular person as Pro-tem Speaker. Unless convention becomes legal norm, it can't be enforced by Court." 11:06 am: Hearing on Congress-JD(S) plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah: Kapil Sibal argues "I am requesting that don't allow KG Bopaiah to take the floor test." 11:00 am: Inside visuals of Vidhana Soudha. Floor test to be held at 4 pm today. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) (Photo: ANI/Twitter) 10:58 am: Plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker: Justice SA Bobde says, "There've been instances where senior most MLA wasn't appointed as Pro tem speaker." Kapil Sibal replies saying, "KG Bopaiah has different history. His decision of disqualification was set aside by this Court earlier." 10:54 am: Hearing on Congress-JD(S) plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah: Kapil Sibal says, "Long standing convention has been broken after the appointment of Bopaiah', adds "Even SC has ratified this practice in two judgments." 10:50 am: Inside visuals of Vidhana Soudha. Floor test to be held at 4 pm today. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) 10:45 am: Hearing on Congress-JD(S) plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah: Kapil Sibal says, "The individual appointed must be the senior most member of the House which is a convention in the Parliament also." 10:45 am: Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Kapil Sibal to appear for Congress and JD(S), Sr Advocate Ram Jethmalani also present; AG KK Venugopal & ASG Tushar Mehta along with Sr Advocate Mukul Rohatgi to defend appointment of Pro tem speaker. 10:43 am: Hearing on Congress-JD(S) plea challenging the appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah, begins in the Supreme Court. 10:40 am: Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa and other BJP MLAs arrive at Vidhan Soudha. 10:35 am: Second bus of Congress MLAs arrives at Vidhan Soudha 10:23 am: HD Kumaraswamy of the JD(S) said, "For me, today is not an important day, the important days will come in future. Up to 4 pm, BJP will try to poach our MLAs. All the MLAs are together, no one is going to go to the other side. None of our MLAs are trapped. Siddaramaiah and I will go together." (Photo: ANI/Twitter) 10:20 am: Congress MLAs leave from Hotel Hilton for Vidhan Soudha 10:07 am: Bus carrying BJP MLAs arrives at Shangri-La hotel in Bengaluru for the party legislature meeting 09:58 am: Siddaramaiah arrives at Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru (Photo: ANI/Twitter) 09:20 am: Ramalinga Reddy on Congress MLA Anand Singh who was missing said, "Physically he is not with us but he is in contact with our leaders. He has to come to Vidhana Soudha today. He will definitely vote for us. He is with us. He will come back." 09:10 am: KG Bopaiah, the pro-tem speaker, at Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru. The Supreme Court on Saturday morning will first hear whether BJP lawmaker KG Bopaiah is qualified to be the temporary speaker or not. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) 09:00 am: Visuals of security outside Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru (Photo: ANI/Twitter) 08:45 am: Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "Numbers are against the BJP. Numbers are in favor of us. MLAs are in our favour. We will form the government in the Karnataka Assembly today." 08:40 am: On Saturday morning, Karnataka Congress and JD(S) MLAs who were shifted to Hyderabad, to avoid poaching of MLAs, reached Bengaluru ahead of the floor test. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) 08:32 am: A confident Yeddyurappa said, "100 per cent I am going to have absolute majority. Tomorrow I am going to take all that decision which I promised to the people of Karnataka." 08:30 am: Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa arrived at Shangri-La hotel for the party legislature meeting on Saturday morning. He will soon leave for the Assembly where the trust vote is set to take place later in the day. Bopaiah, who is known to be close to Yeddyurappa, had in 2010 disqualified 11 BJP lawmakers when they revolted after Yeddy was charged in a mining scam. (Photo:: File) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Saturday morning rejected the Congress-JD(S) plea which challenged the appointment of pro-tem Speaker K G Bopaiah to oversee Karnataka Assembly's trust vote in the evening. The apex court ruled K G Bopaiah would continue to be the pro-tem Speaker for today's floor test at 4 pm. The Supreme Court also ordered live streaming of the floor test at Karnataka Assembly where Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has to prove his majority in the House. The SC also said that no other item in agenda should be taken up during the trust vote. "Live broadcast of the floor test will be the best possible way to ensure transparency in the proceedings," a bench comprising justices A K Sikri, S A Bobde and Ashok Bhushan said. Abhishek Manu Singhvi of the Congress said, "The most important objective of our plea was to establish transparency. Since live feed of proceedings would be broadcast, we hope and trust there will be fairness. I have no doubt the Congress and JD(S) will emerge victorious." Bopaiah, who is known to be close to Yeddyurappa, had in 2010 disqualified 11 BJP lawmakers when they revolted after Yeddy was charged in a mining scam. This disqualification helped the Yeddyurappa-led BJP government survive a trust vote. The decision was later cancelled by the Supreme Court. The apex court said Bopaiah had not been fair. The BJP has 104 MLAs, 8 short of a simple majority to form government. The Congress-JD(S) post-poll alliance has 116, 78 of the Congress and 38 of the JD(S). Ever since Karnataka threw up a fractured verdict on May 15, it has been nothing short of drama and intrigue in the state with allegations flying thick that the BJP was trying to poach MLAs from to get to the magic figure of 112. Much to the indignation of the Congress-JD(S), Karnataka Governor Vajubhai R Vala a former BJP minister in Gujarat -- had invited B S Yeddyurappa to form the government, a day after the elections. He had given Yeddyurappa a 15-day window to prove majority. This was brutally cut short yesterday after the Supreme Court on a Congress appeal ruled that he had to prove majority by 4 pm, Saturday. The Governor yesterday picked another Yeddyurappa loyalist K G Bopaiah as pro-tem Speaker to oversee trust vote. The Congress had unsuccessfully moved court against that too, but had to be satisfied with the fact that the trust vote would be live-cast for transparency. Thiruvananthapuram: Kovalam, God's Own Country's most popular beach, is becoming a waste destination as well. Plots beside the Beach Road are dotted with waste bags. However, since it is an everyday story for local residents, it does not even register as a problem for them. Tourists on the other hand react sharply. A British tourist Paul Copson was so distressed, he went around asking local residents about it. Many of them laughed him off. The rest merely nodded with sympathy, and said, it is a mess, but did not own up to it. This was strange to Paul especially as he felt they themselves could be the contributors to the waste mount. People at shacks beside the beach say that refuse is regularly collected. This is done by an agency called Ecopreserve entrusted by DTPC. However, the people living in the houses beside Beach Road admit to dumping waste beside the road. They say that they have no other means to dispose of the waste. The responsibility to keep the beach clean rests with DTPC, but the Beach Road comes under the Corporation. While Corporation advises source-level waste management within its limits with sufficient technical support, Corporation officials said that the Vizhinjam councillor had never requested for kitchen bins. However we can immediately do a clean-up. Moreover, Kovalam can be one of the wards where the next years kitchen bin project is implemented, said an official. When Paul took to Facebook, some tourists offered to start a clean-up. I strongly feel though that the high levels of disposed of plastic bottles, plastic plates, food waste and broken glass along with plastic bags full of household waste make it a dangerous exercise and should only be carried out by the relevant government department, says Paul in an email he wrote to Steve Muscroft, an expat living in Kovalam. Colombo: Thousands of people in Sri Lankas Tamil-dominated northern province on Friday participated in a commemorative ceremony to observe the ninth anniversary of the brutal end to the 37-year long Eelam war, which had claimed the lives of more than one lakh people. The main ceremony was held at Mullaivaikkal in the Mullaithivu district, the scene of the final battle between the government troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Jaffna University students arrived at the memorial ground in a long motorcade where oil lamps were lit in commemoration of the dead. All businesses remained closed in the area as a mark of respect for those who died during the Eelam war. The government has banned the commemoration of the fallen heroes of the LTTE, which remains a banned outfit in the island nation. Around 5,000 people took part in the ceremony in which no other Tamil politician participated except northern Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran, according to local journalists covering the event. Wigneswaran saw the lighting of an oil lamp by a girl who had lost both her parents and three brothers during the final stage of the civil war battle, they said. The pro-government stand of the main Tamil coalition, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), has angered the Tamil nationalists and CM Wigneswaran, a former judge of the Lankan Supreme Court at Colombo, is leading that anger. Leading the Mullaivaikkal ceremony, the CM called upon all the Tamils across the world to observe May 18 as Tamil genocide day and pleaded for international support for creating a mechanism that would deliver justice to the victims, though belated. Even though belated, we are sure that the clear conscience of the world community will open up at least now to the reality of the situation and seek to find justice for the genocide done here, the CM said. In the south dominated by the Sinhala majority, the government troops commemorated their fallen war heroes. The war ended this day in 2009 with the Lankan forces killing the LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran at Mullaivaikkal. Citing examples of Goa, Mizoram, Manipur, Bihar and Karnataka, the Congress leader questioned why the single largest party was not invited to form government in the above mentioned states, like in Karnataka. (Photo: PTI) Mandsaur: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Friday said the party was being 'defeated' by "governors appointed by prime minister" and not by voters. Replying to a query on the party's string of losses in recent assembly polls, he said, "The Congress is not defeated in the elections. But the governors appointed by Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) ensure the party's defeat". Citing examples of Goa, Mizoram, Manipur, Bihar and Karnataka, the Congress leader questioned why the single largest party was not invited to form government in the above mentioned states, like in Karnataka. "If the single largest party should be invited to form the government, why did this not happen in Bihar and Goa? These activities go against the party (Congress)," he said. In Bihar, Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had emerged as the single largest party with 80 seats in the 243-seat assembly, but ended up in the opposition. The BJP-JD(U) alliance rules the state. Similarly, in Goa, the Congress bagged the maximum - 17 of 40 seats, yet BJP with 13 seats formed the government in alliance with the Goa Forward Party and the MGP along with three Independents. In Manipur and Meghalaya too, the BJP managed to form alliance governments despite the Congress being the single largest party. Singh said the BJP was only hankering after power and money and was indulging in horse-trading in Karnataka to prove majority in tomorrow's floor test. The BJP, which won 104 seats in the 222-member Karnataka Assembly, was invited by the governor to form the government despite the JD(S)-Congress combine staking claim by citing the support of 117 MLAs. The majority mark is 112 seats. On the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls, slated for later this year, Singh said the Congress would go to the electorate asking them to give the party a clear mandate. Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, 'I hope the BJP and the RSS have learned a lesson that the institutions, as well as the will of the people of this country, cannot be disrespected.' (Photo: ANI | Twitter) New Delhi: Reactions poured in soon after B S Yeddyurappa dramatically resigned from the post of Karnataka Chief Minister, minutes ahead of the crucial floor test in the state assembly. Addressing the media, Congress President Rahul Gandhi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not only abetting the corruption, but is corruption himself. "You have seen openly how the PM directly authorised purchasing of MLAs in Karnataka, so the idea that PM spreads in the country that he is fighting corruption, is a blatant lie, he is corruption," Rahul Gandhi said. He said that this is a lesson to the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah that the Indian institutions are bigger. "The country has shown the BJP, PM NarendraModi and murder-accused Amit Shah that the institutions of the country are bigger than their money bags," the Congress president said. Rahul Gandhi thanked the Opposition for standing together and defeating the BJP. "I am proud that opposition stood together and defeated the BJP and we will continue to do so. In India, the will of the people is everything. I would like to thank the people of Karnataka and our partymen and JD(S) leaders for defending what is much more than simply the election of Karnataka" Rahul Gandhi. Taking a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), the Congress president said, "I hope the BJP and the RSS have learned a lesson that the institutions, as well as the will of the people of this country, cannot be disrespected." Rahul Gandhi also raised the question on the moment where all the BJP legislators and the speaker walked out of the House before the national anthem. "Did you notice that after the entire exercise in Karnataka, the BJP legislators and the speaker chose to get up and leave the House before the national anthem? This is what we are fighting today - the idea that you can choose to rubbish any institution in the country. This is something the BJP and RSS do repeatedly," he added. Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo and Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee tweeted: Democracy wins. Congratulations Karnataka. Congratulations Deve Gowda Ji, Kumaraswamy Ji, Congress and others. Victory of the 'regional' front. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati said, This is a big blow for them (BJP) and I think what they had been planning all along for 2019 has failed, they will now have to rethink and alter their strategies. Bengaluru: As the BJP desperately tries to make up the numbers it needs to win Saturdays crucial floor test for the survival of the two- day old Yeddyurappa government, in a sensational turn of events, senior Congress leader, V. S. Ugrappa on Friday released an audio clip allegedly of mining baron turned politician , Gali Janardhana Reddy trying to lure a Congress MLA by offering to make him Minister and telling him he "can make 100 times more money" this way. Speaking to reporters here, Mr Ugrappa charged BJP president Amit Shah and PM Modi with having dual standards on corruption and staging a drama of keeping Mr Reddy away from their party affairs. "Mr Shah should explain his stand on Mr Reddy," he demanded, referring to the audio clip in which. Mr Reddy is allegedly heard speaking to Raichur Rural MLA, Basangouda Daddal, a leader of the Valmiki community. Mr Daddal was previously a member of the Badavara Shramikara Raithara (BSR) Congress, the party floated by Mr Reddys confidante, B. Sriramulu in 2011 after the split in the BJP over the mining scam. While the man, who appears to be the mining baron, repeatedly claims he will arrange a one-one-one meeting for the MLA with the partys national president, in the audio clip, Mr Daddal can be heard saying he cannot switch sides now as the Congress gave him a chance when he was at his lowest after leaving the BSR Congress. But Mr Reddy insists the bad times are over, and the good times are here. "There is no doubt that you have lost a lot by believing in us. But I am telling you, you will grow a 100 times more," he adds persuasively. Deccan Chronicle could not independently verify the veracity of the contents of the tape. Below is a translated version of the conversation: G. Janardhan Reddy (allegedly): Is it Basanagouda? Are you free? Basangouda Daddal: Yes it is me. GJR: Forget all that has happened before, forget all the bad things. I am telling you, that my good time has begun. And I will arrange a meeting with the national president and you can speak to him one-to-one and we can take the next step. BD: No sir, when I was on my last leg they made me MLA. GJR: I will tell you one thing, BSR time we had very bad time when we formed the party, where there was a lot of opposition. There is no doubt that you have lost a lot by believing in us. But I am telling you, you will grow a 100 times more. Shivanagouda Nayak became a minister because of me. Today he is strong and able to look after himself. It all happened because of me. Raju Gowda also benefited because of me. BD: Yes. GJR: It was your misfortune that it was our bad time. Today Shivanagouda winning is not useful. You will become minister. Do you understand? Directly we will make you meet the big man. I will make you speak to him, you will make 100 times the wealth you have made so far. BD: I am sorry sir. I was on my last leg when they gave me a ticket and made me win. In such a situation I cannot betray him. I respect you. Senior IPS officer and ex-Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad chief Himanshu Roy, Constable Mr Arun Raj and Sub Inspector Mr Satish Kumar of Chennai City Police, who blew their brains with their guns recently in separate incidents, should have felt something akin to a 9/11 situation of being trapped and engulfed in a towering inferno of a gradually collapsing multi-storey building, with the fire menacingly catching up with them and the blaze starting to caress their backs. They are faced with two options - to jump out of the window and die instantaneously or be burnt excruciatingly to the bitter end, as in the proverbial hell ? Death by jumping obviously seems a less painful way out. Thus hauling themselves out of the window, is what they end up doing. That's precisely what, suicide is. A person committing suicide, finds exiting this world by killing oneself, less painful and easy, when compared to the agony and heartache, of fighting the demonic fires raging and ravaging ones personal or professional life, on this earthly plane. Satish Kumar India has earned the sobriquet of the Suicide capital of the world from the World Health Organization [WHO]. India accounts for nearly a third of the global total, with the number of suicides here being twice as much as China, which is second on the list. It also has the highest rate of suicides among young people, in the age range of 15 to 29 years. Among the states, Tamil Nadu and Kerala had the highest suicide rates per 100,000 people in 2012. The male to female suicide ratio was around 2:1. As far as the police are concerned, Tamil Nadu has the highest number of suicides by police personnel among the Indian states. According to a report published in 2016, 166 police personnel in Tamil Nadu, ended their lives between 2010 and 2014 followed by 161 in Maharashtra and 61 in Kerala. Arun Raj In a recent report published by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), suicides in the age group of 15 and 29 years accounted for 34.4 percent and the age group between 30 and 44 years accounted for 33.8 percent. The most worrisome fact being that about 70 percent of suicides in the uniformed services too, are committed by persons below the age of 44 years, imposing a huge social, economic and emotional burden on society. The most probable precipitating factor connected with police suicide appears to be stress. Stress and policing, effects officers and their families. A severe form of stress, known as, traumatic stress-appears to be predominant in police work, and possibly plays a part in suicide. While, ailments like PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) are increasingly acknowledged within the armed forces, its prevalence in civilian police goes totally unnoticed. Law enforcement is one of the most toxic, acerbic career fields under the sun. Police personnel put their lives on the line daily, they are always being called to situations that individuals would never want to deal with, such as murder, violence, accidents, and disasters. Rotational shifts, long hours, and exposure to lifes catastrophes, exact a heavy toll on police personnel and their families. Poor working conditions, heavy workload, poor infrastructure including substandard equipment, poor police image, confrontation with the populace and the media on a daily basis, rigid police hierarchy, lack of job satisfaction and meagre pay, not only complicate but compound the stress in ones work life, impacting family life as well. As a result high divorce rates, suicides, domestic violence, heart attacks, cancer, depression, and alcoholism are invariably the unfavorable outcomes amidst police personnel and their families. The public and the media foster a macho image of the police personnel, often portraying their mythical ability to withstand trauma and violence without any suffering and ill effects, but the truth is however to the contrary. When police personnel are subjected to stresses over an extended period, their ability to cope becomes difficult. Police men and women as a group, tend not to cope well with psychological angst, they are often found to have maladaptive coping strategies. Its this coping disability which causes the police personnel to break easily, and contemplate suicide, much more easily, when things get unbearable. Psychologists reckon that majority of the police personnel working in the field are either suffering from underlying depression or anxiety. Depression is a silent killer in the police force, exacting a psychosomatic toll on the mind and body of even the most resilient police officer. Most police men and women who are depressed are in denial regarding their condition, as the police sub-culture unfortunately, promotes silence. Besides, police officers do not want to be seen as weak. Speaking out plainly about ones problems in the police department, is generally never encouraged and mostly stifled. So if they are suffering from depression, or any other mental illness, they are extremely unlikely to get help. Most are also wary of seeking any type of professional assistance. This can prove harmful to police personnel in many ways, and turns into a Catch 22 situation for her/him. The reaction of colleagues, when a policeman is discovered to be psychologically unfit for duty, is generally not one of compassion and solidarity, in stark contrast, the stigma of being branded by subordinates, superiors, or police management as possibly unstable or having a psychological issue may cause other staff to shun or not be willing to work with such person. The other consequences of being put on leave, reassigned to desk duty, having his gun taken away from him, the fear of being passed up for promotions makes the future seem even more scary and bleak. So the great majority of depressed police brethren, do nothing, and remain at a high risk for suicide. (The author K.Jayanth Murali, an IPS officer, is Director DVAC , Chennai) The storm is expected to continue to move west-southwestwards and weaken gradually from May 19, with wind speed 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph during noon on Saturday. (Representational Image) Chennai: Though the Indian Meteorological Department issued an advisory to the state over cyclonic storm Sagar, regional meteorological centre officials say that the storm is unlikely to affect the weather in Tamil Nadu. The IMD issued a warning stating that the cyclonic storm Sagar over the Gulf of Aden would move further west-southwestwards with a speed of 16 kmph and lie centred over the Gulf of Aden about 120 km east-southeast of Aden (Yemen) and 900 km west-southwest of Socotra Islands. The storm is expected to continue to move west-southwestwards and weaken gradually from May 19, with wind speed 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph during noon on Saturday. However, Director of Area Cyclone Warning Centre, S Balachandran said that the advisory was only a precautionary measure. Tamil Nadu coasts are completely safe with no signs of cyclonic affect in the state. The temperature will remain normal with a cloudy sky in Chennai and drizzles on the outskirts. Agreeing with regional Met officials, weather blogger Pradeep John said that the IMD has not warned against venturing off the Indian coast or south east Arabian Sea. Therefore, Sagar will not affect Tamil Nadu as it is small in size but packing close to 100 kmph winds. Meanwhile, upper air circulation along the southwest coast is expected to bring good rains to south Tamil Nadu in the next 48 hours. Tirupati: Does the Raj Pink, the largest fancy intense pink diamond in the world, which failed to go under the hammer in Geneva last November, actually belong to Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam (TTD)? The Raj Pink, the rare 37.3 carat stone, was the highlight of the Sothebys sale of precious jewels. Lord Venkateswara temple chief priest Ramana Deekshitulu, who has been served notice to leave, on Friday alleged that it belonged to the temple, and wanted a thorough enquiry into the missing jewels at TTD. He said that the Mysore Maharaja had donated the platinum necklace studded with pink diamond, the rarest of the rare variety of diamonds. He recalled adorning the jewel on the Balaji idol till 2001. He said the Chief Vigilance Officer, an IPS officer, had recorded the missing pink diamond in the registers as broken due to throwing of coins at the idol by devotees. The chief priest expressed surprised at how a broken piece was found in the inventory held by an international auction house. He said that jewellery donated by kings including the emperor Krishna-devaraya, the Mysore maharajas and those of the Pallava and Chola dynasties could not be found. The idol at Tirumala is decorated only with latest Jewellery offerings, the originality of which is questionable, he added. BJP spokesperson Anjaneya Reddy demanded a thorough enquiry into the affairs of TTD. The Tirumala temple is a treasure trove of wealth donated by the kings and maharajas. During the period of Vijayanagara empire, the temple was under the direct administration of the rulers. Thereafter, the Sultans of Golkonda and the Nawabs of Arcot took over the management. After the advent of the British, the Tahsildar, Tirupathi was given the management of the temple. Bengaluru: In a move which has become controversial, former Assembly Speaker K.G. Bopaiah was sworn in as Protem Speaker of the newly constituted fifteenth Assembly by Governor Vajubhai Vala. There are others who are senior to him in the new Assembly including former industries minister R.V. Deshpande and former BJP minister Umesh Katti who have won more Assembly terms than him. A four-time BJP MLA from Virajpet in Kodagu district, Bopaiah held the Speaker post when the BJP was in power and succeeded Jagadish Shettar in 2009 during the tenure of the BJP government led by B.S. Yeddyurappa. In 2010 when the internal squabbles in the BJP reached a flashpoint with some Independents withdrawing support to the Yeddyurappa government, then Speaker Bopaiah disqualified five independents claiming that they had attended the BJP Legislature Party meeting and had become the BJPs associate members. Citing this reason, he disqualified the legislators which was later contested by the Independents in the high court and Supreme Court. Finally, the Supreme Court held the Speakers act unconstitutional and restored the membership of the Independent members. Mr Bopaiah has a challenging task on hand-oversee the floor test of Chief Minister, B.S. Yeddyurappa. But this time, since the Supreme Court had asked the government to video-record the entire proceedings, he has to go by the rule book. Moreover he will be a Protem Speaker and will have no right to take action against any member. Bengaluru: Protem Speaker K.G. Bopaiah and BJP legislators, including former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, came under attack for not respecting the National Anthem in the Assembly on Saturday evening. Soon after Mr Yeddyurappa concluded his speech and left to submit his resignation to Governor Vajubhai Vala, Mr Bopaiah adjourned House sine die without waiting for the national anthem. Congress members shouted and raised slogans against Mr Bopaiah for disrespecting the National Anthem. Marshals rushed to the office of the Speaker and reminded him about the anthem. He returned the chair and stood up till the national anthem played. Congress workers celebrate at Gandhi Bhavan after hearing the news of BS Yeddyurappa quiting as Karnataka Chief Minister before a trust vote. Hyderabad: The defeat of the BJP government in the Karnataka Assembly is being attributed to the successful camp politics in Hyderabad, which played a key role in keeping all MLAs of the Congress and JD(S) intact. After considering all options, the Congress and JD(S) had shifted their MLAs to star hotels in Hyderabad to save them from poaching by the BJP. The TRS government too provided tight security to the MLAs. None of the MLAs could be poached from the camps though they stayed in the city from 8 am to 11 pm on Friday due to the tight security measures. The cordial relationship between Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and JD(S) leaders is cited as the reason for the TRS government extending full security to the MLAs. The TRS sees the JD(S) taking over the reins in Karnataka as advantageous for Mr Rao in taking forward his proposal of a Federal Front comprising regional parties. The government posted intelligence officials at star hotels and key locations to track political developments by the minute on who was trying to contact the MLAs. They updated their seniors which helped the Karnataka Congress and JDS leaders take precautionary measures to keep their flock intact. Jammers were installed to block mobile phone signals. All modes of communication were deactivated at the camps to prevent outsiders from communicating with the MLAs. Interestingly, the TD government in AP also played its bit to help JD(S) and Congress. Congress-JD(S) chief ministerial candidate H.D. Kumaraswamy used cars belonging to TD Rajya Sabha member C.M. Ramesh to travel in the city from the airport to the star hotels to meet the MLAs. Congress treasurer Guduru Narayan Reddy arranged a special copter within an hour to fly former chief minister Siddaramaiah to Bengaluru from Shamshabad airport. Mr Reddy also arranged for accommodation for all JDS and Congress MLAs at one place after the original venues identified did not have adequate rooms to house all at a single place. Bengaluru: The three-day-old BJP government in Karnataka collapsed on Saturday as Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa quit minutes before he was to face a floor test to prove his contested majority in the hung Assembly, after which the JD(S)-Congress combine led by the regional partys chief H.D. Kumaraswamy was invited to take the reins of power. The JD (S) leader told the media here that he was set to take oath between noon and 1.05 pm on Monday, however, he put off the swearing-in function to Wednesday as Monday marks the death anniversary of former PM Rajiv Gandhi, and both Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi would not be able to make it to the function on that day. Telangana state Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will attend the oath-taking ceremony. TRS party sources said Mr Kumaraswamy telephoned Mr Rao and invited him for the oath-taking ceremony. Mr Rao congratulated Mr Kumaraswamy and promised to attend the ceremony. Other top leaders of the Opposition who were invited include BSP chief Mayawati and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Capping five days of riveting political and courtroom drama, Mr Yeddyurappa announced his decision to quit on the floor of the Assembly after a brief emotional speech rather than face a vote of confidence he was widely expected to lose. Before leaving for Raj Bhavan to hand in his resignation at the end of what was one of the shortest tenures of any government, Mr Yeddyurappa announced in the House on Saturday that he would not rest until the BJP won 28 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 general election and 150 seats in the next Assembly polls, which he predicted could happen anytime. I am in good health and will fight to bring back a full-fledged BJP government in Karnataka. I will tour the state and we will win 150 seats in the next Assembly elections, which may happen anytime, he declared. While he did not attempt to prove his majority on the floor of the House through a trust vote, Mr Yeddyurappa said he was sure of getting the conscience votes of the Opposition MLAs, and a few had even promised him to vote in favour of his government. But, he claimed, the Congress had terrorised its MLAs and locked them in a room. "You (Congress) did not trust your own MLAs and did not even allow them to speak to their families. Today I can see relief on Congress MLAs' faces," he said. The 75-year-old Lingayat strongman headed straight to Raj Bhavan, where he handed over his resignation to governor Vajubhai Vala a day after he was ordered by the Supreme Court to face a floor test at 4 pm Saturday after it drastically reduced the 15- day deadline set by the governor for him to prove his majority. Mr Yeddyurappa, recalling his political struggle since the days when the BJP had merely two MLAs in the House, reiterated that he would work for the people and his party till his last breath. "Ever since the party named me its chief ministerial candidate, I toured the state and connected with the people through the Parivarthana Yatra. And they gave us 104 seats, while rejecting the Congress and JD(S). But both parties have come together to form an unholy alliance," he said, and added: "If I were to continue in the chief minister's post, it would be a different scene altogether for the state with development work being carried out on a war footing through greater financial assistance from the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, making Karnataka a model state of the country." Taking a potshot at Congress-JD(S) CM candidate, Mr Kumaraswamy, without naming him, Mr Yeddyurappa recalled that some leaders had said during the campaign that they would die if they were not elected to power. "But I will not die for power, I will die for my people, because they are the masters in a democracy. I will put in my papers due to a conspiracy of the Congress Party," he said before leaving the Assembly, shaking the hands of the Opposition and his own party's leaders. Hyderabad: The terms local and non-local are all set to be redefined in Telangana state for reservations in employment and education. As per committees recommendations, Zone-I will comprise nine districts: Adilabad, Asifabad, Mancherial, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Medak, Siddipet and Sangareddy. Zone-II will have eleven districts: Jagitial, Peddapalli, Siricilla, Karimnagar, Bhoopalapally, Warangal urban, Warangal rural, Janagoan, Mahabubabad, Kotha-gudem, Khammam. In Zone-III, there will be only three districts Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Medchal districts. In Zone-IV, will have eight districts: Vikarabad, Mahabubnagar, Wanaparthi, Gadwal, Nagarkurnool, Nalgon-da, Yadadri, Suryapet. At present, there are four cadres in state goverment jobs district, zonal, multi zonal, state cadres). The committee recommended to make this to three by scrapping multi-zonal cadre. The zones in undivided AP were created in 1973 as per Presidential Order issued under Article 371(d) of the Constitution to ensure equitable job opportunities for Telangana, Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. The TS government now needs to seek amendment to Article 371(d) to bring these proposed changes. For this, it needs to pass the proposed changes in the Cabinet meeting and send them to the President for approval. The draft new zonal system has been referred to various employees associations to seek their feedback. Another Cabinet sub-committee headed by finance minister Etela Rajender will discuss with employees associations on the draft and submit a report to government. The recommendations will be referred to the Cabinet for approval. Hyderabad: The terms local and non-local are all set to be redefined in Telangana state for reservations in employment and education. The Cabinet sub-committee constituted by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to reorganise the zonal system in the wake of bifurcation of AP and creation of 21 new districts has recommended that a local is someone who has studied continuously for four years from Class I to VII in the state. As of now, the four years of continuous study from Class IV to X is being considered to accord local status. This is to ensure that only natives of Telangana state get the maximum benefit of quotas in education and employment as it is believed that people from Andhra Pradesh shift their children to Hyderabad for education after Class VII. Besides, Telangana state currently has only two zones, which were made in undivided AP, to cover the ten undivided districts. The Cabinet sub committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari has recommended increase in zones to four to cover the 31 districts. Hyderabad will no longer be a free zone for police recruitments but it will be part of Zone 3 and locals will get priority in government employment. Hyderabad: Hyderabad has attracted national and international attention again for sequestering lawmakers to prevent poaching by rival parties after the Congress and JD(S) moved their Karnataka MLAs to the city on Friday. The city had witnessed the sequestering of lawmakers also colloquially known as camp politics way back in 1984, when deposed chief minister N.T. Rama Rao ordered his aides to keep their flock together. After Rama Rao successfully foiled the atte-mpts to break his party, many parties across India followed his practice to protect their MLAs from rival influences. The MLAs camp was once again formed in Hyderabad by N. Chandrababu Naidu in 1995 in his revolt against his party founder and incumbent Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao. Nearly 33 years after the first sequestering, Hyde-rabad has become hub for Congress MLAs from the neighbouring state of Karnataka to protect their MLAs from being approached by the BJP. The legislators were sequestered for the first time in 1984 after then finance minister Nadella Bhaskara Rao revolted against chief minister Rama Rao, when he was away in the US for a heart surgery. Bhaskara Rao became the chief minister with the support of the Congress. Following the directions of NTR from the US, the Telugu Desam MLAs were sequestered at his Ramakrishna Studios at Golconda X Roads in the city for six days till NTR returned from the US. For recreation, the MLAs were showed films starring NTR every day. The camp was guarded by Chandrababu Naidu, Jan-ata Party leader S. Jaipal Reddy (now with the Congress) and BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu. After the return of NTR, he paraded all his MLAs before then president Giani Zail Singh. Following their return, NTR flew them to Janata Party ruled Karnataka, where they were camped at a resort in Nandi Hills , which is 60 km from Bengaluru. The camp was hosted by by then Karnataka CM Ramakrishna Hegde for 25 days, the longest political sequestering ever in India. The camp ended after NTR was reinstated. The politics have come a full circle after 33 years with Hyder-abad hosting Karnatakas Janata Dal (Secular) a remnant of the Janata Party and the Congress. The second sequestering of legislators was organised by Mr Naidu at a hotel in Hyderabad in 1995. The operation was successful with Rama Rao getting losing the trust vote and Mr Naidu become the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. Makkal Needhi Maiams founder Kamal Haasan addresses representatives of political parties and farmers organisations on the Cauvery dispute. The meeting was attended among others by TTV Dhinakarans Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam member Thanga Tamilselvan and PMK leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss. (Photo:DC) Chennai: Actor-politician Kamal Haasan on Saturday succeeded in gathering a few farmers representatives and a couple of politicos for a Cauvery discourse piloted by his Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) at a star hotel here. The DMK and other prominent parties skipped the event, while the PMK sent its Lok Sabha MP Dr Anbumani Ramadoss. Former MLA Thanga Tamilselvan of TTV Dhinakarans Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) was the only other known political face flanking Kamal at the meeting. Seeking to project himself as a Cauvery campaigner, albeit at the end stage of the decades-old interstate conflict, Kamal had met most of the political leadersStalin, Vijayakanth, Thirunavukarasu, TTV, Tamilisai Sounderarajan, K. Balakrishnan, Velmurugan earlier this week and invited them to attend the Saturday session. He had even said not much could be expected out of the Supreme Court whereas absolute unity among all the stakeholders and political parties in Tamil Nadu would surely deliver the much-delayed justice for the Tamil farmers. Stalin responded to Kamals invitation saying the DMK and allies, including the Congress, would not attend the event as they believed there is no need for it now. Responding to this, Kamal now said that Stalins opposition could be due to lack of understanding over what we planned to do today. Stalin would not have spoken in that fashion if only he had understood correctly, said the MNM chief. But then, others too have brushed aside his Cauvery roundtable seeing it as his attempt to grab a politically potent platform despite being a latecomer. Farmers leaders P. R. Pandian and P. Ayyakannu were there by Kamals side, both having declared support to his initiative because any initiative or campaign by anyone for Cauvery would be welcome. However, the first petitioner on Cauvery in Supreme Court, Mannargudi S. Ranganathan reportedly declined Kamals invitation. He holds the view there is no need, any more, for holding any all-party meeting because the Centre has now drafted the Scheme and the Supreme Court has firmed up solution further by directing the Union Government to notify in gazette the constitution of the 10-member Cauvery Water Management Authority, with all powers to implement the Scheme, before the onset of the southwest monsoon. People voicing fears and dissent over the Centres draft scheme must first read and understand it, Ranganathan has said. Bengaluru: Since Saturday morning it was anxious moments for BJP leaders as they tried hard to get the support of the required number of MLAs to prove their majority in the state Assembly, but their hopes collapsed following the oath taking of Congress MLAs, Anand Singh and Prathap Patil, who were in their camp till the afternoon. The partys confidence had suffered a jolt on Friday itself following the Supreme Courts direction to Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to prove his majority in 24 hours, but its leaders continued to make desperate attempts to reach Lingayat MLAs of the Congress and JD(S) MLAs from North Karnataka. On Saturday also, BJP leaders, huddled in a room adjacent to the CMs chamber for more discussions, even tried reaching out to Lingayat MLAs of the Congress at the last moment, but their mobiles were not reachable owing to the jammers installed in the House and Assembly lounge. BJP MLAs were clueless Since Saturday morning it was anxious moments for BJP leaders as they tried hard to get the support of the required number of MLAs to prove their majority in the state Assembly, but their hopes collapsed following the oath taking of Congress MLAs, Anand Singh and Prathapgowda Patil, who were in their camp till the afternoon. While it became clear to the BJPs central leaders and state BJP core committee members that it didnt have the required numbers, party MLAs were clueless about this and hoped till the afternoon that president Amit Shah would do his magic and obtain the required numbers to give it the majority it needed. Once the MLAs had taken oath in the Assembly, Mr Yeddyurappa returned to his chamber, where Union Ministers, Prakash Javadekar, J.P. Nadda, Ananthkumar and D.V. Sadananda Gowda, Karnataka BJP in-charge, Muralidhar Rao, and other leaders were waiting for him. Having greater clarity about the MLAs on their side, they discussed the future course of action while Mr Javadekar and Mr Nadda remained in constant touch with Mr Amit Shah. Bengaluru: While the way has now been paved for a JD(S)- Congress coalition government, a section of legislators from both parties are not sure it will survive even a year given the differences between the two parties and the BJPs expected tactics to bring it down. A senior JD(S) legislator believes there will be a constant threat to the new government from both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president, Amit Shah. Arm twisting will be the order of the day. So its difficult to predict how long this new dispensation under our party chief, H.D. Kumaraswamy will survive, he said, adding that although it seemed all hunky dory between the Congress and JD(S) for now, this may not last for very long. This time around we struggled to secure votes from the Muslims. A case in point is Hassan city where Pritam Gowda won. Although there are nearly 24,000 Muslim votes in the constituency, we received only 800. In several seats, Muslim leaders even returned our money saying they were voting for the Congress, he admitted. A senior MLA of the Congress believes the alliance may survive only until the Lok Sabha polls next year, as differences could crop up over seat sharing in the Vokkaliga belt. Of the eight LS seats there (excluding Bengaluru), the Congress has been winning five , Kolar, Tumkuru, Chikkballapur, Chamarajanagar and Bengaluru Rural. This leaves only two seats in this belt, Mandya and Hassan for the JD(S). Warangal: The political developments in Karnataka prove that the conspiracies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah to remain in power will no longer work, Telangana state Congress president Uttam Kumar Reddy said on Saturday. There is no doubt that no one can stop Rahul Gandhi from becoming the Prime Minister in 2019, Mr Uttam said in Hanamkonda on Saturday evening, after the BJP failed to prove its majority in the Karnataka Assembly. Calling the Karnataka episode a victory of democracy and victory of the Congress, Mr Reddy congratulated Mr Gandhi for his guidance in dethroning the BJP which had claimed power using unconstitutional methods. The morale of the party cadre across the country is boosted with this outcome, especially in Telangana where it is going to claim power in 2019, he said. The BJPs efforts to twist rules in their favour in Manipur and Goa were clear and when they tried to do the same in Karnataka, they only received a blow, he said. The way they influenced Governors and used them as their office-bearers is disgusting. A new trend has now set in the country. The people have started opposing the BJP. They have come to know of the BJPs thirst for power and utter disregard for the constitution and democracy. This would pave the way for the Congress partys victory in 2019 across the country, he said. Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will attend JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy's oath-taking ceremony as Chief Minister of Karnataka in Bengaluru on Monday. TRS sources said Mr Kumaraswamy had telephoned Mr Rao late on Saturday and invited him for the cermony. Mr Rao congragulated Mr Kumaraswamy and promised to attend it. Mr Rao had previously visited Bengaluru to meet JD(S) leader and former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy as part of his attempts to forge a Federal Front, in April just before Assembly elections and extended support to the party. Mr Rao also urged Telugu voters in Karnataka to vote for the JD(S) saying that both BJP and Congress had failed in bringing a qualititative change. Mr Rao's presence at the ceremony will be interesting as the JD(S) has tied up with the Congress to form government and moreso because the oath-taking ceremony is likely to be attended by AICC president Rahul Gandhi, Chief Ministers N. Chandrababu Naidu and Mamata Banerjee and former UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party. It remains to be seen how Mr Rao would share the dias with Mr Gandhi. Mr Rao has been making efforts to bring all regional parties together to take on the national parties and has already met Ms Banerjee, DMK leader M.K. Stalin and Mr Yadav besides the Gowdas so far. The results of the Karnataka Assembly polls and the Congress Partys decision to offer the chief ministers post to H.D. Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal (Secular) has given hope to regional leaders who believe they could be in a position to play kingmaker in subsequent elections. One of them is none other than former Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi, who left the Congress two years ago and floated his own party Chhattisgarh Janata Congress. Mr Jogi has publicly declared that his party will contest all the 90 seats in the Assembly elections slated for later this year, but the wily former Congressman is said to have changed his strategy after the Karnataka verdict. Mr Jogi has decided to identify 15-odd seats where his party has a presence and focus on winning these. The logic here is that if H.D. Kumaraswamy could be offered the chief ministers post with 37 seats, there is every possibility that Mr Jogi may find himself in the same happy position after the elections. Realising the former chief ministers potential to play spoiler in a three-cornered contest, Congress president Rahul Gandhi deliberately addressed a meeting in Kotmi, a Jogi stronghold, on his visit to the poll-bound state last week. Mr Jogi retaliated by booking all the grounds for three days for public meetings, providing a peep into the bitter battle ahead. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has undoubtedly emerged as a big winner in the mini-Cabinet rejig undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week when he replaced Smriti Irani as the new boss of the high-profile information and broadcasting ministry. While Ms Irani scripted her own exit after she was mired in a string of controversies, Mr Rathore has apparently been given a more visible charge with an eye on the Rajasthan Assembly polls due this year-end. The ruling BJP needs to get its act together in the desert state as it is on a sticky wicket here as the results of the recent byelections showed. The BJP leadership is hoping that Mr Rathores new high-profile job will help in mollifying the Rajput community which has been upset with the saffron party though Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje did go all out to appease them during the prolonged and often violent protests against the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film Padmaavat. To be fair to Mr Rathore, he is not new to the information and broadcasting ministry. He was the junior minister when Arun Jaitley and M. Venkaiah Naidu were in charge. Unlike other ministers of state, Mr Rathore was fortunate to gain early experience in the ministry as Mr Jaitley gave him a free hand during his tenure because he had his hands full with the finance and corporate affairs portfolios. Telugu Desam Party chief and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has been on a warpath ever since he decided to walk out of the National Democratic Alliance after the Centre refused to concede his demand for a special status for his home state. Using every opportunity to hit out at the BJP, Mr Naidu had publicly exhorted all Telugu-speaking people of Karnataka to defeat the saffron party in the Assembly polls. When the BJP failed to touch the halfway mark in Karnataka, an exultant TDP lost no time in pointing out that it paid the price for hurting the sentiments of Telugu-speaking people in Karnataka. In fact, Mr Naidus close aides sent out detailed messages to mediapersons pointing out that the Congress had won 32 seats and the BJP a mere five in the 46 constituencies dominated by Telugu voters. They also took special pleasure in mentioning that BJP leader D. Purandeswari, who is locked in a battle with Mr Naidu, had a tough time when she went to campaign in these areas. Anandiben Patel, who was shifted to Madhya Pradesh as governor shortly after the Gujarat Assembly polls, has a knack of staying in the news. When she took up this new responsibility, she declined an offer of an official and instead travelled to Bhopal in a chartered bus with her family members. Having served as Gujarat chief minister, Ms Patel is used to an active political life. Not one to sit back, she started by visiting anganwadis and a juvenile correction centre and followed it up with surprise visits to hospitals. In addition, she has been calling officials and department heads to make PowerPoint presentations and has been shy of searching questions about their work. She even commented on the low nutrition levels in the state. Naturally, this has upset chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as this is seen as a snub to him. However, Mr Chouhan can heave a sigh of relief as Ms Patel has gone abroad on a fortnight-long holiday, probably a cruise. This is unusual, as governors in Madhya Pradesh have, so far, gone on vacation unless they are undergoing medical treatment. But obviously Mr Chouhan is not complaining. Gujarat governor O.P. Kohli has been given additional charge of Madhya Pradesh till Ms Patels return. In 1985, soon after the Congress won a landslide victory with over 400 seats, the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi got Parliament to pass the anti-defection law. As per this law, any legislator who defied the party leadership on a vote would be seen as a defector and disqualified, meaning thereby that once the party issued a whip (a written notice to its legislators requesting attendance for a particular vote), the legislator could not vote as he chose but had to vote as the party wanted him to. A legislator could be disqualified even if he abstained from voting. The vote need not necessarily be a confidence vote, linked to the survival of a government; the anti-defection law can be invoked for any vote that a party chooses. The law originally shielded legislators voting against their party if one-third of them did so. But in 2004, this aspect was also removed. The logic was that the one-third law encouraged wholesale defection. In a 2007 case (Rajendra Singh Rana vs Swami Prasad Maurya, connected to defections in the BSP), the Supreme Court said that even signing a letter to the governor supporting the opposite party was equivalent to defection. This is one reason why the BJP did not name the members from the Congress or the JD(S) who may have been supporting it in Karnataka. If their names and signatures had been added by B.S. Yeddyurappa in his letter to the governor, it could have been fatal for them. The Union government, arguing in favour of the BJP in Karnataka, claimed that because the Karnataka MLAs had not yet been sworn in, the anti-defection law does not apply as yet. The SC said that this claim was preposterous and an open invitation to horse-trading. Over the years, because of this law, the judiciary has been able to impose itself on what is essentially the prerogative of the legislature. This may be seen by some as being necessary but it is not healthy in a parliamentary democracy. Over 100 MLAs and more than 24 MPs have been disqualified under this law so far. Other great democracies also have similar problems but their solution or punishment is not as drastic as ours. In the United Kingdom, an MP who defies a three-line whip (meaning a written notice which has been underlined three times to mark its urgency) could be expelled from the party but retains his seat, unlike in India where he loses both. In Australia, the punishment for defying the whip means denial of some party resources. In the US, members cannot be expelled from political parties and, therefore, the question of such punishment does not arise. India is the only major democracy where casting a vote against the party directive results in such an extreme action. In 1992, the SC (in Kihoto Hollohan vs Zachilhu case) decided that the law was not against free speech or any other freedom and was not against parliamentary democracy. The court said, The anti-defection law seeks to recognise the practical need to place the proprieties of political and personal conduct above certain theoretical assumptions. One need not agree with this, but even if one does, some serious questions remain unanswered. What happens in case the party joins a post-poll alliance with another party whose ideology a legislator is opposed to? Should he let down his voters merely because his party leadership has taken a decision in that direction? Its not easy to answer this; the anti-defection law ignores it. The anti-defection law was justified at the time it was enacted because that period saw a lot of legislators changing their party after being bribed with offers of ministries or money. In the late 1960s, a Congress legislator from Haryana, Gaya Lal, changed his party three times in a few days. This action produced the phrase Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram referring to those legislators who owed no party loyalty but were in politics purely for themselves. The anti-defection law was meant to curb such activity. And it has done so to a large extent. However, it is too sweeping a solution to what is essentially a problem of morality. If a legislator defied the party on which he was voted, surely it was the elector who should punish him and not the party. The anti-defection law essentially removes the conscience of the elected representative and is thus a blow to democracy and constitutionalism. It also takes away the agency and freedom of the legislator. The law fails the citizens in two most important ways. First, the loyalty that a legislator must have towards his voter and his constituents as opposed to his party. And second, the assumption, which is false, that the party is always right. The history of Independent India shows that no party is perfect and their leaderships are capable of mistakes. The anti-defection law blunts the resistance to such actions. Parliament is the loudest and most powerful forum in a democracy. The anti-defection law has muzzled all forms of internal dissent in it. No matter which side of the divide one is on Karnataka issue, all of us must look again seriously at this law and examine the harm it has done, while acknowledging its benefits. The Haryana government has placed the services of O.P. Singh, ADGP (human rights and litigation), at the disposal of the chief secretary for further posting. This has led to speculation in babu circles that the senior police officer is set to get a secretary-level post in one of the departments. If this indeed happens, Mr Singh, a 1992-batch IPS officer of the Haryana cadre, will be the second police officer to head a department in the state after Shatrujit Kapoor, who was named to head the state discoms. Secretary-level posts have traditionally been the preserve of IAS officers and any attempt to post non-IAS officers on these posts is vehemently opposed by the IAS lobby. There were murmurs of protests from the IAS lobby when Mr Kapoor was named. Will there be similar protests if Mr Singh gets the nod from the state government? So far it has maintained that postings of the All-India service officers was the prerogative of the state government, and that postings are done on the basis of seniority, aptitude and needs of the administration. Old and new faces of BBB Last month the government initiated a much-required reorganisation of the banking sector by appointing former IAS officer Bhanu Pratap Sharma as the new chief of the Bank Board Bureau (BBB), replacing former comptroller and auditor general of India, Vinod Rai. Some were surprised when Mr Rai did not find a place in the reconstituted bureau given that he was a favourite of the government. Mr Sharma has been a former secretary at the department of personnel and training (DoPT) as well as health. He has also been chairman, recruitment and assessment centre, at the DRDO. The other members of the reconstituted BBB are Vedika Bhandarkar, former MD, Credit Suisse India, P. Pradeep Kumar, former MD of State Bank of India, and Pradip P. Shah, founder MD of ratings agency Crisil, who returns for a second stint. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School. Together, the members of the reconstituted BBB have diverse experience which should serve the board well as it seeks to get the government implement its recommendations. They have been tasked with the appointment of senior-level positions at state-run banks. However, it now appears that the government is reviewing the appointment of P. Pradeep Kumar amid concerns about his links to a company given loans by a major private sector bank. Until the investigations are completed, the uncertainty surrounding his appointment will remain. Oliver Nicholls, 19, of Sydney, Australia, was awarded first place on Friday, May 18, 2018, for designing and building a prototype of an autonomous robotic window cleaner for commercial buildings at the 2018 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, a program of Society for Science & the Public and the worlds largest international pre-college science competition. (Credit: Chris Ayers/Society for Science & the Public) Oliver Nicholls, 19, of Sydney, Australia, was awarded first place for designing and building a prototype of an autonomous robotic window cleaner for commercial buildings at this years Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, a program of Society for Science & the Public and the worlds largest international pre-college science competition. The competition featured nearly 1,800 young scientists selected from 420 affiliate fairs in 81 countries, regions and territories. In essence, a flying drone-like device is tethered to the roof of a building and equipped with a powerful spray nozzle and rotating scrubbers. The $2,300 device can withstand 28 mph winds and could replace traditional methods that can exceed $11,000 per cleaning and reduce injuries in this high-risk occupation. Nicholls received the Gordon E. Moore Award of $75,000, named in honor of the Intel co-founder and fellow scientist. Meghana Bollimpalli, 17, of Little Rock, Arkansas, received one of two Intel Foundation Young Scientist Awards of $50,000 for her novel, low-cost approach for synthesizing materials that could greatly cut the production and energy costs of making electrodes for devices like supercapacitors. She found that combining common substances like tea and molasses with nitrogen and phosphorus in a commercial microwave formed a powder that could be used as a coating for electrode-like materials giving them similar properties of more expensive metals like platinum. Dhruvik Parikh, 18, of Bothell, Washington, received the other Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award of $50,000 for his development of less expensive yet more robust ion exchange membranes for use in large industrial-scale batteries for storing solar or wind-generated electricity for later distribution. His composite membrane has 10 times the proton conductivity of the industrys standard membrane while reducing production costs by about 30 percent. Intel congratulates Oliver Nicholls, Meghana Bollimpalli, Dhruvik Parikh and all of the participants on their groundbreaking research that will help solve some of todays greatest global challenges, said Rosalind Hudnell, Intel vice president of Corporate Affairs and president of the Intel Foundation. When students from different backgrounds, perspectives and geographies come together and share their ideas, there is no limit to what they can achieve. In addition to the top winners, approximately 600 finalists received awards and prizes for their innovative research, including 24 Best of Category winners, who each received a $5,000 prize in addition to their $3,000 first place award. The Intel Foundation also awarded a $1,000 grant to each winners school and to the affiliated fair they represent. The following lists the 24 Best of Category winners, from which the top three were chosen: Congratulations to Oliver Nicholls, Meghana Bollimpalli and Dhruvik Parikh on winning the top awards at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair! said Maya Ajmera, president and CEO of Society for Science & the Public and publisher of Science News. The breakthrough ideas presented by the winners and finalists demonstrate how the brilliant minds of future generations will make the world a better place. These young innovators are the stewards of our future, and we look forward to seeing all that they accomplish as they continue to pursue their interest in STEM. The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair encourages millions of students to explore their passion for developing innovations that improve the way we work and live. All finalists are selected by an affiliated, local competition and receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. At the competition, finalists are judged by hundreds of science, engineering and industry professionals who have a Ph.D. or equivalent (six years of related professional experience) or are senior graduate students with doctoral-level research in one of the 22 scientific disciplines above. A full listing of finalists is available in the event program. The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2018 is funded jointly by Intel and the Intel Foundation with additional support from dozens of corporate, academic, government and science-focused sponsors. This year, approximately $5 million was awarded. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. The retreat from the worlds largest social media network is one of the sharpest responses by investors to concerns about Facebooks handling of user data. Several socially conscious investment firms are selling or rethinking their Facebook Inc holdings, unsatisfied by the companys moves to strengthen personal data protection and online safety after scandals involving the improper sharing of users information. The retreat from the worlds largest social media network is one of the sharpest responses by investors to concerns about Facebooks handling of user data. Cambridge Analytica, a now-defunct political data firm hired by Trumps 2016 election campaign, has been accused of harvesting data for 87 million Facebook users and is under investigation in the United States and Europe. Facebook shares fell in the first quarter when the scandal broke, and recovered after founder and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg testified before US lawmakers in April. Although he deflected questions and avoided pledging to support new regulation, doubts were raised about his commitment to fully resolve the issue. Facebooks problems, we believe, are founded on a lack of sufficient attention to consumer privacy and data security, compounded by inadequate governance, wrote Adam Kanzer, vice president of Domini Funds, in a May 8 letter to Facebook explaining its plan to sell its 111,000 Facebook shares held in the Domini Impact Equity Fund. In April Eaton Vance Corp unit Calvert Research and Management also sold Facebook shares on concerns about lax controls that meant the company clearly violated users fundamental right to privacy, contrary to the firms investment principles, according to Emma Doner, one of its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) analysts. The divestment by the two well-known firms build on previous concerns by other so-called ESG managers, which consider social responsibility when buying stocks. Others may follow. Joe Keefe, president of Pax World Funds, said Facebooks place in investment vehicles like the Pax ESG Beta Dividend Fund will be reviewed with an eye on recent controversies that may very well affect the companys scores and its eligibility for continued inclusion in those portfolios. A Facebook spokeswoman declined to comment. Zuckerberg controls a majority of Facebooks voting power, but must face shareholders at its annual meeting on May 31. Top proxy advisers have recommended a number of votes contrary to the boards positions. ESG funds represent just a small fraction of Facebook shares, but their moves may influence top investors including BlackRock Inc and Vanguard Group, which have paid more attention to social issues in recent years. Representatives for both declined to comment. Facebook had already faced skepticism from ESG funds which on average had kept the company at a market-neutral weighting of 1.7 percent, according to Morningstar data, likely tied to Facebooks average score from ESG rating service Sustainalytics. Martin Kremenstein, senior managing director at Nuveen, said one reason it would be hard for the companys socially minded funds to own Facebook is because the problems occurred despite a settlement the company struck with the Federal Trade Commission in 2011, which included a pledge to improve privacy protections. Referring to the latest revelations involving Cambridge Analytica, he said, This is a bigger scandal than before, but its not a new one. Not all ESG managers aim to divest. Lauren Compere of Boston Common Asset Management said Facebook remains attractive given its strong growth and cash generation, and said the company deserved credit for steps like fighting unreasonable government requests for users information. Julie Goodridge of NorthStar Asset Management, with about 36,900 Facebook shares, said managers should keep their shares and vote in support of upcoming proxy resolutions like one from her firm calling for Facebook to give all shares an equal vote, which would reduce Zuckerbergs power. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. With no prior criminal history, Sarja will face probation under the state's sentencing guidelines, Douglas County District Court Judge Kay Huff said. He's scheduled to be sentenced July 2 (Representational image) Washington: An Indian-origin former University of Kansas student who admitted stealing professors' computer passwords to change his grades has been convicted of four felonies. Varun Sarja, 20, of Olathe, pleaded guilty on Friday to two counts of identity theft and two counts of unlawful computer acts. Fourteen other felony charges were dropped as part of the plea deal, The Lawrence Journal-World reported. With no prior criminal history, Sarja will face probation under the state's sentencing guidelines, Douglas County District Court Judge Kay Huff said. He's scheduled to be sentenced July 2. Sarja also will be required to get a mental health evaluation, allow law enforcement to verify that his electronics no longer have the keystroke logger program and write apology letters to all the professors and teaching assistants who were affected, under plea deal recommendations from prosecutor Deborah Moody and Sarja's attorney, John Kerns. Before accepting Sarja's plea, the judge asked him to explain to her what he did wrong. Quite simply, I used passwords that weren't mine to change my grades in the KU (University of Kansas) system, Sarja said. Sarja told the judge that he has completed his sophomore year of college, but did not specify where. KU held a hearing to remove him from the university in summer of 2017, after KU police began investigating the hacking but before criminal charges were filed, in November 2017. Sarja was a freshman studying engineering at KU during the 2016-17 school year, when he successfully used a keystroke logger to steal instructors' confidential login information, hack into multiple campus computers and change F's to A's. Keystroke logger devices plug easily into computers and record every keystroke that's typed, enabling hackers to obtain others' user names and passwords for accounts and computer systems. Sarja was on academic probation in spring 2017, and after being surprised to see he had an A in math, a KU School of Engineering academic adviser and the math professor began checking into it. An ensuing investigation by KU police revealed that Sarja had changed almost all of his 10 grades that year, starting in December, and stole teachers' login credentials to do it. Sarja told detectives he loved engineering, wanted to be successful and was scared to tell his parents he had failed classes. A Cuban state airways plane with 110 passengers and crew on board crashes shortly after taking off from Havana, as the country's president warns many people are feared dead. (Photo: AFP/Twitter) Havana: A Cuban state airways plane with 110 passengers and crew on board crashed shortly after taking off from Havana Friday, leaving a mass of twisted and smoldering fuselage, as the country's president warned many people were feared dead. Cuban state media reported that three people had been pulled alive from the mangled wreckage and were in critical condition in hospital. There was no other official mention of survivors from a nearly 40-year-old Boeing 737 operated by Cubana de Aviacion, which crashed into a field close to a wooded area near Havana's Jose Marti airport, sending a thick column of acrid smoke into the air. The 110 aboard included six Mexican crew, said Aerolineas Damojh, the Mexican-based company that leased the plane to the Cuban carrier. The plane -- carrying 104 passengers -- was almost completely destroyed in the crash and subsequent fire, which was put out by firefighters who raced to the scene along with a fleet of ambulances. Emergency personnel combed through the wreckage, lending little hope that there could be other survivors. "Three passengers managed to survive the accident. They are in a critical condition. They are already in hospital," the state newspaper Granma said. What appeared to be one of the wings of the plane was wedged among scorched tree trunks, but the main fuselage was almost entirely destroyed. Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who went to visit the scene, told AFP there was a large number of casualties. "There has been an unfortunate aviation accident. The news is not very promising -- it seems that there is a high number of victims," Diaz-Canel said. The president said nine crew members were believed to have been on board, but he was unsure if they had been included in the total of 104 passengers. The 58-year-old president, who succeeded Raul Castro as the island's leader only last month, appeared aghast as he surveyed the recovery efforts, wearing a short-sleeved green shirt and surrounded by officials. In a statement later, the president said an investigation into the cause of the accident was underway. "The bodies are being identified. The ministry of transport has set up a commission to investigate the facts. We will gather all the relevant information and we will communicate that to the people as soon as we will get it," he said. Mexico's government said the plane was built in 1979 and said it had a crew of five Mexicans -- the pilot, co-pilot, and three flight attendants. However, in a later statement, Aerolineas Damojh said a maintenance technician was also on board. Aerolineas Damojh, also known as Global Air, is a charter company formed in 1990 that had a fleet of three planes. Mexico's ministry of communications and transportation said the plane had passed inspections in November last year. - 'It made a turn, and went down'- Airport sources said the plane took off at 12:08 pm (1608 GMT) heading for the eastern city of Holguin, 670 kilometers (about 415 miles) away. From the supermarket where he works near the airport, Jose Luis, 49, said he could see the plane taking off before it banked and plunged to the ground. "I saw it taking off. All of a sudden, it made a turn, and went down. We were all amazed," he said. Images from Cuban television showed rescue workers at the scene removing what appeared to be a survivor on a stretcher as rain began to fall. Prior to Friday's crash, Cuba's most recent air accident occurred in April, 2017. Eight military personnel died when a Russian-made AN-26 transport aircraft went down in western Cuba. The country's last major airline disaster was in November 2010 when a Cuban Aerocaribbean airliner crashed while on a flight from Santiago de Cuba to Havana, killing all 68 people on board, including 28 foreigners. In July 1997, an Antonov-24 passenger plane crashed into the sea off Santiago de Cuba. All 44 aboard were killed, including two Brazilians and two Spaniards. In March 2002, a small Antonov-2 plane travelling from Cienfuegos to Cayo Coco crashed in the central province of Santa Clara. All 16 people aboard, among them six Canadian tourists, four Britons and two Germans, were killed. Dubai: Saudi authorities have arrested seven prominent womens rights advocates, just weeks before the kingdoms longstanding driving ban on women is set to be lifted, Human Rights Watch said on Saturday. Without identifying those detained, Saudi Arabias state security apparatus said seven people had been arrested for attempting to undermine the security and stability of the kingdom... and to erode national unity. Work is still underway to identify everyone involved and take legal measures against them, a security spokesman said in a statement published Saturday by state news agency SPA. Those arrested are facing accusations including making suspicious contact with foreign parties, providing financial support to hostile elements abroad and recr-uiting government workers. The crackdown comes even as the kingdom breaks with long-held restrictions on women, with the driving ban slated to end June 24. But there were warnings that Riyadh would not tolerate those pushing for change outside its authority. Activists told HRW that in September 2017, the royal court had called the countrys prominent activists... and warned them not to speak to the media. The calls were made the same day the authorities announced that they would lift the driving ban on women, the watchdog said. The detainees rounded up since May 15 include Loujain al-Hathloul, Aziza al-Yousef and Eman al-Nafjan, women who have long opposed the driving ban and who continue to oppose the kingdoms endu-ring guardianship laws. Saudi Arabias guardianship system requires women to obtain permission from their fathers, brothers, husbands or even sons for a host of life decisions. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans reform campaign has been a frenzy of fear for genuine Saudi reformers who dare to advocate publicly for human rights or womens empowerment, said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at HRW. It appears the only crime these activists committed was wanting women to drive before Mohammed bin Salman did, she said. Activists Hathloul and Nafjan in 2016 signed a petition to abolish Saudi Arabias male guardianship system, according to HRW. Japan has subtly nudged India to remain committed to countering hegemonic aspirations of China in Indo-Pacific, even as New Delhi's efforts to mend ties with Beijing recently got a fillip with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "informal summit" with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Earlier this week, Modi received a call from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The two prime ministers discussed the situation in Asia, according to a note on the website of the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi. Abe was quoted telling Modi during the 20-minute call that he "would like to further promote coordination and cooperation towards the achievement of a free and open Indo-Pacific". The note issued by Government of Japan did not mention Modi's response to Abe. The Government of India, too, did not come out with any press release on the call the prime minister received from his counterpart in Japan. The words of Japanese Prime Minister, however, appear to be significant, as they signalled that Tokyo would like New Delhi to stick to its stand against hegemonic aspirations of China, particularly in Indo-Pacific. Abe called Modi over a fortnight after the latter had an "informal summit" with Xi at Wuhan in central China on April 27 and 28. The meeting between Modi and Xi fueled speculation that New Delhi might put on the back-burner its "quad' initiative with Japan, Australia and the United States to contain China in Indo-Pacific, as it was trying to bring its ties with the Communist country back on track and would prefer to avert annoying Beijing. Not only India but Japan, Australia and the US, too, have of late been calling for "free and open Indo-Pacific" to counter China's bid to flex its military muscles and expand its geopolitical influence across the region. Beijing, however, views it as a ploy by the US and other countries to contain the rise of China. Modi told Abe that he was looking forward to his upcoming visit to Japan this year, according to the note issued by Japanese Government in New Delhi. During the annual summit in New Delhi in September last year, Modi and Abe agreed to reinforce their efforts to align India's "Act East" policy with Japan's "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" strategy. They agreed to enhance maritime security cooperation, improving connectivity in the wider Indo-Pacific region, strengthening cooperation with the Southeast Asian nations. India also joined Japan, Australia and the US to re-launch the quad initiative on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Manila in November last year. The move, however, drew flak from India's old friend Russia as well as some of the Southeast Asian nations. Just about three weeks before Modi-Xi informal summit at Wuhan, senior diplomats of India, US and Japan had a trilateral meeting in New Delhi and agreed "to remain engaged and strengthen cooperation in support for a free, open, prosperous, peaceful and inclusive Indo-Pacific region through partnership with countries in the region". They discussed the outcomes of a recent meeting of the Trilateral Infrastructure Working Group a significant, but hitherto little-known initiative by the three nations, apparently aimed at providing an alternative to the Belt and Road initiative of China in Indo-Pacific region. New Delhi has not yet signalled any departure from its position on "free and open Indo-Pacific". But Modi's "informal summit" with Xi at Wuhan and his plan to hold another similar meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Sochi off the coast of Black Sea on Monday fueled speculation about New Delhi's move to rebalance its ties with the "big powers", particularly in the context of Indo-Pacific. The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) staged a protest on Saturday, demanding the withdrawal of a unilateral halt on security operations in the state announced by the Centre. A group of JKNPP activists led by its chairman and former minister Harsh Dev Singh staged the protest at Exhibition Grounds here. We have staged the protest to draw the attention of the prime minister to various issues haunting the Jammu region, Singh told reporters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in the state today to inaugurate various projects. Opposing the unilateral ceasefire announced by the Centre during the holy month of Ramzan, he said that the move had "backfired". "In the wake of separatists and other terror organisations rejecting the government's move, Pakistan opened unprovoked firing and shelling on the borders claiming a number of precious lives, he said. Four civilians and a BSF jawan were killed while 12 others were injured as the Pakistan Rangers rained mortar shells on villages and border outposts in Jammu yesterday. Referring to the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua, Singh sought the intervention of Modi for transfer of the case from the crime branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police to the CBI. The United States economy is clipping along, unemployment is below 4 percent and citizens are feeling good about their prospects for the future. All signs suggest a celebratory parade is in order for the growing economy. As the 2018 midterm elections begin to heat up, politicians from both political parties are racing to the front of the parade to establish their leadership or to declare their campaign is the cause of the economic success. Heres the reality: It isnt the governments or a politicians parade to lead it belongs to the American people and American businesses. Government does not create wealth or jobs. Politicians do not drive economies. People, communities, businesses and private organizations do that. Presidents, as well as state elected officials, historically get more credit and take more blame for the economy than they deserve. The factors leading to economic success and sustainability are many and complex and can rarely, if ever, be tied to a specific action of government. The political consulting class recognizes perception is reality when it comes to voters pocket-book issues and have all but canonized President Bill Clintons famous axiom, Its the economy, stupid. If the economy is booming, the party in power touts its spot at the head of the economic parade. If the economy is stagnate or struggling, the party out of power declares those in office are overseeing a funeral procession instead of a parade. Reality and history show that neither is completely true. Currently, many Republicans are basing their re-election prospects on the impact of tax cuts on the economy. Many Americans have seen small but important increases in take-home pay, and others have received much publicized bonuses. The perception is tax cuts are driving a better economy for all Americans. Economists across the political spectrum seem to agree with Joel Prakken, chief economist at the economic forecasting firm IHS Markit, who said, Its just way too early to see any kind of evidence of faster growth, faster investment, more labor supply any of that stuff. The tax cuts will likely have lasting impact on Americans and the economy but it is too early to know exactly what that impact will be. This is not to say that government doesnt play a role in national and local economies. It does. While acknowledging it doesnt create wealth or jobs, government clearly can have a negative influence. When government oversteps its proper role, picks winners and losers through cronyist connections or overburdens businesses with excessive and burdensome regulations, the chilling impact on the economy is real. The best governing philosophy is to do no harm and then stay out of the way so the American people, businesses and organizations can do what they do best innovate, create value, serve customers, give back and contribute to vibrant communities. One negative ramification of government and political parties taking credit is that it further conditions citizens to look to government to solve problems. If it is government that creates success and happiness in good times, then it is reasonable to believe that government is also responsible when things go bad. It is also true that economies run on confidence and optimism. Hopeful organizations investment in research and development, more staff and physical equipment. Citizens buy, spend and invest when they have confidence in the future. There is an economic story that has to be told and policy that has to be driven in order to encourage companies to spend and invest. Utah is fortunate to have a state government that, for the most part, provides a light regulatory touch, sound leadership, responsible spending and future planning. Utah is equally fortunate to have businesses, religious organizations and individual citizens who invest significant resources to support community projects, create job-driving international commerce and promote good causes. The proper role of government is to create space for individuals and organizations to do just that. When it comes to any economic success parades, it's best to acknowledge and celebrate the individuals, businesses and organizations that are already working and contributing at the front of the parade. Their leadership is what drives the economy, improves communities and strengthens the country. In the age of fake news, confirmation bias, social media echo chambers, alternate facts and straight-up lies, the looming question is, Who is responsible for truth? Every day, prominent national media personalities, politicians and business executives demonstrate through their words and actions that they do not want to be responsible for, and many are not interested in, truth. So, who is responsible for truth? I have been thinking about writing on this topic for several weeks and informed my editorial assistant, Christian Sagers, of my intent to write on truth this week. As my Thursday spun into unexpected meetings and my writing time evaporated, I told him to just hold my spot on the page. At 5 p.m., while I was in the middle of playing guest host on a national radio program, Christian brought me the proofs for the printed paper. At the bottom the page (in this very spot if you are reading this in the Sunday paper) was my picture and a placeholder headline. In red pen Christian had scrawled, Truth will be written here. The answer to my question about who is responsible for truth was right in front of me in bright red ink. I am responsible for truth. Oprah Winfrey delivered a fiery commencement speech to the graduating class of the University of Southern California Annenberg School of Journalism. In addition to wise counsel and humor indicative of such an occasion, she challenged the graduates to embrace, live and be the truth. In the crescendo of her address, Winfrey implored, So your job now, let me tell you, is to take everything youve learned here and use what you learned to challenge the left, to challenge the right and the center. When you see something, you say something, and you say it with the facts and the reporting to back it up. Heres what you have to do: You make the choice every day, every single day, to exemplify honesty because the truth, let me tell you something about the truth, the truth exonerates and it convicts. It disinfects and it galvanizes. The truth has always been and will always be our shield against corruption, our shield against greed and despair. The truth is our saving grace. And not only are you here, USC Annenberg, to tell it, to write it, to proclaim it, to speak it, but to be it. Be the truth. Be the truth. I found it significant that Winfrey did not challenge the students to be their truth, as is popular among the moral relativists of today. She told them to be the truth. Earlier this year, Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona spoke to the United States Senate about the state of truth in Washington. He said, I will close by borrowing the words of an early adherent to my faith that I find has special resonance at this moment. His name was John Jacques, and as a young missionary in England he contemplated the question: What is truth? His search was expressed in poetry and ultimately in a hymn that I grew up with, titled Oh Say, What Is Truth. It ends as follows: Then say, what is truth? 'Tis the last and the first, For the limits of time it steps o'er. Tho the heavens depart and the earth's fountains burst. Truth, the sum of existence, will weather the worst, Eternal unchanged evermore. William George Jordan powerfully made the case for truth in 1902: Truth can stand alone, for it needs no chaperone or escort. Lies are cowardly, fearsome things that must travel in battalions A lie may live for a time, truth for all time. A lie never lives by its own vitality; it merely continues to exist because it simulates truth. Each of us has a responsibility for truth, to speak it, find it, promote it, act on it and even defend it. We should also recognize we have an equally significant responsibility for how we speak the truth. Someone wisely suggested that we can talk about any truth as long as we understand that how we speak about it matters. I have heard the same truth from the arrogant and the angry as well as the humble and courageous with vastly different results. I should also add that when we speak the truth is also important. Few things are more jarring than a truth spoken at the worst possible moment. The I-told-you-so truth, while still truth, does little to elevate others, create space for learning or improve a situation. Hitting people over the head with truth in the heat of an argument is contrary to the nature and power of truth. Jordan posited that our individual responsibility for truth rests on four pillars the love of truth, the search for truth, faith in truth and a determination to work to advance truth. Each of us is responsible for truth. We need a greater commitment to truth throughout the world and particularly on the worldwide web. In the space of this weekly column, I am committed to live up to the challenge of my wise-beyond-his-years colleague: Truth will be written here. SALT LAKE CITY Members of an alleged secretive drug-trafficking organization that represents itself as a music group have been charged with conspiracy to distribute meth, according to court documents unsealed Friday. In all, 15 Salt Lake valley residents have been charged in federal court, according to court documents. Of those, 12 were arrested Tuesday, and arrest warrants are out for the other three. The defendants were allegedly part of a group called Glenmob, which U.S. Attorney's Office spokeswoman Melodie Rydalch said "is a hybrid street gang with association with other street gangs." State and federal authorities "determined Glenmob, while identifying themselves as a music group, were involved in several violent crimes in Utah," Rydalch said in a statement. "(Investigators) suspected the music group of being a front for narcotics distribution," she said. Rydalch added that "Glenmob frequently posts music videos on YouTube." "The FBI identified many of those in the videos as suspected and known narcotics traffickers," she said. The defendants are each charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Federal prosecutors say that in the case of a conviction, the charge would carry a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence and up to life in prison. Those charged were identified Friday as Salt Lake Valley residents Cameron Lucas, 19; Sipriano Molina, 21; Abraham Sanchez, 22; Daniel Silva, 26; Salvador Tafolla, 26; Jesus Alvarado, 31; David Miramontes, 32; Melissa Kelly, 32; Juan Noriega, 34; Angel Rivera, 25; Kenneth Reyos, 20; Tranqulino Reyos, 23; Fabien Tapia-Bustamante, 18; Dominic Trujillo, 23; and Nick Vigil, 31. The U.S. Attorney's Office; FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Unified police; Salt Lake police; and West Valley City police spoke at a Friday press conference announcing the charges. The arrests carried out Tuesday yielded 15 pounds of meth, a half-pound of heroin and several pounds of marijuana, according to John Huber, U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah. Police also reported seizing 15 firearms, three vehicles and $36,000 in cash. More notable than the scope of Glenmob's alleged drug trafficking, Huber said, was their "operational security" that was difficult to pierce. "How security conscious this group has been, how close-knit they are," he said in an interview, "that was a real challenge." Rydalch said the charges filed this week indicate that "Glenmob is a very tight organization and rarely communicates with individuals outside their established circle." "Leaders distribute to a (minimal) number of buyers in an effort to avoid law enforcement penetration into the organization," she said. Huber believes Glenmob's activity was related to "a spike in gang violence and violent crime generally" in Utah. Their alleged drug operations are "how criminals fund themselves," he said. "There will be a palpable positive impact on public safety in the state of Utah" as a result of the arrests, he said. Eric Barnhart, special agent in charge of the Salt Lake City Division of the FBI, agreed. "For every ounce that's trafficted, the good people, the good communities in the (Salt Lake) Valley are put at risk," Barnhardt told reporters. Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera said that beginning last fall, investigators from various agencies began focusing their resources on "a significant increase in violent crime on the west side" of the county. Ultimately, that investigation led to zeroing in on the havoc allegedly wrought by members of Glenmob, she and Huber said. "Our citizens in the Kearns, Magna area ... told us 'we need help out there,'" Rivera said. "That was our goal, and I know that this is going to have a huge impact on (the) violent crime in the west side." Kearns and Magna residents said "they wanted help and they wanted it right now," Huber added. Huber said the new charges don't mark the end of the investigation into the Glenmob group. "We seized a lot of evidence this week that we still need to process," he said. Huber also publicly implored Silva, Molina, and Tapia-Bustamante, whose arrest warrants were outstanding as of Friday afternoon, to "peacefully turn themselves over to law enforcement authorities." SALT LAKE CITY Dozens of high school students gathered on the steps of the Utah Capitol Friday afternoon, saying several of their counterparts at a Texas school should be preparing for prom, graduation and summer break, but instead were lost to gunfire in their classroom. "It just really hurts me that today, 10 people woke up and they went to school, to their job, to finish another Friday, and they didn't get to go home. And there's some kids that don't get the chance to go to prom or to graduate," said Mindy Braga, a rising senior at Copper Hills High School in West Jordan. The students' tones were tense as they vented their growing frustration and feelings of vulnerability. They said they have felt largely ignored by their elected leaders in the two months since they rallied at the Capitol with thousands of others, calling for tighter gun restrictions following the deaths of 17 students and school employees in the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. "We've come to these steps so many times, and our legislators are not listening to us. Just because we're 16, 17 and 18 does not mean that we cannot enact change in this country," said Daud Mumin, a junior at Copper Hills. Several in the group said they don't believe guns should be banned altogether but want Congress to pass further restrictions on who can legally buy firearms and when. Many said their fear that a similar tragedy will occur in Utah was stoked Thursday, when police say a West High School student carried an unloaded gun into the school in his waistband, with ammunition in his pocket. The ninth-grade boy was arrested; no injuries were reported. The rally was organized by the Salt Lake City chapter of the national March For Our Lives group. Others who attended came from Salt Lake City's East and West high schools, as well as Excelsior Academy in Erda. Even though shootings in schools have become a regular occurrence, they said, the deadly violence shouldn't be accepted as normal. To illustrate that point, about 50 students lay motionless with their eyes closed for a "die-in" demonstration, marking the lives of victims of the school shootings that have taken place in 2018. Some shed tears, and others held posters saying "Students demand gun reform" and "ENOUGH!" with a crossed-out assault rifle. Other teens and adults looked on, including some with posters that depicted a young woman's head draped over an open book with a bullet hole in her forehead. Abena Bakenra, a West High senior, said she had just finished her last exam Friday and was looking forward to her school's prom Saturday when she heard what happened at the Santa Fe, Texas, school. "I'm so disheartened," she said, that another school shooting had taken place. Haley Brewster, a Copper Hills student who plans to teach high school social studies, agreed. "I'm tired of waking up and going to school and thinking it's going to be my last day of school," she said. Organizers of the event encouraged those in attendance to vote in November's midterm elections if they are old enough, and to keep calling for legislative action on social media. They urged students to share their grief with their peers, saying the weight of the shootings was a heavy burden for the teens already navigating difficult times in their lives. WINDSOR, England The son of British royalty and the daughter of middle-class Americans wed Saturday in a service that reflected Prince Harry's royal heritage, Meghan Markle's biracial roots and the pair's shared commitment to putting a more diverse, modern face on the monarchy. British reserve crisscrossed with American verve in a service that broke molds and created new ones. Choirboys and a gospel choir; the archbishop of Canterbury and the African-American leader of the Episcopal church; a horse-drawn carriage and flowers hand-picked by the groom. The wedding was a global event, thanks to Harry's status as a senior British royal and Markle's celebrity after starring on the U.S. television series "Suits" for seven years. Yet it seemed somehow so personal and they both beamed like a couple who couldn't take their eyes off each other. In a rousing sermon that highlighted a bit of a culture gap between outgoing Americans and reserved Brits, the Most. Rev. Michael Curry of the U.S. stirred the congregation from its fairy-tale reverie, quoting Martin Luther King in in a sermon that had some reaching for hankies and others shifting in their chairs. "There's power in love," Curry said, his voice rising. "Love can help and heal when nothing else can. There's power in love to lift up and liberate when nothing else will." He also quoted from the Song of Solomon in the Bible: "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it." Joining the couple were a phalanx of celebrities, many of whom shared their wish to change the world. Oprah Winfrey, Idris Elba, Elton John, George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, James Corden and David and Victoria Beckham all watched from rows of seats in the Gothic masterpiece that is St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. The British weather was gasp! sunny and balmy, bathing the ancient stones of Windsor Castle in a beautiful spring light. Many in the throng who waited outside also embraced the trans-Atlantic symbolism of the moment. Sheraton Jones, 22, who is from California but studying in Britain, described it as a melding of cultures. "It was very touching, it's two different cultures kind of coming together, it was just so surreal," she said. In the United States, this royal wedding was embraced for its diversity and inclusivity. "This was black history," said Joy Widgeon, who attended a house party in Burlington, New Jersey, with her 6- and 8-year-old daughters. "African-Americans were front and center at the royal wedding. This was the first time, and hopefully it won't be the last. I am here for it." Harry also invited buddies from his 10 years of military service which included two tours of duty in Afghanistan and from many of the charities he supports, which have focused on helping wounded veterans and encouraging a more open discussion of mental health issues. To kick off the festivities, Queen Elizabeth II honored her red-headed, 33-year-old grandson with a new title: the Duke of Sussex, making the 36-year-old Markle the Duchess of Sussex. The American actress drew raves for her sleek white silk boat-necked dress by U.K. designer Clare Waight Keller of the French fashion house Givenchy. Her sheer veil down to her waist in front and billowing for what seemed like miles behind her carried floral references to all 53 countries in the Commonwealth, countries drawn mostly from the former British Empire, headed by Markle's new grandmother-in-law, the queen. "The dress is simply beautiful in its classic simplicity," said Caroline Burstein, owner of Browns Bride, a top London bridal boutique. She called it "a nod to Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and every iconic wedding we have witnessed throughout the 20th and 21st century. It's perfect for her and for the occasion they are celebrating." The palace said Markle also selected two other plant designs to be on the veil: Wintersweet, which grows at Kensington Palace. where the royal couple will live, and the California poppy, in a nod to the bride's birthplace. Harry and best man Prince William wore white gloves and the frock coat uniforms of the Blues and Royals army regiment, in which Harry was once an officer. Harry also kept his full red beard a style decision that had sparked British betting earlier. Markle at first walked down the aisle with 10 young page boys and bridesmaids, then was accompanied by Prince Charles to the altar. As his father and bride drew close, Harry said: "Thank you, Pa." To Markle, Harry said: "You look amazing." Markle seemed poised and confident as she delivered her vows without so much as a quiver in her voice. She smiled broadly as archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby declared the couple husband and wife. Harry seemed a bit nervous but happy. As they emerged from the chapel, the couple kissed and the crowd roared. It just kept on cheering as Harry helped his wife fold her 5 meter (16 foot) train into the Ascot Landau carriage as they began their procession through the streets of Windsor. Police said more than 100,000 people lined the route. The royal couple's open-topped carriage was pulled by four Windsor Grey horses and past crowds waving flags and holding cellphones aloft. The newlyweds smiled and waved, smiled at each other, waved and repeated the process for the 25-minute tour of Windsor. Other relatives in the ceremony included 4-year-old Prince George and 3-year-old Princess Charlotte, the oldest children of William and the Duchess of Cambridge. The 92-year-old queen and her 96-year-old husband, Prince Philip, Harry's grandparents, looked on with pride, as did Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, who has spent the last few days getting to know her daughter's new family. Two of Harry's ex-girlfriends were at the chapel Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas as was Sarah Ferguson, the ex-wife of Harry's uncle, Prince Andrew. The queen hosted the first of two royal wedding receptions after the service Saturday, one in the afternoon for 600 people with finger foods, wine and champagne. On Saturday night, a second, more lively reception for 200 people was being thrown by Charles. Yet it was the crowds in Windsor that seemed to best capture the joy of the moment. Many had camped or arrived at dawn on packed trains, vying for a good spot along the procession route. They cheered and screamed and sighed as the newlyweds passed by. "I went to William and Kate's wedding, but this is a completely different vibe," said Arlene Prinsloo, who had flown from South Africa. "It's much more relaxed, and I think that reflects who Harry is." Ana Karukin, a Brazilian nurse living in Florida, said she came to witness a moment of history. "We've got to be here for him and for her, my Meghan, my special girl, to support them, because it's a beautiful time," she said. "I wish that Diana was here, but she's in heaven watching over them." ___ Kirka and Lawless reported from London. Errin Haines Whack contributed from Burlington, New Jersey. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. SALT LAKE CITY Anglophiles take note: There's a Utah connection to Saturday's royal wedding. Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church Michael Curry, whose stirring address has become one of the most talked about aspects of the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, became leader of international church in Salt Lake City during its 78th General Convention on June 27, 2015. Curry, then-bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina, is the Episcopal Church's first black presiding bishop and primate. The House of Bishops conducted its vote at St. Mark's Cathedral in Salt Lake City, electing Bishop Curry on the first ballot, also a first for the church. Later in the day, the election was ratified by laity and clergy in the House of Deputies. Kensington Palace announced May 12 that the couple invited Curry to preach at the service "a departure from tradition for British royal weddings where sermons are usually given by senior Church of England clergy," according to the Episcopal News Service. Media reports worldwide described Bishop Curry's 12-minute plus address as "rousing," "emotional," "stirring" and "powerful." Much was made of the reaction of royals attending the wedding in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, which ranged from smiling and nodding, no reaction and even listening with mouths agape. Bishop Curry compared love to fire and drew on American history, quoting Martin Luther King Jr. and speaking about slavery. "The late Dr. Martin Luther King once said, and I quote: 'We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love, and when we do that we will make of this old world a new world. For love is the only way. Theres power in love. Do not underestimate it, the presiding bishop said. Anyone who has ever fallen in love knows what I mean. But think about love in any form or experience of it. It actually feels good to be loved, and to express love. There is something right about it. And theres a reason. Love, love is the only way. Theres power in love. Dont underestimate. Dont even oversentimentalize it. Theres power in love. If you dont believe me, think about a time when you first fell in love, the whole world seemed to center around you and your beloved." The Episcopal Church's website has full video and text of Bishop Curry's address. Following his election as presiding bishop in Salt Lake City, Bishop Curry described himself as "a follower of Jesus. I'm not a perfect one, but I want to be one of his disciples," he said. "I just look forward to serving and working for the cause of the Jesus movement in the world, to help this become a transformed world that I like to say looks more like Gods dream and less like our nightmare." Bishop Curry was ordained into the priesthood in 1976. He was elected the 11th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina on Feb. 11, 2000, and consecrated on June 17, 2000, in Duke Chapel on the campus of Duke University. Throughout his ministry, Bishop Curry has also been active in social justice issues, speaking out on immigration policy and marriage equality. He and his wife, Sharon, have two adult daughters, Rachel and Elizabeth. Bishop Curry of Chicago earned an undergraduate degree from Hobart College in Geneva, New York, in 1975, and a Master of Divinity degree in 1978 from Yale University Divinity School. He also studied at the College of Preachers, Princeton Theological Seminary, Wake Forest University, the Ecumenical Institute at St. Mary's Seminary, and the Institute of Christian Jewish Studies. After launching the Nokia X6 in China just a few days back, HMD Global might be teasing a wider launch for the phone. The companys Chief Product Officer, Juho Sarvikas, Tweeted a poll on Thursday asking users if the Nokia X6 should be brought to other markets. The poll Tweeted by Sarvikas received 92 percent positive responses from a total of 8,527 voters, indicating that the company might indeed be planning to launch a global variant of the Nokia X6, its first smartphone to wield a notch on the display. HMD Global is expected to launch new Nokia smartphones on May 29 at an event in Moscow and it is now speculated that this is where the company will announce global availability of the X6. Moreover, NokiaPowerUser (NPU) has spotted a new variant of the Nokia X6 with model number TA-1103. The variant was spotted by the publication in Bluetooth certification and it could be the global version of the X6 that HMD plans to launch. There is no Chinese certification for this variant of the X6, further hinting at the fact that this might be the device headed to other global markets. Additionally, we might see two more X series Nokia smartphones join the new lineup. As per another report from NPU, HMD might also launch the Nokia X5 and Nokia X7 smartphones globally. The information was received by the publication from a trusted tipster who said that the X5 and X7 Nokia phones will be revealed in a few days. The specs of the alleged Nokia X5 and Nokia X7 are not known yet, however NPU might soon get this information from the same source. HMD Global is also expected to launch the revamped Nokia 2.1, Nokia 3.1 and the Nokia 5.1 smartphones at the May 29 event. These are said to be the 2018 versions of the Nokia 2, Nokia 3 and Nokia 5. HMDs top brass, Florian Seiche (CEO), Pekka Rantala (CMO), and Sarvikas (CPO) will also be present at the event, so one can expect some important announcements and product launches on the day. For those still unacquainted with the new Nokia X6, it is a mid-range phone which runs on an Octa-core Snapdragon 636 chipset. It features a notch atop a 5.8-inch Full HD+ display which is also covered in Gorilla Glass 3. There is a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor on the phone and it is equipped with dual 16MP + 5MP rear-placed cameras. On the front, the Nokia X6 comes with another 16MP sensor with the same f/2.0 aperture and 1-micron pixel sensor. Other specs include a 3060 mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 support, a USB Type-C port, and Android Oreo 8.1. The phone has two 4GB RAM models with 32GB and 64GB storage options priced at CNY 1,299 (Rs 13,700 approx) and CNY 1,499 (Rs 16,000 approx), respectively. There is another 6GB RAM model of the Nokia X6 which is coupled with 64GB storage and costs CNY 1,699 (Rs 18,200 approx) in China. Walmart seeks competition panel nod for Flipkart stake purchase Walmart Inc has approached the Competition Commission of India for approval of its proposed $16-billion acquisition of a majority stake in Indian ecommerce major Flipkart, saying the deal doesn't raise any competition concerns. In a filing sent to the CCI which was accessed by sections of the media, Walmart said its proposed buyout of Flipkart does not create any competition concerns and that the broader retail market in India would remain unaffected by the deal. The proposed acquisition would be done through its subsidiary Wal-Mart International Holdings, Walmart has told the fair trade regulator, adding that Flipkart is a Singapore-based investment holding firm, which along with its direct and indirect subsidiaries, both in India and elsewhere, is primarily engaged in the business of wholesale cash and carry of goods and in providing marketplace-based ecommerce platforms to facilitate trade between customers and sellers in India. Walmart is the worlds largest retailer but in India, it only has a wholesale cash-and-carry business due to government regulations against foreign investment in multi-brand retail. Last week, Walmart India chief executive Krish Iyer said the company plans to open 50 new stores within the next five years, up from 21 stores now. Because of regulations banning FDI in direct online retail, Flipkart has adopted a complicated structure which comprises partially of a B2B entity and a B2C entity, Livemint reports. Mergers and acquisitions beyond a certain threshold require the approval of the Competition Commission of India (CCI). According to the notice submitted to the CCI by Wal-Mart International Holdings, the proposed transaction will be effected pursuant to the share purchase agreement and the share issuance and acquisition agreement entered into on 9 May by and among Walmart's subsidiary and Flipkart. The proposed transaction does not give rise to competition concerns, and therefore, the precise scope of the relevant market may be left open. Without prejudice to the above, for the sake of completeness and with a view to assist the Honble Commission, it is submitted that the relevant market for the purposes of the Proposed Transaction is the pan-India market for B2B sales, Walmart said in the filing on Friday. Last week, Walmart agreed to pay $16 billion to buy a 77-per cent stake in Flipkart, valuing the online retailer at about $21 billion in what is the biggest ecommerce buyout in global history. As part of the deal, Walmart has agreed to invest $2 billion directly in Flipkart and buy the rest of its stake from Flipkarts investors including SoftBank Group, Accel Partners, Naspers and eBay Inc. Walmart is also in talks to bring along new strategic investors such as Google. China offers to reduce trade surplus with US by $200 bn: report China may buy up to $200 billion worth of American goods to reduce its massive trade surplus with the United States as the world's two largest economies started a round of high-level trade talks, says a media report. The compromise follows intense pressure from the Trump administration and the threat of a looming trade war with the US proposing 25-per cent tariffs on up to $150 billion worth of Chinese goods and China targeting $50 billion in American exports. The compromise follows intense pressure from the Trump administration and the threat of a looming trade war with the US proposing 25-per cent tariffs on up to $150 billion worth of Chinese goods and China targeting $50 billion in American exports. The two countries have not yet implemented their tariff increases in the hope of reaching a negotiated settlement. A high-level Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier Liu He is reported to have concluded trade negotiations with the US in Washington. Liu also called on US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. "Chinese negotiators are preparing to offer the administration a deal to buy up to $200 billion worth of American goods, which would allow Trump to claim victory in his campaign to reduce the trade deficit with China and rebalance America's trade relationship with its biggest economic rival, according to people briefed on the deliberations," The New York Times reported. The Chinese offer to buy American goods worth $200 billion, however, remains a promise that is most likely to remain illusory, the report quoted economists as saying. Besides the structural hurdles in China to buying more American goods, the United States would need to produce huge amounts of goods to meet Chinese demand, which could again pose structural hurdles in the US, it added. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang, however, said in Beijing that the "rumours are false" and the "consultations are indeed still in progress and the talks are constructive." Lu also said the decision to drop the sorghum probe should not be "over-interpreted." The White House said the US officials conveyed the President's clear goal for a fair-trading relationship with China. The US delegation is led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. It also includes Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and US Trade Representatives Robert Lighthizer. "The United States officials and the Chinese delegation also participated in a meeting with President Donald J Trump at the White House. The two sides agreed to continue the discussions on Friday," the White House said. Under the deal being discussed, China would pledge to buy substantially more American goods, including agricultural products like soybeans, as well as semi-conductors and natural gas, according to The New York Times. "That could theoretically reduce its trade surplus with the United States, which hit $372.5 billion last year, by up to $200 billion, though the real number would most likely be lower," it said. In return, China is asking the US to set aside tariffs and investment restrictions it has threatened against Chinese companies, the report said. The US Congress, meanwhile, is looking set to advance a bill that would give the US greater power to block deals between American and Chinese companies that could risk national security, The Wall Street Journal said. The US, the world's largest economy, has a trade deficit of almost $500 billion with the world's second largest economy China. Banned by Montreal Protocol, rising ozone-destroying chemical found polluting oceans Emissions of one of the chemicals most responsible for the Antarctic ozone hole are on the rise, despite an international treaty that required an end to its production in 2010, a new NOAA study shows. Trichlorofluoromethane, or CFC-11, is the second-most abundant ozone-depleting gas in the atmosphere and a member of the family of chemicals most responsible for the giant hole in the ozone layer that forms over Antarctica each September. Once widely used as a foaming agent, production of CFC-11 was phased out by the Montreal Protocol in 2010. The new study, published today in Nature, documents an unexpected increase in emissions of this gas, likely from new, unreported production. "We're raising a flag to the global community to say, 'This is what's going on, and it is taking us away from timely recovery from ozone depletion,' " said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientist Stephen Montzka, lead author of the paper, which has co-authors from CIRES, the UK, and the Netherlands. "Further work is needed to figure out exactly why emissions of CFC-11 are increasing and if something can be done about it soon." CFCs were once widely used in the manufacture of aerosol sprays, as blowing agents for foams and packing materials, as solvents, and as refrigerants. Though production of CFCs was phased out by the Montreal Protocol, a large reservoir of CFC-11 exists today primarily contained in foam insulation in buildings, and appliances manufactured before the mid-1990s. A smaller amount of CFC-11 also exists today in chillers. Because CFC-11 still accounts for one-quarter of all chlorine present in today's stratosphere, expectations for the ozone hole to heal by mid-century depend on an accelerating decline of CFC-11 in the atmosphere as its emissions diminish which should happen with no new CFC-11 production. Despite the increase in CFC-11 emissions, its concentration in the atmosphere continues to decrease, but only about half as fast as the decline observed a few years ago, and at a substantially slower rate than expected. This means that the total concentration of ozone-depleting chemicals, overall, is still decreasing in the atmosphere. However, that decrease is significantly slower than it would be without the new CFC emissions. Precise measurements of global atmospheric concentrations of CFC-11 made by NOAA and CIRES scientists at 12 remote sites around the globe show that CFC-11 concentrations declined at an accelerating rate prior to 2002 as expected. Then, surprisingly, the rate of decline hardly changed over the decade that followed. Even more unexpected was that the rate of decline slowed by 50 per cent after 2012. After considering a number of possible causes, Montzka and his colleagues concluded that CFC emissions must have increased after 2012. This conclusion was confirmed by other changes recorded in NOAA's measurements during the same period, such as a widening difference between CFC-11 concentrations in the northern and southern hemispheres evidence that the new source was somewhere north of the equator. Measurements from Hawaii indicate the sources of the increasing emissions are likely in eastern Asia. More work will be needed to narrow down the locations of these new emissions, Montzka said. The Montreal Protocol has been effective in reducing ozone-depleting gases in the atmosphere because all countries in the world agreed to legally binding controls on the production of most human-produced gases known to destroy ozone. Under the treaty's requirements, nations have reported less than 500 tons of new CFC-11 production per year since 2010. CFC-11 concentrations have declined by 15 per cent from peak levels measured in 1993 as a result. That has led scientists to predict that by mid- to late-century, the abundance of ozone-depleting gases would to fall to levels last seen before the Antarctic ozone hole began to appear in the early 1980s. However, results from the new analysis of NOAA atmospheric measurements show that from 2014 to 2016, emissions of CFC-11 increased by more than 14,000 tons per year to about 65,000 tons per year, or 25 percent above average emissions during 2002 to 2012. To put that in perspective, production of CFC-11, marketed under the trade name Freon, peaked at about 430,000 tons per year in the 1980s. Emissions of this CFC to the atmosphere reached about 386,000 tons per year at their peak later in the decade. These findings represent the first time emissions of one of the three most abundant, long-lived CFCs have increased for a sustained period since production controls took effect in the late 1980s. If the source of these emissions can be identified and mitigated soon, the damage to the ozone layer should be minor. If not remedied soon, however, substantial delays in ozone layer recovery could be expected, Montzka said. David Fahey, director of NOAA"s Chemical Science Division and co-chair of the United Nations Environment Programme's Ozone Secretariat 's Science Advisory Panel, said ongoing monitoring of the atmosphere will be key to ensuring that the goal of restoring the ozone layer is achieved. "The analysis of these extremely precise and accurate atmospheric measurements is an excellent example of the vigilance needed to ensure continued compliance with provisions of the Montreal Protocol and protection of the Earth's ozone layer," Fahey said. Oil relents slightly, but set to resume upward march Oil prices pulled back slightly on Friday following a week of bullish news, but despite an increase in US oil production, analysts say crude prices are set to continue climbing. Oil prices took a breather on Friday, with Brent sitting just shy of $80 per barrel. The Venezuelan election on Sunday could be the next near-term catalyst for the oil market. Brent briefly breached $80 per barrel this week, although it is facing resistance at that level. Still, oil prices are at their highest in three and a half years. Theres the Iran story which continues to develop and the general talk about a tighter market. It will be interesting to see if we make a clean break of $80 next week. It seems like thats the direction we are going, Jens Pedersen, a senior analyst at Danske Bank A/S, said in a Bloomberg interview. Saudi oil minister Khalid al-Falih said the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and Russia were discussing price volatility and the health of the oil market. Al-Falih has said that OPEC would step in to mitigate and supply losses, although for now, the preference seems to be to leave the production limits unchanged. OPEC officials have said the price rally is being driven by fear and not based on the fundamentals. Brent crude futures were at $79.57 per barrel at 03:10 GMT on Friday, up 27 cents, or 0.3 per cent from their last close. Brent broke through $80 for the first time since November 2014 on Thursday. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $71.62 a barrel, up 13 cents, or 0.2 per cent, from their last settlement. Crude prices have received broad support from voluntary supply cuts led by OPEC aimed at tightening the market. "Global inventories are approaching long-run averages, suggesting that the coordinated OPEC/non-OPEC supply cuts have been successful," said Jack Allardyce, oil and gas research analyst at Cantor Fitzgerald. Beyond OPEC's cuts, strong demand as well as falling output from Venezuela and a US announcement earlier this month to renew sanctions against OPEC member Iran helped push Brent up by 20 per cent since the start of the year. "The dual supply shortcomings from Iran and Venezuela continue to provide substantial support," said Stephen Innes, Head of Trading for Asia/Pacific at futures brokerage OANDA in Singapore. With crude prices at levels not seen since late 2014, Allardyce warned the high fuel costs could start crimping consumption. At $80 per barrel, Asia's thirst for oil costs the region a whopping $1 trillion a year, more than twice what it was in 2015/2016, the two years prior to the OPEC-cuts which started in 2017. The crude oil price forward curve is in firm backwardation, a structure that suggests a tight market as prices for immediate delivery are higher than those for later dispatch. Front-month Brent prices are now almost $1.80 per barrel more expensive than those for delivery in December. This test image from one of the four cameras aboard the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) captures a swath of the southern sky along the plane of our galaxy. More than 200,000 stars are visible in this image. TESS is expected to cover more than 400 times the amount of sky shown in this image when using all four of its cameras during science operations. The image, which is centered in the constellation Centaurus, includes dark tendrils from the Coalsack Nebula and the bright emission nebula Ced 122 (upper right).The bright star at bottom center is Beta Centauri. NASA's next planet hunter, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), is one step closer to searching for new worlds after successfully completing a lunar flyby on May 17. The spacecraft passed about 5,000 miles from the Moon, which provided a gravity assist that helped TESS sail toward its final working orbit. As part of camera commissioning, the science team snapped a two-second test exposure using one of the four TESS cameras. The image, centered on the southern constellation Centaurus, reveals more than 200,000 stars. The edge of the Coalsack Nebula is in the right upper corner and the bright star Beta Centauri is visible at the lower left edge. TESS is expected to cover more than 400 times as much sky as shown in this image with its four cameras during its initial two-year search for exoplanets. A science-quality image, also referred to as a "first light" image, is expected to be released in June. TESS will undergo one final thruster burn on May 30 to enter its science orbit around Earth. This highly elliptical orbit will maximize the amount of sky the spacecraft can image, allowing it to continuously monitor large swaths of the sky. TESS is expected to begin science operations in mid-June after reaching this orbit and completing camera calibrations. Launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on April 18, TESS is the next step in NASA's search for planets outside our solar system, known as exoplanets. The mission will observe nearly the entire sky to monitor nearby, bright stars in search of transits -- periodic dips in a star's brightness caused by a planet passing in front of the star. TESS is expected to find thousands of exoplanets. NASA's upcoming James Webb Space Telescope, scheduled for launch in 2020, will provide important follow-up observations of some of the most promising TESS-discovered exoplanets, allowing scientists to study their atmospheres. TESS is a NASA Astrophysics Explorer mission led and operated by MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Dr. George Ricker of MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research serves as principal investigator for the mission. Additional partners include Orbital ATK, based in Dulles, Virginia; NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley; the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts; and the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. The TESS science instruments were jointly developed by MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research and MIT's Lincoln Laboratory. More than a dozen universities, research institutes and observatories worldwide are participants in the mission. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Delhi HC issues notices to Google, FB, others for revealing identity of Kathua rape victim The Delhi high court on Friday issued notices to Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Bing after their Indian subsidiaries informed the court that they are not concerned entities to reply to court's notice on disclosing the identity of the Kathua rape victim. The matter relates to the disclosure of the identity of an eight-year-old girl who was raped and murdered in Jammu and Kashmir. The girl, belonging to a nomadic Muslim tribe, was abducted, drugged, gang-raped, tortured and killed in January. The direction from acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar came after their Indian subsidiary apprised the bench that they were not the concerned entities to respond to the courts query. The Delhi high court had earlier slapped a fine of Rs10 lakh each on the media houses that have revealed the identity of the Kathua rape victim. The court had also warned that anyone disclosing rape victim's identity can be imprisoned for six months. The court observed that several internet platforms and social networking sites were extensively displaying the photographs and name of the Kathua gang rape victim. Google and other social media platforms have done a great disservice to the nation by uploading contents which revealed the identity of the minor victim, the bench said. The bench said that the entities cannot absolve themselves for such activities and maintained that the law was the same for everyone. Meanwhile, the court stayed the proceedings initiated by the Press Council of India (PCI) against some of the media houses for disclosing the identity of the victim. The court had observed that there were long term repercussion to the victims family, especially for the women members, due to such reporting. The court said they had violated law and were punishable under Section 228-A of the Indian Penal Code. The court will again hear the matter on 29 May. Tributes have been paid to Bishop Emeritus of the Dioces of Elphin, Bishop Christopher Jones who died on Friday. A hugely popular cleric, he was affectonately known as 'Bishop Christy'. In a tribute Archbishop Eamon Martin said the late Bishop Jones was never afraid to speak his mind on a range of issues. Archbishop Martin said "Bishop Christy was committed throughout his lifetime to person-centred social services. "Throughout his ministry, Bishop Christy also showed a great affinity and pastoral dedication to the Travelling community". Bishop Christys work with the travelling community as a priest and afterwards as a Bishop was of a ground-breaking nature given the times in which it took place. Not only did he campaign for improved traveller accommodation but he was an avid proponent of increased educational opportunities for the travelling community. With this background, he sat on many national committees dealing with matters relating to the Travelling People and for many years acted as chairperson of the National Council for the Travelling people and Advisor to the Minister for the Environment. Having completed a Diploma in Social Administration in UCD, Bishop Jones was appointed first Director of Sligo Social Services, which was established as a co-ordinated faith response to those on the margins of society in the Sligo region. In that capacity he formed life-long friendships with homeless people and with many members of the travelling community. As a founder member of the Council for the West, he was a tireless advocate for the kind of rural development which would help sustain vibrant communities west of the Shannon. A native of Rathcroghan, County Roscommon, Christopher Jones was born on March 3rd 1936, the second youngest of a family of eleven. Four of his sisters entered religious life and one of his brothers was also a priest of the Diocese of Elphin. His primary education was at Rathcroghan National School and it was a source of personal sadness to him when this school closed shortly after his own retirement. Following his second-level education at the College of the Immaculate Conception, Sligo (Summerhill College), the young Christopher Jones went to Saint Patricks College, Maynooth, where he completed his formation and was ordained to the priesthood on 21st June, 1962. Apart from the first three years of his priesthood, which were spent teaching at St. Muredachs College, Ballina, Bishop Jones spent his entire priestly ministry in Sligo. Having served for three years on the staff of St. Muredachs College, the young Father Jones returned to teach at Summerhill College, Sligo in 1965. In 1971 he spent over a year as Archivist at Saint Marys, Sligo, while also serving as Chaplain of Saint Columbas Hospital, Sligo. He returned to Summerhill College as Spiritual Director from 1973-1979. Retirement Bishop Jones retired as Bishop on 13th July 2014, but continued to live in Sligo. Since his retirement he suffered the loss of four of his sisters, Patricia, Pauline, Ann (Nan) and Mary. In the face of these losses and the serious decline in his own health during the same period, he showed great courage and resilience maintaining his interest in everything that was going on in the Diocese and in the wider Church. Though not obliged to do so, he participated in the Ad Limina visit of the Irish Bishops to Pope Francis in January 2017. Bishop Christopher died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Friday 18th May 2018. He is survived by his sister Eileen (Sisters of Jesus and Mary, Enniscrone), by his sister-in-law Pauline and by a host of nieces and nephews. In a statement paying tribute to the late Bishop Jones, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Elphin, Archbishop Martin said 56 years of priesthood, and 24 years as a bishop sums up "a life of commitment, fidelity, service and love for the people, religious and priests of his home Diocese of Elphin. I shall never forget the warmth of his welcome to me upon my own ordination as a bishop five years ago; the encouragement and support he gave me is typical of this generous and devout servant of God. "A man for others" He added: Bishop Christy was a man for others, and was very committed throughout his lifetime to person-centred social services. Throughout his ministry, Bishop Christy also showed a great affinity and pastoral dedication to the Travelling community, and the mutual warmth between both was very evident during the 50th International Eucharistic Congress held in Dublin in 2012. The opening of the Bishop Christopher Jones Learning Centre in 2016 for students with autism at the College of the Immaculate Conception in Sligo brought particular joy to Bishop Jones, who held a deep connection to the school as a former student, staff member and patron. Bishop Christy was a much loved pastor, kind and caring. He had strong principles and was courageous in speaking his mind on many issues of the day. On my last visit to him on Easter Monday, he was calm and at peace, conscious that he would soon be returning to God who called him to service all those years ago. Bishop of Elphin, Kevin Doran said the death of Bishop Christy "is like the loss of a grandparent" adding: "He will be remembered by many for the way in which he put flesh on the Gospel through his care for and friendship with those who were poor and most at risk in our society." One Good Idea is the name of the national competition run by the Dept of the Environment that was won this week by the students of Errigal College, Letterkenny. Mr Denis Naughten TD, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment was delighted to see the passion that Errigal College students have shown in raising awareness of the issue of sustainable energy and climate change. Young people learn by example, so thank you for the great example you are setting our younger generations, he added. Hundreds of schools entered the competition and the top 20 were selected to make a presentation of their one good idea to the SEAI judges in Dublin Castle. The competition began in 2008 with the mentality that it just takes one good idea to make a difference. The aim is to inspire lifestyle changes to save energy and help tackle climate change. This year, over 200 campaigns were developed by young people all over Ireland. Students from every corner of the country came together for the National final that took place in Printworks, Dublin Castle. The overall winning campaign Bottle It was devised by the students of Errigal College to tackle plastic pollution and reduce energy use. The Errigal students took to the stage for their colourful presentation, some dressed up as plastic bottles, others dressed as fish and described how plastic ends up in the oceans and the disastrous effects it has on sea life. Knowing that more than three million tonnes of plastic go into landfill sites across the world each year, the students were inspired to make a change. They aim to reduce their waste and make Errigal College completely plastic free by encouraging other students to use BPA free reusable bottles and to refill water bottles instead of buying more. The students and their teacher, Ms Catriona Hasson, were presented with a trophy on stage and congratulated for the fantastic campaign. Ms Hasson said: The students put in an incredible amount of work to raise awareness of the drastic impact plastic is having on our environment. They organised an information day in our local shopping centre, reached out to local businesses and organisations for support, and spoke about the issue on local radio. One Good Idea is a great opportunity for us to get our message out to the wider community, learn a lot and make a difference in Letterkenny. Jim Gannon, Chief Executive of the SEAI praised the determination of Errigal Colleges students and their willingness to contribute to a better more sustainable future! Ireland West Airport, in partnership with Portwest, are set to welcome over 1,000 people to the airports runway as they once again host the annual charity 5k runway fun run on Saturday May 26th at 7pm. Runners and walkers will take-off down the runway and complete a 5km course with a difference. All are welcome to attend what promises to be fantastic evening for all the family, raising much needed funds for three great charities. All proceeds from the runway run will go towards the airport's three nominated charities for 2018 Mayo & Roscommon Hospice, Down Syndrome Ireland and CMRF Crumlin. Looking ahead to the event Joe Gilmore, Managing Director, Ireland West Airport said We are delighted to once again host the annual charity runway fun run here at the airport. "Last year's event was a huge success with over 1,500 runners and walkers, of all ages, taking to the famous runway here at the airport. We are delighted to be working with local business Portwest, as the event's new sponsor, and our three charities for 2018 in hosting this fantastic initiative. "We look forward to making this an enjoyable and memorable experience for all involved this weekend and encourage people of all ages to come down and enjoy a walk or run on our runway and supporting three very worthy charities." Entry to the event costs 20 per adult and 5 for under-16s. A special family rate of 40 is available for families of 2 adults and 2 kids. All participants will receive a special technical race t-shirt and complimentary car parking and refreshments at the airport will be provided on the day. Participants can sign up and find more information at www.irelandwestairport.com/runwayrun. The number of participants is restricted so register online to avoid disappointment. (Photo: Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation)Prince Harry meets Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and his Leah Tutu when presenting the Nobel Peace Prize laureate with the UK's Order of the "Companions of Honour" on dec. 1, 2015 Britain's Prince Harry has conferred a high honor on Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu on behalf of the United Kingdom during a visit to South Africa while doing charity work in the region. The grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry created a bit of a stir in the British media by declaring that he is "anti-selfie" as he refused to be photographed with a young woman in South Africa, The Telegraph reported. Responding to a request from a member of Desmond Tutu's entourage for a photograph, the fifth in line to the British throne said: "I'm afraid I'm anti-selfie." The Prince made the comments in the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation on the Cape waterfront, after presenting presented the retired archbishop, who is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, with the Order of the Companion of Honor. Harry presented Tutu with the honor at the offices of The Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation in Cape Town on the first day of his visit to South Africa, Nov. 30. Order of the "Companions of Honour" was instituted in 1917 by King George V. It is conferred on people for recognized services of national importance, for a pre-eminent and sustained contribution in the arts, science, medicine or government. PROF STEPHEN HAWKING Other recipients include painter Lucian Freud, Prof. Stephen Hawking, naturalist Sir David Attenborough, painter David Hockney, historian Dr. Eric Hobsbawm, politicians Sir John Major and Lord Patten of Barnes, General John de Chastelain, dramatist Harold Pinter, conductor Sir Charles Mackerras, Rev. Chad Varah, and scientist Prof. Anthony Pawson. The archbishop has recently suffered ill health and looked frail but was smiling during the prince's visit to the offices of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation in Cape Town. Tutu, the former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town was a scourge for the apartheid authorities in South Africa during the 1970s and 1980s and was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1984. He has been in and out of hospital in recent months suffering from infections related to prostate cancer. The archbishop praised the prince for his charity work in Africa. Tutu said: "I am very touched by your commitment to Lesotho. I taught at the university there and became Bishop of Lesotho," Sky News reported. "It has always had a very soft spot in our hearts ... just wonderful that you and the English are helping, thank you very much." The prince replied: "You will have to come and visit one of our projects." Tutu's Daughter, Rev. Canon Mpho Tutu, the executive director of the Desmond and Lead Tutu Legacy Foundation, said the prince's visit to Khayelitsha would show the prince how many people in Cape Town live. Khayelitsha was built as a black township during the apartheid era and lies 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Cape Town's center located on the Cape Flats with a population of some 400,000 people many of whom live in informal settlements. Prince Harry visited a youth center helping young people stay away from gangs and crime. He attended a seminar focusing on why teenagers are lured into the gang culture before touring the center's facilities, which have a small farm, and training workshops Santa Fe, Texas Another American school has been devastated by gun violencethis time in southeastern Texasafter a 17-year-old male student opened fire inside Santa Fe High School on Friday morning, killing 10, most of them students and at least one teacher. Thirteen others were injured. During first period at the 1,400-student high school about 30 miles south of Houston, authorities say Dimitrios Pagourtzis, a junior, entered the school armed with a shotgun and a .38 caliber pistol, walked into an art classroom, and began shooting. Witnesses said that he fired first the door to the art classroom, shattering a glass pane and sending panicked students to an entryway to block him from entering. He fired again through the wooden part of the door and fatally hit a student in the chest. He then lingered for about 30 minutes in a warren of four rooms, killing seven more students and two teachers before exchanging gunfire with police and surrendering, the Associated Press reported. Galveston County Judge Mark Henry, the countys chief administrator, said he did not think Fridays attack was 30 minutes of constant shooting, and that assessment was consistent with other officials who said law enforcement contained the shooter quickly. But authorities did not release a detailed timeline to explain precisely how events unfolded. Junior Breanna Quintanilla was in art class when she heard the shots and someone say, If you all move, Im going to shoot you all. The 17-year-old Pagourtzis walked in, pointed at one person and declared, Im going to kill you. Then he fired. He then said that if the rest of us moved, he was going to shoot us, Quintanilla said. When Quintanilla tried to run out a back door, she realized Pagourtzis was aiming at her. He fired in her direction. He missed me, she said. But it went ahead and ricocheted and hit me in my right leg. She was treated at a hospital and spoke with a brown bandage wrapped around her wound. Also among the injured was John Barnes, a school district police officer assigned to the high school, who confronted the shooter, authorities said. Among them: an exchange student from Pakistan. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said explosive devices, including a molotov cocktail, were also found in the suspected shooters home and vehicle, as well as around the school and nearby. See Also: School Shootings This Year: How Many and Where Pagourtzis was arrested on capital murder charges and is being held without bail in the Galveston County jail, the Associated Press reported. Gov. Abbott told reporters that the suspected shooter had obtained the two firearms from his father and that he had planned to kill himself. In their first statement since the massacre, Pagourtzis family said Saturday that the bloodshed seems incompatible with the boy we love. We are as shocked and confused as anyone else by these events, said the statement, which offered prayers and condolences to the victims. Fridays mass school shooting comes just three months after 17 students and school staff members were murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.a massacre that set off an unprecedented wave of youth-led activism against gun violence. It is the 13th school shooting this year that resulted in injuries or deaths by gunfire, according to Education Weeks school shooting tracker. A Community in Agony Less than 12 hours after the horrific scene played out at Santa Fe High, students, parents, educators, and community members gathered for an evening vigil not far from the giant crime scene to grieve and pray. Hundreds of people poured onto an empty field, many of them students dressed in green and yellow, the schools colors. One student sang Amazing Grace, three pastors led prayers, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz told the gathered crowd that all of Texas was grieving with them. Mavrik Pannell, a sophomore, said that his favorite substitute teacher was killed in the shooting. He said he heard that the teacher gave her life to pull the fire alarm. Mavrik said he knew the suspected shooter through a friend. He was a very nice and respectful person, Mavrik said. But he was also kind of a stereotype. He wore trench coats and combat boots. Charlene Pannell, Mavriks mother, said that despite recent school shootings, she didnt think something similar would happen in Santa Fe. We have a small, quaint community. Its just a little country town with low crime. Gov. Abbott, speaking at the vigil, pledged to return normalcy and safety to Santa Fe High School. In order to feel safe, Mavrik said he wants his teachers to be armed. Student Taylor Gil, a junior, agreed. She said the school has teachers who are military veterans and would be prepared to carry a gun in school. I would feel much safer with armed teachers, Taylor said. The two students said that the high school had recently gotten more police protection after a scare in Februarysoon after the mass shooting in Parklandwhen school leaders placed the building on lockdown after reports of popping sounds that sounded like gunfire. Mavrik said the high school, as a designated gun-free zone, was a target. Whether the shooting at Santa Fe High will add more momentum to an energized national movement of youth activists calling for gun control remains to be seen. In the days and weeks after the Parkland shooting, student survivors marched on the Florida capitol demanding more restrictions on guns. They organized protests in Washington and cities across the country and they called for students to walk out of class, which some Santa Fe High students joined in solidarity. But in interviews with students and some parents, the views on guns in the Santa Fe community stand in stark contrast to those espoused by so many in Parkland. Several students told Education Week said they doubt that the shooting at their school will lead to major changes that make them feel safer. Blake Wingate, a sophomore, who said a fire alarm and shouts of Run, run, run sent him scurrying from the school building Friday morning, seemed resigned. I dont know what can be done, I dont think anything will change, he said.Theres not much you can do. School officials said Santa Fe High would be closed Monday and Tuesday, but Superintendent Leigh Wall pledged that the district will provide counselors and support staff to those who need them. Santa Fe High School is still the center of our community and no act of violence will change that, said Wall, who spoke at the vigil. What Will Happen Now? Abbott, who called the shooting one of the most heinous attacks in the history of Texas schools, said there needs to be more than prayers for the victims and families. The Republican governor said that he would begin immediately working with the legislature and communities across the state to convene roundtable discussions about how to prevent such tragedies and that he wants to collect a wide range of viewpoints. He suggested they would explore strategies to keep guns out of the hands of those who pose a danger to others and resources to address mental health. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said that officials will have to be creative about finding ways to address school safety. He suggested that the way schools are designed should be a focus for making them safer, including reducing the number of entrances and exits to and from buildings and retrofitting already existing buildings. Patrick said the suspect walked into the school in a long coatdespite the heatwith a shot gun under the coat. Its 90 degrees, Patrick said. Had there been one single entrance, possibly for every student, maybe he would have been stopped. [I]f we can protect a large office building, or a courthouse, or any major facility, maybe we need to look at limiting the entrance and the exits into our schools so that we can have law enforcement looking at the people who come in one or two entrances, Patrick said. He said that schools may need to stagger start times so that not all students arrive at school at the same time. These are uncertain and challenging times for the real estate industry, but the non-profit organisation Rebosa is fighting for their interests and finding pragmatic solutions to industry issues such as the urgent need to fast-track transformation says Richard Gray, Rebosa chairman. It is urgent for the countrys property sector to fast-track transformation and become part of the solution rather than looking for problems, says Gray, chairman of Real Estate Business Owners of South Africa (Rebosa), a representative body for the real estate industry in South Africa. Gray was delivering an address to members attending the non-profit organisations fifth Annual General Meeting, held in the Protea Hotel in Johannesburg on Friday, 18 May. He said the slow pace of transformation in the sector continues to be an area of concern for the board of Rebosa and added that the sector should focus on actively developing young people, women and people from previously disadvantaged communities to be able to participate meaningfully in the property industry. Economic transformation and inclusion is central to the growth, development and sustainability of our sector and country in general, Gray said. He said the years 2017 and 2018 have been uncertain and challenging times for the real estate industry in South Africa. Several pieces of new legislation are currently being contemplated or implemented, which will all impact the property sector. The slow pace of transformation in the sector came under scrutiny last June with the publishing of the Property Practitioners Bill for public comment. The Property Sector Code, setting a black ownership target of 27% for property owning companies, came into effect on 28 June 2017. Rebosa is currently holding meetings for members to have a clear understanding of their obligations to comply with the Code. Rebosa took a clear stance against discrimination with the launch of the Rebosa Equality Pledge in 2016. Members are encouraged to show their support by taking the pledge agreeing to a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of discrimination. This drive continued in 2017 and they will continue to promote it, Gray said. The organisation was also instrumental in thwarting the plans of property portal Property24, owned by Media24, to take over their main rival and the countrys second largest property portal, Private Property. In the new deal, media company Caxton obtain a 50% shareholding, but Gray gave the assurance that the publisher will not be able to willy-nilly raise advertising rates. Furthermore, agencies will be able to buy shares in Private Property at the same price as current shareholders. Besides all the above interventions, the NPO have also been proactively engaging with the industrys governing body, the Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB), among others to eradicate the backlog in the issuing of Fidelity Fund Certificates (FFC), a mandatory requirement for estate agents to legally trade in property. According to Gray following their intervention the majority of outstanding FFCs have been issued. Together with the EAAB Rebosa developed a new online query management system to streamline queries and reduce backlog. Rebosa in 2017 received 2 920 queries, all of which have since been resolved, Gray reported. People acting as estate agents without complying with the educational requirements set by the EAAB or a valid FFC, as required by law, is a major issue for the industry. Gray encouraged members to report unregistered agents online with the EAAB and with Rebosa. Rebosa now has 26 multi-office members as well as 1 100 single office members. Collectively their members employ 15 340 estate agents, which unequivocally makes Rebosa the most representative body in the real estate sector in South Africa today Gray said. Lastly, Gray thanked members for their support and emphasized the importance of building the membership to become a stronger voice for the industry. He referred to the power of the collective evident in the mining industry where the mining charter was effectively challenged. It is only through the power of numbers that our collective voice will be heard, he concluded. PORTLAND, OR - Twenty five years after it opened for enrollment, the landmark Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial has delivered a final verdict. Finasteride, a common hormone-blocking drug, reduces mens' risk of getting prostate cancer without increasing their risk of dying from the disease. Initial study findings suggested there may be a link between use of the drug and a more lethal form of prostate cancer, but long-term follow-up shows that is not true. Dr. Ian Thompson, Jr., principal investigator of SWOG's Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial, or PCPT, will deliver the findings May 19 at the Journal of Urology Lecture at the 2018 Annual American Urological Association Meeting in San Francisco. The meeting is the largest gathering of urologists in the world. "What we can now say is that finasteride not only significantly reduces a man's risk of prostate cancer, it is safe to use based on very long-term follow-up in our study," said Thompson. "In PCPT, we found no increased risk of prostate cancer death in men who took finasteride compared with men who did not. These results are transformational. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in American men, and we have found an inexpensive, effective drug that can prevent it. I'm pleased to report that we've answered the questions and closed the book." Thompson is chair of SWOG's genitourinary cancer committee, overseeing development of all urologic cancer studies for the federally-funded cancer clinical trials group, and serves as president of CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital - Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas and as emeritus professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center. Thompson led SWOG's landmark PCPT. He and his team set out to determine whether finasteride, a drug used to treat symptoms of prostate enlargement as well as male pattern baldness, would prevent prostate cancer in men over the age of 55. At the time, scientists and doctors knew that prostate cancers were hormonally sensitive, and finasteride, the first 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, which targets and blocks the action of androgens like testosterone, became available to test. The PCPT randomized 18,882 men from 1993 to 1997 to finasteride or a placebo - making it one of the largest cancer prevention trials ever mounted. The trial intervention was stopped in 2003 when investigators found a significant, positive result: finasteride reduced prostate cancer risk by 25 percent. But the study also showed that finasteride produced a small increase in the number of high-grade prostate cancers - a negative finding that resulted in a "black box" warning posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on prescription drug labels to flag potentially disabling or life-threatening side effects. Subsequent SWOG analyses of PCPT data revealed unexpected benefits of finasteride. It improved detection of prostate cancer in screening tests and biopsies, and also improved detection of high-grade cancers. Additional analysis also revealed that men enrolled in the study lived about the same amount of time - regardless of whether they took finasteride or the placebo. Still, despite evidence of the benefits of finasteride, the label warning had an impact. Few men today take the generic drug to lower their cancer risk. As most deaths from prostate cancer are caused by high-grade cancers, years of PCPT findings still left a critical question unanswered: Would the increased number of high-grade cancers detected in the PCPT years ago result in more prostate cancer deaths over time? Thompson and his team went back to the study and matched participants to the National Death Index, a centralized database of death record information managed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This analysis allowed researchers to determine if a trial participant had died and to determine the cause of death. With almost 300,000 person-years of follow-up and a median follow-up of 18.4 years, they found 42 deaths due to prostate cancer on the finasteride arm and 56 on placebo. Thus, there was no statistically significant increased risk of prostate cancer death with finasteride. "This discovery could benefit tens of thousands of men each year in the United States by identifying a drug that can safely and effectively prevent prostate cancer," Thompson said. "Treatment for the disease is costly and can have serious side effects, such as impotence and urinary incontinence. My hope is that the visionary decision of our National Cancer Institute colleagues to conduct this study, and the scientific evidence it produced these last 25 years, will provide a lasting benefit for patients." ### The National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health funded the study through grants U10CA037429 and UM1CA182883. Other members of the SWOG study team include Phyllis J. Goodman, MS, of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; Catherine M. Tangen, DrPH, of Fred Hutch; Amy K. Darke, MS, of Fred Hutch; M. Scott Lucia, MD of University of Colorado, Denver; Leslie G. Ford, MD, of the Division of Cancer Prevention at the National Cancer Institute; Lori M. Minasian, MD, of the Division of Cancer Prevention at the National Cancer Institute; Howard L. Parnes, MD, of the Division of Cancer Prevention at the National Cancer Institute; and Michael L. LeBlanc, PhD, of Fred Hutch. SWOG was founded in 1956, and is a member of the National Cancer Institute's National Clinical Trials Network and the NCI Community Oncology Research Program, making it part of the oldest and largest publicly-funded cancer research network in the United States. SWOG has over 12,000 members in 47 states and six countries who design and conduct cancer prevention and treatment trials. SWOG trials have led to the approval of 14 cancer drugs, changed more than 100 standards of cancer care, and saved more than 3 million years of human life. Learn more at swog.org. A partnership between a University of Texas at Arlington industrial engineering team and Foxconn, a global electronics manufacturer giant and primary supplier for iPhones, will reduce fraudulent replacement claims for iPhone repairs at its Fort Worth facility. The team also will use automation and data-driven smart manufacturing solutions to allow the company to increase its output. Shouyi Wang, an assistant professor in UTA's Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering Department, is leading the team, which collaborates with Foxconn's cell phone manufacturing dvision to develop solutions for improving efficiency in large-scale cell phone manufacturing processes. The team includes Wang's IMSE colleagues Paul Componation, Victoria Chen, Jay Rosenberger and Aera Leboulluec. As a result of the team's work, Foxconn signed a sponsored research agreement through the IMSE Department in March 2017, and later on signed a membership agreement with UTA's Center for Assistive Technologies to Enhance Human Performance, or iPerform Center, in June 2017 to formalize its partnership with the University and expand UTA research to the next generation manufacturing industry in the United States. The original objective was to help Foxconn develop an automated way to check returned iPhones for fake parts or other tampering that would indicate fraud. The company wanted to use artificial intelligence and machine learning to replicate human decision-making in comparing natural damage with human-caused damage, thus reducing the number of humans needed to inspect the phones and increasing the speed and accuracy of detecting fraud. Foxconn would like computers at its repair factory to compare an image of a genuine iPhone to a returned phone or measure the phone's physical characteristics, such as weight, to identify fake components. Wang's process also enabled the company to track where phones were returned from and see that many of the fraudulent phones came from multiple main locations worldwide, which raised red flags for future inspections from those locations. "Apple has a very generous service and replacement policy, and people have built businesses on intentionally damaging or replacing parts within iPhones, then returning them for new ones right before the warranty period ends. This is very costly to Apple," Wang said. "We designed some data analytics and Apple provided a big-data software platform that we applied to the fraud-identification process. Interestingly, there was a spike in fraud after we began our work but with this data-driven approach, the amount of fraud and financial loss has dropped considerably." After successfully addressing the fraud issue, the UTA and Foxconn engineering team also initiated another collborative project to develop highly reliable automatic screwdriving stations along the assembly line to reduce costs, ensure consistency in quality and enable computer-based inspections. Robots are better suited to consistently performing repetitive tasks such as screwdriving because they do not get tired or lose focus on their tasks. However, they cannot adjust their torque rate by feel like humans can, so the failure rate on their work is high. Using an Atlas-Copco screwdriver that is capable of providing high-precision torque feedback at an accuracy of 0.005 newton-metre (N?m). Wang and his colleagues worked with a Foxconn subsidiary to develop a data analytics software platform that would give real-time feedback signals about torque rate and angle and allow the machine to "feel" the screwdriving process and make necessary adjustments as humans. To do so, Wang said they visualized data on graphs that gave a detailed depiction of how the torque should look at each part of the screwdriving process, then identified baseline graphical patterns for successfully driven screws to compare against signal patterns with screws that were driven at a bad angle, cross-threaded, stripped or had other failures. Once the baseline patterns were created, the UTA team developed a realtime decision-making software package to allow a computer to quickly and accurately inspect the screwdriving process and give a "good" or "no good" indication. In tests where a human and a machine inspected repaired phones, the machine did better at identifying risky screws that human visual inspections didn't catch. Automation is important to bringing manufacturing back to the United States, Wang said. "If we can make robot actions to automate screwdriving it will be a big thing for the manufacturing industry. Foxconn is investing billions of dollars in a factory to build LCD displays for high-definition televisions in Wisconsin, and they are also trying to significantly expand their operations in Fort Worth. They have already benefitted greatly from the optimization processes that we initiated, and automation will allow them to expand their capabilities faster, benefitting the company and the local economy," Wang said. The international collaboration and partnership with Foxconn is an example of UTA's agility in the marketplace and how data-driven discovery, one of the themes of the University's Strategic Plan 2020: Bold Solutions | Global Impact, can transform the manufacturing industry. "Dr. Wang and the industrial enfineering team's work with Foxconn is important because it has solidified the University's relationship with a key industry member in the region. As technology makes automation more available and less costly, companies such as Foxconn will continue to ramp up their U.S.-based manufacturing capabilities. This will lead to economic growth, high-paying jobs and greater innovation," said Peter Crouch, dean of UTA's College of Engineering. ### Bishop of Basel Felix Gmur has criticized the publicity surrounding a recent assisted suicide in Switzerland, saying the commercialisation of suicide is cynical. The catholic bishop was speaking after the recent assisted suicide in Basel of 104-year-old Australian botanist David Goodall. Gmurs comments come in an interview published on Saturday by the Schweiz am Wochenende weekly newspaper. People come to Switzerland to commit suicide and it is being marketed as if it were a public freedom, the bishop told the paper, saying it was scandalous to make a business model out of suicide. Gmur said the publicity surrounding Goodalls death had given a wrong signal. It should not happen that unemployed people or retired people under pressure start thinking they have no right to exist, he said. The Swiss Bishops Conference is against euthanasia and assisted suicide. Switzerland is one of the few countries in the world to allow assisted suicide, in which a person is given a lethal drug to administer themselves. The Alpine nation has three assisted suicide organizations catering to foreigners: Dignitas, Basels Life Circle and Ex International in Bern (no relation to Exit International). Assisted suicide and euthanasia, where the lethal drug is administered by a doctor or medical staff, is at the heart of heated ethical debates that touch on religious, medical, legal and ethical questions. Goodall was not terminally ill but considered that his quality of life at 104 was much reduced. He said he would quite liketo be remembered as an instrument of freeing theelderly from the need to pursue their life irrespectively. Almost every article published by swissinfo.ch containsa percentage, an age, an amount of money or some other figure.Heres a round-up of the most interesting statistics to appear in the past weeks stories. Monday 100 Swiss miners said the new gold rush would take them to Sweden. The cryptocurrency specialist, Alpine Mining, announced it wanted to set up a crypto mining farm in the Scandinavian nation to build its capacity for creating tokens to a 100-megawatt operation. Tuesday 26million The canton of Geneva is set to test a system of self-driving public buses as part of an international project. Its being financed to the tune of CHF26 million, the lions share from the European Unions Horizon 2020 funding programme. Wednesday 5 million Thats how many francs the government is contributing to fight radicalisation. The authorities wantto raise awareness and provide counselling. Its part of a three-pronged approach to combating violent extremism.Since 2001, there have been 91 cases of people going abroad to engage in jihad. Thursday 2.0 Digitalisation will create more jobs than it dismantles, the international recruitment company Manpower said in its study, Skills Revolution 2.0. Indeed, nine out of ten Swiss employers said they would either maintain current staff levels or be hiring more over the next couple of years. Friday 12,000 About 1,500 Eritreans demonstrated in the Swiss capital, Bern, where they handed a petition of 12,000 signatures to Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga, calling for a more humane asylum policy. Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki, who won one of the top prizes at Cannes on Saturday with a story of dirt poor children and migrants, dedicated her award to her impoverished amateur cast and her homeland. Labaki is the first Arab woman to have won a major prize at the festival and only the second to have had a film competing for the Palme dOr. Her stirring film Capernaum, whose 13-year-old Syrian refugee lead captured hearts in Cannes, had been tipped to win the Palme in a bumper years for films from North Africa and the Middle East. Accepting the third-placed Jury Prize, Labaki said her thoughts were with a 12-year-old cast member, who she discovered selling tissues on the street, and who had probably again spent the day with her face pressed against car windows. I really think about them (the cast). I hope the film will enable the voices of these children to be better heard and trigger a debate, she told reporters. The glamorous 44-year-old added that she was almost ashamed to be wearing such beautiful dresses to promote her film about a boy who takes his parents to court for bringing him into a miserable, loveless existence. Capernaum, which won a 15-minute standing ovation at its premiere, catapults her into the big league after Caramel, her intimate debut about a Beirut beauty parlour, and Where Do We Go Now?, about women on a mission to end sectarian violence in their village. In an interview with AFP this week she said that while she had previously amplified womens voices she never really felt pressure to talk about women just because I am a woman. There are other things bothering me now, she said. Im thinking of the notion of borders, of having to have papers to exist, of being completely excluded from the system if you dont have them, of the maltreatment of children, modern slavery, immigrant workers, Syrian immigrants. She does not spare the rod with her homeland in Capernaum, at the risk of being accused by the Lebanese of washing their dirty laundry in public. But as she triumphed at Cannes, Labaki was gracious with her country, which, despite everything it is accused of, gets by as best it can, she said. It has welcomed the most refugees in the world (relative to its population), despite not having have the means to meet the needs of its own population. But, she appealed: We cannot continue to turn our back and remain blind to the suffering of these children who try their best to make their way in this capernaum (confused jumble) that the world has become. Fathers dream fulfilled Labaki grew up during Lebanons 1975-1990 civil war to a father who missed out on his dream of becoming a filmmaker. I said to my father, One day I will go to Cannes. So I have helped my father fulfil his dreams, she said Saturday. She came face-to-face with the idea for her feature when she was driving home from a party and saw a child half-asleep in the arms of his mother begging on the pavement. It became an obsession for me I did more than three years of research. I was trying to understand how the system fails these kids. Zain Al Rafeea, who has been working as a delivery boy in Beirut until recently and who has only just learned to write his name turns in a performance in Capernaum that had critics brushing away tears. Being a mother helped Labaki craft some of the most moving scenes, featuring a gurgling breast-fed baby for which Zain has to fend after its migrant mother is arrested. But she expressed reservations about the campaign for gender quotas in film casts and crews spearheaded by Hollywood actresses in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal. Its not just because we decide that there should be parity in a given domain that it is truly merited. Whether its a man or a woman it must be truly on merit, she told AFP. Adolf Hitler definitely died in 1945 in Berlin, from taking cyanide and a bullet, according to French researchers who were given rare access to fragments of the dictator's teeth held in Moscow. The teeth are authentic, there is no possible doubt. Our study proves that Hitler died in 1945, professor Philippe Charlier told AFP. We can stop all the conspiracy theories about Hitler. He did not flee to Argentina in a submarine, he is not in a hidden base in Antarctica or on the dark side of the moon, Charlier said. The study, which Charlier co-authored with four other researchers, was published Friday in the scientific magazine European Journal of Internal Medicine. The analysis of Hitlers bad teeth and numerous dentures found white tartar deposits and no traces of meat fibre the dictator was vegetarian, Charlier said. In March and July 2017, Russias secret service the FSB and the Russian state archives authorised a team of researchers to examine the bones of the dictator, for the first time since 1946, he said. The French team was able to look at a skull fragment presented as being from the Fuhrer, which showed a hole on the left side which was in all probability caused by the passage of a bullet. The scientists were not authorised to take samples from this fragment. As it stands, the fragments morphology was totally comparable to radiographies of Hitlers skull taken a year before his death, the research found. If this study confirms the generally accepted view that Hitler died on the 30 April, 1945, in his Berlin bunker with his companion Eva Braun, it does also shed new light on the exact causes of death, Charlier said. We didnt know if he had used an ampule of cyanide to kill himself or whether it was a bullet in the head. Its in all probability both, he said. The examination of the teeth did not find any traces of powder, which indicates there was not a revolver shot to the mouth, more likely the neck or the forehead. Equally, bluish deposits seen on his false teeth could indicate a chemical reaction between the cyanide and the metal of the dentures, the researcher said. Charlier, a specialist in medical and legal anthropology, was also involved in the analysis of the mummified heart of Richard Lionheart. Over six million people tweeted on Prince Harry's marriage to Meghan Markle, more than three times the number during his older brother's wedding, social media monitoring firm Visibrain said Sunday. Between 2200 GMT Friday and 2300 GMT Saturday, 6,604,498 tweets were posted worldwide on the royal nuptials, of which 5.2 million bore the hashtag #RoyalWedding, the French firm said. That compared with 1,821,669 tweets across a similar timeframe for Prince William when he married Kate Middleton back on April 29, 2011 when Twitter, founded in 2006, was in its relative infancy. The most picked up post was by Lucy Sempey and was retweeted nearly 105,000 times. It was a photograph of Markle outside Buckingham Palace as a teen with the message: One day youre 15 and posing outside Buckingham palace and 22 years later youre marrying the Prince. Unreal. Ontario-owned Tempus Seelster did what only one mare has been able to do in the last two months at Saratoga Casino Hotel when the five-year-old distaffer beat Spreester in the local Fillies and Mares Open on Friday night. Spreester had won five of her six starts in the regular Friday feature before being assigned post seven in Fridays $14,500 installment. The Jim Nickerson-trained Tempus Seelster had been a beaten favourite in three of Spreesters Open wins and was the publics 8-5 second choice in the wagering on Friday as she was again tasked with defeating the tracks top pacing mare. Driven by Billy Dobson, Tempus Seelster grabbed an easy lead and coasted through a comfortable first half in :57.3 before any of her rivals made a significant move towards her. By the time her opponents were in gear, Tempus Seelster was poised to pace a :27.3 third quarter and a final half in :55.3 en route to victory in 1:53.1 on a beautiful spring night in Saratoga Springs, New York. Spreester (Frank Coppola Jr.) was still last heading towards three-quarters and though she unleashed a surge in the final eighth of a mile, came up third best. Longshot Squeeze This (Brett Crawford) finished second in the feature and returned a hefty $92.50 to place. Tempus Seelster is now a three-time winner of the Open this season to go with four second-place finishes in the Friday feature in 2018. The Big Jim mare is owned by Holland Racing Stable of Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ont. (With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel) Meghan Markle's father, who followed his daughter's wedding to Prince Harry on TV from California, described it as "emotional and joyful," and voiced regret he was unable to attend, TMZ reported Saturday. My baby looks beautiful and she looks very happy. I wish I were there and I wish them all my love and all happiness, Thomas Markle said, according to the US celebrity news website. Markle is recovering from heart surgery, and in the absence of her father, Meghan was brought to the altar by Prince Charles, now her father-in-law. Even before the announcement of the surgery, Thomas Markles presence was in doubt after controversy erupted over the publication of seemingly staged photos showing him preparing for the wedding. Thomas Markle complained about being hounded by paparazzi before apparently agreeing to stage his own photos, an apparent bid to control his own image that backfired badly. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday urged greater progress in land redistribution for the sake of national unity, saying not enough had been done since the end of apartheid. Without the redistribution of land, we will not build a united South Africa. Without giving the poor the means to productively farm the land, we will not defeat poverty, said Ramaphosa as he addressed a key 2019 election issue. We need to acknowledge that the lack of progress in land reform can be attributed to a great extent to weaknesses in the institutions responsible for effecting our polices, to inconsistencies in legislation, to misguided interventions and to a misallocation of resources, he told the opening session of a two-day policy workshop of the ruling African National Congress. Ramaphosa told the gathering in the Johannesburg suburb of Boksburg there was a need to undo a grave historical injustice that he has vowed to get to grips with since taking over from Jacob Zuma three months ago. To have placed 87 percent of the land into ownership hands of a white minority and only 13 percent being made available to the black majority was a clear act that was meant to stunt the economic prospects of the country, Ramaphosa said. Like all other economic resources in this country, it has historically been employed to serve the interests of a narrow section of society. While noting the need also to pay attention to other challenges, such as corruption and mismanagement Ramaphosa stressed that our responsibility is to ensure that we have a comprehensive, coherent and sustainable programme for land reform. This workshop needs to provide direction on how we use this mechanism most effectively to advance land reform, an overriding priority for the ANC ever since Nelson Mandela took office in 1994 as democracy swept aside the apartheid system. The ANC will over the course of the weekend debate how to effect land expropriation without compensation, a matter of deep concern for whites. In February, lawmakers decided by a large majority to set up a commission tasked with making constitional changes to that end. A quarter of a century after the end of apartheid South Africa remains a country of deep inequality along racial lines. The estranged brother of a former judge running for county commissioner contacted the Dallas Morning News earlier this week with a bold assertion: That the candidate, Vickers 'Vic' Cunningham, was a lifelong racist. Cunningham, a former criminal district judge, largely denied his brother's accusations. But he confirmed to the newspaper that he had set up a living trust with a clause that would reward his children if they married a white person. "I strongly support traditional family values," Cunningham, 55, told the Dallas Morning News. "If you marry a person of the opposite sex that's Caucasian, that's Christian, they will get a distribution." The trust, in addition to other allegations of racist behavior, has already cost him an endorsement in a Republican runoff election on May 22 for county commissioner in Dallas County. Cunningham said his views on interracial marriage have changed since 2010, when he created the trust. He said he is accepting of his son's relationship with a woman of Vietnamese descent, for example - but told the Dallas Morning News he could not change the terms of the trust. Now Playing: President Donald Trump spoke at a rally in Indiana. Video: Time While Cunningham claims he is not a racist, statements people claim he's made show otherwise. Amanda Tackett, who worked on Cunningham's 2006 campaign for district attorney, said she heard him on several occasions use the n-word to describe black people. She told the Dallas Morning News that Cunningham would refer to his criminal cases involving black people as "T.N.D.s," which stood for "Typical [n-word] Deals." Tackett likened Cunningham to "a character out of a movie." Cunningham told the Dallas Morning News that, despite the racial preferences he had for his children's spouses, he was never discriminatory as a criminal district judge - a job he held for 10 years in Dallas County, during which he presided over the trials of dozens of black and Hispanic people and sent them to prison. When asked by the newspaper if he'd ever used the N-word, he paused for several seconds, and asked if the question was referring to the use of the word in court. When the newspaper clarified that they meant use of the word in everyday life, he said no. Now, he faces an election in a county where blacks and Hispanics make up the majority of the population. It's already a contentious race between Cunningham and attorney J.J. Koch, who last year filed a lawsuit hoping to oust the Dallas County elections administrator. Cunningham entered the race because of the lawsuit, as he was concerned that Koch would fail in the five-member commissioners court's only Republican seat, having burned bridges with many county officials, the Dallas Morning News reported. The lawsuit was eventually dropped. County commissioners are typically responsible for administering the county government. The Republican nominee will face Wini Cannon, a Democrat, and Alberto Perez, a Libertarian, in November. Cunningham and his campaign could not be immediately reached by The Post for comment. He has not indicated that he will drop out of the race. In February, the editorial board of the Dallas Morning News endorsed Cunningham in the race, saying he "would also bring an even temperament, honed by years on the criminal bench, to what has often been a fractious governing body." On Friday the editorial board pulled its backing after the latest revelations. Cunningham's brother, Bill Cunningham, approached the Dallas Morning News Monday, shortly after Cunningham showed up at his home and threatened him and his husband, who is black, and repeatedly referred to his husband as "your boy," the newspaper reported. "His views and his actions are disqualifying for anyone to hold public office in 2018," Bill Cunningham told the newspaper. "It frightens me to death to think of people in power who could hurt people." Cunningham's other brothers, Ross Cunningham and Greg Cunningham, said Bill Cunningham was a deeply troubled man who was estranged from the family. They said he was trying to destroy Vic Cunningham's election prospects because of a loan dispute. As details emerged of the mass shooting more than 200 miles away at Santa Fe High School in Galveston County, school districts in San Antonio emphasized the collective nature of responsibility for campus safety. Local schools have continually implemented new security measures since an earlier mass shooting, farther away, shook the nation late in 2012, when a gunman killed 20 first-graders and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. But school leaders say they alone cant prevent campus violence. I am overwhelmed with frustration at the senseless acts of violence that continue to occur in our schools, Brian Gottardy, superintendent of the North East Independent School District, said in a letter to the community. It reminds us all of the importance of personal safety, and the need to have heightened awareness of our surroundings and those around us. North East ISD will continue to focus on safety in every conversation It takes every single one of us. Superintendents expressed a sense of fatigue from school shootings, referencing the Feb. 14 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 dead. Since then, NEISD spokeswoman Aubrey Chancellor said, the district has contracted with Social Sentinel, a company that monitors social media, to flag threats against the district, its schools or students. If students post threats or anything that indicates potential danger, police can contact their families and go to their homes, Chancellor said. Spokespersons for Bexar Countys largest districts all repeated the see something, say something mantra. We rely very heavily on parents, Chancellor said. Parents need to know what their children have in their backpacks when they go to school in the morning. They need to be aware if something isnt right thats going on at home. Four years ago, the parents of a sophomore at Madison High School in NEISD came to the school, asked to see his backpack and found two handguns inside. The teen then confessed hed stashed a rifle in a bathroom trash can. No one was hurt. Some criticized the parents for failing to tell authorities their son might be armed. Schools aim for a culture that encourages students, employees and parents to feel comfortable reporting possible threats, even if those coming forward are unsure of the truth or significance of their information, said Leslie Price, spokeswoman for San Antonio ISD. Sharing that really helps to create that safety network we need for us to be able to look into any possible concerns, Price said. Bexar County school districts each have their own police departments staffed by licensed peace officers, and some run anonymous tip lines that officers staff around the clock. In some school districts, tipsters are offered a financial reward for information that prevents an incident or leads to an arrest or conviction. School districts also routinely train employees on safety protocols and hold evacuation and lockdown drills. Northside ISD, the largest in Bexar County, has more than 100 licensed officers and partners with the San Antonio Police Department, Bexar County Sheriffs Office or even the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate threats, depending on their severity, said Barry Perez, school district spokesman. In many school districts, recent bond issues have funded security improvements, including surveillance cameras and vestibules with bullet-resistant glass at main entrances where office staff are required to buzz visitors in. Many other school entrances can be opened only by employees with electronic cards. Administrators at all NEISD schools have access to hand-held metal detector wands, Chancellor said. The district asks parents to secure weapons away from children who might bring them to school. It really takes all of us to look out for the safety of not only schools, but all public places, Chancellor said. We have that responsibility to each other. No one can promise absolute safety, school officials have said over the years, but parents can be reassured by all the ways districts are attempting to achieve it anyway. If a guarantee were possible, certainly every school district, every city, would be using that term, Perez said. I think the best that we can do is to constantly evaluate the safety practices that we have in place, to constantly reinforce to our communities the need to be conscious around those safety practices and then to actually practice those measures routinely. Administrators and guidance counselors are available for students struggling with grief over the Santa Fe High School shooting, SAISD Superintendent Pedro Martinez said in a message to staff and community members. Our hearts break for each life cut short and the countless lives that have been forever altered because of yet another school shooting, Martinez said. These tragedies and the loss that follows are just inconceivable and heart wrenching. Alia Malik is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | amalik@express-news.net | @AliaAtSAEN White House Chief of Staff John Kelly recently commented that immigrants, with only an elementary school education, lack the skills to integrate into American society an insult to all immigrants, especially those serving honorably in the military. Gen. Kelly should apologize to these service members for his despicable comments. As an undocumented immigrant who came to this country at 9 and who served honorably as a Marine, I am extremely offended and disappointed about these divisive comments. Not only are his comments divisive, ignorant and despicable, but show an extreme degree of ignorance, racism and bigotry unbecoming of a Marine general. These ignorant and bigoted comments might have gotten him sanctioned, if not court-martialed and kicked out of the Marines, if made while still serving. As a side note, my parents had a first and sixth grade education, but knew the value of an education and wanted to make sure their children had an opportunity beyond theirs. I signed up when still a minor and needed my parents permission to do so. They reluctantly, but willingly, signed. I served honorably for four years, and today Im a college graduate with a law degree and my own law firm that employs a number of employees. You think my parents and I had sufficient skills to integrate well into American society, Gen. Kelly? Felix Gonzalez Respect the flag If I am not mistaken all grades and perhaps even high school students once stood before class started every day to salute the American flag, Old Glory. I remember when there were only 48 stars on the flag to represent each state. I remember when Alaska became a state, which increased the stars to 49. Then came Hawaii, making it 50. Nowadays, you see products such as beach towels with the flag on them. I consider that a disgrace. I feel some veterans who were injured serving their country would agree with me. Ann Dwyer No takers If the Republican National Convention is such a financial bonanza, why has only one city bid on it? Dallas, Houston and Nashville have all declined to bid. Surely there would be fighting over the privilege if it was so lucrative. Barbara Dunlap, Boerne Armen Keteyian to appear at bookstore FAIRFIELD Fairfield resident Armen Keteyian will sign copies of his newly published, New York Times best-selling book, Tiger Woods, co-authored with Jeff Benedict, on June 10 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Fairfield University Bookstore, 1499 Post Road. Copies of Tiger Woods will be available for purchase/signing. Keteyian is a CBS News correspondent based in New York and a longtime contributing correspondent to 60 Minutes. Networking event for young professionals FAIRFIELD The Fairfield Chamber of Commerces young professional group, the Fairfield Emerging Leaders Organization, hosts its third annual Signature networking event on June 6, aboard Prudence, docked in front of the Delamar Greenwich Harbor Hotel. Leaving from the dock at 6 p.m., passengers will cruise around Greenwich Harbor. FELO includes professionals from many business sectors, and is comprised of individuals working in entry to management levels in their respective companies. For information, call 203-255-1011 or register at FairfieldCTChamber.com. Feature Your Listing! Get better results! Make your listing stand out from the crowd! Improve your position and response with our premium listing. CMA Doctors Support Administration Proposal to Keep Federal Funds Separate from Abortion CMA CEO Dr. David Stevens: "Taxpayers want their money to support healthcare, and abortion is not healthcare." Contact: Margie Shealy, Contact: Margie Shealy, Christian Medical Association (CMA), 888-230-2637, 423-341-4254 cell, margie.shealy@cmda.org WASHINGTON, May 18, 2018 / Standard Newswire / -- The 19,000-member Christian Medical Association (CMA, www.cmda.org ) today expressed support for administration plans to disentangle taxpayer funds from abortion as a method of family planning. CMA CEO Dr. David Stevens noted, "Taxpayers want their money to support healthcare, and abortion is not healthcare. "The 'Protect Life Rule' proposed today should go a long way to ensuring that our tax dollars are not illegally propping up the abortion industry. Planned Parenthood is a billion-dollar industry that gets half a billion of our tax dollars and performs nearly a third of a million abortions per year, according to its own annual reports. "Importantly, the new proposal also is expected to stop mandated referrals for abortions. Most pro-life physicians such as our members cannot refer for abortion, because of conscience and because abortion violates longstanding medical ethics such as the Hippocratic oath. "True healthcare promotes health, healing and comfort. Abortion doesn't maintain or improve the health of the mother or unborn child. Even in rare cases when a pregnant woman for health reasons may need her baby delivered early, it should never be done with the intent to kill her child. "These tax dollars can go to many fine community and rural healthcare centers, which far outnumber the Planned Parenthood abortion clinics and provide a vast array of quality, non-controversial and life-affirming healthcare services." Background Congress authorized the Title X program in 1970 to provide family planning services to low income women. The authorizing statute drew a bright line of separation between family planning and abortion: "None of the funds appropriated under this subchapter shall be used in programs where abortion is a method of family planning." Current regulations in place since the Clinton administration require Title X grantees to refer pregnant women for abortion, and Title X grantees may be located in the same location as an abortion clinic. Title X is Planned Parenthood's second-largest stream of federal funding. A 2018 GAO report indicated that Planned Parenthood receives approximately $56 million taxpayer dollars through Title X alone annually. LONDON, May 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cashaa is creating a better bank, challenging legacy banking by building an app and products with input from their community of users. This ambitious mission required a greater understanding and vast experience of Banking and needed a strong team who can deliver it. Cashaa is now on the verge of closing their Token Sale (CAS) distribution. Due to their strict KYC policies and approach towards compliance they were able to set an example for the entire cryptocurrency industry. They have raised more than $33 Million, but rejected $14.7 Million to keep Cashaa's foundation strong and clean. Cashaa was able to prove to the world that they are more than just another company conducting a token sale. This is why people from top banks and technology companies like HSBC, Barclays, Bank Of America, JP Morgan Chase as well as from large Indian banks like ICICI and Axis, have started quitting their comfortable jobs and joining Cashaa. In the last 3 months they have welcomed a number of 28 new key team members into the Cashaa family, which will grow further to 49 by the end of June. Some of their new team members who are working to build a worldwide integrated banking system for Cashaa are : Saurabh Jain, Cashaa's Chief Product Officer, is a digital payments professional with 12 years of experience with ICICI Group, India's biggest financial conglomerate with total consolidated assets of US$ 172.5 billion. A consummate problem solver with a track record of creating innovative solutions for tackling sales slowdown to expertise in developing use cases and ecosystems for digital payment solutions. He developed and launched ICICI Bank's Eazypay app for merchant payments. Saurabh also rolled out ICICI Bank Vodafone M-Pesa services in India. As an expert in payment systems he integrated IMPS & UPI in ICICI Bank and developed IMPS use cases for E-commerce, Mobile wallets and loan disbursals. Priyakant Charokar has recently joined the team as VP Engineering at Cashaa. He has a proven track record of successfully leading complex projects while managing cross-functional resources to drive efficiency in enterprise technology operations. His incredible experience in design, architecting and development of banking systems comes from HSBC. He worked as Senior Software Engineer in HSBC, Pune for the project named GF (Global Functions) and developed in Java/J2EE. During the project development he has been a key resource in analyzing the requirements and designing the framework using UML to support different platforms. Being associated with Banking and financial domain services for the last 12 years, he possesses strong knowledge on areas such as internet banking, cards, security and payments, software applications based on various frontend and backend technologies. Dhanasekaran Sukumaran, Cashaa Project Manager, has over 13 years of experience and worked with investment banks such as Merrill Lynch, Bank Of America, JP Morgan Chase and BNP Paribas on project implementation and has excellent knowledge on Business Intelligence and Equities. Garima Jain, Cashaa's new VP Client Relations, has 10 years of highly successful sales and executive sales management experience. With an outstanding professional approach and keen knowledge, Garima has worked for top companies such as: Capital One, Barclays, American Express, Cvent and Auxesis Group. Their new members, working together with their existing team members (with a vast experience of Banking) will be crucial for the development of Cashaa's ecosystem. With the help of their team members like Rakesh Lakhey, Cashaa EVP Sales - Asia, who has more than 15 years experience in Banking, including working for the World Bank. Simo Mcunu, Cashaa VP Sales - Africa, who joined them from the First National Bank in South Africa, during their Token sale. Thanks to Dominic Melo, Cashaa's Chief Payments Officer whose constant hard work is helping Cashaa to build a complete banking team around its ecosystem. "Our hard work in following the compliance process and rejecting millions of dollars has finally started paying off in the form of talents joining us. Extraordinary minds have started quitting their comfortable positions in huge banks to join Cashaa. This is the validation that Cashaa is moving in the right direction to become the next generation banking solution." - Kumar Gaurav Complementing the team, Cashaa's advisory board includes experienced industry leaders and leaders of financial institutions with strong connections worldwide. To name just a few examples: Bernard Lietaer, the author of "The Future of Money", is an international expert in the design and implementation of currency systems. He has been active in the realm of money systems for close to 40 years in a wide variety of functions. He co-designed and implemented the convergence mechanism to the single European currency system (the Euro) and served as president of the Electronic Payment System at the National Bank of Belgium (the Belgian Central Bank). Anil Earla, Head of Information and Data Analytics at Visa, who has more that 20 years of Fintech experience and has been leading various technology teams to maximize the data assets of Visa Inc. Characterized as a visionary, strategist and tactician he applied emerging technologies at Visa, Motorola, and Allstate to streamline core business processes, and to significantly reduced total cost of ownership. Colum Rafferty is a leading sales and marketing strategy consultant with over 35 years in an international blue chip environment gaining extensive business development experience and substantial success in various sectors within the payments and Fintech sectors. With access to a wide C level network, he has an entrepreneurial talent in identifying major growth opportunities, developing strategic initiatives and executing competitive business strategies to build market share, significant sales and profit growth. Rajesh Dhuddu is a Fintech and Blockchain Expert, with 20+ years experience in Payments, FinTech, Telecommunications & Business Process Management domains with a proven track record of creating high performing cross functional and cross cultural teams. He became a member of Quatrro's Corporate team in the year 2010, currently leading Market Development initiatives for Quatrro's FinTech business in India & South Asia. Through his efforts, Quatrro has become a globally accredited 3rd Party Processor of Visa andMasterCard, and has also been certified by NPCI. The Cashaa team is comprised of the best, brightest and most passionate people in the industry and they are all dedicated to help Cashaa become the Next Generation Banking Platform For the Next Billion. After a successful token sale, CAS Tokens are now available to be purchased. Hurry up and take this great opportunity to buy CAS Tokens, as they are the key to power the Cashaa next generation banking ecosystem. A detailed guide on how to buy CAS Tokens from Cashaa OTC exchange is available here. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 19, 2018 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Colony NorthStar, Inc. ("Colony NorthStar" or the "Company") (NYSE: CLNS) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Central District of California, and docketed under 18-cv-03520, is on behalf of a class consisting of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Colony NorthStar securities between February 28, 2017, through March 1, 2018, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Plaintiff seeks to recover compensable damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. If you are a shareholder who purchased Colony NorthStar securities between February 28, 2017, and March 1, 2018, both dates inclusive, you have until June 5, 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] Colony NorthStar operates as a real estate investment trust. The Company invests in healthcare, industrial, and hospitality sectors, as well as offers equity and debt management services. Colony NorthStar serves customers globally. The Company resulted from the January 2017 merger between Colony Capital, Inc., NorthStar Asset Management Group Inc. and NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. 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) Colony NorthStar's Healthcare and Investment Management segments were performing worse than reported; and (ii) as a result, Colony NorthStar's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On March 1, 2018, Colony NorthStar reported its financial and operating results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, announcing a goodwill impairment of $375 million, attributable to the Company's Healthcare and Investment Management segments. On this news, Colony NorthStar's share price fell $1.78, or 22.88%, to close at $6.00 on March 1, 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 SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- NanoScientific, a popular nanoscience magazine is pleased to announce the launch of their web version, www.nanoscientific.org, an online portal featuring pioneering future oriented news and articles on Nanotechnology research and applications. Nanotechnology, the fastest growing sector of the world economy impacts every aspect of our society. NanoScientific publishes one-on-one exclusive interviews with pioneering thought leaders and researchers, along with the latest advances on nano-related tools for imaging and metrology where new applications are being unveiled at unprecedented speed. "Our aim is to serve the vast nano science community with informative engaging first-hand interviews on the latest breakthroughs in Nano Research," comments Keibock Lee, Editor-in-Chief. "NanoScientific articles focus on new and emerging fields of nanoscience research, with a high priority set on letting the audience understand the researcher's views and perspectives." "We cover a wide variety of topics related to nanotechnology advancements including tools that expand our ability to image, view and analyze at the ever shrinking precision of nanoscale metrology," adds Lee. In 2014, NanoScientific was launched to provide news and articles related to the field of Nanoscience across a wide range of multi disciplinary areas of research. Now distributed world-wide to over 40,000, NanoScientific represents one of the industry's leading scientific journals dedicated to nanoscale science and technology, playing a pivotal role in the advancement of scientific knowledge sharing by attracting a broad spectrum of researchers in the fields of physics, chemistry, biomedicine, semiconductor, energy, materials science and engineering. NanoScientific is also sponsoring, along with Park Systems a series of NanoScientific Symposiums globally. The first NanoScientific Symposium 2018 on Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) will be held at the Park Nanoscience Center at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Albany NYSeptember 19-20, 2018. The Symposium is presented to give attendees the latest updates in SPM, an opportunity to present their research papers, attend a special short course on Atomic Force Microscopes and foster ongoing relationships in the field of nanotechnology. NanoScientific Forum Europe (NSFE2018) will be held in Freiberg, Germany; co sponsored by Technical University Freiberg Oct. 10-12, 2018 and will feature a special session on "nanobubbles", which is a flagship project of TU Freiberg and Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology. NanoScientific is published quarterly and nanoscientific.org web site contains all the articles published in an easy-to-use online searchable format, along with news videos and applications. To be added to the NanoScientific mailing list to receive your free copy of the printed magazine register here. About NanoScientific NanoScientific Journal is published quarterly to showcase advancements in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology across a wide range of multi disciplinary areas of research. Each issue covers informative articles about nanotechnology trends balanced with leading edge scientific research applications and concepts. NanoScientific has been published since 2014 and has a global distribution of over 30,000 in North America, Europe and Asia. Click here to register for a free quarterly printed copy. NanoScientific Symposiums are offered world-wide to share scientific knowledge and foster ongoing relationships in the field of Nanotechnology. Click here to learn more about the NanoScientific Symposium on SPM in the US and click here to learn more about the NanoScientific Forum in Europe. About Park Systems Park Systems is a world-leading manufacturer of atomic force microscopy (AFM) systems with a complete range of products for researchers and industry engineers in chemistry, materials, physics, life sciences, and semiconductor and data storage industries. Park's products are used by over a thousand of institutions and corporations worldwide. Park's AFM provides highest data accuracy at nanoscale resolution, superior productivity, and lowest operating cost thanks to its unique technology and innovative engineering. Park Systems, Inc. is headquartered in Santa Clara, California with its global manufacturing, and R&D headquarters in Korea. Park's products are sold and supported worldwide with regional headquarters in the US, Korea, Japan, Mexico and Singapore, and distribution partners throughout Europe, Asia, and America. Please visit http://www.parksystems.com or call 408-986-1110 for more information. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The largest proxy advisory firm is recommending that investors reject two of Tesla Inc.'s (TSLA) board members, while also supporting a proposal to split the role of chairman and chief executive officer -- jobs now held by Elon Musk, the public face of the electric-car maker. By opposing directors Antonio Gracias and James Murdoch, and seeking to install an independent chairman, Institutional Shareholder Services is ratcheting up the pressure on Tesla to reform its nine-member board in the wake of production delays on its mass-market Model 3. You've reached your free article limit. Subscribe now to get unlimited access. View Offers 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. ORANGE COUNTY, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 19, 2018 / Without modern technology, it would be nearly impossible to captivate the interest of consumers who are fully engulfed in the world of social media and digital consumption. Nick Kohlschreiber, a renowned entrepreneur from California, points out that a profound transformation of marketing techniques is already well underway, as consumers spend an increasing amount of time on their smartphones and computers. This has created a challenge for brands as they seek to connect with customers through all these devices in real-time, while also developing advertising campaigns that are effective across social media, display advertising and e-commerce. Sweeping technological advances and the expansive outreach of social media has permanently altered the nature of marketing as a whole, a sentiment Guardian contributor David Benady noted prior to a panel discussion with industry executives. 'Real-time conversations brands have with people as they interact with websites and mobile apps has changed the nature of marketing,' Benady wrote. 'The modern-day marketing department needs to combine the creative side of the discipline - using powerful narratives to tap into people's wishes and aspirations - with the technical side of data, digital engineering and analytics.' The potential reach of an advertising campaign has also broadened. Facebook, YouTube, online news websites, and integrated apps for smartphones and tablets now allow strong ideas to quickly spread and influence in the span of a single day. 'If you come up with that nugget of an idea, you've now got such reach that you can expand that and get tremendous coverage just from a little niche idea,' said Mark Singleton, head of marketing at betting brand Paddy Power. Various technological tools enable modern marketing techniques to provide a highly personalized customer experience, often through insightful analytics providing a more targeted audience. As the number of tools and options continues to grow at rapid rates, marketers are faced with increasingly complicated decisions while deciding on their strategy. Nick Kohlschreiber encourages them to carefully weigh the numerous choices available and focus on methods that best fit their brand, while offering the highest level of direct access to their targeted consumer base. Kohlschreiber also advises companies to constantly reevaluate their strategies in light of emerging entities that may ensure even higher degrees of innovative and strategic advertising. By continuing to embrace evolutions in technology, marketing experts can stay ahead of the latest trends, adapting to changes while receiving optimal results. Nick Kohlschreiber is an experienced businessman and entrepreneur, beginning his career at a young age as the head of marketing at an online wholesale product company, where he invigorated sales with his innovative approach to the online selling and direct shipping of products to its consumers. Now the owner of a media company based in Newport Beach, Kohlschreiber oversees hundreds of employees and tens of thousands of clients every day, while striving to further the connections to the modern communication platforms -- from document preparation, to online, multimedia-driven business development. In his spare time, he is a dedicated philanthropist assisting both local charities and various international non-profit organizations. Nick Kohlschreiber - Expert in Modern Marketing: http://www.nickkohlschreibernews.com Nick Kohlschreiber - Business Entrepreneur & Founder of TeleTree: http://nickkohlschreiberreviews.com Nick Kohlschreiber - Creative Marketing Solutions Expert: http://nickkohlschreibermarketing.com Contact Information NickKohlschreiberNews.com www.NickKohlschreiberNews.com contact@nickkohlschreibernews.com SOURCE: Nick Kohlschreiber PLEASE REMEMBER TO ORDER FROM AMAZON THOUGH FMF.CLICK ON ANY BOOK WE LIST TO GET TO AMAZON, AND THEN ORDER WHATEVER. thanxxx &amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;gt; FINISHING THE 2ND EDITION!!! REVISED AND UPDATED 2ND EDITION NEAR COMPLETION. LOOK FOR IT IN SEPTEMBER. THANK YOU AND LEGAL NOTICE As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. THANK YOU TO ALL THE READERS WHO REMEMBER TO GO TO AMAZON VIA FIRST MOTHER FORUM. IT MATTERS NOT WHAT YOU PURCHASE. From the New York Times "Lorraine Dusky, a writer who relinquished a daughter as a young single mother in New York State in 1966, supports opening the records. She reported in her 2015 memoir that in the handful of states that offered women the opportunity to remove their names from original birth certificates, only a small fraction of women fewer than 1 percent chose to do so." -- Dont Keep Adopted People in the Dark by Gabrielle Glaser, June 19, 2018 From the New York Times "On FirstMotherForum.com, a blog that discusses issues among women who had given children up for adoption, Lorraine Dusky, one of the sites authors, praised the series (ABC's 10-episode Find My Family): 'Maybe this will be heard by people who think it is unloyal somehow for a person to search out his or her roots, parents, family, when it is a most natural desire of consciousness.' --Two Reality Shows Stir Publicity and Anger"--Dec. 6, 2009. This blog takes cookies. "It shouldn't take a miracle to find people you are related to by blood."--Jenn Gentlesk EMAIL US AT forumfirstmother@gmail.com Oregon court records available Instructions and forms for accessing adoption records are on the Oregon Judicial Department's website. COPYRIGHT NOTICE Material from First Mother Forum may be quoted as long as FMF is credited and with a link to original source here. Over 350 words, contact for permission: forumfirstmother@gmail.com. Jet Airways' Naresh Goyal, who recently ruled out a stake in the embattled Air India stake sale, said that his firm has not said it will not look at Air India. Jet Airways' Naresh Goyal, who recently ruled out a stake in the embattled Air India stake sale, said that his firm has not said it will not look at Air India. Though his focus, he emphasized was at what he termed as looking at our business, he did not rule out looking at Air India, a report in Bloomberg said quoting the chairman of Jet Airways in Manchester, England. "We are looking at our own business, Naresh Goyal said in an interview in Manchester, England. But I am not saying that we will not look at Air India, Ive never said that. Ultimately we will always see what is the best approach ahead of us, and for the country, he said in an interview in Manchester. Goyal was in Manchester which his airline had earlier announced would connect with Mumbai with a non-stop four days per week flight service, starting winters this year. The proposed flight, which will be the city-based private carrier's fifth service to the UK, is expected to open up travel between India and the north of England, starting from winters 2018, a release said on Friday. The new flight will be operated with a 254-seater wide body Airbus A330-200 aircraft, the airline said. Earlier, in April, Jet Airways had shown no interest and had also reiterated why it was not keen on participating in a bid for Air India, that the government is keen on selling. An AFP report quoted Amit Agarwal, deputy chief executive, Jet Airways as saying, considering the terms of offer in the information memorandum and based on our review, we are not participating in the process. Recently, the government extended the deadline to receive initial bids for its stake in state-run carrier Air India to 31 May from 14 May, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The qualified bidders for the beleaguered airline will be announced on 15 June, according to the statement. The government, keen to sell the loss-making, debt-ridden airline, finalised plans in late March to divest a 76 per cent stake and offload about $5.1 billion of its debt. After the terms were disclosed, no company has come forward to say it is interested or to reaffirm previous interest, while Jet Airways and rival IndiGo, owned by InterGlobe Aviation, have already publicly opted out of the race, a Reuters report said. The civil aviation ministry made public 160 queries it had received from interested bidders seeking clarity on the initial terms. These were mainly about the impact of the governments decision to hold a 24 percent stake, the make-up of the airlines debt and liabilities, its latest financial performance and workforce. the report said. Air India, a once-thriving airline is being bolstered on tax payers money. It is estimated to have a debt burden of more than Rs 50,000 crore. By Tom Miles GENEVA (Reuters) - India and the European Union have given the World Trade Organization lists of the U.S. By Tom Miles GENEVA (Reuters) - India and the European Union have given the World Trade Organization lists of the U.S. products that could incur high tariffs in retaliation for U.S. President Donald Trump's global tariffs on steel and aluminium, WTO filings showed on Friday. The EU said Trump's steel tariffs could cost $1.5 billion and aluminium tariffs a further $100 million, and listed rice, cranberries, bourbon, corn, peanut butter, and steel products among the U.S. goods that it might target for retaliation. India said it was facing additional U.S. tariffs of $31 million on aluminium and $134 million on steel, and listed U.S. exports of soya oil, palmolein and cashew nuts among its potential targets for retaliatory tariffs. One trade official described the lists of retaliatory tariffs as "loading a gun", making it plain to U.S. exporters that pain might be on the way. India said its tariffs would come into effect by June 21, unless and until the United States removed its tariffs. The EU said some retaliation could be applied from June 20. Trump's tariffs, 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminium, came into force in March to strong opposition as many see the measures as unjustified and populist. There were also objections that the tariffs would have little impact on China, widely seen to be the cause of oversupply in the market. Trump justified the tariffs by claiming they were for U.S. national security, in a bid to protect them from any legal challenge at the WTO, causing further controversy. Rather than challenging the U.S. tariffs directly, the EU and India, like China, South Korea and Russia, told the United States that they regarded Trump's tariffs as "safeguards" under the WTO rules, which means U.S. trading partners are entitled to compensation for loss of trade. The United States disagrees. (Reporting by Tom Miles; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Ross Kerber BOSTON (Reuters) - Several socially conscious investment firms are selling or rethinking their Facebook Inc holdings, unsatisfied by the company's moves to strengthen personal data protection and online safety after scandals involving the improper sharing of users' information. By Ross Kerber BOSTON (Reuters) - Several socially conscious investment firms are selling or rethinking their Facebook Inc holdings, unsatisfied by the company's moves to strengthen personal data protection and online safety after scandals involving the improper sharing of users' information. The retreat from the world's largest social media network is one of the sharpest responses by investors to concerns about Facebook's handling of user data. Cambridge Analytica, a now-defunct political data firm hired by Trump's 2016 election campaign, has been accused of harvesting data for 87 million Facebook users and is under investigation in the United States and Europe. [nL2N1SN00D] Facebook shares fell in the first quarter when the scandal broke, and recovered after founder and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg testified before U.S. lawmakers in April. Although he deflected questions and avoided pledging to support new regulation, doubts were raised about his commitment to fully resolve the issue.[ "Facebook's problems, we believe, are founded on a lack of sufficient attention to consumer privacy and data security, compounded by inadequate governance," wrote Adam Kanzer, vice president of Domini Funds, in a May 8 letter to Facebook explaining its plan to sell its 111,000 Facebook shares held in the Domini Impact Equity Fund. In April Eaton Vance Corp unit Calvert Research and Management also sold Facebook shares on concerns about lax controls that meant "the company clearly violated users' fundamental right to privacy," contrary to the firm's investment principles, according to Emma Doner, one of its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) analysts. The divestment by the two well-known firms build on previous concerns by other so-called ESG managers, which consider social responsibility when buying stocks. Others may follow. Joe Keefe, president of Pax World Funds, said Facebook's place in investment vehicles like the Pax ESG Beta Dividend Fund will be reviewed with an eye on recent controversies that "may very well affect the company's scores and its eligibility for continued inclusion in those portfolios." A Facebook spokeswoman declined to comment. Zuckerberg controls a majority of Facebook's voting power, but must face shareholders at its annual meeting on May 31. Top proxy advisers have recommended a number of votes contrary to the board's positions. ESG funds represent just a small fraction of Facebook shares, but their moves may influence top investors including BlackRock Inc and Vanguard Group, which have paid more attention to social issues in recent years. Representatives for both declined to comment. Facebook had already faced scepticism from ESG funds which on average had kept the company at a market-neutral weighting of 1.7 percent, according to Morningstar data, likely tied to Facebook's average score from ESG rating service Sustainalytics. Martin Kremenstein, senior managing director at Nuveen, said one reason it would be hard for the company's socially minded funds to own Facebook is because the problems occurred despite a settlement the company struck with the Federal Trade Commission in 2011, which included a pledge to improve privacy protections. Referring to the latest revelations involving Cambridge Analytica, he said, "This is a bigger scandal than before, but it's not a new one." Not all ESG managers aim to divest. Lauren Compere of Boston Common Asset Management said Facebook remains attractive given its strong growth and cash generation, and said the company deserved credit for steps like fighting unreasonable government requests for users' information. Julie Goodridge of NorthStar Asset Management, with about 36,900 Facebook shares, said managers should keep their shares and vote in support of upcoming proxy resolutions like one from her firm calling for Facebook to give all shares an equal vote, which would reduce Zuckerberg's power. (Reporting by Ross Kerber; Editing by Peter Henderson and Richard Chang) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. This resolution gives a hope to the banking sector, neck-deep in bad loans, that recovery of money is actually possible relying on the IBC channel. For a banking sector that has suffered back-to-back bad news for a while now, Tata Steels acquisition of Bhushan Steel offers a ray of hope. On Friday, Tata Steels wholly-owned subsidiary Bamnipal Steel Ltd (BNPL) announced the completion of its acquisition of Bhushan Steel, marking the resolution of the first case under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016. This was among the first lot of 12 companies that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had pushed to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for bankruptcy proceedings last year. The most important outcome of the deal is that banks will pocket Rs 35,200 crore immediately, which covers most of the principal amount Bhushan Steel owes to its lenders, besides a 12 percent stake in the company. The cash payment immediately lessens the burden on a group of banks including fraud-hit Punjab National Bank (PNB). Most importantly, this resolution gives a hope to the banking sector, neck-deep in bad loans, that a recovery of money is actually possible when via the IBC route. This is crucial for the sector that is sitting on gross NPAs worth Rs 9 lakh crore and a good chunk of wilful defaults. Remember, Rs 9 lakh crore is a conservative figure. According to former RBI deputy governor K C Chakrabarty, the total chunk of all problematic loans in the banking system would be around Rs 20 lakh crore. In the first round, RBI referred 12 cases to the IBC totaling about 25 percent of the gross NPAs in the banking system. According to banking industry sources, 28 more accounts were referred to the IBC. In most of these cases, the process is underway. The RBIs all-out war against NPAs began in January 2015 when the central bank put out rules for the early recognition of stressed assets in the banking system and their punitive provisioning. Till then, public sector banks (PSBs), which account for 70 percent of our banking system and almost 90 percent of bank NPAs, were happily ever-greening bad loans of influential, politically connected promoters via technical adjustments. The infamous corporate-political nexus worked in full swing. Banks loan recovery record has been extremely poor. To understand the gravity of the situation, one must look at the State Bank of India (SBI)s track record. In fiscal 2015 alone, SBI wrote-off loans worth Rs 23,973 crore while it recovered just Rs 317 crore. In the following fiscal year, it wrote off Rs 19,944 crore, whereas it recovered Rs 3093 crore from loans that were written off. In FY17, SBI wrote off loans worth Rs 27,574 crore and recovered Rs 3,765 crore. In the subsequent fiscal year till December 2017, it wrote off Rs 31, 096 crore and recovered a mere Rs 3,221 crore. To be more specific, over a roughly three-and-a-half year period, from when Narendra Modi took charge as Prime Minister in mid-2014 to the end-December 2017, Indias public sector banks (PSBs) have written-off loans worth Rs 2,72,558 crore. Of the amount, a meagre Rs 29,343 crore has been recovered, according to data available with the central bank. Of the write-offs, the biggest in a year happened at the Mumbai-traded SBI, which wrote off Rs 31,096 crore in the nine months to 31 December, 2017. PSBs recovered a total of Rs 15,786 crore over a twenty-one month period ended 31 December 2017 (the first nine months of FY18 and all of FY17 put together). This data was submitted by the Minister of State, Finance, Shiv Pratap Shukla, on 27 March, 2018, in Parliament. Even after the IBC was put in place, there have been certain concerns on the IBC. On IBC, the big question that has been repeatedly asked is whether there will be enough buyers for distressed assets. A maximum of 270 days are given for the company to work out a turn-around mechanism and repay it's loans. If the resolution doesnt work, the liquidation proceedings kick-in and banks and other stakeholders in the firm work out a plan to recover the money. The whole process is time bound and offers a decent exit for the promoter and minimum financial losses to lenders. But, the problem is that banks are not experts in businesses to which they lend. Unless the right professionals are involved, a resolution within nine months may not be a workable idea and can trigger bigger disputes. The other question being asked is whether the NCLT, the body which deals with IBC cases, have adequate infrastructure to deal with a large number of insolvency cases? Right now, there are about 25,000 pending cases with the NCLT according to Alvarez & Marsal. If the the NCLT doesnt have enough manpower and institutional infrastructure to deal with these cases, hopes of faster resolution of NPA cases may not be realistic. A company is pushed for liquidation after severe financial stress. Hence, in many of the insolvency cases, banks may have to assume substantial losses. In the case of PSBs, which are the major bad loan victims of Indias banking sector, the onus of recapitalisation falls on the majority stakeholder in these banks the government. Can the government fork out significant amounts of money to compensate the losses of state-run banks? That is doubtful. Already, there are estimates that the government will have to fork out much more than the promised Rs 2.11 lakh crore to fill the void. Despite all these concerns, the banking sector has been carrying high hopes on the IBC mechanism as the last remaining avenue for recovery of funds. Tata Steel's buyout of Bhushan Steel will fuel those hopes for a while. (Some parts of this piece were published earlier on Firstpost and have been updated in the backdrop of Tata Steel-Bhushan Steel deal) By David Lawder and Michael Martina WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he was determined to stop China from 'taking our jobs, taking our money' as U.S. By David Lawder and Michael Martina WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he was determined to stop China from "taking our jobs, taking our money" as U.S. and Chinese negotiators met for a second day to try to avert a tariff war and find ways to boost U.S. exports to China. China earlier denied assertions from U.S. officials on Thursday night that Beijing had offered a package of concessions and goods purchases aimed at reducing the U.S. trade deficit with China by as much as $200 billion. "This rumour is not true. This I can confirm to you," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular news briefing, adding that consultations in Washington "are constructive." A U.S. official said on Friday said that China's proposal was interpreted as Beijing pledging to work to achieve Washington's $200 billion trade deficit reduction goal by 2020 - a demand presented to Chinese officials two weeks ago in Beijing. The offer did not contain specifics, the U.S. official said, unlike China's decision to end its anti-dumping duties on U.S. sorghum grain, a move that was linked to the U.S.-China trade talks. A private sector source familiar with the talks also said that the U.S. government agencies were asking industry groups about the feasibility of potential deals with China in agriculture, energy and semiconductors. Two sources involved in the negotiations said that the Treasury has been contacting American technology firms to test their willingness to support liberalizing export control laws to allow more exports to China. Chinese officials had proposed a list of goods covered by U.S. export controls that are not restricted by other nations, implying that these could be purchased from the United States, the sources said. The sorghum anti-dumping probe had effectively halted trade worth roughly $1.1 billion last year, roiling global grain markets and spurring worries about rising costs in China. Trump, speaking at a White House event on prison reform, said he was determined to negotiate "great trade deals" with China and other countries. "Were changing a lot of those horrible trade deals. They take our jobs, they take our money, we end up with no money, no taxes, no employment. Not a good combination." The meetings between delegations led by Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have been private, with virtually no public announcements. The United States is China's dominant source of imported sorghum, a product grown in states such as Texas and Kansas that lean towards Trump's Republican party, whose congressional majorities are under threat in mid-term elections in November. Explaining the dropping of the sorghum investigation, China's commerce ministry said it "would have a widespread impact on consumer living costs, and does not accord with the public interest". Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on up to $150 billion of Chinese goods to combat what he says is Beijing's misappropriation of U.S. technology through joint venture requirements and other policies. Beijing has threatened equal retaliation, including tariffs on some of its largest U.S. imports, including aircraft, soybeans and autos. (Reporting by Tony Munroe and Michael Martina in BEIJING and Steve Holland in WASHINGTON; Additional reporting by David Lawder and Doina Chiacu in WASHINGTON, Hallie Gu in BEIJING, and Naveen Thukral in SINGAPORE; Editing by Robert Birsel and James Dalgleish) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Steve Holland and Michael Martina WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - China is 'meeting many' Trump administration demands to cut its trade surplus with the United States, but a definitive deal to resolve deep trade differences could take a while to develop, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Friday. 'China has come to trade,' Kudlow told reporters at the White House as U.S By Steve Holland and Michael Martina WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - China is "meeting many" Trump administration demands to cut its trade surplus with the United States, but a definitive deal to resolve deep trade differences could take a while to develop, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Friday. "China has come to trade," Kudlow told reporters at the White House as U.S. officials met with a Chinese trade delegation for a second day in Washington. "They are meeting many of our demands. There is no deal yet to be sure, and it's probably going to take a while to process, but they're coming to play." Kudlow said the Chinese had offered a package of U.S. goods purchases and other steps to cut China's annual U.S. trade surplus by some $200 billion, contradicting a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman who denied that such a reduction had been offered. "This rumour is not true. This I can confirm to you," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular news briefing on Friday, adding that consultations in Washington "are constructive." Kudlow said the Chinese offer included energy and farm commodities purchases, adding "the number is a good number," adding that China would also need to lower non-tariff barriers and agree to a "verifiable process whereby the technology transfers and the theft of intellectual property stops." U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on up to $150 billion of Chinese goods to combat what he says is Beijing's misappropriation of U.S. technology through joint venture requirements and other policies. Beijing has threatened equal retaliation, including tariffs on some of its largest U.S. imports, including aircraft, soybeans and autos. CHINA DROPS SORGHUM DUTIES China took a surprise conciliatory step to end an anti-dumping probe that had heaped hefty duties onto U.S. sorghum grain, effectively halting $1.1 billion in U.S. exports, causing turmoil in grain markets and sparking concerns about rising costs in China. As the talks continued, Trump administration officials have been contacting groups in the agriculture, technology and energy sectors to vet the Chinese proposals and determine whether increasing exports was feasible, people familiar with the talks said. Two sources involved in the negotiations said that the Treasury has been contacting American technology firms to test their support for liberalizing export control laws to allow more high-tech exports to China. Chinese officials had proposed a list of goods covered by U.S. export controls that are not restricted by other countries, implying that these could be purchased from the United States, the sources said. China has long sought to increase purchases of U.S. high-technology goods. Achieving a $200 billion reduction of the U.S.-China trade deficit on a sustainable basis would require a massive change in the composition of commerce between the two countries, prompting scepticism from economists. The $200 billion figure is larger than all of the United States' global annual agricultural and oil exports. ZTE FATE UNCLEAR It was unclear whether any agreements that could emerge from the talks later on Friday would include a relaxation of paralysing restrictions on Chinese telecommunications equipment maker ZTE Corp <000063.SZ><0763.HK> imposed last month by the U.S. Commerce Department. The sanctions-related move banned U.S. firms from selling semiconductors and other components to ZTE, causing the Shenzhen-based firm to cease operations. Earlier this week, Trump tweeted that he directed Commerce to put ZTE back in business and said the company's situation was part of an overall trade deal with China. But Kudlow distanced the ZTE issue from the current trade talks and said the company's punishment may or may not be changed. "The Chinese government has asked for a bit of relief on the remedy. It doesnt mean there wont be a remedy. There will be very strong remedies," he said. Trump, speaking at a White House event on prison reform, said he was determined to negotiate "great trade deals" with China and other countries. "Were changing a lot of those horrible trade deals. They take our jobs, they take our money, we end up with no money, no taxes, no employment. Not a good combination." (Reporting by Tony Munroe and Michael Martina in BEIJING and Steve Holland, David Lawder and John Walcott in WASHINGTON; Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu in WASHINGTON, Hallie Gu in BEIJING, and Naveen Thukral in SINGAPORE; Editing by Robert Birsel and James Dalgleish) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Katanga Johnson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. gun lobby is taking aim at 'gun-hating' banks after Citigroup Inc and Bank of America said they would no longer provide certain banking services to gun-makers, according to industry lobbyists. By Katanga Johnson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. gun lobby is taking aim at "gun-hating" banks after Citigroup Inc and Bank of America said they would no longer provide certain banking services to gun-makers, according to industry lobbyists. The attack by Gun Owners of America and the National Rifle Association (NRA) could imperil de-regulatory gains the banks had hoped to win from Republican lawmakers and regulators, many of whom are staunch defenders of the Second-Amendment right to bear arms, according to industry sources. In March, Citigroup put restrictions on new retail business clients which sell guns to require their customers to pass background checks, following February's Florida high school shooting that killed 17 people. Weeks later, Bank of America said it would no longer lend to companies that make military-style firearms for civilians. Gun-control activists and Democrats praised the policy, urging other financial firms to follow suit. But gun owners and manufactures say it encroaches on Americans' constitutional rights and they are fighting back. Gun Owners of America (GOA), a Washington-based lobby group, has asked lawmakers to add a provision to a draft law rewriting bank rules that it says would prevent "gun-hating banks" from "discriminating" against firearms makers. The bill reforming the 2010 Dodd Frank act is set to be voted on by the House of Representatives next week. While financial-industry lobbyists say the bill is likely to pass without the provision on gun-lending, the firearms issue is threatening to turn the powerful gun lobby into an adversary for banks on other regulatory issues longer term. "Citigroup and Bank of America are threatening our Second-Amendment rights. They do not realize how much more there is to lose than to gain," by their new policies, said GOAs executive director, Erich Pratt. The group this month wrote to its 1.5 million members urging them to petition House lawmakers to vote against the bill if the provision is not added. "Our members will take direct action to such discriminatory lending practices by these banks," Pratt added. Citigroup and Bank of America declined to comment. Charles Adcox, a member of GOA, has stopped accepting Citi and Bank of America credit cards at his Missouri gun shop Black River Armory in response to their new policy. "My more loyal customers don't mind paying in cash. Some even wish to drop their credit-card companies for gun-friendly alternatives," Adcox told Reuters. The NRA is running an advertisement campaign criticizing Citi and Bank of America online, adding that Citi may be encouraging retailers to violate anti-discrimination laws. "The NRA will continue to promote awareness of those companies who seek to infringe upon the Second Amendment rights of American citizens, William Brewer, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and counsel for the NRA, said in a statement. "POOR STRATEGY" Mike Crapo, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, which writes banking rules and oversees Wall Street regulators, wrote to the chief executives of both lenders in April chastising them for trying to "manage social policy", according to reports. J.W. Verret, professor of Banking Law at Scalia Law School, said the banks' gun policies appeared to be a "terrifically poor strategy" at a time when they had stood to gain from a political push to cut red tape across the financial industry - potentially reducing their access to lawmakers and regulators. "There might be a timing challenge in getting that particular provision in this bill but it means that the number of offices that takes Citi's phone calls in the next year or two on the Hill has just been cut in half." The gun issue is unlikely to go away as mass shootings grab the nation's attention. Multiple people were killed on Friday in a shooting at a high school in Texas, a law enforcement source said. As lawmakers aim to relax banking regulations almost 10 years after the start of the 2007-2009 crisis, banking lobbyists have been increasingly active on Capitol Hill. The Dodd Frank rewrite now being considered in the House would relax lending and capital and mid-size banks, give a capital break to some large banks custody businesses, and includes a provision that would directly benefit Citis bond trading business. (Reporting by Katanga Johnson; Editing by Michelle Price and Alistair Bell) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The Delhi Police on Friday questioned Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with an alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by two AAP MLAs. New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Friday questioned Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with an alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by two AAP MLAs and sought to know from him about the sequence of events that took place on 19 February, said a senior police officer. The police also sought to know from him whether the assault on Prakash was pre-planned, he said. Chief Minister may again be questioned and if needed, it will also question Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia as Kejriwal did not give "satisfactory answers", Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Harendra Singh told the media after about three-hour-long questioning. Reacting to his questioning, Kejriwal hit out at the Union government and said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is behind the move. On 20 February, the chief secretary alleged that he was assaulted by two Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs in the presence of Kejriwal at the chief minister's residence. The two, Amanatullah Khan and Prakash Jarwal, were arrested and later released on bail. The chief minister alleged that the cases against AAP were "fake and politically motivated". Singh said that Kejriwal did not give satisfactory answers to some of the questions, adding that Kejriwal was questioned in the room in which the Chief Secretary was allegedly assaulted. "He was evasive of some questions." The Additional DCP said that the whole process has been videograhped, but added that as per law, a copy of the recording could not be given to the chief minister. He also said that there were two advocates with Kejriwal during his questioning. Meanwhile, Kejriwal said in a written statement after the questioning that the BJP was letting loose Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Delhi Police after the AAP, to stop the good work being done by the AAP government in Delhi. "For the first time in the history of India, a chief minister was questioned for fake cases and a raid was conducted by police. There is only one reason behind it to disturb us and to defame us," the statement said. The chief minister's interrogation began around 5 pm at his residence on Flagstaff Road of north Delhi and went on till 8.15 pm. A police officer who was present at the time of the questioning told IANS that over 100 questions were asked by the Delhi Police. Singh entered Kejriwal's residence with Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Civil Lines Police Station, and four Inspector-rank officers, a police official said. Over a dozen policemen were deployed outside the chief minister's residence. Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Saturday said that the Centre would try to bring a bill in the monsoon session of Parliament to pave the way for reservation in job promotions. Nagpur: Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Saturday said that the Centre would try to bring a bill in the monsoon session of Parliament to pave the way for reservation in job promotions for employees belonging to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe categories. The Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment was addressing a press conference at Ravi Bhavan, the state government's guest house complex, in Nagpur. "We are working towards introducing a bill on reservations in promotions for SC/ST employees in the monsoon session of Parliament to be held in July-August. We have discussed the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Athawale informed. He said that presently SC/ST employees were being deprived of reservations in job promotions. The Republican Party of India (A) leader also informed that his party would have its Maharashtra convention in Pune on 27 May. The recent skirmish in Jammu between soldiers of India and Pakistan left four civilians and a BSF constable dead on the Indian side and nine others wounded. The exchange of fire between soldiers of India and Pakistan along the working International Border in Jammu started at 4 am on Friday morning. After eight hours, the skirmish left four civilians and a Border Security Forces constable dead on the Indian side and nine others wounded, initially. Meanwhile, one woman and three children were killed across the border in firing in Sialkot, Pakistani media reports quoting the army's media wing said. The reports, quoting the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of Pakistan, said at least 10 people were also injured in the firing. As the Pakistani shells started landing in Arnia, RS Pura and adjoining Samba sectors, residents, comprising mostly of elderly, women and children, started escaping in droves. A few male members stayed back in Arnia to watch over the houses and livestock in the village located along the International Border in Jammu, but they said they were under constant threat. Tilak Raj, a resident of Treva area of Arnia village, said over the phone that they were woken by thuds of shells landing in the village at around 4 am in the morning, forcing his family, including three children, to run towards an unfinished cement bunker, 200 meters away from their house. "The firing is still going on," Raj, 37, told Firstpost from his village, where Jammu and Kashmir police has launched an operation to rescue people, moving them to safe locations in bulletproof bunker vehicles. "I am sitting, along with three other neighbours, waiting for the police vehicle to arrive and take us to safety. You can't walk in the open... the firing from Pakistani side continues," Raj added. In total, 10 persons, including a BSF officer, were injured in the firing. The firing, continuing into the third straight day, came ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. Ram Upadhyay, 28, a resident of Paliganj, a BSF Jawan from Jharkhand deployed at a post in Arnia, was injured along with another BSF officer. He succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital. The diplomatic relations between the two nations have worsened in recent years and India and Pakistan troops have often traded fire for months now; each side blames the other of violating a ceasefire which has been in place since 2003. One recent incident in Jora Farm village in January reduced much of the residential houses to ashes. In other border areas, a similar tale of tragedy is being written by roaring machines guns. Hundreds of residents, including new mothers and aged people, have been forced to abandon their homes due to the continuous shelling from across the border. The village is mostly inhabited by the nomads who supply milk to Jammu city. "We thought they had declared a ceasefire inside and the guns will fall silent on the borders too," said Charan Singh, Sarpanch of Chandu Chak, RS Pura sector on phone, where two civilians Tarsem Lal, and his wife Manjeet, were killed on Friday morning. "But there is no end to bloodshed in the courtyard of our house... it is helplessness, we have to live with this for our entire lives," he added. Gun barrels on either side of the Border and Line of Control have been unusually hot for the first four months of this year. In the 740-kilometre long boundary that India and Pakistan share in Jammu and Kashmir, the residents living in the vicinity of this demarcation in the state have been living a life of fear and uncertainty. So far, around 1,200 ceasefire violations have been reported this year, the highest in almost a decade. Farooq Ali, a resident of Jora Farm village in RS Pura, who also sustained injuries in firing and was rushed to the hospital, told reporters in Jammu's Medical College that mortar shells started landing when they were busy preparing Sehri on the second day of Ramzan. He said after their houses were burnt in shelling in January, they were trying to rebuild new ones. "But for what, we will build... they will destroy," Ali, 43, who sells milk in RS Pura, said. Ten civilians injured in cross-border firing were admitted in GMC. Border Security Forces official said more than 15 outposts and an equal number of villages were affected by the shelling and firing. The Jammu and Kashmir government was forced to close more than a dozen schools in the radius of five-kilometre from the border in view of shelling. Many others along the five-kilometre radius from the border are likely to be shut for some days. Recently, in more than a dozen villages in north Kashmir's Uri, which was relatively calm since 2012, Pakistan disturbingly used heavy artillery for the first time to target the civilian population, according to officials. Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, whose tenure has been marked by violence both inside and on borders, expressed her frustration over the violence. "Continued firing on the border in Jammu is a cause of pain and worry. Sad that while our country took the lead in starting peace initiatives with cessation of operations during Ramzan, Pakistan has shown no respect whatsoever for this holy month," Mufti tweeted. "Pakistan will have to reciprocate and contribute to efforts for lasting peace. Everyone must realise that violence is a zero-sum game. My deepest condolences to families of victims," she said. "It is unfortunate that our every effort to bring peace in the region is met with violence by Pakistan," Sat Pal Sharma, a senior BJP leader from the state, told Firstpost on phone from Jammu. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge to the selection of KG Bopaiah as pro tem Speaker to preside over the vote of confidence today The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge to the selection of KG Bopaiah as pro tem Speaker to preside over the vote of confidence today. It is claimed that the governor has breached established convention by inviting Bopaiah as pro tem Speaker as the position is meant to go to the senior-most legislator in the House. It's essential to note that this doesn't mean the oldest legislator but the legislator who has served the longest terms in the House. The Congress says that this person is eight-time MLA RV Deshpande. The issue with this move is that while there is a convention to do so, the convention may not be a hard-and-fast rule. The governor could have picked a BJP legislator as it is the single largest party and may be eligible to determine who the Speaker finally is. But the argument against this is that the senior-most member is the one in whom the House has most confidence for the sake of neutrality. Given that the situation in Karnataka is such that no side's Speaker can look neutral anymore, it's going to be a tough one to decide. One can't guess what the court will do, of course. The court may do as it did on Friday: Pass interim orders and decide that the issue will need a further hearing. Friday was the last working day for the Supreme Court, so the fact that the the same bench that dealt with the petition on Friday is assembling, is something that needs to be noted. The hearing is fixed for 10.30 am and one expects the order to be out well in time for the floor test at 4 pm. The Speaker of a House has significant powers when it comes to procedural rules of the House and ideally, the pro tem Speaker exists to fulfil a procedural void. Unlike Upper Houses that never dissolve and always have a presiding officer, in Lower Houses, the Speaker loses his seat when elections are called and must be elected by the House again. The Speaker is important as she/he manages the debate in the house. If there is a debate in Karnataka, the Speaker will determine which MLA gets to be heard and how long the MLA will be heard. It is unclear as of now if BS Yeddyurappa will address the House prior to the vote or if there will even be a debate. The Supreme Court has ordered a floor test at 4 pm, but it will be an excessive overreach of the court to decide how the House is to conduct its business. Proceedings of the House are ordinarily not subject to judicial review because of the privilege of the House. Follow all the LIVE updates here Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident. 'My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives due to an accident near the Bhavnagar-Ahmedabad Highway in Gujarat. Ahmedabad: Nineteen persons, including 12 women and three children, were killed, and six others injured after their truck overturned near Dholera in Ahmedabad district early on Saturday, police said. The incident took place at Bavaliyari village on the Ahmedabad-Bhavnagar Highway when the driver of the cement-laden truck, which was coming from the Pipavav Port, lost control over the vehicle and it turned turtle. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the kin of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident. "My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives due to an accident near the Bhavnagar-Ahmedabad Highway in Gujarat. I pray that those who have been injured in the accident recover at the earliest: PM," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted. "Saddened by the loss of lives due to a road accident near Bhavnagar-Ahmedabad Highway. May those who have been injured recover at the earliest. I pray for the departed souls. Om Shanti," tweeted Rupani. Ahmedabad Superintendent of Police RV Asari said the victims were labourers. "Twenty-five labourers were travelling in the truck. The vehicle, carrying cement, overturned and 19 of them were crushed to death," he said. The deceased included 12 women and three children, he said, adding that while 18 died on the spot, another died in a hospital. The six injured were admitted to a nearby hospital, the officer said. "The driver apparently lost control over the vehicle. After the mishap, he escaped from the spot. A search has been launched to trace him," Asari said. The MET department warned people that heavy rainfall, thundershowers, gusty winds and hail would be seen over the next five days in several parts of the country, and may not only endanger people but also impact agricultural produce Jammu: The Indian Meteorological (MET) department has sounded another five-day alert, a week after heavy rains and thunderstorms claimed hundreds of lives in many parts of the country. The MET department warned people that heavy rainfall, thundershowers, gusty winds and hail would be seen over the next five days in several parts of the country, and may not only endanger people but also impact agricultural produce. On Thursday, sudden rain accompanied by gales hit the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, uprooting over 70 trees and six electric poles. Two people were killed in Hyderabad, The News Minute reported. A powerful dust-storm along with rain and squall hit Delhi-NCR and Haryana on Wednesday morning. High velocity winds early in the morning uprooted several trees and electricity poles. Media reports said one person died in Gokalpuri area of Delhi when a wall of his house collapsed on him. Nearly 13 people were injured during the storm. On 13 May, more than 80 people died and 136 were left injured when thunderstorms and lightening struck Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi and Uttarakhand. Of the 136 injured, 123 were from Uttar Pradesh, while 11 were from Delhi and two from Uttarakhand. High velocity winds uprooted trees, causing traffic snarls and also damaged electricity wires in these states. In another similar thunderstorm on 2 and 3 May in Uttar Pradesh and other states, more than 130 people died and 400 were injured. As per reports, more than 180 houses were damaged. When the weather department issued an alert for Panchkuka in Haryana on 7 and 8 May, all schools in the district were closed on orders from Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma. Both private and government schools were closed for two days. No preparation by states Weather experts said the alert has been issued owing to fresh western disturbances that may bring dust storms, hail and heavy rain in different parts of the country over the next five days. However, while the MET department has issued the warning, no preparations have been made by the states to tackle the situation. "Thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds, are very likely at isolated places over Uttarakhand, western Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Marathawada, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshadweep," it said. Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi have also been warned. "Gale winds at speeds reaching 65-75 kmph and gusts at 85 kmph, are very likely around the centre of the cyclone, covering the Gulf of Aden and adjoining areas of the South West and west-central Arabian Sea," the warning added. Fishermen have also been warned not to venture to these areas. Rising temperatures causing dust storms JP Gupta, Uttar Pradesh MET director, said the present weather conditions are due to western disturbances. "Western disturbances and a low pressure system bring along moisture into the country that makes conditions extreme at this point of time," he said. Surinder Pal Singh, director of the meteorology department in Chandigarh, said light rain with thunderstorms and gusty winds are likely in Punjab and Haryana in the next 72 hours. "Squall is very likely at isolated places over Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh," said Singh. It has been reported that the dust storm in Rajasthan was caused due to the rising average temperature each year. High temperatures, along with moisture in air, is the perfect recipe for a dust storm. The increase in temperature in other parts of the country has also become a major cause of dust storms. Sandeep Kumar, a meteorologist based out of Bihar, said the weather development which led to widespread thunderstorms and squalls in Bihar had moved away. "However, there is the possibility of thunderstorms, coupled with isolated showers, in the next 24 hours in the state," says Kumar. World renowned Kashmir apples hit On 8 May, Shimla and adjoining areas were hit by a heavy hailstorm that enveloped the historic ridge in a white sheet. The MET department had already sounded an alert regarding the hailstorm. The All India Weather Warning Bulletin, issued by the MET department, also predicts three days of thunderstorms and squall in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, from 17 to 19 May. FA Bhat, a MET department official in the Kashmir division, said the apples in Kashmir are in their growing stage, and could be damaged due to the weather. Mir Mohammad Amin, president of the Fruit Growers' Association in Kashmir, said hail could be disastrous for the renowned Kashmiri apples. "Nearly two weeks ago, hail in some parts of the valley had damaged the fruit," he said. The author is a Ludhiana-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters. The Delhi High Court on Friday asked Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Bing to file a response after the identity of a rape victim New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday asked the parent company of Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Bing to file a response after they disclosed the identity of an eight-year-old girl who was raped and murdered in Jammu and Kashmir. The direction from Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar came after their Indian subsidiary apprised the bench that they were not the concerned entity to respond to the court's query. The court observed that several Internet platforms and social networking sites were extensively displaying the photographs and name of the victim. Google and other social media platforms have done a great disservice to the nation by uploading contents which revealed the identity of the minor victim, the bench said. The bench said that the entities cannot absolve themselves for such activities and maintained that the law was the same for everyone. Meanwhile, the court stayed the proceedings initiated by the Press Council of India (PCI) against some of the media houses for disclosing the identity of the victim. The court last month directed 12 media organisations to pay Rs 10 lakh each as compensation for disclosing the identity of the eight-year-old girl who was killed in Kathua. The court had observed that there were long term repercussion to the victim's family, especially for the women members, due to such reporting. The court said they had violated law and were punishable under Section 228-A of the Indian Penal Code. The minor in Kathua was held captive and sedated before being repeatedly raped and murdered. RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav was on Saturday admitted to a government-run hospital after he complained of breathing problem and chest pain, a party leader said. Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav was on Saturday admitted to a government-run hospital after he complained of breathing problem and chest pain, a party leader said. According to RJD leader Bhola Yadav, Lalu Prasad suddenly complained of breathing problem and pain in his chest after which he was admitted to the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science. "Lalu is under observation..." he said, adding that Lalu Prasad has been suffering from as many as 16 ailments. The convicted RJD chief was granted provisional bail of six weeks earlier this week after nearly five months at the Birsa Munda Central Jail where he is serving a jail term since 23 December, 2017 in connection with the fodder scam. Lalu Prasad was admitted to RIMS in Ranchi on 17 March. He has been convicted in four fodder scam cases since 2013, the latest being the Dumka treasury case in which a special CBI court sentenced him to 14 years in jail. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday appealed to those Kashmiri youth who have joined violence to return to their homes and live a life of dignity. Srinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday appealed to those Kashmiri youth who have joined violence to return to their homes and live a life of dignity and peace. Addressing an official function at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar where he inaugurated the 330mw Kishenganga Hydel Project and also laid foundation of Srinagar Ring Road, Modi said: "The PDP-BJP government is trying its best to bring back the misguided youth who have left their homes and families." "It is time that these youth return to their families. Each stone thrown by a misguided youth hurts the hearts and minds of the people in Jammu and Kashmir. "Those who have been helping violence in the state from across our borders are themselves disintegrating this time," he said. "Atalji (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) always advocated and supported 'Kashmiriyat' and Modi is also the disciple of the same 'Kashmiriyat'," he said. The prime minister said the people of state know how they have been deceived by forces inimical to peace. The Central government has appointed a special representative to speak to all elected people to find a way out of these difficult times, he said. "There is only one solution to all problems and that is development. All those countries in the world who followed violence are finding ways and means to shun it and save their people. "Time will come soon when J&K will re-emerge as the crown and coronet of peace and progress for the entire country." Modi said it is the love and affection of the people that brings him here so often. "The holy month of Ramzan is the time when we re-dedicate ourselves to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad. It's an honour that I am here during the holy month of Ramzan." The prime minister said everybody associated with the Kishenganga project needs to be complimented because it was a difficult task. "The 42 kilometre-long Srinagar Ring Road, whose foundation I have laid, will go a long way in providing connectivity that is vital for progress and development...Jammu Kashmir of the 21th century is going to be a model of progress and prosperity. It was said in the past that waters and vitality of mountains does not help the people living in these mountains. But this saying is being proved wrong here as the waters and vitality of your mountains is now being used for your betterment and progress." Modi said tourism has been a part of J&K's development, but today's tourism has changed fast. "Today's tourist wants a better eco-system and cleanliness, and the more you address these issues, the more number of tourists would be coming here." Pointing out that connectivity is very essential to improve the eco-system, he said: "Before coming here, I started the work on Asia's longest tunnel. Whether it is the Srinagar Ring Road or any other connectivity project, the completion of these road projects will save you time and increase your earnings." "Better roads will definitely add to the beauty of the state. I am happy that the people of state are helping themselves. I recently saw a video in which a five-year-old girl, Jannat, is shown cleaning the Dal Lake." Modi said one lakh local youth are being trained under the "Himayat" programme, adding that around 16,000 youth have been given scholarships to study outside the state. He said the Jammu and Kashmir Police would soon complete the recruitment process of 5,000 youth. "Security forces have lent a helping hand to mitigate the sufferings of the people during floods and natural calamities...Every sacrifice made by our security forces is remembered and respected by every citizen of the country." Modi is now scheduled to address the convocation of Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) in Jammu city. He will also lay the foundation stone for 58.2km-long Jammu Ring Road before flying back to New Delhi. Narendra Modi on Saturday appealed to 'misguided youngsters' to shun the path of violence and join the national mainstream. Srinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday appealed to "misguided youngsters" to shun the path of violence and join the national mainstream, saying every stone or weapon picked by them led Jammu and Kashmir to the path of instability. Speaking for the first time after the government announced a halt to anti-militancy operations in the state during the holy month of Ramzan, the prime minister said there is no alternative to peace and stability. "My appeal to these misguided youths is to return to the national mainstream, which is their own family, and participate in the development of Jammu and Kashmir," he said while dedicating the 330-MW Krishenganga power project to the nation. Its progress was monitored by the Prime Minister's Office. Amid the chanting of "Modi, Modi", the prime minister inaugurated the project and laid the foundation stone for the Srinagar Ring Road at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre. The 42.1-kilometre, four-lane Srinagar Ring Road will link Galandar in west Srinagar to Sumbal in Bandipora district and reduce traffic congestion. Modi is on a one-day visit to the state's three regions Leh, Kashmir and Jammu. In Leh, he launched the construction of Zojila tunnel to provide all-weather connectivity to Ladakh. Beginning his speech in Kashmiri, Modi asked people in Srinagar to accept his "salaam" and wished them health and prosperity. He spoke passionately for about 30 minutes highlighting the importance of 'Kashmiriyat'. He said former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a fan of the concept, "and I am also a follower." Modi said the state government and the Centre have "a policy, determination and strength to take bold decisions". He said the halt to operations during Ramzan will help expose "those who have been spreading terrorism in the name of Islam". He said there were many vested interests who do not want to see a prosperous Jammu and Kashmir. "But friends, we need to reply to these foreign powers by keeping our march to prosperity going," he said. The state government and the Centre are striving hard to bring into the mainstream the misguided youths who are under the influence of false propaganda from a foreign power, he said. "Every stone or weapon picked up by the youth of this state is only meant to destabilise their own state. We have to take the state out of instability for our future generations," he said. "The misguided youths will not only have to join Jammu and Kashmir but also the national mainstream of the country," he added. On the alienation of the youth, the prime minister said, "There is no power which can create a wedge between two brothers... People who have been engaging in creating a wedge between Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the country are now on the verge of extinction." Dwelling upon Kashmiriyat', he said, "Last year, I spent my Diwali with the jawans in Gurez and today I am amidst you during the holy month of Ramzan." He reiterated his Independence Day address from Red Fort last year where he had said, "Na gaali se samasya sulajhne wali hai, na goli se, samasya suljhegi har Kashmiri ko gale lagane se (The Kashmir problem cannot be resolved by either bullets or abuses. It can be resolved by embracing all Kashmiris)." He said for ensuring permanent stability, the Centre has appointed a special representative to whom anyone can go and put forth their viewpoint. "From the side of the government, we are leaving no stone unturned for ending the cycle of violence. But the onus on ensuring an alliance between Kashmiriyat and democracy lies with the people of Jammu and Kashmir," he said. The prime minister concluded his speech in Kashmiri, telling people that may God bless them. Earlier, in her welcome address, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti thanked the prime minister for announcing the halt to anti-militancy operations during Ramzan. "Let me share with you Prime Minister sir, today the mothers of the Kashmir Valley are sleeping peacefully as they know that there won't be any operations," she said she knew that it was a difficult decision. "But such decisions are taken when the Centre has the will and the determination and you showed your magnanimity in announcing such a decision. It definitely needs a lot of courage," she said. "If the Centre has taken one step towards the people of Kashmir, the people will take 10 steps to come close to New Delhi, to come out of the cycle of violence," she said. Mehbooba regretted that despite efforts by Delhi, Pakistan is yet to respond. "We had an unfortunate incident yesterday at the border in Jammu region where civilians and BSF personnel were killed." She thanked the prime minister for agreeing to the consensus at an all-party meeting where it was resolved to have a 'unilateral ceasefire'. Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said on Friday that the government should allow the people to assemble at Lal Chowk tomorrow so that they could convey their 'mann ki baat' to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit. Srinagar: Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said on Friday that the government should allow the people to assemble at Lal Chowk tomorrow so that they could convey their 'mann ki baat' to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit. "Modi all have been listening to your (radio address) 'mann ki baat' for years now. As you come here tomorrow, allow us Kashmiris to peacefully gather at Lal Chowk so that you hear our 'mann ki baat'! It's just three words resolve Kashmir dispute," Mirwaiz said in his address to a Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar. Tight security arrangements have been put in place in Kashmir in view of the prime minister's visit to the state tomorrow. Mirwaiz said that the Kashmir issue was not due to a deficit of good governance or lack of development. "The problem in Kashmir is not administrative in nature related to roads, inaugurating of tunnels, power projects or jobs, that it can be addressed thus nor was it a law and order issue to be handled by repression but it is a dispute directly linked to the political future of tens of millions of citizens of Jammu and Kashmir and it needs to be resolved as per the will and aspirations of these people," he said. "Temporary measures can bear no fruit unless Delhi accepts the ground realities in Kashmir," he said while commenting on a month-long unilateral ceasefire announced by the Centre. Mirwaiz said goodwill gestures cannot be meant for a month alone but have to be long-term and meaningful. "If Government of India really means business it must look at real confidence-building measures like demilitarisation and repealing draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, Public Safety Act. These measures must be followed by the start of a process wherein all the three parties to the dispute India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir come together to hammer out a solution acceptable to all in keeping with the will and aspirations of the key party the people of Jammu and Kashmir," he added. The prime minister will lay the foundation stone of Rs 6,800 crore strategic Zojila tunnel, Asia's longest bi-directional tunnel, in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. Narendra Modi on Saturday kickstarted work for Zojila tunnel, Asia'a longest and strategic bi-directional tunnel, to provide all-weather connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar, Kargil and Leh. Leh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday kickstarted work for Zojila tunnel, Asia'a longest and strategic bi-directional tunnel, to provide all-weather connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar, Kargil and Leh. The prime minister who is on a one-day visit to all the three regions Leh, Kashmir and Jammu also attended the closing ceremony for the birth centenary celebrations of the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche (Buddhist spiritual guru). The tunnel will cut down the time taken to cross Zojila pass from the present three and a half hours to just fifteen minutes. The pass is situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway and remains closed during winters due to heavy snowfall which cuts off Ladakh region from Kashmir. As part of the project, 14.15 kilometre-long two lane bi-directional single tube tunnel would be constructed. At the ceremony, Modi said projects worth Rs 25,000 crore, which would either be initiated or inaugurated on Saturday in all three regions, shows the commitment of the central and the state governments towards the speedy development of the state. The prime minister unveiled a plaque to mark the commencement of work on the Rs 6,809 crore Zojila tunnel to be completed in five years. "I have asked the ministry concerned to look into ways to reduce the time for completion of this project," he said. "It (tunnel) will lead to all-round economic and socio-cultural integration of these regions. It also has immense strategic importance," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. Modi said when he visited Mongolia, the first Indian prime minister to do so, he realised that the people there did not know what a prime minister or president was but they remembered Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, who was the Indian envoy there. "We remember the rich contribution of the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche. His led a life dedicated to serving others," he said. He said he was getting a chance to visit all three regions of Jammu and Kashmir in a single day to further development work. "Every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir will be proud that the Centre and the state government are taking the development forward at such fast pace," he said. He said the money invested would go to local families because of the employment generated through these projects. About the developmental work being carried out in the country, he said 18,000 villages which had not seen power since Independence were given electrical connectivity within 1,000 days. There were four crore households in country, which had not received electricity even after 70 years of Independence, would be given power connections within a year and a half, he said. He is scheduled to dedicate 330 MW Kishanganga Hydropower Station to the nation at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. The prime minister would lay the foundation stone of the Pakul Dul power project and ring roads for Jammu and Srinagar, it said. The ring roads in Srinagar and Jammu aim to reduce traffic congestion and make road travel safer, faster, more convenient and environment friendly, it said. He would also inaugurate the Tarakote Marg and material ropeway of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The Tarakote Marg will facilitate pilgrims visiting the shrine. Modi will also attend the Convocation of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu. US defence attache Brigadier General David E Brigham told reporters in Guwahati that differences between the India and China must be resolved amicably The US does not want a recurrence of Doka La between India and China that saw an escalation of tension last year for over two months triggering fears of a border clash. Raising concerns over the fallout of such border disputes, US defence attache Brigadier-General David E Brigham told reporters in Guwahati that all differences between the two countries must be resolved amicably. "But what is worrying about Chinese behaviour is its use of coercion. The US policy has been to recognise the McMahon Line as the border between the two countries," Brigham said. He was accompanied by Consul-General Craig Hall and other officials on a tour to Assam and Meghalaya in order to explore areas of engagement and cooperation in the North East. The US reaction to the Doka La crisis last year that dragged on for as many as 72 days was reserved and calculated. This was interpreted by some observers as a middle-path since both India and China have pivotal roles for the US on issues ranging from trade and military to the strategic. India adopted a rigid stance on Doka La since a greater Chinese presence in the region could be hazardous for the sensitive and narrow Siliguri corridor that connects the North East to the mainland. Besides, a conciliatory gesture by New Delhi on the issue could have sent wrong messages since India is a virtual security guarantor of Bhutan. At the same time, India and the US share concerns about the increasing spread of Chinas influence in Asia which could pose a threat to regional security. Ties between the two countries have also been moving on an upward trajectory for the past few years and especially after then US secretary of state Leon Panettas visit to New Delhi in 2012, which was followed by the arrival of former president Barack Obama as the chief guest for Republic Day in 2016. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US last year resulted in the signing of many agreements including a joint-statement that pulled up Pakistan for allowing its territory to be used as a safe haven by terrorist outfits. The two countries also resolved to strengthen their partnership in the Indo-Pacific region. The US delegation also welcomed the outcome of the two-day summit between Modi and President Xi Jinping at Wuhan where India and China seem to have arrived at a broad understanding on how to improve ties. Both the leaders had stressed upon the need to maintain peace and tranquility along the border region and the militaries were asked to strengthen communication and implement confidence-building measures. Hall explained that besides India, Japan and Australia were the other partners of a "shared vision" in the Indo-Pacific region which means supporting "good governance and liberty, promote market-based economics, ensure the freedom of the seas and sky and insulate sovereign nations from external coercion". Efforts are also on to clinch more important agreements between the two countries, the delegates revealed, with the goal to develop a "defence ecosystem in India" that will entail the transfer of technology. They said the US wanted India to be an "exporter of defence and regional security. "But all these changes will take time since around 70 percent of India's military infrastructure is of Russian origin," Brigham explained. The delegates' visit to the region is continuation of the US government's efforts to build a sustained engagement in north Bengal and the North East. They held wide-ranging discussions on disaster management with Assam chief secretary TY Das after a meeting with the state police chief Kuladhar Saikia. In Meghalaya, they visited the North East Police Academy (NEPA) after interacting with top government officials in Shillong. Sirisena came to power in January 2015 on the back of strong support from the minority Tamil community after pledging reparations for war victims and accountability for rights abuses. Colombo: Sri Lanka's president warned that Tamil extremists were regrouping abroad to revive their demand to divide the island nation nine years after the end of its decades-long ethnic war. Maithripala Sirisena said government forces had failed to quash the Tamil rebels' separatism, although they were militarily conquered by May 2009 following a no-holds-barred offensive. "We have defeated terrorism of the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam), but we have not been able to defeat their ideology," Sirisena said. At a ceremony to mark the ninth anniversary of the end of the war, Sirisena said Tamil extremists abroad were still hoping to establish an independent homeland in Sri Lanka. "They are very active abroad. They protested when I visited London last month," Sirisena said, referring to his participation at the Commonwealth summit. There has been no violence blamed on Tamil rebels since their top leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was shot dead on 18 May, 2009, but pro-rebel activists abroad are known to have staged frequent anti-Sri Lankan protests. Sirisena came to power in January 2015 on the back of strong support from the minority Tamil community after pledging reparations for war victims and accountability for rights abuses. International rights groups have said that at least 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed by government forces under the command of former president Mahinda Rajapakse in the final months of the war. Sirisena said there were no reliable figures for civilian casualties, but said the total number of Sri Lankans killed could be about 100,000. Official records showed that 28,708 security personnel were killed while another 40,107 were wounded, he said. Sirisena has relaxed restrictions on the former war zones in the island's north and east, and released much of the military-occupied land back to Tamil owners. However, he is yet to deliver on a promise to grant greater political autonomy to Tamils and set up a mechanism to probe what the UN has said were credible allegations of war crimes. His latest remarks came a week after Sri Lanka's army chief announced forming a special unit to defend itself against allegations of grave rights abuses during the final stages of the ethnic war. Army chief Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake has distanced the military from the previous government's claim that no civilians died, and acknowledged there may have been individual excesses, but there have been no prosecutions. Three infiltrating militants have been killed on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, defence ministry spokesman said. Srinagar: Three infiltrating militants have been killed on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, defence ministry spokesman said. Alert troops of the army noticed suspicious movements on the LoC. A group of terrorists was found trying to infiltrate into the Indian side in Kawnar area, the spokesman said. "They were challenged after which they fired at the troops. Three terrorists were killed while searches are still going on as two others are believed to have escaped and are in hiding," he added. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar on Saturday said the coalition government of Congress and the JD(S) would not last long as it was an 'unholy nexus.' Bengaluru: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar on Saturday said the coalition government of Congress and the JD(S) would not last long as it was an "unholy nexus." "BJP alone can give a stable government," Kumar told reporters in Bengaluru soon after BS Yeddyurappa announced his decision to quit as Karnataka chief minister without facing the vote of confidence in the Assembly. The party cadres would not sit idle even for a minute and would take the "Congress' story of betrayal" to every village of Karnataka, he said. "The new government born out of unholy nexus of Congress and JD(S) won't stay for long. Only BJP can give the stable government. The mandate was given to BJP as the people of the state had rejected Congress," he said. Ananth Kumar said people of Karnataka rejected Congress and people of Chamundeshwari constituency rejected Siddaramaiah whereas JDS became a "marginal" party. "It is a shame for the Congress party that despite having 78 seats, they have fallen at the feet of JD(S) just to stop BJP," he said. Ripples from Karnataka governor Vajubhai Valas decision to swear in BS Yeddyurappa as chief minister have reached Manipur, Bihar, Meghalaya and Goa. Imphal/Shillong/Patna: Ripples from Karnataka governor Vajubhai Valas decision to swear in BS Yeddyurappa as chief minister have reached the political shores of Manipur, Bihar, Meghalaya and Goa. The septuagenarian was invited to form the government solely because his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had bagged the largest number of seats. Not only was it a minority in the assembly, but the rival coalition could prove they had a comfortable majority. Local Congress units and their allies in these four states want to know why their respective governors didnt extend them the same courtesy. Whether as a political gesture or genuinely staking a claim to form the government, state Congress units in these four BJP/NDA-ruled states have requested governors to consider the anomaly. Despite winning the largest number of seats in each of these states, they were denied a chance to form the government and the BJP was allowed to cobble together a post-poll coalition and win a majority. Agitation in Manipur if BJP govt not dissolved Following the Supreme Courts decision to allow Yeddyurappa to be sworn in, eight Congress MLAs in Manipur led by former chief minister and Congress legislative party leader Okram Ibobi Singh called upon the states acting Governor Jagdish Mukhi at 12 noon on 18 May staking a claim to form the government. Mukhi assumed charge as the acting governor of Manipur on 3 May and is currently the governor of Assam and Meghalaya as well. Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Meghachandra Keisham, who was one among the eight MLAs, said that the country cannot have separate rules for different states. He said despite emerging as the single largest party in Manipur after the last assembly polls, Governor Najma Heptulla, in disregard of all constitutional norms, invited the BJP to form the government without giving the Congress an opportunity to prove its majority on the floor of the house. There is a political crisis in the country as the BJP violated all due constitutional norms while forming governments in Goa, Meghalaya and Manipur, he said. Claiming that the ruling of the apex court in the Karnataka election is a moral victory for the Congress, the Congress legislator from Wangkhem assembly constituency said his party is waiting till 4 pm on Saturday when the BJP faces a floor test in the Karnataka assembly. He warned that the Congress would launch an agitation if the BJP-led government in Manipur was not dissolved and his party given an opportunity to form the government. Governor Najma Heptulla had invited the BJP, the second largest party in the Manipur Assembly with 21 seats, to form the government on 15 March last year. Despite Congress emerging as the single largest party with 28 out of the total 60 seats, the BJP is currently heading the government with the support of the National People's Party, Naga People's Front and the Lok Janshakti Party. The Raj Bhavan says it is looking into the claim. Meghalaya Congress awaits bypoll result In the 27 February polls in Meghalaya, the Congress had emerged as the single largest party with 21 seats while the National Peoples Party (NPP) came second with 19 seats. But the NPP managed to cobble together a post-poll alliance, as the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) did immediately after the Karnataka results. The NPP partnered with the United Democratic Party (6), Peoples Democratic Front (4), Hill State Peoples Democratic Party (2) and the lone NCP legislator to stake a claim to form the government. Former Congress chief minister Dr Mukul Sangma won from two seats Ampati and Songsak and as he surrendered the Ampati seat, a bypoll will take place there on 28 May. With the adjourned poll to the Williamnagar seat won by NPP, the two parties are now tied at 20 seats apiece. Congress legislator, Ampareen Lyngdoh, said that the party in Meghalaya will take a step forward once it becomes the single largest party after the counting in Ampati on 1 June. India is not only what the BJP decides, India is about the true spirit of democracy as laid down in the Constitution of India, says Lyngdoh. RJD follows gesture, stakes claim with 80 MLAs Upping the ante further, a delegation from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress and Hindustani Awam Morcha on 18 May met Bihar governor Satya Pal Malik to demand the dismissal of the states NDA government and give the RJD an opportunity to form the government. Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, handed over a letter staking his claim to form government as the RJD with 80 MLAs was the single-largest party in the 243-member state legislature. Emerging from a half-an-hour long meeting with the governor, Yadav told reporters that the governor gave them a patient hearing and promised to consider their demand. "We requested the Bihar governor to dismiss the state government and, like in Karnataka, invite RJD, the single largest party in Bihar to form government, said Yadav, the youngest son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad. Bihar Congress acting president Kaukab Quadri, who accompanied Yadav to Raj Bhavan said the RJD, which Congress is allied with, is the largest party in the Assembly and must be given the opportunity to form the government and 15 days time to prove its majority. Recalling their parting of ways with chief minister Nitish Kumar and his Janata Dal-United last July, Yadav said the RJD had also staked a claim to form government then but Governor Kashi Nath Tripathi, had rubbished our claim and allowed the unholy alliance of JD(U) and BJP to form government. JD(U), RJD and the Congress had formed an alliance and routed the BJP in 2015 assembly polls. But after 20 months, Nitish Kumar walked out of the alliance on 26 July 2017 and returned to the BJP-led NDA to form government. The JD(U) and BJP leaders dismissed the RJDs demands. The Governor takes decisions based on the situation at the time and by using his discretionary powers and conscience, said JD(U) MLC and spokesperson Neeraj Kumar. Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi added that precedent cannot be used for all fresh situations and the situation of one state cannot compared to that of another. (Authors are freelance writers and members of 101reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters) Follow live updates on the Karnataka Assembly Election here Political situation in Karnataka took a dramatic turn, when Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa quit from the post during his address to the Assembly on Saturday. The Bharatiya Janata Party failed to get requisite numbers to show majority ahead of the floor test in Karnataka assembly. The political situation in Karnataka took a dramatic turn, when Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa quit from his post during his address to the Assembly on Saturday. The Bharatiya Janata Party failed to get requisite numbers to show majority ahead of the floor test in Karnataka assembly. Yeddyurappa was sworn in as the chief minister on 17 May. After delivering his speech in Vidhan Soudha, Yeddyurappa left to meet Governor Vajubhai Vala to submit his resignation. In a speech, which is being dubbed as emotional, the 75-year-old said, "People of Karnataka blessed us with 104 seats. The mandate wasn't for Congress or Janata Dal Secular (JDS). Since I was announced as the chief minister candidate, I travelled to understand the needs of the state and the support I received during the tour is something that will remain with me for the rest of my life. I can't forget the love and affection I received from people." Focussing on the issue of the farmers in Karnataka, Yeddyurappa said, "There are other larger issues that we must mull over, especially the plight of farmers of #Karnataka who have been driven to the brink of suicide by various factors. Farmers in my state have undergone great agony over last five years. The welfare of farmers has always been my top priority. I have pledged to work for the welfare of farmers till my last breath. I promise that I will fight for the rights and welfare of my farmers and the weak till my last breath. My whole life has been a constant fight. I will continue to fight for what is right." Slamming the Congress-JDS combine, the former Karnataka chief minister said that the alliance is "unholy". "Those who were swearing on the names of each others fathers and calling each other names before polls, have now come together to form this unholy alliance," he said. He added that the government must honour the dignity of farmers. "After so many years of Independence, we are not able to solve problems of farmers. Who won how many seats is not important. In the last five years, a lot has happened. I don't do party politics, I do people's politics. I have been humiliated. I will continue to fight for the farmers. All my life I fought for them, I want to save the state. I dedicate my life to farmers. Till my last breath I will work for them." "The Congress government did nothing for the farmers or for the people of Karnataka. It is the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to uplift the lives of the people of Karnataka. I want to fulfil the prime minister's dream of joining the rivers in Karnataka to solve the farmer problems. Congress has divided the society on basis of caste and religion. Modi showed no partiality despite the state being ruled by the Congress. My entire life has been a test, today is one more. Today is agnipariksha day." "If we had 113 seats, we would have changed the fate of this state. That did not happen. I expected the MLAs to come to my side. We will win all 28 Lok Sabha seats, that I assure the people. In the next assembly elections, we will win 150 seats. I will tour the state after this session. I will bring the party to power on my own. MLAs are fearful and scared. The JD(S) and Congress are harassing them. Even without power, I fight and live for the people. The Congress has subverted democracy. I am off to the Governor's house. I now give my resignation to the people of Karnataka," Yeddyurappa said. BS Yeddyurappa quits as Karnataka CM: Rahul trains guns on Narendra Modi, says PM is doing everything to subvert nation Yeddyurappa's resignation will pave the way for the formation of a government led by JDS state chief H D Kumaraswamy, who has the 'unconditional backing' of the Congress. The 12 May election across the state in 222 constituencies of the 225-member assembly, including one nominated, threw up a hung House, with no party securing majority. Polls in two constituencies were deferred. Of the 222 seats, the BJP won 104, the Congress 78, the Janata Dal-Secular, 37 and one each was bagged by the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party and an Independent. As JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy won from both Channapatna and Ramanagaram segments, the party's effective strength in the House was 36. As the single largest party, the BJP was short of crossing the halfway mark. Yeddyurappa required the 111 halfway mark to win the motion or one more than the half of the members present at the time of the floor test was conducted in the House with an effective strength of 221. BS Yeddyurappa resigns as Karnataka CM: From Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah, Chidambaram to Mamata react, say 'democracy wins' Though the Governor had directed Yeddyurappa to seek a vote of confidence on the floor of the House within 15 days from the date of assumption of office as the Chief Minister (May 17), a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court ordered the floor test on Saturday, rejecting his plea for a week's time to prove his majority. Click here to follow LIVE updates on Karnataka here Politics over control of Karnataka got murkier, with the Congress releasing an audio tape where BS Yeddyurappa is purportedly heard trying to lure an MLA. Bengaluru: Politics over control of Karnataka got murkier on Saturday, with the Congress releasing an audio tape where Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa is purportedly heard trying to lure an MLA with the promise of a ministerial berth if he backed the BJP government during the trust vote. The BJP, however, rejected the charge, calling the tape the job of "mimicry artistes" and the "dirty tricks department" of the Congress. In the tape, released hours ahead of the crucial floor test, Yeddyurappa is allegedly heard speaking to Congress MLA from Hirekerur BC Patil over phone. The man Congress claimed was Patil is heard congratulating Yeddyurappa on becoming the chief minister, and informing him that he is travelling on a bus to Kochi. Yeddyurappa pleads with the man, saying "Come back, you will become minister....I will help you in whichever way you want." When Patil says he is on a bus with others, Yeddyurappa purportedly tells him to give some excuse like "family reasons" to get down and return. As Patil insists on clarity about his future if he switches sides, the man claimed to be Yeddyurappa says, "You will become minister, that's all." The voice on the other end then says he has three more people with him. Yeddyurappa tells Patil to bring them too and trust him. "Come back, you should not go in a bus....If you go to Kochi, you won't be available and things won't happen," the man who Congress claimed is Yeddyurappa, says. As Patil says he will get back to him in five minutes, the chief minister tells him to get in touch with the resourceful BJP MP and a close aide of the controversial Reddy brothers Sreeramulu, and inform him about his decision. Union minister Sadananda Gowda said in a tweet: Mimicry artists in demand at @INCKarnataka office #Bengaluru Sadananda Gowda (@DVSBJP) May 19, 2018 "Mimicry audio's prepared just to build fake records."Terror" comedian at the helm of affairs, all anticipating defeat on floor. Dirty tricks department has new boss," he said in another tweet. Follow LIVE updates on Karnataka floor test Is playing second fiddle to regional parties in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and now Karnataka going to be the new template for the Congress for 2019? Minutes after BS Yeddyurappa announced his resignation on the floor of Karnataka Assembly, pulling the curtains on his two-day tenure as chief minister, Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee took to Twitter to convey her sentiments on the issue. What she said in her tweet was very revealing, an indicator as to how the alignment of Opposition forces could possibly look like in the run-up to the 2019 General elections: Democracy wins. Congratulations Karnataka. Congratulations DeveGowda Ji, Kumaraswamy Ji, Congress and others. Victory of the 'regional' front Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 19, 2018 It is poignant to note here that she didn't name Rahul Gandhi. She did name Congress in the credit list at number four, after the people of Karnataka, HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy, but not the Congress president. Her message was loud and clear, it was a moment of victory for the "regional front", not the Congress-led erstwhile UPA. By saying so, she took the sheen away from Rahul's press conference at Congress' 24 Akbar Road headquarters in New Delhi on Saturday evening. In the conference, Rahul claimed the victory and announced that his party was willing to work with regional parties in states of their dominance. "No one is untouchable" for the Congress, he said. Tweets by other regional leaders like Akhilesh Yadav and Chandrababu Naidu too didn't credit Rahul. They did, however, hail democracy but stayed away from giving credit either to the Congress or to its president. In other words, they are denying Rahul of his self-proclaimed right as the frontrunner to become "prime minister in 2019", provided the Opposition can muster up the numbers. More so, in his press conference, Rahul interpreted Yeddyurappa and BJP's inability to muster the required number (falling short of a majority by eight in a house of 224) as a vote against BJP and a mandate for Congress, but none of his present or potential allies in the future saw it like that. They see it as a victory of the "regional front". Mamata had earlier made her thoughts public when the Congress was pushing for the impeachment of Chief Justice of India Deepak Misra. She had also indicated that Rahul didn't have the capacity to be the leader of an 'alternate front'. In her tweet on Saturday, she has in a way reiterated the same position. Rahul's claim that the outcome was a victory for Congress and JD(S) in Karnataka is also flawed. People had voted to throw the Congress out of power in the state. Congress, which ruled the state for last five years, was reduced from 122 to 78 in the state Assembly, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah losing one of two seats he contested, winning the other by a slender margin. Half of the party's previous cabinet ministers also lost their respective elections and it counted losses all across the state. But then a parliamentary democracy is about numbers in the Assembly or in Parliament. The Congress will now have the pleasure of forming a government led by its newly minted post-poll ally Kumaraswamy. In that sense, the Congress leadership, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul in-particular, can have the satisfaction of succeeding in keeping the BJP away from power by announcing "unconditional support" to Deve Gowda's JD (S) and doing everything in their might to make Kumaraswamy the chief minister. But, the fact remains that Congress, despite having 78 MLAs, has decided to play second fiddle to a party which has only 37 MLAs; a party whose influence is limited only to one particular part of the state. Is playing second fiddle to regional parties in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and now Karnataka (which it ruled till a week back) going to be the new template for the Congress? In some sense, it could serve Congress' avowed purpose of keeping the BJP away from power wherever and howsoever it can. But, will that be of value to the party in the longer run, in terms of their organisational structure, workers' morale and Rahul's leadership? Mamata has taken the initiative of becoming the spokesperson for the Opposition parties or anti-Modi political formations. She is clear that the Congress is not going to be in the pole position vis-a-vis, Rahul. The Congress, by virtue of being a 'Grand Old Party' with footprints all across the nation, had been the biggest party after BJP in Parliament in 2014. But crucially, the difference between Congress and Trinamool Congress was only 10 seats. The other important point to note from Rahul's press conference after Yeddyurappa's resignation was repeated use of the word "secular" and the need for "secular parties" to come together. It should be recalled that since the Bihar Assembly elections took place in early 2015, Congress and its allied parties, along with all their supporters and sympathisers, had stopped using the word "secular" and refrained from any "secular (Congress and its allies) versus communal (BJP)" debates up until the results of the Karnataka elections recently. The Congress and its strategists had devised that the "secular-communal" debate ultimately ends up helping the BJP, but Rahul seems to have other ideas. One can't predict as to how the return of the "secular-communal" debate is going to shape in the run-up to the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhatisgarh, and then in the 2019 General elections. But what is clear is that Rahul would need to work really hard to convince his present and future allies in different parts of the country that he has leadership potential. Congress wouldn't be very happy with Mamata 'red flagging' on a day when Rahul was attempting to claim a "victory in defeat" for himself and his party. BS Yeddyurappa along with B Sreeramulu resigned as Lok Sabha members on Saturday after taking oath as the MLAs in the Karnataka Assembly election. Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister and BJP legislature party leader BS Yeddyurappa along with co-legislator B Sreeramulu resigned as Lok Sabha members on Saturday after taking oath as the MLAs of the newly-constituted state Legislative Assembly, a party official said. "Yeddyurappa and Sreeramulu have submitted their resignations as Lok Sabha members to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit spokesman S. Shantharam said. Yeddyurappa represented Shivamogga parliamentary segment in the state's northwest Malnad region, about 300 kilometres from Bengaluru and Sreeramulu was from Ballari (reserved) segment from the state's northern region. Yeddyurappa was elected for the eighth time from the Shikaripura assembly segment in Shivamogga district on 12 May when polling was held in 222 constituencies across the state and results were declared on 15 May. The 15th state Legislative Assembly session has been underway since 11 am with the newly-elected legislators taking oath. The oath-taking of all the legislators will be completed before 4 pm. At 4 pm, pro tem Speaker KG Bopaiah will conduct a floor test in the House to ascertain if Chief Minister Yeddyurappa enjoys majority in the hung House, as directed by the Supreme Court on Friday. Newly-appointed Chief Minister of Karnataka BS Yeddyurappa has resigned from the post which was given to him just two days ago. BS Yeddyurappa attacked the Congress-JDS alliance in his speech ahead of the crucial floor test and ended it by resigning at the Karnataka chief minister. Auto refresh feeds Bidar constituency's Congress MLA Raheem Khan said that the BJP does not have majority, and that the party has approached everyone excluding him. On being asked if any offer has been made to him by the BJP, the MLA refused to comment by saying that he will comment on this later. The Congress and JD(S) have listed seven main points in their petition on Friday night. Primary among them: Setting aside the appointment of the current pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah and replacing him with the "senior most" MLA in the Assembly, as is the tradidtion. Dividing up the MLAs on the basis of their alignment to the triage of parties involved and video recording of the floor test are other requests that detail the Congress JD(S) petition. The newly-elected MLAs will be sworn-in on Saturday before the floor test, which will be held at 4 pm. The legislators from Congress and JD(S) were earlier moved to places outside of Bengaluru in a bid to avoid "poaching". "The BJP has no strength to form the government. The confidence vote to be held on Saturday will be defeated by the Congress and the JD(S) combine... We know that two MLAs were hijacked from Bengaluru. One MLA is in touch with us. Saturday morning, they are going to join our camp," he said. JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy alleged that two of his MLAs were "hijacked" by the BJP from Bengaluru, but expressed hope that they would join his camp Saturday morning. Speaking to reporters, he claimed that the BJP has been trying to "purchase" his MLAs by offering several incentives. BS Yeddyurappa to leave for Shangri-La hotel at 9 am for the party legislature meeting, will then head to Assembly for trust vote - ANI The least the Gandhi scion should do is issue an unqualified public apology for attempting to bring the Indian judiciary into disrepute. It isn't just the petty attempt to impeach the Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, in his effort to "get even" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi whom he is unable to defeat politically, the Congress president has made subversion of judiciary a cornerstone of his irresponsible, infantile and vituperative campaign. Now that the Supreme Court has effectively quashed the Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala's decision and slashed BJP chief minister BS Yeddyurappa's window to prove majority from 15 days to 24 hours (a key Congress demand), will Congress president Rahul Gandhi now admit he was wrong to cast aspersions on the judiciary? Will he apologise for his conduct? Some of Congress and JD(S) MLAs were shifted to Hyderabad on Friday. In Banjara Hills, where the Congress MLAs were holed up, the party workers launched a search for a missing MLAs. According to NDTV , after they searched "everywhere for him" from the bar and restaurants to the washrooms he was found "chilling" at the swimming pool. "Poaching" and "horse-trading" are two terms that have haunted Congress ever since the results came out for the Karnataka Assembly election. The party, along with it's ally JD(S), has been busy in the past couple of days, moving its legislators from resort to resort in order to keep them out of BJP's reach. But on Friday, Congress almost thought it had lost one to the saffron party. When one Congress MLA's time at the pool made party leaders think he was lost to BJP Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa said that all the pollcy decision, including those on farmers' welfare, will be held on Sunday. He also said that the Cabinet meeting will be held on Sunday, appearing confident on winning the floor test. Chief Minister BS Yeddyrappa, who will be facing the floor test on Saturday, has reached Shangri-La Hotel for the BJP legislature meeting. Meanwhile, JD(S) MLAs, who had been earlier moved to different places to avoid "poaching", have reached Le Meridien Hotel in Bengaluru. "Both Congress and JD(S) have an unholy alliance. They are going to be rejected," ANI quoted Union Minister Ananth Kumar as saying. Over the decades, more than 100 MLAs and two dozen MPs have been disqualified under the anti-defection law across India. Other democracies also have the problem of legislators defying their whip, but their solution or punishment is not as drastic as ours. In the United Kingdom, an MP who defies a three-line whip (meaning a written notice which has been underlined three times to mark its urgency) could be expelled from the party but retains their seat, unlike in India where they lose both. In Australia, the punishment for defying the whip include things like being denied some party resources. Over the years, because of the anti-defection law, the judiciary has been able to impose itself on what is essentially the prerogative of the legislature. This may be seen by some as being necessary but it is not healthy in a parliamentary democracy. Ahead of the floor test, pro tem Speaker KG Bopaiah has reached the Karnataka Assembly in Bengaluru. The BJP is currently holding a legislature meeting. BS Yeddyrappa and the party MLAs will leave for the Assembly after wrapping up the meeting. BS Yeddyurappa will face the 6th floor test on Saturday. His first floor test was in November 2007 when his eight-day-old government collapsed when its alliance partner JD(S) refused support. In June 2008, he faced another floor test which he won. His third floor test was in 2010. which Yeddyurappa won by a voice vote, which the then governor rejected and recommended Presidents rule. Yeddyurappa was given another chance to prove his floor strength in October, 2010. BJP leader Ramalinga Reddy claimed that Congress MLA Anand Singh would defy party whip during the trust vote. "Physically he is not with us, but he is in contact with our leaders. He has to come to Vidhana Soudha today. He will definitely vote for us," ANI quoted Reddy as saying. Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa has already reached Shangri-La Hotel for the BJP parliamentary meeting. Yeddyurappa and the MLAs will leave for the Vidhana Soudha after the meeting for the floor test. Ahead of the trust vote, JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy said that it wasn't an important day for him. "The important days will come in future. Up to 4 pm, BJP will try to poach our MLAs. All the MLAs are together; no one is going to go to the other side. None of our MLAs are trapped," he was quoted as saying by ANI . Congress' decision to move the Supreme Court at the eleventh hour to stall the appointment of BJP MLA KG Bopaiah is significant. It indicates that the party is aware of the important role played by the pro tem Speaker in management of the floor test, and often the Speaker's decision could well be the difference between victory or defeat. But more importantly, the move signifies a new combative spirit in Congress which seems to have become more aggressive under Rahul Gandhi's leadership. The Congress appears ready to shake off its ennui and take the fight to the enemy camp. From knocking the doors of the Supreme Court at midnight, to belatedly challenging governors' decisions in several states and staking claims to form governments in Goa, Manipur, Meghalaya it is clear that Rahul won't give up an inch. It remains to be seen if this combative spirit results in electoral gains. Congress is trying to play an aggressive game but it should be careful "It is global practice and established convention that senior most member is to be appointed as pro tem speaker," Sibal was quoted as telling Supreme Court by Live Law . He also said Bopaiah conducting the floor test is a problem. The hearing on Congress-JD(S) plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah is underway in the Supreme Court. Appearing for Congress, Kapil Sibal said in the top court, "The individual appointed must be the senior most member of the House which is a convention in the Parliament also," according to ANI . Appearing for the Congress, Kapil Sibal cited pro tem Speaker KG Bopaiah's conduct in the past. Sibal gave example of 2010, when Bopaiah disqualified certain members which the court found as illegal and unconstitutional. He also reads our the Supreme Court judgement against Bopaiah in 2011. Upon hearing Kapil Sibal's arguments, Justice Bobde said, " If you want us to review the order, we should postpone the floor test. We declined to pass an order in that midnight hearing because we want to hear." However, Sibal appealed that the trust vote be not delayed. The swearing-in has begun in the Vidhana Soudha. Siddaramaiah and BS Yeddyurappa have taken the oath of office. Speaking to reporters, Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, "It's for the first time I'm thankful that the court has taken decision during the time of holiday. The Supreme Court allowed live videography of the floor test. This will solve our concerns." "Most important objective was to establish transparency. Since the statement has come from ASG that live feed of proceedings would be given, we hope and trust there would be fairness. I have no doubt that the victory would be of Congress and JD(S)," Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters after the Supreme Court allowed the live broadcast of the floor test. Congress seems have to set a trap for itself by going to court over the appointment of Bopaiah. Fresh from the victory earlier yesterday in forcing the trust vote for 4 pm today, its strategists obviously overplayed their hand by questioning the appointment. As the Supreme Court pointed out, this was in total contrast of their stand yesterday that the vote of confidence be conducted at the earliest. They did not anticipate that the court would refuse to pass any order against the appointment without hearing the person concerned, Bopaiah. That would have given what the BJP wants most: more time to win over MLAs. Thats why Kapil Sibal and company had to make a hasty retreat and accept the government counsel offer of live telecast of the proceedings. The Congress aggressive manner of taking everything to court also suggests that it wants things done only in a manner that it dictates. Yesterday in court it wanted the appointment of a pro tem speaker and a quick vote of confidence. It pushed the name of Congress MLA RV Deshpande for the post (the senior most legislator) and somehow seemed to imagine that the governor would oblige it. When that did not happen and the governor appointed Bopaiah, a BJP MLA as pro tem Speaker to conduct the confidence vote, it panicked and rushed to court again to stall it. "We already have the majority, but we will still wait until evening to see what happens. You can wait till evening, we will prove our majority," says BJP MLA from Aurad, Bidar, Prabhu Chavan. The Supreme Court has been equanimous and, given the current circumstances, the only sane voice in dealing with the impasse in Karnataka. All three of its decisions to advance the floor test, reject the motion to dismiss KG Bopaiah as the pro tem Speaker, and order all channels to broadcast the floor test live have served to bring equilibrium to the mess that the southern state is in. Congress' petition against the appointment of BJP MLA Bopaiah as pro tem Speaker raises disturbing questions. The fact that it wants a Congressman to conduct the vote of confidence leaves nobody in doubt about the why of it. Obviously, all parties expect a pro tem speaker to be partial to the party of their origin, whereas the post is supposed to be apolitical. Its a shame that all parties demand a speaker of their choice in the name of the constitution. Two Congress MLAs Anand Singh andPratap Gowda Patil have not yet come to the Assembly for oath-taking, according to reports. The Supreme Court has specified that the only agenda before the pro tem Speaker is to conduct the vote of confidence. This will restrict the pro tem Speaker from taking up any other business that could alter the voting strength of parties on either side of the divide. Another feather in the Supreme Court's cap. Congressman lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi has claimed victory saying the objective of his party was to ensure a transparent and fair conduct of the confidence vote. They are clearly underplaying the rejection of their demand for a direction to the pro tem Speaker for conducting a division. Mukul Rohatgi, representing Yedyurappa, also claimed victory for his client, again a convenient interpretation of the Supreme Court order, considering they lost the bigger battle on Friday of buying more time to shore up their numbers. CNNNews18 is reporting that the two Congress MLAs who have been untraceable for the last few days have not turned up in the Assembly. If they stay out for the entire day, it means the strength of the House will come down to 220. So, Yeddyurappa will need 110 votes to win the day. He will have to engineer the absence/abstention of at least six MLAs. Is that going to happen? If two Congress MLAs remain 'absconding', strength of the House with come down to 220 By ordering the live telecast of floor test at Vidhana Soudha and at the same time refusing to interfere in the governor's decision to appoint KG Bopaiah as pro tem Speaker, the Supreme Court has made a balanced and nuanced observation. By turning down Congress's appeal to block Bopaiah from conducting House proceedings, the court pointed out that it is not permissible in law to direct the governor to appoint a particular person as pro tem Speaker. While Bopaiah retains power to conduct floor test, the decision to share House feed with all channels, including local and private, will ensure transparency, which was Congress' key concern. One of the two "absconding" Congress MLAs, Pratap Gowda Patil, has arrived for the oath taking ceremony, According to reports, he was missing when his name was called out for the oath taking. Speaking at the Congress press conference, Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, "We could not delay the trust vote at all today. In one and a half days, we have done away with the option of a secret ballot, the pro tem Speaker cannot take any other agenda. And everything will be recorded. It will be a victory of the republic now." At the press conference, Congress leader Kapil Sibal said that along with preaching "Na khaunga, na khane dunga (Won't indulge in corruption, won't allow it eiteher)", Prime Minister Narendra Modi should also preach "Na kharidunga, na kharidne dunga(Won't buy support, won't allow others to buy support). During meet on Congress strategy with the Gandhi family, Congress general secretary camping in Bengaluru Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot were asked to ensure no MLAs cross over. Mamata Banerjee, Mayawati and Sitaram Yechury also pitched in with their inputs. Top Congress leaders Ahmed Patel and Ghulam Nabi Azad were in touch with TDP and TRS leaders, writes Pallavi Ghosh in News18. Congress leader Veerapa Moily said that BJP will be "exposed" to the whole world. "They (BJP) know very well that they are 104. Still they are trying everything and anything to buy our MLAs. But, our MLAs are intact. Two of our MLAs are still not here, whenever they come they will surely support us," ANI quoted him as saying. Dakshina Kannada district has been put under prohibitory orders under Section 144 of IPC following the recommendation of the Superintendent of Police of the district, Ravikante Gowda. District magistrate S Senthil has clamped Puttur, Sullia, Buntwal and Belthangady taluks of the district under the Section 144. The decision was taken after examining the situation which is stated to be highly volatile in the wake of political developments in Bengaluru. Consequently, Mangaluru commissioner Vipul Kumar has also clamped the Mangalore taluk which comes under the jurisdiction of the Mangalore police commissionarate under the same section. Congress MLAs Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil have been allegedly kept captive in Gold Finch Hotel in Bengaluru, News18 reported. Additional Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh along with his team are leaving for the hotel, the report said. Given the predicament, it might be better for the BJP to persuade Yeddyurappa to step down, show allegiance to Constitutional values and claim the high moral ground. In any case, the inherent contradictions of an opportunistic Congress-JD(S) government might cause it implode. Yeddy may get another chance sooner than he imagines. With allegations of horse trading flying thick and fast, the BJP should reconsider its decision to go for cross voting if it fails to gather the numbers. Some unverified audio clips aired by TV channels show chief minister BS Yeddyurappa allegedly trying to convince Congress MLA BC Patil to jump ship in exchange of ministerial berth. Reports are also coming in of two Congress MLAs being "held captive" at a Bengaluru hotel. The numbers are stacked against the BJP and Supreme Court has severely restricted its hands. In this situation, a lunge to garner the numbers to prove majority in Assembly will make BJP appear desperate, erode its moral standing and may dent its political capital among the electorate ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls. BJP should persuade Yeddyurappa to step down, the party stands to benefit from such a strategy in the long run Surely it will, says senior constitutional lawyer SP Chengappa. Under the anti-defection act, any elected member who defects from one party to another, singly or with a group few MLAs, will stand to get disqualified and will lose his or their membership of the legislative assembly. In the present context since they will be taking oath, they cannot escape the clutches of anti defection law, in which case it was unlikely that BJP would increase their tally by the second round of Operation Kamala, he observed. Another condition is that his abstaining the voting should not be overlooked by his party within 15 days of such incident. According to the anti-defection law, at least two-thirds of the members of a party have to be in favour of a 'merger' for it to possess validity in the eyes of the law. But if the completer merger of a party with another for making a stable government will not be considered defection and will not be actionable under the anti-defection law of 1985. 1. If he voluntarily gives up his membership 2. He votes or abstains from voting in the House, contrary to his party's direction and without obtaining prior permission. Under The Constitution (Fifty-second Amendment) Act, 1985, an elected member of a party can be disqualified on two grounds: CNN-News18, citing sources in the top level leadership of the party, claimed that BS Yeddyurappa will resign after an emotional speech as the BJP is convinced they do not have the numbers. Amid speculation that BS Yeddyurappa may resign if the BJP's last minute assessment show they are still short of numbers, NDTV reported that the chief minister has sought a appointment with governor right after his speech. Following reports that BS Yeddyurappa might resign if he does not have enough numbers to prove majority, Congerss' DK Shivakumar exuded confidence that his party will soon come to power. "I am sure he will resign before the trust vote," he said. "Pratap Gowda Patil has come back. He will take oath as an MLA then he will vote for the Congress. He will not betray Congress party," Congress' DK Shivakumar told reporters moments ahead of the trust vote. CNN-News18 has reported that top BJP sources have said that what has been happening in Karnataka can damage the public perception widely and the party can't afford to do that. The news channel reported that the party will step back before the floor test is conducted, TV9, a reginonal TV channel is showing images of Congress leader DK Shivakumar receiving Pratap Gowda Patil at the entrance of Vidhana Soudha and accompanying him inside. Patil was one of the two Congress MLAs feared absconding. Shivakumar, also told reporters outside the Assembly, that he was confidence Yeddyurappa is going to step aside. He said that anothe rmissing MLA Anand Singh is also on his way to the Vidhan Soudha. CNN-News18 reported that the BJP's central leadership has directed BS Yeddyurappa to make a graceful exit. BJP sources told the news channel that BS Yeddyurappa has drafted a 13-page-long emotional speech after which he will tender his resignation through the Speaker. Somashekar Reddy, BJP MLA and one of the Reddy siblings, made a grand entry into the Assembly hall for oath taking, five hours late. He was reportedly at Hotel Taj West End. He gave anxious moments to BJP's Sriramulu and Karunakar Reddy who were seen trying to frantically call him since morning. With Reddy's appearance, now Anand Singh remains the only MLA yet to arrive at the Vidhana Soudha, TV9 reported. "I was with my brother in Taj West End. Nobody was in my contact. I don't even know who are they, Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil (Congress MLAs). I did not even go to Goldfinch Hotel," Somashekara Reddy, BJP MLA from Bellari and brother of Janardan Reddy told ANI Anand Singh has now arrived on the Assembly floor, is seen being led around by D K Shivakumar and shaking hands with Congress leaders like G Parameswara. BK Hariprasad, speaking to CNN-News18 alleged that Union home minister Rajnath Singh was controlling the two Congress MLAs by using central agencies like Enforcement Directorate and the CBI. Muralidhar Rao, BJP state in-charge, denied having spoken to the BC Patil, the Congress MLA of Hirekerur. Audio clips of him and Sriramulu offering money and posts to Patil over the phone have emerged though its authenticity couldn't be verified. Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and RV Deshpande stood up as Yeddyurappa started his speech. They requested the speaker that the motion of no confidence should be move first and then the chief minsiter can resume speaking. Prime Minister Modi and BJP chief Ami Shah on Ambedkar Jayanti made me the president of the Karnataka BJP and told me that I will be the chief minister. In no other state ever a future chief minister is announced by our party. Today I make the proposal that I have convened the Sesssion and request the Speaker to oversee proceedings. "During the election campaign, I have traveled throughout the state for the last two years and have seen pain on the faces of people. I can't forget the love and affection I received from people. I am very grateful to the people of Karnataka for the support we recieved everywhere," said BS Yedyurappa. "My only aim to form the government in Karnataka was to help the poor and farmers and waive off their loans. All that Congress has done is try to divide the society on the basis of caste and religion. I wanted to serve the poople of Karnataka," Yeddyurappa told the House ahead of the floor test. "People have blessed us with 104 seats. The mandate wasn't for Congress or JD(S) yet they formed an alliance to form the government. I condemn the backdoor politics done by Congress and JD(S)," Yeddyurappa said. "People have blessed us with 104 seats. I have everything in life: houses, land, money. But I have faced many a tests in my life," Yeddyurappa said. "My entire life has been a test, today is one more test," he added. "If only people would have given us 113 seats instead of 104, we would have made this state a paradise. But I will fight for the state till my last breath. We will get 28 out of 28 seats in Lok Sabha and I will win 150 Assembly seats for Narendra Modi," Yeddyurapa said. He then said that he will resign as the chief minister of Karnataka. He will meet the governor after the Assembly session and submit his resignation. In an emotional speech in the Assembly, BS Yeddyurappa said, "I will lose nothing if I lose power, my life is for the people." He said there was no way he could have served the people of Karnataka as the Congress was not even allowing the MLAs to speak to their family members. Soon after BS Yeddyurappa announced his resignation on the floor of the House, DK Shivakumar held up Kumaraswamy's hand and flashed victory sign as JD(S) and Congress MLAs started celebrations. However, former chief minister Siddaramaiah was not seen in the midst of the celebrations. " Democracy has won in Karnataka. The conspiracy made by the BJP has failed to authorize the anti-constitutional measures," Siddaramaiah tweeted. "Today, democracy has been saved. What Governor should have done earlier, should do now. He should invite us to form government," Dinesh Gundu Rao of the Congerss party said. Speaking to CNN-News18, after BS Yeddyurappa's resignation Congress leader DK Shivakumar said that he is a humble Congres worker and nothing else. Speaking on the next course of action, he said that now the governor has to invite them to form the government. "Today is a historic day in Indian politics. BS Yeddyurappa in Vidhan Soudha agreed to do a floor test. He couldn't do it. This is a victory of democracy. There was immense pressure on the Governor by the central government. The Governor's decision was a blot on Indian democracy. We should respect the people's mandate. It is a responsibility of all politicians and democratic heads. PM Modi and his ministers are working against the democracy," says former chief minister Siddaramaiah. "And in a way this is what we are fighting today - that you can rubbish any institution and walk out," Rahul said. "Did you notice that after the entire exercise in the Vidhan Soudha in Karnataka, the BJP legislators and the Speaker chose to get up and leave the House before the National Anthem," Rahul said. He said, "This shows that all the anti-corruption talk by Prime Minister Modi is a blatant lie. This shows that he is corruption." "You would have seen that there are audio recordings of how BJP was trying to purchase our MLAs. And this was directly sanctioned from New Delhi. This showed how the prime minister was openly sanctioning this," Rahul said. "Today it has been proved that the country's institutions are bigger which murder accused Amit Shah should realise... And my message to the prime minister will also be that he should understand that he is not bigger than India, he is not bigger than the institutions of this country, that he is not bigger than our democracy. But I do not think he will understand this as he has been schooled all his life in the RSS ideology, which teaches him not to take any institution more seriously than the RSS," Rahul said. As was being speculated, BS Yeddyurappa skipped the floor test because it had become obvious that BJP doesn't have the numbers. His tearful, emotional speech on the floor of the House and his resignation as Karnataka chief minister was a stark contrast to the triumphalism from Congress camp. The grand old party could be forgiven for feeling that it had pulled off a major victory. After all, victories have been hard to come by for it of late. The Congress can draw several positives from the victory. Reacting after BS Yeddyurappa's resignation, BSP Supremo hailed the Supreme Court for upholding democracy as she said that the governor's office was under huge pressure form Amit Shah and Narendra Modi. She said that the party had blatantly used the constitutional office of the governor to usurp power in the state. Kayande also said that the BJP should have stepped aside on day one and would have sat in the opposition keeping the Congress, JD(S) alliance on their toes. She said it would have saved the party much embarrassment and earned it people's sympathy. BJP ally Shiv Sena demanded Governor Vajubhai Vala's resignation after the BJP was forced to step back in the state of Karnataka. Speaking to CNN-News18, party's spokesperson Manisha Kayande said that the BJP must take a lesson and reflect on its conduct in the past few days. She said that the governor acted in a suspicious way and should resign from his office. "This is a big blow for BJP. What they had been planning all along for 2019 has failed, they will now have to rethink and alter their strategies," Mayawati said after BS Yeddyurappa tendered his resignation without facing the floor test. "Yeddyurappa ji, through his speech, showed how democracy is respected. With his speech, he touched many hearts in Karnataka. However, the Congress on the other hand, instead of praising him was alleging that we were doing horse-trading," Javadekar said. "If we were doing horse-trading, we needed only seven MLAs. But we didn't do any such thing that is why we resigned no," Javadekar argued. He said that it was the Congress and the JD(S) which held their MLAs captive in resorts and did not even let them contact their families or watch news. He said that the Congress president should remember what his party did in the election, right from fake CDs to fake voter ID cards. Javadekar said that Rahul Gandhi's statement is laughable as it is not the Congress which defeated BJP. "Our seats went to 104 from 40, their seats came down. You decide who defeated whom," Javadekar said. "Congress wants to impeach CJI, and when they need they go to SC, they praise the court, when the court gives judgment in their favour (Congress), they say they do not have faith on EC," Prakash Javadekar said. He said that this alliance is a 'surrender deal' as it has been forged on the promise that they will not probe Congress' corruption. "JD(S) in its campaign said it will probe the corruption under the Congress government. Now I challenge them but I know not even one file will be opened," Javadekar said. "Its a surrender deal, Cong and JD(S) were abusing each other. Rahul on the record made derogatory remarks about Deve Gowda. This is the most opportunistic alliance ever," Javadekar said. "In a democracy, everyone has a right to form an alliance. But an alliance which is forged on jealousy and negativity against just one person can never succeed. People don't accept alliances which are not formed on ideological similarities," Javadekar said. "Congress does not respect institutions and this statement is just an evidence of that. Is this how they show respect towards the post of the Governor?," Javadekar said reacting to Sanjay Nirupam's statement about the governor. In Gujarat, it failed to win despite strong anti-incumbency sentiments and in Karnataka it failed to win elections despite a lack of anti-incumbency sentiments. Rahul Gandhi was absent from negotiations with the JD(S), he went incommunicado when the BJP emerged victorious and he did not lead from the front during the entire time leading to the floor test day. It is only when Yeddyurappa stepped down did Rahul emerge into prominence and claimed credit for grabbing power. It of course must count among his credits that he continues to be talked up by the media despite leading one defeat after another, and nary a question is raised against his leadership deficiencies. By some odd sleight of hand, despite emerging as the single largest party, it is the BJP which carries the cross of defeat in public narrative. Let's just take a deep breath and step back from the moment. the fact remains that Congress went into the elections on its own, called JD(S) the 'B team' of BJP, finished second in the race by a considerable margin and then cobbled up a post-facto alliance by issuing a carte blanche and the chief minister's post to third-placed JD(S). To the extent that it showed nimbleness in staking claim and keeping its flock together to eventually foil BS Yeddyurappa's bid, the Congress has done well. But the hard fact is that Congress has now lost two successive elections under Rahul's stewardship. It was interesting to see Rahul Gandhi appear for the news conference and blast Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and the RSS for their role in "murdering democracy". Looking at his tone of triumphalism, and the excitable commentary on TV studios, digital platforms and social media', one could be forgiven for assuming that Congress had comprehensively won the Karnataka elections and has successfully staved off an unjust attempt by the BJP to get to power through the backdoor. With BS Yeddyurappa out of their way, Congress and JD(S) have started working out the modalities of their alliance. NDTV reported that the two parties have agreed that the deputy chief minister will be elected from the Congress party. The party cadres would not sit idle even for a minute and would take the "Congress' story of betrayal" to every village of Karnataka, he said. "BJP alone can give a stable government," Kumar told reporters here soon after BS Yeddyurappa announced his decision to quit as Karnataka chief minister without facing the vote of confidence in the Assembly. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar on Saturday said the coalition government of Congress and the JD(S) would not last long as it was an "unholy nexus." Elected leader of the Congress, JD(S) alliance has reached the Raj Bhavan and is due to meet the governor in some time. He will stake a fresh claim to form a government in Karnataka. His swearing-in is likely on Monday, media reports said. "I have just met the governor. He has invited the JD(S), Congress coalition to form a government as the BJP did not prove the majority. Along with the invitation, he has also asked us to prove our majority. On Monday morning, we will be hold a grand oath-taking ceremony at Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru," Kumaraswamy said. He also said that the BJP has not given up on the operation Kamala completely. He said that both the parties will sit together to decide how best to tackle these problems. "Congress leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot will play a role in making this alliance a success. We will meet after 8.30 tonight at the Ashoka Hotel to finalise the modalities of the alliance," Kumaraswamy said. "People have blessed us by making us the single largest party in this election. Power has never influenced my determination to stand up for a cause. Irrespective of that, I shall continue to fight for the betterment of the farmers and my people of Karnataka," Yeddyurappa said. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh hailed the collapse of the three-day-old B S Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka just before a crucial trust vote today as a vindication of the Congress party's moral stand and a "total loss of face" for the BJP. Singh alleged the BJP had "stooped to new lows" in its desperation to grab power in Karnataka by "hook or by crook". "Today, the people's mandate has prevailed over money power," Yadav wrote on Twitter in Hindi. "Those who thought they could buy everyone have learnt the lesson that there are still people left who don't consider politics a business," he tweeted. "The central government should also resign on moral grounds," he added. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has termed the collapse of the three-day-old B S Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka a "victory of the people's mandate" and asked the central government to resign on moral grounds. "I want to thank Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad and other Congress leaders and MLAs for their support. I want to thank everyone, people of Karnataka, Mayawati ji for their support, Kumaraswamy said. "I will invite Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi ji personally to attend the oath-taking ceremony," says Kumaraswamy. "We will call a session soon to prove our majority," he added. "But, going against the tradition, the (Karnataka) governor did not invite Congress-JDS combine (that has majority) to form the government. "This is not an ordinary victory. Entire people of the country will be happy. It is a proud day for all of us," Naidu said at a meeting of women self-help groups leaders here this evening. He said normally a party with majority would be invited to form the government. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today termed the resignation of B S Yeddyurappa as Karnataka Chief Minister a "victory of democracy" and said it was a day everybody should feel proud of. "BJP has already won the Karnataka elections. People of the state have clearly given their mandate to get rid of Congress. We approached the people of Karnataka with what PM Modi has been doing since he came to power and the manner in which Siddaramaiah government has been exploiting the state. You cannot ignore the will the people of a state. We wanted to expose the Congress before Karnataka and I believe we have succeeded in that. There is no question of buying any MLAs because we never wanted any MLAs from their party. These accusations are baseless. Congress leaders have themselves not accepted their alliance with JD(S). Congress has now developed a new theory under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, on how to win the battle despite losing it, Amit Shah said. "It is a shame for the Congress party that despite having 78 seats, they have fallen at the feet of JD(S) just to stopBJP," he said. "It is a shame for the Congress party that despite having 78 seats, they have fallen at the feet of JD(S) just to stopBJP," he said. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh hailed the collapse of the three-day-old B S Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka just before a crucial trust vote today as a vindication of the Congress party's moral stand and a "total loss of face" for the BJP. Singh alleged the BJP had "stooped to new lows" in its desperation to grab power in Karnataka by "hook or by crook". "Today, the people's mandate has prevailed over money power," Yadav wrote on Twitter in Hindi. "Those who thought they could buy everyone have learnt the lesson that there are still people left who don't consider politics a business," he tweeted. "The central government should also resign on moral grounds," he added. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has termed the collapse of the three-day-old B S Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka a "victory of the people's mandate" and asked the central government to resign on moral grounds. "I want to thank Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad and other Congress leaders and MLAs for their support. I want to thank everyone, people of Karnataka, Mayawati ji for their support, Kumaraswamy said. "I will invite Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi ji personally to attend the oath-taking ceremony," says Kumaraswamy. "We will call a session soon to prove our majority," he added. "But, going against the tradition, the (Karnataka) governor did not invite Congress-JDS combine (that has majority) to form the government. "This is not an ordinary victory. Entire people of the country will be happy. It is a proud day for all of us," Naidu said at a meeting of women self-help groups leaders here this evening. He said normally a party with majority would be invited to form the government. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today termed the resignation of B S Yeddyurappa as Karnataka Chief Minister a "victory of democracy" and said it was a day everybody should feel proud of. "BJP has already won the Karnataka elections. People of the state have clearly given their mandate to get rid of Congress. We approached the people of Karnataka with what PM Modi has been doing since he came to power and the manner in which Siddaramaiah government has been exploiting the state. You cannot ignore the will the people of a state. We wanted to expose the Congress before Karnataka and I believe we have succeeded in that. There is no question of buying any MLAs because we never wanted any MLAs from their party. These accusations are baseless. Congress leaders have themselves not accepted their alliance with JD(S). Congress has now developed a new theory under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, on how to win the battle despite losing it, Amit Shah said. "It is a shame for the Congress party that despite having 78 seats, they have fallen at the feet of JD(S) just to stopBJP," he said. "It is a shame for the Congress party that despite having 78 seats, they have fallen at the feet of JD(S) just to stopBJP," he said. 2 Karnataka Assembly floor test LIVE updates: With BS Yeddyurappa out of their way, Congress and JD(S) have started working out the modalities of their alliance. NDTV reported that the two parties have agreed that the deputy chief minister will be elected from the Congress party and most likely it will be G Parameshwara. JDS leader and Chief Minister-designate HD Kumaraswamy confirmed that the swearing-in is scheduled for 21 May between 12.30 and 1 pm. Kumaraswamy further said that the Congress-JDS leaders will meet on Saturday at around 8.30 pm to discuss the modalities of the merger and forming the new government. "Senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ashok Gehlot and opposition leaders Mamata Banerjee, KCR, Chandrababu Naidu, Mayawati, Sharad Pawar and Akhilesh Yadav have been invited for the gala celebrations," Kumaraswamy told the press on Saturday evening. Governor Vajubhai Vala invited Kumaraswamy to form the government and prove his majority in the House. Newly-appointed Chief Minister of Karnataka BS Yeddyurappa has resigned from the post which was given to him just two days ago. He submitted the resignation to Governor Vajubhai Vala at the Raj Bhavan. BS Yeddyurappa attacked the Congress-JDS alliance in his speech ahead of the crucial floor test and ended it by resigning at the Karnataka chief minister. After making the announcement BS Yeddyurappa went on to meet and shake hands with JDS chief Deve Gowda and senior Congress leaders, including Ghulam Nabi Azad. JDS-Congress MLAs immediately started flashing the victory sign and celebrating inside the house. The JDS and Congress leaders announced that they are now waiting for the Governor to call them. During his speech, Yeddyurappa was briefly interrupted by former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah who asked the former to move the trust motion while BS Yeddyurappa went on with his attacks. He said, "I don't do party politics. I do people's politics." Yeddyurappa also said, "My only aim to form the government was to serve the farmers and Dalits who were suffering." Yeddyurappa had earlier spoken to BJP president Amit Shah over phone amid speculation of his resignation. Meanwhile, Congress MLAs Anand Singh and Pratap Gouda Patil, who had been incommunicado for a while and missed the oath-taking ceremony in the Assembly, have now come back in the Assembly. The Assembly session began on Saturday morning with pro tem Speaker Bopaiah administering the oath to all newly-elected MLAs. Several reactions poured in following Yeddyurappa's resignation. While former chief minister Siddaramaiah tweeted saying 'democracy has won', Congress leader P Chidambaram tweeted a scathing message, saying: "Poor Mr Yeddyurappa. When the puppeteers fail, the puppet falls and breaks." West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also touted it as a win for the regional front: "Democracy wins. Congratulations Karnataka. Congratulations DeveGowda Ji, Kumaraswamy Ji, Congress and others. Victory of the 'regional' front." HD Kumaraswamy, the chief minister candidate of the Congress-JDS combine, said that they are waiting for an invitation from the Governor's House to take oath as the new Karnataka chief minister. Earlier, Yeddyurappa began his speech in Vidhan Soudha and slammed the 'unholy alliance' between the JDS and the Congress. The chief minister had earlier spoken to BJP president Amit Shah over phone amid speculation of his resignation before the floor test. Congress MLAs Anand Singh and Pratap Gouda Patil, who had been incommunicado for a while and missed the oath-taking ceremony in the Assembly, are now back in the Assembly. The stage is set for the floor test in Karnataka Assembly to test the strength of the two-day-old BS Yeddyurappa government amid allegations of poaching and horse-trading. The floor test will be overseen by pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah after the Supreme Court dismissed a Congress petition against his appointment and ordered live telecast of the proceedings. Sources said the floor test will be conducted via a show of hands. The Assembly session began on Saturday morning with Bopaiah administering the oath to all newly elected MLAs. Following reports that BS Yeddyurappa might resign if he does not have enough numbers to prove majority, Congerss' DK Shivakumar exuded confidence that his party will soon come to power. "I am sure he will resign before the trust vote," he said. Meanwhile, the Congress has released another audio tape, this time alleging that BS Yeddyurappa offered ministerial post to MLA BC Patil. Meanwhile, Congress MLAs Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil have been allegedly kept captive in Gold Finch Hotel in Bengaluru. Additional Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh along with his team are leaving for the hotel, the report said. Congress leader Veerapa Moily said that BJP will be "exposed" to the whole world. "They (BJP) know very well that they are 104. Still they are trying everything and anything to buy our MLAs. But, our MLAs are intact. The Supreme Court, earlier on Saturday, turned down Congress and JD(S)' plea against the appointment of KG Bopaiah as the pro tem Speaker KG Bopaiah. However, it allowed the live telecast of the trust vote. Ahead of the trust vote, JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy said that it wasn't an important day for him. "The important days will come in future. Till 4 pm, BJP will try to poach our MLAs. All the MLAs are together; no one is going to go to the other side," he said. Ramalinga Reddy claimed that Congress MLA will defy the party whip during the trust vote on Saturday. "Physically he is not with us, but he is in contact with our leaders... He will definitely vote for us" he said. Chief Minister BS Yeddyrappa, who will be facing the floor test on Saturday, has reached Shangri-La Hotel for the BJP legislature meeting. Appearing confident, BS Yeddyurappa urged his supporters to stay calm and said that they would be celebrating at 5 pm. Buses carrying Congress MLAs reached Hilton Hotel in Bengaluru ahead of their oath-taking ceremony and the floor test in Karnataka Assembly. The Supreme Court directive on Friday to hold a floor test in the Karnataka Assembly on Saturday led to heightened political activity in the state, with the Congress-JD(S) post-poll alliance sure of Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa losing the battle and the BJP sounding confident to sail through. The Supreme Court had in its Thursday morning order rejected Yeddyurappa's plea, made through senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, asking for at least a week's time to face the floor test, and directed it to be conducted on Saturday instead. A bench of Justice AK Sikri, Justice SA Bobde and Justice Ashok Bhushan on Friday said the pro tem Speaker, conventionally the senior-most member of the Assembly, would administer the newly-elected members their oath and then conduct the floor test. The court junked Attorney General KK Venugopal's suggestion that the floor test be conducted through secret ballot. The court also barred Yeddyurappa from taking any policy decisions till the floor test. On Friday evening, the confrontation between the two sides once again reached the Supreme Court, with the Congress claiming that the appointment of BJP legislator KG Bopaiah as pro tem Speaker by the Governor "violates every single constitutional norm" of senior-most member being appointed to the post. Yeddyurappa was on Thursday morning sworn-in as the chief minister after the 12 May election threw up a hung Assembly. The BJP won 104 of the 222 seats, falling eight short of the 112-halfway mark. The Congress bagged 78 seats and the JD(S) 37. The court also restrained the chief minister from nominating an Anglo-Indian member. Following the apex court order, Yeddyurappa told reporters in Bengaluru that he was confident of proving his majority in the House. "We welcome the Supreme Court order of floor test at 4 pm on Saturday. We are confident of proving our majority," he said. Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar, who was election in-charge of the BJP in Karnataka, also expressed similar confidence. On the other hand, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the BJP's "bluff" has been called. "The BJP's bluff that it will form the government, even without the numbers, has been called by the court. Stopped legally, they will now try money and muscle, to steal the mandate," he tweeted. Congress communications in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters in Delhi that they will bring the matter of Bopaiah's appointment before the court. He said Congress member RV Deshpande was the senior-most member of the House. Bopaiah, 62, is a three-time legislator. He was speaker during the BJP rule in the state from 2008-13. Surjewala said Bopaiah has been indicted by the apex court. "People of Karnataka are determined to foil and defeat these evil and nefarious designs of Governor Vajubhai Vala, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah," he said. Party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the BJP will be defeated in floor test and that Yeddyurappa had exhibited "desperation" in becoming the chief minister. Singhvi referred to Venugopal's suggestion and took a dig at the Modi government, saying that trust vote is never conducted through secret ballot. However, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra accused the Congress of "murdering the mandate" in Karnataka after being "rejected" by the people of state with its numbers coming down from 122 to 78. "The Congress has welcomed the Supreme Court's decision. Some days back they had questioned the Supreme Court verdict in the case of judge Loya's death. They even tried to impeach the CJI," he said. Patra said both "prayers" of the Congress to the apex court to quash Governor's decision to invite the BJP to form government and to invite the Congress-JD-S instead have been rejected. "Yet the Congress is claiming victory, like Rahul Gandhi had claimed 'moral victory' after defeat in Gujarat elections," he said. Meanwhile, both Congress and JD(S) leaders said they had shifted legislators to Hyderabad to prevent the BJP from "poaching" them. In Bengaluru, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said it is surprising that the Congress and the JD(S), which together have the support of 117 legislators including two Independents, were not invited to form a government by the governor. Siddaramaiah held a crucial meeting with newly-elected Congress MLAs in Hyderabad to discuss the strategy to be adopted during the floor test. With inputs from agencies Here is how prominent political leaders reacted to BS Yeddyurappa resigning as Karnataka chief minister. BS Yeddyurappa resigned as Karnataka chief minister on Saturday before facing a crucial trust vote in the Karnataka Assembly with numbers stacked against the BJP in the newly elected House. His resignation brings to an end a political thriller that began after the 12 May elections which threw up a hung verdict. In an emotional speech in the Assembly, Yeddyurappa said the BJP didn't get the numbers needed to prove majority in the House. "I will lose nothing if I lose power, my life is for the people," he said. While Congress leaders reacted to Yeddyurappa's resignation with enthusiasm and called it a victory for democracy, the few BJP leaders who did react said that the Congress-JD(S) alliance was unholy. Here is how prominent political leaders reacted: Rahul Gandhi "Did you notice that after the entire exercise in the Vidhan Soudha in Karnataka, the BJP legislators and the Speaker chose to get up and leave the House before the national anthem?" said Congress president Rahul Gandhi as he addressed reporters at a press conference. "In a way, this is what we are fighting today: The idea that you can rubbish every institution in this country. This is something that BJP and RSS does again and again. There is no institution which is worthy of the respect of the prime minister and Amit Shah. They believe every single institution can be ignored by them," he said. "(The people of Karnataka) have been shown that in India, power is not everything. Money is not everything. Corruption is not everything. I would like to thank the people of Karnataka for defending what is much more than the election in Karnataka," said the Congress chief. "You can see how the prime minister directly authorised the buying of MLAs from our party. The idea that the prime minister is fighting corruption is a lie. He is corruption. There are phone conversations of attempts of MLAs being purchased," he further said. "The prime minister is not bigger than India. The prime minister needs to stop thinking that he is bigger than every other institution in this country. He has been trained throughout his life by the RSS to never respect any institution apart from the RSS," he added. Siddaramaiah "Democracy has won in Karnataka. The conspiracy made by the BJP has failed to authorise the anti-constitutional measures," Siddaramaiah said in the above tweet. "Narendra Modi and Amit Shah put pressure on Governor Vajubhai Vala to go against the Constitution," he further said. Arvind Kejriwal BJPs attempts to subvert democracy have miserably failed in Karnataka. BJP's lust for power through foul means stands completely exposed. Will BJP learn any lesson now ? India's judiciary has risen to the occasion and has safeguarded our democracy. Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 19, 2018 Mayawati "This is a big blow for them (BJP) and I think what they had been planning all along for 2019 has failed, they will now have to rethink and alter their strategies," said BSP chief Mayawati. Mamata Banerjee Reacting to Yeddyurappa's resignation, the TMC said: Democracy wins. Congratulations Karnataka. Congratulations DeveGowda Ji, Kumaraswamy Ji, Congress and others. Victory of the 'regional' front Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 19, 2018 Prominent Congress leaders and spokespersons hailed the political developments on Saturday, taking a dig at the BJP's 'Operation Lotus' and has said that the party has lost more than just a government. With the proceedings live and every citizen becoming a pro tem Speaker, democracy in Karnataka was saved -- for the time bring. P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) May 19, 2018 Poor Mr Yeddyurappa. When the puppeteers fail, the puppet falls and breaks. P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) May 19, 2018 BJP has lost more than just a govt in Karnataka. The blatant disregard to propriety and democratic values has cost the BJP more political capital than it realizes. Sachin Pilot (@SachinPilot) May 19, 2018 Democracy wins. Mafia loses. Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) May 19, 2018 Operation Lotus fails!#BSYeddyurappa remains 2 day CM as the country predicted, breaking his own record of being 7 days CM. Democracy Wins! Constitution Wins! Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) May 19, 2018 My salute to the newly elected MLAs of Congress & JD(S) who all rejected 100-150 cr bribe offers for each by #BJP to sell their soul. But they didn't do that for their commitment towards party and its ideology. Hats off ! Sanjay Nirupam (@sanjaynirupam) May 19, 2018 Subramanian Swamy, BJP leader, retorted saying "monopoly and arrogance" caused what happened in Karnataka on Saturday. Kapil Sibal: "What we have seen is the destruction of all morals and democratic values over the last couple of days. But we must thank the Chief Justice to have allowed space for the Congress. I must congratulate our legal team," said Congress' Kapil Sibal. Ghulam Nabi Azad: "We would like to congratulate the MLAs of Congress and JD(S) and Independents, including one BSP candidate who resisted to all sorts of temptations and arm-twisting by the central government, central government agencies, and stood by the party principles and decision taken by the party leadership," said Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad. "Some of our leaders were kidnapped and were under the illegal custody of the BJP," he added. DK Shivakumar "I am a humble Congress worker. We did our best. We could not reach the numbers but we are forming the government. Yeddyurappa should not have spoken...Governor has to invite us," said the Congress leader. Democracy has won in Karnataka. Constitution has been upheld. On behalf of the Congress party, I thank all those who stood by us. #CongressDefeatsBJP DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) May 19, 2018 N Chandrababu Naidu "Right now, news has come that BS Yeddyurappa has resigned as Karnataka's CM, are all of you happy? All those who believe in democracy are happy," ANI quoted Naidu as saying. MK Stalin Democracy in Karnataka has been saved by the actions of the Supreme Court. I extend my congratulations to @hd_kumaraswamy and @INCIndia. May this herald the coming together of secular parties for the upcoming elections. M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) May 19, 2018 Yashwant Sinha Karnataka shows there is still some morality left in politics but alas not in the BJP. Now the governor should also resign. Yashwant Sinha (@YashwantSinha) May 19, 2018 Amit Malviya Karnataka voted for BJP but we fell marginally short of majority. What has happened today is truly annihilation of peoples mandate. It also raises the question for us as voters - do we want a party which means well or an opportunistic rag tag coalition like the one in Karnataka? Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) May 19, 2018 Derek O'Brien Yedurappa resigns... one small step for Karnataka, a giant step for India #KarnatakaFloorTest Derek O'Brien (@derekobrienmp) May 19, 2018 Sharad Yadav BJP could not install its Govt in Karnataka inspite of all its tactics is a great win of democracy & unity of d opposition parties.Governors in d country need to adopt uniform parameters for formation of d Government in d States so that people continue to have faith in democracy. SHARAD YADAV (@SharadYadavMP) May 19, 2018 CP Joshi Its a Win for #Democracy. Its a Win for Our #Constitution . Its a Win for the People of #Karnataka. #Truth Always Wins Irrespective of the Magnitude of Hurdles . Dr. C.P. Joshi (@drcpjoshi) May 19, 2018 Shahnawaz Hussain Congress kept calling JD(S) as the B team of BJP during the campaigning. Now by taking the of JD(S) to form the Govt, Congress has gone against the mandate & people of Karnataka will give them a Zero in the LS elections.@BSYBJP @BJP4Karnataka Shahnawaz Hussain (@ShahnawazBJP) May 19, 2018 With inputs from PTI Click here to follow LIVE updates on the political situation in Karnataka. The first lesson from the dismal chaos in Karnataka on Saturday is that there is nothing to celebrate. If anything it is a time for deep introspection because in all this packaging of political personalities and parties the voter has been totally sidelined. The first lesson from the dismal chaos in Karnataka on Saturday is that there is nothing to celebrate. If anything it is a time for deep introspection because in all this packaging of political personalities and parties the voter has been totally sidelined. In fact, one can go as far as to say that the person who stood in the line and cast his franchise has been openly and blatantly cheated by a system that is clumsy and disregards the wishes of the people. This disregard is further exacerbated by the interpretation, largely arbitrary, by the pressure from the Centre, the governors and their legal advisors and the judiciary often all these elements at cross purposes. At the end of this grotesque kaleidoscope the pattern so totally eliminates the public shards. Suddenly the people count for little and their choice even less. In this current case, the people largely rejected the incumbent Congress party and actually dumped them. Yet, we now see its cadres doing the have-a-ladoo act and conducting themselves as if they had brought the bacon home. For sheer delusion this is a scenario difficult to beast. You lost... what part of it don't you see. The JDS that is also now beating a tattoo of huge success got only 38 out of 222 seats which by no mathematical yardstick indicates an abundance of love from the people whom HD Kumaraswamy might now lead by shrieking default to some bewilderingly fuzzy frontier, albeit weasring two different socks. The BJP that cut through the Congress like a knife through butter but started off on the wrong foot by prematurely celebrating a majority triumph never really got it going after that and, despite coming in first, lost out shabbily to the losers. If the 48-hour-old chief minister BS Yeddyurappa stormed out after his impassioned speech it is tough to feel bad for him because the writing was on the wall at Hour One and the BJP could have played their cards better. In these two days, the chief minister posted several IAS and IPS officers from their positions and where was the need for such unholy haste. The confusion and disruption these politicians cause is heartbreaking and again it is the public that pays the price. Just like there are mistrials and then there are second round referendums where the choice is not clear regardless of the cost and the effort elections should be held again and again and again until the publics mandate is clear. Either that or we must borrow a concept from the Americans and have our elected delegates on the floor of the House empowered not to cross the floor or leave their party but in person to give a vote for or against the single largest party or a vow of allegiance to their. These proceedings should be publicly televised so we know where each individual stands. What could be tackier than Congress bigwigs running around hotels and inns and residences looking for their lost or missing sheep. These parties even took their MLAs out of the state so that they would not succumb to blandishment, making the Shashi Tharoor tweet about the badge of courage these MLAs showed plain laughable. Perhaps the only thing tackier was P Chidambaram's statement that it is a victory for democracy. Say what? On this canvas the words of Rahul Gandhi today thanking the people of Karnataka for doing the right thing is simply hilarious. The people of Karnataka were not invited to the party. Cant the Congress president see that? The Net has described me as a 'mad scientist of RPG blogging,' and a 'Quixotic bastard' ... and also 'the most gonzo - and the grouchiest - old school DM.' Began playing Dungeons and Dragons at the age of 15, forty-one years ago. I am a steadfast AD&D gamer, but I have made so many changes to the original system that my present model is something of a Frankenstein's monster of role-playing design. I continue to make new changes every day to my game's structure and function. The anti-defection law is too sweeping a solution to what is essentially a problem of morality. If a legislator defies the party on which he was voted, surely it is the elector who should punish him and not the party. In 1985, soon after the Congress won the Lok Sabha elections with a landslide victory of over 400 seats, Rajiv Gandhi got Parliament to pass the anti-defection law. In essence the law said the following: Any legislator who defies party leadership on a vote would be seen as a defector and disqualified. Meaning that once the party issued a whip (a written notice to its legislators requesting attendance for a particular vote), the legislators cannot vote as they choose to, but have to vote as the party wanted them to. Even if the legislator abstained from voting, s/he could be disqualified. And the vote needn't necessarily be a confidence vote linked to the survival of a government; the anti-defection law can be invoked for any vote that a party chooses. The law originally shielded legislators voting against their party if one-third of them did so. But in 2004, this aspect was also removed. The logic was that the one-third law encouraged "wholesale defection". In a 2007 case (Rajendra Singh Rana vs Swami Prasad Maurya, connected to defections in the Bahujan Samaj Party), the Supreme Court said that even signing a letter to the governor supporting the Opposition party was tantamount to defection. This is one reason why the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not name the Congress or Janata Dal (Secular) members who may have been supporting it in Karnataka. If their names and signatures had been added by BS Yeddyurappa in his letter to the governor, this could have been fatal for the MLAs concerned. The Union government arguing in favour of the BJP in Karnataka made the claim that because the Karnataka MLAs had not yet been sworn in, the anti-defection law did not apply. The Supreme Court said that this claim was "preposterous" and an "open invitation to horse-trading". Over the years, because of this law, the judiciary has been able to impose itself on what is essentially the prerogative of the legislature. This may be seen by some as being necessary but it is not healthy in a parliamentary democracy. Over the decades, more than 100 MLAs and two dozen MPs have been disqualified under this law across India. Other democracies also have the problem of legislators defying their whip, but their solution or punishment is not as drastic as ours. In the United Kingdom, an MP who defies a three-line whip (meaning a written notice which has been underlined three times to mark its urgency) could be expelled from the party but retains their seat, unlike in India where they lose both. In Australia, the punishment for defying the whip include things like being denied some party resources. In the US, members cannot be expelled from political parties and therefore the question of such punishment does not arise. India is the only major democracy where casting a vote against your party directive results in such extreme action. In 1992, the Supreme Court (Kihoto Hollohan vs Zachilhu) decided that the law was not against free speech or any other freedom and was not against parliamentary democracy. The court said that "the anti-defection law seeks to recognise the practical need to place the proprieties of political and personal conduct above certain theoretical assumptions". One need not agree with this, but even if one does, other serious questions remain unanswered. What happens in case the party joins a post-poll alliance with another party whose ideology the legislator is opposed to? Should he let his voters down merely because his party leadership has taken a decision in that direction? This is not an easy question to answer and the anti-defection law ignores it. The anti-defection law was justified because that period saw a lot of legislators changing their party, being bribed with offers of ministries or money. In the late 1960s, a Congress legislator from Haryana, Gaya Lal, changed his party three times in a few days. This action produced the phrase "aaya Ram, gaya Ram", referring to those legislators who owed no party loyalty but were in politics purely for themselves. The anti-defection law was meant to curb such activity. And it has done so to a large extent. However, it was too sweeping a solution to what was essentially a problem of morality. If a legislator defies the party on which he was voted, surely it is the elector who should punish him and not the party. The anti-defection law essentially removed the conscience of the elected representative and is thus a blow against democracy and constitutionalism. It also takes away the agency and freedom of the legislator. The law fails us, the citizens, in two most important ways. First, the loyalty that a legislator must have towards his voter and his constituents as opposed to his party. And secondly, the false assumption that the party is always right. The history of independent India shows that no party is perfect, and all their leaderships are capable of mistakes. The anti-defection law blunts the resistance to such actions. Parliament is the loudest and most powerful forum in a democracy. The anti-defection law has muzzled all forms of internal dissent in it. No matter which side of the divide one is on the matter of the mess in Karnataka, all of us must look seriously at this law and examine the harm it has done, but while acknowledging its benefits. Follow all the LIVE updates here Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday condemned the BJP for trying to derail the trust vote in Karnataka Assembly and expressed his gratitude to the Supreme Court for ordering a floor test. New Delhi: Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday condemned the BJP for trying to derail the trust vote in Karnataka Assembly and expressed his gratitude to the Supreme Court for ordering a floor test. He also appreciated the apex court's decision to allow live telecast of the proceedings. "How many moves will the BJP make before the vote of confidence in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly? How many obstacles will they put? First of all, give us 15 days. Second, Anglo-Indian members. Third, secret ballot. Fourth, plotting a pro tem Speaker. Fifth, under invention," he tweeted. "Thank God that there is Supreme Court," he said, condemning the "lack of faith" among political parties in the top court. He further questioned that when 221 elected men and women cannot decide on who among them enjoys the majority, how was India a democracy. "I salute the Supreme Court. Now, let the Congress and JD(S) MLAs stand by their respective party and uphold the Constitution. "In Karnataka, what is at stake is not only who will form the government, but who will be loyal to the electorate and uphold the verdict of his/her voters. "Every trick of the BJP to delay or derail the vote of confidence has been defeated. Now, I am sure the Congress and JD(S) MLAs will defeat Yeddyurappa," he said in a series of tweets. Earlier on Saturday, the Congress and the Janata Dal(S) dropped their plea questioning Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala's decision to appoint KG Bopaiah as the pro tem Speaker in the assembly, after the apex court allowed live streaming of the floor test to be held at 4 pm. Follow LIVE updates on Karnataka floor test Karnataka governor Vajubhai R Vala on Saturday invited Janata Dal (Secular)'s legislative party leader HD Kumaraswamy to form the next government. Karnataka governor Vajubhai R Vala on Saturday invited Janata Dal (Secular)'s legislative party leader HD Kumaraswamy to form the next government in the state, following the resignation of BJP's BS Yeddyurappa ahead of his trust vote. "The governor has invited me to form the next government as the leader of the JD(S) legislative party with the support of the Congress, which is our alliance partner," Kumaraswamy told reporters at the Raj Bhavan after the meeting. The JD(S) leader also said the governor had given him 15 days to prove that he has the majority in the 224-member legislative Assembly, whose strength is currently 222. "I have decided to form the JD(S)-Congress government by taking oath at 11 am in the Kanteerva stadium," added Kumaraswamy. Many prominent political leaders from the Opposition like Congress president Rahul Gandhi, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, BSP chief Mayawati have been invited for the swearing-in ceremony. The order for advancing the trust vote to Saturday came from the Supreme Court as the Congress and the JD(S) filed a petition challenging Governor Vajubhai Vala's invitation to Yeddyurappa to form government and his giving the BJP leader 15 days to prove majority. While the BJP emerged as the single-largest party, the Congress and the JD(S), which formed a post-poll alliance, said they had the required numbers to form the government. Of the 222 seats, the BJP won 104, Congress 78, JD(S) 37, and one each was bagged by the BSP, the Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party, and an Independent. Yeddyurappa's emotional speech A little ahead of the appointed time of trust vote at 4 pm, Yeddyurappa made an emotional speech, saying the BJP didn't get the numbers needed to prove majority in the House. "I will lose nothing if I lose power, my life is for the people," he said. In his 15-minute address to the House, the 75-year-old BJP leader said there was no way he could have served the people of Karnataka, as the Congress was not allowing its MLAs even to speak to their family members. Lamenting that hundreds of farmers had committed suicides across the state during the last five years, Yeddyurappa said the Congress could not ensure water for irrigating the farmlands in the state even 70 years after the Independence. "My aim is to serve farmers till my last breath. I will also continue to serve all the people, including the Dalits, backward classes, weaker sections and the poor," reiterated Yeddyurappa who was the first BJP Chief Minister in south India when the party came to power on its own in Karnataka in 2008 assembly election. Opposition welcomes Yeddyurappa's resignation After Yeddyurappa's resignation, Rahul Gandhi targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he should learn lessons from Yeddyurappa having been forced to resign as the Karnataka chief minister two days after he was sworn in. "Did you notice that after the entire exercise in the Vidhan Soudha in Karnataka, the BJP legislators and the Speaker chose to get up and leave the House before the national anthem?" said Congress president Rahul Gandhi as he addressed a press conference. "In a way, this is what we are fighting today: The idea that you can rubbish every institution in this country. This is something that the BJP and RSS do again and again. There is no institution which is worthy of the respect of the prime minister and Amit Shah. They believe every single institution can be ignored by them," he said. "(The people of Karnataka) have been shown that in India, power is not everything. Money is not everything. Corruption is not everything. I would like to thank the people of Karnataka for defending what is much more than the election in Karnataka," said the Congress chief. Former chief minister Siddaramaiah also welcomed Yeddyurappa's resignation. "Democracy has won in Karnataka. The conspiracy made by the BJP has failed to authorise the anti-constitutional measures," he tweeted. Other prominent Opposition leaders like Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Mayawati, Mamata Banerjee, N Chandrababu Naidu and MK Stalin also welcomed the resignation and said that it was a victory for democracy. With inputs from IANS It will all be a game of numbers in the Karnataka Assembly on Saturday, where the three-day-old Yeddyurappa government will face the critical floor test Bengaluru: It will all be a game of numbers in the Karnataka Assembly on Saturday, where the three-day-old Yeddyurappa government will face the critical floor test. The trial of strength to decide the fate of the BJP government is scheduled at 4 pm after a Supreme Court order drastically reduced the 15 days' time given by Governor Vajubhai Vala to Yeddyurappa to prove his majority. The Supreme Court at 10.30 am on Saturday commenced the crucial hearing on Congress-JD(S) combine's petition challenging the governor's decision to appoint BJP MLA KG Bopaiah as pro tem speaker for holding the floor test for Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa to prove his majority in the House. The combine contended it was contrary to the tradition of choosing the senior-most legislator for the post. A four-time MLA, Bopaiah was the Karnataka Assembly speaker from 2009 to 2013 and had disqualified 16 MLAs and bailed out the then BS Yeddyurappa government ahead of a no-confidence vote in 2010. The Congress and JD(S) MLAs who were camping at a hotel in Hyderabad fearing alleged attempts of poaching by the BJP came back to the city this morning. As per the directions of the apex court, the police have made massive security arrangements in and around the Vidhana Soudha, the seat of state legislature, for the smooth conduct of the floor test. Public entry to the Vidhana Soudha has been restricted and officials and staff of the Secretariat are being allowed to enter the premises after thorough checks. Elections held on 12 May to 222 of the 224 constituencies in the state threw up a hung assembly with the BJP emerging as the single largest party having 104 MLAs, seven short of the half mark of 111, while the Congress won 78 seats and JD(S) 37. Yeddurappa was sworn in as chief minister on 17 May, two days after the results were declared, after the governor accepted his claim to form the government. The decision was challenged in the Supreme Court by the Congress and the JDS and passing interim orders on their petition, the court yesterday directed that the floor test be conducted on Saturday. Striking a post-poll alliance, the combine has claimed the support of 117 MLAs, including one each from the BSP and the KPJP and one Independent. As JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy has won in 2 seats, the combined strength of Congress and JD(S) MLA's while voting at the floor test is expected to stand at 117. However, two Congress MLAs Anand Singh and Pratapgouda Patil reportedly went incommunicado, causing some worry to the grand old party. On the other hand, Yeddyurappa has asserted that he has "100 per cent confidence" that he would prove his majority. With the BJP having only 104 MLAs, it remains to be seen how the party will rustle up the numbers and prove majority. Reports suggested that the BJP has reached out to the Congress and JD(S) MLAs, who are unhappy over coming together of their parties for power, to abstain from attending the House on Saturday. Also, the other plan is to ensure that at least seven MLAs cross vote in BJP's favour. The specially called assembly session begins at 11 am when the newly-elected MLAs would be administered oath by Bopaiah. Voting will happen on the motion moved the chief minister through the process of head count, where row by row counting of votes of those supporting and opposing the motion will take place. In their plea before the apex court filed last night, the combine has termed as "brazenly unconstitutional" the action of the governor in appointing "a junior MLA" as the pro tem speaker. The application also seeks certain urgent directions to ensure that the floor test is conducted in a fair and transparent manner. The Supreme Court in 2011 had quashed Bopaiah's decision as assembly speaker to disqualify 16 MLAs ahead of the no confidence motion which had ensured survival of the then Yeddyurappa government. Click here for LIVE updates SC's decision of slashing the 15-day window given to Yeddyurappa to prove majority showed that Vala had favoured the saffron party, Shiv Sena said Mumbai: The Supreme Court's decision of slashing the 15-day window given to Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa to prove majority showed that Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala had favoured the saffron party and he was at fault, the Shiv Sena said on Saturday. It also alleged that since the BJP has "money and muscle power", it may win over some Congress and JD(S) MLAs to prove majority in the southern state. "The Karnataka power play reached the corridors of the Supreme Court, which virtually nullified the governor's decision. Despite the BJP not having the clear majority, Governor Vajubhai Vala hurriedly invited it to form the government and gave it 15 days time to prove majority," the Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana. "But the SC reduced the 15-day window and ordered it to be done within 24 hours. This shows that the governor had granted extra favours to Yeddyurappa. The SC decision of drastically slashing the 15-day window shows that the governor was at fault. "The newly-elected members of the Karnataka Assembly are yet to take oath. But ever before that the governor had nominated an Anglo-Indian member. Although it is the prerogative of the governor, given the political instability and the power play at work, it was an attempt to assure one vote (to BJP)," the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said. This nomination is done based on the advice of the chief minister. But in this case, Yeddyurappa was yet to prove majority in the House. Therefore, by staying the nomination, the SC once again showed that the governor's move was wrong, it said. "The BJP has 104 MLAs, but it does not have the answer as to how it is going to prove majority in the House. If at all there is an answer, it is either hidden in the money bags or lies with the Enforcement Directorate or the CBI. The responsibility of proving the majority seems to be more on the police, CBI and ED than Yeddyurappa," it said. "Congress's four MLAs have gone missing, while the mining mafia in politics has become active once again. Perhaps because of them, Yeddyurappa is confidently saying that the BJP will win the trust vote," the Sena added. "The letter presented before the Supreme Court, which Yeddyurappa had earlier submitted to the governor, says that some JD(S) MLAs will support him. This letter itself is a proof of horse-trading," it said. "The Supreme Court has given a jolt to the BJP in Karnataka. Nevertheless, considering the party's policies, it will either win over some MLAs from the Congress and JD(S) or ask them to remain absent during the trust vote. This way, it will fulfil to its promise of providing clean and transparent governance," the party said. "BJP has got money and muscle power. It also controls different government machineries...In the national politics, morality, ethical practices, loyalty towards a party, trust have become things of the past. The quality of politics has gone down considerably over the past few years, it said. Dedicated to the Restoration of Progressive Democracy The Supreme Court has expressed its displeasure over the Ministry of Defence not responding to letters by the CBI on 'extra-judicial killings' in Manipur. New Delhi: The Supreme Court has expressed its displeasure that the Ministry of Defence has "not even bothered" to respond to the letters addressed to it by the CBI's Special Investigation Team (SIT) that is probing the alleged extra-judicial killings and fake encounters by the Army, Assam Rifles and police in Manipur. A bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and UU Lalit asked the SIT to conclude by 30 June its investigations in the cases related to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), judicial inquiries and those on which the Gauhati High Court had given its findings. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Singh, appearing for the CBI, told the bench that he would take up the matter with the Ministry of Defence to ensure necessary co-operation. "We have also seen from status report no. five (filed by the SIT) that letters have been addressed by the SIT to the Ministry of Defence in some cases as far back as in February 2018, but the Ministry of Defence has not even bothered to respond to those letters," the bench noted in its order. "The ASG says he will take it up with the Ministry of Defence and ensure that necessary co-operation is extended and letters will be responded with promptitude. We expect the Ministry of Defence to fully cooperate with the SIT," the court said and listed the matter for hearing on 2 July. Singh told the court that the SIT would give a list of documents to the chief secretary and director general of police (DGP) of Manipur to ensure that all the materials were made available to the probe team or at least, an explanation on which documents were not available and why was given. "We would require this to be done in a time-bound manner," the bench observed, while noting that in the status report filed by the SIT, there were several entries concerning non-supply of documents by the police and other agencies. The apex court directed the in-charge of the SIT, Sharad Aggarwal, to furnish the list within a week and said it expected that the chief secretary and DGP of the northeastern state would respond to it "positively within three weeks". "On the basis of the material on record i.e. the report of the CFSL (Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory) and documents and statements of witnesses, we expect the SIT to conclude the investigations by 30 June, 2018 in respect of cases pertaining to Table II (judicial inquiry and high court cases) and III (NHRC) and file the final report under Section 173, CrPC," the court said. As many as 31 FIRs have been lodged by the SIT under the category of cases in Tables II and III. During the hearing, the CFSL director assured the court that the reconstruction of the crime scene would be done expeditiously and he would ensure that the tasks pending with the department were completed at the earliest. The apex court had earlier directed the SIT to expedite its probe into the alleged fake encounters, which had come under the scanner of the NHRC, the Gauhati High Court and some commissions of inquiry. The court had, on 12 February, expressed its displeasure over the progress of the SIT probe in these cases and observed that something was "terribly wrong". The court, which is hearing a PIL seeking a probe into as many as 1,528 cases of alleged extra-judicial killings in Manipur, had on 14 July last year set up the SIT and ordered registration of FIRs and a probe into the alleged extra-judicial killings in the northeastern state. After the West Bengal panchayat polls, the state is looking at a new political landscape in which a pulverised Left has been replaced by the BJP. The most significant feature of the final outcome of West Bengal's panchayat elections is not the fact that the Trinamool Congress won. The true significance lies in what happened to other parties. The ruling party did steamroll its opponents. Pending the Supreme Court's decision on the fate of the constituencies in which there was no contest amounting to about a third of all seats across the three tiers of the Panchayati Raj setup the Trinamool Congress has won over 93 percent of seats in the zila parishads, 80 percent of panchayat samitis and 66 percent of gram panchayat seats. The corresponding figures in 2013 were 64, 57 and 51 percent. If the court declines to intervene and the results of the uncontested seats are held valid, these figures will go up significantly. There are signs, too, that many candidates who have won as independents (a large number of them being Trinamool rebels) will join the ruling party, as will those who have won on tickets from other parties (no anti-defection provisions apply in the case of the panchayats). In other words, the Trinamool Congress has gained a literally unprecedented stranglehold over rural self-government institutions. That the Trinamool Congress would win was never in doubt. The scale of the victory, too, was really not, given the matching scale of violence, intimidation and rigging that was witnessed in the run-up to and during the elections. The ruling party seemed loath to leave anything to chance. What is more interesting than this particular aspect of the results, however, is the emergence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the main challenger to Trinamool hegemony. The rise of the BJP has been at the expense of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Significantly, both the CPM and the Congress have trailed the independents in the number of seats won in the gram panchayats. Before we examine the situation in some detail, one point needs to be made. The BJP's rise must be seen in relative terms. It is still way behind the ruling party as its poor showing in the zila parishads strongly suggests. Its gains have been principally through the acquisition of the support base of the CPM, which brings us to the most significant pointer to West Bengal's political future. This year's panchayat elections seem to have been a culmination, electorally, of a process that began with the 2008 panchayat elections, when the Left Front faced the first major challenge to its hegemony. Many elections later, it can now safely be said that the CPM and other Left parties have been practically wiped out from Bengal. The Congress' dominance of two districts Malda and Murshidabad has been expunged. The BJP clocked in a distant second in the latter district but posted a strong showing to be second in Malda. The question is what this means for Bengal's political future, especially given the BJP's new location. Electorally speaking, next year's parliamentary polls is what all parties are waiting for. The context is provided by the Trinamool Congress' clear objective of winning all 42 Lok Sabha seats. There will quite obviously be a big correction of the trends in these elections because the parliamentary elections will be conducted by the Election Commission of India and will be relatively fair. Nevertheless, it is difficult to see, as things stand, any outcome other than Trinamool winning an overwhelming majority of seats, though it may not win all 42. From the outset, it seems clear that the CPM will win nothing after the two it managed to win in 2014. Last time, the Congress won four out of five seats in Malda and Murshidabad. It's pretty certain that it won't be able to repeat that feat. There is a real danger for the party, in fact, that there will be an exodus of cadres, supporters and leaders at the local levels to the ruling party. It has happened in other places in the past. It belongs, then, to the BJP to spoil the Trinamool Congress' party. In 2014, the party won from two constituencies. One of them was Darjeeling, which is not relevant in this context since there are no panchayats in the hills. The second was Asansol. The ruling party has rolled the BJP over in this area. But the BJP has made unexpected and significant gains in tribal-dominated areas of three districts Bankura, Jhargram and Purulia. It has almost matched the Trinamool in Purulia, the only district in which the Opposition has aggregated more seats than the ruling party as far as gram panchayat seats go. In Jhargram, the BJP has dogged the Trinamool closely, while in Bankura it has done creditably. These results have been made possible because the Sangh Parivar, especially the RSS, has been active in the tribal belts. The problem is that the surge at the lowest level has not translated into seats in the zila parishads, which most accurately represent the profile of the constituency. Nevertheless, the BJP can expect to provide a good contest in the three parliamentary constituencies these districts represent. Many had expected the BJP to do well in some north Bengal districts with substantial tribal populations. But it has done reasonably well in just one Alipurduar. As the dust settles, therefore, Bengal will be looking at a new political landscape in which a pulverised Left has been replaced by the BJP as the main opposition party. While the latter has cause to be quietly optimistic, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has more than good reason to be happy, in electoral terms, despite the violence and intimidation that went into escalating the scale of victory. tech2 News Staff It has been close to a year that digital video camera giants RED announced that they were working on a smartphone called the RED Hydrogen One and latest reports suggest that the smartphone is expected to finally hit the market this summer. RED opened pre-orders last July for the Hydrogen One and now according to a report by The Verge, the Hydrogen One is set to be released later this year and it will be available via Verizon and AT&T. However, there is no word yet on a final date or the price at which the phone will be available through the carriers yet. As far as claims go, the Hydrogen One could be the worlds first smartphone to feature a holographic display that is capable of rendering 3D content without the need for glasses, courtesy of what RED likes to call its 4V technology. Based on what we know from a previous report, the display will be able to switch between two modes a 2D normal mode and the said 4V holographic mode. To keep the phone chugging along, the phone is also expected to feature a 4,500 mAh battery unit. RED is also expected to add a multi-component modular system where users can add mods to customise their device using the pogo pin system that will be added to the back of their device. This should be similar to how Moto Mods work on Motorola devices. Reuters Uber submitted an appeal on Friday against the decision by the southern coastal English city of Brighton to strip the taxi app of its licence for not being fit and proper over data concerns and the use of drivers from outside the area. We have today filed our appeal at Brighton Magistrates Court, an Uber spokesman said. We want to continue providing more choice and competition for both private hire drivers and passengers in the city. The Silicon Valley firm is also battling to keep its cars on the streets of London after losing its licence in the British capital, its most important European market. Uber drivers licensed in Brighton can continue to operate in the city until the appeals process is exhausted. BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Saturday Greece had reached a deal with its international lenders on a package of reforms. The Commission said Greece would present the reforms at a meeting of euro zone finance ministers, known as Eurogroup, on May 24 and would implement the reforms ahead of another meeting on June 21, without giving further details BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Saturday Greece had reached a deal with its international lenders on a package of reforms. The Commission said Greece would present the reforms at a meeting of euro zone finance ministers, known as Eurogroup, on May 24 and would implement the reforms ahead of another meeting on June 21, without giving further details. The country is close to emerging from a sovereign debt crisis that plunged the economy into its biggest depression in decades, threatening to rupture the euro zone. It has received a record 260 billion euros in repeated bailouts since 2010. (Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek; Editing by Jon Boyle) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. A 40-year-old woman was killed and at least two others were wounded in a shooting incident in United States' Clayton County in Georgia, police said. Washington: A 40-year-old woman was killed and at least two others were wounded in a shooting incident in United States' Clayton County in Georgia, police said. At least two persons were shot at, of whom one has died near the Mt. Zion High School just south of the state capital Atlanta, the Clayton County police told Channel 2 Action News. The victim with three shots in her chest was declared brought dead at Piedmont Henry Hospital late on Friday. The Clayton County Fire Department said there were at least three victims "two with gunshot wounds", who were taken to the hospital. Investigators said both victims were females. There was a graduation ceremony happening across the street at the Clayton County Performing Arts Centre when the incident occurred. It was unclear if the people who were shot at were attending the graduation ceremony, the officer added. According to the officials, the shots were fired in the parking lot of the high school off Mt. Zion Road. A 21-year-old victim was taken to Atlanta Medical Centre with gunshot wounds to the leg. A third woman, who was pregnant, was not shot rather she was injured after being pushed, the media reported. An alliance headed by former Shia militia chief Moqtada Sadr who led two uprisings against the US-led invasion of Iraq has won the parliamentary elections. Tehran: An alliance headed by former Shia militia chief Moqtada Sadr who led two uprisings against the US-led invasion of Iraq has won the parliamentary elections by obtaining 54 seats, the Electoral Commission said on Saturday. According to the final results, incumbent Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi was in third place with 42 while the pro-Iranian Fatah alliance was second with 47 seats. The State of Law coalition led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki won 25 seats, while the National Alliance of Ayad Allawi got 21, the BBC reported. In the Iraqi northern provinces, the two main Kurdish parties won the most seats, as the Kurdistan Democratic Party got 25 while the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan obtained 18. Sadr, a long-term adversary of the United States, cannot become prime minister himself as he did not stand as a candidate, according to the BBC report. However, he was expected to play a major role in forming the new government. Sadr has reinvented himself as an anti-corruption champion after making his name as a militia chief fighting US forces after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He is also a fierce critic of Iran. He also campaigned on a platform of investing in public services. Whoever is named prime minister will have to oversee the reconstruction of Iraq following the battle against Islamic State, which seized control of large parts of the country in 2014. International donors pledged $30 billion in February but Iraqi officials estimated that as much as $100 billion was required. More than 20,000 homes and businesses were destroyed in the second city of Mosul alone. Over two million Iraqis are still displaced across the country and IS militants continue to mount deadly attacks despite having lost control of the territory they once held. Turnout at the 12 May election was only 44.5 per cent much lower than in previous elections. Ten people, mostly students, were killed when a teenage classmate armed with a shotgun and a revolver opened fire in a Texas high school Friday, the latest deadly school shooting to hit the United States. Ten people, mostly students, were killed when a teenage classmate armed with a shotgun and a revolver opened fire in a Texas high school Friday, the latest deadly school shooting to hit the United States. The gunman, arrested on murder charges, was identified as Dimitrios Pagourtzis, a 17-year-old junior at Santa Fe High School. He is being held on capital murder charges, meaning he could face the death penalty. Governor Greg Abbott said 10 people died and another 10 were wounded in "one of the most heinous attacks that we've ever seen in the history of Texas schools." "Nothing can prepare a parent for the loss of a child," Abbott told reporters in Santa Fe, located about 30 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of Houston. Abbott said the gunman apparently carried out the attack with a shotgun and a .38 revolver that was legally owned by his father. The Houston Chronicle said Pagourtzis also threw pipe bombs into a classroom at the start of the school day. But with gun reform a divisive issue in the United States, Abbott focused on the need to better address mental health concerns and to arm schools, rather than call for limits on the proliferation of weapons. At dusk, hundreds of people, including many children, turned out for a candlelight vigil as the community sought to cope with the tragedy. People prayed and sang "Amazing Grace," tears streaming down some faces. There were hugs, and dogs providing emotional support. Abbott said searches were being conducted at two residences and "explosive devices" had been found, including a "CO2 device" and a Molotov cocktail. He said journal entries by the gunman suggested he wanted to commit suicide but "he gave himself up." Abbott said there were no "warning signs" about the suspect, who had no criminal history, although he did post a picture on his Facebook page of a T-shirt with the words "Born to Kill" on it. Law enforcement authorities were questioning two "people of interest," the governor said. One may have "certain information," he said, and the other had some "suspicious reactions." Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said most victims were students. "Officers inside encountered a bloody mess in the school," a law enforcement official told the Houston Chronicle. Area hospitals said two victims were in critical condition. One of the wounded was a police officer, John Barnes, who engaged the gunman and was shot in the elbow, officials said. The shooting was the latest in what has become an all-too-familiar situation in American schools, where gun violence has become a part of everyday life The shooting was the latest in what has become an all-too-familiar situation in American schools, where gun violence has become a part of everyday life, part of a broader toll taken by firearms which are responsible for more than 30,000 gun-related deaths annually in the US. "My friend got shot in the art hall," weeping student Dakota Shrader told reporters. "I shouldn't be going through this," Shrader said as her mother comforted her. "It's my school. This is my daily life. I feel scared to even go back." Shrader said fire alarms went off "and everybody just started running outside. "And the next thing you know everybody looks and you hear 'boom, boom, boom' and I just ran as fast as I could to the nearest forest so I could hide and I called my mom." Earlier this year, 17 people were killed at Marjory Douglas Stoneman High School in Parkland, Florida, a massacre that prompted survivors to launch a grassroots campaign against gun violence that led to the largest gun reform rallies in nearly two decades. Friday's was the second mass shooting in Texas in six months. Twenty-six people were killed in a Texas church in November 2017 by a 26-year-old Air Force veteran. Abbott, the Texas governor, said he would convene roundtable discussions to look into ways of preventing such mass shootings in the future. President Donald Trump expressed "sadness and heartbreak" over the shooting and ordered US flags to fly at half-staff for the next few days. "This has been going on too long in our country," Trump said, speaking at an event on prison reform at the White House. "We're with you in this tragic hour." Trump, who has previously shied away from gun control and proposed arming teachers, said he was "determined to do everything in our power to protect our students, secure our schools and to keep weapons out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves and to others." The shooting erupted before 8:00 am, as the first classes of the day were starting. "It was pretty quiet for a few seconds, and then we just hear someone shoot a gun, and just a 'pow-pow-pow,'" student Hunter Mead, 14, told AFP. "And everyone just kind of freaked out. You know, everyone has the instinct, 'Just go, get out of here.'" The Santa Fe shooting came three months after the Florida massacre led to mass protests and their call of "Never again!". "We are fighting for you," tweeted David Hogg, a Stoneman Douglas student who has emerged as a leader of the gun control campaign. Another Stoneman Douglas student, Delaney Tarr, added: "We cannot let this continue to be the norm. We cannot." Former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton urged lawmakers to take action. "Every day that we fail to act on gun violence, we are failing our children," Clinton said. ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday he will take events in Gaza, where dozens of Palestinian protesters were killed by Israeli security forces this week, to the United Nations General Assembly. Erdogan, speaking at the start of an extraordinary summit of Muslim nations held in Istanbul in response to this week's events, said the United States blocked every step toward justice in the United Nations Security Council. ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday he will take events in Gaza, where dozens of Palestinian protesters were killed by Israeli security forces this week, to the United Nations General Assembly. Erdogan, speaking at the start of an extraordinary summit of Muslim nations held in Istanbul in response to this week's events, said the United States blocked every step toward justice in the United Nations Security Council. "Israel must certainly be held accountable for the innocent people it has massacred in front of international law. We will follow this issue in the United Nations General Assembly as well," he said. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Catherine Evans) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. ExxonMobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is going against the grain with plans to materially increase its capital spending over the next five years. Peers like Chevron Corporation, which recently announced that 2018 would be its fourth consecutive year of falling capital spending, are generally going in the opposite direction. Here's why Exxon is spending more, and a look at whether or not it can afford its ambitious spending and its dividend at the same time. The problem with Exxon's oil wells One of the biggest issues facing Exxon today is falling production in its upstream business -- it dropped 1% in 2016 and 1.7% in 2017. Those are small numbers, to be sure, but they are going the wrong direction. If it doesn't stabilize or increase its production, its business is effectively shrinking over time. And with oil prices heading higher, it is basically missing out on an opportunity to make larger profits. To that end, Exxon has been looking for projects in which to invest so it can start growing its production again. It has successfully lined up a host of big oil and natural gas deals that should provide it with material growth opportunities, including plans to invest in onshore U.S. oil and gas, deepwater oil in Guyana and Brazil, and gas production in Mozambique. And it has plans to expand its downstream operations in refining and chemicals on top of that. All of this will cost money. In 2018 Exxon's capital spending plan will require $24 billion, up roughly $1 billion from 2017. Spending in 2019 jumps to $28 billion, and for the three years after that will be as much as $30 billion. That's a lot of money out the door, especially for a company that paid out roughly $13 billion to investors in 2017 in the form of dividends. Can Exxon afford to support the dividend and its capital spending plans? Some breathing room In 2017 the oil giant's dividends and growth spending were covered by cash flow, but that required a little help from asset sales. With higher prices, however, 2018 has gotten off to a stronger start. Capital spending and dividends cost roughly $8.2 billion in the first quarter, with cash flow of about $10 billion. That $10 billion includes $1.4 billion of asset sales, which can't be counted on every quarter but remain a key part of Exxon's plan as it prunes assets to better focus its business -- and raise much needed cash. Oil prices have continued to rise this year, which is clearly making it easier for Exxon to cover its spending plans. So long as oil prices remain steady or move higher, Exxon has a cushion. Higher oil prices should also make it easier for the company to get top dollar for any divestments it makes. That said, there's another place for Exxon to find cash: its balance sheet. The company's long-term debt rose dramatically during the oil downturn that started in mid-2014, going from $6.5 billion at the end of 2013 to a peak of $27.7 billion at the end of 2016. It dropped to roughly $23 in 2017 as the company used improved oil prices to pare its debt load. However, even at the peak in 2016, long-term debt only accounted for around 15% of the company's capital structure. That's relatively high for Exxon, but not high relative to the broader integrated oil peer group. Take a look at the graph below --Exxon's debt to equity ratio is way down at the bottom, and by a wide margin compared to some of its European peers. In other words, Exxon can always rely on its balance sheet to carry it through on the spending front. However, don't forget about the impact of the company's spending. Although you can't actually predict how an oil project is going to play out in the real world, the drawing board plans look very promising. For example, Exxon's reserves increased 6% in 2017 based on its exploration efforts. Assuming it can turn that into additional oil production, higher sales volumes will also be a part of the mix. And that will provide even more cushion for the dividend. Exxon's got you covered Clearly, Exxon's spending plans are going to cost a lot money. However, if oil prices remain strong it looks like Exxon can cover its dividend and capital spending needs. That may require additional asset sales along the way, but pruning the portfolio is not a bad thing or unusual. And if there's a shortfall in a given year, the integrated oil giant still has a very strong balance sheet to fall back on. Meanwhile, if you assume it is successful in its drilling efforts, rising production will also help out. It might not be pretty every quarter or year, but Exxon appears to be financially capable of maintaining its dividend despite its ambitious growth plans. Concerned investors are pushing Exxon's stock lower, and its yield up over 4%. This looks like a buying opportunity for patient, long-term investors. The United States and Europe are drugmakers' biggest markets, but just because a drug wins approval in one doesn't mean it will get the nod in the other. Each market has its own system for clinical trials and drug reviews, and there are key differences in commercializing drugs in these regions that investors ought to know about before investing. In this clip from The Motley Fool's Industry Focus: Healthcare, analyst Kristine Harjes is joined by healthcare investor Todd Campbell to explain the differences associated with launching drugs in Europe versus launching them in America. A full transcript follows the video. This video was recorded on May 16, 2018. Kristine Harjes: What do our listeners need to know about drug approval in Europe? Todd Campbell: Well, it's a little bit different than it is in the U.S. There's some nuances that people ought to be aware of. I think, Kristine, one of the things that might be helpful to listeners, just to put things into context and to add on to what you've already said, is just how big the market is for medicine in Europe. I think, in the U.S., as U.S. investors, we tend to look at the U.S. market and recognize that, yeah, the U.S. market in dollar terms is the biggest market on the planet. But the European market is still incredibly significant. There are 741 million people who live in Europe, Kristine. Harjes: Yeah, it's not insignificant. It's something that, even if you are looking at domestic companies, U.S.-based companies, they're still probably going to have some European exposure. If you can get a drug approved in the United States, a lot of people consider our standards the strictest, then you might as well go ahead and look to get it approved internationally, as well. Campbell: Right. In the olden times, European approval was done on a decentralized basis -- so, you had to go to each individual country. You can imagine what a pain in the butt that would be. I have to get approved in Switzerland, I have to get approved in the U.K., I have to get approved in Germany, I have to get approved in Sweden, Finland, etc. Obviously, that wasn't the most efficient system. However, since the European Union was formed, they've set up a regulatory process over in the E.U. in the 90s that's a little bit similar to the Food and Drug Administration here in the United States in that it provides a centralized review process. Again, we talked about the nuances that people have to be aware of between the two approaches to approval. But, I think what's helpful, maybe, is to know that on in clinical trial basis, in the U.S., you have to get approval to begin clinical trials with the FDA. In Europe, it's still done on a decentralized country-by-country basis. Once those trials are complete, however, the new drug application would get submitted to the EMA, which is the centralized body that will consider the approval of any drugs for member countries in Europe. Similarly, in the U.S., you would submit it to the FDA for approval. Once it's submitted, both agencies have their own independent review mechanisms. In the U.S., maybe they convene a group of experts and have an advisory committee meeting. Similarly, in the E.U., they would convene a group of experts there to offer up an opinion. Then, again, in both of those systems, the regulatory body doesn't have to listen to the advisors, but usually they do. Harjes: Exactly. In many ways, there are parallels between the FDA and the EMA, the European Medicines Agency. But where the system really starts to differentiate itself is what happens after that central agency says, "Yes, this drug can be approved." In the United States, after that, you're pretty much good to go. You can get on the market and start selling it. But in Europe, the key difference to note is that the drug makers must then go nation by nation to get reimbursement approval. And that's because, in these countries, since there is a centralized universal health insurance program, it's the government itself that's going to wind up paying for these drugs, so they want to be able to negotiate a price. And if the price isn't deemed worth it, or if, for whatever reason, they don't want to cover this drug, they don't have to. And that's a conversation that the drug maker must have country by country. Campbell: Right. If you look at the studies of the review times that it takes for drugs that are filed for approval in the U.S. to win an OK versus in Europe to win an OK, the U.S. typically comes in a little bit faster. But, they're not too much different, as far as how long it takes to get a drug approval. But, I think what you're talking about with the individual obtaining reimbursement, that's maybe what shifts more companies to say, "I'm going to focus on the U.S. first." Because you're right, winning approval for reimbursement in each one of these member states can be a time-consuming and arduous process. Probably the best example of that, Kristine, is what happens in the United Kingdom, right? Harjes: Yep! Campbell: The United Kingdom has NICE, which is a regulatory body whose sole function is to look at the value that's created by drugs that have been approved for use in the European Union. Then, based upon determining value, and they use statistical formulas to determine that, they'll decide whether or not they agree to reimburse for it. Oftentimes, you end up with situations where, yeah, we've crossed all our T's and dotted all our I's, jumped over all of our hurdles, overcome all our obstacles and won approval in Europe, but NICE says, "Nope, your drug is priced too high for the value that we believe it adds to our population." Harjes: There's an interesting philosophical rabbit hole you can go down here regarding how exactly you do come up with that calculation. Like you said, Todd, it's completely statistical. It's based on the quality-adjusted life year metric, or the QALY. It then affixes a price to that to say how much a life year is worth; how much, as a government, do we want to pay for a drug that gives somebody one more year. Or, the quality-adjusted is, maybe it's multiple years, but they're not quite at full health, so then you adjust for that. I don't know, there's a lot to think about there. I don't want to unpack that too much, because I think we could probably do an entire episode on that. But, it's an interesting differentiation between how things work in the United States, where you do sometimes see private payer pushback on prices, but it's completely different than seeing it in a centralized location. Campbell: Yeah. I think that's kind of the hiccup. If you're looking at it and saying, what's the biggest difference between these two marketplaces, that would be it, is the fact that in the U.S., it's fully centralized. And then, of course, it goes to the private payers or Medicare or whatever to negotiate pricing. But, the drugs are typically available, and those conversations usually happen relatively quickly. But, in Europe, because you have all of these different cooks in the kitchen, it becomes a much longer process and sometimes a little bit more difficult process. So, I think that, from an investing standpoint, what investors want to know is, if I hear that a drug has been approved in the European Union by the EMA, I guess I probably shouldn't jump to think that we're going to start seeing meaningful revenue in Europe right away. It'll probably be best to model a benefit from European sales as occurring over a course of maybe one to three years. Harjes: Yeah, absolutely. But, it can still be interesting for some of the drugs that are approved first in the E.U., which is not as common, but it can sometimes be an indicator of how a drug might fare over in the U.S. One place in particular where we get that sort of perspective is with biosimilars. Listeners who are familiar with the show will know, these are a more complex form of generic drugs for biologic drugs, which are more complex treatments. Biosimilars are not like your traditional generics because they're not identical, so it's a little bit trickier to evaluate whether or not it actually is a perfect or close-enough-to-perfect substitute for the original therapy. The biosimilar approval process has been in place for a lot longer in Europe than it has in the United States. In the U.S., the framework was first enacted in 2009, and the first approval of a biosimilar didn't come until 2015. Meanwhile, across the pond, the first approval was granted in 2006, which is one year after a framework was created for this. So, there are many more biosimilars approved in the E.U. than in the U.S. So, while domestically we're still kind of looking at these first few that have been approved and seeing what the trends are in pricing discounts -- because a non-branded drug is going to be cheaper, but the question is, how much cheaper, since it's still a very complex drug -- and, just looking at adoption rates and all the other questions around biosimilars, it can be helpful to look at how things have fared in Europe first. Campbell: Absolutely. And perhaps their adoption of biosimilars, and that pace of adoption being so much faster than here in the U.S., is due to the fact that they approach medicine with more of a budget focus. I have a fixed pool of money in my country that I can spend on care, therefore if I can decrease the amount I spend on this expensive biologic by instead recommending the use of this biosimilar that's cheaper, that frees up more money for me then to spend on these other new drugs that are coming through and winning approval by the EMA. So, I think there's definitely some differences on that front. I believe that biosimilars will eventually gain a foothold here, similar here to what we saw with small molecule drugs. I think we're in the 1990s, if you compare the two, where we are timeline-wise, in biosimilars. And my expectation would be that you'll see biosimilars demand ramp up relatively rapidly over the course of the next five or ten years. But, again, still trailing what we've seen so far in the European Union for sales. That's obviously the most attractive market for the manufacturers of biosimilars to win an OK in right now. Cleric Sadr wins Iraq election but forming govt far off None of the three leading groups won more than 50 seats in Parliament in the May 12 vote, which saw record high abstentions with just 44.52 percent turnout-the lowest since the first multiparty elections in 2005 AFP, Baghdad : The final results of Iraq's elections confirmed Saturday a breakthrough for nationalist cleric Moqtada Sadr, who was in the lead, ahead of internationally favoured prime minister Haider al-Abadi. But the possibilities for alliances to form a coalition government remain wide open. None of the three leading groups won more than 55 of the 329 seats up for grabs in parliament at the May 12 vote, which saw record high abstentions with just 44.52 percent turnout-the lowest since the first multiparty elections in 2005. In a system calibrated to divide parliament after the fall of dictator Saddam Hussein following the American-led invasion of 2003, Moqtada Sadr's Marching Towards Reform alliance is far from assured of governing Iraq for the next four years. Sadr, who has ruled himself out of becoming prime minister, is looking to be the kingmaker and to cobble together a technocrat government from a dozen parties. But despite leading the tally, his alliance falls short of a majority and it will take lengthy wrangling to forge a coalition. Negotiations to form a coalition government began as soon as the vote ended a week ago, with the involvement of the US and Iran-who both oppose the firebrand Shiite leader. "Last week was the agreement of principles, and now we enter the phase of forming coalitions," properly speaking, Iraqi political commentator Hicham al-Hachemi told AFP. The alliance between the populist Shiite preacher and Iraq's communists won 54 seats. In second place is the Conquest Alliance, made up of ex-fighters from mainly Iran-backed paramilitary units that battled IS, which won 47 seats, ahead of the Victory Alliance, headed by Abadi, which had 42. The vote was a slap in the face to the widely reviled elite that has dominated Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein. Sadr rose to prominence in the wake of the US invasion, when his militia fought a bloody insurgency against American troops. After years on the sidelines, he has reinvented himself as a champion of the poor and linked up with secularists to battle corruption. He is one of the few Iraqi politicians opposed to both the presence of American troops and the heavy influence that neighbouring Iran exercises over Iraq. Sadr declared on Twitter that the results showed "reform has won and corruption is weakened," but he faces a tricky regional context as he begins coalition negotiations. The protracted horse-trading comes at a time of high tensions after Washington's withdrawal from a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran and fears of a tug-of-war over Iraq. Even before Sadr's victory was confirmed, Iran had already been convening meetings to try to block him from forming a government. Iran dispatched the powerful general Qassem Soleimani to Baghdad, who has met with several members of Iraq's old guard including Abadi and his predecessor Nuri al-Maliki. According to officials, Soleimani has ruled out any alliance with Sadr, who surprised many last year by visiting Iran's regional foe Saudi Arabia as Riyadh seeks increased involvement in Iraq. Soleimani's shuttle diplomacy is aimed at gathering enough parties opposed to Sadr to deny his alliance a governable majority and a route to the powerful position of prime minister-though Sadr himself is not in the running for the top job. Sadr has already ruled out governing with either Maliki or the pro-Tehran head of the Conquest Alliance Hadi al-Ameri. Samsung Bixby 2.0 to see the light of day with Galaxy Note 9 News oi-Vishal Kawadkar Samsung plans big for its smart voice assistant. Samsung's AI Center head, Gary G. Lee has confirmed that the company's next flagship will come with Bixby 2.0 on board. Lee confirmed this in an interview with The Korean Herald. Samsung was expected to launch an improved version of its virtual voice assistant this year. The new version is also anticipated to come on the Galaxy Note 9 which is slated to launch at IFA 2018. Lee's comments further add weight to the notion that Bixby 2.0 will debut with the Note 9. This also gives a hint of when to expect Bixby 2.0. Though it could be released anytime, the company will likely bring it with a new smartphone as one of its prominent features. As for the upgrades, the new voice assistant is said to feature enhanced natural language processes. It will have a faster response time and an improved ability to listen in a noisy environment. Back in February, Samsung's mobile chief DJ Koh has confirmed that the company will be launching its Bixby-powered smart speaker in the second half of 2018. Koh made the announcement during an interview with The Wall Street Journal at MWC 2018. Earlier, there were reports that the device will be launched in the first quarter this year. "When I introduce the first model, I don't want to give the impression that Samsung delivered another affordable mass model," Koh said. "I want to focus on more premium." The device by the South Korean tech giant will mainly focus on audio quality and the management of connected home appliances such as lights and locks, as per the report. As you may have guessed, the smart speaker will be controlled by Bixby, Samsung's voice assistant that rivals Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. It will synchronize with TVs, Galaxy smartphones, and other Samsung devices. Samsung is planning to release the smart speaker in multiple markets, including the US. People familiar with the matter said it will cost around $200 (approximately Rs. 12,830). That being said, the pricing and release plans are still flexible and may change in future considering many factors. As of now, the company is still working on improving the speaker's ability to conduct voice-based web searches. The smart speaker project is being led by an executive named Patrick Chomet, who had joined Samsung last year. 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 Samsung mocks Apple again; this time for iPhone's battery issues News oi-Vishal Kawadkar Samsung takes a jab at Apple iPhone's battery throttling issues. Samsung is always on top of its game when it comes to mocking Apple. Now the company has taken a dig at Apple iPhone's battery issues. As a part of Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus's promotion, Samsung took a jab at Apple's decision to downclock iPhone processors without users' consent. Samsung's latest "Moving On" advertisement is yet another ad starring a struggling Apple loyalist who ends up switching to the new Galaxy S9 smartphone. The video has already caused a stir and prompted heated discussions on social media platforms. This isn't the first time Samsung has mocked Apple with its ads. The company started doing this in 2011 with its Galaxy S advertisement aiming at better network reception compared to the iPhone 4. Besides, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ have been a great success for Samsung and has been acclaimed by the critics and reviewers all around the world. Moreover, Samsung is also in talks with several smartphone manufacturers to supply its Exynos mobile chipsets, reports Reuters. The list also includes the troubled Chinese manufacturer ZTE. In an interview, Samsung's Inyup Kang said the company is "talking to all OEMs" regarding the supply. While there is no deal agreed with ZTE or other manufacturers, Kang said that he expects to announce a new client for its Exynos chips in the first half next year. ZTE has faced a lot of heat from the US government. US companies are banned from selling components to ZTE. Many smartphones from the company use Snapdragon chips from Qualcomm which is an American company. Recent estimates suggest that between half and 65 percent of ZTE devices use Snapdragon chips. Since the ban, ZTE has halted major operation and there have been reports that the company is running low on stocks in China. While the US government has hinted that it might backtrack this ban, Samsung could still see this as an opportunity to sell its Exynos chips to the company. Besides, new filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office shows that the company has applied for trademarks on the names Samsung Galaxy Watch and Samsung Galaxy Fit. 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 Facebook bug that asked for Superuser privileges on Android has been fixed News oi-Sandeep Sarkar Facebook is claiming that the pop-up was a result of coding error'. Facebook's Cambridge Analytica scandal kind of shook the users and the company is still recovering from the fallout. Following this, the social media giant has been taking the security measures quite seriously and often can be seen around boasting about its privacy. Facebook has been speaking on and off about the proactive measures that the company is using to prevent third-party apps and services on its platform. However, the social media giant's own app came under the radar again this week for asking admin privileges (superuser permissions) which are said to allow Facebook to access private data of millions of smartphone users. It is being reported that a number of posts on Reddit, Twitter, and other online forums had highlighted the issue. Responding to the allegations Facebook is claiming that the pop-up was a result of 'coding error'. The social media giant released an official statement which said that it was only visible to the users who are using rooted devices, and it was only under certain circumstances. Now, the company claims that the issue has been resolved. Commenting on the matter Facebook said that: "A coding error in one of our anti-fraud systems caused a small number of people running the Facebook app and certain permission management apps on rooted Android phones to see a request for additional access permissions. We do not need or want these permissions, and we have already fixed this issue. We apologize for any confusion" Also, many of the users who are upset with the popups had been taking it to various online forums to narrate their ordeal. The users claimed that the Facebook Android app (com.facebook.katana) was asking for superuser access for the users' devices. It will be worth noting the fact that this has been going on for quite some time now, with a number of users reporting that the Facebook app was asking for root permissions. It seems that the issue is quite widespread now, considering the number of users reporting similar issues. The reports suggest that Facebook had first started asking for the admin access with the version 172.0.0.12.93 version of its Android app. However, now it is being said that the issue is also seen on the version 172.0.0.66.93. 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 Google believes CCIs antitrust ruling will cause irreparable damage to its reputation News oi-Sandeep Sarkar Google has challenged the CCI's ruling. Google claims that the verdict given by CCI could cause an irreparable' harm to the company's reputation. Google was penalized by India's antitrust watchdog, Competition Commission of India (CCI), for abusing its dominant position in India's online web search market. The fine was imposed on Google back in February and Google had to shed $21.17 million (Rs 135.98 approx) out of its pocket for the same. Google was accused of manipulating search results in a way that it restricted its partners from using the other search services. This gave Google an upper hand over its rivals. Now, as per some reports Google has challenged the CCI's ruling. Google claims that the verdict given by CCI could cause an 'irreparable' harm to the company's reputation. This will further require the tech giant to overhaul its search operation in India from the scratch. Google further commented on this that, 'If Google is restricted from entering into certain types of contracts while the appellate review is conducted, Google will be irreparably harmed'. It is being reported that Reuters was able to have an exclusive look at the Google's pleas that was challenging the verdict. The pleas mentioned that CCI's order 'requires Google to change the way it conducts business in India on a lasting basis and the way it designs its search results page in India'. The regulatory body had also ordered Google to redact all such business terms immediately that discouraged its partners from using the search service of its rivals in India. The Google's plea document further states that the CCI's verdict, that accuses the company of violating the Indian laws of Competition. It also claims that the wrong decision will have a greater impact rather than what appears on the surface. Google was also able to get a partial stay on the CCI's verdict. Google was able to get the stay by paying a small share of the fine imposed by CCI. This was possible because of a ruling by the Indian company law tribunal. However, it seems that CCI is not Google's only opponent in its legal battle. This is because Matrimony.com, which is an Indian matchmaking website, has also filed a plea against the CCI's verdict raising questions on why Google was let go so easily. 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 Detained Saudi women driving campaigners branded traitors AP, Dubai : Just weeks before Saudi Arabia is set to lift its ban on women driving, the kingdom's state security said Saturday it had detained seven people who are being accused of working with "foreign entities." Rights activists say all those detained had worked in some capacity on women's rights issues, with five of those detained among the most prominent and outspoken women's rights campaigners in the country. Pro-government media outlets have splashed their photos online and in newspapers, accusing them of betrayal and of being traitors. The women activists had persistently called for the right to drive, but stressed that this was only the first step toward full rights. For years, they also called for an end to less visible forms of discrimination, such as lifting guardianship laws that give male relatives final say on whether a woman can travel abroad, obtain a passport or marry. Their movement was seen as part of a larger democratic and civil rights push in the kingdom, which remains an absolute monarchy where protests are illegal and where all major decision-making rests with the king and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Some state-linked media outlets published the names of those detained, which include Loujain al-Hathloul, Aziza al-Yousef and Eman al-Najfan. Rights activists who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for fear of repercussion say Madeha al-Ajroush and Aisha al-Manae are also among the seven detained. Both took part in the first women's protest movement for the right to drive in 1990, in which 50 women were arrested for driving and lost their passports and their jobs. All five women are well-known activists who agitated for greater women's rights. Several of the women were professors at state-run universities and are mothers or grandmothers. The Interior Ministry on Saturday did not name those arrested, but said the group is being investigated for communicating with "foreign entities," working to recruit people in sensitive government positions and providing money to foreign circles with the aim of destabilizing and harming the kingdom. Chinese bombers make debut landing on disputed South China Sea runway China\'s first indigenously-built aircraft carrier on Friday successfully completed its maiden sea trial AFP Beijing : China has for the first time landed several bombers on an island in the disputed South China Sea, a move that could provoke renewed tensions between countries bordering the strategically vital maritime region. Several bombers of various types-including the long-range, nuclear strike capable H-6K-carried out landing and take off drills at an unidentified island airfield after carrying out simulated strike training on targets at sea, the Chinese airforce said in a statement Friday. Wang Mingliang, a defense expert cited in the statement, said the takeoff and landing exercises on islands in the South China Sea will help the air force "strengthen its combat capability to deal with maritime security threats". The move comes weeks after US network CNBC reported that China had installed anti-ship and air-to-air defences on outposts in the Spratly Islands that are also claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines, citing sources close to US intelligence. Washington warned that Beijing would face unspecified "consequences" over its militarisation of the South China Sea, and said it had raised the issue with China. "I believe this is the first time a bomber has landed in the #SouthChinaSea," Bonnieh Glaser, a China expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, tweeted. In an analysis published on its website, CSIS said the location of the runway was believed to be Woody Island, China's largest base in the Paracel Islands, which is also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan. The South China Sea issue has been brewing for years, with China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam making competing claims in waters with vital global shipping routes and what are believed to be significant oil and natural gas deposits. China has engaged in years of land-reclamation efforts on reefs it controls in the region and built both civilian and military facilities in the contested area. Chinese military facilities include air bases, radar and communications systems, naval facilities and defensive weaponry including landing strips able to accommodate military planes. China's first indigenously-built aircraft carrier today successfully completed its maiden sea trial and returned to its home port in Dalian, a major step in the country's quest to modernise its military and bolster its naval presence in the disputed South China sea and in the Indian Ocean. China currently has two aircraft carriers. The first aircraft carrier named Liaoning, which was launched in 2012, was a refit of the former Soviet vessel bought from Ukraine. The People's Liberation Army Navy said that the aircraft carrier, built at the Dalian Shipbuilding Industry, underwent a five-day sea trial starting from May 13. Its sea trial tested multiple facilities and attained the anticipated objectives, state-run China Daily reported. The completely home-grown aircraft carrier, named Type 001A for now, weighs 50,000 metric tonnes. Earlier, the Chinese Navy said the sea trial aimed to demonstrate the reliability and capability of the ship's propulsion systems. Though Liaoning became operational in 2012, it is being mostly used for research and improvements for the new aircraft carriers China plans to build. China is already building its third aircraft carrier in Shanghai. According to reports, plans are afoot to build a nuclear aircraft carrier. Govt promises more IoT graduates to face challenges of 4IR Campus Desk : The government is developing IoT (Internet of Things) graduates through the internationally reputed company to face the challenges arising due mainly to the emergence of fourth industrial revolution (4IR). Some 118 IoT graduates have already been developed through DataSoft, a Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI)-5 level company and imparting training to develop another batch of 122 graduates under a programme titled 'IoT Army of 300'. "We are putting emphasis on creating non-traditional employment as the many traditional types of job will be vanished due to emergence of emerging technologies," said State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, reports BSS. Addressing a function organized by DataSoft at the auditorium of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) on Tuesday he said the emerging technologies, including IoT, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, block chain will dominate the job market and vanish the traditional types of job in future. "The government is taking preparation to meet this challenge and providing support to reputed companies to create IoT and AI graduates," Palak said, adding that Bangladesh's progress in IT faced a setback due to failure of BNP government in establishing internet connectivity through the submarine cable in 1992. Leveraging ICT for Growth, Employment and Governance (LICT) Project and Hi- Tech Park under ICT Division are providing financial assistance to DataSoft to create 300 IoT graduates. Project Management Specialist of LICT Project Sarkar Abul Kalam Azad said the LICT project also made a partnership with the US based Augmedix and BJIT to provide training on medical scribe and block chain. "We are happy that the youngsters who received training on IoT have developed some software based solutions like air quality measurer and smart trolley," he said. The DataSoft Managing Director Mahboob Zaman said DataSoft is managing 10,000 smart houses in Japan and those who are getting training on IoT are being provided with jobs. Managing Director of Dhaka WASA Engineer Taqsem A Khan and Director General of Power Cell Engineer Mohammad Hossain also spoke at the function. Later, the state minister handed over certificate to 90 graduates who have received IoT training in the second batch. Now that commercial VR experiences are finally picking up in popularity and receiving wider acceptance and adoption, it seems like a pretty opportune time to start pushing the boundaries further with augmented reality as well. While definitely not a new concept, AR is still mostly confined to labs, specialized use cases and only a few really rare and/or professional grade hardware offers, like Microsoft's HoloLens or the Magic Leap One. That could all change pretty soon, since industry insiders claim that Google is working on some AR hardware of its own. As far as rumors go, the device will be standalone and based on a Qualcomm chipset. Some sources hint at the QCS603 - an IoT SoC, with some impressive fire-power, including up to 2,560x 1,440 pixel resolution, 1080p video capture, with 3D overlays and support for OpenGL ES 3.2 and Vulkan. The Google A65 moniker is being tossed around, along with news of development help from Quanta and Meta (An American AR company). The latter are currently working on a device of their own, dubbed the A66 . However, its unclear in and how much the two are related. Regardless, there aren't many particulars available on the A66 at this point, either. Now, if history is any indication, Google's involvement alone isn't necessarily a sure-fire guarantee of success. You really don't need to look any further than the overly-ambitious Google Glass project, which is kind of related to AR is well. In any case, it would be great to see more competition and some viable consumer options eventually pop-up in the niche market. That being said, it is also worth noting that Microsoft is also working on a more commercial variant of HoloLens, said to come out next year. Source Erdogan calls on Muslim countries to unite and confront Israel Erdogan said Israel should be held accountable over the killing of more than 60 Palestinians on Monday. Internet photo Al Jazeera News : Istanbul, Turkey - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Muslim leaders to unite and confront Israel, days after scores of Palestinians were killed by Israeli snipers as they marked 70 years of Israeli occupation. Speaking at an extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Friday, Erdogan said Israel should be held accountable over the killings which drew widespread international condemnation and triggered a wave of protests from Asia, through the Middle East, to North Africa. "To take action for Palestinians massacred by Israeli bandits is to show the whole world that humanity is not dead," Erdogan told the group of Muslim leaders gathered in Turkey's largest city, Istanbul. The Turkish president described Israel's killing of Palestinians as "thuggery, atrocity and state terror," and said the US' recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital would inevitably haunt it. 'US part of the problem' On Monday, as the United States went ahead with the controversial relocation of its embassy to Jerusalem, 62 Palestinians, including five children, were killed and more than 2,700 wounded as the Israeli army fired live ammunition and tear gas at protesters who had assembled hundreds of metres from a 1949 armistice line between Gaza and Israel. The protesters in the besieged enclave had gathered for Nakba Day - a commemoration of the events of 1948 when Zionist paramilitaries ethnically cleansed Palestinian cities and towns. About 750,000 people were forcibly expelled from historical Palestine. Several heads of state attended the Istanbul summit, but Saudi Arabia, the host of the 57-member OIC, sent only a senior foreign ministry official. Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE also sent lower-level ministers. Speaking at the conference, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said the Palestinian cause had "become a symbol for oppressed peoples everywhere" and condemned Israel for the "brutal massacre" of peaceful demonstrators. "Who among us does not know the declared siege forced on the Gaza Strip and the collective punishment against its population?" the emir said. "The Gaza Strip has been transformed into a large concentration camp for millions of people who are deprived of their most basic rights to travel, education, work and medical treatment. "When their sons take arms they are called terrorists, and when they stage peaceful demonstrations, they are called extremists, and are shot dead with live ammunition." For his part, Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah said the US had become "part of the problem and not the solution" and called the relocation of the embassy "an act of aggression against the Islamic nation, against Muslims and Christians". Jordan's King Abdullah II urged the adoption of urgent measures to back "the resistance of Palestinians", while Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called for economic and political measures against the US and Israel. Late on Friday, the OIC issued a final communique calling on the United Nations to launch an international investigation into the killings in Gaza, the creation of an international protection force for Palestinians, and for the OIC to place economic restrictions on any countries, companies or individuals who recognise Israel's annexation of Jerusalem. Earlier in the day, Erdogan told a raucous crowd of more than 10,000 people in Istanbul's Yenikapi fairground that the Muslim world had to unite and "pull themselves back together". "Muslims are way too busy fighting and disagreeing with themselves, and shy away when confronted by their enemies," he told the audience. "Since 1947, Israel has been free to do what it likes in this region. They do whatever they feel like. But this reality can be undone if we unite." Earlier this week, Turkey recalled its envoys to Israel and the US following the killings of Palestinians and the relocation of Washington's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Tolgar Memis, a German-Turk, said he came to the rally to support Erdogan's recent remarks and policies against Israel. "What we've seen over the last few years, all the injustice, and what happened earlier this week - it's simply unacceptable. "Erdogan has made great strides in defending the Palestinians, something he is obligated to do, and hopefully other leaders will follow his cue." These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. A couple of Nokia-branded HMD smartphones have started getting new updates. The devices in question are the Nokia 8 Sirocco and Nokia 2, and the updates they are getting include Android security fixes for the month of May. The Nokia 8 Sirocco update - which is currently hitting units in India - weighs in at 82.5MB, while the size of the Nokia 2 update - which is rolling out in both India and the US - is 88MB. The change-log only says May patch, so it's reasonable to assume nothing else is included. OTA roll out happen in phases, so be patient if your unit hasn't received the update yet. Via 1 2 This week, Samsung released two new color options for the Galaxy S9 and S9+, Burgundy Red and Sunrise Gold. Unfortunately, the initial announcement of both color options didnt specifically mention the United States market; only that more markets would be coming soon. Samsung usually didnt release the nicer colors in the US with the Galaxy S6 and much later into the Galaxy S7s cycle when the Coral Blue color was released for the edge model. Well, it looks like at least the Sunrise Gold color is coming after all. Evan Blass tweeted a couple of images of American variants of the Galaxy S9 and S9+ in Sunrise Gold. We know these are American versions because they have the phones name stamped on the back while other versions only sport the Samsung branding on the back. This makes Sunrise Gold the fourth color option in the US. Currently in the States, you can only buy the Galaxy S9 or S9+ in Midnight Black, Coral Blue, or Lilac Purple. Samsung hasnt officially said when Sunrise Gold will hit shores, but perhaps itd be a good idea to debut the color as Samsung revives the Samsung Galaxy Made for Summer ad campaign for the Galaxy S8 last year. Published on 2018/05/19 | Source Added final episodes 31 and 32 captures for the Korean drama "Switch - Change The World" (2018) Advertisement Directed by Jo Young-min, Nam Tae-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 1100 maunds of chemically-ripened mangoes destroyed RAB mobile team in a drive seized 1100 more maunds of chemically-ripened mangoes, being destroyed at Mirpur on Saturday. A mobile court of the Rapid Action Battalion on Saturday destroyed around 1100 maunds of mangoes and jailed six traders at the Mazar Road area of Mirpur-1 in the city for using harmful chemicals to ripen the fruits. Executive Magistrate Sarwar Alam conducted the drive along with members of Rab-4 from 5:30 am and it was continued till 4:30 pm, said second-in-command of the Rab-4 battalion Maj Kazi Saifuddin Ahmed. The mangoes were not naturally matured, and chemicals were used making the fruits harmful for consumers' health, Maj Saifuddin said. The magistrate sentenced the six traders with different jail terms from three months to one year, he said. An entire wing of a high-security prison has been placed on lockdown after staff there were told they will be relocated, amid fears for the safety of guards. Managers of Portlaoise Prison, which is home to a number of Kinahan cartel-linked criminals, yesterday informed 17 prison officers that they were being transferred to Cloverhill Prison in two weeks' time. The move comes after employees at the facility staged a walkout last week, following the assault of an officer in Wing C, where many gangland figures are currently detained. Assaulted A former top security manager told the Herald that the prison staff "have been concerned for some time over their safety and have voiced their concerns again and again". "But the fact that one of them was assaulted last week was the final straw. Expand Close Minister Charlie Flanagan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Minister Charlie Flanagan "They knew nothing about the proposed move until being informed yesterday," the source added. It is understood the officers affected have been given until June 2 to prepare for the move to Cloverhill prison, which is based some 79km from Portlaoise. Two of the staff members are understood to be senior prison officers. "Many of those affected are particularly annoyed by this impasse because of the Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan being from the area," said the source. "They believe he has not addressed their safety concerns despite them being voiced again and again. "The reason behind Wing C remaining on lockdown is because the prison doesn't have enough staff to deal with the prisoners now." It is understood that meetings with the Prison Officers' Association (POA) and the Irish Prison Service (IPS) were urgently convened at the Department of Justice, to deal with the serious ongoing situation at the prison. Murder Fears over the levels of dangerous violence have been plaguing the facility recently. In March, it was revealed that four of the cartel's most senior alleged players in Mountjoy Prison, including Barry Doyle - who is serving life for the murder of innocent Limerick rugby captain Shane Geoghegan - were moved under armed transport to Portlaoise Prison. In recent weeks it was revealed that armed gardai had been called in to protect staff in Portlaoise Prison after Kinahan cartel-linked inmates threatened to make "another Brian Stack". It came after days of violence as members of the cartel tried to intimidate staff. Former garda commissioner Martin Callinan has disputed claims he told Crimecall presenter Philip Boucher-Hayes penalty points whistleblower Maurice McCabe was "not to be trusted" and had "psychiatric and psychological issues". Appearing at the Disclosures Tribunal, Mr Callinan also denied claims by solicitor Gerald Kean that he had described Sgt McCabe as "troublesome, obstructive and difficult". The two are among five prominent public figures who allege Mr Callinan made comments maligning Sgt McCabe in late 2013 and early 2014. The tribunal will next week hear Mr Callinan's testimony in response to accusations he told Fianna Fail TD John McGuinness that Sgt McCabe "fiddles with children"; told Comptroller and Auditor General Seamus McCarthy there were sexual offence allegations against Sgt McCabe; and told Fine Gael TD John Deasy that Sgt McCabe "was not to be believed or trusted with anything". The tribunal is investigating allegations by former garda press officer Dave Taylor that Mr Callinan ordered him in mid-2013 to negatively brief journalists that Sgt McCabe had been investigated over a child sexual assault allegation. Supt Taylor has claimed then deputy commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan was aware of the order. Expand Close Whistleblower Maurice McCabe / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Whistleblower Maurice McCabe Sgt McCabe was cleared of the allegation in 2007 following a garda inquiry. Grievance The alleged smear campaign coincided with a period when Sgt McCabe's complaints about abuses of the penalty points system were causing embarrassment for garda authorities. Yesterday, Mr Callinan not only denied speaking negatively about Sgt McCabe but said he believed the allegations of a smear campaign stemmed from "a grudge" Supt Taylor had against Ms O'Sullivan. Within months of Mr Callinan's March 2014 resignation, Supt Taylor was moved out of the garda press office by Ms O'Sullivan. The following year, he was arrested over alleged unauthorised leaks but no charges were brought against him. Mr Callinan said, after the arrest, Supt Taylor told him he had "a huge grievance" at being moved to the garda traffic bureau, that Ms O'Sullivan was the person responsible for his arrest and he would "bring her down". He alleged Supt Taylor decided that in order to make his story work, he "had to involve Mr Callinan in the process". Questioned by tribunal counsel Pat Marrinan, Mr Callinan said he was "certainly angry" after journalist Gemma O'Doherty called to his home in April 2013 while he was abroad on business. However, he said he had no argument with Ms O'Doherty subsequently publishing an article in the Irish Independent about him having penalty points quashed, as it was factually correct. Asked about his use of the word "disgusting" at a Dail Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting in January 2014, Mr Callinan said it was "misconstrued" in media reports and was about how personal data had ended up in the public domain and not the character of the whistleblowers. He said Sgt McCabe rightly reported what he saw to be wrongdoing and had proved to be correct on quite a large amount of issues he raised. The tribunal heard that a document which referred to the investigation into the sexual assault claim against Sgt McCabe had been included in a pack of documents circulated for preparation meeting ahead of the PAC appearance. Mr Callinan said he did not recall ever seeing the document. Thorsten Brady has been charged after arrest at supermarket. Two men have been charged over the alleged handover of 100,000 of cannabis at a supermarket in Dublin. Father-of-one Thorsten Brady, of Larkhill, Westport, Co Mayo, and Wong Chung Sing, of Church Street, Dublin, are accused of unlawful possession of cannabis and possessing it for the purpose of sale or supply at Tesco, Parnell Street, after the seizure on Wednesday. Garda Aisling Dillon told Judge Bryan Smyth at Dublin District Court yesterday that Mr Brady (23) made no reply when charged. She objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the case, and alleged that he was caught "red-handed" by gardai on patrol, who noticed him acting suspiciously. Gda Dillon said it was alleged Mr Brady and another male were seen in a suspected drugs transaction, and he had a backpack on him containing drugs. She agreed with defence solicitor Stephen O'Mahony that waiter Mr Brady "maintained a narrative of innocence during the period of detention". Passport Pleading for bail, the solicitor said Mr Brady and his partner have an infant child but 5,000 bail could be lodged. Judge Smyth noted his passport had been handed over to gardai and granted bail after the 5,000 was brought to court by a family member. He ordered Mr Brady to sign on three times a week at Westport Garda Station, provide a contact phone number and not apply for new travel documents. He was also told to stay at The Arches, Newport, Co Mayo, and to appear again on July 27 for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to be obtained. Malaysian national Mr Sing (28) deferred his bail application and was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court next Friday. Garda Donal O'Sullivan objected to bail on the grounds that Mr Sing had stated he had 7,000, which was "financial means to flee the jurisdiction". Mr Sing listened to the proceedings with the help of a translator. His lawyer Cahir O'Higgins asked the court to defer the bail hearing to provide proof of an address and other details for the application. Legal aid was granted to both defendants. Meghan Markle arrives with her mother, Doria Ragland, to have tea with the queen Royal wedding watchers could barely contain their excitement when after days camped on the streets, they saw Britain's Prince Harry and his brother William emerge from the Windsor Castle grounds. The crowd surged forward as the brothers stopped to shake their hands. Harry told those he met that he was feeling "wonderful" ahead of his wedding today to Meghan Markle. The impromptu walkabout was similar to the one Prince William conducted the evening before his wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011. Expand Close Prince Harry meets well-wishers outside Windsor Castle / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Prince Harry meets well-wishers outside Windsor Castle After a few minutes, the princes darted back inside the castle gates. "He looked calm and confident," one woman said, adding it was "impressive, given the circumstances". The final 48 hours before the wedding had been filled with drama, after news broke that Meghan's father, Thomas, would not be attending. Despite the upset, the bride-to-be also said she was feeling "wonderful" as she arrived with her mother, Doria Ragland, at the luxury Cliveden House Hotel after meeting Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip for afternoon tea. Smiled With an arm briefly around her mother, she smiled broadly and looked at ease as they were greeted by the hotel general manager. Harry and Meghan spent their last night as an unmarried couple in separate hotels. Yesterday morning, Kensington Palace announced Prince Charles would be walking Meghan down the aisle. The palace said the former actress had asked her future father-in-law to accompany her as she makes her way to the altar. For the royal watchers this came as welcome news. "I think it's good for the queen," Molly Kleven (73), from Minnesota, said. "She likes tradition and continuity, and it lets Meghan know she's part of the family." Yesterday, celebrity guests started arriving in town and the 30m (34m) ring of security tightened. Manholes were checked, footpaths and roads cordoned off and armed police patrolled around asking the crowd to refrain from throwing confetti when the newlyweds emerge from the chapel. "It's a hazard for the carriage", one said, "and a bit of a pain to clean up". Three town criers were on standby - unofficial royal town crier Tony Appleton, the Gloucester town crier Alan Myatt and the Windsor town crier Chris Brown. Drinking The latter said when it comes to royal weddings, three town criers are definitely not a crowd. "There's enough room for all three," he said. "We're all drinking lots of water and shouting." The multiple criers, media wranglers and well-wishers were a little too much for new bride Vicky Hallam, whose Windsor wedding was gatecrashed by the world's media and royalty. Vicky and husband Aron had booked their wedding nine months ago and had been expecting a quiet ceremony with about 30 guests. Harry and Meghan have changed all that. "I was first. This was booked in August. I was well in there before Meghan," Vicky said. Getting married the day before royalty does have its perks though, Vicky conceded. "I got a police escort and was interviewed on Sky News. Everyone cheered, it was pretty unreal really," she added. The pub where Aron and Vicky held their reception had even changed its name for the weekend, from The Three Tuns to The Prince Harry. Sisters Shauna and Brielle McCormick had flown in from their home in New Jersey with their mother, Ann. "We couldn't miss it. Everyone needs a fairy tale," Ann said. "It's nice to be here for a good news story." Pomp They all agreed it was more enjoyable revelling in the ridiculousness of the royals than reading about, say their own president or North Korea. "We have nothing like this. It's the pomp and ceremony that makes it so enjoyable. It's just fun," Shauna said. Today, more than 150,000 are expected to flock to Windsor for the ceremony. It is big business for British marketeers and those visiting the town. It is estimated that royalist consumers will spend between 40m and 70m (46m and 80m) on royal wedding-related merchandise, including commemorative mugs, plates, coins and posters. KFC in Windsor has even released a limited edition Royal Bargain Bucket. A man and woman were arrested at separate locations yesterday in relation to the death of a 10-week-old baby girl last June. The pair were being questioned under legislation concerning "assault causing harm" and are expected to be released this morning from Longford Garda Station, after being interviewed by specialist officers. A file will then be prepared for the DPP in relation to the death of Doriana Kluska, of Cloondara, Longford, who died in Temple Street Children's Hospital on June 4, 2017. Injuries It is understood the child died from blunt force trauma to the head. The baby girl was found with serious injuries at her home. She was subsequently rushed to hospital but passed away some time later. The male and female arrested are Polish nationals who are known to gardai. Since the child's death is suspicious, the child welfare agency Tusla has been involved in the case. "The man, who is in his early 30s, was arrested in Naas, Co Kildare," a garda spokeswoman said yesterday. "The woman, who is aged in her early 20s, was arrested in Dublin early yesterday morning". Both were taken to Longford Garda Station, where they were detained under Section Four of Criminal Justice Act 1984. Gardai had been investigating the baby's death for close to a year before the arrests yesterday morning and have said that their investigation is ongoing. Last July, the Herald covered the adjourned inquest into the child's death at Dublin Coroner's Court. It heard she died from a bleed to her brain. Doriana lived in Aghnagone, Cloondara, Co Longford. At the opening of the inquest into her death at Dublin Coroner's Court, it was heard that a post-mortem carried out by Deputy State Pathologist Linda Mulligan had found the cause of death to be an acute subdural haemorrhage. The child's body was formally identified to Garda Michael Guihan, of Mountjoy Garda Station, by her mother, Donata Pleszynska, on the day of her death. Inspector Mick Mulligan sought a six-month adjournment of the inquest "to facilitate ongoing enquiries" into the matter. Dan Peterson School gets needed facelift, honors former principal A much-needed facelift is being brought to the Dan Peterson School this week in the form of new art murals. They are also there to honor the schools former principal. Dan Peterson is a unique school within the Alpine School District that services students who have disabilities and need an individualized education program, according to Principal Ryan Hemming. Thanks to a special project from the Ken Garff Ford and Chevy dealership in American Fork, bright murals are taking the place of dark brick hallways and sprucing them up in part as a thank you to the schools former ... Review applications for SSC results break all records Over 4.14 lakh students applied for reexamination M M Jasim : The application for reexamination of Secondary School Certificate examination's results has broken all the previous records as a total of 4,14,516 students applied for the review of their results. The number of review application was 266,340 last year, officials of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dhaka said. The officials said, the percentage of this year's SSC examination results decreased because the students did not pass in mathematics and English. Most of the students who applied for reexamination of their results got 69 or 79. Some of them also got 32 in English or mathematics. That is why they are trying to get the more one number. The Dhaka Education Board received a total of 141,400 applications, Cumilla Board 36,784, Barishal Board 22,152, Chattogram Board 53,530, Sylhet Board 20,457, Jeshore Board 38,053, Rajshahi Board 40,968, Dinajpur Board 34,853 and Madrasa Board 21,756. Technical Board also received a number of application for reviewing the results. Sohrab Hossain, a student of Dhaka Residential Model School and College, who failed in the SSC examination as he got 32 in Mathematics. On the other hand, he got GPA-5 in all other subjects. Sohrab applied for review of his result. "I am confident that I cannot fail in Mathematics. I will definitely get at least pass marks if my result sheet cheeks properly," he said. Tamanna Islam, a guardian, told The New Nation yesterday that her daughter, who sat in the SSC examination from Holy cross Girls School and College, got 78 number in Mathematics. "My daughter applied for review of her result sheet. If she gets two more numbers only she will be considered as GPA-5 holder," she said. Chairman of Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dhaka told this correspondent that the overall pass rate decreased this year compared to the last year. But the number of SSC review applicants increased this year and reviewing applications also increased. "Actually, the Education Ministry gives scope to the students to know how many marks they got. A good number of students who got 59, 69 and 79 marks applied to get more one number for increasing their total GPA," the chairman said. This year, a total of 15,74,104 students out of 20,26,574 came out successful in the SSC and its equivalent examinations. What will happen to two- state in the Middle East? Mohammad Amjad Hossain : President Donald Trump of the United States of America has in fact disregarded tradition of the United States and international law for re-establishing embassy of the United States from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on 14 May this year in spite of opposition of the world which has been unanimously displayed in the decision of General Assembly of the United States on 17 December of 2017. 128 countries voted against the United States. The foundation of American embassy was laid practically by President Trump himself by sending videotaped his message which ,interalia, said Israel was a sovereign nation with the right like every other sovereign nation to determine its own capital. US remained committed to facilitating a lasting peace agreement. The President's daughter Ivanka Trump, an advisor to the President, unveiled the dedication plague and seal of US embassy. Foundation of American embassy in Jerusalem is coincided with 70th anniversary of establishment of State of Israel in Palestinian occupied territories. Interesting enough was to witness presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also spoke, and Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Darner on the inaugural ceremony of American embassy in Jerusalem. American delegation is led by Vice-President Mike Pence. Inauguration ceremony was heralded with clashes between Palestinians from Gaza strip and Israeli soldiers which has caused death to around 61 Palestinians and wounded 2700, apart from protest by Palestinians in East Jerusalem. This is second tragic massacres by Israeli soldiers since 2014.Not only Trump administration refused to criticize Israel but also blocked Kuwaiti statement in the security council which reportedly expressing of rage and sorrow called for an independent and transparent investigation into Israeli's action on the border on 14 May. In his inaugural address Vice-President Mike Pence described as nothing less than a great day for Israel and adding Israel was not just 70 years old---it's 70 years strong while Jared Kushner, a Senior advisor to US President and son-in-law, pointed finger at the Palestinians saying they were responsible for provoking violence. Fourth Geneva convention applies protection of the people in occupied Palestine territories. Therefore, it was the responsibility of Israel to protect Palestinians. Since recognition of state of Israel by the United States in 1948 no President of the United States has moved its embassy to Jerusalem. The status of Jerusalem is disputed in both International law and diplomatic practice as of now. Now Guatemala declared to move its embassy to Jerusalem. Romania in Europe also planned to move its embassy to Jerusalem. Basic concept of resolution of General Assembly of the United Nations 181 is known as partition plan after the vacation of mandate by the United Kingdom given by League of Nations following defeat of Ottoman empire during first world war. The plan was to divide Palestine into Arab and Jewish states with Jerusalem being established as a corpus separatism with legal and political status to be administered by the United Nations. Following six-day war with Arab countries in 1967 Israel has enacted Jerusalem law by its Knesset in 1980 declaring complete and united Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Israeli law was declared null and void by unanimous resolution 478 of the Security council on 20 August of 1980.This was one of seven security council resolutions against annexation of Jerusalem by Israel. It means Israel has shown damn to the resolution of the security council which by implication violation of law. Palestine Liberation Organization considers East Jerusalem is an occupied territory according resolution of 242 which in fact affirmed Palestine people have right to sovereignty over East Jerusalem. In the past five decades US President of both parties have opposed colonization of occupied Palestine territories while during Presidency of President Obama remained abstain on security council resolution on 23 December of 2016 demanding Israel's end of settlement construction in occupied Palestine territories. In fact, construction of settlements in occupied territories goes against Fourth Geneva convention. This has been, time and again, confirmed by UN security council, the General assembly of the United Nations, the International committee of Red Cross, the International court of Justice and the High contracting parities to the Geneva convention. Therefore, Israel has consistently been violating International law through settlement of Jewish in occupied territories. Shifting of US embassy to Jerusalem has been approved by US congress in 1995 as embassy act. But President Trump's decision now to move embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem appears to be on the ground of ignoring series of investigation against him, his son and son-in-law by Special counsel against his involvement with Russian Federation, apart from offering money to porn actress to hide his crime. Another bomb shell has been exploded by Senate Intelligence committee on 16 May which confirmed Russia has had a hand in 2016 presidential election in favor of candidate Donald Trump. Similarly, Prime Minister of State of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, who has established close link with US President Trump, is facing investigation on a charge of bribery. Establishing US embassy in Jerusalem has added a further cap to Israeli Prime Minister indeed following pulling out from nuclear deal with Iran on an apparent advice of Israeli Prime Minister. Meanwhile,57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) considered US move was an illegal decision and an attack on the historical, legal, natural and national rights of Palestine people. It further said the move represented an affront to international peace and security. The white house came out with a statement on 16 May that moving the US embassy to Jerusalem will increase stability and the chance of peace but establishing US embassy in Jerusalem in fact has been ignored 70 years of international consensus, apart from two state solution will remain as elusive as ever. Instead another Intifada is likely to flare up in occupied Palestinian territories. (Mohammad Amjad Hossain, retired diplomat from Bangladesh, who writes from Virginia, USA). Myanmar will take back their people: We are unconcerned about the terrorists AS the monsoon threatens the Rohingya refugees with the outbreak of vector-borne epidemics and diarrhoeal diseases, the repatriation process seems to be getting more and more complex. However, Bangladeshi officials at a meeting in Dhaka on Thursday urged Myanmar to hand over a 'specific list' of members of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), if any, staying in Bangladesh territory. At the meeting of the joint working group on Rohingya repatriation, the Myanmar side raised the issue of ARSA and Bangladesh officials asserted that there was no existence of members of the group inside Bangladesh territory. The ARSA issue is just another excuse for Myanmar to buy time and delay the repatriation process. Many Rohingyas brand their fellows as members of the group out of their previous enmity. Moreover, since the ARSA members are not Bangladeshi citizens, the Bangladesh government is not supposed to have detailed information and lists about the organisation. If Myanmar had any specific information, a list should be handed over to Bangladesh so that they could be identified. It has been reported that in September last year Myanmar handed over a list of 200 alleged terrorists to our Inspector General of Police at a meeting held in China. Bangladesh police had also engaged its counter terrorism officials to verify allegations, but we are completely in the dark about the progress and outcomes of that investigation. It is silly to entertain the allegation of terrorists among the refugees from Myanmar. They must take back their people and find out who are the terrorists. It is not good for us to deal with their terrorism problem. We must not treat ourselves as fools. But the Myanmar government is daring to treat us as dumb. We must know our helplessness and seek world help. Where to go to see this fall's foliage show in the Tri-State area local Banks witness profit fall: Government must check the corruption first AS per news media most of the banks listed with the stock exchanges registered a profit fall in January-March compared with the same period in the previous year. Bankers have blamed a huge amount of classified loans for the overall downtrend in the banking sectors. Banks must keep 100 per cent provision against their classified loans which have led to declines in its profit margin. The central bank was flexible in giving the directives but now has strictly directed the banks to obey the rules amid the growing trend of classified loans that threaten the depositors' interest. The colossal amount of classified loans eventually ruined banks' profitability as they lose hope of gaining the amounts back. The banks have been facing liquidity shortage from the very beginning of the year. The critics observe that lack of governance, monitoring, political influence, and proper regulatory policy are the main reasons behind the sudden liquidity crunch. This led to the fall in comprehensive profit of 18 out of listed 29 banks in the January-March quarter of 2018 as shown in their reports, compared with the same period of 2017, while 10 banks reported higher earnings reports. The government in April, without taking any measures against the defaulters and concerned bankers, decided to help the banks by instituting a cut in cash reserve ratio of banks and repo rate and an increase in the limit of funds that the state-owned agencies could deposit with the private banks. At present Bangladesh Bank is not being able to exercise its power on state-owned banks. Classified loans are increasing for this reason by leaps and bounds. Currently there are 34 per cent classified loans in state-owned banks while it is 6 per cent in private banks. The central bank right now has no authority to dictate state-run banks. The power to regulate state-owned banks should be handed over to Bangladesh Bank to reduce classified loans. Due to the soaring classified loans by big defaulters, the profit margin of many commercial banks is shrinking. It would ultimately decrease new job creation and put those who are already employed at risk of losing their jobs. The overall economy is not healthy following banking sector scams one after another by those who have links to the ruling party. After 48 hours of intense drama which captivated the nation, the BS Yeddyurappa-led Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Karnataka fell on Saturday, with the chief minister choosing to resign rather than face a vote of confidence he was sure to lose. The Governor has invited the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition to have a go at government formation. There has been much analysis on how this is a template for alliances between a regional party and Congress in other states to take on the BJP in 2019 and beyond. In reality, the BJP may end up as a winner even in defeat, at least in Karnataka. Of the 224 seats in the Karnataka assembly, elections were held for 222. The BJP won 104, the Congress, 78 and the JD(S), 38 , and independents, 2. Of the 38 seats that the JD (S) won, one was actually won by its partner, the Bahujan Samaj Party, and it will have to contest the other again because HD Kumaraswamy won from two seats. The mandate of the people of Karnataka was clearly against the previous Congress government with the party being reduced from 122 to 78 seats. Democracy, however, is all about numbers and with the support of the JD(S) and the independents, the new coalition is well easily over the halfway mark of 113 required. The BJP has already started talking about how the mandate of the people has been subverted. It has, but this is something the BJP itself has excelled at, as experiences in Goa and Manipur last year, and Meghalaya this year demonstrate. Still, the BJP does have a strong narrative, the sub-text of which is that Yeddyurappa, the Lingayat strongman, has been denied an opportunity to rule the state and that the Congress aided a Vokkaliga, HD Kumaraswamy ,to take over. Clearly, the Congress has its national compulsions to enter into this arrangement. Otherwise, why would a party with double the number of seats of its regional ally cede the top post? Whatever its compulsions, this could see it lose even more ground in the state. Likely Lingayat backlash The Congress has had a difficult relationship with the Lingayats in the recent past, ever since an ailing Veereandra Patil was humiliated by Rajiv Gandhi and forced to unceremoniously step down in 1990. All subsequent Congress CM -- S Bangarappa (of the Idiga, or toddy tapping community), M Veerappa Moily (Devadiga, traditional temple servants), S M Krishna (Vokkaliga, land owning agriculturists), Dharam Singh (Rajput) and Siddaramaiah (Kuruba or traditional shepherds) have all been non-Lingayats. Further Siddaramaiahs move to divide the Veerashaiva-Lingayats, by announcing minority religion status to the latter did not pay any dividends and to the contrary may have resulted in anger against the party. This resulted in the defeat of the likes of the partys Lingayat leaders Vinay Kulkarni and Shamanur Mallikarjuna. Even former speaker K B Koliwad and former minister R V Deshpande have made the same point, in post-poll interactions, on how the move to recognize Lingayats as a minority religion backfired. With Yeddyurappa being seen as the tallest leader of the community, there might be an additional backlash against the Congress party for bringing him down. Lingayats, who are estimated to be around 15% of the states population, play a decisive role in deciding the outcome in about 90 assembly seats and 18 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. Southern Karnataka conundrum To offset the Lingayat backlash, it is not as if Congress would benefit with extra Vokkaliga support. Its former enemy and current ally JD(S) has the maximum support of the community witness how JD(S) swept Vokkaliga dominated districts such as like Mandya, Hassan, Mysuru, Chamrajnagara. In Mandya the Vokkaliga heartland, JD(S) won all the seven seats. In Hassan, it was no different JD(S) won 6 of the 7 seats. Of the 38 seats won by JD(S), 32 are in the Southern Karnataka Vokkaliga belt. The BJP and the Congress have a direct fight in most parts of the state such as Hyderabad - Karnataka, Mumbai- Karnataka, Coastal Karnataka and Central Karnataka including the capital city of Bengaluru. However, the BJP is a negligible force in Southern Karnataka ,where the Congress and the JD(S) fight each other . The social base of the JD(S) is the land-owning Vokkaliga community. The Congress gets its votes from the other backward classes, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, which see themselves as oppressed by the Vokkaligas in the rural hinterland. The social bases of the Congress and the JD(S) are inimical to each other. If the Congress and the JD(S) tie up with each other, they would be vacating the space for the BJP to gain a foothold in the region, which it has been unsuccessfully trying to do for decades. Ground level politics do not operate in a vacuum and arent hostage to a partys national compulsions. In fact , one reason why Siddaramaiah lost power despite vocal support by the AHINDA (a Kannada acronym for Dalits, backward classes and minorities) was that the powerful forward castes -- Lingayats and Vokkaligas -- felt that they did not get a sufficient slice of power under him. Vacating even the AHINDA base would enable a waiting BJP to swoop in. On shaky ground Also the new coalition government will have 117 seats including independentsm barely six above the magic mark of 111. Since one legislator will be a speaker, for all practical purposes the majority would be five seats. Even assuming once the elections to two pending seats sees an equal split between the BJP and the Congress-JD(S) combination (this is because of the 2 seats, while R R Nagar was held by Congress, Jayanagara, the other seat , was held by BJP), this doesnt change the equation much. JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, even at 86, is a wily politician, who can run rings around the Congress, which is a divided house after defeat. Siddaramaiah, who has been elected Congress Legislature Party chief, will be smarting under the fact that G T Deve Gowda, the JD(S) candidate who handed him a humiliating defeat in Chamundeshwari, will most certainly be a minister in the new government based on his giant killing act alone. GT Deve Gowda will also likely, going by Kumaraswamys pre-poll promise, call the shots in the district. The regional JD(S), which has been out of office since 2007, is desperate for the perks (and more ) of office. Any missteps it makes will not just affect it, but the Congress too. The JD(S) will have all the authority and the Congress none of the power even if it is given a bulk of the portfolios including a deputy chief ministership, as the father-son duo of Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy will ensure that their party has all the lucrative portfolios. With no common minimum programme, a divided house within the Congress, and a regional party out to protect its interests first at all costs, the long-term survival of the government is a long shot. The BJP, while licking its wounds, will be counting its long-term gains. Which is why Yeddyurappa declared on the floor of the house before resigning that the party would will win all 28 Lok Sabha seats in next years elections. The Congress would do well to keep a close eye on its rival, and also its ally. Union minister for social justice and empowerment Thaver Chand Gehlot said here on Friday the government would wait for the Supreme Court judgment on its review petition on SC/ST Act. However, if the directive was not withdrawn issued by the court earlier in respect with certain sections of the Act other options would be open including ordinance one, he added. In reply to a question during a press conference the union minister also said when Act was valid then restraining some sections of the Act was not appropriate (Jab Act valid hai to dharaon par ankush lagana uchit nahi hai). Hum nirnay ka intezar kar rahe hain. Agar nirnay us Act me ankush lagaane ke kuchh jo nirdesh huye hain unko wapas nahi liye jaayenge to as it is Act lagu rahe isko amal me lane ki drishti se jo jo upaay ho sakte hain, usme ordinance bhi hai, ye saare vikalp khule hain (We are waiting for the judgment. If the directive issued to restrain certain sections of Act is not withdrawn then whatever options there are including an ordinance will be open, to maintain status of the Act as it is), he said. He said there was a recent hearing on the review petition filed by the central government (against the courts directive regarding no arrest without inquiry). Then there would come the summer vacation. One of the justices of the bench hearing the petition was going to retire. Hence, the bench would be reconstituted. Then, there would be the judgment. Gehlot said after the Supreme Courts directive on certain sections of the Act the central government quoted a figure of NCRB which suggested that out of about 15000 cases (lodged under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act) there were 1000-1200 false cases. But there were false cases filed under Indian Penal Code too. In the context of false cases there were provisions under certain sections of IPC to initiate action against those who file false cases. But majority of the cases were of such people who were looking for justice. Hence, such a restraint would be an obstacle in the way of justice. Referring to National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation (NIMHR) to be established in Bhopal the union minister said this would be a unique centre in the country. The central cabinet approved it on May 16. The state government had allotted 5 acre land in the city. There would be 25 acre of land to be allotted outside the city as a part of the institute. Besides running diploma and postgraduate courses the institute would work for rehabilitation of 400 people at a time suffering from several mental problems. He said a budget of Rs 180 crore had been earmarked for the institute. The buildings on the 5 acre land would come up in 2 years. Till then, the institute would run in a rented building. The institute would start functioning in the next two months. There would be 231 posts including 124 regular ones. About 215 to 250 people would get temporary employment. The government was collaborating with Boston University to run the institute and escalate it as an international institute. Priyanka Chopra was the picture of grace as she reached the Windsor Castle for the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on Saturday afternoon. In a fitted jacket and skirt in shades of lilac, she was all grace and looked a royal herself. What really caught the eye was her fascinator, the fitted hat that she has been talking about for weeks now. The Vivienne Westwood dress and Philip Treacy hat was a combination that had our complete attention. Priyanka will be joining George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, Serena Williams, James Corden and many other celebs who have been invited for the wedding. In a live video streamed on Youtube, the Quantico star was spotted talking to actor George and his wife Amal. Priyanka Chopra earlier posted about visiting the iconic British fascinator designer Philip Treacys studio to pick out a fitted hat for herself. Ohhhh, now I get it !! the Quantico actress, 35, captioned an Instagram story video from inside the studio. Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra (2nd L) arrives with other guests to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Windsor, Britain, May 19, 2018. (REUTERS) Priyanka also shared a photo with her team, suggesting they were all waiting for the dress she was to wear at Meghan Markle, Prince Harrys nuptials. She reached London a day ahead of the royal wedding. Dressed in a plaid pantsuit and a pir of Matrix sunglasses, she was a picture of chic. Her make-up artist Patrick Ta is also in London and shared an Instagram photo. Just two weeks before the wedding, Chopra was asked on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen about what she was wearing to the royal wedding and she had said, I havent even been fitted yet. I have an idea [what its going to be]. Im more stressed out about a small hat. How do those things stay [on]? Priyanka Chopra went fascinator shopping a day before royal wedding. Priyanka Chopra and Meghan Markle have been friends for over three years now. Talking about her friend Meghan Markle, Priyanka had told People magazine, Shes just a really real girl. Shes a girls girl. Shes a really relatable young woman who is concerned about the world just like you and I are. Thats what I love the most about her. I feel like her authenticity is whats going to make her really stand out in this new life shes going to take on. Among other stars who reached the wedding include Oprah Winfrey, Idris Elba, George Clooney and James Blunt. Suits actors Patrick J Adams, Gabriel Macht, Gina Torres, Sarah Rafferty and Rick Hoffman will also be a part of the wedding. The talk-show titan and the London-born Hollywood star are among celebrities, royalty, athletes and family friends among the 600-strong congregation invited to the gothic St. Georges Chapel, where the wedding will take place. As the celebrations got underway, Queen Elizabeth II honored her red-headed, 33-year-old grandson with a new title the Duke of Sussex. That means that Markle will become the Duchess of Sussex. Harrys status as a senior British royal and Markles celebrity after starring on the US TV series Suits for seven years has turned the wedding at St. Georges Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle into a global event. The wedding pomp and ceremony complete with Anglican prayers and tradition, classical music and a gospel choir as well as a horse-drawn carriage ride through Windsor will be beamed live to tens of millions of TV viewers throughout the world. While the entire world will have eyes set on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on Saturday, desis back home will be rooting for someone else at the royal wedding. Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra is in London and is ready to watch her friend walk down the aisle. The actor reached London ahead of the royal wedding wearing a plaid pantsuit. Priyanka had earlier confessed that she was stressed out about [wearing] a small hat but a visit to iconic British fascinator designer Philip Treacy put her mind to rest. Ohhhh, now I get it !! the 35-year-old actor shared a photo as she is surrounded by fascinator designs. Her makeup artist Patrick Ta also reached London and shared an Instagram photo, giving us a broad hint that he will be creating Priyankas makeup look for Meghan Markles wedding. Welcomed by the UK sun... #nomakeupnofilter A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on May 18, 2018 at 11:58am PDT Priyanka will be one of the very few Indian faces present at the wedding and those who dont know about her friendship with the to-be princess might be wondering about the connection. To clear all doubt, heres a quick revision for you on how they met, what they have said about each other and more. The Bollywood star and the American actor first met in January 2016 at Elles 6th Annual Women in TV Celebration. They met at the party which was also attended by Viola Davis, Olivia Wilde and more. The two hit it off instantly. We bonded as actors. We just became friends, like two girls would, Priyanka told People magazine in 2017. Meghan then interviewed Priyanka for her now-defunct lifestyle blog, The Tig. Soon, they became good friends and started hanging out regularly. They watched Hamilton together, enjoyed drinks by swimming pools in Malibu and clicked a lot of selfies. While a few pictures from this phase can still be found online on Priyankas Instagram, others were lost when Meghans Instagram profile was deactivated after she got engaged to Prince Harry in November 2017. Before the engagement was announced and when Harry and Meghan were being spotted together by the paparazzi, even Priyanka started getting bombarded by curious questions about her friend and her prince. In May 2017, she was asked by Wendy Williams on her show about Prince Harrys girlfriend, Priyanka didnt hesitate in correcting her: Also, Meghan Markle: actress, Suits, her achievements, a gesture appreciated by both the actors fans. The love, however, has not been one-sided. Meghan also talked about Priyanka with PTI in an interview. I would love to work with her on a film one day! I told her specifically that my dream is to work with her on a Bollywood film, because I think it would be so much fun she said I should do it, she had said. Priyanka also recently wrote a piece on Meghan for Time magazine as she featured in their list of 100 Most Influential and called her a princess for the people. Heres the full text: Somewhere among biryani, poutine and endless conversations, I realized just how deeply Meghan Markle cares for the world. With her, what you see is real, and what you get is a relatable young woman with her heart and mind in the right place. Her compassion, evident in the causes she supports, and her drive to break down stereotypesobvious in her actionswill connect her to a generation in much need of kindness. This ever-smiling, strong free spirit found her prince, fell in love and in turn made a cynical world believe in fairy tales again. But more than anything else, Meghan is an important influencer in a world that needs strong public figures to respect and look up to. People the world can be inspired by. Meghan, standing shoulder to shoulder with Harry, will be a princess for the people. Love always, my friend. Live happily ever after. Priyanka was again asked about Meghan on The View, Good Morning America and What Happens Live With Andy Cohen earlier this month as she promoted her show, Quantico. She was asked about what she would wear, the gift she had chosen, if she had met Prince Harry or if she knows with Meghan cried when she saw her wedding dress. Priyanka, like a true friend gave nothing away. Guess, we will have to wait just a few more hours to find that out with the world. His clowning acts in theatre and too-good-to-be-true dramatisation of Manto have kept stage audiences entertained, and now, actor Ashwath Bhatts acting prowess garnered a lot of praise after he was seen in Meghna Gulzars latest film, Raazi. Remembered for his portrayal of a terrorist Zahoor Hussain in Haider (2014), Ashwath plays Mehboob Syed, the elder brother of Vicky Kaushals character in the Alia Bhatt-starrer. Narrating how he got to play a part in Raazi, he says, Jogi Malang the casting director of the film called me when I was travelling. I sent him a self-audition based on the rough script that he had shared. Later, I told him that I need to send a better audition video, but he refused saying, Nahi nahi perfect, perfect. When he realised that I was unconvinced, he revealed Meghna ko pasand aya hai. Ab tu jake Talvar (2015) dekh le. Thats when I realised who I was being auditioned for, says Ashwath, who is presently shooting for the Akshay Kummar-starrer Kesari. Actor Ashwath Bhatt with Irrfan while shooting for Haider (2014). So, was working with Meghna one of the reasons that Ashwath agreed to be part of Raazi? I was choosy from the beginning. After Haider, which I did because I had been a great fan of filmmaker Vishal Bhardwajs work, I was offered dozens of terrorist roles. And I wondered why? I understand that there are a lot of constraints in commercial cinema [when it comes to casting actors]. But, just because Im a Kashmiri and I play such intense characters well doesnt mean that I should get all terrorist characters. Like in Omerta, they show a terrorist, too, but if you get to play a character like what Rajkummar Rao has got, then its worthwhile. I was offered Omerta, but I refused because they were asking me to play just another terrorist, says the actor, who has worked in Mira Nairs The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2012), Kabir Khans Phantom (2015) and Oscar-winning Danis Tanovics Tigers (2014). In Raazi, however, Ashwath agreed to play an officer from the Pakistani forces. Because to me it was about playing an officer from the armed forces; it didnt matter if the officer was in the army of India or Pakistan. The character has to be substantial, he quips. In fact, very few people know that I have been to the Pakistani cantonment as part of a German theatre company, and otherwise also on several occasions. So, I have closely seen the armed personnel in both the countries, and the conditions and pressures under which they work. Thats why I could relate to the story of Raazi, which shows how we get stuck in situations. Also, a film is a directors medium. So, before taking up a role, I ask the director how much of it is going to get edited. I didnt have to ask Meghna because her process is very different. I knew from the very beginning that my part is integral to the story, says Ashwath, who is excited to be part of 99 songs, a musical film written by Vishwesh Krishnamoorthy and AR Rahman. Interact with the author at Twitter/@HennaRakheja Meghan Markle has her TV family with her as she gets ready to say I do to Britains Prince Harry on Saturday; the royal wedding will take place at the St Georges Chapel in Londons Windsor Castle. The entire cast of Suits, which gave Meghan popularity across the world, is in London and will be attending the royal wedding. Gabriel Macht, Gina Torres, Sarah Rafferty and Rick Hoffman, who co-starred with Prince Harrys bride-to-be, are in London. The actors onscreen husband Patrick J Adams will also be attending the ceremony. The actor who played Mike on Suits also shared a sweet message for Meghan. Both Patrick and Meghan bid goodbye to the show in its seventh season, which also saw their onscreen wedding. Going to bed now and thinking a lot about the strange surreal and wonderful day my friend Meghan is going to have tomorrow. Meghan wherever you are we are so grateful to be here to watch you both take this monumental step together. Love deeply and live well. #RoyalWedding, he tweeted. Going to bed now and thinking a lot about the strange surreal and wonderful day my friend Meghan is going to have tomorrow. Meghan - wherever you are - we are so grateful to be here to watch you both take this monumental step together. Love deeply and live well. #RoyalWedding Patrick J Adams (@halfadams) May 18, 2018 He later shared a joke about it as well. The last supper #royalwedding A post shared by Patrick Adams (@halfadams) on May 18, 2018 at 4:03pm PDT He also shared a photo of Rick Hoffman, Gina Torres, Sarah Rafferty and Abigail Spencer all enjoying a meal.The last supper #royalwedding, Adams, 36, wrote in the caption. Meanwhile, Rafferty told media in the UK that Meghan and Prince Harry are a great match. Asked if the cast was surprised to be invited to the royal wedding, Torres said, I was. I think you know, you hope, and I hope nothing but the best as we all do for her, this is an incredible step in her life, so to bear witness to that is extraordinary. Hoffman, meanwhile, revealed that the advice he gave to the princess to-be early during the romance was, Take it slow, be careful, dont let him hurt you. Macht -- who plays Harvey Specter on the legal drama would attend the ceremony with wife, Jacinda Barrett. He has been sharing photos of the couple hanging in Hyde Park. Shrieking teens at Beatles concerts. MJ lovers passing out at the sight of the Thriller. Janta by the busload standing outside the Bachchan bungalow for their Sunday darshan. Celebrities dont just provoke hysteria in crazy fans but also strange reactions from regular people who encounter them all of a sudden. Except on rare occasions, like in Notting Hill (1999), where the superstar played by Julia Roberts isnt recognised by the stockbroker played by Hugh Bonneville, its the privilege and the curse of popularity. I dont really count myself as anyones diehard fan, but Ive surprised myself and perhaps scared a celeb or two in chance encounters. Sachin bowls a bouncer It was over a decade ago. I was meeting a friend for chai at the still-new Olive restaurant in Bandra. As I walked to the loo, I saw that unmistakable mop of curls and cherubic face. (No, I dont usually infantilise sporting legends. Sachin is different.) Id never met him before. I returned to my chai companion, breathless like one of the aforementioned teens at a Beatles concert, and rang my younger sister, who appeared instantly. Together we tried Ive swooned over Sridevi. Giggled at Leander Paes. Fumbled around Arundhati Roy. Celebs, beware to approach the man-boy-legend. And discovered that were what bouncers are for. When our bill was finally presented and we had to leave, I decided to hang on outside anyway, hoping to say hello when our stalkee departed. (Snigger all you like. Im an 80s kid from Mumbai.) After what seemed like an eternity the restaurant manager opened the little blue door a crack, saying he had finished dinner and we could now meet him. And so we did. I remember saying, It would be an honour if I could touch you. Yes, I said that. Yes, I was sober. It didnt feel like that once I left the restaurant. No reservations Usually one is better equipped to handle sudden brushes with icons. My sister and I were once waiting at the airport to pick up a friend when we noticed a tall, rakish fellow appear, cigarette dangling from lips. It couldnt be! Gourmet chef of the wicked charm and New York swag, swigging off strange bottles and slagging off pretentious connoisseurs. Anthony Bourdain, at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. What were the chances? Wed play it cool, we thought. Instead we rattled on about that episode of his show where he and his brother return to their native France, commenting on a particular shot where he stands by a fence. Sheesh. No. Some of us are never equipped. Then theres the shameless ogling. The minute I set foot in Sri Lanka, I began to look for Sanga. On billboards, I mean Another time, I was returning from a Goa holiday when I noticed a familiar apparition in white, standing quietly among those waiting to receive travellers at arrivals. Propelled by a mad love for his poetry, I charged in his direction. Thank you, Gulzar sahab, for making reality a little less mundane, is what I should have said. Instead, I mumbled something unintelligible as he graciously shook my hand and then patted me on the head. A high point in my literary journey. Serendip The island of lucky finds Then theres the shameless ogling. The minute I set foot in Sri Lanka (the old Arabic name for it is Serindip, the root word for serendipity), I began to look for Sanga. On billboards, I mean. He was curiously absent from most. And then at a beach near Galle, there he was, live. Kumar Sangakkara on holiday with family. Swimming in the same stretch of the Indian Ocean as my friends and I. All weekend. Occasionally seen on a yellow surfboard. Enough said. This time, I was on foreign shores. I curbed my enthusiasm and said to him while shyly posing for a selfie: Ive been hoping to see you ever since I arrived, I should have asked for world peace instead. I stay up at night wondering what I should have said instead. Sanga, if youre reading this, I was trying to be cool. Forgive me. Then theres the time I spotted Sonia Gandhi at Heathrow. Luckily for her, she was walking briskly away, and I had no time to give chase and say something utterly idiotic. Ive swooned over Sridevi. Giggled at Leander Paes. Fumbled around Arundhati Roy. Playing it cool is clearly not my forte. Celebs, beware. From HT Brunch, May 20, 2018 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch There have been many occasions when the fissiparous tendencies of Indian political parties and their members willingness to abandon loyalties and adjust principles have made me wonder whether the party system can survive in Indian democracy. In Britain over the last month I have witnessed strains in British democracy, which amount to a civil war within the two main parties, Labour and Conservative, over the arrangements to be made for leaving Europe. The Conservative foreign minister Boris Johnson has written a newspaper article telling the Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May her plan for exiting from Europe is crazy. But she has so little control over the war, which has spread to her cabinet, that she didnt feel secure enough to take any action over this open flouting of her authority. There are revolts too against the Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. Both parties are divided on the issue of whether Britain should retain a customs link with Europe. May wants a link but her opponents say that would be a denial of the peoples voice, which they maintain spoke for a total break with Europe. Now the very validity of the Brexit vote is being challenged on two fronts. New evidence released by the US Congress suggests that adverts targeted at British Facebook users paid for in Russian roubles by the Irish Republican Army, the IRA, were released in the run-up to the referendum. The British Electoral Commission has also found the accounts of the Leave EU Campaign reveal it was guilty of multiple breaches of the electoral law, The commission has referred its chief executive to the police. These two question marks hanging over the British referendum lead me back to Indian politics. The information technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has warned that India too could face problems similar to Britains problem with Facebook, which would undermine Indian elections and issued this threat: In the wake of recent data theft from Facebook let my warning be heard across the Atlantic far away in California. Any covert or overt attempt to misuse Social Media, including Facebook, to influence Indias electoral processes through undesirable means will neither be tolerated nor permitted. But is Ravi Shankar Prasad overestimating his power to reach across oceans? Personal experience suggests he is having difficulty in controlling what is happening in his own backyard. Social media are most frequently misused by posting fake news. For several years now two fake despatches, purported to have been written by me have been appearing and still are appearing in e-mail in-boxes. One despatch is an offensive attack on Sonia Gandhi and the other is an over-the-top endorsement of Narendra Modi. When he was information and broadcasting minister Venkaiah Naidu rang me to ask whether I had written the Modi despatch. I denied it and complained that although I had made several representations to the government there was no evidence of any action having been taken. The minister replied: We are having a problem with fake news too. Pratik Sinha of the anti-propaganda site Alt News has told me that the government has taken no action against fake news beyond putting out a circular, which was seen as threatening journalists. Alt News has documented 13 examples of fake news relating to the Karnataka election. Amit Malviya, head of the BJP ITs cell admitted there was an impression that political parties put out fake news but he maintained his party did not falsify news. When I asked him why then there was so much fake news on social media he replied: There are enough statutes to prevent this. There is a need for better enforcement, and a higher level of awareness and responsibility. Whatever the need, there is no doubt that fake news has been undermining the fairness of both India and Britains electoral processes. As for the fraudulent accounting in the British referendum, it is estimated contestants in the Karnataka elections spent Rs 10,000 crore. How many crore were accounted for? The views expressed are personal In January 1942, Mahatma Gandhi was invited to speak at the Silver Jubilee Convocation of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU). He knew both the city and the university well. His first major speech after returning to India was delivered at the founding ceremonies of BHU, back in February 1916, when he famously asked the Maharajas present to shed their ostentatious lifestyles. There is no salvation for India, he told the grandees at the ceremony, unless you strip yourself of this jewelry and hold it in trust for your countrymen in India. There can be no spirit of self-government about us, he added, if we take away or allow others to take away from the peasants almost the whole of the results of their labour. Gandhis 1942 visit to BHU was at the invitation of the universitys vice-chancellor, the renowned philosopher and future president of India, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. The speaker before him had boasted about the universitys engineering departments. Gandhi said that was all well and good, but the universitys real contribution to nation-building would lie in other spheres. He urged the BHU to have close and continuous interactions with another great university, which however carried Muslim rather than Hindu in its name. As Gandhi asked of his audience: Have you been able to attract to your University youths from Aligarh? Have you been able to identify with them? That, I think, should be your special work, the special contribution of your University. Money has come in, and more will come in if God keeps Malaviya ji in our midst for a few more years. But no amount of money will achieve the miracle I wantI mean a heart-unity between Hindus and Muslims. I was reminded of these words when reading of the recent happenings at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). As other commentators have pointed out, debates on whose portrait can or cannot hang inside the walls of the campus are legitimate; so long as they are conducted by the teachers and students of the university in question. In this case, however, it was vandals from outside, egged on by right-wing politicians, who invaded AMU and caused an ugly scene and some violence too. The AMU has produced many fine historians, sociologists and legal scholars. It is less known that it has also had a robust tradition of science education. It was the AMU which gave us Obaid Siddiqui, who nurtured our best (and arguably only world-class) scientific institute, the National Centre for Biological Research. Of all the Indian scholars in any field I have met in my lifetime, Siddiqui was the one I most admired, for his character, intelligence, and humanity, and for what he did for our country. I started my own professional career 30 years ago. In that time I have had many junior colleagues myself, dozens of young students who have assisted or advised me in the writing of my books and essays. Of all these research assistants, the best and most capable was a proud graduate of the AMU. But I must not name him in public, because he is a shy man, and would be embarrassed if I did. But I should say one thing about him; that he is a Hindu. I was glad to see that when the mischief-making outsiders came crashing into the gates of the AMU, Hindu students were as determined to protect the autonomy of their university as those who were raised Muslim. Likewise, while the best known professors, and the majority of the students, of the BHU may have been Hindus, that university must also have had many Muslims who studied there and went on to build successful careers, and who retain a deep attachment to their alma mater. That said, it remains the case that these two universities are still seen as essentially belonging to one community alone. That may be because they flag their respective religious identity in their very names; and because the student composition of AMU has a majority (or at least plurality) of Muslims and that of BHU a majority of Hindus. I do not know what whether the AMU and the BHU actually do have regular interactions. I suspect not. In that case, such interactions should be encouraged and furthered by the faculty and students, with groups having any political affiliation (right, left, or centre) being absolutely kept out. I have also recalled Gandhis 1942 BHU address in my recent visits to the most-troubled state of our Union. In 2015 I spoke at the Kashmir University, in Srinagar; two years later, I spoke at the Jammu University, in Jammu. I enjoyed both visits enormously, not least because in each case I was staying at the university guest house and so my conversations with students and faculty began at breakfast and continued well into the night. Both institutions had done this Tamil from Bengaluru the immense honour of hosting and caring for him. However, each had little to do with the other. The students and faculty of Jammu University were absolutely cut off from the activities of the Kashmir University; and the reverse was also the case. The odd professor in both places recognised that this was a problem; but there seemed to be no efforts on to resolve it. I am not saying that such interactions on their own can lead to the heart-unity between Hindus and Muslims that Mahatma Gandhi lived and died for. But surely having young minds reared in one particular institutional context encounter other young minds reared in another, can help in breaking down bridges and overcoming prejudices. Ramachandra Guhas books include Gandhi Before India The views expressed are personal A woman was axed to death by her brothers in Haridwar district of Uttarakhand on Friday in a suspected case of honour killing. The woman, Preeti had married Omprakash against her familys wishes three years back and was staying with him in Dharampur village. On Thursday, Preetis aunt called her to a relatives house in Abidpur village of Khanpur block on the pretext of resolving the bitterness between her and her family. After being given a warm welcome, she stayed at the house for the night. The next afternoon, Preetis brothers Kuldeep and Arun, residents of Shahpur village, came there and verbally abused her and physically manhandled her, accusing her of betraying her familys faith and honour. Later, they attacked her with an axe. Two other distant relatives Omkar and Rahul held Preeti when she was attacked and she died on the spot. Initially, the brothers and other family members had planned to kill Preetis husband Omprakash too and had expected him to come with his wife, but some work in Laksar kept him away. On seeing Preeti alone, her brothers phoned Omprakash to come to for the supposed reunion of the family, but he smelled trouble as he heard Preeti weeping in the background. A wary Omprakash arrived with some villagers at the house, but not before his wife had been brutally killed by her brothers. After the mayhem, all the four accused fled from the house before neighbours could reach there. Police has arrested two women relatives who narrated the whole incident to police but pleaded they were not part of the brutal act. As per Laksar circle officer, Chandan Singh Bisht, police teams have been formed to nab the accused and family members are being interrogated to know who all plotted the murder. A few years back in Kehada village of Jhabreda, a Dalit girl was killed by her brothers for marrying a youth against the familys wishes within 20 days of her marriage. Nasim leaves for Geneva to attend WHO confce Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim left here on Saturday morning for Geneva, Switzerland to attend the 71st conference of World Health Organization (WHO). The Minister would deliver his speech today at the Commonwealth conference on behalf of Health Ministers' of Asian region, said a press release. This year's Health Assembly takes place on May 21-26, 2018 at the Assembly Hall of Palace the Nations. Nasim would also attend separate meetings with different international forum including WHO Director General and Health Minister of India. Secretary of Health Services Division M Serajul Huq Khan, former Advisor to the Prime Minister and Chairman of Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) Dr Syed Modasser Ali are accompanying him. A group of thieves allegedly made off with an ATM machine at Dhandera in Haridwar district, police said on Saturday. As much as Rs 7.16 lakh was reportedly lost in the incident that occurred at an ATM kiosk of the Union Bank of India in the wee hours of Friday. The matter came to light only when bank employees reached the spot later that morning. Senior superintendent of police Krishan Kumar VK said the culprits pasted tapes on CCTV cameras installed in the vicinity of the ATM kiosk and broke light bulbs at nearby shops before carrying out the crime. According to bank manager Deep Suri, the thieves even severed the wires of an alarm attached to the cash tray in the machine to prevent it from going off. A scrutiny of the footage acquired from the ATM CCTV camera showed a masked man in a yellow shirt entering the ATM kiosk and covering it with plastic tape. Significantly, the crime took place on a stretch of Lakshkar road that witnesses hectic traffic movement even at night. However, Civil Lines police said the ATM machine itself was devoid of human security or any advanced technological sensors. Fingerprint experts and dog squads were deployed to investigate the crime scene, and Haridwar superintendent of police Krishan Kumar VK dropped by later in the day. We will zero in on the culprits soon. Also, a notice will be issued to all banks and ATMs that dont have security guards or the latest in security alarms, said senior superintendent of police Krishan Kumar VK. Police are looking into the case the first of the kind in the district from various angles, including the possible involvement of an interstate gang. A special operation group has also been constituted for the purpose, a senior police officer said. Last month, two motorcycle-borne men shot at the security guard of an Axis Bank ATM near BSM square before making off with Rs 25 lakh in cash. Alleged Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative Ariz Khan, alias Junaid, has told federal counter-terror investigators that his outfit was behind the 2005 serial blasts in Delhi on the eve of Diwali and it was he who planted an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Sarojini Nagar market, according to a government official familiar with the development. The revelation raises fresh doubts on the investigation carried out by the city police, which has said a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) squad was behind the explosions. On October 29, 2005, at 5.35pm, the first of the Delhi serial blasts at Tooti Chowk in Paharganj killed 17 people and injured 108 others. The second blast took place 25 minutes later in the busy Sarojini Nagar market in which 50 people died and 104 were injured. The third blast took place at Okhla, injuring 13. Junaid has told National Investigation Agency (NIA) interrogators that he, along with another alleged IM operative Mirza Shadab Beg, had kept the IED at Sarojini Nagar market while Atif Ameen, who was killed in the Batla House encounter in September 2008, had kept an IED in Paharganj. A third IED, in a DTC bus, was kept by two other alleged IM operatives Mohammad Shakeel and Saquib Nisar, said a home ministry official on condition of anonymity. The official added that Junaid further told interrogators that the IEDs were prepared by another alleged IM member, Sadiq Israr Sheikh, at a rented flat in south Delhis Jasola and has given a detailed account of how he kept the IED at Sarojini Nagar market along with Shadab Beg. Junaids lawyer, however, denied the involvement of his client in any blast. There is no Indian Mujahideen and my client was not at involved with any outfit by the name of Indian Mujahideen or in any blast, said advocate MS Khan. Junaid,32, was arrested by Delhi Police in February this year from the Indo-Nepal border after being on the run for nearly a decade. In April, NIA interrogated him. The Delhi Police had in 2006 filed formal charges against five Jammu and Kashmir residents, Tariq Dar, Mohd Hussain Fazli, Rafiq Shah, Farooq Ahmed Batloo and Ghulam Ahmed Khan, after its investigation, and claimed they were members of the LeT. Six other alleged LeT members -- Abu Huzefa, Abu al Qama, Abu Zaid, Rashid, Mansoor and Sajjad Salafi were also accused for their involvement . A suspected operative of the Indian Mujahideen (IM) has provided an eyewitness account of the controversial encounter 10 years ago between the police and alleged terrorists in South Delhis Batla House in which encounter specialist Mohan Chand Sharma was killed, home ministry officials familiar with the details of his interrogation said. IM operative Atif Ameen tried to escape but inspector Sharma, who was awarded the Ashok Chakra posthumously, caught hold of him. Atif then grabbed Sharmas gun and started firing when a Delhi police team raided the flat where the IM terrorists were holed up, according to the account given to the NIA by Ariz Khan alias Junaid. Junaid was present in the Batla House flat when the Delhi police raided it on September 19, 2008. Ameen and one of his associates, Mohammed Sajid alias Chota Sajid, were killed in the shootout along with Sharma, who died of bullet injuries in a hospital. Ariz Khan escaped. The shootout at Batla House became controversial and many suspected that it was a staged encounter. Following the arrest of Ariz by Delhi police earlier this year, the NIA interrogated him at length. Ariz told NIA officials that besides Atif and Chota Sajid, he was also present in the Batla House flat along with Shahzad Ahmed alias Pappu and Mohammaded Saif. One of their associates, Zeeshan, left the flat in the morning to take an exam, said a home ministry official. Ariz told the interrogators that he was woken up by policemen and brought to the hall where he saw two policemen covering Atif and Shahzad. Two other policemen were watching over Saif and Chota Sajid. Suddenly Atif tried to run but was held by inspector Sharma. Atif caught hold of inspector Sharmas gun and started firing, Ariz told interrogators, according to the home ministry officials. The police team returned fire, resulting in the death of Sajid and Ameen but Shahzad and Ariz managed to flee from the flat. Arizs lawyer, MS Khan, maintained that his client was not involved with any outfit called Indian Mujahideen or any blasts. It is Thursday, a day after two storms have hit Delhi-NCR, and a couple of days before yet another was to rattle it. As anyone who has lived in the Capital would testify, the heat, pregnant with precipitation, could smother the wits out of anyone who dared to venture out at midday. In a corner near gate number two of Jama Masjid, the air is thick with the aroma of incense and Sufi songs. There is a dargah tucked in the nook. The Bhishtis, or water carriers (for lack of better translation) of Old Delhi are engaged in their daily business. This time of the year is when they become all the more important. They have been occupied in the profession of providing water to the thirsty and keeping the surroundings cool by sprinkling water. They carry a goat-skin bag, mashak, which can hold up to 80 litres of water. Khalil, sewing and repairing bags, is perched on a takht (raised platform). My father used to do it, and seeing him, this is what I do now. I dont know how long has it been, but this is the only work I have been dedicated to, says Khalil, one of the few Bhishtis busy keeping the tradition alive. Khalil repairs a mashak (goat-skin bag) which is used for carrying water. (SARANG GUPTA/HT) A multitude of mashaks line his establishment. His brother, 50-year-old Muhammad Jamil, has busied himself with filling the mashak. He grabs a slab of ice and carefully breaks it into three solid pieces. He then proceeds to fill the mashak with water from a well, situated at the back, right in front of the dargah. Hum Mughalo ke daur se yeh kaam kar rahe hain. Pehle kaafi kaam tha, par ab agle 2-3 saalo mein hum nahi dikhenge (Our community has been doing it from the time when Mughals used to rule. There used to be a lot of work earlier, but its waning now. You wont see our lot in the coming years), he says. Just then, people start circling him and he serves them water in the two small bowls he is carrying. Some ask him to fill their water bottles. A girl sprints by; he pours water on her head and giggles with her. He graciously accepts whatever little money they give him. Muhammad Jamil distributes water to people gathered at Jama Masjid. (SARANG GUPTA/HT) In Delhi, Bhishtis can also be found near the baoli in Nizamuddin. A little distance away, at the Delhi Gate Cemetery, 46-year-old Ismail is employed in the task of sprinkling water on the graves, where its difficult to carry pipes or have a drainage system. Kabristaan ke kaam ko log neecha samajhte hain, par kaam toh koi bhi bura nahi hota (People look down upon the work that I do at the graveyard, but work is work), he says. Filling his mashak, he goes on to show us how he works. Mera kaam mayyat dafan karne ka hai; mitti geeli karne ka (My job is to make sure that the soil is wet during burials), he says. Ismail keeps the earth around the graves wet by sprinkling water with his mashak. (SARANG GUPTA/HT) A people of communal harmony Bhishtis belong to the Abbasi community. It is said that Prophet Muhammad had asked Hazrat Abbas to carry water from a pond in a mashak when Imam Hussain and his followers were on their way to the battle of Karbala. The term Bhishti, we are told, comes from the Persian word bahisht, meaning paradise. Providing water to the thirsty is among the good deeds laid down in Islam, says Abu Sufiyan, founder of Purani Dilliwalo ki Baatein, a blog dedicated to bringing the treasures of Old Delhi to the world. In the olden days, during Ramleela processions, these Bhishtis used to walk ahead, sprinkling water along the way. Even today, before Holika Dahan, the Bhishtis clean the area where the fire is supposed to be lit, he adds. Costs dont match the income While the water is drawn from the well, ice slabs cost around 150. The mashaks cost about 2,500 plus repairs, which come to about 200. One mashak lasts for about seven months. We make 8-10 rounds and are able to make up to 400 a day. But with water coolers and packaged water, we have become obsolete, says Jamil. People pay them as they wish; they never ask for money. Informing us about the system at the cemetery, Ismail says, I am paid a salary of 7,200 by the cemetery. I am sending my children to school so that they do well in life. In addition to monetary costs, Bhishtis also have to bear the physical brunt of their profession. It affects the knees and heels, but I like doing it, he adds with indifference, as the muezzin calls out for the Asr (afternoon) namaaz. Its time to leave the departed resting in peace. Interact with the author at Twitter/@TheBalinian The Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) on May 18 expressed shock at reports that the University Grants Commission (UGC) was working to grant autonomous status to St Stephens College. In a statement, DUTA president Rajib Ray said, Despite several protests, it seems that the government is moving ahead on its agenda of turning colleges and universities of repute into teaching shops through the scheme of Autonomous Colleges and Graded Autonomy. This is shocking. We have written to the UGC today in this regard opposing any move to fragment and privatise the college and the varsity. The DUTA has also written to the HRD Ministry reiterating its demands, he added. St Stephens Principal John Verghese did not respond to calls or messages from PTI. The Scheme of Autonomous Colleges and Graded Autonomy, which is a push towards self-financing schemes and online courses, will have far reaching consequences. Privatisation of public-funded institutions will hit badly the educational prospects of students coming from marginalised sections, women students and the middle-class, Ray said. Thus far the management of only one college, namely St. Stephens College, has sought autonomous status without taking the opinions of the teachers and students into account, he added. The DUTA also demanded suspension of such initiatives till the matter was honestly and rigorously debated and the performance of the autonomous colleges reviewed. On May 10, members of St. Stephens College Staff Association and DUTA staged a demonstration outside the college to protest against the visit by a team of the UGC to the college. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all varsities and higher educational institutions to ban use of plastic cups, lunch packets, straws, bottles and bags on their campuses. The directive by the commission comes after the Union Environment Ministry issued an advisory, saying India is the global host of this years World Environment Day celebrations, the largest UN-led celebration on environment, and the theme for this edition is Beat Plastic Pollution. Ban take-away coffee cup, lunch wrapped in disposable plastic packaging, plastic bags, disposable food service cups, plates, containers made in polystyrene foam and plastic straws. Restrict single-use plastic water bottle and encourage use of refillable bottles instead, the UGC said in a communication to all vice-chancellors. The commission has also asked varsities to conduct networking activities on mass awareness on disposal of plastic and cleanliness drives under the Swachh Bharat Mission in municipalities. Hosting this prestigious event is a step towards our commitment to undertake global leadership on addressing all forms of pollution, reducing emissions and investing in sustainable development efforts. This is an opportunity for collective efforts to reduce the use of plastic and the HRD Ministry has desired that the students be encouraged to refuse, reduce and re-use plastic product in their daily uses, the letter said. In the run-up to the World Environment Day celebrations on June 5, the Environment Ministry has also asked schools to stop the use of plastics in their premises and constituted 19 teams to undertake cleaning of 24 beaches and an equal number of polluted riverfronts and lakes across the country. Meghan Markle, who marries Britains Prince Harry at Windsor, England in Saturdays eagerly-awaited royal wedding, was in India in January 2017. The Suits actor and duchess-to-be visited a few NGOs in Delhi and Mumbai as a global ambassador for World Vision Canada. A post shared by Pinkvilla Fashion (@pinkvillafashion) on May 18, 2018 at 9:31pm PDT On her maiden India trip, Meghan paid a special tribute to her host country with her outfit choice. Looking elegant and fresh in her desi avatar, Meghan wore a beautiful green-and-blue saree with golden motifs. She paired her handcrafted saree with a quarter-sleeve printed beige blouse. Meghan nailed the traditional Indian look, by completing her ensemble with matching blue and green bangles and a bindi. A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) on Jan 23, 2017 at 10:06am PST Meghan was in India to raise awareness about young womens health and hygiene. She was also spotted at Mumbai airport, casually clad in black skinny jeans and a tee. With her off-duty look, Meghan sported intricate mehendi on her right hand. Meghan marries Prince Harry in an extravagant, but traditional ceremony on Saturday. The wedding hosts some 600 guests, including a flock of royalty, dignitaries, celebrities and socialites from around the world. Actor Priyanka Chopra is in England for her much-anticipated appearance at the royal wedding. A post shared by A Fashionista's Diary (@afashionistasdiaries) on May 18, 2018 at 9:02am PDT Priyanka was photographed arriving at Londons Heathrow Airport on Friday. She looked like the epitome of travel chic in a blue and green plaid pantsuit from Alberta Ferretti. She paired her separates with a low-key grey hoodie, pointy-toe denim pumps and narrow-framed sunglasses. Nothing says Welcome to England like head-to-toe plaid, right? Follow @htlifeandstyle for more The moment weve all been waiting for! Actor Priyanka Chopra finally arrived in England for her friend Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys royal wedding. The Suits actor marries the the British royal at Windsor Castle on Saturday. One of the most-anticipated guests at the high-profile wedding, Priyanka arrived at Londons Heathrow Airport on Friday, looking slick in her pre-wedding outfit a plaid pantsuit from Italian fashion designer Alberta Ferretti. A suited and booted Priyanka looked like the epitome of travel chic in her tailored blue and green separates. She completed the bold look with a low-key grey hoodie, pointy-toe denim heels, narrow-framed sunglasses and her hair styled in soft, messy curls. A post shared by A Fashionista's Diary (@afashionistasdiaries) on May 18, 2018 at 9:02am PDT Priyanka was latter seen rocking her plunging plaid blazer and coordinating pants minus the hoodie with a black hat, as she visited iconic British fascinator designer Philip Treacys studio to pick out her hat for Saturdays ceremony. While details of Priyankas royal wedding look have been kept under wraps, the actor had spoken about searching for hats and getting a crash course in fascinators ahead of the big day. She told People, I have to wear a hat to this thing Im going to soon, and a friend of mine recommended a fascinator, and I didnt know what that meant, so I Googled what is the meaning of a fascinator? Welcomed by the UK sun... A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on May 18, 2018 at 11:58am PDT Although Priyankas wedding guest outfit will be revealed in a few hours,we have no doubt that she will wow us once more, in whatever she decides to wear. The Quantico star is set to join some 600 guests at Saturdays ceremony, which will be attended by royals, dignitaries, celebrities and socialites from across the world. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of attacking the countrys institutions and said the message from Karnataka is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not bigger than India. I hope the BJP And RSS learn their lesson that not all institutions of this country can be subverted, Gandhi said after BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa resigned as chief minister ahead of the floor test in Karnataka assembly on Saturday. Gandhi also thanked the people of Karnataka for giving the Congress-Janata Dal(Secular) alliance the mandate and said opposition parties will work together to stop the BJP and RSS. My message to the PM Modi is that the Prime Minister is not bigger than the people of India, than the Supreme Court or the members of Parliament. The Congress chief echoed the partys allegations that the BJP was trying to poach its Karnataka MLAs. The idea that PM Modi is fighting corruption is a lie. He is corruption. He is doing everything to subvert the institutions of India. Yeddyurappa resigned as the chief minister of Karnataka a day after the Supreme Court directed him to take the floor test on Saturday. The Congress had approached the top court after governor Vajubhai Vala invited Yeddyurappa to form a government in Karnataka and prove his majority within 15 days. The Congress and JS(S) alliance is set to assume power in Karnataka after the May 12 election threw up a hung assembly in the state. The BJP won 104 seats but fell short of the halfway mark in Karnataka assembly election. Together, the Congress and JD(S) have 115 seats in the 222-seat assembly. The Congress party on Saturday released a series of audio clips purportedly of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders trying to lure opposition members of the legislative assembly (MLAs ) by offering them money and positions in the government if they defected. While one clip, allegedly of mining baron G Janardhana Reddy asking Congress MLA Basanagouda Daddal to defect, was released on Friday, four more were made public on Saturday. The BJP denied the allegations. Hindustan Times couldnt confirm the authenticity of the tapes. One of the clips purportedly was the record of a conversation between BS Yeddyurappas younger son BY Vijayendra and an unknown Congress MLAs wife. In the clip, the male voice is heard offering ~15 crore or ~5 crore and a ministerial berth for the leader to vote in favour of the BJP in a trust vote that was to be held on Saturday. Additionally, the person assures the woman, cases pending against her son would be withdrawn. Another clip was purportedly of a conversation between BJ Puttaswamy, a close aide to Yeddyurappa, and the unidentified woman cited earlier. In that, too, an offer of Rs 15 crore is made for voting for the BJP in the trust motion. Again, an assurance is give that the cases against her son will be taken care of. TAPE SAGA Tape 1 Friday BJP strongman G Janardhana Reddy is purportedly telling newly elected Congress MLA Basanagouda Daddal to defect, and allegedly offering him inducements and positions. Tape 2 Saturday BS Yeddyurappas younger son BY Vijayendra is purportedly heard talking to unknown Congress MLAs wife, offering Rs 15 crore or Rs 5 crore and a ministerial berth in return for a vote for the BJP. Tape 3 Saturday BJ Puttaswamy , a close aide of Yeddyurappa, can be purportedly heard talking to the unidentified woman in the previous tape, offering ~15 crore. Tape 4 Saturday Yeddyurappa is purportedly heard offering a cabinet post to Congress MLA BC Patil in return for his vote. Tape 5 Saturday Senior BJP leader B Sriramulu and Muralidhar Rao, the party general secretary in-charge of the state, can be purportedly heard offering BC Patil an offer of Rs 15 crore in return for his HT couldnt confirm the authenticity of the tapes. The BJP denied the allegations. Meanwhile, an audio clip purportedly of Yeddyurappa offering a cabinet post to Congress MLA BC Patil was also released by the party. In the recorded conversation, a person is heard asking Patil to get off the bus in which the Congress MLAs were travelling on one pretext or the other. If you do not get off the bus and go to Kochi then we will not be able to do anything, the person says. Kochi was where the Congress MLAs were supposed to go. When Patil asks what he would get in return for his defection, he is assured of a ministry. Another audio clip, the Congress alleged, was of Patil speaking to B Sriramulu of the BJP and Muralidhar Rao, the BJP general secretary in-charge of the state. In the clip, Patil purportedly receives an offer of Rs 15 crore in return for his defection. Union minister Ananth Kumar said the clips were completely fabricated. The clips are completely false and fabricated by the Congress, he said outside the Governors residence . Congress leaders in the Vidhana Soudha latched on to Yeddyurappas resignation speech, in which he admitted to having spoken to opposition leaders. I had asked opposition members to vote according to their conscience. It is true that I called them, it is true that I offered assurances, he said in the House. State Congress working president Dinesh Gundu Rao said the party would consider all legal options. When he has admitted on the floor of the House that he had contacted our MLAs, it shows that the BJP was trying to get them to defect. We will definitely take this up legally, he said. Pak student Sabika killed in Texas school shooting Al Jazeera News, Islamabad, Pakistan : Sabika Sheikh, a 17-year-old Pakistani student on a foreign exchange programme in the United States, was among those killed in the Sante Fe school shooting, her family and the programme have confirmed. Sheikh was among at least 10 schoolchildren killed when a gunman opened fire at the Sante Fe High School, about 50km southeast of Houston, on Friday morning. A 17-year-old boy, identified by police as Dimitrios Pagourtzis, has been taken into custody following the attack, the 22nd school shooting in the US this year. Sheikh, 17, hailed from the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, a sprawling metropolis of more than 18 million people that is the largest city in the country. "She was extraordinary, genius, and talented," Abdul Aziz, her father, told reporters at their home in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal neighbourhood. Alleged Indian Mujahideen operative Ariz Khan alias Junaid has confessed to his involvement in a series of bombings that took place between 2005 and 2008, according to home ministry officials familiar with the details of his interrogation by counter-terrorism officials. Ariz, 32, was arrested by Delhi police in February from near the Indo-Nepal border after he was picked up from the Himalayan country. Two months later, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) too took him into custody in connection with a case registered by it. Investigation in this case (registered by NIA) has revealed that accused Ariz Khan alias Junaid was involved in the serial blast at Delhi in the year 2005, serial blast at Varanasi in the year 2006, Uttar Pradesh Court blast in the year 2007, serial blast at Jaipur in the year 2008, serial blast at Ahmedabad in the year 2008 and serial blast at Delhi in the year 2008,an NIA statement released on April 18 said. NIA officials say Ariz, during his interrogation, confessed to his involvement in all these blasts. In the 2005 Diwali-eve serial blasts, the Delhi police blamed Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives, but last year a court acquitted three of the accused who were tried in the case. Ariz Khan has also told interrogators that he planted one of the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at Varanasi on March 7, 2006. Three IEDs were planted in the holy city and Ariz planted the one that exploded at the cantonment railway station, said a home ministry official familiar with details of his interrogation, on condition of anonymity. But the UP police charged Walliullah, an Imam from Phulpur, for sheltering a group of terrorists that had come from Bangladesh. Walliullahs trial is still on in a Ghaziabad court. The establishment of Amaravati, the green-field capital of Andhra Pradesh, is going to be a case study for the students of the prestigious London School of Economics. A team of students from LSE are expected to visit Amaravati in August to study the progress of works on the new capital right from acquisition of land to creation of world-class infrastructure, an official in the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) said. The students of LSE, who are presently involved in the preparation of World Happiness Index report, have evinced interest in Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidus plan to develop Amaravati as one of the worlds happiest cities. The proposed visit of LSE students came up for discussion during an official review meeting conducted by the chief minister in Amaravati on Friday. APCRDA commissioner Cherukuri Sridhar told Naidu that the LSE students had chosen Amaravati to study the development of a capital and its economics. The LSE has invited us to give a lecture on Amaravati capital construction. Accordingly, a team of four officials from CRDA would visit London from June 48 to explain the entire master plan of the capital. After that, a group of students from LSE would come to Amaravati and spend two months to do a comprehensive study on the capital, Sridhar said. LSE is said to have particularly evinced interest in studying the concept of land pooling, through which the state government had acquired 34,000 acres of land worth Rs 50,000 crore for the construction of the green field capital at Amaravati. The government has not spent a single rupee on land acquisition. In lieu of the land, the government has allotted residential and commercial plots to the farmers in prime areas of the capital, Sridhar said. LSE had also come forward to give its inputs in transforming Amaravati into a world-class happy city. The students will make a study of different aspects of socio-economic development of the capital city, he said. Meanwhile, Naidu made a whirlwind tour of Amaravati capital region on Saturday to oversee the progress of the infrastructure works including roads, drainages, water and sewerage lines. He also inspected the works on construction of residential quarters for the government employees, legislators and all India service officials. Works worth Rs 24,000 crore have been taken up and they are in brisk progress. The Centre has so far given just Rs 1,500 crore. We are tapping various sources to mobilise funds for the capital, Naidu said. The APCRDA has initiated the process of issuing of bonds worth Rs 2,000 crore by May end, after obtaining the credit ratings from various agencies and clearance from the Centre. We are expecting the final rating by May 22 and clearance from the Centre by May 23, Sridhar said. Naidu also wanted the officials to float special bonds in the name of Amaravati bonds to mobilise funds from Telugu NRIs. The money raised through bonds, for which the state government would be the guarantor, would help in payment to contractors and other infrastructure development works, the commissioner said. The Congress will chalk out its strategy and power-sharing arrangement with the JD(S) in Karnataka on Sunday, when its top leaders will hold discussions with party chief Rahul Gandhi in the national capital, ahead of the swearing-in of H D Kumaraswamy as the chief minister of the southern state. According to sources, senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot will arrive in Delhi tomorrow morning and hold discussions with Gandhi, before finalising the power-sharing arrangement with the JD(S) in the Karnataka government. The two leaders were stationed in Bengaluru to steer the partys strategy ahead of the floor test in the Karnataka Assembly today. The BJPs B S Yeddyurappa, however, resigned as the Karnataka chief minister without taking the floor test. Everything will be decided in Delhi tomorrow, when the top leaders of the party will hold discussions with Rahul Gandhi, a Congress leader said. The Congress has extended support to the JD(S) to form a government in the southern state under a power-sharing agreement. While Kumaraswamy will be the chief minister, the deputy chief minister is expected to be from the Congress and a Dalit is likely to be appointed to the post. The Congress has 78 MLAs in the 224-member House and the JD(S) has 37. The H D Deve Gowda-led party had a pre-poll tie-up with the BSP, which has one MLA. The Congress on Saturday said it did not press for the replacement of Karnataka pro-tem Speaker KG Bopaiah after assurances in the Supreme Court that the trust vote proceedings would be broadcast live. The Congress-JD(S) combine had challenged in the apex court Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Valas decision to appoint BJP MLA Bopaiah as pro-tem speaker for holding the floor test for chief minister BS Yeddyurappa to prove his majority in the House. Addressing a joint press conference, Congress leaders Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who represented the Congress and the JD(S) in the Supreme Court, said their entire aim of moving court was to ensure transparency during the confidence vote over government formation in the southern state. Sibal also said whosoever wins or loses in today trust vote democracy will win. Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sibal said, The prime minister keeps saying na khaunga na khane dunga (will neither indulge in corruption nor allow it). He should also say na kharidunga na kharidane dunga (will neither buy, nor let anyone be bought over). There was no question of replacing the pro-tem speaker when live proceedings will be telecast and transparency will be ensured, he added. Singhvi said most of the prayers of the Congress-JD(S) before the court have been accepted. The time period for the trust vote was reduced, complete transparency during trust vote was ensured, no secret ballot was allowed and pro-tem speaker was disallowed to take any other agenda... The achievements of our petition before the court is holding the trust vote in 1.5 days against 15 days allowed earlier, he told reporters. Asked why did the Congress move the petition if it had to withdraw its pleas, Singhvi said the offer to hold live telecast was given only after our petition. He described the move of live telecast as a virtue out of necessity. Singhvi said, We wanted safeguards to be in place on our apprehension. In a way most of our demands have been met. Three days after the suspension of counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir for the Islamic holy month of Ramzan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday appealed to young militants to return to the mainstream, as the Valley shut down to protest his visit. Modi was in Srinagar to unveil a plaque for the upcoming Srinagar Ring Road and to inaugurate the 330-MW Kishenganga power project which has come up in Bandipora. Earlier, he kick-started work on Zojila Tunnel on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway in Leh. I believe the youth who have lost their way should come back to the mainstream. The mainstream is their family and parents. The mainstream is their participation in the development of the state, Modi said in an address to a gathering at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre in Srinagar. Modi blamed foreign forces for the young in Jammu and Kashmir going astray. Every stone or weapon picked up by the misguided youth injures their own Jammu and Kashmir. You will have to come out of this atmosphere. Not only your future but for the future of J&K, you will have to join the Indian mainstream. he said. Invoking Kashmiryat, he said that he the regions culture is unique. Last time I came to Kashmir on Diwali. Today I am here on Ramzan. This is Kashmir. Here everybody is welcome. It is a culture you will see nowhere else. Former prime minister Atal-ji (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) was a fan of Kashmiriyat and Modi is also a follower of the same Kashmiriyat. Modis visit follows Wednesdays suspension of security operations against Kashmiri militants with the caveat that they reserve the right to retaliate if they are attacked or if it is essential to protect the lives of civilians. The suspension, at the request of chief minister Mehbooba Mufi, was a gesture of goodwill towards the restive valley, where violence has increased in recent months. On Saturday, the authorities imposed restrictions on movement in parts of Kashmir and suspended mobile internet services as people observed a shutdown strike across the Valley. Streets were deserted and markets closed in response to a call by separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik to protest against the PMs visit. The trio had also called for a peaceful protest march to Lal Chowk in the city centre to demand Azadi, for which we have been giving our sacrifices for the past 70 years. The authorities imposed restrictions on movement in and around, Lal Chowk which is the commercial hub of Srinagar. Police and the Central Reserve Police Force personnel erected iron barricades with barbed wire to prevent mass movement of people and thwart the separatist rally. The government also closed schools and colleges while Kashmir University postponed its examinations for the day. Mirwaiz, who was under house arrest, was detained by police outside his Nigeen residence in Srinagar as soon as he tried to march towards Lal Chowk. Geelani was under house detention and Malik in police custody. A group of supporters of Maliks Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front were detained by police as they gathered near Budshah Chowk Maisuma from where they tried to march towards Lal Chowk. The situation so far has been stable. There were a few minor incidents of stone pelting which by Kashmir standards are normal, said a police official in Srinagar on condition of anonymity. The roads leading to the venue of the PMs function at Sheri Kashmir International Convention Centre on the banks of the Dal Lake were also sealed and traffic leading to the venue from two sides was also suspended. Mobile internet services were also blocked from midnight and were resumed after the PM left for Jammu in the afternoon. Former diplomat Madhuri Gupta, who had served at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, on Saturday sentenced to three years in jail for passing on sensitive information to Pakistans ISI, with a Delhi court saying her actions caused a severe security threat. Additional Sessions Judge Sidharth Sharma gave her the maximum sentence for the offences of spying and wrongful communication of information protected under the law, observing that an educated woman like her did not deserve any leniency. Sixty-one-year-old Gupta, who was the Second Secretary (Press & Information) at the high commission from 2007 till her arrest on April 22, 2010 during a visit here, was held guilty yesterday under various provisions of the Official Secrets (OS) Act. After passing the sentence, the court granted bail to Gupta to allow her to appeal against the conviction and the sentence. She was suspected by Indian intelligence agencies of spying for Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence since 2008. According to the prosecution, the Ministry of External Affairs had received information that Gupta had been maintaining unauthorised contacts with Pakistani intelligence officials and was passing on sensitive official information personally as well as through electronic means from her computer at her office and residence in Islamabad. The prosecution had stated that she passed on the information to the ISI handlers through her e-mail account from October 2009 to April 2010. The court said that Gupta was a modern educated woman who had served in different embassies and at the time of the offence, she was posted in a very sensitive position in the high commission. Undoubtedly, from a person of her stature, it was expected that she would act in a more responsible manner than an ordinary citizen as she was at a high position of trust but her actions tarnished the image of the country and has caused severe threat to the security of the country. Therefore, she does not deserve any leniency in punishment, the court said. While convicting her, the court had said that the e-mails passed on by the accused were categorically sensitive information which could have been useful to the enemy country... and its secrecy was of utmost importance. Gupta was convicted under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act which attract a maximum sentence of three years and fine or both. She had sought leniency from the court on the ground that she was a senior citizen, a single woman and was a victim of circumstances. Public prosecutor Irfan Ahmed had opposed her submissions stating that she was an educated woman and was holding an important position and that it was not expected from a person of her stature to be involved in such activities. He had said that she understood the consequences of her act. Gupta was arrested on April 22, 2010 by the special cell of the Delhi Police on the charge of passing on sensitive information to Pakistani officials and remaining in touch with two ISI officials, Mubshar Raza Rana and Jamshed. While convicting Gupta, the court had observed that in one of the e-mails, she had promised to collect information regarding hydroelectric power projects in Jammu and Kashmir which could have had a serious repercussion on the countrys security. It is seen that the accused was unable to give such information but her intention of passing on such information and her going to Jammu after giving the false excuse of attending marriage points out her intention of helping the enemy country. She had been giving information regarding various postings of officers of defence, MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) and HCI (High Commission of India) as well as their family particulars, which could have caused danger to the life and security to said officers and their family, the court had said. It had also noted that various electronic gadgets, including laptops and Blackberry mobile phones which were purchased in her name, contained e-mails sent to various ISI handlers. The court had convicted Gupta for the offences under second part of sections 3(1)(c) (obtaining, publishing or communicating to any person any secret official information which is useful to an enemy) and 3 (wrongful communication of information) of the OS Act and section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code. It, however, had absolved her from the first part of Section 3(1)(c) of the OS Act that attracts a maximum punishment of 14 years, holding that none of the information divulged by her pertained to any work of defence or to the naval, military or air force or affairs of the government. Gupta had denied the incriminating evidence against her and had stated that she was innocent and was falsely implicated in the case by the officials of the high commission and the MEA with whom she had strained or frosty relations, in connivance with police officials in Delhi. The BS Yeddyurappa-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government faces a cliffhanger vote of confidence on Saturday that will decide its fate. Situations where parties or alliances fail to get an outright majority after a general election potentially give rise to political manoeuvring and questions of constitutionality. Heres a primer to make sense of what might unfold in Karnataka. How do the numbers look for Yeddyurappa? The Karnataka assembly has 224 members, but with polling for two seats delayed, and one member elected from two constituencies, it has, effectively, 221 members. Yeddyurappas Bharatiya Janata Party has 104 members but an effective strength of 103 since one of its members is now the pro-tem Speaker (his vote will be counted only in the case of a tie). To win a trust vote, Yeddyurappa will need seven more votes - this could be a mix of independents and those from?Congress and JD(S) willing to cross-vote. With 111 votes, the Yeddyuruppa government will have a majority. Or he will have to ensure the effective strength of the house is reduced with 14 Opposition members abstaining. This would reduce the house to 207, and with 103 on either side. In this case, the pro-tem Speakers vote will be counted. In a third scenario, the BJP needs to increase in its own strength and bank on enough abstentions to constitute a majority of the existing assemblys strength. Failing all this, BSY will lose the vote. What if Congress or Janata Dal (Secular) members were to (a) cross-vote (b) remain absent or (c) be present but abstain from voting? Will they be disqualified? If, hypothetically speaking, JD(S) or Congress members vote against their party directions, their votes will be counted as valid. If some Opposition members remain present in House but abstain from voting, then too this will work to Yeddyurappas advantage by bringing down the required majority. However, in both cases, it would attract anti-defection provisions leading to disqualification. If a member remains absent, then he/she may attract the anti-defection law unless he can prove that he was absent due to genuine personal emergency. To escape the anti-defection law, two-thirds of the members of a party must defect. On what grounds can MLAs can be disqualified? All newly elected MLAs, after taking oath, are governed by applicable rules of disqualification. They are of two types. One, Article 102 of the Constitution lays down grounds for disqualification relating to code of conduct and office of profit etc. The other major ground for disqualification relates to defection, or switching of sides. Anti-defection provisions were added to the Constitution as the Tenth Schedule after the 52nd Amendment. This is particularly relevant to Karnatakas case. Do anti-defection provisions and disqualification apply automatically the moment Opposition members cross-vote or defy whips? No. Anti-defection provisions are applied later. A party has to first press cross-voting charges against a member by moving the Speaker. To prove a majority during a confidence motion, does a party need a majority of the entire house or those present and voting? A party or a group of parties -- in Karnatakas case, the BJP -- will need a simple majority (50% + 1) of members of the House present and voting. A two-thirds majority, often needed to pass special bills, doesnt apply in this case. Does a floor test happen before swearing in of newly elected MLAs? How will a floor test happen in Karnataka? Under Article 99 of the Constitution, no elected member of a House can take his or her seat before the oath of office is administered. Under Article 104, they can be disqualified if they vote before taking such an oath. The pro-tem speaker in Karnataka has to therefore administer the oath to all legislators before Saturdays majority test. The Supreme Court has rejected the Yeddyurappa governments plea for voting through a secret ballot. The voting will therefore have to be conducted electronically. Is there a difference between a no-confidence motion and motion of confidence of the House? Which of these two apply to BS Yeddyurappa? The Constitutions Article 118 permits each House to make its own rules on conduct of business. Therefore, procedures of no-confidence motion as well as motion of confidence are laid down in the Lower Houses published rulebook. In the case of Lok Sabha, it is called the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. Clause 198 of this rulebook provides for a motion of no-confidence against a ruling government. It can be initiated by any member. As opposed to this, Yeddyurappa will have to move a motion of confidence to prove his majority, for which theres no separate rule. Four people were killed when a storm accompanied by rain struck Agra division of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. Three persons were killed when the roof of an under-construction house collapsed on them in Tanora village of Firozabad on Saturday evening during storm and rain. Owner of the house, Saudan Singh, was away when the incident occurred. The deceased included his wife Sonkali (30) and two labourers, Vinod Kumar (25) and Mahaveer Singh (45), who were working at the site. Singhs 12-year-old daughter Nandini sustained critical injuries and was shifted to a hospital for treatment. The under-construction house was struck by high speed winds and rain. The labourers had laid an iron net to construct the concrete roof. They were installing electricity fittings when the strong wind blew away the net and they got trapped under the debris, said R K Singh, SP (city) Firozabad. The exterior of the under-construction house in Firozabad district, whose roof collapsed killing three people. (HT PHOTO) Mainpuri SP, Ajay Shankar Rai said a farmer died when a tree fell on him due to high speed wind. MeT department said that thunderstorm accompanied by a squall and winds gusting up to 70 kmph are very likely to hit parts of Agra, Mathura, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Aligarh, Gautambudh Nagar, Bulandshahr, Etah, Badaun, Ghaziabad districts and adjoining areas till Sunday morning. Agra also witnessed a dust storm and rain on Saturday evening. There were reports of damage to a house in Saiyyan rural area of Agra during the storm, but no casualty was reported. Mathura and Hathras saw similar weather but there were no reports of casualty till the last reports came in. The National Capital Region (NCR) and its adjoining areas witnessed a fresh thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon with gusty winds, followed by rain in some parts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials had in the morning issued a forecast of a thunderstorm in various parts of Delhi and NCR. On May 13, at least 51 people were killed and 83 others injured in a severe storm that hit parts of Uttar Pradesh. On May 9, several parts of the state were hit by a severe storm that left 18 people dead and 27 others injured. Five people died in Etawah district, three each in Mathura, Aligarh and Agra, two in Firozabad and one each in Hathras and Kanpur Dehat. Thunderstorms and lightning on May 2-3 killed 134 people and injured over 400 in UP, Rajasthan, Telangana, Utttarakhand and Punjab. UP was the worst affected, accounting for 80 deaths, most of them in Agra district in the western part of the state. Shivangi Pathak, a 16-year-old girl from Haryana, has become the youngest Indian woman to conquer Mt Everest from the Nepali side. She is among some 59 Indian nationals who scaled the peak during this mountaineering season as of Friday. Pathak successfully climbed the Mt Everest on Thursday along with some Sherpa guides and has descended to the base camp, said Pemba Sherpa, managing director of Seven Summit Treks. She will reach Kathmandu on Sunday, he said. Inspired by Arunima Sinha, the first Indian amputee to climb Mt Everest, Pathak was carrying the message nothing is impossible and women can overcome every battle easily with willpower. Pathak used to watch the videos of Sinhha since her early childhood and that inspired her to climb Everest at such young age. Pathak had written in her Facebook page that she wanted to make famous the name of Haryana and Hisar, her home town. She has already conquered Stok Khangri, a 6,053-metre peak in Ladakh. As soon as she returns to Kathmandu, Pathak will be awarded a certificate of being the youngest Indian woman to scale the mountain from Nepali side, said Sherpa. As of Friday, a total 244 climbers have reached atop Mt Everest. Among them are 64 Americans, 59 Indians, 54 Chinese, 24 from Brits and 25 Nepalis. As many as 3,46 aspirants from some 43 countries are aiming to achieve the feat this year. With the fall of BJPs three-day-old government in Karnataka, HD Kumaraswamy heading the Congress-JDS coalition is set to become the chief minister for a second time on May 23. Governor Vajubhai Vala on Saturday invited Kumaraswamy, who is the leader of Congress-JD(S) joint legislature party, to form the government. After meeting the governor, Kumaraswamy had said the swearing-in ceremony would take place tentatively between 12 and 1.50 pm at Kanteerava stadium on May 21. But later on Saturday night, he said the swearing in ceremony would take place on May 23, but did not cite any reasons. A JDS leader said the swearing-in date has been shifted to May 23 as May 21 happens to be the date on which former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was killed in a suicide bombing at Sriperumbudur near Chennai in 1991. Speaking to reporters after meeting the governor, Kumaraswamy said the governor has directed him to prove the majority on the floor of the House in 15 days but he would do it much before. On the invitation of the Governor I have met him on the basis of the request we had submitted on May 15 for the formation of Congress-JD(S) coalition government....he has invited us to form the government, Kumaraswamy, who is also state JD(S) chief, said. After a meeting with Congress leaders, Kumaraswamy said they also discussed about moving the confidence of motion on May 24. He said he would meet Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi on May 21 to extend his gratitude to them. I will also discuss how many Congress and JD(S) MLAs will become ministers, said Kumaraswamy. He said a coordination committee would be formed to prepare a common minimum programme to implement the promises made by the two coalition partners. Kumaraswamy said there were no other discussions with the coalition partners other than winning the confidence vote. His meeting with the governor came hours after BS Yeddyurappa stepped down as chief minister without facing the floor test in the assembly as the BJP fell short of numbers. The post election stitched alliance of JDS and Congress, which claims the support of 117 members, has already staked its claim to form the government and said it would be headed by Kumaraswamy. The third son of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda had earlier headed the BJP-JD(S) coalition government for twenty months from January 2006. Kumaraswamy said West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, BSP chief Mayawati, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana chief minister Chandrashekar Rao and several other regional leaders would be invited for the swearing-in ceremony. Asked by when he will prove majority, Kumaraswamy said As soon as possible we will call the assembly session to prove majority.... though Governor has given 15 days, we will not require that much time. Expressing apprehension that the BJP would again indulge in operation Kamala (poaching on MLAs), he said Im aware of it that they will create problem. JD(S) and Congress leaders will take all precautionary measures for it. He also ruled out any kind of differences among the party cadres on alliance with the Congress. Farakka Barrage ominous for BD Staff Reporter : The damage done to Bangladesh by Farakka Barrage is ominous. It has brought various impacts in the country's environment and economy, Professor Emeritus at Dhaka University Dr. Serajul Islam Chowdhury has said "The damage done to the Bangladesh by Farakka is ominous. It has died up most of the rivers of southwest Bangladesh, harming ecology and economy of the country," he said this while addressing a discussion as the chief guest at the Jatiya Press Club on Saturday afternoon. The discussion was organised by Bhashani followers Parishad to mark the historic Farakka long march day with its chairman Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury in the chair. Prof. Serajul Islam said, Maulana Bhashini had realized that the barrage would impact in the environment of Bangladesh. It will kill our rivers and people. He (Bhashni) was against of the establishment of the barrage. Maulana Bhashani had led the long march accompanied by the mass people against the barrage in 1976, he said. The educationist also said, there is a need of a pioneer like Maulana Bhashani to lead the nation in a crisis moment. This great mass leader had spent his life for achieving the rights of proletariat. He was the real friend and guardian of the working class people. In his speech, Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury said the prices of essential goods have increased in the holy month of Ramzan. India has remained as a close friend of us but it should not try to make Bangladesh its business centre. Senior journalist Mahfuz Ullah alleged that there is an attempt to erage the image of Bhashini from the history. If any nation ignores its hero, they could not go ahead as a modern nation. In the discussion, Bhasani Follower Parishad secretary general Sheikh Rafiqul Islam and presidium member former MP Zahir Uddin spoke on the occasion. Eighteen tourists from Gujarat were injured when the bus they were travelling in overturned on the Mandi-Manali highway near Ghagas on Saturday. The accident took place in Manglot village at 8am. Initial reports suggested that bus driver could not negotiate a turn as he was speeding. The bus driver fled soon after the accident and continues to be at large. As many as 41 tourists, mostly from Rajkot in Gujarat, were travelling in the tourist bus that was on its way to Manali from Shimla. The 18 injured tourists have been admitted to the Bilaspur civil hospital, while two of them, who sustained grievous injuries, have been referred to Shimla. Two vehicles parked along the highway were also damaged in the accident. Police have registered a case of negligent driving against the driver and initiated an inquiry. We have registered a case of negligent driving. A crane was brought to lift the vehicle, Bilaspur superintendent of police (SP) Ashok Kumar said. The son of a journalist, he wanted to become an engineer, but his friendship with another Azamgarh man led him on the path of jihad, suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative Ariz Khan alias Junaid has told federal counter-terror investigators. Arizs father Zafare Alam Khan worked with a news periodical and his mother was a school teacher. Ariz studied at schools in his native place Azamgarh. In 2001, Ariz tried for admission in Aligarh Muslim University, but could not clear the entrance exam. He met Atif Ameen, also from Azamgarh, for the first time in Aligarh where Ameen too had come to take the entrance exam. They came back and took admission in school for 11th standard and started meeting regularly when Atif and he started staying in the same locality, said a home ministry official familiar with the details of Arizs interrogation by the NIA . There he came in touch with other associates of Ameen, like Arif Badar and others who later formed the Azamgarh module of the IM, according to NIA officials. Badar used to speak about demolition of Babri Masjid to others and also told them that India should have Sharia laws. They used to listen to speeches of Maulana Masood Azhar, founder of Jaish-e-Mohammed, said the official cited above. Officials say after securing a low rank in engineering entrance, Ariz didnt join the course and went to live with his brother in Muzaffarnagar. Atif then told him he had gone to Pakistan for training in (handling) arms. Ariz finally left studies in 2008 but before that he had become a fellow-traveller of Atif Ameen, added the official Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa resigned on Saturday without facing a potentially cliff-hanger trust vote on the floor of the Karnataka assembly in the biggest political setback for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in four years and a rare success for the Congress. The stage is now set for a Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress government headed by HD Kumaraswamy to be sworn in. Kumaraswamy met the governor on Saturday evening and will take the oath of office on Wednesday in a ceremony expected to be attended by United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and leaders of several national parties including Trinamool Congresss Mamata Banerjee, the Bahujan Samaj Partys Mayawati, the Rashtriya Janata Dals Tejashwi Yadav and the Telangana Rashtra Samithis K Chandrashekar Rao. Im resigning as chief minister. Im grateful to the speaker for giving me this opportunity, Yeddyurappa said in a speech in the assembly, effectively conceding that the 55-hour-old, one-man government he formed would face certain defeat if the motion of confidence was put to vote. The BJP won 104 seats in the May 12 assembly elections and the rival Congress-JD(S) combine, an alliance formed after the polls, got 115 seats in a house with an effective strength of 222. JD (S) ally Bahujan Samaj Party, a local party and an independent shared the remaining three seats. Yeddyurappas hopes of winning the trust vote, set for 4pm, depended on cross-voting by members of the legislative assembly. His resignation before the motion of confidence was put to vote effectively meant the BJPs efforts to woo rival party legislators had failed. I hope the BJP and RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) learn their lesson that not all institutions of this country can be subverted, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said soon after Yeddyurappas resignation. My message to the PM (Narendra) Modi is that the Prime Minister is not bigger than the people of India, than the Supreme Court or the members of Parliament. Its the first time since it came to power in May 2014 that the BJP has been outmanoeuvred at its own game by the Congress, which moved with alacrity to stitch up an alliance with the JD(S) and offered the chief ministers post to Kumaraswamy. On three occasions in the past, in Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya, the Congress emerged as the largest party in the state legislature only for the BJP to form government by quickly tying up with regional parties. This is the most opportunistic alliance youve seen, BJP spokesperson and Union minister Prakash Javadekar said on Saturday. Rahul Gandhi s claim that the Congress has defeated the BJP is laughable, because the Congress has actually lost out. They have been reduced to 78 seats, he added. The Congress and JD (S) were quick on the uptake in legally challenging the invitation governor Vajubhai Vala offered to Yeddyurappa to form government although they together had more seats in the House. The court set the floor test for Saturday, shortening the 15-day window Vala had offered Yeddyurappa to prove a majority, in the process pre-empting attempts to woo rival legislators, who spent Friday in Hyderabad to avoid the likely offer of inducements. The Congress released four audio clips on Saturday that it said were of various BJP leaders trying to woo its members. The BJP claimed none of the recordings was authentic. People blessed us with 104 seats. The mandate wasnt for the Congress or the JD(S). The governor invited us to form the government because we are the largest party...Till the last breath of my life, I will work for the people of Karnataka, Yeddyurappa said in the assembly. Yeddyurappas resignation without a vote in the assembly was a throwback to 1996 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee resigned without his 13-day-old government facing a scheduled confidence vote in the Lok Sabha. The BJP has faced other political embarrassments since storming back to power at the Centre in 2014, notably the defeat in the 2015 Bihar and Delhi elections.In Bihar, it returned to power after Nitish Kumars Janata Dal (United) broke away from its alliance partners and tied up with the BJP, a former ally, in 2017. In the abortive bid for power in Karnataka, however, it overplayed its hand. Political analyst Narendar Pani said it was the BJPs brusqueness that had resulted in its loss of face in the state. The BJP had got a moral victory. But the way they went about the whole affair, they managed to help the Congress convert a loss into a victory, he said. JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy and party MLAs show victory sign to celebrate after BS Yediyurappa announced his resignation before the floor test, at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. (PTI Photo) On Saturday, the Karnataka assembly convened at 11am after the Congress and the JD(S) withdrew their demand for the removal of BJP leader KG Bopaiah as pro-tem speaker to oversee the trust vote. Half an hour earlier, the Supreme Court had begun hearing a petition against Bopaiahs appointment on grounds that by convention, the senior-most lawmaker serves as pro-tem speaker. The court said that to decide on Bopaiahs appointment, he would have to be heard first and that would mean delaying the trust vote, scheduled to be held by 4pm. Law cant direct the governor to appoint a particular person as pro-tem speaker. Unless convention becomes legal norm, it cant be enforced by court, the court said. The Congress said it did not press for the replacement of Bopaiah after receiving assurances that the trust vote proceedings would be broadcast live to ensure transparency. Meanwhile, the Congress released an audio tape in which CM Yeddyurappa is purportedly heard trying to lure its MLA BC Patil with the promise of a ministerial berth if he backed the BJP government. The BJP, however, rejected the charge, calling the tape the job of mimicry artistes and the dirty tricks department of the Congress. In Delhi, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal took a dig at PM Modi over alleged attempts to buy lawmakers. The PM keeps saying na khaunga, na khane dunga (will neither indulge in corruption nor allow it). He should also say na kharidunga na kharidne dunga (will neither buy, nor let anyone be bought). Yeddyurappa, 75, became Karnataka CM for the first time in October 2007 in a BJP-JD(S) coalition government. He lasted in the post for over a month, when the JD(S) withdrew support and his government fell in November 2007. He became CM for the second time after the BJP came to power for the first time in south India on its own in the May 2008 mid-term assembly election, riding on a sympathy wave over the JD (S) betrayal. He had to resign three years later, in July 2011, after the Lokayukta indicted him for alleged corruption in a mining scam. Yeddyurappa said the Congress had hatched a conspiracy to subvert the peoples mandate. They {Congress and JD (S)} kept accusing each other, using the most filthy language, which was all reported by the media, he said. Confirming the Congress and JD(S) parties allegations that the BJP had contacted their MLAs, he said, It is true that I asked MLAs to vote according to their conscience, spoke to some people and gave assurances. Former CM Siddaramaiah said, He has admitted on the floor of the house that they approached our MLAs. He is the most corrupt leader in the state. The much-awaited India-US two-plus-two dialogue is expected to take place in the first week of July with the impact of Countering Americas Adversaries Through the Sanctions Act (CAATSA) on New Delhis national and energy security needs high on the agenda. The 2017 US federal law has been used to impose sanctions on Iran, North Korea and Russia this January. While India has proposed the date of July 6 for the meeting between external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and secretary of state Mike Pompeo and secretary of defence Jim Mattis in Washington, the US is still to confirm the date. The two-plus-two dialogue was to take place on April 18-19 but was postponed due to appointment of a new secretary of state by US President Donald Trump. South Block officials said on condition of anonymity that the dialogue has been shifted to the second half of the year because the US is going to be busy with North Korea next month. The meeting between US President Trump and his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-un is due to take place on June 12 in Singapore. While the first meeting of the two-plus-two dialogue will set the bilateral diplomatic and military agenda, India is worried about the adverse impact of the sanctions on its energy security (it imports a lot of oil from Iran) as well as military hardware purchases (Russia is a significant partner). India currently purchases nearly 29 million tons of crude from Iran; almost 62% of its military hardware and ammunition comes from Russia. Already, Mattis has urged the Senate armed service committee for a flexible waiver authority so that countries such as India are not punished when it comes to purchasing military equipment from Russia. India will also be needing a similar waiver when it comes to Iran due to oil imports and development of the Chabahar port for humanitarian aid to Afghanistan as Islamabad does not allow land corridor access to New Delhi. Apart from the impact of CAATSA, the two-plus-two dialogue will also focus on all aspects of the bilateral relationship and the growing Chinese influence in Indo-Pacific region, including freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. The US and India are party of the so-called Quad initiative which seeks to counter Chinas influence in the region. Saturday saw a tense atmosphere in the Vidhana Soudha here, with the secretariat deploying 200 marshals in the assembly ahead of the trust vote at 4 pm. At 10.30 am, with half an hour to go for oaths of the new MLAs to be registered, a petition moved in the Supreme Court against naming BJP leader KG Bopaiah as the pro tem speaker was the only matter being discussed. At 11 am, when oath-taking began, all eyes were on the MLAs who had gathered in the assembly. Only three were missing, Congress MLAs Anand Singh and Pratapgouda Patil and BJP MLA G Somashekhara Reddy. By 1 pm, rumours were doing the rounds that both Singh and Patil had been traced to the Gold Finch Hotel in the city. When the assembly adjourned for lunch, Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) MLAs looked confident of getting the numbers. DK Shivakumar said he had been in touch with Singh and Patil. Nobody will risk being absent or cross-voting. He has been in touch with us, he said. By 3 pm, Suresh entered the House beaming. We have contacted him and now we are waiting for the floor test to begin, he said. Meanwhile, BJP MLAs said there might not be a floor test. However, at 3 pm the Governors office confirmed that no appointment had been sought by Yeddyurappa yet. At 3.30 pm, with about 30 MLAs yet to take oath, Shivakumar walked into the House leading Singh by the hand and paraded him in the opposition benches, greeting senior leaders Siddaramaiah and HD Kumaraswamy of the JD(S). Within minutes he had got the papers ready for Singh to sign. Working president of the Congress state unit, Dinesh Gundu Rao, arrived soon with the party whip, which had been issued shortly before. At about 3.45 pm, Singh, Patil and Reddy took their oaths and the floor was opened to Yeddyurappa to move the motion. A minor argument ensued after Yeddyurappa began reading out his resignation speech before moving the trust vote. Siddarmaiah and senior Congress leader RV Deshpande asked Bopaiah to tell Yeddyurappa to move the motion first. Once Yeddyurappa announced his resignation, the opposition began thumping the benches. With senior leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, H Muniyappa, Mallikarjun Kharge, KC Venugopal and Ashok Gehlot congratulating the states leadership. On the other side, Muralidhar Rao, Ananth Kumar and other senior leaders looked distraught. As Siddaramaiah got up to make his speech as leader of the opposition, Bopaiah got up from his chair, even as BJP MLAs began walking out, unmindful that the national anthem had begun playing. It was played a second time, this time with the BJP MLAs waiting near the exit, but there was still no sign of Bopaiah. Shivakumar then went over to congratulate Kumaraswamy, who has been named as the CM candidate. With the floor test done, the Congress MLAs retired to the Hilton Hotel and the JD(S) MLAs to the Le Meridian Hotel to convene legislators meetings. Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa resigned on Saturday ahead of a Supreme Court-mandated trust vote in the assembly, capping five days of political drama that saw elections results throwing up a hung house, political parties accusing each of horse-trading and lawmakers hiding in hotels. The Supreme Court ordered the trust vote after the Congress and the JD(S) challenged Karnataka governor Vajubhai Valas decision to invite Yeddyurappa to take over as chief minister after election results that revealed a hung House. With the fall of BJPs three-day-old government, HD Kumaraswamy heading the Congress-JD(S) coalition is set to become the chief minister for a second time on May 23. Here are the highlights: 11.10 pm: We are going to take oath on Wednesday as Monday is Rajiv Gandhis death anniversary and so that is not a proper date, says HD Kumaraswamy, reports ANI. 10.38 pm: Swearing-in ceremony of JDS-Congress government will be on May 23 instead of May 21, says JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy. 10.23 pm: BJP chief Amit Shah says governments formed by such unholy alliances are unlikely to last long, rubbishes charges of horse-trading by his party. 10.20 pm: Congress to chalk out its strategy and power-sharing arrangement with the JD(S) in Karnataka tomorrow. Top leaders to hold discussions with party chief Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi. 10.00 pm: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) T N Haokip says ...this is the beginning of the end of Modi regime. Today Yeddyurappa is the victim. We are not blaming Yeddyurappa. The two big bosses are there in Delhi, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. They asserted their influences unduly to the Governor of Karnataka. How strange and funny? Yeddyurappa was seeking a weeks time to prove majority of his government but the Governor had granted 15 days time for floor test, Haokip says. 8.19 pm: Congress distances itself from Sanjay Nirupams remark on Karnataka governor. Congress doesnt agree with any such statement. Karnataka governor murdered democracy, however, any statement made on him personally wont be accepted. Rahul Gandhi and Congress have regard for their worst enemies unlike PM Modi, says Randeep Surjewala, according to ANI reports. 8.20 pm: HD Kumaraswamy goes to pays his obeisance to Adichunchanagiri Mutt, the spiritual guru of Vokkaligas. 7.59 pm: Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi says Congress celebrating a victory of jugaad. Advice to arrogant Congress and its feudal leadership, who are celebrating victory of Jugaad Sitaron Ke Aage Jahan Aur Bhi Hain, Abhi Waqt Ke Imtehan Aur Bhi Hain (there is world beyond stars, many test of times yet to be held). #FloorTest, tweets minority affairs minister Naqvi. 7.54 pm: Mayawati, Owaisi, K Chandrashekar Rao, Tejaswi Yadav to be present at the swearing-in ceremony to be held at Kanteerva Stadium. 7.48 pm: I have invited all regional leaders for oath ceremony. Ive also invited Sonia Gandhi ji and Rahul Gandhi ji personally, says HD Kumaraswamy. 7.40 pm: HD Kumaraswamy says, Governor has invited us to form government. He says governor has given him 15 days to prove his majority, but asserts we dont need 15 days. Kumaraswamy says he will take oath as chief minister on Monday. 7.25 pm: These are the likely portfolios in the HD Kumaraswamy government according to people familiar with the matter. These portfolios could eventually change. HD Kumaraswamy, JD(S) Chief Minister and Finance Minister, G Parameshwara, Congress Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister CS Puttaraju, JD(S) Agriculture, H Vishwanath, JD(S) Education KJ George, Congress Bengaluru development minister M Krishnappa, Congress Sports Krishna Byre Gowda, Congress Information and publicity N Mahesh,JD(S) Social Welfare GT Devegowda, JD(S) Cooperatives Bandeppa Kashempur, JD(S) Textiles and Endowments DC Thammanna, , JD(S) Labour Dinesh Gundu Rao, Congress Excise Dr K Sudhakar, Congress Health Tanveer Sait, Congress Higher Education Roshan Baig, Congress Forest MD Patil, Congress Food and Civil Supplies RV Deshpande, JD(S) Law and Parliamentary affairs Satish Jarkiholi, Congress Small Industries and Sugar Dr Ajay, Congress Science and Technology S Shivashankarappa, Congress Revenue Ramalinga Reddy, Congress Transport AT Ramaswamy, JD(S) Industries R Narendra, Congress Animal Husbandry UT Khader, Congress Health 7.20 pm: JD(S)s HD Kumaraswamy reaches Raj Bhavan to meet governer Vajubhai Vala, to stake claim for forming government. 7.11 pm: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav tweets that the collapse of B S Yeddyurappa government Karnataka is a victory of the peoples mandate and asks the central government to resign on moral grounds. 7.09 pm: CPI(M) demands resignation of Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala. If the governor of Karnataka has any shame left, he should submit his resignation as well. The Union ministers sitting in Bangalore, facilitating and enabling corrupt deals, are equally culpable, tweets Sitarama Yechury. 7.05 pm: HD Kumaraswamy to meet Karnataka governer Vajubhai Vala at 7.30 pm, to stake claim for forming government. 6.34 pm: Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad says the announcement of Yeddyurappas resignation was victory of democracy. We thank the MLAs of Congress, JD-S, one BSP candidate and Independents, who resisted all sorts of temptation and arm-twisting by the Central government and its agencies, and stood by the decision taken by their party leaderships, says Azad. 6:36 pm: Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Kumaraswamy says Congress-JD(S) combine is waiting for an invitation from the governor. 6.30 pm: Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam tweets apology after making remarks on Karantaka governor. , , Sanjay Nirupam (@sanjaynirupam) May 19, 2018 6.26 pm: Javadekar says Congress has insulted the institution of the governor by making comparisons with a dog. He was commenting on the statement of Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam about Karantaka governor Vajubhai Vala 6.19 pm: BS Yeddyurappa by resigning has shown grace and followed ideal democratic tradition: Javadekar. 6.18 pm: Congress is celebrating defeat as victory, Javadekar 6.10 pm: Its Congress that has no trust in institutions, retorts Javadekar to Rahul Gandhis. 6.05 pm: BJP leader Prakash Javadekar says says JD(S) - Congress is the most opportunistic alliance, it is Congresss surrender deal. He says the alliance is not based on ideology. It is the Congress that has lost not BJP: Javadekar Rahul Gandhi said PM is corrupt, it is laughable... Congress is synonymous with corruption, says Javadekar. 6.00 pm: In the end, Indias voice and democratic spirit will always triumph over tyranny. Satyamev Jayate Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 19, 2018 6.00 pm: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal says BJPs attempts to subvert democracy has miserably failed in Karnataka. BJPs attempts to subvert democracy have miserably failed in Karnataka. BJPs lust for power through foul means stands completely exposed. Will BJP learn any lesson now? tweets Kejriwal. 5.50 pm: Everyone will be happy about it. PM and BJP Pres tried to deride democracy. What message did they give by encouraging the corrupt? BJP brought back Janardhan Reddy to the forefront and did politics, says Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu. 5:45pm: BS Yeddyurappa submits his resignation as chief minister of Karnataka to governor Vajubhai Vala, reports ANI. 5.40 pm: Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam says governor Vajubhai Vala has established a new standard of loyalty. Now every citizen of this country will name his dog Vajubhai Vala because no one can be more loyal than him, says Sanjay Nirupam according to ANI reports . #WATCH Derogatory statement by Congress' Sanjay Nirupam, says, 'Iss desh mein wafadari ka naya kirtimaan sthaapit kiya hai Vajubhai Vala (#Karnataka Guv) ji ne, ab shayad India ka har aadmi apne kutte ka naam Vajubhai Vala hi rakhega kyunki isse zyada wafaadaar koi ho nahi sakta' pic.twitter.com/P0EtWWo58i ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 5.30 pm: BSP supremo Mayawati reacts to BS Yeddyurappas resignation. This is a big blow for them(BJP) and I think what they had been planning all along for 2019 has failed, they will now have to rethink and alter their strategies, she says. 5.22 pm: HD Kumaraswamy is likely to be sworn in at 12:30 on Monday, on the advice of his astrologers, people familiar with the mater told Hindustan Times. 5.12pm: Karnataka shows there is still some morality left in politics but alas not in the BJP. Now the governor should also resign, tweets former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha. 5.06pm: Union minister Ananth Kumar reacts to Rahul Gandhis PM is corruption remark, says: What is he saying about PM Modi? This is the PM who has provided a scam less govt. If he puts such an allegation, the people will say he has lost his mind. 5.03pm: Let everybody in this country know the PMs model of governance is not democratic. Everyone knows that... even the PM. 4.58pm: If the BJP had full majority, we would have let them form the government. But the truth is, the BJP doesnt have Karnatakas support, says Rahul Gandhi. 4.57pm: My message to PM is that the PM is not bigger than the people of India. He is not bigger than SC, than the members of Parliament. PM needs to understand he was chosen to lead this country and to respect the instt of this country. 4.56pm: BJP has been shown that the countrys instt are bigger than the party, than power. BJP openly tried to buy the MLAs. 4.55pm: I am proud the Opposition has put together a government and defeated the BJP, says the Congress president. 4.54pm: The idea that (Narendra) Modi is fighting corruption is a lie, he is corruption. He is doing everything that to subvert the institutions of India. 4.53pm: I hope the BJP And RSS learn their lesson that not all institutions of this country can be subverted, says Rahul Gandhi. 4.50pm: BJP disrespected the mandate of Karnataka, Goa and Manipur, says Congress president Rahul Gandhi. 4.36pm: Congresss chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweets: Operation Lotus fails! #BSYeddyurappa remains 2 day CM as the country predicted, breaking his own record of being 7 days CM. Democracy Wins! Constitution Wins!(sic) 4.35pm: Former Union minister P Chidambaram says that the democracy in Karnataka was saved for time being. Poor Mr Yeddyurappa. When the puppeteers fail, the puppet falls and breaks, he says on Twitter without naming the BJPs central leadership. 4.34pm: We are waiting for invitation from the Governors House, says JD(S)s HD Kumaraswamy on being asked when he will take oath as chief minister. 4.29pm: Democracy wins. Congratulations Karnataka. Congratulations Deve Gowda Ji, Kumaraswamy Ji, Congress and others. Victory of the regional front, tweets West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. 4.26pm: The MLAs of the Congress, JD(S), Independents and BSP who resisted to all temptations by BJP and central government agencies, says Azad. 4.24pm: Some of our legislators were kidnapped, were under the illegal custody of the BJP. None from our from members have defected, says Ghulam Nabi Azad. 4.22pm: Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu says: Right now news has come that BS Yeddyurappa has resigned as Karnatakas CM, are all of you happy? All those who believe in democracy are happy. 4.19pm: BJPs BS Yeddyurappa reaches Raj Bhavan after resigning as chief minister of Karnataka. 4.12pm: Congress DK Shivkumar, JD(S)s HD Kumaraswamy and other MLAs at Vidhana Soudha after resignation of BJPs BS Yeddyurappa as the chief minister of Karnataka. Bengaluru: Congress' DK Shivkumar, JD(S)'s HD Kumaraswamy & other MLAs at Vidhana Soudha after resignation of BJP's BS Yeddyurappa as Chief Minister of Karnataka. pic.twitter.com/qdGu8zGXWK ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 4.05pm: Im resigning as chief minister. Im grateful to the speaker for giving me this opportunity, says Yeddyurappa. 4.03pm: Till my last breadth, Ill fight for the farmers. Ill give my life for people. 4.02pm: I request MLAs to vote according to their conscience. 4pm: If only people would have given us 113 seats instead of 104, we would have made this state a paradise. Ill win 28 out 28 Lok Sabha seats for the BJP in 2019. I want to prove that theres no question of going back. Ill travel across the state. I want to thank the people for the kind of support they gave me, says Yeddyruppa. 3.55pm: I will ensure farmers have a life of dignity. I wanted to allot 1.5 lakh crore for irrigation, increase support price for farmers, and help the farm labourers. My heart beats with compassion, says Yeddyurappa. 3.52pm: Siddaramaiah has not responded to the peoples aspirations. It doesnt matter how many seats Ive won. Look at the anger of the people who have voted the Congress out, says the chief minister. 3.50pm: Till the last breadth of my life, I will go on working for the people of Karnataka. 3.47pm: People have blessed us with 104 seats. The mandate wasnt for Congress or JD(S), says Yeddyurappa. Congress numbers have reduced. But we didnt get the mandate in majority. There were allegations and counter allegations, he says. 3.45pm: Yeddyurappa says Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah made me the chief ministerial candidate... I have received tremendous response and support from Karnataka. 3.40pm: Chief minister Yeddyurappa starts speaking at the assembly. Last three MLAs too took oath where Anand Singh, Pratap Gowda Patil and Somashekhara Reddy. 3.38pm: Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ashok Gehlot, Mallikarjun Kharge with BJP leaders Ananth Kumar and Shobha Karandlaje are sitting together at the Karnatakas Vidhana Soudha. 3.35pm: Missing Congress MLA Anand Singh also turns up at the assembly, takes oath, sits next to DK Shivakumar. Oath-taking of MLAs is nearly over. 3:30pm: Karnataka MLAs take their seats inside the Vidhan Soudha ahead of the floor test. 3:27pm: BJP MLA Somashekara Reddy says he wasnt in contact with any Congress legislators. I was with my brother in Taj West End. Nobody was in my contact. I dont even know who are they Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil (Congress MLAs). I did not even go to Goldfinch Hotel, ANI reported him as saying. 3:20pm: BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje refrains from answering when asked about the floor test. Wait and see, she says in response. #WATCH: The reaction of BJP's Shobha Karandlaje when asked about the #FloorTest, which will be conducted shortly, smiles and says, 'Wait and see. In politics every decision is wonderful & happy.' pic.twitter.com/8P8hgY6OqC ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 3:12pm: Union minister Ananth Kumar and CM BS Yeddyurappa are present in the chief ministers chamber in the Vidhana Soudha, reports ANI. 3:10pm: BC Patil who was purportedly approached by BJP leaders was a police sub-inspector who acted in dramas and movies. His reputation for playing Duryodhana earned him the nickname Kaurava. 2:54pm: Another audio clip surfaces. The clip purportedly shows BJP leaders B Sriramulu and Muralidhar Rao talking to Congress legislator BC Patil. The clip also purportedly shows Patil telling the BJP leaders that he has 3-4 people with him. Hindustan Times has not verified the authenticity of the clip. 2.44pm: Pratap Gowda Patil has come (to the assembly). He will take oath as an MLA, then he will vote for the Congress. He will not betray the Congress party, says Shivakumar. Pratap Gowda Patil surrounded by Congress MLAs in the Karnataka Assembly. (HT Photo) 2.43pm: DK Shivakumar of the Congress says he is sure Yeddyurappa will resign before the trust vote. 2.16pm: Shiv Sena, which is a BJP ally in the Maharashtra government, says the Supreme Courts decision of slashing the 15-day window given to chief minister BS Yeddyurappa to prove majority showed that Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala had favoured the BJP and he was at fault. The Karnataka power play reached the corridors of the Supreme Court, which virtually nullified the governors decision. Despite the BJP not having the clear majority, governor Vajubhai Vala hurriedly invited it to form the government and gave it 15 days time to prove majority, the Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana. 2.03pm: One of the allegedly kidnapped MLAs, Pratapgouda Patil, is seen leaving the Goldfinch Hotel in a special police car with sirens blaring. 1.40pm: Kumarswamy of the JD(S), who contested from two seats, resigns from Ramanagara and keeps Channapatna. 1.12pm: The two missing Congress MLAs are allegedly being kept captive in Golden Finch Hotel in Bengaluru. Police are heading to the hotel for inspection, people familiar with the matter tell Hindustan Times. Security tightened outside Goldfinch Hotel in Bengaluru where reportedly the two 'missing' Congress MLAs are holed up #karnatakafloortest pic.twitter.com/sEJFPvwAlS ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 1.10am: As MLAs take oath, the Congress has released another audio clip that purportedly shows Yeddyurappa trying to influence Hirekerur legislator BC Patil. According to the clip, Patil is promised a ministerial post if he backs the BJP. The conversation apparantly happened while Patil is on a bus. According to the voices in the clip, the bus is on its way to Kochi. Congress and JD(S) MLAs actually took buses to Hyderabad early on Friday and returned Saturday morning. Hindustan Times has not verified the authenticity of the clip. 12.59pm: BJP MLA G Somashekhar Reddy is with the two missing Congress MLAs Anand Singh and Pratap Gouda, says ANI quoting sources. 12.56pm: VS Ugrappa of the Congress says BJPs BY Vijayendra called the wife of a Congress MLA and asked her to request to her husband to vote for Yeddyurappa. He said, well give your husband a ministry or else well give Rs. 15 crore to your husband, ANI reports. 12.45pm: Congress leader and lawyer Kapil Sibal says they did not press for replacement of pro-tem speaker in the Supreme Court after it said live telecast of trust vote proceedings would take place. 12.30pm: Congress leader Veerapa Moily says the BJP will be exposed. They know very well that they are 104, still they are trying everything and anything to buy our MLAs. But, our MLAs are intact. Two of our MLAs are still not here, whenever they come they will surely support us, says the former Union minister. 11.50am: After winning the assembly elections, BJPs B Sriramulu and BS Yeddyurappa have resigned from Lok Sabha, and their resignations have been accepted by the Speaker, ANI reports. 11.38am: Two Congress MLAs Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil have not yet come to the assembly for oath-taking, ANI reports. 11.35am: The Supreme Court heard the pleas of the Congress and all their pleas have been rejected. The desperate attempts of the Congress to remove him (Bopaiah) from the post have failed. I think they are scared and did not even want a floor test in the first place, says Mukul Rohatgi. 11.29am: Congress lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi says the most important objective was to establish transparency. Since the statement has come from ASG that live feed of proceedings would be given, we hope and trust there would be fairness. I have no doubt that the victory would be of the Congress and JD(S), he says. 11.14am: Chief minister BSYeddyurappa and Siddaramaiah take oath as MLAs at Vidhana Soudha. #WATCH: CM BS Yeddyurappa Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar & BJP's B Sriramulu inside Vidhana Soudha. #FloorTest to be held at 4 pm today. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/Knm70mlEWA ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 11.11am: Congress, JD(S) drop their demand to change pro-tem speaker in Karnataka. Supreme Court orders local channels be given live feed of trust vote proceedings. Live broadcast of floor test would be the best way to ensure transparency of proceedings, says the Supreme Court. SC says: Law cant direct the governor to appoint a particular person as Pro-tem Speaker. Unless convention becomes legal norm, it cant be enforced by Court. 11.04am: Justice AK Sikri asks who will conduct floor test, if pro-tem speaker will only administer oath. Sibal wants trust vote to be conducted by segregating MLAs. Additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta points voting will be telecat on TV channels. 11am: Justice Arvind Bobde observes that if Sibal wants an order based the suitability of speaker, court will have to listen to Bopaiah but till then there will be no floor test. 10.57am: Sibal says Bopaiah must not be allowed to take trust vote as pro-term speaker. The last time a pro-tem speaker conducted floor test was in Jharkand in 2006. 10.45am: Senior lawyer Mukul Rohatgi counters Sibal, says there are many instances when junior MLAs have been appointed as pro-tem speaker. 10.42am: Kapil Sibal tells SC that established principles were not being followed in the appointment of a junior MLA as pro-tem speaker. It creates problems, he says. If pro-tem speaker has to take a trust vote, we have a problem, Sibal argues, stressing that according to parliamentary practice the senior-most member is appointed pro-tem speaker. 10.40am: Chief minister Yeddyurappa, BJP MLAs, Congress and JD(S) legislators arrive at the Vidhan Soudha. 10:32am: In the Supreme Court, Karnataka side will be represented by senior lawyer Mukul Rohatgi and additional solicitors general Maninder Singh and Tushar Mehta. The Congress side will be represented by senior party leaders and lawyers Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Kapil Sibal. 10:27am: Meanwhile, in Delhi, the Supreme Court will soon begin hearing a Congress plea against pro-tem speaker KG Bopaiahs appointment by governor Vajubhai Vala. Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy says its not an important day for him, asserting the important days will come in the future, reports news agency ANI. Up to 4pm, BJP will try to poach our MLAs. All the MLAs are together, no one is 10:24am: Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy says its not an important day for him, asserting the important days will come in the future, reports news agency ANI. Up to 4pm, BJP will try to poach our MLAs. All the MLAs are together, no one is going to go to the other side. None of our MLAs are trapped. 10:20am: In Bengaluru, Congress MLAs leave from Hotel Hilton for Vidhana Soudha. 9.32am: Congress lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi leaves for the Supreme Court for hearing in plea filed by the Congress-JD(S) regarding the appointment of pro-tem speaker KG Bopaiah today. What if the Congress or Janata Dal (Secular) members were to (a) cross-vote (b) remain absent or (c) be present but abstain from voting? Will they be disqualified? All about the floor test in Karnataka today. 9.18am: Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy says MLA Anand Singh is not with them physically but he is in contact with our leaders. He has to come to Vidhana Soudha today. He will definitely vote for us. He is with us. He will come back. 8.57am: Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa arrives at Shangri-La hotel for the party legislature meeting. He will then leave for the assembly with others. Security personnel keep vigil at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. 8.50am: Wait till 4.30pm, we will win and BS Yeddyurappa will be the chief minister for five years, says Sadananda Gowda of the BJP. 8.48am: Union minister Ananth Kumar says both the Congress and the JD(S) have an unholy alliance. They are going to be rejected, people are going to reject them. 8.42am: Im going to have 100% absolute majority. Tomorrow I am going to take all that decision which I promised to the people of Karnataka, says chief minister Yeddyurappa. 8.40am: Congress Ghulam Nabi Azad says the numbers are against the BJP and in favor of their alliance. We will form the government, he says. 8.35am: Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge expresses confidence about the floor test win. The BJP doesnt have the numbers. It is just trying to prove their majority and they will fail to do so, he says. 8.20am: The petition by Congress-JD(S) regarding appointment of pro tem speaker states that the court should pass appropriate orders directing that voting in floor test has to be carried out by division by segregating MLAs supporting and opposing the motion in different lobbies of House. Chief Justice Dipak Misra has listed the Congress plea before the three-judge bench, headed by Justice AK Sikri and also comprised of Justices SA Bobde and Ashok Bhusha. 7.56am: Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa will leave for Shangri-La hotel at 9 am for the party legislature meeting. He will then leave for the assembly with others. 7.10am: Supreme Court will hear Congresss plea regarding the appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah today at 10:30am. 7am: Two buses carrying Congress MLAs arrive in Bengaluru ahead of the floor test in Karnataka assembly scheduled at 4pm. 6.50am: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee has filed a complaint and demanded action against BJPs Janardhan Reddy for offering hundreds of crore rupees and a minister portfolio to Raichur rural MLA Basvanagowda Daddal through telephone. Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP legislature party leader B.S. Yeddyurappa along with co-legislator B. Sreeramulu resigned as Lok Sabha members on Saturday after taking oath as the MLAs of the newly-constituted state Legislative Assembly, a party official said. (Live Updates) Yeddyurappa and Sreeramulu have submitted their resignations as Lok Sabha members to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit spokesman S. Shantharam told IANS here. Yeddyurappa represented Shivamogga parliamentary segment in the states northwest Malnad region, about 300km from Bengaluru and Sreeramulu was from Ballari (reserved) segment from the states northern region. Yeddyurappa was elected for the eighth time from the Shikaripura assembly segment in Shivamogga district on May 12 when polling was held in 222 constituencies across the state and results were declared on May 15. The 15th state Legislative Assembly session has been underway since 11 a.m. with the newly-elected legislators taking oath. The oath-taking of all the legislators will be completed before 4 p.m. At 4 p.m., pro tem Speaker K.G. Bopaiah will conduct a floor test in the House to ascertain if Chief Minister Yeddyurappa enjoys majority in the hung House, as directed by the Supreme Court on Friday. A Muslim tailor died of injuries in hospital after a mob allegedly attacked him and a friend in Madhya Pradeshs Satna district on suspicion of cow slaughter, the police said on Saturday. Police identified the tailor as Riyaz, 45. His friend, Shakeel, 38, was injured in the alleged assault and admitted in a hospital in Jabalpur. They were allegedly beaten up by the attackers armed with sticks un Amgara village, about 28km from their home in the Purani Basti neighbourhood of Maihar town, in the early hours of Friday. Tension gripped Satna, about 485km northeast of the state capital Bhopal, following the incident and police stepped up security. Union home minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to visit Satna on Sunday. Riyaz died at the district hospital in Satna a few hours after the alleged assault. He is survived by his wife and three children. Shakeel operates a taxi. In his complaint to the police, Shakeel said a mob attacked him and Riyaz around 3am on Friday. Police said Shakeel denied engaging in cow slaughter. The police arrested four residents of Amgara village on charges of murder and assault. The suspects were identified as Pawan Singh Gond, Vijay Singh Gond, Phool Singh Gond and Narayan Singh Gond. One of the accused, Pawan Singh Gond, lodged a complaint with the police against Riyaz and Shakeel, accusing them of slaughtering cows in the village. Pawan Singh Gond also said in his complaint that Riyaz and Shakeel were injured when they fell while trying to run away. The accused denied assaulting the two men, police said. Police registered a first information report on the basis of Pawan Singh Gonds complaint against Riyaz and Shakeel under sections of the Madhya Pradesh Cow Slaughter Ban Act, 2004, and the Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Cattle Preservation Act, 1959. Satna superintendent of police Rajesh Kumar Hingankar said carcases of two cows were recovered from Amgara village. On the basis of the FIR lodged by the villager, Shakeel will be arrested after he is discharged from the hospital, he added. Shakeels father Ismail Khan denied the charge against his son. All I know is he had gone out to collect some dues from some person, said Khan. Riyazs family members refused to talk to journalists. Madhya Pradesh amended its rules against cow slaughter in 2012 and raised the maximum punishment from three years imprisonment to seven years. Authorities imposed restrictions in parts of Kashmir on Saturday and suspended mobile internet services in view of the shutdown called by separatists demanding resolution of Kashmir issue during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the state. Streets were deserted, markets shut, schools and colleges closed as heavy security was deployed in many parts of the Valley. Police said while public transport was off the roads, private vehicles were seen plying in many areas of the city. The separatist trio of Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik had called for a peaceful protest march to city centre Lal Chowk to demand resolution of the Kashmir issue. But authorities imposed restrictions in and around Lal Chowk, the commercial hub of Srinagar, and seven police station areas of the city. A police official said strict restrictions have been imposed in police station areas of Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Safakadal and Maharajgunj, while partial curbs were in force in Maisuma and Kralkhud areas of the city here. The roads leading to the venue of PMs function at Sheri Kashmir International convention Centre (SKICC) on the banks of Dal Lake were sealed. The situation so far has been stable. There were a few minor incidents of stone pelting, which, by Kashmir standards, are normal, said a police official in Srinagar. The government also closed schools and colleges while Kashmir University postponed its examinations for the day. Mirwaiz, who was under house arrest, was detained by the police outside his Nigeen residence in Srinagar. While Geelani was under house detention, Malik was in police custody. A group of supporters of Maliks Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) were detained by police as they gathered near Budshah Chowk Maisuma from where they tried to march towards Lal Chowk, a spokesman of the party said. As the authoritarian rulers once again belie any claim to democracy by imposing #House Arrests #Curfew #Restrictions #Barricades #Blockades closure of educational institutions on the visit of Indian PM to valley, Mirwaiz tweeted before his detention. He had invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modis monthly radio address on Friday and asked him to listen to our Mann Ki Baat which was to Resolve Kashmir Dispute. The Prime Minister kick-started work on Zojila Tunnel on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway at an event in Jive-tsal in Leh, in Ladakh region. Modi will also lay foundation stone for Srinagar Ring Road and Jammu Ring Road at separate events at SKICC and at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium in Jammu. (With PTI inputs) Onion prices dropped to a low of 30 paise per kilogram in some markets of Madhya Pradesh this week, showing up shortcoming in the state governments much-touted Bhavantar scheme. Under the scheme, the government pays farmers part of the difference between the average wholesale price and minimum support price (MSP) to cushion the farmers from huge financial losses. Last year, the farmers agitation in the state had started at the same time over the price of onions, which sold at the lowest price of 50 paisa per kilogram, eventually leading to police firing in Mandsaur that left six persons dead. In some Mandis of Rajgarh and Neemuch, the lowest price of onion was 30 paisa to 50 paisa per kg since farmers started selling onion under the Bhavantar scheme. The maximum price was reported to be Rs 5-Rs 6 per kg. In the past two years, the state government purchased onion on MSP first at Rs 6 per kg and then Rs 8 per kg but this year it was brought under the Bhavantar scheme, under which the traders will purchase onion from farmers at mandis and the government will pay farmers the difference between the MSP and the average wholesale price. The MSP rate this year is again Rs 8 per kg. Mandi secretary at Narsinghgarh in Rajgarh RK Jain said the price didnt fall that much but admitted that Rs 1 per kg was the lowest price of onion of poor quality. Kedar Sirohi, a farmers leader from Harda, said Bhavantar had hit the farmers hard. Traders have joined hands to purchase onion at a throwaway price and convinced farmers that the government would pay them the difference between the MSP and sale price, he said. The fact is that farmers would get the difference between the MSP and average wholesale price, not sale price. Tarun Baheti, a farmers leader in Neemuch, said a farmer, whom he identified as Shaukin Patidar, was being forced to sell onion at 50 paisa per kg on Friday despite the fact that his crop was of good quality. When he requested Mandi president Rajkumar Tiwari to intervene he got Rs 1 per kg. But even with that price he was not able to recover even the transport cost he had born, said Baheti. Mahesh Patidar, leader of the Patidar Samaj in Malwa region, said the average price of onion in the markets was Rs 1.50 to Rs 2 per kg. Traders who buy onion will store it and later sell at Rs 20-Rs 25 per kg, he said, adding that middlemen and traders stand to benefit the most. Steep fall in prices of garlic and onion has given a shot in the arm to the Opposition, which has said it will raise issues of farmers in the run-up to state polls later this year. State Congress president Kamal Nath said, Congress has been saying right from the beginning that Bhavantar scheme is meant for the benefit of BJP- supported traders, not farmers. But Shivraj (Singh Chouhan) government is not willing to listen. After garlic, price of onion has also fallen after being included in Bhavantar scheme. State BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal said the government included onion in Bhavantar to ensure the farmers didnt suffer losses. Rickshaw business contributes to gridlock in city 87,000 legal: 10-12 lakh illegal Noman Mosharef : Traffic jam is currently a regular phenomenon in the capital city, considering rickshaw to be one of the main contributors to gridlock. Three decades ago, the then undivided Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) had stopped issuing licences to rickshaws in view of time and economic losses of people everyday. Besides, lack of seasonal employments in the villages pushes the agricultural workers to the city and accommodate them into this informal sector, particularly during the fasting month of Ramzan. So, the number of rickshaws continues to swell this month, creating a total mess in the traffic system. According to the DCC, then there were 87,811 legal rickshaws in the capital. Of which, 58,981 are now registered with Dhaka Southern City Corporations (DSCC) and 28,830 with Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). Since the two city corporations are neither renewing nor issuing any licence, a number of organisations are taking the advantage of the situation and illegally issuing number plates to rickshaws. A survey done by Urban and Planning Department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) said the number of registered rickshaws in the capital is more than 85,000. In contrast, the unregistered rickshaws are about 10 to 12 lakh, according to the survey. Rickshaw is now under control of at least 30 dishonest groups. They also authorise number plates. As a result, a huge amount of money goes to their pockets. Rickshaw owners said they cannot renew the registration of their old rickshaws or register any new ones by the two city corporations. Without getting permission they use number plates issued by workers' organisations and associations to launch new rickshaws on the streets. These organizations also manage all the sectors, including traffic. They are paid at a fixed rate for this. They are also needed to pay money and fee at end of the year for licence renewal. Rickshaw owners said they will not take shelter of the syndicates if the the city corporations give their rickshaws legitimacy. Not getting registered with city corporations, these rickshaws are being run through different organisations or syndicates. The owners have to negotiate with the syndicates to run their rickshaws on the streets. These Syndicates are mainly led by Bangladesh Rickshaw and Van Owner Federation, National Rickshaw-Van Sramik League and Bangladesh Rickshaw Owner League. Apart from this, there are Bangladesh Rickshaw-Van Workers' Movement Council, Bangladesh Rickshaw Owner Federation, and Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Coordination Council. They claim their organizations as legitimate ones under the Labour Department. These organisations do not know the exact number of rickshaws and vans registered under their organizations. They just launch rickshaw and collect money from the rickshaw owners. Bangladesh Rickshaw-Van Sramik League General Secretary Insur Ali said that in 2001, they had a contract with the undivided city corporation for the registration of 35,000 rickshaws and 8,000 vans. However, his organisation's registration is yet to be completed. Around 43,000 rickshaw-vans are running on the street of Dhaka city with number plates containng our organization. He said the renewal fee of Tk 300 per year is deposited with the organisation. They are ready to pay the deposited revenue of Tk 16 crore to the government. But neither the government nor the city corporation is addressing it properly. Besides, we take Tk 20 per rickshaw for every three months, with the permission from the Labour Department, Insur Ali added. The workers leader also said apart from them there are many associations that have no permission from the authority. They always launch rickshaws with the help of owners. They have more than two lakh rickshaws. He said the latest syndicate is the one of battery-run-rickshaw. Our movement against them has not been proved effective. If the government registers a certain number of rickshaw-vans and ban the illegal ones, the traffic congestion would be reduced significantly. Ravindra Barua, Chief Revenue Officer of Dhaka North City Corporation, said, "Lastly, we gave permission for valid rickshaws in the north for five years. They were also given registered number plates which have expired. Their permission will be renewed for five years in this year. They will also be given new number plates. In addition to this, mobile courts have also been formed several times to stop illegal rickshaws in Dhaka North City Corporation, he said, adding campaign is always going on for stoping rickshaws by the law enforcers (traffic). The revenue official said they are discouraging launching new rickshaws to reduce the traffic congestion in the capital. Asked whether the registration of rickshaw would include the expanded areas of the city, the officer said the city corporation and the local government can comment on it. Yusuf Ali Sardar, Chief Revenue Officer of Dhaka South City Corporation, said, "We are renewing our registered rickshaws every five years." Authorities do not have any plan of registering unregistered rickshaws in the city. We cannot do anything even though different owner organizations are launching rickshaws illegally. Asked why the government does not agree to take the revenue from these organizations when they are ready to give revenue, the revenue officer said if we cannot decide on giving permission to their rickshaws, how will we accept revenue? The official said the government is losing millions of revenue due to illegal rickshaws in the capital. But they do not want to do much about it. City Planner and Professor of BUET Sarwar Jahan said the number of rickshaws is increasing at a huge rate because people of Dhaka city are not getting adequate public transport. Rickshaw fares are too expensive to bear, but the general people have no alternative choice. Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said he has been able to save only 5% of the lives threatened by road accidents instead of his personal goal of 50%, and this was an unfortunate blemish on his performance record. Addressing an event organised by a news publication in Bhopal that evening, Gadkari said a road safety bill passed in the Lok Sabha to curb road accidents has been pending in the Rajya Sabha for over a year now. The legislation is currently being scrutinised by a standing committee. The minister maintained that his secretary went to meet the panel on nine occasions while he personally called on them three times. I asked them to help me get the bill passed as people were dying, said Gadkari without naming anybody in particular. I couldnt do much, and I accept it. There is just one year left now, and its a black spot on me. But I am trying my best. Gadkari said as many as five lakh accidents occur on an average every year, killing 1.5 lakh people and injuring another three lakh. The bill aimed at effecting transparency in regional transport offices was tabled in Parliament only after a committee headed by Rajasthan transport minister Yunus Khan submitted its report on the matter, the Union minister said. But the states objected on the grounds that it would curtail their powers. They should understand that corruption has to be eradicated. Gadkari also stressed on the need to optimise the use of non-conventional fuel in motor vehicles instead of petrol and diesel. Such a shift would curb transport costs while benefiting the environment at the same time, he said. The Union minister said expressways and river-linking projects were changing the face of development in the country. Ladakh and Leh, which used to be cut off from the rest of the country for nearly six months a year, are now accessible through the year due to the construction of a tunnel. Kashmir alone lays claim to road projects worth Rs 80,000 crore under the present government, he added. A television expose on baseless rumours has been doctored and turned into a fake news clip that has been threatening the health and lives of thousands of children. ABP News rumour-busting show, Viral Sach: Is there an injection to turn Muslims impotent? has been edited from its original 15.52 minutes to a 2.48- to 3.01-minute clip that propagates the very falsehood it had set out to prove wrong--that the globally-banned MR-VAC vaccine against measles and rubella (German measles) was a Modi government-RSS conspiracy to stop the population growth of Muslims. The idea of the show is to expose fake news and if it is being misused to spread rumours, it is wrong. I havent heard about it but if misuse is happening, we will report the truth again, said Milind Khandekar, managing editor, ABP News. Fake alerts, which included texts, audio and video clips, claiming that the vaccine is unsafe, first surfaced when India launched one of the worlds largest vaccination campaigns against measles and rubella on February 5, 2017, in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Puducherry, Lakshwadeep and Goa. Within a week, these generic rumours claiming a banned vaccine that affected a childs memory and learning capacity was being pushed in India at the behest of foreign pharma companies, were replaced by rumours targeting the Muslim population. Since then, the clip has been spreading like wildfire ahead of MR vaccination campaigns across India, in states as geographically and culturally diverse as Lakshwadeep, Kerala, Punjab and Manipur. Driven by the fake news, vaccine coverage has been low in states with a high Muslim population: 77.2% in Laskhwadeep (96.58% Muslim population), 84.6% in Kerala (26.56% Muslims), and 87.92% in Manipur (8.32% Muslims), as on May 14. The fake news clip reached Manipur before the vaccines and syringes did. The health ministrys IEC (information, education, communication) materials reached Manipur on March 25, but people started sharing the newsclip in October last year, said Dr T H Nandkishwor, state surveillance officer, Manipur. The clip was made to create trouble and it did. This is the first time we are seeing refusal in the state, there was no trouble during polio vaccination or routine immunisation, said Nandkishwor. A video of the burial of a child falsely claiming it was a vaccine-related death also went viral even though a probe showed the death was unrelated to vaccination. The child died four weeks after vaccination, when anaphylactic shock (extreme allergic reaction) sets in within 30 minutes, but the allegation slowed the programme. Though we have extended the deadline, refusal is high, said Haobam Rosita, deputy commissioner, Thoubal, a district neighbouring Imphal. The state, however, quickly put together an effective response. The resistance to the vaccine in the first round was unexpected but now were stronger on social media with messages countering the rumours and reinforcing positive messaging from persons trusted in the community. That strategy has helped increase coverage in the second and third rounds, said Dr Yasmin Ali Haque, Unicef Representative in India. Unicef and World Health Organisation are offering technical and surveillance support to the campaign. Working closely with religious and community leaders to build trust, helped. Apart from using radio, television, poster, text messages and social media to urge people to vaccinate, we had several meetings with community, religious leaders, schools and aganwadi workers in places where there were pockets of refusal, said Dr Nandkishwor. Muslims comprise 93.31% of the population in Lilong town in Thoubal district that has an overall Muslim population of 25.42%. Vaccination coverage in the town went up 15 percentage points over the past two weeks to 78%, because of the tireless efforts of community leaders. Imams made announcements during Friday prayers and madrasas were brought on board. Darul Uloom (Markaz) Haoreibi, a madrasa in Lilong, is home to 463 boys between the ages of nine and 20 years. Only 16 of the 151 boys, aged 15 years and below are yet to be vaccinated. The only children left are those who had gone home from the hostel, I will make sure they get vaccinated, said assistant rector Maulana Mohammad Muheiyuddin Mazahiri. There is reason for his confidence. Along with many others, he also received the doctored video. Everyone had the video, so I went online to read about the vaccine. I found it was safe and made in India. I next met doctors and went to the government store and saw the vaccine to verify whether there were separate vaccines for Hindus and Muslims, as alleged. I found it to be untrue. I even wrote to Darul Uloom Deoband asking whether vaccination should be done and they said yes, it was safe, said Mazahiri. He was convinced, but convincing parents was not easy. People were initially so scared that they made their children miss school on the day vaccination was happening, he said. Mazahiri took a sample of the vaccine and syringe and made short videos showing how it worked, which he sent to religious groups and parents. I told them, you ask a mechanic about cars, a teacher about education, and a doctor about medicine. If you trust doctors for other illnesses, why not for this?, he said. When the imam or maulanas say something, they listen. People hardly listen to us, said N G Jayata, chief medical officer, primary health centre in Kwakta, Bishnupur. Mazahari got support from other community leaders, such as Dr Syed Burhan-uddin, chairperson, Manipur State Minorities Commission, who has served in Mecca as a medical officer for 25 years. I tell people that everyone going for Hajj to Mecca and Madina needs to get vaccinated, Saudi Arabia insists on it. People dont get a visa without it. This vaccine is safe and protects our children, we must say yes to it, said Burhan-uddin, who also held a press conference for the local media to spread the message. Medical professionals are doing their bit. Dr Anees Begum, a medical officer in Keirao in Imphal east, got her three children, ages 3, 5 and 7, vaccinated at schools before teachers and students to demonstrate that the vaccine was safe. Staff nurse Ranjana and auxiliary nurse midwife (village health worker) Tasleema from the PHC in Kwakta in Bishnupur visit remote villages to vaccinate missed children on their weekends off. A paramyxovirus virus that spreads through air and direct contact cause measles, with symptoms of high fever that lasts four days to a week, runny nose, cough, watery eyes and rash. With 47,000 measles deaths, India accounts for close to one-third of the worlds 134,200 deaths from the disease, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). If vaccination coverage is more than 95%, not only are the vaccinated protected but also those who have been missed because mass coverage builds herd immunity in the community by lowering the virus from the environment, said Dr Haque. Vaccination has helped eliminate (absence of continuous transmission for 12 months) measles in the Americas, 33 countries in Europe, and in neighbouring Bhutan and Maldives. With vaccination, India can do it too. The office of the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board on Mall Avenue, Lucknow, was once the residence of a senior government officer in the city. The building, with its covered front porch, high ceilinged rooms and open terrace, has obviously seen better days. Now, red betelnut juice stains the walls along the stairs, as in so many public sector offices in the country, and the rooms have been turned into clearly demarcated departments and cabins of the chairperson, the chief executive officer, the audit department, survey officers and the law department. For a casual onlooker, the most interesting sight in the building today will probably be that of the records room on the first floor. Not that any casual visitor will be allowed in here a notice near the entrance informs that entry into the records room is strictly prohibited. Zufar Ahmad Faruqi, the boards chairperson, informs that more than 85% of all board documents have been digitised. But the room is still lined with floor-to-ceiling shelves crammed with files. An aged employee bends over the folders, sorting papers and putting them away. These documents relate to surveys and legal proceedings of the board... Currently we have about 1,200-1,300 ongoing cases at the Waqf Tribunal, more than 200 cases at the high courts (Allahabad and Lucknow taken together) and around 25 at the Supreme Court (SC). These relate to encroachments, illegal sales of waqf properties and management disputes, says Faruqi. One of the cases is of ownership and management rights over the Taj Mahal. Files at the records room in UP Sunni Central Waqf Boards office in Lucknow. (Anushree Fadnavis/Hindustan Times) The Back Story In 1998, Irfan Bedar, a businessman in UPs Firozabad, approached the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board with the appeal to register Taj Mahal as a waqf and appoint him muttawali or custodian of the property. Firozabad was at the time part of the Agra district. Locals felt that the Taj is by rights a waqf and appointed me as their representative, claims Bedar, who remains a party in the ongoing case at the SC. Since the monument is managed by ASI, the board, says Faruqi, sent a notice to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), but didnt register it as a waqf. Bedar then moved the high court. The high court directed the board to take a decision on the appeal and the board decided to register the Taj as a waqf property, recalls Faruqi. He wasnt the chairman at the time, though. The ASI, instead of going to the waqf tribunal the first appellate authority for all cases of dispute relating to wakf properties directly moved the SC against the decision, he claims. A stay was put on the waqf boards order and since then, the case has been pending at the apex court. Last month, the Court asked for a waqfnama or a deed to prove that Shah Jahan had meant the property to be a waqf. Putting it in trust A waqf is a trust. But whereas a trust is a concept in common law, waqf is a feature of Islamic law, explains senior advocate, Salman Khurshid, who has appeared for the board in Supreme Court. If something is a waqf, then that property belongs to God not to the waqif - the person who creates the waqf, or the muttawali the custodian or caretaker of the property, he explains. A waqf is created for charity for public good, or for a religious or pious cause, and are of two kinds public waqfs and waqf al ul aulad, where the waqf is made in the name of ones descendents, but the residue after the needs of the family are met or after the line of succession has failed, are used for charity, adds Khurshid. Literally, the word waqf means to retain something, says Faruqi. In Islamic history the idea of the waqf goes back to the time of the Prophet, he adds. The concept of the waqf board, though, is more recent. In the beginning, the power to ensure that waqfs are being properly maintained, was entrusted in the Qazi, says Faruqi. Under the British, that responsibility shifted to the civil courts, he adds. A string of laws to administer waqfs followed, both before and after Independence, the most recent one being The Waqf Act, 1995. Theres a Central Waqf Council and waqf boards in each state. The composition of the board is detailed in the Act, as are its duties. We dont have any power to directly administer the properties. We ensure that the muttawalis are maintaining the properties properly and using them for the purposes that the waqfs were created. If there are complaints of misuse, or illegal sales, disappearance of properties or encroachments, the board looks into them. Often the creator of the waqf appoints a muttawali, or the local people choose one. Where there is no muttawali, the board finds one, says Faruqi. The board also audits the income from the waqf and takes 7% of it 1% for the Central Waqf Council, and 6% for itself. This is for our expenses, says Faruqi. The rest of the earnings goes to the muttawali who is supposed to use it for the maintenance of the property and for charity. Unlike in most states, where there is one wakf board with both Shia and Sunni representatives, in UP, where a sizeable number of waqfs is Shia, there are two separate waqf boards a Sunni board and a Shia board. In the capital, Lucknow, for example, once the seat of the Shia rulers of Awadh, there are more Shia waqfs. This includes the citys iconic Bara Imambada and Chhota Imambada. There are about 8,793 waqfs registered under the UP Shia Central Waqf Board. Of these over 600 are in Lucknow, says Syed Waseem Rizvi, chairperson of the UP Shia Central Waqf Board. While the Shia Board has not staked claim to the Taj yet, if the heritage monument is recognised as a wakf, a further tug of war is not unlikely. Heritage high But since, both Khurshid and the Sunni waqf board admit that there is no existing waqfnama or deed by Shah Jahan that declares the Taj to be a waqf, why the debate over it? It is true that for a property to be a waqf, someone has to create one. But there is also a concept of waqf-by-user, says lawyer Shakil Ahmad Syed, one of the lawyers for the UP Sunni Waqf Board. Mosques, dargahs and graveyards are waqf-by-user, he says, since these are used by the public for religious purposes. The fact that the Taj is a mausoleum even if it has only two graves and the existence of the mosque within the complex, makes Taj a waqf, for those pushing for its registration under the Board. Namaz is offered at the Taj. The urs or death anniversary of Shah Jahan is observed. All this is done with the permission and support of the ASI. But religious activities at the Taj should be performed by right, not by concession of the ASI. The principle of law should be clear, says Khurshid. Faruqi blames the incomplete survey by the government when the waqf boards were constituted for not having registered the Taj as a waqf before. And insists that it is not the only property to have been left out. Khurshid gives an example in Delhi. During Partition, while many people moved to Pakistan, properties were left here. It took some time to come to the conclusion that waqfs dont disappear because muttawalis are gone. In Delhi, many of these properties were taken over by the government and even reallocated, till there were protests and a committee was formed which identified 123 waqf properties which could be returned, he recalls. As far as the Taj is concerned, the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board is clear that registering the property as waqf does not mean that the ASI loses control. We dont have the expertise to conserve heritage properties, nor is it part of our responsibility. The ASI has the mandate for that, says Faruqi, adding that the board may appoint ASI muttawali of the Taj. We can share management. The board will ensure that religious activities are properly carried out and all other rights and responsibilities will continue to rest with the ASI. If the Supreme Court and ASI does agree to the system of joint management, the Taj will not be the only monument to be so maintained. In Lucknow, there are many such examples of ASI protected sites that are also registered as waqfs, under either the Shia or Sunni Boards the Bada Imambada, the Dayanat-Ud-Daulah Karbala, the Jama Masjid Nadan Mahal In Agra, the other big heritage monument, Fatehpur Sikri, is also managed by both the ASI and the Sunni Waqf Board. There are also temples which are under a trust, but are also ASI protected.At Fatehpur Sikri the dargah, and not the fort, is a waqf. The ASI has the responsibility of conserving both the fort and the dargah, but we only look after the religious aspects of the dargah, says Arshad Faridi, whose family is the hereditary spiritual head and muttawali of the dargah. His father holds the title currently. While the ASI has introduced an entry fee to the fort, entry to the dargah is free. The ticket money goes to the ASI and the Agra Development Authority (ADA). But we get the offerings made at the shrine, he says. Money Matters The earnings from the Taj will be more messy to divide. Unlike at Fatehpur Sikri, the mausoleum will be an integral part of the waqf. The ASI and ADA jointly levy an entrance fee to the monument. As one of the most-visited monuments in the country, both by domestic and international tourists, the earnings are significant. According to the Ministry of Tourism, 2388.83 lakh was the revenue from entry tickets and other paid services at the Taj in 2015-16. Khurshid insists that money was not a consideration in the waqf boards staking claim to the property. Faruqi also clarifies that the board has the right to exempt any waqf from having to pay 6% of its income to the board, but is unwilling to confirm whether it will do so with the Taj. The ASI was unavailable for comments, but its counsel, ADN Rao, had cautioned the Court from giving ownership to the board. Historians and conservationists are of the view that the Taj should not be made into a waqf. I think this kind of thing is dangerous. It is communalising what is our common heritage, says Saleem Kidwai, a Lucknow-based historian and scholar. Heritage management consultant Amita Baig agrees. The government is the custodian of heritage. Allegations of corruption and foul play by waqf boards are not uncommon either. Khurshid, a former union cabinet minister of minority affairs, has experience of working with waqf boards and admits that they are not equally efficient in all states. The next hearing in the Taj Mahal case is on July 27. If the Supreme Court does allow the monument to be registered as a waqf, it may just be the beginning of another legal battle. The Mughals were Sunni, but Mumtaz was Shia and the Taj was built for her, says Rizvi. Then there is Yakub Habeebuddin Tucy. The Hyderabad-based prince, who claims to be a descendant of the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. But he and what he wants, is another story. Opposition leaders and non-Bharatiya Janata Party chief ministers on Saturday hailed the resignation of Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa as a victory of democracy. In a combative press conference held after Yeddyurappas resignation, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said he hoped that the BJP and RSS had learned their lesson that the countrys institutions cannot be subverted. Other Congress leaders were similarly vocal in their criticism of the BJP. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram tweeted that democracy was saved for the time being. Poor Mr Yeddyurappa. When the puppeteers fail, the puppet falls and breaks. P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) May 19, 2018 Punjab chief minister and Congress leader Captain Amarinder Singh tweeted that the nexus between the BJP and the governor has been exposed while the Congress moral and political stand has been upheld. Leaders from other parties also rallied around the same sentiment, celebrating Yeddyurappas resignation as a victory of Indias democracy. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee took to Twitter to congratulate the people of Karnataka, hailing the resignation as a victory for the democracy. Democracy wins. Congratulations Karnataka. Congratulations DeveGowda Ji, Kumaraswamy Ji, Congress and others. Victory of the regional front, she wrote. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also tweeted, saying BJPs attempts to subvert democracy and its lust for power through foul means had failed in Karnataka. BJPs attempts to subvert democracy have miserably failed in Karnataka. BJP's lust for power through foul means stands completely exposed. Will BJP learn any lesson now ? India's judiciary has risen to the occasion and has safeguarded our democracy. Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 19, 2018 Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu joined the growing chorus of voices, expressing relief that the BJPs undemocratic behaviour is finally defeated. Right now a news came that BS Yeddyurappa has resigned. Are all of you happy? All those who believe in democracy are happy. Amit Shah tried to win Karnataka in all ways and means. Their undemocratic behaviour is defeated, Naidu said at a meeting at Amravati in Andhra Pradesh. The Andhra Pradesh chief minister also said that today is the day when democracy has won and is finally saved. Karnataka governor misused his power by calling BJP instead of Congress - Janata Dal (Secular). When people at the stature of the Prime Minister and President of a national party encourage corruption; what kind of indications do they want to give. At last democracy is saved. We all are very happy. As a chief minister and supporter of democracy, I welcome this development, Naidu said. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav also attacked the BJP, saying that it was a day when democracy won over money power. He also added that people who claim they can buy any one should learn the lesson that everyone in politics does not think of it as a business and said that morally, the BJP should resign from the central government as well. ?? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?? ??? ??. ???? ???? ???? ?? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?? ?? ??? ??? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ???, ?? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ???. ????? ??? ?? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ?? ???????? ?? ???? ?????. Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) May 19, 2018 Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav also tweeted, saying Truth can never be defeated! Truth will always defeat a lie or liar! BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa will have to prove his majority in the Karnataka assembly on Saturday to continue as the states chief minister after the Supreme Court ordered a floor test to settle the political tussle that emerged from the election results. A special session of the Karnataka assembly began with the singing of the national song, Vande Mataram. After that pro-tem Speaker KG Bopaiah welcomed and congratulated the members elected to the 15th assembly and started administering the oath to them. Earlier, the Supreme Court, hearing Congress-JD(S) combines petition challenging the appointment of Bopaiah as pro-tem speaker by governor Vajubhai Vala, ordered live telecast of proceedings of the floor test. In the assembly, Bopaiah, who stays as the pro-tem Speaker after the Congress-JD(S) combine withdrew its demand for his removal, read out the procedures to be followed during the oath-taking of the members. Yeddyurappa took the oath first, followed by Congress Legislature Party leader and his predecessor Siddaramaiah. Then the other members started taking oath in batches of five one after the other. Floor test today The floor test is likely by 4pm as per the Supreme Courts Friday order that drastically reduced the 15-day window given by the governor to Yeddyurappa to prove majority. Elections held on May 12 to 222 of the states 224 seats have resulted in a hung assembly, with the BJP having 104 MLAs, while the Congress won 78 seats and JD(S) 37. Polling in two seats will be held later. The Congress-JD(S) combine has claimed the support of 117 MLAs, including one each from the BSP and the KPJP, and one Independent. The JD(S)s effective strength will be 36 at the time of voting, as its leader H D Kumaraswamy has won from two seats. This will also reduce the strength of the House to 221 and the BJP will require 111 votes for a simple majority. At about 4pm, Yeddyurappa is expected to move the motion seeking vote of confidence, after which voting will take place. Earlier, Congress and JD(S) MLAs who were camping at a hotel in Hyderabad, fearing alleged attempts of poaching by the BJP, came back to Bengaluru in the morning. As per the apex courts directions, the police have made massive security arrangements in and around the Vidhana Soudha, the seat of the state legislature, for the smooth conduct of the floor test. Security stepped up Public entry to the Vidhana Soudha has been restricted, and officials and staff of the Secretariat are being allowed to enter the premises after thorough checks. Elaborate security arrangements have been made at the secretariat and the nearby legislators home to facilitate smooth conduct of the assembly proceedings for the floor test, director general of police Nilamani Raju said. Police also imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), prohibiting assembly of five or more persons 1km in and around the secretariat to maintain law and order for the day-long session. As directed by a three-judge bench of the apex court, security has also been provided to all the legislators participating in the floor testm. We have deployed five deputy commissioners of police (DCPs), 20 assistant commissioners of police (ACPs), 40 inspectors and 2,000 constables around the venue to prevent any untoward incident, additional commissioner of police BK Singh told reporters. The police has also banned processions or rallies by the cadres and supporters of the BJP, Congress and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) in the area. Uncertainty looms Yeddurappa was sworn in as chief minister on May 17, two days after the results were declared and the governor accepted his claim to form government. The decision was challenged in the Supreme Court by the Congress and the JD (S). Passing interim orders on their petition, the court on Friday directed that the floor test be conducted on Saturday. Yeddyurappa has asserted that he has 100 per cent confidence that he would prove his majority in the assembly. With the BJP having only 104 MLAs, it remains to be seen how the party will rustle up the numbers and prove majority. The Congress and the JD(S) have alleged the BJP has reached out to their MLAs to abstain from attending the House. The other plan is to ensure that at least seven MLAs cross vote in BJPs favour. Congress-JD(S) made the legal challenge against Bopaiahs choice as pro-tem speaker contending that the governors action in appointing a junior MLA was brazenly unconstitutional. A four-time MLA, Bopaiah was the Karnataka Assembly speaker from 2009 to 2013 and had disqualified 16 MLAs and bailed out the then Yeddyurappa government ahead of a no-confidence vote in 2010. The Supreme Court in 2011 had quashed Bopaiahs order disqualifying the 16 MLAs ahead of a no confidence motion which had ensured survival of the government. Bharatiya Janata Party leader BS Yeddyurappa on Saturday resigned as the chief minister of Karnataka, two days after he took oath. Yeddyurappa was given a days time by the Supreme Court to prove his majority in a floor test, after the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) approached the apex court. In an emotional speech, Yeddyurappa announced that he will resign from his post as chief minister, as the BJP did not have the numbers to face a majority test. This makes him the shortest serving chief minister of Karnataka, holding office for a little more than two days. But he isnt alone. Political machinations during government formation have served up several such situations in India, where chief ministers have held power for as little as one day. Here are some of Indias shortest serving chief ministers: Jagdambika Pal, one day The 1998 elections in Uttar Pradesh turned up high drama, that eventually lead to Jagdambika Pal becoming a one-day chief minister. Kalyan Singh was Uttar Pradesh chief minister at the time, the head of a precarious government resting on support of defectors from other parties. After a floor test that witnessed unprecedented violence in the assembly, governor Romesh Bhandari recommended Presidents Rule in the state. The Centre didnt agree, and Kalyan Singh went ahead and appointed a 98-member strong cabinet to reward all defectors, including a breakaway faction from Congress called Loktantrik Congress which included leaders Naresh Agarwal and Jagdambika Pal. On February 21, 1998, the Loktantrik Congress withdrew its support to the Kalyan Singh government. The governor dismissed the government and swore in Jadgambika Pal as the chief minister late at night, a decision that the high court reversed the next morning. Satish Prasad Singh, one week In 1968, Satish Prasad Singh became the youngest chief minister of Bihar, albeit only for a week. But unlike in the other political scenarios, Satish gave up his seat voluntarily. The events unfolded when Mahamaya Prasad Sinha, Bihars first non-Congress chief minister, could not survive a party revolt. A faction within the Congress rebelled, led by KB Sahay, and was supported by the breakaway Sanjukta Socialist Party (SSP) led by BP Mandal. The SSP wanted Mandal to become the chief minister, but before that transition, they chose Satish who took oath on January 27, 1968. As CM, Satish recommended Mandals name as an MLC on February 2 and the new chief minister took oath on February 5, 1968. SC Marak, 13 days In Meghalaya, veteran Congress leader SC Marak was once in power only for thirteen days, from February 27, 1998 to March 10, 1998. He became the states chief minister on February 27, 1998 but could continue for just 12 days when his Congress-led coalition resigned, paving way for United Parliamentary Forum leader BB Lyngdoh to become the next CM. However, right before this debacle, Marak had completed a successful stint as Meghalayas chief minister for five years, from February 1993 to 1998. Janaki Ramachandran, 23 days Janaki Ramachandran, popularly known as V Janaki, was a Tamil actress, a politician and the wife of MG Ramachandran, the founder of the AIADMK party. Janaki was the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for 23 days, from January 7, 1988 to January 30 of the same month. After MGRs death in December 1987, a succession battle split the AIADMK down the middle. One faction proposed Janaki as the leader, while a smaller faction sided with the claim of J Jayalalithaa, MGRs political mentee. Janakis bid was accepted by the then governor of Tamil Nadu, Sunder Lal Khurana, who swore her in as the chief minister and allowed her three weeks to prove her majority. The speaker of the assembly, also a Janaki supporter, disqualified MLAs belonging to the opposition DMK and Jayalalithaas supporters. On the day of the floor test, DMK and AIADMK legislators violently clashed in the assembly and police had to intervene. Though the speaker announced that the cabinet had won the motion of confidence, the Central Government under Rajiv Gandhi refused to accept it and used Article 356 of the Constitution to dismiss Janakis government next month. CH Mohammad Koya, 45 days CH Mohammad Koya was an Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) who served as the chief minister of Kerala for 45 days, from October 12, 1979 to December 1, 1979. Koya became the Kerala assembly speaker in 1961 after the demise of KM Seethi Sahib and went on to serve in the cabinets of chief ministers EMS Namboodiripad and C Achutha Menon, among others. He was sworn in as the tenth chief minister of the state on October 12, 1979, but his tenure lasted only 45 days, making him the shortest serving CM of the state and its only Muslim one. However, in the next United Democratic Front(UDF) government headed by K Karunakaran which was formed, Koya served as Deputy Chief Minister. Alwar police has arrested a 26-year-old from Haryana for tampering thousands of ATMs in eight states, including Rajasthan, and stealing cash. A resident of Palwal, Shakeel Ahmed is a BCA dropout and kingpin of a gang that has reportedly tampered over 1000 ATMs (automated teller machines) in Rajasthan alone. Ahmed has been running a gang for the last 7-8 years when he learnt from a friend how to tamper with ATM machines. He then taught the same to some of his friends and made a gang. He has confessed to the crime, said Satyanarayan, sub-inspector (SI) of Alwars Bhiwadi Phase 3 police station. Ahmed is the eldest among five siblings. He was pursuing a BCA course 7-8 years back but dropped out and set up his gang. His father used to drive taxi in Saudi Arabia. But for the last few years, he is at their home in Palwal and not working. Police said Ahmed is under remand and is being interrogated. He will be produced before a judge on Sunday. While there are no cases against Ahmed in Rajasthan, police are inquiring if there are cases against him in other states. The total number of gang members and their details has not yet been ascertained. Once the investigation is over, we will give out the details, Satyanaryan said. He said the gang used to first go on recce and identify ATMs which were either located in isolated places or did not have a guard. They operated in a group of 2-3 people at one time. They targeted persons who were not very educated or from rural backgrounds. Satyanarayan said One member of the gang would first go into the ATM vestibule, and hang the machine by pressing two buttons simultaneously. Then they would wait for a user to come in and withdraw cash. They would tell the users that the machine is not working and would try to help him. One member would press 2 buttons against which no select options were listed on the ATM screen. This would hang the machine. While the user operated the ATM, the gang member would either see the PIN or ask the user directly, Satyanarayan added. As the user operated the ATM, the hung machine would not dispense the cash. But once the customer gave up and left, they would withdraw the money as the transaction was still in process. The gang used a car to hit many ATMs at a single go. They would map out the route beforehand, target the identified ATMs and then leave from the area. The car used by them would sometimes be hired, while at other times they purchased a vehicle, police said. They used various modes of transport to travel from one state to another, including buses, trains and planes. They wore branded clothes and accessories so that they do not look suspicious while operating an ATM. They often stayed in expensive hotels so as not to attract attention, Satyanarayan said. The gang would generally operate in Hindi-speaking states, police said. They have operated in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Nagaland. The maximum number of thefts was done in MP as some of the gang members had relatives or homes in the state. They would retire to these places to lay low for a few days after committing the crime, Satyanarayan said. The gang generally operated between 5th and 10th of every month as people operate ATMs after receiving their salary, police said. Every month, they would execute 8-10 incidents of tampering and robbery in different states. Women are agents of change and they should vow to change the society by coming out of their houses, then no one can stop them from bringing in change, said chief minister Vasundhara Raje on Saturday. She was administering an oath to women members of Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha Rajasthan at her official residence at Civil Lines in Jaipur. Later, Raje also graced a meeting of the Jat community, where she felicitated those selected in the civil services and state civil services examinations. The CMs meeting with the Rajput and Jat community members is being seen as an outreach to them ahead of the assembly elections. Both the communities are politically significant in Rajasthan. Addressing the Rajput women at Civil Lines, Raje said the women of Kshatriya community who remain in veil have come today to take oath for doing social service and it is an example for other communities. Raje said generally Kshatriya women do not come out of the house, but today new era has started. She said when women step out with a feeling to bring change then despite hundreds of challenges, positive change is certain because women know how to keep the house and similarly, they can unite the society, country and state. She exhorted the Kshatriya women that they have taken up social service and will have to move ahead by taking all 36 communities together; they have to support during happy and tough times, then only strong society and state can be built. Raje said the chunari, Kshatriya women have draped them in, is light in weight, but has the weight of a big responsibility. Raje said the problem of 60 years in Rajasthan cannot be removed in five years, but the BJP government by working day and night has changed the situation of the state. Despite tough financial conditions, the state did not compromise on development. Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha woman officials apprised chief minister about the activities of their districts. On this occasion, Mahasabha Rajasthan president Anand Singh Shekhawat, Vishwa Hindu Parishad state president Narpat Singh Shekhawat and Mahasabha patron Gaj Singh Alsisar were present. In 2005, Maoists quietly entered the hilly and forested tracts of Balarampur, an impoverished block on the Ayodhya hills in Bengals tribal-dominated Purulia district that the CPI(M) and Forward Block ruled with an iron hand for nearly two decades. In remote villages, Maoists taught locals how to farm and build seed banks, provided free private tuition, launched campaign against alcoholism, illegal felling of trees and high-handedness of the ruling party. By 2010, Balarampur and its neighbouring areas became the home to the Maoists biggest armed unit in Bengal a platoon comprising 34 guerrillas. As the CPI(M) and Maoists bled out each other with a series of political killings in 2010-11, Trinamool Congress established its authority by the end of the panchayat elections in 2013. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee emphasised on raising living standards of the local people. Read: Amit Shahs strategy: BJP treating Bengal rural polls as quarter-final match before 2021 assembly election Around this time, another set of people silently began working on social projects in the area. This time they were swayamsevaks of the RSS. More than a dozen Hari Sabhas (local religious clubs) were formed, while RSS-inspired organisations such as Vanavasi Kalyan Ashrams focussed on running students hostels, Shishu Sikhsha Kendra (pre-primary informal schools) and Vanabandhu Parishad increased the number of Ekal Vidyalayas, or tuition centres with one teacher. Swayamsevaks also started telling local villagers how indigenous agricultural techniques could help farming on small tracts of infertile land. In the 2018 panchayat polls, Trinamool was swept out of Balarampur, where its face was none else than the states western region development minister Shantiram Mahato. Of the 20 seats in Balarampur panchayat samiti (second tier of panchayat system), BJP bagged 18. The saffron party also made a clean sweep of the seven gram panchayats (first tier) and two zilla parishad seats in Balarampur. Read: Trinamool Congress sweeps panchayat elections at all levels in West Bengal The former Maoist-dominated areas are spread over 21 panchayat samitis in Purulia, Jhargram, West Midnapore and Bankura districts. In these areas we have won about 30% panchayat samiti seats and about 35% gram panchayat seats that are far higher than our share in the state as a whole, said BJP state president Dilip Ghosh. Whats more, one of the zilla parishad seats saw the chairman of the outgoing zilla parishad, Srishtidhar Mahato, losing by a big margin of nearly 10,000 votes to a political newcomer. There was no scope for open political activity in Balarampur. We, the saywamsevaks, focussed on social work. Lately, we started organising the poor people against the tyranny of the ruling party leaders, who indulged in unbridled corruption. The main slogan was freedom from goondaraj, said Gopinath Goswami, a swayamsevak for about three decades. He joined BJP barely two months ago and became a giant killer by defeating the chairman of the zilla parishad. Balarampur is not an exception. At Bhimpur panchayat area and its neighbourhood in Salboni, West Midnapore, Maoists ran several free private tuition centres and health camps and dug ponds, irrigation canals, installed tubewells and built kuchha roads during 2009-2011. Since 2013, Trinamool Congress was in absolute control of the area. Since 2014, swayamsevaks started work in the spheres of health, education and moral uplift. Read: Stakes are high for Trinamool Congress and BJP in upcoming Bengal rural polls Bhimpur, too, has turned saffron. In majority of the areas that were under Maoist influence during 2008-2011, spreading across the districts of Purulia, Jhargram, West Midnapore and Bankura, saffron surged ahead of Trinamool. RSS and its various affiliate organisations started work in the forested areas of the districts of West Midnapore, Purulia, Bankura and Jhargram during the 1990s but had to retreat after the CPI(M) and the Maoists both targeted them. After the tables turned on the CPI(M), Trinamool replaced its hegemony with its own. However, RSS being a social organisation, increased involvement in various social activities and prepared the ground. Now, the stage is set for an open rebellion against the ruling party, said Sukhamay Satpathy, BJPs Jhargram district president. Read: A decade after starvation death, Bengal village lives in darkness due to unpaid power bills After RSS prepared the ground, Mukul Roy, who had wide contacts in Jangalmahal, lent the finishing touch by persuading disgruntled ruling party workers to sweat it out for the BJP. Trinamool had no ready explanation for its poor show that came as a rude shock to the chief minister, who was proud of her achievements in the former Maoist-dominated belt. Salboni MLA Srikanta Mahato admitted peoples grievances against local leaders. Backward classes welfare minister Churamoni Mahato, whose home turf of Gopiballabhpur went to BJP, was puzzled. Western region development minister Santiram Mahato, whose home turf saw the ruling party routed, blamed outsiders from Jharkhand. Corruption of local leaders was one of the reasons for a section of the voters going against us. I cautioned the party leaders against it, said Banabihari Roy, Trinamool Lalgarh block president. Well review the results. Its sad that the CPI(M) and the Congress cast all their votes in favour of BJP at the cost of their own organisations, Trinamool secretary general Partha Chatterjee said. Former head of anaesthesia department at BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur Dr Satish Kumar, who was among nine accused in the death of over 30 children due to alleged disruption in oxygen supply in August last year, walked out of jail on Friday. Dr Kumar was granted bail by the Allahabad high court earlier this week. The high court had granted bail to Dr Kumar on Tuesday but the release order reached us today following which he was released after completing legal formalities, superintendent of Gorakhpur district jail Ram Dhani said. As he came out of jail after nine months, Dr Kumar broke down on seeing his wife and daughter who were waiting outside the jail and hugged them. Doctors of BRD hospital also welcomed him and presented him a bouquet. Dr Kumar, however, evaded queries of media persons waiting outside the jail and drove away with his family. Earlier on April 25, the high court had granted bail to Dr Kafeel Khan, the former head of the encephalitis ward and an assistant professor at the paediatric department. On April 9, the Supreme Court granted bail to another accused Manish Bhandari the oxygen supplier to the BRD Medical College and hospital. An FIR was lodged at Hazratganj police station in Lucknow on August 23, 2017, against nine people, including the then BRD principal Dr Rajeev Mishra, in connection with the incident. Dr Satish was booked under sections 308 (culpable homicide), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 466 (forgery of record), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 469 (forgery of records for purpose of harming reputation) and 471 (using as genuine a forged record) of the Indian Penal Code. Earlier this month, Dr Satishs wife Dr Anita had questioned denial of bail to her husband and appealed to the court to take into consideration his deteriorating health for early release. She rejected the charges that Dr Satish was responsible for deaths, went on leave without informing his seniors and tampered records related to sale, purchase and availability of oxygen. Customs officials face traders' wrath Staff Reporter : Traders at Bashundhara city shopping mall in Dhaka on Saturday confined customs intelligence officials for seizing 'illegally' imported mobile handsets from their shops. Officials of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) earlier in the morning seized 262 unauthorized handsets worth Tk 2.9 crore in drives in the city's different markers, including Bashundhara city shopping mall, led by its Additional Director General Kazi Md Ziauddin. They conducted the raid at the mall around 12:00pm with the help of Rapid Action Battalion and seized the phone sets of different brands, including 100 iPhone sets. Soon after the raid, around 500 shop owners and their employees confined the customs officials for more than one and a half hours as the sudden drive caused huge resentment among them. The agitated traders also took to the Panthapath road blocking traffic movement from 12pm to 3pm. When the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrived on the scene to bring the situation under control, the traders exchanged angry words with the elite force. Later, the customs officials held a meeting with the traders. After one and a half hours of discussion, the customs officials left the shopping mall around 5:30pm. After the meeting, Ziauddin said he was leaving the shopping mall with 64 mobile phone sets. Next step will be taken after verifying necessary papers of the phone stets, he added. He also said that they raided the Bashundhara market as per the law. The mobile sets will be returned after scrutinising the necessary documents." Mufazzal Hossain Mamun, proprietor of RM Trading International, said: "The customs officials have taken away mobile phones worth millions of Taka without any notice and they raided shops without informing the local police." Ujjal Hossain, owner of Usha Telecom, said: "They have taken away Tk 2.0 crore worth of goods from five shops. They have taken iPhones. During this time, they do not want to know about other mobile phones." Md Nazimuddin, an agitated trader, said, "If mobile phones are being sold illegally, they can take action against them. But before every Eid, the customs officials come here and harass the businessmen. They took the mobile phones and never returned." Business can't go this way. UP minister and president of the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) is pressing for a complete ban on liquor. He has been raising this demand at every rally and meeting these days. Rajbhar is set to launch a formal campaign against liquor from Ballia on May 20. Over 50,000 women from 20 districts of east UP are likely to attend the rally. Talking to Sudhir Kumar, Rajbhar said ban on liquor would bring peace and prosperity to many families in the state. Excerpts: You want a blanket ban on liquor in UP. Why? Liquor is a curse for poor families which drains away most of the earnings of daily wagers. Landless villagers and marginal farmers earn Rs 200-300 daily but waste most of it on liquor only to return home empty-handed. When their family members object, they quarrel with them and beat up women. If they stop drinking, they may save the amount and support their families well. Will ban on liquor change situation on the ground? Put a ban on liquor, change will be visible. In families where men are addicted to alcohol, there is no food to eat. Their children have a single pair of cloth. Ban will stop wastage of money. Is a ban really possible in a big state like UP? It is very much possible. If Bihar can do it, why cant we? We cant close our eyes to this social evil. It not only spoils families, it spoils generations. I will not sit silent unless ban is imposed on liquor. We cannot leave people to suffer. In case of ban on liquor, there will complete loss of revenue generated through tax on alcohol. Do you have any suggestion to manage that loss? I will give suggestions after liquor is banned in the state. At present, I am working on strategy to achieve the goal of ban on liquor in the state. What is your strategy? We will launch a formal campaign from Ballia on May 20. Over 50,000 women from eastern UP will attend the rally. These women support demand of liquor ban in the state. SBSP workers have identified the families affected by liquor and appealed them to join the campaign. In the rally, women will resolve to work for ensuring ban on liquor in the state. We have also constituted groups of women in development blocks of eastern UP districts including Ballia, Mau, Ghazipur, and Chandauli. Each group comprises 25 members, most of them from families affected by liquor. They will hold weekly conventions in development blocks to highlight the plight caused by liquor in their lives. How will you take your campaign to west UP as your partys influence is limited to east UP only? We have a good number of SBSP workers in west UP. As of now, we are focusing on east UP. In October, teams will be constituted in west UP too. Why did you choose Ballia for the launch of the campaign? Ballia is known for revolutionaries. It is called Baghi Ballia. Therefore, we decided to launch our campaign from Ballia. Is there any plan to hold similar rallies in other cities? We will do so but the cities havent yet been finalised. Will your demand not affect your alliance with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)? Not at all. Everyone knows that liquor is an evil. I am making efforts to bring this social evil to an end. Have you informed chief minister Yogi Adityanath about the campaign? I speak against liquor in every government meeting. I have suggested that liquor must be banned. I will inform him about the campaign. In case sale of liquor is banned, there will be a loss of revenue for the state. Do you have any suggestion to compensate this loss? Lives and families of people are more important than revenue generation. There is a need to find out other sources of revenue. I have a few suggestions but will disclose them after liquor is banned in the state. Should there be a ban on the sale of liquor? asks activist Manju Rajbhar addressing a gathering of women in Bastaura village of Ballia. The women respond in the affirmative. Manju is running a campaign in her village against alcoholism and is motivating other women to take up cudgels against the menace. Like Manju, Kamleshwari Rajbhar, Geeta Rajbhar and Rajkumari Rajbhar are also running similar campaigns in their respective villages. The four women have a number of things in common all of them are homemaker-turned-crusaders against liquor, they come from villages in Ballia, the land of revolutionary Mangal Pandey, and are diehard supporters of the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP). According to SBSP president OP Rajbhar, Ballia is the land of revolutionaries and is known as Baghi Ballia. Therefore, the place is fit for the launch of such a campaign, he says. In Bastaura, Manju has been organising meetings with women of the families which bear the brunt of alcoholism. There should be a complete ban on liquor in UP as it has wreaked havoc in families which have habitual drinkers. In my village, male members in 50 per cent of the families are alcoholics, Manju says. Most men come home in drunken state and beat up their wives if they speak up against their habit. Our campaign and unity has stopped violence against women. But those addicted to it still waste their hard-earned money on liquor, she adds. Ballia is the land of freedom fighter Mangal Pandey who was the first to raise his voice against the British, she says, adding that it was the beginning of the freedom movement which eventually drove them away from the country. Women have given a war cry against liquor and will continue our fight till the sale of liquor is banned, Manju adds. In Rajbhar-dominated Bastaura, 90 per cent villagers earn their livelihood working as labourers at brick kilns or mason. They earn Rs 150-250 daily and spend around Rs 90 on liquor. At times, they spend Rs 100-150 and return home empty-handed, she says. Kiran Rajbhar, 20, who could not pursue graduation due to the financial problem in her family resulting from her fathers drinking habit, says: I completed intermediate in 2016 and wanted to study further. I couldnt do so as my mother is not able to afford the expenses and my father does not pay attention to our education. Liquor is the root cause of many problems. It must be banned so that workers who are habitual drinkers stop wasting their hard-earned money on liquor and pay attention to their families, Kiran says. Kirans mother Lalsa Rajbhar says non-availability of liquor will force people quit drinking. I have heard from my relatives that liquor ban has brought tremendous change in the situation in Bihar, Lalsa says. Kamleshwari Rajbhar, who is mobilising women in her village Kotwari, says: Women are the worst sufferers of drinking habits of their husbands. If we ask them not to drink, they hurl abuses and misbehave. They are not interested in enrolling children at schools and dont care for their families. In Meeranganj village on the outskirts of Rasda town, Geeta Rajbhar leads unites women to press for liquor ban. Nothing is impossible. Our efforts will yield desired results. If women of Bihar can compel their government to impose a complete ban on liquor, why cant women do the same in UP, Geeta says. Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, led by Omprakash Rajbhar, has been demanding a complete ban on liquor across the state. The campaign has spread to villages in the adjoining Ghazipur district. Following the instructions of the SBSP president, the partys local unit leaders are supporting women campaigners. Alcoholism is a curse. Liquor has destroyed many families. A ban on its sale will compel people quit drinking, Awadhesh Kumar Rajbhar, a local SBSP leader, says. If these daily wagers quit liquor, they can save some money and educate their children, he adds. Awadhesh also attends meetings organised by women and appeals to them to attend a massive meeting scheduled in Ballia on May 20 to demand ban on liquor. Union home minister Rajnath Singh and Rajasthan governor Kalyan Singh have informed the estate department that they will vacate the government bungalows allotted to them as former chief ministers, an official said. But no specific dates have been mentioned by the duo, estate officer Yogesh Shukla said. Rajnath Singh and Kalyan Singh are among the six former chief ministers who have been asked by the estate department to vacate the bungalows within 15 days in pursuance of a Supreme Court order. A staffer at Rajnath Singhs residence said the estate department has been informed the bungalow allotted to the Union home minister (4 Kalidas Marg) will be vacated on Sunday. Rajnath Singh is likely to shift to his private residence at Vipul Khand in Gomti Nagar, a person familiar with the matter said. The estate department, in its notices on Friday, said the earlier orders allotting bungalows to the six former chief ministers were void. Shukla said the notices were sent to six former CMs, including Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, SP president Akhilesh Yadav, BSP chief Mayawati, ND Tiwari, BJP leaders Rajnath Singh and Kalyan Singh to vacate the bungalows. The notices were received by staff of four former CMs Rajnath Singh, Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati and Kalyan Singh on Friday, people familiar with the matter said. The staff of Mulayam Singh Yadav refused to receive the order, stating that he was not present in the city, they said, adding the estate department was awaiting his arrival. The notice issued to former chief minister ND Tiwari will be dispatched to his Delhi address since only a security guard was available at the bungalow allotted to him in Lucknow, an officer said. A senior state government officer said although the former CMs were told to vacate the bungalows, their security will be a concern for the state government. Rajnath Singh, Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati and Kalyan Singh have Z-plus security. The bungalows of the former CMs are located in the high security zone of the city, he said. The Supreme Court on May 7, 2018 struck down an amendment to the Uttar Pradesh Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1981 to provide for allotment of government residence to former chief ministers at his/her request for lifetime. Earlier, the Supreme Court had on August 1, 2016 ordered cancellation of allotment of government bungalows to former chief ministers observing that the allotment of houses made to former chief ministers, private bodies and individuals was bad in law. The Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government had in 2016 amended the Act, which was challenged by a Lucknow-based non-profit organisation Lok Prahari. Dont choke on your chausa, but mango varieties around the world are starting to explode. While India still produces 65% of the worlds mangoes, Indian mango types make up just 1% of those sold in the world market. And while Thailand, Pakistan, Brazil and Mexico still lead in exports, nations like Philippines, Tanzania, Israel and South Africa are developing varieties that may change the way the world views our king of fruits. The world differs widely in what people want from mangoes, says Dayakrishna Sharma, vice-president of the All India Mango Growers Association, who has been researching mango cultivars. We prefer them sweet because our palate prefers strong flavours. Well happily buy two kgs tonight and finish them by tomorrow. In the West, he explains, mangoes tend to flavour drinks. They also go into salads or into recipes that require heat. And customers tend to buy just one at a time. So while we prize sweet, soft mangoes, others develop ways to make firmer, less fibrous ones. Indias mangoes have been going places since the 4th and 5th centuries BCE, when Buddhist monks took the fruit to Malaya and eastern Asia. By the 10th century AD, the Persians were taking it to East Africa and by the 1500s, it was on Portuguese ships bound for West Africa and Brazil. History gets clearer by the 19th century. There are records of the fruit arriving in Mexico via the Philippines and the West Indies, and, after some false starts (Native American attacks, cold spells, hurricanes), in the US. Take a look at mango varieties and obsessions from outside India. At a mango market in Thailand. The most popular variety here is the Nam Dok Mai, a fibreless, sweet mango usually enjoyed with sticky rice and coconut milk. (Getty Images / iStock) The Philippines: The island nation is obsessed with record-breaking. In 1995, their Carabaro variety made it to the Guinness Book as the sweetest mango in the world. In 2009, the country set another record, for the worlds heaviest mango, at 3.5 kg. USA: Why do NRIs buy mangoes from ethnic stores and not the supermarket? Because American mangoes are bigger and prettier but just dont taste of home. Most local hybrids come from Florida. Popular types include the large, oval, green Kiett, and the ambitiously named Sensation, which Sharma describes as having glossy red skin. Then theres the Tommy Atkins. Think of it as the basa of mangoes so bland, its been giving mangoes a bad name since 1922. Its named for the farmer who kept submitting the mangoes for commercial sale in the 1940s and 50s. The fruits were deemed unremarkable by the tasting panel, but growers loved the size, disease resistance and long shelf life. By the 70s the Atkins was planted more than any other type in Florida. The Haden, another popular type, traces its ancestry to Malgova mangoes from Tamil Nadu. 12 grafted trees of various mango types were sent from India in 1889 under a programme to introduce tropical fruit to America. Ten died in a freeze a few years later. But the Malgova survived, with eventual hybrids yielding sappy, fibrous fruits with sweet flesh. Other Florida mangoes include the Kent (green-yellow, large, creamy), the Gold Nugget (virtually fibreless, patented in 1990) and the Van Dyke (rich, sweet, small and popular in Europe). Brazils purple-skinned Palmer mango is so juicy that locals massage the fruit, make a hole in it and suck out the pulp. (Getty Images / iStock) Jamaica: This is now the home of the Bombay mango developed from a single seed brought over by Indian immigrants and eventually introduced to the US too. The fibreless dark-orange flesh is said to be rich and spicy; it is no longer grown in India. Haiti: Say Bonjour to Madame Francique. No one knows why shes named that but shes Haitis only mango export to the US her skin can withstand the hot-water and cold-water baths that are necessary to resist fly infestation. The fruit is kidney-shaped, and has a rich, sweet-spicy taste. Widely considered one of the best in the Caribbean. Israel: The emerging mango superpower has the worlds highest yield per acre, with most varieties descended from American mangoes introduced in the 1970s. Popular types include the Maya (juicy, developed in the 40s and named for the horticulturists wife) and the Shelli (delicate, apple-shaped, lasts a month). Others include the delightfully named Tango, Noa, Omer, Tali and Orli. In the US, the Tommy Atkins is slowly being phased out in favour of the Maya, Sharma says. Egypt: The countrys mangoes came from Sri Lanka and the first shrubs were planted in 1825. Today, Egypt exports to 20 countries in central Asia and Europe. In demand species include the Owais (sugary, dry), Zebdea (white, sweet, buttery) and those with names like, ahem, Indian, AlFons and Sukaria. A woman sells mangoes in Malawi. The earliest mango plantations in Africa date back to the mid-19th century. (Getty Images) South Africa: The earliest plantations date back to the 1860s, but the 1990s were the decade in which new varieties were created and commercialised. Heidi was released in 1990 and is known for its shiny yellow-red skin, sweet coconut-like flesh and heart shape. Mexico: More than half of the nations mangoes are eaten in America. The top type, Ataulfo, is also called the Champagne mango, Adolfo, or honey mango, for its gold colour, thick flesh and intense sweet taste. Its likely a hybrid from mangos planted 200 years ago by Filipino workers. Brazil: The fruit reached Brazil in the 1600s from South Africa and the Philippines. By the 1800s, locals were familiar with types called Bourbon, Rosa, Augusta and Carlota. Brazilians, like Indians, eat most of the mangoes they grow. The purple-skinned Palmer, however, exports all the way to the UK. Its so juicy that locals massage the fruit, then make a hole in it to suck out the pulp. The other popular type is the Bourbon, red skinned, sweet and sticky. Australia: Seeds from India, Ceylon, the East Indies and the Philippines were on boats headed to Australia with the earliest settlers in North Queensland. By 1875, one plantation held 40 varieties from India alone. Australians take pride in their Honey Gold and Kensington Pride mangoes. In the first week of April, 60-year-old Kaushilla Sonar was chasing a group of monkeys away when she tripped and crashed to her knees. They were bleeding and her legs began to swell, but she couldnt let the monkeys get at the fruit. Skipping work was not an option the next day either, so I told my grandchildren to skip school for four days and watch the farm for me, she says. There are no doctors for us here. We have to go to the village and pay for first-aid ourselves. Im worried that I wont be able to keep up with the monkeys in the weeks that remain. Kaushilla is here with her husband, two daughters and four grandchildren. She previously worked as a domestic helper in Pune for two years before moving to Ratnagiri. The Nepali workers routinely clamber up 40-ft-high trees and tackle monkeys head-on. But they have no health cover, formal or informal. The nearest primary healthcare centre is about 30 km away, in Lanja town. And even seeking help would mean the loss of a days pay. We have to look after ourselves. It is our individual responsibility, says Sarita Thapa, who is here for the first time. For example, I dont use a knotted rope to attack the monkeys because I hurt myself previously. I only use the catapult and stones, she adds. According to Madhukar Jadhav, the village sarpanch, previously, orchard owners used to submit identity documents of the Nepali workers employed in their farms to the local police. But over the past three-odd years, there has been no real documentation and the workers dont get any support, says Jadhav. So, if there are any relatively serious injuries, and the owner feels that the worker is an asset on his farm, he might give an additional amount at the end of six months. But there is no real mandate or contract to attend to health issues or injuries, he adds. Prince Harry and Meghan Markles wedding cake has taken six bakers five days to prepare and breaks with tradition, according to its designer Claire Ptak. Harry, Queen Elizabeths grandson, and U.S. actress Markle will tie the knot on Saturday in Windsor Castles 15th-century St Georges Chapel. Ptak said her design was more of an installation than a typical wedding cake, but offered few details. The couple decided to buck the royal tradition for fruitcake and instead opted for a lemon and elderflower creation with buttercream icing, topped with fresh flowers. Harry and Meghan chose lemon and elderflower because they wanted to enjoy flavours that are in season, Ptak said. Ptak said her design was more of an installation than a typical wedding cake. (AFP) When I was first asked to present an idea for the cake I brought a selection of flavours and designs and they made a decision together as couple, Ptak told the BBC. You have a really lovely kind of thing happening when you take a bite, which is to get all of those flavours and sensations that are perfectly balanced. Ptak is originally from California and worked at Chez Panisse in Berkeley under chef Alice Waters before moving to London. She started her own business cooking at home and selling cakes on a stall in east Londons Broadway Market. It is obviously such an honour to be asked to do this because for me I have been baking since I was a little kid and this is my dream, she said. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more Tapendra Thapa, 16, has been living for six months in a bamboo hut he built himself. There is no electricity; no running water; no toilet. Instead, he is surrounded by the 8 acres of mango trees that he protects, in Ratnagiris Roon village. Beyond it are green fields that get pitch dark at night; the only sounds from within his dark, 6 ft x 8 ft home is the shrieking of monkeys. This is Tapendras first stint in the Konkan. He ran away from home when he was in Class 8; worked at a Chinese street food stall in Pune for a year, and headed to Ratnagiri in December. All he brought with him were a few clothes, his cellphone and some cash. Im not afraid of the dark. But apart from monkeys, there is also a possibility of thieves and drunkards entering the farm, he says. So he watches the trees by night, and spends his days making wooden crates and packing mangoes for shipment. His senior co-worker is Kiran Gharti. Returning to Lanja four years in a row has meant a job promotion, fluent Marathi, and invitations to local weddings. At the beginning, I used to assist. I didnt understand the language; it sounded like everyone was yelling at me, says Kiran, laughing. Today I can recognise the ripened mangoes by their shape. Im earning Rs 54,000 for six months now instead of Rs 39,000 in my first year. The young father ends up saving most of the money; his only other source of income is his familys rice farm in Kailali. We live on very little while we are here, Kiran says. We cook our own meals. We spend only on food. The months of April and May, which mark the wedding season, are particularly exciting for the Nepali workers, who get invited to as many as two weddings a week. This year, there have been about nine weddings just in Roon village. Some of the Rakhwaldars have become familiar faces, so they come in a group and feast on the delicacies, especially the meat, says Paradkar, whose brother married in the first week of May. In the many weeks with no weddings, life can get very dull and lonely, the Rakhwaldars admit. There is poor cellphone connectivity and a lot of time spent alone. I get homesick and exhausted, especially after sunset, says Tapendra. Just thinking of all the time I have to spend here alone can feel lonely. Sometimes, I listen to songs saved on my phone, or else I just think and dream. Meanwhile, hes learning Marathi, in preparation of the years ahead. Angry over the death of a 45-year-old woman during treatment at JJ Hospital, members of her family flew into a rage and allegedly assaulted hospital staff, injuring four persons, including a civilian, on Saturday. The JJ Marg police have arrested four persons, including the womans two sons and a daughter, in connection with the incident. The deceased woman, Zahidabibi Shah, was admitted to the hospital over a bladder complication on Thursday. However, her condition worsened on Saturday morning and she passed away during treatment, the police said. After the doctors declared Shah dead, her family got furious and reacted in a violent manner. Two doctors, one nurse and a civilian sustained injuries in the assault, officials said. The deceased patients family members beat up three hospital staff, including a woman doctor and a nurse. One civilian was also injured in the incident. We have arrested four persons, said Shirish Gaikwad, senior inspector at JJ Marg police station. The arrested quartet includes Shahs two sons, her daughter and son-in-law. All the four are residents of Mumbra. Following the attack, a CCTV clip capturing the entire incident went viral. In the video, four men are seen landing repeated slaps and punches on the hospital staff. First, two men are seen approaching a doctor sitting behind a desk. One of the men starts slapping the doctor and within a second, three other men also surround the doctor and start assaulting him. Two women from the hospital staff try to intervene to save the doctor from the assault. The doctor somehow manages to get up on his feet and run but one of the assaulters runs after him. Others from the posse, meanwhile, pick up the chairs in the room and break them on the table. The men corner the doctor and beat him up as he is crouched on the floor. With tempers flaring, one of the men again reaches for the doctors desk and flips it over. All this takes place within the span of one minute. Following the assault, the hospital staff immediately alerted the police present at the hospital and the assailants were taken into custody. The JJ Marg police have booked the four persons under sections of the Indian Penal Code relating to assaulting an on-duty public servant and criminal intimidation. Chandrapur, Brahmapuri and Nagpur in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra recorded the highest maximum temperature in the country on Saturday at 47.8, 47.1 and 46.2 degrees Celsius respectively, said officials from the weather bureau. While the day temperature at Chandrapur and Brahmapuri were 4.5 degree Celsius above normal, it was 3 degree Celsius above normal at Nagpur. While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) could not give a comparison with other locations globally for highest temperatures, as they only collate country-wide data, according to eldoradocountyweather.com a private weather information website from USA the top six hottest locations in the world were from India with Chandrapur, Brahmapuri and Nagpur ranked 1, 2 and 3 as the hottest locations globally on Saturday. The other locations were Damoh in Madhya Pradesh at 46 degrees Celsius, Bundi in Rajasthan at 45.6 degrees Celsius and Wardha in Maharashtra at 45.6 degrees Celsius. Chandrapur was identified as the hottest location in India on April 30 and on May 12. This is the third time in less than a month that the area has been deemed hottest in the country. IMD officials said Vidarbha region was experiencing heat wave conditions and isolated pockets such as Chandrapur and Brahmapuri were experiencing severe heat wave conditions. A severe heat wave warning is issued, when temperatures are expected to be above 47 degrees Celsius or 6.5 degree Celsius above normal. We had issued a heat wave warning for Vidarbha on Thursday itself and severe heat wave warnings for some locations on Friday. Similar conditions are expected to continue for the next three days in this region, and citizens are requested to stay indoors, said Mrutunjay Mohapatra, head of climate services, IMD, New Delhi. With north westerly winds bringing in dry heat over this region, hardly any moisture is allowing temperatures to escalate further. Meanwhile, Mumbai recorded the day temperature a degree Celsius above normal on Saturday. Santacruz and Colaba recorded 34.7 and 34.6 degrees Celsius as the day temperature. The night temperature on Saturday at the suburbs was 27.1 degrees Celsius, close to the normal mark, and south Mumbai recorded 28 degrees Celsius, almost a degree Celsius above normal. Colaba recorded high humidity levels at 80% and Santacruz recorded 65%. A clear sky has been predicted for today. The Maharashtra State Scheduled Caste (SC) Scheduled Tribe (ST) Commission held that colleges cannot bar students belonging to socially weaker sections from examinations if they are unable to pay their fees. The pronouncement came after the commission heard a complaint against a degree college in Bandra, which issued a notice threatening disciplinary action against reserved category students who failed to pay their tuition fees. The college agreed to withdraw the notice after the directive from the commission. On April 12, shortly before the semester examinations commenced, Chetana College, Bandra, had issued a notice asking the students in self-financed courses, who were admitted under reserved categories in the academic year 2017-18, to pay their dues. The annual fee for reserved category students in bachelor of management studies, bachelor of commerce (accounting and finance), bachelor of mass media and bachelor of science (information technology) ranges from 7,000 to 22,000. The college said that it had no option left but to demand fees from students as the state government has failed to reimburse it for waiving off fees of reserved category students. "The state hasn't cleared its dues since 2013, despite our letters to the concerned departments. The government announced that the fee waiver money will now be transferred directly to the beneficiaries bank accounts. But how will we collect the money after the students graduate? We are running a tight ship as more than 50% students in the college belong to reserved categories," said MP Joshi, principal, Chetana College. Joshi said until now the college has never demanded fees from the students who applied for fee waiver. The state department for social welfare and special assistance, which is responsible for scholarships and fee benefits to SC students, insisted that it has cleared most of the arrears. "Except for a few thousand cases having issues we have cleared all our dues." Santosh Gangurde from Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena, who had filed the complaint said that the colleges should not trouble students during examinations. "The colleges should display an altruistic behaviour rather than a commercial one," he said. Muslims must unite to be on a war path against Israel Arab and Muslim countries must unite and take a common stand on Palestinian issue as more than a hundred Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire in the past weeks on Gaza border including 62 alone on Monday last. The dead also include an eight-month old baby to show how helpless those people even at their homes. Many blame Hamas leadership in Gaza trip for mindlessly pushing unarmed young people at Israeli border only to die. They must know that unarmed people have no power to face well-equipped Israeli soldiers who killed them like birds. They can't win war with Israel this way. But it is also true that the Palestinians in the West Bank without joining the uprising are also of no help to end the occupation when Israeli security forces control the streets there. We mainly hear a single voice of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the moment giving call to all Muslim countries and international community to resist Israeli aggression on unarmed Palestinians in their occupied land. It is highly intriguing why Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and UAE in the region are distancing from the Palestinian people's tragedy. Erdogan said on Friday that the UN is finished because it has lost the credibility as a world body to protect world peace. He voiced his frustration as a resolution at the UN Security Council (UNSC) calling for condemnation of the Israeli killing of Palestinians failed to hold ground on US opposition.. The proposal had also called for sending an' investigation mission' to the area. Israel said Palestinians gathered at Gaza border were terrorists and rejected the proposal to send investigation mission terming it a politically motivated move. The IOC emergency summit in Istanbul on Friday has also given call to all Muslim countries and International Community not to allow the status of Jerusalem to be changed and a common stance need to be taken on Gaza situation. The meeting convened when the USA shifted its embassy to East Jerusalem last week flaring up protest from the Palestinians claiming their right on East Jerusalem as the future capital of Palestine. The OIC has also called upon the 57 member states to prevent other countries from shifting their embassies to East Jerusalem. Need to be mentioned that the OIC and the Arab League also met in emergency summits when Donald Trump had announced to shift US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem few months back. They had given similar call to unite to save the Palestinians cause but there was no visible outcome from it. In our view such special meetings have no meaning if corrupt and boneless Arab leaders really don't mean it. We must say Arabs must rise to the occasion abandoning their subservient policy towards the USA; which will never deliver the goods. Muslims must end fight among them and take steps for facing Israel to liberate Palestine. But when the Saudi Crown Prince says Palestinians must listen to what Donald Trump says or shut, the crack in the Palestinian issue seems to be quite irreparable. The tragedy centering the holy city of Jerusalem entered a new chapter last week along the Gaza border as protesters gathered to denounce opening of US embassy in East Jerusalem. Anger in Gaza reached the boiling point on that occasion while Israel celebrates the shifting of US embassy with jubilation. The uprising in Gaza coincided Palestinians commemoration of 'Naqba' or catastrophe which they observe annually recalling the expulsion of Palestinians from their homes in 1947 by Jewish settlers from the land now state of Israel and their right to return. We must bridge the divide between Shiites and Sunnis and get together as Muslims against the common killer enemy Israel. Israeli government is enjoying killing helpless Palestinians freely. The Muslim countries have to be on a war path to fight Israel for upholding our honour and dignity. Israeli government is humiliating the whole Muslim world by killing Palestinians recklessly as if they are animals. Head constable of Gamdevi police station, Sunil Dattatray Kadam, 52, who was injured lst week while trying to escort a vehicle thief to the police station, died on Saturday after eight days of hospitalisation. Additional commissioner of police, south region, Pravin Padwal, confirmed the development. Kadam suffered injuries on his head, neck and legs after falling off the accuseds bike during a nakabandi at Pedder Road. He was admitted to Nair hospital, and later transferred to Bombay hospital, where he was unconscious for a long period of time. Eventually, he regained consciousness and even spoke to his family member. But he would get emotional when anybody from the police department visited him, so his colleagues avoided visiting him, said Anup Dange, inspector, Gamdevi police station. Pravin Padwal, additional CP (commissioner of police), south region, and Gyanesh Chavan, zonal DCP (deputy commissioner of police) personally supervised the treatment, spoke to doctors and posted a constable to look after Kadam full-time. He started recovering, but then his condition deteriorated and he breathed his last at around 11am on Saturday, Dange added. Kadam resided in the Worli police camp with his wife, daughter, and son. He has another daughter, who is married to a banker. Nandkumar Shevale, a constable at Gamdevi station, said, Kadam was fondly called Aau Kadam by his colleagues. He had served the police department for over 28 years. He had done great work in the detection team, crime branch, and social service branch. His kids are young and he was the only earning member of the family. The tragedy has left us and his family in a shock. The incident On May 11, head constable of Gamdevi police station Sunil Kadam was posted on the south-bound stretch at the Cadbury junction, Pedder Road for a nakabandi. Kadam and three other cops stopped three people on a bike. One of the digits on the bikes number plate was missing. Kadam inquired about the number plate and asked for the riders driving licence. After failing to give a satisfactory response, two of the three men fled the spot. Kadam then sat pillion on the rider, Sirajuddin Shaikhs bike, and asked him to ride to the police station. Shaikh took a U-turn from the junction and increased the speed of the bike in the hope that Kadam would lose balance and fall off the bike. He was simultaneously punching Kadam with one hand. Kadam screamed for help, which caught the attention of the other cops, who began to chase Shaikhs bike in a police van. Eventually, the bike crashed into a marble-concrete bench on a footpath in the area, causing both of them to fall off the bike. Kadam and Shaikh were both rushed to the hospital. Kadam was discharged on Thursday and arrested under the charge of attempt to murder. Family seeks stringent punishment for accused Sunil Kadams colleagues at Gamdevi police station will remember him as a jovial person who always used to be ready to help others. A 1985-batch head constable, Kadam had spent 33 years with the force before succumbing to the head injuries suffered while he was trying to escort a history sheeter to the police station. He was a man who would keep everyone entertained on and off duty. He would socialise with everyone and had a very good sense of humour, said a head constable from the police station. I was at the nakabandi when the incident took place. Kadam as usual was doing his duty diligently when we stopped the accused. After the incident when we checked, the accused had cases against them in Vikhroli police station, said another officer. The deceased constables eldest daughter Chetana told Hindustan Times, The government hospital where my father was taken did not tell us about the head injury for five days. We got to know about it after we shifted him to Bombay hospital. I believe that my father would have been alive today if the police would have rushed him to an empanelled private hospital rather than the government hospital. I want the police to thoroughly probe the case, and we want stringent punishment for the accused in the case. My family has suffered a lot. It is an irreparable damage. It will be difficult for our family to move on, added Chetana. Statistics released by the Mumbai unit of the directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI) has revealed that there was a considerable rise in the number of commercial fraud cases and smuggling seizures in the financial year 2017-2018, compared to the preceding year. The monetary worth of seized smuggled items, such as gold, red sanders, cigaretters, and electronic gadgets, increased from 209.23 crore in 2016-17 to 233.68 crore in 2017-18 an increase of 11.69%. The number of fraud cases related to import, in the same time period, has increased from 88 to 126 an increase of 43%. These include cases of misdeclaration of description and quantity, and undervaluation. Citing an example of misdeclaration, a senior DRI officer said, There are cases of misdeclaration to claim import benefits. For example, items are sometimes falsely declared to be life-saving drugs or medical equipment, which qualifies them for import benefits. In undervaluation, importers undervalue imported goods to evade duties. The total amount of duties evaded by importers increased by 848.69%, from 130.13 crore in 2016-17 to 1234.53 crore in 2017-18. Statistics of fraud cases related to exports reveal a similar trend, showing an increase in the number of cases from 13 to 16. Export benefits are granted to exporters to strengthen the export sector. Under the duty drawback scheme, an exporter is entitled to a cash refund, equivalent to a certain percentage of the export amount. However, in some cases, exporters inflate the cost to claim additional drawback. The total amount involved in such cases increased from 7.64 crore to 52.55 crore. The total number of arrests made by the DRI increased from 33 to 54. In 2017-18, it detained 10 people under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA), compared to two in 2016-17. The total amount recovered, in the cases including duty and its interest, increased from 504.20 crore to 668.66 crore an increase of 32.62 %. Six held for smuggling gold worth 2.3 crore from Dubai The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), on Friday, arrested six persons for smuggling gold worth 2.3 crore from Dubai. The gold was seized from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and Kalbadevi jewellery market. Acting on a tip-off, the DRI detained four carriers, one kingpin who sold gold in the local market and his accomplice. The DRI stated that the carriers had reached Patna by bus and then arrived in Mumbai via train at LTT. The kingpin and his accomplice had come to the Kalbadevi market, to receive the gold from the carriers, but were held by the agency. Sixty gold bars were concealed in their trousers, in specially-made cavities, within the belt area. The bars weigh 6.96kg and are valued at 2.3 crore, said a high-ranking DRI officer. Investigations revealed that the gold originated from Dubai and was smuggled into the country from the Indo-Nepal border. The carriers had gone to Dubai in search of odd jobs and were recruited into this for monetary consideration. They were promised 20,000 each for smuggling gold to India, said the officer. The DRI stated that the carriers reached Patna by bus and then arrived in Mumbai by train. All six accused have been sent to judicial custody till June 2. As vigilance has been upped at the airport, smugglers are trying to bring in gold through the porous borders. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Flying to and from the Mumbai airport? Brace for delays during peak hours as the system that guides landing of flights will be out of service till June 5. The aviation aid, called Instrument Landing System (ILS), is being upgraded, for which the work started on Thursday and will continue till June 5. It will be out of service from 11am to 11pm. The minimum visibility required to land at Mumbai airport is as low as 800 metres. An airport official explained that owing to the absence of ILS, minimum visibility required for carrying out operations from the main runway is 2,400 metres. If the visibility drops below 2,400 metres, the flight operation will be switched to the secondary runway 14, said the official. The secondary runway is shorter, and hence can handle fewer flights. If the visibility further drops to 1,200 metres, which is the minimum requirement for the secondary runway, the airport will have to be closed. However, according to the meteorological department, chances of poor visibility are less in these 20 days, added the official. Another official said delays will also depend on non-scheduled flight movements. An official claimed that the unavailability of ILS may not severely affect flight operations. However, the airport saw air traffic congestion on Thursday and Friday. Passengers who plan to fly from the Mumbai airport before June 5 are a worried lot. Pranali Sahasrabudhe, a Vile Parle resident, said, I am going on a short vacation to Ooty and have a flight on May 31. As my mother and I are travelling to the place for the first time, we wanted to reach our hotel before sunset, and hence we booked an afternoon flight. However, if such delays continue, we will not be able to reach our destination on time and fly back to Mumbai on June 3. Another passenger, Aishwarya Mohanty, a Navi Mumbai resident, fears that the flight delays may upstage her return schedule. On May 24, I am flying to Chennai to attend a function, followed by a wedding. If there are flight delays, my aim to fly to Chennai will be of no use, said Mohanty. Neha Katdare, an Andheri resident, said she is flying to Mumbai for the weekend only to meet her brother. I fear that such delays will make me spend much of my time only in travelling. Kopri is a small fishing village in Thane. Near the creek, there is a Hanuman temple whose uniqueness is only visible once you step inside. Jutting out of the floor of the temple and painted in peach and red is a three-foot-high cannon. This cannon isnt the only one. Walk around the waterfront, and youll spot 10 more cannons scattered in the area, all of them buried upside down. Some are hidden in bushes, some are nestled within larger structures; all of them are remnants of early British expansion into the western coast of India. Silent witnesses Very few know about the cannons at Kopri. Since they have been part of Thanes evolution from colonial era port to a modern, concrete jungle, they havent been studied closely and remain something of a mystery. Historian Shridutta Raut said, We suspect that it was during the 1737 war between the Portuguese and the Maratha or after that the region got the cannons. There is no other location where you can find so many cannons, said Raut. He added that he has a copy of the document which mentions the order to send the cannons to Thane. For the fishing community who have lived in this area for generations, there was no use for the cannons except to use the 4-tonne artillery like dock posts. Burying the cannons upside down made it convenient for them to moor their boats, said Baba Koli, 68, a resident of the fishing village there. The boats are tied to the buried cannons, ensuring they dont float away. Since we have been living in the area for years, we are protective about them, said Anil Kubal, 45, a resident of Savarkar Nagar, which is near Kopri creek. One of the cannons has turned into a pillar of worship inside a temple near the Kopri creek. (Praful Gangurde/HT) The place where these cannons are located was the place from where salt was transported, said archaeologist Sachin Joshi, who is leading a team that will remove and restore the cannons. We have properly identified this cannons and have also studied o them. In August 2016, Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) was alerted to the existence of these cannons. Two of them were dug up and put on display at Kala Bhavan and at the TMC office. Sandeep Malvi, deputy municipal commissioner of TMC, said, We placed the cannons at Kala Bhavan and TMC office so that people will come to know about them and the history of the place. We will soon shift the other cannons too. From salt trading post to concrete jungle Thane has a history of being a flourishing trading post. During Shivaji Maharajs rule, boats used to sail to Kochi carrying spices and other goods. Kopri was the port area and most residents were involved in trade and transport, said Prahlad Nakhwa, 69, a resident of Chendani koliwada which is near the waterfront. During the British regime, Kopri had a port, customs office, a salt department, a forest department and a railways office. The first train started from Bori Bunder to Thane in 1853 and a track was built at Kopri to transport salt to other places. A portion of the track is still visible (most of it is now buried under modern construction). The areas importance started dwindling with the British prioritizing Mumbai and trade diverted to other ports on the western coast of India. After the trade stopped, the men who were engaged in it took to fishing to earn their livelihood. And thats how the koli settlement came up near the sea, said Nakhwa. The old British-era offices of the Maritime Board, Customs Department and Railways stood in Thanes Kopri creek. They crumbled a few years ago and the TMC decided to build an open gym in that area. This move was met with opposition from the locals. We didnt want to lose the open space. We told the officials that the gym is of no use to us. But the TMC went ahead and built it, said Kubal, who is also an enthusiastic animal activist. Residents have actively worked towards preserving the green space. We ensure that the greenery is intact and the mangroves protected, said Kubal. The restoration project As possessive as Kopri locals may be about the cannons, experts like Raut believe their place is not in what has been their natural habitat over the past three centuries. There are chances that they would be misused. People with political background will paint them and some will also worship them. There are chances that some may sell the pieces of history to scrap dealers. They are Indias property and its rich history, said Raut. The cannons lying abandoned at Kopri creek will be preserved by five charitable trusts and non-governmental organisations Chendani Koliwada Jamat trust, Durga Sakh Charitable Trust, Durgveer Prasthisthan, Kokan Itihas Parishad and Ratnigiri Gadkot Samiti which have come together for this restoration project. The team is led by Joshi. We have an estimated budget of 2 lakh for preservation of the cannons and we will pay for the revamp, he said. The NGOs have got permission from the Thane Municipal Corporation and Maritime Board to go ahead with the plan. On Sunday, the restoration will embark on its first phase, which involves cleaning the area around the cannons and marking it out. We will build a platform to keep the cannons. We will put up an information board. Visitors can get to know all about the history of the place, said Joshi. Chandan Vichare, who works with an export firm and is a core member of the five groups, said, We want people to know about our rich history. The cannons are lying abandoned for the past many years. We want to finish the work in a week and we want people to come ahead and donate money. In a big move, the Maharashtra government has decided to provide houses to ineligible slum dwellers residing in hutments built before January 1, 2011 but not for free. These slum dwellers will have to pay construction cost of the tenement decided by the state government. The tenements will be made available on in-situ basis or anywhere in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). A government resolution (GR) was also issued by the state housing department on May 16. The move will bring relief to 3.5 lakh hutments (around 8 lakh people) that are living in slums but are declared ineligible due to the January 1, 2000, deadline. The catch here is that the state housing department has allowed these ineligible slum dwellers to sell their tenement anytime they want, on contrary to the slum redevelopment rule stating that a tenement allotted under slum rehabilitation scheme cannot be transferred for a period first 10 years. Officials are wary that some people may misuse this relaxation, which will ultimately defeat the actual purpose of the scheme making Mumbai slum-free. As per the existing provisions, those living in slums built until January 1, 2000, are legally protected and cant be removed without a free rehabilitation tenement. Bombay high court refused to allow the government to extend this deadline. The fresh decision will give some legal protection to slum dwellers who have built shanties before January 1, 2011. The move is necessary as lakhs of people are residing in these slums which dont fit in the eligibility criteria for redevelopment. But giving free hand by not having a locking period for transfer of tenements means encouraging some of them to sell tenements and build another slum, said a senior officials requesting anonymity. Section 3E of the Maharashtra Slum Areas Act of 1971 clearly prohibits transfer of the allotted tenement through sale, gift, exchange, lease or otherwise, for a period of ten years. Ramesh Prabhu, housing expert, said that this possibility cannot be overlooked that some people may sell the tenement for higher returns and can go back to any other slum. I think it is advisable to have a locking period of at least five years so that no one can take undue advantage of the move, Prabhu said. He said that ultimately this is a slum redevelopment scheme which is being linked up with PMAY to make slum redevelopment in the city more feasible. Linking the scheme with PMAY means, the government will be paying around 2.5 lakh (1 lakh by state government and 1.5 lakh central government) for each tenement, which will be reduced from the total construction cost. Thus, the government could have easily imposed a locking period, he pointed out. Sanjay Kumar, additional chief secretary of the housing department said the condition could not be imposed in this scheme as slum dwellers will have to pay construction cost for the tenements. The scheme is contrary to the slum redevelopment scheme where the slum dwellers gets a tenement for free, Kumar said defending the move. Considering this, if a common person has the right to sell his home any time he wants, then these slum dwellers should also be given the same right as they also knows what is better for them. Further, the beneficiaries will also be linked up with Aadhaar and thus they wont be able to get benefit of any other government housing scheme in future if they chose to sell the tenement, he added. The Bandra police have arrested a 34-year-old man for allegedly kidnapping and gang raping a 28-year-old woman. He was reportedly in hiding in Virar after the crime in March. The other accused, the womans 32-year-old estranged husband, had already been arrested by the police in April. On March 12, the survivor was called to Pali Hill by her 32-year-old husband on some pretext. The woman reached the spot, and a paan shop owner saw the two of them arguing. The husband was accompanied by his friend. As per the survivors statement, she was dragged into a taxi and taken to Virar, said a police officer. In her statement, the survivor said that she was kept in a room, beaten up and gang raped by the duo. She escaped the next morning when the accused were asleep. She approached the Virar police six days after the incident. The police registered a first information report, and the case was then transferred to the Bandra police station. Over 400 resident doctors of JJ Hospital started an indefinite strike on Saturday after the assault on two doctors and a nurse by relatives of a patient. The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has demanded immediate installation of alarm system and security guards at every ward to ensure such an incident does not take place again. The resident doctors are in a state of panic and afraid to work under such conditions, we cannot resume duty unless appropriate security measures, which are due for over two years, are implemented immediately, said Dr Sarang Donarkar, president, MARD. Dr Atish Parikh and Dr Shefali Dharmadhikari, the on-duty medicos of female general surgery ward 11, were assaulted by four relatives of a female patient who died before her surgery on Saturday. The attackers also assaulted the relative of one of the patients who tried to intervene and another nurse. Dr Parikhs jaw is fractured and Dr Shefali is in a state of psychological shock after the relatives grabbed her by the throat. The doctors were merely doing their duty and explaining the patients condition to the relatives, said Dr Donarkar. MARD has alleged that security at JJ Hospital has been cut to half since their appointment and promises to install an alarm system to alert the security personnel is yet to come true, increasing the risk of similar attacks. We want at least one or two security persons for every ward and the alarm system should be installed immediately. All we have been getting is assurances and nothing is done on paper, said a MARD member. A senior doctor from the hospital said that after the resident doctors strike in 2017, over 180 guards have been manning the premises of JJ Hospital, covering all the entry and exit points of the building, elevators and six major wards. However, he said it is impossible to deploy guards at all the 44 wards. The security is beefed up at CCU, ICU, MICU, labor and casualty wards, which handle higher rate of emergencies. But its impossible that all the 44 wards get security persons, said the doctor, requesting anonymity. Dr S Nandankar, dean, JJ Hospital, said they have initiated an inquiry into the incident to review the security measures at the hospital. The assaulters also destroyed hospital property and were immediately nabbed by police personnel. We will take necessary measures to ensure such incidents are not repeated, said Dr Nandankar. The Shiv Sena on Friday extended support to farmers, who are against the land acquisition for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train Prime Minister Narendra Modis pet project. The announcement comes at a time when the Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are locked in a battle against each other for the Palghar Lok Sabha by-election on May 28. Farmers and tribals from Palghar district have opposed the measurement exercise being carried out by the implementing agency for acquisition of land. The project passes through Dahanu in Palghar district. This is the second instance where Sena has opposed a mega project backed by the BJP-led government at the Centre. The party has earlier objected to the mega oil refinery proposed at Nanar in Ratnagiri. Of the total 1,400 hectares to be acquired, 353 hectares are in Maharashtra. So far, National High-Speed Rail Corporation has managed to acquire 0.9 hectares in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) for a station. A delegation of Bullet Train Virodhak Janmanch, led by activist Ulka Mahajan, met Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and sought support from the party. The committee plans to hold a march against the 1.10-lakh crore project in Palghar on June 3. A senior leader said the Sena has extended support to the morcha. They invited Uddhavji and sought his support. Uddhavji told them if farmers are against the project, they will certainly support it. In the past, we have supported local residents or farmers opposing infrastructure projects, said Neelam Gorhe, Sena spokesperson, who was part of the meeting. Mahajan said the tribal population in the region is protesting against the states decision to dilute the role of the gram sabha in infrastructure projects. The government diluted the law to make it convenient for them to acquire farmers and tribals land. We briefed Uddhavji on the situation, Mahajan said. According to the government notification issued in November 2017, sanction from the gram sabha is no longer required for states purchase of tribal-owned land through mutual agreements with owners. The Maharashtra government has worked out an amicable solution between the Dhangar and Veershaiv Lingayat communities by renaming of Solapur University and airport. The state has acceded to the demand of the Dhangar (shepherd) community and will name Solapur university after Ahilyabai Holkar, who ruled Indore during the Maratha regime. On the other hand, the Solapur airport will be rechristened after Mahatma Basaveshwar, a 12-th century Lingayat philosopher. The decision coincided with the conclusion of the Karnataka elections, where Veershaiv Lingayats are a major electoral force. The previous government in Karnataka had granted minority status to the community. The Maharashtra government has decided to rename Solapur University as Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Solapur Vidyapeeth, said education minister Vinod Tawde. He said the renaming decision was taken on the recommendation of a sub-committee was set up by the state. The renaming function will be held on May 31, which is the birth anniversary of Ahilyadevi Holkar. Tawde met representatives of both communities at Mantralaya and informed them about the decision. Tawde announced that a grand memorial of Mahatma Basaveshwar at Solapur will be erected in Solapur and to achieve this, a committee will be set up under the chairmanship of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. He said the Mahatma Basaveshwar Finance Corporation will also be formed to provide financial assistance to the Veershaiv Lingayat community. The state will provide Rs10 crore annually to the corporation. In addition, the state has promised to introduce Basavas teachings in college syllabi and will set up a Mahatma Basaveshwar Chair in various universities. City environmentalists and nature lovers have planned a series of activities to mark international day for biological diversity on May 22. The day has been chosen by the United Nations to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. The occasion will be used as platform to educate people about biological diversity in Talawe and Chanakya wetland areas and shed light on the factors responsible for environmental degradation. The green warriors have invited city residents to explore the area, observe flora and fauna, take photographs, and make documentaries and short films to spread awareness about the wetlands which are home to various indigenous and migratory species of birds who frequent the area. Sunil Agarwal, 55 resident, NRI complex, Nerul is spearheading a campaign to save Talawe and TS Chanakya wetlands. More number of people joining the drive ensures maximum pressure on officials, to let the area remain green. Members have always contributed in generating awareness. Documentaries and other evidence of flora and fauna in the area would only strengthen our stand, he said. Dr Arun Kurhe, bird photographer and family physician has spent the last five years documenting rare wildlife around the mangrove and now has his own atlas of birds of the region. He has documented some 100-bird species in wetland areas across Palm Beach Road which will help in better understanding the ecosystem of the wetlands. Kurhe said, This is just an effort to highlight different species that are found in the area. More visitors would guarantee more awareness and visibility. We hope that many more people visit the area on the eve of world diversity day and spread information about it through word of mouth. In another initiative, a group of citizens have planned a walkathon to Belapur and Parsik hills during which the participants will be taught about the changing environment. Sudhesh Mali, 39, a Belapur resident said, There was a time when the temperature of the satellite city was lower than neighbouring Mumbai, but since the last few years it has changed drastically. Tree cutting and destruction of natural water bodies has taken a toll on the environment. I have arranged a walkathon which will highlight the reasons behind the drastic change and steps to be taken to bring back greenery to the city. Children, adults as well as senior residents are welcomed to join the event and will be briefed about how city was in the past and how it has changed over the years, he said. Given that most children will be enjoying their summer break, an essay and slogan-writing competition about nature, earth and marine life has also been organised. Before the competitions, we will explain to the kids about international day of biodiversity, said Navdeep Sahay, 45, secretary, Bhoomi Heights, Kamothe. The pristine wetland of the city is under threat of reclamation; hence the need of the hour is to spread awareness about biodiversity. It shouldnt be a one-day activity but a year-round activity as many water bodies in the satellite city are under threat, said Arvind Nagle, 28, bird enthusiast and nature photographer. Save the date On May 22, between 7 and 8am, volunteers will help residents at Talawe and TS wetlands in Nerul to capture the winged beauties in cameras and to make documentaries. Interested residents can contact Sunil Agarwal: 8169126372 Resident can also participate in Walkathon to discuss climate change at Urban Haat. The meeting point is Belapur station at 6.30am. Residents can contact Sudesh Mali: 9835471821 Slogan and essay writing competition for kids at Bhoomi Heights society in Kamothe. Kids would be given a days time to work on the theme Richwood, TX (77531) Today Mostly cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High 88F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early. Thunderstorms developing late. Low 77F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Two hills in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) Jasai in Panvel taluka and Mankoli at Bhiwandi, Thane district have lost at least 40 hectares to stone quarrying, which NGO Shree Ekvira Aai Pratishthan (SEAP) alleged is being carried out in violation of environment norms. While stone quarrying is not illegal, it has to be carried out without causing any harm to the environment. Also, an order passed by the western bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2015 states hills with a slope of 25 degrees or more cant be cut. The NGO alleged the two hills have a slope of more than 25 degrees. The NGO on Friday wrote to the Thane collector, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), forest department and state environment department highlighting the activity being carried out at Anjur phata in Mankoli (20 hectares) along the Thane-Nashik Highway, and Dastan phata in Jasai region of Panvel (20 hectares). There has been indiscriminate felling of trees and blasting of hills at both locations, which is balding and destroying the hills. Tree felling is an illegal activity in quarrying areas. Pollution caused by quarrying is also a cause for concern for local residents, said Nandkumar Pawar, head, SEAP, which stopped environmental destruction at Parsik Hill in Navi Mumbai by filing an environment interest litigation (EIL) in the western bench of NGT. The NGO, over the past two months, carried out ground surveys and identified the exact extent of the area lost, degree of slope, green cover that has been destroyed and dust pollution in surrounding areas. According to the union environment ministry, demolition of a hill destroys the continuity between its neighbouring two hills, thus impacting groundwater level, percolation, tree cover and natural biodiversity. Stone quarrying cannot be carried out without permission from the district administration, and has to be in accordance with the guidelines of MPCB and the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The hills are fully destroyed, while the Centre mandates starting stone cutting only 3m or 10ft from below the hill top, Pawar said, adding, No specific area has been demarcated for quarrying activity, vertical excavation is being carried out, no water sprinkling is being done before or after the quarrying takes place, and no measures are being taken to arrest dust pollution at the site. Officials from the state forest department said they had cancelled all permissions for stone quarrying, and not issued any new ones since early 2017. Forest areas across the Thane district and surrounding areas are protected from quarrying activities. We will check whether this activity has the permission from the district collector, said Jitendra Ramgaokar, deputy conservator of forest, Thane forest range. Forest officers from Panvel area said quarrying was not being done in their forest region. While the Thane collector refused to comment, Raigad collector Vijay Suryvanshi said he has directed his office to carry out an inquiry. If quarrying is taking place and the environment is being affected due to it, we will direct our team to ensure action is taken against these units, he said. MPCB officers from Thane and Panvel said they received the complaint, but were not aware if the units were illegal. We will check whether these units have permission from us. Our field officers will survey both areas and contact the complainant on Monday, said DB Patil, sub-regional officer, MPCB. More than three weeks after a 21-year-old man from Pune was found dead near the Dehrang dam on Panvel-Matheran road, two men were arrested for allegedly killing him. The Panvel taluka police have not revealed the identity of the accused, who are said to be from Panvel, as it may hamper the investigation. Omkar Kundan Aarnes body was spotted by passers-by on April 27, who informed the police. According to the post-mortem report, he was shot dead. The deceased was wearing a blue t-shirt, grey track pants and black shoes. After the post-mortem report, we registered a case under sections 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against unidentified person/s, said an officer from Panvel taluka police station. The Pune police had earlier registered a missing persons case, following a complaint by Aarnes wife, Sudha. Aarne used to go to difference places in search of job. He lived with his wife and a child at a chawl in Punes Yerawada. When he went missing, he had Rs1,000 and a mobile phone with him. However, we did not them on his body, said the officer. Prakash Nilewad, assistant commissioner of police (Panvel division), confirmed the arrest. We suspect more people are involved in the crims. Our teams have fanned out to different places; therefore, we cannot say anything about the identity of the arrested people. We may reveal the names on Monday, Nilewad said. The police are still probing the motive behind the murder. With the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) in force, approximately 10-15 % of real estate brokers seem to have quit the sector. The reasons only registered brokers can sell MahaRERA registered projects; massive slowdown in the realty market; and overriding sentiments that there are no provisions in MahaRERA to protect the rights of the brokers even though they are made liable for penal action. According to the Confederation of Real Estate Brokers Association of India (CREBAI), MahaRERA has brought into place a form of regulation of the brokers dealing with real estate. There are approximately 1.30 lakh brokers in Maharashtra of which at least 10-15 % have shut shop, said Milan Kamdar, President, CREBAI (Maharashtra). We are seeing many of the unscrupulous brokers quitting the sector ever since MahaRERA has come to force. Since the rules specify that brokers will be fined for misleading information, this has acted as a deterrent to many, he added. MahaRERA has mandated that any broker who wants to sell apartments in a registered project needs to be registered with the real estate authority. Till now around, 14,000 such realty brokers have registered with MahaRERA by paying 10,000 in charges. Any builder who registers his project has to disclose the list of his brokers and they in turn need to be registered with MahaRERA. The penal action for a broker who does not register or provides false or misleading information is 10,000 per day till the default is corrected. The fine can also extend to 5% of the cost of the apartment or plot. Another reason for the fall in the number of brokers is the slowdown in the realty market which has put many out of business. Realty brokers also agree that MahaRERA registration has boosted their profile but rue that their interests are still not protected. Though we are made liable for any violation, there are still no rules made to protect our rights. Many times, builders and buyers tend to not pay us our brokerage and there are no provisions to penalise them, said Prakash Rohera, KKarma Realtors, a leading brokerage firm. Recently, MahaRERA chairman Gautam Chatterjee acknowledged this issue. The act is new and we are still learning. It is true that issues such as non-payment of brokerage are still not addressed. It will take some time to get such provisions in the act, said Chatterjee. A police constable was seriously injured while he was escorting a suspected vehicle thief to Gamdevi police station as the bike they were riding on crashed into a concrete and marble bench last week. The accused, Sirajuddin Shaikh, was arrested on Thursday. The incident took place on May 11 during a nakabandi. Sunil Dattatray Kadam, 52, along with three colleagues, had been posted at the south-bound stretch on Cadbury Junction at Pedder Road. Kadam is in a critical condition and battling for life. Around 2.30am, they stopped three men who were riding on a bike which had one digit missing from the number plate. When asked about the number plate, the men failed to give a satisfactory response. The cops then asked the rider, Sirajuddin Shaikh, 24, to produce his driving licence and vehicle documents. While the police were checking other vehicles, Shaikhs accomplices managed to flee the spot. Following this, Kadam sat on Shaikhs bike and asked him to ride to the police station. Instead, Shaikh took a U-turn from the junction and began to move towards Haji Ali. Shaikh threatened to kill Kadam if he did not get off the bike. Shaikh increased the speed of the bike in the hope that Kadam would lose control and fall off the bike. Kadam then screamed for help, capturing the attention of the other cops. The police began chasing Kadams bike in their van. Shaikh abused Kadam, and threatened to kill him if he did not get off the bike. When Kadam did not budge, Shaikh increased the bikes speed and rode rashly to ensure Kadam lost balance and fell off, said a police officer. He then began riding with one hand and hitting Kadam with the other. In the process, the bike crashed into two other bikes, but he kept moving. Around 100 metres ahead, Shaikh crashed the bike into a bench on a footpath at high speed causing both of them to fall off the bike and get injured. Both of them were rushed to the Bombay hospital. Kadam suffered injuries on his head, neck, and legs, and is still unconscious. Shaikh was discharged on Thursday and subsequently arrested. Investigations revealed that Shaikh is a history-sheeter with theft cases registered against at the Vikhroli police station. Anup Dange, inspector, Gamdevi police station, said, Shaikh was riding rashly with the intention to kill Kadam, so that he could escape. One of his friends is also a habitual criminal and we strongly suspect that night, they were heading to commit some crime. Kadam is currently in a critical condition and is battling for life, Dange added. Shaikh has been booked under sections 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person), 279 (rash driving), 333 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt to any person being a public servant ), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of Indian Penal Code. Tension gripped Buxar after a gang of unidentified men shot at Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) general secretary Khunti Yadav and his son on Friday evening, killing the veteran leader on the spot. His son, Yashwant Kumar, is fighting for survival at a local hospital. Protesters hit the streets and blocked traffic on the Buxar-Rohtas highway for over three hours as news of the incident spread, demanding that police arrest the culprits immediately and provide adequate security to Yadavs family members. Party supporters also entered into a scuffle with police officers at the hospital on Saturday. Town police station house officer Awinash Kumar said the incident took place when Kumar and Yadav, who was also the former head of Nadaon village, were returning home after closing their medical shop around 9.30 pm. Their vehicle had hardly reached the Itadhi railway crossing when four people ambushed them and began firing indiscriminately. While Yadav died en route to the Sadar Hospital in Buxar, his son was referred to a medical institution in Varanasi for better treatment. Police said that although Yadav and his son had a licensed rifle and a gun in the vehicle for self-protection, they did not get a chance to defend themselves. Nobody has been arrested so far, an officer said, adding that old animosity could be the reason for the killings. Superintendent of police Rakesh Kumar said a large number of security personnel have been deployed in the area to prevent any untoward situation. A search has also been launched to nab those named in the FIR lodged by Yadavs family members, he added. Yadav is the second BSP leader to be killed in Buxar in the last three years. Party politician Pradip Chaudhary was shot dead by armed assailants near Mathila village on May 1, 2016. A resident of Baruhan village, Chaudhary had unsuccessfully contested the assembly election from Dumraon in 2015. The death of fish on such a large scale due to the release of molasses from a sugar mill into the Beas has endangered aquatic life in the river, including dolphins and gharials, who feed on them. The fisheries department said the dead fish include Common Carp, Rohu, Catla, Mrigol, Cat Fish, Singari, Gosh, Bam, Chital, Bata and Sol. They died with the oxygen level plummeting in the river, otherwise known for its clean water, due to the presence of molasses that leaked from Chadha Sugar Industries Private Limited at Kiri Afgana near Sri Hargobindpur town in Gurdaspur district. The sugar mill is located a kilometre from the Beas and its effluents drain into the river through a nullah. The death of the fish has affected the survival of species that feed on them. In 2005, the Punjab State Wildlife Board had recommended the reintroduction of gharials in the Beas as it is less polluted than the Sutlej. The gharials, which survive on fish, were brought from Chhatbir Zoo in Mohali and released in the river earlier this year. District forest officer Charanjit Singh said 47 gharials live in the river and they are all safe. Besides, the river is home to 712 dolphins as per a survey held a few months ago. However, they have not been spotted since the leakage, the DFO said. Damage at multiple levels If these species dont have food, they wont survive. It is a matter of concern, he said. The species that escaped the impact of the molasses may have a stronger immunity but with the death of others, they have lost their feed. So the damage caused is at multiple levels, said Gurdaspur DFO Rajesh Mahajan. Fisheries department assistant director Raj Kumar said that the area affected is large. The distance from the mill to Harike, the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas rivers, is about 100 km. Dead fish cant be counted in such a large area, he said. Raj Kumar said fish seeds had also perished. The fish seeds were the yield of the future but their death has hit future generations of fish in the river. The magnitude of the habitat loss is much more, he said. Scientists of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, are examining samples of the fish and will submit their report in two days. The reduction of oxygen level is the main reason behind the death of the fish, said Dr Syed Shabih Hassan, who is a part of the universitys team. On Thursday night, the contaminated water reached Harike, changing its colour to brown. The contaminated water was flowing in both canals, including the Rajasthan feeder, starting from the headworks. The Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday warned the Chandigarh administration that it will have to summon the UT home secretary as the law and order situation has shown no sign of improving. During the resumed hearing in a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in February 2016, seeking directions to the UT police to take steps to curb snatchings in the city, the high court (HC) division bench observed that it appeared police were not taking the matter seriously. While police have been coming up with all kinds of statistics in court, the situation on the ground is still the same and snatchings are being reported every now and then, the bench of acting chief justice AK Mittal and justice TS Dhindsa said. We will have to summon the home secretary now, said court. Home secretary Anurag Aggarwal is likely to be replaced by Arun Kumar Gupta next week. Give info to ministry As many as 98 cases of snatching have been reported in the city this year. It was on March 21 that the HC had summoned UT senior superintendent of police Nilambari Vijay Jagdale for the April 3 hearing amid a spurt in snatchings. The UT police also got a dressing down from the HC for its lack of seriousness in pushing for amendment in the Indian Penal Code provisions. While the administration told court that the Centre is not taking any action on its request for making the law more stringent, additional solicitor general Satya Pal Jain pointed out that the UT has not provided the requisite information to the home ministry. Jain told court that even as he had demanded certain documents through a letter on May 10, the UT had failed to provide them. In a letter to the UT adviser on March 13, the home ministry had responded to the proposal sent in July 2017, asking it to provide a copy of the official gazette notification of Haryana Act of 2015 and the proposed notification. However, the information is yet to be provided, said Jain. The UT wants punishment for snatching to be increased from three years to up to 10 years besides making the offence non-bailable on the lines of Punjab and Haryana. The court did not appreciate the attitude of the Chandigarh administration and directed that requisite information be provided with necessary documents to the ministry by May 28, the next date of hearing. Give evidence on easy bails The court also asked the administration to produce evidence in support of the allegations levelled against trial courts that they give bail to snatchers easily. The court said that any direction can be issued to lower courts only after some examples are cited by the administration. The direction came after the petitioner, advocate HC Arora, pointed out that in the affidavit submitted on May 10, police had suggested that trial courts should properly verify people who stand surety for the accused in chain snatching cases. Trial courts should also carefully consider grant of bail in case of habitual offenders in chain snatching cases, the UT had told court. During the hearing, the UTs counsel suggested that there was nothing wrong in the statement as touts can be seen lurking outside trial courts. The Amritsar (rural) Police on Friday claimed to have nabbed two gangsters after a cross fire at Budha Theh village in Majitha area of the district. Majitha police said they received an input about the presence of some suspicious persons in Majitha area and brought it to the notice of their seniors. They formed separate teams and went on a hunt, said SSP (Amritsar-rural) Parampal Singh. They were identified as Gangsters Balraj Singh alias Buri of Basant Kot village and Harman, a resident of Umarpura in Majitha. During search, two pistols, 13 live cartridges and two magazines were recovered from them. They accused were facing several cases of criminal activities earlier and further investigation is on. The police parties reached Budha Theh village and soon the suspects opened fire at the cops and began to escape. Later, they snatched a tractor from a man on pistol point and the police gave them a chase, he said. During the chase, the two kept firing at the police and entered a narrow street of the village from where they could not get the tractor through. They abandoned the tractor and entered a house, got to its roof and jumped to the adjacent house. They kept firing at the police team, said the SSP. He said, The police nabbed the two, only after ensuring the safety of the house occupants. During this entire chase, police also retaliated to the gunshots the accused fired. The police were after them for several cases, Parampal said. Now, a fresh case was registered against them at Majitha police station under Section 307, 379-b (2), 25, 54,59 of the Arms Act, and Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Preliminary investigations revealed that Harman was wanted by the police in a case under Section 302 (murder) of Fatehgarh Churian and another case in which their gang extorted Rs 15 lakh from Mehta area and injured a person with bullets. Further investigations are on and it was revealed that gangster Pavittar, who operates from Singapore, was supporting these two gangsters and the pistols seized in were also arranged by Pavittar, the SSP said. The police is collecting further information and details of cases faced by the duo. The first question people ask us at public places is if we are Nigerians or supply drugs, and it feels like a direct insult, said Bakari Chuma, an African student at Gyandeep Jyoti Institute of Management and Technology. Chuma was among the 70-odd students attending an African students meet at the institute on Friday who shared their life experiences and accounts of discrimination at times. There are over 100 African students across the tricity. We came here as Chandigarh has been the best in terms of academics as compared to Bengaluru or Delhi. We have never experienced any sort of discrimination within the institute but when we go to the markets and airport, people look at us suspiciously as many Africans involved in drug dealing have brought a bad name to all those who have moved from Africa to do good with their lives, said Chuma, who had been living in Chandigarh for the past six years and is pursuing MBA from the institute these days. Irene, another African student pursuing MBA, echoed a similar opinion, Discrimination is not new to me. I have seen people making fun of my dress, hairstyle, looks and eating habits. Yes, we belong to a different country, but people should show some love to us. We have made friends with local students here too and they care about us a lot. Maryam Sunday, pursuing BBA, said, We have become used to peoples comments and jokes. I wonder why some Indians judge people by their appearances. We also have a heart. We come here to study for our own betterment, but not many understand this. I know many Africans have spoiled their image by getting involved in drug peddling, but what is our fault? questioned the Tanzanian native, adding that finding a rented accommodation in Chandigarh was an uphill task for her and her friends. As per another BBA student Wesley, there are bad people and there are good people everywhere. We ignore all those comments that people throw towards us. It ultimately falls upon the people to decide whether the have to move on with the good or the bad, he said. The students meet was attended by high commissioner of United Republic of Tanzania to India, Baraka H Luvanda, as the chief guest, and education liaison officer to India, Yahya A Mhata, as the guest of honour. Luvanda motivated the students to become self-capable for future opportunities and asked them to join the African students association in India. Two New York City artists are hoping to give travelers at LaGuardia Airport something to look forward to with custom short stories written at the terminal. Lexie Smith and Gideon Jacobs set up two weeks ago inside LaGuardias Terminal A, writing free short stories for patrons getting on their flights. The New York Post reports the stories are delivered to patrons phones after they land at their destination. Jacobs says they start writing the moment they get the request, and the plane landing is their deadline. The travelers at the airport are going to get an interesting surprise. (Shutterstock) The pair got permission from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to set up in a former Hudson News storefront. The project is sponsored by Queens Council on the Arts and the Port Authority, which gave Smith and Jacobs a stipend of $3,000. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more China has landed a nuclear-capable bomber aircraft on an island reef in the South China Sea, where it is locked in maritime disputes with neighbouring countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. While state media said the first-of-its-kind move has tremendously enhanced Chinas ability to counter threats in the sea, Washington held that the move will increase tension and further destabilise the region. Lieutenant colonel Christopher Logan, a Pentagon spokesperson, termed the exercise as a part of Chinas continued militarisation of disputed features in the South China Sea. The H-6K bomber aircraft fleet of the Peoples Liberation Armys air force conducted landing sorties and simulated attacks during the recent exercise in the South China Sea, state media said. Several H-6Ks from an unidentified aviation division, headed by division commander Hao Jianke, took off from an undisclosed air base in South China and made a simulated strike against sea targets before landing on an island in the South China Sea, it quoted the air force as saying in a statement. The statement quoted Wang Mingliang, a researcher at the PLA Air Force Command College, as saying that take-off and landing exercises on islands in the South China Sea will help strengthen the air forces combat capability in dealing with marine security threats, a report in the Peoples Daily, mouthpiece of the Communist Party of China, said. Experts told the state media that deployment of bomber aircraft at islands in the South China Sea will greatly enhance the air forces operational range as well as the countrys maritime defence parameters. China is among the few countries in the world that have bombers like the H-6K with a possible range of 3,500 km. The H-6K is the PLAs most advanced bomber and is capable of carrying supersonic cruise missiles to make precision strikes on land targets or ships, the state media reported. The Chinese government claims to have at least four airports capable of handling large aircraft in the South China Sea despite disputes with multiple maritime neighbours. They are located on the Meiji, Zhubi and Yongshu reefs of the Nansha Islands, and Yongxing in the Xisha Islands. Bonnie Glaser, a China security expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, told the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post that the H-6K landed on Woody Island Yongxing in Chinese where the countrys Sansha city government is located. I believe this is the first time a bomber has landed in the South China Sea, Glaser said. No doubt the H-6K will soon land on an island in Spratly Islands (known in China as the Nansha Islands) as the hangars there are built to accommodate bombers. US President Donald Trump has alleged, without proof, the FBI had implanted an informant in his campaign, joining a chorus of conservative voices in a concerted attempt to discredit the Russia probe that has dogged his presidency. The president made the allegations in tweets on Friday without citing sources or evidence. There was indeed at least one FBI representative implanted, for political purposes, into my campaign for president. It took place very early on, and long before the phony Russia Hoax became a hot Fake News story. If true - all time biggest political scandal!, he wrote. Conservative lawmakers and commentators have demanded the FBI and the department of justice for documents about the operation. The FBI had indeed used an informant a retired American professor who has been described as a known figure in Washington DC and had worked in Republican administration but to follow up evidence about contacts between members of Trump team and Russians, but not to spy on the campaign, US media outlets reported citing unidentified officials. The informant had contacted members of Trumps campaign in 2016 and the number of officials contacted variesin the media reports. His identity has not been disclosed at the request of US intelligence as to not endanger his life or compromise other investigations he worked on. He had made contacts with Trump campaign foreign policy advisers Carter Page and George Papadapoulos who were known to have been targeted by Russians. Page had been on the FBIs radar since 2013 and Papadapoulos, the first person indicted by Special Counsel Robert Muellers team investigating Russian interference in the 2016 elections, has been cooperating in a guilty plea deal. The academic had also contacted one other member of the Trump campaign, Sam Clovis, who has through his attorney told The Washington Post that they met only once, at the informants request, and their discussion centered around China. The New York Times has reported that the informant also had contacts with Michael Flynn, in 2014, when he was heading the Defence Intelligence Agency. Flynn went on to become Trumps first National Security Adviser, before being fired for lying about his Russia contacts. He has since pleaded guilty and is cooperating with Muellers probe. Frances digital minister Mounir Mahjoubi has come out as gay, saying it was important to speak up on the International Day Against Homophobia as a public figure who has himself suffered prejudice in the past. Mahjoubi, at 34 one of the youngest members of President Emmanuel Macrons centrist government, tweeted late Thursday that homophobia sometimes forces us to adapt ourselves and lie just to avoid hate and to survive. Homophobia is an ill that eats away at society, invades high schools, and poisons families and lost friends, the former tech entrepreneur posted. Thursday marked the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, and Mahjoubi said on Friday that while he did not want to make a big deal of coming out publicly, if that might help to fight homophobia, Ill do it. I think its important to offer visibility to gay people, but I think everyone should take this step only when theyre ready for it, he told the Franceinfo news website. French gay rights group SOS Homophobie hailed his strong and courageous decision. He is contributing to the visibility of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people in society and is a positive example for all young gay, bi and trans people in his country, the group tweeted. Congratulations. Mahjoubi has been in a civil partnership with his partner since 2015 and had posted on Instagram a photo of the couple on the day of the ceremony, before he became a public figure. Its 2018, I live my life even in public in peace, the minister said. But he indicated that he had suffered from homophobic attitudes in the past, without giving details. We have to remember the consequences of homophobia in daily life, notably for the young. It has also had consequences for me, he said. France legalised civil partnerships for gay couples in 1999, followed by same-sex marriage in 2013. Macrons government includes a few junior ministers who opposed gay marriage ahead of the law change. Asked if Mahjoubi had raised the issue with them, he told Franceinfo: I spoke to them about my husband, who is a wonderful man, as soon as I met each of them. It was important because we were part of a new movement and we had to set out how we were going to do this together, he said. But I can assure you that for each of them, including comments that might have been awkward at the time, theres no issue. They are totally committed to fighting homophobia and today they totally support equality. A handful of ministers in previous French governments have come out as gay or bisexual, including Frederic Mitterand, nephew of former president Francois Mitterand. Mahjoubi, born in Paris to Moroccan parents, worked in start-ups as well as online political campaigning before running the digital campaign to elect Macron and then joining his cabinet. If British marketers are to be believed, nothing is a better royal wedding tribute than a limited-edition bucket of fried chicken chased with a bottle or two of Royal Wedding pale ale. Estimates are that consumers will spend between 40 million pounds to 70 million pounds ($54 million to $94 million) on royal wedding-related merchandise, including commemorative mugs, plates, coins and posters. If youre tucking in to watch the wedding from home but want to feel part of it you can enjoy a bowl of Wedding Rings cereal, featuring Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on the box and sold online for only 35 pounds ($47). It promises to be royally good. Theres also Harry and Meghan Marmite, if you can choke that down. A picture shows a 'Megharryccino', a Royal Wedding-themed coffee decorated with the faces of Britain's Prince Harryand Meghan Markle, in a coffee shop in Windsor on May 18, 2018. (AFP) Britains Heck food company has created special pork sausages including the ingredients of sweet ginger for Harry a nod to his famous red hair and American mustard for Meghan. At 3 pounds ($4) a package, theyre available at Sainsburys grocery stores around Britain. KFCs Royal Wedding-themed buckets, complete with the company logo in gold, were allegedly inspired by Harrys confession that he proposed to Markle while preparing a roast chicken. The reverse side reads: We declare a regal day of celebration, jubilation, and fried chicken. Theyre available in limited quantities only at KFC Windsor on Saturday, the royal wedding day. After enjoying the chicken, you might want to try the Windsor and Eaton Brewerys Harry & Meghans Windsor Knot pale ale, which boasts barley grown locally on the Royal Farms in Windsor and retails for 2.25 pounds ($3) a bottle. The company says marrying together a combination of British and American hops and champagne yeast creates a new pale ale that is young, fresh and full of character. Royal Wedding Souvenirs in a gift shop in Windsor on May 18, 2018, the day before the Royal wedding. (AFP) An official commemorative royal wedding mug for sale at The Rose Tree Cottage in Pasadena, north of Los Angeles, California, where Meghan Markle has been a guest. (AFP) For those with a sporting bent, royal fans can shop online for a Meghan or Harry one-piece lycra womens swimsuit offered by the gift store Bags of Love. For 28 pounds ($37.70), the suits are available in sizes from XS to 4XL and promise to be soft, stretchy and supportive. They also display enormous faces of either the bride or groom across your torso. For those already in the mood, the Crown Jewels Heritage Condoms company (yes, its real) is offering a box of Royal Wedding souvenir condoms for 10 pounds ($13.50). When opened, the consumer is treated to a pop-up picture of Harry and Meghan and the slogan your prince will come as an arrangement of God Save the Queen and The Star-Spangled Banner plays in the background. A certificate of authenticity makes the packet complete. Nearly four months after several gurdwara managements in the Canadian province of Ontario banned Indian officials from their premises, that controversial move appears to be losing traction. In an apparent symbolic gesture, officials of the Indian Consulate in Toronto will be holding a camp at the Nanaksar Gurdwara in the Brampton, a suburb of Toronto, next weekend. What makes this event more significant is that the location is in a township considered to be the focal point of pro-Khalistan elements in the province, if not the country. Announcing the camp, Indias Consul General in Toronto Dinesh Bhatia tweeted it is part of continuous efforts by the Consulate General of India... to reach out to the Indian and Indo-Canadian community and provide best consular services. Three or four officials from the Consulate will be present at the gurdwara for consultation and advice on issues pertaining to various consular matters like those related to passports, visas and Overseas Citizen of India credentials faced by Indian diaspora, an official release from the Consulate stated. This isnt the first time they have been present at a gurdwara in the province in their official capacity since the boycott announcement at the end of last year. Last month, Bhatia also visited the Sikh Heritage Centre Gurdwara, also in Brampton, on the occasion of Baisakhi. Such camps were held regularly in recent years: In November 2017, for instance, they were organised at the Dashmesh Darbar in Brampton and Gurdwara Sahib in the town of Waterloo. Next week will mark the first time Indian officials will make their presence felt after the late-December ban decision, an action that began in Ontario and then rapidly spread through other provinces of Canada and to other countries including the US, UK and Australia. An open house of this nature is held to resolve issues faced by members of the community promptly and helps with the Indian governments outreach effort. Many of the gurdwaras are willing to work with us, an Indian official said. It also highlights the divide within the managements of gurdwaras with several having objected to the ban decision soon after it was announced, including some in formal letters to the Consul General disavowing the measure. Proponents of the ban have acknowledged that not everyone is on board with that decision. In a statement sent earlier to the Hindustan Times, Sukhminder Singh Hansra, a major figure behind the move, said, In a democracy, every members or director of the gurdwara the has RIGHT to draw their own conclusion. Hansra, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsars Canada East unit, described as undemocratic measures taken by the Indian consulate against pro-boycott members and their relatives like stricter visas norms. Mexican military and police forces detained a suspected leader of a fuel-stealing gang along with a tiger guarding his house, weapons and drugs, authorities said. We carried out two searches, seized firearms, drugs, radio communication equipment and a tiger guarding the house, said Jesus Morales, security secretary of the state of Puebla, east-central Mexico. Authorities accuse the unidentified suspect of being one of the important leaders of a gang dedicated to fuel theft, taking fuel from the town of San Martin Texmelucan, which generates violence. In the detainees house, around 100 kilometers east of Mexico City, there were also blankets with threatening messages apparently signed by the Jalisco NE Generation Cartel. Such blankets are often left by drug traffickers with the bodies of their victims, police commissioner Victor Torres Moreno told the same press conference on Thursday. Fuel theft has led to millions in losses for Mexican state-owned petroleum company Pemex, and Puebla state is a hotspot for the crime -- with gangs sometimes colluding with employees and the police. As of May 2, a total of 119 police officers in San Martin Texmelucan -- including the forces director -- had been dismissed on suspicion of such collusion. A North Korean military officer, accompanied by a civilian, defected to the South across the Yellow Sea on Saturday, a South Korean news report said, citing a government source. A small boat was spotted in waters off the north of Baengnyeong Island near the inter-Korean border, the source told Yonhap news agency, adding that the officer, who holds the rank of major, and a civilian were aboard the vessel. They expressed willingness to defect, he said. A Korea Coast Guard official said relevant authorities were investigating the case, declining to give details. The defection was the 14th involving a North Korean soldier since 2000. The last defection by a North Korean military officer took place in 2008, YTN TV said. It is the first defection by any North Korean since a historic summit between the two Koreas which saw their leaders agree to pursue the denuclearization of the peninsula and a permanent peace. In November last year, a North Korean soldier drove to the heavily-guarded border at speed and ran across under a hail of bullets from his own side. He was hit multiple times in the dramatic defection at Panmunjom truce village. In 2012 a North Korean soldier walked unchecked through rows of electrified fencing and surveillance cameras, prompting Seoul to sack three field commanders for a security lapse. In June last year, two of four crew members on a North Korean fishing boat which drifted to the South refused to return home and they were allowed resettle in the South. A month later, five North Koreans in another small boat crossed the sea border into South Korean waters and expressed their wish to live in the South. More than 30,000 North Korean civilians have fled their homeland but it is very rare for them to cross the closely guarded inter-Korean border, which is fortified with minefields and barbed wire. Most flee across the porous frontier with neighbouring China. Minister of state for housing and urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday tweeted his wishes at the news of the New York Police Department gets its first turbaned Sikh female auxiliary police officer. Delighted to see a turbaned lady officer in NYPD. Hope this fosters better understanding of Sikhism & Sikhs & corrects perceptions in US so that incident which happened with me in 2010 & recently with @Canada minister @NavdeepSBains do not recur. Sikhs are ambassadors of harmony (sic), Puri tweeted while quoting restaurateur Harjinder Singh Kukrejas tweet about the same. Delighted to see a turbaned lady officer in NYPD. Hope this fosters better understanding of Sikhism & Sikhs & corrects perceptions in US so that incident which happened with me in 2010 & recently with @Canada minister @NavdeepSBains do not recur. Sikhs are ambassadors of harmony https://t.co/cviJAI6hWD Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) May 19, 2018 Puri was referring to a recent incident where Canada cabinet minister Navdeep Bains, a practising Sikh, was recently was asked to remove his turban at an American airport. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah also commented on Puris tweet. Reminded me of the turbaned officer I saw in NYC when I was last there. I wanted to go up & say hi but he was in the middle of the road & more importantly would have wondered who the idiot was interfering in his work (sic), Abdullah wrote, along with pictures of the turbaned Sikh officer. Family and friends are mourning the death of Sabika Sheikh, a 17-year-old Pakistani student who was one of the 10 people killed when a teenage classmate armed with a shotgun and a revolver opened fire in the Santa Fe High School in Texas. According to her father, Sabika the eldest among three sisters but younger than her brother was due to return home on June 9. Her family had been counting the days until her return. Abdul Aziz Sheikh, center, father of Sabika Sheikh, a victim of a shooting at a Texas high school, shows a picture of his daughter in Karachi, Pakistan, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (AP) Hailing from Karachi, Sabika was described as a brilliant student by her father. She had completed her matriculation from Karachi Public School and was part of the US-sponsored YES programme under which Pakistani students spend a semester at an American educational institution. The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program is funded by the US department of states bureau of educational and cultural affairs. We found out about the shooting from a local TV channel and tried, but failed to contact Sabika and her friends," said Sabika's father Abdul Aziz. They then contacted the YES programme coordinator, who confirmed the news of their daughter's death, after a four to five hour delay. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sabikas family and friends, Pakistani ambassador to the US Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said in a statement. Sayyed Zaman Haider, another exchange student, told The Washington Post that Sabika was almost done with her cultural exchange as the academic year was ending. The Press Council of Pakistan has served a notice to Dawn newspaper for what it called a violation of the ethical code of practice for its publishing of an interview with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, in which he spoke of Pakistans involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, an independent NGO, expressed concern over the notice. It urged the authorities not to interfere with the medias right to report fairly. In a statement posted on Twitter, the commission said it was concerned that the newspapers circulation had been subjected to seemingly arbitrary curbs. The commission noted: There is no evidence to suggest that Dawn has undermined Pakistans sovereignty or integrity... by publishing an interview with the former prime minister speaking on the record. The commission described such moves as harassment of the media. Such curbs are tantamount to press harassment and only chip away further at the shrinking space for Freedom of Expression, it said. In the interview to Dawn, Sharif had questioned the policy of using Pakistan-based terrorists for cross-border attacks such as the assault on Mumbai. Prince Harry weds US actress Meghan Markle on Saturday in a lavish ceremony that unites the pomp of British royalty with Hollywood glamour. Hundreds of millions of people across the world are expected to tune into watch the wedding of Queen Elizabeths popular grandson and the American star of the TV drama Suits at the 15th Century St Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle. More than 100,000 fans will cram the narrow streets of the town 30 km west of London, dominated by the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, a home to 39 English monarchs since 1066. I love all the regalia, all the hoo-hahs, the procession with the cavalry, said Jane Tofolo, 50, from southwest London, who shook hands with Harry when he held an impromptu walkabout with his brother and best man outside the castle on Friday evening. It will be spectacular because us Brits do all that very well. Harry, 33, is sixth in line to the British throne. Markle, 36, is a divorcee whose mother is African-American and father is white. For many, the wedding is a fairytale. For some black Britons, it illustrates the breakdown of barriers in modern Britain. Britain's Princes Harry and William greet wellwishers outside Windsor Castle ahead of Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle, in Windsor, Britain, on May 18, 2018. (Reuters) To others, it is an irrelevance. Polls have suggested that most Britons will not bother tuning in to watch the event. The hour-long ceremony begins at 1100 GMT, with weather forecasts predicting blue skies and sunshine. The bride will arrive at the church with her mother, Doria Ragland, 61, with whom she was spending Friday night at a luxury hotel. Harry was staying at another hotel with elder brother and best man Prince William, whose daughter Charlotte and son George will be among the bridesmaids and page boys. Windsor in lockdown The picturesque town of Windsor has taken on the character of an impregnable fortress. Every nook and cranny has been scoured and every imaginable security measure deployed to guarantee the safety of the royal couple and the tens of thousands of spectators set to flood the streets. In a dress rehearsal Thursday for the journey Harry and Meghan will take through the town after the Windsor Castle ceremony, uniformed police some armed were out in force. On one of the roads near Windsor Castle where Queen Elizabeth II often spends weekends officers used handheld torches to examine street lights, traffic lights, rubbish bins and manholes, anywhere along the road where a suspicious device could have been hidden. Were just checking to make the wedding safe, one told AFP as his colleague led a sniffer dog on a hunt for hidden explosives. Fans of the royal family camp outside Windsor Castle prior to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Windsor, Britain, on May 18, 2018. (Reuters) Huge barriers have been hauled into place to prevent a vehicle attack and many roads are now closed in the town of 30,000 inhabitants, 30 kilometres (19 miles) west of London. Number plates are also being automatically scanned and surveillance cameras have been deployed en masse. Two months in the planning, the security measures are in line with the huge crowds expected. The wedding is expected to attract around 100,000 spectators in Windsor itself, with at least 5,000 journalists, according to Thames Valley Police. Sent reeling after a series of attacks by the Islamic State group in 2017, Britains current terror threat level is severe -- the second highest it can possibly be -- indicating an attack is highly likely. Charles to lead Meghan Harrys father and heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles will walk his future daughter-in-law down the aisle after Markles father pulled out due to ill health. Thomas Markle, 73, a lighting director for TV soaps and sitcoms, told the US celebrity website TMZ he had undergone heart surgery on Wednesday. Confusion over his attendance marred the build-up to the wedding, which had been carefully choreographed for months by royal aides. On Friday, Ragland met the 92-year-old monarch and her husband Prince Philip, 96, who will be among the senior royals in the 600-strong congregation. It will also include a smattering of celebrities, including fellow cast members of Markle from Suits. The service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor with Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the spiritual head of the Anglican Church, overseeing the exchange of vows. A black US bishop, Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry, will give the wedding address. Fans of the royal family camp outside Windsor Castle prior to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Windsor, Britain, on May 18, 2018. (Reuters) After the ceremony, the newlyweds are expected to greet some of the 1,200 members of the public specially invited into the grounds of the castle before setting off on a carriage procession through Windsor. A reception will be held in the castles St Georges Hall before 200 guests join the couple at an evening event at Frogmore House, another grand mansion in the grounds. The prince and his new wife, who are expected to be given a new title by the queen to mark their marriage, are not immediately leaving on honeymoon and will carry out their first official engagement as husband and wife next week. Educated at the exclusive Eton College, a stones throw from Windsor, Harry, the younger son of the late Princess Diana, gained a reputation as a royal wild child. He admitted smoking cannabis, getting drunk when underage in a pub, scuffled with paparazzi outside a London nightclub and drew outrage by dressing as a Nazi officer at a party. But he turned his image around after joining the army, where he spent 10 years and included two tours of duty in Afghanistan. Last year, he spoke openly of his emotional torment following the 1997 death of his mother in a Paris car crash. Aged just 12, he walked solemnly behind her coffin in the funeral cortege. Blind date He met Markle on a blind date in July 2016 set up through a mutual friend. Harry said he had never heard of his future wife or watched her TV series, and she said she knew nothing of the prince. But after just two dates, he whisked her off to Botswana for a holiday, camping under the stars. The fact that I fell in love with Meghan so incredibly quickly was confirmation to me that all the stars were aligned, everything was just perfect, Harry said when their engagement was announced last November. Harrys gilded upbringing is in stark contrast with Markles. She was born and raised in Los Angeles and her parents divorced when she was six. Meghan Markle with her mother Doria Ragland arrive at Cliveden House Hotel, in Berkshire, England, to spend the night before her wedding to Prince Harry on Saturday. (AP) After a number of minor roles in films and on TV, she won the role as Rachel Zane in Suits. She ran a successful lifestyle blog, thetig.com, and has worked as a humanitarian campaigner. In 2011, she married film producer Trevor Engelson but they divorced in 2013. The intense spotlight on her father this week was indicative of the limelight she now faces. Harry issued a public rebuke to journalists when they were dating, accusing some of sexism and racism. The prince has long had a testy relationship with the media. His mothers limousine was being chased by paparazzi just before her fatal crash. So much is in flux these days, but one thing is certain: This will be the strangest Thanksgi Aaron Schlossberg is having the week from hell. YouTuber Willie Morris uploaded footage of their run-in. The high-profile attorney was also filmed berating employees at Fresh Kitchen for speaking Spanish and not English, and subsequently passed around Social Media. Schlossberg issued threats of deportation, he also referred to an employee as "an ugly fucking foreigner." His actions have resulted in many grave repercussions, including so we're told, an eviction from his rented office space. A full rundown of the original video is available here. According to ABC7, the plan is to kick him to the curb. Twitter have taken to the story on a major scale. One user started a GoFundMe page with the intention of accruing funds to send a mariachi band & taco truck to the front steps of his NY office, with those privileges still in tact. Another campaign has seen users flood his Yelp account with 1-Star ratings, resulting in the page being taken down while moderators assess the relevance of each post. To make matter worse, Congressman Adriano Espaillat has filed a formal complaint against Schlossberg's behaviour. If the appeal comes to pass, Aaron Schlossberg could stand to lose his admission to practice law in the United States. It's probably for the best, the Supreme Court can always do without one less scoundrel. Cheers to that. According to a report obtained by Europe 1, film director Luc Besson is being investigated for an alleged case of rape. His accuser, an actress, has not made her identity known for fear of repercussions. What we do know is that she's known Besson for years, both personally and professionally. The actress described the incident as occurring in broad daylight at a luxury hotel in Paris where the two were seated for a brief exchange. The accuser alleges that Besson must have dropped something in her tea, because she began to lose consciousness out of the blue. She awoke to Besson penetrating her, at which point she layed still with fear. The woman claims that after finishing, Besson left a undisclosed amount of money on the dresser and went about his day. She then vacated the hotel suite taking refuge at a friend's place. French authorities are currently zeroing in on the case.Thierry Marembert, his attorney, issued a statement through the Hollywood Reporter in which he describes Besson falling out of his chair with shock after learning of the accusations from his own mouth. Luc Besson is a decorated filmmaker who was worked internationally as well as in his home nation of France. Migos will appear on season 2 of Chinese hip-hop reality show The Rap Of China, according to PR Newswire. The Atlanta rap trio will serve as "Star Producers" on the show, joining the likes of Battle Rap icon MC Jin and multi-talented artist Kris Wu. The role of the producers is to train and guide the rappers through the competition. Each producer will manage a team of contestants. Season 1 of the show, despite being a great success, and being credited with leading to mainstream interest in rap within the country, was followed by a hip-hop ban from the government of China. It advised people with ties to hip-hop culture and tattoos to not be shown on television. This led to many people in the Chinese music industry speaking out against the ban. Despite the opposition from the government, season 2 of the show has been greenlit to air oniQiyi.com this summer. The show will include competitors from five Chinese cities, as well as Australia, Malaysia, and North America. Migos recently announced that they'll be hitting the road with Drake on the Aubrey and the Three Amigos tour beginning in July. You can find the full tour dates here. Don't let Montana of 300 ever catch you saying that Chicago rappers don't have bars, because he'll prove you wrong in an instant. Yesterday, Montana dropped the first single off his new album, Pray For The Devil, titled "Chiraq Vs NY." Once the home of "real hip-hop" Montana aims to bring the crown to Chicago, by dropping a breathless, and lyrically dense new song. For almost five minutes, Montana does not stop spitting bars. No hook required here, just raw lyrical ability. He even ends the song having to explain one of his own punchlines, confident that it went right over the listener's head. But with so much to take apart from this song, it's unlikely that we'd catch everything on first listen. Check out Montana of 300's "Chiraq Vs NY," and let us know what you think. Quotable Lyrics And you ain't winning if you're spending more than stacking up If you aint mastering the math of your cash, you'll flunk I'm FGE, them titans get to clash with us I'm in my bag bitch, don't ever think I'm packing up DIVISADERO, Mexico We hoisted our luggage onto the El Chepe train in the predawn hours in Chihuahua City for the six-hour journey to Mexicos extraordinary Copper Canyon. We were four couples, four siblings and their spouses, a family reunion as much as a vacation. My wife, Lucila, one of the siblings, and I had visited Copper Canyon, or Barrancas del Cobre, once before, in 1991, so we were the guides, so to speak. But much has changed over the 27 years, as we discovered, both at the canyon and at a tourist town along the way, Creel. El Chepe is the nickname of Mexicos lengthy Chihuahua-Pacific passenger train. One train leaves daily from Chihuahua City at 6 a.m., headed for Los Mochis, in the state of Sinaloa. Another train leaves Los Mochis, also early in the morning, for Chihuahua City. Roughly in the middle of this route is Copper Canyon, now with two train stops, at Divisadero, a point along the Continental Divide, and at Posada Barrancas. We settled into our first-class seats on this morning before heading to the dining car when it opened shortly into the trip. A traditionally rail-dressed waiter took our orders from a large menu of freshly prepared huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, fruit and coffee, as the hilly Chihuahua landscape glided by. It seemed like a scene from the golden age of movies. More Information If you go GETTING THERE United flies nonstop to Chihuahua. Tourists generally ride the "El Chepe" train starting in Chihuahua City to one of the two Copper Canyon stops along the train route, Divisadero and Posada Barrancas, where clusters of hotels operate. ACCOMMODATIONS Our four-day, three-night package covering Copper Canyon and Creel, booked through Mexico City-based agency Tren Barrancas del Cobre, cost about $640 per person and included round-trip train fare between Chihuahua and Copper Canyon, and transfers to and stays at two hotels, Hotel Mirador at the canyon and a Best Western in Creel. Most meals and the tours are included in the package, which can fluctuate in cost with the dollar-peso exchange rate. SECURITY Check the U.S. Department of State for up-to-date Mexico travel advisories concerning safety; travel.state.gov. See More Collapse The train ride is half the fun of visiting Copper Canyon. The train route itself is a miracle, crossing 37 bridges and traveling through 86 tunnels. The train started operations in 1928 on part of the 418-mile route, which was finished in 1961. The passenger cars are not equipped with WiFi, but the scenery along the way is enough to keep passengers entertained. The landscape seen upon leaving Ciudad Chihuahua is, at first, a tour of the states vast agricultural industry. We noted that the agricultural area, some of it operated by Mennonites, was more modern and more widely developed than in 1991. The train gradually entered more sparsely populated areas with mountain ranges and streams in the distance and up close. As the route rises, pine trees dominate the landscape. The train climbs and climbs, the scenery stretching ever wider, as it reaches a crest of 7,900 feet above sea level near Divisadero. In 1991, we had stayed at the Hotel Divisadero Barrancas, which has since expanded. In 1992, the Hotel Mirador opened, built into a canyon cliff near a second train stop called Posada Barrancas, about two miles farther down the track. This was the hotel in our groups package this time around. All the rooms have balconies facing the wide-open canyon. Heres the thing about Copper Canyon: Visitors can photograph it to death, and it still doesnt come close to capturing the majesty of seeing it in person. You feel like you are seeing the age of the Earth, something that took hundreds of millions of years, if not longer, to make. Copper Canyon reportedly is four times as large as the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Actually, Copper Canyon is an umbrella name for a collection of seven delineated canyons. Some descriptions say six canyons, but on-site guides say there are seven. Tourists generally can see three of them, where they converge, from the hotels served by the train. The Urique Canyon is the deepest, reaching a depth of 6,167 feet. At night, the canyons are hidden by total darkness, but visitors can still feel it, the various ecosystems, from tropical and alpine to desertlike, active but silent. Only a trio of Tarahumara Indian roosters breaks the silence as dawn approaches. One of the newer attractions is the Parque de Aventura, a theme park that opened in September 2010. This adventure park offers zip-line and cable-car rides across the spectacular setting. The expansive park, which is building a runway for private aircraft, also offers numerous places to photograph the canyons. The park was part of a tour of panoramic sites offered by Hotel Mirador. The Mirador also can book horseback-riding trips, and trails from the hotel lead to hikes along the canyon rim for even more viewpoints. Our visit lasted three days and two nights before we boarded the train back toward Chihuahua City, but we stepped off for the second part of our tour package, a two-day, one-night visit in Creel, about two hours by train from the canyons. Creel, established in 1907 and named after the Chihuahua state governor at the time, Enrique Creel, is included in nearly all the Copper Canyon tourist packages. Lucy and I had visited Creel in our 1991 visit, and we noted the growth of the town. We were told that the population had increased to about 7,000 now from 3,000 in 1993. It is a touristy site, with souvenir shops, restaurants and hotels of various sizes. Creel was founded as a logging site and a train stop, but it is best known as Tarahumara Indian country. Tarahumara tours from Creel hotels stop first at a cave where the indigenous people in their rainbow dress process food. Other stops go to a church, school and points of interesting volcanic rock formations, all of which make up one of the main Tarahumara communities in the region. Some of these tours extend farther to the Cascada de Casarare, or Casarare waterfall, which is in an ecological park. Our tour took us by van to the park and a long torturous ride through a rough, rocky road that crossed a stream several times. To reach the falls from there, visitors must hike farther, perhaps half a mile, along an earthen path requiring mountain-goat footing in parts. Tarahumara women sell their arts and craft products and burn wood fires to cook their meals alongside the river flowing to the falls. Visitors can hear the waterfall before they see it, and then it appears, one of the most scenic falls in Mexico. Its not Niagara, but it is special. The amount of falling water depends on rainfall, which is seasonal. Photographs can be taken alongside the top of the falls and at the bottom. To reach to bottom stream, however, requires going 240 concrete steps down a cliff, perhaps 15 to 20 stories of stairs in a building, which, of course, means going back up those steps to return. But the experience is worthy for those who are physically fit enough. A light rain was falling during our visit, which added some fun to the excursion. The sense of isolation and natural beauty was exhilarating, a wonderful addition to our canyon trip. David Hendricks is a former San Antonio Express-News reporter who covered business and the symphony. Email: hendrickd53@yahoo.com. As my daughter finally sleeps, I no longer can keep the tears from falling. We hear about these tragedies through a TV screen, once removed. While we grieve with and for the families, we truly have no idea what they are experiencing. The outpouring of prayers and love from across the country has been very much appreciated by our family. And for those saying that sending prayers means nothing, all I can say is STFU! You have no idea how much it meant to us today knowing we were not alone in praying for our child. I've talked to some people today and then had to shut my phone off as it became too overwhelming. But I think it's important for people to hear these stories and truly understand the impact. Our day started off normal. Isabelle was happy and looking forward to the weekend. I dropped her off about 7 a.m., told her I loved her, to have a good day, and then headed home to get to work. I got home, walked upstairs and my phone rang. I noticed her name on the screen and figured she forgot something. As I answer the phone, she is whispering and I can barely understand her. Then I hear her whisper: Mom, they are shooting up the school. I'm hiding in a closet. I love you, Mom. In the background, I hear gunfire. I beg her to stay on the phone and she says other kids with her want to call their parents and don't have phones. I beg her not to hang up as the call drops. I was frozen, standing there with no idea what to do next. Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle AS I RUN down the stairs, I'm texting my husband next door telling him to come home now while I wake Kam up to tell him what's going on - thank goodness he already finished school and is home. We meet in the front yard and I'm trying to tell Kenny what's going on while crying and trying to get in my car. At this point, I don't know what to do. I send a group text to my family telling them she's hiding and to NOT to call Isabelle and give away her hiding place. I want desperately to get to my child; however, being a part of a law enforcement family, I also don't want to hinder the police from doing their jobs to try and save my child. We make our way towards the school and are passed by no less than 30 emergency vehicles along the way. During this time, we are frantic and both of our phones are blowing up. All we can do is stare at them praying she calls us again. As we near the school, traffic is stopped and parents are running from their cars toward the school. We know they won't let us near the school, so we sit and wait while arguing and basically freaking the hell out. After being there a while, we can't stand it any longer and start making our way on foot to the school. We're almost there when my phone rings and it's Isabelle telling me they've gotten her safely out of the school. She's in a police car waiting to be interviewed as a witness and the police have told her to tell us to not come to the school. All we can do is return to our car and wait and wait and wait. We are then forced to leave the area. We were given no choice and instructed to go to another school miles away to await our daughter. As we arrive at the school, we are told to go to another location and give them her name. We are then told to go to another location and wait for them to bus the kids over from the high school. We arrive at that location only to be told to return to the last location. At this point, Kenny has had enough and refuses to budge one more step. They are repeatedly telling us we need to leave that area and he's standing there with his chin in the air acting like they are not even speaking. His mind was made up and he wasn't moving one more inch until we had our daughter. An FBI officer walks by and Kenny chases him down. Basically, they explain our daughter will be detained for questioning and we should leave a number and they'd call us when she was released -- as if there was a chance in hell that we would leave. As we're speaking with him, the first busload of children arrives. We watch these children walk off looking lost while their eyes search the crowds for their loved ones. Our daughter isn't on this bus, or the next one, or the next. She calls and tells us she is still at the high school, but she's now on a bus and should be there soon. Her friends and boyfriend are calling for reassurance that she is safe. By this time, we've been waiting hours. The parents are forced to stand outside in the heat. Tempers are rising with the temperature and we watch a few parents force their way through to find their kids. We also see the community rallying around and arriving with cold bottles of water and big hugs for the waiting parents. I'm on the phone as another bus passes us. Kenny heads to the back of the building again. The next thing I see is him walking towards me with Isabelle. Finally, I get to hold my baby as we both cry, and I try not to notice the blood on her. IN MEMORIAM: Remembering those killed in the Santa Fe shooting Michael Ciaglo / Houston Chronicle AS WE SEE the media arriving, we hurry her to the car and head home. We get out of the car and Isabelle turns to me crying and saying I'm so sorry! I'm completely confused and she says, I'm sorry for calling and upsetting you! I can only close my eyes and think about this child who is still worrying about others after the trauma she just experienced. I assure her that she did everything right and I try to get her to go inside. There are only Kam and my mom waiting inside, but she is too overwhelmed to see anyone. She hugs her grandma, decides to change her clothes and heads upstairs almost immediately. As we're sitting upstairs, she's clearly in shock looking around the room blankly until she glances down. She looks at me and says, This is my favorite outfit and now there's blood on it, and burst into tears. We hold her until she calms down and convince her to change clothes. Kam is trying to get near her and she's just too hypersensitive to have anyone around. We're trying to soothe her as Kam walks back into the room with tears in his eyes. I leave Isabelle with Kenny and go to Kam as he starts crying and telling me he just found out his best friend was one of the children who died. I now have two children crying and we are helpless and can do nothing but hold them and try to make them feel loved and safe. I glance down and notice my foot is bleeding. I have no idea what I've done or when it happened, as I don't even feel it. Kam heads off for time alone and we stay with Isabelle while she begins to calm down. We're thanking God that our child is home and then she begins to talk. ... I can only say that I'm so glad we didn't know what was going on while we were waiting. SHE ARRIVED AT school and headed to her first period, Art. She loves this class and was excited to finish her year-end project. As she focused on the project, the first shot barely registers and she isn't sure what she heard. Suddenly, the kids start screaming and running. The gunman enters their room from the classroom next door and fires a shot that grazes one girl and hits a boy in the classroom. She said everything happened so fast and everyone is panicking and running around the room. There's a door at the back of the room to which the kids are running ... only to discover the door is locked and they are trapped. Seeing the kids turning back from the door, she immediately starts running toward items to hide behind. She's moving from item to item as the gunman continues to fire into the classroom. She is now covered in dust from the bullets hitting the walls around her. Kids are scrambling trying to hide or escape and she finds an area where he can't see her, but she can see him. She finally runs for the supply closet where she and six other kids hide. They are able to lock one door and begin blocking the other door as another girl runs into the closet with them. As they are moving heavy items in front of the door, the gunman screams Surprise, motherf---ers and begins shooting into the closet. The gunman hits three of the eight kids in the closet, killing two of them instantly. He leaves to chase other kids who ran out of the room and they hear more gunshots. Then he comes back. By this time, Isabelle has called the police and is whispering into the phone. They tell her to stay quiet and that help is on the way. Then silence on the phone. They hear the gunman in the classroom next door yelling Woo Hoo! and firing more shots. She hangs up and calls the police back to be told that they are entering the premises and to stay quiet and keep hiding. Then she hears only silence again. The gunman then comes back into their room and they hear him saying, Are you dead? Then more shots are fired. By this time, cellphones all over the classroom are ringing and he's taunting the kids in the closet asking them, Do you think it's for you? Do you want to come answer it? Then he proceeds to fire more bullets into the closet and tries to get in. She calls the police again and they tell her they are headed toward the classroom. After another five to ten minutes, the police arrive outside the classroom. By this time, she has been lying on the floor for over 30 minutes next to her deceased classmates. They listen to the exchange between the gunman and the police, as they can hear him reloading his weapon. Finally, the gunman surrenders and police take him into custody. As the door to the closet opens, she is staring at guns pointed at her. They are instructed to put their hands ups and slowly leave the closet. As they are leaving the closet, they are walking past bodies in the classroom and hallways. They are frisked and removed from the building where they are placed in police cars to await questioning. She and her friends had been in the same room with the gunman the ENTIRE TIME. At this point, she makes the call to us that we received while walking toward the school. Finally, they get her on a bus where the bus driver is asking her if she knows anything about her own daughter, whom Isabelle had seen on the floor as she walked through the classroom. This wonderful woman did everything she could to make Isabelle feel safe while not knowing the status of her own child. DAY OF HORROR: As class began at Santa Fe: 'There's a shooting at school' Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle AS THE AFTERNOON progresses, Isabelle's phone is going crazy with students reaching out to one another. The kids are sharing about what they saw and who had been injured and transported to the hospital. One friend who ran from the gunman tells them there was more than one gunman, although we've not heard this again in the media. It's at this time that I notice she is agitated and I look at her phone. Unbelievably, other students are bullying her on social media. Blaming her for not trying to do more to save her classmates, calling her a liar about what happened, etc. I tell her it's time to shut off social media and put the phone away. She is now glued to the TV and my niece, Savannah, is on her way over to be with her cousins. Every noise makes her jump and sounds are triggering reactions. She's our shadow. Isabelle becomes more and more upset over the TV, as they are interviewing people who weren't in the area where the gunman was and they are reporting incorrect information. She tells me that she has been contacted by the Washington Post and wants to let them interview her. Now, you have to remember, this is our extremely shy child and my only thought is to protect my child. We talk about it and I explain that while some may feel better sharing their story, others do not. She is insistent that she share her experience so that people know what happened. Within the hour, we have a reporter and cameraman in our home. They were so polite and careful with her. We're finishing up the interview and I look down and notice that I never even wiped the blood off my foot. We turn our phones back on and are being bombarded with calls and texts. Wendy calls as her friend's son was shot and in surgery. Steven calls from out of town to check on everyone and ask if we know anything about a foreign exchange student his friend is hosting. My niece, Savannah, has come over to be with her cousins. Gregory is now at the house. Our family calls asking if we know anything about the kid's cousin. By early evening, the families of missing kids are still waiting for news. Explosives have been found in the school and they have been unable to identify the fatalities while they continue to sweep the building. AS THE EVENING progresses, Gregory and Kenny take the children to the vigil for the community, while I go for food. On my way to get food, my phone rings with confirmation that their cousin has died in the shooting. After 10 hours of waiting, the parents were called together and asked for pictures of their children. They then matched them and notified the families. Think about that for a minute: Over 10 hours. Not knowing whether your child is safe. We return home and begin to eat. Remembering that we were supposed to take Gregory to dinner for his birthday, I tell him that we'll take him another time. He looks at me and says, This is just a meal. I could've been remembering that I lost my sister at my birthday for the rest of my life. As confused as I was feeling, this helped me focus. As the media announces the names of the confirmed dead, Isabelle falls apart. She'd been watching the TV so intently waiting for this. She had prayed that her friends lying around the school were just injured. The confirmation of their deaths was crushing. Isabelle tells me that she's afraid to take a shower. I tell her that she might feel better if she washes away the day. She decides to try and took the quickest shower of her lifetime. She said the water hitting the tiles reminded her of sounds she heard while locked in the closet. LATER IN THE EVENING, another parent reached out to ask if Isabelle could come over as her daughter wanted to see her. As she also wanted to check on her friends, I drove her over. We weren't there 15 minutes and she was ready to leave. One of the other girls was not at school today and the other had run out and was not near the shooting area. As we get in the car, Isabelle tells me that she couldn't breathe and had to leave. They felt like strangers to her, as they didn't have the same experience. We talked about grief and how each child's experience and reaction to it will be different depending on where they were in the school at the time. For now, she feels like she needs to be with those people in the two classrooms that were targeted. I completely understand. We get home and she asks her daddy if she can sleep with me. He left to go take care of Kam and I'm sitting here watching her sleep. I'm so proud of her and her bravery and caring heart. She saved herself, called the police, shared her phone with others who were afraid, spoke to a reporter to share her story and stayed strong until she was able to transfer her burden to us. So far, she's sleeping peacefully. No tossing or turning ... nothing like I anticipated. But as she dreams, she knows that I'm sitting here watching over her, and I hope that's enough for her to find peace in her slumber. AS FOR TODAY.... The bus driver who so kindly watched over my daughter ... lost her own. My daughter lost two beloved teachers and friends. My son lost his best friend. Our family lost their cousin. A family in Pakistan lost their daughter who was here as a foreign exchange student. Other families' children didn't come home today. Our community lost its innocence and feeling of safety. And I noticed that I still haven't washed the blood off my foot. Deedra Van Ness first posted this account on her Facebook page. It's run here by permission. Bookmark Gray Matters. We can no longer keep the tears from falling. MORE COVERAGE OF THE SANTA FE SCHOOL SHOOTING: Santa Fe unites as more horrific details emerge after school shooting School police officer John Barnes flatlined twice after Santa Fe shooting, wife says Santa Fes season ends on emotional day Teens watch classmates die on morning of chaos Victims' stories: What we know about the two teachers and eight students we lost 'You'll never be forgotten': Stories of victims, survivors Wounded Santa Fe ISD officer didn't hesitate to confront shooter Doctors, nurses spring into action for Santa Fe shooting victims The accused Santa Fe shooter will never get the death penalty. Here's why. Governor, lawmakers vow to make schools safer Falkenberg: Shooting reminds us no one is safe Editorial: Now it's happened here Read all of our coverage here Success stories from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts often follow a certain pattern: Young student with a particular talent receives additional targeted training to nurture that talent and turn it into a potential career. Mark Seligers HSPVA origin story went a little differently. He applied hoping for admittance into the schools art department, but his portfolio wasnt acepted. It was just heartbreaking for me, he says. So I made a quick switcharoo. Seligers brother, a theater student at the school, suggested he apply to the media technology program, which involved learning about radio, television and photography. Seliger at the time had dabbled in the dark room but says he wasnt very interested in taking pictures. I liked making prints, but that was really it. But my junior year environmental portraiture, documentary and printmaking changed the winds for me. Seliger further studied photography at East Texas State and first considered leaving Texas, an experience involving a conversation with a friend, a dark-green Buick LeSabre and some beers. Seliger recounts that moment in Mark Seliger Photographs, a briefcase-sized anthology of his work since he left Texas for New York, where he planned to work for a year before returning home. Instead Seliger has spent the past three-plus decades as a photographer for Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair and GQ, having shot all manner of instantly identifiable covers for the magazines. More Information 'Mark Seliger Photographs' Abrams Books 256 pp., $75 See More Collapse Mark Seliger Photographs released last week draws from Seligers deep body of portraiture of entertainers Jerry Seinfeld as the Tin Man, Tom Hanks with a monkeys hands on his face as well as his other work, including collections of photos from the aftermath of 9/11 and of Holocaust survivors. Seliger recently talked about some of the photos from the new book. Q: The covers offered interesting contrasts. The Kurt Cobain photo is of his face with lots of information in the props. The back of President Barack Obamas head on the back cover is more minimal. A: Thats a good observation. I guess it reflects two sides of my brain. One is reductive and interested in a very minimal experience. The other is very rich and theatrical. Theres a lot to be said for executing a big idea. But sometimes you can say something a lot easier and have a lot more impact with the idea of simplicity. Ive always personally been drawn to both worlds. I like being able to create the big image but also doing something scaled back and more emotional. Q: I used to go look at the Brooklyn Bridge most mornings before heading to the subway and going to work. Your photo reminded me of how different it looks in the morning before the sun is up. A: That landscape really started to become an idea just through the observation of fog and weather. I think you can see and observe more of a place or a city when its almost empty. It gives it this atmosphere the structures and places have an almost painterly feel to them that is iconic. I think that is a separate feeling than youd get on the West Coast. Q: How did you approach the Curtis Mayfield photo? He was bed-bound after that stage accident. But the clutter in his surroundings gives the photo an interesting texture. A: That was an afterthought because we didnt know what we were going to find when we arrived. I walked in to meet him the day before the shoot, and I wasnt aware what his condition would be. I knew about the injury. So I talked to him a little bit for some background information, and what I came away with was this honesty and integrity about the way he lived his life. So what I saw in this room was him lying face up in bed in a room completely cluttered with this stuff. So I asked if I could build a scaffold above him and take the picture from above. Which I guess was pretty touchy since he was paralyzed because something had fallen on him on stage. But he was frank. He said, Listen, this is where I am at this point in my life. Im fine with this being honest. Q: How do you know when youre going to need a prop? The Kanye West photo is striking because of his grille. But I assume that was already on hand. A: I shot that picture while I was doing another assignment. He was in the studio listening to the music of the band I was shooting. I didnt know he was going to be there. So he was walking out and talking, and I loved the grille and asked if I could take the photo. It was just two frames on a different roll. The high-concept shoots require a lot of preparation and thought. Like Amy Schumer in the chorus line with the Star Wars Stormtroopers. Thats at least a week and change of preparation. But theres something like the John Lee Hooker picture. Thats just about having some vision to see what it could be like stripped down. Q: The Lyle Lovett essay about truth in your medium was interesting. It made me think about the idea of facades with the Chris Cornell and Little Richard photos. And Lou Reed, too. Some of these subjects were covered in makeup, and others have lined faces. Some are people, and others are people assuming personae. But even a facade conveys some aspirational truth hiding your age, for instance, speaks to an anxiety. That said, Tony Bennett at 90 is almost infuriating for how young he looks. A: Tony, I invited him to the studio to do a birthday photo. That just seemed like a landmark moment, Tony Bennett at 90. But there was a real honesty in the way we work and communicate. Little Richard, that was shot in a ballroom in a hotel in Nashville. He was very reluctant to take his glasses off. I kept asking if hed do one photo without them. He was like, No, no, I look too old with the glasses off. Yet when he took them off he gave me that incredible expression for one frame and then put the glasses back on. So I got lucky. What I love about Lyles essay is he captured in words what people go through when theyre sitting with a photographer. They dont always know the photographer. So you know youre about to embark on something, yet you have to have some trust. I remember the first time I met Lyle, working together in Los Angeles. I was such a fan. That was one of the first times I remember being incredibly intimidated to meet somebody. I was such a fan of his music; I remember thinking I wanted to make a picture that would be memorable. So what do you do? I did a few portraits that were more theatrical. But then I set up a white background, and it was a pretty quick moment. I decided to cut off the top of his head and experiment with different types of framing. I figured it was dumb. I mean, its Lyle Lovett, with that incredibly beautiful coif that is his trademark, essentially. But then I got the contact sheet back and realized, Well, no other photographer cut off his coif. So it became a special image. Q: About another Texan: I love the Willie Nelson portrait. General perception of him is as this laid-back, anything-goes guy. But seeing him without the tightly wound braids reminded me that while his music has room for a little improvisation, its still the result of years of repetition and studied work. It felt like a hidden vision of an otherwise ubiquitous icon. A: He came to my old studio, and I remember thinking something about his profile was so remarkable. Maybe it didnt really dawn on me until I started to print it in the darkroom. But it was striking, that view of him. It was almost like Id found this Curtis image of him. It felt like an accidental homage to Edward Curtis, even though that wasnt my intention. Again, I was such a big fan that it was intimidating at first, but he was so effervescent and funny. Its like hes a wise man and a wiseass at the same time. One minute hed tell the dirtiest, filthiest joke you could imagine. The next he was being a poet and taking part in a great conversation. I could remember every bit of that session even if I hadnt taken any pictures. Q: There was a quiet, ashen quality to New York for days after Sept. 11. I thought the portrait you shot of the firemen captured it in ways that words dont. A: A dear friend of mine at the New York Times was hunkered down in that area. He and I met there, and we walked around what was just the most horrific crime scene, essentially. At one point, they had to shut it down. But there were so many firefighters from different firehouses still trying to find their fallen brothers. When these two gentlemen passed, it was like a funeral procession. You could feel the weight of it, and the sadness. I asked if I could take a quick photo with my little point-and-shoot. I dont typically take those kinds of pictures. But it changed the way I thought about photography. Being able to marry the idea of emotion and whats going on through an expression of the landscape, which in this case was the twisted debris and these ruins. It was impactful and dark. I didnt print that picture for years. Maybe six or seven years later I finally felt like I could print it. Now you go down there and see people taking selfies like its a tourist spot. That gives me a pretty uncomfortable feeling. andrew.dansby@chron.com Ed Emmett can see the nightmare unfold: A depression churns the Gulf of Mexico, spins into a hurricane, and the warnings grow increasingly dire. Soon, swirling, unrelenting, black water rises in the night and a region of 6.5 million people takes to the highways en masse. Millions of people reacted that way in 2005 when Hurricane Rita approached the coast on the heels of Katrina. They fled with images of a drowned New Orleans only weeks old, and memories of Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 still fresh and painful. The result was an evacuation disaster worse than the hurricane itself. The combination of standstill traffic and near-100-degree heat led to about 100 deaths - many from heat stroke or medical conditions that worsened under the stress of evacuation. Travel times from Houston to Dallas reached 24 to 48 hours. An overheated bus caught fire, igniting the onboard oxygen tanks of nursing home evacuees, 23 of whom perished. Its a situation that Emmett wants to avoid as Harris County Judge and the local official who has the authority to order evacuations. More Information The 2018 Houston Chronicle Hurricane Guide is geared toward helping you prepare for the next storm, from when to buy flood insurance to how to evacuate. It also outlines what to do ahead of winds and water. It has everything Houston needs to know before the next storm, and there will be a next storm. See More Collapse Its going to be a tricky situation for people like me to try to get the clear message out that, no, you should only evacuate if youre in the storm surge area, he said. Following Hurricane Harvey, Mayor Sylvester Turner faced criticism for not ordering people to leave town, but a last-minute evacuation could have left thousands stranded on flooded highways, with many more deaths. Harvey killed about 100, according to the National Hurricane Center. Additionally, rain storms like Harvey are difficult to predict. You dont know which areas are going to flood and you cant do it far enough in advance, Emmett said. I never thought Id say this, but a traditional hurricane is relatively easy to handle. Our Office of Emergency Management has a 120-hour countdown clock. With a rainstorm like Harvey, or Tax Day or Memorial Day, you dont know when its going to rain, how much its going to rain or when its going to stop. Many Houstonians will always remember riding out Harvey, but they also should remember Hurricane Ike whose surge swamped Galveston, the Bolivar Peninsula and other coastal areas a decade ago. Ikes high winds blew debris around Houston and knocked out power for weeks. And the next big storm for Houston could be more like Ike than Harvey. This means that in addition to flooding, Houstonians should be ready for hurricane-force winds, which means being ready to board up windows, drag in anything loose in the yard, and live without power for extended periods. In a slow-moving storm, high winds could reach as far inland as Huntsville, said Jeff Lindner, meteorologist for the Harris County Flood Control District. Lindner expects a slightly more active than normal hurricane season, which runs June through November. Preparation, he adds, is key although it may be the last thing many Houstonians want to hear. I think the biggest struggle that we face right now as a city and a region is that so many people are still trying to put their homes back together, he said. The dread of hurricane season is already here again. Im not quite sure were ready for that We need to prepare. mark.collette@chron.com twitter.com/ChronMC WASHINGTON - The Trump administration is proposing a far-reaching change in the distribution of Title X family-planning funds that would make clinics that provide abortion services or referrals ineligible for the federal funding. The move would potentially defund Planned Parenthood by millions of dollars. Under the proposal filed Thursday and announced Friday by the Department of Health and Human Services, the $260 million program would require a "bright line" of physical and financial separation between Title X services and providers that perform or support abortion services or refer to abortion as a method of family planning. These requirements are similar to those that were in place, although not enforced, during Ronald Reagan's presidency. Unlike the Reagan regulation, the proposal will not prohibit counseling for clients about abortion. It does, however, take away the requirement that providers must offer pregnant women the opportunity for "neutral" and fact-based counseling regarding pregnancy termination unless she indicates she does not wish to receive such information. Neither the White House nor HHS would comment publicly on the proposal, which was sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget for an interagency review. But antiabortion activists received a briefing by phone from administration officials on Friday and were quick to praise the measure as evidence of President Donald Trump's commitment to their cause. Jeanne Mancini, president of the antiabortion group March for Life, praised the administration in a statement Friday for taking action to direct taxpayer dollars to centers that do not promote or perform abortions. "This money will now be redirected to comprehensive family health and planning centers that don't perform abortions and understand that abortion is not health care," she said. "The pro-life grass roots will be pleased to see President Trump deliver on yet another pro-life promise, and we look forward to continued progress is restoring a culture of life here in the United States." Trump has delivered on several top priorities for abortion foes since taking office. He has appointed several judges with a history of opposition to abortion to federal appellate courts, including Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. He reimposed a provision that bars federal funds from going to groups overseas that provide abortion referrals, which is known as the Mexico City policy. He signed legislation that allows states to withhold federal Title X funds from facilities that provide abortion services. And his administration has attempted to curtail the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, which funds comprehensive sex education programs that can include information about abortion. Many family planning experts, by contrast, said the plan could deprive Americans of access to the services they need to prevent unintended pregnancies. Title X-funded health centers provide several basic services such as cancer screenings, birth control, sexually-transmitted-infection screenings, pregnancy testing and well-woman exams. While the changes do not affect the level of funding the government is providing, there has been a lot of alarm about how difficult it would be for smaller, community-based providers to absorb the vast number of patients served by Planned Parenthood. The organization - which receives $50 million to $60 million in Title X funds and serves an estimated 41 percent of the 4 million patients who receive care through the program - is by far the largest recipient of the grants. The policy would have ripple effects far beyond Planned Parenthood. Susan Buchanan, chief executive of the Boulder Valley Women's Health Center, said in an interview Friday that it "puts us in the position of having to make a Hobbesian choice" of having to choose between the 90 percent of the clinic's patients that get a range of services from the clinic and the 10 percent that receive abortions. The center is the only Title X recipient in Colorado that provides abortions, and the funding accounts for $550,000, or roughly 20 percent, of its annual budget. Buchanan noted that the state had made major strides between 2009 and 2014 through the privately-funded Colorado Family Planning Initiative, which focused on providing women with long-acting reversible contraceptives. The state's teen birthrate dropped 50 percent during that five-year period, she said, avoiding at least $66 million in spending on entitlement programs such as food stamps. The center uses its federal funding to operate a free clinic for teenagers, which allows young women to obtain contraception without telling their parents or having to file insurance claims. "They're shooting themselves in the foot, really," she said. This week, more than 200 members of Congress - including Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., - expressed their opposition to the change in a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar. "The move would disproportionately impact communities of color, the uninsured, and low-income individuals, and could reverse progress made in critical areas," they wrote. Planned Parenthood as well as other proponents, such as Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, D, said Friday they were prepared to challenge the proposed rule in court. It will take several months before the rule will take effect, because HHS must first subject it to public comment, respond to that feedback, and issue a final version of the proposal. "Washington has been, and will continue to be, a state that stands with women and their right to safe and legal abortion and reproductive care," Inslee said in a statement. "Attorney General Bob Ferguson is exploring our legal options, and if this administration insists on weaponizing the Title X program, I will work our legislative leaders to make sure that no matter what happens in DC, every woman in Washington state has access to all the family planning and health care services she needs." Conservatives are confident that the new rules will withstand a legal challenge because similar Reagan-era requirements overcame a Supreme Court challenge. David Christensen, vice president of government affairs for the Family Research Council, said in an interview that those standards required operations receiving Title X funds to be physically and financially separate from those performing abortions. "Under Reagan, they could not be co-located, they couldn't refer for abortion," Christensen said. In a conference call with reporters Friday, Planned Parenthood's leaders characterized the new rules as "draconian" and "an attack" on women's basic rights and safe, legal abortion. "It's completely outrageous that a small group of people's ideological views are being pressed through these government agencies onto women's health care across the country," said Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of the organization. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists expressed deep concern about the anticipated changes, which the group says go far beyond the abortion debate. "Anticipated changes to Title X pose an egregious intrusion in the patient-provider relationship and may force physicians to omit essential, medically accurate information from their patient counseling," Hal Lawrence III, the group's executive vice president and chief executive, said in a statement. An administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the rule had not been issued yet, said that the changes would not necessarily result in the defunding of Planned Parenthood as long as the group is willing to "disentangle" their abortion-related services from family-planning services. However, Planned Parenthood officials have argued that informing women of all their choices - including abortion - is an integral part of the family-planning discussion, and on Friday, its leaders reiterated that they would not waver from that commitment. Buchanan noted that eight years ago, it separated its family planning and abortion provider operations to comply with requirements imposed by then-Gov. Bill Owens, R, but was disqualified from receiving state family planning funds anyway. "We separated into two different corporate structures. We had separate books, insurance, separate boards, separate everything," she said. "It doesn't matter what you do, they'll figure out a way to disqualify you. In mid-July 2016, a retired American professor approached an adviser to Donald Trump's presidential campaign at a symposium about the White House race held at a British university. The professor took the opportunity to strike up a conversation with Carter Page, whom Trump had named a few months earlier as a foreign policy adviser. But the professor was more than an academic interested in American politics - he was a longtime U.S. intelligence source. And, at some point in 2016, he began working as a secret informant for the FBI as it investigated Russia's interference in the campaign, according to people familiar with his activities. The role played by the source is now at the center of a battle that has pitted President Trump against his own Justice Department and fueled the president's attacks on the special counsel's investigation. In a Thursday tweet, he called the probe "a disgusting, illegal and unwarranted Witch Hunt." In recent days, Trump and his allies have escalated their claims that the FBI source improperly spied on the campaign. "Reports are there was indeed at least one FBI representative implanted, for political purposes, into my campaign for president," he tweeted Friday. "It took place very early on, and long before the phony Russia Hoax became a 'hot' Fake News story. If true - all time biggest political scandal!" There is no evidence to suggest someone was planted with the campaign. The source in question engaged in a months-long pattern of seeking out and meeting three different Trump campaign officials. Now Playing: Congressional investigators released some 1,800 pages of transcripts of interviews with Donald Trump Jr. If there's one big takeaway, it's that he never thought twice about meeting with people tied to Russia promising dirt on Hillary Clinton. (May 16) Video: Associated Press The Washington Post - after speaking with people familiar with his role - has confirmed the identity of the FBI source who assisted the investigation, but is not reporting his name following warnings from U.S. intelligence officials that exposing him could endanger him or his contacts. The source declined multiple requests for comment. A FBI spokeswoman declined to comment. Page was one of three Trump advisers who the FBI informant contacted in the summer and fall of 2016 for brief talks and meetings that largely centered on foreign policy, according to people familiar with the encounters. "There has been some speculation that he might have tried to reel me in," Page, who had numerous encounters with the informant, told The Post in an interview. "At the time, I never had any such impression." In late summer, the professor met with Trump campaign co-chairman Sam Clovis for coffee in northern Virginia, offering to provide foreign-policy expertise to the Trump effort. In September, he reached out to George Papadopoulos, an unpaid foreign-policy adviser for the campaign, inviting him to London to work on a research paper. Many questions about the informant's role in the Russia investigation remain unanswered. It is unclear how he first became involved in the case, the extent of the information he provided and the actions he took to obtain intelligence for the FBI. It is also unknown whether his July 2016 interaction with Page was brokered by the FBI or another intelligence agency. The FBI commonly uses sources and informants to gather evidence and its regulations allow for use of informants even before a formal investigation has been opened. In many law enforcement investigations, the use of sources and informants precedes more invasive techniques such as electronic surveillance. Earlier this month, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., issued a subpoena to the Justice Department for all documents related to the FBI informant. Justice Department officials have declined to provide the information, warning that exposing him could have severe consequences. In a May 2 meeting, senior FBI and national intelligence officials warned the White House that information being sought by Nunes risked the source's safety and that of his sources, and could damage U.S. relationships with its intelligence partners. The stakes are so high that the FBI has been working over the past two weeks to mitigate the potential damage if the source's identity were revealed, according to several people familiar with the matter. The bureau took steps to protect other live investigations that he has worked on and sought to lessen any danger to associates if his identity became known, said these people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence operations. For years, the professor has provided information to the FBI and the CIA, according to people familiar with the matter. He aided the Russia investigation both before and after special counsel Robert Mueller III's appointment in May 2017, according to people with knowledge of his activities. Exactly when the professor began working on the case is unknown. The FBI formally opened its counterintelligence investigation into Russia's efforts to influence the 2016 campaign on July 31, 2016, spurred by a report from Australian officials that Papadopoulos boasted to an Australian diplomat of knowing that Russia had damaging material about Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. The professor's interactions with Trump advisers began a few weeks before the opening of the investigation, when Page met the professor at the British symposium. Page recalled his conversation with the professor as pleasant, if not particularly memorable. It was the first interaction they ever had, he said. The conference was held days after Page had traveled to Russia, where he had delivered a speech at Moscow's New Economic School that publicly criticized U.S. foreign policy. Page had been on the FBI's radar since at least 2013, when the FBI caught two accused Russian spies on a wiretap discussing their attempts to recruit him. Later in 2016, Page became a surveillance target of the FBI, which suspected him of acting on behalf of the Russian government - an assertion he denies. Page has accused the government of abusing its authority by unfairly targeting him. Page and the FBI informant stayed in touch after the conference, meeting several times in the Washington area, Page said. Page said he did not recall exactly what the two men discussed. "You are asking me about conversations I had almost two years ago," he said. "We had extensive discussions. We talked about a bunch of different foreign-policy-related topics. For me to try and remember every nuance of every conversation is impossible." In late August 2016, the professor reached out to Clovis, asking if they could meet somewhere in the Washington area, according to Clovis' attorney, Victoria Toensing. "He said he wanted to be helpful to the campaign" and lend the Trump team his foreign-policy experience, Toensing said. Clovis, an Iowa political figure and former Air Force officer, met the source and chatted briefly with him over coffee, on either Aug. 31 or Sept. 1, at a hotel cafe in Crystal City, she said. Most of the discussion involved him asking Clovis his views on China. "It was two academics discussing China," Toensing said. "Russia never came up." The professor asked Clovis if they could meet again, but Clovis was too busy with the campaign. After the election, the professor sent him a note of congratulations, Toensing said. Clovis did not view the interactions as suspicious at the time, Toensing said, but now is unsettled that the professor never mentioned his contacts with other Trump aides. Days later, on Sept. 2, 2016, the professor reached out to a third Trump aide, emailing Papadopoulos. People familiar with his outreach to Papadopoulos said it was done as part of the FBI's investigation. The young foreign-policy adviser had been on the radar of the FBI since the summer, and inside the campaign had been pushing Trump and his aides to meet with Russian officials. "Please pardon my sudden intrusion just before the Labor Day weekend," the professor wrote to Papadopoulos in a message described to The Post. He said he was leading a project examining relations between Turkey and the European Union. He offered to pay Papadopoulos $3,000 to write a paper about the oil fields off the coast of Turkey, Israel and Cyprus, "a topic on which you are a recognized expert." It is a long-standing practice of intelligence operatives to try to develop a source by first offering the target money for innocuous research or writing. The professor invited Papadopoulos to come to London later that month to discuss the paper, offering to pay the costs of his travel. "I understand that this is rather sudden but thought given your expertise, it might be of interest to you," he wrote. Papadopoulos accepted. While in London, he met for drinks with a woman who identified herself as the professor's assistant, before meeting on Sept. 15 with the professor at the Traveler's Club, a 200-year-old private club that is a favorite of foreign diplomats stationed in London, according to the emails described to The Post. After Papadopoulos returned to the United States and sent his research document, the professor responded: "Enjoyed your paper. Just what we wanted. $3,000 wired to your account. Pls confirm receipt." - - - The Washington Post's Alice Crites, Shane Harris, Rosalind S. Helderman, Ellen Nakashima and Matt Zapotosky contributed to this report. I spent some time praying Friday morning, after hearing about a mass shooting at Santa Fe High School in northeast Galveston County. I said some more prayers on the way into town, at a church I passed along the way. And that evening, having made my way back to the Houston Chronicle, I said another quick prayer after hearing the news that the school police officer, John Barnes, was in stable condition after surgery at UTMB Galveston. Ten people were killed at Santa Fe High School, and the death toll may well have been higher if not for the courage shown by law enforcement officers like Barnes, a 23-year veteran of the Houston Police Department who began working at the school four months ago. Read more: Morning of chaos at Santa Fe school He was critically injured while confronting the shooter, who was subsequently taken into custody. So his survival was a piece of good news at the end of an otherwise heartbreaking and dispiriting day, and I prayed for his swift and full restoration. The shooter had been a student at the high school. I heard some speculation about him after I joined a group of people who were gathered around a picnic table outside a bar called Murphys, on Highway 6, close to the school. One of the men had heard that the shooter was wearing a trench coat. That burned him up to think about, he explained. You cant hide a shotgun in a pair of Daisy Dukes, but girls who wear such shorts to school get sent home anyway. A woman had heard that the shooter had been bullied. This was a possibility that elicited no sympathy from the group. Lots of students get bullied at some point, one of her friends observed; thats not an excuse for murdering 10 people. Weve raised a lot of really good kids over the years, he had told me earlier, after I joined the group. Read more: Wounded officer didnt hesitate to confront shooter Im sure thats the case, and that its still true today and that the same is true of the many other communities across the United States that have been left in mourning after similar killing sprees. And the school shooting in Santa Fe was similar to those which have preceded it, if you ask me. The perpetrator in this case had apparently brought explosives to school, in addition to guns. So did the Columbine killers, who murdered 12 of their classmates on April 20, 1999. The woman sitting to my right had a personal connection to that massacre, too, it turned out. Her ex-husbands nephew had been a student at Columbine, she explained. Thankfully, he had been outside running when the killing began, during his gym period. Its a small world, marveled the man to my left. Its also a country that has a problem with mass shootings, such as the one their small town had just endured. Read more: A generation of students has lived with school shootings My colleagues at the Chronicle and other media have reported on the tragedy itself, of course, but I'm a columnist who really isn't sure what else to say about school shootings, at this point. Theyre bad? Its a shame that they keep happening? And its disgraceful that so many of our leaders are still reluctant to have a serious conversation about why thats the case and what we might do about it, even though its been nearly 20 years since the Columbine massacre? Most Americans would agree with those opinions, obviously. And the Texans I met in Santa Fe had, of course, been personally affected by this latest tragedy. So I figured I would just try to learn a bit about their community, and what it was like that morning, before the first shots were fired. Santa Fe Elementarys third-graders were supposed to go on a field trip on Friday, to the town's library. But some of them missed it because their parents, having heard about the disturbance at the high school, decided to keep them home. Later, after I returned to Houston, I learned that Gov. Greg Abbott called for a roundtable on the subject of mass shootings, during his own visit to Santa Fe that day. Im not against the idea, per se; in fact, I suggested we might try having a serious conversation about mass shootings back in November, in the wake of the mass shooting in Sutherland Springs. Read more: Can we have a serious conversation after Sutherland Springs? But the conversation itself wouldnt have changed anything, or prevented the mass shootings that have happened since then, obviously. My point was that its not unreasonable to expect our leaders to be willing to consider such things. "The problem is not guns, its hearts without God," said Abbott earlier this month, when he appeared in Dallas at the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association. I don't find it offensive when leaders ask for prayers in the wake of a mass killing. I've usually already started praying. Its been pretty clearly established that prayers don't prevent school shootings, of course, but I've never expected them to. I just pray for the people who have been left brokenhearted by them that we may be healed, and comforted, and stronger than the leaders who seem to think we should be resigned to the occasional slaughter of children, or numb to the fact that such slaughters have become routine. SAN FELIPE DE AUSTIN - Heading west on I-10 out of Houston, you normally clear the clotted traffic at about the Fort Bend County line, if youre lucky; a few miles farther on youll come to Exit 723. A left turn at the Shell station will take you to Frydek, a tiny Czech farming community thats known for its historic Catholic church. A right turn takes you into a scattering of comfortable ranch-style houses set among lush, green pastureland, along with a handful of weathered structures from the 19th century, a volunteer fire department, a front yard barbecue stand, a few trucking businesses and a couple of churches. Locals tend to call their small, incorporated community San Phillip. San Felipe or San Phillip, whatever your choice, is more than just a Sealy suburb. The historic hamlet was home to the Father of Texas, Stephen F. Austin and the seat of Texas government for most of the Texas Revolution. If your detour into San Felipe were to take you into a time warp, youd likely encounter everybody who was anybody in early-day Texas - Austin, of course, but also William Barret Travis, Gail Borden, Jane Long, Noah Smithwick, Angelina Peyton and Judge Robert M. Three-Legged Willie Williamson. (His two-story, wood-frame home, thought to have been built in 1836, still stands.) Because of its vital role in the settlement of Texas and the push toward independence, this little town on the west bank of the Brazos should be as prominent as Gonzales, Goliad, Washington-on-the-Brazos. And yet its been a long time since San Felipe has been anything more than a quiet, little community, its place in Texas history marked only by an obelisk and an Austin statue commissioned for the 1936 Centennial. Fortunately, San Felipes obscurity may be changing. The opening a few weeks ago of the handsome San Felipe de Austin Museum is beginning to draw visitors in numbers the historic site deserves. Were here to tell a story thats mainly forgotten and is more subtle than the Battle of the Alamo or the Battle of San Jacinto, site manager Bryan McAuley told me earlier this week. Its more subtle because San Felipe is not about battlefield exploits, but about politics and intense planning for a different type of Texas - either a separate Mexican state or an independent republic. The San Felipe story is about Texans sitting around a table arguing, debating and plotting as events rush inexorably toward some kind of confrontation with the tumultuous Mexican government. The town came into being in 1823 as the capital of Austins colony. The empresario envisioned a town with a regular grid of avenues and four Spanish-style public plazas, similar to towns he had encountered on his journey to Mexico City in 1822. As it turned out, the settlement grew more aimlessly, sprawling westward from the Brazos for more than a half mile along Atascosito Road (FM 1458). Austin seemed to think that all of his settlers would live close to him in a city, like Mexico City, McAuley said. The colonists, though, preferred living on their land grants away from the village proper. With about 600 people at its peak, San Felipe soon became the second largest settlement in Texas, behind San Antonio. It was home to several taverns that provided meals and public accommodations, three hotels, a billiard hall, various merchants, a livery stable, two blacksmith shops, Austins home and land office and the first consistently published newspaper in Texas, The Texas Gazette, under the editorship of Godwin B. Cotten. A second newspaper in town, Gail Bordens Telegraph and Texas Register, edited for a time by Williamson (he of three legs), became the unofficial journal of the revolution. Regular mail service in the colony started in 1826, when Samuel May Williams was appointed postmaster in San Felipe; seven separate postal routes converging at San Felipe until the revolution. By 1836, at least three steamboats were plying the Brazos between San Felipe and the coast, 80 miles to the southeast. The thriving, little town hosted the vital Conventions of 1832 and 1833 and served as the capital of the provisional government until the Convention of 1836 met the following March at nearby Washington-on-the-Brazos. After the fall of the Alamo, Gen. Sam Houstons dispirited army tramped through San Felipe, headed eastward toward the Sabine. Houston left behind a small garrison under Moseley Baker to defend the Brazos crossing. On March 30, 1836, Baker ordered the town evacuated and then burned it to the ground to keep it from falling into the hands of the advancing Mexican army. By sunset we could make out some truncated pyramids that turned out to be the chimneys of houses in what had been the township of San Felipe. . . , Jose Enrique de la Pena, a colonel in Santa Annas army, wrote in his journal on April 14, 1836. The fruits of many years of hard work had been destroyed in one moment of madness. There may have been method to the madness, McAuley suggests. The Brazos became Santa Annas chief obstacle, he said, and the three days they twiddled here may have been what kept him from capturing the Republics government at Harrisburg. A bronze sculpture at the new museum by Navasota artist J. Payne Lara commemorates the terrified residents of San Felipe who hastily gathered up what few belongings they could carry and fled eastward during the Runaway Scrape. Many, but not all, began returning after the Battle of San Jacinto, but their town never regained its early prominence. When the railroad picked Sealy in the mid-1870s, San Felipe gradually settled into rural somnolence. The 10,000-square-foot museum, airy and high-ceilinged and featuring the latest interactive technology, brings those early decades back to life. A large touch-screen wall mural, for example, depicts an interactive layout of San Felipes downtown prior to independence. Visitors can engage with its stories by touching animations on the large screen. The museums permanent collection includes a desk that once belonged to Austin, a cast-iron printing press like the one used to publish Travis Victory or Death letter and hundreds of artifacts recovered during archeological digs at the state historic site. The largest exhibit is an 1830s-era log cabin from the Columbus area that was rebuilt inside the museum. Our hope is that visitors come here and learn what they didnt know before, McAuley said, as he stood before the fascinating interactive mural. Im guessing they will. Theyll come away knowing more about Angelina Peyton (tavern keeper and heroine of the Archives War), the amazing Gail Borden (the milk man) and, of course, esteemed editor, soldier, lawyer and judge Robert McAlpin Williamson, who wore a wooden leg to compensate for a right leg drawn back at the knee as the result of a childhood illness (thus, Three-Legged Willie). jennifer.radcliffe@chron.com SANTA FE The mother of 16-year-old Shana Fisher, one of 10 people killed at Santa Fe High School in Friday's shooting, said the gunman targeted her daughter. Sadie Rodriguez told an Associated Press reporter that the alleged shooter, 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis, had made repeated romantic advances toward Fisher in the four months before the shooting. Pagourtzis once dated Fisher's best friend, Rodriguez wrote on Facebook Messenger. "He kept making advances on her and she repeatedly told him no," Rodriguez told the Associated Press. "He continued to get more aggressive." Rodriguez said that the week before the shooting, Fisher "stood up to him" by "embarrass(ing) him in class." Rodriguez gave no other details. The revelation came hours after authorities released the names of those killed at Santa Fe High School Friday, identifying the eight students and two teachers slain in the deadliest school shooting in Texas in 50 years. Jordan Rubio The teachers were identified as Glenda Perkins and Cynthia Tisdale, 64. The students included Fisher, 16; Angelique Ramirez, 15; Christopher Jake Stone, 17; Jared Black, 17; Christian Riley Garcia, 15; Sabika Sheikh; Aaron Kyle McLeod, 15; and Kimberly Vaughan. Please keep the families in your thoughts as they mourn this tragic loss, Galveston County District Attorney Jack Roady said in a statement that accompanied the list of the dead. On Saturday, the FBI also raised the number of wounded in the attack to 13 from 10. The accused shooter, 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis, was arrested approximately half an hour after the shooting began, after exchanging gunfire with authorities. He was being held Saturday in solitary confinement at the Galveston County jail without bond, charged with capital murder and aggravated assault on a public servant. His lawyer, Nicholas Poehl, said his client is cooperating with authorities. Obviously this is a tough situation, Poehl said. Hes in difficult circumstances. Hes behaving consistently with that. Pagourtzis motives remain unclear. In an arrest affidavit, officers said Pagourtzis told them he avoided shooting students he liked, "so he could have his story told." Poehl said that Pagourtzis family is barely beginning to wrap their minds around what happened at the high school Friday. The family is stunned, he said. In the zeitgeist, you say, How could that happen? You cant fake that shock and surprise. Poehl and attorney Robert Barfield, who is also working the case, said they are likely to request a competency and sanity evaluation. Now Playing: A 17-year-old armed with a shotgun and a pistol opened fire at a Houston-area high school Friday, killing 10 people, most of them students, authorities said. Students recall their experiences inside the school. (May 18) Video: Associated Press Poehl acknowledged comments by a classmate who has said in interviews with media outlets that school coaches bullied him. More Information List of the dead: Glenda Perkins - Teacher Cynthia Tisdale - Teacher Kimberly Vaughan Shana Fisher Angelique Ramirez Christian Riley Garcia Jared Black Sabika Sheikh Christopher Jake Stone Aaron Kyle McLeod Source: Galveston County Criminal District Attorney See More Collapse Im fairly confident there was some truth to it, but its unclear if that was a factor in the attack, Poehl said. The school district disputed the bullying allegations in an unsigned Facebook post Saturday: Administration looked into these claims and confirmed that these reports are untrue. With respect for the bereaving families, faculty, and community, please remain mindful of information and how it is communicated. READ MORE: For Santa Fe community, a day of horror Gracie Hamilton, a 17-year-old senior who said Pagourtzis was in her Advanced English 3 class, said she never saw or heard of anyone bullying the alleged shooter. "He had good friends in that class," she said in a text message. "He was also well-liked by the football team." FBI investigators and forensic technicians, meanwhile, combed the halls and classrooms of Santa Fe High School on Saturday. Yellow tape ringed the school to seal off the massive crime scene where authorities say Pagourtzis roamed with a shotgun and handgun. Christina Garza, spokeswoman for the FBIs Houston field office, said the search and collection of evidence is likely to be a long process. The FBIs Houston field office is asking residents and others to avoid the area. Witnesses are asked to contact the FBI's Texas City office at 600 Gulf Freeway, Suite 211. Its not going to be over today or tomorrow, Garza said of the investigation. Santa Fe ISD Police Chief Walter Braun on Saturday declined to answer questions but credited training for his departments quick response that likely prevented more deaths and injuries. Our officers have been very, very resilient, he said. We drill all the time with the students and staff and theyre prepared to go into action, as reflected by the two officers that engaged right away. On of those officers, John Barnes, remained sedated at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston to help him recover after being hit at close range in the arm by a shotgun blast. Surgeons had spent tense hours stemming bleeding that caused his heart to stop twice and nearly killed him, and which friends had feared might force his arm to be amputated. RELATED: School police officer John Barnes flatlined twice after Santa Fe shooting, wife says "There's so much damage from the gun wounds," said Houston Police Capt. Jim Dale, a close friend of Barnes, who spent more than 20 years with HPD before retiring and joining the 15-person Santa Fe ISD police department. Galveston County Judge Mark Henry praised Barnes for his courage. He ran toward danger, knowing it could be a problem, Henry said. And it was. Officials at Clear Lake Regional Medical Center, meanwhile, said two students there were continuing to recuperate. One child remains in serious condition with multiple gunshot wounds, while the other is in good condition after being shot, officials said in a statement Saturday afternoon. In addition, a Santa Fe High School student who had been treated and released yesterday has been readmitted to the hospital for further observation and is in good condition. Political leaders said the community was reeling from tragedy but predicted that residents would unite to support victims, survivors and their families and to recover from the unspeakable tragedy. We are hurt but not broken, Santa Fe Mayor-elect Jason Tabor said at a press conference. Our strength comes through our resiliency. U.S. Rep. Randy Weber, R-Galveston, echoed Tabor: "We will pull together, we will grieve together, we will love one another and we will work together." On Saturday afternoon, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said more must be done to end gun violence, adding that guns are too easily obtained. Certainly our thoughts and prayer extend to all of the families that have been impacted, whose loved ones have been wounded or killed, he said. But its getting to be one of those situations where we keep saying, We extend our thoughts and prayers, but were going to have to just find a way to do more. We have to find a way to do more to protect our children, to protect our family members and friends, especially in schools, in their neighborhood, on their streets. His team is in Santa Fe, the police and fire chiefs, the chief medical officer and members of his office of emergency management, to assist in any way they can. No community is immune. Thats the reality, he said. What happened in Santa Fe could well have happened right in the city of Houston or any other community. At the high school, 17-year-old junior Tori White came to pick up her car, which shed had to leave in the chaos the day before that had killed her friends. Its going to be hard going back to school, she said, hands in the pockets of a hoodie. Not seeing those people in the hallways is going to be very tough. White said she talked to Pagourtzis once or twice. He just looked like another person in the hallways, she said. White, a Christian, said she cant understand why her friends were taken, but said God has plans for everyone, and if he took them, he took them for different reasons. After a vigil Friday, and a fundraiser that quickly raised more than $10,000 for the families of the victims, Santa Fe residents gathered Saturday night for a potluck. Mary Bass, a prominent local chef, said she hoped the night would be a chance for Santa Fe residents to come together and bond. AFTERMATH: Santa Fe unites as more horrific details emerge from school attack The message, she said, is to build a longer table, not a taller wall. And Im just gonna stand here and give a lot of hugs, she said. She expects anywhere from 200 to 1,000 people to attend, and said more than 100 people are donating food or other items. Justin Acree, 21, helped set up tables and prepare for the potluck. Included in the spread: jalapeno corn bread, Tex-Mex dip and sausage. Acree was ready to eat. Hed been fasting and praying since he woke up at 6 a.m. He felt like he needed to. He was homeschooled, so he didnt know any of the victims, but he said he loves this town. This is my community, he said. And Im going to do whatever I can to help. An hour after the potluck began, Rodriguez, Fisher's mother, stopped to thank Bass for organizing the event and to give her a hug. She briefly spoke about her daughter, breaking down in tears multiple times as she spoke to reporters. She said the alleged gunman had been bullying her daughter and came to school Friday with the intent to kill her. Sandra Wilson, 70, and Barbara Linkey, 72, have lived in Santa Fe for most of their lives. They remember the town how it used to be, before the population began ticking upward and nearby farm land turned into neighborhoods and shopping centers. It was just two roads, Linkey said. Its always been so peaceful, Wilson said. And then this happened. Even with more people around these days, they said theres still a small-town feel to Santa Fe. Everyone seemed to know someone who was directly affected by the tragedy, amplifying its impact. Neither women had fully come to terms with what happened. It kept me up all night, Wilson said. Its hard to smile. Even so, the two friends will never stop loving the town. Its just a wonderful place to be, Linkey said. Even with all of this its a wonderful place to be. st.john.smith@chron.com twitter.com/stjbs At 8:17 a.m. Friday, Dr. Safi Madain had just poured himself a cup of coffee after helping hustle his older kids off to school and his wife to work. He had been on duty for 10 days in the emergency room at Clear Lake Regional Medical Center and was ready for a day off. Then his cellphone buzzed. Active shooter incident at Santa Fe High School. We are getting 5 so far. Madain closed his eyes and exhaled. He typed a one-word expletive in reply. Now Playing: Santa Fe High School Shooting Video: Houston Chronicle They had drilled for this. Planned for what to do if a mass shooter opened fire in their corner of Texas. Now it was real. His wife, Dr. Amy Ray, was pulling out of the driveway with their two youngest in the car. He sprinted to tell her. To ready her. Youre never emotionally prepared to have children come in with injuries, the father of four would later say. He was an emergency physician, medical director and chair of emergency services at the hospital in Webster. Anytime a kid comes in its hard to separate from your own kid. He pulled on scrubs and ran a hand through his hair, all the while willing himself to be calm. If he showed stress or seemed frantic that was the wrong message to send to the staff and to patients. The joke was to always use your indoor voice. Still, his mind raced. What am I going into? INJURED: Ex-Houston officer shot confronting Santa Fe shooter in stable condition The morning text had come from Margaret Reed, emergency department nursing director. She had arrived at work about 7 a.m. She heard things had gone smoothly in the overnight shift and felt relieved. Ever since nearby Bay Area Regional Hospital had closed they had often been slammed with 30 to 40 more patients in the ER each day. She was at the nurses station when she got an alert from an ambulance crew that there was a mass shooting at the high school about 15 miles away. It was 8: 10 a.m. Almost simultaneously there was another. They were on their way. She quickly gathered her staff and told them what she knew. It wasnt much. Outwardly, everyone was composed. There was a job to do. But the molecules in the room had changed in that moment. Reed ran through her staff in her mind. Did any of them have kids in the Santa Fe Independent School District? Some did. None at the high school. She is a mother and a grandmother. She wears a Wonder Woman pin on her name tag. My nurses are also my kids. Three minutes later a hospital-wide warning blasted through the loud speaker. Mass Transfusion Activation. That is code for get lots of blood ready. Then, suddenly, the first three victims, all shot, were rolled through the double doors on gurneys. They seemed in shock. Not screaming, not saying anything at all. Just staring. The paramedics had done a good job of dressing their wounds. It didnt look as bad as Reed had feared. It was like a carefully choreographed ballet as doctors, nurses, and the staff all moved efficiently in time. They knew the steps of this dance. Reflection, despair, anger -- that all comes later. Another student was rolled in. A girl. Oxygen was being pumped into her. Her eyes were closed. She seemed unresponsive but then she answered when asked her name. A good sign. More arrived. And then more. A boy was wheeled in who had been shot twice. His wounds were serious. In all, there would be eight. Six were stabilized and sent home. The boy and the girl with the gravest injuries stayed. One was critical Friday night, the other in fair condition. Five more went to other hospitals. In all, nine students and one teacher were killed. When Madain arrived, nearly three dozen doctors, nurses and other staff were clustered near the trauma rooms. He made the rounds, offering encouragement and praise. It was oddly quiet given the circumstances. None of the yelling and chaos of TV emergency rooms. In real life, the scene is calmer but grittier. More blood, uglier wounds. A gun can do a lot of damage to a body, Madain said. A mother came running down the hallway, weeping. Wheres Room 15? she called out, her voice nearing hysteria. I will show you, Madain said, gently clutching her arm and steering her into the room where her child was being treated. Mother and child began to cry together, clutching each other in relief and terror. Madain pulled the curtain shut and silently backed out of the room. I just left them to have their moment. There is nothing anyone can say, he said, Have I ever cried? Absolutely. But it is always later. He finds the gun debate, sure to roar to life once again after Friday, emotionally exhausting. I believe you should be able to own a gun, to protect yourself and your property. I would never take that away from people, he said, But we need to do a better job of keeping them out of the hands of people who shouldnt have them. Reed worries about scars less visible that take longer to heal. These kids who survived are going to have survivors guilt, they are going to have post-traumatic stress disorder, they are going to have nightmares, she said. This is going to impact our whole community for years to come. Counselors arrived at 11 a.m. to help staff work through their feelings. As the day wound down, Reed had nothing but praise and pride for her nurses, for the entire hospital. It was a machine and every piece ran smoothly, she said. Then she paused, a single thought that pushed aside all the rest. This isnt normal. The sun set on perhaps the longest day in Santa Fe with residents not reeling, but resilient, following yet another deadly shooting at a high school. Though the campus was an active crime scene where 10 were gunned down, it remains the centerpiece of community pride, Santa Fe ISD Superintendent Leigh Wall said. No act of violence, no matter how horrific, will change that, Wall promised a swelling crowd of about 1,000 behind Texas First Bank. Now Playing: Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks about the shooting at Santa Fe High School, during a press conference at the Santa Fe ISD Agricultural Center Friday, May 18, 2018, in Santa Fe. Video: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle Residents and supporters comforted one another as best they could, offering hugs and a promise to survive yet another tragedy together. Names of those killed in the mass shooting were just beginning to trickle in during the vigil. Tyler Cruz, 18 and a senior at the high school, wore a T-shirt that was part of a Hurricane Harvey fundraiser, the last time the community gathered to assess and begin to heal. I cried it out earlier, Cruz said, saying he was there to show support, even though he had been across campus from the rampage and ushered quickly to safety. Outside support poured into Santa Fe. Gabriel, a therapy dog used by a national Lutheran church group, received pets and pats from assorted children and even some adults. Dan Schepmann, senior pastor of Gloria Dei Lutheran in Houston, had eight more dogs coming in from around the country. He attended the vigil to connect with local leaders to get them into the school or wherever they are needed. Carl Wisner showed up from Houston with ribs. I just wanted to do whatever I could, Wisner said. I figured somebody would need to eat. Local, state and federal officials promised they would stay focused on helping Santa Fe resume its daily routine, though that will be a long process. Tragedy does strike, Gov. Greg Abbott said. The hurting tears you apart, but soon you realize God has provided us a different pathway to go down than we expected before. Abbott said he understood the grief of the community based on his own accident that left him unexpectedly dependent on a wheelchair. I know the anguish so many families are facing today, said Abbott. What allowed me to rise up from having my life broken in half is the very same thing that will repair and restore the fractured families today. That rebuilding process, however, doesnt come with easy or immediate answers. There is no easy way to move through tragedy, said Lucas Campbell, pastor of Santa Fe Baptist Church. It is long and hard work. You just point people to hope. Those gathered also turned to prayer, peppering statements by pastors and politicians with amen and hallelujah. At other points the hundreds remained silent in personal reflection. It is each of you that is going to help the community get through this, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told the crowd. Despite the tragedy, he noted, there remains an indomitable spirit. Cruz noted a young man shot in the arm during the assault, Clayton, who was a competitive bull rider and pole vaulter. A leftie, Cruz noted how the man was shot in the left arm. He said, You know what? I gotta learn to ride a bull with my right arm, Cruz said. It was a show of resilience the community was ready to embrace, even if they didnt know all the facts about why terror struck in their campus. At this point the answer isnt exactly clear, said Corinna Bahr, marketing manager for Texas First Bank in Santa Fe and emcee of the vigil. Aside from hugging your family close. dug.begley@chron.com brooke.lewis@chron.com It was just a matter of time, wasnt it? A matter of time before the mass-shooting scourge paid its lethal visit to the Houston area. On a balmy Friday morning, Santa Fe High School students walked into their handsome red-brick building on Highway 6, no doubt thinking about end-of-year finals and post-graduation plans, not to mention weekend plans. They encountered a 17-year-old with guns who began firing. Within minutes, nine students and a teacher lay dying, their hopes and plans and dreams ended. Forever. Bullets tore into the bodies of at least 10 others. They lived, but their lives will never be the same. PULITZER FINALIST: We the (gun) people On Friday morning, firearms insanity visited a pleasant suburban town south of Houston. It could have been Katy or Cy-Fair or Sugar Land. Houston or League City. Beaumont or Baytown. It could have been -and may well be - if we continue to ignore a national emergency no other developed nation in the world either experiences or would ever tolerate. According to a Washington Post survey, 214,000 students have encountered gun violence at school since Columbine in 1999. Since Columbine, shootings during school hours have killed at least 139 children, educators and other people; another 277 have been injured. Weve already had 22 school shootings in 2018 alone, according to CNN. These are children, our children. Tears of anguish, frustration and anger are the appropriate response. And once the tears dry, the response must continue to be grim determination determination to call out craven elected officials who mouth ritualistic murmurings about thoughts and prayers and then do nothing. Theyre as clanging gongs and clashing cymbals. EDITORIAL: Parkland students give us hope that real change is coming to our nation's gun policy Send them home. When their shameful obeisance to the National Rifle Association trumps good sense, voting them out of office is the least we can do to memorialize those youngsters who have lost their lives to senseless gun violence. The peoples response has to take the lead. Theirs must be a relentless push for measures the whole nation knows will make a difference: requiring background checks for every gun purchase, including those at gun shows and those between private parties; reinstating a nationwide ban on firearms that are nothing less than weapons of war; limiting the capacity of magazine clips; banning bump stock" devices that convert semi-automatic rifles into weapons that fire with machine-gun lethality. High school sophomore: Adults cannot fully understand the post-Parkland movement Yes, we need to know more about the mental and emotional condition of those who, for no obvious reason, acquire firearms and massacre human beings. We need to know more about whether firearms in the home make us more or less safe. (The Santa Fe shooter used guns obtained from his father.) We need answers to all kinds of questions that rigorous scientific research might provide, but, of course, the federal government, in thrall for more than two decades to the NRA, for years didnt allow the Centers for Disease Control to conduct gun-related research. Surely, our elected officials can break that ridiculous ban. What happened in Santa Fe on Friday morning reminds us yet again that we are in the grip of a deadly disease: the disease of gun violence. As New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristoff has pointed out - on Friday, as a matter of fact - we own more guns per capita than any nation in the world. We also lead the world in gun deaths per capita, including suicides. The nation is in thrall to guns, not just to the NRA. EDITORIAL: No more moments of silence A month ago, Santa Fe High School students staged a walkout to protest gun violence. Inspired by the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 dead, they held signs that read Never Again. Google images of those children holding signs. See in those young faces their seriousness of purpose, their determination, their hope that concerted action in a worthy cause can get results. Never again, they vowed, remembering their youthful counterparts in Florida. Never again? Public relations doesnt have the best reputation in politics. Former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks was criticized for having a background in PR, which is often linked to spinning falsehoods or cleaning up after scandals. However, a viable public relations strategy is essential for winning elections and passing key policies, and the primary runoffs in Texas are the perfect time for the Democratic Party to reconsider its strategy for the upcoming midterm elections. Theres no doubt that anti-Trump sentiment provides a foundation for electoral success, but its not enough on its own to win elections. Not only have Democrats made frequent PR missteps that could cost them dearly at the polls, but they have no overarching strategy or cohesive narrative to sell. But not all hope is lost there are concrete steps leadership can take to gain considerable seats this November. A basic tenet of public relations is creating a communications game plan that links to an overarching narrative. Right now, Democrats talking points jump all over the place, from immigration to Russia to guns and back again, with the only common refrain being Donald Trump is terrible. The different strands dont fit together in any cohesive way. These issues are important, but they dont flow into any larger framework, and candidates arent making connections between issues. Each idea is forgotten as soon as it leaves the news cycle, with the exception being gun control, a debate driven mainly by students, not political leaders. A better strategy would be for Democrats to focus on the underlying ideas that drive the platform in order to build a narrative of an ideal society. An inspiring narrative is essential to motivating voters, coordinating grassroots campaigns and linking those campaigns across a state. Ideally, this will foster voters who, when they develop positive feelings about one Democratic candidate, will transfer those feelings to other party candidates. Democrats also must learn how to create authenticity across social media. Currently, too many sound like they have spent far too much time in focus groups. Every speech or tweet sounds like it was created by a speechwriter and vetted by at least five staff members. This slickness can make potential voters feel like their lives arent understood and that no one is listening to them. Authenticity inspires passion and is hard to fake. But politicians misunderstand social media and the goal of this new communication tool, which is not messaging. Rather, the point of social media is authentic interactions. Thats why the party must fully embrace social media, both the good and bad. Politicians need to control their own Twitter accounts. Some do this quite well. U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Sen. Chris Murphy clearly run their Twitter feeds, letting followers see their values and personalities, as well as their sense of humor. Politicians must also develop a personal brand. They should feel free to be themselves, but with an understanding of their audience. Democrats must embrace and engage with the passionate activists in their base. In Texas, grassroots excitement has created a vocal opposition to the re-election of Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, allowing his challenger, U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke, to raise $6.7 million in the first quarter of 2018. Yet outside Texas, Democratic politicians are leaving activists out of policy and political decisions. A primary goal of political communication is motivation of the base, but in this case, the base is ready for action. Its a missed opportunity and suggests that leaders do not really care what their supporters think, which is a particularly risky message to send as the party moves from primaries to the general election. The Democratic Party, although out of power, isnt powerless. There are several opportunities for political leaders to seize the moment, but PR mistakes could stand in their way. While these problems may seem small now, it may seriously damage odds of an electoral victory in 2018. Seglin is a public relations manager. The famed diversity found in Houston is brilliantly on display at any Harris County Republican Party event. The latest Republican Primary had even more Hispanic candidates than the Democratic Primary. But with diversity comes division, which can also be found at local meetings and events. One of the most obvious divides is between the establishment (the swamp) and the conservatives (the Tea Party). There are many labels within these broader groups: evangelicals, fiscal conservatives, libertarians, Log Cabin Republicans, Republicans in Name Only (RINOS), social conservatives and special interest Republicans, to name a few. Some labels relate to supporters of a particular candidate, such as Cruzies or Never Trumpers, who often are members of one or another subset. Harris County has been ground zero for intra-party clashes. The 2016 general election was difficult for Harris County Republicans because many party leaders supported U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Houstonian. Cruzs campaign was built around passionate conservatives who were unable to cast aside political gamesmanship and took the defeat personally. The resentment against Donald Trump ran deep, and they just could not set aside the Lyin Ted taunts. Instead of acknowledging that politics is a blood sport, Cruzies stayed home in November 2016 or did not support the president in November. Meanwhile, Trumpers were upset with Cruz for his repudiation of GOP nominee Trump at the Republican National Convention. Local leadership failed to bring these factions together, and the party lost every countywide race in 2016. The 2016 message from Harris County Republican Party Chair Paul Simpson, that Harris County Works, fell flat, and he has yet to accept responsibility for the disastrous election outcome. This is a problem. But, that was then and this is now. Democrats are mistakenly using 2016 general election results to fuel campaigns against folks like Cruz and U.S. Rep. John Culberson. In reality, Harris County Republicans still have a solid opportunity for big election wins come November. No doubt the struggle within the party is real, and the 2018 Republican primary has been ugly. Simpsons supporter rallied around an unfortunate campaign to Trash the Slates, dubbing the three powerful candidate slates as pay to play. These slates have dominated local party endorsements for generations though never backing Simpson. So Simpson supporters created their own slates, which are also arguably pay to play. This internal slate war is a distraction. To develop a cohesive party, Simpson must work with local elected officials and the grassroots to unite the factions. As it stands, many party faithful see Simpson as a sellout or RINO. While Simpson does fund-raise for the local party, grassroots activists see this as blood money because it comes from businesses that rely on and exploit cheap immigrant labor think home builders, restaurant owners, real estate, construction and engineering interests. Polling shows that the Republican base in Harris County wants something done about undocumented immigrants. Somehow Simpson squeaked through to victory in the 2018 primary, so the party is stuck with him for another two years. May 1 saw more evidence of a divide in the local party. At the request of Harris County Commissioners Court, Gov. Greg Abbott authorized the county to hold a special August election for a $2.5 billion bond package an establishment move, to be sure. Hours after Abbotts decision, the Harris County Executive Committee voted overwhelmingly against holding the largest bond election in county history on non-general election date. Clearly, the grassroots believe such special elections are a means to passing new bonded indebtedness via limited voter turnout. The stakes are high. Four countywide Republican elected officials are up in the midterm: County Judge Ed Emmett, County Treasurer Orlando Sanchez, District Clerk Chris Daniel and County Clerk Stan Stanart. Undoubtedly, if Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew White wins his runoff election on Tuesday, Harris County Democrats election prospects will be stronger. The fact is, a large part of the local party is happy with President Trumps successes appointments of conservative judges, tax reform and the potential for a North Korea peace deal. There is a real possibility that, if the party can stick to its principles, Trumps silent majority will bring victory to Harris County in November. Lets just hope the countys party leadership doesnt mess it up. Hooper is a local Republican Party activist. The school shooting in Santa Fe that left 10 dead and 10 injured has state officials lining up to offer possible solutions to prevent another such tragedy, so Texas students can be safe in their classes. Gov. Greg Abbott says he will be leading a quick study of what can be done, through a series of around the state, and plans to propose "swift solutions" that could include ramped-up security and expedited background checks on gun purchasers. Imperial Valley News Center What You Need To Know About The Local Leaders Standing Up To The Sanctuary Policies That Endanger Their Communities Washington, DC - At a roundtable with President Trump, community leaders spoke out against the sanctuary policies that are jeopardizing the safety of their communities. During a roundtable with President Trump, local leaders from across California spoke out against the statewide sanctuary policies enacted under Governor Jerry Brown. Local leaders called out sanctuary policies for what they are: dangerous. San Jacinto Mayor Crystal Ruiz spoke about Californias statewide officials, saying Our children are at risk. My community is my family. Youre putting my family at risk. The Mayor of Escondido Sam Abed said, When Jerry Brown cares more about illegal criminals than he cares about the Hispanic community and the American citizens, this is insanity, and this is unconstitutional This is personal to me. Im going to work hard to make sure our community is safe. Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez (CA-67) said she hears from constituents every week who say they dont want to see another Kate Steinle, referring to the killing of Kate Steinle by an illegal alien with a lengthy criminal history. El Dorado County Sheriff John DAgostini told the President that this bill absolutely jeopardizes public safety in our communities. These communities simply want to protect the safety of their residents. When sanctuary jurisdictions obstruct Federal immigration enforcement, they often allow criminal aliens to be released into American communities. Sanctuary jurisdictions often hold back Federal immigration authorities from being able to effectively carry out their duties by denying requests to detain a criminal alien for a short period of time or refusing to provide notice to Federal authorities before releasing criminal aliens in their custody. As a result, sanctuary jurisdictions often enable criminal aliens to be released and avoid removal. Too many of these released criminal aliens have gone on to commit crimes that could potentially have been prevented had the alien been detained and removed from the United States. In January 2018, an alien was arrested in Los Angeles for possession of a controlled substance. Federal authorities issued a detainer request which was not honored, and the individual was arrested again the following month for murder. In February 2018, an alien was arrested in California for burglary, possession of burglary tools, and criminal conspiracy, but a detainer request for the individual was denied and he was released. The individual was arrested again in April 2018 for attempted murder. In March 2018, an alien was arrested in Santa Cruz, California for inflicting corporal injury on a spouse, but a Federal detainer request was not honored and he was released. The individual was arrested again less the two weeks later for the same crime. Imperial Valley News Center Water Utility Customers Cite Many More Quality Issues than EPA Reports Indicate, J.D. Power Finds Costa Mesa, California - The Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) Consumer Confidence Reports, which are produced by all community water utilities in the United States to measure the quality of their drinking water, may not be giving a complete picture of end-consumer water quality. According to the J.D. Power 2018 Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study, SM released today, 30% of residential water utility customers indicate they have water quality issues, a rate far higher than what has typically been reported in the Consumer Confidence Reports produced by local water authorities. While the mandated water quality reports produced by regional water authorities do a great job of measuring specific water quality issues, they are not telling the whole story when it comes to perceptions of the water that is coming out of customers faucets, said Andrew Heath, Senior Director of the Utility Practice at J.D. Power. Whether its a serious problem like high lead or mineral counts, or a more subjective issue like bad taste or low pressure, a significant number of residential water utility customers are not happy with the product. Water utilities need to understand why customer views are not matching the views of the water utility and need to address these concerns. Following are key findings of the 2018 study: Nearly one-third of customers report quality problems: Among the 30% of residential water utility customers who mention a quality problem, 12% cite low pressure; 11% cite bad taste; 8% cite scaling/water hardness; 8% cite discoloration; 6% cite bad smell; and 4% cite high lead/mineral content. Wide variation in customer perceptions of water quality: Significant differences across the nation are found from the best water utilities having less than 20% of their customers indicating a problem with water quality to many utilities having more than 40% of their customers citing a water quality problem. One utility has more than half of its customers reporting a water quality problem. Water quality problems sink customer satisfaction: Customers who experience water quality problems have significantly lower delivery satisfaction scores than those who experience no problems. Bad taste and scaling/water hardness are associated with 143-point declines (on a 1,000-point scale) in delivery satisfaction scores, while scaling/water hardness and bad smell are both associated with a 152-point decline. Communication is key when implementing upgrades: One of the most negative effects on satisfaction is a service interruption caused by pipeline work. Satisfaction scores are 42 points lower among those experiencing pipeline work-related service interruptions than those among customers who experience no interruptions. However, when customers have previously been made aware of water utility system upgrades, satisfaction scores are 58 points higher among those who experience no service interruptions. Frequent communication maximizes satisfaction: Customers who recall receiving four to five communications from their water utility have communications satisfaction scores that are 148 points higher than among those who do not recall receiving any direct communications. E-bill satisfaction higher than for paper bill: Billing and payment satisfaction among customers who receive their bill electronically is much higher than among those who receive a paper bill (796 vs. 758, respectively). For more information, consumers concerned about water quality are encouraged to review the Consumer Confidence Report provided by their water utility at www.epa.gov/ccr. Study Rankings by Region The following utilities rank highest in customer satisfaction in their respective region: Midwest: Louisville Water and Saint Paul Regional Water Services (tie) Northeast: Boston Water and Sewer Commission and Monroe County Water Authority (tie) South: Gwinnett County West: Eastern Municipal Water District The Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study, now in its third year, measures satisfaction among residential customers of 88 water utilities, delivering water to a population of at least 400,000 people and is reported in four geographic regions: Midwest, Northeast, South and West. Overall satisfaction is measured by examining 33 attributes within six factors (listed in order of importance): delivery; price; conservation; billing and payment; communications; and customer service. J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. These capabilities enable J.D. Power to help its clients drive customer satisfaction, growth and profitability. Established in 1968, J.D. Power is headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., and has offices serving North/South America, Asia Pacific and Europe. J.D. Power is a portfolio company of XIO Group, a global alternative investments and private equity firm headquartered in London, and is led by its four founders: Athene Li, Joseph Pacini, Murphy Qiao and Carsten Geyer. Imperial Valley News Center Secretary Pompeo's Meeting With UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen Martin Griffiths Washington, DC - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen Martin Griffiths in Washington, DC. The Secretary thanked the Special Envoy for his dedication to renewed peace talks among all parties to the Yemen conflict. The Secretary committed to supporting the Special Envoys efforts and urging international partners to do the same. The Secretary and the Special Envoy agreed on the urgency of de-escalation and dialogue. The Secretary and the Special Envoy expressed hope that all sides can work toward a comprehensive political agreement that brings peace, prosperity, and security to Yemen. Imperial Valley News Center On the Death of Pakistani Exchange Student Sabika Sheikh Washington, DC - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: "I send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sabika Sheikh, who was killed in the tragic shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas, yesterday. "Sabika was in the United States on the State Department-sponsored Youth Exchange and Study program, helping to build ties between the United States and her native Pakistan. Sabikas death and that of the other victims is heartbreaking and will be mourned deeply both here in the United States, and in Pakistan." Imperial Valley News Center Speech police roam Americas college campuses Washington, DC - A California State University professor didnt get fired after tweeting the night former first lady Barbara Bush died that Mrs. Bush was an amazing racist and Fresno State President Joseph Castro confirmed that Randa Jarrar wouldnt be fired. Jarrars tweet, which was laced with profanity, is protected, Castro said in a statement after the incident. In New Jersey, a professor at Brookdale Community College, Howard Finkelstein, berated a student, also using profanity, because of the students conservative beliefs. There were no consequences for what Jarrar and Finkelstein did, but across the country, the free speech rights of students at many institutions of higher learning are being restricted, says Dan Weber, president of the Association of Mature American Citizens. And, there appears to be a trend among educators to suppress the rights of students in a manner bordering on indoctrination. The fact is, he says, hundreds of colleges and universities have gone so far as to establish strict new rules against so-called offensive speech on campus. Institutions of higher learning used to be a place for dialogue but these days it seems that only progressive students have a right to express their views. Perhaps there is a correlation between that observation and the fact that the vast majority of college professors are liberals, according to Weber. He cites a recent survey that revealed 39% of American colleges dont have even one professor on their faculties who identifies himself or herself as a Republican. As Professor Walter Williams of George Mason University points out, many professors spend class time indoctrinating students with their views. Weber believes that it is an alarming notion to think that conservative speech and thought are being stifled on our college campuses. But perhaps even more alarming is that many schools have set up Bias Response Teams [BRT] to investigate and enforce rules regarding so-called offensive speech. When a student is accused of making a comment or using a word in a conversation or on social media that offends another student, the offended party can file a complaint, anonymously if he or she wishes. The schools BRT then investigates the incident and can punish the offender. The punishments can include anything from unconscious bias training to suspension, in some cases. Many campus BRTs include not only designated administrators but campus police as well. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education [FIRE] says its survey has identified 232 schools that restrict insensitive talk on campus. Could anything kids say or write on campus be any more insensitive or offensive than what Randa Jarrar tweeted about the late Mrs. Bush or the verbal abuse Howard Finkelstein inflicted on his conservative student, Weber asks. Yet they apparently need not be concerned that they will be visited by the speech police. Meanwhile, another free speech advocacy organization, Speech First, is taking the matter to court and has filed a lawsuit against the University of Michigan asserting speech codes like Michigans flagrantly violate the First Amendment. The president of Speech First, Nicole Neily, says a bias response system has no place in America, much less on a modern-day college campus. Because its impossible to know what comments might be perceived by others as offensive, students dont contribute to conversations and debates, ask questions, write papers, or invite speakers they might otherwise. This is not a real educational experience, and Michigan students deserve better. Some of the on-campus bias incidents can be downright absurd, according to Weber. He described an incident in which three young women were reported to the Bias Response Team at the University of Wisconsin for dressing up as the Three Blind Mice on Halloween because it was offensive to the handicapped. And, he says, at the University of Kentucky smoking, apparently even in designated areas, is cause for a BRT investigation. The speech police can be called in if a student draws a political cartoon. Weber says that while some of these incidents might sound ludicrous, we should be concerned for the long term implications of such trends. Inga Andrews, a German woman who lived through the holocaust, put it this way: What reminds me more of Hitler than anything else [is] the destruction of freedom of speech on the college campuses the agendas fueled by the professors. That's how Hitler started, he pulled in the youth to miseducate them, to brainwash them, it's happening today." Joint U.S.-EC Workshop Strengthens Cooperation To Counter Nuclear Smuggling Karlsruhe, Germany - On May 15-17, the United States and the European Commission co-hosted the 2018 Counter Nuclear Smuggling (CNS) Workshop at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Karlsruhe, Germany. The workshop brought together some 70 experts from 22 countries and international organizations to discuss significant real-world CNS challenges, review effective CNS strategies, and refine information-sharing mechanisms that support international coordination. Workshop instructors included experts from the JRC, the U.S. Department of State, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Energy, INTERPOL, and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Building on global efforts to keep dangerous nuclear and other radioactive materials out of terrorists hands, the 2018 workshop highlighted the following elements of an effective CNS strategy: national plans for coordinating government agencies in responding to nuclear smuggling incidents, nuclear forensics and other technical tools used to investigate and prosecute nuclear smuggling, and opportunities for bilateral and multilateral CNS coordination. The workshop also gave participants an opportunity to put CNS strategies into practice through an interactive exercise, which emphasized that close coordination between law enforcement investigators, technical experts, and prosecutors; technical tools such as nuclear forensics; and national and bilateral information-sharing mechanisms are essential to effective CNS investigations. Vice President Mike Pence at the White House Prison Reform Summit Washington, DC - Vice President Mike Pence at the White House Prison Reform Summit: THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you, Hannah, for that amazing, amazing introduction, and for your courage, and your bravery, and for being such an extraordinary voice for positive change in America. Were proud of you. We really are. (Applause.) I just am I was deeply moved, as I know you all were, by Hannahs reflections and the courage she and her mother have shown, and their willingness to lend their voice and their experience to this enormously important national debate. Before I begin, allow me to address a shooting that took place this morning in Santa Fe High School, Texas. The President and I have been briefed. Well continue to monitor the situation and we will make all federal resources available to first responders and school officials in the wake of this incident. But we say to the students, the families, the teachers of Santa Fe High School, and all of those affected in the entire community: Were with you. You are in our prayers and I know you are in the prayers of the American people. To members of the Cabinet, Governor Fallin, Governor Martinez, members of Congress, to all the state leaders gathered here, and to all those working with faith, and compassion, and conviction all across this country, it is my honor to join you here today at this first-ever Prison Reform Summit at the White House. (Applause.) Special. And let me take a moment, specifically, also to thank Jared Kushner for all youve done to advance this issue in this administration and across the country. Jared, youve shined a national spotlight on prison reform as never before. Youve brought together people from across the political spectrum. Because of your tireless work and inspiring commitment, Im confident this will be the White House that reforms the American prison system for the betterment of all the American people. (Applause.) Would you join me in thanking Jared Kushner for his great compassion and his great work on this issue? (Applause.) As youll hear from President Trump in just a few minutes, prison reform is a national priority for the Trump administration. The President made this clear in his State of the Union Address, when he said that we are fully committed, in his words, to help former inmates who have served their time to get a second chance. During this National Police Week, and every week, we will always stand with the men and women of law enforcement as they work to keep our streets and cities safe. But we also stand for the principle that once youve served your time and paid your debt to society, you deserve a chance to make a difference in your life and in the life of this nation. (Applause.) Its true. The President has already taken action on this issue. Earlier this year, he brought prison reform experts and governors to the White House to listen to their thoughts and discuss proposals and successes at the state level. In March, the President signed an executive order, as all of you know, to establish the Federal Interagency Council on Crime Prevention and Improving Reentry, which brings together leaders in our Cabinet across the administration to craft recommendations for prison reform. And the President also declared April, Second Chance Month, to, in his words, celebrate those who have exited the prison system and successfully reentered society, and encourage expanded opportunities for those who have worked to overcome bad decisions earlier in lifeand are willing to work hard to turn their lives around. By failing to offer effective pathways to personal reform, the truth is, our current prison system too often misses an opportunity to help people lead productive and fulfilling lives once they walk through the prison gates and return to their communities. This makes our nation less safe, it drains the public resources, and it too often ruins too many lives. The statistics are really astounding. You just heard Hannah recite some of them. But the statistics that are most heartbreaking to millions of Americans are that, every year, while 650,000 people leave Americas prisons, within three years two-thirds of them are arrested again. More than half will be convicted; 40 percent will find themselves back where they started, behind bars. It is a cycle of criminality. It is a cycle of failure. This is truly a crisis. Its also a crisis of public safety. Its driven by poor choices lets be clear. But I believe, as the President does, that its also compounded by a lack of opportunity. We will continue to support law enforcement and hold accountable those who break the law. Make no mistake about it. But we will also recognize that too many ex-offenders feel that they have nowhere else to turn but back to a life of crime, once they leave our prison system. Recognizing this is why our administration is working tirelessly to identify and promote the reforms that will give current prisoners the training and the skills they need to choose and chart a path of self-sufficiency and success. Were looking for programs that are grounded in evidence and proven to work. And as the experts in the room here know, theres a remarkable range of possibilities in that category. They include programs that address mental health and drug addiction, as well as those that provide job training and mentorship. Some are run by government agencies, while others are organized by community groups, by non-profit organizations, and faith-based organizations President Trump has already called on federal, state, and local prison systems to move forward with the best reforms, whatever they may be and whatever the source public, or private, or faith based. Our administration has been inspired by states like Kentucky and Kansas that have already shown how reform can improve public safety and prisoners lives. And well continue to work with leaders in both political parties in the Congress, the House, and the Senate to advance prison reforms that will make our country safer by offering better choices to those behind bars and to former offenders. As I close and Jared reflected on this a moment ago let me just say that prison reform matters deeply to millions of Americans. And even in my little family and my life experience, Ive seen the impact that prison reform can have. Its about public safety, first and foremost. Its about stopping repeat offenders and getting crime off our streets. Its about fiscal responsibility and saving taxpayer dollars that are currently spent on a prison system that costs too much and delivers too little. But above all else, as Ive seen firsthand, prison reform is about changing lives and changing communities; about people who made mistakes, who atoned for them, learned from them, who got a second chance and a shot at a better life. A few years ago, when I was governor of Indiana, I saw the difference prison reform can make. It was at a Branchville Correctional Facility in Southern Indiana, where, as we speak, a majority of the inmates at Branchville Correctional participate in either faith-based or character-based programs every single day, and its making a difference in their lives. Working with local churches, I witnessed the extraordinary impact that these ministries were having in the lives of these offenders. And with a combination of workforce training in the same facility, we were not only creating the tools for their hearts to change, but we were giving them the ability to reenter communities and have the kind of relationships in the communities that created pathways for gainful employment. I mean, truthfully, it was remarkable to watch the symmetry, the relationships that would be built through these programs, through volunteers coming alongside offenders pouring themselves into the lives of these offenders, building relationships. And as the offenders developed new skills and new abilities, then they would leave the Branchville Correctional Facility; reenter the community oftentimes Evansville, Indiana. And it was those very relationships that would open doors for gainful employment and a fresh start in life. I mean, I witnessed in our prisons what Ive known throughout my life: Changed hearts mean changed lives. (Applause.) I also saw the impact of faith and mentorship at the Plainfield Correctional Facility, where we established a first-time-ever, first-time offender program in the state of Indiana. Many of the mentors and volunteers in that program were ex-offenders who had turned over a new leaf after they have put their faith in God. Theyre now answering the call to ministry, to men and women caught up in a life of crime, oftentimes in the very same facility where they spent time. You know, these changed lives inspire the nation. But these programs are making a difference in the lives of individuals and in communities every single day. The truth is, these programs are making America safer by opening doors to second chances to tens of thousands of those who made wrong choices earlier in life. And I can assure you, we are determined in this administration, with President Trumps leadership, to seek ways to expand these opportunities to more offenders to the benefit of the nation. Thats what President Trump and our entire administration are committed to do, and I hope todays summit gives evidence to that. With all of your help; with the continued creative leadership of the great governors who are gathered here today, and other state officials; with the extraordinary compassion, and faith, and innovation of those of you who have poured yourselves into the lives of offenders across this country, and facilities across this country; with bipartisan support in the Congress; and with the strong leadership of President Donald Trump, I know we will open pathways to second chances for more Americans and we will make America safer than ever before. (Applause.) Thank you for the opportunity to address you today. Thank you for your involvement in this vital issue in the life of the nation. God bless you all. Cameroon National Day Washington, DC - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: "On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I offer congratulations to the people of the Republic of Cameroon as you celebrate your National Day on May 20, 2018. "The United States values the ties that bind the American and Cameroonian people. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Cameroon as we strengthen regional security, fight violent extremism in the Lake Chad Basin region, and collaborate to improve health outcomes. Our goal is to work together for a peaceful, democratic, and an abundant future. "On behalf of the American people, I am honored to extend my best wishes to all Cameroonians on this joyous occasion." Ambassador Tina Kaidanow, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, Travels to Germany, Japan, India, and Singapore Washington, DC - Ambassador Tina Kaidanow, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, will travel to Germany, Japan, India, and Singapore May 20-June 3, 2018. In Germany, Ambassador Kaidanow will take part in the annual Chiefs of Mission Conference sponsored by U.S. European Command. Ambassador Kaidanow will update senior diplomats and military officials on steps the Bureau is taking to implement the Administrations vision of strengthening U.S. allies and partners through improvements to U.S. defense trade regulation and government advocacy to expand opportunities for U.S. industry, drive innovation, and promote American manufacturing jobs. In Japan, Ambassador Kaidanow will meet with senior officials to discuss a wide range of security and defense trade issues, and will hold a roundtable with representatives from Japanese defense manufacturers. For nearly 60 years, the U.S.-Japan Alliance has been the cornerstone of peace, stability, and freedom in the Indo-Pacific region, and decades of U.S. security cooperation have served to bolster Japans self-defense capabilities. Since 2013, Japan has contracted $14.9 billion in government-to-government purchases in U.S. equipment through the Foreign Military Sales system, as well as $14.4 billion in U.S. defense articles to Japan via the Direct Commercial Sales process. In India, Ambassador Kaidanow will hold talks on defense trade and peacekeeping, which are among two key areas of the rapidly growing U.S.-India partnership as envisioned in the Administrations Indo-Pacific strategy. U.S.-India bilateral defense trade has risen from near zero to $15 billion since 2008. India is projected to spend billions on military modernization over the next decade, and talks will focus on expanding our security cooperation while furthering opportunities for American industry. In Singapore, Ambassador Kaidanow will join a delegation of senior U.S. officials led by Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis for the Shangri-La Dialogue, a forum for exchanges among defense and security policy professionals from across the Indo-Pacific region sponsored by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Ambassador Kaidanow will also meet with senior civilian and military officials from countries around the globe to discuss regional security, maritime security, and defense trade issues. Radhika Madan Keeps It Casual In Crop Top And Pants, Take A Look At Her Hot Pictures As the royal wedding unfolds with all the pomp and circumstance, with the many-tiered cake and the breathtaking dress and the guest list a who's who of the wealthy and important, you might find yourself wondering what it would be like to be Meghan Markle, once an actress from California, now part of the British royal family as Prince Harry's bride. Perhaps you're wondering what it would be like to marry into this legendary family with the entire world watching. Maybe you're even--just a little bit--envious. But before you start wishing it was you marrying a royal instead of her, consider everything Markle must give up when she joins the Windsor family: 1. Her career Members of the royal family have very busy lives but they can't have careers the way other people do. That's giving up a lot for Markle, who was a successful actor. She was also an entrepreneur who published a popular lifestyle website called Tig. She officially ended both as part of her preparation for her wedding. 2. Her social media identity Markle had almost three million followers among her Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook accounts. She has had to delete them all. The royal family do not have their own personal social media accounts. Instead, royal family members have official accounts that are carefully managed by palace staff. 3. Signing autographs Markle, who starred in the TV series Suits, is well accustomed to signing autographs, but she isn't allowed to anymore. Members of the royal family don't sign autographs because of the danger that they could be forged. Selfies are frowned on as well. 4. Political opinions (maybe) Traditionally, the royal family does not run for political office or express political opinions, remaining neutral. Markle is a known feminist, and she has expressed dismay at the fact that her marriage into the royal family has led to many comments about her race (she's biracial). But from here on out, she's likely to damp down or eliminate political comments in keeping with royal tradition. Or maybe not. Monarchy watchers agree that Markle represents a new model of princess, and they expect her to shake things up somewhat. Markle has been politically active, so perhaps one of her innovations will be that she's a bit more politically outspoken than is usual for a royal. 5. Her favorite food Markle's favorite restaurant is reportedly a sushi restaurant in California. But members of the royal family--who have a busy schedule of appearances and can't risk food poisoning--are not allowed to eat shellfish. They're also discouraged from eating undercooked meat. So she likely has to say goodbye to her favorite dinner. 6. Having her father walk her down the aisle Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-edas film Shoplifters has won the Palme dOr the highest prize at the Cannes Film Festival. The Cate Blanchett-led jury selected one of the festivals most acclaimed entries for the award during Saturdays closing ceremony. Shoplifters has been hailed as a modest masterpiece from a veteran filmmaker that centres on a small-time thief who takes a young girl home to his family. After seeing scars from abuse, they decide to keep her and raise her as their own. Recommended We must address the shocking lack of diversity at Cannes Spike Lees BlacKkKlansman, the highest-profile American film in the competition, was awarded the grand prize, the runner-up. The true tale of a black police detective who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan drew a rousing standing ovation but less enthusiastic critical reviews. Lebanese director Nadine Labakis Capernaum was given Cannes jury prize. Polish filmmaker Pawel Pawlikowski took best director for his follow-up to the Oscar-winning Ida, Cold War. Best actress went to Samal Yeslyamova for Kazakh writer-director Sergey Dvortsevoys Ayka. Taking best actor was Marcello Fonte for Matteo Garrones Dogman, an award that was presented by fellow Italian actor Roberto Benigni. The prize for best screenplay was split between Italian writer-director Alice Rohrwachers time-warped fable about a poor farm boy in rural Italy Happy as Lazzaro, and Nader Saeivar and Jafar Panahis script for Three Faces. Panahi has been banned from travelling outside Iran since he was arrested for participating in propaganda against the regime in 2010 after supporting mass protests over the countrys disputed 2009 election. Both Panahi and Russias Kirill Serebrennikov were unable to attend their Cannes premieres because both are barred from travelling out of their home countries. Seats were left empty for both, who received standing ovations in absentia. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up A Palme dOr Speciale, a special award not previously awarded, was given to Jean-Luc Godard for continually striving to define and refine what cinema can be, said Blanchett. Godards Image Book is a film essay collage that contemplates the Wests relationship to the Arab world. The 87-year-old French filmmaking legend called into his Cannes press conference via FaceTime. Last years Palme d'Or winner was Ruben Ostlunds The Square, which went on to be nominated for best foreign language film at the Academy Awards. After 25 years of trials and tribulations, the curtain will finally come up on a Don Quixote film directed by Terry Gilliam on Saturday, when the movie will close the Cannes Film Festival. As the opening titles state: This movie was made, and then unmade and then made again. Gilliams Quixote project took on mythical status in 2002 with the release of Lost in La Mancha, the making-of documentary about Gilliams first attempt to make the film. Starring Johnny Depp and Jean Rochefort, the project ran into so many production problems it was eventually abandoned. For many years it seemed that Gilliams Quixote would go the way of Jodorowskys Dune: become the film that never was that; one of the greatest films never made. The documentary, directed by Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe, ensured that one great Gilliam film inspired by Quixote entered the movie canon. And the score will remain at one, because while The Man Who Killed Don Quixote is a fun, inventive frolic with a great premise, it is slow to get going and at times is a real struggle to comprehend. The Man Who Killed Don Quixote is less an adaptation of Cervantes classic novel and more a movie about filmmaking, a Felliniesque circus about a director who struggles to compete with his own early success. The director in question, Tobias Grummett, is played by Adam Driver, who since his revelatory performances in the TV series Girls has become a darling of auteurs. Hes been a busy man at this Cannes Film Festival as hes also starring in Spike Lees brilliantly funny BlacKkKlansman. Driver carries Gilliams film through the doldrums. Grummett is a hotshot director who made a universally acclaimed graduation film in La Mancha, inspired by Don Quixote, but has been stuck making commercials ever since. It seems like Gilliam is poking fun at artists that sell-out and retire their art for commerce. The type who dont battle for 25 years to get their passion project off the ground. The storyline sees Grummett return to La Mancha where he shot his graduation film and discover that the non-professional actor he employed to play Don Quixote has spent the past decade living in a cave believing that he really is Don Quixote. Brazil star Jonathan Pryce is excellent as the zany adventurer who soon becomes convinced that Grummett is his trusty companion Sancho Panza. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Throughout his career Gilliam has often struggled to keep to the central story, but made up for it with colourful tangents that showed off his directorial talent. Thats not always the case here, especially when it comes to female screen time. Sometime Bond girl Olga Kurylenko plays a wag to Stellan Skarsgards rich boss man and her determination to bed Grummett ends with a knock on the door and a quick dash to the exit. Ten years down the line and Grummett again finds a love interest in Angelica (Joana Ribeiro), who we meet while she is dancing under a waterfall in skimpy clothes. There is so much goodwill towards Gilliams quixotic Quixote project that its easy to forgive its problems, of which there are many. Without the budget that Gilliam would once have commanded the set pieces rely on gusto more than CGI, but some of the action sequences cannot be saved no matter how hard the actors try. Audiences have been spoiled in the past 25 years with advances in technology yet Gilliam has stood still. But his imagination is as fun and wild as ever. Emma Thompson really isn't getting caught up in royal wedding fever. While much of the world gears up for this weekend's nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the British Oscar-winner is remaining far more level-headed than most, flying the flag for those who really aren't fussed about, well, watching two people get married. Thompson was refreshingly honest in her reply to a Sky News interviewer who seemed adamant to get a positive reaction from her - slightly frustrating considering she was present to talk about the BBC's new adaptation of King Lear. [Theres] not a single thought about it in my head to share with you, Im so sorry, she replied. I havent even It doesnt occur to me actually, my son is getting married next year so I am much more sort of dealing with that but really I have nothing to say about it. When asked whether she wishes them well, she added before growing frustrated: Obviously, yes, but I don't know them. Stop it, just stop it okay. Stop doing the Lets talk about the royal wedding. Just give the poor kids a break. Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, 2018 Princess Eugenie, eldest daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York, and her husband, wine merchant Jack Brooksbank, hold hands as they descend the stairs outside St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle after their nuptials on 12 October 2018 Getty Images Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Prince Harry and Meghan, 2018 Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex emerge from the West Door of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle after their wedding ceremony AFP/Getty Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Zara and Mike, 2011 Zara Phillips and her new husband Mike Tindall kiss outside Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh after their wedding PA Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Prince William and Catherine Middleton, 2011 Prince William and his wife Kate kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace next to bridesmaids Margarita Armstrong-Jones (right) and Grace Van Cutsem (left), following their wedding at Westminster Abbey PA Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly, 2008 Peter Phillips, the eldest grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and Canadian Autumn Kelly leave St. George's Chapel in Windsor after their marriage ceremony PA Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Charles and Camilla, 2005 The Prince of Wales and his bride Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall leave St George's Chapel in Windsor, following the church blessing of their civil wedding ceremony PA Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Lady Armstrong-Jones and Daniel Chatto, 1994 Lady Armstrong-Jones arrives with her bridesmaids, Lady Francis Armstrong-Jones, Zara Phillips and Tara Noble Singh at St Stephen Walbrook Church, City of London, for her wedding to Daniel Chatto PA Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Viscount Linley and Serena Stanhope, 1993 Serena Stanhope with her father Viscount Petersham at Claridges Hotel, London en route to St Margaret's Church, Westminster for her wedding to Viscount Linley (David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon) PA Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Lady Helen and Tim Taylor, 1992 Lady Helen Windsor and her husband , Tim Taylor, on the steps of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, after their wedding ceremony PA Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Edward and Sophie, 1992 Prince Edward, his wife Sophie Rhys- Jones and her pageboys and bridesmaids leave St. George's Chapel in Windsor after their wedding. Known as afterwards as the Earl and Countess of Wessex PA Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Andrew and Sarah, 1986 Prince Andrew kisses his bride Sarah Ferguson on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day PA Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Charles and Diana, 1981 The Prince and Princess of Wales smile and wave to the crowds during their carriage procession to Buckingham Palace after their wedding at St.Paul's Cathedral PA Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Charles and Diana, 1981 Lady Diana and Charles, Prince of Wales are seen during their wedding at St Paul Cathedral AFP/Getty Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, 1978 Prince and Princess Michael of Kent (Baroness Marie Christine von Reibnitz), after their civil wedding ceremony at Vienna Town Hall, ready for their evening reception PA Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Princess Anne and Mark Phillips, 1973 The bride and groom, Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, wave to the crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their wedding at Westminster Abbey PA Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Princess Alexandra and Angus Ogilvy, 1963 Princess Alexandra (daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent) and her husband, Sir Angus Ogilvy, riding in a carriage through London after their wedding at Westminster Abbey PA Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Princess Margaret and Antony, 1960 Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones at Buckingham Palace after their marriage ceremony at Westminster Abbey PA Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Elizabeth and Philip, 1947 The royal wedding party appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after Princess Elizabeth was married to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten (now the Duke of Edinburgh) in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey PA Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Elizabeth and Philip, 1947 A Panoramic view as the crowds gather to watch Princess Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh get married PA Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Elizabeth and Philip, 1947 Members of the British Royal family and guests pose around Princess Elizabeth and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace on their wedding day AFP/Getty Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Elizabeth and Philip, 1947 Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh are cheered by the crowd after their wedding ceremony AFP/Getty Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Elizabeth and Philip, 1947 Crowds camp out overnight on the streets of London to catch a glimpse of the Royal Couple, Princess Elizabeth and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on their wedding day PA Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Edward and Wallis, 1937 Edward, Duke of Windsor (formerly Edward VIII of England) and his wife Wallis Simpson during their wedding at Chateau de Cande in France. Edward VIII of England, eldest son of George V and Mary of Teck, abdicated because of his love affair with American-born divorcee Wallis Simpson. After his abdication, he became Duke of Windsor and married Mrs. Simpson, who had changed her name by deed poll to Wallis Warfield, in a private ceremony AFP/Getty Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Prince Henry and Lady Alice, 1935 The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester on their wedding day. Lady Alice and Prince Henry were married at Buckingham Palace PA Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Elizabeth and Albert,1923 Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later to be Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother) and Prince Albert, Duke of York (later to be King George VI) on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey PA Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Princess Patricia and Commander Alexander Ramsay, 1919 Princess Patricia of Connaught, driving from Westminster Abbey, with her husband Commander Alexander Ramsay, after their wedding ceremony PA Royal wedding ceremonies: through the years in pictures Royal Wedding - Edward and Alexandra, 1863 Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII), and his bride, Princess Alexandra of Denmark, after their wedding PA The interview was filmed in late March but was released by Sky earlier this week. Thompson stars in King Lear alongside Anthony Hopkins who was mistaken for a homeless man while filming scenes in Stevenage last October (you can see him in character here). Follow Independent Culture on Facebook Brunching out... There are thousands of restaurants in London. New ones are opening and closing all the time. Its almost impossible to keep up. I always wonder how so many seem to be so busy. But competition is fierce and its not until you go to a restaurant thats fairly quiet that you remember that. And to keep busy, location is key. In Soho, queues of super-keen people stupidly wait the one-and-a-half hours to get into a tiny restaurant. The best fine dining restaurants have week-long or even month-long waiting lists for a table. While others that have the room can sit empty, until its drinking time. And its rather a shame when theyre empty and its a good restaurant. Sitting at the end of High Street Kensington, as Italian restaurant Enoteca Rosso does, is a bit out-of-the-way. In between High Street Kensington station and Olympia Overground, its saving grace is the newly revamped Design Museum only a few doors up. It should benefit from the affluent locals where its closer to Holland Park and plenty of luxurious flats and homes behind the main high streets and on into nearby Notting Hill, although neighbourhood restaurants and wine bars are not really Kensingtons forte. With a confit tomato, edible flowers and crispy bacon balanced atop the egg and ravioli, it looks almost too good to eat (Emma Henderson) Its taken over the old Barclays Bank and the interiors of Enoteca Rosso retain their elegant columns and Victorian style mosaic floor, while the wine bar themed large space uses dark and rather sombre colours that are classic of wine bars essentially black and burgundy with huge amounts of bottled wine lying horizontally in terracotta wine holders, covering entire walls. The brunch menu is a new idea only beginning the first weekend of this month hence the quietness at 11am in a wine bar on a Saturday morning. And the restaurant is not much newer really, opening at the beginning of the year. But the brunch menu (served weekends between 11am and 5pm) is perfectly formed with seven dishes. I choose the Rosso English breakfast (14); one large circular piece of sausage ravioli takes centre stage on the plate that sits on a smooth cannellini bean veloute, thats lightly creamy. Atop it is a poached egg bright orange crispy bacon and a juicy confit tomato and decorated with pink edible flowers. Its rather beautifully presented and is a fresh take on a breakfast that incorporates bacon and eggs just a little more elegant. Hugh chooses the club sandwich (12) rather heftier than mine and packed with smoked salmon and avocado, quite literally, so the avocado oozes out of the breads holes and ends up a rather messy, but worthwhile way to start the day. Its dressed with plenty of lemon for extra zing and comes with a side of eggs your way fried, for super orangey yolk dipping to add to the delicious mess. Smoked salmon and avocado club sandwich comes with a side of eggs, cooked how you like them Afterwards, were presented with the menu again for something sweet. I didnt think I wanted something, but the pancakes with fruit and mascarpone cream sounds like a great way to end it. And it is the pancakes are made with the same eggs weve preciously eaten and that are used for the fresh pasta, which gives them a different colour and texture; lighter, fresher and smoother rather than the air-filled ones Im used to. One thing its lacking is the equivalent brunch drinks, which the Italian theme lends it to perfectly. The menu is almost screaming out for a prosecco cocktail, or just a glass of it, an Aperol spritz wouldnt go amiss either In the kitchen, its chefs from Italy; head chef Flavio Militello previously worked in Milan, while sous chef Giuseppe Itri has been cooking since the age of 12 in Sicily. It is great Italian fusion food, cooked by people that know what theyre doing. Lets hope more people know about it soon. Enoteca Rosso; 276-280 Kensington High St, Kensington, London W8 6ND; 07384 595191; open daily 11am-11pm Brunching in... Egg bhurji with berkswell and shallots This dish was created almost by accident after we started making staff breakfast meals in our Soho restaurant. The first time I ate Indian scrambled eggs (or egg bhurji in Mumbai), I remember thinking how superior it was to how we eat them at home I found the Indian spices far more exciting. I have created my own version for you to try, but have stuck to the traditional way of preparing the eggs, using lots of butter, and cooking over a low heat, to retain that melt-in-the-mouth texture. With the lardo (cured pig fat), melting over the hot eggs, topped with salty berkswell sheeps cheese and sweet and sour shallots, this is the perfect balance of flavours. If you cant get berkswell, you can use parmesan, pecorino, aged cheddar, comte or gruyere. Leave out the lardo if youre vegetarian the result is still delicious. Serves six 12 local, large free-range brown eggs 1 large red onion, finely chopped 3 green chillies, finely chopped 1 bunch of fresh coriander, finely chopped 200g unsalted butter 1tbsp cumin seeds 1 handful of fresh curry leaves 1tsp ground turmeric 4 slices of sourdough bread 12 slices of lardo 400g berkswell cheese, finely grated Sea salt, to taste Micro coriander, to garnish (optional) The nine best restaurants in the world (2017) Show all 9 1 /9 The nine best restaurants in the world (2017) The nine best restaurants in the world (2017) 1. Eleven Madison Park, New York, USA World's Best 50 Restaurants The nine best restaurants in the world (2017) 2. Osteria Francescana, Modena, Italy World's Best 50 Restaurants The nine best restaurants in the world (2017) 3. El Celler de can Roca, Girona, Spain World's Best 50 Restaurants The nine best restaurants in the world (2017) 4. Mirazur, Menton, France World's Best 50 Restaurants The nine best restaurants in the world (2017) 6. Asador Etxebarri, Axpe, Spain Mariano Herrera The nine best restaurants in the world (2017) 7. Gaggan, Bangkok, Thailand FB://Allwecandid The nine best restaurants in the world (2017) 8. Maido, Lima, Peru Jose Caceres The nine best restaurants in the world (2017) 9. Mugaritz, San Sebastian, Spain World's Best 50 Restaurants The nine best restaurants in the world (2017) 10. Steirereck, Vienna, Austria World's Best 50 Restaurants For the pickled shallots 500g banana shallots, thinly sliced into rings 200ml pickling liquor (see below) To make the pickled shallots, steep the shallots in the pickling liquor for one to two hours at room temperature, then keep in the refrigerator until needed. Whisk the eggs in a bowl with the red onion, green chillies and coriander. Reserve a little of the butter for the toast and melt the remainder gently in a frying pan. Add the cumin seeds, curry leaves and turmeric and cook over a medium heat for 30 seconds or so, stirring, until the spices are fragrant. Add the egg mixture, reduce the heat and cook gently, stirring continuously with a spatula or a wooden spoon, for about 3-4 minutes until the eggs are just cooked but still soft. Season to taste with salt and remove from the heat. Toast the sourdough bread and spread with the reserved butter. Spoon the egg mixture on the toast, top with a slice of lardo, a sprinkle of grated cheese, a few slices of the the pickled shallots and garnish with micro coriander leaves (if using). Note: this recipe makes more pickled shallots than required for four people but it is well-worth making up a batch for you to use as you like. Just store in a sterilised jar and keep in the fridge. It will keep for a few months. Pickling liquor I use this to use with all kinds of vegetables but cucumber is a special favourite. It will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks it keeps forever. If you want to make a smaller amount, the recipe is based on equal quantities of vinegar and sugar. Makes 1 litre 500ml white wine vinegar 500g caster sugar 2 star anise 1 cinnamon stick 4 cloves 2 fresh Indian bay leaves Put all the ingredients in a heavy-based saucepan over a low heat and stir occasionally until all the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool before decanting into a sterilised jar. Store in the fridge until required. Kricket: An Indian- inspired Cookbook by Will Bowlby (Hardie Grant, 26.00) is out now. Photography by Hugh Johnson Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has given another powerful endorsement of cryptocurrency and its underlying blockchain technology, hailing its revolutionary potential at a conference on Thursday. Speaking on stage at the WeAreDevelopers World Congress in Vienna, Mr Wozniak said he believed the blockchain will have a huge impact on the technology sector, hailing it as the next major IT revolution that is about to happen. Despite his positive outlook for bitcoin and blockchain, Mr Wozniak said in a separate interview at the event that he was bothered by what technology has become, referencing Facebooks Cambridge Analytica scandal. Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Satoshi Nakamoto creates the first bitcoin block in 2009 On 3 January, 2009, the genesis block of bitcoin appeared. It came less than a year after the pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto detailed the cryptocurrency in a paper titled 'Bitcoin: A peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System' Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin is used as a currency for the first time On 22 May, 2010, the first ever real-world bitcoin transaction took place. Lazlo Hanyecz bought two pizzas for 10,000 bitcoins the equivalent of $90 million at today's prices Lazlo Hanyecz Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Silk Road opens for business Bitcoin soon gained notoriety for its use on the dark web. The Silk Road marketplace, established in 2011, was the first of hundreds of sites to offer illegal drugs and services in exchange for bitcoin Screenshot Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures The first bitcoin ATM appears On 29 October, 2013, the first ever bitcoin ATM was installed in a coffee shop in Vancouver, Canada. The machine allowed people to exchange bitcoins for cash Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures The fall of MtGox The world's biggest bitcoin exchange, MtGox, filed for bankruptcy in February 2014 after losing almost 750,000 of its customers bitcoins. At the time, this was around 7 per cent of all bitcoins and the market inevitably crashed Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Would the real Satoshi Nakamoto please stand up In 2015, Australian police raided the home of Craig Wright after the entrepreneur claimed he was Satoshi Nakamoto. He later rescinded the claim Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's big split On 1 August, 2017, an unresolvable dispute within the bitcoin community saw the network split. The fork of bitcoin's underlying blockchain technology spawned a new cryptocurrency: Bitcoin cash Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's price sky rockets Towards the end of 2017, the price of bitcoin surged to almost $20,000. This represented a 1,300 per cent increase from its price at the start of the year Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures What goes up... Bitcoin price crashes spectacularly, losing half of its value in a matter of days Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin plunges The cryptocurrency eventually bottoms out below $4,000 in 2019 before slowly rebuilding momentum to outperform more traditional assets Getty Images We used to be able to have conversations in secret with people. If I were to say something to you in private now, others wouldn't hear it that isn't the case anymore, Mr Wozniak said. We lost our security a long time ago. We've lost our privacy and it's been abused. If I think I have a level of privacy that I don't, that's deceit. And that bothers me. I hit a limit. I can't take that. It's one step in a long series of steps that are all in the same direction. Not all Silicon Valley companies came under fire from Mr Wozniak, with the Apple co-founder revealing his excitement about buying a Tesla after buying his wife a Mercedes. Elon Musk emailed me, said that I bought a gas guzzler, said that Im not a true Silicon Valley boy I love that phrase, Mr Wozniak said. After a few months, my wife came into my office one night and said if you want a Tesla you can order it. 30 seconds later [I ordered it]. Steve Wozniak previously said he waved goodbye to his 5,000 Facebook friends in order to better protect his personal data (Getty Images for Discovery) His proclamations about blockchain technology follow previous comments about how bitcoin is better in key ways to gold and the US dollar. At the Money 20/20 event in Las Vegas last October, Mr Wozniak described traditional currencies as kind of phony due to the fact governments and create new units of the currency for political reasons, while gold also lacked a fixed supply. There is a certain finite amount of bitcoin that can ever exist, he said. Gold gets mined and mined and mined. Maybe theres a finite amount of gold in the world, but cryptocurrency is even more mathematical and regulated and nobody can change mathematics. The US Air Force has apologised after making a joke linking the popular Yanny or Laurel meme with the death of Taliban militants. The tweet sought to link the war in Afghanistan to the viral Internet debate over whether an audio file circulating online sounds like the words Laurel or Yanny. The tweet from the US Air Forces main Twitter account @usairforce came after days of fighting in the Afghan city of Farah, during which 300 Taliban soldiers were killed, according to Al-Jazeera. As the Ministry of Defense has already stated, the Afghan security forces are bringing their full capabilities, consisting of Army, Police, Commandos and Air Force, to bear on the situation, U.S. officials said in a statement on Tuesday. As we have seen over the last couple of days, the Taliban are unable to hold terrain during such isolated attacks, and their unsuccessful raid attempts on district centers in Badakhshan, Baghlan, Faryab and Zabul. The US Air Force said A-10 Warthogs bombed Taliban militants in Afghanistan on Tuesday, 15 May (Reuters) The tweet from the US Air Force on Thursday stated: The Taliban forces in Farah city #Afghanistan would much rather have heard #Yanny or #Laurel than the deafening #BRRRT they got courtesy of our #A10." The #BRRRT was meant to suggest the sound of Gatling gun fire. After questions at a Pentagon briefing about whether the tweet was appropriate, the Air Force deleted it and expressed regrets for the questionable attempt at humour. We apologize for the earlier tweet regarding the A-10. It was made in poor taste and we are addressing it internally. It has since been removed, it said. The growth of wild cannabis was rife in Europe during the Stone Age, but the plant disappeared from the continent before the first farmers had a chance to cultivate it, according to new research. Scientists have previously struggled to determine where the plant grew, as its similarity to the related common hop meant usual methods of studying pollen fossils had proved difficult. However, a group of researchers from the University of Vermont led by John McPartland now believe they may have solved the mystery, by examining what else was growing in the area. Recommended Israel moves towards decriminalising marijuana use In a study published in the Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, the team concluded that if other ancient pollen collected from a location were from plants common on grassy steppes, the sample is likely to be cannabis. If other fossils suggest the area was woodland, it can be assumed the plant was a hop, the research states. The new theory led the team to re-examine samples of Stone Age fossil pollen from more than 470 sites across Europe, concluding cannabis was present on dry tundra landscapes during the period. However, when the first farmers set foot on the continent from the Middle East around 9,000 years ago, the plant was already beginning to disappear as the continent warmed. Mr McPartland said there was little evidence that these new farmers cultivated the plant. If it wasnt there they couldnt domesticate it, he told the New Scientist. However, Cannabis did return to Europe around 4,500 years ago during the Bronze Age, when pastoralists from the Eurasian steppe moved into the continent, bringing the plant with them. In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies Show all 26 1 /26 In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies A man wears a marijuana leaf mask during the annual 4/20 cannabis culture celebration at Sunset Beach in Vancouver, British Columbia AP In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies A lady smokes marijuana on Parliament Hill on 4/20 in Ottawa, Ontario Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies James Reed smokes a joint during the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies People sign a 4/20 sign on Parliament Hill on in Ottawa, Ontario Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies A woman smokes marijuana on Parliament Hill on 4/20 in Ottawa, Ontario. Polling released showed strong support in Canada for a government drive to legalise recreational use of marijuana, but many would like the proposed minimum age for consumption to be raised. Sixty-three percent of respondents told the Angus Reid Institute they support legalisation Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies A man smokes marijuana during the annual 4/20 marijuana rally on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Reuters In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies Demonstrators smoke marijuana during the '4/20 Santiago' rally in favour of legalisation in front of the La Moneda presidential palace in Santiago, as part of the Global Marijuana March which is being held in hundreds of cities worldwide Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies People play with a mock marijuana joint during a 4/20 party to demand legalisation and to celebrate marijuana culture outside the Senate building in Mexico City, Mexico Reuters In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies Adam Eidinger, co-founder of DCMJ, hands out free marijuana joints to DC residents who worked on Capitol Hill as part of the 1st Annual Joint Session to mark '4/20' day and promote legalising marijuana on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies Police arrest Rachel Ramone Donlan after she handed out free marijuana joints to DC residents who worked on Capitol Hill as part of the 1st Annual Joint Session to mark '4/20' day and promote legalising marijuana on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC AFP/Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies Police arrest Rachel Ramone Donlan after she handed out free marijuana joints to DC residents who worked on Capitol Hill as part of the 1st Annual Joint Session to mark '4/20' day and promote legalising marijuana on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies Thousands of people gather to smoke marijuana during the '420 Santiago'rally in front of the La Moneda presidential palace in Santiago Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies People attend the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies Kevin Barron and Lasean Moore of Raleigh, North Carolina, share a joint during the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies Nic Ruhl takes a pull on a giant hand rolled joint at precisely 4:20pm MDT during the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies Various cannabis paraphernalia on display at a vendor's stall during the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies Mo Banez, of Austin, Texas, lights a joint during the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies A man displays a large container of cannabis during the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado. The rally, held annually, is a celebration of both the legalisation of cannabis and cannabis culture. Colorado is one of twenty-six U.S. states along with the District of Columbia that has legalised the use of cannabis either recreationally or medically AFP/Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies Sitting in small groups on mats shaded by trees in the Rose Garden just across from the Knesset, participants lit up as the clock struck 4:20 for the local version of the traditional worldwide April 20 pro-marijuana events, known as '420' rallies Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies An Israeli smokes a marijuana joint in Jerusalem during a rally at the Rose garden Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies Sitting in small groups on mats shaded by trees in the Rose Garden just across from the Knesset, participants lit up as the clock struck 4:20 for the local version of the traditional worldwide April 20 pro-marijuana events, known as '420' rallies Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies An Israeli girl poses with a mock marijuana joint in Jerusalem during a rally at the Rose garden, to celebrate 420 and to express their defiance of current laws Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies aelis pass around a marijuana joint in Jerusalem during a rally at the Rose garden, to celebrate 420 and to express their defiance of current laws Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies An Israeli smokes a marijuana joint in Jerusalem during a rally at the Rose garden, to celebrate 420 and to express their defiance of current law Getty Images In pictures: 4/20 Marijuana world rallies An Israeli smokes a marijuana joint in Jerusalem on April 20, 2017 during a rally opposite the Knesset to celebrate 420 and express defiance of current laws AFP/Getty Images Best known in the modern would for its psychoactive properties, it was likely reintroduced onto the continent to be made into textiles. However, Mr McPartland said he believed it was possible that early European farmers did use cannabis as a drug, in societies where alcohol would not yet have been commonplace. Even muted psychoactivity would have been appreciated by people who did not yet have alcohol, he said. On a day where royalty, celebrities and of course Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were all expected to draw the attention of the world, one vicar emerged as an unlikely star of the show. Bishop Michael Curry has found himself in the spotlight after he delivered a lively speech during the service, removed from the usual pomp and solemnity of such occasions. His energetic sermon, which both started and finished with quotes from minister and civil rights activist Martin Luther King, has already received widespread praise. Theres power in love. Do not underestimate it. Anyone who has ever fallen in love knows what I mean, he began. When love is the way, we actually treat each other, well, like we are actually family. When love is the way, we know that god is the source for us all, that we are brothers and sisters, children of God. My brothers and sisters thats a new heaven, a new earth, a new world, a new human family. With this, Ill sit down, he told the couple as he began wrap up his speech: We gotta get yall married. His style earned him plaudits on social media, including from Labour MPs David Lammy and Ed Miliband, who paid tribute on Twitter. Meanwhile, the bishop himself is using his new-found fame as an opportunity to promote his faith to a worldwide audience. But who is the Bishop Michael Curry and how did he rise through the ranks on his way to speaking at the royal wedding? Explained: Who is royal wedding vicar Bishop Michael Curry? Bishop Curry is the current head of the Episcopal Church, having been appointed in 2015. Born in Chicago, the 53-year-old Yale graduate is the first African American to lead the Anglican organisation. He was appointed Bishop of North Carolina in 2000, a position he held for a decade-and-a-half until his election as the 27th leader of the Episcopal Church. Royal wedding: Fans explain why they've come to Windsor to see Harry and Meghan marry On his appointment, he called for racial and economic unity at a time of rising tensions in the United States. Throughout his career, Bishop Curry has been outspoken on matters of social justice such as same-sex-marriage and immigration policy. His principled stands on such issues have earned him praise from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. The archbishop described Bishop Curry as a brilliant pastor and stunning preacher upon hearing the news he would speak at the royal wedding. Guernsey's parliament has voted against a proposal to legalise assisted dying for some terminally ill people. The motion, which was put forward by the island's chief minister Gavin St Pier, was rejected by 24 votes to 14 on Friday after three days of debate. If the requete similar to a private member's bill had been approved the island could have become the first place in the British Isles to allow assisted dying. The controversial proposal would have set up a working group to develop recommendations for legislation covering terminally ill adults with six months or fewer to live and with full mental capacity. "We believe that a majority of the population do support a change in the law," said Mr St Pier in a statement with the six other deputies backing the bill. "However, we live in a representative democracy and our parliamentary assembly, the States of Deliberation, has by majority, made a democratic decision which settles the matter in Guernsey. "We remain of the view that this is an inevitable change which in the fullness of time Guernsey will one day adopt." Charities also expressed their hope that the law would eventually be changed across the British Isles. Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, which campaigns for a change in the law on assisted dying in the UK, said: Many in Guernsey and beyond will be disappointed with todays result, particularly those who have seen the suffering caused by the current law. "However, this debate has proved beyond doubt that there is immense public support for change and that more politicians are beginning to listen to the views of their constituents. Regardless of todays result, it is clear that change must and will come to the British Isles the only question is when. Richy Thompson, director of public affairs and policy at Humanists UK, said: "The proposals that Guernsey has voted on today were needed more now than at any other time in our history. "We are disappointed by today's outcome, which will let down many people who need a change in the law." Leading anti-euthanasia campaign group Care Not Killing welcomed the decision to reject a proposal it described as "dangerous". "The current law on Guernsey is clear it protects those who are sick, elderly, depressed, or disabled from feeling under pressure to end their lives," said campaign director Dr Peter Saunders. "Parliamentarians across the UK have rightly rejected attempts to introduce assisted suicide and euthanasia 10 times since 2003 out of concern for public safety, including in 2015 when the House of Commons overwhelmingly voted against any change in the law by 330 votes to 118." Court of Appeal judges are considering a challenge to the ban on assisted dying in England and Wales by 68 year-old Noel Conway, who is terminally ill with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a form of motor neurone disease. Their written judgement is expected in early summer. 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 Assisted dying is legal in Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, Canada, the Australian state of Victoria, and six US states including Oregon. Nearly 350 British people have ended their lives at Dignitas in Switzerland, according to Dignity in Dying. The Home Office has been accused of outrageous conduct after a homeless Windrush citizen was arrested at a meeting about his immigration status. The 62-year-old, from London, had been invited to discuss his citizenship with officials but was handcuffed and taken into custody over an alleged minor offence more than a decade ago. The father-of-three, named only as Oliver, was taken to Pentonville prison, where he remains. He denies an allegation of handling stolen goods. Recommended Government admits 63 Windrush citizens could have wrongly deported This is outrageous. Oliver is the face of the hostile environment, said Labours David Lammy, who is the mans MP. He added: The prime minister and home secretary have repeatedly told Windrush citizens to come forward to the Home Office. The prime minister told me in parliament and in writing that no enforcement action will be taken against anyone that comes forward to the Home Office. My constituent did what he was told and he is now in prison. I have been to see him this morning in custody and I am shocked and appalled at how he has been treated, Mr Lammy said on Friday. Jeremy Corbyn described Olivers case as absolutely shocking. In a tweet to home secretary Savid Javid, the Labour leader said: What happened to your promise to make things right? The government last month established a Windrush taskforce to help those caught up in the scandal to obtain the documents required to prove their right to remain in the UK. As well as Caribbean migrants who settled in Britain during the Windrush era, from 1948 and 1973, the Home Office offered assistance to people from Commonwealth countries who arrived in the UK before 1988. It followed changes to immigration law in 2014 that led to people being threatened with deportation, losing their jobs or being denied medical treatment because they did not have paperwork to show their residency. Mr Lammy said Oliver, who arrived in the UK from Jamaica in 1976, had been left homeless because of concerns about his immigration status. He is jobless and has been denied access to benefits and healthcare for years because of the Home Office, the MP for Tottenham said. He has been in the underground economy for decades living hand to mouth because of the Home Office. He added: Home Office caseworkers came to my constituency surgery last Friday to encourage him to come forward. He did so on Monday and instead of his citizenship and passport he got thrown in prison. He went for his passport and left in handcuffs. 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 Theresa May has pledged information received by the Windrush taskforce would not be passed to immigration enforcement officials. Asked about the issue by Mr Lammy last month, the prime minister said there was no question of taking enforcement action when people call a hotline set up to provide advice. However, the government did not say anything about information being provided to police. James Elliott, head of public law at Wilson Solicitors LLP, said: What normally happens when youre arrested is you go to a police station but [Oliver] said this didnt happen. This is not an endorsement for people who may or may not have committed offences but this appointment at the Home Office was made in good faith. The Home Office informed police and effectively trapped him. We are not saying if wanted for serious crime, nothing should happen, but this is totally disproportionate and highly counterproductive. The Home Office said it was abiding strictly to its commitment not to share information gathered by the taskforce with immigration enforcement. It said police checks were carried out on all immigration cases and staff would contact police if a wanted marker appeared on the national computer database. Boris Johnson is to make the first visit to Argentina by a British foreign secretary for 25 years. He will lay a wreath commemorating the Falklands war during a five-day tour of Latin America, also taking in Peru and Chile, as a part of a drive to drum up post-Brexit trade. The UK is looking to repair a relationship with Buenos Aires that was thrust into deep freeze by Argentine presidents Nestor Kirchner and Cristina Kirchner between 2003 and 2015. The arrival of their successor Mauricio Macri has led Argentinas government to dial down its rhetoric over the disputed islands and seek engagement with the wider world, including by hosting the G20 this year. Mr Johnson will attend a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Buenos Aires on Monday, becoming the first British foreign secretary to visit the country since Douglas Hurd in 1993. Theresa May is also set to be the first prime minister since Tony Blair in 2001 to visit Argentina when she takes part in the leaders summit in November. Before Buenos Aires, Mr Johnson will head to Lima to meet Peruvian president Martin Vizcarra. They will visit the Amazon jungle together on Saturday to view front line efforts in the battle against the illegal trade in wildlife. The three South American countries on Mr Johnsons itinerary are viewed as key targets for enhanced UK exports after Brexit, because of their support for free trade and their growing middle classes creating a market for British expertise in areas such as infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and professional services. However, Argentina is unable to negotiate independent bilateral trade deals, as it is part of a trading bloc, Mercosur, with Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The UK currently provides only about one per cent of imports in each country a figure which Downing Street believes should be higher. Peru and Chile already have free trade agreements with the EU, which Theresa Mays government hopes can be rolled over after Brexit. During their Amazon jungle trip, Mr Johnson and President Vizcarra will see the work of an animal rescue centre as well as launching a UK-funded solar project providing electricity and drinking water for a remote Amazonian school. The visit to Peru the first by a British foreign secretary for more than 50 years forms part of preparations for a major international conference on the illegal wildlife trade, hosted in London in October. Britain is also using its experience from the 2012 London Olympics to support Perus preparations for next years Pan Am Games in Lima, with construction contracts linked to the sporting spectacle likely to attract bids from UK firms. 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 Speaking ahead of the visit, Mr Johnson said: This will be my first visit to the region since becoming foreign secretary. Latin America is a vibrant and dynamic part of the world that works closely with the UK on a number of issues including trade, security, science, infrastructure and education, among others. I am looking forward to strengthening the UKs relationship with countries in the region, as well as representing the UK at the G20 foreign ministers meeting for important talks on climate change, the illegal wildlife trade and how to ensure girls across the world receive 12 years of quality education. As well as attending the G20 meeting in Buenos Aires, Mr Johnson is due to hold talks with President Macri and his foreign minister Jorge Faurie. In Chile, he will meet president Sebastian Pinera and foreign minister Roberto Ampuero as well as visiting a British Council-funded project which aims to train young women in coding skills. A perfect storm of economic pressures facing British workers is fuelling a mental health epidemic, Jeremy Corbyn has warned. In a speech to mark mental health awareness week, the Labour leader said that job insecurity, the housing crisis, rising debt and failing living standards are leading to escalating levels of anxiety and stress in Britain. While affecting all ages, Mr Corbyn said that is stifling young people trying to start out in life in particular, pointing to research that a xthird of 18 to 24-year-olds have experiences stresses due to concerns about housing. According to the Trade Union Congress mental ill health is the top reason for workplace sickness absence, with 70 million working days lost each year at a cost of 2.4bn to employers. The remarks from Mr Corbyn at Labours state of the economy conference in central London came as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle exchanged vows at their wedding in Windsor. He paid tribute to to Prince Harry, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge for their commendable and inspiring campaigning on mental health issues. Poor mental health costs the economy an estimated 99bn a year. But whats even more important than mental health being bad for the economy is that our current economy is so clearly bad for our mental health, Mr Corbyn told an audience at Imperial College London. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA A perfect storm of economic pressures is feeding this crisis. Too many workers endure stress in toxic work environments or face job insecurity, with many more lying awake at night worried about debts, rent or mortgage payments, not knowing how they will make ends meet at the end of the month. The Labour leader added the clear link between uncontrolled market forces and mental health problems acts as evidence why we must take power from the market and give that power directly to people themselves. A complete overhaul of the accounting industry would be carried out under Labour to prevent a repeat of the Carillion scandal, John McDonnell will announce. The big six firms would no longer be able to "act like a cartel" that blocks competition and drives down standards, the shadow chancellor will say. A regulatory maze allows obfuscation and buck-passing and fails to protect consumers, while accountants are acting with impunity and "lining their pockets", he will claim. In a speech at Labour's "state of the economy" conference in central London, Mr McDonnell will say the party is commissioning an independent review of the entire corporate auditing and accounting regime that will consider what penalties or fines should be imposed in future. "Our regulatory system is simply not fit for purpose," he will say. "The financial sector alone has at least 29 overlapping regulators, including the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. "Some professions are self regulated. "This regulatory maze creates enormous opportunities for waste, duplication, obfuscation and buck-passing. "It does not protect consumers or promote confidence. "We need a complete overhaul of the entire regulatory framework for finance and business, to promote openness, transparency, accountability and - yes, where necessary - to impose appropriate punishments. "There will be no more Carillion scandals on Labour's watch." Labour would stop the six largest firms, Deloitte and KPMG, EY, PwC, Grant Thornton and BDO from dominating the sector. Mr McDonnell will say: "Under the next Labour government the big six firms will not be allowed to continue to act like a cartel that prevents new market entrants or drive down standards. "Otherwise it will further infect the rest of our economy and business community." A damning parliamentary report called for the four largest accountancy firms to be broken up following failings exposed by the collapse of construction giant Carillion. KPMG, PwC, Deloitte and EY came in for severe criticism from MPs on the business and pensions committees, who conducted a joint inquiry into Carillion's demise. Their final report said the audit profession was undergoing a "crisis of confidence", and the auditors' tangled web of involvement in Carillion's woes illustrated the need for a "more competitive market". It pointed to audits carried out by Deloitte and KPMG, as well as EY's advisory role and PwC's multi-faceted jobs that involved Carillion's pension schemes and its latest incarnation as special manager of the liquidation. Professional services firms had pocketed a total of 71.6m in Carillion-related work since 2008, including on its pension schemes. Carillion's liquidation in January left a 900m debt pile, a 590m pension deficit and hundreds of millions of pounds in unfinished public contracts. Labour's review of the industry will be led by Prem Sikka, professor of accounting and finance at the University of Sheffield. "This week the parliamentary report on the collapse of Carillion has once again highlighted the catastrophic failure and inadequacy of our regulatory system," Mr McDonnell will say. "The accounting and the pensions regulators have once more failed to do their jobs. "Yet again accountants and auditors seem to operate with impunity whilst lining their pockets. "The lack of openness, transparency and accountability means nobody ever seems to be punished for their transgressions." PA Janet Daby has been selected as Labours parliamentary candidate to fight the Lewisham East byelection next month after standing on a ticket to fight for the UK to remain in the single market after Brexit. Ms Daby, Lewishams deputy mayor, beat her rivals in the contest, including the Momentum-backed candidate Sakina Sheikh and Claudia Webbe, a member of Labours governing body, who had the support of Unite union. Ms Daby, who described herself as the unity candidate in the contest, won 288 votes with 60 per cent of first preference votes compared with 135 for Ms Sheikh and 35 for Ms Webbe. Congratulating Ms Daby on her victory, Jeremy Corbyn said: She has done an excellent job as deputy mayor and I know she will be a strong voice for the people of Lewisham East in parliament. I look forward to campaigning with her in the byelection. Last week the party decided to impose its first all-women, BAME shortlist, with Ms Daby, Brenda Dacres, Ms Sheikh and Ms Webbe on the ballot paper. The race was narrowed to three candidates on Friday after Ms Dacres removed herself from the contest, citing ill health. The contest came after Heidi Alexander resigned as Lewisham Easts MP after eight years to work alongside Sadiq Kahn, the London mayor, as his deputy for transport. Ms Alexander was a co-founder of Labours Westminster campaign for the single market and had been critical of the leaderships position on Brexit. Recommended Labour MP Heidi Alexander resigns to become London deputy mayor Ms Daby will now defend the partys healthy 21,000 majority at the byelection in four weeks time scheduled for 14 June. She told The Independent on Friday if elected to Parliament she would fight a hard Brexit and claimed leaving the EUs single market would have a disastrous effect on the economy. She added: I have lived in Lewisham East for 22 years. I have friends and family that live in my constituency and Ive been clear about my position on Brexit from the outset of the campaign. I would not put myself in a situation in which I have to make the short journey back from Westminster knowing that I have just voted to make the residents of my community poorer. Her victory was announced after dramatic scenes in Lewisham East following reports that 28-year-old Ms Sheikh had been withdrawn from the contest at the 11th hour only to be reinstated minutes later. Party bosses were understood to be consulting on her previous support for the radical organisation Take Back the City. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 1 October 2021 A driver talks to members of the media after passing his HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) driving test at National Driving Centre in Croydon, south London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA Ms Daby said: It is such an honour to be selected to stand as Labours candidate for Lewisham East. This is my home and I know the issues that matter to people because they are the same issues that matter to me. We want a good hospital, we want decent affordable housing, we want a good education and fair opportunities for all our kids, we want a transport system that is fit for purpose, and we want to live in a safe welcoming borough where everyone can feel at home. The Lib Dems/Tory coalition tried to close our hospital. I am proud to have been part of the campaign which stopped that, and Im proud to have campaigned against the punitive Tory cuts that have put all our services under intolerable pressure. Ruth Davidson has urged the Conservatives to embrace a more liberal outlook to attract younger voters as she warns many currently see the party as anathema. The remarks from the Scottish Conservative leader and rising star within the party comes as she will help launch Onward next week a campaigning, centre-right think tank which aims to generate policies that appeal to under 45s. Referring to recent polling conducted by YouGov, which found that nearly half of 18 to 24-year-olds would never vote for the Tories, Ms Davidson said the results were depressing but not entirely surprising. She added that voting for the Conservatives has become countercultural for many people in Britain with many younger voters seeing the party as anathema and that the crash generation simply dont trust the motivation of the right. Writing in The Guardian, she continued: A bolder narrative about the benefits of our free society and a bit more practical delivery is required if were to show we want to speak to all, and act for all. The younger generation, and society at large, is not yearning for a five-year plan of centrally delivered tractor quotas, she added. Instead, we are a society that prizes individual autonomy and freedom of expression, and expects government to help us to achieve our goals, not set them. Conservatives should seek to embrace this open, liberal outlook as a positive and not a threat. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 7 October 2021 British comedian Jo Brand poses with cut-out silhouettes representing women outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters New Scotland Yard, to highlight violence against women by male police officers or former police officers AFP via Getty 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 Ms Davidson also used the article to point to her success in Scotland after her party secured an additional 12 Westminster seats at the general election last year and made significant gains at the 2016 Scottish election, becoming the second largest party in the Scottish parliament. She added: In the last few years the party in Scotland has sought to write our own history, tell our own story, and speak about why we do what we do and in so doing, remove some of the negative stereotypes that follow us. The clouds hung low over the skyscrapers of midtown Manhattan, the constant rain in stark contrast to the bright sunshine greeting Prince Harry and Meghan Markle before their wedding in Windsor. But that didn't stop New Yorkers from filling out a number of bars at 6.30am to take in the spectacle on television a mark of the American fascination with Britains royal family. At the Dog and Bone bar on 25th Street, the flatscreen televisions shone like a beacon against the grey sky, bringing in wedding watchers in fascinators and rain coats. Amber Rodriguez, 42, sat at the bar. She lives a few streets away and wanted to take in a cultural moment and particularly Ms Markle. I would have come anyway, Ms Rodriguez said, talking about a love for British television and a visit to the UK last year, but Ms Markle was wonderful and a breath of fresh air in the monarchy. TV series like The Crown have no doubt had an impact on many, the series having built up a healthy US audience. But America has long had a fascination with dynasties, including political stalwarts the Kennedy family and the Bush family. Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Show all 90 1 /90 Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures The Duke and Duchess of Sussex kiss on the steps of St Georges Chapel after their wedding WPA Pool/Getty Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Top gear: William and Kate had an Aston Martin with balloons and a JUST WED number plate. Harry and Meghan score extra points: this 1968 E-type Jag, which took them to the evening party at Frogmore House, has been converted to electric power. And the number plate, E190518? Its their anniversary AP Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Meghan Markle and Prince Harry leave St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle after their wedding PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave St Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding in Windsor Reuters Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stand at the altar Getty Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Kingdom Choir outside St Georges Chapel in Windsor, Berkshire, after performing at the wedding PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures The pageboy whose smile went viral Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Guests toast as they attend a viewing party for the royal wedding at the Plaza Hotel in New York Getty Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Meghan Markle reaches the altar in St Georges Chapel Getty Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures John Major and his wife Norma Major attend the royal wedding ceremony EPA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Meghan Markle arrives for the wedding ceremony to marry Prince Harry PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Fans attend a Royal Wedding watching party at Lillies Victorian Establishment in New York AFP/Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex emerge from the West Door of St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Well-wishers lining the streets wave and cheer as Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex pass riding in the Ascot Landau Carriage during their carriage procession AFP/Getty Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures James Blunt and Sofia Wellesley attend the royal wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle EPA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kiss on the steps of St Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding WPA Pool/Getty Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Charlotte Riley and Tom Hardy arrive for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Getty Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex begin their carriage procession in the Ascot Landau Carriage after their wedding ceremony AFP/Getty Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures James Corden and Julia Carey attend the royal wedding ceremony EPA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Harry and Meghan emerge from the West Door of St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Left to right, Lady Louise Windsor, Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Princess Anne, Princess Royal arrive for the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle AP Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Prince Harry looks at his bride, Meghan Markle, as she arrives accompanied by the Prince of Wales in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for their wedding in Windsor, Britain REUTERS Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian arrive at St Georges Chapel Reuters Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Prince Harry places the wedding ring on the finger of Meghan Markle during their wedding service, conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby WPA Pool/Getty Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures The royal wedding cake has been revealed AP Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Members of the public view a live screening of the marriage ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Winchester Cathedral Getty Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Rex Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures The Duke of Cambridge (left), the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke of York during the wedding service for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle during their wedding service PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures US actor Abigail Spencer (left) and Indian actor Priyanka Chopra (second from left) arrive with other guests for the royal wedding EPA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Meghan Markle and her mother Doria Ragland drive along the Long Walk for her wedding to Prince Harry in Windsor Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Sir Elton John leaves St Georges Chapel PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Meghan Markle and her mother Doria Ragland drive along the Long Walk for her wedding to Prince Harry in Windsor Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Oprah Winfrey arrives at St Georges Chapel REUTERS Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Prince Harry's niece and bridesmaid Princess Charlotte arrives for the wedding ceremony of Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and US actress Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor AFP/Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for their wedding PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Bishop Michael Curry delivered a passionate sermon during the royal wedding ceremony PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures In this frame from video, Meghan Markle walks down the aisle with Prince Charles for her wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England AP Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attend the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Meghan Markle is driven by the Long Walk to St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle for her royal wedding ceremony to Britain's Prince Harry, in Windsor, Britain EPA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Meghan Markle is driven down the Long Walk to St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle for her royal wedding ceremony to Britain's Prince Harry, in Windsor, Britain EPA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Meghan Markle arrives for the wedding ceremony to marry Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, at St George's Chapel, Windsor AFP/Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Meghan Markle arrives at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for her wedding to Prince Harry PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Bridesmaids and pageboys arrive for the royal wedding ceremony of Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, in Windsor, Britain EPA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Meghan Markle (R) with her mother Doria Ragland arrive at Windsor Castle ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales marries Ms. Meghan Markle in a service at St George's Chapel inside the grounds of Windsor Castle. Among the guests were 2200 members of the public, the royal family and Ms. Markle's Mother Doria Ragland Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Princess Charlotte (right) arrives for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall arrive at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Meghan Markle, right, and her mother Doria Ragland leave Cliveden House Hotel in Taplow, near London, England AP Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Meghan Markle arrives at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for her wedding PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Doria Ragland arrives at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Prince Harry (right) sits with his best man the Duke of Cambridge in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle ahead of his wedding to Meghan markle wedding PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Guests are pictured as they take their seats inside the Chapel ahead of the wedding ceremony of Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and US actress Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor AFP/Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Britain's Prince Harry (R) and his brother and best man, Prince William (C), Duke of Cambridge arrive at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle for his royal wedding ceremony to Meghan Markle, in Windsor, Britain EPA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Prince Harry (left) and the Duke of Cambridge arrive at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Meghan Markle leaves Cliveden House Hotel in Taplow, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018 before her wedding ceremony with Prince Harry at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castl AP Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Britain's Prince Harry (L), Duke of Sussex, arrives with his best man Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (R), at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on May 19, 2018 for his wedding ceremony to marry US actress Meghan Markle AFP/Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures AFP/Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures AFP/Getty Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures REUTERS Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures British Ministry of Defence shows around members of the Band of the Irish Guards entertaining the public ahead of the royal wedding ceremony of Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Windsor, Britain, EPA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Princess Eugenie, The Duke of York and Princess Beatrice, from left, arrive for the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle AP Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Key Newss Kay Burley enjoys the moment Rex/Shutterstock Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Sarah Ferguson leaves after the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle AP Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures A general view of guests arriving in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Windsor, Britain REUTERS Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Amal and George Clooney arrive for the wedding ceremony AFP/Getty Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Guests arrive at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures US tennis player Serena Williams (L) and her husband American Internet entrepreneur and investor Alexis Ohanian (R) arrive for the royal wedding ceremony of Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, in Windsor, Britain EPA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Irish Guards marching band parades through Windsor for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Members of the public gather ahead at Windsor Castle for the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Alison Tinsley on the Long Walk ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Police patrol the streets ahead of the royal wedding ceremony of Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, in Windsor, Britain EPA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Royal fans wearing wedding dresses hold a sign reading When Harry met Meghan he hadnt met us first ahead of the royal wedding ceremony EPA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Well-wishers gather to watch the Royal Wedding of Britains Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and US actress Meghan Markle at the Pear Tree in Edinburgh AFP/Getty Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Members of the public gather near Windsor Castle prior to the wedding of HRH Prince Harry Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Guardsman play for the crowd ahead of the royal wedding ceremony of Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, in Windsor EPA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Royal fans wear wedding dresses near the castle before the wedding of Prince Harry Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales marries Ms. Meghan Markle in a service at St George's Chapel inside the grounds of Windsor Castle. Among the guests were 2200 members of the public, the royal family and Ms. Markle's Mother Doria Ragland Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures War Veteran Phyllis Walker smiles during the wedding of Prince Harry Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle at Cambridge Gate Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures David and Victoria Beckham arrive at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle Reuters Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Band of the Irish Guards perform outside the castle prior to the wedding of Prince Harry Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures A member of staff holds goodie bags ahead of of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures A Royal fan waits for the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) AP Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Royal fans within the grounds of Windsor Castle ahead of the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Royal fans gather behind the barriers on the Long Walk, in Windsor, ahead of the wedding and carriage procession of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. PA Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Royal fans soak up the atmopshere during the wedding of Prince Harry Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle on The Long Walk Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures A man sweeps the path outside St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle ahead of the wedding and carriage procession of Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Windsor AFP/Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Two men wearing wedding dresses buy train tickets to Windsor to watch the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Waterloo train station Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Crowds gather during the wedding of Prince Harry Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle on The Long Walk Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Well-wishers draped in a Union flag with an image of Britain's Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle walk along the Long Walk leading to Windsor Castle ahead of the wedding and carriage procession of Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Windsor AFP/Getty Images Royal Wedding - Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in pictures Royal fans line the Long Walk in Windsor ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle PA On a street close to the bar, Steve Wilkins, 45, said that the royal family provide something different for Americans given their history. While there is a certain irony to a country that once gained independence from Britain raptly following such events, the story from Ms Markle has certainly captured the imaginations of many who are willing to revel in the pomp and circumstance of the royal family. Such devotion was not a surprise to Scott Robertson, who owns the Dog and Bone bar. We started receiving phone calls six months ago, said Mr Robertson who had dressed the bars mascot, Winston the English bulldog, in a mini tuxedo for the occasion. The Churchill Tavern, a nearby pub also owned by Mr Robertson, was packed with wedding watchers taking in the ceremony with coffees, juices or for those in the mood, beers and cocktails. Royal wedding: Fans explain why they've come to Windsor to see Harry and Meghan marry During the ceremony at the Dog and Bone there were cheers for famous faces popping up on camera, from David Beckham to Amal and George Clooney, and laughter at the reactions in the pews to the address given by Bishop Michael Curry. The rendition of "God Save the Queen" even brought applause from those gathered in the bar. Every so often Ms Rodriguez, who works in fashion, would snap a picture of the screen, in order for her to create an gallery of the best hats and fascinators to share on her Instagram feed later. American media went to great lengths to cater to this audience, which is not surprising given that, Wallis Simpson aside, this is likely the closest an American has got to the British royal family since the Boston Tea Party. Television and news networks NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, TLC, HBO, Hallmark, and E! all offered a live stream with commentary. PBS were using coverage from the BBC, in addition to the UK broadcaster showing it on BBC America. Among the 5,000 members of the international media covering the wedding, NBC set up five vantage points along the procession route for the newlyweds, and most major US television networks planned hours-long extended editions of flagship programmes, including staples like Good Morning America. Up to 23 million Americans watched the coverage of the wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011 with network bosses likely hoping for similar figures. Meanwhile, across the country, events and viewing parties were taking place in hotels, pubs and homes everywhere from Los Angeles where residents got up at 3am to towns in Florida and the Rocky Mountains. The phone hasnt stopped, Mr Robertson said of the rush for table reservations at his two establishments. In the last two weeks, it has been constant. While expectations were once low that Democrats could recapture majorities in both chambers of Congress in 2018, Donald Trumps controversy-ridden first year in office has left the party feeling like they can almost smell the sweep of victories in November. Mr Trumps dismal approval rating, Republican infighting and some significant Democratic election wins have all contributed to this possible result. In a recent poll by the Pew Research Centre, a majority of Americans said they are not too or not at all confident that Mr Trump could work effectively with Congress. A Quinnipiac poll released in October found that a whopping 70 per cent of voters believe Mr Trump should stop tweeting from his personal account, which he has used to instigate fights with professional athletes, members of his own party and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Democrats only need a net gain of two seats to win a majority in the 100-member Senate. Meanwhile, the party needs a net gain of 24 to win control of the 435-member House of Representatives. Just this past week, a Democratic victory in one of Wisconsins Republican-leaning districts led the states governor Scott Walker to call his partys loss a wake up call for Republicans. While the special election in Wisconsin was held to fill an empty seat in the state legislature, experts say the Democratic triumph could prove to be another warning sign for Republicans to not take the challenge from Democrats lightly during the midterm elections. This may be just one contest for the state legislature in Wisconsin, but it is part of a larger pattern we have observed over the last year, said David Barker, the director of American Universitys Centre for Congressional and Presidential Studies. Mr Barker noted to The Independent that Democratic voters have been disproportionately and unusually motivated to turn out in elections in traditionally Republican states or districts. Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Show all 29 1 /29 Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump acknowledges the audience after taking the oath of office as his wife Melania (L) and daughter Tiffany watch during inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West Front of the US capital in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jim Bourg: "This photo was shot with one of two remote cameras. The cameras were monitored and triggered remotely and the pictures were transmitted to clients worldwide within minutes of being taken." Reuters/Jim Bourg Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Obama farewell address - 10 January 2017 US President Barack Obama wipes away tears as he delivers his farewell address in Chicago on 10 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "In his final days in office, Obama made a visit home to Chicago. As he spoke from the stage to his wife and daughter in the audience, he became emotional when he talked about what they had sacrificed during his time in office. I turned from photographing the Obama women embracing to find him onstage wiping away tears." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 A combination of photos shows the crowds attending the inauguration ceremonies to swear in U.S. President Donald Trump at 12:01pm (left) on January 20, 2017 and President Barack Obama sometime between 12:07pm and 12:26pm on January 20, 2009. Reuters/ Lucas Jackson/Stelios Varias Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Liberty Ball - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the Liberty Ball in honour of his inauguration in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "What I see when I look at this picture is the end of a very long day, not to mention weeks and months of preparation by many photographers, editors and network experts and the beginning of everything since." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception - 22 January 2017 US President Donald Trump greets Director of the FBI James Comey as Director of the Secret Service Joseph Clancy (L), watches during the Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception in the Blue Room of the White House on 22 January, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "I have covered the White House for 16 years and normally either the President or the pool is in position when an event starts. In this case the President was not where anyone expected him to be. In fact, he was almost blocking the door when the pool came in. We had to scramble to find a position without bumping him or the furniture as he greeted and thanked members of law enforcement for their security efforts during the inauguration. Luckily, he greeted FBI Director James Comey a few seconds after the pool had made its way into the room." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Private phone calls to world leaders - 28 January 2017 US President Donald Trump, is joined by his staff, as he speaks by phone with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office on 28 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Very early in the Trump administration, weekends were as busy as weekdays. On Trump's second Saturday the official schedule said he would be making private phone calls to a number of world leaders including Russia's Vladimir Putin. I arrived early and, before sitting down at my desk walked up to Press Secretary Sean Spicer's office. He, too, was just taking his coat off. I gingerly made the suggestion that previous administrations had sometimes allowed photos of such phone calls through the Oval Office windows on the colonnade. To my mild shock, he didn't even think about it twice. "We'll do it!" he said. In truth, I really only expected the Putin call, but we were outside the windows multiple times throughout the day as the calls went on." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway - 27 February 2017 Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway (L) attends as US President Donald Trump welcomes the leaders of dozens of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) in the Oval Office on 27 February, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "We're often asked how much access we have to the Trump administration, and the answer is we have an awful lot. President Trump himself is very comfortable in the spotlight, and his aides are similarly unfazed by cameras. In this instance, senior advisor Kellyanne Conway was so comfortable in our presence she seemed not to consider the optics of kneeling on a Oval Office sofa to take pictures with her phone." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Angela Merkel heads to Washington - 17 March 2017 Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump hold a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House on 17 March, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Chancellor Merkel made one of the earliest important visits of any US allies to meet Trump in his first months in office. When world leaders give joint news conferences they don't always tend to give each other their full attention - but Merkel watched Trump intently at several key moments, and here seemed particularly rapt." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump welcomes truckers to the White House - 23 March 2017 President Trump reacts as he sits on a truck while he welcomes truckers and CEOs to attend a meeting regarding healthcare at the White House on 23 March, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "The White House organised a listening session with truckers and CEO's of major American companies, regarding healthcare reform. An 18-wheeler tow truck was parked on the South Lawn of the White House and as Trump welcomed the truckers someone invited the him to come and sit in the driver's seat. Trump jumped into the cab and started yelling and pretending to drive - creating one of the most memorable pictures of the year. A lesson learned, always be prepared for the unexpected." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Air Force One - 6 April 2017 US President Donald Trump talks to journalists members of the travel pool on board the Air Force One during his trip to Palm Beach, Florida on 6 April, 2017. Carlos Barria: "During the many trips to President Trump's residence in Florida it is usual to see the president coming to the back of the plane to chat with journalists. During one of the trips to the so called 'Winter White House', Trump had a long talk with reporters while the Air Force One entertainment system was playing one of the latest Star Wars movies. As I was listening to Trump talk I was also looking at the movie waiting for a part of the movie to frame the mood of the day. Of the many scenes, I choose the one with Darth Vader." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures 100 Days - 27 April 2017 US President Donald Trump speaks during an interview with Reuters in the Oval Office of the White House on 27 April, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "A day before President Trump's hundred days in office I was part of the team that interviewed the commander-in-chief in the Oval Office. I was only allowed to photograph Trump during the last five minutes of the interview. The time was very tight so I had to move fast as I had pictures in mind that I wanted to shoot. I walked into the Oval Office and saw that the President had printed maps of the country showing areas in red where he won. I raised my hands holding my camera as high as possible to get the best view of the scene using a 16mm wide angle lens." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures 100 Days - 27 April 2017 US President Donald Trump reacts as he arrives at Harrisburg international airport, before attending a rally marking his first 100 days in office in Pennsylvania on 29 April, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "President Trump travelled to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to celebrate his hundred days in office with a victory rally. He was in friendly territory as he won with a big difference over his opponent Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania, during the November elections. As usual when the commander-in-chief arrives local residents gather to greet him. This time a small group of military personnel attended the arrival. Surrounded by secret service agents Trump walked from the Air Force One and raised his hand in a sign of victory as the crowd cheered him on." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House staffers - 2 May 2017 White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer (L) and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus watch as US President Donald Trump presents the U.S. Air Force Academy football team with the Commander-in-Chief trophy in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on 2 May, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "Covering the White House does not just mean covering the President. White House staffers are an important part of the story and their relationship with the President and each other is an indicator of how things are going in the West Wing. The tendency is to focus exclusively on the President once an event starts but I always try to look around to see how people are reacting as things unfold." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Secret Service - 4 May 2017 Secret Service agents use a presidential limousine as cover from spraying water as US President Donald Trump lands via Marine One helicopter in New York on 4 May, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "The best part of any trip to New York City with the sitting US President is the helicopter ride into Manhattan. The ride out at night can be stunning. Here, Secret Service agents protect themselves from the spray from the East River as Trump lands on the helipad." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures NATO Summit - 25 May 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wait the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron (unseen) before a lunch ahead of a NATO Summit in Brussels on 25 May, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "One of the best parts of travelling overseas for White House coverage is the chance to see the U.S. president in different environments and (literally) a different light. Here, Trump and his wife came out of the shadows to greet France's President Macron." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump meets Putin at G20 summit - 7 July 2017 US President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany on 7 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "On July 7, I witnessed one of the most important meetings of President Trump's first year in office. Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin during a bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Germany. The world's eyes were on these two leaders after speculation about Russian interference during the 2016 US elections. We entered the room for less than two minutes, where I took dozens of pictures. But there was this very interesting moment when Trump extended his hand to Putin for a handshake. Putin paused for a second and looked at Trump's hand. That was the picture that I was looking for, a little moment that seemed to say a lot." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures First lady - 8 July 2017 First lady Melania Trump chats with US President Donald Trump during their return from Germany at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on 8 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "After President Trump's trip to Germany he arrived back at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. First Lady Melania Trump said goodbye to Trump as she was heading off in a different direction that day. While chatting a breeze blew Melania's hair up in the air." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Made in America product showcase - 17 July 2017 Vice President Mike Pence laughs as President Donald Trump holds a baseball bat as they attend a Made in America product showcase event at the White House on 17 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "This summer the White House organized an event to showcase 'Made in America' products. All kinds of exhibitors brought their products as the President and Vice President toured the event. One of the companies was Marucci Sport, a manufacturer of baseball bats based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As Trump approached a table full of baseball bats, photographers at the event, including me, rushed to get a good angle hoping that he would pick up a bat. As we predicted, he did. He took one and joked around as though he was hitting something hard. The only thing closer to him right there, was the media." Reuters Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House staffers - 25 July 2017 Former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski says hello to reporters as he and White House advisors including Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci accompany President Trump for an event celebrating veterans at AMVETS Post 44 in Ohio, July 25, 2017. Jonathan Ernst: "The most visible person in any White House is naturally the President, followed by the press secretary. But there are also the staff who support them. For those of us covering the Trump administration, there seem to be more compelling figures in the West Wing than ever before. It's crucial to know who's who and why they're important. When I raised my camera and back-pedalled ahead of the group to take this image Lewandowski gave me a hello. I liked the photo, but had no idea it would go a little bit viral, especially since Scaramucci, who was the biggest mover and shaker that week, was hidden back in the pack. But I guess the image catches a glimpse of what it's like to be a West Wing staffer on the road." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Campaign rally - 3 August 2017 US President Donald Trump arrives at a rally in West Virginia on 3 August, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "President Trump travelled to Huntington for one of his usual campaign rallies. While members of his family spoke to the crowd he was waiting under a black curtain to be introduced. Suddenly he walked onto the stage, one of the first frames that I took was of his hand. I set my exposure for the light on the stage hoping to create this dark background and it worked." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Staring into the solar eclipse - 21 August 2017 Without his protective glasses on, US President Donald Trump looks up towards the solar eclipse while viewing with his wife Melania and son Barron at the White House on 21 August, 2017. Photographer Kevin Lamarque: "On a day when everyone, and I mean everyone, was told not to look at the eclipse without protective glasses, Trump, President of the United States, couldn't help himself." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Hurricane Harvey - 2 September 2017 US President Donald Trump poses for a photo as he and first lady Melania Trump help volunteers hand out meals during a visit with flood survivors of Hurricane Harvey at a relief centre in Houston, Texas on 2 September, 2017. Photohrapher Kevin Lamarque: "Trump, eager to deliver the image of a hands-on response to Hurricane Harvey, made this visit to a relief centre and obliged this woman with a selfie as Melania continued to work." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House - 15 September 2017 Donald Trump welcomes 11-year-old Frank Giaccio as he cuts the Rose Garden grass at the White House on 15 September. Frank, who wrote a letter to Trump offering to mow the lawn, was invited to work for a day at the White House along the National Park Service staff. Frank was so focused on his task that he did not notice the President arrive to surprise him. He took his father jumping in to grab his attention and point Trump out. Photographer Carlos Barria said: The image of Trump shouting at a kid who is mowing his lawn might have many interpretations in today's politically polarized United States. But for me it was just a kid who loved what he was doing, to the point he almost appeared to ignore the President." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Take a knee - 27 September 2017 A man kneels with a folded U.S. flag as the motorcade of U.S. President Donald Trump passes him after an event at the state fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., September 27, 2017. In September, soon after Trump had made comments condemning NFL players who kneel during the national anthem, he made a day trip to a rally in Indianapolis. Jonathan Ernst managed to capture a man on one knee with a tri-folded flag and was able to use a portion of the sign on the building he was kneeling in front of to track the man down and tell his story in full. US Army veteran Marvin Boatright wanted to send a message against social injustice. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Hurricane Maria - 3 October 2017 President Donald Trump throws rolls of paper towels into a crowd of local residents affected by Hurricane Maria as he visits Calgary Chapel in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 3 October, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "During an afternoon visit to Puerto Rico for President Trump to survey damage from Hurricane Maria and greet some of its victims, Trump made a stop at a church where food and supplies were being distributed. Among the items were paper towels and Trump, apparently caught up in the moment, decided to distribute some of the rolls." Reuters Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Jared Kushner - 1 November 2017 White House Senior adviser Jared Kushner sits behind President Trump during a cabinet meeting in Washington on 1 November, 2017. Photographer Kevin Lamarque: "The role of Jared Kushner has gone through a series of changes. He began front and centre as a high profile adviser, but as time has passed and issues surrounding him have surfaced, he has become more of a background figure." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump in China - 9 November 2017 Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping shake hands after making joint statements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 9 November, 2017. Photographer Damir Sagolj: "It's one of those "how to make a better or at least different shot when two presidents shake hands several times a day, several days in row". If I'm not mistaken in calculation, presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump shook their hands at least six times in events I covered during Trump's recent visit to China. I would imagine there were some more handshakes I haven't seen but other photographers did. And they all look similar - two big men, smiling and heartily greeting each other until everyone gets their shot. But then there is always something that can make it special - in this case the background made of US and Chinese flags. The first time it didn't work for me. The second time I positioned myself lower and centrally, and used the longest lens I have to capture only hands reaching for a handshake." Reuters/Damir Sagolj Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Air Force One - 10 November 2017 US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One to depart for Vietnam from Beijing Airport in Beijing, China, November 10, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "There is a Reuters photographer in the tight pool covering the US president for every appearance he makes 365 days a year. This was just one of 32 images of mine that were transmitted on the Reuters wire of President Trump visiting China and Vietnam that day. You never know when a sudden interaction, a gust of wind or a unique facial expression will lead to a striking image that grabs peoples' attention." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures ASEAN handshake - 13 November 2017 Donald Trump registers his surprise as he realises other leaders, including Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte and Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, are crossing their arms for the traditional "ASEAN handshake" as he participates in the opening ceremony of the summit in Manila on 13 November, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Having covered a few ASEAN summits, I knew to expect the ASEAN handshake. Not everyone in the room knew to expect the ASEAN handshake. A lot was written about this unscripted moment, and what deeper meaning it might have. The simple truth is that sometimes in life there are unscripted moments." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst People are voting everywhere. People woke up the day after Trump got elected and said, I will no longer be a casual participant in democracy ever again, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez said in an interview last year with Politico. Is it an uphill battle to win the House and the Senate? Of course it is. Is it doable? I think so as well. Turnout among female, African-American and under-30 voters has been particularly notable. In November, Democrats made much larger than expected gains in Virginias state legislature. Additionally, the Democratic candidate for governor won by a stunning margin over his Republican opponent another possible indicator of a tough year ahead for Republicans. Experts have been quick to point out that in a lot of special elections, Democrats have done better than they did in 2016 even when they have lost. This pattern, Mr Barker said along with the unprecedented numbers of Republican retirements in the House of Representatives, numbers of qualified Democratic challengers who are running, and Democratic fundraising numbers is starting to make a wave election for Democrats in 2018 look less likely than a tsunami [of wins]. But Mr Trumps antics may not be the full reason for a sweep by Democrats. "The average number of House seats that an incumbent presidents party loses in the following midterm is around 30, Mr Barker said. The Democrats only need around 24 to reclaim control. Right now, the forecast has to be in the 40s or even higher. In 2008, with the election of President Barack Obama, Democrats won a majority in both the House and Senate as well as control of the presidency. But during the 2010 midterm elections, the Democratic Party suffered massive defeats, with the Republican Party gaining 63 seats in the House. Republicans were able to recapture a majority in the lower chamber and gained six seats in the Senate. Currently, it appears it will be easier for the Democratic Party to retake control of the House than the Senate, despite the Republican Partys narrow 52-48 majority in the upper chamber. Ten Democratic senators are running in states that went to Mr Trump in 2016, particularly problematic when several members of their party appear to be veering further and further to the left. Mr Trump has made it clear that he intends to be heavily involved in congressional races this year, even though his last foray into congressional politics did not go so well. In a special US Senate election in Alabama last year, the President first backed Luther Strange, who had been selected to temporarily fill the seat left vacant when Mr Trump nominated Jeff Sessions to be US attorney general. After Mr Strange lost to Roy Moore in the primary, Mr Trump then backed Mr Moore. The President even decided to support Mr Moore after the candidate was accused of sexual misconduct. The Republican denied all the allegations against him. Mr Moore then lost to Democrat Doug Jones in the general election a stunning result given the size of the conservative voter base in Alabama. President Donald Trumps first year in office was chaotic for several reasons one of the most significant being the record-setting turnover of staff in his White House and administration. The attrition rate among top-level staff in the Trump White House was more than triple that in former President Barack Obama's first year, according to a new Brookings Institution report. It was also double the rate in President Ronald Reagan's White House. While some turnover is expected and possibly beneficial, excessive turnover portends problems, writes Kathryn Dunn Tenpas, a non-resident senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution. [Mr Trump] has valued loyalty over qualifications and suffered from a White House that has functioned in a chaotic manner. Both features have made it difficult to retain staff and have contributed to the governance difficulties he has encountered. In chronological order, here is a list of the most high-profile people to have left the Trump administration. Sally Yates, Acting US Attorney General Length of tenure: 11 days After nearly three decades at the Department of Justice, Ms Yates became acting attorney general as Mr Trumps pick for the role, Jeff Sessions, waited to be confirmed by the Senate. Ms Yates was fired after she instructed Justice Department attorneys to not defend the Presidents executive order on 27 January 2017 that barred nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the country for 90 days. In a letter to the lawyers, she said the order was not defensible in court. The White House said in a statement that Ms Yates betrayed the Department of Justice. Michael Flynn, National Security Adviser Length of tenure: 25 days Mr Flynn, who had supported Mr Trump on the campaign trail, was forced to resign after it was revealed that he misled Vice President Mike Pence about the nature of multiple meetings with Sergey Kislyak, the Russian Ambassador to the US. Special counsel Robert Muellers probe into possible collusion between Donald Trump's campaign team and Russia struck at the heart of the White House in December, with Mr Flynn admitting that he lied to the FBI about contacts with a senior Russian diplomat. Mr Flynn agreed to cooperate with investigators as part of his plea deal, reportedly worrying remaining members of Mr Trumps White House team. Katie Walsh, Deputy Chief of Staff Length of tenure: 69 days In March, days after Mr Trump faced his first major legislative setback with the Houses failure to pass a Obamacare repeal and replacement bill, the Presidents deputy chief of staff left the White House. Ms Walsh joined a nonprofit group supporting Mr Trumps agenda, according to CNN. A senior White House official insisted to the news outlet that Ms Walsh was not being fired. James Comey, FBI Director Length of tenure: 190 days into the Trump administration Mr Trumps firing of Mr Comey set off what Democrats called a constitutional crisis. This is because he was heading an investigation into the Trump campaigns alleged ties to Russia when he was axed. When Mr Trump fired Mr Comey, the White House said it was acting on the recommendation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who criticised Mr Comey's handling of an investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails. But later, Mr Trump said he was thinking of this Russia thing when he resolved to dismiss his FBI chief. Mr Trumps decision to fire his FBI Director only created more issues for the President. Mr Rosenstein quickly appointed Special Counsel Robert Mueller, a former FBI director, to lead the federal Russia probe a move that the President criticised. Mr Comey also later testified to a Senate committee that he believed Mr Trump tried to pressure him into dropping a probe into Mr Flynn; testimony that appears to have inspired an investigation into whether the President obstructed justice. Mike Dubke, White House Communications Director Length of tenure: 74 days Mr Dubke is reported to have left the White House on good terms. But according to Axios, he had difficulty gelling with those who had been with Mr Trump since the campaign. After he resigned, Mr Dubke offered to stay on until the end of Mr Trumps first trip abroad as president and until a transition is concluded. Walter Shaub, Director of the Office of Government Ethics Length of tenure: 180 days into Trump administration Mr Shaub accepted a position with the Campaign Legal Centre after months of clashing with the administration over Mr Trump's refusal to divest his businesses while in office. Instead, the President transferred them into a trust in his name. Mr Shaub had served as director of the office under President Obama since 2013. Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary Length of tenure: 183 days After months of speculation that Mr Spicer was poised to leave the White House, it was announced in July that deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders had been promoted to fill his position. Mr Trump had asked Mr Spicer to stay on, according to The New York Times, but the ex-aide told the President that the appointment of financier Anthony Scaramucci as communications director was a big mistake. In an interview with ABC News, Mr Spicer said he felt relieved and that organisationally the White House communications team needed a fresh start. Michael Short, Assistant Press Secretary Length of tenure: 186 days During one of his first days on the job, Mr Scaramucci told Politico that he planned to fire Mr Short, ostensibly to stop leaks to the media. But at a press gaggle, Mr Scaramucci specifically pointed to the report about Mr Short's possible firing as a reason that leaks needed to stop - even though he was reportedly the one who told Politico that Mr Short should be fired. Let's say I'm firing Michael Short today. The fact that you guys know about it before he does really upsets me as a human being and as a Roman Catholic, Mr Scaramucci said. Mr Short told reporters that he had resigned. Reince Priebus, White House Chief of Staff Length of tenure: 190 days Mr Trump announced on Twitter that he was replacing Mr Priebus as his right-hand man with John Kelly, the secretary of Homeland Security. After he left the White House, Mr Priebus told Fox News he is going to be Team Trump all the time. I'll always be out there trying to help the president, advance his goals, support him as a friend too, Mr Priebus said. Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Show all 29 1 /29 Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump acknowledges the audience after taking the oath of office as his wife Melania (L) and daughter Tiffany watch during inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West Front of the US capital in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jim Bourg: "This photo was shot with one of two remote cameras. The cameras were monitored and triggered remotely and the pictures were transmitted to clients worldwide within minutes of being taken." Reuters/Jim Bourg Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Obama farewell address - 10 January 2017 US President Barack Obama wipes away tears as he delivers his farewell address in Chicago on 10 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "In his final days in office, Obama made a visit home to Chicago. As he spoke from the stage to his wife and daughter in the audience, he became emotional when he talked about what they had sacrificed during his time in office. I turned from photographing the Obama women embracing to find him onstage wiping away tears." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 A combination of photos shows the crowds attending the inauguration ceremonies to swear in U.S. President Donald Trump at 12:01pm (left) on January 20, 2017 and President Barack Obama sometime between 12:07pm and 12:26pm on January 20, 2009. Reuters/ Lucas Jackson/Stelios Varias Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Liberty Ball - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the Liberty Ball in honour of his inauguration in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "What I see when I look at this picture is the end of a very long day, not to mention weeks and months of preparation by many photographers, editors and network experts and the beginning of everything since." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception - 22 January 2017 US President Donald Trump greets Director of the FBI James Comey as Director of the Secret Service Joseph Clancy (L), watches during the Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception in the Blue Room of the White House on 22 January, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "I have covered the White House for 16 years and normally either the President or the pool is in position when an event starts. In this case the President was not where anyone expected him to be. In fact, he was almost blocking the door when the pool came in. We had to scramble to find a position without bumping him or the furniture as he greeted and thanked members of law enforcement for their security efforts during the inauguration. Luckily, he greeted FBI Director James Comey a few seconds after the pool had made its way into the room." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Private phone calls to world leaders - 28 January 2017 US President Donald Trump, is joined by his staff, as he speaks by phone with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office on 28 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Very early in the Trump administration, weekends were as busy as weekdays. On Trump's second Saturday the official schedule said he would be making private phone calls to a number of world leaders including Russia's Vladimir Putin. I arrived early and, before sitting down at my desk walked up to Press Secretary Sean Spicer's office. He, too, was just taking his coat off. I gingerly made the suggestion that previous administrations had sometimes allowed photos of such phone calls through the Oval Office windows on the colonnade. To my mild shock, he didn't even think about it twice. "We'll do it!" he said. In truth, I really only expected the Putin call, but we were outside the windows multiple times throughout the day as the calls went on." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway - 27 February 2017 Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway (L) attends as US President Donald Trump welcomes the leaders of dozens of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) in the Oval Office on 27 February, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "We're often asked how much access we have to the Trump administration, and the answer is we have an awful lot. President Trump himself is very comfortable in the spotlight, and his aides are similarly unfazed by cameras. In this instance, senior advisor Kellyanne Conway was so comfortable in our presence she seemed not to consider the optics of kneeling on a Oval Office sofa to take pictures with her phone." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Angela Merkel heads to Washington - 17 March 2017 Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump hold a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House on 17 March, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Chancellor Merkel made one of the earliest important visits of any US allies to meet Trump in his first months in office. When world leaders give joint news conferences they don't always tend to give each other their full attention - but Merkel watched Trump intently at several key moments, and here seemed particularly rapt." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump welcomes truckers to the White House - 23 March 2017 President Trump reacts as he sits on a truck while he welcomes truckers and CEOs to attend a meeting regarding healthcare at the White House on 23 March, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "The White House organised a listening session with truckers and CEO's of major American companies, regarding healthcare reform. An 18-wheeler tow truck was parked on the South Lawn of the White House and as Trump welcomed the truckers someone invited the him to come and sit in the driver's seat. Trump jumped into the cab and started yelling and pretending to drive - creating one of the most memorable pictures of the year. A lesson learned, always be prepared for the unexpected." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Air Force One - 6 April 2017 US President Donald Trump talks to journalists members of the travel pool on board the Air Force One during his trip to Palm Beach, Florida on 6 April, 2017. Carlos Barria: "During the many trips to President Trump's residence in Florida it is usual to see the president coming to the back of the plane to chat with journalists. During one of the trips to the so called 'Winter White House', Trump had a long talk with reporters while the Air Force One entertainment system was playing one of the latest Star Wars movies. As I was listening to Trump talk I was also looking at the movie waiting for a part of the movie to frame the mood of the day. Of the many scenes, I choose the one with Darth Vader." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures 100 Days - 27 April 2017 US President Donald Trump speaks during an interview with Reuters in the Oval Office of the White House on 27 April, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "A day before President Trump's hundred days in office I was part of the team that interviewed the commander-in-chief in the Oval Office. I was only allowed to photograph Trump during the last five minutes of the interview. The time was very tight so I had to move fast as I had pictures in mind that I wanted to shoot. I walked into the Oval Office and saw that the President had printed maps of the country showing areas in red where he won. I raised my hands holding my camera as high as possible to get the best view of the scene using a 16mm wide angle lens." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures 100 Days - 27 April 2017 US President Donald Trump reacts as he arrives at Harrisburg international airport, before attending a rally marking his first 100 days in office in Pennsylvania on 29 April, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "President Trump travelled to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to celebrate his hundred days in office with a victory rally. He was in friendly territory as he won with a big difference over his opponent Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania, during the November elections. As usual when the commander-in-chief arrives local residents gather to greet him. This time a small group of military personnel attended the arrival. Surrounded by secret service agents Trump walked from the Air Force One and raised his hand in a sign of victory as the crowd cheered him on." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House staffers - 2 May 2017 White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer (L) and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus watch as US President Donald Trump presents the U.S. Air Force Academy football team with the Commander-in-Chief trophy in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on 2 May, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "Covering the White House does not just mean covering the President. White House staffers are an important part of the story and their relationship with the President and each other is an indicator of how things are going in the West Wing. The tendency is to focus exclusively on the President once an event starts but I always try to look around to see how people are reacting as things unfold." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Secret Service - 4 May 2017 Secret Service agents use a presidential limousine as cover from spraying water as US President Donald Trump lands via Marine One helicopter in New York on 4 May, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "The best part of any trip to New York City with the sitting US President is the helicopter ride into Manhattan. The ride out at night can be stunning. Here, Secret Service agents protect themselves from the spray from the East River as Trump lands on the helipad." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures NATO Summit - 25 May 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wait the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron (unseen) before a lunch ahead of a NATO Summit in Brussels on 25 May, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "One of the best parts of travelling overseas for White House coverage is the chance to see the U.S. president in different environments and (literally) a different light. Here, Trump and his wife came out of the shadows to greet France's President Macron." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump meets Putin at G20 summit - 7 July 2017 US President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany on 7 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "On July 7, I witnessed one of the most important meetings of President Trump's first year in office. Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin during a bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Germany. The world's eyes were on these two leaders after speculation about Russian interference during the 2016 US elections. We entered the room for less than two minutes, where I took dozens of pictures. But there was this very interesting moment when Trump extended his hand to Putin for a handshake. Putin paused for a second and looked at Trump's hand. That was the picture that I was looking for, a little moment that seemed to say a lot." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures First lady - 8 July 2017 First lady Melania Trump chats with US President Donald Trump during their return from Germany at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on 8 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "After President Trump's trip to Germany he arrived back at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. First Lady Melania Trump said goodbye to Trump as she was heading off in a different direction that day. While chatting a breeze blew Melania's hair up in the air." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Made in America product showcase - 17 July 2017 Vice President Mike Pence laughs as President Donald Trump holds a baseball bat as they attend a Made in America product showcase event at the White House on 17 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "This summer the White House organized an event to showcase 'Made in America' products. All kinds of exhibitors brought their products as the President and Vice President toured the event. One of the companies was Marucci Sport, a manufacturer of baseball bats based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As Trump approached a table full of baseball bats, photographers at the event, including me, rushed to get a good angle hoping that he would pick up a bat. As we predicted, he did. He took one and joked around as though he was hitting something hard. The only thing closer to him right there, was the media." Reuters Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House staffers - 25 July 2017 Former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski says hello to reporters as he and White House advisors including Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci accompany President Trump for an event celebrating veterans at AMVETS Post 44 in Ohio, July 25, 2017. Jonathan Ernst: "The most visible person in any White House is naturally the President, followed by the press secretary. But there are also the staff who support them. For those of us covering the Trump administration, there seem to be more compelling figures in the West Wing than ever before. It's crucial to know who's who and why they're important. When I raised my camera and back-pedalled ahead of the group to take this image Lewandowski gave me a hello. I liked the photo, but had no idea it would go a little bit viral, especially since Scaramucci, who was the biggest mover and shaker that week, was hidden back in the pack. But I guess the image catches a glimpse of what it's like to be a West Wing staffer on the road." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Campaign rally - 3 August 2017 US President Donald Trump arrives at a rally in West Virginia on 3 August, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "President Trump travelled to Huntington for one of his usual campaign rallies. While members of his family spoke to the crowd he was waiting under a black curtain to be introduced. Suddenly he walked onto the stage, one of the first frames that I took was of his hand. I set my exposure for the light on the stage hoping to create this dark background and it worked." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Staring into the solar eclipse - 21 August 2017 Without his protective glasses on, US President Donald Trump looks up towards the solar eclipse while viewing with his wife Melania and son Barron at the White House on 21 August, 2017. Photographer Kevin Lamarque: "On a day when everyone, and I mean everyone, was told not to look at the eclipse without protective glasses, Trump, President of the United States, couldn't help himself." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Hurricane Harvey - 2 September 2017 US President Donald Trump poses for a photo as he and first lady Melania Trump help volunteers hand out meals during a visit with flood survivors of Hurricane Harvey at a relief centre in Houston, Texas on 2 September, 2017. Photohrapher Kevin Lamarque: "Trump, eager to deliver the image of a hands-on response to Hurricane Harvey, made this visit to a relief centre and obliged this woman with a selfie as Melania continued to work." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House - 15 September 2017 Donald Trump welcomes 11-year-old Frank Giaccio as he cuts the Rose Garden grass at the White House on 15 September. Frank, who wrote a letter to Trump offering to mow the lawn, was invited to work for a day at the White House along the National Park Service staff. Frank was so focused on his task that he did not notice the President arrive to surprise him. He took his father jumping in to grab his attention and point Trump out. Photographer Carlos Barria said: The image of Trump shouting at a kid who is mowing his lawn might have many interpretations in today's politically polarized United States. But for me it was just a kid who loved what he was doing, to the point he almost appeared to ignore the President." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Take a knee - 27 September 2017 A man kneels with a folded U.S. flag as the motorcade of U.S. President Donald Trump passes him after an event at the state fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., September 27, 2017. In September, soon after Trump had made comments condemning NFL players who kneel during the national anthem, he made a day trip to a rally in Indianapolis. Jonathan Ernst managed to capture a man on one knee with a tri-folded flag and was able to use a portion of the sign on the building he was kneeling in front of to track the man down and tell his story in full. US Army veteran Marvin Boatright wanted to send a message against social injustice. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Hurricane Maria - 3 October 2017 President Donald Trump throws rolls of paper towels into a crowd of local residents affected by Hurricane Maria as he visits Calgary Chapel in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 3 October, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "During an afternoon visit to Puerto Rico for President Trump to survey damage from Hurricane Maria and greet some of its victims, Trump made a stop at a church where food and supplies were being distributed. Among the items were paper towels and Trump, apparently caught up in the moment, decided to distribute some of the rolls." Reuters Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Jared Kushner - 1 November 2017 White House Senior adviser Jared Kushner sits behind President Trump during a cabinet meeting in Washington on 1 November, 2017. Photographer Kevin Lamarque: "The role of Jared Kushner has gone through a series of changes. He began front and centre as a high profile adviser, but as time has passed and issues surrounding him have surfaced, he has become more of a background figure." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump in China - 9 November 2017 Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping shake hands after making joint statements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 9 November, 2017. Photographer Damir Sagolj: "It's one of those "how to make a better or at least different shot when two presidents shake hands several times a day, several days in row". If I'm not mistaken in calculation, presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump shook their hands at least six times in events I covered during Trump's recent visit to China. I would imagine there were some more handshakes I haven't seen but other photographers did. And they all look similar - two big men, smiling and heartily greeting each other until everyone gets their shot. But then there is always something that can make it special - in this case the background made of US and Chinese flags. The first time it didn't work for me. The second time I positioned myself lower and centrally, and used the longest lens I have to capture only hands reaching for a handshake." Reuters/Damir Sagolj Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Air Force One - 10 November 2017 US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One to depart for Vietnam from Beijing Airport in Beijing, China, November 10, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "There is a Reuters photographer in the tight pool covering the US president for every appearance he makes 365 days a year. This was just one of 32 images of mine that were transmitted on the Reuters wire of President Trump visiting China and Vietnam that day. You never know when a sudden interaction, a gust of wind or a unique facial expression will lead to a striking image that grabs peoples' attention." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures ASEAN handshake - 13 November 2017 Donald Trump registers his surprise as he realises other leaders, including Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte and Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, are crossing their arms for the traditional "ASEAN handshake" as he participates in the opening ceremony of the summit in Manila on 13 November, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Having covered a few ASEAN summits, I knew to expect the ASEAN handshake. Not everyone in the room knew to expect the ASEAN handshake. A lot was written about this unscripted moment, and what deeper meaning it might have. The simple truth is that sometimes in life there are unscripted moments." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Anthony Scaramucci, White House Communications Director Length of tenure: 10 days Mr Scaramucci's resignation came after he told a New Yorker reporter that Mr Priebus was a paranoid schizophrenic, a paranoiac and accused him of leaking information to journalists. Mr Scaramucci, a former Wall Street financier and longtime supporter of Mr Trump, turned the White House upside down during his short tenure. His hiring was quickly followed by the departures of both Mr Priebus and Mr Spicer. He has been replaced by longtime Trump aide Hope Hicks. Steve Bannon, White House Chief Strategist Length of tenure: 210 days The dismissal of Mr Bannon is said to have been the result of Mr Trumps growing frustration with his chief strategist. Mr Bannon joined the Trump campaign in August 2016, after serving as an executive at Breitbart. His time at the White House has been characterised as highly contentious, and he disagreed with Mr Trump on several issues including on the Presidents decision to send more troops to Afghanistan. His tenure was also marked by infighting with his colleagues in the West Wing, including Mr Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner. Mr Bannon returned to Breitbart after leaving the White House. However, he left the media outlet following a blow-up with Mr Trump over comments he made in Michael Wolff's book Fire and Fury, a controversial account of the Trump presidency. Sebastian Gorka, Deputy Assistant to the President Length of tenure: 208 days Mr Gorka focused on national security and counterterrorism during his time at the White House. Before that, he had worked as a paid policy consultant for Mr Trump's campaign. A White House official disputed a report saying Mr Gorka resigned, but confirmed that the ex-aide no longer works at the White House. The Federalist, an online magazine, obtained and posted what it says is Mr Gorka's resignation letter. [G]iven recent events, it is clear to me that forces that do not support the MAGA promise are for now ascendant within the White House, the Federalist quotes Mr Gorka as saying. As a result, the best and most effective way I can support you, Mr President, is from outside the Peoples House. Mr Gorka said he would return to Breitbart, a right-wing media outlet, where he had previously worked as national security editor and often warned of Islamist terrorism. Mike Price, Secretary of Health and Human Services Length of tenure: 232 days Mr Price resigned after being caught up in a controversy over his use of private jets for government travel. The former congressman and orthopaedic surgeon took as many as 26 chartered planes during his brief tenure. He is reported to have spent an estimated $1m of taxpayers money on both domestic trips and military flights to Africa, Asia and Europe. The HHS Office of Inspector General had launched an investigation into the matter a week before Mr Prices resignation. Omarosa Manigault Newman, Communications Director for the White House Office of Public Liaison Length of tenure: 365 days Ms Newman is a former Apprentice star and one of the presidents prominent African-American supporters. Reports have suggested that her position at the White House was vague and undefined. On 13 December, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Ms Newman resigned yesterday to pursue other opportunities. Her departure will not be effective until Jan. 20, 2018. We wish her the best in future endeavours and are grateful for her service, Ms Sanders added. The US and China have agreed to begin bilateral trade talks, with Beijing committing to substantially reduce the trade deficit between the countries by boosting the amount of goods it purchases from America. A joint statement sent from the White House announced they had reached consensus on taking effective measures to substantially reduce the United States trade deficit in goods with China. The announcement comes amid fears that President Donald Trumps tough talk on trade could spark a trade war between two of the world''s largest economic power houses. The development comes just one day after the US and China appeared at odds over a claim from White House Economic Adviser Larry Kudlow, who said that China had agreed to reducing its deficit with the US by $200bn. It is not clear exactly how much China actually plans on reducing that deficit, however, and negotiators from both countries reportedly went back and forth through the night as they crafted the exact language of the joint statement, according to the Wall Street Journal. Mr Trump has remained optimistic that a palatable agreement will be made, and has regularly boasted that his good relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping is an asset that will help deliver that promised reduction. 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 President Xi and I will always be friends, no matter what happens with our dispute on trade, Mr Trump tweeted last month as the talks of a potential trade war swirled. The trade deficit has grown recently, and has proved to be a difficult issue to resolve between Washington and Beijing for years. Data from the Department of Commerce shows that the imbalance reached a record high of $375 billion in 2017. The tough stance Mr Trump has taken on the deficit with China has led to those in some areas of the American agricultural industry to express concern that a potential trade war with China could ravage their businesses, since China is a main trading partner for American agricultural exports. The statement released Saturday described a cut in the deficit as being mutually beneficial to both countries interests. To meet the growing consumption needs of the Chinese people and the need for high-quality economic development, China will significantly increase purchases of United States goods and services, the statement reads. This will help support growth and employment in the United States. The statement says that the US will send a team to China to negotiate the agreement, and included American agricultural and energy exports as priorities. Those talks could be held as soon as late next week, according to the statement. Mr Trump set off fears of a trade war by saying he was considering tariffs on up to $150bn worth of Chinese products. That proposal was met with stiff threats from Beijing, which threatened an equal response targeting American exports like soybeans, cars, and aircraft. The statement did not mention Chinese telecommunications manufacturer ZTE, which was hit with sanctions for violating a ban on sending products to Iran and North Korea that include parts made in the United States. The president has said on Twitter that he has instructed the US government to consider reversing those sanctions, which were imposed last month and shut down the companys operations. Eleven people have reportedly died following a second prison riot in two days in Venezuela, just days before a controversial presidential election. Two guards and nine inmates at Fenix Penitentiary, in the city of Barquisimeto, were killed on Thursday after inmates wrestled a gun from prison wardens, sparking an exchange of gunfire, according to human rights activists. Prisoner rights group A Window to Freedom said officers were now back in control of the prison. It came a day after a riot erupted at a crowded detention centre where many of president Nicolas Maduros political opponents are held. Videos from the El Helicoide facility, located in Caracas at the headquarters of the intelligence agency Sebin, showed groups of men identifying themselves as prisoners who had taken over. But in a video which emerged from the prison, one man said: This has been taken over peacefully by all the political prisoners and all the prisoners who are abducted here, who are tortured daily. Venezuela prison riot: Utah Mormon missionary says he has spent two years behind bars and appeals for help In another video posted on social media, former US missionary Joshua Holt, who is also being detained at the prison, pleaded for help. They have taken the entire prison where I am at. They are outside, theyre trying to break in. Theyre saying that they want to kill me and that they want me as their guarantee, he said. Mr Holts family said he was framed on weapons charges while in Venezuela for his wedding. The top US diplomat in Caracas, Todd Robinson, said he is pressing Venezuelan officials for information because both jails hold Americans. A turbulent year in Venezuela Show all 11 1 /11 A turbulent year in Venezuela A turbulent year in Venezuela Demonstrators scuffle with security forces during an opposition rally in Caracas, Venezuela, April 4, 2017. Venezuelan security forces quelled masked protesters with tear gas, water cannons and pepper spray in Caracas after blocking an opposition rally against socialist President Nicolas Maduro. The clashes began after authorities closed subway stations, set up checkpoints and cordoned off a square where opponents had planned their latest protest against the government and the crippling economic crisis. Carlos Garcia Rawlins: "For me that was the day that made a difference, never before had I seen the protesters and police clashing men-to-men and struggling back and forward. From then, the strategy of the police changed and they never faced the protesters so close again." Reuters A turbulent year in Venezuela A man who was set on fire by people accusing him of stealing during a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro runs amidst opposition supporters in Caracas, Venezuela, May 20, 2017. Marco Bello: "I spotted a man running in front of me as a group of protesters, most of them hooded and with makeshift shields, were chasing him so I followed them. Some 100 meters down the street, the protesters caught the man and surrounded him. When I walked up and went through the circle of people to take pictures, someone had already poured gasoline over the man and set him on fire. Reuters A turbulent year in Venezuela "Rowdy groups of government supporters busted into Venezuela's opposition-controlled National Assembly. There were several clashes happening at the same time, so I tried to follow a small group of attackers as they pushed their way through the main building. By the time I got into the building, they had already finished hitting people and were on their way out, leaving behind an opposition lawmaker covered in blood. I quickly went over to the politician, Leonardo Regnault, whose grey suit was spattered in blood. He was up against an ornate wooden door, clearly in a state of shock. Another opposition lawmaker, Luis Stefanelli, was standing next to him, hands up in a sign of surrender and pleading with the attackers to stop the beating. Reuters A turbulent year in Venezuela A member of the riot security forces points a gun through the fence of an air force base at David Jose Vallenilla, who was fatally injured during clashes at a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela, Reuters A turbulent year in Venezuela A demonstrators attends a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela, June 19, 2017. Ivan Alvarado: "I was under the highway photographing some protestors who had surrounded a woman they accused of stealing a phone from someone. I turned around to check what was happening behind me and saw this man appearing from the shadows to see what was going on. The white on his face is salt, which the protestors said helped to reduce the effects of the tear gas." REUTERS A turbulent year in Venezuela Riot security forces clash with demonstrators as a motorcycle is set on fire during a protest against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in San Cristobal, Venezuela, May 29, 2017. Carlos Eduardo Ramirez: "Security forces arrived to disperse demonstrators that already had burned two taxis and a bus, throwing tear gas and pellets and the demonstrators' response was to throw molotov cocktails and one of those petrol bombs reached a National Guard member, setting him and the motorbike on fire." Reuters A turbulent year in Venezuela Riot security forces detain a demonstrator during a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela, July 28, 2017. Rock-throwing Venezuelans braved tear gas and rainstorms, blocking streets in protest against a legislative super-body to be elected two days later that critics call an attempt by President Nicolas Maduro to create a dictatorship. Carlos Garcia Rawlins: "After many hours of very violent clashes between the demonstrators and security forces, the National Guard in an attempt to end the situation, suddenly advanced their line very quickly, even going beyond where I and other photographers were taking cover. All the protesters who did not react fast enough to leave the place were detained." Reuters A turbulent year in Venezuela Opposition lawmaker Carlos Paparoni is hit by jets of water during riots at a march to the state ombudsman's office in Caracas, Venezuela, May 29, 2017. A group of young Venezuelan lawmakers has risen to prominence on the violent front line of anti-government marches that have shaken the South American country for three months, bringing 75 deaths. On the streets daily leading demonstrators, pushing at security barricades and sometimes picking up teargas canisters to hurl back at police and soldiers, the energetic National Assembly members are heroes to many opposition supporters. Carlos Garcia Rawlins: "I remember clearly how instants after I spotted Paparoni standing in front of 'The Whale', the common name of the water cannon armoured cars, he was flying through the air due to the unstoppable power of the water, as if he was a feather. Fellow protesters had to drag him out of the place, because from where I was, he seemed to have been unconscious." Reuters A turbulent year in Venezuela Flames erupt as clashes break out while the Constituent Assembly election is being carried out in Caracas, Venezuela, July 30, 2017. Deadly protests rocked Venezuela as opposition voters boycotted an election for a constitutional super-body that unpopular leftist President Nicolas Maduro vowed would begin a 'new era of combat' in the crisis-stricken nation. Carlos Garcia Rawlins: "Suddenly, a bomb exploded in the capital during an opposition protest and wounded seven police officers in what seemed to be the spread of more aggressive tactics. We were taking photos from close by but the police panicked and chased everyone away, firing teargas, rubber bullets and pellets." Reuters A turbulent year in Venezuela An injured opposition supporter is helped by volunteer members of a primary care response team during clashes with riot security forces at a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela, June 22, 2017. Ivan Alvarado: "This image was taken next to an airforce base where another protestor was fatally injured that day. I don't know how this man was injured, I first saw him as the first aid volunteers carried him out from the midst of the tear gas. You can really see the pain in his expression as he cries out. After I took the image the motorbike speeded off down the highway." Reuters A turbulent year in Venezuela A demonstrator shouts slogans in front of police officers during a women's march to protest against President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela Reuters Human rights groups and critics of Mr Maduro said several hundred political prisoners have been unfairly jailed. Mr Maduro previously said all jailed activists were being held on legitimate charges of violence and subversion. The incident comes not long before Sundays presidential election. The US, the EU, the UN Human Rights Council and neighbouring Latin American countries have expressed concerns about the upcoming poll and its vulnerability to manipulation. Commentators say the election is the biggest test to the countrys socialist revolution in nearly two decades, amid a crisis-stricken economy. Mismanagement has been blamed for the erosion of the countrys once-robust oil industry leaving widespread shortages of food and medicines. Mr Maduro, 55, the successor to Hugo Chavez, is seeking re-election for a second term on behalf of PSUV (the United Socialist Party of Venezuela) after assuming office in 2013. 'Rambo' rebel helicopter pilot Oscar Perez posts videos as he is cornered by Venezuela government security forces Outsiders have little doubt that Mr Maduro will win and he himself remains confident. The revolution is going to record the biggest victory in its entire electoral history, Mr Maduro said in early May. But opposition supporters say Mr Maduro cannot win the election without resorting to buying votes and coercion. The main opposition, the Democratic Unity coalition, is boycotting the vote and has refused to enter any candidates. Additional reporting by agencies The words come spinning out of Gina Ortiz Jones at a table in La Fogata, a roadside Mexican eatery on the eastern edges of El Paso, Texas. Tirades of frustration and fury aimed at her former boss, Donald Trump. But she can be to the point, too. Is she going to win this November? Yes. Would we be having this conversation if Hillary Clinton had won in 2016? Probably not. Ms Jones, a veteran of the Iraq war, orders coffee. She shouldnt, she says, ignoring the salsa and chips in plastic dishes on the table cloth of pink and white roses. Her mission now is tough: to oust the Republican incumbent of the 23rd District of Texas, Will Hurd, and reclaim the seat its bigger than France, running from El Paso to San Antonio for the Democrats. It could be lonely. Ms Jones, 36, is American-Filipino and a lesbian. This is Texas after all. But in reality, she has a decent shot. She knows, moreover, that she is part of a swelling army of female candidates across the land plotting their own runs for seats in Congress. Together, if enough are successful, they could help Democrats retake control of the House of Representatives, a switch of power that would slam the brakes on Donald Trump halfway through his first term and help open the path to impeachment proceedings against him. Another in that army is Veronica Escobar. Her sights are on the district immediately next door, the 16th, which covers most of El Paso itself and points west. It is in play because its current representative, Beto ORourke, also a Democrat, has resigned it to run against Republican Ted Cruz for a seat in the US Senate. If Ms Escobar, who gave up her post as County Judge in El Paso, prevails, she will, astonishingly, be the first Latina ever sent by Texas to Congress. At Geogeske, a sleeker lunch spot close to the heart of El Paso, Ms Escobar agreed she could have stayed in her old position and in her comfort zone. But she was moved to run, she says, because of this terrifying fear of Donald Trump and what he is going to do to our country. Veronica Escobar hopes to become the first Hispanic politician sent by Texas voters to Congress (Veronicaescobar.com) Gina Ortiz Jones is the ex-soldier but its Veronica Escobar who describes what she is doing in military terms. I feel as though a battle is raging in Washington DC. More people need to enlist and I am ready to enlist, she says. Its a fight, between some very ugly fundamental aspects of human nature like racism and bigotry and fear-mongering versus the most beautiful ideals that our country was founded on, she adds. Our democracy in many regards is at stake. By the last count almost 400 women were planning to run in this year's midterm elections in the US, the most ever. Some will be weeded out in the primary elections, which in Texas are only seven weeks away, where no fewer than 50 women hope to make it all the way to Washington. That is especially striking when you consider the Lone Star State has not sent a new woman to Congress since 1996. Ms Jones and Ms Escobar are both confident they will beat off rivals from their own party to be the candidates in their districts. Encouraging them have been groups dedicated to helping and funding women to run for office, at national and at state levels, such as Emilys List in Washington DC, which specifically offers support to Democratic women willing to stand up for abortion rights. In the two years leading up to the 2016 cycle, it received enquiries from 920 women interested in maybe taking the plunge. So far, running up to the 2018 midterms, it has been contacted by more than 25,000. Such a burst of energy from progressive women is unnerving Republicans as they prepare to defend their House majority. (Democrats need a net gain of 24 seats to flip the chamber.) They similarly fear a higher turnout among women voters, with whom they are already in trouble. According to a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll conducted in mid-December, Democrats are polling 32 per cent ahead of Republicans with college-educated women when asked who'd they prefer to see in control of Congress after November. With all women it was a 20-point gap. The Democrats and some outside groups like Emilys List have been more active, better funded and more focused on recruiting female candidates, says Matt Mackowiak, an Austin-based strategist to Republicans. Women want more women in office to deal with issues that are relevant to them, like healthcare. If the Democrats find a way to dominate with female voters that would be a big problem for Republicans but I dont see any evidence of that at this point. That women meant to be a main engine of the anti-Trump resistance became clear the day after his inauguration when half a million joined the Womens March on Washington to protest his agenda. Volunteering as a road-crossing guard was Ms Jones. With an important job as trade advisor inside the Executive Office of the President, she was already struggling to come to terms with the fact that Barack Obama was no longer her employer. Mr Trump was. She lasted until June when she did a gut check on herself and left. It just became increasingly difficult to be part of that administration personally and professionally, she says. (La Fogata, the restaurant we are in, is named after the Spanish for bonfire, no doubt where she would light a Trump effigy.) I had worked in national security for 14 years and I think his policies actually ran contrary to national security, she adds. Jones was appalled that after committing herself for so long to public service, Mr Trump was bringing in people who were interested neither in the public nor in service. Since his inauguration, moreover, Mr Trump has fallen short even of her lowest expectations. Never in our wildest imaginings could we have foreseen that the President of the United States, a country that was based on immigration, would be talking about s***hole countries, she says. No, I could not have imagined that. She also came to feel that he was attacking people who are her own, including immigrants she was raised by single mother who came to the US from the Philippines and also the LGBTQ community. Just as Ms Escobar hopes to be the first Latina member of Congress from Texas, she hopes to be the first out LGBTQ member. A chalk slogan in Los Angeles on International Women's Day last year (Reuters) A wider revolt among women was inevitable, says Ms Ortiz Jones. We have a president who thinks it's OK to grab women by the genitals. Is it really a surprise that women are fired up? And its about taking control before its too late. It should surprise no one that women, who stand to lose so much under this administration, are standing up and saying, I am going to run because I am going to stop assuming that someone is going to do for me that which I can do for myself. Dangling a spoon over her tortilla soup, Ms Escobar reflects on why it has taken so long to get more women into Congress, which remains 80 per cent male and 80 per cent white and thus can barely consider itself representative of the people it is meant to represent. Partly, she says, it was because of the sacrifices required to run for office, especially for those with young families or who didnt have the easy connections to raise money. But thats finally changing. For a lot of us now, its just, Screw it, we have to get it done. You need to throw caution to the wind. Because hers is the most Democratic district in Texas, she needs only to win the primary contest against her party rivals in March, after which she will be all but set. Like Ms Ortiz Jones she hopes she will go to Washington waving a banner not just for women but in particular also for the immigrant community, El Paso, where she has lived all her life, is on the very front line of Trumps campaign to crackdown on immigration. It would also be where part of his touted new wall is meant to be built, a proposal which, in her eyes, is in itself a form of attack on immigrants in America and also against Mexico, its neighbour. You are going to go after us? she says, as if Mr Trump were listening. Well, you know what? The border is going to send one of our own to you to fight back. That would be her. And, if they are lucky, she will have Gina Ortiz Jones as reinforcement and, possibly a whole brigade of freshly minted Democratic Congresswomen from Texas and far beyond. I mean 2018 really could be a year for some significant change and it really could be the year of the woman. It is very exciting, she says. So exciting, Ms Escobar veers off again into the language of battle, but this time on a galactic, cinematic scale. The oppressed and the marginalised are rising up against the empire! she says, only half joking. The Chinese air force has landed long-range bombers at an airport in the South China Sea for the first time, a move which has fuelled concerns about Beijing's ambitions to assert control over the disputed territory. China conducted take-off and landing training with nuclear-capable H-6K aircraft, state media reported, prompting US warnings about destabilising region. Beijing is pitted against smaller neighbours in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in the waters of the South China Sea, which are important for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves. Recommended US warns China over reported missile deployment in South China Sea The defence ministry said the exercises were carried out on an island reef but it did not specify when or where. The drills involved several H-6Ks taking off from an air base and making a simulated strike against sea targets before landing, the ministry said. The statement quoted a Chinese military expert, Wang Mingliang, as saying the exercises would help the air force improve its "real combat ability against all kinds of marine security threats". The Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, using Chinese social media posts, identified the location of the exercise as Woody Island, China's largest base in the Paracel Islands. With a combat radius of nearly 1,900 nautical miles, the H-6K bomber would have all of Southeast Asia in its range from the island, the centre said. Further south, in the Spratly group of islands, China has constructed seven man-made islands and equipped them with runways, hangers, radar and missile stations, further cementing its vast territorial claims in the busy waterway. The US and others accuse Beijing of militarising the region to bolster its claims. "The United States remains committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific," said a Pentagon spokesman. "We have seen these same reports and China's continued militarisation of disputed features in the South China Sea only serves to raise tensions and destabilise the region." 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 Admiral Phil Davidson, head of the US Pacific Command, said last month that China had built up enough military force in the South China Sea to completely control the region. Once occupied, China will be able to extend its influence thousands of miles to the south and project power deep into Oceania, he said. [China] will be able to use these bases to challenge US presence in the region, and any forces deployed to the islands would easily overwhelm the military forces of any other South China Sea-claimants. In short, China is now capable of controlling the South China Sea in all scenarios short of war with the United States. Earlier this month the White House warned the US there would be "near-term and long-term consequences for China if it continued to militarise the South China Sea. In March, China condemned the US for "serious political and military provocation" after a US Navy destroyer sailed within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built in disputed waters. A student fell to his death from a cliff while taking photos at a popular tourist attraction in Australia. The 20 year-old was reportedly posing for selfies with friends when he slipped off the 40-metre precipice at The Gap, near the historic port town of Albany. His body was recovered from the water just over an hour later following a search involving a rescue helicopter. "He was just very careful, just to take a picture and he just slipped down there, on the hill," Sahil Singh, a friend of the student, told ABC News. Other witnesses described how the man was "mucking around" with his friends and running and jumping on the rocks when he fell at around 2.30pm on Thursday. He was spotted lying unconscious on the rocks below before being swept out to sea by a wave. His friends had to be prevented from jumping out to save him, according to a witness who called the emergency services. Police are still trying to contact the student's parents, who are from India. "A young male has gone into the water, and sadly lost their life. This is such a tragic event," said Dominic Wood, Great Southern District superintendent. "All I know at this stage is that there is a small group, we think of about five young adults, they were down here within the vicinity of the platform behind me around the rocks. 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 any circumstances for someone to lose their life... is just horrible. It's horrible for the family, it's horrible for the first responders, it's horrible for the people who witnessed this event. "It is a dangerous area but if you take precautions and stay between the bounds, then these things won't happen." The site was briefly closed two years ago to add a viewing platform and railings and warning signs near the edge. When horrific violence erupted across the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2016, hundreds of thousands of people ran for their lives. They were forced to abandon their homes, villages and, in some cases, older or ailing family members. Many of those who had to flee were children. The most fortunate children and families found refuge with relatives or friends in calmer parts of the region. But many more were internally displaced, living under the open sky amid the trees and bushes of the vast, unforgiving savannah. These families on the move had no access to healthcare, food or safe water. They had no matches to light a fire, no mosquito nets to protect them from malaria. Months of desperate existence followed. With nothing shielding them from the threats they faced ranging from snakebites to waterborne illnesses many people fell ill and died. The rest struggled to stay alive as fighting raged on around them. Today, despite a lull in the fighting since the second half of 2017, waves of displacement continue because of persistent insecurity and fears of resurgent violence. Where the conflict has abated, some displaced people are returning to what is left of their villages. Often, they find that their homes and all of their possessions and livestock have been destroyed or stolen. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 3.8 million people in the Kasai region are in need of humanitarian assistance, including 2.3 million children. What is happening in Kasai is truly a childrens crisis. A children's crisis: Violence and insecurity in Congo Show all 7 1 /7 A children's crisis: Violence and insecurity in Congo A children's crisis: Violence and insecurity in Congo Therese Mulopo and her 4-month-old baby, Mbombo Marth, at Saint Martyr health centre in the city of Kananga. They have come for a one-day nutrition screening session at the Unicef-supported health facility, which provides free treatment for malnourished children. During the clashes, our family found refuge a few kilometres away from a relative. But we didnt have something to eat every day, says Mulopo, who also has two older children (ages five and six). Our children became ill and so they were treated with traditional herbs and leaves. But the diseases, mainly diarrhoea, didnt stop. With my husband, we used to be farmers. Before, we grew and ate rice and beans but now there is nothing there, because we could not sow any seeds last year. So there is nothing to harvest now. So, we are staying with my sister here. My only wish is to see my children eat and grow up healthy. Unicef/Tremeau A children's crisis: Violence and insecurity in Congo Ngalula Badiendele and her children. None of Ms Badiendeles four children have an appetite, and the two children in her arms, son Kajunga (left), 17 months old, and daughter Tshipala (right), three, are both malnourished. We had to leave to the bush when the clashes broke out. We walked for one day and then built a shelter. We stayed there for one month. When we heard the security was better we came back but soon fights happened again. And we had to leave again to the forest, where we stayed again for one month. Life was not easy at the time. It still isnt. I just hope peace will come back so my family will live like we used to, Badiendele says. Unicef/Tremeau A children's crisis: Violence and insecurity in Congo Ntambwe (who does not know her exact age) holds her brother, Nalula Kelende, three. I brought my brother Nalula to the health clinic because he suffers from malnutrition. My mother is working in the field, Ntambwe says. We come from Dibaya [a small town]. When clashes happened, we had to walk during three days to reach Tshikaji. Since the violences, we only eat cassava and, if my parents find some money, we can sometimes buy wheat to cook food. But we often sleep with empty stomachs. All incomes from the harvests are not sufficient this year to cover all the family expenses. Nothing could be sowed this year, so there is nothing to eat anymore. I had to stop school last year because of the clashes. Since then I couldnt go back because my family doesnt have enough to buy me a new uniform. I would like to become a nurse one day so I could help sick children just like my brother. Unicef/Tremeau A children's crisis: Violence and insecurity in Congo Muya Kapuku and his three-year-old daughter, Chosa, and his malnourished four-year-old son, Muhipay. When insecurity started in Kananga, I took refuge in the bush of Mutoto Village with my family. Food conditions were terrible, Kapuku says. We only eat tubers, fufu [a staple food in parts of West and Central Africa] and cassava leaves, once a day preferably in the evening; and these conditions have not changed yet. I lost my job as a sentry where I earned a little money and became unemployed since my return so far. I fear to lose my two children who are malnourished, but fortunately, they benefit from free nutritional care in this health centre. I wish the peace to come back in our province and to have a good job that will allow me to support my household and educate my children. Unicef/Tremeau A children's crisis: Violence and insecurity in Congo Bertine Kabedi, 14, and her one-year-old daughter, Bakatuseka. I came to the health centre because its been a month that my daughter doesnt eat well, Bertine says. I come from a place called Dibaya. When violence broke out there I fled to Tshikaji to seek refuge. Unfortunately, violence started also in Tshikaji, and so I had to flee to the bush. I lived with my three-month-old newborn during two months in the bush before we came back a month ago. Life wasnt easy in the forest, there was nothing to eat. Now I would like to set up a small business so I could feed my baby. I had to stop school a few years ago because my parents didnt have enough to pay for school fees. I want to send my kid to school one day, but if the ongoing troubles continue I know it will be impossible. Unicef/Tremeau A children's crisis: Violence and insecurity in Congo Bakena Mukendi, cradling her malnourished daughter, one-month-old Bakatjika, waits with her 28-month-old son, Manatshitua, outside the Saint Martyr health centre. I am a mother of six children, Mukendi says. When violence broke out, we had to flee with the whole family to the forest. We stayed there for two months, eating cassava only and palm oil. All my children fell sick then. They suffered from fever and diarrhoea. We had to cure them with traditional health care with tree leaves. I came back four months ago to Tshikaji. Before, I had a small shop, but I lost everything when we ran away all my savings. My husband now does small jobs so all the family can survive. Despite our situation and small incomes, I am proud to have sent all my children to school, because I know how important education is for their future. Unicef/Tremeau A children's crisis: Violence and insecurity in Congo Tshiela Masengu brings in her malnourished grandson Jean, four, to the health centre. My daughter was killed when clashes happened in April 2017, leaving behind her six orphans that I took care of. Jeans father died a few years ago already, Masengu says. During the fights, we took refuge in the forest with all six kids. We stayed there for weeks, without any food. This is when Jean fell sick. Thats why I brought him to the centre, because he suffers from malnutrition. I want him to be better, but I am worried about what tomorrow will bring. I have a small coconut business, but it is not enough to support the family. But I am proud to have sent the two oldest ones (11 and eight) to school this year. I would like all of them to go to school one day. This conflict took away my daughter from me, and destroyed the future of my grandchildren. I would like it to end now. Unicef/Tremeau Violence and insecurity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to seriously impede access to critical services for millions of children country-wide. As a result of the continuing conflict, more than 13 million people across the country, including 7.9 million children, need humanitarian assistance. Many people are also internally displaced; about 7.7 million people are facing severe food insecurity; and at least 1.9 million children under the age of five are suffering from severe acute malnutrition. In the Kasai region, the needs of displaced and returning families remain enormous as a result of violence, mass displacement and reduced agricultural production over the past 18 months. Severe food insecurity now affects large parts of the volatile region, leaving most households unable to work their land to grow crops, and little produce to buy or sell at local markets. An estimated 400,000 children under the age of five in the region are severely malnourished and are at risk of dying if not reached with urgent life-saving health and nutrition assistance. As part of its multi-sectoral response to the emergency, Unicef has scaled up integrated health, water, sanitation and hygiene, nutrition, education, protection in the country, with a focus on the Kasai and eastern regions. In response to the nutrition crisis in the Kasai region, Unicef support includes treatment and therapeutic care for children 6-59 months old with severe acute malnutrition. In areas affected by conflict and disease outbreaks, Unicef and partners have also stepped up efforts to improve childrens access to primary health care in communities and health centres. Unicef is calling upon all parties to the conflict, and the international community, to take urgent action on three key priorities: stopping the violence against children, ensuring access to essential services for all children and providing support for sustained humanitarian assistance. A boy who accidentally killed a pregnant meerkat during a school trip to a zoo in Hungary has received death threats on social media. The 12 year-old was bitten on the finger when he ignored warning signs and reached through a fence to try and touch the animal, known as Zara. It is thought he swung the 18-month-old meerkat on to the ground as he withdrew his hand in pain. Zara's death at the Kecskemeti Zoo made headlines in Hungary after it was announced in an emotional statement on Facebook by director Tamas Tokovics, "Whose fault it is??" he asked. "That today's youth is becoming less and less respectful of nature, life, or that the escort teachers are becoming less and less aware of the students entrusted to them, or to the parents. "They have less and less time for a conversation where they draw attention to their children in respect of each other and respect for nature." Although the director pleaded with his followers not to look for a scapegoat, several commenters suggested the boy should be thrown in jail. A group was even set up calling for "exemplary punishment". "The little kid would have deserved even a slap that he even hurt / teased an animal despite warnings," wrote one. "You should have cut that stinky kid in the neck if he didn't get a head start," said another on the zoo's Facebook page. One social media user wrote that the boy "should be smashed to the ground so hard he doesn't get up again". Zara the meerkat was a popular attraction at the zoo in Kecskemet, a city in the centre of Hungary. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Mr Tokovics told his followers: "I'm sure many of you remember that she became a media star a year and a half ago when she came to us. "With her bustle, curiosity, shirking, she stole herself into everyone's heart. For six months, she spent the day in my office every day and the nights at home in our house. "She became an excellent playmate for our spaniel." It is thought Zara bit the child because she was trying to protect her family and unborn baby. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for an international peace force to protect Palestinians after dozens were shot dead by Israeli forces on the Gaza border. Speaking at the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which was hosted in Istanbul on Friday, Mr Erdogan said Israel should be held accountable for the killings. To take action for Palestinians massacred by Israeli bandits is to show the whole world that humanity is not dead, Mr Erdogan said, according to Al Jazeera. Muslim leaders pledged to take appropriate political [and] economic measures against countries that followed the US in moving their Israel embassies to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. Mr Erdogan, who is campaigning for re-election next month, used the summit to verbally attack Israel, comparing the actions of its forces to Nazi Germanys treatment of Jews in the Second World War, when millions were killed in concentration camps. He also castigated America, saying its decision to move its embassy had emboldened Israel to put down the protests at the border with Gaza with excessive force. Most countries say the status of Jerusalem a sacred city to Jews, Muslims and Christians should be determined in a final peace settlement between Israel and Palestinians and that moving their embassies now would prejudge any such deal. Turkey and Israel humiliate each others envoys in an escalating diplomatic tiff Donald Trumps step to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital and move the embassy there reversed decades of US policy, upsetting the Arab world and Western allies. Guatemala this week became the second country to move its embassy to Jerusalem, and Paraguay said it would follow suit this month. The final declaration of the meeting of the OIC described the killing of 60 Palestinians as savage crimes committed by the Israeli forces with the backing of the US administration. It said the violence should be put on the agenda of the UN Security Council and General Assembly, and called on the United Nations to investigate the killings. The summit was attended by Jordans King Abdullah, a US ally whose Hashemite dynasty is custodian of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. King Abdullah said the US decision five months ago to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital had weakened the pillars of peace ... and deepened the despair that leads to violence. Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A demonstrator uses a racket to return a tear gas canister fired by Israeli troops Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Palestinian demonstrators run for cover from tear gas fired by Israeli forces Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A demonstrator shouts Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Tear gas canisters are fired by Israeli forces at Palestinian demonstrators Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A wounded Palestinian is evacuated Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A demonstrator uses a sling to hurl stones at Israeli forces Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A female demonstrator uses a slingshot to hurl stones at Israeli forces Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A demonstrator with a slingshot looks on Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Female Palestinian demonstrators react to tear gas fired by Israeli forces Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Israeli forces fire teargas canisters toward Palestinian demonstrators AFP Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Female demonstrators run for cover from tear gas fired by Israeli forces Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Palestinian medics evacuate a wounded protester AP Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A demonstrator moves a burning tire Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A demonstrator uses a racket to return a tear gas canister fired by Israeli troops Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Palestinian demonstrators during clashes with Israeli forces AFP/Getty Irans president Hassan Rouhani called on Muslim countries to totally cut their relations with the Zionist regime and also to revise their trade and economic ties with America. A populist with roots in political Islam, Mr Erdogan has described Israel as a terrorist state. The children of those being subject to all sorts of torture in concentration camps during World War II are now attacking Palestinians with methods that would put Nazis to shame, Mr Erdogan said on Friday, shortly after addressing a rally of thousands of people in support of Palestinians. The UN must send an international peace force to the people of Palestine, who are losing their young children to Israeli terror every day, Mr Erdogan said, comparing the proposed deployment to peacekeeping forces sent to Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s. The violence in Gaza led to Turkey and Israel expelling each others senior diplomats this week. Mr Erdogan has also traded barbs on Twitter with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel, however, was the 10th largest market for Turkish exports in 2017, buying some $3.4bn (2.52bn) of goods, according to International Monetary Fund statistics. We have excellent economic ties with Turkey. And these relations are very important for both sides, Israeli finance minister Moshe Kahlon told Israel Radio on Friday when asked if Israel should break ties with Turkey. The plight of Palestinians resonates with many Turks, particularly the nationalist and religious voters who form the base of support for Mr Erdogan, who has been in power, as prime minister and then president, for 15 years. Additional reporting by agencies The European Union has moved to reassure Iran it remains committed to the nuclear deal, despite Donald Trumps decision to withdraw the US from the accord and reimpose sanctions on the Islamic republic. Miguel Arias Canete, the European commissioner for energy and climate, said the 28-nation bloc, once the biggest importer of Iranian oil, also hoped to boost trade with Tehran. We have sent a message to our Iranian friends that as long as they are sticking to the agreement the Europeans will ... fulfil their commitment, Mr Canete said during a visit to Tehran on Saturday. And they said the same thing on the other side. We will try to intensify our flows of trade that have been very positive for the Iranian economy. Irans nuclear chief, Ali Akbar Salehi, said his country hoped the EU would manage to salvage the 2015 deal, in which Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of most Western sanctions. We hope their efforts materialise. Americas actions ... show that it is not a trustworthy country in international dealings, Mr Salehi told a joint news conference in Tehran. Trump abandons Iran nuclear deal: World leaders react Since Mr Trumps announcement on 8 May, European countries have said they will try to keep Irans oil and investment flowing, but have also admitted they will struggle to provide the guarantees Tehran seeks. Mr Salehi said Iran had several options, including resuming its 20 per cent uranium enrichment if the European countries failed to keep the pact alive. He said the EU had only a few weeks to deliver on their promises. If the other side keeps itself committed to its promises, we also will be keeping ourselves to our promises ... We hope the situation will not arise to the point that we will have to go back to the worst option, Mr Salehi told reporters. Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal Show all 10 1 /10 Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal Iranian MPs burnt a US flag in parliament after Donald Trump announced America's withdrawal from the nuclear deal. AFP/Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal US President Donald Trump displays a presidential memorandum after announcing his intent to withdraw from the JCPOA Iran nuclear agreement in the Diplomatic Room at the White House. Reuters Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal Some Iranian MPs reacted after Trumps decision by shouting 'death to America'. AFP/Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal Iranian lawmakers prepare to burn two pieces of papers representing the US flag and the nuclear deal. AP Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal Iran said it will hold talks with signatories to the nuclear deal after Trump's decision to withdraw from the accord, which it branded "psychological warfare". AFP/Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal Several Iranian MPs stood chanting in the Tehran parliament. AFP/Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal Iranian MPs burning a US flag AFP/Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal President Hassan Rouhani addressed the nation in a televised speech in Tehran. He said he'd send his foreign minister to negotiate with countries remaining in the nuclear deal after Trump's decision to pull America from the deal, warning he otherwise would restart enriching uranium "in the next weeks." Iranian Presidency Office via AP Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal Iran's press condemned Trump's withdrawal from a multi-party nuclear deal but was divided over whether Tehran should react with patience or withdraw itself. AFP Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal Trump announced the US withdrawal from what he called the "defective" multinational nuclear deal with Iran, and said Washington would reinstate sanctions against the Islamic republic. AFP/Getty There are all kind of possibilities: we can ... start the 20 per cent enrichment. Under the 2015 deal, Irans level of enrichment must remain at around 3.6 per cent. Iran stopped producing 20 per cent enriched uranium and gave up the majority of its stockpile as part of the agreement. Uranium refined to 20 per cent fissile purity is well beyond the 5 per cent normally required to fuel civilian nuclear power plants, although still well short of the highly enriched, or 80 to 90 per cent, purity needed for a nuclear bomb. Additional reporting by Reuters Influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's political coalition has won the most seats in Iraq's national parliamentary elections, according to complete results released by Iraq's electoral commission. The announcement came nearly a week after Iraqis cast their votes on 12 May and put Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in third place, according to seat allocations. An alliance of candidates with close ties to mostly Iranian-backed paramilitary forces came in second. "Your vote is an honour for us," Mr Sadr said in a statement released on Twitter just moments after the official announcement. Recommended Coalition led by nationalist cleric takes shock lead in Iraqi election "We will not disappoint you," he continued, adding: "The blame, all the blame is on those who failed Iraq." The election win marks the most significant victory of Mr Sadr's political career. Partial results were announced earlier in the week, but allegations of irregularities and fraud delayed the complete count. The vote was marked by record low turnout that benefited Mr Sadr who maintains loyal supporters who made it out to the polls when apathy kept many millions away. No one alliance won an outright majority and negotiations over forming the government are expected to drag on for months as parties try to form a bloc large enough to gain a majority in parliament. While Mr Sadr's coalition won the largest number of seats, it is yet unclear if the next prime minister will come from his camp. Prolonged negotiations could result in a compromise candidate from a rival coalition. Following the 2003 US-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein, Mr Sadr burst onto the scene as a renegade champion of poorer Shias, leading militant fighters who carried out deadly attacks on American forces and were notorious for sectarian killings of Sunni Muslims. In recent years, Mr Sadr has gained popularity as a nationalist voice, opposing Iranian influence and waging a public campaign against corruption. For this election, he ran a non-sectarian campaign focused on issues of social justice, allying with secularists and Iraq's communist party, and broadening support beyond his traditional base. AP Saudi Arabia has detained seven womens rights campaigners, accusing them of working with foreign entities, weeks before the kingdom lifts a ban on female drivers. Activists said all of those arrested by state security had worked in some capacity on womens rights issues, with five of them among the most prominent and outspoken campaigners in the country. Pro-government media outlets splashed their photos online and in newspapers, accusing them of being traitors. The campaigners have persistently demanded women should be allowed to drive but stressed the right, which will come into force next month, was only the first step towards equality. For years, they have also called for an end to less visible forms of discrimination, such as guardianship laws that give male relatives the final say on whether a woman can travel abroad, obtain a passport or marry. The feminist movement is seen as part of a larger democratic and civil rights push in the kingdom, which remains an absolute monarchy where protests are illegal and all major decision-making rests with the king and his son, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Some state-linked media outlets published the names of those detained, which include Loujain al-Hathloul, Aziza al-Yousef, and Eman al-Najfan. Rights activists, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions, said Madeha al-Ajroush and Aisha al-Manae were also among the seven detained. Both took part in the first womens protest movement for the right to drive in 1990, when 50 women were arrested for driving and lost their passports and their jobs. Several of the women detained this week were professors at state-run universities and are mothers or grandmothers. The interior ministry did not name those arrested, but said the group was being investigated for communicating with foreign entities, working to recruit people in sensitive government positions and providing money to foreign circles with the aim of destabilising and harming the kingdom. The arrests come just six weeks before Saudi Arabia is due to lift the worlds only ban on women driving. When the kingdom issued its royal decree last year announcing that women would be allowed to drive in 2018, rights activists were contacted by the royal court and warned against giving interviews to the media or speaking out on social media. Following the warnings, some women left the country for a period of time and others stopped voicing their opinions on Twitter. 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 As activists were pressured into silence, Saudi Arabias 32-year-old heir to the throne stepped forth, positioning himself as the force behind the kingdoms reforms. According to Human Rights Watch, however, the princes so-called reform campaign has been a frenzy of fear for genuine Saudi reformers who dare to advocate publicly for human rights or womens empowerment. The message is clear that anyone expressing scepticism about the crown princes rights agenda faces time in jail, said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. Last year, Prince Mohammad oversaw the arrests of dozens of writers, intellectuals and moderate clerics who were perceived as critics of his foreign policies. He also led an unprecedented shakedown of top princes and businessmen, who were forced to hand over significant portions of their wealth in exchange for their freedom as part of a purported anti-corruption campaign. In an interview with CBS in March, he said he was absolutely sending a message through these arrests that there was a new sheriff in town. Activists said writer Mohammad al-Rabea and lawyer Ibrahim al-Mudaimigh, two men who worked to support womens rights campaigners, were also among the seven detained. Mr Mudaimigh defended Ms Hathloul in court when she was detained in late 2014 for more than 70 days for her online criticism of the government and for attempting to bring attention to the driving ban by driving from neighbouring United Arab Emirates into Saudi Arabia. Those familiar with the arrests say Ms Hathloul was forcibly taken by security forces earlier this year from the UAE, where she was residing, to the kingdom. Activists said several womens rights campaigners had also been banned from travelling abroad in recent weeks. Immediately after news of the arrests broke, pro-government Twitter accounts were branding the activists treasonous under an Arabic hashtag, describing them as traitors for foreign embassies. The pro-government SaudiNews50 Twitter account, which has 11.5 million followers, splashed images of those arrested with red stamps reading traitor over their face. The account said history spits in the face of the countrys traitors. The state-linked Al-Jazirah newspaper published on its front page a photo of Ms Hathloul and Ms Yousef under a headline describing them as citizens who betrayed the nation. Prince Harry chose to wear the Blues and Royals military uniform when he married Meghan Markle. Kensington Palace released details about the groom's choice of attire as he made his way to St George's Chapel. The ensemble was particularly significant as Prince Harry chose to wear a major's uniform as opposed to that of a general, despite his appointment as Captain General of the Royal Marines by the Queen. (AFP/Getty Images) According to defence industry consultant and ex-British army officer Nicholas Drummond, there was a special reason behind this decision. "As Captain General of the Marines, Prince Harry could have chosen to get married in a general's uniform," Mr Drummond wrote. "Instead, he wore that of his original regiment, the Household Cavalry, and the rank of Major. "This tells you a lot about the man, his humility and his commitment to service." Recommended Royal wedding photographer explains how he captured viral photo The Queen granted Prince Harry permission to wear this particular uniform for the royal wedding. The Duke of Cambridge, his best man, was also wearing the same uniform. The frockcoats being worn by the royal brothers were tailored at Dege & Skinner on Savile Row. The Blues and Royals is a cavalry regiment in the British Army that was formed in 1969. (PA (PA) The Queen is the colonel-in-chief of the Blues and Royals regiment and Princess Anne is the colonel of the regiment. Prince William wore the uniform of the colonel of the Irish Guards when he married the Duchess of Cambridge in 2011. Markle chose to wear a dress created by Givenchy for the royal wedding with a veil that was designed to represent every country in the Commonwealth. After weeks of royal rumours, family debacles and a paparazzi scandal, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was finally here. With bunting hung and Pimms at the ready, the nation watched with baited breath would a miffed Markle relation make a scene? Or perhaps wed have some more questionable headwear to laugh about? Sadly there was a distinct lack of pretzel-style hats at this royal wedding, but that didnt mean there werent plenty of surprising moments. Here are the key talking points of the royal wedding: 1. Amal vs Posh Amal and George Clooney arrive for the wedding ceremony (AFP/Getty) International human rights lawyer Amal Clooney arrived at the royal wedding with her husband George in tow. Amal set the Twittersphere alight with her head-to-toe yellow look: she wore a bespoke Stella McCartney dress with a veiled Stephen Jones hat. David and Victoria Beckham arrive at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle (Reuters) The contrast could not have been greater to Victoria Beckhams outfit the designer and former Spice Girl arrived with her husband at the same time as the Clooneys. Between the two power couples, Victorias bizarrely sombre ensemble seemed strangely out of place. At least she fully committed to the vibe, with not one smile to be seen. 2. Princesses Eugenie and Beatrices hats Princess Eugenie, The Duke of York and Princess Beatrice, from left, arrive for the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (AP) After the princess sisters stole the show with their, shall we say, elaborate headwear at Will and Kates wedding in 2011, the public had high hopes for round two. Disappointingly however, the princesses swung completely the other way and decided to play it safe with their somewhat boring choice of hats. Both Princess Beatrices fascinator and Eugenies off-white pill box hat are believed to have been designed by London milliners Bundle MacLaren. Perhaps the princesses are yet to recover from their humiliation seven years ago. 3. Fergie arrived!? Sarah Ferguson leaves after the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (AP) Considering Sarah Ferguson, ex-wife of Prince Andrew, was apparently rather unhappy about not making the guest list for Prince Charless evening reception, it was widely thought she wouldnt be attending the wedding at all. So when Fergie arrived, looking incredibly pleased with herself, gasps of shock erupted across the world. This was followed by expressions of confusion as she was for some unknown reason wearing just the one glove. An act of rebellion, perhaps? 4. Pippa Middleton came as a can of ice tea (AFP/Getty) Pippa Middleton apparently has a way of stealing the limelight at royal weddings. This time, however, it wasnt for her derriere but for her choice of dress as many social media users pointed out, Pippa appeared to have come to the wedding dressed as a can of Arizona Green Tea. (The green floral dress was in fact made by British brand The Fold.) 5. Prince Harry is wearing a wedding ring The Duchess of Sussex places a ring on her new husband's finger (AFP/Getty Images) In a break with royal tradition, it was revealed the new Duke of Sussex is to wear a wedding ring, which is a somewhat progressive move. It is a platinum band with a textured finish, created by Cleave and Company. The Dukes of Cambridge, Edinburgh and York do not wear wedding bands, but Prince Charles actually does, although he wears it underneath the signet ring on the little finger of his left hand. 6. Meghan half walked herself down the aisle (Rex) In something of a feminist statement, the now-Duchess of Sussex entered the chapel unaccompanied and began her walk down the aisle by herself. According to Kensington Palace, this was the plan even before it was realised her father Thomas Markle would not be able to attend the wedding due to ill health. Royal Wedding: Meghan Markle walks down the aisle in Givenchy dress to marry Prince Harry Once she reached the quire of the historic nave of St Georges Chapel, her now father-in-law the Prince of Wales joined her to lead her to the altar. 7. The pageboy's priceless reaction One of the four pageboys went viral on social media after his reaction to the wedding was captured on camera. The seven-year-old son of Jessica Mulroney, one of Meghans closest friends (the couple stayed with her to avoid the paparazzi when their relationship first went public) managed to steal the show behind the bride. His expression captured exactly what many of us were feeling at that moment, gap-toothed smile and all. 8. Bishop Currys address Bishop Michael Curry delivered a passionate sermon during the royal wedding ceremony (PA) Perhaps the most notable aspect of the whole ceremony was Bishop Michael Currys enthusiastic address. It was long, it was powerful, and it certainly captured the worlds attention thanks to the many mentions of the power in love. Royal Wedding: Bishop Michael Curry discussing the importance of the occasion And it seemed some of the wedding guests werent quite sure how to respond; younger members of the royal family appeared to be stifling laughs, while their older relatives simply looked utterly confused by the unconventional address. 9. The gospel choir Another break with tradition was the gospel choirs performance. Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir gave a soulful rendition of Stand By Me by Ben E King, which made sure the service didnt seem too stuffy. We predict a new craze at weddings across the UK. In the wake of the school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas, Democrats around the country have called for more action on gun control as several Republicans have issued statements sending thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families. Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Senator Ted Cruz were on the scene, in the suburb of Houston. Mr Abbott said the scene where at least 10 people have died and another 10 injured, many of them students, was "one of the most heinous attacks that we've ever seen in the history of Texas schools. Mr Abbott, who just two weeks ago at a convention of the National Rifle Association (NRA) in Dallas, Texas, said the problem is not guns. Its hearts without God, changed his tone today. He said the community and state must do more than pray for victims and their families. Recommended Police say explosive devices found in Santa Fe school and off campus Mr Cruz tweeted: "God bless Santa Fe and all who are responding and supporting this community in its time of need." Unlike Mr Abbott, he does not appear to have changed his tone on possibly tighter gun control laws in the state. Mr Cruz, according to Texas Monthly magazine, received an A+ and nearly $80,000 from the powerful gun lobby and membership organisation. He said at the scene to residents of Santa Fe: "You are, right now, being lifted up at this instant in prayers by millions of people across Texas, across the country and across the world." However, Mike Rawlings, the Democratic Mayor of Dallas, was more forceful in his statement. Mr Rawlings, who was with fellow mayors in Houston, said history will not look kindly on upon those elected officials who failed to act in the face of repeated mass murders of our children. Spare us your thoughts and prayers and do your job. Others further afield reacted as well. President Donald Trump sent out this tweet saying we are with you in this tragic hour, but did not mention anything about possible gun control reform or his proposal to arm teachers after the last school shooting in Florida. My administration is prepared to do anything to...secure our schools. The president said everyone, at all levels of government, must work together to keep children safe in schools. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo tweeted at Mr Trump and cited other tragic school shootings from Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999 to the 2012 tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, and the Parkland, Florida shooting earlier this year when 14 students and three teachers were gunned down at school. He wrote DO SOMETHING in capital letter and signed the tweet with Father of Cara, Mariah, Michaela...NRA F Rated Elected Official. Ranking House Democrat Nancy Pelosi tweeted using the #neveragain hashtag, popularised by student survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting. She wrote that Congress has a duty to take action to save lives. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who has been accused of being too soft on the gun lobby early on his career, called the rash of US school shootings sick acts. He wrote: Congress and Trump must finally have the courage to stand up to the NRA and do what the American people want. Enough is enough! Santa Fe High School student is asked if she thought a shooting would happen in her school Many other politicians offered their thoughts and prayers to victims and their families, a standard response seen in the wake of mass shootings in the country. Hillary Clinton however, noted that soul searching should be matched with legislating to begin dealing with this national shame. US Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said the agencys Federal Commission on School Safety is working to identify proven ways to prevent violence and keep our students safe at school. However, Ms DeVos faced severe backlash after she expressed full-throated support for Mr Trumps proposal to provide firearms to teachers as a means of preventing deaths during school shootings. Several teachers unions opposed the idea and the state of Florida was unable to pass a law requiring teachers to carry firearms. Congress is not currently in session and no plans have been announced to hear any more gun control reform legislation at this time. Some of the issues up for debate include better enforcement of background check provisions, the gun show loophole allowing private sellers to bypass laws requiring identification and background checks, mental health provisions, assault weapons bans, and age requirements. No, no, no! Please dont allow our police force to be armed to prevent terrorism it will simply encourage villains, madmen and terrorists to be even better prepared to use weapons. We are falling into the mindset of the no-nothing, laughing stock President Trump. We all scoffed when he said that arming teachers in the US would prevent more bloodshed in schools. So why routinely arm our police officers, especially in rural areas? Spend time and money on prevention instead, because arming police is no cure or deterrent to Isis martyrs. There are many illustrations in the world where the use of force has provided only a temporary respite to a warring situation, only for the hostilities to be inflamed when the occupying troops depart. Northern Ireland has had a chance of peace since the Good Friday Agreement was signed. After several generations of the Troubles there has been peace between the IRA and Britain. The peace was negotiated over several years with all the interested parties and therefore holds fast just. We have experienced terrorist acts in Britain because of our involvement and support for action against a foreign country. If we considered our response to hostilities in foreign countries differently we probably would not have to endure the carnage we have experienced. Keith Poole Basingstoke UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 7 October 2021 British comedian Jo Brand poses with cut-out silhouettes representing women outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters New Scotland Yard, to highlight violence against women by male police officers or former police officers AFP via Getty 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 Know your history on the Israel-Palestine conflict To make progress on the Israel-Palestine dispute, we need to put the claim that Hamas is a terrorist organisation into some sort of context. Hamas was founded in Gaza to oppose the Israeli government and also to oppose the Palestinian Authority, who at that time ran Gaza and the West Bank under the Israeli occupation. Every group that has opposed the Israeli government has been described as a terrorist organisation, from the Palestine Liberation Organisation Yasser Arafat in particular the Palestinian Authority, Hezbollah and so on. Israel is no stranger to terrorism of course. The reason Clement Attlees Labour government gave the Palestine mandate back to the UN in 1947 was the ongoing civil war between Arabs and Jews, going back 20 years or so. In 1946, the militant, right-wing Zionist underground terrorist group Irgun blew up the King David hotel, the British administrative HQ in Palestine, killing 91 people including 60 British servicemen. One of the leaders of Irgun, Menachem Begin, became Prime Minister of Israel in 1977. The father of Tzipi Livni, former Israeli foreign minister and now co-leader of the Zionist Union party, was another of the leaders. Nelson Mandela was also of course described as a terrorist by the leaders of apartheid South Africa. It is unfortunate that one of the leaders of the Palestinians, Marwan Barghouti, who could be as influential in this dispute as Mandela was, is languishing in an Israeli jail, for what was also described as terrorism. Closer to home, we must of course not forget the IRA, where Martin McGuinness eventually joined with Rev Ian Paisley to become the chuckle brothers. It is time to drop the terrorist label from Hamas; history shows this is clearly counterproductive. It was elected to represent the people of Gaza as the least-bad option. Instead it is time to recognise that the people of Gaza are living in an open prison with few of lifes necessities, and the world should come together to end this suffering. Phil Tate Edinburgh British Rail wasnt half bad, actually The Independent editorial reads: the bad old ways of British Rail never a byword for financial success, operational efficiency or pleasurable travel. That was certainly the British Rail story in the 1950s through to the 1970s. But after the abolition of the old regions and the setting up of business sectors, it became a very efficient organisation many think that in the 1980s it had become the most efficient railway in Europe. And for the passenger it wasnt all bad. With Chris Green heading up InterCity, on the whole it was both pleasurable and punctual. And its engineering was well run: compare how British Rail electrified the East Coast Main Line with how Network Rail is doing now with the main line to Bristol. It really is time to stop perpetrating the myth of the bad old ways of British Rail: thats the way that ignorant and/or ideologically motivated people like Chris Grayling talk. One should also remember that one of the main motives of the John Major government in privatising the railways was to save money, and from that consideration privatisation has been a great failure. Splitting up British Rail into over 100 separate companies was a crazy idea. We should have followed the German, Dutch and Scandinavian models of privatisation: keeping a state-owned company that has to compete with private companies. But those countries are not driven by ideology. Ian Watson Carlisle Blue, white, red or other? Simon Calder speculates what the next East Coast train livery will be. But be careful a couple more coats of paint and the trains wont fit through the tunnels. David Watson Goring Heath, South Oxfordshire Im not being funny, but At the risk of offending the sisterhood, I would like to say that I was not at all offended by Bank of England deputy governor Ben Broadbents reference to the menopause (in an interview about the economy). What, after all, is so abnormal or insulting about being past ones productive peak? Do women truly think their sole purpose is to produce? For some its a joy; for some its a sentence; for some its an unfulfilled dream; for some its completely undesirable. There will be others for whom I havent found the words. But, at some point, we women all pass our productive peak. We do not then cease to be people and many of us are fortunate to have careers way after our notional childbearing years. Men, of course, are a different kettle of fish. Beryl Wall London, W4 Parliamentary ping-pong If the House of Lords is abolished for having the temerity to defeat the government 15 times on its Brexit bill, would it go down in history as being peerless in life as in death? Roger Hinds Surrey Carillions auditing scandal sounds boring but it has big consequences It is so often trotted out that auditors are independent. How can they be when they are hired and fired by the very organisation or persons whom they are supposed to be holding to account? Likewise, it is often wrongly asserted that directors duties are to the shareholders. They are not. Their legal duty is to the very company employing them. It is only that company which can legally hold them to account. Are directors really going to sue themselves? Yes, company law is tedious and invokes glazed eyes but, as said elsewhere in The Independent, it is this bone dry tinder which sparks the greatest conflagration. So, if your columnist James Moore really wants to see change, please attack our company law which enshrines this idiocy. Christopher Yaxley Shrewsbury The marriage of Meghan and Harry was a truly wonderful event, not just because two people deeply in love were married, but because of the effect it had on the rest of the country. The television revealed the happiness and joy of the thousands who lined the streets and celebrated virtually around the world. Everyone of one state of mind wishing the couple love and happiness and enjoying the moment. What a pity we are not always able to be of one thought and pull together, without a politician in sight. No egos, no personal vendettas, no private crusades, just great joy as a couple in love were married. If only we could live our daily lives in such a pleasant manner, how enjoyable life would be but that is a fairy tale and far from reality. Colin Bower Nottingham I would like to say on record how happy I am for Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex, that she had so little difficulty with British immigration controls. Like Prince Harry, I too married a foreign lady. We moved to the UK in 2009 when my wife had a two-year visa to visit. As the time ran out, we applied for her to have permanent residence we had a house in England and she had passed the citizenship test. So we sent off the 865 and her passport with our application for her residency. We got a reply a few weeks later to say that she first had to apply for permission to stay, something which was not made clear on the Home Office website, nor on any of the literature. And, sorry, the fee is not returnable. We then applied for another two-year temporary visa, of the type she had had several times. No, that is not possible, we were told. The application must be made from her home country, in this case, the Philippines. So, she went back to Manila and reapplied for another two-year visa. My wife then came back to the UK and we made another 865 application, this time for permission to stay. After a week or two, my wife got word that her mother had been taken seriously ill in Manila and she needed her daughter. My wife contacted the Home Office to reclaim her passport. The Home Office told her that by reclaiming her passport, even for an emergency, her application for residency would now go to the bottom of the pile and the fee would not be returned. They promised that the passport would be returned within two weeks. When it had not appeared inside the two weeks, she had to get a one-time travel document from the Philippine Embassy in London so that she could return to her home country and her sick mother. When her passport was returned to our UK address after a month, I immediately sent it by secure courier to her in Manila. She then took her passport to the British Embassy in Manila who told her that she would not, in any case, ever be able to get any sort of visa to travel to the UK because she had been turned down in her residency application. This left us separated: the only way we could continue our married life would be for me to sell up in England and move to the Philippines, which I did. I am pleased to say that my host country has been welcoming and friendly. The cost of living is low, although the expected run on the pound after Brexit is a constant worry, but healthcare is affordable and good. I even have a part-time teaching job in a local college. I am just wondering though, exactly why it was so easy for Meghan Markle to slip through the vindictive, expensive, Kafkaesque obstacle course erected by the immigration officials at the Home Office, when it is so exasperatingly difficult for the rest of us? Chris Payne Philippines Is the choice of Greensleeves by the organisers of Prince Harry and Meghan Markles wedding, composed (according to popular legend) by Henry VIII, a Freudian slip that they suspect it will all end in tears? Could have been worse they could have chosen The Rains of Castamere from Game Of Throness now infamous Red Wedding. Mark Boyle Renfrewshire Surely if you walk from the church door towards the altar, you are walking up the aisle. When the deed is done, you go down (hopefully not a metaphor for later life). It cant be down both ways, unless youre Mr Escher. Trevor Roberts London SE19 A Brexit Ball in the making? At a Brexit briefing for expats, held at the British Embassy in Vienna, the suggestion was made that on 29 March next year a Brexit Ball should be held in the ambassadors palatial residence (which has its own ballroom). The charge daffaires responded that Londons instructions would be followed regarding such events. Would the prime minister save the last waltz for me? Dr John Doherty Vienna, Austria Clearly leaving the EU will be a disaster for our environmental policies As the UK government appears incapable of complying with current EU emissions regulations, what hope is there for necessary standards to be maintained post-Brexit? Without the incentive provided by the threat of financial penalties, and with the current push to exploit more shale gas, it seems likely that our political leaders will exploit the situation to cut back commitments to tackle pollution and hand ever more control to their greedy commercial supporters. Yet another example of the consequences of ditching the EU a just at a time when poor planet earth needs our care more than ever. Steve Edmondson Cambridge We cannot trust a UN probe to have any impact on the Arab-Israeli conflict The UN war crimes probe into the Gaza events, while commendable, will do nothing to address the root causes of the Arab-Israeli conflict: Israels occupation; the right of refugees to return; the dominance of unilateralism and Israeli attempts to Judaise Jerusalem. Also, the Hashemites custodianship of Muslim and Christian holy shrines in Jerusalem is a solemn, non-negotiable historic and legal obligation to preserve Jerusalems Arab, Islamic and Christian identity. Moreover, the UN probe will disappear into oblivion like its predecessor, the Goldstone report. It is therefore high time for the international community to grasp the salient fact that our region will never enjoy the fruits of peace and security until the Arab-Israeli imbroglio is being resolved in accordance with international humanitarian law, UN resolutions and global consensus. Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob London NW2 New gambling rules will be good for TV watchers too If the proposed changes to fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBT) payouts do result in a drop in gambling companies profits, would I be alone in hoping for an end to their mindless TV adverts, especially Ray Winstones? John Schluter Guildford The frog-boiling is going well. Theresa May has turned up the temperature another notch and Boris Johnson has still not jumped out of the pan. Nor has Liam Fox, Michael Gove or David Davis. At the meeting of the Brexit committee of cabinet on Tuesday, the prime minister came up with a plan so cunning no one could work out what it meant. She asked them to agree what would happen if there was no agreement about trade by the end of the transition period after Brexit. The foreign secretary grumbled a bit, but agreed with the prime minister that the UK would then continue to apply the EUs common external tariff until a new arrangement was ready. Considering that the systems to do anything else could not be in place by December 2020, the end of the 21-month transition period after leaving the EU, this did not appear to be a significant moment. She might as well have looked around the committee members and said, So thats agreed: two plus two equals four? Given the hard Brexiteers tendency to resist reality, however, she knew there was a slight chance Johnson would gather his papers and leave, saying he could not accept such Remoaner arithmetic. David Lidington : It will be a 'week or so' before Brexit customs proposals are fully examined British politics is in one of its strange phases when it is significant that cabinet ministers accept reality. Mays cunning plan is no more than a statement of the obvious, but it means that Johnson, Gove, Fox and Davis accept that the UK will stay in a customs union with the EU beyond 2020. This weeks meeting did not decide which of the two customs options would apply after that. That heat will be turned up later. When I first used the frog-boiling analogy, before the Chequers away day in February, I naively assumed that meeting would decide the question. But this is slow cooking taken to an extreme. Recommended Corbyn and May have more in common over Brexit than they think By this, the prime minister has earned the continuous scorn of the commenting classes and provided Jeremy Corbyn with some of his best moments at Prime Ministers Questions. How is it possible that two years after the referendum, the government still hasnt decided what sort of Brexit it wants? How can the government negotiate with the EU when it is so busy negotiating with itself? Well, prime ministers always face demands, from those with a professional interest in their failure, to clarify their position, or to face down their internal critics. Theresa May is not the best prime minister we have ever had, but she is not falling for those. It is true that her attempt to keep her cabinet together has pushed the timetable for the final stages of the Brexit talks back to quite late in the day, and the legislative logjam in the House of Commons towards the end of this year could be fraught. But the talks would always have gone on until they hit the time constraint of treaty ratification before the March 2019 deadline. The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Show all 8 1 /8 The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Post-Brexit immigration workers sorting radishes on a production line at a farm in Norfolk. One possible post-Brexit immigration scheme could struggle to channel workers towards less attractive roles - while another may heighten the risk of labour exploitation, a new report warns. PA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Customs union A key point in the negotiations remains Britain's access to, or withdrawal from, the EU customs union. Since the referendum there has been hot debate over the meaning of Brexit: would it entail a full withdrawal from the existing agreement, known as hard Brexit, or the soft version in which we would remain part of a common customs area for most goods, as Turkey does? No 10 has so far insisted that Brexit means Brexit and that Britain will be leaving the customs union, but may be inclined to change its position once the potential risks to the UKs economic outlook become clearer. Alamy The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Northern Ireland-Irish border Though progress was made last year, there has still been no solid agreement on whether there should be a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. To ensure borderless travel on the island, the countries must be in regulatory alignment and therefore adhere to the same rules as the customs union. In December, the Conservative Partys coalition partners, the DUP, refused a draft agreement that would place the UK/EU border in the Irish Sea due to its potential to undermine the union. May has promised that would not be the case and has suggested that a specific solution would need to be found. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Transition period Despite protests from a small number of Conservative MPs, the Government and the EU are largely in agreement that a transitional period is needed after Brexit. The talks, however, have reached an impasse. Though May has agreed that the UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget until 2021, the PM wants to be able to select which laws made during this time the UK will have to adhere to. Chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said the UK must adopt all of the laws passed during the transition, without any input from British ministers or MEPs. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Rights of EU citizens living the UK The Prime Minister has promised EU citizens already living in the UK the right to live and work here after Brexit, but the rights of those who arrive after Brexit day remains unclear. May insists that those who arrive during the transition period should not be allowed to stay, whereas the EU believe the cut-off point should be later. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreement (with the EU) Despite this being a key issue in negotiations, the Government has yet to lay out exactly what it wants from a trade deal with the EU. Infighting within the Cabinet has prevented a solid position from being reached, with some MPs content that "no deal is better than a bad deal" while others rally behind single market access. The EU has already confirmed that access to the single market would be impossible without the UK remaining in the customs union. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreements (internationally) The Government has already begun trying to woo foreign leaders into prospective trade agreements, with various high profile state visits to China, India and Canada for May, and the now infamous invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit London. However the UK cannot make trade agreements with another country while it is still a member of the EU, and the potential loss of trade with the world's major powers is a source of anxiety for the PM. The EU has said the UK cannot secure trade deals during the transition period. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Financial services Banks in the UK will be hit hard regardless of the Brexit outcome. The EU has refused to give British banks passporting rights to trade within the EU, dashing hopes of a special City deal. However according to new reports Germany has suggested allowing trade on the condition that the UK continues paying into the EU budget even after the transition period. Getty From her point of view, it is better to keep the cabinet united for as long as possible. She is often urged to sack Boris Johnson, and so she should, but this is politics. It makes more sense for her to dare the foreign secretary to resign if he refuses to accept reality. So there he is, off to Argentina, out of harms way, while Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, says: He is a marvellous foreign secretary but lets work as a team. What outstanding use of language. We do indeed marvel at the foreign secretary, and at his ability to stay in post. But Theresa May has the hard Brexiteers where she wants them: in the cabinet as we head for a soft Brexit. I have no idea precisely how this is going to end. According to one account, it would take three years to prepare for even the simplest long-term option: that of being outside the customs union altogether (called max fac in the jargon). So thats 2021. And it would take five years to prepare for Mays preferred option of being half in and half out (customs partnership). Which would be 2023. Another account says that nothing can be ready until July 2022. You will notice that this is after 5 May 2022, which is the date of the next election. The significance of this week, therefore, is that Johnson, Gove, Fox and Davis have signed up for a soft Brexit at least until the next election, simply because we will not be ready for anything else. They have calculated that the important thing is to get out of the EU and argue about the details later. They are prepared to accept a temporary fix in the hope of getting a permanent deal to their liking later. In other words, they are close to being well and truly boiled. Theresa May has done a great job at playing for time in the last year, but sooner or later she'll have to betray someone. All of her decisions, and her decision-making process, have been influenced by her primary concern: placating her own cabinet in order to stave off a heave. Mrs May has done a remarkable job of publicly maintaining that the British government's aspiration for Brexit - leave the customs union and single market, establish new trade agreements world-wide, and protect the status quo in Northern Ireland - is realistic. Instead of admitting that these conflicting objectives are simply irreconcilable; unlike everyone else, the UK prime minister says she can deliver on all of the above. But you have to hand it to her: it's been one year on from the beginning of the Brexit talks, and she is still in office, albeit embattled. And the EU and Ireland are still open to and willing to engage in whatever ingenious proposals lie ahead. Sources from both Dublin and the Tory party say everything she does is to manage her domestic situation, and where she is torn between dealing with the reality of Brexit, and trying to create unity with ideologues in her cabinet like Liam Fox, Boris Johnson, and Michael Gove. Aside from the fact that the situation is unsustainable, it must be incredibly stressful, and not to mention humiliating. Only two weeks ago her foreign secretary penned a piece from the US where he was supposed to be leading a mission to persuade Donald Trump to stay in the Iran deal. Instead he publicly dismissed her proposals for a solution to avoiding customs checks on the Irish Border as "crazy". Then her new appointee for home secretary, Sajid Javid votes against the same policy the first chance he gets. It shows an outstanding lack of foresight to appoint someone to replace an ally in Amber Rudd, for someone who'll stab you in the back at a time when you're in dire need. This week, talk of a eureka moment filled the airwaves; when yet another too-good-to-be-true proposal was leaked which said that cabinet had finally agreed on the UK staying within the EU customs system until such a time as a better solution - perhaps in the form of technology - was established. Essentially, it was a British attempt at translating their version of the "backstop" agreed in December, that would see the UK match EU tariffs after 2020 if there is no deal on their preferred customs arrangements. Mrs May gave a "verbal", "conceptual" outline of this during a 45-minute meeting with the Taoiseach this week, in which he politely explained it was grossly inadequate. Notwithstanding the fact that detail was in short supply, and at this stage there needs to be a proposal in writing, it completely omitted a mention of how this plan would deal with EU rules and regulations on goods which might enter the single market through Northern Ireland. Britain has been one of the most constructive members of the single market since it was introduced in 1993; it's another reason why the UK will be sorely missed. So it is not credible that her officials simply forgot that the Border issue will only partly be solved through shared customs plans. The Irish side was heartened that her direction of travel is correct, and because of this might even be willing to give her even more time. Meanwhile, there are rumours within the Tory party that David Davis and perhaps Mr Johnson are looking for a way out. I was driving along (in the sunshine) one day last week when an ad came on the radio that made me say out loud, right there on the spot, "what a good idea!". In case you haven't heard it, the ad is for Keelings Fruits. Every day for the month of May, "to celebrate the arrival of summer", Keelings, in conjunction with Trident Holiday Homes, are giving away a 'Family Staycation'. As is often the case, it's a simple concept but it presses so many of what I consider to be the right buttons from domestic economy and food production viewpoints. There's the tie-up between two Irish-owned companies, promoting their respective businesses, while the take-up of the prizes will also have spin-out benefits for numerous local economies. So Keelings and Trident are not just helping each other but encouraging people to holiday at home. I also think it is clever from a marketing point of view, as a fair bit of the purchasing of these soft fruits is driven by pester power, and what child doesn't love the idea of a holiday! Then there's the timing. While lots of people will undoubtedly already have their holidays booked, especially if they are going abroad, many others are still on the lookout. And what could be better than a week in a holiday home? These houses are our own preferred choice of holiday accommodation. We would usually eat a light breakfast of cereal or fresh fruit salad (yes, really!) and maybe croissants, if available, plus one big meal later in the day, supplemented by snacks along the way. Speaking of holiday homes, especially now as summer bookings are filling up, I'd like to issue a word of warning to be sure to go with a reputable source - and not do something stupid like I did last year. I transferred money to a UK bank account for a holiday home, which turned out to only exist in some scammer's fertile imagination. With an annual sales of over 350m and 2,000 employees, Keelings is Ireland's largest horticultural company; one reflection of this is that it produces half of the country's annual production of 300 million strawberries, every one of them picked by hand. Keelings has long (rightly) traded on being a family company and is now run by Caroline Keeling with her brothers William and David, who voices the aforementioned ad (another nice touch). The current farm was established in 1926 and they first planted strawberries in 1937, followed by Bramley apples in 1949, then eating apples, pears and cherries. Since the 1990s, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries have become their prime produce. I am also impressed that Keelings is running this promotion at all. All primary food producers are having a tough year but the fruit and veg guys and gals are being really challenged. While these kinds of things are decided a long way out, it shows great courage to adopt such a positive approach. Fruit growers At this point, I also want to give a shout-out to the numbers of soft fruit growers from Wexford who will soon, hopefully, be setting up roadside stalls selling their delicious seasonal fare. This year, more than ever, they will be grateful for all the support they get. Trident was set up in 1986 and, with more than 1,000 holiday rental properties in over 75 locations, is Ireland's largest serviced holiday rental business. Its head office is in Kilcoole, Co, Wicklow and it also operates www.cottages4you.ie, for those looking for something a little bit different. The Staycation competition offers discounts on holidays booked before August 3. So I'm busy entering my Keelings codes and, of course, enjoying lots of delicious berries. Mark Browne used the fleeting few days of warm weather earlier this month to play catch-up on preparing his 200-acre farm in Caim near Enniscorthy. "We had about 40pc of the work done up to May 4, but we should be alright by June," he says. "It has been all smash and grab down here because of the weather. It's been very difficult. We are at least six weeks behind," says the lifelong tillage man, the fifth generation of the Browne family to farm what he describes as "good Clonroche soil". To put the time loss in context, Mark should have been 100pc ready to go in April but now he hopes it will be full steam ahead. "Every day of bad weather reduces the margin on spring and malting barleys, and oats," Mark points out. And margin, he says, is uppermost in the mind of tillage farmers these days. In simple mathematical terms, tillage farmers are down nearly 20pc on their crops with no movement on the prices expected for the foreseeable future. "We're down in price by half a tonne for every 3.2 tonnes," he says which works out at around 17pc but then you have to add in increased input costs, he says. Mark, who wears his second cap on the IFA's grain committee, says that a fair proportion of Irish tillage farmers are now considering their position and looking at the attractions of changing their main farming enterprises. However, Mark (44), who took over running the farm in 1996 after completing his Green Cert with Teagasc in Enniscorthy, is in for the long haul with tillage. He and his wife Clare have a young family - Aoife (14), James (12), Noel (10) and John (8) - and Mark is not for turning on tillage and intends to persevere despite the battles ahead. Most of his spare time is taken up with grain committee meetings where he sees at first hand the problems facing the sector. The two problems uppermost in his mind and the minds of his fellow tillage farmers are the upcoming CAP negotiations and the knock-on effects of Brexit - not least the possibility of more crop dumping in Ireland. He was on the latest farmer protests in Drogheda and Foynes where two boatloads of inferior crops from Britain were being landed. "Farmers were shocked by the state of the stuff being landed. Low spec, and low quality stuff. It was shocking. Obviously the stuff was left in a gain shed and then it was transported to the boats to be dumped in Ireland." It's a practice we could see more of if the Brexit negotiations do not have a proper outcome here, Mark believes. More worrying to Mark is the current levels of EU farm payments to Irish tillage farmers which he says are already down over the past few years to 85pc of their original value and it looks like the new CAP could see a further decline in the value of the payment. Any further downwards pressure on the farm payment will only further damage the sector and create an exodus from tillage. As things stand, Mark says, there are quite a few tillage farmers ready to change enterprise and unless the Government maintains this payment at its current level, at least, then tillage men will just leave the sector. Mark happily admits to having no great off-farm interests apart from an a low -level passing interest in GAA and rugby. His time is simply divided up - the farm, rearing the family and farmer activist with the IFA. In conversation with Ken Whelan The hotel chains largest investor is to sell 15.8m shares, with a value of 1.1bn Blackstone Group is checking out of Hilton Worldwide Holdings. The hotel chain's largest investor agreed to sell 15.8m shares, valued at about $1.3bn (1.1bn) based on Thursday's close. The sale brings to an end a 11-year investment relationship of highs and lows that ended up being widely regarded as the most-profitable large private equity deal on record. Blackstone took the hotel behemoth private in October 2007, investing $6.5bn of equity from its real estate and private-equity funds as well as from co-investors in those funds. The investment was later written down by about 70pc during the financial crisis and New York-based Blackstone had to put in more cash and restructured the debt before taking the company public again in December 2013. Since then, the hotel chain has more than doubled in value, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The firm has been gradually shedding its stake since 2014, and sold a 25pc stake of the hotelier to HNA Group in March 2017. The Chinese firm - to combat deep indebtedness - recently sold its holdings. HNA made a profit of roughly $2bn from its Hilton investment, Bloomberg News has previously reported. Hilton's strong performance has been driven by organic growth as well as some lucrative sales of real estate within its portfolio, including the sale of Manhattan's iconic Waldorf Astoria New York for $1.9bn in 2015. Hilton also sought to create shareholder value by deciding to spin off its so-called owned- real estate unit Park Hotels & Resorts and its timeshare business, Hilton Grand Vacations. Hilton is buying back 1.25m of the shares that were owned by Blackstone. Hilton operates a number of properties in Ireland, and Blackstone invested in hotels here after the crash. The group bought the former Burlington Hotel in Dublin 4 for 67m in 2012, trading it under the DoubleTree by Hilton brand and then selling the property for around 180m to German asset manager DekaBank. Having invested approximately 20m in the refurbishment of the hotel, Blackstone still doubled its money on the Burlington deal. (Additional reporting Bloomberg) Airsorted's first foray into the Irish market was in late 2016 but Dublin is already one of the property management firm's best-performing cities, boasting a current portfolio of close to 150 properties. Founded by James Jenkins-Yates in 2015, the tech-first venture has built up a highly skilled team, attracting talent from some of the big boys in the tech industry including Uber, Google, TransferWise and Deliveroo. The company completed its Series A 30-day funding round in March, raising around 7m for its aim for "global domination", according to Dublin City Manager, Rachael Moore. "Our strategy was to strengthen what we had as a service initially and then get the funding to push for growth internationally. We were completely bootstrapped before that," she told Independent.ie. "Since January, we've grown by 38pc in Dublin alone, managing around 150 properties in the area; it is very much the right time for us to push and grow." Airsorted provides an end-to-end service and 24/7 support on its hosting platform for property owners for a fee of 15pc of total earnings. The "hassle-free" offering collates and services all bookings to a property on behalf of the host; from creating and marketing listings to maintaining the cleanliness of the property. And the majority of their "varied client base" is not made up by property investors, as you might assume, but from ordinary individuals looking to generate a bit of extra income. "Around 70pc of our hosts want to list their vacant property websites like Airbnb, Booking.com and HomeAway for a night, a weekend, a few weeks or a few months," said Rachael. "There are full-time landlords that want a higher return from their properties in their portfolio but most are holidaymakers or business travellers who want to let their home while they're away or expats who have left Ireland but don't want to sell up. "We also see retirees who live outside Dublin, and only use their city-centre bolthole from time to time." Airsorted prides itself on catering for all, but also providing services that are heavily backed by technology; these include automated guest communications, pricing algorithms based on data and supply & demand, as well as having local intel on each city's accommodation market. In line with its expansion drive, the 140-strong employee base is constantly growing with current opportunities at the firm including roles in in tech (developers/engineers/testers), sales & marketing, operations, guest communications and customer support roles. "We like to think were challenging the perception of tech start-ups yes were problem-solvers and were highly analytical but excellent customer service remains at the heart of our culture," said Rachael. Across Airsorted 52pc of its staff are female, showcasing the startups commitment to encouraging more women to join tech-first companies. In Dublin alone, the team of seven at its city centre office is 57pc female with roles comprising of operations, growth and host management. Outside of Dublin, Airsorteds current roster of 16 cities includes London, Bristol, Edinburgh, Paris, New Zealand, Sydney, Melbourne, Cape Town, and Toronto with plans to expand into 38 new cities - including more in Ireland - by the end of next year. So do we all feel better now? Good because virtually every child protection agency in the country says weve just made a big mistake. Raising the digital age of consent from 13 to 16 will, say child welfare agencies, expose vulnerable young teens to unwanted situations and let tech companies off the hook for protecting them. But as long as we can all pretend they wont go online, thats the main thing, right? For those who missed it, the Dail set a new digital age of consent the other day. In a nutshell, this sets the age at which teens can legally interact with services that collect their personal data. For kids, thats mainly social media services such as Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp and Snapchat. The Dail set it at 16, against the advice of organisations such as ISPCC, the Childrens Rights Alliance, Barnardos and Cybersafe Ireland. So young teens will still be able to use limited versions of some of these social media and internet services while parental consent can be exercised in other cases. The trouble is, almost all evidence from experts and those who work or care for kids shows the age limit will be completely ignored. For example, Cybersafe Ireland, whose main mission is to protect kids, conducted a survey among primary school children between the ages of eight and 13. It found 72pc had a social media account and that parents had helped them create one. In other words, the idea young teens are sneaking onto social media sites unbeknownst to their parents is wrong. Its also weirdly out of touch with reality. But not uniquely so. A few months ago, the junior minister with responsibility for mental health, Jim Daly, said we should be required to furnish a national ID card to use Facebook, Instagram or Whatsapp. This was clearly unworkable from the beginning. But it didnt stop a Government minister proposing it. The current digital age of 16 is similarly unenforceable. Families will dismiss it without even thinking twice about it. Kids will simply lie about their age when they sign up for Snapchat, Instagram or Whatsapp. Their parents will just shrug. Then when a child is targeted by an alcohol advertiser or a gambling company, or befriended by someone who is over 18, the tech companies can simply say: Not our fault, guv they told us they were 18. All of which now creates a much harder situation for parents trying to keep an eye on what their kids see online and who theyre interacting with. I dont believe this is what Labour and Fianna Fail TDs, who were seduced into voting this way, want. Some genuinely want to stem commercial data gathering activities aimed at younger teens. Others simply dislike what they see of the internet and want to restrict all phone or online activity from as many young people as possible. Either way, theyve just set back online child protection. Critics fear the US move will bring the world back to the days when powerful nations always won trade disputes President Donald Trump has the World Trade Organization in a chokehold, and the United States has made clear what he wants: no more judicial rulings that interpret WTO rules to Washington's disadvantage. Trump has effectively engineered a crisis in the WTO's system of settling global disputes by vetoing all appointments of judges to its appeals chamber. True to the US President's style, his ambassador to the Geneva-based body, Dennis Shea, is unapologetic about shrinking the supreme court of world trade to a size where it will struggle to function. "The United States is not content to be complacent about this institution," Shea told fellow WTO ambassadors this month. "And the leadership that the United States will bring to the WTO in the coming months and years will consequently involve a good deal of straight talk and a willingness to be disruptive, where necessary, in the interest of contributing to a stronger, more effective, and more politically sustainable organisation." Trump has proved willing to risk a global trade war in combating any treaties and practices he regards as unfairly disadvantaging US companies and workers, imposing tariffs on steel and aluminium imports globally because of overproduction blamed on China. Since its creation in 1995, governments have gone to the WTO for adjudication on international trade disputes. Although rulings can be appealed, decisions made judges sitting on its Appellate Body are final, and ultimately sanctions can be used against transgressors. The rules are far from perfect or complete, and the failure to update them after decades of negotiating stalemate has obliged WTO judges to interpret them for a changing world. This has incurred Trump's wrath. "We lose the cases, we don't have the judges," he said in February, describing the WTO as "a catastrophe". Trade experts dispute this, saying all countries that go to the WTO have a broadly similar rate of winning and losing. While one US judge sits on the Appellate Body, most of the WTO's 164 members have no representative there, the experts note. Trump's veto is reducing what is supposed to be the seven-strong Appellate Body as members' terms expire. By September four seats will be vacant, leaving three judges, the number required to hear each appeal. If one judge needs to recuse themselves for any legal reason, the system will break down. Since 1995, the WTO has handled more than 500 disputes and its membership has expanded to cover around 95pc of world trade, which has more than tripled to around $18 trillion (15.2 trillion)per year in goods alone. The Trump administration sees a need to rein in unaccountable judges who overstep their authority. Others, however, see a systemic threat and a desire to return to pre-WTO days when countries settled disputes by negotiation - with the more powerful party usually winning, regardless of the merits of the case - rather than under internationally-agreed rules. This year Trump has caused an international outcry with the metals tariffs and a $150bn tariff threat against China for allegedly stealing US intellectual property. Both moves risk legal entanglement at the WTO. But disabling the Appellate Body would not simply mean a "time-warp" to an era without judges, according to chief judge Ujal Singh Bhatia. Instead, disputes would go into limbo if the losing side appealed. And with little prospect of enforcing the rules, there would be little point in negotiating new ones. "The paralysis of the Appellate Body would cast a long and deep shadow on the continued operation of the multilateral trading system as a whole," Singh Bhatia said. Eight appeals had been filed since the start of 2017 and more are expected, he said, including a dispute over Australian tobacco control rules which is widely seen as a test case for global health policy. Shea acknowledged the WTO's rule book had "substantial value" and had generally contributed to global economic stability. "But something has gone terribly wrong," he said. "The Appellate Body not only has rewritten our agreements to impose new substantive rules we members never negotiated or agreed, but has also been ignoring or rewriting the rules governing the dispute settlement system, expanding its own capacity to write and impose new rules." A rift opened up when the WTO faulted US methodology for assessing "dumping", or unfairly priced goods. The consequences for the US ability to tackle what Trump has called China "robbing us blind" were huge. The United States itself also stands accused of rewriting the rules in a dispute brought by Beijing over Washington's refusal to treat China as a "market economy". "Is the WTO really a rules-based organisation, or just a club where powerful traditional members can bend the rules?" China asked in a dispute hearing this week. Although Trump has a pattern of withdrawing from deals he dislikes - such as on curbing climate change and Iran - many WTO diplomats say they remain optimistic that Shea will make proposals to keep the dispute system intact. Sixty-six WTO members have backed a petition calling for the United States to drop its appointments veto, but there is no agreement on how to avoid the collapse of dispute settlement. Some countries are discussing using alternative arbitration methods, or having a dispute system which excludes the United States, lawyers and diplomats say. But US ally Japan is unwilling to join the petition. Ambassador Junichi Ihara said WTO members should refrain from disputes which are "essentially political". Japan rejects a dispute system without the United States. "In my view there should not be plan B," Ihara said. "We have only plan A and we need more collective efforts to find a solution." (Reuters) Asia Argento has used a speech at the finale of the Cannes Film Festival to condemn Harvey Weinstein. The Italian actress and filmmaker, an early accuser of the disgraced movie mogul, also took aim at the film industry as she labelled Cannes Weinsteins hunting ground. Even tonight, sitting among you, there are those who have still to be held accountable for their conduct against women, she said. Expand Close Harvey Weinstein (Anthony Devlin/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Harvey Weinstein (Anthony Devlin/PA) You know who you are. But most importantly we know who you are. And were not going allow you to get away with it any longer. She added: I want to make a prediction. Harvey Weinstein will never be welcomed here ever again. He will live in disgrace, shunned by a film community that once embraced him and covered up for his crimes. In a post on Twitter after her speech, she wrote: This is the speech I wrote and spoke out loud tonight at Cannes. For all the brave women who came forward denouncing their predators, and for all the brave women who will come forward in the future. We got the power #metoo. Argento who was one of the first actresses to go public with her Weinstein allegations claims she was assaulted by Weinstein while working on the 1998 film B. Monkey. The film was distributed by Miramax, a company co-founded by Weinstein. Video of the Day Weinstein has unequivocally denied all allegations of non-consensual sex. Film maker Luc Besson is being investigated by French authorities over a rape accusation. The French director reportedly denies wrongdoing after the complaint was made on Friday. A 27-year-old woman claims Besson drugged her before the alleged incident at the hotel Bristol in Paris, a judicial official told Associated Press. It comes as the Cannes Film Festival closes with allegations of sexual misconduct in the film industry dominating themes at the event. Besson, a writer, director and producer, is the man behind the Taken film series starring Liam Neeson as well as 1997 French sci-fi film The Fifth Element. By AM Saturday, May 19, 2018 Share Tweet Share Share Email Gabriel Levy features in People And Nature with his take on a play based on a novel by Vasily Grossman. The play, being shown this month (in Russian, with English captions) at the Theatre Royal in London, portrays the darkest days of 20th century European history. What conveys hope is how determinedly its director, Lev Dodin, and its cast stare Soviet history in the face. The impact was especially forceful last week, when Russian officialdom was as usual celebrating the great patriotic war with vast, aggressive displays of military hardware (on 9 May, the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany). The Maly Drama Theatre of St Petersburgs stage adaptation of Life and Fate, Vasily Grossmans epic novel about the holocaust, the second world war and Stalinism, above all brings hope for the future.The play, being shown this month (in Russian, with English captions) at the Theatre Royal in London, portrays the darkest days of 20th century European history. What conveys hope is how determinedly its director, Lev Dodin, and its cast stare Soviet history in the face.The impact was especially forceful last week, when Russian officialdom was as usual celebrating the great patriotic war with vast, aggressive displays of military hardware (on 9 May, the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany). Life and Fate Grossmans novel reflects on the crushing of the hopes raised by the 1917 revolution, and the relationship of those hopes, and the socialist ideals that accompanied them, to Stalinism. Here I felt that the stage version lost some of the complexities. On the other hand the novels exceptional and forthright comparison between Stalinism and Nazism is powerfully rendered, especially in conversations between the Gestapo officer Liss (Oleg Dmitriev) and the veteran communist Mostovskoy (Igor Ivanov), one of his prisoners. Liss mocks Mostovskoys internationalist principles and forecasts that Stalinism, as it scraped the bottom of the anti-semitic barrel, would resemble Nazism more closely than Mostovskoy can bring himself to admit. Dodin has achieved a feat by compressing into a three-hour-plus performance so many of the complexities of Grossmans novel. One set, bifurcated by a net and with the Shtrums furniture front of stage, is used for every scene, allowing the action to shift rapidly from the Shtrums Moscow apartment, to Soviet and then German prison camps, and in one scene to Stalingrad. In 1961, when Vasily Grossman sought permission to publish Life and Fate in the Soviet Union, a senior Communist party official, Mikhail Suslov, told him it would not see the light of day for at least 200 years. Grossman died in 1965, not knowing whether his novel would ever be read. A half century later, one of Russias leading theatre companies is conveying, developing, and expanding on, the novels themes. I think thats progress: reflection on the past takes time. GL, 14 May 2018. So that the future can be less horrible, we need to dig up the past Parts of Q/ Do you think the comparison [of Vasily Grossmans Life and Fate ] with War and Peace [by Lev Tolstoy] are justified? LD/ Its the closest analogy. No accident that the European press called Life and Fate the War and Peace of the 20th century. Tolstoys novel really isnt only about Napoleon and Russia: its a novel about humanity yes, using material in Russia, because Tolstoy lived here. And Life and Fate is based on material from the Soviet Union, because in those most tragic years Vasily Grossman lived and worked here. Everything is brought together in the novel: his war experiences; his mother perishing in the ghetto; and the fact that Grossman was one of the first in Europe to witness the hell of the fascist concentration camps. He accompanied the [Soviet] army to [the Nazi death camp at] Treblinka [in Poland]. Grossmans novel has so much to say about Russian, and European, history. Q/ You worked on this play for nearly three years. Was that because of the scale of the subject matter? LD/ To be accurate, I have lived with that novel in my heart since 1985, when I read it for the first time. But the work on it was related to my new course [at the St Petersburg Academy of Theatrical Arts]: I wanted to immerse my students in artistic and human material that would open up new horizons for them, make them into artists. When we started work, we agreed that there would be no performance at the end, that it was impossible to do this only with those future artists. It was course work, a sort of investigation. And for that reason we travelled to sites of former prison camps: to Norilsk [in Russia, north of the Arctic circle], to Auschwitz. We studied materials from the archives, and we re-read [Aleksandr] Solzhenitsyn, [Varlam] Shalamov, [Evgeniya] Ginzburg, [George] Orwell. [The play was put together subsequently.] [] Q/ Are you sure that all this [history] is topical today? LD/ Great literature never loses its topicality. The problem of choices, for example: every one of us makes choices, every second. Even if we refuse to make moral choices, that is already making a choice, an irrevocable choice. What could be more topical than to remind people now about morality? And our history? Anyone who fears dealing with the terrible past is preparing a terrible future for himself. And the issue is not direct repetition: the relationship is much more complicated, nuanced. It needs to be grappled with. As long as we dont feel that each one of us is responsible for what happens, nothing will change. As long as there is a Gulag [prison camp system], as long as there is injustice I am imprisoned in the Gulag, and I am a victim of injustice. Even if that injustice has not yet hit me directly. What could be more topical? Q/ And did the Gulag directly hit your family? Those who survive their relatives are tortured by guilt; those who escape arrest are tortured by fear of it. Liudmila Shtrums sister Zhenya (Elizaveta Boiarskaia) is haunted by the thought that she may inadvertently have betrayed her first husband, the veteran communist Krymov (Alexy Zubarev), by saying too much to her lover Novikov (Sergey Vlasov) and by the thought that Novikov might have betrayed her. But Novikov, the commander of a tank division, is himself eaten up by the repressive machine, for the crime of waiting eight minutes before executing an order to advance, in the hope of minimising fatalities among his troops.Grossmans novel reflects on the crushing of the hopes raised by the 1917 revolution, and the relationship of those hopes, and the socialist ideals that accompanied them, to Stalinism. Here I felt that the stage version lost some of the complexities. On the other hand the novels exceptional and forthright comparison between Stalinism and Nazism is powerfully rendered, especially in conversations between the Gestapo officer Liss (Oleg Dmitriev) and the veteran communist Mostovskoy (Igor Ivanov), one of his prisoners.Liss mocks Mostovskoys internationalist principles and forecasts that Stalinism, as it scraped the bottom of the anti-semitic barrel, would resemble Nazism more closely than Mostovskoy can bring himself to admit.Dodin has achieved a feat by compressing into a three-hour-plus performance so many of the complexities of Grossmans novel. One set, bifurcated by a net and with the Shtrums furniture front of stage, is used for every scene, allowing the action to shift rapidly from the Shtrums Moscow apartment, to Soviet and then German prison camps, and in one scene to Stalingrad.In 1961, when Vasily Grossman sought permission to publish Life and Fate in the Soviet Union, a senior Communist party official, Mikhail Suslov, told him it would not see the light of day for at least 200 years. Grossman died in 1965, not knowing whether his novel would ever be read. A half century later, one of Russias leading theatre companies is conveying, developing, and expanding on, the novels themes. I think thats progress: reflection on the past takes time. GL, 14 May 2018.So that the future can be less horrible, we need to dig up the pastParts of an interview with Lev Dodin , director of the Maly Drama Theatre, published in Ogonyok on 19 March 2007Do you think the comparison [of Vasily Grossmans] with[by Lev Tolstoy] are justified?Its the closest analogy. No accident that the European press called Life and Fate the War and Peace of the 20th century. Tolstoys novel really isnt only about Napoleon and Russia: its a novel about humanity yes, using material in Russia, because Tolstoy lived here. And Life and Fate is based on material from the Soviet Union, because in those most tragic years Vasily Grossman lived and worked here. Everything is brought together in the novel: his war experiences; his mother perishing in the ghetto; and the fact that Grossman was one of the first in Europe to witness the hell of the fascist concentration camps. He accompanied the [Soviet] army to [the Nazi death camp at] Treblinka [in Poland]. Grossmans novel has so much to say about Russian, and European, history.You worked on this play for nearly three years. Was that because of the scale of the subject matter?To be accurate, I have lived with that novel in my heart since 1985, when I read it for the first time. But the work on it was related to my new course [at the St Petersburg Academy of Theatrical Arts]: I wanted to immerse my students in artistic and human material that would open up new horizons for them, make them into artists. When we started work, we agreed that there would be no performance at the end, that it was impossible to do this only with those future artists. It was course work, a sort of investigation. And for that reason we travelled to sites of former prison camps: to Norilsk [in Russia, north of the Arctic circle], to Auschwitz. We studied materials from the archives, and we re-read [Aleksandr] Solzhenitsyn, [Varlam] Shalamov, [Evgeniya] Ginzburg, [George] Orwell. [The play was put together subsequently.] []Are you sure that all this [history] is topical today?Great literature never loses its topicality. The problem of choices, for example: every one of us makes choices, every second. Even if we refuse to make moral choices, that is already making a choice, an irrevocable choice. What could be more topical than to remind people now about morality? And our history? Anyone who fears dealing with the terrible past is preparing a terrible future for himself. And the issue is not direct repetition: the relationship is much more complicated, nuanced. It needs to be grappled with. As long as we dont feel that each one of us is responsible for what happens, nothing will change. As long as there is a Gulag [prison camp system], as long as there is injustice I am imprisoned in the Gulag, and I am a victim of injustice. Even if that injustice has not yet hit me directly. What could be more topical?And did the Gulag directly hit your family? LD/ My family no, but, as they say, the shells fell all around us. My father was a prominent scientist, a geologist. I very well remember how in 1949, when I was five years old, my mother, sister, brother and I were living at our dacha [country house] in the summer, and we would often go to the local station to meet the last train [from Moscow]. My dad would always take the last train. And sometimes he wouldnt be on it. My mother would literally turn white, because at that time, at the Institute where my dad worked, there were [political] meetings. They would arrest faculty members and not only Jews and they often did so after these meetings. We had to live through that fear of our father not returning. I still remember the name of his teacher, Eidelman, a very celebrated scientist, one of the founders of the Geological Committee of the USSR. He was 84 years old. They imprisoned him, and he disappeared. Another very clear memory is from 1956, when people started returning from the camps. Many former prisoners, my dads colleagues, came to see us. I very clearly remember Vologdin [a member of the Academy of Sciences]. He returned from the prison camp to Moscow, and came to visit us. My mother cooked a goose, using a special recipe. But when it was brought to the table, Vologdin couldnt eat. All his teeth had been knocked out when he was being questioned [after his arrest]. I will never forget the scene. No-one at the table touched the goose. It was quickly removed, and my mum never cooked that dish again. My brother, who is also a geologist, was taught by Urvantsev, a very well-known academic. Urvantsev served an eighteen-year sentence in Norilsk. After he came back, we met quite often at family events. I have known many people who went through the Stalinist prison camp system. [] Q/ You have said that during rehearsals some of your students parents reacted indignantly to your proposal to base a performance on Grossmans novel. LD/ Yes, at the beginning we had that problem. Some of the parents were admirers of Stalin, either covert, or very overt. And for some others, maybe, the theme we were working on simply wasnt important. The mother of one of our women students was very indignant at the start. But after the dress rehearsal, she spent the whole night talking with her daughter. I think they began better to understand each other as a result. Another of our women students learned just recently that her grandad, a peasant, had suffered repression [under Stalin], and been shot. Her parents just hadnt said anything to her about this before. Q/ Even before the premiere in St Petersburg, you showed the play in Norilsk [formerly the site of an extensive group of prison camps]. How was it received? Russian and Ukrainian friends have been sharing on social media, with horror, photos and video clips of kindergarten children, encouraged by teachers and parents to parade with models of tanks, armoured cars and heavy weapons. (See for example videos here from Piatagorsk , or here from Krasnodar .) All while real Russian bombs are killing kindergarten children in Syria. But thats only one Russia. The Maly Drama Theatre reminds us of another, where past wars are not justified or reproduced, but thought about, along with the repression and prison camps that accompanied them. Such thought is a precondition for making a future without any of these things.The Theatre has put on its adaptation of Grossmans masterpiece every year since 2007. It was developed out of a theatre school course taught by Lev Dodin, the theatres director. (He talked in an interview at the time about how that happened. See below.)was written in the 1950s, suppressed in Soviet times, and published in Switzerland in 1980 and Moscow only in 1988. It is set in 1943, when the battle of Stalingrad turned the tide of the second world war against Germany. The central characters are Viktor Shtrum, a physicist, and his wife Liudmila. Grossmans novel includes in its panoramic sweep scenes at the battle of Stalingrad; along the Volga river, following a voyage by Liudmilas sister Zhenya; in the ghetto at Berdichev, Ukraine, where the Jewish population was killed under Nazi occupation; and in Russian and German prison camps.Grossman, a journalist of Jewish heritage, won fame with his realistic war reporting, including the first report of the liberation of prisoners from a Nazi concentration camp. His first novel about the war, For a Just Cause, was published to acclaim in 1952, but the honesty of Life and Fate and other subsequent writing was too much for the Soviet censors.Lev Dodins stage adaptation puts front and centre two types of anti-semitism. The genocidal anti-semitism of the Holocaust is portrayed in the last letter of Anna Shtrum (played by Tatiana Shestakova) to her son Viktor, describing life and death in the Berdichev ghetto. The play starts, and is punctuated throughout, with readings from the letter.The counterpoint to this is the pernicious, petty anti-semitism of the Soviet elite, wrapped up with an unpleasant Russian nationalism, to which Viktor Shtrum (Sergei Kuryshev) falls victim in an early scene. To a foul tirade from the bosses of his Institute he responds: This is how power works. The individual and the state.Stalinist repression is a central theme. The stage version well conveys Grossmans sensitivity to the way that the system of arrests and shootings was glued together by fear, guilt and the destruction of peoples morale.At the dress rehearsal, and at the two performances we did in Norilsk, the theatre was full to overflowing. The first time the actors went to bow to the audience, the whole crowd stood up to applaud, as if on command. In Petersburg I never saw such a thing. Although the reaction in Norilsk was not uniform. I saw eyes downcast, sad faces. It wasnt only a festival atmosphere. Many people cried, and some, I think, were angry with us. Many came backstage with expressions that seemed to be turned inside out: young people; elderly former prisoners, who had been young when they were sent here. For example, people who had been sent to Norilsk from western Ukraine as teenagers, after the war. We met a woman from there who told us her story, showed us her documents. []Its quite common to hear people say, these days: Why dig us the past? Everythings there in school history textbooks, after all. Somebody I know always tell me that the only people who want to think about these things are those whose families suffered repression.What an awful, enslaved mentality! The past is there exactly to be dug up. The past: thats all the experience we have to go on. There is horror in the future, that we dont yet know, and, so that the future can be less horrible, we need to dig up the past. And study it. In Russia there are always people who dont want to know their history, or get it all confused because they are so scared of finding something bad. In Germany, for example, not a year goes by without serious research being published on the Hitler period. Films and plays on that subject appear one after the other. Although that period was shorter, and our [Soviet] system existed for nearly a century. Maybe its because of that we dont want to deal with it? Because we are all children of that system? In my opinion thats that systems most awful influence a sign of the fact that it is still alive. As long as we dont understand that the responsibility for that system was borne not only by Stalin, not only by the party, but by all who allowed that system to exist, we will continue to live in the past.That sounds pessimistic. And if you are a pessimist, why did you put on this play?For one thing, for myself. For another, because you can not stay silent in the face of that, that you consider to be false for your own sake, and for the sake of those who are able to listen. And pessimism is not such a negative quality. It is a way to avoid disillusionment although it doesnt avoid responsibility. This was one of Grossmans points: pessimism requires courage. It requires you to do things that optimism will never do. All the photos are from the Maly Drama Theatres web site More on Russian history on People & Nature Since their first step into the political limelight, The Kennedys, an Irish American dynasty, have manage to hold the fascination of an entire nation. A six part CNN miniseries on the family was released earlier this year, followed by Netflixs Bobby Kennedy for President that honours the 50th anniversary of RFKs 1968 presidential run. Also on its way to big screens is a more tragic tale of the Kennedy family: the real life tale of Senator Edward Ted Kennedys darkest hour, told for the first time cinematically in John Currans docudrama Chappaquiddick. The movie recounts the summer of 1969 on the small island of Chappaquiddick off of Marthas Vineyard. Senator Kennedy accidently drove his car off a bridge where it flipped upside down into a pond, resulting in the death of his 28-year-old passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne. Mary Jo was previously speechwriter and secretary for Teds brother, the late Robert F. Kennedy. The young woman attended a party celebrating RFKs former staffers and was offered a lift back to her hotel by Ted. After his Oldsmobile was flung into the water after flying off the barrier-less bridge, Ted was able to escape, but Mary Jo was still stuck in the vehicle at the bottom of the pond. Expand Close Kate Mara as Mary Jo Kopechne with Jason Clarke as Ted Kennedy in Chappaquiddick / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Kate Mara as Mary Jo Kopechne with Jason Clarke as Ted Kennedy in Chappaquiddick While Ted insists he made multiple attempts to rescue Mary Jo, he eventually left the scene of the accident and did not report it to authorities for 10 hours. Although Ted was able to keep his senate seat for 40 years following the incident, his White House ambitions fell flat when he did not run in 1972 or 1976, and failed to secure 1980 bid for nomination. The film delves into the aftermath of the incident, depicting all the power and theatrics used by one of Americas most powerful and influential families to save one of their own from social and political suicide. Chappaquiddick does not glamorise the tragic death of young Kopechne, nor does it shy away from placing the blame on Teds shoulders. While the film includes loads of historical detail, it also infuses dramatic licence, strongly insinuating that it was the strategic scheming of the Kennedy dynasty that carried Ted away from public denunciation. The film has received mixed reviews, with some critics saying the plot has all the research and material, but lacks passion and vitality. Others, including Variety, commend the movie on this lack of passion, stating that its too tough and smart to milk the situation by turning Edward Kennedy into a tragic figure. The conflicted senator is played by Australian actor Jason Clarke, along with Kate Mara as Kopechne; Ed Helms as Ted Kennedys cousin, friend, and lawyer Joe Gargan, and Jim Gaffigan as the Massachusetts Attorney General Paul Markham. While the film was screened at multiple film festivals around the world, it was officially released in America on April 6, but has yet to have a scheduled release date in Ireland and the UK. Expand Close Jason Clarke as Ted Kennedy in Chappaquiddick / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jason Clarke as Ted Kennedy in Chappaquiddick Cabinet minister Heather Humphreys has intervened with days to go until the referendum to confirm she supports the Government's proposal to allow abortion up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy. In an exclusive interview with the Irish Independent she cites concern over the healthcare that will be available for her own daughters in the future as the reason she's voting Yes. And she reveals a heartbreaking email she received from a woman who had an abortion in England as a teenager as one of the factors in coming to her decision to back the 12 weeks proposal. She said the woman told how "she felt alone and distraught" and that "the Ireland that she lived in had let her down". "It was a cold, hard place that she found herself in and she said that we owed it to the young girls of Ireland to do something and to help women who find themselves in that situation," said Ms Humphreys. The 12 weeks proposal first emerged as a recommendation of the Oireachtas Committee that examined abortion. It was put forward as a way of addressing cases of rape, incest and the availability of abortion pills online. The Government has adopted it as the abortion regime that would by introduced - subject to a Dail vote - if the Eighth Amendment is repealed. In recent months, Ms Humphreys has repeatedly said she hadn't made up her mind on the matter and had to consult with her Cavan-Monaghan constituents. The Business Minister said she was intervening because: "I genuinely feel in my heart we have to do something for the women who are in this situation - for all the different reasons, for rape, for incest, for fatal foetal abnormality. "We need to address this problem and we just can't keep putting it under the carpet. We cannot ignore it." Ms Humphreys said: "I want to know when my daughters, if they go on to have children at some point in the future - which I hope they do - that they will get all the care that they need, particularly if difficulties arise." She said the law as it stands was unclear for doctors. "We saw happened in the Savita Halappanavar case where there was lack of clarity there and it ended up in a terrible, tragic situation where that young woman died. "I know the mothers and grandmothers of Ireland want to know that when their children or grandchildren go on to have babies, that they get all the care that they need." She said 3,500 women travelled to the UK for abortions every year and others took abortion pills bought online. She rejected claims by the No side that what's proposed is unrestricted abortion on demand, pointing to the 72-hour waiting period. She also denied claims that it would lead to a UK-style regime that allows terminations late into a pregnancy. She said there were specific circumstances where a termination could take place after 12 weeks and it would require two doctors to certify there was a risk a mother's life or health. She said abortions wouldn't be carried out after the point where the foetus had reached viability. She was not trying to influence people with her intervention but had thought carefully about her position and "it's my duty to make my views known". She encouraged undecided voters to seek out the facts and come to their own conclusion. She said she is a practising Presbyterian but "firmly of the view that Church and State should be separate" and she had to act for everybody in the country of all faiths and none. Asked whether she would be concerned for her seat in a conservative rural constituency as a result of her Yes vote, she replied: "People will have to judge me on my record... I think people will respect me for telling the truth about how I feel." Pro-life demonstrators from Stand up for Life rally campaign for the retention of the Eighth Amendment of the Irish Constitution which is to be decided on in a referendum on May 25th Protesters hold up placards as they take part in the March for Choice, calling for the legalising of abortion in Ireland after the referendum announcement, in Dublin. Photo: AFP/Getty Images As a communications obsessive and politics and social affairs anorak, Johnny Fallon has taken a great deal of interest in the campaigning on both sides of the fence when it comes to Fridays abortion referendum, one seen by many as the most significant to be put to the people in a generation. But if the account manager with leading PR and communications agency Carr Communications was writing a report card for both the Yes and No contingents, it would be festooned with with criticism. Both sides, he believes, have struggled to communicate their stance to the electorate as well as they might. Its been very disjointed, he says. Especially from the Yes side. What should be a much clearer campaign, feels very confused. The abortion debate has characterised Irish life for generations and stepped up several notches following the death of Savita Halappanavar in 2012. But ever since May 25 was chosen as the date where the option to repeal or retain the Eighth Amendment in the Constitution that guaranteeing equal rights for mother and unborn child the Yes and No campaigns have stepped up a gear. But while it may appear as though the country is divided into trenchant Yes and No camps, opinion polls have shown that a large swathe of the population are undecided. The latest survey, published by the Irish Times on Thursday, shows that 17pc are dont know and a further 2pc declined to answer which way they would vote. That follows a Sunday Independent poll from a fortnight ago that revealed that 18pc were undecided. Its a significant portion of the electorate for both camps to target. But are they doing enough? Preaching to the converted Fallon believes that both sides continue to fall into the trap of speaking to the converted particularly on social media and he believes the Yes side, in particular, have become complacent. I feel the Yes side got off to a great start but theres a lack of freshness to it now. The next stage of the campaign doesnt seem to have been planned, the Whats the next big message that we have to get across? It seems everything was laid out in the beginning and its just reiterate, reiterate. But the No side are feeding new messaging in. In recent weeks political parties, especially Fine Gael and Sinn Fein, have leant their weight to the Yes side but Fallon believes some of it might feel opportunistic. Have they piggybacked on this for their own needs? he ponders. You might even accuse Sein Fein as using posters of their leader in their Yes messaging as a Welcome to our new leader. Mary Lou McDonald might feel differently. The doorstep battle Fallon believes that with canvassing still fundamental to Irish politics, both have done well, but especially the Yes side and they have made sure to go into hostile territory. The doorsteps is where the battle will be won and theres an awful lot of Yes activism on the ground, including in places like Roscommon, Leitrim, Longford where they mightnt have been for previous referendums. There are lots of young people involved and theyre very engaged. Dublin-based communications consultant Zoe Healy has worked on political campaigns in both Ireland in the UK and she was a media advisory strategist for Prime Minister Theresa May in the early 2000s. She believes the Yes side have been better at talking to the middle ground but has not been impressed by their strategy. They should have been much better at it, she says. Its been very disjointed. She says No stole a march when it came to mobilising its media strategy and argues that as several of the primary spokespeople for No had mobilised before not least during the marriage equality referendum of three years ago, they appear to have been strongly united on the abortion question. Where Yes appears to be very strong is in the area of canvassing, she says. There are a lot of people on the ground, particularly in Dublin but is their message getting out to more conservative parts of the country? Are they reaching the places what might be expected to vote no? As a resident in whats traditionally regarded as the countrys most liberal constituency, Dun Laoghaire, Healy says she has been canvassed several times by Yes, but not at all by the other side. The debate continues to rage online every day, but she believes both sides end up talking to their own people. I dont think social media is a forum where undecided people are going to get the sort of information they might need. A coarse debate She also believes the debate has coarsened to such an extent that some people are afraid to put their heads above the parapet and express their views, especially if their opinion isnt completely black or white. Healy believes the No posters featuring stark imagery and even starker wording fail to sway the undecided. I think theyre too aggressive and they antagonise people, especially those with young children who may be asking them what these posters mean. But another communications expert, who has worked on political campaigns in the past, believes the graphic No posters are more effective than some on the other side might imagine. It galls me to say this, as Id be a yes voter through and through, but the six-month poster may well have encouraged those who are wavering to vote no. He is referring to the widely seen poster which features a drawing of a baby in the womb with the strapline, If killing an unborn baby at six months bothers you, vote no. I think there are a lot of people who would support abortion in the case of rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormality, and are baulking at whats being proposed. Im not sure the Yes side are doing enough to convince that cohort of voters to vote yes or to adequately argue against the No campaign when they talk about abortion-on-demand. Loaded phrasing And, the No side have been effective in getting across the idea that unrestrictive terminations in the first 12 weeks really is abortion-on-demand. Its a very loaded phrase, especially in this country, and it has strong emotional appeal. He believes Yes has lacked focus largely because there have been so many organisations with a vested interest in this and he says there are signs of complacency. The early polls showed Yes had a very strong lead almost unassailable but the more recent ones have shown a huge narrowing of that gap. Its hard not to get the sense that sometimes they simply shut down whenever the No side score a hit against them. In their efforts to be restrained and not as they would see it stoop to the level of the other, theyre failing to get their points across. Jane Suiter of the School of Communications at Dublin City University and the director of the Institute for Future Media believes both sides have failed to communicate to the electorate as well as they might. The messaging from the Yes side has been very abstract, she says, and I dont think theyre particularly effective. Thats especially the case with the posters for the most part, theyve gingerly approached the issue. By contrast, the No side has employed veritable shock tactics in their posters and are somewhat redolent of the Hello Divorce, Bye Bye Daddy billboards that went up during the 1995 Divorce Referendum. She believes there is a possibility that these emotive posters may resonate with undecideds who have not been following the nuances of the debate and whats being proposed. The posters are a shortcut to them, she says, and the No side knows that. Too provocative? A number of straplines have become part of the vernacular of this referendum but the one she believes is most effective is the Yes sides appeal to Trust Women. Its a simple message but one that appeals to the idea of personal choice, she says. And its an interesting choice of phrase when one considers that in this country, historically, a lot of the culture is not to trust women. Its much more effective, she believes, than another popular mantra: My Body, My Choice. It might be too provocative for the middle ground. Zoe Healy agrees and believes such messaging and the Stop Policing Our Bodies line from the feminist socialist network, Rosa wont appeal to certain demographics and might provoke a negative reaction. As the campaign enters its final, critical days she says television will become increasingly important. On Monday night, a huge audience 650,000 people turned into Claire Byrne Live on RTE at some point in the debate. The fractious nature of the exchanges angered many and while Suiter says it will probably have not aided the undecided, the No side will probably be happier with how it went. There was very rowdy behaviour in the audience and I dont think it was in the public interest you had a lowest common denominator approach and the Yes side would have felt it was a very difficult environment in which to get their message across. She says it is impossible to gauge how effective the online campaigns have been at this juncture although she believes it is intriguing that the No side reacted far less favourably to the decision of Google, effective from last week, to prohibit pro-life and pro-choice ads. Their ads tended to be provocative and emotional, she says, and the campaign might have hoped to bypass what it perceives to be a biased media and to target people directly through these ads. Suiter says Twitter and Facebook will have been of little use when it comes to targeting the undecided. Almost everyone on social media speaks to their own side, she says. Its an echo chamber. Johnny Fallon agrees. Some of the stuff theyre arguing about on social media is time-wasting, he says. The vast majority of people are influenced by friends and family, not by a tweet or Facebook post. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has been targeted by the No side as the abortion referendum enters its final days. Mr Varadkar is not participating in live debates on the issue but No campaigners latched on to his interview with RTE's Sean O'Rourke. The Taoiseach warned that under the current law "it's only a matter of time" before a woman bleeds to death from using abortion pills ordered over the internet and taken without medical supervision. Love Both campaign spokeswoman Dr Ruth Cullen said the claim showed members of the Government were now "panicking and seem prepared to say anything to secure repeal". "We must remember that only five years ago he was completely opposed to abortion on demand. Now he uses his position to throw exaggerated and insulting language at people who hold the same position he, until recently, held. "This shows again that politicians cannot be trusted with the rights in the Eighth amendment," she said. The Iona Institute said Mr Varadkar's statement that in the early stages of pregnancy a doctor is only treating the woman was shocking. "This obliterates the rights of the unborn child," the pro-life organisation said. Mr Varadkar has insisted the Government's proposal to allow terminations is not abortion "on demand". He said no women would be able to go into a pharmacy and "bang on the table and demand abortion pills", and he doesn't believe women would do that anyway. The Taoiseach said the doctor would also have to confirm the pregnancy was less than 10 weeks' gestation. Mr Varadkar said it was not intended that abortion clinics would be set up in Ireland and this was not in the legislation. Vicky Phelan, who is calling for a Yes vote in next week's referendum on the Eighth Amendment, has revealed how, when she was pregnant with her daughter, she was informed of the option of abortion after having a pre-natal test. The Limerick mother-of-two, who has terminal cervical cancer and exposed the CervicalCheck scandal, said the suggestion of abortion was raised by a doctor when she had an amniocentesis test 30 weeks into her first pregnancy. It confirmed her unborn daughter Amelia suffered from congenital toxoplasmosis, a serious inherited infection. "I was horrified. I wanted this baby and was never going to abort my child. I stormed out of the room," she said. The doctor who was carrying out the test 12 years ago said: "If you were living in the UK you could consider termination." Ms Phelan said yesterday: "I was never going to have an abortion but I am still voting Yes. "I have seen it from all angles and I believe women should have a choice." Ms Phelan said her belief that women should have control over their own bodies is a long-held conviction. It is based on her own life experience of hearing how college friends had to take a boat or plane to an abortion clinic in the UK. "I went to college with girls who had to go to England and it was horrendous," she said. "It has been in the back of my mind for a long time that we should be able to provide the service in Ireland." In more recent years Ms Phelan said she had also felt deeply for women she knows who were told their unborn baby would not survive and had to go through with the pregnancy. "I am not pro-abortion but I am pro-choice," she said. "Women are having abortions anyway. It is safer to provide abortion here." She has been asked several times in recent weeks how she is going to vote on Friday. "It ties in with the cancer scandal in a way where information was withheld from women," she said. "It is safer in your own country. Having to go abroad to an abortion clinic is very clinical. "At the moment women are listening to me and it is important to come out and say how I will vote," she told the Irish Independent. Ms Phelan made her voting intentions clear on Twitter, saying: "I am voting Yes for the women of Ireland who have been let down by our health service and by our Government time and time again. "If we really want women to be placed at the centre of their own care, vote Yes to allow us to make the choice about our own care #WhoNeedsYourYes." Ms Phelan, who is attending the Ed Sheeran concert in Dublin tonight with her daughter Amelia, is to feature in a video for the National Women's Council outlining why she is voting Yes. She remains single-minded and undaunted in her determination to get to the truth of the cancer scandal. She was disappointed at the "ducking and diving" at Oireachtas committees by health officials this week when they were called to account for their part in the scandal. "They are still fudging," she said. Ms Phelan regularly speaks to Dr Gabriel Scally, the former NHS doctor who is doing a scoping inquiry into the scandal and is due to produce a report at the end of next month. She said she wants full disclosure and pointed to revelations that there are no minutes of a meeting between Leo Varadkar when he was health minister and HSE directors in late 2015. The Department of Health described the meeting as "informal". With less than a week to go until the abortion referendum, a lot of people may have questions about the practicalities of voting, from polling cards to how votes are spoilt. We spoke to a spokesman for the Referendum Commission to learn all you need to know before the historic vote on May 25: Who can vote in the referendum? Anyone who is an Irish citizen and at least 18 years of age can vote, so long as they are on the Register of Electors. Irish citizens living abroad cannot vote with the exception of diplomats and their spouses, who are on duty abroad and can vote by post. What do you do if you're not on the register? People had until May 8 to register to vote or to change their voting address. If you're not listed on checktheregister.ie then the best thing you can do is simply to ring your local authority and they should be able to check for certain. When do polling cards arrive and do I need to bring it on the day? Polling cards started arriving this week but you don't actually need them to vote, so long as you're on the electoral register you can vote. You do need to bring some form of valid ID - for example, a passport, driving licence or public services card. What hours will the polling stations be open between? Details about your polling station will be on your polling card and they will be open between 7am and 10pm on May 25. How do I know if the information I'm receiving is unbiased? The Referendum Commission's leaflet is black and orange, so it is very distinctive and it should have arrived in every house by now. That leaflet gives independent and neutral information about the referendum, it is also available online on RefCom2018.ie Has there been a surge in people registering to vote? We know anecdotally that there was a significant surge before the May 8 deadline of people getting the registration forms and filling them in. We can't say what number for certain though how many people registered yet, we just don't know at this point. What shouldn't I bring to the polling station? You're not supposed to wear anything that shows what side of the debate you're on, so no badges, jumpers, t-shirts, stickers, leaflets and so on. It's the same as during an election, when you're not supposed to wear party badges. Polling stations are supposed to be neutral places so if you went in wearing a campaign jumper then you might get told to cover it up. How do people spoil their votes? The simple thing is you're asked do you want to vote yes or no and you're asked to put an x in one of the boxes. People might want to write something else on their ballot paper and they're perfectly entitled to do so but it means they have spoilt their vote and it won't be counted. The most common one seems to be that people don't seem clear that they just have to oput an x in one box. When will we know the results of the referendum? We don't know for certain yet when the result will be announced but from past experience we tend to know the result of a referendum by early afternoon, if it's very close it may go on a little later. Waterfront Bar and Restaurant being demolished after the blaze ripped through the building Photo: Inishowen News The blaze was described by firefighters as one of the worst in Donegals history. Nine years ago, in the early hours of the morning, a popular seaside bar in Moville went up in flames resulting in the loss of more than 40 jobs. Fast forward to 2018, and the owner of Waterfront Bar and Restaurant has withdrawn his claim against Aviva Insurance over its failure to pay out 3 million following the fire. Miraculously, nobody was injured in the incident which happened on February 1, 2009. Expand Close Waterfront Bar and Restaurant after the blaze Photo: Inishowen News / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Waterfront Bar and Restaurant after the blaze Photo: Inishowen News A local who witnessed the events told Independent.ie how the flames engulfed the whole street, and they feared other businesses and homes in the area would be burned to the ground. Wed never seen anything like it, he said. The devastation caused by the fire resulted in a nine-year legal battle that finally came to an abrupt end this month. Publican Seamus McLaughlin, who now runs a car hire business in Inishowen, is facing estimated legal costs of more than 1 million. Aviva Insurance Europe plc refused to compensate Mr McLaughlin as it claimed he was involved in setting fire to the pub in an attempt to obtain benefit under the policy. The insurance company's case centred on CCTV footage recovered from the day of the fire. Footage recorded, presented in court, showed Mr McLaughlin and his brother entering the premises at 3.07am in the morning, and shortly after they left, the fire started. A Garda file was sent to the DPP in May 2010 following an investigation into the fire and the DPP later directed there should be no prosecution. Speaking to Independent.ie, Mr McLaughlin said "a lot of whats been printed so far isnt an accurate version of what went on." "What's reported doesn't do it justice, this case went on for nine years. Only bits and pieces have been printed." Why did he withdraw the claim at such a late stage? "The case was withdrawn on the advice of my legal team," he replied. When asked what has been inaccurately reported, Mr McLaughlin said he could not comment on that at this time. In his evidence in court, the Donegal man said he and his brother went to the pub on the morning of the fire to check for a leak and then went home. At about 4.30am, he got a call from a taxi driver he knew telling him to get up to the bar because the fire brigade was there. Derry fire service district commander, Willie Lynch, told Inishowen News at the time that it was the worst fire he had seen in his 37-year career. "It was one of the worst because it happened in the middle of the town and we had to fight to stop it spreading to other buildings," he said. "It was also more dangerous because the building was a restaurant and we had to send men in to pull gas cylinders out of the fire for fear they would explode." On day 21 of the case, when Mr McLaughlin was due to continue his evidence, his counsel Jonathan Kilfeather SC said the case was being withdrawn and Mr McLaughlin was ordered to pay Avivas legal costs. While the court case only lasted three weeks, it took years of adjournments and legal argument to get to that point. Mr McLaughlin previously went through the courts in a bid to get access to the security footage taken from the burnt-out premises - and he was initially successful in his attempts. The High Court ordered in 2010 that the CCTV material and forensic reports relating to the premises be handed over to the pub owner. The then Garda Commissioner claimed privilege over the materials due to the ongoing investigation into the fire. But the High Court found that the CCTV material and reports did not attract the public interest or privilege claimed by the commissioner. However, the Supreme Court later overturned this decision in 2011 and Aviva continued to defend the claim. The legal battle may have concluded for now, but the devastation caused has left a long-lasting impact on the community. "It was a very popular place and a lot of people worked there, and enjoyed drinking there, so it did hit the area hard," said one local, who wishes to remain anonymous. "'Tis a shame, but these things happen." Former commissioner of An Garda Siochana Martin Callinan arrives at the Disclosures Tribunal in Dublin Castle, Dublin. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins Former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan has disputed claims he told 'Crimecall' presenter Philip Boucher-Hayes penalty points whistleblower Maurice McCabe was "not to be trusted" and had "psychiatric and psychological issues". Appearing at the Disclosures Tribunal, Mr Callinan also denied claims by solicitor Gerald Kean that he had described Sgt McCabe as "troublesome, obstructive and difficult". The two are among five prominent public figures who have alleged Mr Callinan made comments maligning Sgt McCabe at various stages in late 2013 and early 2014. The tribunal will next week hear Mr Callinan's testimony in response to accusations he told Fianna Fail TD John McGuinness that Sgt McCabe "fiddles with children", told Comptroller and Auditor General Seamus McCarthy there were sexual offence allegations against Sgt McCabe, and told Fine Gael TD John Deasy that Sgt McCabe "was not to be believed or trusted with anything". The tribunal is investigating allegations made by former garda press officer Dave Taylor in a September 2016 protected disclosure that Mr Callinan ordered him in mid-2013 to negatively brief journalists that Sgt McCabe had been investigated over a child sexual assault allegation. Supt Taylor has claimed then deputy commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan was aware of the order. Sgt McCabe was cleared of the allegation in 2007 following a Garda inquiry. Read More The alleged smear campaign coincided with a period when Sgt McCabe's complaints about abuses of the penalty points system were causing considerable embarrassment for Garda authorities. But giving evidence yesterday, Mr Callinan not only denied speaking negatively about Sgt McCabe, but also said he believed the allegations of a smear campaign stemmed from "a grudge" Supt Taylor had against Ms O'Sullivan. Within months of Mr Callinan's March 2014 resignation, Supt Taylor was moved out of the garda press office by Ms O'Sullivan. The following year he was arrested as part of an inquiry into the alleged unauthorised leaking of information to journalists, a probe that did not result in any charges. Mr Callinan said Supt Taylor came to his house after the arrest and told him he had "a huge grievance" about being moved to the traffic bureau, that Ms O'Sullivan was the person responsible for his arrest, and he would "bring her down". He alleged Supt Taylor decided that in order to make his story work he "had to involve Mr Callinan in the process". Questioned by tribunal counsel Pat Marrinan SC, Mr Callinan said he was "certainly angry" after journalist Gemma O'Doherty called to his home in April 2013 while he was abroad on business. However, he said he had no argument with Ms O'Doherty subsequently publishing an article in the Irish Independent about him having penalty points he had incurredquashed, as it was factually correct. He said there was nothing nefarious about quashing the points as he had been on his way to an important meeting. Mr Callinan said his issue was he did not think it appropriate for a journalist to call to his home and that queries should be addressed to the Garda press office. Asked about his use of the word "disgusting" at a Dail Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting in January 2014, Mr Callinan said his comments were "isolated and misconstrued" in media reports. He said the comment was about how personal data had ended up in the public domain and not the character of the whistleblowers. He said Sgt McCabe rightly reported what he saw to be wrongdoing and had proved to be correct on quite a large amount of issues he raised. The tribunal heard that a document entitled 'Reports on McCabe and retired Garda John Wilson', which referred to the investigation into the sexual assault claim against Sgt McCabe, had been included in a pack of documents circulated for preparation meeting ahead of the PAC appearance. Mr Callinan said he did not recall ever seeing the document. Crowds walking in the Leidsestraat, one of the main shopping streets in Amsterdam. Photo: Deposit This week Amsterdams main political parties announced radical measures to curb the so-called Disneyfication of the Dutch capital. A coalition of four parties issued a pledge of agreed reforms to provide balance in the city, including banning short-term Airbnb rentals, diverting cruise ships from docking in the centre, and cracking down on the beer bikes popular with British stag dos. The tourist tax will also be raised from four per cent to seven. It is not the only destination taking drastic action to fight against the negative impacts of tourism - in the past 18 months, the problems surrounding mass tourism have intensified around the world. Here's a month-by-month timeline of the key battlegrounds. January 2017 Expand Close A protesters carry a banner that reads, "Barcelona: Tourist welcome, locals not welcome" during a demonstration in Barcelona on June 10, 2017 against what they claim is a lack of control by the city's tourism management. Photo: AFP / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A protesters carry a banner that reads, "Barcelona: Tourist welcome, locals not welcome" during a demonstration in Barcelona on June 10, 2017 against what they claim is a lack of control by the city's tourism management. Photo: AFP Barcelona unveils law to curb tourism Officials give the go-ahead for new legislation aimed at curbing tourism. The law limits the construction of hotels and stops licenses being issued to new tourist accommodation rentals. May 2017 Botswana introduces a steep tourism tax All tourists arriving in Botswana are now subject to a $30 (about 25) tax, in an effort to raise money to support conservation in the safari hotspot. June 2017 Expand Close Punta Ballena, Magaluf, in 2014. Photo: JAIME REINA/AFP/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Punta Ballena, Magaluf, in 2014. Photo: JAIME REINA/AFP/Getty Images Magaluf cracks down on anti-social tourists New rules unveiled by the local council mean that misbehaving tourists could be fined up to 3,000 (2,620). The long list of banned activities includes the obvious (urinating, spitting, and being naked on the streets), as well as the more unusual (climbing trees). Read More Venice plans to ban new hotels Massimiliano de Martin, Venices councillor for urban planning, submits a plan that he describes as essential for the protection of the city. It will prevent new holiday accommodation from opening in the historic centre. Read More Machu Picchu restricts visitors Anyone journeying to the citadel on its Andean mountaintop will need a ticket for either the morning (6am-midday) or the afternoon (midday-5.30pm). Anyone wanting to linger on the site for longer than their allotted session will need to buy a ticket for both time-segments. July 2017 Expand Close Hvar, where impressive Venetian-era houses proudly line the broad waterfront and bay. Photo: Deposit / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hvar, where impressive Venetian-era houses proudly line the broad waterfront and bay. Photo: Deposit Hvar, Croatia, punishes misbehaving tourists Consuming alcohol in the street will now invite a 700 fine from the authorities, who have erected signs that list various offences and corresponding penalties. Men walking around with their shirts off will reportedly be slapped with a 500 fine, while women wandering around in swimsuits can expect to pay 600. Anti-tourism protesters slash tyres in Barcelona A disturbing assault takes place on an open-top tour bus as it pulls up outside the Camp Nou stadium. The incident saw the vehicles tyres slashed and graffiti daubed onto its sides - many on board feared they were caught in a terrorist attack. August 2017 Expand Close Dubrovnik in Croatia / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dubrovnik in Croatia Police in Skye warn tourists away The Isle of Skye police warn tourists not to come if they havent booked somewhere to stay. Speaking on the subject, Seargant Bruce Crawford said: People regularly arrive at the station with nowhere to stay asking for advice and it is simply not possible for police to phone round hotels and B&Bs to try and find them accommodation. Tourists and cruise ships are turned away from Dubrovnik Dubrovnik announces a two-year plan to drastically cut the number of visitors allowed into its ancient centre in an effort to prevent ruinous overcrowding. October 2017 Expand Close Spain, Mallorca / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Spain, Mallorca Mallorca doubles tourist tax Officials from the Balearic Islands announce plans to double its tourist tax during the peak season in an effort to tackle overcrowding. The archipelago has seen a huge rise in overseas arrivals, prompting calls for measures to protect the region from unchecked growth and environmental damage. Amsterdam bans shops aimed at tourists Amsterdam announces a ban on any new shops aimed at tourists such as places hiring bikes and selling souvenirs, tour tickets and ubiquitous waffles. Read More November 2017 Expand Close Venice is not just for lovers - there's a world of family fun to be had just a short hop outside the city itself / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Venice is not just for lovers - there's a world of family fun to be had just a short hop outside the city itself Cruise ships diverted from Venices city centre After years of see-saw debate between Venetians and the tourism industry, government officials announce that cruise ships are to be banned from sailing past St Marks Square. February 2018 Expand Close Visitors to Maya Bay in Thailand / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Visitors to Maya Bay in Thailand Idyllic cove from The Beach threatens to close Government officials announce that Maya Bay in Thailand, a strong contender for the worlds most celebrated beach, will be closed to tourists for at least three months in a bid to reverse damage caused to the surrounding coral reef. Read More April 2018 Expand Close Cala d'Hort beach in Ibiza. Photo: Deposit / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cala d'Hort beach in Ibiza. Photo: Deposit Venice mulls charge for day-trippers Mayor Luigi Brugnaro proposes charging day-trippers entering the floating city. He says: The solution is obvious: those who live, work or have a place to sleep in the city can enter, the others must stay away. Ibiza's first protest against tourism More than 500 people take to the streets to protest against the impact of overtourism in Ibiza the first rally of its kind on the Balearic island famed for its hedonistic 24-hour lifestyle. Venice introduces unprecedented crowd-control measures Venice employs unprecedented crowd control measures to separate tourists from locals as the World Heritage city braces for a busy bank holiday weekend. Philippines island closes for six months Boracay closes to tourists for six months from April 26. It will provide time to overhaul the islands creaking infrastructure. May 2018 Venice bans new fast-food outlets Venice officials make yet another attempt to reduce the impact of mass tourism by banning takeaway food outlets from opening in the city. Read more: Read More Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] The world was once, for many of us, a huge and daunting labyrinth; a difficult, expensive challenge to navigate, and a path best travelled with friends in tow. You had to be good at map-reading, for one, with the ability to overcome language barriers. Getting around was simply harder. Thats changed considerably, and an ever-increasing number of us are these days setting off on adventures alone. Is it just that Google can now steer even the most directionally challenged among us to our next location, or translate words from any dialect back and forth? Is it that more of us are single, and staying single, than ever before? Are we now by nature too impatient to wait for a suitable companion to show up? Read More I spoke to a variety of tour operators to examine the rising trend of going it alone, to see how it is impacting everything from hotel bookings and Airbnbs, to cruises and cottage breaks. According to UK travel association Abta's latest annual Holiday Habits survey, one in nine holidaymakers reported that they took a holiday on their own in the previous 12 months - double the number compared to six years previous. Hitwise, the online behavioural research tool, said that from analysing searches made by 3 million consumers in the UK, across all search engines, there was a 143 per cent increase in "solo travel" searches over the past three years. Expand Close Costa Rica / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Costa Rica In the past four weeks, incidentally, the most popular destinations driving solo travel searches have been Costa Rica (above), South East Asia and New Zealand. If were not doing it, were certainly dreaming about doing it. According to inspiration sharing site Pinterest, recent numbers are even higher - with searches for solo travel up by nearly 600 per cent this year. Hotel booking sites have reported similar trends. Hotelscan.com has noticed a 170 per cent increase in the last 12 months for those looking to book a room by themselves, the most popular destinations for this being Thailand, Peru, Sydney, Portugal and Vietnam respectively. LateRooms.com said that between April 2017 and April 2018, theyve seen their share of solo travelers increase by a more modest 14 per cent. Hostelworld has seen a 42 per cent rise in the number of solo bookings made between 2015 and 2017, a more dramatic spike than in any other sector for the site. Airbnb, too, has been seeing an increase in lone bookings. Its fastest-growing spots for solo guests include Cancun (a 170 per cent increase), Ho Chi Minh City (146 per cent), Cologne (, below142 per cent), Playa del Carmen (141 per cent) and Johannesburg (135 per cent). Expand Close Cologne Christmas Market / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cologne Christmas Market And people arent always hopping on a plane to get away by themselves. Theyre checking into their own holiday cottages too. A spokesperson for one directory, Unique Home Stays, said: Weve been established for 17 years and have noticed a significant increase in solo travel over the last few years: with a 48 per cent spike since 2015. Even cruise operators have had to adjust their offerings to cater for higher numbers of passengers traveling alone. Norwegian Cruise Line spied the trend all the way back in 2010, when it first launched studio rooms designed especially for single travellers. This year, Riviera Travel introduced solo cabins with no single supplements across their river cruise programme and due to demand 18 per cent of their customers are now travelling alone this year introduced two new dedicated river cruise itineraries specifically for this sector. What sort of travellers are going solo? Expand Close The Great Outdoors. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Great Outdoors. Its a mixed bag, now more than ever. As far as younger travellers go, according to data from the Abta, almost one in eight 18-24 year olds reported going on a holiday by themselves in 2017. In 2011, this question was asked to 15-24 year olds and the figure was just 4.5 per cent. According to Hostelworld, the number of solo bookings made by Britons has increased 60 per cent over the past three years, the highest rise globally. Singles holiday operator Just You says the age of their clientele ranges from 21 to 90, but averages out at the 55+ age group. What does appear to be consistent, however, is that women are much more likely to travel alone than men, and thats only rising. Hitwise says that since January, the audiences driving searches for solo travel have been women (55 per cent of them) aged between 25-34 years old and living in London. According to Hostelworld, the number of solo bookings made by Britons has increased 60 per cent over the past three years, the highest rise globally. Singles holiday operator Just You says the age of their clientele ranges from 21 to 90, but averages out at the 55+ age group. What does appear to be consistent, however, is that women are much more likely to travel alone than men, and thats only rising. Hitwise says that since January, the audiences driving searches for solo travel have been women (55 per cent of them) aged between 25-34 years old and living in London. Solo by choice, or by circumstance? Expand Close Machu Picchu, Peru. Photo: Deposit Photos / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Machu Picchu, Peru. Photo: Deposit Photos If youre roaming the world alone, youll fall into one of two categories: someone who simply doesnt have a companion to join them on their travels, or someone who actively chooses not to bring along friends or a spouse. We polled a Facebook group consisting of hundreds of female writers and heard from countless single women who travel alone. But we also spoke to several who were married or otherwise attached, and actively choose to leave their other-halves at home when travelling. Writer Tash Nikolovski, 28, said of her six-month solo tour of Latin America: It probably seems a little unconventional to travel without your partner for six months, but it was something that meant a lot to me," she says. I'd made a lot of sacrifices to make it happen - like saving for over a year, learning Spanish, mentally preparing to leave my job - so throwing the trip away because I'd met someone just wasn't an option, and he understood that. She was in good company, as it turned out. What struck me the most was the amount of other females that I'd met travelling alone in the same boat - way more than guys - who all had boyfriends at home, and were taking trips on their own, she remarks. This works both ways, of course. Another writer, Claire Mason, said her husband went to India for five weeks after quitting a 30-year career in India in advertising, while she stayed home. Voyaging alone: is it good for you? Expand Close Girls jumping into lake from wooden dock / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Girls jumping into lake from wooden dock Psychotherapist Tony Ingham was one of the many we asked in his field who came back with a resounding yes. It provides a break from monotony, he explains, builds confidence and exposes you to people and places youd otherwise never cross. But most of us know this. Perhaps one of the most overlooked downsides however, are the very real re-entry blues. Frequently I work with people who have had the most exceptional experience on their travels and find the return home disappointing, he says. Read More Naturally, going solo can be difficult for the less-social travellers among us. More introverted people can become anxious, and retreat into their shells, Ingham confirms. But should they go for it anyway? Arguably. A recent Booking.com survey found that a substantial 71 per cent of global travellers have had regrets over missed travel opportunities. Generation Z (18-24 year olds) were found to be the most willing to face their travel anxieties head-on, with two thirds managing to overcome their concerns. For many, that means setting off alone even if youd rather have a friend. Working remotely Expand Close Dojo, Bali / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dojo, Bali As technology continues to free up the way people work, more and more of us are finding its now possible to combine a job with travel by operating remotely. Gemma Thompson, founder of travel advice website Girls That Travel, says: Many travellers are doing well in a career, but they feel it doesn't fulfil them. But the way we work is changing. Its more acceptable to take time out for yourself. In fact, we should all do it at least once in our lives. It gives us the gift of clear thinking time, and being in an environment like that builds self-confidence like nothing else. We spoke to PR executive Sarika Patel, who has just embarked on a solo expedition to Thailand, but isnt taking time off to do so. When you're single and in your thirties, the choice is usually 'travel alone' or 'don't travel' - so I choose travel, she says. Im off to Southeast Asia with no change to my work routine and 'minimal disruption' assured to my clients. I had to persuade them that I'd be just as effective from there. Read More What are the pitfalls of travelling solo? Expand Close Fancy a getaway? / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fancy a getaway? When Lonely Planet quizzed more than 4,000 of its members this year, four out of five have either had or were planning a solo trip. Disappointingly, a third of them said theyd felt disadvantaged by choosing to travel alone. Half of them, for example, have had to pay a single person supplement as a result of going solo. Telegraph Travels consumer expert Nick Trend explains: The argument goes like this. Holidays are usually priced per person based on two people sharing a twin or double room. When a single person books, many tour operators levy an extra charge. They argue that they have to charge extra because singles are a less attractive commercial proposition for them. Among other aspects, single travellers spend less money in the restaurant and bar than couples. A compromise? Expand Close Early morning in Tuscany. Photo: Deposit / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Early morning in Tuscany. Photo: Deposit For those travelling solo by circumstance rather than choice, there is a middle way. Small group package tours made up of strangers are proving themselves popular. Writer Mandy Appleyard explains: I am single, intrepid and a lover of remote, long-haul exotic destinations. I dont usually travel with close friends because, variously, they want to sleep on a sun lounger for a fortnight, wont catch a flight longer than two hours or dont want to travel where vaccinations are required. As I grow older and less compromising, Ive found it suits me to do small group holidays: theres company if I want it (at dinner, I always do), but also the opportunity to be separate without offending anyone. Theres a strong chance youll meet like-minded people, and for me the mix of the social and the solitary works well. Solo travel expert Gill Charlton agrees, noting: Some of the best holidays Ive had have been those where I have set off on my own and travelled with strangers. Experience has shown me that Ill find like-minded companions in any group. "Statistics tell us that one in four British adults has never married or is divorced or widowed. Add to these singletons all those keen travellers whose partners either cannot or will not join them, and thats a huge potential market. Read more: Read More Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Dr Marie Burke who officially opened the exhibition with Sandra Bell and Irene Woods at the North Louth Artists 50th Anniversary Art Exhibition in the Basement Gallery There was a great turnout at the opening of the North Louth Artists' annual exhibition in the Basement Gallery, An Tain Arts Centre last Wednesday. This was a special occasion as it marked the 50th anniversary of the founding of the group and the exhibition was officially opened by Dr Marie Burke, former Keeper and Head of Education at the National Gallery of Ireland. Paul Hayes, Director of An Tain Arts Centre said the opening was 'one of my favourite nights of the year' and he was delighted to have worked with the artists in their 50th year, noting that the exhibition comprised 'a huge body of work'. Irene Woods, chairperson of the North Louth Artists recalled that when the group was founded 50 years ago, there was no support for the visual arts in Louth but thankfully things had improved, enabling artists to spread their wings at home and abroad. Dr Marie Burke said she was very impressed with the venue. 'It feels as if its buzzing and is what every town needs.' She confessed she hadn't heard of the North Louth Painters previously but it was 'quite an achievement' for the group to reach their 50th anniversary and she hoped they would go on to celebrate their centenary in 50 years time. She noted the work of founder members Bea Orphan and Nano Reid in promoting the visual arts at a time when there was little or no infrastructure in the country. While she didn't want to single out any artists, she had been struck by the amazing work of Alva Gallagher, Frances Lambe and Sandra Bell, as well as by the beautiful watercolours and landscapes, images of buildings and people which reflect the locality, and beautiful abstracts. She was full of admiration for the range of work and she congratulated all the artists. Artist Sandra Bell paid tribute to Irene Woods for all the work she had done for the group over the years. Scoil Ui Mhuiri had the honour of a visit from the German Ambassador to Ireland, Mrs. Deike Potzel last week. The event was organised by German teacher Ms. Noeleen Lyons and coincided with the 25th anniversary of teaching and learning German in Scoil Ui Mhuiri. During this time, the school has won the European Language label for German, organised numerous German language trips and exchanges and welcomed several native German language assistants to the school. Ambassador Potzel was greeted by a guard of honour given by German students, before a performance by the school choir. 5th Year student Yele Taylor gave an excellent speech about her experience of learning German, while 2nd Year German student Emma McGrane presented the ambassador with a token to mark her visit. Ambassador Potzel also presented the school with a gift, a set of German language books for the school's new library. Following a discussion with German teachers and the school principal on the importance of learning German in secondary schools, Ambassador Potzel gave a talk to Junior and Senior students of German about her work as an ambassador. Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) welcomed some of the most inquisitive minds in the region to its campus for the SciFest regional programme. Hundreds of secondary school students from Louth, Dublin, Cavan, Meath and Monaghan exhibited their Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) projects to compete for the coveted title of SciFest 2018 Regional Finalist. With more than 130 projects on display investigating everything from the 'scientific truth behind the 5-second rule' to the 'effect of texting on thumb sensitivity in young people', the judges had a difficult task in shortlisting just 13 regional winners. In Dundalk in Colaiste Ris, three students investigated a topic which resonates with their peer group by looking at the effects of varying hours of sleep on young teens and their mental responses. They compared 7 and 10 hours sleep on the response times of males and females to the Brain Academy game. Jack Conlon explained, 'we chose this project because we are in Transition Year and we know students nowadays spend more and more time on their phones and watching TV.' 'We didn't know how bad it was to stay up late with our phones and we decided to test (this) with more sleep and less sleep and how your reaction is, if you have a quicker reaction time or if you are slower or have a better score or not.' Nathan McKenna said, 'we tested boys and girls who were over 15 and under 15.' While he said there was 'no clear distinction between each one, we found in memorising the girls did better than the boys with less sleep.' Teacher Christine O'Hare said the projects entered from the school, 'are of a very high standard and a very rich diversity in the types of projects, it is not all in one particular category. I think that adds to the different interests students have in the different aspects of science and it shows it is a very diverse field.' DkIT President Michael Mulvey said, 'We are happy to host this because DkIT has a very wide range of programmes in the STEM area including Science, Agriculture, Engineering and Computing and we have a very good record in terms of individual attention and completion rates.' 'DkIT is located in an area on the Belfast Dublin corridor which is increasingly the centre for development in terms of the Pharmaceutical Industry. There was great news of the Chinese company WuXi recently announcing 400 jobs in our region adding to the jobs already created in this sector to date. We are very much at the heart of developments in this area and are keen to continue supporting this. We look forward to welcoming more international and national companies.' There were celebrations at Dundalk Institute of Technology recently when the Institute won scooped two awards at the annual Education Awards. This was a major coup for the Institute which was competing against third level colleges and universities from around the country. The Institute's Master in Business Studies in Entrepreneurship and Marketing programme was honoured with two national education awards at this year's annual Education Awards, which recognise, celebrate and encourage academic excellence in the Third Level sector in Ireland. The Master in Business Studies programme was recognised as Best Academic Partnership as well as Best International Collaboration Project for its well-established partnership with Heilbronn University in Germany. 'We are delighted that the wonderful work being done by the Master in Business Studies academic team has been recognised among the best, most innovative teaching initiatives in the country,' said Professor Colette Henry, Head of Department of Business Studies at DkIT. 'Our Master in Business Studies provides students with a combination of academic rigour and practical application that positions them very well for employment upon graduation.' Developed in 2003, the Master in Business Studies programme is offered on a one year full-time or two year part-time basis, and has graduated more than 300 students to date. DkIT's collaboration with Heilbronn University began in 2007 and offers Master in Business Studies students an intensive international residential session with Irish-German collaborative teaching. Recognising the value of this initiative, two separate awards went to DkIT on the night, with the judges remarking that 'this unique partnership really adds something new to the current academic landscape and such a fruitful collaboration between an Irish and German institute was deemed worthy of recognition for a second time.' Applications for the Master in Business Studies programme close end of June, 2018, contact Brian Boyd, Programme Director for more information at brian.boyd@dkit.ie or complete the application online at www.dkit.ie A Louth TD has expressed 'fury' at reports from women in the Louth area who have been told that the free smear tests promised by Simon Harris in the wake of the Cervical Check scandal will cost up to 85 if women elect to have their smear tests analysed in this State, rather than outsourced to American labs. Deputy Imelda Munster said: 'I received calls today from women in my constituency who were outraged to learn from their GPs this week that they would have to pay 85 for a repeat smear test, despite claims made by Ministers Simon Harris and Regina Doherty that free smear tests would be available for all women who had concerns about the Cervical Check scandal and wished to take an additional test.' 'I am told that a letter was sent by Minister Harris to all GPs, advising that the "free" repeat smear tests are only to be given free of charge if the lab work is sent to America for testing.' "In cases where women choose for their lab work to be carried out in this state, they have been asked to pay 50 for a GP visit and 35 for the smear test. "For reasons that must be obvious even to the government since Vicky Phelan went public with her story, many women in Ireland have lost confidence in the outsourcing of lab tests to the United States, and would prefer that their tests be carried out at home. "It is disingenuous of Simon Harris to announce that these repeat tests are free, when in fact they are not. "I have written to Minister Harris seeking confirmation that this letter was sent, and I asked to see a copy of the letter. "It is clear that despite all the hurt, damage, and deaths that this scandal has caused, that the government has learned absolutely nothing. "After all that's happened the government should arrange to have free smear tests carried out and tested in Ireland. It's the least they could do.' The best books, they say, are always written from experience. So, when Louth based Detective Inspector Patrick Marry, who retired this week, decided he would write about his own experiences from the perspective of a criminal investigator, it is almost guaranteed to be a best-seller. 'It was actually my late brother Austin who encouraged me to do it. I used to talk to him about some of the investigations I was involved in and how they were solved, and he would say to me 'Pat, you have to write these stories down.' He reveals that Austin sadly passed away in the last few weeks, and now the former Detective Inspector says he is more determined than ever to write the book in his brother's memory. The work of a homicide detective has been called 'the loneliest job in the world' requiring a gritty determination that is at times, both feared and admired, Patrick admits that same determination is what carried him through to the day he made the decision to step down from the all-consuming role. His is a familiar face, and his name has been linked to investigations of the most horrific murders in both Louth, and north Dublin, over the last two decades. 'I said that I would retire once I had a suspect charged with the Adrian Donohoe murder - that was my marker,' said the Det. Inspector as he prepared to step down last week. The murder of Det. Garda Adrian Donohoe in January 2013 resonated throughout the force, and continues to do so. But it was felt deeply at Dundalk Garda Station, where Adrian had served for many years, and where he was a member of the team headed up by Det. Inspector Marry. 'For so many reasons, it just had to be solved' said Pat. The painstaking work of piecing together such an investigation eventually paid off, and true to his promise, he wrote his retirement letter on the very same day that a suspect was brought before the courts. He admits that after 33 years' service, he felt he had given all he could give and gone as far as he could go within An Garda Siochana. A career spanning four decades, which took him from north Dublin to Drogheda and Dundalk began, he recalls, with a childhood 'ambition of being a policeman.' 'A friend of my father's used to come over to our house. He was a garda, and he would talk to me about the job. I was hooked - I knew it was what I wanted to do.' He recalls 'my parents always had the highest regard for An Garda Siochana and that was instilled in us from a young age.' At 17, the Navan native applied to the force 'but they told me I was too young and too skinny.' He put his disappointment to one side, and got to work in the private sector for the next seven years. 'I worked for a packaging design company, and I can honestly say it was great life experience. It was also where I discovered my ability to problem solve as my job involved devising packaging solutions for international companies.' The job taught me to look at things in a different way.' At 25, he reapplied to An Garda Siochana and was delighted to be accepted. His early years were spent in leafy Donnybrook, soon learning, he said 'the basics of police work.' From there he was transferred to Blanchardstown, where he joined the detective unit, and found himself 'at work in some of the toughest areas of the city.' 'But I came across some incredible people in those years, some fantastic communities.' 'It struck me early on that we should never forget that An Garda Siochana is a service provider, there to serve the public.' This basic principle is, he says something he tried to instil in the younger members of the force. 'I always tell the team I am working with that they should never forget that in everything they do, they are accountable. Accountable not only to their superiors and to the courts, but also to the public they serve.' The most significant move in his career emerged when he took up a post at Balbriggan garda station in the early 2000's as Detective Sergeant. The detective unit there would soon face one of the most high profile murder investigations in recent years, when mother of two Rachel O'Reilly was found bludgeoned to death in her family home in north Dublin. Her husband Joe, it later emerged, played the grieving widow, famously appearing on The Late Late show to appeal for information about his wife's murder. During these very public appeals, Detective Inspector Marry was busily piecing together the puzzle that would eventually lead to Joe O'Reilly's phone signal sealing his fate as in 2007 he was tried and convicted of his wife's murder. Reflecting on how that investigation, and many that followed, were conducted, former Det. Inspector Marry adds 'People will always say 'it will be the husband' when a wife is murdered but I believe it is unwise to focus on just one person at the early stages of an investigation. It is crucial to widen the net and explore all avenues.' Transferred to Dundalk station in 2010, he adds: 'I will never forget my very first day in Dundalk as Detective Inspector, we got a call that a young man, a teenager, had been the victim of a vicious assault.' That incident, the sustained attack on 18 year old Niall Dorr along Castle Road became the first murder case Det. Insp Marry took up. 'It was a terrible, terrible case, such a young man, it was extremely tough for his family.' The case also became significant, he recalls, because of the use of DNA in a unique way to help solve the investigation. It is this 'thinking outside the box' approach which he said has stood to him throughout many criminal investigations. After more than 30 years' service the list of cases is long, he says, but there are some he will never forget. 'I think the biggest disappointment for me was not finding the remains of Ciara Breen and not being able to provide that closure for her mother Bernadette, who has suffered so much.' Ciara was just 17 years old when she went missing from her home on Bachelors walk in February 1997. Det. Inspector Marry led a major search for the missing teen's remains in 2015, in an area at Balmer's Bog in Dundalk where it was suspected she had been buried. But despite extensive efforts, no discovery was made. The investigation became all the more fraught when the man, who was believed to have been the chief suspect, died in garda custody. Under the leadership of Det. Insp Marry, the team in Dundalk set their sights on bringing justice to the family of Irene White. The mother of three had been brutally murdered at her home in Dundalk in 2005, and for many years the investigation progressed slowly. 'An investigation had been carried out in Dundalk, and there was a lot of good work done,' says Pat. It was transferred to the 'cold case' team in Dublin for review and later returned to Dundalk. In time, a major breakthrough came on foot of the determined approach taken by Det. Insp. Marry and his team which resulted in the arrest of Anthony Lambe. Lambe confessed to the brutal murder, and was sentenced to life in prison earlier this year. But the case remains open, as another arrest was made just twenty four hours after Lambe went to prison. 'Det. Insp. Marry's investigations have taken him around the world and caused him to work with many police forces but it is the United States Department of Homeland Security that he is particularly complimentary of. He recalls, 'the professionalism, integrity and courtesy shown to us by the Homeland Security Officers was exemplary.' Looking back on the breadth of work that has defined his career, Pat adds 'It has at times been all consuming. It is work that takes over your life. That isn't a great thing either, but I believe that there are some cases that if you're not immersed in them, they just won't be solved but I have other interests, such as my lifelong love of trad music which helps me to 'switch the mind off and relax.' In conclusion Pat remarks that 'at the end of the day, I just hope I made a difference, and brought some justice to families that have suffered such terrible losses.' Over 21,000 has been raised by the people of Dundalk following the horrific murder of young Japanese native Yosuke Sasaki in January. The 24-year-old man was murdered as he walked along the Avenue Road on his way home from work in National Pen on the morning of January 3rd, 2018. In the wake of an incident which shocked the nation former local councillor Oliver Morgan set up a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for the repatriation of Mr Sasaki's body back to his family in the Japanese city of Ebina-shi. The initial goal was 2,000 but Mr Morgan revealed last night that the final total achieved was 21,390. When fees to GoFundMe are accounted for, this means that the Sasaki family will receive a total of 19,269.95. Commenting on the matter, Morgan said: 'It gives me great pleasure to announce that with all the diplomatic procedures now at an end, I can finally declare that a fantastic total of 21,390 of a 2,000 goal has been achieved to help the Sasaki family with the repatriation of Yosuke's body back to Japan. He added that with commission taken out by the GoFundMe organisation, the final total stands at 19,269.95. He said the funds raised were a 'fantastic testament' to the people of Dundalk, and to those who made substantial private donations from around the world over in showing solidarity with the Sasaki family . A huge number of people also took part in a vigil which was held in the town centre days after the tragedy. Mohamed Morei has been charged with the murder of Yosuke Sasaki in Dundalk on January 3rd 2018 but has yet to face trial as he receives treatment in the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin. The revelation that a number of women died after being told that their cervical smears were clear has brought back painful memories for the parents of Dundalk teacher Antoinette Mullany, who died from ovarian cancer just a year after initially being misdiagnosed. 'She was totally let down by the system,' said her mother Sheelagh, from Omeath, who fought a two year battle to get an acknowledgment of misdiagnosis and an apology from the HSE. As a result of her persistence, the HSE unreservedly apologised for the failure by Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital to make a correct diagnosis in relation to their beloved daughter and failed to transfer her sooner to another hospital which could have made the diagnosis of ovarian cancer earlier. "This undoubtedly adversely affected her opportunity for different treatment options,' wrote . Louth Meath Hospital Group general manager Margaret Swords, after meeting Sheelagh and Michael Mullany in October 2014. She told them that she was 'very moved by your courage and determination.' A retired teacher, Sheelagh began her fight to get justice for her beloved youngest child after she got her daughter's medical notes when she passed away. 'I could have accepted it if she been given the correct treatment from the start but I have to live with the fact that she was misdiagnosed, having been denied a recommended MRI because it wasn't available in the hospital on a Sunday.' Antoinette, a popular member of staff at Gael Scoil Dun Dealgan, was 34 and half years of age. She had everything going for her. She had a career she loved, she owned her own house in Lis na Dara. She had a kind generous nature, was a volunteer with the Samaritans and raised funds for the Irish Cancer Society and animal welfare. Antoinette first attended the A&E Department at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, on June 4th 2011 complaining of severe stomach pains. She was admitted as an in-patient where she was diagnosed as suffering from endometriosis. Sheelagh believes that the failure to carry out an MRI when her daughter was admitted to the hospital contributed to the misdiagnosis and that blood tests showing raised tumour markers should have raised concerns. Antoinette wasn't aware at the time that a MRI had been recommended but it wasn't carried out as it was a Sunday. 'With the level of pain she had when she went in, she should have been given every test and scan available or else sent to a centre of excellence where they could be carried out,' said Sheelagh. 'The treatment she got was inappropriate. She was given hormone treatment for the endometriosis which actually fed the cancer. She should have been referred to a centre of excellence.' In the autumn , Antoinette again experienced severe pain and returned to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. This time, she had open surgery but was told that her condition was benign. 'She was sent home with pain-killers, but she still had horrific pain,' recalled Sheelagh. 'This went on until October, when she had several scans and the consultant told her that she had ovarian cancer. She cried, I cried.' Antoinette was then referred to a Dublin hospital and a treatment plan put in place. Despite undergoing chemotherapy, which at first seemed effective, the cancer progressed and Antoinette was hospitalised on a number of occasions but put on a brave face for her family. Sheelagh fondly remembers her daughter bringing her to see The Carpenters in the National Concert Hall. 'She ran down O'Connell Street and we went for something to eat before getting the bus home.' 'We thought she was on the mend,' says Sheelagh. Sadly, that wasn't the case, and as Antoinette's bouts of pain worsened, she was admitted to hospice where she died, holding her mother's hand, on July 12, 2012. 'She was very brave. She was the youngest of the family and she spoke with her two brothers and two sisters before she died. She planned her funeral, she chose her resting spot here in Omeath and picked the hymns.' It was only after her daughter's death, when she saw her medical notes, that Sheelagh realised that errors had been made. 'I have to live with that.' After carrying out research on the internet and consulting with medical experts in the UK, Sheelagh and her husband Michael, a retired Garda Sergeant, engaged a firm of solicitors and a settlement was made after mediation. 'It wasn't about money. It was about an acknowledgement that a mistake was made,' said Sheelagh, who said she is speaking out now to raise awareness about ovarian cancer. 'It's called the silent killer and women should be aware of the symptoms of bloating and pain and to insist on being taken seriously if they are worried.' Gina McIntyre, Chief Executive Officer of the Special EU Programmes Body, Cllr. Colm Markey and Joan Martin, Louth County Council at the launch of the Louth County Council Peace IV action plan in The Crowne Plaza Louth is getting a 2.2million boost thanks to the European Union's PEACE IV Programme. Details of thirteen programmes which will be funded through the PEACE IV Local Action Plan were announced by Louth County Council at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dundalk last Tuesday. The importance of the Peace IV programme was highlighted by speakers including the chairperson of Louth County Council, Cllr Colm Markey, Gina McIntyre Chief Executive of the Special EU Programmes Body, and Joan Martin, Chief Executive Louth County Council and Chair of the PEACE IV Partnership. Cllr Markey welcomed the funding and noted that the programme had evolved over the past 23 years. It supports the important role of diversity in society as well as working on building good cross border relationships. 'This has been a very important programme for this region,' said Ms McIntyre. She accepted that it had been a frustrating process to get to the stage where letters of offer were being made and she was looking forward to seeing ow the money will be spent. The programme involves the European Union, the UK and Irish governments and while the relationship was obviously strained at the moment, there was agreement on the benefits of the programme and for the need for it to continue, She noted that EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier had stated during his recent visit that he wished to see the Peace Programme continue a. 'We can be optimistic but should never be complacent,' she said of the future of the programme post-Brexit. The money from the programme goes directly through the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, with 85% of the funding coming from the European Regional Development Fund and 15% fro the two governments. The latest round of funding will support 17 action plans with a big emphasis on children and young people, building cross community and cross border relations and shared spaces and services. Ms Joan Martin reflected on the announcement of 400 jobs for Dundalk and the visit of Michel Barnier to Dundalk the previous week, saying the jobs announcement was 'marvellous' and proof that, despite the challenges facing the region, Dundalk still had great assets and infrastructure. 'I know and have seen the impact this Programme has had on our own county and region since 1996,' she said, 'It has made changes to people's lives and our county.' The action plans had been developed following 'the most enormous amount of consultation' and would build on the positive work done in the past. There was a 'very strong emphasis on children and young people,' she continued. There will be 13 projects in Louth, with 632,000 for children and young people, 800,000 for shared spaces and services, 375,000 for building positive relationships, as well as smaller grants for groups. She was also looking forward to the second letters of offer for 1.3million in funding under the programme. Legendary Irish actor Niall Toibin came out of retirement to play a role opposite one of his daughters, Muireann Toibin, in a new Irish short that has just been completed. The film was shot entirely on location in Wicklow, using familiar landmarks including the former Bray Head Hotel, Dann's pub in Greystones, and Bray harbour. Niall Toibin's illustrious career spans 50 years in film and television, including Ryan's Daughter, Far and Away, Bracken, The Ballroom of Romance, The Irish RM and Ballykissangel. 'When I sent him the script I didn't expect him to say yes,' said Greystones-based writer/ director Ian Campbell. 'It was a real thrill for everyone involved - cast and crew - to see him work up close and breathe life into a character that was written for him.' Remains is a powerful drama that tells the story of an American businessman who arrives in Ireland with the ashes of his parents. Using his mother's diary as a guide, the American retraces their steps in the weeks when they fell in love and meets local people, including Niall Toibin's character, who do little to help his increasingly fragile state of mind . Patrick Dunne, from Greystones, plays the role of the uptight American. He's worked with Ian Campbell on other shorts, including Nothing Nowhere, which won the Best Foreign Film award in the 2011 Action/Cut Short Film Competition in the US. The IFA is encouraging farm families to attend forest walks throughout the country as part of the 'Let's Talk and Walk' campaign in partnership with See Change, Coillte, and Mental Health Ireland in support of the Green Ribbon campaign for the month of May. The Wicklow event took place at Avondale Forest Park and drew a large number of walkers of all ages. It was one of eight events which will take place across the country during Green Ribbon Month. IFA President Joe Healy said, 'This has been a particularly tough year for many farm families and these walks provide an opportunity for communities to show support for a very worthwhile campaign and to help get people talking openly about mental health issues,' he said. Bus drivers in the north Wicklow area are 'sickened' following the assault of one of their colleagues on the 184 route. Gardai in Greystones said that they are aware of an incident involving an altercation between a driver and passenger and are looking into it. The driver was attacked in the cab of the Dublin Bus in Greystones on the afternoon of Friday, May 4, and a video of the incident has emerged online in recent days. 'It makes you realise how vulnerable you are,' said a colleague of the victim. 'We are all sickened by the ferocity,' he said. 'It's just a person doing a job. It seems to go on a lot these days no matter what job you do, if you're working with the public. Although 99.9 per cent of people are A1. Fair play to the two people who stepped in. It makes you believe there are good people out there too.' The driver is currently off work and understood to be recovering following his ordeal. The incident occurred at Lower Kindlestown Road in Greystones at 3.20 p.m. when the bus was travelling in the direction of Newtownmountkennedy. In the video footage, words are being exchanged between the driver and a man, who can be heard saying 'please'. The exchange turned violent, with the man raining punches on the driver. Passengers on the bus included teenagers travelling home from school, and screams can be heard. A man and woman stepped in to help the driver and restrain the attacker by wrestling him to the ground. National Bus and Rail Union rep Sean Yates, who is based in Ringsend, has called on Minister for Transport Shane Ross to establish transport police. 'There has been a steady increase in antisocial behaviour,' he said. 'It's no fault of Dublin Bus that drivers get attacked. It falls at the feet of Shane Ross and he needs to look at antisocial behaviour. 'Our members are on the front line. They are out in the dead of night and isolated places and they need support.' Gardai attended the scene of the incident and are to be given CCTV footage from the bus. Any witnesses can contact Greystones Garda Station on 01 6665800. A High Court action over an alleged agreement by the owners of the Opium Bar and Restuarant on Dublin's Wexford Street to buy a next-door property has been settled. Trebleside Designated Activity Company, which owns the Opium Bar, had brought proceedings against John Hallinan, Geraldine Hallinan, Claire Cullen and TFF Food Limited over an alleged failure by the defendants to complete a deal entered into in March. Trebleside, which is part of the Mercantile Group of bar/restaurants and represented by Gary McCarthy SC, claimed it entered into an agreement with the Hallinans that would see it acquire a neighbouring property they own at 38 and 38a Camden Row, Dublin, in a 1m-plus deal. Ms Cullen, of Ferndale House Convent Road, Delgany, Co Wicklow, and TFF Food Ltd are the occupiers and leasehold owners of the ground floor of 38 Camden Row, from which a coffee shop known as the Fat Fox operates. In its action, Trebleside had claimed the defendants had reneged on that agreement and, as a result, Trebleside sought an order seeking the specific performance of the agreement it claimed the Hallinan's entered into on March 27 last. However, following settlement talks, Mr McCarthy told Mr Justice Brian McGovern SC that the case had been settled. The court heard that it had been agreed between the parties that the Hallinans will receive 1.1m for the adjoining property and TFF Food will receive 100,000. The defendants had also agreed to compromise all issues, planning matters and legal proceedings between them concerning the running and operation of Opium and Whelan's Bar, which is also part of the Mercantile Group. An organisation called 'Anti Imperialist Action Ireland' has postered Whale Theatre and Greystones town in opposition to its sold-out royal wedding event. The Greystones theatre will be screening the nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Saturday, May 19. The group posted photos of its posters last Wednesday morning on Facebook with the heading '#SmashNormalisation Direct Action Against Royal Parasites in Greystones!' The action was taken in response to plans by the Whale Theatre to hold a party to celebrate the English royal wedding, which will include a live broadcast of the wedding at the theatre, a champagne breakfast and wedding cake. Referring to the people at Whale Theatre as 'West Brits', the group of 'Irish Socialist Republicans' said that they carried out a direct action 'to highlight the serious opposition in the local area at what is a deliberate attempt to promote the ongoing occupation of Ireland as normal'. They put up the posters which read 'Greystones Against Royal Parasites. Smash British Normalisation'. 'All attempts to normalise the illegal occupation of Ireland by Britain must be resisted by Republicans. Britain, get out of Ireland now!' posted the group on Facebook. A spokesperson for Whale Theatre said that they host screenings of a large variety of world events at the venue, including the Bolshoi Ballet from Moscow, opera performances from the Met in New York and Six Nations rugby matches. They had plans to screen the Eurovision Song Contest but there was not much of a take-up and they will also screen the Pope's visit to Ireland in August on the big screen. They had not envisaged any protests to the royal wedding and said that they were saddened by it. All 75 tickets for the royal wedding event have sold out and the theatre is operating a waiting list of 80. The Anti Imperialist Action Ireland group is also against RTE broadcasting the wedding. 'The hosting of an English Royal Wedding Party in Greystones, like the decision by RTE to broadcast the wedding live, is part of a wider agenda to portray the struggle for Irish National Liberation as finished, and to present the relationship between Ireland and Britain as a normal one,' the group said in a statement. 'As this direct action shows, the illegal presence of British Imperialism in Ireland will continue to be resisted and Irish Socialist Republicans are committed to challenging and smashing the Normalisation agenda,' they said. Sweet music is set to flow in Kiskeam this weekend as Erin's Fury hold a reunion fundraising concert in the village. The band are getting back together 20 years after they were first formed and it is 12 years since they last played together. The band members consist of Gerry Nunan, Pat Fleming, John J Murphy, DJ Keane, Leo Fitzgerald and Brian Ahern. They are also having a tribute ballad session for their former bandmate, Mike Donegan, who sadly passed away on May 17 last year after a short battle with cancer. There will be a marquee erected in the village with special guests who will also go on stage. The proceeds of the Cork 96FM 'Giving for Living' radiothon will go to the Mercy Cancer Appeal, CUH Charity, Marymount hospice, Breakthrough Cancer Research and Cork Arc. The concerts will be held on Saturday, May 19, at 9pm and on Sunday, May 20, at 4pm. The admission is 10 and all proceeds raised will go to the five listed charities. As part of the Rotary Peace Advocacy Project, six follow-up presentations were given by participating schools in Mallow College for Further Education last Friday. The students involved actively contributed to a Two day Peace Advocacy Training Course in November 2017. This peace advocacy/ conflict resolution programme seeks to assist young people as they tackle new challenges of modern life, including interacting with the ever-present social media platforms. For example, 73% of young people who have been bullied by email or text said that they know their tormentors. Left unchallenged, such negativity can lead to poor self- image, or more seriously, to self-harm. The intent was that the newly trained Peace Advocates would then initiate their own projects and put the skills they had developed on the course into practice. Each school made a short presentation on their chosen project. The presentations included Power Point and other appropriate communication medium of their choice. In addition there was a poster display prior to the presentations. The topics addressed in the presentations ranged from organising discussion groups to improving school environments, tackling homophobic language in school, setting up workshops to help other students deal with cyber-bullying or bringing student groups together to sort out differences. Mr David Stanton of State for Equality, Immigration and Integration was guest speaker. To acknowledge all their efforts, each school received a certificate of participation at the seminar and the two best presentations were awarded a 'Team Building Voucher' for Ballyhass Lakes Activity Centre at the conclusion of the event at 1.30pm. District Governor Garth Arnold and Assistant Governor Conny Ovesen, Rotary Ireland, adjudicated the projects. Mallow Rotary Club would like to extend its sincere appreciation to Mallow College for Further Education for hosting and facilitating the delivery of the Peace Advocacy Project. Can anyone explain what it is that Facebook is accused of? Articles like this are ridiculous, not once does it say what they are "targeting children" with ... 4 days ago Millstreet Community School Transition Year students welcomed diverse nationalities to an entertaining language and culture night. The 12th annual event brought together young people and their families in a celebration of the different languages and cultures, including Irish, which now exist in the Millstreet area. Personnel from 10 countries were involved in the enjoyable evening, including representatives from Ireland, Poland, Romania, Kazakstan, The Philippines, Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Nigeria and Pakistan. Joint Master of Ceremonies Jennifer Kelly and Sarah Bourke opened the proceedings in the school library that involved young people being given the opportunity to introduce themselves, say a little bit about where they or their family originated. They spoke about traditions, food, and important days in their national calendar, also performing cultural dances. Subsequently, everybody was invited into the canteen where a rich array of food from different countries was on offer for everyone to taste. The Transition Year students and local families had been busy themselves cooking for the event and by the end of the evening all the serving plates were empty. Summing up the night, Millstreet Community School chaplain John Magee spoke of the diverse changes in Ireland over the last 20 years. "One of the most noticeable has been the number of people who now call Ireland their home but whose family origins lie elsewhere in Europe or further afield. The Language and Culture Night provided us with a chance to recognise this increasing diversity while at the same time celebrating that which is traditionally Irish," he said. The night also formed part of the Millstreet Community School's efforts to introduce development education to the school over the coming years, supported by WorldWide Global Schools which is part of Irish Aid. A newly published list of what Ireland's politicians are worth financially, includes seven Cork North West and Cork East public representatives who have a potential wealth of more than 8 million between them. Leading the Cork list is Duhallow's Deputy Michael Moynihan (FF) who has a combined TD value of 2,678,458. According to the Sunday Independent, which compiled the list, he has a pension worth almost 1.5million and property worth 1,178,795. He is listed at 26th out of 158 TDs in the country and is also listed as not having any shares or business values. The research by the newspaper examined several publicly available sources of information to calculate estimated values of property, land and businesses owned by TDs. Next up on the list was Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed, who was ranked 28 out of 158. He has a total TD value of 2,510,736, comprising a pension worth 1,540,736 and property worth 970,000. The list said he does not have any shares or business values. Finally in Cork North West, Aindrias Moynihan (FF) has a total TD value of 246,469 and is number 141 out of 158 on the list. He is also listed as not having shares or business values. In Cork East, Minister David Stanton (FG) tops the list with a total TD value of 1,596,204. Ranked 51st out of 158, he is listed as having a pension valued at 1,451,204 and a property value of 145,000. He does not have any shares or business values. After him is Deputy Sean Sherlock (Lab) with a total TD value of 787,869. His pension value is 787,869 and the list said he does not have shares, business value or property. Fianna Fail's Kevin O'Keeffe is listed as having a total TD value of 589,677. His pension is valued at 135,609 and he is listed as having 26,000 shares and no business values. He is also listed as having property worth 428,068. Finally, there is Sinn Fein's Pat Buckley. According to the list he has a total TD value of 424,296. His pension value is listed at 124,296 and he doesn't have shares or business values and a property worth 300,000. The combined total TD values in Cork North West and Cork East comes to 8,833,709. Financial Advisor Karl Deeter wrote about pensions in the Sunday Independent, stating that he obtained the pension benefits accrual system from the Oireachtas office. Using this, he worked out the amount each TD is eligible for in their pensions and lump sums, which are based on years of service. He pointed out that there are many vagaries in this because laws have changed several times. He also said quotes are based on present values. In his lengthy article, he also said it is worth noting that politicians do make a six per cent contribution of salary towards their pensions. They also pay the pension levy. This is 10 per cent of salary between 28,750 and 60,000, and 10.5 per cent above that. Regarding property, the Resister of Members' Interests - where a public representative is required to declare their interests outside of politics - was used. This doesn't include family homes - but family homes can be a huge store of wealth, so they were included in the Sunday Independent list where possible. It also doesn't include homes they may currently occupy. It was noted that the Register of Members' Interest is published annually on the House of the Oireachtas' official website and the information provided by each TD is regarded as being nowhere near uniform. Mr Deeter and reporter Philip Ryan compiled the list which was published on Sunday. Mr Deeter said if a TD owns a second home in Dublin - which they might use while they attend the Dail - they don't have to list that property. They also searched the Land Registry for unregistered property, and the Property Registration Authority for property that is registered. Regarding shares, Mr Deeter wrote that the valuing of publicly traded shares has a minimum value of 13,000 because that is the threshold where a declaration has to be made according to the declaration guidelines. In some cases, he said a politician may have said they held certain shares that were valued at 1,000. In those instances he, along with reporter, Philip Ryan, reduced the valuation accordingly. In all cases, Mr Deeter stated they erred on the side of caution, and where they couldn't figure out a valuation, returned a figure of zero. 'If a politician mentioned that something was worth a certain amount on their declaration form, we went with that amount,' wrote Mr Deeter. For Business Value, companies were valued by taking the equity holders' funds according to account returns in the Companies Registration Office. The equity value, or net assets, would be divided by the shareholding. The Daddy and Me Dance troupe who will take to the stage of the Opera House on Sunday for the Anna Browne appeal The founder and director of the Mallow-based Centre Stage School, Aideen McAuliffe, has issued an emotional appeal for the local community to lend their support to a campaign to help a former student to realise her dream of dancing once again. Last June seven-year-old Anna Browne from Mallow was diagnosed with a significant neurological condition, bilateral PVL of the brain. It has resulted in Anna developing spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, a condition that severely inhibits movement in her lower limbs and has left her in almost constant pain. She had been a student at the Centre Stage School until her legs became too weak to dance. As Anna grows older the condition will get more debilitating, severely impacting her mobility and restricting her from doing the kind of everyday activities that children of her age take for granted, including dancing. Speaking recently to The Corkman Annas mother Evelyn said her daughter had to wear support splints for up to 10 hours each day, and special leg casts at night-time. "She relies on crutches for support and has to use a wheelchair to travel long distances," said Evelyn "Each morning she has to do up to 40 minutes of stretches just to get out of bed. Anna is in constant daily pain in her hips, knees and back. "Her condition causes premature ageing of the body that will, eventually, mean she will lose her ability to walk. While the thought of her being in a wheelchair scares me, it's the pain that she has to endure each day that upsets me the most. "Some nights the pain even wakes her up. Anna's life has changed so much over the past year and it is breaking my heart," said Evelyn. However, there is hope as Anna as been accepted for elective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR), a procedure carried out at the St Louis Children's Hospital in Missouri. It involves the identification and severing of the sensory nerves that cause spasticity in the lower limbs. A Go Fund Me account, 'Anna's Dream To Dance', has been set up to raise the 100,000 needed to cover the cost of the surgery, follow-up therapy and treatments, and travel to the US. So far the appeal has managed to raise almost 60,000 through donations and a wide variety of fundraising initiatives. As part of the campaign, the Centre Stage School has put together a special routine that will be incorporated into its annual 'Footwork' showcase, taking place at Cork Opera House next Sunday afternoon. The 'Daddy and Me Dance for Anna' routine will see 17 fathers of children at the school, along with Olympic medal winner Rob Heffernan, perform alongside their daughters on the Opera House stage as part of the showcase. "The school is hoping to raise 2,000 in support of Anna through the fund-raiser and we are asking the community in Mallow and the surrounding areas to support the Go Fund Me appeal by sponsoring the individual dancers," said Aideen. "All donations will be directly forwarded to the Browne family after the show," she added. For more details about the show and how to donate to 'Daddy and Me Dance for Anna' visit www.centrestageschool.ie. To find out more about the 'Anna's Dream To Dance' appeal or to donate directly to it, visit the dedicated Go Fund Me page. A man who sexually assaulted two sleeping teenage girls at separate house parties has lost an appeal against the severity of his three-year jail term. Christopher Twohig (24), of Banteer West, Co Cork, had pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl while she appeared to be asleep at a house party in Cork in 2011 and sexually assaulting a 19-year-old girl who had gone to sleep in a room on her own in Cork in 2014. He was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended at Cork Circuit Criminal Court by Judge Sean O Donnabhain on June 23, 2017, plus a concurrent 12-month jail term for the first offence on the same occasion. Twohig lost an appeal against his sentence on Monday with the Court of Appeal holding that his sentence was "arguably lenient". Giving judgment in the three-judge court, Mr Justice Alan Mahon said the first assault occurred at a house party in Cork when the victim was aged 15 and Twohig was aged 18 or 19. The victim had gone to the house where she knew the tenants and decided to stay overnight. She had gone to sleep on the couch where Twohig partially removed her clothing and touched her breasts and penetrated her vagina. It lasted about 15 minutes and the girl pretended to be asleep for fear of Twohig's reaction if he discovered she was awake and conscious, the judge said. The second offence occurred at another dwelling in Cork where the 19-year-old victim was staying overnight with friends and had gone to sleep in a room on her own. She awoke to find Twohig, then aged 22, digitally penetrating her. She got up and left and made a complaint to gardai the following day. Mr Justice Mahon said Twohig fully admitted his involvement in both offences and cooperated with the gardai in their investigation. He pleaded guilty at an early stage and was "genuinely remorseful". The sentencing judge said the second offence was "alarming" because of its similarity to the first offence three years earlier. Opposing the appeal, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Imelda Kelly BL, said an effective sentence of three years for two sexual assaults on two separate women within a three year period was "not disproportionate" and "not out of kilter with the norm". Mr Justice Mahon said the four year sentence was "arguably lenient". He said a five year sentence with a greater suspended element than the 25% afforded here, would not have been out of place. He said the overall custodial period of three years was certainly not excessive and the Court of Appeal could not identify an error in principle. Mr Justice Mahon, who sat with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice John Edwards, said the appeal was therefore dismissed. Property owners who want to convert unused spaces in towns and villages, particularly shops into living accommodation which would suit single applicants, can now do so as a result of a change in planning at Cork County Council. A motion was put forward by Cllr Gerard Murphy (FG) which received strong support from council members and has resulted in Planning and Development Regulations 2018. Cllr Murphy described the move as being "a no brainer" which will greatly help people seeking out accommodation and will also boost towns and villages by attracting in people to live in the region. It now means that conversion of town and village centre shops, commercial premises to residential accommodation can take place without the formal need to obtain planning permission. Cllr Murphy believes that this is one of a number of game changers which will greatly help the housing waiting list. "What this will do is encourage some unused shops throughout towns and villages to be converted into houses to provide family accommodation. This will be especially helpful for families who want accommodation in towns and who want to be close to schools and other facilities such as sporting grounds," he said. "Equally, this really should encourage property owners to covert their unused spaces to living accommodation which will be very good for single applicants who form one of the biggest groups on the housing lists," said Cllr Murphy. In the regulations it is stated that the change of use can occur between now and up to December 31, 2021. One of the stipulations is that the structure is required to be vacant for a period of two years immediately prior to the when the development takes place. Cork County Council has also attached a number of conditions along with limitations to the 2018 regulations. It is stated that the works to the building must primarily relate to works which would 'affect the interior of the structure' - although, some limited works to its external appearance will be permitted but it must be consistent with the character of the structure and of neighbouring properties. It is further stated that external works to the existing ground floor shop fronts must be consistent with the design, construction and arrangements of windows in a building. Any property owner who wishes to avail of this new change must notify the planning department at least two weeks prior to the commencement of proposed change of use to residential. Cllr Murphy said: "This new regulation along with the Council Renew and Lease Scheme, which provides money up front for refurbishment, should make these combined schemes a no brainer for some property owners. All of this will greatly ease the burden on the housing lists and will furthermore in my view boost towns and villages." Gina McIntyre, Chief Executive Officer of the Special EU Programmes Body, Cllr. Colm Markey and Joan Martin, Louth County Council at the launch of the Louth County Council Peace IV action plan in The Crowne Plaza Louth is getting a 2.2million boost thanks to the European Union's PEACE IV Programme. Details of thirteen programmes which will be funded through the PEACE IV Local Action Plan were announced by Louth County Council at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dundalk last Tuesday. The importance of the Peace IV programme was highlighted by speakers including the chairperson of Louth County Council, Cllr Colm Markey, Gina McIntyre Chief Executive of the Special EU Programmes Body, and Joan Martin, Chief Executive Louth County Council and Chair of the PEACE IV Partnership. Cllr Markey welcomed the funding and noted that the programme had evolved over the past 23 years. It supports the important role of diversity in society as well as working on building good cross border relationships. 'This has been a very important programme for this region,' said Ms McIntyre. She accepted that it had been a frustrating process to get to the stage where letters of offer were being made and she was looking forward to seeing ow the money will be spent. The programme involves the European Union, the UK and Irish governments and while the relationship was obviously strained at the moment, there was agreement on the benefits of the programme and for the need for it to continue, She noted that EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier had stated during his recent visit that he wished to see the Peace Programme continue. 'We can be optimistic but should never be complacent,' she said of the future of the programme post-Brexit. The money from the programme goes directly through the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, with 85% of the funding coming from the European Regional Development Fund and 15% fro the two governments. The latest round of funding will support 17 action plans with a big emphasis on children and young people, building cross community and cross border relations and shared spaces and services. Ms Joan Martin reflected on the announcement of 400 jobs for Dundalk and the visit of Michel Barnier to Dundalk the previous week, saying the jobs announcement was 'marvellous' and proof that, despite the challenges facing the region, Dundalk still had great assets and infrastructure. 'I know and have seen the impact this Programme has had on our county,' she said. Drogheda man Christopher Sonny Kierans will be the guest of honour at the Irish embassy in Rome this week as he marks his retirement from his role in the Vatican. He has spent over 40 years in the city, playing a leading role in introducing people to the delights of the city and especially if they need assistance regarding everything to do with the Vatican. Brother Kierans, who departed for Rome in 1973 - becoming a big Lazio fan - will be feted for his wonderful work at the embassy and hell have plenty of home support with him. Members of the Drogheda Male Voice choir are in Rome for six days as part of the event and will be performing on the day. They have already made an impact, singing at mass in the Irish College on Sunday morning and at the 5.15pm mass in St Peters Basilica later the same day. Mayor Pio Smith is part of the group. The 'Spirit of The Titanic' was well and truly brought to life at St Mary's CBS recently as the school's literacy group hosted a special Titanic themed day as part of the 'One Book, One Community Initiative'. The students had been reading Nicola Pierce's book 'The Spirit of the Titanic' and they aimed to explore different aspects of the Titanic's story using different subjects. This meant that it was not just a matter of historical significance, but, for example, the science department carried out a fascinating study on flotation and buoyancy which correlated with the tragic story of the ship's maiden voyage. The students linked in with two Enniscorthy Primary School's - St Senan's and St Mary's -along with the active retirement to create a fascinating day where they presented their projects and findings. Members of local community were invited to come in and take a look at some of the projects in the school library and there were some impressive findings. This was just one of the school literacy group's events as the school aims to achieve a 'Well-read Flag' for the school. Among the other events that have taken place in recent months were a readathon, a poetry and short story competition and the foundation of a book club and the idea is to create a culture of reading throughout the whole school community. While very understandably much of the public, media and political focus here has been on the appalling Cervical Check scandal, there are some hugely significant events unfolding across the globe. One of the most bizarre is the dual foreign relations strategy that is being followed by US President Donal Trump who might be about to bring peace to Korea while simultaneously plunging the Middle East into utter and absolute turmoil. What seems like an age ago - all the way back in 2002 - former President George W Bush in his State of the Union address introduced the world to the 'Axis of Evil' a triumvirate of Iraq, Iran and North Korea that, Bush claimed, threatened the peace of the entire world. We all know what subsequently happened to Iraq and its unfortunate people. Now the fortunes of its partners in Bush's 'axis' appear to be veering off in sharply different directions. North Korea - whose despotic young leader appears confident that his nuclear bluster has secured his regime's survival - is closer to peace with its southern neighbour in decades and there is a genuine international view that, this time, the talks might just work. That this remarkable turn about on the Korean Peninsula is largely down to Donald Trump's outlandish, aggressive and completely unpredictable approach to international relations makes the situation all the more bizarre. Meanwhile in Iran - which is in the midst of an increasingly violent face-off with Israel in Syria - Donald Trump's unusual take on 'diplomacy' and his decision to pull the USA out of its peace deal with the Islamic republic have seen tensions soar to dangerous heights not seen since the days of Ayatollah Khomeini. A war involving the US, Iran and Israel is worryingly close and the Middle East - already engulfed in war, slaughter and suffering - could be about to go over the cliff altogether and descend into total chaos. A key player in the middle eastern drama is another man who has had an interesting week, Russia's President Putin. Last week Putin was sworn in for what will, supposedly, be his final six year term as Russian premier. Given the tensions between Russia and the west it is likely to be a tumultuous six years in the Kremlin. And given his previous actions, if Putin is to leave politics in 2024 - which is far from certain - who knows what lengths he might go to secure his domestic legacy before he finally surrenders his Kremlin throne. In another famous American speech, this time back in 1966, Bobby Kennedy made reference to an old, often misquoted Chinese curse which says 'May he live in interesting times'. As was the case in the mid sixties we are once again living in interesting, if not sometimes downright terrifying, times. Lets just hope that sense can prevail and that things don't get any more 'interesting' in the weeks and months ahead. Students from Portmarnock Community School have been honoured at the Young Social Innovators annual awards ceremony. Their project entitled 'The Bicycle of Life' was awarded the 'Make our World One World' award. The project is a simple innovation that prevents soil erosion by using a low till farming policy. The Bicycle of Life is currently being used in Lesotho, Southern Africa. 800 students from across Ireland competed for the title of, Young Social Innovators of the Year 2018 at Croke Park. The students presented their projects to a panel of judges throughout the morning, with an awards ceremony taking place in the afternoon attended by Sean Kyne, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development. Through its programmes, training and events, Young Social Innovators enables young people to grapple with difficult social issues, advocating reform and advancing change. Speaking at the event this morning Damien Daly, Head of Customer Experience and Products at Ulster Bank, said: 'We are delighted to be supporting the Young Social Innovators Awards for a third year. Innovation is a core element of all the work we do at Ulster Bank and the innovation, creativity and enthusiasm displayed by all of the candidates here today is excellent. 'We are proud to support these brilliant young people as they disrupt the world around them and work to bring about social change, and we take inspiration from the projects that they have presented today.' Rachel Collier, CEO and co-founder of Young Social Innovators, said: 'Every year I am blown away by the work presented by the young people in the Young Social Innovators programme, and 2018 has been no different. Young people are one of our most valuable resources for fuelling social change, and at Young Social Innovators we are proud to capture their passion and to provide them with a platform on which to present their ideas and be heard.' An inspiring book of poetry written to aid a wonderful cause in the West of Ireland has been launched by a Swords woman in the Lord Mayor's pub. 'To the River Again' is a collection of the poems of Sword woman, Marian Neary Burke who has been living in the Fingal capital since the early 80s but is originally from the Roscommon and Galway border. It's Marian's second collection of poetry. Her first was launched back in 2007 and was inspired by the tragic death of her brother, Tony who died from cancer but during his treatment, Marian was struck by how many people there was travelling from the west of Ireland to Dublin for treatment. The problem was particularly acute when it came to palliative care and Marian decided to support the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation in their efforts to build a hospice in each county. The first book raised 10,000 for the cause and Marian has similar hopes for the new book. Marian says her poems are about 'love, live and nature' and in this book in particular, she has written honestly about her own struggles with mental health and said she hopes her openness on the subject 'will give other people courage'. A number of poems are dedicated to her parents, Hughie and Molly and of course, to her beloved brother, Tony. Marian was delighted to have the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Mary McCamley launch the new book recently and says it will be available from her own Facebook page (search for 'Marian Neary Burke' or from the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation. The foundation is very grateful to Marian for her fundraising efforts and its chairperson, Joanne Hynes travelled to the Swords book launch. Some 85 donors attended the recent mobile clinic in Rush. Held at St Maur's GAA Club, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) would like to thank all those who turned out. A breakdown of the total figures show that 10 first-time donors and three former donors attended the clinic. A special thank you was exended to local voluntary organiser Trish Walls for her help and support prior to and during the holding of the clinic. Thanks was also extended to Gerry Foley from St. Maur's G.A.A. Centre who facilitated the clinic. About 70,000 patients are transfused with blood each year in 67 Irish Hospitals. To do this we must collect approximately 3,000 donations of blood each and every week from voluntary donors like you. A total of 5,714 units alone were required in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin during 2017. Finally on behalf of all the patients in hospital who benefit from your generosity, the IBTS extended a heartfelt thank you. Fingal County Council want Metrolink to be re-routed down the Main Street of Swords instead of bypassing the town on the old Airport Road (R132). In the council's submission to the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) consultation process on the proposed MetroLink route is has proposed that the Metro go straight through the heart of Swords and down its Main Street. The council argued that should the TII reject that proposal and continue with its plans to bypass the town, down the R132, then that should be done at surface level and not rise on stilts at the estuary, as is currently proposed. The council has also proposed an additional station be placed at the extensive land-bank around Lissenhall which is being targeted as the main area for Swords' future growth. In addition, the council has proposed the so-called Estuary Station should be relocated south of Lissenhall Bridge to 'serve the very large catchment area which will emerge from the development of Local Area Plans and Masterplans and will provide the vision for these strategically important lands'. Fingal County Council's Director of Planning and Strategic Infrastructure, AnnMarie Farrelly, said: 'Fingal County Council supports the development of the MetroLink project and very much welcomes the opportunity to engage with Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the National Transport Authority to ensure that the final design is the optimal alignment for MetroLink within Fingal. 'Project Ireland 2040 makes clear the future development strategy for Swords and Fingal is as a sustainable Metropolitan urban extension of Dublin, in the context of the Metrolink and the economic functional unit of Swords-Dublin Airport. 'Our submission is set against Project Ireland 2040's ambitious set of goals, the National Strategic Outcomes, and focuses on the five areas required to deliver strong and dynamic growth in an efficient and integrated way and allow us to leverage the potential of Swords and Fingal in accordance with Project Ireland 2040.' She said: 'Fingal County Council believes that making Swords' Main Street as part of the MetroLink route will facilitate the optimal regeneration and development of the town into the future.' The council's Director of Planning and Strategic Infrastructure said: 'We are confident of the significant benefits that MetroLink will bring to Fingal and the wider Dublin region and look forward to working with all stakeholders to deliver this key piece of transport infrastructure.' Fingal County Council has already designated land along the MetroLink route as the Metro Economic Corridor. The purpose of this zoning, according to the council, is to facilitate opportunities for high density mixed use employment generating activity and commercial development, and support the provision of an appropriate quantum of residential development within the Metro Economic Corridor. Fingal County Council Chief Executive, Paul Reid, said: 'Fingal will be transformed by the arrival of MetroLink which will have wide-ranging positive implications for the county and, in particular Swords. We have laid the foundations with the creation of the Metro Economic Corridor and our submission reflects the changes we believe will greatly enhance this vital project.' Huge numbers turned out last Friday morning to support a peaceful protest in Donabate over road safety issues. Local people have demanded that child safety be prioritised, claiming that children were facing unsafe conditions travelling to and from school on a daily basis. The rally highlighted dangers to children from high levels of construction traffic on very narrow roads, with narrow footpaths. The protest started at the boys' and girls' primary schools on the Portrane. The demonstration also saw a march by the Community College and the Educate Together school, with a rally at the St Patrick's church car park The protest was organised by Donabate Portrane Community Council, and its various subcommittees, Supporting Proper Development in Donabate, and residents' associations. They local community has stepped up their demands given the high level of construction activity in the area, with new housing sites and the 300m National Forensic Mental Hospital. Campaigners have claimed they had raised the issue of a traffic management plan with officials last December but that this had not been put in place. In response, the council stated: The Council did meet with the local community last December and outlined our investment proposals for the area which have a particular focus on road and amenity improvements. This commitment was confirmed by the Council on adoption of the Donabate Local Area Plan in March 2016. An Action Plan identifying the key infrastructure requirements including improved pedestrian routes for the town was prepared. The delivery of these key actions remains a priority for the Council and there is ongoing engagement with key stakeholders and landowners in order to advance the works required.' It added that the Donabate Distributor Road, due for completion next year, would greatly improve access to the area. It added that while there are construction traffic restrictions during school hours associated with the building of the National Forensic hospital, similar conditions were excluded from other planning permissions by An Bord Pleanala. A man who terrorised a family in a 'drunken rampage' during which he assaulted two children, smashed windows and made threats to kill has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison. David Lawrence (22), with an address at Gardiner's Hill Halting Site Balbriggan, , admitted assaulting and threatening to kill a teenage boy at a house in Lusk on April 23, 2017. He further pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting a 15-year-old girl on the same occasion, and smashing windows with a bale of briquettes and a lump of timber. Passing sentence, Judge Martin Nolan said the fact that Lawrence had little or no memory of committing these crimes because he was drunk was no excuse. 'Drink is a voluntary activity and when you drink and behave in this way, you're responsible for your behaviour,' he said. 'He went on a drunken rampage and behaved disgracefully,' said Judge Nolan, adding that he it was an extremely frightening experience for the family who were suffering long-term consequences. Detective Garda Garret Durnan told Garret Baker BL, prosecuting, that the family had since left the house because of the incident. The court heard that Lawrence knocked on the family's door on the evening in question and asked to use the toilet. The mother of the house was not at home at the time. A 15-year-old girl let him in to use the bathroom and Lawrence then left but returned a few minutes later and asked to use her phone. When the girl refused, Lawrence knocked her to the ground with both hands and her teenage brother came out of the sitting room and asked him what he was doing. Lawrence squared up to the boy and hit him, and then took a bale of briquettes and smashed them through the window of the front door. The brother and sister locked themselves into a bathroom and heard more windows being smashed and Lawrence shouting that he was going to slit the boy's throat with a knife. The girl told gardai that Lawrence came back slightly later with a wooden stick and smashed another window, and tried unsuccessfully to open the bathroom door where she stood shaking and crying and holding her brother's hand. The woman of the house, who cannot be named in order to protect her children's identity, read out a victim impact statement in which she said her world fell apart because of the incident. She said she got a call from her daughter who was screaming hysterically and saying that Lawrence was going to kill her brother and that she arrived home to find 'our family home broken to pieces'. 'We lost everything: our home, our friends. Emotionally and psychologically this has destroyed my life," she said, adding that she felt as if she has failed her children. 'The woman I once was is long gone,' she said. Her son also read out a victim impact statement in which he said he doubted that Lawrence would ever understand the effect of his 'crazy outburst' on his family. 'I no longer live a happy life. I have dropped out of college, I've lost all motivation. I've become much more nervous about leaving the house, I can't sleep at night and have daily flashbacks," he said. His sister, now aged 16, also took the stand and read out a victim impact statement in which she said her life had changed for the worse and that she "lost everything" that day. She said she thought it was all her fault as she hadn't given Lawrence her phone. "I thought my brother was going to die over me," she said, adding that she did not feel she could go back to school and that she trusted no-one and was always looking over her shoulder. Gda Durnan said the family had known Lawrence previously and had been on good terms until the incident. 'There was no motivating factor; no malice. I believe the alcohol was the catalyst,' said Gda Durnan. Lawrence has 61 previous convictions including 39 for road traffic matters and others for theft, burglary, criminal damage and arson. Counsel for Lawrence said a lot of his convictions flowed from his longs-standing drink problems and that he was 'a different man' when sober. He apologised to the victims on behalf of Lawrence and said that when his client had been shown the victim impact statements they 'really hit home'. 'He bears them absolutely no ill will and has deep remorse,' said counsel for Lawrence, adding that his client could not explain or excuse his actions on the day due to drink. The sentence was backdated to September 7 last, when Lawrence went into custody. A heroin addict who went on a thieving spree over a two day period and stole over 2,000 worth of laptops from neighbouring estates has been sentenced to three months in prison. Amela Danovic (29), through her solicitor, claimed she had 'slip up' after completing a drugs rehabilitation course but has been drugs-free for a total of six months. Swords District Court heard the defendant, who has 23 previous convictions including 15 for thefts, was on a ten month suspended sentence at the time of committing these thefts. The defendant, of Boroimhe Maples in Swords, pleaded guilty to the theft of an Apple Mac Pro worth 1,500 and a pair of Raybans sunglasses worth 150 from a house in Boroimhe Beech on dates between April 28 and April 29. She further pleaded guilty to the theft of two Microsoft laptops worth 450 from a house in Boroimhe Alder in Swords on the same dates and admitted stealing 5 in cash from a house in Boroimhe Ashe on the same dates. Swords District Court heard the Apple Mac Pro and sunglasses were not recovered but the two Microsoft laptops were recovered. The defendant, who has two children, had linked in with Ashley House Residential where she completed a residential course. 'She had a slip up and she is not long out of residential treatment,' said defence solicitor Fiona D'Arcy. 'She has been drug-free for six months and had been doing well but she had a blip.' Ms D'Arcy told Judge Gerry Jones the defendant has plans to link in with various counsellors and asked for the case to be put back for a Probation Report. However, Judge Jones refused to adjourn the case for the report and sentenced the defendant to three months in prison. 'She committed these offences while on a suspended sentence,' Judge Jones noted. 'She got her chance and I don't accept she had a blip. She stole items worth 1,500 and 450 and I am not suspending any part of her sentence.' A playschool in St Margaret's is setting the standard for inclusion by developing an early intervention model that helps integrate children with all kinds of special needs within a mainstream playschool. Catherine Dwyer of Little Moos Moos playschool in St Margaret's explained: 'At Little Moo Moos our whole ethos is inclusion. We fully believe that if sufficient support is provided that any child can be and should be co-educated alongside their typically developing peers.' The playschool has already won recognition for making that policy a reality. The playschools efforts have been recognised by Early Childhood Ireland and in 2016 Catherine Dwyer of Little Moo Moos Playschool was awarded the overall National award for her Inclusion Policy. Catherine explained: 'Little Moo Moos Playschool has developed its own model 'Fledgling Model' for Early Intervention within a mainstream playschool. 'Little Moo Moos is unique in that we are a mainstream Playschool that provides inclusion with full support of an active on-site Early intervention Team. 'We also strongly advocate that inclusive education benefits not only children with additional needs but also hugely benefits typically developing peers and siblings.' Explaining how the model works in more detail, Catherine said: 'Little Moo-Moos Playschool utilises an original model when assessing the educational needs of each child and provides an individualised education plan and continuous behaviour support for all children with additional needs. 'Early Intervention Support is offered at Little Moo-Moos to children aged two and eight months to six years with a variety of needs and diagnoses such as and not limited to, Speech and language delay, Dyspraxia, ASD and physical care needs.' She explained: 'We encourage a multidisciplinary environment, and work alongside parents and their child to ensure we meet the needs of each child. 'We offer a diverse environment that allows generalisation of new skills to be achieved.' As part of its diverse work force, Little Moo-Moos currently has am active multidisciplinary team which consists of a consultant Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA), Qualifed ABA tutors, Montessori staff, Early years educators and a resource teacher. According to Catherine: 'Each child's individualised education plan is designed following individual assessment to incorporate individual learning areas and behaviour support intergrated into play-based, emergent and Montessori Curriculum underpinned by the Aistear and Siolta quality programmes.' Monday of next week is 'European Natura 2000 Day'. The special day commemorates 21 May 1992, the day on which both the EU Habitats Directive and the LIFE programme were approved. A habitat is a place where plants and animals are found, for example, a wood, a pond, the seashore, etc. While some habitats are common others are rare and fragile and in need of special conservation measures if they are not to become extinct. The 1992 EU Habitats Directive lists some 200 habitat types throughout the European Union that need to be targeted for conservation measures by Member States. Some of these habitats support a range of rare, threatened or endemic animal and plant species. Fifty-eight of the 200 or so listed habitats are recognised in Ireland and plans are in place to protect several examples of them. The Birds Directive was adopted in 1979 and together with the 1992 Habitats Directive the two directives form the cornerstone of the European Union's nature conservation policy. Together, the two are sometimes known as 'the nature directives'. The two directives require Member States to designate areas where birds and habitats are protected. Protected areas in accordance with the Birds Directive are known as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and protected areas in accordance with the Habitats Directive are known as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). The SPAs and SACs together make up the Natura 2000 network, a collection of more than 27,000 sites across the land and sea areas of the Union successfully contributing to the preservation of the unique natural heritage of Europe. European Natura 2000 Day seeks to celebrate the Natura 2000 network, one of the EU's significant achievements. We are all encouraged to participate in the celebration by visiting, enjoying and learning more about one of the sites that is part of the pan-European network. European Natura 2000 Day also celebrated the LIFE programme. That programme is the EU's financial instrument supporting environmental, nature conservation and climate action projects. Since 1992, LIFE has co-financed more than 4,500 projects. For the 2014-2020 funding period, LIFE will contribute approximately 3.4 billion to the protection of the environment and climate. So, do make a point of getting out to enjoy your local Natura 2000 site be it a forest or woodland walk, a seashore or coastal walk, or a bog or upland area. Log onto www.npws.ie to locate your local Natura 2000 sites and all you need to know about them. At the civic reception for the Mayor of Bayeux at Civic Buildings in Gorey were, front row: Madame Martine Gomont, Mayor of Bayeux Patrick Gomont, Cathaoirlach, Cllr Joe Sullivan, Bayeux deputy Mayor Madame Christine Cabon-Delacroix, Cllr. Pip Breen and district manager, Amanda Byrne. Back row: Creagh College teacher Sarah Donavan, teacher Megan Tomkins, Creagh College students Eoin Fitzpatrick and Daniel Murphy, NWHS vice chairman, Willie Willloughby, Gorey Community School student Eabha Cahill and Gorey Youth Needs Mandi Tighe Gorey Municipal District Council extended a civic reception to a visiting delegation from France last week when the Mayor of Bayeux, Patrick Gamont, and his wife, Madame Martine Gamont, stopped off while on a tour of Wexford. They were accompanied by the Deputy Mayor, Madame Christine Cabon-Delacroix. The visitors arrived in Gorey on Tuesday having spent time in the New Ross area the previous day. They visited Christ Church and then were given a reception in the Council Chamber. The Cathaoirleach, Cllr Joe O'Sullivan, welcomed the delegation and said it was good to be forging closer links between the two regions. 'We have a lot in common in the two areas especially in terms of agriculture and the populations,' he said, in his address to the visitors. He also spoke of a previous visit he paid to the Bayeux region in 2017 when along with students, teachers and Council officials he went to a local school over there and saw the Bayeux tapestry. Cllr O'Sullivan said it was good to forge strong links with our neighbours in mainland Europe while the visitors expressed delight in being able to visit Gorey and Mr Lamont said it an honour to be afforded a civic reception. He said it was a privilege to enhance the links between the two areas and expressed hope that such links will be developed further into the future. He thanked Cllr O'Sullivan and the local officials, including District Manager, Amanda Byrne, for their hospitality and said he and his wife, along with Ms Cabon-Delacroix, had enjoyed their time in County Wexford. Others in attendance at the reception included students and teachers from Creagh College, Gorey Community School, Mandi Tighe, from Gorey Youth Needs, and Willie Willoughby, from North Wexford Historical Society. While in the Council chamber the visitors were treated to a meal and refreshments. The Bunscoil Loreto Primary School in Gorey held its annual Grandparents Day initiative last week and it was a great success. While most schools hold their Grandparents Day towards the start of the school year, in Gorey they use the occasion to coincide with the annual First Communion. Speaking to this newspaper about the event, the Principal, Aileen Kennedy said that holding it at this time of the year means grandparents who are from overseas get to visit the school. 'We have a lot of children who come from other countries or whose parents are from other countries so we always hold our Grandparents Day to coincide with the Communion because a lot of their family members come here for that,' she said. 'That means that they're here to visit the school and that's great because some of them don't even have any English but because they get to come in here it means that when their grandchildren are talking to them about school life and what they do they know where they're talking about because through visiting here they've got a feel for the school and what we're about,' she added. Bunscoil Loreto has four Second Classes groups and those pupils entertained the visitors with songs and music throughout the day. 'They also gave their grandparents a profile which outlined their perception of them and some of those were quite funny,' said Ms Kennedy. 'It's something we get them to do, where they write about their grandparents and what they mean to them.' The children also presented their grandparents with their own profiles and that also proved very popular with the visitors. Due to the large number of Second Class pupils in the school there were two sessions for grandparents to visit and both of them received a capacity crowd in the hall. 'It was a great success and seemed to go down very well with the visitors,' said Ms Kennedy. 'The hall was packed for both sessions and it was a great occasion for everyone,' she added. Light refreshments were also served to the visiting grandparents in the school. The iconic Michael Warren sculpture in Ferrybank which overlooks Wexford estuary and bridge, has been replaced by Wexford County Council with an upgraded version made from corten steel in order to preserve an important piece of public art for the future. The substitution which took place recently will also guarantee the legacy of Mr. Warren, a Wexford artist based in Ballycanew, whose prolific career spanning nearly 40 years, has earned him a national and international reputation. Due to ongoing water damage and concerns about public safety, the original wooden sculpture 'De-creation (V1)' which had been in place for 31 years, was in need of a lengthy restoration process which would have required its removal for a year. The piece was leaking and the wood was rotting, giving rise to health and safety concerns, and the necessary repairs would have been extensive. After inspecting the damage and consulting with site engineers and the county Arts Office, the artist proposed the idea of a corten steel replica to Wexford County Council last year. The project took a year of planning and the new steel version was fabricated in Arklow before Christmas and installed in Ferrybank in April after engineers excavated and prepared the site. The sculpture which is still surrounded by scaffolding, will be publicly uncovered within the next few weeks after the area around it has been landscaped. The original sculpture has been taken away to be re-purposed by the artist who selected Ferrybank as the ideal site back in 1987 when it was first installed. The cost of the replacement has been funded from a few years worth of the Council's budget for the maintenance of public art projects in the county, many of which are outside and open to the elements. Corten steel also known as weathering steel eliminates the need for painting and forms a stable rust-like appearance after several years of exposure to weather. Mayor of Wexford Jim Moore said he was very pleased to see this iconic piece of public art re-installed in the beautiful setting of Ferrybank overlooking the town. 'Michael Warren is an artist of international significance and Wexford County Council recognises the importance of preserving his legacy, particularly in his home county of Wexford', he said. County Arts Officer Liz Burns said the replacement is a beautiful version in Corten steel which will allow many future generations to enjoy the work of an important County Wexford-born artist of international renown whose celebrated sculptures can be seen all over Ireland and the world in collections, museums, private homes and public spaces. 'The question of what constitutes the life span of a 'permanent' piece of public art is an interesting one and is open to multiple interpretations. We in Wexford County Council felt it was important to honour and preserve the work of such an important, internationally acclaimed artist, particularly in his home county', she said. Michael Warren was born in Gorey in 1950 and studied at Bath Academy of Art, Trinity College, Dublin and from 1971 to 1975 at the prestigious Accademia di Brera in Milan. He is renowned for site-specific public artworks which can be seen locally, nationally and internationally with a number of very visible works in Ireland including the large, sweeping wood sculpture in front of the Dublin Civic Offices in Wood Quay, as well as an art work in UCD. Along with Roland Tallon, he created the much-loved a'tSolais (Mound of Light ), a memorial to the 1798 Rebellion in Oulart. His large-scale sculptures have pride of place in prominent locations around the world including the UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, USA, Saudia Arabia, Japan, Taiwan, Guadalupe and Ecuador. In addition, his smaller works are in numerous national and international public and private art collections. Gardai in Gorey are investigating a fire that occurred at Parklands Mobile Homes, in Ardamine, Courtown, last week. The fire was reported to Gardai at around 9.05 pm on Monday, May 7, and a spokesperson for the force told this newspaper that an investigation is underway involving house-to-house enquiries and examination of CCTV footage. The blaze is believed to have been started deliberately and completely destroyed three mobile homes that were located in a store yard near the main park complex. A representative of the business told this newspaper that the important thing was that no-one was injuredin the blaze. Other mobiles in the yard were quickly moved a safe distance from the fire to prevent further damage. Later that same night bins were set alight adjacent to a newly developed restaurant in Market Square, Gorey, however the Gardai believe the incidents are unrelated. Anyone with information is asked to contact Gorey Garda Station on 053-9430690. Sinead Kehoe, dept. of housing planning and local government; Cllr. Fionntan O Sulleabhain, Dan Morrissey Wexford Low Energy Homes; Minister Michael DArcy, senior housing officer, Padraig OGorman, Cathaoirlach Cllr. Joe Sullivan and director of services, John Carley launching the 22-house turnkey project at Glenn an Ghairdin in Gorey A new turnkey housing development in Gorey was officially launched last week with the handover of four of the completed units. The 22-unit scheme in Gleann an Ghairdin, Ballytegan Road, Gorey, was launched on Friday and preceded the handover of new disabled access homes in Oylegate. On Friday morning Minister of State at the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael D'Arcy, was on hand to officiate at the ceremony. The remaining units will he handed over to Wexford County Council over the coming months and a spokesperson for Wexford County Council said the rest of the houses will shortly be occupied by families from the local authority's Housing List. Speaking at the handover Minister D'Arcy expressed delight that the strong housing demand in North Wexford is being met. 'It can be very difficult for those on the Council's Housing List to secure accommodation in the area,' he said. 'This turnkey development will be fully completed and occupied in the next year bringing security of tenure,' he added. Minister D'Arcy added that getting access to the new houses would also bring renewed quality of life to 22 families who he said: 'Have been waiting patiently for many years for a home of their own.' The handover ceremony followed a meeting earlier in the day at which social housing activity in the county was discussed by Minister D'Arcy and Council officials . The Solar Dryer, perhaps the largest of its kind in SVG, is a vital cog in the cocoa industry. (Credit: SVCC Website) The original Memorandum of Understanding that gave rise to the effort to revive the Cocoa Industry here was signed in 2011 between the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Armajaro Trading Limited in 2011, trading as the St. Vincent Cocoa Company (SVCC) . While the principals in the St. Vincent Cocoa Company have changed, the company remains entrenched as a vital player in the agricultural sector, and remains committed to establishing, as its mission statement says, " a successful business and viable cocoa industry by producing rich, fine flavoured cocoa in a responsible and sustainable manner and, in doing so, support local communities by offering large-scale employment in the field as well as management opportunities within the Company structure, and thereby contribute to the overall economy and development of St Vincent & the Grenadines. In order for the Company and the cocoa industry to thrive, there has been much investment in infrastructure. The Companys website says; "We are processing an increasing amount of cocoa, and in due course this will rise to hundreds of tonnes per year. In preparation for this, we have built a facility at Perseverance which comprises a cascade fermentory, solar dryer and storage buildings. "Wet cocoa is batch-fermented in our specially designed cascade fermentory then carefully dried in our customised solar dryer before being bagged up and stored ready to use in our chocolate factory or for export purposes. "At our Nursery at Dixon, we produce 15,000 high quality plantlets per month and provide farmers with free plants that are adapted to thrive in St Vincents environment. The Company has established its Head Office its Centre of Operations - in Kingstown. In addition, a "satellite office has been established in London in order to identify and secure overseas markets for our cocoa .. the Company website stated. (Source: Website of the St. Vincent Cocoa Company Ltd.) There was more than a dash of magic to Liam Merriman's gig at the Wexford Arts Centre with his impressive bag of tuneful tracks, mostly from his recently- released sixth album Acoustic Rivers. All were delivered with his assured melodic vocal style and backed by the tasty interplay of his guitar with that of Bill Stuart. Stuart is a serious new find, his dexterous fingerplay often drawing magical fills from his fretboard, while also adding his vocal harmonies in support of Merriman for a match made in musical heaven. The impeccable opener 'It Could Be So Good' laid down a standard for a set that included 'Mizzy Mizzy', a jaunty song about busking, while there's a clever cyclical logic to 'Girl On A Train'. 'Miss You' has the ghost of Tir na nOg about it, and 'The Bicycle Song', complete with an outburst of whistling from Merriman, has a cheery outdoor feel. Inspired by his boyhood holidays in Kilmore Quay, the instrumental 'Summer and The Boy' neatly marries two trad tunes, and their instrumental take on Jimmy MacCarthy's 'Bright Blue Rose' lets new light into a familiar work. The duo then gave the stage to Jody McStravick who was visiting Ireland from his domicile in France, and he brought with him a mix of original songs and covers and one in French (which he might actually have given us more of). His covers included fine interpretations of 'Wonderful Baby' by Don McLean, Shay Healy's 'Just Another Year' and the Louis Armstrong hit 'Wonderful World'. McStravick has a warm voice which he also applied to some of his own songs, many of which are inspired by real life. 'Talking' is about just that, and his 'Paris Blue' is a classy evocation of that city and a perfect fit for his forceful but flexible voice. 'True Love' was inspired by an old movie, and he added tasty guitar fills to 'London' too. As an encore, all three joined forces for a relaxed sing-song that the Wexford Arts Centre audience lapped up, ranging from David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' to 'Paul Simon's 'Song For America'. It was a suitable way to end a night that had tunefulness all over it. Monaseed Hall provided the venue for a very special event recently when it played host to a kids movie night. The hall was packed for the event and there was great excitement among the kids, many of whom had their parents and grandparents along to join in the fun. The night was organised by Monaseed Community Development Group to raise money for the local playground fund and the organisers were delighted with the turnout - with over 100 people attending. Speaking to this newspaper about the initiative one of the organisers, Angela Mackin, said it was a huge success and that everyone who was there had a great night out. The committee is fundraising for the playground after recognising the need for such a facility as children from Monaseed, Hollyfort or Craanford have to travel to Gorey or Carnew to avail of one. The committee has applied for grant funding towards the playground project but they still have to come up with 25 per cent of the overall cost themselves. To-date the committee has raised 4,000 and more events are planned for the coming months. The children attending the movie night were also able to get treats like candyfloss, slushies and popcorn. The movie night, which featured a screening of 'The Greatest Showman', followed on from a table quiz and a children's disco which were also very well supported. The members were very grateful for the support towards all of the fundraisers to-date. The 1970s gave birth to myriad fads and cultural trends - disco, Star Wars, hot pants, Speak and Spell, mood rings, punk rock - but it was also the decade when male filmmakers nurtured a lurid fascination with rape revenge fantasies. The Last House On the Left and I Spit On Your Grave exemplified a queasy obsession with torturing female protagonists, who would be reborn as unstoppable angels of vengeance to punish their violators in sickening close-up. First-time French writer-director Coralie Fargeat seizes the exploitation horror subgenre by its privates and refuses to let go as she puts a feminist slant on the bloodthirsty battle of the sexes to echo the fiery indignation of the Me Too and Time's Up movements. Shot on location in Morocco but set in an unspecified sun-baked wilderness, Revenge gleefully embraces gore-slathered visual excess, including one whoop-inducing scene of the heroine forcibly removing a sliver of glass with trembling fingers from her eviscerated foot. The film wears its 18 certificate as a badge of honour, spattering the camera lens with bodily fluids, occasionally for comic effect like a climactic scene of two characters slip-sliding uncontrollably down tiled corridors coated in glistening crimson. 'Women always have to put up a fight.' rages one attacker. The aptly titled Revenge serves up that courageous, ballsy retaliation with lashings of stylistic flair. Lollipop-sucking sex bomb Jen (Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz) joins her married lover Richard (Kevin Janssens) at a secluded designer retreat, located miles from prying neighbours who might interrupt their furious coupling. The air of wanton debauchery is soured by the unexpected arrival of Richard's lascivious hunting buddies, Stan (Vincent Colombe) and Dimitri (Guillaume Bouchede), who stare hungrily at Jen in her figure-hugging shorts, crop top and bubblegum pink plastic earrings. She enjoys the attention and dances provocatively with the men during a boozy late-night drinking session. The following morning, Stan forces himself upon her and refuses to take no for an answer. When Richard returns to the house, Jen issues a tearful ultimatum: 'Call the helicopter or I will call your wife and tell her everything.'. Terrified that his lover will carry through her threat, Richard, Stan and Dimitri plot to silence Jen and leave her lifeless body in the treacherous desert. More fool them. Revenge is not for the faint of heart, gleefully spilling blood at every woozy juncture as Jen proves, through gritted teeth, that the female of the species is more deadly than the male. A glaring continuity error tarnishes a pivotal scene in which Jen cauterises a gaping wound with a can of Mexican beer but the heavy-handed imagery of a phoenix rising from the flames eventually takes flight. Fargeat directs at full pelt, eliciting a fearless central performance from Lutz, who embodies beauty and beast in sweet harmony. Farranfore teenager Paul Fitzgibbon pictured with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland in the INEC in Killarney in July of last year The first time that I heard of Viola player Paul Fitzgibbon, was when I received an email from him telling me about a show he was playing and whether I would be interested in doing an article on him. It was a standard enough email but as I started scanning my eyes down through the rest of the message, I found something that stopped me in my tracks. The location of the show was in Carnegie Hall in New York City. Paul Fitzgibbon is only 17 years old. 17 years old and just over two weeks out from playing at one of the most prestigious music venues in the world? I had to know more. First off though, here is a brief summary of just some of the achievements by the Farranfore teenager. A member of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland and a co-principal violist in the Ulster Youth Orchestra, Paul is also an associate of the Royal Schools of Music (ARSM) having received a distinction in his performance diploma. He has recently been selected to perform as a soloist in the 'International Shining Stars Competition' in Carnegie Hall in New York alongside the New York Concerti Sinfonietta. A few weeks out from what is undoubtedly the biggest moment of his life, Paul is seemingly unfazed by the task facing him. "I'm really looking forward to it, it's going to be a brilliant event and occasion to be a part of," said Paul, speaking to The Kerryman on Thursday. "I'm just trying to keep doing what I've always been doing. I'm keeping the head down, I'm practising as normal and I'm not changing anything. In the run up to it, I'm just going to treat it like any other show. My parents are the same, they're great and they are just taking everything in their stride," he laughed. "I'll be doing three concerts over there. I'm flying out there on May 29 just to get adjusted to the jet lag and all that and then my first concert will be on May 31 in the American Irish Historical Society.," he continued. "Then on June 1, I'll be playing the Carnegie Hall show with the orchestra and then finally on June 4, I'll be doing another concert with the orchestra in St Malachy's Roman Catholic Church on the West 49th street. There will be 40 to 60 people in the orchestra so that will be an amazing experience. I'm just going to go over there and enjoy it. There's such a thing as too much practice!" he laughed. The well spoken teenager, who laughed when I asked him whether this was to be his first time playing at the Carnegie Hall, said that even though he is still young, music has been part of his life from the earliest of ages. "I started music when I was only six years old when I was taught to play the violin by a wonderful teacher called Emma Shanahan. I stuck with playing the violin for a few years after this and I managed to get a distinction in my Grade 8 at the age of 13," he continued. "After this, I made the decision to switch from the violin to the viola and I've stuck with this instrument ever since," he continued. What has no doubt helped Paul become such a phenomenal talent at such a young age is his decision be home schooled rather than attend a normal school. "It was a decision that I made so that I could focus more on developing and improving my music. I've always had a leaning towards the violin and the viola as instruments, even from a very early age. I remember I saw this video of a very famous violinist called Maxim Vengerov playing and I just knew that I wanted to be able to do that myself," he said. "They say that it takes 10,000 hours to become a master at anything and even though, I still wouldn't consider nyself anywher near being a master of the viola, I think I started becoming more natural and proficient at it at around the age of 11. That's when music started to feel like an everyday thing for me, he continued. For many teenagers and first time musicians, performing or even speaking aloud in public is a daunting enough task, but then again, Paul is not like many normal teenagers. This is further proven to me when I ask Paul about whether he will be able to draw on previous performing experiences ahead of his Carnegie Hall debut on June 1. "Well, I've performed in the National Concert Hall in Dublin with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland and I'm also the co-principal viola player with the Ulster Youth Orchestra. Both of these were brilliant and unbelievable things to be a part of. So thankfully, I've got some experience," he continued. Looking past the show in New York, Paul said that he sees music as something that he is definitely going to pursue much more into the future, and that it is even something that he is considering making his chosen career. "I've been thinking about doing an audition next year for The Juliard school in New York or for the Royal Academy of Music in London; this summer as well, I also hope to attend the Menhuin Academy in Switzerland with Maxim Vengerov," he said. "I suppose in ten years, I'd love to be a well-established international solo-ist. That'd be a great bucket list goal of mine to achieve," he finished. Ahead of Paul's trip to New York City, he is looking for a little bit of help to cover the costs of travel and accommodation of getting and staying there. "I need to cover the cost of my travel, accommodation and living expenses. My parents have supported me for years and with other children, this is an expense that would place a financial burden on them. If anyone out there is in a position to give a donation of even 5, this would go to help fulfill my dream." The link to Paul's fundraiser, which has already raised over 930, can be found online at 'The Kerryman' Facebook page. It was a very successful day for secondary students from around the county as they competed in the annual SciFest last Wednesday in Tralee IT. The competitions offer secondary students the opportunity to showcase some of their most interesting and thought-provoking science projects. Prestigious awards were handed out throughout the day in a competition that is a stepping-stone for students to progress to the national finals in November where they will compete against students from all around the county. And there certainly was an amazing display of projects from the talented Kerry students. Students from Tralee, Killarney, Killorglin and elsewhere represented their schools this year. This year's SciFest saw over 200 students compete with 91 projects presented. The top prize went to Darragh Fleming, Ethan O'Neill and Colm Looney form Colaiste Bhreanainn for their project: Deer Watch. They won the SFI Best Project Award. Another award presented on the day was the Boston Scientific Medical Devices Award, which is presented at each of the 16 regional science fairs. The Kerry recipients of this award, representing Mercy Mounthawk Tralee were: Jessica Murphy, Diana Meriakri and Isabelle Lynch. SciFest gives students from around the country the opportunity to explore and experiment with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths). SciFest CEO porter stated: "2018 was another hugely successful year for SciFest with a record number of students taking part. My thanks to all of the students and their teachers who have embraced SciFest over the years and we look forward to the continued growth and development of this initiative". 2018 marks the 11th anniversary of SciFest, with the Boston Scientific Medical Devices Award celebrating its fourth year associated with the event. The shocking plight of terminally-ill cancer patient Emma Mhic Mhathuna brought hundreds of women and men together in solidarity with the brave West Kerry woman on Monday evening. In a poignant protest in Tralee town centre on Monday evening, the very day that she was told that her cancer has spread even further to her vertebra, Emma, in a moving and emotional speech, said that she would continue to fight for reform of the health service. "I am sick of being treated like nothing. Our health is the last thing that these people care about. The Dail needs to realise that if they are going to take responsibility for our lives they better do it well or they need to be fired," she told the crowd. "I promise my death won't go unnoticed. I will make sure that they pay for what they have done to every single family in Ireland, whether you are on a waiting list too long or whether you are not being treated fair. Tell them you're my friend and I'll come and sort them out." "I can't save my life but at least I can save yours and your children's lives." The mother-of-five, who lives in Baile na nGall (Ballydavid), is one of the victims of the Cervicalcheck scandal which has rocked the health service. She is one of the 209 women who was misdiagnosed after their smear tests results were misread. Emma said that she was 'touched' that people had organised the vigil which was led by Cllr Toireasa Ferris to show support and solidarity for Emma and all the women of Ireland who have been affected. "It is unfortunate that someone has to die to bring people together. It is amazing that they trust me to be their voice and bring forward reform. We [women] kick ass when we are together." Up to 400 people - women and dozens of men too - attended the solidarity vigil, which included five minutes of silence for all the victims and, afterwards, many of them hugged Emma and thanked her for her bravery. Emma said that while she had no idea how much longer she has left, she will fight for as long as she can. "While I still have strength I will keep fighting for the cause. I refuse to die and leave this country in unsafe hands." A solidarity vigil also took place in West Kerry on Tuesday evening in Ballydavid to show support from the local community where Emma now resides. Emma is also due to meet President Michael D Higgins on Wednesday in private meeting to discuss the cervical cancer scandal. She said that his visit will "bring comfort to her children that Mom matters and that she is not just a statistic". "I am so touched that he is coming to meet me to see what I am trying to achieve," she continued. Another protest will also take place outside University Hospital Kerry on Friday afternoon to voice women's outrage at the scandal. Emma was speaking to The Kerryman on Monday and said she now needs to concentrate on future plans for her wonderful children. Im being pulled apart from my children when they need me and I want to try and keep things normal as much as possible for them. Ivan Hurley, Sean McCarthy and Kevin Moynihan, all from Killarney, who are flying out to Kiev next week ahead of the Champions League Final clash between Liverpool and Real Madrid Three avid Liverpool fans from Killarney are preparing to fly out to Kiev ahead of Liverpools Champions League clash with Real Madrid - even though only one of them has a ticket to the match! Ivan Hurley, Kevin Moynihan and Sean McCarthy are the three fans in question and although only Ivan is lucky enough to have secured a ticket to the final itself, the trio are sure theyll enjoy the experience none the less. Were flying out on Wednesday week which will be May 23 and then the final is on the Saturday night, May 26, said Ivan, speaking to The Kerryman on Monday. Thankfully I have a ticket, but the other two lads, they said to put out an appeal for two more tickets if theres any kind soul out there who wants to donate some. I know that I wont be giving up my ticket! Ivan laughed. Ivan and his two friends are members of the Liverpool Supporters Club in Tralee and Ivan said that it was through this club that he managed to secure the golden ticket to the match. It was through Leo Bryne, who is the President of the club in Tralee, that I was lucky enough to get the ticket. I go to a good number of games every year and Ive been to a good few Champions League games this year as well, he continued. I said to Leo that if any tickets came in for a ballot then to put my name in for it and lo and behold my name came out. Ill have to fly over to Liverpool between now and next week to collect the ticket, but thats manageable. he said. This will be Ivans first time attending any sort of European final and with Liverpool playing with the form they are at the moment, Ivan says that he is confident of a Liverpool victory - albeit a dramatic one. I cant wait to get over there and of course with the team playing so well, thats an added bonus. They are unbeaten at home this year, their form in the Champions League has been excellent. Im calling it as 3-2 victory to Liverpool with the winning goal coming between the 80th and 90th minute, he laughed. The Battle of New Ross in which 3,000 rebels died within a 12 hour period 220 years ago is being re-enacted on Saturday, June 16. Cllr Oisin O'Connell asked if the event will just involve a re-enactment or if there will be more to the day. Cllr John Fleming joked: 'Are we going to have the Battle of New Ross in here or is it going to be outside.' District Manager Sinead Casey said the re-enactment will come down Mary Street and into South Street for practical purposes, adding that there will be a choir performing, a reading and a recitation. 'The event should last two hours,' she said. A fantastic line-up has been announced for the New Ross Goes Digital launch this Friday. New Ross and District Chamber is hosting the event which begins at 9 a.m. and will focus attention on how to maximise the benefit of the digital age for local businesses. Registration for the 'Switch on Your Business' seminar takes place at 8.30 am. The cost of attending will be 20, including lunch. Chamber spokesperson Lorcan Kinsella said the aim of the seminar will be to give people the opportunity to learn more about digital marketing and social media and how both can be used to maximise business potential. Lorcan said: 'There has been a paradigm shift where businesses who have been trading for ten to 100 years in bricks and mortar have encountered this move to online. It's about moving from offline to online as they are now competing with e-commerce solutions.' Among the issues discussed will be Google search engine optimisation. 'In the past people would automatically turn to the yellow pages but now they turn to Google. It's not just about having a Facebook page, businesses in New Ross and district also need to have a website which can cost as little as 500 up to around 5,000 when you include e-commerce payment facilities.' Local businesswoman Aideen Ni Riada is MC for the event, which will feature speakers including Lorcan who is one of the most sought after digital marketing strategists in Ireland, having worked with some of the biggest names in information marketing. Greg Fry is an international social media trainer delivering regular LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, Digital Video and Social Business Strategy training and workshops for institutions. Another speaker Lorraine Higgins is the Deputy CEO with Retail Excellence, the largest industry representative organisation which supports Irish retailers. Marguerite Murphy of Bank of Ireland, Tom Bermingham of Wexford Local Development, New Ross District Manager Sinead Casey, Aidan Murphy from Bank of Ireland, who has worked in three different roles within the group, will all be discussing the importance of online promotion to business and the area. Lorcan said the seminar will also be a great opportunity to network with other businesses and get valuable tips on how to make the shift to online. For more information or to book log onto the New Ross and District Chamber website to access the booking link. Bank of Ireland is set to close its New Ross support office, resulting in the loss of around 20 jobs from the town. The beleaguered bank is closing 27 office service centres around the country including in Gorey, affecting 420 employees as their activities are centralised and a number of temporary projects conducted at the locations draw to an end. Staff were told in late April of the decision, and that there were openings for redeployment as the lender seeks to expand customer-facing positions by about 100, with a further 60 vacancies elsewhere in the bank that need to be filled. The service centre closures are likely to see more than half the New Ross bank employees leave the facility under a voluntary redundancy plan or early retirement, according to sources. Currently the ground floor of the bank is staffed by three people. The New Ross service centre started off small, but grew rapidly to having a staff of 20. Concern was expressed about the impact the job losses will have on the local community. While the staff have been offered positions in other branches it remains unclear how many will be able to find work within a short distance of the town, with many staff angered that their jobs are reportedly being outsourced to India. The jobs were supposed to be wound down over the coming weeks and months, but following representations from the Financial Services Union (FSU) of which many of the staff are members, the deadline for centre closures has been put in abayance temporarily. Some of the staff were given projects with a specific timeline to complete, while those who were about to start into projects have been told that they need not. A spokesman for the bank confirmed that the bank was winding down its operational support centres by the end of the year. 'Bank of Ireland's key strategic priorities include transforming the bank and enhancing customer service. To achieve these priorities, we are restructuring our business model, streamlining our organisation, and increasing our focus on customer facing roles,' the spokesperson said, adding that the bank's 250-strong branch network was unaffected by the move. The FSU said that it was against the decision to close the 27 service centres, saying that while there would be opportunities for redeployment for some of the staff, their future was unclear. According to FSU senior industrial relations officer Maeve Brehony: 'Our primary concern is for our members continued employment in the counties and communities they have loyally served for many years. FSU have been challenging the Bank on staffing levels throughout the retail network for a considerable time now. We simply do not accept that a significant number of job losses is tenable.' FSU general secretary Dermot Ryan said, 'We have an agreement in place with Bank of Ireland that any redundancies will be on a voluntary basis. However, this shouldn't be taken to mean that we will accept any level of redundancy once it adheres to that agreement. A narrow focus on short-sighted cost reductions is bad for staff, bad for customers and bad for the communities they serve. Achieving commercial goals, in a profitable bank like Bank of Ireland, need not entail closing service centres and proposing significant job losses. In the coming weeks our union will be making this clear to Bank of Ireland and we will be fighting to retain our members' jobs.' Bank of Ireland's ground floor staff count in New Ross has fallen dramatically from around 25 in the 1970s to as few as three today. A local businessperson said the loss of 20 employees from the town will be a blow to shops, cafes and many businesses in the town. Sixth Year students in Ramsgrange Community School hosted a giant 1970s Birthday Party for all students on Friday, May 4, to round off a year of celebrations to mark the schools 40 years. Staff and students dressed up in 70s and 80s fancy dress to mark the occasion. Following a full school singing of 'Happy Birthday', the giant Rice Crispie Cake was cut and shared. Principal Rachel O Connor thanked everyone who supported and attended the various birthday functions held throughout the year. She said: 'We felt it was very important to mark the schools 40 years since the St Louis School and Shielbaggan VEC amalgamated. There has been a very long tradition of secondary education in Ramsgrange and as a community school, we wanted to share our birthday with as many in our community as possible.' The school is getting ready to welcome 100 first years this August, a cohort who will start the next 40 years off. A woman withdrew a complaint of assault against her husband at Sligo District Court. Summoned for assault at Sligo University Hospital, The Mall on November 18th 2016 was Irshad Akbar (40) of Moneyguyneen, Kinnitty, Birr. Inspector Paul Kilcoyne called the complainant, the defendant's wife, Annie Tubman to the witness box where she agreed she had made a statement of complaint on November 27th to Gardai concerning an incident at the hospital. She also agreed and that the matter was listed for hearing but that she no longer wished to proceed with the matter. She was doing so of her own free will. Judge Kevin Kilrane said the witness seemed to be hesitant. Inspector Kilcoyne said he was only told before the court of this course of action. Ms Tubman said she was doing so because she felt the case would hinder a local family case hearing in Carrick-on-Shannon. "There is huge financial implications on this and I feel it would delay an ongoing family case. My husband would delay things," she said. The inspector said he could not proceed and Judge Kilrane dismissed the case. Despite what the song says, it's the lakes that will be alive with the sound of music as the second West Wicklow Festival takes place this weekend. The festival is the brainchild of Ballyknockan man Fiachra Garvey and takes place from tomorrow (Thursday, May 17) until Sunday, May 20. After the success of last year's inaugural event, this year's festival boasts an expanded programme with twice as many concerts, an additional venue and even more artists making their way to Blessington. Events get under way with a concert in Russborough House on Thursday at 8 p.m. The concert will feature performances by Fiachra Garvey, a renowned pianist, clarinet virtuoso Julian Bliss and Philip Higham, principal cellist of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and the music of Beethoven, Debussy, Poulenc and Brahms. On Friday, the award-winning Benyounes Quartet and Fiachra Garvey will present music by Haydn, Debussy and Schumann at 8 p.m. in Russborough House. There is a choice of two concerts at Russborough on Saturday. The first begins at 8 p.m. and features Julian Bliss, Philip Higham and the Benyounes Quartet performing the music of Brahms and Schubert while the second takes place at 10.30 p.m. and will see Philip Higham perform compositions by Bach. On Sunday, there will be a free family music event at Russborough. Children are invited to follow the West Wicklow Music Trail through the Russborough parklands, embarking on a musical journey through the maze and the magical Lady's Island with live musicians entertaining them along the way. This event will take place from 10 a.m. to noon and is outdoors so anyone intending on coming along is asked to wear suitable clothes, depending on the weather. A free family concert is due to take place at noon in the hippodrome at Russborough. Unfortunately, this event is now fully booked but a limited number of tickets will be available on the day on a first come, first served basis. The final event of the festival will take place in the historic surrounds of St Mary's Church in Blessington. Beginning at 4 p.m., the concert will feature renowned Irish baritone Gavan Ring and Fiachra Garvey, who will perform music by Rossini, Verdi, Debussy, Quilter, Schubert, Chopin, Vaughan Williams and a selection of Irish songs. Tickets for the 8 p.m. concerts on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night cost 38. Tickets for the 10.30 p.m. concert on Saturday cost 15 or patrons can attend both Saturday night concerts for 50. Tickets to the Sunday afternoon concert in St Mary's Church cost 28. A 130 festival ticket allowing entry to all five concerts is also on offer and tickets are available from westwicklowfestival.com Proposals are before the National Transport Authority (NTA) for a shuttle bus service connecting Wicklow towns and villages which, if successful, will be operated by Local Link Proposals are before the National Transport Authority (NTA) over proposals for a shuttle bus service connecting Wicklow towns and villages. Local Link will provide the service if the applications are successful. Jackie Melia and Eric Bentley addressed Monday's County Council meeting and spoke about the plans they have for potential new routes. The initial routes put forward for funding are Wicklow town to Glendalough via Rathnew, Ashford and Roundwood; Greystones Dart Station to Roundwood via Kilcoole and Newtownmountkennedy, and a loop of Greystones taking in the Dart Station, Delgany, Blacklion and Charlesland. Seven day per week, hourly bus services are being sought. If the applications are successful, it is planned to apply to the NTA for further routes servicing different parts of the county. Mr Bentley said Local Link had carried out a number of studies before making the applications, and found that tourists often find it difficult to travel to Glendalough because of a lack of bus services. 'People come into Wicklow town on the train or bus expecting to be able to get a bus to Glendalough only to find they have to go back to Bray or St Stephen's Green in order to get to Glendalough,' said Mr Bentley. Cllr Jennifer Whitmore worked closely with Local Link on the applications and she proposed that Wicklow County Council write to the NTA voicing support for the new routes. 'A huge amount of work has gone into theses proposals,' said Cllr Whitmore. 'These routes have been driven on and timed with buses to make sure they are accessible. This will be an absolute game changer for these communities. We are talking about a seven day hourly service. It will be more like a community bus service. If there is an elderly woman living at the bottom of a lane-way then the bus can drop her off right at her home with her shopping. We need to let the NTA know we support these routes, then they will be more likely to fund further routes if there is a demand.' Cllr Shay Cullen also offered his support. 'When we talk about tourism and what Wicklow has to offer, then certainly Local Link will help. As it stands we have the unfortunate situation where tourists take the St Kevin's bus to Glendalough from Bray or Dublin but they are unable to visit other towns.' He proposed that all Wicklow's TDs should be contacted to lobby in favour of the proposed routes. Cllr Irene Winters said: 'Local Link is about more than transport. It is about creating a service for communities and building friendships along the routes.' Cllr Vincent Blake recalled attending the launch of Wicklow Rural Transport in Donard back in 2003. Local Link is the replacement for that service. 'It allowed people in rural areas to attend doctor and hospital appointments, visit larger towns for shopping and provided a connection to public services. It proved a great success and any additional routes will benefit the communities involved.' Cllr Gerry Walsh said: 'A lot of research has gone into this initiative. It will offer support to tourism and places such as Glendalough. It could also help with the traffic issue in Glendalough. This is something that could help to address that problem.' Cllr Jim Ruttle felt west Wicklow was deserving of further routes and services. 'There is a huge need for a feeder service in Blessington and the whole Lakes area. Also, we could do with a service connecting Naas so people could access hospital facilities or visit the health board.' Michael Doyle from Blessington Forum, Sinead OBrien from the Sinead OBrien School of Dance, Niamh Grace from Blessington Community College with the logo she designed for the festival, and Vincent McCabe from Interpretive Artists Ireland A new festival of dance being held in Blessington celebrates the internationally renowned dancer, choreographer, poet and artist Dame Ninette de Valois. The west Wicklow woman founded the Abbey School of Ballet in Dublin and the Royal Ballet in the UK. The festival takes place on June 29, June 30 and July 1 on the 120th anniversary of the birth of Dame de Valois in Baltyboys House in June of 1898. The festival is a collaboration between the Blessington and District Forum and Interpretive Artists Ireland to honour her extraordinary talents in transforming a global appreciation of ballet and modern dance in the 20th century. Invited by WB Yeats to return to Ireland following her early success as a dancer and choreographer in England and beyond, Ninette de Valois founded the Abbey School of Ballet in 1927 and was the foundation stone for ballet in Ireland today. Internationally, she founded the Royal Ballet in UK and was central to the founding of National Ballet Companies in Canada, Australia and Turkey. The eye-catching logo for the festival was designed by Blessington Community college student Niamh Grace. At the heart of the de Valois festival will be a gala tribute entitled 'Invitation to the Dance' in the Tramway Theatre at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, June 29 and 30. The presentation will feature the wonderful Irish National Youth Ballet, Degani Ensemble led by virtuoso violinist Alan Smale, guest dancers from Cork City Ballet, a premiere showing of 'Spectre de La Rose' featuring rising international stars Zoe Ashe-Browne and Dominic Harrison and filmed at Russborough House for the festival. A specially commissioned dramatisation of de Valois' poem The Contented Ghost will feature actor Deirdre Monaghan in the title role. The evening will be introduced by local historian and author Jim Corley of the Blessington History Circle. On Saturday, June 30, at noon, Tramway Theatre will host 'Madame' - a round-table discourse on Ninette de Valois with invited guests including Paul Johnston of Dance Ireland and Joanna Banks, one of the last dancers who worked with de Valois. The event will be facilitated by TV producer Ann Makower, formerly of RTE. Also on Saturday at 2.30 p.m., Russborough House and the Beit Foundation will host an afternoon tea dance at The Hippodrome where the award winning Ballymore Eustace Concert Band will perform dance hits from the 1920s to 1970s. Entrance is free and all are invited to dress in period costumes of their choice. On Sunday, July 1, a memorial to Ninette de Valois will be unveiled at noon on Main Street, Blessington, to remind all who pass of her wonderful legacy and special place among her community. Following this ceremony, there will be an afternoon of music and dance festivities in the Main Square with guest musicians and dancers celebrating all of the achievements of Ninette de Valois St Paul's Lodge in Bray was once again a topic of conversation at Wicklow County Council level after Cllr Brendan Thornhill sought a suspension of standing orders at Monday's monthly meeting. At previous meetings Cllr Thornhill had been unsuccessful in efforts to suspend standing orders in order to discuss legal advice over the demolishment of St Paul's Lodge as part of the development of the Florentine Centre in Bray. At Monday's meeting he queried why Wicklow Councillors on the Kildare and Wicklow Training Board (KWETB) had received legal advice they had sought. 'This is about free-justice. For St Paul's we didn't get any legal advice. I would particularly like to hear the details of the legal advice received from Cllr Jim Ruttle, who chairs the KWETB,' said Cllr Thornhill. Cllr Joe Behan seconded the proposal for a suspension of standing orders so the matter could be discussed after 4.30 p.m.. Cllr Christopher Fox objected, stating that the KWETB was an entirely different matter to St Paul's Lodge. 'Legal advice was received specific to the KWETB. It doesn't have to be furnished to all the members.' Cllr Pat Vance said: 'The KWETB board did this all on their own. What are we doing here in the chamber discussing their business? We have problems all over the country - a housing crisis, a health crisis - and people are asking for this and for that from something they aren't even a member of. It's pure madness.' Cllr Tommy Annesley said all questions involving the KWETB would soon be answered in front of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). 'A presentation will soon be made to PAC so this will all be public knowledge very, very soon. All of Cllr Ruttle's questions will be answered. KWETB got advice on a confidential issue. It couldn't be brought up in this chamber. This is not the time but all questions will soon be answered.' Cllr Vincent Blake advised: 'Leave this to the KWETB to deal with the issue in their own time.' Cllr Thornhill agreed to withdraw his proposal for a suspension of standing orders, but commented: 'We were looking for legal advice for St Paul's and then saw Wicklow County Council get legal advice for another body.' Wicklow County Council will write to Transport Minister Shane Ross asking him to reverse the decision to shelve the upgrading of the N81. Minister of State Andrew Doyle has also arranged a meeting between the Minster, Wicklow's five TDs and a delegation from the N81 Action Group due to take place in June. Cllr Gerry O'Neill sought a suspension of standing orders at Monday's meeting of Wicklow County Council and received the full support of the elected members with his proposal to write to Minister Ross and request that he progress plans for an upgrade of the N81 from Hollywood Cross to Tallaght. A preferred route corridor for upgrades to the N81 was selected in 2016. However, the road improvement scheme was not included in the Government's Capital Investment Plan (CIP), which provides the financial and strategic framework for Transport Infrastructure Ireland's activities until 2021. Following Monday's County Council meeting, Cllr O'Neill said: 'I am delighted with the support I received from my fellow councillors. The only budget the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) received was for the upgrading of existing carriageways up to 2027. It is simply unacceptable that up to 100 landowners on the 32km route are left in limbo like this. The planned upgrade required a 300-metre strip from Tallaght to Hollywood. That land has now been frozen which is completely unacceptable for the landowners. This is the only major road out of Dublin that has yet to be upgraded. Everyone had their hopes up when a preferred route was selected but now, once again, the N81 has been put on the long finger.' Cllr O'Neill has also thanked Andrew Doyle TD for arranging a meeting with Minster Ross, which will also be attended by members of the N81 Action Group, which the councillor is a member of. 'Credit where credit is due. Minister of State Doyle has organised a meeting for June 13. We appreciate his interest and efforts in arranging the meeting. Previously we have found it very difficult to make any sort of contact with the Minister. Lukas Seadaic, Mia Ni Chleirigh, Muireann Ni Chonchubhair, Laoighse Ni Eochagain and Tristan Mac Cathmhaoil are ahead of the Gaelcholaiste na Mara charity bungee jump, which takes place at Moneylands Farm on Sunday Volunteers will be free-falling in Arklow this weekend as they help the staff and students of Gaelcholaiste na Mara on the way to their fundraising target. A group from the school will travel to Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) in India later this year and are currently fundraising for The Hope Foundation ahead the trip. Their latest endeavour is a bungee jump and fun day at Moneylands Farm from noon this Sunday, May 20. The fun day will start at noon and will feature almost 50 courageous volunteers jumping from a 160ft crane. Spectators are very welcome and encouraged to cheer them on. There are a few remaining slot left if anyone fancies taking the jump themselves. The group will also be launching its grand raffle on the day, with fantastic prizes, including 500 cash, aSamsung Tablet valued at 350 and a signed rugby jersey. Teacher Aaron Mac Fhionnlaoich and school secretary Fiona Redmond, along with eight students will be taking part in The Hope Foundation's Schools Immersion Programme. The purpose of the programme is to give the young people a taste of voluntary work and what they can offer those less fortunate than themselves in developing countries, with the hope they will want to continue to volunteer in the future. Through the Hope Foundation, the volunteers will work directly with the street children of Kolkata in the Hope Hospital, Shelter Homes, Dump Creches and on the streets. To faciliate the trip, the school must raise almost 25,000 in sponsorship. All this money will go directly to the Hope Foundation and their projects in Kolkata. The group has raised over 12,000 since September and it is hoped that the bungee jump and fun day will add to this total. The old Ulster Bank on The Mall, where the new library will be located Construction on a new library for Wicklow town will commence in September or October and should be complete and open to the public by the summer of 2019. The library will be located in the old Ulster Bank premises on the Upper Mall, which was purchased by Wicklow County Council last year. The whole cost of the project, including acquisition costs and renovation costs, will reach an estimated 3 million. Director of Services for Community, Cultural and Social Development, Michael Nicholson gave a presentation on plans for the new library at Monday's meeting of Wicklow County Council. The building has six stories, two of which are below ground. Floor 0 will contain a local studies area and deliveries will also be made to this floor. Floor 1 will contain the archives section for the whole county and the County Archivist will be situated there permanently. The floor will be climate controlled because it will contain such a volume of vintage documentation, some dating back to the 1700s. Floor 2 will include a children's library room with over 4,500 books. The adult library will be located on the third floor and will contain over 10,000 books. Twenty-five IT stations will be situated in the IT room on floor 4, while an exhibition and meeting room will be included on floor 5. Wicklow Library will be the first library in the country to provide adult changing facilities following consultation with the Disability Federation of Ireland. Councillors at Monday's meeting passed a Part 8 under the Planning and Development Regulations allowing for the building's change of use from a bank. The front of the property will be reset so as to give more footpath room to pedestrians and users of the library. Cllr Gail Dunne said: 'A new library for the capital town will be a brilliant development. I welcome to resetting at the front because of the amount of cars and buses going past. It's in an ideal area with two schools in close proximity. It will also bring some life back to that part of town.' Cllr Shay Cullen described the plans as highly important to Wicklow Municipal District. He said: 'It's a magnificent building. I compliment Michael Nicholson and the County Librarian Brendan Martin on their foresight in purchasing this building. That area of town is in need of support in order to get people to use that part of the town more frequently. The library will also be complimented by the recent reopening of the town hall.' Cllr John Snell said all six elected members of the Wicklow District were fully supportive of the project. 'It should help bring some new life to the Upper Mall area. I also have to commend the Chief Executive for helping to bring life back to Market Square by reopening the town hall.' He also joked: 'Maybe if any leftover money is found in any of the safes in the old bank it could be put into the refurbishment of Wicklow Courthouse.' Cllr Irene Winters said: 'It will make a huge difference to the town. Moving the archives to the new library is also a great idea. I think there is a perception that they are difficult to access when they are in the county buildings.' Cllr Mary Kavanagh said the planned development was already creating plenty of excitement. 'It's a cutting-edge and modern building. When people get the details I think they will be counting down the days until it opens.' Cllr Daire Nolan said: 'It will be a beautiful, modern facility. It will revitalise any area which has suffered greatly. It will be an amazing boost for the town and hopefully will be well utilized by the public.' Meghan Markle's former co-stars from the legal drama Suits came together for a dinner before attending the Royal Wedding (Steve Parsons/PA) Meghan Markles former co-stars from the legal drama Suits came together for a dinner on the eve of the Royal Wedding. Patrick J. Adams, who plays Meghans on-screen husband, posted a picture of cast members seated around a table at a restaurant near to Windsor, where the bride-to-be will marry Prince Harry on Saturday. The 36-year-old Canadian actor captioned the image: The last supper #royalwedding. Other Suits stars at the table included Gina Torres, Sarah Rafferty and Rick Hoffman. On Friday, the trio of actors appeared on NBCs Today show to discuss the wedding. Rafferty said: We worked together for so many years on the show. Its such an amazing experience. We were with each other for longer than we went to college or high school with our friends. We became family, in a way; were still family. So, this is a wonderful family affair. Meghan played Rachel Zane, a paralegal-turned-attorney, for seven seasons in Suits before announcing her departure following her engagement to Prince Harry. We took to the streets to ask the people of Dublin if they would be watching the wedding of Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as well as asking what they thought of RTE broadcasting the nuptials. It is safe to say the reaction is best described as mixed. Some people very eager to settle down and watch the wedding and enjoy the fashion and show and do a bit of celebrity spotting. Others simply didn't care and one person didn't even know the wedding was on. There was also a difference of opinion on whether RTE should show the British royal wedding. The Google doodle to mark the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Google has reached for the bunting decking out its minimalist homepage with a doodle to mark the Royal Wedding. The tech giant has transformed its landing page in the UK to show Prince Harry and Meghan Markle now to be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Windsors Long Walk. Well-wishers waving Union flags adorn the route. It has been created by Vrinda V Zaveri. Expand Close The Google doodle to mark the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Google doodle to mark the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle In a blog post, Google wrote: The picturesque and medieval town of Windsor is steeped in history, and today it adds another joyous occasion to its book of lore the wedding of Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle. Todays Doodle depicts the newlyweds waving to well-wishers, who have gathered to join in the celebrations along the Long Walk. Congratulations! The results page shows a smaller version of the doodle, honed in on the couple, with confetti spilling over on to an italicised and gold Google. Sergei Skripal, a former Russian spy who was left in critical condition by a nerve agent attack more than two months ago, has been discharged from hospital, England's health service said yesterday. Skripal (66), a former colonel in Russia's military intelligence, and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a bench in the English city of Salisbury on March 4. Britain has accused Russia of being behind the nerve agent attack, and Western governments have expelled more than 100 Russian diplomats. Russia has denied any involvement and retaliated in kind. The Skripals were in a critical condition for weeks and doctors at one point feared that, even if they survived, they might have suffered brain damage. But their health began to improve rapidly, and Yulia was discharged last month. "It is fantastic news that Sergei Skripal is well enough to leave Salisbury District Hospital," the hospital's chief executive Cara Charles-Barks said in a statement. Police said they would not discuss the security arrangements for the Skripals. A police officer cordons off the area after a knife attack in Paris last Saturday that killed one. Photo: AP Police in France have foiled a suspected terror attack and handed terrorism charges to a man of Egyptian origin. Earlier, French interior minister Gerard Collomb said that two men had been arrested for "preparing to commit an attack, with either explosives or ricin, this very powerful poison". He said police identified the two suspects while tracking extremist activity on social networks. "They had tutorials that showed how to make ricin-based poisons," Mr Collomb told BFM TV, adding that they had communicated via the Telegram encrypted messaging application. "We were able to detect them, detect this attack plan and were able to arrest them," he said. It is unclear how police were able to decipher their Telegram exchanges given its reputedly impenetrable nature. Later, judicial sources said one of the men was released without charge. The other, a 20-year-old student and illegal immigrant known only as Mohamed M, ran a "particularly active account in the pro-jihadist sphere", said the source. Police raided his flat and found a stash of gunpowder taken from bangers as well as a computer containing bomb-making tutorials, as well as a video on how to use ricin. During questioning, the suspect "spontaneously acknowledged having consulted jihadist propaganda and explained that an as yet unidentified individual on the encrypted messaging app Telegram told him to buy the stock of bangers to make a bomb and to take action in France," he said. He then "sought to play down the seriousness of his acts," said the source. However, he added: "Contrary to his statements, analysis (of his equipment and accounts) revealed that in reality he had accepted to undertake this mission and that he was also ready to die a martyr by blowing himself up." He was "very determined", said the source. He and the other man had been arrested in the northern 18th arrondissement of Paris on May 11. The following day, Chechen-born Frenchman Khamzat Azimov, a nursing student, killed one person and wounded five others near the Garnier Opera house. Azimov was killed when he advanced on police. Isil claimed responsibility for inspiring Azimov's attack. A close friend of his was arrested and handed preliminary terrorism charges on Thursday night. Two young women were also arrested on Thursday in the Paris region in relation to the attack, the anti-terrorism prosecutor said. Azimov also lived in the 18th arrondissement, home to Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur but also a string of low-income high-rises with a large proportion of immigrant communities. Mr Collomb defended the government's handling of the 26,000 people on police watch lists for suspected radicalism. Azimov was on the watch-list but not considered an imminent threat. In late March, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe had indicated that a total of 51 attacks had been thwarted by French security services since January 2015, the beginning of a wave of strikes on French soil, many claimed by Isil. ( Daily Telegraph London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] In an unprecedented move, all of Chile's bishops offered to resign yesterday after attending a crisis meeting this week with Pope Francis about the cover-up of sexual abuse in the South American nation. Several victims invited by the Pope to Rome earlier this month said they wanted all 34 bishops sacked and replaced by more moral candidates, and for the Vatican to extend punishment to others implicated in the scandal. The offer of mass resignations yesterday by the bishops summoned to Rome marks the first time that all the senior Roman Catholic prelates of a country have taken such a step, a Vatican official said. A Vatican official declined to speculate on the Pope's response. "We have put our positions in the hands of the Holy Father and will leave it to him to decide freely for each of us," the bishops said in a joint statement read out by a spokesman for them, Bishop Fernando Ramos. The announcement followed four days of discussions in the Vatican, where the Pope accused the bishops of "grave negligence" in investigating allegations that children had been abused and saying evidence of sex crimes had been destroyed. Apologising to the victims, the Pope and to Chile for the failings of Chile's churchmen, Bishop Ramos said the bishops would all stay in their roles until the Pope had decided what to do. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel arrives at the site of the accident. Photo: Getty Images At least three people may have survived a fiery crash of a Boeing 737 in Cuba yesterday in which as many as 104 passengers and crew were feared dead. The aircraft, on a domestic flight to Holguin, had 105 passengers plus nine crew. Five children were reported to be on board. Earlier reports on state media said there were 104 passengers. The fire from the crash had been put out and authorities were identifying bodies, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said. Wreckage was strewn over an area 20km south of Havana and ambulances and firefighters were at the scene, a witness said. Blackened parts of the fuselage were visible. Expand Close Firefighters quell the flames at the scene. Photo: Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Firefighters quell the flames at the scene. Photo: Getty Images Explosion "We heard an explosion and then saw a big cloud of smoke go up," said Gilberto Menendez, who runs a restaurant near the crash site in the agricultural area of Boyeros. Carlos Alberto Martinez, the director of Havana's Calixto Garcia hospital, said four victims had been brought there. One had died and the other three were in a serious condition. "She is alive but very burnt and swollen," said a distressed relative of one of the survivors at the hospital. The flight was destined for Holguin in eastern Cuba and was leased by airline Cubana from a small Mexican airline called Damojh or Global. Holguin has some of the island's most pristine beaches and is a tourist destination. The nationality of those on board was not immediately clear. State media said that the crew were foreign, but provided no further details. Flight tracking websites indicated the flight was CU972, departing Havana at 11am (3pm Irish time). Boeing said in a Twitter post: "We are aware of news reports out of Cuba and are closely monitoring the situation." Boeing 737 aircraft use engines made by CFM International, the supplier of the world's most-used engines, built in a joint venture between GE and France's Safran. Mexican authorities said the aircraft was built in 1979. A statement from the country's Transportation Department identified the pilot and co-pilot as Captain Jorge Luis Nunez Santos and first officer Miguel Angel Arreola Ramirez. The flight attendants were Maria Daniela Rios, Abigail Hernandez Garcia and Beatriz Limon. It added that the plane was rented by Cuban state carrier Cubana de Aviacion from Aerolineas Damojh, the legal name of a small charter company that also goes by Global Air. In November 2010 a Global Air flight originating in Mexico City made an emergency landing in Puerto Vallarta because its front landing gear did not deploy. The fire was quickly extinguished and none of the 104 people aboard were injured. That plane was a 737 first put into service in 1975. On Thursday, Cuba's first vice president Salvador Valdes Mesa had met Cubana bosses to discuss public complaints about its service, according to state-run media. Problems included the cancellation of numerous domestic flights this year, and long delays which the company said were caused by technical problems with its aircraft. Earlier this month, the company was ordered to suspend flights by its six Russian-built AN-158 aircraft, most of which had reportedly already been grounded. The last fatal crash in Cuba was in 2017, a military flight that killed all eight personnel aboard. In 2010, a commercial Aero Caribbean plane crashed in central Cuba. All 68 people on board were killed. The latest available information on Cuba from safety aviation agency ICAO, dating back to 2008, ranks it above the global average - but it preceded the latest three crashes. Donald Trump visited First Lady Melania several times during her hospital stay (Niall Carson/PA) US First Lady Melania Trump is back at the White House after an extended hospital stay for a kidney procedure. The White House says Mrs Trump returned to the White House on Saturday morning. A sincere thank you to Walter Reed Medical Unit @WRBethesda & to all who have send good wishes & prayers! I am feeling great & look forward to getting back home @WhiteHouse soon. Melania Trump 45 Archived (@FLOTUS45) May 16, 2018 She had been at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre near Washington since having an embolisation procedure on Monday for an unspecified kidney condition that the White House said was benign. President Donald Trump visited his 48-year-old wife during several of the evenings that she was in the hospital. The first lady said on Twitter on Wednesday that she was feeling great. She thanked the Walter Reed staff and her well-wishers, and added that she was looking forward to going home. Israeli soldiers rest on bales of hay in a field overlooking the Gaza Strip as they man the border. Photo: Reuters The headline in liberal-leaning Israeli newspaper 'Haaretz' was succinct: "Jerusalem Celebrates, Tel Aviv Parties and Gaza Bleeds - a Surreal 24 Hours." It captured the events of a single day in three locations whose physical proximity to each other brings to mind the lines Yeats once wrote of Ireland: "Great hatred, little room." Surreal was a fitting word choice. Around the same time Israeli forces were mowing down scores of Palestinian protesters who had amassed along the barrier that helps seal Gaza off to a pitiful existence, Israeli TV was broadcasting footage of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a ceremony to open the US embassy in Jerusalem, declaring it a "great day for peace". Hours later, with the death toll in Gaza climbing towards 60, thousands lined the streets in Tel Aviv to welcome Netta Barzilai, who won the Eurovision song contest for Israel at the weekend. Of course not everyone in Jerusalem was celebrating - as 'Haaretz' put it - the controversial transfer of the US embassy from Tel Aviv, a Trump decision that upends years of American policy: the Palestinians who live there and see the storied city as the capital of their future state have been protesting the move for several weeks. But the tens of thousands who assembled along the Gaza-Israel border on Monday were there not so much to protest the embassy - though that contributed to the mood - but to participate in the latest in six weeks of demonstrations known as the "Great Return March" with the ostensible aim of reclaiming the lands their ancestors were displaced from when Israel was created in 1948. Referred to as the Nakba - Arabic for catastrophe - those events of 70 years ago occupy a particular place in the imagination of Muslim and Christian Palestinians, with many in Gaza, the West Bank and the Palestinian diaspora across the world still possessing the keys to homes their forebears lost. The protesters - mostly unarmed men, women and children - were met with live ammunition, tear gas and, according to some reports, artillery shells. One journalist, Sharif Abdel Kouddous, told PBS radio in the US: "You can see just a couple of hundred yards away, Israeli soldiers - on mounds of sand, sometimes in jeeps. And they are picking people off. Snipers are literally picking people off. "I've seen people who weren't even close to the fence being shot. Most of the people are being shot in the lower extremities, in their legs. I saw one person shot in the throat." The number of dead reached 60 overnight after a months-old baby died from tear gas her parents said she inhaled at a protest camp. More than 2,200 Palestinians were reported wounded. It was the bloodiest day for Palestinians since the Gaza conflict of 2014. An Israeli army spokesman said one of its soldiers had been slightly wounded by shrapnel and also admitted their side had not taken any "sustained direct fire". Ireland is one among a number of countries to deplore the killings and demand an independent investigation led by the UN. What should also be asked this week after so many deaths is why Gaza continues to fester, a victim of both an almost decade-old air, sea and land blockade by Israel (complemented by Egypt) and intra-Palestinian rivalries between Fatah, which administers the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007. Only a tiny handful of the two million people who call the tiny strip of just over 360-square kilometres home can leave. Gaza is one of the most densely populated places in the world, its people living among infrastructure wrecked by years of Israeli air strikes and neglect. Sanitation challenges - raw sewage is dumped into the Mediterranean - have rendered much of its water supply undrinkable, according to the UN. Electricity is erratic and there are shortages of medicine and other essentials. Gaza has a young population which also suffers one of the highest unemployment rates - 44pc - in the world. "In place like this, hope is impossible," one young Gazan told me some years ago; several of his friends had drifted into more militant circles. Gaza has witnessed war between Israel and Hamas along with other armed groups three times since 2007, with the last - in summer 2014 - grinding on for more than 50 days. More than 2,000 people, mostly civilians, were killed. Some 100,000 were displaced within the tiny territory. Easing the blockade may bring some comfort, but Gaza's plight will continue as long as a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains elusive. With Trump finding in Netanyahu something of a kindred spirit - with belligerent personalities to match - there is little hope of that any time soon. The UAE's Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has set three requirements and procedures for Emirati nationals to get a refund on Value Added Tax (VAT) incurred on their new residences. The conditions state that in order to refund VAT, applicants must be UAE nationals; the monetary cost in question must have gone towards financing the construction of a new residence, set to be used exclusively as a residential unit for the applicant and/or their family; and finally, the VAT refund only includes the money spent on establishing the unit, such as the amounts paid as building materials. The FTA issued a comprehensive guide that clarifies the VAT refund process, publishing it on its official website. In a press release issued on May 19, the authority explained that UAE citizens have the right to recover VAT when constructing their own residences. They ought to submit a request to recover the tax incurred on construction costs from the FTA. The request must be submitted within six months from the completion date of the construction project, which precedes the date of occupancy of the building, or the date of issuance of a certificate of completion for the building by the competent authorities, or another date determined by the Federal Tax Authority whatever comes first. FTA director general Khalid Ali Al Bustani said: "We have been providing transparent standards, procedures and mechanisms to ensure seamless procedures for citizens looking to recover VAT incurred on the construction of new residences. This, in turn, leads to achieving the vision of our wise leadership to develop a modern, stable housing system in the UAE." The authority has shown its dedication in implementing tax procedures that reflects UAEs leaders vision in achieving the happiness and prosperity of UAEs citizens, stated Al Bustani. The FTA went on to outline that submitting a request for VAT refund is done through a four-step online procedure: First, applicants download a VAT Refund form from the FTA website: www.tax.gov.ae; second, the form must be duly filled out, printed and signed hand-written documents will not be accepted. The third step consists of scanning the form once filled and signed, along with supporting documents, and submitting them in PDF format on [email protected] in the six months following the completion of the construction works. The supporting documents include a copy of the applicants passport and Emirates ID, as well as the paperwork proving his/her ownership of the plot of land in question, which must also include the date of completion, said the FTA in its press release. Applicants will be sent an email to confirm that the Authority has received the documents, and then another email within five working days to inform them whether or not they are entitled for the refund. Those declared eligible to recover their taxes will need to provide the reference number issued by the FTA for the application in question, it stated. The fourth and final step is for eligible applicants to submit the request, including the reference number, blueprints, and invoices to a Verification body accredited by the FTA. The Authority will be announcing all accredited Verification bodies on its website, it added. According to FTA, these entities can issue an official document called Verification Report stating the amount of taxes paid versus the recoverable amount, and then send it to the Authority within 15 working days from the date the invoices were issued. The Authority can then take up to 20 working days to process the final request and then an extra five working days to refund the recoverable amount to the applicant. It confirmed that no fees apply on requests for VAT recovery on the construction of new housing units, noting that there are fees charged by the accredited Verification bodies in return for the services they provide. The FTA pointed out that the authority underlined three main criteria for the expenses in question, namely: Said expenses must be spent to finance the construction of a new home, set to be used exclusively as a residential unit for the applicant and/or their family. Additionally, the contractor services must be indispensable to the successful completion of the construction project (these include builders, engineers, architects, and any other similar services). And last but not least, the products used must be of the variety usually used by contractors on construction projects excluding furniture and appliances, it added.-TradeArabia News Service Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr speaks during a press conference in Najaf, 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Baghdad, Iraq (AP Photo/Karim Kadim, File) Influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's political coalition has won the most seats in Iraq's national parliamentary elections, according to complete results released by Iraq's electoral commission. The announcement came nearly a week after Iraqis cast their votes on May 12 and put Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in third place, according to seat allocations. An alliance of candidates with close ties to mostly Iranian-backed paramilitary forces came in second. "Your vote is an honour for us," Mr al-Sadr said in a statement released on Twitter just moments after the official announcement. "We will not disappoint you," he continued, adding "the blame, all the blame is on those who failed Iraq." The election win marks the most significant victory of Mr al-Sadr's political career. Partial results were announced earlier in the week, but allegations of irregularities and fraud delayed the complete count. The vote was marked by record low turnout that benefited Mr al-Sadr who maintains loyal supporters who made it out to the polls when apathy kept many millions away. No one alliance won an outright majority and negotiations over forming the government are expected to drag on for months as parties try to form a bloc large enough to gain a majority in parliament. While Mr al-Sadr's coalition won the largest number of seats, it is yet unclear if the next prime minister will come from his camp. Prolonged negotiations could result in a compromise candidate from a rival coalition. Following the 2003 US-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein, Mr al-Sadr burst onto the scene as a renegade champion of poorer Shiites, leading militant fighters who carried out deadly attacks on American forces and were notorious for sectarian killings of Sunni Muslims. In recent years, Mr al-Sadr has gained popularity as a nationalist voice, opposing Iranian influence and waging a public campaign against corruption. For this election, he ran a non-sectarian campaign focused on issues of social justice, allying with secularists and Iraq's communist party, and broadening support beyond his traditional base. Donald Trump has blamed China for Kim Jong-un's apparent change of heart over their face-to-face meeting as he attempted to bring North Korea back to the table. In his fullest response to Pyongyang's threat to cancel, the US president undermined his own national security adviser by saying the "Libya model" was not being used. Mr Trump also promised Mr Kim "protections" if he agreed to meet in Singapore as originally planned - an olive branch to North Korean leader. The comments were made in the White House as Mr Trump was meeting Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary general. The US president was due to meet Mr Kim in Singapore on June 12 to discuss denuclearisation but the North Koreans unexpectedly said this week they could pull out of the meeting. US-South Korean military drills, comments made by John Bolton, Mr Trump's national security adviser, and demands for the regime to "unilaterally" give up its nuclear programme were all cited as reasons. But Mr Trump pointed the finger at another factor - Mr Kim's second meeting with Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, earlier this month. Mr Trump said there was a "big difference" in North Korea's position since the meeting and suggested that Mr Xi "could be influencing" Mr Kim. China has traditionally been North Korea's closest ally and reportedly feared being alienated from talks as Mr Trump pushed ahead with his plan for a face-to-face meeting. Mr Trump also dismissed Mr Bolton's own suggestion last month that the "Libya model" from 2003 and 2004 would be used in talks with North Korea. Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, was convinced to give up his nuclear programme at the time. However, he was later toppled and killed in 2011. Three people have survived after an aging Boeing 737 with 110 people aboard crashed and burned shortly after taking off from Havana airport. It was Cubas worst aviation disaster in three decades and its third major air accident since 2010. My daughter is 24, my God, she's only 24!Beatriz Pantoja Skies were overcast and rainy at the airport at the time of Fridays disaster and Cuban state television said the 39-year-old jet veered sharply to the right after departing on a domestic flight to the eastern city of Holguin. The only thing we heard, when we were checking in, an explosion, the lights went out in the airport and we looked out and saw black smoke rising and they told us a plane had crashed, Argentine tourist Brian Horanbuena said. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said a special commission had been formed to find the cause of the crash. The plane had 104 mainly Cuban passengers and six crew members. Things have been organised, the fire has been put out, and the remains are being identified, he said. State airline Cubana, which operated the flight, has generally had a good safety record but is notorious for delays and cancellations and has taken many of its planes out of service because of maintenance problems in recent months, prompting it to hire charter aircraft from other companies. Mexican officials said the Boeing 737-201 was built in 1979 and rented by Cubana from Aerolineas Damojh, a small charter company that also goes by the name Global Air. Expand Close Mexico Cuba Plane Crash / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mexico Cuba Plane Crash Cubana Flight 972 went down just after noon a short distance from the end of the runway at Jose Marti International Airport. Firefighters rushed to extinguish the flames that engulfed the debris left where the jet hit the ground in a cassava field. Four crash survivors were taken to a Havana hospital, and three remained alive as of late Friday. State media reports stopped short of openly declaring that the rest on board were dead, but there was no word of other survivors by Friday night. Relatives of those aboard were ushered into a private area at the terminal to await word on their loved ones. My daughter is 24, my God, shes only 24! cried Beatriz Pantoja, whose daughter Leticia was on the plane. A statement from Mexicos Transportation Department identified the pilot and co-pilot as Captain Jorge Luis Nunez Santos and first officer Miguel Angel Arreola Ramirez. It said the flight attendants were Maria Daniela Rios, Abigail Hernandez Garcia and Beatriz Limon. Global Air said maintenance worker Marco Antonio Lopez Perez was also aboard. Expand Close Cuba Plane Crash / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cuba Plane Crash Outside the companys Mexico City offices, former Global Air flight attendant Ana Marlen Covarrubias said she had worked for the company for over seven years and knows nearly all the crew members. I dont have the words. Im very sad. Were in mourning, she said in tears. It was something really, really, really terrible; a tragedy for us. In addition to the Mexican crew, Cuban Communist Party newspaper Granma reported that the passengers were mostly Cubans plus five foreigners from countries it did not identify. Argentinas Foreign Ministry said two of its citizens had died in the crash. In November 2010 a Global Air flight originating in Mexico City made an emergency landing in Puerto Vallarta because its front landing gear did not deploy. The fire was quickly extinguished, and none of the 104 people aboard were injured. That plane was a 737 first put into service in 1975. Mexican aviation authorities said a team of experts would fly to Cuba on Saturday to take part in the investigation. First Vice President Salvador Valdes Mesa had met with Cubana officials on Thursday to discuss improvements to its service. The airline blames its spotty record on a lack of parts and airplanes because of the US trade embargo against the communist-run country. Last year a Cuban military plane crashed into a hillside in the western province of Artemisa, killing eight soldiers. In 2010, an AeroCaribbean flight from Santiago to Havana went down in bad weather, killing all 68 people on board, including 28 foreigners, in what was the countrys worst air disaster in more than two decades. The last deadly accident involving a Cubana-operated plane was in 1989, when a charter flight from Havana to Milan, Italy, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 126 people on board and at least two dozen on the ground. New Delhi, May 19 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday greeted Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla on the latter's birthday. "Birthday greetings to Mr. Lal Thanhawla, the Chief Minister of Mizoram. May he be blessed with wonderful health and a long life," the Prime Minister tweeted. Thanhawla, a veteran politician, turned 76 on Saturday. He is serving as the Chief Minister of Mizoram since 2008. Mizoram will go to polls later this year. Lal's Image: http://cmmizoram.nic.in Modi's Image: Wallpaper Bengaluru, May 19 (IBNS): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will have to fight a prestige battle in the Karnataka assembly as the floor test, which has been directed by the Supreme Court, will be held at 4 pm on Saturday to resolve the ongoing political crisis in the southern state. The Supreme Court on Friday slashed the 15-day period, which was provided by Governor Vajubhai Vala, of the BJP to virtually 24 hours to prove majority in the assembly. Apparently the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular), which formed a post-poll alliance, are in an advantageous position as their total number of seats are well over the majority mark of 113. Congress' 78 MLAs are set to support former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda's JD(S), which bagged 38 seats, to form the next government. However the two Congress lawmakers, who went missing, are certainly worrying the concerned party. JD(S) has selected its leader HD Kumaraswamy as the Chief Ministerial candidate. The Karnataka Governor had triggered a row on Wednesday by inviting BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa to take oath, which eventually occurred a day later despite Congress' attempt to stall it by moving the Supreme Court. Though reaching the majority mark could be an uphill task for the BJP with 104 seats under its belt, the saffron outfit is exuding confidence in winning the floor test. The Congress and the JD(S) have alleged that the BJP will resort to horsetrading to convert 104 into 113. With two seats yet to be polled in the state, reaching 111 would suffice for the BJP to win the floor test for now. Following the top court's order, the Governor has appointed BJP lawmaker KJ Bopaiah as the pro tem Speaker to preside the floor test but it has once again not gone down well with the Congress. The Congress on Friday night moved the top court against the Governor's latest action and the hearing of the case. which has been filed on an urgent basis, will take place on Saturday morning. Image of BS Yeddyurappa: facebook.com/pg/BSYBJP Image of Kumaraswamy: Wikipedia/Twitter New Delhi, May 19 (IBNS): In a new development to Karnataka's political tale, the Supreme Court has turned down the Congress' plea to remove Pro Tem Speaker KG Bopaiah but ordered a live telecast of the floor test, which is scheduled to be held at 4 pm on Saturday. The top court has said the floor test should be aired on television channels. As pro tem Speaker, Bopaiah is to oversee the floor test. After Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala appointed BJP lawmaker Bopaiah as the Pro Tem Speaker on Friday, the Congress had moved the top court and filed a petition on an urgent basis. Apparently the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular), which formed a post-poll alliance, are in an advantageous position as their total number of seats are well over the majority- mark of 113. With polling for two seats yet to be held , reaching 111 would suffice for the BJP, which has 104 seats, to win the floor test for now. Kolkata, May 19 (IBNS): As the Congress tied up with HD Deve Gowda's Janata Dal (Secular) to form the Karnataka government, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said the regional parties will decide their "next course of action" only after the floor test ,which is scheduled to be held at 4 pm on Saturday. In a tweet, Banerjee said: "We have great respect for the verdict of the Honble Supreme Court. We will watch tomorrows floor test. We, the "regional" parties, will decide our next course of action after that" We have great respect for the verdict of the Honble Supreme Court. We will watch tomorrows floor test. We, the "regional" parties, will decide our next course of action after that Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 18, 2018 Apparently the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular), which formed a post-poll alliance, are in an advantageous position as their total number of seats are well over the majority- mark of 113 in the 224-member House. The magic figure at present is, however, 112 as polling for two seats are yet to be held. Going by that, reaching 112 would be suffice for the BJP, which has 104 seats, to win the floor test for now. Banerjee has been a strong proponent of a federal front, which will possibly be led by several regional parties. The TMC chief was seen earlier meeting Andhra Chief Minister and Telegu Desam Party (TDP) chief, N Chandrababu Naidu, and Telangana Chief Minister and Telangana Rashtriya Samithi (TRS) chief, K Chandrasekhar Rao, over the formation of a federal front to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Banerjee has also said recently on a television channel that Congress will also have to sacrifice in the national politics. New Delhi,May 19 (IBNS): The crucial floor test in the Karnataka Assembly to decide the future of the BJP-led government in the state will be held shortly. The Assembly session has already begun. Meanwhile, two Congress MLAs-Anand Singh and Pratap Gouda Patil- who were said to be 'missing' by the Congress have been traced and brought to the Assembly. They are currently present in the Assembly with other senior Congress leaders. The floor test is scheduled to take place at 4 pm. The Supreme Court on Friday slashed the 15-day period, which was provided by Governor Vajubhai Vala, of the BJP to virtually 24 hours to prove majority in the assembly. Apparently the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular), which formed a post-poll alliance, are in an advantageous position as their total number of seats are well over the majority mark of 113. Congress' 78 MLAs are set to support former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda's JD(S), which bagged 38 seats, to form the next government. JD(S) has selected its leader HD Kumaraswamy as the Chief Ministerial candidate. The Karnataka Governor had triggered a row on Wednesday by inviting BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa to take oath, which eventually occurred a day later despite Congress' attempt to stall it by moving the Supreme Court. Though reaching the majority mark could be an uphill task for the BJP with 104 seats under its belt, the saffron outfit is exuding confidence in winning the floor test. The Congress and the JD(S) have alleged that the BJP will resort to horsetrading to convert 104 into 113. With two seats yet to be polled in the state, reaching 111 would suffice for the BJP to win the floor test for now. Following the top court's order, the Governor has appointed BJP lawmaker KJ Bopaiah as the pro tem Speaker to preside the floor test. Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with REI Holding Group and Haewon Medical Foundation Sejong General Hospital to establish the first Korean hospital in Sharjah. The signing ceremony took place in the South Korean capital Seoul, where Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, as well as several representatives from Shurooq and REI Holding, were given a tour around the Sejong General Hospital, and were introduced to some of the latest and cutting-edge healthcare technologies, which are slated to debut their presence in the UAE, through the establishment of the new hospital in Sharjah. The new hospital will be the first-of-its-kind healthcare facility in the UAE to offer state-of-the-art Korean technologies and solutions specialising in open-heart surgery, cardiac care and medical expertise in other fields. The MoU signing will play in a key role in strengthening Sharjah's position as a premium healthcare destination across the GCC and the wider Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, remarked Marwan Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq, after signing the deal with Soon bong Hong, the chairman of REI Holding Group, and Jinsin Park, the chairman of Haewon Medical Foundation Sejong General Hospital. "This is another excellent example of foreign investment in Sharjahs healthcare industry and demonstrates once again the appeal of the emirate on a global scale," stated Al Sarkal. "The Republic of Korea is well-established as one of the worlds most successful healthcare providers, particularly in specialist medicine. The advantages of this project are not only in providing some of the best cardiac care available to residents, but there are also enormous benefits to Sharjahs economy in terms of attracting medical tourism," he stated. Hong said: "Advanced Korean medical system and operation infrastructure are already making positive changes in the UAE. Now, we hope to promote UAE-Korea healthcare sector exchanges by vitalising knowhow and technologies of Korean medicine in Sharjah." "Our specialised general hospital in Sharjah shall be an exemplary place of sustainable hospital management which provides highest standard and cutting edge quality medical services customised to demand of patients and diseases reflecting the regional characteristics," noted Bong Hong. It will be a role model of hospital business, overcoming challenges shown by many existing hospitals in the GCC region. "In addition, our hospital will generate new understandings to the region that healthcare services are not just for patients suffering from diseases or medical conditions, but they can actually become convenient, comfortable, and luxurious healthcare shopping for even general public to enhance quality of their lives," he stated. "Our partnership with Sharjah in healthcare sector is an important part of diverse and yet specific Sharjah-Korea partnerships encompassing R&D, education, tourism, and other sectors," he added. Commenting on the hospitals debut in the UAE, Park said: "This is a monumental opportunity for us, celebrating our market access to the UAE markets through Sharjah, introducing our state-of-the-art technology in one of the most complex segments in medical history." "The new hospital will feature the latest facilities and medical services, which will play a crucial role in battling various types of cardiac diseases and issues that exist within patients in Sharjah, UAE and the wider region," he noted. "The hospital will play a key role in educating citizens and the market on cutting edge Korean technologies especially in the healthcare industry, which continues to witness global interests," he added.-TradeArabia News Service New Delhi, May 19 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday dedicated the Kishanganga Hydropower Station to the nation at a function in Srinagar. He also laid the foundation stone of the Srinagar Ring Road. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister recalled the various occasions in the past four years when he had visited the State of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the month of Ramzan is the time to recall the teachings and message of Prophet Muhammad. The Prime Minister said that the 330 MW Kishanganga Hydropower project would go a long way in fulfilling the electricity requirements of the State. He emphasized the need for balanced development of all three regions of the State - Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh. UN Photo/Elma Okic new York, May 19 (IBNS): A special session of the UN Human Rights Council has ended with a resolution by Member States to investigate weeks of violence on the Israeli border with Gaza, which has claimed the lives of more than 100 people in the enclave and left thousands wounded. The draft text called for the Council to investigate all alleged violations and abuses of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and particularly the occupied Gaza Strip, since 30 March; the date when demonstrations along the border with Israel began, dubbed the Great March of Return. The resolution was adopted by 29 votes in favour, with two against and 14 abstentions. They are, in essence, caged in a toxic slum from birth to death; deprived of dignity - High Commissioner Zeid The development follows a request on Tuesday by Palestine and the Arab Group of States. A day earlier, 60 demonstrators in Gaza were killed by Israeli forces, marking the highest one-day death toll in the territory since the 2014 hostilities. According to UN human rights chief, Zeid Raad Al Hussein, who addressed the council, 87 Palestinians have been killed during the protests, including 12 children, and more than 12,000 injured; 3,500 of them by live ammunition fire. Palestinians have exactly the same human rights as Israelis do. They have the same rights to live safely in their homes, in freedom, with adequate and essential services and opportunities said the High Commissioner for Human Rights. And of this essential core of entitlements due to every human being, they are systematically deprived, he continued, adding: They are, in essence, caged in a toxic slum from birth to death; deprived of dignity; de-humanised by the Israeli authorities to such a point it appears officials do not even consider that these men and women have a right, as well as every reason, to protest. Zeid said that some demonstrators threw Molotov cocktails and used sling-shots to throw stones at Israeli soldiers. But this did not justify the use of lethal force and may be a breach of international law, he added. Israel responded to the special session at the Human Rights Council saying that convening the meeting was evidence of its politically-motivated anti-Israeli obsession. Ambassador Aviva Raz Shechter, Permanent Representative of Israel to the UN, said that the militant group Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, and the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank, had incited people to violence, by placing as many civilians as possible including women, children and journalists in the line of fire". Under the rules of the Human Rights Council, an extraordinary session can only be called by the bodys 47 Member States; it must also have the support of at least one-third of the membership. Friday marked the 28th time that there has been a special session of the Council. New York, May 19 (IBNS): The case of Noura Hussein Hammad Daoud, a Sudanese teenager convicted of fatally stabbing the man she was forced to marry, after he had allegedly raped her, highlights the countrys failure to tackle the tragedy of early and forced marriage, marital rape and other discrimination and violence against women and girls, the United Nations human rights office said on Friday. We have received information that Husseins forced marriage, rape and other forms of gender-based violence against her were not taken into account by the Court as evidence to mitigate the sentence, and that the most stringent guarantees of a fair trial and due process were not fulfilled in this case, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the High Commissioner for Human Rights told the press in Geneva. As the case has drawn international attention, the UN Human rights office said that it has become increasingly concerned for the teens safety and that of her lawyer and other supporters. We urge the authorities to ensure full protection for Husseins physical and psychological integrity during her detention, as well as full respect for her rights to a fair trial and appeal, Shamdasani stressed. In trials of capital punishment, scrupulous respect for fairness is particularly crucial. The UN expert on summary executions has argued that imposing the death penalty against clear evidence of self-defense constitutes an arbitrary killing, particularly where women have been charged with murder when defending themselves. We call on the authorities to fully take into consideration Husseins claim of self-defense against the attempt by the man to rape her, after he had reportedly already raped her on a previous occasion with the help of three other people, Shamdasani continued. With only 15 days to appeal the Courts decision which was announced last week the right for a conviction and sentence to be reviewed by a higher tribunal is particularly important. A review that is limited to the formal or legal aspects of the conviction without any consideration of the facts is not sufficient under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Sudan has ratified, the spokesperson reminded the press. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and the UN Human Rights Committee have expressed serious concern about the situation of womens human rights in Sudan. Husseins tragic case is an opportunity for Sudanese authorities to send a clear message that gender-based violence will not be tolerated in the country, concluded Ms. Shamdasani, adding that the office would remain in contact with Sudanese authorities. UN Multimedia New York, May 19 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency is calling for urgent support for thousands of people arriving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after fleeing conflict in south-eastern Central African Republic (CAR). According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), at least 7,000 people mxost of them women and children have reached DRC over the past week. The speed of arrivals and the very limited humanitarian presence in the area mean that people urgently need increased support, said William Spindler, a UNHCR spokesperson, told media at the regular news briefing in Geneva. The latest numbers are an addition to more than 180,000 people who have sought refuge in the remote Kanzawi village in DRCs northern province of Bas-Uele. Of particular concern, said Spindler, is the situation of elderly people, pregnant women and others with specific needs. There is only one water source in the village, forcing people to drink from the river. Most of the refugees are sleeping in the open, others in public buildings. In response, UNHCR has worked to improve community infrastructure in some villages and towns that have taken in a large number of refugees, including drilling new wells, supporting local schools and health centres and providing shelter to the extremely vulnerable CAR refugees It is also supporting the registration of refugees and providing them with necessary documents. This response, however, has been hit by lack of resources. Our own capacity for an emergency response is severely stretched, with our DRC operation funded at $1.6 for every $10 needed, said Mr. Spindler. UNHCR/A. Kitidi Global News Quebec/Ottawa, May 19 (IBNS): Two protest rallies competing with each other were held at a major Quebec-New York border crossing on Saturday, close to where thousands of asylum seekers had been illegally crossing into Canada in recent months, media reports said. Demonstrations at Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Quebec, border took place under police presence, which ensured the two sides were kept apart. The Liberal governments handling of illegal immigration was denounced during the rally organized by far-right groups, including Storm Alliance, a self-described ultranationalist group. Im against illegal immigration, Im against the Trudeau government, said Mike Noble, a construction worker who made the trip from Ottawa for the protest. Counter-protesters from groups including Solidarity Across Borders staged their own demonstration to show refugee claimants they are welcome in the country. The rallies led to disruptions at the border crossing during the busy holiday weekend. For more than two hours Saturday afternoon the crossing was closed. Quebec provincial police also temporarily blocked off Highway 15 in both directions near the U.S. border. The border had earlier also seen the rallies between these two sides, including last year on Canada Day. Reportedly more than 7,600 people have entered Canada outside official border crossings so far this year. The bulk of those have crossed in Quebec at Roxham Road. Earlier Saturday, asylum seekers were shown support by a group of residents gathered at an event close to Roxham Road. (Reporting by Asha Bajaj) "Prevent Unauthorized Transactions in your demat / trading account Update your Mobile Number/ email Id with your stock broker / Depository Participant. 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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. It's not just Priyanka Chopra who is making heads turn at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle. Indian activist Suhani Jalota today said she is super-excited to attend the royal wedding of Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle, calling it a dream come true and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The 23-year-old activist, the founder of Mumbai-based Myna Mahila Foundation, is among four women who are among the special guests invited by the royal couple to attend their wedding in Windsor Castle today. Agencies In a conversation with news agency PTI, Jalota said, Agencies I am super excited to be able to attend this wedding. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Their womens empowerment charity, which produces and distributes low-cost sanitary napkins to women in Mumbais slums, is the only non-UK organization hand-picked by the royal couple as beneficiaries of donations in lieu of wedding gifts. Attending the wedding are her colleagues, Deborah Das, Archana Ambre and Imogen Mansfield, who are among the 1,200 members of public invited to the wedding picnic party on the grounds of the Castle. While the dress code for the wedding lists day dress and hat for female guests, Jalotas group chose pastel-colored Banarasi and Chanderi saris with Indian motifs from among the handwoven designs created by Indian firm Raw Mango to make an Indian splash at the royal wedding. Agencies The agency report further claims that after their day amid royalty at Windsor Castle, the four Myna women plan to tour the sights of London before returning to their work in the slums of Mumbai next Wednesday. Salman Khan's upcoming film Bharat has managed to create a lot of buzz, thanks to its star-cast. With PC returning to Bollywood films after a gap of two years, Salman Khan's Bharat is one of the most highly awaited films. The film is also an official adaptation of the South Korean movie Ode To My Father, which will be seen depicting the history of the country from the 1950s to present-day. Pinterest The period drama will be one of Salman Khan's most challenging role as he will be seen juggling between 5 different looks, where his life journey from 18 to 70 will be decoded with the help of prosthetics and VFX. Pinterest Another interesting piece of information that makes the film interesting is how Salman Khan will be seen romancing three leading ladies in the film Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif and Disha Patani. Disha will play Salmans love interest during his teenage, Priyanka and Katrina will be seen romancing a middle-aged Bhai. Pinterest One obvious fact here is how PC will definitely have more screen time than other actresses. Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, who has given mega-hits including Sultan and Tiger Zinda Hai with Salman, this one remains one of the most high-anticipated films! Agencies PC arrived in a lilac skirt suit and is seen donning the sartorial signatures of Vivienne Westwood. Agencies Their womens empowerment charity, which produces and distributes low-cost sanitary napkins to women in Mumbais slums, is the only non-UK organization hand-picked by the royal couple as beneficiaries of donations in lieu of wedding gifts. Attending the wedding are her colleagues, Deborah Das, Archana Ambre and Imogen Mansfield, who are among the 1,200 members of public invited to the wedding picnic party on the grounds of the Castle. Harry Potter and Bitch better have my money pic.twitter.com/g6n7wxSRz4 Cloudy Dinero (@CloudMoney) May 17, 2018 The 'Harry Potter' superstar was shooting for 'Guns Akimbo' and in some pictures leaked from the sets, the actor is seen clenching his teeth and wearing bear slippers. He is also holding guns in his hands. Internet collectively lost its shit as they churned out some hilarious memes and gifs on Daniel Radcliffe. The royal wedding was also watched by people from all corners of the world and the reactions are out. Davy dated Prince Harry on and off for seven years between 2004 and 2011. After that, Prince Harry was introduced to Bonas by Princess Eugenie and they dated from 2012 to 2014. Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed an agreement with the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services thus enabling the issuance of approvals for ambulance vehicles operated by private health entities online. The MoU entitles the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services access to the SDDI for issuing online approvals to ambulance vehicles operated by private health entities, said a statement from RTA. The procedure is conducted under the RTAs laws governing this service. The MoU also calls for providing the required technical support and training for the Corporation employees on the operation of the system, it stated. "This move is a part of the RTAs strategy to step up cooperation with all Dubai government departments and share information and knowledge in relevant fields," remarked Abdullah Yousef Al Ali, the chief executive of the Licencing Agency at RTA, after signing the deal with Khalifa Al Darai, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services. "The MoU stems from the commitment of the RTA to engage in fruitful cooperation with Dubai government departments in the interest of clients of all parties and the community as a whole," stated Al Ali. He pointed out that the online system would save the time and effort of private health entities seeking NOCs. "It facilitates the procedures of availing licencing services online without obliging clients to visit service centres to submit documents. It realises the directives of our leaders to ease the delivery of services, switch to a paperless government environment and cut short procedures of availing the service," remarked Al Ali. Thus, it contributes to the RTAs strategy aimed at integrating services through establishing online links with government entities undertaking jobs related to the scope of the RTA," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Everyone knows what happened on September 11 in 2001. Islamist extremists hijacked four planes that were flying above the US, two of which were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York. Another was crashed into the Pentagon, the top military building in the capital city, Washington DC. The fourth plane crashed into a field, 80 miles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The attacks shocked the world and USA was no longer a safe haven as we thought it to be. 9/11 was the biggest terrorist attack ever on American soil. But did you know that the attack threat loomed America since the 1990s and how the rivalry between the FBI and the CIA could have inadvertently set path for the 9/11 tragedy? Wondering what were talking about? Well heres something you would definitely be interested to know. Thanks to the Amazon Prime Video show The Looming Tower, we finally get to know the truths behind the biggest tragedy on American soil. Based on the Pulitzer-Prize winning book by the same name, this show traces the rising threat of Osama Bin Laden and the Al-Qaeda in the late 1990s. According to the show, the CIA hordes information from the FBI! Amazon Prime Video John ONeill, played by Jeff Daniels is the determined, at times bull-headed, chief of the New York FBIs Counter-Terrorism unit. ONeill was rightly convinced that the US has been targeted for attack by Al Qaeda, and faced deliberately insufficient cooperation from other organs of the Federal government, particularly from his counterpart at the frequently antagonistic CIA, Martin Schmidt (Peter Sarsgaard). Amazon Prime Video Martin Schmidt is the head of the CIAs al-Qaeda unit who, driven by a desire to take out bin Laden. He was convinced that he was the smartest person in the room. Even when he was under Presidential orders to share intelligence with ONeill and the FBI, Schmidt opted instead to keep certain information from them. All because he was under the notion that the CIA is the only agency equipped to battle potential foreign terrorist threats. Watch the trail here, you'd see what I am talking about: The professional and personal worlds come to a head as Al-Qaeda operatives in the U.S., which the CIA has long known about, set their plan in motion. What was this piece of information that could have saved America from the attack? Theres only one way of finding that out. Watch The Looming Tower on Amazon Video Prime and unveil these answers. This summer sure looks like a blockbuster season. After Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity Wars huge successes, the stream of hit movies has already begun. We think this streak will continue throughout the year until we are in 2019. Without further ado, here are 11 movies that you must not miss this summer. 1. DEADPOOL 2 (May 18) Thanks to its many entertaining promotions and Ryan Reynolds' gigs, Deadpool 2 is perhaps the most anticipated movie of the summer. The first Deadpool movie released in 2016 and was a big hit. And with Celine Dion and David Beckham playing their parts in the promotions, we just cant wait for the weekend to get here. 2. SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (May 25) Star Wars fans are eagerly waiting for this to grace their theatres next week. The movie will take us on an adventure into a dark criminal underworld, where Han Solo meets his future copilot Chewbacca and encounters Lando Calrissian years before joining the Rebellion. 3. Oceans 8 (June 8) Oceans 8s stellar cast - Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, and Rihanna - the women will group together to steal a prized jewel from the star-studded Met Gala. The trailer looks action-packed as hell! 4. INCREDIBLES 2 (June 15) The first part came 14 years ago - 14 years! Those who grew up watching Incredibles wont miss the second installment even if life on earth were ending. The superhero family is back in action soon and you should get yours in the zone too. 5. JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM (June 22) All dino-lovers are readying themselves as Owen and Claire mount a campaign to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from this extinction-level event when the island's dormant volcano begins springing to life. And With Jeff Goldblum returning as Ian Malcolm, this movie will be hard to miss. 6. ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (July 6) Despite Ant-Man not being a popular and well-loved Marvel hero, some will still agree that Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly combined will make this one hell of a ride. Ant-Man, who was missing from Avengers: Infinity Wars gets a new partner, which means we get to see a new hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 7. EIGHTH GRADE (July 13) Eighth Grade is a film that follows 14-year-old Kayla (played by Elsie Fisher) as she courses through the last weeks of classes before high school. The film looks promising from its trailer, especially bringing back bittersweet memories from our own awkward pre-teen years at school. 8. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE FALLOUT (July 27) Tom Cruise is back, folks! And the 55-year-old actor will be climbing mountains without ropes so thats one sureshot reason to go watch Mission: Impossible - Fallout. We havent seen the trailer yet but its on its way and we are already on the edge of our seats! 9. MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN (JULY 20) It has been ten years since we saw Mamma Mia! and its entire cast is back this July. Amanda Seyfrieds Sophie will uncover her mothers past as she deals with her pregnancy. This one is sure to make all Mamma Mia! fans extremely nostalgic. 10. THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME (AUGUST 3) Action will take a spinning speed when Audrey (Mila Kunis) finds out her boyfriend (Justin Theroux) is a spy this August. She and her friend Morgan (Kate McKinnon) will find themselves caught up in an international conspiracy. 11. REPLICAS (AUGUST 17) Replicas will take us to a sci-fi world with Keanu Reeves's taking extreme measures as he tries to use cutting-edge technology to bring his family back to life. Will he find the key to immortality or not remains to be seen in this August release. The calendar is packed and how! This will be a good, good summer. Having a pet can be an extremely pleasant experience, especially with dogs. But imagine that the dog you adopted and raised was not a dog - that would not be a pleasant feeling at all. A family in China went through the same when they found out that a puppy that had been living with them for the past two years, was actually an Asiatic black bear. CGTN When Su Yun, member of the family, bought a puppy home, she was surprised by the appetite of her new pet who ate a whole box of fruits and two buckets of noodles every day. The family realised that their pet was not a dog at all when the animal did not stop growing and tried walking on two legs. The animal had grown into a 250lb bear. They thought they had adopted a Tibetan mastiff but instead, it was an Asiatic black bear. afp The Yunnan Wildlife Rescue Centre has agreed to take care of the animal in their centre after the family requested help. This is not the first time that this has happened in Yunnan province. In fact, in March, a man had raised a bear thinking it was a stray dog. He even kept the animal in a cage. Priyanka Chopra won't be the only one representing India at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's nuptials on Saturday. Two women from the slums of Mumbai will also be attending the wedding along with the founder of the non-profit organisation they work at. Archana Ambre, 25, a sales manager from Myna Mahila Foundation, and Deborah Das, 31, production and HR manager with the charity, boarded the plane for the first time as they flew to UK along with founder Suhani Jalota, 23. While Jalota is one of the 600 guests attending the St George's Chapel service, Ambre, Das and a UK volunteer of the NGO will watch the event from inside the grounds of Windsor Castle alongside over 100 schoolchildren, charity representatives and handpicked members of the public, including a teenager who was caught up in last year's Manchester terror attack. facebook The foundation is one of seven charities the royal couple have selected for guests to donate money to in lieu of gifts after Markle visited it last year. "Meghan is sincere and well-researched. When she came to see us, she did not just talk about women's empowerment because it was trendy. She knew her stuff," Jalota said. "She said she would help us in any way she could. We never anticipated something like this would happen. It is an honour to be representing India - I feel so excited. It was a huge shock. I am looking forward to seeing Meghan and people from other charities... We are really excited about seeing Priyanka too." nyoooz The foundation trains women to manufacture low-cost sanitary pads (Rs 25 for eight) and sell them to slum-dwellers. Jalota said she does not know how much money had been donated yet, but they would use it to increase their reach from 10,000 to 50,000 women. "The dress code (at the wedding) is day dress and a hat, but we decided that since we are representing our country we needed to be traditional. So, we will be wearing saris," Jalota said, adding that each sari will be of a different hue and fabric. afp Whilst Ambre and Jalota arrived in London on Thursday, Das's arrival was delayed by a day. "Das did not have a passport so it took a long time to get police verifications done. Then her visa got rejected. The palace and the home office sent a personal letter to the UK high commission on Wednesday. It only got approved on Thursday. It was a miracle it happened," Jalota said. Chopra, a close friend of Markle, has said in several interviews that she will be attending the wedding. The whole world was rather excited about the Royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The Britons, of course were ecstatic as they were seen so on the streets of Windsor. However, a recent survey reveals that the Indians are more excited about the wedding than even the British! More than half of Indians (54% to be precise) polled by UK market research firm Ipsos MORI say theyre interested in news about the upcoming wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. That is actually more enthusiasm that any other country that the firm surveyed, including Britain, where only 34% of respondents said they care about the big wedding due to held on May 19. The online survey, conducted between late March and early April, included responses from 20,793 adults aged between 16 and 64 across 28 countries. Data: Ipsos MORI Globally, only three in 10 respondents wanted to be up-to-date with general news about the royal family. In India, Ipsos MORI found that some 55% wanted to stay in the loop about the affairs of the House of Windsor. Indias intense interest in the marriage ceremony of Markle and the prince stems from a heightened awareness of happenings in the British royal family. There are seven official charities for the #RoyalWedding. Six are from the , the other is @MynaMahila from . Dwellers of Mumbai's Govandi area are looking forward to joining the global celebrations. Here's what the founder Suhani Jalota has to say. pic.twitter.com/pZWwF23ytC UK in India (@UKinIndia) May 10, 2018 Located off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is Pedra do Telegrafo - a hiking trail that offers amazing views of the ocean. And it is one of the best destinations for some amazing photo ops in South America. But there is a catch. Also read: Here's Why An American Student Wore A Rifle For Her Graduation Photos The hiking trail offers a particular "cliff" that is flooded by tourists who wait in long queues to click photos while "hanging" off the cliff's "precipitous" edge. But it's not what it seems. The cliff is not actually a cliff at all. It is, in fact, only about three feet off the ground. Yes! The photographs are taken from the perfect angle which crops out the rocky surface beneath. The result is an optical illusion fooling the viewers into thinking that the tourists are defying death. Also read: People Are Sharing Grossly Misinterpreted Photos Of Their Jobs And It's Hilarious Simply breathtaking! Earlier this month, Cambridge Analytica announced it was shutting shop in the US, claiming theyd just received too much bad press from the Facebook scandal to possibly recover from. I mean, that sort of thing was bound to happen after they compromised the data of 87 million people. Cambridge Analytica's New York Office - Reuters At the time CA, said it and its UK counterpart SCL Elections were both shuttering, with Analyticas CEO telling employees at a New York town hall that they had considered all the options and there was no way to repair the brand. Now, according to Reuters, it seems the company is also filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy at New Yorks Southern Districts Bankruptcy Court. Of course, even if it shuts down and files for bankruptcy, that doesnt stop authorities from investigating in any way. Both the Department of Justice and the FBI are probing the case in the US, with UK officials also scrutinizing SCL Elections. And yet, this may not be the end of the company at all. Reports emerged earlier this month that another company by the name of Emerdata Limited is registered in the UK with the same office address as SCL Elections, even sharing most of the same management team and investors. Its likely then that CAs shutdown and bankruptcy filing is just a ploy to help people forget about all the bad things its connected to, and pave the way for a new company to (controlled by the same people) to take its place. According to researchers, a team of hackers affiliated with North Korea recently managed to conduct an operation to steal the personal data of people who defected from the dictatorial regime. And they did it using Google Play. The hackers apparently were able to host at least three Android apps on the Play Store, which were designed to secretly siphon a users data and send it back to North Korea. The apps first appeared in January, and werent removed until March, when Google was privately notified by the researchers from McAfee. The company posted a blog entry this week, detailing both the study and the apps involved. Two of them masqueraded as security apps, while the third was supposedly an informational app for food ingredients. Functions buried in these apps would then steal information from the device, including personal photos contact lists, and messages. The hackers didnt just let loose the apps into the wild either, hoping they would find their marks. They, in fact, selected individuals they should be spread to, usually contacting them over Facebook for it. Over time, the three apps gained about 100 downloads between them before they were removed by Google. And if that number looks small to you, it was intentional. After all, a nation backing a cyber-espionage campaign doesnt want it widely known online. More effective would be to keep the download numbers small, and therefore undetected. North Korea has in fact had a history of activity in cyber warfare across the world. One of their groups, named Lazarus, is credited with multiple hits, including the 2014 hack of Sony Pictures that wiped almost a terabyte of data after ransom demands were rejected. In fact, Lazarus is even believed to be responsible for the release of the WannaCry ransomware that shut down corporations and institutions across the world last year. Dammam Airports Company (Daco) has signed two strategic agreements at the ongoing 18th Airport Show, taking place in Dubai, UAE. The event which opened yesterday (May 7) will run until May 9, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC). The agreements were signed with Vanderlande and Serco Middle East, said a statement. As part of Dacos agreement with Vanderlande, the global market leader for value-added logistic process automation at airports, the two entities will work on introducing a state-of-the-art baggage handling system (BHS) at King Fahd International Airport (KFIA) that will help make travel procedures smoother for airport personnel, passengers and airlines, it said. The agreement with Serco Middle East, is to install cutting-edge fire and rescue services at the airport. The contract, which makes KFIA the first Saudi airport to leverage an international service providers expertise in fire-fighting systems, will help raise the airports safety standards in line with its existing firefighting protocols, it added. Turki Abdullah Al Jawini, chief executive officer of Dammam Airports Company, said: Guided by our vision to transform airports and redefine the travel experience, our efforts in the last 10 months have focussed on expanding the airports operational efficiency, as it witnesses a steady growth in passenger traffic and an increased demand for commercial services. We are pleased to partner with global leaders like Vanderlande and Serco Middle East to execute our long-term plans for the airport, and transform it into a major hub for air transportation within the region and beyond, he said. David Greer, chief executive officer, Serco Middle East, said: As a globally recognised fire and rescue services provider, we are pleased to enter this agreement with Dammam Airports Company that has been mandated to oversee the operations of the KFIA. Passenger safety and security are among the most critical aspects of airport operations, and we are delighted to utilise our industry-leading expertise in providing cutting-edge fire and rescue solutions to enhance the airports security procedures, he added. Remo Brunschwiler, chief executive officer, Vanderlande, said: Our company is pleased to support the Dammam Airports Company in its efforts to create a world-class airport experience and seamless travel experience for the airports growing passenger traffic. Our state-of-the-world baggage handling system will not only boost the facilitys operational efficiency, but also positively impact all aspects of the passenger journey, he added. TradeArabia News Service It happens to most of us at some time or another: You're at a cocktail party, and "the blowhard" happens your way bragging about his latest stock market move. This time, he's taken a long position in Widgets Plus.com, the latest, greatest online marketer of household gadgets. You discover that he knows nothing about the company, is completely enamored with it, and has invested 25% of his portfolio hoping he can double his money quickly. You, on the other hand, begin to feel a little smug knowing that he has committed at least four common investing mistakes. Here are the four mistakes the resident blowhard has made, plus four more for good measure. Key Takeaways Mistakes are common when investing, but some can be easily avoided if you can recognize them. The worst mistakes are failing to set up a long-term plan, allowing emotion and fear to influence your decisions, and not diversifying a portfolio. Other mistakes include falling in love with a stock for the wrong reasons and trying to time the market. 1. Not Understanding the Investment One of the world's most successful investors, Warren Buffett, cautions against investing in companies whose business models you don't understand. The best way to avoid this is to build a diversified portfolio of exchange traded funds (ETFs) or mutual funds. If you do invest in individual stocks, make sure you thoroughly understand each company those stocks represent before you invest. 2. Falling in Love With a Company Too often, when we see a company we've invested in do well, it's easy to fall in love with it and forget that we bought the stock as an investment. Always remember, you bought this stock to make money. If any of the fundamentals that prompted you to buy into the company change, consider selling the stock. 3. Lack of Patience A slow and steady approach to portfolio growth will yield greater returns in the long run. Expecting a portfolio to do something other than what it is designed to do is a recipe for disaster. This means you need to keep your expectations realistic with regard to the timeline for portfolio growth and returns. 4. Too Much Investment Turnover Turnover, or jumping in and out of positions, is another return killer. Unless you're an institutional investor with the benefit of low commission rates, the transaction costs can eat you alivenot to mention the short-term tax rates and the opportunity cost of missing out on the long-term gains of other sensible investments. 5. Attempting to Time the Market Trying to time the market also kills returns. Successfully timing the market is extremely difficult. Even institutional investors often fail to do it successfully. A well-known study, "Determinants Of Portfolio Performance" (Financial Analysts Journal, 1986), conducted by Gary P. Brinson, L. Randolph Hood, and Gilbert L. Beebower covered American pension fund returns. This study showed that, on average, nearly 94% of the variation of returns over time was explained by the investment policy decision. In layperson's terms, this means that most of a portfolio's return can be explained by the asset allocation decisions you make, not by timing or even security selection. 6. Waiting to Get Even Getting even is just another way to ensure you lose any profit you might have accumulated. It means that you are waiting to sell a loser until it gets back to its original cost basis. Behavioral finance calls this a "cognitive error." By failing to realize a loss, investors are actually losing in two ways. First, they avoid selling a loser, which may continue to slide until it's worthless. Second, there's the opportunity cost of the better use of those investment dollars. 7. Failing to Diversify While professional investors may be able to generate alpha (or excess return over a benchmark) by investing in a few concentrated positions, common investors should not try this. It is wiser to stick to the principle of diversification. In building an exchange traded fund (ETF) or mutual fund portfolio, it's important to allocate exposure to all major spaces. In building an individual stock portfolio, include all major sectors. As a general rule of thumb, do not allocate more than 5% to 10% to any one investment. 8. Letting Your Emotions Rule Perhaps the No.1 killer of investment return is emotion. The axiom that fear and greed rule the market is true. Investors should not let fear or greed control their decisions. Instead, they should focus on the bigger picture. Stock market returns may deviate wildly over a shorter time frame, but, over the long term, historical returns for large-cap stocks can average 10%. Over a long time horizon, a portfolio's returns should not deviate much from those averages. In fact, patient investors may benefit from the irrational decisions of other investors. How to Avoid These Mistakes Below are some other ways to avoid these common mistakes and keep a portfolio on track. Develop a Plan of Action Proactively determine where you are in the investment life cycle, what your goals are, and how much you need to invest to get there. If you don't feel qualified to do this, seek a reputable financial planner. Also, remember why you are investing your money, and you will be inspired to save more and may find it easier to determine the right allocation for your portfolio. Temper your expectations to historical market returns. Do not expect your portfolio to make you rich overnight. A consistent, long-term investment strategy over time is what will build wealth. Put Your Plan on Automatic As your income grows, you may want to add more. Monitor your investments. At the end of every year, review your investments and their performance. Determine whether your equity-to-fixed-income ratio should stay the same or change based on where you are in life. Allocate Some "Fun" Money We all get tempted by the need to spend money at times. It's the nature of the human condition. So, instead of trying to fight it, go with it. Set aside "fun investment money." You should limit this amount to no more than 5% of your investment portfolio, and it should be money that you can afford to lose. Do not use retirement money. Always seek investments from a reputable financial firm. Because this process is akin to gambling, follow the same rules you would in that endeavor. Limit your losses to your principal (do not sell calls on stocks you don't own, for instance). Be prepared to lose 100% of your investment. Choose and stick to a pre-determined limit to determine when you will walk away. The Bottom Line Mistakes are part of the investing process. Knowing what they are, when you're committing them, and how to avoid them will help you succeed as an investor. To avoid committing the mistakes above, develop a thoughtful, systematic plan, and stick with it. If you must do something risky, set aside some fun money that you are fully prepared to lose. Follow these guidelines, and you will be well on your way to building a portfolio that will provide many happy returns over the long term. What Is a Limit Order? A limit order is a type of order to purchase or sell a security at a specified price or better. For buy limit orders, the order will be executed only at the limit price or a lower one, while for sell limit orders, the order will be executed only at the limit price or a higher one. This stipulation allows traders to better control the prices they trade. By using a buy limit order, the investor is guaranteed to pay that price or less. While the price is guaranteed, the filling of the order is not, and limit orders will not be executed unless the security price meets the order qualifications. If the asset does not reach the specified price, the order is not filled and the investor may miss out on the trading opportunity. This can be contrasted with a market order, whereby a trade is executed at the prevailing market price without any price limit specified. Key Takeaways A limit order guarantees that an order is filled at or better than a specific price level. A limit order is not guaranteed to be filled, however. Limit orders control execution price but can result in missed opportunities in fast-moving market conditions. Limit orders can be used in conjunction with stop orders to prevent large downside losses. 2:43 How Do Limit Orders Work? How Limit Orders Work A limit order is the use of a pre-specified price to buy or sell a security. For example, if a trader is looking to buy XYZs stock but has a limit of $14.50, they will only buy the stock at a price of $14.50 or lower. If the trader is looking to sell shares of XYZs stock with a $14.50 limit, the trader will not sell any shares until the price is $14.50 or higher. By using a buy limit order the investor is guaranteed to pay the buy limit order price or better, but it is not guaranteed that the order will be filled. A limit order gives a trader more control over the execution price of a security, especially if they are fearful of using a market order during periods of heightened volatility. There are various times to use a limit order such as when a stock is rising or falling very quickly, and a trader is fearful of getting a bad fill from a market order. Additionally, a limit order can be useful if a trader is not watching a stock and has a specific price in mind at which they would be happy to buy or sell that security. Limit orders can also be left open with an expiration date. Real-World Example A portfolio manager wants to buy Tesla Inc's (TSLA) stock but believes its current valuation at $325 per share is too high and would like to buy the stock should it fall to a specific price. The PM instructs his traders to buy 10,000 shares of Tesla should the price fall below $250, good 'til canceled. The trader then places an order to buy 10,000 shares with a $250 limit. Should the stock fall below that price the trader can begin buying the stock. The order will remain open until the stock reaches the PMs limit or the PM cancels the order. Additionally, the PM would like to sell Amazon.com Inc.'s (AMZN) stock but feels its current price of $1,350 is too low. The PM instructs his trader to sell 5,000 shares should the price rise above $2,500, good 'til canceled. The trader will then put the order out to sell 5,000 shares with a $2,500 limit. Limit Orders vs. Market Orders When an investor places an order to buy or sell a stock, there are two main execution options in terms of price: place the order "at market" or "at limit." Market orders are transactions meant to execute as quickly as possible at the present or market price. Conversely, a limit order sets the maximum or minimum price at which you are willing to buy or sell. Buying stocks can be thought of with an analogy to buying a car. With a car, you can pay the dealers sticker price and get the car. Or you can negotiate a price and refuse to finalize the deal unless the dealer meets your price. The stock market can be thought of to work in a similar way. A market order deals with the execution of the order; the price of the security is secondary to the speed of completing the trade. Limit orders deal primarily with the price; if the security's value is currently resting outside of the parameters set in the limit order, the transaction does not occur. Health Minister Simon Harris is under fire for failing to honour a commitment to double the number of specialist Inflammatory Bowel Disease nurses. He told the Irish Society for Colitis and Crohn's Disease at a meeting six months ago, he could see no reason why the number of nurses could not go up from 14 to 28. As a teenager, author Emma Healeys depression almost resulted in her being sectioned. She draws on those dark days for her follow up to Elizabeth Is Missing, writes Rowena Walsh. Emma Healey doesnt miss a beat. I had a breakdown when I was 15, says the award-winning novelist. She is talking about the genesis of her latest work, Whistle in the Dark, a compelling tale that starts with the discovery of the teenage Lana who has been missing for four days. Like Lana, Emma herself battled with teenage depression and she has drawn on her own experiences in Whistle in the Dark, although shes quick to point out that Lana is much cooler than me. The novel is told from the perspective of Lanas mother Jen who is struggling to deal with the aftermath of Lanas disappearance. Lana wont, or is unable to tell her parents about what happened during those lost days, simply replying I dont remember to family and police entreaties. Lana had previously been suicidal and Emma, as a young teen, had similarly made a number of attempts to end her life. Jens visits to local pharmacies to ensure her daughter couldnt buy paracetamol reflect those made by Emmas mother. Emma Healey I was really interested in what my mother would have gone through during that time, says Emma, looking at the whole experience from her perspective. I did that a little bit with [my debut novel] Elizabeth is Missing. I was looking at my grandmothers perspective, rather than mine. Elizabeth is Missing also dealt with a mental-health issue dementia. For Emma, this was personal and helped her to bring an authority to the novel which won the Costa First Novel Award in 2014 and is currently being adapted for television by the BBC. I had so many people in my family with dementia that it felt like it belonged to me in a way, she says. I feel like the same with teenage depression because I went through it. I feel like Im allowed to write about it, its mine. And also I can bring something to do that other people mightnt bring. Emmas depression was devastating for those around her. My mum says that the worst part was that I just stopped communicating with her. Wed been really close and, as far as she was concerned, I had told her everything about my life in the way that children do and then, at 14, I just stopped that. Her mother knew that Emma wasnt happy, but was shocked to receive a call from her GP saying that her daughter had been referred to a social worker and that she was suicidal. Emmas parents, who had split up before she was born, had a session with the social worker, a doctor and a nurse. It was a really long morning of them just asking the same questions over and over again, and me not being able to answer, says Emma. It was decided that she should go to mental-health facility, even though the only available bed was in an adult ward. We were told we had to follow the nurse in the car, says Emma. My Mum asked if we could stop off to get me some clothes and they said no. My Dad asked if I was being sectioned. The answer was no but when he asked what would happen if he and Emmas mother decided not to send her to hospital, he was told that then his daughter would be sectioned. When Emma and her parents arrived at the hospital, they had to go through several locked doors to get to the unit. Emma says that although she remembers the journey as being a bit frightening, she mainly felt relief. She would not have to engage in real life for a time. Her mother in contrast remembers us all crying in the car says Emma, whereas I dont remember crying at all or, if I was crying, it was because she was upset. I was lucky because when we got to the psychiatric unit, the consultant psychiatrist didnt want to admit a 15-year-old, saying this was not right for you. After spending a couple of hours with her, the psychiatrist gave Emma a prescription. It involved dropping most of her GCSEs, spending a week at her grandmothers house and going to see a William Blake exhibition at Tate Britain. It wasnt a quick fix. She didnt really leave the house for the next year, but she did find solace in an unexpected source reading Mills and Boon novels. I feel like Mills and Boon saved my life. It was a way of not living. I read a lot of other books as well, but they were definitely the best for just switching my brain off, not having to deal with reality. I thought well, Ill just write one. And if I write one, I never have to leave the house, Ill earn money and itll be an excuse to be a hermit forever. But I was terrible at writing Mills and Boon, theyre actually really hard to write. After 40,000 words, she gave up. She worked on her portfolio for art college and won a place at Central Saint Martins. She got a job as a bookseller, worked in the art world and eventually applied for the creative writing MA at the University of East Anglia. She had always wanted to be a writer. Having that ambition even if I didnt really talk about it was something to cling onto. The critically acclaimed Elizabeth is Missing won multiple awards, and Emma admits to feeling pressure to produce her second novel. Her publishers were keen to capitalise on the momentum generated by the success of her debut, but she had difficulty in finding the right voice, the right story. At the same time, she was trying to get pregnant. I used to go to the gym with one of my best friends and we seemed to have the same conversation over and over again. I was always saying Im still not pregnant and I still havent worked out what Im writing and her answer to both was always just relax! Emmas friend was right. She began writing Whistle in the Dark in December 2015 and 10 months later, she would find out that she was pregnant with her daughter Cora. Emma had really struggled while trying to get pregnant. Its a strange irrational thing. Seeing the rounded stomachs of pregnant women exacerbated her difficulties. A trip to Australia in early 2015 provided inspiration for Whistle in the Dark. Emma heard a news report about a woman who had gone missing. The woman was discovered 17 days later suffering from dehydration and heat stroke, very close to the path where she had originally wandered off. Emma was intrigued by the press reaction to the story. They seemed to not believe her or they felt that there was something she was not telling them about where she had been. To give the novel authenticity, the character of Lana is younger, disappeared for a shorter amount of time and enabled Emma to draw on her own experiences of teenage depression. When Emma relaxed and let herself just write what she wanted, she found that the voice of Jen came to her easily. Similarly when she eased up on the accepted rules to get pregnant not drinking, cutting down on caffeine, having sex on the most fertile days and so on and went out to celebrate her husbands birthday, the magic suddenly happened. She feels strongly that being a writer prepared her for motherhood. Youre exposed in the same way. People always want to give you advice about parenting. People who youve never met before will tell you youre doing something wrong. And its quite similar in writing. People forget that youre a human, they just want to give you their advice. The early days of parenting felt familiar to the novelist. Babies dont really give you any feedback for a long time. Coras a delight now, but for the first six months I was like what do I do, this baby doesnt have any reaction to us. She was smiling but its not like a relationship where you feel youre getting something back all the time. And writing a book is similar, youre writing it for two years and then, finally at the end of that, youre getting feedback from readers, theres a similar delayed reaction. For Emma, Cora and Whistle in the Dark will forever be inextricably linked. She was still working on the novel during Coras first days and her birth informed elements of the book. I had thought I knew everything about what it would be like but then I realised I didnt have any idea. Whistle in the Dark is published by Viking Swissotel Al Ghurair and Swissotel Living Al Ghurair, the twin properties connected through Al Ghurair Centre shopping mall, have appointed Maria Fe Rusiana Cerchi as the director of recreation and spa. Cerchi brings more than 10 years of wellness experience in the hospitality industry within leading brands such as Al Habtoor Group, Movenpick Hotels and Resorts and Rotana Hotels and Resorts. Cerchi began her career in the Philippines as a skin and figure consultant, where she was promoted to Spa and Fitness Sales Manager. It was in this role, that she was selected to run a large chain of independent wellness recreation centres in the Philippines, managing over 5,000 members in her capacity as Centre Manager. With several accomplishments under her belt, she moved to Dubai and took on several roles within leading hospitality groups such as Movenpick Hotels and Resorts and Rotana Hotels and Resorts. Notable achievements include being nominated and shortlisted as Fitness & Spa Person of the Year at the 2016 Hotelier Middle East Awards and whilst at Amwaj Rotana, successfully launching the JBR Runners Club for two consecutive years, which engaged the local community and gained strong followers. The appointment will help Swissotel Al Ghurair boost the UAEs spa industry, estimated to be valued at Dh1.7 billion ($462.7 million) in 2017, and is expected to top Dh1.85 billion ($503.5 million) by 2020, according to Colliers International a global real estate advisory. The UAE leads the Middle Eastern wellness tourism market, with an average of 1.7 million wellness trips generating $2.7 billion annually, according to new research. Colliers also revealed the Dubai hotel spa market continues to experience increasing demand with a nine percent increase in the number of treatments sold daily in the first half of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. The UAE accounts for 14 per cent of the Mena spa market, said Colliers Experiential Travel Series in a report which added that Morocco, Tunisia and Jordan were also prominent players in the regional market. It said wellness trips in the UAE have grown by 17.9 per cent over the past five years, while overall tourism has grown 8.1 percent. Swissotel Al Ghurair will boost the $8.3 billion wellness industry in the Middle East/North Africa (Mena). Cerchi will serve a growing number of hotel guests checking in to 428 rooms and 192 apartments at Swissotel Al Ghurair and Swissotel Living Al Ghurair and help attract more and more leisure and business travellers. The Recreation and Spa at Swissotel Al Ghurair and Swissotel Living Al Ghurair is one of the best spa facilities in downtown Deira a business and residential district at the heart of Dubais traditional heartland, where such facilities are rare. Dubai has more than 225 spas currently in operation and will see more openings as developers plan to add 40,000 hotel rooms in Dubai by 2020. - TradeArabia News Service With two new novels published back to back, 2018 has already been quite the year for Louise ONeill. But perhaps the biggest highlight will be watching the stage adaptation of her novel, Asking For It make its debut in her home town, writes Marjorie Brennan. There arent many authors who would be so understanding when you tell them you found their book tough going. But Louise ONeill sits across from me in a busy Cork cafe, nodding encouragingly as I tell her that as a mother of two young girls, I found reading Asking For It almost unbearable at times. That is totally understandable, she replies. Ive had a lot of people tell me they could only make it halfway through and they had to stop it. Ive just said, look, you bought it, so thats grand, she says, laughing. My confession is a reflection of the harrowing subject matter of Asking For It, which deals with a horrific act of sexual violence and its repercussions for the victim and her family. While ONeills first book Only Ever Yours was well-received critically and commercially, Asking For It, her second, became a cultural phenomenon when it was published in 2015. While written for a young adult readership, the book became a crossover success, staying in the bestseller lists for over a year. ONeill has presented a TV documentary about rape culture inspired by the book and a television adaptation is also in development. Now, Asking For It has been adapted for the stage, with the eagerly awaited world premiere taking place in the Everyman Theatre as part of Cork Midsummer Festival next month. ONeill, 33, has also had two books published back to back in the last few months, a novel, Almost Love, and The Surface Breaks, a feminist retelling of The Little Mermaid. But here she is, still talking about Asking For It. Did she ever imagine when writing it that it would have such an afterlife? No, its funny. I was so sure about Only Ever Yours; I was not that confident about Asking For It. I remember saying to my friends that I was unsure and that I hoped it I wasnt making a complete mess of it. But it just kept going... a year and a half after it came out, it was still in the top ten. In a weird way, it took on a life of its own and I had to completely let it go. It doesnt feel like my book any more, not in the way the other books do. The consensus among reviewers was that Asking For It was an important novel, for the raw and powerful way in which it tackled the subjects of sex, consent, and how women are treated in a hypersexual era of social media. The book has also turned out to be uncannily prescient in regards to events such as the #MeToo movement and a raft of high-profile sexual assault cases. While ONeill had no idea how significant the book would become, one insightful reader close to her did. My dad was the first person to read it, she says. I can picture it exactly... I was walking down the stairs and he came over and he said I finished the book. I sat down on the stairs and said what did you think? He said, Louise, this is going to be such an important book. A lot of people said that to me and I didnt believe it. He said it would also be a challenging book for people, that it would make some realise they had been raped and others realise that they had raped someone. He said some people would not want to have that realisation and he wanted me to be prepared. While her fathers prediction was borne out, not even his gentle warning could have prepared ONeill for the overwhelming response from readers with whom the book so potently resonated. It became fairly clear to me pretty early on that I would have to treat the book like a separate entity to myself, she says. I was getting so many emails from [sexual violence] survivors. Even now, when I do a signing, there will always be someone with tears in their eyes who will tell me how much the book helped them. Obviously, as a human being I can empathise with them but as an author I cant take on that sort of responsibility. I wouldnt be able to function as a normal human being or ever write again, which was a big fear when I finished Asking For It. ONeill also felt the sharp sting of the inevitable social media backlash to her work, and her views as a feminist. Because of the trolling and online abuse I was getting, I ended up having to take my website down to protect myself. I felt sad because it had my email address on it and I knew there were people who wanted to reach out and talk about it and they werent going to do that on Twitter. I felt guilty but I had to protect myself. I was genuinely humbled and honoured but I was afraid I would say the wrong thing. I am not trained as a therapist and I might unwittingly do some harm. While ONeill tackled the trolls online, in real life, she found a more supportive response. Asking For It is based in the fictional town of Ballinatoom, whose residents ostracise the main character Emma and her family in the wake of the assault, instead siding with the local GAA stars who have participated. ONeill drew on her own experience growing up in Clonakilty for the book, but says her formerly ambiguous feelings about the West Cork town have given way to fondness. I had always wanted to write something about growing up in a small town, that push-pull feeling of being both trapped and also yearning to belong. As a teenager, I really hated living in a small town. Its funny to come back as an adult and have so much affection for it. I am able to take all the positive aspects of living in a small town and maybe reject some of the other aspects. In general, I have found the people of Clonakilty really supportive; people did ask when the book was first released how people there were taking it. My answer always was that they know that Im not saying that rape only occurs in Clonakilty. I had people from New Zealand, the US, the UK, all over the world, emailing me saying, I feel like this could have happened in my home town. So, yes it is small-town life. The problem is the way that we tend, as a culture at large, whether that is in small towns or big cities, to protect the perpetrators of sexual violence out of the fear that we might convict an innocent man, which I understand. But as a culture we seem to think that men have futures that must be protected and women have pasts that need to be dissected and torn apart to look for evidence of wrongdoing. The stage production of Asking For It is also a particularly timely one given the recent acquittal of former Ulster rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding on rape charges, with the case sparking much debate and discussion about consent and the treatment of women. While the Ulster trial did start a conversation around the judicial system and how rape cases are dealt with, I would rather have that conversation off the back of a fictional novel or play than a young womans lived experience, she says. ONeill is working on a US film adaptation of Only Ever Yours but says she has been happy to take a back seat when it comes to the stage version of Asking for It, which is directed by Annabelle Comyn and adapted by Meadhbh McHugh. The production company behind the show is Landmark, headed by Anne Clarke, and responsible for acclaimed shows such as Ballyturk and more recently Grief is the Thing with Feathers. I have completely handed it over. I really trust Landmark, Ive seen a lot of their work and the standard is always extraordinarily high. When youre working with people of that calibre, I just feel let them off, let them do it. Meadhbh is an incredible playwright, Im not. I would like to write a play but I wouldnt want my first one to be a really big project like this. Literature and the theatre are such different animals anyway. I felt that if I was to say, well it needs to be like this or it needs to be closer to the book, it would be kind of taking away from theatre as an art form. ONeill says she is also looking forward to seeing what the stage team have done with the play. Im really excited about the idea of going to see it and it really being fresh and new. Im looking forward to going with my parents, my sister, and my boyfriend and being as surprised as everyone else. I am so excited about the idea of the world premiere happening in Cork. I am very proud to be from Cork, I am quite vocal about it. As my [Clare-born] boyfriend keeps saying, I get it, youre from Cork. After I leave ONeill, who is heading for the train to Dublin, I wander into Waterstones on St Patrick St, greeted by a table displaying her latest books, with a sign describing her as a feminist powerhouse and Cork native. Shed like that. Marjorie Brennan goes behind the scenes of the stage adaptation of Asking For It. Im standing in a back street on Dublins northside watching a scene unfold from a thousand thrillers: A patrol car slows down to observe a group of rambunctious youths milling around by a heavily graffitied wall. Appearances can be deceptive, though. The gardai come to a stop but move on once theyve been assured theres no cause for concern and the commotion is in fact a photo call for a play rather than anything suspect. Expectations and consequences, however, offer a neat parallel to the play in question, Asking For It, the eagerly awaited stage adaptation of the novel by Louise ONeill. Later on, their obligations to the photographer fulfilled, the cast and crew gather in the nearby rehearsal rooms for their first day of work on the new production. The energy of the young cast is palpable and there is an air of excitement akin to the first day of school, when there is a buzz of anticipation at the prospect of new adventures and friendships to be made. Actor and Fair City star Sean Doyle, who plays the role of Sean in the play, assures me he is sweating not because of first-day nerves but rather his exertions after getting a flat tyre on his bike. He loved ONeills book and cant wait to get started. I read the book twice, he says. It was really gripping, like a mix of American Psycho and Twilight. The role of adapting the play has been given to Meadhbh McHugh, a Galway native now living in New York, whose acclaimed debut Helen and I was staged by Druid in 2016. She has written the script in collaboration with director Annabelle Comyn. While she feels the responsibility of adapting someone elses work, she is happy at the result. It is someones artistic baby and you have to respect it and treat it well. Ive sort of been living in Louise ONeills head for the past year, she says laughing. The book is fantastic and such a trenchant depiction of rape culture. It was a huge hit for a reason. We have done a stage adaptation but I think everyone, including Louise, will recognise the spirit of the book. Obviously you have to adapt the story to the medium of the stage which requires restructuring and thinking about things differently, but I think fans of the book will definitely recognise the characters and the story as they loved it. Asking For It deals with the violent sexual assault of teenager Emma ODonovan, and its aftermath. The themes of the play are particularly relevant now, says McHugh. It was an interesting time to be writing it because the conversation has blown up about sexual assault and gender relations, especially with the #MeToo movement. I have been immersed in all of this for the last year. We are at a moment of reckoning and honesty and we are having conversations we would never have had before. I think it is really important to use this moment to think and talk about these things and hopefully push for change. According to McHugh, while the content of the play may be brutal, the message it conveys is a necessary one. The events of the story are the events of the story; they have to be told and we have to face them. Teenagers are living it. We are learning now that brushing things under the carpet or not talking about them is a recipe for disaster. Also at the first day of rehearsals is Julie Kelleher, artistic director of the Everyman Theatre in Cork, who is understandably delighted at scoring a huge coup in bringing the world premiere to Cork, in association with the Abbey. The reason we wanted to stage it was because we felt it was an urgent piece of work that people needed to talk about we saw the play as a kind of conduit to have that conversation, for people to come as a family or a group of friends and engage with some of the ideas of consent that the play is talking about, she says. While the female-led team behind Asking For It is significant given the efforts of the Waking the Feminists movement to increase womens participation in theatre, Kelleher says diversity is also about more than gender. When I started at the Everyman four years ago, I wanted to see increased representation of women on stage. There was a limit to what we could do on our own and there were lots of people who were willing and interested to pick up the reins with us, including the Abbey, who have come on board with this. They are intent on redressing the balance, not only where women are concerned, but also in terms of where work originates from and it not being as Dublin-centric as it was. That visibility for artists making work in the regions is really important. In this respect, the fact Asking For It is having its world premiere in Cork is notable, says Kelleher. Louise is obviously a Cork writer but the producer Anne Clarke, who is also a Cork woman, has been an amazing facilitator. It is very much a Cork effort and we were all very intent that it would be a Cork premiere. The idea that world-class theatre can be and is being made in Cork, that is really important to us at the Everyman. Annabelle Comyn is the director of the play and describes the book as like a punch to the stomach. While she is hoping for an equally visceral reaction to the play, she says there is also an intimacy to the text that she wants to capture. Ali White (Mam) Lauren Coe (Emma), Frank McCusker (Dad), and Paul Mescal (Bryan). Picture: Moya Nolan In the book, you are dealing with the inside of [main character] Emmas head, her voice is always with you. Its about finding a way that we can connect with her voice, working with sound and audio-visual and all those things to help us create that intimacy with Emma. Eventually, the room is shushed as the cast sit down for the table read, the first time everyone involved in the production gathers to read through the script. Clarke and Comyn say a few words before, as is traditional, everyone introduces themselves by name and job. The initial giddiness gives way to a more professional atmosphere as the actors read from the script. While the dramatic intensity is dialled down, within minutes you can see the characters emerge; the banter between the male characters has a believable and humorous edge while its easy to imagine the girls as frenemies, warm and supportive in one breath, bitchy and sarcastic in the next. The tone shifts as the actors read through the sexual assault that is at the heart of the play and the action mainly switches to Emma and her family as they deal with the repercussions. When the read-through finishes a barely-felt two hours later, I feel myself exhale and wonder how the cast will last weeks of rehearsal and performance. Im not the only one; when I speak to Lauren Coe, who carries much of the play as Emma, after the read-through, she is restoring her equilibrium. I feel a bit sick, a bit funny, a bit shaky. I was just talking to Sue Mythen, our movement director, who told me that even saying those words, the imagination brings you to such places that you are experiencing it, she says. How does it feel to be playing a role that will put her through the psychological and emotional wringer for such a prolonged period? I dont know ask me in a couple of weeks, she says. When I read the book, I felt like I really understood the character. Its so good the way its written because its first-person and you get to see her perspective on everything and everyone. I feel like I can kind of look out through her eyes already, because of the book. I hope I do Emma justice. I dont think she needs to worry. Asking For It opens at the Everyman on Friday June 15. www.everymancork.com With its Milk Market, Hunt Museum and the River Shannon to enjoy, Limerick is perfect for a short, and very indulgent, break, writes Denise ODonoghue. Considering it is only a 90-minute journey from Cork, I was surprised to realise how seldom I set foot in Limerick city. An invite from the Savoy Hotel soon tempted me to pay an overdue visit to the neighbouring county and take in the sights, sounds, and tastes of the Treaty City. It was to be a weekend filled with food and fun for a mother-daughter duo. We travelled to Limerick via bus, but those driving can avail of the hotels valet parking and concierge service before checking in. We chose to start our five-star weekend with a short, comfortable bus journey from Cork city. The bus station which is also the train station for those arriving by rail is a five-minute stroll away from the hotel, so we enjoyed a short trip through the quiet city streets that morning. After dropping off our belongings at the hotel, our first port of call was Limericks famous Milk Market, which has been part of the city since 1852. The open-air Milk Market is filled to the brim with stalls offering a selection of tasty treats for all palettes, as well as some non-food produce too. For this trip, however, we had eyes only for food, and the Savoys head chef, Graeme Campbell, was our guide through the food haven. We paid a visit to Da Vincenzos stall, where we were told about their authentic Italian produce which they use in their restaurant at the Savoys sister hotel, The George before we followed our sweet tooths and moved over to a nearby chocolate shop. Wilde Irish Chocolates make their goodies on the shores of Lough Derg in Clare, and we were delighted to hear from Trish that they offer free tours of the factory were already planning a visit to Clare. Finally, we stopped by the Flying Cheese Brigade to sample a variety of the cheeses they have on offer, a tempting treat for any enthusiastic foodie. After an enjoyable stroll around the Milk Market and with a coffee in hand for the journey, we waddled over to the nearby Hunt Museum. We also wandered upstairs to view some of the art and artefacts which belonged to the Hunt family. John and Gertrude Hunt, who lived in the house, collected bits and pieces from around the world these include an early Picasso piece, a cross owned by Mary Queen of Scots and what is rumoured to be one of the pieces of silver Judas received for betraying Jesus. You can easily lose an afternoon in this historical and cultural treasure trove, and free tours are available every hour with one of the museums Docent guides. Admission to the museum costs 5, but it is free on Sundays. There is an additional charge to view special exhibitions. We returned to the Savoy for a delicious afternoon tea. We were spoilt for choice with scones, cakes, sandwiches and treats aplenty, as well as a steady flow of champagne. We were served in the Library Bar, a beautiful room lined with bookshelves and pillars adorned with flowers. If theres a more instagrammable venue in Limerick, Ive yet to find it. We sank into the comfortable couches and ate until we were fit to burst - and we had only touched around half of what was on offer. Afternoon tea starts at 27, rising to 45 if you choose to treat yourself to a glass of Bollinger rose. The hotel, which is the only five-star in Limerick, is ideally located to make the most of the city centres attractions, being just a few minutes walk from the main sights and shops. For those seeking a more relaxing offering, hotel guests have complimentary use of the Savoy Aqua & Fitness Club, which includes a swimming pool, sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi. We chose to take a walk around the city to try to digest the seemingly bottomless food. Of course, we had the obligatory just a look in Penneys and a still beside the River Shannon, before returning for to indulge in some pre-dinner drinks in the vibrant atmosphere of the Savoy Bar. The bar offers an extensive list of cocktails and is perfect for a get-together and a catch-up. We moved upstairs to the Savoy Restaurant for course-after-course of high quality, local food for dinner. Remember the local producers we met in the Milk Market? They featured heavily on the menu that night. The Cheese Showcase included samples of cheddar, Crozier blue, brie and more sourced from the Flying Cheese Brigade, while Wilde Irish Chocolates ended the meal on a sweet note. Also on offer were Limerick strawberries, Union Hall turbot, and Berthas Revenge gin and tonic sorbet, which was just as delicious as it sounds. We retired to our room that night with bellies fit to burst. We sank straight into the luxurious queen beds in our twin room for a glorious night of sleep. We returned home the following day well rested and well fed. Limerick, well be back. While the Israeli army has been shooting Palestinian protestors over the last seven weeks, living conditions in Gaza have become desperate, says Galen Guengerich. Dozens of Palestinians killed. Thousands wounded. Thats the toll of the past seven weeks, exacted by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) against protesters along the security fence separating Gaza from Israel. The carnage is likely to get much worse. Since early April, weekly Great March of Return demonstrations have focused on the plight of 700,000 Palestinian refugees, driven from their homeland in 1948. Exacerbated by the Trump administration, which moved the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on Monday when 60 Palestinians died and about 2,700 were injured and further fueled by Israeli independence anniversary celebrations and Tuesdays Palestinian commemoration of al Nakba (The Catastrophe), another catastrophe is unfolding. Heres how to avert more death. As the peace process has stalled, living conditions in Gaza have become desperate: an average of five hours of electricity per day, dwindling supplies of food and medicine, staggeringly high unemployment (45% overall, and 60% among young people), rising levels of water pollution ( 90% is contaminated) and disease (sewage pumps need electricity), and an economy that is halting. Even so, based on my observations and conversations with NGO leaders during my recent visit to Gaza, nothings wrong there that, on a humanitarian level, cant be significantly improved in a few months. The larger political question, which has defied resolution for 70 years, will take much longer. But a fundamental tenet of civilised behaviour is that human beings shouldnt die of disease, starvation, or other forms of neglect, while political conflicts are addressed. Gaza is not Syria or Yemen. Much of the infrastructure is intact and working when the electricity is on, and the basic institutions homes, schools, hospitals, businesses still function, albeit precariously.What must be done? First, Gaza needs electricity 24/7. Electricity has been an issue in Gaza since the IDF destroyed Gaza Citys only power plant, in 2006, in retaliation for the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier by Hamas a savagely disproportionate response. Even so, the power can be restored. Egypt and Israel can supply fuel to existing power plants, and both can turn on electric lines into Gaza. They have done so in the past ,in limited measure, and they could do so now. This would bolster public and private collaborations underway to provide Gazans with water and sanitation. Second, Washington needs to restore full funding to USAID and to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which provides education, medical care, and food aid to more than half of Gazas two million people. The United States, UNRWAs largest donor nation, gave $355m to UNRWA in 2017 for Gaza, but the Trump administration has pledged only $125m for 2018 and is withholding $110m of that commitment. A senior official told me during my visit that unless full funding is restored by the end of May, UNRWA will further curtail its stretched-thin medical and food programmes, and also lay off 9,000 teachers and close 275 schools, leaving 273,000 children and youths without classes to attend after summer break. Without education, the children and youth of Gaza will have nothing left to lose a lethal incubator of anger and violence within Gaza, and a potentially overwhelming security risk to Israel. UNRWA funding could be restored now. Third, 12 years of restrictions on border crossings have had devastating consequences. 90% of Gazan children under the age of 12, who make up one-third of the population, have never left Gaza; the only Israelis most have ever seen are pointing tanks and guns their way. Also, workers from Gaza can no longer cross the border to work, shortchanging both Gaza and Israel. In addition, two senior hospital officials in Gaza City told me that there are no CT scanners, MRI machines, or radiation equipment (and relatively little chemotherapy medication) in Gaza. Patients who have cancer and especially women with breast cancer must travel to Ramallah. However, many of these patients are denied permits to travel. As a result, Gazas cancer survival rates are significantly lower than in countries like Israel and the US. People with serious illnesses should not be sentenced to death in the name of Israeli security. The most egregious border restrictions could be lifted. In the fourth chapter of Genesis, which Jews, Christians, and Muslims claim as sacred scripture, the story is told of two brothers Cain and Abel who offer sacrifices to God from their flocks. A God favours Abels offering more than Cains, who responds by luring Abel out into the field and killing him. When God asks Cain what has happened to Abel, Cain feigns ignorance: I do not know. Am I my brothers keeper? God says to Cain, What have you done? Listen! Your brothers blood cried out to me from the ground. In moral terms, those who can help avert the looming humanitarian crisis in Gaza should help turn on the power, write the check, ease the border. Three powerful men Americas Donald Trump, Israels Benjamin Netanyahu and Egypts Abdel Fattah al-Sisi could make a profound difference, and thereby set the peace process on a different course. If they refuse to act? Shame on them. Once the blood of exponentially more Gazans cries out from the ground, the moral judgment on those who refused to help will be even harsher, and the political impasse will grow even greater. Theres still time to avert another catastrophe. Galen Guengerich is senior minister of All Souls Unitarian Church in New York City and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. With enough recent crises and challenges Iran, Israel, Yemen, North Korea, Russia and Brexit to keep foreign ministries fully occupied, its possible to overlook one that, having exploded 16 years ago, still burns: Afghanistans war goes on and on, currently at a low level but threatening to detonate again as the Taliban and increasingly Islamic State (IS) step up their campaigns across the country. You thought the war had been won some years ago by the US and its allies. Think, sadly, again, and think, too, of the blood and treasure lost in that miserable, desperate country since 2001: Almost 2,300 American lives, and more than $1tn (848bn) spent on Americas military operations, including $100bn on so-called nation-building. The UK, too, has paid a price 456 lives lost and many more wrecked by serious injuries for its participation in what was known more than somewhat optimistically as Operation Enduring Freedom. Britains losses in Afghanistan were greater than those taken in Iraq and the Falklands war. There is in Afghanistan now markedly more freedom, thanks to the Wests military effort, than were was when the country was in the hands of the Taliban and providing the safe haven in which Al-Qaeda could plan its 9-11 attacks. But by no stretch of the imagination can we be sure it will endure. Estimates of who controls what and where vary, as does the intensity and nature of attacks by insurgents. The most conservative assessment puts the Taliban in control of 15% to 20% of the countrys districts, while IS, which has a malicious presence in more than 30, strikes anywhere it can. The Taliban generally targets people army and police personnel and places associated with the countrys government but, as can be expected, IS has no red lines: Its terrorist attacks murder civilians and, increasingly, Shia Muslims. RAW: US drone strikes allegedly kill up to 28 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/tXFExpEtGV RT (@RT_com) May 18, 2018 What is to be done, as the number of civilian casualties so far this year approaches the record-high levels reported during the same period in the past two years? The governments expensively-trained army suffers from low morale and the police force also trained at great cost by Western governments remains crippled by endemic corruption. The countrys only thriving industry is the re-invigorated opium crop that funds the insurgents. Americas answer, which will not be popular in the heartlands that put Mr Trump into the White House, is to increase its military presence and to ask its Nato allies to join it sending more soldiers. Thats a request to which the British government if not British voters will respond positively, along with the familiar but unconvincing assurance that the mission will be about training, not combat. Mission creep? Never heard of it! The stage is set, then, for another round of The Great Game the name given to Britains 19th century strategy for preventing other European powers, chiefly France and Russia, profiting from political collapse in Islamic Asia goes on. Some of the players on the field are new, others have left. But theres not the slightest signal suggesting that more Western boots yet again on the ground will succeed where, demonstrably, Operation Enduring Freedom failed. Sean Twomey, who is originally from the village of Meelin in North Cork, paid 222,461 (195,000) to purchase the almost to-scale replica of the Golden Hind ship. The original was captained by Sir Francis Drake and once captured a Spanish galleon which was carrying treasure worth nearly 600m in todays terms. Mr Twomey, who runs two successful backpacking/youth hostel businesses in Devon, England, visited the replica ship a few months ago with his family. Although it was moored in the coastal village of Brixham, just three miles from one of his businesses, he had never seen the galleon until recently. He discovered on Facebook that the ship was coming up for auction, but at the time wasnt able to make a bid. Its previous owner put it up for sale last year with a price tag of 400,000. There were no takers and when it failed recently to make the 200,000 auction reserve the Irishman saw his chance. Luckily it didnt make the reserve (price). I begged and borrowed and then bought it, said Mr Twomey. He said his son, Jude, aged six, was adamant when coming off the replica ship that he was going to have his birthday party on it. Mr Twomey said it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire the vessel that he couldnt ignore and said his son cant wait to have his seventh birthday onboard. Mr Twomey, who studied business at Cork College of Commerce, said he is planning to host birthday parties and other events on the ship to defray the cost. Francis Drake was quite famous and the ship is being used as a museum, he said. Mr Twomey said he envisages that his wife, Mary, who is a teacher, will take up the full-time running of it because she would be an ideal person to host visiting school tours. He said that a young woman who works for them is penning a special murder mystery which could also be performed on the ship to attract more visitors. Mr Twomey left Meelin, which is on the Cork/Limerick, 12 years ago and went to Australia where he met his wife. The couple started their businesses in Devon eight years ago and he said they have been really successful. The current replica was built in 1988. It replaced one which was constructed in 1963 and which had been used in a television series about the life of Francis Drake, which was filmed in and around the bays of Torbay and Dartmouth. The vessel was being sent for restoration in Dartmouth in 1987, but it sank while it was being towed in heavy swells. Original ship circumnavigated globe The original Golden Hind, under the command of Sir Francis Drake, circumnavigated the globe between 1577 and 1580, plundering treasure-laden Spanish ships. Drake was an English sea captain, slave trader, and privateer of the Elizabethan era. He carried out the second circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition and claimed what is now California for the English. Drake had full permission for his mission from Queen Elizabeth I, who claimed half of the spoils for herself and England. The ship was maintained for public exhibition at the dockyard at Deptford, London, from 1580 to 1650. By 1688 the ship was rotting and the keeper of the stores at Deptford, John Davies, had some of its timbers made into a chair which was presented to the Bodleian Library at Oxford University. Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) said over 1,000 dead carp have now been removed from The Lough, on the southside of the city, and from the privately owned Belvelly Lake near Cobh since concerns about fish health were raised just over two weeks ago. Experts at the Marine Institute are still running tests on samples taken from both locations. Results are expected next week. It is the first in a series of payments, with the expectation being that the remaining tranches will flow into the fund during the second and third quarters of this year. Last month, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe announced the payments would begin after signing a detailed legal agreement on the refund of what the EU alleges is State aid by the technology giant. The European Commission said, in 2016, that the multinational company had received unfair tax incentives from Ireland and ordered it to pay back taxes to the State. The commission found that Ireland had given Apple illegal State aid by allowing it to pay an effective 1% corporation tax. Last October, the commission announced it was taking Ireland to the European Court of Justice over delays in recouping the money owed. Apple and the Government are appealing the commissions ruling on the grounds the tax treatment did not breach Irish or EU laws. The money will be held in an escrow account, meaning the proceeds cannot be released until there is a final determination in the European courts over the validity of the commissions decision. The Bank of New York Mellon, London branch, Amundi, BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited, and Goldman Sachs Asset Management International have been selected as preferred tenderers for the provision of services related to the money. In a statement, Mr Donohoe confirmed yesterday that the first payment had been made. This is the first of a series of payments with the expectation that the remaining tranches will flow into the fund during Q2 and Q3 of 2018 as previously outlined, he said. There will be no further official comment on collection of the alleged State aid until the full recovery has been effected which is expected by the end of Q3, 2018, the finance minister added. Irelands open economy is based on using low corporate taxation among other incentives to attract multinational companies. In Apples case, it was significantly below the standard 12.5% imposed on income. The Government opposes any effort to force it to change its taxation practices, which have seen the worlds top financial and technology firms set up base in Dublin. Speaking at the announcement of the refund deal last month, Mr Donohoe reiterated his Governments fundamental disagreement with the commissions Apple decision. However, as committed members of the European Union, Ireland is intent on complying with our binding legal obligations in this regard, he said. An inter-agency group, comprising health and environmental experts, has called for regular monitoring of group water schemes and milk from dairy herds around Silvermines for high lead levels. The group was established after two dairy cows died from lead poisoning on a farm near Silvermines in early 2017. Bulk tank milk from the herd from which they came was found to contain lead above the maximum safety level which resulted in restrictions being placed on milk supplies. Subsequently, milk from two other dairy herds in the area was found to have lead levels above recommended limits. An investigation of all three herds established that an environmental source was the most likely cause of the problem with cattle exposed during the winter feeding season to silage that had been contaminated with lead-enriched soil and/or river sediment. The Silvermines area has naturally occurring concentrations of lead at above-average levels. Although the last lead mine in the area closed in 1993, the industry has left a legacy of open pits, mine shafts, large waste dumps, tailings, and derelict structures. The group said it believed that the area was a safe place in which to grow up, live, work, and produce food. However, it said it is important that farmers, the local community, and relevant agencies continue to implement active management measures on an ongoing basis. The group said it was broadly recommending the same active management measures recommended by a similar group in 2000 which had been established following a lead poisoning incident of cattle in the area the previous year. It has proposed that dairy farmers around Silvermines should be provided with maps of their holdings showing the distribution of lead and other heavy metals in soil. The report said the investigation had highlighted a specific challenge for milk production on farmland with naturally lead-enriched soil as there had been a 50-fold reduction in maximum safety levels of lead since 2000. The inter-agency group, which included representatives from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Communications, Climate Change and the Environment, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the HSE, Teagasc, and Tipperary County Council, met five times since May 2017. The group has recommended extending the area for monitoring activities from the 1999 study area by approximately one kilometre to the east of Silvermines village. The 2000 report made 39 recommendations in relation to public and animal health, food safety, soils, and rehabilitation of mining works in the Silvermines area. By 2002 all but three recommendation which related to a programme of works for the remediation of mine-related sites had been implemented. The final phase of the remediation project the construction of a mine waste management facility is the only phase that remains to be completed. The latest report said its findings reflected the fact that the risk has not substantively changed since 2000. The TransGriot is available for speaking engagements, college lectures, panel discussions, media interviews, conferences or Trans 101 education efforts for your school, business or professional organizations. For local Houston area, Texas or national events, you can e-mail me at transgriot@yahoo.com For events outside the Houston metro area, I ask that my travel and lodging expenses be covered. This is separate from my speaking fee. If you are interested in having me appear as a speaker or panelist, you can e-mail me with the date and details of your proposed event. Please book as early as possible because my speaking and event calendar slots during the year rapidly fill up. The Garda Technical Bureau gathered a number of potential weapons from the derelict house where the 14-year-old was found and are now conducting DNA and fingerprint tests on them. Anastasia, also known as Ana, was found naked and with severe injuries, including to her head, by gardai at disused farmhouses adjoining St Catherines Park in Lucan, west Dublin, at lunchtime on Thursday. A postmortem, conducted overnight on Thursday, confirmed the schoolgirl, reported missing on Monday night, had been beaten to death with an implement and suffered severe injuries to her head. Tests are under way to determine whether she had also been sexually assaulted. The forensic examinations are one part of a massive investigation led by Lucan Garda Station, assisted by experienced murder detectives attached to the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Garda forensic team at the scene outside a deserted building in Lucan. Officers are trying to establish who Ana was with at the time she was last seen at St Catherines Park, which was around 5.30pm on Monday. Ana, from Newtown Park in Leixlip, had gone to the area with friends and is thought to have hung around with other school friends there. Leixlip is on the Kildare side of the 200-acre park, while her remains were found in the Lucan area, on the Dublin side. It is not clear what happened after 5.30pm and whether Ana walked off on her own or had arranged to meet someone. The disused farmhouses are about 1km away from where she was last seen, though she could have taken some shortcuts through the park. Gardai at the scene at a derelict house and farmyard on the Clonee Road, Lucan. The park is a hangout spot for teenagers, as are the disused farmhouses. This may complicate the forensic examination of the scene, as the DNA and fingerprints of multiple people could be present, including on the items that have been removed for examination. Flowers were left at the scene on Thursday and again yesterday, as the Technical Bureau continued a detailed examination inside and outside the buildings. The Dublin West divisional search team also continued searches of the nearby area for anything else of evidential value. It was the search team that discovered the remains at lunchtime on Thursday, after two days of searches in the area. Her family had reported her missing around 8pm on Monday. Research by Cancer Trials Ireland also found that many patients consider cancer trials to be the last treatment option, with more than one in five (22%) of those surveyed saying they believe cancer trials are only used when standard treatments have failed. Consultant oncologist Dr Catherine Kelly, who led the research, said cancer trials could offer hope to all patients with cancer, not just those for whom standard treatment has failed. Cancer trials test new and potentially more effective ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer, she said. Most of our trials involve testing new drugs which show promise or new combinations of existing drugs which may offer better outcomes than treatments currently used. Cancer Trials Ireland has launched a campaign titled Just Ask Your Doctor. It wants more people living with cancer to ask their doctor if there is a relevant cancer trial that they can join. The research found that most people living with cancer would take part in a trial to help future cancer patients. Asked to list the most important reasons for taking part in a trial, the top two reasons given were: living longer/feeling better (82%); and the chance to advance research (81%). Cancer Trials Ireland clinical lead Professor Bryan Hennessy said around 100 cancer trials seeking to find answers to cancer are currently recruiting people living with cancer in 16 hospitals around the country. At any one time, there are around 6,000 people taking part in cancer trials. Since Cancer Trials Ireland was established in 1996, more than 15,000 patients have participated in over 350 trials. Trials are highly regulated by the Health Products Regulatory Authority and patients are intensively monitored by their consultant and research teams at all stages. Prof Hennessy said Cancer Trials Ireland is a proven, effective way of evaluating promising or new experimental treatments. Dr Kelly said they want to demystify clinical trials and emphasised that they are there for everybody with every type of cancer and at every stage of cancer. Prof Hennessy said there is still a perception that going on a clinical trial means being a guinea pig but that is not the case. Cancer trials are designed in a way to maximise patients safety and, at the same time, maximise the delivery of potentially effective new treatments, he said. Prof Hennessy said only 3% of people with cancer go on trials and they would like to see that at least doubled. Dr Kelly said one of the barriers to trials is funding. There are studies we would like to open but have not been able to do because of funding cuts. Our funding from the Health Research Board was cut by 20% thats huge. The Irish Cancer Society that supports Cancer Trials Ireland said more patient involvement in cancer trials is crucial. Lauragh in Co Kerry has painted a picture of a Tir na nOg for families seeking a quality school. Are you looking for a school that wants you and your children and is prepared to work with you to facilitate your childrens educational needs? If that is the case and you are prepared to move to one of the most beautiful, tranquil and welcoming places in Ireland, then your are in luck because such a place exists, locals in Lauragh advise. The setting is an idyllic location on the Beara peninsula, on the Kerry side of the county bounds with West Cork and nestled between the Caha Mountains and Kilmackillogue Harbour on the Wild Atlantic Way, a local statement says. And it asks parents of young children to picture a gorgeous old stone building surrounded by woodland. Walk on for a couple of minutes and you will be greeted with breathtaking views of the sea, look around and you will see the outline of hills and mountains. On a more serious note, it says the school has been renovated, has a purpose-built playground and every child has access to an iPad. Due to small numbers, each and every child receives personal attention from highly qualified and dedicated teachers which results in a high level of access to learning support, a statement notes. The problem, however, is the 16-pupil, two-room school risks losing one of its two teachers unless parents move fast. Otherwise, by September, it could be just a one-teacher school. Other local attractions for parents include a mother and toddler group, youth clubs, diving and water sports. For the foodies, there is no shortage of cafes, restaurants and pubs in the immediate area, in nearby Kenmare and other towns. And to cap it all, property prices are not that bad and the community council will help you settle in. The release, which also appeared on social media, has had expressions of interest from as far away as New York. But there are fears it is rapidly becoming a deserted village, with the 232 population in 2016 down from 269 in Census 2011. Last year, the school had just two new enrolments. The garda station has closed, two shops have shut due to retirements, the post office is closed and sorting facilities relocated to Kilgarvan Post office, operated by TD Michael Healy-Rae. Locally-born Siobhan OShea returned from Cork City to Lauragh 10 years ago to raise her children and use the local school. We all got on very well always. We look after the elderly, we look after each other. Thats the way we were brought up, she said. It was not just a model for a new approach to education but one designed to make its architectural form fit its function. To each schoolroom are attached large, airy sheds, with spacious playgrounds and every necessary accommodation, wrote the Illustrated London News in 1865. The Courts Service hopes to build on that legacy of excellence and make the newly imagined complex a model for courtrooms nationwide. From today, it becomes part of the criminal justice system, with a different kind of inmate where district and circuit court criminal cases for the city and greater Cork area will be heard. Costing 34m, it is one of seven courthouses being built or revamped around the country under a 135m public-private partnership programme with construction firm BAM. The seven projects are sited in Cork, Limerick, Letterkenny, Waterford, Wexford, Mullingar, and Drogheda. They represent the largest single investment in regional court structures in the history of the State and, according to the Courts Service, they will bring world-class court facilities to each city and town. The reconstruction of the Anglesea St complex involved a major refurbishment of the existing building to include six courtrooms and custody cells. It began in July 2015 and was originally due to be completed by December last but was held up until April because of a shortage of skilled tradespeople due to the upturn in the construction industry. A light, modern addition is more than five times bigger than the old building but, being deliberately set apart, does not overwhelm it. Shane Kerrisk of Wilson Architecture describes it as a zinc-clad, lightweight structure, with substantial glazing that sits free of the Model School structure and impacts as little as possible on the fabric of the Model School walls. The lightness of the structure is to serve as direct contrast with the solidity of the Model School and the new stone mass of the new facility behind, allowing old and new come together, in a manner that respects both designs, he says. The original design was a homage to Italian architecture. Construction of the Cork Model School began in January 1864, and it opened its doors on September 11 the following year. In his book, Secret Cork, historian Kieran McCarthy reveals that, among the attending students that day were 45 infants (aged three to seven), 61 boys, and a similar number of girls. Records show that its highest number of pupils reached more than 450. These records show that pupils of varying social classes and denominations were among the students, he writes. The registers and roll books record the attendance of a small number of pupils of the Jewish faith, whose families arrived in Cork, mainly between 1890 and 1910. Past pupils include former lord mayor Gerald Goldberg. Another past pupil was the former tanaiste Peter Barry. The striking Italiante building served a number of purposes since its construction. It also facilitated a maritime school, which included four classrooms and its 18m tower was used as an observatory. The school closed in 1990 and was converted to a district court, opening in that capacity in 1994. Chief operations officer at South/South West Hospital Group, Gerard OCallaghan, revealed the figures for the false negative smears at a Regional Health Forum in County Hall. Nationally, the amount of women affected is 209 and we have two cancer centres here in the south: Cork University Hospital (CUH) and University Hospital Waterford (UHW), he said. Sixteen women from UHW were affected, and 24 from CUH, he added. Eighteen women have died in relation to the CervicalCheck controversy, the HSE revealed earlier this week, with efforts still ongoing to contact all 209 women or their next of kin. Chief officer for Cork and Kerry Community Healthcare Organisation, Ger Reaney, confirmed that the person in charge of liaising with the women in the Cork region, Kerry-based public health nurse, Helen Sweeney, only began her work on Thursday. He added that she hoped to have made contact with all of the people affected by yesterday evening. A package of supports that was announced by Health Minister Simon Harris will be made available to the women and families impacted, said Mr Reaney. It includes access to medical cards, exemption from prescription charges, reimbursement for travel and childcare costs, and access to primary care services regardless of eligibility in normal cases, as well as reimbursement for those services, including counselling. He said the liaison officer for each area would ensure the women and families are aware of supports and can arrange to meet them as soon as possible. Cork city councillor John Buttimer, of Fine Gael, said the communication systems in the HSE need to be reviewed. As well as having investigations and tribunals, my sense is that there does need to be some review of the systems and the communication processes within the HSE, he said. If the HSE is abolished or something else is put in its place, its still going to be populated by people and the likelihood that something similar could happen again always exists. The unions national secretary Billy Hannigan said that since the 1990s, a large number of employers including very profitable companies have simply walked away from their pension responsibilities. Forsa welcomed Government proposals for a new three-way pension scheme for workers involving the employee, the employer, and the State but said employers must pay more. Delegates were told 60% of private sector workers currently have no occupational pension at all. Women had the lowest of all pension cover and were facing poverty in old age, said Mr Hannigan. We welcomed the proposed system, which would provide mandatory pension entitlements for all workers wherever they are employed. But employer contribution has to be twice that of the worker, said Mr Hannigan. Auto opt-out proposals, detailed in the Government paper last February, had to guard against employers encouraging staff to opt-out in order to minimise their own contributions, he said. Mr Hannigan also warned against shutting down existing pension schemes. The purpose of the new scheme is to provide pension cover for those who have none, not to disimprove existing pension cover for people who have it. He also called for the scheme to be administered by the Revenue Commissioners to avoid excessive fees from private pension providers. Meanwhile, the union welcomed the publication yesterday of the special needs assistant (SNA) allocations for the 2018/2019 school year. The union, which represents 8,500 SNAs nationwide said it welcomed both the allocation of 940 additional SNA posts and the timely publication of the allocations. Deputy general secretary Kevin Callinan said: Above all, were very pleased that SNAs now have certainty about the next academic year. I think its important to acknowledge that the minister stuck to his word on the timing of the allocations, and I trust this marks a new approach for the future. These developments follow a 2018 ballot for industrial action by Forsa SNA members. The ballot followed four successive years where SNA allocations were published very late. In 2017, the allocations werent published until July, which meant that hundreds of SNAs finished the school year without knowing if they would have a job the following September. Guest Column Government Fails Basic Test of Democracy with Silence over Kachin Crisis Kachin youths lead a demonstration in Myitkyina on April 30 to demand the government help Kachin villagers trapped in the jungle by recent fighting. Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, once asserted that a government is of the people, by the people, and for the people. In so doing, he firmly underlined the value of democracy and the characteristics of a democratic government. And in the 150 years since he uttered his famous phrase, these values and characteristics have spread and been adopted by people in countries across the globe. Myanmar is among the countries that are attempting to adopt such a democratic culture. After many years of direct military rule, Myanmar in 2010 held a general election, which is a core element of a democratic culture. The military regime handed over power to an elected government led by Thein Sein in 2011. In 2012, the international democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy contested a by-election and she became a Member of Parliament. In November 2015, the people of Myanmar again cast their votes for the NLD, hoping the party could make big changes, based on its campaign slogan, Time for Change, which motivated voters to come to the polls in huge numbers. In particular, members of the ethnic minorities, who had suffered from civil war for many decades, cast their votes for the NLD, putting high expectations on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to end the fighting, restore the Panglong Agreement, and bring peace to the country. Sadly, the country has fallen deeper into conflict and the partys slogan, Time for Change, is seldom heard. On top of the economic downturn, the decay of the freedom of press and religious freedom, Myanmars civil war continues and seems unstoppable, in spite of the numerous negotiations that have taken place. Due to the recent escalation of fighting between the Tatmadaw and the Kachin Independence Army, thousands of innocent civilians have been forced to flee from their homes, and many remain trapped in the jungle. To help these desperate people, Christian leaders, hundreds of civil society organizations and displaced people sent letters of appeal to President Win Myint, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Army commander-in-chief and other leaders. In response to these letters, the countrys leadership did nothing. This inaction led to a mass demonstration by Kachin youths in Myitkyina on April 30, 2018. It was not the first time people had gathered to demand something be done to help the trapped villagers; there had been a similar demonstration in Myitkyina on Feb. 5. But this time, the protest spilled over into other states, divisions, and even foreign countries such as the U.S. and Japan. Not only were the appeals for help shunned, but the authorities launched a crackdown against the demonstrators, arresting many and charging them with unlawful acts. According to data collected by the Institute for Strategy and Policy-Myanmar, 45 demonstrators are being sued by the police and Tatmadaw on the grounds of violating the countrys peaceful assembly, freedom of expression and defamation laws. It is understandable that the civilian government can do little to rein in the police force as it is controlled by the Tatmadaw via the Ministry of Home Affairs. Thus every action conducted by the police might come on the orders of the Tatmadaw. However, the government including President Win Myint and de facto leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and elected members of Parliament should not keep silent. As the leaders elected by the citizens of Myanmar, it is their duty to speak out. It is not surprising that the people want the government whom they elected to take action when and where it is necessary. It is the peoples right to make demands of the government. As Xunzi, the Confucian philosopher, once said The lord is the boat; his subjects the water. Its the water that sustains the boat, and the water that capsizes the boat. The government meaning both the members of Parliament and the cabinet depends on the people, and if a government turns a blind eye and shuts its ears to the peoples demands, it is inevitable it will eventually be overthrown. Thus, the ruler (government) has to govern with the interests of the people in mind. As the government was elected by the people, and thus it was of the people, it also must be for the people. The elected government should stand up with the people for the sake of democracy. In a nutshell, the people of Myanmar should be cherished, and never abused either by the government or Tatmadaw. The people form the basis of the country. If this basis is stable, the country will be sure to find peace. But if the government neglects the peoples demands and behaves like a totalitarian regime, these core values of a democratic government of the people, by the people and, more importantly, for the people will not nest in the country, but fade away. Joe Kumbun is the pseudonym of a Kachin State-based analyst. Satellite communications company Inmarsat has signed up to a new United Nations Crisis Connectivity Charter, guaranteeing access to vital communications support as part of humanitarian responses to disaster relief. The company has signed a contribution agreement with the United Nations World Food Programme, on behalf of the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster, which it says further cements its commitment to support global disaster relief. The Crisis Connectivity Charter is designed to help the humanitarian response community by improving their access to vital satellite-based communications when local networks are affected, destroyed or overloaded after a disaster. Under the contribution agreements, signatories are now committing satellite equipment and capacity that will be dedicated for humanitarian purposes during emergency responses. The ETC, under the global leadership of the WFP, will be able to activate the charter when disaster strikes and identify which capacity and operator is available and best suited to a given region and need. Paul Gudonis, president, Inmarsat Enterprise, said: Inmarsat has a long and proven track record in providing vital communications services to parts of the world often devastated by disaster. From our inception in 1979 by the United Nations to provide safety communications for mariners at sea, we have continued our commitment to saving lives for nearly four decades; forging strong links with government emergency planning teams and the humanitarian sector to help mobilise global satellite communications to aid disaster relief. Today, I am pleased to welcome the next operational phase of the Crisis Connectivity Charter, which will see the satellite industry commit dedicated equipment and pre-allocated bandwidth capacity for humanitarian purposes that can be activated within 24 hours of an ensuing crisis and cover all regions of the globe. Gudonis said Inmarsats continuing commitment to disaster relief included an 18-year relationship with United Nations-backed Telecoms Sans Frontieres, the NGO emergency telecommunications agency, and, more recently, a partnership with Team Rubicon, an international NGO focused on serving vulnerable and at-risk populations affected by disaster. Reddit Email 32 Shares Beirut ( Human Rights Watch) Saudi authorities since May 15, 2018, detained a total of seven prominent womens rights defenders, Human Rights Watch said today. The activists have long advocated ending the ban on women driving and abolishing the discriminatory male guardianship system. Among those arrested are Eman al-Nafjan and Lujain al-Hathloul, along with two male activists, but authorities have not revealed the reason behind the arrests. Saudi rights defenders said that in September 2017 the royal court had called the countrys prominent activists, including some of those just detained, and warned them not to speak to the media. The calls were made the day the authorities announced that they would lift the driving ban on women in June. Saudi authorities should release the activists immediately or charge them with a recognizable criminal offense. Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salmans reform campaign has been a frenzy of fear for genuine Saudi reformers who dare to advocate publicly for human rights or womens empowerment, said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. The message is clear that anyone expressing skepticism about the crown princes rights agenda faces time in jail. Al-Nafjan and al-Hathloul have publicly advocated an end to discrimination against women for many years. They signed a September 2016 petition, which had more than 14,000 signatures, to King Salman asking him to abolish the male guardianship system. Under Saudis male guardianship system, women are not allowed to travel abroad, marry, or obtain a passport without the permission of a male guardian, who can be their father, husband, brother, or even their son. The activists had also participated in a campaign against the driving ban before the announcement that it would be lifted in June. Authorities previously arrested al-Hathloul in November 2014 after she drove herself from Abu Dhabi to the Saudi border and attempted to cross. She was held at a juvenile detention center for 73 days before being released in February 2015. Authorities detained her again in June 2017 when she arrived at Dammam airport but released her after several days. Saudi authorities have long repressed activists and dissidents for peaceful activities. Since 2011, the courts have convicted nearly 30 prominent activists and dissidents. Many received sentences of 10 or 15 years largely under broad, catch-all charges designed to criminalize peaceful dissent. They include breaking allegiance with the ruler, sowing discord, inciting public opinion, setting up an unlicensed organization, and vague provisions from the 2007 cybercrime law. Since 2014, Saudi authorities have tried nearly all peaceful dissidents in the Specialized Criminal Court, Saudi Arabias counter-terrorism tribunal. Saudi activists and dissidents currently serving long prison terms based solely on their peaceful activism include: Waleed Abu al-Khair, Abdulaziz al-Shubaily, Mohammed al-Qahtani, Abdullah al-Hamid, Fadhil al-Manasif, Abdulkareem al-Khodr, Fowzan al-Harbi, Raif Badawi, Saleh al-Ashwan, Abdulrahman al-Hamid, Zuhair Kutbi, Alaa Brinji, Nadhir al-Majed, Issa al-Nukheifi, Essam Koshak, Mohammad al-Otaibi, Abdullah al-Attawi, Alaa Brinji, and Fahad al-Fahad. On February 26, Saudi Arabia came before the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to defend the countrys record on womens rights. While the committee welcomed the reforms, it also said the government accelerate efforts to repeal legal provisions that require a male guardians authorization for womens exercise of their rights, and refrain from any reprisals against women human rights defenders and their relatives and ensure that women activists are able to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and association. It appears the only crime these activists committed was wanting women to drive before Mohammad bin Salman did, Whitson said. If they are in jail because of their advocacy the authorities should release them immediately. Via Human Rights Watch Featured photo:Video screengrab of Lujain al-Hathloul driving her car. Reddit Email 78 Shares Cannes (France) (AFP) A jury led by Cate Blanchett will crown the winner of the coveted Palme dOr for best film at Cannes Saturday, after a politically charged festival rocked by controversy and the #MeToo movement. Movies by Spike Lee, South Koreas Lee Chang-dong, Italian Matteo Garrone and Nadine Labaki of Lebanon one of three female directors among the 21 in contention drew critical acclaim ahead of the famously unpredictable awards night. AFP / Laurent EMMANUEL. US director Spike Lee, in the running for the top brize at Cannes for his film BlacKkKlansman But more than the prize winners, the 71st Cannes festival may linger more for its off-screen moments in the first edition since the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault scandal broke. Hollywood stars including Blanchett, Kristen Stewart, Helen Mirren and Salma Hayek and directors Ava DuVernay and Patty Jenkins joined a red-carpet protest to demand equal opportunity and a safe workplace. Two days later, festival organisers signed a pledge to encourage more diversity in its selection by 2020, saying they hoped it would set an industry standard. Despite being one of the most sought-after tickets, the premiere of Danish bad boy Lars von Triers slasher flick The House That Jack Built saw audience members walk out in droves, as reviewers slammed what they called a misogynistic orgy of violence. AFP / Valery HACHE. Kristen Stewart went barefoot on the famous Cannes red carpet in rprotest against a rule requiring women to wear high heels Both its female stars, Uma Thurman and Riley Keough, were notably absent from the red carpet, where Stewart on another night staged a kind of protest of her own by kicking her high heels and climbing the vaunted Cannes stairs barefoot. Even hardened critics shed tears for Whitney, an explosive new British documentary on the tragic life of superstar Whitney Houston which alleges she was sexually abused as a child. Anti-Trump tirade The glamour-drenched festival spotlighted dissident directors including Jafar Panahi of Iran and Russias Kirill Serebrennikov, who were barred by their governments from attending. Their films drew lengthy standing ovations, while a single seat marked with their names remained empty. AFP / Laurent EMMANUEL. An empty seat for Iranian director Jafar Panahi whom Tehran barred from attending Cannes. Polish Oscar winner Pawel Pawlikowski, who won the foreign-language movie Oscar for Ida in 2015, caused a scandal at home when he told AFP at the festival that the film had been blacklisted by the nationalist government. Warsaw denied the claim. Critics swooned over Pawlikowskis latest, the slow-burn period love story Cold War. Political realities dominated the Cannes race, as Lebaki won hearts with Capernaum set among the poorest of the poor in Beirut and featuring a devastating performance by a 13-year-old Syrian refugee boy. While this is unquestionably an issue film, it tackles its subject with intelligence and heart, industry bible Variety said. Spike Lee scored a hit with BlacKkKlansman, the stranger-than-fiction story of an African-American police officer who manages to infiltrate the highest levels of the Ku Klux Klan. The film, which several critics called a return to form for the Do the Right Thing director, explicitly links the tale set in the 1970s with white nationalism in the Trump era. Lee attacked the US president with an expletive-filled tirade at his press conference that quickly went viral on social media. AFP / LOIC VENANCE. South Korean director Lee Chang-Dong film Burning, set near the North Korea border, scored a record 3.8 out of 4 stars in a Screen magazine poll. Critics fawned over Asian masters like Lee Chang-dong who scored a record 3.8 out of 4 stars in a Screen magazine poll for Burning, about a young mans mounting rage over thwarted ambitions set near the North Korean border. Hirokazu Kore-eda of Japan moved audiences with Shoplifters, about a family of small-time crooks who take in a child they find on the street. Film website IndieWire called it heart-wrenching. Less America-centric Garrone, best known for mafia tableau Gomorrah, later delighted them with Dogman about a soft-spoken Italian dog groomer who stands up to a local heavy. In 2017, the top prize went to Ruben Ostlunds The Square, an art world send-up that went on to bag an Oscar nomination. There were less lavish parties this year and fewer A-list stars on the Croisette seaside boulevard. However industry insiders dismissed talk of a festival in crisis, saying the sprawling annual event was returning to its roots in the face of showbiz disruption. US magazine Vanity Fair called 2018 a pivot year, as movie studios plump for social media to promote their blockbusters instead of the splashy French Riviera promotions of old. AFP / YANN COATSALIOU. Influencer Lutin en folie walks along the Croisette Weve found a festival with a renewed spirit, Vanity Fair said. In making the festival a little less America-centric than it has been lately, Cannes has re-asserted itself as the premier destination for daring, provocative international cinema. Variety noted that Cannes remained a major hub for the film rights trade and said many projects for sale are embracing inclusiveness, with a raft of sales for female filmmakers. Spike Lee told AFP that for directors doing provocative work, Cannes is the greatest film festival in the world, there is no argument. This is the Mecca, this is the greatest stage. Featured Photo: AFP / Anne-Christine POUJOULAT. Cate Blanchett heads the Cannes jury. - Bonus video added by Informed Comment: Wochit Entertainment: Palestinians Hold Moment Of Silence At Cannes For Gaza Deaths Reddit Email 140 Shares Just to note the irony that a Pakistani exchange student, Sabika Sheikh, was among the (so far) 10 persons killed in the school massacre at Santa Fe, Texas. Pakistan has seen a stark reduction in deaths from terrorism in recent years. The Global Terrorism Index for 2017 says that Pakistan also recorded a decrease in the number of people killed by terrorism with a 12 per cent reduction to 956 deaths. It is back down to 2006 levels, to before the rise of the Pakistani Taliban. That is, Sabika left a country with increasing security for one where the Republican Party-dominated Texas state legislature has made students and teachers sitting ducks for any wacko with a gun (and all wackos may have guns.) My heart goes out to her family back home. There are around 17,000 homicides in the US annually, but telling which ones have terrorism as the motive is difficult because the US typically classifies as terrorism only those crimes with international links. Hence, white nationalist domestic terrorism is put in a different category, of hate crime (but isnt always so classified either.) Hate crimes, including domestic terrorism, are a much bigger problem in American society than foreign-inspired terrorism. The Pakistani homicide rate is proportionally similar to that of the US. there are over 13,000 murders a year in Pakistan, but it is a country of 193 mn. rather than 325 mn. So in coming to the US from Pakistan, Sabika did not experience any change in the chance she might be murdered. Let that sink in. She was no more safe in the US than she was in Pakistan. She was more likely to be killed by terrorists in Pakistan than in the US, but the chances of that happening had been going down. As it happened, an alleged white terrorist did kill her in Santa Fe, Texas, one who posed with Nazi and other extremist paraphernalia, and followed Trump and gun nut accounts on Instagram. Americans have a largely unfavorable view of Pakistan, and it worsened after the September 11, 2001, attacks, presumably out of a suspicion that the country was not doing enough to curb Muslim radicals. The Pakistani military ran extremist groups in Kashmir and Afghanistan, though to be fair, Ronald Reagan asked them to support private militias against the Soviets in Afghanistan. Most Americans have complete amnesia about the 1980s, when Pakistan was a key ally in the last years of the Cold Warallied with the US in fighting Soviet-imposed Communist tyranny in Afghanistan, and about the American role in encouraging the Muslim religious Right as a counter ballast to Communism. Americans, moreover, misunderstand Pakistan as a nation of religious fanatics. The vast majority of Pakistanis abhor extremism, and Sufism, Shiism, Sufi Shiism, Muslim liberalism, and leftist secularism are important cultural and political currents. Trump has evinced a typical split personality on Pakistan, first calling them just wonderful people, then threatening to sanction their government. Pakistanis mostly return the lack of a compliment, convinced that the American war on terror has put their country in a vise and stirred up a great deal of trouble for them. The Pakistani government is also surprised and outraged that the sacrifice of thousands of its troops in fighting groups like the Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan (the Pakistani branch of the Taliban, based in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in the far north of the country) has been disregarded by the US. When I first arrived in Pakistan in 1981, it was a pleasant developing country of some 70 million that only recently had experienced the twin misfortunes of gaining a brutal Communist neighbor in the form of Karmal Babraks Communist Afghanistan and of having been taken over by a military junta, that of Field Marshal Zia ul-Haq, who judicially assassinated his popular left-leaning predecessor, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. You could criticize it for being almost feudal and politically oppressive, but not for poor personal security. As with most dictatorships, it was way too safe. In the course of the 1980s, the CIA poured arms into Pakistan for the Afghan jihadis with whom it was allied, and many of those arms made their way to Pakistani bazaars. I had been in Lebanon in the 1970s and had come to the firm conclusion that when you can buy Kalashnikovs cheaply in the bazaar in the country, then it is about to spiral down into massive civil violence. The US also encouraged the jihadis to grow opium to sell, to help pay for their war on Communism, and the heroin also leaked into Pakistan, producing millions of addicts. Addicts who were willing to commit crimes for their fix. Chalmers Johnson told these stories in his Blowback books, as a former Cold Warrior from whose eyes the scales had fallen. Reagan used up Afghanistan and Pakistan in his jihad against Communism. If he had just left them alone, like Afghanistan would have been today sort of like Uzbekistan. It isnt paradise but it isnt the perpetual basket case American Afghanistan has become. And perhaps Pakistan could have evolved as India has. Instead, the curse of guns has spread both here and there. Bonus video: It was going to happen eventually says student on Texas shooting Daily Mail Reddit Email 249 Shares Outside observers tend to imagine the face of Gaza as resolutely male: the bearded Hamas militant, or the young man hurling stones across the border fence. But Palestinian women, both in Gaza and the West Bank, have a significant presence as activists, protesting against an unjust occupation, but also as the backbone of a fragmented and demoralised society. Women have been active in the Palestinian struggle since its early days. In the 1920s, they protested side by side with men against British control of their country. They formed charitable organisations and expressed themselves politically. After the state of Israel was created in 1948, the majority of Palestinians were forced to flee into exile, and here too women played a key role as protectors of their families, and repositories of the national story. It was vital that Palestinians, wherever they were in the world, did not forget what had happened and continued to insist on their right of return to their homeland. Women passed their memories of Palestine down to subsequent generations. Participating in politics In the 1960s, with the emergence of a Palestinian liberation movement, dedicated to regaining the lost homeland, some women turned to more militant activities. Leila Khalid, for example, hijacked several airliners on behalf of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and became a familiar face in the Western media. Rehgina/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA Gradually, women also started to engage in formal politics, through membership of the main Palestinian political factions. Although Palestinians tend to be socially conservative and are anxious to shield women and girls from what might be considered dishonourable or nontraditional behaviour, many younger women found a new kind of freedom through education and political mobilisation. A largely non-violent intifada (or uprising) began in 1987. Women, men and children combined efforts to resist the 20-year occupation of their land. They did so in innovative ways, for example by establishing alternative educational facilities for children after all the schools were closed, creating an alternative economy based on home produce, as well as engaging in large-scale protests. There were also attempts at dialogue between Palestinian and Israeli women. For example, in July 2006, members of the International Womens Commission for a Just and Sustainable Palestinian-Israeli Peace (IWC) convened an emergency meeting in Athens. They urged the international community to intervene. In their words: Civilians, mainly women and children, are paying the price daily for this vicious cycle of retaliation and counter-retaliation. This is a time of great danger If no action is taken today, tomorrow will be too late. Although no resolution came out of this or similar calls, initiatives involving women from the two sides were judged to have been among the most promising. Telling the world Such activities ended in 2000, with the start of the second intifada. The resistance was no longer a shared endeavour involving all sectors of society it was an armed confrontation. Women suffered greatly from rising levels of violence and decreasing security for civilians. No one felt safe. Girls travelling from their homes to university were likely to experience harassment at Israeli army checkpoints and, as a result, many parents started to keep their daughters at home, and even to marry them off at the earliest possible opportunity; the age of marriage began to fall. As the economic situation deteriorated, women had fewer opportunities for employment. Incidences of mental illness rose and women exhibited deep anxiety about the safety of their children. Many Palestinians feel that they have no control over their own lives. Under a harsh Israeli regime, it has been very difficult to exercise agency and Palestinian political parties have seemed weak and ineffectual. The Islamist party Hamas seemed to offer a more assertive form of opposition, and many women were attracted by its grassroots organising and evident ability to confront the Israeli occupation. Some became militants. While it may be tempting to argue that the participation of women in violence is a sign of a society that has lost its way, the reality is more complex. Many Palestinian women point out that their community is powerless; it has neither the political leadership nor the weapons to fight a conventional war. Instead, it relies on all its members to participate and tell the world what is happening to them. By protesting at the Gaza-Israel border to mark the anniversary of al-nakbah (the catastrophe), Palestinians are reminding the world that they were dispossessed 70 years ago and this injustice has still not been remedied. Palestinian women, as much as men, have a vital stake in finding a solution to the conflict, that will provide safety and certainty for the next generation. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Featured photo: Dominika Zarzycka/Shutterstock. Reddit Email 256 Shares Beijing (AFP) The US decision to reimpose sanctions on Iran could scare off European investors but oil-thirsty China may step into the void and ramp up business links with the country. China, which is already Irans top trade partner and one of its biggest buyers of crude, has signalled that it intends to keep working with the Islamic regime despite the US move. Beijing is a signatory of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that had eased sanctions on Tehran, but President Donald Trump quit the accord earlier this month and said Washington would reinstate punitive measures. By driving away American, European and Japanese companies, the sanctions could increase opportunities for Chinese businesses, Hu Xingdou, a Beijing-based economist, told AFP. The Iran deal has been highly profitable for the Asian giant. Chinese businesses involved in Iranian developments are worth at least $33 billion as of June 2017 according to Beijings Commerce Ministry part of the countrys ambitious Belt and Road global infrastructure initiative. In September, China provided a $10 billion credit line to five Iranian banks financing water, energy and transport projects, and in March the two countries inked a $700 million deal allowing China to build a train line that links the port of Bushehr to the rest of Irans railway network. AFP / Gal ROMA. Iran oil and gas. Beijing now has its sights on the expansion of a major Iranian gas field, with state-owned oil company CNPC set to replace Total if the French energy behemoth withdraws from the project over US sanctions. Trumps move to reimpose sanctions will affect all firms that operate in US dollars or do business on American soil, hitting European companies especially hard. But the lure of fresh hydrocarbons could prove irresistible for China, the worlds largest crude oil importer. Iran is currently Chinas fifth top oil supplier, with more than a quarter of its output going to Beijing. Bolstered by the flow of black gold, Chinese-Iranian trade leaped by 20 percent in 2017 to $37 billion. Trade skirmishes European companies could be hit hard by US sanctions. Total started the huge $4.8-billion gas field project known as South Pars 11 in July 2017, two years after the nuclear deal between Tehran and Western powers prompted the return of many businesses to Iran. But the French company said Wednesday that unless it is exempt from US sanctions, it would not be in a position to continue the project, leaving the door open for CNPC to take its place. Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh has said that if Total pulls out, its share of the project slightly over half will be handed to the Chinese firm. China needs the oil, Victor Shum, vice president of energy group at IHS Markit, told CNBC. With trade skirmishes between the US and China and all kinds of political issues, I see the resistance from Chinese crude buyers to comply with US sanctions, he said. The price of Iranian oil is likely to fall as its pool of buyers shrinks, Shum said, making it more attractive to the Chinese. And with Washington targeting transactions made in dollars, the yuan could be used to skirt around the new rules. AFP / Reimposed US sanctions on Iran could be a boon for Chinese companies. In 2012-2013, Iran opened accounts in local currencies in buying countries that it then used to finance imports, said Barclays analyst Michael Cohen in a note. If China, India, Japan and South Korea do not impose sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran, these countries would be unlikely to stop taking Iranian oil, he added. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang made clear last week that Beijing would keep doing business with Tehran: We will continue with our normal and transparent practical cooperation with Iran on the basis of not violating our international obligations. Oil money Yuan-denominated oil futures contracts were launched in Shanghai in March, an attempt to one day challenge the entrenched position of New York- and London-based dollar futures. The volume of trading of Shanghai contracts doubled the day after the US decision on Iran, and the average daily exchanges tripled month-on-month this week. Beijing, keen to further internationalise the use of its currency, could make Tehran trade in yuan, according to analysts at BMI Research. But the impact of this would be modest, they warned, as trade between Iran and China represents only a small fraction of the crude oil market. Iranian oil is not irreplaceable to China, which could import more from Russia and Saudi Arabia, said the economist Hu. Chinese firms will also be careful not compromise activity in the US or other western countries, he said, noting that CNPC has several American trade partners. Chinese telecoms equipment maker ZTE, for instance, had to cease major operations after it was hit with a ban on acquiring crucial American technology for allegedly violating US sanctions against North Korea and Iran. In the end, political uncertainty in Tehran could deter Chinese investment, Hu said China needs to learn from the past: it invested heavily in Libya and Venezuela, and lost a lot. Featured photo: POOL/AFP/File / THOMAS PETER. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif earlier this week. 41 Shares Share The devastating opioid epidemic is one of the largest public health problems facing the U.S. Over 2.5 million people in the U.S. suffer from opioid use disorder. Four in five new heroin users started out misusing prescription painkillers. A 2015 analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found people who are addicted to painkillers are 40 times more likely to be addicted to heroin. The epidemic actually began more than three decades ago. In 1980, crack and cocaine addiction contributed to the thousands of overdose deaths, whereas now people die from pain relievers and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. In 1990, I began studying its relationship to HIV and the experiences of people with multiple addictions. My research team and I have recruited research participants from emergency rooms, methadone programs, jails, prisons, alternative to incarceration projects, and HIV and primary care clinics. We have examined barriers to accessing care for drug addiction and HIV, and some of the lessons we have learned apply to the broader population. Two faces of the opioid addiction Years ago, I interviewed Jennifer, a former nurse, who was prescribed antidepressants to cope with childhood sexual abuse trauma. When this didnt help, she stole narcotics from her clinic and was fired. With no access to pain pills, Jennifer began using heroin and cocaine. She reported facing stigma from health care providers due to her addiction, and she lacked access to counseling for depression. Jennifers case is not unique; many women face a lack of access to services addressing trauma and gender-based violence. More recently, our research team interviewed John, who started using narcotics prescribed for back pain. His need for increasingly higher dosages exceeded the number of pills his physician would prescribe, so he turned to friends and then began heroin and injection drug use. Although incarcerated numerous times for accidents while driving impaired, he said he was never asked about addiction or referred to drug treatment by his primary care office. Since John detoxed cold turkey in prison, he often overdosed after his release, reuniting with his running buddies. Recently, one of Johns buddies saved his life by using a free naloxone kit from a health department stall at a street fair. John was lucky: Thousands of opioid users cannot access naloxone. Not addressing the core causes Though overprescribing opioids may have contributed to the current epidemic, many addiction experts believe that the root causes remain poverty, incarceration, drug and health policies, stigma toward people who use drugs, and a lack of access to drug treatment. Yet much of what has been done to end the opioid epidemic has focused mainly on [reducing the amount of prescription painkillers] and improving drug monitoring programs to identify newly filled prescriptions, which are not the real solutions to the growing opioid epidemic. In my view, there has been no clear policy action or plan to address the major root causes of the problem and improve access to drug treatment. President Donald Trumps plan to address the opioid epidemic emphasizes punishment, reduction of supply, and law enforcement strategies with no potential to produce important change in the crisis. Here are my six recommendations to address the opioid epidemic. Increase Medicaid coverage for drug treatment in all states The number of states providing benefits for addiction treatment grew with the creation of Affordable Care Act in 2010 and the expansion of Medicaid benefits but only for states that opted to expand. Now, 32 states and the District of Columbia have adopted Medicaid expansion, which provides medical coverage including addiction treatment for most low-income adults. However, an estimated 2.5 million Americans fall into a coverage gap, where they are not eligible for Medicaid because their state did not expand and they make too little to qualify for marketplace subsidies. Integrate drug treatment into primary care Medication assisted treatment the practice of treating addiction with medicines must be made available in primary care settings and integrated with health care services. The majority of the 2.5 million individuals with an opioid use disorder do not receive evidence-based MAT. Few states have integrated this treatment. The Affordable Care Act is designed to promote improved integration of substance use in health care services in a more efficient and cost-effective way. There is extensive scientific evidence supporting integration into primary care. Some of the major barriers include state and federal regulations on credentialing and provision of medication-assisted treatment, such as strict rules on how and who can prescribe buprenorphine in primary care settings; shortage of physicians with training to treat substance use disorders; and clinic costs to meet the demands of staff training. Reduce stigma of health care providers toward drug users While health care providers understand addiction is a disease, research shows they commonly view addiction as a moral failure. In fact, studies show that negative attitudes by health professionals toward patients with substance use disorders are common. They are a major reason individuals do not seek, receive or complete addiction treatment or access harm reduction services such as syringe access programs. Increase and customize programs that reduce harm I believe harm reduction access to services aiming to reduce harm from the addiction rather than just treating it is critical. Syringe exchange programs allow people with addiction trade in used syringes for new ones, reducing exposure to HIV, hepatitis C or other diseases that occur frequently in those with addiction. Supervised injection facilities would provide a safe place for drug users to inject illicit substances with medical staff nearby. Address neglected populations within the criminal justice system Those addicted to opioids in prison and jails are often left untreated. Medication assisted treatment, such as the use of methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone should be provided to all inmates. Upon release, individuals should receive naloxone to use on themselves or others. To avoid relapse, access to addiction treatment and other care is imperative. Make naloxone available to all I have seen countless research participant lives saved by relatives, friends and partners who received naloxone. Recent evidence shows states that actively promoted naloxone experienced 9 to 11 percent reductions in opioid-related deaths. States need strategies to make naloxone available and affordable to everyone, not just first responders. Medicaid should also reimburse naloxone prescriptions for home settings. Even after 30 years, drug use remains stigmatized and individuals are left untreated. Understanding stories like Jennifers and Johns help destigmatize drug use and convey the need to address addiction in primary health care settings and link individuals to treatment in their communities. Nabila El-Bassel is a professor of social work, Columbia University, New York City, NY. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Image credit: Shutterstock.com The part played by Glanbia in the Irish and EU economy was highlighted by Fine Gael MEP, Deirdre Clune when she visited the city last week. The Cork based politician, who represents Kilkenny in the European Parliament, highlighted the EUs commitment to finding ways of dealing with waste, taking as an example, the recently announced bio-refinery, just over the Tipperary border at Lisheen Mines which is being spearheaded by Glanbia Ireland. Ms Clune explained that 37 million of the funding for the project is coming from the EU. Addressing the disconnect between the EU, the European Parliament, the Commission and ordinary people, she explained that on a daily basis, the EU has an incredibly positive impact on Ireland and Kilkenny. She is concerned at US President, Donald Trumps foreign policy which is isolating America and the impact it will have on Ireland and the EU. On Brexit, she said there was no real policy coming from Downing Street and that with a growing schism within the British Cabinet nothing could be ruled in or out. She said that companies like Glanbia were developing new markets ahead of Brexits conclusion, to cushion any potential loss of British markets and that other Irish based businesses which depend on the export market should be doing the same. She complimented EU Agriculture Commissioner, Phil Hogan for trying to maintain the budget for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) ahead of negotiations on it, with several EU States saying they want to reduce the CAP budget substantially. Ms Clune wants all EU governments to increase their financial commitment to CAP to offset Britains departure. The key for Ireland in these unsettling times is to go out and develop new markets for our produce, she said. I decided to try and give up alcohol on April 22 of this year. That date was roughly six weeks from when I plan on travelling to Italy on holidays. I wanted the beach bod, but also... I was tired of spending weekends hypnotised into thinking that in order to make the most of my days off it was necessary for me to consume some beers, or a bottle of wine. I hated feeling tired and jaded on Sundays as a result of my revelry. It would also affect my mental health. Everything seemed a little bleaker after two consecutive days of a few drinks, also commonly known as The Fear. The plan to sustain my abstinence was to do a little more running and take in water from my one litre bottle over the weekend. The bottle helps trick the mind as youre regularly taking it in your hand and taking sips out of it, much like a bottle of beer. A pint glass of water helps with this cognitive deception too. Its worth noting that in my mid-twenties I would drink seven nights a week, bottle of beer here, glass of wine with dinner there and a proper binge on weekends, but in the last two years; I have managed to cut it back to two nights a week. Becoming a devoted teetotaller seemed like the next challenge to take on. The first week was relatively easy. I still had that hangover from hell fresh in my mind from the previous weekend. So, I got to seven days without any real commitment issues arising. I was steadfast in my belief that I could do this, that I needed to do this. Sadly, it wasnt to be. It was only week two when the problems began. I cut my drinking back to two nights a week with relative ease over the last few years. Cutting it out altogether, as I was about to find out, was next to impossible. Alcohol is so prevalent in Irish society and when you couple that with someone who enjoys a drink, you might find yourself not going any longer than four or five days without an alcoholic beverage. A drink watching the match, a drink at a First Communion afters, a drink after work on a sunny day. I genuinely find it worrying that going two weeks off the booze is a real challenge for me. Im not comfortable with that fact. By the middle of the second week I was having dreams (or nightmares) about going back on the drink. I would wake up thinking, Oh no, Ive had a beer, the streak is over. It stressed me out. Thats withdrawal and also probably brought on in the knowledge that I was aspiring towards staying off the beer for six weeks. I became more irritable on the tenth and eleventh day. Little things started to bother me. Im chalking that down to the absence of drink or even the knowledge that no drink would be coming at the weekend. By the twelfth and thirteenth day, the 29-year-old voice in my head started saying, act your age, have a beer, enjoy life. I ate everything and anything too. I was so hungry. All the time. Just like when I gave up cigarettes. I couldnt stop eating. I was weak and I knew the second weekend would break me. You just know when youre going to capitulate. I had a beer at 1.30pm on the May Bank Holiday Sunday. My streak had lasted 14 days. My failed attempt at sobriety has worked in the sense that Im now more conscious of my relationship with alcohol and the frequency with which I consume it. Two weeks will hopefully become three at my next attempt. The HSE recommend at least two drink-free days a week but they say there is no safe amount of alcohol. For me, its not about giving up drink for all time. Its about controlling my relationship with alcohol a little better and being able to step away from it for a period and when I do have a drink again; to have it in moderation. Could you do it? The Kilkenny Great War Memorial Committee have been awarded a grant of 15,000 towards the memorials which are to be unveiled in July and August in Kilkenny to commemorate all those who died and served from the county in World War I. The grant is the first to be awarded in the country to any group remembering The Great War. The money comes from a fund set up by The Royal British Legion - Republic of Ireland branch. The committee would like to thank chairman Brian Duffy and his board of Directors for their foresight and diligence in ensuring the Kilkenny memorials are funded. Donations are still needed to assist in the costs for the unveiling ceremonies, and to ensure funds are left to cover the engraving costs of any more names that come forward. Contributions can be sent or dropped to 48 John Street, Kilkenny, phone 086-3369080, or via paypal on kilkennygreatwarmemorial.com. 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. The Herald reports: Wow that is almost as good value as a monorail! But John Watson, a councillor for the Albany ward, told NZME the city didnt need a new stadium, couldnt afford one and would rarely be able to fill it. The stadium debate was had and it was had back in 2009 and now we seem to see these consistent attempts to resurrect these grandiose plans at a time when Aucklands got other priorities and when, ironically enough, our existing stadiums have had huge investments of capital to put into them in the interim, he said. By Hyon O'Brien We just returned from a two-week tour of Morocco in North Africa. Seventeen of us traveled. All of us were American citizens who came from different states and different backgrounds. However, we all had one thing in common: the Peace Corps. Four had served as Peace Corps Volunteers in Morocco, two in Tunisia, others in Malaysia, Belize, Costa Rica, Korea, Brazil, Mali and Jordan at different times. The remaining four are spouses of those who served: interestingly, these spouses represented four countries, Turkey, Korea, Australia and America. In recent years, the National Peace Corps Association began to sponsor trips to various countries around the globe, and we were delighted to find the tour to Morocco. Not only was it a country we had always wanted to visit, but also it added one more dimension to our regular trips: the opportunity to meet currently serving Peace Corps Volunteers while traveling to different cities in Morocco. Over the past nearly 50 years during which I have been involved with the Peace Corps (first romantically, then professionally as a Korean language teacher), I have come in contact with many Peace Corps Volunteers and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. The most consistent traits and characteristics I have personally observed among these volunteers, no matter which country they served in, is their respect for other cultures, countries and people. I have concluded most of them were open-minded people to begin with before joining the Peace Corps, but their individual service in a particular host country must have deepened, cultivated and reinforced that inclination and disposition. I have been in constant awe of their great attitudes. They are truly wonderful role models for world peace. It is very unlikely wars and conflicts are stirred up and violence inflicted on others by people who consider the wellbeing of other countries' people as important as their own. So I am dismayed by the current American administration's approach to immigrants and minorities. I am uneasy to hear the talk of building a wall along the national border between Mexico and the United States, and of a policy of deportation of countless undocumented immigrants whose children may be separated permanently from their parents, as well as deportation of those who grew up here after their parents brought them into the country illegally as children. The list could go on. I am saddened and shocked by this turn of events. I grieve at this change in the story that America tells the world. I was naturalized as a U.S. citizen on May 1, 1970, and I have always admired and loved my adopted country because it represented social justice, righteousness and equality for all, where the rule of law guarantees human rights and liberties. Recently I re-read the contents of the poem "New Colossus," a sonnet American poet Emma Lazarus (18491887) wrote in 1883 that was cast onto a bronze plaque and mounted inside the lower level of the pedestal that established the Statue of Liberty as the greeter of the new immigrants coming to America through the New York harbor. "Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" What's happening in America goes against an American value that for many years has been a touchstone of what makes America great. Former U.S. President Barack Obama urged us to bear in mind that we need to reject any politics that target people because of race or religion. This isn't a matter of political correctness. It's a matter of understanding what makes us strong. The world respects us not just for our arsenal; it respects us for our diversity and openness and the way we respect every faith. What about diversity in nature? I was stunned to discover that in the palm tree category alone, there are 2,600 species. Daily I am enthralled to see varieties of seagulls, pelicans, terns and sandpipers that fly around our beach. Many different wildflowers and plants adorn the path that parallels the shore. Nearly 40 lifeguard huts that line Miami Beach's miles of shore are designed in the "Miami Modern" (MiMo) style, adding color and liveliness. I see people walking their dogs: they are all different and it provides me with fascinating time to gawk and stare. Indeed it is never flat when I look around my neighborhood. The architectural styles the houses and buildings have adopted vary while maintaining harmony. I am so glad everything is different and unique. Mohamed VI, the current King of Morocco, said something that resonates with me. "We need to fight violence and ignorance... Morocco is built on tolerance." People's ignorance is a dangerous hindrance to cultivating diversity. It perpetuates narrow-mindedness that blocks nurturing the different human potentials to thrive and grow. Diversity is strength, not weakness, Diversity is prosperity, not poverty, Diversity is natural, not man-made. Let's honor the God-endowed gifts to humanity. Hyon O'Brien (hyonobrien@gmail.com) is a former reference librarian now living in the United States. Phnom Penh, May 19 (AFP) Five people, including a four-year-old child, were killed instantly in a lightning strike in southwestern Cambodia, officials said, as the onset of the rainy season draws near. The group was sheltering from a downpour in a mountainous area of Koh Kong province's Thmar Baing district on Thursday, police chief for minor crimes Lay Meng Laing told AFP yesterday, adding that three victims were from the same family. The tropical Southeast Asian country of winding rivers and lakes is prone to lightning storms, a problem that some believe is worsening with the ravages of climate change. Keo Vy, a spokesman for Cambodia's National Committee for Disaster Management, said the number of lightning deaths has now reached 50 people since January, while 41 died last year in the same period. He said the government had conducted education seminars to warn residents in rural areas about the threats, encouraging them to avoid taking shelter under a tree and not to stand in pools of water. The strikes also hit livestock, killing 36 cows since January. (AFP) CK (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], May 19 (ANI): Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte is scheduled to arrive in India for a two-day visit commencing from May 24 as part of India-Dutch CEOs forum to be held in New Delhi. As per a release of Ministry of External Affairs on Friday, Prime Minister Rutte will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality; Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation; Minister for Infrastructure and Water Management; and Minister for Medical Care. Further, around 231 business delegates representing 130 companies have registered to join the Trade Mission. They will represent varied sectors including agri-food, horticulture, logistics, education, smart cities, water, health and life sciences, IT, and maritime sectors. Rutte's visit comes after the 2017 visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Netherlands. On the sidelines of the CEO forum, Prime Minister Ruth is scheduled to visit the Indian Space Research Organisation in Bengaluru. Indian Netherlands have a bilateral trade worth US$ 5.39 billion. Netherlands is the 5th largest investor in India with a cumulative investment of US$ 23 billion for the period 2000 to Dec 2017. Further, the country is home to around 2, 35,000 Indians, the highest in Europe's mainland. As per the release the upcoming visit is expected to boost the economic and political cooperation between India and the Netherlands. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) United Nations, May 19 (AP) The UN says more than 200 children have been released by armed groups in civil war-torn South Sudan. UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters today that a release ceremony was the third this year, bringing the total number of children released so far this year to 806. Haq said "additional releases are expected in the coming months that could result in more than 1,000 children being freed." The 210 children released included three girls and largely came from the Sudan People's Liberation Army-in Opposition, with eight associated with the National Salvation Front. During yesterday's release ceremony, he said, the children were formally disarmed and given civilian clothes. Once reunited, Haq said, the children and their families will be provided with three months' worth of food, vocational training and education. (AP) CK (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, May 19: President Donald Trump has nominated US Pacific Command Commander Admiral Harry Harris as America's new Ambassador to South Korea ahead of his historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un next month. North Korea has warned that it might not attend the much-talked-about summit between Trump and Kim, due to take place in Singapore on June 12, over being pushed "into a corner" on nuclear disarmament. Leaders of North and South Korea held a meeting on April 27 and agreed to work to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons. The nomination of the 61-year-old commander is subject to conformation by the US Senate. Admiral Harris earlier was nominated by Trump as his next envoy to Australia, but the president changed his mind and decided to send him to South Korea. Currently serving as the 24th commander of US Pacific Command, Admiral Harris is a highly decorated, combat-proven Naval officer with extensive knowledge, leadership and geopolitical expertise in the Indo-Pacific region, the White House said. A frequent visitor to India, Admiral Harris has been a strong advocate of India-US relationship. He graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1978 and was designated a naval flight officer in 1979. He earned an MPA from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, MA from Georgetown's School of Foreign Service, and attended Oxford University. During his 40-year career, he served in every geographic combatant command region and has held seven command assignments, including the US Pacific Fleet, the US Sixth Fleet and VP-46. Laois native and The Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick joined David Beckham, George Clooney and many other guests at the Royal Wedding of Royal of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Noel, from Esker, Ballyfin, was among the early arrivals at St George's Chapel for the nuptials. He was not accompanied by a guest. Noel answered the call from Meghan last year when her dog, Guy, reportedly broke two legs. The beagle was injured after being flown from the Suits actress' home in Toronto to London. The Royal bride was said to be distraught when her pet rescue dog was injured. The dog recovered after being treated by Noel and his team. Noel moved to to the UK in 1993 and he is director and managing clinician at Fitzpatrick Referrals. Noel and his team feature in the hugely popular Channel 4 series The Supervet. He still has family in Laois including his sisters Josephine and Frances. After attending the Patrician College Ballyfin, he went on to University College Dublin to study veterinary medicine. Some 2,640 guests were invited to the Royal Wedding. Young women from Miltown Foroige Club and Suncroft Foroige Club recently participated in a unique workshop with a graphic designer which was intended to be a thought provoking and encouraging discussion on young women in media. The discussion ranged around the young womens influences, the negative impact portrayed by the media and what they would like to see in such magazines. The graphic designer, a final year student of a graphic design degree in Dublin Institute of Design, facilitated the discussion with the goal of creating a more positive alternative magazine for young women aged 14-18 years and enable them to explain how they think this magazine should look. Her aim was to nurture a strong and positive sense of self and promote resilience, creativity and innovation. The young women discussed how they feel young women are portrayed in media and the expectations they feel are placed upon them due to media influences. Katie from Milltown said: I had a great day getting to meet with other members from different clubs and getting to give our opinions. I enjoyed creating what I thought should be published in magazines and getting to have fun and games with the group afterwards. The workshop was just one of the opportunities available to young people in the region. For more information on what Foroige does go to www.foroige.ie or contact the Development Officer in Kildare and Laois on 0866384199 A call has been made to provide a bridge for pedestrian use only spanning the Grand Canal in Sallins. Its been made by Independent councillor Sorcha ONeill. She wants Kildare County council to liaise with Offaly county council, which provided similar strictures across the same waterway in Tullamore. She wants KCC to get details about the process involved in launching a similar project as well as the costs involved with a view to preparing quotations for (a similar) bridge at Sallins national school. According to Cllr ONeill the need for a bridge is acknowledged in the development plan covering the Sallins area. The residents of Sallins and in particular parents of Sallins National school pupils have been calling for a pedestrian bridge over the Canal near the school for some time. In fact, from long before I was elected, she told the Leader. She added: the bridge in place now is very narrow and downright frightening if you are a child or vulnerable road user. So far, the council has no immediate plans to fulfil this need and I am frustrated with the lack of progress on any requests for Sallins area. She said that Tullamore has a number of pedestrian bridges over the canal near the town centre and property tax revenue should be used to provide one in Sallins with the agreement of the other councillors representing the area. For too long, Sallins has taken the burden of more and more housing, increased population and traffic and received no new infrastructure to cope with the rapid expansion, she added, They have received none of the benefits of all these developments. Development levies collected from Salllins projects have gone elsewhere in the county. NEW rapid-build homes could cost the buyer up to 10% more than conventional houses, the boss of a company bringing the scheme to Limerick has said. American company Clenn Construction has opened a base in the Galvone Industrial Estate on the citys southside, in a move which will lead to 50 jobs initially, growing to potentially 400. There, workers will assemble and deliver up to four homes a week. The concept of these rapid-build units is popular due to the housing crisis in this country, and a demand on living spaces. While Clenn Constructions principal, Patrick C Benn says a house can be in place in as little as 14 days, it will come at a cost. In an exclusive interview with the Limerick Leader, the businessman said: In the USA, the products retailed at around 5% to 10% higher than a traditional build house. It will be a new product to Ireland, but we hope it will be valued at the same percentage over here. Our houses stand-up better than traditional build houses as we use around 35% more lumber and timber in our units. We have more of a structural foundation than a typical timber frame house. However, by contrast, Mr Benn explained that they will be saving developers money, as it will mean different tradesmen will not have to keep visiting sites. We are not cheaper than any traditional builder, were probably the same, if not a little more. Where we can save the builders, contractors and homeowners is time in labour costs over an extended period, he added. The homes will be shipped out to development sites 90% complete, with only the roof effectively needing to be fit. We can build any home you can think of. The only thing we limit ourselves on is the amount of travel size. So the houses are dictated by the road width how wide we can make our boxes, how long we can make them. We can build any size house, but it just means multiple boxes, and more putting together in the field, Mr Benn explained. Former mayor Kieran OHanlon, brought Clenn Construction to Ireland during his second term as first citizen last year. He said: There is a huge housing need, not alone hear in Limerick, but also across Ireland. Id like to see Clenn working across Ireland. When this gets up and running, Id love to see Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy down here. The jobs on offer will be in the assembly of timber frame housing sections, with the company seeking staff with a range of skills including roofing, tiling, plumbing, as well as groundworks and machine operatives. Mr Benn feels the sky is the limit to how big the company can grow. The Housing Minister has a massive problem [in terms of supply].. We are the solution. We can deliver the product, we have done it before. We just need the orders to come i now, he said. Its hoped from its base in Limerick, Clenn Construction can expand across Europe. One of the key central locations is Limerick itself, as you have the port of Foynes, you have Shannon Airport, you have Cork port, the motorway to Dublin, and especially the new motorway to Cork which is going to be a huge piece, Mr Benn concluded. FOR the first time ever, 13 schools and colleges were presented with Kindness Flags by Pay It Forward Limerick at a special ceremony in King Johns Castle. One playschool, six primary schools, five secondary schools and one college were presented with a Kindness Flag for consistently demonstrating a culture of kindness by the school and the students. Martinstown NS in Kilmallock, Our Lady Queen of Peace NS, Crecora NS, Caherdavin Boys School, Scoil na Trionoide Naofa in Doon, St Nessans NS, Castletroy College, Villiers, Crescent Comprehensive, Colaiste Nano Nagle and Limerick Institute of Technology were presented with their flags for the first time. The Kindness Flag initiative for schools and colleges was launched in 2016 with Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally the first school in Limerick to receive the Kindness Flag, followed in 2017 by Scoil Ide and St Munchins College. Since then the initiative has grown from strength to strength as well as outside the Limerick region. St Genevieves, a girls secondary school in Belfast who could not attend the ceremony, received its award in absentia as did Cute and Clever Play School, Lisnagry. Given the world that we do live in and the mental health and wellbeing challenges to young people, the concept of kindness flags is truly encouraging, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Stephen Keary said. To think that 13 education institutions around Limerick will have flags flying that effectively say We do kindness particularly well here is heart-warming. Yes, we want leaders, yes we want entrepreneurs, we want people to be successful in life but if all those things can be achieved by people who have kindness as one of their core principles, we will be living in a better world. At the Kindness Flag presentation ceremony, 11 more schools committed to applying for their Kindness Flags in 2019, bringing a total of 24 schools in the Limerick, Clare and Tipperary region involved in the initiative. THE man-made lake above Foynes which casued flooding of the flying boat museum last year is to be retained to provide a vital independent supply of water in the event of fire at the port. But the Shannon Foynes Port Company, which owns the lake, has agreed to monitor water levels as part of a number of measures aimed at preventing a recurrence of last Novembers flash flood. On that occasion the lake overflowed, overspilled the culvert and sent sheets of water down Marine Cove Road flooding the museum. In March, a report on the flood was presented to Adare Rathkeale councillors earlier who asked that decommissioning the lake be discussed with the port company. But following that meeting with the port company, councillors have now been told that discontinuing its use as a fire-fighting reservoir is most definitively not an option for the forseeable future. This independent firefighting water supply is a key component of the ports emergency supply chain and facilitates the ongoing growth of the port, a written report of the meeting states. Foynes port currently imports in the region of 450,000 tons of petroleum every year to the SEVESO approved AFSC terminal. Any risk to the firefighting water supply and system of the port puts that business at risk. The Irish Water local water supply is not sufficient to supply the firefighting water demand needs to a port of the scale of Foynes. Councillors had also insisted a monitoring system be installed to warn if water levels were rising. This is to be installed presently, councillors were told last week and the council will have access to the remote monitor. The system will monitor level fluctuations initially and then alarm levels will be determined and activated, the report stated. The port company also gave an undertaking to build a wall to the rear of its offices, which would divert any flood water from the hill away from the village and towards the river. In a separate move, the council is examining the option of restoring or replacing the culvert along Marine Cove Road and has begun discussions on the matter with the OPW and Transport Infrastructure Ireland. Cllr Adam Teskey pointed out that it was vital that the area between the lake and culvert be monitored and kept clear. There should be an ABC check-list, he said while Cllr Kevin Sheahan pointed out that diverting any flash flood water to the river would not work if the tide was full in. When the tide is in, the flap door (sluice gate) is closed, he said. If you take away the flap-door, you could have tidal flooding. If there were to be another flash flood, are businesses indemnified? Mayor Stephen Keary asked and he argued that those who had prepared the report should discuss the issues with the museum. They shouldnt hear this first from the media, he said. Director of services Caroline Curley, said the November flood was from an unprecedented source and the safety measures put in place would give adequate protection. (Inside Science) Exactly how long a neutron lives is currently under debate. Now researchers suggest this mystery could be solved if neutrons sometimes decay into particles of dark matter, the invisible substance thought to make up more than four-fifths of all matter in the universe. A flurry of research is now putting this notion to the test. Along with the proton and electron, the neutron makes up most of the visible universe. Without neutrons, complex atomic nuclei simply could not be stable. But once outside an atomic nucleus, a neutron would decay into a proton, an electron and a neutrino after 15 minutes on average, according to existing data. Although the neutron was discovered more than 80 years ago, the precise value for its average lifetime remains an open question. There are two different ways to probe the lifetime of neutrons. In one, scientists place ultracold neutrons in a bottle and see how many are left after a certain amount of time. In the other, researchers analyze beams of neutrons to see how many decay into protons over a given space and time. Oddly, beam experiments suggest the neutron's average lifetime is about 888 seconds, roughly 9 seconds longer than what bottle experiments do. "When the lifetime of the neutron is measured by two different approaches, and the results differ, we have a crisis -- is our basic understanding of the laws of physics wrong?" said study senior author Benjamin Grinstein, chair of physics at the University of California, San Diego. After decades of fine-tuning both experimental approaches, physicists "have found no reason to suspect the discrepancy arises from bad measurements," Grinstein said. "We are left with the very real option that we need to consider changing the laws of physics in a fundamental way." The researchers now suggest that about 1 percent of the time that neutrons decay, along with breaking down into a few known particles, they also produce dark matter particles. This may help explain one of the greatest mysteries in science. The existence of dark matter particles was proposed to help explain a variety of cosmic puzzles, such as why galaxies can spin as fast as they are seen to without getting ripped apart. Scientists have largely ruled out all known ordinary materials as candidates for dark matter -- if it exists, the consensus so far is that it is made up of new species of particles that would interact only very weakly with ordinary matter. Since beam experiments are focused on neutrons decaying into protons, they could not account for the possible mode of decay that produces dark matter particles, and thus they give a different lifetime for the neutron than bottle experiments do. "It would be truly amazing if the good old neutron turned out to be the particle enabling us to probe the dark matter sector of the universe," said study lead author Bartosz Fornal, a theoretical physicist at the University of California, San Diego. Fornal and Grinstein detailed their findings online May 9 in the journal Physical Review Letters. The physicists explored several different scenarios of "dark decay" for neutrons, where the neutrons would break down into both dark matter particles and ordinary components such as gamma rays or electrons. "Our proposed new particles are dark in that, like dark matter, they interact feebly with normal matter," Grinstein said. Fornal and Grinstein's work has so far inspired roughly a dozen studiesexamining its implications. For instance, nuclear physicist Christopher Morris at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and his colleagues searched for gamma rays from a bottle of ultracold neutrons, but couldn't detect anything within the window their instruments could observe. Another set of tests of this idea has focused on neutron stars, which are superdense clusters of neutrons that can form when giant stars die. Theoretical particle physicist Jessie Shelton at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her colleagues noted that neutron stars do not cave in to form black holes because their gravitational fields are not powerful enough to crush neutrons. However, if neutrons can decay into dark matter, it may cause neutron stars with sufficient mass to collapse due to their own gravity. This would mean that neutron stars with 70 percent of the sun's mass could collapse into black holes, which is much lighter than previous estimates. However, Shelton noted that if neutrons can indeed decay into dark matter, they will not give rise to just one kind of particle, but to at least two, and interactions between these new particles might prevent larger neutron stars from collapsing into black holes. "What we see from neutron stars suggests that neutrons decay either into no dark matter particles, or at least two," Shelton said. "Maybe the dark sector of our universe is more rich than we thought." But future experiments may prove that the neutron lifetime anomaly has nothing to do with dark matter at all, Fornal and Grinstein conceded. A highly precise experiment to analyze neutron properties, such as Perkeo IIIat the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble, France, "seems to be capable of deciding the viability of exotic neutron dark decays," said theoretical physicist William Marciano at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York, an avenue he and his colleagues explored in a study appearing online May 16 in Physical Review Letters. Another possible test involves examining neutron decay in atomic nuclei. Nuclear physicist Marek Pfutzner at the University of Warsaw in Poland said an experiment scheduled for this summer at the ISOLDE radioactive nuclei beam facility in Geneva will try to observe protons emitted as beryllium-11 decays. "If we see enough of them, we will strongly reduce the room for dark decay. If we do not see them, the excitement will grow," said Pfutzner. Inside Science News Service is supported by the American Institute of Physics. Charles Q. Choi is a science reporter who has written for Scientific American, The New York Times, Wired, Science, Nature, and National Geographic News, among others. Congolese Health Ministry officials carry the first delivery of Ebola vaccines in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo on May 16. The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is spreading, but this time around, there's a vaccine. New cases of the notorious virus which killed more than 11,000 people in the 2014 outbreak in West Africa were first documented in early April in the DRC's rural Equateur Province, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). An outbreak was officially declared on May 8. Yesterday (May 17), the first case was confirmed in Mbandaka, a city of 1.2 million people, the BBC reported. But unlike during the 2014 outbreak, response teams are armed this time with a vaccine. So far, around 4,000 doses of the drug, called rVSV-ZEBOV, have been delivered to the capital, Kinshasa, according to Reuters. The same vaccine was used to contain a smaller outbreak in Guinea in 2016, and had promising results. But even with the vaccine in hand, how quickly can health officials protect people? According to Martin Hibberd, a professor of emerging infectious disease at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), the current outbreak will put the still-new vaccine to test. "The vaccine appeared to work very well in the last outbreak" in Guinea, said Hibberd, whose team at LSHTM collaborated on the evaluation of the vaccination approach taken in that outbreak. As a result, "everyone is hoping that it will perform equally well in this [outbreak]." [10 Deadly Diseases That Hopped Across Species] Still, "there are a number of challenges to using this type of vaccine, especially in this stage," he added. The way the vaccine is being used is quite different from how standard vaccination programs work, Hibberd told Live Science. Instead of vaccinating a healthy population to protect people from a future encounter with a disease, in the case of Ebola, the response teams are vaccinating people who likely have already been exposed to the virus. "That gives you a very small time window" after the vaccine is given for the body to generate enough antibodies to fight the virus, Hibberd said. Essentially, the body must produce these antibodies faster than the virus can replicate itself inside the body, he said. And because response teams aren't giving the vaccine to everyone, but only to those who they think have been exposed, a lot of detective work is required to track down these individuals. This so-called "ring prophylactic" vaccination approach requires tracking down every person who had contact with an infected individual and giving them the vaccine. Then, health officials also intend to locate and vaccinate each person who came into contact with people in the first "ring" of people. [The 9 Deadliest Viruses on Earth] The WHO plans to send, in total, more than 7,500 doses of the vaccine to the DRC, which is enough to cover 50 rings of 150 people each. (Health care workers operating in the affected areas who are at high risk of contracting the disease will also be vaccinated.) What's more, the ground teams operating in the area are facing significant challenges, according to WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Most of the cases are in remote areas, some of which are accessible only by helicopter, Tedros said during a news conference today (May 18). This might pose further problems for the vaccination program.The rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine needs to be stored at minus 112 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 80 degrees Celsius) a significant challenge for mobile-response teams and field hospitals operating in tropical environments, Hibberd said. "One of the issues is definitely electricity supply," said Hibberd, who expects his team to get involved in tackling the outbreak by helping to track contacts of those infected. Hibberd praised the WHO's response to the current outbreak, saying he was optimistic the disease will be brought under control. "I am really keen that we have learned from the last outbreak and are actually making an effort to contain it while it's small," he said. Hibberd added that if the vaccine proves effective in the current outbreak, widespread vaccination programs might be considered to protect populations of those African countries at risk of Ebola. Originally published on Live Science. TORONTO The As thrived under severe pressure after their starters broke down early in the first two games against the Blue Jays. On Saturday, they came through again, despite another mediocre outing by staff ace Sean Manaea. Oakland trailed by four going into the eighth, but Chad Pinder was the man of the moment. Batting in the ninth spot in the order, the utility player clocked his first career grand slam to provide the margin of victory as the As beat Toronto 5-4 for their fifth victory in six games. Unbelievable, Manaea said. This whole series, the bullpen has stepped up and the offense has been amazing. This team is starting to put things together, and its really, really fun to watch. The As are 8-2 in one-run games, best in the majors, and the team is batting .265 from the seventh inning on compared to .243 before then. No one stops, Pinder said. There are still at-bats to be had. If you go up and throw away at-bats, you do yourself a disservice. They dont want to lose, manager Bob Melvin said. Our best at-bats have come late in games. ... Against closers, it doesnt matter. They want to win. Toronto had only two hits off Manaea until the fifth inning, but still managed to put up enough for a 4-0 lead. All the scoring came off Manaea, who has allowed four runs in each of his past four outings. In April, Manaea went 4-1 with a 1.00 ERA and a .130 opponent batting average, and he threw a no-hitter against Boston on April 21. In May, Manaea is 1-2 with a 5.96 ERA, and batters are hitting .286 against him. That start wasnt really the greatest, said Manaea, who said he wasnt locating his pitches as well as he should. Oakland had more hits than Toronto, but until the eighth, its rallies kept fizzling. The As finally broke through when former Oakland reliever John Axford walked Matt Chapman and gave up a base hit to Khris Davis, then, with one out, Stephen Piscotty singled in Chapman. Another ex-As reliever, Tyler Clippard, got rookie Dustin Fowler to fly out too shallow to send in a run, and then Melvin had an interesting decision to make with two outs. He had the teams top hitter, Jed Lowrie, available on the bench and two right-handed hitters coming up Jonathan Lucroy, whos been consistently productive this month, and Pinder, who entered the day batting .147 against right-handed pitchers. In a savvy bit of managing, Melvin decided to use Lowrie as quickly as possible, taking out Lucroy, the As catcher. With two outs, Ive got to go there, Melvin said. And its not easy hitting for Luc. That might be the first time hes been hit for in his career he might have even mentioned that to me later. But the way Jeds swinging this year, youve got to find a leverage at-bat. With two outs, I couldnt let that one go. Lowrie walked, and Pinder delivered with an opposite-field drive on a 1-1 fastball from Clippard. That was a great at-bat by Jed they didnt want to give him anything to hit there, Pinder said. Theyd been beating me up with fastballs, so I was looking for something up to drive and stay short and thats what I did. Lou Trivino then worked the eighth and Blake Treinen the ninth, his 10th save. Hes 7-for-7 in save chances this month. All of the Blue Jays runs came in the fifth, which started when Manaea hit leadoff batter Dwight Smith Jr. Gio Urshela followed with a homer to right, and after Josh Donaldson walked and Justin Smoak singled, Yangervis Solarte provided an RBI double and Kevin Pillar a sacrifice fly. During a particularly tough stretch of the schedule, especially given early exits Thursday and Friday by injured starters Andrew Triggs and Brett Anderson, the As have ensured themselves a winning road trip, going 6-3 entering Sundays finale at Toronto. Oakland took two of three at Boston and went 1-2 at Yankee Stadium, where a disputed reversed call on replay may have been the difference in the series. Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sslusser@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @susanslusser Posted Friday, May 18, 2018 6:09 pm Memorial Day is nearing, and area churches and cemeteries are setting dates for decoration services and business meetings. Pleasant Hill Decoration day services will begin with Sunday school at 10 a.m. Sunday, May 20, at Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church. Bro. Mike Bruce will bring the morning message with lunch served at noon. The Viles family will sing during the afternoon service. Everyone is welcome to attend. Salem Cemetery Decoration services will be at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 20, at Salem Missionary Baptist Church and Cemetery with Bro. Logan Modlin preaching. Dinner will be served around noon, and Modlin will preach again during the afternoon service. Dunnegan Cemetery The Dunnegan Cemetery Board will hold its annual meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 26, at the Dunnegan Cemetery shelter. Brighton Cemetery The Old Brighton Methodist Church Preservation Association will host decoration day and Memorial services at Brighton United Methodist Church and Cemetery. A picnic potluck on the grounds will begin at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 27. Bring a side dish or dessert to share, and fried chicken, drinks and dinner ware will be provided. The Rev. Rex Warren of Fairview United Methodist Church will lead a community worship service in the historic sanctuary after the meal. A short business meeting will begin at 2. All donations will be used for the restoration of the Brighton Church, which is on Mo. 215, three-tenths of a mile from old Mo. 13. Barren Creek The annual meeting for Barren Creek Cemetery is set for 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 27. Goff Cemetery The annual meeting for Goff Cemetery in Polk County will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 27, at the cemetery gazebo. Anyone interested is encouraged to attend or make a contribution. For more information, call Kevin Holt at 777-1870 or Giana Andrews at 327-2777. Mitchell The Mitchell Cemetery and Campground will hold its annual business meeting at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 27. All are welcome to attend. Mt. Olive Decoration day at Mt. Olive Cemetery is Sunday, May 27, with a business meeting starting at 1 p.m. at the cemetery. Reed Cemetery A business meeting regarding Reed Cemetery will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 27, at the cemetery in conjunction with decoration day. Schofield Cemetery Decoration day service for Schofield Cemetery Association, Halfway, will be at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 27. Bro. Eric Ingram will bring the memorial message. A cemetery association meeting will be followed by a basket lunch on the grounds. Antioch Cemetery Antioch Cemetery of Pittsburg is seeking donations to help with the maintenance and upkeep of cemetery grounds. The cemetery relies on community support, and all donations are greatly appreciated. Donations may be sent to Antioch Cemetery Association, 27749 State Hwy. 64, Polk MO 65727. Brush Grove To maintain its upkeep, LuAnn Redburn is asking for donations for Brush Grove Cemetery be mailed to 201 N. Hill St., Fair Play MO 65649. The church is on South 33rd Road. Take Mo. 123 north from Fair Play then turn right onto East 412th Road and a left onto South 33rd Road. Donations are greatly appreciated. Reynolds Cemetery The annual work and cleanup day for Reynolds Cemetery was Saturday, May 5. Donations to help with the maintenance and mowing expenses of the cemetery are greatly appreciated. Donations can be made out to Reynolds Cemetery Fund and mailed to Kristy Sharp, secretary and treasurer, at 1828 U.S. Hwy. 65, Buffalo MO 65622. Donations also may be taken to or mailed to OBannon Bank, PO Box 890, Buffalo MO 65622. The cemetery relies on donations to maintain its upkeep. For more information, contact a board member Kelly Brazil at (660) 525-9225, Jeff Ortner at 733-1033 or Bill Sharp at 399-3350 or K. Sharp at 328-9403. To have a decoration service added to this list, call 326-7636 or email news@bolivarmonews.com. Albany, N.Y. I don't want to know his name. I don't want to see his face. Those were among the thoughts that ran through my head when I heard Friday that there had been yet another school massacre, this time in Texas near Houston. We don't need to know his name. We don't need to see his face. But it was not long, of course, before the teenager's name and face were splashed across all of the major television networks and most of the news websites. He was instantly famous, or infamous, which most likely is precisely what he wanted. This is the way it happens after every school massacre. It's part of the ritual, right alongside the children filmed from helicopters as they exit the school, the distraught parents waiting and worrying at a safe distance from the scene, the grim-faced officers standing at a podium describing the particulars of the latest horror. We should stop giving the killers what they want. We in the media should refrain from naming them and showing their faces. That goes against journalistic instinct. We're taught to provide all the facts, to uncover unpleasant truths, to tell what we know as soon as we know it. We think censorship, especially self-censorship, is contrary to what we do. But there is such a thing as too much information. Research by Adam Lankford at the University of Alabama and Eric Madfis at the University of Washington suggests that reducing the focus on the personal details of the mass killers could deter future mass shootings. It might, in other words, quell the contagion. More Information Contact columnist Chris Churchill at 518-454-5442 or email cchurchill@timesunion.com See More Collapse "We have been helping them achieve their goals," Lankford said. "And, unfortunately, the offenders who kill more victims to get more publicity appear to be accurately exploiting predictable patterns in media behavior." Lankford and Madfis were among the 140 researchers and academics who last year wrote an open letter to the media urging that news outlets not report the images and names of mass killers. Report everything else about the crimes in detail, they said, but don't give the killers the attention they want. The copycat effect is certainly real. Writing for The New Yorker about mass killers, Malcolm Gladwell found that many continue to emulate the style and methods of the perpetrators of the Columbine school slaughter. The teens there essentially laid out the script for the next generation shooters. It is a mistake, Gladwell writes, to look at each mass killing independently, because research suggests they are connected. The perpetrator of the next mass killing has seen and absorbed the previous shootings. It's almost as if they are dominoes lined up to fall. But what if the Columbine killers had never been named? What if they and some of the shooters that followed hadn't been elevated into warped icons for lost and lonely young men? Could the contagion have been quelled? We will never know, and to be clear, nobody is suggesting that more media discipline alone could end the plague of mass shootings. There's something deeply wrong with our culture when so many young men see infamy as desirable in the first place. That will not be easy to fix. Nor is the suggestion that limits on using names and images of killers could or should be absolute. Certainly, there will always be some click-hungry news outlet or another that will capitalize on the public's fascination with the killers. And there are cases, like Gladwell's article, when publishing the names is necessary. But in most cases, it isn't. And the media landscape is still dominated by a few big players especially national TV outlets like NBC, CNN and Fox whose restraint would have a significant impact. At the very least, stop reporting the killers' self-serving Facebook rantings. This isn't an unfamiliar concept. Many news organizations at times hold back information, such as the names of sexual-assault victims or whistleblowing sources. Most news outlets are also cautious on the reporting of suicides, because research shows that giving them attention can encourage others in fragile emotional states. Well, research shows much the same about mass shootings. Why not adopt similar standards? There is hypocrisy in refusing to do so. We in the media, especially those of us on the opinion-spouting side of things, often tell those in power what they should do, and never more so than after a school massacre. Politician X should do this. Congress must to that. DO SOMETHING, we yell, to stop this unfathomable horror from happening again and again and again, to stop schools from being killing zones, to stop our children from growing up in fear. But news outlets have power and responsibility, too. They can do something. We don't need to know his name. We don't need to see his face. cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill Sister Mary Lou Liptak Background: She grew up in Rensselaer, the sixth of eight children in a family for whom life centered around the church and school at St. John's Academy, which she attended from kindergarten through 12th grade. She earned an associate degree at Maria College, a bachelor's at Empire State College and master's at Goddard College. Sister Lou lives in Altamont where she is the parish life director of St. Lucy/St. Bernadette Church. What led you to be a nun? I had an aunt who was a Sister of Charity, and I remember always wanting to be a nun. But after high school, I worked for two years, for the state comptroller's office and a finance company, before I entered the Sisters of Mercy convent in Albany across from St. Peter's Hospital. Members of my order served in mostly health care and education, and I was asked, "What do you want to be, a nurse or a teacher?" I said neither. It was just after the Second Vatican Council, which opened many doors. I was at Maria College, when a position opened for a parish assistant at Our Lady of Mercy in Colonie. It was an exciting time for me being new to ministry. I was living in Albany with six other sisters, studying and working at OLM with youth ministry and pastoral care for the homebound. I heard about a new master's in pastoral ministry at St. Joseph's in West Hartford, Conn. I got undergraduate credit for four summers attending the course. It included pastoral counseling, which I fell in love with. I got a master's in counseling psychology at Goddard College in an independent study program. I combined counseling with spirituality, finding the correlation between spirituality and psychological health. I'd like to think I was a little ahead of the curve. You were on a path to your present position. In 1981, I was hired as a pastoral associate at St. Bernadette's Church in Berne, a mission church of St. Lucy's in Altamont. I lived in the parish house, and most of the pastoral work was mine because Father Robert Roos, the pastor, served in Altamont. He was a priest's priest. He accepted everyone for who they were. I was preparing people for sacraments, providing religious education, organizing committees, overseeing the physical complex, involved in all aspects of parishioners' lives. After 17 years of our ministering together, Father Roos retired. Father Charles Lockwood was assigned as pastor. When Father Charlie died, Bishop Hubbard appointed me parish life director for both churches. The Albany diocese was one of the first to have nuns in that role. How did the parishioners respond to the change? More Information Changing the church What: "A Calling," a documentary by Nick Viscio about the transformation of a Roman Catholic parish in the Hilltowns in the voices of the people who are part of it Where: Proctors GE Theater in Schenectady When: 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday Tickets: $10 at the box office or www.proctors.org/box-office/ Preview: www.acalling.njvisciofilms.com/trailers.html See More Collapse I had been in Berne for nearly 25 years. People were pleased to have a pastoral presence in the Hilltowns. At St. Lucy's, they were used to having a priest as pastor. But they came to accept me. I've been in this community now for more than a generation. The rural parish is 50 square miles. I know the families. I was present at some of their baptisms and now prepare their children for baptism. I'd like to think I bring a different flavor to the parish because I am a woman. We have the best of both worlds a sacramental minister, Father Paul Smith, who provides spiritual guidance with me as I perform the pastoral and administrative work. It's a wonderful partnership. Your story is at the heart of "A Calling," a new documentary about Catholic women, both women religious and parishioners. Everyone has a calling. The film intertwines the story of my calling to serve in our parish and the stories of those whose calling took them in places they perhaps could not have imagined when they uttered their first "yes." Mothers serve their families every day physically and spiritually. Our Blessed Mother Mary said yes to her God. She had no idea where it was going to take her. Those who choose the single or married life have a notion of where it might lead them, but our lives take different turns and roads. In my ministry, there aren't a lot of accolades. Of course, we are not looking for that. To have it in a documentary is a little unsettling. It's humbling. I hope people will see the film and hear our stories and it will inspire all to follow their calling. Rob Brill Of the two evangelical pastors who offered prayers Monday at the ceremony for the opening of the American Embassy in Jerusalem, Robert Jeffress received most of the publicity. Mitt Romney has rightly criticized President Trump's choice of a "religious bigot" to participate in this event, pointing to Jeffress' comments about other religions including his characterization of Romney's Mormon faith as "a heresy from the pit of hell." However, the most theologically significant prayer at the ceremony was offered by John Hagee, a megachurch pastor from San Antonio. Hagee, a longtime supporter of Israeli policies, thanked the Lord on this occasion "that Jerusalem is and always shall be the eternal capital of the Jewish people." "Eternal" covers a long time span. It is not often that presidential administrations get to make decisions with that kind of staying power, but for those evangelicals who endorse the theology that informed Hagee's prayer, Trump was simply doing God's will in relocating the embassy in Jerusalem. They see the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 as a fulfillment of an ancient prophecy. Those of us in the evangelical world who have criticized the policies of the Benjamin Netanyahu government have been quickly reminded of the ways we are evoking God's displeasure with us. But it was a shameful thing for evangelical pastors to be celebrating the opening of the embassy in Jerusalem while a few miles away the Israeli army was killing dozens and wounding many more Palestinian protesters against Israeli policies. It's shameful, not only because they use their theology to make the moving of the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem a matter of "eternal" significance, but also because they refuse to hold the Netanyahu government accountable for Israel's treatment of Palestinians, some of whom are evangelical Christians. I do want God to "bless" Israel, as did the ancient prophets. But those prophets never called for an uncritical acceptance of whatever happened to be the policies and practices of Israel's leaders. God wants the leaders to promote the cause of righteousness, which has to do with, among other things, how they treat "the stranger in the land." The ancient Hebrew writers were consistent in emphasizing his point: "And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt." If we want God to "bless" Israel we should keep calling the present Israeli government to treat the Palestinians as those who are "born among you." We do Israel no favors by praying at its celebrations while ignoring the grave injustices taking place not far away. Richard Mouw is a professor of Faith and Public Life at Fuller Theological Seminary. Washington House Republican leaders suffered an embarrassing setback Friday when conservatives scuttled an ambitious farm bill, part of a high-stakes power play as they once again exert their oversized sway in the House. In this case, conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus wanted to slow the momentum of bipartisan immigration legislation to help young "Dreamers." Republican moderates are gaining ground with their immigration effort and conservatives don't like the deals taking shape. By withholding their votes on the farm bill, they flexed their political muscle to doom both. Not even a tweet from President Donald Trump supporting the farm bill could save it from the chaos Friday. It was defeated, 213-198. Some 30 Republicans joined with every chamber Democrat in opposition. The vote was a blow to GOP leaders, exposing the power struggle underway as leaders jockey to replace Speaker Paul Ryan, who is not seeking re-election. It disrupts GOP efforts to portray party unity ahead of the midterm election and to rack up legislative wins to motivate voters to the polls to keep their majority. Trump is "disappointed in the result of today's vote" and "hopes the House can resolve any remaining issues," said Deputy Press Secretary Lindsay Walters. The outcome also shelves for now the big, five-year farm bill, a top GOP priority because it combines stricter work and job training requirements for food stamp recipients long pushed by Ryan as part of his safety net cuts with a renewal of farm subsidies popular in GOP-leaning farm country. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., a veteran campaign strategist, said it's a "mistake" for conservatives to play the farm and immigration bills against each other. "You don't hold one thing hostage for something that's totally different," he said. Conservatives, though, have gained clout in the House by withholding their block of some 30 votes to exert their sway on legislation. That strategy is only expected to escalate as they jockey for promotions up the leadership ladder once Ryan retires. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a leader of the House Freedom Caucus who has expressed an interest in running for House speaker, said some conservatives had concerns over the farm bill, largely because of its spending, but "my main focus was making sure we do immigration policy right." Democrats are strongly opposed to the farm bill, saying the stricter work and job training rules are poorly designed and would drive 2 million people off food stamps. They took a victory lap after the vote. Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md. said the dysfunction under the Republican majority in Congress is another reason why voters in November "are going to give us their jobs." The farm bill's rejection scrambled the prospects for what had seemed to be an agreement over the immigration standoff. The estranged brother of a former judge running for county commissioner contacted the Dallas Morning News earlier this week with a bold assertion: That the candidate, Vickers 'Vic' Cunningham, was a lifelong racist. Cunningham, a former criminal district judge, largely denied his brother's accusations. But he confirmed to the newspaper that he had set up a living trust with a clause that would reward his children if they married a white person. "I strongly support traditional family values," Cunningham, 55, told the Dallas Morning News. "If you marry a person of the opposite sex that's Caucasian, that's Christian, they will get a distribution." The trust, in addition to other allegations of racist behavior, has already cost him an endorsement in a Republican runoff election on May 22 for county commissioner in Dallas County. Cunningham said his views on interracial marriage have changed since 2010, when he created the trust. He said he is accepting of his son's relationship with a woman of Vietnamese descent, for example - but told the Dallas Morning News he could not change the terms of the trust. While Cunningham claims he is not a racist, statements people claim he's made show otherwise. Amanda Tackett, who worked on Cunningham's 2006 campaign for district attorney, said she heard him on several occasions use the n-word to describe black people. She told the Dallas Morning News that Cunningham would refer to his criminal cases involving black people as "T.N.D.s," which stood for "Typical [n-word] Deals." Tackett likened Cunningham to "a character out of a movie." Cunningham told the Dallas Morning News that, despite the racial preferences he had for his children's spouses, he was never discriminatory as a criminal district judge - a job he held for 10 years in Dallas County, during which he presided over the trials of dozens of black and Hispanic people and sent them to prison. When asked by the newspaper if he'd ever used the N-word, he paused for several seconds, and asked if the question was referring to the use of the word in court. When the newspaper clarified that they meant use of the word in everyday life, he said no. Now, he faces an election in a county where blacks and Hispanics make up the majority of the population. It's already a contentious race between Cunningham and attorney J.J. Koch, who last year filed a lawsuit hoping to oust the Dallas County elections administrator. Cunningham entered the race because of the lawsuit, as he was concerned that Koch would fail in the five-member commissioners court's only Republican seat, having burned bridges with many county officials, the Dallas Morning News reported. The lawsuit was eventually dropped. County commissioners are typically responsible for administering the county government. The Republican nominee will face Wini Cannon, a Democrat, and Alberto Perez, a Libertarian, in November. Cunningham and his campaign could not be immediately reached by The Post for comment. He has not indicated that he will drop out of the race. In February, the editorial board of the Dallas Morning News endorsed Cunningham in the race, saying he "would also bring an even temperament, honed by years on the criminal bench, to what has often been a fractious governing body." On Friday the editorial board pulled its backing after the latest revelations. Cunningham's brother, Bill Cunningham, approached the Dallas Morning News Monday, shortly after Cunningham showed up at his home and threatened him and his husband, who is black, and repeatedly referred to his husband as "your boy," the newspaper reported. "His views and his actions are disqualifying for anyone to hold public office in 2018," Bill Cunningham told the newspaper. "It frightens me to death to think of people in power who could hurt people." Cunningham's other brothers, Ross Cunningham and Greg Cunningham, said Bill Cunningham was a deeply troubled man who was estranged from the family. They said he was trying to destroy Vic Cunningham's election prospects because of a loan dispute. More than 7 million people nationwide may have had their driver's licenses suspended for failure to pay court or administrative debt, a practice that advocates say unfairly punishes the poor, a Washington Post analysis found. About 10 percent of that total involved residents of Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. The total number nationwide could be much higher based on the population of states that did not or could not provide data. At least 41 states and the District suspend or revoke driver's licenses after drivers fail to pay traffic tickets or appear in court to respond to such tickets. Driver's license suspensions were criticized by anti-poverty activists after a 2015 federal investigation, focused on Ferguson, Missouri, revealed that law enforcement used fines to raise revenue for state and local governments. Suspensions can keep unsafe drivers off the road but also can prevent people who haven't committed serious crimes from working, getting their children to school and getting out of debt, according to advocates for the poor. The Washington Post sought records from 49 states and the District (Louisiana wouldn't release the information without a records request that cost hundreds of dollars). Jurisdictions track driver's license suspensions differently, and some could not or would not provide the data. A spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles said 647,517 drivers had their licenses suspended as of late 2016 for failure to pay fines and costs. Maryland suspended 48,508 licenses, and the District suspended 3,300 in fiscal 2016 - although the District doesn't differentiate between licenses suspended for failure to pay fines and failure to appear in court, according to its Department of Motor Vehicles. Like the District, many states, such as Missouri and Utah, don't track how many drivers lose licenses because of court debt. Some states are trying to reduce their numbers of debt-related license suspensions. Alaska, for example, doesn't have the authority to suspend licenses for unpaid court debt, a spokeswoman for its Department of Administration said, and California Gov. Jerry Brown, D, signed a law in June to prevent people from losing licenses because of unpaid traffic fines. Then-Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, D, signed a bill in May last year that made it easier for drivers with suspended licenses to establish payment plans. The District Council is mulling a bill that would prevent residents who earn less than $39,000 a year from losing their licenses for not paying court debt. Elissa Silverman, I, the bill's author, said in a statement that "an unpaid parking ticket or two can plunge a D.C. low-wage worker into prolonged financial and legal jeopardy." Ariel Levinson-Waldman, president of Tzedek DC, a nonprofit that represents low-income District residents, and who worked with Silverman on the bill, said the city was "on the front end of a wave" of a national effort to restructure suspension policies in the wake of the Ferguson report. Indeed, challenges to driver's license suspensions are winding their way through the courts. The Virginia-based Legal Aid Justice Center filed a class-action lawsuit in 2017 that claimed that the state suspended driver's licenses in an "unconstitutional scheme." President Barack Obama's Justice Department filed a brief in support of the claim before it was dismissed by a federal judge. That dismissal is under appeal. In a report last year that studied five states, the group found more than 4 million people had lost their licenses for failure to pay court debt. Angela Ciolfi, a legal director at the Legal Aid Justice Center, said the group started looking at driver's license suspensions after finding that, even with a lawyer, the system was "too complex and too rigid" for poor people to pay their debts and get their licenses back. "It's not just about driving," she said. "It's about basic human dignity - the right to survive and take care of your family." Texas, by far, suspends the most driver's licenses for failure to pay fines, although other states have a higher proportion of suspended licenses. Under Texas's Driver Responsibility Program, the state penalizes drivers with surcharges after they've accumulated a certain number of points on their license. A spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety said about 1.4 million people had their driving privileges suspended for nonpayment of fees. In addition, about 296,000 drivers couldn't renew their licenses after failing to appear in court to answer a citation or failing to pay a fine, the spokesman said. (The state does not differentiate between "failure to appear" and "failure to pay.") Some legislatures have responded to the complaints of low-income drivers, and recent court rulings also have gone in their favor. In December, a federal judge in Michigan issued a preliminary injunction stopping the state from suspending the driver's licenses of those too poor to pay court debts. In October, a federal judge in Tennessee temporarily restored the licenses of two drivers who failed to pay traffic-related debts. In the Tennessee case, a disabled man with cirrhosis of the liver lost his license after not paying $441 in tickets for speeding and failure to maintain insurance, according to court filings in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. He was hospitalized after the loss of his license prevented him from getting medical treatment, the documents said. The case also detailed the plight of Ashley Sprague, a 26-year-old single mother of five who lost her license after failing to pay $477.50 for speeding and failure to provide proof of insurance. She was without a license for more than a year, she said, and temporarily lost her job at Waffle House as a result. "Driving is a privilege," she said. "But at the same time, if you're a single mom with five kids trying to get on your feet, it's a necessity." License suspensions stemming from court debt have caught the eye of jail administrators. Martin Kumer, superintendent of the Albemarle County Regional Jail in Charlottesville, wondered what charges were driving up the jail population years ago after it became overcrowded. Driving on a suspended license was one of the top charges inmates faced. "We couldn't believe it," he said. "We thought there must be some mistake. It was right up there with drugs and breaking and entering." Concerned that inmates could never escape debts, Kumer set up a program in which offenders cleared to work outside the jail could pick up trash and have $7.25 per hour credited toward their court debts. The program resulted in more than $500,000 of court debt paid off in three years. Martize Tolbert, a Charlottesville, Virginia, man recently released from prison, lost his license in 2007 after being incarcerated for drug and weapons charges. He was released in July 2016 and got his license back last year after delays stemming from about $10,000 in court debt and interest that accrued while he was behind bars, he said. "I was already in debt, and my license was suspended when I got out," he said. Tolbert has had a number of jobs since his release, most recently working as a carpet cleaner earning $12 per hour. He got his license back after the Fountain Fund, a nonprofit microlender that aims to improve the lives of former inmates returning to society, lent him about $3,000 at 5 percent interest. Even with help, Tolbert said the path to getting his license was an "uphill climb." A 38-year-old man with a 6-year-old son, he had to hold down a job while retaking his driving test and paying off his court debt. "It's hard to get out of the trouble you're in," he said. - - - The Washington Post's Jennifer Jenkins contributed to this report. Paige Curry tried to keep calm Friday morning as a gunman tore through her Santa Fe High School, eventually killing 10 people and injuring another 10. The 17-year-old watched as a girl nearby panicked. Curry, herself terrified, considered running out of the building, but her teacher told her to instead stay indoors and hide. So that's what Curry did. Moments later, the massacre ended. The suspected shooter was taken into custody. Curry had survived. A television reporter, Foti Kallergis of ABC-13, then asked the student for an interview. Was there a part of her that thought this wasn't real - that this couldn't happen at her school? Her answer would shake many across the country. "No," she said, without looking directly at Kallergis. "There wasn't." "It's been happening everywhere," she said with a shrug. "I've always kind of felt like eventually it was going to happen here, too." The Southeast Texas shooting was the 16th so far this year at a school during school hours, according to a Washington Post analysis. The Post's analysis found that since 1999, shootings during school hours have killed at least 139 children, educators and other people; another 277 have also been injured. And the rampage came just three months after a gunman in Parkland, Florida, killed 17 students and staff members at a high school. What happened in Santa Fe was just the latest in a seemingly endless string of shootings at schools, churches, and movie theaters - places where American people's routines have been upturned with sudden gunfire and tragedy. Curry's words, delivered emotionally yet assertively, are heartbreaking to many who can't imagine that the nation's children view themselves as potential targets. "Paige Curry, I am so sorry you had to go through this. I am so sorry you've felt that way. I am so sorry you were right," one person wrote on Twitter. Kyle Kashuv, a survivor of the Parkland shooting who has spoken up for gun owners' rights, wrote on Twitter Friday that Curry's comments were the result of gun-control rhetoric encouraged by the media. "Yes, the media and their lies are definitely failing our children," Kashuv wrote. Benjamin Wallace-Wells of the New Yorker wrote that Curry's reaction shows students have evolved along with the threat of shootings. It used to be that students who survived these horrors were made out to be shocked victims. That began to change after Parkland, where student outrage led to a reinvigoration of the gun-control movement. Curry is further evidence of the change. She is expectant, and aware. The massacre was not surreal, for her. It was not even a surprise. Or, as The Post's Monica Hesse tweeted that Curry's comments exemplify " how school shootings have become as American as prom." By Friday afternoon, people on social media were already accusing Curry of being a "crisis actor," playing the part of a grieving student and reading from a script in the local television report. David Hogg, a survivor of the Parkland shooting, has for months been inundated with similar false allegations from online conspiracy theorists looking to attack his credibility. The suspected shooter has been identified as Dimitrios Pagourtzis, 17. He has been charged with capital murder and aggravated assault of a peace officer and booked in the Galveston County jail without bond, authorities said. After the shooting, police and federal authorities could be seen blocking off a home linked to Pagourtzis' mother and were going in and out of the home for hours. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, said that the shooter, who was being held by the Santa Fe police, had journals documenting his thoughts on both his computer and his cellphone. The shooter said "not only did he want to commit the shooting, but he wanted to commit suicide after," Abbott said. New offices open and close all the time in Washington. Usually it happens in subtle shifts - maybe a nameplate is removed and another added. Only when companies the size of Amazon.com or Apple speculate on coming to the area, carrying with them the promise of massive job opportunities and traffic headaches, do we notice (and then we usually beg and balk). But last week a new tenant moved into the District of Columbia, and it should make us pause. Hours after President Donald Trump hosted a California roundtable about immigration, where he focused on criminals and "animals" who had entered the country illegally, a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place about two blocks from the White House. At that moment, with a symbolic slice of a crimson ribbon, the largest immigrant rights organization in California claimed a space in the nation's capital. For more than three decades, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights has stayed on its own coast. By opening a District office now, the organization is sending an important and unmistakable message: The stakes in Washington are too high to fight only from afar. This in-your-face stance comes in the same week The Washington Post revealed that the government is considering housing immigrant children on military bases, a sign it is moving forward with plans to split families who enter the country illegally. "Opening up an office is more than opening up a door," Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., said to the dozens gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. "It's putting a stake in the ground in Washington, D.C., our nation's capital, that says, 'We're here, and we're not going away.' " He called California "home to the resistance." Just a few hours earlier at the roundtable, Trump offered a different description for the sock-shaped state. He describes it as the site of "a revolution." Residents there, he said, "want safety." The president and others at the table spent most of the discussion addressing horrific crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. They spoke of gang members, rapists and murderers. If a person had never met an immigrant before and had only heard what was discussed at that meeting, they could be excused for adding locks to their doors and clutching their children closer. "They're releasing these criminals, not by their houses," San Jacinto Mayor Crystal Ruiz said. "They're releasing them by our houses. Our children are at risk. My community is my family. You're putting my family at risk." Trump's "animals" comment came in response to a concern that Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims expressed about the difficulty in reporting suspected MS-13 gang members to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "We have people coming into the country - or trying to come in, we're stopping a lot of them - but we're taking people out of the country, you wouldn't believe how bad these people are," the president said. "These aren't people. These are animals." A five-minute walk from the White House, on the third floor of a building that requires visitors to check in, there were no signs of animals. Or murderers. Or, to borrow an earlier Trump term, "bad hombres." There were men in suits and women in pencil skirts. There were hors d'oeuvres. This was the picture of immigration left out of the roundtable discussion. Many of the people who came to the coalition event were immigrants or the children of immigrants who entered the country without proper documentation and had dedicated years of their lives to helping others. There was a day laborer who had organized men like him. There was the son of a garment worker who assisted young immigrants. There was Luis Perez. The 37-year-old holds a law degree and serves as the organization's director of legal services. He was 9 when he and his parents crossed the border from Mexico. He is well aware that children making that same journey today could face the possibility of being torn from their parents, and he said as a father, he can't help but think of his 3-year-old daughter. "Not only are you separating families, but you're also criminalizing parents," he said. In 2007, just before Perez was accepted as the first undocumented immigrant into UCLA's law school, he opened his mail to find a deportation order. For 11 years, he fought that order. In February, he finally became eligible for a green card. Now that the coalition has an office in Washington, Perez said, it will be able to hold lawmakers accountable and allow immigrants to be more visible. "There's a tendency to think when things get really bad we need to go into hiding," he said. "But that's the time to step up and be on the front lines. We can't go back into the shadows. We need to fight." There is no easy answer on immigration reform, which is desperately needed in our country. But, at minimum, the public deserves to see the full picture of who will be affected by the decisions the government makes. It is easy to kick an animal out of your house. It is harder to do that when it's a person in a suit, or a maid's smock, or a military uniform. The United States is planning to provide several million dollars to support the global response to the growing Ebola outbreak in Congo, officials said Friday. Details are being finalized, and an announcement is expected early next week. The outbreak, the most serious since the 2014 West Africa epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people, does not yet meet the criteria to be declared an international public health emergency, the World Health Organization said Friday. But the WHO, in a statement, said "a vigorous response" from the international community is needed to prevent a sharp escalation in the outbreak. The discovery this week of at least one case in a densely populated port city on the eastern bank of the Congo River has raised concerns about the potential for rapid spread of the disease, which had previously been limited to a remote area in the rain forest of Congo's Equateur province. To date, there are 45 cases, and 25 of those people have died. More than 530 individuals may have been in contact with infected people and are being monitored, and they may be candidates for the first round of an experimental vaccine. WHO officials estimate that outbreak control efforts will cost $26 million over the next three months. So far, the WHO has received commitments for about $9 million. "So we are about 17 million short," Peter Salama, the WHO's lead official in charge of epidemic response, said during a news conference in Geneva on Friday. That may sound like a "considerable amount, he said, but not compared to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, which cost between $3 to $4 billion. "So this is a relatively small investment to stamp out a small outbreak quickly, for a major gain in lives saved, but also in dollars saved." Some global health experts have expressed concern privately that the U.S. response would be minimized given President Donald Trump's disparaging and isolationist comments about Ebola during the 2014 epidemic. He complained about two sick American health workers being flown back to the United States for treatment and said they should not be brought into the country. But the U.S. response so far appears to be appropriate for this outbreak, experts say. "I don't see any evidence that the president's former comments about Ebola have impacted the U.S. response," said one global health expert who requested anonymity to speak candidly. Thomas Inglesby, director of Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said: "My sense is that while they have not been too public with what they are doing yet, they are in fact doing a lot and will be sending teams into the field as per the requests of DRC and WHO." On Friday, the U.S. Agency for International Development said it has provided an initial $1 million to the WHO to combat the outbreak. Several million additional dollars are expected to be announced next week to support the effort, according to U.S. officials who requested anonymity because details are being worked out. These funds would be separate from the $252 million in unused Ebola funds remaining from the 2014 epidemic that the administration wants Congress to cut. USAID is also sending 2,000 personal protective equipment kits, laboratory materials for diagnostic testing, and other technical support. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has already mobilized its country office in Congo, which includes several experts with extensive experience in the 2014 West Africa epidemic. The CDC has also assembled a team of about a dozen experts who are planning to deploy to Congo within days. Their expertise includes infection control, contact tracing, and emergency operations management. One of the agency's senior Ebola experts, Pierre Rollin, said in an interview this week that multiple CDC teams are preparing to deploy if needed, with each shift in the Congo expected to last four to six weeks. "We have intensified our support to the response," Anne Schuchat, CDC's principal deputy director, said in an interview Friday. Because the WHO and Congolese officials have responded quickly so far, the CDC has not yet needed to send in large teams. But the next few days will be critical, she said, to prevent the virus from spreading to another country, and for personnel on the ground in the outbreak areas to keep up with contact tracing. But unlike the West Africa epidemic, she said, "this is not thousands of new cases, which is what we were dealing with in the [West African] capitals." The National Security Council, which last week lost its top official responsible for leading the U.S. response to pandemics and split up the global health security team he oversaw, is managing the overall response in coordination with the CDC and USAID, a spokesperson said. As details emerged of the mass shooting more than 200 miles away at Santa Fe High School in Galveston County, school districts in San Antonio emphasized the collective nature of responsibility for campus safety. Schools cant prevent campus violence alone, school district leaders said. It takes every single one of us, said Brian Gottardy, superintendent of the North East Independent School District, in a letter to the community in which he said the relentless pace of school shootings had left him overwhelmed with frustration. After the Feb. 14 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 dead, the district contracted with a company that monitors social media, to flag threats against the district, its schools or students. If students post threats or anything that indicates potential danger, police can contact their families and go to their homes, NEISD spokeswoman Aubrey Chancellor said. But the district also relies very heavily on parents, she said. Schools aim for a culture that encourages students, employees and parents to feel comfortable reporting possible threats, even if those coming forward are unsure of the truth or significance of their information, said Leslie Price, spokeswoman for San Antonio ISD. Bexar County school districts each have their own police departments and investigate threats with other law enforcement agencies. They have strengthened campus entrances and infrastructure. No one can promise absolute safety, school officials have said over the years. What they can do is constantly evaluate the safety practices that we have in place, to constantly reinforce to our communities the need to be conscious around those safety practices and then to actually practice those measures routinely, Northside ISD spokesman Barry Perez said. See the full story on the Express-News. Alia Malik is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | amalik@express-news.net | @AliaAtSAEN 1 Ebola outbreak: Congos latest Ebola outbreak does not yet warrant being declared a global health emergency, the World Health Organization announced Friday, as health officials rushed to contain the often deadly virus that has spread to a city of more than 1 million. The vast, impoverished country now has 14 confirmed Ebola cases, with dozens of others probable or suspected. WHO officials, speaking after an experts meeting on the outbreak, said vaccinations are to begin on Sunday in a key test of an experimental vaccine. 2 Gaza inquiry: The U.N. Human Rights Council voted Friday to set up a commission of inquiry to look into a deadly crackdown on protesters in Gaza by Israeli forces. Meeting in a special session in Geneva, the council voted 29-2 with 14 abstentions to back a resolution that also condemned the disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians. Nearly 60 people were killed and hundreds wounded by Israeli fire Monday in the deadliest day of cross-border violence since a 2014 war. Israel condemned the resolution, and the U.S. decried it as an example of a biased focus on Israel by the council. Both lamented that it didnt mention Gazas Hamas rulers, whom Israel blames for the violence. A new study has found that when cholesterol levels are reduced, cancer immunotherapy becomes more effective. The findings offer a simple way to improve this fledgling technology. Share on Pinterest Lowering cholesterol may improve cancer outcomes in the future. Immunotherapy is a fairly new but successful method of treating cancer. It uses the bodys own immune system to fight cancerous cells. Scientists are currently investigating a range of immunotherapies that use a variety of tactics. Some types work to enhance the bodys natural immune response against cancer cells, and this is known as passive immunization. Other versions actively direct the immune system to attack specific proteins on cancer cells, and these are called active immunotherapies. One type of passive immunization adoptive T cell transfer involves engineering T cells to home in on a specific cancer type before transplanting them into the patient. Boosting immunotherapy Adoptive T cell transfer is still a relatively new technology. In fact, the first two procedures of this type to be used in the United States were only approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017 . As such, scientists are still working out how to enhance the therapy and make it as effective as possible. For instance, researchers are currently investigating the use of different methods to transplant the T cells, as well as how combining the therapy with other drugs might improve outcomes. Dr. Qing Yi, Ph.D., from the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute in Ohio, is approaching this question from a slightly different angle. He is interested in how cholesterol may play a part in the success of adoptive T cell transfer. The latest study from his laboratory is now published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. In previous work, Dr. Yi identified that a specific subtype of T cell Tc9 cells were more fiercely anti-cancer than others. Tc9 cells are known to excrete interleukin 9 (IL 9), a signaling molecule with anti-tumor properties. Building on this finding, Dr. Yi wanted to understand whether Tc9 cells could be enhanced further. Patients who have an acute kidney injury during hospitalization experienced a 44 percent higher relative risk of heart failure within one year of discharge, compared to those without acute kidney injury, reported new Kaiser Permanente research published today in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Acute kidney injury is a sudden decline in the ability of the kidneys to perform their normal function of filtering waste products from blood. People who are hospitalized for a wide variety of conditions, from major surgery to severe infection, are at risk for acute kidney injury, which can increase a patient's long-term risk of death even after they are successfully treated and sent home. "While Kaiser Permanente has had success in lowering rates of acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients, rates are rising nationwide, and even minor injury is linked to a higher risk of death," said Alan S. Go, MD, director of the Comprehensive Clinical Research Unit within the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research and lead author of the new study. Hospitalized patients who experience acute kidney injury face a 44 percent greater risk of heart failure during their first year after leaving the hospital. Advertisement Meanwhile, Dr. Go and others are examining the mechanisms underlying the increased risk. "Kidney damage affects a number of biological pathways, including inflammation and mineral metabolism," Dr. Go said. "If we could understand how these changes increase risk of heart failure, we may be able to develop new strategies for prevention." Source: Eurekalert Roughly 1 in 25 people who are hospitalized for any reason will experience heart failure within a year. Rates of other cardiovascular events linked to atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries) did not differ significantly between the two groups. "The number of atherosclerotic events in patients with acute kidney injury was lower than we expected," Dr. Go said. "Overall, our results highlight heart failure as a key risk for patients who experienced acute kidney injury in the hospital." According to senior author Kathleen D. Liu, MD, PhD, of the University of California, San Francisco, the new findings suggest the need for doctors to be more vigilant in looking for signs of heart failure in patients who experienced acute kidney injury during hospitalization. "Earlier detection of heart failure symptoms in these patients could potentially save lives."Meanwhile, Dr. Go and others are examining the mechanisms underlying the increased risk. "Kidney damage affects a number of biological pathways, including inflammation and mineral metabolism," Dr. Go said. "If we could understand how these changes increase risk of heart failure, we may be able to develop new strategies for prevention."Source: Eurekalert Earlier research by Dr. Go and colleagues linked hospitalized acute kidney injury to elevated risk of high blood pressure. In this new study, which adds to that body of work, the research team examined electronic health records of patients who were admitted to one of Kaiser Permanente's 21 hospitals in Northern California at some point between 2006 and 2013. They investigated whether the risk of various cardiovascular events within one year of leaving the hospital differed between patients who experienced acute kidney injury while hospitalized and those who did not. Out of 146,931 hospitalized patients included in the analysis, 31,245 experienced acute kidney injury. To help ensure an accurate comparison, patients with acute kidney injury were statistically matched to patients without acute kidney injury, according to similar demographics, length of hospital stay, medications they took, how acutely ill they were and other characteristics. Advertisement But now, in an article published in PLOS Genetics, University of Delaware biologist Salil Lachke and his collaborators show the protein (Celf1) is essential to this process and reveal the mechanism used in three different vertebrates - mice, frogs and zebrafish.They also show the role this molecular machine plays in controlling factors that normally inhibit cell division, information that could have significant implications for cancer research.The discoveries plant one of the earliest flags in a little-explored frontier of eye lens biology - showing how an RNA-binding protein found in fish, amphibians and mammals rewires components normally involved in cell division in order to control cell differentiation and specialization during lens development. They show that this RNA-binding protein is essential to breaking down the nucleus' membrane and starting the process of digesting fiber cell DNA that would otherwise obstruct vision."Scientists and philosophers have long wondered at the beauty and complexity of the vertebrate eye," Nobel Laureate Craig Mello wrote after reading Lachke's article. "How has evolution assembled this amazingly complex organ? Dr. Salil Lachke at the University of Delaware has been systematically searching for answers to this question for many years."In this study, Mello said, Lachke "reveals how building the eye actually requires de-constructing the internal, opaque, structures inside the cells that form the lens, including destroying the DNA itself. In a collaborative study, Salil and co-workers identify an RNA-binding protein Celf1, that plays a role in eye development in fish, frogs and mice, and they identify key mRNAs regulated by Celf1."But how does a cell degrade its own nucleus and DNA without killing itself and defeating the goal of lens development? How does it know when to stop this degradation?"Isn't that sort of a counter-productive thing to do - destroying the one thing that keeps it alive?" Lachke said. "It's almost like arrested cell death. In normal cell death, the body gets rid of the nuclei as well as the cell. But here, the lens wants to keep itself functional and does so by getting rid of the nuclei but still keeping the cells, which act as bags filled with 'crystallin' proteins that effectively refract light.The RNA-binding protein Celf1 is the key to this process."The functions of RNA-binding proteins, especially in organ development, are not well understood, mainly because scientists have not looked at them as carefully yet," Lachke said. "Most studies focus on signaling proteins and DNA-binding proteins that are important for initiating gene expression. But after you turn on a gene, you have to do a lot to precisely regulate its final output. In a process known as 'post-transcriptional control,' RNA-binding proteins determine the life span of their target RNA or whether that RNA should be translated into protein. Thus, it is essential to study RNA-binding proteins and the molecular processes they control after a gene is turned on."If you think of genes as lights that are turned on in a house, you could think of these proteins as the ones who go around making sure lights are kept on in the correct rooms and turned off when no longer needed.That's where Celf1 comes in. Its molecular interactions with specific RNA in the lens initiate events that make it possible to break open the envelope of the nucleus and degrade the DNA within in order to allow light to reach the retina properly.When Celf1 is absent or deficient, serious eye disorders, including cataracts at birth, result."The whole process is very complicated and regulated very tightly," said Archana Siddam, who recently earned her doctorate in Lachke's lab and was the co-lead author on the PLOS Genetics article. "And this project sheds light on the molecular mechanism behind this complex process. We knew the lens gets rid of the nucleus, but we didn't know the control mechanism. This sheds light on how exactly it is degraded, what genes are involved and that Celf1 is the factor that orchestrates the whole process."Part of the same process is critical to cell division and development - but in those cases it does not degrade the nucleus. Instead, it remodels its envelope so that the duplicated DNA can be evenly distributed to two daughter cells. This new information about Celf1 is sure to provide new traction in other cellular research, including cancer studies.Mello, who shared the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Andrew Fire for their discovery of RNA interference, said he has followed Lachke's "exciting work" since 2012, when Lachke was awarded a prestigious fellowship from the Pew Charitable Trusts - the first awarded to a UD researcher. Mello was a Pew recipient in 1995 and now chairs the national advisory committee that selects Pew's biomedical scholars."Clearly Delaware has been doing an amazing job recruiting young faculty," Mello wrote, "as Delaware has had two additional Pew Scholarships awarded already since then - one to Dr. April Kloxin and one to Dr. Catherine Grimes."Lachke's research provides important new insight in a critical field of research, said Mello, distinguished professor in the University of Massachusetts Medical School's Program in Molecular Medicine and an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. "Cataracts are a major cause of blindness and Dr. Lachke's work is providing fundamental new knowledge on the basic underlying mechanisms involved in eye development," Mello wrote. "This is extremely important work."And there is much more to do, Lachke said."This is relatively unexplored territory," Lachke said. "Of about 1,500 RNA-binding proteins, fewer than 100 are currently known to be directly linked to disease. We have now linked Celf1 to cataract eye disease. This will inform ophthalmic geneticists to look closely at Celf1 for possible mutations in individuals with cataracts at birth, and it will also inform cancer biologists to look into Celf1 as a candidate that can impact key factors involved in cancer."Among Lachke's research team were University of Delaware students Deepti Anand, Christine Dang and Atul Kakrana.As Lachke's lab investigated the science at UD, two other collaborators and their labs were doing the same in other vertebrate models - Luc Paillard of the University of Rennes in France and his team studied frogs, while Jeffrey Gross of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and his team studied zebrafish.Also contributing were Carole Gautier-Courteille, Vincent Legagneuax, Agnes Mereau and Justine Viet of the University of Rennes, and Linette Perez-Campos of the University of Texas-Austin.The research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and Retina France."Science is all about collaboration," said Siddam, who now is working as a Commissioner's Fellow in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Winchester, Massachusetts office. "That's something Salil fosters in all of his graduate students. I'm glad I had the opportunity to work in that environment. We worked as a team with those in France and Pittsburgh - and that was so wonderful. We learned so many things from each other and the scope got bigger because of all the contributions."Source: Eurekalert Seldom do we come across an SUV so incredible that it just blows our minds away. Named after the 3106 carat Cullinan gem, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan is one beast only the super rich can think of getting their hands on. With a starting price of 250,000 pounds, the Cullinan uses a 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 engine with a top speed of 155mph. It goes from 0-62mph in just 5 seconds. rolls royce The Cullinan rides on a 22-inch wheelbase with a turning circle of 13.23 metres and boasts of a 600-litre boot that can be extended to 1930 litres by folding the backseats. While the 4x4 from Rolls Royce is essentially an SUV, the company is going to great lengths to term it a high-bodied car instead. Since it's a high-riding symbol of luxury, the Cullinan can be lowered around 40mm or one and a half inch if the passenger wants to get off it. The unlock button along with the door handle sensors helps to curtsy the Cullinan which rises back up when the start button is pressed. rolls royce The high-bodied car comes with a whole host of other features as well and as expected, the final price for a bespoke model with personal touches might go for more than double the base price of 250,000 pounds. These bespoke modules and suites include equipment hampers for activities that the super-rich customer might enjoy ranging from shooting to rock-climbing and even drone-racing. rolls royce Apart from super-luxurious insides, one of the most incredible features of this 4x4 from Rolls Royce is a stereo system camera that is integrated into the windscreen to read the road for bumps and thereby make adjustments to the chassis to keep the high-net worth customers comfy inside. rolls royce The BMW owned Rolls-Royce currently sells around 3,362 cars a year and employs around 1,400 people in the UK. With this new 4x4, the number of cars sold by Rolls-Royce is expected to grow exponentially since it's being advertised as an everyday car by the luxury manufacturer. While you may have to shell out a fortune for this car, it's definitely worth every penny if you've that kind of money to spend. The day is finally here, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are about to get married in a few hours and the whole world is eagerly waiting for the spectacular event. After all, you don't witness a royal wedding every day. You may or may not remember this, but a few weeks ago it was announced that the bride and groom had asked their guests to donate to selected charity organisations, chosen by the couple, instead of getting any wedding presents. I mean that does make sense, and it takes so much pressure off. Like, what are you supposed to gift to people who legit live in a freaking palace? Twitter Okay, coming back to charities, because that's where our 23-year-old Mumbai girl comes in. Suhani Jalota is the founder of MynaMahila Foundation, a women's menstrual health foundation that provides affordable sanitary napkins to women from Mumbai's most impoverished neighbourhoods, a charity that is on the list selected by the royal couple. According to Suhani, her organisation caught Meghan's attention back in 2016. While Suhani was studying economics and global health at Duke University, there was a Woman Of The Year event hosted by a magazine, that also had Meghan as one of the mentors to a contestant. Suhani and her organization ended up winning and that was just the beginning of her relationship with Meghan. Facebook She said, Meghan was intrigued by our work, and had said then, that she wanted to make a trip to India, as this was an area she wanted to lend her support to. After she visited us in January last year, she said she wanted to position the organisation well so as to maximise the impact, and she's been a great guide. Facebook Meghan even wrote about the organization in Time magazine last year. Here's an excerpt from it: Ninety-seven percent of the employees of MynaMahila live and work within the slums, creating a system which as, Nobel Peace Prize nominee Dr. Jockin Arputham shared with me, is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and allowing access to education. In addition, the women's work opens the dialogue of menstrual hygiene in their homes, liberating them from silent suffering, and equipping their daughters to attend school. Talking about the Royal Wedding, Suhani said, What means a lot to us, is that Ms. Markle chose a small organization like ours when there are many large ones operating across the world. More than the donations, the spotlight on our NGO will undoubtedly benefit us in ways we can't imagine. Facebook Previously, Suhani has also been a part of the Queen's Young Leaders in 2017. Every person, at least at some point in his/her life, thinks about how to give back to the society, about how to make a difference, even if it be a small one. The world is not all that bad. Every once in a while you come across someone who is extraordinary, someone who has a heart of gold, someone who can touch lives and make them infinitely better. One such hero is 81-year-old James Harrison who hails from Australia. The man has saved 2.4 million infant lives in his whole lifetime. He has donated blood a whopping 1,172 times. For this reason, he is fondly called as 'the man with golden arm'. Twitter/Kristie E. DePaul At the young age of 14, Harrison had to get one of his lungs removed. He had to go through numerous blood transfusions during the procedure. "I was in the hospital for three months and I had 100 stitches, he was quoted by NPR as saying. One would think after such a traumatic experience at a young age, the man would have forever sworn off needles and hospitals, leave alone donating blood. But this is the difference between an ordinary person and a great one it was this very trauma that made James Harrison become a regular blood donator. He decided to help others and, despite his dislike for needles, went on to donate blood 1,172 times in his life. From the age of 18, he began donating blood a habit he ritually followed over the years. After over a decade of donating, it was discovered that his blood was rare researches found the presence of a rare antibody called Rho(D) or anti-D in his blood. Mr Harrison's blood was indeed special. Twitter/Danny Gonzales The antibody is produced in women who have Rh-negative blood and an Rh-positive foetus the phenonmenon is called Rh incompatibility. The antibody in the mother's blood can prove fatal for the baby when it attacks the child's cells as an immune reaction. This antibody, that can also save the lives of babies, was found in abundant quantities in Mr Harrison's blood. The cause of his rare blood type is not certain but it is speculated that he could have received a wrong blood type during his blood transfusions. In such cases, the person often develops the antibody Rho(D) as an immune reaction. Every fortnight for sixty years, James Harrison has been making the trek to the Red Cross to donate blood. #9News | https://t.co/ZiY2jT1X46 pic.twitter.com/sivoQoKz5a Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) May 11, 2018 And so, the man kept donating his blood without fail, till the age of 81, for now he is well over the limit recommended by doctors. He recently donated his blood plasma for the last time, after doctors suggested him to stop donating for he was too old to be a donor now. The man now holds a Guinness World Record for his noble contribution. Here is a man who literally saved lives with his blood, and yet Mr Harrison is humble enough to dismiss it as something that was easy to do. And yet how many of us do the same? Not all heroes need capes. CASEVILLE Michigan State University Extension is offering the Cooking for Crowds food safety program from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Roch Church, 6253 Main St. in Caseville. Cooking for Crowds is a program designed to educate nonprofit groups that prepare food for their members or the general public as part of food fundraisers and events. It is designed to teach food safety concepts as it relates to preparing food for the public so the prepared food is both safe and delicious. Amgen will charge a lower-than-expected $6,900 a year for a novel migraine treatment that investors hope will become the biotechnology giant's next blockbuster. The Food and Drug Administration approved the drug, which will be marketed under the brand name Aimovig, on Thursday. It's part of a class of therapies known as a CGRP-inhibitors that offer new options to patients who get the recurrent, painful headaches. Amgen's pricing plans for Aimovig have been closely watched amid a wider U.S. debate over high prescription costs. Last week, the Trump administration unveiled a number of proposals designed to pressure the industry to lower drug costs and list prices. Amgen shares advanced 0.5 percent to $175.50 at 9:56 a.m. in New York. Renewed political pressure over drug costs has added to the challenge of finding the right price for innovative medications. While drugmakers want to maximize returns on the substantial investment required to develop new therapies, some payers have begun to push back. A pricing misstep helped slow sales of Amgen's cholesterol fighter Repatha, which failed to live up to commercial expectations after insurers and pharmacy-benefit managers balked at its $14,000-a-year cost. Though sales of the drug have picked up, topping expectations in the company's most recent quarter after receiving an updated label from regulators showing it reduced heart risks, competitors have taken steps to lower prices for similar drugs. "The payers recognize that there is a clear and longstanding unmet need in migraine," said Tony Hooper, executive vice president of global commercial operations at Amgen, on a call with analysts Friday. Hooper said the company is in talks with pharmacy-benefit managers and insurers and "by and large, they are supportive of our price." Amgen and partner Novartis said that they will launch the drug within one week in the U.S. Hooper said that the company expects patients will take the drug if they have tried and failed on other migraine treatments. The drug's lower-than-expected price was met positively by analysts who said they expect it will win broad reimbursement from insurers. "Overall, we think their pricing strategy fits well into the current reimbursement environment," said Michael Yee, an analyst with Jefferies wrote in a note. Yee, who has a "buy" rating on Amgen shares, said the lower price "sends a good message." But Baird analyst Brian Skorney said once rival treatments come to market, insurers and drug middlemen may pit drugs against each other to get the lowest possible price. "If anything it just makes the eventual lowest net price that much lower once there are several on the market," wrote Skorney, who rates Amgen shares "neutral." After a shooting that killed 10 people Thursday morning at Santa Fe High School in Texas, Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy reiterates President Donald Trumps order for U.S. flags to fly at half-staff until Tuesday. The Texas governor, Greg Abbott, told reporters at an afternoon press conference the suspected shooter killed 10 people using guns owned by his father and had planned to kill himself. He said the 17-year-old shooter used a shotgun and a .38 caliber revolver. Malloy said the flags should immediately be lowered to half-staff and will remain there until sunset on Tuesday. The lowering of the flags is a presidential proclamation. And, since no flag should fly higher than the U.S. flag, all other flags state, municipal, corporate or otherwise should be lowered for the same duration of time. Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman released statements about Fridays deadly high school shooting. The grief, the anger, and the disappointment are as visceral today as they were after the shooting at Sandy Hook. After the school shooting at Columbine. After Virginia Tech. After Las Vegas and Orlando and Parkland. Our country is exhausted by these tragedies and we have run out of patience, Malloy said. His statement goes on to ask the federal government to pass meaningful and comprehensive gun violence prevention laws. Wyman echoed a similar sentiment, first expressing sadness in the aftermath of Fridays shooting, and solidarity with the families of the victims. Just as we begin to heal from one massacre, another occurs, she said. The solution hasnt changed Congress must act on gun violence prevention. They can no longer allow the NRA to be the arbiter of public safety. The business of chemotherapy treatment for arthritis has been good to Jorge Zamora-Quezada. The Texas doctor took to the air on his six-seat Eclipse 500 business jet, bought with some of the $50 million he was paid since 2000 administering a host of treatments to countless patients. And on land, Zamora-Quezada, 61, roared between various homes and properties in South Texas in his blue 2017 Maserati Granturismo Coupe. But the Justice Department has alleged that he bankrolled his "lavish" lifestyle by performing unnecessary procedures and prescribing costly medication to, potentially, thousands of patients. Investigators have said that he and co-conspirators took part in a $240 million health-care fraud scheme and international money-laundering operation funded by excessive and unwarranted medical procedures - including treatment for children and the elderly. The seven-count indictment against Zamora-Quezada could land him in prison for decades. "His patients trusted him and presumed his integrity; in return he allegedly engaged in a scheme of false diagnoses and bogus courses of treatment ... with no regard for patient well-being," C.J. Porter, a special agent with the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General, said in a Monday statement. Zamora-Quezada is in custody, and a court date has been set for July 2, Justice Department spokeswoman Nicole Navas Oxman said Thursday. The unsealed indictment says Zamora-Quezada owned medical practices in Brownsville, Edinberg and San Antonio, primarily practicing rheumatology. But various shell organizations were built to obscure the flow of money stemming from excessive and fraudulent treatments, the indictment said. Zamora-Quezada focused on treating rheumatoid arthritis, the indictment said. The disorder causes the immune system to mistakenly attack tissue and can be treated with various medications and chemotherapy drugs - which involve toxins that can damage healthy cells. It is unclear how many patients could be affected. The indictment notes more than a dozen people but also notes the doctor stashed thousands of medical records in a dilapidated barn concealed from Medicare oversight. ProPublica found that he saw more than 1,500 patients in 2015 alone and was paid $1,672 per patient - well above the $955 average in Texas. A call to a phone number listed under Zamora-Quezada went unanswered, as did one of his Edinburg practice, Arthritis Ost. Nora Rodriguez, a patient of Zamora-Quezada, told CNN that he yelled and threw her out of his office after she questioned his treatment. "He kept getting upset when I was asking him why I was feeling worse and not getting better," she said. He is also accused of falsifying records to show that his patients were having more pain than they described, and he hid documents from other doctors who saw the same patients for a second opinion. The indictment does not specify who his alleged co-conspirators are or their role in the scheme. Zamora-Quezada's plane and Maserati have been seized by authorities, along with the various real estate properties that investigators allege he used to rent out, under the appearance of generating legal income. Properties in Texas, Colorado and California were among those seized, in addition to a pair of penthouses in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Zamora-Quezada is not new to scrutiny. In 2006, the Texas Medical Board accused him of prescribing a drug "inconsistent with public health and welfare" and of "billing for treatment that was improper, unreasonable, or medically or clinically unnecessary," the Dallas News reported in 2010. Zamora-Quezada later settled for a public reprimand, monitoring by other doctors and a $30,000 fine. He had received $42,450 over a span of a year from Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical company, the Dallas Morning News reported, citing ProPublica data. Eli Lilly did not respond to questions on Zamora-Quezada's total revenue from the company or why he was paid by it. He was also accused of sexually assaulting four former employees. A Yellow Pages review of his practice in 2015 is foreboding in retrospect. "Dr. Zamora has no time for returning patients only for new ones ... be prepared to wait for hours because [they] overbook people like crazy. JUST DON'T GO!!" NEW HAVEN When Faye Prendergast, head librarian at Hopkins School, first learned of poet Tracy K. Smith, it was when a literary agent approached her and other members of an ad hoc poetry committee at the school years ago. For 16 years, poetry has been an important focus at Hopkins School after the library received a gift from the Ann Kneisel Library Fund. Faculty brings a poet to campus annually, and Smiths agent floated her name to the ad hoc committee. It was summer 2017 when that same agent reported back with the news that Smith was named the 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States. Prendergast said she wasted no time last summer working to secure a date for Smith to visit Hopkins. Hopefully students can understand the art form so its accessible to them, she said. At a question-and-answer session Friday, Smith answered students questions, most of which concerned her creative process and how she converts her thoughts into tangible work. The first question of the session interrogated how she selects the titles of her poems, as the language rarely appears within the poems themselves I like to imagine the title of a poem is this big opportunity, a moment where I can begin to create expectations for the reader, she said and she was asked numerous other questions about her writing process, revision process and thinking process. Over time, she said, she feels she has become more courageous, and has felt comfortable writing longer poems probing weightier topics, a departure from her early work of short lyric poems focused on a detail. She said her work has largely been influenced by music her 2011 poetry collection, Life on Mars, was influenced by science fiction as she began to see it through the music of David Bowie and she once took years to find the appropriate ending to a poem. Sometimes it takes many drafts and many revisions, she said. Other times, she will write a poem that she calls an organ donor, where shell transplant an image from a poem she does not care for into another one. Hopkins tenth-grader Magnus Ekstrom, who asked Smith two questions, said he felt Smith visiting the school was fantastic. Its difficult to picture how an author will actually say what she writes on the page, he said. The private schools lush campus atop one of the highest points in the Elm City was a bit of a detour for Smith in her work as poet laureate, as she has spoken multiple times of her intention to visit rural communities in libraries, churches and drug rehabilitation centers to spread poetry. We are in a moment where we are being told we are a divided nation, she said. That cant be true. I feel Im being sold something when I hear that. brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com 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. David Rose joined the Marines to fight. He didnt want to sit on the sidelines and watch from afar. He got what he wished for and then some. Rose served with 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion and saw hellish battle in the second Battle of Fallujahcode-named Operation Al-Fajr (Arabic: "the dawn") and Operation Phantom Fury. It was a joint American, Iraqi, and British offensive in November and December 2004 and considered the highest point of conflict in Fallujah during the Iraq War. The U.S. military called it "some of the heaviest urban combat U.S. Marines have been involved in since the Battle of Hue City in Vietnam in 1968. Recon Marine veteran David Rose with General Mattis at the Marine Corps Heritage Foundations' award ceremony. Rose spoke candidly with Military.coms Sean Mclain Brown about his life as a recon Marine, his transition out of the Marine Corps, and his journey to published author. 1. Tell us a little bit about the book tour youre currently on and how people can learn more. DR: The Verses and Curses Tour! Starts Memorial Day in Manhattan. First of its kind for me. Always wanted to be in a punk band, guess this is as close as it gets for someone who can't play an instrument to save their life. But yeah, myself and two other GWOT guys, who seem to share my obsession with getting published, are setting out on a guerrilla-style tour of the East Coast. Other than tooling around in an RV, we will be reading from our collective works and signing said works for those wanting to wobble home with a copy. What we are ultimately hoping for is to see others come and share their work. I get that a lot; messages from inspired vets who want my opinion about an essay or a vignette... well, we figured let's provide a platform for this. For those who may be interested in these slam nights, there is always our day's obligatory social media, but I'd also recommend they go on www.versesandcursestour.com. Dates, authors, locations, you name it. 2. Tell us a little about why you joined the Marines, and later applied to Force Recon. DR: When I was 19, I was the poster-child for the directionless. Just so happened I was a poster-child living so close to Coronado Bay that I could see elements of the I MEF training. This was early 2002 and war was in the air, and with it came this... direction. Looking back, I wanted positive male role models, and purpose, and all the things that made me like so many young men. Only real difference was a penchant for misery; hence pushing to Recon as soon as I learned it existed. Eventually I'd be a Recon Marine in Iraq during the era of Operation Phantom Fury. 3. Can you share an anecdote from your time in recon that sums up what your experiences were like? DR: Well, I should probably clarify, I was a battalion recon man. I was technically in 3rd Force Co for like a month back in 2009 on volunteer reserve orders, but more time was probably spent driving from Orlando to Mobile and back than actually being in a Marine Corps uniform. At any rate: Battalion, Force, or what-have-you, no, I really can't. I have just typed and erased the intro to maybe half a dozen stories and realized each time that being in Recon was so diverse that no one story can encapsulate the highs and lows, the sense of family, the sense of failure being worse than death, and how it is populated by a group of men with such hilarious yet dire personalities. 4. What was your transition like? What would you have liked to known before you transitioned out? DR: A train wreck, just slow and with a series of bad girlfriends. I had no clue what I wanted to do when I got out. There are a few tidbits about the VA and the usual suspects that could have saved me some time and heartache, but the things I would have really liked to have known are the things that only come with time and maturity. Losing an identity, forging a new one, forgiving the world for not having stopped just because you put yourself in harm's way, there is no class for [these things]. Time really is the best teacher, for those of us anyway who give her rather indifferent voice a willing ear. 5. Tell us a little about your journey from Force Recon to author. I mean, you certainly buck stereotypes about Marines, which is great, but how did your career as a writer begin? DR: You're going to hate me because this is going to sound way too crystal-hugging, head-in-the-clouds, but I believe maybe one or two elements in our makeup is just a "born" thing. My mother has pictures of me at five scribbling away at home on some Flintstones writing desk. When I'd play hooky at twelve, she would comment later -- a schoolteacher herself -- how I'd do more work on my own than in any language arts class. The stack got really high back then too; ghost stories, rip-offs of Dragonlance that I laced with my take on an Anne McCaffrey cover (thanks Grandma), to a few rather prophetic tales about fighter jets and various military commandos with a death wish. It was always there, and it came with me to Recon. Then it was all journals and chaotic vignettes, but writing for its own sake can really shape an author when they finally wake up and realize they should take a stab at it professionally. 6. How did your experiences in the military shape you as an author? DR: Nothing boils my blood more lately than the 23 year-old who got their MFA and now wants to show the reading world all the peaks and valleys of la condition humaine. A few years in a war-time Marine Corps throws a lot at you, especially if you're someone who insists on writing most of it down. The brotherhoods, the losses, the victories, crying wives, cheating wives, uncertainty, death, destruction, redemption, and perhaps above all else when refining a story's characters; how we can be a hero to someone and a zero to someone else. It should be a requirement for all published authors to do an enlistment -- we'd have a lot better books out there. 7. Is there any advice you have for military in transition to the civilian world? Any advice for those who might consider writing? DR: Kind of like bracketing artillery fire: make bold adjustments. I think one reason the transition is so hard for a lot of folks stems from the fear they'll lose too much of who they once were if they just jump right into a new life. You won't. You couldn't shake the military off of you by any great chunks if you tried. Go to college, turn over a few new rocks -- you may just find satisfaction in places you'd never thought imaginable when you were busy humping a M240 across an LZ. And if your newfound satisfaction just so happens to be writing, well, you tortured soul, you better be obsessed with it. Read a lot. Write a lot. 8. Youve published two books, one of which won the 2018 Marine Corps Heritage Foundations Robert A. Gannon Award for poetry. Whats next for you? DR: Other than trying to break even on the Verses and Curses Tour? I plan on staying in the veteran blogosphere for a bit longer, but my first dark fantasy novel comes out this winter with Rare Bird Books. From military nonfiction to dark fantasy, ha! Another transition. Guess Grandma's Anne McCaffrey book really sunk into the marrow. This newest transition I think I'll have less trouble with, however; writing, no matter what theme, no matter what genre; it really is the grand catharsis. David Rose is a professional writer, who happens to be a Recon Marine veteran of the Iraq war. He holds a masters in philosophy from the London School of Economics. You can follow him on Twitter @DavidRoseAuthor and can find his books on Amazon. -- Sean Mclain Brown can be reached at sean.brown@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @seanmclainbrown. The Mets have agreed to minor-league deals with infielder Christian Colon and outfielder Ezequiel Carrera, according to MLB.coms Anthony DiComo (via Twitter). Colons signing has been acknowledged on the teams transactions page. Both Colon and Carrera were released recently by the Braves. Neither will likely be seen as an immediate MLB asset, but both could certainly push toward the top of the teams depth chart. With a variety of injuries currently weighing on the Mets roster, these veterans will fill in the ranks at Triple-A and increase the overall depth on hand. The 29-year-old Colon has rarely shown much with the bat, with a .252/.315/.315 slash over his 386 MLB plate appearances. And he has limped to a .204/.278/.204 slash in his first 55 plate appearances this year at Triple-A. But hes regarded as a quality defender and has been graded that way by defensive metrics. As for Carrera, 30, he was a useful player for the Blue Jays in recent years, including a .266/.340/.382 slash with 14 home runs and 17 steals over 635 plate appearances. He was cut loose by the Toronto organization despite agreeing to an arb salary for the current campaign. It was tough to see a path for Carrera to reach the majors with the Braves, though, particularly after he ran up a terribly .146/.228/.220 batting line in 93 plate appearances at Gwinnett. Could not establish database connection. DB: bostonimc and SQL: --> The administrator has been notified and will resolve the problem ASAP. Check room rent capping | The room rent limit should be as high as the claim reimbursement would be as per the hospital room rent limit. For example: if your room rent limit is Rs 5,000 a day and you rent a room worth Rs 6,000 per day for two days. Here, the increase in room charges is 20 percent. Suppose your total hospitalisation bill is approximately Rs 1, 00,000, the deductible of 20 percent will be applicable and you will have to pay Rs 20,000 out of your own pocket. A mid-sized chemical manufacturing company was left in the lurch when two workers at its unit were critically injured in an accident. Though the firm presumed their package policy covered the damages, they actually did not have any liability cover but just a basic fire product. Liability insurance constitutes less than 10 percent of the total portfolio of general insurers. Globally, it contributes almost 30-40 percent of the overall business of non-life insurers. The stark difference is partly because of the fact that several Indian companies arent aware of the legal and financial liabilities they would incur during the course of business, and also because it is not mandatory. Part of the miscellaneous insurance portfolio, liability insurance has several branches. This includes commercial general liability, public liability, professional liability as well as product liability. Further, errors and omissions, as well as directors and officers (D&O) liability policies, fall under this umbrella. Insurers say whenever there is an untoward incident involving a large corporate entity, most of India Inc. suddenly evinces interest in buying a relevant cover. It could be against a product being withdrawn from the market due to safety concerns or even a top official being dragged to court over sexual harassment charges. Take D&O for example. After the Companies Act was passed in 2013 and the role of independent directors was restructured to put more onus on their actions, firms were scurrying for insurance covers. Five years later, the interest seems to have fizzled out. Till now, only 10,000-12,000 such products are said to have been sold. Insurers said even among the listed entities, the size of the covers taken by the majority companies is at least 40-45 percent lower than what is required. Depending on the business as well as the location of the offices, insurers now offer specialisations based on the risks. For instance, if you are a manufacturing firm employing 100 people in a factory set-up, the liability coverage that you will require is much higher for workmen compensation than a software firm employing engineers in an urban area. Cover for emerging risks like cybersecurity has also been popularised by insurance companies. Even they agree companies show interest but fail to take adequate action against cyber risks. This is despite the multiple instances of phishing, data theft as well as fraud committed using the online medium. Both listed as well as unlisted companies need to understand the seriousness of the liabilities involved in conducting business. A bare minimum policy covering all risks is essential if the firms want to conduct operations in an efficient manner. If not, a few cases could badly impact their bottom-line and set them back by several crores of rupees. In an unexpected move, when all eyes were set at Karnatakas Vidhan Soudha, incumbent Chief Minister for two days, BS Yeddyurappa resigned from his post on Saturday. He made an opening speech where he expressed his ire for Congress backdoor politics as well as his desire to form the government in Karnataka in order to serve the farmers and the Dalits. In the end, Indias voice and democratic spirit will always triumph over tyranny. Satyamev Jayate May 19, 2018 The Congress rejoiced at this decision, deeming it as a vindication to their stance all along in the fiasco that followed the results to the assembly polls in the state. Congress President Rahul Gandhi addressed a Press Conference where he made a bold statement against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP supremo Amit Shah, saying that the two have disrespected the institutions that constitute our nationthe mandate of the people, the Press and the Supreme Court. He also said that the idea of BJP fighting corruption promulgated by PM Modi is a blatant lie. Shortly after his address, he tweeted: Later, former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tweeted that Democracy has won in Karnataka. He also compared the Modi-Shah duo to the Hitler-Goebbels duo, saying that the BJP could not have indulged in horse trading and such blatant subversion of the constitution, had it not been for them. The Opposition parties at the Centre were also prompt to congratulate the Congress-JD(S) alliance which will soon form the government in Karnataka. TMC supremo Mamata Bannerjee congratulated the JD(S) and the Congress in a tweet and also mentioned that she has been invited by HD Kumaraswamy for his swearing in ceremony which will take place on May 21, 2018. I just spoke with Kumaraswamy Ji and congratulated him. He invited me for the oath taking ceremony on Monday @hd_kumaraswamy Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 19, 2018 The Opposition also reacted by demanding the resignation of Karnatakas Governor Vajubhai Vala for misusing his office. CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury condemned the BJP for misusinf democratic institutions and flouting constitutional norms. He said that the Governors decision to invite the BJP to form the government was malafide and against his constitutional mandate. Congress MP Anand Sharma said that the Prime Minister should apologise and the Governor must resign. Estranged ally Shiv Sena has also demanded for Governor Vajubhai Valas resignation, with party spokesperson Manisha Kayande saying, the BJP fiasco was an utter embarrassment. The latest to join was NCPs chief Sharad Pawar who said that Governor Vala was responsible for all the drama that ensued after the results to the polls were announced, adding If the Governor has any sense, he must resign. Meanwhile JD(S) President HD Kumaraswamy has met with the Governor and staked his claim to form the government. He said that he will prove his majority on the floor of the House. Kumaraswamy has told the Press that he will take oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on May 12. Market By Nikhil Kamath, Co-Founder, Zerodha Stockbroking is an extremely regulated sector and in most cases, there are numerous checks in place both from the exchange as well as the regulators. This being said there were instances of brokers misappropriating funds, but most brokers to a large extent have clear demarcations between funds owned by the broker and client funds held. Here are some of the measures a retail client can take to ensure that his broker is following the required norms and regulations. a) Quarterly Settlement: Ensure that your broker is following the quarterly settlement rule wherein all the unused funds in your account need to be transferred back to your bank account at the end of every quarter. An added step of caution here would be to withdraw funds from your trading account once every month, which you could choose to transfer back the very next day; hence, not losing out on any trading opportunities. b) Daily reporting: The broker is mandated to issue a mg 13 file to the exchange at the end of every trading day, if the client in question has lesser margin than prescribed by the exchange there would be a penalty levied. One could check with his broker if this process is being followed systematically and no wrong reporting is taking place. c) Clearing House: Choosing a broker who does not self-clear buy uses a large intermediary to clear trades, this adds another layer of security as the client funds submitted to a broker lies with external clearinghouses, who in turn have an added layer of regulation and provide additional security. A clearinghouse like ILFS, for instance, is rated highly and has an extremely competent risk management mechanism. d) Broker Financials: Always pick brokers with robust financials and very little or no debt, this would ensure the broker you are with is in it for the long haul as they would have considerable assets and a potent revenue stream. Websites like http://comparebrokerages.in/ provide users with a common platform wherein the financial health of a collection of brokers can be ascertained. e) Track record: Brokers with a track record of many years of ethical behavior and hindering to a strict code of conduct should be given preference. In summary please note that the brokers providing excessive leverage should draw circumspection as these would be the most likely candidates to be leveraged to the tee. In terms of brokerage, with the slew of options available, these days and the options to compare them accessible online, paying excessive brokerage is a cardinal misstep. Pick the best broker for your needs bearing in mind the points mentioned above and there will be umpteen numbers of options that become available at a cost never before seen by the industry. The author is Co-founder & Head of Trading, Zerodha. The views and investment tips expressed by brokerage firms 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. During the week, Union Bank of India said Japan's Dai-ichi Life Holdings acquired 39.62 percent stake in Union Asset Management through investment in compulsorily convertible preference shares. Accordingly, Union Mutual Fund will now be co-sponsored by Union Bank of India and Dai-ichi Life. Dai-ichi has replaced Belgium-based KBC Participations Renta SA, which exited the venture by selling its 49 percent stake in erstwhile Union KBC Asset Management and Union KBC Trustee to Union Bank of India on Sep 20. Also Read: Sundaram MF seeks SEBI nod for services fund In a follow-up story to the above announcement, we did a feature story on why foreign players still find Indian AMC business appealing? According to industry experts, as the Indian mutual fund industry moves up the maturity curve, assets under management maintain the growth momentum clocking a CAGR of 26 percent global players are finding the industry appealing. The 43-player domestic mutual fund industry manages assets worth Rs 23 lakh crore as on March-end. Japan's Nippon owns a stake in Reliance Asset Management which is listed on the stock exchanges. Global players like Prudential and Franklin Templeton dominate the industry. Global investors across the board are of the view that the Indian economy is poised for significant growth. Also Read: HSBC MF appoints fund managers for 2 open-ended equity schemes During the week, DSP BlackRock elevated Vinit Sambre to head of equities after Anup Maheshwari Chief Investment Officer decided to leave the firm to pursue other opportunities. On May 10, Moneycontrol had reported DSP BlackRock Mutual Fund will elevate Vinit Sambre. Moneycontrol was also first to report on April 26 that Anup Maheshwari has resigned from the fund house. The fund house will also elevate Rohit Singhania, Senior Vice President, as Co-Head Equities. Ramakrishna Upadhya As BJPs chief minister for two-and-a-half days, BS Yeddyurappa threw in the towel in the Karnataka assembly and announced his resignation on Saturday. It was a sweet smell of victory for Congress against Narendra Modi-Amit Shah combine for the first time in four years. Though Congress has had small satisfaction of winning in Punjab and giving BJP a run for its money in Gujarat, it was the first time after Modi became Prime Minister that the grand old party had out-smarted the two Chanakyas of Indian politics in their own game. It was an extremely tough and bruising battle over the last three months for the Congress to ward off BJPs challenge, and though it came second best to BJP in the numbers, it took the BJP strategists completely off guard by aligning with the JD(S) and offering HD Kumaraswamy the Chief Ministers post even before all the results had come in. Siddaramaiah, who won one seat and lost the other, and hated to see Kumaraswamy become Chief Minister, tried to put up a resistance, but senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, who was micro-managing the elections, asked him to shut up as the party knew what to do. In fact, Gehlot and Gulam Nabi Azad had flown in to Bengaluru two days before the counting of votes on May 15 and had got in touch with JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda for a possible deal. On the other hand, when the BJPs tally stalled at 104, eight short of majority, Amit Shah did not even have any of his partys senior leaders in Bengaluru to work out counter-strategies. When governor Vajubhai Vala decided to go by the convention of inviting the leader of the largest party and asked Yeddyurappa to take the oath, the legal eagles of Congress and JD(S) knocked on the doors of Supreme Court late in the night and got the court to keep a hawk eye on the events leading up to the floor test in the Assembly. Yeddyurappa might have been worsted, making him the Chief Minister with the shortest term in Karnatakas history (his two other terms had also ended in seven days and 39 months, respectively), but he will continue to lead the BJP in Karnataka. In fact, in his farewell speech in the Assembly, he said, henceforth his focus would be on winning 28 out of 28 seats for BJP in Karnataka in the coming 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He also pointed out that in the current assembly elections, the BJP had increased its seats tally from 40 to 104 and roundly defeated both Congress and JD(S), which formed an unholy alliance post election to deny BJP the power. Though there is a lot of new-found bonhomie between the Congress and the JD(S) after unseating Yeddyurappa, they will have to overcome a number of hurdles in cobbling together a viable coalition. For one, Siddaramaiah, even after defeat, has got himself elected as leader of the Congress legislature party, and he will continue to hold sway over a majority of legislators. Therefore, Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister, will not be able to breathe easy. Then, there is the problem of sharing Cabinet berths between the two partners, including offering Deputy CM post to the Congress. There are a large number of claimants for plum posts on either side, and dissidence can crop up within a few months. However, with 2019 Lok Sabha elections looming large and the non-BJP parties across the country, including Trinamool Congress, the Shiv Sena, the Telugu Desam and Telangana Rashtreeya Samithi, hailing the Congress-JD(S) combine victory in Karnataka, everyone could gravitate towards opposition unity to take on the BJP. The canny Deve Gowda, before aligning with the Congress, also would have put the condition that the Congress would have to concede at least half of 28 Lok Sabha seats to his party in the 2019 polls. Newly-elected Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, too, will have to realise the weaknesses of Congress and be prepared to make concessions to regional satraps, to take on the might of BJP. The Karnataka defeat will surely act as more than a wake-up call to the BJPs Amit Shah and he is also expected to sharpen his partys strategies and find new allies. Clearly, the Karnataka results have, in a way, sounded the bugle for the big battle in 2019 and the country will go into election mode right away. May 25, 2018 / 03:52 PM IST Yeddyurappa used impolite words: Kumaraswamy Replying to Yeddyurappa's speech, chief minister Kumaraswamy said, I have listened to Yeddyurappa's speech carefully. But he has given wrong information and used impolite words in the House. I will not indulge in personal attacks. Listening to him, I feel the people will not give the BJP power and his speech was perhaps a rehearsal for some drama company, according to The Hindu. Sonia Gandhi invites Opposition for dinner A lot has transpired during the Karnataka elections and results, and much more has happened as a consequence of it. Majorly, this election has cemented the opposition solidarity against the Bharatiya Janata Party. Going ahead, the political scenario seems more like BJP versus all other major/regional parties of India. BS Yeddyurappa quit as the CM of Karnataka on Saturday, after failing to prove majority in the House as per Supreme Courts order. All opposition leaders of the country, including Mamata Banerjee, Mayawati, Chandrababu Naidu and Sharad Yadav, rejoiced the BJPs failure. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi also said at a press conference that the national party is open to working with the opposition to defeat BJP. When the BJP was invited to form the government after winning only 104 seats, and the Congress and JD(S) were denied a chance to form a coalition, it started a wave. The non-ally parties have all decided to come together against the BJP and are against the party for the way way it handled the Karnataka election verdict. Since BJP had already formed coalitions in other states like Goa, Meghalaya and Manipur, it was seen as unfair and unconstitutional that Yeddyurappa was elected as the Chief Minister by the governor. All the opposition parties in these states came together to stake claim to the government of the assembly where they were the single largest party, but did not achieve majority. The Congress approached the Supreme Court with a plea to quash Yeddyurappa's claim to chief minister's post. After an emergency hearing in the middle of the night, SC cut short the time to prove majority and the BJP had to prove numbers. Mayawati of BSP has been urging all opposition parties to make a strong united front against BJP in the next elections. Chandrababu Naidu of Andhra Pradesh cut ties with NDA earlier this year. Mayawati and Mamata Banerjee visited New Delhi and met a bunch of opposition leaders to convince them to come to a common platform a third front to take on the BJP. After these elections, even more, parties have stated that they do not believe in the BJP philosophy, and its unconstitutional ways. Narendra Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi May 19 kickstarted work for Zojila tunnel, Asia'a longest and strategic bi-directional tunnel, to provide all-weather connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar, Kargil and Leh. The prime minister who is on a one-day visit to all the three regions -- Leh, Kashmir and Jammu-- also attended the closing ceremony for the birth centenary celebrations of the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche (Buddhist spiritual guru) here. The tunnel will cut down the time taken to cross Zojila pass from the present three and a half hours to just fifteen minutes. The pass is situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway and remains closed during winters due to heavy snowfall which cuts off Ladakh region from Kashmir. As part of the project, 14.15 km-long two-lane bi-directional single tube tunnel would be constructed. At the ceremony here, Modi said projects worth Rs 25,000 crore, which would either be initiated or inaugurated today in all three regions, shows the commitment of the central and the state governments towards the speedy development of the state. The prime minister unveiled a plaque to mark the commencement of work on the Rs 6,809 crore Zojila tunnel to be completed in five years. "I have asked the ministry concerned to look into ways to reduce the time for completion of this project," he said. "It (tunnel) will lead to all-round economic and socio-cultural integration of these regions. It also has immense strategic importance," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. Modi said when he visited Mongolia, the first Indian prime minister to do so, he realised the people there did not know what was a prime minister or president but they remembered Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, who was the Indian envoy there. "We remember the rich contribution of the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche. His was a life dedicated to serving others," he said. He said he was getting a chance to visit all three regions of Jammu and Kashmir in a single day to further development work. "Every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir will be proud that the Centre and the state government are taking forwards development at such fast pace," he said. He said the money invested would go to local families because of the employment generated through these projects. About the developmental work being carried out in the country, he said 18,000 villages which had not seen power since Independence was given electrical connectivity within 1,000 days. There were four crore households in the country, which had not get electricity even after 70 years of Independence, would be given power connections within a year and a half, he said. He is scheduled to dedicate 330 MW Kishanganga Hydropower Station to the nation at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. The prime minister would lay the foundation stone of the Pakal Dul power project and ring roads for Jammu and Srinagar, it said. The ring roads in Srinagar and Jammu aim to reduce traffic congestion and make road travel safer, faster, more convenient and environmentally friendly, it said. He would also inaugurate the Tarakote Marg and material ropeway of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The Tarakote Marg will facilitate pilgrims visiting the shrine. Modi will also attend the Convocation of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu. The price of oil only rose less than 1 percent this week, but it was an increase, nonetheless, and the third straight week of rising prices. West Texas Intermediate futures contracts for June delivery finished Friday at $71.28 per barrel, down 21 cents (0.29 percent) on the day but up 58 cents (0.82 percent) for the week. Beleaguered oil-producing nation Venezuela is set to hold its presidential election Sunday. The Trump administration on Friday announced sanctions on socialist party leader Diosdado Cabello and Cabellos wife and brother, according to the Associated Press. The brother, Jose David Cabello, leads the nations tax office, and his wife, Marleny Contreras, is a tourism minister. The Trump administration accuses Diosdado Cabello of drug trafficking and heading a major corruption network that siphoned funds from state-run companies to accounts in Russia and other countries, AP reported, adding that the Treasury Department considers Cabello the second most-powerfiul man in Venezuela, after President Nicolas Maduro. The Treasury Department also sanctioned Venezuelan businessman Rafael Sarria and a trio of Boca Raton, Florida, companies linked to him, AP reported. Sarria is a Cabello confidant. The latest sanctions are among dozens by the U.S. in recent months over human rights abuses, allegations of drug trafficking and the erosion of democratic safeguards, AP reported. U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged about 16.6 million barrels per day (bbl/d) during the week ending May 11, according to the Energy Information Administrations weekly report Wednesday. Refineries operated at 91.1 percent capacity, and gasoline production averaged about 10.5 million bbl/d. Domestic crude production rose slightly by 20,000 bbl/d to 10.7 million bbl/d. Imports fell by 411,000 bbl/d to 5.035 million bbl/d. Exports rose by 689,000 bbl/d to 2.6 million bbl/d. Commercial crude inventories fell by 1.4 million bbl to 432.2 million bbl. About 1.5 million bbl was withdrawn from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, leaving 662 million bbl. Total motor gasline stocks fell to 232 million bbl, kerosene-type jet fuel was almost unchanged at 41.3 million bbl and distillates edged down slightly to 114.9 million bbl. As of Friday, the average price for a barrel of WTI this year was $64.71. WTI saw a new year high of $71.49 on Wednesday. The low this year is $59.19. Plains Marketing posted prices were up 75 cents this week, or just more than 1 percent. The Reporter-Telegram tracks WTI all other areas and West Texas sour. On Friday, WTI fetched $68.00 per barrel and sour was priced at $60.50, both up a quarter. The spread of $7.50 between the crude grades has held for the past 14 trading days. In other futures trading Friday, July contracts fell by 20 cents to $71.31 per barrel, August dropped by 22 cents to $71.11 and September was down 24 cents to $70.62. "Once again, Texas has seen the face of evil," Senator Ted Cruz told reporters in Santa Fe following the deadly school shooting on Friday. "What happened this morning here in Santa Fe defies words." "The agony, the hell, that parents, that this community is going through is unimaginable," Cruz said. "Everyone of us that's a parent that sends our sons or daughters off to school in the morning, to have this horror greet them." Cruz said Texas and the nation are grieving with the Sante Fe community, located roughly 30 miles south of Houston. Authorities believe 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis killed 10 people and injured 10 more armed with a pistol and a shotgun at Sante Fe high. THE LATEST: Shooter identified in Santa Fe High School rampage that killed 10 "There's been too damn many of these," Cruz said. "Texas has seen too many of these." The Texas senator pointed to the Austin bomber and the shooting in Sutherland Springs as recent examples of mass murder that shook Texas. He praised the bravery of first responders and communities who came together during those moments. Cruz, who recently visited Sutherland Springs to participate in the rebuilding of the First Baptist Church where 26 people were killed, said that during his visit to the town he saw the community was filled with not only grief but also hope and joy. "You are being lifted up in prayer by millions of people across the country and across the world," Cruz told Sante Fe residents. HOUSTON LAWMAKER: 'Y'all been sending thoughts and prayers for two freaking decades' Prior to Cruz, Gov. Greg Abbott also spoke at the conference, offering condolences and explaining what police knew so far. "It's time in Texas that we take action," Abbott said, promising that roundtable discussions with parents, students, concerned citizens and others would begin as soon as possible. "We want to hear from everybody." Fernando Ramirez is a reporter for Chron.com and the Houston Chronicle. You can follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93. A Houston man tried to kidnap a 5-year-old boy from an Alief park Wednesday night, police said. Erick Guillermo Hernandez, 57, allegedly took pictures of the boy and tried to lure him away from the playground at Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Park around 7 p.m. but was stopped by a family friend of the boy who was supervising him, according to the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's Office . The family friend confronted Hernandez, who fled the scene, authorities said. HARROWING: Boy frees himself from abduction after getting off school bus The boy's father was on the park's jogging trail when he learned of the incident, police said. The man immediately took his children to help him identify Hernandez. The boy pointed out Hernandez further down the trail. The father brought Hernandez back to the playground as deputies with the constable's office rushed to the scene, authorities said. After talking with witnesses, deputies arrested Hernandez on an attempted kidnapping charge, jail records show. He is currently booked in the Harris County Jail with a $20,000 bail amount, jail records show. The boy was unharmed, deputies said. Jay R. Jordan is a breaking news reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan. Thursday marks the 64-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's unanimous decision in Brown vs Board of Education. On May 17, 1954, the justices' 9-0 ruling argued that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal" and ended the long-standing practice of barring blacks from attending white schools. Texas was not quick to adapt. In 1956, several Texas lawmakers signed the "Southern Manifesto," a document signed by roughly 100 politicians condemning the Supreme Court's ruling. In 1957, the Texas Legislature passed laws encouraging school districts to resist orders of desegregation. TED CRUZ: U.S. should 'undoubtedly' look to Israel as border security example Most notably, Mansfield, a small town close to Dallas, made national headlines when an angry mob of 300 to 400 whites prevented the enrollment of three black high school students. Protesters attacked onlookers, threatened the town's sheriff and hanged three black effigies, presumably representing the three black students who were denied enrollment. Incredibly, Texas Gov. Robert Allan Shivers supported the violent demonstrations and called them an "orderly protest" and even sent the Texas Rangers to prevent desegregation. Shivers blamed the turmoil on "paid agitators" brought on by the "premature and unwise efforts" (a lawsuit) by the NAACP. DISTURBING: Texas police receive training from anti-Islam ex-FBI agent Like many other Texas school districts, the Mansfield school district eventually desegregated in 1965 when the federal government threatened to withdraw funding for segregated schools. Click through to view historical photos of segregation, Jim Crow and the civil rights movement in Texas. Meek Mill has decided not to attend the Prison Reform Summit at the White House. His publicist confirmed that his decision had nothing to do with Jay-Z. During his recent interview with TMZ, Mill explained why he decided to cancel his appearance. "I was originally scheduled to be part of a panel on Prison Reform at the White House to help shed light on the issues within the system. Unfortunately, the focus turned to the president and myself which concerned me that it might take away from creating a positive result from today's discussions," said Mill. Even though Mill will not be attending the summit, he said that he remains fully committed to improving the country's criminal justice system. According to the publication, Mill decided to not push through with his White House appearance after he had a phone conversation with Jay-Z on Friday. However, this claim has not been confirmed by both parties. Meek Mill's Troubles With The Law Mill was sentenced to two to four years in prison five months ago after he had violated the terms of his parole following his drug and weapons conviction in 2008. The artist was granted bail last month. The rapper's case triggered an outcry among some people who claimed that there is an urgent need for criminal justice reform. Mill's case over the past 10 years was overseen by Judge Genece Brinkley, and the decision to send Mill to jail was reportedly hers alone. When he was just 19 years old, Brinkley convicted Mill on seven charges relating to guns and drugs. The judge sentenced Mill to 11 months to 23 months in country prison plus seven years of probation. In the documents obtained in court, Brinkley claimed that other judges wanted to give Mill a tougher sentence. However, she simply wanted to give the opportunity to turn his life around. In less than six months later, Mill got out of prison, but he was paroled to house arrest. In 2009, Brinkley ended the rapper's house arrest but kept him on probation. Over the next two years, the judge found out that Mill tested positive for marijuana and an unidentified type of opiate. Brinkley gave Mill his first violation charge in 2011. A year later, Mill was asked to undergo a drug test, but he did not show up. When they finally met in court, the judge suspended Mill from traveling outside Philadelphia, but he violated this as well. 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. It was July 3, 1876 the eve of our countrys first centennial. Everyone in Springfield would be celebrating downtown. No one would be near Oak Ridge Cemetery. It was the perfect time to steal Abraham Lincolns body. The incredulous plot was hatched by Midwestern counterfeiters who had been shut down when their expert bill engraver was jailed. Benjamin Boyds bills were the best in the Midwest, possibly the country. In 1875, he was captured in Fulton, found guilty, and sent to the Joliet penitentiary for 10 years. Without his plates, the criminals who made and passed the counterfeit bills were out of business. They had to spring their money man. Big Jim Kennally, a St. Louis Irishman who led Midwestern counterfeiters, according to Thomas J. Craughwells book, Stealing Lincolns Body, brainstormed a solution. They would snatch Lincolns body, bury it in the Indiana Dunes, then ransom it for $200,000 and Boyds pardon and freedom. His minions in Lincoln moved to Springfield to implement the plan. As a front, they opened a saloon and dance hall just a block west of the current Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. When the criminals werent running the saloon, they posed as tourists to case Lincolns tomb. With their preparations finished around the middle of June, the Logan County boys relaxed. They spent the night at a Springfield brothel and toasted their upcoming riches. In his well-oiled state, the gangs leader boasted to one of the ladies that they were going to steal old Lincolns bones and ransom them. He even told her when. She told the chief of police, who warned John Carroll Power, the tombs custodian. He told the Lincoln Monument Association, local friends and peers of Lincolns who were in charge of the tomb. They did nothing. In a book he wrote about the crime (History of an Attempt ), Power explains: It seemed to them so incredible that no attention was given to it. When the Logan County leader sobered and realized what hed done, he and his gang fled. Whisky alone is entitled to the credit of having thwarted this well laid scheme, wrote Power. A few months later, Kennally headed for Chicago to find new partners for his plot. He was part-owner of a bar there called The Hub, which had little to offer except booze and boodle (counterfeit) carriers. Here, Kennally proposed his idea to co-proprietor, Terrence Mullen and Jack Hughes. They liked what they heard. The duo needed more men for the job, so they approached Lewis Swegles, a horse thief who had become a frequent customer. Unbeknownst to them, he also was a spy. The assistant chief of the Secret Service in Chicago, Patrick Tyrrell, hired Swegles to hang around The Hub and inform him of the habitues criminal activities. As the would-be kidnappers honed their plan, Swegles told Tyrrell every detail. Tyrrell then told Lincolns oldest and only surviving son, Robert, a Chicago attorney. The detective asked Robert to let the plot proceed so he could catch the kidnappers in the act and increase their chance of conviction. Robert agreed. Mullen and his boys selected Nov. 7, election night, as the date. The presidential contest between Democrat Samuel Tilden and Republican Rutherford B. Hayes was heated, and once again, Springfield residents would be downtown celebrating and waiting for the results. No one would be near Oak Ridge Cemetery. On Nov. 6, the counterfeiters caught a train to Springfield. In the back car, Tyrrell, other detectives and a Chicago Daily Tribune reporter were tailing them. Once in Springfield, some of the gang procured tools, while the others visited the tomb, acting as tourists, to determine how to break in. They only had to break a doors padlock to reach Lincolns white marble sarcophagus. Swegles later said, as reported in the Nov. 20, 1876, Illinois State Journal, that while his cohorts were able counterfeiters, they had few skills for burglary, especially when it came to picking the right tools. That night, Tyrrell and his detectives got to the tomb first. They hid inside and waited. Mullen and his gang snuck up to the monument and began sawing the metal padlock on the door to the catacomb. Theyd brought a flimsy metal saw for the job, and it broke. So they used a three-sided metal file, which took half an hour, according to Craughwell. Once inside, the kidnappers opened the sarcophagus lid with a crowbar and sawed through the containers front to reach Lincolns coffin. They pulled it out about a foot, but it was too heavy. Mullen told Swegles to get help. Instead, the informant signaled the detectives that it was time to raid the operation. The agents dashed from their hide-out toward the catacomb at the other end of the tomb. In the excitement, one accidentally shot his gun. Frightened, the kidnappers fled. When the agents got to the sarcophagus, all that was left were the criminals misfit tools. The agents spread out to catch the would-be thieves. Tyrrell ran to the tombs roof where he spied a couple of men and shot at them. They returned fire. When Tyrell called for backup, one figure called out: Tyrrell, is that you?! One of the Secret Services best detectives had been shooting at his own men. Stupidly, the kidnappers ran right back to The Hub. Tyrrell arrested Mullen and Hughes there on Nov. 17. They were tried the following May. Since grave robbing wasnt a crime, the worst the two could be charged with was petty theft, for trying to steal Lincolns $75 coffin. They were convicted and sent to Joliet, the same penitentiary from which they had tried to spring their engraver, Benjamin Boyd. After their arrest, Charles Conant, the acting secretary of the U.S. Treasury, asked Robert Lincoln to pay for an attorney to prosecute charges against the counterfeiters, and to pay Swegles and another witness a per diem to make sure they stayed in the capital city until the trial. Lincoln agreed, but it appears he was stiffed. According to an article by Lincoln historian James Hickey in the Feb. 11-17, 1982, Illinois Times, despite Roberts many attempts to get his money back, there are no records that the feds ever paid it. When initial reports of the attempted kidnapping were printed, many people, even detectives and other newspaper editors, thought it was a hoax. The crime was too sacrilegious to be believed. Once verified, it was blamed on lots of people other than the real culprits. Some thought Democrats did it, others blamed it on vengeful former Confederates. In Illinois, Chicagoans thought it was a ruse planned by one of the detectives to help him win election for chief of police. A few days after the attempted theft, Power and some of Lincolns friends moved the presidents coffin to the tombs earthen floored basement, for its safety. It was moved several more times until 1901. Then, per Roberts request, it was buried 10 feet beneath the catacomb in an enclosure of concrete and steel. People must be involved in the ... EL PASO, Texas (AP) Authorities are trying to determine how a box of ammunition fell from a military helicopter and crashed through the roof of an elementary school in Texas. The Ysleta Independent School District says no one was injured when the ammo box hit Parkland Elementary School in El Paso on Thursday afternoon. The ammo box left a hole in the roof and caused a power outage in part of the building. TORONTO The As will have to fill two rotation spots once they return home Tuesday after injuries to Andrew Triggs on Thursday and Brett Anderson on Friday, plus the team needs still more relievers after the bullpen worked another eight innings Friday. Kendall Graveman, who pitched for Triple-A Nashville on Friday, is a candidate for one spot and Daniel Gossett, scheduled to start for Nashville on Monday, has a good shot at the other. Gossett is pitching particularly well, with a 1.63 ERA. Reliever Ryan Dull, demoted Friday, could be right back up, because he wasnt scheduled to leave Toronto until Saturday. Anderson is likely to be placed on the disabled list with a shoulder strain. Dull has a 6.30 ERA and .325 opponents batting average in 12 appearances, and he gave up eight hits, two walks and five runs in his past four outings. I think hes pitching a little away from contact, manager Bob Melvin said. When hes at his best, he doesnt even know who the hitter is, hes just looking to throw the ball to that spot. Hes maybe just a little off his game right now. Dull said that he had mechanical flaws that crept in after he came back from a knee injury last year. Its making sure Im not bending at the waist that changes the entire way I throw, where I lean over, he said. I have to make sure the line is as straight as I can get. Ill go down and get back on track. After 142/3 innings from the bullpen in two nights, its possible the team will also send out Fridays hero, Josh Lucas, who will be unavailable for a few days. However, its unclear if an extra pitcher could arrive from Oklahoma City, where Nashville is playing, in time for Saturdays game in Toronto. Frankie Montas is the only other pitcher on the 40-man roster likely for a promotion; Chris Bassitt worked Thursday. Triggs, who left Thursdays game in the third with numbness in his right hand, was placed on the 10-day DL and is scheduled for an examination in the Bay Area on Saturday. Emilio Pagan was called up Friday with Lucas. When he was sent down May 2, Pagan had a 5.93 ERA; at Nashville, he had a 3.00 ERA and struck out 11 and walked none in six innings. Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. San Antonians have a new, permanent spot to take Instagram photos. The government of Mexico City gifted Alas de Mexico by Mexican artist Jorge Marin in honor of San Antonio's 300th birthday. The 11-feet tall, 17-feet wide public art installation was unveiled earlier this month at the Hemisfair. RELATED: A tour of Spurs murals in San Antonio Since then, snap-happy San Antonians have been posing in front of the wings, looking like heavenly creatures. San Antonio joins seven other locations in the world where Marin's Alas have been installed. See the photos in the gallery above. Madalyn Mendoza is a digital reporter for mySA.com. Read more of her stories here.| mmendoza@mysa.com | Twitter: @MaddySkye Date: Saturday, May 19 Venue: Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs Graduates: 672 Featured speakers: The class of 2018 heard remarks from distinguished honorary degree recipients Alison Bechdel, acclaimed author, cartoonist, MacArthur fellow and Tony Award winner; and Albany native Robert S.D. Higgins, Johns Hopkins Hospital's surgeon-in-chief and world-renowned authority in the field of heart and lung transplantation and coronary bypass surgery. Notable: Of the graduates, 87 are first-generation college students. The class represents 29 countries and 29 states. The gowns worn by Skidmore College graduates were made of recycled materials, as a symbol of Skidmore College's commitment to environmental sustainability. The commencement event was livestreamed on the college's website and watched by hundreds of viewers as far away as Australia, Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom. BERLIN - Since Jan. 20, 2017, European leaders have managed U.S. relations with one eye on the clock, anxiously counting down the hours until President Donald Trump's term is up and hoping the core of the Western alliance isn't too badly damaged in the meantime. But as Trump's aggressive rhetoric toward America's closest allies has evolved into hostile action this spring, a new fear has swept European capitals. Trump may not be an aberration that can be waited out, with his successor likely to push reset after four or eight years of fraught ties. Instead, the blend of unilateralism, nationalism and protectionism Trump embodies may be the new American normal. "It is dawning on a number of European players that Trump may not be an outlier," said Josef Janning, head of the Berlin office of the European Council on Foreign Relations. "More and more people are seeing it as a larger change in the United States." Even before Trump was elected, Europeans sensed that Washington's traditional role as guarantor of the continent's security and stability was slipping away, and that post-World War II ties were fading along with the generations that forged them. But Trump's seeming delight in smashing transatlantic bonds - and the lack of domestic constraints on his ability to do so - has signaled, Janning said, that the basis for Western strength and peace for 70-plus years "probably won't come back." That carries serious implications for how Europe responds to Trump. Until now, key leaders have avoided open conflict with the U.S. president, trying instead to placate him or, at best, subtly persuade him. Above all, they have sought to preserve strong relationships at various levels within the U.S. government, if not with the man at the top of it, so there's a foundation to build on after he is gone. That is still the prevailing strategy. But a succession of adverse moves culminating in Trump's decision to pull out of the Iranian nuclear deal has brought transatlantic relations to their lowest point since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, if not far longer. If Trump is succeeded by a more traditional Democratic or Republican administration, the wounds could still heal. But, even then, it could take a long time, given the extent of the damage. And close European observers of the United States are not optimistic about a reversion to the mean. They study the increasing polarization of U.S. politics and see less enthusiasm for transatlantic ties at either end of the political spectrum. They have also been repeatedly disappointed as one supposed brake after another on Trump's most extreme foreign policy impulses - Congress, the president's own advisers and popular opinion - has fallen away. Trump, they note, is alienating America's closest allies, and the American public doesn't seem to mind. Europeans have begun to wonder aloud whether they need to respond accordingly. One sign of the evolving stance toward the United States was the unusually biting commentary this week from European Council President Donald Tusk, whose job in Brussels is to channel the ids of the 28 nations in the European Union. A mild-mannered former Polish prime minister, his statements are typically gentle efforts toward consensus, not international rallying cries. Not this time. "With friends like that, who needs enemies?" Tusk told reporters as he readied a summit of E.U. leaders largely focused on Trump-ignited brushfires. The faltering Iran nuclear agreement, the bloodshed in the Gaza Strip and the specter of a transatlantic trade war were all on the agenda. Tusk denounced "the capricious assertiveness of the American administration," using terms that just 16 months ago would more typically have been applied to international rogue nations such as North Korea and Russia. His sharp tone matches the public mood. In Germany, a country that rebuilt itself after World War II in America's image and with American money, polls show that Trump is seen as a bigger threat than Russian President Vladimir Putin. More than two-thirds of Germans describe their country as moving away from the United States, and an equal number describe the relationship as "tense," according to a survey released this week by the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper. After the U.S. pullout from the Iran deal, the influential weekly Der Spiegel called on Germany to become part of the "resistance against America," and pictured Trump on its cover as a yellow-haired middle finger to the continent. Some of Europe's anger reflects a long-standing current of anti-Americanism. But even fans of the United States say they are losing faith now that the country that built the liberal democratic order seems intent on dismantling it. Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff, who oversees the German Marshall Fund's office in Berlin, said that up until recently, it was popular for defenders of close American ties to console themselves with the mantra "watch what they say, not what they do." But that was before Trump canceled U.S. participation in the Iran deal, threatened European businesses with sanctions and launched steel and aluminum tariffs that could hit Europe as soon as next month. "Now the actions are piling up," he said. "You keep thinking it doesn't get any worse. But boy, we're being educated." Kleine-Brockhoff, a former presidential adviser, still counts himself among the defenders of the transatlantic bond. But he said he - and Europe - will have to seriously reevaluate if Trump wins re-election. Others in Europe aren't waiting that long. "The mood in the country is that we can't let the U.S. run the world, especially if it's run by someone like Trump," said Francois Heisbourg, a former French presidential adviser on national security and defense. "When an ally treats its allies like enemies, you have a problem." Heisbourg said the current strain on the transatlantic relationship is greater than in previous periods of tension. In the 1990s, there were disagreements over the U.S. and NATO bombardment of Kosovo. Western Europe bitterly opposed President George W. Bush's war in Iraq in 2003. Even under President Barack Obama - who was extremely popular in Europe - European policymakers first complained about being ignored, then smarted when then-Secretary of Defense Robert Gates slammed them in 2011 for not taking their own defense seriously enough. But in part because of that evolving estrangement, Trump's actions look all the more concerning. "There are trends underway that began before Trump and will continue after Trump," said Tomas Valasek, the head of the Carnegie Europe think tank and a former Slovak ambassador to NATO. Trump "believes this is a dog-eat-dog kind of world in which one country's gain is another's loss. And that applies to the allies as much to the Chinas and Russias of the world." For all the transatlantic tiffs in the first year of the Trump administration, the U.S. pullout from the Iran nuclear agreement and the tariff threats have the potential to be far more explosive, because they could lead to Europe and Washington actively trying to undermine each other. In Brussels, some are trying to reframe the strained relations as an opportunity. "We're not going to live in a world of U.S. hegemony that we can all hide behind," said Nathalie Tocci, director of the Rome-based Italian International Affairs Institute and a top adviser to E.U. diplomat-in-chief Federica Mogherini. "We love the United States," she said. "But when the United States takes a decision that is contrary to our interests, then we should be able to do our own thing and pursue our own policies. The relationship of dependence has to change." Still, there are skeptics of Europe's ability to split from the United States. Europe remains deeply dependent on the U.S. security umbrella, with Germany's military so rusty that its helicopter pilots are losing their certifications because they don't have enough working aircraft to practice. And despite Trump's angry rhetoric that Europeans aren't doing enough to defend themselves, he has poured money into U.S. military involvement on the continent, unveiling a budget proposal this year that would build on a previous increase to nearly double spending compared with Obama's final year in office. "Europeans are going to be unwilling to push things to a crisis point with Washington or to pick very serious fights," said Adam Thomson, director of the European Leadership Network, a London-based think tank, and a former senior British diplomat. But there are steps Europe can take. Thomson recently co-wrote a paper calling for Europe's militaries to make themselves better able to operate independently from the United States - not out of spite, but because improved European defenses would serve both sides. Jorg Lau, foreign editor of the German newspaper Die Zeit, said such steps are long overdue, and need to take account that the United States isn't coming back as the steadfast protector it once appeared to be. Whether it's Trump in office or any other American president, he said, "U.S. priorities have changed, and why shouldn't they? It's not something we should complain about. It's a fact we have to acknowledge." Europe is peaceful, it's wealthy, and it's time, he said, for the continent to take care of its own security. "We can almost be thankful to Trump," Lau said. "He's made it clear to Europe that we need to wake up." - - - Birnbaum reported from Brussels. The Washington Post's James McAuley contributed to this report from Paris. SANTA FE, Texas - They gathered here by the dozens Friday evening, wearing their school colors, T-shirts that said "Texas Tough," while huddling under the shade of a gaggle of pine trees, not 11 hours after the first shots were fired. They came to pray and to sing, to hear the words of support from their politicians and pastors in the wake of yet another school shooting, this one at their high school. They came seeking answers, to mourn the 10 who had lost their lives. They vowed to press on, to recover, to heal. Students, whose day began with panic and gunfire at Santa Fe High School, gathered as the sun set, hoping the hour-long vigil could help nurse them back to normalcy with soothing words and communal mourning. The high school, still closed off by a phalanx of police officers searching for evidence, would remain "the center of this community," Leigh Wall, the school district's superintendent told the crowd. "No act of violence, no matter how horrific, will ever change that." Alexis Wilson, a 17-year-old senior, came with her mother and a friend. She wanted to show support, she said, to be among her friends and community after a day that was surreal. Like a bad dream, after it began so normally: in English class, where she had just sat down to work on her assignment: a composition about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Then the alarm went off. She thought it was a fire drill. Or, at worst, another lockdown. Santa Fe High had one just three months ago, after a student posted a picture of herself with a gun on social media, she said. But as soon as she stepped into the hallway, she knew this time was different. "Teachers we're telling us to run," she said. And when they got outside there were police cars, not firetrucks. And the officers had their guns drawn. How do you make school safe? Voice mails from 300 students provide some answers. She kept running. Across the street, against traffic. "Drivers were slamming on their brakes to avoid hitting us," she said. At 7:36 a.m., minutes after the shooting began, she called her mom, Renee Wilson, who immediately knew something was terribly wrong: "The sound in her voice. The panic." Renee Wilson was already at work, about an hour away. But she hopped in the car, and fled back, driving on the shoulder, her hazard lights flashing, making it to the school in about 33 minutes, she said. Now, at the vigil, they were 4 miles down Highway 6 from the school, hugging friends, while the volunteers from the Red Cross wearing vests that said "Disaster Relief," passed out bottles of water in the heat. The local grocery store handed out flowers. Other volunteers passed out candles, 1,400 in all, while a Christian music radio station set up a tent that said "Need Prayer?" Then Renee Wilson's phone rang. It was news about one of Alexis' classmates, who had been reported missing. But now, the caller said, he had passed. Another blow of horrible news in a day where there was nothing but. They tried to steel themselves. To be strong, which was what speaker after speaker was urging. "It is not tragedy that brings us together today," said Pastor Lucas Campbell, of the Santa Fe Baptist Church. "It is hope in the face of tragedy that brings us together today." Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, told the crowd that the state and community wouldn't rest "until normalcy is returned to your school, and safety is returned to your school." He said that at the hospital on Friday afternoon he met a student named Clayton, who was recovering from a gunshot wound in his arm and yet wore "a smile of resilience." Alexis Wilson, on a sunny spring day weeks away from graduation, tried to be resilient, too, wiping away tears and pointing to the back of her T-shirt that invoked the school's mascot and motto: "Indians got your back." Vatican City All 34 of Chile's Roman Catholic bishops offered their resignations Friday over a child sexual abuse scandal, and asked forgiveness for the "pain they caused the victims, the pope, the people of God, and our country for the grave errors and omissions we committed." The mass resignation the first of its kind, according to the Vatican came after Pope Francis accused the bishops at an emergency meeting this week of failing to investigate complaints, allowing evidence to be destroyed, and covering up for abusive priests by moving them from place to place. He said the systemic failures had left him "perplexed and ashamed." Outrage over the scandal has shaken the church for years, but it was stirred anew in January when Francis publicly defended Bishop Juan Barros Madrid, whom he appointed to the Diocese of Osorno in 2015. Barros had been accused of ignoring and covering up the repeated abuse of minors by Chilean priest Fernando Karadima. The fallout prompted the pope to assign two investigators, who took the testimony of 64 people and produced a damning 2,300-page report on clerical sexual abuses in Chile and attempts to conceal the activity. The report detailed widespread failings on the part of the church hierarchy, and led to this week's three-day meeting of the bishops at the Vatican. The pope may accept or reject the resignations individually, though it was not immediately clear when that would happen. Bishop Luis Fernando Ramos Perez, general secretary of the Chilean Bishops' Conference, said the men would remain in their positions until the pope made his decisions. Barros was among those who offered to resign. Juan Carlos Claret, a spokesman for Osorno's Lay Organization, which organized protests against him, said Friday that Barros should be the first to be let go, "hopefully as soon as possible." "Today's announcement was a surprise, given what we saw this week bishops smiling and acting like they were on a spiritual retreat," Claret said. But the crisis was "far from over," he added, and would only be put to rest once the pope made his decisions. He said the results of the Vatican investigation should be "turned over to a court of justice." Juan Carlos Cruz, whose accusations helped lead to Karadima's prosecution, said Friday that the mass resignation was "an enormous victory for survivors of abuse all over the world." Bishops had been warned, he said, that they would "no longer be able to hide behind secrecy and darkness, blaming victims and making them feel guilty. The focus will now be on the victims, as it should be." WASHINGTON - China offered to boost its annual purchases of U.S. products by "at least $200 billion" Friday as two days of talks aimed at averting an open breach between the two countries ended in Washington, a top White House adviser said. Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, said that he welcomed the Chinese offer and that the United States continued to press demands about Chinese trade practices. "They have to lower their tariff rates, they have to lower their non-tariff barriers. We have to have a verifiable process whereby the technology transfers and the theft of intellectual property stops," he told reporters at the White House. Kudlow spoke shortly before the talks between a U.S. delegation led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and a Chinese team headed by Vice Premier Liu He, one of President Xi Jinping's closest advisers, ended for the day. "China's come to trade. They are meeting many of our demands," said Kudlow, who called the Chinese approach "constructive." There was no immediate comment from the White House as of 11 p.m. Friday, several hours after the talks concluded. China's state-run media said the discussions were "positive, constructive and fruitful." Still, the bargaining poses a challenge for President Donald Trump, who has made rebalancing U.S. trade relationships and recapturing lost manufacturing jobs a centerpiece of his agenda. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has pressed the president to seek a comprehensive reshaping of Chinese trade practices, such as forcing foreign companies operating in China to surrender their technological secrets. That argues for a broader deal that would do more than shrink the bilateral trade gap, which most economists regard as unimportant. But Trump is mindful of the need for a political win to trumpet in the runup to the November congressional elections, especially with his promised renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement languishing. He also can ill afford a split with China as he prepares to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at next month's summit in Singapore. Kudlow's upbeat assessment came one day after Trump said that the United States had been "ripped off" by China. The two sides had swapped hard-line demands during a first round of talks in Beijing this month. The president is insisting on a dramatic reduction in the U.S. trade deficit with China, which was $375 billion in 2017 and has topped $100 billion for 16 straight years. Stepped-up Chinese purchases will focus on U.S. agricultural goods, energy products such as liquefied natural gas and machinery, a senior administration official said. Still, many economists say that it is difficult to imagine that China - which bought just $130 billion worth of U.S. goods last year - could somehow add an additional $200 billion in purchases to that total. China also repeated its longstanding demand that the United States relax its export controls on items such as supercomputers, riot control equipment, police surveillance systems, helicopters, missiles and various munitions. The United States has prohibited sales of many of those items to China for almost 30 years, since the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square killings. China wants the Trump administration to lift its penalties on ZTE, a Chinese telecom company that was barred from buying parts from American companies after it shipped products to Iran and North Korea despite international economic sanctions. Kudlow told Fox Business Network that ZTE would have to overhaul its top management to escape the draconian U.S. punishment, which threatened to put it out of business. "We're not talking about letting them off scot-free by any stretch," Kudlow said. After months of rising tensions between the two countries, Chinese officials in recent days appeared to signal an interest in de-escalating. Liu met with Trump and top aides Thursday, while in Beijing his government ended an anti-dumping investigation into imports of U.S. sorghum. China said it had concluded that the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures it had imposed on sorghum imports in April would affect the cost of living for Chinese consumers and were not in the public interest. A Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang, told journalists not to "over-interpret" the announcement. The sorghum probe had sparked concerns among American farmers that they might lose their largest export market for the crop. China imported $956 million of sorghum from the United States last year, according to the Chinese Commerce Ministry - - - The Washington Post's Luna Lin contributed to this report. Angenette Welk's dark hair falls neatly onto her shoulders in the mug shot, her wide grin bearing teeth more vivid than the white stripes of her jail uniform. At that moment and less than four miles away from the jail in Marion County, Florida, doctors rushed to save the life of Sandra Clarkson, a victim in what authorities have alleged was a drunken-driving collision on May 10 around noon. Clarkson, a 60-year old mother, suffered severe head trauma when her car was struck with enough force to sandwich the vehicle into a horse trailer in front of it. She was declared brain dead on Mother's Day and died when she was taken off life support the next day, May 14, according to a GoFundMe apparently created by family. Welk, 44, was charged with a felony DUI with great bodily harm and two misdemeanor counts involving drunken driving in the afternoon collision, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office. She paid $10,000 in bail and was released May 11 after entering not guilty pleas. But since Clarkson died afterward, the Florida Highway Patrol now intends to arrest Welk on an upgraded manslaughter DUI charge, the assistant state attorney for Marion County told The Washington Post on Friday. The Florida Highway Patrol did not immediately return a request for comment. At the scene, Welk told police she was distracted after dropping her cellphone before she smashed into the vehicle driven by Clarkson's 18-year old daughter, Shiyanne Kroll, who suffered minor injuries, Village News reported. Her blood-alcohol limit was twice the legal limit. Welk was uninjured in the crash. She could not be reached for comment. Kroll and her sister, Keonna Sciacca, told Click Orlando they were devastated over losing their mother and repulsed by Welk's ear-to-ear smile. "That disgusts me, and that means she has no remorse for what she did at all and I hope that judge sees that picture and says the same thing," Kroll said. Sciacca wept over the loss. "It's definitely wrecked our family forever, not just temporarily, this was a permanent thing that (Welk) did . . . I can't hug her, I can't tell her, 'Goodnight, I love you,'" Sciacca said through tears. "It's destroyed us." EAST HAVEN A 41-year-old woman has been charged with animal cruelty in connection with a malnourished dog seized by animal control officers earlier this year, police said. Celena Campbell was arrested May 11 on a warrant in connection to a complaint initiated in February, East Haven police said in a release. Campbell called the Shore Haven Veterinarian Hospital on Feb. 21 because her dog, Samson, was not eating and had not defecated for several days, police said. Employees at the animal hospital advised Campbell to bring Samson in for a medical evaluation, but she never showed up. That prompted employees to contact East Haven Animal Control. Animal Control Officer Sean Godejohn and two other police officers responded to Campbells home to do a welfare check on the dog. Samson, a Rhodesian ridgeback, was found tied to a pool deck, police said. The dog appeared to have dug a hole to keep itself warm, police said. When officers checked on the dog, they noticed it did not have access to food, water or shelter. The dog was extremely thin, with protruding spinal bones and ribs, and had several wounds and scars and hair missing, police said. Nobody answered at the house and, due to inclement weather, Godejohn believed Samson to be in imminent harm and in need of immediate veterinary intervention, according to police. To prevent further harm or neglect to Samson, the dog was seized. More for you Bridgeport 'legal beagle' advocates for abused dogs Once Samson was evaluated by medical professionals, he was found to be in severe need of medical attention and needed to be hospitalized, police said. Veterinarians documented several significant neglect related injuries including severe malnourishment, muscle atrophy and open sores down to the muscle ligament, according to the release. Campbell was processed and released on a $2,500 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in court in New Haven May 23. Godejohn filed paperwork to take over ownership of Samson, who has since been placed in another home. Samson is reported to be healthy and in good spirits with his new owners, East Haven police Lt. Joseph M. Murgo said in the release. Murgo said Samson has put on weight and appears healthy. BAD AXE Pending an audit, Huron County is looking at an extra $1.3 million in revenue from the 2017 budget that could be put toward legacy costs. The county faces a $17 million liability for retiree healthcare, which is not uncommon among Michigan municipalities. The Huron County Board of Commissioners will later determine whether to put the extra 2017 funds toward retiree healthcare. County Finance Chair Ron Wruble updated the board recently on last years budget and where the county stands in terms of legacy costs. Weve been making some pretty good strides toward covering legacy costs (in the past several years), he told the Tribune. We have to keep focused going forward. The extra revenue comes from the General Fund, and it's difficult to pinpoint the source, Wruble said. But he acknowledged the countys appreciation in equalization of recent years. Thats part of it," he said. "A big portion of that is income from personal property taxes. And the reason for the increase in personal property taxes is wind turbine construction. Regarding the $17 million liability, that number will decrease, Wruble said, because the county is paying it down. The county has $5.1 million to put toward retiree healthcare in CDs that are close to being mature. The money will soon be transferred to the Municipal Employees Retirement System (MERS) to be reinvested. MERS is a statewide company that manages investments and provides retirement and employee benefit plans for many of Michigans municipalities. Wruble called it a very conservative, safe investment for the countys future use. For this years budget, everything is moving forward as expected, Wruble told the board, except for the Child Care Fund, which Wruble described as having potential problems. The Child Care Fund doubled to $800,000 from 2017 to 2018, as part of the Huron County Probate Court budget. Well just kind of monitor that as things move ahead, Wuble added. Everything else will be pretty close to being in line for where we need to be this time of year. Also during Wrubles update to the board, Commissioner John L. Bodis reported the Health Department budget has been straightened out. Wruble explained: Two or three years ago, we made a commitment, this board, to take on the health insurance for the retirees at the health department. Theyre all county employees so its taken out of their budget. As we moved ahead, that comingled with existing employees, but they got it sorted out., he added. There is now a percentage and a formula where they can get the correct numbers so they dont always have to go back and reconcile it constantly. So moving ahead it will be a lot cleaner for the health department to know what their actual costs are, he concluded. WASHINGTON - First lady Melania Trump was released from the hospital Saturday morning, after undergoing a kidney procedure earlier in the week, and returned to the White House "in high spirits," an aide said. Trump, who spent five nights at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, was "resting comfortably," Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's communications director, said in a statement. Morgan County Sheriff Burglaries, Thefts Someone stole an undetermined amount of cash from two Chapin businesses, according to reports filed about 6:30 a.m. Thursday. The sheriffs department is investigating break-ins at Shireman Trucking and Chapin Farmers Elevator, where the money was taken. Someone stole a jewelry box, a lock box containing documents and a laptop computer from a residence in the 1500 block of Old Route 36, according to a report filed at 9:11 p.m. Sunday. The sheriffs department said Friday that suspects in the burglary were arrested Monday in DeKalb County, Missouri, and are being held in Missouri until warrants can be issued for their return to Morgan County. Jacksonville Police Arrests, Citations Issacc C. Wilkins, 41, of 623 S. Diamond St. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 8:28 p.m. Thursday on a criminal damage to property charge. Wyatt L. Heck, 22, of 129 Chestnut St. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 9:05 a.m. Friday on charges of driving while license is revoked or suspended, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and operating a motor vehicle with suspended registration. Daniel W. Hovendon, 45, of 327 Fulton Ave., Jacksonville, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 4:45 p.m. Friday on charges of aggravated domestic battery and parole violations. Travis L. Haley, 43, of 403 W. College Ave. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 7:07 p.m. Friday on a charge of violation of a bail bond. Murrayville Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Kyle A. McDannald, 28, of 303 S. Railroad St., White Hall, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 8:10 p.m. Friday on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while license is revoked or suspended. Cass County Beardstown Police Arrests, Citations Shawn D. Bentley, 23, and Michael W. Rogers, 40, both of 1216 E. 4th St. were booked into the Morgan County jail at 3:54 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of methamphetamine. Bentley was also charged with residential burglary. Clarification The David Large of Beardstown arrested Thursday on charges of manufacture/delivery of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, manufacture/delivery of cannabis and possession of cannabis is not the David Large of Jacksonville who owns Large Painting. Compiled by Greg Olson and Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree UPPER THUMB Hundreds of visitors flock to the Thumb annually to tour the Thumb Area Quilt Trail. With plans of the 100th quilt square to be placed this summer, tourists will find no shortage of sights to see both on the sides of barns and in between. The Thumbs beauty can often be taken for granted by those who live here, said Pam Stillwell-Binder, member of the Thumb Quilt Trail Committee. When you live here, you forget how beautiful the Thumb is," she added. "You forget. Then something catches your breath and you say, Oh my goodness! I live in a beautiful area. The trail covers Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola counties. People that live in the Thumb have started to travel the Thumb more. People from all over the country travel to Michigan to travel the quilt trail, Stillwell-Binder said. Tourists have come from as far away as Texas, she added. Stillwell-Binder advises those who travel the trail to take an entire weekend to do so. There is one requirement for those who tour: The have to go through small towns in the Thumb. Theyre just these little gems tucked away, Stillwell-Binder said. Not to mention, there is the Amish countryside, antique stores and typical tourist destinations such as the shore and the Sanilac Petroglyphs, she added. Stillwell-Binder said for each quilt, the committee is quick to point out nearby attractions. The project started in the fall of 2013 when the committee started to meet. The first quilt blocks were placed in 2014. Inspiration for the trail came from Donna Groves, an Ohio woman whose mother purchased a farm with an ugly barn on it. So Groves painted a quilt to spruce it up less than 20 years ago, according to Stillwell-Binder. It seems like and feels like a really old tradition. Its not. Theyre cropping up all over the United States," she added. The committee tries to make sure the quilts are evenly distributed throughout each county. Were not a tourist agency, per say, but we really want to show off the Thumb in the best light. And we want people to stay here and spend money, Stillwell-Binder noted. The trail goes along both paved and dirt roads. When the committee is assessing where to place the quilts, it considers whether the road is conducive to a lot of traffic. The group decides together which barns become part of the trail, and evaluates every request to decide whether its a good fit. The same criteria is used to evaluate every barn. If chosen, the property owner picks out the blocks and colors. There is no cost to the owner. The project is funded by the community foundations of Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola counties. The annual budget is $5,000 to $6,000, and each county funds its own quilts. We really wanted to benefit the Thumb economically. Whatever benefits the trail benefits the whole Thumb," Stillwell-Binder said. The Tuscola Technology Center offers its facilities and student volunteers for painting quilt blocks. Ideally, 15 to 18 squares are made each summer. Although four women are on the trail committee, We absolutely do not do this on our own, Stillwell-Binder said. We have an army of volunteers. Its an incredible process to watch, she added. Kids from the tech center and National Honors Society help with painting and constructing the quilts. When they first get there, theyre there to work. By the end, theyre all in, Stillwell-Binder said. Raising the heavy 8-by-8-feet blocks to the side of a barn is a feat. A pully system is used to raise them, with four or five men pulling the block up. Kappan Tree Service volunteers its time, equipment and staff, including a cherry picker, to mount the blocks. Im stunned by the process, she said. There are currently 86 quilts. For more information, visit www.thumbquilttrail.com or look up the group's Facebook page. Havana A 39-year-old airliner with 110 people aboard crashed and burned in a cassava field just after taking off from the Havana airport Friday, leaving three survivors in Cuba's worst aviation disaster in three decades, officials said. The Boeing 737 went down just after noon a short distance from the end of the runway at Jose Marti International Airport while on a short-hop flight to the eastern city of Holguin. Firefighters rushed to extinguish the flames that engulfed the field of debris left where Cubana Flight 972 hit the ground. "There is a high number of people who appear to have died," Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said. "Things have been organized, the fire has been put out, and the remains are being identified." Relatives of those aboard were ushered into a private area at the terminal to await word on their loved ones. "My daughter is 24, my God, she's only 24!" cried Beatriz Pantoja, whose daughter Leticia was on the plane. State TV said the jet veered sharply to the right after takeoff, and Diaz-Canel said a special commission had been formed to investigate the cause of the crash. "The only thing we heard, when we were checking in, an explosion, the lights went out in the airport and we looked out and saw black smoke rising and they told us a plane had crashed," Argentine tourist Brian Horanbuena told The Associated Press at the airport. Skies were overcast and rainy at the airport at the time of the incident, with winds reportedly around 4 mph. Authorities said there were 104 passengers and six crew members on the flight operated by the Cuban state airline. Mexican authorities said the Boeing 737-201 was built in 1979 and rented by Cubana from Aerolineas Damojh, a small charter company that also goes by the name Global Air. A statement from the country's Transportation Department identified the pilot and co-pilot as Capt. Jorge Luis Nunez Santos and first officer Miguel Angel Arreola Ramirez. It said the flight attendants were Maria Daniela Rios, Abigail Hernandez Garcia and Beatriz Limon. Global Air said maintenance worker Marco Antonio Lopez Perez was also aboard. In November 2010 a Global Air flight originating in Mexico City made an emergency landing in Puerto Vallarta because its front landing gear did not deploy. The fire was quickly extinguished, and none of the 104 people aboard were injured. That plane was a 737 first put into service in 1975. In Mexico City, two women who said they were relatives of Global Air crew members appeared at the company's offices. They declined to identify themselves or their relatives and said they were still awaiting information from Global Air. Cubana has had a generally good safety record but is notorious for delays and cancellations and has taken many planes out of service because of maintenance problems in recent months, prompting it to hire charter aircraft from other companies. Four crash survivors were taken to a Havana hospital, and three remained alive as of mid-afternoon, hospital director Martinez Blanco told Cuban state TV. State media reports stopped short of openly declaring the rest on board were dead, but there was no word of other survivors by Friday evening. Cuban First Vice President Salvador Valdes Mesa had met with Cubana officials on Thursday to discuss improvements to its service. The airline blames its spotty record on a lack of parts and airplanes because of the U.S. trade embargo against the communist-run country. Cubana's director general, Capt. Hermes Hernandez Dumas, told state media last month that the airline's domestic flights had carried 11,700 more passengers than planned between January and April. It was Cuba's third major aviation accident since 2010. Last year a Cuban military plane crashed into a hillside in the western province of Artemisa, killing eight soldiers. In 2010, an AeroCaribbean flight from Santiago to Havana went down in bad weather, killing all 68 people aboard, including 28 foreigners, in what was the country's worst air disaster in more than two decades. UPPER THUMB Over the next four weeks, the Huron Daily Tribune will be transitioning delivery of its home delivered daily newspaper from route carriers to the United States Postal Service. Customers can expect same-day delivery of the newspaper along with their regularly scheduled mail delivery. Subscribers will continue to receive their newspaper the same day in which it is printed, explained Circulation Director Gary Wamsley. Moving delivery to the U.S. Postal Service will allow us to keep the same-day delivery our readers demand while also offering reliable and high-quality service, Wamsley added. Nothing changes with your subscription to the Huron Daily Tribune, except who is delivering it to you. The move to mail is also something that has been requested by local advertisers for quite some time, said Advertising Director Renee Willis. To make this happen, we made significant investments in our production and transportation processes. We are now able to produce the newspaper and get it to the post office in time for same-day delivery. We feel that this combination is a win-win for advertisers and subscribers, Willis added. The Huron Daily Tribune distribution team has been testing this process on some routes over the past month, and newspaper officials are confident the remaining subscribers will be pleased with the postal services reliability. Though the delivery method will be changing, readers will still be getting the same quality of local news coverage at the same time as they get it today, said Editor Kate Hessling. Its estimated all delivery routes of the daily newspaper will be transferred to the U.S. Postal Service as of June 12. If you have any questions or would like to share some feedback, please call the Tribune at 989-269-6461 ext. 100 to speak to a customer service representative. Washington China is sending conciliatory signals as U.S. and Chinese negotiators meet in Washington to try to head off a trade war between the world's two biggest economies. Beijing has dropped an anti-dumping investigation into imported U.S. sorghum, which it had accused the United States of unfairly subsiding. It has also given approval for a U.S. private equity firm to buy Toshiba's memory chip business. Those gestures could suggest a thaw with the U.S. as trade talks went on in Washington in an atmosphere of hopefulness but hardly assurance of a breakthrough in the impasse. "China has come to trade," Larry Kudlow, the top White House economic adviser, told reporters Friday. "They are meeting many of our demands. No deal yet, to be sure, and it's probably going to take a while it's a process." China's Commerce Ministry said Friday that it was ending its inquiry into whether the U.S. was dumping sorghum in the Chinese market at artificially low prices, saying the investigation was not in the public interest. A day earlier, Beijing had cleared the way for a group led by the U.S. private equity firm Bain Capital to buy Toshiba's computer memory chip business. The moves signaled at least a willingness by Beijing to work toward a deal with Washington. "I think China is willing to make concessions," said Wang Tao, chief China economist at UBS. "The Chinese stance has been very clear that China wants to mute any trade dispute. But of course it doesn't mean China would heed to all the demands the U.S. would place." President Donald Trump said Friday that America's lopsided trade relationship with Beijing the U.S. trade deficit with China last year reached $337 billion, its largest with any other nation is "bad for our country. And we're changing it around." A White House official said that China had offered to work to cut its trade deficit with the U.S. by $200 billion, while stressing that any details remained unclear. But China's Foreign Ministry denied that any such offer had been made. In the hours after a gunman killed at least 10 people at a Texas high school in the latest act of mass bloodshed on an American school campus, another man with a gun caught the attention of reporters at the scene. With a pistol holstered on his hip and an American flag in his hand, the man, wearing a Trump hat, spoke briefly on video with reporters gathered at Santa Fe High School Friday. The man, who was not identified in the video, said that his first thought after the shooting was to "get to the school, make America great again." The woman who was killed when a school bus carrying fifth-graders overturned after colliding with a dump truck Thursday, was a 51-year-old teacher at East Brook Middle School, authorities said Friday. Jennifer Williamson, of Paramus, New Jersey, was one of two people killed in the wreck that sent dozens of others to the hospital, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release Friday. A 10-year-old girl, who authorities did not identify, also died. Williamson's husband, Kevin Kennedy, said in a statement to the Bergen Record that his wife's death was tragic for both her family and "the thousands of students and their families she was very proud to serve." "I am in shock, devastated and totally crushed," Kennedy said. Williamson, who taught fifth-grade, and the young girl were killed in the accident on Interstate 80 in Mount Olive Township around 10:20 a.m. Thursday. The bus was carrying 38 students and seven adults en route to a field trip at Waterloo Village, a restored 19th century canal town, authorities said. The school bus driver was trying to use the highway's police turnaround to make a U-turn onto the eastbound lanes after missing the westbound exit, the Bergen Record and News 12 New Jersey reported. New Jersey State Police referred questions about the accident to prosecutors in Morris County, where the accident occurred. A spokesman for the Morris County Prosecutor's Office declined to discuss what may have caused the accident Friday morning, citing an ongoing investigation. Photos and video from the crash site show a school bus on its side, a mangled engine and hood sheared from the front, the chassis at a right angle. One image showed a red dump truck stopped on the accident scene. Emblazoned on the back of the truck: "In God we trust." All other school bus passengers were transported to about a half-dozen hospitals in the region, including 21 who were taken to Morristown Medical Center and 10 who were transported to Hackettstown Medical Center. A spokeswoman for the sister hospitals said several patients from the bus crash were discharged from Morristown Medical Center but she could not say how many. All but one patient at Hackettstown Medical Center have been discharged. Three accident patients remained hospitalized Friday at University Hospital in Newark, a spokesman said. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, D, told reporters at a Thursday news conference that some of the injured were in critical condition and required surgery. "This is a shaken community," Murphy said. On a message posted to its website, Paramus Public Schools deferred questions about the accident to investigators, telling community members the school district would make additional information available to the public once it receives it. "Words cannot adequately express the grief and profound anguish resonating throughout the District, and the entire Paramus Community, as we try to come to terms with the impact of this tragedy and the lives it has affected," the message read. A memorial service Friday evening for fallen San Antonio firefighter Scott Deem was the culmination of a difficult day for those closest to him. Deem was killed one year ago today after he and fellow firefighter Brad Phipps, both from Station 35, entered the Spartan Box gym at 9:17 p.m. in the Ingram Square II shopping center. It caused a ripple in each and every one of our lives personally, San Antonio Fire Department Chief Charles Hood said to a large crowd gathered at Alamo Plaza for the service. Whether you were on a hose line in the fire, or sitting at home watching the news, it caused a ripple. RELATED: Firefighter killed in major fire in the Northwest Side The 31-year-old father of three had been with the department for six years. On May 18, 2017, Deem and Phipps entered the burning gym to search for people who may have been trapped inside. It later turned out that no one was in the building. Investigators later found that the ceiling collapsed on him and Phipps as they tried to pull tiles from the ceiling to find the origin of the fire. Firefighters were able to rescue Phipps and Robert Vasquez, a third firefighter who had entered the gym as part of a Rapid Intervention Team to rescue them, but Deem was not found until after the flames were extinguished. On Friday, Phipps could be seen at the memorial service with bandages still wrapped around his hand. RELATED: Gym owner charged with murder in death of S.A. firefighter Scott Deem In the wake of the fire, investigators have charged Emond Johnson, 39, with intentionally setting the fire and causing Deems death. Johnson was behind on both lease payments for the gym and other debts, according to court records. As of Friday, he was still in jail. His trial date is set for June 8. Hood said Fridays memorial service was a day to remember forgiveness. I preach forgiveness today because we always have to remember to forgive ourselves, Hood said. When were feeling bad, when reports come out and things happen, we have to forgive ourselves. Deems death led to the Texas State Fire Marshals Office investigating the fire and the departments actions. In February, it released a report detailing 11 mistakes that were made as the firefighters fought the massive blaze. The department has since assigned a command staff leader to implement the reports recommendations. It also has turned an old warehouse on North Cherry and Nolan streets on the East Side into a safety and survivability center dedicated to Deem. I have been in awe at everything that you have done since then, to make sure that we improve our service together, to make sure that this type of tragedy never happens again, Hood said to the firefighters in attendance. RELATED: Review: SAFD made mistakes in fighting blaze that killed firefighter During the ceremony, a ladder truck was unveiled for Station 35 featuring an art piece of Deem painted by Kris Dean, an artist and medic with Station 22. Dana Zamarripa, a firefighter with Engine 48 who previously worked with Deem at Station 35, said firefighters started the day off at 10 a.m. at the Fire Academy with Deems favorite CrossFit workout, which is recognized as a hero workout of the day, she said. It is probably one of the toughest workouts we can do in CrossFit, and its perfect for Scott because its exactly what he would want, She said. jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA A San Antonio man accused last year of shooting his girlfriend in the face was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison. Richard Adam Hernandez was 30 when he was arrested and charged with murder in the death of Rose Marie Limon, 33, who was shot in the face around 8:40 p.m. Jan. 31, 2017, at a home in the 6800 block of Pecan Valley Drive on the Southeast Side. The woman was pronounced dead about a half hour later. According to reports released at the time, the victim's father was at the scene and had stepped outside to get the mail when he heard a gunshot. Once inside, he allegedly saw Hernandez holding his daughter's body in his hands. According to an arrest warrant affidavit released at the time, the defendant told the victim's father, "I was talking to her and the gun went off. I have to leave! Don't tell them my name is Rudy." Police said Hernandez then left the scene. Authorities said they were told Hernandez had abused Limon before and had recently accused her of having an affair. Three witnesses later found by authorities told police they had seen Hernandez earlier that evening with a handgun. Officers found a 9 mm handgun in a back bedroom. The affidavit stated that police believed the man shot the woman in the back room and moved the body into the front living room. Hernandez, now 32, pleaded no contest in a hearing Friday in the 290th state District Court, presided by Judge Melisa Skinner. After reviewing evidence, Skinner found Hernandez guilty and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. Because there was an affirmative finding of assault with a deadly weapon and a history of family violence, Hernandez must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole. Elizabeth Zavala is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | ezavala@express-news.net | @elizabeth2863 San Antonio police are hoping to find the motorist they say struck a man on a U.S. 90 frontage road early Saturday, leaving him in critical condition. Officers found the man, believed to be in his mid 40s, lying on the frontage road in the 7500 block of U.S. 90 with serious head trauma. A man was rushed to University Hospital after he was stabbed Friday night on the West Side, according to San Antonio police. Officers said two men were arguing in the 7800 block of Airlift Avenue when one of them pulled out a knife and stabbed the other one twice. CHAMAL, Mexico - After months of searching for cheap farmland in Mexico, George Blalock, a small-town visionary from Oklahoma, in late 1902 found himself inspecting a vast hacienda south of Ciudad Victoria. VISIT OUR SUBSCRIBER SITE TO SEE EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS OF THE COLONY TODAY. "Upon my first view of the valley in the company of the agent of the Banco Hipotecario, I was so impressed by the beauty of the scene before me, by the luxuriance of the foliage and the apparent richness of the land, that I exclaimed to myself, "She's sold," he recalled in his journal. "The five days which I spent on the ground did not weaken this impression .... We returned to Tampico and closed the deal," he added. Thus began the first chapter of the Blalock Mexico Colony, an American settlement approved by the Mexican government that covered almost 200,000 semi-tropical acres in the state of Tamaulipas. SUBSCRIBER RELATED: The last war of the U.S. Cavalry At its peak, early in the last century, Chamal, as the community was called, had between 500-600 residents, most from rural Oklahoma. Over the decades, San Antonio would emerge as a mainland base for many of them. Some sent their children there to be educated. Others came to San Antonio to find work or safety. Many descendants of the settlers live in San Antonio today, and in recent years, have held reunions here, sharing old photos, historical documents and nostalgic memories. Read about the fate of the colony, its descendants and the families of Mexicans who live in the area now at our subscriber site, expressnews.com. jmaccormack@express-news.net Few people go straight from jail to a celebratory press conference, but thats what happened to Simone Oliver and Shamika Prince just before Mothers Day. These two pregnant mothers were bailed out of the Bexar County Adult Detention Center as part of National Black Mamas Bail Out Day, which brought focus to the need for bail reform. Oliver, who is 23, is facing an assault charge tied to a domestic dispute. Prince, who is 39, is facing two charges tied to theft and fraudulent use of ID. Olivers bond was set at $3,000, and Princes was set at $4,300. Since neither could afford the 10 percent fee most bond companies require, they stayed in jail, costing taxpayers $40 to $60 a day. Maybe even more as expecting mothers. Prince and Oliver had each spent about two weeks in jail when they finally stepped outside and joined the press conference organized by Texas Organizing Project. They looked sheepish, exhausted, relieved and overwhelmed. They were blessed. Praised. Held up as examples of an inherently unfair system. One that Laquita Garcia, with Texas Organizing Project, blasted as destructive and inhumane. Prince and Oliver, Garcia said, represent the countless others who are sitting in cells for no other reason than they just cant afford their bail. Other speakers included Sheriff Javier Salazar; Michael Young, Bexar Countys chief public defender; and Joe Gonzales, a Democrat who is running for district attorney. It was a pretty impressive political lineup for a sweltering South Texas day, but two important people were missing: The defense attorneys representing Prince and Oliver. Neither woman had ever met or heard from their assigned counsel. Prince said she didnt even know she had one. His name is David M. Collins. He did not respond to phone and email messages. Oliver knew her attorneys name Carlo Key, a Democrat and former judge who is running to return to the bench but only, she said, because it was on some paperwork that TOP had provided her. From the outside looking in, its astounding someone could spend two weeks in jail and have no idea who their attorney is, or even if they have one. But this happens all the time. Its so common, Key sounded a bit surprised I was asking him about why he hadnt spoken to his client even though she had been in jail for two weeks. Fourteen days is not a long time to be (in jail), relatively speaking, he said. He said he had exchanged phone messages with Olivers mom, but they had never connected. Of course, Olivers mom is not his client, but Key said family members can sometimes be easier to communicate with than defendants. Maybe two weeks really isnt a long time to be in jail without seeing ones attorney it probably depends on what side of the bars you are on. But thats not the practice at the very small Bexar County Public Defenders office, which represents indigent defendants. All public defenders are required to make contact with their clients, either by video or in person, within one business day of an appointment, said Young, the countys chief public defender. This is to build awareness about the case and to keep the client informed. But court-appointed attorneys have no such requirement to see their new clients within a day, and Key said its not feasible. Private attorneys are too busy, he said. The pay, $140 for a misdemeanor, is too low. Navigating the jail to speak with a client is too difficult. Key said he plans to meet Oliver at her next court date, which as of this writing is set for Monday. Key is just working in the system we have created, but this inability to see a client quickly is a major problem. Theres no communication, and in turn, no understanding about the defendants circumstances. If Oliver and Prince hadnt been bailed out by TOP, they would still be sitting in jail. The pressure to simply plead guilty whenever they finally meet their attorneys would be immense because its the quickest way to get out of jail. That didnt happen for Prince and Oliver. They lucked out. But after roughly two weeks in jail, life goes on haltingly and with heartbreak. Oliver, who is three months pregnant, had lost her job at a call center. Prince lost her baby, a girl, the day after she was released from jail, Garcia said. She had been six months pregnant. jbrodesky@express-news.net Two gentlemen stopped by to visit Brian Freeman and Robert Jaramillo. They looked a bit familiar, perhaps sparking a memory, but really they were strangers to me. I married them almost three years ago. We sat together recalling details of that day through stifled tears, hugging, taking pictures in my courtroom and exchanging phone numbers, their unexpected visit spurring me to finally memorialize in writing the best single -day of my 17-year tenure as a judge. EDITORIAL: Gay marriage die-hard Back on June 26, 2015, everyone knew the Obergefell opinion might be released, so it was exciting, but also a bit unnerving, to be presiding over our central docket that day. I called the 8:30 civil docket. Still no word from the U.S. Supreme Court. We assigned cases from the 8:30 docket and went about our day. At 9 a.m., I began to call the larger, mostly family law, docket about 150 cases. The courtroom was filled with well over 300 lawyers. About halfway through calling the cases, the clerks phone rang at the little desk next to the bench. Mary answered and then whispered to me, Dan says the opinion is out and the answer is yes. OPINION: Gay marriage is consistent with GOP values I thought I knew what that cryptic message meant, but I wasnt quite sure. I paused from calling the docket and announced to the lawyers that the Obergefell opinion was decided and released. I resumed calling the docket, calling three or four more cases, before asking incredulously to the large crowd of lawyers, Arent you curious? By then, our staff attorney Dinah had pulled up the opinion on the computer next to the clerk station and offered, Judge, I can read it. In the most perfect, unwavering, clear voice, without a microphone, Dinah articulated the salient portions of the opinion: Held: The Fourteenth Amendment requires a State to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-State. The fundamental liberties protected by the Fourteenth Amendments Due Process Clause extend to certain personal choices central to individual dignity and autonomy, including intimate choices defining personal identity and beliefs. The lawyers cheered and clapped. I am proud to be a lawyer every day, but never more than June 26, 2015. PIMENTEL: Two heroes one from Texas on gay marriage I looked down and opened my eyes as wide as they could go, making room to hold my watering, joy-filled, tears so they would not fall on the desk. After all, I was in my black robe, on the bench, in the middle of docket call. I took a moment to compose myself, put on my best poker face and finished calling the docket. Judge Genie Wright, a county court judge, wanted to be the first judge in Bexar to conduct a same-sex wedding. Her friends were waiting first in line at the county clerks office. Clerk Gerry Rickhoff announced in advance of the opinion his plan to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in the event the Courts opinion permitted. Judge Wrights friends, two very lucky gentlemen, headed directly to the Presiding Court with the first same-sex marriage license issued in Bexar County, asking me to sign the waiver, permitting them to marry without waiting 72 hours and allowing Judge Wright to marry them immediately. A few more, I thought, may come for waivers which I had decided I would be happy to sign. But many more came, and behind them many more, and it was clear that dozens of couples wanted to be married on that historic day June 26, 2015 to share in the joy of their newfound freedom, to celebrate the new respect given them by their nations highest court. Exuberant couples, relieved couples, overjoyed couples, nervous couples, all with expecting faces lined up in front of me with their waivers. As the line grew longer, the numbers were so great, the excitement and love so great, the hope of realized dreams so great, there was nothing to do but join in the overwhelming joy. I have never seen so much joy in one place in one day, and I doubt I ever will again. The atmosphere was electric and 100 percent positive from start to finish. My heart, body and brain jumped in. I hurried upstairs to my chambers to search for a wedding ceremony on my computer. I quickly adapted it for use by same-sex couples, substituting gender neutral terms. I emailed the revised ceremony to the presiding court computer and we were off to the races. Our amazing staff attorneys Dinah, Brett, James and Bianca quickly organized. When couples arrived with their newly issued marriage licenses, the greatest staff attorney team on earth printed a ceremony with the names inserted, handing it to me as they introduced me to each couple. LEAH LAX: The Supreme Court, the law, and my same-sex marriage All of us worked non-stop, determined that everyone desiring a June 26 wedding would have one. I stood at the front of the courtroom and married couples, one by one, men and women of all ages and races, a beautiful mosaic of humanity, a giant courtroom full of strangers bonded by history, each couple waiting patiently for their ceremony, and happily supporting each other with cheers, laughter, love and tears. Judge Laura Salinas and Judge Stephani Walsh both took time to come to the Presiding Court and join in. There was enough work for all of us, and we could have used even more help. Once we were underway, it was evident to all that an amazing event was in progress. Daily lawyer business took a back seat and deferred to history. At one point I began to lose my voice, but we found some cough drops that rallied me on. Time escaped us all, and next we knew it was 5 p.m. and we lost our air conditioning. June in San Antonio? Its hot. Very hot. We continued, buoyed by the cheers we heard as each newly married couple exited the courthouse to join the impromptu celebration of well-wishers gathered outside in the courthouse square. Although it may sound like we had a wedding assembly line going, it didnt feel that way at all. Each ceremony was unique and special. Some had written their own vows or made extemporaneous adoring sentiments. Some brought their own boom box and played a meaningful song. Some had a large contingent of family and friends while some were just two. Some were dressed up, some not. We saw purple tuxedos, white wedding dresses, jeans and t-shirts, conservative business suits, flowers in hair, carried bouquets, expensive diamond rings and rings made of string. Many had been together for decades and were finally able to enjoy official recognition of their longtime status. Partners arrived from all over Texas as many counties refused to issue licenses. Several feared the rights they suddenly celebrated today might just as swiftly be taken away tomorrow, so they waited patiently and joyfully in the sweltering courtroom. On many occasions, I apologized to them for the long wait, and I dont just mean today, I told them. I could see that official recognition was so important. Almost every couple wanted photos and wanted me standing between them an official in a black robe, a symbol of their countrys official acceptance of their vows and commitment. Bexar County issued marriage licenses to 221 couples on June 26, 2015. Of those, 144 married on the same day. Together, Bexar County judges conducted 106 of those weddings. I had the privilege of conducting 60. I was honored to spend one precious day sharing in the joy and witnessing history from a unique perspective. Its impossible for me to articulate the feelings of all the wonderful couples I encountered that day, having only a brief glimpse into the window of their lives. I will never fully understand what it must have felt like to be overlooked, unrecognized and disrespected for such a long time, often in a cruel manner, by fellow citizens and the government of your own country. I feel that I learned so much that day, and it makes me think about other historic changes our country has seen. As Americans, we seem to easily and quickly forget the negative and shameful parts of our history. Although remembering a past we are not proud of is unpleasant and even painful, perhaps remembering will lead to more humility, thoughtfulness, understanding, empathy and kindness. Judge Karen Pozza sits on the bench of the 407th District Court in Bexar County. In the second century A.D., Jewish rebels who had stunned the Romans and liberated a portion of Judea overstruck imperial coins with images and a message of their own, Year One of the Redemption of Jerusalem. The Roman emperor Hadrian had planted the seeds for the rebellion with his ambitions to remake Jerusalem, including the construction of a temple to Jupiter built on the site of the old Jewish Temple. The leader of the Jewish rebellion, Bar Kokhba, was fired by a vision of a united Israel with Jerusalem as its capital, which had been the exception during the prior millennium, thanks to the depredations of the Assyrians and Babylonians, among others. But such was the power of the national idea and his messianic zeal that Bar Kokhba ventured all on regaining it. And lost. Not for nearly another 2,000 years would the vision come to fruition. At a ceremony in 1982 burying bones of some of those long-ago rebels with military honors, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin declared: Israel and Judea are reborn. We have redeemed Jerusalem. King David conquered the city in 1000 B.C. and made it the capital of the kingdom of Israel. His son Solomon built the First Temple. He who has not seen Jerusalem in her splendor has never seen a desirable city in his life, declares the Babylonian Talmud. He who has not seen the Temple in its full construction has never seen a glorious building in his life. But Jerusalem would repeatedly be captured and the Temple destroyed (first by the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar and then by the Roman Emperor Titus). The story of the Jewish people is one of loss, memory, and faithfulness and persistence. Psalm 137, recounting the Babylonian captivity, avers: If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. The Jewish people never forgot. In one of the miracles of our age, after long centuries of exile punctuated by genocide at the hands of the Nazis, they re-established Israel in 1948, and then gained control of all of Jerusalem in 1967 (prior to that, when Jordan held East Jerusalem, Jews couldnt visit the Western Wall). The notion that the City of David isnt the capital of Israel was an impolite fiction, honored by the U.S. and the West for fear of provoking Arabs hostile to the very idea of the Jewish state. Its prime minister, parliament and highest court are based there, and its unimaginable that Israel would ever agree to any peace deal that didnt recognize it as the capital. The tired, conventional arguments against it havent held up well in the wake of President Donald Trumps decision to move our embassy. The Arab street hasnt exploded. The West Bank has been relatively quiet. For now, that poisonous ambition looks more fantastical than ever. Trumps move is an acknowledgment of reality. It is also a symbolic statement of permanence, that Menachem Begin was correct when he said at the ceremony for the Bar Kokhba rebels 36 years ago, Glorious fathers, we are back and we will not budge from here. comments.lowry@nationalreview.com There simply was no reason to abandon the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. The decision to do so by President Donald Trump, who called the deal decaying and rotten, will likely hasten a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. It is already straining relationships with our European allies and will further isolate Iran, which makes it more, not less, dangerous. This action does not improve national security, and it undercuts economic ties that could have been used as a means for diplomacy. Critics of the deal often point to its flaws and limitations. It did not curtail Irans ballistic missile program. It has not contained Irans meddling in the Mideast. But the agreements only aim was to curb Irans nuclear program and, by all accounts, it has done that. There was no reason these other concerns could not have been negotiated in an additional side agreement, which our European allies were willing to pursue. And Trump has shredded the agreement with absolutely nothing better in place. He has ripped the deal because it limited Irans nuclear production only through 2030. But now Iran is threatening the possibility of resuming uranium enrichment within weeks. How is that better? Trump has also given Iran immense leverage as our European allies, as well as China and Russia, seek to renegotiate and maintain the agreement. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has asserted that leverage in public comments. If we can guarantee our interests, we will save it, he said on Iranian TV. But the more likely scenario is the agreement wont be saved, and Iran will resume its nuclear program. Trumps actions potentially scuttle billions in economic ties as the U.S. renews sanctions. Airbus, a European aviation manufacturer, has a $19 billion contract with Iran Air to deliver 100 planes. Boeing has secured contracts worth roughly $20 billion, The Washington Post has reported. The message to the world is loud and clear: We are an unreliable partner. We will abandon allies. We will not honor agreements even when others adhere to them. Its a peculiar message to be sending on the eve of crucial talks between Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. Its also yet another retreat from the global stage. We have withdrawn from the Paris climate agreement, even as the rest of the world remains committed. We abandoned the Trans Pacific Partnership, even as the other nations went forward with that trade agreement. The administration has blasted the North American Free Trade Agreement, which has been economically beneficial to the United States, especially Texas. And, of course, there is the prospect of a trade war with China. As we withdraw from the global stage, others will fill the void and the results may not be in the best interests of the United States a funny way of putting America first. Every time I consider renewing my membership in the National Rifle Association, the leadership of that organization does something that causes me to change my mind. The latest NRA move? Picking Oliver North, a rhetorical bomb thrower, as its next president. In effect, he called students who exercise their First Amendment rights civil terrorists. Ill rejoin the NRA when it picks leaders who can defend the Second Amendment without demonizing a bunch of kids who dont want to be shot in the hallways of their schools. I recognize Im using the same kind of hyperbolic language about North that he used about student activists. Ill calm down when the NRA leadership does. David H. Plylar Shout-out to TAs Re: City Council praises CEO Baray for Pre-K 4 SA, Metro, May 10: As a former Head Start Teacher (Family Service Association), I have witnessed many great, talented teachers from various educational settings. But lets not forget the teacher assistants. Teacher assistants provide emotional support, supplemental teaching, and creativity as well. Teacher assistants are the backbones in the classrooms. A special shout-out to my former teacher assistant, Juanita Perez (TA) FSA-Head Start. Thank you for all that you do assisting teachers in the classroom. Mary Jane Zavala-Padron Mere babysitting Re: City Council praises CEO Baray for Pre-K 4 SA, Metro, May 10: I would like to know how many U.S. citizens children have attended the past years of this $47.3 million program and how many illegal immigrant children have attended. I would like to know the percentage of children attending whose primary language is English. As far as I am concerned, it is simply taxpayer-provided babysitting, and I would be willing to bet there is no way taxpayers are allowed to know whose children are being babysat. I would be willing to bet the program is forbidden to ask if children applying are citizens and therefore those in charge cant provide the information I feel taxpayers are entitled to know. Sharon Diane Dupree Targeting Haspel President Trumps nominee for CIA director, Gina Haspel, is a patriot on the frontlines, working hard to defend this nation against terrorism. Democrats, mainly, have accused her of being too tough in the interrogation of those responsible for the 9/11 attacks that killed 3,000 innocent people. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the architect of the attacks, has said the interrogation techniques used against him were a form of torture. Seems like the Dems and some Repubs agreed with him. Three thousand lives were lost that fateful day and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is still among the living, and some senators still have their nose hairs tied up in knots because of the way he was treated. Leo Q. Gomez Financial onus I read with interest the two accounts regarding the rejection of the request to bid for the Republican National Committee. Gilbert Garcia (Nirenberg draws rebuttal from RNC official, May 11) quotes the chairman of the GOP Site Selection Committee that the financial burden doesnt fall on the municipal government of the host city. It rests with the host committee, a nonprofit created to oversee the convention. On the same day Mayor Ron Nirenberg (Why city didnt bid on the GOP convention, Other Views) states that the RFP specifically mandate that the host city and/ or the host committee guarantee the required contribution with a letter of credit and that earnest money be deposited, putting the local taxpayers on the hook. It looks to me like the secret City Council meeting was to discuss the excuses to be used to cover the real reasons for not bidding. I therefore challenge the Express News to uncover and report the truth. You could start by posting a copy of the RFP (request for proposal) for all of us to read. I further challenge all of you voters in San Antonio to remember what is uncovered (do we need the Texas Rangers to help uncover this?) and get off your butts and vote! Leo Dye, Bulverde Some opportunity If the 2020 Republican National Convention is such a great opportunity, then why arent cities all across the country bidding for it? Why have so many passed on it? Cynthia Butler A fond look back I was stationed with Security Service at Kelly Air Force Base back in 1964. I did it for one year. When HemisFair opened in 68, I couldnt wait to bring my family back to San Antonio to attend the fair and show them where I was stationed. My daughter was 6 and my son 2, so needless to say, they cared less about seeing a military base, but they could not stop talking about all the rides and shows at HemisFair when we returned home. I believe our daughter enjoyed the sky ride and mini-rail the best. Our son? Well, he enjoyed everything, and the candy most of all. My wife and I have never forgotten all the shows outside and inside the buildings, and we rated them the best we had ever seen at that point in our lives. The shows and information in the theaters were outstanding, and the water ski show was great. On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best, I would rate HemisFair 68 a BIG 10. Ron Smith, Cibolo What led to the death of Chief Obafemi Awolowo: lets deal! The cause of Papa Awo death raises some questions. Let's look into the history of Obafemi Awolowo and last things he was involved in before his death. Chief Awolowo activities Chief Obafemi Awolowo was known as a founder of nationalism in Nigeria. He was a lawyer, publisher, nationalist, and significant political figure. Obafemi Awolowo held the Premiers chair in the Western region from 1954 until Nigeria got complete independence from the UK in 1960. Chief Awolowo took a leading role in the constitutional conferences conducted in London and Lagos which opened the path for Nigerian independence. Obafemi Awolowo, photo from www.nigerianmuse.com Obafemi Awolowo was a leader of the opposition in the first Parliament after gaining independence and was considered as a Chief of the Yoruba people. In 1979 and 1983, Papa Awo (as he was often called) was a presidential candidate of the Unity Party. But he lost the elections to Shehu Shagari who represented National Party form the Northern part of Nigeria. When the Government of Shehu Shagari was deposed because of a military coup in the 31st of December, 1983, Chief Obafemi Awolowo moved away from political affairs. He died in Ikenne town (Ogun State) at the age of 78 years. For many years it was believed that Chief Awolowo died because of natural death. But in recent years, many online publications, referring to the words of the former statesmen and close to the late Papa Awo people, posted information that he committed self-murder. And, moreover, Obafemi Awolowo was pushed to this awful step. Let's try to find out what led to the death of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. READ ALSO: Nigerian heroes and their contributions Chief Obafemi Awolowo in Sokoto, photo from www.thecable.ng A probable cause of death Some reports alleged that Papa Awo committed self-murder because he wanted to stop the probable growth of military tribunal into an uprising. Chief Awolowo was going to drive it with his political allies. The main reason was the intention of General Ibrahim Babangida, Nigerian Military President, to keep the helm of the country for life at that time. Obafemi Awolowo planned to remove Ibrahim Babangida from power with the help of armed people insurrection. But, unfortunately, one of the participants in that campaign betrayed them and handed the record of the conspiracy to the military. When everything was revealed, General Babangida held a meeting to Chief Awolowo and threatened him with prison and exile. Then Papa Awo allegedly decided to commit self-murder instead of spending the rest of his life in prison. But before that, Obafemi Awolowo gathered his comrades-in-arms again. At that meeting, the name of their traitor was revealed. According to Nigerian politician Mr Adebayo Adeyinka, it was Chief Lateef Jakande, the former Executive Governor of Lagos State. Although Jakande denied his guilt, the evidence was against him. To tell the truth, the former Governor still denies that they had any disagreements with Papa Awo. Later Chief Awolowo took poison, but the public was told that he had died in the bathroom while brushing his teeth. Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was a political leader and true father of the nation. He believed that Nigeria should invest its resources into education and develop infrastructure. Papa Awo organised the free of charge primary education for all pupils in the Western Region. Besides, he founded the first TV broadcast in Africa (1959). Also, Chief Awolowo provided electricity for Nigerian regions using earnings from the highly profitable cocoa export. He also led a childrens free health care program. Papa Awo created the name for Nigeria currency- Naira. Perhaps, the time will come, and well receive official and true information about Chief Obafemi Awolowos cause of death. Indeed, Papa Awo is a great Nigerian politician and founder of the nation. His contribution to the development of Nigeria is undeniable. READ ALSO: History of feminism in Nigeria Source: Legit - The Imo state speaker of House of Assembly, Acho Ihim, said the ward congresses were not held in the state - The speaker explained that the congresses did not take place in the 305 wards of the state - APC appeal committee, however, over ruled the report that there was nothing of such exercises The appeals committee that looked into the ward congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo state has refuted the claims made by the state governor, Rochas Okorocha and members of the state House of Assembly, that ward congresses did not take place in the state. The approval by the committee came just as members of the Imo state House of Assembly led by the speaker, Hon. Acho Ihim, earlier stormed the APC national secretariat Abuja along with some party stakeholders from the state to protest against the outcome of the congress. The appeal panel report has dismissed the petition by aggrieved stakeholders on grounds that it lacked merit, The Nation reports. READ ALSO: 15 killed as soldiers engage in fierce battle with Boko Haram terrorists (photos) In the report submitted by Imo state congress committee and signed by its chairman, Senator Abubakar Tutare, the panel held that the congress committee mandated to conduct the exercise has confirmed that the exercise actually took place in the state. The appeal committee further said those who wrote the petition against the congress were unqualified persons. According to the report, The congress committee presented video evidence to support their position that the congress actually held in the state. The speaker of the state assembly who led some members of the House of Representatives and 24 members of the state assembly to a meeting with the APC national chairman, said they had come to the national headquarters of the party to protest against the conduct of congress in Imo state. He said they mobilised the 24 members of the state assembly in order to show how serious the matter is to the party stakeholders in the state. Ihim said the lawmakers and governor still have implicit confidence in the ability of the NWC to resolve the matter. The speaker said: We are here to reaffirm that there was no congresses in the 305 wards in the state, and we demand that a categorical statement be made by the party for a new date that fresh congresses of the party will be held. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app As for the discussions we had with the national chairman, that was an in-house thing, but we have affirmed our stand with our governor, and we are still with him. He is the face of the APC in the South-east region. Of course, the young man has done so well that without him, there would have been no APC in the region in the first place. Imo State in particular is the fulcrum of APC and it cannot be toyed with. We demand that the constituted statement and announcement be made about the congresses that did not hold. The new date should be announced and the whole things should be ratified and there will be peace in the state. The shenanigans that we saw can never be taken for congresses. We are taking this very seriously, and that is why honourable members of APC extractions combined with the House of Representatives are here to affirm same, that there was no congress and we never took it to have been held, and we here are saying that we support Okorocha. When asked the view of legislators on the move by the governor to endorse his son-in-law, Ihim said the governor has a right to support anyone for elective office. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the state rejected the scheduled local government congress slated for Monday, May 14. The confusion started with the rejection of the planned congress by state lawmakers of the APC extraction led by speaker of the House of Assembly, Acho Ihim. Those present when the speaker was briefing journalists on Sunday, May 13, were members of the House of Representatives from Imo state, Chike Okafor, representing Okigwe South constituency and Nnanna Igbokwe, representing Ahiazu and Ezinihitte Mbaise constituency. APC official tells why his party could be voted out in 2019 - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit - A young Nigerian man was recently sentenced to one month imprisonment in Edo - According to reports, he was found guilty of offences bordering on fraudulent activities It is the end of the road for yet another face behind the internet fraud popularly known as 'yahoo yahoo', after he was arrested by the Benin Zonal officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , EFCC, and convicted of his crimes. Identified as Ebi Obaro, the young man was convicted for offences bordering on fraudulent trick and attempting to obtain by false pretenses. According to reports, he presented himself as Donovan Macbeth Kelvin in his gmail account, to defraud victims on the internet. He pleaded guilty to the one count charge at the at the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State. In light of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Larry Aso Peters urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly. READ ALSO: Yoruba actress Aisha Abimbola aka Omoge Campus allegedly dies of breast cancer in Canada Ebi Obaro Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Meet pretty ex-wife of the richest man in Africa Aliko Dangote, her name is Hajia Zainab However, the defence counsel, R.E.O. Esite pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercies, stating that the defendant was a first time offender who has has become remorseful since his arrest. He also told the court that the defendant plead guilty to the charges so as not to waste the time of the court and has promised never to go back to the life of crime. Justice P. I Ajoku after hearing from both counsels, sentenced the defendant to one month imprisonment. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News on Legit.ng News App Get the hottest gist on Naija Uncensored Facebook Group Would you go into business with a liar or a thief? on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng The Kwara state ministry of justice has debunked the rumours that the some suspected cultists arrested by the police in the state implicated some notable politicians. Legit.ng gathered that the director of public prosecution in the state ministry of justice, Jimoh Mumini, in a statement, said there was no portion of the press statement where the suspects were said to have indicted any top personality. READ ALSO: APC crisis deepens as Dogara, 9 others drag Oyegun to court over congresses The statement read: "The attention of the Kwara state ministry of justice has been drawn to a story published by an online medium that the suspected cultists arrested and interrogated by the police in Ilorin and recommended for trial by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) but suddenly transferred to Police Headquarters, Abuja, had in their statement indicted some top personalities. "We want to state categorically that there is no iota of truth in the said story. Our belief that the said story is false arose from the fact that the summary of the statement voluntarily made by the suspects and on the basis of which they were recommended for trial in Ilorin is contained in the press statement read by the police commissioner on May 10, 2018. We maintain that there was no portion of the press statement where the suspects were said to have indicted any top personality. "For emphasis, let us restate the fact that on the basis of the statement obtained from the accused, the police had issued a statement read publicly at the May 10 press conference in the state capital and there was no mention of their naming or implicating any top government official at the state or federal level. "The state ministry of justice had in fact filed charges in the High Court against the accused persons and we stand by the pending charges and the trial process already lawfully initiated in Ilorin. "We hereby call on members of the public to disregard and ignore the publication as the medium on which it appeared is widely known to suffer credibility problem. "At no time was any influence, whatsoever, exerted to pervert the course of justice, nor monetary transaction or any exchange of pecuniary benefit made between the learned DPP and the commissioner of police with respect to this particular case or any other case for that matter. "We boldly state that at no time ever since the resumption of duties of the commissioner of police in charge of the Kwara state police command has there been any opportunity, for the learned DPP to have any discussion, whatsoever, with him. "Therefore, all insinuations relating to undue influence through offer of gratifications or any other means, made by the discredited online publication are mere figment of the imagination and misguided attempt by the sponsor of the online medium aimed at tarnishing the image of the learned DPP, Jimoh Adbimpe Mumini Esq. This campaign of calumny against the DPP by the sponsor(s) of the online publication is politically motivated and will definitely fail. "The Commissioner of police or the authors of the defamatory article aimed at tarnishing the image of the learned DPP are hereby challenged to make public any evidence of any discussion or transaction, whatsoever, between the commissioner of police and the learned DPP, MR. J.A MUMINI aimed at influencing or subverting the course of justice in this direction. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the police was asked by the chief registrar of the Kwara State Judiciary, to bring back some criminal suspects who had been transferred to Abuja on Wednesday, May 16. Are Nigerian policemen the worst in the world? - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun rules that the circumstantial evidence relied to convict and sentence the one Otokoto suspect by the lower courts was not sufficient - She says that an accused person told lies does not make him guilty The Supreme Court set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Owerri of 2012, which upheld the death sentence of the trial court The Supreme Court on Friday, May 18, discharged and acquitted, Alban Ajaegbu, one of the accused in the celebrated case of the ritual killing of an 11-year-old boy, Ikechukuwu Okoronkwo, in 1996 in Owerri, Imo. The killing of the boy, a hawker, jolted Owerri, stoking riot and destructions by enraged residents that lasted for days in the city. In her lead judgment, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, held that the circumstantial evidence relied on to convict and sentence the appellant by the lower courts was not sufficient. READ ALSO: APC crisis deepens as Dogara, 9 others drag Oyegun to court over congresses It must be restated here that the appellant was charged with murder and the prosecution has the burden of proving beyond reasonable doubt that it was the act of the appellant that caused the death of the deceased. The appellant does not have the burden to prove his innocence. The lower court held that the defence of the appellant raised a lot of suspicions. The law is well settled that suspicion, no matter how grave, cannot take the place of proof. She said that the assumption of the lower courts that because the appellant worked in the hotel for 17 years, he should have known who owned the farm that Okoronkwo was buried in, was wrong. Suspicion cannot take the place of legal proof. That the appellant worked in the hotel for 17 years and didnt know who owned the farm cannot make him guilty. The law is settled, that an accused person told lies does not make him guilty. The apex court held that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court, therefore, set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Owerri of 2012, which upheld the death sentence of the trial court and acquitted and discharged Ajaegbo. The judgment was read by Justice Ejembi Eko, and the other four justices on the panel agreed with the judgment. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okoronkwo, a groundnut seller, was on September 19, 1996, lured into a hotel, called Otokoko in Owerri and beheaded. Okoronko was reportedly given a bottle of Coca-Cola that had been spiked with drug before he was killed. The hotel was owned by one Vincent Duru, who became known as Chief Otokoto during the long trial, following his not guilty plea after his arrest and arraignment. Besides beheading Okoronkwo, the suspects, who were seven in number reportedly, removed different organs from his body, including his genitals before burying the corpse in a shallow grave. The crime was discovered when 32-year-old Innocent Ekeanyanwu, left the hotel to deliver the head in a polythene bag to a client. An okada rider, who gave Ekeanyanwu a ride discovered the fresh human head and alerted the police, leading to the arrest of Ekeanyanwu. In another report, 87 passengers travelling along Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna highways have been reportedly kidnapped by armed bandits operating in the area. Vanguard reports that the bandits selected their victims from their look and dressing and herded them into the bush. The kidnappings were confirmed by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the area, which cautioned its members from plying the route pending deployment of troop and other security agencies. Police Nab Woman for Battering her Nephew Thought to be a Wizard | Legit.ng.TV Source: Legit - Governor Ayo Fayose has alleged that the APC has hatched a fresh plot to rig the upcoming Ekiti governorship election - He alleged that the APC is is planning to use students of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, to carry out its plan - Fayose however stated that the plan would not succeed The governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has launched a fresh plot to rig the July 14 gubernatorial poll. He made the allegation on Friday, May 18, while addressing newsmen in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, Independent reports. READ ALSO: Rivers APC ward, LG congresses cancelled; new dates fixed Legit.ng gathers that Fayose claimed that in order to perfect the plot, the ruling party is working in connivance with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He further alleged that instead of using youth corp members, the APC is planning to use students of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) as INEC ad-hoc staff for the election, to carry out its plan. The governor pointed out that the vice chancellor of FUOYE, Prof Kayode Soremekun, is a card carrying member of the APC and a close ally of the partys candidate, Kayode Fayemi, who is also a former governor of the state. Fayose also described President Muhammadu Buharis comment that the Ekiti 2014 governorship election was characterized by hanky panky, as unfortunate. He said: The idea behind this plot is to recruit APC members from neighbouring states, arm them with FUOYE students identity cards and use them as INEC presiding and returning officers to perfect the planned rigging of the election. This will fail. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Prince Uche Secondus, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said that if the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ekiti state is rigged, there will be crisis. He made the statement at the flag-off of the partys local government election campaign in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state. Secondus made reference to the Kaduna local government elections, and said the Ekiti poll will be a litmus test. Governor Fayose warns Nigerian youths ahead of 2019, tells them what to do - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit Editor's note: Igwe Stanley, a legal practitioner based in Lagos writes on the person of the Senator representing, Anambra southeast senatorial district, Stella Oduah. He also write on the many allegations being levelled against Oduah in various political quarters. One essential element of party politics is ingress and egress. A member of a political party is at liberty to switch sides if his interest is not protected where he is. It is all a question of interest. Also, political parties are not military garrisons where only an accustomed class are allowed in. I read an article by one Ray Okafor entitled APGA Constitutionality and Stella Oduah, published in The Guardian, and I noticed the gaping holes in his argument. The locus of Rays piece was that Senator Stella should not be allowed into the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and should not be given the partys senatorial ticket. It is an uncharitable thing to say. First, Senator Oduah is one of the most resourceful politicians out of Anambra state. She has contributed immensely to her constituency - Anambra north, and to the state. READ ALSO: Hazard scores as Chelsea beat Man United to win 8th FA Cup trophy It is on the record that she has trained more than 1,000 Anambra young men and women in various skills and trades. She is one of the few senators from the south-east that have sponsored bills targeted at the development of the region. They are - the southeast Development commission bill, Establishment of the Federal University of Aquatic Studies in Anambra state bill, and the Onitsha Dry Port motion. I had expected the writer to say Senator Oduah has not performed well; hence she should not be given the APGA ticket if admitted into the party. But this is not case. The bane of our politics has always been sentimental inanities. Politics should be about the delivering the goods to the people. The writer skirted around political niceties and nuances without looking at political value. Senator Oduah has performed well as a senator representing Anambra north, why shouldnt she be given the partys ticket to continue the good work? PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app About political value, political parties at the moment are wooing top and valuable politicians into their fold ahead of the 2019 election. Why shouldnt APGA do likewise? Parties do not build themselves, people build parties. If eventually Senator Oduah joins APGA that will be a big addition to the party. It is a big plus, and it is certain that the party will win the 2019 senatorial election in the district. In fact, it will be the best thing to happen to the party. APGA needs politicians that can help it win elections. READ ALSO: Royal wedding: Check out the most stunning photos from Prince Harry and Meghan Markles special day In conclusion, the assertion that Senator Oduah has a moral baggage owing to some allegations of corruption; hence should not be given the partys senatorial ticket is insipid. If we go by this, no politician is fit to stand for election in the country because almost all Nigerian politicians have corruption allegations hanging on their necks. But no court has found Oduah guilty of corruption, and she has not even been charged to court for any offence. So, who is afraid of Stella Oduah? 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. APC is the worst party in Nigeria, I regret being a member - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit The first-ever NC Meetup in Tucson, Arizona was a smashing success! So, lets do it again. Date: Friday, June 1, 2018 Time: 5 PM 8 PM Location: Ermanos Craft Beer and Wine Bar 220 North 4th Avenue Tucson, Arizona This meetup will be hosted by Arizona Slim, who is eager to meet other members of the NC commentariat. Lurkers are also welcome. Well have a private room in the back of Ermanos. Not only can we engage in meaningful conversation, we can play games like Cribbage, Jenga, and Monopoly. Or we can do dramatic readings from the books in the back room library. For those of you who like maps: Fred Starrhs family near Buttonwillow, California, used to have good, clean water under their land which they could use for their crops. Starrh said that was before oil companies next door started dumping their waste into open, unlined percolation ponds near the Starrh farm. They had a 12-inch pipe that was running water continuously, this black, oily water, he said. And, Starrh said, They had about a mile of ponds. NBC Bay Area The Starrh family sued the owner of those waste ponds, Aera Energy, a company owned by both ExxonMobil Energy and Shell Global, charging that Aera destroyed their fresh water by polluting the groundwater under the Starrh land through the continuous use of those open waste pits next door. You know you have this resource that you can never replace, said Freds son, Larry. It was like, man, this isnt right. It was intentional polluting, and they knew that. Fred Starrh added: We were not able to pull up water to irrigate our crops, which we are desperately short of all the time. So thats the bottom line. They took over his land as if they owned it as their dumping ground," Starrhs lawyer, Ralph Wegis, said. "And they just had their way with it. With the help of Wegis, who is based in Bakersfield, the Starrhs waged a 13-year battle against Aera Energy in court. They have a mountain of (underground) pollution, and its still moving, said Wegis. Its the worst thing you could do to good water. Theres so much damage. Its too big to fix. The practice of dumping wastewater from the recovery of oil into unlined, open pits is one that has been banned in nearly every other state in the U.S. But in California, oil companies can legally dump toxic waste onto the bare ground, into what are called percolation ponds. The waste comes from oil drilling, which requires an average of 12 gallons of water for every gallon of oil that is produced, according to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (CVRWQCB), which oversees open dumping. When it comes up out of the well, scientific tests and a staff report from the Water Board show the wastewater can contain toxic chemicals such as benzene, xylenes, ethylbenzene, boron, strontium and toluene. According the CVRWQCBs incoming Executive Officer Patrick Pulupa, there are at least 1,086 active wastewater ponds stretching from Monterey to Kern County. NBC Bay Areas Investigative Unit found even more active ponds that are not on the boards list. Astonishingly, California is the only oil producing state that allows this reckless practice, said Hollin Kretzman, a lawyer with the Center for Biodiversity. Officials in Texas say state leaders there banned this practice in 1969 after hundreds of reports of contamination to groundwater. Other states require a barrier at the bottom of a waste pond to protect groundwater below. Only New Jersey allows open, unlined wastewater pits like the ones in California, and New Jersey does not produce oil and gas at the levels of states such as California, Texas, North Dakota and Montana. Its very concerning that the contamination is spreading underground to groundwater, said Kretzman. In just one series of ponds, near the small community of McKittrick, in Kern County, California, NBC Bay Area found that oil drilling operations are dumping as much as 4.8 million gallons of wastewater per day during peak periods. The ponds are owned by the Valley Water Management Company, which manages wastewater from oil drilling operations. Oil companies contend that the toxins in the wastewater are filtered out as the water seeps into the soil, but a report by the staff at the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board concludes polluted water has migrated underground 2.2 miles from the wastewater ponds in one instance and more than a mile in another instance. Its increasingly likely that these pits can contaminate groundwater, said Dr. Seth Shonkoff, visiting scholar at UC Berkeleys Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management and executive director of PSE Healthy Energy in Berkeley. Shonkoff is an epidemiologist and environmental scientist who has been researching the water and health issues for more than 15 years. Hes concerned that Californias current policy of allowing this kind of dumping in open pits jeopardizes water supplies that the state will need during future droughts. It sets us up for a future where we are going to be less certain that people will not be exposed to hazardous chemicals in their water supply, Shonkoff said. That kind of uncertainty, as a public health scientist, keeps me up at night. The agency in charge of regulating many of the ponds is the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Board, which oversees a large swath of California from near the Oregon border down to Kern County. Any company that is discharging waste in a way that could impact water quality needs to get a permit from the water board. NBC Bay Area Pulupa admits the agency has to be totally honest." "The regulatory agencies were behind the curve," he said. "I think the drought changed the way people look at groundwater. We could have been doing a better job monitoring these ponds, getting these ponds under modern orders that reflect the 2017-2018 California standards. I think to that extent, we we're redoubling those efforts and making sure that all of our discharge permits are modern permits that regulate these ponds appropriately. Its estimated it would take $2 billion alone to clean up the toxic waste that now sits under the Starrh family farm. In a statement sent to NBC Bay Areas Investigative Unit, Aera Energy said: "As a California company, Aera takes protecting the states natural resources seriously and works to meet and exceed program expectations established by the U.S. EPA, State Water Board, Regional Water Quality Control Board and DOGGR to ensure the protection of groundwater quality. In addition, water monitoring networks have been established at our production facilities, and we follow prescribed monitoring and reporting frequencies." With regard to the lawsuit from the Starrh family, Aera said, "The facts are that after years of litigation and three jury trials, there was never a finding linking Aeras operations to damage to tree crops or harmed drinking water resources. The case was finally settled to avoid further expense and the distraction of more protracted litigation." But in reviewing court records, the Investigative Unit found a verdict from the first jury trial in the Starrhs' case, stating that Aera Energy had intentionally, recklessly or negligently caused oilfield produced water to enter the subsurface and native groundwater beneath the farm. Aera Energy appealed that verdict. And there were two more trials that also were appealed. The appeals stretched on for 13 years, and finally the Starrhs settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed amount. It's so strange to see how power can cause a situation to exist that we all know has been wrong," Fred Starrh said. "The agencies who are supposed to be watching it are ignoring it. Larry Starrh saves much of his frustration and ire with the situation for state and local regulators more so than even the oil and gas companies. I really do blame our regional water board for a lot of it because they have the power to shut it down," Larry said. "They had a power stop, and they didn't do any of that. Judge Aaron Persky says he has no regrets. The Northern California judge says he would handle the sexual assault case of former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner the same way today as he did almost two years ago, though its the reason he is the target of a June 5 recall election and has become the self-described "most hated man on the internet." In a lengthy interview with The Associated Press, the wiry 56-year-old former college lacrosse player argued the Santa Clara County recall effort is "fundamentally unfair" because it boils down a thick criminal case to Twitter hashtags. He gets a little teary-eyed when he talks about being turned into a one-dimensional caricature as the judge who condones rape. "I expected some negative reaction," Persky said. "But not this." The recall effort comes amid the growing influence of the #MeToo movement, and observers say it will serve as a bellwether of the movements influence on national politics. Persky says he has resisted friends call to quit and relieve the mounting pressure on his wife and two young sons because judicial independence is at stake. He is fighting the effort, he says, because recalling judges over unpopular rulings threatens the integrity of the judiciary. "To get justice from a judge, they need someone who follows the rules. The basic rule is the rule of law," he said. "The problem with this recall is it will pressure judges to follow the rule of public opinion as opposed to the rule of law." On June 2, 2016, Persky followed the county probation departments recommendation when he sentenced Turner to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman who came to be known as Emily Doe. Turner is also required to register for life as a sex offender. Turner was arrested after two graduate students from Sweden yelled at him as he lay atop the motionless victim, whose dress was hiked above her waist, her underwear lying nearby. They tackled him when he tried to run and held him down until police arrived. In court, the victim read an emotional statement recounting the assault, her treatment by investigators and the ordeal of facing questions about her sexual activity and drinking habits. It quickly went viral. "Instead of taking time to heal, I was taking time to recall the night in excruciating detail, in order to prepare for the attorneys questions that would be invasive, aggressive and designed to steer me off course, to contradict myself, my sister, phrased in ways to manipulate my answers," she wrote. "This was a game of strategy, as if I could be tricked out of my own worth." Persky declined to discuss the victims letter or other details of the case because its on appeal. Generally, he said California law requires him to take into account the victims statement. Turner is appealing his jury conviction, arguing he didnt get a fair trial because character witnesses were barred from testifying about his honesty, scholastic success and his swimming career. Oral arguments are scheduled for June 28 in San Jose. Persky also declined to elaborate on his reasoning for Turners sentence, which was widely criticized as too lenient. Stanford University law school professor Michele Dauber announced the creation of the recall campaign. Dauber is a friend of the victims and was in the courtroom for Turners sentencing. Shes an outspoken on-campus activist who helped push through more stringent sexual harassment and abuse reporting and investigation policies. Dauber also is an adept Democratic fundraiser who has organized a well-financed recall campaign with glossy mailers juxtaposing photos of Persky with President Donald Trump and Turners mug shot, garnering national support. "We feel its important to respond strongly with a message of accountability for elected officials like Judge Persky who do not take sex crimes and violence against women seriously," Dauber said. "Many eyes around the country are going to be on Santa Clara County as a model for how to respond to bias against women in the legal system." Dauber said Perskys position takes a "dim view of judicial integrity" and that she has faith judges will continue to exercise their independence regardless of the outcome. The recall campaign has drawn outsize attention and money for a local race: Proponents have raised about $1.2 million, and the judge about half that much. "Recall Persky" signs dot the immaculate lawns of multimillion-dollar homes in Perskys Silicon Valley neighborhood, where the judge removed the numbers from the front of his house after a popular website published his address. Some former friends have told him theyre voting for his recall. Persky grew up in an upper-middle-class home in San Franciscos leafy Lake Street neighborhood, the middle son of a psychiatrist father and a mother who taught French. He spent the first two years of high school at an exclusive East Coast boarding school before finishing closer to home at The Branson School in Marin County. He earned a bachelors degree and a masters degree in international relations at Stanford, then graduated from the University of California, Berkeley law school and took a job with the large law firm Morrison & Forrester, which sent him to Tokyo to work with Japanese clients. He took to the culture and took a years leave to learn Japanese. In 1997, the Santa Clara County district attorneys office hired him as a prosecutor to handle cases ranging from drunken driving to sexually violent predators. Gov. Gray Davis appointed Persky to the bench a month before voters recalled Davis from office in October 2003 amid frustration over a poor economy and other problems in the state. A number of law school professors and retired judges have sided with Persky, including Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen, who called Turners sentence too lenient but lawful. Rosen agreed with Perksy that the recall threatens judges willingness to make correct but unpopular rulings. "This value is more important than any outcome in any individual case," he said. Students gathered in San Francisco for a gun violence protest outside of Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco following the Santa Fe High School shooting in Texas Friday morning. "Im fed up that not only these things are happening, but they are not getting the attention and anger that they deserve," said Tamalpais High School student and protest organizer Jake Cohen. A freshman at the Mill Valley school, Cohen stood up in science class Friday and urged his classmates to attend the rally later in the day. "You need to be there. And this needs to be a priority for you," Cohen said. "Because like I said, these children were murdered at school. It was almost us, it could be us, and it was them today." Tamiscal High School senior Lola Amador says she refuses to accept a society where active shooter drills for grade-schoolers are the norm. "Youre actually having these little children rehearsing their deaths," she said. "I knew a little girl who said she was terrified that she had those sneakers that light up because she thought that in a shooting, those were going to give her away. A convicted con man featured in a 2017 NBC 5 Investigates report is back behind bars and charged with posing as an employee of the Illinois Secretary of States Office. Hugo Torres, 44, was arrested and charged with one count of theft by deception over $500 for posing as a supervisor for the Illinois Secretary of State and taking off with his victims money after promising to help them finding jobs or reinstate their drivers licenses. Investigators said he ultimately defrauded seven Cook County residents of at least $5,000. This brazen fraud stripped people of money and highly personal information, said Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Private investigator Michael Colella is helping the alleged victims and law enforcement. We probably have well over a hundred victims, but most of those victims are reluctant to go to police because of their immigration status, said Joliet-based private investigator Michael Colella. But one alleged victim is stepping forward to warn others. Javier Balderas of Chicago said he has dreams of becoming a truck driver. He said he paid Torres, who identified himself as a state worker named Jose, nearly $2,000 to help him a obtain a commercial drivers license and a job paying $37 an hour. Balderas said he received nothing in return. Its kind of heart-breaking, Balderas said. Torres received probation after he pleaded guilty to theft in Will County in 2016. He also briefly spent time in a Cook County jail last summer on a misdemeanour warrant. According to a press release, Madigan alleged Torres continued his schemes in Cook County after his plea in Will County. The Will County States Attorney is also attempting to revoke Torres probation after he failed to appear before a probation officer, according to a county spokesperson. Torres is currently represented by the Will County Public Defenders office. However, a spokesperson said the office could not comment on any pending cases. The Illinois Secretary of State also released a statement regarding Torres. There is currently a joint investigation between the Illinois Attorney Generals Office and the Illinois Secretary of State Police, said Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. I urge the public to call the Secretary of State Police if confronted by anyone offering jobs, drivers licenses or any other state services outside of our Driver Services facilities. Concerned citizens are urged to report suspicious incidents to the Illinois Secretary of State Police at 630-693-0551 or contact the Office of the Inspector General at 217-785-2012. If you have a family member or friend struggling with an addiction, you want them to receive the best treatment possible. But if that person is young, insured and seeking treatment outside of Illinois, beware of providers offering false promises of hope. NBC 5 Investigates interviewed parents and behavioral health advocates and spoke to a leading insurance industry group to unravel a rehab scheme that is costing everyone money and possibly even taking lives. Its absolutely a scam, said Jeanette, a concerned parent from suburban St. Charles. Jeanette said her 19-year-old daughter grew up loving softball and cheerleading, but as a teenager she developed a drug addiction. While her daughter is currently in Los Angeles receiving treatment in an intense outpatient program, Jeanette said her daughter bounced from one treatment facility to the next. She was thrown out of a sober house. Within hours she was in a new sober house. And then she was out of that one and then in to another one, Jeanette said. According to Jeanette, her daughter was being paid money to relapse and start the treatment process over again. She got taken out to nice dinners almost every night. She got clothes bought for her, Jeanette said. Sara Howe of the Illinois Association of Behavioral Health said young, insured adults from Illinois are being lured to unscrupulous treatment centers or sober living group homes. She said so-called patient brokers may find an addict at an AA or NA meeting and convince them to travel to Florida or California for their treatment. Once you get there, they often dont look like what you see on the website, Howe said. Theyre not beach-front property. Theyre sometimes miles from the beach. They dont have licensed staff. Howe said the some of treatment facilities are billing insurance companies millions of dollars for unnecessary or sub-standard care. Somebodys got to pay for that. The bottom line is where is that gonna go? Well, its gonna go to your premiums, Howe said. But for local families struggling with addiction, the promise of recovery on beach-front property may sound like a solution. Jennifer Flory of Sugar Grove said her daughter, Alison, received good treatment in Florida for her drug addiction until she met a broker at an AA meeting. They enticed her with different offers of a better experience, free cigarettes, free rent, stuff like that, co-ed living, Flory said. Flory said her daughter shuffled between treatment centers and sober living group homes for more than a year while the familys insurance was billed more than one million dollars. It was almost as if they needed to do the drug in order to get the benefits of treatment, Flory said. Sadly, Alison passed away in 2016 due to a drug overdose at her sober home. Its an everyday thing that you think about what could I have done differently? Whyd this happen to me? Flory said. Industry group American Health Insurance Plans said insurance providers are extremely concerned about body brokers who target and exploit vulnerable individuals by targeting insurance companies to bill for treatment and tests that may or may not be clinically appropriate or actually even be provided. These fraudulent, abusive practices not only put patients lives in grave danger, but they also make it more difficult for people to afford their coverage and care, said an AHIP spokesperson. These practices raise overall health system costs and increase premiums for everyone, not just those who are sent to sober homes. Howe said while there are plenty of good treatment centers across the country, Illinois families dont have to send their loved ones out of state. Tim Ryan is a Naperville-based activist against heroin who said Illinois has some good treatment facilities, but sometimes its beneficial to leave the state. Sometimes you need to get people away from their environment, Ryan said. But Ryan urges addicts and their family members to be on the lookout for patient brokers who troll Chicago area AA meetings. A lot of these people that work for these centers have never been there, Ryan said. Ask the patient brokers how theyre paid. A legit treatment center will only hire a salaried employee. Lawmakers in Illinois are considering a proposed law, HB 4949, that would make it illegal for brokers to lure patients out-of-state under false promises, especially if the facility is understaffed and unlicensed. Meanwhile, Jeanette said she feels like shes teetering on an edge as she waits to receive updates from her daughter. The moments that I know shes safe and I know where she is and whats happening, I can function a lot better, Jeanette said. Two Indiana officers were shot near a bar early Saturday, according to Highland police. Authorities say they received a call around 2:39 a.m. Saturday and found two men in the parking lot on the east side of Growlers Bar at 2816 Highway Avenue. One of the men had a gunshot wound to his head and the other suffered a gunshot wound to his forearm, police said. Preliminary investigation shows the two men had left Growlers Bar, returned and were advised by Growlers security staff that the business was no longer allowing patrons inside as it was near closing time, police said in a statement. A disturbance evolved between these two males and the two victims, which became physical and it ultimately ended up outside near the east parking lot. Police say multiple gunshots were then fired, however, it is unknown by whom. Authorities said both victims were transported to Northlake Methodist Hospital in Gary, Indiana, though one of the victims was later transferred to Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn for the head injury. Officers located the initial two males walking a block from the scene and were stopped by police, police said. They were taken into custody and are being held at the Highland Police Department for further investigation. The investigation was ongoing. A pedestrian has died after being hit by a car on a highway in Hamden on Friday night. Officers were called shortly before 11:30 p.m. to Route 15 southbound for a report of a pedestrian walking in the right shoulder near Exit 61 in Hamden, Connecticut State Police say. While en route, Troopers say they learned the pedestrian, later identified as 50-year-old Mark Bernardi of New Haven, had been hit by a passing car. When they arrived, officers found the Bernardi in the median and the vehicle in the right shoulder. According to police, Bernardi suffered fatal injuries in the accident and was pronounced dead at the scene. Connecticut State Police are investigating the accident. Any witnesses are asked to contact Trooper Leary at (203) 393-4200. Connecticut State Police have identified the man who was found dead in Colchester late Friday night and the medical examiner has determined his death is a homicide. Troopers responded to 95 Stanavage Road shortly before midnight for reports of an untimely death and found 36-year-old James Stone, who lived at that address. Connecticut State Police said they have taken over the investigation and there is no threat to the public. The office of the chief medical examiner determined Stone died of shotgun wounds to the chest and lower extremity and his death was a homicide. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 860-896-3201 or text TIP711 and the information to 274637. Recent school shootings have sparked a nationwide debate over arming teachers. In Texas, school districts have the option to train qualified staff members as "school marshals" and allow them to carry concealed weapons in classrooms. Only a few districts have opted to do that. Defender Training Academy, which operates a gun range in Fort Worth, said educators ought to at least be empowered with basic knowledge about how to defend their schools. It's why they offered free courses to teachers and administrators Saturday. Holly Harris was one of the teachers who took them up on that offer. "Sometimes I sit there and think, okay -- what would I do in this situation?" Harris said. "In the teachers lounge, we've had a lot of those discussions this year." In addition to handgun basics, instructors walked the teachers through hands-on self-defense techniques and trauma care. "It's not always about the good guy having the gun," Edwina Parker, an instructor at Defender Training Academy, said. "It's really about the good guy having a plan." Parker said in recent months, she has received an increasing number of calls from schools, teacher groups and even churches wanting additional training. "We find that with training, we gain that confidence to react to a situation," Parker said. The school district Harris works for does not currently allow teachers to carry. But now, she said, if that were to change, she'd be among the first to sign up. "I would feel very confident with that responsibility," Harris said. This was the first time Defender Training Academy has done something like this specifically for educators. They said they'll likely do more events like this in the future. An emergency management official says nearly two dozen people suffered non-life threatening injuries in an explosion and a fire at a chemical plant near Houston. La Porte Emergency Management Lt. John Krueger says a valve exploded Saturday at Kurary America Eval, causing burns similar to a severe sunburn, and other injuries. The plant's address is Pasadena, but is located in an unincorporated area between the Houston suburbs. Krueger said all workers are accounted for and no chemicals were released. Initial injury estimates ranged from six to more than 20. Krueger said that's the result of an initial count before a "true count" of injuries was completed. Kuraray America Eval says in a news release that it's cooperating with investigators. A Kurary spokeswoman did not immediately return phone messages seeking further information. Vickers "Vic" Cunningham, a former criminal district judge now in a Republican runoff for Dallas County commissioner, acknowledged Friday that he set up a living trust with a clause rewarding his children if they marry a white person. Cunningham spoke to The Dallas Morning News about the trust after his estranged brother, Bill Cunningham, came to the paper earlier this week saying his brother had been a lifelong racist. Read more from our media partner The Dallas Morning News. The Dallas County Republican Chairwoman Missy Shorey released a statement on Saturday in response to the allegations against Cunningham. The Army Corps of Engineers is ending its work to rebuild Puerto Rico's electric grid, despite residents' fears that the island's government won't be able to restore power on its own to more than 16,000 people who remain blacked out eight months after Hurricane Maria. The federal agency will keep operating more than 700 generators on the island, including three "mega generators" supplementing Puerto Rico's aging and storm-damaged power plants. But on Friday the restoration of thousands of miles of downed power lines will be handed back to the U.S. territory's bankrupt public utility, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, or PREPA. The Corps took over power restoration efforts in Puerto Rico on Sept. 30 after PREPA failed to call in mainland utility companies under a disaster response plan known as mutual aid, in which power companies from around the U.S. send staff to help stricken areas. Puerto Rican officials said 98.86 percent of PREPA's customers had electricity Thursday, but 16,723 remained without power as the longest blackout in U.S. history continued. Trump administration officials say a big federal presence is no longer needed to hook up the relatively few remaining connections in the often-remote areas where people are still without power. But many people on and off the island are dissatisfied by the decision to pull out the Corps without Puerto Rico's power fully restored. "It's not in our culture to walk away from a mission when it hasn't been fully accomplished, but we follow orders," Charles Alexander, the Corps' director for contingency operations, told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee at a May 8 hearing. The Corps has operated under the orders of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which says it has deferred to Gov. Ricardo Rossello's requests on the extent and duration of federal assistance to Puerto Rico. FEMA on Thursday indefinitely extended the Corps' power generation mission but did not extend the grid repair work because Rossello did not request that. Most of those still without power live in the town of Yabucoa, which was the first place in Puerto Rico struck by Hurricane Maria on Sept. 20. Alberto Rodriguez, a 65-year-old retiree, has solar panels and a diesel generator supplying power to the house where he takes care of his wife, who is confined to bed after suffering a stroke a month after the hurricane. "I'm very worried because we are still without power. We've been using these generators for so long, at any moment they might fail," he said. "I don't think they should leave before completing the work because there are people here still waiting for electricity." The Corps of Engineers has received more than $2 billion to restore power to Puerto Rico, overseeing more than 1,200 personnel on the ground and more than 1,000 contractors, with more than 650 of them working directly on distribution and transmission lines. Contractors included Fluor Corp., an Irving, Texas company that obtained two contracts worth a total of $1.3 billion. The Corps helped energize some 80 percent of transmission lines and nearly 90 percent of distribution lines across Puerto Rico, erecting more than 52,000 power poles and stringing more than 5,700 miles of wire. Corps contractors planned to work in the northern cities of Arecibo, Bayamon and Caguas and the southern city of Ponce through the end of Friday. A group of Corps officials plans to remain in Puerto Rico for several weeks to demobilize contractors and hand logistic operations back to FEMA and PREPA. Besides the residents of Yabucoa, hundreds of people don't have power in the central town of Comerio, where Mayor Jose A. Santiago said many feel they have been forgotten. "They feel that there is no reason why they've been left for last," he said. "What is painful is not the amount of people without electricity. It is the time that these people have been without power and we don't see an articulate plan from the government, nobody seems to be worried with this. "It is so uncertain and so much suffering because, in that darkness, there is terrible sadness." Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gazed into each other's eyes and pledged their eternal love Saturday as they married at St. George's Chapel in front of hundreds of celebrity guests and millions of viewers around the world. The American actress arrived to a fanfare and walked down the aisle accompanied part of the way by Prince Charles and by 10 young page boys and bridesmaids. The children included 4-year-old Prince George and 3-year-old Princess Charlotte, children of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge. The royal newlyweds, now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, took a short trip through Windsor in a horse-drawn carriage, to the delight of thousands of well-wishers. The couple and some of their guests then headed to a post-wedding reception, where Sir Elton John performed. Royal entrances, the exchanging of vows and an emotional tear. These are the best moments from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. The crowd roared as Harry and Meghan emerged from St. George's Chapel and kissed at the top of the steps. Markle's sleek white dress, designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, had a boat neck and was made of silk. Her veil came to her waist in front and billowed out for many feet behind her long train, while her tiara from Queen Mary was lent to her by Harry's grandmother. [NATL] Royal Wedding 2018: Best Moments From Meghan Markle, Prince Harry's Wedding Harry and best man Prince William wore dark formal military dress, with white gloves and the frock coat uniforms of the Blues and Royals, and Harry kept his full red beard intact. As Charles and Meghan drew close to the altar, Harry said: "Thank you, Pa." To Meghan, Harry said: "You look amazing." Markle seemed poised and confident as she delivered her vows without so much as a quiver in her voice. She smiled broadly as the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby declared them husband and wife. Harry seemed a bit nervous but happy. The chapel service reflected Markle's American roots and married the pomp and circumstance of Britain's most sacred institution with elements of black culture. The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, the African-American leader of the Episcopal Church, delivered the sermon, and the musical selections included versions of Ben. E. King's "Stand By Me" and Etta James' "Amen/This Little Light of Mine." At the end, teen cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason performed works including Franz Schubert's "Ave Maria." The wedding was a global event, thanks to Harry's status as a senior British royal and Markle's celebrity after starring on the U.S. television series "Suits" for seven years. The wedding pomp and ceremony complete with Anglican prayers and tradition, classical music, a gospel choir and a horse-drawn carriage ride through Windsor was beamed live to tens of millions of TV viewers across the world. [NATL]Stars at the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle A host of celebrities and athletes including Oprah Winfrey, Idris Elba, Elton John, George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, James Corden and David and Victoria Beckham watched the ceremony in the gothic chapel at Windsor Castle. Relatives at the ceremony included Charles Spencer and Jane Fellowes, the brother and sister of Harry's late mother Princess Diana. Fellowes gave a reading during the ceremony, honoring the memory of Diana. Harry's cousin Zara Tindall and her husband were also in attendance, as well as the family of Prince William's wife Kate: Parents Carole and Michael Middleton, sister Pippa Middleton and brother James Middleton. Harry invited buddies from his 10 years of military service which included tours of duty in Afghanistan and from many of the charities he supports, which have focused on helping wounded veterans or encouraging a more open discussion of mental health issues. Harry's ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy was also among the congregation, as was Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, the ex-wife of Harry's uncle Prince Andrew. Following the ceremony, the royal family hosted two gala receptions. The afternoon gathering was hosted by the queen with finger foods, wine and champagne. The second, smaller reception was being thrown by Charles. A three-hour break in between allowed for a rest and a change of outfits for the lucky 200 invited to the evening soiree. The newlyweds drove to the second, private reception from Windsor Castle to Frogmore House in a silver-blue Jaguar E-Type Zero with the license plate E190519, their wedding date in English format. The car was manufactured in 1968 and was later converted to electric power. Meghan's evening dress was designed by Stella McCartney a white bespoke lily high neck gown made of silk crepe. She was wearing shoes from Aquazurra made in silky satin, with nude mesh and baby blue soles. [[481042911, C]] Outside the castle, thousands of fans had crammed the streets of Windsor. Irene Bowdry, a lawyer from California, was aboard the jammed early train to Windsor. She booked her trip to England as soon as the wedding date was announced. "An American in the royal family, isn't that so exciting?" she said. The weather was balmy and clear, bathing the ancient stones of Windsor Castle in a beautiful spring light. Royal fans had been camping outside the castle for days, and British police have stepped up security, with sniffer dogs, barricades and patrols all over town. "Windsor is absolutely bursting with excitement," said royal historian Hugo Vickers. "There are cardboard cutouts of Meghan and Harry in every shop window, virtually. There's bunting all over the place. I've never seen so many people in the streets of Windsor." It is a time of transition for the British monarchy, one that seems filled with hope as William and Harry the two sons of Charles and the late Princess Diana step ever more confidently into the limelight. Many in the crowd, like Ana Karukin, a Brazilian nurse living in Florida, said they came to witness a moment of history. "We've got to be here for him and for her, my Meghan, my special girl, to support them, because it's a beautiful time," she said. "I wish that Diana was here, but she's in heaven watching over them." The brothers had found the time amid the wedding hoopla to stroll outside the castle Friday evening to thank fans for coming. A smiling Harry gave a thumb's up and answered "Great, thank you!" when asked how he was feeling on the eve of his wedding. And it seems to be a time of joy for 92-year-old queen and her 96-year-old husband, Prince Philip, who attended the ceremony despite his recent hip replacement surgery. She saw her grandson marry a woman who clearly has brought him the happiness he's often said was missing from his life after his mother's premature death. The family tableau played out on the broadest possible stage. Dozens of broadcasters set up on the castle grounds for a visual feast. The chapel itself is a masterpiece of the late Gothic style, and Windsor Castle has been home to British sovereigns for nearly 1,000 years. The royal wedding of Prince Harry and LA's very own Meghan Markle is due to take place Saturday at Windsor Castle in England, but you don't have to fly across the pond to join in on the wedding festivities. Several local resturants, bars, pubs and even Markle's former school in SoCal are offering special royal wedding viewing parties and themed food and drink to celebrate the couple's big day. Below, a list of where you can watch the royal wedding in SoCal along with special offerings. The Cat & Fiddle: Where: The Cat & Fiddle Pub & Restaurant at 742 N. Highland Ave. in Hollywood When: Starts Friday at 11 p.m. What: Whats better than a live viewing and slumber party? Cat & Fiddle is kicking off the celebration early Friday with a late night happy hour from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. A ticketed event begins Saturday at 2 a.m. and will include tea and coffee, a light snack, a commemorative mug, pub quiz trivia, a costume contest (pajamas and fascinators are welcome), and a ticket that enters you in a raffle to win a flight to London. Tickets are $25 presale and $30 at the door. Special Offerings: English favorites like dippy eggs and soldiers and sausage rolls, as well as the mocktails "Bloody Harry" and "Markle Sparkle" will be available for purchase. [NATL] From Hollywood to Kensington: Meghan Markle's Life in Photos The Whale & Ale: Where: The Whale & Ale at 327 W. 7th St. in San Pedro When: Starting Saturday at 4 p.m. What: If waking up early isn't your thing then this viewing party is for you. The Whale & Ale is screening the royal wedding from 4 to 7 p.m. and it will be repeated throughout the afternoon and evening. Ask to be seated in the bar area to view the broadcast. Special Offerings: Make a reservation and receive a complimentary glass of champagne. [[482951771, C]] White Harte Pub: Where: White Harte Pub at 22456 Ventura Blvd in Woodland Hills When: Starting Saturday at 3 a.m. What: They're having a wedding at the pub complete with wedding flowers, wedding cake and the royal couple (on TV, of course). Tickets are $25. Special Offerings: A ticket includes champagne, lemon elderflower royal wedding cake, a royal wedding souvenir, a raffle ticket, a photobooth and tiaras will be available. White Harte will also offer a limited royal wedding-themed menu with small bites available. Don't forget to try their "Meghan Markle Lemonade" and "Prince Harry Martini." Learn how Southern California can celebrate our local girl Meghan Markle becoming a royal. Aliya Jasmine shows you all the pomp and circumstance ahead of the royal wedding on Saturday, May 19, 2018. Ye Olde Kings Head: Where: Ye Olde Kings Head at 116 Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica When: Starting Saturday at noon What: While the Royal Wedding Tea at Ye Olde Kings Head is already sold out, people are encouraged to visit the bar and restaurant as they will be airing a replay of the royal wedding at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 19. Special Offerings: Along with afternoon tea, Ye Olde Kings Head will also have a DJ on Saturday so people can enjoy British hits from 8 p.m. on. The British pub will be serving a "Markle negroni" and a "Pimms Cup" as special drinks to toast to the royal couple. Royal wedding memorabilia is also available in their gift shop. [NATL] Royal Wedding Rehearsal Provides Sneak Peek Into Festivities Immaculate Heart High School: Where: Immaculate Heart High School at 5515 Franklin Ave. in Los Angeles When: Starting Saturday at 3:30 a.m. What: Students are invited to gather in the school auditorium for a wedding viewing. And if you're not up for venturing out of the house in the pre-dawn hours, you can always host an at-home watch party and munch on some royal wedding-themed cupcakes from Sprinkles or Magnolia Bakery. What to Know A Cuban airliner with 113 people on board plummeted into a yuca field just after takeoff from Havana's international airport on Friday There was no immediate word on casualties, though residents told The AP they saw at least some survivors being taken away in ambulances The Cuban Council of Churches says 20 priests from an evangelical church are among the dead in the Havana plane crash on Friday. "On that plane were 10 couples of pastors. 20 people. All of the Nazarene Church in the eastern region," confirmed Maite Quesada, a member of the council. The group spent several days at a meeting in the capital and were returning to their homes and places of worship in the province of Holguin. The plane, a 39-year-old airliner with 110 people aboard, crashed and burned in a cassava field just after taking off from the Havana airport Friday, leaving three survivors in Cuba's worst aviation disaster in three decades, officials said. The Boeing 737 went down just after noon a short distance from the end of the runway at Jose Marti International Airport while on a short-hop flight to the eastern city of Holguin. Firefighters rushed to extinguish the flames that engulfed the field of debris left where Cubana Flight 972 hit the ground. "There is a high number of people who appear to have died," Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said from the scene. "Things have been organized, the fire has been put out, and the remains are being identified." Relatives of those aboard were ushered into a private area at the terminal to await word on their loved ones. "My daughter is 24, my God, she's only 24!" cried Beatriz Pantoja, whose daughter Leticia was on the plane. State TV said the jet veered sharply to the right after takeoff, and Diaz-Canel said a special commission had been formed to investigate the cause of the crash. "The only thing we heard, when we were checking in, an explosion, the lights went out in the airport and we looked out and saw black smoke rising and they told us a plane had crashed," Argentine tourist Brian Horanbuena told The Associated Press at the airport. Skies were overcast and rainy at the airport at the time of the incident, with winds reportedly around 4 mph (6 kph). Authorities said there were 104 passengers and six crew members on the flight operated by the Cuban state airline. Cuban media reported that five children were among those on board the plane. Mexican authorities said the Boeing 737-201 was built in 1979 and rented by Cubana from Aerolineas Damojh, a small charter company that also goes by the name Global Air. A statement from the country's Transportation Department identified the pilot and co-pilot as Capt. Jorge Luis Nunez Santos and first officer Miguel Angel Arreola Ramirez. It said the flight attendants were Maria Daniela Rios, Abigail Hernandez Garcia and Beatriz Limon. Global Air said maintenance worker Marco Antonio Lopez Perez was also aboard. Outside the company's Mexico City offices, former Global Air flight attendant Ana Marlen Covarrubias said she had worked for the company for over seven years and knows nearly all the crew members. "I don't have the words. I'm very sad. We're in mourning," a she said in tears. "It was something really, really, really terrible; a tragedy for us." In addition to the Mexican crew, Cuban Communist Party newspaper Granma reported that the passengers were mostly Cubans plus five foreigners from countries it did not identify. Argentina's Foreign Ministry said two of its citizens had died in the crash. In November 2010 a Global Air flight originating in Mexico City made an emergency landing in Puerto Vallarta because its front landing gear did not deploy. The fire was quickly extinguished, and none of the 104 people aboard were injured. That plane was a 737 first put into service in 1975. Cubana has had a generally good safety record but is notorious for delays and cancellations and has taken many of its planes out of service because of maintenance problems in recent months, prompting it to hire charter aircraft from other companies. Four crash survivors were taken to a Havana hospital, and three remained alive as of mid-afternoon, hospital director Martinez Blanco told Cuban state TV. State media reports stopped short of openly declaring the rest on board were dead, but there was no word of other survivors by Friday evening. Cuban First Vice President Salvador Valdes Mesa had met with Cubana officials on Thursday to discuss improvements to its service. The airline blames its spotty record on a lack of parts and airplanes because of the U.S. trade embargo against the communist-run country. It was Cuba's third major aviation accident since 2010. Last year a Cuban military plane crashed into a hillside in the western province of Artemisa, killing eight soldiers. In 2010, an AeroCaribbean flight from Santiago to Havana went down in bad weather, killing all 68 people aboard, including 28 foreigners, in what was the country's worst air disaster in more than two decades. The last deadly accident involving a Cubana-operated plane was in 1989, when a charter flight from Havana to Milan, Italy, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 126 people on board and at least two dozen on the ground. Cubana's director general, Capt. Hermes Hernandez Dumas, told state media last month that the airline's domestic flights had carried 11,700 more passengers than planned between January and April. He said 64 percent of flights took off on time, up from 59 percent the previous year. Associated Press writer Amy Guthrie contributed to this report. In the weeks since Hawaii's Kilauea volcano began erupting, dozens of homes have burned from oozing lava, people have fled their homes and plumes of steam from the summit have shot skyward, prompting officials to distribute face masks to protect against ash particles. Lava flows have grown more vigorous in recent days and there's concern more homes may burn and more evacuations may be ordered. Still, scientists can't say whether lava flows from nearly two dozen fissures will continue to advance, or stop. "We have no way of knowing whether this is really the beginning or toward the end of this eruption," said Tom Shea, a volcanologist at the University of Hawaii. "We're kind of all right now in this world of uncertainty." In addition to ash fallout from explosions and the threat of lava crossing main highways, officials warned of another hazard Saturday as a flow advanced southeast to the ocean: Laze. "Laze is when hot lava hits the ocean sending hydrochloric acid and steam with fine glass particles in the air," the Hawaii County Civil Defense agency said in an update to the public. The area affected by lava and ash is small compared to the Big Island, which is about 4,000 square miles (10,360 square kilometers). Most of the island and the rest of the Hawaiian chain is unaffected by the volcanic activity on Kilauea. State and local officials have been reminding tourists that flights in and out of the entire state, including the Big Island, have not been impacted. Even on the Big Island, most tourist activities are still available and businesses are open. Evacuation orders for two neighborhoods with nearly 2,000 people were given after a first fissure opened on May 3. Officials have been warning neighboring communities to be prepared to evacuate. A handful of people were trapped when a flow crossed a road Friday. Some had to be airlifted to safety. "They shouldn't be in that area," said County Managing Director Wil Okabe. Lava flows have become faster as fresher magma mixed with decades-old magma. The change is attributed to new magma mixing with 1955-era magma in the ground, creating hotter and more fluid flows, scientists said. By Saturday morning, two of 22 fissures had merged, creating a wide flow advancing at rates of up to 300 yards (274 meters) per hour. Aerial footage from the USGS showed fast-moving lava advancing to the southeast. The flow was 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) from the ocean, scientists said. In the background, the footage showed lava fountaining 328 feet (100 meters) high at one of the fissures. The fountains are created by vents closing, forcing magma to burst through a single outpoint, Stovall said. Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno said a man suffered a "serious" leg injury Saturday when he was hit with a lava spatter while sitting on his porch near the Lanipuna Garden subdivision, the Star-Advertiser reported. Edwin Montoya, who lives with his daughter on her farm near the site where lava crossed the road and cut off access, said the fissure opened and grew quickly. "It was just a little crack in the ground, with a little lava coming out," he said. "Now it's a big crater that opened up where the small little crack in the ground was." The Big Island volcano released a small explosion at its summit just before midnight Friday, sending an ash cloud 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) into the sky. The USGS's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said eruptions that create even minor amounts of ashfall could occur at any time. This follows the more explosive eruption Thursday, which emitted ash and rocks thousands of feet into the sky. No one was injured and there were no reports of damaged property. It came two weeks after the volcano began sending lava flows into neighborhoods 25 miles (40 kilometers) to the east of the summit. Associated Press journalists Jae Hong, Marco Garcia, Sophia Yan, Audrey McAvoy, Becky Bohrer, Seth Borenstein, and Alina Hartounian contributed to this report. What to Know A former Playboy centerfold jumped with her 7-year-old son out a window of a midtown hotel Friday; both were pronounced dead at the scene A senior official identified the mother as 46-year-old Stephanie Nicolai, who posed in Playboy in 1992 under the name Stephanie Adams The bodies of Nicolai and her young son were found on a second-floor balcony at The Gotham Hotel A former Playboy centerfold in a heated custody dispute jumped with her 7-year-old son from a window of a 29-story midtown hotel Friday, and both died at the scene, a senior law enforcement official and other law enforcement sources with knowledge of the case tell News 4. The senior official identified the mother as 46-year-old Stephanie Nicolai, who posed in Playboy in November 1992 under the name Stephanie Adams, claiming to be the magazine's first lesbian centerfold. The Orange, New Jersey, woman has been in the middle of a custody battle with her husband, according to law enforcement sources. Getty Images They say she jumped from a 25th-floor window of the boutique Gotham Hotel on 46th Street near Fifth Avenue around 8:30 a.m. Friday; both she and her son were found dead on a second-floor balcony. It's not clear how many stories they fell, nor was it known if she was holding her son or if he jumped on his own. An attorney friend of 20 years, Raoul Felder, also said Nicolai had ongoing personal struggles because of the custody battle. He said she had just lost a court fight to take her son Vincent to Spain and England this summer. Though she had unrealistic expectations, she didn't seem depressed, said Felder. "It's one of the things that happened that's inexplicable," he told News 4. "She was not morose." Nicolai also has history with the NYPD; a jury awarded her a $1.2 million brutality lawsuit against the department in 2012. The lawsuit stemmed from a 2006 interaction with a cab driver in which the driver called cops and falsely reported she had a gun and had threatened to shoot him. Adams accused responding officers of throwing her to the ground, injuring her arm and back. Lawyer Sanford Rubenstein, who represented Nicolai in the case, remembered that "she adored that child." He said she brought her baby son to court every day to breastfeed. "The judge provided a separate room for her -- she was still breastfeeding -- to be with the little boy," said Rubenstein. Felder said, "She submerged her life in that child's life. Everybody in my office was crying when they heard about it." The investigation into the death plunge is ongoing. SUICIDE PREVENTION HELP: The National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A massive wind-fanned five-alarm fire consumed a large industrial building in North Philadelphia on Friday evening. The blaze was so intense it forced officials to dispatch most of the city's firefighters to beat down the inferno. Huge flames shot from the roof and windows of the 332,600-square-foot brick structure at N. 21st and W. Clearfield streets. Walls of the building, which spans nearly a city block and stood five stories, collapsed to the street below taking down live power lines in the process. Thick, black smoke was seen for miles. Firefighters shot water from ladder trucks and the roofs of nearby businesses, but kept their distance because of flying debris and those downed power lines. Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said more than 200 firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene. That represents a majority of the department's on-duty staff. Thiel said off-duty firefighters were called in to protect the rest of the city. The fire consumed the historic manufacturing facility at 21st and West Clearfield streets Friday night. The fire spread to nearby buildings with the help of northeasterly 16 mph winds. Flying embers sparked a fire at a nearby church at N. 22nd and W. Indiana streets. Those fires were quickly extinguished by crews at the scene, Thiel said. "There were a couple times during this where we weren't sure where this fire was going to stop," Thiel said. No homes have been evacuated, but several streets were closed as a precaution. Amtrak and SEPTA regional rail lines that on tracks run near the structure were not affected. More than three hours after it started burning, the fire was placed under control just after 9 p.m. Thiel said the fire is still burning and will likely continue to smolder through Saturday. "We're going to have our more than 200 firefighters working all night," Thiel said. Philadelphia Police's Tactical Air Unit is using an infrared camera onboard its helicopter to find and relay the location of hot spots to firefighters. North Philadelphia warehouse fire is sending heavy plumes of smoke west toward 22nd st. Firefighters putting water on from exterior @NBCPhiladelphia https://t.co/8nV51yiDrl pic.twitter.com/rQwR1r2RG1 Drew Smith (@drewsmithtv) May 18, 2018 The building formerly housed the Steele Heddle Manufacturing Complex which manufactured textile loom accessories. The business shutdown in 1983. In 2010, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The property was sold in 2007 for $1 to AM8 Group Steel Heddle, city records show. Philadelphia's Department of Licenses and Inspections listed the building as imminently dangerous dating back to March 2015, city records say. Inspectors listed loose walls and missing bricks as the reason for the status. The case was closed this March. Still, the city lists the building as sealed and structurally compromised. The Fire Marshal has already begun investigating the cause of the fire, but Thiel said it will be some time before they're able to enter the unstable structure to search for evidence. Government agencies, businesses and other organizations in Arizona plan to participate in an exercise to practice how the state would respond to a migration of 400,000 people following a catastrophic earthquake in Southern California. The Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs says participants in the National Mass Care Exercise in the coming week will tackle how to organize operations such as providing food, shelter and medical services. The department says its planning for the exercise has been underway for nearly a year. The State Emergency Operations Center in Phoenix along with many county, tribal and municipal emergency operations centers will activate during the exercise to test activation procedures and staff training. Veteran spy Gina Haspel will become the first female director of the CIA after six Democrats joined Republicans in a Senate confirmation vote on Thursday that overrode concerns about her role in the spy agency's harsh interrogation program after 9/11. The 54-45 vote split both parties, and the margin was the closest for a CIA nominee in the nearly seven decades that a nod from the Senate has been required. Haspel, who has spent nearly all of her 33-year CIA career in undercover positions, is the first career operations officer to be confirmed since William Colby in 1973. Haspel, 61, is a native of Kentucky but grew up around the world as the daughter of an Air Force serviceman. She worked in Africa, Europe and classified locations around the globe and was tapped as deputy director of the CIA last year. She worked under former CIA director Mike Pompeo until President Donald Trump moved him to secretary of state. Haspel was backed by many in the CIA rank-and-file and was robustly supported by senior intelligence officials, including six former CIA directors and three former national intelligence directors, who said she earned the chance to take the helm of the nation's premier spy agency. National Intelligence Director Dan Coats said Haspel has integrity and both frontline and executive intelligence expertise. "We salute Director Haspel, a trailblazer who today becomes the first woman to lead the CIA," he said. Her opponents argued that it wasn't right to promote someone who supervised a covert detention site in Thailand where terror suspects were waterboarded, an interrogation technique that simulates drowning. They said the U.S. needed to slam closed what was one of the CIA's darkest chapters that tainted America's image with allies abroad. Several senators said Haspel was not forthcoming in answering questions about her role in the torture program or the CIA's decision to destroy video-taped evidence of the sessions. They also had questions about her rejection of the now-banned techniques. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said in a floor speech that Haspel "offered up almost the classic Washington non-apology." He asked how the Senate could take seriously Haspel's "conversion on torture?" Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said the world was watching the confirmation vote, which he called a "referendum on torture." He said the so-called "enhanced interrogation techniques" the CIA used at black sites, including slamming detainees against walls and confining them in coffin-shaped boxes, amounted to "government-sanctioned torture." Haspel has vowed never to restart such a program and says her "strong moral compass" would prevent her from carrying out any presidential order she found objectionable. That was enough to coax some senators into the "yes" column. But Leahy said he still questioned her judgment and lamented that she has never publicly condemned torture as "immoral." He wondered aloud what Haspel would do if she's asked to do something that goes against America's core values. "Should we trust that she will have the moral compass to stand up and say 'No?'" he asked. "Based on what we've seen, I do not." Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said the nomination was not just about Haspel, but the U.S. grappling with its past mistakes. "The bottom line is this: No one has ever been held accountable for the torture program and I do not believe those who were intimately involved in it deserve to lead the agency," Feinstein said before casting her vote against Haspel. Since Trump nominated Haspel, her confirmation has been clouded by debate over the CIA's former interrogation program. A protester in the Senate visitor gallery briefly disrupted speeches ahead of the vote with shouts against the CIA. Three Republicans opposed her: Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who is battling cancer and did not vote; Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky; and Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona. Six Democrats, however, were heartened by her pledge to never restart harsh interrogation programs, even if Trump requested. They said they voted for Haspel because they thought her experience was essential in confronting today's threats from U.S. adversaries like Russia, North Korea, China and Iran. Among Democrats supporting Haspel were several up for re-election this fall in states where Trump is popular, including Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Sen. Joe Donnelly of Indiana and Sen. Bill Nelson in Florida. Also voting yes were Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the ranking member of the intelligence committee. "This has not been an easy decision," Warner said, adding that he'd met and talked with Haspel many times in the past several weeks. He said he's convinced that Haspel could and would stand up to Trump, who has voiced support for waterboarding and has said "torture works." After the vote, human rights groups quickly issued statements denouncing the confirmation and the now-defunct program. "The Senate has now rewarded that atrocious conduct by promoting someone that reportedly administered it to lead one of the government's most powerful agencies," said Daphne Eviatar at Amnesty International USA. It was an emotional reunion Friday captured by NBC10 Boston's cameras as a Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, woman met the young man who she says saved her life this week on Lake Winnipesaukee. "Oh my gosh," said 82-year-old Susan MacMartin as she embraced 18-year-old Zach Cray. It was a moment that may never have happened if weren't for him. "My goodness," said MacMartin. "An angel in disguise." MacMartin relived the terrifying moment when her car jumped the Wolfeboro town docks Monday afternoon and landed in the water. "I picked up my foot, supposedly to put on the brake, and I must've hit the accelerator," she explained. "And then into the lake I went." As the water kept rising, and the doors wouldn't open, she thought, "This could go either way, but I want to get out of here." And just seconds later, she saw Cray swimming over to help. "Boy, oh boy, you sure were good looking coming across that water," MacMartin told Cray. Cray says he didn't hesitate to drop his fishing gear and jump in the lake. "It was a gut instinct," Cray said. "I was focused on keeping her calm." "That's just what he said, 'I'm here, I've got you, you're not going drown, I promise,'" MacMartin recalled. "I put all my eggs in his basket." "I've never heard anyone say that before, it's just overwhelming," Cray said. "It feels really good." Cray pulled MacMartin through the window and brought her to safety without a scratch. "Somebody was looking over and it must've been you," MacMartin told Cray. "I'm just glad that I was there," he responded. Cray's parents say their greatest goal in life was to raise kids who will do the right thing even when they aren't looking. "We are incredibly proud," said Cray's mom, Ericka Bickford. "He made the right choice and he did exactly what we hoped he would've done." Cray says he can't believe at all the recognition he's getting. In fact, the Celtics called this week and at the team's next home playoff game, Cray will be honored for his heroic actions. A man was stabbed to death Friday evening in Ludlow, Massachusetts, according to police. Franklin Conza, 47, of Springfield, is charged with murdering Carlos Santos, 70, of Ludlow at 270 East Street, which is the address of the Ludlow Bakery. Santos was the co-owner of the bakery. Officers responded to the scene at approximately 6:49 p.m. and found a bystander restraining Conza, who then fought the officers attempting to take him into custody. Santos was found with multiple stab wounds and was immediately transported to Baystate Medical Center by the Ludlow Fire Department, where he was pronounced dead. Conza will be arraigned in Palmer District Court on Monday morning. It is not clear if he has an attorney. This is an open and on-going homicide investigation being conducted by the Ludlow Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Hampden District Attorneys Office, and the Hampden District Attorneys Office Murder Unit. Vanessa Grande died of a drug overdose in January at the age of 26, and her grieving mother is among those angry at a Massachusetts judge for a decision not to keep a drug dealer behind bars. "Losing her was the hardest thing that I've ever had to deal with," Toni Grande said. Grande was one of several parents upset and angry to learn that earlier this week, Salem Superior Court Judge Timothy Feeley gave an admitted heroin dealer probation instead of jail time. "I want to know if he has kids, and if he does have kids, what if his kids overdosed? Would that have changed his decision?" Grande asked. "This was basically a money crime without an addiction aspect," Feeley said at the sentencing of Manual Soto-Vittini on Tuesday. Feeley said that Soto-Vittini "made some terrible judgements and decisions, but made them for reasons that, at least, he thought were helpful to his family. "I've never heard of anything so outrageous," said Marilyn Devaney, who is on the governor's council that gave approval to Feeley's appointment to the bench. "This is the second time. He let a criminal go that killed the officer in Maine. He has to be removed." Just last month, Feeley came under fire for lowering the bail of John Williams, who allegedly went on to kill a sheriff's deputy in Maine just weeks later. "I am heartsick over what this judge has done," Devaney said. Devaney said she is hoping to work with state lawmakers in this area to begin the lengthy process of actually trying to remove the judge. As of Friday evening, a group of Republican lawmakers had cosponsored HD 4822, a bill filed by Rep. James Lyons (R-Andover) requesting Gov. Charlie Baker to remove Feeley from the bench. A petition on change.org calling for Feeley's impeachment had garnered more than 1,500 signatures. A man was captured Friday night after a standoff with police in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Police confirmed after 10:30 p.m. that a 49-year-old Plymouth man had been found. He was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital to be evaluated. Police got a call around 3 p.m. from a mental health facility saying he had threatened to kill himself. SWAT team members and other law enforcement personnel responded to Worrell Road, where the man had been barricaded. Later Friday, responders searched inside the home for the man. They say they seized weapons belonging to a relative. The man did not make threats to anyone but himself and police did not believe he was a threat to the public. Nearby homes were evacuated during the standoff. Police did not say whether the man would face charges. The Warren Historical Society will offer a hands-on history outreach program on local Native American spirituality and community May 20 at 2 p.m. The program will be held at the town hall at 50 Cemetery Road. Surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients undergoing colorectal operations were reduced by 61 percent in less than two years in Hawaiian hospitals participating in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Safety Program for Surgery, according to new study findings published as an "article in press" on the website of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons ahead of print. Despite widespread efforts to rein in SSIs, this postoperative complication remains common, accounting for about 20 percent of hospital-acquired infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infection of the surgical site prolongs hospital stays, raises health care costs, and increases risk of serious illness and death. "It's a major problem because half of the patients in our hospitals have an operation, putting them at risk for infection afterwards," said study coauthor Julius Cuong Pham, MD, PhD, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, and a patient safety officer at The Queens Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii. "And a colorectal operation is a procedure with one of the highest rates of surgical site infection." To help address this issue, researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, Baltimore; University of Hawaii, Honolulu; and University of California, San Francisco evaluated the effectiveness of AHRQ's Safety Program for Surgery in all hospitals across Hawaii, the first time the program has been implemented at a state level. This 15-hospital collaborative was part of a larger AHRQ-funded effort to improve surgical care nationwide. Between January 2013 and June 2015, health care teams in hospitals across Hawaii implemented AHRQ's Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP), as well as their own customized interventions. CUSP is an innovative program that uses feedback from frontline providers to improve surgical teamwork and patient safety. The study's aim was to reduce colorectal SSIs and improve hospital safety culture. Multiple clinical interventions were implemented, specifically chlorhexidine wash before procedures, proper use of appropriate antibiotics, and standardized post-surgical debriefing. Non-technical skills for improving the safety culture involved better communication, teamwork, and decision-making strategies. Two years after the start of the project, researchers found that the colorectal SSI rate for the collaborative decreased from 12.08 percent to 4.63 percent. The 61.7 percent reduction in colorectal SSIs seen is the greatest state-level reduction reported, the study authors noted. "With this collaborative, we created a platform that allowed diverse types of hospitals to come together and accelerate learning and change," said lead study author Della M. Lin, MD, MS, an anesthesiologist in the department of surgery, University of Hawaii. "By not working in silos, we were able to accelerate the reduction in surgical site infections faster and perhaps more effectively than hospitals could do by themselves." At the same time, safety culture improved in 10 of 12 categories, as measured by the AHRQ Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture. Areas of improvement included teamwork across units, communication-openness, and overall perception of patient safety. Nationally, AHRQ's survey tool showed (in 359 hospitals) the average change across these 12 patient safety culture domains was one percentage point between 2012 and 2014. In this collaborative, however, the average score across the 12 categories improved by more than five percentage points. This outcome is significant because changes in safety culture, especially using AHRQ's survey tool, are not common, and especially in the perioperative area, according to Dr. Pham. The research is important for several reasons. This study highlights the fact that this program can be scaled up to a state level and likely to a health system level, according to Dr. Pham. "We already know that one or two hospitals can succeed at changing their safety culture. But it has never been done on a state level before." Additionally, the results are durable. "Since the Hawaii collaborative has ended, the infection rates are continuing to stay at these low rates, so that gives us some satisfaction knowing that there is sustainability in these remarkable results," Dr. Lin said. "Instead of working in isolation, we are creating a space for all hospitals within the state to leverage not just the national work but also each other for more powerful results," Dr. Lin said. "This study is unique because it demonstrates how teams actually can get better ideas and results by synthesizing and harvesting the work together. The Hawaii collaborative continues as Hawaii Safer Care, applying what we've learned to future projects such as enhanced recovery after surgery protocols." The American College of Surgeons, in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Medicine Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, established the AHRQ Safety Program for Improving Surgical Care and Recovery (ISCR) in 2017. "Collaboratives are a great opportunity for shared experiences and learning, and have been repeatedly shown to be effective in improving care and outcomes in the surgical realm," said Clifford Y. Ko, MD, MHS, FACS, who is not a study author, but serves as the Director of Research and Optimal Patient Care at the American College of Surgeons. "In point of fact, the American College of Surgeons recently released the Optimal Resources for Surgical Quality and Safety, also known as the 'Redbook,' in which an entire chapter is devoted to the lessons learned from some of the leading collaboratives in surgery. The work done amongst these Hawaiian hospitals is another shining example of a successful collaborative," he said. AML is not a single disease. It is a group of leukemias that develop in the bone marrow from progenitors of specialized blood cells, the so-called myeloid cells. Rapidly growing and dividing, these aberrant cells crowd the bone marrow and bloodstream, which can be fatal within weeks or months if the disease is left untreated. Myeloid cells of various types and stages can become cancerous and cause AML, which makes the condition very heterogeneous and difficult to treat. Thus, finding drug targets that affect as many forms of AML as possible is a prime goal for researchers. Mutations in the MLL (Mixed lineage leukemia) gene are of interest, as they are frequent in AML. They are caused by rearrangements of big chunks of DNA, so-called chromosomal translocations, which can lead to the fusion of two otherwise-separated genes; in the case of the MLL gene, fusions with more than 75 different partner genes were found. Above that, it was known that MLL-fusion proteins act in the context of large protein complexes, which need specific "effector" proteins to exert their oncogenic function - ideal targets for a precise therapy. However, it was not clear whether such critical effectors are common for all MLL-fusion proteins. The research groups of Florian Grebien from the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cancer Research, Giulio Superti-Furga, Scientific Director of the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and Johannes Zuber, from the Institute of Molecular Pathology, tackled that question in their latest study. They were able to identify common, conserved molecular mechanisms that drive oncogenesis in the context of the large number of different MLL-fusion proteins by characterizing the protein-protein interaction networks of distantly related MLL fusion proteins. Their results were now published in Nature Communications (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04329-y) The scientists, with CeMM PhD-Student Anna Skucha as first author of the study, characterized the entire protein complexes around seven different MLL fusion proteins in detail, which revealed 128 conserved interaction partners of MLL fusions. In further functional experiments, that were carried out in collaboration with the IMP Vienna and the Medical University Vienna, they identified the methyltransferase SETD2 as a critical effector of MLL-fusion proteins. Using genomic techniques including CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, the researchers found that SETD2 loss caused induction of DNA-damage and ultimately cell death in the cancer cells. Moreover, SETD2 loss increased the lethal effect of Pinometostat, a drug that is currently in clinical development for treatment of leukemia patients with MLL fusions. These experiments might pave the way for a more effective therapy in the future using a combination of compounds. "These data highlight the relevance of combined proteomic-genomic cellular screening to identify critical effectors of genes involved in the development of acute myeloid leukemia" Florian Grebien, one of the senior author of the study, explains. "Our results establish a novel role for SETD2 in the maintenance of genomic integrity during initiation and progression of MLL-rearranged AML and contribute to further clarification of the molecular mechanisms driving MLL-fusion-dependent leukemogenesis" Source: https://cemm.at/fileadmin/img/News/PR_English_Skucha_et_al_Nat_Comm.pdf Auto-major Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has received more than 5,000 bookings for its popular sedan Yaris since its launch, a senior company official said. "We will be launching in most of the metros in a couple of days. We already have two months bookings. We crossed 5000," Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Vice-President, B Padmanabha told PTI. The company had first showcased the sedan at the Auto-Expo and had revealed the prices "couple of weeks ago," he said. Yaris would be retailed across the country under one rate with prices beginning from Rs 8.75 lakh for the base variant and top-end at Rs 14.07 lakh (ex-showroom). When asked about the concept of retailing sedan under one rate across the country instead of being State-specific as practised earlier, he said, "Goods and Services Tax (GST) (implemented in July 1, 2017) helped us moderate the prices for the country. I think it is good for the consumer." Also Watch: TKM is a joint venture between auto major Toyota and Kirloskar Group and has two manufacturing facilities at Bidadi, Karnataka. It produces Corolla Altis, mid-size sedan Etios, hatchbacks Etios Liva, Etios Cross, premium sedan Camry, Innova Crysta and Fortuner. To another query, he said, the company made some investments for manufacturing Yaris at the facilities. The indigenisation level of Yaris was about 85 percent, he said. Also Read: Toyota Yaris Scores Five out of Five Stars in ASEAN NCAP Safety Crash Test Watch Video India: Tata Steel Ltd said on Friday it had completed the acquisition of a 72.7 percent stake in Bhushan Steel Ltd, which was in bankruptcy court over unpaid loans. As part of the deal, a unit of Tata Steel is paying 35,200 crore ($5.18 billion) to Bhushan Steel's creditor banks. It will also pay Bhushan Steel's operational creditors, such as vendors, another 12 billion rupees over 12 months. The Tata Steel unit will raise a bridge loan of 165 billion rupees to help fund the acquisition, while Tata Steel is investing the remainder in the unit, Bamnipal Steel. Bamnipal has appointed members to Bhushan Steel's board, Tata Steel said in a statement. Bhushan Steel, which was among a dozen companies pushed to bankruptcy court last year amid a government drive to clear a mountain of bad loans choking credit at Indian banks, has an annual steel-making capacity of about 5.6 million tonnes. Taking over Bhushan Steel will help Tata Steel to increase its capacity in India and gain an edge in the fast-growing automotive steel market. Kanpur: Four people died and at least 10 others were taken seriously ill after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in different villages under the Sachendi police station area here, the police said on Saturday. The incident came to light this(Saturday) morning when Rajendra Kumar (48) and Ratnesh Shukla (51) were found dead in their houses, SP (rural) Pradyumna Singh said. Of the 12 people admitted to different hospitals, including Lala Lajpat Rai (LLR) hospital and Naraina Institute, in a serious condition, retired SI, Jagjeevan Ram (62) and Umesh (30) died while undergoing treatment, he said. The officer said that according to the relatives of the victims, all of them had consumed liquor purchased from a government liquor shop. Dr Saurabh Agarwal of the LLR's medicine department, who was attending to the victims, said that they had consumed spurious liquor. Kanpur's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Akhilesh Kumar said an FIR under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Excise Act has been lodged against Ram Balak Ram, the license holder of the liquor shop. Administrative officials and the Excise Department are investigating the matter, he said. The state government has announced ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for the seriously ill, a senior official said, adding the regional excise inspector has been suspended. An investigation team along with senior police and administrative officials reached the spot to look into the matter, he said. New Delhi: Amid multiple state finance ministers protesting against the terms of reference, the newly constituted advisory council in its first meeting with the 15th Finance Commission raised the issue of population not being the only parameter for devolution of funds. The Council, consisting of senior economists, said it would be realistic to use contemporary population data but weightage should be assigned to population and also rewards for population stabilisation policy. Further, the Commission also accepted that while they cannot amend the terms, immediate addressal is a requirement. The Council also added that the permissible limits on borrowings under fiscal consolidation roadmap need to be equally applicable to Centre and States in the context of overall macroeconomic framework. The Finance Commission will submit its report by October 2019. The recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission, chaired by former Reserve Bank of India governor YV Reddy, are valid till 2020. Additionally, issues of uncertainty pertaining to GST need to be fully factored in, said the Council. The officials also discussed whether providing an interim tax devolution plan till the states stabilise post GST should also be considered. Inadequacy of data in terms of GST and other schemes, and its reliability constituted a significant handicap in realistic revenue projection and other key variables like employment as well as in determining measurable criteria, said the Finance Commission. The Council also raised the issue of new context post abolition of Planning Commission which has altered the traditional system of resource allocation and consequently abolition of distinction between plan and non-plan funds. Other roadblocks addressed include issues of rewards for past performance, taxation capacity of states and formulas on devolution, key challenges in making robust projections on GDP, pension liability, revenue realization and availability of resources beyond devolution for grants-in-aid. The future of centrally sponsored schemes remained problematic with changing pattern of funding, discussed the officials. Sources informed News18 that United Nations Development Programme has also offered help to the Commission and will be preparing a study paper. National Disaster Management Agency will also be meeting the Commission on September 3. World Bank officials are also scheduled to meet the Finance Commission on July 31. The 15th Finance Commission had on May 9 set up this Council to advise it on matters related to the Terms of Reference (ToR) that have come under attack from some non-BJP ruled states such as Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Some southern states criticised the ToR saying progressive states would lose revenue if 2011 Census was taken as base for devolution of central funds. The panel advises the Commission on any issue or subject related to the ToR and provides assistance in the preparation of any paper or research study which would enhance the Commissions understanding on the issues containing in its ToR. Arvind Virmani, former Chief Economic Advisor; Surjit S Bhalla, Part-time Member of Prime Ministers Economic Advisory Council; Sanjeev Gupta, a former IMF deputy director; Pinaki Chakraborty, Professor (NIPFP); Sajjid Chinoy of JP Morgan and Neelkanth Mishra of Credit Suisse India are the members of the panel. Meanwhile, six non-BJP ruled states on Thursday petitioned President Ram Nath Kovind against the terms of the 15th Finance Commission for deciding the share of states in taxes collected by the Centre, and said that they violate the federal principle as well as infringe upon the Constitution. In a memorandum signed by chief minister and finance ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal, Puducherry, Punjab and Delhi, the states opposed some of the terms of reference (ToR) saying they "violate the federal principle as enshrined in the Constitution, erode autonomy of states, and bring significant financial hardship to all states". Stating that some of the ToR are "qualitatively" different from those of previous Finance Commissions, the memorandum said changes will restrict the states from fulfilling their Constitutional obligations. Opposing the ToR of the Commission, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had in Amaravati said that progressive states would lose heavily if the 2011 Census was taken as the basis for devolution of central funds. Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra and others attended the conclave. Last month, Kerala had hosted a conference of finance ministers of various states to discuss issues of common concern with respect to the Commission. Responding to the concerns, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said on April 10 that there is no inherent bias or mandate in the ToR which could be construed as discriminatory against the states which have made good progress in population control. He had said that a needless controversy was being sought to be created that the terms of reference of the Commission were loaded against any particular region of the country. Pointing to the specific inclusion of reference efforts and progress made in moving towards replacement rate of population growth Jaitley had said it recognises the efforts of all the states which have done well in population control. This specific ToR would allow the 15th Finance Commission to propose a specific incentive scheme to reward the states which have achieved replacement level of population growth, and also, if the 15th FC wishes to do so, to assign appropriate weight to the progress made in population control while allocating resources, Jaitley had stated. Major Recommendation of Previous Finance Commission For the period from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2020, the 14th Finance Commission (FFC) was constituted in January 2013. It submitted the report on December 15, 2014. One of the main recommendations that the last Finance Commission came up with was that of increasing the tax devolution rate to 42% from 32%. This means the Centre should allocate 42% of its tax revenue to states, largest ever. In the past, when Finance Commissions have recommended an increase, it has been in the range of 1-2%. The last Finance Commission had YV Reddy, former governor of Reserve Bank of India, as its chairman. Members of the Commission included Abhijit Sen member, Planning Commission, Sushama Nath, former union finance secretary, M Govinda Rao, director, National Institute for Public Finance and Policy and Sudipto Mundle, dormer acting chairman, National Statistical Commission. The body had Ajay Narayan Jha as its secretary. Bold Faces in Previous Finance Commissions When former RBI governor C Rangarajan took over as the chairman of the 12th Finance Commission, the fiscal balance of both the Centre and states were deteriorating due to compliance issues of value added tax (VAT) and the states complaining of diminishing tax revenue due to the same. The then chairman almost doubled the transfer of money from the Centre to the states from Rs 4.40 lakh crore in 2005 to Rs 7.55 lakh crore in 2010. The 14th finance commission as mentioned also took sharp steps in favour of the states. There were reports also doing the rounds that the last commission did not work in unison and there was a letter of dissent from Planning Commission member Abhijeet Sen. New Delhi: The Supreme Court has expressed its displeasure that the Ministry of Defence has "not even bothered" to respond to the letters addressed to it by the CBI's Special Investigation Team (SIT) that is probing the alleged extra-judicial killings and fake encounters by the Army, Assam Rifles and police in Manipur. A bench comprising justices Madan B Lokur and U U Lalit asked the SIT to conclude by June 30 its investigations in the cases related to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), judicial inquiries and those on which the Gauhati High court had given its findings. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Singh, appearing for the CBI, told the bench that he would take up the matter with the Ministry of Defence to ensure necessary cooperation. "We have also seen from status report no. five (filed by the SIT) that letters have been addressed by the SIT to the Ministry of Defence in some cases as far back as in February, 2018 but the Ministry of Defence has not even bothered to respond to those letters," the bench noted in its order. "The ASG says he will take it up with the Ministry of Defence and ensure that necessary cooperation is extended and letters will be responded with promptitude. We expect the Ministry of Defence to fully cooperate with the SIT," the court said and listed the matter for hearing on July 2. Singh told the court that the SIT would give a list of documents to the chief secretary and director general of police (DGP) of Manipur to ensure that all the materials were made available to the probe team or at least, an explanation on which documents were not available and why was given. "We would require this to be done in a time-bound manner," the bench observed, while noting that in the status report filed by the SIT, there were several entries concerning non-supply of documents by the police and other agencies. The apex court directed the in-charge of the SIT, Sharad Aggarwal, to furnish the list within a week and said it expected that the chief secretary and DGP of the north-eastern state would respond to it "positively within three weeks". "On the basis of the material on record i.e. the report of the CFSL (Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory) and documents and statements of witnesses, we expect the SIT to conclude the investigations by June 30, 2018 in respect of cases pertaining to Table II (judicial inquiry and high court cases) and III (NHRC) and file the final report under section 173, CrPC," the court said. As many as 31 FIRs have been lodged by the SIT under the category of cases in Tables II and III. During the hearing, the CFSL director assured the court that the reconstruction of the crime scene would be done expeditiously and he would ensure that the tasks pending with the department were completed at the earliest. The apex court had earlier directed the SIT to expedite its probe into the alleged fake encounters, which had come under the scanner of the NHRC, the Gauhati High Court and some commissions of inquiry. The court had, on February 12, expressed its displeasure over the progress of the SIT probe in these cases and observed that something was "terribly wrong". The court, which is hearing a PIL seeking a probe into as many as 1,528 cases of alleged extra-judicial killings in Manipur, had on July 14 last year set up the SIT and ordered registration of FIRs and a probe into the alleged extra-judicial killings in the north-eastern state. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a day-long visit to Jammu and Kashmir, during which he will inaugurate the Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project (KHEP) and the Zojila Pass tunnel. The visit assumes geopolitical significance since the Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project has for long been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan. The Rs 5,750-crore project on Kishanganga, a tributary of Jhelum, was commissioned in various stages over the last couple of months. The project includes a dam on the tributary, which is barely metres away from the Line of Control (LoC). According to National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), the project is set to generate 1,713 million units per annum. Jammu and Kashmir would be provided with 12 percent of the power generated by the project. The dam will divert the Jhelum water to an underground power house. More than it being a power house and a way of transferring water from the Gurez Valley to Kashmir, the dam on Kishanganga, known as Neelum in Pakistan, is a mark of strategic significance and a show of strength. The work on the project started during the previous governments regime in 2007, but it was halted after Pakistan moved the International Court of Arbitration in The Hague three years later. Pakistan, in its plea at The Hague, had said that India violated the Indus Water Treaty, which details the use of water when it comes to shared rivers. In 2013, however, in a massive victory for India, the court allowed it to go ahead with the construction of the project on Kishanganga, with a caveat that it would have to release 9 cubic metres of water across the border. That, however, was not the end. In 2016, Pakistan sought the World Banks help and asked the organisation to appoint an arbitration court into the make and design of the Kishanganga dam and also to look into another project on the Chenab. The talks between the two countries, via the World Bank, have still seen no fruitful result, except the fact that India went ahead with KHEP, thus asserting its rights over the waters as well as, in ways more than one, the Indus Water Treaty. Pakistan, too, has left no stone unturned in asserting its rights, one of which is first access to water. While it continues to object the project till date, last month, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi inaugurated the first unit of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydroelectric Project (NJHEP) on the same river in PoK. All Weather Access To Kargil Via Zojila Pass Situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway, the Zojila Pass tunnels main aim is to provide all-weather connectivity to Leh, a strategically important region which remains closed for at least six months due to heavy snowfall and other weather conditions. The project, set to cost about Rs 6,800 crore, is expected to be a 14.15-km-long two lane bi-directional tunnel and is expected to be completed in seven years. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had reaffirmed the importance of the tunnel as he, earlier this month, said that the Zojila pass is the most important strategic for the entire Kargil region, which has seen intrusion and war in the past. It was this Zojila Pass that was captured by Pakistan in 1947 but Indians recaptured it in 1948. The actual planning of the tunnel actually started after the Kargil War in 1999. It is being touted as Asias longest bi-directional tunnel. The tunnel will also help India keep an eye on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which India has for long criticised. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday coined yet another acronym said that the way forward for agriculture was through 5Ts talent, timely action, technology, trouble-free approach and training. Speaking at the convocation ceremony of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology in Jammu, Modi said that the future of agriculture lay in artificial intelligence and blockchain technology. The changes that blockchain technology and artificial intelligence will bring about in agriculture will be revolutionary. As of now, farmers in a few parts of the country are already using this technology in their practices, he said, adding that the government has done a lot of work to ensure that agriculture touched new heights. He further added that the initiating artificial intelligence and blockchain technology would also help in reducing crop destruction. Efforts by our farmers, agriculture scientists and the policies of the government resulted in record harvest last year. Be it wheat, rice or pulses, he said. The Prime Minister further said that the state government had asked for Rs 500 crore for carrying forward development work in agriculture out of which Rs 150 crore has already been released. Elucidating that technology and entrepreneurship-driven agriculture was the way forward, Modi said that agricultural practices should be such that they not only cater to the current demand, but also support futuristic technology changes. Earlier on Saturday, Modi inaugurated the 330-MW Kishanganga hydroelectric power project and laid foundation stone for the semi-ring road project in Srinagar. He also kicked off work on the Zojila Pass tunnel which will provide all weather access between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh. Lucknow: With Supreme Court ordering former chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh to vacate government bungalows, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh will be the first among six other former chief Ministers to give up the accommodation allotted to them. The apex court, while hearing a petition filed by NGO Lok Prahari challenging the amendments made by the erstwhile Akhilesh Yadav government to the UP Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 1981, had observed that a chief minister is at par with a common man once his or her tenure ends. A staff member working at Rajnath Singhs residence said that the bungalow at 4, Kalidas Marg will be vacated by Sunday and he is likely to shift to his private residence in Vipul Khand area in Gomti Nagar. Sources say that the Governor of Rajasthan, Kalyan Singh, will also vacate the government bungalow, soon. On Thursday, the Yogi Adityanath government served notices to six former chief ministers, who have been occupying sprawling government bungalows in Lucknow, and asked them to vacate the same in 15 days. The ex-chief ministers to vacate their bungalows include Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, BSP chief Mayawati, ND Tiwari, BJP leaders Rajnath Singh and Kalyan Singh. Sources said that Mulayam Singh Yadav refused to receive the notice, stating that he was not present in the city. Meanwhile, the notice issued to former CM ND Tiwari will be dispatched to his Delhi address as there was no one except a guard at the bungalow in Lucknow. A bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi quashed the law, which entitled former chief ministers to retain government bungalows for a lifetime, ruling that granting further privilege violates Right to Equality under Article 14. The Chief Minister, once he or she demits the office, is at par with the common citizen, though by virtue of the office held, he or she may be entitled to security and other protocols. But allotment of government bungalow, to be occupied during his or lifetime, would not be guided by the constitutional principle of equality, noted the bench. Guwahati: Two persons were killed after suspected gunmen fired indiscriminately at a grocery shop in a remote area along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border on Friday evening, police said. The incident took place at Rupai in eastern Assam's Tinsukia district, the police said. According to locals, two gunmen came to a grocery shop and fired randomly, leading to death of two on the spot. While the locals suspect the hands of anti-talk faction of ULFA militants behind the killing, the police called it an incident of robbery. The police said they have already arrested one person in this regard and his interrogation is on to find more details. Perhaps the most surprising thing about the very surprising wedding sermon by the very reverend Michael Curry was that he didnt end it with Can I get a Hallelujah? As the first black presiding bishop of the American Episcopal Church - like the Church of England, part of the Anglican Communion Currys address had a tone and tenor the likes of which have never been heard in the hallowed halls of St Georges Chapel in its 1000-plus year history, and by George, did his words echo. In an impassioned and extended (some will say drawn out) speech, the priest from Chicago delivered a homily on the power of love and the force of fire. Indeed, commentators have already taken to calling Currys sermon as the fire speech due to his many, many, many allusions to the might and right of that elemental force. Speaking on how fire has shaped the life and destiny of mankind, from its Promethean origins of enabling man to move from the stone age to the bronze, to continuing to fuel progress and innovation over the millennia, right up to our digital present, Curry went out in a blaze of glory. Choosing Curry, the first presiding black bishop of the Episcopal Church to deliver the sermon at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the first woman of biracial ancestry to marry in to the starched white British Royal family, was a shrewd move, and the Bishop made the most of it. While the Archbishop of Canterburys address was brief and chaste, as is expected in these highly ceremonial and precisely timed Royal rituals, Curry (to borrow from his theme) stoked the flames, pointedly referring to the Antebellum South and the place of slavery in American history, while softening his edge by mentioning the healing power of spirituality and the music sung by those enslaved people of colour. Slaves like the ancestors of Doria Ragland, the African-American mother of Meghan Markle, whose surname is taken from a slave owner. Through his remarks on race relations, Curry reminded the cream of British aristocracy and royalty, that their new princess was also a fiercely proud black woman, and all the more powerful for it. And he spoke about love. "We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world. Love is the only way," he said, quoting civil rights icon Dr Martin Luther King. The 65-year-old from Chicago continued, "There's power in love. Don't underestimate it. Don't even over-sentimentalise. There is power, power in love. I'm talking about some power. Real power. Power to change the world. Perhaps sensing the sombre effect of his words on his audience, Curry added with a twinkle in his eye that, Two young people fell in love and we all showed up." The tension broke as the wedding guests broke out in laughter. Curry, who was ordained as a priest in 1978, has frequently preached from his different pulpits on issues including social justice, immigration policy and marriage equality. Most recently, he campaigned for the creation of family day care providers, educational centres and investment in the inner-city neighbourhoods of his three parish ministries - North Carolina, Ohio, and Maryland. Curry has also defended the Episcopal Church's move to allow same sex couples to marry in church in 2015, which caused some churches to cut ties with their parent body. The US Episcopal Church is one of only two Anglican churches worldwide that allow gay marriage in church - the other being the Scottish Episcopal Church. Still, thats not to say his rhetoric didnt cause some restlessness among some members of his audience, both within the church and without, who are used to cut and dried devotions to God. Outside the wedding chapel, some of the gathered royal fans reacted with bemusement while watching live images of uncomfortable-looking VIPs as the sermon went on. While many of his remarks, peppered with historical references, had many listeners, like David Beckham and Camilla Parker Bowles, smiling and nodding, the fact that his speech was stretching on was not lost on the pastor. Pulling himself up short, Curry gestured at Harry and Meghan, seated near him in rapt attention, and said it was time to wrap up as, "We gotta get you all married!" And so thats what they did. You can watch the full speech here. American actress Meghan Markle picked a sleek sculpted dress by Givenchy creative head Clare Waight Keller for her wedding to Prince Harry on Saturday, worn with a five-meter long veil and a diamond tiara lent by Queen Elizabeth. The long-sleeved dress with a boat neck had been eagerly anticipated by royal fans around the world, with speculation over which designer would be chosen. Waight Keller, previously at Pringle of Scotland and Chloe, became the first female artistic director at famed French brand Givenchy last year. The 47-year-old met Meghan earlier this year and the two worked together on the design, which epitomizes a timeless minimal elegance, Kensington Palace said. The focus of the dress is the graphic open bateau neckline that gracefully frames the shoulders and emphasizes the slender sculpted waist, the palace said in a statement. The lines of the dress extend toward the back where the train flows in soft round folds cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza. The slim three-quarter sleeves add a note of refined modernity. Meghans long veil, made of silk tulle, was decorated with hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza, the palace said, and paid tribute to the 53 countries of the Commonwealth. Ms. Waight Keller designed a veil representing the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country united in one spectacular floral composition, the palace said. Prince Harry last month was appointed a Commonwealth youth ambassador. Queen Elizabeth lent the 36-year-old bride Queen Marys diamond bandeau tiara for the occasion. Made in 1932 for Queen Mary, the sparkling diamond and platinum bandeau boasts a center brooch dating from 1893. Meghan also wore Cartier earrings as well as a bracelet and silk duchess satin shoes, the palace said. Prince Harry told the Archbishop of Canterbury he would take Meghan Markle to be his wife at a glittering display of royal pageantry that supporters hope will inject a measure of modern Hollywood glamour into the 1,000-year-old monarchy. I will, Harry answered when asked by Justin Welby, the leader of the Anglican Communion, if he would take Markle - dressed in a flowing white gown created by British designer Clare Waight Keller - to be his wife, to love her, comfort her, honor her and protect her. The declarations were followed by a reading and the address, delivered by U.S. bishop Michael Bruce Curry. The vows of bishop's address were followed by a soulful rendition of Stand By Me by a gospel choir, followed by the exchanging of vows between the happy couple, as well as the exchanging of rings. Meghan Markle, the new Duchess of Sussex, who married Prince Harry earlier today in a beautiful ceremony at St George's chapel is officially a part of the royal family now. Markle, a well known Hollywood actress, walked up the Chapel today, unchaperoned by anyone (for the initial part) which happens to be quite a statement, because, no other British royal bride has ever done it before. However, this isn't the only unorthodox statement Markle has made so far. Ever since the announcement of her engagement on 27 November, 2017, with Prince Harry, Markle has bravely broken many preexisting royal protocols, signaling in no subtle terms, that she will not be yet another aloof, beautiful royal figure who waves at the crowds from the distance, and with an immaculate smile plastered on her face, as she politely shies away from making political statements. No siree! That's not Meghan Markle. When Markle was 11-years-old, she started a protest campaign against a sexist television advertisement, which had a tagline saying, "Women all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans." She wrote letters to then First Lady of the United States, Hilary Clinton, to a kids news program as well as to the soap manufacturers, Procter and Gamble, whose product was being advertised by that commercial and complained about how sexist the advertisement was. Within a month, Markle not only received a letter of encouragement from Clinton, but her local news channel also covered her protest, and Procter and Gamble changed their tagline to: " People (instead of women) all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans." Markle has changed little since then. She has, over the years, very publicly fought for equality of gender. The British monarchy is famously neutral when it comes to making political statements, but Markle has not even attempted at royal political correctness since her engagement with Prince Harry. Earlier this year, speaking eloquently about the women's movement, Markle said, "You will often hear people saying we are helping women find their voices, and I fundamentally disagree with that. Women don't need to find a voice, they have a voice, they need to feel empowered to use it and people need to be encouraged to listen." It was a refreshing departure from Kate Middleton's polite avoidance of commentary on all social and political issues. Earlier this year, at the BAFTA awards where the dress code for women attendees was black -- as a mark of support to the Times Up movement -- Kate Middleton chose to wear a bottle green dress with a black ribbon (it was neither here nor there) thus provoking a major backlash for not taking a clear stand in favour of women's movement. But, if you think of it, Middleton is hardly to be blamed. According to Royal protocols, women from the monarchy are not only discouraged from taking a political stance, but also from wearing black during public events. In fact, these aren't the only customs for the royal women to follow. A series of do's and don'ts are often listed out as a part of the royal code of etiquette, most of which Markle has so far very gracefully and very bravely violated. According to Kensington palace rules, it is frowned upon to hug royal guards and staffs. However, Meghan who happens to be a non formal person, would hug the palace staffers often. Reportedly when someone pointed it out to her that it is not the usual thing to do, Markle apparently shrugged and said, "I'm an American. I hug." While we have been accustomed to the poised grace of the British royal family for years, it's refreshing to see the casual charms of Markle. She not only signs autographs for little girls (yet another thing Royals don't do, lest their signatures get forged) but also draws a smiley face alongside. She hugs and greets royal fans. In this regard, she is a lot like Harry's mother, Diana, who was often called the People's Princess because she was so accessible. However, unlike Diana, who had to abide by most of the palace rules, Markle has made it very clear from the beginning that she will not be living her life by someone else's terms, or so it seems. She wears black as and when she chooses, and her outfits are often unconventional and bold choices, a welcomed departure from Middleton's elegant yet 'too safe' style statements. She often indulges in public displays of affection. She and Harry are unlike most other royal couples in this regard, who are often too guarded and carefully poised in their public appearances. She also spoke about Harry publicly and intimately during a magazine interview right after their engagement, which another royal bride-to-be has never done. The palace and the royal family, however, have been more than welcoming to Markle. Last year, right after the couple announced their engagement, Markle celebrated Christmas with the royal family. It was an unprecedented occurring because, before Markle, no other bride-to-be was allowed to attend Christmas with the royal family. However, this isn't the only first that the royal family has had when it comes to Markle. To begin with, Markle is the first American bride to be fully accepted by the British royal family. Also, before this, the monarchy has never had a bride of biracial background. Markle's father is a Caucasian while her mother is an African-American. She is not only a popular actress, well-known for her tv series, Suits but had also been an entrepreneur. Markle is also a divorcee and was previously married to TV actor and producer, Trevor Engelson. The last time a Prince of Wales married a divorcee, he had to abdicate the throne and live his life in isolation (Remember Prince Edward and Wallis Simpson). However, this time, thankfully the palace, Britain as well as the rest of the world are celebrating with great pomp and show the marriage of Prince Harry with Meghan. In a way it is a really good omen because this makes Markle a harbinger of change; someone who can gracefully pave the way for modernism in the traditional British royal household. Windsor, England: Prince Harry weds U.S. actress Meghan Markle on Saturday in a lavish ceremony that unites the pomp of British royalty with Hollywood glamour. Hundreds of millions of people across the world are expected to tune into watch the wedding of Queen Elizabeths popular grandson and the American star of the TV drama Suits at the 15th Century St Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle. More than 100,000 fans will cram the narrow streets of the town 20 miles (30 km) west of London, dominated by the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, a home to 39 English monarchs since 1066. I love all the regalia, all the hoo-hahs, the procession with the cavalry, said Jane Tofolo, 50, from southwest London, who shook hands with Harry when he held an impromptu walkabout with his brother and best man outside the castle on Friday evening. It will be spectacular because us Brits do all that very well. Harry, 33, is sixth in line to the British throne. Markle, 36, is a divorcee whose mother is African-American and father is white. For many, the wedding is a fairytale. For some black Britons, it illustrates the breakdown of barriers in modern Britain. To others, it is an irrelevance. Polls have suggested that most Britons will not bother tuning in to watch the event. The hour-long ceremony begins at 1100 GMT, with weather forecasts predicting blue skies and sunshine. The bride will arrive at the church with her mother, Doria Ragland, 61, with whom she was spending Friday night at a luxury hotel. Harry was staying at another hotel with elder brother and best man Prince William, whose daughter Charlotte and son George will be among the bridesmaids and page boys. Priyanka Chopra is all excited to watch her close friend Meghan Markle tie the knot with Prince Harry as she officially touched down in London for the royal wedding. Soon after her arrival in the British capital, the Quantico star was spotted visiting the studio of iconic fascinator designer Philip Treacy. One of the royal weddings most anticipated guests, Priyanka, was clicked wearing a plaid suit from Alberta Ferretti and a pair of polarizing sunglasses on her way to visit the studio of fashion's favorite milliners in Battersea. The actor also shared a video of the same on her official Instagram account-- giving her followers a sneak peek of her royal wedding attire. The 35-year-old actor also shared a photograph with her glam squad having some pre-wedding fun. She wrote: "Pre Wedding SHEnanigans! 12:10AM the morning of...and still waiting for the dress!" (sic) Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will tie the knot in Windsor Castle in front of over 2,000 guests on Saturday. The couple's families along with a slew of A-list celebrities will be attending the royal wedding. The ceasefire announcement made by the Union Home Minister two days ago is a very important, positive and welcome step. It will certainly help cool down tempers. Coming after a prolonged spell of violence in Kashmir, it also carries a lot of significance. But everything now hinges on the Centres next step. The step taken by the Centre to initiate a ceasefire has to be reciprocated by the other side. It also has to be followed up with sustainable dialogue so that a political solution to the present situation is found and implemented. We can't have ceasefire only till Eid. If after the end of Ramzan guns start roaring again in the valley, the whole exercise will be meaningless. Ceasefire is a demand that not just the PDP but opposition parties, including us, had been making for a long time. Kashmir needs an end to the cycle of violence most urgently now than ever before. Peace needs to be given a chance. For the last three to four years we have been seeing a tough handling of the situation in Kashmir. This hasnt yielded anything and, on the contrary, the situation on the ground has deteriorated. We have been seeing lots and lots of deaths in the valley during the last two years, which have alienated Kashmiris to an even greater degree than ever before. One may trace the present turmoil in the coalition between PDP and BJP. Before they came together, there was period of calm and peace in the valley and it is only in the last three years since they came to power that an unrelenting spell of violence has been unfolding in the valley. The violence is the manifestation of the anger of people who feel betrayed by the party that campaigned against BJP only to forge an alliance with them at the first possible opportunity. What is remarkable in all this turmoil is that the situation has deteriorated most drastically in South Kashmir, which is supposed to be PDPs stronghold. There are reasons to be skeptical of PDPs intent or their ability to take this initiative forward. It is thanks to them now that the space for mainstream politics has shrunk in Kashmir and that of separatism has expanded. This is the party that couldnt hold a Parliamentary bypoll in Chief Ministers own constituency Anantnag. Not only did they fail to hold elections there, they cancelled it after months of dilly-dallying, knowing in all probability that they would lose this election, and in process created a history of sorts. This was probably the first time that the state government responded to the Hurriyats call for election-boycott in the affirmative. To come back to the question of ceasefire, we will now look forward to the process of a structured dialogue. All stakeholders, barring none, should be involved in this dialogue. Why hasnt, for instance, the interlocutor appointed by the centre Dineshwar Sharma approached the Hurriyat yet? If we have spoken to them earlier, why not now? Also, we have to keep in mind that exercises in discussing Kashmir have happened before. We had parliamentary delegations coming here, interlocutors visiting us, working groups founded precisely to find the solution to Kashmir. But where are those reports? Isnt the report of the interlocutors still rotting somewhere in the Home Ministry even today? So a new peace process, a process of dialogue, will have to bear these facts in mind. The society in Kashmir is at war with itself. The state government is perceived to be fighting with the youth, the students, its own employeesall segments of the Kashmiri society are fighting battles with the government. The Agenda of Alliance, the document that was to ensure that needs and aspirations of Kashmiris were taken care of, is nowhere. Where is this agenda now? What have they been able to fulfil so far? As an opposition party, the National Conference has always sided with democratic processes. When we met the Prime Minister recently we did not ask him to dismiss the incumbent government, only asked him to strengthen the democratic structures. We have always been hopeful that something good will come out of Prime Minister's office. We were very hopeful when Prime Minister, speaking from the ramparts of Red Fort, said: "Goli se nahi, gale lagane se baat banegi." We have seen a lot of goli (bullets). We are yet to see the Prime Minister to embrace us. Perhaps time for it has now come. (Nasir Aslam Wani, is the provincial president of National Conference and the former Home Minister of J&K - As told to Suhas Munshi) Bengaluru: With every vote assuming paramount importance in the high-intensity drama ahead of the floor test in Karnataka Assembly, two 'missing' Congress MLAs are now making their way to the Assembly. Congress MLAs Pratap Gouda Patil and Anand Singh were found at the Goldfinch Hotel in the city. BJP MLA G Somkashekhar Reddy was also not present when his name was called out in the Assembly for taking the oath. There was palpable fear that if the MLAs do not arrive till the trust vote is moved, the effective strength of the House gets reduced, favouring the BJP. Lesser the total strength of the House, easier it gets for BJP to prove majority. In the 222-seat Assembly being convened on Saturday, the BJP has 104 elected representatives, while the Congress and the JD(S) together have 116 MLAs. BS Yeddyurappa, who took oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on Friday, needs eight more votes to form the government. The total strength of the Assembly is 224, but polls to two seats will be held at a later date. Alternatively, the BJP will also sail through if 14 MLAs from the Congress-JD(S) camp abstain from voting. As per local media reports, Pratap Gouda Patil, the Maski MLA who won with a margin of 213 votes, took off to an undisclosed location. According to sources, he boarded a flight from HAL airport in Bengaluru, which means he took a private plane to leave Karnataka. Patil was once known as the poorest MLA in Karnataka as he had declared assets worth just Rs 40 lakh in 2013. This time around, however, he had declared an income of Rs 17.5 lakh and assets worth Rs 5.5 crore. Patil also claimed that his income from agriculture, and his wife has declared assets worth Rs 58.8 lakh. Patil came to power in 2008, which also happened to be the first-ever assembly election to be held in Maski. Back then, he won on a BJP ticket and has stayed in power. In 2013, he won again, but on a Congress ticket. This time around, fighting on a Congress ticket, Patil won his constituency by 60,387 votes in total, with just a bare margin of 213 votes against Basavanagouda Turavihal of BJP. Congress MLA Anand Singh, who was incommunicado as well, had joined the Congress in January earlier this year, was with the BJP before this. After reports of him being 'missing' surfaced, speculations were rife that Singh has gone back to the BJP, which is trying to shore up its numbers ahead of the confidence motion. He was also supposedly missing from the legislative party meeting on Thursday. Congress MP DK Suresh has categorically stated that Singh, who was the state tourism minister in the BJP government when they ruled during 2008-13, is in the clutches of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His statement was backed by JD(S) chief HD Kumaraswamy who said that BJP was threatening MLAs. Singh is a former Karnataka minister and a two-time MLA from Vijayanagar in Bellary. Singh left the BJP, barely months before the election, saying that the BJP was one unit that constantly squabbled. The Congress backed him up saying that the BJP had no place for secular values. Anand is one of the richest politicians in Karnataka, with his business interests spanning from mining to trade to hospitality. His ambit is further extended to the media as editor of Ananda Karnataka Daily. The former minister was arrested in 2013 for the illegal mining scam that tainted the then BJP government. He was granted conditional bail in early 2015 but was arrested again the same year for illegally transporting iron ore. Other cases against him include rioting, murder, and criminal intimidation. Bengaluru: As the 13-month-old Congress-JD(S) combine in Karnataka hangs by a thread, DK Shivakumar is the man of the moment. A Congress warhorse, Shivakumar has been deputed to placate rebel MLAs camped in a Mumbai hotel and pull the government out of the current crisis. The Congress leader, however, is no stranger to this role. In 2002, the Congress-led Vilasrao Deshmukh government in Maharashtra was about to collapse. Fearing a defeat, he moved his MLAs to neighbouring Karnataka, ruled by SM Krishna. Krishna entrusted the responsibility of keeping them safe to his young Urban Development Minister DK Shivakumar. He herded them to Eagleton Resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru and hosted them for a week. On the day of trust vote, he escorted them back to Mumbai and the Vilasrao government survived. And Shivakumar hit the national headlines. That incident also helped him cement his relationship with the Gandhi family. Shivakumar, known as DKS in Karnataka politics, is an all-weather man for the Congress. He reached the top of state politics by fighting the Gowda family in their stronghold. His prolonged fight with the Gowdas is legendary. Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga, won his first Assembly election in 1989 from Sathanur in Kanakapura taluk by defeating the giant of Karnataka politics HD Deve Gowda. When S Bangarappa became the CM in 1990, he recognised Shivakumars talent and made him a junior minister with Prisons and Homeguards portfolio. Even though the portfolio was insignificant, Shivakumar caught the attention of the top brass because of his leadership skills and daring. He was just 29 years old and that mattered a lot. When Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal came to power in 1994, Shivakumar was one of the very few who survived the storm. He fought a battle with the Gowdas even when Deve Gowda was the PM. When a fellow Vokkaliga, SM Krishna, became the CM in 1999, he made Shivakumar his Urban Development minister. Shivakumar behaved like de-facto CM, rubbing many top leaders the wrong way. In the 2002 Lok Sabha bypolls, he fought against Deve Gowda from Kanakapura and lost. He took his revenge by defeating Deve Gowda in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls from the same seat by fielding a journalist, Tejaswini, against him. But the Krishna government lost the Assembly polls held along with Lok Sabha polls. Congress and JD(S) formed a coalition government and Shivakumar was kept out. He had to wait till January 2014 to return to Karnataka Cabinet. He had held the post of KPCC working president during Yeddyurappas government. But he was ineffective as the head of Congress. When Siddaramaiah-led Congress came to power in 2013, Shivakumar was kept out on charges of corruption. But he did not quit the party or say anything against the high command. He was made the Power Minister in January 2014. Even though he never shared a good rapport with Siddaramaiah, they stuck together because of their common enemy the Gowdas. There was the occasional bickering, but they worked together. When the BJP tried to defeat Sonia Gandhis political secretary Ahmed Patel in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha election in August 2017, the same Shivakumar had sheltered Gujarat Congress MLAs. He was raided by the Income Tax and ED, but he did not budge. Ahmed Patel won and Shivakumar had the last laugh. He missed the chance to become KPCC president in May 2017 because Siddaramaiah saw him as a threat. But he did not utter a word against the party or Siddaramaiah. He was the campaign committee chairman during the last election. After the elections delivered a fractured mandate, the same Shivakumar joined hands with the Gowda family to keep the BJP out of power. He had kept them at the same Eagleton resort for three days and later took them to Hyderabad by bus. He made sure that no Congress MLA switched sides and even brought two missing MLAs Pratap Gouda Patil and Anand Singh back into the party. Shivakumar is liked and hated in equal measures. He is a polarising personality but his supporters love and admire him because they claim he stands by them during crisis. His enemies fear him because he is vindictive. He makes no bones about his ambition to be the chief minister of Karnataka before he retires from politics. Speaking to this reporter, he had said that he had won seven Assembly elections in a row and had done a lot for the party which makes him eligible for the post. And most agree with him. New Delhi: Buoyed by today's collapse of the 3-day-old BJP government in Karnataka, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi launched a strong attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of authorising buying off MLAs and disrespecting institutions. Gandhi also said while Modi talks of fighting corruption, "he is corruption". Shortly of B S Yeddyurappa announced his resignation as the chief minister in the Karnataka Assembly, the Congress president told reporters that the prime minister was not bigger than India, the Supreme Court and institutions. He hailed the unity shown by the Congress-JD(S) combine and said the opposition parties will work together to defeat the BJP. People saw how BJP MLAs, the Speaker left the House before the national anthem was played. It shows they don't respect institutions," Gandhi said. Prime Minister Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah do not respect any institution...This is the idea we are fighting, he said. Gandhi also said that he hoped that the BJP and the RSS "learn lessons" from the political developments in the southern state. The Supreme Court had yesterday ordered a floor test in the Assembly at 4 pm today, drastically slashing the 15-day window given by Governor Vajubhai Vala to Yeddyurappa to prove his majority. To a question, Gandhi said that it is a good idea that the governor should tender his resignation. The Congress chief, however, added that one who replaced Vala may do the same thing. Targeting Modi, Gandhi alleged, the prime minister authorised, encouraged buying off MLAs. He talks of fighting corruption, but he is corruption. Earlier, Yeddyurappa announced his decision to resign without facing a trust vote in the Assembly. "I am going to resign as the chief minister....I will go to Raj Bhavan and submit my resignation," he said. "I will not face the confidence vote....I am going to resign," he told the Assembly after a brief emotional speech. Bengaluru: BS Yeddyurappa resigned as the chief minister of Karnataka on Saturday, just two days after he was sworn-in. The BJP leader quit just minutes before he was to face a floor test to prove his majority in the Vidhan Soudha. Governor Valubhai Vala then called upon JD(S)' HD Kumaraswamy to form the government in alliance with the Congress party. The son of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy will be sworn-in on Wednesday after he deferred his swearing in as Monday was Rajiv Gandhi's death anniversary. Capping five days of riveting political and court-room drama, Yeddyurappa announced his decision to quit on the floor of the Assembly after a brief emotional speech rather than face a vote of confidence he was widely expected to lose. "I will not face confidence vote.... I am going to resign," he told the Assembly at the end of a brief emotional speech, bringing the curtains down on his short-lived tenure. The 75-year-old Lingayat strongman then headed straight to the Raj Bhavan where he handed over his resignation to Governor. This came a day after he was ordered by the Supreme Court to face a floor test at 4 pm on Saturday after it drastically reduced the 15-day deadline set by the governor for him to prove his majority. Yeddyurappa's previous two chief ministerial stints lasted seven days and three years. Three hours later, Kumaraswamy, drove to the Raj Bhavan for a meeting with the Governor. The 58-year-old announced that the JD(S)-Congress combine has been invited by the Governor to form the new government and that the swearing-in ceremony will take place on May 21. The date was later changed to May 23, after the Congress told the JD(S) chief that the day was Rajiv Gandhi's death anniversary. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kumaraswamy, who became the chief minister for the first time in 2006 at the head of a JD(S)-BJP coalition, said the Governor has given him 15 days to prove the majority, "but we will do it much before". He also thanked the Supreme Court for the "right directions". Though claiming he was "100 percent" sure about winning the trust vote but as the D-day loomed Yeddyurappa failed to muster support of 7 additional MLAs required to ensure the survival of his government. The BJP with 104 MLAs had emerged as the single largest party but fell short of a majority. He was the lone person to be sworn in on Thursday just hours after the apex court refused to stay the ceremony during a dramatic midnight hearing on a petition moved by the Congress against the governor's invitation to the BJP. After the resignation, union minister Prakash Javadekar said the party knows how to "respect democracy" while the Congress, the AAP and other opposition parties said the saffron party's attempt to "subvert democracy" failed miserably. The Congress, which finished second with 78 seats, moved swiftly and stitched an alliance with the 37-member JD(S), and even backed its leader HD Kumaraswamy for chief ministership, with accusations of bribery and poaching flying thick and fast. The newly formed alliance has claimed support of 117 MLAs in the 224-member House with an effective strength of 221. Buoyed by the turn of events in Karnataka, Congress president Rahul Gandhi hailed the unity shown by the Congress-JD(S) combine and said the opposition parties will work together to defeat the BJP. At a news conference in Delhi, Gandhi launched a strong attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of authorising buying off MLAs and disrespecting institutions. Gandhi also said while Modi talks of fighting corruption, "he is corruption". Gandhi also said he hoped that the BJP and the RSS would "learn lessons" from the political developments in the southern state. The Congress, the CPI-M and the NCP also demanded the resignation of the Governor. Yeddyurappa accused the Congress-JDS combine of forming an 'opportunistic' alliance and said the popular mandate had been subverted due to their 'conspiracy'. He recalled his struggles as a politician and said how he helped build the party, which once had just two MLAs. Now it has 104, he said. The 8-term MLA and twice an MP, Yeddyurappa then announced his decision to step down. Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who along with several top party leaders were present during the floor test, thanked the judiciary for preventing "horse-trading" and "protecting the Constitution, democracy and rule of law". Earlier in the day, the Congress-JD(S) combine preferred not to press before the Supreme Court for the removal of BJP MLA KG Bopaiah as the pro tem speaker. The Court also ordered live telecast of the floor test to ensure transparency. New Delhi: Several political leaders, including Sharad Pawar and Sitaram Yechury, came together on Saturday to demand Governor Vajubhai Valas resignation after BS Yeddyurappa announced his decision to quit as the Karnataka chief minister. Soon, JDS state chief reached out by inviting regional party heavyweights from across political lines to his swearing-in on May 23. JDS state chief HD Kumaraswamy not only invited regional party heads, but also Sonia and Rahul Gandhi for the ceremony. I invite all regional parties to the oath-taking ceremony on Monday. This is a democratic win for both parties. There are no problems among any of the MLAs and we will give Karnataka its due, said Kumaraswamy while addressing the media after meeting Governor Vajubhai Vala on Saturday. Kumaraswamy staked claim to form the government soon after BS Yeddyurappa resigned as the chief minister after his two-day stint. The rise of Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka may act as a platform to unite opposition parties, especially the regional parties to play a bigger role in the national arena during parliamentary elections in 2019. Indicative of this is the invitation extended to leaders of regional parties to attend the swearing-in of the JDS-Congress coalition government in Karnataka next week. Several opposition leaders on Saturday took the opportunity to attack the BJP, with NCP chief Sharad Pawar calling for the resignation of Governor Vajubhai Vala. He also called BJP President Amit Shah and PM Narendra Modi power hungry. I wasn't expecting the top leaders of BJP to go to any extent for power, but I was wrong, Pawar told News18. Vala had sworn-in Yeddyurappa as the Karnataka chief minister on Thursday despite BJP not having a clear majority in the Karnataka Assembly. Demanding Valas resignation, Pawar said, If the Governor has any sense, he must resign. Pawar found support in his demand, from the CPI(M) who also asked Vala to quit. The governor's decision to invite BJP to form the government was "malafide" and "against his constitutional mandate," CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said in a tweet. "If the governor of Karnataka has any shame left, he should submit his resignation as well. The Union ministers sitting in Bangalore, facilitating and enabling corrupt deals, are equally culpable," he said. Congress and JD(S) coming together to form government in Karnataka could be the first step towards opposition unity against the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party. We demand resignation of the governor. What he did was completely unconstitutional. Today's fiasco is an utter embarrassment for the BJP. Maybe they could not do successful horse-trading. BJP needs to introspect, said Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande. He said that he has invited several prominent leaders of regional parties along with Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav, Chandrababu Naidu and Mamata Banerjee have also been invited. Banerjee confirmed the invitation in a tweet congratulating Kumaraswamy. Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu said, As a Chief Minister and as someone who believes in democracy, I am welcoming this. Everyone in the country will be happy about this development. Prime Minister and BJP National president have tried to deride the democracy. What is the message they are giving to the youth? Prime Minister told he will be honest, will bring back black money from Swiss banks and abroad. Instead, BJP bribed people with up to Rs 10,000 for each vote in the Karnataka elections. "Whatever happened, happened only because of Amit Shah and PM's conspiracy. They want to grab every institution in the country by misusing the central and government machinery," said Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati. We are thankful to the SC, the people who indulged in buying MLAs should be arrested, we have congratulated Rahul Gandhi, said Tejaswi Yadav senior RJD leader. He added in a tweet, "Truth can never be defeated! Truth will always defeat a lie or liar! #KarnatakaFloorTest. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also hailed the collapse of the three-day-old BS Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka as a vindication of the Congress party's moral stand and a "total loss of face" for the BJP. Singh alleged the BJP had "stooped to new lows" in its desperation to grab power in Karnataka by "hook or by crook". In the 222-seat Assembly being convened on Saturday, the BJP had 104 elected representatives, while the Congress and the JD(S) together had 116 MLAs. BS Yeddyurappa, who took oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on Friday, needed eight more votes to form the government. Alternatively, the BJP would also sail through if 14 MLAs from the Congress-JD(S) camp abstained from voting. However, failing to gather the required strength, Yeddyurappa conceded defeat and resigned on Saturday. New Delhi: With the Congress knocking the Supreme Court doors twice within 72 hours to ensure a fair floor test in Karnataka, a three-judge bench of the apex court has turned down the partys plea against the appointment of BJP MLA KG Bopaiah as the pro tem (temporary) speaker. The Supreme Court also ordered the live telecast of Assembly proceedings to ensure transparency and solve all problems. A bench of Justices AK Siri, SA Bobde and Ashok Bhushan ordered that there would be no change in the appointment of the pro tem speaker and that Secretary General of the Assembly will ensure smooth proceedings. The court also made it clear that no order can be passed on KG Bopaiah without hearing him. We can't pass an order against Bopaiah without hearing him. You are in a zone of contradiction. You want to militate against the pro tem speaker but not willing to give him time to respond. We will hear you but then floor test will have to be delayed, said the bench. Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had suggested that the proceedings could be live telecast to allay any doubt. The apex court ordered that the live telecast feed be made available to all channels too. As the hearing concluded, Justice Sikri expressed his desire to let the court enjoy the summer holidays. "Now let us enjoy our holiday," said Justice Sikri. Drafted by advocates Devadatt Kamat and Javedur Rahman and settled by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, the application had alleged that Bopaiah, a junior MLA, has a dubious and controversial record of passing biased disqualification orders. The application pointed out that the Bopaiah had been severely criticized and strictures had been passed against him by the Supreme Court. Disqualification orders passed by him were also set aside and as being vitiated with mala fides and undue haste, it said. The application contended that the binding and long-standing parliamentary convention is to appoint the senior most member of the house as the pro tem speaker. During the hearing on Sautrday, Kapil Sibal read out the Supreme Courts 2011 judgment criticising Bopaiahs role as pro tem speaker in disqualifying a dozen MLAs during Yeddyurappa s role. However, the SC said that it will have to issue a notice to the pro tem speaker and postpone the floor test if Bopaiah's appointment was to be examined. Sibal contended that Bopaiah could be restrained from conducting the floor test which can be done today. Sibal had also argued that if the pro tem speaker administers oath, then he has no problem, but requested that the pro tem speaker should not provide vote of confidence. We granted midnight hearing because we wanted to hear BS Yeddyurappa but now you want the pro tem speaker to go. How can we appoint the pro tem speaker? It can't be the law to direct the Governor to appoint somebody as pro tem speaker. Senior-most member can't even be called as a convention because there have been other examples too. And then this convention hasn't even been given legal sanctity, said the court. New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to prove its majority at 4pm on Saturday after Supreme Court ordered the BS Yeddyurappa government to conduct a floor test in the Assembly. BJP MLA KG Bopaiah has appointed pro tem speaker to oversee the floor test, but the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress have challenged the appointment in the Supreme Court, which is set to hear the matter at 10:30am. As the state heads to a floor test, here is a look at other state elections that have landed in court before: Uttar Pradesh, 1997 Interesting political events formed the mainstay of the 1997 state elections in Uttar Pradesh when a popular Congress party leader, now an elected representative to Parliament on BJP ticket, Jagdambika Pal, served as CM for a day. Pal is now famously remembered as one-day wonder of Uttar Pradesh politics for becoming controversial CM in a high-political drama. When the then UP Governor Romesh Bhandari had made him the CM, the victim of the drama then was BJP's Kalyan Singh. During 21-22 February of 1998, Governor Bhandari proposed to implement President's rule in the state as the Assembly witnessed bloody scenes during confidence motion on the floor. Nevertheless, the Centre rejected the proposal. Joyous over the decision, BJP's CM candidate Kalyan Singh appointed a 93-member cabinet that also included elected representatives from other parties. The other political parties, miffed of this move, tried to destabilise the government. Singh was in for a shock when Bhandari declined to recognise the outsiders in his cabinet and dissolved the government overnight. This provided chance to Pal to constitute his government. However, the government couldn't run for more than a day. Jharkhand, 2005 The Supreme Court had on March 9, 2005 directed the Pro tem Speaker of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly to conduct a floor test to ascertain who enjoyed the majority the Chief Minister, Shibu Soren, appointed by the Governor or the former CM Arjun Munda. A three-Judge bench, comprising the Chief Justice RC Lahoti, Justice YK Sabharwal and Justice DM Dharmadhikari, held that the petitioner, Arjun Munda, had made out a strong prima facie case for grant of interim relief. The bench also restrained Governor Syed Sibtey Razi from nominating an Anglo-Indian member to the Assembly, saying this could wait till a legitimate government took over after the floor test. It said that only the duly elected members of the House would participate in the floor test. Uttarakhand, 2016 Dealing a major blow to Modi government, the Uttarakhand High Court had quashed the imposition of Presidents rule in the state on May 21, 2016 which had revived the Congress government headed by Harish Rawat, who has been asked to prove his majority on April 29. Coming down heavily on the Centre for the March 27 proclamation under Art 356, a division bench of the HC headed by Chief Justice K M Joseph had said that the imposition of the Presidents rule was contrary to the law laid down by the Supreme Court. Allowing ousted Chief Minister Harish Rawats petition challenging the Presidential proclamation, the bench, also comprising Justice V K Bist, observed that the material considered for imposing Presidents rule has been found wanting. The issue came to the division bench of the court after a single judge ordered a floor test on March 28 following controversy over the passage of Appropriation Bill on March 18 with the BJP and dissident Congress MLAs claiming the money Bill had fallen and the government has lost its majority. A day before the floor test was to have been held the Centre imposed Presidents Rule on March 27 citing breakdown of Constitutional machinery. Harish Rawat approached the division bench challenging the imposition of the Presidents Rule. Goa, 2017 State elections in Goa had unfolded in a similar manner in 2017. Governor Mridula Sinha had invited BJP leader Manohar Parrikar to form the government, even though the Congress had emerged as the single largest party in the elections. BJP had won 13 of the 40 seats. The Congress had bagged 17 seats. Goa Congress Legislature Party leader Chandrakant Kavlekar moved the Supreme Court on March 13, 2017, challenging the Governors decision to invite Parrikar to form the government. A Bench of the then Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices Ranjan Gogoi and R K Agrawal, while rejecting the Congresss objection, ordered a floor test, saying that the instant sensitive and contentious issue can be resolved by a simple direction, requiring the holding of a floor test at the earliest. Appearing for Kavlekar, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the Governor could not have arrived at her satisfaction on whom to call for forming the government without talking to the leader of the single largest party. Singhvi contended that since there was no pre-poll alliance, the Governor should have first asked the single largest party if it was in a position to form the government. The court, however, ruled that in such a situation, the Governor had discretionary powers and that the Congress had not demonstrated its numbers before the Governor. Tamil Nadu, 2017 The Madras High Court had 20 September 2017 extended its stay on conducting a floor test in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly until further orders and also restrained authorities from conducting by-elections to 18 constituencies, which were declared vacant, pursuant to the disqualification of dissident AIADMK MLAs. Counsel for Governor, Chief Minister and the petitioners consented to it as well. Justice M. Duraiswamy passed the common interim order on a batch of writ petitions filed by the 18 affected persons challenging the Speakers decision and another writ petition filed by DMK working president M.K. Stalin seeking a direction for a floor test at the earliest. Referring to an interim order passed on Friday, in Mr. Stalins case, staying a floor test till Wednesday, the judge said the authorities concerned shall not conduct floor test for the trust vote until further orders of this court. Earlier, when the judge wanted to know whether such an order could be passed without the Election Commission being a party before the court and especially when the Assembly Secretary had declared all the 18 seats vacant, Mr. Sundaram replied in the affirmative. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Saturday dismissed a plea by the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) against the appointment of KG Bopaiah as pro tem speaker to oversee the floor test in Karnataka. The court also ordered the proceedings in Assembly to be telecast live. Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala had appointed three-time MLA Bopaiah as the pro tem speaker of the Assembly, departing from the convention of appointing the senior-most MLA. According to the seniority norm, eight-time Congress MLA from Haliyal, RV Deshpande, should have been made the pro tem speaker. The appointment assumes great significance as the pro tem speaker will play a crucial role in the floor test. As per the order of the Supreme Court on Friday, since the pro tem speaker would conduct the floor test, he would also exercise powers like a regular speaker, and also administer oath to all the newly elected MLAs. In theory, his powers could also help the ruling party stay in power and help overcome the hurdles of anti-defection law. According to the Supreme Court, the pro-tem speaker will also take a call on whether the trust vote should be held through a voice vote or ballot. When a new assembly is elected, but the vote for the speaker or deputy speaker has not taken place, a pro-tem speaker is appointed. A pro-tem speaker is chosen with the agreement of the members of the legislative assembly so that activities of the assembly can carry on unhindered. Constitutional expert, PDT Achary, suggested that there is nothing constitutionally wrong in a pro tem speaker conducting a floor test, but he added a caveat that he or she can only perform the functions of a regular speaker in case the house is not able to elect one. In the past, just after the Narendra Modi government had come to power in 2014, it had conveyed its recommendation to President Pranab Mukherjee to appoint Congress leader Kamal Nath, who was the senior most member of the Lower House, as Pro tem Speaker. Even after the 2009 general elections, President Pratibha Patil had appointed Manikrao Gavit, the senior-most member of the new Lok Sabha, as its Pro tem speaker. However, this time, no reason has been ascribed for departing from the said convention. Since Yeddyurappa now has a speaker from his own party, BJP may succeed in making some opposition MLAs abstain or defect and come to BJPs side in an attempt to narrow the gap and can get away as the Speaker has reasonable discretion in dealing with complaints under the anti-defection law. The enormity of the discretionary powers held by the speaker is exemplified by the act of the speaker of the outgoing Karnataka Assembly KB Koliwad who did not disqualify seven legislators from the JDS who cross-voted in favour of the Congress candidate in a Rajya Sabha poll. There have been past instances where MLAs have voted against the whip but the Speaker has postponed the deliverance of an immediate ruling. The speaker is also not limited by any time limitation and his delayed decision may also allow the government to remain in power till the speaker takes a call. A similar thing had happened in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh too where the speaker did not given an immediate ruling but only deferred it to a later date without giving a definite ruling. The current strength of the House is 222 and the magic number is 112. The Congress-JD(S) claim that together they have the support of 116 MLAs. The BJP is eight short with 104 MLAs. Paris: Adolf Hitler definitely died in 1945 in Berlin, from taking cyanide and a bullet, according to French researchers who were given rare access to fragments of the dictator's teeth held in Moscow. "The teeth are authentic, there is no possible doubt. Our study proves that Hitler died in 1945," professor Philippe Charlier told AFP. "We can stop all the conspiracy theories about Hitler. He did not flee to Argentina in a submarine, he is not in a hidden base in Antarctica or on the dark side of the moon," Charlier said. The study, which Charlier co-authored with four other researchers, was published Friday in the scientific magazine European Journal of Internal Medicine. The analysis of Hitler's bad teeth and numerous dentures found white tartar deposits and no traces of meat fibre -- the dictator was vegetarian, Charlier said. In March and July 2017, Russia's secret service the FSB and the Russian state archives authorised a team of researchers to examine the bones of the dictator, for the first time since 1946, he said. The French team was able to look at a skull fragment presented as being from the Fuhrer, which showed a hole on the left side which was in all probability caused by the passage of a bullet. The scientists were not authorised to take samples from this fragment. As it stands, the fragment's morphology was "totally comparable" to radiographies of Hitler's skull taken a year before his death, the research found. If this study confirms the generally accepted view that Hitler died on the 30 April, 1945, in his Berlin bunker with his companion Eva Braun, it does also shed new light on the exact causes of death, Charlier said. "We didn't know if he had used an ampule of cyanide to kill himself or whether it was a bullet in the head. It's in all probability both," he said. The examination of the teeth did not find any traces of powder, which indicates there was not a revolver shot to the mouth, more likely the neck or the forehead. Equally, bluish deposits seen on his false teeth could indicate a "chemical reaction between the cyanide and the metal of the dentures," the researcher said. Charlier, a specialist in medical and legal anthropology, was also involved in the analysis of the mummified heart of Richard Lionheart. Ottawa, Canada: Guy the beagle is living a fairytale. The 25-pound (11-kilogram) dog was a few days from being euthanized in 2015 after being found abandoned in the Kentucky backwoods. After a massive effort to bring the pooch to Canada, where by happenstance it cast its "big, sad eyes" on Meghan Markle, Guy will officially be welcomed into the British royal family when she marries Prince Harry on Saturday. "Guy was living in a shelter after being found lost in a Kentucky forest, and now he's living in a palace," said Dolores Doherty, who runs A Dog's Dream Rescue and arranged to have Guy driven 500 miles (805 kilometers) to Canada by a relay of volunteer drivers, for adoption. "It's a fairytale, a real rags to riches story," she told AFP. The beagle had been in Canada only one day when Markle, who was living in Toronto and filming her television series "Suits," spotted him at an adoption event. Markle had been looking for a companion for her other dog Bogart, a German shepherd mix, Doherty explained. "He's so adorable with his long brown ears and big eyes and little round beagle body. We'd shown Meghan another dog that we thought might be a good match, but she saw Guy and immediately she wanted to take him home," she said. Guy would go on to become a minor Instagram star with photographs showing the dog strolling with Markle along Toronto streets and curled up next to her and Bogart at home. But that celebrity pales in comparison to its new role as a royal pet. Guy moved to Britain last November to live with the soon-to-be-newlyweds. Unfortunately Bogart was too old and frail to make the trip and so is staying with friends of Markle in Canada. Seoul: A North Korean military officer, accompanied by a civilian, defected to the South across the Yellow Sea today, a South Korean news report said, citing a government source. "A small boat was spotted in waters off the north of Baengnyeong Island" near the inter-Korean border, the source told Yonhap news agency, adding that the officer, who holds the rank of major, and a civilian were aboard the vessel. "They expressed willingness to defect," he said. A Korea Coast Guard official said relevant authorities were investigating the case, declining to give details. The defection was the 14th involving a North Korean soldier since 2000. The last defection by a North Korean military officer took place in 2008, YTN TV said. It is the first defection by any North Korean since a historic summit between the two Koreas which saw their leaders agree to pursue the denuclearization of the peninsula and a permanent peace. In November last year, a North Korean soldier drove to the heavily-guarded border at speed and ran across under a hail of bullets from his own side. He was hit multiple times in the dramatic defection at Panmunjom truce village. In 2012 a North Korean soldier walked unchecked through rows of electrified fencing and surveillance cameras, prompting Seoul to sack three field commanders for a security lapse. In June last year, two of four crew members on a North Korean fishing boat which drifted to the South refused to return home and they were allowed resettle in the South. A month later, five North Koreans in another small boat crossed the sea border into South Korean waters and expressed their wish to live in the South. More than 30,000 North Korean civilians have fled their homeland but it is very rare for them to cross the closely guarded inter-Korean border, which is fortified with minefields and barbed wire. Most flee across the porous frontier with neighbouring China. Mexico City: A Mexican pilot who once flew the leased passenger plane that crashed in Cuba, killing 107 people on board, said today he had previously complained about alleged sub-standard practices by the aircraft's owner. Marco Aurelio Hernandez told the Mexican newspaper Milenio that the Mexican aircraft leasing firm Global Air exercised poor plane maintenance, had a ban from flying in Chile, and had flights fly at night in Venezuela without radar. He said that during 2005 and 2013 he had flown all three Boeing planes owned by Global Air (also known as Damojh), including the 39-year-old one that went down on Friday after taking off from Havana's airport. During his time at Global Air, he said, he had lodged a complaint for "lack of maintenance of the planes" despite the company having "very skilled" aircraft mechanics. A Global Air spokeswoman confirmed to AFP that Hernandez had worked at the company but declined to comment on his allegations. "We reserve comment. What Mr Hernandez says is purely his own responsibility," she said. The Boeing 737-200 that crashed was built in 1979 and had passed a safety verification between in November last year. It was rented to Cuban state airline Cubana de Aviacion by Global Air under a "wet lease," meaning the Mexican company provided the plane, the crew, maintenance and insurance. The plane's two pilots, three flight attendants and maintenance technician on board were all Mexican. Another former Global Air employee, Ana Marlene Covarrubias, who was a flight attendant at the company for seven years, told Mexican media that she had never observed any anomalies on the company's planes. "There was never any mishap, especially with Global," she said, adding that things can go wrong "at any time, even with brand new planes." Representational Image New Delhi : There is much discussion going on round-the-clock regarding the surging price of crude oil. Most oil-consuming countries are worried about the rising oil prices, these days. Opec kingpin Saudi Arabia said it would make sure that the entire world get adequate supply of oil just. India a major consumer of oil, is likely to be frustrated with rising prices. Saudi energy minister Khalid al-Falih called Indias petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan to assure him that supporting global economic growth was one of the kingdoms key goals, the Saudi energy ministry said. India imports 85% of its oil requirements. Crude oil prices have received major support from controlled supply cuts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. The International Energy Agency said oil inventories in the developed world had already hollowed below the five-year average, a measure targeted by OPEC and its allies. Beyond OPECs cuts, strong demand, falling output from Venezuela and a US announcement this month that it would renew sanctions against OPEC member Iran have helped push up Brent by 20 percent since the start of the year. US investment bank Jefferies said sanctions against Iran could eliminate more than 1 million barrels per day (bpd) from the market. Barclays said output from Venezuela could fall below 1 million bpd. The country, also an OPEC member, produced around 1.5 million bpd in April. In Nigeria, Shell declared force majeure on Thursday on loadings of Bonny Light crude. Exports of the grade were expected to run at nearly 200,000 bpd in June. Nigerias Forcados stream was also experiencing delays due to a pipeline leak. BP, however, sees the rally cooling off. The oil majors chief executive Bob Dudley told Reuters he sees oil falling to between $50 and $65 a barrel due to rising and falling of shale output and OPECs capacity to boost production. Forensic investigators and Ministry of Interior officers strain through remains of a Boeing 737 that fall down into a yuca field with more than 100 passengers on board, in Havana, Cuba, Friday, May 18, 2018. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) New Delhi : Boeing 737 crashes in Havana, Cuba killing 100 people including children, adults and crew members. As per the local media, the domestic passenger plane was flying from Havana to Holguin carrying 104 passengers on board. The plan burst out soon after the takeoff. Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel said there are three survivors, all women, who are in critical condition, reported news agency Reuters. Rescue operations are under process at the site and the fire has been put out. Authorities have identified the crew on the flight and trying to identify the bodies of the passengers. The crew members identified are Captain Jorge Luis Nunez Santos, first officer Miguel Angel Arreola Ramirez and flight attendants Maria Daniela Rios, Abigail Hernandez Garcia and Beatriz Limon. None of them were native of Cuba. Boeing, in a statement, said that the plane crash is shocking and is closely monitoring the situation. According to flight tracker, the aircraft was CU972, which departed from Havana at 11 am local time. Concerned authorities are probing the situation and are trying to find out the cause of the crash. The government has confirmed that majority of the passengers on board were Cuban. There were five passengers from other nationalities. In a statement, it says, "#Cuba The majority of passengers on the plane were Cuban, with the exception of five travelers from abroad and the crew #FuerzaCuba." While the reason for the crash is yet to disclose, it is being reported that the aircraft was slightly older than the other ones in service. The Boeing 737-201 aircraft was built in 1979, reports Reuters, and leased by Cuban airline Cubana from a small Mexican firm called Damojh. The Cuban Embassy in the United States has released the following statement: "At 12:08 pm today, a Boeing 737-200, leased by Cubana de Aviacion, with a contracted foreign crew and 104 passengers aboard, traveling from Havana to Holguin on flight DMJ 0972, fell to the ground as it was taking off, in an area between Jose Marti International Airport and the town of Santiago de Las Vegas. Search and rescue teams are at the site. They werent exactly throwing tea into Boston harbor, but residents in several Danbury-area towns were in a rebellious mood this spring when asked to approve tax increases or higher spending in next years town budgets. In contrast to last year, when voters approved all town budgets on the first try, proposals in four towns - Bethel, Brookfield, Redding and New Milford were rejected in whole or in part during the first round of voting. And in Region 12, the schools budget passed in Bridgewater and Washington but failed owing to opposition from Roxbury voters. Town officials cited several factors that contributed to the backlash, from property revaluations that drove up tax rates to big increases in spending on special education. In Redding, for example, First Selectwoman Julia Pemberton suggested that the $49.9 million town and Region 9 budgets fell because of revaluation. A shrinking property tax base helped drive up proposed tax rates by 4.7 percent. There is no appetite among the majority of voters for new taxes, Pemberton said last week. During budget meetings last week, some residents and town officials suggested voters might have been misled by fliers sent before the referendum containing misleading information about the size of the tax increase. The proposed hike in town spending, owing to an increase in debt service, was relatively small, only 0.29 percent more than this year, Pemberton said. But the school budget increase was bigger, driven mainly by a rise in special education costs: Redding schools asked for $800,000 more than this year and Region 9 for $818,000 more. This was difficult to stomach for residents used to relatively flat budgets, Pemberton said. The Board of Finance eventually trimmed the budget by various means, whittling the proposed increase in tax rates to 2.31 percent. A sharp increase in taxes also contributed to the defeat on Tuesday of Brookfields proposed $67.4 million operating and $2.6 million capital budgets. The proposal would have led to one of the highest spending increases in years 4.1 percent and raised the tax rate by 5.6 percent. People felt the budget increase was higher than they liked, First Selectman Steve Dunn said. The Board of Finance will have to take the vote and make a determination as to what they will do for the next referendum. Higher special education costs, cuts in state aid and contractual salary increases had resulted in a sharp rise in proposed spending. But since that proposal was drafted, the town learned it would receive about $200,000 more than estimated from the state for next year, which Dunn said will help in drafting a revised budget. And while the proposed budget was soundly defeated, he suggested the outcome might have been different if a massive storm had not hit Brookfield during Tuesdays referendum. Between 5 to 8 p.m., only 25 people voted, he said, compared to a normal 500 voters during that period. The $43 million school spending plan failed by 540 votes, the $24.4 million town budget was defeated by 436 votes, and the capital budget was rejected by 287 votes. The Board of Finance is meeting Monday to decide whether the revise the budget or resubmit it to voters. New Milford residents also voted the day of the storm, but Mayor Pete Bass is unsure whether that affected the results. The $38.3 million town budget passed, but the $63.3 million school budget failed. Under the town charter, this sends the whole budget back to Town Council, which will meet to consider revisions on Monday. Bass said voters might have been unhappy with the towns decision to use part of its unassigned fund to cover operating expenses. There were a portion of our residents that believe using that fund was too much, he said. Bass added that the fear of cuts to state aid also complicated the budget process. It made the budget process very different with the reduction in revenue, he said. It would be like us losing our top four commercial taxpayers all at once, which would have put tremendous pressure on our residents. New Milford Superintendent Joshua Smith also blamed the budgets failure on the increased demand on local resources to offset decreasing state aid, which officials expected to drop by $3 million next year. [Tuesdays] vote is still capturing the cuts from Hartford to New Milford and asking New Milford residents to pick up the cuts Hartford inflicted, Smith said. Fortunately, the state budget Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed Tuesday restores about $1.3 million of that decrease. Smith said his theory about last weeks voting will be tested during a referendum on a revised budget including the restored funds although Town Council still has to decide how to use them. Smith said town voters want to invest in their schools, but are discouraged about how the costs are split between the town and the state. The relationship between local funding and state funding is in flux and people are frustrated, he said. I think that frustration is what played out. Meanwhile, in Bethel, the school budget passed on the first try, but the town and capital spending plans took two attempts. First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker said the initial defeat was likely due to the inclusion of money for a turf field at the high school in the capital budget, which a sizeable number of residents pushed for during a public hearing of the boards of selectmen and finance. Some voters might have mistakenly thought that money was part of the operating budget, he said. Residents also learned in the weeks leading up to the referendum that construction of the new police station had run nearly $900,000 over budget, which likely angered many of them. There was a perfect storm of things that happened at the last minute that may have confused some people, but certainly many voters objected, too, Knickerbocker said. I dont think that its any surprise that when the police station was resolved and the turf field was removed that the budget passed very easily. New faces on the Board of Finance also helped bring fresh ideas to the budget process, Knickerbocker said. Rather than cutting the selectmens proposed town budget, the finance board added money to the operating budget, so that the town could pay for more projects with cash instead of borrowing. Instead of just focusing on the budget and saying, Lets trim it down to the lowest possible number, theyre looking at it long term, Knickerbocker said. Katrina Koerting contributed to this report. Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology. Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels. A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements. HAMDEN On a stretch of Still Hill Road Friday afternoon, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said it looked like a bomb exploded in this neighborhood. Three days after a tornado passed through Greater New Haven, Blumenthal, D-Conn., addressed members of the press as crews in United Illuminating trucks cleaned up debris in the area. Nearby, a tree sat atop the garage of a two-story home and another blocked the homes driveway. Blumenthal said he would bring pictures to Congress to explore every possible avenue for the federal government to partner with the town to rebuild. This is what FEMA was designed to remedy, he said. As of 4:34 p.m. on Friday, UI reported 71 outages affecting 1,791 customers in Hamden. UI spokesman Ed Crowder said he expects Hamden will have full power by Sunday night and once a reported 50 outages in North Haven are restored, Hamden should receive the majority of the companys concentrated resources. Eversource outage map Brian Zahn/Hearst Connecticut Media Hamden Mayor Curt Leng said he was proud of the community and the towns departments for mobilizing after the storm, although people are getting frustrated, Im sure. He said the YMCA and other local gyms have offered their shower facilities and West Woods School has been designated as an emergency center with water and charging stations. Dumpsters for spoiled food will be placed in front of West Woods and the Alice Peck Learning Center, he said. Leng said he could not cite an estimated dollar amount for the cost of the damage Friday afternoon, although the process of tabulating that information had become unfortunately routine for his staff recently. Police Chief Thomas Wydra said his department has placed extra patrols in the affected areas, as people abandoning their homes for the time being means this could become a sight for people to do nefarious things. He also warned the community to be wary of scammers posing as contractors. Director of Public Works Craig Cesare said there are many variables, so residents should be careful consumers. Blumenthal, a former states Attorney General, said the man should call the state Department of Consumer Protection. What we see in the wake of disasters, some of the bottom-feeders come forward, he said. Leng encouraged neighbors to check on one another. Resident Lou Cusano said he had never seen destruction as bad as this in his 15 years in the area. Cusano said he lives about a quarter mile away from the intersection of Still Hill Road and October Hill Road where officials met the press. He said he lived in southern Hamden during the 1989 tornado, and he believes the damage in 2018 was worse. brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com NEW HAVEN U.S. Sen.Chris Murphy spoke with health care providers and patients at the Cornell Scott Hill Health Center Friday concerning new federal health care policies. Murphy, , D-Conn., visited the center to hear firsthand how the President Donald J. Trumps administration is driving up health care costs and what the impact his policies have been on Connecticut residents. The Trump administration proposed new regulations to allow insurers to sell more limited, short-term plans and make short-term health-insurance plans last a lot longer. The plans are an alternative to the Affordable Care Act that is intended to make health care less cheaper. Short-term plans are intended as temporary insurance coverage, but the Trump administrations rule would expand their duration so that they could become a long-term source of coverage. These plans generally do not comply with the ACAs protections for people with pre-existing conditions, which dont allow health insurers to charge more or deny coverage to a person or their child because of a pre-existing health condition such as asthma, diabetes, or cancer. The short-term plans also don't need to comply with federal regulations that require insurance companies to provide coverage for mental illness or maternity care. A report dated April 6 by Medicare's chief actuary found that the short-term plans would siphon off the healthiest people from the ObamaCare exchanges, leaving a risk pool that is older and sicker than is currently the case, according to the Hill. One woman said she and her husband are paying more than $21,000 a year for her familys medical coverage and its becoming an actual barrier to growing her family because they cant afford it. She questioned whether health care would get any better with premiums expected to increase. The period for rate filings is beginning across the country where insurance companies have to announce what their rate increases are going to be. Some Virginia and Maryland insurance companies recently filed 64 percent and 92 percent increases, respectively, Murphy said. As you know, families cant afford a 10 percent increase so when you think about premiums doubling, you are in cataclysmic territory, he said. And this is just the beginning. Those numbers will mirror the numbers in the small group and larger group markets, making insurance unaffordable to small businesses as well. Insurers have been clear one reason for the massive increases is this administrations intentional, strategic assault on the American health care system for insurance companies to price products in the market. Last year Congress eliminated the Affordable Care Acts individual mandate penalty, which encourages healthier people to enroll in the marketplaces for health care coverage. Although Connecticut insurers havent filed their rates yet, the projected premium increase for the state from the mandate repeal and short-term plans is 16.5 percent, according to the Urban Institutes projections. Murphy called the administrations moves a campaign of sabotage. The campaign of sabotage begins on the day Trump gets sworn into office, Murphy said. January 20, he signs an executive order telling all of the his agencies to start pulling apart the Affordable Care Act. Shortly thereafter he starts pulling down all the advertising so people cant know what insurance options are available and around the same time they cut in half the open enrollment period. Beresford Wilson, from family support organization FAVOR Inc, said Murphy was being generous when he called the administrations actions sabotage. I think its better represented as an attack on poor people, because thats what it is, he said. People end up dying from these changes ... The decisions that are being made and that have been made might cause you a little inconvenience but it causes death down here to familys like mine and the families have spoken today. mdignan@hearstmediact.com NEW HAVEN -- The man who made Connecticut rock has died. Mike Spoerndle, 59, of East Haven, who founded the legendary New Haven music club Toad's Place in 1975 was found dead in his home Friday. The exact cause of death remains unknown, but Spoerndle had battled drug and alcohol dependency in the past decade. Spoerndle helped bring some of the biggest names in rock 'n roll to the Elm City, including the Rolling Stones' surprise performance on Aug. 12, 1989. Bob Dylan played for six hours on Jan. 12, 1990. Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, U2, REM, and Bon Jovi all performed, and the list goes on and on. Toad's owner Brian Phelps became manager in 1976 under Spoerndle. "It was really too bad," Phelps said. "I hoped eventually he'd move back to Ohio and live out the remainder of his life with his family there. He'd be near folks who'd look after him." "Mike he was a carefree, friendly guy, who developed a lifestyle that was basically a party type of a guy," Phelps added. "He enjoyed the night club life. He loved the business and the music. He loved rock 'n roll." Spoerndle essentially disappeared from Toad's Place after he sold it. He only appeared at Toad's a couple of times since 1995. Thom Duffy, special features editor at Billboard Magazine, said "Spoerndle had a heart as big as rock'n'roll." Duffy, who spent many nights at Toad's Place as a music writer for the New Haven Register between 1980 and 1986, said he "watched as Mike worked his gruff charm on every act who took his stage." "With his partners, promoter Jim Koplik and the club's current owner, Brian Phelps, Mike built Toad's Place into one of the most important nightclubs in the nation. Not just for rock but every popular genre of music," Duffy said. "New Haven fans may not realize that Mike had a national reputation among artists, managers and booking agents -- which is how the club drew not only acts like R.E.M. and U2 on their way up, but the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones at the top of their fame," added Duddy. When Spoerndle, who attended culinary school, opened Toad's Place on York Street he envisioned it as a French and Italian restaurant. Phelps said the restaurant did not work out, and Spoerndle began to bring in bluegrass and blues bands. The drinking age was 18 and the Vietnam War was ending. Spoerndle began to offer quarter beer nights. The first prominent band to play Toad's was Muddy Waters in 1976. In 1979, Springsteen was scheduled to perform at the Hartford Civic Center, but the roof collapsed and the show was moved to the New Haven Coliseum. After performing there, Springsteen showed up unannounced at Toad's and performed for 30 minutes. In 1980, Billy Joel performed two shows. During the '80s, Toad's attracted numerous alternative bands including Blondie, Talking Heads, and The Ramones. U2 performed a few shows in 1980 and 1981, along with REM, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. U2's first show at Toad's was opening for the Barooga Band on Dec. 14, 1980 in front of 50 people. If you clipped a coupon and got there before 9 p.m., you could have gotten in for free. During the 1990s, Bon Jovi took the stage along with Johnny Cash, David Bowie, The Dave Matthews Band, and Carlos Santana. It was the secret Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan shows that cemented Toad's Place in rock's stratosphere. It was Stones' first show in eight years and happened because the Stones had been rehearsing in Washington, Conn. and had heard of Toad's. Spoerndle knew Dylan's manager and it was Dylan's first club show in 25 years. Toad Place's Attorney Jim Segaloff, who knew Spoerndle for 30 years, said Spoerndle who was "bigger than life," and "proud as a peacock" with all the big name artists who performed at Toad's. "Mike was very proud of what he accomplished. He wanted it to be clear that Toad's was not some fly-by-night operation," Segaloff said. "He took Toad's and built it into the premier night spot in New Haven, and it's remained. That establishment is all about him. There were a lot of imitators but nothing ever came close to Toad's." Spoerndle lived most of his adult life in Branford before moving to East Haven. He is survived by four children. In 1994, Spoerndle was given New Haven's Volunteer Action Committee Award, for his support of local charities and benefit shows; and the Elm-Ivy Award, presented to people who work to better New Haven and Yale. Salvatore F. Lanzofano commented on the New Haven Register's Facebook page that he met Spoerndle at Toad's, and recalled the "great bands" he saw including Four Seasons, Al Stewart and Meatloaf. However, Lanzofano said he guessed wrong on Toad's most famous night. "Missed Rolling Stones surprise visit ... Thinking Toads or my uncle's bar and grill. Chose my uncle's that night. Still imaginarily whack my head on that decision, when thinking about it," Lanzofano wrote. Claire' Corner Copia restaurant owner Claire Criscuolo commented on the Register's Twitter address (@nhregister) that Spoerndle often gave her support and paid for ads when she was on the board for the New Haven Project for Battered Women. Claudia Ferraiolo Tweeted she loved the Wednesday night dance parties, John Valby, REO Speedwagon and Bon Jovi. "Toad's made the 80's a blast!" Ferraiolo tweeted. Former KC101 on air personality Michael Maze, who now works at WPLJ in New York City, Tweeted he was "so sorry to hear" about Spoerndle's death. "Mike Spoerndle wrestled with his personal demons but he should be remembered best as a man who put New Haven on the rock'n'roll map forever," Duffy said. Call Brian McCready at 203-789-5719 and follow me on Twitter @nhrbmccready. To receive breaking news first - simply text the word nhnews to 22700. Standard msg+data rates may apply. Before May 18, 1980, the United States had seen only one serious volcanic eruption. The nation certainly had not seen ash shoot 80,000 feet in the air, nor had it seen destruction on the scale and magnitude it was about to see that morning. Following roughly two months of earthquakes and other indications the old volcano was waking up, Mount St. Helens erupted at 8:32 a.m. that morning. Before it was done, the blast would kill 57 people and devastate the landscape around the mountain in southwest Washington, causing more than $1 billion in damage. Just prior to the eruption, movement on the mountain had triggered the largest landslide ever recorded, but that was to be only an undercard. RELATED: As Bali volcano nears eruption, these threaten our West Coast Moments later, with pressure eased by the massive landslide, the mountain's northern face blew away, sending out lava and pulverized rock that would destroy nearly everything up to 19 miles away. Lava continued to flow, one layer on top of another, for several minutes. Meanwhile, ash shooting into the air was carried on winds and deposited as far away as Minnesota and New Mexico, with some of the ash traveling completely around the globe over the next two weeks. As far away as Spokane, the ash blotted out the midday sun, reducing visibility to less than 10 feet and choking people who breathed in the ash. The ash also caused lightning, which triggered forest fires. Heat from the eruption melted glaciers on St. Helens' face, which in turn triggered lahars (volcanic mudflows) that found their way at least 27 miles downstream on the Toutle and Cowlitz rivers, all the way into the Columbia. Earthquakes and smaller eruptions continued in the days after the initial eruption. Rescue operations in the aftermath were dangerous at best. RELATED: British press freaks over Alaska quake, Wash. volcanos Pilot Jess Hagerman recalled landing a helicopter on a "dilapidated" bridge in a video reposted to Twitter by the Washington National Guard. "That was kind of an interesting experience actually, because there wasn't quite room to land on the bridge," Hagerman said in the archival video. Hagerman set one skid on a log and then had his co-pilot hop out and move the log so he could land the chopper. Aside from killing 57, the eruption destroyed 185 miles of highway, took out bridges, houses and other infrastructure, and killed all the wildlife in its path. Forests were mowed down. Had it not been a Sunday, hundreds of Weyerhaeuser workers would have been in the forests at work, and thus also killed by the blast. In addition, residents in the area who had been evacuated several days before had been allowed back in to collect personal belongings just the day before. Trees felled by the landslide and then the lava flows still float on the surface of Spirit Lake below the volcano. Thirty-eight years on, the landscape remains vastly different. Photos show that trees have not returned to areas close to the mountain, where once stood a sea of green. And the ash- and lahar-covered landscape still looks more reminiscent of the moon than the Earth, even if it has some signs of life showing through. May 18, 2018 The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability for review of the Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) for debris removal from the Pinhook Bog Debris Site located within Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The EE/CA is equivalent to an Environmental Assessment. The EE/CA includes cost and engineering scoping for removal of the debris and residual contaminants from the Debris Site. The EE/CA is located on the NPSs Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website. The EE/CA will be available for review and comment from May 18, 2018, through June 18, 2018. All interested parties are invited to read and comment on the EE/CA. Please visit the NPSs Planning, Environment, and Public Comment website for access to the EE/CA and instructions on how to submit comments online. All comments must be received online by June 18, 2018. For more information, please contact Project Leader Jim Conroy at 402-661-1708, or by emailing us A federal judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit against Fox News filed by a former on-air host, Andrea Tantaros, who had alleged that the network retaliated against her after she complained about being sexually harassed. Ms. Tantaros had claimed that Fox Newss founding chairman, Roger Ailes, arranged for her to be illegally surveilled, and that the networks executives had schemed to create fake social media accounts, known as sock puppets, that defamed her online. On Friday, however, Judge George B. Daniels of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York wrote that Ms. Tantaross allegations were based primarily on speculation and conjecture. In dismissing the suit, the judge noted that Ms. Tantaros fails to adequately make out the basic elements of her claims. It was the second legal action against Fox News to conclude this week, as the network looks to move on from a series of scandals that started nearly two years ago. On Tuesday, Fox News reached a $10 million settlement to end a group of racial and gender discrimination lawsuits. It all began in April when federal agents armed with search warrants seized reams of documents and data in a series of raids on Mr. Cohens office, apartment and hotel room as part of an investigation into whether he broke the law by among other acts paying Ms. Clifford $130,000 not to speak about an affair she claims she had with Mr. Trump. Ever since the raids, Mr. Avenatti has been trying to be formally admitted to the case to protect any records related to Ms. Clifford that were swept up in the searches. But at the same time, Mr. Avenatti has been waging an unyielding publicity campaign against Mr. Cohen, Mr. Trump and other members of the Trump legal camp, appearing on TV by Mr. Cohens lawyers count 147 times in the last 10 weeks alone. Last week, Mr. Avenatti created a firestorm when he released a report apparently based on private bank records that showed that a shell company owned by Mr. Cohen received millions of dollars from a firm with links to a Russian oligarch and from major corporations, including AT&T and the drug maker Novartis. In the following days, Mr. Avenatti accused Mr. Cohen of meeting with a representative from Qatars sovereign wealth fund; claimed that Mr. Trump may have bought the silence of two additional (and, for now, unnamed) women; and posted on Twitter a video of Mr. Trumps lawyer, Rudolph W. Giuliani, in womens clothing though only after, it should be said, Mr. Giuliani called Mr. Avenatti a pimp. All of this, Mr. Cohens lawyers noted in their memo, was sufficient reason for Judge Kimba M. Wood, who is handling the matter in Federal District Court in Manhattan, to deny Mr. Avenattis request for admission to the case. To our knowledge, this court has never been presented with clearer evidence of the deliberate creation of a carnival atmosphere and inappropriate conduct while an attorneys application for admission was pending, the lawyers wrote. Moreover, this is an unprecedented attack on an individual who has not been charged with any crime. As the two sides have traded salvos, a much more sober legal process has been taking place. A special master, Barbara S. Jones, has been sorting through the reams of materials seized from Mr. Cohen to determine which among them are protected by the attorney-client privilege that Mr. Cohen shared with Mr. Trump. Though Mr. Cohens lawyers acknowledged that applications like Mr. Avenattis are rarely denied, they said that his conduct warranted keeping him out of the case so that Ms. Jones orderly judicial procedures can proceed without distraction. Chief among those distractions was the report Mr. Avenatti released, claiming that Mr. Cohens company, Essential Consultants, had taken questionable payments from several sources, including a firm with links to the Russian oligarch, Viktor Vekselberg. In their memo filed on Friday, Mr. Cohens lawyers said that the report was marred by inaccurate statements and that even some of the accurate information it contained came from an unlawful source. The crux of the problem is that the field of artificial intelligence has not come to grips with the infinite complexity of language. Just as you can make infinitely many arithmetic equations by combining a few mathematical symbols and following a small set of rules, you can make infinitely many sentences by combining a modest set of words and a modest set of rules. A genuine, human-level A.I. will need to be able to cope with all of those possible sentences, not just a small fragment of them. The narrower the scope of a conversation, the easier it is to have. If your interlocutor is more or less following a script, it is not hard to build a computer program that, with the help of simple phrase-book-like templates, can recognize a few variations on a theme. (What time does your establishment close? I would like a reservation for four people at 7 p.m.) But mastering a Berlitz phrase book doesnt make you a fluent speaker of a foreign language. Sooner or later the non sequiturs start flowing. Even in a closed domain like restaurant reservations, unusual circumstances are bound to come up. (Unfortunately, we are redecorating the restaurant that week.) A good computer programmer can dodge many of these bullets by inducing an interlocutor to rephrase. (Im sorry, did you say you were closed that week?) In short stylized conversations, that may suffice. But in open-ended conversations about complex issues, such hedges will eventually get irritating, if not outright baffling. To be fair, Google Duplex doesnt literally use phrase-book-like templates. It uses machine learning techniques to extract a range of possible phrases drawn from an enormous data set of recordings of human conversations. But the basic problem remains the same: No matter how much data you have and how many patterns you discern, your data will never match the creativity of human beings or the fluidity of the real world. The universe of possible sentences is too complex. There is no end to the variety of life or to the ways in which we can talk about that variety. So what should the field of artificial intelligence do instead? Once upon a time, before the fashionable rise of machine learning and big data, A.I. researchers tried to understand how complex knowledge could be encoded and processed in computers. This project, known as knowledge engineering, aimed not to create programs that would detect statistical patterns in huge data sets but to formalize, in a system of rules, the fundamental elements of human understanding, so that those rules could be applied in computer programs. Rather than merely imitating the results of our thinking, machines would actually share some of our core cognitive abilities. That job proved difficult and was never finished. But difficult and unfinished doesnt mean misguided. A.I. researchers need to return to that project sooner rather than later, ideally enlisting the help of cognitive psychologists who study the question of how human cognition manages to be endlessly flexible. Todays dominant approach to A.I. has not worked out. Yes, some remarkable applications have been built from it, including Google Translate and Google Duplex. But the limitations of these applications as a form of intelligence should be a wake-up call. If machine learning and big data cant get us any further than a restaurant reservation, even in the hands of the worlds most capable A.I. company, it is time to reconsider that strategy. There was a time when the news that 10 people had been gunned down at their school would have been a terrific shock. Youd have talked about it with everyone at work, with your family at dinner. All through the weekend. But now its beginning to feel way too normal. On Friday it was in Santa Fe, Tex. Just three months after we lost 14 kids in Florida. Its been happening everywhere. Ive always kind of felt like eventually it was going to happen here, too, one of the Santa Fe students told a reporter. Because we have been through this so often, we know what to expect next: the portraits of the dead young people and their families. Shocked acquaintances of the shooting suspect. And then a dissection into what went wrong, during which allies of the National Rifle Association will quickly point their fingers at something other than guns. On Friday one Texas Republican kept talking about the overcoat the shooter used to hide his weapon. (Maybe there should be a ban on heavy clothing.) The Santa Fe high school seemed to have been well patrolled, so it was tough arguing that the problem was a lack of security. However, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick creatively suggested the school had too many entrances and too many exits. When Donald Trump takes his swipes at the disgusting and corrupt media and tens of millions of Americans agree, its not as if they dont have examples in mind. Consider this weeks implication by major news organizations that the president described all illegal immigrants as animals during a White House roundtable with California officials. That would indeed be a wretched thing for him to say had he said it. He did not. The Associated Press admitted as much when it deleted a tweet about the remark, noting it wasnt made clear that he was speaking after a comment about gang members. Specifically, he was speaking after a comment about members of the Salvadoran MS-13 gang, infamous for its ultraviolent methods and quasi-satanic rituals. To call MS-13 animals is wrong only because it is unfair to animals. That didnt keep the presidents partisan critics from going berserk. IF you are a decent person and were in a meeting where @realDonaldTrump called immigrants animals, you will denounce him NOW, demanded Representative Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat. Otherwise, what makes you any different? Maybe one answer is that they would have taken the trouble to hear what Trump said in context, without invidious media interpretations. A minute after midnight in the United Kingdom, the palace released the program for the royal wedding. You can read the whole program for yourself in this PDF. About the Vows The couple will exchange traditional Anglican vows. But they have chosen a form in which the bride does not promise to obey the groom. The palace has officially confirmed that Ms. Markle will omit the word obey. In doing so, she follows her husband-to-bes mother, Diana Spencer, and her imminent sister-in-law, Kate Middleton. Lady Diana broke with tradition in that choice, after much consultation. Usually a one-night stay does more than enough, Dr. Hong said, and the next day the patient is discharged with oral analgesics or painkillers. Its sort of unusual to keep someone longer. Dr. Hong said patients typically went in for the procedure after experiencing symptoms like blood in the urine or back or stomach pain. Once patients were discharged, Dr. Hong said, he normally would not see them for another month. At this point in Mrs. Trumps recovery, specialists say it is hard to know why she would remain in the hospital for the better part of a week. It is possible that a patient could stay longer after an embolization procedure if there were underlying medical conditions, or if an infection, pain or discomfort developed afterward, Dr. Joseph A. Vassalotti, the chief medical officer at the National Kidney Foundation, said in an interview. I would say that I hope that when she is ready shell come out and tell the American public about what condition she has and what happened, Dr. Vassalotti said. Given Mrs. Trumps desire to keep her private life private, that is probably unlikely. The first ladys team kept her procedure, and details about when she actually entered Walter Reed, under lockdown. White House aides who were near Mrs. Trump wore blue scrubs in the hours immediately after the procedure, according to a person who saw several of the first ladys aides at Walter Reed. Wearing scrubs, Dr. Hong said, would be unnecessary for people interacting with a patient who had undergone an embolization procedure. The president visited Mrs. Trump for the first three days of her stay at Walter Reed, stopping on Wednesday for a photo op with wounded soldiers. But on Thursday, the White House offered no further details on Mrs. Trumps health, and Mr. Trump did not visit. According to a White House official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to detail the presidents travel plans, a weekend trip to Camp David had been canceled and Mr. Trump had plans to stay in Washington. Since moving to Washington with the couples 12-year-old son, Barron, last year, Mrs. Trump has made it clear that his privacy is of paramount importance, and hers nearly as important. It is a directive her small team of 10 aides has taken seriously, even as Mrs. Trumps popularity has surged amid a series of high-profile appearances, including a state dinner with France and the launch of Be Best, her official platform that focuses on teaching kindness to children. Planned Parenthood and other abortion centers will now have to choose between dropping their abortion services from any location that gets Title X dollars and moving those abortion operations off-site, said Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council. Either way, this will loosen the groups hold on tens of millions of tax dollars. Because Planned Parenthood has an outsize role in providing federally subsidized family planning services it serves 41 percent of women who receive them cutting the organization off from Title X money could have major consequences. An analysis in the journal Health Affairs found that in two-thirds of the 491 counties in which they are located, Planned Parenthood health centers serve at least half of all women obtaining contraceptive care from federally subsidized facilities. In one-fifth of the counties in which they are located, Planned Parenthood centers are the only federally funded option for obtaining family planning services. The analysis of data compiled by the Guttmacher Institute found that, without Planned Parenthood facilities, in the short term, it is doubtful that other providers could step up in a timely way to absorb the millions of women suddenly left without their preferred source of care. Still, stripping Title X money from the organization would not decimate it. Three-quarters of the federal money its clinics receive comes through Medicaid, the federal health program for the poor. The largest effect would most likely be felt by women who do not have health insurance, particularly in states that did not expand Medicaid under the 2010 Affordable Care Act. Abortion opponents said they dropped the domestic gag rule. Its not that simple. The policy is modeled on a Reagan-era rule that required the same physical separation between abortion and family planning services that the Trump administration is seeking to mandate. But there is a difference: While the 1988 regulations specifically barred Title X facilities from even mentioning abortion as an option for pregnant women a prohibition that came to be known as the domestic gag rule the version proposed this week does not ban such counseling. Abortion opponents said the Trump administration plan would not silence any family planning organization, and thus could not be regarded as a domestic gag rule. The proposal is a recognition that when providers provide women with the real facts about abortion, theres nothing to fear from that information, said Steven H. Aden, the general counsel of Americans United for Life, and that ordinarily women will choose not to engage in abortion. The old rule was both obsolete and unnecessary. WASHINGTON President Trump accused the F.B.I. on Friday, without evidence, of sending a spy to secretly infiltrate his 2016 campaign for political purposes even before the bureau had any inkling of the phony Russia hoax. In fact, F.B.I. agents sent an informant to talk to two campaign advisers only after they received evidence that the pair had suspicious contacts linked to Russia during the campaign. The informant, an American academic who teaches in Britain, made contact late that summer with one campaign adviser, George Papadopoulos, according to people familiar with the matter. He also met repeatedly in the ensuing months with the other aide, Carter Page, who was also under F.B.I. scrutiny for his ties to Russia. The role of the informant is at the heart of the newest battle between top law enforcement officials and Mr. Trumps congressional allies over the F.B.I.s most politically charged investigations in decades. The lawmakers, who say they are concerned that federal investigators are abusing their authority, have demanded documents from the Justice Department about the informant. Law enforcement officials have refused, saying that handing over the documents would imperil both the sources anonymity and safety. The New York Times has learned the sources identity but typically does not name informants to preserve their safety. WASHINGTON Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will outline a new strategy on Monday for constraining Iran, centered around a demand that the United States European allies have already rejected: that Tehran enter negotiations in a new deal that would permanently ban Iran from any substantive manufacturing of nuclear fuel and, in turn, forever cut off a pathway to building a bomb. Mr. Pompeo is expected to call for broadening the number of countries engaging in the talks, perhaps hoping to pick up help from other nations, like Japan and Arab states, that were not involved in negotiating the 2015 deal with Iran that President Trump pulled out of about 10 days ago. But the negotiating strategy of the United States new chief diplomat is unlikely to be embraced by major European powers, who opposed Mr. Trumps move and are talking now about how to nullify the effects of threatened United States sanctions on European firms that do business with Iran. The core of the opposition has been from the European Union, whose leader of the heads of government, Donald Tusk, issued a stinging Twitter post this week about Mr. Trump. With friends like that who needs enemies, Mr. Tusk tweeted. We realise that if you need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of your arm. Unbeknown to them, they were neighbors in the same off-campus apartment building. Josh has an infectious laugh that I could hear through my open bedroom window whenever he was attending a party in one of the apartments on the floors below, Ms. Finlay-Hunt said. Though I was usually trying to study, it never worked, and I would always wander down to find out what was so very funny. They became fast friends, and a few months later Mr. Tarrant-Windt and a college friend of Ms. Finlay-Hunt visited her family farm in North Salem, where they enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner. Every member of her family approved of Mr. Tarrant-Windt, including Jack, her thoroughbred horse. Jack bonded with Josh as soon as they met, Ms. Finlay-Hunt said. Once I was able to see that Jack really liked him, I knew Josh had to be a good egg, and from that night on, we were inseparable. By February 2012, their friendship was turning to love. Hes charismatic, very funny, and happens to be the smartest man I ever met, Ms. Finlay-Hunt said. I dated guys before who couldnt cut it, but when I met Josh I was the one who was intimidated. Mr. Tarrant-Windt said that Ms. Finlay-Hunt was so easy to get along with. I really cherished the time we spent together, he said. She was such an amazing person, and when she wasnt with me, all I could do was just think about her, and wonder where she was and what she was doing. On a bitterly cold day that same month, Ms. Finlay-Hunt was showing another friend from college and her younger brother around the city, and though most of her other friends had bowed out, Mr. Tarrant-Windt tagged along. He is a son of Liv M. Dehnert of Acworth, Ga., and the late Gary T. Dehnert. The grooms mother is a teachers aide at E. T. Booth Middle School in Woodstock, Ga. His father was a poultry-plant inspector for the Agriculture Department; his office was in Claxton, Ga. Both the bride and groom have an avid interest in outdoors adventures. She has also worked as a wilderness therapy guide, as a backcountry naturalist and assistant hut master for the Appalachian Mountain Club in New Hampshire and as a raft guide on the Yellowstone River in Gardiner, Mont. He has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, where the couple met, in 2015; and in 2010, he kayaked the Mississippi River from source to the gulf. On break from her raft-guiding job in Montana, the bride decided to go as far as she could in a month on the Appalachian Trail, beginning at its southern terminus, Springer Mountain in Georgia. She set out all alone, and on her very first day, took a wrong turn. I had taken a bad detour and gotten lost, she said. She had hiked 10 miles in the wrong direction, and then, having turned around, arrived back at the shelter where she had been the previous day. Mr. Dehnert and two hiking friends were just setting out for Mount Katahdin in Maine, at the other end of the trail, on the inaugural expedition of an organization they had started, Packing It Out. (The group promotes the removal and proper disposal of the trash that mars the countrys scenic wilderness areas, and on their trail hike, the crew picked up more than 1,000 pounds of debris.) CANNES, France The Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda won the Palme dOr at the 71st Cannes Film Festival for his superb Shoplifters, about a family of thieves and throwaways living on the margins in Japan. Mr. Kore-eda accepted the award, the festivals highest honor, at the end of a sober event that was shaken up 30 minutes in when the Italian director Asia Argento delivered a shattering rebuke to the festival and the movie industry from the stage. In 1997, I was raped by Harvey Weinstein here at Cannes. I was 21 years old. This festival was his hunting ground, Ms. Argento said. She predicted he would never again be welcomed here by a film community that once embraced and enabled him. The fierce, unwavering Ms. Argento added that there were those in the auditorium who needed to be held accountable for their conduct toward women. You know who you are, she said, but, most importantly, we know who you are, and we are not going to allow you to get away with it any longer. This was one of our most popular pieces from 2015. Few people will probably opt to go this route, but it still makes for an interesting read: I chose life. That is to say, I defaulted on my student loans. As difficult as it has been, Ive never looked back. The millions of young people today, who collectively owe over $1 trillion in loans, may want to consider my example. On the evening of Dec. 11, 1936, speaking, of course, from Windsor Castle, King Edward VIII announced his abdication. As monarch, King Edward was the nominal head of the Church of England, which at the time did not allow divorced people to marry in church. It was therefore widely believed that King Edward could not marry Wallis Simpson, a divorced American, and remain on the throne. In a voice initially nervous but increasingly strident, he made his dramatic announcement: I now quit altogether public affairs, he said. We now have a new king. The morning papers captured the now former king leaving Windsor Castle by car later that evening, his hand attempting to cover his face. The following day, his younger brother, now King George VI, gave him the title Duke of Windsor. The dukes subsequent dalliance with Nazi Germany gave the name a kind of exposure that threatened the monarchy itself. The House of Windsor, which had been born of a need to distance itself from Germany and espouse Englishness, now seemed to be anything but. During the early 1940s, as war raged in Europe, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and their two daughters, Princesses Margaret and Elizabeth, took refuge at Windsor and the castle became their family home. Photographs over the next few years presented a quiet, domestic picture of the royal family and attempted to reflect the national mood of sobriety and need for calm and resolve. The king decided that he and his family should remain in England throughout the war, sharing the experience of bombing raids with his subjects. While the king and queen spent much of their time at Buckingham Palace, the princesses continued to live at Windsor, where they were joined on the weekends by their parents. And when King George VI died in 1952, he was laid to rest in St. Georges Chapel the same building that will host todays wedding. As soon as Queen Elizabeth succeeded her father, she decreed that Windsor would become her principal weekend retreat. The private apartments, which had become rather dilapidated, were modernized, and the queen and her husband, Prince Philip, took up residence with their children. It was and remains the place Queen Elizabeth regards as home. I almost died in North Korea, once, and I dont mean during my diplomatic trip in 2014 to free two Americans imprisoned there. It was 1985, and I was the chief of intelligence for United States forces in South Korea. I was in a helicopter, on my way to check out what we suspected was a North Korean tunnel, when I heard a sound like popcorn popping and saw white puffs below us. This was followed by a loud alert in my earphones Red dog fox! indicating someone had crossed the Demilitarized Zone. That someone was us. After some evasive maneuvering, our pilot returned us to South Korean airspace and then home. A few days later a nervous South Korean commander showed up to apologize for an M-60 machine gun round that had struck our main rotor. The commander explained that South Korean troops assumed any aircraft flying north was defecting. Wed taken fire from both the North and South, and the South Koreans were better shots. Most days were not that adventurous. I had been asked by the United States forces commander to provide him with 48 hours of unambiguous warning ahead of a North Korean invasion, so that he could evacuate all American dependents and prepare to defend the peninsula. It took me almost a year of study to decide that his demand was impossible to meet. I finally told him that the first unambiguous indication of an attack would be artillery shells falling on Seoul. Conservatives appropriating feminist rhetoric despite their abysmal record on womens rights is, in part, a product of the presidents notorious sexism. Now more than ever, conservatives need to paint themselves as woman-friendly to rehab their image with female voters. The reason theyre able to claim feminism at all is a bit more complicated, because feminists themselves myself included helped to enable it. Before Walmart sold feminist T-shirts and celebrities embraced the cause, we worked to make feminism more accessible. We wanted to reach the young women who said they werent really feminists but who believed they should make the same amount of money as men or be able to attend a campus party without fear of being assaulted. The hope was to make the term less scary to those who believed in feminist values but avoided the feminist label. In our eagerness to make feminism more friendly to the mainstream, we didnt fully consider what it would mean if any woman could claim the label. For years, those on the right called feminists man-haters who were out to destroy the family, or argued that we were members of an irrelevant movement. Now that feminism is more culturally and politically powerful than it has been in decades, however, conservatives are eager to capitalize on its cachet. Or wield it as a cudgel. I was trying to cast his coiffure as a metaphor for his inconstancy and obsession with surfaces. But still. I played into a caricature of journalists as smart alecks taking cheap shots from the cheap seats. We have to watch our tone. We really do. Its impossible to talk about tone without talking about Twitter, so lets. Are we right to spend so much of our time there? Twitter is a powerful tool, a handy delivery system for bulletins, fact checks, links. But too often, we use it as a vanity fair and an ego fortification system. Driven by the dopamine of likes and retweets, we jockey to be bitchiest or most blistering, snidest or most sarcastic. These gibes are then used against us. I also believe that the sniping nurtured on Twitter seeps into our interactions elsewhere. As Damon Linker, a columnist for The Week, put it, This makes Twitter horrible for our politics and equally bad for journalism. Meanwhile, more and more of us are yoking ourselves to increasingly narrow ideological and oratorical identities. A particular perspective of ours draws notice. We get bookings on television, for speeches based on it. It becomes a brand with financial rewards. Press this button and get this argument. Were economically welded to it. And as it grows more fixed, we appear less genuine. Were also served poorly by an occasionally reflexive pessimism bereft of adequate nuance or a sufficient sense of triage. Dont hear me wrong: If Trumps press is overwhelmingly negative, thats because he has earned it. But we sometimes go too hard on lesser actors and episodes, potentially sacrificing the credibility and authority that we need for more galling moments. One bit of recent press coverage raked Mick Mulvaney, a former congressman who is now the White House budget director, over the coals for saying: We had a hierarchy in my office in Congress. If youre a lobbyist who never gave us money, I didnt talk to you. If youre a lobbyist who gave us money, I might talk to you. But some of these accounts omitted or played down what he said next: If you came from back home and sat in my lobby, I talked to you without exception, regardless of the financial contributions. And few forthrightly acknowledged that this is common behavior among Democrats, too. What Mulvaney copped to didnt put him in a league with, say, Scott Pruitt. Lets reserve our maximum outrage for him. DUBLIN My parents chose my middle name, Brigid, as a homage to a beloved Irish saint. My dad had a devotion to St. Brigid of Kildare, and growing up in Ireland, he often visited a gurgling well named after her near his home in Clare to say a prayer and bless himself with the water. According to legend, Brigid had some cool miracles in ancient times. She was a brewer who turned water into beer. She was a virginal abbess who conjured a comely maiden for her disappointed suitor to marry. But surely my parents didnt realize that one of her miracles was reputed to be performing Irelands first abortion. She helped a young woman who had slipped up and gotten pregnant by making her swollen belly disappear with no pain. That may have been the last time the subject of abortion did not evoke pain in Ireland. This country is in the midst of an excruciating existential battle over whether it should keep its adamantine abortion statute, giving an unborn baby equal rights with the mother. Under the Eighth Amendment, abortions are illegal, even in cases of rape or incest. The only exception is when it is believed that the mother will die. Anyone caught buying pills online to induce a miscarriage faces up to 14 years in prison. In 1751, even before the country was founded, Benjamin Franklin wrote that perhaps I am partial to the complexion of my country, for such kind of partiality is natural to mankind. He favored the English and white people, and did not want Pennsylvania to become a colony of aliens, who will never adopt our language or customs, any more than they can acquire our complexion. He was speaking of the Germans. German-Americans are now white, which is partly a color, partly a state of mind and partly a matter of perception. The eventual whiteness of German-Americans saved them from being thrown en masse into internment camps during World War II, unlike Japanese-Americans. With historical lessons like that, its no surprise that some Vietnamese-Americans desire to put their refugee past behind them, including the memory of how only 36 percent of Americans wanted to accept Vietnamese refugees in 1975. A choice, then, exists for every immigrant and refugee, and their descendants. Mr. Kelly and some Vietnamese-Americans have chosen to forget their past or to recast it with themselves and their families as heroic, self-reliant Americans who are better than the newest and most threatening immigrant or refugee. By forgetting the past, these Americans repeat what has been there since our countrys beginning the perpetually renewing fear of someone darker, someone different. I prefer to remember my mothers heroism and how it began before she ever became an American citizen and changed her name to Linda. She was born Bay, or Seven, at a time when Vietnamese people sometimes had so many children that it was easier to give them numbers instead of names. Along with my father, who had a high school education, she lifted herself from rural poverty and became a successful businesswoman by taking significant risks, the first one being when they left North Vietnam for South Vietnam in 1954. They lost nearly everything when they took the biggest risk of all and fled as refugees to the United States in 1975. By the time I observed her reading aloud to herself, a dozen years after her American beginning, my mother was once again a successful businesswoman. She had already been shot once at her store, which I did not witness, and had a thief point a gun in her face in her own home, which I did witness. She did not speak fluent English, but she did well enough to contribute more in taxes than many Americans. She was and is heroic, but many Americans would see her only as an outsider, including the one who put a sign in a shop window near my parents grocery store in San Jose: Another American driven out of business by the Vietnamese. Because of what she made possible by giving me an education and a home, I could have become a forgetful American, eager to be accepted by other Americans, ready to show my Americanness by keeping people like my parents out of the country. But I felt myself to be one of those Vietnamese-Americans and there are many of us who never wanted to forget that we should stand with immigrants and refugees, with the poor and the unwanted, with people very much like my mother. My mother needed neither my pity nor my shame. Just my compassion and respect. First, we must hold doctors accountable with fines and possible jail sentences for overprescribing habit-forming drugs in the interest of profits. That was one of the immediate steps taken in the wake of stories like Hendersons, and it quickly showed results. We also must understand that if our nations health care remains a privatized, for-profit industry, the incentive to sell potent drugs to addicts will always exist. The health care industry was largely unregulated in the late 19th century; buyer beware applied to quack cures as much as to medical advice, and at first there was nothing the government could do to prevent doctors from overprescribing morphine. Eventually, though, legislators stepped in with regulations on morphine and other products. And even though the health care industry is no longer the Wild West, we have lost our appreciation of the power of regulation to stop drug epidemics. There are also lessons that need to be unlearned. While physicians and politicians of the late 19th century made significant progress in arresting the worst features of the opiate epidemic, they tended to overreact when it came to the context of the epidemic. This led to a shameful media campaign against Chinese immigrants, who often kept opium dens, and the demonization of Italians, Russian Jews, African-Americans, Mexicans, teenagers, musicians anyone who, according to stereotypes, was among the typical abusers. We do the same today, at our peril. They also allowed the campaign against opium to justify a general attack on all drugs, even those that present a much lower risk to public health. We are only now beginning to roll back excessive laws on cannabis, for example, because it is painfully clear that the reasons behind its prohibition had more to do with racial prejudice and social hysteria than with public health concerns. Too often we imagine that our opioid crisis is new; the fact that it has been around, to varying degrees, for 150 years is a frustrating, even heartbreaking thought. But we can also take inspiration from the fact that we have tackled the problem before, and have won. The difficult part is developing the will to confront the powerful interests that drive overprescription on one hand and overcriminalization on the other. We need politicians willing to impose new laws and to regulate the pharmaceutical and medical marketplaces in a far more disciplined way. This typically happens at the local level first and gradually makes its way into national policy. We have to maintain our emotional composure, avoid press hyperbole and abandon our impulse to racialize the issue. The tendency to incarcerate our problems often results in entire generations of less fortunate Americans leaving high school for jail. If we do not know our drug history, we can be sure there will be many more Ella Hendersons in our future. Appealing to the religious right, Donald Trump is set to make good on his campaign promise to defund Planned Parenthood. In the process, he will put at risk womens access not only to abortion but to birth control, Pap tests, sexually transmitted infection screenings and other health services. Administration officials say they plan to put in place a version of the so-called domestic gag rule, which would bar funding under the federal Title X family planning program for clinics that make abortion referrals or that provide abortions themselves. The rule could devastate groups like Planned Parenthood, preventing them from providing a range of reproductive health services and curtailing womens constitutionally protected right to abortion. During the 2016 campaign, even as Mr. Trump called for eliminating federal funding for Planned Parenthood because the organization provides abortions a small fraction of its services, he then noted he acknowledged what would be lost. Millions and millions of women cervical cancer, breast cancer are helped by Planned Parenthood, he said. So you can say whatever you want, but they have millions of women going through Planned Parenthood that are helped greatly. The organization an evil specter for social conservatives has clinics that receive significant funding through the Title X program, which since 1971 has helped low-income women afford services like contraception and cancer screenings. Title X does not pay for abortions federal funding for abortion is banned in a vast majority of cases in the United States but womens health clinics have long been able to provide both abortion care and family planning services in the same facility, as long as they keep those funding streams separate. One current requirement under Title X is that patients receive a referral for abortions, whether the abortion takes place at that facility or elsewhere. Clinics must also counsel patients about the procedure. When American democracy is at stake, nothing can be left to chance. Thats why New York legislators should quickly approve a proposal to let prosecutors pursue state charges against anyone pardoned by the president. It may seem odd to be so urgent about something so arcane and even hypothetical. But President Trump has raised fears that he could use his pardon power to shield associates under investigation as part of the special counsel inquiry into ties between his campaign and Russian hacking of the 2016 presidential election. That might not only let criminals escape justice, it could deprive the counsel, Robert Mueller, of leverage to get their testimony and learn about even greater wrongdoing. Mr. Trump has already raised the possibility of issuing pardons in general terms, and one of his lawyers spoke last year with attorneys for two former aides about issuing them pardons. At the time, Mr. Mueller was investigating the aides, Paul Manafort and Michael Flynn. Mr. Manafort, a former Trump campaign chairman, was indicted on money laundering and other charges. Mr. Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the F.B.I. and is cooperating with investigators. Mr. Trump has already demonstrated that he is willing to use his pardoning power to stomach-churning effect. Last August, he granted such a reprieve to a former Arizona sheriff, Joe Arpaio, who was convicted of criminal contempt after he defied an order from a federal judge to stop conducting traffic patrols that racially profiled immigrants. People who knew Aaron Traywick, the biohacker who died last month at a spa in Washington, D.C., were initially suspicious about the circumstances of his death. David Ishee, a researcher for Mr. Traywicks company, Ascendance Biomedical, said his first thought upon hearing that Mr. Traywicks body had been discovered in a sensory deprivation tank was that he had faked it and run off with his clients money. Tristan Roberts, another biohacker who worked with Ascendance, thought the same thing. Maybe the body was just a very convincing clone, he joked. Kelly Martin, who helped found Ascendance Biomedical , had a different theory, one that hinted at a conspiracy. Theres speculation, if you watch Aarons last video, that he was going to provide disruptive technology that would upend Big Pharma, she said. He said that we were close to coming up with something that was pretty revolutionary. He said: I'll never forget my daddy told me when I was fairly new as a priest. He said just always be who you really are. Don't pretend to be someone else. And now in the name of our loving liberating and life giving God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, amen. From the Song of Solomon in the Bible: Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is as strong as death, passion as fierce as the grave, its flashes of flashes of fire, a raging flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it out The late Dr. Martin Luther King once said, and I quote: we must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love, and when we do that we will make of this old world a new world. For love is the only way. Theres power in love. Dont underestimate it. Dont even oversentimentalize it. Theres power, power in love. If you dont believe me, think about a time when you first fell in love. The whole world seemed to center around you and your beloved. Theres power, power in love. Not just in its romantic forms but any form, any shape of love. Theres a certain sense in which when you are loved and you know it, when someone cares for you and you know it, when you love and you show it, it actually feels right. Theres something right about it. And theres a reason for it. The reason has to do with the source. We were made by a power of love. And our lives were meant and are meant to be lived in that love. Thats why we are here. Ultimately the source of love is God himself, the source of all of our lives. Theres an old medieval poem that says, where true love is found, God himself is there. The New Testament says it this way, beloved, let us love one another because love is of God and those who love are born of God and know God, those who do not love do not know God. Why? For God is love. Theres power in love. Theres power in love to help and heal when nothing else can. Theres power in love to lift up and liberate when nothing else will. Theres power in love to show us the way to live. Set me as a seal on your heart. A seal on your arm. For love its strong as death. But love is not only about a young couple. Now the power of love is demonstrated by the fact that we are all here. Two young people fell in love and we all showed up. But its not just for and about a young couple who we rejoice with. Its more than that. Jesus of Nazareth on one occasion was asked by a lawyer to sum up the essence of the teachings of Moses. He went back and reached back into the Hebrew scriptures, to Deuteronomy and Leviticus, and Jesus said you shall love the lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength. This is the first and great commandment and the second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself. And then in Matthews version, he added, he said, on these two Love of God and Love of Neighbor, hang all the law, all the prophets, everything that Moses wrote, everything in the holy prophets, everything in the scriptures, everything that God has been trying to tell the world. Love God, love your neighbors, and while youre at it, love yourself. Now someone once said that Jesus began the most revolutionary movement in all of human history, a movement grounded in the unconditional love of God for the world. A movement mandating people to live that love. And in so doing, to change not only their lives but the very life of the world itself. Im talking about some power, real power. Power to change the world. If you dont believe me, well, there were some old slaves in Americas antebellum south who explained the dynamic power of love and why it has the power to transform. They explained it this way. They sang a spiritual, even in the midst of their captivity, its one that says theres a balm in Gilead. A healing balm, something that can makes things right. There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole. There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul. One of the stanzas actually explains why: they said, If you cannot preach like Peter and you cannot pray like Paul, you just tell the love of Jesus how he died to save us all. Oh thats the balm in Gilead. This way of love is the way of life. They got it, he died to save us all. He didnt die for anything he could get out of it. Jesus did not get an honorary doctorate for dying. He wasnt getting anything out of it. He gave up his life, he sacrificed his life for the good of the others, for the good of the other, for the well-being of the world. For us, thats what love is. Love is not selfish and self-centered. Love can be sacrificial. And in so doing, becomes redemptive, and that way of unselfish, sacrificial, redemptive love, changes lives. And it can change this world. If you dont believe me, just stop and think or imagine. Think and imagine, well, think and imagine a world where love is the way. Imagine our homes and families when love is the way. Imagine neighborhoods and communities where love is the way. Imagine governments and nations where love is the way. Imagine business and commerce when love is the way. Imagine this tired old world when love is the way, unselfish, sacrificial redemptive. When love is the way, then no child will go to bed hungry in this world ever again. When love is the way, we will let justice roll down like a mighty stream and righteousness like an ever-flowing brook. When love is the way, poverty will become history. When love is the way, the earth will be a sanctuary. When love is the way, we will lay down our swords and shields down, down by the riverside to study war no more. When love is the way, theres plenty good room, plenty good room, for all of Gods children. Because when love is the way, we actually treat each other, well, like we are actually family. When love is the way, we know that God is the source of us all and we are brothers and sisters, children of God. My brothers and sisters, thats a new heaven, a new earth, a new world, a new human family. And let me tell you something, old Solomon was right in the Old Testament, thats fire. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and with this, I will sit you down. Weve got to get you all married. French Jesuit Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was arguably one of the great minds, one of the great spirits of the 20th century. A Jesuit, Roman Catholic priest, scientist, a scholar, a mystic. In some of his writings, he said from his scientific background as well as his theological one. In some of his writings, he said as others have, that the discovery or invention or harnessing of fire was one of the great scientific and technological discoveries in all of human history. Fire to a great extent made human civilization possible. Fire made it possible to cook food and to provide sanitary ways of eating which reduced the spread of disease in its time. Fire made it possible to heat warm environments and thereby made human migration around the world a possibility, even into colder climates. Fire made it possible, there was no Bronze Age without fire, no Iron Age without fire, no industrial revolution without fire. The advances of science and technology are greatly dependent on the human ability and capacity to take fire and use it for human good. Anybody get here in a car today? An automobile? Nod your heads if you did, Im guessing, I know there were some carriages. But those of us who came in cars, the controlled harnessed fire made that possible. I know that the Bible says, and I believe it, that Jesus walked on the water, but I have to tell you I didnt walk across the Atlantic Ocean to get here. Controlled fire in that plane got me here. Fire makes it possible for us to text and tweet and email and Instagram and Facebook and socially be dysfunctional with each other. Fire makes all of that possible and de Chardin said that fire was one of the greatest discoveries in all of human history. And he then went on to say that if humanity every harnesses the energy of fire again, if humanity ever captures the energy of love, it will be the second time in history that we have discovered fire. Dr. King was right, we must discover love. The redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world. My brother, my sister, God love you. God bless you. And may God hold us all in those almighty hands of love. The entire royal family was here, along with a complement of English aristocrats and important personages. The music was stately and beautiful. The setting was awe-inspiring. There was a flotilla of clergymen, an extraordinary melange including the archbishop of Canterbury and in a striking inclusion in this most ancient of places the first African-American leader of the Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Michael Curry. Chosen to give the address to the congregations, Bishop Curry quoted Martin Luther King. His voice rising and falling with emotion, he made a big, generous, impassioned case for love as the most important thing there is, in religion and in life. [Read more about the Most Reverend Curry and read the full transcript.] His address came after a reading by Lady Jane Fellowes, Harrys aunt (her sister was Diana, Princess of Wales) that was both full of joy and a signal, it seemed, that the sadness in Harrys life since his mothers death has finally lifted. It was a passage from the Song of Solomon: Arise my love, my fair one, and come away; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. [Read the full wedding program] In Everson, Wash., for example, Brooks Owen Laughlin is accused of beating his wife and using an app typically used for benign purposes, Find My iPhone, to control her movements. Image Luis Toledo was convicted of killing his wife, Yessenia Suarez, and her two children, Michael Otto, 8, left, and Thalia Otto, 9, right. Mr. Toledo had installed an app called SMS Tracker on Ms. Suarezs phone because he suspected she was having an affair. If she would turn it off, he would instantly call her or text her and say, Why did you turn that off? What are you doing? That was pretty much 24-7, Chief Daniel MacPhee of the Everson Police Department, said in an interview. Mr. Laughlin pleaded not guilty in April to charges of assault, harassment and stalking. Such technical and legal ambiguity has created an environment in which tools are marketed for both legal and illegal uses, without apparent repercussion. There are definitely app makers that are complicit, seeking out these customers and advertising this use, said Periwinkle Doerfler, a doctoral student at New York University and an author of the study on apps, which will be presented in the coming days. Theyre a little bit under the radar about it, but theyre still doing it. The researchers, from N.Y.U., Cornell University and Cornell Tech, contacted customer support for nine companies with tracking services. The researchers claimed to be women who wanted to secretly track their husbands, and only one company, TeenSafe, refused to assist. KidGuard, the app largely aimed at parents, also bought ads alongside Google results for searches like catch cheating spouse app. A spokesman for the business, based in Los Angeles, said in an email that the company worked with third-party marketers and customer service reps who had been testing new strategies. It deleted blog posts about tracking romantic partners and said it did not support that activity. Spyzie, another app that ran such ads, did not respond to requests for comment. On YouTube, dozens of videos provide tutorials on using several of the apps to catch cheating lovers. The videos frequently link back to the app makers sites using a special code that ensures the promoter will get a cut of the sale a type of deal known as affiliate marketing. Living Gospel Equality Now: Loving in the Heart of God: Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests They entered the draft board office near Baltimore in broad daylight and ransacked the drawers, seizing hundreds of papers as a clerk tried to wrest them back. Outside, in front of journalists they had summoned, they dumped the files of would-be soldiers in the parking lot and incinerated them with a napalm-like mixture made from gasoline and Ivory soap. History would remember them as the Catonsville Nine: a group of Catholic activists whose protest 50 years ago this month inspired more than 250 similar actions and helped end the draft. As the files burned into ash, they distributed a statement and prayed until the police arrived. Our apologies, good friends, for the fracture of good order, the burning of paper instead of children, the angering of the orderlies in the front parlor of the charnel house, one of the nine, the Rev. Daniel J. Berrigan, would tell the court that convicted them of interfering with the Selective Service Act of 1967, destroying Selective Service files and destroying United States property. We could not, so help us God, do otherwise. The nine Father Berrigan, his brother Philip Berrigan, David Darst, John Hogan, Tom Lewis, Marjorie Melville, Thomas Melville, George Mische and Mary Moylan were each sentenced to two to three and a half years in prison. Fifty years later, only Ms. Melville and Mr. Mische were alive for the unveiling of a sign in Catonsville this month lauding them for inspiring similar acts of civil disobedience across the country. It was approved and paid for by the Maryland state government. Mr. Cantu said in the meandering interview that writing an account of a Latino who hunted down other Latinos for a living wasnt what he had in mind when he joined the Border Patrol at age 23 as a graduate of American University. He said he had expected to do the job for a few years to gain on-the-ground experience before going into diplomacy or law school, hoping to specialize in immigration issues. Javier Zamora, 28, a poet who emigrated without authorization from El Salvador to the United States at the age of 9, said he understood where some of the critics of Mr. Cantu were coming from, especially those who point out that the perspective of Mr. Cantu, a United States citizen, stands in contrast to those of millions of Latinos at risk of deportation in the country. The book resembles veteran writing and the dilemma that poses: Would you rather read a book by an Iraqi or something by an Iraq war veteran? asked Mr. Zamora, author of the acclaimed 2017 poetry collection Unaccompanied. I go for the Iraqi writer. Still, Mr. Zamora, who now lives in California and is at risk of being forced to leave the United States after the Trump administration reversed policies that had allowed nearly 200,000 Salvadorans to live in the country, said he appreciated much of Mr. Cantus book, especially passages where he writes about the mental toll of his work, describing nightmares and grinding his teeth at night. Its that internal space of the mind that he describes that I think is valuable, said Mr. Zamora. I find it hard to read nonfiction about the border because of the trauma it brings back, but this book isnt quite like that. It shows how the border is anything but black and white, but just very, very gray. Still, other writers, including some who spent much of their lives in fear of immigration agents, are less charitable in their assessments of Mr. Cantu and his book. Cantu is a white-passing man who has never been undocumented, said Sonia Guinansaca, 29, a poet brought to New York at age 5 from Ecuador to join her parents. She spent more than two decades living illegally in the United States before obtaining documents allowing her to remain in the country. Two people were shot, one fatally, after a high school graduation ceremony outside Atlanta on Friday night, according to the Clayton County Police Department and local reports. The shooting took place near the Clayton County Schools Performing Arts Center, in Jonesboro, Ga., where Perry Career Academy had just had its graduation ceremony. An argument broke out, which led to two individuals being shot, Thomas Y. Trawick Jr., the chief of safety and security at Clayton County Public Schools, told the television station WXIA on Friday. The episode took place after the graduation at the overflow parking lot at Mount Zion High School, which is directly across the street from the performing arts center, he said. Latrallo Presley, whose cousin was participating in the ceremony, told the station that he heard multiple gunshots. A few hours after 10 people were killed in a shooting at a high school in Santa Fe, Tex., on Friday, representatives of J.J. Watt, a defensive end for the Houston Texans, were on the phone with local leaders offering his help: He would pay for the victims funerals. A Houston Texans team official said city leaders thought the offer was very generous and special. The official asked for anonymity because Mr. Watt was not looking to publicize the gesture. The Texans said in a statement they were saddened by the tragic events at Santa Fe High School and extended heartfelt condolences to the victims, their families and all those affected. On Twitter, Mr. Watt described the shooting as absolutely horrific. Most of the victims of the shooting were students. One victim was a Pakistani exchange student. At least one teacher was killed. The dispute between the two well-regarded contenders is not merely the latest Democratic feud over how to break the Republican lock on the South. The stark differences in strategy and the choice of candidates themselves reflect the conflict among Democrats over the types of voters and the kinds of politicians that the party should elevate in the Trump era. [Get results of Tuesdays primary elections here.] Democratic candidates nationwide are wrestling with whether they should try to reclaim some of President Trumps supporters or try to maximize support from their racially diverse, liberal base. At a time in the countrys politics when issues of race and gender are central, with women at the forefront of an uprising against the president, Ms. Abrams candidacy looms even larger. Even some Democrats believe that nominating a single, black, unabashedly liberal woman at this racially charged moment and in the old Confederacy, no less is nothing less than political suicide. But if Ms. Abrams, who is expected to prevail Tuesday, goes on to win in November, her victory would demonstrate the intensity of the Trump backlash in a state that is nearly half nonwhite. And the shock waves would be felt far beyond Georgias borders. After the inauguration, both Mr. Zamel and Mr. Nader visited the White House, meeting with Mr. Kushner and Mr. Bannon. At that time, Mr. Nader was promoting a plan to use private contractors to carry out economic sabotage against Iran that, he hoped, might coerce it to permanently abandon its nuclear program. The plan included efforts to deter Western companies from investing in Iran, and operations to sow mistrust among Iranian officials. He advocated the project, which he estimated would cost about $300 million, to American, Emirati and Saudi officials. Last spring, Mr. Nader traveled to Riyadh for meetings with senior Saudi military and intelligence officials to pitch his Iran sabotage plan. He was convinced, according to several people familiar with his plan, that economic warfare was the key to the overthrow of the government in Tehran. One person briefed on Mr. Naders activities said he tried to persuade Mr. Kushner to endorse the plan to Crown Prince Mohammed in person on a trip to Riyadh, although it was unclear whether the message was delivered. Asked about Mr. Naders plans to attack Iran, the senior Saudi official said Mr. Nader had a habit of pitching proposals that went nowhere. Mr. Nader was also in discussions with Mr. Prince, the former head of Blackwater, about a plan to get the Saudis to pay $2 billion to set up a private army to combat Iranian proxy forces in Yemen. Since entering the White House, Mr. Trump has allied himself closely with Saudi Arabia and the Emirates. His first overseas trip was to Riyadh. He strongly backed Saudi and Emirati efforts to isolate their neighbor Qatar, another American ally, even over apparent disagreement from the State and Defense Departments. This month, Mr. Trump also withdrew from an Obama administration nuclear deal with Iran that both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had campaigned against for years, delivering them their biggest victory yet from his administration. SANTA FE, Tex. Just outside the ceramics storeroom where Trenton Beazley huddled on the floor, his classmates and substitute teacher from first-period art lay dead. A gunman stalked back and forth between two adjoining classrooms inside Santa Fe High School, firing blast after blast. This was really happening. Again. This time, to them. Mr. Beazley, 15, a catcher on the high school baseball team, had woken up on Friday morning excited about that evenings quarterfinal game against Kingwood Park. When Mr. Beazley slipped into art class, the substitute, Ann Perkins, had been telling another student to go get a tardy pass. Everything about that muggy late-spring morning seemed so routine. Then, at about 7:30 a.m., Mr. Beazley heard the sound that has become too routine in schools across America: Bang. Bang. Bang. On Saturday, through their shock, grief and anger over a massacre that left 10 people dead and 13 wounded, this broken, stunned community of 13,000 struggled to find any reason behind it all. The authorities have not announced any motive but said that Dimitrios Pagourtzis, a 17-year-old student at Santa Fe High, had confessed to the rampage and told investigators he had spared students he liked so that he could have his story told. Like millions of their peers, the students here grew up in the shadow of school shootings. They had done active-shooter drills since grade school. A school resource officer, who was critically wounded on Friday, patrolled their sprawling red brick school, which is an hour southeast of Houston. In February, they had been spooked by a lockdown ordered after someone reported a pop-pop-pop sound outside. Devin Maier, 17, remembers not being able to go back to class that Monday and Tuesday. I was just scared, she said. The school massacre that same month in Parkland, Fla., struck a response here, too, as a small group of students marched and waved signs that declared, Never Again. But for many, the protests and preparations only hardened the shard of dread that occupied their thoughts that one day, the television scenes of tears and police tape, memorial flowers and hands-up fleeing children, would arrive for them. Their turn. In the back of my mind, I knew it was going to happen, said Madilyn Williams, 18. Other students would later say they thought they heard a garbage can slamming or metal being hammered, but Mr. Beazley said he and his classmates knew almost immediately what was happening. They bolted for the storeroom where the pottery kilns were kept while Ms. Perkins went to shut the classroom door. She was one of the two teachers killed. The last thing Mr. Beazley saw as they tried to slam the door was the gunman, clad in a black trench coat, heading toward the closet, a strap of shotgun shells slung across his chest. I realized then, wow, hes not playing around, Mr. Beazley said. The students tried desperately to barricade the closet door with a heavy pottery kiln. He smashed his fists against a heat vent to dislodge the kiln from the wall, but as he shoved it across the floor, the gunman jabbed his .38 pistol through a broken window of the closet door. Mr. Beazley heard a taunt that is now burned onto his memory: Surprise, the gunman said, followed by an expletive. Then: Bang. He killed a student who lay near the door, and as Mr. Beazley pushed and pushed on the kiln, he aimed at Mr. Beazley. Bang. He saw me, Mr. Beazley said. He was grazed in the side, and then struck again by the bullets ricochet. I just dropped to the floor. While students puzzled over the gunmans motives, the mother of Shana Fisher, a 16-year-old who was among those killed, said on Saturday that Mr. Pagourtzis had made advances toward her daughter for four months, which she consistently turned down. He had been getting more aggressive, more aggressive, Ms. Fishers mother, Sadie Rodriguez, said. Finally, she stood up to him, she stood up to him in class last week. Ms. Rodriguez said she did not discuss the events directly with her daughter. But she said that Ms. Fisher had told her sister and Ms. Rodriguezs brother of her problems with Mr. Pagourtzis, and of the most recent confrontation in class. Rome Shubert was in the first classroom to be attacked on Friday morning. He had been drawing 3-D shapes in art class when his teacher left to drop off something in another classroom. The gunman walked in through the open door guns blazing, Mr. Shubert said. With a broken heart and a soul that just cant process all this right now, I have to announce my niece was one of the fatalities, her aunt, Sylvia Pritchett, wrote in a Facebook post. Please keep all the families in your thoughts, and hug your children tightly. Sabika Sheikh Sabika Sheikh, 17, was supposed to return home to Pakistan in a matter of weeks. After months at Santa Fe High School as part of an exchange program sponsored by the State Department, Sabika had asked her mother to cook her favorite meal when she was to get back on June 9. She had asked her younger brother, Ali, to straighten up her room for her arrival. She had spoken to her younger sister on the telephone just hours before the shooting started. She was thinking big, at such a young age, her father, Abdul Aziz Sheikh, said from his home in Karachi. Sabika was a very talented and obedient child. He said he learned of his daughters death after seeing news reports and trying again and again to dial and text his daughters telephone. There was nothing I heard back from her, he said. Mr. Sheikh eventually heard from exchange program leaders that his daughter had died in the shooting. He called on American officials to enact stronger gun regulations, and said he hoped no other family would have to experience such pain. I knew the pain of losing a child, he said, and pray to God, no parent would go through this situation. On the Pakistani Embassy in Washingtons Facebook page, Pakistans ambassador to the United States expressed condolences to families of the victims. Image Sabika Sheikh. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sabikas family and friends, the ambassador, Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, said. American officials said Sabika had been part of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program. A State Department official said the department extended its deepest condolences to Sabikas family and friends, and that David Hale, the ambassador to Pakistan, was reaching out to her family. As an exchange student, Sabika was a youth ambassador, a bridge between our peoples and cultures, Mr. Hale said on Facebook on Saturday. All of us at the U.S. Mission in Pakistan are devastated by and mourn her loss. We will honor her memory. Christopher Stone At 17 years old, Christopher Stone was the baby of the family, the youngest of three siblings. But he still played the role of protector to his sisters, Angelica and Mercedez, as if he were the oldest, said his father, who is also named Christopher. Then what happened? The bombing generated a brief moment of public concern, but its legacy has been overwhelmingly one of misunderstanding. Even though it represents the largest deliberate mass casualty on American soil between Pearl Harbor and 9/11, most Americans dont think of it as part of a long social movement, and as ideologically motivated. This is partly because the F.B.I. changed its approach after an earlier trial of 13 white power activists on charges including seditious conspiracy in 1987-88, in Fort Smith, Ark. The activists were acquitted despite overwhelming evidence. After that, the F.B.I. decided that white power violence would be prosecuted only at the scale of individual actions, rather than attempting to portray them as part of a social movement. Who are some of the key figures in the post-Vietnam War movement? Louis Beam was an architect of the movement, and furthered the idea of leaderless resistance what we would now think of as cell-style terrorism as well as pioneering Liberty Net, encrypted message boards that the white power movement started using by 1984, decades before Facebook. Robert Jay Mathews was the leader of The Order, a highly skilled white terrorist group that carried out major armed robberies and assassinations, including the 1984 assassination of a Jewish talk show host in Denver. He died after a firefight with F.B.I. agents later that year, and is seen as a martyr for the movement. David Lane was a member of The Order who while imprisoned wrote a slogan called the Fourteen Words, which has become a rallying cry and code of the movement. The words We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children have been used to justify violence. Frazier Glenn Miller (Frazier Glenn Cross) re-entered the news when he shot and killed three people in Overland Park, Kan., in 2014. A Vietnam veteran, he took part in the Greensboro massacre (but was never charged) and led the White Patriot Party in North Carolina, which acquired stolen weapons and materiel from Fort Bragg in the early 1980s. Don Black, the founder of Stormfront one of the most prominent white-power websites in the 1990s appears in my book through his earlier movement activity, including an attempt to invade the Caribbean island of Dominica in order to funnel money to the Klan in the United States. KINSHASA, Congo Three new cases of the often lethal Ebola virus have been confirmed in a city of more than one million people, Congos health minister announced, as the spread of the hemorrhagic fever in an urban area raised alarm. The statement late on Friday said the confirmed cases are in Mbandaka, a city where a single case was confirmed earlier in the week. There are now 17 confirmed Ebola cases in this outbreak, including one death, plus 21 probable cases and five suspected ones. The World Health Organization on Friday decided not to declare the outbreak a global health emergency, but it called the risk of spread within Congo very high and warned nine neighboring countries that the risk to them was high. The W.H.O. said there should be no international travel or trade restrictions. By Siddhant Mohan, TwoCircles.net Dr Satish Kumar, one of accused in the tragedy at Baba Raghav Das Medical College, Gorakhpur in August 2017, was granted bail on Tuesday by Allahabad High Court. Kumar was the former head of the department of anesthesiology at the Medical College. Dr Satish Kumar has been behind bars since September 11, 2017, for his alleged involvement in the case pertaining to the deaths of infants at BRD medical college between August 10-11. A critical shortage of oxygen that night caused the deaths of 23 children in just one night. However, state government and investigative agencies refuted the claim that there were deaths due to non-availability of oxygen in the hospital. Support TwoCircles In the aftermath of the deaths in August last year, the UP government had formed a special task force (STF) which led to the arrests of Dr Kafeel Ahmed Khan, medical college principal Dr Rajiv Mishra, Dr Purnima Shukla, former Anaesthesia Department Head Dr Satish Kumar, ex-Chief Pharmacist Gajanan Jaiswal, Accounts departments clerks, Sudhir Pandey, Udai Sharma, Sanjay Tripathi and the owner of Pushpa Sales Manish Bhandari in September last year. The accused were charged under various sections of Indian Penal Code pertaining to corruption, embezzlement of funds, private practice and criminal conspiracy. While Manish Bhandari and Dr Kafeel Khan have been granted bail by the Allahabad High Court, the bail plea of Dr Satish Kumar was being delayed continuously. The charges on Satish Kumar and his subsequent arrest is also debatable as between the night of August 10 and 11, 2017, Kumar was in Mumbai with his family to attend the annual convocation at IIT-Mumbai of his son Tushar Rain, who had graduated from B.Tech. According to his family members, Kumar took leave from August 9 and left for Mumbai on the night of August 10. Kumar reached Mumbai on August 11. He was to attend the convocation next day but the same day he heard about the deaths of infants in the BRD medical college. His daughter Manjari told TwoCircles.net, Papa did not attend the convocation and caught the flight on August 12. He came to Gorakhpur and joined the medical college on August 13. However, Rajiv Rautela, the district magistrate in Gorakhpur, had already prepared his report on the incident before Satish Kumar could even get back to work. Rautela mentioned in his report, which was prepared within 24 hours of the incident, that Kumar was absent from his duty without any application or notice from August 11. Interestingly, while the state government insists that the deaths of the children were not because of the shortage of liquid oxygen in the hospital, in Rautelas report Kumar was mentioned as the culprit responsible for the shortage of oxygen. In the aftermath of the deaths in August last year, the UP government had formed a special task force (STF) which led to the arrests of Dr Kafeel Ahmed Khan, medical college principal Dr Rajiv Mishra, Dr Purnima Shukla, former Anaesthesia Department Head Dr Satish Kumar, ex-Chief Pharmacist Gajanan Jaiswal, Accounts departments clerks, Sudhir Pandey, Udai Sharma, Sanjay Tripathi and owner of Pushpa Sales Pvt Ltd Manish Bhandari in September last year. 56-year-old Kumar joined BRD Medical College as a student of MBBS. Later on, he joined the college as a teacher in anaesthesia department and was appointed the head of the department in the year 2013. Kumar comes from the Dalit community and his family thinks that his Dalit identity might might have played in a role in his persecution. Earlier we used to think that my fathers only fault was that he was not present on the day of the incident, but now we can connect the dots and understand the fact that it is also because of the identity, Manjari Rain told this reporter in an earlier conversation. Satish Kumar was also made maintenance officer in 2009, but his role had nothing to do with oxygen shortage. Moreover, as an anaesthetist, Kumar had no expertise and say in encephalitis and paediatrics wards, the same where massive deaths reported in August 2017. In the police charge sheet, Kumar has been charged under sections 308, 120B, 466, 468, 469 of Indian Penal Code and section 7/13 of The Prevention of Corruption Act. Commenting on the bail to Kumar, his daughter Manjari said, We are so much happy right now, so we cannot tell even. My mother (Anita) has been crying since she heard that Papa has been granted bail. Anita, the wife of Satish Kumar, wrote to Indian Medical Association (IMA) on April 9 answering the allegations and charges on Satish Kumar. The letter states that when Kumar came to know about the shortage of oxygen on August 10, he immediately informed the principal of the college before leaving for Mumbai. According to the family, Kumar has had intestinal surgery and he is also anaemic since long. His daughter said, He was not getting the necessary treatment in the jail. Manjari and Pallavi, the two daughters of Kumar are married but have been living with their mother to look after the legal process along with taking care of their mother. MEXICO CITY Almost 40 years old by the time it crashed on Friday just outside of Havana, killing 110 people, the aging Boeing 737 had changed ownership nearly a half-dozen times, passing from operators in the United States to Canada, from Cameroon to the Caribbean. I actually flew that exact plane, said John Cox, the head of the consultancy Safety Operating Systems, who traced the aircrafts ownership back to 1979, when it was new and belonged to Piedmont Airlines, his former employer. Though the cause of the crash has not been determined, the plane itself is a powerful symbol of Cubas troubled aviation industry. As tourism to the island surges, Cubas national airline finds itself struggling to acquire enough planes to meet the demand and maintain its decrepit fleet. Cubas economy has long been in shambles, and experts say the troubles plaguing its aviation sector stem from the same obstacles that have bedeviled the country for decades: economic mismanagement and the United States embargo of the island. SRINAGAR, India Separatist leaders called for a shutdown in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Saturday as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a daylong visit to review development work and inaugurate road projects. The visit came a day after rivals India and Pakistan shelled each others security posts and villages, killing four civilians on each side and an Indian soldier. Shops, businesses and schools were shut while thousands of paramilitary troops and police in flak jackets spread out across Kashmir and closed off roads with razor wire and iron barricades in anticipation of anti-India protests and clashes. Separatist groups that challenge Indias sovereignty over Kashmir called for the strike as well as a march to the commercial hub in the main city of Srinagar to protest Mr. Modis visit. Mr. Pashinyan urged a campaign of civil disobedience everywhere, and the tech workers translated the idea into the language of the internet. They compared their strategy to a blockchain, the widely diffused technology behind online currencies that aim to stay outside government control, or to a denial of service attack that crashes a website because too many users try to access it at once. We would go out for lunch and never come back, we just stayed on the street, said Mr. Mkrtchyan. The government helped with a series of ham-handed responses to the protests, which started in earnest on April 17. That is when Serzh Sargsyan, the president since 2008, tried to bypass term limits by becoming prime minister under a new Constitution that transferred most political power to that office after having promised not to take the job. As the protests grew, he warned darkly of a repeat of the events of March 1, 2008, when soldiers opened fire on demonstrators after what many considered a tainted election win for Mr. Sargsyan, killing 10. Like many of her peers, who had been traumatized by the bloodshed a decade ago, Ms. Petrosyan was enraged by the threat, making her eager to protest even more. From the first day that I went out onto the street I understood that something powerful was happening, said Ms. Petrosyan. We all understood that it is not just a question of planting a tree or keeping up a street, but knowing that our government is outdated and that we needed to change it. Her employer, PicsArt where the average age of the 350 employees is 24, and about half are women had always considered itself a good corporate citizen, subsidizing education for the disadvantaged, among other things. Management there, and at various companies big and small, looking around at all the empty desks, bowed to the inevitable. WINDSOR, England The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, an American actress, on Saturday represented more than the love of two people: It was a coming together of British nobility and the American dream, a sign of an ever-changing royal family and an opportunity for Britain to bask in celebratory attention for a few days (not to mention to sell a fair number of commemorative plates, teacups and postcards). Heres a selection of the most memorable moments. Rabbi Sandmel of the Anti-Defamation League said Mr. Jeffress had often made statements the group deemed unacceptable, noting that throughout history assertions such as his admonitions that Jews were damned to hell had often contributed to anti-Semitic violence. It was a gut punch for most American Jews, the liberal Israeli newspaper Haaretz wrote in an editorial published Friday. The editorial charged that the evangelical alliance erodes Israels standing in its traditional power centers above all U.S. Jews, who view evangelicals as a concrete threat to their values and risked alienating supporters it may need as soon as November, in the event the Democrats win control of the U.S. Senate or the House of Representatives. Mr. Netanyahu was seated in the front row next to Jared Kushner, President Trumps son-in-law and Middle East adviser, and both clapped politely before and after Mr. Jeffress delivered his prayer. The Rev. John C. Hagee, a televangelist who gave the closing benediction, has said the Holocaust happened because Gods top priority for the Jewish people is to get them to come back to the land of Israel, a prelude to the Second Coming. In an email, Mr. Hagee said his comments, in a sermon about the problem of evil in a world of Gods creation, were taken out of context, and he has apologized for any offense. David M. Friedman, the American ambassador to Israel who presided over the embassy dedication, said evangelical Christians support Israel with much greater fervor and devotion than many in the Jewish community. Youre running a country, you need friends, you need alliances, you need to protect your people, he said in an interview. Many Israelis, especially on the right, shrug off the beliefs of their Christian allies as a theoretical matter. When the Messiah arrives, runs an old joke, we will ask him whether the visit is his first or his second. As Yeddyurappa faces floor test, here is what Rules 340, 346 say India oi-Vicky Nanjappa All eyes would be on Karnataka as the crucial trust vote would be held today. Rule 340 of the Karnataka Assembly Rules would be in focus as the decision of the House would be decided by means of a question put by the Speaker on the motion made by a member. In all likelihood the Speaker, would apply Rule 346 by which voting would be done through a voice vote with the members says either 'ayes' or 'nay.' The Speaker would then determine the outcome on the voice vote. In case his decision is challenged then he would clear the lobbies, close the doors and then put the motion to a voice vote again. In case the decision is challenged again, then the Speaker will ask the MLAs to rise in their respective seats in support or against the motion. This time the number of MLAs standing will be counted and the decision taken. While the names of the legislators will not be recorded, the rules state that the seating of the members would be decided by the Speaker. The current strength of the House is 222 as elections to the Jayanagar and Rajarajeshwari constituencies have been postponed. H D Kumaraswamy of the JD(S) has won from two constituencies as a result of which his vote would be counted only as one. This means the magic number would be 111. The Speaker would not cast his vote unless it ends up in a tie as per Article 189(1) of the Constitution. The trust vote in Karnataka would be a simple one where the MLAs would vote either in favour of against Yeddyurappa. In case he fails the floor test then the next MLA claiming majority would face the floor test. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, May 19, 2018, 8:40 [IST] Special team will submit report to Centre after taking stock of flood hit areas in K'taka: BSY BSY joins dubious list of shortest serving CMs of India India oi-Deepika By Deepika The 3-day old B S Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka collapsed today, with the chief minister announcing his decision to resign without facing a trust vote. With his resignation, Yeddyurappa joined Jagdambika Pal as the shortest serving chief minister in the nation. Pal served as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh for three days from in 1988. In his emotional address to the House, Yeddyurappa said he had many dreams of developing Karnataka. "If only people would have given us 113 seats instead of 104, we would have made this state a paradise." After delivering his speech in Vidhan Soudha, Yeddyurappa headed to Raj Bhawan in Bengaluru to hand over his resignation to Governor Vajubhai Vala. His resignation will pave the way for formation of a government led by JD(S) state chief H D Kumaraswamy, who has the backing of the Congress. The newly formed alliance has claimed support of 117 MLAs in the 224-member House with an effective strength of 221. Here are some of India's shortest serving chief ministers: Jagdambika Pal Jagdambika Pal held the shortest tenure as chief minister in Uttar Pradesh in 1998. After the Kalyan Singh government was dismissed, Pal was sworn in as the chief minister late at night on February 21, a decision that was reversed by the high court the next morning, leading him to be dubbed as "the one-day CM". Satish Prasad Singh Among others who could sit on the chief minister's chair for barely a few days are Satish Prasad Singh in Bihar. He was made an interim chief minister for only five days from 28 January to 1 February in 1968. He had brought the Congress back to power in the state by defeating the Jana Kranti Dal government. B P Mandal B P Mandal, the leader who succeeded Singh, too could hold on to the post for just 31 days. Om Prakash Chautala In Haryana, Om Prakash Chautala had served as the chief minister for a period of five days in July 1990 and for 14 days in 1991. SC Marak Similarly in Meghalaya, veteran Congress leader S C Marak remained in power only for 13 days in 1998. He became the state's chief minister on February 27, 1998 but could continue for just 12 days when his Congress-led coalition resigned, paving way for United Parliamentary Forum leader BB Lyngdoh to become the next CM. Janaki Ramachandran After the demise of M G Ramachandran -- the founder of the AIADMK -- in Tamil Nadu, her widow Janaki Ramachandran had a brief tenure of 23 days as the chief minister in January 1988. CH Mohammad Koya In Kerala, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader C H Mohammad Koya could enjoy the post of chief minister for 45 days in 1979. He was the shortest serving CM of the state and its only Muslim one. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, May 19, 2018, 20:59 [IST] D K Shivakumar does it again and why he is real Congress hero India oi-Vicky Nanjappa For the Congress the hero of the day was D K Shivakumar. He pulled off another trick in keeping the flock of not just the Congress, but the JD(S) also together. This is his second such performance in the past couple of months, the last one being when he sheltered the MLAs from Gujarat. Each time there is a crisis in the Congress and MLAs have to be shielded the go to man has always been D K Shivakumar. When the Gujarat MLAs had to be protected from poaching ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections in which Ahmed Patel was contesting, the job was given to D K Shivakumar. With Yeddyurappa resigning, what next in Karnataka He carted the MLAs to the Eagleton resort in Bidadi near Bengaluru. He ensured that the MLAs were kept safe from poaching. During this period, he was even raided by the Income Tax Department, but that did not deter him and he did his job and kept the MLAs safe. In the aftermath of the Karnataka elections with the BJP staking a claim, the job of protecting both the Congress and JD(S) MLAs was given to him. He first moved the MLAs to Eagleton. This time the job was tougher as the BJP seemed desperate to get the numbers. Shivakumar strategised everything and even moved the MLAs out of Bengaluru after security at Eagleton was withdrawn. How the numbers stack up for Congress-JD(S) At first he made it appear as though the MLAs were being taken to Kerala. However late into the night, he changed the plan and said that the MLAs of both his party and JD(S) would be shifted to Hyderabad. Even as the MLAs were approaching Hyderabad, he made them change the bus due to security reasons. Once at Hyderabad, he made the MLAs change the hotel once again again due to security reasons. Till the very end, he kept the flock together and ensured that not a single MLA of both the parties went with the BJP. B S Yeddyurappa addressed the assembly on Saturday and resigned without taking the trust vote. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, May 19, 2018, 17:20 [IST] By Kaneez Fathima for TwoCircles.net It has been eleven years for Makkah Masjid bomb blast and subsequent police firing. During the Friday prayers on 18th May 2007 bomb blast took place at the historic Makkah Masjid of Hyderabad city. Nine people died and more than 50 severely injured in the blast. Within minutes of blast, police opened fire on the people who were helping the injured. Five more people died and many more injured in the police firing. Again within few minutes of bomb blast and police firing, the Hyderabad police officials declared that the blast at Makkah Masjid was carried out by the HuJI militants and also named Shahid Bilal as mastermind behind this blast. After few days of the blast, a Special Investigation Cell (SIC) was formed and police started picking up Muslim youth from old city that too in plain clothes and without number plate vehicles. Even the youth injured in the blast were not spared, they were also summoned and interrogated as to why did they go to Masjid and what were they doing in the Masjid? Hundreds of Muslim youth were picked up, kept at illegal detention centres in the outskirts of Hyderabad city, inhumanly tortured, abused and pressured to take the responsibility of Makkah Masjid bomb blast and if they do not accept, they would be killed in an encounter. After few days all the detained were released and 29 of them were shown arrested; they were sent to judicial custody, where they were in jail for 6-8 months after which they were released on bail. Though they were picked up in connection with the so-called investigation of Makkah Masjid bomb blast, instead they were implicated in false cases of conspiracy against the State and Asiatic powers and other cases. Support TwoCircles The Hyderabad police registered two cases, one of the exploded bomb and the other of an unexploded bomb; exploded bomb blast case was handed over to CBI. Police also prepared a confidential report, in which it was mentioned that Muslim community has sect differences among them, and the blast was carried out by the Ahle Hadees sect to teach a lesson to the Sunnat ul Jamaat sect. The then AP State Minorities Commission had appointed an Advocate General, L Ravichander to look into the torture. He brought out a detailed report saying that third-degree inhuman torture has been inflicted upon the Muslim youth. The State Minorities Commission submitted that report to the state government but it was not made public. The government had also formed a one-man commission namely Justice Bhaskar Rao Commission to look into the indiscriminate police firing on the people after the bomb blast. The police personnel justified the firing by stating that the mob wanted to attack a petrol pump nearby and to control them and in self-defence, police had to start firing. This was again justified by the Bhaskar Rao Commission. Though the report is submitted to the government, it has not been tabled in Assembly for discussion nor has been made public. To understand Makkah Masjid bomb blast, subsequent police firing and implication of Muslim youth one have to also know about the political conditions of Hyderabad post-bomb blast. Every time in the country when there is some burning issue and the debate happening around it, suddenly something big happens that completely diverts the attention of the people from the serious issue. The same happened in this case as well. Before Makkah Masjid bomb blast took place, the matter of Sohrabuddin encounter was very much in the news and debates as the top police officials, politicians involvement was being questioned. Sheikh Sohrabuddin, Kausar Bi and Tulsiram Prajapati were killed by the Gujarat police with the help of Hyderabad and Rajasthan police in the year 2005. Almost after a year of investigation it was revealed that these three people were killed in cold blood but not in encounter. Few Hyderabad police officers had provided logistical support to the Gujarat police in carrying out encounter of Sohrabuddin. The Supreme Court also questioned What was the motive of the Andhra Pradesh police to join the conspiracy?. As the investigation was going deep and many truths were unravelling in connection of Sohrabuddin killing, wherein the state of Gujarat, its police, Rajasthan police and Hyderabad police were being exposed, the Makkah Masjid bomb blast took place which completely diverted the attention of the people, press as well as Judiciary from the Sohrabuddin encounter and the involvement of State of Gujarat, Rajasthan police and Hyderabad police. To hide itself from the involvement of Sohrabuddin encounter, few communal minded police personnel of Hyderabad including IPS officers had woven the stories behind the blast and implicated Muslim youth and tortured them inhumanly. When the CBI started investigation on the bomb blast case, they came out with the names of real terrorists, i.e. Hindutva terrorists were exposed. Initially CBI filed charge sheet against three persons namely Devender Gupta, Lokesh Sharma and Sunil Joshi. Later, CBI arrested Aseemanand from Haridwar in the year 2010. Aseemanand and his team carried not just Makkah Masjid bomb blast but also other blasts in the country such as blasts at Ajmer dargah in 2007, Samjhauta Express in 2007 and Malegaon blast in 2006 & 2008 to teach a lesson to the Muslim community. So, CBI was investigating all the blast cases; after these Hindutva terrorists were arrested, the pressure on Muslim youth was lowered and later the court acquitted all the Muslim youth who were implicated in false cases. While in judicial custody in Charlapally jail of Hyderabad, Aseemanand met one of the arrested Muslim youth, Kaleem; he was inspired by Kaleem and his conscious woke up. As part of investigation of all the terror cases, Aseemanand was taken to CBI Headquarters for further investigation; there Aseemanand wanted to confess his crime and got ready to give confessional statement. He recorded his confession in front of a Metropolitan Magistrate under Section 164 of CrPC. The magistrate informed Aseemanand that this confession under 164 CrPC will bring him death sentence and told him to think for two more days about the confession. On December 18, 2010, he told the magistrate in the court, I know I can be sentenced to the death penalty but I still want to make the confession. If a person makes a confessional statement under section 164 of CrPC and contradicts himself during the trial, he may be convicted of giving false evidence intentionally. In the detailed interview given to The Caravan, Aseemanand named RSS chief, Mohan Bhagwat and Indresh Kumar. Aseemanand told in the interview that, Then they (Mohan Bhagwat and Indresh Kumar) told me, Swamiji, if you do this we will be at ease with it. Nothing wrong will happen then. Criminalisation nahin hoga (It will not be criminalised). If you do it, then people wont say that we did a crime for the sake of committing a crime. It will be connected to the ideology. This is very important for Hindus. Please do this. You have our blessings. The investigation of these blast cases was going on in a proper and right direction by the CBI and then in the year 2011, it was taken over by the NIA (National Investigation Agency) formed in the year 2009 to look into the terror cases. NIA named Aseemanand as mastermind of Makkah Masjid bomb blast and nine others namely Devender Gupta, Lokesh Sharma, Sandeep Dange and Ramachandra Kalsangra (both former RSS activists who are absconding), Sunil Joshi (murdered in 2007), Bharat Mohanlal Rateshwar, Rajender Chowdhary, Tejram Parmar and Amit Chouhan. NIA Special Public Prosecutor Rohini Salian was handling the Malegaon bomb blast case. But as soon as BJP came to power in 2014, she was instructed to go soft on the accused Hindutva terrorists, but she did not budge and then without any explanation she was ousted from the case and then the special NIA court acquitted all the 12 accused in Malegaon blast case. At the time when Ms. Salian was asked to go soft, NIA chief Sharad Kumar who is very close to BJP and was to retire in 2015, was given extension. The same happened with Makkah Masjid bomb blast case as well. Pratibha Ambedkar was the officer-in-charge of this case and she was transferred two weeks before the verdict. During the trial at Hyderabad court, 226 witnesses and 411 documents were examined. 65 of them turned hostile, even the police personnel who were to depose before the court also turned hostile. In the course of trial, some important files including Aseemanands statements were missing from the court. The prosecution was unable to prove the evidences; this is understood with the bringing in of RSS background special Public prosecutor. One important thing which was mentioned by Ms. Rohini Salian is that the accused in the Malegaon case were made witness in Makkah Masjid bomb blast case, obviously they would turn hostile. Even the Judge played hand in glove with the prosecution by saying that the facts and circumstances of the Metropolitan Magistrate who recorded Aseemanands statement does not apply to the case i.e. of confession under Section 164 CrPC and thus keeps it aside. The Judge has noted that, The conspiracy of all the accused in this case has not been proved beyond reasonable doubt. The prosecution failed to prove the guilt. The five accused are not found guilty for the offences and are acquitted. This very important case wherein the Hindutva terrorists were involved in carrying out blasts at various places in the country, all the agencies such as the police, the local state and the central government, the investigating agencies, the Prosecution and even Judiciary failed in providing justice even when all the strong pieces of evidence were present. Thus, the special NIA court in Hyderabad acquitted the five Hindutva terrorists on 16th April 2018. Out of eight Hindutva terrorists, five are acquitted, one is killed by their own RSS men and two are absconding. After acquitting all the five Hindutva criminals, the judge resigned within few hours of his verdict. This act of his raises many questions on the verdict as well as on the judge itself. There is huge conspiracy behind such kind of judgment and immediate resignation of Judge. People were waiting for the delivery of justice and with such kind of verdict and resignation he tried to shift the debate from the biased judgment towards his resignation. Few people felt that he must have given such kind of judgment under pressure and some others opined that he was under corruption charges so he resigned. So, instead of debate to be taken place on biased verdict, the debate shifted on his resignation. People lost confidence from the judiciary as well. The last step in getting justice is only the judiciary and when judiciary also plays hands in glove with the criminals and perpetrators, what saves this country from! Now all the Hindutva terrorists are free, some are out on bail and some are acquitted. Only the criminals would be ruling the country and the constitution is great danger in such situations. In Karnataka political fiasco, voters are the biggest losers India oi-Maitreyee Bengaluru, May 19: A political gunfight is on, not along the usual Indo-Pak border in the much-ravaged Kashmir. Strangely, to the horror of spectators, it has metamorphised into a 'nuke' war in a cherished and flourishing corner of India, Karnataka. These days, in the south of the Vindhyas, the deadly political missiles are flying thick and fast, crushing under the debris every law that governs a democracy. The Constitution, the sacred book and the conscience keeper of a nation of 1.3 billion people, lies bulldozed in an unattended corner. The deafening noise emanating from the constant bombing by combat aircrafts manned by some of the shrewdest, power-hungry politicians has reached far and wide, from remote Manipur to Lutyens' Delhi. If a war analogy to describe the Karnataka nataka, political drama, is an insult to the never-ending sufferings of Syrians, then it is equally ignominious the way the political parties, especially the two main ones, are behaving to win what they are calling "Game of Thrones" or "GOT". The highly-engaging master piece, the American fantasy drama series, GOT, shockingly showcases how deceit, intrigue, incestuous relationships and of course, murders are fine till they lead to the "throne". The minute-by-minute media update of Karnataka political drama, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) alliance are openly displaying the ugliest sides of politics, makes Cersei Lannister, one of the most-hated GOT characters, looks innocuous and vulnerable. Thanks to the rigours of dirty Indian politics, none of our politicians are anything but vile, immoral and highly corrupt. Right from bribing and threatening voters to the sensational claim by one of the chief ministerial contenders, HD Kumaraswamy, that the BJP offered Rs 100 crore each to several of JD(S)' MLAs to switch sides, the entire Karnataka Assembly election season has been marred by one controversy after another. In the run up to the voting on May 12 in Karnataka, the Election Commission (EC) seized an unprecedented amount of cash, liquor and freebies, which include Rs 94.66 crore cash, 5.54 lakh litres of liquor worth around Rs 28.78 crore and freebies worth Rs 66 crore. So it comes as no surprise that out of the 221 newly-elected MLAs, 215 (97 per cent) are crorepatis as per a report by the Karnataka Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms-- the non-governmental organisations which work in the area of electoral and political reforms. Just a day before the Karnataka elections, the EC decided to postpone polling at Rajarajeshwari Nagar constituency in Bengaluru where about 10,000 voter ID cards were recovered from a flat triggering a bitter blame game between the BJP and the Congress. The blatant use of money and muscle power is not restricted to elections only. In fact, after the election results were out, as none of the political parties managed to cross the majority mark (111 legislators now as 221 MLAs have been elected so far in the 224-member Assembly), politicians resorted to further 'crimes' to lay siege to the Vidhana Soudha (the Karnataka legislative Assembly building) in Bengaluru. On the one hand, the BJP thought it alright to abuse the office of governor to put in place a minority government of BS Yeddyurappa in the state, on the other hand the Congress and the JD(S) packed all their MLAs inside air-conditioned buses to stay in luxury resorts and hotels in the outskirts of Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Thankfully, the Supreme Court on Friday asked the BJP government in the state to prove its majority on the floor of the house on Saturday. The apex court's verdict was "historic" in many ways. First, it ended the political uncertainty in the state to a great extent. Now, the BJP has almost no time to induce and intimidate MLAs from the opposition parties to join its camp. The Congress and the JD(S) too have been forced to bring back their legislators to Bengaluru, cutting short the grave practice of resort politics. Despite the Supreme Court's verdict on the petition filed by the Congress-JD(S) combine in Karnataka against the decision of Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala to invite BJP's Yeddyurappa to form the government, there is no guarantee that Saturday's proceedings in the Assembly will be a smooth sailing one. There are possibilities that before the floor test, chaos might break out inside the Assembly and there would be open horse-trading and defections. The MLAs from both the camps are likely to change loyalties faster than the most notorious polygamous person. Saturday's outcome in Karnataka could be anything--a victory for the BJP or a "big win" for the Congress-JD(S) alliance or the imposition of President's rule in the state. Whatever the result of the floor test, the contentious Karnataka election season has left a bad taste in many people's mouths. Afterall. no one cares about the voters' mandate. In Yeddyurappas resignation, here is the bigger BJP plan India oi-Vicky Nanjappa While many may view the resignation of B S Yeddyurappa as a defeat, there would be another ploy on the party's mind. From the time the results were declared and the party staked a claim to government, it was aware that it did not have the numbers to go through with the floor test. There were attempts made at first to lure some of the MLAs from the Congress and JD(S), but it did not materialise. By Friday it was clear that the party did not have the strength to survive a floor test. With Yeddyurappa resigning, what next in Karnataka There were hectic deliberations between the Karnataka and Central leadership after which it was decided on Friday itself that the BJP would not face the trust vote. It was decided that Yeddyurappa would address the assembly and make an emotional appeal to the people. He said during his speech that he would continue to work for the people whether he was in power or not. He made an interesting point when he said that he would ensure that the BJP wins all the 28 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. There was a message in this statement made by Yeddyurappa. The BJP is confident that the Congress-JD(S) combine would not last beyond a year. If the coalition were to collapse, the BJP would not stake a fresh claim to form the government. It would prefer president's rule in the state and then go for fresh elections. How the numbers stack up for Congress-JD(S) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his team have been emphasising on a one nation one poll. There are deliberations on with the Election Commission of India to see if the Lok Sabha polls could be held simultaneously with the ones at Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh. If the BJP's ploy were to work then Karnataka would get added to the list. In Yeddyurappa's speech today there was also a veiled appeal to the Lingayat community that he belongs to. The Lingayats are bound to look at these developments sympathetically and blame the Congress and the JD(S) for not allowing their leader to become the CM. This is likely to benefit the BJP further in the Lok Sabha elections and also the Karnataka polls if one were to be held in the next couple of months. The Lingayats would have a bearing particularly on the Congress. The JD(S) which relies heavily on the Vokkaliga votes would however not be affected. The BJP performed exceptionally well in the Lingayat belt and bagged over 60 per cent of the votes. The Lingayats backed the BJP and not the Congress which had proposed a separate religious minority status. Karnataka government formation updates: Section 144 imposed in and around Vidhan Soudha India oi-Oneindia Staff By Oneindia Staff It is a big day for H D Kumaraswamy who will take oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. The swearing in ceremony will take place on the steps of the Vidhan Soudha which houses the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. A host of leaders will be present at the event in what is being seen as a show of opposition unity ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Along with Kumaraswamy, Dr. G Parameshwar of the Congress would take oath as the deputy chief minister. Stay with us as we bring you all the updates: Newest First Oldest First H D Deve Gowda was at the Vidhan Soudha overseeing arrangements ahead of the swearing in ceremony of his son, H D Kumaraswamy. He was seen talking with chief secretary Ratna Prabha. She explained the arrangements to him. BJP observes black day, BS Yeddyurappa leads protest from Mayura circle in Bengaluru over JD(S)-Congress alliance BS Yeddyurappa is leading the protest from Mayura circle in Bengaluru over JD(S)-Congress alliance Cong high command asks Parameshwara to resign from KPCC Prez's post. G Parameshwara is likely to resign from his post after swearing-in as DyCM All the promises made in the manifesto will be implemented. Safeguarding the interest of the farming community is our top priority, he says. I am not a leader of one caste or religion, I will be serving all the people of all castes and religion in Karnataka. Today, if I am taking oath as the CM, it is because of the blessings of all the people of Karnataka, says Kumaraswamy. Karnataka Floor test to be conducted on Friday Rahul Gandhi will arrive in Bengaluru at 2 pm. He will be in the city to attend the swearing in ceremony of H D Kumaraswamy. Prior to attending the ceremony, he would hold a meeting with Congress leaders who are holed up in a hotel. H D Kumaraswamy would be visiting the Chamundeshwari temple before he takes oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. Kumaraswamy who is forming the government in an alliance with the JD(S) has visited several temples since the past few days. There are also reports suggesting that he may not move into the official Chief Ministers residence citing vaastu. He is likely to operate out of this private residence. However the official reason given by him is that he did not want to burden the exchequer. It's the high command which decides all these, they chose me. I thank them immensely but the point is they're also eligible but they gave me this opportunity: G Parameshwara,Dy CM designate on being asked that Roshan Baig & DK Shivakumar were also in the race for Dy CM. on being asked that Roshan Baig and DK Shivakumar were also in the race for Dy CM, G Parameshwara, says, "It's the high command which decides all these, they chose me. I thank them immensely but the point is they're also eligible but they gave me this opportunity." Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has been imposed in and around Vidhan Soudha where Kumaraswamy would take oath as CM at 4.30 pm. 35 KSRP, 50 CAR, 8 DCPs, 50 ACPs, 100 Inspectors, 250 SI will oversee the security arrangements. There are also 3,000 traffic cops deployed to ensure that the vehicular movement is smooth. Minute-to-minute programme of swearing-in ceremony of newly appointed CM of Karnataka HD Kumaraswamy Kamal Haasan cancels his trip to Bengaluru to attend HD Kumaraswamy's swearing-in ceremony. Instead, heads to Thoothukudi post the Sterlite Protest tragedy. Andhra Pradeshs IT minister Nara Lokesh has said what happened to the BJP in Karnataka is just a trailer. The real movie will play in 2019, he said. Telugu people showed you just a trailer in Karnataka elections. They will show you the full movie in 2019 elections, he also said. CM-designate HD Kumaraswamy visits Chamundeshwari temple in Mysore ahead of swearing-in ceremony. KPCC President G Parameshwara performs puja in Vinayaka temple in RT Nagar Bengaluru. Uddhav Thackeray congratulated Deve Gowda but conveyed his apologies for not being able to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Kumaraswamy as his party is busy in Palghar by-polls HD Deve Gowda calls Uddhav Thackeray, invites him for the swearing-in of Kumaraswamy as the CM of Karnataka. #HDKumaraswamy to take oath as Chief Minister of Karnataka today. Visuals of celebrations from outside his residence in Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/tz2rrenFEX ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2018 Visuals of celebrations from outside Kumaraswamy's residence ahead of his oath taking ceremony in Bengaluru Out of the 34 ministries, the Congress will get 22 berths and the JD(S) 12 which includes the post of Chief Minister. The portfolios will be allocated only after the floor test which will take place on May 24. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, BSP chief Mayawati, Samajwadi Partys Akhilesh Yadav along with Congress president Rahul Gandhi and former party president Sonia Gandhi are expected to be present. Three key leaders would be missing from the ceremony. They are Telangana Chief Minister, K Chandrashekar Rao, Odisha CM, Naveen Patnaik and DMK leader, M K Stalin. While Patnaiks office has indicated that he has never attended a swearing in ceremony, Rao is skipping the event as he does not want to be seen with the Congress which is his main opponent in Telangana. Stalin cancelled at the last moment citing the anti-Sterlite protests that rocked Tuticorin on Tuesday. The BJP would not take part in the ceremony. Its leaders would sport black bands and protest across the state. The party has called the alliance as an unholy one and said that it was against the peoples mandate that this government is being formed. Kumaraswamy's swearing is being seen as a show of strength by the opposition, which is striving hard to put forth a collective effort to stitch up a united front to take on the BJP in 2019 Lomk Sabha elections. Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao is in Bengaluru today to congratulate HD Kumaraswamy as he will not able to attend the swearing in tomorrow. Kumaraswamy-led government's floor test would be held on May 24 in Karnataka Vidhan Souhda. CM designate HD Kumaraswamy to be sworn in tomorrow. Here is the tentative list of the ministry under HD Kumaraswamy: CM - HD Kumaraswamy; Deputy CM - Dr G Parameshwara; Congress - 21-22 Ministers; JDS - 12-13 Ministers; Speaker - Ramesh Kumar from Congress "Congress-JDS leaders met and discussed about the cabinet formation, out of 34 ministries, 22 ministries will go with Congress Party and 12 ministries, including CM will be with be with JDS. Portfolio allocation to be decided after floor test," Congress' Karnataka general secretary KC Venugopal told the media. Congress's KR Ramesh Kumar to be the Speaker of the new Karnataka Assembly. Congress's G Parameshwara to be Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister. He will take oath along with CM designate HD Kumaraswamy tomorrow. The floor test would be conducted at 4 pm on Saturday. The assembly would be conducted by the pro-tem speaker who would be appointed by the Governor of Karnataka. The BJP has proposed the name of Umesh Katti while the Congress has suggested R V Deshpande. Convention demands that the senior most leader of the House be appointed. The Congress MLAs who are holed up in Taj Krishna in Hyderabad are holding a meeting before they leave for Bengaluru. The MLAs were carted away from Bengaluru to avoid poaching. The JD(S) MLAs are too in a different hotel in Hyderabad. The decision to move out of Bengaluru was taken after security was withdrawn at the Eagleton resort in Bidadi, a town 38 kilometres away from Bengaluru. Former Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah has left Hyderabad for Bengaluru. He was with the Congress MLAs in Hyderabad. He would arrive in Bengaluru shortly and also take part in the proceedings to be held on Saturday at the legislative assembly. Meanwhile BJP leaders, Shobha Karandlaje and K S Eshwarappa have said that they will sail through the floor test. The leaders claim that they have the support of 120 MLAs in the House. Earlier the BJP leaders went into a huddle at the Taj West End hotel in Bengaluru to chalk out a strategy. The Congress and JD(S) MLAs would leave Hyderabad for Bengaluru at 6 pm today. All the MLAs are holed up in Hyderabad ahead of the crucial trust vote on Saturday at 4 pm. At first they planned on taking the flight. However owing to weather conditions they decides to take the bus. KG Bhopaiah appointed as pro tem speaker of Karnataka Assembly. Though Congress MLA RV Deshpande is the senior most leader, Governor appointed Bhopaiah as pro tem speaker. "BJP wanted that vote of confidence should be done via secret ballot.But, Supreme Court has written in its order that there shall be no secret ballot in proving vote of confidence tomorrow," says Congress' Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The Supreme Court earlier decided against giving 15 days time for the trust vote as proposed by Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala. BJP MLAs arrive at Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru to meet the Governor Vajubhai Vala. The faces a crucial floor test in the Karnataka assembly tommorrow after the Supreme Court decided against giving 15 days time for the trust vote as proposed by Governor Vajubhai Vala. K G Bopaiah the Virajpet MLA has taken oath as the pro-tem speaker. On BJP MLA KG Bopaiah being appointed as pro-tem speaker, Abhishek Manu Singhvi says "What the BJP has done is against the rulebook. Ideally, the senior most leader is supposed to hold that position." Conventionally, the longest-serving member of the House will be nominated as pro-tem (short-term) speaker, whose role is limited to administering the oath to all the newly elected MLAs and conducting the election of full-time speaker.Congress MLA from Haliyal constituency, RV Deshpande was expected to be pro tem speaker. Congress to move SC over appointment of K G Bopaiah as pro-tem Speaker. The Congress has objected to this move by the Governor. The Congress says that the senior most member of the House should hold this post. The Congress had proposed the name of R V Deshpande, an 8 time MLA. The BJP hits back at the Congress for opposing the appointment of KG Bopaiah as the Pro Tem Speaker. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, " 'KG Bopaiah was appointed as Pro Tem speaker even in 2008. That time Bopaiah was 10 years younger than what he is today. Congress is thus raising hoax objection. The appointment of Bopaiah Ji is as per rules and regulations." Pro-tem speaker K G Bopaiah will initiate proceedings in the assembly at 11 am. He will administer oath to all the new MLAs and this would go on till 4 pm. The trust vote would begin after that. The trust vote is expected to go late into the night. Order by Governor appointing BJP MLA K G Bopaiah as the pro-tem Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Bopaiah will not only adminster the oath to the new MLAs but also conduct the all important teust vote against B S Yeddyurappa. I fail to understand the desperation of the Congress says Shobha Karandlaje, BJP MP on the appointment of K G Bopaiah as pro-tem Speaker. She says that the Congress is suffering from an inferiority complex. Bopaiah was appointed pro-tem speaker by the Governor. The Congress is likely to challenge it on the ground that the seniority norm in the House was not followed. With the Congress opposing KG Bopaiah's appointment as pro-tem speaker, BJPs Shobha Karandlaje in a presser says she fails to understand Congress' desperation over the matter. She believes Congress leaders are suffering from inferiority complex. Security has been tightened in and around Vidhan Soudha where the floor test will take place on Saturday at 4 pm. The state police chief has reviewed the situation and said that all efforts have been made to ensure that security is tight. The Supreme Court had directed the police chief to ensure that the voting goes on smoothly and security is adequate. AICC Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala says, "BJP will be exposed after the floor test. RV Deshpande is the senior most MLA, but the governor has also encountered the constitution by appointing KG Bopaiah as the pro-tem speaker." KG Bopaiah neither believes in the democratic process nor the Constitutional rules. It was the SC which had given stinging structures against BJP MLA KG Bopaiah: Randeep Singh Surjewala "We will be able to inform you in a short while. Yes, the option of going back to Court is open," says Randeep Surjewala, on if Congress will challenge BJP MLA KG Bopaiah's appointment as pro tem Speaker. "All the MLAs are here, we will be leaving for Bengaluru. We do not have any meeting here. Siddaramaiah has come here, we will be leaving soon. We have 77 MLAs here. No pressure on us. It will be our government," ANI quoted Congress MLA Rajshekar Patil as saying. Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reached Hotel Taj Krishna in Hyderabad where the Congress MLAs have been lodged to prevent from being poached ahead of the crucial floor test. Siddaramaiah will now accompany them back to Bengaluru where the newly instated BJP-led government would be facing a floor test in the Karnataka assembly. BJP MLAs to meet at 9 pm today at Shangri-La Hotel in Bengaluru. The MLAs will discuss the strategy for tomorrow's all important floor test. Congress leader Rajeev Gowda and VS Ugrappa release audio clip in which Gali Janaradhana Reddy is allegedly trying to lure Congress MLA from Raichur Rural by offering him money. HD Kumaraswamy and Siddaramaiah join MLA-elects at TaJ Krishna in Hyderabad, to take part in a meeting. We are in the Shangri-La hotel for the legislature meeting. We have the majority. More than what we expected. Our workers are really happy. CM BS Yeddyurappa. He says, "Of course they are with us, if the MLAs from Congress & JD(S) don't support us, how can we prove majority? We will win the floor test 101%." This audio CD is one of the handiworks of Congress' dirty tricks department. This is a fake CD: Prakash Javadekar on the audio, which was released by Congress, in which Janaradhana Reddy is allegedly trying to lure Congress MLA from Raichur Rural by offering him money. Congress leaders Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Kapil Sibal file petition with the Registrar of Supreme Court seeking dismissal of KG Bopaiah as pro-tem speaker Karnataka Congress Legislature Party meets in Hyderabad and unanimously elect Siddaramaiah as the leader of the Congress Legislative Party as per the directions of Congress President Rahul Gandhi Congress-JD(S) seek video recording of proceedings. This plea was not accepted in the morning. Karnataka effect: Congress not given opportunity to form govts in Goa, Manipur, says Rahul India oi-Oneindia Staff By Oneindia Staff Raipur, May 19: A day ahead of the floor test in Karnataka, Congress president Rahul Gandhi raked up the issue of government formation in Goa and Manipur last year during his interaction with party workers in Durg, Chhattisgarh on Friday. Rahul said his party was denied the opportunity to form governments in Manipur and Goa despite having the highest number of seats in the respective Legislative Assemblies. "In Karnataka, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was given an opportunity (to form the government as the single largest party post polls) but the Congress was not given this option in Manipur (28 seats out of 60) and Goa (16 seats in 40-member House)," the Congress president said. Asked if he thought electronic voting machines should be replaced with the old system of ballot papers, he said, "A lot of people feel that a change should be brought about and the ballot paper system should be reintroduced," he said. "The Congress fights elections (in accordance) with rules and regulations. The BJP does not," he added. The Congress chief said the more "serious" situation was of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) "capturing every democratic institution". "For the first time, four judges of the Supreme Court came out in public and sought justice from the people. The RSS has been capturing every democratic institution. This is a fight of ideology," he told party workers, adding that "we all" have to fight the ideology of the BJP and the RSS, and defeat them. Alleging that the RSS was involved in pitting people against each other, Rahul said the Narendra Modi government was for some "selected 15-20 per cent of the richest people". He assured workers that tickets to the state Assembly polls, slated for later this year, would be distributed only after consulting them. "I assure you that only people believing in the Congress ideology will be given tickets in the coming (Assembly) elections in Chhattisgarh. It will be finalised after having discussions with workers. Tickets will not be given to those who join the Congress from other parties," he said. The Congress chief said the party would finalise 90 per cent of its candidates for the state Assembly polls by August 15. The state has a 90-member Legislative Assembly. He exhorted workers to spread the ideology of the Congress and expose the "hollow claims" of the Modi government. Gandhi told them that it was their duty to tell the people that the PM was a "liar" and the state chief minister "corrupt". "Farmers, Dalits, Adivasis and people belonging to the weaker sections and small shopkeepers are disappointed. The Modi government has made false promises of depositing Rs 15 lakh into the accounts of people, providing jobs, ensuring good return to farmers for their produce, Swachh Bharat, Start Up India and Digital India," he said. Calling party workers as the Congress' family as well as its backbone, Rahul said action would be taken against any senior leader who disrespected them. "The way a Congress worker should have been respected, they were not. I have a target and am going to change this trend. In next one or two years, if any party worker is disrespected by any senior leader, I will take action against the leader concerned," he said. Accusing the RSS of not giving importance to women, he questioned the organisation on the absence of women members in its "shakhas" (branches). Meanwhile, in Karnataka, security has been tightened across Bengaluru hours ahead of the crucial trust vote at 4 pm on Saturday. Both the BJP and the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance are claiming to have requisite number of MLAs with them to sail through the tough test. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, May 19, 2018, 9:57 [IST] Karnataka floor test: Congress hopeful that 'missing' Anand Singh will 'come back' India oi-Vikas By Vikas The mystery surrounding Congress MLA Anand Singh, who was said to have switched sides, seems to be deepening. Initially it was reported that Anand Singh may support the BJP. Then yesterday (May 18) it emerged that the MLA may stay with the Congress. It now appears that even the Congress is not sure about Anand Singh and are merely hopeful that he may turn up for the crucial trust vote. "Physically he is not with us but he is in contact with our leaders. He has to come to Vidhana Soudha today. He will definitely vote for us. He is with us. He will come back," Congress MLA Ramalinga Reddy told the media today. Anand Singh, who joined the Congress ahead of the Karnataka election, had made headlines on Thursday (May 17) after it was reported that he was not reachable and efforts on to trace him had gone in vain. Kumarswamy had Thursday (May 17) accused the BJP of using the Enforcement Directorate (ED) threats to coerce Singh to join the BJP. Kumaraswamy quoted another Congress MLA, who was said to in touch with Singh, as saying that he feared that Centre may let ED loose behind him if he does not join the BJP. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, May 19, 2018, 10:15 [IST] Karnataka floor test: When politics turns farce, laughter is the best medicine India oi-Oneindia Staff By Oneindia Staff Bengaluru, May 19: If you are worried that the nation is going to the dogs, thanks to the bizarre series of undemocratic and unconstitutional events in Karnataka in the aftermath of the election results, time to take a chill pill. Just go to Twitter and have some fun. After all, no point getting stressed about the whole "state of affairs" and increasing your blood pressure. Hospital bills will surely burn a hole in your pocket and you won't be able to recover from that trauma forever. From suggesting how the BJP is going to get the much-needed eight MLAs to its side to former Congress president Sonia Gandhi keeping the Congress-JD(S) flock together ahead of the crucial floor test on Saturday, Twitter gurus know Indian politics the best. With extra dose of humour and cutting-edge memes, Twitter is the only space for some relief. Check out below, what we mean. Till then don't stop the LoLs and Heheheh... Tomorrow is marriage but BJP has not done shopping yet.#FloorTest (@BabuSaheb90) May 18, 2018 This is how BJP proves their strength in in #KarnatakaFloorTest by eleminating MLAs.. pic.twitter.com/rRNudoVKIK Monkey Baat (@StupidPeople_in) May 18, 2018 Hello, Sharad Pawar speaking...: Man uses spoof app to call Mantralaya; 3 held from Pune Backstabber Sharad Pawar can't be our guru; MVA govt just adjustment: Sena leader NCP chief Sharad Pawar praises Nitin Gadkari: He's a great example of how a people's rep can work Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala should resign: Sharad Pawar India pti-PTI NCP chief Sharad Pawar said on Sturday that Karnakata Governor Vajubhai Vala should resign after the three-day-old B S Yeddyurappa government in the state collapsed just before a crucial trust vote in the assembly. Pawar said Vala's actions have damaged democracy. Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today resigned instead of facing the scheduled trust vote in the Karnataka assembly. The trust vote was ordered by the Supreme Court on a petition filed by the Congress and JD(S) challenging Governor Vala's decision inviting the BJP to form the government in the state. "I congratulate Congress and JD(S) MLAs for not falling prey to allurements. The BJP should not have made haste to make Yeddyurappa chief minister when it did not have a (clear) majority," Pawar told reporters in Mumbai. BJP's decision to make Yeddyurappa chief minister was a "blow to democracy", he said. PTI Mysuru gang-rape case: HD Kumaraswamy says 'follow what was done in Hyderabad' Kumaraswamy to take oath as Karnataka CM on Wednesday India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy will take oath on Wednesday (May 23) in what is expected to be a grand ceremony attended by leaders of several regional parties. The ceremony, which was supposed to be on Monday was changed due to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi\'s death anniversary. Speaking to media after meeting the Governor, Kumaraswamy had earlier said, "Governor has invited me to form the government. Oath ceremony (as Chief Minister) to be held on Monday between 12 noon-1 pm." Governor Vajubhai Vala has instructed HD Kumaraswamy to prove majority in 15 days. It remains to be seen if it will be smooth sailing for HD Kumaraswamy and whether he will be able to prove majority. He said "West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu & Telangana CM KC Rao congratulated me. Mayawati ji has also blessed me. I have invited all regional leaders for the oath ceremony. I've also invited Sonia Gandhi ji & Rahul Gandhi ji personally." West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu & Telangana CM KC Rao congratulated me. Mayawati ji has also blessed me. I have invited all regional leaders for oath ceremony. I've also invited Sonia Gandhi ji & Rahul Gandhi ji personally: HD Kumaraswamy pic.twitter.com/g07Q1aAhPO ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 HD Kumaraswamy thanked Congress leaders and party MLAs for their support. He will be meeting the Congress leaders to discuss the modalities of oath taking ceremony tonight. Earlier, Yeddyurappa, ahead of the floor test in the Karnataka assembly, announced that his resignation as the chief minister. Kumaraswamy had served as the 18th Chief Minister of Karnataka between 3 February 2006 - 9 October 2007. In November 2014 Kumaraswamy was elected as Karnataka state Janata Dal (Secular) President. Lesson for Congress: Allying with regional parties is the way forward India oi-Vikas By Vikas Sv What unfolded in the Karnataka assembly today will embolden the regional parties for sure. The BJP, despite emerging as the largest party in Karnataka Assembly elections, was unable to form the government as two parties with lesser seats came together. It has not been long since Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh were wrested from the BJP after SP and BSP came together. Even in Bihar, the single largest party is RJD, though its a different matter that the alliance couldn't last long and the BJP joined hands with Nitish Kumar to topple the 'Mahagathbandhan' government. With less than 50 seats in Lok Sabha and defeat after defeat is states, it is clear that Congress alone cannot take on the BJP. And even the Congress is realising it as they did ally with the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh and RJD in Bihar. Regional parties can indeed emerge as a formidable front to stop the BJP, but for that they must keep their egos aside and find a common ground to unite. During the two terms of the UPA, Congress was the pillar which held other parties together. But the Congress of now is not the Congress of the past which can holds other parties together. So, for this regional parties alliance to work, there has to be a rallying point, a common ground which can hold them together. For Congress to be accepted by the regional parties in the alliance, they must first assure that they would not insist on making Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister. In fact, Rahul Gandhi's recent statement suggesting that he is willing to become PM, may have done more harm to Congress' chances of finding allies than good. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee have travelled length and breadth of the country in the last two months to convince regional parties to join hands. Mamata, no doubt, is a charismatic leader who, according to some, has prime ministerial ambitions. But will she be accepted as the leader of the united opposition. K Chandrasekhar Rao on April 29 met DMK president M Karunanidhi at his residence and dined with MK Stalin while the two spoke to Mamata Banerjee over the phone. Mamata Banerjee had in March met Sonia Gandhi and both leaders held discussions on plans to stop the BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Banerjee, who was in Delhi for a few days in March, had said that the Congress should help the 'anti-BJP' front which the regional parties are trying to forge. Banerjee is leaving no stone unturned to galvanise the opposition parties for a united fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). On March 27, the TMC supremo visited Parliament and met leaders of several opposition parties, including Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena parliamentarian Sanjay Raut. A week before that, K Chandrashekar Rao called on Banerjee in Kolkata and both stressed on the need for a front comprising of regional parties to stop the BJP. KCR had earlier called for a non-BJP and non-Congress front. So, all these developments show that regional parties are on the move to take on the BJP in a big way in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Whether this will actually materialise is something that depends on how accomodative these parties are towards each other. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, May 19, 2018, 19:02 [IST] Modi assures Rs 25,000 cr to J&K for development projects India oi-Vikas By Vikas Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Leh lay the foundation stone for the ambitious Zojila tunnel, assured Rs 25,000 crore for Jammu and Kashmir for the development projects and said that these projects will have a positive impact on the people of the state. Zojila tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity to Ladakh with the rest of the country. "There is great scope for agricultural growth across the state of Jammu and Kashmir. This state can play a key role when it comes to helping further holistic healthcare," he said in his address at the foundation stone laying ceremony. Ahead of the Prime Minister's visit, the NDA government had announced a unilateral ceasefire on security forces' operations as a goodwill gesture during the holy month of Ramzan which started yesterday. The visit of the Prime Minister has generated hope among the people in the militancy-ravaged Kashmir Valley, which has been witnessing increased violence since 2016. Modi will later in the day inaugurate the 330-MW Kishanganga hydroelectric project, whose progress was monitored by the Prime Minister's Office. He will also inaugurate it from Sher-e-Kashmir Convention Centre, located on the picturesque Dal Lake in the city. Security around the venue has been tightened and barricades had been erected as separatists had given a call for 'Lal Chowk chalo' tomorrow. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, May 19, 2018, 12:24 [IST] 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 Oppositions show of strength expected at Kumaraswamy's oath ceremony India oi-Deepika By Deepika JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy's oath taking ceremony to be held on Wednesday at the sprawling Kanteerava stadium on Monday will serve as the stepping stone for the grand alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Talks of a "mahaghatbandan" have already begun with both the Congress and JD(S) moving their MLAs to TRS-ruled Hyderabad amid fears of horse-trading. The rise of JD(S) in Karnataka also means a bigger role by the regional parties in the national arena during parliamentary elections in 2019. Reflection of this is the invitation extended to leaders of regional parties to attend the swearing-in of the JDS-Congress coalition government in Karnataka on May 21. Sources have said that BSP leader Mayawati, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, NCP President Sharad Pawar, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC president Mamata Banerjee, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, DMK President MK Stalin, and Rashtriaya Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh will be present at the swearing-in ceremony. Earlier on Saturday, Left parties and the Trinamool Congreess termed the resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa without facing a trust vote a "victory of secular democratic forces". Left parties and the Trinamool Congreess termed the resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa without facing a trust vote a "victory of secular demo "It's a victory of secular democratic forces. The BJP never had the numbers, but the governor invited them to form government. The party was given time for horse-trading. Karnataka showed that the BJP's downslide has started," CPI leader D Raja told PTI. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has termed the collapse of the three-day-old B S Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka a "victory of the people's mandate" and asked the central government to resign on moral grounds. "Today, the people's mandate has prevailed over money power," Yadav wrote on Twitter in Hindi. "Those who thought they could buy everyone have learnt the lesson that there are still people left who don't consider politics a business," he tweeted. "The central government should also resign on moral grounds," he added. "This is a big blow for them(BJP) and I think what they had been planning all along for 2019 has failed, they will now have to rethink and alter their strategies," Mayawati on BS Yeddyurappa's resignation as Karnataka CM. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party President N Chandrababu Naidu waged a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah on Karnataka politics. He described the resignation of BS Yeddurappa as Chief Minister due to lack of sufficient strength in the Assembly as victory of Democracy. Mamata Banerjee took to Twitter to strike at the BJP and said, " Democracy wins. Congratulations Karnataka. Congratualtions Deve Gowda Ji, Kumaraswamy Ji, Congress and others. Victory of the 'regional' front." Mamata Banerjee has also said that she would attend the swearing-in ceremony. The leader of CPI(M), Sitaram Yechury said, "The corrupt and criminal designs of the BJP have been defeated.This shows the Governor's decision to invite the BJP to form a government was malafide and against his constitutional mandate. If the Governor of Karnataka has any shame left, he should submit his resignation as well. The Union Ministers sitting in Bangalore, facilitating and enabling corrupt deals, are equally culpable.This goes well beyond Karnataka," he said. BJP government in Karnataka collapsed today, minutes before the scheduled trust vote, with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa resigning in a tame anticlimax to what promised to be on the edge of seat political thriller. Jail release likely on Monday but Lalu to return home from Delhi hospital after recovery Patna court summons Lalu in defamation case India pti-PTI A court at Patna on Saturday summoned Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad, who is serving sentences in three fodder scam cases in a Ranchi jail and is out on a six-week provisional bail on medical grounds, in connection with a defamation case. Sub-judge Om Prakash passed the order, taking cognizance of a complaint lodged by a member of the Bihar Disaster Management Authority, Udaykant Mishra, who has accused the RJD chief of making disparaging remarks about his friendship with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The court posted the matter for further hearing next month. The RJD supremo had allegedly made the defamatory remarks at a rally in Bhagalpur in September in 2017. He had also attacked the Nitish Kumar government over the multi-crore-rupee Srijan scam in Bhagalpur. Prasad had allegedly referred to the close friendship between Mishra and Kumar and claimed that the chief minister stayed at the former's house and not at the circuit house, whenever he toured Bhagalpur. The Srijan scam, which involves fraudulent withdrawal of money from the treasury by an NGO, is being investigated by the CBI. PTI This is not Goa or Manipur, Congress sends clear message to BJP India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar As the adage goes 'Once bitten twice shy', Congress proved that they can not allow BJP to repeat what they did in Goa and Manipur. The united opposition of the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) did not allow the BJP to expand the saffron regime beyond the Vindhyas. Now, the number of states ruled by BJP is reduced to 22. BS Yeddyurappa told the packed house that he would quit as CM as he did not have sufficient number to prove the majority. The BJP needed 8 more MLAs to stay in power. Till the last moment, the saffron party tried all the methods in its kitty to get the Congress and JDS MLAs to support Yeddyurappa during the floor test. Wary of what BJP did in the name of 'Operation Lotus' in 2008, the Congress and JDS held their flock together successfully. Congress leader DK Shivakumar and his brother DK Suresh played a crucial role in holding the numbers intact. Also, the number of attempts made by BJP leaders to lure Congress and JDS MLAs went in vain. BJP could not repeat its political magic in Karnataka like what they did in Goa and Manipur. In Manipur, though the Congress won 28 out of 60, the BJP with 21 seats went ahead and managed to form an alliance. Congress had won 28 seats (35.1% share of the electorate) in the 60-member Manipur assembly; the BJP emerged victorious in 21 seats (36.2% of the vote share). Likewise in Goa, though the BJP had won 13 seats, less than the Congress- 17, out of 40 constituencies, the BJP formed an alliance with Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Goa Forward Party. As a result, the Congress Party protested at the Governor's decision to invite the BJP to form the government in Goa. This triggered a debate about the role of the governor in government formation in the states. United opposition succeeds in its game plan to keep BJP out of power in Karnataka India oi-Vinod By Vinod New Delhi: Formation of the Janata Dal (Secular) government is not simply a culmination of the Congress supporting the Janata Dal (Secular) to form a coalition government in the state rather it was an effort of the United opposition from behind the curtains to stop the BJP any any cost. So this time round the opposition was ready with all its ammunition and game plane which was executed without any mistake. This opposition unity has a bigger dream but will they be able to realise it or they are trying o cut more than what they can chew. Sources said that the Congress leaders were in touch with the Left Front leaders who are having good relations with former Prime Minister H D Deve Gouda with this proposal that if any such situation emerges both the parties join hands with to form the government. Former Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was constantly in touch with H D Kumarswamy even when he had gone to Singapore immediately after the elections. Mayawati was also in communication with Deve Gouda and she was prompt enough to castigate BJP leadership immediately after their fall. She reportedly had spoken to Sonia Gandhi immediately after the Assembly election results that she must not let this opportunity go out of Congress' hand. However, she did not even bother to take name of the Congress president Rahul Gandhi in her media address despite a pointed question towards her by taking Gandhi's name. Political analyst like Badri Narayan said that this was actually the matter of survival for all opposition so they were left with no option but unite. However, Narayan said that it is premature to say that this is the beginning of the opposition unity before 2019 elections as the contour of this unity is not yet clear as what role which party will have to play. Left Front has been of the opinion that if there is no possibility of a nation-wide front of the anti-BJP forces then a region-wise front could also be tried to keep the BJP at bay. West Bengal chief minister Mmamata Banerjee too was involved in this and she reportedly speak to United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandi that her party must not let this opportunity go to wrest power in Karnataka with the help of any alliance to keep BJP out of power. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, May 19, 2018, 18:25 [IST] EXPLAINER: Why is Prince Harry and Meghan's son not a prince? When Harry weds Meghan, PETA India has a special gift, Merry, for the royal couple India oi-Oneindia Staff By Oneindia Staff Mumbai, May 19: The wedding of the year is here as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are all set to exchange nuptial vows in a grand affair at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, England on Saturday. The couple will wed at noon at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, before travelling through the town in a carriage at about 13:00 BST, reported BBC. Like millions across the world, starry-eyed Indians too would tune into their television sets to have a glimpse of the royal affair, which is nothing but a dream for many mortals. Amid all the noise, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has decided to present "Merry" to Meghan and Harry on their special day. If you are wondering who is Merry, well, it is an Indian bull, which was rescued with wounded neck in Sangli, Maharashtra. Merry has been cheekily named after Meghan and Harry by PETA India. Since it's impossible to ferry the bull all the way to the United Kingdom (UK), thus PETA India has decided to gift them a portrait of Merry with its rescue story. "As they (Meghan and Harry) have decided not to accept gifts, but donations for charity on their wedding, we have tried to send a message with our gift," S Bangera, PETA India, told ANI. In a statement issued by PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk, she said, "Prince Harry and Meghan Markle now have a one-ton bull to call their own. Rescuing Merry is an ideal wedding present for a couple who want their day celebrated with charitable works and contributions." She added, "The royal wedding is the perfect time for anyone to spare a thought for and show some love to all our fellow living beings." Truly, love is in the air, and Merry brings a lot of cheer around us. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, May 19, 2018, 6:56 [IST] Yeddyurappa and Sriramulu resign from the Lok Sabha India oi-Vinod By Vinod New Delh: Bharatiya Janata Party chief minister of Karnataka and Lok Sabha member from Shimoga constituency B S Yediyurappa and B Sriramulu from the Bellary (SC) constituency have resigned from their respective Lok Sabha seats. Speaker has accepted their resignations. Both of them have been elected for Karnataka Assembly and if the BJP is able to prove its majority Sriramulu is likely to anointed as the deputy chief minister. Just before the floor test in the Karnataka Assembly, they have handed over their resignation to the Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and she accepted it. The Supreme Court on Friday ordered a floor test, which is scheduled to take place at 4 pm on Saturday to determine whether the day-old BS Yeddyurappa government has the support of the requisite number of MLAs to retain its power in Karnataka. Presently, the BJP is eight seats short of the majority mark -112 while the Congress-JD-S coalition claims to have the support of 116 members. Yeddyurappa government has to take a trust vote and prove its majority to survive in the state. The Congress-JD-S alliance termed Karnataka governor's invite to Yeddyurappa 'an encounter of the constitution'. Yeddyurappa's swearing-in ceremony took place after a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court refused to block Vala's invitation to Yeddyurappa in a pre-dawn hearing on Thursday. Ahead of the trust vote, the newly elected JD(S) and Congress MLAs from Karnataka, who had been camping in Hyderabad to avoid any poaching bids, on Friday left for Bengaluru to attend the crucial floor test in Karnataka Assembly on Saturday. As per the Supreme Court order, the third-time Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa will have to take floor test at 4pm on Saturday to confirm whether he enjoys the majority in the 224-member House. However the present strength is 221with two vacant seats and H D Kumarswamy having won on two seats. Yeddyurappa claimed having magic number in the Assembly. Both BJP's Yeddyurappa and former CM Siddaramaiah, the leader of the Congress legislature party, say they are confident of their numbers. The Congress and the JD(S) dropped their demand in the Supreme Court to change a pro-tem speaker. Hearing a Congress plea, the court ordered that local channels be given live feed of trust vote proceedings in Karnataka in order to ensure transparency. Meanwhile, Janata Dal (Secular) and Congress MLAs from Karnataka, who were camping in Hyderabad, reached Bengaluru on Saturday. Alleging poaching attempts by the BJP, the Congress-JD(S) combine had shifted its MLAs to prevent what they called horse-trading. Yeddyurappa and Siddaramaiah have already takne oath as MLAs. "Live broadcast of floor test would be the best way to ensure transparency of proceedings," says the Supreme Court. Justice AK Sikri asks who will conduct floor test, if pro-tem speaker will only administer oath. Sibal wants trust vote to be conducted by segregating MLAs. Additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta points voting will be telecast on TV channels. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, May 19, 2018, 12:36 [IST] In more show of stubbornness, N Korea now refuses to accept South scribes at N-site dismantling International oi-Shubham By Shubham It was all going well till last May 16 when North Korea cancelled an official-level meeting with South Korea just hours before it was scheduled to begin and also threatened to scrap the June 12 summit between its supreme leader Kim Jong-un and U President Donald Trump. North Korea's reasoning for this sudden U-turn in a peace process which was looking to gather pace was that the US-led air drills with South Korea on the Korean soil was violating the ambience of peace following the Punmunjeom Declaration of April 27 between the two Koreas. In a development indicating that Pyongyang is ready to take the rough route further, Pyongyang has declined to accept a list of South Korean journalists who hoped to attend the event marking the closure of North's nuclear site sometime between May 23 and 25, Reuters reported citing South Korean confirmation over the same on Friday, May 18. North Korea recently invited a limited number of media representatives from other countries, including South Korea, to observe the official dismantling of its only nuclear site at Punggye-ri as an effort to be transparent in its quest for peace. The South Korean Ministry of Unification said on Friday that Pyongyang refused to accept the list of journalists forwarded by Seoul for the occasion of dismantling of the site, Reuters said, adding that the ministry, which deals with the North, did not divulge details. North Korea was also upset with the South over the US-led drills and used harsh words like "ignorant" and "incompetent" against its government, including for allowing a "human scum" to address its National Assembly which many suspected to be its defector. The Moon Jae-in government of South Korea, however, opted not to retaliate and even expressed its desire to mediate between Pyongyang and Washington to see that the summit goes through successfully. Trump on Thursday, May 17, also tried to pacify North Korea after it took an aggressive stand over the summit, saying the security of Kim Jong-un would be ensured in any agreement and North Korea would not be handed a treatment that was given to late dictator Muammar Gaddafi's Libya, unless the agreement could not be reached. The situation turned for the worse after US's National Security Adviser John Bolton, known to be ultra-hawkish, sought transfer of North Korea's nuclear weapons to the US as it was done while denuclearising Libya in 2003. Trump although distanced himself from Bolton's Libya model, he also suspected that Kim Jong-un was being influenced by China, North Korea's closest ally in the region to which Kim also paid two visits in one-and-half months, reports added. China, responding to Trump's suspicion, said it still stands for peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, May 19, 2018, 9:46 [IST] Modi-Putin meeting in Sochi on May 21: Why India-Russia relations have stagnated International oi-Shubham By Shubham International relations have become a grey subject since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 as uni-multipolarity and later multipolarity dawned after the 2001 terror attacks in the US. Unlike in the Cold War era when identifying power blocs and their members and the politics was a far more easier job, the dynamics of world politics today is much different and nothing realises it more than the relation between India and Russia. What's the state of India-Russia relations at present? In the run-up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Sochi for an informal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who started his fourth term in office a few days ago, a lot is being said and written about how New Delhi and Moscow should approach the occasion. There is a clear confusion among observers who, even after defining India-Russia relations as historical, fumble to analyse their current state of affairs. Are India and Russia still close to each other as they were during the Cold War or even before that? Or have they become almost like enemies, cozying up to each other's rivals on the world stage? India-Russia relations have remained anachronistic The point is: nations can little afford to become only great friends or serious enemies in international relations, especially in today's circumstances where interests clash at the blink of an eye. India has traditionally been dependent on Soviet Union/Russia for military hardware and political backing but as time passes, there have been big changes in India's needs which make Russia not the biggest friend to look up to as it was during the Cold War era when India had to tackle a formidable US-Pakistan-China axis. It is not that India still doesn't get military aid from Russia but there are other considerations that New Delhi has to keep in mind today. For instance, Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited Moscow in April to finalise New Delhi's procurement of five S-400 Triumf air defence systems but it would risk challenging the sanctions that the US, a country which is much closer to India today than in the past, has imposed on Russia. Again, India reportedly withdrew from an ambitious joint defence programme with Russia which is about co-development and production of the Sukhoi/HAL Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft, also in April. It was reported that India decided to pull out of the 11-year programme because of disagreements over expenses, technology transfer and the aircraft's technological capacities. This incident says how much voice India has gained today, owing to its growing economic stature and will not blindly accept anything that doesn't serve its interests. Not blind faith but balance in the buzzword in today's foreign policy In these circumstances, balance is the keyword. Since this is a world where cooperation is more important than making confronting camps and blocs, India has more responsibility now to maintain decent ties with both Moscow and Washington, which is a far more challenging task than it was during the Cold War era. Russia has gone closer to China, Pak? Yet, it doesn't mean India is at risk Yet, it may still seem worrisome for some India supporters that Russia has inched closer to China and Pakistan - countries that are not known to be India-friendly - although US President Donald Trump has not shown too much intent in staying close to India like his predecessor Barack Obama. The fact is these new strategic arrangements do not necessarily mean Cold War 2.0 has started with the opposing sides of the original struggle having changed camps. Russia has come closer to China and Pakistan more because of strategic reasons to unite against common threats like the United States or the terror outfits. It doesn't mean that they have set up a common ideological bloc and have issues to worry about each other as well. So, one need not complicate India's relations with Russia in today's times by judging whether they are enemies or friends. Moscow isn't really concerned about India's growing ties with the US but with its own ways to tackle the West over issues like Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Nato, etc. It is also equally bothered about looking after its own economy which is not in the great health, especially in the wake of falling oil prices and sanctions imposed by the West. Economic woes and suspicion towards China makes India relevant for Russia Yes, China is a bigger economy who Russia can look up to to offset its economic woes but Moscow also harbours a suspicion about Beijing as the latter's global ambitions have also pushed it toward gaining influence in Central Asia, a region which Russia sees as its own backyard. This makes India a key option for Russia to look forward to. Given its growing economic stature, India can pay back Russia's age-old favour through granting access to its huge market. The entry of India in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation can help Russia balance its game vis-a-vis China. In this perspective, India has a significance for both the US and Russia as both Washington and Moscow look to counter Beijing's insatiable hunger on the world stage with a promising economic power. So, unlike the simple military hardware demand-supply relationship of the past, these times require India and Russia to cooperate on diverse issues more extensively. One suspects the age-old relationship between India and Russia has remained too simplistic and not being prepared to accommodate the demands of the changing era. For India, a change in Russia's approach is important For India, too, a change in Russia's approach towards it is key. As a Moscow Times article said in December 2014, Russia no longer afforded to see as a developing country of the 1960s requiring Moscow's help but a major economy. "The friendly, but somewhat unequal, relationship of the Soviet era needs to be replaced by a more serious, more businesslike and yet very friendly partnership relationship," the piece said. The problem with Putin's Russia is that it is less significant an economic power and more about political, military and strategic confrontation with the West with which India has a decent relationship. Moscow should have done on it adequately by now, since Putin has served at its helm for a long time, but unfortunately it hasn't succeeded to grow as an attractive economic destination for Indian businessmen to make a beeline. New Delhi can't really be blamed if India's once flourishing relationship with Russia doesn't seem shiny enough. The relationship has neither worsened nor improved but has only stagnated. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, May 19, 2018, 9:33 [IST] North Korea military officer and a civilian defect to South Korea International pti-PTI Seoul, May 19: A North Korean military officer, accompanied by a civilian, defected to the South across the Yellow Sea today, a South Korean news report said, citing a government source. "A small boat was spotted in waters off the north of Baengnyeong Island" near the inter-Korean border, the source told Yonhap news agency, adding that the officer, who holds the rank of major, and a civilian were aboard the vessel. "They expressed willingness to defect," he said. A Korea Coast Guard official said relevant authorities were investigating the case, declining to give details. The defection was the 14th involving a North Korean soldier since 2000. The last defection by a North Korean military officer took place in 2008, YTN TV said. It is the first defection by any North Korean since a historic summit between the two Koreas which saw their leaders agree to pursue the denuclearization of the peninsula and a permanent peace. In November last year, a North Korean soldier drove to the heavily-guarded border at speed and ran across under a hail of bullets from his own side. He was hit multiple times in the dramatic defection at Panmunjom truce village. In 2012 a North Korean soldier walked unchecked through rows of electrified fencing and surveillance cameras, prompting Seoul to sack three field commanders for a security lapse. In June last year, two of four crew members on a North Korean fishing boat which drifted to the South refused to return home and they were allowed resettle in the South. A month later, five North Koreans in another small boat crossed the sea border into South Korean waters and expressed their wish to live in the South. More than 30,000 North Korean civilians have fled their homeland but it is very rare for them to cross the closely guarded inter-Korean border, which is fortified with minefields and barbed wire. Most flee across the porous frontier with neighbouring China. PTI Not possible to order release, deport Rohingyas detained in Jammu without following law: SC Rohingya refugees agony continues: 16,000 babies born in Bangladesh camps in 9 months International oi-Shubham By Shubham The persecution of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and their fleeing the country and taking refuge elsewhere has been a massive political crisis but now, there seems to be more problems emerging around them. According to Unicef which spoke on the matter on Wednesday, May 16, the children's agency of the United Nations, 16,000 babies were born in various camps and informal settlements in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar in the last nine months since the Myanmar Army cracked down on the Rohingyas, forcing thousands of their families flee and take refuge in the neighbouring country. Terrible violence broke out in Myanmar's disturbed Rakhine province in August 2017, after the army resorted to reprisals against alleged threat to the state security by insurgents and this led to a huge exodus and resultant political problems in the neighbouring countries. "Around 60 babies a day are taking their first breath in appalling conditions, away from home, to mothers who have survived displacement, violence, trauma and, at times, rape," reports quoted Unicef's Representative in Bangladesh Edouard Beigbeder as saying. The women and girls remain exposed to dangers of sexual exploitation besides other menace in the Bangladeshi camps that house over 700,000 Rohingyas as refugees. The UN had called the persecution of the refugees and burning down their houses tantamount to 'ethnic cleansing'. Beigbeder also said that it would be impossible to know the actual number of babies born because of sexual violence but stressed the necessity of providing each newborn and its mother as well as the expecting women to get the help and care they require. An earlier study of 'Save the Children' project said 48,000 babies would be born in 2018 in already overcrowded Rohingya camps, an India Today report said. The Rohingyas are mostly stateless Muslim minority numbering around 1.1 million. A Bangladeshi health official in the condition of anonymity said 18,300 pregnant women had been identified in the refugee camps and the total estimate was roughly around 25,000, the report added. Collapse of Kabul will go down as one of the greatest defeats in American history: Donald Trump Thousands of terrorists might have been airlifted out of Kabul: Trump slams Biden Never in history has withdrawal from war been handled so badly: Trump Trump has no remorse for using the term animals; says will use it again International oi-Shubham By Shubham US President Donald Trump who recently called a section of migrants entering the US unlawfully "animals" during a talk with Republican senator from California, was unapologetic about his using the word and said he would continue to use it to define the MS-13 gang - a violent Salvadoran-American gang which the Trump administration has found to be a suitable punching bag to show its concern for America's national security. Trump was criticised by the Democrats for using the word but the president was unfazed. Replying to a question from the media during a meeting with Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday, May 17, Trump said his remark made on Wednesday, May 16, was aimed at the MS-13 gang members. "MS-13, these are animals coming onto our country," Trump was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. He also said that he will continue to use the same term for the MS-13 and other gang members that enter the US in the future as well, AP added. Trump, in a voice that was critical of California's immigration policies, said during his meeting with the California officials that his administration was stopping people who were trying to enter the US and referred to some of the migrants as "animals". Trump has used the term "animals" to describe Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in the past after his regime allegedly used chemical weapons against his own people in April. He also used it to describe terrorists and shooters in educational institutions. The White House stood by Trumps, saying the term was yet not strong enough to define the MS-13. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, May 19, 2018, 9:51 [IST] US condemns suicide attack on Afghan mosque in strongest terms; says Afghans deserve a 'future free of terror' Afghan-origin terrorists may try to enter J&K once situation stabilises in Afghanistan: Army Chief Over 100 Afghan nationals on their way home from India via Tehran UK toes Trump's line, considers sending more troops to Afghanistan International oi-Shubham By Shubham As terror attacks spiral in Afghanistan where the US-led West is engaged in almost a 17-year war, the UK is considering sending more troops to the war-ravaged country after US President Donald Trump sought the Nato players to "pay their fair share", reports said on Friday, May 18. The country's defence secretary Gavin Williamson has reportedly written to Prime Minister Theresa May to send 400 more soldiers to Afghanistan to assist the 600 already present there, training the local forces to tackle insurgents. The latest development shows the UK toeing the US's line of action. Last year in August, Trump had announced that Washington would send an additional 3,500 troops to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban. The US president has also cautioned the Nato members to fulfil their respective commitments to the security organisation's expenditure. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, May 19, 2018, 10:09 [IST] Posted 5/18/18 Thirteen Homemakers met on April 27 at the Yankee Peddler Tea Room in Osage Beach for an enjoyable luncheon. Reports came back to the Homemakers that were unable to attend that the food was great and 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 Kerry Eleveld Daily Kos Staff People who have worked as prosecutors and investigators tend to agree: Everyone has a breaking point. That's what former FBI Assistant Director Frank Figliuzzi told MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace Wednesday. In his experience, even when he was investigating organized crime figures or drug cartel leaders, "Eventually they have a breaking point." In Figliuzzi's estimation, Cohen is no different and he's currently on that very path given the staggering amount of trouble he's in. "I believe that Michael Cohen will eventually break -- when it's laid out for him the federal sentencing guidelines, all the exposure he has, the ramifications on his family. He will eventually break." Michael Avenatti, the lawyer for Stormy Daniels, has advanced that notion ever since he arrived on our TV screens a couple months ago. And now, with Cohen's damning pay-to-play scheme at least partially exposed, we are starting to get a taste of just how deep he's in. Imagine Cohen watching this unfold in real time, largely isolated, as Trump and his hatchet man Rudy Giuliani repeatedly undercut Cohen's entire defense. Vanity Fair's Emily Jane Fox has a window into what that was like for Cohen as the weekend news shows hashed out the millions of dollars that flowed through his shell company, Essential Consultants LLC, for zero work. Cohen was in Philadelphia last weekend to watch his daughter's college graduation. 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 Down With Tyranny Part of the "Collateral Murder" video that Chelsea (then Bradley) Manning gave to WikiLeaks. It's worth watching to the very end. Two staff members from Reuters news were among those murdered on the street, along with others from a van shot up while trying to collect the wounded. Visible in the van were two children, who were also wounded. "Well, it's their fault for bringing their kids to a battle," says one of the Americans doing the shooting. The Americans were the only ones shooting. Ecuador may hand over WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the British, and thus, to the American government after all. He's currently in political asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, but that may be about to change. "Ecuador hints it may hand over Julian Assange to Britain and the US "... Remarks made this week by Ecuador's foreign minister suggest that her government may be preparing to renege on the political asylum it granted to the WikiLeaks editor in 2012 and hand him over to British and then American authorities. "On March 28, under immense pressure from the governments in the US, Britain and other powers, Ecuador imposed a complete ban on Assange having any Internet or phone contact with the outside world, and blocked his friends and supporters from physically visiting him. For 45 days, he has not been heard from. "Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa stated in a Spanish-language interview on Wednesday that her government and Britain 'have the intention and the interest that this be resolved.' Moves were underway, she said, to reach a 'definite agreement' on Assange." When you think of Julian Assange, don't think just of his role in the last election, though that's important to look at. Think also of WikiLeaks' many CIA releases, as well as Chelsea Manning's "bombshell revelation (video above, Guardian reporting here), which earned her years of torture. "If Assange falls into the hands of the British state, he faces being turned over to the US. Last year, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions stated that putting Assange on trial for espionage was a 'priority.' CIA director Mike Pompeo, now secretary of state, asserted that WikiLeaks was a 'non-state hostile intelligence service.' "In 2010, WikiLeaks courageously published information leaked by then Private Bradley [now Chelsea] Manning that exposed war crimes committed by American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. WikiLeaks also published, in partnership with some of the world's major newspapers, tens of thousands of secret diplomatic cables, exposing the daily anti-democratic intrigues of US imperialism and numerous other governments." I think if the American state acquires Assange, it may torture and kill him. It certainly wishes to. Chelsea Manning was tortured for exposing a whole lot less, and Manning's crime included revelations about torture and murder. 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 Just to note the irony that a Pakistani exchange student, Sabika Sheikh, was among the (so far) 10 persons killed in the school massacre at Santa Fe, Texas. Pakistan has seen a stark reduction in deaths from terrorism in recent years. The Global Terrorism Index for 2017 says that "Pakistan also recorded a decrease in the number of people killed by terrorism with a 12 percent reduction to 956 deaths." It is back down to 2006 levels, to before the rise of the Pakistani Taliban. That is, Sabika left a country with increasing security for one where the Republican Party-dominated Texas state legislature has made students and teachers sitting ducks for any wacko with a gun (and all wackos may have guns.) My heart goes out to her family back home. There are around 17,000 homicides in the US annually, but telling which ones have terrorism as the motive is difficult because the US typically classifies as terrorism only those crimes with international links. Hence, white nationalist domestic terrorism is put in a different category, of hate crime (but isn't always so classified either.) Hate crimes, including domestic terrorism, are a much bigger problem in American society than foreign-inspired terrorism. The Pakistani homicide rate is proportionally similar to that of the US. There are over 13,000 murders a year in Pakistan, but it is a country of 193 mn. rather than 325 mn. So in coming to the US from Pakistan, Sabika did not experience any change in the chance she might be murdered. Let that sink in. She was no more safe in the US than she was in Pakistan. She was more likely to be killed by terrorists in Pakistan than in the US, but the chances of that happening had been going down. As it happened, an alleged white terrorist did kill her in Santa Fe, Texas, one who posed with Nazi and other extremist paraphernalia, and followed Trump and gun nut accounts on Instagram. Americans have a largely unfavorable view of Pakistan, and it worsened after the September 11, 2001, attacks, presumably out of a suspicion that the country was not doing enough to curb Muslim radicals. The Pakistani military ran extremist groups in Kashmir and Afghanistan, though to be fair, Ronald Reagan asked them to support private militias against the Soviets in Afghanistan. Most Americans have complete amnesia about the 1980s, when Pakistan was a key ally in the last years of the Cold War -- allied with the US in fighting Soviet-imposed Communist tyranny in Afghanistan, and about the American role in encouraging the Muslim religious Right as a counter ballast to Communism. Americans, moreover, misunderstand Pakistan as a nation of religious fanatics. The vast majority of Pakistanis abhor extremism, and Sufism, Shiism, Sufi Shiism, Muslim liberalism, and leftist secularism are important cultural and political currents. Trump has evinced a typical split personality on Pakistan, first calling them just wonderful people, then threatening to sanction their government. Pakistanis mostly return the lack of a compliment, convinced that the American "war on terror" has put their country in a vise and stirred up a great deal of trouble for them. The Pakistani government is also surprised and outraged that the sacrifice of thousands of its troops in fighting groups like the Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan (the Pakistani branch of the Taliban, based in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in the far north of the country) has been disregarded by the US. When I first arrived in Pakistan in 1981, it was a pleasant developing country of some 70 million that only recently had experienced the twin misfortunes of gaining a brutal Communist neighbor in the form of Karmal Babrak's Communist Afghanistan and of having been taken over by a military junta, that of Field Marshal Zia ul-Haq, who judicially assassinated his popular left-leaning predecessor, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. You could criticize it for being almost feudal and politically oppressive, but not for poor personal security. As with most dictatorships, it was "way too safe." In the course of the 1980s, the CIA poured arms into Pakistan for the Afghan jihadis with whom it was allied, and many of those arms made their way to Pakistani bazaars. I had been in Lebanon in the 1970s and had come to the firm conclusion that when you can buy Kalashnikovs cheaply in the bazaar in the country, then it is about to spiral down into massive civil violence. The US also encouraged the jihadis to grow opium to sell, to help pay for their war on Communism, and the heroin also leaked into Pakistan, producing millions of addicts. Addicts who were willing to commit crimes for their fix. 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 Robert Reich Blog One of the biggest challenges to our democracy occurs when states draw congressional district lines with the principal goal of helping one political party and hurting the other. It's called "partisan gerrymandering." Unlike racial gerrymandering -- drawing districts to reduce the political power of racial minorities, which the Supreme Court has found to violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment -- partisan gerrymandering would seem to violate the First Amendment because it punishes some voters for their political views. In North Carolina in 2016, for example, Republicans won 10 of the state's 13 House seats with just 53 percent of the popular vote. In the 2018 elections, because of partisan gerrymandering, Democrats will need to win the national popular vote by nearly 11 points to win a majority in the House of Representatives. No party has won this margin in decades. So what can be done? The Supreme Court will soon decide on the constitutionality of partisan gerrymandering. Hopefully, the Court will rule against it. But regardless of its decision, here are two other ways to abolish it: First, state courts could rule against partisan gerrymandering under their state constitutions, as happened this year in Pennsylvania -- where the state court invalidated a Republican congressional map that gave Republicans 13 out of 18 congressional seats even though the state is about evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. The state court implemented its own map for the 2018 election, creating districts that are less biased in favor of Republicans. Second, states can delegate the power to design districts to independent or bipartisan groups. Some states, like California, have already done this. But if you want your state to end gerrymandering, you're going to have to get actively involved, and demand it. After all, this is our democracy. It's up to us to make it work. 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 Lance Simmens Oh no you don't Rex, you can't get off that easy. Giving a nice speech does not exonerate you from the failures of your actions as Secretary of State. Listen, I live by and love words and often lecture that words are important and carry consequences. Choosing them carefully is critically important for leaders and statesmen to convey and convince their followers that the cause that unites them as a team, a squad, a state, or a nation is just and worth fighting for. Similarly words well chosen and spoken can ignite the passions of many to defend that which is worth defending. But equally as important are actions taken that exemplify the moral rectitude and values that represent the fiber of the larger community of mankind. Putting one's ideas and ideals into action requires the ability to withstand scrutiny and criticisms that often verge upon confrontation and conflict. Do as I say not as I do is simply unacceptable as a governing philosophy. It is here where you failed to fulfill the duties of the important position you were privileged to have on behalf of the nation and its citizens. Sanctimonious hindsight is an important first step, but it is only a first step. Words can help elevate one into a position of power, but once in such a position it is actions that define whether a society or a world is advanced for the betterment of all. Policy formulation represents the foundation of advancement, but policy implementation requires the ability to gauge and if necessary recalibrate whether or not the ship of state is headed in the right direction. Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson delivered a commencement speech to the graduates of Virginia Military Institute recently and it was well written and delivered with polish. The recurring theme revolved around personal and professional ethics and integrity. The underpinnings of Rex's message to the students was captured in a biblical quote from John 8:32, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." He constantly returned to the importance of relying upon truth and facts, underscored the virtues of a democratic society buttressed by ethnic diversity, warned of a growing crisis in which American democracy is in danger of entering its twilight years if held captive to alternative realities, and continually returned to the notion that truth and the facts were the glue which held us together. Where was such indignant adherence to these noble virtues when it counted? It was a powerful speech and hit what this liberal would characterize as all the right notes, however it came from the mouth of an individual who failed spectacularly to live up to the expectations he is now placing upon others. As Secretary of State he served as one of the principal advisors to a President who would not know the truth if it hit him in the face. Sure Rex was accused, and never denied, that he referred to the President as an 'effing moron' but that does not meet the bar he is now laying out to these future leaders. Rex is now seeking to rehabilitate the tattered reputation he left during his tenure as Secretary of State. It is never too late to rehabilitate one's character failures, but it is just a bit too hypocritical to not first admit to your own shortcomings. I will not even venture into his lifelong professional career that had him rise to the top of Exxon-Mobil, the leading global purveyor of toxic fossil fuels that are threatening the survival of mankind. Rex, you have wrought so much human suffering through your steadfast ignorance of the truth and facts surrounding climate change it is hard to take your words now seriously. It could not escape Rex, an educated and worldly man, that he was taking direction from a pathological liar. Rex made no attempts to educate his boss, talk about lack of integrity and ethics. He systematically dismantled the State Department, in essence placing friends and foes alike in the uncomfortable position of not having the slightest idea what our nation's policy on key international issues was or is. Tillerson also talks about the importance of allies and not taking them for granted while during his tenure as the nation's Chief Diplomat we systematically embarrassed our allies, inflamed our adversaries, and carried on what can only be described as a perverse personal courtship of some of the world's most brutal autocrats (Putin, Erdogan, Duterte) while snubbing traditional allies in Great Britain, France, and Germany. Serving at the foot of a narcissistic man devoid of integrity, disdainful of ethics, comforting to racists and white supremacy, anti-globalist to the point of isolationist, and threatening to world peace, Rex constituted one-fourth of those designated as adults to keep the President in line. He, along with Defense Secretary Mattis, National Security Adviser McMaster, and Chief of Staff Kelly, were seen as the last defense by many for keeping the nation safe. They were deemed as the adults in the room. Attainment of power requires acceptance of responsibility. In this respect all four failed, only two remain and in all likelihood that number will shrink again soon. Rex was summarily dismissed by tweet. It was humiliating to watch and to a small degree I felt empathy for the man, but only to a small degree. He failed to live up to the standards he so eloquently set out in his recent speech. A mea culpa would have gone a hell of a lot further than the spoken words summoning students to do the right thing, unlike what he has done. Rex, you are wealthy and I do believe you have been chastened by your experience with public service. If the speech was meant to send a shiv into the heart of the President it was simply unsuccessful. Take your wealth and your spirit, whatever is left at this point, and devote your twilight years to ridding the nation of the scourge of Trumpism, and spend your time promoting a reinvigoration of public service, international goodwill, and fighting climate change. You have earned credentials in all three areas, put them to good use, and be true to your own words. Then you can deliver extraordinary speeches invoking truth, ethics, integrity, and moral values without having to traverse the boundaries of nuance. Stand up and show us that you are one of the adults in the room, and the world is your room. That is the prescription for exorcising the demons that obviously haunt you at this stage of your life. You are strategically positioned to make a difference, but you must lead the way through actions as well as words. 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 I was told again and again to stand up when someone's being mistreated. So I realized I had to stand up for Palestinians. Now that Israel has killed dozens of Palestinian protesters in an obviously gross human rights violation, can we get something straight? You can criticize Israel without being anti-Semitic. I grew up Jewish, in an environment strongly supportive of the Israeli state. But I don't support the way Israel treats the Palestinians, particularly when they slaughter unarmed people as they did this week. My parents sent me to 13 years of Jewish Sunday school, complete with a Bat Mitzvah and all. I don't really consider myself Jewish as an adult, but an entire childhood of religious education still made its mark. Half of Jewish holidays revolve around the theme that some people oppressed us or tried to wipe us out just for being Jewish, and we suffered but we survived. We were told again and again that when you stand silently when someone is being mistreated -- whether it's a kid getting bullied on the playground or an entire people suffering genocide -- you are part of the problem. If there's one single lesson I learned from growing up Jewish, that's it. Unfortunately, that lesson can be at odds with another one we commonly get growing up: that Israel is our homeland. Whoever you are, if you are Jewish, when you go to Israel, you are home. Sadly, nobody in our synagogue ever mentioned that the Palestinians should have rights, or even questioned whether Israel was treating them justly. I internalized a belief that Israel was the land of the Jews, and when the Jews came back to reclaim it in the 20th century, the Palestinians were in the way. So they should leave. (Also, they were terrorists.) At 18, I finally went to Israel. But Israel didn't feel like my home. It felt like a blend of Middle Eastern and European culture. I felt just as foreign there as I did in Italy, Greece, or Egypt when I visited those places. I saw a small snapshot of how badly the Palestinians were treated by the Israeli government. I also saw that the Palestinians were people too, mostly just trying to live their lives. For the first time, I questioned what I'd been told about Israel. My principle of opposing injustice meant that I should stand for Palestinian rights, even if it meant disagreeing with the Israeli government. I thought being Jewish was synonymous with supporting Israel, so after my trip I decided I was no longer Jewish. 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. Reprinted from fair.org WaPo: The Far Left Is Winning the Democratic Civil War (Image by Washington Post) Details DMCA The Washington Post (5/16/18) characterized Nebraska congressional candidate as "far left" because she supports universal background checks, raising taxes on the wealthy and decriminalizing marijuana. "The Far Left Is Winning the Democratic Civil War" was the headline over a Washington Post report (5/16/18) on the results of recent primary elections. So what counts as "far left" to the Washington Post, the newspaper owned by the world's richest human? Here are the positions cited by the Post's James Hohmann to characterize the "unelectable activists" who are "thwarting" Democratic hopes to take back the House, or are otherwise part of a "leftward lurch": Kara Eastman of Nebraska "advocated for universal background checks to buy guns, raising taxes and decriminalizing marijuana." John Fetterman in Pennsylvania "campaigned on universal healthcare and legalizing marijuana." Running for governor in Idaho, Paulette Jordan based her platform on "protecting more public lands, as well as promising to expand Medicaid, relax marijuana laws, reduce incarceration and limit corporate tax loopholes." There were a couple of other candidates who were categorized as "far left" by affiliation. In the Pittsburgh area, Summer Lee and an unnamed Sara Innamorato were described as "card-carrying members of the Democratic Socialists of America"--using a phrase popularized by Sen. Joe McCarthy's claim that he had the names of "57 card-carrying members of the Communist Party ." Scott Wallace in Pennsylvania was described as "the grandson of Henry Wallace, who was Franklin Roosevelt's vice president for a term, and then ran against Harry Truman, who FDR dumped him for, from the far left in 1948." Aside from Scott Wallace's self-description as a "proud progressive" and his promise to "make America sane again," genealogy was all the Post presented to tie him to the "far left." There were also some candidates who were implicitly placed in the "far left" by the fact that they successfully challenged "Democratic moderates," thus "causing a new bout of heartburn among party strategists." For example, Pennsylvania congressional candidate Susan Wild was worrisome because she defeated John Morganelli who "opposes abortion rights and 'sanctuary cities,'" and whom she criticized for "for speaking positively about Trump and tweeting that he was open to taking a job in the administration during the transition." You know, like "moderates" do. Pennsylvania lieutenant governor candidate John Fetterman (seen here with Bernie Sanders) is 'far left' because he 'campaigned on universal healthcare and legalizing marijuana.' (Image by Rob Kall) Details DMCA But what about those "far left" issues? Well, raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy--which is, of course, what Kara Eastman proposed--is a quite popular position. The latest polling on this was a CBS News poll from last year (10/27--30/17) which found 56 percent in favor of raising taxes on large corporations, and 58 percent wanting higher taxes for "wealthy Americans." This was, of course, before the massive tax breaks given to corporations and the wealthy by the Republican Congress. As for marijuana, broad majorities are in favor of legalizing it, according to polls by Quinnipiac (63 percent, 4/20--24/18), CBS (59 percent, 4/11--15/18), Pew (61 percent, 10/25--30/17) and Gallup (64 percent, 10/5--11/17). Universal healthcare is not quite as popular as pot, but it's also pretty popular. When Gallup (11/2--8/17) asked, "Do you think it is the responsibility of the federal government to make sure all Americans have health care coverage," 56 percent said yes. Kaiser (10/5--10/17) found 53 percent in favor of "having a national health plan in which all Americans would get their insurance from a single government plan." With universal background checks, we actually have polling on the impact that position would have on people's likelihood to vote for a congressional candidate. "Would you definitely vote for or definitely vote against a candidate for Congress who wants to require background checks for gun purchases at gun shows or other private sales?" the Marist poll (4/10--13/18) asked. Eighty-six percent said they would vote "definitely for" a candidate who took that "far left" position. One starts to get the suspicion that these candidates are not really "far left" at all, and Jeff Bezos' Post is just telling you that they are in order to scare you away from voting for them. 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. Can you believe there's no regulation on facial recognition? Okay, so let me step back a little and tell you how I got here. The other day I heard a story about how U.S. police departments are balking on adopting real-time facial recognition tech . China, Russia, India, and the UK are already using this technology, but here in the states law enforcement is hesitant to sign on because of the price tag as well as concerns about how the public would perceive this type of surveillance. Apparently, "The companies that make the systems say they're now able to compare an image against billions of faces, which makes it technically feasible to track the residents of a whole city -- or country." One of the arguments I've heard when it comes to government surveillance is if you haven't done anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about. Not surprisingly, this argument came from a religious person. They posited a tacit kind of compliance with a state of affairs that looks much like Orwell's 1984. It wasn't that they were advocating for surveillance. They were just saying that if you do right by your fellow man, you're blameless before the law. The law can watch you all they want, but if you haven't done anything wrong, surveillance won't make a difference in your life. This argument is flawed, but before I attempt to tackle it head on, I'd like to make an observation: law enforcement and the government are not the only ones who engage in surveillance. For a while now, Silicon Valley and other tech enthusiasts have been touting the internet of things (IoT). The IoT is a web of objects with sensors that transmit data to servers. For the most part, these objects send data to the cloud. We interact with these objects via apps and software. Most of what we know of the IoT seems harmless and is probably less intrusive than our smartphones. Smart thermostats, smart vacuums, smart refrigerators, smart homes -- these are the most recognizable accoutrements of the IoT. Yet the IoT presents ample opportunities for companies and the government to map, catalogue, track, and analyze every movement people make. Spying on everyone, not just criminal suspects, is the signature of modern tech. Corporate entities conduct surveillance in the interest of productivity, profits, and safety. But according to the University of Southern California, the IoT has a psychological impact at work in which "the workplace grows into a dreaded panopticon." The IoT "provides immense capacity to track individual movements throughout the workday, data that -- while potentially useful -- can reduce autonomy and create a sense of constant observation." This sense of constant observation creates anxiety and makes workers feel like tools, like cattle being branded, tagged, and herded through gates. Beyond each successive gate is a carrot to prompt your compliance and settle your unease; the corporate world likes to call this "gamification." The corporate sphere isn't the only place where the IoT is having an impact. It's also changing computer forensics . In 2017, Bentonville, Arkansas investigators accessed data from an Amazon Echo to investigate a murder case that involved a house party. From the Amazon smart speaker, they obtained information that became evidence in the trial of the homeowner who threw the party. It's easy to say it takes a dumb criminal to let a smart speaker spy on you while you're committing a murder. But the man may not have been aware that the speaker was recording him and storing his words in a database. To be fair, the technology situation we're in is not one-sided. Users can delete their data from the Amazon Alexa app that controls the Echo. And there's technology that benefits criminals, such as encryption. Techdirt reports that there are people and companies who sell encrypted phones to organized crime rings, which has prompted FBI Director Chris Wray to call unbreakable encryption an "urgent public safety issue." Wray wants weakened encryption and compliance from tech companies so that the rest of us law-abiding citizens can be safe from rampant tech-loving criminals and terrorists. In response, Oregon senator Ron Wyden called out Wray , asking him to provide "a list of the cryptographers" with whom he had "personally discussed this topic," and to "specifically identify those experts who advised you that companies can feasibly design government access features into their products without weakening cybersecurity." This is all part of a larger issue that isn't going away anytime soon. Many people are not aware of the fact that the internet of things collects and stores data on individuals, and this is a largely unregulated sphere. There's no government-enforced, common encryption standard for the billions of smart devices infiltrating the market (by 2020, there will be over 20 billion connected devices circulating). Even without a government backdoor, the cybersecurity to which Wyden refers is actually a very tenuous state of affairs. Here's the developing picture: billions of IoT devices collect data on our every movement. With facial recognition technology able to instantly identify who you are, law enforcement won't be very far away from knowing where anyone is at any moment. The panopticon is spreading out of the corporate world and into the public sphere. The simple and most applicable question is, so what? If you're not breaking the law, won't surveillance actually keep you from falling prey to a criminal? Plus, many companies keep their data out of the government's hands because they don't want to fall on the wrong side of the privacy debate. It hurts their brand image. The issue is ethical. People who don't break the law don't deserve to be surveilled. Yes, do good, be on the right side of the law and you have nothing to fear; but no, don't roll over and throw up your hands when it comes to holding authorities to an ethical standard. American police departments haven't yet adopted instant facial recognition, but it's a little scary to know other nations have. Once software prices drop and homegrown murderers keep rampaging, there are no regulations stopping police from analyzing your face the instant you step outside your door. Surveillance technologies could take government power to dangerous places. The American people have already shown we can fall prey to a man like Trump. If we let people like this continue to run our government, we'll see powerful, all-encompassing surveillance tools in the hands of people who will do whatever they can to remain in power. Plus, there's already enough anxiety in America as is. If anything, we need to watch ourselves less. 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. It has been a whole 24 hours since nine students and a teacher lost their lives in a shooting at Santa Fe High School, not far from Houston. Already the news cycle has moved on and Twitter has gone dark. The gun lobby and pro-gun politicians thank the public for its short memory. It has been a whole month since the Waffle House shooting in Nashville in which four were killed and two wounded and people have forgotten about it, too. They have especially forgotten about the fact that law enforcement officials transferred the suspect's guns to his father who then returned them, according to published reports. Yesterday's suspected gunman possessed a shotgun and a .38 revolver legally purchased by his father. What if there was a law that such parents are charged as accessories? They would face prison time like their killer children? But no! That would violate our "gun rights"----right gun lobby? The gun lobby says no laws could stop such shootings despite the clear disproof that every developed country presents: there are not weekly school shootings or practically mass shootings at all where there are strict gun laws. Countries with strict gun laws don't have school shootings (Image by Martha Rosenberg) Details DMCA As far as the gun lobby's knee jerk "criminals don't obey laws" comment, should we repeal laws against robbery, rape and murder because criminals don't obey them? How about the gun lobby's claim that "law-abiding" people unduly suffer from laws while criminals slip through? Should we repeal airport screening to get on planes? Why should we, law-abiding citizens, suffer? Criminals who don't obey laws anyway. The gun lobby and pro-gun politicians are happy the public has forgotten about the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting last year in which the murder weapon had been returned to the suspect and was reportedly used to kill five and wound eight. Only two months earlier, there was a shooting at Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport which the public has also forgotten about. A gunman shot and killed a Southwest Airlines employee who was the father of Kansas City Chiefs long snapper James Winchester. Who remembers that? The suspected gunman, a legal gun owner, was a former Southwest Airlines employee apparently seeking revenge. Three years earlier there was another airport shooting at the Los Angeles International Airport. A gunman opened fire, killing a U.S. government Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer and injuring several other people. He carried a note saying he wanted to kill TSA officers and asked people if they were with TSF before shooting. The gunman was carrying a semiautomatic rifle, five 30-round magazines and hundreds of additional rounds of ammunition contained in boxes. Due to the weaponry, police could not let paramedics enter the crime area and as a result a TSA officer bled to death. Like the Fort Lauderdale airport and Will Rogers World Airport gunmen, the LA airport killer was legal gun owner. If people have forgotten the Waffle House shooting and airport shootings, they have certainly forgotten about the biggest shooting in US history in Las Vegas in October which killed 58 and injured 851. In addition to our short memory, the gun lobby appreciates how little attention is given to this fact: countries that do not allow people to purchase 55 guns in one year as the Vegas killer did do not have Vegas-style massacres. 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 Caitlin Johnstone Website Gina Haspel has been confirmed as America's new CIA Director, fulfilling her predecessor Mike Pompeo's pledge to turn the CIA into "a much more vicious agency." "Bloody Gina" has reportedly been directly involved in both torturing people and destroying evidence of torture in her long and depraved career, which some say hurts the CIA's reputation. Others say it just makes it more honest. The lying, torturing, propagandizing, drug trafficking, coup-staging, warmongering Central Intelligence Agency has done some of the most unspeakably horrific things to human beings that have ever happened in the history of our species. If you think I'm exaggerating, do your own research into into some of the CIA's activities like the Phoenix Program, which used "Rape, gang rape, rape using eels, snakes, or hard objects, and rape followed by murder; electric shock ('the Bell Telephone Hour') rendered by attaching wires to the genitals or other sensitive parts of the body, like the tongue; the 'water treatment'; the 'airplane' in which the prisoner's arms were tied behind the back, and the rope looped over a hook on the ceiling, suspending the prisoner in midair, after which he or she was beaten; beatings with rubber hoses and whips; the use of police dogs to maul prisoners," and "The use of the insertion of the 6-inch dowel into the canal of one of my detainee's ears, and the tapping through the brain until dead. The starvation to death (in a cage), of a Vietnamese woman who was suspected of being part of the local political education cadre in one of the local villages...The use of electronic gear such as sealed telephones attached to...both the women's vaginas and men's testicles [to] shock them into submission." This is what the CIA is. This is what the CIA has always been. This is what Mike Pompeo said he wanted to help make the CIA "much more vicious" than. Appointing Gina Haspel as head of the agency is just putting an honest face on it. It really couldn't be more fitting that the US now has an actual, literal torturer as the head of the CIA. It also couldn't be more fitting that it has a reality TV star billionaire President, an Iraq-raping Bush-era neoconservative psychopath as National Security Adviser, a former defense industry director as Secretary of Defense, a former Goldman Sachs executive as Secretary Treasurer, and a former Rothschild, Inc. executive as Secretary of Commerce. These positions have always facilitated torture, oppression, war profiteering and Wall Street greed; the only thing that has changed is that they now have a more honest face on them. The mask of the nationless Orwellian oligarchy which dominates our world is slipping off all over the place. Israel is now openly massacring unarmed Palestinian civilians, prompting a UN investigation into possible war crimes. Only two nations voted in opposition to the investigation, and surprise surprise it was the two nations apart from Israel who most clearly owe their existence to the institutionalized slaughter and brutalization of their indigenous occupants in recent history: the US and Australia. All other members of the UN Human Rights Council either voted in support of the investigation or abstained. Important to note that the US and Australia, two countries built on the genocide of the indigenous populations have objected to the UN inquiry and are effectively expressing support to Israel's on going genocide of the Palestinians. -- Tariq Zarif (@TariqZarif) May 18, 2018 Internet censorship is becoming more and more brazen as our governments become increasingly concerned that we are developing the wrong kinds of political opinions. Ever since the establishment Douma and Skripal narratives failed to take hold effectively, we've been seeing more and more frantic attempts to seize control of public discourse. Two weeks after the Atlantic Council explained to us that we need to be propagandized by our governments for our own good, Facebook finally made the marriage of Silicon Valley and the western war machine official by announcing a partnership with the Atlantic Council to ensure that we are all receiving properly authorized information. The Atlantic Council is pure corruption, funded by powerful oligarchs, NATO, the US State Department, empire-aligned Gulf states and the military-industrial complex. Many threads of the establishment anti-Russia narrative trace back to this highly influential think tank, from the DNC hack to the discredited war propaganda firm Bellingcat to imaginary Russian trolls to the notorious McCarthyite PropOrNot blacklist publicized by the Washington Post. Facebook involving itself with this malignant warmongering psyop factory constitutes an open admission that the social media site considers it its duty to manipulate people into supporting the agendas of the western empire. We're seeing similar manipulations in Twitter, which recently announced that it will be hiding posts by more controversial accounts, and by Wikipedia, which has been brazenly editing the entries of anti-imperialist activists with a cartoonishly pro-establishment slant. It is always a good sign when people in power become concerned that their subjects are developing the wrong kinds of political opinions, because it means that truth is winning. All this gibberish we've been hearing about "Russian disinformation" and "Russian propaganda" is just a label that has been pinned on dissenting narratives by a mass media propaganda machine that has lost control of the narrative. And this is why it's getting so overt, barely even attempting to conceal its true nature anymore. Our species' newfound ability to network and share information has enabled a degree of free thinking that the cultural engineers did not anticipate and have not been able to stay ahead of, and they're being forced to make more and more overt grabs to try and force us all back into our assigned brain boxes. But the oligarchs who rule us and their Orwellian power structure is already in a lose-lose situation, because the empire that they have built for themselves rests upon the illusion of freedom and democracy. The most powerful rulers of our world long ago eschewed the old model of sitting on thrones and executing dissidents in the town square, instead taking on a hidden role of influence behind the official elected governments and using mass media propaganda to manufacture the consent of the governed. This system is far more efficient than the old model because a populace will never rebel against rulers it doesn't know exist, and it has enabled the western oligarchs to amass more power and influence than the kings of old ever dreamed possible. But it has a weakness: they have to control the narrative, and if they fail to do that they can't switch to overt totalitarianism without shattering the illusion of freedom and provoking a massive public uprising. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). April saw the highest growth rate for True Fleets since May 2017 www.dataforce.de Frankfurt am Main -- The month of April showed a strong result for the German passenger car market. With 314,000 registrations the Total Market was up by 8.0% compared to April 2017. The breakdown by the different market channels shows a pretty healthy development: The volume of self-registrations on dealerships and car manufacturers dipped, while the Rent-a-Car volume dropped significantly (- 1.8% and - 7.9% respectively), however, both Private Market (+ 19.4%) and True Fleets (+ 13.2%) achieved double-digit growth rates. For the fleet channel this even equated to the highest percentage growth since May 2017 helping to generate a surplus of 4.1% for January-April. The total volume in the German True Fleet Market for the first four months of the year is the highest ever, so there really does seem to be a realistic chance that 2018 will be yet another record year.Brand performanceA massive 9 out of the top 10 True Fleet brands managed to increase their registrations by at least 10% over last years April. Despite the fact that the ranking was very stable only Toyota (9th) and SEAT (10th) swapped their positions though the growth rates were quite a different story. The most impressive jump was achieved by Toyota with a + 74.8%. April 2018 was the first month in which more than 2,000 Toyotas have been registered as company cars in Germany and the market share of 2.8% was surpassed only once (September 2007). Beside the still relatively new crossover CH-R the biggest growth by absolute volume was scored by Yaris and Aygo while the Proace exactly doubled its registrations.Outside the top 10 Volvo is certainly worth mentioning. With a + 48.8% the Swedish brand jumped from rank number 14 into 11th position, overtaking Peugeot, Fiat and Hyundai. The growth within Volvo was mainly fuelled by its SUV model range, i.e. the brand new XC40, the XC60 and the XC90 with some additional support from the V90. The result of the apparent success of its XC range means that two out of three True Fleet Volvos in April were SUV.Vehicle segments performanceThe rising importance of the Offroaders is not just the case with Volvo but also visible for some other manufacturers. Beside Jeep or Land Rover as SUV-only brands a share of more than 60% can be seen as well for Mitsubishi (Outlander, Pajero, ASX and the new Eclipse Cross), Jaguar, (F-Pace, E-Pace), Alfa Romeo (Stelvio) and Lexus (NX, RX).Across the top 25 brands in April the share of SUV rose by 3.2 percentage points (PP) over April 2017. As this is only an average it makes sense to analyse the figures in more detail. Of course there is a bunch of OEMs where SUV has become much more evident. Within Mazda and Skoda the share grew by 12.9 and 14.0 PP respectively. The biggest increase though can be found at Peugeot: while SUV accounted for 26.3% in April 2017 the ratio was going through the roof and reached 45.6% this April.However, for some competitors the situation is quite different as are the main winners within the respective brand. Thanks to the impressive success of the 5 Series the share of Higher Middle Class at the BMW increased by 8.0 PP. Within Hyundai a rise of the Mini car segments share was caused by a combination of a good performance of i10 and a relatively weak result for the SUVs Tucson and Santa Fe. For Opel the Insignia was going extraordinarily well (ranking second behind Astra in April) which pushed the Middle Class segment share by 12.4 PP.(596 words; 3,444 characters)Publication by indication of source (DATAFORCE) and author (as listed below) onlyDATAFORCE Focus on FleetsDataforce is the leading provider of fleet market data and automotive intelligence solutions in Europe. In addition, the company also provides detailed information on sales opportunities for the automotive industry, together with a wide portfolio of information based on primary market research and consulting services. The company is based in Frankfurt, Germany.Mario ZagarDataforce Verlagsgesellschaft fur Business Informationen mbHHamburger Allee 1460486 Frankfurt am MainGermanyPhone: +49 69 95930-229Fax: +49 69 95930-333Email: mario.zagar@dataforce.de PreGel Brings a Mixture of Onomatopoeia to National Restaurant Association Show Visit PreGel America at booth #6222 www.pregelamerica.com Dessert ingredient company promises novelties that result in mmm, yum, and ker-chingCONCORD, N.C. (May 19, 2018) BAM! Today, PreGel will wow visitors of booth #6222 at the National Restaurant Association Show, McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, with its 2018 collection of specialty dessert ingredient novelties and featured concepts that expand on the companys lines of Flavorings, Variegates & Toppings, Coatings, Cold Fudge, Instant Flavored Bases, and Five Star Chef pastry ingredients.KABOOM! New PreGel Flavorings:Salted Butter Caramel Traditional Paste The classic buttery sweetness of this Traditional Paste is enhanced with a pinch of salt.Ricotta 30 Powder This flavored powder offers the indulgent creamy texture and rich, slightly sweet flavor of authentic ricotta cheese for frozen dessert applications.Cake Batter Sprint A ready-to-use complete powdered mix that creates the timeless flavor of moist yellow cake and classic frosting.Fruit Punch Sprint A refreshing flavor fusion of apple, apricot, guava, orange, papaya, pineapple, lime, peach, and mango in a complete instant powdered mix.WOO-HOO! New PreGel Variegates:Raspberry Arabeschi The intriguing flavor of fresh, sun-ripened raspberries commands this seedless variegate.Bilberry Arabeschi This voluptuous fruit variegate is bursting with pieces of delectable bilberries.Peach Arabeschi A fruit variegate rich with the aroma and taste of fresh, ripened peaches.Strawberry Extra Arabeschi A mouthwatering topping with a bright red color and hypnotic strawberry scent.Orange Ripple Arabeschi This citrus-infused variegate sends ripples of irresistible orange flavor throughout artisan desserts.Brownie Brittle Arabeschi A rich, dark chocolate brownie-flavored sauce enriched with crunchy bits of cookies.Caramel Fleur de Sel Arabeschi The timeless combination of sweet and salty flavor notes merge in this tantalizing dessert variegate.Crunchy Caramel Shards (Catalan Grains) Arabeschi Upgrade artisanal desserts with the sweet crunch of caramelized sugar.CRUNCH! New PreGel Coatings:Cookie Butter Crunchy Coating Speckled with pieces of cookie butter cookie crumbles, this new Five Star Chef Coating easily adds a delicious and trending flavor.Coconut Crunchy Coating The soft, smooth texture of this Five Star Chef dessert coating is enriched with grated coconut, biscuit crumbs, and almond bits for enhanced taste and presentation.POW! New PreGel Pino Pinguino Cold Fudge Sauces include:Pino Pinguino Caramel The flavor of caramel toffee commands this cold fudge sauce that maintains a soft texture even in freezing temperatures.Pino Pinguino Orange This mouthwatering variegate boasts a bright, vibrant color and fresh orange flavor, and is perfect for creating pleasant color and flavor contrasts.Pino Pinguino Lemon The smooth texture, intense yellow color, and invigorating lemon flavor offer a velvety, melt-in-your-mouth experience with this cold fudge sauce.POOF! New to the PreGel Five Star Chef Pastry line:Pannacrema Pastry Compounds are patisserie in a jar. The top-quality, low-dosage, and highly-concentrated pastes are available in a rich collection of flavors, each boasting an intense taste that is not altered when baked. Exceptional texture makes them perfect for incorporating into batter, dough, whipped cream, buttercream, ganache, pudding, and more.PreGel will continue to create a buzz with innovative dessert concepts including Shake the Cake, which features indulgent milkshakes flavored as cake; Panini Gelato, customizable dessert sandwiches of warm brioche bread with artisan gelato in the center; and trending flavored donuts, desserts in a jar, gastronomic demonstrations, and more culinary inspiration.Your Passion. Our Ingredients. Its not just a slogan; its what PreGel believes in.For more information, visit###Established in 2002, PreGel America is a B2B developer, manufacturer, and distributor of authentic, high quality, shelf-stable, semi-finished dessert ingredients and supplies. With main headquarters in Reggio Emilia, Italy, the companys diverse product lines fulfill the supply needs for artisans of Gelato, Sorbetto & Ice Cream, Soft Serve Ice Cream, Pastry & Confections, and Specialty Beverages. Additionally, PreGel hosts five International Training Centers within major U.S. cities including Charlotte, NC; Los Angeles, CA; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Chicago, IL; and Dallas, TX as well as three distribution facilities in the East, West, and Central regions. The company services all segments of the foodservice and noncommercial foodservice industries, as well as U.S. distributors.PreGel America4450 Fortune Ave NWConcord, NC 28027 E-health services Market Historical Analysis 2018 to 2023; boost at a CAGR of 12.9% | the factors driving for the growth of Software and ICT healthcare with foremost Players Market Research Future https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1252 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1252 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/e-health-services-market-1252 E-health services Market Research Report is added on. The report is spread across 80 pages and supported by types, Clinical Decision Support, by service and Global forecast till 2023.E-health services Market Overview:Global market of E-health services is expected to reach USD 270 billion in 2023 from USD 120 billion in 2016 with a CAGR of approximately 12.9% during the forecast period 2017-2023. Electronic health records is very important for every healthcare organization. Clinical data management involves use of ICT and softwares for maintaining patient data electronically. E-health services market is flourishing with an increasing application of ICT for handling clinical and financial data for hospitals and clinics. Telemedicine is gaining importance in this market due to its advantages like remote consultant, improved patient doctor interaction and real time consultation.Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 45 market data tables and figures spread over 80 pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on e-health services market Research Report Global Forecast to 2023.Avail Premium Sample copy @Top Players in the Global E-health services Market:IBM Corporation (U.S), Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc. (U.S), GE Healthcare (U.S), McKinsey & Co. (U.S), Motion Computing Inc. (U.S), Epocrates Inc. (U.S), Telecare Corp. (U.S), Proteus Digital Health (U.S) Apple (U.S), GE Healthcare (U.S), Boston Scientific Corp (U.S), Cerner (U.S)E-health services Market Regional Analysis:Globally, e-health services market consists of four regions Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East and Africa. North America is the largest market. Concentration of major market players and extensive use of software for data management in hospitals North America is driving the market in this region. Europe is the second largest market. Asia Pacific shows fastest growth in this market. Whereas the market in Middle East and Africa shows steady growth.Study objectives:Main objective of this research is to provide information about E-health services market, type, services and end user. To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next seven years of the various segments and sub-segments of the e-health services market. To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To analyze the e-health services market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, 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- Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East and Africa.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 segments by type, by service, by end users and its sub-segments. To provide overview of key players and their strategic profiling 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 E-health services market.Get Customized Report with Latest Advancement @The report for e-health services market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different markets segments and regions.Table of Contents of E-Health Services Market Report:1. Report Prologue2. Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 Limitations2.3 Market Structure2.4. Market Segmentation3. Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size Estimation3.5 Forecast Model4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restraints4.3 Opportunities4.4 Threats4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators5. Market Factor Analysis.TOC CONTINUEDComplete Report with Full TOC @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 Genetic Testing Market Demand 2018; by Method Molecular Genetic Test/ DNA Test, Chromosomal Genetic Test, etc. with Prestigious Players Worldwide Forecast till 2023 Genetic Testing Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2009 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/2009 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/2009 Universal Genetic Testing Market 2018 Research Report implements an exhaustive study on Market Research Future. This Report Cover Key Market Driver, market size, growth rate, opportunities, market Dynamics and Overall Analysis. And also cover the other information such as Genetic Testing market trends, Prominent players, chapter-wise Description followed by various user perceptions and Forecast till 2023.Genetic Testing Market - Global InsightsThe Global Genetic Testing Market is growing with the rapid pace. According to a recent study report published by the Market Research Future, the Global Genetic Testing 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 2023, surpassing its previous growth records in terms of value with a sound CAGR during the anticipated period (2017-2023).Avail Premium Sample Report @Genetic testing involves various medical test that help us identify changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins. The genetic tests can confirm or rule out a suspected genetic condition and it can help determine a persons probability of developing a genetic disorder or passing on the same to next generation. Currently there are more than 1,000 genetic tests in use, and more are being developed. Rising awareness about the benefits of genetic testing, rising prevalence of the genetic disorders, changing trend in the industry from service driven to product driven industry are some of the factors that drives the market growth during the forecast period. However, limitations in the genetic testing and inaccuracy of tests, stringent regulation from the Insurance companies, and high cost of the tests are the major restraining factor for the market growth during the forecast period.Top Vendors of Genetic Testing Market Research Report:Some of the key players in this market are: Abbott Laboratories (US), Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (US), Illumina Inc. (US), Myriad Genetics (US), PerkinElmer Inc. (US), QIAGEN N.V. (Germany), and Quest Diagnostics (US)Segmentation:Global genetic testing market has been segmented on the basis of type which prescribed genetic testing, and direct to consumer (DTC) genetic testing. Prescribed Genetic Testing accounted for the largest market share in 2016. On the basis of method, it is segmented into Molecular Genetic Test/ DNA Test, Chromosomal Genetic Test, Biochemical Genetic Test. Molecular Genetic tests/DNA was holding largest market share in 2016. On the basis of type of test, the market is segmented into Diagnostic Test, Predictive Test, Family DNA Test, and others. Diagnostic test accounted for the largest market share in 2016. On the basis of indication it is segmented into Cancer Testing, Neurogenetic Disorder Testing, Autoimmune Disorder Testing, Muscular dystrophies, and others. Cancer Testing accounted for the largest market share in 2016.Get Marvelous Discount @Global Genetic Testing Market - competitive analysisCharacterized by the presence of several well-established and small players, the global market of genetic testing appears to be highly competitive and fragmented. International players are increasingly expanding their footprint in the developing economy, making it difficult for regional vendors to compete with them, especially in terms of features such as product differentiation, product portfolios, quality, and pricing. The market is witnessing intensified competition which is expected to get more intensified further during the forecast period. The intense competition prevalent in the market dictates the consolidation among marketers.Well established players incorporate acquisition, collaboration, partnership, expansion, and product launch in order to gain competitive advantage in this market and to maintain their market position.In January-2017, QIAGEN N.V., acquired OmicSoft Corporation. With this acquisition, Qiagen will enhance its bioinformatics portfolio by adding key features from OmicSoft which will expand Qiagens translational & clinical applications.In August-2016, Quest Diagnostics and AncestryDNA, collaborated to meet the rapidly growing consumer demand for genetic tests that provide insights into genetic ethnicity, origins and other factors. The new collaboration will allow AncestryDNA to scale up its testing services.In April-2017, Myriad Genetics signed an agreement with Clovis Oncology for the use of its FDA-Approved BRACAnalysis CDx Test to Identify Patients with Germline BRCA Mutations for Rubraca Treatment.In January-2017, Illumina Inc. launched the Single Cell Sequencing Solution in collaboration with Bio-Rad. It was the first Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) workflow for single cell analysis and provided researchers the ability to investigate the coordinated contribution of individual cells in tissue function, disease progression, and therapeutic response.In October-2016, Myriad Genetics Inc. formed relationship with ION Solutions to deliver quality hereditary cancer test. Myriad and ION will work together to enhance the operational and clinical value associated with hereditary cancer testing.Regional Analysis of Global Genetic Testing Market:Considering the global scenario of the market, due to continuous innovation, high awareness about the genetic testing and rapid adoption of new technology, Americas is largest market and was holding 46.3% market share of global Genetic testing in 2016. US is holding largest market share in North America region. European genetic testing market is expected to reach USD 2,553.10 million by 2023. On the other hand, due to increasing aging population and advances in the medical fields, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) is fastest growing market for Genetic testing and expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.1% during the forecast period. Middle East and Africa (ME&A) is likely to have a limited growth in the market due to less awareness and lack of required infrastructure.List of Tables:TABLE 1 GLOBAL GENETIC TESTING MARKET BY TYPE, 2014 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 28TABLE 2 GLOBAL PRESCRIBED GENETIC TESTING MARKET, 2014 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 29TABLE 3 GLOBAL DIRECT TO CONSUMER GENETIC TESTING MARKET, 2014 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 30TABLE 4 GLOBAL GENETIC TESTING MARKET BY METHOD, 2014 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 31TABLE 5 GLOBAL MOLECULAR GENETIC TESTS/ DNA TEST MARKET, 2014 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 32TABLE 6 GLOBAL CHROMOSOMAL GENETIC TEST MARKET, 2014 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 33TABLE 7 GLOBAL BIOCHEMICAL GENETIC TEST MARKET, 2014 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 34TABLE 8 GLOBAL GENETIC TESTING MARKET BY TYPE OF TEST, 2014 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 36TABLE 9 GLOBAL DIAGNOSTIC TEST MARKET, 2014 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 37TABLE 10 GLOBAL PREDICTIVE TEST MARKET, 2014 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 38TABLE 11 GLOBAL FAMILY DNA TEST MARKET, 2014 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 38TABLE 12 GLOBAL GENETIC TESTING MARKET BY INDICATION, 2014 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 41TABLE 13 GLOBAL GENETIC TESTING MARKET FOR CANCER TESTING, 2014 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 42TABLE 14 GLOBAL GENETIC TESTING MARKET FOR NEUROGENETIC DISORDER TESTING, 2014 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 42TABLE 15 GLOBAL GENETIC TESTING MARKET FOR AUTOIMMUNE DISORDER TESTING, 2014 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 43Customization on this Report, Ask to Expertise @CONTINUEDList of Figures:FIGURE 1 GLOBAL GENETIC TESTING MARKET SHARE, BY TYPE, 2016 (%) 13FIGURE 2 GLOBAL GENETIC TESTING MARKET SHARE, BY METHOD, 2016 (%) 14FIGURE 3 GLOBAL GENETIC TESTING MARKET SHARE, BY TYPE OF TEST, 2016 (%) 14FIGURE 4 GLOBAL GENETIC TESTING MARKET SHARE, BY INDICATION, 2016 (%) 15FIGURE 5 GLOBAL GENETIC TESTING MARKET SHARE, BY REGION, 2016 (%) 16FIGURE 6 MARKET STRUCTURE OF GLOBAL GENETIC TESTING MARKET 18FIGURE 7 RESEARCH PROCESS OF MRFR 19FIGURE 8 GLOBAL GENETIC TESTING MARKET FORECAST INDICATORS 21FIGURE 9 PORTERS FIVE FORCES MODEL 25FIGURE 10 GLOBAL GENETIC TESTING MARKET BY TYPE, 2016 & 2023 (USD MILLION) 28FIGURE 11 GLOBAL GENETIC TESTING MARKET BY METHOD, 2016 & 2023 (USD MILLION) 31FIGURE 12 GLOBAL GENETIC TESTING MARKET BY TYPE OF TEST, 2016 & 2023 (USD MILLION) 35FIGURE 13 GLOBAL GENETIC TESTING MARKET BY INDICATION, 2016 & 2023 (USD MILLION) 40FIGURE 14 GLOBAL GENETIC TESTING MARKET BY REGION, 2016 (%) 45FIGURE 15 AMERICAS GENETIC TESTING MARKET BY REGION, 2016 (%) 46CONTINUEDAbout 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 Artificial Insemination Market 2018 Overview by Top Trends and Growth | Expected to reach USD 1.95 with Boosting CAGR of 10.9% | Forecast up to 2023 Artificial Insemination Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1218 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1218 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1218 According To a Recent Report Published by Market Research Future, Titled Artificial Insemination Market by Type - Intracervical Insemination, Intrauterine Insemination, Intratubal Insemination and others. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of current & future trends and emerging growth of this market globally. Worldwide forecast to 2023Artificial Insemination Market Scenario:Artificial Insemination is a treatment for infertility. It is a medical process involving introduction of semen into the female reproductive tract. It is recommended to the couples experiencing unexplained infertility or problem with intercourse. Artificial insemination has grown in popularity as infertility becomes more prevalent and as more women opt to become single mothers. The procedures for artificial insemination are legal in most of the developed countries but there are no such rules and regulations governing it. Changing lifestyle, poor reproductive health of women, psychological stress, addiction, lifestyle changes and increase in age of women at the time of first pregnancy act as drives for the growth of this market. Global market of artificial insemination is expected to reach USD 1.95 billion in 2023 from USD 1.35 billion in 2016 with a CAGR of approximately 10.9% during the forecast period 2017-2023.Avail Premium Sample copy @Key Players in the Global Artificial Insemination Market:Labotect GmbH (Germany), Hamilton Throne Ltd. (U.S.), Microtech IVF S.R.O. (Czech Republic), Rinovum Women's Health LLC (US), Zander scientific Inc. (U.S.),INVO Bioscience (U.S.), Nikon Instruments Inc. (U.S.), MedGyn products Inc. (U.S.),Conceivex Inc. (US), Biogenics Inc. (U.S.), LifeGlobal Group LLC (U.S.), TenderNeeds Fertility (US) and Surelife Pte Ltd. (Singapore).Artificial Insemination Market Regional Analysis:Depending on geographic region, artificial insemination market is segmented into four key regions: Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East and Africa. North America is the largest market. The cost of artificial insemination in America in between USD 300 to USD 500 per attempt. According to American Society of Reproductive Health, the typical success rate is 10 to 20 percent. Continuous increasing in number of fertility clinics in the U.S and Canada, increase in drug addiction and smoking among women, unprotected sexual intercourse and rising trend of planned pregnancy favor the growth of this market in America. The European market is also growing continuously. Deterioration of reproductive health among women, increased age of women at the time of pregnancy, rising income of families and demand of technological advancement in artificial insemination drive this market in Europe. Asia-Pacific market is expected to show fastest growth in the Artificial insemination market during the forecasted period. Rise in number of miscarriage, lack of awareness about reproductive health, increase in psychological and physical stress favor the growth of this market in Asia-Pacific. Government of India has number of programs for women in rural areas. In India, Janani Suraksha Yogana under National Health Mission was a great success initiating women to carry out institution delivery which provided cash assistance to pregnant women after delivery. Middle East and Africa show steady growth in this market.Artificial Insemination Market Segmentation:Global artificial insemination market has been segmented on the basis of type of procedure which includes intracervical insemination, intrauterine insemination, intratubal insemination and other procedures. End users are hospitals, clinics, fertility centers and others.Avail Amazing Discount @Artificial Insemination Market Competitive Analysis:Innovation is the organic strategy to gain the market. Many companies are operating in the market, however, the major companies dominated the major share in the market due to well-developed brand identity. Now-a-days, there is a significant increase in the number of the company offering artificial Insemination. Thus companies are adopting the new strategies to minimize the competition and increase the market. Some major companies are focusing on development of new and advanced products to gain the market share. Whereas, some are has used the technique of acquisition and collaboration to gain the market.Some of the key players in Artificial Insemination market are: Labotect GmbH (Germany), Hamilton Throne Ltd. (U.S.), Microtech IVF S.R.O. (Czech Republic), Rinovum Women's Health LLC (US), Zander scientific Inc. (U.S.),INVO Bioscience (U.S.), Nikon Instruments Inc. (U.S.), MedGyn products Inc. (U.S.),Conceivex Inc. (US), Biogenics Inc. (U.S.), LifeGlobal Group LLC (U.S.), TenderNeeds Fertility (US) and Surelife Pte Ltd. (Singapore).Latest Industry Updates:Being a competitive market, a number of different manufacturer are focusing on the product launch, and acquisition for the market development. Some of the latest development in the market are-Labotect GmbH is a major player in artificial insemination market. The company develops products for use in assisted reproduction, medical science laboratories and medical surgery. Incubation technique is one of the key areas of the company helping it to maintain competitive advantage. Its products include embryo transfer catheters and puncture needle are the products for artificial insemination.Hamilton Throne Ltd. Is a leading provider for computer aided sperm analysis and advanced laser system. IVOS, CEROS, human motility II are sperm analysis products. In September 2016, the company acquired Embryotech Laboratories, a company providing testing assays and quality control serviees.TOC of Artificial Insemination Market:1. Report Prologue2. Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope of the Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 Limitations2.3 Market Structure2.4. Market Segmentation3. Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size Estimation3.5 Forecast Model4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restraints4.3 Opportunities4.4 Threats4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators5. Market Factor AnalysisTOC CONTINUED!Get Customization on this Report, Speak to Analyst @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 EMEA Cardiac Valve Market 2018 by Diseases Aortic Valve Replacement, Heart Valve Disease, etc. | Boost at a CAGR of 6.5% - Forecast till 2023 Market Research Future https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/610 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/610 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/610 EMEA Cardiac Valve Market 2018 Research Report implements an exhaustive study on Market Research Future. This Report Cover Key Market Driver, market size, growth rate, opportunities, market Dynamics and Overall Analysis. And also cover the other information such as Cardiac Valve market trends, Prominent players, chapter-wise Description followed by various user perceptions and Forecast till 2023.Cardiac Valve Market - InsightsCardiac valve or heart valve allows blood to flow in only one direction through the heart; human heart is made of four valves. A cardiac valve opens or closes compulsory on differential blood pressure on each side.The market is driven by increasing number of people with cardiovascular diseases and increasing number of cardiac surgery. Additionally, increasing prevalence of diabetes and obesity, adoption of deskbound lifestyle, rising geriatric population, and excessive use of tobacco and alcohol boost the market growth. On the other hand, higher cost of treatment methods may hamper the growth of the Europe and the Middle East & Africa cardiac valve market.Avail Premium Sample Report @The EMEA cardiac valve market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecasted period.Top Vendors of Cardiac Valve Market Research Report:Medtronic, Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (U.S.), Boston Scientific Corporation (U.S.), St. Jude Medical, Inc. (an Abbott Laboratories Company) (U.S.), LivaNova PLC (U.K.), Symetis SA (Switzerland), Jenavalve Technology, Inc. (Germany), CryoLife, Inc. (U.S.), TTK HealthCare (India), Colibri Heart Valve, LLC (U.S.), Lepu Medical Technology Co., Ltd. (China), and Braile Biomedica (Brazil)Cardiac Valve Segmentation:The EMEA cardiac valve market is segmented on the basis of types, by diseases, by treatment, and by end users.On the basis of types the market is segmented into trans-catheter heart valve, tissue heart valve, and mechanical heart valve, others.On the basis of disease, the market is segmented into aortic valve replacement, heart valve disease, mitral valve stenosis, and others.On the basis of treatments, it is segmented into valve replacement, valve repair, and others.On the basis of end users, the markets segmented into cardiac research institute, hospital & clinics, and others.Get Marvelous Discount @Regional Analysis of Cardiac Valve Market:The Europe is the second major contributor to the global cardiac valve market. Total Europe and the Middle East & Africa cardiac valve market in 2016 was approximately USD 15 million. Germany and France are the major contributor to this market due to a huge number of patient with different cardiovascular diseases. About 9.2% of total population in France have cardiovascular diseases, which is the major factor responsible for the growth of the market.The Middle East & Africa is expected to hold a least market share owing to less availability of medical facilities, and less development in healthcare domain.Table of Contents of Cardiac Valve Market Research Report:1 Report Prologue2 Market Introduction2.1 Introduction2.2 Scope Of Study2.3 Research Objective2.4 Assumptions & Limitations2.4.1 Assumptions2.4.2 Limitations3 Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research4 Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restraints5 Market Factor Analysis5.1 Porters Five Forces Model5.1.1 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 Supply Chain Analysis6. Europe, Middle East & Africa Cardiac Valve Market, By Type.TOC CONTINUEDCustomization 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 Worldwide Herbal Toothpaste Market Trend, Future Scope, Industry Update, Global Demand, Top Key Players | Colgate-Palmolive Company, Procter & Gamble, Unilever and GSK group of companies | by Forecast to 2023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3899 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/herbal-toothpaste-market-3899 Latest Industry Updates:Sep 2017 Leading FMCG brand Dabur India has undergone an agreement with Amazon to sell 30 of its products directly in the US, Canada and Mexico through the American online retailer's platform, amid a resurging interest in herbal products, ayurveda and yoga. The company is focusing more towards business expansion through mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships.Aug 2017 Hindustan Unilever Limited has launched a new range of Ayurvedic personal care products under the Lever ayush brand name. The re-launched Lever ayush range spans across personal care categories including Skin Care, Hair Care, Oral Care and Body Care products.Feb 2017 Dabur India Ltd has launched an ayurvedic specialist toothpaste in a modern gel format. The new product, Dabur Red Gel combines traditional wisdom with modern-day science to offer consumers the benefits of ayurveda in contemporary and ready-to-use formats.Nov 2016 Personal care products company Colgate-Palmolive (India) Ltd has launched Cibaca Vedshakti, a tooth paste made of natural ingredients. The company aims to focus more on launching herbal personal care products in upcoming months.Receive a Sample Report @Competitive Analysis:The major key players in the industry are focusing on R&D, to bring up new products in the market. Also major companies are undergoing clinical trials for herbal ingredients in personal care products. This initiative will help companies to provide clinically tested and safe products to consumers which will ultimately uplift the global herbal toothpaste market. Large number of competitors and intensified competition among them is giving a tough competition in the global herbal toothpaste market.Additionally, product certification would be a differentiating factor among the competitors. The best long-term growth opportunities for this sector can be captured by improving product quality and optimized investment strategies.The key players profiled in herbal toothpaste are Colgate-Palmolive Company (U.S.), Procter & Gamble (U.S.), Unilever (U.K), GSK group of companies (U.K), The Himalaya drug company (India), Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Germany), Dabur India Ltd. (India)Market Overview:Increasing demand for herbal based products in personal care industry is likely to uplift the demand for global herbal toothpaste market over the review period.Growing demand for herbal ingredients in personal care products such as oral care products including toothpaste for improving oral health is likely to increase the global herbal toothpaste market over the review period. Herbal toothpaste comprises of ingredients such as neem, mint, basil, spice extract, and many more which help users in providing ideal protection against dental issues like pyorrhea, gum bleeding, cavity and sensitivity. Increasing health conscious population and inclination of consumers towards herbal ingredients in personal care products is boosting the growth of herbal toothpaste market. Moreover, continuous increase in oral health issues among the growing population has opened doors for herbal toothpaste market owing to its oral health benefits.High benefits obtained from herbal products are also supporting the sale of herbal toothpaste globally. Among the various type of herbal, neem and mint are evaluated to hold a major share as wide range of products are available in this category attracting consumers towards the product line. However, stringent government laws and regulations for the use of herbal ingredients in herbal toothpaste preparation may hamper the growth of the market. Additionally, limited availability of herbs, spices and other natural products used in formulation of herbal toothpastes is likely to hamper the market growth over the forecast period.Access Report Details @Segment:The global herbal toothpaste market has been divided into ingredients type, end-user, distribution channel, and region.On the Basis of Ingredients Type: Neem, Mint, Basil, Spice Extract, and OthersOn the Basis of End-user: Adults and KidsOn the Basis of Distribution Channel: Store-based and Non-store basedOn the Basis of Region: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and ROWRegional Analysis:Herbal Toothpaste Market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and rest of the world (RoW). Global herbal extract market is highly dominated by Asia Pacific region. Asia Pacific region is projected to grow tremendously during the forecast period. Moreover, the presence of various developing economies such as India, China and ASEAN countries are providing extra demand of the herbal product. Mounting growth of personal care industry in India and china are also anticipated to be one of the significant drivers in Asia Pacific region.Furthermore, the awareness regarding health benefits of herbal products is also projected to stimulate the growth of Asia Pacific market during the forecast period. North America is also anticipated to witness decent growth over the forecast period due to the early adopter of new products and technology.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 Lower GI Series Market 2018 by Test Types Double-Contrast and Single-Contrast | Emerging CAGR of 4.6% with Foremost Players like Cadila Pharmaceuticals, PeaceHealth, etc. Forecast till 2023 Market Research Future https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/771 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/771 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/771 Worldwide Lower GI Series Market 2018 Research Report implements an exhaustive study on Market Research Future. This Report Cover Key Market Driver, market size, growth rate, opportunities, market Dynamics and Overall Analysis. And also cover the other information such as Lower GI Series market trends, Prominent players, chapter-wise Description followed by various user perceptions and Forecast till 2023.Lower GI Series Market - OverviewGastrointestinal diseases has gained a tremendous attention over the last few years. Increasing prevalence of different gastrointestinal diseases and disorders has encouraged many companies for initiating the research & development for innovative and advanced drugs, diagnostics, and therapeutic approaches.Avail Premium Sample Report @A Lower Gastrointestinal (GI) Series or Barium Enema test provides a series of X-ray images of the large intestine. A lower Gi series is most commonly used to screen for colorectal cancer and bowel diseases. It is helpful for determining the cause of bleeding, pain, bowel obstruction, or changes in bowel movements. Upon modification of this test to a Double-Contrast Barium Enema, and with the use of fluoroscope, it can be used to view inside the large intestine to provide a better view of the mucous membrane.According to a recent study report published by the Market Research Future analysts, the global lower Gi series market is currently very steady and growing at a moderate rate. This market is mainly driven by the factors such as increasing prevalence of GI diseases, rising geriatric population and increasing investment in research & development. Additionally, changing lifestyle and increasing awareness about the availability of the treatment fuel the market growth. Having said that, development of an alternative diagnostic tests, and increasing use of colonoscopies may hinder the growth of the lower GI series market to an extent.Top Vendors of Lower GI Series Market Research Report:Some of the key players in this market are Eisai (US), Cadila Pharmaceuticals, PeaceHealth, Purdue Pharma L.P., Alfa Wassermann, NOVADAQ, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, AstraZeneca, and Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Inc.Lower GI Series Market Segmentation:The global lower GI series market is segmented on the basis of by applications, types of tests, and end user.On the basis of applications, it is segmented into gastroenteritis, colon polyps, tumor, strictures crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and others.On the basis of types of test, it is segmented into double-contrast test and single-contrast test.On the basis of end users, this market is segmented into hospitals, clinics, and laboratories.Get Marvelous Discount @Regional Analysis of Lower GI Series Market:The global lower GI series market is growing at a moderate rate. This market is greatly benefitted by the increased aging population in the major regions all across the world. America region captured a significant share of the global lower GI series market. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, more than 34 million Americans have GI tract diseases out of which 20 million American have chronic diseases. According to Federal Interagency Forum, 46 million people over age 65 year lived in the United States in 2014, accounting for 15 percent of the total population. Such huge population in United States which are more prone to the gastrointestinal diseases such as Ulcerative colitis, colon cancer, Crohns disease, and others have majorly driving the growth of the lower Gi series market in this region.European market is second highest revenue generator after America. Europe lower Gi series market has benefited by the presence of some major healthcare providers, and diagnostic laboratories in this region. Moreover, increasing patient pool for gastrointestinal diseases and changing laboratory practices are driving the growth for Europe lower GI series market.Asia Pacific region is the fastest growing region in lower GI market owing to the rising population with the gastrointestinal problems. According to the World Cancer Research Fund International (2016), Japan and China rank second and fifth respectively in the incidence of stomach cancer in Asia. With such high rates of stomach cancer, researchers have begun investigating the various environmental and genetic factors that may explain such concerning statistics. According to the WHO, in 2015, the largest number of new TB cases occurred in Asia, of which India, Indonesia, China, and Pakistan accounted for more than 40% of the new TB cases. In order to handle the rise in GI disease, manufacturers have increased the investment in research and development. Government of Asian countries are also supporting the manufacturers for their research to balance the need and supply of the products.Table of Contents of Lower GI Series Market Research Report:1 Report Prologue2 Market Introduction2.1 Introduction2.2 Scope Of Study2.3 Research Objective2.4 Assumptions & Limitations2.4.1 Assumptions2.4.2 Limitations3 Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research4 Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restraints5 Market Factor Analysis5.1 Porters Five Forces Model5.1.1 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 Supply Chain Analysis6. Global Lower GI Series Market, By Applications.TOC CONTINUEDCustomization 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 Parry-Romberg Syndrome Market by Diagnosis - Physical Examination, MRI Scan, Serum Test with ~7.8% with Medtronic (Ireland), Abbott (US), Immediate Media Company Ltd. (US), Sanofi-Aventis, Biogen, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, Inc Parry-Romberg Syndrome Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4395 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/parry-romberg-syndrome-market-4395 The Global Parry-Romberg Syndrome Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 7.8% during the forecast period 2017-2023.Parry-Romberg Syndrome Market Scenario:Parry-Romberg syndrome is also known as progressive hemifacial atrophy. It is a rare disease, which is characterized by the shrinking and degeneration of the tissues beneath the skin. The changes and deterioration spread slowly and it occurs on one side and rarely extends to other parts of the body. General symptoms, includes facial changes, which involves the tissues above the upper jaw or between the nose and the upper corner of the lip and subsequently progress to the mouth, areas around the eye, the ear, and the neck. Currently, no cure and treatments are available for the parry-Romberg syndrome.Increasing prevalence of skin diseases, neurological abnormalities, and eye defects are the major driving factors for the growth of the market during the forecast period. Moreover, oral diseases also boost the market growth as the tissues of mouth, including the tongue, gingiva, teeth, and soft palate are commonly involved in Parry-Romberg syndrome.According to the Centers for Disease Control And Prevention, skin diseases is the most common in the US and over 7% of skin related diseases that are tracked by skin cancer registries are adding fuel to the market growth.Get Exclusive Sample Report @According to the WHO, millions of people worldwide are affected by neurological abnormalities or disorder. More than 6 million people die because of stroke each year; over 80% of deaths take place in low and middle income countries, which will boost the market growth in developing regions.On the other hand, high cost of current treatment methods, and long duration for complete cure, for instance, it takes one-two years for facial growth and after facial growth the surgery is proceeded, which may hamper the market growth.Parry-Romberg Syndrome Market Key Players:Some of the key players in this market are DePuy Synthes (U.S.), Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. (US), Medtronic (Ireland), Abbott (US), Immediate Media Company Ltd. (US), Taj Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Pfizer, Inc., Sanofi-Aventis, Biogen, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, Inc., and AstraZeneca plc.Parry-Romberg Syndrome Market Segmentation:The global Parry-Romberg syndrome market is segmented on the basis of diagnosis, treatment, and end user.On the basis of diagnosis, the market is segmented into physical examination, MRI, serum test, and other.On the basis of treatment, the market is categorized into drug treatment, surgery, and others. The drug treatment is further segmented into methotrexate, corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, and others. The surgery is sub-segmented into orthognathic surgery, microsurgical reconstructive surgery, and others.On the basis of end user, the market is segmented into hospitals & clinics, physical therapists and others.The Worldwide Parry Romberg Syndrome Market consists of four regions: the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. Parry-Romberg syndrome is also known as progressive hemifacial atrophy. It is a rare disease, which is characterized by the shrinking and degeneration of the tissues beneath the skin. The changes and deterioration spread slowly and it occurs on one side and rarely extends to other parts of the body. General symptoms, includes facial changes, which involves the tissues above the upper jaw or between the nose and the upper corner of the lip and subsequently progress to the mouth, areas around the eye, the ear, and the neck. Currently, no cure and treatments are available for the parry-Romberg syndrome.Browse Complete 115 Pages Report with Competitive Analysis of Niche Segments, Top Players, Comprehensive Research and Key Regions @Parry-Romberg Syndrome Market Regional Analysis:The Americas dominates the global Parry-Romberg syndrome market owing to the presence of huge geriatric population, increasing number of patient with neurological disorder, eye related disorders. Moreover, high healthcare speeding, advanced hospitals infrastructures, availability of skilled healthcare professional are boosting the growth of the market.Europe accounts for the second largest Parry-Romberg syndrome market across the globe owing to increasing government support for research & development, and increasing investment in healthcare. The countries such as France, and Germany investing in the healthcare to develop new diagnosis and treatment methods for rare diseases, which will boost the market growth. As per Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the share of GDP to health spending in Germany was 11.0% in 2013, compared with a share of GDP was up from 10.8% in 2012, which is responsible for the growth of the market in this region.Asia Pacific has the fastest growing market, increasing government support for research & development, increasing prevalence of skin diseases, eye related diseases, and huge population base and rapidly developing economy drives the growth of the market in this region. Developing countries in this region are focusing more in the development of healthcare domain for instance country such as India.The Middle East & Africa is expected to show the least market share due to less availability of medical facilities, and less development in healthcare domain.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 Global Homeopathic Medicine Market Is Expected To Grow At a CAGR Of 12.5% During The Forecast Period 2018 to 2023 Homeopathic Medicine Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4411 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/homeopathic-medicine-market-4411 Major Players in Homeopathic Medicine MarketSome of the key players in the global market are Hahnemann Laboratories Inc. (U.S.), Natural Health Supply (U.S.), Boiron USA (U.S), HomeoLab USA (Canada), SBL (India), Hylands Homeopathic (U.S.) and Nelson & Co. Ltd. (U.K).The Worldwide Homeopathic Medicine Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.5% during the forecast period. The global homeopathic medicine market is expected to show sharp growth over the forecast period. Rising prevalence of chronic disease and increasing demand for medicines from natural sources and overall increase in the awareness about medicines and treatment options in homeopathy drive the market growth. Furthermore, homeopathy is gaining attention in many of the emerging market throughout the globe. Lack of awareness about homeopathy in developing countries may act as a barrier for the market growth.Homeopathy is a natural form of medicine based on the principle of cure. Most of the homeopathic medicine are diluted to render them safe for use. Homeopathic medicine from plant sources are most widely used across the globe. They have wide range of application in mental health, reproductive health, skin and hair disorder, neurological disorders and many more.Get Exclusive Sample Copy @Homeopathic Medicine Market Regional Analysis:The Americas dominate the global homeopathic medicine market. North America is the largest market owing to growing interest of public and healthcare professionals in homeopathic medicine and therapies.Europe is where the homeopathic medicine system originated and then spread across the world. Homeopathy is most popular in the U.K., and its homeopathic medicine system is regulated by the Society of Homeopaths, Alliance of Registered Homeopaths and Homeopathic Medical Association.Asia Pacific is the fastest growing and potential market for the homeopathic medicine, owing to an increase in the number of homeopathic practitioners and increasing inclination towards alternative medicine. India is the largest market whose growth is attributed to a perceived effectiveness of homeopathic medicines and available infrastructure.The Middle East & Africa is expected witness steady growth due to rising demand for homeopathy medicine in this region.Homeopathic Medicine Market Segmentation:The global homeopathic medicine market is segmented on the basis of type, indication, and end user.On the basis of drugs, market is segmented into plants based, animal based, and mineral based. Plant based drug segment is further segmented into Arnica montana, Bryonia alba, Cinchona officinalis, Pulsatilla nigricans, and Rhus tox, Symphytum. Animal based drug segment is further segmented into Latrodectus mactans, Tarentula Hispania, Tarentula cubensis, Naja tripudians, Vipera, Sepia, and Cantharis. Mineral based drug segment is further segmented into Calcarea carbonica, Phosphorus, Calcarea phosphorica, Natrum muriaticuma, and others. Other segment include Nosodes, Sarcodes, and Imponderabilia.On the basis of application, the market is market is segmented into skin & hair, reproductive health, lifestyle disorders, bones, joints, and muscles diseases, brain and nerves disorders, respiratory diseases, childhood diseases, hormonal disorders, and others.On the basis of end user, the market is divided into hospitals, homeopathic clinics, and others.Browse Complete 206 Pages Report with Competitive Analysis of Niche Segments, Top Players, Comprehensive Research and Key Regions @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 HIV Vaccines Market 2018; Grow At the Rate of About 5.0% | the Growth of the Market Is Likely To Driven By Rising R&D Funding For HIV Vaccine | Forecast Till 2027 Market Research Future https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1084 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1084 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1084 This report provides in-depth qualitative and overall analysis of the HIV Vaccine Market on a regional level from 2018 to 2027. The study also provides a comprehensive review of restraints, Market Dynamics, drivers and opportunities along with their impact on the overall market. The report segments the Industry and Key developments and strategies for key players.Market Synopsis of HIV Vaccine Market:The globally market for HIV vaccine is one of the fastest growing markets. Although there is no commercial HIV vaccine available in the market; there is huge funding for the research & development of HIV vaccine. The growth of the market is likely to driven by rising R&D funding for HIV vaccine, rising prevalence of HIV due to prostitution, increasing awareness due to HIV prevention programs, growing number of new entrants in the market. Globally the market for HIV vaccine is expected to grow at the rate of about 5.0% from 2016 to 2027.Avail Premium Sample copy @Key Participants:Some of the key players in this market are: Argos Therapeutics, Inc, Bionor Pharma Asa, Janssen Global Services, Llc, Genecure Llc, Geovax, Genvec, Inc, Paxvax Corporation, Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Glaxosmithkline Plc, Sanofi and othersSegmentation:HIV Vaccine Market has been segmented on the basis of type which comprises of acute paronychia, chronic paronychia, candidal paronychia and pyogenic paronychia. On the basis of antibiotics, market is segmented into mupirocin ointment, fusidic acid ointment, gentamicin ointment, dicloxacillin and others.Regional Analysis of HIV Vaccine Market:Globally North America is the largest market for HIV vaccine market. The large size of the market can be attributed to higher adoption of various HIV vaccine trials coupled with presence of technologically and advancement. Europe is the second-largest market for HIV vaccine which is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.1%. Asia-Pacific HIV market is expected to grow with a steady pace.Key Finding:The HIV Vaccine Global Market is expected to reach $ 2,702.3 Billion by 2027.At end of 2015, US$ 19 billion was invested into the AIDS response in low-and middle-income nationsNorth America holds the largest market share of 44.4% of HIV vaccines and is expected to reach $ 1,230.1 billion by the end of forecast period.North America is expected to be the fastest growing market at a CAGR of 5.2% due to high investment in HIV vaccine R&D.Avail Marvelous Discount @Study Objectives of the Market:To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 7 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the HIV vaccine marketTo provide insights about factors affecting the market growthTo analyze the market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc.To provide forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to the main geography and various regions globally.To provide regional level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospectiveTo provide regional level analysis of the market for segments by clinical trials, and its sub-segments.To provide overview of key players and their strategic profiling in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the marketTo track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the global HIV vaccine market.Key Questions Answered In This Report:What will the market size 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?All the queries about this report can be asked @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 Drug Screening Market Research Report 2018 - North America Forecast by oche Diagnostics, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Express Diagnostics Int'l Inc., Shimadzu, MPD, Inc and Alere Toxicology Drug Screening Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1507 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/north-america-drug-screening-market-1507 The North America Drug Screening Market to deliver past and evaluated future revenue of the markets segments and sub-segments with respect to countries U.S and Canada.North America Drug Screening Market Scenario:Drug testing is done usually for patients who are not able to tell what kind of drugs they were taking in the past. They are unable to tell because of various reasons for example sometime they are in a very serious condition or are unconscious. The drug testing is also used to determine allergies caused by drugs and is also used when pain management has to be done for a patient. Sometime drug testing is also done for forensic studies. This testing is done by various test samples, which includes sample like hair, saliva, blood or urine. The small amount of any one of this is collected and used for the test.The North America Drug screening market is expected to grow at the CAGR of 6% which has started since 2017 and is expected to continue till 2023 thus, estimated growth period of this market can be stated as from 2017-2023. There is an increase in cases of drug consumption therefore the market already has a good position.Get Exclusive Sample Report @Key players of North America Drug Screening Market:Siemens Healthnieers, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Quest Diagnostics, Roche Diagnostics, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Express Diagnostics Int'l Inc., Shimadzu, MPD, Inc. and Alere Toxicology.North America Drug Screening Market Segments:The segmentation for the North America drug screening market is done on the basis of test samples and condition. The test sample segment includes hair, saliva, blood and urine. On the basis of the condition the segmentation is done into unconsciousness, panic attack, chest pain, breathing problem, vomiting, seizures, pain management, organ transplant, and drug allergies.Drug Screening Market Regional Analysis:The North America drug screening market is segmented into two countries which includes U.S and Canada. These countries have maximum number of patients who are consuming high dosage drugs for the various chronic diseases. These drugs show various adverse effects. Thus, the market for drug testing is more in these two countries.Drug testing is done usually for patients who are not able to tell what kind of drugs they were taking in the past. They are unable to tell because of various reasons for example sometime they are in a very serious condition or are unconscious. The drug testing is also used to determine allergies caused by drugs and is also used when pain management has to be done for a patient. Sometime drug testing is also done for forensic studies. This testing is done by various test samples, which includes sample like hair, saliva, blood or urine. The small amount of any one of this is collected and used for the test.Browse Complete 50 Pages Premium Report with Competitive Analysis of Niche Segments, Top Players, Comprehensive Research and Key Regions @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 Allergen Free Food Products Market Insights, Business Opportunities, Competitor Analysis, Forthcoming Developments & Future Investments 2018 to 2023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5382 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/allergen-free-food-products-market-5382 Allergen Free Food Products Market research report includes various topics like total market size, key market drivers, challenges, growth opportunities, Industry share, growth, demand, outlook etc. Furthermore it covers key market updates, the impact of regulations and technological updates in. The report addresses the need to stay updated in this competitive market conditions and this provides and comprehensive data for making strategies and decision so as to stimulate the market growth and profitability.Market Overview:The global market for allergen free food products is observing rapid growth over the past few years due to rising cases of allergies and sensitivity towards certain food ingredients. The most common and dominating allergies among the population include that of gluten, lactose, sugar and others. The various types of allergen free food products include gluten-free products, lactose-free products, diabetes food products, and others. These products have become a necessity rather than option among a large group of population.Allergen free food products are growing rapidly over the past years. Increasing cases of allergies towards certain food ingredients followed by advancement in the diagnosis of such allergies is driving the growth of the market. Moreover, growing inclination of the population towards healthy and low sugar food products will predominantly affect growth of the allergen free food products market.Growing demand for gluten-free bakery products in the developing countries is supporting the growth of the market. Moreover, increasing demand for lactose free products among the growing population of lactose intolerance is further boosting the growth of the allergen free food products market. Additionally, new product developments and easy availability of products in the market is surging its growth. However, premium prices of the products may hamper the growth of the market. Nevertheless, all these factors are projected to contribute to the estimated CAGR of 8.9% of allergen free food products market during the forecast period 2017-2023.Receive a Sample Report @Major Key Players:The major players in the Allergen Free Food Products Market,Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (U.S.)Boulder Brands, Inc. (U.S.)Abbott Laboratories (U.S.)Kraft Heinz Company (U.S.)Nestle (Switzerland)Danone SA (France)General Mills (U.S.) andKellogg Co. (U.S.)Downstream Analysis:On the basis of type, allergen free food products is segmented into gluten-free, lactose-free, diabetes food, and others. Among all, lactose-free segment is dominating the market followed by gluten-free segment. However, increasing cases of diabetes among the population is driving the growth of diabetes food products market over the forecast period.Based on the packaging material, allergen free food products market is segmented into glass, plastic, metal, paper, and others. Among all, paper and plastic segment are witnessed to be the fastest growing segments.On the basis of distribution channel, allergen free food products market is segmented into store based and non-store based distribution channel. Among them, store based distribution channel is dominating the market. Availability of wide range of products followed by convenience of finding all products under one roof is driving the growth of this segment.Access Report Details @Regional Analysis:The global allergen free food products market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and rest of the world (RoW). North America is dominating the market. The U.S. is the major contributor in North America owing to the increasing rate of lactose intolerants in this region. In Europe, growing bakery industry followed by growing cases of Celiac diseases is driving the growth of allergen free food products market.Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest growing region for allergen free food products market. India and China are majorly contributing to the growth of allergen free food products market in Asia Pacific. Innovations and technological advancement is boosting the growth of allergen free food products in rest of the world. Among them, Latin America is projected to be the major contributor to the allergen free food products market.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.ContactMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Global Research on Block Paving Market | McBride Construction, Palmetto Corp, Superior Asphalt Inc., Premier Pavers and Stone, Brett Landscaping & Building Products, Tobermore, Kilsaran International, Marshalls PLC https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2062 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/2062 Block Paving Market of Market OverviewMarket research future published a raw research report on Global Block paving Market that contains the information from 2014 to 2022. Global Block paving market is expected to grow with the CAGR of approximately from 2016 to 2022, and with this it is predictable to cross USD Billion by 2022.Taste the market data and market information presented through more than market data tables and figures spread in 118 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Global Block paving Market Information from 2014 to 2022"Receive Sample Copy @Ask for your specific company profile and country level customization on reports. McBride Construction Palmetto Corp, Superior Asphalt Inc. Premier Pavers and Stone Brett Landscaping & Building Products Tobermore, Kilsaran International Marshalls PLC Paving Superstore.Block paving is very durable, long lasting and can easily cope with lots of motor and pedestrian traffic. It can handle much pressure and commonly used in airports and docks. Additionally, it is unaffected by frosts, oils or chemicals and these features makes it a popular choice in industrial sites. Due to the nature of the material it does not require top polishing, as well as it offers impressive range of colors and styles. Block paving referred as most environmental friendly option due to its porous nature and prevent the water from gathering or flooding.The report has analyzed the market based on the three segments: material, product and end-use in the regions of North America, Europe, APAC and rest of the world. On the basis of product it includes bricks, pavers, wall block and other. Pavers and wall block has the largest share by value and volume. The share is attributed to the increased demand and long lasting nature. On the basis of material it includes clay, building bricks, glazed clay bricks, concrete. Bricks account for the largest share. On the basis of end-use it includes structural, hardscaping, siding, fireplace and other. Siding has the largest market share in the U.S. market. The scope of the market has widened over many years owing to the flourishing markets of APAC.North America will be the largest marketNorth America is expected to dominate the market with its largest and fastest growing market size for Block paving. The reason is attributed to the increased demand and attractive features offered by block paving such as versatile, and environment friendly among other. Paver blocks or bricks can be effectively replaced without leaving any mark and it referred as one of the most important factor for the growth of the market. It is common in construction of patios and town centers and often used in precincts and more commonly in road surfacing.This research report has provides the insights, on various levels of analyses such industry analysis, market share analysis leading market players and their profiles. This report also helps in studying the target segments by providing views on emerging & high-growth segments and market conclusion. Together the market data comprise and discuss with the basic assessments on the competitive scenarios & strategies, of the global block paving market, including the high-growth regions, countries and their political, economic and technological environments. Furthermore the project report also provides the views over the historical market values as well as, pricing and cost analysis of the same.Ask Question to our 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.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Diesel Generator Market Comprehensive Research Study, Share,Size| Global Top Key Player: Caterpillar Inc. , Cummins Inc., Kohler Co., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.|Forecast 2018 2023. https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3001 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/3001 This research report on the Global Diesel Generator Market is an all-encompassing study of the industry sectors, up-to-date outlines, industry development, drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It contains an analysis of late augmentations in innovation, Porters five forces analysis and progressive profiles of hand-picked industry competitors. The report furthermore articulates an analysis of trivial and full-scale factors indicated for the new and tenured candidates in the market along with a methodical value chain exploration.Market HighlightsA diesel generator is a combination of diesel engine and an electric generator and is used to generate electricity. The diesel generator has an inbuilt internal diesel combustion engine that can ignite diesel fuel and the energy generated is transformed into mechanical energy and to generate electricity. Diesel generators are available in various sizes and with power ratings. The market is driven by the increasing need of reliable power supply at lower costs. Also, frequent outages caused by various natural calamities such as severe weather events can cause trouble to the operations of emergency services, industrial operations, residential homes and commercial establishments. Therefore diesel generators act as a backup system for fulfilling their need for reliable power.Download the sample report for more information @Key PlayersThe key players of global diesel generator markets are Caterpillar Inc. (U.S.), Cummins Inc.(U.S.), Kohler Co.(U.S), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Japan), Kirloskar Group (India), Briggs & Stratton (U.S), Wartsila (Finland), AKSA Power Generation (Turkey) and Yanmar Co., Ltd. (Japan).Worldwide Diesel Generator Market Competitive AnalysisThe market appears to be highly competitive and fragmented owing to the presence of several large and small key players. The Best-in-class products that support the productions in extreme operating conditions with Fuel Efficiency are the sign of these Diesel Generator Manufacturers contribution and the support they are rendering to the community.Industry/ Innovation/ Related NewsDecember 26, 2017 The Cummins Group, one of the worlds largest manufacturers of engines and Diesel Generators, said that the company is in talks to acquire a controlling stake in Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd in a deal valued at over $500 million through one of its Indian subsidiaries, two people aware of talks between the companies said. The acquisition, if materializes, will be the second such between the companies since 2013 when Cummins India acquired majority stake in Kirloskar CumminsDecember 21, 2017 Mahindra Powerol (India) a unit of the Mahindra Group, declared its plan to launch high power diesel generator sets in 500 kVA and above category in the next two years. The company also mentioned that it is in talks with a number of global and domestic players for a technology tie-up. The company is also looking to increase exports revenue of its generator business to 25 per cent in the next financial year from the existing around 16 per cent.December 18, 2017 Mahindra Powerol launched a new range of diesel generators in Kolkata. They are offering these generators in 250kVA and 320kVA variants. These DGs have been equipped with Mahindra's mPower engine for lesser emission, according to a company statement.Enquiry for this report @Market Research AnalysisWorldwide Diesel Generator Market Regional AnalysisThe Asia-Pacific region is the leading market for diesel generators market and it is closely followed by Middle East and Africa market. The rapid industrial development in the countries such as India and China where there are issues with continuous reliable power, is driving the market for diesel generators. The North America and Europe market is expected to witness decline due to the restraints in emission from diesel engines.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 Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com World Specialty Cheese Market Analysis 2018, Regional Trend, Industry Demand, Current and Future Plans by Forecast to 2023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4660 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/specialty-cheese-market-4660 Specialty Cheese Market Research Report includes various topics like total market size, key market drivers, challenges, growth opportunities, Industry share, growth, demand, outlook etc. Furthermore it covers key market updates, the impact of regulations and technological updates in. The report addresses the need to stay updated in this competitive market conditions and this provides and comprehensive data for making strategies and decision so as to stimulate the market growth and profitability.Market Overview:Specialty cheese is a type of cheese in which there is particular attention given to natural flavor and texture of the cheese. Specialty cheese is derived from various sources of milk such as goat milk, sheep milk, whole cow milk, skimmed cow milk and buffalo milk and it is a rich source of protein, calcium and phosphorus. The main focus in specialty cheese is on the natural flavors added to it such as herbs, spices, fruits, nuts and others. They are available in various types such as fresh, aged fresh, soft white, semi-soft, hard, flavored, and others.Inclination of the consumers towards application of various types of cheese in their fast food and snack products is driving the market of specialty cheese in this region. Market Research Future, a firm which specializes in market reports related to the Food, Beverages & Nutrition sector among others, recently forecasted in its report on Global Specialty Cheese Market Research Report- Forecast to 2023 that the market will demonstrate an exceptional CAGR during the forecast period.Availability of wide range of specialty cheese along with increasing application of specialty cheese in fast food products, snacks, bakery products, and others is driving the growth of the market. Changing lifestyle and consumption pattern among the consumers are the supporting factors in the growth of specialty cheese market. Moreover, inclination of consumers towards fast food and snacks is boosting the market of specialty cheese. However, surge in the prices of milk may hamper the specialty cheese market growth in developing countries.Receive a Sample Report @Latest Industry Updates:Dec 2017 Leading berry company Naturipe Farms has been awarded at this years New York Produce Show and Conference for its Naturipe Snacks product line that combines fruit, cheese, and nuts into one portable package.July 2017 Land OLakes launched a line of USDA Organic Cheddar cheese powder at IFT in Las Vegas te respond to consumer demand for natural dairy ingredients free from food coloring and dyes.April 2017 Dean Foods Company and KRAFT Macaroni & Cheese have announce their strategic collaboration spotlighting Dean's DairyPure brand milk and KRAFT Macaroni & Cheese (KMC).March 2017 ermont Creamery became an independently operated subsidiary of Minnesota-based Land O'Lakes. It will continue to produce its fresh and aged goat cheeses, cultured butter and fresh dairy at the creamery in Websterville, Vermont.Competitive Analysis:The specialty cheese market is competitive with major market players operating at the global level. The key industry players in the market have adopted the strategies such as geographical expansion, product launch, partnerships, and acquisitions. Most of the companies operating in this market are focusing on expanding its operations across the geographies, augmenting its capabilities and investing in research and development to offer products with better functionality.The leading market players in the global specialty cheese market are Bel Brands (U.S.), ORNUA FOODS NORTH AMERICA INC (U.S.), BelGioioso Cheese Inc (U.S.), Arla Foods (Denmark), Kanegrade Ltd. (U.K.), Kraft Heinz Ingredients (U.S.), and Saputo Inc. (Canada) among many others.Access Report Details @Regional Analysis:Specialty Cheese Market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and rest of the world (RoW). Europe is dominating the specialty cheese market followed by North America. Growing consumption of specialty cheese in snacks and fast foods by the increasing population is the major factor driving the specialty cheese market in Europe. Moreover, changing lifestyle and increasing disposable income in countries such as India, china and Japan is expected to grow the specialty cheese market in Asia Pacific. Additionally, high focus on R&D is increasing the range of specialty cheese products which will surge the market in rest of the world.Market Segments:The global specialty cheese market has been divided into type, source, flavor, distribution channel, and region.On The Basis Of Type: Fresh, Aged Fresh, Soft White, Semi-Soft, Hard, Flavored, and othersOn The Basis Of Source: Goat Milk, Whole Cow Milk, Skimmed Cow Milk, Sheep Milk, and Buffalo MilkOn The Basis Of Flavor: Herbs, Spices, Fruits, Nuts, and OthersOn The Basis Of Distribution Channel: Store Based, and Non-store BasedOn The Basis Of Region: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and ROW.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 Healthcare Enterprise Software Global Industry 2018 Perceives Aggrandized Growth at a CAGR Of 15.7% | with Competitive Vendors | Geographical Overview Industry Prognostications Up to 2023 Healthcare Enterprise Software Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1060 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1060 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1060 Latest research study from Market Research Future with title Global Healthcare Enterprise Software by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application. 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. Forecast till 2023.Avail Premium Sample copy @Global Healthcare Enterprise Software Market - OverviewHealthcare software are used by the hospitals to manage clinical & non-clinical data. They help to maintain records of the patient electronically for easy storage and retrieval. These software help to manage, secure and analyze information in healthcare environment. Enormous data can be stored in the software instead of handling manual records. The demand of healthcare software is increasing with an increase in the number of software solutions available for healthcare management. Emphasis on electronic health records and stringent rule governing the management of patient information drive this market.Global Market Of Healthcare Enterprise Software Is Expected To Reach USD 8.20 Billion In 2023 From USD 3.50 Billion In 2016 With A CAGR Of Approximately 15.7% During The Forecast Period 2017-2023.There are large number of multi-national medical device and software companies. Designing software according to the specific requirements of healthcare organizations is a challenging job for software companies. These IT companies development enterprise software or hospital management software thus fulfil the specific requirement of their clients. Use of software in healthcare management helps to store clinical and non-clinical data on the server so that it is available across the healthcare organization. Fierce competition among medical device companies and new software solutions available for healthcare management contribute to the growth of this market. Thus, healthcare enterprise software market is blooming due to an increase in demand for developing healthcare software, research and development activities for production of innovative products and emphasis on cost reduction and patient safety.Healthcare Enterprise Software in healthcare is the procedure of dealing with office's cases, installment and revenue generation processes and other management of healthcare organizations vital assets. In order to efficiently manage the patient revenue cycle of any organization, institute or office. In this era it is required or essential to have medical billing software, practice administration program which permits the management to successfully monitor the process. Cost of software solution may act as restrain for this market.Key Players for Healthcare Enterprise Software Market:Some of the key players in this market are: Microsoft Corporation (US), IBM (US), Oracle Corporation (US), Allscripts (US), Nuance Communications (US), McKesson Corporation (US), Cerner Corporations (US), Athenahealth (US), Medidata Solutions (US), CompuGroup (UK).Global Healthcare Enterprise Software Market Regional OverviewGeographically, the regional market is segmented into America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa.Avail Marvelous Discount @America is the largest market whose growth is attributed to increasing use of information technology in hospitals and demand for software solutions for managing medical records of patients. IBM Corporation and Microsoft Corporation are players in the U.S developing healthcare software solutions. Increasing importance of electronic health records, replacement of manual records by electronic records and extensive use of software solutions in healthcare management drive the growth of this market in North America. North America is the largest market whose growth is attributed to extensive use of healthcare software by healthcare professionals and growing importance of electronics medical records.Technological advancement in software development and easy adoption of information technology in healthcare also favor the growth of this market in North America. Maintenance of health records, awareness among patients about importance of their medical records & its legal applications and demand of user friendly software solutions drives this market in South America. Major medical device and healthcare IT companies in the U.S are global leaders in manufacturing medical devices and components as well as providing healthcare software solutions.Europe is the second largest market owing to an increase in adoption of information technology for healthcare management. The market is growing continuously and slowly catching up with the American market in the near future.Asia Pacific shows fastest growth in this market because of rising awareness about software and replacement of manual records by electronic ones. Asia Pacific market is expected to show fastest growth in the healthcare enterprise software market during the forecasted period. Diagnostic devices segment of this market is showing positive and increasing growth. Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation is a major market player in Asia-Pacific. Increasing disease burden, population growth, healthcare demand outreaching supplies drive this market in Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa show steady growth in this market.Global Healthcare Enterprise Software Market Company Analysis:Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation is an American multinational corporation that provides consulting, digital and operation services. In 2015, the company was named by Fortune magazine as worlds fourth most admired IT Solutions Company. In June 2017, the company acquired TMG health, healthcare IT Company. In June 2017, the company acquired TMG health, healthcare IT Company.Allscripts Healthcare Solutions is a publically traded outsourcing company providing healthcare professionals with electronic health records technology and practice management. Its solutions include care coordination, clinical and patient engagement.TOC of Healthcare Enterprise Software Market:1 INTRODUCTION1.1 DEFINITION1.2 SCOPE OF STUDY1.2.1 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE1.2.2 ASSUMPTIONS & LIMITATIONS1.2.2.1 ASSUMPTIONS1.2.2.2 LIMITATIONS1.3 MARKET 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 HEALTHCARE ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE MARKET, BY APPLICATIONTOC CONTINUEDAsk Any Question @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 Medical Billing Market 2018 Outlook By Global Key Players; Accenture, TCS, AGS Health, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Etc 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 @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 Global Palm Oil Market Trend 2018-2023: Key Findings, Regional Analysis, Key Players Profiles and Future Prospects https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5235 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/palm-oil-market-5235 Palm Oil Market Research Report includes various topics like total market size, key market drivers, challenges, growth opportunities, Industry share, growth, demand, outlook etc. Furthermore it covers key market updates, the impact of regulations and technological updates in. The report addresses the need to stay updated in this competitive market conditions and this provides and comprehensive data for making strategies and decision so as to stimulate the market growth and profitability.Market Overview:Palm oil is one amongst the most nutritious edible oil. It is derived from palm fruit which is originally from Western Africa but can flourish wherever heat and rainfall are abundant. Palm oil can be classified into crude palm oil, palm kernel oil, and others. Crude palm oil is derived from the fruit of the oil palm tree and referred as "red palm oil" because of its rich dark red color in its unprocessed natural state. Whereas, palm kernel oil is derived from the seed or the kernel of the palm fruit. Palm oil has a high resistance to oxidation and therefore has a long shelf life.Globally, palm oil is witnessing a high demand in the market. Palm oil is applicable as a cooking oil, bio-diesel, lubricants, cosmetics, and others, which is driving the growth of the market. Increasing demand for vegetable oil is a major factor driving the growth of the market. Moreover, in the biofuels market, it is used as the feedstock for the production of biodiesel and as an alternative to mineral oils for use in power stations which is boosting the growth of the palm oil market.Try Sample Report Here @The fatty acid derivatives of palm oil are used in the production of bactericides, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and water-treatment products. Increasing consumption of palm oil in the manufacturing process of soaps and detergents and in the production of greases, lubricants, and candles is further boosting the growth of the market. Moreover, increasing usage of palm oil as a substitute for trans-fat in processed foods is adding fuel to the growth of palm oil market.Major Key Players:Some of the key players profiled in the global palm oil market: Cargill Inc. (U.S.), Wilmar International Limited (Singapore), Sime Darby (Malaysia), IOI Corp. (Malaysia), Golden Agri Resources Limited (Singapore), Kulim BHD (Malaysia), Godrej Agrovet Limited (India), London Sumatra (Indonesia)Key Findings:Indonesia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, and Guatemala are the major exporters of palm oil marketIndia, China, Pakistan, Spain, and Egypt are the major importers of Indonesia palm oil marketIndustry Segments:The global palm oil market is segmented into type and application.On the basis of type, the palm oil market is segmented into crude palm oil, palm kernel oil, and others. Among all, crude palm oil is dominating the market followed by palm kernel oil. Crude palm oil has less saturated fat than palm kernel oil. Moreover, crude palm oil has a high level of tocotrienols which makes it an outstanding source of vitamin E and a powerful antioxidant, driving the growth of the segment.On the basis of the application, the palm oil market is segmented into cooking oil, bio-diesel, lubricant, cosmetics, and others. Amongst all the cooking oil segment is dominating the market. However, cosmetics segment is expected to witness high growth over the forecast period.Access Report Details @Regional Analysis:Palm Oil Market is segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe and rest of the world (RoW). Asia Pacific is dominating the market and is witnessed to have a substantial growth over the forecast period with increasing consumption of palm oil in different industries. Indonesia and Malaysia are the major producers and exporters of palm fruit which are majorly contributing to the growth of palm oil market in Asia Pacific.North America and Europe are projected to have a moderate growth during the forecast period. Moreover, Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are anticipated to be the fastest growing region in palm oil market 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.ContactMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Refurbished Medical Devices Market Outlook | Ready To Set Phenomenal Growth By Top Merchants | GE Healthcare, Stryker Corporation, Phillips Healthcare, Etc https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1282 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1282 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1282 Market Research Future published a research report on Global Refurbished Medical Devices Market and predicts that Global Refurbished Medical Devices Market is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR of 10.8% during the forecasted period and report include market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and forecast till 2023.Refurbished medical devices means devices which are restored to its original working condition by manufacturer or by other experts. These devices are checked and tested by the quality control department. The devices that are commonly refurbished are designed to have long-use periods.Global Refurbished Medical Devices Market is driven by an affordable alternative to expensive devices, e-marketing and poor reimbursement policies in many countries. Increasing patient population also contributed in the growth of the market. Whereas huge taxes on imported devices and lack of awareness regarding refurbished medical devices may hamper the growth of the market.Global Refurbished Medical Devices Market is expecting a luxurious growth of 10.8 % during forecasted period.To Explore More, Get PDF Sample Copy @Key Players for Global Refurbished Medical Devices MarketGE Healthcare (US), Stryker Corporation (US), Phillips Healthcare (Netherlands), Siemens Healthcare (Germany), Agito Medical (Denmark), DMS Topline (U.S.), Johnson & Johnson (US), First Source, Inc (U.S.), and Soma Technology (U.S.), Toshiba Medical System (Japan), Block Imaging International (US).Regional Analysis for Global Refurbished Medical Devices MarketOn regional basis, Global Refurbished Medical Devices Market is dominated by North America. Increasing awareness about refurbished devices and well developed healthcare sector has driven the market of North America. Europe and Asia Pacific share nearly similar type of market. But Asia Pacific Refurbished Medical Devices Market has the highest growth rate. Middle East and Africa has the least market for the refurbished medical devices.Segments for Global Refurbished Medical Devices MarketGlobal Refurbished Medical Devices Market is segmented on the basis of diagnostic devices into X-Ray Machines, CT scanners, Ultrasound Systems, MRI machines, ECG systems, patient monitors and other. Patient monitors are sub segmented into portable patient monitoring devices and others. On the basis of therapeutic devices the market is segmented in heart-lung machines, coagulation analysers, infant incubators and warmers, defibrillators, infusion pumps and other.Get Prime Discount on Report @Some Brief Table of Contents of ReportChapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 LimitationsChapter 3. Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size EstimationChapter 4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restrains4.3 Opportunities4.4 Challenges4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators4.6 Technology Trends & AssessmentChapter 5. Market Factor Analysis5.1 Porters Five Forces Analysis5.1.1 Bargaining Power Of SuppliersTOC ContinuedDo You Have Specific Requirement? Ask To Our Experts@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 Smart Contact Lenses Market To Hold Success Line Up To 2023 | Along With Top 10 Key Players Samsung, Sony, Alcon, Google, Etc https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1186 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1186 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1186 Market research future has published a research report on Global Smart Contact Lenses Market. The Global Smart Contact Lenses Market is growing continuously and expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.4% from 2018 to 2023. Smart Contact Lenses Market Report Included industry analysis, growth factor, size, share and Forecast up to 2023.Trend in the use of medical devices is found to be increasing from last few years, with the urge of innovative product development and technological advancement. Smart contact lenses monitor physiological parameters like blood glucose level helping the patient to manage his/her health. It also help a person to take immediate action and take consultation if blood glucose levels are elevated. Hence, smart contact lenses have brought a revolutionary change in diabetes management. Global Smart contact lenses market is expected to reach USD 7.2 billion by 2023 at a CAGR of 10.4% during forecast period 2017 to 2023.In this Market Research Future provided many Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 45 market data tables and figures spread over 80 pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Smart contact lenses market Research Report Global Forecast to 2023.Get PDG Sample Copy of Report @Global Smart contact lenses Market PlayersKey players in Smart Contact Lenses Market are: Samsung (South Korea), Sony (Japan), Alcon (U.S), Google (U.S), Sensimed SA (Switzerland)Samsung is a multinational conglomerate company manufacturing wide range of products. In April 2016, the company received a patent for smart contact lenses with in-built camera in South Korea.Global Smart contact lenses Market Regional analysisGlobally, America accounts for the largest market share. America consists of two regions namely North America and South America. According to American Diabetes Association, diabetes patients are 40% more susceptible to the glaucoma making it necessary to continuously monitor glucose levels, thus favoring the growth of this market.Google is an American multinational technology company received a patent from the U.S FDA for smart contact lenses in November 2015. Increasing demand for self-monitoring devices, increasing aging population with eye disorders associated to diabetes and user friendliness of smart contact lenses drive this market in America.Asia pacific is expected to be the fastest growing market to increasing burden of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and growth of medical device sector in developing economies such as China and India.Global Smart contact lenses Market SegmentationGlobal Smart contact lenses market has been segmented on the basis of application which includes Continuous Glucose Monitoring, Intraocular Pressure Monitoring and other applications. Other applications are Cholesterol detection, Sodium detection and Alcohol detection. On the basis of end users market is segmented into hospitals, clinics and home care settings.Get Prime Discount on This Report @Some Brief Table of ContentChapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 LimitationsChapter 3. Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size EstimationChapter 4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restraints4.3 Opportunities4.4 ChallengesTOC 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 Transformer Oils Market Analysis 2018, Major Key Players Reviews Oils market Nynas AB, Ergon Inc., Calumet Specialty Products, APAR Industries Limited, PetroChina Company, Sinopec Group, Hydrodec Group Plc., Cargill Inc. https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1769 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/transformer-oil-market-1769 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com Market Highlights:Remarking on this report, an analyst from Market Research Future (MRFR)s team said, the global transformer oils market is predicted to grow at a healthy CAGR to reach USD 4,002.8 million by the end of 2023. The changing lifestyle and the demand for high-tech devices has increased the power consumption rate, which is likely to propel the global market further. Some of the key market factors that positively influence the market growth of transformer oils are rising power consumption, focus on rural electrification, and expansion of the electrical grids. Rapid industrialization and urbanization coupled with rising per capita disposable income in developed and developing countries across the globe are predicted to fuel the growth of the market over the estimated period. However, the threat of substitution by dry transformers and the fluctuating raw material prices may challenge the market growth.Receive a Sample Report @Key Players:Market Research Future (MRFR) recognizes the following companies as the key players in the global transformer oils market Nynas AB (Sweden), Ergon Inc. (U.S.), Calumet Specialty Products (U.S.), APAR Industries Limited (India), PetroChina Company (China), Sinopec Group (China), Hydrodec Group Plc. (U.K), Cargill Inc. (U.S.), Engen Petroleum Limited (South Africa), Valvoline Inc. (U.S.), San Joaquin Refining (U.S.), and Gandhar Oil Refining (India).Access Report @Regional AnalysisRegionally, transformer oils market is classified into five regions namely North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific dominated the global transformer oils market in 2016 and accounted for more than 35% of the value share of the global transformer oils market. The regional market trends substantiating the growth of transformer oils market include the rising consumption of power and energy in the developing economies of Asia Pacific region. The up-gradation in the existing transformers in North America and Europe. Furthermore, the increasing transition from non-renewable to renewable energy sources is likely to boost the demand for large transformers over the review period, 2017-2023. The other emerging markets such as Latin America and the Middle East & Africa seems to observe a healthy market trend as Asia Pacific.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.WantStats Research and Media Pvt. Ltd.Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India Veterinary Medicine Market To Climb With CAGR of 8.1% Up To 2023 | Zoetis, Merck & Co, Eli Lilly and Company, Bayer Healthcare AG, Etc https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/844 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/844 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/844 Market Research Future published a half-cooked research report on Global Veterinary Medicine Market in which Report provided unavailable information on any other source. Report Provided Veterinary Medicine Market Expertise analysis, Industry Growth Opportunities, Size, Share, and Future Predictions till 2023Veterinary medicine, which deals with prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, disorder, and injury in animals. Veterinary medicine is widely practiced worldwide due to increasing number of pet adoptions, rising veterinary expenditure, increase in the number of veterinary professionals and rising demand for pet insurance. There is increase in the awareness about animals health, government initiatives, and many NGOs are working for animal health care.Get Sample PDF of Report @Global Veterinary Medicine Market is expecting a huge growth in the coming years due to increasing love for pet and increasing demand for poultry animals. The considerable decisions in research and development in the veterinary medicine is expected to boost the growth of market. Additionally, strict policies from government for wild animals welfare across the region also boost the growth of the market. The Global Veterinary Medicine Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.1% during forecasted period 2017-2023.Veterinary Medicine Market - Key PlayersThe major key players in Global Veterinary Medicine Market are Zoetis, Inc. (Pfizer), Merck & Co., Inc. (Intervet), Eli Lilly and Company (Elanco/Novartis), Bayer Healthcare AG, Ceva Sante Animale, Virbac S.A, Vetoquinol SA, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Nutreco N.V. and Sanofi S.A. (MERIAL Limited). Major animal feed additive manufacturers are Cargill Inc. (Provimi), ADM Alliance Nutrition, Koninklijke DSM N.V and Evonik Industries AG among others.Veterinary Medicine Market - Regional AnalysisOn the regional basis, the Veterinary Medicine Market is segmented into America, Europe, Asia pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. America dominates the global market for veterinary medicine as it is well developed country and has good animal welfare policies. America spends huge amount in animal welfare and research in veterinary medicine market.The Americas accounts for a significant market share owing to high expenditure on the health care especially of the U.S. and Canada.Veterinary Medicine Market - SegmentationVeterinary Medicine Market is broadly segmented into animal types and diagnostics. Animal types is sub-segmented into companion animals, domesticated animals and poultry animals. Based on diagnostics, it is sub-segmented into clinical chemistry, various vaccines, and other veterinary diagnostics products. On the basis of the products it is sub-segmented into injury medicine, disorder medicine, and diagnosis medicine and On the basis of the route of administration it is sub-segmented into Parental, oral, and topical.Get Attractive Discount on Report @Europe is the second largest market in the world due to growing healthcare industry and healthcare penetration. The European market growth is led by countries such as Germany and France. Europe records for second largest market due to animal favoured government policies and tax benefits for pet animals are major driving forces in European market.Asia Pacific region is expected to grow rapidly; China and India are likely to lead this market due to fast growing healthcare sector and large unmet needs over the forecast period. South East Asian countries such as China, India, and Malaysia are projected to contribute highly to the market growth. Asia Pacific is fastest growing veterinary medicine market. Increasing private veterinary clinics and awareness among people regarding animal welfare. Increasing NGOs work for welfare of animals and government campaign for welfare of pet animal are driving forces for growth of market in this region.Some Brief Table of ContentsCHAPTER 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 STRUCTURECHAPTER 2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY2.1 RESEARCH PROCESS:2.2 PRIMARY RESEARCH2.3 SECONDARY RESEARCHCHAPTER 3 MARKET DYNAMICS3.1 DRIVERS3.2 RESTRAINTS3.3 OPPORTUNITIES3.4 MACROECONOMIC INDICATORSCHAPTER 4 MARKET FACTOR ANALYSIS4.1 PORTERS FIVE FORCES MODEL4.2 BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERSTOC Continued.For Report Related Query 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 Medical Implant Market Thriving Healthcare Sector By Implants Types Up To 2023 | Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., 3M, Institut Straumann AG, Etc https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2806 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/2806 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/2806 Market Research Future published a research report on Global Medical Implant Market and predicts that Global Medical Implant Market is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR of 7.07% during the forecasted period and report include market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and forecast till 2023. Medical Implant Market Report provide unique information by worldwide ultimate top 10+ players. The Global Research gives Major Regional information by Size, Shares and Demand in Healthcare Sector.The success rate of surgery is one of the major factors driving the Global Medical Implant Market. As it gains the confidence of patient suffering from orthopedic, cardiac, and others diseases that implantation procedure help in improving quality of life.According to a report published by American Joint Replacement Registry, in 2017, there is 50% reduction in revision rates of hip and knee implant owing to registry initiation and identification of best practices. According to Romanian Arthroplasty Register, in 2014, Romania reported to be performed 10,179 primary surgeries of THA, and 2,619 primary surgeries of TKA, and in 2015, 9,297 THA and 2,770 TKA primary interventions were conducted. According to the watchman post-FDA approval study, successful implantation rate is 95.6%, which is the highest success rate reported in the United States in 2016.The Global Medical Implants Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.07% during the forecast period 2017-2023.Get Exclusive PDF Sample Copy of Report @Key Players for Global Medical Implant MarketSome of the key players in this market are Boston Scientific Corporation (U.S.), Medtronic (Ireland), Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. (U.S.), 3M (U.S.), Institut Straumann AG (Switzerland), Stryker Corporation (U.S.), Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (U.S.), Smith & Nephew (U.K), Dentsply Sirona (U.S.).Key Findings of Medical Implants MarketThe Global Medical Implants Market is estimated at USD 112,083 million in 2016.Cardiac implant is the fastest growing segment, which is projected grow at a CAGR of 7.63% during the forecast period 2017-2023.The Americas captured the largest market globally and is expected to USD 77,770 million by 2023.Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region across the globe and is expected to grow at a CAGR 7.55% during the forecast period.Segments for Global Medical Implant MarketThe Global Medical Implants Market is segmented on the basis of types, type of material, and end user.On the basis the types, it is segmented into orthopedic implants, cardiac implants, spinal implants, dental implants, ophthalmic implants, cosmetic implants, and others.On the basis of the type of material, it is segmented into metallic material, ceramic material, polymers material, and others.On the basis of the end users, it is segmented into hospitals & clinics, research laboratories, and others.Regional Analysis for Global Medical Implant MarketThe Americas dominates the Global Medical Implants Market owing to the increasing prevalence of patients suffering with damaged body organs, improvement in surgical outcomes, presence of strong economic condition, and focus of research institutions on updating technology for new and advanced medical implants devices.Europe holds the second position in the market owing to increasing support from the government, and the presence of huge geriatric population, and high healthcare spending. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD),Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market owing to more number of developing nations present in this region, for instance, countries like India and china. These countries are encouraging the growth of the medical implants devices.The Middle East & Africa is expected to hold the least market share due to less availability of medical facilities, and less development in the healthcare domain. However, countries such as Qatar and Kuwait are focusing more on the healthcare and developing medical facilities, which is expected to boost the market of this region.Get Prime Discount on This Premium Report @Some Brief Table of Contents of ReportChapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 Limitations2.3 Market StructureChapter 3. Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Share Analysis3.5 Market Pricing ApproachChapter 4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.1.1 Improvement In Surgical Outcomes4.1.2 Increasing Prevalence Of Chronic Diseases4.1.3 Acceptance Of Advanced Medical Implants Devices By Patients4.1.4 Increasing Ageing World Population4.2 Restrains4.2.1 High Cost Of The Devices4.2.2 Ambiguous Regulatory Framework4.3 Mega Trends4.4 Macroeconomic IndicatorsChapter 5. Market Factor Analysis5.1 Porters Five Forces Analysis5.1.1 Bargaining Power Of SuppliersTOC ContinuedDo You Have Specific Requirement? Ask To Our Experts @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 Synthetic Lubricant | Advanced technologies & growth opportunities in global Industry https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2855 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/synthetic-lubricant-market-2855 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com Market Overview:Synthetic Lubricant are predominantly utilized in numerous end use industries such as construction, power & energy, mining, oil & gas, food processing, automobile, and others. Synthetic Lubricant market is expected to witness healthy growth due to increasing construction activities and oil & gas activity across the globe. Among end user segment, automobile is predicted to register healthy growth in the near future due to increasing automotive sales along with increasing consumption of synthetic lubricants. Moreover, increasing construction activities in developed and developing countries is estimated to drive the market growth.Geographically, Asia Pacific emerged as the largest market for synthetic lubricant in 2016 and is predicted to retain its dominance over the forecast years due to growing demand from automotive, construction, and oil & gas sector specifically in China, India, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, and South Korea. In addition, economic growth in this region along with rapid industrialization has resulted in the increased production and sales of automobile which in turn is estimated to drive the demand for synthetic lubricant in the upcoming years. Furthermore, huge investment by major operating players in their Research & Development activities and shifting of synthetic lubricant manufacturing facilities as well as significantly increasing end use industries in this region is estimated to propel the synthetic lubricant regional market growth. North American market is estimated to witness steady growth due to rising demand from power & energy and oil & gas sector. In North America, U.S. and Canada are among the major contributor in the regional market growth on account of strong growth of food processing and oil & gas sector. Europe is estimated to witness significant growth owing to growing passenger car and heavy vehicle production and sales in various countries such as Germany, Spain, Italy, and UK. The Middle Eastern & African market is expected to register above healthy growth on account of increasing commercial and residential construction activities specifically in Qatar, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Latin American countries such as Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico is estimated to register moderate growth due to rising per capita disposable income along with strong consumer base for automotive industry.Receive a Sample Report @Key Players:Key players of the global synthetic lubricant market are Exxon Mobil Corporation (US), The DOW Chemical Company (US), Fuchs Petolub SE (Germany), Total Lubricants (Europe), Demitsu Kosan Co. Ltd (Japan), BP PLC (US), Chevron Corporation (US), Lubrizol Corporation (US), Pennzoil (US), Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Malaysia), and Others.Industry/ Innovation/ Related News:March 2017- Petronas Lubricants announced that the company has launched motorcycle lubricant named as Petronas Sprinta with Ultraflex. With this product launch the company will be able to meet the increasing demand for synthetic lubricant.June 2017- KLONDIKE Lubricants Corporation launched Synthetic Nano Grease in Canada. This product launch will strengthen companys position among the lubricant manufacturers.June 2017- ExxonMobil, one of the leading manufacturer of lubricants announced that the company completed its expansion project in Jurong to raise the manufacturing of grease and synthetic lubricants. With this expansion, the company strengthen its manufacturing capabilities and will be able to meet the increasing demand for grease and synthetic lubricants products in Asia Pacific region.September 2017- GP Petroleums, a subsidiary of Petrochem Group launched Repsols synthetic motorcycle oils in India. With this product launch the company is planning to expand its footprint in the Asia Pacific region.May 2016- PetroChoice, one of the leading provider of lubrication solution acquired Universal Lubricants new oil business. With this acquisition the company added 15 distribution locations, this helps the company to expand their geographic reach and solidifies its position as the largest bulk lubricant distributor in the United States.May 2016- JX Nippon Oil & Energy announced two distribution partnership to expand its reach in the different location of U.S. The company main focus is to meet the increasing demand for synthetic lubricant.Access Complete Report @Regional Analysis:Asia Pacific is the largest market of synthetic lubricant due to demand in various applications such as automotive, construction, and power & energy in China region followed by Japan. Increasing demand for automobile in the India, Taiwan,and South Korea has made Asia Pacific largest consumer of the global synthetic lubricant market followed by increasing in the consumption of synthetic lubricant market in North America region. The third largest market of synthetic lubricant is Europe. Latin America and Middle East also witnessed in growth of synthetic lubricant market due to various application such as automobile, construction, power & energy, mining, oil & gas, food processing, and others.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.WantStats Research and Media Pvt. Ltd.Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India Diabetic Drugs Market 2018 Proliferate Rapidly By Global Key Players; Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Abbott, AstraZeneca, Etc Up To 2023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1160 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1160 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1160 Market Research Future published a research report on "Global Diabetic Drugs Market - Forecast 2018 To 2023". The Global Diabetes Drug Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.38% during forecasted period. Diabetes Drug Market Report include Production, Capacity, Revenue, Price, Gross Margin Analysis and forecast 2018-2023Global Diabetic Drug Market is driven because of increasing diabetic population. Diabetes is one of the major problem across the globe. Diabetes is the metabolic disorder in which there is decrease in the level of insulin which ultimately causes increase in the blood sugar level. According to research, smoking increases the possibility of diabetes; more than 60% of the Global population smokes, this has increased the risk of diabetes and contributed to the growth of the market.To meet the increasing demand for the drugs government of different countries are providing support to manufacturers. Increasing government support will help to boost the market in coming future. However, cost issues, strict regulatory rules and long approval time for drugs may led to restrain the growth of the market.Get Sample PDF Copy of Report @Key Players for Global Diabetes Drug MarketThe major player in the Global Diabetic Drug Market are Eli Lilly (US), Novo Nordisk (Denmark), Abbott (US), AstraZeneca (UK), Biocon (US), Sunpharma (India), Sanofi (France), Novartis (Switzerland), Merck & Co. (US), Pfizer (US), Daiichi Sankyo (Japan), Boehringer Ingelheim (Germany), Akros Pharma (US), Amgen (US), Adocia (France), Peptron (South Korea), Takeda (Japan)Segmentation for Global Diabetes Drug MarketThe Global Diabetes Drug Market is segmented on the basis of types, route of administration, drug class, and end users.On the basis of types, the market is segmented into type-1 diabetes and type-2 diabetes, on the basis of route of administration, the market is segmented into oral, intravenous and other, on the basis of drug class they are insulin, sensitizers, SGLT-2 inhibitors, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, secretagogues, peptide analogs and others. Sensitizers are sub segmented into thiazolidinediones and biguanides. Secretagogues are further segmented into sulfonylureas and non-sulfonylureas and on the basis of end users, the market is segmented into hospital & clinics, ambulatory clinics and other.Regional Analysis for Global Diabetes Drug MarketAmerica dominates the Global Diabetes Drug Market owing to large diabetic patient population. According to the WHO, in 2016, 9.6% of total America population were suffering from diabetes. In addition to this, increasing number of obese people, changing lifestyle and increasing healthcare expenditure have boosted the growth of the market in America.Europe accounts for the second largest diabetes drug market, which is followed by Asia Pacific. Huge smoking population, availability of funds for research, and government support for research & development will drive the market in Europe.Get an Exclusive Discount on Report @Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region for the market due to the presence of a huge patient population, continuously developing economies, and increasing need for the better treatment.On the other hand, the Middle East & Africa has the least share in the Global Diabetes Drug Market due to presence of poor economy especially in Africa region. Middle East holds the major share in the Middle East & Africa Diabetes Drug Market owing to well-developed healthcare sector and huge healthcare expenditure.Few Brief Table of ContentChapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 LimitationsChapter 3. Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size EstimationChapter 4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 RestrainsTOC ContinuedIf you Have Query, Ask to Our Experts @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 Molecular Diagnostics Market To Clasp Success at 9.6% | By Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., QIAGEN N.V., Hologic, Inc., Grifols, etc Key Vendors https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1171 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1171 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1171 Market Research Future published a half-cooked research report on Global Molecular Diagnostics Market. Report include Molecular Diagnostics Market in-depth analysis, future predictions, Industry size, share, and growth rate. Global Molecular Diagnostics Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.6% during forecasted period 2018-2023.The reagents used in molecular diagnostics play important role in primary diagnosis and treatment of diseases at molecular level. The instruments like PCR and next generation sequencing has shown reliable test results and are rapid in nature which resulting increasing demand in central laboratories diagnostics institutes. Moreover, molecular testing tools are providing better alternatives in detecting in infectious viral, bacterial and other pathogens.All these factors are responsible for growth of the market positively. Furthermore, increasing prevalence of infectious diseases like influenza and human papillomavirus and others also boost the growth of the market. On the other hand, higher price of molecular diagnostic kits may hinder the growth of the market.Get Sample Copy of Report @Key players for Global Molecular Diagnostics MarketHoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (U.S.), QIAGEN N.V. (the Netherlands), Hologic, Inc. (U.S.), Grifols (Spain), Abbott (U.S.), Siemens Healthcare GmbH (Germany), Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (US), BD (U.S.), Beckman Coulter Inc. (U.S.), bioMerieux SA (France), and Cepheid (U.S.).Regional Analysis for Global Molecular Diagnostics MarketOn regional basis, the Molecular Diagnostics Market is segmented into America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa.America dominates the Global market for molecular diagnostics due to increasing demand for the advanced techniques and molecular diagnostics and higher expenditure in life science domain are the major factors for the growth of American market.Europe records the second largest market share followed by Asia Pacific. Increasing prevalence of lifestyle and chronic diseases, increasing number of private diagnostic centres are the major factors responsible for growth of the market.According to American Cancer Society, Asia Pacific region, contributes 44% of all cancer cases (6.4 million out of 14.1 million) and 51% of all cancer deaths (4.3 million out of 8.2 million) globally, whereas China representing the majority of the cancer burden.On the other hand, in the Middle East and Africa, blood disorders have become a huge problem due to limited screening, ignorance of diseases, and poor access to treatment.Get an Exclusive Discount on Report @Segmentation for Global Molecular Diagnostics MarketThe Global Molecular Diagnostics Market is segmented on the basis of techniques, applications and end users. Based on the techniques, it is segmented into PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) and real-time PCR, fluorescence in-situ hybridization, microarray, transcription-mediated amplification, and next-generation sequencing. Based on applications, it is segmented into infectious diseases, oncology, blood screening, genetic testing, pharmacogenomics, human leukocyte antigen typing, coagulation, others. And based on end users, it is segmented into hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, academics and research institutions.Few Brief Table Of ContentChapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 LimitationsChapter 3. Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size EstimationChapter 4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restrains4.3 Opportunities4.4 Challenges4.5 Macroeconomic IndicatorsTOC ContinuedDo you have Query? 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 Beauty Devices Market to Shine Up To 2023 | By Top Key Vendors; L'Oreal S.A., Nu Skin Enterprises, Panasonic Corporation, Syneron Medical Ltd And Recent Trends https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/562 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/562 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/562 Market Research Future published a research report on Global Beauty Devices Market and report include markets top manufacturers ultimate analysis, their shares, revenues, opportunities and challenges in upcoming future. Beauty Devices Market Report provide information which is unavailable on any other source and forecast up to 2023.Beauty devices are the products and services which help in improving appearance of a person. These devices have various benefits as they are convenient to use and portable. The Beauty devices help in cleansing the skin, and are also treat the aging-related problems such as wrinkles, acne, scars, spots and hair loss. Report also include information related beauty products like hair removal devices, hair growth devices, hair styling devices, light/led, cellulite reduction devices, acne removal devices photo rejuvenation therapy devices and others.Beauty devices are attracting high attention of market, since the innovative technology is developing in almost every aspect of life. These Beauty devices are accepted by the consumers. However, the presence of substitute with lower price and side-effects from Beauty devices may hamper the upside move of the market over the review period.The Global Beauty Devices Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8 % during the forecast period 2018-2023.Get PDF Sample Copy of Report @Key Players for Global Beauty Devices MarketL'Oreal S.A.Nu Skin EnterprisesPanasonic CorporationSyneron Medical LtdHome Skinovations LtdTRIA Beauty IncProcter & Gamble CoPhotoMedex IncTria Beauty Inc.Regional Analysis for Global Beauty Devices MarketThe Americas dominate the Global Beauty Devices Market owing to the presence of huge patient with PCOS, rising genetic population, and increasing research & development support from government. With the increasing in product demands, Beauty devices players are shaping up their products and sales accordingly and it is imperative for existing marketers and new entrants to focus more on new and advanced technology for Beauty devices.Europe holds the second largest share of the Global Beauty Devices Market as result of increasing prevalence of skin and hair related problems, increasing aging population, and rising awareness about Beauty devices.Asia Pacific is the fastest growing Beauty Devices Market across the globe, owing to increasing popularity of Beauty devices treatments and rapid development in new technology. Its clear that we are living in the gadget generation. In recent years, Beauty related technologies such as, wrinkle eraser has made a leap from clinics or salons to homes.The Middle East and Africa holds the least share of the Global market due to presence of alternative low-priced Beauty devices.Segments for Global Beauty Devices MarketThe Global Beauty Devices Market is segmented on the basis of types, by application, and by end user. On the basis of type, it is segmented into hair care, skin care, oral care, and others. Furthermore hair care segmented in to hair removal devices, hair growth devices, hair styling devices, and others and skin care segmented into light/led and photo rejuvenation therapy devices, cellulite reduction devices, acne removal devices, and others. On the basis of application, it is segmented into commercial purpose and others. Furthermore commercial purpose segmented into salon/spas, hospitals/clinics, and others. On the basis of end user, it is segmented into professional and personalized.Get Prime Discount on Report @Some Brief Table of Contents of ReportSome Brief Topic From Table of contentChapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 LimitationsChapter 3. Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size EstimationChapter 4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restraints4.3 Opportunities4.4 Challenges4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators4.6 Technology Trends & AssessmentTOC ContinuedDo You Have Any Query Related Report Ask @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 Send Golden Rakhi with Chocolates to the USA with Rakhibazaar Express Service https://www.rakhibazaar.com/rakhi-to-usa-24.html https://www.rakhibazaar.com/rakhi-with-chocolates-1.html https://www.rakhibazaar.com/ On August 26, 2018, Sunday, the world will celebrate Raksha Bandhan this year. 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We are reaching out to Indian cities and worldwide with our excellent shipping and delivery services in 2018, said the spokesperson.Raksha Bandhan is one of the unique festivals of India. To keep this tradition alive no matter where you stay, Rakhibazaar.com brings to you a wide range of Rakhi, gifts, sweets, and chocolates to bridge the distance. No matter where you stay and how far you are from your brother or sister, you can still celebrate this day by exchanging good wishes, sending Rakhi, and delivering gifts to your sibling. If your brother is located in the USA, Rakhibazaar.com would be happy to send Rakhi to USA with gifts, revealed the spokesperson. He also added, We want to spread the love with our selected range of Rakhi and gifts. We have Rakhi combo gifts, personalized gifts, chocolates, dry fruits, sweets, and accessories to choose from.Rakhibazaar.com is an integral part of Primo Gifts Pvt. Ltd. The online store is now fast growing to offer a wide number of gift choices to customers in India and across the world. The company aims to make the chore of sending Raksha Bandhan gifts much easier and convenient.Media Contact :-Rakhi BazaarMayur Vihar Phase 1, Pandav NagarPostal Code :- 110091City - DelhiCountry - IndiaCustomer Service No. : +91 8470001155Email - support@rakhibazaar.comWebsite: Precipitated Silica Market Global Industry Analysis, Cost Margin, Revenue Boosting Strategies|Evonik Industries AG, Solvay S.A, Tosoh Silica Corporation, PPG industries, Zheng Yuan Chemical Precipitated Silica industry research, Precipitated Silica Market Size, Precipitated Silica Market Share, Precipitated Silica Mark https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2000 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/2000 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/upcoming-reports/precipitated-silica-market-2000 Global Precipitated Silica Market Information- by source (Sulfuric Acid and Sodium Silicate), by application (Rubber, Pharmaceutical, Oral Health care, Food and Beverage and others) and by Region - Forecast to 2022Market HighlightsOver the past few years, the global market has witnessed an impressive growth due to increasing demand of Precipitated Silica. This has brought out a higher growth rate of the global Precipitated Silica market at the end of forecasted period. As per the market analysis, different factors have driven the market for increasing demand in application industry, substitute for manufacturers, low and effective labor cost in APAC, emerging economies and others. Asia-Pacific is largest market share. Countries like China and India have developed in chemical manufacturing due to low cost of labor, easy availability of raw material and high demand from end use industries like tires, toothpastes, footwear and others.Regional AnalysisAPAC will be the leading marketAPAC will be the ruling market for global Precipitated Silica, accounting for $XX Billion and is expected to grow over $XX Billion by 2022. This segment is imputed to develop at rapid stage due to increase in demand for rubber, economical use of raw material and labor cost.North America, Europe and RoW are the growing market for Global Precipitated Silica Market and are expected to grow at CAGR of XX% respectively from 2016 to 2022.Get Access to the Sample of this Report at -Key Players Analysis View -The key players of precipitated silica market Evonik Industries AG, Solvay S.A, Tosoh Silica Corporation, PPG industries, Zheng Yuan Chemical, W.R. Grace & Co, Huber Engineered Materials, Anten Chemical, Madhu Silicate, Oriental Silicas Corporation and others.Scope of the studyThe scope of the study categorizes the precipitated silica market as type, and application.By SourceSulfuric Acid.Sodium Silicate.By ApplicationRubberPharmaceuticalOral Health careFood & BeverageDC DescriptionSynthetic amorphousSilicon dioxideSilica gelSilicate saltsSilica rubberFor Inquiry Before Buying -Intended AudienceSupplier and traders of precipitated silicaManufacturers of precipitated silicaRubber manufacturers.Research Institute / Education Institute.Potential Investors.Key executive (CEO and COO) and strategy growth managerStudy Objectives of Precipitated Silica MarketDetailed analysis for micro and macro markets related to Precipitated Silica.To estimate forecast of Precipitated Silica based on market by source and by application.To provide region level market analysis and outlook for North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW) and their countriesTo study details analysis of key factors necessary for market like drivers, restrains and opportunities.To analyze various factors like Value chain analysis and porters five forces model.Competitive landscaping, evaluating key strategies taken by top players in the market and provide strategic profiling of the key players in the market.Analysis of historical market trends, and technologies, and current government regulatory requirements.Get Complete Report Details at -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. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Research delivers insight into the Menopause Treatment Market forecast to 2023 Menopause Treatment Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4579 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/4579 Market Research Future has published a new half cooked research report on the Global Menopause Treatment Market.Menopause is the end of the fertile phase in women, generally occur at the age of 40 in almost 85% of women. Menopause results in reduced estrogen production and increased gonadotropin, resulting in the cessation of their menstrual cycle and menstrual flow. These physiological changes results in vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes, irregular bleeding, migraine, mood swings, formication, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, disturbed sleep pattern and others.The developments in the surgery segment, such as minimal invasive laparoscopy surgery, is driving the global menopause treatment market. The drug segment is, however, suffering from market fragmentation, which has put pressure on the price margins. The loss of patents and the rise of counterfeited drugs has also restricted the market growth. The other market constrains are high cost and complications of the surgery. Market development represents the best strategy for the market growth. The market is expected to witness exponential growth over the review period owing to minimal invasive surgical procedures.Product development represents the best strategy for dominating the market as the present drug treatment is fraught with side effects and is also costly. The development of bio-identical hormones that are very similar to the hormones produced by the human body, used as treatment for hormones deficiency, is a positive market development. Cost of the product will be a decisive factor in the developing regions such as Asia Pacific and especially Africa. The growing demand for better and minimally invasive surgical procedures is the greatest unmet need of the market.The market drivers for menopause treatment market are increasing geriatric population, growing screening, rising awareness about women healthcare and growing income of women etc. The market restraints are controversy regarding hormonal treatment, increased rates of cancer, cost of therapy, complications of therapy such as bleeding, heart attack, stroke, pain, low healthcare expenditure in developing regions, etc.Global Menopause treatment Market PlayersMerck & Co., Inc., Novartis AG, Novo Nordisk A/S, Pfizer, Inc., Allergan plc, Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Eli Lilly and Company, Cipla Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., and others.Get Sample Copy atSegmentationThe Global Menopause Treatment Market has been segmented on the basis of hormonal treatment, non-hormonal treatment and end user.Based on the hormonal treatment, the market has been segmented as estrogen, progesterone, combination of the two and other.Based on the non-hormonal treatment, the market has been segmented as anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, anti-migraine and others.Based on the end user, the market has been segmented as hospitals & clinics, academic and research, and others.Based on the end user, the market has been segmented as hospitals & clinics, academic and research, and others.Regional AnalysisThe Americas account for a significant market share owing to high expenditure on the health care. Additionally, the fastest uptake of new products in the US drives the menopause treatment market. Furthermore, concentration of the major healthcare companies in the developed countries of this region coupled with large insurance penetration is adding fuel to the market growth. Moreover, the US expend high amount on its healthcare, which accounts for 16% of total GDP, that also increases the sale in menopause treatment market.Europe is the second largest market in the world due to high income and strong healthcare penetration. The European market growth is led by countries such as Germany and France. The UK is expected to be the fastest growing market over the assessment period. The strong pharmaceutical industry in Germany is a strong driver behind the dominance of this country in Europe.Asia Pacific region is expected to grow rapidly; China and India are likely to lead this market due to fast growing healthcare sector and large unmet needs over the forecast period. South East Asian countries such as China, India, and Malaysia are projected to contribute highly to the market growth. The growing penetration of healthcare insurance in the Asia Pacific region is expected to drive the future menopause treatment market in the region.Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are estimated to drive the Middle East & African market. Other Middle East nations to watch out for are Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt and Iran. The African region is expected to witness a moderate growth owing to poor economic and political conditions, and poor healthcare development.Table of Content1 Report Prologue2 Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope of the Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 Limitations3 Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size Estimation4 Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restrains4.3 Opportunities4.4 Challenges4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators4.6 Technology Trends & Assessment5 Market Factor Analysis Toc ContinuedApply 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 Americas Blood Glucose Test Strip Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth and Trends with Abbott, Roche Diagnostics, i-SENS, Bayer Diabetes Care by Forecast to 2020 Blood Glucose Test Strip Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/575 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/575 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/575 Blood glucose test strip is a small disposable plastic strip and is an important component of blood glucose meters that monitors and controls diabetes. These strips are impregnated with glucose oxidase, which reacts with glucose present in the blood and then indicate the glucose level in the blood.The convenience offered by the self-blood glucose testing over the traditional methods is one of the major drivers of the blood glucose test strip market. The self-testing allows the diabetic and the pre-diabetic people to keep a track of their blood glucose level regularly without visiting a clinic or diagnostic laboratory. A diabetic patient is expected to test his sugar at least 2-3 times a day, self-testing allows the patient to perform his test regularly at his home. Rising diabetic population is another major driver of the market.Click to Get Sample Report @Diabetes is one of the major concerns for the government bodies across the globe. The number of diabetic population across the world is rising continuously. According to the International Diabetic Federation, about 415 million people had diabetes across the globe in 2015, and this number is poised to reach 642 million by 2040. Financial support by the governments is an important economic driver of the market due to its effects on the demand for blood glucose strips. For example, Australian Government is taking various initiatives to increase the usage of blood glucose monitors and test strips.The government has implemented Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). According to this scheme, the blood glucose test strips are provided to the Australian at a government-subsidised prices. Moreover, the foreign visitors from the countries such as the U.K., Ireland, New Zealand, Malta, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Belgium and Slovenia are also covered under this scheme. The other drivers for blood glucose test strips market are technological advancements such as accuracy of the test, awareness about diabetes, etc. Rising disposable income of emerging economies is another economic driver of the market. For example, annual disposable income of middle class households in India was $1,366.2 billion in 2010, which reached $1,587.6 billion in 2013.The market restraints are inadequate reimbursement for test strips etc. For example, in March 2013, Medicare announced reimbursement cuts for diabetes testing supplies (DTS) up to 72%. According to new reimbursement policies, diabetic beneficiaries, who receive their glucose-testing supplies delivered to their homes will need to obtain them from 1 of 18 contract suppliers chosen by Medicare via a competitive bidding process. This new plan will help the government to reduce healthcare expenditure. However, it can drastically reduce the number of vendors from which diabetic patients can obtain glucose-testing supplies. Furthermore, this amendment can also lead to disruption in the supplies of blood glucose monitoring accessories, which could result into decline in self-monitoring of glucose and subsequent adverse outcomes.Get Unbelievable Discount on Report @Americas Blood Glucose Test Strip Market - Key PlayersSome of key players profiled in the report are Abbott, Roche Diagnostics, LifeScan, i-SENS, Bayer Diabetes Care, AgaMatrix Inc, Elektronika, Universal Biosensors, Nipro Diagnostics, TaiDoc, Apex Biotechnology Corp, B. Braun, HMD BioMedical Inc., ALL Medicus, SANNUO, Beijing Yicheng Electronics, Betachek National Diagnostics, Shanghai MicroSense, Jiangsu Yuyue, ACON Laboratories and others.Americas Blood Glucose Test Strip Market - Intended AudienceAmericas blood glucose test strip manufacturers & suppliersResearch and development (R&D) companiesHospitals and clinicsAcademic institutes and universitiesAmericas Blood Glucose Test Strip Market SegmentsThe Americas blood glucose test strip market has been segmented on the basis of technology. On the basis of technology the market has been segmented into thick film electrochemical, thin film electrochemical, and optical.Americas Blood Glucose Test Strip Market - Regional analysisThe Americas holds a significant market share of the global market owing to extensive use of information technology and high expenditure on the health care. Additionally, the fastest uptake of new technology and the presence & concentration of medical device manufacturers in the US regions drive the blood glucose test strip market.North America led the global blood glucose test strip market with revenue of $ 7.89 billion in 2015.Major Table of ContentChapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope of the Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 LimitationsChapter 3. Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size EstimationChapter 4. Market DynamicsContinued.To Know More Enquire @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: salesteam@marketresearchfuture.com Argan Oil Market 2018 Industry Expert Research 2023|Groupe Olvea,Zineglob SARL,Argan Liquid Gold,Vima Souss ,Malak Bio Argan Oil Market, Argan Oil Market size, Argan Oil Market share, Argan Oil Market trends, Argan Oil Market status, Argan Oil https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3752 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/argan-oil-market-3752 Argan Oil Market Report Added By marketresearchfuture.com, offers Global Industry Share, Growth, Size, Trends, and Forecast Till 2023. Argan Oil Market Report also covers key players, segregate the market into different segmentations and factors affecting the market (drivers, restraints, and opportunities).Argan Oil Market is predicted to grow at approximately 5% CAGR during the forecast periodMarket ForecastGlobally the argan oil market share as one of the fastest growing unconventional oil segment is estimated to escalate at a higher growth rate which is supported by the rising mass consumers demand for natural and healthy products. Rapid urbanization and increased disposable income has led to consumers inclination towards aromatherapy and spas which also has a positive impact on this market. Demand for organic and natural skin care products among the mass population is also driving the market of argan oil.All these factors will contribute to the calculated CAGR of 9.5% of Argan Oil market during 2017-2023.Market OverviewThe increasing sale of argan oil is driven by rising awareness among the consumers about the beneficial properties of argan oil. High antioxidant content of the oil makes its application more significant in personal care products due to the anti-ageing property the oil imparts. Rise in consumption of healthy food products has supported the sale of argan oil in the global market. Increasing disposable income and economy development is also found to fuel up the market demand of unconventional oils such as argan oil. The consumption as well as production of argan oil is found to be high in Middle East and African region and is evaluated to increase at a positive growth rate in various countries of North America, Europe and Asia Pacific region.Argan Oil market Top Key Players Analysis:Groupe Olvea (France)Zineglob SARL (Morocco)Argan Liquid Gold (U.K.)Nadifi Argan Oil (Morocco)Sidi Yassine (Morocco)Vima Souss (Morocco)Malak Bio (Morocco)Get a Sample Copy of this Report at:Downstream analysisConsumption of organic argan oil is growing at significant rate based on high consumers demand for chemical-free products in order to reduce the harmful effects imparted from such products. Increase in demand for effective personal care products especially among the female population has resulted in increased sale of argan oil across the globe.Sale of argan oil through supermarkets and hypermarkets is found to be high on a global level. This is due to consumer convenience and preference for one-stop shopping experience. In addition, based on the adoption of advanced technology by the consumers into their daily routine and convenience shopping experience, the sale of argan oil through e-commerce is found to escalate at a positive growth rate.Regional AnalysisThe Global Argan Oil Market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world (ROW). Middle East and Africa (Rest of the World) holds a major market share followed by North America. High demands for healthy oils with widespread applications from the developed countries of these regions is contributing to the positive growth of argan oil market. Morocco, U.S., the Netherlands, China, U.K., and Japan are the major importers of argan oil.Intended Audience:Argan Oil manufacturersOil ManufacturersAromatherapy products manufacturersTraders, Importers and ExportersStudy Objectives of Argan Oil Market:Detailed analysis of the markets segments and sub-segmentsTo estimate and forecast market size by source, application, distribution channel & regionTo analyze key driving forces influencing the marketRegion level market analysis and market estimation of North America, Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world (ROW) and their countriesValue Chain Analysis & Supply Chain Analysis of Argan OilCompany profiling of major players in the marketCompetitive strategy analysis and mapping key stakeholders in the marketAnalysis of historical market trends and technologies along with current government regulatory requirementsFull report on Argan Oil Market report spread across 110 pages, profiling 15 companies and supported with tables and figures available @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. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Global Ready-mix Concrete Market 2023 | ACC Limited, Vicat SA, Lafarge, Buzzi Unicem S.p.A., Barney & Dickenson, Inc., R.W. Sidley, Inc., CEMEX S.A.B. de C.V. https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5373 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/5373 Market Overview:Market Research Future published a raw research report on Global Ready-mix concrete Market that contains the information from 2014 to 2023. Global Ready-mix concrete Market is expected to grow at CAGR ~8.02% from 2017 to 2023.Concrete is the worlds most widely used construction materials, due to its versatility and durability. With increased focus on infrastructure and housing activities, use of concrete in various forms is increasing day by day. For sustainability of construction, proper quality of desired grade and optimum performance of concrete is of chief importance. Ready-mixed concrete that is batched in a controlled environment at a central plant instead of being mixed on the job site, is always a better option.Get Sample Report @RMC is a mixture of cement, supplementary materials, aggregates, water and mixtures in defined proportions. The quality of the finished product depends upon a lot of factors, including capability of a plant in terms of machineries, plants, technical man power and adoption of proper quality assurance system. This highlights the need of developing a framework of quality parameters for RMC.On the basis of application, the global ready-mix concrete market can be segmented as commercial building, industrial utilities, residential buildings, and infrastructure. The construction of highways, renovation of airports, and construction of dams will lead to the rapid growth of the infrastructure segment. The rise in the budget allocations by governments for infrastructure development will also prove to be beneficial. Commercial applications will witness considerable volume growth at ~ 7.6% CAGR from 2017 to 2023 Growing population and rapid economic development in emerging countries including China, South Korea, and India are expected to propel the demand for construction of commercial buildings such as shopping malls, schools, offices, colleges, banks, and hospitals.Major government initiatives including the development of 100 smart cities in India, revival of 160 Indian airports and Silk Road Project of China are expected to create immense growth potential. Moreover, rising government spending for the development of government offices and buildings will augment the ready-mix concrete demand over the forecast period.Builders have traditionally preferred to use on-site mix rather than ready-mix concrete, though the use of ready-mix concrete is increasing as the industry dynamics are changing. The acceptance of ready-mixed cement is particularly strong in urban centers. The reliability of supply, and consistent quality of ready-mixed concrete are the main reasons for the increasing popularity of the product, as these product features improve the productivity of builders.The ready-mixed concrete industry consumes about 75% of the cement shipped in the U.S. Besides Portland and blended cement, it uses a large quantity of industrial by product material that would otherwise be considered waste products.Growing population and increasing disposable income in China and India will drive residential construction growth, which in turn will spur the demand for RMC. Moreover, establishment of manufacturing facilities and power plants to keep up with the growing demand for energy on a global scale, will further stimulate the product requirement over the forecast period.Ask for your specific company profile and country level customization on reports. ACC Limited (India) Vicat SA (France) Lafarge (France) Buzzi Unicem S.p.A. (Italy) Barney & Dickenson, Inc.(U.S.) R.W. Sidley, Inc. (U.S.) CEMEX S.A.B. de C.V.( Mexico) Italcementi Group (Italy) UltraTech Cement Limited(India) Holcim Ltd. (Switzerland) HeidelbergCement (Germany)This research report provides insights, on various levels of analysis such as industry analysis, and market share analysis for the leading players along with their profiles. It also helps in studying the target segments by providing views on emerging & high-growth segments. The market data comprises the basic assessment of the competitive scenarios & strategies in the global Ready-mix concrete market, including high-growth regions and/or countries, and political, & economic environments. The project report, further, provides views on both the historical market values and pricing & cost analysis.Do Enquiry and Ask for Discount @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Global Research on Dry Construction Market Forecast to 2023 | Xella Group, Saint-Gobain S.A, Etex Group SA, CSR Limited, Armstrong World Industries, Inc., Fletcher Building, USG Boral, Knauf https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2846 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/dry-construction-market-2846 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/2846 Market OverviewMarket research future published a half cooked research report on Global dry construction market. The dry construction market is expected to grow over the CAGR of around 5 % during the period 2017 to 2023.The major factor expected to drive the dry construction market is the boom in the construction industry in the developing nations. The rapidly increasing industrialization and urbanization are leading to an increase in use of dry construction materials. The increase in adoption of lightweight materials by construction industry is also driving the growth of the market. The various characteristics of dry construction materials such as ease of installation, reduction in construction time, better thermal and sound insulation, moisture resistance, and fire safety drive is expected to increase the use of such material by both residential as well as non-residential end-users. This will further contribute the growth of the dry construction market.Sample Copy @Key Players Xella Group (Germany) Saint-Gobain S.A. (France) Etex Group SA (Belgium) CSR Limited (Australia) Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (U.S.), Fletcher Building (New Zealand) USG Boral (Malaysia) Knauf (Germany) Panel Rey S.A. (Mexico) Pabco Gypsum (U.S.)Market Research AnalysisThe Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow the highest in the dry construction market. With the rapid increase in population and the undertaking of various construction projects to fulfill the needs of the increasing population in the developing nations such as India and China, the dry construction market is expected to gain traction in the Asia-Pacific region. In the region of North America and Europe, the concept, do-it-yourself is gaining traction. This emerging concept in the dry construction is also expected to contribute to the growth of the market. The need for better and improved housing technologies is also expected to contribute to the growth of the dry construction market.Access Full Report @Scope of the ReportThis study provides an overview of the global dry construction market, tracking three market segments across four geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Rest of the World (ROW). The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region. The scope of the study segments the global Dry construction market by its service, application and region. By Type Supporting Framework Boarding By System Wall Flooring ceiling Others By Material Metal Wood Plastic Others By Region North America Asia Pacific Europe Rest of the WorldAsk Query to Our Researcher@About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Organic Fertilizers Industry 2018-2023 Market Key Players Focusing on Growth Strategies|Tata Chemicals Ltd,Midwestern BioAg ,Coromandel International Limited,Agrocare,Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Organic Fertilizers Market, Organic Fertilizers Market size, Organic Fertilizers Market share, Organic Fertilizers Market trend https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4076 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4076 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/organic-fertilizers-market-4076 Global Organic Fertilizers Market Information: by Source (Minerals, Plants, and Animals), by Crop (Oilseeds & Pulses, Cereals & Grains, Fruits & Vegetables, and others), by Certifications (100% Organic, and 95% Organic), By Form (Dry, and Liquid), and by Regions - Forecast till 2023Market ForecastThe global organic fertilizers market is growing due to increasing population as well as their increasing willingness to pay for organic foods. Farmers preference towards organic farming due to favorable pricing of the products has helped to increase the area under cultivation as well as growing agriculture land area for organic cultivation, has led to the increasing demand for organic fertilizers. In addition to the increasing population, the growing demand for food, rise in the crop production, increasing soil efficiency, growing economy, increasing demand for bio-fuels and high quality yield are expected to drive the organic fertilizers market. Increased awareness about the organic fertilizers due to government policies and rules towards the growth of organic fertilizers has raised the bar for quality, which, in turn, increase the market share of organic fertilizers globally. Major market dispersion is leading to the introduction of new products based out of the organic fertilizers and their retail across various regions. The market players are responding to these new opportunities by expanding their service offerings/product lines, which has fuelled up the share of organic fertilizers in the global market. High nutritional benefits obtained from organic fertilizers are also supporting the sale of organic fertilizers globally. Additionally, the augmentation of the product development together with research advancements are other significant reasons for the increasing growth of the organic fertilizers market during the forecast period 2017-2023.Get a Sample Copy of this Report here -Competitive analysisSome of the key players in the global Organic fertilizers market areTata Chemicals Ltd. (India)Midwestern BioAg (U.S.)Coromandel International Limited (India)Agrocare Canada (Canada)Italpollina S.p.A. (Italy)The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (U.S.)Market OverviewFertilizers are chemical or natural substance which is added to the soil or land so as to increase fertility. Organic fertilizers are fertilizers extracted from animal manure, plant extracts as well as minerals and vegetable matter. Since organic fertilizers are derived from natural substances, therefore, damage to the environment is less of a concern. Organic fertilizers are rich in growth hormones and micro nutrients as well as help to reduce the risk of diseases in humans, as they find their way to food as well. Due to depletion of soil quality, use of fertilizers is being propelled to help farmers to increase crop production, as well as the surge in crop acreage and requirement to increase crop production is encouraging farmers to use organic fertilizers. Organic fertilizers are selected according to the requirement of the nutrients by the crop. They have gained status globally, as they help in increasing the quantity as well as improve the quality produced.Enquiry Before Buying -Regional AnalysisThe global organic fertilizers market is regionally segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). Europe region accounts for major market share followed by Asia Pacific for the organic fertilizers market. Ample availability of land for farming under organic cultivations as well as consumer willingness to pay for the organic foods, will drive the growth of the market in the European region during the forecast period. In Asia Pacific, strong government policies that contribute to the growth of organic fertilizers as well as large agricultural land area, will drive the growth of this market in this region. However, in European region, significant growth is expected in Germany, France and Italy due to increasing health and environmental concerns, over the forecast period 2017-2023.Intended Audience:Organic Fertilizers ManufacturersRetailers, WholesalersResearch OrganizationsE-commerce CompaniesTraders, Importers and ExportersKey Findings:Growing fertilizers industry is the reason for growing demand for organic fertilizers.Europe is expected to dominate the organic fertilizers market followed by Asia Pacific.The organic fertilizers market is segmented under the following regions mentioned below:North AmericaUSCanadaMexicoEuropeGermanyFranceItalySpainUKRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaIndiaJapanThailandRest of Asia PacificRest of the worldLatin AmericaMiddle EastOthersComplete report on Organic Fertilizers Market report spread across 110 pages, profiling 15 companies and supported with tables and figures available @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. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@Market research future.com Acrylic Fiber Market - Business Research, Assessment Insights & Competitive Intelligence 2022 Acrylic Fiber Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2125 Market Research Future Published Global Acrylic Fiber Market Research Report - Forecast to 2022 - Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast up to 2022.AKSA Akrilik Kimya Sanayii A.S., Dralon, Thai Acrylic Fiber Co. Ltd (Thailand) (Aditya Birla Group, India), TOYOBO CO., LTD. (Exlan Japan Co., Ltd.), Taekwang Industry Co, Ltd. (South Korea), Indian Acrylics Limited (India), Pasupati Acrylon Limited (India) among others are some of the prominent players at the forefront of competition in the Global Acrylic Fiber Market and are profiled in MRFR Analysis.Acrylic Fiber Market Market OverviewAcrylic Fiber is a manmade Fiber and known as synthetic Fiber which is produced by two different methods including wet & dry spinning method. Acrylic Fiber closely resembles wool in its characters, which contain minimum 85% acrylonitrile in their chemical structure are called Acrylic fibers. The global acrylic Fiber market represents steady growth over the past seven years and it is likely to continue in same trend over the assessment period. In addition to this, the global market anticipated to progress in terms of CAGR due to its increasing popularity driven by lower denier properties.Global market is heading towards growth stabilization supported by changing regional demographics. Acrylic Fiber represents huge numbers in terms market value and volume, although, the market registered single digit steady growth rate. Factors such as growing demand of apparel with changing climatic conditions likely to lead the growth for acrylic Fiber in the coming years. Emerging economies in Asia Pacific such as India, China, and Japan expected playing pivotal role due to high industrial advancements along with economic reforms. The region expected to retain its prominence over the coming years as well owing to rapid industrialization along with active presence of key industry participants. The growth in this region also considered as export driven up to some extent. The fact that, Asia Pacific has active presence of large number of players, Turkey consist of largest player in this market including Akrilik Kimya Sanayii A.S. (Aksa).The ability of acrylic Fiber to offer versatile products in apparel industry has made it on high end by being key revenue generating industry. Apparel industry is offering wide application scope for acrylic Fiber along with creating further growth opportunities for existing products including sweaters, socks, fleece wear, circular knit apparel, and sportswear. Acrylic Fiber is highly matured market and it consist of few established market players along large number mid-scale manufactures. Thus, rivalry offers by this market is on global level is medium, although, the scenario may change in the coming years due the growth represented by this market. As per the detailed study published by the Market Research future on Acrylic Fiber, the global market will be showing lucrative growth prospects owing to technological advancements along with cost effective production of acrylic Fiber. On the flip side, raw material changes along with stringent environmental regulation may challenge the growth of this market over the forecast period of 2017-2023.Get a Sample of Acrylic fibers Market @Acrylic fibers Market- Competitive LandscapeThe global acrylic Fiber is consolidated in nature as it is dominated by few established industry participants including. The players dominated global market are Aksa Akrilik Kimya Sanayii A.S. (Aksa), Dralon, Aditya Birla Group, Exlan Japan Co. Ltd., Taekwang Industry Co, Ltd., Indian Acrylics Limited and Pasupati Acrylon Limited which holds substantial global share. This market is heading towards growth stabilization and offers moderate degree of competition served by industry players.Industry/ Innovation/ Related News:May, 2015- Thai Acrylic Fiber developed a new product phase change materials (PCM) acrylic Fiber with Outlast Technologies, USA. The production process allowed the acrylic Fiber material to perform 4 times better than existing one.December 2015- Leading manufacturers of acrylic Fiber Aksa has expanded its production capacity from 308,000 tons/year to 315,000 tons/year, followed by the modernization of production processMarch, 2016 One of the top acrylic Fiber producer, Thai Acrylic Fiber which is part of Aditya Birla Group expanded a new Radianza brand gel dyed acrylic Fiber in china. By forming partnership with China based company Shandong HengTai textiles which is foremost producer of ecru and dyed acrylic yarn based in Shandong, China.September- 2016 -TOYOBO tie up with Dutch Bio venture Company, Avantium to produce bio based resin i.e polyethylene furanoate (PEF) that has similar qualities to polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Compared to PET barring oxygen and barring water vapor, PEF films are 10 times more efficient bio based resins. Avantium based in Amsterdam, operates in the field of renewable resources. Toyobo already into bio based resin products but with expansion of PEF resins has expanded their production into new material as high functionality commodityMay, 2016- Pasupati Acrylon Limited has planned to enter flexible manufacturing market with 5000 tonnes per annum production capacity. However, staring new product portfolio will expand their horizon into world with integrated cast polypropylene film plant.Acrylic Fiber Market SegmentsFor the convenience of the report and enhanced understanding; The Acrylic Fiber Market is segmented in to 2 key segmentsSegmentation by Form: Comprises Stable Acrylic Fiber and Filament Acrylic Fiber.Segmentation by End User: Comprises Apparel Household Furnishing, Industrial, and Others.Segmentation by Regions: Comprises Geographical regions - North America, Europe, APAC and Rest of the World.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Biopolymer Coatings Industry 2018 Global Market Growth, Size, Demand, Trends, Insights and Forecast 2025 https://www.businessindustryreports.com/sample-request/76270 https://www.businessindustryreports.com/enquiry/76270 https://www.businessindustryreports.com/buy-now/76270/single Global Biopolymer Coatings Market 2018 Industry Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Global Biopolymer Coatings industry. This report studies Global Biopolymer Coatings 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.Get Sample Copy of this Report -The Global Biopolymer Coatings market 2018 research provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Global Biopolymer Coatings market analysis is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status. Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.Complete report on Global Biopolymer Coatings Industry 2018 Market Research Report is spread across 110 pages and provides exclusive vital statistics, data, information, trends and competitive landscape details in this niche sector. Inquire more or share questions if any on this report @Global Biopolymer Coatings market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingAlgae BiopolymersCargillSolanyl BiopolymersFMCNature Works LLCDow Chemical CompanyBASFDIC Corporation...The report also focuses on global major leading industry players of Global Biopolymer Coatings market providing information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also carried out. The Global Biopolymer Coatings market development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally the feasibility of new investment projects are assessed and overall research conclusions offered.With tables and figures helping analyze worldwide Global Biopolymer Coatings market, this research provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Order a copy of Global Biopolymer Coatings Market Report 2018 @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoPolysaccharidesProteinsLipid CompoundsOn the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, includingCosmeticsFoodBeveragesOthersThe study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Biopolymer Coatings capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);Focuses on the key Biopolymer Coatings manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the marketTo analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the marketTo strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Biopolymer Coatings are as follows:History Year: 2013-2017Base Year: 2017Estimated Year: 2018Forecast Year 2018 to 2025For the data information by region, company, type and application, 2017 is considered as the base year. Whenever data information was unavailable for the base year, the prior year has been considered.Key Stakeholders:Biopolymer Coatings ManufacturersBiopolymer Coatings Distributors/Traders/WholesalersBiopolymer Coatings Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream 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 Biopolymer Coatings market, by end-use.Detailed analysis and profiles of additional market players.Major Points from Table of Contents:1 Global Biopolymer Coatings Market Overview2 Global Biopolymer Coatings Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Biopolymer Coatings Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)4 Global Biopolymer Coatings Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2013-2018)5 Global Biopolymer Coatings Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Biopolymer Coatings Market Analysis by Application7 Global Biopolymer Coatings Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis8 Global Biopolymer Coatings Market Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Biopolymer Coatings Market Forecast (2018-2025)13 Research Findings and Conclusion14 AppendixAuthor ListDisclosure SectionResearch MethodologyData SourceAbout usBusinessIndustryReports.com is digital database of comprehensive market reports for global industries. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well-defined - we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Media ContactBusiness Market ReportsPune Indiasales@businessindustryreports.com+19376349940 Gestational Diabetic Market forecast to 2023 just published Gestational Diabetic Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4591 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/4591 The Global Gestational Diabetic Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% during forecast period.Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the body glucose level is elevated. Gestational diabetes is a temporary or permanent form of diabetes in which the body does not produce adequate amounts of insulin to regulate sugar during pregnancy. It may also be called glucose intolerance or carbohydrate intolerance. According to the International Diabetes Federation in 2016, it was estimated that 420 million adult population is suffering from diabetes which is increasing at the rate of 8.4% and is expected to reach 625 million by 2040. According to the American Pregnancy Association, approximately 2-5% of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes; this number may increase to 7-9% of mothers who are more likely to have risk factors. Increasing prevalence of the gestational diabetic population is the major driving factor for the growth of the market. Moreover, increasing obese population, increasing healthcare expenditure, and strong encouragement from the government have also contributed to the growth of the market. According to research, smoking increases the possibility of diabetes; more than 60% of the global population smokes, this has increased the risk of diabetes and contributed to the growth of the market. However, lack of awareness among people and cost issues may lead to restrain the growth of the market.SegmentationThe Global Gestational Diabetes Market is segmented on the basis of types, administration, treatment, and end users.On the basis of types, the market is segmented into type A1, type A2 and others.On the basis of administration, the market is categorised into oral, intravenous, and other.On the basis of treatment, the market is segmented into monitoring, drug treatment, and non-pharmacological treatment. Monitoring is further segmented into urinary glucose testing, oral glucose tolerance test, and others. Drug treatment is subsegmented into insulin, sensitizers, SGLT-2 inhibitors, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, and othersOn the basis of end users, the market is segmented into hospital, retail pharmacy and other.Key players for global gestational diabetes market: Antares Pharma (US), INJEX Pharma AG (Germany), 3M (US), Eli Lilly (US), Biocon (US), Sunpharma (India), Sanofi (France), Novo Nordisk (Denmark), Abbott (US), AstraZeneca (UK), Novartis (Switzerland), Daiichi Sankyo (Japan), Boehringer Ingelheim (Germany), Merck & Co. (US), Pfizer (US), Akros Pharma (US), Amgen (US), Adocia (France), Peptron (South Korea), and Takeda (Japan).Get Sample Copy @Regional AnalysisAmerica dominates the Global Gestational Diabetes Market owing to large patient population. Apart from this, increasing number of obese people, changing lifestyle and increasing healthcare expenditure have boosted the growth of the market in America. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014), 73.5 million adults in the US were diagnosed with high cholesterol level. Increasing cholesterol level and smoking increases the possibility of causing diabetes. Additionally, increasing awareness among the people regarding different monitoring procedures and well-developed technology has also contributed to the growth of the market.Europe is the second largest gestational diabetes market, which is followed by Asia Pacific. Huge smoking population, availability of funds for research, and government support for research & development will drive the market.Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region for the market due to the presence of a huge patient population, continuously developing economies, and increasing need for the better treatment.On the other hand, the Middle East & Africa has the least share in the global gestational diabetes market due to presence of poor economy especially in Africa region. Majority of the market of this region is hold by Middle East due to well-developed healthcare sector and huge healthcare expenditure.Table of Content:Chapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope of the Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 LimitationsChapter 3. Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size EstimationChapter 4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restrains4.3 Opportunities4.4 Challenges4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators4.6 Technology Trends & AssessmentChapter 5. Market Factor Analysis ContinuedAsk Query 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.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 Clinical Intelligence Market 12.5% CAGR with Type (CDSS & Quality Improvement) and Component (Service & Software) and Global Forecast Till 2023 Clinical Intelligence Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4478 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/clinical-intelligence-market-4478 The International Clinical Intelligence Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.5% during the forecast period 2017 to 2023.Market Synopsis of the Global Clinical Intelligence Market:Clinical Intelligence, also known as clinical data analytics, is a blend of technologies involving the use of data analysis to improve healthcare delivery. The data is gathered at the time of delivery of care into the information system and then analyzed to determine the performance indicators that may affect the productivity of a healthcare organization. Analyses of clinical data are useful to know the loopholes in the organizations processes that hinders its growth. Various technologies available for clinical intelligence provide data about the factors contributing to the success of delivery of care.The market for clinical intelligence is expected to grow at an exponential rate owing to an increase in the adoption of healthcare IT, urge of the use of Electronic Heath Records (EHR), rising importance of software solutions in insurance claim processing and fraud detection. Furthermore, increasing number of software companies engaged in healthcare IT and EHR influences the market growth across the globe.High cost of clinical intelligence software solutions may restrain the market growth in developing countries.Get Exclusive Sample Report @Key Players in the Global Clinical Intelligence Market:IBM (U.S.), Cerner Corporation (U.S.), Epic Systems Corporation (U.S.), Allscripts (U.S.), QSI Management, LLC (U.S.), General Electric Company (U.S.), eClinicalWorks (U.S.), McKesson Corporation (U.S.) and Greenway Health, LLC (U.S.).Clinical Intelligence Market Segments:The Global Clinical Intelligence Market is segmented on the basis of type, components, application, and end user.On the basis of type, market is segmented into retrospective performance measures & predictive analytics, performance measurement systems, Clinical decision support (CDSS) System, quality improvement, clinical benchmarking, population health management and others. Quality improvement is further segmented into six sigma. Population health management is further segmented into over-utilization of health services and under-utilization of health services.On the basis of component, the market is segmented into software, hardware, and services.On the basis of application, the market is segmented into Clinical, Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) claim, fraud, supply chain, financial management and others.On the basis of end user, the market is segmented into hospital, clinics, TPAs, and others.Regional Analysis of the Global Clinical Intelligence Market:America is the largest market for clinical intelligence owing to an increasing extensive use of software solutions for healthcare administration and available resources. North America accounts for the largest market share owing the presence of major healthcare IT companies enjoying global presence namely IBM, Allscripts, GE Electric Company and QSI Management, LLC. According to National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, patient engagement EHR functionalities became more prevalent in the U.S. hospitals from 2013 to 2015. Furthermore, the use of Decision Support System is found to be increasing among tertiary care centers in the U.S.Europe is the second largest market for clinical intelligence which is estimated to adopt a steady growth in the near future due rising number of healthcare providers using clinical management softwares and technological advancement in healthcare IT especially EHR and patient engagement platform.In Asia Pacific, the market is expected grow at the fastest rate with factors such as rising demand for healthcare IT, increasing healthcare expenditure and rising number of healthcare software solution providers. Furthermore, increasing burden of diseases and increasing demand for patient records management also boost the market growth during the review period.The Middle East & Africa also show a steady rise in the market owing to low demand for healthcare IT, especially in Africa owing to low healthcare expenditure and need for primary care services.Browse Complete 110 Pages Premium Report with Competitive Analysis of Niche Segments, Top Players, Comprehensive Research and Key Regions @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 Bone Scan Market 2018 Trends by Products (Radiopharmaceuticals & Imaging Devices) and Applications (Fractures, Arthritis, Paget's Disease of Bone & Cancer Originating in Bone) Forecasts Till 2023 Bone Scan Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5027 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/bone-scan-market-5027 The Global Bone Scan Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period 2017 to 2023. According to the WHO, about 59% of the mortality is due to chronic diseases and almost 35 million people die of chronic diseases across the globe.Market Synopsis of the Global Bone Scan Market:A bone scan is a test of nuclear medicine and is mostly used to diagnose various bone diseases such as arthritis and bone cancer. It includes an injection of radioactive material and then the bone scan. Radioactive material also known as the tracer is injected into a vein. After injecting this material, the radiologist performs a bone scan. The radiologist may perform the bone scan in phases depending upon the condition to be diagnosed such as the presence of bone disease or cancer.Rising prevalence of bone disease, increasing demand for imaging devices such as MRI, CT scan, SPECT scan, and increasing health care services are accelerating the growth of the market. Furthermore, the increasing expenditure on medical devices influences the market growth. Technological advancements in radiology devices affecting the market growth. However, the efficiency of bone scan may hinder the market growth over the forecast period. Additionally, the bone scan may determine the inaccurate cause of the abnormality.Get Exclusive Sample Report @Key Players in the Global Bone Scan Market:Some of the key players in this market are Siemens (U.S.), Hitachi, Ltd. (Japan), Carestream Health, Inc. (U.S.), Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (South Korea), Toshiba Corporation. (Japan), Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands), General Electric Company (U.S.) and others.Segments:The global bone scan market is segmented on the basis of product, indication, device, and end user.On the basis of the product, the market is segmented into radiopharmaceuticals and imaging devices. The imaging devices are further segmented into Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), X-ray, Computed Tomography (CT), Single-Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT), and others.On the basis of the application, the market is segmented into fractures, arthritis, Paget's disease of bone, cancer originating in bone, and others.On the basis of the end user, the market is segmented into hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers, and others.Regional Analysis of the Global Bone Scan Market:The Americas lead the global bone scan market owing to the rising prevalence of bone disorders in the U.S. Furthermore, increasing demand for diagnostic services in various also influences the market growth. In North America, the U.S. is the largest market followed by Canada. Increasing penetration of orthopedic specialty hospitals and healthcare insurance is adding fuel to the market growth. Furthermore, the concentration of key players in the market along with the availability of various technologically advanced devices is boosting the market growth in the U.S.Europe is the second largest bone scan market across the globe. The market is accelerated by the extensive use of diagnostic devices for diagnosis of various chronic diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, obesity and others. Furthermore, extensive research and development (R&D) activities carried out by clinical research and academic institutes stimulate the growth of the market. Germany and France contribute to the growth of the market owing to increasing expenditure on R&D and extensive demand for diagnostic devcies.The Asia Pacific market is expected to grow at the fastest pace due to the high prevalence of chronic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, obesity, diabetes, and other. Additionally, increasing number of bone injuries such as bone fractures boost the growth of the market. To add further, increasing number of skilled professionals along with increasing awareness about the bone diseases and importance of imaging tests in the diagnosis of bone diseases, and injuries. In Asia Pacific, India and China are holding the largest market share followed by Japan. Increasing expenditure on healthcare and improving healthcare infrastructure in various developing regions of Asia Pacific region are affecting the market growth, positively.The Middle East & Africa also show a steady rise in the market owing to rising demand for diagnostic services and growing emphasis on diagnosis and treatment of bone disease. Developing healthcare infrastructure in the Middle East also fuels the growth of the market. In Africa, the market also shows a positive growth owing to the development of healthcare system in African countries and increasing demand for primary care services.Browse Complete 110 Premium Pages Report with Competitive Analysis of Niche Segments, Top Players, Comprehensive Research and Key Regions @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 Ear Infection Treatment Market USD 22.3 Billion Expected to Reach by 2023 with Heine USA Ltd., Welch Allyn, TorquePharma, Medtronic, Intersect ENT, Inc., Olympus Corporation and Grace Medical Ear Infection Treatment Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4563 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/ear-infection-treatment-market-4563 The Global Ear Infection Treatment Market is expected to reach USD 22.3 Billion by 2023, and the market is projected to grow at a CAGR of Approx 6.6 % during the forecast period 2017-2023.The market drivers for global ear infection treatment market are rise in risk factors, increasing awareness regarding the severity of untreated ear infection, development of healthcare, technological development in diagnostic devices and surgery segment especially the advancements in minimally invasive surgery etc. The market restraints are the complications of surgery, high cost of treatment, emergence of bacterial resistance, etc.Major Key Players in the Global Ear Infection Treatment Market:American Diagnostic Corporation, Pfizer plc, Heine USA Ltd., , Welch Allyn, Torque Pharma, Medtronic, Intersect ENT, Inc., Olympus Corporation, Grace Medical, American Diagnostic Corporation and others.Get Exclusive Sample Copy @Ear Infection Treatment Market Segmentation:The Global Ear Infection Treatment Market has been segmented on the basis of type, pathogen diagnosis, treatment, and end user.Based on the type, the market has been segmented as outer ear, middle ear, inner ear.Based on the pathogen, the market has been segmented as bacteria, virus and others.Based on the diagnosis, the market has been segmented as hearing test, microbial test, otoscopy and tympanometry, computerized tomography (CT), other.Based on the treatment, the market has been segmented as surgery, drugs, and others.Based on the end user, the market has been segmented as hospitals & clinics, academic and research, and others.Ear Infection Treatment Market Regional Analysis:The Americas accounts for a significant market share owing to extensive volume of surgeries performed and high expenditure on the health care. Additionally, the fastest uptake of new products and surgical procedures in the US drives the ear infection treatment market. Furthermore, concentration of the major healthcare and medical device companies in the developed countries of this region coupled with large insurance penetration is adding fuel to the market growth. Moreover, the US expend high amount on its healthcare, which accounts for 16% of total GDP, that also increases the sale in Ear Infection Treatment market.Europe is the second largest market in the world due to high income and strong healthcare penetration. The European market growth is led by countries such as Germany and France. The UK is expected to be the fastest growing market over the assessment period. The strong medical device industry in Germany is a strong driver behind the dominance of this country in Europe.Asia Pacific region is expected to grow rapidly; China and India are likely to lead this market due to fast growing healthcare sector and large unmet needs over the forecast period. South East Asian countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia are projected to contribute highly to the market growth. The growing penetration of healthcare insurance in the Asia Pacific region is expected to drive the future ear infection treatment market in the region.Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are estimated to drive the Middle East & African market. Other Middle East nations to watch out for are Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt and Iran. The African region is expected to witness a moderate growth owing to poor economic and political conditions, and poor healthcare development.Browse Complete 110 Pages Report Enabled with Competitive Analysis of Niche Segments, Top Players, Comprehensive Research and Key Regions @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 Hidradenitis Suppurativa Market is Expected to Reach US$ 763.6 Million by 2023, Growing at 4.2 % CAGR during the Forecast Period Hidradenitis Suppurativa Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3770 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/3770 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/3770 Hidradenitis Suppurativa is a rare, inflammatory skin condition that begins as small and painful pimples on the skin. This medical condition is most common between the ages of 20-40 years. Prevalence of Hidradenitis Suppurativa is three times more common in females than in males. The Global Hidradenitis Suppurativa Market is growing at the CAGR of ~4.2% during the forecast period and expected to reach US$ 763.6 million by 2023.Click to Get Sample Report @Increasing cases of various skin diseases are key driver for The Global Hidradenitis Suppurativa Market. FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approvals for drugs and clinical trials are major factor for the growth of the market. Over the past few years, due to increasing knowledge of the disease, and introduction of new drugs and treatment options, the market is continuously growing.Global Hidradenitis Suppurativa Market - Key PlayersSome of the key players in this market are: AbbVie Inc. (US), Allergan (Republic of Ireland), AstraZeneca (UK), GlaxoSmithKline plc. (UK), Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. (US), Merck & Co., Inc. (US), Pfizer Inc.(US), and othersGlobal Hidradenitis Suppurativa Market - Intended AudienceHidradenitis Suppurativa medicines manufacturersHidradenitis Suppurativa medicine and treatment providersHospitals and clinicsMedical Research laboratoriesResearch and Development (R&D) CompaniesMarket Research and Consulting Service ProvidersPotential InvestorsGlobal Hidradenitis Suppurativa Market - Regional AnalysisConsidering the global scenario of the market, North America holds the largest market share due to various factors such as increasing cases of skin diseases and related medical complications. European hidradenitis suppurativa market is the second largest where the west European countries like Germany, France, and UK are holding the largest market share. Prevalence of hidradenitis suppurativa is continuously increasing in Asia Pacific region. Additionally, developing healthcare infrastructure and facilities, affordable healthcare, government initiatives to improve public health and rising healthcare expenditure are driving the growth for Asia Pacific hidradenitis suppurativa market. Due to low knowledge of disease, limited access to healthcare facilities, Middle East and Africa (ME&A) is likely to have a limited growth in the market.Get Discount on Report @Global Hidradenitis Suppurativa Market - SegmentsGlobal Hidradenitis suppurativa market has been segmented on the basis of skin conditions which comprises of pimples, folliculitis, deep-acne, boils, and, and others. Folliculitis is further sub-segmented into bacterial folliculitis, hot tub folliculitis (pseudomonas folliculitis), barber's itch (pseudofolliculitis barbae), pityrosporum folliculitis, and others. Deep-acne is further sub-segmented into cysts, blackheads, and others. Boils are further sub-segmented into furuncle or carbuncle, cystic acne, pilondial cyst, and others.On the basis of treatment, the market has been segmented into medications, surgery, laser treatment, Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), and others. Medication is further sub-segmented into antibiotics, antiandrogens, Immunosuppressive drugs, hormones, pain medication, Zinc supplements, sulphones, retinoids, and others. Surgery is further sub-segmented into Punch debridement, Incision and drainage, surgical removal, issue-sparing excision with electrosurgery, and others.On the basis of end user, it is segmented into hospitals, dermatology clinics, medical research centers, academic institutes, and others.Some of Major Table of Content for Hidradenitis Suppurativa Market Research Report - Global Forecast till 2023Report PrologueIntroduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope of the Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 Limitations2.3 Market Structure2.4. Market SegmentationResearch Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size Estimation3.5 Forecast ModelMarket DynamicsContinued.To Know More Enquire @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: salesteam@marketresearchfuture.com Ophthalmic Suspension Market Aggrandizes Growth at 6.8% Worldwide with Novartis AG, ALLERGAN, Pfizer Inc., Bayer Aga; Asserts MRFR Ophthalmic Suspension Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4350 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/4350 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/4350 The suspension in the form of used to treat eye infections and related symptoms are generally termed as ophthalmic suspension. Generally it used in a combination of two such as antibiotics and a corticosteroid for more effective treatment. Various bacterial eye infections such as conjunctivitis are treated by ophthalmic suspension. The Global Ophthalmic Suspension Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of ~6.8% during the forecast period 2018-2023.Click to Get Sample Report @Different suspensions are available in the market to treat eye infections and related symptoms. These together are referred to as ophthalmic suspensions. Generally, these suspensions are used in combination of antibiotics and a corticosteroid which ensures effective treatment. Bacterial eye infections such as conjunctivitis can be effectively treated by the ophthalmic suspensions. Rising prevalence of eye diseases is one of the major driver for the growth of the market, during the forecast period.Moreover, growing geriatric population susceptible to various eye disorders, and rising number of reported cases of bacterial infections in children boosts the market. According to the World Health Organization in 2014, glaucoma is one of the second major causes of blindness in the world. It was also estimated that the global prevalence of the same will increase, fuelling the market growth. However, side-effects associated by the application of ophthalmic suspension is estimated to restrain the market growth during the projected period.Global Ophthalmic Suspension Market - Key PlayersSome of the key players in this market are:Novartis AG (Alcon)ALLERGANPfizer Inc.Merck & Co. Inc.Bausch & Lomb IncorporatedFalcon GroupValeantBayer AgaGenentech Inc.Global Ophthalmic Suspension Market - Competitive AnalysisPfizer Inc. is one of the major players of the global ophthalmic suspension market and is headquartered in the U.S. In 2015, the companys total revenue was about USD 48,851 million and it reached USD 52,824 million in 2016. Such a significant increase in the global sales, enabled the company to invest a huge percentage of their sales into the research and development. In 2016, the company spent 14.9% of its total revenue into the R&D enabling it to improve its product portfolio and launch new product, strengthening its position in the market.In November 2016, Novartis acquired Selexys Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a company specializing in development of therapeutics in certain hematologic and inflammatory disorders.In June 2016, Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and Afferent Pharmaceuticals announced that the two companies signed an agreement under which Merck acquired the privately held company. Afferent Pharmaceuticals is a leader in the development of therapeutic candidates targeting the P2X3 receptor for the treatment of common, poorly-managed, neurogenic conditions.Get Discount on Report @In February 2015, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. and Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. entered into a definitive agreement under which Valeant acquired all of the outstanding common stock of Salix for USD 158.00 per share in cash. The transaction was approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies.Global Ophthalmic Suspension Market Intended AudienceOphthalmic Suspension ManufacturersOphthalmic Suspension SuppliersResearch and Development (R&D) CompaniesMarket Research and Consulting Service ProvidersPotential InvestorsGlobal Ophthalmic Suspension Market SegmentsThe global ophthalmic suspension market is segmented on the basis of type of content, which is segmented into antibiotic, antifungal, antibacterial, steroids, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and others.On the basis of applications, it is segmented into bacterial infections, retinal disorders, glaucoma, allergies, diabetic eye disease, and others. Bacterial infection is further conjunctivitis, scleritis, and others. Retinal disorder is further segmented into macular degeneration, branch retinal vein occlusion, central retinal vein occlusion, congenital x-linked retinoschisis, and others.On the basis of end user, the market is segmented into hospitals, eye clinics, pharmacies, and others.Some of Major Table of Content for Ophthalmic Suspension Market Research Report - Global Forecast Till 2023Chapter 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 DynamicsContinued.To Know More Enquire @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: salesteam@marketresearchfuture.com Truncus Arteriosus Market 2018 Major Key Vendors - Boston Scientific Corporation (U.S.), Coloplast (Denmark), Dispocard GmbH (Germany) and St. Jude Medical (U.S.) Forecast 2023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5260 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/truncus-arteriosus-market-5260 Market Research Future with their unique quality of simplifying the market research study, announces a deep study report on Truncus Arteriosus Market Research Report - Global Forecast till 2023 Gives industry size, top players and worldwide demandMarket ScenarioTruncus arteriosus is a rare congenital heart disease/defect. If the baby has truncus arteriosus, it means that one large blood vessel leads out of the heart instead of two separate vessels. Moreover, in this condition, usually, there is a hole known as a ventricular septal defect present between the two lower chambers of the heart. As a result of truncus arteriosus, oxygen-poor blood that should go to the lungs and oxygen-rich blood that should go to the rest of the body are mixed together which leads to severe circulatory problems. However, if untreated, truncus arteriosus can be fatal.View Reports Sample @The global truncus arteriosus market is expecting a sound growth in coming future owing to the increasing demand for various cardiovascular devices, increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, and favorable reimbursement policies. In some cases, maternal diabetes may lead to truncus arteriosus. However, mostly all diabetic patients suffer from some or the other cardiovascular disease. According to the findings from the WHO in 2014, approximately 422 million people reported suffering from diabetes. Due to the increasing diabetic population across the globe, there is a significant increase in the number of people suffering from cardiovascular diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2015, over 17.7 million people died from cardiovascular diseases, representing 31% of all global deaths of which 82% were in the low- and middle-income countries. Additionally, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015), over 630,000 Americans die from heart disease each year, which accounts for 1 in every 4 death.Additionally, increasing geriatric population and increasing healthcare expenditure have fuelled the growth of this market. On the other hand, higher cost of the treatments may slow the growth of the market during the forecast period.The Truncus Arteriosus Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% during the forecast period 2017-2023.Intended Audience Cardiovascular Products Manufacturers Cardiovascular Products Providers Medical Research Laboratories Research and Development (R&D) Companies Market Research and Consulting Service Providers Potential InvestorsKey players in the global truncus arteriosus market:Some of the major players in this market are Boston Scientific Corporation (U.S.), Coloplast (Denmark), Dispocard GmbH (Germany), St. Jude Medical (U.S.), Abbott Laboratories (U.S.), Johnson & Johnson (U.S.), Teleflex Incorporated (U.S.)., Smiths Medical (U.S.), Edwards Life Sciences Corporation (U.S.), Medtronic Inc (U.S.), Rochester Medical Corporation (U.S), Maquet Medical India Private Limited (India), Terumo Medical Corporation (Japan), AstraZeneca plc., Pfizer Inc., Novartis AG, Merck & Co., Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Bayer AG, Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Astellas Pharma, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.SegmentsThe global truncus arteriosus market has been segmented on the basis of types, diagnosis, treatment, and end user.On the basis of the types, the global truncus arteriosus market is segmented into type I, type II, type III.Based on the diagnosis, it is segmented into echocardiogram and X-ray while on the basis of treatment the market is segmented into medication, surgery, cardiac catheterization, and others.The medication segment can be further segmented into diuretics, ionotropic agents.On the basis of the end users, the market is segmented into hospitals & clinics, cardiac care centers, ambulatory centers & home care, academic institutes, and others.Regional AnalysisThe Americas accounted for the major share of the market owing to the presence of a huge population suffering from heart disease, high healthcare expenditure, well-developed technology, and the presence of the leading players in the region. Furthermore, rising government support for the development of the advanced devices and well-developed healthcare sector has boosted the growth of the truncus arteriosus market in the Americas.Europe accounted for the second largest market for the truncus arteriosus, which is followed by Asia Pacific. Increasing prevalence of the cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and huge healthcare spending are the major driving factors that have boosted the market growth. Additionally, the healthcare expenditure in this region is also rising. People and healthcare organizations in this region are able to afford the high cost of the cardiovascular devices, which is further fuelling the growth of the market. Furthermore, increasing government support and funding for the development and improvement of the treatments have also contributed to the growth of the market.Request Full Report @Asia Pacific is the fastest growing truncus arteriosus market. Increasing need for better devices, rapidly improving technology, and the presence of huge patient pool is driving the growth of the market in this region.The Middle East & Africa holds the least share of the market owing to the presence of poor and slow developing countries, especially, in the African region. The major driving factors for the growth of the Middle East & African truncus arteriosus market are increasing a number of diabetic and cardiovascular patients.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.Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India Appendicitis Market 2016: Key Players-Siemens (U.S.), General Electric Company (U.S.) and Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Japan) upto 2023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5287 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/appendicitis-market-5287 Market Synopsis of the Global Appendicitis MarketInflammation of the appendix is known as appendicitis. Abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, fever, and abdominal tenderness are common symptoms of appendicitis. The condition can be diagnosed by imaging test such as abdominal X-ray, ultrasonography, CT scan, and laparoscopy. CT scan is found to be more accurate than ultrasound examination for detecting acute appendicitis. If the condition is untreated, it many lead to perforation of the appendix, and infectious fluids many spill into the abdominal cavity. This can lead to peritonitis, an inflammation of the abdominal cavity's lining which may be fatal.Rising demand for diagnostic and treatment options of appendicitis, and increasing prevalence of appendicitis are the major driver for the growth of appendicitis market across the globe. The market is also accelerated due to the growth of medical device industry in developed regions. The U.S. product differentiation is another important factor fuelling the market growth. Additionally, the key players in the market are focusing on strategies such as acquisition, partnerships, product development, and others.View Reports Sample @In the U.S., one in 20 people is diagnosed with appendicitis. The condition is found to be rare under age 2 and most common between ages 10 and 30.The global appendicitis market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% during the forecast period.SegmentsThe global appendicitis market is segmented on the basis of type, diagnosis, treatment, and end user.On the basis of type, the market is segmented into acute, and chronic appendicitis.On the basis of diagnosis, the market is segmented into physical examination, White Blood Cell count, urinalysis, and imaging test. Imaging Test is further segmented into abdominal X-ray, ultrasonography, CT scan, laparoscopy, and othersOn the basis of treatment, the market is segmented antibiotics, appendectomy, and others.On the basis of end user, the market is segmented into hospitals & clinics, diagnostic centers, and others.Regional Analysis of the Global Appendicitis MarketConsidering the global scenario of the gall bladder treatment market, there are four main regions: America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa.America accounts for the largest market share owing to the rising prevalence of acute appendicitis. Presence of major medical device manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies, well-developed healthcare industry also determine the market growth. America consists of two regions namely, North America and South America. North America holds the major market share owing to the rising awareness about prevalence of appendicitis among children and adults, and availability of emergency diagnostic services. Additionally, increasing healthcare expenditure by the developed economies such as the U.S is another important factor for fuelling the growth of the market in Americas.Europe holds the second largest market share in global appendicitis market. Germany, France and the U.K are the major contributors to the Europe appendicitis market owing to increasing demand for the technological advanced diagnostic devices, and overall growth of healthcare sector. Pharmaceutical companies are engaged in research and development activities for the development of new drugs for appendicitis, which further fuels the growth of the market.Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market increasing geriatric population, and introduction of new & advanced diagnostic options such as CT scan, and rising demand for specialty healthcare services in regions such as India have fuelled the market growth. Additionally, mergers, acquisitions, partnership, and other strategic approaches by key players in the market also fuels the market.The Middle East & Africa account for the lowest share in the global appendicitis owing to steady but positive growth of healthcare sector form last few years. In the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia have well known specialty care centers for the treatment for chronic diseases, which will further determine the progress of healthcare industry. Moreover, developed healthcare infrastructure, government support and increasing healthcare expenditure in the Middle Eastern countries fuels the market growth. In Africa, there is an increasing demand for primary care services including diagnostic services for chronic diseases.Request Full Report @Key Players in the Global Appendicitis MarketSome of the key players in this market are Siemens (U.S.), General Electric Company (U.S.), Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Japan), Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Japan), Johnson & Johnson Services Inc. (U.S.), Pfizer (U.S.), Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (Japan), and others.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.Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India Polyurethane Coatings Market 2017 to 2023 Market Share, Growth, Statistics, Competitor Landscape, Key Players Analysis, Trends and Forecasts https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2976 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/polyurethane-coatings-market-2976 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com Market OverviewThe properties of polyurethanes have benefitted the growth of its industry by their application in various sectors. Market focused reports related to the chemicals and materials sector among others recently have been made available by Market Research Future which publishes reports on this sector. The industry is expected to record substantial growth in terms of earnings of USD 3781.2 by 2023 along with a CAGR of 7.3 percent in the forecast period.The flexibility and toughness of polyurethane coatings have led to their amplified use in the transportation and automotive sector. The anti-corrosive and anti-abrasive properties have intensified their application in products of various end user sectors. Use of polyurethane coatings in flooring applications have provided additional opportunities for growth of the industry. Exceptional weathering performance characteristics have further increased the expansion of the market.Receive a Sample Report @Key PlayersKey players of the global polyurethane coatings market are Akzo Nobel N.V.(Europe), Valspar Corporation (US), Sherwin Williams Company (US), PPG Industries, Inc. (US), Axalta Coating Systems, LLC (US), Asian Paints Limited (India), BASF SE (Europe), Covestro AG (Europe), Jotun A/S (Europe), Evonik Industries (Europe),and Others.Access Report @Regional AnalysisThe industry of polyurethane coating which comprises of the Asia Pacific region as one key markets has the largest market for polyurethane coatings owing to demand in numerous end user markets such as the aerospace and automotive industries in China followed by Japan. Growing demand for automotive product offerings in nations such as Taiwan, India and South Korea have led to the Asia Pacific region becoming the main consumer of the polyurethane coatings industry globally followed by growth in the consumption of polyurethane coatings in the North America region. The third largest market in the industry is the European region. The Middle East and Latin American region have also observed significant growth in the industry due to the innumerable applications for the industry such as aerospace industry, construction, household industry, automotive, electronics industry among others.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.WantStats Research and Media Pvt. Ltd.Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India Long QT Syndrome Market Key Players- Invitae Corporation (U.S.), GeneDx. (U.S.), Asper Biogene (Estonia) and Boston Scientific Corporation (U.S.) Market Analysis during 2017-2023 Long QT Syndrome Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5303 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/long-qt-syndrome-market-5303 Market Research Future with their unique quality of simplifying the market research study, announces a deep study report on Long QT Syndrome Market Research Report - Global Forecast till 2023 Gives industry size, top players and worldwide demandMarket ScenarioLong QT syndrome (LQTS) is a disorder of the heart's electrical activity, leading to irregular heartbeats. Fainting and seizures are the most common symptoms for this disease. In most of the patients, the first sign/symptom of the disease appears after the age of 40. Moreover, it is estimated that the risks for the disease increase with pre-existing conditions of cardiovascular disease, diabetes besides others. Therefore, factors such as increasing prevalence of the cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and the growing geriatric population are the major drivers that are estimated to drive the market growth during the forecast period. According to the World Health Organization in 2017, cardiovascular diseases were the main cause of the deaths across the globe. It was estimated that in 2015, approximately 17.7 million people died from cardiovascular diseases, representing 31% of all the global deaths. Of these deaths, an estimated 7.4 million were due to the coronary heart diseases and 6.7 million were due to stroke. Furthermore, the World Health Organization in 2016 reported that an estimated 422 million adults across the world were living with diabetes in 2014. Additionally, it was estimated that deaths due to diabetes were higher in the low and middle income countries as compared to the high income countries. Rising per capita healthcare expenditure and increasing R&D expenses by key players of the market is fuelling the market growth. However, factors such as lack of awareness for this syndrome, stringent FDA approvals and high cost of the surgical therapeutics for the treatment of this disorder are restraining the market growth.View Reports Sample @The global long QT syndrome market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.50% during forecast period.Intended AudiencePharmaceutical companiesBiotechnological institutesGovernment and Private LaboratoriesResearch and Development (R&D) CompaniesMedical Research LaboratoriesMarket Research and Consulting Service ProvidersSegmentationThe global long QT syndrome market is segmented on the basis of type, diagnosis, treatment, and end users.On the basis of the type, the market is segmented into long QT syndrome type 1, long QT syndrome type 2, long QT syndrome type 3, and others.On the basis of the diagnosis, the market is categorised into tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), genetic testing, and others. The test segment is further segmented into serum potassium level tests, magnesium level tests, and others. The ECG segment is further segmented into holter monitor, event monitor, and others.On the basis of the treatment, the market is segmented into medication, surgical procedures, and others. The medication segment is sub-segmented into beta blockers, mexiletine, and others. The beta blockers segment, by medication, is further segmented into nadolol, propranolol, and others. The surgical procedures segment is segmented into left cardiac sympathetic denervation surgery, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), and others.On the basis of the end user, the market is segmented into hospitals & clinics, diagnostic labs, research organizations, and others.Key players for global long QT syndrome marketThe key players for the global long QT syndrome market are Invitae Corporation (U.S.), GeneDx. (U.S.), Asper Biogene (Estonia), Boston Scientific Corporation (U.S.), Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (U.S.), Pfizer Inc. (U.S.), Zydus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (U.S.), Aralez Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Canada), AstraZeneca (U.K), Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited (India), Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (U.S.), Cipla Inc. (India), Mylan N.V. (U.S.), Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Israel), and others.Regional Analysis:Americas dominate the global long QT syndrome market owing to a well-developed healthcare sector and high per capita healthcare expenditures. Apart from this, increasing number of patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases and diabetes as a result of changing lifestyle are estimated to drive the market growth in the Americas.Europe is the second largest long QT syndrome market, which is followed by Asia Pacific. Availability of funds for research, huge patient population, and government support for research & development will drive the market. In 2017, according to the British Heart Foundation, about 2,265,422 cases of coronary heart diseases were registered from 2015 to 2016 in the U.K. Moreover, it was estimated that in 2015, the cost of cardiovascular diseases in the U.K was about USD 18 billion.Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region for the market due to the presence continuously developing economies, and presence of huge opportunity in the market. Increasing prevalence of diabetes and growing geriatric population are the factors boosting the market growth within the region. According to the World Health Organization, the prevalence of diabetes in the Western Pacific region is increasing and approximately 71,050,100 individuals are estimated to suffer from diabetes by 2030.Request Full Report @On the other hand, the Middle East & Africa has the least share in the global long QT syndrome market due to presence of poor economies and stringent government policies especially in the African region. Majority of the market of this region is held by the Middle East due to a well-developed healthcare sector and huge healthcare expenditure by the developed economies like Qatar, Dubai and others.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.Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India Petrochemicals Market Analysis 2018, Major Key Players Reviews The Dow Chemical Company, SABIC, Shell Chemical Company, Sinopec Limited, Total S.A., Lyondell Basell Industries and Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3164 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/petrochemical-market-3164 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com Market Overview:Petrochemicals are consumed in various end-user industries ranging from the manufacturing to consumer goods. They are most commonly used in the production of polymers, adhesives, paints and coatings, surfactants, and dyes among others. Main olefins of petrochemical ethylene, and propylene are used in the manufacturing processes for some of the important substrates used across the industries today.For instance; Ethylene is predominantly used in the production of substrates like polyethylene, ethylene chloride, and ethylene oxide, which are extensively used in the packaging, plastic processing, construction, and textile industry. While, propylene is majorly used in the manufacturing of polypropylene, propylene oxide, acrylic acid and several other derivatives, widely used in some of the burgeoning industries like plastic processing, packaging, furnishing and most importantly in the automotive industry. Owing to the augmented demand from the already growing industries, petrochemical Market perceives enormous growth, garnering substantial prominence worldwide.Considering the rapid market expansion, & the growth potential the market holds, Market Research Future recently published a study report, giving out a complete market insight for the period 2017 2023. In its analysis MRFR asserts that the global Petrochemical market is forecasted to reach USD 1075.19 Billion by 2023, registering a CAGR of ~6.7% during the review period (2017 2023).Receive a Sample Report @Key Players:The Global Petrochemical Market is led by some of the fervent market players including ExxonMobil Corporation, BASF SE, The Dow Chemical Company, SABIC, Shell Chemical Company, Sinopec Limited, Total S.A., Lyondell Basell Industries, Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd., E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC. Profile them in its analysis MRFR finds their strategies helping them to keep at the forefront of the competition.Industry/ Innovation/ Related News:April 30, 2018 SABIC (Saudi Arabia) a diversified manufacturing company and Exxon Mobil Corporation (US Gulf coast) a leading global O&G corporation announced the establishment of a joint venture to advance the development of the Gulf Coast Growth Ventures project petrochemical industries.May 02, 2018 China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC, China) and Royal Dutch Shell Plc. Shell (China) announced the beginning of their JV - the second ethylene cracker at their Nanhai petrochemicals complex. The new units constructed by CNOOC are owned and operated by the CSPC (JV).Access Report @Global Petrochemical Market Geographical AnalysisThe Asia Pacific accounted for the largest market owing to 50% of consumption of Petrochemical, globally. China backed by the flourishing automotive industry, accounts for the largest contributor to the regional market growth. Other factors such as augmenting demand for dyes, polymer and solvent, adhesives, paints and coatings in APAC fosters the market growth in the region.North America market for Petrochemicals stands second in terms of the market size, globally. Rising shale gas exploration in the US & Canada provide impetus to the market growth. Furthermore, increasing adoption of the product in the production of plastic resins, rubber products, synthetic fibers, paints & coatings, lubricants, adhesives & sealants, industrial chemicals, and water treatment products impact the regional market growth positively.Emerging as the fastest growing market for petrochemicals, Europe stands the third largest market globally. Continuing with the same growth trends the region is expected to register a moderate growth over the forecast period.Attributing to the easy availability of petroleum in the region, Middle East, and Africa is anticipated to play an essential role in the development of the overall petrochemical market, accounting for the key producer of the product.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.WantStats Research and Media Pvt. Ltd.Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India Connected Vehicles Market is Expected to Grow with Massive CAGR during 2017-2025 Connected Vehicles Image Credit: University of Texas at Austin https://www.businessindustryreports.com/sample-request/32210 https://www.businessindustryreports.com/buy-now/32210/single Global Connected Vehicles (Embedded, Tethered, Integrated) Market reports provide CAGR Value 2017-2025 and in-depth analysis of Top Players, Geography, End users, Applications, Competitor analysis, Sales, Revenue, Price, Gross Margin, Market Share, Import-Export, Trends and Forecast.First Connected Vehicles Market Report, provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Connected Vehicles market analysis is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status.The Global Connected Vehicles market, analyzes and researches the Connected Vehicles development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia.The Global Connected Vehicles Market focuses on global major leading industry players providing information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also carried out.Key Players covered in this report are BMW, Broadcom, Chrysler, Benz, Daimler, Volkswagen, Hyundai Motor, Honda, Volvo, Luxoft, Qualcomm, Toyota, Garmin etc.Report analyzed by applications like Car, Train, Other. Then report is analyzed on the basis of product Embedded, Tethered, Integrated.Get Exclusive Sample of This Premium Report atThe Connected Vehicles industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally the feasibility of new investment projects are assessed and overall research conclusions offered.With the tables and figures the report provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.The Connected Vehicles Market report provides key statistics on the market status of the Connected Vehicles manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.Major Points Covered in Table of Contents:1 Connected Vehicles Market Overview2 Global Connected Vehicles Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Connected Vehicles Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4 Global Connected Vehicles Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)5 Global Connected Vehicles Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Connected Vehicles Market Analysis by Application7 Global Connected Vehicles Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis8 Connected Vehicles Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Connected Vehicles Market Forecast (2017-2022)13 Research Findings and Conclusion14 AppendixOrder This Premium Report Online atBusinessIndustryReports.com is digital database of comprehensive market reports for global industries. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well-defined - we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Email: info@businessindustryreports.comPhone: +1 937 6349940 Facial Care Products Market: Future Prospects, Market Potential, Market Segments by Types, Application and Market Analysis including CAGR, Growth Rate, Opportunities, Trends, Outlook http://qyreports.com/request-sample?report-id=12299 http://qyreports.com/ask-for-discount?report-id=12299 http://qyreports.com/enquiry-before-buying?report-id=12299 Facial care products include day creams, night creams, masks, serums, cleansers, and toners. These products are used to enhance the skin quality, rejuvenate the cells, prevent wrinkles, and brighten the skin. Modern-day lifestyle changes such as physical inactivity, stress, lack of sleep, excess fast food consumption, and limited water intake are leading to a growing number of skin-related issues like acne, dark circles, and dark spots. Therefore, the demand for products that cater specifically to such issues is increasing, and vendors are focusing on developing products that target specific issues.Facial Care Products Market offers an in-depth and wide-ranging overview of this market to all users looking to expand their business profiles in any aspect. The report establishes a solid foundation for all users looking to enter the global market in terms of market inclinations, opportunities, hindrances, and competitive landscape analysis.Get sample copy of this report @:Major Players in the report include Estee Lauder, LOreal, Procter & Gamble (P&G), Shiseido, Unilever, AMOREPACIFIC, Amway, Chanel, Clarins Group, Conair, Coty, Lotus Herbals, Mary Kay, Missha, Nature Republic, Oriflame, Rachel K Cosmetics, Revlon, Skin Food, The Face Shop.The increasing need for this product and the growing acceptance of its concept are likely to fuel the demand for Facial Care Products market across the world in the near future. The faster deployment of these industry and the scalability and flexibility they offer are expected to add to their popularity over the forecast period are clearly mentioned.The major players of the Facial Care Products market are identified across regions, and their offerings, distribution channels, and regional presence are understood through in-depth discussions. Also, average revenue generated by these companies, segmented on the basis of region, is used to arrive at the overall market size. This overall market size is used in the top-down procedure to estimate the sizes of other individual markets through percentage splits from secondary sources directories, databases, and primary research.Avail 20% Discount on this report @:Compressive outline of Facial Care Products market depending on key factors and segmentations such as end users, applications, regions and products is elaborated. Estimated revenue and volume growth of Facial Care Products market over the mentioned forecast period of 2017 to 2022 is also explained in detail. Former and current state of shares of the major key regions are mentioned such that the idea of the best investment region can be drawn out.The report's conclusion uncovers the overall range of the Global Facial Care Products Market in terms of feasibility of investments in the different sections of the market, alongside a descriptive entry that layouts the plausibility of new activities that may prevail in the market sooner rather than later.To know more about this report @:Significant Highlights of the Report: A pure assessment of the orbit of the market Studies on the evolving Global Facial Care Products market segments regions Market shares and strategies of leading players that are involved in the market Market segmentation up to the last level A point-to-point assessment of the market development Historical, present, and future size of the market from the perspective of both value and volume Suggestions to the companies to establish their foothold in the marketTable of ContentsGlobal Facial Care Products Market Research ReportChapter 1 Facial Care Products 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 Facial Care Products Market ForecastWe at QYResearch(qyreports.com), a leading market research report publisher cater to more than 4,000 prestigious clients worldwide meeting their customized research requirements in terms of market data size and its application. Our list of customers include renouned Chinese companies multinational companies, SMEs and private equity firms. our business study covers a market size of over 30 industries offering you accurate, in depth and reliable market insight, industry analysis and structure. QYResearchs specialize in forecasts needed for investing in an and execution of a new project globally and in Chinese markets.Address:The Work Lab,FC Road, Pune, MH, India411016Contact Number:+91-9764607607Email ID:sales@qyreports.com Some of the people whose photos and stories are part of two upcoming Portland-area exhibits about immigration. Last year, as a tide of intolerance against immigrants grew and gathered strength, Portland resident Sankar Raman took action to change its course. He started a poignant website, The Immigrant Story, through which he's hosting two photography exhibitions to counteract xenophobia. "After the presidential election, rhetoric was leading to changes in policies against immigrants. That rhetoric is also leading to hate speech and hate violence," Raman said. "Those two tracks are becoming the norm." A hate crime on Feb. 22, 2017, galvanized Raman to action. That was the day Adam Purinton shot three men in a Kansas bar, killing an Indian-born engineer, Srinivas Kuchibhotla. "Get out of my country," Purinton, a white American, screamed before firing. Purinton was sentenced May 4 to life in prison and still faces federal hate crime charges. Raman, a retired engineer who immigrated to the U.S. from India in the 1980s, said, "It hit me hard. Srinivas Kuchibhotla, he's like me." Don't Edit This portrait of Yasmin, who is identified only by her first name, appears in the exhibit "Who We Are: A Portrait Exhibit Honoring Muslim Women in Our Community." (Sankar Raman) By the end of April 2017, Raman had built a website and established The Immigrant Story to collect narratives and portraits. "These are our neighbors," he said. "I wanted to use a picture and short narrative to tell the story of each person so that there would be a human connection to increase empathy and create a community feeling." Assisted by a team of volunteers, he has posted 36 stories, garnering 50,000 views. Contributors have talked about identity, race, culture and assimilation, Raman said. "One group, for example, includes immigrant and refugee youth who talk about their resilience and their hopes," he said. The stories where emotions run the highest are from Muslim women who wear hijabs and from young people affected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allows young immigrants living in the country illegally who were brought here as children to remain in the U.S. and work. Don't Edit This portrait of Mariamou, who is identified only by her first name, appears in the exhibit "Who We Are: A Portrait Exhibit Honoring Muslim Women in Our Community." (Sankar Raman) "Ever since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Muslim women who wear hijabs - headscarves - have become the focus of Islamophobia, taking the hit of hate speech," Raman said. A month after last year's Portland MAX stabbings, whose victims had defended a hijab-wearing teenage girl and her friend, Raman spoke with a high school junior, a Muslim who had immigrated from the majority-Christian Central African Republic six years ago. "The interview was very intense and her emotions were very raw. Someone had called her a terrorist because she was wearing a hijab, and she was worried about traveling on MAX and about getting killed," he said. Another interview was with a high school senior who had come from Yemen, a predominantly Muslim country, as a young child. "She was on a bus going to school on Inauguration Day when her hijab was pulled off her head and she was called names," Raman said. Their stories are part of a "Who We Are" portrait exhibit, which features six local Muslim women and girls. The show opens at the Muslim Educational Trust following its interfaith service on May 26 in commemoration of the MAX attack. Don't Edit This image featuring Oregon State Rep. Teresa Alonso Leon, D-Woodburn, is part of the "Our Diversity is Our Strength" exhibit. It includes an overlay archival image of Dolores Huerta, who along with Cesar Chavez led the formation of the United Farm Workers Union. (Greg Bal) A companion exhibition, "Our Diversity is Our Strength," will feature large-format images from The Immigrant Story's recent photography contest. Portland resident Paige Stoyer, The Immigrant Story's executive director and a professional photographer, culled about 30 images from more than 100 submissions that ranged from snapshots to portraits. "Most images were of recent immigrants, but one person whose family immigrated from Sweden generations ago reached into his past," Stoyer said. "I want people to look at our archive and see themselves, to recognize that immigration is the fabric of America, and that we are all in this together." Ramar and Stoyer see these exhibits as a beginning toward spreading their message. "I want to get our exhibitions into public places: city halls, galleries, and museums, as well as airports throughout the U.S," Raman said. "A lot of immigrants enter the U.S. through airports, which are their own Ellis Island." Don't Edit Keota Vongsavath's photo is part of the "Our Diversity is Our Strength" exhibit. She is originally from Laos. (Style Sourixay Versatile) "Who We Are: A Portrait Exhibit Honoring Muslim Women in Our Community" When: Following a 7 p.m. interfaith service Saturday, May 26, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Thursday, May 28-31 Where: Muslim Educational Trust, 10330 S.W. Scholls Ferry Road, Tigard. "Our Diversity is Our Strength" When: Opening reception, 6 p.m. Thursday, June 7; on view, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, June 7-Aug. 31 Where: Pro Photo Supply, 1112 N.W. 19th Ave. Admission: Free for both exhibits; theimmigrantstory.org Don't Edit Don't Edit This photo of an Oregon residents immigrant ancestors in the 1920s was submitted to the Our Diversity is Our Strength exhibit to remind viewers that immigrants are of all races and ethnicities. (Courtesy of Donald Feltham) It's difficult to purchase a home in a buyer's market and 2018 certainly meets that standard. Pent-up demand and an extreme shortage of homes have led to a rapid increase in prices that outpaces recent wage gains. The problem is acute in the market for starter homes and critical in high-value markets like San Jose, Seattle, and Austin. Desperate homeowners are stretching their finances to buy a home, and lenders and mortgage backers are increasingly willing to accommodate them. This strategy increases homeownership but puts more households at risk of future default by overloading them with debt increasing the chances of another housing crisis. How much debt is too much? Lenders gauge this through your debt-to-income ratio the total monthly debt you have as a percentage of your income. Traditionally, a debt-to-income ratio of 45% is the upper limit for allowing conventional loans without special circumstances. In July of 2017, the mortgage backer Fannie Mae raised this limit to 50% in an attempt to help potential homeowners who could meet mitigating criteria (at least twelve months cash reserves and a 20% down payment). New data from CoreLogic suggests that many new homeowners have taken advantage. CoreLogic found that approximately 20% of conventional mortgage loans over the past winter were taken out by borrowers with DTI ratios above 45%. That's nearly three times the percentage of loans made in the eighteen months prior to Fannie Mae's DTI ratio limit increase, and the largest percentage since the housing crisis. Since the supply of homes is unlikely to improve anytime soon especially in the starter-home market, where builders make minimal profits the concern is that lenders will loosen credit even further and authorize too many risky loans. As a potential homebuyer, you must resist the temptation to stretch your budget on the assumption that everything else will fall into line. Homeownership has significant running costs that first-time homebuyers may not fully grasp. Personal finance expert and author Jordan Goodman says, "The biggest mistake people make when they are buying their first home is underestimating the expenses involved." Goodman cites property taxes, insurance, and maintenance as typically underestimated expenses. When your total expenses already leave you with little financial cushion, it only takes one large unplanned event such as a medical emergency or a job loss to push you into a debt spiral. A high DTI also means that it's unlikely that you have an adequate emergency fund and are saving enough for retirement. Take this into account as you search for affordable homes. Even though a lender may offer you a loan that raises your DTI above 45%, there's no reason you must accept it. Scale back your search to homes that don't force you into an excessive DTI and if you can't find one, lower your spending and pay down other debts to drop your DTI to a more manageable level. If you want to reduce your interest payments and lower your debt, try the free Debt Optimizer by MoneyTips. The desire for homeownership can overcome common sense when it comes to finances. Don't let your dreams overrule your pocketbook. Assess your housing needs and finances properly to make sure that you aren't overpaying for your new home and know your realistic limits in case a bidding war starts. Consider the advice of Greg McBride, Chief Financial Analyst for Bankrate.com, who suggests limiting your home purchase to no greater than three times your annual income. Otherwise, you may end up in a situation that Jordan Goodman describes as, "The house owns you. You don't own the house." MoneyTips is happy to help you get free mortgage quotes from top lenders. Photo iStockphoto.com/FatCamera The American flag brings a sense of pride and joy to many who see it, especially veterans, police and first responders. When it comes time to retire the stars and stripes, a local woman is stepping forward to make sure the flag is used to further encourage our servicemen and women. Tammy Cook, of Hemlock, is handing out flag stars to veterans, active military personnel and first responders as part of the nationwide project, Stars for our Troops. "We're trying to repurpose the flag and not just use them once or twice and throw them away. We want them to be used," Cook explained. Stars for our Troops began in 2010 when Susan Wells of Troy, New York, cut out stars to give to World War II veterans and guardians flying to Washington, D.C. Since then, patriotic groups around the country have taken up the mantle. Cook learned about the project in September 2017 while attending the River of Time Living History Encampment in Bay City with a friend, Gary Rousseau. When Rousseau, a veteran, received a star, Cook's interest was piqued. "That's when I got kinda curious. I thought that would be kinda neat." A month later Cook acquired flags from a local Veterans Affairs office and set to work cutting out 350 stars. Now she has made a grand total of 550 packages. Cook and participants of Stars for our Troops follow a firm set of guidelines to honor the flag. The flags themselves must be made in the United States and should have been flown outside. The stars have to be embroidered and measure between 1.5 and 2 inches. After Cook receives the flags, she cuts the canton - the field of blue - from the rest of the flag and washes it. She then cuts each of the stars out, going from point to point so that some canton is still visible. The final stage consists of placing the stars in individual bags with a note that reads, "I am part of our American flag that has flown over the USA. I can no longer fly. The sun and winds caused me to become tattered and torn. Please carry me as a reminder that you are not forgotten." The remainder of the flag is given back to the VA or Boy Scout troops to properly dispose of. Cook gives out a majority of the stars to veterans at VFW halls, but keeps a small stash in her purse in case she meets any veterans, active duty personnel or first responders in her travels. One of her favorite stories to tell is how she met a 100-year-old veteran in Walmart. When she offered him a star, the man teared up with joy. "It's rewarding to actually see a vet smile because they know what the flag stands for. And it means more than giving them a pin," Cook said. "Pins are good, but if you don't have nothing to wear them on, what good are they? These ones you can put them in your pocket or in your wallet." Cook, who grew up in the 1960s, saw how members of the military received a cold welcome home when they returned from serving in Vietnam. She later joined Rolling Thunder Inc., Michigan Chapter 4 in Muskegon, a non-profit organization that focuses on educating the public about prisoners of war-missing in action (POW/MIA) as well as providing assistance to all veterans. "I wanted to make a wrong right. There are nice people now wanting to welcome (veterans) home. I wanted to do something special for them." In addition to Stars for our Troops, Cook also hands out green army men figurines to veterans in recognition of their service. She also is part of another side project with Rousseau, taking 4x6-inch silk American flags, folding them, encasing them in a wooden frame and turning them into pins. These she sells, with all of the proceeds going towards her chapter of Rolling Thunder. "They don't cost a whole lot, but they have meaning," she said. Despite the many hours devoted to washing, cutting, folding and assembling her projects, Cook is determined to show members of the military and service personnel that she cares. She hopes that the recipients will understand "just how much I appreciate what they have done or what they're doing now, giving me the freedom I have. I want people to give back to them because they deserve it." For more information about Stars for our Troops and to learn where you can donate flags or become a registered Star Maker, visit www.starsforourtroops.org The EU has begun reviving legislation that will allow European companies to continue doing business with Iran, despite US sanctions, officials say. As BBC writes in the article Iran nuclear deal: EU moves to avoid impact of US sanctions, the so-called "blocking statute" was introduced in 1996 to circumvent US sanctions on Cuba but was never used. An updated version of the measure should be in force before 6 August, when the first sanctions take effect. It will prohibit European companies from complying with the penalties and permit compensation for affected firms. Washington is re-imposing strict sanctions on Iran, which were lifted under a 2015 international deal to control the country's nuclear ambitions. "We have the duty, the Commission and the European Union, to do what we can to protect our European businesses, especially SMEs," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said in a statement, referring to small and medium-sized companies. The Commission - the EU executive - said the European Parliament and member states could raise objections to the statute. But the measure could also be activated sooner if there was strong political support. It also announced the start of the formal process of allowing the European Investment Bank to lend to EU projects in Iran. It would urge EU governments to explore "one-off" transfers to Iran's central bank to help authorities to receive their oil-related revenues. It would continue and strengthen the assistance to Iran with Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete travelling to Tehran this weekend What do the sanctions mean for Europe? European businesses are worried that their ties with the US could be damaged if they continue doing Iranian deals. Some of Europe's biggest firms had rushed to do business with Iran after the nuclear deal took effect. In 2017, EU exports to Iran (goods and services) totalled 10.8bn (9.5bn; $12.9bn), and imports from Iran to the bloc were worth 10.1bn. The value of imports was nearly double the 2016 figure. Now, there are fears that billions of dollars' worth of trade and thousands of jobs could be jeopardised. Some of the biggest deals that are at risk include: -French energy giant Total's deal, worth up to $5bn, signed to help Iran develop the world's largest gas field. Total now plans to unwind those operations by November unless the US grants it a waiver -Norwegian firm Saga Energy's $3bn deal to build solar power plants -An Airbus deal to sell 100 jets to IranAir Why is the US imposing sanctions on Iran? President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the Iran nuclear deal earlier this month and pledged to ramp up pressure on the country. The agreement was signed by six world powers, alongside Iran, to curbed Iranian nuclear activities in return for the lifting of UN, US and EU sanctions. But Mr Trump has denounced the "horrible" deal, and now Washington is re-imposing the strict sanctions. Last week, the US sanctioned six people and three companies it said had ties to Iran's elite military force. US individuals and entities are barred from doing business with them following the move. The US position is at odds with that of France, Germany and the UK, which say they are committed to the agreement and to expanding trade with Iran. When French president Emmanuel Macron was in Washington D.C. in April, he presented the White House with an oak tree from Belleau Wood where more than 2,000 American soldiers died and 7,000 were injured during a battle in World War I. The tree was planted in a televised ceremony. There was controversy and concern the next day because the tree went missing and couldnt be found. All that was left was just a patch of yellow grass. This mystery started a range of speculations. Then in came Gerard Araud, the French ambassador to the U.S., who explained the situation. No the French were not taking back the tree because President Macron got mad at President Trump. It seems Ambassador Araud knows more about American laws than we do and he explained the tree needed to go through a quarantine period until it can be permanently planted on the White House lawn. No one enjoys government restrictions but plant quarantines are important to help prevent harmful pests and deadly pathogens. I am glad to see the grounds crew of the White House sees the importance of plant quarantines. Over the centuries harmful plant pests have been introduced and have had deadly, catastrophic effects on our native plants. Emerald Ash Bore, Dutch elm disease and Chestnut Blight are poster children of why it is important for quarantines to exist. When people think of quarantines they think it is related to plants coming from other countries. Here in Michigan we have quarantines that prevent plants coming in from other states. There is an insect called Hemlock Wooly Adelgid. This is an insect that is killing the North American native hemlocks. Hemlock Wooly Adelgid was first noticed in northeast U.S. We now have quarantined hemlocks coming to Michigan from states were the adelgid have been found. Unfortunately the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid has been found in Allegan, Muskegon, Oceana and Ottawa counties of Michigan. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development issued an internal quarantine on Hemlock plants moving from those counties. Michigan isnt the only state that issues quarantines. Michigan was the first state to identify and witness the Emerald Ash Borer. Our nursery industry was hit hard when other states wouldn't accept any of our ash trees. Acres of nursery ash trees were destroyed and plowed under. Plant quarantines are seen on the national level, state level and county level. In rare cases municipality level may even impose plant quarantines. You might even have plant quarantines against plants that you despise in your yard. Plant quarantines can be frustrating (just ask the White House) but are necessary to prevent the spread of harmful pests and deadly pathogens. Senior Horticulturist Chuck Martin is grounds manager of Whiting Forest. Northwood University's Business Professionals of America team earned national accolades at the recent BPA National Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas. "We are proud of the accomplishments of this year's BPA team. We qualified 22 Northwood students for national competition, and all 14 who attended earned medals for their performances," said Julie Adamczyk, Northwood's BPA adviser and executive director of alumni relations. "Northwood also had two students in national leadership positions for BPA this year, so it was an excellent opportunity to highlight our students among those of business schools around the country." Two Northwood students took first in the nation. David Burkhardt of Flushing and Kennedy Shea of Beaverton, won top honors. Shea, an MBA candidate in the DeVos Graduate School of Management, also took second and fourth place honors for her respective divisions. Kristy Godley, Ithaca, and Jon Perrault, Escanaba, each received two second-place finishes. Perrault, a Northwood University freshman, also completed his term on the National BPA Board at the competition. Graduate student Hayley Tocarchick, Chesterfield, took home Northwood's only third-place finish. Rounding out the top placings were Jacob Taylor, Escanaba; Katie Keith, Flushing; and Sarah Alspaugh, Hastings, with fourth-place finishes. Taylor also completed a year of service on the National BPA Board. He and Morgan Bolinger, Perrinton; Katlyn Waters, Beaverton; and Shelby Slazakowski, Clinton Township, each had fifth-place finishes. Placing in the top 10 medals were Hannah Ex, Oxford; Jordan McCallister, Beaverton; and Sara Brown, Tawas. The annual conference hosted more than 5,500 students. BPA is an organization for high school and collegiate students pursuing careers in business management, information technology, finance, office administration and other related career fields with 45,000 members in over 1,800 chapters across 25 states and Puerto Rico. The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriff's Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Kelly Dame. Thursday, May 17 4:38 a.m. - A deputy was sent to a Lincoln Township home for a report of gun shots. Found was a 79-year-old man who shot a opossum that he caught in a trap because the creature was eating his bird food. 8:49 a.m. - A deputy was contacted about an investigation into criminal sexual conduct involving an incident in Jasper Township involving multiple boys. The case was turned over to the prosecutor's office for review. 9:17 p.m. - A deputy was sent to Jerome Township for a report of loose and aggressive dogs. The deputy found three Chihuahuas, only one of which growled at the deputy. The owner said the dogs would be kept inside the fenced-in yard. 9:19 p.m. - A deputy was sent to a Jerome Township business to assist paramedics with a 47-year-old man who was intoxicated and having a medical problem. The man was taken to the emergency room for treatment. 10:28 p.m. - A Jerome Township man, 21, was arrested for marijuana possession after a traffic stop in that township. Isabella County sheriffs deputies were called to a Deerfield Township home after threats to harm a family member ended up with a barricaded gunman Friday evening. Sheriff Michael J. Main reports deputies were called to the 2000 block of West Winn Road for a report of a 55-year-old man who had threatened to kill a family member and was making comments about harming himself. When deputies arrived, they heard a single gun shot from the area of the home. To the editor: Thank you for publishing the guest editorial "Remembering the Past and Moving Forward" from the Charlotte Observer on May 2. I hope that those who missed reading this important mini-history lesson will look it up and read it now. I will send a copy to anyone in Midland who requests it from me. I believe that many people of all races in our country will continue to struggle with issues of racism, segregation and discrimination until more of us better accept and better understand more of our history. It is true that those who refuse to understand and resolve the lessons from history are doomed to face those challenges again. Like most adult Americans, I studied American history through 12 years of public school. However, I was taught very little about the development of "white mob rule that resulted in more than 4,000 lynchings and the unleashing of violence-backed Jim Crow." (Charlotte Observer guest editorial). As a 15-year-old African American male in 1955, I was horrified by the brutal lynching/murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till in Mississippi. All four of my grandparents had been born and raised in rural Mississippi (like Emmett Till's relatives). I was already aware of segregation and discrimination especially in employment and housing. The Emmett Till episode forced me to think much more about our country's long lasting and all pervasive problem. I didn't really understand race issues and our country's still unresolved failures until later in life. After gaining more understanding and experience I started to volunteer in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and in our political system. Obviously, racial issues are not the only important issues troubling our country, but these issues are critically important. All citizens who claim to be patriotic (including me) must now do more to better resolve these issues. RONALD S. HAUGHTON Midland Charleston, SC (29403) Today Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 66F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 66F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. The ceremony of awarding the diploma and mantle of the Honorary Doctor of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry to Metropolitan Hilarion, the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate was held on May 17th. Opening the ceremonial meeting, rector Yevgeny Bazhanov emphasized that the Academic Council of the university adopted unanimously a decision on the conferment: "Metropolitan Hilarion is an outstanding statesman. He is a Minister of Foreign Affairs of our Church and makes a great contribution to the consolidation of peace throughout the world, settlement of international conflicts, development of dialogue between different civilizations and various confessions. The Russian Foreign Ministry estimates highly the activities of our Church on the international arena and especially the activities of Metropolitan Hilarion. The Metropolitan thanked the leadership of the educational institution for their appreciation of the work of the Department for External Church Relations and Foreign Representations of the Russian Orthodox Church led by Patriarch Kirill: "The ROC maintains good and constructive relations with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These relations have existed for several centuries, from the pre-revolutionary times. Even in the Soviet era, when the Church was subjected to harassment and persecution on the international arena, the Moscow Patriarchate provided significant support to the state. For more than 10 years, there has been a joint working group coordinating the interaction between the Russian Church and the Russian Foreign Ministry. " Also, the Metropolitan noted the significant role of the Academy in raising of the specialists in the field of international relations and upgrading the diplomatic personnel. The ceremony was attended by the ambassadors of foreign countries, public and political figures, teachers and students of the university. Despite calls for his sack by striking health workers, the health minister has expressed the governments commitment to end the strike. The health workers, JOHESU, have been on strike for about a month, causing hardship to millions of sick people who use Nigerias public hospitals. They called for Mr Adewoles sack this week, accusing him of bias and supporting medical doctors who are opposed to the demands of the other health workers. In a statement on Friday, however, the minister said the federal government has put up a reconciliation processes towards amicable settlement of the trade dispute between it and JOHESU, who comprise all health workers aside from doctors. According to the statement issued by Boade Akinola, the Director Media and Public Relations of the health ministry, the minister made the remarks in reaction to the order of an interim injunction granted by the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja compelling the striking members of JOHESU to immediately resume duties. The health workers said on Friday they are yet to get such court order and do not intend to honour it. Mr Adewole recalled that the governments side waited for six hours on Thursday for JOHESUs representatives to continue with the jointly agreed meeting which the union had earlier boycotted. Shortly after the adjournment of the boycotted meeting, an official communication titled: Collapse of negotiation between the Federal Government and Joint Health Sector Unions was issued by JOHESU, he said. He explained that in the document JOHESU said that negotiation with Federal government had broken down. The minister, however, maintained that government had not reneged on its commitment to promote peace and harmony in the health sector. He added that government would continue to engage in continuous dialogue on how to improve the sector. Mr Adewole, therefore, urged the union to consider the plight of innocent Nigerians in need of health care and return to work while negotiation continues. He also directed the chief medical directors and medical directors of tertiary hospitals to commence the process of documenting staff as they return to work and update the ministry accordingly. (NAN) The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yola, Adamawa State capital, has set a new record with yet another breakthrough as a team of surgeons led by the Chief Medical Director of the centre, Auwal Abubakar, successfully separated four-month-old conjoined female twins. Mr Auwal, a Professor of Paediatric Surgery, said that the team of professionals that were deployed for the surgery included surgeons, anaesthetics, radiologists, laboratory scientists, preoperative nurses, and cleaners. We have a successful separation of conjoined female twins (Omphilopagus). This development was recorded following a team work by different medical units. The surgery was conducted on May 14, and the chances of survival of the twins are excellent, he said. The director said it took his team four hours to perform the operation which was the second of its kind in the hospital. To this end, Mr Auwal said Nigeria had medical personnel that could compete with their counterparts in developed countries. While fielding questions from reporters, the father of the twins, Muhammad Ramat from Kasuwan Shanu in Maiduguri, Borno State, thanked the management of the hospital for also writing off the bill for the surgery. FG, JOHESU still at loggerheads The Federal government and the Joint Health Sector Union, (JOHESU) are yet to reach an amicable agreement in spite of meetings by both parties. The health workers who have been on strike for five weeks have paralysed most health activities at the secondary and tertiary healthcare institutions across the country. In recent development, the striking health workers were directed through a court injunction from the Industrial Court sitting in Abuja to return to work. However, JOHESU claimed they did not know about the court sitting and as such would not be obeying. JOHESU also called for the sack of the minister of health, Isaac Adewole, claiming he has been sabotaging the efforts of the government to finding a lasting solution to their demands. The minister had directed heads of health institutions across the country to provide adequate security for workers working as there are allegations of harassment and molestation of working staff by JOHESU members. Despite calls for his sack, the minister has expressed the governments commitment to end the strike. The strike however is still ongoing. 2018 Budget: NMA commends lawmakers on healthcare fund The Nigerian Medical Association has hailed the inclusion of one per cent of the consolidate revenue fund in the allocation to the health sector in the 2018 budget as monumental. The Senate and House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the budget after increasing it from N8.6 trillion to N9.1 trillion, six months after it was presented by President Muhammadu Buhari. The lawmakers earmarked N57.15 billion for the basic healthcare provision fund as mandated by the National Health Act, a law passed in 2014 but which has not been fully implemented. For the first time the Senate has put the Consolidated Health Care Fund on the budget. That one percent will go into revamping the Primary Health Care system and the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, the newly elected president of the association, Francis Faduyile, said. Immunisation: Jigawa targets 1.6 million children The Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, is targeting immunising 1.6 million children in the state against polio. The Executive Secretary of the agency, Kabiru Ibrahim said at the sidelines of the exercise that enough personnel had been engaged to conduct the exercise simultaneously across the 27 local government area. This is to ensure that all children under five are immunised against the disease. He added that the agency had received enough oral polio vaccines (OPVs) from the Federal Government for smooth conduct of the exercise. Nigerian nurses lament quackery in the profession The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, (NANNM) has called for concerted effort of partners to curb the menance of quackery in the profession. The President of the association, Abdulrafiu Adeniji in commemoration of the International Nurses Week and International Day of Midwives identified quackery, mismanagement, insecurity, poor remuneration, inattention to the plights of nurses and other health workers as major challenges affecting the profession. He said this hinders the goal of providing quality services to the citizens and that quackery could create great danger to the healthcare system Kenyan women march against public breastfeeding discrimination Dozens of women demonstrated n Kenyas Capital to protest against what they say is discrimination against mothers who breastfeed in public. The demonstration was prompted by a Facebook post on May 4, that saw user Betty Kim accuse a Nairobi restaurant of discrimination after she was asked by a waiter to cover up as she was breastfeeding her baby. Womens groups and mothers with babies participated in the march, with some carrying placards reading respect nursing mothers and Breastfeeding mothers have rights. With infant mortality still a problem across Africa, WHO proposes breastfeeding for the first six months in order to achieve optimal growth and development. Pathologist denies stealing heart of corpse Kenyas former Chief Government pathologist, Moses Njue, accused of stealing the heart of a corpse at Lee Funeral Home three years ago has denied the allegation. The doctor, charged alongside his son, Lemuel Anasha Mureithi, who was his assistant pathologist was accused of stealing the heart of Timothy Muumbo while performing autopsy on June 2015. Though the son was not in court, Mr Njue however denied stealing and destroying the heart to conceal evidence knowing that the autopsy report would be used as evidence in a case pending in court. NAFDAC returns to seaports, borders Officers of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC) have returned to seaports and land borders to control importation of unregulated products. The agency is collaborating with relevant Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) and with active support of the office of the National Security Adviser, Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council and Ministry of Transport. According to the agency, this is to effectively control importation of unregulated products, falsified and substandard drugs, unwholesome foods, narcotic drugs and hazardous chemical substances and food into the country. World Hypertension Day: Be active, do exercise to avoid disease- Experts To lower the risk of having hypertension, health experts have urged Nigerians to do regular exercise and reduce sedentary way of life. They gave the advice to mark the World Hypertension Day, which is being celebrated across the world May 17. A medical doctor, Omoteniola Taiwo-Ojo, said sedentary lifestyle, junk food and high salt intake contribute to the risk of hypertension. According to her, some peoples risk of having hypertension is higher than others because it is hereditary. Unfortunately, the kind of life they live increases the risk. Obese people more likely to smoke Research A new research indicates that people who are genetically prone to being overweight have a higher risk of taking up smoking, WHO scientists said. According to Paul Brennan, a genetic epidemiology expert with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), obese people are also likely to smoke more than average. IARC is a WHO agency, mandated to conduct research on the causes of cancer, and its prevention. Mr Brennan said around 70 genes have been identified for the first time that could explain this behaviour. The study was published on Thursday in the British Medical Journal, and funded by Cancer Research UK. Nigerian govt, UNICEF to procure therapeutic food for malnourished Nigerian children The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to provide malnurished children in Nigeria with Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF). RUTF is an energy dense, micronutrient enhanced paste, used in therapeutic feeding. The primary ingredients of RUTF include peanuts, oil, sugar, milk powder, vitamin and mineral supplements which provide all the nutrients required for recovery from malnutrition. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the agreement is for counterpart contribution for the procurement and distribution of the commodity across the country. There is an estimated 2.5 million Nigerian children under the age of five who have severe acute malnutrition. Records from the ministry indicate that about about 20 per cent of these children would die if nothing is done. About 90 per cent of the cases are in North-west and North-east Nigeria, the records further revealed. The World Health Organisation has assured Nigerians that all measures are being put in place to curtail the Ebola virus should it find its way into the country. The WHO country director, Wondi Alemu, at a Health for All walk in Abuja on Saturday said though there is risk that Ebola might resurface again in Nigeria, enough mechanism have been put in place to curtail the effect. Mr Alemu said the agency was doing all its best to make the country curtail the Ebola virus. There has been a scare that the Ebola outbreak which has been ravaging the Democratic Republic of Congo might spread to Nigeria. So far, 23 deaths are believed to have been caused by the disease in the DRC. Ebola, like other infectious diseases, has a tendency of spreading across borders through human migration. In 2014, the disease was imported to Nigeria through a Liberian diplomat who flew to Nigeria in an attempt to go to the U.S after contacting the disease in Liberia. Mr Alemu said they were collaborating with the Federal Ministry of health and the National Centre for disease control to ensure necessary precautions are made to prevent Ebola in the country. Speaking further, Mr Alemu urged all Nigerians to take part in regular exercise, as it will help in creating a healthy lifestyle. The walk for health will be a continuous exercise. We are calling on all Nigerians to engage in exercise on a personal basis, which should at least be done for three times in a week so as to achieve universal health for all in the country, he said. Mr Alemu said the walk for health was an opportunity to personalise the mandate of the Universal health coverage . This is a new beginning and we are calling on all Nigerians to take preventive measures to promote their health. In her remark, the Founder of the Well Being Foundation and wife of the senate president, Toyin Saraki, said the walk was aimed at achieving universal health for all . The well being Foundation is pleased to partner with the world health organisation so as to achieve the universal health coverage for all. Mrs Saraki commended the effort the WHO is taking in curtailing the Ebola outbreak in DRC. In Nigeria, we are fully sensitised, but we still have to improve in terms of border surveillance to monitor those coming in and going out of the country. We cant guarantee that Ebola will come into Nigeria or not, but we should take enough preventive measures, she said. Mrs Saraki also advised Nigerians to follow the advisory given out by NCDC in curtailing Ebola in Nigeria. She also charged Nigerians to maintain high level of hygiene both in schools,and in public places. The age-long battle of who-gets-what in Nigerias health sector has once again put the Federal Government between two touchy ends and further endangered the very existence of the countrys health industry. Medical doctors and other health workers have been on a war path for long and the main contention is salary adjustment. This may seem as an over-flogged issue but the rift is always reignited whenever any of the warring groups makes a demand on the government. The battle took another twist on Thursday as medical doctors threatened to withdraw their services if the government accedes to the demands of other health workers who have been on strike for over three weeks now. The nationwide strike was called by JOHESU (Joint Health Sector Union), a body that comprises all health workers except doctors, has left millions without care. The strike crippled federal health institutions and last week, states and local governments health workers joined in a bid to force the hands of the government. No fundamental agreement has been reached in the series of meetings between the government and the striking union asking for salary increase but there was a ray of hope. Wednesday meeting ended with the government accepting to prepare an offer for the union. They said they want to make an offer to us but we dont know what it is yet until we study it and know if its what we can accept or not, the National Vice Chairman of JOHESU, Ogbonna Chimela, said. We are still meeting with them, the minister of health, Isaac Adewole, confirmed in a text message to PREMIUM TIMES. The doctors under the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) who apparently have been monitoring events, quickly reminded the government in a statement by its newly-elected president, Francis Faduyile, of its 2014 agreement with the government not to accede to demands of other health workers relating to salary adjustments and harmonisation. The NMA wishes to draw the attention of the Federal Government to our correspondence of April 21, 2014 on the above, in which we reminded Government of the collective bargaining agreement we had with the Federal Government of Nigeria in January 2014. It is also pertinent to once again remind Government about the concluding part of our letter no. NMA/PRE/SG/03/0751 of 21st March 2014, which states, In view of the above, the NMA painfully wishes to inform the Federal Government of Nigeria that any award to the non-medically qualified health professionals that violates the January and July agreements of 2014 shall result in the resumption of the suspended withdrawal of service of 2014. Please take this as a notice sir. In Nigerias civil service, medical doctors already have a wide edge above every other skilled worker when speaking of salaries and benefits. Initially, they entered the service at salary grade level 9, while other graduates started at 8. Recently, they convinced government negotiators led by health minister, a medical doctor, to raise doctors entry salary level to 12. That seems already too much as it does not take four years which doctors may claim accounts for the variation in years of training with other disciplines to attain the four outstanding salary levels. It takes far more years. Empty maternal care hallway at Asokoro district hospital as a result of the health workers strike But JOHESU, which also includes pharmacists and medical lab scientists with long number of years in training, says it is not asking for parity. It wants a raise and other benefits. Doctors have threatened strike if the government accedes. But are doctors asking for too much? Are they deservedly favoured or are they being greedy, as some JOHESU officials say? Background JOHESU has several demands it is asking of the government but the doctors are particularly opposed to that of salary adjustment and harmonisation, the major demand that prompted the strike. In 2014 when the government approved the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) salary adjustment for doctors, both parties reached an agreement that the principle of relativity must be sustained should there be upward review of CONHESS salary scheme. CONMESS is the salary structure for medical and dental officers in the federal public service while Consolidated Health Salary Structure, CONHESS, is the salary structure for pharmacists, medical laboratory, nurses and other health workers in the health sector of the federal public service. Since 2014, other health workers have been asking for an upward review of the CONHESS salary scheme as was done for medical professionals. The doctors who saw the move as an attempt by other workers to get the same pay with them have consistently kicked against it. But the other health workers have repeatedly explained that they are not asking for same pay with doctors but an increase in their own salary structure. They say they are not averse to relativity. Before, medical doctors entered service on grade level 9 while the rest of us enter on 8 but after the 2009 negotiation of salary structure, medical doctors started entering service on grade level 12 while we enter at that same 8. So relativity had been established at the point of entry because they spent six years in school while other health workers spend five or four years, so you can see the years of training of the both groups are different that is why government allows doctors to enter service at grade level 12 while we enter at 8 to maintain relativity, Mr Chimela explained. Other issues in contention The genesis of disharmony among health workers can be traced back to 1985 when the late Olukoye Ransom Kuti was the minister of health. Some of the major issues in contention apart from salary adjustments include: The demand for the appointment of other health workers as Consultants. The demand for the appointment of other health workers as Consultants. The demand for headship of departments/units in the hospital by members of JOHESU The demand for professional autonomy by JOHESU. It however drummed support for the demands of JOHESU on skipping of CONHESS 10 and payment of arrears in compliance with National Industrial Court of Nigeria Judgment, and increased Retirement age. Why our position is justified NMA The newly-elected president of the association, Mr Faduyile, said the implementation of JOHESU demands will alter the existing relativity in the salary scale in the health sector. What JOHESU is asking is not just increment in there salary, they are asking for parity with doctors, he told PREMIUM TIMES. We have being disadvantaged for more than 12 years in the health sector until 2014 when the government realised this and readjusted our salary scale which is CONMESS. We had an agreement with government through collective bargaining and they begged us to reduce the relativity and we have reduced it from 3:3 is to 1 ratio to 1.5: is to 1 ratio. File photo of Resident Doctors This means over 50 percent reduction and in our lower level we have appropriated relativity. In 3 steps out of the 7 steps that doctors are paid in the service, there is parity of 1 is to 1. So what we are saying is that it is getting out of hand. Before, the salary ratio of doctors and other health workers used to be 3.3 to 1.0 but today we have cut it down to 1.5 is to 1.0 so that peace will reign but they just want it to be at par but we are saying we have given so much to that level of 1.5 and we cant go beyond that. On the argument by JOHESU that relativity suffices at point of entry into service, the NMA president reacts: That they enter service at grade level 9 and we enter at 12 is not relativity, it does not appear here. Can a degree holder that enters service at grade level 8 and a PHD holder that enters at level 10 earn the same salary? No. A PHD holder should get more gratification and enter service at higher grade than his degree counter part. The relativity we are talking about here is not on the point of entry, point of entry is just about the degrees and level of education. We are talking about the ratio in the salary scale. He admitted that doctors wages will not be affected if the government accedes to JOHESUs demands. It will not affect our salary but it will be a bad morale to us. I am working as a doctor and am collecting N5 another person in service who did not go through the kind of training I went through and is not working as much as I do will still be collecting the same salary. Why am I going through all these stress then? In America even among doctors, their is relativity. An anaesthetic doctor can collect up to 5 times the salary of a pathologist. When CONMESS was implemented, JOHESU went and made up their own salary scheme which is CONHESS. They transferred all the figures and salary steps in CONMESS into CONHESS and that means parity. Doctors have to go back to government and tell them we have being short-changed and in 2014 when the government realised their mistake they readjusted our own salary and it is that same readjustment that the JOHESU is asking from the government. If that is done then it means we have gone back to that position where we were disadvantaged. They are asking that everything in CONMESS point for point, level for level must be the same thing with CONHESS. Nobody is against them from having increment in salary. what we are saying is that it will not be at the same level with doctors. Government should follow its own agreement. There is a special salary scale for medical doctors as well as other health workers and in that scale doctors earn a particular leverage over and above others. We must understand that JOHESU have the cleaners, the drivers, the typists, the administrative staffs, the hospital engineer. we have all other type of people who are supportive staff, he said. On how much the doctors earn at entry level, he said, Doctors collect about N150,00o, I am a consultant, Ive been a consultant for more than 10 years and my salary is just a little above N500,ooo with all the taxes the money is even lesser while my counterpart in other African countries collect well above that and even a higher salary than supreme court judges. The judges collect nothing less than N2 million and for your information a neuron-surgeons in America collects more money than their president and we are working here, a typist is saying i must collect same salary with doctors. Speaking on JOHESU wages, the national vice chairman, Mr Chimela, said in an earlier interview with PREMIUM TIMES: I will take it in two folds. In JOHESU, we have both skilled and unskilled staff as members, that is, professionals and non-professionals. For the professionals, the least paid is on grade level 8 and if you put all his pay together because hes like an intern coming into the system, what he collects in a month is N120,000 If he (or she) is on call duty. But those who are not on call duty only get N90,000 monthly. As for the unskilled staff, they collect the minimum wage, which is N18,000. If the government finally implements the salary adjustment for JOHESU, the least paid professional in the union according to Mr Chimela will have a 20 per cent increase on his/her normal salary. For instance, the least paid that collects N120,000 will now take home an additional N24,000 which will now make his/her total remuneration N144,000, he said. On how the government is battling with the dilemma of implementing the demands of JOHESU without provoking the wrath of the medical doctors, the Minister of Health, Mr Adewole, in a phone interview with PREMIUM TIMES, described the government as a benevolent father. We look at both sides, you look at what your children is asking for, you make them see reason with you and consider your ability to pay. You also look at what will give them happiness and that is our duty and we will get the done. In the second part of this interview with Qansy Salako, a Nuclear Scientist, and an Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs in the U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry, he speaks on nuclear research, the challenges of Nigerias educational system and options available to Nigerian youth. Read the first part of Mr Salakos interview with Bunmi Fatoye-Matory here. PT: This disconnection of the government from the governed led to some bad consequences one of which was the brain drain. Salako: Yes, the first wave of brain drain was by senior academics of CMUL in the mid-80s to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States. Then it came to the turn of my generation in the late 80s. I left the intellectually and financially impoverishing Nigerian academics twice first in December 1989 and decidedly in May 1991 as a senior lecturer at a N12,000/per year salary. First, I joined the labs of Professor Edward Deutsch at the Biomedical Chemistry Research Center within the Department of Chemistry of the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, January 1 December 31, 1990. I had critiqued one of Eds works in my PhD thesis and I told him so in a letter. He instantly invited me as a visiting scholar to bridge his research activities in radiochemistry (Dept. of Chemistry) and their applications into radiopharmaceuticals for use by his research collaborators in nuclear medicine (Dept. of Medicine), both in University of Cincinnati. I worked on radiolabelling ethylene diphosphonates for bone cancer imaging and therapy using Re-188 and Re-186. It was my first experience to be involved with radiotracer experiment in dogs and humans. Great opportunity. Then, I joined the Molecular Cancer Institute (MCI) within the Internal Medicine Department of the University of California, Davis, as a research faculty, 1991-1996. The Institute was founded by Professors Gerald and Sally DeNardo for advanced research in Radioimmunodiagnosis/ Radioimmunotherapy (RID/RIT) involving radiolabelling of antibodies specific to non-Hodgkin lymphoma (Gerry) and adenocarcinoma (Sally). During this time, MCI had a total of $10 million in research grants ($6 million from U.S. National Cancer Institute, NCI and $4 million from U.S. Department of Energy, DOE) based on research ideas yet on paper. It involved exploring perfect radionuclides (in terms of radiation energy and physical half-life) for incorporation into monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) specific to particular solid human tumours. The MoAbs were obtained by cloning human tumours in mice, then harvesting the antibodies generated by the mice to the human tumour as mouse antibodies (mAbs). In parallel, chelates (on which the radionuclide would sit) were synthesised, purified and their radiochemistry studied with research (i.e. non-medically useful) radionuclides. The chelates were then conjugated to the mAb and the resulting radioimmunoconjugates then radiolabelled using medically useful radionuclides. For each tumour study: a radioimmunoconjugate was prepared with low gamma emitting radionuclide for patient diagnosis and dosimetry calculations of required radiation doses to the organs and overall patient dose computed; then with medium energy beta emitting radionuclide which deposits its dense energy on the tumour to achieve therapy for the patient cancer. Compared to radiation therapy, application of radioimmuno-pharmaceuticals is specific to the disease cells and forgiving of the healthy cells. It works by precise binding of the mAb to its recognised tumour antigen (wherever it may be in the body even in metastasis) followed by targeted bombardment of the tumour cell with its radiation payload, killing it and sparing the surrounding benign cell. Fantastic science. The MCI research program involved a lot of specialty collaborations within UC Davis (Depts of Chemistry, Oncology, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Biostatistics, Animal Science, Physics (cyclotrons),) and outside labs (Livermore Labs, Brookhaven National Labs, Los Alamos National Labs). Really cutting edge science. It was an opportunity par excellence for me. It was at a unique time for both MCI and I. The award winning research proposals were mere theories at this point, neither had their practicality been proven by MCI nor had I handled antibodies before then. I simply threw myself in, feet first, based only on the Nigerian can-do. I was responsible for preparing all the radioimmunoconjugate-pharmaceuticals for the patients. My first time directly into human! My scientific skills and expertise literally went nuclear. From manipulating the chelate in a conjugation reaction with the antibody and sitting the radionuclide inside the chelate chair, all on the chemistry bench, to purification and dosing of the radioimmunoconjugates under aseptic conditions to generating sterile injectable radiopharmaceuticals. Whoever believes that Nigerians are lazy is either not a Nigerian or an out-of-touch Nigerian who has no clue of the enormous potential capacity of Nigerians. It is the home environment that kills Nigerians, literally and figuratively. I spent 14-16 hour days in the labs without feeling hungry just so a patient dose did not fail. I would radiolabel all day long into the midnight, all alone, and already in the lab by 6 a.m. to perform quality control tests (including mouse safety test) to confirm the integrity of the dose before patient administration, all alone. Our RID/RIT programme was the end-of-the-road treatment for most of the patients who got in because they were typically moribund patients whose cancer had become refractory and no longer responding to chemo and radiation therapies. The patients cut across the ages, from a 10-year-old to those in their 70s. One patient was so desperate to enter, he begged to have RID/RIT give him just six more months of life to allow him put his successful business in order. During pre-treatment office visits, the patients were told much about the uniqueness of the research radioimmunconjugates and how only one person, an African, could make it in the whole of the United States. And I usually cued in on that when I wheeled in the dose (yes, in leaded wheel barrow for radiation shielding) at greenlight on the patients day of treatment, usually wearing Obama-like ear-to-ear bear-teeth smiles, talking nicely to them and wishing that the preparation worked for them. One patient, a journalist by career, wrote a beautiful poem on me, extolling Africa and calling his radiopharmaceutical dose Africa potion that rejuvenated his body. The DOE handled the change-over of my original restrictive J-1 work exchange visa to H-1 involving over 30 signatures at DOE. In one of the recommendation letters required for the immigration application package, one RID/RIT program collaborating professor wrote: We would all be in trouble if Qansy is allowed to go back to Nigeria. Those were exhilarating science years for me, indeed. In all, I worked with over a dozen radionuclides: Tc-99, Tc-99m, I-131, I-127, In-111, In-113m, Re-186, Re-188, Cu-64, Cu-67, Y-88 and Y-90, each with different radiation type and energy range. I wrote (with my DeNardo bosses) and submitted eight investigational new drug (IND) applications on RID/RIT research products to the US FDA, handled most of the FDA calls, taught radiopharmacy of radioimmunoconjugates to visiting nuclear medicine physicians from all over the world, reviewed and wrote manuscripts for scientific publications, etc. By the time I left UC Davis five years later, I had accumulated over 35 additional scientific publications in reputed journals like Nuclear Medicine, Cancer, Health Physics, Oncology, Applied Radiation Isotopes, etc. At least, two of our Nigerian first ladies had sunk a chunk of our GDP on cancer centres that never took off, while our university teaching hospitals lay in ruins. They dont know what they are talking about. They have no idea what having one cancer centre really means, not to talk of two. But the real sad part is their husbands, successive ministers of health and generations of feckless political class who perpetuate our national stupidity, year after year. PT: It is disheartening history for such an energetic nation like ours to be led by this kind of people. Tell us more about your career in this rarefied area of science. Salako: I transitioned out of academia into the U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry private sector via a 18-month stint at the US FDA as a review chemist between 1996 and 1998. It was a tremendous privilege to work in the most developed drug regulatory institution in the world. We continue to mess around in Nigeria, living under the illusion of blundering self-governments and thinking we are going anywhere fast. You just dont find unapproved or adulterated approved drugs or improperly controlled research vaccines killing people every day in the U.S. under the watch of an advanced and finicky agency like the US FDA. US FDA is not in the league of lame NAFDAC or incompetent EFCC that cant successfully prosecute a corruption case even with a warehouse full of evidence and a city full of witnesses. Approval of a new drug application (NDA) is a rigorous process. It involves all of the scientific disciplines on which drug development data must be collected and submitted for review and agency concurrence on efficacy and safety of the drug when released to the marketplace. These data are collected through three clinical trial phases of drug development which typically last 10-20 years and during which a drug may fail at any stage. Market research shows that only one of every 20 drug candidates makes it to the NDA submission stage. Yet, FDA is dispassionate in its review and approval process of the few that make it to the submission stage because any part of your submitted data can be rejected and your drug not approved, regardless of how much you are owing the banks, whether you are an Emir, Oba, a PDP/APC member, governor, or whether you are close to the senate president or president himself. At the peak count during my time at the FDA, there were 10 Nigerian scientists as chemistry, pharmacology, and medical drug reviewers. That was some 20 years ago. Since then, hundreds of Nigerian scientists have passed through (and still do) as drug reviewers. Last year, one of us from CMUL retired from the FDA after 23 years of service! Did Nigeria think it could run a modern NAFDAC without its well-trained citizens who are highly exposed in regulatory science and drug development and are floating all over the place across the globe? Certainly not under the yoke of an idiotic national quota system! Since I left the agency for the industry, I have been privileged to work in the Regulatory Affairs (RA) business unit (responsible for submitting companys drug applications to Health Authorities) of quite a few respected pharmaceutical companies. Now I came in with a solid science background and a regulatory review experience, which makes me know how regulatory reviewers think, it is a treasured expertise that every company will do anything to have. Turned out working in the private sector would avail me with a good deal of academic environment too. I love what I do. I am responsible for assembling, reviewing and compiling drug chemistry, manufacturing and controls data for regulatory submissions. Makes me work with an array of experts (chemical engineers, chemists, biologists, microbiologists, biochemists, legal, commercial, physicians, etc) and I enjoy lecturing teams on what data we need, why, and strategy on how to present the data in a way that gives us a regulatory room to breathe during batch to batch manufacture. PT: Fantastic. How has that journey been so far? Salako: Some of the companies Ive worked for are: Nycomed-Amersham, Gilead Sciences, Monsanto, Genzyme, Inc., etc, across different kinds of drug molecules, product formulations and disease classes. Im currently an Executive Director in my present company. I travel quite extensively within U.S. and Europe, including a trip to China with a team for a face-to-face pre-submission meeting with the China FDA in 2011. In all my travels, I make use of my expertise in drug science, regulatory science, academic background and good old-fashion African wisdom in sorting problems and guiding teams on projects. I also had an Adjunct Faculty position as a thesis director at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA from June 2015 to May 2016. I supervised a master dissertation project on the biotech industry. Somehow, I had remained pre-occupied with how to benefit Nigeria with all of my expertise and unusual experiences. I will never know why I bother. But in 2012, I founded a biotech company with another Nigerian scientist here in the US with great skills in protein synthesis and purification. Ironically, he had his first degree in Mirobiology from LASU, Lagos! We connected the dream with Nigeria right away, called it Lekki, and registered the company in the State of Delaware as Lekki Biosciences, Inc. I was the founding President and CEO from 2012 when we opened shop to 2013 when we closed shop due to lack of start-up funds. Lekki was conceived as a biotech company in the business of manufacturing Biosimilar DS for development into DP by business partners. It was a brilliant business idea and we were able to recruit/collaborate with a few other highly trained scientists with expertise in cell engineering, bioprocessing, cell culture (upstream), protein purification (downstream), and protein characterisation and analytics technologies. Our targeted first wave of products to be developed were biogenerics of blockbuster monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for cancer therapy: Bevacizumab, Trastuzumab, Palivizumab, Cetuximab, Etanercept, Adalimumab, Infliximab, Rituximab, Interferon beta 1a, Darbepoetin alfa, Epoetin alfa, Pegfilgrastim, and Filagrastim. All of these have individual global market shares of over $1 billion, some reaching over $8 billion in 2001. One of the most challenging aspects of developing a Biosimilar molecule is the ability to control and regulate the attachment of complex oligosaccharides during the expression of the molecule. These complex oligosaccharides play an important role in the therapeutic efficacy and half-life of biologics. To ensure the proper expression of a highly similar biologic, Lekki intended to leverage its knowledge of glycobiology guided by glycoprofiling and glycoanalytic tools, including DNA sequencing, cell line (blank/host/vector) techniques to identify and replicate the reference protein molecule. We needed $2 million to take off. We reached out to many Nigerians in the diaspora who understood this science and its potentials but were risk averse. We had teleconferences with a Venture Capital in Lagos. They didnt understand the science and of course, they were complete Nigerian. They demanded that their clients (from whom they would gather the funds) would prefer that we locate the manufacturing plant in Nigeria. We are talking of making antibody proteins that need storage at -20oC and below in the same Nigeria that has no electricity! We offered 30 per cent return on investment in five years (we figured we would be able to manufacture and divest at least 3 Biosimilar DS molecules in five years at not less than $2.5 million each), but they wanted more within two years because [again] their clients make much more returns within a year investing in Indomie, Google, etc. And hear this, they were asking us for $500,000 upfront payment, including costs for maintaining an off shore account in Mauritius. Nobody can help Nigeria. Nigeria will have to open its own eyes when it is ready to wake up. PT: What are your thoughts about the Nigerian situation now? And what is your advice for the youth? Salako: The primary goal of the Nigerian education policy at sunset of colonial rule was to get Nigerians ready to occupy positions in the new system of government that had been established by the British solely for colonisation. All national goals seemed to be simply to replace the British. Policies were not thought through and there was no projection into the future. Education policy was to train position occupiers, not to produce inventors. There was not much industry in early Nigeria, just government jobs. So it is, till today. Recently, I read the biography of one elder statesman (from the North, I forget his name) in which he said he got his BA in Linguistics in late 50s/early 60s at the University of Ibadan but he headed many parastatals including Petroleum! Back in 1975, the Murtala/Obasanjo military regime instructed higher institutions to increase their admission enrolments and a lot of bursary, scholarships and loans (unrecovered) were given out to students. But they forgot to develop the economy so by the time graduates (my set) were pouring out four years later, there were fewer jobs than those seeking them. Nigeria spent enormous resources to train its youth but had no use for them! So other countries in the world have been harvesting them and bringing the best out of them. Today, Nigeria does not train its youth but its faking progress and wonders why the youth are not productive. The education curriculum which should have been revised within five years of independence to match long-term national goals remain outdated, confused and useless for national development. So the system produces mere newspaper readers than thinkers. Important positions such as president, governors, ministers, commissioners, judges are filled with no regard for qualifications, experience or competence. In fact, most positions have no job descriptions. There is no job-creating development, no basic standard of living (housing, health care, water, electricity), no security, no sincerity of leadership and no progress. Instead, there is plenty of corruption, incompetence, noisemaking, finger-pointing (backward), hunger, impoverishment, tribalism, citizen discontent and bloodshed. The population is galloping out of control by the week along with crimes, wars, Internally-Displace Persons (IDP) camps and idle youths. No nation can develop without its intellectuals, properly educated polity and strong public institutions. Nigeria cannot develop fast with its current obsolete and costly political structure, primitive concept of nation building, ridiculous quality of education and vacuous political leadership The Nigerian youth must come awake to save their country for themselves and for their children. Else Nigeria will keep impoverishing most of its teeming millions. My advice to the Nigerian youth is organise, plan, and execute. If you organise into me-too political parties the way of PDP, APC, etc, you will inherit for yourselves another Obasanjo Nigeria. Nigeria has real national fault lines that have posed to be its obstacles to progress for 58 years. My preference is that you have a masterplan on how to move the roadblocks before you invade the power arena. Think out of the box. Be systematic and methodical. My next OpEd in the Sahara Reporters will be on Nigerian youth. PT: What are your thoughts on raising children in America? Salako: We do see news of extraordinary achievements (admission to ivy-league colleges, professional sport drafts, etc) of second-generation Nigerian immigrants breaking through from time to time, but life in America is still a struggle for majority of our children born or raised here by us. Being brought up rugged in Nigeria has been instrumental to how most of us, first-generation Nigerian Americans, have been able to navigate the American (indeed entire host countries in the West) terrain and survive into better standard of living than Nigeria could have ever afforded us. However, raising children in America remains one of our prime challenges. This is primarily due to the culture clash between the home culture that we grew up in and the host culture in which our children are being raised. The kids not only want to dress, think and take up the lifestyle of their peers, they want their parents to treat, think and talk to them like they perceive parents of their peers do. Unfortunately, Nigerian parents are even more constrained within a narrower range of parental styles that they could use compared to back home. Even if you dont spank your kids, American kids can still accuse you of verbal and emotional abuse either in their grade school years or much later when they find themselves struggling in life. Religion does help. But not as significantly as it should. Compared to the Americans, we Africans are unusually religious. Most American adults are not given to worshipping God as hard as we do and are therefore even more so permissive of their children in the matter of religion. So the host kids have more time on their hand to squander on tech toys and other vanities of life. This host culture is more alluring to our children than the weird Nigerian diaspora Pentecostal church services or the strange endless rituals of Muslim prayers and fasts or our scolding and yelling mannerisms. Our imported ways appear to turn off many of our children fairly early in their upbringing years. What has worked for me is a balance between what my two diaspora kids may want to be and what home values I feel they must have to lead a relatively peaceful and successful life. We are Muslims. So I literally brought Islam closer to them by establishing praying salaat (prayers) together in Jammah (congregation) as a family inside the house right from when they could crawl. When they reached certain ages and they lost interest in going to the Islamic Sunday schools at the mosque or stop reading the Quran altogether, I let them, but family Jammah remained sacrosanct at home and I used it as my tool for raising them. About three to five times a week, I would do quick 5 mins sermons after some of the family Jammah. I used the sermons to talk about every and any topic. I talked about respect for parent, Islam the right way, school bullies, sex education, racism, drugs, academic performance, family relations, house chores, Ramadan fasts, and so on. I used Quran, Hadith, philosophy, Yoruba wisdom (Ijapa stories), to drive home my instructions. I knew when my 5 mins was up when I saw them squirming on the rug and shifting their attention. The regular routine made them think that I was a wise man, so they told me everything going on in their life and I yelled when I needed to or deferred a lesson till a time of Jammah. The result? Both kids grew up as advisers to their peers on staying away from drugs, they scoffed at how their school mates dated and broke up within weeks (sometimes a few days) of falling in love, they were comfortable discussing racism in and out of the classrooms. The tool that I needed them to have by the time they flew out of the house into the world was as simple as that. Theyd figure the rest out on their own. PT: Thank you. Dozens of residents of Ori Oke, Makoko, in Lagos Friday marched to protest the killings and destruction of property of some Ilaje indigenes during a violence which broke out between the Ilaje community, police and Land Grabbers Task Force on May 10. The protesters, who marched to the State Crime Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID), Panti, Yaba, bore different placards and chanted Police are supposed to be our protector and not killers. Addressing the crowd, Adeola Ilori, a human rights lawyer, said what happened last Thursday was totally illegal. He said the land grabbers took laws into their hand and used the police as their instruments. They took laws into their hands and attacked an harmless community; four people were killed and on Tuesday I can still count not less than 10 that are still critically injured, Mr Ilori said. I have read the land grabbers law passed in 2017, it is about three pages and 26 sections. There is no place that gives right to the land grabbers committee or task force to kill, maim and burn down a church just to reclaim a land. The only section that empowers the land grabbers task force to intervene is to ask the two parties to check the land documents and I was told this particular land has been taken to court of appeal. Since last week Thursday, the governor has not issued any statement to condemn the issue or visit the affected people and pay condolence to the dead neither has the commissioner done that and we know they have heard. Present at the protest were officials of Yaba Local Council Development Authority,: Centre for the Defence of Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CDHRA; Ilaje National Alliance Movement; among other civil society groups. Mr Ilori said although the commissioner had said the police officers and other government officials who were involved in the illegal operation had been arrested, no one had been charged to court. We want all of them arraigned in court including officers of the Lagos State Land Grabbers Taskforce and their chairman, Jide Bakare, and get justice for our people, Mr Ilori said. Seun Areku, popularly known as Ijaya, Tobi Oloruntoba, OC Makoko Police Post were those who shot people during the violence, those at the hospital confessed. We want the repair of their church, we want compensation for the dead and those in the hospital medical bills must be taken care of and they must stop this act from now on, he said. Solomon Gbinigie, the councillor representing Ward A in Yaba local council, said an injustice had been perpetrated against the Ori Oke people. There is nobody that has a replacement for human lives, Seyi is gone, Kolawole is gone but the land is there, Mr Gbinigie said. We must ensure that all officers involved in this are brought to book. Tunde Emmanuel, the National Public Relations Officer of INAMO, described the attack as a witchhunt on the Ilaje nation. They have done this in Itedo and three other places in Lagos and what we heard was that Governor Ambode said anywhere the Ilaje are residing in Lagos, they should drive them away, said Mr Emmanuel. This land has been occupied by the Ilaje people for more than 80 years, automatically they are the owner of the land, just recently, the Coker family claimed to be the owner of the land and they have been attacked afterwards. The case has been in court and they have won the first time and now they are back in the Court of Appeal. People retaliated when they came on Thursday and started destroying their property and they were maimed and killed by the policemen. We are Yorubas and not foreigners, we are entitled to our lands. Esther Omisakin, a hairdresser whose shop was set ablaze during the incident, said she was unable to salvage anything from her shop. I was called that Taskforce are around and when I got there I saw three vehicles. We were told to start packing our things that they want to burn the shops without any prior warning and before we could park, they have begun throwing broken bottles to the window of the church, spraying bullets for anybody that comes around and the place was set ablaze, said a tearful Ms Omisakin. As they arrived I was just setting up, they went into the church premises arrested Papa and Tobi and told us that they didnt come for us. They came with hooligans as well. Dauda Alade, who does SIM cards registration opposite the church, said hoodlums took away his work tools. All of a sudden they started destroying the church. The police who told me that they are not concerned about us and asked me to close my shop were the ones who came back and asked me to open it or else they will shoot it; and immediately I opened it. The gun was hammered on my head and I was dragged into the police van. Right there the hooligans took my three laptops for sim registration away alongside phones given to me to charge. Now I am sleeping not having anything to do after I have been released on Saturday from Area C Command alongside Papa and Tobi. Maurice Fangon, a professor and the Secretary-General of the Centre for Defence of Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA), said the Land Grabbers Task Force are always ready to turn any situation into a money making venture for the state government. By the time, (governor) Ambode wins the second term, he will do worse, he said. You can see the case of Otodo Gbame and Atiporo. We currently have over 14 cases of forceful eviction, invasion and the likes in court. Responding to the protesters, Yetunde Alonge, an Assistant Commissioner of Police who heads the State CIID, said the police would ensure the community gets justice. Immediately the incident happened, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Imohimi Edgal, called the community leaders, issued a press statement and set up an independent committee to investigate the matter, she said. Lagos Police Commissioner, Imohimi Edgal. [Photo credit: Lagos State Police Command ] Those identified already to be at the scene of the violence have been arrested and investigation is on-going and the CP will not rest on his oars until justice prevail especially when it comes to community policing issue like this, she assured the protesters. Zurab Abashidze, Special Representative of the Georgian Prime Minister for Relations with Russia, and Grigory Karasin, Deputy State Secretary and Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, will meet in Prague on May 24. Abashidze reported. We reached an agreement with Karasin that our next meeting in Prague will be held on May 24," TASS quotes the politician as saying. According to the Georgian diplomat, during the talks, the sides will discuss the specific topics accumulated over the past few months, such as the cooperation between Russia and Georgia in trade, economy, transport, as well as the humanitarian problems and prospects for development of cooperation in these areas. A new set of triplets have been left stranded after their mum died shortly after their birth in an Abuja hospital, and the family is asking for help to raise them. Relatives and friends are now struggling to care for the three boys and their older siblings a boy and a girl and are calling for help from the government and Nigerians. Before her death, Nkechi Okonya, 32, was the familys bread-winner, raising her two children and supporting her husband with the proceeds of her petty trade, neighbours said. Jersey and Kimberly seven and five years old have now dropped out of school with no one to take care of their education. Their mum bled to death shortly after birth at Bwari General Hospital, leaving behind the five children. Mrs Okonya was due for delivery on April 20 and was rushed to a Primary Health Centre in Bwari, a suburb of Abuja. She was delivered of one of the children there prematurely at about 9:30 a.m. For hours they kept telling her to push thinking the baby left inside her was just one but nothing came out so they now referred her to Bwari General hospital, her cousin, Chinwendu Ekwunife, told PREMIUM TIMES last Friday. When she arrived the Bwari hospital, the health workers there further delayed the delivery process, thereby worsening her situation. She held on until 5 p.m. I dont know what happened but the doctors and nurses there still held on until about 5 p.m. before they wheeled her into the theatre. She delivered the remaining two children but was now bleeding heavily. She took four pints of blood in less than 15 minutes. Ogonnaya Obasi late Mrs Okonyas elder sister who now takes care of the triplets. At a point they (doctors) said she was stable and after a while, she died. It was around 12 midnight, Mrs Ekwunife who was with her cousin at the moment of explained. She said one of the triplets was placed on oxygen throughout the night because he was very weak. She described the services rendered by the hospital as careless and inhuman. Why would a general hospital keep a woman who already delivered a baby elsewhere from 12pm to 5pm without conducting an operation? she questioned. Even when she finally delivered and died, they did not even weigh the kids. They just asked us to leave the hospital immediately that night. They dont even have an ambulance. The triplets were released from the hospital later, and Mrs Ekwunife, still mourning her cousin, has relied on help from her husband and friends as she juggles taking care of the kids and holding down her job as a lawyer. Late Mrs Nkechi Okonyas Obituary. Who takes care of the triplets? Emeka Okonya, the father of the triplets is an unemployed graduate, and is financially unstable, her sister said. Mr Okonyas younger sister, Mary, visibly troubled told PREMIUM TIMES during a visit to the family in Kubwa, This is a very big challenge because my brother does not have anything doing at the moment, he is financially unstable. The responsibility of taking care of the triplets and the two other children has become a burden for relatives and friends. Mrs Ekwunife said so far her husband and some generous individuals had been the ones footing all the bills as regards taking care of the five children. We raised some funds via Facebook in a group I belong to called Abuja Mums. It is from there that we got the fund to take care of them so far. They assist with clothings, diapers and all. The late mothers elder sister, Ogonnaya Obasi, is the one carrying and nurturing the little infants. However, the burden has even become heavier for the relatives. Mrs Obasi said she was planning to take the five children down to Abakiliki, Ebonyi state, to know how she could handle the situation from there. I want to take them to Abakiliki. I dont have any plan but I pray God will help us. I beg the government to come to our aid and give the children scholarships. I also beg civil societies and well-meaning Nigerians to assist in training thee triplets, Ms Obasi said amidst tears. While also calling for assistance for the family, Joseph Osuigwe, executive director of Devatop Centre for Africa Development, warned that such situation breeds human trafficking. The organisation is a youth-led nonprofit group focused on combating human trafficking, gender-based violence, child abuse, and providing educational materials and welfare for vulnerable children. I am particularly bothered about the welfare of these children, because they should not in any way be made to suffer or bear the consequences of irresponsibility of the hospital to attend to their mother with sense of urgency and emergency; and of the father to ensure their welfare, Mr Osuigwe said. It is such situation that breeds human trafficking. When children are subjected to such conditions, they are vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation. Editors Note: This story has been updated for clarity, and Mrs Ekwunife can be reached at 08100643284 for possible support to the family. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says the N-Power Graduate Skills Acquisition Programme will be expanded and made better to benefit more Nigerian youths. Mr Osinbajo made the disclosure on Friday during a visit to Kiara De-Luke Multi-Skill and Entrepreneurship Centre, an N-Power training centre at Umuobiakwa in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia. Addressing the trainees, the vice president said the N-Power programme was very important to the federal government because of its focus on empowering the youths through capacity building. The programme will be expanded, enriched, made bigger and better and we will improve the welfare of those in the programme. The federal government wants to demonstrate through you that Nigerian young people are not only competent, but can with the best training become the best available anywhere in the world. You can be sure that we are going to see this programme through. We are going to continue the programme. We are not going to stop it. It is the largest of its kind anywhere in Africa. We want to prove that it is possible not only to keep young people employed and engaged but to train at the same time on a continuous basis and to train them using technology. We want to prove also that you do not need to know anybody to be able get a job. You do not have to go and speak to anybody. You get the job in a free and fair manner. So I want to ask you to be committed because sometimes there may be difficulties. he said. Mr Osinbajo said that the project would be supported by the federal government to ensure the youth realised their aspirations. He said that the training centre was an ample demonstration of the Abia Governments willingness to empower young people and give them real opportunities in life. Also speaking, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu said that the vice president was at the centre to see youth who had decided to learn skills and liberate themselves from poverty. I call on the federal government to add a bite to executive order number three which says that you must look inwards before you start importing. It is unfortunate to remark that some of our leaders are still living under the veil of sophistry that has no bearing with what we do and produce in Nigeria. The only way we can encourage entrepreneurship is to look inwards and patronise made-in- Nigeria goods, he said. He, however, said there was a power supply challenge at the Kiara /Logistics De-Luke Training Centre and solicited the federal governments assistance. Mr Ikpeazu also thanked the Chinese government for giving Abia the grant to train about 100 youths in various skills. (NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari has sent warm greetings to erudite lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN, on his 60th birthday. President Buhari joins family members, friends and professional colleagues of the cerebral lawyer in celebrating the milestone, which has been marked with honours and awards for forthrightness and advocacy for the good of every Nigerian. In a state house press release signed by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President Media & Publicity on Saturday, the president commended Mr Falanas sense of patriotism over the years, and his advisory roles to leaders, institutions and governments, especially on the value of good governance. As the legal luminary turns 60, the President believes his antecedents have been most exemplary and commendable in advocating for a better life for the poor and underprivileged. President Buhari prays that the almighty God will grant the human rights lawyer longer life, good health and more wisdom to keep serving the country, the statement highlighted. The Aso Rock Chapel has honoured Bayelsa state governor, Seriake Dickson, with a presentation of a Legacy Bible, in appreciation of his propagation and deepening of the gospel, not only in Bayelsa State but throughout the nation. The chapel praised the governor for making the word of God the foundation of his government and urged other leaders to emulate him. A press statement signed by the governors Chief Press Secretary, Francis Agbo said the Legacy Bible was presented to the Governor at the Bayelsa State Governors lodge by the leader of the delegation and chaplain of the Villa Chapel, Pastor Seyi Malomo. The chaplain said as a Christian, Governor Dickson has shown exemplary leadership in the service of God and man. Pastor Malomo also said Governor Dickson is investing in the kingdom through his monthly Praise Night, Annual Thanksgiving to God and the construction of a magnificent 15,000-seater Ecumenical Centre which has become a cynosure of all eyes. The Aso Villa Chapel has mandated us to present to you, this unique Bible called the Legacy Bible by the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN). This is presented to you specifically because of your Christian and spiritual activities towards the development of the gospel not only in Bayelsa State but in the entire nation. There was a time the President said we should all pray for the nation and we are seeing your annual thanksgiving service and the sanctuaries of God you have built. I have been in Bayelsa before to represent the Vice President when you built and commissioned the magnificent ecumenical centre. We are presenting this Bible to you as something that is befitting of such edifice and we pray that God will continue to bless Bayelsa and Nigeria. On what informed the gift, Malomo said as a very religious nation, it behoves on the clergy to always support our leaders and we have seen in His Excellency, a leader who is committed in praying for this nation. We feel that when such thanksgiving is going on, such a powerful word of God, the Legacy Bible, a unique Bible in the whole world, is needed to guide such programmes so that the word of God will really be a blessing to the whole of Nigeria, he said. While thanking the delegation for the honour, Mr Dickson pledged the readiness of Bayelsa State to continue to support the work of God, and called on the clergy not to relent in praying for those at the helm of affairs. He described the Legacy Bible, written in English, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and Efik, as unique, stressing that no gift under the sun compares with the written word of God. I want to appreciate you for this wonderful gift. This is one unique gift that will find a very special place in Bayelsa, in my family and in my heart. I want to urge you and all other people of faith to continue to pray for our nation and also pray for all of us who are in (position of) authority, for God to show us mercy and direction as a country and as a people. This gift is special and unique because there is no gift that is more important than the word of God. And the way and manner you have presented it is very important and wonderful. I assure you that Bayelsa will continue to support the Body of Christ. This is a period that calls for solidarity and I call on all people of good faith, who mean well for this country to stand in solidarity with all that is good, right and fair and to support all those that are in leadership positions to continue to do more for the sake of our people and the country. I appreciate the good work you are doing for the nation, praying not just for those in authority at the federal level but in deed for all leaders including the governors. And that is what the holy book enjoins you to continue to do, that is, to pray for all the leaders. That is what I take from this presentation. I will take the bible back to Bayelsa. I am appealing to the clergy to continue to pray and also call upon clergy men to continue to pray for our nation, the president and the vice president and all others in federal authority. They should continue to pray for governors like me and all of us in leadership, the governor solicited. Governor Dickson, it would be recalled built a 15,000 ecumenical worship chapel in Bayelsa in 2017, and instituted a monthly Night of Praise. November 2 of every year is also observed as Thanksgiving Day in Bayelsa State. The Kwara State Ministry of Justice has said that suspected cultists arrested and interrogated by the police in Ilorin, the state capital, and recommended for trial by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) never indicted anybody in their statements. The states chief prosecutor, Jimoh Mumini, said the claim was not true and fired a slew of verbal assaults at Sahara Reporters for running the story. Mr Jimoh also implied that the state police commissioner, Aminu Saleh, was behind the defamatory article. Sahara Reporters reported on Friday that the suspects, who are being held for alleged culpability in nearly a dozen deaths, had told detectives during interrogations that Mr Saraki was their principal sponsor. The suspects, who have been transferred to Abuja for further investigation, the paper said, named the Senate President and Mr Ahmed in the confessional statements made to the police. According to the statements, the paper reported further, the suspects said they had been on the payroll of the Kwara State Government and Mandate Office of Mr Saraki. But Mr Mumini said on Saturday that the report was untrue. We want to state categorically that there is no iota of truth in the said story. Our belief that the said story is false arose from the fact that the summary of the statement voluntarily made by the suspects and on the basis of which they were recommended for trial in Ilorin is contained in the press statement read by the Police Commissioner on May 10, 2018, he said. We maintain that there was no portion of the press statement where the suspects were said to have indicted any top personality. For emphasis, let us restate the fact that on the basis of the statement obtained from the accused, the Police had issued a statement read publicly at the May 10 press conference in the state capital and there was no mention of their naming or implicating any top government official at the state or federal level. The State Ministry of Justice had in fact filed charges in the High Court against the accused persons and we stand by the pending charges and the trial process already lawfully initiated in Ilorin. The director also said that at no time was any influence exerted to pervert the course of justice, nor monetary transaction or any exchange of pecuniary benefit made between him and the Commissioner of Police with respect to this particular case or any other case for that matter. The Commissioner of police or the authors of the defamatory article aimed at tarnishing the image of the learned DPP are hereby challenged to make public any evidence of any discussion or transaction, whatsoever, between the Commissioner of Police and the learned DPP, MR. J.A MUMINI aimed at influencing or subverting the course of justice in this direction, he said. Mr Saraki on Wednesday claimed there were plans to frame and implicate him by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris. He also alleged that the police chief had transferred some criminal suspects undergoing interrogation in Kwara to make statements to implicate him. In his reaction, Mr Ahmed also said there were attempts to implicate him and Mr Saraki by the police authorities. Mr Idris has been having a running battle with the Senate under Mr Saraki, repeatedly refusing to honour summons by the Senate and accusing its members of criminal behavior. Two different executive councils on Saturday emerged in the Kogi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the holding of two parallel congresses by the two main factions of the party. A Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the two congresses in Lokoja reports that the two executives emerged by affirmation. While the faction loyal to the state governor, Yahaya Bello, held its own Congress at the Confluence Stadium, the Audu / Faleke faction held its own at St Peters Primary School, Felele, Lokoja. At the Congress held at the Confluence Stadium, Abdulahi Bello emerged as the state Chairman of the party, Ibrahim Abdulrahman, Deputy Chairman and Josiah Onoja , Secretary. Mr Bello was until now a Senior Special Assistant on political affairs to the state governor. Aside from Messrs. Bello, Abdulrahman and Onoja, 34 other persons were elected by affirmation into various positions to make the state executive council of the party. The congress was attended by Gov. Bello, his deputy, Simon Achuba, the Speaker of the state house of assembly, Mathew Kolawole, the Secretary to the state government, Folashade Ayoade, Commissioners, some members of the House of Representatives and members of the state house of assembly. Maman Magaji , the Chairman of the state Congress Committee from the headquarters of the party conducted the Congress while the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, James Apam, led other officials of the Independent National Electoral Commissioner to supervise it. Mr Bello, the new state Chairman in his acceptance speech promised to run an open door policy and lead the party to victory in the coming elections. He also thanked the state governor, other members of his cabinet and delegates from the across the 21 local government areas of the state for their peaceful conduct before and during the congress. However, the Audu / Faleke faction at the congress held at St Peter Primary School Felele, re-elected the outgoing state Chairman of the party, Haddy Ametuo, as the new Chairman. He and 34 other outgoing executive members were elected by affirmation by all delegates that attended the congress. The Returning Officer for the congress, Theman Saurara, announced the results of the congress. Having successfully conducted the state congress, I announced the return of all but two of the former state officers, Saurara stated. In his acceptance speech, Mr Ametuo expressed gratitude to the delegates for the confidence reposed in him, promising not to let them down. He also assured them that their sufferings for the party over the years will not go unrewarded, urging them to remain steadfast. We suffer for this party together and we will all reap the fruits of our labour together. This same set of APC executives from ward to the state congress we just conducted worked hard to give President Muhammadu Buhari Victory in 2015 and it is us again that will deliver Kogi State come 2019, he said. (NAN) The nationwide state congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are yet to start in the four South-South states of Edo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Rivers, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). In Edo, accreditation had not started at about 10.28 a.m with heavy security at the Imaguero College, along Sapele road, venue of the congress. NAN reports visible presence of security operatives comprising the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, the Directorate of State Service and the Police Mobile Force. A source at the party secretariat however told NAN that delegates and duly accredited media personnel would be conveyed to the venue of congress. Similarly, national officials of the APC were yet to arrive the venue of the congress, but INEC officials deployed to observe the exercise arrived at about 11:30 a.m. NAN observed that the more than 800 accredited delegates later arrived the venue in batches from Uruokpota hall, where they were accredited. From Bayelsa, security had been beefed up at the APC secretariat in Yenagoa following the party state congress. However, electoral materials were yet to arrive while accreditation of delegates started at about 11 a.m. About 36 positions would be contested at the state congress. The partys state Organising Secretary, Tonye Okio, told NAN that about 3,000 delegates are expected to vote in the congress. A report from Akwa Ibom says controversy had marred the APC state congress scheduled for Saturday at the party secretariat in Uyo. According to Godwin Akwaowo, the APC Chapter Chairman in Eket Local Government Area, the state congress did not start due to the controversy. He said: They have not started the state congress yet because there is a lot of confusion in the party. Members of the party wants to embark on protest so that the rancour will be resolved once and for all. Mr Akwaowo alleged that stakeholders met on Friday and agreed that the state Chairman and the Secretary of the party should step down, but the party refused. We had a meeting last night and this morning and decided that the Chairman and Secretary should step down but the party says they shouldnt step down, he said. However, he told NAN that the party was looking for a way forward on how to resolve the issues. Consequently, the congress was yet to commence as at 11 a.m at the Sheergrace Event Centre, along Nsikak Eduok Avenue, venue of the exercise, which was empty but for some newsmen, security personnel and few other persons. NAN also reports that party officials and INEC officials were also not present at the venue at about 11.15 a.m. I have been waiting here since 9 a.m and it seems the congress will start very late because nobody is forthcoming with any information from the party secretariat. I hope they will not keep us here waiting indefinitely throughout today, a correspondent of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Ekemini Ubong. Ita Enang, a leader of the party in the state, was yet to respond to inquiries from NAN about the conduct of the congress. But NAN gathered that the APC stakeholders were consulting put finishing touches for the congress. In Rivers, the APC rescheduled congress for Ward was expected to hold between 10 a.m and 1 p.m on Saturday, while the rescheduled Local Government congress was billed for Sunday from 2 p.m to 5 p.m with the State congress slated for Monday. The state party leadership said it had opened its secretariat for issuance of nomination forms to intending contestants in the Ward congress as a result of the new dates. Chris Finebone, Publicity Secretary of APC in Rivers, who confirmed this in a statement in Port Harcourt on Saturday, added that the forms would be issued based on presentation of the bank tellers. He said that the development was in line with the cancellation of the Ward and Local Government Congresses and the rescheduling of same for Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20, respectively. He said the rescheduling of the congresses was directed by the partys national leadership. The Rivers chapter of APC wishes to emphasise, for the avoidance of doubt, that the state office was opened on Friday, May 18, for issuance of forms to intending contestants in the Ward Congress on presentation of bank tellers. It will remain open from 7 a.m on Saturday, May 19, for the aforementioned purpose, he said. Mr Finebone said that in exercise of its powers of discretion, the national leadership had also waived payment to bank for the rescheduled local government and state congresses because of the weekend. He stated that intending contestants in the local government and state congresses could collect their forms after making cash payments to either the State Secretary or the Administrative Secretarys offices at the party secretariat. The spokesman advised all intending contestants and party faithful to take maximum advantage of the opportunity. This followed the cancellation of the May 5 exercise by the national secretariat of the party. Davies Ikanya, the state APC Chairman, told NAN on Saturday in Port Harcourt that the party had deployed officials to conduct the rescheduled congresses. Mr Ikanya explained that the action was sequel to a letter signed by the National Chairman of APC, John Oyegun, and Secretary, Mai Bala Bunu, rescheduling the state congress for May 21. He confirmed that the party secretariat was opened on May 18 to issue forms to intending contestants on presentation of bank tellers. After the APC national secretariat announced the cancellation of the ward and local government congresses conducted on May 5 and 12, respectively, we immediately started the process as directed by the APC. We opened the secretariat and started issuing forms to intending contestants as directed by party secretariat for the rescheduled ward congress, the state chairman said. According to Mr Ikanya, legal issues on the stoppage of congresses in Rivers are within the power of the APC national secretariat to address. I am not a lawyer to talk about court injunction but it is within the partys national secretariat to handle. It is APC national secretariat that cancelled and rescheduled the ward and local government congresses, so, ours is to implement the directive, he explained. But Peter Odike, the state APC Deputy Chairman and supporter of Magnus Abe, in a statement said that the court order stopping congresses in the state was still subsisting. Mr Odike urged his supporters to stay away from the congress. NAN correspondents in Calabar reported of tight security at the Cultural Centre, Calabar, venue of the state APC congress. Security men including the Army, DSS, Police and officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were securing the venue and to prevent any breach of peace. Accreditation of delegates, who crowded the entrance of the venue, for the congress scheduled to commence at 10 a.m was yet to commence. Journalists were also barred temporarily from entering the venue of the congress to ensure accurate reportage of the exercise. (NAN) The Federal Government has faulted claims by the Lagos State Government that a Federal High Court has shut down the Ikoyi Marriage Registry, insisting that the report is false. The Ministry of Interior said that the court presided over by Justice Chuka Obiozor simply upheld the judgement of a Federal High Court delivered in 2002 which was not appealed, Punch reported Saturday. It explained that the case, Suit No: FHC/L/CS/1760/16-Egor Local Government Area of Edo State & three others Vs. Ministry of Interior & others, cited by the Lagos State government was actually struck out by Justice Obiozor in his judgment delivered on April 30, 2018. The Director of Legal, Ministry of Interior, Bola Odugbesan, made the clarification in a statement in Abuja on Friday, in reaction to a press statement on Thursday by the Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Bisi Olufuwa. Mr Olufuwa had claimed that the Lagos State had secured a court injunction restraining the Ikoyi registry from conducting marriages. Dismissing the claims, Ms Odugbesan presented a copy of the judgement by Justice Obiozor who described the case as an abuse of court process and struck it out. Clarifying what transpired in the suit, Ms Odugbesan said, In the case, the court was invited to interpret the provisions of the Constitution conferring on local governments, the powers to register marriages. The Minister of Interior, through his Counsel, Bola Odugbesan, argued that under item 61 of the Exclusive List, matters connected with marriage under the Marriage Act, issuing of marriage certificate and its registration are outside the purview of state and/or local governments. The director further explained, The Federal High Court in its judgment dated April 30, 2018, struck out the case of the Plaintiffs, ie, Egor LGA & Ors. The court held that the case is an abuse of the court process in view of the earlier judgment of the court in 2002, which upheld the sanctity of the rights of the Minister to issue licences to places of worship to conduct marriages, and the Registrar under the Marriage Act to register marriages. It is instructive to note that Lagos State was not a party in the case. Ms Odugbesan insisted that the Federal High Court never ordered the closure of Ikoyi Marriage Registry as claimed. LONDON, May 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cashaa is creating a better bank, challenging legacy banking by building an app and products with input from their community of users. This ambitious mission required a greater understanding and vast experience of Banking and needed a strong team who can deliver it. Cashaa is now on the verge of closing their Token Sale (CAS) distribution. Due to their strict KYC policies and approach towards compliance they were able to set an example for the entire cryptocurrency industry. They have raised more than $33 Million, but rejected $14.7 Million to keep Cashaa's foundation strong and clean. Cashaa was able to prove to the world that they are more than just another company conducting a token sale. This is why people from top banks and technology companies like HSBC, Barclays, Bank Of America, JP Morgan Chase as well as from large Indian banks like ICICI and Axis, have started quitting their comfortable jobs and joining Cashaa. In the last 3 months they have welcomed a number of 28 new key team members into the Cashaa family, which will grow further to 49 by the end of June. Some of their new team members who are working to build a worldwide integrated banking system for Cashaa are : Saurabh Jain, Cashaa's Chief Product Officer, is a digital payments professional with 12 years of experience with ICICI Group, India's biggest financial conglomerate with total consolidated assets of US$ 172.5 billion. A consummate problem solver with a track record of creating innovative solutions for tackling sales slowdown to expertise in developing use cases and ecosystems for digital payment solutions. He developed and launched ICICI Bank's Eazypay app for merchant payments. Saurabh also rolled out ICICI Bank Vodafone M-Pesa services in India. As an expert in payment systems he integrated IMPS & UPI in ICICI Bank and developed IMPS use cases for E-commerce, Mobile wallets and loan disbursals. Priyakant Charokar has recently joined the team as VP Engineering at Cashaa. He has a proven track record of successfully leading complex projects while managing cross-functional resources to drive efficiency in enterprise technology operations. His incredible experience in design, architecting and development of banking systems comes from HSBC. He worked as Senior Software Engineer in HSBC, Pune for the project named GF (Global Functions) and developed in Java/J2EE. During the project development he has been a key resource in analyzing the requirements and designing the framework using UML to support different platforms. Being associated with Banking and financial domain services for the last 12 years, he possesses strong knowledge on areas such as internet banking, cards, security and payments, software applications based on various frontend and backend technologies. Dhanasekaran Sukumaran, Cashaa Project Manager, has over 13 years of experience and worked with investment banks such as Merrill Lynch, Bank Of America, JP Morgan Chase and BNP Paribas on project implementation and has excellent knowledge on Business Intelligence and Equities. Garima Jain, Cashaa's new VP Client Relations, has 10 years of highly successful sales and executive sales management experience. With an outstanding professional approach and keen knowledge, Garima has worked for top companies such as: Capital One, Barclays, American Express, Cvent and Auxesis Group. Their new members, working together with their existing team members (with a vast experience of Banking) will be crucial for the development of Cashaa's ecosystem. With the help of their team members like Rakesh Lakhey, Cashaa EVP Sales - Asia, who has more than 15 years experience in Banking, including working for the World Bank. Simo Mcunu, Cashaa VP Sales - Africa, who joined them from the First National Bank in South Africa, during their Token sale. Thanks to Dominic Melo, Cashaa's Chief Payments Officer whose constant hard work is helping Cashaa to build a complete banking team around its ecosystem. "Our hard work in following the compliance process and rejecting millions of dollars has finally started paying off in the form of talents joining us. Extraordinary minds have started quitting their comfortable positions in huge banks to join Cashaa. This is the validation that Cashaa is moving in the right direction to become the next generation banking solution." - Kumar Gaurav Complementing the team, Cashaa's advisory board includes experienced industry leaders and leaders of financial institutions with strong connections worldwide. To name just a few examples: Bernard Lietaer, the author of "The Future of Money", is an international expert in the design and implementation of currency systems. He has been active in the realm of money systems for close to 40 years in a wide variety of functions. He co-designed and implemented the convergence mechanism to the single European currency system (the Euro) and served as president of the Electronic Payment System at the National Bank of Belgium (the Belgian Central Bank). Anil Earla, Head of Information and Data Analytics at Visa, who has more that 20 years of Fintech experience and has been leading various technology teams to maximize the data assets of Visa Inc. Characterized as a visionary, strategist and tactician he applied emerging technologies at Visa, Motorola, and Allstate to streamline core business processes, and to significantly reduced total cost of ownership. Colum Rafferty is a leading sales and marketing strategy consultant with over 35 years in an international blue chip environment gaining extensive business development experience and substantial success in various sectors within the payments and Fintech sectors. With access to a wide C level network, he has an entrepreneurial talent in identifying major growth opportunities, developing strategic initiatives and executing competitive business strategies to build market share, significant sales and profit growth. Rajesh Dhuddu is a Fintech and Blockchain Expert, with 20+ years experience in Payments, FinTech, Telecommunications & Business Process Management domains with a proven track record of creating high performing cross functional and cross cultural teams. He became a member of Quatrro's Corporate team in the year 2010, currently leading Market Development initiatives for Quatrro's FinTech business in India & South Asia. Through his efforts, Quatrro has become a globally accredited 3rd Party Processor of Visa andMasterCard, and has also been certified by NPCI. The Cashaa team is comprised of the best, brightest and most passionate people in the industry and they are all dedicated to help Cashaa become the Next Generation Banking Platform For the Next Billion. After a successful token sale, CAS Tokens are now available to be purchased. Hurry up and take this great opportunity to buy CAS Tokens, as they are the key to power the Cashaa next generation banking ecosystem. A detailed guide on how to buy CAS Tokens from Cashaa OTC exchange is available here. SOURCE Cashaa TEANECK, N.J., May 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Friday, May 25th, 2018 marks the third annual National T-Shirt Day, which aims to raise awareness against the dangers of intoxicated driving. Join the personal injury law firm of Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. for a day of fun and reflection by taking part in the #NationalTShirtDay social media contest. For every entry, the firm donates $1 to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), whose mission is to end drunk and drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking. In turn, every participant in National T-Shirt Day is automatically entered into a drawing to win a $500 Amazon gift card. Bringing awareness to the dangers of intoxicated driving is particularly significant to Davis, Saperstein & Salomon P.C. Steven Benvenisti, Esq., a Partner at the firm, was on spring break when he was struck and nearly killed by a habitual drunk driver. After being thrown 70 feet, his legs were crushed, and he was in a coma for 10 days. He spent six months in the hospital, enduring 15 surgeries and intense rehabilitation. After the crash, Steven turned to MADD and found victim advocates in Florida and New Jersey who helped him and his family deal with the challenges resulting from the crash. He went on to fully recover, attended law school, and now represents victims and families that have been affected by drunk driving. He has served on the New Jersey Advisory Board for MADD for several years, and shares his story to audiences around the country. "We started National T-Shirt Day to utilize social media as a tool to spread awareness to the issue of intoxicated driving, and to raise money for one of many charities that have become near and dear to our hearts," says Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. managing Partner Garry R. Salomon, Esq. Each year, those who want to participate post a photo or video of themselves wearing their favorite t-shirt with the hashtag #NationalTShirtDay to Davis, Saperstein & Salomon P.C.'s Facebook or Instagram page on the Friday before Memorial Day. The winner will be announced via Facebook and Instagram Live at noon on Tuesday, May 29. For many, Memorial Day Weekend has become known as the unofficial start of the summer season, and is meant to serve as an enjoyable and relaxing time. Unfortunately, it is also one of the deadliest weekends of the year, due to crowded roadways and the increase of intoxicated driving. An average of 161 people are killed per day in car accidents over this 3-day span, 40 percent due to drunk driving. National T-Shirt Day calls attention to this issue and aims help put an end to these tragedies, all of which are 100 percent preventable. Together, we have the power to end drunk driving and the thousands of lives it claims each year. For more information, please visit Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C.'s Facebook @AccidentLawyers and Instagram @DSSLaw. For questions and concerns, please contact Elizabeth Sheldon, Marketing Assistant, at 201-808-2877, or [email protected]. Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. - 375 Cedar Lane, Teaneck, N.J. 07666. Additional offices in Freehold, Jersey City, Newark, Princeton, Colonia, Iselin, East Rutherford, Bridgewater, Woodcliff Lake, & New York City Related Links DSS website SOURCE Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. Related Links https://www.dsslaw.com Posted 5/18/18 This past week a few people got a whole year older. Happy Birthday to Pastor Rick Cody Jr., Taylor Perryman and Ashley Perryman. This weeks birthday wishes go out to Braeden Pedersen, Jeff Stokes, The Crimean bridge opens up wide opportunities for domestic tourism for Russians, including ethnotourism, " an employee of the news agency Vestnik Kavkaza, Ekaterina Vinnik, said today in the National Question program on Vesti.FM radio station. Todays program was dedicated to ethnotourism in Crimea. "Crimea is a unique region not only because of its successful geographic location, but also due to its rich history and ethnic diversity. Therefore, on the peninsula, there is always something to see, regardless of the time of year, " Ekaterina Vinnik assured. "Among multiplay cultural events that can be visited, national festivals are of particular interest due the opportunity to study the traditions of the peoples of Crimea. In May, the traditional festival of farming- Hdrlez - is held. This is an ancient Turkic festival dedicated to the completion of spring works. The event attracts thousands of representatives of different nationalities who celebrate the holiday with dances, songs, folk festivals, games, "she told, adding that the main site of the festival is the ancient city of Bakhchisaray. "In all cities of Crimea, concerts and various events dedicated to national, religious holidays are held. As it is known, the holy month of Ramadan has already started. It ends on June 15th, which will be celebrated with folk festivals and concerts in all the cities of the peninsula, "the employee of Vestnik Kavkaza drew attention. "Those who want to get acquainted with the theatrical tradition of the Crimean Tatars, can visit the only theater of the Crimean Tatars in the world that turns 117 this year. The plays are both in Crimean Tatar and in Russian. Also there is an opportunity to visit the Khan Palace - the former residence of the Crimean khans, which is the only example of the Crimean Tatar palace culture in the world and a monument of universal importance. Lovers of history can also admire the medieval fortified city - Chufut-Kale, Ekaterina Vinnik said. "The number of historical monuments and structures in the Crimea is striking - these are the Eupatorian Kenasses, the Adzhimushka Quarries, the Chembalo Fortress in Balaklava, and the ancient Chersonesus. There are also many cultural events: the Genoese helmet in Sudak, the fish festival in Feodosia, the jazz festival in Koktebel, and NovemberFest. Crimea is a cultural pearl on the map of Russia that will charm any guest with its vivid variety and hospitality, "she concluded. ATLANTA, May 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Graduation is a time to celebrate, reflect on a job well done, and focus on the next steps of one's career path. Lurking in the back of the minds of many graduates, however, is a nagging concern how to pay back the often-hefty debt incurred in earning that coveted diploma. Morehouse School of Medicine is committed to helping its graduates minimize this financial "hangover." So, when President and Dean Valerie Montgomery Rice, M.D., announced during the school's 34th Commencement on Saturday, May 19, that MSM would be providing more than $800,000 in additional scholarship funding, it came as a great surprise and relief to the newly minted graduates not to mention their parents. "To assist in lowering the student indebtedness, MSM will award additional scholarships totaling $815,473 to graduating students," announced Dr. Montgomery Rice to the cheering audience. "Each eligible graduating senior not receiving full MSM funding for tuition and fees will receive not less than $3,500 that will be applied to reduce their medical school debt." A total of 101 MSM graduates will receive some amount of funding. The cost of medical school in the United States typically totals about $250,000, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. The scholarship funding announced during commencement will help 2018 MSM graduates pay down their debts and free them to pursue practice where they desire, rather than focusing solely on how much they may earn. Dayna Bowen Matthew, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Virginia, delivered the commencement address to the graduating class. She shared the story of Dr. George Simkins, a dentist in segregated Greensboro, N.C. who took fight for justice and equal rights to the Supreme Court. Bowen Matthew encouraged the graduating class of doctors and medical professionals to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Simkins and fight for causes such as reducing maternal mortality. "It is your responsibility to eliminate health inequities that are killing our babies, our mothers, our people in this country today," Bowen Matthew told the Class of 2018. MSM's Class of 2018 includes 77 M.D. and seven Ph.D. recipients. Another 46 graduates received their master's degree in fields including public health, medical science and clinical research. Of those granted the Doctor of Medicine degree, 100 percent were successfully placed in residency programs. SOURCE Morehouse School of Medicine Related Links http://msm.edu SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- NanoScientific, a popular nanoscience magazine is pleased to announce the launch of their web version, www.nanoscientific.org, an online portal featuring pioneering future oriented news and articles on Nanotechnology research and applications. Nanotechnology, the fastest growing sector of the world economy impacts every aspect of our society. NanoScientific publishes one-on-one exclusive interviews with pioneering thought leaders and researchers, along with the latest advances on nano-related tools for imaging and metrology where new applications are being unveiled at unprecedented speed. "Our aim is to serve the vast nano science community with informative engaging first-hand interviews on the latest breakthroughs in Nano Research," comments Keibock Lee, Editor-in-Chief. "NanoScientific articles focus on new and emerging fields of nanoscience research, with a high priority set on letting the audience understand the researcher's views and perspectives." "We cover a wide variety of topics related to nanotechnology advancements including tools that expand our ability to image, view and analyze at the ever shrinking precision of nanoscale metrology," adds Lee. In 2014, NanoScientific was launched to provide news and articles related to the field of Nanoscience across a wide range of multi disciplinary areas of research. Now distributed world-wide to over 40,000, NanoScientific represents one of the industry's leading scientific journals dedicated to nanoscale science and technology, playing a pivotal role in the advancement of scientific knowledge sharing by attracting a broad spectrum of researchers in the fields of physics, chemistry, biomedicine, semiconductor, energy, materials science and engineering. NanoScientific is also sponsoring, along with Park Systems a series of NanoScientific Symposiums globally. The first NanoScientific Symposium 2018 on Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) will be held at the Park Nanoscience Center at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Albany NY September 19-20, 2018. The Symposium is presented to give attendees the latest updates in SPM, an opportunity to present their research papers, attend a special short course on Atomic Force Microscopes and foster ongoing relationships in the field of nanotechnology. NanoScientific Forum Europe (NSFE2018) will be held in Freiberg, Germany; co sponsored by Technical University Freiberg Oct. 10-12, 2018 and will feature a special session on "nanobubbles", which is a flagship project of TU Freiberg and Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology. NanoScientific is published quarterly and nanoscientific.org web site contains all the articles published in an easy-to-use online searchable format, along with news videos and applications. To be added to the NanoScientific mailing list to receive your free copy of the printed magazine register here. About NanoScientific NanoScientific Journal is published quarterly to showcase advancements in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology across a wide range of multi disciplinary areas of research. Each issue covers informative articles about nanotechnology trends balanced with leading edge scientific research applications and concepts. NanoScientific has been published since 2014 and has a global distribution of over 30,000 in North America, Europe and Asia. Click here to register for a free quarterly printed copy. NanoScientific Symposiums are offered world-wide to share scientific knowledge and foster ongoing relationships in the field of Nanotechnology. Click here to learn more about the NanoScientific Symposium on SPM in the US and click here to learn more about the NanoScientific Forum in Europe. About Park Systems Park Systems is a world-leading manufacturer of atomic force microscopy (AFM) systems with a complete range of products for researchers and industry engineers in chemistry, materials, physics, life sciences, and semiconductor and data storage industries. Park's products are used by over a thousand of institutions and corporations worldwide. Park's AFM provides highest data accuracy at nanoscale resolution, superior productivity, and lowest operating cost thanks to its unique technology and innovative engineering. Park Systems, Inc. is headquartered in Santa Clara, California with its global manufacturing, and R&D headquarters in Korea. Park's products are sold and supported worldwide with regional headquarters in the US, Korea, Japan, Mexico and Singapore, and distribution partners throughout Europe, Asia, and America. Please visit http://www.parksystems.com or call 408-986-1110 for more information. SOURCE Park Systems Related Links http://www.nanoscientific.org http://www.parksystems.com NEW YORK, May 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 [email protected] 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 CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 888-476-6529 Ext. 9980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP Related Links http://www.pomerantzlaw.com Asghar, a poet and the screenwriter of the web series Brown Girls, examines identity, trauma, and violence in her debut, If They Come for Us (One World, Aug). Being concerned with issues of justice, do you consider your art a form of activism? I dont think I consider myself an activist, because I have a lot of respect for people whose lives are driven by organization around political issues. But I do think that my art bends toward social justice, and theres a lot that I care about in terms of my artwork, in terms of making a more just society. I think it is really important for artists to consider the world that they want to live in when theyre creating, to make their art fit that world and be that world, rather than recreate the same power structures that they see around them. How does being a woman of color affect your view of being an American? There are so many ways in which people try to eliminate your humanity. In the book, I think about statehood, nationality, sexuality, gender, race, and religionthe way we construct identities and then realize that those identities are not enough to explain who we are. I think of identity as a way toward freedom, so when I think of the term woman of color, I feel a lot of joy, and thats something I have to be active about. In an America dominated by white supremacy, its really easy to internalize self-hate as a woman of color. But women of color are making really amazing art and are really amazing activists; I feel a lot of pride and happiness around being a woman of color in America, even though it can be really hard to deal with. Do you think the generational trauma that many of your poems deal with is inescapable? I dont know a lot about generational trauma except for what Ive observed and experienced, but I dont think theres a lot of dialogue around it, so we end up repeating the same mistakes. Theres no real way to publicly reckon with what it means to have generational trauma, about the ways that we could be publicly having dialogues and actually healing versus being in a rush to get rid of something that we dont fully understand. And not just deal with it on an individual basis but as a nation and as a society so that were in a better place to heal together. Were there other concerns you had while constructing the book? I was thinking a lot about what it means to be responsible to different people and to those people that I know as family, and to my people as a whole. In dealing with a historical topic like partition [of India and Pakistan], theres a lot of pain and trauma. Its complicated; I want to talk about partition and specific things that happened in my family, but I also dont want to further divide South Asian people and different religions. I also thought about what it meant to write about violence that I didnt experience but members of my community and family had. It was important to end the book with an anthem of solidarity and protection. Their Eyes Are Reading Hurston The #7 book in the country is Barracoon by journalist, novelist, playwright, and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston. The previously unpublished manuscript, archived at Howard University, is based on her 1931 interviews with Cudjo Lewis, the last known survivor of the Middle Passage. Lewis, born Oluale Kossula, was abducted in Benin and taken to the U.S. in 1860, more than 50 years after the Atlantic slave trade was outlawed in the States. He recounted to Hurston his childhood in Africa, his enslavement, and his life after emancipation. Our starred review said that Kossolas storyin the vernacular of his own wordsis an invaluable addition to American social, cultural, and political history. (See all of this week's bestselling books.) Rising Tide One harbinger of summer: a new Mary Kay Andrews Southern charmer, or beach blanket sizzler, or enjoyable escape, as weve variously called her beach reads. With Andrewss latest releaseThe High Tide Club, #3 in hardcover fictionfirst week print unit sales for her novels, which faltered a bit after 2013s Ladies Night, are back on the upswing. Business Matters Two of the weeks debuts offer different takes on entrepreneurship. In Venture Girls, #13 in trade paperback, Cristal Glangchai, a scientist and entrepreneur, lays out what she identifies as the basic skills of entrepreneurship, our review said, in a game-changing guide to empowering young women [that] will inspire them and their parents. Born to Build by Gallup chairman Jim Clifton and Sangeeta Badal, principal scientist for Gallups entrepreneurship and job-creation initiative, lands at #19 in hardcover nonfiction. It teaches, per its subtitle, how to build a thriving startup, a winning team, new customers and your best life imaginable. For more 2018 business titles, see Working Together, Working Apart. New & Notable Warlight Michael Ondaatje #6 Hardcover Fiction Set in Britain after WWII, this book by the author of The English Patient and, most recently, The Cats Table may be, our starred review said, Ondaatjes best work yet. Endling: The Last Katherine Applegate #22 Childrens Frontlist Fiction The Animorphs series coauthor and 2013 Newbery Medalist for The One and Only Ivan launches a middle grade fantasy trilogy that our starred review called a suspenseful, tautly drawn quest. The Soul of America Jon Meacham #2 Hardcover Nonfiction, #2 overall The Pulitzer Prizewinning presidential biographer (American Lion) examines White House leadership on issues of civil rights and equality in a book our review called sonorous but shallow. Top 10 Overall Rank Title Author Imprint Units 1 Magnolia Table Joanna Gaines Morrow 171,044 2 The Soul of America Jon Meacham Random House 38,883 3 Oh, the Places Youll Go! Dr. Seuss Random House 35,813 4 A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo Twiss/Keller Chronicle 34,769 5 The 17th Suspect Patterson/Paetro Little, Brown 29,204 6 A Higher Loyalty James Comey Flatiron 28,165 7 Barracoon Zora Neale Hurston Amistad 22,735 8 The Fallen David Baldacci Grand Central 21,689 9 The Burning Maze (The Trials of Apollo #3) Rick Riordan Disney-Hyperion 21,334 10 The Midnight Line Lee Child Dell 19,820 All unit sales per Nielsen BookScan except where noted. The four large publicly traded consumer publishers that recently reported their financial results for the quarter ended March 31 were all able to point to some good financial news. HarperCollins had the best results, with sales up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year and profits rising 16.2%. In a conference call discussing results, Susan Panuccio, CFO of HC parent company News Corp, said the sales gains were led by the general and Christian publishing divisions. Backlist titles did particularly well, accounting for 58% of revenue in the quarter, compared to 52% a year ago, Panuccio said. She added that the strong performance of the backlist helped to boost margins. Another important contributor was downloadable audiobooks. The format had strong gains in the quarter, helping to offset softness in e-book sales and leading to a 5% increase in overall digital sales at HC compared to the prior year. The company said that downloadable audio accounted for about 25% of all digital revenue in the recent period. Digital sales represented 22% of consumer revenue for the quarterthe same percentage the format accounted for in the quarter last year. Though revenue at Lagardere publishing rose only 0.4% in the first quarter over the same period last year, sales at its U.S. subsidiary, Hachette Book Group, increased 5.4%. HBG CEO Michael Pietsch said the first-quarter gains came from many places: #1 bestselling books by HBG house authors James Patterson, David Baldacci, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, and Brad Meltzer. He added that backlist hits also had an impact, citing You Are a Badass, Obama: An Intimate Portrait, and Pachinko. Breakout bestsellers such as Russian Roulette and Dear Madam President also contributed to the gains, Pietsch said. Lagardere said that the companywide publishing groups revenue was affected by a negative 23 million exchange rate, which was offset by the acquisitions of Brainbow, Bookouture, Jessica Kingsley, and Summerside. The company also noted that e-books share of revenue fell again in the quarter, dropping from 10% in the first period of 2017 to 9.1%. The Houghton Mifflin Harcourt trade group eked out a small sales increase in the first quarter, although its operating loss grew slightly compared to 2017s losses. In its quarterly SEC filing, HMH attributed the sales rise to higher licensing income along with print title sales such as the Instant Pot series and Whole30 series. The greater loss was largely due to a change in the companys sales mix: last year, HMH sold lots of The Handmaids Tale and 1984 e-books, which have higher margins than print editions. Sales fell slightly at Simon & Schuster in the first quarter, but the company did raise profits by $1 million over the first three months of 2017. CEO Carolyn Reidy said sales of digital audio jumped 43% in the period. S&S raised its output of audio titles by about 15% in 2017, and Reidy expects output to increase another 10% in 2018. The strong performance by digital audio helped to counter slight declines in print and e-book sales. Frontlist sales were a little soft in the period, Reidy said, but backlist sales had solid gains. Bertelsmann, which owns 75% of the countrys largest trade publisher, Penguin Random House, issued only a brief quarterly update and pointed to a strong PRH bestseller performance in the first quarter. Pearson, which has a 25% stake in PRH, said the publisher was trading in line with expectations. Operating Performance, First quarter, 20172018 Whats the buzz? New books aim to help worker bees find solutions to common workplace problems, offer perspectives on modern entrepreneurship, and propose ideas for bringing more women into the workplace at all levels. But though these are distinct concerns, they arent unrelated. As Touchstone senior editor Cara Bedick notes, Its all about the balance everyone is looking formeaning that todays professional realm can resemble a Venn diagram. A book about networking relates to a book about how women can get ahead, which relates to a book about a woman executive who founded her own business, and back again. The overlapping themes are a sign of the gig-economy times. People change jobs more frequently, work as temps and consultants more often than in previous decades, and network all the time. According to Cornell professor Louis Hyman, author of Temp (Viking, Aug.), its important to understand that society grew to believe in the power of short-term results, resulting in more part-time work situations. Far from being a negative, that belief, Hyman says, shows something deeply American about wanting to be independent and autonomous in our work. In this feature, we showcase books that highlight that get-it-done spirit, whether the target reader is juggling several part-time gigs, launching a new business, or heading up a major corporation. Below, more on the subject of business books. Find the Solution: Business Books 2018 Forthcoming books position problems as challenges to be conquered, opening them up to creative solutions. Hustle & Grow: Business Books 2018 The authors of books on entrepreneurship and the gig economy are sharing what theyve learned about modern ways of working. Fostering Community: PW Talks with Grace Bonney Design Sponge founder Grace Bonney discusses her changing interests, the tactility of a bookazine, and whos considered Good Company. This Womans Work: Business Books 2018 Business books by women, for women, propose that success has to happen on ones own terms. Bethanne Patrick is a writer and book critic who lives in the Washington, D.C., metro area. A week ago last year, a small group of men, women and children gathered in the heart of our nations capital to voice their opposition to the policies and practices of the Republic of Turkeys leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Joined together in peaceful protest were individuals with a variety of different backgrounds--Turkish, Iranian, Armenian and American among others -- they even included a four-year-old boy with his mother, and a seven-year-old girl with her father. This was quintessential America, individuals with varying backgrounds coming together to exercise their right to peaceful assembly to speak truth to power. What happened instead was chilling. Without provocation, two dozen Turkish security officers and Turkish civilians rushed across a police cordon and violently attacked the protesters. The attackers, some wearing combat boots and carrying firearms, punched, kicked, and choked the men, women, and children who had the temerity to stand up for their beliefs. Mr. Erdogan seemingly ordered the attack shortly after his motorcade arrived at the residence of the Turkish ambassador. He then watched calmly and approvingly from a distance as the mayhem unfolded in the middle of Sheridan Circle. Men and women were left bruised and bloodied. A seven-year-old child was pushed to the ground and kicked. A police officer and a U.S. Secret Service agent, who were present in the hopes of preventing any violence, were injured. In total, nine people were hospitalized, some with severe injuries from which they are still recovering. Condemnation of the attack on the peaceful protesters was strong and virtually universal. The House of Representatives unanimously approved a resolution calling for perpetrators to be brought to justice and measures to be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. Not long after, 19 people, including 15 identified as Turkish security officers, were indicted by a grand jury. Two U.S. citizens who participated in the attack have plead guilty to felony assault and will serve one year in prison. But justice has not been served with respect to Mr. Erdogan and his Turkish security officers. The Turkish president has thumbed his nose at the indictments, saying they were clearly a scandalous sign of how justice works in America. Rather than condemning the attack or expressing sympathy for the victims, Turkey sent its Minister of Foreign Affairs for a photo-op with the two convicted attackers and expressed to them the love and regards of the Turkish nation in a post on Twitter. Now, one year later, most of the officers charged have had their criminal cases voluntarily dismissed by the U.S. government, including two accused of kicking a defenseless female protester in the head until she lost consciousness, sustaining a traumatic brain injury. Cases against the four remaining Turkish security officers are still pending, but Turkey has refused to extradite them, including one who was captured on video grabbing a female protester from behind, placing her in a chokehold, and throwing her to the ground. Justice for these victims starts with vigorous prosecution of the remaining Turkish officers who attacked the peaceful protesters. These individuals should be extradited and prosecuted, not let off like their co-defendants. Political and economic pressure should also be applied, via the bipartisan bill introduced by Republicans James Lankford and Thom Tillis and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen. The bill would block the transfer of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey as a result of Mr. Erdogans decision to embark on a path of reckless governance and disregard for the rule of law. In an effort to bring justice to the victims, our law firm along with another have jointly filed a lawsuit against the Republic of Turkey seeking damages to compensate the victims and to punish the perpetrators. We are proud to represent these brave individuals who endured a brutal attack and had the resiliency to fight back, not with violence, but by using another quintessential American institution, the judicial system. While we understand the challenge of prosecuting a case against a country as powerful as our erstwhile ally Turkey, we are inspired by our convictions and by the resolve of our clients, and we believe in guarding our countrys core democratic values of freedom and liberty. We are committed to the pursuit of justice and we call on all Americans to join us in demanding that our government do its part as well. Today, the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, told about the militants' attack on the church of Archangel Michael in Grozny. "The militants infiltrated the Archangel Michael church, their goal was to capture the parishioners. As a result of an immediate special operation, all four militants were eliminated, "he said. During the shootout, two policemen sent to Chechnya from the Saratov region and one of the parishioners were killed, two more law enforcers and one parishioner were wounded. Despite his 20 percent approval rate, President Nicolas Maduro is almost assured a win in Venezuelas May 20 election. The opposition says the vote is a farce. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins Venezuelas May 20 presidential election may be an election in name only. Nicolas Maduro is widely expected to be reelected as Venezuelas president despite his 20 percent approval rating and profound mismanagement of the countrys humanitarian and economic crisis. Maduros strongest competitor is Henri Falcon, a former state governor once associated with the Venezuelan opposition. But he broke ranks with opposition parties over their decision in February to boycott a presidential election they consider fraudulent. The government has grown increasingly authoritarian since Maduro was narrowly elected in 2013 to succeed Hugo Chavez, Venezuelas popular leftist leader and Maduros mentor. The Socialist regime is now deploying all its amassed powers to ensure that this disliked president wins reelection. As a Venezuelan academic who has followed the countrys politics for two decades, I believe that voter participation on Sunday will merely legitimize Maduros regime by making it appear democratic. Reasons not to vote Mimicking democracy is a classic trick of authoritarian leaders worldwide. Since announcing it would hold a 2018 presidential election, Maduros government has severely limited who can appear on the ballot. Four of the five most prominent opposition leaders have been either jailed or barred from office a main reason for the boycott. And since many Venezuelans view Falcon as a traitor whose bid for the presidency helps Maduro, millions of voters are without a viable candidate. Legally, the election may be unconstitutional because it was called by the Constituent Assembly. The Socialist Party created and installed this legislative super body in 2017 to undermine the opposition-dominated Venezuelan National Assembly. Many Venezuelans generally distrust their electoral system for good reason. Smartmatic, the London-based company that long provided Venezuelas voting machines, announced that the turnout to vote for Maduros Constituent Assembly in 2017 was manipulated. It calculates that at least 1 million phantom voters were added to the final count. Similar problems were documented in Venezuelas 2017 gubernatorial elections. Smartmatic terminated its Venezuela operations in March. According to political scientist Javier Corrales, who lead a recent Amherst College study on Venezuelas electoral system, Maduros regime has committed at least 10 of 11 possible pre-election irregularities. These include calling early elections, which favored Maduros ruling Socialist Party, blacklisting candidates and parties, and failing to update voter registries. Venezuela has rejected calls for international election observers. Hunger as a political tool Maduro has also manipulated Venezuelas spiraling humanitarian crisis to his electoral advantage. Since 2015 food, medicine, electricity and even clean water have grown ever scarcer in Venezuela. Hunger is spreading. According to a February survey by three Venezuelan universities, almost 80 percent of respondents eat less than they used to. Sixty percent go to bed hungry. And nearly two-thirds have lost more than 20 pounds this past year. In January 2017, Maduros regime introduced a national identification document that gives cardholders access to government food aid and other social services. But according to an investigation by El Nacional, Venezuelas nonpartisan leading newspaper, citizens only get those benefits if they agreed to vote for Maduro when they signed up. The international organization Human Rights Watch confirms this account. Its Americas researcher says citizens are hostages of hunger, with Maduros regime exchanging food and other services for votes. Mass exodus Another key constituency that will be notably absent from Sundays election: Venezuelan refugees. Over 4 million people have left the country in recent years, fleeing hunger, corruption and violence. Business professionals began leaving Venezuela after Chavezs 1998 election, but mass migration has spiked since the crisis began in 2015. U.N. officials say Venezuelan refugees will soon overtake Syrian refugees in number. AP Photo/Fernando Vergara To vote in Sundays presidential election, Venezuelans living abroad must show legal residence overseas. Since many refugees live undocumented for long periods of time, this requirement passed in 2009 by Chavezs Socialist Party will disenfranchise an estimated 1 million Venezuelans. Global pressure The United States, Canada and numerous Latin American countries recently signed a joint statement asking Venezuela to cancel the May 20 election. All have threatened to ramp up sanctions if it goes forward, as has the European Union. Maduro insists that the election will be held as planned. The regimes real challenge, then, could come after the vote. Increased sanctions could translate into an embargo on Venezuelan oil. International oil sales are by far the governments main revenue source. That would be devastating for Maduros cash-strapped government not to mention the Venezuelan people. Marco Aponte-Moreno, Assistant Professor of Global Business, St Mary's College of California This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. DANBURY - Tornadoes are comparatively rare in Connecticut, but the line of violent thunderstorms that swept through the state on Tuesday spawned four of them in a matter of hours. Its definitely one of the top five storms in the last few centuries for the number of tornadoes it created, said Paul Slaski, a meteorologist at the Connecticut Weather Center. Its almost unprecedented. Until Tuesday, the state had counted just 40 confirmed tornadoes since 1950, when the National Weather Service began keeping records, with Fairfield and New Haven counties being the most frequently hit. On average, Connecticut sees a tornado once every two to three years, said Pat Maloit, lead meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Upton, N.Y. The Connecticut figures are dwarfed by the numbers for Texas, the most tornado-prone state in the country, where more than 5,500 twisters occurred during the same time period. Most Connecticut tornadoes are smaller and less intense than those that strike in Tornado Alley, the storm-wracked stretch of the Great Plains from Texas to Nebraska. A tornado that struck Bethel and Newtown in 2007, for example, did a few thousand of dollars worth of damage. But in 1989, a massive twister with winds over 200 mph cut a swath of destruction from Cornwall in the Northwest Hills all the way to New Haven. That storm did more than $250 million in damage, the worst of it in Hamden. Maloit explained that air flowing steadily from Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean typically creates a stable atmosphere not conducive to the formation of tornadoes in Connecticut. That stability prevents the winds from a storm from coming to the surface, he said. It acts as a buffer for the state, so that we usually dont realize the full impact of a storm. That wasnt the case on Tuesday, however, when a shift to southwesterly winds created instability in the atmosphere. There were a lot of conditions that came together to create that storm, Slaski said. There was a lot of energy aloft coming from the jet stream, a good deal of low-level moisture, and a southwesterly wind. More Information From 1950 to Tuesday, only 40 tornadoes have struck Connecticut By county Fairfield - 15 New Haven - 15 Middlesex - 8 New London - 2 Most recent Fairfield County tornadoes May 31, 2002 - Brookfield July 12, 2006 - Greenwich May 16, 2007 - Bethel/Newtown July 21, 2009 - Shelton June 24, 2010 - Bridgeport July 1, 2013 - Stamford Source: The National Weather Service See More Collapse The storm threw off two tornadoes on the New York side of the border and four on the Connecticut side. The first, with winds exceeding 100 miles an hour, touched down in Southbury and traveled more than four miles into Oxford before dissipating. Another tornado touched down in Beacon Falls and traveled nearly 10 miles before breaking up over Hamden. Another tornado struck in Winsted, causing damage over about eight city blocks, while a tornado spotted over the Barkhamsted Reservoir apparently didnt make landfall. The rarity of tornadoes in Connecticut probably helps when it comes to public reaction to warnings about taking shelter, Maloit said. As the storm approached the Danbury area Tuesday, cell phones throughout the area flashed an alert about taking shelter. Maloit said such alerts are reserved for tornado and flash flood warnings, which are issued only when meteorologists foresee possible property damage and loss of life. The goal is to try and give people up to 20 minutes of advanced warning that these hazards are coming their way, Maloit said. But its a relatively short lead time. If a warning comes your way, take shelter in a sturdy building immediately. In greater Danbury, Tuesdays storm toppled trees and downed power lines in a broad area from the New York state line to Lake Lillinonah. Two people died when trees fell on their cars, several others were injured and thousands of residents spent days without electricity. The most extensive destruction occurred in New Fairfield and Brookfield. Many Brookfield residents originally thought a tornado had ripped through the town, but the Weather Service said the damage was caused by a sudden and intense downburst of cold air from the topmost layers of the thunderstorm. When the air mass hit the ground, the wind rushed out in all directions - much like the shock waves from a bomb. The downburst was more than three miles wide and nine miles long with winds in excess of 110 miles per hour, the NWS said. A downburst more than 2.5 miles across is called a macroburst, in contrast to smaller events called microbursts, but both can be highly dangerous. While most of them are small, just about every thunderstorm produces downbursts, Maloit said. Macrobursts, because of their large scale, generally arent as common. But downbursts can be just as dangerous as tornadoes, and its why people need to pay attention to thunderstorm watches. dperrefort@newstimes.com LAKEVILLE The number 13 may be considered unlucky, but that was not the case for seven Housatonic Valley Regional High School students (as well as 93 others) on Friday evening when the 13th annual Blue & Gold at The White school exhibit opened at The White Gallery at 342 Main St. The event ran from 5 to 7 p.m. and was attended by about 75 people witnessing seven students win art awards and cash prizes (announced later in the evening). Local politicians and educators checked out the art and sampled Lakevilles Deanos Pizzas catered Sicilian pizza and soda under a tent on the gallerys front lawn. Among the 100 curated and professionally judged paintings, photographs, pen-and-ink drawings, and sculptures by 70 school artists, seven recipients won awards for Best Photo, Sculpture, Portrait, and Painting. HVRHS art teacher Warren Prindle said 80 percent of the $100-per-artwork sales proceeds went to the student artists, with 20 percent going to HVRHS art program and scholarships. The show runs through Sunday at The White Gallery. White Gallery owner Tino Galluzzo contributed his ground- and second-floor art gallery space as well as the professional matting of the works. Some students have never been exhibited in an art gallery or have visited an art gallery, Galluzzo commented. This show gives them the opportunity to start and to celebrate art created by students of Housatonic. Prindle, with fellow art teacher Laura Victore, had selected the submitted art. The students produce a tremendous volume of work in a semester, said Prindle, and this is the creme de la creme. Victore said, This year, we are showing some really great work. I am super-excited about the exhibit. Victore added that her art students gain inspiration in part from other artistic disciplines, such as dance: You use the emotion from dance as emotion in art and as a personal statement. Ella Matsudaira, 17, an HVRHS junior who had contributed one oil-on-canvas and two oil-triptych-on-panels of nature to the exhibit, commented, The show is beautiful. Mr. Prindle always gives us freedom to try something new in art. One of the new art techniques Matsudaira had used was marbled watercolor and oil in her works Salt Flats, Cotton Clouds, and Serenity. Abigail Adam, 18, a senior, contributed five works to the show, including four acrylic-on-panels and one ink drawing. I think it is fantastic to see everybodys work, said Adam, who also recently won a Litchfield County Superintendent Award for academic and community achievements. She will attend Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Penn., taking a double major in studio art and psychology. Ewa Urbanowicz, 18, of Cornwall Bridge, had four works on display, working alternately in watercolor and acrylic. She said her watercolor painting Monochrome was a second rendition. I remake it if I am not satisfied with it, she said, adding that a typical work takes about five hours total to create. Come this fall, Urbanowicz will study art at the University of Hartford in West Hartford. Urbanowiczs mother, Agnieszka, was on hand at Fridays show opening. The art is good, she said. I am so proud. Working in another format, junior Emilia Luz, 17, of Falls Village contributed to the show her sketchbook containing various ink-oriented works. Art class is really fun, Luz said. I hope to eventually study comic design. I see a future studying illustration. At around 6 p.m., the time came to announce the awards. Joined by Prindle, Victore, and art patron John Borden, a Realtor at William Pitt Sothebys in Lakeville, Galluzzo addressed the students and the audience, saying that today he still receives postcards from former student exhibitors at The White Gallery. People are proud of you, and we wish to express our gratitude for your work, Galluzzo said, adding, This is your journey to show and grow, and it is wonderful to be at the beginning of your career. Galluzzo said the awards judging was made hard by all the outstanding submitted art. Galluzzo announced the winners with Borden handing out envelopes with cash prizes. The Best Photo Award was given to Madison Clark for her We Are Open. Melissa Mauri won Best Sculpture for her Plastalina-clay figure piece Forbidden. Ella Matsudaira won Best Painting for her oil-on-canvas Salt Flats. The Best Works on Paper Award went to Miri Rinehart for her ink-on-Chinese-newspaper work National Bird. Abigail Adam won Best Portrait for International Me, an acrylic-on-panel work. The honorable mention awards went to Emerson Rinehart for his photograph Eye on the Future and Dean Saccardi for acrylic-on-panel work Cool, Blue & Hairy. State Rep. Brian Ohler attended the event to support the student-artists and to see a sculpture created by his cousin, HVRHS student Nick Dodge. Its a great display, said Ohler. The students here have such an affinity for art. Region One Assistant Superintendent of Schools Lisa Carter was also on hand to view the exhibit. I loved the show, said Carter. I have several students sculptures in my office. The White Gallerys hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment. According to the sources in the Armenian government, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan appointed one of his closest associates, David Sanasaryan, as the head of the State Control Service. "Prime Minister Pashinyan has already signed a decree on appointing Sanasaryan as the head of the State Control Service. The official statement will be published after the holidays, " TASS quotes the source as saying. The Afghan government has closed hundreds of schools in the western province of Farah, the scene of a major Taliban offensive this week. A total of 411 educational facilities, including 379 primary schools, 32 higher education facilities, and teacher training centers in Farah, have been closed, said Mohammad Sadiq Halimi, the deputy head of the provincial department of education. The Ministry of Education announced earlier this week that all education facilities would be closed by May 19 for the safety of students and school staff. "Considering the grave security concerns, the ministry declares that schools and other education centers in Farah Province will be closed until the situation can be stabilized to protect students, teachers, and education employees," the ministry said in a statement on May 17. The schools are set to reopen by the end of the holy month of Ramadan on June 12. Across the country, around 1,000 schools are closed due to conflict, according to the ministry. On May 15, hundreds of Taliban militants stormed the provincial capital, Farah city, seizing most of the town before they were pushed back by Afghan security forces backed by NATO warplanes. Clashes between the militants and government forces have continued on the outskirts of the city. Based on reporting by dpa and 1TV The European Union will remain committed to the Iran nuclear deal as long as Tehran continues to adhere to the landmark 2015 accord easing sanctions in exchange for curbs on its atomic program, the EU's top energy official said on May 19. "We have sent a message to our Iranian friends that as long as they are sticking to the agreement the Europeans will...fulfill their commitment. And they said the same thing on the other side," European Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete said after meeting Iran's nuclear chief in Tehran. "We will try to intensify our flows of trade that have been very positive for the Iranian economy," Canete added at the joint news conference with Iranian Vice President Ali Akbar Salehi, who oversees Tehran's nuclear activities. Canete's remarks came a day after the European Commission (EC) proposed measures to help EU businesses avoid renewed U.S. sanctions on Iran. In a direct challenge to a U.S. ban on doing business with Iran's oil sector, the commission on May 18 proposed to let EU members make payments for oil directly to Iran's central bank to avoid U.S. penalties. The step is designed to enable European companies to avoid using the U.S. dollar and U.S. financial system to purchase oil from Tehran, thus bypassing broad U.S. sanctions that have made it difficult for Iran to sell its oil when it was hit with sanctions in the past. The commission said it was acting on a "green light" given by European Union leaders at a summit in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, on May 17. In another step, the EC said it had moved to reactivate Europe's blocking statute to shield companies from U.S. sanctions by updating its list of Iranian sanctions that fall within the law's scope. The statute is aimed at reassuring European firms that invested in Iran under the terms of the nuclear deal, which U.S. President Donald Trump decided to abandon on May 8. The blocking statute, which originally was created in 1996 to circumvent a U.S. trade embargo on Cuba, "forbids EU companies from complying with the extraterritorial effects of U.S. sanctions," the commission said. It also "allows companies to recover damages arising from such sanctions from the person causing them, and nullifies the effect in the EU of any foreign court judgements based on them," it said. Strong Signalling Value The commission said its goal was for the blocking law to go into effect before August 6, when the first batch of reimposed U.S. sanctions takes effect. Its revisions of the statute must be endorsed by the 28 EU member states and the European Parliament before going into effect. "This has a strong signaling value, it can be very useful to companies, but it is ultimately a business decision for each company to make" whether to continue investing in Iran, an EU official said. Salehi told the May 19 joint news conference that Canete had pledged to save the accord between Iran and major world powers despite Trump's decision to exit the deal and reimpose sanctions. We hope their efforts materialize, Salehi said, accusing the United States of being not a trustworthy country in international dealings. Salehi said that, if the EU fails to save the accord, Tehran could respond with a resumption of its 20-percent uranium enrichment. "If the other side keeps itself committed to its promises, we also will be keeping ourselves to our promises....We hope the situation will not arise to the point that we will have to go back to the worst option," Salehi told reporters in English, Reuters reported. Under the deal, Iran must keep its level of enrichment at around 3.6 percent. High-level enrichment of uranium -- 20 percent or more -- would take Tehran close to the level needed for a nuclear weapon. Salehi said in August that Iran would need only five days to resume high-level uranium enrichment. Despite the EUs efforts to shield its businesses, Total, Allianz, and a growing list of other European companies have announced that they will pull out of Iran unless they get explicit sanctions waivers from the United States. They were joined on May 18 by French gas and power group Engie, Polish gas firm PGNiG, and German lender DZ Bank. In another step, the European Commission also moved to remove hurdles for the European Investment Bank to finance activities outside the EU, such as in Iran. It said the move would allow the bank to "support EU investment in Iran," particularly involving small and medium-sized companies. The commission also called for doing more to help Iran's energy sector and small and medium-sized companies, as part of "confidence-building measures." EU investment in Iran -- mainly from Germany, France and Italy -- has jumped to more than 20 billion euros since sanctions were eased in 2016, with projects ranging from aerospace to energy ventures. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Human Rights Watch (HRW) says Saudi authorities have detained seven women's rights activists who had advocated for ending the kingdom's ban on women driving. Saudi Arabia's security apparatus said in a statement published by state media on May 19 that seven people had been taken into custody on suspicion of "attempting to undermine the security and stability of the kingdomand to erode national unity." The statement did not identify the detainees, whom authorities accuse of making "suspicious contact with foreign parties" and giving financial support to "hostile elements abroad." But rights groups say all of those detained were linked to campaigning for ending the Saudi ban on women driving, which the kingdom is set to lift on June 24. The news site Sabq, which is seen as close to authorities, connected the detentions to the women's rights activists. The decision to end a decades-old ban on women driving cars has been hailed as proof of a new progressive trend under reform-minded Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but has been accompanied by a crackdown on dissent. Saudi King Salman in September annulled the longstanding ban on women driving, a move that Prince Mohammad is believed to have spearheaded. "It appears the only 'crime' these activists committed was wanting women to drive before Mohammad bin Salman did," Sarah Leah Whitson, the Middle East director at HRW, said in a May 18 statement. "If they are in jail because of their advocacy the authorities should release them immediately," Whitson added. The detainees include Loujain al-Hathloul and Eman al-Nafjan, women who have been staunch opponents of the driving ban and Saudi Arabia's guardianship system requiring women to receive permission from male relatives prior to making decisions on a range of matters, HRW said. "Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman's 'reform campaign' has been a frenzy of fear for genuine Saudi reformers who dare to advocate publicly for human rights or women's empowerment," Wilson said. "The message is clear that anyone expressing skepticism about the crown prince's rights agenda faces time in jail." With reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, and dpa Macedonia's prime minister says his administration has reached an agreement with Greek leaders on a new name for his country, possibly ending a decades-long dispute between the Balkan neighbors. Prime Minister Zoran Zaev on May 19 said that "Republic of Ilinden Macedonia" has been agreed to as the compromise name by both sides and will be put to referendum for approval by Macedonian citizens. The name has also been given as "Republic of Ilindenska Macedonia." "Ilinden" and "Ilindenska," meaning "the day of St. Elijah," refer to a 1903 uprising against Turkish occupiers and a 1944 uprising against the Nazis that took place on August 2, St. Elijah day. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on May 19 did not specifically address Zaevs claim of an agreement on the name, but said the countries were "closer than ever before" to a solution. "We must not lose this historic opportunity. Let's not make clumsy steps in the final meters to the finish line," Tsipras said in a speech. Bulgaria's foreign minister, Ekaterina Zaharieva, confirmed to RFE/RL on May 18 that the two sides had discussed the name Republic of Ilinden Macedonia during the EU-Western Balkan summit in Sofia. "It sounds to me like they recognized that we have a common history and a common past," she said. The 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. The dispute has hampered Macedonia's ambitions to join both the European Union and NATO. Negotiations to resolve the dispute have made progress since Macedonia recently agreed to change the name of Skopje's Alexander the Great airport to Skopje International Airport, in a goodwill gesture to Greece. The Greek government has said the Macedonian Constitution must be revised to make clear the country does not consider the province part of its territory. "As regards the debate surrounding [Macedonia's] name, the [Greek] government will not enter more specific talks if the above requirements are not fulfilled first," Tsipras's office said in a statement on May 19. Even with the apparent agreement between Macedonian and Greek leaders, Zaev still faces opposition from nationalists at home who do not accept the compromise with Athens. Other compromises previously put forward included adding geographic modifiers to the name, such as "Northern Macedonia" and "Upper Macedonia." Greeks main opposition New Democracy party also expressed opposition to the use of the suggested name. The anti-Nazi uprising sought to unify the geographic area of Macedonia including parts of Greece. Critics say its inclusion indicates Skopje's desire for a "Greater Macedonia" that includes the Greek city of Thessaloniki and extends to the Aegean Sea. With reporting by AP, AFP, Greek Reporter, and Ekathimerina The transfer of the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in Israel broke hopes for a peaceful resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said during a speech at the emergency summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul. According to him, Washington's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the transfer of the US embassy to this city is contrary to the international law. "This step, taken despite numerous warnings, broke hopes for a peaceful and sustainable resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and opened the way to a humanitarian catastrophe," TASS quotes the diplomat as saying. Iranian President Hassan Rohani is calling on Muslim countries to cut off relations with Israel and "revise" their trade and economic ties with the United States after Washington moved its embassy to Jerusalem this week. At a summit of Muslim countries convened by Turkey in Istanbul on May 18, Rohani called the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which recently withdrew from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers and reimposed sanctions on Iran, a "dangerous threat" to global peace and security. Rohani said Muslim nations should consider "revising" political and economic ties with Washington, and called on the Muslim world to "cut ties" with Israel and boycott it through trade. "If Israel faces a united front of Islamic nations, it will never be able to continue its crimes," Rohani said. He said a "new and young generation of Palestinians is aware of their rights and has no intention to withdraw or compromise." It was a rare show of unity between Shi'a-ruled Iran and Sunni-led Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern nations that have been feuding with Tehran over its involvement in the Syrian civil war, support for Huthi rebels in Yemen, and other matters. The Muslim leaders at the end of the summit issued a statement condemning Israel's killing of dozens of Palestinian protesters during the inauguration of the new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem a "provocation" against the entire Islamic world. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the United Nations to establish a peacekeeping force in the Gaza Strip, which is ruled by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, to prevent further killings. The world "must stop watching the massacres from the bleachers," he said. Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah criticized the United States for becoming "part of the problem and not the solution" with its Jerusalem move. Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters The alliance of influential Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has captured the most seats in Iraq's parliamentary elections, according to final results released by the country's electoral commission on May 19. The official results were issued a week after the May 12 national elections that put Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi's bloc in third place. A coalition of candidates with ties to Iranian-backed militias finished in second place. None of the top three groups captured more than 50 parliamentary seats in the election, whose 44.5 percent turnout was Iraq's lowest since the country's first multiparty elections were held in 2005. Talks on forming the government are expected to continue for months. "Your vote is an honor for us," Sadr said in a May 19 statement following the announcement of the official results. Sadr, an anti-American firebrand with a large following among Baghdad's urban poor, was once leader of the Mahdi Army, which battled U.S. forces in 2003. The militia was disbanded in 2008 and replaced by his Peace Brigades, which along with Iraqi government troops helped push back Islamic State militant forces from areas near Baghdad in 2014. The victory for Sadr's bloc marks a dramatic return to relevance for the cleric, who had been sidelined by Iran-backed rivals in recent years. Based on reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters News agencies say U.S. authorities have deported a former Russian executive previously convicted of arranging corrupt payments linked to the Russian state nuclear company Rosatom. Vadim Mikerin, who was sentenced by a U.S. judge to four years in prison in 2015, was deported by federal authorities in Washington on May 18, Russian state news agencies cited a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman as saying later that day. Mikerin, 59, was an executive with a Maryland-based subsidiary of Tenex, a Rosatom-owned firm that supplies and exports uranium and enrichment services to nuclear power companies worldwide. The U.S. Justice Department said Mikerin helped facilitate the payment of bribes made to win "improper business advantages" for U.S. firms that worked with Tenex. Mikerin, who pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, was also ordered by the judge to forfeit more than $2 million. He was released from prison on April 24, according to U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons records. Following his release, Mikerin was taken into custody by U.S. immigration authorities pending his deportation, Russian news agencies reported. U.S. authorities said in March that the U.S. company Transport Logistics International agreed to pay $2 million to settle charges that it bribed Mikerin to win contracts to ship uranium to the United States. The company admitted to paying more than $1.7 million to Mikerin between 2004 and 2014. With reporting by TASS, RIA Novosti, and Reuters Ukrainian film director Serhiy Loznitsa has won a best director prize in the Cannes film festival's Un Certain Regard competition for Donbass, his odyssey about the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The Un Certain Regard awards, which were announced on May 18, go to more edgy films and up-and-coming directors than those awarded in the Palme d'Or prizes in Cannes' main film competition. The Un Certain Regard prizes were awarded a day ahead of the main awards ceremony, which is due to take place on May 19. Loznitsa's hard-hitting film Donbass depicts the brutal conflict since 2014 between government forces and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine in a "post-truth" world dominated by fake news. The film portrays the region as declining into a gangland-style war at a time when Russia is seeking to reassert itself in the world some 18 years after the Soviet Union collapsed. Loznitsa, whose previous film A Gentle Creature competed in the Cannes festival last year, told the AFP news agency in an interview last week that he felt compelled to make the film because of "the world crumbling around him." "My main concern and my main subject is the particular type of human being, which is produced by a society, where aggression, decay, and disintegration rule," he said. "The information war waged by [President Vladimir] Putin's Russia uses all of the most efficient and modern technical means available to influence attitudes around the world, to hammer home one truth as the truth," he told AFP. Loznitsa is viewed as a national treasure in Ukraine after making some two dozen documentaries and films that have brought him international renown. His documentary Maidan about Kyiv's pro-Western street revolution premiered at a special Cannes screening in 2014. Based on reporting by AFP and dpa A well-known Uzbek human rights advocate who worked with political prisoners and was a vocal critic of forced labor in the Central Asian nation has died. Sources told RFE/RL's Uzbek Service on May 19 that Vasila Inoyatova died earlier that morning in Tashkent during an operation for internal bleeding. She was 62. Inoyatova was the longtime chairwoman of the Tashkent-based Ezgulik (Compassion) human rights center. She campaigned against forced labor in Uzbekistan's cotton industry and torture during the authoritarian rule of longtime leader Islam Karimov, whose death was announced in September 2016. In recent years, Inoyatova was active in defending the rights of political prisoners, opposition activists, and independent journalists, visiting them in prison and trying to offer legal and financial support. She was a key on-the-ground contact for international rights watchdogs seeking information about political prisoners in Uzbekistan. "Vasila was a true champion of the underdog and will be sorely missed," Steve Swerdlow, Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, said on Twitter on May 19. Karimovs successor, Shavkat Mirziyoev, has promised reform following more than two decades of repressive rule under Karimov. In recent months, he has taken steps to reform Uzbekistan's long-feared security services, and several activists and journalists have been freed after years in prison. Mirziyoev made no public comments on the situation of human rights or democracy in Uzbekistan following his May 16 talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House. Western allies are calling for a rare special session of the 192 nations that agreed to prohibit chemical weapons to establish a new mechanism for enforcing the ban after efforts to do so at the United Nations broke down last year. "We regret that no measure has so far been adopted by key international bodies to hold to account the perpetrators involved in chemical attacks," said a communique from 33 Western allies in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, which was issued after a meeting in Paris on May 18. The countries met as part of an "Impunity Partnership," which France launched in January with the goal of preserving evidence of chemical weapons attacks, establishing who is responsible for them, and imposing sanctions. France has proposed creating a new mechanism at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the world's chemical weapons watchdog at the Hague, to enable it to assign blame for attacks carried out with banned munitions. Currently, the OPCW only determines whether chemical attacks have taken place, not who carried them out. The move comes in the wake of several suspected poison-gas attacks by Syrian government forces in the nation's civil war this year, and the poisoning of a former Russian spy in England with a weapons-grade nerve agent in March that was blamed on Russia. Syria and Russia have denied using chemical weapons. Russia used its veto on the UN Security Council last year to repeatedly block Western efforts to renew a UN mechanism for assigning blame for Syrian chemical attacks that was created in 2015. Russia also came out against the latest French initiative on May 18. Moscow's representative at the OPCW, Aleksandr Shulgin, charged Western nations with trying to "make a puppet of the OPCW" and "further whip up anti-Russian and anti-Syrian hysteria," the Russian news agency TASS reported. Shulgin said sponsors of the initiative have only about half of the 64 votes they need to convene a special meeting of all 192 parties to the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention in June, according to TASS. OPCW decisions are usually made by its 41-seat executive council, but opposition from Russia and its allies have left that council deadlocked on the question of determining who is responsible for using chemical weapons. A plenary session of all the countries that signed the convention can intervene to ensure the treaty is enforced. Russia Urged To Reconsider The 33 countries that issued the Paris communique on May 18 urged Russia to reconsider its opposition. "We call on all States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention to support the holding of this meeting and to work together to strengthen the ability of the OPCW to promote the implementation of the Convention, including exploring options for attributing responsibility for chemical weapons attacks," they said in a statement. The new mechanism designed by France will be proposed at the special session, a diplomatic source told Reuters. It was not clear whether opposition from Russia, Iran, Syria, and a few other countries would be enough to prevent the measure from gaining the two-thirds vote needed to pass. France has discussed the proposal in recent months with its closest allies -- Britain, the United States, and Germany. Creating a global mechanism for accountability is seen as important due to the rising number of incidents with chemical weapons and nerve agents since they were banned two decades ago. Recent use includes the assassination with VX of Kim Jong Nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, in Kuala Lumpur in February 2017 and the attempted murder of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with a Novichok nerve agent in March in England. Both of the Russians survived. The Chemical Weapons Convention has also been violated repeatedly in Syria, where the OPCW has documented the use of sarin, chlorine, and sulfur mustard gas in the country's seven-year civil war. For several years, the job of assigning blame for the attacks in Syria was carried out by a joint United Nations-OPCW task force created by the UN council in 2015. But after the panel repeatedly blamed the Syrian government for the chemical attacks, Russia accused it of being biased and blocked attempts to renew its mission. With reporting by Reuters and TASS American tourist arrested in Cozumel for illegal firearm Cozumel, Q.R. An American man has been arrested at the Cozumel International Airport after police found him entering the country with an illegal firearm. According to Cozumel federal police information, the man, who has been identified as Anthony Cesar N from Florida, was detained in the screening filters after airport personnel found a .9 mm caliber gun and 15 cartridges among his possessions. He was arrested for not complying with regulations in having the proper documentation to prove legal possession and permits to bring a firearm into Mexico. He was arrested and made available to the federal public prosecutor. Five Mexicans die in Havana plane crash Havana, Cuba The Secretariat of Communications and Transportation has confirmed the death of five Mexican nationals in the Friday Havana, Cuba plane crash. A plane departing from the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana bound for the Cuban city of Holguin, crashed during take off. The crash was recorded at 12:08 on a commercial Boeing 737 aircraft leased by Cubana de Aviacion to the Mexican airline Global Air. The plane fell in Lutgardita near a train line in an area of agricultural crops. On the aircraft were 113 people. According to Cuban media, emergency services have rescued three female survivors, who are reported to be in critical condition. The Ministry of Communications and Transportation confirmed that at least five Mexicans, all crew members, lost their lives. According to the federal agency, the deceased are Captain Jorge Luis Nunez Santos, first officer Miguel Angel Arreola Ramirez and cabin crew Maria Daniela Rios, Abigail Hernandez Garcia and Beatriz Limon. Cubas president, Diaz-Canel, reported on the unfortunate accident that 113 people were traveling on the plane. Of them, he says 104 were mostly foreign passengers and nine crew members. According to news agency Cubadebate, the plane fell shortly after taking off from the runway. Firefighters rushed to the scene to try and extinguish the flames that erupted as a huge fireball after the crash. Some 2,600 police officers deployed across 24 of Brazils 26 states and the capital to serve 578 arrest and search warrants related to online sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. Security Minister Raul Jungmann said the operation was even the biggest in the world to be carried out in a single day. We will not stop here, he promised. Police detained people they said were in possession of or were sharing child pornography. Those detained were part of a ring that shared pornographic images of children through computers and mobile phones.They had considerable quantities of electronic files containing images of child pornography in their possession, said Alessandro Barreto, coordinator of the cybercrimes lab at the secretariat. The files contained disturbing images of babies and young children being abused. Investigators analyzed more than 1 million files in order to identify the targets of Thursdays operation. American authorities shared with Brazilian investigators tools and methods for identifying such files online. Public Security Minister Raul Jungmann said the men arrested in the operation faced charges of sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. A previous operation in last October against online child pornography led to the arrest of 112 people. Ukraine withdraws its representatives from all the statutory bodies of the Commonwealth of Independent States. A corresponding decree was issued by the president of the country, Petro Poroshenko, he wrote about this in his Twitter. The head of state explained that the CIS for Kiev had remained finally and irrevocably in the past. "Our future is in Europe, and only there! Poroshenko explained. Senior BJP MLA K G Bopaiah Senior BJP MLA K G Bopaiah, who as the speaker of the Karnataka Assembly had disqualified 16 MLAs and bailed out the BS Yeddyurappa government ahead of a no-confidence vote in 2010, was today appointed the pro-tem speaker to conduct the crucial floor test tomorrow. The appointment riled the Congress, which is likely to move the Supreme Court against it. Governor Vajubhai Vala Advertisement The Yeddyurappa government is set to face the floor test at 4 pm as directed by the Supreme Court today. A four-time MLA, Bopaiah was the Karnataka Assembly speaker from 2009 to 2013. Hitting out at Governor Vajubhai Vala for the decision, the Congress called him an "agent" of the BJP and noted that R V Deshpande of the Congress, the senior-most member of the House, should have been appointed in Bopaiah's place. Supreme Court had quashed Bopaiah's decision to disqualify 16 MLAs in 2011 The governor appointed Bopaiah "as the person before whom a member of the legislative assembly shall, before taking his seat, make and subscribe an oath or affirmation." Shortly after issuing the notification for the appointment, the governor administered the oath to Bopaiah. The Supreme Court had in 2011 quashed Bopaiah's decision to disqualify 16 MLAs ahead of the no-confidence motion which had ensured the survival of the Yeddyurappa government. Advertisement R V Deshpande The apex court had then said that basic constitutional values and principles of natural justice were not observed by Bopaiah in disqualifying the 11 rebel BJP and five independent legislators. "Shocking decision by the Hon'ble GovernorConstitutional Convention says the senior most, in this case, RV Deshpande should've been named," Karnataka Congress working president Dinesh Gundu Rao said in a tweet. He said, "Also Supreme Court had passed structures (sic) against the conduct of KG Bopiah as Speaker. Sad to see Vajubhai Valaji behaving like an agent of BJP." Karnataka Congress working president Dinesh Gundu Rao Advertisement Congress sources said in the national capital the party is likely to challenge the appointment of Bopaiah. Its chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said He is the same Bopaiah who had disqualified those BJP MLAs who had exposed the corruption of Yeddyurappa... The Supreme Court bench had said he did not believe in the Constitution, democracy. The SC had dismissed his orders (as a speaker) with stinging strictures." BS Yeddyurappa Bopaiah as the pro-tem speaker had administered the oath to newly elected members of the Assembly in 2008 when the BJP came to power in Karnataka for the first time under Yeddyurappa. He was subsequently elected the deputy speaker when Jagadish Shettar, a former chief minister, was the speaker. In 2009, he was elected the speaker following the resignation of Shettar, who was made a minister. Advertisement Karnataka Legislative Assembly The governor has, meanwhile, convened a special session of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly tomorrow at 11 am. The pro-tem speaker will administer the oath to the MLAs before Yeddyurappa moves the motion seeking a vote of confidence of the House at 4 pm. The Supreme Court earlier today ordered a floor test at 4 PM tomorrow, drastically slashing the 15-day window given by the governor to Yeddyurappa to prove majority. Farmers driven to suicide in Punjab and other agrarian states Every day a farmer is driven to suicide in Punjab and other agrarian states. Its a crisis the nation and its politicians choose to ignore as the solution requires a deep thought and long-term planning. Unfortunately, the desperation of the farmers has made them into an easily swayable vote bank for the politician. The farmer, across the nation, have piled up debt well beyond their earning capacity. Now the options available are to pay back are limited. they can either sell their land or take more loan and be caught in an endless cycle of debt. Former Prime Minister VP Singh Advertisement The system for the debt waiver started in 1990 by the former Prime Minister VP Singh, the politician who believed in the upliftment of poor and took the moral stand of saving Babri Masjid at the cost of the prime ministerial chair. He was in power for less than a year so he could not do much to uplift the farmer. A second lot of farm debt waiver was done by UPA-1 by Manmohan Singh and Chidambaram in 2008. this was a substantial amount of 52 thousand crores and gave a fighting chance to farmers. A Sikh farmer walks through a parched paddy field carrying fodder for his animals The Swaminathan Committee was formed to increase the income of the farmer but as the UPA -2 was an unsteady colation where Congress was unable to implement the much-needed pro-farmer decision. Although PM Modi had promised the doubling of the MSP after coming to power, after four years of BJP rule, its that this wasn't a promise meant in to be taken at face value. BJP is a business-oriented political party, which believes that if the business grows, the profit will trickle to the masses. Advertisement PM Modi promised the doubling of the MSP after coming to power but it is not fulfilled till now The Debt waiver by BJP benefited the corporates but there has been no trickling down of benefits to the common man or the farmer. The promise to double the MSP was clarified to mean that the farmer income will be enhanced. The government put emphasis on the food processing industry by sanctioning 6 thousand crores for the period of 5 years. This was with the intent of developing a nationwide infrastructure to connect farmer with the food processing industry. But this ministry fell short of its target by miles which cant be covered in the next year. Ministry fell short of its target by miles which cant be covered in the next year Advertisement The ministry has managed to develop 10 food parks (out of 42), 812 ripening chambers (out of 9131 and 9000 reefer vehicles against a target of 61,862. At this pace, we cannot expect an increment of the farm income in the next 10-20 years. Till the time this target is met, the farmer will be deeper in debt. The debt waiver of this amount is beyond the capacity of the states, especially a debt-ridden state like Punjab. Although the new government, is attempting to give small farmers a waiver of 2 lakh of farm loan, it's not enough for the survival of the farmers. Debt waiver by BJP benefited the corporates but there have been no benefits for common man or farmers The debt waiver requires the support of the centre but the current government lacks the will to support farmers. Even though centre refuses to come to the rescue of farmers, an exception was made for Maharastra. Due to his influence and connect with farmers of his district, Nitin Gadkari, has managed to get 13 thousand crores of farm debt waiver sanctioned by the centre. Punjab's farmer represented by Union Food and Processing Minister, Harsimrat Badal, did not get the passionate and positive representation which has pushed them in a desperate situation. Advertisement Farmer issue needs to be dealt with sincerity with an immediate support Farmers from Punjab are not only resorting to suicide but are also getting involved in drug smuggling. The desperate farmers desperate for a chance of better days becomes an easy and gullible voter for the politicians causing them to sway from one party to another. Farmer issue needs to be dealt with sincerity and long-term planning as well an immediate support. 2018 Hyundai Creta Facelift is poised for launch in India next week. Ahead of that, the official brochure has arrived at dealerships, which leaks all the details, except for the price of the new Hyundai Creta. 2018 Hyundai Creta will be available in six variants E, E+, S, SX, SX (Dual Tone) and SX (O). Single tone exteriors include Polar White, Phantom Black, Sleek Silver, Fiery Red, Stardust Grey, Passion Orange and Marina Blue while two dual tones of Polar White and Phantom Black and Passion Orange and Phantom Black will also be included in the list. As seen on the model on test, Hyundai Creta gets an electronic sun roof, a cascading front grille, bi-functional projector headlamps, split tail lamps, front and rear skid plates, LED DRLs and diamond cut alloy wheels. Its exterior design also includes a shark fin antenna, chrome accents on door handles and LED turn indicators on ORVMs. Also new is the smart key, which was first seen on the Tata Nexon. This is a wearable key, which is given along with the standard set of keys to customers. This key is useful in situations where you do not want to carry a key in your pocket. For example, when you go to the gym, or for a run. This key acts kust like an normal key, allows you to open door, start the car, etc. Interiors are seen with 2 way power driver seat, cruise control, wireless phone charging, advanced supervision cluster and sliding front arm rests. The seats are done up in leather with central arm rest with cup holders. Rear AC vents, door scuff plates, electronically adjustable ORVMs, 60:40 split seats, storage space on console and luggage net and hooks are also revealed in the brochure. 2018 Hyundai Creta Facelift will continue to be powered by same 1.6 liter petrol, 1.6 liter diesel and 1.4 liter diesel engines as seen on its earlier counterpart. The 1.6 liter VTVT petrol offers 123 PS power and 150 Nm torque. The 1.6 liter CRDi VGT diesel offers 128 PS power and 260 Nm torque while the 1.4 liter CRDi diesel is capable of 90 PS power and 220 Nm torque. These engines get mated to 6 speed manual and automatic transmissions. Take a look at the brochure of 2018 Hyundai Creta below Report: Army, committees carry out military operations against coalition force over 24 hours [18/May/2018] br> SANAA, May 18 (Saba) The Yemen army and popular committees have waged military operations on Saudi army and its mercenaries gatherings and sites, Killing and wounding dozens over Thursday, according to army media reports combined by Saba Agency on Friday. Coalition media admitted killing 3 of its soldiers in beyond border fronts, while two of Saudi-paid mercenaries were killed and three injured by the fires of Yemen army and committees in beyond border fronts. In southern Saudi province, two military vehicles of the mercenaries were destroyed by explosive devices in the west of Sudais site. In Jizan border Saudi province, artillery and missile shelling targeted gatherings of Saudi army and its mercenaries in Qall-Shaikh, northern Khubah and Malhamah. In Lahj province, Bader-1, ballistic missile was fired toward Anad military base. In Bayda province, a military vehicle was destroyed with a guided missile in Qania front, as well as four of the mercenaries were killed by the army and committees fires in Qania and Thi-Naea fronts. In Yemens Jawf province, a Saudi-paid mercenaries was killed in Maslub front by the fires of the army and committees. In Tazi province, eight of the mercenaries were killed and two injured by the fires of the Yemen army and popular committees in West coast front. Writing by Sameera Hassn Saba A common antibacterial substance found in toothpaste may combat life-threatening diseases such as cystic fibrosis, or CF, when combined with an already FDA-approved drug. Michigan State University researchers have found that when triclosan, a substance that reduces or prevents bacteria from growing, is combined with an antibiotic called tobramycin, it kills the cells that protect the CF bacteria, known as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, by up to 99.9 percent. CF is a common genetic disease with one in every 2,500 to 3,500 people diagnosed with it at an early age. It results in a thick mucus in the lungs, which becomes a magnet for bacteria. These bacteria are notoriously difficult to kill because they are protected by a slimy barrier known as a biofilm, which allows the disease to thrive even when treated with antibiotics. "The problem that we're really tackling is finding ways to kill these biofilms," said Chris Waters, lead author of the study and a microbiology professor. According to Waters, there are many common biofilm-related infections that people get such as ear infections and swollen, painful gums caused by gingivitis. But more serious, potentially fatal diseases join the ranks of CF including endocarditis, or inflammation of the heart, as well as infections from artificial hip and pacemaker implants. advertisement The research is published in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. Waters and his co-authors, Michael Maiden and Alessandra Hunt, grew 6,000 biofilms in petri dishes, added in tobramycin along with many different compounds, to see what worked better at killing the bacteria. Twenty-five potential compounds were effective, but one stood out. "It's well known that triclosan, when used by itself, isn't effective at killing Pseudomonas aeruginosa," Hunt said, a post-doctoral associate of microbiology and molecular genetics. "But when I saw it listed as a possible compound to use with tobramycin, I was intrigued. We found triclosan was the one that worked every time." Triclosan has been used for more than 40 years in soaps, makeup and other commercial products because of its antibacterial properties. Recently, the FDA ruled to limit its use in soaps and hand sanitizers due to insufficient data on its increased effectiveness and concern that it was being overused. Clear evidence has shown, though, that its use in toothpaste is safe and highly effective in fighting gingivitis, and it is still approved for use. "Limiting its use is the right thing to do," Maiden said, a graduate student in medicine. "The key is to avoid creating resistance to a substance so when it's found in numerous products, the chances of that happening increase." Tobramycin is currently the most widely used treatment for CF, but it typically doesn't clear the lungs of infection, Waters said. Patients typically inhale the drug, yet find themselves chronically infected their whole lives, eventually needing a lung transplant. advertisement "Most transplants aren't a viable option though for these patients and those who do have a transplant see a 50 percent failure rate within five years," he said. "The other issue is that tobramycin can be toxic itself." Known side effects from the drug include kidney toxicity and hearing loss. "Our triclosan finding gives doctors another potential option and allows them to use significantly less of the tobramycin in treatment, potentially reducing its use by 100 times," Hunt said. Within the next year, Waters and his colleagues will begin testing the effectiveness of the combination therapy on mice with hopes of it heading to a human trial soon after since both drugs are already FDA approved. Just brushing your teeth with toothpaste that has triclosan won't help to treat lung infections though, Maiden said. "We're working to get this potential therapy approved so we can provide a new treatment option for CF patients, as well as treat other biofilm infections that are now untreatable. We think this can save lives." The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Hunt for a Cure in Grand Rapids, Michigan. According to the Armenian Emergencies Ministry, next week, Russian specialists will arrive in the country to train Armenian rescuers to cope with hail and test anti-hail installations. On May 22-25th, the representatives of companies producing anti-hail complexes - NPC Centigrade, NPP Irvis, as well as the Research Institute of Polymer Materials will visit Armenia for conducting retraining courses for employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia, testing of anti-hail systems and missiles, discussing further cooperation programs, Sputnik-Armenia reports. As reported today in the Investigative Committee of Russia, the structure opened a criminal case under Article 317 of the Criminal Code "Encroachment on the life of a law enforcement officer" on the fact of the attack of militants on the parishioners of the Archangel Michael Church in Grozny. The criminal case on terrorist articles has not been instituted yet. The Investigative Committee specified that the two soldiers killed in the firefight with militants guarded the church. The professional police actions helped to avoid a significant number of victims since the militants were not allowed inside the church. When Stephanie Lee went into the Whole Foods on Market Street near the east corner of Duboce Triangle one evening in late April, she assumed it would be fine to tie her 12-year-old pug, Phyllo, to a post outside. It was a busy night. There were other dogs there, and people, too, sitting at the picnic table nearby. But when she came out a short time later, all the dogs were gone including Phyllo. So began a 12-day search that brought her to homeless encampments, soup kitchens and residential hotels across San Francisco and Oakland to find her missing friend, as she slept only a couple hours a night, missed work, barely ate and got help along the way from hundreds of strangers. She did not stop until she found him. Every minute, I felt like I needed to be doing something, because every minute that goes by, he could be farther away from me, Lee said. I didnt want to risk that he would be farther from where I could reach. People shed never met before Phyllo went missing would come to join her in her search for the dog who would make his way across the bay, changing hands multiple times, possibly traded for drugs. But that came later. She started that first night with the people who worked at Whole Foods security guards, janitors, checkout clerks. The combination of security footage from inside Whole Foods and from a residential building next door helped her piece together what happened. A woman, whom Lee later learned was homeless, was kicked out of Whole Foods on suspicion of shoplifting earlier in the night and left the store, appearing angry and agitated. On the way out, she stopped for a minute and saw Phyllo. She bent down, untied his leash, and picked him up, carrying him off down Market Street, Lee said. After talking with people who lived in the neighborhood and those who worked at a nearby Safeway, a picture of the woman whod taken her dog began to emerge, parts of it discomfiting. I figured out from these sources shes homeless, shes mentally unstable and oftentimes goes into the store to steal alcohol, Lee said. After driving around to look for Phyllo without success, Lee headed to places she thought someone might recognize the woman: shelters, the Tenderloin, the encampments near the part of Highway 101 known as the Hairball. There was extra reason to be worried: Phyllo is an older dog, with various health issues that have emerged since Lee got him from a Dallas animal rescue at age 3 while she was living in Kansas City, Kan. Hes deaf and nearly blind in one eye, and he requires daily medication to help manage issues related to his history of cancer. Some of the people Lee spoke with knew the woman and told her she was unpredictable and tended to travel alone, often walking the city late at night along the Embarcadero and Fishermans Wharf. So Lee and her friends started driving around the city at 2 and 3 a.m., hoping to find her. Meanwhile, notes about Phyllo had been posted on Nextdoor and Facebook, and those started to bring in tips. Lee and her friends chased leads all over the city. Then, one morning, their search brought them to the Embarcadero. Lee was passing out breakfast burritos shed bought, hoping for leads, when she ran into a homeless man named Darryl with whom shed spoken before. It turned out hed seen the woman who took Lees dog, and he took Lee to the park where hed seen her. She was still there. It was a very surreal moment to be able to talk to someone who has basically taken your family member away from you, Lee said. I had been searching for her for a week. The woman didnt make much sense, Lee said, but she said something about taking Phyllo to Oakland, sleeping there for a few nights, and then giving him away although other information led Lee to believe Phyllo was traded for something, possibly illicitly. Learning Phyllo was in another, larger city was Lees nightmare. Luckily for her, Darryl was determined to keep helping her with her search, helping her navigate homeless encampments in Oakland and meet more people who might have information. Other people she met along her search also headed east with them to spread the word. Finally, after a number of false leads, some dead ends and many more conversations and handed-out flyers, Lee got a call from a man in Oakland who said he had her dog. She was almost afraid to believe it, but it was true: He met her at a police station in Oakland, and with him was Phyllo. When she saw him, he looked sick and disoriented, and her heart ached, she said. It was only when she took Phyllo to the veterinarian and his blood work came back normal that she could finally feel relief. 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. Looking back, Lee is matter-of-fact about the lengths to which she went to find her dog. Giving up was never an option for me. He is my family, she said. You do whatever it takes to keep family together. To celebrate his return, they had a party in Duboce Park, only a few blocks from where the dog was snatched. It was a sunny Saturday. Whole Foods provided the snacks for free, and neighbors, pugs and other pups came from around the area to meet Phyllo in person and welcome him home. The bonds forged during the search crisscrossed the party, with Lee darting from friend to new friend, checking on people, touching them on the shoulder, offering cupcakes and rides home. The biggest gift is, of course, having him back in my life, but also meeting other people from S.F. from all walks of life and having them in my life, all these new friends from the community, Lee said, a smile in her voice. Now Phyllo is something of a neighborhood celebrity. Its surreal to be recognized by people who followed the saga on Nextdoor or Facebook or saw the flyers around town, Lee said. Phyllo is mostly back to normal, but he has developed a new taste for sleeping on the hard floor, something he never did before he was stolen. Lee is still trying to process it all, feeling protective and grateful and, most of all, exhausted. I dont think, she said, I can handle another search anytime soon. Filipa Ioannou is an SFGate staff writer. Email: fioannou@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @obioannoukenobi Passing San Franciscos multibillion-dollar budget each year is a reliably messy process, fraught with late-night negotiations, haggling between lawmakers and pressure from lobbyists pressing their clients case for city cash. But this year, with the budget process running parallel to a special election to choose a mayor, deciding the citys finances is going to be singularly strange. By the time San Franciscos next $10 billion budget goes into effect Aug. 1, it could have the unprecedented distinction of crossing the desks of four different mayors in a span of eight months. The late Mayor Ed Lee started the process, outlining goals and issuing instructions to department heads. After Lee died in December, Board of Supervisors President London Breed stepped in as acting mayor and stuck to his course. Mayor Mark Farrell, whom the board named to the job in January after a controversial vote, has wielded the most influence over the budgeting process. On June 1, hell present a spending plan to the supervisors reflecting his priorities: street cleanliness, homelessness and public safety. The board will then make changes. And at the end of July, adhering to the schedule laid out in the City Charter, San Franciscos next mayor having been sworn into office possibly just days earlier will sign the budget. Exactly what the budget will look like will also depend on the outcome of two competing measures, Propositions C and D, which would raise taxes on commercial landlords to fund child care or homelessness and housing initiatives, respectively. Millions will flow to the winning measures causes. The policy and budget priorities expressed by the four leading mayoral candidates Breed, Supervisor Jane Kim, former Supervisor and state Sen. Mark Leno and former Supervisor Angela Alioto broadly overlap with Farrells. Like much of this mayors race, the disagreements arise mainly over details. Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle But all the candidates say they intend to make their own mark on the budget. To do that, the citys mayor-elect will have to work quickly with the Board of Supervisors. Kim said shes confident there will be little contradiction or tension between Farrells budget and the one she would sign. If there are differences, its often in the execution on how we deliver the services, rather than the funding amount given to each individual area, she said. Kim said she would support spending more to add to the citys police force. She voted against a population-based police staffing plan in 2015, arguing that adding more officers doesnt improve safety on its own. Instead, she says, the city should couple a bigger Police Department with spending on social-welfare initiatives such as after-school programs and homelessness prevention. Im open to increasing the police budget (for more officers), because we hear from residents that they want to see more foot patrols and more officers addressing low-level property crime and drug dealing, Kim said. I just want to look at the overall budget and make sure were also looking at these other strategies that make us safer. Kim would also look to spend more on making City College of San Francisco free to city residents. Tuition is free now only in the spring and fall semesters, and Kim wants to see that expanded to the summer session. Kim has also spearheaded Prop. C, which would raise taxes on commercial landlords to 3.5 percent to fund early childhood education and care services. It would bring in an estimated $146 million each year. One of Breeds top priorities is giving raises to nearly 22,000 in-home care workers, nonprofit employees and workers at San Francisco International Airport. She wants to increase their pay gradually to $16.86 an hour. Their wages will rise to $15 an hour in July, as will the pay of everyone else working for minimum wage in San Francisco. Boosting the city workers wages to $15.50 would cost the city about $14 million a year. In-home care providers, Breed said, took care of my grandmother, my aunt theyre able to help people who cant typically take care of themselves live in their homes with dignity. Michael Macor / The Chronicle Breed also wants to find $4.3 million for a program to provide free legal help to people facing evictions. Proposition F on the June 5 ballot would create a similar program, but Breed favors doing it legislatively so the board can fine-tune it. Breed would look to add funding for the city attorneys office to handle mental health conservatorship cases. The board passed Breeds legislation this month to shift authority over conservatorship proceedings from the district attorney to the city attorney, to ensure that such cases are handled by a civil body, not a criminal one. Breed said shes also praying that Prop. D passes, which would bring in around $70 million annually for the city to invest in homelessness and housing services. That will be a tremendous help, she said. Leno has pledged to end street homelessness by 2020, and he said his budget would reflect that commitment. A significant part of that plan involves immediately moving 1,000 homeless people into single-room-occupancy hotels. Every 50 people placed into those units would cost about $1.2 million, Leno estimates. 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. To Leno, homelessness represents the root of many other San Francisco problems. Taking people off the streets, he said, will cause a chain reaction of cost savings that can be directed elsewhere. The mess in our streets is the symptom of the problem, the problem being that we have 3,500 people living where they should never be living on our streets, Leno said. There will be savings across the board by dealing with this significant and top priority. Leno wants to overhaul the way the city puts the budget together from the ground up. He said he would look to implement a zero-based budgeting process, in which city agencies build their spending for the coming year from scratch. The idea is to force department leaders to justify each line item in their budgets, rather than relying on a template cribbed from the previous year. This is how you find waste, fraud, abuse and redundancy, Leno said. If there are failed programs that did not bring a return on investment, youll catch it. We want to reinvest in programs that reached their goals and their mission, and did it within budget. It provides greater accountability. Alioto has made clear her disdain for the leaders of departments including the Municipal Transportation Agency and Public Works, saying they run bloated fiefdoms that she would reform. Alioto said that besides the obvious crises such as homelessness and street filth, what no one is talking about is our small businesses. She says theres too much city construction, such as MTA streetscape projects, that are hurting merchants ability to bring customers in the door. Michael Macor / The Chronicle Our small businesses are going out of business, Alioto said. Block after block is boarded up, and it seems as though the MTA and DPW have intentionally gone after these small businesses, like taking away their parking to not allowing their customers to get to them with all the construction. Alioto wants more city funding for community benefit districts merchant groups that tax themselves to provide services like sidewalk cleaning and street ambassadors so the communities would have more money to run their businesses. She would also give tax breaks to small businesses by reallocating money from other places. Those other places could be the MTA and Public Works budgets. I honestly believe the way those fiefdoms are run is simply to the detriment of the city, and specifically small businesses, Alioto said. These merchants are so disgusted, and that can be stopped through the budget. Alioto is also a supporter of the zero-based budget system. Its a clean start, she said. If people are relying on things that were done wrong in the past, they should know right now dont rely on it. Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa Love em or hate em, those electric scooters zipping around downtown are the future. Pedestrians and motorists may scream. City officials may confiscate them by the dozens. But the fact is that young people, especially younger women, are more comfortable on the scoots than on a bike. You dont break a sweat, your clothes dont get ruffled, and you can ride in heels. There are, of course, valid concerns about safety, but the Municipal Transportation Agency has already signaled a willingness to permit 2,500 of the two-wheelers on the streets. A spokesman for Spin, one of the electric scooter outfits, says initial reports show that 20 percent of all rides begin and end at a transit hub. That means a lot of riders are getting off Muni or BART, then hopping a scooter for the final leg of the trip or vice versa, starting their trip on two wheels and rolling to a bus stop or transit station. These scooter people are clearly onto something. The things are cheap and efficient, and as long as riders play by the rules and stay off the sidewalks, everyone should be happy. So dont be surprised if you see me tooling along on one soon. DACA dilemma: Thanks to a pair of California Republican congressmen, the GOP leadership suddenly finds itself with an immigration problem and the outcome could lead to the return of Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the House. In the name of self-preservation, Republican Reps. Jeff Denham of Turlock (Stanislaus County) and David Valadao of Hanford (Kings County) are trying to force the House to take up legislation on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program DACA which keeps undocumented immigrants who arrived here as minors from being deported. Denham and Valadao both face tight races in districts that are leaning more Democratic, and being seen as anti-Dreamer could be a liability. So theyve rebelled against GOP leaders, who want nothing to do with a DACA bill that could disappoint their hard-line base and discourage GOP turnout in November. Now, whether a DACA bill passes is of little import to Denham and Valadao. The main thing is to be able to say they voted for it, so it does not become an issue in their districts this fall. GOP leaders could block the play, but it would come at a risk the possibility theyd be giving Democrats two of the 23 seats they need to flip to retake the House. And the prospect theyd once again have to refer to Pelosi as Madam Speaker. The Duke: One of Californias most productive governors died this month. George Deukmejian got as much done as Jerry Brown or Ronald Reagan, but he was so self-effacing no one knew. Let me give you a couple of examples. In 1986, he signed Californias landmark divestment law, pulling state money out of companies doing business with South Africa. It was the start of a pressure tactic that eventually helped to topple the apartheid government there. After the deadly Stockton school shooting in 1989, George and I drove down together to attend the funeral, where he openly cried. Two weeks later, he signed Mike Roos bill to ban assault weapons in California over the opposition of the National Rifle Association. And, finally, in return for my delivering the needed votes on one of his early budgets, George signed off on the first use of public money for AIDS research, authorizing $50 million for UCSF Medical Center. People often wondered what it was that allowed us to work together. It was a simpler time back then, and George was a simple guy. At lunchtime, he could often be found sitting alone in the Capitol basement cafeteria, eating a tuna sandwich. 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. I would often join him. And we paid for it ourselves. His memorial will be held June 9 in Long Beach, where he lived much of his life. The man deserves a robust turnout. Movie time: Breaking In. The only notable star in this low-budget thriller is Gabrielle Union, who plays a mother with two youngsters whose nest is invaded by bad guys. Think Home Alone for grown-ups. Its a relief to see real action and dramatic tension on the screen instead computer-generated special effects. See it before it leaves its too good to stay for too long. Fan mail: My column last week telling Democrats that bashing President Trump is bad strategy for the midterm elections really struck a chord. Reaction was pretty evenly split between finally, a sensible Democrat! and just WTF is the matter with you? One reader made a good point about Trump bashing that I need to keep in mind: The only thing we have left is making fun of him. Please dont ask them (Democrats) to stop. Its the only thing that keeps us sane. RIP Fido: Perusing The Chronicle the other day, I came across the new obituary page for pets. What a marvelous idea, and what great reading! Its the one obituary page where I know Im not going to come across my friends. And you gotta love the names. Tommy, Katie, Tiger and Missy sounds like a Nob Hill birthday party. Want to sound off? Email: wbrown@sfchronicle.com Testifying in Washington last month, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg answered wryly when a senator asked whether his company has a monopoly. It certainly doesnt feel like that to me, Zuckerberg replied, to general amusement. Flash back to 1998. That spring, then-Microsoft CEO Bill Gates found himself in a Senate hearing room facing similar concerns. Microsoft does not have monopoly power in the business of developing and licensing computer operating systems, Gates told the senators. Gates did not prove persuasive. Twenty years ago this month, the Department of Justice joined by California and 19 other states filed a landmark lawsuit against Microsoft in a federal court, alleging that the software giant had abused monopoly power in its operating systems in ways that harmed competitors. Silicon Valley, seeing innovation choked off by Microsofts grip over Windows, largely cheered, with software companies marshalled by lawyer Gary Reback, then at Palo Alto firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, helping make the case to split Microsoft up. The suit set off a dramatic chain of events that culminated in a months-long trial, featuring an awkward videotaped deposition from Gates and endless expert testimony. The presiding federal judge ordered the breakup of Microsoft a fate the company ultimately avoided on appeal. Although Microsoft escaped mostly intact, its animal spirits seemed broken, with the stock languishing under longtime CEO Steve Ballmer, who took over from Gates and ruled over what Vanity Fair called the companys lost decade. Its shares did not bounce back to 1990s levels until after Ballmer was replaced by Satya Nadella in 2014. In the meantime, it missed out on the mobile, social and cloud revolutions, and is still playing catch-up. Its this type of scenario a major federal lawsuit or regulatory action that slows a company down and scares away top talent that Zuckerberg and fellow CEOs at other tech giants, which are also subject to present-day grumblings about monopoly power, want desperately to avoid. So far, they have succeeded magnificently. Some tech majors are close to the same age as Microsoft (founded in 1975) was in 1998 Google is 20, Amazon 24, Facebook 14, but the Department of Justice to date has shown few signs of looking into harms from monopoly power, even though the companies rule vast sectors of our online lives. Certainly some practices that seemed monopolistic then cause barely a blink today. Details are different. Microsoft was accused, among other things, of using Windows dominance over computer operating systems (Apple being a bit player back then) to block the popular upstart web browser Netscape Navigator. Microsoft had built its own browser, Internet Explorer, and bundled it into Windows, with contracts restricting computer manufacturers from putting in Netscape. Concerns about bundling can seem quaint these days. The cloud, for one thing, has changed everything. Now, its generally easy to download your desired browser to a desktop, even if another browser is preloaded. And a rival website as Google has argued is just a click away. The questions facing the tech giants today largely (though not exclusively) revolve around data collection and protection. Facebook, of course, has recently been in the governments crosshairs, with U.S. lawmakers fussing over the Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which tens of millions of Facebook users personal data were unwittingly scooped up by a political consulting firm. Other companies also collect vast troves of data. But if data is the issue du jour, its doubtful that traditional antitrust laws can provide the full remedy. Whereas the issues facing Microsoft fit the antitrust mold of using dominance in one area to extend into new ones, today when you look at big tech companies and their ability to wield power, for lack of a better word, (by) using information and data from their customers, its more difficult to put in an antitrust bucket, says Stuart Plunkett, a lawyer in San Francisco with the firm Baker Botts, whose clients include tech companies. The fact that services are provided for free, in exchange for data that lead to advertising, makes things more complicated, because it may be harder to show that consumers are hurt. Outside of antitrust, a new law and a new agency would be one route to data regulation, says Fiona Scott Morton, an economist at the Yale School of Management. The feds havent been entirely hands-off. Most notably, Google has been in the sights of the Federal Trade Commission, which scrutinized whether its search results promoted its own sites at the expense of competitors. But that investigation ended in 2013 without legal action against the company; Google agreed to make some changes. (Reback, Microsofts foe in the 1990s, has more recently been representing antitrust complainants against Google.) A more forceful voice seems to have emerged: the European Union. Last year, European antitrust officials who also went after Microsoft years ago fined Google $2.7 billion after an investigation not dissimilar to the FTCs found that Google favored its own shopping products in searches over those of competitors. Google has appealed. The EU is also investigating a more Microsoft-like charge: that Google has pressured phone makers to incorporate Google search tools such as its Chrome browser, using access to its Play store as leverage. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes And EU antitrust regulators have also gone after Amazon, last year getting the company to drop its enforcement of contract clauses with e-book publishers aimed at ensuring that Amazon got a deal as good or better than competitors. In Europe, its easier to prove abuse of dominance, said Michael Carrier, a law professor and antitrust expert at Rutgers University. Some national governments are taking a stand, too. In Germany, antitrust regulators are tackling data issues, saying in December that Facebooks social networking dominance essentially forces users into yielding data. Separately and more significantly, the EU also has a huge data privacy initiative that takes effect Friday and is reshaping how tech companies large and small do business in Europe. What explains why Europe has plunged ahead, while the U.S. has stayed quieter? One reason, says Morton of Yale, is that antitrust regulators have not kept up with the economic research of the past few decades. Enforcement of trains and planes and automobiles and office supplies these are familiar product markets where the agencies have experience, she said. Tech companies in particular are constantly pioneering new models the enormous scale of social networks, for example, is a recent development and that may require more out-of-the-box thinking. Even if regulators do catch up with the changing times, consumers may want to keep their expectations in check. Antitrust law does not bar monopoly, said Randal Picker, a professor at the University of Chicago Law School. The important question, he added, is what do you do with monopoly power. So we may be stuck with the tech giants and their free but addictive services for a while. Microsoft is bigger than ever, and has regained some of its competitive mojo. But it now faces opponents collectively worth trillions of dollars. Until regulators see a misstep that gives them an opening, big tech may be the only power that can check itself. Kate Galbraith is The San Francisco Chronicles assistant business editor. Email: kgalbraith@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kategalbraith New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have already passed bills intending to circumvent the new $10,000 limit on the federal tax deduction for state and local taxes. California, which has the highest state income tax rate in the nation, hasnt passed any workaround bills, although two are making their way through the Legislature. Its unclear why California isnt moving as quickly as other high-tax states on this hot-button issue. One could hope its because our lawmakers are taking a more cautious approach to measures the Internal Revenue Service is almost sure to challenge. Its in the best interest of the state and taxpayers not to rush forward, with so much uncertainty, said Jared Walczak, a senior policy analyst with the Tax Foundation. One difference is that in those other states, the governors were strongly supportive of doing this. In New York, Andy Cuomo made this his top priority, said Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow with the Urban Brookings Tax Policy Center. California Gov. Jerry Brown has been mostly mum on the workaround bills, although in early December he teamed up with Cuomo to assail the federal law that limits the deduction. The law, which Congress passed hastily in late December, lowered federal tax rates and in exchange reduced or eliminated some deductions. It capped the previously unlimited itemized deduction for all state and local taxes at $10,000. The law retained the itemized deduction for charitable contributions, which enters into some of the new state schemes. It also nearly doubled the standard deduction to $24,000 for married couples and $12,000 for singles. These changes are expected to reduce the number of households that itemize deductions by about 19 million, or to 11 percent of households from 26 percent, according to the Tax Policy Center. As a result, fewer people will deduct state and local taxes (including income, sales and property tax), and those who do generally will deduct less. States with high income and property taxes worry that this will make it harder to raise or even maintain them. The bills being passed by high-tax states are dubbed SALT workarounds, because they are designed to blunt the loss of state and local tax deductions by providing other deductions and credits. They vary widely and are quite complex, which could limit their popularity, assuming they survive the IRS and the courts. More important than the legal issue is the tax equity issue, Gleckman said. Because the SALT deduction mainly benefits higher-income people, The question is, why are states going through all of this to make their richest taxpayers whole? The counterargument is that states will suffer if rich taxpayers move to a lower-tax state. Some research suggests that few wealthy people move to avoid state tax increases, Gleckman said. A 2014 Stanford University study on migrating millionaires concluded that their flight risk is greatly exaggerated. But even if nobody flees, if the after-tax cost of state taxes goes up, it will get harder to raise them, and those who benefit most from tax-supported programs are lower-income people, Gleckman said. The California Senate passed a SALT workaround bill by state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, in January, but it hasnt gotten anywhere in the Assembly. The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee last week passed a bill authored by Autumn Burke, D-Inglewood (Los Angeles County), who chairs the committee. AB2217 could be on the Assembly floor within two weeks, a Burke staffer said. Dan Reeves, de Leons chief of staff, said the Senate bill could reach Burkes committee in June and the Assembly floor in August, the same month the Assembly bill could reach the Senate floor. Both bills would give taxpayers who made a charitable donation a state income tax credit nearly equal to their contribution. The donation would be deductible as an itemized deduction on their federal (but not state) tax return, unless the IRS disallowed it. The credit would cut their state tax liability dollar-for-dollar, but it could not reduce it below zero. Under the Senate-passed bill, taxpayers who donated to a newly created excellence fund within the state general fund would get a state tax credit equal to 85 percent of their donation. The general fund would keep 85 percent, to offset the credit. The excellence fund would keep 15 percent. Originally, the Senate bill would have given the taxpayer a 100 percent credit, but even its backers feared the IRS would not view that as a legitimate charitable donation. On Friday afternoon, de Leon amended the bill, SB227, again to create an arms-length distance between who is getting the contribution and who is providing the taxpayer with the credit, said Dan Reeves, de Leons chief of staff. Under the amended version, people who donated to the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team, run by the Kern County superintendent of schools, would get an 85 percent tax credit. The team would forward 85 percent to the general fund and distribute 15 percent to the states public schools and community colleges. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes The Assembly bill would give taxpayers a state tax credit if they donated to any public K-12 school or community college, any college or university that participates in the Cal Grant program or any public charity listed in active status with the California secretary of state. The taxpayer would get a credit equal to 80 percent of the donation, the charity would keep 10 percent and 10 percent would go into the states general fund, after administrative expenses. Charities would have to enroll in the tax credit program to participate. They would not have to be headquartered in California. Cutting existing charities in on the deal could make the contribution look more legitimate and help charities recapture some of the donations they may lose if people who no longer itemize deductions cut back. But there is a risk. Suppose a donor who previously gave $1,000 per year to a charity now gives $10,000 in exchange for an $8,500 tax credit. The charity would get only 10 percent of the donation, or $900, instead of $1,000. But the plan also could increase contributions if a person who previously gave $200 now gives $10,000 to get a tax credit. In this case the charity would be ahead by $800. The California Association of Nonprofits has endorsed the bill. Jan Masaoka, the associations chief executive, said the former scenario is a risk, but we hope that people who are making donations (to get a tax credit) realize what they are doing and would make sure the charity is not worse off. A bigger concern, she said, is that these various workarounds will confuse the difference between making a donation to a nonprofit for the public good and making a donation that is really a tax workaround. We are always concerned about any kind of confusion around the word donation. Thats why her group discourages charities from using the word donation when they sell raffle tickets. Kathleen Pender is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: kpender@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kathpender When looking for a festival that exemplifies the lefty leanings and fabled internationalism of the Bay Area, its hard to top the San Francisco International Arts Festival, which brings a collection of diverse artists from the Bay Area and around the world to the Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture. The festival, which runs from Thursday, May 24, to June 3, is an event where many of the audience members are artists themselves, not surprising in a region with so many creative people. Though the disciplines on display at the festival run the gamut, from dance to music to stage to jazz, the undercurrents of political resistance are never far from the surface. Womens rights, LGBT rights, immigrant rights all peoples rights are under attack, said Andrew Wood, the founder and executive director of SFIAF. The festival is about raising awareness everywhere. What Fort Mason provides is a landscape, a canvas where we are able to put together a collaborative series of events that highlight the diversity of America, and we invite international artists to share that, Wood said. In all, 40 artists from the Bay Area and the world will be performing during the festival. One of the most high-profile presentations will be a concert, with spoken words, to salute Martin Luther Kings Riverside Church speech in Manhattan 51 years ago a searing critique of the Vietnam War and U.S. foreign policy. The Asian American Orchestra will perform a composition by Anthony Brown, as activist Angela Davis reads text that she has written for the occasion. The show, titled Down by the Riverside: Requiem for a King, will take place at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 26, at the Cowell Theater. The concert is one of many events designed to help all people see current events in a new light. We cant just be in our silos, Wood said. You can argue all day, and it will never change minds. But if you take people on a journey, you can give them a new perspective. Here are other highlights of the festival: Solo Date: This high-tech play concerns a man who endeavors to reconstruct his deceased lover through artificial intelligence and social media. 8:30 p.m. May 31, 7 p.m. June 1, and 3 p.m. June 2, Southside Theater. Troupe Vertigo and Cirquantique: A pair of nouveau cirque acts will perform shows from two distinctly feminist perspectives. Troupe Vertigos Tableaux concerns five women who harness their physicality to overcome a confining island of boxes that represent the constrictions of society. 8:30 p.m. June 1, 7 p.m. June 2 and 6 p.m. June 3, Cowell Theater. Cirquantiques Bang! Bang! centers on a night of intrigue during prohibition-era Quebec. 8 p.m. May 31, 7 p.m. June 1 and 9 p.m. June 2, Gallery 308. Dandelion/Bandelion: A dance ensemble performs We Are All Dragons in Drag, which reflects on the current political climate with a combination of dance, music, storytelling and drag. Expect some audience participation and outrageousness. 8 p.m. May 30, 7 p.m. June 1 and 7 p.m. June 3, Firehouse. Live-action painting: For The One Truthiness, Oakland performance artist Charlie Levin provides perspectives on gentrification with live-action painting that is done as the audience reads a text to her. 7 p.m. next Sunday, May 27, 9 p.m. June 2 and 7 p.m. June 3, Southside Theater. Fanna-Fi-Allah: A performance of Sufi devotional music that promotes tolerance from an Islamic point of view. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 24, Cowell Theater. Yvette Dibos: In a performance work titled Miss Appropriation tries to _(Fill in the blank)_, an aspiring drag queen seeks fame and influence and tries to put her drab suburban upbringing behind her. 7 p.m. Friday, May 25; 9 p.m. Saturday, May 26; 4 p.m. next Sunday, May 27, Southside Theater. Interrogation Room: This performance piece, which takes place at a fictional processing center, makes fun of the power dynamics inherent in gaining citizenship or membership to a new space. Audience participation is an option. 7 p.m. Friday, May 25; 2 p.m. next Sunday, May 27, Firehouse. San Francisco Flamenco Dance Company: Five flamenco choreographers present works to honor the legacy of renowned Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca. 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 25, Gallery 308. David Lewis is a Bay Area freelance writer. The San Francisco International Arts Festival: A celebration of diverse Bay Area and global artists. Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture. Thursday, May 24 to June 3. www.sfiaf.org The 2018 Farm Bill failed to pass the House of Representatives Friday as Democrats found its cuts to food assistance programs draconian, while conservative members of Congress didnt think it went far enough to curb government assistance. In a statement, the White House said President Trump was disappointed in the result of the vote. Meanwhile, Democrats and anti-hunger advocates applauded the failure of the House Republicans 2018 Farm Bill, saying the legislation would have taken away billions of dollars in funding for school lunches and food stamps, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill, which is renewed every five years and dictates federal financing of farm subsidies and food assistance, also wasnt supported by 30 members of the House Freedom Caucus, who said they wanted stricter work requirements for SNAP eligibility. Because the vote was close at 198-213, House leader Paul Ryan scheduled a re-vote on Tuesday in the hopes of getting more Republicans on board. The bill got no votes from Democrats, who have been lambasting its new work requirements and other restrictions ever since Michael Conaway, R-Texas, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, presented it last month. We may be down, but we are not out. We will deliver a strong, new farm bill on time, said Conaway in a statement following the defeat. Our nations farmers and ranchers and rural America deserve nothing less. The Senate will come out with its own version of the Farm Bill in the coming weeks. Heres a look at why the Farm Bill matters, and how the process works. What is the Farm Bill and why is it a big deal? Officially called the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (HR2), the Farm Bill is a set of rules for government-funded agricultural programs, including farmer subsidies, conservation, crop insurance and rural development. What does farming have to do with food stamps? The biggest part of the Farm Bills $867 billion budget, by far, is for federal food assistance programs like SNAP. Why is Congress voting on the Farm Bill now? Congress reauthorizes the bill every five years. If its not reauthorized before it expires in September, Congress could extend the current bill another year. But with commodity prices down and many agricultural communities struggling across the country, many farmers say that the uncertainty would make it hard for them to plan ahead. Why should Bay Area residents care? The Republicans proposed changes would hurt low-income Bay Area residents the hardest because of the high cost of living here. The bill would change how much of a persons budget can factor into the daily food stamps allowance. In San Francisco alone, roughly one in four people struggle with food insecurity, according to the SF-Marin Food Bank. In addition, environmental groups are concerned about the House Agricultural Committees proposed change to conservation and endangered species protection. For example, the Natural Resources Defense Council said that, if passed, the bill would have exempted public lands from important land, wildlife and water conservation safeguards. The bill also includes an amendment that could have restricted Californias ability to set its own policies on farm animal welfare, such as its rules regarding farm animal confinement, according to the Humane Society of the United States. What are Republicans trying to accomplish with the new bill? Conaway and other Republicans who support the bill said they want to promote opportunity by emphasizing work for work-capable Americans. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. What are the main issues Democrats have with the current version? Democrats complained that the bill was not bipartisan because they never agreed to the proposed changes to SNAP, including expanding work requirements to those age 50 to 59 and to parents of minors over age 5. Republicans also proposed shifting billions of dollars away from direct benefits to job training programs that Democrats say are bureaucratic and untested. This move would lead to a decrease of $20 billion in direct benefits over 10 years, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, a research and policy institute that focuses on programs serving low-income communities. We want to thank the members of Congress who did take a courageous step against hunger and said no to these extremely harmful SNAP provisions, which would take food off the table of millions of struggling Americans, said Jared Call of California Food Policy Advocates. Why did 30 Republicans also vote against the bill? Members of the House Freedom Caucus had threatened to withhold their votes because they found the new work SNAP requirements not strong enough. The members also said they wanted a promise of immigration reform before they would agree to support it, even after President Trump expressed support for the bill Thursday on Twitter. What happens next? If the re-vote fails Tuesday, the House will have to eventually pass a new bill. Meanwhile, the Senate is due to present its own bill, which Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., have promised to be bipartisan. If both bills are passed, they would go to a smaller committee of senators and representatives who would hash out a final bill, which President Trump would then decide whether or not to sign. The head of the National Security Service of Armenia, Artur Vanetsyan, promised to significantly limit the activity of official representatives of the Armenian authorities in the social networks, especially Facebook, whose live broadcasts became fashionable in new Yerevan. According to Sputnik-Armenia, he was prompted to make such a statement after an incident with the Secretary of the National Security Service, Armen Grigoryan, who appeared on Facebook in his office. The secret documents were accidentally shot becoming, thus, available to all subscribers of Grigoryan. Are women finally on the way to having the political voice we need and deserve in California? The record number of women running for office and the emergence of the #MeToo movement suggests a rising tide of political and cultural change. While we all hope that is so, let me introduce you to Grace Dorris, Esto Broughton, Elizabeth Hughes and Anna Saylor, the first women elected to the California Legislature in 1918. These women two teachers, a lawyer and a librarian fought for and won major public policy changes, including providing public defenders to those who could not afford a lawyer, reforming community property law, funding rural schools and abolishing the death policy for minors. Yet in the ensuing six decades, only 10 women entered the Assembly and the first female state senator, Rose Ann Vuich, wasnt elected until 1976. Gender diversity is lacking in Sacramento, despite our states embrace of ethnic and cultural diversity. Californias Legislature has the fewest women since 1998 occupying just 23 percent of the seats and lagging our neighboring states of Arizona (40 percent), Nevada (38.1 percent), Oregon (33.3 percent) and Washington (37.4 percent). If people think real change happens overnight, it doesnt, state Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins noted at an event marking the 100th anniversary of women in the Legislature, held last week in Sacramento by the Public Policy Institute of California. Elected unanimously by her peers, Atkins is the first woman to serve as the Senate president and the first person to serve as both Assembly speaker and Senate leader. She is a proud member of the LGBTQ community. Culture change starts with us, she said. It takes root when we mentor each other. Thats difficult with so few women serving in Sacramento, where there are only nine women in the state Senate. Nine women only go so far when it comes to committee assignments, she said. We need legislators to present and acknowledge the female perspective to develop public policy that serves all Californians. Atkins was raised by Pentecostal parents in southern Virginia, where she picked cotton and chopped tobacco. As an adult, she moved to then-strongly Republican San Diego, where she entered politics as a Democrat. Her life experiences taught her to listen to others. If I want to have good relationships with the people in my life, I have to see different perspectives, she said. With so great a need for perspective, why has gender diversity in the Capitol stagnated? State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, summed it up neatly: Women dont win political office because they arent always well funded. And they are not well funded for the same reasons they dont receive the same pay, or get the same executive pay. Hope for a more equal world shines but we all have work to do to arrive there. Lois Kazakoff is The San Francisco Chronicles deputy editorial page editor. Email: lkazakoff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @lkazakoff Find a way to say YES to things was the title of the commencement address that Eric Schmidt gave in 2012 at UC Berkeley. The former executive chairman of Google encouraged the graduates to say yes to trying new things. Then he told them: Yes lets you stand out in a crowd. Be the one everyone comes to for help, for advice, or just for fun. While you may say graduates have such a choice of employers in this job market, of course they can say no but they still will approach their new job with a yes attitude. Conventional thinking promotes saying yes as the way to impress your boss and peers: Say yes to all of the assignments that will come your way, to meetings and customer visits as well as all the mundane tasks that fall under your job description. Your goal is to become that go-to person, the good soldier who is always ready to jump in. While it sounds like a logical path to success, its actually the opposite. My research found that top performers say no including to their bosses. You may think that being a yes person is going to make you memorable. It does for a short time, but its not sustainable. Over the long run, your performance slips and you become known for being a lower quality person. Top performers take the opposite approach: They say no. That might seem a dangerous way to start a new job and a sure way to underperform, but to perform at your best, you need to focus, and saying no is corollary to focus. My study of 5,000 people across corporate America sought to find out why some people perform better at work than others. During my research, I met a recent graduate; lets call him Ben. Ben landed his dream job as a management consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area. He worked crazy hours and said yes to everything. In fact, he proactively sought extra work to show how smart and hardworking he was. He routinely clocked in 50, 60 and even 80 hours a week, and proudly boasted about how busy he was to all of his college friends. At first the partners at Bens firm were impressed by his drive. As a freshly minted college grad, Ben thought hed found the right strategy to succeed. Unfortunately, hed bought into a misguided do more paradigm, and it would ultimately derail him. When you work 30 to 50 hours per week, adding more hours to your job boosts your performance. But as you approach the 50- to 65-hour mark, the benefits of saying yes to additional hours start to drop, and once youre logging in 65 hours or more, your overall performance declines. Its a case where more is less. And theres more: The Yes-People, the Bens of the world, risk the boomerang effect. Bens lack of focus meant his work started to slip in quality. His spreadsheet analyses were not as detailed and thorough as they needed to be. Unlike his more focused co-workers, he was not well prepared for meetings and thus did not contribute as well to the discussions. He simply had too many things on his plate. Even though he was working himself into the ground, he no longer impressed senior managers, and was eventually asked to leave the company. The hardest-working person on the team was out of a job. Focus correlates with fewer. It involves identifying the most important activities and getting rid of all other extraneous tasks. Saying no isnt an attempt to slack off; its a way to prioritize and dedicate all of your effort to delivering your best possible performance. People who focus on few things and obsess to excel perform better 25 percentage points higher in the performance ranking in my data, to be exact. Thats the difference between the 70th percentile and the 95th percentile for the SAT. Its massive. I often see students trying to listen to my lecture while texting or surfing the internet. It doesnt work: Toggling hurts quality and productivity. A study of 58,280 court cases before Italian judges in Milan found that the judges who handled many cases simultaneously took longer to complete them than those who performed them in sequence. Other studies have shown that switching between tasks can decrease productivity by as much as 40 percent. How people say no matters a great deal. In their book Words Can Change Your Brain, Dr. Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman explain how that one-word utterance no! can lead to trouble. Simply seeing it in print for less than a second releases stress-producing hormones and neurotransmitters that interrupt normal brain functioning, including logic and reason. If you simply blurt out no to your boss or others, you may just upset your superiors. The key is to explain why you say no: To excel. Another junior management consultant in our study, James, learned to subtly shift the burden of prioritization. He was already working with a full load when he was asked to help with a sales pitch. He told the partner that he would be happy to help, but he couldnt cover both the sales pitch and the merger project he was working on already. Which should he prioritize? Cant you do both? the partner asked. Not if you want excellent work, James replied. The partner agreed. While it takes guts to say no, its ultimately what your boss should want. Youll perform better by excelling on the few most important things, and that, in turn, will help him or her perform better, too. The path to greatness isnt pleasing your boss all of the time. As the most junior person in the office, its your job to set boundaries. When youre in school, courses and professors set boundaries for you. Now you have to be the agent of your own work. Saying no is one of the most important professional skills to have in our hectic, always-on, 24/7 workplace. Warren Buffett says, The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything. Oh, the places youll go when you learn to say no. But please dont say no to this advice. Morten T. Hansen is a professor at UC Berkeley and the author of Great at Work: How Top Performers Do Less, Work Better, and Achieve More (Simon & Schuster, 2018). To comment, submit your letter to the editor at SFChronicle.com/letters. The key to Californias long-term economic growth can be found in the classroom. Job growth in California has been robust since the last recession. But recently that growth has slowed because of the lack of employable workers. The projected shortage of skilled workers in the state through 2030 is more than a million graduates with bachelors degrees as well as hundreds of thousands of workers with two-year associates degrees and certificates. Only 39 percent of the states workers are trained to the middle-skill level, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics. Filling that talent pipeline will be a challenge unless we can better prepare students for 21st century jobs. A promising public-private partnership is taking shape in the Legislature that focuses on high school and college completion, along with meaningful workplace experiences. State Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-La Canada Flintridge (Los Angeles County), is sponsoring legislation to create the California State Pathways in Technology. If successful, this legislation would provide state funding for a proven educational program already delivering results in 90 schools in seven states. P-Tech schools would address the educational achievement challenge in California through an innovative model for grades nine through 14 that encompasses high school, college and industry. In addition to their high school diplomas, P-Tech students earn a two-year associates degree at no cost and develop the workplace skills necessary for employment in the 21st century new collar workforce. This is critical, given that the U.S. economy will create 16 million new collar jobs by 2024, according to the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. These positions require some post-secondary education and mid-level technology skills, though not necessarily a four-year college degree. Among all states, California has experienced some of the largest increases in the number of good, well-paying jobs that dont require four-year degrees. According to the just-released report card from the National Center for Education Statistics, the math skills of Californias eighth-grade students lag those in 33 other states, and just 10 to 15 percent of our African American and Latino students are proficient in math, significantly trailing their white and Asian American peers. How can we close these widening gaps that perpetuate cycles of poverty and weaken economic competitiveness? A number of California schools have cracked the code to improving high school completion by integrating rigorous academics, career-technical education classes and work-based learning opportunities. This linked learning approach has successfully delivered career- and college-ready graduates, in part by incorporating local businesses to support education programs. But thats not all. After completing the first full six years of the model last spring, the inaugural cohort of students at P-Tech in Brooklyn, N.Y., had a graduation rate four times the national community college graduation rate and five times the rate for low-income students. Many of these graduates have gone on to complete their bachelors degrees, while others have joined the new-collar workforce at IBM, which designed and continues to steward the model. The P-Tech network now includes schools in Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island and Texas, with the number of schools expected to reach more than 120 by the fall. There are now more than 450 companies involved, providing mentoring, site visits, paid internships and first in line job interviews upon graduation a powerful motivator for students. Importantly, whether urban, suburban or rural, P-Tech schools work within existing state budgets and offer open admissions without pretesting. P-Tech schools dont require or receive special resources. All partnerships benefit from IBMs playbook, which helps ensure each school has the information to implement the model successfully. The goal is to get students to a degree that has weight in the 21st century economy. Providing the P-Tech pathway, along with programs such as Linked Learning, will offer Californias students a new, debt-free pathway to ensuring their career success, and our states long-term economic growth. Jennifer Ryan Crozier is president of the IBM Foundation. Loren Kaye is president of the California Foundation for Commerce and Education, a think tank affiliated with CalChamber. Californians looking to vote for a Republican in the June 5 governors primary face largely the same choice they have for the past decade: a tough-talking conservative officeholder or a wealthy businessperson who has never been elected. In 2010, the choice was between then-state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and billionaire former eBay CEO Meg Whitman. In 2014, the options were Tea Party favorite Assemblyman Tim Donnelly and former Goldman Sachs Vice President Neel Kashkari. Both times, the wealthy businessperson advanced to the general election, to be crushed by Democrat Jerry Brown. This year, the choice is between Assemblyman Travis Allen, R-Huntington Beach (Orange County), who portrays himself as the true fan of President Trump in the race, and businessman John Cox, who says he voted for a third-party candidate for president in 2016 yet won Trumps endorsement Friday anyway. With far fewer registered Republicans than Democrats in California, its likely that only one of the GOP gubernatorial candidates, at most, will finish in the top two in the primary and advance to November. Republican officials say a top-two finish is crucial, not so much because of the possibility the GOP could win in November no Republican has won a statewide office since 2006 as because the party needs to give conservatives a reason to bother to vote. Republicans are playing defense in several of their congressional seats in California and need a motivated base to fend off Democrats hoping to flip 23 seats nationally and win back the House. So in a way, the choices Californians make for governor in a little more than two weeks could determine who controls the House for the next two years. For Republicans, the choices couldnt be more different in style than Allen and Cox. Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press Travis Allen Allens political awakening happened about eight years ago when he began attending political fundraisers for Democrats. He wasnt a candidate then. He was, and still is, a certified financial planner in Orange County. But clients and his uncle Frank Barbaro, then-chairman of the Democratic Party of Orange County, invited him to fundraisers. So he went to a $1,000-a-head event for Brown and a $100-apiece benefit for his now-opponent in the governors race, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. Allen says those fundraisers galvanized him but not in the way the Democrats intended. He says he heard nothing that acknowledged that the state where hed lived his whole life was deteriorating, and why those close to him were moving away. His parents couldnt afford to retire in a coastal community to their liking, so they moved to Oregon. His best friend decamped to Texas and a home twice as big. Business clients scattered to 20 different states. When he grew up, Allen said, Californias public schools, roads and the water system were among the best in the nation. Now, they are all among the worst. Born and raised in San Diego, the 44-year-old Allen looks every bit the Southern California surfer that he is. Short, spiky hair. Shirt unbuttoned two buttons. He offers fist bumps, occasionally addresses people as dude, and isnt shy about speaking about himself in the third person. After attending those Democratic fundraisers, he ran for office himself, winning election to the state Assembly in 2012 and easily being re-elected in 2014 and 2016. But its hard to fundamentally change California as a backbench Republican in a Democratic-dominated Legislature. So, inspired by Trumps unlikely victory, he decided to run for governor and adopted the presidents blunt rhetorical style. The California he sees is full of exploding homelessness and rising violent crime. Gavin Newsoms San Francisco is a dystopia where the streets stink and there are maps of human waste so you know which streets to walk on and which to avoid. The sidewalks glitter, and its not diamonds, Allen told The Chronicle in a Facebook Live conversation. Its the glass from smashed-in car windows. Californias problems emanate right here in San Francisco, the home base of Bay Area liberal elites who have ruined the state, Allen said. Like Newsom. And there is one guy who is going to beat Gavin Newsom, Allen said. And that is Travis Allen. Allen says one big difference between him and Cox is that he voted for Trump in 2016, while Cox backed Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson. Cox says he wasnt sure Trump was a real conservative, but now he is. Allen misses few chances to knock Cox for his vote, and thats helped him attract Trump supporters as volunteers. Whether theyll stick with him now that the president has backed Cox is what could make or break his candidacy, because Allen has few resources beyond free labor. He had just $147,609 cash on hand at the end of April, barely one-tenth Coxs total. Like Trump, he attacks his opponents with gusto. He mocks Cox as an angry guy and a beta male. Referring to then-San Francisco Mayor Newsoms 2005 affair with a staffer who was married to his campaign manager, Allen asked a debate audience, If you cant trust Gavin with your best friends wife, how can you trust him with the state? He touts his 100 percent rating from the anti-tax Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association as strongly as he does his zero percent rating from Planned Parenthood. In Trump fashion, he seeks to connect to voters with a simply worded message: Cut taxes, get tough on crime, fix our roads and expand our freeways with no new taxes, fix our broken education system, and complete the California state water project. He offers few policy details beyond his promises to fix and get tough, even on his campaign website. But as Trump did in 2016, Allen has a list of things he would do on day one after taking office, like overturning Californias sanctuary state laws and its 12-cent-a-gallon gasoline tax increase. Doing any of that will be hard, because the Legislature is certain to still be in Democratic control. But Allen is unfazed. His plan will work, he says, because Californians dont want California to look like the streets of San Francisco. As for Trumps endorsement of Cox, Allen stayed on message: CALIFORNIANS DESERVE A GREAT GOVERNOR, he tweeted Friday. One who actually VOTED for President @realDonaldTrump @JoinTravisAllen. Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press John Cox Cox, 62, grew up on the South Side of Chicago and was raised by a single mother, a schoolteacher he calls my hero. She labored under principals who retained their jobs with the help of corrupt local politicians, Cox says. The experience formed his view of politics as a system soiled by money and corruption. He worked his way through Illinois Institute of Technology, graduating in 2 years at the age of 20. Afterward, he had a day job as a certified public accountant by night, he went to law school at Chicago-Kent College of Law. In 1981, he opened a law firm. Later, he branched off into the worlds of venture capital and real estate and amassed a fortune. Slowly, he became interested in politics. He served on the steering committee of Jack Kemps failed 1988 GOP presidential campaign. Then he began a series of unsuccessful runs for office in Illinois for Congress, the U.S. Senate and Cook County recorder of deeds. In 2007, he briefly ran for president. Seven years ago, he moved to the wealthy community of Rancho Santa Fe north of San Diego, and brought his jaded view of politics with him. In 2016, he spent more than $373,000 on an unsuccessful attempt to qualify a ballot measure to force politicians to wear the corporate logos of their top donors when they appear at official functions similar to how NASCAR drivers sport their sponsors logos. Cox said it was a way to show the absurdity of the influence that wealthy people have on the political system. Yet in 2018, Cox has spent more than $4.2 million of his own money on his campaign for governor. Last year, he spent $2 million on another unsuccessful ballot measure, one that would have had voters elect as many as 12,000 local representatives to advise the 120 members of the Legislature in Sacramento. To Cox, a thread runs through all his efforts: Im a businessman. A problem-solver. Im not like these politicians. Some opponents have said anyone who runs for office five times is, by definition, a politician. Cox makes the distinction that he doesnt want a career in politics. I love running my business. Im interested in doing this because this state needs a business perspective. It needs someone who has had management experience. It is not being very well managed. On policies, Cox concedes, theres not much difference between him and Allen. They both oppose the gas tax increase and sanctuary state laws. Its more a question of style: Cox, with his shock of white hair and dark-rimmed glasses, says in his flat Midwestern accent that his surfer-dude Republican adversary is immature. Over the past few weeks, some party leaders have tried to coalesce support around Cox House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, a popular figure in California GOP circles, was well ahead of Trump in endorsing him. But when party delegates met at their convention this month in San Diego, it made no difference both candidates fell short of the votes needed to win an endorsement. It left California Republicans divided over which candidate to choose. Again. Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli President Trump gave Republican John Cox the endorsement hes wished for Friday, supplying the San Diego-area businessman with an instant boost in the June 5 primary for governor. California finally deserves a great Governor, one who understands borders, crime and lowering taxes, the president said in an afternoon tweet. John Cox is the man hell be the best Governor youve ever had. I fully endorse John Cox for Governor and look forward to working with him to Make California Great Again! Thats heady stuff for a GOP candidate who didnt even vote for Trump in the November 2016 election he backed Libertarian Gary Johnson, although hes been apologizing for that since his campaign began. I wasnt sure (Trump) was a conservative, Cox said during a San Jose debate earlier this month. Now I know. Hes a conservative. For Cox, whos been working to position himself as the GOP alternative to a host of big-name and deep-pocketed Democrats, Trumps endorsement gives him a chance to put away underfunded Republican opponent Travis Allen. The Orange County assemblyman has argued that he is the real conservative in the race. I am honored and deeply grateful to my president and I am looking forward to working with him to make California great again, Cox said in a statement. Like the president, Im a businessman who knows how to get things done. Were going to secure the border, empower California small businesses, lower taxes, and make our state affordable. Allen wasnt so grateful. CALIFORNIANS DESERVE A GREAT GOVERNOR, Allen tweeted. One who actually VOTED for President @realDonaldTrump - @JoinTravisAllen . Cox also got endorsementsfrom House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. The next step for Cox is to make sure every Republican and conservative-leaning independent knows hes the presidents choice and gets behind him in the primary, where only the top two finishers, regardless of party, advance to the November ballot. Running under the presidents political umbrella could be enough for a strong finish by Cox in the primary particularly if Democratic votes are split among the partys four major candidates. John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth For the 1981 royal wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, the major networks put a roster of all-time legends on a plane to Britain, including Tom Brokaw, Peter Jennings, Dan Rather and Barbara Walters. The 2018 marriage of Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle lured a much lower wattage of TV personalities, such as Giuliana Rancic, Shepard Smith, Don Lemon and Al Roker. On HBO, Will Ferrell with Molly Shannon were making fun of the whole thing in the personas of Cord Hosenbeck and Tish Cattigan. While the actual wedding lived up more to the hype with its splendor and diverse and progressive surprises, the television coverage suggested an industry that has lost its monopoly on the international conversation. This may be the golden age of TV, but live coverage of royal spectacles is a dying line. Many tried to harness the moment. But the best way to watch the pre- and post-ceremony was with the sound off, and a running social media feed. Television fared worse in the two hours before the ceremony, when the pointless filling of time was most noticeable, with the kind of formless blathering youd expect while watching a slow-speed car chase. Most panels had so many voices, dead air was rarely an option. Guys, I did some research, and Im not sure what page its on, on the longest royal kisses, E Live royalty expert Melanie Bromley exclaimed. With Charles and Diana, it was not quite four seconds. Meanwhile, early morning Twitter was on fire, beginning with the first arrivals of guests in the 2 a.m. hour Pacific time. The BBC Three account tweeted with a shrug emoji, showing side-by-side photos of President Trumps seemingly sparse 2017 inauguration crowd, next to the solid mass of people along the path leading up to Windsor Castle. The ceremony itself was wonderful television and a blast of American culture, with an electric and animated Bishop Michael Curry quoting Martin Luther King Jr.: We must discover the power of love, the power, the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will make of this whole world a new world. But love, love is the only way. The Kingdom Choir belted out a stirring Stand by Me, followed by a stunning performance from 19-year-old black British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason. This is the most subversive #royalwedding I can think of, journalist and author Julia Baird posted on her Twitter feed. Outspoken biracial royal wife, black preacher talks of social justice, black choir sings gospel version of Stand by Me. Its small, but its stunning. Diana would surely be thrilled. Social media didnt just dominate with quips and perspective, but also with breaking news. While TV pundits offered platitudes upon the reveal of Markles gown (She doesnt just look stunning, she looks regal! one Today pundit said, breathlessly), Twitter offered instant details; it was designed by Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy. Too many commentators seemed to be using material they had prepared days before, or repeated adjectives until they lost meaning. (It was amazing breathtaking incredible.) Meanwhile, the unpaid masses watching in their pajamas were able to laser-focus on the moments that mattered. Twitter GIF wizard @DanielleDASH captured four seconds as Prince Harry mouthed the words you look amazing to Markle, then bit his lip. It was easily the most authentic moment of the night, unseen on networks interviewing experts who appeared to be divorced from the real conversation, if they werent able to watch the ceremony at all from their overcrowded perches. No less than a dozen channels broadcast the wedding for American audiences, including fashion-focused TLC and Spanish-language Univisions Harry Y Meghan Una Boda Real celebration. Compare that to five channels in the Bay Area broadcasting the wedding of Charles and Diana. (CNN, less than a year old in 1981, ran a live BBC feed.) If one must say something nice, most networks were appropriately quiet throughout the ceremony. (The exception was E, which let its pundits trade pointless analysis about the ceremony over Kanneh-Masons lovely solo.) The NBC Today crew fared the best with A-teamers Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, pros who at least know the value of silence. They reflected the audience, approaching the ceremony with enjoyment, without the fawning or too-serious analysis that weighed down other broadcasts. The BBC made use of its home field advantage, with less clutter than the other networks, which sometimes crammed six or seven personalities on the screen at one time. But CNNs Anderson Cooper, so strong and comfortable during the annual New Years Eve celebration, had trouble holding together a broadcast with too many parts. His colleague Lemon fared no better, even with over-the-top British pundit Richard Quest by his side to ably fill the dead air. This is the beginning of a revolution, Lemon kept saying, referring to the diverse elements of the ceremony. This is a 1,000-year institution that constantly knows that it has to change, Quest corrected, in a statement that would make a good tweet. But it changes slowly. The change takes place evolutionary, not revolutionary. Thats how it has survived. The same cant be said for television, looking oblivious to the revolutionary change in conversation happening outside its overcrowded sets. While royal spectacles may continue for another century, the crown for royal commentary has been passed on to the people. Peter Hartlaub is The San Francisco Chronicles pop culture critic staff. Email: phartlaub@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @PeterHartlaub The Salton Sea is steadily disappearing, and communities near it are literally being left in the dust. California's largest body of water located in Imperial County near the Mexico-U.S. border has been sinking for years, and dust clouds containing heavy metals, agricultural chemicals and fine particulates connected to asthma and other diseases are harming young people in that area. Children living in Imperial Valley have higher rates of respiratory problems compared to children elsewhere in the United States, according to a recently released government-funded survey conducted by researchers at the University of Southern California. The USC scientists surveyed parents of first- and second-graders at four elementary schools near the Salton Sea, and found that up to 43 percent of parents said their children experienced wheezing, and up to 30 percent said their child had asthma. Preliminary results from dust sample analysis suggest that the wind-blown matter may lead to adverse changes in the movement of immune cells into the lung immediately following exposure, though more research is needed. Southeastern California has some of the worst air pollution in the United States, as farm dirt and desert collide with clouds of dust rising from the Salton Sea's receding shores. "The Salton Sea has exacerbated an already bad situation," said Michael Cohen, senior researcher with the Pacific Institute in Oakland who has studied the Salton Sea for years. "There are a lot of children suffering there now and the amount of suffering will get worse." Cohen said 2018 represents a "tipping point" for the Salton Sea, which had been dropping by as much as a half a foot annually, as it is now expected to fall by three times that amount each year. He estimates that about 15 percent less water will flow into Salton Sea this year than it did last year. There has also been about 21,000 acres of land exposed in the past 15 years, but he said it's hard to quantify the amount of dust in the air. Drought and diversions have drained the sea of its water over time, and in January 2018, more water began moving from the Imperial Valley to San Diego as part of a long-term water agreement that began in 2003 the largest agriculture-to-urban water transfer in U.S. history. The Salton Sea is technically not a lake, because it's a non-draining body of water with no ability to cleanse itself. Heavy metals and chemical rich agricultural runoff are trapped inside, and sewage water flows in from places such as the New River, one of the most polluted rivers in the country. The sea is man-made body of water that was accidentally created in 1905 when the Colorado River broke through a silt-laden canal, filled into a basin for two years and grew into a 360-square-mile lake straddling Imperial and Riverside counties. It had its heyday in the 1950s and '60s, when it was built up as a waterfront resort getaway that featured world-class biodiversity. But by 2014, large swaths of sea bed were exposed and salt levels increased. Similarly, large-scale fish kills, dead migratory birds and dust clouds have all had negative impacts on local tourism. The salinity levels in the Salton Sea are more than 50 parts per thousand and rising, compared to the Pacific Ocean, which is about 35 parts per thousand. Twenty years ago, the Salton Sea was teeming with about 100 million tilapia, but only about 1 million to 2 million remain, Cohen said, and due to the high salinity, very few fish species can now tolerate the water. "It's something like a 99 percent population crash," Cohen said. In November 2017, the California State Water Resources Control Board approved a 10-year, $400-million plan to build thousands of acres of wetlands and ponds in Imperial Valley, intended to help restore the Salton Sea and control dust. However, only about $80 million of that $400 million has been appropriated, and only $3 million of that has actually been spent on the project, Cohen said. "They're doing a lot of planning, but they aren't doing a lot of building, and people are pretty frustrated," Cohen said. "It's almost two years since they've had that money." The Pacific Institute has estimated that without significant steps to address the sea's problems, the costs over the next 30 years could range from $29 billion to $70 billion including higher health care costs for illnesses and lower property values. Bay Area residents who want easy meals have two relatively new and promising sources: vending machines and Target stores. Chefd, a company backed by Campbell Soup Co. and Smithfield Foods, is putting its meals in hundreds of new-age machines across the Bay Area, including the offices of Tesla and Chevron, and on the campus of Stanford University. Its betting that workers on their way out the door might be in the market for boxes of pre-portioned ingredients that allow them to skip the grocery store on the way home. Though Chefd is a small player in the meal-kit market, its been driving growth through sales at grocery stores, an increasingly popular strategy in an industry mostly built on e-commerce subscriptions. About seven months after the company bolstered its retail push, Chefd meals are in almost 1,000 U.S. stores. Sales from brick-and-mortar locations now generate more than half of revenue. The partnership with Byte Foods, which operates more than 500 vending machines packed with ahi tuna poke bowls, kale salads and kombucha, gives Chefd another outlet to get its meals in front of customers. Most people are not looking to be forced into a subscription, said Chefd CEO Kyle Ransford. Youre seeing people shift to the model we have in place. The Chefd move into vending machines comes as the meal-kit industry grapples with the online subscription model. Its expensive to acquire and keep customers that way, leading companies to increasingly look to sell their products in supermarkets. Retail sales of meal kits gained more than 26 percent last year to surpass $150 million, according to Nielsen. Chefd meals are in about 100 vending machines, and the company has plans to expand soon to the more than 500 across the Bay Area that are served by Byte. The meal kits, generally two portions, sell for about $15 to $20. A Byte Foods fridge at the offices of Bolt, a San Francisco venture capital firm, is currently offering black truffle butter sirloin steaks, a meal Chefd says can be prepared in 15 minutes. On another front, Minnesotas Local Crate is rolling out its locally sourced meal kits to more than 200 Target stores in Minnesota and California. The expansion comes as many big retailers are trying to incorporate home-delivery meal subscription services that have proliferated in recent years into meal kits they can sell in stores. The in-store versions typically have all of the ingredients and step-by-step cooking instructions to make a single meal (with two servings) instead of multiple meals as is often the case with the delivery services. Blue Apron, one of the best known and biggest players in this space, has begun testing kits in select Costco stores on the West Coast. Walmart is rolling out its own to thousands of stores. Kroger has been adding more to its lineup and grocer Albertsons bought meal-kit company Plated last year. Local Crate rolled out last week to 54 Target stores in Minnesota and 142 in California. Local Crate is also expanding its home delivery program to California, where is now employs eight people in San Mateo. KIEN GIANG After land prices, and, along with them, instances of violation of land laws, surged in certain places, the provinces involved have temporarily banned land transactions pending the approval of new regulations, helping cool off the market. Last month Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc instructed related authorities to tackle land-use rights violations and speculation on Phu Quoc Island, Bac Van Phong in Khanh Hoa Province and Van on in Quang Ninh Province. They are slated to become special administrative zones if approved by the National Assembly at a session next October. The designation would allow them to offer incentives to investors, meaning land speculators have been targeting land plots there. In respond to the PMs request, Pham Vu Hong, chairman of Kien Giang Province Peoples Committee home to Phu Quoc -- has instructed departments to stop subdividing and repurposing land on the island this week. Earlier the Phu Quoc Peoples Committee had petitioned the Natural Resources and Environment Office to put a stop to all subdivision of land plots. The province Peoples Committee had admitted it was becoming difficult to control violations of land-use regulations on Phu Quoc. The island has seen an increase in the illegal appropriation of unplanned lands, subdivision of lands without approval, illegal construction, and speculators buying up lands. A river in Duong ong town was reduced from 20 metres in width to four metres after people slowly encroached land in it. The prices of certain lands which have been divided into lots have quadrupled in the last year to VN1 billion now. Yet, every day hundreds of transactions are recorded at notary offices on the island. The violations and speculation have made things hard for land administration authorities and affected the development of the property market. Van on and Bac Van Phong are in exactly the same situation. In the last four months there have been 2,400 property transactions in Khanh Hoas Van Ninh District where the Bac Van Phong special administrative economic zone will come up. In Van on District in Quang Ninh, some land plots have seen prices go up five to seven times since last year. Authorities begin crack-down Quang Ninh Province has temporarily stopped all land-related activities including sales in Van on except for special cases. This has come in for sharp criticism, with experts saying this could have a devastating effect on the district property market. Khanh Hoa has only banned the repurposing, sale and subdivision of agricultural and forest lands. A property expert in Quang Ninh said as prices and the number of transactions skyrocket, authorities are keeping a closer eye and uncovering many cases of fraud. Van Dung Chinh of the Vina Real Groups board said stopping the repurposing and sales of lands in the special economic zones is necessary to stop the price surge seen in the last few months. The provincesdecisions have helped cool off the market. In Van on for instance, prices have fallen by VN2 million a metre in some places. At the Van Ninh District land registration office, the number of customers queuing up for land in Bac Van Phong has decreased by half. Notary offices in Phu Quoc are also seeing fewer transactions, with the number declining to around 100 a day from hundreds earlier. However, the Ganh Dau Commune Peoples Committee said in certain places land prices are still increasing since people are trading illegally. VNS DUBLIN, Ireland If Mark Zuckerberg doesnt know who Helen Dixon is, he will soon. From an unassuming town house in the Irish capital, Dixon, the countrys data protection commissioner, leads an agency that was once a bureaucratic backwater. Employees share offices and have few of the perks available in Facebooks building nearby: The main free amenities here are water, coffee and tea. Yet Dixon will soon gain vast new authority to investigate and fine Facebook, as well as an array of other technology giants with regional headquarters in Ireland. Amid increased concerns over online privacy, a sweeping new European privacy law could make her one of the worlds most consequential regulators. She is eager to test her newfound power. But the question remains whether her tiny agency is able or willing to stand up to tech behemoths of Silicon Valley. Theres a wave coming toward us that we need to push back against, Dixon, who spent the first 10 years of her career working for tech companies, said in an interview. Europes new General Data Protection Regulation is seen by experts as the worlds most aggressive set of internet privacy rules. It is expected to come into force Friday, and it will give more than 500 million people living in the European Union the right to keep companies from collecting personal data, or to have it deleted. Regulators like Dixon will be able to fine companies up to 4 percent of global revenue equivalent to about $1.6 billion for Facebook. The privacy law highlights broader skepticism of Silicon Valley in Europe, where regulators have punished companies for violating tax and antitrust laws, not doing enough to stop the spread of hate speech and misinformation online, and intrusively gobbling up data on consumers. Ireland in particular is taking center stage in the wide-ranging battle. The country is the European headquarters for data-hungry companies including Airbnb, Apple, Facebook, Google, Twitter and Microsoft, which owns LinkedIn. If companies do not comply with the law, Dixon said, they will suffer consequences. But for all the tough talk, the reality is that her agency subsists on an annual budget of about $9 million. Thats roughly as much revenue as the companies she oversees generate in 10 minutes. Facebook, which also owns WhatsApp and Instagram, has hundreds of people globally working on data protection regulation alone, including lawyers and privacy experts hired in Dublin. The data protection office was once an afterthought. During an effort by the Irish government to move less-critical agencies out of Dublin, it was relocated 50 miles west to a town called Portarlington, population 8,368, in 2006. Its power was so limited that it could not publicize investigations. Dixon, whose father was an army officer and mother a teacher, grew up in a small town in central Ireland before moving to Dublin in college. She worked for companies including Citrix Systems before moving into government. She later received a postgraduate diploma in computer science. Fittingly for her current position, Dixon guards her privacy. She will not share her age, other than saying she is in her 40s, and she has become more careful with data since taking the job. She does not use Facebook or Instagram (though she does have a LinkedIn profile). Since taking over in 2014, Dixon has successfully lobbied for more funding and got the headquarters put back in Dublin. A move to a bigger office is in the works. She has hired lawyers, investigators and engineers. The staff will total 140 this year, up from 30 when she joined, with plans to reach 200 in the next few years, if budget increases are approved. But if data privacy is truly a priority globally, Dixon said, more resources are needed. Her office is actually among the better funded privacy agencies globally, but is still a minnow compared with, say, Irelands financial services regulator, which has a budget about 40 times greater. The question for governments is, how much enforcement do we want to do, how seriously do we want to take the risk to our fundamental rights and freedoms in this area? said Dixon, carrying a bound copy of the new law. We need the funding and resources commensurate with the level of importance. This office would suggest it should be far more highly resourced. Budgetary constraints are not new to regulators overseeing powerful industries. But privacy groups worry that without strong oversight, the European rules, years in the making, will do little to crimp the power of Silicon Valley. There is evidence those concerns are well founded. In a Reuters survey of privacy regulators in 24 European Union countries, 17 said they did not have the needed funding or legal powers to enforce data protection regulation. Ireland did not participate in the survey. Dixon must also contend with skepticism among privacy advocates, stemming largely from Irelands history of lax oversight of the technology industry. Her predecessors are faulted for not taking earlier action against Facebook, even when complaints were filed years ago about data-mining practices similar to those eventually used by political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica. The European Commission in 2016 also ordered Ireland to recoup about $15.6 billion in unpaid taxes from Apple. (The decision is being appealed.) The culture has to be changed, said Max Schrems, a lawyer and online privacy advocate from Austria who filed the earlier complaints against Facebook. You can have the best law, but if nobody enforces it, then youre not going to go anywhere. Adam Satariano is a New York Times writer. Paul Chinn / The Chronicle Train service is delayed and recovering in all directions around the19th Street Oakland BART station, after the station was closed for nearly an hour while police investigated a bomb threat. At 12:48 p.m., BART Police received a telephoned bomb threat, said Anna Duckworth, a spokeswoman for the transit agency. Police swept the station with K9 units. At 1:28, the station reopened. They did not find any credibility to the threat, Duckworth said. After Audrey and Roderick Grey were questioned by police in January about the injuries spotted on their 7-year-old daughter at her Auburn, Washington school, they admitted that Roderick Grey, her stepfather, had beaten her with a belt about four to five times in recent days, police reports say. But after obtaining medical and school records dating back to 2015, investigators found reports of malnutrition, outbursts in class and even incidents of the girl eating from garbage cans and drinking from toilets at school. The girl herself told authorities that her stepfather whipped her with a belt until she vomited and that her mother punched and kicked her. Investigators found she slept only on a mattress with no bedding except a plastic trash bag. "There were no toys and no evidence that a young 7-year-old little girl lived in that room," Senior Deputy Prosecutor Nicole Weston wrote in court documents. RELATED: Father gets 14 years for death of infant girl Meanwhile, their other two daughters, ages 2 and 4, had normal bedrooms and "what one would expect to see in a little girl's room," Weston wrote. Both parents are now charged with second-degree criminal mistreatment and Roderick Grey is additionally charged with second-degree domestic violence child assault. The alleged abuse first came to the Auburn Police Department's attention in January, but prosecutors waited until they obtained more detailed medical records on the girl to file charges, court documents say. Kent police responded to a report of abuse from school employees at Meadow Ridge Elementary School, where staff had found the girl, who was then 7 and is now 8, to be covered in bruises, marks, scabs and other injuries in various stages of healing. Kent police referred the case to Auburn police after learning that's where her family lived, about 28 miles south of Seattle. RELATED: Lawsuit: State should have prevented toddler's beating Audrey Grey initially denied knowing what happened to her daughter, police reports say, but then she "broke down crying" and told officers that her husband "whooped" their daughter with a belt in the last two days because she was "misbehaving" and acting "disrespectful." Roderick Grey admitted to hitting the girl with the belt four to five times and said he "probably did it a little too hard," court records say. Cops arrested the couple and booked them into jail Jan. 24, but they were released two days later on a set of conditions while detectives continued to investigate the case and the extent of the girl's alleged abuse. The girl told police that the beatings extended beyond the two days in question and claimed that regular whippings occurred in her bedroom. She told police her stepfather would direct her to remove her clothing and lay on the bed, then lash her with the belt hard enough that she would scream and vomit. Investigators say that Seattle Children's Hospital found marks on her torso, legs, arms head and hands consistent with belt whipping and that cops found blood stains on the girl's bedroom walls, mattress and floor, consistent with her claims. RELATED: Verdict: Man guilty of fatally torturing girlfriend's autistic son Audrey Grey allegedly knew of the assaults, but did not stop them or help her daughter find medical treatment. Police say she also beat the girl, typically by punching and kicking her. The parents also are accused of depriving the girl of food, leaving her to starve unless she could find food at school. The girl claimed she would eat frozen food from the freezer, but would get in trouble for doing so. School records reportedly documented that the girl would eat her classmates' uneaten food off their lunch trays and had even resorted to drinking from toilets and eating from garbage cans. Those records also indicated to police that when a school would begin to document or ask questions about the girl's well-being, Audrey Grey would pull her from the school and move her to another one. Audrey and Roderick also forced their daughter to sleep in the garage at times with no food, bedding or ability to use the bathroom, reports say. Doctors at Seattle Children's Hospital reported signs of "torture" inflicted on the girl, as well as long-term malnutrition that restricted her growth and development. "She will be at high risk for cognitive and behavioral deficits for the rest of her life as a result," the police report reads. "... The doctors cited that even if (the girl) had a predisposed medical condition that left her excessively thirsty, which she doesn't, it still wouldn't explain a cognitively normal child drinking out of a toilet." A King County Superior Court judge issued a $500,000 warrant for Roderick Grey and a $150,000 warrant for Audrey Grey. SeattlePI reporter Lynsi Burton can be reached at 206-448-8381 or lynsiburton@seattlepi.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LynsiBurton_PI. Find more from Lynsi here on her author page. NEW YORK He is the Republican Partys most powerful political weapon. Yet as the GOP fights to defend its delicate House and Senate majorities, President Trump is not welcome everywhere. Some Republican candidates fear that the unscripted and relatively unpopular president could do more harm than good should he campaign on their behalf. Leading party strategists want Trump to focus his time and energy on a handful of Senate contests in deep-red states where Democratic incumbents are particularly vulnerable. In swing states especially across Americas suburbs, where the House majority will be decided some would prefer that he stay away. I would like the president to do his job, and Ill do mine, Dan David, a Republican congressional hopeful fighting to preserve a GOP-held seat in suburban Philadelphia, said when asked if hed like Trump to visit his district. I win or lose on my teams merits, David said. I think that the president has a very, very full plate with foreign affairs and special prosecutor investigations. This aversion to Trump is something the White House needs to take into account as it decides how best to deploy the president in the months leading up to the November midterm elections. But its unclear how much Trump will heed strategists guidance, or candidates wishes, as he picks his targets. The current White House strategy calls for Trump to focus on fundraising and campaigning in states key to control of the Senate, including Indiana, Montana, Tennessee, North Dakota, Missouri, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, according to a person familiar with the presidents strategy who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning. Vice President Mike Pence will be heavily involved in the Senate effort and also in House races, especially in rural areas that are more difficult for the president to reach. Closer to election day, Trump is expected to shift his attention to rallies designed to bolster get-out-the-vote efforts. Next on Trumps schedule: a trip to Tennessee this month for a Nashville rally and a fundraiser in support of Rep. Marsha Blackburns Senate campaign. The White Houses political team has a close relationship with most of the top Republican Senate campaigns, regularly sharing details on policy announcements and messaging. But Trumps travel decisions, so far at least, have been decided by the White House with little input from the Republican candidates on the ground. Friends and foes alike acknowledge that in some parts of the country Trump can be extraordinarily effective by energizing his supporters. In others, his efforts have the potential to backfire by motivating Democrats or repelling skeptical independents and suburban Republicans. Its a matter of picking your locations very strategically, said Republican pollster Chris Wilson, who is involved in several midterm contests. Going to Florida, anywhere in the Central time zone would be a fantastic place for him to campaign, Wilson said, referring to a narrow slice of the state along the Panhandle. Id love to have Donald Trump in east Texas, parts of south Texas where hes still popular. Other parts of south Texas maybe not. Steve Peoples and Ken Thomas are Associated Press writers. HCM CITY ong Nai Province has been working with agencies on a project to turn Bien Hoa I Industrial Zone into a commercial and service centre. The Peoples Committee of ong Nai Province gave approval for Sonadezi, an industrial zone development company, to implement the project. The Bien Hoa I Industrial Zone has 80 businesses, 40 of which have a land-lease contract until 2051. The province said it would take back land from businesses that have expired land- lease contracts. For those businesses that still have land-lease contracts, the province will offer compensation so they can relocate as soon as possible. According to Sonadezi, the total cost of the project is VN15 trillion ( US$ 658 million), including VN2.4 trillion for construction and equipment, VN 7.5 trillion for compensation and clearance, and VN1.3 trillion for supporting businesses and labourers. The project is expected to be completed by 2025. Businesses in the industrial zone emit more than 9000m3 wastewater per day. Millions of people in Bien Hoa Province and southern provinces are affected by the polluted water from the ong Nai River. Tran Van Vinh, deputy chairman of Bien Hoa Provinces Peoples Committee, said that most businesses in industrial zones have outdated technology. To protect water sources of the ong Nai River, they need to be relocated. Nguyen Phu Cuong, secretary of ong Nai Provincial Party, said that, in order to solve environment problems, by the end of 2022 the province would shut down Bien Hoa I Industrial Zone. The project is expected to bring great benefit, solve environmental problems, and develop the province, he added. The province proposed this project 10 years ago, but it was delayed due to the authorities changing dates on when the industrial zone should be shut down. VNS Can the Republic Recover from Donald Trump? There will be a lot of pieces to put back together, all at once, when he is gone. (Permanent Musical Accompaniment To The Last Post Of The Week From The Blog's Favourite Living Canadian) On Monday, at the Center For American Progress's annual Ideas hootenanny, Sally Yates made a point that has stayed with me all week as the deep, underground web of corruption in this administration* expanded to almost every point of the political compass. It is almost impossible to keep track these days. It's almost impossible to keep from tangling the various strands of it: Michael Cohen's alleged dealings with the Qataris, Jared Kushner's alleged dealings with the Qataris, Michael Cohen's alleged dealings with Stormy Daniels, Paul Manafort's alleged dealings with various Volga Bagmen, and who knows what all else is under there. Anyway, Yates asked the assembled: What is going to happen when this administration is finally, blessedly over? It is a very good question and there is no very good answer to it. Nobody knows how many people, if any, are going to be convicted when all this shakes out, let alone how many of them actually might go to jail. Can we recover from the common high-end venality while simultaneously putting the political norms back in place? Can we reform the global damage done to American credibility while simultaneously getting back to sensible financial and environmental regulations? Is it possible to get the country back to normal on 10 levels at once? I am not as optimistic as I once was. Getty Images First, a lot of the damage has been done through the enactment of policies that conservative Republicans have been slavering for over the past 50 years. They are one aging heartbeat away from finally having a solid majority on the Supreme Court, and the president* has been salting young Federalist Society bots throughout the federal judicial system. Further, before there ever was a President* Trump, Mitch McConnell demonstrated that Democratic presidents were not entitled to fill Supreme Court vacancies that occur on their watch. Under the glare of all the nonsense, conservative Republicans have achieved a lot of what they've been trying to do since Ronald Reagan stepped onto the Capitol rostrum in 1981. Second, and as important, if this president* leaves office at any point prior to the end of his second term, I fear that the reaction among his supporters is liable to be loud and violent. They're already primed, by the president* and by his pet media, to believe almost anything as long as it demonstrated that They, The Deep State are conducting a slow-motion coup. (The latest fever dream is that the Obama administration planted an FBI mole in the Trump campaign so as to throw the election to Hillary Rodham Clinton. That's only been flying around for a couple weeks and I guarantee you that it's already set in concrete out there.) The president* is not likely to sprout a conscience any time soon. There is no way that this can end well. This is serious business, and the time to start thinking about it is now. It's possible that this administration* will collapse all at once. It is also possible that we'll be reading early morning tweets well into 2024. The elevation of Donald Trump caught the institutions of government by surprise. That's bad enough. It's important that the end of him does not do the same thing. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Outside of mocking the Intellectual Dark Web for the Stan Lee pretension of its name, I've pretty much stayed away from that whole Internet hooley. But, holy mother of god, this profile of Jordan Peterson in The New York Times is, as the kidz say, lit. In fact, Peterson comes off as the patron saint of sampling one's own product. Mr. Peterson's home is a carefully curated house of horror. He has filled it with a sprawl of art that covers the walls from floor to ceiling. Most of it is communist propaganda from the Soviet Union (execution scenes, soldiers looking noble) a constant reminder, he says, of atrocities and oppression. He wants to feel their imprisonment, though he lives here on a quiet residential street in Toronto and is quite free. Take Peterson out of his current celebrity cocoon and make him a shopkeeper in Bugtussle, and mothers are telling their children to cross the street rather than pass his house. He's Boo Radley, except for real. Jordan Peterson (Of course, the Intellectual Dark Web takes care of its own; here's another charter member, leaping to Peterson's defense and falling into the orchestra pit. Jungian archetypes!) The left, he believes, refuses to admit that men might be in charge because they are better at it. "The people who hold that our culture is an oppressive patriarchy, they don't want to admit that the current hierarchy might be predicated on competence," he said. Mr. Peterson illustrates his arguments with copious references to ancient myths bringing up stories of witches, biblical allegories and ancient traditions. I ask why these old stories should guide us today. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below "It makes sense that a witch lives in a swamp. Yeah," he says. "Why?" It's a hard one. "Right. That's right. You don't know. It's because those things hang together at a very deep level. Right. Yeah. And it makes sense that an old king lives in a desiccated tower." But witches don't exist, and they don't live in swamps, I say. "Yeah, they do. They do exist. They just don't exist the way you think they exist. They certainly exist. You may say well dragons don't exist. It's, like, yes they do the category predator and the category dragon are the same category. It absolutely exists. It's a superordinate category. It exists absolutely more than anything else. In fact, it really exists. What exists is not obvious. You say, 'Well, there's no such thing as witches.' Yeah, I know what you mean, but that isn't what you think when you go see a movie about them. You can't help but fall into these categories. There's no escape from them." It is for this kind of dialogue for which the bong was invented, and the phrase, "Like, wow, man," was coined. Actually, it reminds me most of the intricate thoughts about the universe entertained byThe Most Awesome Man On Television. This, from The Washington Post, does not make me feel secure. Mountrail County Sheriff Ken Halverson announced last week that a container of ammunition for an automatic grenade launcher fell off a Humvee on May 1 near Parshall in the northwest part of the state. The search ended over the weekend after Minot Air Force Base personnel exhausted efforts to find the missing ammunition, spokeswoman Danielle Lucero told the Bismarck Tribune . The ammunition is safe as long as the container is intact, according to the Air Force. Halverson said the ammunition won't operate in another device without "catastrophic failure." But people should evacuate and call first responders if the ammunition is located and found damaged. The ammunition for the grenade launcher, by the way, belonged to the people tasked with keeping out nuclear missiles secure. "Falling off the truck" is an acceptable excuse for bootleg CDs and knock-off handbags. I don't want to see grenades for sale on a card table in midtown Manhattan, next to the umbrellas and caricatures of Al Pacino. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Weekly WWOZ Pick To Click: "Misty Mountain Hop" (The Tin Men): Yeah, I pretty much still love New Orleans. Weekly Visit To The Pathe Archives: In anticipation of the tsunami of Anglophone tripe soon to wash over us, here's the 1922 wedding of Princess Mary to Viscount Henry Lascelles. Princess Mary declined to attend Elizabeth's wedding because Edward and Wallis were not invited. Her son's memoir was titled The Tongs and the Bones. No, I don't know what that's about. Nice film though. Very brief. And no sound! That would be a blessing on Saturday. History is so cool. If you don't think there is a general wildness unleashed in this land, consider that both the guy who shot up the Mar-a-Lago lobby and the guy who murdered 10 people at a Texas high school were both Nazi-semi-curious guys with guns. Also consider that both of these events happened on the same day. This is not normal. Is it a good day for dinosaur news, LiveScience? It's always a good day for dinosaur news! Have you ever wondered how momma dinosaurs sat on their eggs without crushing the poor little spalpeens? Of course, you have. These small-to-humongous dinosaurs, known as oviraptorosaurs, laid their oval eggs in a doughnut-like circle, and these nests had different shapes depending on the size of the dinosaur. Smaller oviraptorosaurs either had no doughnut hole or a small one where they could sit with their eggs around them, while larger oviraptorosaurs created nests with big holes in the center where the dinosaurs could plop down without squashing the eggs located in a circle around them, a new study finds. Oviraptorosaurs were bizarre-looking dinosaurs. They had parrot-like heads and toothless beaks, and some sported head crests, much like modern cassowary birds do. These dinosaurs ranged in size from a few dozen pounds (Nomingia, for instance, weighed about 80 lbs., or 37 kilograms) to a few thousand pounds (Gigantoraptor weighed up to 4,400 lbs., or 2,000 kg). And their mommas took good care of them, because, like all dinosaurs, oviraptorosaurs lived then to make us happy now. Because The Committee knows its audience, it knew that this week's Top Commenter would come from the post about the Colorado wingnut lady who was allegedly turning big bucks on a very weird conspiracy theory about how we all have secret money in accounts opened for us at birth. Top Commenter Stephen Beard came through with bells on. I'm starting a letter-writing campaign (I'm an old-fashioned kind of guy, okay?) to get me some of that Treasury money and live up to my increasing reputation as a grifter of the first order. Besides, I could use the cash. You are hereby awarded 82.19 Beckhams for your demonstration of good old American entrepreneurship, good sir. I'll be back on Monday with whatever scams become obvious over the weekend. Be nice and play well, ya bastids. Stay above the snakeline, or I'm telling Megan Markle's father on you. Respond to this post on the Esquire Politics Facebook page here. Calvin's Canadian Cave Of Cool Manifesto I forever stand vigilant to protect this planet from the myriad of forces that are always against us. Be it the octopus, zombies, aliens or the robots my team of human agents, and our feline allies, circle the globe in a never ending struggle for human freedom. I learn all I can on every subject that interests me. I especially enjoy ancient history because in the past there are valuable lessons to be found. Also, if I ever get my time machine to work properly, it would be good to know a bit about possible destinations and what to expect when I get there. I greatly appreciate beautiful design. Be it manufactured or found naturally I am fascinated by the process of invention. I am attracted to the unique, the strange, the haunted. I like to share what I find on this blog. And not let us forget the 'Cephalopod Menace' who, if allowed to, would wrap their tentacles around all that is good and pure in this life and crush it until it remained no more. They are creatures of pure spite. Hate is all they know. Death is all they do. They are our most ruthless and determined enemy. So we fight. Selena has the celebrity contacts, the cat is ruthless and without pity, Roosevelt's ghost has the experience and I do the wetwork. Fighting for the future of the planet doesn't have to be a chore, however. We can take the time to appreciate all that is cool in this world even as we cut the octopus into bite sized chunks. This is the reason there has always been and must forever be, a Cave of Cool. Be sure to wipe your feet before you enter. HCM CITY There is a huge opportunity for Viet Nam and the US to expand investment and trade ties in many sectors, a bilateral trade forum heard in HCM City on Friday. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade o Thang Hai said trade between the two countries has gone up from a modest US$220 million in 1994 (the year the US lifted its economic embargo against Viet Nam) to $50.8 billion last year, with Viet Nam enjoying a surplus. The US has been the leading trade partner for Viet Nam in the last 10 years. The two economies are complementary rather than competing, he said. Viet Nam, a developing economy, has great demand for machinery, technology, aviation and telecom equipment, agricultural inputs, and others, while the US has demand for agricultural products, textiles, footwear and electronics equipment, in which Viet Nam has competitive advantages. Tim Liston, deputy principal officer of the US consulate general in HCM City, said: We have already seen strong growth in bilateral trade, with the US becoming Viet Nams largest export market. Viet Nam is a top 10 market for US food and agricultural products. Viet Nam has the fastest growing middle class in Asia. This means increased demand for the high quality US consumer products and services, Liston said. He said there is opportunity to improve trade facilitation and expand trade in both goods and services. I see opportunity to invest in cleaner energy solutions. I see opportunity to leverage (and in some cases leapfrog) technology to build smarter cities and create new start-ups. I see opportunity to develop educational partnerships that encourage innovation and foster entrepreneurship. I see opportunity for greater bilateral investment. The US Mission is currently recruiting a delegation of Vietnamese firms to participate in the SelectUSA Investment Summit that will take place next month in Washington, DC. This summit will expose Vietnamese companies to investment opportunities in the United States. Challenges Though its exports to the US are growing rapidly, Viet Nam mainly ships raw or sub-contracted products with low value addition, delegates said. inh Thi Huong Nga of the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of HCM City said Viet Nam earned $8 billion from export of wood and wood products last year, with the US accounting for 40 per cent of this. We mainly make products based on customers designs. If we invest more in design and exploit the high-end segment, exports to the US can jump many fold. An AmCham representative said Viet Nam is very good in volume of export but not good at value of export. She suggested that Vietnamese firms should think about export of added value products, not jut export of raw materials at a time when trade protection is increasing globally. According to Hai, the big challenge for Vietnamese exporters is the USs imposition of strict import regulations. In addition to federal laws, each state has different rules and regulations, he said. Protectionism through new regulations and standards for quality, food safety, origin of products, especially for agro-forestry and fisheries products, is also increasing, he said. Chu Thang Trung, deputy director of the Ministry of Industry and Trades Trade Remedies Authority, said the number of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy lawsuits by the US has already doubled under the new Government there. Not only products with high export volumes but even minor items face these lawsuits, he said. Truong inh Hoe, general secretary of the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, said trade protection has tended to increase in recent years, making it difficult for seafood companies to export to the US. The US annually imports around 600,000 tonnes of shrimps, or 80-90 per cent of its domestic demand, with imports from Viet Nam just accounting for 10 per cent of imports. We can supply higher volumes, our product quality is not inferior to any other countrys, but due to anti-dumping issue we have to accept that modest export rate. The policies are aimed at protecting its domestic market and ensuring consumers get products of good quality and meeting hygiene and food safety standards, he said. We understand this and actively work to enhance the efficiency of hygiene and food safety management. But only our effort is not enough, the governments of the two countries need to have specific discussions on trade policies to further facilitate trade between Viet Nam and the US. Organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Viet Nam-US Trade Forum attracted more than 300 delegates, including government officials, local leaders, and Vietnamese and US business executives. VNS SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) Faculty at City College of San Francisco will get a pay raise after the school's Board of Trustees approved a labor agreement with the American Federation of Teachers Local 2121, city college officials announced Friday. The new contract translates to about $9 million in salary increases over the next three years for the school's full and part-time faculty, college officials said. The agreement would bring the faculty's salaries in line with those of other Bay Area community colleges by the third year. "We sat down at the negotiating table with the same goal in mind: to work together to bring our faculty salaries to the median of the Bay 10 community colleges within the next three years," Dianna Gonzales, Vice Chancellor of Human Resources and the college's chief negotiator, said in a statement. "The labor contract also represents the parties' ongoing commitment to work together to foster an environment consistent with the Board's core values," she said. SALINAS (BCN) The city of Salinas is set to receive a new fire chief, city officials announced Friday. Jeffrey Johnson will replace Edmond Rodriguez when he starts on June 4. Rodriguez left the positioning November to become the fire chief for the city of Alameda. Johnson comes from the Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department, where he served as deputy fire chief. Johnson brings 31 years of experience, including as a paramedic, firefighter, captain, battalion chief and firefighter instructor as well as deputy chief. SEASIDE (BCN) Police arrested a 34-year-old woman Friday in connection with the 2017 death of a dependent adult, who Monterey County prosecutors say, had been tortured and held captive in a Seaside apartment for nearly a decade before she died. Seaside police arrested Corrie Denise Arriaga after a 10-month investigation into the Aug. 4, 2017 death of Courtney Ann Turney. Arriaga is set to be charged Monday with first-degree murder with a special circumstance allegation that the murder was intentional and committed during the infliction of torture. RELATED: 10 children allegedly tortured in Fairfield home; mother denies abuse In addition, Arriaga will be charged with torture, human trafficking, false imprisonment of a dependent adult and theft from a dependent adult, according to prosecutors. ALSO: Court documents: Texas shooting suspect spared students he liked Turney moved to Seaside from Okalahoma in 2008 and began living in an apartment with Arriaga. Prosecutors said the investigation revealed that Arriaga physically abused Turney, starved her, forced her to perform physical labor and held her prisoner in the apartment. Additionally, Arriaga embezzled a large amount of money that Turney received for being a member of the Comanche Nation. Arriaga is being held at the Monterey County Jail on $2.1 million bail, prosecutors said. Police found a man's body in a San Jose alley Friday morning and the death appears suspicious, police said. The officers responded around 10:30 a.m. to a call of a man on the ground in the 700 block of South Second Street near Interstate Highway 280, according to police. The officers found a man in the alley, police said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police don't know the cause of death yet, but it appears suspicious. A woman was shot by sheriff's deputies early Friday morning in unincorporated Santa Cruz County after she allegedly slipped out of custody and rammed a deputy with a patrol car, sheriff's officials said. Around 3:30 a.m. two deputies in separate cars were patrolling the Ocean Street Extension of the county when they came across two vehicles parked on the side of a road and found one of the vehicles had been stolen. Sheriff's officials said deputies found a man and a woman near the vehicles and put both persons in handcuffs. While deputies were interviewing the man, the woman, who was in the back of a patrol car, allegedly slipped out of her handcuffs, reached through a partially open window and opened a car door. Sheriff's officials said the woman got into the driver's seat of the patrol car, drove at a deputy and hit him, incapacitating him temporarily. The woman allegedly drove back and forth at the deputies until the uninjured one fired at her and hit her in the chest and abdomen with three bullets. Sheriff's officials said other law enforcement officers arrived, detained the woman and administered first aid, possibly saving her life. She was flown to a trauma center where she had surgery. The injured deputy was treated and released from a hospital. Sheriff's officials said he would need more medical care. When the woman is released from the hospital, she will be taken to the county jail on suspicion of attempted murder of a peace officer and other offenses. Sheriff's officials said the man is cooperating with deputies. Body-worn camera footage will be made available next week, according to the sheriff's office. Saying he is "appalled and disappointed," the Santa Clara Unified School District superintendent confirmed Friday afternoon that teacher Dominic Caserta is on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation of alleged sexual harassment. Superintendent Stan Rose said in a statement that Caserta is on leave without pay, adding, "We are appalled and disappointed with these allegations. We are committed to ensuring that each allegation is thoroughly investigated. We take each and every claim seriously." Former students and campaign staff have filed at least 10 police reports against Caserta, Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor said at the Santa Clara City Council meeting Tuesday night. Caserta, a Santa Clara High School social studies teacher, resigned Tuesday from the City Council and withdrew from the race for Santa Clara County District 4 supervisor the same day. "We are aware of our community's questions and concerns, and we take student and staff safety very seriously," Rose said. "We have been challenged to immediately and directly respond to these questions and concerns due to confidentiality and due process laws and policies which apply to all our certificated employees." Caserta has repeatedly denied all allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior to subordinates and stated in his resignation letter that he would "never do anything to harm the health and wellness of my family, my students, my school district or our city." On Wednesday, Rose announced Santa Clara High School would be implementing several efforts to educate students and staff on reporting harassment. Rose said the district would appoint a harassment task force, streamline harassment reporting processes and educate all staff, students and parents. "Santa Clara Unified School District does not condone the mistreatment of our students, past or present," the superintendent said. "We hold our employees to the highest professional standards and conduct." The efforts will begin before the district's summer break. At the beginning of the next school year, parents and students of all grade levels will receive expanded age-appropriate education programs on how to recognize and report harassment, district officials said. The Alameda County District Attorney's Office said Friday that additional investigation and information is needed before it decides whether to file charges against a driver who was arrested for a collision that killed three people in Fremont on Tuesday night. Dang Nguyen Hai Tran, 21, of San Jose, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of marijuana and possession of a nightstick or other modified weapon in connection with the five-car collision near the Stevenson Boulevard exit on northbound Interstate Highway 880 at about 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Tran initially had been scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday afternoon and then at 2 p.m. Friday at the East County Justice Center in Dublin, but charges need to be filed beforehand. Alameda County jail records indicate that Tran was still in custody as of 3:45 p.m. Friday at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin in lieu of $620,000 bail. Three Manteca residents were killed in the collision: Noelle Johnson, 39, and sisters Christy Limas, 14, and Brooke Limas, 9. California Highway Patrol Officer Manuel Leal said Tran reportedly was speeding and driving recklessly in a Toyota Camry when he, for some reason, changed lanes to the left and collided with a 2015 Cadillac Escalade in which Johnson, the Limas sisters and a fourth person were traveling. Leal said both drivers lost control, with the Toyota Camry veering left and the Cadillac overturning. Johnson, the Limas sisters and the fourth person in the Cadillac were all ejected onto the roadway and it appears that they weren't wearing their seatbelts, according to Leal. The Toyota continued out of control in a southerly direction and collided with a 2005 Honda and the Cadillac continued in a northerly direction and collided with a Toyota Corolla, Leal said. That collision caused the Corolla to veer right and collide with a 2013 Hyundai, according to Leal. Four other people, in addition to the Cadillac occupant who survived, were taken to a hospital and one of them was in critical condition, Leal said. A GoFundMe website for the Limas family had raised $6,235 of its $20,000 goal as of 3:36 p.m. Friday. The site says, "The Limas family have always been there to help so many other people in their lives and as friends we want to help and support them through this time of tragedy. The website is at https://www.gofundme.com/Limasfamily. A Salinas woman was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the murder and torture of two children in November 2015, Monterey County prosecutors announced Friday. Tami Joy Huntsman, 42, was sentenced for two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances and two counts of torture in the November 2015 deaths of Shaun Tara Jr., 7, and Delylah Tara, 3. Huntsman also pled guilty to one count of torture and one count of child abuse causing great bodily injury, as well as two counts of conspiracy, for abuse she inflicted on the childrens' half-sister called "Jane Doe," prosecutors said. Judge Pamela Butler ordered Huntsman to serve two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole, three additional consecutive life terms and nine more years. Prosecutors said Huntsman has waived all writs and appeals "and will never be released from prison." On Feb. 28, Huntsman pleaded guilty in Monterey County Superior Court to charges related to the deaths of the two children, whose bodies were found in a storage unit in Redding, and the abuse of the 9-year-old girl, according to prosecutors. Huntsman pleaded guilty to all charges and admitted to torturing the children along with their surviving half-sister, who was 9 when she was rescued, according to prosecutors. The case began when someone asked Child Protective Services to conduct a welfare check at an apartment in unincorporated Plumas County. The check revealed that the half-sister had been injured, according to a report by Plumas County sheriff's deputies who responded to the call on Dec. 11, 2015. Prosecutors alleged that Huntsman and her boyfriend Gonzalo Curiel abused the three children who were in the woman's care in Salinas and the two children were killed on or sometime after Nov. 27, 2015. Prosecutors previously sought to have Huntsman put to death for the crimes. A group of domestic violence victims held a rally in front of an Oakland courthouse Friday to say they are concerned by reports that misdemeanor domestic violence cases would no longer be prosecuted if Pamela Price is elected as Alameda County District Attorney. Price, an Oakland civil rights lawyer, is challenging longtime incumbent Nancy O'Malley in the June 5 election. The victims said at the rally in front of the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse that the criminal justice system does not take domestic violence as seriously as it should. Tami, a domestic violence victim who didn't want to disclose her last name, said, "Not prosecuting these misdemeanors would be a tragedy and could result in more being injured, maimed or even killed." Tami said, "We simply cannot go back to the days when domestic violence cases were not prosecuted or seen as serious crimes." She said the District Attorney's Office, under O'Malley, filed charges in more than 1,600 domestic violence cases last year and 75 percent of those were misdemeanor cases. Tina Robinson, another domestic violence survivor, said, "We need to have our abusers prosecuted by any means necessary. All the abusers need to be held accountable for their actions." Missy, another survivor, said not prosecuting misdemeanor domestic violence cases "is unacceptable to me." Missy said she was abused when she lived in another county and because the charges were dropped against the man who had abused her he was able to get out of custody, lock her in a room for two days, burn her with hot oil, choke her, stab her and beat her up so badly that she was blinded in one eye. Price watched the rally and said afterward that her position on prosecuting misdemeanor domestic violence has been misunderstood and that she would continue to prosecute all domestic-violence cases, including misdemeanor cases. However, Price said there are many other types of misdemeanor cases that might be more appropriately handled by alternatives to criminal courts such as diversion programs or what she described as "collaborative courts and neighborhood courts." Price said the current criminal justice system is particularly hard on black and brown youths, who she said are 20 times more likely to be incarcerated than are other youths. She said, "We need to get rid of racial disparities." Price said she's sympathetic to the women who spoke at the rally because she also was a victim of domestic violence. She said, "I was prosecuted by the Alameda County District Attorney's Office even though I was the victim" and had to go through a trial, at which she was acquitted. Price described the case against her many years ago as "an overzealous prosecution by the District Attorney." In a statement she issued before the rally, Price said, "As a candidate for District Attorney of Alameda County, I want to once and for all unequivocally state for the record that I will use my personal experience as a survivor and my lifetime of legal experience to hold accountable and prosecute any adult man or woman who commits an act of violence against their partner." Price said, "I will use the full force of the law and the DA's office to protect everyone subjected to intimate partner violence and hold those who engage in unlawful acts of violence and intimidation accountable to their loved ones and the community." O'Malley didn't participate in the rally, even though it was held in front of the courthouse where her office is located. A suspect has been arrested in connection with cold case homicides in 1999 and 2000 in San Francisco, police said Friday. Donovan Lacy, 38, who now serving time in Florida for bank robberies is expected to be extradited to San Francisco to stand trial for the killings. Police said Lacy is also serving a 105-year sentence for bank robberies he committed in 2012 and 2013 in Marin County. Police allege that Lacy killed 25-year-old University of Nevada Las Vegas swimmer Kameron Sengthavy in 1999 and 60-year-old San Francisco resident Thomas Lee in 2000. SALINAS (BCN) Two masked suspects wearing baggy clothing, one armed with a rifle, robbed a Salinas credit union Friday afternoon and made off with a duffle bag full of cash, police said. At about 2:20 p.m., officers were sent to the Monterey Credit Union at 1566 N. Main St. in Harden Ranch Plaza after someone called to say an armed robbery was happening. Police said inside the credit union the suspects ordered customers and employees on the floor. The suspects also ordered employees to go into the teller drawers. The alleged robbers then took cash from the drawers and put it in a duffle bag and left the building. They fled in an older model gray SUV that was parked in front of the credit union, according to police. Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call Salinas police at (831) 758-7250. A woman was shot by sheriff's deputies early this morning in unincorporated Santa Cruz County after she allegedly slipped out of custody and rammed a deputy with a patrol car, sheriff's officials said. Around 3:30 a.m. two deputies in separate cars were patrolling the Ocean Street Extension of the county when they came across two vehicles parked on the side of a road and found one of the vehicles had been stolen. Sheriff's officials said deputies found a man and a woman near the vehicles and put both persons in handcuffs. While deputies were interviewing the man, the woman, who was in the back of a patrol car, allegedly slipped out of her handcuffs, reached through a partially open window and opened a car door. Sheriff's officials said the woman got into the driver's seat of the patrol car, drove at a deputy and hit him, incapacitating him temporarily. The woman allegedly drove back and forth at the deputies until the uninjured one fired at her and hit her in the chest and abdomen with three bullets. Sheriff's officials said other law enforcement officers arrived, detained the woman and administered first aid, possibly saving her life. She was flown to a trauma center where she had surgery. The injured deputy was treated and released from a hospital. Sheriff's officials said he will need more medical care. When the woman is released from the hospital, she will be taken to the county jail on suspicion of attempted murder of a peace officer and other offenses. Sheriff's officials said the man is cooperating with deputies. Body-worn camera footage will be made available next week, according to the sheriff's office. SALINAS (BCN) A Salinas woman was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the murder and torture of two children in November 2015, Monterey County prosecutors announced today. Tami Joy Huntsman, 42, was sentenced for two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances and two counts of torture in the November 2015 deaths of Shaun Tara Jr., 7, and Delylah Tara, 3. Huntsman also pled guilty to one count of torture and one count of child abuse causing great bodily injury, as well as two counts of conspiracy, for abuse she inflicted on the childrens' half-sister called "Jane Doe," prosecutors said. Judge Pamela Butler ordered Huntsman to serve two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole, three additional consecutive life terms and nine more years. Prosecutors said Huntsman has waived all writs and appeals "and will never be released from prison." On Feb. 28, Huntsman pleaded guilty in Monterey County Superior Court to charges related to the deaths of the two children, whose bodies were found in a storage unit in Redding, and the abuse of the 9-year-old girl, according to prosecutors. Huntsman pleaded guilty to all charges and admitted to torturing the children along with their surviving half-sister, who was 9 when she was rescued, according to prosecutors. The case began when someone asked Child Protective Services to conduct a welfare check at an apartment in unincorporated Plumas County. The check revealed that the half-sister had been injured, according to a report by Plumas County sheriff's deputies who responded to the call on Dec. 11, 2015. Prosecutors alleged that Huntsman and her boyfriend Gonzalo Curiel abused the three children who were in the woman's care in Salinas and the two children were killed on or sometime after Nov. 27, 2015. Prosecutors previously sought to have Huntsman put to death for the crimes. HA NOI The development of wholesale and retail infrastructure in Viet Nam has faced its fair share of rocky moments, but the industrys growing role in consumption has put it at the forefront of the economy. Nguyen Van Hoi, deputy director of the Domestic Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade made the statement on Fridayat a conference on the role of management agencies and businesses in developing trade and services, held in Ha Noi. Hoi said the average growth of retail and consumption services revenue was 10 per cent a year from 2011-17. This meant that the revenue increased from VN3.5 trillion (US$153.5 million) in 2016 to VN4.2 trillion in 2017. In the first four months of this year, it was estimated at VN1.4 trillion, up 9.8 per cent from the same period last year. The average growth rate of combined retail and services revenue is always higher than GDP growth. However, the trade infrastructure system has been distributed unevenly, and is focused mainly in the cities. The number of markets and supermarkets in rural and mountainous areas remains low in comparison, he said. In addition, markets and supermarkets in rural areas are concentrated on small scale retail outlets. Meanwhile, foreign investment is mostly poured into modern commercial centres in big cities, he said. The reason for this is that general awareness on the potential of domestic trade is not what it should be, and this has amounted to a lack of investment in infrastructure outside of major urban zones. Tran Thi Phuong Lan, deputy director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade said developed countries often conduct market studies before launching a product. However, we are the opposite," she said. "We produce a product first, and then research it once its on the market." She suggested that producers should build sustainable consumption channels and not depend on a small group of traders. The logistics system should also be improved to reduce transport costs, which will in turn leave producers with more money to invest, boosting the potential for competition. Prof Hoang Tho Xuan, former director of the Domestic Market Department said the Government should clarify and prioritise the necessary steps in the coming time. These should include developing a supply chain that connects producers, processors, and distributors nationwide. If local firms do not rush to implement solutions, foreign companies will dominate the market, as they have already established effective supply chains, he added. "Chains of convenient stores should also be established," he said. "The Government should create favourable conditions to transfer more than 2 million shops of household businesses to modern 24 hour convenient stores." If we implement the two above tasks effectively, we will see clear changes in trade. Of course, this must be a gradual transformation, he said. inh Viet Thanh, from the Garment 10 Corporation said the legal system should be properly enforced to ensure that adjustments to the trade and service industries are reflected in reality. Management agencies should listen to businesses opinions to adjust policies. By the end of last year, the country had 957 supermarkets and 189 trade centres nationwide. Most of them are located in big cities and densely populated urban areas. Five localities including Ha Noi, Hai Phong, a Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho accounted for almost half of all supermarkets and commercial centres in the country. VNS Logistics firm Gemadept Corporation (Gemadept) estimates its full-year pre-tax profit will jump 227 per cent to VN2.13 trillion (US$94.7 million) in 2018. Photo cafef.vn HA NOI Logistics firm Gemadept Corporation (Gemadept) estimates its full-year pre-tax profit will jump 227 per cent to VN2.13 trillion (US$94.7 million) in 2018. The expected soar in profit growth is attributed to the firm selling its stakes in three subsidiaries, and an affiliate, which is forecast to produce returns of up to VN1.56 trillion. Excluding asset sales, Gemadept predicts its pre-tax profit may increase by a more modest 6 per cent year on year to VN570 billion. According to general director o Van Minh, the companys full-year revenue is estimated at VN2.4 trillion, down 40 per cent from 2017. Of the total figure, revenue from seaport operations accounted for 91 per cent, a rise of 19 per cent year on year, while income from the logistics side of the business fell 90 per cent year on year. In the first quarter of 2018, Gemadept posted a one-fifth decrease in its revenue from core business activities, which reached VN689 billion, but its pre-tax profit rose to VN1.5 trillion thanks to the successful sale of its stakes in two subsidiaries. During the first quarter, the company sold a 51 per cent of its ownership in CJ-Gemadept Logistics Holdings Co Ltd, which was formerly known as Gemadept Logistics Co Ltd before the deal; and a 49 per cent stake in CJ-Gemadept Shipping Holdings Co Ltd, which was previously named Gemadept Shipping Co Ltd, for VN1.35 trillion. The stake sales also helped the company accomplish 71 per cent of its full-year pre-tax target and 29 per cent of the full-year revenue target. Without the sales, it has fulfilled just 23 per cent of the full-year pre-tax estimate. Despite higher-than-expected full-year earnings, Gemadept shares (HoSE: GMD) have been on a downtrend since early March. They finished Friday at VN27,900 per share, having lost 22 per cent in value since March 2. According to Viet Dragon Securities Co (VDSC), the establishment of Nam inh Vu Seaports first component in the northern city of Hai Phong is expected to make a big contribution to the firms logistics and shipping revenues this year. However, as the company is still operating at Lach Huyen Seaport, which is built in another site of Hai Phong City, the competition between the two seaports may result in a struggle for the firms business structure this year, VDSC said in a note this week. Nam inh Vus first compartment began operations in February 2018 and was officially launched on May 7, 2018. It has an annual capacity of 600,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (teu). The Nam inh Vu Seaport has total area of 65 hectares and is able to receive ships of up to 40,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT). Gemadept is strengthening its port operation by constructing the second component of the Nam inh Vu Seaport in the third quarter of the year. This plan is seen as a suitable strategy to ensure the company can receive more ships from upstream seaports, especially Lach Huyen, given that shipping firms in said ports have yet to clarify their short-term business plans. Hai Phong plans to keep the citys import-export growth at an annual rate of 15 per cent in the next few years thanks to increasing demand from the foreign direct investment (FDI) sector. It may benefit shipping companies to transport containers to downstream ports more often, VDSC said. Gemadept will benefit from the flow of containers to downstream ports, as the Nam inh Vu Seaport is more capable of handling a large amount of containers, the brokerage firm reported. VNS NEW YORK Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, head of the Viet Nam Permanent Mission to the United Nations, deposited with the UN Secretary General Viet Nams instrument of ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on May 17, becoming the 10th country ratifying the document. So far, the treaty has been signed by 58 countries. Once ratified by 50 countries, it will enter in force. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh signed the treaty on September 22, 2017, in the framework of the 72nd UN General Assemblys High-level Meeting. Being one of the first countries to sign and ratify the treaty, Viet Nam has shown its consistent advocation for peace and supporting nuclear disarmament across the world. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons has a historical significance, as this is the first international document comprehensively prohibiting the development, testing, producing, manufacturing, acquiring, possessing, stockpiling, transferring, receiving, using or threatening to use nuclear weapons. Particularly, the treaty regulates that any State involving in activities related to the testing or use of nuclear weapons shall have responsibility to provide adequate assistance to affected State parties, for the purpose of victim assistance and environmental remediation. It also allows States owning nuclear weapons to join the treaty after eliminating the weapons. VNS A 59-year-old man allegedly punched a pregnant woman, who is also deaf, and her service dog during a Frontier Airlines flight from Colorado Springs to Orlando on Thursday. The Orlando Police Department told the Orlando Sentinel that Timothy Manley was traveling with his family and was seated near a deaf couple with a service dog. According to police, Manley's wife complained about being allergic to dogs after the plane landed and taxied towards the gate. Manley told police he felt the family's service dog, a Great Dane, "took up more space than [he] felt it deserved." He then reportedly punched the animal with a closed fist. The dog let out a yelp and hid underneath a seat, which caused the couple to try to express anger at Manley. Manley then "got into the man's face" and punched the woman, who is 20 weeks pregnant, according to the Sentinel. The altercation continued as the two families exited the plane and entered the terminal, where the pregnant woman's fiance tackled Manley and held him there until police arrived. Police said that the case has been turned over to the FBI. Using sign language, the pregnant woman told ABC affiliate WFTV that her fiance only tackled the man because he hurt their service dog. "My fiance started yelling at the man and said, 'Don't you ever touch our dog. Don't touch a service animal ever,'" she said. "'That's not OK.'" However, Manley's wife told WFTV that the whole incident was a "misunderstanding." Manley's wife said that her husband "accidentally swatted the [service dog] when it startled him, but he couldn't convey that" to the couple. HAVANA The only three survivors of Cubas worst aviation disaster in three decades were clinging to life Saturday, a day after their passenger jet crashed in a fireball in Havanas rural outskirts with 113 people on board. In the first official death toll provided by authorities, Transportation Minister Adel Yzquierdo Rodriguez said 110 had died, including five children. He also announced that a flight recorder from the plane had been located. Carlos Alberto Martinez, director of Havanas Calixto Garcia Hospital, where the survivors were being treated, said doctors are always hopeful that their patients will recover, but he acknowledged that the three Cuban women were in extremely grave condition. We must be conscious that they present severe injuries, Martinez told a small group of journalists. They are in a critical state. Cuban officials identified the women as Maylen Diaz, 19, of Holguin; Grettel Landrove, 23, of Havana; and Emiley Sanchez, 39, of Holguin. Martinez said Sanchez was conscious and communicating, Diaz was conscious and sedated, and Landrove was in a coma. Landroves mother, Amparo Font, told reporters that her daughter is a flamenco dancer and engineering student on the verge of graduation. My daughter is an angel, Font said. They have to save her. Meanwhile, relatives of the dead gathered at a morgue in the capital, weeping and embracing each other, as investigators tried to piece together why the aging Boeing 737 went down and erupted in flames shortly after takeoff early Friday afternoon. Yzquierdo said those on board included 102 Cubans, three tourists, two foreign residents and six crew members, who were from Mexico. Maite Quesada, a member of the Cuban Council of Churches, announced that 20 pastors from an evangelical church were among the dead. They had spent several days at a meeting in the capital and were returning to their homes and places of worship in the province of Holguin. Skies were overcast and rainy at the airport at the time of the crash, and state television said the 39-year-old jet veered sharply to the right after departing on a domestic flight to the eastern city of Holguin. Eyewitness and private salon owner Rocio Martinez said she heard a strange noise and looked up to see the plane with a turbine on fire. It had an engine on fire, in flames, it was falling toward the ground, Martinez said, adding that the plane veered into the field where it crashed, avoiding potential fatalities in a nearby residential area. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said a special commission had been formed to find the cause of the crash. Andrea Rodriguez and Michael Weissenstein are Associated Press writers. SRINAGAR, India Separatist leaders called for a shutdown in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Saturday as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a daylong visit to review development work and inaugurate road projects. The visit came a day after archrivals India and Pakistan shelled each others security posts and villages, killing four civilians on each side and an Indian soldier. Shops, businesses and schools were shut while thousands of paramilitary troops and police in flak jackets spread out across Kashmir and closed off roads with razor wire and iron barricades in anticipation of anti-India protests and clashes. Separatist groups that challenge Indias sovereignty over Kashmir called for the strike as well as a march to the commercial hub in the main city of Srinagar to protest Modis visit. Government forces enforced a security lockdown in downtown Srinagar, the urban heart of anti-India protests, as they warned residents to stay home. Road traffic was sparse, with buses staying off the roads and few cars venturing out. Authorities detained dozens of activists overnight and put separatist leaders under house arrest to stop them from staging the protest march. They also ordered schools and colleges to be closed for the day. Modi arrived in the remote mountainous Ladakh region bordering China and Pakistan, where he inaugurated work on a strategic 9-mile-long tunnel connecting the cold desert region with the Kashmir Valley. Later in Srinagar, Modi inaugurated remotely a controversial hydroelectric power project built in the Gurez Valley, just a few hundred yards from the highly militarized Line of Control that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. He dedicated the power station to the nation at a lakeside venue. Soldiers and commandos patrolled the roads leading to the venue and laid razor wire and erected road checkpoints to prevent protests and rebel attacks. Every stone, every weapon picked up by misguided youths destabilizes their own Jammu-Kashmir, Modi said in his speech, referring to anti-India protesters. Every issue, every problem has one solution: development, development and development. Pakistan has objected to the design of the power project, invoking the Indus Water Treaty. The neighboring countries signed the treaty in 1960, brokered by the World Bank, to share the vast water resources from the Indus River system, which supplies water to both. Meanwhile, dozens of Kashmiris tried to march to the main commercial center in Srinagar after defying security restrictions imposed on the assembly of more than four people in the city. Scores were also detained after shouting slogans demanding end of an Indian rule over Kashmir. Separatist leaders said India was using its might to crush the aspirations of Kashmiris. They said the Kashmir issue was not about inaugurating tunnels and trains or announcing economic packages in the name of development. Aijaz Hussain is an Associated Press writer. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena presided over a war memorial ceremony Saturday in the nations capital. Sirisena said that even though some accuse the military of war crimes, such allegations havent been formally levied by world bodies such as the U.N. Human Rights Council. The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights in a 2015 report said if allegations against both the government forces and separatist Tamil Tigers could be established in a court of law, they may, depending on the circumstances, amount to war crimes. Sirisena said there were no proper records to show the number of civilians who died in the 26-year civil war but said it could be around 100,000. The United Nations initially estimated the death toll at the same number, but it is suspected to be much higher since there were no independent witnesses to the final year of fighting. The government pledged in 2015 to carry out an impartial investigation into alleged war crimes, but has taken no action so far. In his remarks, Sirisena said his government on the path to ethnic reconciliation. At another ceremony held on Friday, C.V. Wigneswaran, chief minister of Tamil-dominated Northern Province, called for an international investigation into civilian deaths during the war. The international community without delay should set up an international strategic mechanism to ensure justice for the people affected, Wigneswaran said speaking in Mullivaikkal village, the scene of the final battle. He also called for every May 18 to be observed as Tamil Genocide Day and for the withdrawal of Sri Lankan armed forces from the former war zones. In the first few years since the end of the war, Sri Lankas then government barred civilians from remembering their dead and held grand victory ceremonies parading soldiers, military ware and conducting air shows. But irisena, who was elected in 2015 on a platform of postwar ethnic reconciliation, has limited the victory ceremony to honoring the soldiers while allowing Tamils also to remember their dead. Sri Lankan troops defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009, ending more than a quarter-century of separatist civil unrest. Both sides were accused of serious human rights violations. The government was accused of deliberately targeting civilians, hospitals and blocking food and medicine for the people boxed in the war zone. The Tamil Tigers were accused of conscripting child soldiers, holding civilians as human shields and killing those trying to escape from their control. Krishan Francis is an Associated Press writer. HA NOI A high-level delegation from Cubas Young Communist League (UJC) is paying a working visit to Viet Nam to learn about the Southeast Asian countrys youth education and training in an ongoing effort to share knowlege on national development and effective defence strategies. Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Viet Nam Tong Thi Phong hosted a reception for the delegation, led by UJC First Secretary Susely Morfa Gonzalez yesterday in Ha Noi. She noted that the visit of the UJC delegation took place on the occasion of the 128th birthday of late President Ho Chi Minh a great leader of the Vietnamese nation and people (May 19, 1890) and the 123th anniversary of the death of Cuban leader Jose Marti (May 19, 1895). The legislator congratulated Cuba on the success of the recent elections of the Peoples Councils at all levels and the National Assembly of Peoples Power. She expressed her belief that the Cuban Party, State and people will continue to be effective in their implementation of revolutionary tasks and the growth of its planned economy. The NA Vice Chairwoman paid special attention to the historic friendship between Viet Nam and Cuba. The State-level visit to Cuba by Secretary General of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong in March re-affirmed the special amity and solidarity between the two countries, which have served as a valuable asset to the two countries Parties and people, she said. For her part, Susely Morfa Gonzalez expressed the Cuban leaders and peoples admiration for the resilience of the Vietnamese people in the past, particularly during their national liberation, as well as during the current period of rapid national development. VNS Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Richmond County Country Club was the setting Friday for the Staten Island Museum's annual dinner-dance, the major fundraiser for the cultural institution. The gala toasted the new era in leadership and three honorees: Ralph Branca, Staten Island Museum's immediate past board chairman and CEO of Victory State Bank; Debbie-Anne Paige, a historian, educator and professional genealogist; and Jee Ra, principal of the Korean School of Staten Island and program director of the Korean Community Development Center. Pictured above: Janice Monger, president and CEO; honorees Ralph Branca, Debbie-Ann Paige and Jee Ra, and board chairman David Businelli. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com The cocktail hour and sit-down dinner was attended by more than 275 supporters and was co-chaired by Kashif Pervez and Oswaldo Pena. It was the first gala under the leadership of recently appointed Museum President and CEO Janice Monger, who began her tenure in September 2017. "All of us at Staten Island Museum are thrilled about the energy in the room," said Monger. "It is gratifying to hear that guests are enjoying themselves so much and we are pleased to honor such deserving people.' Pictured is a scene of the cocktail hours from the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com About the Museum Founded in 1881, the Staten Island Museum, New York City's only general interest museum, engages visitors with interdisciplinary exhibitions and educational programs that explore the dynamic connections between natural science, art and history based on its diverse collections. The museum is dedicated to making its current and future collections broadly accessible for educators, students, researchers and the general public by providing authentic experiences in the field and at the museum. Pictured above are honoree Jee Ra and board chairman David Businelli. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Janice Monger addresses the crowd at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. "With the generosity of attendees, we fully funded an entire season of monthly Super Science family workshops during the evening. I'm elated," said Monger. "And now we can't wait to follow it up with the 'Impractical Jokers Homecoming' exhibition opening in July." (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Delicious first course at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Who wore it best? Pat Termes and Dr. Kerry Kelly were surprised to see each other with the same outfit at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. The two good friends had a good laugh. Dr. Kelly is the mother of Colin Jost of "Saturday Night Live" and Casey Jost of "Impractical Jokers." (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com In her acceptance remarks, Jee Ra thanked her husband for his support of her philanthropic work, and her friends who traveled far and wide to support the gala, including her best friend since pre-teen days, who flew in from California to salute her. Pictured above are Betty Park, honoree Jee Ra and event co-chair Oswaldo Pena. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Board member Dr. Gary Reichard, James LeDoux, and event co-chair Oswaldo Pena enjoy the festivities at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Scene at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Anne Townesend and Aileen Fuchs, president and CEO of Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, enjoy the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Victoria and Scott Cerullo enjoy the festivities at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Casey Jost addresses the crowd. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Deputy Borough President Ed Burke, Lillian Logazzo, Christopher Campbell, and Doreen Cugno. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com A scene from the cocktail party at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Rob Hart and Wayne Miller enjoy the festivities at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Susan Fenley and Rob Hart enjoy the festivities at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Danielle Reyes, Dr. Bonnie Fritz, Oswaldo Pena, and Regina Dasaro enjoy the festivities at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Event planner Gustavo Galvan of Galvan Events and Janice Monger, president and CEO the Staten Island Museum. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Joe Gobin, Cheryl Adolph and Samir Farag enjoy the festivities at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Board member Dr. Michael Mantello and Dr. Ginny Mantello enjoy the festivities at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Don't Edit Gorgeous centerpiece at the Staten Island Museum gala. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Pat Termes, Mary T. McLaughlin, and Dr. Kerry Kelly enjoy the festivities at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Scene at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Museum board member Daniel Jost and his son, Casey Jost, enjoy the festivities at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. Casey Jost is a star of TruTV's "Impractical Jokers" and is the brother of Colin Jost of "Saturday Night Live." (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Scene at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Museum President and CEO Janice Monger and Samir Farag enjoy the festivities at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Mary T. McLaughlin and Dr. Kerry Kelly enjoy the festivities at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Nancy and Kevin Drumgoole enjoy the festivities at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Cory Schifter of Casale Jewelers, who donated a Forevermark diamond necklace raffle, addresses the crowd at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Mary T. McLoughlin and Dr. Kerry Kelly got a kick out of noticing they were wearing the same shoes at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Board member Dolores Morris, Jaclyn Tacoronte, and Katia Gordon enjoy the festivities at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Jeff Beyer and Gina Gutman enjoy the festivities at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Katia Gordon of Con Ed and Danielle Reyes enjoy the festivities at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Northfield Bank's Diane and Frank Senerchia enjoy the festivities at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Chamber of Commerce's Linda Baran, BP's Office Jennifer Sammartino, and Jaques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art enjoy the festivities at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Board chairman David Businelli and Cheryl Adolph enjoy the festivities at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Don't Edit Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com Scene at the 2018 Staten Island Museum Gala at the Richmond County Country Club. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Former casino mogul Steve Wynn had a lot riding on the three paintings consigned to Christie's for sale this month, including his plan to start a new career as an art dealer. Estimated at as much as $US135 million ($169.6 million), the works were destined to be star lots at the modern and contemporary art sales in New York this week, marketed to his fellow billionaires alongside the collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller. Pablo Picasso's 1943 painting Le Marin. The work had to be pulled from the auction. Then one of them, a self-portrait by Pablo Picasso titled "Le Marin," was accidentally damaged late last week and withdrawn from the May 15 auction of Impressionist and modern art. A paint roller attached to an extension pole used by a contractor was leaning against a wall before gravity took over and it fell, puncturing the lower right of the canvas, said a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because the information isn't public. It's unclear whether the painting was hanging on the wall at the time or if the pole struck the front or the back of the canvas, the person said. An urban fade is neither a city monument nor a hip-hop groove. It is a style favoured by teens and men in which the hair is closely shorn on all sides, leading to a neat thatch of hair like grass atop a sheer cliff face, and popular among the style-conscious students attending Granville Boys High. It's a tough cut to get right, particularly if it's your first day on the "tools", as instructor Charles Lomu is at pains to point out as he supervises his inaugural students at NSW's first in-school barber shop. "Don't go too fast" Lomu says. "Slow down. Let the clipper do the work, gently, slowly, see?" Mahmoud Chanukah in the barber's chair at Granville Boys High. Credit:Jessica Hromas Three chairs have been set up in what was an art classroom and the novice barbers are fussing about their models, fellow students who are sitting in various states of nervous anxiety. The royal wedding has already generated thousands of glowing media stories - but what are the chances that the fairytale romance between Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will end in a debacle or even just fizzle out. Ms Markle carries the burden of being American (divorce rates are higher in the US than Britain), a celebrity (record holders for divorce are famous) and it's her second marriage (she was hitched to film producer Trevor Engelson) which are also more likely to end in divorce. Other pointers against the happily ever after ending include research that shows people who spend $20,000 or more on a wedding triple their chances to end up divorced compared to those commoners who celebrate more modestly. For months, the details of Meghan Markle's wedding dress have been the biggest secret in fashion. But, now the cat's out of the bag, how does her gown compare to royal wedding dresses of the past? There are those we swooned over, such as Princess Grace of Monaco's which is said to have inspired Kate Middleton's Alexander McQueen gown and the '70s chic of Princess Anne's gown, especially those bell sleeves, which are still very on-trend. William and Kate with Pippa Middleton, who made her own headlines. Credit:AP And though we may snigger at the mutton sleeves and 7.6-metre train of Princess Diana's gown, or the heavy bustle of Fergie's dress, we need to remember that in the '80s, these were the height of fashion. To chat with your child? To drive your taxi? To read your brain scan? To scan your face at a concert, at work, or in a supermarket? What is it about AI that unnerves us? I suspect its a combination of two things. First, we lack information. The knowledge seems concentrated in a small community of experts. Perhaps 22,000 worldwide are qualified to the level of a PhD in AI. People with rare skills in high demand come at an eye-watering price. That makes them very hard to keep in universities and public agencies. Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook hasn't helped allay fears. Credit:Bloomberg Its not unknown for technology developers to buy up IT faculties. And whether these experts work in industry, or the public sector, or universities, there are often commercial or security reasons to keep quiet about their activities. Consider Google. In footage beamed around the world last week, Google debuted an AI that makes phone calls on your behalf, in a human voice, and chats with the human who answers. Now for 68 years the world has been waiting for an AI that could fool us into thinking it was human. We call it the Turing Test, named after the scientist who proposed it in 1950, Alan Turing. Loading He began with the question can machines think? Since we cant agree on a single test for thinking, he replaced it with a thought experiment he called the imitation game: can we build a machine that would pass as human, to humans, if we couldnt see it, and judged it by its words? Watching Googles AI book a haircut and a table at a restaurant, some observers say the Turing test was met. And as a result, your world has changed - because every phone call you make or receive now carries a niggling doubt. That could be a machine. Hand in hand with our lack of knowledge is our lack of foreknowledge. We give up our data today without knowing what others might be able to do with it tomorrow. When you uploaded your photos to Facebook, did you expect that Facebook would be able to scan them, name all the people, identify your tastes in food and clothing and hobbies, diagnose certain genetic disorders, like Down Syndrome, decide on your personality type, and package all that information for advertisers? Probably not. But we cant unpick our choices. Human-sounding AI machines like Hal in 2001: A Space Odyssey have made the idea of AI frightening. Credit:MPTV/Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer One response to these questions would be to conclude that the only safe way forward is to ban AI. That would be a tragic mistake for Australia. A ban would simply discourage research and development in the places where we most want to see it: reputable institutions, like CSIROs Data61, and our universities. Of course, the fastest way to end up with a total ban is to allow a free-for-all. A free-for-all that allows unscrupulous and unthinking and just plain incompetent people to do their worst. No: we want rules that allow us to trust AI, just as they allow us to trust our fellow humans. So my question again: what would it take for you to extend your trust? When was the last time you read the terms and conditions before clicking Accept? What we need is an agreed standard and a clear signal, so we individual consumers dont need expert knowledge to make ethical choices, and companies that want your business know from the outset how they are expected to behave. So my proposal is a trustmark. Its working title is the Turing Certificate, in honour of Alan Turing. Companies can apply for Turing certification, and if they meet the standards and comply with the auditing requirements, they can display the Turing Stamp. Then consumers and governments could use their purchasing power to reward and encourage ethical AI, just as they currently look for the Fairtrade logo on coffee. For AI, mandatory certification would be cumbersome. The voluntary Turing system would allow responsible companies to opt in. Is this a global measure that Australia could help to foster? Surely, we have more to gain than most. Where we compete in the global market, we compete on quality. A system that verifies quality and prioritises ethics will reward Australia. Last weeks federal budget made what I have described as a promising first instalment. $30 million has been allocated for AI, including an AI roadmap and a national AI ethics framework. While Saturday is typically reserved for auctions in the Canberra property market, this weekend saw almost 200 blocks of land sold by a random ballot. The ballot of 194 blocks of land in Wright and Coombs was the first time the sales method has been used in the suburbs since 2013. Ranjit Kotagiri and Radhika Irukulla with their children Vishwath and Havish are one of the first people to choose a block of land in the newly-released allocations. Credit:Dion Georgopoulos It's estimated more than 1000 people applied to be part of the ballot process, which opened in March. The blocks of land range from 403 square metres to 977 square metres, with 123 blocks in Wright and 71 offered in Coombs. Using timeless Anzac imagery and a rousing soundtrack, the army has moved to differentiate itself from the other services which sail ships and fly aeroplanes. Launching the latest bid to attract the notoriously fickle Generation X and Y to an army career, Army chief Lieutenant General Peter Leahy on Thursday unveiled a new 60-second television ad extolling army values and lifestyle, plus a 15-second ad promoting army officer careers. These will blitz the air waves in prime time viewing between Easter and Anzac Day in an advertising campaign worth about $3 million. General Leahy said this was directed at the entire community as well as those in the prime recruiting demographic. "This is brand advertising as well as recruiting advertising," he told reporters at a launch conducted in the cadets mess at Canberra's Royal Military College Duntroon. HA NOI Vietnamese President Tran ai Quang has sent a message of condolences to President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas over the deaths and injuries of many Palestinians in the conflict in the Gaza Strip on May 14. Earlier, the Foreign Affairs Ministrys spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said Viet Nam kept a close watch on and was concerned about the escalating violence in the Gaza Strip, which left many Palestinians dead and injured. While answering reporters question regarding Viet Nams reaction to increasing conflicts in the Gaza Strip between Israeli security forces and Palestinian people, Hang said: Viet Nam calls on the concerned parties to exercise restraint, handle conflicts through peaceful measures and create favourable conditions for negotiations as well as international efforts to reach comprehensive, equitable and sustainable solutions, ensuring legitimate interests of the parties, and regional peace and stability. She stressed Viet Nams stance that all solutions related to Jerusalem should adhere to international law, especially resolutions of the United Nations, with consensus of related parties. Viet Nam maintains the consistent position of supporting the just struggle of the Palestinian people and the two-State solution with the establishment of a State of Palestine that co-exists in peace with the State of Israel along the pre-1967 border and with East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestine, the spokeswoman said. VNS The pro-Palestine protest attracted around 700 people to the CBD. Credit:Chris Hopkins Israel, USA. How many kids have you killed today? This chant echoed around Melbourne's CBD on Saturday, as hundreds gathered to protest US president Donald Trump's decision to move America's Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and the bloodshed that followed as it opened this week. Around 700 people took part in the protest, which began and ended outside the State Library of Victoria. Many were draped in Palestinian flags, with some sporting fake bullet wounds on their foreheads, in reference to last week's killings of dozens of Palestinian demonstrators. A Dutch backpacker who was raped in an inner Sydney laneway feared her attacker would kill her after she escaped and he got caught, a court has heard. The woman, then 19, had been less than two months into her working holiday when Jerome Mundine, 23, grabbed her as she walked through Surry Hills the night of March 30 in 2017. Jerome Mundine, 23, pleaded guilty to sexual intercourse without consent. Credit:Facebook "I'm going to rape you, and I'm going to kill you," she recalled him saying. Mundine pleaded guilty to sexual intercourse without consent and kept his head bowed as the woman read a victim impact statement at the Downing Centre District Court on Thursday. The state government has committed $897 million to M1 upgrades, but the opposition says the Premier has simply copied part of the LNP's plan Labor criticised three days ago. The funding is for upgrades between Varsity Lakes and Tugun, as well as Eight Mile Plains and Daisy Hill, with about half to be invested in the next four years so work can start immediately. The state government has already delivered the Exit 54, Gateway Merge and Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes upgrades. Credit:AAP - Darren England Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington welcomed the announcement but said Labor had neglected the M1 for the past 20 years. As soon as the Prime Minister announced $1 billion was on the table for M1 upgrades, I said we would match it, she said. Several WA councils have come under scrutiny in a recently tabled report for the ways in which they manage corporate credit cards - with one council failing to have "adequate documentation" for almost a quarter of the transactions made. The report by the Office of the Auditor General found most local governments had proper controls in place to manage the use of credit cards. The focus of the audit was to determine if the local governments had effective controls in place with regards to corporate credit cards. Credit:Joe Armao And while there was no "inappropriate" use identified as part of the audit, "shortcomings of varying significance" were discovered. The Auditor General assessed eight local governments over the period of January 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017 as part of the audit. John Hayes, who also goes by the name Jivan Azti, laughs when hes asked about the sex. The 82-year-old is sitting in the front room of his house in Melbourne's St Kilda, with his French sheepdog Moriarty, discussing his time as a sannyasin, or disciple, in the Rajneesh movement. In the 1980s the Rajneesh became known as the "sex cult" and the group's figureheads, the charismatic Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and his secretary Ma Anand Sheela, were two of the decade's most notorious figures. Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh with his followers. Credit:Netflix A new six-part Netflix documentary, titled Wild Wild Country, has shed fresh light on the remarkable tale of the Rajneeshi and their commune, Rajneeshpuram, in the US state of Oregon. Once again politicians think they know best when it comes to what schools should teach. This time they are taking advice from the church (thats gone well in the past, hasnt it?) as to what content is appropriate for inclusion in sexual education classes. Former prime minister John Howard has suggested that schools presenting certain "distasteful" content should have funding cut if parents arent allowed to withdraw their children from such classes. Former prime minister John Howard has spoken out about sex education in schools. Credit:MHoward Dear Mr Howard, you were resoundingly dumped from office by a public sick of hearing your antiquated views. The world in which students live has moved on from the 1950s where men headed the household, women stayed at home and shut their mouths (often on Valium tablets), children were seen and not heard and differences were repressed. Nowadays, women work, men stay at home and children are seen and heard right across the world, in an instant. Difference is now accepted by the majority who realise the simple truth that underneath the "other" that seems to scare a small and vocal minority, we are all still human. Difference is not catching, it just is. Geneva: The World Health Organisation says the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo poses a greater danger to the Central African country and the region than previously assumed, but does not yet represent a global health emergency. The risk of the virus spreading further has risen as the outbreak is no longer confined to remote areas, but has been recently detected in one case in Mbandaka, a large city that straddles national and international transport routes, the UN health agency said in Geneva. A health worker wears protective clothing outside an isolation ward to diagnose and treat suspected Ebola patients, at Bikoro Hospital in Bikoro, the rural area where the Ebola outbreak was announced last week, in Congo. Credit:AP "WHO has therefore revised the assessment of public health risk to very high at the national level and high at the regional level," it said in a statement. The Congo Health Ministry said 14 people had so far been confirmed as having died from ebola, while 25 were suspected. Voronezh, Russia: Kazakhstan is using natural gas and cows made genetically efficient to slow the pace of land degradation caused by deforestation and overgrazing. The extent of degradation is difficult to assess because countries in Central Asia do not release official figures, but anecdotal evidence shows the situation is serious, said Christian Welscher, project coordinator for the Central Asian Desert Initiative at University of Greifswald, Germany. Cows graze in a field at the Poyma state-owned milk farm in Krasnaya Poyma, Russia Credit:Bloomberg The deforestation causes sandstorms that devastate rural communities, Welscher said. Damage to the region's unique cold winter deserts could have long-lasting consequences that will leave residents with no way of making a living, officials warned at a three-day regional food conference in south-west Russia. New York: A Cuban state airliner crashed and burnt moments after take-off from Havana on Friday, killing nearly all 114 people aboard the nearly 40-year-old plane. It was one of the worst airline crashes in Cuba, which has been struggling to operate with a decrepit fleet of planes that it has blamed partly on the long-standing economic embargo imposed by the United States. It remained unclear what caused the crash, but it came against the backdrop of Cuba's struggle to improve commercial aviation on the island, which has long faced economic constraints from the US embargo. A day before the crash, Cuban state newspapers reported that one of Cuba's new vice presidents, Salvador Valdes Mesa, met with key officials from the island's aviation sector to discuss challenges. Kensington Palace had published the full 22-page Order of Service for the wedding, so that viewers at home could download it and follow proceedings. Skipping straight to the good bit: the vows. The cover of the Order of Service for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Credit:Windsor Castle As expected, feminist Meghan wasnt going to promise to obey her husband, even though hes a prince. The archbishop of Canterbury asked Meghan, will you take Harry to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and protect him, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live? I will, she replied. Harry made the same vow. Loading The program was produced and printed before it became clear that Meghans father would be unable to attend the wedding on medical advice so he was named as leading his daughter to the High Altar but Prince of Wales took his place. But lets back up. According to the palace Harry and Meghan took a great deal of care in selecting all elements for their service in a collaborative effort with others. From an hour-and-a-half before the service began, guests seated in the chapel were treated to a performance of British classics Prince Charles advised the couple on their choice, according to the palace. The first half was organ music, then the orchestra played Elgar, Holst, Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Greensleeves and Elgars Serenade for Strings: all nicely patriotic choices. Then at midday: a fanfare, and the bride appeared. Alone. She made her way down through the nave of the chapel to the entrance to the quire under the organ, where the Prince of Wales accompanied her the rest of the way to the altar where, as the program put it, the bridegroom and his best man await. Prince Harry was his brother's best man and Prince William returned the favour. Credit:AP Then there was a brief sting of Handels Eternal Source of Light Divine, composed for the birthday of Queen Anne, and David Conner, the Dean of Windsor, to get proceedings started with an address from the Church of Englands Common Worship. After a hymn, vows and prayers, Lady Jane Fellowes Harrys mothers older sister read from the Song of Solomon, in a reading that will resonate. She was there to represent the lost Diana, and many will have been reminded of her while Fellowes spoke. Arise my love, my fair one, and come away: for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is as strong as death, passion as fierce as the grave. Princess Diana and Harry. Credit:Kensington Palace There were tears. The program didn't say what Bishop Michael Curry from the Episcopal Church in Chicago would say in his address, but it was a powerful statement on love. It seems likely he ran it past the Archbishop of Canterbury when they met on Friday (the Archbishop tweeted a photo of the pair sitting on a bench and laughing, with the comment with my brother PB Curry getting ready for the royal wedding tomorrow!) And then Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir sang Stand By Me. Next, the vows: for richer, for poorer (we hope you kept a straight face here), the rings and the proclamation, the blessing, prayers, another hymn (Guide me O thou great Redeemer), the signing of the registers, the national anthem, and then the bride and groom headed out of the chapel down the aisle as husband and wife, to the sound of Etta James. Prince Harry greets crowds in Windsor on Friday. Credit:AP Oh, and one more thing. The back page of the booklet was blank except for a St Georges Cross encircled by a belt: the symbol of the Order of the Garter. This May, Viet Nam will welcome experts and researchers from 20 countries across five continents to participate in the International Conference on Rice Bran Oil (ICRBO) 2018. The conference will discuss strategies for the promotion of the global rice bran oil production industry. This is the fifth year that the International Association of Rice Bran Oil (IARBO) will hold an international conference to increase rice bran oil production in its five member countries: Japan, India, China, Thailand and Viet Nam. The event will take place from May 23-25, 2018, with the theme The worlds premium healthy oil. This years conference is expected to gather more than 200 participants, including health professionals, scientists and entrepreneurs, and so on from 20 countries of 5 continents. It will welcome representatives of the largest rice bran oil producing and trading enterprises in the world, such as the Solvent Extractors Association of India; Tsuno Food, Oryza Group (Japan); WilmarGroup (Viet Nam, India and China); Chinese Cereals and Oils Association and the United States Pharmacopeia. The conference will discuss issues such as sharing of technologies and researches as well as marketing benefits of rice bran oil to users. The International Conference on Rice Bran Oil will be held for the first time in Viet Nam. Rice bran oil is one of the healthiest vegetable oils and is widely used in many countries, such as New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, India, the United States as well as Europe. The oil is extracted from the rice bran layer within six hours after being separated from rice grains to retain nutritious substances,such as Gamma-Oryzanol, Phytosterol and Vitamin E. According to Business Wire (a US-based media company), the global rice bran oil market has grown by three per centevery year during 2010-2017, yielding 1.5 million tonnes in 2017. Health factors, particularly the balance of fatty acid ratio and the many benefits for the cardiovascular system, have contributed to the growth of the global rice bran oil market. According to Research Gates market research,the potential for rice bran production is 29.3 million tonnes per annum. Rice is grown in at least 114 countries, producing a global output of 645 million tonnes. Up to 70 per cent of the rice can be collected from the milling process, which can serve half of the worlds population, and eight per cent of rice bran can be used to produce the oil. Oil is refined within six hours after being separated from rice grains. Currently, 90 per cent of the global rice output comes from Asia. The five members of IARBO possess great potential to produce rice bran oil, adding tremendous value to rice plants. India is presently one of the worlds largest rice producers, accounting for 75 per cent of the global production, followed by China and Japan. In Viet Nam, Wilmar Agro Vietnam Ltd has invested in two rice bran oil extraction plants in the Mekong Delta, with a total extraction capacity of up to 1,200 tonnes per day. This is the largest plant in the country in terms of extraction, providing large quantities of crude oil for domestic and foreign markets. Cai Lan Oils and Fats Industries Company, which owns refined rice bran oil brand Simly, said its refinery required modern machinery and advanced technology to keep intact the nutrition of Gamma-Oryzanol and balance fatty acid groups in rice bran oil. Currently, the companys products are mainly exported to Japan, Europe, China and the Middle East as well as partly sold in the domestic market. Windsor: A town in the country on the outskirts of London, Windsor is used to royalty, but in the 1000-year history of the British monarchy, its never experienced anything quite like this. They had waited patiently all morning: eager well-wishers gathered along the royal procession route, each hoping to catch a glimpse of Prince Harry and his new bride Meghan. With the biggest celebration Windsor had ever seen arriving on its doorstep, on a beautiful British morning, it didnt take long for the crowds excitement to build. Australia has defended its role as one of only two countries - along with the United States - to reject a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution to investigate the killings of dozens of Palestinians in Gaza on the grounds it prejudged Israel. Australia and US were the only countries to vote against the resolution to send a commission of investigators, but it passed with the backing of 29 members of the 47-nation UN human rights body. Another 14 countries including Britain, Germany and Japan, abstained. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told Fairfax Media the resolution prejudged the outcome and failed to acknowledge the role of the Palestinian group Hamas in inciting the protests in Gaza. Some 62 people were killed by the Israeli military's response. Loading "Australia voted against the Human Rights Council resolution because of our principled opposition to resolutions that fail the test of balance and impartiality," Ms Bishop said. Paige Curry tried to keep calm Friday morning local time as a gunman tore through her Santa Fe High School, eventually killing 10 people and injuring another 10. The 17-year-old watched as a girl nearby panicked. Curry, herself terrified, considered running out of the building, but her teacher told her to instead stay indoors and hide. So that's what Curry did. Moments later, the massacre ended. The suspected shooter was taken into custody. Curry had survived. A television reporter, Foti Kallergis of ABC-13, then asked the student for an interview. Was there a part of her that thought this wasn't real - that this couldn't happen at her school? Her answer would shake many across the country. This is an artist's concept of the Earth's global magnetic field, with the bow shock. Earth is in the middle of the image, surrounded by its magnetic field, represented by purple lines. The bow shock is the blue crescent on the right. Many energetic particles in the solar wind, represented in gold, are deflected by Earth's magnetic "shield". The solar wind streams plasma and particles from the sun out into space. Though the wind is constant, its properties aren't. What causes this stream, and how does it affect the Earth? Windy star The corona, the sun's outer layer, reaches temperatures of up to 2 million degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 million degrees Celsius). At this level, the sun's gravity can't hold on to the rapidly moving particles, and they stream away from the star. The sun's activity shifts over the course of its 11-year cycle, with sun spot numbers, radiation levels, and ejected material changing over time. These alterations affect the properties of the solar wind, including its magnetic field, velocity, temperature and density. The wind also differs based on where on the sun it comes from and how quickly that portion is rotating. The velocity of the solar wind is higher over coronal holes, reaching speeds of up to 500 miles (800 kilometers) per second. The temperature and density over coronal holesare low, and the magnetic field is weak, so the field lines are open to space. These holes occur at the poles and low latitudes, reaching their largest when activity on the sun is at its minimum. Temperatures in the fast wind can reach up to 1 million F (800,000 C). At the coronal streamer belt around the equator, the solar wind travels more slowly, at around 200 miles (300 km) per second. Temperatures in the slow wind reach up to 2.9 million F (1.6 million C). The sun and its atmosphere are made up of plasma, a mix of positively and negatively charged particles at extremely high temperatures. But as the material leaves the sun, carried by solar wind, it becomes more gas-like. "As you go farther from the sun, the magnetic field strength drops faster than the pressure of the material does," Craig DeForest, a solar physicist at the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in Boulder, Colorado, said in a statement. "Eventually, the material starts to act more like a gas, and less like a magnetically structured plasma." Affecting Earth As the wind travels off the sun, it carries charged particles and magnetic clouds. Emitted in all directions, some of the solar wind is constantly buffeting our planet, with interesting effects. If the material carried by the solar wind reached a planet's surface, its radiation would do severe damage to any life that might exist. Earth's magnetic field serves as a shield, redirecting the material around the planet so that it streams beyond it. The force of the wind stretches out the magnetic field so that it is smooshed inward on the sun-side and stretched out on the night side. Sometimes the sun spits out large bursts of plasma known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), or solar storms. More common during the active period of the cycle known as the solar maximum, CMEs have a stronger effect than the standard solar wind. [Photos: Stunning Photos of Solar Flares & Solar Storms] "Solar ejections are the most powerful drivers of the sun-Earth connection," NASA says on its website for the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO). "Despite their importance, scientists don't fully understand the origin and evolution of CMEs, nor their structure or extent in interplanetary space." The STEREO mission hopes to change that. When the solar wind carries CMEs and other powerful bursts of radiation into a planet's magnetic field, it can cause the magnetic field on the back side to press together, a process known as magnetic reconnection. Charged particles then stream back toward the planet's magnetic poles, causing beautiful displays known as the aurora borealisin the upper atmosphere. [Photos: Amazing Auroras of 2012] Though some bodies are shielded by a magnetic field, others lack their protection. Earth's moon has nothing to protect it, so takes the full brunt. Mercury, the closest planet, has a magnetic field that shields it from the regular standard wind, but it takes the full force of more powerful outbursts such as CMEs. When the high- and low-speed streams interact with one another, they create dense regions known as co-rotating interaction regions (CIRs) that trigger geomagnetic storms when they interact with Earth's atmosphere. The solar wind and the charged particles it carries can affect Earth's satellites and Global Positioning Systems (GPS). Powerful bursts can damage satellites, or can push GPS signals to be off by tens of meters. The solar wind ruffles all of the planets in the solar system. NASA's New Horizons mission continued to detect it as it traveled between Uranus and Pluto. "Speed and density average together as the solar wind moves out," Heather Elliott, a space scientist at SwRI in San Antonio, Texas, said in a statement. "But the wind is still being heated by compression as it travels, so you can see evidence of the sun's rotation pattern in the temperature even in the outer solar system. Studying the solar wind We've known about the solar wind since the 1950s, but despite its extensive effects on Earth and on astronauts, scientists still don't know how the it evolves. Several missions over the last few decades have sought to explain this mystery. Launched on Oct. 6, 1990, NASA's Ulysses mission studied the sun at various latitudes. It measured the various properties of the solar wind over the course of more than a dozen years. The Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) satellite orbits at one of the special points between Earth and the sun known as the Lagrange point. In this area, gravity from the sun and the planet pull equally, keeping the satellite in a stable orbit. Launched in 1997, ACE measures the solar wind and provides real-time measurements of the constant flow of particles. NASA's twin spacecraft, STEREO-A and STEREO-B study the sun's edge to see how the solar wind is born. Launched in October 2006, STEREO has provided "a unique and revolutionary view of the sun-Earth system," according to NASA. A new mission hopes to shine light on the sun and its solar wind. NASA's Parker Solar Probe, planned to launch in the summer of 2018, aims to "touch the sun." After several years of closely orbiting the star, the probe will dip into the corona for the first time, using a combination of imaging and measurements to revolutionize understanding of the corona and increase understanding of the origin and evolution of the solar wind. "Parker Solar Probe is going to answer questions about solar physics that we've puzzled over for more than six decades," Parker Solar Probe Project scientist Nicola Fox of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, said in a statement. "It's a spacecraft loaded with technological breakthroughs that will solve many of the largest mysteries about our star, including finding out why the sun's corona is so much hotter than its surface." Additional resources Follow Nola Taylor Redd at @NolaTRedd, Facebook, or Google+. Follow us at @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Let's face it. If you live in New York City, where light pollution is perhaps as bad as it gets, there aren't too many celestial sights that you can look forward to seeing. And yet, twice each year, New York residents and visitors from around the world are mesmerized by an uncommon appearance that occurs near sunset in the giant metropolis. It's dubbed "Manhattanhenge." Around the "traditional" date of Memorial Day (May 30) and again for a day or two around July 12, New Yorkers become intrigued by an unusual circumstance that allows the setting sun to be seen on all streets headed east and west simultaneously, provided that you have a clear view down to the New Jersey horizon. Indeed, it is not unusual, on those special evenings, to see people clustered on the corners of favored cross streets, watching the setting sun as it aligns with Manhattan's canyons of brick, glass and steel, creating dramatic vistas. In recent years, the term "Manhattanhenge" has become very popular in pop culture, even being used for the title of a 2009 episode of the television series "CSI: NY." [Night Sky, May 2018: What You Can See This Month (Maps)] The gridiron of Manhattan But Manhattanhenge's origins are not nearly as mysterious. The phenomenon is based on a design for Manhattan outlined in "The Commissioners' Plan of 1811" for a rectilinear grid, or "gridiron" of straight streets and avenues that intersect one another at right angles. This design runs from north of Houston Street in Lower Manhattan to just south of 155th Street in Upper Manhattan. Most cross streets in between were arranged in a regular right-angled grid that was tilted 29 degrees east of true north to roughly replicate the angle of the island of Manhattan. And because of this 29-degree tilt in the grid, the magic moment of the setting sun aligning with Manhattan's cross streets does not coincide with the June solstice but rather with specific dates in late May and early July. While we say that the sun sets in the west, most times that's not exactly the case. Like the popular axiom "A broken clock is correct twice a day," the sun sets at precisely due west only twice each year on the equinox days in March and September. But between the first day of spring and the first day of autumn, the position on the horizon where the sun appears to set, known as the azimuth, actually occurs somewhat north of due west. The azimuth of the sunset slowly shifts northward until the day of the June solstice; thereafter, it reverses course and shifts back to the south. On June 21, the sun sets at an azimuth of 302 degrees, or 32 degrees north of due west. But for the setting sun to be seen from all of Manhattan's cross streets, its azimuth must be 299 degrees, or 29 degrees north of due west. That happens twice first as the sun is climbing toward the solstice in late May, and then for a second time after the solstice, as the sun migrates back toward the south in early July. And that first opportunity in late May is rapidly approaching. The man who first brought attention to the Manhattanhenge phenomenon almost 20 years ago is the noted astrophysicist and director of New York's Hayden Planetarium, Neil deGrasse Tyson. He has written an interesting blog post on the topic, which you can read here. For those who will be in New York City and hope to get a view of this year's spectacle and maybe even snap a photograph here is a tip: While any cross street will suffice, Tyson suggests specific wider, two-way cross streets that ensure the best views of the west-northwest horizon (toward New Jersey): 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd and 57th streets. "The Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building render 34th Street and 42nd Street especially striking vistas," he noted. We should also note that the times provided below are not for the exact moment of sunset. Sunset is defined as when the very top of the sun disappears below a "true" astronomical horizon, such as what one might see from a ship out at sea. For the Manhattanhenge effect, allowances must be taken for hills and any landmarks along the distant New Jersey landscape, so the sun's altitude is assumed to be 1 degree (or slightly less) above the actual horizon. In 2018, there are four possible dates to see the effect. For your first opportunity in May, the dates to circle on your calendar are May 29 and May 30. On the first date, at 8:13 p.m. EDT, you will see a "half sun" that is, half above and half below the landscape. On the following night, at 8:12 p.m. EDT, you will see a "full sun," with the entire solar disk resting above the horizon. If you miss out in May, you'll get a second chance in July, on the 12th and 13th. On the first July date, a "full sun" will appear at 8:20 p.m. EDT, while on the second date, we get the "half sun" effect at 8:21 p.m. EDT. [In 1925, Observers Lined Manhattan to Measure the Total Solar Eclipse] Manhattanhenge in the morning? Some of you might be wondering if Manhattanhenge is visible at sunrise. The answer is yes, but you'll have to wait until late in the year to see it. Once again, there are four opportunities this time, flanking the date of the winter solstice on Dec. 21. At this point, we will be looking 180 degrees in the opposite direction, toward an azimuth of 119 degrees or 29 degrees south of due east. The first chance comes on Nov. 26 as the sun continues to shift to the south, with a "full sun" at 7:06 a.m. EST, followed by a "half sun" on the 27th at 7:05 a.m. EST. After the solstice, the sun reverses course and begins to shift back to the north. On Jan. 15, we'll see a "half sun" at 7:27 a.m. EST, followed the next morning by a "full sun" at 7:28 a.m. EST. Keep in mind, however, that unlike with sunset, there are more likely to be local obstructions to your visibility of the rising sun. Those living in Upper Manhattan and Harlem must contend with buildings and structures rising up from The Bronx; those on the Upper East Side and Midtown will be looking toward Queens; and those in the East Village down to Houston Street will be facing Brooklyn edifices. Of course, in attempting to see or photograph Manhattanhenge in the morning, one must also consider that the ambient late fall/early winter morning air temperature is likely to be anywhere from 30 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit (17 to 33 degrees Celsius) colder than the temps in late spring/early summer evenings and there could even be some snow (especially in January). And lastly, the odds of clear and sunny winter-morning weather are considerably less favorable compared with having a clear and sunny summer evening. But whenever you attempt to see Manhattanhenge, be it summer or winter, evening or morning, we wish you good luck and clear skies! Enigma of Stonehenge Of course, there are other places on Earth where the sun aligns with certain landmarks at specific times of the year. Probably the most famous is Stonehenge, the Neolithic monument at Wiltshire in the Salisbury Plain of England, where, on the day of the summer solstice, as seen from inside the monument, the sun appears to rise directly above the so-called Heel Stone. It's an event that attracts thousands of people each year. Although experts are fairly certain that the massive upright stones that constitute Stonehenge took about 1,500 years to construct and that it probably once served as a burial ground, many mysteries about it still abound. More than half a century ago, British astronomer Gerald S. Hawkins and co-author John B. White published a book, "Stonehenge Decoded" (Doubleday, 1965), which claimed that Stonehenge was used to predict a wide number of astronomical occurrences. While gaining a large following, the book also attracted the criticism of more than a few reputable scientific scholars, who scoffed at its findings. All these years later, the issue remains a contentious one, and the true nature of Stonehenge may forever be a mystery. Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, the Farmer's Almanac and other publications, and he is also an on-camera meteorologist for Verizon Fios1 News, based in Rye Brook, New York. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. In a NASA town hall yesterday (May 17), NASA's new administrator, Jim Bridenstine, said that he knows Earth's climate is changing, and that humans contribute to it "in a major way," also supporting NASA's research into that important area. The statement is significant because Bridenstine has expressed doubt about human-caused climate change in the past, causing some to question his suitability to lead a fact-focused NASA. In 2013, as an Oklahoma congressman, Bridenstine claimed there was no current trend toward global warming. More recently, such as in his NASA administrator confirmation hearings last November, he has acknowledged that human activity contributes to climate change. But he had stopped short of saying that humans are the phenomenon's primary cause. At the NASA employee town hall, Bridenstine described how his thinking had "evolved" on the topic and laid out his current beliefs. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine spoke at an agency town hall event on May 17, 2018, where he took employee questions and reassured them about his stance on climate change. (Image credit: Bill Ingalls/NASA) "I don't deny the consensus that the climate is changing; in fact, I fully believe and know that the climate is changing," he said. "I also know that we, human beings, are contributing to it in a major way. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. We're putting it into the atmosphere in volumes that we haven't seen, and that greenhouse gas is warming the planet. "That is absolutely happening, and we are responsible for it," he added. "NASA is the one agency on the face of the planet that has the most credibility to do the science necessary so that we can understand it better than ever before." Bridenstine's support of climate change research is in contrast to what many might expect from the current presidential administration: For instance, five Earth science and climate missions were written out of the White House's proposed 2018 NASA budget, and last year President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the worldwide Paris Agreement to limit climate change. Responding to a specific question on one of those cut climate missions, the Orbital Carbon Observatory Mission 3, Bridenstine said that, in his understanding, the mission is still set to launch in January 2019 after being funded by Congress. Bridenstine reassured NASA employees that the agency will follow the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) guidelines that studying climate change is a top priority particularly, reducing "climate uncertainty" by studying how interactions between the water cycle and energy cycle affect the changing climate, as well as looking at the impact of climate change on ecosystems. "We need to make sure that NASA is continuing to do the science, and we need to make sure that the science is void and free from partisan or political kind of rhetoric," he said. "We have guidance from an apolitical, nonpartisan National Academy of Science telling us what is important for humanity, and we're going to follow it." Bridenstine noted that NASA also says to prioritize weather and air-quality forecasting. His 2013 claim was that too much research is done into climate change instead of weather forecasting. Now, if his words to NASA employees are any guide, Bridenstine seems committed to supporting both. Email Sarah Lewin at slewin@space.com or follow her @SarahExplains. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. STAMFORD A month after he filed paperwork to run for the District 147 state House of Representatives seat, city Rep. Anzelmo Graziosi learned that newcomer Matt Blumenthal, son of U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, had just joined the race. Graziosi said he quickly received a message about Blumenthals candidacy. Stamford Democrats he called to ask for support did not call back, Graziosi said. Some, he said, returned his calls to say they could not endorse him because they are friends with the senior Blumenthal, an icon in state politics and a figure on the national stage. At least one Democrat sent out a fund-raising letter for Matt Blumenthal days after he moved to Stamford and announced his run in late March. The letter was written six weeks before the partys nominating convention, where that Democrat, and another who had signed on to be Blumenthals campaign treasurer, were to be delegates. As the convention neared, Graziosi said, a few delegates told him they didnt think it was right that Matt Blumenthal, 32, had moved to the district just to run. But they said the party was pressuring them to back Blumenthal, an attorney at Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder. A coronation By the time he got to the convention at Democratic headquarters Wednesday night, Graziosi knew he had no shot at the nomination, and little chance of winning the three votes needed to force a primary. His hope was to be allowed to speak. Just in case, he brought his five children twins Nicola and Rosa, 13; Benedetto, 10; Giuseppe, 6; and Luca, 2. I wanted them to understand that its not acceptable that being well-connected gets you a break, because my children will not get those breaks, said Graziosi, 46, who was elected to the Board of Representatives last year. I wanted to expose the hypocrisy. There is nothing fair about this fight. The party did everything they could to put (Blumenthal) in a position to succeed and stop others and not just me from running. One of the others, an elected official who was interested in running for the 147th District seat, declined to comment or be identified for this story. Only two of the 14 delegates voted for Graziosi, so there will be no primary. It was a coronation, not a nomination, said Graziosi, who is considering whether to petition his way to a primary as a Democrat or run as an independent. The message from the party is, dont go against the senators son. The message is, the democratic process doesnt matter. All that matters is that the party stays in power. No bias Democratic City Committee Chairman Josh Fedeli said there was no favoritism or pressure to endorse a certain candidate for the seat, which will be vacated after nine years by Stamford Democrat William Tong, who is seeking to become attorney general. This is a very important race in a swing district, Fedeli said. I spoke with anyone who was interested in running and told them what was at stake and the expectations for the candidate. Everyone had a fair and equitable shot at winning the support of the delegates. Blumenthal, a graduate of Harvard University and Yale Law School who joined the Marine Corps Reserve and led a rifle platoon in Afghanistan in 2011, is eminently qualified, Fedeli said. City Rep. Susan Nabel, D-20, the only Stamford Democrat to vote for Graziosi, said the party had two good candidates. The other delegate to vote for Graziosi was from western Darien, which is part of District 147. Nabel said she backed Graziosi because of his passion and commitment to public service, and was not pushed to support Blumenthal. Ive never felt pressure to vote one way or another, Nabel said. I suppose it could have happened; I just have not had that experience. The system has a way of working, she said. There are 14 delegates who theoretically represent the people of the district. Theoretically, each delegate vetted the candidates, talked to their constituents and made their decisions based on that, she said. Theoretically, it is the people who decide, but in politics, there are personal relationships there are always multiple filters on the votes that are cast. Unforgotten cut Fedeli said its unfortunate that Graziosi criticized the process instead of putting forth the effort to win the endorsement. He may want to think about his votes on the Board of Representatives and public statements hes made, as opposed to painting Matt Blumenthal as winning on his legacy, Fedeli said. Graziosi said the comment concerns the boards budget deliberations earlier this month, when he moved to cut $2.8 million from the spending package proposed by Mayor David Martin to give taxpayers a break. Some delegates said they would not support him because of that move, which resulted in a $1.4 million compromise cut to the budget requested by Martin, the face of the Stamford Democratic Party. I knew the budget cut would not sit well with members of the committee who were close to the administration, Graziosi said. But I wasn't going to sell out my constituents over a nomination. City roots Blumenthal said he is committed to Stamford, where he was born and spent the first nine years of his life. Tax records show the family owned a home at 106 Dolphin Cove Quay from 1984 to 1995. They then moved to Greenwich, hometown of Matts mother, Cynthia Malkin Blumenthal, daughter of real estate magnate Peter Malkin. I am rooted here in Stamford. The rest of my time in the area was spent one town over, said Matt Blumenthal, who graduated Brunswick, a private PreK-12 school in Greenwich. I have a long list of service in my life. Ive served the community wherever Ive lived. Blumenthal said he is a board member of the Stamford Boys & Girls Club, and helps run a Yale Law project that protects vulnerable people from overreaches by the Trump administration. I am fully committed to serving Stamford and Darien, he said. History repeating? Graziosi, who was deputy mayor of Glen Cove, N.Y., and served on the city council there before marrying and moving to Stamford 15 years ago, said he got involved in city government after recognizing fiscal problems similar to those plaguing Long Island. I wish (Blumenthal) was more immersed in the community. I wish he, like my children, was a product of Stamford Public Schools, Graziosi said. Then we could point to that with pride. During the convention, Graziosi read from an April 1984 New York Times article that referenced an early Richard Blumenthal race to represent District 145, just a few months after he moved to Stamford. Like his son, Blumenthal had an impressive resume, and defeated Jeremiah Livingston, a city representative and machine operator. Livingston told the newspaper Richard Blumenthal was a millionaire carpetbagger who moved to the district to advance his political career. I hope thats not happening now, Graziosi said. The last thing we need is another politician who is going to Hartford to climb the ladder. acarella@stamfordadvocate.com A section of the Cat Linh - Ha ong urban railway in Ha Noi. VNS Photo oan Tung HA NOI Experts and businesses said the capital city has been leading the country in attracting investment for traffic-related infrastructure, said Kinh Te &o Thi (Economic and Urban Affairs) Newspaper. However, there are still many shortcomings that need to be solved. Car parking areas, in particular, must be invested in. Ha Noi is facing a shortage of car parking spaces. At present, the city has met just 10-15 per cent of demand for car parking spaces. Building this critical infrastructure will require capital from private investors, as the municipal budget cannot accommodate the demand. Investment from the private sector in recent years has failed to meet expectations. Phan Truong Thanh, an expert on urban management, said that private investors were cautious about investing in this area, as the city hadnt made detailed future plans on static traffic works. Investors were worried that their car parking areas might be affected by other urban plans, said Thanh. Besides, ground clearance and complicated legal procedures were also challenges to investors, he added. Meanwhile, many investors raised concerns about capital returns of static traffic works, the paper said. At present, the proportion of land areas used for car parking spaces is 30 per cent. Investors thought that the modest percentage would not allow them to make money back quickly enough. According to inh Quoc Thai, another expert on urban management, the initial investment for static traffic works, especially underground car parking spaces, is substantial. It might be trillions of ong, while it could take decades to see the investment returned if investors just collect parking fees, or do other services on small land areas in the car parking spaces, Thai said. Positive signs In the last two years, the municipal authority has granted incentives for investors to develop static traffic works, Thanh said. The city has made lists of projects which could help investors in choosing where they want to put their money. The citys masterplan for static traffic works will be approved in the third quarter of this year and will help to lift current shortcomings of car parking projects. Additionally, the city will also consider adjusting regulations on performing other services in car parking areas to speed up the return of capital back to investors. At present, parking fees have been gradually approaching the market price. This is gradually attracting more investors, said vice president of ong Duong Group, Nguyen Thi Bao Quynh. Thai agreed with Quynh, adding that car parking projects are classified as real estate projects which are subject to strict requirements when it comes to applying for bank loans. So, the proper parking fee rates will be an advantage to investors looking to take out loans from the bank, Thai said. The city should ask the central government to focus on policies that attract investment into static traffic works, which are very costly but urgent to the citys development, said Thanh. So far the common trend has been to limit personal vehicles in the inner city, to reduce traffic jams and air pollution. Thus, along with building car parking areas, the city should promote models of static traffic such as transit-oriented development (TOD) whereby the focus shifts to public transport, as well as park and ride, which are car parks connected to public transport, Thanh suggested. VNS STAMFORD Memorial Day weekend might be considered the unofficial start to summer, but it is also the official beginning of the Stamford Police Departments latest Click It or Ticket campaign. Memorial Day holiday weekend is a busy time for Americans. Each year, the highways fill with families in vehicles on their way to start their summer vacations, and the Click It or Ticket campaign is aimed at keeping those drivers and passengers safe. The national seat belt campaign will begin Monday and run through June 3. Buckling up is such a simple task that can keep you and your family safe in the car, said Stamford Assistant Police Chief Thomas Wuennemann, who oversees the Patrol Division. But its more than that. Buckling up is the law. Our law enforcement personnel see the consequences of not buckling up. We see the loss of life. Often, it could have been prevented with the simple click of a seat belt. This should be automatic. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly half of the passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2016 were unrestrained. From 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., that number soared to 56 percent of those killed. Almost twice as many men were killed in crashes compared to women, with lower belt use rates, too. Of the males killed in crashes in 2016, more than half (52 percent) were unrestrained. For females killed in crashes, 40 percent were not buckled up. Thats why one focus of the Click It or Ticket campaign is nighttime enforcement, Sgt. Andrew Gallagher said. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night. In Connecticut, the penalty for a seat belt violation is $92. As the Memorial Day weekend approaches and the summer vacation season ramps up, we want to keep our community members safe, and make sure people are doing the one thing that can save them in a crash: buckling up, Gallagher said. If the enforcement crackdown wakes people up to the dangers of unrestrained driving, well consider it a success. Stamford police are asking residents to self-police as well. If you know a friend or a family member who does not buckle up when they drive, police urge you to ask them to consider changing their habits. In 2017, we lost two community members when they did not buckle their seat belts, Gallagher said. Help us spread this life-saving message before one more friend or family member is killed as a result of this senseless inaction. Seat belts save lives, and everyone front seat and back, child and adult needs to remember to buckle up every trip, every time. For more information on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/ciot. British fashion designer Claire Waight Keller secured the fashion commission of the year on Saturday, as Meghan Markle entered the chapel at Windsor castle wearing a stunning and simple couture gown designed by the Givenchy creative director. The clean and classic design of the white, bateau necked, stiff satin gown perfectly married tradition and modernity, a fitting choice for a contemporary royal. However, the choice of Claire Waight Keller, 47, was a surprise move from Meghan as the designer is currently employed by Parisian house Givenchy. As the world speculated in previous weeks over which designer might get the call up, the names of several British fashion houses were thrown in the ring, with Ralph & Russo, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen and Erdem deemed frontrunners. Getty Images 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}} While some speculated Meghan might choose an American or Canadian wildcard, none imagined French couture to be walking the aisle. That said, Waight Keller is a British designer, who studied fashion at the Royal College of Art before working at Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Gucci, where she remained until 2005, when she took the position as creative director at Pringle of Scotland. With an impressive track record serving as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses (Pringle of Scotland, Chloe, and now Givenchy), Waight Keller has blazed a trail for women in the fashion industry; a fact no doubt not lost on the famously feminist Meghan. Givenchy is also a brand with a rich history of haute couture. Waight Keller debuted her first couture collection for the house to critical acclaim in January, with modern, sculptural designs that gave couture a modern relevance. The dress by Waight Keller suggests a return to classic elegance for Givenchy, which has embraced hip-hop and celebrity culture under the leadership of former creative director Riccardo Tisci. Contrastingly Waight Keller, who succeed Riccardo Tisci at the helm of Givenchy in March 2017, is known for her calm and affable manner as well as an interest in the arts. Meghan's wedding outfit: All you need to know It is truly an honour to have been given the opportunity to closely collaborate with Meghan Markle on such a remarkable occasion, Waight Keller said in a statement released moments after she had finished straightening the bride's five metre long silk tulle veil on the steps of Windsor chapel. We wanted to create a timeless piece that would emphasise the iconic codes of Givenchy throughout its history, as well as convey modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts. Prior to Givenchy, Royal College of Art graduate Waight Keller spent seven years at the creative helm of Chloe, where her 1970s-inspired romanticism brought a new sense of vitality to the Parisian house In her role as artistic director of Givenchy, Waight Kellers creative remit encompasses both mens and womens ready-to-wear and accessories collections; haute couture collections; the brands global image; and childrenswear and sunglasses lines. The great and the good arrived at St Georges Chapel in Windsor on Saturday to witness the marriage of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Among the first to arrive for the ceremony were British actor Idris Elba, singer James Blunt and US TV star Oprah Winfrey, who looked elegant in a pale pink Stella McCartney tiered dress and matching hat. Oprah Winfrey / PA Harrys ex-girlfriends Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas arrived within minutes of each other. Davy looking super chic in a navy caped Alaia dress while Bonas opted for a bespoke brightly coloured cotton dress from British designer Eponine London. Beckhams and Clooneys arrive at royal wedding 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}} Pippa was next to arrive with her husband James Matthews looking demure in a mint green silk pleated midi with delicate floral print by British brand The Fold. Pippa and James Matthews / AFP/Getty Images Amal Clooney turned heads when she arrived looking radiant in a bespoke Stella McCartney nipped-waist yellow midi dress with a dramatic side drape and a matching yellow hat with pearl-embellished net detail by Stephen Jones. Her husband, George Clooney, looked dapper in a pale grey suit paired with yellow tie and pocket square to coordinate with his wife. Amal and George Clooney / PA Scroll the gallery above for the most stylish arrivals And now that the ceremony and procession is over, it's time for the most important part: the cake. Acclaimed London baker Claire Ptak of Violet Cakes gave us a sneak peak yesterday of the process it takes to make a cake for 600 people - and Kensington Palace have just revealed the magnificent result. Tweeting after the wedding, the @KensingtonRoyal account said: "The wedding cake is to be served at the Reception. It was designed by Claire Ptak and features elderflower syrup made at The Queens residence in Sandringham from the estates own elderflower trees, as well as a light sponge cake uniquely formulated for the couple. "A filling made from Amalfi lemon curd and elderflower buttercream ties all the elements together. The cake is decorated with Swiss meringue buttercream and 150 fresh flowers, mainly British, and in season, including peonies and roses." Food. Bars. Going out. 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}} Ahead of the wedding, the Kensington Palace social accounts revealed some 200 Amalfi lemons are being used in the recipe for the cake, as well as 10 bottles of Sandringham Elderflower Cordial made using elderflower from the Queen's Sandringham estate, 20kgs of butter, 20 kgs of flour, 20kgs of sugar and 500 organic eggs from Suffolk. P rince Harry and Meghan Markle will make their first visit to Sussex as Duke and Duchess this week. The pair are expected to visit Chichester, Bognor, Brighton and Peacehaven on their tour, as well as visiting a charity that provides support to victims of rape and sexual assault. Meghan and Harry were bestowed the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex - which had been vacant - when they married in May this year. A dukedom is the highest rank in British peerage. Harry also received the Scottish and Northern Irish titles, becoming the Earl of of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel, making Meghan the Countess of Dumbarton and Baroness Kilkeel. 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 Prince Harry is just the second royal to be given this Dukedom title. The previous holder of the title was Prince Augustus Frederick, the sixth son of King George III. Who was Prince Augustus and why was there never a Duchess of Sussex? Prince Augustus Frederick was born in 1773 and died 1843 - and lived in Kensington Palace, where Harry and Meghan have their home. The first Duke of Sussex / Hulton Archive/Getty Images He was musically gifted, had a fine singing voice, and amassed a huge library, a variety of singing birds and a large number of clocks. Suffering from asthma, George III's sixth son was deemed too delicate to join the military - unlike Harry, who had a 10-year stint in the armed forces. Augustus was sent abroad and married Lady Augusta Murray - whom he called "Goosy" - in secret in Rome in 1793, but the marriage was declared void by George III, who had not given his approval. It was later annulled on the grounds that it contravened the Royal Marriages Act 1772. The prince became the Duke of Sussex in 1801 but Lady Augusta, from whom he separated the same year, did not become the Duchess of Sussex. Samantha Grant apologises to Meghan Markle on Jeremy Vine She called herself princess and demanded a peerage, but never received one. The duke's progressive political views - such as supporting the abolition of the slave trade, Catholic emancipation and political reform - sparked a rift between him and his father and brother, the Prince Regent. Hulton Archive/Getty Images The duke's second marriage was to his former mistress Lady Cecilia Buggin, who was also known as Lady Cecilia Underwood. This was also deemed illegal because he did not seek permission from the king, so Lady Cecilia was not styled the Duchess of Sussex. She was later made the Duchess of Inverness by Queen Victoria instead. The Duke of Sussex was Victoria's favourite uncle and he gave her away at her wedding to Prince Albert. He was rather proud of his singing abilities, once proclaiming: "I have the most wonderful voice that was ever heard - three octaves - and I do understand music." He was also Grand Master of the Freemasons' Premier Grand Lodge of England. His children from his first marriage were not recognised so, when he died without a legitimate heir in 1843, this dukedom became extinct and has not been used since. What about Sussex? A title linked with Sussex first appeared with the Kingdom of Sussex, an Anglo-Saxon kingdom that was annexed by the Kingdom of Wessex around 827. In charters, Sussex's monarchs were sometimes referred to as ealdormen, or dux in Latin, which is sometimes translated as "dukes". The old English county of Sussex - now made up of East and West Sussex - is located predominantly on the south coast of England, with around 90 miles of shoreline from Camber in the east to Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the west. Spanning 1,461 square miles, Sussex shares borders with Kent, Surrey and Hampshire. Key locations include Brighton and Hove, Eastbourne, Worthing, Hastings, Crawley, the South Downs National Park, and the white cliffs at Beachy Head. First recorded in 722 as "Suth Seaxe", the names comes from the Old English for the "territory of the South Saxons". Although invaded by the Normans in 1066, many Sussex towns and villages still retain their original Anglo Saxon names. Reviving the title Speculation around bestowing of the title arose in 1999 before the wedding of Prince Edward, the Queens youngest son. Instead he was created the Earl of Wessex and told he would eventually become the Duke of Edinburgh upon his father, Prince Philips, passing. Before the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was suggested as a potential title, but the pair were made the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Royal wedding countdown: The plan so far for Harry and Meghan Prince Harry was then reportedly promised that the Duke of Sussex title would be granted to him on his wedding day and the official announcement by the palace this morning has confirmed this speculation. Where dukes rank in the standings In the royal family, dukedoms hold a heavier weight in terms of title than Prince or Princess unless you are Prince Charles, whose title as the Prince of Wales trumps a Dukedom. This means that when Charles becomes King, Prince William and Kate will become the Prince and Princess of Wales a title that would be considered higher on the hierarchy than the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. For Harry, as a prince he is still technically considered a commoner. This is because only the Sovereign and peers of the realm, like Dukes, Marquess, Earls, Viscounts, and Barons arent considered commoners. T he eldest children of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte have just arrived at the royal wedding with their mum. The royal siblings are looking adorable in their Givenchy bridesmaid dress and page boy outfits. George, 4, and Charlotte, 3, are among the 10 children lined up to be bridesmaids and page boys at today's nuptials. The other bridesmaids include Harry's goddaughters, Zalie Warren and Florence van Cutsem, Ms Markle's goddaughters, sisters Remi and Rylan Litt, and Ivy Mulroney. The other pageboys are Harry's godson, Jasper Dyer and twin brothers Brian and John Mulroney. The children's outfits were designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. A statement from the palace said: "Clare Waight Keller designed the six young Bridesmaids dresses in the Givenchy Haute Couture Atelier in Paris. "The dresses were designed to have the same timeless purity as Ms. Markle's dress. "Each dress is sculpted in Ivory silk Radzimir, and is high-waisted with short puff sleeves and hand finished with a double silk ribbon detail tied at the back in a bow. The Bridesmaids dresses include pockets and pleated skirts to create a relaxed and luxurious silhouette. "The Bridesmaids are wearing white leather Aquazurra shoes; each pair is monogrammed with the Bridesmaids initials, and the wedding date. The shoes are a gift from Ms. Markle to the young ladies as a keepsake of the special day." Royal Wedding Day: Meghan's Dress - In pictures 1 /45 Royal Wedding Day: Meghan's Dress - In pictures PA AFP/Getty Images PA Reuters PA Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Meghan Markle arrives at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle PA PA PA Getty Images Meghan Markle arrives at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for her wedding to Prince Harry PA AFP/Getty Images AP Reuters PA EPA Meghan Markle arrives at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle Getty Images Prince Harry Meghan Markle stand together for their wedding in St George's Chapel AFP/Getty Images EPA Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stand in front of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby AP Meghan Markle leaves Cliveden House Hotel in Taplow AP Getty Images Meghan Markle leaves Cliveden House Hotel in Taplow AP The page boys are dresses in a miniature version of the Blues and Royals frockcoat worn by Prince Harry. The palace said: "The uniform draws its insignia from the Blues and Royals, which is an old Regiment of The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry. Both are also wearing Blues and Royals frockcoats for the Wedding Day. "The frockcoats are made from blue doeskin, single-breasted in style with a stand-up collar and completed with figured braiding of Regimental pattern. The figured braiding has been scaled down for the Pages, as otherwise it would have gone above their shoulders. "As a special memento, each Page has their initials embroidered in gold on their shoulder straps. The Pages are not wearing hats or white waist belts for practical reasons. "Their leg garments are made from blue/black wool barathea with three-quarter scarlet stripes fastened with a leather strap. The uniforms were cut and made by the tailors Dege & Skinner in Savile Row." The best of the Royal Wedding fashion - in pictures 1 /21 The best of the Royal Wedding fashion - in pictures Amal and George Clooney AP Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford PA Abigail Spencer and Priyanka Chopra Abigail Spencer and Priyanka Chopra Chris Jackson/Getty Images Serena Williams Serena Williams PA Victoria and David Beckham EPA Lady Kitty Spencer REUTERS Cressida Bonas Getty Images Jonny Wilkinson and Shelley Jenkins Getty Images Amal and George Clooney PA Cressida Bonas, who dated Prince Harry Getty Images Pippa and James Middleton PA Caroline Greenwood and Will Greenwood Getty Images David Beckham PA Pippa Middleton with husband James Matthews AFP/Getty Images Carole and Michael Middleton PA Chelsy Davy (c), Prince Harry's ex Getty Images James Blunt and Sofia Wellesley PA Oprah Winfrey PA Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre PA Oprah Winfrey AFP/Getty Images Carole Middleton PA Before the wedding, there was speculation Meghan Markle would ask best friend Jessica Mulroney to be her maid of honour, but Ms Markle decided to forgot a MOH and have Mulroney's children as her young bridesmaids and pageboys instead. F rom day one, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been breaking with tradition. They met on a blind date, they flew to Botswana to holiday together after only knowing each other for a few weeks, and Harry famously released a statement in November 2016 both confirming their relationship and asking the press to leave Meghan alone something unprecedented for the palace. Below are 10 other ways Meghan and Harry have already broken royal tradition. 1. Meghans father will not walk her down the aisle After a week of back and forth media reports as to whether Thomas Markle would walk his daughter down the aisle, Meghan released a statement this morning via the Kensington Palace Twitter channel confirming his absence. Instead, Meghan will be walked down the aisle by Prince Charles. 2. Meghan will not have a maid of honour Unlike the Duchess of Cambridge - whose younger sister Pippa Middleton inadvertently stole the worlds attention during her wedding to Prince William in 2011 Meghan will not be having a maid of honour. Instead she will have young bridesmaids and page boys including Prince George , Princess Charlotte and the children of her best friend, Jessica Mulroney. Harry and Meghan arrive in Windsor ahead of wedding 3. Meghan wore a sheer dress in the engagement photos The engagement photos which looked like they were straight out of a glossy magazine saw Meghan wear a sheer-topped Ralph & Russo dress , veering from the royals unspoken modest dress code. 4. Her style has been shaking up the royal look in general Something seems to happen when you become a royal. As soon as Meghan and Harrys engagement was announced, gone were the ripped jeans and short dresses and out came the midi-skirts in block colours and a go-to colour palette. While the Queen loves to wear brights, Meghan likes to stick to earthy tones , making her mark(le) on the royal dress code. 5. The wedding venue Before it was announced the pair would be saying their vows at St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle, many assumed Westminster Abbey would be the choice of venue for Meghan and Harry. The decision to go with Windsor is a nod to Harrys dad Prince Charles who married Camilla there in 2005 and Princess Eugenie is following trend by marrying Jack Brooksbank there later this year. 6. Theyre not going with the traditional wedding cake If you attend a royal wedding, you can expect the wedding cake to be fruit cake as per royal tradition. Meghan and Harry have decided to buck tradition and go with a lemon elderflower cake by Violet Cakes owner, Claire Ptak. 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There will be no bank holiday Royal weddings often take place on a weekday so UK residents are granted a bank holiday. In 2011, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridges wedding fell on a Friday granting the nation a day off to celebrate. Meghan and Harrys wedding falls on a Saturday, meaning there will be no bank holiday for us but at least we have Sunday to recover 8. There was a subtle but major - break in tradition in the wedding invitations The royal family acknowledged Meghans previous marriage in the wedding invitations . Instead of calling her Miss they referred to her as Ms Meghan Markle. 9. The couple invited members of the public to their wedding Another break from tradition, Meghan and Harry invited over 2,000 members of the public to their wedding to help them celebrate their big day. While these guests wont be inside the chapel, they will be able to watch the proceedings from the grounds of Windsor castle. 10. Meghan will give a speech at the wedding M embers of the Labour Party have chosen Janet Daby to fight a by-election in Lewisham East next month. The deputy mayor of Lewisham council, viewed as a moderate in the party, beat two other candidates after hustings on Saturday to be selected as the candidate for the ultra-safe Labour seat in June. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Ms Daby was a "great campaigner" and he looked forward to working with her. The selection followed Heidi Alexander's decision to stand down from Parliament after being confirmed as London's deputy mayor for transport. Ms Daby, who has been a councillor in the area since 2010, is director of The Whitefoot and Downham Community Food Plus Project, which tackles food poverty, and previously worked in social care. She said: "This is my home and I know the issues that matter to people because they are the same issues that matter to me. "We want a good hospital, we want decent affordable housing, we want a good education and fair opportunities for all our kids, we want a transport system that is fit for purpose, and we want to live in a safe welcoming borough where everyone can feel at home. "The Lib Dems/Tory coalition tried to close our hospital. "I am proud to have been part of the campaign which stopped that, and I'm proud to have campaigned against the punitive Tory cuts that have put all our services under intolerable pressure. "I'm also proud to have campaigned against this Government's appalling immigration policies which have caused so much heartache to a generation which helped us rebuild our country. " The Lewisham East constituency in south London is a safe Labour seat, with Ms Alexander securing an overwhelming majority of 21,123 in the 2017 general election. Mr Corbyn said: "It's a great pleasure to welcome Janet Daby as our candidate in Lewisham East. "She is a great campaigner and has already been lobbying me about Southeastern's appalling train services. "She will be a great advocate for the people of Lewisham and I look forward to working with her should she be elected on June 14." Paul Scully, Conservative party vice chairman for London, said: "It's disappointing to see that Labour have selected someone who for years has failed to deliver for Lewisham. HA NOI The Digital Vietnamese knowledge system, an ambitious Government funded open database similar to Wikipedia, now boasts more than 10,000 articles, alongside 3.5 million question and answers following its launch in January. Of the articles, 3,177 have been published in a tree of knowledge section, which gathers information on a range of subjects and publishes it for public use. Seven applications have also been made available on the website, including iOS apps and web based apps, which are subject specific, allowing users to search content according to their needs. The steering committee of the database said 15 ministries and State agencies have compiled their list of data to be made available on the systems site (itrithuc.vn): The Ministry of Health contributed 8 GB of data, the Ministry of Education and Training contributed 2 TB of data, while the Viet Nam National University Ha Noi contributed 10,000 entries, 15,000 Q&A entries and said another 15,000 are being prepared for publication. A number of enterprises have made valuable contributions to the development of the knowledge hub, by uploading their e-books onto the site, as well as helping with data collection and conversion, translating several world-renowned encyclopedias into Vietnamese, or connecting the system to different social media platforms and IT forums. Deputy Prime Minister Vu uc am, chairman of the Steering Comittee, said that there were already many projects and programmes on online databases, but most were disappointing. The latest iteration, the Vietnamese digital knowledge system, is a major plan that aims to create a portal of fully localised knowledge in key fields, drawing the participation of several State agencies, enterprises, and organisations, alongside the public. The funding for the project comes mostly from taxpayers money. Deputy PM am stressed that the success of the project can only be possible with the collective effort of the whole of society. We must spread a passion for science and technology, and light the innovative spirits of the whole of society. The projects methodology must be logical, and science-based, am urged. The project will help boost the development of science and technology, as well as innovation in the country, in a completely new way, he said. He also asked the three biggest telecom companies in Viet Nam VNPT, Mobifone, and Viettel to actively and proactively participate in the development of the infrastructure and connectivity capacity of the project. The Deputy PM also called for special attention on the building of open learning materials to help teachers and students to better access quality knowledge. The vast number of documents stored at libraries, museums, and in the two in science academies in the country must be digitalised as soon as possible, am said. All State agencies and local authorities have to be proactive in uploading data," he said, "Especially ministries such as education and health, whose data deals directly with the lives of everyday people." During the meeting the Steering Committee also discussed the issue of copyright regarding uploaded data. Professor Nguyen Huu uc, vice rector of the Viet Nam National University Ha Noi, said smoothing out copyright and patent-related issues will ease the concerns of scientists and researchers when they want to contribute their studies and findings to the open database. Currently, our university has received many scientific documents and research papers as voluntary contributions from senior scientists who demanded nothing in return. This is a valuable source of knowledge that we will continue to focus on collecting," uc said. The establishment of a line in the sand between what information should be in the public domain and what should be kept within the respective organisations and agencies was also discussed at the meeting. Other topics of discussion included creating incentives to encourage contributions from organisations and individuals, and ways to promote the knowledge system to the public. VNS M eghan Markles father Thomas will not be granted a coat of arms, reports say. The Queen deemed that the process would be too complicated, according to the Daily Mail. The decision has been seen as a snub by some as previously, the family of non-royals such as Kate Middleton were given the honour when their daughters married into the family. A source was quoted by the newspaper as saying: Mr Markle will not have his own coat of arms. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle / PA We were told it would be too 'complicated.' The Palace has instructed us to use the example of the Duchess of Gloucester and give Meghan Markle her own coat of arms instead. The Danish-born Duchess of Gloucester married the Duke of Gloucester in 1972. For the family to qualify for the righto bear hearaldic arms, people who are not British must prove that they have an ancestor who was a subject of the Crown. Royal Wedding 2018: Procession - In pictures 1 /24 Royal Wedding 2018: Procession - In pictures Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kiss as they ride in a carriage down the Long Walk after their wedding ceremony AP Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and the Duchess of Sussex in the Ascot Landau carriage during the procession after getting married St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle Getty Images Chris Radburn/AFP/Getty Images Rex Features Meghan reacts as she rides in a carriage Reuters AP Getty Images Reuters PA AP AFP/Getty Images PA Reuters PA Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Reuters Getty Images AFP/Getty Images AP PA Getty Images Reuters Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding Getty Images As the Duchess was not able to prove this she was given her own coat of arms. Ms Markle will allegedly receive her own which will not extend to her family. Royal Wedding 2018: Service - In pictures 1 /24 Royal Wedding 2018: Service - In pictures AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding PA Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, places the wedding ring on the finger of Meghan Markle during their wedding ceremony in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle Jonathan Brady/WPA Pool/AFP/Getty Images The Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, primate of the Episcopal Church, gives an address during the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in Windso Owen Humphreys/WPA/Pool/Reuters Prince Harry and Meghan Markle share a smile during their wedding AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry speaks to his bride, Meghan Markle AP Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stand together in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle Getty Images Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank take their seats at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle during their wedding service PA Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle arrive at the High Altar for their wedding ceremony in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and his best man, the Duke of Cambridge, take their seats in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle PA The Queen looks on during the wedding ceremony AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle Reuters Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding AP Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle during their wedding service PA AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Jonathan Brady/AFP/Getty Images The Duke of Cambridge (left), the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke of York during the wedding service for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle during their wedding service Reuters Prince Harry and Meghan Markle listen to an address by the Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, primate of the Episcopal Church, in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle PA Meghan Markle walks down the aisle AP Prince Harry pulls back the veil of Meghan Markle during their wedding AP Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. who married in a lavish ceremony at St George's Chapel, Windsor, have been given the official royal titles of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Harry is also receiving Scottish and Northern Irish titles, becoming the Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel, which means Meghan will become the Countess of Dumbarton and Baroness Kilkeel. Royal Wedding Day: Arrivals - In pictures 1 /38 Royal Wedding Day: Arrivals - In pictures David Beckham and Victoria Beckham PA Amal Clooney and George Clooney AP Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews AFP/Getty Images Oprah Winfrey arrives at St George's Chapel PA Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre PA Chris Jackson/Getty Images Patrick J. Adams and wife Troian Bellisario Ian West/PA Sarah Rafferty REUTERS Cressida Bonas REUTERS Chelsy Davy Getty Images Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian PA David and Victoria Beckham talk with Sir Elton John (left) and David Furnish PA Sofia Wellesley and James Blunt arrive at St George's Chapel PA Julia Carey and James Corden Getty Images Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews AFP/Getty Images James Haskell and Chloe Madeley PA Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews Getty Images Lady Kitty Spencer REUTERS Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford PA Joss Stone arrives in St George's Chapel PA Prince Harry's Uncle Charles Spencer, Earl Spencer arrives with his wife Karen Spencer, Countess Spencer AFP/Getty Images Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre PA Delfina Blaquier and Nacho Figueras REUTERS Prince William's private secretary, Miguel Head arrives Getty Images Charlotte Riley and Tom Hardy Getty Images David Beckham and Victoria Beckham PA Amal and George Clooney PA Jonny Wilkinson and Shelley Jenkins PA Amal Clooney and George Clooney AP James Blunt arrives at St George's Chapel PA Sir Clive Woodward and Jayne Williams PA Nick Jones of Soho House Getty Images Carol Middleton PA Dan Snow and Lady Edwina Louise Grosvenor PA Oprah Winfrey PA Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre PA David and Victoria Beckham Getty Images David Beckham and Victoria Beckham EPA Ms Markle ended days of speculation on Thursday as she confirmed her father would not be present at her wedding following a heart operation. Her mother Doria Ragland had been widely tipped to stand in for her ex-husband and walk Harry's bride down the aisle at St George's Chapel, Windsor, on Saturday. But on Friday morning, Kensington Palace confirmed Ms Markle had asked Harry's father Prince Charles to stand in for her sick father. Royal Wedding: Idris Elba and Oprah Winfrey among first to arrive It follows a week of family drama for Ms Markle, whose father pulled out of the wedding following a heart attack and after he was exposed for setting up staged paparazzi photos. A merican preacher Reverend Michael Curry was hailed as the "unexpected star" of the Royal wedding after delivering a highly energetic speech. Reverend Curry, the current presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, gave a rousing speech to guests at St George's Chapel on Saturday, leaving some of the congregation looking baffled. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle appeared to hold back laughter as Rev Curry wildly gesticulated, praising the high heavens and at one point quoted civil rights leader Martin Luther King. The pastor's preachings were a hit with the online community, with Brits far and wide praising his rousing delivery. Spectator editor Fraser Nelson wrote: "If Pippa was the unexpected star of Kates wedding, Michael Curry is the star of this one. Wonderful, wonderful sermon." BBC Radio 2 star Jeremy Vine wrote: "The preacher is doing 50 in a 30 zone and it's brilliant." Former Labour leader Ed Miliband added: "Rev Michael Curry could almost make me a believer." Piers Morgan hailed the sermon as both "historic" and "brilliant". Ian Dunt said: "There is an American man properly losing his s*** about THE POWER OF LOVE..." Radio star Danny Baker took a slightly different tack, comparing the performance to that of a reality show contestant, writing: "This preacher bloke started great but he's now got two X's from the judges and living on borrowed time." Meanwhile a parody Twitter account for the Queen simply wrote: "Get out of my castle." Reverend Bishop Michael Curry delivers passionate speech on the power of love The crowd roared as Harry and Meghan emerged from St. George's Chapel and kissed at the top of the steps. The couple, now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will travel through Windsor in the Ascot Landau carriage before looping back to Windsor Castle for their reception. P rince Harry is to break with royal tradition by wearing a wedding ring after marrying Meghan Markle. Wedding rings worn by royal brides are traditionally made from Welsh gold but very few men in the monarchy have chosen to put on a wedding band. When the Duke of Cambridge married, he followed in the footsteps of his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh and uncle the Duke of York who both chose not to wear the symbol of marriage. Royal brides are given wedding rings made from gold nuggets from Clogau St David's mine at Bontddu in North Wales, and Ms Markle is expected to follow the tradition. Royal wedding: Prince Harry and Duke of Cambridge greet Windsor crowds During the Giving Of The Rings part of the ceremony in St George's Chapel, Harry and Ms Markle will exchange bands, after hearing the Archbishop of Canterbury describe the jewellery as "a symbol of unending love and faithfulness" and a reminder of their vows. Ms Markle first receives her ring from Harry, who will say: "Meghan, I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. "With my body I honour you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you, within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit." When Harry receives his ring from Ms Markle, she will place the band on the fourth finger of his left hand, holding it there, before addressing him with the same words. The dual exchange of rings will be seen as pointing to the equality of the couple's relationship. The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding ring, a plain, slim gold band, was made by royal warrant holders Wartski and fashioned from a nugget of Welsh gold given to William by his grandmother the Queen as a gift to mark his 2011 wedding. 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 The custom of men wearing wedding rings is said to be relatively recent and is believed to have started during the Second World War when servicemen wanted a memento to remind them of their partners back home. Its popularity increased as the decades passed and as it became more fashionable for men to wear jewellery. Harry and Meghan named Duke and Duchess of Sussex In contrast to other royal men, the Prince of Wales does wear a wedding band, under a signet ring on the little finger of his left hand. The Queen Mother began the tradition of royal wedding rings being made from Welsh gold after the precious metal was used to make her wedding band when she married in 1923. One nugget of gold was used to make the Queen Mother's wedding ring, the Queen's in 1947, Princess Margaret's in 1960, the Princess Royal's in 1973 and that of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1981. The gold came from the Clogau St David's mine. There is now only a minute sliver, one gram (0.035oz), of the original nugget left. In November 1981, the British Royal Legion presented the Queen with a 36-gram (1.3oz) piece of 21-carat Welsh gold for future royal wedding rings. S ir Elton John performed at a lunchtime reception for guests celebrating Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, Kensington Palace has announced. The prince asked Sir Elton to perform at the event, hosted this afternoon by Her Majesty The Queen at St George's Hall, Windsor Castle. In a statement the palace said Sir Elton performed for the newly married couple "in recognition of the close connection he has with Prince Harry and his family". The new Duke and Duchess of Sussex after they were married (AP) / Ben Birchhall/WPA Pool/AP The landmark marriage saw US actor Meghan become the first mixed-race member of the royal family in a sign of the changing face of the monarchy in the 21st century. Harry and Meghan get married: How the day unfolded "Sir Elton John has performed at the lunchtime reception for guests celebrating the wedding of Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle," the statement said. "Prince Harry asked Sir Elton to perform at the reception which was hosted by Her Majesty The Queen at St George's Hall, Windsor Castle. Royal Wedding Day: Arrivals - In pictures 1 /38 Royal Wedding Day: Arrivals - In pictures David Beckham and Victoria Beckham PA Amal Clooney and George Clooney AP Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews AFP/Getty Images Oprah Winfrey arrives at St George's Chapel PA Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre PA Chris Jackson/Getty Images Patrick J. Adams and wife Troian Bellisario Ian West/PA Sarah Rafferty REUTERS Cressida Bonas REUTERS Chelsy Davy Getty Images Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian PA David and Victoria Beckham talk with Sir Elton John (left) and David Furnish PA Sofia Wellesley and James Blunt arrive at St George's Chapel PA Julia Carey and James Corden Getty Images Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews AFP/Getty Images James Haskell and Chloe Madeley PA Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews Getty Images Lady Kitty Spencer REUTERS Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford PA Joss Stone arrives in St George's Chapel PA Prince Harry's Uncle Charles Spencer, Earl Spencer arrives with his wife Karen Spencer, Countess Spencer AFP/Getty Images Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre PA Delfina Blaquier and Nacho Figueras REUTERS Prince William's private secretary, Miguel Head arrives Getty Images Charlotte Riley and Tom Hardy Getty Images David Beckham and Victoria Beckham PA Amal and George Clooney PA Jonny Wilkinson and Shelley Jenkins PA Amal Clooney and George Clooney AP James Blunt arrives at St George's Chapel PA Sir Clive Woodward and Jayne Williams PA Nick Jones of Soho House Getty Images Carol Middleton PA Dan Snow and Lady Edwina Louise Grosvenor PA Oprah Winfrey PA Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre PA David and Victoria Beckham Getty Images David Beckham and Victoria Beckham EPA "Sir Elton performed for the newly married couple in recognition of the close connection he has with Prince Harry and his family." Harry and Meghan waving to the enthusiastic crowd after the wedding ceremony / PA The star sang at the funeral service for Harry's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. He paid tribute to the late Princess by performing Candle in the Wind six days after she died in a car crash in Paris. The pair had been close friends since the early 1980s. Sir Elton, who won a Grammy for the single, vowed never to perform it unless asked by Dianas sons. George and Amal Clooney were among the 600 guests at the star-studded event (PA) / Chris Radburn/PA The star was today among the 600 guests who attended the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding ceremony. Celebrities spotted at the royal wedding The royal couple pledged to spend the rest of their lives together in an emotional service that saw Harry wiping away tears throughout. On her entrance to the chapel, Meghan stunned a global audience of millions in an elegant Givenchy dress designed by Brit Clare Waight Keller. Her Majesty The Queen is now hosting a reception for those who joined the wedding service congregation. Guests are enjoying sweet and savoury canapes and bowl food that can be eaten standing up, and the wedding cake will also be served. P rince Harry and Meghan Markle sealed their vows with a kiss after their wedding as millions of people watched around the world. The Royal couple shared a tender kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel after pledging their love for one another at their fairytale wedding. The new Duke and Duchess of Sussex emerged from the historic church set in the grounds of Windsor Castle, beaming with delight. At the top of the vast West Steps, where the West Door was decorated with hundreds of cream and white flowers and green foliage, Harry and his bride stopped and kissed to the delight of cheering onlookers. Royal Wedding 2018: Service - In pictures 1 /24 Royal Wedding 2018: Service - In pictures AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding PA Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, places the wedding ring on the finger of Meghan Markle during their wedding ceremony in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle Jonathan Brady/WPA Pool/AFP/Getty Images The Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, primate of the Episcopal Church, gives an address during the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in Windso Owen Humphreys/WPA/Pool/Reuters Prince Harry and Meghan Markle share a smile during their wedding AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry speaks to his bride, Meghan Markle AP Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stand together in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle Getty Images Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank take their seats at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle during their wedding service PA Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle arrive at the High Altar for their wedding ceremony in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and his best man, the Duke of Cambridge, take their seats in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle PA The Queen looks on during the wedding ceremony AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle Reuters Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding AP Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle during their wedding service PA AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Jonathan Brady/AFP/Getty Images The Duke of Cambridge (left), the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke of York during the wedding service for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle during their wedding service Reuters Prince Harry and Meghan Markle listen to an address by the Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, primate of the Episcopal Church, in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle PA Meghan Markle walks down the aisle AP Prince Harry pulls back the veil of Meghan Markle during their wedding AP The crowd roared as Harry and Meghan kissed. They took a short trip through Windsor in a horse-drawn carriage, to the delight of thousands of well-wishers. The couple, now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, travelled through Windsor in the Ascot Landau carriage before looping back to Windsor Castle for their reception. Harry and Meghan were pronounced husband and wife by the Archbishop of Canterbury in a union that brought a measure of modern Hollywood glamour into the 1,000-year-old monarchy. Meghan and Harry in carriage procession around Windsor Ms Markle entered the chapel unescorted, dressed in a flowing white gown created by British designer Clare Waight Keller and wearing a veil and diamond tiara. Bridesmaids and page boys at the royal wedding - in pictures 1 /6 Bridesmaids and page boys at the royal wedding - in pictures Prince George, Princess Charlotte and the Duchess of Cambridge PA Wire/PA Images Princess Charlotte Getty Images Meghan Markle walks down the aisle followed by her oage boys and bridesmaids PA Wire/PA Images Princess Charlotte and the Duchess of Cambridge AFP/Getty Images The bridesmaids with their mums Getty Images Pageboys holding Meghan Markle's veil PA Wire/PA Images In a ceremony that combined modernity and the ancient rituals of a royal house that dates back to 1066, Prince Charles, heir to the throne and Harry's father, accompanied Ms Markle to the altar from the middle of the chapel. Meghan's wedding outfit: All you need to know Harry, looking nervous, appeared to say: "Thanks, Pa" to Charles and "You look amazing!" to his bride. Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, 61, shed tears as she watched the service from the sidelines. Royal Wedding Day: Prince Harry and Prince William - In pictures 1 /3 Royal Wedding Day: Prince Harry and Prince William - In pictures Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, arrives with his best man Prince William, Duke of Cambridge PA Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, arrives with his best man Prince William, Duke of Cambridge AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, arrives with his best man Prince William, Duke of Cambridge PA Meghan's delicate veil was five metres long and made from silk tulle, with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza, with two of her pageboys carrying the ends as she made her way up the steps. Her hair was styled in an up do and she wore the glittering Queen Mary's Diamond Bandeau tiara, loaned to her by the Queen. D etails of the menu being served at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding reception have been revealed, with trendy 'bowl food' dishes on offer including 10-hour slow roasted Windsor pork belly with apple compote and crackling. Her Majesty The Queen is now giving a lunchtime reception at St George's Hall in Windsor Castle for around 600 guests who attended the wedding service congregation. The feast includes both savoury and sweet canapes including Scottish langoustines wrapped in smoked salmon with citrus creme fraiche, croquette of confit Windsor Lamb, roasted vegetables and shallot jam, and champagne and pistachio macaroons. The full menu Guests will be served a selection of canapes, including: Scottish Langoustines wrapped in Smoked Salmon with Citrus Creme Fraiche Grilled English Asparagus wrapped in Cumbrian Ham Garden Pea Panna Cotta with Quail Eggs and Lemon Verbena Heritage Tomato and Basil Tartare with Balsamic Pearls Poached Free Range Chicken bound in a Lightly Spiced Yoghurt with Roasted Apricot Croquette of Confit Windsor Lamb, Roasted Vegetables and Shallot Jam Warm Asparagus Spears with Mozzarella and Sun-Blush Tomatoes Guests will also be served a selection of bowl food, including: Fricassee of Free Range Chicken with Morel Mushrooms and Young Leeks Pea and Mint Risotto with Pea Shoots, Truffle Oil and Parmesan Crisps Ten Hour Slow Roasted Windsor Pork Belly with Apple Compote and Crackling Sweet canapes will also be served, including: Champagne and Pistachio Macaroons Orange Creme Brulee Tartlets Miniature Rhubarb Crumble Tartlets Rather than a formal sit-down dinner, guests will also be served a selection of bowl food such as pea and mint risotto with pea shoots, truffle oil and parmesan crisps, Kensington Palace announced. As for the drinks, guests will be served Pol Roger Brut Reserve non vintage Champagne, a selection of wines and a range of soft drinks, including an apple and elderflower mocktail, made with the same elderflower syrup used in the couple's wedding cake, and Sandringham Cox's apple juice. Royal Wedding 2018: Service - In pictures 1 /24 Royal Wedding 2018: Service - In pictures AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding PA Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, places the wedding ring on the finger of Meghan Markle during their wedding ceremony in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle Jonathan Brady/WPA Pool/AFP/Getty Images The Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, primate of the Episcopal Church, gives an address during the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in Windso Owen Humphreys/WPA/Pool/Reuters Prince Harry and Meghan Markle share a smile during their wedding AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry speaks to his bride, Meghan Markle AP Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stand together in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle Getty Images Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank take their seats at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle during their wedding service PA Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle arrive at the High Altar for their wedding ceremony in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and his best man, the Duke of Cambridge, take their seats in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle PA The Queen looks on during the wedding ceremony AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle Reuters Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding AP Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle during their wedding service PA AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Jonathan Brady/AFP/Getty Images The Duke of Cambridge (left), the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke of York during the wedding service for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle during their wedding service Reuters Prince Harry and Meghan Markle listen to an address by the Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, primate of the Episcopal Church, in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle PA Meghan Markle walks down the aisle AP Prince Harry pulls back the veil of Meghan Markle during their wedding AP Around 7,500 items of food have been prepared by a team of 25 chefs, led by royal chef Mark Flanagan, the Palace said. All the ingredients for the reception food have been sourced from Royal Warrant holding companies, the Palace said, using as much UK-based produced as possible. The Royal wedding cake designed by Claire Ptak / Kensington Palace The wedding cake will also be served at the reception. Designed by Claire Ptak, the wedding cake features elderflower syrup made at The Queens residence in Sandringham from the estates own elderflower trees, as well as a light sponge cake uniquely formulated for the couple. Royal wedding - the fairytale ceremony in pictures A filling made from Amalfi lemon curd and elderflower buttercream ties all the elements together. The cake is decorated with Swiss meringue buttercream and 150 fresh flowers, mainly British and in season, including peonies and roses. The reception will also include speeches from the Prince of Wales, Prince Harry and Ms Markle, the Palace said. Her new husband and the Prince of Wales will also make speeches, Kensington Palace said. N ewlyweds Harry and Meghan are dancing the night away at their wedding reception with their closest friends and family - and the bride is wearing a ring which belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales. Harry appears to have given his bride a poignant wedding day gift - an impressive, emerald cut aquamarine ring that was once owned by his late, beloved mother. Meghan was spotted with the large gem on her right hand as the couple made their way to their evening do. Diana died when Harry was just 12 after she was killed in a tragic car crash in Paris. Meghan was wearing the jewel as she waved goodbye before travelling to Frogmore House this evening (REUTERS) / Reuters The US star - now a duchess and an HRH - is giving a speech at the party, which is being hosted by her father-in-law the Prince of Wales. The ring: once owned by the late Princess Diana / PA Harry drove his new wife from Windsor Castle in a silver blue classic convertible Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero which was originally manufactured in 1968 and has been converted to electric power. Royal Wedding 2018: Best Pictures 1 /67 Royal Wedding 2018: Best Pictures Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle PA Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, places the wedding ring on the finger of Meghan Markle Jonathan Brady/AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ride a horse-drawn carriage after their wedding ceremony Benoit Tessier/Reuters Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images Princess Charlotte and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge leave St George's Chapel after the wedding Jane Barlow/WPA Pool/Getty Images Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland are driven along the Long Walk Yui Mok/WPA Pool/AFP/Getty Images Meghan Markle arriving at her royal wedding ceremony Owen Cooban/MoD/EPA Prince Harry with his brother and best man, the Duke of Cambridge Jane Barlow/PA David and Victoria Beckham attend the wedding Hugo Philpott/WPA Pool/EPA George and Amal Clooney arrive at St George's Chapel Chris Radburn/PA Abigail Spencer and Priyanka Chopra Chris Jackson/Getty Images Patrick J. Adams and wife Troian Bellisario Ian West/PA Marcus Mumford and Carey Mulligan Chris Jackson/Getty Images George Clooney greets Serena Williams as Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre look on Owen Humphreys/WPA Pool/Reuters James Blunt and Sofia Wellesley Hugo Philpott/WPA Pool/EPA Meghan Markle arrives at St George's Chapel Andrew Matthews/WPA Pool/Reuters Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle Jonathan Brady/PA Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, looks at his bride, Meghan Markle, as she arrives accompanied by Prince Charles, Prince of Wales in St George's Chapel Jonathan Brady/WPA Pool/AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry places the wedding ring on the finger on Meghan Markle Jonathan Brady/WPA Pool/AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle walk down the steps of St George's Chapel Ben Birchall/PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding Reuters Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kiss Ben Birchall/PA Doria Ragland, mother of the bride, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall walk down the steps of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Windsor Jane Barlow/WPA Pool/Reuters Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex waves from the Ascot Landau John Sibley/WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kiss as they ride in a carriage down the Long Walk after their wedding Yui Mok/WPA Pool/AP Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ride in an Ascot Landau along the Long Walk after their wedding in St George's Chapel Yui Mok/PA Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex wave from the Ascot Landau Carriage during their carriage procession on Castle Hill outside Windsor Castle Reuters Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cambridge with Prince George and Princess Charlotte leave St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle after the wedding Andrew Matthews/Pool/Getty Images Meghan Markle walks down the aisle in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA Princess Charlotte waves to the crowd Andrew Milligan/PA Windsor Castle Guards from 1st Battalion Irish Guards play for the crowd Nigel Roddis/EPA Meghan Markle arrives at St George's Chapel Brian Lawless/WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, walk away from the High Altar toward the West Door at the end of their wedding ceremony in St George's Chapel Danny Lawson/WPA Pool/AFP/Getty Images The Reverend Michael Curry delivered a 10 minute long flamboyant speech Owen Humphreys/WPA/Pool/Reuters Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for their wedding Dominic Lipinski/PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle Dominic Lipinski/WPA Pool/Reuters Doria Ragland, mother of the bride during the wedding service Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Britain's Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall wait in the chapel for the wedding ceremony Jonathan Brady/WPA Pool/AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry looks at his bride, Meghan Markle, as she arrives accompanied by Prince Charles, Prince of Wales during their wedding Jonathan Brady/WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and The Duchess of Sussex kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel Danny Lawson/WPA Pool/Getty Images) Meghan Markle waves to the crowds Matt Cardy/Getty Images Well-wishers line the Long Walk leading to Windsor Castle ahead of the wedding and carriage procession Daniel Leal-Olivias/AFP/Getty Images Well-wishers watch a giant screen broadcasting the wedding ceremony Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images The Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Alastair Grant/AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex set off in the Ascot Landau Carriage after their wedding ceremony Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and The Duchess of Sussex ride along the Long Walk in the Ascot Landau carriage during a procession after getting married at St Georges Chapel Hannah McKay/WPA Pool/Getty Images The Queen and other members of the royal family wave after the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel Andrew Milligan/WPA Pool/Reuters Prince Harry and Meghan Markle walk down the steps after their wedding Ben Birchhall/WPA Pool/AP Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave after their wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel Andrew Matthews/WPA Pool/AP Meghan Markle glances back towards her mother, Doria Ragland, as she leaves St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle with Prince Harry Danny Lawson/WPA Pool/AP A woman is painted with a British flag on her face, as they wait at The Long Walk to watch the carriage procession Emilio Morenatti/AP Royal fans wave flags as they wait for the newlyweds to go past after the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle Emilio Morenatti/AP Prince Harry looks at his bride, Meghan Markle, as she arrives accompanied by the Prince of Wales in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle Owen Humphreys/PA Flowers adorn the front of the organ loft inside St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle Danny Lawson/WPA Pool/Getty Images) Meghan Markle walks up the aisle with the Prince of Wales at St George's Chapel Dominic Lipinski/Pool /Reuters Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and the Duchess of Sussex in the Ascot Landau carriage during the procession on The Long Walk after getting married St George's Chapel Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle leave St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle Neil Hall/WPA Pool/EPA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ride in an open-topped carriage through Windsor Castle after their wedding in St George's Chapel Aaron Chown/WPA Pool/Reuters Royal fans smile on the Long Walk leading to Windsor Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and The Duchess of Sussex ride in the Ascot Landau carriage during a procession after getting married at St Georges Chapel Andrew Milligan/WPA/Getty Images Meghan Markle arrives at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle Neil Hall/WPA Pool/Reuters Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and The Duchess of Sussex leave Windsor Castle in the Ascot Landau carriage during a procession after getting married at St Georges Chapel Phil Noble/WPA/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ride in an open-topped carriage through Windsor Castle after their wedding in St George's Chape Victoria Jones/PA Prince Harry salutes members of the Royal family as he and his wife Meghan Markle ride in an open-topped carriage after their wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle Andrew Milligan/WPA Pol/AP Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle Dominic Lipinski/WPA Pool/Getty Images Two women wipes their tears when watching Prince Harry and Meghan Markle exchange vows on a video screen on the Long Walk Peter Dejong/AP Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex begin their carriage procession in the Ascot Landau Carriage after their wedding ceremony at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle Chris Radburn/AFP/Getty Images The happy couple waved and smiled as they headed to meet their friends at the celebration, which is expected to stretch into the early hours. Diana wearing the aquamarine ring / PA Meghan wore shoes from Aquazurra made in silky satin, with nude mesh, with soles painted in baby blue. Her hair - in a relaxed up do - was styled for the reception by George Northwood. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave for intimate reception dinner in classic Jaguar The car's number plate bore the date of the wedding - E190518. Guests were able to rest and change before the start of the evening celebrations following the lunchtime reception in the castle's medieval St George's Hall hosted by the Queen. Meghan changes into Stella McCartney gown for second reception 1 /7 Meghan changes into Stella McCartney gown for second reception REUTERS REUTERS PA Reuters REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS The closest friends of the newlyweds will be among those in attendance including Canadian stylist Jessica Mulroney and other confidantes such as Benita Litt and designer Misha Nonoo. The 17th century royal residence stands about half a mile south of Windsor Castle in Windsor Home Park. It offers the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex the privacy to celebrate their marriage away for the cameras. The name Frogmore is derived from the frogs which have always lived in the low lying marshy area. It was built in around 1680 by Charles II's architect and in 1923, the Queen's parents - the future George VI and Queen Elizabeth - spent part of their honeymoon there. J eremy Corbyn's Twitter feed offers clues as to his views on the royal wedding. A post coinciding with Prince William's wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011 resurfaced as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were set to tie the knot on Saturday. When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge married in 2011 one frustrated Brit called Andrew Berry asked where he could read the news and avoid reading about their wedding. In response the Labour leader advised: Try Russia Today. Free of royal wedding and more objective on Libya than most. The tweet received a mixed reaction from the general public over time. One man named Matt said: This was true, at least back in 2011. Whereas some believed that Mr Corbyns account had been hacked. Were you hacked Jeremy? RT is trash propaganda, wrote Jeremy Leis. Another person wrote: Corbyn you are stuck in some alternate universe." Earlier this week a spokesman for Mr Corbyn was asked whether or not the Labour leader would be watching the live broadcast of Prince Harry and Meghan Markles wedding. He suggested that Mr Corbyn would not be watching with the response: Theres catch-up, isnt there? Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will marry on Saturday / Getty Images According to the spokesman Mr Corbyn has a packed schedule on the day of the royal wedding including an economic conference. But the Labour leader did find the time to wish the happy couple all the best during Wednesdays PMQs. Royal Wedding Day: Build up - In pictures 1 /30 Royal Wedding Day: Build up - In pictures Izzy Newman from Windsor ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle PA Spectators gather on the procession route ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle PA Spectators arrive on the Long Walk ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle PA Royal fans gather on the Long Walk ahead of the wedding PA Royal enthusiasts gather along the Long Walk ahead of the royal wedding ceremony at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle EPA Royal fans from Windsor (left to right) Elizabeth Hughes, 19, Brooke Beldom, 13, Claudia Smith, 21, her mother Lee Smith, 48, and Brooke's mother Laura Beldom, 40, on the Long Walk in Windsor PA Flowers and foliage surround the West Door and steps of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle AP Flowers adorn the front of the organ loft inside St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle Getty Images Members of the public are seen ahead of the wedding Getty Images Police officers patrol on the High Street ahead of the wedding and carriage procession AFP/Getty Images Members of the public are seen ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle Getty Images Royal fans arrive at Windsor & Eton Riverside Station ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle PA A dog wearing a Union flag bandana in Windsor ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle PA Spectators arrive on the Long Walk ahead of the wedding PA Royal fans from Cornwall (left to right) Samantha Burdon, Sarah Hawkins and Annabelle Bennetts on the Long Walk in Windsor PA Kitty Williams, 17, and Annabelle West, 17, of Mayfair ahead of the wedding PA Members of the public wrapped in foil blankets to keep warm on the Long Walk in Windsor ahead of the wedding PA Royal enthusiasts gather in Windsor ahead of the royal wedding ceremony at St George's Chapel EPA Royal fans wearing wedding dresses and signs reading 'Harry I'm Here', 'And So am I', 'And me too' line the streets EPA Spectators gather on the procession route ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle PA AP PA AFP/Getty Images EPA REUTERS AFP/Getty Images EPA EPA AFP/Getty Images REUTERS A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said: He wishes them all the best and he is a particular admirer of the work Prince Harry and Prince William have done in relation to mental health issue. Mr Corbyn has been a long-time critic of the royal family and recently said that the monarchy should relinquish control of the Commonwealth. Where to watch the Royal Wedding 2018 - In pictures 1 /5 Where to watch the Royal Wedding 2018 - In pictures Where to watch the Royal Wedding 2018 - In pictures Bluebird Chelsea Where to watch the Royal Wedding 2018 - In pictures Pomona's Where to watch the Royal Wedding 2018 - In pictures Bokan ABACApress/Didier Delmas Where to watch the Royal Wedding 2018 - In pictures London Wine Week Addie Chinn/London Wine Week Where to watch the Royal Wedding 2018 - In pictures Swingers West End Luke Dyson Speaking to Andrew Marr during an interview in April he said the Royal Family should no longer control the Commonwealth organisation. He said: I think the Commonwealth ought to really get a chance decide who its own head is. The Queen is obviously very personally committed to the Commonwealth. "After her, I think its time for the Commonwealth to decide who its own president is on a rotational basis." P olice in France are investigating a rape accusation made against film maker Luc Besson. Besson, one of France's best-known film directors, reportedly denies wrongdoing after the complaint was made on Friday. A 27-year-old woman claims Besson drugged her before the alleged incident at the hotel Bristol in Paris, a judicial official told Associated Press. BFM television and Europe-1 radio cite Besson's lawyer as saying he denies the accusations. It comes as the Cannes Film Festival closes with allegations of sexual misconduct in the film industry dominating themes at the event. S paceX's Falcon 9 rocket is set to blast off into space carrying twin satellites that will provide key insights into the Earth's changing climate. NASA will on Tuesday launch its Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) mission, a major project with the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) that will track the movement of water on the planet. The satellites will be jetted into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 as part of a "rideshare" launch with five communications satellites on May 22 after the launch was delayed by two days. It was previously scheduled to take place on May 19 at 1.04pm Pacific Time (9.04pm BST). Space enthusiasts will be able to watch the rocket take flight on a livestream here. Artist's rendering of the twin spacecraft of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) / NASA/JPL-Caltech The pair of spacecraft will then monitor the Earth's water cycle - measuring the movement of water masses across the planet, and mass changes within the Earth itself. They will note changes in ice sheets and glaciers, underground water storage and sea level, providing a unique view of the Earth's climate. In a release, NASA said the mission is planned to fly for a minimum of five years. SpaceX reusable Falcon 9 rocket blasts off for the 50th time 1 /9 SpaceX reusable Falcon 9 rocket blasts off for the 50th time Elon Musk's rocket fires up at the Florida launch station AP The Falcon9 blasts off on its 50th launch SpaceX Earthlings could watch a live stream of the impressive event AFP/Getty Images The rocket successfully transported a gigantic satellite into orbit SpaceX The impressive milestone was reached in less than eight years. AP Stunning footage shows how the huge rocket creates a huge trail of smoke and fire as it blasts through the sky AFP/Getty Images The rocket's powerful engine lit up the morning sky AFP/Getty Images Incredible image from a previous Falcon9 launch SpaceX The rocket at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station SpaceX It will launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California along with five Iridium communications satellites. Live launch coverage will stream the event on NASA Television and the agency's website. GRACE-FO will continue the task of the previous Earth-observing GRACE mission, which mapped variations in the planet's field of gravity, NASA said. Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by Elon Musk's SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. HA NOI The Ministry of Science and Technology presented the Ta Quang Buu Awards 2018 to three scientists yesterday for their outstanding works on physics and agricultural biology. The winners are Tran inh Phong, director of the Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, University of Science and Technology of Hanoi, for his work in physics titled, Coordination of polymer structure and revisited hydrogen evolution catalytic mechanism for amorphous molybdenum sulfide; Pham Van Hung, associate professor at the International University, National University HCM City, for his work, In-vitro digestibility and in-vivo glucose response of native and physically modified rice starches varying amylase contents; and o Quoc Tuan from Ha Noi University of Science, Viet Nam National University Ha Noi, for his work, Higher dimensional non-linear massive gravity. Nguyen uc Chien, vice president of the award council, said the award organisers received 54 entries this year, which were all high-quality scientific researches published in prestigious international journals. The National Science and Technology Development Fund plays an important role in attracting young scientists who were trained overseas and have returned to work in domestic universities, Chien said, adding that their return has helped improve tertiary education in the country. Phong said his work was part of on-going studies aimed at creating artificial leaves that could generate clean energy H2 from solar energy and sea water. This is a dream worth pursuing for me and my colleagues, Phong said, adding that researchers might be greatly ambitious for the practical application of their works but were always prepared to be unsuccessful. However, it is also possible that we may be led to another discovery or surprise, he said. Even if serious research fails to bring about outstanding technology innovations, it can still help nurture a critical and creative mind to solve problems, he added. The award ceremony marked Viet Nams Science and Technology Day on May 18 and late President Ho Chi Minhs birthday on May 19. Launched by the ministry in 2014, the award is named after famous Vietnamese scientist, Ta Quang Buu (1910-1986). It honours individuals and groups who have carried out exceptional scientific research and published exemplary scientific research papers in prestigious international journals. Until now, 227 scientists have applied for the award, of which 14 have received the honour. VNS V ictoria Beckham has come under fire for failing to crack a smile as she arrived at the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. The former Spice Girl might be known for her steely public demeanour, but viewers seemed unimpressed by her apparent inability to show her pearly whites for the camera as she posed outside Windsor Castle on Saturday. C'mon Posh. Surely there's worse places to be on a Saturday morning. #royalwedding, one person wrote on Twitter. Why does Posh Beck's never smile. She is so miserable #RoyalWedding, posted another. Writer Caitlyn Moran joked: Victoria Beckham's scowl is the "Pippa's bum" of this wedding. Beckhams and Clooneys arrive at royal wedding But it seems that the fashion designer felt a lot more relaxed when she was inside the ceremony as the cameras spotted her flashing a smile to husband David. The couple were among a sterling guest list of high profile names at the royal wedding, including George and Amal Clooney, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy and Sir Elton John. A-list guests: Victoria and David Beckham arrive at the ceremony / PA Sports star David stopped to chat to Manchester Arena terror attack victim Amelia Thompson as he arrived at the venue. Thompson, who survived the devastating blast which killed 22 people in May last year, is one of the special guests invited by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Instead of bringing her mother with her, Thompson made the decision to bring Sarah Goodman, who lost granddaughter Olivia Campbell-Hardy in the attack. Royal Wedding Day: Arrivals - In pictures 1 /38 Royal Wedding Day: Arrivals - In pictures David Beckham and Victoria Beckham PA Amal Clooney and George Clooney AP Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews AFP/Getty Images Oprah Winfrey arrives at St George's Chapel PA Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre PA Chris Jackson/Getty Images Patrick J. Adams and wife Troian Bellisario Ian West/PA Sarah Rafferty REUTERS Cressida Bonas REUTERS Chelsy Davy Getty Images Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian PA David and Victoria Beckham talk with Sir Elton John (left) and David Furnish PA Sofia Wellesley and James Blunt arrive at St George's Chapel PA Julia Carey and James Corden Getty Images Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews AFP/Getty Images James Haskell and Chloe Madeley PA Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews Getty Images Lady Kitty Spencer REUTERS Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford PA Joss Stone arrives in St George's Chapel PA Prince Harry's Uncle Charles Spencer, Earl Spencer arrives with his wife Karen Spencer, Countess Spencer AFP/Getty Images Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre PA Delfina Blaquier and Nacho Figueras REUTERS Prince William's private secretary, Miguel Head arrives Getty Images Charlotte Riley and Tom Hardy Getty Images David Beckham and Victoria Beckham PA Amal and George Clooney PA Jonny Wilkinson and Shelley Jenkins PA Amal Clooney and George Clooney AP James Blunt arrives at St George's Chapel PA Sir Clive Woodward and Jayne Williams PA Nick Jones of Soho House Getty Images Carol Middleton PA Dan Snow and Lady Edwina Louise Grosvenor PA Oprah Winfrey PA Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre PA David and Victoria Beckham Getty Images David Beckham and Victoria Beckham EPA Loading.... Countries & Areas Search for country or area A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan B Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi C Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Cote dIvoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia D Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia F Fiji Finland France G Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana H Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary I Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy J Jamaica Japan Jordan K Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg M Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique N Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway O Oman P Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Q Qatar R Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda S Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria T Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Y Yemen Z Zambia Zimbabwe The May 16-17 EU-Western Balkans summit did address the problems of integration, but it was eclipsed by another issue. The meeting turned out to be a landmark event that will go down in history as the day Europe united to openly defy the US. The EU will neither review the Iran nuclear deal (JPCOA) nor join the sanctions against Tehran that have been reintroduced and even intensified by America. Washingtons unilateral withdrawal from the JPCOA was the last straw, forcing the collapse of Western unity. The Europeans found themselves up against a wall. There is no point in discussing further integration or any other matter if the EU cannot protect its own members. But now it can. President Trump has his own reasons to shred the Iran deal, but he needs Europe to strong-arm Tehran into signing a better agreement. Were it to do so, the US administration would make it look like a big victory. Washington does not shy away from threatening its allies with punitive measures but the EU is standing tall, deepening the rift. As European Council President Donald Tusk put it, With friends like Trump, who needs enemies? According to him, the US president has rid Europe of all illusions. Mr. Tusk wants Europe to stick to our guns against new US policies. Jean-Claude Juncker, the head of the EU Commission, believes that Europe must take America's place as global leader because Washington has turned its back on its allies. Washington no longer wants to cooperate. It is turning away from friendly relations with ferocity. Mr. Juncker thinks the time is ripe for Europe to replace the United States, which as an international actor has lost vigor. It would have been unthinkable not long ago for a top EU official to say such things and challenge the US global leadership. Now the unthinkable has become reality. The process of shifting away from America does not boil down to just words of indignation and open defiance. Plans are underway to take practical steps. For instance, the EU is to ditch the use of the US currency in its payments for Iranian oil. It can be done. Russia and Iran have already launched an oil-for-goods exchange program in order to leave the greenback behind. The bloc plans to activate a 1996 law (the blocking statute), which bans European businesses from compliance with US sanctions on Iran. The legislation protects "against the effects of the extra-territorial application of legislation adopted by a third country." The EU-Iran discussions have already been held. And it is Americas closest ally who is to deal the first powerful blow against US global dominance. This is a demonstration of the no retreat, no surrender spirit before the not-yet-unleased war is in full swing. True, this applies to only a relatively small sector of business activities, and Irans $400-billion market cant be compared to the $18-trillion US market, but the important factor here is the show of political will to stand up to Americas challenge. This rift is taking place amid a looming trade war over aluminum and steel, the US withdrawal from the Paris climate accords, the relocation of the embassy to Jerusalem with no regard for the allies opinion, and the controversy over Europes NATO spending. On May 15, the EU defense heads gathered at a meeting of the European Union Military Committee to discuss deeper integration and an independent defense policy, which envisages greater efficiency to reduce expenditures, given the US demands to increase those outlays under the auspices of NATO. The PESCO agreement is the backbone of the EU defense policy and its purely European. Sandra Oudkirk, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Energy, has just threatened to sanction the Europeans if they continue with the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project to bring gas in from Russia across the Baltic Sea. That country is also seen by the US as an adversary and its approach is by and large the same to issue orders for Europe to adopt a confrontational policy, doing as it is told without asking too many questions. Iran and Nord Stream 2 unite Moscow and Brussels in their opposition to this diktat. On May 17, Iran signed a provisional free-trade-zone agreement with a Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) that seeks to increase the current levels of trade valued at $2.7 billion. The deal lowers or abolishes customs duties. It also establishes a three-year process for reaching a permanent trade agreement. If Iran becomes a member of the group, it would expand its economic horizons beyond the Middle Eastern region. So, Europe and Russia are in the same boat, both holding talks with Iran on economic cooperation. President Donald Trump has just instructed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to prepare a list of new sanctions against the Russian Federation for its alleged violations of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. This is the agreement the US has so egregiously and openly breached. But nobody in Europe has announced that they want US nuclear-tipped intermediate- range weapons on their territory that will be a target for a potential retaliatory strike by Russia. Its an example of yet another European problem with having the decision-making process located in Washington. If Europe is resolved to fend off US attempts to dictate its policy on Iran, why should it reconcile itself to the pressure to keep the sanctions against Russia intact? May 17 marked a turning point in the US-European relationship. Europeans joined ranks to resist a policy that encroaches on their right to decide their own fate. Its Europe, not the US, who is negatively affected by the punitive measures, creating deep divisions within the EU at a time when that group is faced with many problems. The time is ripe for Brussels to stop this sanctions-counter-sanctions mayhem and stake out its own independent policies on Russia, Iran, defense, and other issues, that will protect European, not US, national interests. May 17 is the day the revolt started and there is no going back. Europe has said goodbye to trans-Atlantic unity. It looks like it has had enough. What killed democracy was constant lying to the public, by politicians whose only way to win national public office is to represent the interests of the super-rich at the same time as the given politician publicly promises to represent the interests of the public and may the better liar win! its a lying-contest. When democracy degenerates into that, it becomes dictatorship by the richest, the people who can fund the most lying. Such a government is an aristocracy, no democracy at all, because the aristocracy rule, the public dont. Its the type of government that the French Revolution was against and overthrew; and its the type of government that the American Revolution was against and overthrew; but it has been restored in both countries. First here will be discussed France: On 7 May 2017, Emmanuel Macron was elected President of France with 66.1% of the vote, compared to Marine Le Pen's 33.9%. That was the second round of voting; the first round had been: Macron 24.0%, Le Pen 21.3% Fillon 20.0%, Melenchon 19.6%, and others 15%; so, the only clear dominator in that 11-candidate contest was Macron, who, in the second round, turned out to have been the second choice of most of the voters for the other candidates. Thus, whereas Le Pen rose from 21.3% to 33.9% in the second round (a 59% increase in her percentage of the vote), Macron rose from 24.0% to 66.1% in the second round (a 275% increase in his percentage of the vote). In other words: Macron didnt just barely win the Presidency, but he clearly dominated both rounds; it was never at all close. But once in office he very quickly disappointed the French public: On 11 August 2017, Le Figaro bannered (as autotranslated by Google Chrome) "A hundred days later, Macron confronted with the skepticism of the French, and reported that 36% were satisfied and 64% were dissatisfied with the new President. On 23 March 2018, Politico bannered "Macrons approval ratings hit record low: poll and reported that, "Only 40 percent of the French population said they have a favorable opinion of Macron, a drop of 3 percentage points from last month and 12 percentage points from December, while 57 percent said they hold a negative opinion of the president. On 22 April 2018, Europe 1 reported that 44% were satisfied with Macron, and 55% were dissatisfied with him; and that even worse while 23% were very dissatisfied with him, only 5% were very satisfied with him. So, clearly and this had happened very quickly the French public didnt think that they were getting policies that Macron had promised to them during his campaign. He was very different from what they had expected even though he had won the Presidency in a landslide and clearly dominated both rounds. That plunge in support after being elected President required a lot of deceit during his campaign. Second, is US: The situation in the US was very different in its means, but similar in its outcome: it was a close election between two candidates, each of whom had far more of the electorate despising him or her than admiring him or her. Neither of the two candidates in the second round was viewed net-favorably by the public. The key round of elimination of the more-attractive candidates, was in the primaries; and, after that, it became merely a choice between uglies in the general election. Any decent (or even nearly decent) person had already been eliminated, by that time. Consequently, the ultimate winner never had the high net-favorable rating from the US public, that Macron did from the French public. Americas system of democracy is very different than Frances: Throughout the primaries-season Americas first round the most-preferred of all candidates in the race was Bernie Sanders, who, in the numerous one-on-one polled hypothetical choices versus any of the opposite Partys contending candidates, crushed each one of them except John Kasich, who, throughout the primaries, was the second-most preferred of all of the candidates (and who performed far better than did Trump did in the hypothetical match-ups against Clinton). In the hypothetical match-ups, Sanders beat Kasich by 3.3%, whereas Kasich beat Clinton by 7.4% that spread between +3.3% and -7.4% is 10.8%, and gives a pretty reliable indication of what the Democratic National Committee threw away when rigging the primaries and vote-counts for Hillary Clinton to win the Partys nomination. Sanders beat Trump by 10.4%, whereas Clinton beat Trump by 3.2%. That spread was only 7.2% in favor of Sanders over Clinton; but, in any case, the DNC cared lots more about satisfying its mega-donors than about winning, when they picked Clinton to be the Partys nominee. (Ms. Clintons actual victory over Mr. Trump in the final election between those two nominees turned out to be by only 2.1% close enough a spread so as to enable Trump to win in the Electoral College (which is all that counts), which counts not individual voters but a formula that represents both the states and the voters. Sanders would have beaten Trump in a landslide far too big a margin for the Electoral College to have been able to go the opposite way, such as did happen with Clinton. This fact was also shown here and here. Thats what the DNC threw away.) Hillary Clinton received by far the biggest support from billionaires, of all of the candidates; Sanders received by far the least; and this is why the Democratic Party, which Clinton and Barack Obama (two thoroughly billionaire-controlled politicians) effectively controlled, handed its nomination to Clinton. On 7 June 2016, the great investigative journalist Greg Palast headlined and documented "How California is being stolen from Sanders right now, and four days later a retired statisticians review of other statisticians statistical analysis of data from all of the primaries and caucuses, reaffirmed their findings, that the Democratic nomination had been stolen by the Democratic National Committee, and he concluded that the whole process has been rigged against Bernie at every level and that is devastating even though I don't agree [politically] with him. A more detailed study was published on 1 August 2016, titled "Democracy Lost: A Report on the Fatally Flawed 2016 Democratic Primaries. Basically, what had happened is that the most-preferred of all the candidates got deep-sixed by Democratic Party billionaires, who ultimately control the DNC, just as Republican billionaires control the RNC. The US Government is squabbles between billionaires, and thats all. Thats whats left of American democracy, now. On 12 August 2016, Julian Assange noted: "MSNBC on its most influential morning program, Morning Joe, was defending Bernie Sanders. Then Debbie Wasserman Schultz [head of the DNC] called up the president of MSNBC. Amazingly, this is not reported in the US media. It is reported in the US media that they called up Chuck Todd whos the host of Meet The Press. Something much more serious is not reported that Debbie Wasserman Schultz herself personally called up the president of MSNBC to apply pressure in relation to positive coverage about Bernie Sanders on Morning Joe. That was typical of what went on. Hillary Clintons favorable rating, by Election Day, was 40.3%, her unfavorable was 55.3%. Donald Trumps favorable was 39.8%, unfavorable was 53.4%. Bernie Sanders, as of the end of the primaries on 29 June 2016, was 50.8% favorable, 39.6% unfavorable, and it has been getting steadily better afterward. But the suckered Democratic Party voters (the ones who were counted, at any rate) voted slightly more for Hillary than for Bernie. Even despite Sanderss having had support from few if any billionaires, he almost won the Democratic nomination, and thats remarkable. He might actually have received more votes during the primaries than Hillary did, but well never know. So: America is a dictatorship by the billionaires. And this means that it operates by fooling the public. France is similar, though it achieves this via a different way. And, in both countries, deceit is essential, in order to achieve its dictatorship. Fooling the public is now what its all about, in either case. Democracy can never be won by fooling the public; because fooling the public means removing the publics ability to control the government. So, calling such a nation a democracy, is, itself, deceiving the public its part of the dictatorship, or else support of the dictatorship. In former times, this system was rationalized as the divine right of kings. Now its rationalized as the divine right of capital. But its also become covered-over by yet another lie: democracy. This is a democratic aristocracy; it is an equal opportunity aristocracy. In it, each citizen has equal rights as every other citizen, no matter how wealthy. Its just a castle of lies. And its doors are actually open only to the few richest-and-well-connected. Here, a former CIA official tries to describe how the American dictatorship works the enforcement-part of the system, and he does (even if only by implication) also touch upon the financial sources of it. Starting at 1:07:35 in that video, he discusses his personal case: why he could no longer tolerate working for the CIA. But his description of how he, as an Agency official, saw the system to function, starts at 3:45 in the video. Key passages start at 12:45, and at 20:15. Maybe any American who would email this article to friends who dont understand how the system functions, will come under increased US surveillance, but that CIA officials career and family were destroyed by what the system did to him, which was lots worse than just surveillance. Remarkably, he nonetheless had the courage to persist (and thus did that video). However, when one sees how politically partisan (and so obtuse) the viewer-comments to that video are, one might be even more depressed than by the account this former CIA official presents. But, even if the situation is hopeless, everyone should at least have the opportunity to understand it. Because, if the aristocracy are the only people who understand it, there cant be any hope for democracy, at all. Graduate students in History have released an open letter with 157 signatures to the Faculty, asking for an end to unpaid graduate teaching which has allegedly been occurring in the Historical Argument and Practice (HAP) course. A letter signed by a significant number of graduate students in History cites concerns with the HAP course, which is a compulsory undergraduate course comprising 20% of students final grade. The HAP scheme is a particularly valuable teaching experience because institutions outside Oxbridge tend notto rate one-to-one teaching experience highly, whereas HAP is taught in small seminar groups, which is a skill more valued by employers. The History Faculty has been recruiting a large proportion of the face-to-face seminar teaching for this unit from unpaid graduate students, and proposes to extend this unpaid teaching to lectures in the upcoming academic year. The Faculty does not currently pay its graduate students on the basis that it is part of training for their future academic careers. However, the open letter claims that this is unlike any schemes implemented elsewhere within the University, and is not a widely supported model throughout higher education more generally. It also states that its existence is similar to attempts elsewhere in employment to undercut wages and conditions. The writers estimated that the costs of providing all graduate students a salary for their work on the HAP course would be 3,500 total per year. This assessment is based on other graduate wages within the University. TCS received comment from a PhD History student, who points out that "Cambridge in general lacks systematic opportunities for graduate teaching, in the humanities, and anyone doing a PhD with the ultimate goal of pursuing an academic career knows that without teaching experience you simply won't be hired in most teaching posts Schemes like HAP are really precious and important, and we wouldn't want to see them go. At the same time, though, we don't want to normalise the fact that what we do is not worthy of payment, just because we are desperate enough to do it even for free". Yesterday evening 25 students occupied Greenwich House, home to the University's administrative offices and finance department. Their demands are the same as those of the hunger strikers. They want the University to pledge their commitment to total divestment by 2020 and to promise that the activists involved in the recent protests will not face disciplinary action. This most recent Zero Carbon protest is taking place in the same week as 3 Cambridge students launched a hunger strike, seeking the same the promises from the University. Graffiti was also scrawled all over Senate House earlier in the week, which currently remains there due to the cost and damage of removing it from the limestone walls. The Zero Carbon Society have reinforced that this protest is not a one-off. Protestors have secured access to Greenwich House and are offering up "safe revision space" for students to join them. They have said that "security are on our side". The University has said, "We are aware of an ongoing incident at Greenwich House. Security are on site and handling the situation." A spokesperson and seasoned campaigner has said "There can be no business as usual while Cambridge continues to profit from climate catastrophe. We have taken every democratic route possible towards divestment, demonstrating the depth of popular support on this issue, and yet University Council is set to reject divestment once again. This is a climate emergency, and it is time for Cambridge to divest and turn its back on the industry responsible. We will shut down the Universitys administrative heart until University management commit to full divestment." The peak in frequency of direct action is designed to put pressure on the University Council who are meeting on Monday to discuss the future of the University's investments in fossil fuels. On Monday there will be a final rally prior to the decision outisde Senate House Divestment D-Day. Today, despite Apple's continued dominance in the mobile industry, the formerly famous 'Art of Jailbreaking The iPhone' has seemingly faded into the background -- almost becoming forgotten. To wrap up, considering that there's little to no cool content that's only available for jailbroken iDevices and that the procedure could make your gadget a target for security attacks and in some cases, could even brick it, I think current iPhone owners should think twice or thrice before jailbreaking their handsets. I remember back in 2008 until 2009 - my earliest years as a tech blogger, my articles about jailbreaking the Apple iPhone were some of my most read pieces not just by readers here in the Philippines but also around the world -- especially in the United States.Fast forward to 2013, I saw a steep decline in the number of people checking TechPinas posts about the said topic -- and I'm sure other tech blogs and websites also experienced this. Google Trends data also pretty much confirms this 'phenomenon' as shown in the graph below.I've been thinking about this lately and I realized that there are several reasons why Jailbreaking has been rendered passe.For instance, one of the first features that I installed on my jailbrokenin 2012 was the swipe down quick access tab for turning on or turning off WiFi, Bluetooth, and Mobile Data. I thought it was a very useful feature that Apple failed to incorporate in iOS back then. Several months after installing it, however, the Cupertino company added Control Center to their mobile operating system, which was even better than the similar feature that I had downloaded from Cydia.I believe it was only in 2013 when iPhone users in the Philippines and in other countries aside from the US were finally allowed to buy Apps and Games from the Apple App Store through postpaid billing with network carriers. Prior to that, many iPhone users who wanted to try out good paid applications had opted to just jailbreak their handsets and sideload content. Now, you can easily purchase apps using a number of methods includingandThe last mildly interesting content I saw, which was exclusive available to jailbroken iDevices, was the PokeMon Battle Skin for incoming phone calls. And it's not even all that.The fact that Fingerprint Scanner and Facial Recognition have become staple features in today's smartphones proves that users are becoming more and more concerned with protecting their personal content and online identity. And the thing is, until today, one of the main drawbacks or risks of jailbreaking an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch is that it can open render the device vulnerable against security and privacy threats.These are just my opinions. I am open to hearing yours.Let me know your thoughts via our comments section below or by messaging me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I'll be waiting. Cheers! The Council of Electoral Experts of Latin America (CEELA) sent an observation mission to supervise Sunday's mock elections. | Read More HA NOI Despite the hot weather, the traditional medicine clinic in Northwest Nghe An General Hospital is full of patients waiting for free examinations from young doctor La Van Khoi. Truong Kim Chung, 62, a patient from Nghia an District, said that once he suffered from Bells palsy, making his mouth crooked and making it difficult to speak or smile. At the hospital, he was told his facial nerve was paralysed. After several weeks of treatment from doctor Khoi, his condition improved greatly. Born and raised in a Thai ethnic minority family, Khoi, 29, understands hardships and poverty. Many people do not have any money for health treatment, they must ask shamans to help them drive the evil spirits away. I entered the medical sector to help them treat diseases, said Khoi. Five years ago, with an excellent decree of the Viet Nam University of Traditional Medicine, Khoi had all the opportunities to work in big cities. But he chose to return to his hometown. Worried that the local hospitals infrastructure was dilapidated and crowded with patients, Khoi proposed founding a volunteer club to help patients. It is the first club of its kind in Nghe An, with more than 100 young doctors and nurses of the hospital as members. Some people ask me to discharge them from hospital after several days of treatment, because they run out of money. I must ask for support from different people to help them, Khoi said. Every month, Khoi and other volunteers spend part of their salary, together with support from the community, to cook porridge for poor patients. Khoi is also the founder of the Thai Hoa Commune young doctor club. The club often gives free health examinations and medicine delivery to residents in poor and border communes. Eager for social activities Pham Thi Hong Mai, 21, a student of the Finance Faculty under the Viet Nam Maritime University, said that during 12 years at schools, she only studied, and ignored all other activities. But after going to university, I started to join social activities, and really enjoyed them, she said. Mai was born without a right arm. Though some admire Mai, many others disregard her. Joining social activities, I feel more confident to mingle with others, she said. During the past two years, Mai has won a university scholarship. Mai volunteers to join all activities of the university such as helping candidates in university entrance exam, helping poor communes in summer vacation and blood donation. She does work suitable to her condition, including educating people about blood donation and talking to candidates and their parents about exams and the university. Mai believes that volunteering givers her happiness and skills. I was born disabled but I strive to study and work and Im confident, said Mai. Khoi and Mai are among 336 youths who will attend the 5th outstanding youth congress following late President Ho Chi Minhs teachings. The congress will take place on May 19 and 20 in HCM City, on the occasion of President Hos 128th birthday and 70 years since Uncle Hos call for patriotic emulation, on June 11. Nguyen Ngoc Luong, Secretary of the HCM Communist Youth Union Central Committee, said all of delegates were outstanding youths and had excellent achievements. Luong stressed that the congress hoped that the individuals advanced in studying and following President Hos thought, morality and lifestyle would offer inspiration and spread positivity to young people nationwide. VNS HA NOI The Ministry of Information and Communications plans to build a code of conduct for internet users to create a healthy networking atmosphere in the country. Speaking at a conference on Fridays morning, Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan said the number of internet users in Viet Nam had boomed in recent years. Currently, there are some 55 million internet users in the country, accounting for 57 per cent of the population. Of this, 50 million access the internet via mobile phones. Each user spends between 2.5 and seven hours every day on the internet, with Facebook and YouTube being the most popular websites. Tuan said apart from the undeniable positive aspects, social network also had its own shortcomings. In Viet Nam, social network, with its information-sharing ability, have contributed to rumours, seriously harming the reputation of and causing economic damages to organisations and individuals as well as created confusion among the public. This kind of errant behaviour is becoming more common via social networking sites such as Facebook and YouTube, Tuan said. A survey of the Vietnam Programme for Internet and Society (VPIS) showed that hate speech by social network users were manifested in many forms, including defamation, accounting for 61.7 per cent, slandering or fabricated information (46.6 per cent), racial discrimination (37.1 per cent), gender discrimination (29.03 per cent), stigma of disability (21.76 per cent) and religious discrimination (15.09 per cent). These behaviours are penalised under the law with specific sanctions. However, the number of such cases that have been legally handled are few, leaving victims with severe physical and psychological damage. Tuan said the purpose of the code of conduct was to create agreement and general principles among social network users to function in a healthy and moral environment. Based on this code, the agencies and units can formulate their own set of rules. Tuan asked VPIS to collect feedback from the conference as well as the opinion of experts before finalising the code of conduct, which will also be open to the public for their feedback. VNS Britain's white-collar crime prosecutor is preparing to open a formal bribery investigation into Glencore and its work with Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler and the leader of Democratic Republic of Congo, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. The mining company's shares plunged in London trading. Investigators at the Serious Fraud Office plan to seek formal approval for a full probe into Glencore's dealings in Congo, said the people, who declined to be identified because the matter isn't public. Since Glencore is based in Switzerland, the prosecutor would have to show it has jurisdiction because the company's shares are traded in London. An SFO investigation would add to a growing list of legal challenges for Ivan Glasenberg's Glencore. Congo government spokesman Lambert Mende said Congo is "absolutely calm" about the matter. "We are ready to take all the blows and we are ready to fight back," Mende said by phone on Friday. Any final decision on whether to proceed with a formal probe will be up to a committee of SFO senior staff, including interim director, Mark Thompson. Parents with twins, triplets or multiple infants say they are struggling to buy enough baby formula with most supermarkets and stores enforcing limits on the number of tins customers can purchase. Australia's two major supermarkets, Coles and Woolworths, both have a limit of two tins per customer in place. Googong mum Tegan Shirbin, with her 11-week-old twins Troy and Octavia, struggles to buy enough baby formula due to restrictions put in place by retailers. Credit:Dion Georgopoulos Retailers introduced the restrictions last year after concerns baby formula was being purchased and on-sold for profit overseas, particularly in China, causing supply shortages for Australian families. Tegan Shirbin, a new mum to twins, said she has had great difficulty feeding her 11 week old babies, Octavia and Troy, who have to be solely formula-fed for health reasons. Whats your favourite internet freebie? I reckon its hard to beat digital maps. Its not just being able to navigate without reaching into the glove box for a paper street directory that makes them so appealing. I now have the power to instantly check-out locations the world over for free. The same goes for a plethora of useful digital tools - Wikipedia, Twitter and Google search to name a few. Digitial maps were worth $3650 to people, according to a survey last year. If youre willing to put up with a bit of advertising you can listen to most the worlds music via Spotify and YouTube without handing over a dollar. Consumers derive great benefit from the abundance of free online services. But that raises an intriguing question: what is their value? The answer is quite a lot - at least for some digital goods. Miranda Tapsell is getting married not once, but twice. The Love Child star has reunited with Wayne Blair, the director of her breakthrough hit The Sapphires, and that films production team to star in Top End Wedding, a romantic-comedy in which the bride (Tapsell) and groom-to-be (English actor Gwilym Lee) go walkabout in the top end in search of her mother, who knows nothing of the impending nuptials. And, Tapsell lets slip in a break between scenes on set in Katherine Gorge, shes about to go through the whole thing IRL too. Im about to get married, Im engaged, she says, with not a little excitement. GERMAN FILM FESTIVAL germanfilmfestival.com.au, The Kino and Palace Cinema Como, Thursday May 24 to Wednesday June 6 Elevating a set-piece from Eugene Ruge's kaleidoscopic 2011 novel of an East German clan's disavowal into a tellingly contained drama, In Times of Fading Light ( stars, 18+, 101 minutes) is one of the highlights of the relaunched German Film Festival. Set in 1989 East Berlin and directed by Matti Geschonneck, the film uses the 90th birthday of a celebrated Communist Party stalwart, Wilhelm Powileit (Bruno Ganz), to draw together multiple generations facing the end of the society that has shaped their existence. Household rituals and moral accommodations are captured with microscopic detail, and the domesticity reveals metaphors for the decay of the GDR. "You've broken enough things in this house," Wilhelm's wife, Charlotte (Hildegard Schmahl), tells the ailing guest of honour, whose grandson has just escaped to the West. The history of East Germany is seen through stories of exile and sacrifice, with the interrogatory close-ups capturing the realisation that the system some fought for and others railed against will no longer anchor their lives. Bruno Ganz (pictured here in Bread and Tulips): plays an East Berlin communist party stalwart in In Times of Fading Light. THE CAKEMAKER (M)104 minutes, Lido, Classic and Cameo Cinemas. Now screening. The promising debut feature from Israeli writer-director Ofir Raul Graizer begins as a romantic melodrama: on his monthly visits to Berlin, Israeli businessman Oren (Roy Miller) discovers the many delicacies of cafe owner and baker Thomas (Tim Kalkhof), sparking a tender affair between the two men. But when Thomas loses Oren, he follows him to Jerusalem and his wife, Anat (Sarah Adler), whose own cafe is as empty as her heart. As with Babette's Feast, the experience of making food proves to be a bellwether for resuscitating the emotions of those in the kitchen. But in helping Anat turn around her failing business, Thomas fails to reveal his connection to her husband. It's a decision that is balanced between grief and jealousy, and the film itself must traverse an equally divided path between emotional duress and social critique as Thomas, played with tender understatement and empathy by Karlhof, comes to terms with the world Oren was trying to escape. MOVIE: OCEAN'S ELEVEN 9.35pm, Nine I suppose it would be possible to make a dud film directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts. But you'd really have to be trying hard to stuff it up. As it happens, that combination produced one of the great heist capers so far this century with all the sass, swagger, snappy suits and sleight-of-hand you could wish for. Not to mention eye candy. Flawlessly paced and brimming with fun, it's fabulous. George Clooney as Danny Ocean in Ocean's Eleven. ORIGINS: THE STORY OF HUMANKIND New series 7.30pm, SBS Hosted by Brain Games' Jason Silva, this look at the evolution of homo sapiens shares Brain Games' quick-fire style but here it doesn't serve the show quite as well. I'm hoping that the "facts" Silva presents are all legit but they tend to be tossed out indiscriminately and some things need a bit more explanation. (For instance, does cooking food really make it more nutritious? How?) That said, this is an entertaining look at key moments in human progress, beginning tonight with the mastery of fire. STARGAZING LIVE 1/2 8pm, ABC It's geek heaven as Julia Zemiro and Professor Brian Cox return for another three nights of live stargazing from the Siding Spring Observatory in NSW. It's packed with fun facts, amazing stories and gorgeous visuals, and tonight we start discussing the solar system. Tomorrow night it's deep space, and Thursday, space exploration. There's plenty of viewer involvement too. Last year amateur Australian stargazers discovered a new solar system; this year we're hunting for supernovae. Julia Zemiro and Professor Brian Cox return for another three nights of live stargazing from the Siding Spring Observatory in NSW. EAT WELL FOR LESS 1/2 7.30pm, Nine Would you be able to tell your favourite brand from a cheaper, generic version if you couldn't see the label? That's one of the fun experiments in this cheerful and useful factual series. The shocking truth about how much cash we have in our pantries in the form of unused food; the hideous annual spend of people addicted to takeaway; and the financial cost of impulse buys all come under the microscope as Ben O'Donoghue and Leila McKinnon show households how to slash their food expenses without affecting their lifestyle. So they are quite well buffered from large variations in day-to-day ambient temperatures they provide relatively constant and stable microclimates. A sugar glider sheltering inside one of the chainsaw hollows is captured by the researcher's digital burrow-scope camera. Credit:Kristin Semmens In comparison, nest boxes often have very thin walls and they heat up and cool down a lot over a 24-hour cycle so, particularly in summer, you end up with nest boxes getting much hotter during the day than tree hollows and at night they often get much colder. The researchers found nest boxes could be both five degrees hotter and colder than tree hollows. Co-author Pia Lentini, from the University of Melbourne School of Biosciences, was most concerned about how the animals and birds in the nest boxes reacted to heat waves and cold snaps. During periods of extreme heat, for example, nocturnal animals sleeping in hot nest boxes may become stressed and abandon their boxes in desperation, entering the bright light of day where they become easy prey. For newborn animals, the potentially fatal effects of extreme temperatures are even more immediate. Weve got over 200 species in Australia that rely on tree hollows for shelter from predators and the elements and these structures are only going to become more important as extreme weather events become more common, Dr Lentini said. Microbats, marsupials like possums, gliders and antechinus, parrots and owls, use them and we are losing tree hollows really rapidly as old paddock trees die and are not replaced and habitat is cleared for urban expansion. Suddenly these animals have nowhere to live and, at the moment, it is not clear where they will go. The problem is that tree hollows can take more than a century to develop naturally. So the researchers looked at speeding up that process. Over the past three years they carved dozens of hollows into regenerating sugar gums and hollowed-out logs in Bundoora and compared them to nest boxes and natural tree hollows in the area. Their recently released paper was the first of several that will examine how their target species sugar gliders and microbats fare in the various types of homes. A galah inspects one of the chainsaw hollows but is too large fit through the 35mm entrance hole. Credit:Kristin Semmens When it came to temperature, they found the chainsaw hollows were comparable to natural hollows. That is, they were cooler during the day and warmer at night. The difference between nest boxes and chainsaw hollows is analogous to the difference between a demountable house and a grand old home with thick, insulating walls. That's because the living cells of a tree trunk form a thin layer just below the bark which carries water from roots to leaves and its thought this moving water may draw heat from tree hollows during the day. Which also explains why the trees appear not to be harmed by the chainsaw hollows, carved as they are into the dead heart of the tree. The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning is currently trying to work out how many nest boxes have been installed across Victoria and how effective they have been. Presently, though, no one knows how many boxes there are, how much they cost to install or how many volunteer hours have gone into their installation, monitoring and maintenance. Those nest boxes could still play a role in the future of conservation particularly in terms of monitoring and tracking animals, education and public outreach, according to Mr Griffiths. But they are not a silver bullet conservation tool, he said. The researchers hope their work will dispel the idea that the removal of hollow-bearing trees to make way for road expansions, new houses and other development can simply be offset with a few plywood animal homes. If you cut down an old tree in one spot it doesn't mean you can put up a couple of nest boxes and wipe your hands clean, Dr Lentini said. My 24-year-old daughter has received compensation from a third party motor vehicle claim. She has had $245,000 sitting in a Rabo Notice Saver Account earning around 2.7 per cent interest over the past three years. In that time she has combined overseas travel with casual work and has been using the $600 monthly interest to supplement her income. She is returning to Canada next month to work for the final six months of her two-year working holiday visa. When she does return to Australia she is considering studying so will not be in a position in the short term to purchase a property, which is what I would prefer her to invest her money in. My husband is very keen for her to invest most or all of her money in shares. He himself has a considerable portfolio and has a good working knowledge of the stock market and constantly reminds me that she would have made upwards of $30,000 over the past three years if she had originally invested in shares as he suggested. I am concerned about the volatility of the share market and feel that she may have "missed the boat". I cannot see her being in a position to buy a property for quite some time, at least until she has finished studying and secured stable employment which in all likelihood will be at least five years' away. Can you please advise is you consider the share market a sensible choice for her investment? My husband is currently suggesting she purchase Telstra, ANZ, Bank of Queensland, NAB and Wesfarmers shares. Or should she consider a managed fund? K.R. If my crystal ball wasn't so cloudy, I could give you a straightforward "Do this! Do that!" kind of answer. But trying to forecast the stockmarket is a great lesson in humility. It's hard to predict the future before you invest money. Credit:Jessica Shapiro I can see what your husband is aiming at, which is to buy bluechip stocks whose share prices have fallen: Telstra's, partly because of the NBN debacle; the banks' because of the Royal Commission; Wesfarmers' since they might sell Coles. The belief is that all three will have recovered strongly in three years' time. I'm surprised he doesn't have BHP or Rio Tinto in the mix. I agree with you in that three years ago would have been a good time to have invested the money and, yes, the sharemarket is higher now. About eight years ago I embarked on a task that had been languishing on my to-do list. Spurred on by various ads at the time, I was determined find my lost super and merge the multiple accounts I held. I was in my late 20s and like many Australians I had worked in various jobs, particularly when I was studying at university, ranging from casual to part-time to full-time. I had held roles in hospitality, retail, administration, law and the media. I practically had as many super accounts as I had held jobs so I began the endeavour with some enthusiasm. Young people working multiple jobs can end up with superannuation scattered across several accounts. Credit:Max Mason-Hubers I was buoyed on by the knowledge that completing this task would potentially deliver me thousands of dollars in savings in the long term and relinquish me from the nagging guilt I had been carrying as a result of failing to do it. Initially it was the administrative burden that riled me. The ads had led me to believe this undertaking wouldnt take long, and the first part locating my accounts didnt. There was a government search engine that quickly fed out the details of eight super accounts in my name. HAVANA A Cuban state airways plane with 110 passengers and crew on board crashed shortly after taking off from Havana Friday, leaving a mass of twisted and smoldering fuselage, as the countrys president warned many people were feared dead. Cuban state media reported that three people had been pulled alive from the mangled wreckage and were in critical condition in hospital. There was no other official mention of survivors from a nearly 40-year-old Boeing 737 operated by Cubana de Aviacion, which crashed into a field close to a wooded area near Havanas Jose Marti airport, sending a thick column of acrid smoke into the air. The 110 aboard included six Mexican crew, said Aerolineas Damojh, the Mexican-based company that leased the plane to the Cuban carrier. The plane -- carrying 104 passengers -- was almost completely destroyed in the crash and subsequent fire, which was put out by firefighters who raced to the scene along with a fleet of ambulances. Emergency personnel combed through the wreckage, lending little hope that there could be other survivors. "Three passengers managed to survive the accident. They are in a critical condition. They are already in hospital," the state newspaper Granma said. What appeared to be one of the wings of the plane was wedged among scorched tree trunks, but the main fuselage was almost entirely destroyed. Cubas President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who went to visit the scene, told AFP there was a large number of casualties. "There has been an unfortunate aviation accident. The news is not very promising -- it seems that there is a high number of victims," Diaz-Canel said. The president said nine crew members were believed to have been on board, but he was unsure if they had been included in the total of 104 passengers. The 58-year-old president, who succeeded Raul Castro as the islands leader only last month, appeared aghast as he surveyed the recovery efforts, wearing a short-sleeved green shirt and surrounded by officials. In a statement later, the president said an investigation into the cause of the accident was underway. "The bodies are being identified. The ministry of transport has set up a commission to investigate the facts. We will gather all the relevant information and we will communicate that to the people as soon as we will get it," he said. Mexicos government said the plane was built in 1979 and said it had a crew of five Mexicans -- the pilot, co-pilot, and three flight attendants. However, in a later statement, Aerolineas Damojh said a maintenance technician was also on board. Aerolineas Damojh, also known as Global Air, is a charter company formed in 1990 that had a fleet of three planes. Mexicos ministry of communications and transportation said the plane had passed inspections in November last year. 'It made a turn, and went down Airport sources said the plane took off at 12:08 pm (1608 GMT) heading for the eastern city of Holguin, 670 kilometers (about 415 miles) away. From the supermarket where he works near the airport, Jose Luis, 49, said he could see the plane taking off before it banked and plunged to the ground. "I saw it taking off. All of a sudden, it made a turn, and went down. We were all amazed," he said. Images from Cuban television showed rescue workers at the scene removing what appeared to be a survivor on a stretcher as rain began to fall. Prior to Fridays crash, Cubas most recent air accident occurred in April, 2017. Eight military personnel died when a Russian-made AN-26 transport aircraft went down in western Cuba. The countrys last major airline disaster was in November 2010 when a Cuban Aerocaribbean airliner crashed while on a flight from Santiago de Cuba to Havana, killing all 68 people on board, including 28 foreigners. In July 1997, an Antonov-24 passenger plane crashed into the sea off Santiago de Cuba. All 44 aboard were killed, including two Brazilians and two Spaniards. In March 2002, a small Antonov-2 plane travelling from Cienfuegos to Cayo Coco crashed in the central province of Santa Clara. All 16 people aboard, among them six Canadian tourists, four Britons and two Germans, were killed.AFP A further complication arises from the July 1, 2017, changes that restrict new undeducted contributions once the total super account balance exceeds $1.6 million. Clearly, the budget measure is designed to reduce the situations where total employer super contributions exceed $25,000 annually. Currently, employer contributions beyond $25,000 trigger additional contributions tax to increase the tax payable up to the recipients personal marginal tax rate. Collecting this tax complicates administration for both the Tax Office and the relevant super fund. As well, the fund member must decide whether to leave the money in the super fund as an undeducted contribution. If the budget is passed, high-income taxpayers will soon be able to ask an employer not to force them to receive further compulsory super contributions once the $25,000 annual limit is exceeded. This will benefit both the taxpayer and the Australian Tax Office. Unfortunately, the budget change only helps people with multiple employers and only in respect to compulsory super contributions. Even in these situations, the taxpayer will lose out if the employer doesnt pay additional income in lieu of compulsory super contributions. Therefore, the proposed change places the decision whether to receive compulsory super in the hands of the employee. There are many other situations where taxpayers end up facing penalty tax bills on employer super contributions more than the $25,000 annual cap. Two glaring instances of this are the treatment of accumulation fund members employed by the federal government and by universities. Both these employers pay employer super at levels much higher than those required under the 9.5 per cent of salary compulsory super level. The universities contribute 17 per cent of salary and the federal government 15.4 per cent of salary. They do not offer employees the option of restricting their employer contribution to a maximum of $25,000 annually and receiving the balance of the contribution as additional salary. There are no legal restrictions preventing these and other employers from pursuing this approach, which would simplify the arrangement for both the Tax Office and their employees. Currently, federal government accumulation fund members earning more than $163,000 and tertiary accumulation fund members earning more than $147,000 are breaching the $25,000 annual contributions cap, thereby requiring the Tax Office to apply the penalty tax provisions. Some of the people affected include all federal politicians not fortunate enough to be members of the gold-plated defined benefit fund exempted from the $25,000 cap. These people would benefit from action like that in the budget to allow them to take their annual employer super contribution more than $25,000 as additional wages. Michael Gaukroger admits there are many challenges in running a car-repair shop, but he said the largest of them is the competition with the larger players in the market. "Many [independent mechanics] are losing customers to the car dealers," he said. Harry's Auto Care owner Michael Gaukroger. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong "Around the Belconnen area in particular, all the mechanics here are suffering a little bit." The owner of the Belconnen-based Harry's Auto Care said smaller mechanics are often unable to compete with larger dealerships due to being unable receive critical vehicle data. Chabad ACT hopes to open Canberra's first Jewish school as early as next year after signalling its intention to apply for registration with the Education Directorate. The organisation this month applied for in-principle support to later apply for registration to run a kindergarten to year three campus near its existing early learning and childcare centre in Giralang. Gan Yisroel preschoolers Lior, Zalman, Sima and Mendel. Credit:Dion Georgopoulos Rabbi Shmueli Feldman and wife Chasia moved from Sydney to Canberra in 2013 to build Jewish infrastructure within the ACT. They've since opened a mikveh (ritual bath), synagogue, community centre, kosher shop and preschool and early childhood centre, leaving only a school on their list of must-haves. Were completing the infrastructural package thats required for a Jewish-Australian family to live in Canberra and to retain their cultural diversity and heritage, while at the same time living here as good and proud upstanding Canberra citizens," Rabbi Feldman said. Canberrans lost more than $60,000 last year to scammers, according to new data. Figures released by the ACCC's ScamWatch to coincide with Scams Awareness Week, which begins on Sunday, showed 752 reports were made to the watchdog last year. Almost $50,000 was lost from the ACT last year due to remote access scams. The most money was lost through remote access scams - where residents are told by a scammer pretending to be from a telecommunications company that they need software to fix a virus - with $47,000 forfeited. The data also showed $12,000 was lost to threats to life scams and was the most reported scam in 2017, while just under $2000 was lost due to reclaim scams. So, in hindsight, was all that royal razzmatazz "live from Windsor" good for the future longevity of the monarchy in Australia or is a referendum for a republic just around the corner? Monarchists Mark Salmon, Laura Smith and Satya Marar are preparing to celebrate as they watch the Royal Wedding on Saturday. Credit:Wolter Peters Everyone will have a view unless you were glued to Where Eagles Dare (1968) on 7Two while Meghan traipsed down the aisle on most other channels. One group who will definitely be watching are the young members of the Australian Monarchist League, who witnessed the nuptials from the Harpoon Harry licensed premises in Surry Hills. Satya Marar, a spokesperson for the league said: "A lot of young people think, it isn't broken, don't fix it. It is a very good system that works really well. The idea of changing it to suit someone's personal beliefs doesn't accord with the views of most young people that I have met. People genuinely do have affection for the royal family." The trial of pill testing at a recent music festival in Canberra was declared a great success by ACT police chief Justine Saunders. Testing illicit substances for life-threatening impurities has long helped harm minimisation elsewhere, but the trial was unprecedented in Australia. Pill testing was trialled recently at a music festival in Canberra. Credit:Jamila Toderas It was supported by the ACT government, and the police pledged not to target those who used the supervised service. The trial arguably saved lives, and certainly reduced harm. Two potentially deadly samples were discovered, 128 people used the service, 85 substances were identified and half of the drugs tested were contaminated. This and international evidence suggests further trials should be held in Australia. To advocate this is not to condone or encourage misuse of substances, illegal or legal. Drugs are dangerous, and the safest approach is to not take them. But people do take drugs the biggest killers being alcohol, tobacco and prescription opioids. Drug policy, global evidence shows, is most effective when its primary focus is harm minimisation and is part of the health system, rather than the criminal justice system. Prohibition has failed catastrophically; it has created a massive black market, wasted a fortune of taxpayers money and contributed to countless avoidable deaths. My mother immigrated to Australia in 1956 to marry a Greek man who had arrived the year before. For 17 years, they tried unsuccessfully to have a family. Mum became pregnant on three occasions, only to miscarry every time. Doctors told her there was "nothing wrong" and to "keep trying". But by 1973, Mum was aged 43 and running out of time. So Dad asked Mum to go to Thessaloniki and adopt a baby from an orphanage. Mum tried but failed. It was only then that her brother in Greece proposed to have another baby for Mum to take to Australia; she and his wife already had two sons. Peter Papathanasiou's mother with her two grandsons. I was born a year later in 1974, and the rest is history. I grew up in Australia away from my two brothers, and only learned of their existence when Mum told me about my adoption in 1999. She then came with me when I finally met my biological family in northern Greece in 2003. Today, my brothers and I keep in regular contact. I told this story on television earlier this year, joined by my Mum, now aged 87. A friend who watched it was stunned by my family's story. "What your mum went through was incredible, both before she became a parent and after," he said. "To have not only tried so hard to become a mother, but to have then carried such a monumental secret for 25 years ..." Natures always been a huge inspiration for me but, in particular, Australian nature, which is so incredibly unique and strange, Zawada said. For the festivals 10th anniversary, celebrated Australian artist Jonathan Zawada will light up the iconic sails with Metamathemagical, mutating, hyper-real images inspired by the native environment. Sydneys Vivid Festival has famously transformed the Opera House into a canvas for Australian wildlife and Indigenous artworks, and this year is no exception. I think the forms of the plants and the animals and everything here are so odd. They become these shapes and colours and textures I could never dream of on my own. As the lighting of the sails is seen all over the world, I hope that people take away a vision of the unique nature of Australia and the Australian people and the creative energy here, he said. Vivid Sydney creative director Ignatius Jones said, Looking back at the retrospective renders of the Sydney Opera House over the last nine years is quite inspiring to see how progressive the festival has been from a global perspective and just how beautiful and creative the artwork was, and continues to be. It still resonates with spectators today. Visitors will walk through the mouth of a luminous Port Jackson shark during the Vivid Festival at Taronga Zoo. Credit:Christopher Pearce Over the bridge, Taronga Zoo will also be shining a light on local wildlife after dark. Shark Tank star Steve Baxter has told the Myriad Festival in Brisbane that flying cars will happen and could be in Australia within a decade. Mr Baxter, Queenslands Chief Entrepreneur, recently attended the Uber Elevate Summit where it was discussed that flying cars would be in Los Angeles by 2023. Steve Baxter says flying cars are like an upscale drone. Credit:Channel Ten Get over it, its happening, he said. The question is, do we have them one year after LA or 10 years after LA. Victoria's anti-corruption watchdog has warned that it cant adequately investigate police misconduct because it has no powers to search or arrest potentially crooked cops, leading to some cases falling through the cracks. In startling evidence given to state MPs behind closed doors, new IBAC commissioner Robert Redlich QC says this "extraordinary state of affairs" effectively allows suspects to lie to investigators, destroy evidence, or not provide a record of interview. The pre-eminent former Victorian judge also condemned the culture of Victoria Police, where "loyalty to ones colleagues (and) protecting the reputation of the human organisation gets precedence in some cases over doing the right thing." IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich QC Regrettably we know that in some cases, once we open up our information sources to Victoria Police officers, information does not stay with that person; it immediately ceases to have any level of confidentiality, said Mr Redlich, a former Supreme Court judge and barrister. The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Nebraska besides Offutt Air Force Base will be holding a Living History Day on June 9th, between 10 am to 2 pm. The event will feature the opening of the museums new U-2 Exhibit. The guest speaker will be Frances Gary Powers Jr., son of the late U-2 pilot famous for the incident in which his aircraft was shot down over Soviet airspace on May 1st, 1960. This will be your chance to learn the history of this strategic asset while also having an aircraft to crawl through. Reenactors will also be present to give visitors a even more tangible feel for the time. The U-2 Display exhibit, made possible by Nebraska Humanities, will open immediately following the 10 a.m. presentation by Francis Gary Powers Jr. Living History & Aircraft Tour The Museum will offer history tours at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm. Visitors will see historic characters throughout the Museum in period appropriate uniform. The WWII Guys will be in reenactment mode with a complete air crew at the C-47 Skytrain to educate guests about the Operation Neptune or D-day, the day Allied landings in Normandy began. The WWII Guys will also offer a photo booth and a class on airborne jumps. The Museum will feature the Candy Bomber as one of its characters, to tell the tale of Gail Halvorsen and his fellow pilots who dropped candy on tiny parachutes to the German children while carrying out their duties to supply the marooned western part of the German capitol during the Berlin Airlift in 1948. The museum will open up its C-54 Skymaster cargo plane, one of the types used during this important aerial supply operation, for public tours. Interactive App Debut The Museums first app will be available beginning June 9th. The app includes audio and visual capabilities describing artifacts within the Museums Courage from Above: Strategic Bombers of WWII exhibit. The event, exhibit opening, tours, and lecture are part of Museum general admissions, but free for members. Advanced registration is not required. Melbourne's newly-elected lord mayor Sally Capp outside Melbourne Town Hall on Saturday. Credit:Chris Hopkins Melbournes newly-elected lord mayor Sally Capp says she is hopeful that having a female leader will help change the culture of Town Hall. Loading I think that in itself will bring a different culture and leadership to the city of Melbourne, Ms Capp told media at Queen Victoria Market on Saturday morning. Im absolutely delighted to be the first female, popularly-elected mayor. The Turnbull governments pledges to strengthen oversight of Australias spy agencies have been thrown into question by a top bureaucrats admission he was wrong to assure Parliament that a committee of MPs would be given more power to scrutinise the agencies. Nearly a year after the release of an extensive review of the intelligence community by former top officials Michael LEstrange and Stephen Merchant, the government has still not said whether it will adopt the reviews recommendations to expand the role of one of the key oversight bodies - a cross-party committee of lawmakers. No decision: Attorney-General Christian Porter. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The expansion would mean MPs have a greater say in probing the operations of intelligence agencies such as ASIO and ASIS, not just the legislation covering them and the funding they receive. In October, Allan McKinnon, the deputy secretary for national security in Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbulls department, told a Senate estimates hearing that all the recommendations of the 2017 Independent Intelligence Review were being implemented with only a couple of slight changes. But Kania says Huawei has been supported in developing 5G by the Chinese governments 863 Program, which specialises in so-called dual use technologies by which it means having civil or military purposes. The ubiquity of the Chinese companies poses a dilemma for western governments which so far, they have not been able to answer. The internet of everything Soon your fridge will be internet enabled, as will the rest of your home. Credit:Bloomberg Concerns around security in Australias mobile networks have been around since 3G was rolled out, but the fifth generation mobile network is a different beast from its predecessors. It will be much higher speed, and is tipped to boost the global economy by as much as $US12 trillion by 2035. But 5G will do much more than simply provide faster mobile services. It will be a crucial component of the "internet of things," which will connect every appliance in our homes to the internet, and when our trucks, trains, cars and even possibly aircraft are robotised and driverless, the 5G network will carry the massive flows of data. It could change the way we do healthcare, robotics and agriculture. The pumps on Sydney's and Melbourne's water networks will likely be hooked up to it, as will the switches on our power networks, say telco industry sources. The risks then become that someone intent on doing harm could knock out these networks entirely. A self-driving car developed and outfitted by Google. More obviously, a back-door into the system might allow details about communications to be sent offshore to an unfriendly power. The "core" of a network its brain typically represents the biggest security risk. And 5G, insiders say, needs a much bigger core than existing networks. The delivery of blistering speeds means there is, potentially, a blurring between what makes up the core with other parts of the build. "Chinese telecommunications companies are a real security concern and it's not just about the US not wanting competition. They are worried about Huawei equipment in the network," says ANU scholar Andrew Kennedy. So why are the Chinese companies even be in the running for these major contracts? The two answers are technology and cost. Around these questions is another one for Australian governments: is it possible to keep up technologically without them? Technology A Chinese iFlyTek robot that uses artificial intelligence. China wants to become the worlds leader in artificial intelligence. Credit:New York Times China has embarked on a single-minded national effort spanning military and civilian sectors to lead the world in developing technologies. President Xi Jinping has set the goal of becoming a world power in science and technology by mid century, through programs such as Made in China 2025. In the decade to 2016, Chinese companies including Huawei and China Mobile spent $US56 billion investing in foreign technology firms. One Chinese city, Tianjin, this week announced it would spend $US15.7 billion ($20.8 billion), more than the entire EU, on a fund to seek to establish itself as a world centre for artificial intelligence development. China wants to be a world leader in AI by 2030. Xi told a meeting last month of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, which he heads, that the nation needed to increase effort to make breakthroughs in core technologies. Xinhua reported that Xi urged military civilian integration in the field of cybersecurity and informatisation and efforts to develop the digital economy and promote deep integration between the internet, big data, artificial intelligence and the real economy. Technology is regarded in China as a once-in-a-thousand year opportunity to develop, and to take its place again at the forefront of the world. At an internet conference in China last year, despite the barriers of Chinese censorship and the Great Firewall which restrict their businesses in China, a whos who of American technology company chiefs attended: Apple, Facebook, Google, Linked In, Microsoft. Microsoft said it was developing AI in China. Loading China has some natural advantages: it has 700 million smartphone users, and by December 2017, China had 77 unicorns private start-ups valued at more than $US1 billion in internet industry, and 592 artificial intelligence companies. It also has a ruthless approach to reaping data from the users of technology, which is partly used in social control. Artificial intelligence is improved by having huge access to integrated data because a machine learns by studying existing data. The more data [the Chinese] have access to, the more power they have in an age where data is sort of seen as the new fuel both for AI and just for business ... more broadly," says US security expert Kania. Meanwhile, Chinas top universities for technology research are linked to the PLA, the Chinese military, and this creates national security concerns for western countries in using the technologies that are later commercialised. Cost The new mobile networks will require multi-billion dollar outlays at a time when Australian telcos' margins are being squeezed and competition is causing major headwinds. Chinese suppliers are sometimes willing to slash their prices and even accept loss-making deals to get into the market, sources say, which could be attractive to companies watching their spending. The prices they [the Chinese companies] set are mind blowing, you have to wonder how they make money, said one industry insider. Another said a contract with a company like Telstra legitimises a Chinese telco, so arguably could be even more likely to cut the price to get a deal across the line. This might be tempting for a CEO trying to maximise shareholder value, though putting Chinese companies on a shortlist does not necessarily mean theyll end up getting the business its simply a standard practice to seek out a range of offers. Apart from ZTE and Huawei, Telstra's shortlist also likely includes Nokia and long-term partner Ericsson. Telstra has not significantly used ZTE or Huawei in network builds to date, with industry sources saying Australias biggest telco would be a significant get for the Chinese suppliers. A Telstra spokesman confirmed there had been discussions with the major global 5G technology vendors but would not comment on tenders. Cybersecurity is a top priority as we design, build and operate our networks. This is true today and will be when it comes to 5G too, the spokesman said. Many suspect Ericsson may be a frontrunner for the 5G contract. Optus chief executive Allen Lew said he had been in dialogue with government about what is required to ensure security concerns are managed. Optus has used Huawei for its 4G network, and has a long-running relationship with Nokia. We havent chosen a partner yet but have been looking at different options, he said. [Optus has] proven in the past we will work with government authorities to ensure it meets the needs of the consumer and the government. Optus vice-president of regulatory affairs Andrew Sheridan later confirmed relevant government agencies had made contact with the company, though said this didnt include pressure to select a specific provider for the build. A spokeswoman for Vodafone said the 5G universal standards are still being developed, with a full review and examination process of potential partners to take place in the future. Its understood Vodafone has had conversations with the government about 5G plans, though sources say this is not unusual when it comes to network builds Security The Australian government has taken an active interest in the 5G network, and has been in touch with the major telcos. Its up in the air as to whether the Chinese firms will be allowed into Australias 5G network - and in particular whether are ways to have them involved safely by putting in place some kind of monitoring, as Britain has done with Huawei. The Turnbull Government recently passed new laws to which will allow its new "Critical Infrastructure Centre" to work out whether new telecommunications network or other critical infrastructure pose a risk to national security. The centre would then "provide this advice to industry on a case-by-case basis," a spokeswoman for Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said. The centre is charged with conducting risk assessments and seeing through the ownership, offshoring, outsourcing and supply chain arrangements to check for risks under a regime that will put security obligations on telecommunications carriers. Under current national security laws, and new laws being implemented soon, the government can cite security concerns to stop carriers from implementing certain changes to their networks. This seems to make it difficult for Huawei or ZTE, as insiders including former national security officials express serious concern about the prospect of their involvement. Its a very difficult decision to say I can cut my throat on the cheap, one seasoned observer said. I would look very closely at the other, less threatening options. For its part, Huawei rejects any suggestion they are "threatening" in any way. Loading "Our products and solutions are trusted in more than 170 countries and regions. In 30 years, not a single operator has experienced a security issue with our equipment. This includes Australian operators," Mitchell says. "To meet the real challenges of global cybersecurity, we need collaboration across the entire ecosystem. Hostility and closed doors never solved anything ... Huawei is now Australias leading supplier of mobile network infrastructure ... in fact, more than half the Australian population uses Huawei technology for their communication needs every day without incident." ZTE was contacted for comment. The future 5G is only one part of the technology picture. Whats to come is extraordinary, with China making strides in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous vehicles. Imagine if China became the market leader for autonomous police or autonomous soldiers, said Fergus Hanson, a cybersecurity expert at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Robocop, from the 1987 Hollywood movie. Are we then going to trust Chinese autonomous police to patrol our streets with Huawei chips? If we think 5G is big deal, thats another order, Fergus Hanson said. The longer term question is whether the West needs a more strategic industrial policy so it doesnt face a future in which it is entirely reliant on Chinese high-end technology? That is a huge question because it invokes the kind of government-driven effort that China does well but which the more market-oriented West balks at. The Trump administration, for instance, faced ridicule when a leaked paper revealed it was considering a nationalised 5G network on par with the Eisenhower-era national highway project. Is it inevitable [China] will dominate the technology landscape or can the West do something to mitigate that? ASPIs Hanson asked. There is something the West can do. It is a big enough market to support dominant suppliers. Australia cant do that on its own but is there co-operation to be had with other countries like the US and Europe? Those are diplomatic and political questions rather than a market question. That question could touch on issues such as free trade that are cherished by open economies such as Australia. But Kania says it might simply take much stronger support for research and development in key areas the kind that was made decades ago in the US that helped give rise to Silicon Valley. And however great are the strides China has made, Silcon Valley remains the king in most technology fields. Id argue for continued openness but running faster and taking targeted measures to push back, Kania said. It makes some amount of sense to me for the US and Australia to support, subsidise call it what you will provide governmental funding for greater R&D on a technology we all recognised is critical to future competitiveness. Power plays Writing in the Oxford University journal International Affairs this month, ANU scholar Andrew Kennedy and Darren Lim outlined that technological innovation plays a key role in power transitions in geopolitics. A dominant state will try to maintain its technological lead by erecting export controls, and perceive that innovation by a rising state can cause a "significant impairment of its security environment". This could be applied to the rise of China to challenge US technology dominance, the paper said. "The broad technology rivalry between the US and China is not going away," Kennedy told Fairfax Media. "The Made in China 2025 program has targets not just for the domestic market share but internationally, for example to become one of the top five companies in the world." Large Chinese tech companies are going out into the world, yet being protected and subsidised by government at home. It's in this context that Trump has taken particular action against Chinese technology as part of his trade war, an approach that Kennedy says is probably wrong. Radiology has always been a highly skilled area of medicine; these doctors spend thousands of hours reading scans to identify health issues that no one else can see. However, they now have a new competitor: artificial intelligence. Enlitic, run by Australian data scientist Jeremy Howard, has created AI that may diagnose lung cancer more accurately than board-certified radiologists. The best of the best are no longer just that. Jeremy Howard at work. His technology makes it easier to detect lung cancer. This is only one example of the way technology is disrupting healthcare. While the vast majority of scientists are skeptical of public intellectual Aubrey De Greys claims that humans will live to 1000 years, advances in medical technology are certainly presenting exciting opportunities to improve health and even enhance performance. Elon Musk launched another company, Neuralink, aiming to create "computer-brain interfaces", using technology to enhance brain function. The implications of such technology would be staggering for neurological diseases, whilst upgrading healthy human brains would allow us to live longer, smarter, healthier lives. Racism as an explanation, by contrast, is simple, visceral and broadly understood. In a weaponised narrative attack, there will be a spread of the overall theme through constant new stories with just enough difference to grab eyeballs and headlines, says Jonathan Herrmann, a senior intelligence and information ops analyst at the US-based MASY Group who also works with the WNI. These stories often require little more than a warning by an official or expert in a new context such as an ambassador or prominent politician. Some Australians may have guilt for prior handling of race issues, and the Chinese could exploit that, he said. Macquarie University Chinese studies lecturer Kevin Carrico, who signed the letter supporting foreign interference laws, said he had seen a rapid uptick in this kind of representation that Australia is a racist, or fundamentally anti-Chinese country. It feels to me like a distraction from actual issues, he added. Attacks and insults He pointed to nine different Chinese-language publications with articles carrying similarly themed stories on Australia and racism against Chinese people. The momentum of this type of coverage has been building since the middle of last year, after revelations of then senator Sam Dastyaris relationship with Chinese businessman Huang Xiangmo. Fairfax Media contacted Chinas embassy for comment on the story and received no reply. The emphasis on racism in Australia comes as race itself has been increasingly emphasised by the Chinese Communist Party. Changes to the Peoples Republic of Chinas constitution earlier this year call for a "great renewal of the Chinese race", which required overseas Chinese communities to ensure their work contributes to the general restoration of Chinese greatness, according to analysis from The Jamestown Foundation. The works of Chinese President Xi Jinping translated and put on sale at a Sydney airport. Around the same time, Chinas Ministry of Education in Beijing issued a statement warning Chinese students about threats and risks of studying in Australia, though the unusually vague warning raised more questions about the intention of the "anti-China Australia" narrative. The effect could also be seen in a search of Australian media archives for the terms "racism" and "China". Excluding duplications, search terms yielded only four such stories from July 2017 to December 2017. From December 2017 to April 2018, the figure rose to 28. The race debate Of course Australia, like most open democracies, has a documented history of racism. The question is to what degree does anti-China bias explain Australias political action in cracking down on perceived foreign influence. University of Technology Sydney media professor Wanning Sun says the prejudice being discussed is real. Many Chinese people in Australia have indeed experienced increased level of hostility not based on their values, beliefs and their origin but on what they look like, she said. Sun, a signatory to the letter opposing foreign interference laws, believes the Chinese Communist Partys claim of racism could be a tit-for-tat in response to real anti-Chinese hostility coming from Australia. Or it could be the party simply echoing the sentiment of the Chinese community in Australia. The academics object to the new laws because, they say, they "would imperil scholarly contributions to public debate on matters of importance to our nation; and [because] the debate surrounding Chinese influence has created an atmosphere ill-suited to the judicious balancing of national security interests with the protection of civil liberties. One potential indicator of fear in the Chinese community about racism in Australia is the number of students from China enrolling to study. Prominent figures in the China-Australia relationship have warned about the fallout if Chinese students spurn the country over safety fears, a point made repeatedly to journalists. But recent foreign student enrolment numbers have increased. In the first three months of the year, enrolments by students from China were up 16 per cent over the previous corresponding period to 183,800, according to the Department of Education and Training. Chinese visitors in the main quadrangle at Sydney University earlier this year. Swinburne University professor John Fitzgerald says this suggests the frequency of safety warnings for Chinese students in Australia was indirectly targeted at the Australian government, to pressure it over the foreign interference issue, rather than as a real warning to Chinese parents. "If its merely directed at parents, its unlikely to be effective," said Fitzgerald, who said many Chinese people are sceptical of Communist Party propaganda. "If its designed to scare Australian educators and the Australian government, then it really could be more effective." What China really believes Chinas messaging on race in Australia is part of a series of broader global trends, according to Dr Braden Allenby of the WNI. Theres a lot going on right now in the space of identity and culture, he says. Both China and Russia have pretty strong narratives regarding identity that they reinforce By contrast, most pluralistic democratic states, like Australia or the US, find their core narratives under attack from a number of different directions, both external and internal. Allenby said it wasnt clear to what extent China really believes that racism is a factor in Australia and to what extent this is simply a well-orchestrated campaign designed to build Chinese soft power, and denigrate the soft power of Western states. However, the narrative that China has been historically the most humiliated nation is well established. A recent report by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies concludes that it is constantly reiterated in propaganda, media, and the arts". Author Clive Hamilton, whose book Silent Invasion on Chinese influence in Australia was dropped by Allen & Unwin. Credit:Rohan Thomson Clive Hamilton, whose book on the Chinese Communist Partys influence efforts was dropped by publisher Allen & Unwin over fears of offending Beijing, said there was "no doubt" the Australia-is-racist message was increasing: "In recent months the claim that those critical of Beijing's interference in Australia are motivated by racism has become much more frequent. Previously it could be found in official Communist Party channels and from patriotic Chinese students, he said. "Now apologists for Beijing in the mainstream are using this insult in an attempt to close down discussion of CCP influence in Australia," he said. Soft power Countries have for years used public communication and diplomacy to influence each other on key issues; its part of the standard use of soft power. Likewise, weaponised narratives have been around for centuries. But the networked nature of the internet has given them new currency and power. Messages can come through many different channels with little cost to their promoter, and in ways that disguise who their promoter is. Moreover, they can be crafted in ways that aid their diffusion through social media. Herrmann said the goal of a weaponised narrative isnt to win people over to the Chinese Communist Partys view on an issue but to harden[s] the ideological position of those who agree, creating a set of people to block Australian actions to counter China. An open letter signed by China experts in support of foreign interference legislation makes that point. Racism is precisely the accusation that is encouraged and levelled by the CCP itself as it tries to silence the current discussion, it says. The CCP seeks to position itself as the protector of overseas Chinese and drive a wedge between Chinese communities and the rest of Australia. An Amnesty International supporter dressed as the children's television show character Peppa Pig protests outside the Chinese Consulate in Sydney earlier this month. Credit:AAP I have never been so terrified, particularly after we heard unconfirmed reports that some Chinese women were being raped. I thought this was the beginning of the fall of Indonesia. Three days of riots in Jakarta and other cities pushed the political situation to the brink. Not only were buildings being burned down and shops looted, but several hundred lives were taken and many ethnic Chinese women were raped. The killing of the four students fuelled the anger of their fellows. They consolidated and went to parliament, forcing MPs to demand Suhartos resignation immediately. They told them they would stay overnight in the building to pressure leaders to issue the statement. Smoke rises from burning buildings during Jakarta's unrest in May 1998. They went up to the roof of the parliament building and stood there for hours. Thousands more stayed on the ground, chanting songs against Suharto and his regime. Still in my taxi, I didn't want to immediately believe what my boss had said. I phoned a friend. I am at the palace right now," she said. "Its packed with journalists! Hurry up and get here! Now I believed it. I told the taxi driver to speed through the almost deserted streets. Only army tanks and vehicles with water cannon were to be seen where students had marched. The only civilian vehicles belonged to media companies and motorbikes carrying cameramen. I soon arrived at my office, the Jakarta bureau of the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun. My boss was on the phone again, perhaps digging for more details from our palace stringer. At around 9am our attention suddenly shifted to the TV screen when the reporter announced that Suharto was going to speak. I watched with pounding heart as the strongman stood before a microphone. The familiar, calm voice I had known for decades read the words written on the papers he was holding. The first few sentences were not the news we were waiting for. I worried he had changed his mind. Former Indonesian president Suharto, right, salutes after announcing his resignation on May 21, 1998. Credit:AP Then finally the moment we had awaited for years arrived. Suharto said calmly: I have decided to quit my position as the president of the Republic of Indonesia, starting from when I have finished reading this statement on Thursday, May 21, 1998 It actually happened and it was so simple! I thought to myself. The office fell silent. Digesting what we had heard, we didnt immediately type up Suharto's words. We simply looked at each other and smiled. My boss said quietly: Hes no longer president. Paul Keating and Suharto in 1996. Twenty years later, Indonesia is still standing, but it looks very different and, hopefully, better. Press freedom and direct presidential elections are among the most obvious changes. The elevation of Joko Widodo - an ordinary furniture entrepreneur with no attachment to the political elite in Jakarta - to the presidency is one of the sweet fruits of "Reformasi". The media are now able to openly criticise government policies, produce stories about the arrests of governors, former cabinet ministers, MPs, judges, prosecutors and police generals by the anti-corruption commission. Corruption is rife, yes, but the arrests show there is now independent law enforcement. It's a stark contrast to Suharto's time, when the cronies and children of the president were untouchable and the executive was publicly known for its intervention in the judicial process. Christine Tjhin, now a researcher at CSIS Indonesia, says Reformasi allowed ethnic Chinese Indonesians to participate in politics, a development no one could imagine 20 years ago. In May 1998, a dozen teenagers hurled stones at Christine's parents house in West Jakarta as she hid with her family and four other people at the back of her house. As night fell, they smelled a strong odour of petrol and heard people shouting Burn! Burn!. We came out from hiding and rushed to the gate. I thought we would either be killed by the mob or killed by the fires... the mob saw us, then one of them grabbed my hair, they spat on me, cursing us, shouting Chinese dog!'. I simply tried to avoid eye contact. The preacher did a Rob Oakeshott American Bishop Michael Curry stole the show with a fiery, passionate and emotional speech about love that also touched on slavery and the civil rights movement and quoted Dr Martin Luther King Jnr and the Old Testament. His 13-minute address went way longer than it was supposed to. It had some in raptures and others longing for some wind-up music. He spoke about the power of love but went off script and began waxing lyrical about the power of fire, claiming that the advancement had made possible technological successes like Instagram and live television broadcasting. Prince Charles looked to be supressing a smile as he stared at his program, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge and Camilla exchanged glances and looked to be also slightly smirking. Zara Phillips sat open-mouthed throughout much of the address. One last moment that will make you melt before we sign off and wait for the couple to make their way to Frogmore House at about 4am AEST. Meghan's bouquet featured Forget-Me-Nots, Princess Diana's favourite flower. Harry picked them from the couple's private garden for his bride. As Harry once said as he dropped mic, "Boom". Credit:Twitter Here's the bouquet up close: And on that sweet note, goodnight sweet prince (and princess)! "Which brings us to the royal wedding, and just what everyone was wearing, because it is important and ..." And no, no, no, waaaaaait. Come back. Just kidding. Unless I miss my guess, by this Sunday morning a fair proportion of the Australian population will have had a gutful of the whole thing, so comprehensive has the coverage been. It appears the lead-up to the royal wedding did not prove a ratings bonanza for commercial TV during the week. Credit:AP I dont necessarily say that I, too, have had a gutful, and I dont say that if Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had held their wedding in my back yard I would have pulled the curtains shut. But, I was fascinated to receive a call on Friday from a mate in the television world, who pointed out a fascinating thing. Despite both commercial breakfast shows providing wall-to-wall coverage of the big event and very good coverage at that, by seriously good heavy-hitters their numbers this week, have been lower than last week. The happy couple: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle grin during the wedding ceremony. Credit:AP The smiles and laughter from the bride, groom and congregation after I will. The reverend taking flight on the pulpit, veering way, way off script then acknowledging hed better get back on it because we gotta get yall married. All the royals you can probably name were on one side of the aisle and a bucketload of celebrities on the other (Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, was on the celeb side). The Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, primate of the Episcopal Church, veering off script. Credit:AP There was Oprah Winfrey with Idris Elba, there was Serena Williams in an ancient carved choir stall, several rows closer to the altar than Amal and George Clooney, with the Beckhams and Elton John relegated to the non-VVIP part of the chapel. The cheap seats, you might say. Ancient ceremony married popular culture, in almost every aspect of the day. It was in the music: a traditional orchestra played old British composers: bit of Vaughan Williams, bit of Greensleeves, quite a bit of Elgar. The Duke of Cambridge, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke of York, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie sitting in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Credit:AP But also an American gospel choir sang Stand By Me, and the ceremony music included Etta James This Little Light of Mine. The Dean of Windsor read the formal words of the Church of Englands Common Worship: Marriage is a gift of God the foundation of family life in which children are born and nurtured. Hint hint, Meghan. Kates done her bit for the Firm. Your turn. And then an American preacher: the most reverend Michael Curry, head of the US Episcopal Church, gave a passionate, funny and provocative address that began with a Martin Luther King quote. We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that we will be able to make of this old world a new world. Love is the only way. Queen Elizabeth looks on as she acquires a new grand-daughter in law. Credit:AP It was from Kings sermon at a Baptist church in Alabama in 1957, known as the Loving your enemies sermon. Currys address (almost twice as long as, and only tangentially connected to the written version distributed in advance) expanded poetically on the theme of the power of love. At times it even verged on the political (call it Lennonist): imagine our governments and nations when love is the way, imagine business and commerce when love is the way no child would go to bed hungry in this world ever again. Currys address conjured smiles but another summoned tears: the reading from the Song of Solomon by Harrys aunt, Dianas older sister Lady Jane Fellowes. It was as close as we could get to a message from a proud mother on her sons wedding day. Meghan Markle arrives for her wedding ceremony to Britain's Prince Harry at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Ben Birchhall/pool photo via AP) Credit:Ben Birchhall Arise my love, my fair one, and come away; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire. And the newlyweds emerged, to the flashes of the worlds photographers, which will follow them forever. The crowds cheered and flags waved under a brilliant blue sky, as the couple rode in a carriage under bunting and over cobblestones, as ancient and modern as anything. Paris: The Cannes Film Festival, held every May on France's storied Cote d'Azur, has known its share of scandals over the years. But nothing quite compares with 2018, with the #MeToo movement - which took off last year in response to unsavory revelations about a Hollywood titan - taking la Croisette by storm. Perhaps predictably, most of the media attention has focused on the protest involving 82 actresses led by Australian-born Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, who railed against the underrepresentation of women in the world of cinema. "Women are not a minority in the world, yet the current state of our industry says otherwise," Blanchett said earlier this week. But Cannes is not merely a European outpost of the global film festival circuit and a seaside gathering of international film stars. It is also deeply rooted in the domestic politics of France, a society at once among the most ethnically diverse in Western Europe but bitterly divided on the question of identity politics. To that end, 16 French actresses of colour decided that this year's festival warranted a different kind of protest than #MeToo. For better or for worse, the acting jobs I do often end up mirroring an experience I am having in my real life. Bump is no exception (no, I'm not pregnant). For the last few years of my life, it's been babies, babies, babies. My older sister, and three of my best friends all became mothers. I was in awe of their certainty about the decision to start a family when, for me, it has always seemed like such a terrifying leap. When will I be ready? How do I get ready? What if I do it and then find out I wasn't actually ready? With all these questions swirling, Chiara's play appeared as somewhat of a gift from the collective unconscious. I first met Chiara Atik in 2015 because we were both members of the Youngblood writer's group at Ensemble Studio Theatre. (For any out-of-work actors out there, I highly recommend weaseling your way into a writers' group and manipulating all the young and eager playwrights into letting you be in their plays. Only catch is, you have to have written a play.) Ana Nogueira with her fake pregnancy belly for off-Broadway's Bump. (photo provided by Matt Ross Public Relations) From the first play I saw of Chiara's a two-hander about female best friends bonding and competing over a mountain of tortilla chips I knew that her writing was for me. Chiara has a way of taking seemingly mundane interactions, areas of life that we often take for granted, and shining a light on just how special, hilarious, and heartbreaking they actually are all with a (seemingly) effortless touch. My experience as an audience member watching her work can be summed up by, "Laughing, laughing, laughing oh wait, I'm crying. When did I start crying? Why can't I stop crying?!" Bump follows that same emotional path. It's a play about something we all too often take for granted the nine months that a woman spends pregnant, waiting and preparing for perhaps the most intense experience of her life and all the fear, expectation, joy, and confusion that comes with it. As children, we often see our mothers as The One With Answers, but we forget that there was a time before. A time when she was just one of us, confused and scared and certain she was gonna mess it all up. During those nine months that she transitions between being someone's child to becoming someone's mother, she must learn to give into the unknown, to the uncontrollable. To a micromanaging control freak like me, this sounds particularly terrifying. Lucy Devito and Jenno O'Hara in Bump. ( Gerry Goodstein) I had never before seen myself in any artistic depiction of a pregnant woman. They always seemed either too much of a punch line, or too sentimental and false. But Chiara (like she always does) has constructed a whole spectrum of different kinds of women embarking on the journey of motherhood. I see bits myself in all of them: the ones who post obsessively on a message board, the young colonial woman who has no idea what is happening to her body, and my character, Claudia, who buries her anxiety in a well-constructed birth plan, only to learn that sometimes you just have to give over to nature. The play not only makes me feel seen and understood in my trepidations, but also makes me feel like I am part of something bigger. Bump seems to be reaching out to women across time myself included and saying, like one of the characters in the play tells her fellow pregnant friends, "I did it. And if I can do it, you can do it." There is an unimaginable amount of weight on Meghan Markles slender shoulders. She isnt just the bride of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and sixth in line to the British throne; she is the Los Angeles-born daughter of an African-American yoga instructor who carried us with her when she walked down the aisle on Saturday morning. Markle appeared to bear this responsibility with ease when she arrived at St. Georges Chapel wearing a boatneck haute couture wedding gown by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress framed her shoulders and cinched ever so slightly at the waist, allowing her to breathe. With just six barely-visible seams, it seemed almost suspended in air, as if held up by angels or Markles own magnetism. A silk tulle veil hovered over her outline. At five meters long (or a little over sixteen feet), it featured the flowers of all 53 Commonwealth nations. It was fastened to her head with a diamond tiara on loan from Queen Elizabeth. You look amazing, said the prince when they finally locked eyes, biting his lip. He was a nervous, red-in-the-face wreck, but standing next to him, Markle was a picture of refined elegance, or, in American terms, control. There was a lot riding on this dress one that caused rumors to swirl up until the very moment it was revealed but like Markle herself, it did not disappoint. According to a statement from the palace, Markle first met Waight Keller in early 2018, and the two worked closely together on the dresss design. Somehow, Waight Kellers name never came up in a contest with other rumored designers, but in retrospect, the choice was fitting. Last year, Waight Keller became the first female artistic director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy, taking over for Riccardo Tisci, who moved to Burberry. (He was a speculated front-runner, but no dice.) Waight Keller is also British, and studied at Londons Royal College of Art. She is the perfect through-line between Britain and French haute couture, as well as someone who can help Markle make both fashion and political statements. Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face wearing a boatneck wedding Givenchy dress similar to Meghan Markles. Photo: Snap Stills/REX/Shutterstock Unlike Tisci, who designed a very different-looking wedding dress for Kim Kardashian when he was at the house in 2011, Waight Keller isnt showy. She has spent the past year paying quiet, calculated homage to the brands history of balancing minimalism and drama. Her stunning debut haute couture show in February started with the shoulders, as Cathy Horyn wrote, taking cues from the late Hubert de Givenchy but reinterpreting the aesthetic for 2018. So far, the collection has become a red-carpet favorite among actresses like Cate Blanchett and Julianne Moore. Mr. Givenchy was also a go-to for names like Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Grace Kelly, and Audrey Hepburn, whose wedding dress Givenchy designed both in real life and for Funny Face. Givenchys creations always gave me a sense of security and confidence, Hepburn once said. [They] gave me protection against strange situations and people. I felt so good in them. An actress herself, perhaps Markle is less like Princess Diana and more like a modern Hepburn. The deft ability to meld tradition with modern impulses; elegance with everyday ease; Hollywood with royalty is ultimately what connects Mr. Givenchy, Waight Keller, and now Markle. Look no further than the dresss three-quarter sleeves, which allowed Markle to remain covered up in the eyes of the church, while not looking like a nun. Markle and Waight Keller also have a great deal in common beyond fashion. Waight Keller is a Brit married to an American from Wisconsin. She has been described by her peers as just so nice as well as good, kind, and no-nonsense. Together, these two unassuming women knocked everyone over. One million words without saying anything pic.twitter.com/tiPHodHR77 Edward Enninful OBE (@Edward_Enninful) May 19, 2018 With so much hype leading up to the royal wedding, some were disappointed by the simplicity of Markles wedding dress. But this flipping of the script is what makes it such a powerful statement. She was clearly in control of the entire charade, from the inclusion of a liberal Chicago bishop to the gospel choir singing Stand by Me, to the invisible seams on her dress. And yet, she proved that doing the right thing, right now, does not have to be hard. In the end, Meghan Markle gave us exactly what we wanted, with a grin and a shrug. Meghan Markle. Photo: WPA Pool/Getty Images Ever since Meghan Markle got engaged to Prince Harry, Ive felt protective of her, as if she were an extended member of my own tribe of girlfriends. Now, I realize that my many years of watching Suits has not made us actually friends. I understand that shes marrying into a family with a history of colonialism and oppression. I am fully aware that this wedding is costing an estimated $45 million that the British government could be spending on other pressing issues. None of this matters to me. Meghan Markle is a woman of color at the center of a fairy-tale situation, and that doesnt happen often. How could I not rally around her? The last time I was this excited, I was sitting in a freezing Midwestern dorm room with a broken heater, glued to the television despite my shivering. And when Barack Obama became the next president of the United States, my friends and I erupted into screams of laughter. My now-husband even went outside and did donuts with his car in the snow. Of course, I know being married to the guy whos sixth in line for the throne isnt the same thing as being elected president of the United States of America. But seeing a black president, or a black duchess, living freely and unapologetically is a dream Ive had all my life. I get that same giddy feeling joy and a flash of hope for the future whenever I see Michelle Obama start dancing or dropping gems like When they go low, we go high. I felt it when Oprah gave a sermon at the Golden Globes knowing that little black girls everywhere were looking up to her, and I even felt it catching the holy ghost at Beychella. Its the thrill of seeing an African-American woman on a global stage, with women of color rallying around her saying, Yeah, sis, me too. For a long time, I thought making it meant being able to infiltrate white spaces, and to thrive there. But what Ive learned, and what Meghan demonstrates for me, is that success is the freedom to infiltrate any space we please. Yes, she is marrying into an affluent white royal family, but shes doing it on her own terms. Unlike Emma Thynn, the British biracial Viscountess who recently stated in a Vanity Fair article that she had had never experienced racism, theres a realness about Meghan. She doesnt shy away from talking about witnessing someone call her mother the N-word, or how she dealt with it. Shes aware of her privilege as a fair-skinned woman who could potentially pass as white. And she has used her platform to engage in uncomfortable conversations about race and inequality, which I can only hope she will continue to do in her future role. But it was also her mother, Doria Ragland, a yoga teacher with dreadlocks, who sealed the deal for me. I can just imagine her putting her foot down whenever Meghans half-siblings and father trash her in the tabloids, telling Meghan, Not today. Just as I fantasized about what it was like to finally have a black family in the White House, I find myself wondering about all the juicy black girl moments that are happening in Windsor Castle. Though she probably has a keratin treatment and extensions, is someone in the castle pressing her edges, because they seem to be incredibly flat in every photo? Will their children have curly hair like hers? What songs are the gospel choir performing at the wedding? Will anyone do the electric slide at the reception, or is that not posh? No, she wont be a princess, and no, this wedding wont have any impact on my day-to-day life. But Meghan Markle is a woman of color marrying into a family that only a generation earlier would have denied her. If thats not an occasion to celebrate, Im not sure what is. At 6 a.m. tomorrow morning, youll find me throwing a fabulous party with a huge spread of British food for all my girlfriends. And Im for damn sure going to be screaming at the television screen, giddy once again. Detectives from China's first all-female detective agency pose for a photograph in their office in Chengdu, China's southwestern Sichuan province 30 April 2004. Armed with sunglasses, binoculars and camcorders, the agency has declared war on wife beaters and unfaithful husbands. (GOH CHAI HIN/AFP/Getty Images) Abused Wife Blows the Whistle on Father-in-Law, Retired Chinese Official, Who Amassed Wealth of Unknown Origin A recent document being widely circulated on the Chinese internet reveals the enormous scale of corruption among Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials. An abused wife with personal grievances has blown the whistle on her father-in-law, a retired Party official, and his amassed wealth. Under the Chinese regimes jubao system, a citizen or public employee can report and disclose wrongdoings by a public official. The letter detailed all the property and assets belonging to retired deputy director of the Economic and Information Committee of Beijing, Wang Yingguangtotaling more than 100 million yuan ($15.7 million). Zhang Fang, author of the letter, disclosed that she was Wangs daughter-in-law. Zhang and Wangs son, Wang Chao, got married in June 2012 and have one daughter. Prior to the recently circulated letter, Zhang had posted another report in March 2017, saying that less than a year into their marriage, her husband had many affairs with mistresses and also physically abused her. Zhang had hospital records of medical treatment for her injuries, as well as records from calling the police on her husband eight times. Zhang said her parents-in-law did not stop her husband from abusing her and instead abetted him. In July 2014, she chose to live apart from her husband. In her latest letter, Zhang listed her father-in-laws 17 real estate properties, including their addresses, sizes, and prices. Their total value was more than 100 million yuan ($15.7 million). His two luxury foreign cars were worth more than a million yuan ($157,000). His other expenditures reflected the enormous wealth he had, in order to afford such things as school tuition for children studying abroad, stock investments, purchases of ivory goods, jewelry, luxury watches, and moretotaling more than 23.8 million yuan ($3.74 million). Abused wives and mistresses of CCP officials outing the corruption crimes of their partners has become a trend in China. In 2015, a deputy captain at a police station in Heilongjiang Province was reported online by his wife for corruption, bribes, having extramarital affairs, and domestic violence, according to a report by the Beijing News newspaper. The mistresses partners can sometimes get involved too. Wu Yongwen, deputy director of the National Peoples Congress Standing Committee in Hubei Province, was reported by his mistresss husband, who was set on taking revenge on his adulterous wife and exposed Wu for his corruption and bribery crimes. In 2012, Wu was taken to Beijing for investigation. Recommended Video: How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers Chinese military delegates about to enter the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on March 12, 2015. (Feng Li/Getty Images) Corruption Gets Creative: Chinese Officials Get Fake Divorces to Cheat Their Way to More Wealth With an anti-corruption campaign raging on within the Chinese Communist Party, misbehaving Chinese officials have to get creative with ways to cheat, stow away their illegally amassed wealth, and hide their trail. So officials are now filing fake divorces with their spouses in order to covertly transfer assets outside of China and avoid detection from the authorities. On May 16, the state-run official paper of the Chinese regimes anti-corruption agency, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, published an article detailing how a high-level official working at an unnamed provincial government, identified only by his last name, Zhang, divorced his wife in order to pay less taxes on a new home. Zhang discussed with his wife how to file paperwork for remarriage after purchasing the home. In this way, Zhang was able to save about 200,000 yuan (about $31,000). Fake divorces are a common tactic. One particularly high profile case involves Xu Chaofan, a junior manager at the Kaiping City branch of Bank of China who conspired with his wife Kuang Wanfang, several male colleagues, and their wives to embezzle about $485 million from his workplace. Kuang and Xu arranged to get divorced in 1994, then have Kuang move to the United States and marry an American man, in order for her to obtain permanent residency and pave the way for her real husband, Xu, to immigrate to the country. Several of Xus colleagues and their wives made similar arrangements. In 2001, Xu and his colleagues fled to North America via Hong Kong using false travel documents. An international manhunt ensued to capture the fugitive bankers. Xu was finally arrested in 2004. In 2009, Xu and his colleagues were sentenced to U.S. prison. Their wives were sentenced for helping their husbands launder money abroad. In September 2015, Kuang was repatriated to China after serving a prison term in the United States, to face graft and bribery charges. The case remains Chinas biggest incidence of bank embezzlement. Other cases also involved small-time officials. In 2014, Diao Weilie, a former director of a Beijing tax office was sentenced to life imprisonment for accepting tens of millions of yuan in bribes. Diaos scheme went thusly: he would put bribe money into other peoples accounts to misdirect investigators. Then, he would use the names of local businessmen to borrow loans for purchasing property. In 2005, he divorced his wife Wang Juanjuan. Afterwards, he transferred ownership of all property purchased under the businessmens names to his wife. One official surnamed Wu, who worked in the economic development office for Hanshan County in Anhui Province, simply divorced his wife and transferred his assets to his wifes name, while burying jewelry in his courtyard and storing expensive baijiu liquor at his relatives homes. Other officials use fake divorce for other means. Chen Chunlin, an official in charge of stifling dissent in a residential area of Chongqing City, held lavish banquets in order to procure monetary gifts from his colleagues and business acquaintances, according to a recent article published on the Sina Chinese news portal. He used the excuse of celebrating his daughter getting accepted to college as the celebratory occasion in May 2016. He wanted to hold another banquet in June as a way to get cash gifts. Knowing that the local Party committee would not allow for it, Chen divorced his wife. When the Party committee was informed that the banquet would be held by his former wife, Huang Meiyan, it gave the go-ahead. Chen and Huang used the same excuse of celebrating their daughters college acceptance, and acquired 35,900 yuan (about $5,600) from 141 people. Gu Qinger contributed to this report. Mom and Daughter Arrested After Fight at Restaurant on Mothers Day A mothers day lunch ended with arrests at a restaurant in Glendale. According to Fox 6, a Milwaukee family went to bds Mongolian Grill on Sunday, May 13 to enjoy a meal together, but it ended with mother and daughter being arrested. It became a scene that was totally uncalled for, said the mother, Marlena McDaniel. McDaniel added that she felt she had been short-changed by $20. As they were leaving the restaurant, she went back to confront the waitress. At this point, her daughter started recording with her cell phone. The situation quickly excalated. The waitress insisted that she did nothing wrong. She threw the money at us and my mom got offended by that, said McDaniels daughter, LaLena Wrencher. McDaniel became agitated, yelling at the waitress. Other customers then got involved, fuelling the conflict. She would cuss at my mom and my mom would cuss at her back, Wrencher said. McDaniel describes another conflict between her daughter and a different waitress which was not recorded. One muffed my daughter which is kind of a umf to your face, and my daughter muffed her back, said McDaniel. According to Fox 6, a Glendale police report describe the action instead as a punch to the face. The mother and daughter were both arrested. McDaniel said that she has some regrets about her behavior, but feels that other people involved should also be held accountable. Im an adult at the end of the day, Im 38. There was a better way I couldve handled the situation, McDaniel said. Wrencher said that she and her mother will remember the day that they were both locked up together. McDaniel was cited for disorderly contact and her daughter was cited forbattery. An attempt to interview the restaurant manager was redirected to their corporate office. Mongolian President Urges Malaysia to Reopen 2006 Model Murder Case ULAANBAATAR/ KUALA LUMPURMongolias president has urged new Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to reopen investigations into the murder of a Mongolian model near Kuala Lumpur in 2006, a move that could put more pressure on Mahathirs embattled predecessor. Shaariibuu Altantuya, 28, was killed and blown up with military grade explosives in a forest on the outskirts of Malaysias capital. In 2015, two former police officers were sentenced to death for the crime after first being sentenced in 2009 and acquitted four years later. But reports have alleged that the officers served as bodyguards for ousted prime minister Najib Razak, who was deputy prime minister at the time of the killing. President Battulga Khaltmaa congratulated the 92-year-old Mahathir on his appointment but said reopening the investigation would not only help justice but also ease tensions between the two countries. As president of Mongolia, I pay special attention to the aggravated crime, that in October 18, 2006, a citizen of Mongolia and mother of two children Shaariibuu Altantuya was murdered in Malaysia, he said in a letter to Mahathir that was also published on his offices website. Sirul Azhar Umar, one of the former policemen convicted of the murder said that he is willing to assist the new government in any renewed investigations, provided that he is granted a full pardon, local news website Malaysiakini reported on Saturday. Reuters could not immediately reach Sirul for comment. He has been in detention at the Immigration and Border Protection Departments facility in Sydney since 2015 after his acquittal was overturned by the Malaysian Federal Court. (https://reut.rs/2LfnspJ) Civil society groups have alleged Altantuyas murder was linked to her role as an interpreter and associate of Abdul Razak Baginda, a former adviser to Najib, in Malaysias purchase of two Scorpene-class submarines from French shipbuilding giant DCNS in 2002. Najib has denied allegations of links to Shaariibuu or corruption in the purchase. Najibs coalition was defeated by Mahathirs opposition alliance in a stunning election upset last week. Najib is currently under investigation as part of a probe into the scandal-hit state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). By Munkhchimeg Davaasharav in Ulaanbaatar and Fathin Ungku in Kuala Lumpur Watch Now: Father Who Lost Child Tells Trump: I remember the hug you gave me Video: Victims Rushed From Scene of Cuba Plane Crash A Boeing 737 plane carrying more than 100 people crashed next to the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, Cuba, on Friday, May 18, according to state media reports. Video footage captured on the scene of the crash showed victims being rushed from the scene of the crash via an ambulance. Fire vehicles could also be seen on the scene. Cuban dictator Miguel Diaz-Canel visited the crash, according to the state-run Prensa Latina news agency. The BBC reported that more than 100 people died in the crash. Three people survived, but theyre reportedly in critical condition. There has been an unfortunate aviation accident. The news is not very promising, it seems that there is a high number of victims, Diaz-Canel said. The plane was leased to state airline Cubana de Aviacion by Mexican company Damojh, according to the BBC, which said that the flight was heading from Havana to Holguin, located on the eastern portion of the island. An NBC reporter in Havana was quoted by the Miami Herald as saying the plane fell on a government farm, adding that houses in the area werent impacted. Wreckage was strewn over the area 12 miles south of Havana and ambulances and firefighters were at the scene, a Reuters witness said. Blackened parts of the fuselage were visible. We heard an explosion and then saw a big cloud of smoke go up, said Gilberto Menendez, who runs a restaurant near the crash site in the agricultural area of Boyeros, according to Reuters. Carlos Alberto Martinez, the director of Havanas Calixto Garcia hospital, told Reuters four victims of the accident had been brought there. One had died and the other three were in a serious condition. She is alive but very burnt and swollen, said a distressed relative of one of the survivors at the hospital. The flight was destined for Holguin in eastern Cuba and was leased by airline Cubana from a small Mexican airline called Damojh or Global, Cuban state media said. Holguin has some of the islands most pristine beaches and attracts tourists. Reuters contributed to this report. Watch Next: Over 1,000 Gather to Form Huge Chinese Characters Across NYC Park Anthony Weiner and his wife Huma Abedin, a close aide to Hillary Clinton, speak during a press conference in New York City on July 23, 2013. (John Moore/Getty Images) Search Warrant for Anthony Weiners Laptop Unsealed District Judge Denise Cote unsealed the search warrant for the laptop and other devices of former Congressman Anthony Weiner on Wednesday, May 16. Weiner was sentenced by Cote in September to 21 months in prison for sending obscene materialincluding sexually explicit images and directions to engage in sexual conductto a 15-year-old girl through messaging and video chat apps. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant on his laptop, iPad, and iPhone on Sept. 26, 2016, approved by Magistrate Judge Ronald Ellis. The laptop soon became the center of a major controversy. However, the search warrant suggests the controversy may run deeper still. On Nov. 4, 2016, former Navy SEAL and CIA contractor Erik Prince said a very well-placed source at the NYPD told him the NYPD found damning criminal information about then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Weiners laptop and threatened to release it if the FBI tried to sweep it under the rug. The FBI New York field office obtained Weiners devices on Sept. 26, 2016, as was later revealed in a report by the Justice Departments Inspector General (IG). The NYPD Special Victims squad was looking into Weiners case too, The New York Post reported. The NYPD cooperates with the FBI field office. The warrant authorized law enforcement personnel to review data found on the devices. Agents at the FBI headquarters in Washington later obtained their own search warrant and looked at the laptop in connection with its investigation into Clintons mishandling of classified information as State Secretary. But there was a notable difference between the Washington warrant and the New York one. The New York one read, in part: Depending on circumstances, a complete review of the seized [electronically stored information] may require examination of all of the seized data to evaluate its contents and determine whether the data is responsive to the warrant. The Washington one read, in part: Law enforcement personnel will make reasonable efforts to restrict their search to data falling within the categories of evidence specified in the warrant. That would suggest the New York agents could look at everything, while the Washington investigators worded its warrant in a way that restricted them to look only at data regarding the mishandling of classified information. Heres what we know about how Clintons emails ended up on Weiners laptop and what repercussions their discovery meant: Weiner shared the laptop with his estranged wife, Huma Abedin, a close aide to Hillary Clinton since 2000. Hundreds of thousands of emails were stored on the laptop, including thousands from Clinton. Huma Abedin appears to have had a regular practice of forwarding emails to [Weiner], then-FBI Director James Comey testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on May 3, 2017. For him, I think, to print out for her, so she could then deliver them to [Clinton]. The existence of the emails was also confirmed in texts between senior FBI attorney Lisa Page and former head of counterintelligence at the FBI, Peter Strzok. Got called up to Andys earlier hundreds of thousands of emails turned over by Weiners atty to sdny, indudes a ton of material from spouse, Strzok texted (pdf) Page on Sept. 28, 2016, only two days after the search warrant: Sending team up tomorrow to review this will never end . The text suggests that then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, referred to as Andy, knew of the emails. Strzok noted that a team would go to review the next day, Sept. 29, 2016. The text suggests McCabe knew about the emails on Sept. 28 because Weiners attorney himself delivered the emails to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York. Its not clear why or when Weiners attorney supposedly delivered the emails. The New York Post reported on Sept. 22 that the US Attorney Preet Bhararas office issued a subpoena for the devices. This timeline seems to conflict with a Chicago Tribune story, which said that law enforcement officers first seized the laptop on Oct. 3, according to federal officials familiar with the investigation. It was McCabe who led a small group at FBI headquarters on the Clinton investigation. Both Strzok and Page were in that group. Comey announced the conclusion of the investigation on July 5, 2016. The Hill reported on Nov. 6 that Strzok changed key language in that conclusion from grossly negligent, which would have been a crime, to extremely careless. Changing the phrase may have exonerated Clinton. The Weiner laptop turned out to have a trove of Clintons emails containing classified information and emails from the first three months of her term as State Secretaryemails that the FBI had not obtained before, Comey said. But, Comey said it took until Oct. 27, 2016, for their small team to come to him and tell him about the significance of the emails. The group was only looking at the emails metadatasuch as subject, sent date, and addresseeaccording to Comey, and asked him whether they should get a search warrant to look at the emails themselves, which Comey approved. Comey told Fox News Bret Baier he didnt know why it took a month for McCabe to come to him, especially given the significance of the discovery only a few weeks before the presidential election. I think what actually drove it was the prosecutors in New York who were working the criminal case against Weiner called down to headquarters and said, Are we getting a search warrant or not for this? That caused, Im sorry, Justice Department Headquarters, to then call across the street to the FBI and poke the organization; and they start to move much more quickly. I dont know why there was, if there was slow activity, why it was slow for those first couple of weeks, Comey said on April 26. Indeed, at least one high-ranking Justice Department official prodded the team about the Weiner trove. On Oct. 21, 2016, Strzok texted, [redacted] called [because] Toscas [is] now aware NY has [Clinton-Abedin] emails via [W]einer invest[igation]. Told him we knew. Wanted to know our thoughts on getting it. Strzok was referring to George Toscas, deputy assistant attorney general at the Justice Departments National Security Division. George wanted to ensure info got to Andy, Strzok wrote. It was also Toscas, who, according to The New York Times, criticized Comey for caving to Attorney General Loretta Lynch in calling the Clinton probe a matter instead of an investigation back in 2015. I guess youre the Federal Bureau of Matters now, Toscas said. But it was not clear why the New York prosecutors would call Justice Headquarters about a search warrant. Theyd had a search warrant for their investigation since Sept. 26. Theres no sign they had anything to do with the Clinton investigation because that was run by the team at the FBI headquarters. It is also not clear whether Toscas call was motivated by the NYPD threat of disclosure Prince talked about. Prince said the NYPD received strong pushback from Obamas Justice Departmenta threat to push charges against the NYPD in an unrelated civil rights case (the death of Eric Garner caused by use of force during an NYPD arrest). The IG learned from McCabe that the head of the New York field office was chastised by then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Oct. 26, 2016. Lynch ripped the filed office for leaks regarding the Garner case, possibly related to the leaks cited as a source of an Oct. 24, 2016, New York Times story. Meanwhile, the Strzok texts reveal the team had another contingency on its hands. On Oct. 24, 2016, The Wall Street Journal reported that after the Clinton probe started in July 2015, McCabes wife, Jill, received some $675,000 for her Virginia State Senate campaign from Clinton associate Gov. Terry McCauliffes political entities. On Jan. 29, 2016, Comey appointed McCabe deputy director, putting him in charge of the Clinton investigation. On the day Comey was briefed by the team on Oct. 27, 2016, his chief of staff, Jim Rybicki, wanted McCabe to recuse himself, the Strzok texts suggest, apparently because the public learned McCabes wife was getting money from the Clinton camp. The texts also suggest Page, who was McCabes legal counsel, was to recuse herself too, which she apparently wasnt thrilled about. I obviously dont have to tell you how completely INFURIATED I am with Jim [Rybicki] right now, she texted. Later that day she added, I Just walked in on Jim to force the issue. Me: Im not recused, but Im not sitting in on this meeting. Its not clear which meeting she was referring to. On Oct. 28, 2016, Comey sent a letter to Congress members sitting on oversight committees informing them the Clinton investigation had resumed. The information quickly reached the media, infuriating Democrats. The team obtained a search warrant for the laptop on Oct. 30, 2016, allowing them to retrieve it from the New York field office. A day later, McCabe recused himself from the investigation, codenamed Mid Year. Thanks to the wizardry of our technology, weve only had to personally read 6,000 [of the emails], the team told Comey on the night of Nov. 5, he later testified before Congress. They said, we found a lot on new stuff. We did not find anything that changes our view of [Clintons] intent.' The lack of intent in being extremely careless with classified information was Comeys justification for not charging Clinton back in July, 2016. On Nov. 6, 2016, Comey sent another letter to Congress saying all the newly discovered Clinton emails had been reviewed and the previous decision stoodno charges. Correction: The article was updated with information from the June 14, 2018, report by the Justice Departments Inspector General to reflect that the Sept. 26, 2016, search warrant was executed by the FBI New York field office. Update: The article was updated with information from the June 14, 2018, report by the Justice Departments Inspector General regarding Attorney General Loretta Lynchs reprimanding the FBI New York field office for leaks about the Eric Garner case. The article was updated with information from two Sept. 22, 2016, New York Post reports regarding the NYPDs looking into the Anthony Weiner case and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New Yorks issuing a subpoena for Weiners devices. The article was updated with information from the Sept. 26, 2016, search warrant regarding who was authorized to review data on Weiners devices. Watch Next: Kushner Talks Middle East Peace at US Embassy Jerusalem Dedication Ceremony Yesterday, we arrived back home from a monthlong trip to Tokyo and Guam. Today, Ive been on a lovely spree, clearing out inboxes, processing paper mail, taking care of finances, and getting my work and life in order. It turns out to be one of my favorite simple pleasures: coming back home and clearing things out, cleaning things up, and generally getting back into my healthy routines. In just half a day, I have already Unpacked and put things away Cleared through (and answered) most of my emails and messages on different platforms Processed a pile of paper mail Paid bills and generally taken care of my finances Sorted through my calendar and to-do list, going over appointments and getting tasks in order Taken care of a bunch of work admin tasks Cleaned out most of the refrigerator and some of the rest of the kitchen Shopped for groceries for healthy meals, and made myself a breakfast of oats, nuts, and berries, and a huge salad with greens, nuts, beans, and edamame Restarted my morning meditation/yoga routine Shaved my head and generally gotten my hygiene in pristine order Theres more, too, but generally Im getting things in order. I absolutely love it! It feels really great to get things cleared, cleaned, and in order. Now, its not always practical to keep things in perfect order, nor is it practical to wait until you return from a trip to get things back in order. So you might consider doing this on a weekly or monthly basis, for example: Weekly: Set aside a day of the week (say, Saturday) when you process and clear out mail and paperwork. I scan mine so its stored on the computer, then recycle the actual paper. Go over your to-do list, check your finances, clear out your email and other inboxes, and so on. Plan your healthy meals and workouts for the week. Monthly: On the first of the month (say), do a monthly review, pay all of your bills, clean out your fridge and kitchen, sweep the garage and back porch, and make sure all of your systems are in order. Review your habits and see what you need to focus on for the next month. Thats just an example, of course, but something you might tailor to your needs. But just going through the motions isnt enough. You have to savor the pleasure of clearing things out. Its a real joy to clear out your inboxes and paperwork, and feel the satisfaction of having a clear space. Its a real treat to have a clean kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. Its a beautiful thing to treat yourself to healthy meals, meditation, and exercise, getting yourself into a wonderful space of health and mindfulness. Savor these things by really enjoying the process, loving the way youre cleaning your life up, one piece of mail and one kitchen counter at a time. Enjoy the space youre creating, the release of things youve been putting off, and the love that is behind every action. Leo Babauta is the author of six books, the writer of Zen Habits, a blog with more than 2 million subscribers, and the creator of several online programs to help you master your habits. Visit ZenHabits.net North Korean soldiers on the border with South Korea on Nov. 27, 2017. (Korea Pool/Getty Images) Two North Koreans Including a Soldier Defect to South Korea SEOULTwo North Koreans defected to South Korea early on Saturday and were found in the Yellow Sea, Seoul-based news agency Yonhap reported, citing a government source. Yonhap said that South Korean military spotted two people in a boat near the inter-Korean sea border, one of whom was a military officer, and they showed willingness to defect to the South. South Koreas unification ministry was not immediately available for comment. The defection came after North Korea declined to accept a list of South Korean journalists hoping to observe the closure of its nuclear test site on Friday, raising new questions about the Norths commitment to reducing tensions in the region. By Dahee Kim and Joori Roh Lifestyle: Strewing: An Easy Way to Add Delight and Wonder to Your Homeschool A police officer wearing a pair of smart glasses fitted with a facial recognition system at the Zhengzhou East Railway Station in Zhengzhou City, in China's central Henan Province on February 5, 2018. (AFP/Getty Images) US Technology Used for Mass Surveillance in China, Say US Lawmakers Program to monitor minority populations serves as pilot for nationwide implementation and foreign export As the Chinese regime expands and upgrades the technology of its campaigns against internal dissent, allegations have emerged saying that Western know-how indirectly aided the communist states repression. On May 9, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), who also chair the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce expressing concern about U.S. companies that sold surveillance and crime control technology to Chinese firms. According to the Commissions report about the letter, the Chinese authorities continue to violate international protections of due process, privacy, association, religious practice and international prohibitions against torture and arbitrary detention. Citing the example of Xinjiang, Rubio and Smith described dramatically increased surveillance activities of Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities living in the northwestern Chinese borderland province. Meanwhile, the lawmakers also cited a recent study by Adrian Zenz, a Germany-based researcher who estimates that between 500,000 and 1 million Uighurs have been detained for re-education in a vast system of newly constructed camps. In recent decades, as China built up extensive economic ties with the outside world, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has gained access to trillions of dollars worth of technology and other intellectual property that greatly boosted the capabilities of the Chinese police. Rubio and Smiths letter identified Thermo-Fisher Scientific, an American company based in Massachusetts, as having sold DNA sequencers with advanced microprocessors under the Applied Biosystems (ABI) Genetic Analyzer brand to the Chinese Ministry of Public Security and its Public Security bureaus across China. The letter urged the Department of Commerce to implement greater measures to prevent technology that could be used to assist the Chinese regimes widespread human rights violations. Economic relations between the United States and China are tense. As the Trump Administration prepares to levy significant import tariffs on Beijing to remedy longstanding trade imbalances, the U.S. government has broadly taken the CCP to task about its misuse of advanced technology. Last month, the Department of Commerce announced a seven-year-ban on ZTE, a prominent Chinese tech company that was pioneering an ambitious 5G network, for shipping U.S.-produced products to Iran and North Korea despite the imposition of sanctions. Digital Dictatorship Xinjiang, where a majority of the population practices the Islamic faith and belongs to various Central Asian ethnic groups, rather than the 1.2-billion-strong Han Chinese national majority, has been a source of religious and ethnic unrest since the Chinese Communist Party took power in 1949. The CCP, which promotes atheism and Marxism, has treated Chinese Islam with the same ideological prejudice that it uses to persecute other religious faiths. During the Cultural Revolution, Muslims were often attacked and humiliated, such as by being forced to consume pork. In later decades, terrorist attacks and other acts of defiance against the Chinese regime by Muslim radicals and ethnic separatists invited overwhelming crackdowns by the CCP security forces. According to Adrian Zenzs report, the Chinese regime has imposed an unprecedented level of control over the population of Xinjiang, using brainwashing techniques originally devised to transform adherents of Falun Gongthe spiritual practice the CCP banned in 1999 and tried to eradicate in the nearly two decades since. Meanwhile, Xinjiang has served as a testing ground for sophisticated forms of mass surveillance and control, made possible by the newest developments in digital technology. Advanced facial recognition software allows the public security authorities to track the movements of just about every person using an extensive system of security cameras, while their cell phones are subject to frequent scanning. Police also collect blood and saliva of Xinjiang residents for storage in state DNA databases, as well as fingerprints and voice samples. Police methods pioneered in Xinjiang have been implemented elsewhere in China, where the draconian social credit system was recently used to bar people with low scores from buying air and rail tickets. Large state-backed Chinese tech firms are playing a major role in the development of digital police tools. As reported in a May 14 article by The Globe and Mail, one of the companies working with the public security authorities in Xinjiang is Chinese technology firm Huawei, which recently set up a development lab in Urumqi, the provincial capital of Xinjiang in cooperation with the local police to ensure social stability and long-term security. The fact that companies like Huawei are able to develop such systems in regions like Xinjiang in tandem with the security services, and therefore with very few privacy restrictionsthey are gaining a problematic advantage over comparable Western companies, said Adrian Zenz, who is an expert on Xinjiang at the European School of Culture and Theology in Korntal, Germany, in an interview with The Globe and Mail. Moreover, the fact that these systems can serve multiple purposes at the same timeboth improve city efficiency and governance and enable intrusive surveillancemakes surveillance both more accessible and perhaps also more palatable in other nations, Zenz said. Citing human rights workers, The Globe and Mail noted that Huawei, being a major multinational company controlled by the Chinese authorities, could help facilitate the expansion of the CCPs stability maintenance methods beyond Chinas borders. The surveillance technologies being developed and deployed in Xinjiang today will soon be sold and promoted globally, said William Nee, a researcher at Amnesty International, in an interview with The Globe and Mail. It is now absolutely vital that the international community take a stand and confront the human-rights violations occurring in Xinjiang as a matter of strategic importance. Huawei, for example, has promoted a smart city concept that it has marketed around the world, Nee told The Globe and Mail, characterizing it as a tool to facilitate city planning and management of vital services such as transportation and security. This article is part of a special report published by The Epoch Times on Huawei. Click here to see all coverage. HARTFORD Democrats started the second day of their state nominating convention by endorsing Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, who is seeking re-election to a third term. The moment I knew I needed to run again was the moment when Donald Trump came after your personal information, Merrill said during her acceptance speech Saturday at at the Connecticut Convention Center. I said, No. We arent done yet. Were going to fight until every eligible voter is registered, and every registered voter votes. Karen Talamelli Cusick, Democratic town chairwoman in Woodbridge, challenged Merrill for the partys endorsement. Cusick is finance director for Project Service LLC, which owns and operates the 23 Connecticut Service Plazas along Intersate 95, the Merritt Parkway and Interstate 395. Though Merrill, 69, easily sailed past Cusick taking in 89 percent of the vote to Cusicks 11 percent it was a bumpy ride as the state Democratic Party tested out a new electronic tally system and took in more votes than there were delegates in the first vote of the day. The irony of it being the election for the secretary of the state has not escaped me, said Merrill, who is the states chief elections official. She lives in Hartford. Former New Fairfield First Selectman Susan Chapman last week accepted the unanimous support of GOP delegates for her bid to challenge Merrill in the general election. Comptroller State Comptroller Kevin Lembo, who went unchallenged in his bid for the partys endorsement for his re-election bid, used his acceptance speech to go after Republicans, bringing the crowd to its feet. To the leadership of the Connecticut Republican Party, be forewarned: your silence in the face of the historically outrageous behavior, language and policies of Donald Trump is complicity. Tour silence is assent. Your silence is approval, and thereby, your silence diminishes your own dignity your own humanity and, your own qualification to lead, said Lembo, who lives in Guilford. Lembo briefly considered a run for governor but opted to seek a third four-year term as the so-called state data nerd instead. His tenure has been marked by key policy departures with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, a record that could serve Lembo well during an election season when many Democrats are distancing themselves from the retiring governor. In the general election, Lembo will likely face Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller, who last week took the GOP nomination for state comptroller, handily beating Litchfield businessman Mark Greenberg. Greenberg also qualified for the GOP primary. kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt NORWALK The Old Orchard Shoal Light shone into the shrieking wind off the Staten Island shore: 12 seconds on, three seconds off, the same pattern it had followed for 119 years. Then, a surge preceding Superstorm Sandy funneled down the bay between New York and New Jersey, amplified by a high tide and full moon. When it reached the lighthouse, the wave didnt part, but instead washed into and through the aging structure, which was no longer watertight, according to Alex Pettee. Like a watery hand, the surge lifted the light from its foundation. It must have seemed, for a moment, like a ship finally pulling up anchor after over a century of guiding the way for others. Then, it capsized. When the storm cleared, all that was left were the rocks, known as riprap, surrounding a broken foundation and a few bricks. The Old Orchard Shoal Light was an example of a type of lighthouse fondly referred to as a spark plug because of its shape, which extends above and below the waterline. Spark plugs were built by dropping giant cast-iron caissons shaped like upside-down bells onto underwater ledges, then filling them with concrete like a self-contained foundation upon which the upper structure is built. Out of the 41 built in the United States, only 33 are left, according to Pettee. A spark plug Norwalkers might be most familiar with is Greens Ledge Light, which dominates views of the Sound from Rowayton and Darien. Old Orchard ... was the closest cousin to us, in terms of design, said Pettee, a board member of Greens Ledge Light Preservation Society. On a recent morning, he stood outside Greens Ledge Light with his father, Tim Pettee, who serves as the societys president, and Travis Mingo and Nicki Rosenfeld of the Maritime Aquarium. Rust was eating through the caisson, and the cast-iron plates casing the foundation had begun to push out. One piece was missing entirely, showing the brick wall of the basement within. The caisson, or foundation, needs immediate attention. And if we dont address that, we may not have a light, Tim Pettee said. Theres a real sense of urgency we feel. None of this years many noreasters rolled into the perfect storm the way Sandy had for Old Orchard, but he fears the possibility. I think itd be a calamity, itd be a scar on this community if this came down, he said. In 1971, it almost did the Coast Guard announced plans to demolish Greens Ledge Light and replace it with an aluminum tower to save labor and maintenance costs. The resulting outcry saved the structure, and eventually the Coast Guard changed gears. In 2005, the first U.S. lighthouse was sold under an act meant to preserve historic lighthouses. Lighthouses that had fallen into disrepair began being auctioned off to parties who agreed to maintain and care for them while allowing the Coast Guard to keep equipment on premises, essentially privatizing maintenance. Tim Pettee bought Greens Ledge Light in 2016 and donated it to a nonprofit founded by Brendan McGee, the Greens Ledge Preservation Society. The society and other new owners of lighthouses were left to answer the question of how to pay for often extensive repairs. Goose Rocks Lighthouse in Maine and Borden Flats Lighthouse in Massachusetts solved the problem by renting out the lighthouse for overnight stays, then using the funds for renovations. The Middle Ground Lighthouse was bought by a family of engineers, who fixed up the structure themselves as a family retreat. The Greens Ledge Preservation Society settled on what Alex Pettee called the keeper model, creating a nonprofit to oversee the preservation and calling on the community to invest in its restoration. Darn it if people didnt respond, Tim Pettee said. So far over roughly $1.5 million has been raised, enough to cover the structural stabilization and install a dock. The stabilization will include placing three metal bands around the caisson to help alleviate outward pressure and removing some of the smaller rocks in order to patch wherever possible. And the society is poised to act quickly. Tim Pettee said they hoped to complete the first phase this year, pending various approvals. And as an osprey called from its nearby nest and the surf slapped against the rocks below (fun fact: the 30,000 tons of stone shoring up the lighthouse came from the construction of Radio City and were shipped north to the site), the Pettees walked the Maritime Aquarium staff through the lighthouses seven floors, sharing the vision for each: a solar-powered kitchen, a small museum, a bedroom sleeping up to six and more. Now it gets fun, Tim Pettee said. Every time we do this, everyone has different ideas for what to do with the different levels. The historical restoration of the interior would be the final phase of the societys preservation plan, following the stabilization. While no official partnership between the aquarium and lighthouse has been formed Its still very early in the process, said Maritime Aquarium Spokesperson David Sigworth Rosenfeld and Mingo instantly saw the possibilities. The obvious thing would be a lighthouse cruise, Rosenfeld, the aquariums education manager, said. It would be really cool to open to the public. We would probably do a Norwalk-Sheffield, brainstormed Mingo, captain of the Maritime Aquariums research vessel, Spirit of the Sound, which also gives lighthouse and history tours. Go down and see Peck, come around, see Sheffield, and this would be the finale. Im thinking four hours. The lighthouse could also be a post for the aquariums water quality monitoring. The group paused on the deck, which offered a panoramic view of the Sound. Manhattans skyline stood out clearly against the horizon, and Tim Pettee recalled the last Fourth of July, when he came out to the lighthouse and could see firework shows along both the Connecticut and New York shorelines. You could almost hear New York, he said. Thats another thing you could sell tickets to, Rosenfeld suggested. Yeah, Pettee agreed. He already had a name. Fireworks at the Light. rschuetz@hearstmediact.com; @raschuetz NORWALK Fire Marshal Broderick Sawyer walks up to the front door of the multifamily home at 4 1/2 Laura St. in South Norwalk and takes comfort in seeing the address number written clearly in two locations. The first thing we look at is the (house) number, Sawyer said. Theres one on the door, theres another one above in case theres an emergency. In short, firefighters and first-responders need to know the address in the event of a fire or other emergency and then be able to confirm it upon arrival. Because its safety On Wednesday afternoon, in an effort to stress the importance of fire safety, Sawyer gave Hearst Connecticut Media a sample of his job as Norwalks fire marshal by securing the permission of the owner of 4 1/2 Laura St. to follow along on the annual inspection of the property. Norwalk Fire Commissioner Oscar Destruge also participated. Louis Guarnieri, owner of the property, said he understands the fire safety requirements after having been a landlord in Stamford for more than 30 years. The huge upside to this is when Broderick, or whomever comes in and does their inspection, if something does happen, at least we all know that the place was up to par and that it wasnt because of the neglect of the landlord or the neglect of the fire department, Guarnieri said. And its also helpful, obviously, to the people that live here that everything is up to snuff. Theyre the ones that gain the most because its safety. Sawyer arranged the tour to dispel what he described as the misconception that the Norwalk Fire Marshals Office doesnt follow through when it finds illegal apartments during inspections. He said the office contacts the health, building, and planning and zoning departments in all instances where it finds illegal dwelling units, including in basements and attic spaces. The (Fire Marshals Office) is required to inspect multifamily homes annually, Sawyer wrote in a summary of the process. Weve sent out over 300 notices to inspect these Norwalk properties and have completed many of them. We have not heard back from many others, which may require us to contact the State of Connecticut Housing Attorneys office for assistance in gaining access. Sawyer had no problems getting inside Guarnieris property on Laura Street. Hes been there before, knows him on a first-name basis and describes him as a landlord who follows fire-safety rules. Thorough inspection process Walking inside the front door, Sawyer noted the hallway leading to the first-floor apartment is solid, rated to block fire for at least 30 minutes and has self-closing doors to do the same for 20 minutes. That protects the peoples egress, so if theyre running out of here, they can get out, he said. During its annual inspections of three-and-more-family residential properties, the Fire Marshals Office looks to make sure smoke alarms are operating properly. The code requires one outside every sleeping area, and one on every level of the home, including the basement, Sawyer said. Thats what the code specifically says. What we recommend is one inside the bedroom also in case you sleep with your door closed. Guarnieri said the first-floor apartment has smoke alarms in each of the three bedrooms. Sawyer welcomed one newly replaced smoke alarm but pointed out another nearby alarm blocked by stored materials, which he advised be moved. As part of their work, fire inspectors also look to see that combustible materials are located at least three feet away from a heating source, that clothes dryer exhaust vents are installed properly and cleaned regularly, that smoking materials are disposed of in lidded, sand-filled metal containers, and that extension cords and multiplug adapters are used per manufacturers recommendations. Here, its grounded, theyve attached it. You shouldnt be able to pull this off the wall, said Sawyer, pointing at one multiplug adapter in the kitchen. And thats how its properly installed. Stepping into the unfinished basement, Sawyer praised Guarnieri for maintaining at least three feet of clearance around the boiler, keeping the chimney free of cracks or damage, and having installed carbon monoxide and heat detectors. But outside the house, Sawyer pointed at an old washing machine stored near an exterior staircase leading to an upstairs apartment. Theyve got to maintain egress so the washing machine has got to go, said Sawyer, noting it could block tenants or firefighters in the event of a fire. Youre going to have 30 guys, my size with 60 pounds of gear, traipsing up and down these stairs so we want to be smooth, free and clear. Inspection backlog The tour came as the Fire Marshals Office works to catch up on a backlog of inspections after having been short staffed. Last year, 670 out of 2,192 inspections were completed. Between Nov. 1 and Feb. 1, additional part-time fire inspectors sent out 186 Notice to Inspect letters, made 116 phone calls to set up inspection appointments, and completed, as of February, 138 inspections, according to Norwalk Fire Chief Gino Gatto. In February, the fire commission approved keeping the two part-time inspectors through the end of this year, and boosting the pay of full-time Norwalk Fire Inspector Luca Feola, who stepped in when Sawyer was out on sick leave late last year but later returned to the firefighter line. Mayor Harry Rilling, chairman of the fire commission, said hiring the additional certified fire inspectors on a per-diem basis seems to be working out really well. And it did not require hiring a person full-time or hiring more than one person full-time with benefits, he said. With the added staff, the Fire Marshals Office is better equipped to reduce the inspection backlog, but the work also depends upon multifamily residential property owners cooperating. Weve sent out over 300 Notices to Inspect. Were getting responses but theres some stragglers, Sawyer said Wednesday. The bottom line is to protect lives and properties. Thats straightforward. And depending on the violation, you get 30 days (to correct it). If its immediate, a smoke alarm missing, we want it up in day. NORWALK Many hours go into publishing an issue of The Paw Print at Norwalk High School. Students spend a 90-minute period every other day working on the school newspaper, as well as their spare time after school. The day before an issue goes to print, the entire staff stays after school for a couple of hours to make sure the paper captures the essence of Norwalk High. We always try to incorporate that in our paper and really try to the show the voices of the people who come here, the students, the most pressing issues that are happening here, co-editor-in-chief Elise Sullivan said. When people open up this newspaper, we want them to be able to relate to it to some way and not feel disconnected. Such efforts have not gone unnoticed. For the first time since its inception in 2006, The Paw Print was recognized with a national award for its excellence in content coverage, page design, art and illustrations, editing, creativity and general planning. The school newspaper earned a second place ranking in the 2017-18 American Scholastic Press Association annual contest for scholastic yearbooks, magazines and newspapers. Of the two issues submitted to the contest, one featured a front-page story highlighting the strength and leadership of Norwalk High female students in response to what many considered a distasteful portrayal of Norwalk in the ABC sitcom American Housewife. In one episode of the show, which is set in neighboring Westport, a teenage girl dressed up as a pregnant Norwalk prom girl for Halloween. The shows producers eventually decided to omit any mentions of Norwalk from future episodes, following outcry from the city. We wanted to do something uplifting in face of what happened, so we wrote an article, co-editor-in-chief Hannah Keyes said. We talked about how thats not how we are. The paper puts out six issues every school year, under the guidance of longtime journalism teacher Robert Karl. He started The Paw Print in 2006 and has been the newspapers adviser ever since. At the time of the first issue, he said the paper didnt have a name so the school dubbed it The Paw Print, with the tagline of How the Bears make their mark. Since then, that tagline has been the vision of the school newspaper along with the mission of equipping students with journalistic skills in a real-world newsroom, Karl said. Were trying to get as many students exposed to the idea of the power of reporting and the importance of factual information in the hands of the public, Karl said. Through the years, Norwalk Highs school newspaper has taken on different monikers. The earliest known issue that Karl is aware of was called The Minute from 1906. In his office, he also has copies of The High Times from 1969 and The Bear Tracks during the 90s and early 2000s. While different versions of the school newspaper have changed in look over time, the goal of keeping print journalism at the high school has carried on from one newspaper to the next. And The Paw Print is no different, Sullivan said, despite todays digital world. I think now in society a lot of people think print is dead, like we read everything online. And though we do have a website that we put our articles on as well, theres something cool for me to open up a newspaper and see our work in a physical copy, Sullivan said. I feel like Ill never get tired of doing that. skim@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2568; @stephaniehnkim What would happen if historians made their research notes public? What would it look like to make our notebooks open source? Some historians already do this, of course, after retirement or the completion of a research project. Many scholars deposit their research notes posthumously in the special collections or archives of the universities where they spent their careers. Many are willing to share old notes or sources with inquiring students or friends. But can these fairly common practices be considered Open Source history? It depends on what you mean by that term. In the world of software development, the decision to release, or make open, the source code for a program can mean two very different things. In some cases, it signals that active development on a program has effectively ceased; open source is the elephants graveyard where some formerly proprietary programs go to die. In most cases, though, open source software (OSS) is code that anyone can inspect and change even while the software is in active development. Its software that encourages collaboration and sharing at the earliest stages of a projects life. Most historians who decide to open their research notes for public view more closely resemble the first kind of OSS developer than the second. As Andrew Berger has astutely observed, we are usually willing to share sources when we are finished with them, when the publications that they were gathered to support have been released, or when we are not actively using what we have found. But in this post Im asking about a different possibility: what would it look like to make our notebooks digital and open source from the very beginning of a project? The Promise of Open Notebook History The rise of digital media and web publishing softwaresome of it open-sourcehas made such a question imaginable for the first time in the long history of historiography. Open-source blogging platforms, curation tools, bibliographic software, and micro-blogging platforms enable historians to easily share information about our research as it happens. As Chad Black noted a few years ago, we now have the possibility to construct and curate our research materials and process archives, what I call the Papers of You, in real time, and make it immediately available to those without the resources to gain access to our eclectic collections. The advantages of such a practice have already been well-articulated by the proponents of something called Open Notebook Science, a movement that recently received positive attention in the prominent journal Nature. Open Notebook Science (ONS) is the practice of putting ones entire lab notebook online, so that other researchers have access not just to a scientists publications, but to the underlying data, methods, and experimental results that drive research projects forward. Open Notebook scientists place a premium on sharing even the results of failed or small experiments, which often produce what scientists refer to as dark data. Biologist Carl Boettigers notebook is an oft-cited example of an ONS site in which all content is shared immediately or without significant delay. But some researchers may be required (by funding agencies, for example) to limit the amount of data they share. So supporters of ONS have also created a set of distinctive badges for their notebooks, with each one communicating different levels of openness. Much like the stepped licenses that authors can choose from the Creative Commons, these badges encourage scientists to be more open about their research even if they cannot make their entire notebooks immediately open source. At first glance, the advantages of open notebooks may seem more obvious in science than in history. Sharing data makes scientific experiments reproducible, so that errors can be more easily spotted and corrected. But as the recent attention paid to an Excel error made by two economists shows, this virtue of transparent data has relevance for history, as well. And, as Chad Black has also noted, even the famous Bellesiles controversy could have been more easily avoided or settled if the notes taken to write the book had been available to anyone who wished to evaluate Bellesiless claims, or if Bellesiles had taken his notes with the scrupulousness that would come from knowing they might be seen. Ultimately, however, the prevention of error is not the most exciting promise made by Open Notebook Science or Open Notebook History. Nor is it a very good recruiting tool. Academic writers are already a paranoid lot, as William Germano has recently argued; our writing is often hampered by the paralyzing fear that someone is always watching, eager to find fault. If all Open Notebook scholarship promises is more scrutiny from more potential fault-finders, it is hard to see its attraction. A better way to frame the appeal of open notebooks is less in terms of fear and more in terms of what Black called the better parts of academics natureour scholarly values of open intellectual exchange, integrity, and honesty. One can focus on the ethical value of sharing, as Black does. But it is also possible to justify open notebook practices in terms of their qualitative value to scholars. Sharing is something that tends to make scholars, qua scholars, happy; presumably its why we are in the business of writing, speaking, and teaching in the first place. The movement of many historians on to platforms like Twitter, Tumblr, and Wordpress provides ample evidence of this impulse; we like to discover new thingslinks, sources, books, et ceteraand we like to share our eureka moments with others. When it comes to our own research, however, historians often delay the gratification of sharing our finds for months, years, and decades. And some findsthat pesky transcription, the identity of that little-known person, the odd letter stuck in the back of a folder, the carefully constructed timeline for a series of eventsare never shared because they ultimately turn out to be tangential to our primary questions. The result is a vast repository of knowledge and thought hidden from public view, a black holes worth of historical dark data. Venture on to any genealogical website and you will find lay historians sharing countless examples of their hard-won archival victories and findings, and with a joy and easy camaraderie that is palpable; professional historians, however, leave many of our notes sitting in dusty file folders, overstuffed hard drives, and stacked bankers boxes. The promise of open notebook history is the vast potential joy that could be ours if we chose to share our hoarded wealth. To be sure, this joy can be had in some measure without sharing our research while it is in progress. I can imagine a line of thought that goes like this: Its true that one historians trash is another historians treasure. So, once Im done with my treasure, Ill share my trash for those who might want it. But that thinking dodges the full implications of the fact that trash (and treasure) are in the eyes of the beholder: The truth is that we often dont realize the value of what we have until someone else sees it. By inviting others to see our work in progress, we also open new avenues of interpretation, uncover new linkages between things we would otherwise have persisted in seeing as unconnected, and create new opportunities for collaboration with fellow travelers. These things might still happen through the sharing of our notebooks after publication, but imagine how our publications might be enriched and improved if we lifted our gems to the sunlight before we decided which ones to set and which ones to discard? What new flashes in the pan might we find if we sifted through our sources in the company of others? The Promise of Digital History Notebooks These questions would be moot, of course, if historians still lived in a pre-digital age. But available technology already makes it possible to disseminate notes widely. Even paper notes taken the old-fashioned (but still quite prevalent) way can be scanned and published online at minimal cost. Still, there are different ways of keeping open notebooks, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages. Consider, for example, the digitized common-place book of the famous Boston abolitionist Wendell Phillips. This notebook is clearly no longer in active development (its author died in 1884), but when it was, Phillips used it to keep notes on a variety of subjects. He copied quotes, sketched outlines, pasted clippings, and drew links between things he was reading; in short, he did what many historians do as part of their daily work. Take a sample page from Phillipss notes and you can get a quick glimpse into how his mind worked: a quote from a British review is followed by a parenthetical note to himself about how it could be used in one of his speeches; marginal annotations point to other passages that might be related. (Figure 1: Sample page from the Commonplace Book of Wendell Phillips) Phillips did all of this on paper, a medium with several built-in liabilitiesnot least that a reader (himself included) could only consult his notes if he and the book were present in the same room. Thanks to the notebooks digitization, modern readers are no longer so constrained; anyone with access to the Internet can now see what Phillips wrote without having to travel to the Boston Public Library in Copley Square, which is where the original resides. But as a window into a working mind, Phillipss paper notebook has other disadvantages that a slavish digital copy does not necessarily rectify. First, it seems likely that Phillips added notes to this page over time, since some markings are in pen and other are in pencil. But there is no easy way to tell when specific additions were made. Nor is it possible to know for sure whether Phillips persisted in seeing the connections that he sketched out on this page, or whether he changed his mind about them in a signficant way. Perhaps at some point he even turned the page, both literally and figuratively, and never thought of these quotes again. Historians beginning their notebooks today can mitigate some of these problems with the use of relatively simple technologies. One is the hyperlink, a deceptively simple innovation so ubiquitous on the World Wide Web that its power is too often taken for granted. Linking items together on a website is not just a means of facilitating browsing; it is also a machine-readable way of doing what historians do all the time when we link sources, ideas, concepts and arguments together. The link, as Gardner Campbell has eloquently explained, is a powerful way to symbolize ideas about relationship and thus to symbolize the act of higher-order cognition itself. Phillips did a version of this by noting cross-references in the margins, but hyperlinks would have facilitated both his ability to navigate to related material and to see multiple layers of relevance by, for example, seeing all of the notes that linked to a particular source. Hyperlinks would not have solved the other weakness of Phillipss notebook: its inability to track, at a fine-grained level, changes to a page or to his thinking over time. Digital notebooks, however, could overcome this challenge as well. The solution here is version control, a technology familiar to the open-source software world and embedded (behind the scenes) in many of the tools historians already use. Microsoft Words track changes feature is essentially a version of version control, a way of seeing precisely how a text has been modified at a particular moment of time. Wikipedias history pages provide a more powerful version of the same feature. And as Konrad Lawson has shown in a recent Profhacker series on Github, programs like Git provide the most powerful version control systems of all, allowing their users exceedingly fine-grained views of when and how files were changed. A history notebook kept under version control would, much like Carl Boettigers open science notebook, allow both author and reader to track the development of a project over time. But unlike a blog, which serves a similar purpose by timestamping posts and publishing them in reverse chronological order, version control would also make clear what the most current version of a researchers thinking is. An old blog post whose arguments have since been superseded or changed remains permanently in the archives of a blog; so does a page of notes kept under version control. In the second case, however, older versions are more easily hidden from view. Updates overwrite old notes while still making the older copies available to those who want to look closer. For those who do want to look closer, version control may be able to unlock some of the deeper possibilities of Open Digital Notebook History. Historian William G. Thomas III spelled out these possibilities in a 2008 forum on The Promise of Digital History, when he wrote that the digital medium offers a unique means to create interpretive and evidentiary models under continual change. Digital history should embrace the impermanence of the medium, use it to convey the changing nature of the past and of how we understand it. I consider such digital sites open research platforms where scholars can stage problems and continually modify their work, readers can view the research as it develops, and both can continually assemble new associations as an interpretive model is built. For historians, the attraction here should be easy to see. We already believe in contingency, that interpretive models depend for their development on time and context. Unlike Open Notebook Scientists, our motive for providing our data will have less to do with a desire to make our experiments reproducible, and more to do with a belief that historical arguments are on a fundamental level irreproducible. Each one is the product of a particular person or group of people at a particular time and place. In this sense, open history notebooks under version control may represent the perfect marriage of medium and message; they can both enable us to develop specific historical arguments and communicate the general argument most important to historians, that the nature of the past and how we understand it are under continual change. An Experiment in Open Notebook History The above considerations have led me to try an experiment: Im going to see what its like to keep an open notebook for my new book project. The platform I have chosen is an open wiki run on Gitit, which has built in version control by Git. This makes it possible for me to edit my notes locally in my own text editor, using Pandoc and Markdown, or online using Gitits web interface. Most importantly, however, Gitit automates the process of keeping track of changes I have made to individual pages or the site as a whole. The activity page, for example, keeps a running list of which notes I have changed, together with links that allow immediate comparisons between the latest version and the last one. (Figure 2: A screenshot of the recent changes page on my Wiki.) Im calling this an experiment because Im aware that there are potential downsides to Open Notebook History. Some of them came up in a THATCamp discussion on ONH held in January 2013. Konrad Lawson has also outlined some potential objections, together with some persuasive replies, in his recent post on forking the academy. One concern often raised about experiments like this has to do with their implications for publication. Two questions may arise: What if someone scoops an idea before it can be published? And what if a publisher wont publish articles whose data and sources are already so open and available? The first question doesnt strike me as a reason to abandon Open Notebook History, for the simple reason that a digital notebook of the kind I am describing will preserve, in what some might call excruciating detail, precisely when an author had an idea and where he or she got it. The second question is a more serious one, but its force can be deflected by a simple thought experiment: consider the file drawer full of your notes, jottings, photocopies, and scribbled upon napkins, and then consider the manuscript you are writing or have written with the use of these notes. If you have little trouble seeing that one of these things is not the other, I suspect a publisher likewise wont confuse your wad of notes with the carefully crafted, argumentative narrative you present for publication. And if that remains a concern, it may be worth noting that Open Notebook Scientists dont seem to have experienced a noticeable decline in rates of publication because of their choice to put lab notebooks online. Still, there are problems associated with keeping an open notebook, like issues pertaining to the copyright law governing sources, that I am still thinking about and will take time to resolve. One possible way forward is to do as Open Notebook Scientists have done and create a stepped system of notifications that communicates to readers how much of a researchers notebook or source base is being shared. These notifications could range from one that says, essentially, if it isnt in the notebook others can assume that you havent done it, to more limited notifications that say clearly others cannot assume that if it isnt in the notebook you havent done it. Even if open history notebooks ultimately fall more often on the latter end of this spectrum, however, I think they hold out tremendous potential to create a rich back-channel of information about the work historians do. Enough examples exist to show that it is possible to create the open research platforms that Will Thomas spoke of in 2008; to demonstrate their utility, whats needed is a critical mass of historians willing to try them out. The experiment could well fail, but we wont know unless we try. Notes Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons. After he got hired to be part of President Trumps legal team to defend Trumps rights and interests during the Mueller investigation, Trump supporters were encouraged the pugnacious former New York prosecutor would surely help Trumps cause. But Giuliani quickly found himself in the headlines not for his brilliant legal strategies and his media acumen, but for a bunch of blundering mistakes, bizarre television interviews and unforced errors. People all over the political, legal and media landscapes are wondering whats wrong with Rudy. Rudys missteps are flying so fast and furious, CNN had to make a list of 21 head-scratching lines from a(nother) disastrous Rudy Giuliani interview. Even if youre not a lawyer or a Washington power player or a media celebrity, there are lots of lessons from Giulianis recent public performances that marketers can learn. Here are some dos and donts weve learned from watching Rudy Giuliani: DONT: Be bigger than the brand you represent. As a marketer, whether youre a small-business owner, a marketing agency account manager, a salesperson or even a celebrity spokesperson, you're in the business of representing something larger than yourself: a brand, a business, an organization or a cause. Dont become the story. (This same problem led to the downfall of Papa John's.) If Rudy were doing his job the right way, the news would be focused on the bigger story of Trumps case and his teams legal arguments. Instead, the stories are about how flabbergasted and out of his depth Rudy looked on TV. Rudy is a hired gun -- he shouldnt be getting more publicity than his boss. Related: Better Marketing, Better Sales: 5 Marketing Don'ts From Papa John's DONT: Be inconsistent with your messaging. Rudy keeps changing his story about what he knows, what Donald Trump knew, what happened when regarding the $130,000 paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels, allegedly as hush money for an affair that she had with Trump. Giuliani has filled the airwaves with so much contradictory word-fog, no one knows what he even means anymore. (Maybe thats his strategy: obfuscation via confusion?) In the same way, your marketing needs to tell a consistent story. Your goal as a marketer is to build trust and convey honest information to guide your prospective customer through the buyers journey. Help them to learn more about what you can do to help them and why your solution is a good fit. Related: 5 Strategies for How to Make Customers Trust Your Brand DONT: Be inauthentic. Rudy is not sounding remotely credible or trustworthy in his media appearances. Maybe he should stop talking. Your ultimate job as a marketer is to be believable and authentic to build trusting relationships with customers. Bluster, bragging, boorishness and bullying are a huge turn-off to most customers. Its better to speak softly, keep your promises and keep showing up. Related: 5 Strategies for How to Make Customers Trust Your Brand DONT: Overstay your welcome. Rudy Giuliani has had a long career in public life. His time as mayor of New York from 1994-2001 was occasionally controversial, but he was generally seen as a successful mayor in the most contentious, complex big city political arena in America. During his administration, crime dropped significantly more than the national average, and he became widely praised as Americas Mayor after 9/11 for the way he handled the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers. At his best, Rudy Giuliani personified a certain New York City cultural persona of toughness, grit and resilience. However, his failed presidential campaign in 2008 and his recent public performances as Trumps newest attorney suggest Rudy has lost a step in recent years. He seems out of his depth. Hes saying baffling things in media interviews, perhaps even exposing his client to further legal liabilities by -- depending on what you believe - either getting the story wrong or accidentally revealing too much about Trumps alleged hush money payment. Rudy has gone from Americas Mayor and an elder statesman to bumbling lawyer and partisan attack dog. At this point, would you hire Rudy Giuliani to represent your company in court, or in the court of public opinion? I wouldnt. The lessons for your business? Dont get out of your depth. Dont overstay your welcome. Leave customers wanting more. Your business cant be all things to all people. If you try to do to too much -- to co-opt new trends that you dont understand, or provide new products and services that arent consumer tested and ready to launch, or target new markets before youre ready -- you risk looking foolish and losing credibility with your customers. It might be too late for Rudy Giuliani to salvage his 9/11-era reputation. But its not too late for your brand to learn from his mistakes! Be authentic. Be trustworthy. Be consistent. Stay within your area of expertise and your preferred target markets -- dont get out of your depth; stay focused on what you do best and keep building relationships with customers who are the right fit for what you offer, and who have good reason to believe your stories. Related: This Entrepreneur Borrowed $125,000 as a Teen, Then Used It to Build the $1 Billion Jersey Mike's Brand Por que tantos logotipos de comida rapida son rojos Five Ways You Shouldn't Miss Out on Digital Marketing as a Start-up Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park and Eastern National will host a special panel discussion and battlefield tour about General George H. Thomas, the 14th Army Corps commander at Chickamauga on Saturday, June 2. Presenting their views about the leadership of General Thomas will be three Civil War scholars. The 1-hour panel begins inside the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Centers theater at 11 a.m., while a special 1-hour car caravan tour about General Thomas begins in the visitor centers lobby at 1 p.m.This years panel participants will include Dave Powell, author of The Maps of Chickamauga and other works about the Battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga; Dr.Frank Varney, author of General Grant and the Rewriting of History; and Dr. Brian Steel Wills, author of George Henry Thomas: As True as Steel and The Confederacys Greatest Cavalryman: Nathan Bedford Forrest.George H. Thomas, a Virginia native and survivor of the infamous Nat Turner Rebellion, was a career U.S. Army officer prior to the Civil War. When war broke out in 1861, although a Southerner, his wife, Francis, recalled that there was never a word passed between General Thomas and myself, or any of the family, upon the subject of his remaining loyal to the United States Government. Instead of donning Confederate gray, as many Virginians did, he remained clad in Union blue. By 1863, in the midst of confusion and panic at Chickamauga, he oversaw the Union Armys last ditch effort to hold the battlefield at Horseshoe Ridge and near the Kelly Farmstead, allowing the remainder of the army to retreat into Chattanooga, thus earning him the nickname The Rock of Chickamauga.The authors will also conduct book signings inside the Eastern National Bookstore from 10-11 a.m. and throughout the afternoon.For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241 or the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 423-821-7786. past daily news Sep 13 (1) Sep 09 (15) Sep 06 (12) Sep 04 (10) Sep 03 (10) Aug 31 (17) Aug 29 (14) Aug 26 (13) Aug 22 (11) Aug 21 (12) Aug 19 (21) Aug 14 (6) Aug 13 (10) Aug 10 (10) Aug 08 (9) Aug 07 (10) Aug 06 (10) Aug 05 (8) Aug 03 (8) Aug 02 (7) Aug 01 (7) Jul 31 (14) Jul 29 (1) Jul 27 (7) Jul 25 (5) Jul 24 (10) Jul 22 (11) Jul 19 (16) Jul 17 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This is about two teams who combined to score 102 points this week and not about playing favorites. CALGARYThe province says completion of the Springbank off-stream reservoir will be delayed at least one additional flood season to the end of 2022 due to the ongoing environmental review of the $432-million mega-project. Alberta Transportation Minister Brian Mason said Friday that construction of the massive diversion canal and dry reservoir on the Elbow River upstream of Calgary is expected to be pushed back by 10 months to allow time to answer questions from federal and provincial regulators. Read more: Alberta may expropriate Springbank land without environmental approval for the controversial flood mitigation project Budget for Springbank flood mitigation land triples Tsuutina concerned Bragg Creek berming will flood land, impact water quality That delay means work wont start in earnest until early 2020 nearly a year after next springs provincial election. You have all sorts of things that are just critical to the heart and soul of this city that are at risk and its critical that we move forward, Mason told reporters. Its not a question of political liability, its a question of doing our level best to protect Calgary. Brenda Leeds Binder, spokeswoman for the Calgary River Communities Action Group, is disappointed that residents who suffered heavy damage to their homes in the 2013 floods will now have to wait at least a full decade to be fully protected from the same scale of disaster. While shes pleased the ruling New Democrats remain committed to proceeding with the Springbank project, Leeds Binders worries no work will start until after the next provincial vote. It would have been ideal to have shovels in the ground before we had any concerns about elections or potential government changes, she said. Its disappointing because part of the (delay) ... goes back to the project proponent and making sure those things are urgent and they are done in a timely manner. Mason admitted four months were lost on the project answering unexpected concerns raised last November by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and he expects a further holdup of three months addressing additional issues that will be raised by the federal regulator. He said his department now has a team of experts at the ready to quickly answer questions from agency officials. Greg Clark, Alberta Party MLA for the Elbow Park constituency that was badly hit by the floods five years ago, said the province has fumbled and dropped the ball during the environmental approval process. The project has been delayed through a lot of unforced errors by government, Clark said. Its unfortunate that happened, here we are, but its still the right project to go forward with and I am going to continue holding their feet to the fire to make sure this thing gets built. Mason also told reporters there could be further delays if the province needs to expropriate most of the 3,900 acres needed for the project, as he effectively ruled out trying to start the process of taking land from its current owners prior to getting the needed environmental approval. We could start to do the process, but without an approved project, I think the legal risks of doing so are very significant, so we are compelled almost by the legislation to wait, he said. Its really a last resort. We would really not like to expropriate the land. We would like to negotiate a fair agreement with the landowners. Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi was out of the country and unavailable to be interviewed, but his office issued a statement expressing disappointment at the delay. That said, I am confident that the provincial government will continue to act to protect downstream communities our people, property, and economy from future flooding. They have committed to build this dam, and I know they want to get it right. Ryan Robinson, spokesman for a group representing 22 landowners who would be affected if the project proceeds, said he believes the ruling Progressive Conservatives grabbed hold of the Springbank project in 2014 as a political solution to Calgarys flooding problem. Robinson said the New Democrats are sticking with the project despite mounting evidence a dam further upstream on Crown land would cost less and not displace local residents. The fact is they have been threatening to expropriate from us for four years and the fact is they still dont have the approvals, he said. Its a total joke and were going to go on for years and years more here with needless dilly- dallying. Read more about: EDMONTONEtched into the sidewalk is Raminder Dhindsas longing to belong. Hers is one of about 80 poems permanently sandblasted into sidewalks surrounding a ravine that lines the entire Meadows community in southeast Edmonton. Dhindsas poem came from a deep love for writing, a hobby she hasnt had a lot of time to nurture since she moved to Canada from India 10 years ago. Although she has her husband and two children with her, feeling a sense of belonging in her new country was a challenge, she said. I have always felt like an outsider here in this country and maybe its an attempt where youre trying to forge those connections so that you can belong to a place, she said of her poem. Kendra Black, former president of the Meadows Community League, which represents 22,000 residents across three neighbourhoods, was approached in 2014 by two artists who had the idea. After four phases over four years, the community celebrated the projects completion just over two weeks ago. The poems are a wonderful way to bring generations and cultures together, Black said, and for people to share an inspiring thought, encourage an emotion or bring a smile to all those who stop to read the poetry. And stop they do, she said. Its not uncommon for her to see total strangers stop and discuss the engraved poems with each other. Funding for the project came almost entirely from the community league. They were also able to secure grants from the city of Edmonton, the Alberta government and a donation from the ATB Meadows Branch. Every 10 or so sidewalk tiles another poem can be found, and the paths stretch hundreds of metres through the community. It just makes the community more special, Black said. Its something unique, its something they dont see everywhere in the city. Thousands of poems were submitted over the four years it took to finish all four locations where poems are engraved. Black said it was a long and difficult process for the panel of judges to choose the finalists they come from a myriad of cultures, generations and backgrounds. The themes and stories within the poems are as diverse as the poets themselves, Black said, and its a true reflection of their community. Dhindsa now works at a non-profit, helping immigrants who come to Edmonton find work and learn English. She also meets with a group of over 200 women every week at the community league for tea and English practice. There are many times when as an immigrant the feeling that I dont really belong to this place comes up, she said. But when you see something good, then you feel you belong. Another woman had her poem selected after Dhindsa helped her translate it into English. The good news made its way all the way back to India and was published in a local newspaper there, Dhindsa said. You feel that you have left a mark, maybe a small mark, but you belong somewhere, she said. Maybe in this one-foot area, you have a place that you can call yours. Read more about: If you are still planning your summer vacation travel, it may already be too late to lock in the most affordable rates if youre staying within the United States. According to the travel website Hipmunk, April would have been the cheapest month to buy a round-trip domestic flight, based on its data analysis comparing booking from last year to this year. However, travellers may still be able to score a huge discount this summer by looking abroad. Weve been seeing lower prices to international cities where new flight routes have opened, or low-cost carriers have expanded, and competition has increased, said Adam Goldstein, Hipmunks chief executive. To identify which international cities are trending cheaper, Hipmunk analyzed booking data from flights departing the United States and purchased in a window from Jan. 1 to April 14 with a departure and arrival date in June, July or August and compared them with the same booking window from last year. Overall, average round-trip international airfare rates are slightly higher compared with last year up 1 per cent but Hipmunk found several international cities where there are bargains to be had. Based on Hipmunks estimates for average round-trip airfare, flights from the United States to the following five international cities are available to book this summer for rates well below last years average. Singapore Round-trip price this year: $1,169 (U.S.), down from $1,659 last year. Singapore had record-setting arrival numbers of 17.4 million in 2017, according to the Singapore Tourism Board. Getting there has become increasingly affordable, in part because of new air routes coming from Singapore Airlines (New York and Los Angeles) and Norwegian Air (London). Food lovers thinking about a summer visit, take note of the annual Singapore Food Festival (July 13 to 29). Ottawa Round-trip price this year: $446, down from $616 last year. The Ottawa Art Gallery recently unveiled its new space, which covers 5,500 square feet and five floors and includes two outdoor rooftop terraces. The inaugural exhibition runs through Sept. 16 and explores the Ottawa-Gatineau regions 6,500 years of history and art. Elsewhere, the new art-focused boutique hotel Le Germain Ottawa is now open and highlights artwork from Canadian photographer Julie Couture. Scheduled for later this year is the opening of the Confederation Line, the first phase of Ottawas new light-rail line. Hamburg, Germany Round-trip price this year: $1,017, down from $1,349 last year. One of The New York Times 52 Places to Go in 2017 is still generating buzz. The Elbphilharmonie concert hall, which officially opened early last year, is the latest architectural highlight in Germanys second city, joining a list of perennial favourites like the Warehouse District and the Church of St. Michael. Additional routes from Irish airline Ryanair are helping to drive prices down, Hipmunk said. Beijing Round-trip price this year: $1,109, down from $1,358 last year. Getting to Beijing from the United States got a whole lot easier late last year when American Airlines added a much-anticipated direct flight from Los Angeles. Art lovers taking advantage of this new route for summer should consider the annual Croisements Festival, which runs through June 24 and celebrates the French arts with special events and exhibitions, and the always-vibrant 798 Art District, the hub of Beijings contemporary art scene. Sydney Round-trip price this year: $1,547, down from $1,822 last year. There is no getting around the fact that flying from the United States to Australia takes a significant amount of time. But a new direct route (17 hours 30 minutes) from Houston to Sydney on United Airlines has made the long haul slightly less painful. If food is a main driver of your travels, Sydneys culinary scene, while not as heralded as that of Melbourne, has emerged including chef Paul Carmichaels creative combination of Caribbean flavours and local ingredients at Momofuku Seiobo, and Saint Peters inventive take on seafood. Former prime minister Stephen Harper is injecting himself into the Ontario election campaign, the Star has learned. Harper will speak on May 28 at a private $1,222-a-head Toronto fundraiser, hosted by former premier Mike Harris for his son Mike Harris, Jr., who is running for the Progressive Conservatives in Kitchener-Conestoga. The 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. event will be held at the exclusive Albany Club on King St. E. and the ticket price is the maximum annual provincial political contribution allowed. Harris, Jr., who was personally appointed as the Tory candidate by PC Leader Doug Ford on April 21, will not be in attendance because it is illegal under Ontario law for candidates to participate in fundraisers. Your Call Ford anointed him as a candidate, despite the fact the younger Harris lost a nomination battle to Dan Weber in the neighbouring riding of Waterloo just two weeks earlier. The leaders late father, Doug Ford, Sr., had been an MPP in the older Harriss first term as premier, from 1995 until 1999. Kitchener-Conestoga was unexpectedly vacated when Ford sacked incumbent MPP Michael Harris, no relation, over allegations he sexted a former intern in 2012. Read more: What really happened to Michael Harris? York police probing Highway 407 data breach that led to resignation of PC candidate for Brampton East Ontario election campaign songs hint at messages leaders want to send The woman never filed a complaint and her texts to him were, themselves, flirtatious. Even though previous PC leaders were aware of the incident, Ford pulled the trigger on Harris, clearing the seat for his friends son. Harper is not the only prime minister to be involved in the June 7 provincial election; Liberal Jean Chretien spoke to more than 1,000 people on April 24 at the nomination meeting of Vaughan-Woodbridge Grit candidate Steven Del Duca. That event was not a fundraiser. Several of Harper top political aides are helping to run Fords election campaign. He was prime minister from 2006 until he lost the last federal election in 2015 to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Read more about: EVERETT, Wash. - Police in Washington state say new DNA technology led them to a suspect in the murders of a young Victoria-area couple more than three decades ago. Tanya Van Cuylenborg, 18, and her boyfriend Jay Cook, 20, were found dead near Seattle in November 1987. Police in Snohomish County, Wash., said Friday they arrested William Earl Talbott, 55, from the Seattle-Tacoma area and he has been booked on one count of first-degree murder in the death of Van Cuylenborg. Officers said they expect to charge the man with Cook's murder once the investigation into additional evidence is finished. The high school sweethearts were on their way to Seattle by ferry to pick up furnace parts for Cook's father when they disappeared. Their bodies were found in separate locations outside the city days later. Skagit County Sheriff Will Reichardt said the work detectives did in 1987 documenting the case and storing evidence led them to the arrest. "It's been 31 years since this horrific crime took place, today we are one step closer for justice for Jay Cook and Tanya Van Cuylenborg," he told a news conference. Talbott was expected to appear for a first court appearance in the Skagit County justice centre on Friday. Police said DNA collected at the scene of Van Cuylenborg's murder was used to identify Talbott's ancestors, which then led them to him. Officers say once genealogists made the connection, police acquired a DNA sample from a cup Talbott had used. Genetic genealogist CeCe Moore, who worked on the case alongside Virginia-based genetics company Parabon NanoLabs, said she built family trees using people who shared "promising amounts of DNA" with the suspect. Two close matches were found from people who married and produced only one son, said Moore. Using a process called reverse genealogy where researchers look for living matches that fit DNA profiles, they were led to Talbott, she said. Van Cuylenborg's brother, John, said supporting DNA databanks for police purposes should be vital for the general public. "When you look at the greater good and the benefit to society, I certainly feel that the use of these databanks is entirely appropriate and should make our communities a safer place for everyone to live," he said. Snohomish County Sheriff Ty Trenary said the department never gave up hope in their investigation, adding the arrest "shows how powerful it can be to combine new DNA technology with the relentless determination of detectives." Police said they believed Talbott was living in Woodinville in 1987 with his parents, about 11 kilometres from where Van Cuylenborg's body was found. Read more: Police make arrest in 1987 murders of high school sweethearts from B.C. Bruce McArthur investigators not ruling out 1970s Gay Village cold cases Detectives used genealogical website to help identify suspect in Golden State Killer case Her body was discovered Nov. 24, 1987, south of Alger in Skagit County. She had been restrained with zip ties, sexually assaulted and shot in the back of the head. Cook's body was found two days later under High Bridge off Crescent Lake Road in Monroe. He'd been strangled and asphyxiated. Police say they are still unsure of a motive or how the victims met the suspect. Talbott had been working as a truck driver for various companies in the Seattle region for the past 30 years, investigators said. Cook's sister, Laura Baanstra, told reporters the arrest brought feelings of joy and sorrow. "The hole that was left in our hearts will never be filled completely," she said. "The work done here by all of these incredible, hard-working professionals, both now and 30 years go, has helped make that hole a little smaller." The arrest was made five weeks after police released composite photos of a potential suspect created through groundbreaking DNA technology. The images showed a Caucasian man with fair hair and green or hazel eyes, traits that investigators said were connected to the DNA of the person they believed killed the couple. By Spencer Harwood in Vancouver. Read more about: Its the first summer after the worst floods the Toronto Islands have ever experienced. Trees and fences remain uprooted, and bunches of worn-down sandbags still stand guard over the coastal waves. But preparations have been underway for weeks to ensure that this year and every year rising waters wont bring Torontos favourite summer destination to a complete halt. Its been a tough, tough 12 months for us, Bill Beasley, owner of Centreville Amusement Park, told the Star. Were still coming out of the woods. Hopefully there will be sunny days ahead. In the weeks leading up to the parks opening on Victoria Day weekend, Beasley, along with crews from the City of Torontos Parks, Forestry and Recreation department and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, have been carrying out repairs and improvements to mitigate future flooding. According to Parks and Recreation spokesperson Jane Arbour, these include reinforcing the shores of Centre Island Beach and Wards island; creating a three-foot-high by 400-foot-long land mass to protect Bayview Island; installing eight sump pumps complete with drainage tiles; and making available 15,000 sandbags and aqua dams, just in case. Last spring, Lake Ontario rose to 75.9 metres above sea level the highest the islands have seen since 1918, when the first reliable measures of the lake were taken. Event spaces on the islands had to cancel a slew of weddings, with prospective brides and grooms scrambling to find new venues amid fully booked summer schedules. Island restaurants and services all took a hit as a result. For three months, the amusement park and all its amenities the farm, the rides, the boats became a ghost town. Beasley recalled how a flood in the 1970s raised water levels over Centrevilles train bridge. The water receded by the end of June that year, he said. In 2017, the water didnt recede until late in the summer, prolonged by higher-than-normal inflow from the other great lakes due to significant rainfall across southern Ontario. Never has the whole park been flooded, Beasley said. In the aftermath, Centreville Island reported a $7.5 million loss in sales and more than $3 million in damages. For the first time in its history, the amusement park reported a loss in its books, somewhere in excess of $1 million a loss that led Beasley to put the parks iconic 110-year-old carousel up for sale last summer. The flooding cost the city $8.45 million. Read More: Flooding means Toronto Island is lost for now and with it a piece of paradise: Keenan Should Toronto Islands get ready for another flood? The main issue for Beasley then was the cancellation of ferry services. Centreville wasnt entirely underwater, he said. We couldve opened if people could have gotten there. Now, the ferries are up and running and TRCA and Parks and Recreation crews have upgraded all the docking facilities so the boats can continue to function in high water levels. As long as the city can run the ferries, well be open, Beasley said. Ryan Bolton, a TRCA project manager, said he remembers getting the call about the floods and mobilizing some eight restoration crews, already working on projects across the city, right away. As far as large scale flooding, this was a first time for many of the crew, he said. In total, Bolton oversaw the placement of 39,000 sandbags across the island. Several thousand stood at the beach they were lined up on sand, parallel to the waters edge, barring the waves from coming further inland. Some, especially those placed in critical residential areas, are still there just in case, Bolton said, because these things are an unknown. Over the last few days, TRCA workers have been slowly lifting many of these sandbags away, and moving them to a work site on the Islands. With the work we do, the goal is to always anticipate worse case scenarios, Bolton said. We cant control mother nature and we dont control the dance. It could happen again. Last week, Rob Croft, the manager of Far Enough Farm, part of Centreville Amusement Park, was reinforcing the wooden fences, moving from paddock to paddock with a hammer and packet of nails. He started these repairs in March 2017, but when the showers started and ensuing floods began, his work had to stop. I would hammer a post in the earth barely a foot deep, only to be met by water, he said. At one point, parts of the fence began to float. Im trying to get ahead of things right now, Croft said. Theres a lot of work to do. At the moment, the farm is eerily silent; the paddocks and pens are empty. The animals had to be moved to a temporary home at a city farm. Sections of the wooden-fenced perimeter of the farm remain destroyed a jumble of splintered, broken boards. When Centreville opens on Friday, the farm will be partially open, with only the smaller animals being brought back. The cows and horses will be transported in June once their paddocks are restored. Ninety per cent of the park rides will be fully functional. The train will be closed as water damaged and twisted the mechanism that holds the train in place. It will soon be elevated by two to three feet the repairs to the train ride and the remediation of the shore are the biggest expense, Beasley said. The swan docks and buffer boat wont be operational either, as the amusement park aims to elevate the docks parts of which remain submerged. But, thanks to the residents of Toronto, Beasley said, the Centreville carousel will still be there. Coun. Paula Fletcher, who spearheaded the motion to save the carousel rode by generations, told the Star it has become part and parcel of (Beasleys) contract with the city. Hes a waterfront operator, Fletcher said. We took into account it was a terrible summer last year ... and said he cant sell (the carousel) if he wants to stay there. In the aftermath of the floods, companies the amusement park owed money to for maintenance contracts chose to forgive their bills for the year. And the city helped with rent. Beasley is working on finalizing some minor concessions in his agreement with the city and making arrangements with banks, financiers and insurers. Everybody has pulled together, he said. It had made him hopeful, this year, the sun will shine and people will come over. Anything can happen, you just have to roll with the punches, he said. You can prepare for the worst, but can you really be prepared for the worst? The 2,000 royal-watchers who packed into Torontos Princess of Wales Theatre early Saturday morning may not have had an in-person view as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wed, but they celebrated all the same. Dressed in their wedding best, the crowd oohed for Harry, cheered for Meghan and let out a collective awh for the young pageboys and bridesmaids as they watched a livestream broadcast of the ceremony on a big screen at the local theatre named for the grooms late mother. And when the newly married Duke and Duchess of Sussex had their first public kiss as a married couple, the audience erupted in applause. Its like a Cinderella story come true, said Natasha Walsh, who came to watch the wedding because in a world thats full of tragedy right now, and sadness, this is something to look forward to. Its a celebration of something positive. The crowd had braved the rain in lines outside the King St. W. theatre long before the doors opened at 5:30 a.m. Women were dressed in their wedding best gowns, cocktail dresses and the ever-present fascinators while the men were decked out in suits and ties. Many carried small British flags. Read more: Its official, Harry and Meghan tie the knot, become the Duke and Duchess of Sussex Opinion | Rosie DiManno: Royal wedding was protocol and pomp, yes, but above all, a couple in love See all the best dressed royal wedding guests: The Kit Theatre owner David Mirvish called the morning a joyous event. I dont usually get up this early in the morning Im usually a night bird because the theatre works at night but this was worth it, Mirvish said. This was a very special moment. Im glad that 2,000 people shared it with us. Margaret Bush said she loves anything to do with the royal family. Especially Harry and Meghan, Bush added. Theyre a lovely couple. Bush wore a dress and fascinator to the viewing party, which she called an adventure. I guess its the British thing to do, going to weddings and dressing the part, she said. Meghans dress was, of course, one of the mornings most anticipated reveals. When the livestream showed the first glimpse of her, seated in the back seat of a car with her mother, Doria Ragland, a hearty cheer went up in the theatre. And when the crowd got its first full view of her, in the dress by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, the applause was deafening. It was perfect, said Teres Edmonds. It was simple, and it highlighted Meghan Markles features, that werent lost in the dress. Edmonds said the ceremony was beyond her expectations. It was also funny, she said, like no other royal wedding Ive ever witnessed. When the Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry said two young people fell in love and we all showed up, the crowd chuckled. Women who appeared on the broadcast wearing shirts that read, I wanted to marry Prince Harry also elicited laughs. As a woman of, you know, that specific generation, I of course had a crush on Harry when he was younger, said Beth Borschiov, who travelled from Burlington to attend the event, and won second place in the best-dressed contest. Borschiov wore a cape made of the Union Jack, Canadian and American flags. Her crown of buttons had a small lion, paying homage to Harrys coat of arms, and a bear to represent Meghans home State of California. Mirvish said the idea for an early-morning livestream at the theatre came together when his wife suggested that perhaps it would be nice to celebrate the event. And I went away and suddenly I came back and discovered my staff had it all organized. So there was great enthusiasm. Everyone wanted to wish the couple well and to be together in that moment. The Princess of Wales theatre, which was opened in 1993, may be the only building named after Her Highness Princess Diana in her lifetime, he added. Mirvish said Diana, who died in 1997, never actually saw the theatre, but she did see the plans and came to the Royal Alexandra Theatre, so we have fond memories of that visit. And, you know, a wedding. Its hard to have a dry eye. Read more about: The world is preparing for the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, this Saturday at Windsor Castle. For some, the event calls to mind the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981. Former Star photographer Ron Bull reflects on the experience of shooting that royal wedding and draws some parallels with tomorrows event. Markle is an American actress best known for her role as Rachel Zane on the legal drama Suits. She is increasingly known as the peoples princess, a sobriquet previously applied to Harrys mother, Princess Diana. Both Lady Di and Markle have been known to break with royal custom and tradition, making them popular with people around the world. Along with two other shooters from the Star, Bull, a veteran photographer, was assigned to take photos of the wedding of Charles and Diana more than 30 years ago. He recalled that each media outlet was allocated a certain amount of square footage on the roof of the building opposite Westminster Abbey, so that everyone had enough space to shoot the event. Charles and Dianas was a very popular wedding, Bull said. They were very popular well, not so much Charles, but she was very popular. Immediately following the wedding, Bull said that he collected the film of the three of photographers and took the first flight back to Toronto, so that the pictures could appear in the newspapers next edition. Bull sees similarities with that royal wedding and this one; both are popular among the public. Prince Harry and Markle are extremely popular, he noted. The royal wedding will take place on Saturday at 7 a.m. EST. In anticipation of the event, the Star is presenting a gallery of its photos of the wedding of Charles and Di. Read more: Prince Charles to walk Meghan Markle down the aisle at royal wedding Non-tacky royal merch for your royal wedding viewing party Brush up on your etiquette before the royal wedding Read more about: The growing number of Progressive Conservative candidates declining to participate in local debates is raising questions about whether the party is muzzling inexperienced and controversial members in a top-down attempt to control the campaign message. More than 20 PC candidates have skipped debates since the beginning of the provincial election campaign, a trend that recalls similar absenteeism among federal Conservative candidates under Stephen Harper. Candidates from other Ontario parties, meanwhile, have been far more likely to show up. Critics say its a tactic meant to keep the focus on PC Leader Doug Ford. It implies that the only person you need to hear from is the leader and everybody else is just a potted plant and you put your X beside Ford and everything else will be fine, said Robin Sears, a former NDP strategist of 20 years, now a principal at Earnscliffe Strategy Group. This is not how our parliamentary democracy is supposed to work, says Duff Conacher, director of Democracy Watch. Any campaign that tries to control access and control the message is a campaign that is hurting the voters right to choose the person they really want to represent them, he said. Meredith Cartwright, the Toronto Centre candidate who hired actors to pose as Ford supporters at a leadership debate, was a no-show at an all-candidates meeting in Corktown on Tuesday that was attended by the Liberal, NDP and Green party candidates and at a meeting on Wednesday that was attended only by the NDP and Green candidates. She has not spoken publicly since the crowd-for-hire controversy erupted. Your call Read more: Wynne blasts Horwaths child-care plan as too vague NDPs Andrea Horwath takes your questions on Tuesday NDP promises more money for victims of Grassy Narrows mercury poisoning SpadinaFort York PC candidate Iris Yu cancelled an appearance on Tuesday at a debate organized by the York Quay Neighbourhood Association that was attended by the Liberal, NDP and Green candidates. She did not attend all-candidates meetings on Wednesday and Thursday. PC candidates skipped four separate debates held this week in Scarborough, including Gary Ellis in Scarborough Southwest, who claimed a long-standing prior commitment; Sarah Mallo in East York; Christine Hogarth in Etobicoke-Lakeshore and Vijay Thanigasalam in Scarborough Rouge-Park, who cancelled the day of the event, according to an organizer. Four out of five PC candidates did not participate in public debates held by the Brampton Board of Trade on May 11, and three of them cancelled on the same day. Harjit Jaswal, running in Brampton Centre, and Simmer Sandhu, running in Brampton East, both cancelled the day before the debates were scheduled to take place, after previously accepting. (On Wednesday, Sandhu announced he was dropping out of the race.) Amarjot Sandhu in Brampton West let organizers know late in the afternoon the day before the debates that he would not be attending. Brampton North PC candidate Ripudaman Dhillon did not confirm, decline or attend. The independent, non-profit newsroom pressprogress.ca has pulled together a list of 23 PC candidates who have been missing in action at meetings. Sears and others trace the tactic back to Harpers Conservatives in the 2008 federal election. The issue of Conservative candidates not showing up for debates was also raised in the 2011 Ontario election and the 2015 federal election when it was alleged that Conservatives were instructed by the party not to participate in debates or engage with the media. I think there is certainly a sense in elections over the last decade that the Conservatives dont want their candidates exposed in debates, said Tim Grant, a candidate for the Green party, who has run twice in the downtown riding of Trinity Spadina and is now running in the newly created University-Rosedale riding. One can only speculate that particularly with the kind of volatile leader like Doug Ford, that they are wanting to protect the leader by not having candidates say things in the local debate that cause him to be approached by reporters, with one gaffe or another, and then he loses his speaking points. Asked whether PC party headquarters has told any candidates not to take part in public debates, Ford spokesperson Melissa Lantsman declined to confirm or deny. We work with candidates to ensure they are effective in their voter outreach, be it phone calls, door knocking or debates, she said. She included a list of 21 PC candidates who have participated in debates or are planning to and pointed to meetings in April in Peel that were better attended by PC candidates than by candidates from other parties. The PC candidates did not respond to requests from the Star for comment, except for Amarjot Sandhus campaign manager, Graham McGregor. Amarjot is focused on knocking on doors and meeting as many constituents as possible to hear directly from them about the challenges they face in Ontario today. Due to previous commitment and short notice, unfortunately Amarjot was unable to attend, McGregor wrote in an e-mail. Keeping candidates away from debates can be strategic, according to a political veteran who worked closely with Harper. There is a strain of thinking that subscribes to the belief that debates tend to happen in rooms filled with people who are already decided, and that door-knocking is a better use of time for candidates to persuade and surface votes, said Andrew MacDougall, a former director of communications for Harper. Typically, candidates are inundated with requests to debate local issues during an election campaign and find it hard to attend all of them. Sean Conway, the NDP candidate for Peterborough-Kawartha, has been invited to 17 all-candidates events or debates to date. I plan to attend as many as I can so far Ive committed to attending 14 of them, Conway said. I think participating in conversations is really important. Jo-Ann Davis, the Liberal candidate for University-Rosedale, said she attends every candidates meeting she can. For me, attending debates is just one way to be able to listen to residents, hear their concerns, answer their questions, so they can understand where I stand on their important issues. I like those two-way dialogues, Davis said. The Green partys Grant calls candidate debates a good leveller. Its one thing to get a flyer that has been edited and smoothly written and actually have candidates put on the spot with issues and they are always topical issues that are raised in debates. So really, its a good leveller and it allows people to get beyond the spin and it gets you into the nittygritty of policies that are important to them, to communities, Grant said. Gary Pieters, president of CityPlace Residents Association, says voters want to make sure candidates understand local issues. Sometimes the leaders can overshadow the local candidates. In our case, we want to ensure that our candidates are looking at our communities and their unique needs. Candidate debates are an important part of the democratic process, according to Duff Conacher at Democracy Watch. If someone is practiced, they can say a bunch of lines for one month and get away with it. But when you are live and debating your opponents, then if its all a facade, there is more likelihood the facade will be stripped away and people will have a chance to see who the person really is. Public access and the publics ability to see candidates in person and how they react to being challenged is important. Read more about: MOSCOWChechnyas leader says four gunmen who attacked a Russian Orthodox church in the mostly Muslim province have been killed by security forces and one policeman has died. Ramzan Kadyrov says the gunmen attempted to take people hostage inside the Archangel Michael Church on Saturday. He says in remarks carried by Russian news agencies that he personally oversaw a special operation in which the assailants were killed. Kadyrov says a police officer was fatally wounded in the confrontation and a churchgoer was wounded. Past attacks in Chechnya have involved radical Islamist rebels. The Kremlin has relied on Kadyrov to stabilize Chechnya after two separatist wars. He has used generous federal subsidies and his feared security forces to crush the Islamist rebellion, but violent clashes still happen occasionally in the region. Read more about: Meghan Markle will not be your traditional royal. The 36-year-old bride will be the first divorced, biracial, Jewish American actress to join the British royal family, and it doesnt stop there. Markle has broken royal protocol since her engagement to Prince Harry last November to become a unique and relatable public figure in the British monarchy. It was known before Meghan got engaged to Harry that she alone of his many girlfriends could cope with the interest and publicity and work the crowds, said British public relations consultant and royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams. Meghan-mania is the result. Read more: What will Meghan Markles activism look like now that shes married? Prince Charles to walk Meghan Markle down the aisle at royal wedding Before Windsor Castle, Harry and Meghan had Soho House Markle is already making the role all her own. She broke one major rule from the start of her engagement: She didnt wear stockings at the announcement of their impending nuptials at Kensington Palace. Nude stockings, though not her usual style, are expected by the palace, Fitzwilliams says. Also a no-no? That sold-out denim she wore on her first public appearance with Prince Harry. The ripped jeans she wore at the Invictus Games are a thing of the past, Fitzwilliams says. While Princess Diana and Duchess Kate carried clutches to head off unwanted handshakes, Markle has switched it up with a mix of bags with shoulder straps and handles. She wants to be more approachable, as her role will be different from Kates, Fitzwilliams says. A handle or shoulder strap is therefore more her style if she wants to reach out, shake hands and touch more or hug. Outside of fashion, Markle will likely have to tone down some of the warm tendencies she cultivated in Hollywood. She will find some protocol challenging, and signing autographs is absolutely out of bounds. In January, Markle responded to a young fans request for an autograph by writing a greeting without signing her name. She has continued to display affection for Prince Harry at their public engagements, often holding his hand or touching his arm. She also hugged a young girl at an appearance on International Womens Day. She has been careful to avoid breaking the rule about selfies, but there is no actual rule regarding holding hands and also hugging someone, Fitzwilliams says. Although she left her job on TVs Suits, dont expect her to stay silent about issues she deems important. Along with her and Harrys dedication to philanthropic work, Markle has spoken up about the #Timesup and #MeToo movements. Women dont need to find a voice, Markle said at a Royal Foundation forum in February. They have a voice. They need to feel empowered to use it, and people need to be encouraged to listen. As far as other basic royal protocol, both Prince Harry and Duchess Kate are thought to be helping Markle master it all, including who curtsies to whom when alone and how this alters if their husband is present, Fitzwilliams says. What is so precious is Meghans independence of spirit, Fitzwilliams says. She will abide by basic protocol whether or not it is written down whilst cultivating her own distinctive style. Read more about: LONDONBefore she retired as an actress and shut down her social media accounts, before she got engaged to Prince Harry and committed to the Firm, as young British royals call their institution, Meghan Markle had opinions and spoke her mind. She blasted presidential candidate Donald Trump as misogynistic. She posted a photo of Londoners protesting Britains exit from the European Union. At age 11, she successfully petitioned Procter & Gamble to change its Ivory dish soap commercial from women all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans to people all over America. She has written forthrightly about being a strong, confident mixed-race woman. But what will her activism look like now that she married Harry on Saturday? The royal family has survived the modern age by remaining zealously apolitical. They are relentlessly on-message about having no political message. Royals cut ribbons. Royals do the hand-wave. They support charities. They burnish the family brand, worth $88 billion, according to Forbes. With their corgis and stag hunts, tax havens and tweed, one might fairly suspect theyre all Tories to the bone. The trick is, we dont know. So here comes Meghan Markle and some people are wondering aloud: What if she goes for it? In Meghan Markle, will Britain get a sleeping beauty or our first woke princess? ran one headline in the Guardian newspaper. Read more: Can Meghan Markle keep up her acting career? And other royal questions Toronto royal fans delight in Meghan Markle connection Give Meghan Markles embarrassing family a break This will be the first time, really, we will have an outspoken advocate for womens rights at a senior level in the royal family, said Sam Smethers, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, a womens rights organization. Paul Reid, director of the Black Cultural Archives in south Londons Brixton neighbourhood, is watching to see if she speaks out on issues of race. Were still trying to work out who she is, Reid said. How does she use her influence, what does she align herself to, what shes going to do? Id like to know. And yet, this is a constitutional monarchy. She will have to dial it back, completely, said Dickie Arbiter, the queens former press secretary. He said senior royals must take care not get too far out in front of the queen, who has a constitutional obligation to remain above the political fray. In Britain, the queen reigns but does not rule. Royals other than the queen can, in theory, say what they want, said Vernon Bogdanor, a historian and constitutional expert at Kings College London. But they shouldnt do anything that would embarrass the queen. If Meghan Markle says, I hate the Labour Party, I hate the Conservative Party, that would be very out of order, said Bogdanor. He said that on some issues it can be a difficult matter of judgment obviously, she will have to be careful. So far, Markle seems to be working hard to fit in. The 36-year-old, who portrayed can-do paralegal Rachel Zane on the USA Network series Suits, has given up her acting career and her lifestyle blog. She was baptized and confirmed into the Church of England. She has been spotted doing the duchess slant, sitting with knees and ankles together, lower legs on a diagonal. But there are hints that she may push the boundaries. Speaking on a panel in February, with Prince Harry to one side of her and Prince William and Catherine on the other, she referenced the #MeToo movement and Times Up campaign. Women dont need to find a voice. They have a voice, she said. They need to feel empowered to use it, and people need to be encouraged to listen. She may buck orthodoxy and deliver her own speech at her wedding reception. She is now going into this uncharted and very interesting territory, said Catherine Mayer, a royal biographer and co-founder of the Womens Equality Party. I think she could be genuinely important, because its such a big platform, such a global platform, she has resources and she has reach that very few other people do. Mayer said there is nothing exceptional about the humanitarian work Markle has done: travelling to Rwanda to promote access to clean drinking water, advocating for girls education in India. Other celebrities have taken on similar causes. And those sorts of trips are very much in the royal mold. Princess Diana was known for her active involvement in campaigns to raise awareness about AIDS, land mines and leprosy. Prince Harry has taken up some of her issues and added others, including support for military veterans and wildlife conservation. But Markle is different from other British royals, Mayer said, in her views and lived experiences. Markle is also an American, an outsider. Although she will become a British citizen, she may not instinctively know, or automatically accept, her place in Britains rigid class system. Thats enormously helpful, Mayer said. Party politics will almost certainly remain a no-go zone. But beyond that, Markle may find she has some leeway. The heir to the throne is Prince Charles, 69, who goes on about carbon footprints, organic manure, holistic medicines and his hatred of modern architecture. As king, perhaps he would provide some room to maneuver for an activist daughter-in-law. It also may help that Markle is marrying a spare heir, who was recently bumped down to sixth in the line of succession with the birth of his nephew, Prince Louis. The closer you get to the queen, the stronger the restrictions. You cant have a campaigning monarchy, Bogdanor said. But he added that there is less worry for those who are quite far away. Read more about: The mayors of Ontarios 27 big cities are unanimously calling on all provincial party leaders to commit to keeping in place the upload of certain program costs to the province. It is where those costs belonged in the first place. Passing on any new costs to cities would also be wrong. In recent weeks, some leaders have speculated about getting tough with municipalities in order to balance the provincial budget. If this happens and the next government downloads more costs onto cities, a big property tax increase will result or many services will have to be cut. Thats the reality. While it would be easy for the province to balance its budget by downloading costs to cities, this would be a huge mistake. It would end up hitting the pocketbooks of all 13 million people of this province. Municipal governments receive only nine cents of every household tax dollar, whereas the province receives 44 cents yet municipalities own 60 per cent of all the infrastructure in Ontario. It has taken 20 years to fix the download that cities experienced in the 1990s by the provincial government of the day. We cannot afford to go backwards. Since 2008, costs associated with the Ontario Disability Support Program, court operations, Ontario Works, and drug benefits, to name a few, have once again become the responsibility of the province, and rightly so. If these services had remained downloaded onto property tax bills, the cost to residents and businesses today would have been $1.9 billion province-wide. The mayors of Ontarios big cities want to make it clear to party leaders that if any of the previously downloaded costs come back to cities, or any new costs are added, we will be forced to list these on the property tax bill along with any resulting service cuts. We need the province to be a committed partner and play its part. The property tax was never designed to fund provincial programs. Cities build the infrastructure that makes our economy run. We pave and maintain your roads, sidewalks; build the transit that keeps people moving; deliver emergency services and public safety, provide clean drinking water; provide community amenities like recreation centres, parks, trails, and libraries that we all enjoy. Municipalities are well-run and are the most heavily regulated level of government. We cannot create deficit budgets. We must submit detailed, public financial reports at the end of every year. At the same time, we have limited sources of revenue to provide the range of services residents need daily. Our nine cents come primarily from property taxes and user fees. We are already being asked every year to do more with less; we cannot take on more responsibility. The Large Urban Mayors Caucus represents 67 per cent of the Ontario population. Together, we are calling on all provincial parties and candidates to confirm their commitment to work with cities, to continue to maintain the upload agreement and to make further improvements. We support a strong, fiscally-prudent provincial government, but not at the expense or on the backs of our property taxpayers. Prosperous communities lead to a prosperous Ontario. The next premier and provincial government would do well to remember this. In the end, were all in this together. In his passionate defence of a politics of values over tribes, Bob Rae said the most important was an acceptance of the importance of facts. He was being honoured last week by hundreds of Canadas finest political leaders of all three parties for his contribution to public life. Facts matter, he concluded, Our politics needs to understand and respect this. A bizarre, even obvious comment, some might observe but powerfully relevant in this strange election. This was always going to be a strange election, with a premier a dozen points behind her party in popularity, and an NDP leader with the numbers in reverse: number one in personal approval, number three in partisan intention. Then along came the tawdry tent show known as Ford Nation. Like travelling medicine shows and revival preachers of old, their caravan booms noise and angry rhetoric but leaves little behind as it heads for the next town. A fact-free campaign of glaring contradiction can work for an established frontrunner with deep party roots and a following wind. That is not Doug Ford, nor this campaign. So far, he has promised nearly $30 billion in slashed taxes and expenditures and, unacknowledged, thousands of job cuts as a result. Not even remotely clear is how this snake oil will work. Facts, apparently, do not matter. There are reports of sharp elbows and angry confrontations among members of the cobbled-together Ford machine. It would be surprising if this were not true, given that the team unites party hacks from the Davis left to the so-con right under the leadership of some of the most divisive organizers of any party, veterans of the Harper era. These battles will have risen to a crescendo with the allegations of data theft which, if proven, could be the death knell for the campaign. The Orange team sits between the other two in experience. Seasoned vets from successful provincial campaigns in B.C., Alberta, and Manitoba have joined with some of the best of the Layton generation, but many of them have been flung together only in recent weeks. They are scrambling to run seriously for power for the first time in a generation. To some political veterans, 2018 feels like 1985 trending to 1990. For the 85 campaign, the Tories made an unwise leadership selection to defend their 42-year governing record, opening the door to David Peterson and Rae. Then Peterson, spooked for no good reason other than his fear of a tanking economy, called an early election in 1990. Voters were not amused. As much as his own victory, Raes triumph was a rejection of the Tories and irritation with Petersons presumption. Today, it appears the Tories would have won safely under either of the two women candidates they rejected in favour of vacuous populism. Having chosen the angry option, they have given credence to the Horwath taunt, You dont need to choose between bad and worse, theres an alternative. The NDP slate is the most gender-balanced but also the least experienced. Success outside the partys areas of traditional strength will be almost entirely on Horwaths coattails. But leadership coat tails delivered all of the big election victories from Peterson through Rae, Harris and Wynne. The May 27 debate will be pivotal as grumpy voters, deciding what kind of change they really want, will get their last chance to see the leaders do battle. On the strength of the first two debates one amateurish show in the first week and then the Northern debate the Ford debate team should be working overtime. Shifting polls notwithstanding, this is a campaign that may not move deeply unhappy voters to turn out. So far, at least, it appears merely as a campaign of brawling activists, with a frustrated media reduced to playing its traditional role in such contests attempting to inflate the trivial as dramatic. Election night will no doubt be long, with nail-biting phone calls until nearly dawn. It remains to be seen whether facts do indeed matter. Strange days indeed. Robin V. Sears, a principal at Earnscliffe Strategy Group, was an NDP strategist for 20 years. Read more about: No buxom porn star has yet emerged from the unsettling and increasingly stormy campaign of PC Leader Doug Ford. But there are weeks yet until the June 7 election. So whos to say what surprise might be lurking in his anything-apparently-goes organization? Call it a swamp. Call it a gravy train. But this week, the Ford campaign is looking messier by the day. The most worrisome of the mounting missteps is Ontarios version of the Cambridge Analytica affair in the U.S. that caused such headaches for Facebook and raised questions about abuses of private information in President Donald Trumps 2016 election victory. Simmer Sandhu, a PC candidate in Brampton East, quit suddenly on Wednesday after his former employer, 407 ETR, said it was investigating the inside theft of names, addresses and phone numbers of 60,000 users of the toll highway. Since then, voters in Ontario have reported receiving messages from the PC party. And media have reported that the pilfered data might have been used by dozens of PC candidates. Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne properly called on Ford to report the matter to police for investigation. The Liberals have also called for an Elections Ontario probe into Fords attendance at a $250-a-plate fundraiser on April 29 which they argue violated election finance laws. It goes on. The National Post has reported that Parm Gill, a PC candidate in Milton, asked another party member in 2016 not to challenge him for a nomination, suggesting a gravy train of well-paying jobs would be available should the party win the election. The opportunities are limitless, Gill, a former federal MP, is reported to have boasted on a recording of a conversation between the two men. To be fair, Ford is not the first leader, as a political wave crests behind him, to find himself in charge of an odd collection of flotsam and jetsom. Former premier Bob Rae had to be introduced to some of his MPPs, and was less than delighted at what he found, after the NDP won an upset victory in 1990. Similarly, Brian Mulroney in 1984 and the late federal NDP Leader Jack Layton in 2011 found their caucuses to be considerably more exotic than what they had bargained on. But Ford rode in to succeed disgraced former PC leader Patrick Brown on the twin promises of clean government and watching every penny of spending. The latest news of corruption and enthusiastic, if premature, trough-snuffling suggested he hasnt succeeded at that even within his own party. Ford has already jettisoned former candidate Tanya Granic Allen in Mississauga whose support helped win him the leadership after a tape surfaced of her making what the leader called irresponsible statements about sex education and gay marriage. And if Granic Allen was unpalatable to Ford, opponents say there are other PC candidates most notably radio Andrew Lawton in London who should be bounced as a result of discriminatory views he has expressed about non-Christians and women. There is plenty of reason for Ontarians to be alarmed at Fords track record, his lack of experience, his personal record of impulsivity, vulgarity and disruption. There will be those too troubled by a set of seemingly off-the-cuff policy proposals that are only sketchily explained and with promised budget cuts, spending campaigns, no job cuts and forgone revenue simply do not add up. What all Ontarians should be concerned about, however, is the increasing stench and apparent want of integrity surrounding PCs candidates and, by extension, their leader. Not long ago, Vic Fedeli, a PC party elder, said the party structure was full of rot and he claimed, after a few weeks, to have rooted it out. Well, a lot of ethical creepy-crawlies continue to wriggle out from that painted-over blue edifice. Ontarians will want to look very closely at the quality of what theyre being asked to buy. Read more about: NDP the only option for voters opposed to Ford, Walkom, May 16 Columnist Thomas Walkom says NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is correct in unequivocally rejecting the possibility of her party and the Liberals coming to an arrangement if PC Leader Doug Ford does not win a majority of seats. Mr. Walkom is dead wrong. Contrary to Ms. Horwaths posturing, the NDP and Liberals could, and should, find many points of agreement on a plan to govern if the opportunity presents itself. It is only being fair to the majority of Ontario voters to have confidence that such an outcome is indeed possible and would be chosen when and if the election results permit it. Back in 1985, the Liberals and NDP agreed to a legislative accord when the Tories had the most seats but not a majority. Ontario was well served by this arrangement and it may well be needed again. The very notion and real possibility of a Doug Ford government should be sufficient reason for any progressive person to not pre-emptively and arbitrarily rule out this option. Simon Rosenblum, Toronto Ontarians want the province to balance the budget because they dont want to leave future generations in debt. Yet, they dont want taxes raised. So we must reduce spending no more spending on infrastructure, health care, education or protecting the environment. These services are already underfunded so cutting more spending will only increase the shortfall. In other words, leave future generations with service deficits. So either way, we will be leaving future generations with debt financial or environmental and other services. Alberto Sarthou, Toronto The elephant in the room continues to be the provincial debt. No party addresses it, yet estimates indicate 8 per cent of total revenues go to paying interest on the loan. We need a government that balances financial responsibility with public entitlement. I will support the party that taxes the financially advantaged to a slightly higher degree and makes fewer promises of entitlements to everyone. If NDP Leader Andrea Horwath would move to the centre, I believe many would appreciate the platform shift. Introduce a California-style recall law and you will be seen as a politician that means business. John Zak, London, Ont. Its sad that Doug Fords solution to the high cost of gas is to reduce the gas tax. A much better solution would be to incent people to not buy the largest, heaviest and most powerful SUV they can afford. When I switched from a turbo Volvo wagon to a Toyota hybrid, my gas bills dropped by 60 per cent. But what else could we expect from someone who bought his brother a Cadillac Escalade. It doesnt get any less environmentally friendly than that. Michael Yaffe, Toronto Doug Fords policy on gasoline shows that he doesnt care about the environment. Reducing the price of gasoline will only make air pollution worse, as people who are buying more gas-guzzling SUVs and pickup trucks will consume more fuel. Rene Ebacher, Toronto I am sickened and disheartened that Ontario seems to be on a course to bring Trump-style politics here. After observing U.S. President Donald Trumps terrible affront to the truth, treatment of immigrants, the environment, women, gun control and his poor world example, I cant imagine the good Canadians of Ontario, who are setting an example of decency and caring, are on the verge of stepping back to selfish greed. All political parties in Ontario have good and bad histories, but our province must continue to present high ideals for the world. Is it not too late for Ontarians to do whats necessary strategic voting or whatever to avoid Trump-style politics here. Cliff Elliott, Mississauga During every election campaign, the provincial parties spend their entire time deciding what are the best bribes to get more votes. And it works. The majority of voters want to know what is in it for them and how can they get more money in their pockets. Voters are selfish and short-sighted. We need to decide what political platforms are best for the province, best for society and best for us all, in years to come. Promising lower taxes, cheaper gas prices, lower energy costs and other ways to give voters money accomplishes three things: higher deficits, cuts to social programs and infrastructure projects and more votes. In the end, there is less money to improve schools, keep the infrastructure from falling apart, provide a safety net for those who need it, a deteriorating health-care system and many other important areas only a government can improve. Yes we all would like more money in our pockets. But dont we also want a better province that provides better services to us all? David Moore, Toronto PC Leader Doug Ford claims to be upset with the excessive compensation being paid to board members and executives at Hydro One. However, he also vows to cut the corporate tax rate by 8.7 per cent. Who does he think will benefit from this corporate windfall? No doubt already highly paid corporate executives will receive a big slice of it. And who does he think will have to pay more to make up for the loss of tax revenue? No doubt many of the taxpayers he pretends to be looking out for. What a hypocrite. Peter Bird, Toronto PC Leader Doug Ford favours a free-market system where landlords can set rents unabated. What will renters do if he forms a majority government? I live on St. George St. three blocks north of Bloor. The tenants who recently moved into the apartment above mine, where the landlord was allowed to raise the rent to what the market will bear, pay $10,000 per year more than I do. What will tenants do? Al Yolles, Toronto Doug Ford does not care for the struggles or well-being of hard-working Canadians, low-income residents, seniors or the working poor. He promises to remove rent controls and leave the market to dictate rents. We need to prevent this miscarriage of justice against low-income tenants. Joan Wittnebel, Kitchener, Ont. It is shameful that the Star is barely mentioning the Ontario Green Party led by Mike Schreiner as a viable alternative. The Green Party has a full slate of candidates, a fully costed party platform and is making gains across Canada. Voters can vote for a candidate and policies, not against someone. Norman Feldman, Guelph, Ont. Read more about: NAPANEEI would like to say that prison has taken its toll on Paul Bernardo. I would like to report that the monster inside has excreted through his pores, like viscera, and ravaged his face. At the very least, I would like to assure that the years behind bars, in segregation, have been outwardly unkind. But no. Astonishingly, the serial killer and serial rapist serial psychopath appears little changed from the man who, in 1995, was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for at least 25 years. He tortured and murdered 15-year-old Kristen French after keeping the schoolgirl captive for three days, the teen enduring unspeakable sexual horrors. He tortured and murdered and then dismembered the body of 14-year-old Leslie Mahaffy, encasing the poor girls remains in blocks of cement that were tossed into a St. Catharines lake. And still that boyish face the same harmless-looking face he turned to Leslie on the night he spotted the Grade 9 student outside her home in Burlington, locked out, and offered a cigarette, the smokes back in his car, instead forcing her into the vehicle . If only the savages among us looked like what they are. Guilty on two counts each of first-degree murder, kidnapping, forcible confinement, aggravated sexual assault, and one count of committing an indignity to a human body. All of it, but for the actual killings, captured on video pre-selfie days, unprecedented for Canadian courts and played for the jury. Aided and abetted, in the kidnapping of French, by his odious wife Karla Homolka, his partner in crime and sexual assault and killing. Homolkas younger sister Tammy violated, too, as she lay drugged and unconscious the added-on manslaughter charge. The Scarborough Rapist, ultimately admitting to 14 increasingly violent sexual attacks, resulting in Bernardo being designated a dangerous offender, making the possibility of parole, ever, highly unlikely. But who knows? I wanted to see what he looks like today, the only reason for attending a hearing at the Napanee courthouse on Friday morning, where it was known in advance that Bernardo would appear only by video link from nearby Millhaven Institution. It was a set-date for trial on a charge of possessing a weapon, described in the police information as a homemade shank composed of a screw and a pen for a handle, for the purpose of committing an offence. What does it matter to Bernardo, a criminal footnote to his record, should he be found guilty, except as one further strike against him at any future parole bid? As a dangerous offender, a classification reserved for the most violent criminals, he can be kept incarcerated by the state until he rots to death. This hearing sputtered to a start, court officials struggling with the technology of beaming Bernardo into the courthouse from the Keepers Hall at Millhaven and then all but giving up, Justice Geoffrey Griffin prepared to set a trial-date without participation by the defendant, if his lawyer (who sent a representative) was agreeable. And then suddenly the screen came to life. And there was Bernardo, grinning, wearing a blue T-shirt, his hair a darker shade than the styled blond of 23 years ago, a mousy brown. Older, obviously, middle-aged at 53, but very much a recognizable Bernardo. Apologies from Griffin, who wondered how long Bernardo had been sitting in that small room. Over an hour. But, hey, that was an hour he wasnt sitting in his lockdown cell. Bernardo assured that he could see the courtroom, as we could see him. That was creepy. Arched an eyebrow when Griffin suggested a trial date in late October. Your honour, I have a parole date in October and I would like to have the matter dealt with before then. Is that possible? Bernardo became eligible for day parole in 2015 and eligible for full parole this past February, marking a quarter-century since the date of his arrest. While that distressing possibility hovers over the French and Mahaffy families and the multiple other sex assault victims Bernardo has on several occasions over the past year withdrawn and postponed parole court dates. The hearing is now tentatively scheduled for October, as he said. Bernardo and Homolka she has been free since 2005, upon completion of her 12-year sentence, an outrageously light punishment secured in a notorious deal with the devil, remarried and is the mother of three is arguably the most heinous of serial murderers in Canadian legal history, certainly the worst of his era (before the likes of Robert Pickton, Russell Williams and Luka Magnotta came along, perhaps to be overtaken in the annals of crime by Bruce McArthur, who is charged with eight murders, allegedly preying on victims in Torontos Gay Village). Its unknown whether the other cretins receive fan mail, as Bernardo has. One of his ardent media-seeking devotees, Michelle Erstikaitis, who described herself as Bernardos super-fan, has since been declared a dangerous offender, too, most recently charged with attempted murder after pushing into the U.S. consular office on University Ave., allegedly swinging a knife that narrowly missed a security guards throat, and allegedly shouting: ISIS is coming to kill you! Another sycophant Pauls girl tattooed on her ankle who claimed, a few years ago, that she had become engaged to Bernardo, although theres no evidence of prison nuptials. How he must quicken to the ardor of deranged groupies! A trial date on the weapon charge has been set for October 5. There you go Mr. Bernardo, said Griffin. You will be brought to court in person. Field trip. Bernardo: Okay, thank you, your honour. See ya, sack of s--t. The massacre of Palestinian protesters this week by Israeli soldiers was appalling, but we shouldnt have been surprised. And we should expect the suffering will only get worse. We know now with certainty that the toxic combination of an emboldened Israeli prime minister and a reckless American president both of them racist to the core, in my view is certain to have an explosive impact on the region. But that, by any international standard, is not acceptable. So, not unlike the 1980s when international pressure brought the South African apartheid regime to its knees, the time has come for the world through boycotts and protests to impose some sanity in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Read more: Middle East conflicts becoming more connected as power players vie for control Ontario doctor shot while aiding Palestinians in Gaza Israel faces international backlash after troops kill 59 Palestinians at Gaza border The flashpoint last Monday was the ceremony with Israeli and U.S. luminaries celebrating the opening of the new American Embassy in Jerusalem. It was a decision by Donald Trump that enflamed Palestinians who see East Jerusalem as their future capital. As the ceremony was happening, there were protests 80 kilometres away on the Gaza-Israeli border. Due to the isolation of Gaza imposed by Israel, there is increasing desperation over the growing humanitarian crisis. In the clashes, Israeli soldiers killed at least 58 Palestinians the deadliest day in Gaza since the 2014 war. The contrasting realities were dramatically captured in split-screen TV coverage. On one screen were scenes of the Gaza clashes between protesters and Israeli soldiers, featuring Palestinian dead and injured. On the other screen were scenes from inside the new American Embassy where officials congratulated themselves for their commitment to peace and harmony, and the world outside seemed far, far way. The decision by Trump to move the embassy from Tel Aviv was clearly intended as a gift to his American political base Christian evangelicals who have a biblical obsession with Israel. For that reason, two evangelical pastors spoke at the ceremony at Trumps request. One, Robert Jeffress, a Dallas evangelical pastor who opened the ceremony, once said that Jews, Muslims and Mormons are going to hell. The other pastor, televangelist John C. Hagee, who closed the ceremony, once suggested that Hitler was part of Gods plan to return Jews to Israel. But perhaps the most surreal presence at the ceremony given the human carnage happening simultaneously was that of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: Dear friends, what a glorious day! he told the audience. Remember this moment. This prompted a headline the next day in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz: What kind of man grins like that, knowing the Gaza death toll is rising by 10 an hour? As long as Netanyahu and Trump are around, coupled with a discredited and corrupt Palestinian leadership, it is clear the idea of a two state solution for Israel and Palestine is dead. But that then appears to leave an apartheid Israel as the only alternative which would not be acceptable to world opinion. In an excellent book, titled Why Dissent Matters, Canadian lawyer and author William Kaplan devotes two chapters to Israel, Palestine and their Arab neighbours. In his section on Gaza, which is quite prophetic, he notes that the current Israeli approach will lead to a dead-end. Kaplan supports efforts to apply pressure on Israel through boycotts and sanctions and writes there are alternative models beyond the status quo: Israel has South Africa and Northern Ireland as models to choose from two other settler colonial states that made peace with the past and charted a new course for the future. I remember hearing a similar thing from Nelson Mandela in 1990 after he was released from jail, and Barbara Frum and I had the privilege to meet him. Hearing that I had just returned from covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he said: There is a peaceful solution to be found there somewhere. Remember they said I would never be released from jail. Tony Burman is former head of Al Jazeera English and CBC News. Reach him @TonyBurman or at is former head of Al Jazeera English and CBC News. Reach him @TonyBurman or at tony.burman@gmail.com Read more about: Ontario is an odd place to be from. Other than lines on a map, what is it? I could not tell you what the Ontario identity is, despite having lived here my entire life. Unlike relatives in Nova Scotia, or friends from Alberta, who strongly associate with those places, Ontarioness, if there is such a thing, is an elusive notion. Quebec identity, or nationhood as some might say, is another level of identity entirely. The current provincial election is an interesting time to think about all this as the very idea of Ontario, and all of us who are part of it, is suddenly important. There are more than 13 million people in Ontario but around half of them live in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Thats an awful lot of people clustered around Lake Ontario in the famed Golden Horseshoe, a glittering nickname in the great tradition of civic nickname hubris. Read more: How the Ford-Wynne campaign became a Trump-Clinton rematch Four tips to help Kathleen Wynne up her populist game With more women candidates than ever, things are trending the right way Not without justification, some people who do not live in this great golden land have suggested the current Ontario provincial election seems more like a Toronto election as the issues in these parts dominate the provincial discourse. Whenever you get a cluster of many millions of people living together, they have particular needs that are distinct from less populated areas. Big cities, by their nature, have big city problems that need specific solutions. Its a tension thats not unique to Toronto, and big cities like New York, London and Paris all have conflict, real and imagined, with their hinterlands. Still, I find it useful to try to remember the view of Toronto I had from my hometown, Windsor, a place that is steeped in its own kind of western alienation where, down at the end of Highway 401, the phrase Ontario (and Canada) stops at London was often repeated. Whether this feeling was justifiable or not was rarely quantified, but it was a persuasive sentiment to buy into, especially when somebody tells you youve been left out. Here in Toronto, former mayor Rob Ford was a master at exploiting these kinds of feelings. Perhaps in the age of social and digital media, local news spreads wider, but even as a student of political science in the 1990s, I dont remember being overwhelmed by Toronto news and politics. I do, however, remember Torontos anti-amalgamation fight was one of the big issues that connected to similar resistance across the province. Especially because of the legendary filibuster orchestrated by the NDP with Liberal co-operation (imagine that!) that saw 12,000 separate amendments debated 24 hours a day, for 10 days, in an effort to oppose the legislation, as well as the massive rally held in Nathan Phillips Square. This kind of political theatre certainly made its way down the 401, but other local Toronto passions were obscured. Yet what might look like a cohesive political conglomeration from the outside, within it there are yet more divisions: 416 vs. 905 in the Golden Horseshoe or downtown vs. suburb within Toronto itself. North of Bloor, south of Bloor, east of the Don River or west: its like a set of Russian dolls but filled with conflict, with more divisions as you get to smaller parcels of geography. Its almost like politics runs on this kind of fuel. Certainly there are differences and unique local concerns, but as weve seen in previous elections, such divisions can be politically useful and exploited. How many times have you heard the word downtown elites tossed about, as if there are no espresso machines making lattes in Etobicoke, Woodbridge or Windsor, for that matter? So how can we resist sliding into oppositional politics across the province? Ive found an upside of social media has been following people and publications across Ontario, a good way to hear about whats going on elsewhere. Though the scale of the problems may differ depending on the size of the city, housing, transit and income disparity are issues across the province. The deindustrialized landscape of Windsor and southwest Ontario has much in common with what happened in south Etobicoke and other parts of the GTA. Common cause is not hard to find if you look for it, just as conflict is easy to spot if thats what you want. Still, this is an immense province. Not just that there are more people living in Ontario than in countries like Belgium, Greece or Portugal, but its geography is massive too. Those of who live in the south can have a difficult time understanding how life in the north is different. Indeed, theres much more land in the north than south. A visit to a place like Timmins can be instructive; a city nestled in the north, with big Francophone and Indigenous populations. Overcrowding at the Yonge and Bloor subway station doesnt much matter there. Closer to home the Greenbelt controversy a few weeks ago, when tape of Doug Ford saying hed open a big chunk of it to developers surfaced, was heartening. Though some PCs initially defended his position, Ford quickly retracted his words and said the sanctity of the Greenbelt would be preserved. The people have spoken, as it were. Its as if the Greenbelt, beloved by a wide swath of people in the 416, 905 and portions of the 705 and 519 area codes, is connective tissue running through a big part of the province. We need to look for more of that kind of tissue in the vast, disparate and hard to define place, especially during election season. Read more about: VANCOUVERHigh school students at Princeton Secondary School in Princeton, B.C., decided to stage a protest after several girls got into trouble for showing their bra straps by showing up to school braless. The protest came after multiple girls at the school had been dress coded, or been told by teachers to cover up for wearing outfits that showed their bra straps. Some of the students began chatting online and decided to take action in the form of peaceful protest. We thought, whats more distracting, a bra strap or no bra whatsoever? said Megan Mintzler, a grade 12 student who participated in the protest. According to several students at the school, almost 30 students ranging from grades 9 to 12 arrived to school on Thursday braless, some holding signs that said Yes, I have breasts, and My body is not a distraction. It was really freeing and empowering, Mintzler said. We were just walking around the school like a group and it felt empowering for all of us to band together like that, it was really cool. The students said their schools lack of a consistent dress code policy was part of the problem because it meant that individual teachers had the power to reprimand students on the basis of what they believed was inappropriate. Were were all pretty frustrated about it, said Ashlin White, another grade 12 student at the school. It's unfair that we were told our bra straps were a distraction. It came to a head a couple of weeks ago when a few girls were dress coded for showing bra straps, in particular one girl in another grade who Mintzler said was wearing a very modest outfit. She was really excited about wearing this new dress she had got, it was like a summer dress, a high neck kind of style. You could barely see any part of her bra, Mintzler said. Mintzler had been dress coded herself a couple of years ago when she was told by a different teacher that her jean shorts were too revealing. She said getting called out for your clothes at school can be a humiliating experience for students. Its honestly just kind of embarrassing, she said. You have an outfit on, and you get to school and you feel good, you look good and then a teacher comes up to you and they say you need to stop that. The girls are hoping their protest will prompt the school to institute an official dress code policy. After the protest, they got together to write a dress code of their own, which included guidelines for girls and boys making sure to leave out any mention of bra straps. We made it so bra straps are excluded and were not going to be a problem, White said. The students then handed their version of the dress code to the school administration for review. Jameel Aziz, assistant superintendent of school district 58 that oversees Princeton Secondary, said while he will be taking the students concerns into account, there is no plan to establish an official district-wide dress code policy outside of a general understanding of what is appropriate dress. Restrictive dress codes have not proven to be effective, Aziz said. Historically there were situations where you are literally measuring hemlines, which impede the flow of the educational setting. Aziz said he has contacted Princeton Secondary to set up a meeting with the students to hear their concerns. He also said the expectation of what is appropriate should not be more restrictive for girls. Dress codes are more imposing for female students and Id say the showing of a bra strap is probably a contextual piece, there are probably some settings where that is appropriate and some settings where that might not be, he said. We would aim to have an expectation that is fair to all genders. Read more about: VANCOUVERAdvocates for B.C.s small-scale craft cannabis industry are warning that grassroots growers may be an endangered species unless the government takes swift action. Representatives of craft cannabis growers and retailers delivered an open letter to the Vancouver offices of federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould and B.C. Attorney General David Eby Friday in the hopes of spurring government to make regulatory changes that would allow small cannabis-farmers some hope of participating in the legal market. Roxanne Judson of the Ethical Cannabis Producers Alliance said while the craft cannabis industry sits waiting for the feds to open the application process for small-scale growers licenses, billion-dollar cannabis companies are snapping up contracts all around the country. By the time the rules are written to include people like us, Judson said, therell be little to no contracts left, effectively shutting us out. Ian Dawkins, president of the Cannabis Commerce Association of Canada, said market conditions have so far been entirely arranged to favour big business, from regulations governing advertising to the square footage and security required to obtain a license to grow. A small cannabis farmer cant compete in this world, Dawkins said. And thats a concern when there are tens of thousands of small cannabis farmers across this province. The number of employees working in B.C.s illicit cannabis industry has been estimated at more than 13,000 individuals, according to a report from the Cannabis Growers of Canada, with wages for positions directly related to the industry totalling more than $600 million. The same report estimates those figures might be doubled when cannabis exports are brought into consideration. Dawkins said he and his colleagues had been through several sit-down conversations with federal and provincial officials, and had pitched what they felt was a reasonable set of proposals to permit smaller-scale growers entry into the legal market. These proposals included dovetailing cannabis advertising regulations with those that govern advertisement of alcohol, allowing facilities to both grow and sell cannabis on the same premises similar to small-scale brew pubs, and permitting grow-ups of up to 5,000 or 10,000 square feet to operate with a micro-growers license. What they got back, Dawkins said, was a turd. The maximum size for micro-growers operations is currently set at 2,000 square feet, Dawkins said, while the rest of their proposals had not been mentioned. Even worse, he said, the application process for micro-growers hasnt even opened yet. From his perspective, this lack of action is killing the craft cannabis industry. All of these people (will) become unemployed and frankly have no choice but to stop what theyre doing, or become black-market providers, Dawkins said. Which we dont think anyone wants. Ehren Richardson, vice-president of the Canadian Association of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries, agreed that leaving small growers out of the picture would likely have unintended consequences. These people arent going anywhere, Richardson said. Theyve been doing this their whole lives. Its not like because of legalization theyre going to stop growing. The cannabis economy, he said, was at the heart of many rural B.C. economies especially those hamstrung by disappearing job opportunities in lumber and fishing. If government refuses to take action to remove barriers preventing those growers and producers from going fully legal, Richardson said, it could have the opposite effect to what legalization is supposed to achieve. Youre going to see a lot of social problems, and youre going to see a lot of upset people, and youre going to see a black market that continues to thrive, he warned. Read more: Majority of Canadian pot users get it from illicit sources, report says. Opinion | Cannabis debate: Not enough is being planned to protect youth from effects of marijuana CBD is cannabis that wont get you high. So why are so many people using it? Dana Larsen, director of Overgrow Canada and co-organizer of the 4/20 annual pot festival in Vancouver, said in jeopardizing small growers, the current regulatory framework jeopardizes the quality of cannabis. Smaller-scale growers would currently only be permitted to sell to larger, licensed producers, who would then send it though several more storage and transportation steps before it finally reached the consumer. And for heavy cannabis consumers the ones Larsen believes will truly be driving the industry pot thats been sent around the country before it makes its way back to B.C. will be a resounding commercial failure. Only by offering fresh product with a transparent taxonomy will the government be able to attract discerning smokers. And they wont be able to do that unless they start offering up some small-scale licenses. But for Richardson, the regulatory decisions that have so far come down the pike seem to have overlooked the most critical consideration. Were forgetting the most important people and thats the medical patient, Richardson said, adding the whole reason legalization was even possible was the years of risk and hard work medical growers, dispensaries and their patients had put in advocating for freedom to use a substance that worked for their ailments when nothing else would. Theyre going to be forced to go source their product from the black market post-legalization, he said. And that to me is really the travesty in all of this. Read more about: VANCOUVERShirley Anthonys four-year old daughter can almost see Elsie Roy Elementary from her window, but come September 2019, she may have to attend a school that is a 20-minute walk away instead. The Vancouver School Board is proposing changes to the Mount Pleasant, Kitsilano and Downtown catchment areas in order to shorten wait lists at certain schools. Anthony is one of dozens of parents who say the changes dont make sense. She and her husband moved into their Yaletown condo on the corner of Davie Street and Pacific Boulevard in 2013 because of its proximity to Elsie Roy. At that point we had just gotten married, we wanted a home that was close to a community centre and a school, Anthony said. Having Elsie Roy there was a dream come true. But it turns out dozens of other families had the same plan and the school board has not been able to increase capacity at Elsie Roy to accommodate the influx of children in the neighbourhood. Staff are proposing that a chunk of the Yaletown neighbourhood including Anthonys apartment building be transferred to the Crosstown Elementary catchment area instead. It would take Anthony and her daughter about 17 minutes to walk there, according to Google Maps. Its heartbreaking to think that we would be banished from our own neighbourhood school, Anthony said. Thats what it feels like. She said she supports the public system, having attended public school herself, but she and other parents in her apartment building are considering switching their children to a nearby private school. Anthony acknowledged not everyone can afford that alternative. Thats why the school district should find ways to increase capacity at oversubscribed schools such as Elsie Roy instead of asking families to walk to another school much further away, she said. She started a petition calling on the school board to rethink its proposal to change the catchment area. It is one of two parent-led campaigns against the proposed changes. The Vancouver School Board said in an email statement that school catchment area changes can help balance school enrolment between schools with pressure and those that can accommodate more students. The statement went on to say staff drew the new boundaries according to considerations such as walking distance, proximity to other schools, enrolment and transit routes. But data analyst and parent Jens von Bergmann said the school district should have seen this coming. Census data from 2006, 2011 and 2016 show children are taking up an increasing amount of the population share in Vancouvers city centre. The overall number of children in the city centre has also increased, according to von Bergmanns analysis. We see it for Olympic Village, weve seen it for Coal harbour and Yaletown, he said. Some families are no longer opposed to raising children in condos, he explained. Von Bergmann lives in a two-bedroom condo with his eight-year old child near the University of British Columbia. If you just look at past enrolment, youll get a good idea of what is the next year enrolment, he said. But I think youll get terrible projection if you want to know what is happening five years down the road that is whats needed for planning. The Vancouver School Board is holding an information session about its proposed catchment-area policy at King George Secondary School on Tuesday from 46 p.m. The school board is also accepting feedback online until May 23. The school board will vote on the proposed catchment changes on June 25. If passed, the changes would come into effect for the 201920 school year. Read more about: VANCOUVERMembers of the Taiwanese community in Vancouver are alarmed after Air Canada caved to demands from Beijing to list Taiwan as part of China on its website for booking flights. The dissent comes in the form of a petition aiming to make Air Canada stop referencing Taiwan as belonging to China. Andy Chou started the petition, which has already reached 5,000 names. The thing that upsets me the most is how a country can use their power and influence to get another countrys flight airline, or any company to change their position on things just because theyre more powerful, Chou said. An Air Canada spokesperson issued a statement saying that it is according to company policy, to comply with all legal requirements in all jurisdictions to which we fly. The company added that it is not expressing a political point of view, but meeting the requirements of various governments and stakeholders to ensure compliance with all applicable laws. According to a statement from the White House, the Chinese Civil Aviation Administration issued a notice to 36 air carriers on April 25 and demanded them to change the reference of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao identified on their websites and in their promotional material so that the references fall in line with the Communist Partys standards. The Trump administration responded by calling the act an Orwellian nonsense and a growing trend by the Chinese government to impose its views on foreign nationals and companies. In response, Beijings foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said, Whatever the U.S. said will never change the objective fact that there is only one China in the world and the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions are an inalienable part of Chinas territory, according to the website of the Chinese consulate in Vancouver. In the meantime, we have to point out that foreign enterprises operating in China should respect Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity, abide by Chinas law and respect the national sentiment of the Chinese people. Chou, who immigrated to Canada when he was six, grew up in a generation insisting Taiwan is an independent country. Chou, who flies to Taiwan about twice a year, said he will never take Air Canada because of this change. It feels like someone is imposing their opinion on you, and if you dont listen to that, if you dont abide by that, theres consequences, and I find that quite disturbing. On Wednesday, Kevin Ang urged the Taiwanese-Canadian community to protest the name change on Air Canadas Facebook page. Hundreds of messages have been left expressing anger over the decision, and some have issued a boycott of the airline. We should demonstrate to the airline that even though we are small we stand tall, we should not just be brushed aside like that, Ang said. Ang, who is born in Canada to Taiwanese parents, said he has a strong emotional connection to Taiwan and the name change is an affront to the dignity of Taiwanese-Canadians but an insult to the multicultural principles that every Canadian stands for. Chou has gone as far as writing to the Vancouver Airport Authority urging them to have courage and resilience and resist listing Taiwan as belonging to China on any promotion material, and flight information in airport operations. Christopher Rea, associate professor in the Department of Asian Studies, said in a statement that Air Canadas move sets a terrible precedent in part because it signals that Canadian private enterprises are open to political extortion. The companys action reflects poorly on Canadas reputation for liberalism, he added. Read more about: VANCOUVERWater levels on the Fraser River pushed higher Friday as Katzie First Nation members and volunteers filled sandbags and built barriers along the shoreline to protect the nations three low-lying communities. None are protected by the dike system that runs along the lower Fraser leaving them vulnerable to flooding. The river, which flows more than 1,300 kilometres from the Rocky Mountains to the Strait of Georgia, reached 5.82 metres at the Mission, B.C., gauge Friday morning and is expected to keep rising over the weekend. With warm weather and rain in the forecast, it could reach 6.5 metres by early next week, possibly exceeding 2012 flood levels. Communities across south central B.C., where roughly 4,500 people have been forced from their home and 7,000 more are on alert, were also preparing for what could be extreme flooding. In the Lower Mainland, evacuation alerts have also been issued for the Katzie communities in Langley and on Barnston Island. While no alert has been issued to the Katzie community in Pitt Meadows, volunteers are working to reinforce a berm built in 2012 just in case. The biggest issue with all three of our communities is that our communities were built on the wrong side of the dike, Chief Grace Cunningham said Friday as she juggled phone calls coordinating sand deliveries and volunteers. Cunningham, who was elected chief in April, said the nation is working with the federal government to try to find solutions so the community isnt left to build emergency flood protection every year. Canada said this is where your people will live once they took over our lands and so thats where we are today, she said. They put us here, so they need to help us. All along the Fraser there are dikes, meant to protect major infrastructure and communities, that are intended to withstand floods, said Jeremy Venditti, a professor at Simon Fraser University, who studies how rivers flow. When a flood flow comes down through the Fraser water levels will back up in the river and start flowing out onto the flood plain, he said. With the dikes in place, flows will instead back up against the dikes slowing the waters entry into the flood plain and if the water levels dont stay high for too long, the dikes will actually contain them he said. For the farmland that is outside dike protection, the floods, while inconvenient can actually be good for the soil in the long run, he said, but its a different situation for the First Nations communities. The only way to really protect those First Nation communities it to build a substantial dike system around the community to protect it and those things dont exist right now, he said. In a statement, a spokesperson for Indigenous Services Canada said the Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that affected First Nation community members are safe, secure, and out of the path of flood waters. The department is aware of flooding impacting First Nation communities in British Columbia, and is closely monitoring the situation and in contact with the communities to provide additional support as needed, the statement said. For now, Katzi First Nation is working to build temporary emergency protection. On Barnston Island, Katzie members, volunteers and inmates passed sandbags along a chain from the pickup truck carrying the latest load to the wall they were building three sandbags deep and close to three-feet high to protect the homes along the shore. All you can do is sandbag and hope for the best, said Roma Leon. In 2012, the last time the community was out building flood protection, the water reached her neighbours back porch and flooded her yard, but there wasnt any lasting damage, she said. Back in Pitt Meadows, more Katzie members and volunteers were loading up a round of filled sandbags to make space for the next sand delivery. They had about 2,000 more bags to fill. Cunningham estimates roughly 40,000 sandbags will have been placed around the three communities in Pitt Meadows, Langely and on Barnston Island once theyre done. Earlier this week Katzie put out a call for volunteers to help the community prepare for high water levels and the response has been fantastic, Cunningham said. Theyve had people from all over the area including local students, people from other nations, church groups and neighbours. Coleen Pierre, whos been helping to coordinate the volunteer force, teared up as she thought back to one 10-year-old girl who donated her allowance to buy food and water for some of the volunteers. Read more about: EDWARDSVILLE An investigation into complaints about another controversial animal death at Madison County Animal Control is underway as several people spoke about the issue at Wednesdays County Board meeting. The department has been the subject of intense scrutiny and controversy over policies, care of animals and other issues for the past year as county officials attempt to move toward a no-kill shelter. On Wednesday Stephanie Maedge, of Edwardsville and Jackie Spiker, of Hope Animal Rescues talked about the death of a dog brought in after it was reportedly hit by a car May 4. The dog was reportedly left in a holding area over the weekend without being checked by a veterinarian, and was found dead May 7. Animal Control failed to provide proper care and violated the law, Maedge said. This is indefensible. Spiker said the lack of care was a clear violation of the law, and said someone should lose their job over the issue. Madison County Public Relations and Communications Manager Cynthia Ellis confirmed that the incident is under investigation. In other business, the County Board took action on a number of items, including several zoning requests. Three requests were approved, while one was denied, including: A request by Jerry and Gwendolyn Fuller, owners, and Katelyn E. Wense, the occupant, for a special use permit to allow a single-wide manufactured home at 1629 Wilson Ave., Granite City. A request by Viridiana Del Rio to rezone .49 acres to residential from agricultural and allow a special use permit for a manufactured home. The request also included a variance for a setback for a horse barn of two feet from the property line instead of the required 50 feet, and to allow three horses on the property, which would normally require three acres. Board Member Art Asadorian, D-Granite City, objected, but Planning & Development Administrator Matt Brandmeyer said the situation is unusual, and not uncommon for the area, which is near Fairmount Park. The rezoning of a 1.36-acre tract of land to B-5 Highway Business District from R-3 Single Family Residential at 4548 N. Illinois Route 157, Edwardsville, by owner Joseph K. Garwood. The request included a setback variance. This was approved with several stipulations, including that there would be no lighting or signage. A request by Jose Del Rio to rezone a .16 acre tract at 3219 W. Point Ave., Collinsville to residential from agricultural was denied. In addition to the small tract of land, Brandmeyer had said previously it would require a private sewage system and there was not enough land to support that. Also approved was a resolution authorizing the demolition of several unsafe buildings and structures at 2548 Hemlock, Granite City; 8130 Bivens Road, Dorsey; 1356 11th St., Cottage Hills; and 720 Ashland Ave., Granite City. Also approved was a contract with Wood River-based Heritage Environmental Services to perform at least two household hazardous waste collections. One will be held in Highland with a second in Collinsville. If money is available a third would be held in the Wood River area. Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447. Ever since 2012, one question that has been consistently confronting all of us at the Kochi Biennale Foundation is: how did you put up this incredible biennale? It is a question that does not have a one-word answer or can be explained in a sentence or two. It just happened, is our common refrain, though we all know that it took more than a village to establish it in Kochi. And, now, Kochi is on the global art map. Recently, we were at the Tate Modern in London, demonstrating how to build a biennale. I was invited by Winchester School of Art (WSA), University of Southampton, as part of the celebrated Tate Exchange programme, involving participants who were mostly students from various disciplines in the production of contemporary art. We explored how to make, organise, design space, curate and install or orchestrate works of art. The programme also included a variety of workshops to discover what it means to build art events, including the use of 3D digital scanning, an introduction to crowdfunding, participation in performance-based art and a series of daily thoughtful discussions. According to the Tate website, Tate Exchange is a space for everyone to collaborate, test ideas and discover new perspectives on life, through art. It has more than 60 associatescharities to universities and health care trusts to community organisations from the UK and other parts of the world. And, it includes working within and beyond the arts in association with Tate Modern and Tate Liverpool. Boatload of stories: What does the vessel contain, that the river does not, by Subodh Gupta. In 2000, the derelict but historic Bankside powerhouse was converted into a grand museum by Swiss architects Herzog and De Meuron, and Tate Modern was born. Couple of years ago, it opened an annexe called the Blavatnik buildingWSA held Tate Exchange on the fifth floor of this new building. On the first day, we explored how to install a work, followed by a discussion between me and Tate Exchange participants on Production as a concept and practice and the diverse biennale practice, especially in the context of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB). On the second day, national and international participants (including Jitish Kallat, second edition curator of KMB) were invited to submit proposals and formulate materials for the book, How to Biennale! The Manual, a practical guide for making your own art events. Also, participants collaborated with Chinese calligraphy artist Zhang Qiang, making silk scrolls to be exhibited on the Tate Exchange floor. On the fifth day, Zuleikha Chaudhari, who participated in the third edition of KMB, devised an event called The Ideal Spectator, in which she held auditions for the position of spectator or even an impostor artist! Interestingly, Sudarshan Shetty, curator of the last biennale, was a participant and had a dialogue with Zuleikha later. The last day was an open forum that discussed the future of biennales. The programme concluded with a live event, with the curator of the next edition of the KMB, Anita Dube, joining us from Kochi. I have known Robert E. DSouza, head of Winchester School of Art, and Sunil Manghani, professor of theory, practice and critique and director of doctoral research at WSA, since the inception of the KMB. Both of them have visited the biennale several times and have been part of the History Now (art talk series at the KMB). They also published the first academic book on the KMB, Indias Biennale Effect: A Politics of Contemporary Art. The How To Build An Art Biennale programme was conceptualised and organised by Tate Exchange, WSA and Shwetal Patel, consultant to the KMB. I was overwhelmed by the response that the programme received. It was a great opportunity to meet incredible minds from the biennale worldartists, curators, writers, journalists, Tate members, Tate curators and, undoubtedly, the wonderful students of WSA. Drawing inspiration from the KMB, they produced three works based on Subodh Guptas Sea of God, Robert Montgomerys text-based light works and the tents of Francesco Clemente. It was quite an unusual experience to watch students and tutors install the three massive works at the fifth floor of the impressive Blavatnik building. editor@theweek.in The adage that failures can teach many lessons seems quite... Recently, 64 members of Parliament and seven recently retired MPs from seven opposition parties moved a notice for impeachment of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, accusing him of misbehaviour and misuse of authority. The notice levelled five charges of misbehaviour. It was moved a day after the Supreme Court rejected a bunch of petitions seeking an independent investigation into the death of judge B.H. Loya, who was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case. This was the first attempt in the history of India to impeach a Chief Justice of India (CJI). The notice for impeachment was moved before the chairman of the Rajya Sabha, as it was signed by its members [the minimum requirement is signatures of 50 members of the Rajya Sabha]. Article 124(4) of the Constitution mandates that in case the notice is accepted by the chairman, a three-member panel, comprising a chief justice of a High Court, a Supreme Court judge and an eminent jurist, should be constituted to investigate the charges. After investigation, if the panel finds the judge guilty, the house can take it up for discussion. The house is required to pass the motion by a special majority, with two-third members present and voting, and supported by more than half of the total members of the house. After passing, the motion goes to the second house, which is also required to pass it by a special majority. It is then presented before the President, who can pass an order for the removal of the judge. The chairman of the Rajya Sabha rejected the notice after consulting legal and constitutional experts. This decision was not accepted by the opposition parties, and they decided to file an appeal in the Supreme Court to review the chairmans decision. It was also represented before the court that the review should not be placed before the chief justice and that it should be reviewed by a bench presided over by the second senior-most judge in the court. The court, however, decided to list it before another bench of five judges. Being aggrieved of this order and seeking a copy of the administrative order issued by the court, the signatories to the notice decided to withdraw it. They contended that they were aware that they did not have the numbers in the Upper House to get the resolution passed. There were animated discussions in the country whether the decision to issue the notice was politically motivated, since ab initio it was known that the opposition did not have the numbers to have it passed. The Constitution makers had provided for a process of impeachment to ensure the accountability of the judiciary and yet made the process stringent so that mere political considerations do not attempt to erode its credibility. Dipak Misra In a 2010 interview, Kapil Sibal, then minister in the UPA government, observed that he does not accept the impeachment process if political parties in the opposition are involved and they have to vote on the basis of a whip issued by their party. However, this is the very path the opposition has adopted in the current episode. Without going into the merits of the allegations levelled against the CJI, or the grounds for rejection of the notice by the chairman, we need to debate whether any of the three pillars of Indian democracy, which have been the bedrock of Indias development in the last 70 years, should ever be weakened at the behest of a handful of politically motivated objectives. It is natural, as has happened, that if the opposition targets a particular institution, the government will rally around it. However, in the process, especially so in the case of the judiciary, which quite often has to take strong positions against the executive, the independence of the judiciary gets impaired. A corollary of the process would imply that if the executive were to be unhappy with any particular decision of the judiciary, and since they have the numbers in Parliament, they could initiate a process for impeachment of a judge on the grounds of misbehaviour. Indian democracy has been a shining example of enabling rapid economic development, keeping the welfare of the citizen at its core. Its institutions have stood the test of some very testing times. We need to strengthen these institutions to ensure a bright future for our citizens by rising above political and other narrow confines. The citizen has displayed the will to do so, and in going forward we need to reinforce that commitment in him. Former comptroller and auditor general, Rai is head of the Supreme Court-appointed BCCI's committee of administrators. The Mauryan kings were 'shy' men. When their Greek contemporaries such as Vima Kadphises and Demetrius, who ruled Gandhara and Bactria, issued coins showing their image, the Mauryans who ruled from the Gangetic plain from 4th to 2nd century BC, issued coins with simple punchmarks on them. All the same, the coins of Chandragupta Maurya, Bindusara, Asoka, Brihadratha and others were pieces of art in their own ways. Their coins were mostly silver, bearing punchmarks, and weighed 3.2 grams. A rare one would bear a picture. The Guptas, who ruled from the 3rd to 5th century AD, weren't as shy. Some of them lent their images to their coins. So we have seen the mighty conqueror Samudragupta sitting with his veena, and Chandragupta II, the supposed Vikramaditya, with his Lichchavi consort Kumaradevi. The Guptas made coins from metal billonan alloy of mostly copper and a small quantity of silver. The Tomaras who set up the first known kingdom in Delhi made coins hammered and pressed. Anangapala Tomara who ruled from 1049 to 1079 introduced his own stamped crude coins using hammer to press the plates. The coins were irregular in shape and flattened with mounted pressure. British era coins at the exhibition | Sanjay Ahlawat Unlike today's mint coins, which have standard shape, image and inscription, the 'pressured' coins differed from one another. In 1145-1167, Madana Pala II introduced fresh handmade coins that varied in technique. The Chahamanas or Chauhans of Shakambhari also issued coins in billon which weighed 3.2 grams. The Islamic rulers introduced coins with Quranic inscriptions, but the first Muslim ruler of Delhi, Muhammad Ghori, issued a coin depicting Goddess Lakshmi. Coins of this period were made using metal billon and bore horse-and-bull patterns. Qutubuddin Aibak, who succeeded Ghori, did not introduce new coins despite acquiring his empire. He carried forward the legacy of Ghori's coins. But the arrival of the slave or Mamluk dynasty with Qutubuddin Aibak saw a major transformation in coinsthey issued coins in precious metal. During Alauddin Masud's period (1242-46 AD), gold, silver and billon coins became widespread. While gold and silver coins were issued from Lakhnauti and Delhi, billon coins were struck from both Badaun and Delhi. Mukesh Kumar Verma, president, Royal Numismatic Society | Sanjay Ahlawat Perhaps the most famous, or notorious in India's numismatic history is Muhammad bin Tughlaq who ruled from 1325-51 CE and conquered up to the southern tip of Karnataka and Madurai. He knew the importance of currency for trade and he took keen interest to circulate gold and silver coins. The gold coin was introduced as dinar and silver coins were named Adl. However, he soon found that he could not maintain their supply for long on a large scale. So, he replaced those coins with copper and brass coins, but giving a higher face value. The copper coins weighed 3.3 grams. Soon counterfeiting started and the sultan had to demonetise the cheaper metal coins. Firoze Shah, the last prominent sultan of the Tughlaq dynasty, too issued coins in gold, silver, copper and billon. The eclectic Mughals refined coinage further with copper coins that weighed upto 20 grams. While Akbar issued coins depicting Ram and Sita, Jahangir imprinted zodiac signs on some of them. His son Shahjehan's coins were calligraphic. Coins made during Shahjehan's son Auranzeb's empire were mostly in copper. Much of these, and more about how history was 'minted' in India, can be learnt from the National Numismatic Exhibition, which has been mounted by National Numismatics Society in Delhi's All Indian Fine Arts and Crafts gallery. A rich horde for coin-collectors and history-buffs. Subramanian (name changed) from Rameswaram had blurry vision. The 68-year-old thought it would pass. But as he developed difficulty in recognising even familiar faces, he decided to seek medical help. A visit to the telemedicine-enabled primary eye care centre set up by Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai in his small town gave Subramanian a new lease of life. An ophthalmic technician at Aravind performed a slit lamp examination on him. The data was then entered in an electronic medical record. After consulting with the ophthalmologist from the base hospital using web conferencing, she dispensed him glasses, says Dr. R. Kim, chief medical officer of Aravind Eye Hospital. Today through telemedicine-enabled vision centres, we have a process to reach all those in need of eye care. We have currently 66 vision centres equipped with telemedicine facilities and about 1,800 patients are examined across these vision centres every day,'' he adds. Telemedicine offers much hope to rural India which is grappling with poor access to healthcare. A telemedicine network, which is a public-private partnership between Government of Andhra Pradesh and Apollo Hospitals, has seen results that surpassed expectations. It facilitated 18,98,170 consultations during the course of one and a half years. 17,74, 574 physical OP consultations and 1,23,596 specialist tele-consultations took place as part of this programme. Many of those patients who benefitted would either have had to travel to far away places seeking medical help or would have had to live in denial of their symptoms, in the absence of facilities for diagnosis and treatment by means of telecommunications technology. The telemedicine scenario in India still presents huge untapped potential. India has around 26,000 Primary Health Centres, which are the backbone of our rural healthcare system. Not even 10 per cent of them have telemedicine facility. ''Many state governments are experimenting through various telemedicine pilots; hence, there is huge scope of inclusion of telemedicine as one of the tools in coming National Health Policies,'' says Vikram Thaploo, CEO- Telehealth, Apollo Hospitals. Indias significant economic growth can be further augmented if the healthcare needs of its population are addressed, says Thaploo. ''The current economic loss due to disability adjusted life years (DALY) is huge. Adding to it, increase in non-communicable disease burden has brought in hard pressed need for containing the diseases and thus, paving way for augmentation of primary healthcare services at remote locations,'' he adds. Koi Good News?, in blinding fuchsia, arrived in the usual white envelope of Harper Collins, but with a box of laddoosfat and as bright as the sun on a hot Delhi summer day. The book, written by Zarreen Khan, on its way to becoming a movie, is a laugh-out-funny at the pressures couples face to have children. And in an age where writers are prolific and books are so many that they often get lost in the clutter, publishing houses are exploring new ways to promote books to get them noticed. It is especially important for books written by writers who are not well known. Fresh voices usually have limited budget,'' said Aman Arora, senior manager, brand and marketing, Harper Collins India. We felt we needed to out our might behind the book and push-market it differently. Foodhowever welcomeisn't always the way to go. Badges, bookmarks, stationary, bags and even customised book covers are all part of the publisher arsenal to ensure that their book gets covered and tweeted about. With budgets being limited, publishers have to rely on innovative ways to find the right audience. Rupa Book Company pulled out all stops for Jeet Thayil's The Book of Chocolate Saints. It had its own bag. A big book for the publishing, they felt it deserved the special treatment. They are not the only ones. Hachette India printed customised covers of their title A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman to send it out to influencers. So, people received their own personalised version of the book. We got a great response especially on Twitter,'' said Rachna Kalra, consultant, marketing and publicity. People posted pictures of their covers. Strategies like this that get people to talk about the book encourages them to buy it and we manage to reach out across the country, which we wouldn't with only an event. This merchandise is sent out to key influencerspeople like Twinkle Khanna and even Sonam Kapoor, who reads and tweetsto ensure that the book is publicised. The Anuradha Roy's new All the Lives We Never Lived, a sumptuous book set in pre-independent India, spanning two countries Indonesia to India, went out with postcards and stationary. Letters are a theme in the book,'' said Kalra. A buzz has been created around the book and people are already calling up to ask about it. But it is not only established writers who get this treatment. Bloomsbury sent out badges with The Bitter Pill Social Club to accompany a book titled just that. The second book by Rohan Dahiya, it revolves around the Kocchar familyextremely rich and extremely lonelyhas a blog tour to go with it. So far the book seems to be finding its feet in this sphere. With hopes of renewing funding for the Modi government's Startup India scheme, the NITI Aayog have organised a three day symposium with venture capital funds in the capital. The symposium, organised jointly by NITI Aayog along with Vision India Foundation, also seeks to deepen the economic relationships between France and India. "Following the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, 20 of the biggest French venture capital and private equity funds are coming to India to explore investment opportunities," said a NITI Aayog official, after the first of the three day symposium. French investors are likely to interact with 100 early to mid-stage Indian startups over the course of the next two days. The inaugural session was attended by Indian and foreign venture capital funds. Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog, along with Atul Chaturvedi, Additional Secretary, DIPP addressed the session. Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India and Yves Jego, Vice-President of French Parliament, also attended the inaugural session. In his address, Kant focussed on the Indian startup ecosystem and also showcased Indias entrepreneurial might and the strides taken in innovation for solving the many challenges faced by the country. He urged the investors to focus on India, not just to target one billion people but to build solutions in India for the seven billion strong global market. "India has the 3D advantage of demographic dividend, demand and democracy," Kant said addressing the venture capital fund representatives. The event was attended by various investors from France including Safran Ventures, Eren Group, Luxury Tech, Fahsion Capital, Educlever, Olymp Capital, Affectio Familiae, Brands and beyond, Galileo Partners, Winevestworld, TNP and Claranova among others. Four investor groups Eren Group, Claranova, Olymp Capital and TNP made announcements of setting up offices in India and commitments to invest in various sectors such as energy, aerospace, blockchain and Internet of Things, NITI Aayog said in a statement issued later. DIPP additional secretary Chaturvedi said that the three-day event facilitates interactions between French investors, Indian investors, Indian startups and critical government functionaries. The Venture Capital Symposium 2018 aims to support the Startup India programme that was launched by the prime minister of India, Chaturvedi said. Yves Jego, vice president French Parliament, said, This collaboration is not only a business participation of French capital in India, but it will prove to be a long term partnership between the organisations of the two countries. "Not only do we invest in India, not only do we Make in India, but we Innovate in India," Jego said, addressing the symposium, also attended by startups and number of important government functionaries. To convince the foreign venture capital funds further, Chaturvedi highlighted a plethora of initiatives undertaken by the government for improving ease of doing business in India. Chaturvedi said that the Narendra Modi government seeks to create an enabling ecosystem for startups in India and to attract flow of foreign capital to India. While all eyes are glued on the royal wedding at the final preparations around it, Indians are excited about something morePriyanka Chopra at the wedding. The Quantico star landed at the Heathrow airport, dressed in a blue and yellow plaid suit designed by Alberta Ferreti. She shared an image on Saturday, with her friends. She captioned it: Pre wedding SHEnanigans! 12.10 a.m. the morning of...and still waiting for the dress! Fun times, memories." As per royal wedding traditions, all the female guests are expected to wear a hat through the ceremony. Priyanka Chopra, had earlier confessed in an interview, that she wasn't really confident of donning a hat. However, soon after her arrival in the British capital, Priyanka Chopra paid a visit to iconic fascinator designer Philip Treacy, and shared a video. While the rest of her attire is still a mystery, the actress seems to have finalised the look. In an interview few weeks ago, Priyanka Chopra had said: I haven't even been fitted yet. I have an idea. Much has been talked about Priyanka Chopra's friendship with American actress Meghan Markle. As the much-anticipated royal wedding is set to happen, there had been rumours about Priyanka attending the wedding. Also the bigger question that loomed waswill Priyanka Chopra be Meghan Markle's bridesmaid? Putting an end to speculations, Priyanka Chopra had confirmed recently she was not a birdesmaid. Priyanka Chopra said that this wedding will be a life-changing event for Meghan, and the world needs more women role models like Meghan. Earlier this month, Priyanka Chopra penned an emotional not for Meghan who was named in Time magazine's 100 most influential people list. Somewhere among biryani, poutine and endless conversations, I realised just how deeply Meghan Markle cares for the world, Priyanka wrote on behalf of the publication. With her, what you see is real, and what you get is a relatable young woman with her heart and mind in the right place. Her compassion, evident in the causes she supports, and her drive to break down stereotypesobvious in her actionswill connect her to a generation in much need of kindness, she wrote. Ahead of the crucial floor test on Saturday, the JD(S) MLAs have arrived at Le Meridien hotel in Bengaluru. Earlier in the day, Congress MLAs had arrived at Bengaluru's Hotel Hilton. With this, it is assumed that the whole group of opposition MLAs belonging to the Congress-JD(S) post-poll coalition, who were taken away to Hyderabad on Friday, are back in Bengaluru. Two buses ferrying the Congress MLAs reached Bengaluru early morning on Saturday. The MLAs were transported to Hyderabad where they had been camping in two hotels to avoid any poaching bids. The crucial floor test in the Karnataka state assembly that will determine chief minister B.S.Yeddyurappa and his government's fate will take place on Saturday at 4pm. Though the legislators were prepared to stay in the city hotels for a few days, they all left in the night by road as the Supreme Court today ordered that a floor test be held in the Karnataka Assembly at 4 pm on Saturday to confirm whether newly-appointed BJP Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa enjoys a majority in the state. "All the legislators left for Bengaluru by road at 10 pm," Vamshi Chand Reddy, Congress MLA in Telanagana, said. Meanwhile, in the BJP camp, Yeddyurappa will leave for Shangri-La hotel at 9 am for the party legislature meeting. He will then leave for the Karnataka assembly with others. Earlier, JD(S) MLC Basavaraj said that as many as 36 legislators belonging to his party and 77 of the Congress were camping in the Hyderabad hotels. Though the legislators were prepared to stay in the city hotels for a few days, they all left in the night by road as the Supreme Court today ordered that the floor test. (With inputs from agencies) A bone of contention between India and Pakistan for long, the Kishenganga Hydro Electric Project (KHEP) is all set for inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. THE WEEK traces the long road to this strategic project close to the Line of Control that once seemed impossible due to challenges posed, apart from Pakistan, by harsh weather, geography and the situation in Kashmir. What makes the project an engineering marvel is the 24.23 km long tunnel that diverts water from the Kishenganga, a tributary of Jhelum, known as river Neelam in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), in Gurez to run an underground 330 MW powerhouse at Bandipore in north Kashmir. From the powerhouse, the Kishenganaga ends up in Wular Lake after mixing with another river. The generation of electricity1,713 million unitsfrom the project may not be a significant addition to the national grid, but the project has allowed India to assert its control over Kashmir's natural resources. When the project was conceived by the UPA-1 in 2005-06, Pakistan invoked The Indus Water Treaty, the most enduring agreement between the two countries, and took the matter to Hague-based International Court of Arbitration. Pakistan said the planned diversion of Kishenganga will impact the 1000 MW Neelum-Jhelum Hydro-Electric Project (NJHEP) it was constructing since 1989 downstream of the same river in PoK. The Court stayed the project in 2010 for three years. But Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), which built the project, began work on the tunnel in May 2011 with Italian Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM). It was for the first time the TBM, which works like a giant earthworm and fixes concrete segment on the sides, was being used in the Himalayas. A group of 20 Italian engineers and technician, including a woman, finished 14.5 km of the tunnel from Bandipore to Gurez in 30 months. The remaining portion from Gurez to Bandipore was completed by employing conventional drilling techniques. ''Transporting the TMB to Bandipore proved a huge challenge,'' said HCC Project Manager A.I. Benny. ''The machine's parts were transported to Bandipore in 160 container trucks. The tyres of the trucks had to be deflated to reduce their height a few inches to allow them to pass through Jawahar Tunnel at Banihal on Srinagar-Jammu highway. In 2013, the Court ruled that the KHEP was a run-of-river project within the ambit of the Indus Water Treaty and that India may accordingly divert water from the Kishenganga for power generation with a rider that India is under an obligation to construct and operate the project in such a way as to maintain a minimum flow of water in the Kishenganga/Neelum river which was decided as 9 cumecs. Pakistan had also objected to the height of the dam at Gurez that India had already decided to reduce from a planned 98 meters to 37 meters. The Court's ruling has encouraged India to construct more hydel projects on the three riversJhelum, Chenab, and Sindon which Pakistan has unrestricted rights under the 1960 Indus Water Treaty. That has caused a lot of anxiety in Pakistan, which is one of the water-stressed countries in Asia. Surge shaft | Umer Asif Nine years after the KHEP was initiated, it has successfully negotiated all challenges and the National Hydel Power Corporation (NHPC) has already begun supplying power from outside. ''We and all our partners feel proud to have completed this strategic project,'' said Benny. A few foreign companies from Germany and Italy worked with us on the project, but most of the workers, over 70 percent, were from Jammu and Kashmir''. Benny said the HCC employed over 1400 workers from the state directly while another 900 indirectly benefited from the project. He said the HCC workers, especially, those who came from hotter areas of India, braved harsh winter, the threat of avalanches and shelling from Pakistan to complete the project. He said the agitations in 2010 and 2016 disrupted the work for months. ''Many HCC workers from outside left in 2016. But most of us (senior staff) stayed put,'' he said. ''When the situation improved, the workers returned and the work was resumed.'' The biggest challenge to the project was posed by the harsh winter in Gurez where the temperature falls below -20 degrees Celsius. To overcome the challenge, the HCC adopted the Russian way of working in winterhalf an hour break after every two hours of work and shifting the workers to a specially heated up portion of the tunnel and giving them something hot and sweet to drink. Those who had worked for 12 hours were allowed to report to work slightly late. The tunnel's entry was blocked with steel plates and air-curtains to stop icy winds. The work on the dam wall and the three spillway channels were done under tarpaulins with heaters. To get the required temperature of 10 degrees at the time of pouring the concrete on the dam, water was first heated to 50 degrees due to freezing temperature in the area. Underground power house at Bandipore deep inside a tunnel | Umer Asif Then there was the looming threat of avalanches and medical emergencies which had to be airlifted. In 2016, several shells fired by Pakistan Army landed close to the dam. The workers and some residents took shelter in the tunnel. ''This project was completed amid challenges posed by the weather, shelling, and geography,'' said an engineer at Gurez. ''But we were all determined to complete this project, though it seemed impossible, initially.'' The construction of the tunnel played a major role in expediting the work. It provided an all-weather connectivity to Gurez and cut the distance between the two important components of the projectthe dam and powerhouseby 50 km. Surge shaft, the third important component of the project, which moderates the flow and absorbs a sudden increase in water pressure before the water leaves the tunnel and enters the pressure shaft, was built by digging 108 meters vertically down into a mountain over the powerhouse. The residents of Gurez, which remains cut from outside world in winters, are now demanding that another tunnel between Gurez and Bandipore should be built to provide round the year connectivity to the area and reduce travel time between the two areas. They argue it will also help promote Gurez as a tourist destination. ''We will build a tunnel if the government asks us,'' said Senior Manager, Corporate Communication of HCC Vikram Singh Tanwar. Benny also agreed.'' If we get the contract, we will get it done,'' he said. ''It would cost some money but we can do it.'' The KHEP is a reality but Pakistan continues to raise objections. In 2016, it asked the World Bank, which brokered the Indus Water Treaty, to appoint a Court of Arbitration into the design of the KHEP and 850 MW Rattle project on the Chenab and claimed both were violations of the Indus Waters Treaty. India argued the objections were technical in nature and should be settled by a neutral expert, a notch lower than in the conflict resolution mechanism provided by the Treaty. The last round of talks with both countries was held by World Bank in September 2017. On Friday, Pakistan foreign office said the inauguration of the KHEP by India was a violation of water treaty between the two countries. The NHPC paid compensation to 801 families, whose land or houses were affected by the project. That included 171 in the powerhouse at Bandipore and 610 in the dam area in Gurez. The higher compensation paid to people in Gurez has created a controversy. Those from Bandipore have accused the NHPC of discrimination and have decided to move court. Jammu and Kashmir will get 12 per cent power as royalty from the project which will make no difference to its need for power especially in winters when the demand for electricity peaks. For many people in Kashmir, the project is another symbol of exploitation of natural resources of the state. ''This project means nothing to us,'' said a resident of Bandipore. ''The state government should have at least demanded to raise the royalty.'' Another said the flow of water in Kishenganag will considerably recede around August and there will not be enough water left in the three turbines. Newly-elected JD(S) and Congress MLAs from Karnataka, who had been camping here in two hotels to avoid any poaching bids, left for Bengaluru on Friday night for the crucial floor test in the state assembly on Saturday. JD(S) MLC Basavaraj said in the morning that as many as 36 legislators belonging to his party and 77 of the Congress were camping in the city hotels. Though the legislators were prepared to stay in the city hotels for a few days, they all left in the night by road as the Supreme Court today ordered that a floor test be held in the Karnataka Assembly at 4 pm on Saturday to confirm whether newly-appointed BJP Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa enjoys a majority in the state. "All the legislators left for Bengaluru by road at 10 pm," Vamshi Chand Reddy, Congress MLA in Telanagana, said. Earlier this morning, the legislators reached here in four buses from Karnataka. Congress' Karnataka unit chief K. Parameshwara said his party was confident of keeping their MLAs together and alleged that the BJP was trying to woo their lawmakers with incentives. "All our MLAs are with us... tomorrow they will be present in the Assembly (in Bengaluru)," he said. The JD(S) had last night alleged that chartered flights that were scheduled to carry its legislators along with those of the Congress from Bangalore to Kochi were denied permission by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation at the last minute. However, a Civil Aviation Ministry official had said that DGCA permission was not required for charter operations within India. Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy earlier addressed the legislators in Taj krishna Hotel. Later Congress legislature Party meting elected Siddharamaiah as their leader, a senior Congress leader of Telangana said. Political observers say Hyderabad was chosen for keeping the MLAs together owing to the rapport that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has with the JD(S) chief and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. Rao had recently met Gowda at the latter's residence before the Karnataka polls. The Telangana chief minister had appealed to Telugu people living in the neighbouring state to vote for the JD(S). The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Academic Council "passed" a proposal to set up a Centre for National Security Studies under which there would be a course on 'Islamic terrorism', a professor who attended its meeting on Friday said. Many members of the academic council opposed the proposal to impart courses on Islamic terrorism, arguing that it was communal in nature, Sudhir K. Suthar, a special invitee to the 145th meeting of the council, said on Friday. "Many members opposed the topic 'Islamic terrorism', so as to not club any religion with terrorism, and suggested to call the phenomenon 'religious terrorism'," Suthar, who is an office-bearer of the JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA), told reporters. "There was a debate on the issue in the meeting with many members supporting it too, saying that it was a globally accepted phenomenon and majority of the cases (of terrorism) were associated with the religion," another academic council member, who was present in the meeting, said. "The chair passed the proposal and said the objections would be considered (later)," Suthar said. The draft of the proposal was prepared by a four-member committee headed by Ajay Kumar Dubey, a professor of the Centre for African Studies. According to the proposal, in the first five years, the centre will only focus on research activities. "The centre may have only M.Phil and PhD students (initially). After five years, the centre may start MA programme. In the first year, two professors, two associate professors and four assistant professors may be recruited to give the centre a good and visible shape," the proposal states. Dubey said, "The report was circulated for feedback and discussion. All suggestions, including objections, will be considered by the committee (later)." Opposing the move, JNU Students Union president Geeta Kumari said, "In a deeply problematic and shocking move, the JNU VC also allowed the tabling of a course/topic on 'Islamic terrorism' under the Centre for National Security Studies." "This grotesque propaganda of Islamophobia in the name of academic courses is deeply problematic. It seems the RSS-BJP's election propaganda material will be prepared through these courses rather than studying the nature of terrorism in general," she added. Wrapping up an eventful career in the judiciary, Supreme Court Justice J. Chelameswar said on Friday that as he stood up to question the status quo, it was the younger generation that stood by him even as the seniors in the field attacked him from every side. Addressing a gathering that comprised a large number of young lawyers hours after he stepped out of the Supreme Court for the last time on Friday evening, Chelameswar said, It was pointed out to me that over the last year and half, I have undertaken to democratise the institution. It's the younger generation that has stood by me. The established and acknowledged constitutional lawyers and jurists attacked me from every side. Evidently aware of his reputation as a rebel judge for having questioned the lack of transparency in the collegium system, and, more recently, leading the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court in holding a press conference to questioning the way in which Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra was administrating the top court, Chelameswar said that wherever he perceived that things were going wrong, he stood up and raised questions. If something is good, it is to be preserved. If something is doubtful, it is to be checked and rectified. If something is bad, it is to be destroyed. I worked with that belief. I had nothing personal against anyone in the system, Chelameswar said at a reception hosted for him by the Lawyers' Collective. The judge, who retires on June 22, but for whom Friday was his last working day in the Supreme Court as the court will be on vacation from Saturday up to July 1spoke about the criticism of the decision of the four senior-most judges, including himself, to have a press conference. What is the law that says judges cannot hold press conferences? They shouldn't do it to defend their judgements. I knew that when I opened my mouth, I would have to go through all this, and I was willing to take it, he said. Chelameswar said that he has found support from the people. However, he said, what really troubled him was that former judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts called him to say, We wish you more strength. Please speak up now! Taking a dig at one-crore-a-day lawyers, the reference being to senior lawyers, he said, They hardly open their mouth, they hardly take a stand. Even when they do take a stand, they do it to preserve the status quo. In a day of dramatic twists and turns, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa announced on Saturday afternoon he had resigned at the Assembly session called to conduct a floor test as the BJP, with 103 MLAs, was short of the majority mark. Yeddyurappa's third tenure as CM lasted little more than 48 hours. Yeddyurappa declared the mandate was against the Congress and JD(S) and said he would fight gift 'all' 28 Lok Sabha seats to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in next year's Parliamentary elections. He also reiterated his commitment to farmers. Earlier in the day, it was speculated Yeddyurappa would meet Governor Vajubhai Vala to resign. According to experts, Yeddyurappa may have followed the pattern set by then prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee who gave a speech in Parliament and resigned before his 13-day government faced a vote of confidence in 1996. Given Yeddyurappa's resignation, Vala is constitutionally obliged to invite the JD(S)-Congress to form a government. The option of President's Rule is expected to be a last resort, according to legal experts. There was high drama before Yeddyurappa's speech as two 'missing' Congress MLASAnand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patilarrived at the Assembly on Saturday nearly three days after they 'left' the group of Congress legislators. The Congress alleged the duo were being forcibly confined by the BJP at the Goldfinch Hotel in Bengaluru. Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar declared that both Patil and Singh would side with the party and the duo were seen with Congress MLAs. The arrival of the two MLAs would boost the Congress' number to 78 MLAs, which along with the JD(S) figure of 37 MLAs and two independents would allow for a comfortable majority in a house of 220 MLAs. Earlier, the Congress released multiple audio recordings of BJP leaders offering bribes to their MLAs to support Yeddyurappa. The recordings purportedly including BJP leaders Yeddyurappa, his son Vijayendra, B. Sriramulu and Murlidar Rao. The Karnataka election and its aftermath have arguably provided the Congress ample opportunities to target the BJP on issues the latter have always highlighted. After the voting threw up a fractured mandate on Tuesday, the Congress had accused the BJP of horse-trading, a charge that used to be levelled at the grand old party when it dominated national politics. On Saturday, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi slammed BJP legislators for walking out as the national anthem was being played after B.S. Yeddyurappa resigned as chief minister. Gandhi, who was speaking at a press conference in New Delhi after Yeddyurappa's resignation, said the incident showed the BJP had no respect for national institutions. Congress party supporters, journalists and other social media voices also targeted the BJP members for walking out during the national anthem. The criticism will bite the BJP, which has always sought to play up its affection for the national anthem and Vande Mataram, the national song. In Uttarakhand, soon after coming to power in March 2017, the BJP government made it mandatory for colleges to play the national anthem in the morning and national song in the afternoon. The BJP had welcomed a Supreme Court order in November 2016 that made it mandatory for people to stand in movie theatres when the anthem was played. However, in January this year, the Narendra Modi government asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its November 2016 decision. In a fresh twist to the high-voltage Karnataka floor test drama, media reports have emerged that Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa is planning to meet Governor Vajubhai Vala on Saturday. Yeddyurappa is expected to meet Vala ahead of the floor test, soon after the former's speech in the Karnataka Assembly on Saturday. This has led to media speculating that Yeddyurappa may resign on the grounds the BJP may lack numbers. However, the BJP has not commented on these claims. D.K. Shivakumar, senior Congress leader said he was sure Yeddyurappa would resign before the floor test. In the event of Yeddyurappa resigning, the floor test will be redundant and the governor is constitutionally bound to invite the JD(S)-Congress to form a government. The option of President's Rule is expected to be a last resort, according to legal experts. As of Saturday noon before breaking for lunch, 217 MLAs were present in the Karnataka Assembly. Of these, 207 have taken oath and the remaining will be sworn in soon after the afternoon session commences at 3:30pm. Two Congress MLAs and one BJP MLA were absent from the house as of 1.30pm. Before breaking for lunch at 1.30pm, the number of MLAs present in the Assembly per party is BJP (103), Congress (76) and JD(S) with 37 MLAs and two independents. The special session of the Karnataka Assembly began Saturday morning with Yeddyurappa set to take the floor test that would determine the fate of his three-day old government. The crucial day that is expected to determine the fate of Karnataka government is seeing back-to-back developments from the state, as mystery deeps around two Congress MLAs who had apparently gone missing. Earlier in the day, the Congress had alleged that the two MLAsAnand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patilwere held captive at Goldfinch Hotel in Bengaluru. The Congress claimed that BJP MLA G. Somashekhar Reddy was with the two 'missing' Congress MLAs. However later, Pratap Gowda reached the Assembly though it is unclear which party he will side with. Anand Singh, one of the 'missing' Congress MLAs, had been spotted leaving Goldfinch hotel and may be travelling to the Assembly, according to reports. Meanwhile, the Congress released two video recordings, one is purportedly of Yeddyurappa offering bribes to a Congress MLA B.C. Patil. The other tape is of Yeddyurappa's son Vijayendra offering a bribe of the wife of a Congress MLA. On Friday, another audio recording of Janardhanan Reddy of the Bellary brothers group of the BJP offering a bribe to a Congress legislator had emerged. There are reports of similar tapes of BJP leaders offering bribes. The humanitarian crisis in Syria is worse this year than ever before in the countrys seven-year-old civil war, a United Nations official said on Friday. We see in 2018 the humanitarian situation inside Syria being the worst we have seen since the war started: a very dramatic deterioration, massive displacement, disrespect of protection of civilians and peoples lives still being turned upside down, Panos Moumtzis, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria crisis, said in Beirut. Syria is the worst place in modern history in terms of attacks on healthcare workers and facilities, accounting for 70 per cent of all such attacks worldwide, he said. UN data shows 89 healthcare workers died in 92 confirmed military attacks on healthcare facilities between Jan 1 and May 4, compared to 73 killed in 112 attacks in the whole of 2017, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria crisis. The two areas which saw the most healthcare attacks in 2018 were Eastern Ghouta and Idlib. Eastern Ghouta had been the largest rebel-held pocket near the capital Damascus, but came back under government control in mid-April after a fierce offensive. Idlib, in northwest Syria, is the largest remaining area under opposition control, containing around 2.5 million people. Idlibs population has ballooned over the course of the conflict, with people there from fighting in other areas. The government has also transferred a large number of rebel fighters and their families to Idlib as part of surrender deals elsewhere in Syria. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to take back every inch of Syria. Moumtzis said the UN does not want to see a repeat of what happened in Ghouta happen in Idlib. He urged the warring sides to come to a peaceful solution. Moumtzis also said he was concerned about poor aid access in Syria. In 2017, 27 per cent of requests made by the UN to Syrian authorities for permission to deliver aid were granted. In the first four months of 2018 only seven per cent were granted, Moumtzis said. The number of people designated by the UN as living in besieged areas has fallen dramatically this year to stand at 11,100, after the Syrian government took back control of almost all rebel-held pockets around the capital Damascus. But 2.05 million people in need of humanitarian assistance still live in hard-to-reach areas, the UN said. Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle marry on Saturday in a lavish ceremony that unites the traditional pomp of British royalty with Hollywood glamour, injecting new life into a monarchy striving to stay relevant in the modern age. As dawn broke over Queen Elizabeths Windsor Castle where the couple will marry, excited crowds began to assemble outside its ancient stone walls, home to 39 English monarchs since 1066. Millions around the world are expected to watch when Elizabeths popular grandson and the American star of the TV drama Suits tie the knot at the 15th Century St Georges Chapel in the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. I just think it will be magical. There will be so much shouting and cheering and noise. I love the royal family, said Ronda Musgrove, 59, who camped overnight on the street opposite the castle to get the best view of events. More than 100,000 fans are expected to cram the narrow streets of Windsor, about 20 miles (30 km) west of London. Security was tight and visitors had to pass through police search points set up around the castle. The worlds media has been gripped by the union of Harry, 33, the sixth-in-line to the British throne, and Markle, 36, a divorcee whose mother is African-American and father is white, and hundreds of TV crews have descended on Windsor. For many, the wedding is a fairytale. For some black Britons, it illustrates the breakdown of barriers in modern Britain. To others, it is an irrelevance or a mild distraction from Britains schism over its planned exit from the European Union. Polls have suggested that most Britons will not even bother to watch the event. The hour-long ceremony begins at 1100 GMT, with weather forecasts predicting blue skies and sunshine. The bride will arrive at the church with her mother, Doria Ragland, 61, with whom she was spent Friday night at a luxury hotel. Harry was staying at another hotel with elder brother and best man Prince William, whose daughter Charlotte and son George will be among the bridesmaids and page boys. Charles to lead Meghan Markle will enter the chapel unescorted. Then Harrys father and heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles will walk his future daughter-in-law down the aisle. Markles own father pulled out due to ill health. Thomas Markle, 73, a lighting director for TV soaps and sitcoms, told the US celebrity website TMZ he had undergone heart surgery on Wednesday. Confusion over his attendance marred the build-up to the wedding, which had been carefully choreographed for months by royal aides. On Friday, Ragland met the 92-year-old monarch and her husband Prince Philip, 96, who will be among the senior royals in the 600-strong congregation. It will also include a smattering of celebrities, including fellow cast members of Markle from Suits. The service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor with Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the spiritual head of the Anglican Church, overseeing the exchange of vows. A black US bishop, Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry, will give the wedding address. After the ceremony, the newlyweds are expected to greet some of the 1,200 members of the public specially invited into the grounds of the castle before setting off on a carriage procession through Windsor. A reception will be held in the castles St Georges Hall before 200 guests join the couple at an evening event at Frogmore House, another grand mansion in the grounds. The prince and his new wife, who are expected to be given a new title by the queen to mark their marriage, are not immediately leaving on honeymoon and will carry out their first official engagement as husband and wife next week. Educated at the exclusive Eton College, a stones throw from Windsor, Harry, the younger son of the late Princess Diana, gained a reputation as a royal wild child. He admitted smoking cannabis, getting drunk when underage in a pub, scuffled with paparazzi outside a London nightclub and drew outrage by dressing as a Nazi officer at a party. But he turned his image around after joining the army, where he spent 10 years and included two tours of duty in Afghanistan. Last year, he spoke openly of his emotional torment following the 1997 death of his mother in a Paris car crash. Aged just 12, he walked solemnly behind her coffin in the funeral cortege. His easy-going manner with the public is reminiscent of Diana, and he has picked up her campaigning baton with work on the welfare of military veterans, helping those with AIDS, and mental health issues. Blind date He met Markle on a blind date in July 2016 set up through a mutual friend. Harry said he had never heard of his future wife or watched her TV series, and she said she knew nothing of the prince. But after just two dates, he whisked her off to Botswana for a holiday, camping under the stars. The fact that I fell in love with Meghan so incredibly quickly was confirmation to me that all the stars were aligned, everything was just perfect, Harry said when their engagement was announced last November. Harrys gilded upbringing is in stark contrast with Markles. She was born and raised in Los Angeles and her parents divorced when she was six. After a number of minor roles in films and on TV, she won the role as Rachel Zane in Suits. She ran a successful lifestyle blog, thetig.com, and has worked as a humanitarian campaigner. In 2011, she married film producer Trevor Engelson but they divorced in 2013. The intense spotlight on her father this week was indicative of the limelight she now faces. Harry issued a public rebuke to journalists when they were dating, accusing some of sexism and racism. The prince has long had a testy relationship with the media. His mothers limousine was being chased by paparazzi just before her fatal crash. Over the last 20 years since Dianas death, the royals have enjoyed much better media coverage with a sophisticated PR operation helping to turn round the perception of a hopelessly out-of-touch institution where the tribulations of the queens children were played out in national newspapers. Elizabeth famously described 1992 as an annus horribilis (horrible year) after three of her four childrens marriages failed, including Charles marriage to Diana, and part of Windsor Castle was badly damaged by fire. The British remain broadly supportive of the monarchy albeit with a sense of mild irony about the pomp and pageantry that accompanies it, though many have deep respect for Elizabeth, after her 66 years of service. Harry, along with brother William and his wife Kate, are at the forefront of an effort to modernize the monarchy by talking openly about their innermost feelings. It is just a maxim it is patently obvious the more you say, the more you can be examined, royal historian Hugo Vickers said. Everything moves on gradually but there are certain risks and there is a lot to be said for maintaining the mystique. -Reuters Israel railed against the UN Human Rights Council on Friday as it voted to set up a probe into recent killings in Gaza and accused Israel of excessive use of force. The resolution to send a commission of inquiry to investigate was rejected by the United States and Australia, but backed by 29 members of the 47-state UN forum. Another 14 countries, including Britain, Germany and Japan, abstained. Israels ambassador in Geneva, Aviva Raz Shechter, castigated the council for spreading lies against Israel during five hours of ludicrous statements. Simply put, with this resolution, this council has reached a new height of hypocrisy, and the lowest standards of credibility, she said. Israels foreign ministry said it totally rejected the resolution, adding the entire purpose of the council was not to investigate the truth but to compromise Israels right to self-defence and to single out the Jewish state for demonisation. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki welcomed the UN decision. The Human Rights Councils formation of an international committee of investigation is a step towards doing justice to the Palestinian people, he said in a statement. He urged speedy implementation to stop Israeli war crimes. The special session of the Human Rights Council was convened after the bloodiest day for Palestinians in years on Monday, when 60 were killed by Israeli gunfire during demonstrations that Israel said included attempts to breach its frontier fence. Nobody has been made safer by the horrific events of the past week, UN human rights chief Zeid Raad al-Hussein said as he opened the debate. Israeli forces had killed 106 Palestinians, including 15 children, since March 30, he said. More than 12,000 were injured, at least 3,500 by live ammunition. Israel was an occupying power under international law, obliged to protect the people of Gaza and ensure their welfare, he said. Toxic slum But they are, in essence, caged in a toxic slum from birth to death; deprived of dignity; dehumanised by the Israeli authorities to such a point it appears officials do not even consider that these men and women have a right, as well as every reason, to protest. Israel says the deaths took place in protests organised by Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, which intentionally provoked the violence, an accusation Hamas denies. Israel and the United States complain that the Human Rights Council, made up of 47 states chosen by the General Assembly, has a permanent anti-Israel bias. The United States has stood by Israel during the past weeks violence, which coincided with the opening of a new US embassy in Jerusalem. US charge daffaires Theodore Allegra said the Council was ignoring the real culprit: Hamas. The one-sided action proposed by the council today only further shows that the Human Rights Council is indeed a broken body, he said. Two million people live in Gaza, most of them stateless descendants of refugees from homes in what is now Israel at its founding in 1948. The territory has been run by Hamas since 2007, during which time Israel has fought three wars against the militant group, which denies Israels right to exist. Israel and Egypt maintain a blockade of Gaza for security reasons, which the United Nations says has led to the collapse of Gazas economy. Hero Nagarjuna has wrapped up Officers shoot long back. He had also shot for a schedule for his ongoing multi-starrer featuring Nani. Officer is slated to hit the screens on June 1, and fans are anxiously hoping for the films success. Ahead of Officers release, Nag is currently on a much needed holiday. Nagarjuna took to Twitter just a while ago and revealed that he is chilling out at Dubrovnik, a 3000-year-old European City in Croatia. Nag also tweeted picture in which he is seen posing near an old house. Chilling in DubrovnikA 3000 year old living city!!! pic.twitter.com/kvk2RKNTdj Nagarjuna Akkineni (@iamnagarjuna) May 19, 2018 Articles that might interest you: Adversity lays the foundation for friendships, and the setbacks suffered by political parties have often been the ground for opportunistic alliances. Like the BJPs strong show in Karnataka forcing the nemesesthe Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular)to come together. Earlier in March, a similar alliance in Uttar Pradesh between the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party had jolted the BJP in the Lok Sabha bypolls. A silver lining for the emerging opposition unity is the result of elections in the past six months. The BJPs victories in the assembly elections have not been as impressive as they were earlier. In an effort to remain relevant, Mayawati has been playing strategically to form alliances everywhere, from Uttar Pradesh to Karnataka to Haryana. For the opposition, the new arrangement between the Congress and the JD(S) is a bright spot, a trend which many non-BJP parties hope to continue. It is also the biggest challenge that the BJP would face in the Lok Sabha elections next year. In Karnataka, the Congress and the JD(S) together got 56 per cent votes. It was the division of their votes that helped the BJP win 26 seats more than the Congress, despite getting 2 per cent less vote share. It is hard to overstate how Narendra Modi helped the BJP in Karnataka. The prime minister carpet-bombed the state with 21 campaign rallies in ten days. A similar forceful Modi campaign saved the party the blushes in the assembly elections in Gujarat in January. The BJPs good show in Karnataka has energised its chances in south India, which accounts for 130 Lok Sabha seats. The saffron party hopes to do better in Tamil Nadu and Kerala with its strategic alliances. And, in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, it has been building a reputation as the main opposition party. They said the BJP is a party of Hindi-speaking states, said Modi in his thanksgiving speech after the Karnataka results were announced. Are Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, the northeastern states Hindi-speaking? No. The BJP represents India and our proud diversity. In the run up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the biggest test for the BJP would come in three states it rulesMadhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The chief ministers face varying degrees of anti-incumbency in these states. Modi has got a five-month window before these elections. The BJP will hard-sell the Modi governments welfare measures, asking its MPs and leaders to launch a massive outreach programme. The next few months will be used by the prime minister to enhance his image. His informal visit to China worked well in terms of optics. He will be doing the same thing in Russia soon. Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah use the element of surprise as a strategy to catch attention. They may have a few cards up their sleeves. As a party strategist pointed out, the government collected huge revenues from oil and taxes; if these were to flow back to the people ahead of the elections, any anti-incumbency could be tackled. Also, by agreeing to a ceasefire in Kashmir during the Ramadan, the government has shown that it was not bound by the image it had created. The issue for us in the 2019 elections would be all-round development, said Union Minister Prakash Javadekar. Every elections have proved that Modi is loved by all. The opposition is not able to stand before him. Against the common enemy: Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Politically, however, there are headwinds ahead. The slowing economy, widespread atrocities against dalits and minorities, and farmer agitations are likely to affect the BJPs chances. A month ago, Union Minister Ramads Athawale of the Republican Party of India told THE WEEK that the BJP was likely to lose 20 to 30 seats in Uttar Pradesh owing to an alliance between the SP and BSP, and the anger among dalits and farmers. He, however, said the BJP would make gains in the northeast and south. Not one to rest on his laurels, Shah keeps telling the party office bearers that the BJP would prove that the 2014 victory was not a one-off thing. It was not because of luck, he said. We will again win the Lok Sabha. We have won 11 elections since 2014. What these victories have done is to force the opposition leaders to extend a hand of friendship. BSP chief Mayawati called UPA chair Sonia Gandhi after the Karnataka verdict. In an effort to remain relevant, Mayawati has been playing strategically to form alliances everywhere, from Uttar Pradesh to Karnataka to Haryana. Also threatened by the BJP juggernaut are chief ministers Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), N. Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh), K. Chandershekar Rao (Telangana) and Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi). They have been trying to consolidate their positions and will try their best to counter the BJP. In Tamil Nadu, the DMK and a few new players are likely to trouble a possible AIADMK-BJP alliance. These five states hold 111 seats. The BJPs Lok Sabha tally had dropped from 282 in 2014 to 274 (five seats are currently vacant). The party is troubled by its Maharashtra ally Shiv Sena, which is planning to go solo in 2014. The Shiv Sena holds 18 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. There is also unease among the core BJP voters owing to demonetisation and the roll out of the goods and services tax. And, even the hardcore BJP voters are unhappy that many promises in the election manifesto, like the Ram temple, have not been fulfilled. But, they are unlikely to go away from the party. With the Supreme Court taking up the Ram temple issue, the BJP hopes that by the next Lok Sabha elections, the larger saffron ecosystem would have something to cheer about. Friends in need: Kumaraswamy and Deve Gowda with Mayawati. A silver lining for the emerging opposition unity is the result of elections in the past six months. The BJPs victories in the assembly elections have not been as impressive as they were earlier. And, the bypoll results in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar destroyed the partys aura of invincibility. Before a clearer picture emerges for the 2019 elections, the next big contest will be in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In all these states, the younger crop of Congress leaders are challenging the BJP chief ministers. A loss in any of these three states, which even some BJP insiders concede is a possibility, would dent Modis image. Still, few people doubt the BJP chances of emerging as the single largest party in the 2019 elections. It will have the wherewithal to woo some of the non-NDA allies, even if it falls short of the majority. But, a bigger problem would emerge if it will need new allies from regional parties in the post-poll scenario. The BJP hopes to counter the consolidation of opposition leaders with a single rhetorical flourish. It will be Modi versus all, Shah told his party colleagues. This will be a weapon in the hands of Modi when he once again makes it a fight between a chaiwala, an outsider in Delhi politics, and the established political class. Will the electorate listen to him again? Prime Minister Narendra Modi is everything Manmohan Singh was not. Unlike his predecessor, Modi has campaigned widely, stamped his personal style on policy initiatives, and presented himself as an outsider to Delhis power and pelf. Now, with him about to complete four years in charge, everyone has an opinion on how the government has performed. Opinions differ sharply, depending on which side of the ideological divide one is on. Electorally, the BJP, led by Modi, has steamrolled the opposition. This, says the party, proves peoples acceptance of Modis governance style. The occasional defeat has been brushed aside as an aberration. Modis own popularity remains undiminished. Modi has consorted with Saudi Arabia, and this wooing of the Muslim world, contrary to his own domestic compulsions, has been successful. In Karnataka, he said, The Manmohan Singh government was controlled through remote control by 10 Janpath. This highlighted the current governments strength. There is only one power centreModi. But, while his stock among the faithful skyrocketed, many felt that it was not possible to have a debate on Modis policies without being angrily shouted down in a television studio, threatened on social media or on the streets. The political polarisation has been acute. There have been atrocities against minorities and dalits, the backlash of which the government faced recently. Dalits erupted in protests across the country, primarily in BJP-ruled states. Though Modi brought focus on dalit icon B.R. Ambedkar, it was partly because he wanted to demolish the Nehru-Gandhi legacy in Indian politics. As a senior BJP leader said, Politicians meant leaders from these families. Unless that was shaken, the BJP would need a long time to establish itself. Regarding social welfare, Modi was criticised for failing to deliver on his election promise of Rs 15 lakh in every account. However, his government has put emphasis on social sector schemes, under which people have been direct beneficiaries. People have more expectations from us because they know that we can deliver. People know that when they say something, the government will listen and do it, Modi said. Among the many welfare schemes, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana have played a huge role. The Ujjwala scheme, wherein LPG cylinders are given to families below the poverty line, has helped the BJP connect with the electorate, especially women. The Mudra scheme has helped people start their own ventures. In early May, Modi took ownership of the schemes by meeting people who had benefited from them. Notably, by the time the Lok Sabha elections are held in 2019, these two schemes would have directly impacted 17 crore people. Though not every beneficiary is expected to vote for the BJP, they will at least know that these were Modis schemes; such has been the messaging. And, as Modi seeks a fresh mandate, sharper focus on these schemes would be key. On the economic front, the governments biggest advantage has been benign crude oil prices. When crude oil prices collapsed in 2014, the BJP government and state governments got an opportunity to maximise tax gains. The Modi government raised excise duty 12 times between May 2014 and September 2017. The increase in tax helped the government mop-up 02.4 lakh crore in 2016-17. And, though there is concern over increased burden on consumers, the government has ruled out a cut in excise duties. Regarding the economy, people always look at the growth rate as an indicator. Under the current government, which is fascinated with numbers, there has been a change in the way gross domestic product (GDP) is calculated. Earlier, calculations used fiscal year 2004-05 as the base. However, this was changed to fiscal year 2011-12, six months after the government took charge. The changed methodology resulted in higher growth numbers, which the government took credit for when they were released in May 2015. Bringing up bhim: Members of a dalit organisation clean an Ambedkar statue in Gujarat. While Modi has brought focus on the dalit icon, he has done so partly to demolish the Nehru-Gandhi legacy in Indian politics | AFP The blow to these GDP numbers came when Modi took the political decision of demonetisation, in late 2016, to root out corruption. Though the number of income tax filers has increased, the impact on corruption seemed negligible. Demonetisation brought down the growth rate to 5.7 per cent, leading to severe criticism of the BJP, even from its core constituency of businessmen. The governments programmes have so far failed to generate that feel-good factor that indicates a growing economy. Moreover, private investor sentiments were muted because of the rising number of bad loans. However, the bank recapitalisation plan is helping dispel the sense of gloom. Also, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, one of the key reforms of Modi government after the GST, is helping weed out distressed businesses. Another criticism of the government has been the lack of jobs. There is no evidence that the way we are going about skill development is leading to the transfer of skills that increase employability, said former Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. It has to be India-specific, but we have to learn from other countries including Singapore and Indonesia, which are doing it better than we are. The government, however, has countered, saying it is focusing on self-employment. We are going through several transitions, and these transitions are works in progress. Whether it is farm to non-farm, whether it is rural to urban, whether it is subsistence by self-employment to wage employment, or whether it is the unorganised sector, Bibek Debroy, chairman of the prime ministers Economic Advisory Council, said during a recent event. In fact, government officials say that the Modi effect is now showing on the economy, just like it has been in electoral politics. However, a problem area has been the agriculture sector. Though Modi promised to double farmers income by 2022, the sector was hit badly by demonetisation and the introduction of GST. Projecting the growth of the economy, T.C.A. Anant, former chief statistician of India, said agriculture and allied industries would grow by just 2.1 per cent in 2018-19, compared with 4.9 per cent in the previous fiscal. Export data shows that agricultural exports dipped from $21.5 billion in 2014-15 to $16.3 billion by end of the 2016-17 fiscal. The entire sector is awaiting Narendra Modis much promised agriculture boost to Indias economy, said Anil Kumar Mittal, managing director of basmati exporter KRBL Limited. Said Yogendra Yadav, psephologist and founder of Swaraj Abhiyan: Farmers are the biggest losers in the Modi regime. In the past four years, farmers across the country have first protested in their own areas, and then congregated on the streets of the capital to protest over months. There is no north-south or east-west divide in the distress faced by farmers. One of the bright spots in the governments growth story is the infrastructure sector. The governments Smart Cities programme and a hike in allotments made under the National Urban Renewal Mission have helped the cause. The governments focus on infrastructure is significant for the economy, said Dharmakirti Joshi, chief economist, CRISIL. It holds even greater importance at a time when private investment in infrastructure has taken a back step. However, Joshi said there was scope for improvement. Overall, in the last four years, the pace of infrastructure development was only moderate, he said. No Modi story is complete without evaluating his foreign travels, which have been characterised by great energy. His swearing-in set the toneit would be neighbourhood first. But, four years later, Modi seems to have not capitalised on the energy. Relations with Pakistan have soured. Modi tried and failed like many before him, so perhaps it would be unfair to blame only him. Importantly, his government has brought back Kashmir to the table, which previous regimes had avoided. Pakistan aside, some secure relationships have somehow unravelled during Modis tenure. Nepal is a classic example. It has taken him three visits to Kathmandu, along with two visits by Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, to smooth ruffled feathers. The Maldives, which was a firm partner, has distanced itself from India. The reason seems to be a lack of reciprocity. Modi, however, strengthened relations with West Asia. He became the first Indian prime minister to go to Palestine on an official visit, while the closet flirtation with Israel is now out in the open. He has also consorted with Saudi Arabia, and has tried to secure Indias energy future. This wooing of the Muslim world, contrary to his own domestic compulsions, has been successful. In terms of economic diplomacy, his pet plank, Modi has not had a lot of success. Trade negotiations between India and the European Union have been stalled since 2013. And, there is no breakthrough in sight. This government has not signed any major free trade agreement in the past three or four years, said professor Gulshan Sachdeva, professor at the Centre for European studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Notably, the trade deficit between India and China is $63 billion. And, despite the recent wooing in Wuhan, when Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping, the balance scale is still tipped in Chinas favour. In coming days, the biggest challenge for Modi will be how to deal with China. Wuhan might have calmed tempers, but it has failed to convince the defence establishment that China can be trusted. Especially at a time when the world is being polarised, with the west pitted against Russia. And, with an unpredictable US president, Modi would have to do a balancing act. On the defence front, the Centre has paid a lot of attention to security, especially after the surgical strike in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the long standoff with China in Doklam. However, recently, Lieutenant General Sarath Chand, the vice chief of Army staff, told lawmakers that 68 per cent of the Armys weaponry was dated, and only 8 per cent was state of the art. When she took over as defence minister last September, Nirmala Sitharaman had said that her priority would be providing the best equipment to the military. But, five months later, when Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented the budget, the defence sector got only a 7.8 per cent hike over the previous year. WITH INPUTS FROM VIJAYA PUSHKARNA, MANDIRA NAYAR AND PRADIP SAGAR Catskill Though Sarah Greenman's drama "Leni" is a dozen years old and considers events that began more than 80 years ago, it has immediate contemporary urgency and relevance. The play, receiving an intellectually bracing, passionately acted production at Bridge Street Theatre, asks heady, important questions about artistic, moral and social responsibility through its exploration of the life and work of Leni Riefenstahl. Born in 1902 and a stage performer as a young adult coming of age in Germany between the world wars, she had moved into filmmaking by her early 30s, when her work caught the eye of Hitler. After his rise to power in 1933, he commissioned her to make documentaries, including of the Nazi's 1934 rally in Nuremberg and the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. The resulting films, "Triumph of the Will" and "Olympia," respectively, are considered masterpieces of cinematic art -- and also some of the most effective propaganda tools ever made. Of the 133 filmmakers hired by the Nazis, Riefenstahl was the only woman and one of the few not to be a member of the Nazi Party, and she insisted until the end of her very long life -- she died at 101 -- that she was an artist, not a political figure; the uses to which her movies were put by the Nazis, and the galvanic effect they had on much of the German population, were not her fault or responsibility. Or so she argued. And argue she does aplenty in the at-times-didactic "Leni," which uses the conceit of two Riefenstahls, young and old, to shine a light on the many complicated and contradictory facets of of an extraordinary artist who also did extraordinary damage. "Is it my sin that Hitler admired my work?" asks Riefenstahl, later saying, of the 400 hours of Nuremberg footage and the 18 months of editing that produced "Triumph of the Will," "Perfectionism is the only thing I have been guilty of." Under the astute, nuanced direction of John Sowle, who also designed the impressive lighting and evocative set, the two-character, one-act "Leni" moves fluidly through the years, pitting her younger self (Olivia Howell, very strong) against the older (Roxanne Fay, profoundly compelling) in scenes for a film about her life, in discussions with a never-seen Hitler and in some of the four postwar prosecutions Riefenstahl went through. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "I am on trial for creating the modern world," says Riefenstahl, never modest about her achievements. "Western society has ... stolen my work!" She cites Calvin Klein and Abercrombie & Fitch ads as mere commercial rip-offs of off the celebration of male beauty in "Olympia" and says George W. Bush's 2003 landing on an aircraft carrier to declare "mission accomplished" in Iraq as little different than Hitler's arrival by plane at the Nuremberg rally as shown in "Triumph of the Will." How do you separate an artist from his or her work? Can you? Should you? Does intention matter, or is it superseded by interpretation if negative repercussions later sully the work and the artist's reputation? What of Bill Cosby and Kevin Spacey? Both contributed importantly -- and, in Cosby's case, uniquely -- through their work. Riefenstahl did not have an analog of their reprehensible private behavior, but she glorified even greater monsters. sbarnes@timesunion.com 518-454-5489 blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping @Tablehopping facebook.com/SteveBarnesFoodCritic NEW YORK Facing a difficult political situation, the Working Families Party at its convention in Harlem on Saturday split the baby: Its state committee members voted to back both law professor Zephyr Teachout and New York City Public Advocate Letitia James for New York attorney general, while installing a party activist, Kenny Schafer, as a temporary placeholder on its ballot line. The move allows the the progressive WFP to remove Schafer, an attorney, from its ballot line following September's Democratic primary for attorney general, and then endorse either James or Teachout if either emerges victorious from the Democratic contest. That way, the WFP will not be a spoiler in the November general election by potentially supporting someone with its ballot line other than the Democratic nominee. It took the same tack in the 2013 New York City mayoral race when a number of liberal Democrats were also running. Gov. Andrew Cuomo cut ties with the WFP after its decision to endorse his Democratic primary challenger, actress and advocate Cynthia Nixon. Under reported pressure from the governor, James announced earlier this week that she would not seek the WFP endorsement, despite a long history with the party: She is the first and only person to win a New York City Council seat running solely on the WFP line. Her move last week seems to have basically guaranteed that James will win the Democratic Party's backing, with Cuomo's support, at that party's convention next week. Despite what some saw as a betrayal, James still had support among many of the WFP's leaders in New York City, who blamed Cuomo for the situation, according to a person with knowledge of their thinking. Teachout also has a history with the party, as she nearly won its nomination in her surprisingly strong Democratic primary for governor against Cuomo in 2014. But she seems a far longer shot to win than James does, and it also would have been difficult for the party to fully abandon James, a person who would be the first woman of color to be attorney general, especially given her long history with the party. Teachout had been serving as Nixon's campaign treasurer, though she has stepped down from that role to mount her run for attorney general. "There are two incredible progressive women in this race, and New Yorkers would be lucky to have either as our next Attorney General," said WFP state director Bill Lipton in a statement. "These are two WFP heroes." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Lipton expressed disdain for what the WFP release characterized as the governor's "bullying" tactics: "Cuomo and his machine have only ever helped to elect one man Andrew Cuomo," he said. Geoff Berman, executive director of the Cuomo-controlled state Democratic party apparatus, said in his own statement Saturday that "the state of the WFP today stands in stark contrast with the state of the Democratic Party. "The union-founded party has no working families left after every union has left their ranks. Now Party Boss Bill Lipton is trying to muscle their delegates not to back one of their most loyal supporters: Zephyr Teachout," Berman said. James took herself out of the running for consideration to be chosen as the Legislature's pick to finish out the term of former Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who resigned May 8 after the publication of an expose by The New Yorker that accused him of abusing four women. A Democrat, Schneiderman had been endorsed for a third term by the WFP only two weeks before his resignation. SCHENECTADY Police Chief Eric Clifford said the city patrolman facing drunken driving charges stemming from Sunday's motor vehicle crash may face disciplinary charges early next week. But Clifford on Friday said even when the internal probe wraps up he may hold off on a decision pending how a judge rules on whether to suspend Officer Daniel Coppola driver's license, which he needs to do his job. "It's possible he could go on (disciplinary) charges Monday, and if we make a decision by Monday, we may actually move faster than these court proceedings, which is really the new way of doing things," the chief said, referring to to the state law that now determines police discipline with Public Safety Commissioner Michael Eidens in charge. "This situation is not going to be taken lightly and I will hold him accountable." At the same time, Clifford said it speaks to integrity of Coppola, 23, that he called in the wreck to police after being hit by a motorist, who police say was driving without a license at the time of the crash at 4:14 a.m. Sunday at Broadway and Liberty Street in Schenectady. It's unclear if that driver has been charged. "He does not have a history of discipline," said Clifford of Coppola, noting that will be among the many factors he will weigh when deciding on discipline. Court documents indicate Coppola's eyes were glassy, his speech was deliberate, and he smelled of alcohol. He failed standardized field sobriety tests to stand on one leg and the horizontal gaze nystagmus but passed the walk and turn test. Copolla, who had a blood alcohol content of 0.12 percent, pleaded not guilty Thursday in City Court to two counts of driving while intoxicated. He is due back in court June 7. In New York, the legal threshold to be charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, is 0.08 percent. The court filings indicate that Coppola was read his Miranda rights at around 5:20 a.m. and was charged with DWI. Roughly about 20 minutes later at 5:42 a.m., he was placed under observation, as the law requires. The subsequent breath test, where his blood alcohol content came in at 0.12 percent, was given at 6:21 a.m. Asked about the police handling of the matter, Clifford said everything was done by the book. "The two-hour time frame doesn't stand out as a problem and is not outside the boundary of reasonableness," he said. Eric Sills, an Albany-based attorney, said Friday that "with certain exceptions, the 'two-hour rule' provides that the police must administer a chemical ( blood or breath) test to a DWI suspect within two hours of the time of the person's arrest. He also stressed that that it is common for the defendant to leave the arraignment with their driver's license. "Although a driver's license is technically supposed to be suspended pending prosecution at arraignment, the defendant has the right to a pre-suspension hearing, as well as the right to an adjournment to prepare for the hearing," Sills said. Clifford said he didn't know but he suspects that Lt. Wesley McGhee, the supervisor on duty the night of the incident, didn't respond but had to be called to the scene, which might also have prevented Coppola from getting the Breathlyzer test earlier. "I don't know if it caused a delay but it could have," said Clifford. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. As part of Thursday's proceeding, City Court Judge Teneka Frost ruled she couldn't suspend Coppola's license, which normally happens when somebody is arraigned on a DWI charge, because a certified copy of the breath test was not contained in the court files. Clifford said Friday that the department provided a copy of the breath test signed by the officer, "which is typically acceptable" and that an police officer would have had to drive to Albany to get the certified state copy. "We provided everything that we normally provide, which has historically been accepted by the judge, but (the judge) didn't feel it was appropriate," said Clifford. Court papers indicate that Coppola, 23, told the responding officer that he was driving home from Union Inn after having two beers. Attorney Andrew Safranko, who is representing Coppola, said his client, is remorseful and has cooperated fully with authorities during the probe. "He apologizes to the chief and the members of the department for casting a negative light on the department," said Safranko. "He's a young man, loves loves being a police officer, and apologizes for getting in this situation at all." For now, Coppola, who is 23 with two years on the force, remains on desk duty, watching prisoners and taking police reports, Clifford said. Coppola is the stepson of Schenectady County Sheriff Dominic Dagostino. Over the years, several police officers in Schenectady and Albany have run afoul of the law after drinking and get behind the wheel of a car, in some cases striking parked cars and other stationary objects. SCHENECTADY The city businessman who accused Schenectady City Councilman John Mootooveren of tossing alcohol from a cup in his face wants the court case to be reopened and threatened to take legal action if that doesn't happen. "Everything was done without my knowledge and I don't think it was done fairly, and I'm really upset because of that," Nandallal "Harry" Hariraj said Friday. "I want the case to be opened and I want to be there when a decision is made by a judge or jury or whoever." Hariraj, who owns a mechanic shop in Mont Pleasant, said that he learned the case had been resolved after reading a newspaper article and never spoke with the prosecutor, Michael DeMatteo, who handled the case. Earlier this month, the harassment charge against Mootooveren, 46, was adjourned in contemplation of dismissal meaning he must stay out of trouble within the next six months and the violation will be dismissed. Attorney Steven X. Kouray, who represented Mootooveren, said, "in view of all the facts and the history of this case, (Hariraj) is anything but a victim." Hariraj, 58, also complained that the court never addressed his medical bills from the incident in January that left him with blurred vision. DeMatteo did not return a call Friday seeking comment. On Friday, Ken Rulison, who works with crime victims for the Schenectady County district attorney's office, said he had met with Hariraj and his wife and had an in-depth discussion, including how Hariraj would like to see the case resolved. Rulison said Hariraj subsequently sent him cell phone video of the incident that he forwarded to DeMatteo. He said they had some follow-up conversations, via text, including one where Hariraj requested that City Court Judge Guido Loyola recuse himself from the case. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "I replied to that text message, saying, 'Unfortunately that's not something that we can do, we don't have the ability to choose what judge presides over a particular case.'" On Friday, Hariraj said Loyola presided over a case involving one of Hariraj's tenants where there was a conflict of interest. Hariraj, said he was taking cell phone pictures of his friend as the man was talking with Mootooveren at the Exit Bar & Lounge on Crane Street with his wife, Anita, during the early morning hours of January 15. He said that's when Mootooveren hurled what Hariraj contends was alcohol from a cup that splashed in his eyes, momentarily blinding him. Hariraj, who like Mootooveren is from Guyana, acknowledged the two have had personal "issues" and disagreements in the past. ALBANY -- Five years ago, Paul Walton faced a choice. He could try to revive his ailing hotel business or he could spend more time with his elderly dad. Walton choose his dad. He has no regrets. Paul and Sidney Walton have since traveled from their San Diego home to 30 countries. They've met the soon-to-be-wed Prince Harry, the Dalai Lama and George W. Bush, among other well-known people. They've seen sights neither imagined seeing together. Last month, the Waltons embarked on a new and ambitious journey. With Sidney on the verge of turning 100 yes, 100 they decided to try to meet each of the governors in each of the 50 state capitals, capping the journey with a visit to the White House on Sidney's birthday in February. Their motive is largely about the fun and togetherness of the journey, but the trip is also intended as a way to give each governor and President Trump the chance to meet a World War II veteran as the so-called greatest generation enters its twilight. The Waltons are calling their journey the "No Regrets" tour, so named because Sidney has forever lamented missing a chance he had to meet a Civil War veteran while growing up in Brooklyn. But the name could just as easily refer to the time Paul has been spending with Sidney since deciding to retire early. "This has been the most rewarding time of my life," the son said. "It's a good day when he gets up." On Friday, the Waltons arrived in Albany after meeting with governors in four of the six New England states. It wasn't Sidney's first time in the New York Capitol. As a teenager, he'd gone on a high school trip to Albany. "You're home dad," Paul said. "You're back home." "Yes," the father said. Sidney, who enlisted in the Army eight months ahead of the Pearl Harbor attack, was repeatedly thanked for his service as Paul, 62, pushed his wheelchair during a tour of the Capitol's ornate rooms and hallways. At 3 p.m., they made their way to the governor's second-floor office. The Waltons emerged with the governor about 30 minutes later. Cuomo, who had a famously close relationship with his own father, talked with the Waltons about Mario Cuomo during the private meeting and seemed moved by their odyssey. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "I'm proud of you and what you're doing," the governor said before hugging Paul. "Use this time well." Cuomo awarded Sidney with the Governor's Medal for Public Service and joked that no state on the Waltons' journey would compete with New York for beauty. "Once a New Yorker, always a New Yorker," Cuomo said, kneeling to be level with Sidney's wheelchair. "Go easy on your son," the governor later added. "Don't run him ragged." The Waltons schedule is certainly demanding. They plan to spend Sunday in the Catskills and Monday in Manhattan's Central Park, where anyone who wants to meet a World War II vet will get the chance. Then, it's off to the next state capitol. Trenton! "You're ready to tackle 45 more states?" Paul asked. "Easily," Sidney said. ALBANY -- A Columbia County podiatrist from pleaded guilty to committing health care fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Northern District of New York. Perrin D. Edwards, 65, of Kinderhook was sentenced Friday to a year of probation, 50 hours of community service and a $5,000 fine. Edwards admitted to submitting fraudulent claims to Medicare and private insurance companies for services he had not performed or knew would not be covered by insurance, federal prosecutors said. Albany The Capital Region's unemployment rate has been inching higher from year-earlier levels in each of the past 12 months. And while it has caught the attention of some analysts, so far they've shown little concern. The increase "seems to be flying in the face of job growth at the same time," Gary Keith, regional economist for M&T Bank, said. With the national "quit rate" at a historic high, he thought at least some of the increase might be due to people voluntarily leaving their jobs and looking for new positions. Mark Eagan, who heads the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce, also pointed to the strong economy. "One of the biggest challenges most employers face is finding quality talent," he said Thursday. The state Labor Department that day released its jobs report for April. It showed the Capital Region added 3,100 jobs over the past year, boosting job totals to 472,400, a new record for the month. "We've been at record highs for a while now," said Kevin Alexander, state labor markets analyst, who covers the region. He pointed out that last year's unemployment rate for March was the lowest it had been in 10 years. Still, other metropolitan areas are seeing far tighter labor markets, or at least a smaller portion of the workforce unemployed. Three metros Ames, Iowa, and two Hawaii metros boasted unemployment rates in March that were below 2 percent. In the Northeast, Burlington, Vt., had a 2.3 percent jobless rate while Portland, Maine, was at 2.4 percent. But other factors helped tighten the job market. In the case of Hawaii and Burlington, real estate costs were considerably higher than in the Capital Region. The median sale price of an existing single-family home in Honolulu, for example, was $775,500 in the first quarter of 2018. In Burlington, it was $272,500. In Albany, by comparison, it was $194,800. In Burlington, said one local chamber official, there's an outflow of students from area colleges after graduation, contributing to the lack of job candidates. One challenge for local employers: competing for graduates with major national and international companies. At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, engineers are sought by companies such as Boeing, Intel and Cisco Systems, although companies with extensive local operations, including General Electric, GlobalFoundries, IBM and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, also have been active. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Data from last year's graduates suggest that salary offers to engineering candidates ranged from $45,000 to $109,000. With a healthy economy and employers struggling to fill jobs, older workers also are testing the waters. "There's more labor mobility than we've seen in quite a while," Keith said. "Now, there's more confidence." The number of unemployed people looking for work in March rose to 21,100 from 19,200 a year earlier. Local residents with jobs totaled 426,400, down from 433,000 a year earlier. The challenge always is matching people with the appropriate skills to the available jobs. In many cases, it may take several months to find a new candidate when someone quits or retires. A job isn't counted until its filled. Many of the places with rock-bottom unemployment rates may be offering jobs that don't require advanced skills, such as tourism (Hawaii), agriculture (Iowa), or semiskilled factory work (Indiana and Wisconsin). Whether the Capital Region sees a drop in the unemployment rate remains to be seen. But Eagan of the chamber isn't concerned. "It's just a little blip right now," he said. "The economy is still going very strong." eanderson@timesunion.com 518-454-5323 Meghan Markle will have an heir to the British throne walk her down the aisle and have her mother and friends on hand for support when she marries Prince Harry at Windsor Castle. Friday's announcement that Markle has asked her future father-in-law Prince Charles to offer a supporting elbow, stepping in for Markle's father after he became ill, meant arrangements were almost complete for Saturday's royal wedding. The event's mix of royalty, celebrity, pomp and ceremony has drawn stratospheric levels of interest around the world and will be broadcast live to tens of millions. Kensington Palace said Prince Charles "is pleased to be able to welcome Ms. Markle to the royal family in this way" after Markle's father Thomas was unable to attend due to illness. Thousands of well-wishers descended Friday on Windsor amid final preparations for the wedding. Harry and Prince William, his brother and best-man, delighted royal fans when they emerged from Windsor Castle late Friday afternoon to greet well-wishers. If Harry was feeling nervous, he didn't show it. The smiling prince gave a thumb's up and answered "Great, thank you" when asked how he was feeling on the eve of his wedding. The 33-year-old prince accepted a teddy bear from one well-wisher as he chatted to people from Britain, the United States, Canada and elsewhere. Tens of thousands of spectators are expected in Windsor to soak up the royal atmosphere. Buckingham Palace also announced that Queen Elizabeth II's husband the Duke of Edinburgh will attend the royal wedding, just a few weeks after undergoing a hip replacement operation. It had not uncertain whether he would attend. Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, flew to England from her California home earlier in the week and had tea Friday with the queen at Windsor Castle. Ragland had been was the bookies' favorite to escort the bride down the aisle, but Charles has a lifetime of experience in appearing at large-scale public events amid intense scrutiny. "I think some people will be disappointed people who were looking forward to the historic moment of a woman walking her daughter down the aisle, and a woman of mixed race heritage from America," said royal historian Robert Lacey. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who will conduct the wedding ceremony, said Charles is "a very warm person and that he's doing this is a sign of his love and concern and support. And I think it's wonderful. It's beautiful." The couple will be married by Welby in a Church of England ceremony, but the Most Rev. Michael Curry, the first black presiding bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church, will also deliver a sermon. Associated Press Lovato promotes mental health On Demi Lovato's latest U.S. tour, she opened each show with "You Don't Do It For Me Anymore," an ode to shaking her addiction to substance abuse. But while the song is inspiring, it's what happened before the show that seemed to matter most to her. Lovato, who says that she "thrives" with bipolar disorder, held what can be described as one-hour therapy sessions for a few hundred fans before she taking the stage. "It's something that I'm passionate about, mental health, and raising the awareness and taking away the stigma away from it. So, if I can do that on tour then awesome," Lovato told The Associated Press. Lovato has been a mental health advocate for several years and worked with a pharmaceutical-sponsored awareness campaign at one time. For her U.S. tour, she partThe sessions were free to those who purchase tickets to the concert but spots were limited. Lovato attended them, but was not the focus. Associated Press Senator-turned children's author Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is aiming for a young demographic. The New York Democrat is working on her first picture book, "Bold & Brave: Ten Heroes Who Won Women the Right to Vote." Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers announced Friday that the book will come out in November and will be illustrated by Maira Kalman. Associated Press ALBANY Fifteen Albany residents were displaced from their homes after a fire consumed a vacant building in the Sheridan Hollow neighborhood overnight. The Albany Fire Department received a call for the fire at 124 Lark St. at about 3 a.m. Saturday, according to Chief Warren Abriel Jr. The three-story, brick building had heavy flames when firefighters arrived and the fire was rapidly spreading to a next door building on Sheridan Avenue that was separated by a 12-foot alleyway. BRUNSWICK State Police provided more information Saturday on a crash that involved a State Police car and injured a 70-year-old man Friday afternoon. Trooper Alan Hughes was traveling north on North Lake Avenue with emergency lighting and his siren activated in response to an emergency call for a suicidal person with a gun, State Police said in a news release. Hughes struck the side of a left-turning vehicle while passing cars pulled to the right side of the road, "and veered off the roadway, traveling across several front yards along North Lake Avenue." Anthony Doyle who was standing in his front yard in Brunswick, was struck by the trooper's car and suffered a concussion, cut to this head and several broken ribs. He was being treated at Albany Medical Center. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Hughes was treated at Samaritan Hospital for a sprained right wrist and several bruises, and was released. Bridget Haggerty, 24, was driving the turning vehicle and was not injured. The crash is under investigation. No tickets or charges had been filed. COOPERSTOWN No one can call Erin Collier an outsider. The 34-year-old economist running in the Democratic primary for Congressional District 19 has roots in the area that go back eight generations, and her family has owned a farm in Cooperstown, N.Y. for five. There is even a hamlet called Colliersville in the Otsego County town of Milford, N.Y., named for her ancestor Isaac Collier, who settled there after the Revolutionary War. There are few places in New York where the label "carpetbagger" is used as effectively as it is in the 19th Congressional District. Republicans have already lobbed the term at Collier's opponents in the crowded Democratic primary for the seat of Republican Rep. John Faso, and Collier knows her background is an asset. "In a district where roots are very important, no one can outdo me in that area," she said. She notes that that she is the only candidate who lives in a swing district, Otsego County, which would be valuable in the general election. Her own working-class family is split between Republicans and Democrats and she believes her narrative resonates across party lines in the closely divided district. "Farmers, who tend to lean conservative, are telling me, 'Erin, I'm conservative, but you are listening to me and you get it and you have my vote,'" she said. "As an economist, I am all about evidence-based policy... it's making sure that we are talking about things and finding solutions that will actually work for everyone." After high school, she worked as a waitress and took out student loans to put herself through Cornell University, where she studied agricultural economics, and later, Michigan State University, where she earned a masters degree. She has since worked for the United Nations in Thailand and as an agricultural economist under the Obama administration. While this is her first foray into politics, she said she has gained valuable public policy experience through her current work on a USAID project that focuses on food security. "Instead of going to work on Wall Street or at some lucrative job, I'm working on food security and making sure that people around the world have food to eat," Collier said. She said the election of President Donald Trump motivated her to get into politics. "For me, it started with the first Woman's March in 2017 right after Trump was elected. I was, like everyone else, completely horrified by what we had just done," Collier said. At the March, she says she met like-minded people who introduced her to workshops on running for office. She thought she might run for Congress in two years, but experts urged her to get into the congressional race immediately. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Having launched her grassroots campaign in February, Collier may lag behind the other candidates in fundraising and name recognition, but as the only woman seeking the Democratic line, she has received support from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and an endorsement from Emily's List, which aims to advance women in government. Her female-empowering slogan "I'm not gonna let those boys beat me," and garnered some national press coverage, including from magazines not known for their local political coverage, like Teen Vogue and celebrity gossip magazine People. It has also drawn criticisms in the district that she is leaning too heavily on her gender. The campaign trail has been rocky, but Collier, who happens to also be a triathlete, says she is competitive by nature. When her opponent Pat Ryan challenged her signatures and nearly succeeded in knocking her off the ballot, Collier says she became even more determined to cross the finish line. In Congress, she says, she would fight for publicly financed elections so that more people like herself can run for office. She says she also hopes to be a champion for worker's rights, affordable health care, closing the gender wage gap, and environmental issues, topics that she says are important to people across the socioeconomic and political spectrum. "(Congress) is dominated by wealthy elites and the majority of the population are not elites," Collier said. "I think its important to have more middle- and working-class people in Congress, because how can anyone fix a problem if they have never lived it themselves?" Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the name of the Albany County assistant district attorney who spoke at Richard Duckett's sentencing on Thursday. Her name is Jessica Blain-Lewis. ALBANY Terrance Roberts, a father and family peacemaker, was murdered after a childs request for a drink escalated into a three-part brawl at a neighborhood Fathers Day barbecue in the South End. On Thursday, prosecutors revealed new details on what led Richard Duckett to shoot Roberts, 46, as Duckett was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison in Albany County Court. In court, Assistant District Attorney Jessica Blain-Lewis read a victim impact statement from Mary Harrington, Roberts' mother-in-law, describing the effects of his death on the family. Over these past months I have watched my family struggle with their pain, anger and grief, she said. Words alone could never articulate the pain, loss and suffering that this monstrous murder has impacted our lives forever. Later, describing the shooting, Blain-Lewis discounted Ducketts explanation for the shooting. This was a planned act, she said. He prepared for it. It was nothing other than an execution. Judge William Carter told Duckett that he was lucky to get the plea deal, after reviewing video of the Delaware Street shooting. You got a really good deal, he said. Because if I had seen that video before, you would not have gotten this plea bargain. Duckett, 20, of Cohoes, apologized in court for the crime. He pleaded guilty to second degree murder on Dec. 21, 2017. I really want to apologize to Terrance Roberts for taking his life, even though hes not physically here, his soul lives forever, he said. "I wish I could bring this man's life back in to this world. Duckett also apologized to Roberts family and his own. Roberts, who went by the nickname "Deke," worked for Albany Memorial Hospital as an environmental services aide. The family was thinking of moving back to Mississippi, where he had grown up, before he was shot. Prosecutors said the shooting stemmed from an altercation earlier in the day on June 18, 2017. Roberts wife, Stephanie Sanders, had planned the adults-only barbecue as a celebration of fathers in the neighborhood. She had even baked a cake with all the mens names on it. A child related to Ducketts mother, Jasmine Mingo, had walked up, asked for something to drink and was refused. That lead to several members of Ducketts family, including his mother and her sister, Brittany Mingo, getting in to a brawl with others at the barbecue, including Sanders and Roberts. The fight was broken up but flared up again a few minutes later, prosecutors said. At some point, someone called Duckett, who was not at the barbecue. Prosecutors said Duckett arrived about 40 minutes after the original argument wearing two sets of clothes, gloves and a gun in his waistband. Most of the fight that immediately lead up to the fatal shooting was caught on tape and shown to the media after the sentencing. Cell phone footage catches a fight between several people and shows Duckett going after Roberts. The footage cuts away after the first shot is fired. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. From a different angle, security footage shows Duckett chasing Roberts across a parking lot, attempting to pistol whip him. He drops his gun in the attempt, picks it up and shoots Roberts in the side as he is stumbling away. Duckett takes a few more steps, slows and shoots Roberts in the head before running away. Duckett fled the area and U.S. Marshals later located and arrested him on Sept. 20 in Brockport. His mother and aunt both pleaded guilty to felony hindering the prosecution for their role in his escape. The two women are scheduled to be sentenced March 23. None of Roberts family was in court for the sentencing. His wife is hospitalized in poor health and the family has left the Albany area that holds too many painful memories. Roberts was the third member of his family to be killed by homicidal violence. In May 2012, Sanders son Adeujuan Adams, 15, was stabbed in the neck when another teen tried to steal his bicycle. His spinal cord was severed and the family needed to raise funds to fly him to a special rehabilitation facility in Georgia. The family moved back to the area into an apartment that fit his needs but he died the following March. In July 2015, Roberts' 37-year-old brother-in-law, Bernard Douglas McGill, was fatally shot in the heart during an argument in a Mississippi nightclub. Blain-Lewis summed up Sanders pain in court, describing the emotions that lead her family to leave the area and not attend the sentencing. Though it may sound trivial and it may even sound simple, but it was Fathers Day and she had prepared a cake to celebrate all of the fathers in the community, she said. And he was never going to celebrate that Fathers Day because he was lying dead in a parking lot. Washington President Donald Trump accused the Justice Department on Friday of trying to frame him by planting a spy in his 2016 campaign an allegation his own lawyer said might not be true. Promoting a theory that is circulating in conservative circles, Trump quoted Fox Business anchor David Asman and tweeted: "Apparently the DOJ put a Spy in the Trump Campaign. This has never been done before and by any means necessary, they are out to frame Donald Trump for crimes he didn't commit." But Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani cast some doubt on that. On whether there was an "informant" in the 2016 presidential campaign, Giuliani told CNN: "I don't know for sure, nor does the president, if there really was one," though he said they have long been told there was "some kind of infiltration." Last week, the National Review raised the question of a possible FBI spy in Trump's campaign. The article cites work by Republican Rep. Devin Nunes, an ardent Trump supporter and head of the House intelligence committee, who has demanded information on an FBI source in the Russia investigation. The New York Times reported separately this week that at least one government informant met several times with Carter Page and George Papadopoulos, both former foreign policy advisers for Trump's Republican campaign. The newspaper attributed the information to current and former FBI officials. Also Friday, Giuliani said special counsel Robert Mueller has narrowed his possible interview subject areas from five to two as negotiations continue over whether the president will sit down and answer questions in the Russia investigation. Mueller is investigating possible coordination between Russia and Trump's 2016 campaign. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Giuliani said Trump's legal team doesn't expect him to be asked about his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, who faces a separate criminal investigation in New York. But Giuliani did not provide many additional details, saying that some questions are still "subject to negotiation." As the Russia probe moves into its second year, many Trump allies, including some Republicans on Capitol Hill, have increasingly pushed for ways to paint Mueller and his investigators as political actors, not above-the-fray lawmen, in an effort to discredit his findings or justify his possible dismissal. A number of Trump outside advisers including former chief strategist Stephen Bannon have stepped up their attacks on the Department of Justice, calling for it to release more documents to the White House while saying a confidential source has worked against Trump. Working from his Capitol Hill townhouse, Bannon has consulted with Trump-friendly congressmen including Nunes and Rep. Mark Meadows, to rally support among Republicans and push Trump to act more aggressively, according to two people familiar with the discussions but not authorized to discuss them privately. Bannon, who had a falling out with the president last year, often passes his thoughts to the White House via the congressmen or Trump advisers. He has long pushed for a more antagonistic approach to the probe, dismissing talk from former Trump lawyer Ty Cobb and others who he feels minimized the threat the special counsel posed. For 23 years, John Barnes worked for the Houston Police Department, patrolling the streets of citys southwest side, and later hunting rapists and pedophiles. But his most dangerous day came four months into his new job as a school police officer in Santa Fe, when gunman opened fire in the towns high school, killing ten and critically injuring Barnes. During the shooting, Barnes and another officer rushed into Santa Fe ISD High School, where they confronted the 17-year-old junior accused in the shooting, Dimitrios Pagourtzis. Pagourtzis shot Barnes with a shotgun, badly wounding the 49-year-old school police officer, according to HPD Capt. Jim Dale, a close friend of the officer. A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper with Barnes fired off a shot before Pagourtzis surrendered. Dale said Barnes was taken in critical condition to UTMB Galveston, where the heart of the injured officer stopped twice as paramedics and doctors scrambled to stem bleeding from wounds in both arms and repair the damage caused by the shotgun blast. In stark contrast to the decision of a Florida sheriffs deputy who waited outside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School as a shooter killed 17 people, Barnes charged into Santa Fe ISD High School with the state trooper and confronted the gunman. He went to the fight. He was willing to give up his life to save as many children as possible, said Houston Police Chaplain Monty Montgomery, another friend. Thats a big difference than what weve seen some other times. Around 6 p.m., the officer was out of surgery, according to UTMB. At an earlier briefing, UTMB Hospital doctors explained that Barnes, who was shot in the elbow, was expected to come out of surgery in the next couple of hours as surgeons finished the exacting work of fixing the damage caused by the multiple projectiles of a shotgun blast. Chief Medical Officer Gulshan Sharma said surgeons were repairing injuries to the bone and blood vessel in Barnes elbow. Immediately following the shooting, Barnes was bleeding out and his blood pressure was very low, Sharma said. By Friday afternoon, Barnes vital signs were stable and showed some good signs at this point. But for hours after the shooting, reports whipsawed back and forth about his condition, rattling his former colleagues. Around 2:30 p.m., Chief Art Acevedo said in a tweet that Barnes was hanging in there and that his family was very hopeful. John is known for his tireless work in Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, Acevedo also tweeted. The senior police officer joined HPD in 1995, and worked in southwest patrol for years before transferring to an investigations assignment in 2005. Barnes, according to records from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, started his career working as a jailer and deputy for the Tarrant County Sheriffs Office. Over the course of his career, he accumulated almost 6,000 training hours and numerous department awards for his investigative work. In 2008, he was named Reactive Investigator of the year for his work on an internet sex crimes case, according to Badge and Gun, the magazine published by the Houston Police Officers Union. Dale and Barnes met in 1994 when they attended the HPD academy. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Barnes who they nicknamed Tarrant County told other officers they should all watch the 1973 movie Serpico, he recalled. It was a reference to the true story of a dogged New York City police detectives who fought rampant corruption on the force. He didnt want anything to taint the badge, Dale said. He had the utmost respect for the profession. After a decade in the patrol division, Barnes became a detective, investigating pedophiles and sexual predators. In January, he retired from HPD after more than two decades. On Jan. 5, Barnes joined the Santa Fe ISD police department, a move that would let him work closer to his home in League City. He has a wife a teacher in Santa Fe ISD who works at another school in the district and a son and daughter. I can live down there closer to the family and live the easy life, Dale recalled Barnes telling him. Now you look back at it and think, theres no such thing as an easy life in this profession. The shooting occurred on the last day of National Police Week, 12 hours before Houston police officers were set to gather at the Houston Police Officers Memorial to mourn comrades who have died in the line of duty, including Sgt. Steve Perez, the 61-year-old officer who died in the floodwaters of Hurricane Harvey last year. Its a really emotional rollercoaster, Dale said. He was grateful his friend had survived, but also thinking of all the children killed in the shooting. Youve got 10 students parents who wont have the summer to look forward to, he said. Or graduation next week. Theyre going to have to bury them. Jacob Carpenter and Lise Olsen contributed to this report. Students in the McCallie Middle School gathered with family and friends to celebrate another year in McDonald Hall with Middle School Awards Day in the morning followed by the Eighth Grade Celebration that evening in the Chapel. Middle School Awards Day is a time to recognize the special achievements of the boys who will become the next generation of leaders at McCallie, especially the eighth-graders who will soon begin their time in the Upper School as freshmen next fall. The T.E.P. Woods Academic Medal of Excellence, given to the student or students with the years highest GPA in each grade, is the top academic honor for Middle School students. This years Middle School winners were: Sixth Grade: James Cross Seventh Grade: Jackson Cook and Andrew Walldorf Eighth Grade: Shrayen Daniel The awards list was highlighted by Sonny Rivinder winning the American Legion Citizenship Award and Evan Winnie being awarded the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship/Patriotism Award. Subject awards were also presented to the top students in specific classes as well as the arts, and students were also honored for excellence in citizenship, generosity and school spirit. Looking ahead, Jackson Cook, John Gabbert and Ander Youngblood were named Middle School representatives to the Student Senate for the next school year, and eighth-grader Javen Johnson will serve as the freshman day-student Senate representative for the 2018-19 school year. At the Eighth Grade Celebration, the boys were honored as a class for their hard work and enthusiasm in the Middle School before being symbolically welcomed to the next phase of their McCallie journey as freshmen in the Middle School next fall. A full list of Middle School Awards can be seen at this link. Ever since that fateful flight from Portland to Seattle on Nov. 24, 1971, people have been trying to track down D.B. Cooper. And as hard as people have been trying to track him, so, too, have people been trying to prove they were him. The latest in the latter pursuits was announced by a Michigan publishing firm Thursday; a Michigan man -- now dead -- had confessed the crime to his best friend over the course of 14 years. Detailed in the newly published book, "D.B. Cooper & Me: A Criminal, A Spy, My Best Friend," a former military paratrooper and "intelligence operative" named Walter R. Reca told his friend Carl Laurin in multiple recorded conversations that he had, in fact, pulled off the heist and gotten away with all the money. RELATED: New 'evidence' may have been found in D.B. Cooper case The case is the only unsolved case of air piracy in U.S. history. It began Nov. 24, 1971, when a man calling himself Dan Cooper bought a one-way ticket from Portland to Seattle on Northwest Orient Airlines. Aboard the Boeing 727, he handed a note to the flight attendant saying he had a bomb and that he wanted $200,000 and four parachutes, as well as a refueling truck when the plane reached Seattle. Once there, he exchanged the passengers for the money and ordered the pilots to take off again with a flight plan for Mexico. Somewhere over southwest Washington state, the man lowered the rear stair door of the 727 and jumped out. He was never seen again. The only verified evidence ever found was a small cache of $20 bills discovered along the Columbia River in 1980. They carried serial numbers that matched some of the money given to Cooper. In 2016, the FBI announced it would stop actively investigating the case, but would take action on any physical evidence of the either the parachute or the money. Principia Media, which published the book, held a news conference on Thursday to announced the book and the "true" identity of Cooper. The announcement sent out Wednesday detailed other evidence of Reca's guilt: Correct flight path and landing zone identified Witness testimony from an individual who spoke with Reca within an hour of his jump Documentation concerning how the $200,000 ransom was spent Confessions from Reca to two individuals at two different times An article of clothing Reca wore during the jump A team of private investigators dug into the theory and the case was reviewed by a certified fraud examiner before the firm published the book, the company said in its release. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Another team of investigators, however, has its own theory about Cooper. That 40-member team, headed by Los Angeles author and filmmaker Thomas Colbert and his wife Dawna, last year and earlier this year presented what Colbert believed is physical evidence from Cooper's parachute to the FBI. Colbert's seven-year investigation has led him to believe a San Diego man named Robert Rackstraw is the real hijacker. RELATED: New on D.B. Cooper: Private investigators say he was CIA Rackstraw was investigated by the FBI and then dismissed as a suspect in the 1970s. At one point last year, he refused to deny the heist in a brief phone call with SeattlePI, but said the reporter should verify Colbert's case. In February, Colbert announced that his team had determined that Rackstraw was likely a black ops CIA operative and the government had actively worked to cover up his identity. Colbert has also said the FBI worked to cover up the case. The FBI has only repeated its statement that is is no longer actively pursuing the Cooper case, but will consider any physical evidence of either the parachute or the money. Senior editor Daniel DeMay covers Seattle culture, city hall, and transportation for seattlepi.com. He can be reached at 206-448-8362 or danieldemay@seattlepi.com. Follow him on Twitter: @Daniel_DeMay. [May 18, 2018] CATERPILLAR INVESTIGATION UPDATE by Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates the Officers and Directors of Caterpillar, Inc. - CAT Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into Caterpillar, Inc. (NYSE: CAT). On March 2, 2017, multiple federal law enforcement agencies executed search warrants in a raid of Caterpillar's offices, which the Company stated was related to "export filings" for its Swiss subsidiary. Media reports alleged that the raids were "related to potential crimes, including 'failure to file or submitting false electronic export information' and 'false and misleading financial reports and statements'" and that a report commissioned by the federal government accused Caterpillar of tax and accounting fraud, avoiding federal income taxes on billions of dollars of offshore money, to boost its stock price. Thereafter, Caterpillar and certain of its executives were sued in a securities class action lawsuit, charging them with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws, which is ongoing. On October 10, 2017, the Comany filed a motion to dismiss the suit, which is presently under consideration by the court. KSF's investigation is focusing on whether Caterpillar's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to Caterpillar's shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws. If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-time holder of Caterpillar shares, and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-cat/ to learn more. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180518005647/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 19, 2018] In 2018, up to 67% of the new crypto assets we followed were selling below issuance prices, According to Huobi Research SINGAPORE, May 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Huobi Research, shared the latest '2018 H1 Global Blockchain Industry Overview and Prospects' report. According to the report, crypto assets crowd funding exploded in 2017. The funding amount was 23 times that of 2016. In 2018, up to 67% of the new crypto assets we followed were selling below issuance prices, however, a few projects still delivered great performances, such as Zilliqa, Tomochain, Bluzelle etc. In addition, the report elaborated in-depth aspects of the Crypto assets market, the Crypto Market Regulation, the Blockchain industry, and the Blockchain technology. The complete report will World premiere in Blockchain Festival Vietnam on May 24 and 25, presentedby Huobi Pro. Hubery Yuan, Dean of Huobi research, will be unveiling the further analysis and explanation, expounding in greater details at the Blockchain Festival Vietnam conference. This report shared is one of the highlights of the conference. There will be an immense wealth of industry knowledge shared by the 30 industry's top thought leaders, at the two-day conference, held on May 24 and 25, which will see over 1,500+ attendees. Topics in this international conference include technical developments and latest industry trends in the Blockchain industry, all of which was presented in both English and Vietnamese, with dual-screen language presentations, as well as the dual-lingual translator on-site for both days. The conference will also see interactions between the attendees and 30 over projects, and will stand a chance to win Candybox Airdrops worth up to US$50,000. Attendees will also get to learn from successful venture capitalists, angel investors and private investors who will be sharing their hot tips on how their investment decisions are made. Students and professors from various fields at the conference will also be sponsored to attend the event for free, to be exposed to the potential career opportunities that the blockchain industry entails. For more information about Blockchain Festival Vietnam, head to: https://www.blockchainfestival.com/ If you are keen to report this event, please register your media pass here: https://ticketbox.vn/event/blockchain-festival-vietnam-70644/46909 The entire conference will be live-streamed from 10am (GMT+8) on 24-25th May. International fans may watch the live broadcast at this url: https://www.youtube.com/c/huobipro/live/ Media Contact: Tingyu Dong, media@Huobi.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/693928/Huobi_Research_Blockchain_Festival_Vietnam.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 19, 2018] NanoScientific, the Journal for Nanotechnology Launches New Web Version Showcasing Pioneering Research and Applications SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 19, 2018 /CNW/ -- NanoScientific, a popular nanoscience magazine is pleased to announce the launch of their web version, www.nanoscientific.org, an online portal featuring pioneering future oriented news and articles on Nanotechnology research and applications. Nanotechnology, the fastest growing sector of the world economy impacts every aspect of our society. NanoScientific publishes one-on-one exclusive interviews with pioneering thought leaders and researchers, along with the latest advances on nano-related tools for imaging and metrology where new applications are being unveiled at unprecedented speed. "Our aim is to serve the vast nano science community with informative engaging first-hand interviews on the latest breakthroughs in Nano Research," comments Keibock Lee, Editor-in-Chief. "NanoScientific articles focus on new and emerging fields of nanoscience research, with a high priority set on letting the audience understand the researcher's views and perspectives." "We cover a wide variety of topics related to nanotechnology advancements including tools that expand our ability to image, view and analyze at the ever shrinking precision of nanoscale metrology," adds Lee. In 2014, NanoScientific was launched to provide news and articles related to the field of Nanoscience across a wide range of multi disciplinary areas of research. Now distributed world-wide to over 40,000, NanoScientific represents one of the industry's leading scientific journals dedicated to nanoscale science and technology, playing a pivotal role in the advancement of scientific knowledge sharing by attracting a broad spectrum of researchers in the fields of physics, chemistry, biomedicine, semiconductor, energy, materials science and engineering. NanoScientific is also sponsoring, along with Park Systems a series of NanoScientific Symposiums globally. The first NanoScientific Symposium 2018 on Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) will be held at the Park Nanoscience Center at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Albany NY , 2018. The Symposium is presented to give attendees the latest updates in SPM, an opportunity to present their research papers, attend a special short course on Atomic Force Microscopes and foster ongoing relationships in the field of nanotechnology. NanoScientific Forum Europe (NSFE2018) will be held in Freiberg, Germany; co sponsored by Technical University Freiberg Oct. 10-12, 2018 and will feature a special session on "nanobubbles", which is a flagship project of TU Freiberg and Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology. NanoScientific is published quarterly and nanoscientific.org web site contains all the articles published in an easy-to-use online searchable format, along with news videos and applications. To be added to the NanoScientific mailing list to receive your free copy of the printed magazine register here. About NanoScientific NanoScientific Journal is published quarterly to showcase advancements in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology across a wide range of multi disciplinary areas of research. Each issue covers informative articles about nanotechnology trends balanced with leading edge scientific research applications and concepts. NanoScientific has been published since 2014 and has a global distribution of over 30,000 in North America, Europe and Asia. Click here to register for a free quarterly printed copy. NanoScientific Symposiums are offered world-wide to share scientific knowledge and foster ongoing relationships in the field of Nanotechnology. Click here to learn more about the NanoScientific Symposium on SPM in the US and click here to learn more about the NanoScientific Forum in Europe. About Park Systems Park Systems is a world-leading manufacturer of atomic force microscopy (AFM) systems with a complete range of products for researchers and industry engineers in chemistry, materials, physics, life sciences, and semiconductor and data storage industries. Park's products are used by over a thousand of institutions and corporations worldwide. Park's AFM provides highest data accuracy at nanoscale resolution, superior productivity, and lowest operating cost thanks to its unique technology and innovative engineering. Park Systems, Inc. is headquartered in Santa Clara, California with its global manufacturing, and R&D headquarters in Korea. Park's products are sold and supported worldwide with regional headquarters in the US, Korea, Japan, Mexico and Singapore, and distribution partners throughout Europe, Asia, and America. Please visit http://www.parksystems.com or call 408-986-1110 for more information. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nanoscientific-the-journal-for-nanotechnology-launches-new-web-version-showcasing-pioneering-research-and-applications-300651501.html SOURCE Park Systems [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Computex is just around the corner, and PowerColor is bringing a new graphics card to its booth. The company this week gave a sneak-peak of a new Radeon RX Vega 56 that it intends to reveal at the show. PowerColor recently launched the Red Dragon RX Vega 56, so we werent expecting the company to show up with another model. However, PowerColor saw a gap in the market that needed to be filled. When AMD revealed its previous high-end GPU, the R9 Fury series, it announced a model called the R9 Nano that would offer similar performance in a compact form factor suitable for iTX builds. AMD didnt carry the Nano name forward with the RX Vega series, but PowerColor is about to revive the name. The company plans to launch the PowerColor RX Vega 56 Nano Edition at Computex in early June. We dont know much about the card yet. PowerColor released a single image of the card, which shows that it will have three DisplayPorts and one HDMI interface. The card also appears to be slightly longer than the older R9 Nano cards. The RX Vega 56 Nano Edition also features 8-pin and 6-pin power plugs, which suggests PowerColors new card wont be as power efficient as the R9 Nano is, which was one of the key features of the original Nano concept. We should know the full details about the RX Vega 56 Nano Edition soon. PowerColor said it would be showing the card in its private meeting room at the Nangang Exibition Hall at Computex Taipei between June 5 and June 8. The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is an absolute monster of a challenge. Composed of 156 turns laid across 12.4 miles of narrow two-lane switchbacks, The Race to the Clouds lives up to its name by climbing some 4,720 feet, with the peak touching the sky at over 14,000 feet above sea level. As such, aero set-up is particularly tricky to work out, as the extreme high altitude conditions make wings and cooling substantially less effective, even when compared between the start and finish lines. Volkswagen is tackling the problem by testing and tuning in the wind tunnel is it preps for a run at Americas Mountain with the new I.D. R all-electric racer. The Full Story Volkswagens stated goal is nothing less than a reset on the all-electric prototype class record of 8 minutes, 57.118 seconds. Although Volkswagen has been mighty concerned with EVs and alternative vehicles as of late, its not about to hang up its racing helmet for good. Rather, the German auto behemoth is looking to apply that all-electric know-how to going fast, including a run at this years Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Tasked with tackling the world-famous event will be the I.D. R, a custom speed machine purpose-built to take on Pikes Peak. Its VWs first-ever all-electric race car, powered by a dual-electric-motor set-up rated at 671 horsepower. At the helm will be Romain Dumas, a French Racing driver with a slew of victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, the 24 Hours of Spa, and the 12 Hours of Sebring, not to mention three wins at Pikes Peak in 2014, 2016, and 2017. Volkswagens stated goal is nothing less than a reset on the all-electric prototype class record of 8 minutes, 57.118 seconds, as set by Rhys Millen in 2016 while driving the PP100. Clearly, Volkswagen is going full-bore on this one, but to walk away a winner, its gonna need the right ride. Indeed, developing a winning race car is certainly no small task in and of itself, especially when it comes to the aero set-up for Pikes Peak, as explained by Francois-Xavier Demaison, Volkswagen Motorsports Technical Director and the I.D. R Pikes Peak Project Manager: The start line is located at an altitude just above 9,000 feet, with the finish at 14,115 feet above sea level. The low air pressure up there means that the aerodynamic conditions are different to those at a racetrack on flat land. Luckily, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb regulations provide a broad spectrum of solutions for engineers to work with, especially with regards to the chassis and rear wing set-up. VW expects the I.D. R to achieve a top speed of 155 mph on the run. And while thats definitely quite fast, the I.D. R is capable of going much faster on a flatter, more open circuit with longer straights. So rather than eking out more top end, the VW team concentrated primarily on higher cornering speeds. The entire chassis is designed to generate as much downforce as possible, without causing too much aerodynamic drag, reports Demaison. As you can see, one of the primary aero components is a rear wing that can only be described as friggin enormous. As you can see, one of the primary aero components is a rear wing that can only be described as friggin enormous. The altitude on Pikes Peak means that the air we are driving through is on average 35 percent thinner. As a result, we lose 35 percent of our downforce compared to a racetrack at sea level, says Demaison. The huge rear wing allows us to compensate for some of this lost downforce. The imaginative aerodynamic development means that we will still achieve maximum downforce greater than the weight of the car during the hill climb. To test and tune the new set-up, Volkswagen Motorsport started with a half-scale model in the wind tunnel, trying out a variety of different aero configurations. After finding the right baseline, the team then added the updates to the full-size chassis and tested it at the Porsche development center in Weissach, where an advanced rolling-road wind tunnel provided the final data needed. To help accelerate the development process, VW used 3D printing technology to quickly churn out new components. In total, VW says it produced some 2,000 individual parts using 3D printing over the course of aero development. Volkswagen also says that despite the all-electric powertrain, cooling was still a bit of an issue in the extremely thin air. To keep things chilly without adding large, drag-inducing intakes, Volkswagen used ANSYS software to recreate the high-altitude conditions in simulations. To keep things chilly without adding large, drag-inducing intakes, Volkswagen used ANSYS software to recreate the high-altitude conditions in simulations, finding exactly what was needed for optimum performance without actually recreating the low-pressure atmosphere in real-world testing. All told, VW is looking to put up a very strong effort this year. Up next is a planned test session on the real-life Pikes Peak route by the end of the month. The 2018 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will kick off June 24th in Colorado Springs, CO. Look for coverage right here at TopSpeed.com. References Volkswagens I.D. R Pikes Peak Racer is Not For the Weak of Heart Read more Volkswagen news. I do my duty without fear or favour. This was how Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley responded yesterday to a question from the Opposition on whether he met President Paula-Mae Weekes at Presidents House in August to influence the Police Service Commissions process of selecting a Police Commissioner. When generations ahead of us evolve many years hence, and scientists in their labs or students in their classrooms look back at us, at the problems we faced and how we addressed them, I fear they wont be charitable in their evaluations of their ancestors of Trinidad and Tobago. In order to travel to Vietnam you will need a tourist visa, unless you are from one of these countries. If you are from the United States, and want to travel to Vietnam, there is a lot of unclear and misinformation about what kind of visa to get, where to get it, and how much it costs. I recently traveled to Vietnam, and applied/received my visa just days before my trip. I am writing this article as a guide to help out others who may be considering traveling to Vietnam. If you intend to travel to Vietnam for tourist purposes only, I highly suggest applying for a loose-leaf visa. The loose-leaf visa is the same as any other Vietnamese Visa except that it is not pasted into your passport, rather it is a separate travel document. You may staple it into your passport, but either way, contrary to information online, you can keep your visa after your trip as it will not be confiscated by officials when you leave Vietnam. 1.Fill out this application: You do not need to include your visa photo in this document, however you can if you want to. When you complete the application you MUST download a PDF copy of it. I would suggest creating a folder where you can keep all of the documents you need to get a visa. 2.You need a copy of the data page of passport (ID page). The copy of passport should be in *.PNG or *.JPG or *.JPEG or *.GIF format. 3.You also need 2x2 inch identical photo in *.PNG or *.JPG or *.JPEG format. Photo is taken within the last 01 year, straight face, no hat, no dark or tinted glass. The photo must be clear for identification. 4. Once you have all three of these documents, attach them to an email and send them to this email address: visatovn@vietnamembassy.us Inside the email, provide the following information: ~Current mailing/shipping address for your visa to be returned ~Credit Card/Visa Card/Master Card information for payment of visa fee (card number and expiration date). The fee will be charged only if you agree to the amount that the Embassy tells you. 5. Once you email all of the documents and provide the information, you should get a response back from the embassy very quickly. NOTE: The email address that responds to you may not be visatovn@vietnamembassy.us, I received an email from a GMAIL account associated with the embassy. 6. When the embassy responds to your application, they will tell you the price of the visa + shipping. The price varies, but for my visa and expedited shipping it cost me $100. You MUST respond to the email and agree to the cost. If you do not, you will not get a visa. 7. Once you respond, the embassy will confirm your response and process your application, and you will receive your visa in the mail shortly after. 8. Double check all of the information on your visa once you receive it, if any of the information is incorrect, you will not be able to use it. 9. Bring the visa with you when you travel to Vietnam and present it to immigration. Overall, the process is very simple, and I highly recommend this visa option, and contrary to a lot of the information on the internet, you do NOT need a special reason to get a loose-leaf visa. Anyone can apply for it! I am not certain how this process differs outside of the United States, however, I believe that it is similar if not the same since the application is also available in Vietnamese, Chinese, French, and German. If you need any help or have any questions feel free to comment below. Hello, I will be traveling to Vava'u in Tonga to swim with the whales in the wild for 7 days, I am then open to travel anywhere. Since I would like to stay roughly 17 to 21 days in total I am seeking an itinerary that will allow me to see a variety of culture, different terrain to explore, hiking, snorkeling, relaxing on beaches etc while spending as little time as possible actually traveling in airports and waiting for flights. After the whales I will have 10 to 14 days left to do anything. I thought from Vava'u I would go to New Caledonia. Then I would head to Fiji. Or visit Vanuatu, instead of New Caledonia. Or visit Vanuatu instead of Fiji: 1. Which would you recommend New Caledonia and/or Vanuatu and/or Fiji? 2. Is there another island group that would be recommended that are near Tonga and easy to get to over New Caledonia and Vanuatu and Fiji? 3. Would you recommend spending any time in Tonga while I am in Vava'u? If you have had the chance to see Victoria Rubadiri on set, you probably have noticed the pretty calm, relaxing and highly charming characteristics that she displays on air. A successful news anchor, and a loved figure in the media industry by many viewers, Victoria Rubadiri seems like the complete package. The successful woman is also a mother to one daughter. Who is Victoria Rubadiri, daughter? If you are curious as to who she is, this is the right piece for you. Source: Barakafm Although Victoria Rubadiri is a single mother, that has not hindered her from achieving her career goals. She also plays the role of a mother the best way she know how. Who Is Victoria Rubadiri? Victoria Rubadiri story is an interesting one. The mother of one daughter, Victoria Rubadiri is a Kenyan national who spent a large part of her life living in the United States. She was born in Kenya In the year 1987 with her mother is the product of a mixed marriage between Maasai and Kalenjin and her father being of a Malawian descent. Victoria and her family stayed in the country until she was ten years old. At the time she got to ten years of age her family relocated to the united states of America. This move seemed not to have gone well with Victoria and the results were that she got pregnant in her teenage years. Eventually, with the support from her family, she managed to complete her education. She went on to study a Broadcast Journalism and she attained a Bachelors degree. In the early years of her career, she did more of freelance work. In the year 2010, her family then relocated to Kenya and this is where her career as a journalist seemed to have gained traction. She got a job in Capital FM. This job would then act as the stepping stone to her next job where she was employed at NTV as a news anchor. She hosted the show NTV Prime Time Weekend Edition. Victoria Rubadiri education and career Victoria Rubadiri studied in the united states for most of her life. She went to the Atlantic City High School where she studied between the year 1999 to the year 2003. she would later go on to join Temple University in the year 2003. this was where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts(B.A.), Broadcast Journalism, B where she graduated in the year 2009. Victoria was not willing to wait to graduate so that she can start working. She worked as an intern at WMGM-NBC 40 TV in the year 2007 and in 2008, she worked as an assistant to the CEO of Angela Crockett, the founder of Angela Crockett Enterprises Inc. in the duration she was at WMGM-NBC 40 TV she embarked on different tasks including writing scripts for the evening news program and conducting field reports. She later joined Capital FM in Kenya as a business reporter/news presenter in the year 2011. in 2012, she left the station and joined the Nation Media Group as an anchor and reporter. Some of the roles she was accorded in NTV included, researching for scripts and editing stories for news broadcasts and she was also a news anchor and had her weekly show, Victorias Lounge. Source: Pulselive It is just recently that the stories of Victoria quiting the Nation Media sufficed. It was confirmed that the beautiful anchor is set to leave the Nation Media Group and it is believed that she is headed to a rival local station. she is among the many employees that have decided to call it quits with the station. Reports indicate that the employees are not happy with the management of the station and they are opting to leave. Some of the notable names that have already left the company include Larry Madowo, who was recently employed at BBC Africa, Edmound Nyabola and Linus Kaikai. Victoria has a number of volunteer work under her name. She mentored students, from university students to secondary school students. She has worked with several organizations including Microsoft who she partnered with in 2016 in a campaign to educate the girls on the Importance of education. Some of the other organizations she has partnered with include Akili Dada and also a church, Christ is the answer ministries located in Karen. READ ALSO: Victoria Rubadiri Husband Victoria Rubadiri daughter Victoria Rubadiri became a mother at the tender age of 18. She says it was not easy for her as when she became pregnant, the baby daddy did not want anything to do with the baby. This she opened up about it 2015 edition of True Love Magazine. Victoria says that at one point she contemplated having an abortion but her father would hear none of that. Victoria Rubadiri child is now alive because of the support she got from family. At the time, she was in university. She had her baby, and it was a baby girl. Victoria Rubadiri daughter name is Neema. Source: Ghafla.com Neema Rubadiri, is a lucky girl. Victoria is not shy to tell the world the amount of love she has for her daughter. Vicky insists that when she is not working, she puts everything on hold and goes home to spend the much-needed quality time with her daughter. Victoria Rubadiri baby is one lucky child it seems. She says he loves travelling with her daughter whenever she gets time. She takes her on overseas trips including trips to Disney world and she also takes her to New Jersey. New Jersey is where Victoria Rubadiri baby daddy resides. Some people wonder who Victoria Rubadiri husband is. Well, she is not married. She lets her daughter see her father and she says that the father-daughter relationship between them is good. She also says that the father of her child now supports her decision to live in Kenya so that she might be able to fend for her daughter. You might ask, How old is Victoria Rubadiri, daughter? Well, first, you need to know Victoria Rubadiri current age is 31 years. We can, therefore, place Victoria Rubadiri daughter age at around 13 years since she got her when she was still 18. Victoria Rubadiri daughters photos There is no much available Victoria Rubadiri daughter photos because she likes to keep her daughter out of the limelight. She keeps her life private and it is rare to see any Victoria Rubadiri daughter pics on social medias. READ ALSO: Victoria Rubadiri: Biography of a Single Mother, Who Managed to Become a Star Source: Tuko Whether you are or not a fan of the East African celebrity couple Diamond Platnumz and Zari, you must have heard about these two. For quite a long time, they have been on the headlines of various news articles. We have had news of them when they were dating, when they got married and when they had babies together. In the recent past, their popularity has escalated following their break up. If you have heard about Diamond Platnumz and Zari latest news, then you must be aware that this seemingly power couple broke up. Before we delve deep into their lives, it is wise that we get to know who they are in terms of their biography. This will lead us into knowing how their lives have progressed. Diamond Platnumz and Zari Diamond Platnumz , whose real name is Naseeb Abdul Juma, was born in 1989, 2nd October in Tandale, Tanzania. He is a Muslim and popularly known for his music. He is music star and recording artist and is influential not only in his home country Tanzania but also in East Africa and abroad. He owns WCB Wasafi Records. At the moment, he is one of the most celebrated artists. His fans not only like that he is handsome and but they also fall in love with his dancing styles. If you walk in the streets today, you will notice some of his songs playing. He has produced very many songs with several artists. Some of his major hits include Sikomi, Number One, Salome, Eneka, African Beauty, Nana, Nataka Kulewa, Niache and Kidogo among others. In the recent past, he has surprised several people through his collaboration with foreign artists like Ne-Yo, Omarion and Rick Ross among others. It goes without saying that Diamond Platnumz is one of the richest musicians around East Africa and beyond. Considering that Diamond Platnumz has excellent vocals, impressive dance moves and writes songs that resonate with many people especially in East Africa, he will definitely achieve a lot of success in future. His ability to reach out, help and collaborate with upcoming stars is also a major contribution towards the society. Zari Hassan or the boss lady as she is commonly known is a business woman. She was born in 1980, September 23 in Jinja Uganda. Besides being into business, she is also a celebrity, socialite and a musician. Zari Hassan currently resides in South Africa with her five kids. Before getting married to Diamond, she was married to the late Ivan Semwanga but they divorced after 12 years of being together. Zari Hassan is influential in very many ways. Despite being cheated on by Diamond Platnumz, losing her mother and her ex-husband, she still stands strong. Many people, especially young girls, look up to her as their model. She not only possesses beauty but brains as well. Outline of Diamond Platnumz and Zari Hassan love story Isnt love wonderful? It goes without saying that at some point in our loves, we desire to love and also be loved back. It is amazing how love begins from something small and then flourishes to something great. Such is the case with Zari Hassan and Diamond Platnumz. Their love story is very amazing to the extent that most fans are yet to come to terms with their break. Diamond Platnumz and girlfriend Zari love developed in a very unpredictable way. They met when Diamond was travelling from South Africa where he had gone to produce his music. This was in 2014. When he set his eyes on this beauty, he wanted to no more about her. They later took a selfie as was requested by Zari, something which was most definitely going to happen, bearing in mind that Diamond is a famous musician and celebrity. What followed later was a photo session of these two. It also happened that both were travelling on the same flight. Since Diamond was seated next to the husband of the seat mate of Zari, Diamond requested to switch seats so that he could sit next to Zari. They travelled together to Tanzania. Before they met during the flight, Zari revealed that Diamond had already collected a lot of information about her. They then took each others contacts and could regularly talk. Zari later invited Diamond to her white party and before they knew it, they had developed feelings towards each other in the most amazing way. In an interview, Diamond was very eager to talk about how he met Zari. He was very excited though no one could predict that something big would grow out of their encounter. After sometime, fans were both pleased and surprised to learn that the two were dating. Pleased because, people love celebrity couples and in this case both of them are public sensational. However, they were surprised at how fast Diamond decided to date Zari. It was barely few months after Diamond and his ex-girlfriend Wema Sepetu reconciled. People expected that since Wema Sepetu had been supportive to Diamond during his early days of his career, he would organize a wedding to show his love for Wema Sepetu. However, this was not going to happen. Even though we dont know for sure if Wema was hoping to be in a relationship again with this bongo star, we most definitely did not expect that he would rush to fall in love with someone else that first. Somehow, it must have hurt Wema but we blame it on the flight encounter. After some time, it became clear that Diamond and Zari were up to something. Diamond Platnumz and Zari images were on the social media platforms of Diamond. Upon being asked why he had so much interest in the boss lady, he claimed that they were just friends. He kept telling people that probably, he would produce something with Zari in future. It became common to see Diamond and Zari together. This meant that the future of Diamond and Wema being together had been shunned. After Diamond and Zari began dating, one could clearly tell that they both loved each. It was a relationship that many people would aspire to have given a chance. The two lived large, drove the best machines and visited wonderful places as was seen from their photos. Truly, being a celebrity requires that a person can behave like a rich person and also show case their lives without the fear of being judged. They were not afraid to show to the world the amount of love that existed between them as was seen from Diamond Platnumz and Zari kissing photos. From the beginning of their relationship, some fans did not like how fast things between Zari and Diamond were moving. Particularly, they were concerned that Zari was way older than Diamond Platnumz. They are 37 years old and 27 years old respectively; a10-year difference. To most people, Diamond was still in a stage where most men explore to find out the woman that they will spend their lives with. Moreover, Zari Hassan also had three grown kids from her previous relationship. So how was Diamond going to fit in her life? Nowadays, it has become common for relationships that are publicized to easily fall apart. Probably, the wishes that this couple would fail just like Diamond had dumped Wema Sepetu twice, was part of the reason their relationship did not survive. However we will find out more why Diamond Platnumz and Zari split as we continue to unravel various bits of their lives. What you need to know about Zari and Diamond Platnumz married life In many societies, people usually progress from dating, then marriage and then having kids. However, not many people get to observe such protocols due to different reasons. Some people get married and have kids immediately. Others have kids first before getting married. While others just marry for companionship. You would expect that Diamond Platnumz and Zari wedding would be one of the best in East Africa and beyond. However, Zari and Diamond wedding did not take place and this explains why some people constantly judged the commitment that these two lovebirds had towards their relationship. Even after having two kids together, something we will discuss later in this article, Diamond and Zari did not show any signs of conducting a wedding. Diamond Platnumz and Zari videos whereby Zari had worn a Ruby green ring raised speculations that it was finally the time that they would make their relationship official. Their video whereby Diamond was showing off Zaris ring as a love song played also raised several questions. However, it turned out that this video was taken during the Dua of her late mother. Being a celebrity requires making clarifications even about the private issues of ones life. Definitely, people wanted to know if, when and where Diamond would wed Zari. To clear the speculations, the couple revealed that they were not in a hurry to do a wedding. They asserted that they had other plans they needed to accomplish before making plans for their wedding. When asked about the wedding, Zari said that their goal was to invest first before doing a wedding. She even said that they would like to build apartments for their kids first. Such investments would be very beneficial to their children even in their absence. Even though both couple had several reasons as to why they were not planning a wedding, Zari spoke fondly about how she would want to have the biggest wedding in East Africa (). This explains why most of the couples fans started doubting if what they had was real or meaningful. Remember, they already had two kids at the time they confessed about the fact that they were not ready to get married. Despite not have a wedding to signify their love, Diamond Platnumz and his wife Zari continued to thrive amidst the judgments and criticism they received from the public. Notably, the issue of having kids out of marriage did not sit well with Muslim leaders who were concerned that Zari was going against the norms and expectations of the Islamic religion. However, Zari is known to be a person who does not care about what other people talk behind her back. This probably explains why it sat well with her to have kids with a man who had not shown any signs of marrying her officially. Honestly speaking, if Zari was not brave despite the public criticism she gets, she probably would not have achieved so much success leave alone being a socialite and celebrity. Some insights on Diamond Platnumz and Zari babies As stated earlier in this article, some people prefer getting kids first before making their union official. Well, these faces of bongo love followed suit. Being that the two met and started dating in 2014 and in 2015 they had a kid together, we could assume that things between them were escalating at a breakneck speed. Diamond meeting Zari was one of the best things that happened in his family. In fact, it was a blessing. If he decided to settle with Wema Sepetu, he most likely would not have had the kids that he has today. It is very unfortunate that Wema Sepetu cannot conceive (). Considering that Diamonds mother longed to have grandchildren from him, it was good that he crossed paths with Zari. Diamond Platnumz and Zari news reveal that the couple only has two kids, a boy and a girl. The girl was born in 2015 while the boy was born in 2016. Diamond Platnumz and Zari daughter and son go by the names Princess Tiffah (Latiffah Dangote) and Prince Nillan (Nillan Dangote). If you have been following Diamond Platnumz and Zari news today, you will realize that these two kids are among the most famous in East Africa and beyond. The kids are as pretty and as handsome as their parents. Often, you will see Diamond Platnumz and Zari baby photos on social media platforms. Judging from these photos, one can tell that these kids live large. They are always dressed to kill. They have instagram accounts that are managed by Zari their mother. Notably, these accounts only follow family members.. READ ALSO: Zari Hassan and Diamond Breakup explained by the socialite herself Since the gap between the two kids is very small, they are just one year apart, the fans and haters of Zari questioned how fast she was giving birth. Definitely, one is bound to wonder why she would rush to have two babies to a man who has not married her officially. Fans even spread rumors that their second born had not been planned for. However, in an interview she said that she was not using any family planning method and they had agreed it was okay if she conceived. Additionally, having kids from different fathers also makes some people view her as one who made wrong choices in life. Raising a kid is hard enough leave alone raising five of them. However, Zari is successful and there is no problem of having many children as long as a person can fend for them. Having five kids is also an indication of how Zari faces life with bravery and confidence. Imagine all the roles that she has to play in one day. She has to be a mother as well as a business person. Previously, she carried these activities out in addition to being a wife to Diamond before they split. It is very unfortunate that Diamond Platnumz and Zari Hassan babies will not be raised in a complete family following the separation of their parents. The separation of a power celebrity couple-Diamond Platnumz and Zari break up It goes without saying that any person would have wished to have the kind of relationship that Zari and Diamond had. Their love continued to blossom even after their second child, Prince Nillan was born. Since they like to publicize their lives, they would always be seen together. Travelling around the world for business or fun activities was the order of the day. Of course we had to know all these, thanks to social media and their desire to let us know how romantic and lovely their relationship was. However, this would not last forever and this is the reason why people are advised to enjoy the moments they have since they cannot be trusted. Obviously, not all people were happy with the lives that Diamond and Zari led. To keep their love growing, they had to overcome several obstacles on the way. For instance, after Prince Nillan was born, there were speculations that the baby was not Diamonds but Zari Hassans ex-husband, Ivan Semwanga. People took to social media to show case how Prince Nillan looked like Ivan. A friend of Ivan, King Lawrence spread this news and he even asked Diamond to do a DNA test. When this failed, King claimed that Zari had abandoned her other three sons and that Diamond should dump her. He even went to the extent of giving him money just so that they could separate. However, this did not affect their lives. More trouble was awaiting them. Zari and Diamonds relationship started falling apart sometime after Prince Nillan was born. It was discovered that Diamond had sired a kid outside the marriage. The baby mama is known as Hamisa Mobetto, a model with was in his song Salome. The public got to know about this affair through Zaris rant on Snapchat. She wrote that Hamisa Mobetto was having sexual relations with Diamond in their house. Hamisa left some earrings, which were cheap as Zari referred to them as 50 cent earrings. Zari also asserted that Hamisa was desperate to have Diamond as her man since, according to Zari, Diamond always assumed Hamisa in public. She ended the rant by calling her cheap. Diamond also confessed that he cheated on Zari with Hamisa Mobetto after a photo of him in bed with Hamisa was leaked on the internet. However, initially, he had denied having an affair with her. In fact, when she publicly stated that she was pregnant for Diamond, he said that she was out to seek attention. Diamond denied it daring her to show who the real father of the child was. Later on in an interview, he confessed being responsible of the pregnancy. They had made a deal with the model to keep the pregnancy a secret and that he would offer financial support to her. After this affair was made public, he claimed that they worked things out with Zari. Following this event, Zari sent a message to her followers that she was grateful for showing their concerned about her well-being. She assured them that she was not at loss. All this time, Zari was having a really tough time. First, her ex-husband died and Diamond did not show up for the burial. After one month and three weeks her mum also died. Due to the Diamond-Hamisa affair, their relationship started falling apart but they would later be seen together after negotiations were done for Zari to accept Diamond back. This was strong of her since nobody wants to be cheated on by a person who they love. This is the reason why she took to Snapchat to rant about this model. When a person is cheated on by another, it hurts to the extent that being together again becomes difficult. However, Zari tried to reconnect with Diamond but it seemed as though he was not committed to being faithful to her. After a few months of reconnecting with Zari, it was discovered that several ladies were visiting Diamonds home in Madale. Later on, a woman claimed that she had slept with Diamond. It reached a point whereby Zari could no longer withstand Diamonds behaviour. Despite forgiving him, he continued to betray her. Diamond Platnumz and Zari divorce took place on Valentines Day this year whereby Zari communicated on social media that she was ending her relationship with Diamond. This was because of his cheating behavior which she could no longer entertain. Diamond Platnumz and Zari latest news is that they are not together any more. Zari has already deleted most of the photos they took with Diamond from instagram. Diamond also declared that he is ready to move on. When asked if she will sue Diamond for child support, she asserted that she will take care of them with what she has. She continued to say that Diamond can offer his support if he feels like and she will not force him to do so. READ ALSO: Zari Hassan concurs with a fan about dumping Diamond Source: Tuko.co.ke - Miguna wants court orders to grant him unconditional entry into Kenya - He moved to court seeking his confiscated passport released to KNHCR - He recently cancelled his highly hyped return trip to Kenya from Canada - The move comes barely days after Sonko nominated him as his DG Fire spitting lawyer Miguna Miguna has renewed efforts to be allowed entry into the country just days after cancelling his trip back to Kenya. Miguna's move came barely days after his rival Mike Sonko nominated him as his deputy in a move that left tongues wagging. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens Reports by Citizen Digital on Friday, May 18, indicated that the combative lawyer filed a fresh case seeking court orders to grant him unconditional entry into Kenya. READ ALSO: Dini ya kuabudu shetani yadaiwa kutua Nairobi, wazazi waonywa The self styled NRM general now wants his confiscated passport released to the Kenya National Commission Human Rights (KNCHR). Miguna, through his lawyer John Khaminwa, said the human rights agency will then present his travel document to Immigration on the day he decides to return. The combative lawyer also accused Kenyan Government, Interior CS Fred Matiangi and Immigration Department of disobeying court orders. READ ALSO: Khaligraph blasts Kenyan artistes criticising 18-year-old rap sensation Msupa S According to him, he was denied his right to appear in court and present his evidence. The Government is deliberately seeking and acting to impede and obstruct the ability of the court to administer justice effectively or at all to hear and determine the petition expeditiously, reads a section of the petition filed at the Milimani Law Court. The court documents indicated that KNHCR wrote to Maj. Gordon Kihalangwa on May 5, giving notice of Migunas intended return on May 16. As reported by TUKO.co.ke, the barrister was expected back but postponed the journey at the last minute citing frustrations by the government. READ ALSO: Mike Sonko welcomes calls to have him impeached as Nairobi governor Miguna's move came barely hours after a defiant Sonko maintained he would not change his mind and drop Miguna's name as his choice for a deputy. This is after the controversial lawyer scoffed at Sonko's lucrative offer terming it malicious sideshows. Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi has urged Miguna to swallow his pride and accept the offer which he said was God sent. Sonko had earlier clarified why he nominated his fiercest critic saying Miguna was well equipped to combat cartels who had wrecked havoc in the city. 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. What is Your Worst Experience in a Matatu? - on TUKO TV Source: Tuko - KenNHA says the bridge was a responsibility of the county government - The roads agency rubbished claims by a blogger that it was responsible for the bad job - It explained the bridge was constructed by the county in partnership with the World Bank The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has distanced itself from a recently built bridge in Machakos that has already developed a wide crack putting lives in danger. In a hard hitting message directed at controversial blogger Abraham Mutai, KeNHA said the project was not sponsored by the government but fell under the jurisdiction of the County Government of Machakos. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens It was an embarrassing moment for the blogger who had used harsh words against another blogger who had shared the pictures of the life-threatening bridge. READ ALSO: Dini ya kuabudu shetani yadaiwa kutua Nairobi, wazazi waonywa Mutai had rubbished the blogger and accused him of always attacking governor Alfred Mutua for things that are not true. READ ALSO: Nairobi county is here to stay - Uhuru assures Sonko Mutai's tackle on Patrick Safari However, Patrick Safari was vindicated when his assertions were confirmed by the roads agency leaving Mutai badly embarrassed and bruised in the ugly online war of words. READ ALSO: Nyeri residents descend on their governor for celebrating goat racing, an unknown culture The response from KeNHA left the blogger badly scathed. Heavy rains pounding different parts of the country have led to the deaths of over 100 people as a result of flooding and landslides and in some areas, dams have broken their walls due to high levels of water than the normal levels. 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. Islam holy month of Ramadhan begins - on TUKO TV Source: Tuko Newspaper A typo is how the Opposition Leader described the Government's entire Budget for fiscal 2022, as she said says it contained nothing for the people of this country. Over the past 24 hours, the situation in the Joint Forces Operation area remained tense but controlled. The fighting continued along the entire line of demarcation. This is reported by the press center of the Joint Forces Operation Headquarters on Facebook. "Russian-occupation troops violated the ceasefire 43 times, including 10 times with the use of 152mm and 122mm artillery and 120mm and 82mm mortars. The units of the joint forces maintained active defense and gave an adequate response to the enemy," the report reads. The armed hostilities were particularly active in Novozvanivka (70km west of Luhansk), Popasna (90 km north-west of Luhansk), Troitske (69km west of Luhansk), Zaitseve (67km north-north-east of Donetsk), Zalizne (39km north of Donetsk), Avdiivka (18km north of Donetsk) and Pisky (12km north-west of Donetsk). At the same time, in Mariupol direction, the fighting continued in the area of Vodiane (16km north-west of Donetsk), Lebedynske (16km north-east of Mariupol) and Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol). Ukrainian strongholds near Vodiane came under sniper fire. By countersniper measures the sniper's fire was promptly suppressed, the Joint Forces Operation Headquarters informed. According to intelligence, two militants were killed and three more were wounded. No casualties were reported among Ukrainian troops in the Joint Forces Operation area over the past day. ish On the morning of May 19, a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was seriously injured as a result of the explosion of an unknown explosive device in the Joint Forces Operation area. Defense Ministry Spokesman Dmytro Hutsuliak said this at a briefing on Saturday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "As of 9 am, one Ukrainian serviceman was injured. He blew up on an unidentified explosive device. At the moment detailed information on the incident is being clarified. The state of his health is bad," Hutsuliak said. ish Ukraine's role as a transit country should remain after the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said this after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, RFE/RL reported. "Germany believes Ukraine's role as a transit country should continue after the construction of Nord Stream 2... it has a strategic importance," Merkel said. She added that "Germany is ready to help ensure such an outcome... It is also necessary to think about guarantees for Ukraine." ish The citizens of Ukraine were not among those killed and injured as a result of the Boeing 737 plane crash in Cuba. Official representative of the Department of Consular Service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Vasyl Kyrylych informed this on Twitter. "According to the Cuban Foreign Ministry, there were no Ukrainians among the passengers and crew members of a Boeing 737 airliner that crashed in Cuba on May 18," he wrote. More than 100 people died after a Boeing 737 airliner crashed near Cuba's main airport in Havana. Cuban authorities have launched an investigation, and two days of national mourning have been declared. ish The idea of Ukraine's accession to the European Union is supported by at least 70% of our citizens, and our country will certainly become a member of European large family. President Petro Poroshenko wrote this on his Facebook page. "Europe has long been not only a geographical category. First of all, Europe means common values of independence, democracy and respect for people and their rights and freedoms. No doubt that Ukrainians are a European nation that has made its civilizational choice - at least 70% of our citizens support the idea of Ukraines accession to the European Union," the head of state wrote. He expresses confidence that Ukraine will certainly become a member of a large family of the European Union. Today, May 19, Ukraine celebrates Europe Day. ish Ukraines Sergei Loznitsa won the best director prize for his Donbass movie in Un Certain Regard competition at the 71st Cannes Film Festival. "The Best Director prize went to an auteur with established Cannes credentials: Ukraine's Sergei Loznitsa, who opened the Un Certain Regard section with his fevered, surreal war study 'Donbass'," Variety wrote. Loznitsa, also not present at the ceremony, sent a statement both thanking the festival and protesting Russias imprisonment of Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov. The script of the film is based on the documentary materials. Director Sergei Loznitsa describes the events that took place in eastern Ukraine. People, who are forced to adapt to life in conditions when the institutions of power, family and professional ties break up, take the center stage. Donbas is the anti-war movie, whose heroes are victims of circumstances. The movie was created in co-production of Ukraine, Germany, the Netherlands, France and Romania. ish Artemenko is now scheduled to appear under oath before a grand jury on June 1. Special counsel Robert Mueller's team has been meeting over the last year with a Ukrainian lawmaker at the center of a controversial plan to end his country's conflict with Russia, pressing him for details about interactions with Trump administration officials. Andrii Artemenko told POLITICO that FBI agents had peppered him with "assorted questions" over "at least" two interviews about his "meetings, dealings and the questions discussed with various levels of the American political establishment." Read alsoMueller's team told Trump's lawyers they can't indict a president CNN "These included congressmen, senators and representatives of the White House administration," he added in a telephone conversation on Friday, after a meeting with members of the Mueller team. While Artemenko declined to offer the names of specific people the FBI asked about, the details shed new light on the work of the special counsel, who is spearheading an investigation into Russia's attempts to interfere with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and whether the Trump campaign aided in these efforts. In total, Artemenko said, he was presented with a list of more than 140 questions and is now scheduled to appear under oath before a grand jury on June 1. Poroshenko says Ukraine will definitely become a member of a large European family. Ukrainians are celebrating Europe Day, which appeared in the country 15 years ago and is celebrated every third Saturday of May. Read alsoUkraine honors victims of 1944 genocide against Crimean Tatars "Europe it has long been not just a geographical category. First of all, these are the common values of independence, democracy and respect for a person and his rights and freedoms. And the Ukrainians, no doubt, are a European nation that has made its civilizational choice: at least 70% of our citizens support the idea of Ukraine's accession to the European Union," Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko wrote on Facebook. Poroshenko expressed his confidence that "Ukraine will definitely become a member of a large European family." The escalation of the situation in Donbas and the continued suffering of the civilian population is yet another proof that there is an urgent need to deploy the peacekeeping operation in Donbas as soon as possible. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine calls on the international community to condemn the terrorist attacks in the village of Troyitske and the town of Svitlodarsk. Read alsoRussian forces shell Troyitske in Luhansk region, kill family with teenager (Photo) "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine strongly condemns the new crimes of the Russian occupation forces against civilians in Donbas," the ministry said in a statement published on its official website. "Yet another crime by Russian occupants indicates that Russia continues to ignore its obligations under the Minsk agreements, break the cease-fire agreement reached within the framework of the Trilateral Contact Group and deliberately resort to escalation," reads the report. It is also noted the escalation of the situation in Donbas and the continued suffering of the civilian population is yet another proof that there is an urgent need to deploy the peacekeeping operation in Donbas as soon as possible. "The crimes committed by Russia and its proxies in Donbas require more resolute and effective response by the international community. We call on the international community to condemn the terrorist attacks in the village of Troyitske and the town of Svitlodarsk and to strengthen political and diplomatic pressure on the Kremlin in order to stop the dangerous escalation in Donbas, which leads to new victims, in particular among the civilian population," the ministry said. According to intelligence data, two militants were killed, while three others were wounded. Russian-led forces mounted 43 attacks on Ukrainian troops in Donbas in the past day, using artillery systems and 120mm and 82mm mortars 10 times. "There have been no casualties among the Ukrainian servicemen over the past 24 hours and since the beginning of the current day. According to intelligence data, two militants were killed, while three others were wounded," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said in an update on Facebook as of 07:00 Kyiv time on May 19, 2018. Read alsoTerrorist leader Girkin expects Ukraine army may soon liberate several settlements in Donbas Active military operations continued in the Luhansk sector near the town of Popasna, and the villages of Novozvanivka and Troyitske. In the direction of the town of Horlivka, the enemy was active near the villages of Zaitseve and Zalizne, as well as near the Avdiyivka industrial zone and the village of Pisky, which are in the Donetsk sector. In the Mariupol sector, the hostilities continued near the villages of Vodiane, Lebedynske and Shyrokyne. "A sniper pair was spotted near Vodiane. The fire was quickly suppressed by counter-sniper measures," reads the report. The SBU operatives established that the urgent withdrawal of Dozors was conducted by the PMC Wagner logistics platoon. The SBU Security Service of Ukraine keeps on public informing about recording results of Russian war crimes in the territory of Ukraine. "In the course of the Debaltseve assault by the regular Russian units and terrorists on February 21, 2015, officers of the Ukrainian special service taped telephone conversations of the Russian special services' unit representatives named Private Military Company (PMC) Wagner. The received information is another evidence of Russia military aggression and testifies to severe losses of Russian servicemen in the course of 'hybrid warfare' against Ukraine," the SBU said on its official website. It was recorded that in the midst of fighting, the leader of PMC Wagner, Russia national, ex-officer of special task force unit of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Dmitry Utkin (service number M-0209), gave a command to his subordinate Russia national Serhiy Kovaliov (service number M-0274), to urgently backload modern models of Russian military equipment Kamaz-43269 Dozor combat reconnaissance patrol vehicles destroyed by the ATO forces near Debaltseve. Read alsoUkraine's intel: About 100 Russian PMC Wagner fighters to arrive in occupied Donbas soon This equipment is in service only in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, therefore the possibility of its seizure by the Ukrainian troops creates panic of Utkin-Wagner and concerns more than the lives of those left wounded or killed Russian mercenaries. The SBU operatives established that the urgent withdrawal of Dozors was conducted by the PMC Wagner logistics platoon, headed by the Russia national, ex-serviceman of the 10th separate brigade of special task force unit of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Oleksiy Borodiy (service number M-1009). During the fighting near Debaltseve, he was wounded and evacuated to the territory of the Russian Federation. It is significant that on June 19, 2014, Borodiy was sentenced to four years of imprisonment with RUB 200,000 fine by the judicial panel on criminal cases of the North Caucasus district military court under Part 4 Article 159 of the Russian Criminal Code (fraud), but instead of serving a sentence, he was sent by the Russian special services to Donbas as a Wagner mercenary. Read alsoUkraine's SBU identifies chief instructor of Ukrainian unit at Russia's PMC Wagner It should be recalled that the SBU has already mentioned surnames of 36 killed mercenaries and specific facts of elimination of Wagner tanks in Donbas due to well-coordinated activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the SBU. "Utkin-Wagner will definitely take place in the dock of international tribunal together with his curators if he isn't killed by the Russian special services before. The SBU has such an information, because Utkin left too many evidence of Russian crimes in Donbas," SBU Head Vasyl Hrytsak said at a briefing on October 7, 2017. A security services spokesman warned that Russia was trying to destabilize Polish society and politics. Border guards have detained a woman suspected of helping wage a Russian "information war" against Poland and who has a ban on entering the country, according to a report. The woman, who is a citizen of Russia and Cyprus, is to be expelled from Poland, public broadcaster Polish Radio's IAR news agency reported on Friday, Radio Poland reported. Read alsoDW: Poland busts Russian 'hybrid warfare' ring The woman, named only as "Anastazja Z", worked to consolidate pro-Russian groups in Poland in order to challenge Polish government policy on historical issues and "replace it with a Russian narrative," according to IAR. Polish security services said on Thursday they had detained a Russian citizen named as "Yekaterina C" and banned four people from entering the country after cracking down on a network waging a "hybrid and information war" masterminded by Moscow. A security services spokesman warned that Russia was trying to destabilize Polish society and politics. (@ChaudhryMAli88) As many as 403,830 acres of land will be brought under rice cultivation in Faisalabad division and 311,230 ton rice produce is expected this year. FAISALABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th May, 2018 ) :As many as 403,830 acres of land will be brought under rice cultivation in Faisalabad division and 311,230 ton rice produce is expected this year. A spokesman of the agriculture department said here on Saturday that 4.448 million acres of land will be brought under rice cultivation in Punjab, where 3.5 million ton yield is expected. Giving details, he said that rice would be sown at an area of 171,530 acres in Multan division where 144,000 tons rice yield is expected while 124,000 ton rice production is expected from Dera Ghazi Khan division where 152,810 acres land would be brought under rice cultivation. He further said that rice crop would be cultivated over 252,370 acres of land in Bahawalpur division where 211,000 tons rice production is expected. The spokesman further said that growers had been advised to use approved varieties of rice for cultivation which were not only disease resistant but also give maximum yield. Among approved varieties include Super Basmati, Shaheen Basmati, Basmati-370, Basmati-385, Basmati Pak, Basmati-2000, Basmati-515, ARI-6, KS-282, KSK-133, NIAB ARI-9 and Basmati-198. He asked the growers to complete cultivation of rice before June 30 to get better and high yield. Saplings of Basmati-370, Basmati-385, Basmati Pak, Basmati-2000 and Basmati-515 should be transferred in the fields up to June 20 while Saheen Basmati can be cultivated up to June 30. He further said that experts of Agriculture Department are available for the consultation and guidance of the growers during office times. However, the farmers can also contact agriculture free help line 0800-15000 during office times daily for any assistance, he added. (@FahadShabbir) The Dutch government Friday unveiled plans to shut the country's two oldest coal-fired electricity plants by 2025, as it seeks to cut greenhouse gas emissions The Hague, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th May, 2018 ) :The Dutch government Friday unveiled plans to shut the country's two oldest coal-fired electricity plants by 2025, as it seeks to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The other three remaining plants, using coal to produce electricity, will have to close down by 2030, the year the Dutch has vowed to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 49 percent. Economy Minister Eric Wiebes said the ban on the oldest plants, located in Geertruidenberg and Amsterdam, was even stricter than had been initially envisaged by the cabinet. Under draft legislation to go before parliament, the two plants must now close by December 31, 2024. "This is the fastest way to get rid of coal. Everyone knows that coal is not a sustainable way to generate electricity," Wiebes told the public broadcaster NOS. The decision comes only two months after the new coalition government of Prime Minister Mark Rutte also scaled back production at Europe's biggest gas field after a raft of damaging earthquakes. Extraction from the Groningen gas field will be gradually cut back and halted all together by 2030. Pakistan has underscored the need for the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions on decades-old international disputes like Kashmir and Palestine without discrimination to pave the way for international peace and security. UNITED NATIONS, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th May, 2018 ) :Pakistan has underscored the need for the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions on decades-old international disputes like Kashmir and Palestine without discrimination to pave the way for international peace and security. "Selectivity in implementation of its resolutions and decisions, especially on long-standing disputes, notably Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, must end," Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, said as the 15-member body debated how to effectively counter numerous threats to world peace. Underlining that the Security Council should be more consistent and unbiased in its actions, she said, "There can, after all, be no peace without justice." The debate was chaired by the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, who urged Sates and the international community to reject the temptation to place force above law, and fear about trust. "If we call an act of aggression a 'conflict', without properly defining the victim and the aggressor; if we call a threat a 'challenge' without defining the source of that threat ... then we are helpless in terms of selecting legal steps to react," the Polish leader said. In her remarks, Ambassador Lodhi noted that the world today was hardly at peace, as conflicts abound, longstanding disputes fester, and the legitimate rights of people continue to be denied to them. In this context, the Pakistani envoy regretted that actions by the Security Council have often faltered at the alter of political expediency, "Nothing diminishes the standing and credibility of the Council more than when it watches in silence while norms of international law and its own resolutions and decisions are trampled by member states or remain unimplemented due to the narrow interests invoked in big power politics," Ambassador Lodhi told the 15-member body. "Every time that the Council fails to address these omissions and breaches, it compromises the 'moral' authority of its decisions that are otherwise, legally-binding". The Council should assume its full responsibilities under Chapter VI to promote political solutions, mediation and dialogue for the peaceful resolution of conflict, Ambassador Lodhi said, adding that it should also have greater recourse to the International Court of Justice on legal matters. The tension between demands for accountability and the imperative of sovereignty must be resolved according to the norms of international law, she said, also noting that the Council should further strengthen its cooperation with regional and subregional organizations. "For the UN to become 'fit for purpose', it must reflect the contemporary spirit of our age - an organization that is more democratic, representative, accountable, transparent and efficient, the Pakistani envoy said. "We wish no less for the Security Council for it to be able to effectively address the global challenges of our times." BEIJING, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th May, 2018 ) :China on Friday welcomed the unification of the two major left-wing parties of Nepal and wished the Himalayan country would achieve its national development goals as early as possible. "As a good neighbor and good friend of Nepal, China supports Nepal's self-selection of a social system and development path suited to its own national conditions," Chinese foreign ministry's spokesperson, Lu Kang said during his regular briefing held here. The Chinese side welcomed the merger of the ruling Community Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist) led by Chairman K.P. Sharma Oli and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) led by Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dhal, he added. The spokesperson wished Nepal to achieve its national development goals as soon as possible. Lu Kang said, the Chinese side was willing to continue deepening mutually beneficial cooperation with the Nepalese side and better serve the peoples of the two countries. According to details, after a series of meetings and months-long negotiations, Nepal's two major left-wing parties declared their unification and launched the new communist party on May 17. The ruling Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist) (CPN-UML) and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) announced their unification as Nepal Communist Party. CPN-UML Chairman K.P. Sharma Oli and Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal signed the agreement and declared the merger and formation of a single communist party in the Himalayan country. The new party has been registered at the Election Commission after the CPN-UML and the CPN Maoist Centre dissolved their respective central committees. The latest political development came after the seven-point party unification deal which was formally signed by the top leaders of both parties in Feb. 20. As per the terms of the agreement of the unification of the two parties, Oli and Dahal will lead the unified party and a nine-member secretariat and enjoy equal power. As per the agreement, there will be 43 standing committee members in the new party which includes 25 from CPN-UML and 18 from CPN Maoist Centre. The unified party will have 441 members in its central committee, out of which CPN-UML would have 241 members and CPN Maoist Centre would have 200 members. After the merger, the CPN-UML-led government will enjoy a two-thirds majority in the parliament. APP/asg (@mahnoorsheikh03) Killed high value terrorist responsible for taking over 100 innocent lives in Quetta Lahore (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News 19th May, 2018) Col Sohail Abid of Military Intelligence who embraced martyrdom while fighting terrorists in Balochistan has given a huge sacrifice for the country. According to details, renowned journalist Kamran Khan has said that Col Abid got a huge success against terrorists by giving up his life. He said that Pakistan Army is playing a lead role in this fight against terrorism and everyone in Pak Army, including soldiers to general, is fighting against it. Col Abid also killed a high value target in Balochistan during an Intelligence Operation along with two Afghan terrorists and suicide bombers, he said, and added Col Abid was martyred in this operation but this is a great success in fight against ongoing terrorism in Quetta as the terrorist killed was a high value target. He belonged to a group that has been targeting thousands of people in Balochistan, including police officials. This group has so far taken over 100 innocent lives in Quetta. Kamran Khan further said that Pakistan had been overcoming the menace of terrorism but this success was not achieved in Quetta. Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa had promised the people of Hazara community that terrorists will be chased and removed from the soil. This promise has been fulfilled today as Col Abid killed terrorists along with their head in a great operation. Security forces killed a high value target of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) in an action taken under Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad late Thursday. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the terrorist was involved in killings of over 100 innocent people belonging to Hazara Community and police. Security Forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Killi Almas, Balochistan on pointation from the apprehended high value target about presence of suicide bombers along with other terrorists in hideouts, the ISPR said. During the operation, at least three terrorists, including two suicide bombers and LeJs Balochistan head Salman Badeni was killed. During intense exchange of fire, Colonel Sohail Abid of Military Intelligence was martyred while four other soldiers got injured. As a result of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC)'s drive against gas theft, the first convict under Gas (Theft and Recovery) Act 2016 was awarded five years sentence with Rs 50,000 fine KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th May, 2018 ) :As a result of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC)'s drive against gas theft, the first convict under Gas (Theft and Recovery) Act 2016 was awarded five years sentence with Rs 50,000 fine. The honourable judge of the Gas Utility Court Karachi West awarded a 5-year prison term and a fine of Rs.50,000 to the accused Mohammad Shafique, owner of Pakwan Center located in Peerabad area of District West, said a SSGC statement on Friday. 'Few months back, SSGC's Security Services and Counter Gas Theft Operations (CGTO) and SSGC Police squad conducted a raid on this Pakwan Center and arrested Shafique for his alleged involvement in the direct use of gas. A case vide FIR No.35/2017 was summarily registered against the culprit by the SSGC Police. The credit goes to SS and CGTO's Prosecution Wing led by Major (Retired) Ayaz Khan complaints and witnesses of the Operations Wing as well as the personnel from the Intelligence Wing that pursued the case successfully with full support from SSGC Police, the statement added. (@FahadShabbir) Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday inaugurated the complete functioning of the 1180 Bhikki power plant LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th May, 2018 ) :Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday inaugurated the complete functioning of the 1180 Bhikki power plant. He expressed his pleasure over the complete functioning of the project. Speaking on the occasion, he said today is the historic day when 1180 MW of electricity is being added to the national grid from the Bhikki power plant, which is the modern plant running on gas. It has produced 3.1 billion units of electricity since March 2017, adding the project has been completed after transparent tendering and an amount of Rs 39 billion has been saved from this project. Engineering, Procurement and Constructon (EPC) cost of the Bhikki power plant is 466 Dollar per kilo watt. It is the lowest cost gas-run power plant. Its record efficiency is 61.59 per cent. Addressing the ceremony held in connection with the complete functioning of the Bhikki power plant, Shehbaz Sharif said load shedding is being eliminated with the efforts of the PML-N government and 10,000 MW of electricity is being generated from the power plants installed by the PML-N government after the investment of the billions of rupees. The CM said Federal and Punjab governments had installed power projects from their own resources apart from CPEC. Bhilkki, Haveli Bahadur Shah and Baloki are the gas-run power plants which are producing 3600MW of electricity. All projects have been completed with top speed and transparency. Sahiwal coal power plant and Port Qasim coal power plants are producing 2700MW of electricity, he informed. Neelum-Jhelum project was running on snail's movement for the last 20 years and first phase of this project has been completed with the efforts of the government of PML-N, he added. The phase of Tarbela 4 has also been completed. Similarly, 400MW solar power plant has been completed in Bahawalpur and all projects have been completed transparently at the fast pace, he said. He said the gas-run projects installed during the governments of Musharraf and Zardari has been completed by our government at the half cost. Eight years ago Guddu power plant was installed at the cost of eight lakh and 36 thousands Dollars per MW, while Bhikki power has been installed at the cost of 466,000 dollar per MW, he said. Billions of rupees have been saved in all projects. Consumers are getting cheap electricity due to these projects. While Zardari pushed the country to darkness of load shedding, did huge corruption in power projects and now he is giving sermons against corruption. He said all gas run power projects installed by Musharraf and Zardari governments were installed at the double cost and their performance was low. The performance turbines installed during their governments was 50, 52 and 54 per cent while performance of Bhikki power plant is 61.50 per cent, the performance of Haveli Bahadur Shah and Baloki is 62. 50 per cent. Modern machines have been used in these projects. The Punjab government is installing another power plant of 1250MW capacity in Haveli Bahadur Shah and work in continuing on the project day and night. He said when efforts to overcome load shedding started under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif then sit-in started and first year was wasted due to sit-ins. Sit-in caused huge loss to the national economy and delayed power projects. The visit of Chinese president was also delayed due to sit-in and it was a crime and the people will never forgive them. All power projects would have been completed much earlier, had sit-in not started. The Khan Sahib has not paid attention to produce electricity in KPK where there are rivers, falls and springs. In an interview to a journalist, Khan Sahib had claimed that he will not only make KPK self-sufficient in electricity while he will produce electricity for whole of Pakistan. During five years Khan Sahib installed a project of 80MW, while the previous government had installed a 74MW project and it was shut and it is still shut and in this way KPK has produced minus six MW. Those who tell lies and make baseless claims have no right to lead. He said the centre represents all four units and it has responsibility to install power projects. However, Punjab government has installed projects from its own resources and it was not our responsibility. Whole of Pakistan is benefitting projects of the Punjab government. He said Sindh government of Zardari had installed a power plant in Nooriabad which has not been able to produce electricity to its capacity and this project is producing 5 to 10 MW. The CM said the PML-N government had completed 10,000MW power projects in the country in the record short time and the country has no example of this efficiency. All projects are best example of transparency and speed. He said he congratulates Nawaz Sharif and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for the completion of all power projects. He said the government of PML-N served the nation and it will continue doing it in the future. The Government of Punjab and National Registration and Database Authority (NADRA) Saturday signed an agreement for the extension of contract for computerization of arms licenses in the province for another three years ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th May, 2018 ) :The Government of Punjab and National Registration and Database Authority (NADRA) Saturday signed an agreement for the extension of contract for computerization of arms licenses in the province for another three years. The agreement was signed by NADRA Chairman Usman Mobin and Additional Chief Secretary Home Punjab Major Azam Suleman, a press release issued here said. The initial contract of three years for computerization of arms licenses in Punjab expired in 2017 and it had now been extended till 2020, it added. During the years 2014 to 2017, NADRA established 36 dedicated registration centres in each district of Punjab, besides setting up 191 facilitation counters along with mobile registration vans, and a dedicated center for companies and institutions. It is pertinent to mention that during last three years NADRA, under the contract, has registered and computerized 89.74 per cent of total licenses issued in the province. NADRA registered 852,115 individual licenses, 15,572 licenses of institutions and 29,685 licenses of security companies. Phnom Penh, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th May, 2018 ) :Five people, including a four-year-old child, were killed instantly in a lightning strike in southwestern Cambodia, officials said Friday, as the onset of the rainy season draws near. The group was sheltering from a downpour in a mountainous area of Koh Kong province's Thmar Baing district on Thursday, police chief for minor crimes Lay Meng Laing told AFP, adding that three victims were from the same family. The tropical Southeast Asian country of winding rivers and lakes is prone to lightning storms, a problem that some believe is worsening with the ravages of climate change. Keo Vy, a spokesman for Cambodia's National Committee for Disaster Management, said the number of lightning deaths has now reached 50 people since January, while 41 died last year in the same period. He said the government had conducted education seminars to warn residents in rural areas about the threats, encouraging them to avoid taking shelter under a tree and not to stand in pools of water. The strikes also hit livestock, killing 36 cows since January. (@ChaudhryMAli88) An attack on an Orthodox church Saturday in the mainly Muslim southern Russian republic of Chechnya killed two policemen and a civilian and left four rebels dead, officials said Moscow, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th May, 2018 ) :An attack on an Orthodox church Saturday in the mainly Muslim southern Russian republic of Chechnya killed two policemen and a civilian and left four rebels dead, officials said. "According to early information, two policemen in charge of security at the church ... and a civilian were killed," the officials said. They added that "four rebels have been eliminated" while two other policemen were hurt. They also indicated a knife and a gun were found on the attackers behind the assault targeting the Archangel Michael church in central Grozny, and said police had prevented "more serious consequences and a larger number of victims." Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov had earlier told Russian news agencies that rebels acting "on the orders of a Western country" were seeking "to take believers hostage" in a troubled republic where Russia has fought two fierce wars with separatists over the past 20 years. Julian Filochowski, chair of the Archbishop Romero Trust, looks ahead to the canonisation of the saint from El Salvador, alongside the pope who gave him unconditional support By Philippa Hitchen A consistory of cardinals took place here in the Vatican on Saturday during which the canonisation of six new saints was officially announced. Of those six names, the two best known figures are Pope Paul VI and the assassinated Archbishop of San Salvador, Oscar Romero. The two men will be proclaimed saints on 14 October during the Synod of Bishops on young people. Romero was shot dead on March 24th 1980 as he was saying Mass in the cancer hospital in El Salvador where he had chosen to live. In his three years as archbishop, he had become an outspoken voice for the poorest people of his country, caught up in a conflict between the military government and guerilla groups that claimed tens of thousands of civilian lives. Listen and download our report and interview Today, Romero is widely acclaimed as a saint and martyr across the Christian world and beyond. Last year the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams preached at a special Evensong, in Westminster Abbey, attended by leaders of many faith groups in the United Kingdom The service included a new anthem written by Scottish composer James MacMillan to mark the centenary of Romeros birth. Julian Filochowski is chair of the Archbishop Romero Trust, set up to promote greater knowledge of the saints life and legacy, as well as to support human rights efforts in Latin America today. Canonised in Salvadoran hearts He says the people of El Salvador canonised Oscar Romero in their hearts soon after his assassination. In 2015, he notes, the local Church celebrated Romeros beatification in San Salvador, one of the highest profile non-papal beatifications in history, with well over half a million people present. Canonisation, Filochowski continues, is one step further, recognising him as a saint of the Universal Church, not just a saint for Salvadorans or Latin Americans so it is right and proper for the celebration to take place in the Vatican. Martyr of Vatican II Commenting on the fact that Romero will be raised to the altar together with Pope Paul VI, Filochowski says it was the latter who implemented the Second Vatican Council, while the archbishop was the first martyr of the Council, assassinated for implementing its teaching on the preferential option for the poor. He notes that while Romero came under attack, including by his fellow bishops, Paul VI gave him unconditional support. Opposition in the Church In past decades, he says there was strong opposition to his beatification and canonisation by bishops in the Church in Latin America, and even in the Roman Curia, since many people feared that the canonization of Romero would be the canonization of liberation theology. Today, he adds, we have a more balanced evaluation of authentic liberation theology, beginning with the visit of Pope John Paul II to the tomb of Romero which changed the atmosphere in the Church. Model of apostolic courage Romero, Filochowski says, was a man who said what he thought and meant what he said, he talked the talk and walked the walk. He didnt just love the poor, he adds, since thats relatively easy, but he also defended the poor with apostolic courage and became a model for bishops, priests and all Christians. Praying for conversion of hearts Commenting on the violence in El Salvador today, he says the Church is trying to combat it and people are praying for the example of Romero to change peoples hearts and minds. As a personal friend of Romero, Filochowski says he has kept me strong in my faith at moments of difficulty and doubt. He concludes: I never believed Id live to see his canonization, its beyond my dreams and Im just very happy. Beer Park at Paris Las Vegas rolled out the red carpet for two chart-topping DJs throughout a pop-up experience hosted by popular apparel brand, Electric Family, this week in honor of the Electric Daisy Carnival (Pictured: Kaskade Posing with Fan). DJ and electronic dance music (EDM) producer, 3LAU, arrived at Beer Park on Wednesday dressed in a simple black graphic T-shirt, black pants and dark sunglasses. The young producer posed for photos on the red carpet and met a multitude of thrilled fans. 3LAU was seeing mingling with guests and friends at the rooftop venue throughout the afternoon. 3LAU is best known for his unique DJ style, using a variety of melodic sounds in his dance music tracks. The Las Vegas-native has recently released his first ever album, Ultraviolet, peaking at number nine in the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart. On Thursday, Kaskade arrived at Beer Park wearing a light gray button-up shirt and khakis, paired with black sneakers. The popular DJ posed for photos on the red carpet with a crowd of adoring fans. Following his meet and greet photos, Kaskade took to the turntables to electrify the event with a surprise DJ set, giving a taste of whats to come at his EDC performance. Voted Americas Best DJ in 2011 and 2013 by DJ Times, Kaskade is best known for his top hits Eyes, I Remember and Move For Me. The Chicago-native is also known for taking part in the revival of American progressive house alongside fellow DJs, deadmau5 and Wolfgang Gartner. Flip For Me Gymnastics is celebrating the Grand Opening of its brand new facility and is inviting the community to join in the fun. On Saturday, May 19 from 2:30 pm to 5:30pm Flip for Me is opening its doors at 8425 Duneville St. Las Vegas, NV 89139 and rolling out the red carpet for those interested to learn what all the buzz is about. The whole family is invited to take advantage of this VIP treatment with games, prizes, raffles and delicious food and yummy cake. Also, free open gym for those who have some spring in their step! Special offers will also be available including a 25% discount on tuition with all new enrollments paid for on the day of the event. And, 10% of all new enrollments will be donated to Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada. More details available at Flip for Me. Candlelighters serves children diagnosed with cancer being treated in Nevada, from birth to age 21. Candlelighters provide family-centered care in which programs and services are available not only to the diagnosed child but their siblings and parents as well. Flip For Me Gymnastics Las Vegas offers formal training in the Olympic sport of artistic gymnastics. Through gymnastics we promote the cultural and competitive benefits of physical and mental exercise. 1 Stores were open in a shopping mall in Baneh, Iran, May 18, 2018, but it was virtually deserted. Local residents blame the lack of business on Tehrans monthslong blockade of border footpaths, which Baneh shopkeepers have relied upon to import desirable goods from Iraq. Three new cases of the often lethal Ebola virus have been confirmed in a city of more than 1 million people, Congos health minister announced, as the spread of the hemorrhagic fever in an urban area raised alarm. The statement late Friday said the confirmed cases are in Mbandaka city, where a single case was confirmed earlier in the week. There are now 17 confirmed Ebola cases in this outbreak, including one death, plus 21 probable cases and five suspected ones. The World Health Organization on Friday decided not to declare the outbreak a global health emergency, but it called the risk of spread within Congo very high and warned nine neighboring countries that the risk to them was high. WHO said there should be no international travel or trade restrictions. The outbreak is a test of a new experimental Ebola vaccine that proved effective in the West Africa outbreak a few years ago. Vaccinations are expected to start early in the week, with more than 4,000 doses already in Congo and more on the way. A major challenge will be keeping the vaccines cold in the vast, impoverished country where infrastructure is poor. While Congo has contained several Ebola outbreaks in the past, all of them were based in remote rural areas. The virus has twice made it to Congos capital of 10 million people, Kinshasa, in the past but was rapidly stopped. Health officials are trying to track down more than 500 people who have been in contact with those feared infected, a task that became more urgent with the spread to Mbandaka, which lies on the Congo River, a busy traffic corridor, and is an hours flight from the capital. The outbreak was declared more than a week ago in Congos remote northwest. Its spread has some Congolese worried. Even if its not happening here yet I have to reduce contact with people. May God protect us in any case, Grace Ekofo, a 23-year-old student in Kinshasa, told The Associated Press. A teacher in Mbandaka, 53-year-old Jean Mopono, said they were trying to implement preventative measures by teaching students not to greet each other by shaking hands or kissing. We pray that this epidemic does not take place here, Mopono said. The WHO, which was accused of bungling its response to the West Africa outbreak, the biggest Ebola outbreak in history with more than 11,000 deaths, appears to be moving swiftly to contain this latest epidemic, experts said. There is strong reason to believe this situation can be brought under control, said Dr. Robert Steffen, who chaired the WHO expert meeting on Friday. But without a vigorous response, the situation is likely to deteriorate significantly. This is the ninth Ebola outbreak in Congo since 1976, when the disease was first identified. The virus is initially transmitted to people from wild animals, including bats and monkeys. It is spread via contact with bodily fluids of those infected. There is no specific treatment for Ebola. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and at times internal and external bleeding. The virus can be fatal in up to 90 percent of cases, depending on the strain. Cuban authorities said the fiery crash of an aging Boeing passenger jet on Friday shortly after takeoff from Havana had killed 110 people, 99 of whom were Cuban, making it the Caribbean island's deadliest air disaster in nearly 30 years. Flags flew at half-staff in Cuba on Saturday, marking the start of two days of national mourning while authorities worked to identify the crash victims. Fifteen have been identified so far. Authorities told reporters Saturday at Havana airport that three of the passengers killed on the domestic flight to Holguin were foreign tourists two Argentines and a Mexican while another two were Sahrawi residents in Cuba. The six Mexican crew members aboard the nearly 40-year-old Boeing 737, leased by Cuban flagship carrier Cubana from a small Mexican company called Damojh, were also killed. Three Cuban women survived the crash but were still in critical condition, said the head of the hospital where they were being treated. Distressed relatives cried and hugged one another outside a morgue, where they gave information on loved ones to authorities to aid in identification. "This is a very unexpected death. She didn't deserve it. My grandmother was a strong person," said Katherine Lucia Martinez, an 18-year-old student, bursting into tears and clinging to her father. She was waiting with other relatives of the deceased at a Havana hotel for updates from authorities. President's visit President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Saturday visited the morgue, a day after reviewing the site of the crash, the first big test of his presidency after taking the reins from Raul Castro last month. Cuban investigators worked overnight at the site of the crash, an agricultural area 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Havana, sifting through the burned wreckage for evidence, officials said. So far they had recovered the cockpit voice recorder, in "good condition," Cuban Transport Minister Adel Yzquierdo said Saturday. They were still looking for the flight data recorder. "The plane was on fire, it flipped and then nosedived," said Marino Perez Alvaredo, a farmer who works near where the plane crashed. The Mexican transport department said on its website: "During takeoff [the plane] apparently suffered a problem and dove to the ground." Mexico also said it would send a team of investigators from its Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics on Saturday. Most aircraft accidents take months to investigate. The crash was the worst in Cuba since a Soviet-made Ilyushin-62M passenger plane crashed near Havana in 1989, killing all 126 people on board and another 14 on the ground. "For the love of God, I never thought I would see this," said Caridad Miranda, 45, whose sister and niece died in the crash. "They should have checked that plane well." Egypt's state security prosecutor on Saturday ordered a prominent activist detained for 15 days for investigation on charges of involvement with a banned group and inciting and taking part in illegal protests, rights lawyers said. Haitham Mohamedeen, a leftist lawyer, was taken from his home Friday, security sources said, the latest in a number of arrests of activists in recent weeks. At least 20 people have been detained by security forces over protests against a rise in metro fares, and they are being investigated on charges that include disturbing the peace and obstructing public facilities. Mokhtar Mounir and Mohamed Hanafi, two rights lawyers representing Mohamedeen, told Reuters he was under investigation for "participating in the activities of a banned group while knowing its objectives" and "using the internet to incite terrorist acts," charges he denies. The prosecutor did not identify the banned group, Hanafi said. A judicial source confirmed Mohamadeen's detention but gave no further comment. Mohamedeen had been detained at least twice in the past, once in 2013 on accusations of belonging to a secret organization and spreading lies about the military, and again in 2016 for calling for protests against the transfer of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. His detention followed those of other prominent activists. State security prosecutors this week ordered Shady Ghazaly Harb, a leading opposition figure during the 2011 Arab Spring uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak, held for 15 days for investigation over accusations including joining a terrorist organization, according to state news agency MENA. Last week, authorities detained Amal Fathy for 15 days for investigation on charges of insulting the state after she posted a video on social media criticizing the government for failing to protect women against sexual harassment. Campaigners say Egypt's human and civil rights record has deteriorated sharply under President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Sissi's supporters say his tough security policy is needed to ensure stability as Egypt recovers from years of political chaos and tackles economic challenges and an Islamist insurgency. Sissi this week pardoned more than 330 people, many of them young people jailed for demonstrating in recent years. Iranian Kurdish shopkeepers in northwestern Iran are threatening to resume a general strike within weeks if the government does not re-open border footpaths they use to import goods from Iraq. In an interview with VOA Persian on Friday, a spokeswoman for shopkeepers in the city of Baneh said the government must open the footpaths by the end of Ramadan in mid-June or the strike will resume. Shopkeepers shut almost all of Banehs thousands of stores for 25 consecutive days starting April 15 to try to pressure Tehran to remove a blockade that it imposed on the border footpaths last December. Iranian Kurdish porters, known locally as kolbars, have used the footpaths for years to carry goods from Iraqi Kurdistan into Iran for sale in Banehs shops. The absence of such trade has further weakened the economy of Irans Kurdistan province, where the lack of manufacturing has impoverished many people. Baneh residents told VOA Persian that the shopkeepers suspended their 25-day strike May 9 in a goodwill gesture toward visiting Tehran officials who met with representatives of the shopkeepers. The residents said the visiting Iranian officials promised them good news on the border footpaths. But they said the officials made no specific promises and insisted on the strike ending before taking any action to address their demands. The residents quoted the government officials as saying that accepting the demands of people on strike would set a bad example by encouraging people elsewhere to stage similar strikes. Baneh activists who spoke to VOA Persian said many shopkeepers were skeptical of repeated and unkept promises by government officials to end the blockade of the border footpaths. But, they said striking store owners were struggling to survive and needed to reopen to try to make some money. The activists said the shopkeepers would use new income to help sustain another strike if one is called. Photos of a Baneh shopping mall taken on Friday and shared with VOA Persian showed stores open but virtually no customers. Many Iranian shoppers who traditionally have traveled to Baneh from as far away as Tehran have stayed away because of the border blockade, which has left Banehs stores bereft of desirable products imported from Iraq. Banehs deputy governor Nejad Shahidi said last month that the government blocked the footpaths at Iraqs request to bring order to border trade and preserve security in border areas. Many residents have rejected that explanation because of what they see as Tehrans deep influence over Iraqi affairs. Michael Lipin contributed to this VOAs Persian Service report from Washington. Separatist leaders called for a shutdown in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Saturday as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a daylong visit to review development work and inaugurate road projects. The visit came a day after archrivals India and Pakistan shelled each other's security posts and villages, killing four civilians on each side and an Indian soldier. Shops, businesses and schools were shut while thousands of paramilitary troops and police in flak jackets spread out across Kashmir and closed off roads with razor wire and iron barricades in anticipation of anti-India protests and clashes. Separatist groups that challenge India's sovereignty over Kashmir called for the strike as well as a march to the commercial hub in the main city of Srinagar to protest Modi's visit. Government forces enforced a security lockdown in downtown Srinagar, the urban heart of anti-India protests, as they warned residents to stay home. Road traffic was sparse, with buses staying off the roads and few cars venturing out. Authorities detained dozens of activists overnight and put separatist leaders under house arrest to stop them from staging the protest march. They also ordered schools and colleges to be closed for the day. Modi arrived in the remote mountainous Ladakh region bordering China and Pakistan, where he inaugurated work on a strategic 14-kilometer (9-mile) -long tunnel connecting the cold desert region with the Kashmir Valley. Later in Srinagar, Modi inaugurated remotely a controversial hydroelectric power project built in the Gurez Valley, just a few hundred meters from the highly militarized Line of Control that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. He dedicated the power station to the nation at a lakeside venue. Soldiers and commandos patrolled the roads leading to the venue and laid razor wire and erected road checkpoints to prevent protests and rebel attacks. "Every stone, every weapon picked up by misguided youths destabilizes their own Jammu-Kashmir," Modi said in his speech, referring to anti-India protesters. "Every issue, every problem has one solution: development, development and development." Pakistan objections Pakistan has objected to the design of the power project, invoking the Indus Water Treaty. The neighboring countries signed the treaty in 1960, brokered by the World Bank, to share the vast water resources from the Indus River system, which supplies water to both. On Friday, Pakistan expressed serious concerns over the project's inauguration. The country's foreign ministry said in a statement that "the inauguration of the project without the resolution of the dispute is tantamount to violation of the Indus Waters Treaty." It said India continued with the construction of the project despite several rounds of bilateral negotiations as well mediation under the auspices of the World Bank. "This intransigence on part of India clearly threatens the sanctity of the Treaty," the statement said. India has said in the past that the project design is within the parameters of the treaty and urged the bank to appoint a neutral expert. Kashmir control Meanwhile, dozens of Kashmiris tried to march to the main commercial center in Srinagar after defying security restrictions imposed on the assembly of more than four people in the city. Scores were also detained after shouting slogans demanding end of an Indian rule over Kashmir. India and Pakistan each administer part of Kashmir, but both claim it in its entirety. Rebels have been fighting Indian rule since 1989, demanding Indian-controlled Kashmir be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. Most Kashmiris support the rebel cause while also participating in civilian street protests against Indian control. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training the rebels, a charge Pakistan denies. Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the uprising and the ensuing Indian military crackdown. President Donald Trump's wife, Melania Trump, returned to the White House on Saturday after undergoing a surgical procedure this week to treat a benign kidney condition, her office said. The first lady, 48, had been recovering at Walter Reed medical center since Monday, when she underwent an embolization procedure to treat the kidney condition. Spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said in a statement that the first lady returned to the White House on Saturday morning. "She is resting comfortably and remains in high spirits," Grisham said. "Our office has received thousands of calls and emails wishing Mrs. Trump well, and we thank everyone who has taken the time to reach out." An embolization is a minimally invasive procedure often used to block the flow of blood to a tumor or an abnormal area of tissue. Donald Trump tweeted on Saturday that it was "great to have our incredible First Lady back home in the White House." Native American agricultural activists expressed relief that the House Friday failed to pass an $868 billion spending bill that funds agriculture and nutrition assistance programs. "Todays vote in the U.S. House provides an opportunity for even more Indian tribes to join the coalition in our efforts to raise public awareness of the risks and opportunities for Indian Country in the Farm Bill," said Zach Ducheneaux, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in South Dakota who serves board of directors of the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC). Earlier this month, Ducheneaux and other representatives of the Native Farm Bill Coalition (NFBC) held three days of talks with lawmakers and officials at the White House and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Their message: We want a farm bill that includes our voices and better reflects the unique needs of Indian Country. The farm bill, first passed in the 1930s, covers an array of agricultural and food programs administered by the Department of Agriculture, from farming to nutrition to credit and debt structuring. Congress reauthorizes the bill every five years, but negotiations can delay final passage for months, even years. Native American farmers want Congress to give tribes more parity. Wherever you see the reference to state and local governments in the bill, we want to see tribal governments included as well, said Mariah Gladstone, a member of Montanas Blackfeet tribe who lobbies for tribal food sovereignty -- roughly defined as the ability to feed themselves. Native Americans are particularly concerned about changes governing federal nutrition programs. About a quarter of Native Americans receive food assistance, and in some communities, as many as 80 percent. They may choose between the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). SNAP offers monthly benefits through electronic debit cards, which are used to purchase groceries from authorized stores. FDPIR is currently administered by the USDA through state agencies or Indian tribal organizations. They place orders on behalf of tribes from a list of about 100 available foods, which FDPIR purchases and ships. The 2018 farm bill has added a controversial work requirement: To receive SNAP benefits, adults would be required either to work or participate in job training for at least 20 hours a week. That is a huge concern, said Gladstone. The issue isnt a lack of training or education. Many times, its just the fact that there are no jobs available. The First Nations Development Institute reports that about half of American Indian-Alaska Native (AI-AN) people live in sparsely populated, rural areas, sometimes hundreds of kilometers away from jobs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the AI-AN unemployment rate in 2016 stood at 8.9 percent, compared to an overall U.S. rate of 4.9 percent. This would basically force people to move far away from their families just to get food, Gladstone said. Its essentially another relocation policy. She refers to the 1956 Relocation Act, which incentivized tribe members to leave the reservation for jobs in large cities, a policy Native Americans viewed as an extension of 19th Century forced assimilation policies. Infrastructure development The government offers incentives for farmers to grow commodity crops like corn and livestock instead of specialty products like fruits and vegetables. Native American farmers today produce about $3.4 billion in commodity crops. Ninety-nine-point-nine-percent of their products are sold off the reservation at nearly exploitative prices, said None of the value-added agriculture is happening in our reservation communities. Examples of value-added agriculture would include slaughtering and processing livestock or converting corn into ethanol or popcorn. If we could turn our commodities into food, our $3.4 billion industry could grow into a $20 billion industry, he said. And we could start erasing those black spots on the poverty map. Ducheneaux believes this would also benefit states and the federal government. The federal governments estimation of its obligation to Indian Country in the form of annual appropriation is about $8 billion a couple billion for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and in the best of years, $5 billion maybe to Indian Health Care. But expanding agriculture takes capital, and Native Americans are all-too-often turned down for loans, technical assistance and other services. This is due in part to confusion over the status of Native lands held in trust by the U.S. government. For too long, banks have been allowed to hide behind the myth that you cannot mortgage trust land or that you cannot perfect security interests within Indian reservations, he said. I go all over the country challenging them to show me one time when they couldnt collect their debt. And I have yet to have someone give me an instance. The USDA operates loan programs, but tribal farmers cannot always meet the financial requirements of the programs. The current farm bill expires at the end of September. Senate lawmakers have introduced two marker bills outlining policies they would like to see incorporated into the final bill. In statement, Friday, White House deputy press secretary Lindsay Walters said Trump "is disappointed in the result of today's vote, and hopes the House can resolve any remaining issues in order to achieve strong work requirements and support our nation's agricultural community." But Ducheneaux sees today's development as an opportunity. "As the national discussion on the Farm Bill starts up again, the member tribes of the coalition will continue to advocate on behalf of Indian Country for tribal control, food sovereignty, and parity access to USDA resources and vital nutrition assistance programs. A Pakistani exchange student is among the 10 people killed Friday in a shooting at Santa Fe High School in the state of Texas. Sabika Sheikh was to return home to Pakistan for Eid al-Fitr, a three-day holiday that marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, according to the Pakistan Association of Greater Houston on Facebook. The eldest of three daughters, Sabika, 17, resided in Karachi, reported Geo TV in Pakistan. She had been in the U.S. under the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program since Aug. 21, 2017. She would have returned home when her program ended next month. "She came to the U.S. to learn, to experience, to share and to bring back to her country all the knowledge she acquired during her exchange," wrote friend and fellow exchange student George Lapadat in a tribute on Facebook. "She was young, vibrant, happy and super excited to go back to her country. She was going to return in a few days. She has done an amazing job of being an amazing ambassador to her country here. She has volunteered in her community, she was involved in lots of activities and she created a lot of lifelong friendships," Lapadat said. "But she died today in the horrific Santa Fe, Texas, shooting," wrote Lapadat, a Romanian exchange student in the Future Leaders Exchange Program through the U.S. State Department, who is living in Lakeville, Minnesota. "Her family and friends will never get to see her again. When she left for this trip, she was supposed to be gone for 10 months. ... but now she is gone forever. And if this is not enough to prove that something is wrong and something needs to change, I don't know what else would be." Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed his condolences Saturday to the family and friends of Sabika. "Sabika was in the United States on the State Department-sponsored Youth Exchange and Study program, helping to build ties between the United States and her native Pakistan," Pompeo said in a statement." Sabika's death and that of the other victims is heartbreaking and will be mourned deeply both here in the United States, and in Pakistan." Her family was reportedly bereft in Pakistan. "It is still so very hard to believe that [Sabika is dead]," her father told Geo News. Geo reported that the family could not reach Sabika by mobile phone after hearing about the shooting following iftar on Friday. The consul-general in Houston confirmed that the student had died. "It is with greatest sadness in my heart that I need to inform you that one of our YES students, Sabika Sheikh of Pakistan, was killed in the school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas," wrote Megan Lysaght, program manager for the Kennedy Lugar YES program. "Please know that the YES program is devastated by the loss and we will remember Sabika and her families in our thoughts and prayers," Lysaght said. WATCH: Sabika Sheikh made this video to express her feelings about being accepted into the YES program. There were approximately 7,015 students from Pakistan in the U.S. in secondary and higher education in 2016-2017, a 14 percent increase from the previous year, according to the Institute of International Education. Dimitrios Pagourtzis, 17, a junior at the school, opened fire before 8 a.m. at Santa Fe High School, according to law enforcement. Ten people were killed, and 10 others were wounded. Pagourtzis has been charged with murder. Cynthia Tisdale, a teacher, was among those killed, her family confirmed. Tisdale was married for nearly 40 years and had three children and eight grandchildren, her niece Leia Olinde said. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the suspect, who is being held without bond in the Galveston County jail on capital murder charges, originally intended to commit suicide following the shooting but told law enforcement officials after he was arrested that he didn't have the courage to go through with it. Britain's Prince Harry, who is sixth in line to the throne, and American actress Meghan Markle married Saturday in a ceremony in Windsor, just outside London. "Walt Disney could not have dreamt up a a better princess than Meghan Markle," said Britain's Telegraph newspaper. Beneath cloudless skies, hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets of the historic town to catch a glimpse of the bride-to-be as she arrived at Windsor Castle in a Rolls-Royce Phantom. There were cheers from the crowd as she stepped onto the grounds of the castle's Saint George's Chapel, revealing for the first time her choice of wedding gown. The simple yet elegant pure white dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the first British designer for the French fashion house Givenchy. The sweeping 5-meter train was carried by 7-year-old pageboys John and Brian Mulroney, the twin sons of one of Meghan's best friends. The bride walked up part of the aisle by herself, before being met halfway by her now father-in-law Prince Charles, who led her to the altar to a waiting Prince Harry. Markle's father, Thomas, was too ill to attend the ceremony, having reportedly undergone heart surgery this week. In Photos: The Royal Wedding The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, conducted the ceremony and proclaimed the royal couple husband and wife shortly after 12:30 local time. The wedding was drenched in British tradition and enlivened with African American culture, a nod to Meghan's ancestry. Her father is white and her mother is African American. The Most Reverend Michael Curry, the head of U.S. Episcopalian Church, who is African American, gave an address, beginning with a quote from civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.: "We must discover the redemptive power of love, and when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world." Soprano Elin Manahan Thomas sang during the service. The 600 guests included Meghan's mother, Doria Raglan; Hollywood actor George Clooney and his lawyer wife, Amal; talk-show host Oprah Winfrey; tennis star Serena Williams; David and Victoria Beckham; Sir Elton John and his husband, David Furnish; and several fellow members of the cast of Markle's former television program Suits, including her on-screen husband, Patrick J. Adams. Two of Prince Harry's former girlfriends, Cressida Bonas and Chelsy Davy, also attended. The newlyweds emerged onto the steps of St. George's Chapel and received a huge cheer as they kissed in front of the crowds. A horse-drawn carriage then took them through the streets of Windsor, delighting onlookers, many of whom had been camping out for days to secure the best spots. Many fans began chanting Meghan's name. "It was beautiful, to be part of history, to be part of history, to see that up close like that. She was absolutely radiant, she was sparkling. Harry just looked so happy you could see the joy in his eyes. We were this close and it was just wonderful," said royals fan Lindsay Hainer. Queen Elizabeth bestowed new titles upon the royal couple. They will now be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. In Photos: Crowds, Stars Gather for Royal Wedding The U.S. ambassador to Britain, Woody Johnson, took to Twitter to offer his congratulations, writing: "On behalf of all Americans, I want to wish HRH Prince Harry & Meghan Markle a very happy future as they begin married life together." Elton John performed at the reception in Windsor Castle, where the canapes included Scottish langoustines, British asparagus and Windsor lamb. The wedding cake was flavored with Italian Amalfi lemon curd and British elderflower buttercream. There was another reception Saturday night for the couple and 200 of their closest friends, hosted by Harry's father, Prince Charles. Megan changed into another white gown, designed by Stella McCartney, and Harry exchanged his military uniform for a classic tux. Hundreds of millions of people around the world were thought to have watched the ceremony unfold on television. Observers said there would be relief within the royal household that the ceremony went off without a hitch, following the uncertainty in the run-up to the big day over whether Markle's father would attend. Speaking to the celebrity news site TMZ from Mexico, Thomas Markle said after the ceremony, "My baby looks beautiful and she looks very happy." "I wish I were there and I wish them all my love and happiness," he added. The marriage of the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex marked a further modernization of the ancient British institution. In past generations, members of the royal family usually married other members of European aristocracy. The new duchess will receive plenty of help and training on how to get by in one of the most high-profile positions in global public life. Founder of the British Monarchist Society Thomas Mace-Archer-Mills said the former actress was well-prepared for life in the limelight: "The skills on screen will carry over to the royal stage. So when she's on parade with the rest of the royal family, she will have it down to a T." Both Harry and Meghan have voiced their desire to continue to work together on their shared passion for charity, particularly in Africa. Tuesday they will embark on their first royal appearance together at a garden party at Buckingham Palace to honor Prince Charles and his charity work. There is no word on when they will take a honeymoon, but there is much public speculation around their choice of destination. African countries topping the list of favorites include Botswana, Namibia and Malawi; while the new duchess is thought to be a fan of Italy, the Philippines and Turkey. WATCH: How Do Brits Feel About a Mixed Race American Marrying into British Royal Family? He is a former refugee, a Muslim, and now the first Somali-British mayor, the youngest ever Lord Mayor for Sheffield city in the United Kingdom. The 28-year-old Magid Magid has also become the first Green Party mayor. He was sworn in Friday. "This really was a victory for the Somalis and other Muslim communities in Sheffield," Kaltum Osman, a young Somali woman who also won a seat at Sheffield's City Council, told VOA Somali. "This was a victory for the young men and women of Sheffield. It was a clear message for every person that's been told they have limits on their dreams." Magid was born in Burao, a town in the northern breakaway region of Somaliland. Osman said Magid came to Sheffield when he was five years old, after spending six months in a refugee camp in Ethiopia with his mother and five siblings. "He came here at a young age, grew up and as young man he was very ambitious and thought that there was nothing that could prevent him from being what he wanted to be," Osman said. Speaking during his inaugural ceremony, Magid said he remembered little about his early childhood in Somalia and that he had never returned to his country of birth. "I remember just being happy, playing around as you do as a kid, but in reality it was a completely different story," he said. But Magid said he remembered well the difficulties his family experienced as refugees, especially when they arrived in Sheffield's Burngreave area, where his family set up home. "Life was difficult when my family arrived. We were struggling with learning the language and adapting to a new way of life. My mother worked as a cleaner to take care of me and siblings," he said. Magid studied aquatic zoology at the University of Hull, developed an interest in politics while at university, and in 2016 was elected as Green councilor for Broomhill and Sharrow Vale ward in Sheffield. The latest school shooting in the United States that killed students, staff and a police officer left many in despair, but this time, fewer seemed surprised. When asked by a reporter whether she was shocked that a shooting took place at the Santa Fe High School in Texas, one student shook her head. No, it wasnt. Its been happening everywhere. Ive always kind of felt that eventually it would happen here, too, the student told ABC 13 in Houston. I wasnt surprised, I was just scared. The organization #MarchForOurLives comprised mostly of student activists who banded together after the Parkland shooting, said this is the 22nd school shooting this year. We urge those reading this not to sweep it under the rug and forget. This is not the price of our freedom. and tragedies like this will continue to happen unless action is taken. U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy Devos issued a statement with a heavy heart over the 10 deaths. My prayers are with each student, parent, educator and first responder impacted, said Devos, who leads the Federal Commission on School Safety, a task force created by President Donald Trump after the Parkland shooting in mid-February. Our schools must be safe and nurturing environments for learning. No student should have to experience the trauma suffered by so many today and in similar events prior. We simply cannot allow this trend to continue. Devos said the commission is working every day to identify proven ways to prevent violence and keep our students safe at school. Our nation must come together and address the underlying issues that lead to such tragic and senseless loss of life. Many other politicians, government leaders, politicians and everyday people from both sides of the gun debate issued similar statements on social media, including Students for Trump and Everytown for Gun Safety. The words thoughts and prayers were tweeted, retweeted, posted and chatted thousands of times online from many expressing a broken heart. The sympathetic thoughts and prayers has become the first-reaction of choice for many but is cringe-producing for others who say sentiment should not be mistaken for action. We need to do more than just pray for the victims. We need to take action, said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott during a press conference, suggesting he will assemble Texas stakeholders to find solutions. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick's suggestion to harden schools, or increase the burden of security to students, such as staggered start times to limit the number of students entering school at one time, was met with a flurry of angry and laughing emojis. I should be celebrating my last day of high school, but instead my heart is broken to hear of the tragedy at Santa Fe, tweeted Delaney Tarr, student school-shooting survivor from Parkland, Florida, where 17 people mostly students were killed Feb. 15. We cannot let this continue to be the norm. We cannot. Get ready for two weeks of media coverage of politicians acting like they give a sh-- when in reality they just want to boost their approval ratings before midterms, tweeted David Hogg, an activist against gun violence and another survivor of the Parkland shooting. The Taliban has dismissed concerns its recent battlefield gains in western Afghanistan threaten security of a multibillion-dollar gas pipeline being laid through the area to link Central and South Asia. The project, known as TAPI, is planned to move natural gas from the world's fourth-largest reserves in Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to the growing economies of Pakistan and India. The pipeline is to pass through several Afghan provinces, including western Farah on the Iranian border. Earlier this week, Taliban insurgents assaulted the provincial capital, also named Farah, and almost came close to overrunning it. U.S. air power assisted Afghan security forces to force the rebels out of the city, though fighting is still raging in surrounding districts. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told VOA Saturday his group has already pledged to cooperate to protect the TAPI pipeline, noting that it is a "national project" that will ultimately benefit the Afghan people. "We have an idea of places in Farah through which the pipeline is to pass and we will always try to keep the fighting from those areas," Mujahid asserted. But the planned TAPI pipeline, he added, cannot deter the Taliban from undertaking operations against "enemy forces" in the rest of the province. Mujahid noted that the gas pipeline is still under construction in the neighboring Herat province and has yet to enter Farah. "As and when the pipeline arrives in Farah, we will ensure from our side, peace and stability in areas around it," the insurgent spokesman vowed. Officials visit Farah On Saturday, top Afghan security officials, accompanied by U.S. commander of NATO's Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan General John Nicholson, traveled to Farah to look into the circumstances that enabled insurgents to enter the city. Angry elected provincial representatives and politicians at the meeting severely criticized authorities for not putting in place effective security measures to prevent the Taliban from assaulting Farah. They cited leadership and other problems among both provincial civilian and security institutions for initial insurgent advances and insisted that without U.S. support, Afghan forces could not have pushed the Taliban out of Farah. Nicholson, while addressing the meeting, reiterated international support for the country and called for replacing Afghan security officials who did not perform well in defending the city. "Farah did not fall and Farah will never fall. We in the international community want to see a peaceful end to this conflict. But until that time we will stay with you and, if necessary, fight alongside you, until we achieve that peace," Nicholson vowed. Afghan officials and others meeting in Farah on Saturday again accused neighboring Iran of supporting the Taliban militarily. Nicholson backed those assertions. "I wish that today my message was only to wish you a happy and blessed Ramadan with your families. But, unfortunately, the enemies, the Taliban, supported by some neighbors, have elected to attack you here in Farah in the [Muslim] holy month of Ramadan," he said. TAPI's Afghan segment In February, leaders of the countries participating in the TAPI project traveled to Herat, which also borders Iran, and jointly inaugurated construction work on the Afghan section of the nearly 1,800-kilometer pipeline. The landmark event rekindles hope for regional peace and cooperation. The Taliban, at the time, also pledged to ensure security for the project. Officials say the project, estimated to cost up to $10 billion, will carry 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually for 30 years and is extendable. TAPI was originally conceived in the 1990s, but differences over terms and conditions, unending Afghan hostilities, and rivalry between Pakistan and India hampered implementation of the project. Donald Trump Jr., the U.S. president's eldest son, met in August 2016 with an envoy representing the crown princes of United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The meeting, first reported by The New York Times on Saturday and confirmed by an attorney representing Trump Jr., was a chance for the envoy to offer help to the Trump presidential campaign, according to the Times. The newspaper said the meeting, held Aug. 3, was arranged by Erik Prince, the founder and former head of private military contractor Blackwater, who attended the meeting. Joel Zamel, a co-founder of an Israeli consulting firm, was also in attendance. Alan Futerfas, Trump Jr.'s attorney, said Saturday that nothing came of the meeting. "Prior to the 2016 election, Donald Trump Jr. recalls a meeting with Erik Prince, George Nader and another individual who may be Joel Zamel," Futerfas said in an emailed statement. "They pitched Mr. Trump Jr. on a social media platform or marketing strategy. He was not interested and that was the end of it." A company connected to Zamel also worked on a proposal for a "covert multimillion-dollar online manipulation campaign" to help Trump, utilizing thousands of fake social media accounts, the Times report said. The envoy, Lebanese-American businessman George Nader, told Trump Jr. that the crown princes of Saudi Arabia and the UAE were eager to help his father win the 2016 presidential election, the paper said. Since 1974, the United States has barred foreign nationals from giving money to political campaigns, and it later barred them from donating to political parties. The campaign financing laws also prohibit foreign nationals from coordinating with a campaign and from buying ads that explicitly call for the election or defeat of a candidate. The Saudi and UAE embassies in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Mueller team met Zamel The Wall Street Journal last month reported that investigators working for U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller had met with Zamel, and that Mueller's team was looking into his firm's work and his relationship with Nader. Mueller is investigating whether Russia meddled in the presidential election and whether Moscow colluded with the Trump campaign, as well as whether Trump committed obstruction of justice by trying to thwart the U.S. Department of Justice probe. Trump has denied any collusion with Russia and has called the Mueller investigation a "witch hunt." The Times report said the meetings were an indication that other countries besides Russia might have offered help to Trump's presidential campaign. Mueller's investigators have questioned witnesses in Washington, New York, Atlanta, Tel Aviv and elsewhere regarding possible foreign help to the campaign, the report said. Peter Carr, a spokesman for Mueller's team, declined to comment on the report. Zamel's attorney, Marc Mukasey, said in a statement to Reuters that his client "offered nothing to the Trump campaign, received nothing from the Trump campaign, delivered nothing to the Trump campaign and was not solicited by, or asked to do anything for, the Trump campaign." "Media reports about Mr. Zamel's engaging in 'social media manipulation' are uninformed," Mukasey added. "Mr. Zamel's companies harvest publicly available information for lawful use." Kathryn Ruemmler, Nader's lawyer, told the paper that her client "has fully cooperated with the U.S. special counsel's investigation and will continue to do so." Erik Prince, who is the brother of U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, could not be immediately reached for comment. Human rights experts from the United Nations called on Spain Friday to halt extraditions of Chinese and Taiwanese nationals to China because of concerns they would be exposed to the risk of torture, ill treatment or the death penalty. They cited the December 2016 arrest of 269 suspects, including 219 Taiwanese, over their alleged involvement in telecom scams to defraud Chinese citizens in a police swoop dubbed Operation Wall. Two Taiwanese individuals were reported to have been extradited to China on Thursday and the U.N. experts said they feared others would also be deported soon. We are dismayed by the decision by the Spanish courts to extradite these individuals. The ruling clearly contravenes Spains international commitment to refrain from expelling, returning or extraditing people to any state where there are well-founded reasons to believe that they might be in danger of being subjected to torture, the experts said. The experts also said some of those detained may be victims of human trafficking after they stated they had been brought to Spain under the promise they would work as tourist guides. The Chinese Foreign Ministry thanked Spain for handling Taiwan matters on the basis of the One China principle. We are also very happy that the two countries of China and Spain have achieved increasingly fruitful results in cracking down on crime and in joint law enforcement as political trust continuously deepens and pragmatic cooperation advances in a variety of areas, the ministry said at a briefing on Saturday. The Spanish government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. U.S. actress Meghan Markle finally confirmed on Thursday her father would not be attending her wedding to Britain's Prince Harry, putting an end to days of speculation that marred the build-up to this weekend's glittering ceremony. Harry, Queen Elizabeth's grandson, and Markle, a star of TV drama "Suits", will tie the knot on Saturday at the 15th Century St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, home to the British royal family for nearly 1,000 years. Markle's father, Thomas, had been due to walk his daughter down the aisle in front of a congregation of senior royals, celebrities, friends of the couple and a TV audience of hundreds of millions. But the former lighting director for TV soaps and sitcoms gave a series of contradictory statements this week about whether he would be there, with the Los Angeles-based celebrity website TMZ.com saying he had undergone heart surgery on Wednesday. "Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding. I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health," Meghan Markle, 36, said in a statement. "I would like to thank everyone who has offered generous messages of support. Please know how much Harry and I look forward to sharing our special day with you on Saturday." Saturday's wedding will be sumptuous show of British pageantry that is likely to attract a huge world audience. Supporters hope the union of one of the most popular royals and a glamorous American actress, a divorcee with a white father and an African-American mother, will reinvigorate the monarchy. Beside the British royal family, which blends sometimes stuffy European traditions with the global popularity of modern superstars, Markle has brought some Hollywood glamour and a sense of modernity to the House of Windsor. However, much of the carefully planned and choreographed build-up to the ceremony has been overshadowed by confusion over the attendance of Markle's father, who is divorced from her mother, Doria Ragland, a yoga instructor and social worker. TMZ said it had spoken to Markle's father after his surgery and that "he seemed alert and coherent, telling us doctors implanted stents in his blood vessels". It was not known when he would be out of the hospital. Ragland, who will spend the night before the wedding with her daughter in a luxury hotel and accompany her to the chapel, has arrived in Britain and is due to meet the 92-year-old queen and her husband Prince Philip, 96, on Thursday. Royal commentators have speculated she will now walk her daughter down the aisle instead. Global spectacle More than 5,000 media and support staff have registered for official positions in Windsor for the wedding, along with more than 160 photographers and 79 international TV networks, Kensington Palace said. After the hour-long ceremony which will be attended by the queen and senior royals, the couple will take part in a procession through the town's ancient streets on a 19th Century Ascot Landau carriage pulled by four Windsor Grey horses. Police are expecting more than 100,000 people to throng the streets outside the Castle, the queen's home west of London and the oldest and largest inhabited fortress in the world, and have said there would be tight security for the event. A large number of officers were present as crowds gathered to watch the troops who will accompany the newlyweds on the carriage procession perform a practice run on Thursday. Britains monarchy continues to be a source of fascination around the world and few other countries can emulate the pageantry which surrounds the royals. Queen Elizabeth, the world's longest reigning current monarch, is deeply respected and popular in Britain. Harry, 33, the younger son of the late Princess Diana, has himself always been a very popular figure member of the royal family. A cheeky child who stuck his tongue out at photographers, he left a lasting memory in the minds of many when aged just 12, he walked solemnly behind his mother's coffin as her funeral cortege made its way through London after her death in a car crash in 1997. While a global audience will be watching the wedding, some polls have suggested that many Britons are not as enthralled by the nuptials as the media. A YouGov poll, commissioned by anti-monarchist pressure group Republic, found that 66 percent of Britons were not interested in the event, with 60 percent of Britons planning to have a normal weekend. The poll also showed that 57 percent of respondents believed the royal family should pay not only for the wedding but also for the costs of police, which are expected to surpass the 6 million pound ($8 million) price tag for the 2011 wedding of Harry's brother Prince William to wife Kate. However, other surveys show most Britons are in favor of the monarchy continuing in Britain and that the wedding and the birth last month of William and Kate's third child, Prince Louis, were events of which Britain could be proud. The YouGov survey suggested that the popularity of the royal family is contingent on the personalities of its members. While the queen and younger royals such as Harry score highly, heir-to-the-throne Charles is far less popular. "This YouGov poll shows a very clear picture of a nation disinterested and apathetic about the royal family," Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, said. "We're not a nation of republicans yet - but we've stopped being a nation of royalists." ($1 = 0.7411 pounds) The big day is nearly here for Britains Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as the couple is to marry Saturday in the town of Windsor, outside London. Early Friday Kensington Palace announced that Prince Charles, Prince Harrys father, will walk Meghan Markle down the aisle in her wedding to Prince Harry. The American former actress confirmed this week that her father will not attend the ceremony because of ill health, after days of speculation over whether he would make the journey across the Atlantic. According to news reports, Thomas Markle, who lives in Mexico, underwent surgery Wednesday for a heart ailment. Huge crowds are expected in the historic town as well-wishers try to catch a glimpse of the royal couple. Thousands of police officers are mounting one of the biggest security operations in recent years, paid for by the public, a bill some opposed to the monarchy resent. Supporters argue the wedding is likely to attract big spending by visitors and those watching in bars and big screens across the country. The ceremony is to begin at midday in the stunning 14th century Saint Georges Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle, where Prince Harry was baptized in 1984. Some 600 guests have been invited, mainly those who have a direct relationship with the couple, owing to the lack of space in the chapel. Public on the castle grounds In addition, more than 2,500 members of the public have been invited onto the castle grounds, the prime spot to watch the guests come and go. To me, that was surprising, and it was very touching. Because for as much as they dont like the media intrusion, the royals, theyve invited media in, theyve invited the public in, and theyre wanting to share their special day, said Thomas Mace-Archer-Mills of the British Monarchist Society and Foundation. Four members of the Mumbai city-based charity the Myna Mahila Foundation have been invited. The NGO provides sanitary products in the slums of the Indian capital and was visited by Meghan Markle last year. Its one of seven charities that the couple asked guests to make donations to instead of providing wedding gifts. The charitys founder, Suhani Jalota, says the invitation came as a huge shock. We are representing not just Myna, but also the women across the urban slums in the city and India as well. I think there is a lot on the plate and a lot of pressure, she said. Well-wishers line the streets More than 100,000 people are expected to line the streets of Windsor. Many have arrived early to bag the best spots. Donna Werner is a self-confessed royal superfan who flew over from her home in the U.S. state of Connecticut and has been camping out for four nights on a Windsor sidewalk. Every little girl has read fairytales from her childhood on by her mother and she always dreams of becoming a princess and living in a castle. And I mean, this is it. This is a real life fairytale, she said. In a break with tradition, Meghan Markle will not have a maid of honor. Harrys nephew, Prince George, will be a pageboy, and niece Princess Charlotte a bridesmaid, alongside several members of the brides family. Reception banquet for 600 In the kitchens of Windsor Castle, 30 chefs will prepare a banquet for the 600 reception guests. The couple ... tasted everything, theyve been involved in every detail, royal head chef Mark Flanagan said. That could mean some stateside surprises among the British fare. Are we going to see hot dogs and these sorts of American things? Im sure there will be a nod to the American culture where food is concerned, Mace-Archer-Mills said. As well as the home crowds, millions are expected to tune in around the globe, with the promise of British pomp mixed with plenty of Hollywood glamour. MacDonald Dzirutwe VICTORIA FALLS (Reuters) - Zimbabwe needs up to $11 billion to modernise its mines and boost production to maximum capacity over the next five years, the head of the countrys Chamber of Mines said on Friday. Foreign investor interest in the southern African nation is growing after the fall of longtime leader Robert Mugabe following a de facto military coup last November but projects are still constrained by lack of funding. Batirai Manhando, Chamber of Mines president, said with the exception of platinum producers, all other mines, including those of gold, nickel, cobalt and coal were operating below their installed capacity. Mining generates more than half of Zimbabwes export receipts last year it earned $2.8 billion but industry executives say it has the potential to earn more with increased investment. The local mining industry is currently operating below capacity on the back of capital shortages, Manhando told an annual meeting of the mining chamber. At the beginning of the year the capital intensive industry required $7 billion for both ramp-up and sustenance capital. The figure has lately been revised upwards to $11 billion with renewed interest in our sector, Manhando said. Zimbabwe holds the second largest deposits of platinum and chrome after South Africa and has lately seen increased interest from lithium investors, who however say funding still remains a hurdle. Manhando said mining companies in Zimbabwe faced problems that included high costs of electricity, labour and royalty fees when compared to other jurisdictions. There had also been little exploration in the country since 2000, he added. Equipment at most mines was more than 50 years old, severely undermining efficiency and cost effectiveness of the sector, said Manhando. Mines Minister Winston Chitando said the government would announce a new mining vision at the end of June and projected that the output of gold could rise to 85 tonnes in five years. Output of gold, the biggest mineral by earnings, is expected to rise to 30 tonnes this year from 23 tonnes in 2017, according to Ministry of Mines data. (Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe Editing by Keith Weir) WINDSOR, England (AP) The son of British royalty and the daughter of middle-class Americans wed Saturday in a service that reflected Prince Harrys royal heritage, Meghan Markles biracial roots and the pairs shared commitment to putting a more diverse, modern face on the monarchy. British reserve crisscrossed with American verve in a service that broke molds and created new ones. Choirboys and a gospel choir; the archbishop of Canterbury and the African-American leader of the Episcopal church; a horse-drawn carriage and flowers hand-picked by the groom. The wedding was a global event, thanks to Harrys status as a senior British royal and Markles celebrity after starring on the U.S. television series Suits for seven years. Yet it seemed somehow so personal and they both beamed like a couple who couldnt take their eyes off each other. In a rousing sermon that highlighted a bit of a culture gap between outgoing Americans and reserved Brits, the Most. Rev. Michael Curry of the U.S. stirred the congregation from its fairy-tale reverie, quoting Martin Luther King in in a sermon that had some reaching for hankies and others shifting in their chairs. Theres power in love, Curry said, his voice rising. Love can help and heal when nothing else can. Theres power in love to lift up and liberate when nothing else will. He also quoted from the Song of Solomon in the Bible: Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. Joining the couple were a phalanx of celebrities, many of whom shared their wish to change the world. Oprah Winfrey, Idris Elba, Elton John, George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, James Corden and David and Victoria Beckham all watched from rows of seats in the Gothic masterpiece that is St. Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle. The British weather was gasp! sunny and balmy, bathing the ancient stones of Windsor Castle in a beautiful spring light. Many in the throng who waited outside also embraced the trans-Atlantic symbolism of the moment. Sheraton Jones, 22, who is from California but studying in Britain, described it as a melding of cultures. It was very touching, its two different cultures kind of coming together, it was just so surreal, she said. In the United States, this royal wedding was embraced for its diversity and inclusivity. This was black history, said Joy Widgeon, who attended a house party in Burlington, New Jersey, with her 6- and 8-year-old daughters. African-Americans were front and center at the royal wedding. This was the first time, and hopefully it wont be the last. I am here for it. Harry also invited buddies from his 10 years of military service which included two tours of duty in Afghanistan and from many of the charities he supports, which have focused on helping wounded veterans and encouraging a more open discussion of mental health issues. To kick off the festivities, Queen Elizabeth II honored her red-headed, 33-year-old grandson with a new title: the Duke of Sussex, making the 36-year-old Markle the Duchess of Sussex. The American actress drew raves for her sleek white silk boat-necked dress by U.K. designer Clare Waight Keller of the French fashion house Givenchy. Her sheer veil down to her waist in front and billowing for what seemed like miles behind her carried floral references to all 53 countries in the Commonwealth, countries drawn mostly from the former British Empire, headed by Markles new grandmother-in-law, the queen. The dress is simply beautiful in its classic simplicity, said Caroline Burstein, owner of Browns Bride, a top London bridal boutique. She called it a nod to Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and every iconic wedding we have witnessed throughout the 20th and 21st century. Its perfect for her and for the occasion they are celebrating. The palace said Markle also selected two other plant designs to be on the veil: Wintersweet, which grows at Kensington Palace. where the royal couple will live, and the California poppy, in a nod to the brides birthplace. Harry and best man Prince William wore white gloves and the frock coat uniforms of the Blues and Royals army regiment, in which Harry was once an officer. Harry also kept his full red beard a style decision that had sparked British betting earlier. Markle at first walked down the aisle with 10 young page boys and bridesmaids, then was accompanied by Prince Charles to the altar. As his father and bride drew close, Harry said: Thank you, Pa. To Markle, Harry said: You look amazing. Markle seemed poised and confident as she delivered her vows without so much as a quiver in her voice. She smiled broadly as archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby declared the couple husband and wife. Harry seemed a bit nervous but happy. As they emerged from the chapel, the couple kissed and the crowd roared. It just kept on cheering as Harry helped his wife fold her 5 meter (16 foot) train into the Ascot Landau carriage as they began their procession through the streets of Windsor. Police said more than 100,000 people lined the route. The royal couples open-topped carriage was pulled by four Windsor Grey horses and past crowds waving flags and holding cellphones aloft. The newlyweds smiled and waved, smiled at each other, waved and repeated the process for the 25-minute tour of Windsor. Other relatives in the ceremony included 4-year-old Prince George and 3-year-old Princess Charlotte, the oldest children of William and the Duchess of Cambridge. The 92-year-old queen and her 96-year-old husband, Prince Philip, Harrys grandparents, looked on with pride, as did Markles mother, Doria Ragland, who has spent the last few days getting to know her daughters new family. Two of Harrys ex-girlfriends were at the chapel Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas as was Sarah Ferguson, the ex-wife of Harrys uncle, Prince Andrew. The queen hosted the first of two royal wedding receptions after the service Saturday, one in the afternoon for 600 people with finger foods, wine and champagne. On Saturday night, a second, more lively reception for 200 people was being thrown by Charles. Yet it was the crowds in Windsor that seemed to best capture the joy of the moment. Many had camped or arrived at dawn on packed trains, vying for a good spot along the procession route. They cheered and screamed and sighed as the newlyweds passed by. I went to William and Kates wedding, but this is a completely different vibe, said Arlene Prinsloo, who had flown from South Africa. Its much more relaxed, and I think that reflects who Harry is. Ana Karukin, a Brazilian nurse living in Florida, said she came to witness a moment of history. Weve got to be here for him and for her, my Meghan, my special girl, to support them, because its a beautiful time, she said. I wish that Diana was here, but shes in heaven watching over them. NEWS APP: DOWNLOAD OUR NEWS APP FOR LATEST UPDATES: iOS | Android 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. A school bus with fifth graders from Middle Valley Elementary on board had a mechanical problem on I-40 near Knoxville Friday afternoon. The students were on their way home from a trip to WonderWorks in Pigeon Forge. Replacement buses were sent to pick up the children. One has arrived and is on its way home. The second bus is loading and will be on its way home soon. Students evacuated the bus with mechanical issues and were kept safe by law enforcement on the scene while the replacement buses made their way to the location. Parents of the students have been notified of the situation and that the arrival of the children back in Hamilton County will be delayed. All students and staff are safe. Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy We're being attacked my Manipulative Aliens, And Just Don't Realize It! The insights of a U.S. author suggest that not only does Hell actually exist - It's controlled by demonic aliens along with their allies that preside over major institutions. The following has been excerpted the writings of Angellica Goodson Lord who reveals more details in her Amazon Kindle book HERE. Ever since the 1930's aliens have been on the radar. Most of us never knew it. Most of us grew up with movies about aliens but always thought the basis for their existence was PRETTY UNLIKELY. Why would an advanced race of space aliens want to come here? What the SLEEPING SHEEPLE don't realize is that these evil beings have been around for thousands of not millions of years. The story around why they are here was placed in ancient documents an encoded into the Bible for those people "smart enough" to understand its message. They were the "gods that walked among us" in days gone buy. They were the gods of the Jewish Semites etc., in the Old Testament who were once of the alien human hybrid races who talked about these aliens that "Flit and Flew" in their "Chariots of Fire," "Whirling Wheels," "Clouds," and in vehicles with open cockpits where the "gods sat." The ground rumbled as they took off. If you follow their story what you find is that these evil beings hate humanity and all living creatures and have been launching a slow attack and take over of the world we live in for thousands of years. According to ancient lore they once were members of a group created by higher dimensional beings to watch over humankind until the committed a mutiny and decided to destroy and or contaminate all life forms on earth. When you dig deep into archeology, geology, science and legends you will discover that everything about our world that is evil was created or caused "BY THEM. The Bible encodes a warning to humanity about them as the evil "Powers and Principalities of the Air who are the real rulers of the world we live in." So then why isn't our governments being honest about their existence? The answer is because the "Archons" who rule our world are their hybrid bloodline descendants who take orders from THEM. Our Globalizing economic system and hierarchical structures of power which include corporations along with the political-military-industrial complex in general; organized religions; crime syndicates' mass-media organizations and legal systems presided over by courts and the police are apparently controlled by these archons. If you listen to their plight what you will find is that they were forced out of a "heavenly dimension" that the Aeons as their WATCHERS had occupied and placed under our earth, which is called Tartarus by them. The GOOD GUYS who appear to be the Aeons referred to by indigenous people as the "Creator" and his / her WATCHERS trapped them in Hell which is in caverns underground. They at one time had free access to the surface but became corrupt so they were forced underground. Now that is the basic story around them in a nutshell but theirs more. It would seem that their intent was to thoroughly corrupt mankind and all living creatures on earth as they SECRETLY launched an ALIEN TAKE OVER OF THE PLANET. They have a great deal of trouble operating on the surface for obvious reasons and because of their electromagnetisms so they created alien human hybrid races and giant hybrids to rule the world we live in that TAKE ORDERS FROM THEM or who are UNDER THEIR CONTROL. THIS IS WHY THE GOVERNMENT IS LYING TO US ABOUT THEM. THE SHADOW GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY ASM'S ARE IN BED WITH THEM. These Global Elite ASM's are their hybrid decedents. This is why we have become a surveillance society with more Orwellian Nazi control over our citizens than we ever thought possible. Our Shadow Government ASM's are ENABLING ALIENS TO LAUNCH THEIR TAKE OVER OF THE SURFACE OF OUR PLANET while the SLEEPING SHEEPLE SLEEP. Majestic 12 and all government agencies are under a GAGUE ORDER to DENY, DENY, DENY. There is a war going on between different divisions of our military over disclosure. The Shadow Government and Military are very compartmentalized. The ASM Shadow Government and Military operate with the highest top level secrecy clearance. Secretary of the Navy and founding member of Majestic 12 James V. Forestall (see above) was allegedly murdered for wanting to go public about what he knew. Keep in mind also that these same demonic alien beings also have giant hybrids working for them. Hybrid human giants that range from 7-10 ft tall who live underground and at times fly UFO's. They are the ones who send out their UFO's with their Gray WORKER BEES to abduct people. The Grays are nothing more than living robots created using human foetuses which they genetically modify so that they hard wired to their Matrix. All of this is right in front of our faces if people would JUST DO THEIR HOMEWORK. We are JUST NUMBERS TO THEM. Yes we are under attack and have been through out time. All you have to do is DO YOUR HOMEWORK. You can engage in a litany of conversation around them, which usually starts with Area 51, Betty and Barney Hill etc., but in the end WE ARE UNDER ATTACK AND HAVE BEEN since before the melting of the last Ice Age. The more they degrade humankind through a dependency on Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the more control they have. Aliens have almost completed the CONTROL GRID over the world today and have rigorously been working to install camera's on every corner, cell phones in our hands, smart meters on our homes, surveillance equipment that will track us to the bathroom, check points and body scanners at our airports etc. They have been trying to kill us by the food we eat, the shots we take, the air we breath etc., and they are doing these evil deeds using PEOPLE who are under their control who run the banks, corporations, governments, Hollywood, the FAKED Media and the list goes on they include the Jesuits who are at the top of their pyramid of global control. Yes their ASM's are their puppets and they are THE PUPPET MASTERS. The International Labour Organisation has called on the government to review these laws but they have not." Australian Manufacturing Union national president Andrew Dettmer said secondary boycott laws even prevented unions negotiating across multiple sites. Loading "It really militates against us bargaining across industy which is how other advanced capitalist nations such as Germany bargain," he said. Mr Dettmer declined to comment on Mr Setka's statement about breaking the law to achieve better pay and conditions for members. AMWU state secretary Steve Murphy agrees there "needs to be a rethink about secondary boycott laws". "Employers are allowed to organise and build power across an industry or a supply chain, but workers are contrained from responding by secondary boycott laws," he said. "What we are seeing is the emergence of a new generation of union leaders across the country, who are more explicit about having laws reflect the natural right of workers to organise and to build power. In a way we are going back to basics: and the right to strike is part of that." Transport Workers Union national secretary Tony Sheldon Transport Workers Union national secretary Tony Sheldon said secondary boycott laws needed to be changed to deal with companies that unilaterally outsource work. "It's clear when employers can economically damage their own employees by outsourcing their jobs without notice, then employees should have a right to take action and that means secondary boycott laws need to change to allow that happen," he said. Mr Sheldon said wages were declining and workers needed to have a right to stand up against unfair outcomes. He said the Fair Work Act which came into effect in 2009 before the emergency of the on-demand economy which is "gaming the system". Other unions voiced support for Mr Setka's view that laws sometimes needed to be broken to achieve industrial goals. People are not going to give 24 hours notice before entering a work site because that's what the law says if someone's safety at risk ETU's Allen Hicks Electrical Trades Union national secretary Allen Hicks said industrial and consumer laws needed to change because . He said his members, and those of the CFMEU, who worked in dangerous industries "have to do everything we possibly can to best represent our membership in that space". "People are not going to give 24 hours notice before entering a work site because that's what the law says if someone's safety at risk," he said. "Employers are breaking the law every day of the week by underpaying workers and not paying superannuation." NSW Nurses Association general secretary Brett Holmes said his union took strike action in 2010 to introduce nurse to patient rations in defiance of a NSW Industrial Commission order. The nurses union argues industrial action successfully altered ratios. "What delivered out of that was 1400 more nurses saving lives in our public health system," he said. NSW Teachers Federation president Maurie Mulheron said teachers have defied orders against strike action under NSW industrial laws on a number of occasions. "People felt the issue warranted strike action, but the laws are so punitive and restrictive we need to change them and give professions like the teachers access to industrial relations commission to have salaries aribrated. Even though there has been significant change in the work of teachers and increased hours and workload, there is no opportunity to legally run a work value case in the [Industrial Relations Commission]." Labor's Workplace Relations spokesman Brendan O'Connor said Labor wants fairer and safer workplaces and would engage with parties to that end. "We also expect employers, workers and unions to comply with the laws of the land as no one is above the law," he said. I'd love to sue them if I could, John Setka Mr Setka said his union would now do all it could to hold Coalition politicans, lawyers and companies involved in the alleged blackmail case to account. Victorian state prosecutors dropped blackmail charges against Mr Setka and his deputy Shaun Reardon over the union's boycott of concrete company Boral. Pending legal advice, Mr Setka said he would like to sue over the impact the legal case had on him and his family. Loading "I'd love to sue them if I could," he said. "My main aim is to go after them and to make sure they never do this to anyone again." Mr Reardon echoed Mr Setkas determination to pursue any politicians involved in the collapsed criminal case against the two men. The personal damage caused to members of my family from these charges borders on being criminal in itself, Mr Reardon said. The CFMEU will leave no stone unturned in its endeavours to expose the political corruption that has seen a government so blatantly manipulate so many so called Independent agencies for its own political gain." The CFMEU Victoria's lawyer Peter Gordon said there were "a number of potential causes of action" he wanted to explore. Mr Setka said his union did not set out to break the law. "I believe in the law.... but over the history of mankind, people have always defied unjust laws," he said. "If I have to go out and break a law so my member can go home safe to their families at night then that was what I have to do." Mr Setka said the Rail Tram and Bus Union in NSW complied with the law when it followed a Fair Work Commission order to call off a 24-hour strike in March. "They followed the law and they got screwed," Mr Setka said. "If they did what we do they probably would have won. Mr Setka said the Rudd Labor government was the worst in history and had used "anti-union law firm Freehills that were trying to set us up" to help draft the Fair Work Act 2009. He said the union movement helped Labor get into power and it "screwed workers" in return. "I know they are there to govern for all Australians, but why pander to big business so much? You don't see the Liberals pandering to the trade union movement," he said. Workplace Minister Craig Laundy said Mr Setka wanted greater ability to shut down workplaces and for union officials to have free rein to enter any workplaces at any time. Mr Setka has made it clear the union movement isnt happy with the Fair Work regime they designed with the Rudd/Gillard Government, so they want to ditch it in return for strikes and warfare not seen since the days of the Whitlam Government," Mr Laundy said. One senior Labor Party figure privately conceded on Friday day that the partys association with the CFMEU and its "macho" and "bully-boy aggression" was not a positive with voters. Fashionably speaking, how do you make a duchess? Even before her engagement to Prince Harry, Meghan Markle had already begun her gradual transformation from Hollywood starlet to royal bride. The strappy or strapless tops and dresses, as well as the odd flash of midriff, often seen on her social media accounts, were replaced by crisp white shirts and an overall more "polished" appearance, down to her hair and make-up. The torn jeans seem to have been replaced in public with more tailored pants and longer, pencil skirts. Meghan Markle stepped out in a Camilla and Marc blazer and Oroton bag in London. Credit:PA Her biggest trademarks have included wrap-around belted coats, including the cream one worn for the couple's engagement announcement, and her signature "messy bun" hairdo, which has also become more stylised. While the former Suits star has ired traditionalists for some of her fashion choices exposed shoulders and pants to evening events are two examples many agree Meghan is bringing a brand of style to the Royal Family that will help extend its appeal to the Millennial generation. Loading Given royal dress protocols, Meghan has quickly incorporated several British-based designers in her wardrobe, including Emilia Wickstead, a Duchess of Cambridge favourite, and hats by Philip Treacy. Such is the level of interest in Meghan's style that Instagram accounts have been devoted to her every outfit since she and Prince Harry confirmed their relationship in late 2016. If youve noticed an unexplained drop in your internet speed lately youre not going crazy, there is yet another fault with WAs main internet connection. Vocus, who monitor the Perth to Singapore undersea internet cable, has confirmed the cable went offline on May 11. Vocus' Singapore Perth cable landed in Anyer, Indonesia earlier this month. Credit:Vocus On Friday Vocus website stated the cable was still offline and there was no estimated time of repair. Vocus did not confirm what caused this shutdown. A federal judge in Connecticut has dismissed a customer lawsuit against Nestle Waters North America that alleges the Stamford-based company is misrepresenting the source of its Poland Spring line of bottled water. But the plaintiffs plan to press on with their litigation. The court action responds to a complaint filed last August that said that not one drop of Poland Springs advertised 100 percent natural spring water came from such springs in mountains and forests, but instead originated from wells drilled a few feet from the surface in saturated plains and valleys. Although I reject many of Nestles arguments, I agree with Nestle that plaintiffs claims are all pre-empted by federal law, Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer wrote in his ruling Thursday. Nestle Waters officials said they were pleased with the dismissal of the meritless lawsuit. Poland Spring is what we have always said it is 100 percent natural spring water, meeting all (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) regulations for spring water, Charles Broll, Nestle Waters executive vice president and general counsel, said in a statement Friday. Consumers can be confident in the honesty and accuracy of the labels on every bottle of Poland Spring. Meyer also dismissed three related class-action lawsuits against Nestle Waters filed after the original complaint. He did not throw out another suit that was consolidated under his purview, because it was not covered by Nestle Waters dismissal motion filed last October. Nestle Waters based its argument for dismissal on a letter last August from the Maine Drinking Water Program that said all eight springs in the state that supply Poland Spring constitute spring water sources. A message left Friday for the Maine Drinking Water Program was not immediately returned. Colts Neck, N.J.-based attorney Alexander Schmidt, lead counsel for the plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed in August, said Friday they would amend their complaint, consistent with the ruling. The lead plaintiffs in that case live in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Vermont. Poland Spring is primarily distributed in those states, as well as Rhode Island. Plaintiffs appreciate that the court rejected all of Nestles arguments except one, holding that plaintiffs should assert claims based on state law rules governing spring water, Schmidt said in an email. The decision did not address the accuracy of our detailed factual allegations, which we look forward to proving. The litigation also asserts at least one of the wells at each of Poland Springs six largest groundwater sites is located near polluted sites. But it said the proximity did not frequently lead to contaminated water because Nestle Waters disinfects and sometimes purifies the water. Also Friday, Nestle Waters announced that an investigation team at global law firm DLA Piper had found that Poland Spring is properly labeled as spring water. Nestle Waters had commissioned the study. DLA Piper has concluded that Poland Spring brand spring water sources satisfy the requirements of the federal spring water identity standard, George Mitchell, a former U.S. senator who is chairman emeritus of DLA Piper, said in a statement. As a result, the use of the term spring water on Poland Spring labels is both accurate and appropriate. Water that is derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth may be spring water, according to FDA regulations. Spring water shall be collected only at the spring or through a bore hole tapping the underground formation feeding the spring. The FDA has not issued any warning letters to Nestle Waters, agency officials have told Hearst Connecticut Media. pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; Twitter: @paulschott HARTFORD With the end of his tenure in sight, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has turned sharply partisan, warning Connecticut Democrats that the state would become vulnerable to a tea party rollback of worker rights if Republicans are allowed to win majorities in the General Assembly. First in a 13-minute speech Friday night to the nearly 2,000 delegates, then during an impromptu news conference outside the Democratic State Convention, Malloy bashed the migration of Trump-style political tactics from Washington and called for Democrats, as diverse as they are, to come together as a team. Democrats dont worry about how rich they can make their friends, he said. They worry about how they can make their community richer, how they can improve their schools, how they can make more jobs, how they can spread the wealth as opposed to bring it all in. But heres the hard part about being a Democrat, Malloy said. And this is one of the things that separate us from our president: It is our obligation to tell the truth, every single day. Telling the truth is fundamental to our democracy. Malloy said that nationally Republicans brag about benefiting their contributors, while withdrawing affordable health care for tens of millions. We have to make sure Connecticut does not follow that road, he said. We have to make sure that we dont elect Republicans to the governors office, or the attorney generals office, or the comptrollers office, or any office. We need to take back the Senate. It makes a difference. Its important. Its in our DNA. He said campaigns should focus on Democratic successes, including the states gun-safety laws, the 30 percent drop in violent crime over the last four years, the $10.10 minimum wage, paid sick leave, LGBT rights, acceptance of unauthorized immigrants who came here as children and pay equity. Acknowledging the inevitability of primary battles for top-of-of-the-ticket races in August, Malloy stressed that Democrats have to keep their eye on their goals in the fall elections. Let no Republican, let no person divide us, who we are, what we are, because we know what we believe and we know what we must accomplish, Malloy said. Do not let any Republican lie divide us. Do not them run on our issues. Do not let them run on our successes. In response to Malloy, J.R. Romano, Republican state chairman, said that whatever Malloy says, his legacy of failure will remain. Democrats like to pretend that facts are not facts, Romano said in a phone interview. The fact is that Dan Malloy lost GE and hundreds of other businesses, along with the people in that room. Thats a legacy they dont want to own, but its theirs. That room is devoid of reality. Malloys second four-year term ends when the next General Assembly and governor get sworn in next January. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT A gas station down the street from Santa Fe High School was the first stop for many students running away from the campus during Friday's deadly shooting. Mehran Ali, who works at the gas station and is the brother of the owner, said students who left without their phones came into the store to contact their parents. Updated 7:45 p.m. After almost 11 hours, the majority of delegates didnt stick around to hear Hartford Lawyer Shawn Wooden accept the Democratic partys endorsement for state treasurer. They exited en masse as Wooden took the stage to the Black Eyed Peas I gotta feeling after the final vote of the day, which went to two ballots. Wooden will face Greenwich hedge fund manager Dita Bhargava and fellow Hartford attorney Arunan Arulampalam in the August primary. Democrats, its time for us to unite, Wooden said. Its time for us to win in November. And thats a wrap from the state Democratic convention in Hartford. Updated 6:20 p.m. Triumphing over four other candidates, state Rep. William Tong of Stamford accepted the Democrats nomination for attorney general Saturday evening. The child of Chinese immigrants, Tong is the first Asian-American to be nominated to statewide office in Connecticut, he said. Everyone knows by now, I grew up in a Chinese restaurant, he joked about his parents business. Updated 6:10 p.m. Guy Smith, a retired Greenwich business executive running for governor, was working the floor Saturday afternoon, which seemed a bit odd since he had said he was not seeking convention delegate support and had declared the convention fixed in favor of Lamont. Hes collecting signatures in hopes of qualifying for the Aug. 14 primary. Smith was not credentialed as a candidate Saturday. Rather, he was there on behalf of his running mate, state Rep. Charlie Stallworth of Bridgeport. Im here to support his candidacy for lieutenant governor, Smith said. (Stallworth received 1 percent of the vote for lieutenant governor.) Smith did talk about his own campaign, and why not? No one from the party attempted to stop him. Everyone in the hall is really important, Smith said, but there are also 900,000 other really important Democrats in the state. Ive been talking to them. The scene was a contrast to the Republican convention last week, where supporters of Bob Stefanowski a Republican seeking signatures to get on that partys primary ballot were accused of sneaking onto the delegate floor to campaign for Stefanowski. Updated 5:35 p.m. A four candidate race for attorney general has been narrowed to a run-off between state Rep. William Tong of Stamford and former federal prosecutor Chris Mattei on the Democratic side. After a first round of voting, Tong won 46 percent of the vote and Mattei 32 percent. State Sen. Paul Doyle of Wethersfield collected 16 percent enough to put him on the ballot for the August primary. Doyle then withdrew his name from the second round of voting, which is underway now. The move releases his delegates to decide whether Mattei or Tong will be the Democratic nominee. Clare Kindall, an assistant attorney general, won 5 percent of the vote and is out of the race, unless she decides to petition into the primary. Updated 5:00 p.m. While staffers tabulated votes in the hot attorney generals race, two candidates for state treasurer moved the convention floor together. Dita Bhargava, a former hedge fund portfolio manager from Greenwich, and Arunan Arulampalam, a Hartford attorney, spoke to delegates side-by-side, deftly weaving the crowds as a pair. When approached, Bhargava and Arulampalam denied that they were working together. But they exchanged a whisper when the reporter moved away. One source familiar with the campaigns said there may a cooperative arrangement in the works. It remained unclear before the voting whether one candidate was throwing support to the other, or whether they were working to make sure both were over the 15 percent threshold to get a place on the primary ballot. Updated 4:15 p.m. In a flashback to 2010 when Susan Bysiewicz was disqualified from running for Attorney General because her tenure as a lawyer did not meet the minimum requirement of 10 years, there were rumblings on the convention floor of the requirement becoming a point of contention between Attorney General candidates Chris Mattei and William Tong. Per a quick public records search: Tong is an active lawyer in good standing, admitted to the New York State Bar in Oct. 2001. Mattei was admitted to practice in Connecticut in Oct. 2005 and is a lawyer in good standing. Updated 4:00 p.m. Going on hour seven of the state Democratic Convention, Richard Furlow, a member of the New Haven Board of Aldermen, confused his Chris M.s. Furlow nominated Chris Mattei for attorney general. Chris Murphy will protect the people of Connecticut! Furlow declared. Did I say Chris Murphy? Chris Mattei! Chris Murphy is good, but hes not running for attorney general, Furlow added later in his remarks. Then, a river of Chris Mattei-poster touting supporters flowed down the aisles of the convention hall, away from the stage. They were immediately replaced by an even larger flood of state Rep. William Tong champions. Strong with Tong! they cheered. State Sen. Paul Doyle of Wethersfield and Clare Kindall, an assistant attorney general for the past two decades, are also in the running for the attorney general seat. Updated 2:45 p.m. State Rep. Patricia Billie Miller was not happy when it seemed like no one was listening to her nominating speech for lieutenant governor candidate state Rep. Charlie Stallworth of Bridgeport. I need you to listen to me as I speak to you! she shouted, voice rising to a shrill pitch. We are here to listen to everyone. Everyone deserves a chance. Minutes before another state lawmaker, Sen. Gary Winfield of Bridgeport, in an emotional speech threw his support behind Eva Bermudez Zimmerman, a Newtown union organizer who announced her lieutenant governor candidacy days ago. Im standing here for Eva because I believe in possibility, Winfield said, with tears in his eyes. Updated 2:05 p.m. As most predicted, Ned Lamont won the Democratic nomination for governor of Connecticut Saturday afternoon. Acknowledging his loss, Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, who received 12.9 percent of the vote, stood on a chair at the head of his citys delegation, shaking his fists. Were gonna fight! he shouted. Were gonna get signatures! Ganim has collected 11,000 signatures to date, he said. 12 percent support from party delegates was well beyond what he expected, he said. Minutes later, a jubilant Ned Lamont took the stage to accept his partys nomination. He promised to invest in education, transportation and bring jobs back to the state. He criticized Republicans who talk about leaving Connecticut and moving to Florida. "I can't think of anything more boring that Del Ray in May," he said. Updated 12:55 p.m. Incumbent Denise Merrill was renominated for secretary of the state by Democrats Saturday afternoon. Although it was clear she had a runaway lead, Merrills acceptance was delayed for over an hour by a voting snafu. Wow that was fun huh? she said, of the registration mistakes that caused the voting errors. The irony of it being the election of the secretary of the state has not escaped me. Merrill was challenged by Karen Talamelli Cusick, the Democratic town chair of Woodbridge for the post. Cusick did not win the 15 percent of the vote necessary to force a primary. Updated 12:15 p.m. The botched electronic secretary of the state vote is now delaying a vote on the Democrats pick for governor. The towns of Hartland, Bozrah, Voluntown and Scotland cast more votes than they have delegates. Staffers have been working to sort out the discrepancy for over an hour. In the meantime, Democrats have nominated Kevin Lembo for another term as state comptroller by voice vote and heard nominating speeches supporting Joe Ganim and Ned Lamont for governor. Updated 12:00 p.m. Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim seconded his own nomination for governor, taking the stage at the state Democratic Convention to outline his qualifications for the job. His legislative liaison confirmed that yes, this was a strategy a last-gasp effort to grab more delegates from front-runner Ned Lamont, before votes are shortly cast. Ganim spoke of his efforts to pull Bridgeport out of dire financial straits, his collective 12 years as mayor, and his checkered past a federal felony corruption conviction. I made my mistakes. I broke the law, he said. I asked for a second chance. Candidates are allowed to second their own nominations as long as they are also delegates. Updated 11:35 a.m. In a heartwarming moment amidst endless political jockeying, 18-year Jordan Lembo-Frey, a newly-registered Democrat, took to the stage Saturday to second the nomination of his father Kevin Lembo for another term as state comptroller. Hes my hero and a true champion of the people, said Lembo-Frey, the comptrollers youngest adopted son. And yes, of course, hes a tremendous nerd. Lembo, who is gay, spoke of his son with pride in his speech accepting the nomination. Your Dad and I could not be more proud of you, and we love you more than all the leaves on all the trees, he said. Updated 11:25 a.m. An issue with the new electronic voting system has postponed the release of the final vote for Democrats pick for Connecticuts secretary of the state. We have towns who have voted more people than they have registered, Nick Balletto, chair of the state Democratic party, told delegates. Democrats have now moved on to the renomination of Kevin Lembo for state comptroller, while staffers try to sort out the errors in the secretary of the state vote. Current secretary of the state Denise Merrill is seeking another term, challenged by Karen Talamelli Cusick, the Democratic town chair of Woodbridge for the post. Updated 11:15 a.m. A Snapchat geofilter, paid for by the Republican National Committee, is telling Democrats at their state convention what the GOP thinks of their partys leadership. The filter says CT Dems: Continuing Dans disaster legacy, with a cartoon of the bespectacled Gov. Dannel P. Malloy holding a map of Connecticut, broken in two. In smaller text, it says Least popular gov. in the U.S., 4th worst infrastructure, and 42nd in states to do business. The geofilter appears when Snapchat users are at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, the site of the Democrats two-day nominating fest for their 2018 candidates. Updated 10:50 a.m. Democrats are trying out a new electronic voting system at their convention. Instead of a town-by-town roll call vote, a representative from each town brings a form detailing the municipalitys votes to tables at the front of the convention hall where staffers tabulate them in spreadsheets. Delegates can see how each town voted on a Google spreadsheet on their mobile device or on a small monitor, the size of a large computer screen, at one end of the convention hall. Meanwhile, large screens hanging from the ceiling show the delegates aggregate results. Some delegates bemoaned the change because it eliminates the short speech a representative of each town gave about their homes local industries, athletics, topography, weather or other distinguishing features. Democrats are now watching votes come in the secretary of the state race which pits incumbent Denise Merrill against Karen Talamelli Cusick, the Democratic town chair of Woodbridge. Updated 9:30 a.m. About a dozen Greenwich delegates gathered in mass at their seats to talk about the race dividing their town: state treasurer. Greenwich boasts two candidates for the post. Dita Bhargava is a former hedge fund portfolio manager, while John Blankley is a former town finance board member and chief executive at several oil and gas companies. Bhargava fundraised six times more than Blankley, raking in $33,000, according to an April campaign filing. But Blankley is more well-connected in the political class in town. Its a little awkward frankly, said Tony Turner, chair of Greenwichs Democratic Town Committee. In the end, whether Greenwich casts votes for Bhargava or Blankley may not matter. Shawn Wooden, former president of the Hartford City Council, is viewed by most as the treasurer front-runner. Wooden, a law partner at Day Pitney who represents public pension funds, has the deepest campaign pockets in the race. His team raised over $60,000, according to an April filing. Updated Saturday 9:10 a.m. Delegates and candidates are trickling into the Hartford Convention Center for day two of the State Democratic Convention. The line at the Starbucks in the lobby is about a mile long so it could be a while before everyone is sufficiently caffeinated for a full day of politics. Once the gavel hits, delegates will first vote on the secretary of the state race in which incumbent Denise Merrill, who is in her second term, is being challenged by Karen Talamelli Cusick, the Democratic town chairwoman in Woodbridge. Convention organizers are hoping to vote on the candidate for governor by noon ... Updated 9:00 p.m. Standing outside the Convention hall, Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim greeted every delegate in his orbit Friday evening. He didnt have a particular strategy for bending them to his side, he said, except maybe being personable. One strategy that Ganim did try in late April was recruiting Eva Bermudez Zimmerman, a union organizer from Newtown, to his team. Ganim asked Bermudez Zimmerman to be his running mate, and she initially accepted and then declined, Ganim said. I think there was a timing issue with what I was doing with signatures that was one of the issues, Ganim said. If were able to get to 15 percent, I think well have a line B or a row B that comes together that would be supported and much more diverse. Chris McArdle, press secretary for Bermudez Zimmerman, who is Latina, said Bermudez Zimmerman declined because she wanted to maintain an independent candidacy. The ticket doesnt mean much in the primary phase, McArdle said. Other Democrats like Jonathan Harris also asked Bermudez Zimmerman to join their tickets, McArdle said. That was before Harris ended his campaign in late April and threw his backing to now front-runner Ned Lamont. Bermudez Zimmerman, who officially announced her candidacy on Wednesday, is viewed by many as a last-stage disrupter at the convention. She could pose a big challenge for Susan Bysiewicz, Lamonts running mate and former secretary of the state, who is white. Many Democrats are backing Bermudez Zimmerman because they want more diversity in statewide offices; Zimmermans campaign said Friday night she is expected to get more than 30 percent of delegates support on Saturday. Updated 8:15 p.m. U.S Sen. Chris Murphys favorite book is Winnie the Pooh. This factoid he shared on the stage of the state Democratic Convention Friday night. Its still to this day my favorite book in the world, Murphy said. Murphy who acknowledged that many political observers find his mannerisms a bit goofy loves to read this book to his sons who are now 9 and 6 years old, he said. Murphys favorite part is when Piglet asks Pooh what he thinks about when he wakes up in morning, the 44-year-old senator seeking a second term said. Pooh tells Piglet he thinks, Whats for breakfast? Murphy loves what Piglet wakes up thinking, though: I wonder whats going to happen that is exciting today? With your endorsement, I am going to wake up tomorrow excited, Murphy told hundreds of delegates. Updated 7:30 p.m. An intra-party squabble disrupted the convention for more than 10 minutes Friday night as a member of the Democratic party Rules Committee challenged a majority report put forth by party leaders. Bobby Berriault of New Britain went to the mics to ask for a vote on a minority report containing ideas from him and other delegates on how to improve racial representation and operations within the party. But a parliamentary snafu meant his report was passed over without a vote. Berriault appealed and the crowd began to shout Vote! Vote! Vote! We were told if we spoke up we would be blacklisted by the party, Berriault said to the crowd. We all deserve a voice! We all deserve a vote! Standing on stage, Nick Balletto, chair of the Connecticut Democrats, insisted that he never told Berriault not to speak. You were never silenced by me, he said. A voice vote was called on the minority report, but it failed to get requisite support for passage. Updated 7:00 p.m. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy fired up Democrats ahead of U.S. Sen. Chris Murphys renomination. Winning a standing ovation from delegates, he described in apocalyptic terms the need to fight lies and preserve democracy by electing Democrats. Telling the truth is fundamental to our democracy. If we ever give up on holding our elected officials to the responsibility of telling the truth good news, bad news, neutral news tell it to us! he said. If we ever give up on that, our democracy will be in even more trouble then than it is today under Donald Trump and his administration. We have to make sure Connecticut does not follow that road. We have to make sure that we dont elect Republicans to the governors office, to the attorney generals office or the comptrollers office, or any office, he shouted. We need to take back our state house, both houses... we have work to do Democrats! This is important! Its who we are! The crowd of hundreds roared its support, appearing more energized that Republicans did at any moment of their state convention last weekend. Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman also won over the crowd with her anti-Trump rhetoric. "My mother said if you can't saying something nice, don't say anything at all... but she's not here, Wyman joked. Trump yuck!" Updated 6:15 p.m. Ned Lamont is not afraid of a primary. Speaking to reporters outside the state Democratic Convention at 5:30 p.m., Lamont, who is his partys front-runner for governor, said he welcomes a challenge from Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim. Ganim, a Democrat, is not participating in the convention but he has been spotted at the Convention Center chatting with delegates and trying to gather supporters. Ganim plans on petitioning onto the August primary ballot, if he cant get enough support Saturday from Democrats. Meanwhile outside, Susan Bysiewicz stood by Lamonts side. She dropped her gubernatorial run earlier this week to be Lamonts running mate and lieutenant governor. We believe that out ticket is the strongest, and we are unified, she said. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy encouraged candidates to participate in the primary even if they do not win their partys nomination. That applies to Ganim, and 2016 National Teacher of the Year Jahana Hayes who is challenging Democrat Mary Glassman in the 5th district for a Congressional seat. Murphy encouraged Hayes to run and defended his right to do so Friday, while speaking to press. I think Im allowed to have an opinion, he said. We should have diverse candidates and candidates of color as part of the delegation... I think its appropriate this question go to the voters. Mary Glassman is a great standard-bearer for the party and if Jahana is the candidate, she will be equally as good. He also questioned the necessity of the very convention he was attending. Perhaps, partys state conventions should be eliminated in the future, Murphy said. I love these conventions. I grew up around these conventions, but it probably behooves us to allow easier access for voters to candidates, he said. We have what we have today, which ends up with a small group of people making important decisions about these elections. We are probably better off giving voters earlier and easier access. Updated 5:30 p.m. Rows of hundreds of empty chairs now host only a forest of town signs. Milford, West Haven, Darien, Windsor Locks, Greenwich... The tall placards mark where delegates from around the state will sit and decide the fate of political hopefuls for governor, lieutenant governor, comptroller, treasurer, secretary of the state and more. The Democratic State Convention officially kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday but the action has started. Excited delegates are checking in, many sporting buttons spelling out their allegiances. Candidates too have started to make their grand entrances. First up, the main event Friday night: U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy who is seeking his second six-year term. Murphy arrived at the Connecticut Convention Center shortly before 5 p.m. to a crowd of his tee-shirted supporters shouting I believe that we will win! Though loaded with campaign cash, widely known and benefiting from his incumbent status, Murphy said he wasnt taking the race for granted. This is a really big night, he said. The stakes couldnt be higher. Kaitlyn Krasselt and Dan Haar contributed reporting. emunson@hearstmediact.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson HARTFORD Facing an uncertain primary season and a make-or-break fall election, state Democrats on Friday descended on the Connecticut Convention Center to reconnect and cheer their odds-on favorite, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy. Met with a standing ovation before close to 2,000 delegates, Murphy told the convention that while primaries may appear divisive, they are healthy for a party as diverse as state Democrats. During an 18-minute address, the senator, a leading figure in the national debate on gun safety, said progress is being made. Were Democrats because we want every child in this country to grow up free from the fear of gun violence, he said. We support the real Second Amendment, not the imagined Second Amendment. We support the Second Amendment that allows congress to do what the overwhelming majority of Americans want us to do, like pass mandatory background checks and ban assault weapons. Murphy reached the convention stage after an incendiary, partisan address by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, followed by a brief rules squabble. The nominating process began at about 7:35 p.m., when U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal put Murphys name into nomination. He has worked tirelessly and relentlessly to end gun violence in the United States of America, and we will do it, Blumenthal said, continuing with a litany of Murphys advocacy, from womens health care to the opioid crisis. In every one of these areas he has been a champion, Blumenthal said. They are not just Democratic values, they are American values. After a brief video of TV news clips, Nick Balletto, party chairman, declared Murphys endorsement by acclamation. The first-term senator warned that Connecticut Republicans can taste control of state government. This is the party of Trump, he said. This is the party of the Tea Party. Its the worst of America First. Unlike other statewide candidates up and down the top-of-the-ticket, Murphy, with $7.7 million in the bank, had no opposition in the nomination process that started the two-day convention. Arriving downtown at about 5 p.m., the 44-year-old, first-term senator greeted about 100 red-shirted, chanting supporters. While a blue-state icon nationally, Murphy adopted the red T-shirts during his 2006 run against Nancy Johnson, the former longtime representative. Meeting with reporters outside the convention hall, Murphy said Fridays school shooting in Texas would be another step in the gun-safety momentum that has built up nationally since Sandy Hook in 2012. Eventually we are going to be stronger than the gun lobby and there are signs that that moment may be upon us, Murphy said. More voters today care about the issue of guns than ever before. The polls have never been higher with respect to background checks and assault-weapons bans, he said. This is a long-term social and political movement, not unlike the fight for marriage equality; not unlike the fight for civil rights in this country. Scheduled to start at 6 p.m., delegates were slow in arriving in the massive ballroom, festooned with more than 2,000 chairs, platforms for TV broadcasts, large video screen and signs designating the seating areas of the delegates, who hugged, schmoozed and contemplated various candidacies and challenges that could play out Saturday, particularly Eva Bermudez Zimmermans plan to seek the nomination for lieutenant governor, despite Ned Lamonts plan to tap Susan Bysiewicz as his running mate. Im proud that were string and ready for what I believe will be a very big fight from the top of the ticket down, Murphy said. I think were going to come away with a really strong Democratic team from the governor on down. Whether get a candidate this weekend or we get a candidate in August were going to have a very-strong ticket and were going to have an energized base that is going to turn out in record numbers this fall. Murphy predicted that the race for governor will be very close in November. He said the prospect of a primary contest between Lamont and Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim is not worrisome. Im not somebody thats afraid of primaries, Murphy said. I think primaries can often energize party members, and if thats the way it goes then I think our party will be stronger at the end of that process. He said that President Donald Trump would certainly be an election issue, particularly his sabotage of the American health-care system. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT WESTPORT Youth Services Program Director Kevin Godburn has announced that a new Job Interview Success Workshop will be offered for local students in grades eight to 12 on Monday, May 21, at 7 p.m. in Westport Town Hall Room 201. Get ready to ace that next interview. If you are a student who will be interviewing for a summer job, part-time job, volunteer opportunity or internship, this is an essential program for you. Want to get a head start on your college admissions interviews? Participants will learn how to make a good impression, create a 30-second pitch, and answer typical interview questions, Godburn said. The workshop will be led by career counselor Lauren Rosenkranz, who has worked with students and adults in academic, corporate and nonprofit settings. She has taught workshops on career exploration, job search, resume writing and interviewing for groups large and small. The program is free, but space is limited. Register at toquethall.org. For information about the workshop or upcoming Youth Services programs, contact Godburn at kgodburn@westportct.gov or 203-341-1155. Updated 7:45 p.m. The final vote of the day ended with Hartford Lawyer Shawn Wooden taking the partys endorsement for state treasurer after two rounds of voting. He will face Greenwich hedge fund manager Dita Bhargava and fellow Hartford attorney Arunan Arulampalam in the August primary. In a hot attorney general race, state Rep. William Tong of Stamford triumphed over three other candidates after two rounds of balloting at the state Democratic Convention at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford on Saturday. Chris Mattei, former federal prosecutor, was runner-up, followed by state Sen. Paul Doyle of Wethersfield, and Clare Kindall, an assistant attorney general. Both Mattei and Doyle received the requisite 15 percent needed to qualify for the August primary. Ned Lamont, who previously ran for U.S. Senate, won the Democratic nomination for governor, topping Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim. Ganim collected 12.9 percent of the vote not enough to force a primary. But Ganim has already started collected signatures to petition onto the August primary ballot. He has gathered 11,000 signatures to date, he said Saturday. Lamonts running mate Susan Bysiewicz clinched the nomination for lieutenant governor. She collected 59 percent of the vote. Garnering the most enthusiasm on the floor, Newtown union organizer Eva Bermudez Zimmerman took 40 percent and will appear on the August primary ballot. Bridgeport state Rep. Charlie Stallworth won 1 percent. After a snafu with the Democrats new registration and electronic voting system during the first election of the day, Democrats chose incumbent Denise Merrill for their 2018 secretary of the state nomination. Merrill, 69, has held the post since 2011.She was challenged by Karen Talamelli Cusick of Woodbridge, who did not win enough votes to force a primary. Democrats also renominated state comptroller Kevin Lembo, who had no opponents, for a third term. Also unopposed, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy was easily renominated for a second six-year term Friday night. Murphy, 44, is a leading figure in the national debate on gun safety. emunson@hearstmediact.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson WESTPORT A 42-year-old Westport man has been arrested for allegedly possessing nearly 5,000 images of child pornography. Michael Spero was arrested Thursday and charged with first-degree possession of child pornography. In February 2018, the Connecticut State Police Computer Crime Unit forwarded two Cyber Tips to the Westport Police Department involving images of child pornography that had been uploaded to the internet. Sgt. Sereniti Dobson of the Westport Police Youth Division initiated an investigation and was able to determine both images were uploaded from the same residence. Through her investigative efforts, Dobson identified the suspect who uploaded the images as Michael Spero, 42, of Westport. On April 23, members of the Westport Detective Bureau, with the assistance of the regional Technical Investigation Unit, executed a search warrant at Speros residence. While searching Speros bedroom, officers located psilocybin mushrooms and narcotic pills. He was taken into custody on the narcotic violations and charged with possession of narcotics and possession of a hallucinogen. He was released after posting $2,500 bond. We made an on-scene arrest for the narcotics charges and then we had to forensically examine all the electronic devices, Westport Lieutenant Jillian Cabana said. During the course of the search, various electronic devices were also seized and later examined. Speros devices were found to contain over 4,900 images of child pornography. Theres not a higher charge than that, Cabana said, noting that people who receive the charge of first degree possession of child pornography possess a minimum of 50 or more visual depictions of child pornography. Generally for stuff related to child pornography people tend to save the images and treasure and collect them ovre time. Usually if theres one image, theres definitely more than one, Cabana said. Dobson applied for a warrant for Speros arrest, which was later granted by a judge. On Thursday, Spero turned himself in on the active arrest warrant. Spero was held on $100,000 bond and was transported to Norwalk Court later that morning for arraignment. Kind and caring Breda was always thinking of others From diehard royal watchers to those who just love a love story, many Canadians woke up at dawn Saturday to watch Prince Harry marry American actress Meghan Markle. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/5/2018 (1240 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. From diehard royal watchers to those who just love a love story, many Canadians woke up at dawn Saturday to watch Prince Harry marry American actress Meghan Markle. Much has been written in the weeks leading up to the nuptials about the significance of Markle joining the royal family. She will be Britian's first mixed-race royal. She's American, the first American royal bride since Grace Kelly. And she's divorced, marrying into a family that has a strained history with the concept of divorce, to say the least. But times, they change. And, on a sunny Saturday in Windsor, "the people's prince" married the woman he loves in a ceremony that blended the traditional with the modern. St. George's Chapel was filled with tributes to Markle's African-American heritage, from the gospel choir that delivered a show-stopping rendition of Stand By Me, to the Most Reverend Michael Curry, the first African-American to head the U.S. Episcopal church, who gave a passionate 14-minute sermon that focused on social justice and what love means. And that's what this royal wedding represented, in many ways: progress and love. Of course, it was also a spectacle, with 600 people in attendance, and millions of viewers at home. So, Free Press Arts & Life writers Erin Lebar, Jill Wilson and Jen Zoratti got out of bed early to watch the wedding of the year live, discuss this cultural moment, and also judge some hats. What follows is exerpts of their as-it-happened commentary. On the dress Erin Lebar Should we do dress predictions for Meghan? I already saw she had a boat neck, and I had predicted that. Jen Zoratti I was expecting also some kind of off-the-shoulder. Jill Wilson I think its going to be very sheath-y. Very simple. Jen I loved Kate Middletons dress so much, so I feel like this is going to be a tough act to follow. Jill I think this is going to upend that for you I think its going to be sleeveless, cap sleeves maybe. Erin I think its going to be 3/4 sleeves, but boat neck, shoulders covered, but I dont think theres going to be any embellishments; I think itll just be a plain, white, but very tailored dress. Meghan arrives at the church Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (Jane Barlow/pool photo via AP) Jill Oh, this is the bride. I might have been wrong, its quite poofy. But that might be mostly train. Erin Here she comes three-quarter sleeves! I was right! Yes! Jen Oh, it is very simple. Erin See? No beading, no lace. I win! Jen I like it, its beautiful, and it obviously looks great on her, but I think I like Kates better. Jill I thought it would be simple, but Im surprised how simple. Jen Thats a veil though wow. (Meghan wore a five-metre cathedral veil.) The more I see the dress the more I like it; Kates was more bridal, whereas I feel like this is more of an Oscars look. Whatever, she's stunning. On the ceremony Jill Is she just walking down the aisle by herself? Erin I think Charles is meeting her halfway. Jen Its very weird to have your father-in-law give you away to his son. Jill I know! God thats a long walk. Meghan finally reaches altar Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle exchange rings during their wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel Saturday. (Owen Humphreys/pool photo via AP) Erin Lebar Theyre so cute! Will and Kate are very not emotional with each other in public and these two are having a full-out, loved-up conversation while waiting for this lady to stop singing. Jen Zoratti They look like a normal couple right now and I like it. Jill Wilson I like his little scruffy beard. Jen I cant believe the Queen didnt make him shave. Oh god, this guy marrying them? I am asleep. Erin He could jazz it up a bit. Also why do these seats look like theyre in parliament with little desk lamps at every spot? Jen Look at Kates face shes like "I just gave birth and now I'm sitting on this hard pew." It also looks like shes regretting her hat choice its blocking her view. Jill It needs to be tilted the other way so she can see! Erin Harry is so nervous, its so cute. Jen People always talk about how, "Oh my god, theres so many people watching." But it really feels like they are the only two people in the room right now. And she does legit look so, so happy. Jill Thats gotta be a surreal thing, though. Everyone keeps talking about how shes used to life in the spotlight being an actress, but this is not that. Having the St. Georges Chapel choir serenade you is not expected in your life. Erin And in the UK, the spotlight on the royal family is 100 times anything she would have received as a cable actress. Rev. Michael Curry begins speaking Erin He is way more interesting than the British guy. He should have done the whole thing. I feel like hes going to be the breakout star of this wedding. Get this guy in a movie. The Love Rev. Jen Hes an incredible orator, but Im worried about these candles being so close to his hands. Jill All these British people are like, "This is far too much emotion." Jen Yeah, theres a lot of faces in the crowd that are saying either "These chairs are the worst" or "I am uncomfortable with these references to slavery." But honestly, I cant believe this sermon is happening at a royal wedding. It feels extremely progressive. Jill He really seized that moment. Curry was followed up by the Kingdom Choir's performance of Stand By Me Erin I love this song. Its nice that theyre incorporating her African-American culture into the wedding. Jill I wouldnt have thought there would be much wiggle room. Jen I have literal goosebumps right now. Erin Sorry, boy-choir of St. Georges. This choir is throwing it down. And now, three women wearing sweatpants judge other people's fashion Before the wedding Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. (Gareth Fuller/pool photo via AP) Erin Is that Camilla? Thats Camilla with a swan on her head. Jen That is a HAT. It looks like something someone made out of toilet paper at a bridal shower. Erin A blush nightmare. I want to know what the Queen is wearing so bad. Jen Well here you go Erin LIME GREEN. I am not disappointed. She always wears the ugliest stuff for the most publicized events, it seems a similar colour to the one she wore for her 90th birthday its equally neon. Jen These are her lime years. Britain's Queen Elizabeth in her lime outfit. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, pool) Erin Wait, was Kate wearing white? I thought she wasnt supposed to wear white. Subtle shade? Jill Maybe. Jen Although technically All three its cream. Kate Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte. (Andrew Matthews/pool photo via AP) During the wedding Sir Elton John waves arrives for the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Saturday. (Chris Jackson/pool photo via AP) Jill Wilson Oh, Elton John! Erin Lebar Hes got his pink glasses. Jen Zoratti Very, business-on-the-body, party-on-the-face. Jill That is a sour look though. Smile, Elton! Jill Is that Oprah? Jen Amazing dress. Erin And ginormous hat. Jen:: Speaking of hats, I'm disappointed, frankly, in Princess Beatrice's restraint. Erin Yeah, where's her lobster hat? And where are the Spice Girls? Jill We've only seen Victoria Beckham. Jen Didnt love that outfit. Jill Its funerial. Jill Tom Hardy. Erin He looks puffy. I almost didnt recognize him. He must be doing a role or something. Jill It must be nice to be a man and have people say, "Oh, hes fat because hes doing a role" and not "Oh, hes really let himself go." Jill I like Charles whole get up. I like his cravat. Jen I think my favourite look of the day is Amal Clooney. Jill Mustard is very tricky colour to pull off, too. Jen I feel like she could pull off a garbage bag. Amal and George Clooney arrive for the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. (Gareth Fuller/pool photo via AP) Final thoughts Jill I think for celebrity factor alone it was probably the most enjoyable royal wedding, and the loosening up of stuffy traditions, which I wouldnt have thought. I thought there was a protocol that wasnt malleable, but I wont get up at 4 a.m. for the next one. I probably wont be alive. Jen It did feel very different in tone. Jill I liked the looks they were giving each other. They just look like they like each other. It was oddly intimate for something thats so clearly not. Erin Im happy and impressed that there were so many non-traditional elements in the ceremony. Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Jen I agree. Further to Jills point, I also loved that they were able to carve out so many private little intimate moments in what is a giant spectacle. They were able to have a wedding that felt improbably personal. erin.lebar@freepress.mb.ca jill.wilson@freepress.mb.ca jen.zoratti@freepress.mb.ca Erin Lebar Manager of audience engagement for news Erin Lebar is a multimedia producer who spends most of her time writing music- and culture-related stories for the Arts & Life section. She also co-hosts the Winnipeg Free Press's weekly pop-culture podcast, Bury the Lede. Read full biography Jill Wilson Senior copy editor Jill Wilson writes about culture and the culinary arts for the Arts & Life section. Read full biography The company that owns the Winnipeg Free Press, Brandon Sun and eight community newspapers in Manitoba reported revenues of $16.1 million for the first quarter ending March 31, 2018. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/5/2018 (1240 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The company that owns the Winnipeg Free Press, Brandon Sun and eight community newspapers in Manitoba reported revenues of $16.1 million for the first quarter ending March 31, 2018. That was an 11.8 per cent decline compared to the same period the previous year for FP Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership (FPLP). FP Newspapers Inc., a publicly listed entity, owns securities entitling it to 49 per cent of the distributable cash of FPLP. FPLP also reported a 7.9 per cent reduction in operating expenses. Print advertising revenue was down 14.7 per cent for the quarter and the company said it expects the long-term trend of lower advertising revenues will continue but that early into the second quarter advertising revenue declines are not as steep as was experienced in the first quarter. In addition to the two Manitoba dailies and their digital assets, the company also owns Derksen Printers, the Steinbach Carillon, Carberry News Express and the Canstar Community News group which includes The Herald, The Lance, The Souwester, The Metro, The Times and The Headliner. FPLPs net loss was $0.1 million for quarter, compared to net income of $0.6 million for the same period last year. The fascinator and other fancy hats were the unofficial theme of the luncheon held Saturday to celebrate the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/5/2018 (1239 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The fascinator and other fancy hats were the unofficial theme of the luncheon held Saturday to celebrate the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Fascinators are tiny hats that fasten to the side of a women's head, looking slightly atilt, and fascinate in their decoration, or at least that's the idea behind the name. "I think it's a British tradition," said Wendy Hart, vice-president of the Manitoba branch of the United Empire Loyalists. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS It was a veritable parade of fancy hats during a luncheon held Saturday to celebrate the royal wedding. "It's to be worn to any wedding," chimed in Darcie von Axelstierna, the chair of the Manitoba branch of the Monarchists League of Canada despite having no British blood whatsoever. "They're more decorative than a hat," explained von Axelstierna. "They're supposed to be a work of art." Out of a crowd of about 50 gathered to celebrate the wedding on the fourth floor of Wesley Hall on the University of Winnipeg campus, more than 40 were women. Only one or two didn't don extravagant millinery, about half of which were fascinators. There were fascinators representing flowers, feathers, and one had pearls at the end of wires that boinged like insect antennae whenever the wearer moved, which tended to draw the eye. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Members of the United Empire Loyalists and the Manitoba branch of the Monarchists League of Canada gather in Winnipeg to celebrate the royal wedding Saturday. The idea was for women to wear the tiny fascinators at weddings in church so the person in the pew behind could still see proceedings. A bigger hat would block the view. At the royal wedding, every woman was wearing a hat, if not a fascinator. This wasn't a church, of course, but in a day all about tradition, the fascinators were on display in a dazzling fashion. Among those attending was Jean Morrison, 96, who it so happens owns a collection of 65 stylish hats. "They're very easy to pack," she said, as they just fit inside each other. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Fascinators are hats that fasten to the side of a women's head, looking slightly atilt. She chose not to wear one of her fascinators but rather a translucent purple hat with a wide flat brim. She told a story of helping with a tea at her seniors residence and suggested everyone wear hats. People groused at the idea but she went ahead anyway and put a hat from her collection on each of the 32 chairs for the event and everyone put theirs on and got a little silly and had fun, she said. "You don't have to be crazy in this world but it helps," she said. "There's been a lot of talk about the relevancy of the monarchy but it produces a non-political, stable identity for a nation. The Queen can come here and be neither Liberal or Conservative or NDP. She just represents a symbol of continuity." JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Arlene Van Ruiten (left) and Pearl McGonigal gather at the University of Winnipeg to view the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Saturday. Hart believes the new generation of royals in princes William and Harry and their wives has rekindled the enthusiasm for the monarchy. She called it "a fairy-tale wedding" with Prince Harry marrying someone of North American background. The fact that the bride is a Hollywood actress and that many celebrities were at the wedding, such as Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, and 20 people from Markle's TV series, Suits, added to the lustre, she said. After the luncheon, everyone was invited to watch the wedding on tape, although many had already seen it. When the crowd was asked how many got up at 4 a.m. to watch the event live, about 10 people raised their hands. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Jean Morrison and her daughter Bernice Sharp dressed in their best royal wedding outfits to watch the vows of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Guests included Pearl McGonigal, Manitoba's lieutenant-governor from 1981 to 1986, and Dwight MacAulay, who recently retired as the chief of protocol for the Manitoba government. 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. MacAulay was the guest speaker. He co-ordinated numerous royal visits and has met the Queen on several occasions. He is a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, with the medal presented to him personally by the Queen. Queen Elizabeth, he said in a short address, is stunningly beautiful when seen in person. "She has the most perfect skin of anyone I've seen in my life," he said. He best summed up the day's event. "I think any time you get two young people in love and they marry, it's a beautiful day." bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca At 18, when she was eight months pregnant, Faeza Mejo was captured in August 2014 by members of the Islamic State terror group when she, her husband and his family tried to flee from the invaders in northern Iraq. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/5/2018 (1240 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. At 18, when she was eight months pregnant, Faeza Mejo was captured in August 2014 by members of the Islamic State terror group when she, her husband and his family tried to flee from the invaders in northern Iraq. Mejo was separated from her husband and taken to a place where about 50 other young Yazidi women and girls were held. She soon learned they were in a warehouse and they were the goods to be sold, and she would literally be marked for life. PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Faeza Mejo was forced to tattoo her own arm with the name of her "owner," after she was kidnapped by IS. In a three-year span, she was bought and sold 10 times by members of the genocidal Islamic State in the region, said Mejo, who arrived in Winnipeg six months ago with her son, who was born in captivity. Mejo, now 21, said through an interpreter that today she feels safe, is receiving counselling, and is adamant the world hears what happened to her and other young women and girls enslaved by Islamic State "animals." "I need people to know my story and the struggle the Yazidis went through." After being terrorized and torn from her husband, who was taken away to fight, she gave birth to their son, whom she named Harman, Mejo said. He was delivered with the help of other imprisoned women. "When the baby was born, I was so afraid for him," she said. Her captors changed his Yazidi name to Abdulrahman, Arabic for "servant of the most gracious." Whenever Mejo was sold, Harman went with her, she said. I need people to know my story and the struggle the Yazidis went through. If she didn't have her child with her, there's no way she would have survived years of physical, mental and emotional torment, she said. His life was the only thing that stopped her from killing one of her "owners" while they slept or killing herself, Mejo said. At first, the slim and petite Mejo said she was defiant and tried to escape, but was beaten for her efforts. She recalled being drugged. When she'd come to, she'd have no clothes on and be so sore she couldn't walk. PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Not quick to smile, Mejo happily describes her young son Harman. "Sometimes, I look at myself in the mirror and wonder, 'How am I still alive?'" she said. Mejo said they barely had enough to eat and Harman was so malnourished he once went into cardiac arrest. At the time, they were at a place where the Islamic State had access to medical facilities, and her baby was revived. "I felt so angry and afraid for my child." When her third "owner" promised not to sell her again if she showed her devotion to him, she tried tattooing his name, Fathi, on her arm, Mejo said. She got as far as inking the first four letters into her skin when he announced he was selling her. She said he jeered at her, saying she was now ruined and doomed. "If you ever make it to safety, your family will either kill you or not accept you," Mejo recalled him saying. Twice, she came close to suicide, she said, and began cutting herself. She tattooed the letters of her own name on her knuckles with a needle and ink. PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Faeza Mejo says she only survived captivity because of her young son, and the hope he brought her. After three years of living hell, she said her and her child's big break came with Mejo's final "owner" No. 10. "He didn't touch me," said Mejo. While he never abused her, he certainly used her. He wanted out of the Islamic State, and saw Mejo and her child as his ticket. Under the guise of being the "rescuer" of a Yazidi woman and her young son, the Islamic State fighter was able to enter anti-IS Kurdistan with his wife and three children without being arrested or put to death. Once they were safely out of Islamic State territory, however, he didn't just let Mejo and Harman go. Mejo's father, who had early escaped to Kurdistan, had to borrow US$12,000 to buy his daughter back. "There's no one in Daesh who is nice," said Mejo, using the derogatory term for the Islamic State. It combines the Arabic words daes one who crushes something underfoot and dahes, translated as "one who sows discord." Mejo said the group's members deserve to be called much worse. PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Faeza Mejo was a Yazidi refugee who has found a new start in Winnipeg. Today, she and Harman live with her parents and seven siblings in Winnipeg. She doesn't think she will ever see her husband again, if he is alive. "He's with Daesh," said Mejo. She is grateful to be in Canada, physically healthy and receiving counselling. "I'm very blessed to be here," said Mejo. She's received a month of English-language classes, speaks her native Kurmanji, learned Arabic from her Daesh captors, and dreams of one day being a translator. For now, her focus is on three-year-old Harman. "He's always very happy," she said, beaming at a photo of him on his tricycle. PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Sinan Aboud, who came to Canada from Iraq in 2002, plans to donate earnings from his new restaurant to Faeza Mejo. She said she is looking forward to a happy future and working to heal her psychological wounds. She rolled up one of her long sleeves to expose scars and the tattoo on the inside of her forearm. "I wish that would be removed." Two Winnipeg restaurateurs, also former refugees, are trying to help Mejo do that. 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. Sinan Aboud, an Iraqi, came to Canada in 2002. His business partner, Omar Faysal from Syria, arrived in 2015. Both said the only words of English they knew when they landed were "hi" and "bye." They're donating proceeds from the early days of their new Ali Baba restaurant (2635 Portage Ave., opening Monday) to pay for her tattoo removal and give the single parent a hand. "Even if you're just one person, you can make a difference," said Aboud, who said he learned that from Sen. Marilou McPhedran at the University of Winnipeg, where he's taking classes at the Global College. Last year, he held a fundraising dinner for Syrian refugees at the U of W, after spending his reading week at a refugee camp in Jordan. This year, with the opening their Portage Avenue eatery during Ramadan, Aboud said they wanted to give Mejo a hand getting a fresh start. "We thought it would be nice to get her some help." carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Before she arrived in Canada in 1948 at the age of 26, Olena Hryn had already witnessed a lifetime of horror. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/5/2018 (1240 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Before she arrived in Canada in 1948 at the age of 26, Olena Hryn had already witnessed a lifetime of horror. She lived through the mass terror of Soviet and Nazi occupations and the Holodomor genocide, which was the Stalin-enforced starvation of Ukrainians in the early 1930s. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Olena and her husband Nicholas Hryn immersed themselves in the citys Ukrainian community. It was only late in her life, in Winnipeg, that this survivor came to appreciate the extraordinary events that shaped her. "You know, it made her determined to make it, to survive," said her daughter Halyna Hryn, who is an editor at a Ukrainian studies institute with Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. "There was a real survivor in her. It was amazing she was as normal as she was." RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Olena Hryn in her passport photo. When Hryn died in Winnipeg on March 4, her three grown children wanted to mark their mothers life. As the eldest child, Halyna put her considerable writing and editing skills to work on a formal presentation that the family delivered in speeches in their mothers native language at parishes in Winnipeg and Toronto. "It was eye-opening, some of the things she was involved in," said the Very Rev. Archpriest Eugene Maximiuk from Winnipegs Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral. "She and her late husband held important leadership roles in the Ukrainian community." When her husband Nicholas retired, they moved to Winnipeg after living in the Toronto area for decades. Once here, they immersed themselves in the citys Ukrainian community. Born to a cleric and his wife in Ukraine in 1922, Hryn (nee Peleshuk) would survive the Soviet takeover of Ukraine, barely escaping being shipped to Siberia as a child. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Olena working as the editor of the Ukrainian Journal. At the age of 10, Hryn, almost on her own, lived through the forced famine that became known as the Ukrainian Holodomor. Her mother slipped away to avoid being drafted into the Soviet brigades that were dispatched to steal food from Ukrainian families in the countryside. Hryn stayed by herself, under the care of visiting relatives. "She had these memories where she would be walking and people would be dying by the roadsides," her daughter recalled. "Just lying there. And other people would be coming with the trucks. They were all dead." Her father spent much of the Soviet occupation in hiding with false papers because he was a cleric. Her mother was able to return when the Soviets relented and reopened the Ukrainian granaries. As a high school student in Kyiv in the late 1930s, Hryn threw herself into her studies, getting all As. She later enrolled in medical school, but had to halt her studies in 1941 due to the Nazi occupation. By 1946, Hryn was a refugee in the British-held German territory, having been reunited with her parents and still pursuing her medical studies after moving to a university dorm from a displaced persons camp. Olena, shown here at about seven years old, survived both the Soviet and Nazi occupations of her Ukrainian homeland, the Holodomor. In June 1947, the Canadian government authorized, for the first time, the entry of 5,000 displaced persons, dispatching five immigration teams to Germany and Austria to select young people suitable for one-year contracts to meet specific labour needs. Tapped as a candidate, Hryn passed up her final exams to emigrate. By September 1948, Hryn was stepping off a wooden transport boat in Halifax with 50 cents in her pocket to begin a year of domestic service in Lindsay, Ont., in the household of Ontario premier Leslie Frosts brother-in-law. During the next 15 years in Canada, Hryn worked as a bacteriologist at various medical establishments to help build an economic foundation for her family. Her children remember how relatively smoothly she transitioned into the Canadian mindset compared with other immigrant parents. Together with her husband, she threw herself into building a stable family environment to compensate for the tribulations of her own early life, ultimately sacrificing her dream of becoming a doctor. "There were trips to (Torontos) Royal Alex to see Humperdincks Hansel and Gretel, the OKeefe Theatre for The Nutcracker every winter, introduction to opera, the discovery of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for summer vacations, all on an immigrants shoestring budget," daughter Halyna said. She equally applied her energy to building Ukrainian community institutions: her church parish, the various Ukrainian Saturday schools that her children attended, youth organizations and summer camps, lectures at cultural homes such as St. Vladimirs Institute in Toronto. "At times, life seemed to revolve inside a large Ukrainian bubble despite daily forays to English school, which often seemed less demanding or interesting," her daughter recalled. As a parent, she was the original tiger mom. Highly disciplined, she ate well, exercised regularly and never left the house without putting on lipstick and heels. She swam long distances every winter at a mineral water cove in Florida well into her 90s. All three of her children graduated from university. She made sure of it. She lived in her own home until the end with her youngest daughter Mariika Hryn. She was 95. alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca OTTAWA Winnipeg NDP MP Daniel Blaikie is pillorying the Liberals over an upcoming vote on $7 billion in spending with virtually no scrutiny beforehand. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/5/2018 (1240 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Winnipeg NDP MP Daniel Blaikie is pillorying the Liberals over an upcoming vote on $7 billion in spending with virtually no scrutiny beforehand. Critics call it a slush fund, saying it will erode transparency, but the government says it will have the opposite effect on budgeting. PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Winnipeg NDP MP Daniel Blaikie "It stinks as a way to approve government spending," said Blaikie. "Parliamentarians really dont know, and cant know enough about the spending theyre being asked to authorize." MPs will vote on 247 spending initiatives, all of which are new programs. Each has a rough cost estimate, but most have vague titles. Health Canada will get $154 million to help with "addressing the opioid crisis," while Ottawa will dedicate $4 million to "supporting the Canadian Museum for Human Rights." Typically, the Treasury Board scrutinizes the figures, and they are approved after the department has defined clear goals, the number of employees required and the materials required. But for these items, Parliament will approve the spending, and then the Treasury Board will go over the funding proposals. Currently, only funding for emergency measures is allocated in such a way. That makes up one-tenth of what MPs are being asked to approve. The Treasury Board must still approve the $7 billion in funding before it goes out the door. Blaikie said the vote sets a bad precedent because MPs should keep an eye on the public purse. "For a lot of people at home who arent experts in parliamentary process, its hard to follow. But it really does really matter, because it goes to the root of how Parliament approves (the) government spending taxpayers money," he said. The parliamentary budget officer wrote in a recent report that the vote means "incomplete information and weaker spending controls." The report noted that almost one-third of all budget allocations end up higher or lower after the Treasury Board irons out how much departments need. The Liberals put forward the fund as part of an interim step in a process to change how Parliament approves money. Currently, Parliaments main estimates, which outline how departments expect to allot money for various programs, are just before the spring budget. It means that in the spring, committees debate spending allocations that were listed in the previous years budget. The Liberals are trying to get the federal process to imitate Ontario or Australia, where the Treasury Board has already vetted departments spending plans before they show up in the budget. Its a problem federal governments have tried to fix for at least two decades. With the consent of the other parties, the Liberals bumped the deadline for the main estimates to April 16 from March 1, but all the funding for new programs was bundled into the $7-billion fund. "Everybody agrees that government and Parliament could be doing a better job of that process, but this isnt the way to do it," Blaikie said. "It gets us further away from real accountability." Scott Brison, the Liberal MP in charge of the Treasury Board, has pledged to post funding amounts for each of the 247 initiatives as they get approved, on a monthly basis. "For the first time ever, when MPs are voting on the main estimates they will know, initiative by initiative, where the budget money is going. This is a huge step forward for parliamentary oversight," he told the estimates committee on May 3. Auditor general Michael Ferguson recently said hes not concerned the $7-billion fund will be used for other purposes. He said it still needs Treasury Board approval, and departments that try allocating that cash to other projects could be audited. 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. Blaikie unsuccessfully asked for an emergency debate on the issue; the Speaker ruled it didnt fit the criteria of an emergency. Brison also turned down Blaikies request for a special debate on the funding. Blaikie said hes not sure what comes next. The Liberals will almost inevitably approve the fund in a majority vote, and opposition parties can delay votes through procedural tricks when theyre particularly important. The issue isnt causing much discussion outside Ottawa, Blaikie admits. "Whether well build enough momentum on this remains to be seen." dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca Step into a Manitoba classroom today and you are likely to see a wide diversity of children, including newcomers from every part of the world speaking many languages, Indigenous youth and children with accessibility and other special needs. It is the dynamics of this contemporary classroom that our new teachers are prepared to understand and manage; it is the diversity of these young minds our teachers seek to inspire. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/5/2018 (1240 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion Step into a Manitoba classroom today and you are likely to see a wide diversity of children, including newcomers from every part of the world speaking many languages, Indigenous youth and children with accessibility and other special needs. It is the dynamics of this contemporary classroom that our new teachers are prepared to understand and manage; it is the diversity of these young minds our teachers seek to inspire. Manitobas faculties of education provide new teachers with the knowledge, skills and opportunities they need to adapt to ever-changing teaching environments. In the May 10 article "New teachers not prepared for specialties," Education Minister Ian Wishart singled out Manitobas deans of education for failing to respond to a shortage of French-speaking teachers to meet the increased demand for French classes and other areas of specialization. We feel its necessary to correct the record. The province has mandated French teacher education to Universite de Saint-Boniface (USB). Colleges, such as Red River College and Assiniboine Community College, are responsible for addressing vocational training needs. And all Manitoba universities are mandated to prepare teachers for the early, middle and senior years. The minister also said he is concerned about filling shortages in other teaching specializations, including English as an Additional Language (EAL). To attract more teachers to this field, the University of Manitoba has applied twice to the province to have EAL recognized as a subject area and has been turned down. Manitobas faculties of education each have areas of specialization and work well as a team to ensure future teachers have the skills to meet the demands of Manitobas diverse K-12 system today and in the future. We are fortunate to have a fully French university in our province: Universite de Saint-Boniface, which has the provincial mandate for teacher education in French for both francophone and French-immersion schools. The faculties of education at the other universities in Manitoba wholeheartedly support USB in carrying out its unique provincial mandate. Between 2015 and 2020, the Faculte deducation expects up to 220 students to graduate from its teaching training program. We also recognize there is an increased need for Indigenous language programs, and our universities are working hard to meet this critically important need. Kindergarten to Grade 8 teachers are classroom generalists who are able to teach learning skills across subjects, and each brings with them expertise in two specific areas. Teachers are themselves lifelong learners who are flexible, upgrading their skills so they can teach a wide variety of subjects, including in new and emerging areas. This adaptability is central to our public education system. The University of Winnipeg is also known for creating innovative access programs which specifically help inner-city individuals become teachers. Since 1998, more than 200 students have graduated from this program, about half of whom are Indigenous. The access program also provides pathways to employment for immigrants by helping internationally trained teachers gain experience in Manitoba. In order to anticipate and meet the changing needs of contemporary teachers, the deans of education meet as the Council of the Deans of Education of Manitoba (CODEM). Recently, CODEM formed a working group with the Manitoba Association of School Superintendents to tackle common challenges facing educators including the need for more French teachers, English for newcomer teachers and northern teachers. 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. University College of the North provides a land-based teacher education program using both Indigenous and western perspectives. On average, 70 per cent of the pre-service teachers identify as Indigenous. UCNs close work with Kelsey School Division, School District of Mystery Lake, Frontier School Division and Flin Flon School Division ensures these students have the necessary skills for Manitobas provincial school system. Many are offered employment by the end of their final field placement. UCN also works with various local First Nation education authorities to provide much-needed teacher training to Indigenous communities which have experienced significant teacher shortages and turnaround. UCN takes its responsibility to the northern communities very seriously. Each year, the U of W produces approximately 250 new teachers, and 420 students graduate from teaching programs at the U of M. Employment rates are strong. The community-partnered integrated teacher preparation program at Brandon University has trained more than 600 teachers, many of whom work with students in remote locations around Manitoba. Manitobas faculties of education are committed to maintaining the provinces high standards of teacher education, while at the same time remaining responsive and working collaboratively to address the changing needs of the public school system. It is in everyones best interest to ensure that our teacher graduates have every support they need to help the next generation of Manitobans succeed. David Mandzuk is the dean of the faculty of education at the University of Manitoba, and Heather Duncan is the dean of the faculty of education at Brandon University. BUDAPEST, Hungary The list was spread across two pages, white type on a black background. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/5/2018 (1240 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. BUDAPEST, Hungary The list was spread across two pages, white type on a black background. There, plain for all to see in a prominent pro-government magazine, were the names of 200 academics, journalists, human rights advocates and others. They were the "mercenaries" of Hungarian-American financier George Soros, the accompanying article explained. And this was an enemies list. At once it was a relic from a darker time in Hungarys history and a modern-day symbol of just how far the country has veered toward a rebirth of autocracy under Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The prime minister has spared little effort in vilifying Soros. Orban has made the Jewish philanthropist the heart of numerous government smear campaigns, countless xenophobic speeches and several pieces of punitive legislation. Before Hungary voted last month, he vowed "revenge" against Soros and his allies for their role in a supposed plot to flood the country with Muslim refugees. Publication of the list, just days after Orban won a sweeping electoral victory, seemed to be confirmation that the prime minister intended to make good on his pledge. The magazines owner, after all, is a close Orban ally and would have been unlikely to publish it without encouragement from top levels of the government. The list was met with a tide of condemnation, including from Michael Ignatieff, president of the Budapest-based Central European University (CEU), who called it "a flagrant attempt at intimidation." But if that was the goal, evidence soon grew from Ignatieffs own faculty at the Soros-funded university that it hadnt entirely succeeded. Miklos Koren, a mild-mannered CEU economist, was outraged when he saw the list. First, because it existed. Then, because he wasnt on it. Not that he had done much to deserve inclusion. He said he generally avoids politics. But others on the list didnt seem to merit their spots, either. Some were even dead. "The only common theme among the 200 names was that at some point, they had all received money from an organization that was Soros-funded," Koren said. "I could imagine this kind of document in the dark corners of the internet. But it was shocking to see it in print." So Koren took to the internet and launched a petition to have his name included among the enemies. He encouraged anyone else who wanted to be added to sign as well. Weeks later, nearly 8,000 people have added their names. "My husband is on the list. They excluded me. I demand equal credit." "Liberal democracy should be defended." The reaction, Koren said, "was heartwarming." It was also revealing about the state of modern Hungary, where Orban exercises near-total control and bullying tactics are common. "Its not Turkey. Its not Russia," Gabor Klaniczay said. "Its a new form of autocracy." Klaniczay, a medieval studies professor at CEU, was on the list. But hes used to it. He was on enemies lists during communist times as well. Other organizations had their entire staff lists copied and included, right down to the administrative assistants. At the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, a human rights group, most of the staff members rolled their eyes at the list, co-chairwoman Marta Pardavi asid. Theyve grown accustomed to being targeted. But that wasnt true of everyone. An administrative assistant reported that her parents were getting abuse from their neighbours, who wondered why they had a Soros mercenary in the family. "Its an extreme example of harassment, and it does impact people," Pardavi said. It also comes in the context of a very real crackdown on civil society, with the government using legislation to make it very uncomfortable if not impossible for many independent organizations to operate. And even if the government has not gone nearly as far as its counterparts in Turkey or Russia in suppressing dissent, some fear thats where its headed. 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. "Let us not underestimate such petty and shameful projects like this list," wrote one signatory to Korens petition. "Who knows where hate speech ends and political terror starts?" The magazine that published the list Figyelo, which means Observer in Hungarian has dismissed such talk as "hysteria." It has said that anyone who wants to be removed from the list should simply email the magazine and ask. Its not clear if anyone has done so. But Koren recently emailed the magazine with the names of thousands of people who want to be added. "Could you please print these names in a 20-page special edition?" Koren said he asked. There has been no reply. Washington Post Thousands of Bangladesh university students began a nationwide boycott of classes on Monday over the failure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas government to reform the countrys decades-old quota system for the recruitment of civil servants. Some 3,000 students from Dhaka University and other colleges in the capital marched through the city, blocking traffic for six hours. Thousands of students at universities and colleges across the country held demonstrations in solidarity. About 1,000 students from Chittagong University staged a sit-down protest on rail tracks, preventing trains from leaving the port city throughout the morning. The demonstrations ended that night after Nurul Huq Nur, a joint convener of the Bangladesh Council for Protecting Rights of General Students, told protestors that Prime Minister Hasina had given another assurance that the job quota system would be reformed. No details have been released about how Hasina, who has made similar promises before, will address the issue. University and college students and unemployed graduates began protesting over the quota system in mid-February, with rallies and demonstrations intensifying between April 8 and 11. Their main demand is for the 56 percent quota for state jobs reserved for different social layers to be reduced to 10 percent. Only 44 percent of the jobs are currently allocated on merit. The remaining positions are apportioned according to strict quotas30 percent for the children and grandchildren of freedom fighters, 10 percent for women, 10 percent for underdeveloped districts, 5 percent for ethnic minorities and 1 percent for physically challenged people. The quota system was first introduced in 1972 and has been amended on several occasions. The students are also demanding the filling of vacant positions according to merit if eligible candidates are not found within the quota categories; the abolition of the special examination for quotas; and age-limit uniformity in the recruitment process. In April the government mobilised hundreds of police to brutally suppress the student demonstrations, using tear gas, batons and water cannons. Police officers were joined by members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the notoriously violent student wing of Hasinas ruling Awami League. The massive April protests forced Hasina to promise to reform the current quota system, but once the protests ended the government began hunting down student activists on bogus charges. Dhaka University authorities have filed cases with the police alleging violence and vandalism by students. Students have received death threats and three student leaders Nurul Huq Nur, Muhammad Rashed Khan and Faruk Hasanwere kidnapped by a group of individuals claiming to be detectives. According to press reports, the three students, who were later released, were dragged into a white microbus. Mondays demonstrations erupted after Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam admitted that the government had made no progress on changing job quotas. Hasina declared: Implementation of anything takes some time. Hasinas reform promises reflect nervousness concerns within the ruling party over growing anti-government sentiment. Students face severe unemployment, lack of facilities at the universities and other onerous social conditions. As a result of the governments privatisation of education, there are now 86 private universities as against 42 public universities. According to an April 22 column in the Daily Star by Professor Ahmed Abdullah Azad, almost a third (about 2.5 million) of college and university leavers are unemployed. He noted that Bangladeshs youth workforce constitutes about 70 percent of the countrys 160 million people, with about 45 million unemployed youth. Suicide is increasing among unemployed university students. On April 13, the Daily Star reported that a Dhaka University graduate took his own life due to depression stemming from not getting a government job even after trying several times. The newspaper admitted that most students are living under emotionally, psychologically and financially stressful situations. The job quota for the children and grandchildren of freedom fightersi.e., those involved from the war to separate from Pakistan in 1971was initiated in 1972 by the first prime minister, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, then leader of Awami League. The quota reservation is divisive, retrogressive and used to divert mass opposition from challenging the existing social order and the capitalist system, the source of unemployment and mass poverty. Bangladesh student organisations are not fighting for the abolition of the quota system but for its reform, in other words the equitable distribution of unemployment. Government job quota systems were also established in India, on the pretext of providing employment for various caste groupings and tribes. In Sri Lanka, Tamils were discriminated against via a standardised university entrance system. The Bangladeshi bourgeoisie, like its counterparts in Pakistan and India, has proven incapable of resolving any of the basic social or democratic issues facing the population. Since Bangladeshs formation as a nation-state in 1972, its ruling elite has lurched from one crisis to another, responding to mass social unrest with long periods of military rule. Today, faced with growing opposition by workers and students, the Hasina government is extending its autocratic powers, attacking basic democratic rights and implementing free market reforms. It is moving to privatise a range of state utilities, including education, and cut social spending. The measures are part the governments attempt to obtain a $750 million loan from the World Bank for the 201819 financial year. Social inequality is widening in Bangladesh, with the share of income by the poorest 5 percent at just 0.23 percent, down from 0.78 percent in 2010. By contrast, the richest 5 percent of the country have 27.89 percent of the total income, up from 24.61 percent in 2010. The Liberal-National Coalition of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday rejected a parliamentary committee recommendation to call a national referendum to repeal or amend Section 44(i) of Australias 1901 constitution. The arcane language of Section 44(i) states that no-one can sit in parliament if he or she has allegiance, obedience, or adherence to a foreign power or is entitled to the rights and privileges of a foreign power. In 1901, all persons in Australia, with or without their agreement, were deemed to hold allegiance to the British monarchy. Holding Australian citizenship, distinct from being a British subject, was not defined in legislation until 1949. In a series of unprecedented rulings over the past year, the unelected judges of the High Court have ruled that the clause stipulates that no-one can even nominate to stand for a federal election without fully renouncing their entitlement to hold dual citizenship with another country. On May 9, five more democratically-elected members of the Australian parliament were ousted, or resigned from their positions, due to the latest ruling. The court enforced the strictest possible interpretation of Section 44(i), casting aside a previously accepted defence of taking reasonable steps to renounce a foreign citizenship entitlement. The witch-hunt against politicians who have purportedly failed the unqualified allegiance test, due to their dual citizenship entitlements, was initiated in June 2017. In total, 15 upper house senators and lower house members have been expelled or resigned from parliamentout of the 224 elected in July 2016. The position of dozens more remains under threat. The dual citizenship purge has unfolded alongside a broader hysteria within the political and media establishment over foreign interference and Chinese influence in the country. It has been used to shift official politics even further into xenophobic nationalism under conditions where successive Labor and Coalition governments have aligned Australian imperialism with the US preparations for confrontation and war with China. In response to popular bewilderment over the ousting of elected politicians because of their parents country of birth, a joint-party parliamentary committee was commissioned last year to examine the issue. Made up of members of the governing Liberal-National Coalition, the Labor Party opposition, the Greens and so-called independents, it released its report on Thursday. The committee found that the High Court rulings meant that some 52 percent of Australians were ineligible to stand for federal parliament unless they had renounced dual citizenship rights. The statistic reflects the countrys diverse, immigrant character. At least 28 percent of the 25-million population was born in another country. In the most common case, millions of Australians who were either born, or whose parents were born, in a member-state of the European Unionespecially the United Kingdom, Greece or Italyhold a dual citizenship passport because it permits them to move across most of the European continent without a visa. The parliamentary committees estimate of 52 percent ineligibility did not include those who could have a dual citizenship entitlement because of the low bar some countries have set for them to qualifye.g., some countries allow applications on the basis that a grand-parent was a citizen. In addition, other clauses in Section 44 bar all employees of federal or state governments, government contractors, undischarged bankrupts, people convicted of treason, or those charged with a federal or state offence punishable by imprisonment for a year or more, from standing for parliament. The committees report estimated that, overall, Section 44 disqualifies more than 60 percent of voters. In other words, the High Court has enforced an interpretation of the constitution that disqualifies some 10,779,230 voting age citizens out of 16,076,433 million from being elected to the federal parliament. The committee did not oppose the requirement of unqualified allegiance to the Australian state. Its report insisted that parliamentarians must be loyal to Australia and must make decisions that are in the best interests of Australia and no other country. In fact, one of the committees main concerns was that foreign governments could manipulate elections by refusing to permit dual citizens to renounce their entitlements. This objection dovetails with the intensifying foreign interference scare campaign that the government, the media and the US-linked intelligence apparatus are waging, targeting China in particular. The reports other primary concern was that instability could upset the political system as a whole. It stated: Challenges to sitting members will continue into future elections, disrupting electoral outcomes, causing uncertainty and confusion, and having the potential to undermine the authority of both federal parliament and the constitution itself. Pointing to the possible wider political and legal implications of the citizenship furore, the report noted that if candidates were disqualified, it could throw into doubt election results if their voting preferences helped other candidates win seats. While the committee listed repealing Section 44 as an option to put to a referendum, its preference was to modify the clause to give parliament the right to set the disqualification conditions itself. As the report noted, however, such a proposal, which would give the widely detested political establishment absolute power to ban citizens from nominating, will not be positively received by Australians. Turnbulls immediate rejection of a referendum underscores the underlying anti-democratic and nationalistic motives behind the parliamentary citizenship purge. He declared: I very much doubt whether Australians would support a change to the constitution to allow people with dual nationality to sit in the parliament. Instead of seeking to change the constitution, the Coalition government has moved to make it even more difficult to prove unqualified allegiance. Under new measures announced yesterday, candidates will have to disclose to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) their birthplace and citizenship and those of their parents and grandparents. They must also lodge documents proving they have renounced any dual citizenship entitlements and that the other nation involved has formally accepted that renunciation. In addition, all records of criminal convictions, bankruptcies, government employment and interests in government contracts must be produced. Last November, the government, backed by Labor and the Greens, introduced a citizenship register which requires all current and future parliamentarians to reveal their birthplace, that of their parents and grandparents and to produce documents showing renunciation of foreign citizenship. In effect, the requirement is now being extended to all potential candidates. These measures are designed to cause major difficulties for political parties that do not have the corporate-supplied resources of the Coalition, Labor and the Greens. They will be obliged to seek expensive legal advice on citizenship laws in other countries and compel their candidates to devote time and money to renouncing potential entitlements. Many working class immigrants and indigenous people do not even have full documentary records of their ancestry. The AEC has already posted a new candidate nomination form on its website. It warns: Candidates who have any doubts about their eligibility, by virtue of section 44 of the Constitution, are advised to obtain their own legal advice. Further, it declares that giving the AEC false or misleading information is a serious offence. In plain language, candidates who fail to adequately renounce dual citizenship entitlements face the prospect of legal prosecution. The parliamentary crisis appears set to deepen, however, and may yet lead to the fall of the Coalition government, which holds office with just a one-seat majority in the lower house. The Labor Party has reportedly drawn up a hit list of 14 Coalition MPs, whom, it insists, have failed the governments test of possible dual citizenshipin some cases because of where their grandparents were born. That follows a declaration last Thursday by Attorney-General Christian Porter that some Labor members, with Egyptian, Polish or Irish backgrounds, have not yet proven their renunciation of dual citizenship rights. Adding to the instability, the introduction of the governments new electoral integrity measures is being cited as a reason for delaying five simultaneous by-elections, four of which were caused by the forced resignations of MPs over the citizenship issue. The author also recommends: Australian High Court citizenship ruling disqualifies five more MPs [10 May 2018] The dual citizenship furore in the Australian parliament: What is at stake for the working class? [6 September 2017] A 17-year-old carrying a shotgun and a revolver opened fire at a Houston area high school Friday morning, taking the lives of nine students and one teacher and injuring ten others. The horrific shooting was the deadliest such incident since the massacre of 17 students and teachers in February at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which sparked a nationwide wave of student-led protests and walkouts against school violence. The suspect, identified as Dimitrios Pagourtzis, opened fire in an art class in Santa Fe High School around 7:45 a.m., killing nine students and one teacher. According to authorities, Pagourtzis said he had intended to take his own life after the initial shooting but surrendered to officers and stated that he did not have the courage to shoot himself. Pagourtzis, now in police custody, had also apparently brought explosive devices, including a Molotov cocktail, that were found in the school and nearby. It was not immediately clear if any had exploded. Just two months prior to Fridays attack, Santa Fe was placed on lockdown after reports of gunfire in the surrounding area. Officers swept the campus and found no threats. According to eyewitnesses, teachers and students yelled Its real this time! as a warning after the first shots rang out Friday morning. Attacks on schools in the United States, typically by a current or former student armed with a gun, occur with a terrifying regularity across the country. According to CNN, there have been 22 school shootings this year, with an average of one shooting incident per week. The shooting at Santa Fe was the third in just the last eight days. On Thursday, 19-year-old Matthew Milby opened fire in the gymnasium of Dixon High School in Dixon, Illinois. He was quickly chased off by an officer and arrested before hurting anyone. Last week, a 14-year-old boy went to Highland High School in Palmdale, California and fired ten rounds from a semiautomatic rifle shortly before classes were scheduled to begin, hitting and wounding a 15-year-old student. The student was eventually detained by police and charged with attempted murder. In what has become commonplace after mass shootings, politicians have offered canned statements condemning the massacres and offering empty condolences and pledges for action. President Trump tweeted, We grieve for the terrible loss of life, and send our support and love to everyone affected by this horrible attack in Texas. He added that the administration would do everything in our power to protect our students, secure our schools and to keep weapons out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves and to others. Nancy Pelosi, the leading Democrat in the House, issued a boilerplate statement calling for an end to the gun violence epidemic. She stated, All Americans grieve for those whose lives were stolen by this tragedy, and our prayers are with the families and loved ones of who have been wounded. What no politician from either party will state is that the frequency and severity of mass shootings is a reflection of the deeply diseased nature of American society, marred by historic levels of social inequality at home and unending wars abroad. School shootings are the most tragic and serious expression of the crisis affecting students and youth. A nationwide survey by the health insurer Cigna found that loneliness is widespread in America, with nearly 50 percent of respondents reporting that they sometimes or always feel alone or left out. Young people born in the 1990s and 2000s were most likely to report feeling lonely. Recent studies cite significant increases in depression and suicide, particularly among young people, in the last decade. Blue Cross Blue Shield recently noted that depression diagnoses increased 63 percent in adolescents (ages 12 to 17) and 47 percent in millennials (ages 18 to 34) between 2013 and 2016. Another recent study in Pediatrics found that in 2015, 1.82 percent of teenage hospital visits were due to attempted suicide or suicidal thoughts, nearly tripling from 0.66 percent in 2008. To the social crisis in America is added the endless promotion of militarist violence by the state, at home and abroad. Both factions of the American ruling class have carried out war crimes in the Middle East and are preparing to wage even bloodier wars against Russia and China, possibly with nuclear arms. The same politicians sending their thoughts and prayers have supported the recent massacre of unarmed Palestinians by Israeli snipers. Neither party has offered any serious solution to the fundamental issues underlying the unending wave of school violence. Republicans have used each incident to call for the further militarization of schools, including the arming of teachers. The Democrats aim to use the deaths of youth to score votes in the November mid-term elections with calls for stricter gun control laws. As the Word Socialist Web Site explained in relation to the March for Our Lives protests, there is a growing sense among youth that school violence is the outcome of more fundamental social and political problems and will not be resolved either by stricter gun laws or turning schools into armed garrisons. Depression, poverty, police brutality and decades of unending war are the real issues that lie at the core of mass shootings in America. Tragic incidents such as Fridays shooting at Santa Fe High School can only be prevented by addressing the social problems rooted in the failure of the capitalist system. There are currently more than 15,000 refugees stranded in the Greek islands of Rhodes, Kos, Samos, Chios and Lesbos on the border with Turkey, most of them in facilities designed for half that amount of people. In the refugee camp of Moria in Lesbos alone, there are 7,000 people, nearly three times the actual capacity of the camp. The situation is a direct consequence of the rotten deal cut between the European Union and Turkey in March 2016, which stipulates that all refugees crossing into Greece from Turkey will be interned there until their case is processed and they are ultimately deported back to Turkey. As part of this deal, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the Syriza-led governmentin alliance with its coalition partners, the xenophobic Independent Greekshave become the EUs jailor as they preside over what are essentially concentration camps. Speaking before a Greek parliamentary committee last month, Dimitra Spatharidou, coordinator of the Greek office of Amnesty International, painted a devastating picture of life for migrants and refugees interned in Greece: We have seen hundreds of people sleeping in makeshift tents. In Samos the area is full of rats. We saw dozens of men with anxiety disorders, depression and other psychological problems due to their geographic restriction. The living conditions are an open wound for human rights. Spatharidou also read out a letter from Amal, a lone female Syrian refugee interned at the Moria camp. In her letter Amal states: If you want to see what fear and anxiety is dont stay in Syria, come to Moria. An equally devastating picture was painted by Declan Barry, medical coordinator for Medecins Sans Frontieres, who highlighted the health hazards faced by Moria inmates: Moria camp is both unsafe and unsanitary, especially for children. Every day we treat many hygiene-related conditions such as vomiting, diarrhoea, skin infections and other infectious diseases, and we must then return these people to the same risky living conditions. Its an unbearable vicious circle. The mix of unhygienic and dangerous living conditions which increase the rate of childhood illnesses, the obstacles to providing appropriate recovery conditions for sick children, and the inadequate access to healthcare services, represent a perfect storm for the health and well-being of children. The situation is only set to worsen. According to figures released by the International Organisation for Migration last month, 7,300 migrants and refugees crossed the Eastern Mediterranean Sea from Turkey into Greece between January 1 and April 21 this year. This is a 53 percent increase compared with the same period last year. According to reports the majority of refugees are from Syria, Iraq and Iran. As the islands are heaving under the influx, new arrivals have also started to take the old land route into Greece via the Evros River, which runs along the land border between Greece and Turkey. According to a report released last month by the UN Refugee Agency (UNRA), 2,900 people crossed the land border in April alone, which is half the number of the people who made the crossing in all of 2017. The surge in refugees coincides with the bombing campaign by US, UK and French forces against Syrian government targets. This underscores the direct culpability that Western imperialist powers have in instigating the biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War as they seek to topple Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, Russias only strategic ally in the Middle East, risking a direct confrontation with Russia. The situation has also increased tensions with layers of the local population due to the increase in petty crime fuelled by the poverty and desperation of migrants and refugees as well as the negative impact the refugee crisis has had on the tourist industrythe main source of revenue on Greeces islands. This is compounded by the hike in VAT rates on Greek islands, which has increased the cost of living for locals. This accounts for the widespread protests Tsipras faced when he visited Lesbos on May 3, which included a general strike that virtually shut down the island. According to reports, around 2,500 protesters gathered at the islands main port to protest and were attacked by riot police with tear gas. The hostile reception for Tsipras underscores the deep hatred for the Syriza-led government among the working class. Exactly four years previously, in May 2014, Tsipras made a speech in the central square of Mytilene, Lesbos main city, where he declared, Go back, Mrs. Merkel, go back Mr. Schauble, go back ladies and gentlemen of Europes conservative nomenclature, go back gentlemen of the troika, Greece is not a guinea pig. A few months later, in January 2015, Tsipras was swept into power on an anti-austerity ticket, which he betrayed only a few months later when he signed a new bailout package with Greeces creditors. This took place just weeks after an overwhelming rejection of austerity at a referendum called by the Syriza government in July 2015. Now, far-right groups such as the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn are exploiting the crisis facilitated by Syrizas actions. Just two weeks before Tsipras visit, on April 22, a group of around 200 fascist thugs attacked a peaceful protest by refugees in Mytilenes main square on Lesbos against their internment on the island. According to reports, the mob broke through a police cordon and threw stones, bottles and flares at the asylum seekers of mainly Afghan origin, which included women and children. Thirty-five people were injured. Eyewitnesses say the attacks took place under the nose of riot police units that were stationed between the two groups. One pro-refugee activist speaking anonymously to Greek daily I Efimerida Ton Syntakton stated, [Police] had orders not to move against the fascists to arrest them, but only to disperse them (this was heard on many instances on their CB radios). The facilitation by police of such attacks is a common occurrence in Greece. Golden Dawn enjoys widespread support amongst police, especially in the riot squads. On April 20, just two days prior to the fascist attacks, the Tsipras government overturned an April 17 binding court ruling by Greeces Council of State, the countrys highest administrative court, ordering it to end its abusive policy of detaining asylum seekers on Greeces islands. The government will instead pass legislation providing a legal basis for its containment policy. This was condemned by 21 human rights and humanitarian organizations. The overturning of the Court decision took place on the same day as the trial began of the Moria 35, who were arrested by police after peaceful protests on July 18, 2017 by hundreds of people who were held inside the camp. The trial is ongoing and if found guilty, the protesters face possible 10-year prison sentences and probable deportation. The protesters were demanding that Greece and the EU comply with their own laws when they were violently attacked by riot police with tear gas, which according to the Lesbos Legal Centre made it painful to breathe, even from outside the camp. The camp was put on lockdown, with humanitarian personnel kicked out. The centre said that the African section of the camp was targeted an hour after the initial attacks, with police forcibly dragging people out, shooting tear gas at close range, and brutally assaulting people, including a pregnant woman. The 35 were arrested in the raid, with Amnesty International concluding that the arrests could have amounted to torture. As for the EU, its response to the refugee crisis is more repression. At the beginning of May, the EU unveiled new plans to triple Frontexs budget from the current level of 12.4 billion to 33 billion and to increase Frontex personnel from the current 1,000 to 10,000 by 2027. According to Handelsblatt, The increased funds will enable more help, particularly for Greece and Italy, which bear the brunt of the inflow on their external borders. The Syriza-led government is entirely in line with this policy. In an interview with pro-Syriza daily I Efimerida Ton Syntakton, Minister for Immigration Policy Thodoris Vitsas boasted that in the previous government under the conservative New Democracy and social democratic PASOK there were no organised camps or major reception centres. The central theme of the European Union summit, which took place in Sofia, Bulgaria on Saturday, was to further integrate six western Balkan countries into the EU. But in the end, it was the conflict with the US that dominated the meeting of heads of state and government. The imposition of punitive tariffs on steel and aluminium, and the withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear agreement by President Donald Trump, are regarded by the European powers as a major blow to their own interests. Consequently, they let their anger run wild. With friends like these, who needs enemies, said EU Council President Donald Tusk. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire had asked before the summit: Do we want to be the vassals of the United States, who obediently doff the hat? For the European powers, the termination of the Iran agreement, which they played a significant role negotiating, is not only a political affront but an economic blow. The tightened US sanctions due to come into force August 6 will hit American companies hard, but Europeans firms even more. While US trade with Iran was negligible at $170 million last year, European companies conducted $25 billion worth of Iranian business over the same period, and have orders worth billions on their books. They face severe penalties in the US if they do not abide by Washingtons sanctions. If the US succeeds in limiting Irans oil exports, this will also undermine its ability to pay. With a current output of 2.6 million barrels a day and an oil price of $75 a barrel, the country receives about $70 billion per year for its energy exports. This corresponds to two thirds of the state budget. Germany, France and Britain are also worried that they will be outstripped in Iran by Russia and China, which are less prone to US sanctions. For example, the Russian state-owned company Sarubeschneft signed an order for 750 million in March to expand two Iranian oilfields. Moscow is considering investments of up to $50 billion. As far as China is concerned, Iran has announced that it will continue the billion-dollar expansion of a gasfield in the Gulf with the Chinese group Petrochina alone if the French energy company Total withdraws from the project because of US sanctions. For China, Iran is of great strategic importance both as an energy supplier and as part of its One Belt, One Road project. The EU summit therefore solemnly announced that it will stick to the Iran agreement and not bow to pressure from Washington. It concerns the economic sovereignty of Europe, said French President Emmanuel Macron. European Union Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker spoke of a question of honour. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said, We cannot and will not let that happen. Chancellor Angela Merkel, Macron and UK Prime Minister Theresa May, who have experienced a more tense relationship since the Brexit decision, demonstrated their solidarity and were photographed during a walk through the Bridge of Lovers in Sofia. At the suggestion of Juncker, the summit decided to reinstate an old EU regulation. It prohibits EU companies from submitting to US sanctions and compensates them with damages resulting from US assets confiscated by the EU. This regulation was issued in 1996, when the US imposed sanctions on Cuba. It served as a means of pressure, but never came into practical use. The EU subsequently reached an agreement with the administration of US President Bill Clinton. Even now, the regulation serves as a threatening gesture, but it is unlikely that President Trump will respond. Above all, larger companies such as car manufacturers, oil companies and the aircraft manufacturer Airbus will not run the risk of endangering their business with the US because of Iran. Merkel admitted after the summit that the EU could not protect large corporations. Compensating the entire economy in a comprehensive way due to US actionswe cannot and should not create illusions about this, she said. However, providing relief for small and medium-sized enterprises would be examined. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the mouthpiece of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, commented even more openly. The indignation of many Europeans about Trump is only surpassed by the powerlessness that makes some EU enthusiasts really angry, it wrote. Anyone who believed that the European community was weighty enough to conduct world politics as an equal to the United States was ... taught otherwise. The conflict with the US also exacerbates tensions within the EU. Some governments, including the Hungarian and possibly the Italian, are in favour of closer cooperation with Russia. There is also support for this in the public. According to a Forsa survey, 79 percent of Germans see world peace threatened by President Trump and only 13 percent by President Putin. Other governments, in particular the Polish, and also the majority of the ruling class in Germany, Britain and France, regard Russia as an opponent and strictly reject any rapprochement. The EU faces a similar dilemma regarding the western Balkans. Apart from Albania, the six western Balkan countries that now want to join the EU (Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Macedonia) emerged from the collapse of Yugoslavia. The European powers, together with the US, promoted this disintegration in the 1990s using diplomatic and military means to secure their hegemony over the Balkans. However, the regimes they helped bring to power and have supported since are so fragmented, corrupt and linked with organized crime that their accession would only further destabilize the EU. On the other hand, if they remain outside the EU, Russia, Turkey and China could set up in the Balkans. If there is no European perspective in the Balkans, Turkish and other influences will be stronger here. We do not want that, said Kurz. Finally, the EU summit reaffirmed its full support for the European perspective, i.e., for the EU membership of the six western Balkan countries in the distant future, without, however, defining any concrete steps. As the 2003 conflict over the Iraq war worsened, the WSWS wrote about the European dilemma: From the standpoint of France and Germany, the behavior of the United States is utterly reckless and raises the danger of a complete breakdown of whatever remains of the entire legal and institutional framework that regulated the affairs of world capitalism. For the Western Europeans to submit to the diktats of the United States would mean to accept their relegation, in the words of the conservative French daily Le Figaro, into a simple protectorate of the United States. But to openly resist would raise the risk of a potentially catastrophic military confrontation with the United States. Either alternative, or even some middle road between the two, would profoundly destabilize relations among European countries. Moreover, the social consequences of conflict between the US and the old Europe would inevitably intensify internal class tensions. Fifteen years later, this dilemma has become even more acute. The only answer, of which all wings of the ruling classpro-American or anti-Americanare aware, is to massively increase military spending to assert themselves in future conflicts and wars. They are moving increasingly openly towards a third world war. Only an international, socialist movement of the working class that combines the fight against war with the fight against capitalism can stop this madness. Syrian Family Finds Shelter, Job in Assyrian Church in Turkey Neli Haddid, a Syrian Christian, has found shelter in Mardin's Mor Petrus and Mor Pavlus Church, Mardin, Turkey, May 2, 2018. ( Murat Erdin) MARDIN, Turkey -- Walking along the narrow roads of Gul Mahallesi (literally translated as the Rose Neighborhood), one of the central districts of the southeastern city of Mardin, one stumbles upon a small church called Mor Petrus and Mor Pavlus Church. This rectangular building is relatively obscure in this city known for its many churches, from Syriac Catholic to Protestant, most of them centuries old. Neli Haddid opens the large, wooden door of the church, which has been attacked with paint blocking its name, to visitors. Haddid, a 48-year-old refugee who has fled from the civil war in Syria, arrived in Mardin in 2016 with her husband, two sons and a daughter. With the help of Christian Syriac relatives in the city, they took refuge in the church, where she now works as a cleaner and helps out with the ceremonies. It is the first job this homemaker from Aleppo has ever had. "We fled from the war; we had no other choice. We came to Mardin that was both close to home and had schools for my children, who were teenagers. We also have relatives here, which made it easier. It has been two years now. I do not think we will ever be able to go back," she told Al-Monitor. Read the full story here. The Chattanooga Police Department took top honors at the 2018 United States Police Canine Association Spring Trials in Rome, Ga. Two CPD K9 teams won awards for Top Dog in two different areas, Top Dog in several individual events, and finished with first, second and third place overall. A K9 team from Whitfield County won Top Dog Overall honors. However, since that team has trained with the CPD K9 Unit under the direction of CPD Head Trainer Barry Vrandenburg and Assistant Trainer Lucas Timmons for the past two years the Whitfield County's team finish was counted under CPD's overall finishes. According to USPCA, this is the first time one agency has taken the top three spots overall within Region 22 which includes law enforcement agencies from Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia. Officer Lucas Timmons and K9 Burt won the honor as Top Narcotics Detection Team. Officer Barry Vrandenburg and K9 Camie earned the honor as Top Explosive Odor Team. Both teams have been invited to represent Region 22 at the USPCA Nationals in Galloway, N.J. this coming week. A week after a White House aide made a cruel joke about Sen. John McCains terminal brain cancer, a bipartisan pair of congressmen introduced a resolution calling on Donald Trumps White House to issue a public apology to McCain and his family. Rep. Walter Jones, a Republican from North Carolina and the highest-ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat from Missouri, said in a press release that they introduced the resolution because McCain deserves dignity and respect. The congressmen referred to comments reportedly made by White House aide Kelly Sadler that were leaked to the media. In discussing McCains opposition to Donald Trumps nominee for C.I.A. director, Sadler tried to diminish McCains influence by saying, it doesnt matter, hes dying anyway. McCain is fighting an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma. John McCain and Kelly Sadler Neither the White House or Sadler have issued an apology. The White House did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment on why it has not issued an apologyor if one is coming. The president, perhaps more so than any elected official in this great country, should practice the politics of decency, said Cleaver in the release. Added Jones: These comments are outrageous and unacceptable. Its a sad day in this country when White House officials are mocking a man who, while serving his country, was tortured as a prisoner of war, he said in the release. Hes more than earned the right to speak out on these matters. A public apology should be issued immediately. The resolution states that while this apology should have already taken place, it is never too late to apologize. McCains daughter, Meghan, made clear on Friday that shes still upset about the commentand lack of a public apology from the White House. When her co-hosts on The View brought up a light-hearted White House video of President Trump and others addressing the Laurel-or-Yanny debate, McCain didnt find it funny. Ive got a lot of issues right now with what they think is funny, said Meghan. This video is like, Were all Americans and were laughing but were going to make death jokes still. I dont find any of this funny or amusing right now. At this moment, given the controversy with the statement that landed wrong or whatever about my dad last week, Im still not in a laughing mood. Photo credit: Getty Images From Esquire Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's upcoming wedding is anything but typical, even by royal standards. The bride is an American actress (and the first person of a mixed-race heritage to marry into the royal family). There's that $43 million price tag. And even Harry stands out, not just for his social exploits, which have long been documented by the British tabloids, but rather for his quite lengthy and legitimate military career-something for him that was as much a way of serving his country as it was an escape from the public eye. "You can only fit a certain amount of people in a helicopter, therefore no one can follow us," he joked at the end of a four month combat tour in Afghanistan back in 2013. No one, of course, meant no press. A helicopter represented a means of escape. Life in the chopper was a predilection he shared with his brother, father, and uncle, all of whom learned to fly military helicopters as well. Service is not required for members of the British royal family. But that desire to step out of the spotlight had a strong appeal. Just before he deployed for his second tour in Afghanistan in 2012, photos of Harry gallivanting naked in Vegas emerged. Typical laddish behavior from Harry, wrote the British tabloids. They'd hounded him since childhood, through the loss of his mother, and into his twenties. For Harry, it was another reminder that he was always being watched. "My father's always trying to remind me about who I am and stuff like that," he told the Guardian when his second tour ended. "But it's very easy to forget about who I am when I am in the army. Everyone's wearing the same uniform and doing the same kind of thing. I get on well with the lads and I enjoy my job. It really is as simple as that." Photo credit: Getty Images Of course, it wasnt always that simple. Harry's 10-year career in the British Army, which he began as a recruit at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2005, was subjected to as much attention, if not more, than his recreational exploits. Considering the constant swirl of press focused on the royal family in the first place, to add the element of an ill-advised, lengthy, and bloody war to the mix perhaps unsurprisingly exacerbated the publics appetite for coverage. Story continues The fact that there was now an actually newsworthy reason to keep tabs on Harry made the press even more eager to oblige that demand. Its no wonder the plan backfired in a way. In 2006 it was announced that Harry's unit, the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals, was heading to Iraq. Across the board, British media squabbled over the wisdom of sending such a high profile figure to the frontline. No royal had served in a combat zone since Harry's uncle Prince Andrew in the Falklands War. To his credit, Harry remained adamant that if his unit was sent, he wanted to be there with them. Photo credit: Getty Images "If they said 'no, you can't go frontline' then I wouldn't drag my sorry arse through Sandhurst and I wouldn't be where I am now, he had said in 2005. "The last thing I want to do is have my soldiers away to Iraq or wherever like that and for me to be held back home. Although the head of the British Army agreed he should go, that decision was ultimately reversed. For one, the military feared Harry's celebrity might put others at a higher degree of risk. To their point, it was later reported that Osama bin Laden had taken a special interest in his potential presence in Iraq. As a result, it was resolved that his next attempt at deployment, this time in the Helmand province of Afghanistan in 2008, would be kept secret. The gambit proved successful for some ten weeks, owing to the cooperation of British media who had agreed to not report the news, until an Australian magazine, New Idea, broke the story. "What the last two months have shown is that it is perfectly possible for Prince Harry to be employed just the same as other Army officers of his rank and experience," said Chief of the General Staff, Sir Richard Dannatt, after the story hit the newspapers. That was pulled off, in part, by reminding the rest of the troops to keep their mouths shut. "When people come along we just brief them saying: 'When you phone home don't start saying guess who I'm working with,'" Dannatt told the Telegraph. A Household Cavalry officer at this point, Harry's role was to coordinate air strikes from the ground. A few years later a Telegraph reporter John Bingham wrote about witnessing Harry at work. He watched on a screen as a man ran for cover from a jet flying overhead. "Moments later the outlines of fields and mud-walled compounds vanished into a cloud of dust," Bingham wrote. "I watched it unfold like a surreal video game on a laptop screen a few miles away The princes first kill. A month or so later, Harry fired a .50 caliber machine gun at Taliban soldiers for the first time. "It's just no man's land... they poke their heads up and that's it," he said, while a Ghurka soldier commemorated the occasion for him on Harrys camera. In a picture published by the Telegraph, hes smiling ear to ear, like a boy at play. Photo credit: Shutterstock By 2012, he had completed training as a pilot of Apache helicopters, as well as gunship training in California. He was reportedly quite good at it. "It sounds like a con, but Harry is genuinely shaping up to be one of the best young Apache pilots this country has ever seen," a British military source said in 2011, laying on the praise rather thick. "His handling, hand-eye coordination, reaction speeds, he's a natural. Any doubters who said, 'Harry is royal, he's getting special treatment,' can leave the room now. His talent is leaving his trainers openmouthed." But that characterization of the prince, a boy who couldnt help getting into mischief, continued to follow him. Photo credit: Getty Images Army heads considered Harry's new position as a co-pilot gunner in the helicopter to be less of a risk than operating on the ground as he had before. He would finally find the space he was looking for. The media, however, werent quite so easy to escape. Speaking in an interview in 2013 from his base-one in which he had to pull his microphone off and scramble on a moments notice to his position-he reluctantly answered questions about his experience in the service. "I never wanted you guys to be out here, but there was an agreement made to invite you out on a deal that you-that the media didn't speculate before my deployment. That's the only reason you guys are out here," he said. Giving a tour of his sparse living quarters and his helicopter, he talked about fitting in: "It's completely normal. It's as normal as it's going to get. I'm one of the guys. I don't get treated any differently. Our job out here is to make sure the guys are safe on the ground and if that means shooting someone who is shooting at them, then we will do it." Operating the weapons was "a joy," he explained at another point in the interview, "because I'm one of those people who loves playing PlayStation and Xbox. So with my thumbs I like to think Im probably quite useful... You can ask the guys I thrash in FIFA all the time." And there it was, the type of pull quote he had been hoping to avoid. A Telegraph writer was among many to criticize him harshly for his seemingly cavalier attitude. Yes, soldiers talk like this, Harry Mount wrote, and yes it was admirable that he was roughing it in the desert, despite his privileged upbringing. "But, still, he isnt like other soldiers, much as he'd like to be." Other army members were highly critical of his comments as well, saying he was acting like a spoiled brat. Harry's service was done in 2015, and he reflected thoughtfully on the toll of war a year later, writing in the Times of seeing the wounded returning home-something he never experienced firsthand during his tours: On my first tour to Afghanistan in 2007-8 and again more so on my second tour in 2012-13, I saw some horrendous things: the tragic injuries and deaths of local people from roadside bombs, some of whom were children; coalition forces lying on the battlefield; and the constant ferrying of injured personnel to the hospital in Camp Bastion. Radioing in the details of their injury to the hospital (which sometimes included the phrase 'Op vampire,' when the casualty would need a lot of blood-it still sends shivers down my spine), or lying in bed late at night while our accommodation shook from the downforce of the Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters, was a constant reminder of what was happening all around. See it, smell it, hear it, feel it, there was no escaping it. It's no doubt that the experience changed Harry. After returning from the battlefield, he created the Invictus Games, a Paralympic-style sporting event for injured service members, to inspire and support the wounded. The first games took place in London in 2014 and were attended by David Cameron, Prince Charles, Prince William, and other foreign dignitaries. Sydney, Australia, will host the 2018 games, and 17 countries are slated to participate. In that 2013 interview on base, he had looked back on his exploits in the tabloids after the Las Vegas incident. "It was probably a classic example of me probably being too much Army, and not enough Prince," he said. Now, finally, with the Invictus Games, it seems he found a way to combine both. You Might Also Like One person has died in a shooting that occurred outside of a Georgia high school in Jonesboro, just south of Atlanta. The shooting happened near Mount Zion High School at the Clayton County Performing Arts Center, according to multiple local reports. Clayton County Schools Safety Chief Thomas Trawick confirmed to news outlet WRAL that shots were fired in the school parking lot after an argument between people who had attended a graduation ceremony for the Perry Learning Center, which prepares students for careers as an alternative to traditional high schools. Mount Zion High School provided overflow parking for people attending the ceremony. Trawick did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. A Clayton County Police said one person is now confirmed deceased, according to the Associated Press. Mt. Zion High School in Jonesboro, Georgia Authorities told local news outlet WFAA that a 21-year-old female was taken to Atlanta Medical Center with gunshot wounds to the leg, while another victim was taken to Piedmont Henry Hospital. Another woman, who was reportedly pregnant, was not shot but was hurt when she was pushed during the incident. A woman in her 40s was pronounced dead at Southern Regional after being shot three times in the chest, according to officials who spoke with WFAA. 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. The Mt. Zion High School shooting occurred on the same day 10 people, including students, were killed in a shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott announced at a Friday press conference that 10 people were also injured in the attack. According to multiple local media reports, nine students and one teacher were killed. The suspect in the shooting has been identified as 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis, according to a news release from the Galveston County Sheriff. Abbott said the suspect allegedly used a shotgun and a .38 revolver, which were owned legally by his father. It is unclear how the suspect obtained the guns. Authorities have found explosive devices found in the school and the surrounding area, including a Molotov cocktail, believed to have been made by the suspect. Following Fridays school shooting Friday in Santa Fe, Texas, which killed at least eight people, survivors of the Feb. 14 mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, expressed solidarity with victims and survivors of Americas latest tragedy. Emma Gonzalez, one of a host of students at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School who have become a prominent gun-violence prevention activists after the massacre at their school killed 17 people, shared her thoughts on Twitter. Santa Fe High, you didnt deserve this, Gonzalez wrote. You deserve peace all your lives, not just after a tombstone saying that is put over you. You deserve more than Thoughts and Prayers, and after supporting us by walking out we will be there to support you by raising up your voices. Santa Fe High, you didnt deserve this. You deserve peace all your lives, not just after a tombstone saying that is put over you. You deserve more than Thoughts and Prayers, and after supporting us by walking out we will be there to support you by raising up your voices. Emma Gonzalez (@Emma4Change) May 18, 2018 Gonzalez was referencing National Walkout Day, on March 14, when students across the country walked out of their classrooms to protest gun violence exactly one month after the Feb. 14 Parkland attack. According to Texas Monthly, some students at Santa Fe High School participated in the walkout. David Hogg, another Parkland survivor-turned activist, expressed frustration with politicians he believes havent done enough to combat gun violence. Get ready for two weeks of media coverage of politicians acting like they give a s when in reality they just want to boost their approval ratings before midterms, Hogg wrote on Twitter. An earlier message of support from Hogg simply stated, We are fighting for you. We are fighting for you. David Hogg (@davidhogg111) May 18, 2018 Alex Wind, another Parkland survivor who has become outspoken on gun violence prevention issues, wrote, Hoping things get better. Hoping things can change. Dont tell me that there isnt a shooting problem in this country. The perpetuating gun violence we face is ridiculous. Story continues Hoping things get better. Hoping things can change. Dont tell me that there isnt a shooting problem in this country. The perpetuating gun violence we face is ridiculous. https://t.co/dHeXH5Fo9B Alex Wind (@al3xw1nd) May 18, 2018 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. Parkland survivor-turned-activist Cameron Kasky tweeted, At least 8 students have been shot and killed at Santa Fe High School. Prepare to watch the NRA boast about getting higher donations. Prepare to see students rise up and be called civil terrorists and crisis actors. Prepare for the right-wing media to attack the survivors. At least 8 students have been shot and killed at Santa Fe High School. Prepare to watch the NRA boast about getting higher donations. Prepare to see students rise up and be called civil terrorists and crisis actors. Prepare for the right-wing media to attack the survivors. Cameron Kasky (@cameron_kasky) May 18, 2018 Sarah Chadwick, another survivor and activist, tweeted, I hope youre safe, Im so sorry this is happening, and Im so sorry that it continues to happen. No one should be in the situation that youre all currently in. Im not going to say thoughts and prayers but instead policy and action. To everyone at Santa Fe high school ,I hope youre safe, Im so sorry this is happening, and Im so sorry that it continues to https://t.co/zLRbrizYiD one should be in the situation that youre all currently in. Im not going to say thoughts and prayers but instead policy and action Sarah Chadwick (@Sarahchadwickk) May 18, 2018 Survivor and activist Sofie Whitney tweeted, My heart is with everyone at Santa Fe High School. No student should have to fear for their life. No student should have to run from a shooter. No student should have to bury their friends. We are here for you. My heart is with everyone at Santa Fe High School. No student should have to fear for their life. No student should have to run from a shooter. No student should have to bury their friends. We are here for you. Sofie Whitney (@sofiewhitney) May 18, 2018 Survivor and activist Jaclyn Corin wrote, My heart is so heavy for the students of Santa Fe High School. Its an all too familiar feeling no one should have to experience. I am so sorry this epidemic touched your town. Parkland will stand with you now and forever. My heart is so heavy for the students of Santa Fe High School. Its an all too familiar feeling no one should have to experience. I am so sorry this epidemic touched your town - Parkland will stand with you now and forever. pic.twitter.com/ckVPxYi6qz Jaclyn Corin (@JaclynCorin) May 18, 2018 A message to the survivors was also posted to the Twitter account of March for Our Lives. We are deeply saddened by the tragedy at Santa Fe High School and send our love and support to the families affected as well as the entire community, the statement reads. Though this is the 22nd school shooting this year, we urge those reading this not to sweep it under the rug and forget. This is not the price of our freedom. This is the most fatal shooting since the one at our school and tragedies like this will continue to happen unless action is taken. One male suspect and one male person of interest in the shooting are in custody, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez announced at a press conference, adding that both are believed to be students at the school. Explosives devices have also been recovered from the school and surrounding areas, officials announced. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott hailed as heroes two school resource officers who confronted the suspect in Fridays mass shooting at Santa Fe High School including an officer now in critical condition after being shot. Ten people were injured and 10 were killed in the shooting. But Abbott said the toll could have been much higher had two officers not confronted the suspect early on in the process. Their actions probably ensured that more lives were not lost, Abbott said at a Friday press conference. Abbott didnt identify the officer by name, but officials at the University of Texas Medical Branch hospital in Galveston tell PEOPLE that Santa Fe Independent School District Officer John Barnes, 49, is in critical condition after being shot in the arm. The other school resource officer who confronted the shooter has not been identified by name. John Barnes KHOU reports that a surgeon with the UTMB said Barnes was bleeding out and his blood pressure was very low, so the immediate issue was to resuscitate him and give him enough blood product to get his blood pressure up and take him straight to the OR. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said on Twitter that Barnes is a retired Houston police officer, who was with the department from 1995 until retiring in 2018. John is known for his tireless work in Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, Acevedo wrote. Retired HPD SPO John Barnes, 49, was sworn in in May 1995 & retired Jan 2018. He began his career at SW Patrol and began working in investigations in 2005. John is known for his tireless work in Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force. https://t.co/OBDOJ0SLkM Chief Art Acevedo (@ArtAcevedo) May 18, 2018 John is hanging in there & the family is very hopeful, Acevedo wrote. According to multiple local media reports, nine students and one teacher were killed in the attack, which began at about 7:45 a.m. at or around an art classroom. Story continues The suspect in the shooting has been identified as 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis, according to a news release from the Galveston County Sheriff. He is being held in the Galveston County Jail with no bond on capital murder charges. Abbott said the suspect allegedly used a shotgun and a .38 revolver, which were owned legally by his father. It is unclear how the suspect obtained the guns. According to Abbott, authorities learned from the suspects recovered journals, cell phone and computers that he allegedly wanted to commit suicide after the shooting. But he admitted to authorities he didnt have the courage [to kill himself], Abbott alleged. Abbott said that the suspect was not on the radar of law enforcement before the attack, saying there simply were not the same types of warning signs as there have been with other alleged mass shooters. But he said the suspect posted a photo to his Facebook page of a T-shirt that said Born to kill. That would be the foremost warning sign, said Abbott. Santa Fe High is located in Galveston County about 35 miles outside Houston. Barnes family has launched a GoFundMe page to help pay for medical expenses. Photo credit: Getty Images From Esquire The alibi du jour for what the president* said about immigrants on Wednesday is that he was talking only about members of MS-13, the Salvadoran gang that somebody told him about once, because he doesnt know anything about anything. This is belied by the context of the exchange; the president*s comments were an answer to a question from a sheriff about the possibility of MS-13s overwhelming of the sheriffs town, and the president* clearly conflates MS-13 with all immigrants seeking to come into the country because thats the way he thinks. (This thread from the electric Twitter machine from Julian Sanchez explains why that excuse is moonshine.) And, if youre wondering about how this attitude might filter down into how the president*s policy wishes are carried out, a federal judge just explained it in depressing detail. From Slate: What may be most remarkable about Martinezs decision, though, is its blunt repudiation of ICEs main claim-that Ramirez is gang-affiliated. The judge did not simply rule against ICE. He accused the agency of lying to a court of law. The facts of Ramirezs case are extremely disturbing. In February 2017, shortly after President Donald Trump unleashed immigration agents to amp up arrests and deportations, ICE agents went to Ramirezs fathers house in Seattle to arrest him. (The father is undocumented, and brought Ramirez to the U.S. illegally as a child.) While there, they encountered Ramirez and asked him whether he was legally here. He responded that he was-a truthful statement given his DACA status, which he had renewed the previous May. Yet ICE officers detained him anyway. They took him to a processing center, where, once again, he told them that he had a work permit. It doesnt matter, an agent responded, because you werent born in this country. Story continues The judge heard the whole story. The judge went up the wall. Martinez, a George W. Bush appointee, was plainly incensed by the agencys lies. ICEs conclusory findings, he wrote, have been contradicted by experts and other evidence. The government produced no evidence to contradict multiple experts testimony discrediting ICEs bizarre interpretation of Ramirezs tattoo. And its claims are completely contradictory to the governments own previous findings after extensive background checks that were meant to uncover evidence of known or suspected gang association. Most troubling to the Court, Martinez continued, is the continued assertion that Mr. Ramirez is gang-affiliated, despite providing no evidence specific to Mr. Ramirez to the Immigration Court in connection with his administrative proceedings, and offering no evidence to this Court to support its assertions four months later. Martinez concluded that ICE had violated Ramirezs rights by depriving him of his constitutionally protected liberty and property interests without due process of law. The judge also found that ICE had violated federal law by stripping Ramirez of his DACA status in an arbitrary and capricious manner without any rational explanation for its decision. Accordingly, he barred the government from terminating Ramirezs DACA benefits, shielding his right to continue living and working in the U.S. And he prohibited the government from asserting, adopting, or relying in any proceedings on any statement or record purporting to allege or establish that Mr. Ramirez is a gang member, gang affiliated, or a threat to public safety. In other words, he ordered ICE to stop lying. This is the logical end to all those rallies that cable television so lubriciously carried into the country for two years. This is what the presidential campaign on the Republican side unleashed on the country. Theres been a lot of activity recently concerning the financial and ethical corruption of that campaign, and well deal with the past week of it tomorrow, but that should never obscure what its success continues to do to the country. There are lives being ruined. There are things breaking that are beyond repair. Related Video: Trump Calls Some Immigrants 'Animals' in Meeting Watch news, TV and more on Yahoo View. Respond to this post on the Esquire Politics Facebook page here. You Might Also Like Image Source: Getty / Samir Hussein If you and your significant other have a history of breaking up and making up, you're not alone: there have been a handful of celebrity couples who suffered a split before ultimately getting married, and one of them has royal ties. Yes, Kate Middleton and Prince William called off their relationship before their lavish wedding in April 2011. In 2007, four years after they began dating and four years before tying the knot, the royal couple hit a rough patch and decided to part ways. Clarence House declined to comment about the relationship's end at the time, saying, "We don't comment on Prince William's private life." Related: How Did Kate Middleton and Prince William Meet? "We were both very young . . . we were both finding ourselves and being different characters." So why did they split? In late 2006, Kate's family invited William to celebrate New Year's Eve with them. The Middletons booked a house in the snowy Scotland countryside. William had agreed to come, but later changed his mind - which did not sit well with Kate. Spending the holidays in Sandringham with the queen is a strict royal tradition, and Kate was not technically allowed to join in his family festivities unless she and William were married. After the new year, William's military commitments - he was to be stationed with the Household Cavalry at Bovington Barracks in Dorset for three months - kept the couple from seeing each other, and Kate was growing increasingly uncomfortable with the aggressive paparazzi and media attention she was getting as his girlfriend. William was also going out a lot with other guys in the barracks; he was spotted on a number of occasions drinking, dancing, and "being flirty" with women in London, which further angered Kate. The two secretly reunited at a themed party in June 2010, which was held in William's barracks to celebrate the end of his training. It was during their vacation in Kenya that October that William presented Kate with the same 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire ring worn by his late mother, Princess Diana, and asked her to marry him. "I didn't really plan it that far in advance," William told reporters after the engagement was made public. "I just knew I wanted it to feel comfortable where I did it and I wanted it to mean something, other than just the act of getting engaged." Story continues Image Source: Getty / George Pimentel As we all know, in April 2011, Will and Kate went on to marry in one of the biggest and most newsworthy weddings of our generation. They welcomed their first child, Prince George, in July 2013, followed by Princess Charlotte, who was born in May 2015. Their third child, Prince Louis, came in April 2018. In a joint interview after their engagement, William said of their split, "We were both very young . . . we were both finding ourselves and being different characters." He went on: "It was very much trying to find our own way and we were growing up so it was just a bit of space, and it worked out for the better." See? There's still hope for your own fairy-tale ending. Related: The royal wedding is just days away, and once we find out about the dress, the guest list and the food, one question will still remain. Where will Harry and Meghan Markle go on their honeymoon? Here are a few possibilities for the couple, and everyday newlyweds too. Namibia PHOTO: Sand dunes are pictured in the Namib desert, Sossusvlei area in Namibia. (STOCK/Getty Images) The remoteness of the attractions in this southwestern African nation -- coupled with it being one of the least populated countries in the world -- means privacy for a couple who will no doubt crave it after having been at the center of one of the most watched weddings in the world. Namibia is known for safaris, luxury tented camps and outdoor adventure. The nation is home to the second-largest desert in the world, meaning visitors can choose between the vastness of the desert or the lush lands of a game reserve. Namibia first appeared on most tourist's radars when Angelina Jolie gave birth to daughter Shiloh there with then-husband Brad Pitt by her side. Where to stay on a royal budget: Little Ongava, Ongava Game Reserve Where to stay on a regular budget: Dunes Lodge, Namibrand Nature Reserve Italy If the couple decides on a mini-moon in order to return to their royal engagements as soon as possible, Italy is a short distance from London and a well-loved honeymoon destination the world over. Markle reportedly vacationed in Positano on the Amalfi Coast with her close friend Jessica Mulroney shortly after she began dating Harry. Capri Nights ???? #MJxItaly A post shared by Jess Mulroney (@jessicamulroney) on Aug 15, 2016 at 2:55pm PDT Positano is known for its stunning landscape of homes and hotels seemingly built into the cliffs with the sea below. Visitors tend to explore the nearby towns of Ravello and Amalfi and often also visit the posh island of Capri, just a quick boat ride away, on a trip to the Amalfi Coast. In fact, Markle and Mulroney did just that. The food and wine, plus loads of small-town coastal charm are the hallmarks of a trip to Positano. Story continues Where to stay on a royal budget: Le Sirenuse: A luxury, 58-room resort overlooking the sea. Where to stay on a regular budget: Villa Rosa Positano: An intimate hotel steps from the center of Positano. Many rooms have balconies with views of the Mediterranean. Botswana PHOTO: Boabab trees are seen at sunrise in Botswana. (STOCK/Getty Images) They've been to Botswana before -- in 2017, to celebrate Markle's 36th birthday -- and if the paparazzi photos were any indication, they had a wonderful time. Plus, Harry sourced the center stone in Markle's engagement ring from the African nation, indicating the couple's strong ties. More well-known than Namibia and with higher tourism, Botswana has no shortage of luxury camps for couples seeking a safari for their honeymoon. Where to stay on a royal budget Little Vumbura Camp: A six-room room camp on a secluded island with the nearest property a half-hours drive away. Situated at the northern part of the Okavango Delta, guests of this tented camp enjoy customized menus daily. Where to stay on a regular budget: Meno a Kwena: 8 tents on a clifftop with views of the Boteti River below. Weddings are filled with traditions, but a royal wedding has its own set of unique rituals that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry may or may not decide to include in their big day. Will Meghan wear a tiara? Will Prince Harry wear a wedding band? Will the flowers in her bridal bouquet have special meaning? And will the newlyweds share a kiss for the cheering crowds outside St. Georges Chapel? As an American, Meghan may want to incorporate in her own style and traditions with royal wedding customs. We already know she's picked an Americanthough London-basedbaker to make an untraditional royal wedding cake. Will she have a more personalized influence on the weddings details? Well have to tune in at 7 a.m. EST on Saturday, May 19 to find out. In the meantime, heres a list of 10 royal wedding traditions we can expect to see on the big day, and a few we probably wont. Wedding Traditions You'll Likely See 1. A Diamond-Studded Tiara Royal brides have worn tiaras that belong to their familyLady Diana Spencer wore her familys Spencer Tiara at her wedding to Prince Charlesor have borrowed one from The Queen. There are lots of options for Meghan to choose from in The Queens collection including the Strathmore Tiara and the Cartier Bandeau, which are both likely possibilities. We probably wont see Meghan wearing a tiara associated so closely with her future sister-in-law the Duchess of Cambridge such as the Cartier Halo, which she wore on her wedding day. kate-princess-di-tiara Getty Images/Max Mumby 2. A Welsh Gold Ring Royal wedding rings include a bit of Welsh gold sourced from a mine in Wales, so we know that Meghan and Prince Harrysif he chooses to wear a wedding ringwill include some of this rare gold. Meghans engagement ring was set in yellow gold so the wedding ring should complement it nicely! And as for Harry wearing a wedding ring, his brother and grandfather dont, but his father Prince Charles does. Its a personal preference if a gentleman wants to wear one. Story continues 3. A Sprig of Myrtle in Her Bouquet Victorians gave flowers different meanings so that when you sent someone a beautiful bouquet they could read a message, of love or friendship for example, into the gift. Queen Victoria chose to carry a sprig of Myrtle in her bridal bouquet because it represented love and marriage. To this day royal brides carry a sprig of Myrtle for the same reason. Royal brides are often seen carrying other flowers with meaning in their bouquets. Catherine Middleton chose Sweet William and a nod to her groom, it also stands for gallantry. 4. A Wedding Breakfast Royal newlyweds celebrate their nuptials at a wedding breakfast following the ceremony. Eggs and pancakes wont be served, as a wedding breakfast is historically a sit-down luncheon. But the new generation of royals have updated it to a passed canapes menu where guests can mix and mingle while they enjoy bite-sized hors d'oeuvres and champagne. The reason for this change in format is that the British Royal Family has added the American-style evening reception to their wedding day festivities. This formal affair would include a seated dinner and dancing. Prince William and Catherine Middleton famously exited Clarence House for their evening reception the night of the wedding. Prince Charles hosted Prince Williams reception and will host Prince Harrys as well. Wedding Of Pippa Middleton And James Matthews Max Mumby/Indigo 5. An Adorable Wedding Party Kensington Palace announced Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have selected children to make up their wedding party, which has become traditional over the past few decades. They've asked his niece and nephew, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, as well as his godchildren and the children of Meghans close friends. See the full list of bridesmaids and pageboys here. 6. A Formal Royal Wedding Portrait During the wedding breakfast, the newlyweds will pose for an official portrait together, with their wedding party and their families. These formal photos will be released by the Palace for the public to see. Unfortunately, we wont see more candid and romantic photos of Prince Harry and Meghan or of their guests. Bouquet On Memorial J. A. Hampton 7. The Bouquet Getting Placed on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior This royal wedding tradition began with Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, known today as The Queen Mother. Following her wedding to the Duke of York, the future King George VI, she placed her bridal bouquet on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey in memory of her brother. Royal brides have continued this tradition by having their bouquets placed on The Tomb after the wedding. While Meghan is getting married in St. Georges Chapel and not Westminster Abbey, she may still send her bouquet to rest on The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior as Prince Harry is very involved in the Armed Forces. 8. A Carriage Ride While Meghan and Prince Harry will most likely arrive to St. Georges Chapel in a car, they will make their getaway in a carriage, the Ascot Landau to be specific. As their wedding is not a state affair as Prince Williams was as he is direct in line to the throne Prince Harry and Meghan have chosen a less formal carriage for the 25-minute ride to Windsor Castle. 9. The Bride Wearing White Another tradition started by Queen Victoria was wearing a white wedding dress. Brides would often wear their best dress to their wedding, but when Queen Victoria wore white to her wedding to Prince Albert it sparked a trend thats over 170 years old. It would be quite surprising if Meghan didnt wear a white or ivory wedding dress to her wedding ceremony, though she may opt for a color for her wedding reception at Frogmore House that evening! Prince Harry Attends The Unveiling Of The Folkestone Memorial Arch Max Mumby/Indigo The Royal Groom (Maybe) Wearing His Military Uniform Prince Harry, as his brother and father before him, may decide to wear formal military dress to his wedding instead of a morning suit. (His Uncle Edward wore a suit to his wedding at St. Georges Chapel in 1999.) But for the evening reception he will change into a tuxedo or formal suit. Traditions You Probably Wont See 1. A Fruitcake for the Wedding Cake This centuries-old British tradition allows guest to receive a slice of the royal wedding cake as a wedding favor/thank you after the wedding from the newlyweds. Meghan and Prince Harry have opted out of this tradition and have ordered a lemon and elderflower flavored wedding cake, iced with buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers. They have also hired an American, not a British, baker based in London, Claire Ptak, owner of Violet bakery. While their main cake may not be a fruitcake, its possible that there will be additional cakes and desserts, called puddings in England, that will be server or offered to wedding guests. Or perhaps sent home with them as a favor as tradition dictates. UK - Wedding of Prince William & Kate Middleton - Buckingham Palace Stephane Cardinale - Corbis 2. The Buckingham Palace Balcony Kiss With the wedding reception at Windsor Castle, we wont see Prince Harry and Meghan Markle share a kiss on the iconic balcony at Buckingham Palace. We may see them share a kiss after they exit St. Georges Chapel or on their carriage ride to Windsor Castle. Pascal Le Segretain 3. A Maid of Honor Markle has decided against having a Maid or Matron of Honor at her wedding, stating through the Palace that she couldnt just choose one friend. And while Meghan has decided against this wedding tradition, Prince Harry has decided to have a Best Man. He has asked his brother to stand beside him on his wedding day. The smell of peanut and spice fills the air of our warm home while my husband moves his feet to African hiplife music as he stirs the pot of soup on the stove. Our daughter, an incredibly curious 2-year-old, sits on the countertop hovering just close enough to see him dicing up onions and tomatoes, her mouth watering and her little body rocking to the beats. From the moment we found out we were pregnant, my husband and I promised we would raise our child to embrace both of her cultures and have her spend holidays in both Ghana and the US. The beauty of his culture is easy to embrace and share with our daughter, but as adults raised in entirely different worlds, our cultural differences have us working daily to maintain balance and understanding. Sharing our foods, languages, music, dance, books, and hobbies has been seamless. Our little one has shown a preference to Ghanaian dishes, which could simply be because my husband is a far better cook than I am, or also because we all favor this food in our home (we cook Ghanaian food and listen to African hiplife most of the time). The other days, I'm usually trying to come up with a well-balanced meal while Taylor Swift is on repeat. Related: I'm Married to a Police Officer, and This Is What I Want You to Know I'm a very strong American woman. I'm punctual, I worry, and I'm fiercely independent. I think constantly about the future and I cry, a lot. Some of this is just who I am, and some is due to American culture. My husband is free-spirited at heart, very positive, is always at least 30 minutes late, lives in the now, and doesn't bother much with plans and worrying about the future. So as we entered into the new world of parenting, living in the States, raising a Ghanaian and American daughter who we both want to be strong and kind with a respect for all cultures, it's been a bit of a juggling act. My husband, the star of this act, has learned to adapt to an American style of parenting, although he was raised quite differently. For instance: a child in Ghana would not be welcomed into a conversation or setting where adults are having a conversation, they would be asked to excuse themselves. Most parents don't hover, and it's common for large groups of kids to go off and explore together, the eldest of the group typically keeping a watchful eye. They are strict with their discipline and in his upbringing, any family member can discipline a child. But he's quick to point out the things he loves that I do with our daughter that he sees as culturally American: spending a lot time with her, reading to her before she was even born, and using distraction instead of only command. My goal isn't for him to lose his beliefs as we raise a child, but for us to learn from each other. He's picked up my broken pieces as a mom, teaching me that it is OK to let go of structure, and I've shown him the fun in being a caregiver and a playmate, crawling with her on the floor and drawing fishies 500 times in a row. Story continues Related: She's Beautiful, Is She Yours? Some days everything runs smoothly, and others, we end up in a silent battle until one of us opens up. We're still learning daily, but we know that with this great challenge also comes real beauty. And that beauty reminds us why we chose this life together. Our daughter is bilingual. She's learning traditional Ghanaian dance but also loves moving to American pop music. She gets messy eating Ghanaian food with her hands but also loves a good bowl of pasta and veggies. And as she grows and our family makes roots and perhaps more children, we hope to maintain balance, communication, and grow together, always embracing both sides of our family and culture. And when the tough days come, I hope we can find solace in our warm kitchen, cooking up a pot of peanut soup, dancing, music filling our ears, and love filling our hearts. Follow Jacquelene and her multi-cultural family as they create a life full of diversity and adventure on Instagram @extraordinarydaisy. Ouagadougou (AFP) - More than 200 people were arrested last week in a joint anti-terror and security operation in the West African countries of Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin and Togo, the Burkinabe army said. "Fifty-two individuals were arrested in Burkina Faso, 42 in Benin, 95 in Togo and 13 in Ghana", Colonel Blaise Ouedraogo told AFP late Friday. Explosives and contraband goods were also seized. At least two of those arrested in Burkina were suspected of being involved in jihadism, Ouedraogo said, adding that "40 sticks of explosives, 38 guns and 623 illegally registered motor bikes" had been found. Around 2,900 security and defence officers from the four countries took part, he added. Burkino Faso's Security Minister Clement Sawadogo said the joint operation was the result of an agreement between the leaders of the four countries in Ghana's capital, Accra, last year. He said such operations would be repeated in future "so that we can pool our resources, our expertise and our ability to overcome serious crime and terrorism." The number of deadly attacks has been on the increase in the north of Burkino Faso in recent years, as well as in the east of the country and the border areas with Togo and Benin. Montevideo (AFP) - From Madrid to Miami and from Montevideo to Santiago, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans live in exile, having fled their country as it descended into economic ruin over the past few years. From very diverse backgrounds, many say they have no expectation that Sunday's controversial election, in which socialist Nicolas Maduro is seeking another six-year term, will change anything for the better. Here are the views of five of them: - 'Refugee' in Miami - Rafael Rangel, a 39-year-old artist, emigrated to Miami in 2014. After studying at the Pratt Institute in New York, he began his career in Caracas before the country's economic collapse. "My life has once again turned around 180 degrees as it's a new start," he said in his downtown workshop. He feels like "a type of refugee", Rangel says as he puts together a new artwork using glass and polystyrene, in the style of the late Brazilian sculptor Sergio de Camargo. On Sunday, "absolutely nothing is going to happen, I don't have any expectations." When asked what it would take for him to return to Venezuela, he doesn't hesitate: "We need to rebuild the country from scratch." - In Montevideo, to not 'die from hunger' - Hugo Alexander, a 54-year-old mechanic, is doing some soldering in his workplace in the center of the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, where he arrived en 2016 to join two of his three children. "It wasn't through hunger, or from a lack of money or a job, no. It was because of insecurity and shortages, of all types," he says. "There are Latin American countries where Venezuelans are victims of xenophobia. We are emigrating en masse, it's normal, given the situation that we are going through. We can't accept that Maduro will leave us to die from hunger." He says there will be "cheating" in the election. "People know it, that's why I will not go and vote." Story continues - A lawyer-astrologer in Madrid - "Absolutely nothing," says Maria Argelia Jaspe when asked what she expects from the election. In her apartment in Madrid, where she arrived in 2017, the lawyer believes that casting her ballot would "endorse something that the regime already knows, they know they have won. It's impossible to get rid of them through elections." Unable to work as a lawyer, she turned to her great passion and became an astrologer. The only thing that would convince her to return to Venezuela would be a change of government. "That's what a lot of Venezuelans who are overseas say when asked (about going home) to reconcile with our homeland." - Lonely in Medellin - Carlos Figueroa left his job as a chef in a five-star hotel, aged 49, to survive by washing cars in the Colombian city of Medellin, which has become the epicenter of the Venezuelan diaspora. His new job brings in $15 to $30 a day that helps support his family back in Venezuela. Eleven people depend on him, including his two daughters, aged 11 and 14. "Loneliness can destroy anyone but you have to think about your family and you can't let yourself go," said Figueroa, who fears he may be deported. He would love to return to Venezuela which is "in my blood" but says he must face the painful truth: "Maduro holds all the power." - 'Economic freedom' in Santiago - Tired of the shortages that Venezuela is suffering, Matilde Carruyo, 29, decided to emigrate to Chile, where more than 100,000 of her compatriots have moved in recent years. One year later, she loves the "economic freedom" that the country offers. A former graphic designer, she manages a small and successful Venezuelan restaurant in the capital, after starting out as a waitress. The election on Sunday is a "pantomime," she says. "It's a complete fraud" and will allow Maduro, whom she refers to as "cancer", to continue his "circus". "Without these people (in government), there could be a future. Venezuela is not just oil, and there are millions of things that can bring the country back up." Pro-immigration protesters pictured at a rally in New Jersey: Getty The mayor of Oakland is pushing back on President Donald Trumps claims that she obstructed justice by warning undocumented immigrants of an impending federal raid. Mayor Libby Schaaf, a Democrat, wrote in a weekend op-ed that it was her duty to warn immigrants about the raid, which was set to target around 1,000 people living in the Bay Area earlier this year. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has indicated that a tweet from the mayor prevented the arrest of as many as 800 people. As mayor, its my duty to protect my residents especially when our most vulnerable are unjustly attacked. As a leader, its my duty to call out this administrations anti-immigrant fearmongering for what it is: a racist lie, Ms Schaaf wrote in The Washington Post. Mr President, I am not obstructing justice. I am seeking it, she continued. Mr Trump has focused on Ms Schaaf several times since the tweet, which the mayor said was intended to help make sure that people were prepared, remained calm, and knew their legal rights. Just last week, the president reportedly told his attorney general, Jeff Sessions, that he should consider prosecuting the California mayor. The Justice Department has filed suit against California over its so-called sanctuary policies, which are efforts by local leadership to limit the amount of cooperation between local police and national immigration enforcement. Mr Sessions, in the lawsuit announced in March, targeted Ms Schaaf specifically, and asked why she would needlessly endanger the lives of our law enforcement officers to promote a radical open borders agenda. Ms Schaaf denies that she put any police or immigration officials in danger through her promotion of sanctuary policies. In her article, the Oakland mayor argues that Americas immigration system is broken, and that the lack of access to legal pathways into the United States is endangering American communities that are now forced to increasingly rely on undocumented work forces. Story continues She also claims that studies show undocumented immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than those of American citizens. Oakland, and other diverse communities like it, have seen a drop in crime rates, she writes. Related Video: Number of Jailed Immigrants at Record High For more news videos visit Yahoo View. Amal and George Clooney may be considered Hollywood royalty, but the gorgeous couple have made their way to the royal wedding. Amal and George Clooney arrive at St. Georges Chapel. (Photo: Getty Images) Through a sea of friends and family arriving at St. Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle on Saturday, it was hard to miss the A-list pair, who stood out in yellow and gray. Dressed in the bright, beautiful color from head to toe, the 40-year-old human rights lawyer blew onlookers away in a Stella McCartney cap-sleeved dress featuring a back bow detail, and a wide-brimmed hat. Amal has already been deemed best dressed by people at home. Amal Clooney and George Clooney arrive for the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle #royalwedding pic.twitter.com/iS8ObIM7RO Elliot Wagland (@elliotwagland) May 19, 2018 As if I didn't already know Amal Clooney's better than I am, here she is slaying in mustard yellow. TELL US YOUR SECRET, SORCERER. #RoyalWedding pic.twitter.com/J4AyOdK2rH shauna (@goldengateblond) May 19, 2018 Amal Clooney is definitely the best dressed so far. #royalwedding pic.twitter.com/aXgDUpxNEg F (@rhubarbginn) May 19, 2018 Excuse me but Amal Clooney is the epitome of royal. pic.twitter.com/IcV4RRYfpW claradevi handriatmadja (@claradevi) May 19, 2018 Amal Clooney heard y'all talking shit about her Met Gala outfit and was like "ok hold my tin foil" #RoyalWedding pic.twitter.com/iXWFwN2c55 Call Me By My @ (@NotAgainBen) May 19, 2018 Among all the pale pastels and boring outfits from the #RoyalWedding the only one that can rock glamour, class and elegance is #AmalClooney in a bright yellow ensemble. #RoyalWedding2018 Viviana Attard (@vivienne84) May 19, 2018 The Clooneys were included in the list of anticipated guests, as Amal and Meghan Markle reportedly have had a fairly long relationship. Amal is said to have introduced the former actress to her London-based hairstylist. But the connection seems to go further than that, as Amal and George may be sitting up front with the royal family and are rumored to be attending the 200-person reception. For all things royal wedding, from details on Meghan Markles dress to cute pictures of Prince George and Princess Charlotte, click here. Want to relive every moment? Watch it all here. Meghan Markle Donald Trump composite Getty Images More Americans were searching for Meghan Markle than Donald Trump on Thursday. Google confirmed to Business Insider that royalty briefly trumped the President. It shows the extent of the US obsession with the royal wedding, helped along by a dramatic week of news. Since the US is so much larger than Britain, there are probably more royal fans there than in the royal family's own country. America is so obsessed with the royal wedding that Meghan Markle briefly overtook the US president in Google's internal search rankings. More people were searching Markle's name than Donald Trump's for a brief window on Thursday morning, Google confirmed to Business Insider in an email. Trump and the drama around his White House administration is comfortably ahead of royal news most of the time. Even in the week leading up to the royal wedding, the British monarchy was mostly still second, but nonetheless managed a brief surge to the top amid a spike of interest in Markle. It was likely helped along by the unexpected drama around the Markle family, which saw her dad dramatically dropped from the central role of walking her down the aisle during Saturday's ceremony. Palace officials said on Friday that Markle had asked Prince Charles to do the honors instead. This graph, from Google's publicly-available trending data, shows the close run Markle and Trump are having on Google. It's worth noting that the above graph shows relative search volume, not absolute. So it shows how much search interest Meghan Markle is getting compared to how much she normally gets, next to Trump data compared to how much interest he gets. It's impossible to know from those lines who has a larger number of searches overall, but Google confirmed separately that Markle did briefly win in line with one of her spikes. More on the royal wedding: NOW WATCH: How Amazon gets away with not paying taxes See Also: Barcelona (AFP) - Catalonia's new president Quim Torra on Saturday named two former ministers jailed by Madrid for backing independence from Spain, together with two others who fled into exile, to his regional government. Torra appointed his government by decree, but it could still be blocked by Spain, which has insisted his administration be "legal and viable" after it imposed direct rule on the region in October when the then Catalan government declared independence. Torra -- who was elected by the Catalan parliament on Monday and sworn in on Thursday -- named 13 "advisors" to his government, including Jordi Turull and Josep Rull, who are currently being held in custody just outside Madrid. Two others, Toni Comin and Lluis Puig, are in exile in Belgium, where they fled with deposed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont. Turull and Rull both accepted their nominations on Twitter. Their lawyers have asked for both to be freed provisionally so they can take up their duties from Wednesday. The appointment of Torra as Catalan leader marks the end of nearly seven months of political limbo in the northeastern Spanish region, which has been under direct rule from Madrid since the central government deposed Puigdemont following a failed declaration of independence on October 27. Puigdemont is currently in Berlin awaiting potential extradition to Spain, where he faces jail on charges of rebellion and misuse of public funds. Torra, a 55-year-old editor who has long campaigned for independence and was handpicked by Puigdemont, described himself as a "caretaker president" who considers Puigdemont as the "legitimate" leader. In a brief swearing-in ceremony on Thursday, Torra promised to "loyally fulfil the duties of the post of regional president being faithful to the will of the Catalan people represented by the Catalan parliament." But he did not promise to obey the Spanish Constitution nor the statute that regulates Catalonia's autonomy. Story continues He appeared flanked only by a Catalan flag, without the traditional Spanish flag and portrait of the king that protocol states must be present, in a small side-room of the regional government building in Barcelona. - 'Second-rate president' - The Spanish government criticised Torra's choices as a "new provocation" given that "some of them are on the run from justice or in detention". A government statement said Madrid "will analyse the viability" of Torra's team -- a sign the capital will delay formalising their appointment, a task in the gift of the national government. Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis criticised the ceremony, saying it was done "on the sly", as if Torra "were a second-rate president". And on Friday, government spokesman Inigo Mendez de Vigo had warned that "an advisor or minister cannot exercise their duties as such while they are in prison." But Torra had written to Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, requesting a meeting "without any conditions" in a gesture that observers could herald as an easing of tensions between Madrid and the separatists. Puigdemont, who first fled to Belgium, was detained in Germany in March after Spain issued a European arrest warrant against him. Madrid wants him extradited to Spain to face trial on charges of rebellion and misuse of public funds for staging an independence referendum in Catalonia on October 1 even though the courts had ruled it unconstitutional. A German court last month dismissed the extradition request for Puigdemont on the rebellion allegations and released him on bail. Spanish prosecutors have since handed over new information to Germany they hope will prove the use of violence, to justify the rebellion charge and their extradition request. By Crispian Balmer and Aislinn Laing VATICAN CITY and SANTIAGO (Reuters) - In an unprecedented move, all of Chile's bishops offered to resign on Friday after attending a crisis meeting this week with Pope Francis about the cover-up of sexual abuse in the South American nation. Several victims invited by the pope to Rome earlier this month said they wanted all 34 bishops sacked and replaced by more moral candidates, and for the Vatican to extend punishment to others implicated in the scandal. The offer of mass resignations on Friday by the bishops summoned to Rome marks the first time that all the senior Roman Catholic prelates of a country have taken such a step, a Vatican official said. A Vatican official declined to speculate on the pope's response. "We have put our positions in the hands of the Holy Father and will leave it to him to decide freely for each of us," the bishops said in a joint statement read out by a spokesman for them, Bishop Fernando Ramos. The announcement followed four days of discussions in the Vatican, where the pope accused the bishops of "grave negligence" in investigating allegations that children had been abused and saying evidence of sex crimes had been destroyed. Apologising to the victims, the pope and to Chile for the failings of Chile's churchmen, Ramos said the bishops would all stay in their roles until Francis had decided what to do. The scandal that has swirled around the Chilean church for more than 20 years erupted four months ago when the pope visited Chile, prompting questions about his response to the serious claims of abuse. Chilean victims of abuse welcomed news the bishops were ready to stand down but insisted the Vatican should take further, punitive action against the bishops. Juan Carlos Cruz, one of three Chilean victims invited by the pope to Rome earlier this month, said the "corrupt" bishops should be replaced by those in the church who had helped abuse victims. Story continues "There are very good people within the Chilean Church who could take over the reigns and repair the damage done by these corrupt bishops," Cruz said in an interview. Eneas Espinoza, a Chilean man who claims to have been abused while at a school run by the Marist brothers, called on the pope to pursue a canonical prosecution that could see them stripped of all titles and benefits. "We want concrete, real action," he said in an interview. "I don't want my abuser to end up living in a plush retirement home." The scandal revolves around Father Fernando Karadima, who was found guilty in a 2011 Vatican investigation of abusing boys in Santiago in the 1970s and 1980s. Now 87 and living in a nursing home in Chile, he has always denied any wrongdoing. Victims accused Bishop Juan Barros of having witnessed the abuse but doing nothing to stop it. Barros, who was one of those who offered to stand down, has denied the allegations. Friday's resignations came just four months after the pope had visited Chile in a trip that raised questions over his response to abuse scandals that have rocked the church over the past 17 years and his willingness to deal with the crisis. During the visit, Pope Francis staunchly defended Barros, denouncing accusations against him as "slander." But days after returning to Rome, the pope, citing new information, sent sexual abuse investigator Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta to Chile to speak to victims, witnesses and other church members. Some of his findings were included in a damning 10-page document that was presented to the bishops this week, according to Chile's T13 television, which obtained a leaked copy. A source in the Vatican confirmed the report was genuine. In it, the pope said he felt "shame" over the pressure put on people not to carry out full investigations into what had happened, saying some churchmen had been afraid to face their responsibilities and confront "the ramifications of evil." "We are all involved, myself in first place, and no one can be exempted by looking to shift the problem onto the backs of others," the pope wrote. (Additional reporting by Antonio de la Jara and Aislinn Laing in Chile and Phil Pullella in Rome; editing by Andrew Roche and Richard Chang) Chloe Kim landed a frontside 1260 in halfpipe practice earlier this week, something no woman has landed in competition. (Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images) 18-year-old Chloe Kim dominated at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, earlier this year, becoming the youngest female to win the gold medal in the womens halfpipe in Olympic history. It seems, just three months later, that Kim is at it again. While practicing at Mammoth Mountain in California earlier this week, Kim landed a frontside 1260 something no woman has landed before in a halfpipe contest. Kim told TransWorld Snowboarding that she had only been working on the trick for probably three days, and that fans will likely see her attempt the trick again in competition soon. It feels pretty good to put it down, and youll definitely see it in competition next season, Kim told TransWorld Snowboarding. Kim is already the only woman to land back-to-back 1080s in competition, which she did in PyeongChang. Based on her Instagram video, it seems that Kims time at the top of the snowboarding world is far from over. More from Yahoo Sports: Star recruit may not be welcome in NBA or NCAA Shaqs ridiculous mansion on the market for $28M Reuben Fosters ex-girlfriend says she made up allegations Former UEFA president: 1998 World Cup draw was fixed Baghdad (AFP) - Final results from Iraq's election confirmed Saturday that an alliance spearheaded by populist cleric Moqtada Sadr has triumphed, but the fiery preacher faces a huge task to form a governing coalition. Sadr's Marching Towards Reform bloc won 54 of the 329 seats in parliament in a major upset at a May 12 vote that saw a record level of abstentions as Iraqis turned their back on a widely reviled elite. The nationalist -- whose Shiite militia battled US troops after the 2003 invasion -- faces a deeply fragmented political landscape and opposition from key player Iran after he called for foreign influence in Iraq to be cut. Sadr, who has reinvented himself as an anti-corruption crusader in an alliance with secular leftists, is looking to be the kingmaker and oversee the formation of a cross-sectarian, technocrat government from some dozen parties. But negotiations -- which tentatively began after the vote -- look set to drag out and it remains far from certain that Sadr's group will claim power after the first vote since the defeat of the Islamic State group. Poised in second place with some 47 seats is the pro-Iranian Conquest Alliance made up of ex-fighters from mainly Shiite paramilitary units that battled IS. The Victory Alliance bloc of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who hoped voters would reward him for seeing off the jihadists, performed worse than expected and was back in third place on 42 seats. - Regional tensions - Sadr declared on Twitter that the results showed "reform has won and corruption is weakened," but he faces a tricky regional context as he begins coalition negotiations. Writing in The Washington Post Friday, premier Abadi insisted his government would do "all it can to ensure that the transition to the next government is conducted in a stable and transparent manner". He called for "dialogue" to create a new government that "must be demonstrably non-elitist (and) representative of the people rather than dominated by one side or denomination". Story continues Abadi -- who came to power in 2014 as IS rampaged across Iraq -- has balanced off rivals the US and Iran and could still remain in position as a consensus candidate. The protracted horse-trading comes at a time of high tensions after Washington's withdrawal from a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran and fears of a tug-of-war over Iraq. Even before Sadr's victory was confirmed, Iran had already been convening meetings to try to block him from forming a government. Iran dispatched the powerful general Qassem Soleimani to Baghdad, who has met with several members of Iraq's old guard including Abadi and his predecessor Nuri al-Maliki. According to officials, Soleimani has ruled out any alliance with Sadr, who surprised many last year by visiting Iran's regional foe Saudi Arabia as Riyadh seeks increased involvement in Iraq. Soleimani's shuttle diplomacy is aimed at gathering enough parties opposed to Sadr to deny his alliance a governable majority and a route to the powerful position of prime minister -- though Sadr himself says he is not in the running for the top job. The US, which still has thousands of troops in Iraq from the fight against IS, is also looking to push its interests after the vote. Washington envoy Brett McGurk has been meeting with leading politicians in both Baghdad and the autonomous Kurdistan region to the north. Attracting the Kurds and the marginalised Sunni community will prove important for anyone seeking to come to power, as Iraq looks to carry out the mammoth task of rebuilding after the defeat of IS. Sadr "will probably try to form a large coalition, including Shiite parties, potentially involving the list of Abadi, and the Sunnis and Kurds", said Raphaele Auberty, an analyst at London-based BMI research. By Zoe Tabary LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Moldova, a small, landlocked country in eastern Europe, imports three-quarters of its energy and has seen its energy prices rise by more than half in the past five years. But that could soon change, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which this year will launch an innovative effort to power a Moldovan university with cryptocurrency-funded solar energy. The initiative with Sun Exchange, a South African solar power marketplace, will allow people to buy solar cells using SolarCoin, a cryptocurrency launched by blockchain start-up ElectriCChain, and then lease them to the Technical University of Moldova, one of the country's largest universities. Buyers also can pay for the solar cells using euros or bitcoin, Sun Exchange officials said. The idea is to find new sources of finance to "help buildings go green overnight" - in this instance with rooftop solar panels, said Dumitru Vasilescu, a programme manager with UNDP in Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries. "One of the biggest obstacles to countries investing in renewable energy is a lack of finance, as you often have to wait 10 to 15 years before you get a return on your investment," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. But the university will get a full 1 megawatt of energy installed in the summer, he said, as a result of the crowd-funding effort. Owners of the solar cells, in turn, will receive SolarCoins as soon as the university produces energy, earning interest of about 4 percent on their investment, Vasilescu added. Moldova currently has over 10,000 square metres of unused rooftop space on public buildings that could be potentially used for such efforts, he said. Blockchain, which first emerged as the system underpinning the virtual currency bitcoin, is a digital shared record of transactions maintained by a network of computers on the internet, without the need of a centralised authority. Story continues It has become a key technology in both the public and private sectors, given its ability to record and keep track of assets or transactions without the need for middlemen. Research firm IDC estimates global investment in blockchain will more than double in 2018 to $2.1 billion from $945 million last year, most of it for banking. IDC expects "strong, double-digit growth" in the energy space between 2016 and 2021. Kevin Treco, an associate director at the Carbon Trust, an environmental consultancy, said blockchain-based technologies could significantly change energy use in countries striving to decentralise power and boost renewable sources. In Moldova, for example, cryptocurrency-funded renewable energy could reduce the country's dependence on energy imports such as oil and gas from Russia, Vasilescu said. Darius Nassiry, a senior research associate at the Overseas Development Institute, a British think tank, predicted that most of the growth in cryptocurrency-funded energy would occur in the developing world. "They have faster-growing energy needs and a more accommodating legal and regulatory environment towards such innovations," he said by email. But a lack of understanding on how blockchain applications such as cryptocurrencies work could slow their take-up in the energy sector, he added. For Abraham Cambridge, the founder and CEO of Sun Exchange, the solar currency exchange system "has all the right incentives in place". "It reduces the costs of going solar dramatically for the end user and makes it easy for anyone in the world to own a solar cell anywhere in the world and, from it, make a steady source of sunlight-powered income," he said in a statement. Blockchain is also being used in the energy sector to facilitate carbon trading, with U.S. computing giant IBM announcing this week that it will partner with Veridium Labs, an environmental tech start-up, to turn carbon credits into digital tokens. If the Moldovan solar currency pilot is successful, UNDP plans to replicate it in neighbouring countries, said Vasilescu, adding that it could "revolutionise the renewable energy market for Eastern Europe and Central Asia". (Reporting by Zoe Tabary @zoetabary, Editing by Laurie Goering. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit http://news.trust.org) An ageing airliner carrying 110 people crashed shortly after take off from Havana airport in Cuba on Friday, leaving just three survivors in the country's worst aviation disaster in three decades. The 39-year-old Boeing 737 had taken off on an internal flight when it went down into a cassava field not far from the end of the runway just after midday, bursting into flames and leaving huge plumes of black smoke. A local resident told Granma, the Cuban state newspaper, that the plane crashed after it attempted to return to the airport making a turn and clipping electricity cables, then plummeting to the ground. Miguel Diaz-Canel, the Cuban president, visited the scene immediately and said: "There is a high number of people who appear to have died. "Things have been organised, the fire has been put out, and the remains are being identified." Granma reported there was a baby aged under two on board, plus four children. The Cubana Airlines Boeing 737 had just left the Jose Marti airport when the accident happened Credit: ADALBERTO ROQUE/ AFP The paper also said that the crew was foreign and that there were foreigners on board, but did not give details. The three survivors were taken to the Calixto Garcia hospital, in the Vedado district of Havana. Families of those on board were asked to bring photos of their loved ones to the scene, to assist with identification. The Boeing 737 had just left the Jose Marti airport en route to the town of Holguin a flight of around an hour and a half. The plane crashed near a school and lay in a farm field, heavily damaged and burnt, with firefighters spraying water on its smouldering remains. Miguel Diaz-Canel, visiting the crash site Credit: AFP What appeared to be one of the wings of the plane was wedged among scorched tree trunks, but the main fuselage appeared to have been entirely destroyed. Firefighters and rescue workers combed through the wreckage, but there seemed little chance of finding survivors. The plane was believed to be a Cubana airlines flight. Mercedes Vazquez, director of air traffic, told Prensa Latina that the plane was owned by Damojh - a Mexican company which operates under the name Global. Story continues At a glance | Cuba A Global employee told AP that the plane was theirs. Cuban state television had earlier claimed that the plane was owned by Blue Panorama, an Italian firm, but they denied involvement. The Cuban state carrier had suspended its own domestic flights in March owing to a shortage of aircraft, according to security site Garda World. Cubana has also taken many of its aging planes out of service in recent months due to mechanical problems. The airline is notorious among Cubans for its frequent delays and cancellations, which Cubana blames on a lack of parts and airplanes due to the US trade embargo on the island. Friday's crash was Cuba's third major fatal accident since 2010. A survivor is loaded into an ambulance Credit: AFP Last year, a Cuban military plane crashed into a hillside in the western province of Artemisa, killing eight troops on board. In November 2010, an AeroCaribbean flight from Santiago to Havana went down in bad weather as it flew over central Cuba, killing all 68 people, including 28 foreigners, in what was Cuba's worst air disaster in more than two decades. The last Cubana accident appears to have been on Sept. 4, 1989, when a chartered Cubana plane flying from Havana to Milan, Italy, went down shortly after takeoff, killing all 126 people on board, as well as at least two dozen on the ground. Cubana's director general, Capt. Hermes Hernandez Dumas, told state media last month that Cubana's domestic flights had carried 11,700 more passengers than planned between January and April 2018. It said that 64 per cent of flights had taken off on time, up from 59 per cent the previous year. "Among the difficulties created by the US trade embargo is our inability to acquire latest-generation aircraft with technology capable of guaranteeing the stability of aerial operations," he said. "Another factor is obtaining part for Cubana's aircraft." Washington (AFP) - At least five people were killed when a gunman opened fire inside a newsroom in Annapolis, Maryland on Thursday. The suspect -- who was being questioned in custody -- was described as a white adult male armed with a rifle or a shotgun, who appeared to have acted alone and whose motive remained unknown. Here are some of the deadliest mass shootings in the United States in the past three decades: - Vegas concert: 58 killed - A 64-year-old retired accountant shoots down from his hotel room at a crowd attending an outdoor country music concert on October 1, 2017, killing 58 people and wounding around 550 before committing suicide. It is the worst mass shooting in modern US history. - Florida club: 49 killed - A heavily-armed gunman opens fire inside a gay nightclub in the city of Orlando on June 12, 2016, killing 49 people. The attacker is killed in a shootout with police. He pledges allegiance to the Islamic State group, which later claims responsibility. - Virginia Tech: 32 killed - A 23-year-old student of Korean descent goes on a rampage at Virginia Tech University in the town of Blacksburg in April 2007. He kills 27 students and five teachers before committing suicide. - Sandy Hook: 26 killed - A 20-year-old man kills his mother in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012 before blasting his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School and shooting dead 20 six- and seven-year old children and six adults. He commits suicide. - Texas church: 26 killed - A 26-year-old man who was court-martialed while in the Air Force shoots dead 26 worshippers during Sunday services and wounds at least 20 others at a Baptist church in the small rural community of Sutherland Springs outside San Antonio, Texas, on November 5, 2017. The shooter flees and is later found dead in his car with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. - Texas restaurant: 22 dead - In October 1991, a man shoots dead 22 people at a restaurant in the town of Killeen, Texas and then kills himself. Another wounded victim dies later. Story continues - Florida high school: 17 dead - A 19-year-old former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who was expelled for disciplinary reasons returns to the school in Parkland, Florida, and opens fire on February 14, 2018, killing 14 students and three adult staff members. - California office party: 14 dead - A radicalized Muslim couple storm a Christmas office party at a social services center in San Bernardino in December 2015 and gun down 14 people, wounding 22 others. They are shot dead by police. - Fort Hood military base: 13 dead - In November 2009, a US army psychiatrist opens fire at his military base in Killeen, Texas, killing 13 people and wounding 42, before being overpowered by police. - New York immigrant center: 13 dead - A Vietnamese immigrant shoots dead 13 people at a civic center in Binghamton, New York in April 2009, before killing himself. - Columbine High: 13 dead - Two teenage boys shoot and kill 12 classmates and a teacher at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, in April 1999, before killing themselves. - Washington Navy Yard: 12 dead - A former serviceman shoots randomly at workers at the Washington Navy Yard headquarters in September 2013, killing 12 people before he is shot dead by officers. - Denver cinema: 12 dead - A young man wearing body armor opens fire in a movie theater showing a late-night premiere of a Batman film in Aurora, Colorado in July 2012. Twelve people are killed and 70 wounded. He is sentenced to life in prison. In newly released footage from a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation event, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said President Donald Trump told him he was considering a commission to look into the bad effects of vaccines. "Don't do that," Gates said he told the president, and Trump has never publicly proposed such a commission. Yet the incident recalls Trump's longtime skeptical comments about vaccines. Gates said that in two separate meetings since he was elected, Trump asked the billionaire philanthropist if vaccines werent a bad thing. He was considering a commission to look into the bad effects of vaccines and somebody, I think his name was Robert Kennedy Jr., was advising him that vaccines were causing bad things, Gates recalled. And I said No, that's a dead end, that would be a bad thing, dont do that. Trending: Kidnappers Threatened To Murder Texas Teen In Text Messages To Mother Robert Kennedy Jr., the son of former Senator and U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy, has long pushed the now-debunked theory that vaccines cause autism. Shortly after Trump was elected president, Kennedy said he would head up a vaccine safety panel for the president, but the panel never materialized. Trump himself, however, has repeatedly tweeted about the supposed connection between vaccines and autism. Don't miss: Who Is Meghan Markle's Maid-of-Honor? Why She Didn't Pick Jessica Mulroney Most popular: Cliveden House Hotel: Here's Where Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Will Stay on Eve of Royal Wedding Story continues Despite the many tweets linking vaccines and autism, Trump has also insisted he isnt anti-vaccine, just against the current system of inoculation. The theory that vaccines cause Autism emerged from a single 1997 study by British surgeon Andrew Wakefield. That study has since been discredited and retracted by the medial journal that published it and follow up studies examining the link have found no evidence vaccines cause Autism. But while the theory has been thoroughly debunked, belief in the link has led to falling inoculation rates, and the reemergence of some diseases like measles that were eliminated in the U.S. by mass immunization programs. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Donald Trump has reportedly promised Kim Jong-un that hell stay in power if he agrees to scrap nuclear weapons (Picture: Reuters) Donald Trump has reportedly promised Kim Jong-un that hell stay in power if he agrees to scrap nuclear weapons. Mr Trump is believed to have offered a guarantee that Kim Jong-un will remain in power if he gives up his nuclear weapons. The US President is said to have told reporters in the Oval Office during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that the North Korean leader will get protections that will be very strong if he agrees. Mr Trump reportedly said: Hed be in his country and running his country. His country would be very rich. Comparison North Korea has reportedly compared the situation to Libyas Colonel Gaddafi, who was toppled after giving up his nuclear weapons (Picture: Getty) North Korea has reportedly threatened to cancel a summit set for next month, describing it as one-sided. The regime has reportedly voiced concerns that it could go the same way as Libya after Colonel Gaddafi was toppled in a NATO-backed revolution. MOST POPULAR TODAY ON YAHOO According to reports, Mr Trump has said he could assure Kim Jong-un that the same would not happen to him, but it could be a possibility if the North Korean leader refuses. Mr Trump reportedly said: The Libyan model isnt a model that we have (in mind) at all when were thinking of North Korea but warned that a similar situation was most likely if the summit doesnt happen. The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, seemingly in chaperone mode as she gathered the flower girls ready for bridesmaid duty The Duchess of Cambridge arrived at St George's Chapel for the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry and set about helping the young pageboys and bridesmaids prepare for their own entrance. Having opted not to bring the newest addition of the Royal family to the big day, the mother-of-three ensured her two older children were on their best behaviour as they prepared to undertake pageboy and bridesmaid duties. The Duchess switched seamlessly to chaperone mode, as she clutched the hands of the little flower girls which included her own daughter Princess Charlotte guiding them up the steps and readying them for the ceremony. Princess Charlotte, three, seemed to take the attention in her stride while her four-year-old brother Prince George looked to be taking his role as pageboy very seriously. Kate watched Miss Markle become her sister-in-law and replace Prince Louis as the latest member of the Royal family. Royal wedding day pictures: Best photos from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's ceremony and reception And the 36-year-old will know all about the nerves associated with walking down the aisle to royalty having done it herself seven years ago. She and the Duke of Cambridge were married on April 23, 2011, after Kensington Palace announced they were engaged in November the previous year. While most would have to save up for a lavish wedding, five months was all that was needed for her and Prince Williams to arrange their wedding at Westminster Abbey. Cutest pictures of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and more young royals at the wedding The newest Royal couple have followed a similar timescale with their engagement, also confirmed in November. Perhaps with the pending arrival of Prince Louis, Meghan and Harry may have pushed their plans back a month to allow their sister-in-law and her newborn to recover. While Prince George and Princess Charlotte had a central role to play in the ceremony, their younger brother Prince Louis did not attend. Story continues The most stylish guests from Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle At less than a month old, he is likely to be cared for by a nanny close by, allowing the Duchess to visit him privately throughout the day. His second public appearance, after capturing the hearts of the nation on April 23 on the steps of the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in London, could be at Trooping the Colour in June, or at his christening. Royal wedding | Read more By Nidal al-Mughrabi and John Davison RAFAH, GAZA STRIP (Reuters) - Gazans lined up from dawn on Friday to travel across the border into Egypt after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said his country's gateway with the Gaza Strip would be opened throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Sisi's announcement late Thursday, if fully implemented, would open the Rafah crossing to Palestinians for the longest single period in years. The Egyptian leader's Twitter account said the opening of the crossing would "alleviate the burdens of brothers in Gaza." On Friday the first Gaza passengers who lined up from 5 a.m. were finally let through into Egypt eight hours later, at 1 p.m. Hamas has denied Cairo pressure but the opening was widely seen in Gaza and Israel as the likely result of a deal to provide Gazans with a lifeline to the outside world in return for the de-escalation of a deadly six-week protest on the Gaza-Israel border. Israeli troops killed dozens of Palestinians at the 'Great March of Return' protest on May 14, the day that the United States opened its new embassy to Israel in the contested holy city of Jerusalem. "This is political. I can bet my life on it," said one 34-year-old Gazan as he waited among busloads of passengers at Rafah. He pointed to the May 13 visit by Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh to Egypt, which has sought to act as a broker between Israel, Hamas and its Palestinian rivals. "I believe this is part of a deal Haniyeh made with the Egyptians, who asked him to calm down the situation in Gaza, he said, refusing to give his surname because he feared Egypt would refuse him entry. We are not against it. On the contrary, we hope it will also include lifting the Israeli blockade. It would mean the marches were effective." With Israeli border crossings closed to the vast majority of Palestinians since Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007, the Egyptian border has become critical to Gaza's economic survival. Although Hamas controls Gaza, it is not directly in control of the strip's most important crossings, Rafah with Egypt and Erez with Israel. It handed control of those crossings late last year to its rival, the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, in a reconciliation deal signed in Cairo.[https://tmsnrt.rs/2wP39MO] Egyptian government spokesmen did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether Egypt had indeed brokered a deal. Preaching in Gaza on the first Friday of Ramadan, Hamas leader Haniyeh did not say whether he had reached a deal with Egypt. Instead he sought to present the Rafah opening as the fruit of protests which, he said, had "revived the Palestinian cause and attracted international and Arab support." "We are witnessing steps, we are witnessing a real beginning for lifting the blockade on Gaza," he said. But Israel said recent events showed Hamas has never been weaker, short of money and weakened by isolation. Officals say Hamas has been "weaponising" civil unrest after seeing its rockets and attack tunnels blunted by Israeli counter-measures. "Egypt is very dominant in relations with Hamas," Israel's Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked told Israeli radio. "Hamas controls everything, and they simply understood that they have a lot to lose - both from Israel and from Egypt." Israel cited security considerations for imposing its closures on Gaza, fearing suicide bombers and gun and knife attacks on Israelis. The Gaza-Israel border protests were less crowded on Friday than in earlier weeks. Hundreds, instead of thousands, gathered at the border camps, burning tyres as Israelis fired tear gas. Elsewhere, the first Friday prayers of Ramadan passed peacefuly - including in Jerusalem, where tens of thousands gathered to pray at Al-Aqsa mosque. (For a graphic on 'Map of Gaza Crossings and Protest Sites' click https://tmsnrt.rs/2wP39MO) (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, John Davison, Nadine Awadallah and Tom Miles; Editing by Stephen Farrell and Richard Balmforth) Donald Trump has pulled the US out of the Iran nuclear deal and unveiled new sanctions: Evan Vucci/AP Brussels has unveiled details of measures that would block American sanctions against European companies trying to do business with Iran, in a bid to head off Donald Trumps new economic assault on the Middle Eastern county. The US president announced the re-introduction of the anti-Iran sanctions as he confirmed US was breaking the international deal designed to put a stop to the countrys nuclear programme with the end to sanctions as a reward for compliance. Mr Trumps administration has not ruled out hitting European companies that trade with Iran with its new measures, so the EU has now responded by updating a blocking statue originally meant to circumvent a the US embargo against Cuba in the 1990s. The move would prohibit EU-based companies from complying with the US sanctions, and provide compensation if they were affected by American penalties against them. As long as the Iranians respect their commitments, the EU will of course stick to the agreement of which it was an architect - an agreement that was unanimously ratified by the United Nations Security Council and which is essential for preserving peace in the region and the world, Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, said on Friday morning. But the American sanctions will not be without effect. So we have the duty, the Commission and the European Union, to do what we can to protect our European businesses, especially small and medium enterprises. The European Parliament and European Council will be allowed to scrutinise the new policy; it was unanimously by EU heads of state and government at a summit in Sofia this week. The original blocking clause was never actually used when it first drawn up to circumvent the USs anti-Cuba embargo in 1996. We have the duty, the Commission and the European Union, to do what we can to protect our European businesses Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission president The EU has also announced that the financial might of the European Investment Bank will be brought to bear to back EU projects in Iran, and that one-off transfers to Irans central bank would be explored. Energy commissioner Miguel Arias Canete will alsovisit the Iranian capital of Tehran this weekend to explore the possibility of more financial development assistance to Iran. Story continues The measures all represent an attempt to save the Iran nuclear deal, known officially as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). Even before Mr Trump pulled the US out of the deal, Iran complained that the 2015 deal was not yielding the expected economic benefits. Iran and the deals other signatories, the UK, Germany, France, EU, China, and Russia, all say they want the agreement to continue and that the US does not have the power to terminate it unilaterally. On the Iranian side the deal was seen as a triumph for Hassan Rouhani, the countrys president, who is seen as straddling the Islamic Republics moderate and reformist factions. Mr Rouhani had to face down hard-liners on his own side to sign the deal, who opposed reconciliation with the US. The deal is equally politicised in the US, where it is seen as a major legacy of Barack Obamas foreign policy. The deal is also staunchly opposed by Israel, a key US ally in the region. The dispute over the JCPoA is running parallel to another row between the US and EU over steel and aluminimum tarrifs that Mr Trump plans to impose on EU and other countries' imports. The EU has said it will negotiate with Mr Trump to improve US companies' access to European markets, but only if he first pledges to permanently exempt Europe from the sanctions. Boris Johnson and his European counterparts met with Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Brussels this week in an attempt to find a way forward. Under the deal Iran agreed to dramatically cut its enriched uranium stockpiles and its capacity to enrich uranium in the future. The IAEA gained full access to Iranian nuclear facilities under the deal to monitor its implementation. In exchange, the other countries agreed to lift sanctions. Bogota (AFP) - Former FARC leader Jesus Santrich said Saturday he has halted a 41-day-old hunger strike, two days after a Colombian court suspended his extradition to the United States. "In response to the clamor of these voices, I have taken the decision to temporarily suspend my hunger strike," he wrote in a letter read by academic Jairo Estrada after a visit to the Catholic clinic in the Colombian capital where Santrich is being held. Prosecutors in New York accuse Santrich of conspiring to ship 10,000 kilograms of cocaine to the United States while serving as a senior member of the leadership of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). They are pushing for his extradition along with three others who are also allied with the group. But on Thursday a Colombian court set up to try crimes committed by former leftist rebels during decades of conflict suspended his extradition. Magistrates will meanwhile examine if he is guilty of the crimes the US said he committed after the signing of the peace agreement with the government, which ended half a century of conflict in Colombia. The partially-sighted Santrich, 51, has been on hunger strike since April 10, the day after the former guerrilla leader was arrested. The FARC has warned his arrest could deal a damaging blow to the landmark 2016 peace deal. The group accused Colombia's prosecutors of colluding with a plan "orchestrated by the US government," describing it as yet another display of "twisted US justice." On their last day of class, surviving seniors of the Parkland school shooting felt the familiar sting of sadness and anger after learning 10 people were murdered in another high school massacre in Santa Fe, Texas on Friday. For several Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students, flashbacks of the Valentines Day shooting that claimed the lives of 17 peers and faculty members came flooding back after a similar situation unfolded at Santa Fe High School. Authorities said 10 people, mostly students, were killed and 10 more were wounded after a gunman opened fire in an art class there. I felt my heart drop, Taylor Morales, a graduating Stoneman Douglas senior, told TIME. Morales, 18, was in class, scrolling through her Facebook feed on her phone, when she first heard there was an active shooter situation happening in Santa Fe. She hoped it wouldnt end with any casualties, but she soon found out there were many. At that point, I was angry, she said. Its been happening so often. Our motto is Never Again, but its continuously happening. Carly Novell, another Stoneman Douglas senior, said she panicked and burst into tears at her older brothers college graduation in New York City when she read there had been another mass shooting at a school. Novell had survived her own school shooting on Feb. 14 by hiding in a closet inside her schools student newspaper office with about 20 other classmates. The 17-year-old said she had to walk out of the ceremony. I couldnt sit in there with everyone cheering and cameras flashing, she said. It was freaking me out. Novell, who said she has been crying all day, immediately thought of the students and faculty members at Santa Fe High School. What are they doing? Are they crying? Are they watching the news? I wish there were words to put to what Im feeling, she said. This one is just three months later, she added. I feel like its just going to happen more and more. Each time, I lose a little hope. Story continues Senior Jose Iglesias, 17, said the Santa Fe shooting brings back memories and feelings of sadness, but he said you just have to keep pushing. I dont know how to cope, he said. I just try to live my life to the fullest. The students understand the shock and pain of surviving a mass school shooting all too well. I know what happens after this, Morales said. It lingers. The Parkland students impassioned responses to the mass shooting at their school immediately spurred a national debate on gun violence and reinvigorated calls for new gun control laws. But three months later, Morales said change is not happening fast enough. Theres no reason why it should continue happening, she said. These families have lost their children. These people have lost their friends. I feel like their lives were lost in vain. Meghan Markle beamed as she arrived for her big day wearing an elegant, full-length Givenchy gown on Saturday. The dress was designed by acclaimed British designer, Clare Waight Keller, the first female artistic director at the French fashion house, Kensington Palace revealed early Saturday. Meghan chose Waight Keller to design the dress after meeting her earlier this year, and they worked together on the design, the palace said. She loved Waight Keller's "timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring and relaxed demeanor." She paired the gown, which has three-quarter length sleeves, with a 16-foot, silk tulle veil with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers. Wedding dress Andrew Matthews - WPA Pool/Getty Images After leaving a car on the steps of St. George's Chapel, Meghan gave a small wave to her crowd. Inside the church, her mother, Doria Ragland, looked on as Prince Charles walked her down the aisle toward Prince Harry. Chapel Getty Meghan Getty Her groom had arrived shortly before, wearing his royal guard uniform and with his beard apparently trimmed. Prince William grinned as he joined his younger brother on the walk to the chapel. Harry and William Getty Images Markle's dress is the newest entry in a remarkable line of wedding gowns fitted for princesses and queens. Perhaps the most beautiful, and most sensuous, belonged to Kate Middleton in 2011. She wore a white dress with a fitted bodice overlaid with antique lace. The gown featured a full skirt and a plunging neckline. So gorgeous was his bride, Prince William leaned toward his intended at the altar and said, "You look stunning, babe." Prince William and Kate Middleton were married in 2011. Getty In 2005, at the civil ceremony uniting Prince Charles and his longtime paramour, Camilla Parker Bowles, the bride chose a silk chiffon dress with a long damask coat embroidered at the hem and neck. It was the second marriage for both, and because they were divorcees, the wedding was a subdued affair. The wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles was low-key. Getty The same could not be said, of course, for the extravaganza that constituted the union of Diana Spencer and Prince Charles. Her voluminous gown featured a 25-foot-long train and mounds of ivory taffeta. The dress also carried sewed-on pearls and a square of lace that was said to date back to Queen Mary, who married King George V in 1893. Story continues Charles and Diana were wed in 1981. Getty Queen Elizabeth II was only 21 when she married Lt. Philip Mountbatten. Sir Norman Hartnell designed a gown of ivory silk decorated with crystals 10,000 seed pearls. It carried a 15-foot-long train featuring stars. She collected clothing coupons to pay for her dress because Britain was still subject to strict rationing from World War II at the time of her 1947 wedding. Queen Elizabeth walked down the line in 1947. Getty In 1923, after twice turning down Prince Albert, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon said yes. Her dress was considered daring at the time and featured a dropped waist, as was the fashion in the 1920s. It was said to be influenced by the designs of Coco Chanel was embellished with pearls and silver embroidery. The newly married couple became Queen Elizabeth and King George VI. Queen Elizabeth I wore a daring wedding dress for the times. Getty Princess Margaret, the sister of Queen Elizabeth II, and a bit of a loose cannon by royal standards, walked down the aisle in 1960 in a Norman Hartnell silk organza gown that was praised for its simple and elegant lines. The dress also carried crystals and beading. Margaret was walked down the aisle by her brother-in-law Prince Philip because her father had died eight years before. Prince Margaret wed in 1960. Getty In 1986, Sarah Ferguson, a bit of a troublemaker herself, wore a gown that was said to be inspired by her friend Princess Diana's billowing dress. The Duchess of York's cream-colored satin affair was heavily beaded with symbols featuring her husband's sailing background and her family crest. Fergie's dress was said to be modeled after Princess Diana's frock. Getty During Princess Anne's wedding to her first husband, Mark Phillips, her dress was designed by British dressmaker Maureen Baker, who was also behind many of the princess' outfits over the years. The gown, featuring a 7-foot-long train, was made of pure silk and had pearl accents throughout. She topped off the bridal outfit with Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara, an iconic diamond piece passed through the royal family over the years. Princess Anne's first wedding dress was high-necked. Getty As she did in her first wedding, Princess Anne chose a high-neck dress for her marriage to Cmdr. Tim Laurence at Crathie Church in Scotland on December 12, 1992. Instead of a full gown, she instead chose a knee-length dress complemented by a white jacket. Princess Anne also wore a high-necked dress at her second wedding. Getty During Autumn Kelly's wedding to Queen Elizabeth II's grandson, Peter Phillips, the Canadian bride wore a silk gown with hand-beaded lace designed by Sassi Holford. The look was topped off with a tiara borrowed from her mother-in-law, Princess Anne. Autumn Kelly wore a long, full white gown to her wedding. Getty RELATED STORIES George Clooney, Oprah Lead the Royal Wedding Celebrity Guests: See the Photos Weirdest Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Wedding Souvenirs: See the Photos Royal Wedding Gowns Through the Ages: See the Photos The Royal Line of Succession: 16 Brits in Line for the Throne Royal Wedding Poses on the Famous Buckingham Palace Balcony Related Articles: By John Irish PARIS (Reuters) - The head of France's business lobby in Iran said on Friday he feared a mass exodus of European firms following the U.S. decision to impose new sanctions and that EU government efforts to protect their companies were unlikely to be enough. European leaders want to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, which lifted most of the international sanctions that have badly hurt the Iranian economy in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. But EU officials say there is no easy way to protect EU firms and banks from the extraterritorial nature of U.S. sanctions that Washington has reimposed and larger firms have already started signaling their intent to pullback from Iran. "Sadly, what we can fear is a mass withdrawal of European firms," Matthieu Etourneau, managing director of the French Centre for Business in Tehran, said at a conference at the French Institute for International Relations. "The political pro-activeness of governments is good, but we have the feeling that it will not be enough to ensure companies keep their activities in Iran." French energy group Total (TOTF.PA), which arguably signed the most symbolic contract between Iran and Western powers since 2016, said on Wednesday it might quit its multi-billion-dollar gas project in Iran unless it secured a waiver from the sanctions. Etourneau said the presence of big companies like Total initially had a ripple effect of bringing smaller companies from the sector into the market, but that its departure would naturally send the opposite signal. "What we're seeing develop is that companies will seek exemptions and waivers, but the American stance is so intransigent on the question that we think it's unlikely they will be granted," he said. Among tools being studied, EU officials are trying to revamp a blocking statute to encompass U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to revive Iran-related sanctions after the expiry of 90- and 180-day wind-down periods, including sanctions aimed at Iran's lifeblood oil sector and transactions with its central bank. Story continues Etourneau said he was skeptical on its efficiency and the ability to introduce it quickly enough, especially as companies needed to make decisions within the next few weeks to ensure they abide by the wind-down periods. "We have the feeling that the American position for Iran is regime change so what can you do within that framework?" he said. Smaller French banks with clients operating in Iran have already started telling those customers they are unlikely to be able to continue providing services after Aug. 6, he said, adding that sanctions linked to the central bank would make financial activity even more complicated. "With the absence of banking support all economic sectors will be impacted, including those which have had exemptions such as health and the food industry," he said. Small and medium companies may look to work with Asian affiliates as one option of staying in Iran. "In the short-term the easiest solution would be for European states to cover the cost of American sanctions imposed on certain companies," he said. (This version of the story refiles to correct name of think-tank from Affairs to Relations in 4th para.) (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Mark Potter) TOKYO (Reuters) - Fujifilm Holdings Corp is planning to sue Xerox Corp soon deeming that the U.S. photocopier company has no legal right to unilaterally scrap their $6.1 billion merger, a senior Fujifilm executive said on Friday. "We are currently in talks with lawyers on the schedule for filing the lawsuit and plan to go to court as soon as possible," Chief Operating Officer Kenji Sukeno said at an earnings briefing. In January, Fujifilm and Xerox agreed to a complex deal to merge Xerox into their 56-year-old Asia joint venture Fuji Xerox and give Fujifilm control. Xerox pulled out of the deal this week in a settlement with activist investors Carl Icahn and Darwin Deason, who opposed the deal saying it undervalued the U.S. company. The settlement also saw Xerox Chief Executive Officer Jeff Jacobson - the deal's main architect - as well as five other directors resign. John Visentin, hired by Icahn to assist in his campaign against Xerox, replaced Jacobson. Sukeno said Fujifilm will point out through litigation that Xerox has no legal right to unilaterally terminate the deal and that the deal is in the best interests of Xerox shareholders. He also said if the new Xerox board makes new proposals, the Japanese company "would consider them only when they benefit Fujifilm shareholders". "We don't need to be in a rush to close this deal. We are not bound by time," he said. Xerox spokespeople could not immediately be reached for comment. (Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Christopher Cushing) Immigration officials are increasingly targeting otherwise law-abiding undocumented immigrants under the Trump administration, delivering on the president's pledge to crack down on illegal immigration. According to new numbers for the 2018 fiscal year, between October 2017 and March 2018, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have arrested 21 percent more immigrants with no criminal convictions to their name, compared to the same period of time the year prior. The rise in such arrests has come as President Donald Trump has enforced hard-line rhetoric and policies toward undocumented immigrants, even those whose only crime is entering the country illegally. "If somebody has violated our immigration laws, they are priorities now," Corey Price, the assistant director for enforcement at ICE, told reporters on a press call this week, according to HuffPost. Trending: Kidnappers Threatened To Murder Texas Teen In Text Messages To Mother The agency's focus on this group of undocumented immigrant populations marks a shift from the priorities of the previous administration. Though President Barack Obama's ICE deported some 2.5 million people during his tenure, Obama's directive was for immigration enforcement to "increase its focus on identifying, arresting and removing convicted criminals in prisons and jails, and also at-large arrests in the interior." During Price's call with reporters, he noted that those priorities meant ICE's "scope was significantly narrowed" under Obama. ICE-officers John Moore/Getty Images Don't miss: Who Is Meghan Markle's Maid-of-Honor? Why She Didn't Pick Jessica Mulroney The Trump administration's ICE agency has become known for detaining immigrants in often jarring circumstances. There have been attemptssome successfulto arrest parents dropping their children off at school or day care. ICE agents have sprung arrests on those appearing in the agency's offices for mandatory check-ins, or those presenting immigration officers with the necessary documentation to marry and become legal residents in the country. Story continues ICE arrests on the whole have surged under Trump. In the same October 2017 to March 2018 window, the agency arrested roughly 80,000 people, whereas the year before, officers had arrested 63,000 in the same stretch of time. The Obama administration had arrested some 54,000 people during those months in the 2016 fiscal year. In his quest to ultimately deport 3 million undocumented immigrants, Trump has sought to expand the agency, requesting almost $8.8 billion for ICE in the 2019 budgetan increase of almost $1 billion on the previous yearwhich would go toward hiring an additional 2,000 agents to carry out his administration's vision for a country with far fewer undocumented people. Most popular: Cliveden House Hotel: Here's Where Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Will Stay on Eve of Royal Wedding On the campaign trail, Trump said his aggressive immigration proposal was for the sake of emptying the country of "bad hombres." In practice, though, it is evident that the distinction between groups of undocumented immigrants has become blurred. Theyre bringing drugs," Trump said when he announced his presidential bid nearly three years ago. "Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists. And some, I assume, are good people." This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Istanbul (AFP) - A summit of Muslim leaders in Istanbul on Friday, chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, called for an international force to protect the Palestinians after Israel killed dozens on the Gaza border. The final communique issued by leaders of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a copy of which was obtained by AFP, said Israel had carried out the "wilful murder of at least 60 civilians" when Palestinians protested on the Gaza border Monday. It called "for the international protection of the Palestinian population including through dispatching of international protection force." The statement also angrily lashed out at the United States, saying that Washington was complicit in the actions of Israel against the Palestinians. It denounced the "savage crimes committed by the Israeli forces with the backing of the US administration". This was the second emergency OIC meeting Erdogan has hosted in the space of half a year after the December 2017 summit, also in Istanbul, that denounced US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The statement said that move had "further emboldened the Israeli government in its reckless behaviour towards civilian Palestinian population." It strongly warned other counties not to follow the decision by the United States to move its embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. "Any state that follows... is complicit in undermining international law and order." JONESBORO, Ga. (AP) -- The Latest on a fatal shooting outside a high school graduation ceremony in Georgia (all times local): 7:05 p.m. A newspaper is reporting that police have made two arrests in a fatal shooting outside a high school graduation ceremony in Georgia. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Clayton County Police spokeswoman Marcena Davis confirmed the arrests but said their names and charges are not being released yet. The paper says one woman was killed and another was wounded by gunfire following an argument in a high school parking lot across from the Clayton County Performing Arts Center, where the Perry Career Academy had just held its commencement for graduating seniors. ___ 12:10 p.m. It remains unclear whether a suspect is in custody in connection with a shooting outside a high school graduation ceremony in Georgia that left one woman dead and another injured. Telephone messages left Saturday with Clayton County Police and the county jail were not immediately returned. Multiple media report the deceased victim suffered multiple gunshots to the chest. The other woman was shot in the leg. Authorities said the incident happened as people headed to their cars Friday night following a ceremony for graduates of the Perry Learning Center, which prepares students for careers as an alternative to traditional high schools. The graduation was held at the Clayton County Schools Performing Arts Center in Jonesboro, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Atlanta. Clayton County school Superintendent Morcease Beasley on Saturday tweeted his congratulations to the more than 200 Perry graduates, but he also expressed sadness over the "senseless violence & death." ___ 11:05 p.m. Police in metro Atlanta say one person was killed and another wounded in a shooting between people who had just attended a high school graduation ceremony. A police statement after the Friday night shooting in Clayton County, south of Atlanta, says "one person is now confirmed deceased." Story continues The safety chief for the county's schools, Thomas Trawick, says the shots were fired in a Mount Zion High School parking lot after an argument between people who had attended a ceremony for graduates of the Perry Learning Center, which prepares students for careers as an alternative to traditional high schools. ___ 10:58 p.m. Police say two people were wounded in a shooting outside a high school graduation ceremony in Georgia on Friday night. Clayton County Schools Safety Chief Thomas Trawick says shots were fired in a Mount Zion High School parking lot after an argument between people who had attended a graduation ceremony for the Perry Learning Center, which prepares students for careers as an alternative to traditional high schools. Trawick said he had no information on the status of the people who were sent to hospitals. By Venus Wu HONG KONG (Reuters) - A Hong Kong court on Friday found a prominent independence activist in the Chinese-ruled territory guilty of rioting, a verdict that could see him put behind bars for up to 12 years. The closely watched case concerned an overnight protest in 2016 that turned violent, injuring about 130 people, mostly police, when masked activists threw bricks and burned trash cans to vent anger at what they saw as China's encroachment on the former British colony's culture and autonomy. The prosecution argued that Edward Leung played a leading role in inciting what it called a riot, but Leung said he was only trying to support hawkers selling street food and protect people on the scene when police used force. Leung's lawyer, Edwin Choy, said he was unhappy with the verdict but had not discussed an appeal. "He should be cleared of the charge (of rioting)," Choy said. "His speech and action ... did not amount to a breach of peace." The jury, after about 25 hours of deliberation, cleared him of inciting a riot and failed to reach a decision on another rioting charge. Each rioting charge carries a maximum term of 10 years. He had earlier pleaded guilty to one charge of assaulting a police officer, which carries a maximum sentence of two years. Sitting in the dock, Leung, 26, tilted his head back, closed his eyes and smiled when he was cleared of the incitement charge. Cheers erupted from a crowd of at least 50 people watching the trial streamed live outside of the courtroom. Leung later appeared glassy-eyed and wiped his eyes, but kept his smile as he was remanded in custody. Another defendant, Lo Kin-man, who was also found guilty of rioting, cried uncontrollably. Three other defendants also cried after they were cleared of all charges. A hearing on mitigation for the pair has been set for Monday before the court decides on a date for sentencing. LAW "IN NEED OF REFORM" Hong Kong law defines a riot as an unlawful assembly of three or more people where any person "commits a breach of the peace". This offence, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years behind bars, was last amended in 1970, a few years after a months-long pro-Communist riot against British rule killed at least 50 people, including children. British-based NGO Hong Kong Watch said the law was "urgently in need of reform because it is being used to disproportionately punish political protesters in Hong Kong". Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" arrangement that promises it a high degree of autonomy and freedoms not enjoyed in mainland China, including an independent judiciary. Leung was a leader of Hong Kong Indigenous, a political group that organizes anti-China protests and advocates "localism", promoting a local Hong Kong identity instead of a Chinese one. Another leader of the group, Ray Wong, was also charged with rioting, but he had skipped town. Leung's rise and fall echo the ebbs and flows of the city's radical youth activism following the pro-democracy "Umbrella Movement" protests in 2014 that saw major roads occupied for months. He also supported and promoted Hong Kong independence and Friday's verdict is likely to deal a further blow to the movement that has lost much of its steam amid a series of court cases fought by activists and lost. Communist Party leaders in Beijing have repeatedly slammed calls for independence, fearful of the idea catching on in the mainland. President Xi Jinping warned last year that any attempt to endanger China's sovereignty would be an act that crosses a "red line". Only 3 percent of some 1,300 university students polled in March supported Hong Kong independence, while about 12 percent backed "localism", according to a survey conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Most students, over 50 percent of them, said they did not have any political leaning. A different study conducted by the university in 2016 showed that one in six people, or 17 percent, supported independence, while 58 percent opposed it. The poll surveyed about 1,000 people over 15. (Reporting by Venus Wu; Editing by James Pomfret and Nick Macfie) The LDS Church Temple at Temple Square, near where the leaders spoke: Getty The presidents of the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS) and the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) have met in an historic news conference to call for an end to prejudice and greater ethnic and racial harmony. Leaders of the two organisations met Thursday in Salt Lake City, where the LDS church is headquartered and has its primary temple. The organisations had met to begin exploring how they might collaborate to enrich efforts in areas like humanitarian work and education. Today, in unity with such capable and impressive leaders as the national officials of the NAACP, we are impressed to call on people of this nation, and indeed, the entire world, to demonstrate greater civility, racial and ethnic harmony, and mutual respect, LDS President Russell Nelson said. NAACP President Derrick Johnson said that he and his organisation admired the optimism Mr Nelson projected on the issue, and said they share similar values in regards to harmony and happiness for all people. Like the Latter-day Saints, we believe ll people, organisations and government representatives should come together to work through how to secure peace and happiness for all Gods children, Mr Johnson said. United, we call on all people to work in greater harmony, civility and respect for the beliefs of others to achieve this supreme and universal goal. The summit between the two organisations is the firs too its kind. The NAACP leadership is also holding national board meetings in Salt Lake City for the first time this week. The summit also comes just two weeks before the 40th anniversary of the churchs announcement that it would extend the the priesthood to all men regardless of race, though the president of the NAACPs Salt Lake Branch has said that the timing is purely coincidence. It is a historic meeting and the NAACP Salt Lake Branch and myself as president are excited that the national board selected Salt Lake City to hold their May board meeting, Jeanetta Williams, the branch president, told Deseret News. We hope once theyre here and do some sightseeing, it wont be their last time here. Story continues That timing, however, sparked an social media storm, with many on social media sharing posts Thursday that falsely claimed that the president of the LDS church had apologised for the religions history of racism, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. That social media trend was sparked after internet pranksters created a fake Mormon news website, which included summarised links to the essay that addressed the exclusion of black priests and members. At the end of that website the website attributed a fake statement fro Mr Nelson apologising for that racist history. Cannes (France) (AFP) - The Lebanese director tipped to become only the second woman ever to win the top prize at the Cannes film festival will be very annoyed if her accolade is billed as the feminist choice of a #MeToo jury. "There's a risk that some people would interpret it in that way, which would be very irritating because it would have the opposite effect. Instead of honouring women they'd be saying 'You're here because you're a woman'," Nadine Labaki told AFP. Labaki's "Capernaum" tells the story of a destitute Beirut boy who takes his parents to court for bringing him into a miserable existence. The filmmaker's third feature, which won a 15-minute standing ovation at its premiere, catapults her into the big league after "Caramel", her intimate debut about a Beirut beauty parlour, and "Where Do We Go Now?", about women on a mission to end sectarian violence in their village. This time the main protagonist is a foul-mouthed 12-year-old street kid. Labaki said that in the past she found herself amplifying women's voices because "it was a subject I was more versed in than men" but "never really felt pressure to talk about women just because I am a woman." "There are other things bothering me now," she said, citing the dense thicket of issues tackled in "Capernaum". "I'm thinking of the notion of borders, of having to have papers to exist, of being completely excluded from the system if you don't have them, of the maltreatment of children, modern slavery, immigrant workers, Syrian immigrants -- all these issues where people find themselves completely excluded from the system because it is not capable of finding solutions." Labaki does not spare the rod with her homeland, at the risk of being accused by the Lebanese of washing their dirty laundry in public. "Obviously it's a huge risk but we must stop making excuses, it's a reality that exists and we cannot continue to bury our heads in the sand," she insisted. Story continues For the director who turned to films for escapism during Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, "cinema is not only about making people dream." "It's about changing things and making people think." Labaki found the idea for the film staring her in the face one night when she was driving home from a party and saw a child half-asleep in the arms of his mother begging on the pavement. "It became an obsession for me... I did more than three years of research. I was trying to understand how the system fails these kids." - A mother's eye - Being a mother helped her craft some of the most moving scenes, featuring a gurgling breast-fed baby for which the young hero Zain has to fend after its migrant mother is arrested. The film, which Labaki began shooting after the birth of her daughter, takes viewers through the gamut of emotions experienced by a parent, lurching between tenderness, fierce protectiveness and frustration. "My experience of motherhood undoubtedly added a good deal to the scenario," she acknowledged. This year's festival, which features five directors from North Africa and the Middle East, is one of the best in half a century for Arab cinema. Three of the filmmakers are women but gender equality takes a back seat to poverty, class and social stagnation in this crop. Labaki is lukewarm about the campaign for gender quotas in film casts and crews fronted by Hollywood actresses, including jury president Cate Blanchett, in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal. "It's not just because we decide that there should be parity in a given domain that it is truly merited. Whether it's a man or a woman it must be truly on merit." The glamorous director, who was a red-carpet guest of French President Emmanuel Macron at a dinner in Paris last year, started out making advertisements and music videos for artists like Lebanese pop icon Nancy Ajram. She is only the second Arab woman to have a film in the running for the Palme d'Or, after Lebanon's Heiny Srour in 1974 (the year of Labaki's birth). A win would make her the first female Arab director to lift top honours, and only the second woman, after Jane Campion for "The Piano" in 1993. "It would be a huge turning point for me, obviously, if it happened," she said ahead of Saturday's ceremony, adding nervously, "I don't want to think too much about it." By Michele Sinner LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - Authorities in Luxembourg hope Malaysia's new government may offer new information on some $100 million (74.2 million) from investment fund 1MDB that Luxembourg froze two years ago in a money-laundering probe, judicial sources told Reuters. Confirming for the first time on Friday that such a sum had been blocked in the Grand Duchy after Swiss private bank Edmond de Rothschild was fined one year ago over money-laundering, the sources said that Luxembourg was keen to pursue inquiries now the new government is looking into troubles at the state fund. Days after the electoral downfall of Malaysia's long-time ruling coalition and of premier Najib Razak, new prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has pushed an investigation into scandal-plagued 1Malaysia Development Berhad, amid accusations Najib benefited from money from a former entity of 1MDB. Najib denies wrongdoing. In June 2017, Edmond de Rothschild and Luxembourg officials said the bank was fined nearly 9 million euros (7.8 million)for shortcomings in money-laundering controls. On Friday, the Luxembourg sources said that authorities froze $100 million in the case a year earlier but had not until now been able to determine what to do with the funds due to a lack of information from Malaysia. (Reporting by Michele Sinner in Luxembourg, writing by Alastair Macdonald and Robert-Jan Bartunek in Brussels; @macdonaldrtr; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) Athens (AFP) - A 27-year name row between Greece and Macedonia cannot be resolved without consitutional revision in the neighbouring country, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said Saturday amid hopes for a June deal. Two days after a closely watched meeting with his Macedonia counterpart Zoran Zaev, Tsipras said a constitutional revision to eliminate "all forms of irredentism" was a "necessary precondition." "As regards the debate surrounding (Macedonia's) name, the government will not enter more specific talks if the above requirements are not fulfilled first," Tsipras' office said in a statement. In a speech to his party later Saturday, Tsipras said the countries were "closer than ever before" to a solution. "We must not lose this historic opportunity. Let's not make clumsy steps in the final metres to the finish line," he said. The name dispute between the two countries dates back to 1991, when Skopje declared independence from war-torn Yugoslavia. Athens objects to the neighbouring state's constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, because Greece has its own northern province called Macedonia, and fears it may imply territorial ambitions. Greece wants the change of name to be backed with a constitutional change and for it to be applied on the "erga omnes" ("towards all") legal principle, meaning universal use inside and outside Macedonia. But even with the support of the ethnic Albanian minority parties, Zaev's government does not have a majority to pass a constitutional change in parliament. In an apparent attempt to break the impasse, Zaev on Thursday suggested to Tsipras a new name proposal -- Republic of Ilinden Macedonia. "The prime minister and Zoran Zaev are discussing the name 'Ilinden Macedonia'," main opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Friday, after a briefing from Tsipras. "We were discussing many options and we agreed on one that is acceptable for both sides," Zaev said on Thursday, without giving further detail. Story continues Reference to Ilinden, a 1903 uprising against the Ottoman Empire and a key event for Macedonia's national identity, is apparently aimed at securing support from Zaev's nationalist opponents in parliament towards a possible deal. Later in the day, however, the Greek PM's office said the chosen name had to have a "geographical or chronological qualifier," apparently disqualifying the latest proposal. Such names already put forward and in discussion include 'New Macedonia' and 'Upper Macedonia'. Athens has said it will only compromise on a name as part of an overall deal covering related issues, such as the official name of the landlocked Balkan country's language. "In these negotiations, you either agree on everything or on nothing," Tsipras said this week, leaving open the possibility of a new meeting with Zaev in early June. He noted that the next milestone is a meeting of European foreign ministers on June 25, where Macedonia hopes to receive a possible date to begin EU accession talks. Doria Ragland, mother of the bride, wells up inside St George's Chapel - PA Meghan Markle's mother Doria was seen in tears inside St George's Chapel as she waited to watch her daughter marry into royalty. Doria Ragland welled up before and during the ceremony in Windsor after an emotional build-up to the big day. Sitting with her hands clasped on her lap, she was visibly tearful as she watched her daughter take centre stage inside the chapel. She watched the ceremony from the opposite side of the chapel from the Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. But when Ms Ragland was required to witness the signing of the register, there was a touching moment when Prince Charles offered her his hand. Royal wedding day pictures: Best photos from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's ceremony and reception The parents walked through to hand-in-hand to officially register their children as a married couple and they left the chapel side-by-side, behind Harry and Meghan. Ms Ragland arrived having spent the night with Meghan at the Cliveden House Hotel which advertises itself as a venue with a history of unapologetic debauchery and the scene of the most heinous of scandals. The Markle family has been embroiled in controversy of its own after Thomas Markle Meghan's father failed to show up for the big day. Doria Ragland, mother of the bride, wells up inside St George's Chapel Credit: Dominic Lipinksi/PA Ms Ragland was thrust even further into the limelight as her former husband recoiled under a cloud of controversy and reports of ill health, after it emerged he had allegedly posed for paparazzi photographs. He was due to walk his daughter down the aisle, but in a break from UK tradition, it was Ms Ragland who arrived at the wedding venue with the bride-to-be. Doria Ragland and Meghan Markle They arrived having travelled the short distance from the Cliveden House Hotel, whose website describes how the hotel has hosted "powerful personalities, debaucherous parties and scandalous affairs" for more than 350 years. It was built in 1666 by the 2nd Duke of Buckingham as a gift to his mistress. Story continues The privately owned Grade 1 listed stately home is surrounded by 376 acres of National Trust grounds The accommodation decision is a break with UK tradition, which usually sees the bride travel with her father before he gives her away in the wedding ceremony. Prior to the scandal, it was Ms Markle's wishes to include both parents in her wedding day. Prince Harry's press secretary Jason Knauf had 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. He added: Its very important to her that both her parents have a special role in the day. Ms Markle's mother Doria Ragland met the Queen this week, along with other members of the royal family, having flown in to England before the wedding. Profile | Doria Ragland Wedding cake The couple asked Claire Ptak, an east London pastry chef, to make an organic lemon and elderflower wedding cake incorporating "the bright flavours of spring", according to Kensington Palace. It will be covered with buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers. Claire Ptak, owner of Violet Bakery in Hackney, east London Credit: Victoria Jones/PA It is believed to be the first time a Royal couple have eschewed tradition by not serving a fruit cake to their wedding guests. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose Fiona Cairns to make their 2011 wedding cake, a traditional multi-layered fruit cake with a floral design. Read more about the wedding cake here. Wedding at Windsor Castle Souvenirs and wedding china The royal bride and groom-to-be have approved a range of commemorative china to celebrate their nuptials. The exclusive design in white and cornflower blue has a monogram of the couple's initials at its centre, tied together with white ribbons and surmounted by the coronet of Prince Harry. The decorative border of each piece is inspired by the ironwork of the 13th-century Gilebertus door of St George's Chapel and each is finished with 22-carat gold. The Royal Collection Trust range, which is made in Stoke-on-Trent, includes a decorative miniature coffee mug, coffee mug, pillbox, tankard and plate. The Royal wedding souvenir phenomenon dates back to Queen Victorias wedding to Prince Albert in 1840, linked to the rise of mass production in Victorian Britain. It remains a thriving industry today, with an estimated 222 million spent on memorabilia in the run-up to the 2011 royal wedding, according to the Centre for Retail Research. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry wedding features grid The honeymoon Prince Harry and Ms Markle will delay their honeymoon to go straight back to work in the week after their wedding, scheduling their first public engagement as a married couple just days later. The couple will go on honeymoon privately later this year, before a busy autumn including a trip to Sydney for the Invictus Games. But where will they go? Namibia has pulled ahead as the odds-on favourite. The southern African nation is best known among travellers for the enormous Sossusvlei sand dunes of the the Namib Desert, but reports suggest that the couple are looking instead at a safari trip to Hoanib Valley Camp in the country's north west. The most stylish guests from Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle Botswana, where they holidayed in the early days of their whirlwind relationship, is also a good bet, (Ms Markle's engagement ring features diamonds from Diana's personal collection, and a stone from Botswana), but wherever they go, the newlyweds will be looking for seclusion away from the limelight as they start their married life together. Other possible destinations could include Tuscany, Hawaii, Turkey and the Philippines. Read more about the honeymoon options here. The two were married on-screen - BACKGRID Suits fans have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Patrick Adams, Meghan Markle's close friend and confidant, who played her husband in the show. The star, who plays Mike Ross in the show, has kept a low profile in recent days, keeping fans guessing as to whether he would come to the wedding. However, it appears he will indeed be there on the big day, as he has arrived in England. He headed straight to the pub, sampling the ale at The Royal Standard of England in Beaconsfield. Appearing to enjoy himself in the traditional British tavern, he said it was his "new favourite bar", and confirmed he had tried the pints on offer. Enjoying the history the UK has to offer, he posted a picture of the sign denoting the pub's age on Instagram. The pub claims to be the oldest freehouse in England. He celebrated their engagement after it was announced, writing: "Playing Meghan's television partner for the better part of a decade uniquely qualifies me to say this: Your Royal Highness, you are a lucky man and I know your long life together will be joyful, productive and hilarious. "Meghan, so happy for you, friend. Much love. Mr Adams said he is likely to get the couple a kitchen implement for their wedding gift. "We were trying to choose between like a blender or bread maker. You know something classy, like a good blender," he told ET. "Like a Vitamix, yeah. She's gonna need a Vitamix for sure." Other co-stars who have arrived in the UK include Sarah Raffetry, who plays Donna Paulson, and Rick Hoffman, who plays Louis Litt. Jacinda Barrett, who appears on the show and her husband Gabriel Macht, who plays lead character Harvey Spector, were in London earlier in the week - but confusingly they spent last night in Cannes, leading some to wonder whether they would jet back for the wedding. Royal wedding | Read more The last time a member of the British royal family announced his intention to marry an American divorcee, there was a constitutional crisis and the future of the monarchy seemed to be in doubt; indeed Edward VIII had to give up his throne in order to marry the woman he loved, Wallis Simpson. When she began her affair with the Prince, Simpson was married to her second husband Ernest Simpson, whom she would divorce two years later. Her nationality and her marital career made her unacceptable as a royal bride to almost every section of society. The diarist Harold Nicholson remarked at the time, the upper classes mind her being an American more than they mind her being than divorced. The lower classes do not mind her being an American but loathe the idea that she has had two husbands already. Perhaps the British might have accepted a commoner, and at a pinch an American. But a woman who had been married twice before marrying the man who was also Supreme Governor of the Church of England was completely beyond the pale. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the most senior cleric in the Anglican church, said in 1935 that no Christian could marry again while their ex-wife or husband was still living. Couples who had been divorced could not be received at court. How times have changed. In the vast coverage of the relationship between the American divorcee Meghan Markle and Prince Harry there has hardly been a ripple of disquiet that Meghan has been married before. Divorce is no longer considered a stigma in Britain, either to remarriage or to being received into the royal family. Three of the Queens four children have broken marriages. When Prince Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005, they had a civil ceremony followed by a blessing in St. Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle, because they had both been divorced. Thirteen years later Meghan, a convert to Anglicanism, has been given dispensation to have a full church wedding in the same chapel. Perhaps Charless wedding was more sensitive because so many of his subjects remembered his first wedding to Lady Diana Spencer and the couple did not want to draw unfortunate comparisons in the publics mind. But the ceremony on May 19 should prove once and for all that divorce is no longer an obstacle to the nations desire for a full-on fairytale royal wedding. Story continues One of the most striking things about Meghan is that at thirty-six, she is the same age as Harrys mother was when she was killed in a car crash. Diana married when she was only twenty. Then, it was considered essential that a royal bride should be a (literally) virginal youth, and not much thought was given to the age gap of thirteen years between bride and groom. Meghan is not only three years older than her husband-to-be, she is a fully-formed adult who has already had a successful career. The British royal family have long been fond of actresses; Charles II made Nell Gwyn his mistress, and Edward VII had an affair with Lillie Langtry while Prince of Wales. But in each case, there was no question of marriage. Until relatively recently, acting was not considered a respectable profession. Now it seems to be the ideal training ground for prospective royal brides. Meghan Markle as Rachel Zane in One of the reasons that Meghan has settled so quickly into royal life is that she already knows what its like to look down the barrel of a dozen telephoto lenses and smile as if she hasnt a care in the world. Anyone who has worked the red carpet for years will be inoculated against the spiteful tabloid comments about a glimpse of cellulite, or a stray gray hair. Not many civilians can adjust seamlessly into the rigors of working for The Firm, as the Royal Family is sometimes nicknamed. But as a successful television actress, Meghan already knows what it is like to be in the public eye, and how to say the same thing over and over again as if she means it. Kate Middleton had nearly ten years to learn how to smile and wave before she became the Duchess of Cambridge. Meghan has had just a few months but she is already the mistress of the walkabout. If she breaks royal protocol by posing for a selfie, that only endears her more to the public. The real challenge for Meghan will come after the wedding. In the days when she had a social media presence, she described herself as a strong, confident mixed-race woman and a feminist. But as a member of a family which carefully eschews anything that looks like a political statement, Meghan will have to walk the tightrope between personal belief and her royal persona. As Harrys bride she has become one of the most famous women in the world, but as a royal her celebrity is conditional. The enduring popularity of Queen Elizabeth is based not on her zealously guarded personal opinions, but on her extraordinary durability. She is a symbol of continuity in an increasingly restless world, a royal poker face in a deck of hyperactive tweeters. The Queen knows the power of being both visible and yet unknown; perhaps the only thing we can be certain of is that she likes animals. She is a constant presence in the lives of the British people, but her absolute self-control means that the public is always left wanting more. Meghan will have to balance her laudable desire to use her royal status to make the world a better place, with the discretionor neutrality, almostthat is an inescapable part of the job. There is no room, currently, for a hashtag princess. But the power Meghan has is in the optics. At a time when Britains social contract has been shaken by Brexit, and scandals like the Grenfell tower fire, there is enormous value in having a member of the royal family who is not white, nor especially privileged. The fact that a woman of Meghans background can become a royal duchess makes the House of Windsor a lottery rather than a cabal. Every little girl now can legitimately dream of marrying Prince George, whatever their color, nationality or sexual history. It would be fascinating to know what Queen Victoria would make of the direction that her great-great-great-great-grandson Harry is taking the royal family. She was extremely interested in the marriages of her children and grandchildren, and wherever possible she used them to create her own unofficial European Union. Every royal marriage in Victorias time was part of a project to consolidate a constitutional monarchs diplomatic power. If Victoria were alive today, Im sure she would quickly grasp that in a time when there are no more royal dynastic alliances to be made, it is astute to choose a bride whose experience and traditions enrich the royal landscape. The present Queen understands this too. If the royal family is to survive, it has to continue to be a global brand. The real threat to the monarchy is not unconventional new members, but public indifference. Harry has always had star power, but by choosing Meghan he has given himself and his family a ratings boost. There can be no doubt that their marriage is a love match but in his choice of bride Harry has shown that he has his mothers flair for riding the zeitgeist. It is the ultimate paradox that the qualities that made Wallis Simpson so toxic to the British public eight decades ago are in Meghan evidence of a new dawn for the royals. Wallis was seen as a vulgar American adventuress, while Meghan is perceived as a career woman who isnt afraid to admit her mistakes and move on. The American nationality seen as an affliction in Wallis gives Meghan a glorious advantage, in that it instantly removes her from the English stratification of class. While Kate Middleton was described as a commoner, Meghan Markle is simply an American. The Italian writer Giuseppe di Lampedusa once said that for things to stay the same, everything must change. As sixth in line in the throne Harry will never be king. But by choosing Meghan he has made sure of his place in royal history. Daisy Goodwin is a bestselling author and creator and screenwriter of PBS Masterpieces Victoria. Meghan Markles wedding dress is just as amazing as youd imagine. On Saturday, the former actress married Prince Harry wearing a gown from Givenchy. Meghan Markle walks down the aisle. (Photo: Danny Lawson/Getty Images) The public got its first glimpse of the brides look for the ceremony as she traveled from Cliveden House, the hotel where she stayed Friday night, in a car with her mother, 61-year-old Doria Ragland. But it was when she appeared on the West Steps of St. Georges Chapel in Windsor that crowds were finally able to feast their eyes on the design in full. The custom gown was made by lead designer Clare Waight Keller, an apt choice for Markle, a self-described feminist. According to Kensington Palace, Waight Keller last year became the first female artistic director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy. Meghan Markle walks up the steps of St. Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday. (Photo: Jane Barlow WPA Pool/Getty Images) It is truly an honor to have been given the opportunity to closely collaborate with Meghan Markle on such a remarkable occasion, Waight Keller said in a statement. As a British designer at a Parisian haute couture house, and on behalf of all us at Givenchy who have been able to experience such an extraordinary process of creativity, I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished and grateful to Meghan Markle, Prince Harry and Kensington Palace for allowing us to be part of this historical chapter. She added, It has been an immensely rewarding experience to get to know Meghan on a personal level, one I will forever carry with me. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stand during their wedding ceremony at St. Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle on Saturday. (Image: UK Pool/Sky News via AP) The veil, also made by Waight Keller, serves as a tribute to the United Kingdom and has a flower from every Commonwealth country embroidered on it. According to a statement from the palace, Markle wanted to have the family of nations at the start of her journey to becoming a member of the royal family. Significant time was spent researching the flora of each Commonwealth country and much care was taken by Ms. Waight Keller to ensure that every flower is unique. The veil is five meters long and made from silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza, the Kensington Palace statement read. Markle also included wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox), which can be found at Kensington Palace, and the California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), which is the state flower of California, to honor her birthplace. Story continues Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave St. Georges Chapel after their wedding. (Photo: Andrew Matthews/Getty Images) Shes also wearing the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau Tiara, which is on loan from the queen and rarely worn. The bandeau was made in 1932 and is made of diamonds and platinum. The detachable brooch dates back to 1893 and was gifted to Queen Mary on her wedding day. Markle accessorized with earrings and a bracelet from Cartier. Serge Normant, who counts Sarah Jessica Parker and Julia Roberts as clients, did Markles hair, while Daniel Martin did her makeup. For all things royal wedding, from details on Meghan Markles dress to cute pictures of Prince George and Princess Charlotte, click here. Want to relive every moment? Watch it all here. MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's presidential front-runner Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Friday laughed off media reports he was in poor health, saying he was "100 percent" fit and could "stand on one leg." The 64-year-old Lopez Obrador, who suffered a serious heart attack in late 2013, has for months held a clear lead in opinion polls for the July 1 presidential election. Columns in newspaper El Financiero as well as social media reports this week said Lopez Obrador's heart and back required regular treatment, but the veteran leftist said on a campaign stop in southern Mexico he was in excellent health. "I can even stand on one leg," Lopez Obrador told supporters in the town of Huajuapan de Leon in the state of Oaxaca. "Thanks to science and the creator, I'm 100 percent. My adversaries are very nervous because we're still advancing," he added. Some recent voter surveys have shown Lopez Obrador's advantage in the race growing over his second-placed rival, 39-year-old Ricardo Anaya, who heads a right-left coalition. The silver-haired Lopez Obrador, a former mayor of Mexico City, has said he takes a "cocktail of pills" to control his blood pressure. However, he has kept up his relentless schedule of rallies running in his third presidential campaign. Reports about his health surfaced before a second televised presidential debate on Sunday. (Reporting by Diego Ore; Editing by Tom Brown) Mexico City (AFP) - The fiery leftist leading the race for Mexican president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, vowed Friday to hit back at US President Donald Trump if he insults Mexico on Twitter. "If he makes an offensive tweet, I'm going to take responsibility for answering him," said Lopez Obrador, a former Mexico City mayor who has a double-digit lead in most opinion polls heading into the July 1 election. "I think (Trump) is going to understand he has to get himself under control, that he can't go around offending the Mexican people. We don't want confrontations with him, but we are going to ask him to respect us," he said at a campaign rally in the town of Huajuapan, in the southern state of Oaxaca. Trump has regularly attacked Mexico on Twitter since launching his presidential campaign in 2015 by referring to Mexican immigrants as criminals and rapists, and vowing to build a wall on the border. Mexico's current President Enrique Pena Nieto has rarely answered his counterpart's Twitter outbursts, and his foreign ministry regularly insists Mexico will not discuss diplomatic matters on social media. Lopez Obrador promised a change in strategy if he wins the election. The candidate, who is making his third bid at the presidency, is only an occasional tweeter -- though he has increased his use of social media during his campaign. In April he tweeted to the US president that he wanted to sell him Mexico's presidential plane, a plush Boeing Dreamliner purchased by the previous government of which he is fond of saying, "Not even Trump has a plane like that!" Lopez Obrador, widely known by his initials, "AMLO," is a divisive figure in Mexico. But he has ridden discontent with Pena Nieto's government to a firm lead over the second-place candidate, Ricardo Anaya of the conservative National Action Party (PAN), and ruling-party candidate Jose Antonio Meade, a distant third. As royal wedding fever once again grips Buckingham Palace and spreads across the world in bunting and memorial tea pots, it's strange to think that the celebration could have ever been a quiet affair - but an ever-modernizing royal family has learned to accept the constant glare of T.V. camera. Though in many ways the opposite of a royal wedding, King Edward VIIIs abdication of the throne for the sake of marriage to the American divorcee Wallis Simpson was an event with barely a precedent in modern gossip, and set the tone for the modern media's obsessive interest in the private lives of the British royals. The fact that Prince Harry, though obviously not a sitting monarch, is to wed his own American divorcee on Saturday May 19, shows the familys substantial modernisation under Queen Elizabeth II. Related: Royal wedding dresses through the years Trending: Fox News Legal Analyst Says Trump Can Be Charged With a Crime and Giuliani Knows It The Queens father, King George VI had had his own royal wedding thirteen years before his elder brothers abdication. Then just the younger brother of an heir, it was not expected that the couple would end up moving to Buckingham Palace. Nor was it known that their daughter, born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary in 1923, would take the throne in 1952 and continue sitting today as the longest-reigning British monarch. Elizabeth herself picked a foreign-born husband, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, though he had served in the British army during the Second World War. Before their marriage in 1947, Philip renounced his titles in Greece and Denmark and converted to Anglicanism, taking on the title Duke of Edinburgh. GettyImages-103032628 OFF/AFP/Getty Images The Queens younger sister, Margaret, caused a scandal of her own when she considered the proposal of Group Captain Peter Townsend, a man 16 years old than her and himself divorced with children. With the government against the marriage and the church refusing to accept it, Margaret relented and called it off - prompting headlines in all the major U.K. papers. Story continues Don't miss: Martin Freeman on Becoming a Zombie Viral for Netflixs Cargo In 1960, five years later, she married the photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones. The couple divorced in 1978 and less than a year later, Armstrong-Jones had remarried. Elizabeth and Philips children all then had their own royal weddings, with all all the speculation and hype that has come to surround the modern ceremonies. Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, married Lady Diana Spencer, and after they divorced, he married Camilla Parker-Bowles. Princess Anne married Captain Mark Phillips; after they divorced, she married Commander Timothy Laurence. Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson in 1986; Prince Edward married Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999. GettyImages-107088408 AFP/Getty Images The latest royal wedding, likely to elicit some comparisons to Saturday's event, saw Harrys elder brother, Prince William, marry Kate Middleton, in a full state affair watched by millions t in the U.K. and around the world. Most popular: Hubble Space Telescope: Astronomers Releases Stunning Images of Nearby Galaxies But the real parallel to Saturdays wedding may be the Queens own marriage, David McClure, author of the book Royal Legacy, told Newsweek. The Queens wedding day also took place in a period of austerity, with post war public belt-tightening, and there was a debate in government as to how much pomp to include, McClure noted. In the end they compromised, as in a way they have today, with some ceremony to cheer up the masses but trying not to spend too much public money. GettyImages-157652201 DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP/Getty Images While Queen Victorias time saw more private weddings, royal weddings today are media-driven, McClure says. "Even if Meghan and Harry had wanted a purely private affair it would not have been possible given their high profile status - although it should be remembered that when the more low-profile Princess Anne got remarried in 1992 it all happened very discreetly in Scotland with only a handful of guests. Saturday will certainly not be a private affair. While Edward VIII and Margaret had to deal with the ire of the church, Harry and Meghan are set to be the main event for an adoring global press, a fitting introduction to a marriage that will likely not leave headlines for some time. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek As many as 10 people were killed in a shooting Friday morning at a high school south of Houston, law enforcement sources confirmed to CBS News. Two students and a school resource officer were shot and injured. Another law enforcement officer was also injured but was not shot, CBS News has learned. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said a male suspect was in custody and a person of interest was detained and questioned. Both were believed to be students at the school. "We hope the worst is over and I really can't say any more about that because it would be pure speculation," Assistant Principal Cris Richardson told media outlets at the scene. School officials said law enforcement officers were working to secure the building "and initiate all emergency management protocols to release and move students to another location." Students from the high school were being transported to another location to reunite with their parents. A parent told CBS affiliate KHOU-TV that some students were evacuated to an auto shop near the campus. Tyler, a senior at the school, told KHOU-TV that his friend saw "some kid" with a gun. A fire alarm was pulled. When teachers and students were outside, shots were fired, Tyler said. "As soon as the alarms went off, everybody just started running outside," 10th-grader Dakota Shrader told reporters, "and next thing you know everybody looks, and you hear boom, boom, boom, and I just ran as fast as I could to the nearest floor so I could hide, and I called my mom." Tyler said he ran behind some trees, heard more shots, jumped a fence and ran to a car wash. He said he saw firefighters treat a girl who had a bandage around her knee and may have been shot. One student told Houston television station KTRK in a telephone interview that a gunman came into her first-period art class and started shooting. The student said she saw one girl with blood on her leg as the class evacuated the room. Story continues "We thought it was a fire drill at first but really, the teacher said, 'Start running,'" the student told the television station. The student said she didn't get a good look at the shooter because she was running away. She said students escaped through a door at the back of the classroom. Authorities have not yet confirmed that report. In Washington, President Trump reacted to the shooting on Twitter. "School shooting in Texas. Early reports not looking good. God bless all!" Trump said. School shooting in Texas. Early reports not looking good. God bless all! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2018 Aerial footage from the scene showed students standing in a grassy field and three life-flight helicopters landing at the school in Santa Fe, a city of about 13,000 residents roughly 30 miles southeast of Houston. According to a law enforcement official, the FBI was responding to offer assistance, CBS News senior investigative producer Pat Milton reports. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also said it was responding. There was a large law enforcement response to the same school in February when it was placed on lockdown after students and teachers said they heard "popping sounds." Santa Fe police swept the campus but found no threat. This story originally appeared on CBS News on Friday, May 18, 2018 at 12:45 p.m. ET. RELATED CONTENT: Gabrielle Union Tears Up After Husband Dwyane Wade Dedicates Season to School Shooting Victim Jason Aldean on How Las Vegas Shooting Changed Him as an Artist and a Man 'Queer Eye's Karamo Brown Reveals Parkland Shooting and March for Our Lives' Personal Significance (Exclusive) Related Articles: By Delphine Schrank MANAGUA (Reuters) - Nicaraguan officials began a second day of talks with students and business leaders on Friday to try to resolve weeks of tension with increasingly unpopular President Daniel Ortega that has sparked nationwide clashes. At least 49 people have been killed, mostly students, in demonstrations that began late last month over discontent with a new law that raised worker and employer social security contributions while cutting benefits. The protests mark the most sustained crisis of Ortega's 11-years in power. The former leftist guerrilla leader has delivered steady growth in the poor Central American nation, despite criticism he has turned it into a family dictatorship. The Inter-American Commission of Human Rights said on Friday it was too early to deliver conclusions from a five-day investigation into allegations of murder and disappearances. But it would continue meeting with officials and citizens, including mothers of those allegedly murdered in the protests. "We reiterate our condemnation of the dead, disappeared, aggressions and arbitrary detentions of protesters, activists and journalists," said Antonia Urrejola, the group's Nicaraguan delegate. Dozens of flag-waving demonstrators chanted "Murderer!" outside a Catholic seminary on Friday, the second day of an unprecedented forum for students, business leaders and others to air grievances with government representatives. Ortega appeared not to be present at Friday's talks. He was, however, there on Wednesday, when university students publicly berated him and called for his resignation. "In one month you have ruined the country," a university student, identified by local media as Lesther Aleman, told Ortega at the time, before breaking down in tears. Despite Ortega's absence on Friday, protesters showed no signs of giving up. "We support the mothers of the fallen," said Carla Patricia Gomez, 46, wearing a Nicaraguan flag as a headband. "They even killed a 6-year-old child," she added, speaking among a crowd of protesters brandishing photos of youths they said died in the clashes. (Additional reporting by Diego Ore and Lizbeth Diaz; Writing by Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) Karachi (AFP) - Abdul Aziz learned about the US school shooting in which his 17-year-old daughter was killed from CNN, with the story airing live as he broke his Ramadan fast thousands of miles away in Pakistan. In those chaotic first moments of confusion and terror he called his daughter Sabika Sheikh's phone over and over. She did not answer. "I kept calling her and sent her messages on WhatsApp. Never before had my daughter failed to reply," Aziz told AFP, fighting back tears at his home in the southern port city Karachi Saturday, just hours after he and his wife had their worst fears confirmed. "We are still in a state of denial. It is like a nightmare," said Aziz. His wife sat nearby, visibly still shocked and seemingly unable to speak as friends and relatives tried to comfort her. Sheikh, an exchange student at the Santa Fe High School in Texas, was killed along with nine others after a heavily armed student opened fire on his classmates Friday. It was the latest school shooting to rock the US, and came just three months after the massacre in Parkland, Florida, in which 17 people were killed, sparking an unprecedented grassroots, student-led gun control movement. In Pakistan, the Santa Fe shooting has unleashed an outpouring of sympathy and horror over the tragic murder of Sheikh, who had been in the US for 10 months and was just weeks away from coming home. Sheikh's father said she had always excelled in school, and had dreamed of serving in Pakistan's foreign office. She had been due to return to Karachi in time for Eid al-Fitr, one of Islam's most revered holidays, marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in which families come together and celebrate with days of feasting. "She was coming back soon," her father said. "There is a general impression that... life is safe and secure in America. But this is not the case." - 'Terrorism' - The alleged gunman -- Dimitrios Pagourtzis, who at 17 is the same age as Sheikh -- was later apprehended by police and is being held on capital murder charges, meaning he could face the death penalty. Story continues Police have yet to release details about a possible motive. It was the 22nd school shooting this year, according to US media reports, a disturbing statistic in a country where firearms are part of everyday life and there are more than 30,000 gun-related deaths annually. The news that a Pakistani exchange student was among the dead appeared to break through the now-routine outpouring of grief on social media after such killings, with US celebrities joining Pakistanis in expressing their sorrow "This little girl could've been my daughter. We must do more than just console the parents of these murdered kids," said American actress Mindy Kaling on Twitter, along with a picture of Sheikh in a post online. Some Pakistanis, for whom militant violence is all too familiar, branded the killing "terrorism". "My heart is crying for #SabikaSheikh we have lost our brightest asset because of terrorism," tweeted Malik Rohaina, from the southern Pakistani city of Hyderabad. Despite perennially rocky relations between Washington and Islamabad, the US has long been a favoured destination for Pakistani students studying abroad, with thousands enrolling in American schools every year. Sheikh was in the US on a State Department-sponsored exchange programme. Expressing his "deepest condolences" to her family and friends, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that Sheikh was "helping to build ties between the United States and her native Pakistan". "Sabika's death and that of the other victims is heartbreaking and will be mourned deeply" in both countries, he added. Even as he mourned the loss of his daughter, Aziz said he hoped the tragedy would not frighten fellow Pakistanis from following her lead. "Such incidents should not make people lose heart... and one should not stop going to the US or UK or China or anywhere," said Aziz. "One must go for education undeterred." Related Video: New Details Emerge on Texas Shooting Suspect Watch news, TV and more on Yahoo View. By Liz Hampton and Erwin Seba SANTA FE, Texas (Reuters) - A male student who entered a Texas high school on Friday and shot dead ten people, including fellow pupils, had planned to end the attack with his suicide but instead surrendered to police, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said. Students said a gunman opened fire in a classroom at Santa Fe High School shortly before 8 a.m. CT (1300 GMT) on Friday, and that they fled in panic after seeing classmates wounded and a fire alarm triggered a full evacuation. It was the latest in a long series of deadly shootings at U.S. schools. Seventeen teens and educators were shot dead at a Parkland, Florida, high school in February, a massacre that stirred the nation's long-running debate over gun ownership. Ten people were also wounded in Friday's attack, Abbott told a news conference, and the gunman had used a shotgun and a .38 revolver taken from his father. "Not only did he want to commit the shooting, but he wanted to commit suicide after the shooting," Abbott said, citing a police review of the suspect's journals. "He didn't have the courage to commit suicide." Two other people are in custody, Abbott said. He did not identify the suspected gunman or the two others. One of the people detained is Dimitrios Pagourtzis, according to a law enforcement source who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation told Reuters. Explosive devices had also been found at the school, located about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Houston, and off campus, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted. "Law enforcement is in the process of rendering them safe." Police were searching two homes and a vehicle linked to the suspect, where they have found multiple homemade explosive devices, Abbott said. 'THE GUY BEHIND ME WAS DEAD' Courtney Marshall, a 15-year-old freshman at the school, said the gunman came into her art class shooting. Story continues "I wanted to take care of my friends, but I knew I had to get out of there," Marshall said, saying that she saw at least one person hit. "I knew the guy behind me was dead." Orlando Gonzalez said that his 16-year-old son Keaton, fled the attack, but one of his friends was shot and wounded. "I was really worried, I didn't know what was going on ... I almost couldn't drive," Gonzalez said. "I just imagine what he's going through ... He's still scared." The school has some 1,462 students, according to federal education data. U.S. President Donald Trump called the latest school massacre "absolutely horrific." "My administration is determined to do everything in our power to protect our students, secure our schools and to keep weapons out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves and to others," Trump said at the White House. Days after the Parkland shooting, Trump said that elected officials should be ready to "fight" the powerful National Rifle Association lobby group. Early this month he embraced that group, telling its annual meeting in Dallas "your Second Amendment rights are under siege." The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects the right to bear arms. No major federal gun controls have been imposed since Parkland, though the administration is pursuing a proposed regulatory ban on "bump stocks," which enable a semi-automatic rifle to fire a steady stream of bullets. The devices were used in an October 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas that killed 59 people but have not played a role in other major U.S. mass shootings. (Additional reporting by Ernest Scheyder and Liz Hampton in Houston, Gina Cherelus and Peter Szekely in New York and Mark Hosenball and Ian Simpson in Washington; Writing by Daniel Wallis and Scott Malone; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Susan Thomas) This may come as a shock - as her mother was expected to perform the role - AFP Prince Charles is to walk Meghan Markle own the aisle, the Palace has revealed. The question of who would perform the role was raised after Thomas Markle, the bride's father, pulled out due to a health condition. Kensington Palace announced: "Ms. Meghan Markle has asked His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to accompany her down the aisle of the Quire of St George's Chapel on her Wedding Day. "The Prince of Wales is pleased to be able to welcome Ms. Markle to The Royal Family in this way." Hannah Furness, our Royal Correspondent, has learnt that the Prince of Wales will accompany Ms Markle down just one half of the aisle (the second half) at St George's Chapel - but no one will "give her away". The Prince of Wales has expressed his excitement about the wedding, telling reporters in Nice, France last week: "It's absolutely marvellous. It's going to be a very special day for everybody." It was thought her mother Doria Ragland would walk the bride down the aisle - so this decision may shock some Royal fans. Doria Ragland was previously expected to walk her daughter down the aisle According to TMZ, Thomas Markle gave his ex-wife his blessing to perform the duty. Mr Markle's inability to attend has left other gaps in the proceedings. It is unknown who will give a speech at the evening dinner - this role may fall to her mother. There was no protocol preventing Ms Markle from choosing her mother, a member of the Royal family, or a close friend from escorting her. She could also walk alone, should she wish. Hugo Vickers, royal biographer, said of Ms Markles decision: Its her wedding and I think she should be able to do whatever she likes. Its meant to be a happy occasion and thats what its all about. Royal wedding | Read more Although it seems like all talk surrounding the royal wedding has been about Meghan Markles look from what she would wear, to how her hair and veil would be styled Prince Harry has also been at the center of some grooming questions. Prince Harry arrives at the royal wedding wearing his military uniform and a beard. (Photo: Getty Images) Mainly about his facial hair. And now we have two big questions. Will PrinceHarry still have his beard ? And which designer will have designed Megan Markel wedding gown? #answersplease sheryl lee ralph (@thesherylralph) May 19, 2018 THE question: beard or no beard for Prince Harry on his wedding day? #RoyalWedding T.J. Holmes (@tjholmes) May 19, 2018 While the groom has been rocking a beard for quite some time, people had speculated he would be clean-shaven for the nuptials, especially considering his military past. According to rules of the British army, for which Harry served for a decade, active military members must be clean-shaven. However, having received special permission from the queen to wear his uniform, although he is no longer active, Harry was able to break some rules and rock his beard. An announcement from the royal family said, Both Prince Harry and The Duke of Cambridge will wear the frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals, which was seen when the brothers appeared side-by-side at the chapel. But even more than his dapper looks, onlookers were ecstatic to see that Harrys beard remains. Ekkk!! Prince Harry and His Brother arrive in military uniform to lots of cheers! Both looking very handsome. And Harry is still rocking his beard. Some royal experts thought he would cut it. #royalwedding pic.twitter.com/zCPAQ02IFF Roshanda E. Pratt (@therosholive) May 19, 2018 So glad that Prince Harry decided NOT to shave his gorgeous beard #RoyalWedding Andi Darling (@AndiStardust87) May 19, 2018 Prince Harry arrives with Prince William WITH the beard. #royalwedding pic.twitter.com/S2BT4s7kG2 Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) May 19, 2018 Prince Harry doing it for the beard gang. iBe (@iBePaul) May 19, 2018 Its no surprise that Harry would be less traditional in his choice to keep his facial hair, as he has decided to wear a wedding ring something not all British royals do. For all things royal wedding, from details on Meghan Markles dress to cute pictures of Prince George and Princess Charlotte, click here. Want to relive every moment? Watch it all here Princess Charlotte has perfected her royal wave. The 3-year-old stopped to acknowledge well-wishers at the top of the steps at St. Georges Chapel after her uncle Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot. The toddler and five other children - Florence van Custem, Ivy Mulroney, Zalie Warren, Remi Litt, and her sister Rylan - served as bridesmaids at the wedding. They all donned matching white dresses with floral head pieces. The dresses were designed by Givenchy, as was Markle's dress. This isnt the first time weve caught a glimpse of Charlottes royal wave. As she visited her new baby brother, Prince Louis, at St. Mary's hospital in London last month, she adorably waved at the crowd gathered outside. Getty Images Getty Images Prince George served as a page at the wedding, but 3-week-old Prince Louis stayed home for the occasion. RELATED STORIES Royally Cute! Prince George and Princess Charlotte Are on Their Best Behavior at the Royal Wedding Happy Birthday, Princess Charlotte! William and Kate's Daughter Turns 3 Princess Charlotte Charms Photographers With Royal Wave Outside Hospital Related Articles: A crowd of protesters backed by a killer mariachi band hooted, chanted, and serenaded Manhattan attorney Aaron Schlossberg outside his home on Friday in response to his hate-filled rant against Spanish speakers earlier in the week. The fiesta protest featured a mix of music, tacos, some outrage and mostly high spirits. A Mexican flag flew from the top of Schlossbergs Upper West Side apartment building. We will speak Spanish, said Carlos Jesus Calzadilla, president of Young Progressives of America. The reality is we contribute a lot and we are part of this American experience, and we will not allow racists to silence us. Schlossberg did not make an appearance. The lawyer was caught on video in a Manhattan restaurant on Tuesday yelling about restaurant staff speaking Spanish with customers. They have the balls to come here and live off of my money I pay for their welfare, he complained. The least they could do is speak English. He threatened to call the authorities, claiming he was convinced the restaurant workers were in the country illegally. The mariachi band was originally scheduled to play outside Schlossbergs law office, but his landlord evicted him from the space after his diatribe went viral, so the protest moved to his home. Two local politicians have filed a misconduct complaint against Schlossberg, and his legal business has been trashed on Yelp. An opinion piece in The Washington Post suggested on Friday that perhaps its time to back off just a bit from internet vigilantism even for a viral racist lawyer. Story continues Check out more of the protest here: Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. After almost 20 years in power, Russian President Vladimir Putin is on course for a near record-setting reignbut some are already pushing to extend his stay in the Kremlin further. Putin was re-elected in an election landslide marred by alleged fraud and irregularities this year, and has another six years before he must step down, according to Russian law. At 65 years old Putin is without a young and well-liked heir apparent, prompting some to wonder if he will not simply change the constitution and stay for another termhis third consecutive and fifth in total. A group of regional lawmakers from the fiercely conservative Chechen Republic of Russia have officially asked the national assembly to make the necessary changes and keep Putin in power. Trending: Kidnappers Threatened To Murder Texas Teen In Text Messages To Mother Read More: Vladimir Putin election campaign sites have been bought for decades to come In the context of the complex foreign policy environment, it is important to retain the continuity of the country's government, the request, sent to the speaker of Russias lower house, read. The document, addressed from the Chechen regional assembly to speaker and Putin ally Vyacheslav Volodin, states that increasing the presidents rule would not reduce the democratic foundations of the government. The Kremlin refused to discuss this possibility earlier this month, when Chechen officials first said they were preparing to call for the term limit extension. This is a constitutional matter and not an issue that is on the agenda of the president, Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the RBC news channel. The president himself has repeatedly voiced his position with regards to making amendments to the basic law. Don't miss: Who Is Meghan Markle's Maid-of-Honor? Why She Didn't Pick Jessica Mulroney Putin has dismissed the idea that he would attempt to remove or extend the presidential term limit from the constitution Story continues I never changed the constitution or adjusted it to my needs, and I do not have any such plans today, Putin told NBC when asked about removing term limits earlier this year. He has repeatedly issued similar responses when asked about changing the consecutive term ceiling of the presidency, however his commitment to relinquishing power fell into serious question in 2008. Putins long-time protege Dmitry Medvedev became president with his endorsement but, after a term as prime minister, Putin returned to the presidency in 2012, having also increased the standard length of a presidential term to six years in the meantime. Most popular: Cliveden House Hotel: Here's Where Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Will Stay on Eve of Royal Wedding Putin has laughed off the suggestion he would do the same when his current term runs out, after winning the March election this year. 05_18_Putin Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters Lets count, he said at a press conference when asked about the possibility. Its ridiculous, what, am I going to sit here until Im 100? No, Putin said. Chechnya's regional leader Ramzan Kadyrov is intensely vocal about his loyalty to Putin and Chechnya. Constituencies in Russia's north Caucasus frequently present the most flagrant examples of voter fraud in the government's favor. Chechen parliament cannot table bills in Russia's federal assembly and must rely on a federal lawmaker or government official such as Putin to change his mind and put it to a vote. Despite Putins claims, his team of web-savvy backers are taking no chances, as someone has bought out the domain names for a Putin campaign site in the next four election years. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Photo credit: Ford From Road & Track Raj Nair was ousted from his role as president of Ford North America earlier this year because of unspecified "inappropriate behavior." This month, Nair started a new job at Multimatic Motorsports in Ontario, Canada, a racing shop with a pretty significant connection to Nair's old job at Ford. News of Nair's appointment was first spotted by R&T contributor Bozi Tatarevic, and has been confirmed to Road & Track by Multimatic marketing VP Michael Guttilla. Nair was appointed president and chief operating officer of Multimatic on May 7th, per Guttilla. Multimatic is perhaps best known for its innovative spool-valve dampers, which are used in many top-level race and street cars, but the company is also responsible for constructing the current Ford GT. During his time as global chief technology officer at Ford, Nair played a huge role in getting the GT into production and racing at Le Mans. His arrival at Multimatic means he'll still be a part of GT production and racing. "Raj brings extensive knowledge, perspective and skills in engineering, manufacturing, management and overall auto industry experience to Multimatic," Guttilla told R&T. "These qualities will help Multimatic attain another level of performance for our customers. "The addition of Raj to our leadership team was about making a great company even better. His skill-set is perfectly aligned with Multimatics core competencies and purpose," Guttilla continued. Nair himself seems to have commented on the news on FordGTForum.com, a popular site for GT owners. "Im really excited about joining the Multimatic team and our future," Nair said. "And of course, Im so happy to be able to stay part of the GT community!" You Might Also Like When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge got married, one overwhelmed little bridesmaid stole the show as she was photographed crossly covering her ears from the noise of the crowd. As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot today they had no such fears, after choosing a brood of children already well used to the limelight. Royal wedding day pictures: Best photos from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's ceremony and reception Ten little girls and boys played a starring role in today's royal wedding, from Prince George and Princess Charlotte to a host of youngsters who are already Instagram stars. But who are they? US actress Meghan Markle arrives for her wedding ceremony. Page boys Brian and John Mulroney are pictured holding her train Credit: AFP Who are the bridesmaids? Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, aged three, is Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's niece. Florence van Cutsem, aged three, is goddaughter of Prince Harry and daughter of Alice van Cutsem and Major Nicholas van Cutsem. Remi Litt, aged six, is goddaughter of Ms Markle and daughter of Benita Litt and Darren Litt. Rylan Litt, aged seven, is goddaughter of Ms Markle, daughter of Benita Litt and Darren Litt. Ivy Mulroney, aged four, is Jessica Mulroney and Benedict Mulroney's daughter. Zalie Warren, aged two , is Prince Harry's goddaughter and the daughter of Zoe Warren and Jake Warren A look back at royal bridesmaids and pageboys Who are the pageboys? Prince George of Cambridge, aged four, is Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's nephew. Jasper Dyer, aged six, is godson of Prince Harry and the son of Amanda Dyer and Mark Dyer. Brian Mulroney, aged seven, is the son of Jessica Mulroney and Benedict Mulroney. John Mulroney, aged seven, is the son of Jessica Mulroney and Benedict Mulroney. Royal wedding day pictures: Best photos from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's ceremony and reception Prince George Prince George of Cambridge was again thrust into the limelight as he took the lead as one of four pageboys for his uncle and auntie's wedding. Story continues William and Kate's eldest child is said to be shyer than his younger sister Charlotte, and the Duke has told how his son loves helicopters, flying and is obsessed with all things police-related. Like Charlotte, George is rarely seen in public. The Duke and Duchess try to ensure their children are protected from media intrusion. But the pair have appeared at key royal events such as the annual Trooping the Colour parade, and have joined William and Kate on official overseas tours. Prince George and Princess Charlotte at Pippa Middleton's wedding Credit: Samir Hussein Son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the third in line to the throne is no stranger to big public appearances even at the age of just four. He will call upon the experience gained from performing a similar role at the wedding of Pippa Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge's younger sister, to James Matthews in May last year. It will be the second time in a month that the world's media hones in on his family following the birth of his younger brother Prince Louis on April 23. Princess Charlotte waves to the cameras outside the Lindo Wing Credit: Anwar Hussein Princess Charlotte Princess Charlotte is blossoming into a natural when it comes to public appearances. The way she played to the cameras as she arrived outside St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, central London, showed maturity beyond her years. The three-year-old waved at photographers as her father, the Duke of Cambridge, walked her to meet her baby brother - Prince Louis. The Duchess of Cambridge holds Princess Charlotte's hand at the wedding of her sister Pippa Middleton Credit: Justin Tallis/AFP Making her way up the steps to the Lindo Wing, she turned and waved again - a picture that was beamed across the world. Her parents have told how the fourth in line to the throne rules the roost, saying she is "very sweet" but also feisty. It is expected her mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, will play a supervisory role for the young pageboys and bridesmaids, something she did when her younger sister, Pippa, married James Matthews last year. The most stylish guests from Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle The Duchess was spotted giving a polite warning to the youngsters in her charge, who included George and Charlotte, holding her finger to her lips to make sure they were quiet as they entered the church. Princess Charlotte waves at photographers as she arrives to meet Prince Louis Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage Ivy Mulroney Ivy Mulroney, four, and her seven-year-old twin brothers are a daily staple of Mrs Mulroneys Instagram page, posing willingly for home photoshoots with their mother. Ivy is the four-year-old youngest child of Meghan's stylist and best friend Jessica Mulroney. Her name is actually Isabel Veronica but she is nicknamed Ivy. Ivy and Jessica Mulroney Credit: Instagram The little girl often appears on her mother's Instagram page, helping her get ready, putting on makeup and picking outfits, while brothers Brian and John lark about together. Jessica Mulroney runs a bridal store in Toronto, where Meghan used to film Suits, and is said to have helped the bride choose her wedding gown. Mrs Mulroney, who is married to Benedict Mulroney, the son of former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney, was photographed arriving at Heathrow Airport with her family on Tuesday night. Jessica Mulroney and her daughter Ivy Mulroney When Ms Markle made her third official appearance at the Invictus Games in October, it was with two very important women by her side; her mother, Doria and Jessica Mulroney - arguably Canadas best-connected fashion power player. Her influence has already helped to propel a lucky clutch of Canadian fashion designers to global fame thanks to her role as stylist to Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, the wife of Canadas charismatic prime minister, Justin Trudeau. It was in Canada where the two met. Both were living in Toronto when Ms Markle was filming the US hit series Suits. Having initially bonded over a shared love of yoga, they become close enough to go on holiday together and Meghan became close to the family - including Ivy, Brian and John. Puff: Who is Jessica Mulroney? Brian and John Mulroney The fraternal twin sons of Jessica and Ben are seven years old - and older siblings to Ivy. In an interview with thestar.com in 2014, Mrs Mulroney described how the boys were best friends. "Ben was at the MMVAs (iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards) and John did something really sweet," she said. "He hugged Brian from behind and said, 'Brian, you make me great'. " The article described the children, who had two nannies, as "incredibly well-behaved". Jessica Mulroney with her sons Brian and John Jessica Mulroney with Ivy, Brian and John Credit: Instagram Florence van Cutsem Three-year-old Florence is Prince Harry's goddaughter, and the daughter of his long-standing family friend Major Nicholas van Cutsem and Alice van Cutsem. She is a cousin of Grace Van Cutsem, best remembered for her balcony appearance with her hands over her ears at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Grace Van Cutsem at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Credit: Matt Dunham Major van Cutsem, a major with the Household Cavalry's Life Guards, has been a friend of Harry and William's since childhood. Remi and Rylan Litt The Litt sisters, who have appeared in Instagram pictures with Ms Markle, are the children of Darren and Benita, a handbag designer and close friend of the bride. Ms Markle is Remi, six, and Rylan, seven's godmother and in a since deleted Instagram post, the actress shared a picture of herself with the family - including her two "fairy god-daughters" - showing them happily posing in front of a Christmas tree after spending the holidays together in 2016. Meghan Markle Meghan is godmother to her friend Benita Litt's two daughters Remi, six and Rylan, seven, and she is thought to have spent Christmas with the family in 2016 (pictured) Benita also runs her own brand agency under her name where she helps others to start businesses. Zalie Warren Zalie Warren is the daughter of Jake Warren, son of the Queen's bloodstock and racing adviser John Warren, and his wife Zoe. The father-and-son team run Highclere Stud in Newbury together. Mr Warren is an old school friend of Prince Harrys from Eton who asked him to be godfather to Zalie, one of his twin daughters. Zalie is the youngest of the bridesmaids at just two years old. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: The story of their relationship, in pictures Jasper Dyer Six-year-old Jasper Dyer is also a godson of Harry's and the son of his trusted mentor Mark Dyer and Mr Dyer's wife Amanda. Former Welsh Guards office Mr Dyer, who was photographed accompanying Ms Markle to the polo when she was dating Prince Harry, has been a long-term mentor of the Prince, taking him under his wing during the 1990s and early 2000s when the teenager was coming to terms with the death of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales. A former equerry to the Prince of Wales, he was entrusted by Charles to keep an eye on Harry. The pair travelled together in Harry's gap year and he inspired the prince's charity work in Lesotho, southern Africa, after arranging Harry's first ever stay in the country. Mark Dyer (left) with Meghan Markle at the polo Credit: David Hartley A very traditional ceremony The couple will be make their vows at St George's Chapel, which last hosted a royal wedding in May 2008 when Peter Phillips - son of The Princess Royal - married Autumn Kelly. The traditional ceremony will be conducted by The Dean of Windsor, The Rt Revd. David Conner while the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will officiate as the couple make their marriage vows. Pioneering American bishop, the Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, from Chicago, Illinois, has been invited to deliver the address as the couple strive to reflect their transatlantic relationship amid the tradition of St George's Chapel. Bishop Curry, who has been praised for his "infectious laughter and self-deprecating humour", is the first African-American bishop to have served as the Episcopal Church's presiding bishop, a role he has held since November 2015. The music will also have an American influence according to Christopher Warren-Green, who will conduct musicians on the day. Royal wedding | Read more Steve Weintz History, Europe And the world has not seen anthing like them since. Russia's 5 Biggest Nuclear Bomb Tests Ever The Bomb represents the ultimate expression of might, so the biggest bombs express that power to its extremes. The United States and the Soviet Union built bigger and bigger bombs to deter each other. Eventually, Washington stopped testing such large weapons due to improved accuracy of their delivery methods. Only 3 percent of the superpowers' stockpiles consisted of nuclear weapons with yields greater than four megatons, but those weapons more than any others symbolize the terror of nuclear war. The Soviet Union's swift strides towards nuclear arms alarmed American officials in the 1950s. "First Lightning" (called "Joe-1" in the West)the first Soviet nuclear testannounced the Moscow's new military power less than three months after lifting the Berlin Blockade in May 1949. The twenty-two-kiloton shot copied the U.S. Trinity test as closely as possible to achieve early success; the rushed development actually stalled the Soviet program for over a year, with the second test occurring in September 1951. Recommended: The Fatal Flaw That Could Take Down an F-22 or F-35. Recommended: Smith & Wesson's .44 Magnum Revolver: Why You Should Fear the 'Dirty Harry' Gun. Recommended: 5 Best Shotguns in the World (Winchester, Remington and Beretta Make the Cut). This phase of the Cold War went hot on the Korean Peninsula and President Truman gave the go-ahead for the "Super," as it was called. Edward Tellera brilliant, vain and pugnacious physicist who fled Hungary for the United States to join the Manhattan Projectwas smitten by the idea of thermonuclear fusion and argued forcefully for U.S. research into bigger bombs. Pursuit of the "Super" alarmed Soviet leaders and scientists. As they explored the possibility, however, the Soviets had an advantage over the Americans: lithium. Story continues The first-ever hydrogen bomb blast, Ivy Mike, required American weaponeers to create an vast new industrial capacity for manufacturing liquid hydrogen in its "heavy" form of liquid deuterium. The Ivy Mike device was liquid-fueled and a handful of emergency-capability (EC) liquid-fuel bombs were later built; several B-36 bombers were modified to top off the liquid hydrogen in flight en route to their targets. But the Soviets dispensed with liquid fuel for dry powdered lithium deuteride, a chemical compound of lithium metal and hydrogen gas. Lithium comes in two "flavors" or isotopes: Lithium-6 and Lithium-7. Lithium-7 was thought by both sides to be inert and unsuitable as bomb fuel. The Soviet Union had plentiful sources of Lithium-7, but the United States did not. As a result, Soviet weaponeers worked on dry-fuel bombs from the start. The fourth Soviet nuclear test in 1953 registered an impressive 400 kilotons from the "Sloika" design. Americas disastrous Castle Bravo H-bomb test in 1954 revealed Lithium-6's fusion potential and provided the Soviet Union with needed information; a mere eighteen months elapsed between the Castle Bravo test and the Soviet test of November 1955: an air drop of a fully weaponized hydrogen bomb. At 1.6 megatons, the yield of RDS-37 was impressivebut it would be dwarfed by the monsters to come. In 1958 the Soviet Union matched the Americas voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing; in September 1961, after raising the Berlin Wall, Nikita Khrushchev ordered testing resumed. On October 23, a 12.5-megaton airdrop pounded the high Arctic island of Novaya Zemlya. The resulting blast was nearly as large as Castle YankeeAmerica's second biggest testbut only the Soviet Unions fifth-biggest. The biggest bomb ever built or testedthe RDS-220 ("Big Ivan" or "Tsar Bomba")rattled the planet one week later on October 30, 1961. The result of a crash program directed by Andrei Sahkarov, the Tsar Bomba was a conservative design accomplished with astonishing speed: in only four months. The 100-megaton (possibly 150-megaton) design was an impractical weapononly a single modified Bear bomber could carry it, slowlybut a billy-hell of a propaganda show. Even though Sakharov had the third-stage fission tampers replaced with inert lead due to concerns about fallout, the Tsar Bomba still yielded fifty-six megatons, enough to blow a hole in the atmosphere and cause damage hundreds of miles away. Had the third stage tampers been uranium this one bomb would have raised global fallout levels by 25 percent. Every person born before October 1961 has bits of the Tsar Bomba (and other bombs) in their bodies to this day. If the Tsar Bomba explosion was a stunt, the other biggest Soviet tests weren't. 1962 was the last year of atmospheric nuclear tests for the Soviet Union and the United States, and both sides rushed to prove weapon designs. The fourth, third and second largest Soviet nuclear tests all seem related to ICBM-warhead development: Test 147 on August 5, 1962 yielded over twenty-one megatons; Test 173 nineteen megatons; and Test 219 a whopping 24.2 megatonsnearly half the Tsar Bomba's yield. This city-busting warhead wound up on R-36 ICBMs (NATO designation SS-18 "Satan"), huge missiles capable of obliterating deeply buried targets or entire metro areas. Although photos and data from Test 219 are not publicly available, Alex Wellerstein's NUKEMAP drives home the power of such a bomb. Dropped on downtown Los Angeles, the air blast would level the Coliseum (four miles away) and burn down all of Beverly Hills (nine miles away). Steve Weintz, a frequent contributor to many publications such as WarIsBoring, is a writer, filmmaker, artist and animator. Image: Wikimedia Commons Read full article Less than a month ago, about 10 students at Santa Fe High School in Texas participated in the national walkout against school shootings. They handed out fact sheets about gun violence, read a poem by a Parkland shooting survivor and held a sign with a message of solidarity: Santa Fe High School says #NeverAgain. On Friday morning, 10 people at Santa Fe High School were killed when a gunman, reportedly a student, opened fire there. We read a poem by a parkland survivor, handed out gun violence fact sheets and orange ribbon, did 17 minutes of silence, and then talked about ways to raise awareness for gun violence, and make your voice heard, a Santa Fe student wrote in a tweet on April 20, sharing photos from their walkout on the anniversary of the mass shooting at Columbine High School. Now, Parkland shooting survivors are sharing messages of support with the students of Sante Fe. This is the most fatal shooting since the one at our school and tragedies like this will continue to happen unless action is taken, the organizers of March for Our Lives said in a statement on Friday. Santa Fe, we are with you, and we will do whatever we can to support you as the days go on. Authorities said 10 people were killed and 10 others were wounded in Fridays shooting. A suspect identified as 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis has been taken into custody. The Santa Fe High School shooting follows months of protests and marches against gun violence, and it has become the latest incident to exemplify the frequency of mass shootings in the U.S. One Santa Fe High School student interviewed by a local news station on Friday said she was not surprised that a shooting had occurred at her school. Its been happening everywhere. Ive always kind of felt like eventually it was going to happen here, too, she said. I dont know. I wasnt surprised. I was just scared. Santa Fe mourns after deadly school shooting People visit a cross for Christopher Stone at a memorial for the victims of the Santa Fe High School shooting on May 21, 2018 in Santa Fe, Texas. (Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images) The gunman accused of killing 10 people and wounding 13 at a Texas high school last week was in a state of mental confusion, his attorneys said Monday, as schools beefed up security for students returning to classrooms. At least two of those wounded in Fridays mass shooting at Santa Fe High School were still hospitalized, including school police officer John Barnes, who remained in critical condition, said the University of Texas Medical Branch. Dimitrios Pagourtzis, a 17-year-old student at the school, faces charges of capital murder and aggravated assault of a public servant. He is alleged to have used his fathers legally owned shotgun and revolver in the rampage. A statewide moment of silence was held in the morning to remember the eight students and two teachers killed. Mourners gathered at white wooden crosses planted in front of the school, with a victims name and a red heart on each cross. (AFP) See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Twitter and Tumblr. A teenager who opened fire at a Texas high school Friday, killing 10 people and wounding 10 others, allegedly spared people he liked and targeted those he didn't. Dimitrios Pagourtzis, 17, entered Santa Fe High School with a shotgun and .38 revolver and allegedly opened fire during a first-period art class. Pagourtzis said he did not kill the people he liked because he wanted his story told, according to a probable cause affidavit. He is charged with capital murder and aggravated assault of a public servant. He was being held Saturday without bond. Police said the majority of the victims were students. While police havent officially released the names of those killed, family members of the slain have already taken to social media to announce they lost their loved ones in the massacre. Shana Fisher, 16, was reportedly in the art room where the shooting took place and was identified as a victim by her aunt on Twitter. Angelique Ramirez also died in the shooting, her aunt said on social media. With a broken heart and a soul that just cant process all this right now, I have to announce my niece was one of the fatalities, her aunt, Sylvia Pritchett, wrote in a Facebook post. Please keep all the families in your thoughts, and hug your children tightly. A Pakistani exchange student, Sabika Sheikh, was killed in the shooting. Pakistans ambassador to the United States, Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, expressed condolences after the shooting Our thoughts and prayers are with Sabikas family and friends, Chaudhry said. Christopher Stone, 17, and Kim Vaughn were also identified as victims by family members. Folks call your damn senators. Call your congressmen, Vaughns mother, Rhonda Hart, wrote on Facebook. We need GUN CONTROL. WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR KIDS." A teacher at the school, Cynthia Tisdale, was also identified as a victim by her brother-in-law, John Tisdale, reports said. We never know when our death will come, Tisdale said. Cynthia planned on one day retiring and being a full-time grandmother. It will never happen. Story continues RELATED STORIES Illinois School Resource Officer Takes Down High School Shooter: 'Countless Lives Were Saved' Bodycam Footage Shows Chaos Inside Las Vegas Casino After Mass Shooter Killed 58 Man Hailed a Hero After Wrestling Gun Away From Waffle House Shooter Related Articles: Three womens rights activists were arrested in Saudi Arabia Thursday, allegedly because of their work as advocates for human rights, an organization that monitors arbitrary arrests in the Sunni Muslim Kingdom claimed. Loujain al-Hathloul, a 28-year-old social media figure, Aziza Al-Yousef, a 60-year-old mother of five, and Eman Al-Nafjan, a university professor and popular blogger, are all being held in custody in Saudi Arabia since Thursday night, according to Prisoners of Conscience, an organization that tracks arrests in that country. It is unclear exactly where the women are being held, if they have been charged yet, or when they will be released. The detentions come as Saudi Arabia promotes an image of a more tolerant and open country while granting some rights to womensuch as attending public concerts and movie theaters, as well as the right to drive. Trending: Who Are the Mulroney Twins? Meghan Markle's Page Boy Steals the Show at Royal Wedding Al-Hathloul and Nafjan have both been arrested in previous years for violating Saudi Arabias ban on women drivers. This group was targeted mainly because they advocate for human rights, and some of them advocated for Saudi womens rights, the same rights that the people in power are claiming to be giving to women gradually, Prisoners of Conscience told Newsweek. Others are advocating human rights in general and were trying to uncover the violations committed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Don't miss: Prince George and Princess Charlotte Attend Royal Wedding Two other rights activists, Dr. Mohammed Alrabiah and Dr. Ibrahim Al-Mdmyegh were also arrested under similar circumstances. Some analysts said that the arrests are a part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans attempts to silence prominent activists who criticize the royal family. These arrests prove that MBS [Mohammed bin Salman] is not a reformer, Ali al-Ahmed, director of the Washington D.C.-based Gulf Institute, told Newsweek. The Western supporters of MBS should be ashamed today. Story continues Most popular: NRA Has Trump By The P****, NYT Columnist Says After Santa Fe Shooting Representatives of the Saudi government did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Loujain al-Hathloul, a Saudi women's rights activist, was detained along with several others Saudi Arabia has detained several prominent female activists who campaigned for womens right to drive, taking them into custody just weeks before the decades-long driving ban finally comes to an end. Human rights groups said Loujain al-Hathloul, Eman al-Nafjan and Aziza al-Yousef - three of the most prominent voices demanding women be free to drive - were all detained on Thursday. Two male advocates for womens rights were also detained, activists said. The activists were detained as Saudi Arabia prepares for the driving ban to come to an end on June 24. The policy shift has become a symbol of the modernising drive of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the Saudi government is eager for positive media coverage of the move. The detentions appear to be an effort by Saudi authorities to make sure they do not have to share credit for the end of the driving ban with activists who spent years campaigning for it. They may also be concerned that the women rights campaigners would use the end of the driving to call for further advances in womens freedom - like an end to the male guardianship system that severely limits Saudi womens ability to travel independently. A woman in a black niqab drives in Saudi Arabia Neither Ms Narfjan nor Ms Hathloul could be reached for comment. Ms Hathloul told The Telegraph earlier this year that shortly before Saudi authorities announced the end of the driving ban in September she was warned not to speak publicly about it. Instead, she Tweeted just the word Alhamdulillah in Arabic, or Praise be to God. Shutting up or submitting to these threats is unacceptable to me, it is not an option to stay quiet any more, she said, breaking her silence in January. We have been quiet for too long. Ms Hathloul had been detained twice before for her activism. She and other Saudi women sometimes filmed themselves driving in defiance of the ban and published the videos online, to the fury of the government. Ms Hathloul was voted the third-most powerful Arab woman by Forbes in 2015, but was forced to quit her job that same year because of driving restrictions. Her husband, a well-known Saudi comedian who acts as her male guardian, was often out of the country meaning she had to pay for taxis to and from work. Story continues Saudi women tour a car showroom for women on January 11, 2018, in the Saudi Red Sea port city of Jeddah. Credit: AFP The Uber and Careem applications would take more than 30 per cent of my salary. For instance I would pay 2,000-3,000 riyals (375-560) a month to get around, while my salary was 6,000 riyals, she said. At the end of the month I basically had nothing. It was not clear if she or any or any of the other activists had been charged with a crime. Prisoners of Conscience, a human rights group, said that two men - Mohammed al-Rabjah and Ibrahim al-Mdmyegh - had also been arrested. The driving ban has been in place since 1979 and womens rights activists have been fighting it against for it for decades. In 1990, around 50 women launched the first high profile protest by driving in a convoy around Riyadh. They were eventually stopped by police. The Saudi government under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed has shown itself willing to use detention as a tool against political rivals. Dozens of princes and prominent businessmen were arrested in November and detained at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh on allegations of corruption. Most were released only after agreeing to pay large sums as part of a settlement with the authorities. Yvette Colon took out more than $35,000 in student loans and spent two years at a for-profit college to get a certificate that she says is worthless. Now, she fears even more students could fall into a similar trap after Education Secretary Betsy DeVos reportedly crippled the office charged with investigating the company behind Colons now-defunct college, Career Education Corporation, and several other for-profit institutions. This school has totally messed up my life, Colon said. I cant do anything. I cant continue my education. I cant continue to go forward in my career. Career Education Corporation did not respond to a request for comment. Career Education Corporation is one of the companies no longer being investigated by the U.S. Education Department after members of an enforcement office tasked with investigating abuses by for-profit colleges were instructed to focus on other issues, the New York Times reported this week, citing current and former employees. Meanwhile, former executives and consultants from those for-profit institutions have been hired as top advisers to the Education Department under DeVos. The change is the latest example of DeVos scaling back regulations and investigations that were launched by the department under President Barack Obama, faulting the prior administration for government overreach. Last year, DeVos suspended Obama-era protections for students who borrow money to attend for-profit colleges and are later unable to find employment known as the borrower defense to repayment and gainful employment rules. DeVos said they created a muddled process thats unfair to students and schools, and puts taxpayers on the hook for significant costs. Colon is just one of thousands of students who say they were defrauded by for-profit colleges, wasting years of their time and taking on mountains of debt to attend schools that provide little in return. In 2006, Colon enrolled in Sanford-Brown Institute, hoping to change careers from a medical assistant at a private practice to a cardiovascular sonographer, a job that would allow her to work directly with patients. She graduated in 2008 with a certificate in cardiovascular sonography, only to find out that the school lacked the accreditation required for her to take the necessary licensing exam or transfer her credits to a community college. Story continues Career Education Corporation started shutting down Sanford-Brown campuses in 2015, citing a challenging regulatory environment amid new rules imposed by the Obama Administration. Liz Hill, a spokesperson for the Education Department, said all staff changes have resulted from routine attrition and redirection to other critical priorities. She denied that the departments oversight efforts had been curtailed. Conducting investigations is but one way the investigations team contributes to the Departments broad effort to provide oversight to institutions of higher education, Hill said. Staff within the Enforcement Office have been redeployed to help process the backlog of borrower defense claims, a natural extension of the responsibilities of the Enforcement Office. But students who are still hoping to receive loan forgiveness worry that the lack of broad investigations into the for-profit college industry will allow those schools to continue enrolling students who could later join the long list of people filing borrower defense claims. Its just disgraceful, said Colon, who filed a lawsuit last year against DeVos and other entities that hold the loans she took out to attend the Sanford-Brown. Those people who are in those high positions they need to look at themselves. How can you put your head on the pillow at night and say youre doing the right thing, you know, when you have all these other people going to bed and worrying that they have to pay how am I going to pay that loan, how am I going to pay my rent, how am I going to pay this? said Colon, 56, who is now a surgical coordinator in a private practice and has been unable to return to school. I dont know how you can sleep at night. Democratic attorneys general in several states have also sued DeVos over the departments handling of student loan protections. The Times report drew added scrutiny. I think its really troubling, not just from a personal perspective of having worked to create this new office, but mainly for these students who are being harmed by these schools, said Aaron Ament, president of the National Student Legal Defense Network who was previously chief of staff for the Department of Educations Office of the General Counsel under Obama. Now its really sending a signal to them that theres not really a cop on the beat anymore, he said. You can kind of get away with past predatory actions, and thats a really dangerous message. Northern Lebanon School District students in Pennsylvania must smile while walking the hallways at the institution or they will be punished, according to a report. Students who do not smile in the hallways between periods will be instructed to, and if they refuse, they will be sent to the guidance counselors office to talk through their problems, reported Lebanon Daily News. Meanwhile, parents claim that reports of bullying in the district are mostly ignored by administrators. Teachers at the institution, who have not been named, told the news agency that Benjamin Wenger, the assistant high school principal, has been strictly enforcing the rule, though it has not yet been put into writing within the district. Trending: An Alien Planet's Tilt Could Kill Life, Even in a 'Habitable Zone' RTS1RO5D Reuters Jean Gundrum, the mother of student Julianna Gundrum, has removed her 15-year-old daughter from the campus and enrolled her in the districts cyber schoola system conducted from home. She told the Lebanon Daily News that the smiling policy was the reason why she moved Julianna. "If you don't [smile] you get called to the office or down to see your guidance counselor," Julianna said. "You have to talk about your problems then. You have to, or you get detention." Don't miss: Rex Tillerson Blasts Trump, Warns of Imminent End to American Democracy According to Gundrum, her other daughter, Adreanna, 14, started getting bullied after the 2017-2018 year began, but nothing has been done by the school to address the issue. However, Erik Bentzel, the schools superintendent, claims that every report or indication of bullying is taken seriously and dealt with effectively. Story continues "We fully investigate every report of bullying," he said. "But, we can't tell [both sets of parents] about the consequencesI can't talk to [a parent] about another [parent's] child." Pennsylvania law required all schools across the state to put in place an anti-bullying policy by the start of 2009. Northern Lebanon School Districts bullying policy states that when bullying is verified, a building principal or his/her designee will inform the parents or guardians of the victim and also the parents or guardians of the accused. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Beirut (AFP) - Pro-government forces and the Islamic State group observed a brief ceasefire in southern Damascus Saturday, a monitor said, after weeks of deadly fighting in the jihadists' last stronghold in the Syrian capital. The regime of President Bashar al-Assad last month launched a wide-scale offensive against IS in Damascus' Hajar al-Aswad district and the Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp. Clashes have inflicted heavy losses on both sides. "A ceasefire came into effect at midday today, ostensibly for five hours," the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP late Saturday that the truce, which may be a prelude to the evacuation of IS fighters from the area, was still in effect. He said the ceasefire had been negotiated by regime ally Russia and pro-government Palestinian factions. Syria's state-run Sana news agency however quoted a military source as denying the agreement. Loyalist forces launched a ferocious assault in southern Damascus after capturing the Eastern Ghouta rebel stronghold near the capital in April. They have already retaken the Qadam neighbourhood, but the jihadists retain control of around 70 percent of Yarmuk. According to Observatory, fighting in southern Damascus has killed 484 IS members and more than 250 pro-regime fighters as well as 56 civilians. Once a thriving district home to some 160,000 Palestinians and Syrians, Yarmuk's population has fallen to just a few hundred people. Syria's war has left more than 350,000 people dead since it started in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests, before spiralling into a complex conflict involving world powers and jihadists. By Maxim Rodionov and Polina Devitt MOSCOW (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad flew to Russian leader Vladimir Putin's summer residence on the Black Sea for talks on Thursday about the Syrian conflict, the Kremlin said, a visit that underscored Moscow's status as Assad's chief backer. Since fighting broke out in his country in 2011, Assad has traveled only rarely, but has made three publicly-acknowledged visits to Russia, each time for meetings with Putin. Russia's entry into the conflict in 2015 turned the tide of the conflict in Assad's favor, and established Russia as a powerbroker in the Middle East. At the meeting, in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Assad congratulated Putin on his new term as president, after he was re-elected in March, and thanked the Russian military for its support in Syria. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the meeting, which had not been announced in advance, took place on Thursday. "Stability is improving, and all that opens the doors to the political process, which we started a while ago," Assad told Putin, according to a transcript of the opening remarks from the meeting posted on the Kremlin website. "I have always said, and I repeat it again, that we have always wholeheartedly supported the political process, which should proceed in parallel with the war on terrorism." "We know that will not be easy, since there are countries which do not want stability to return to Syria. However, together with you and our other partners and friends, we will move firmly forward with the peace process," Assad was quoted as saying. Russia said it intervened militarily in Syria to defeat violent Islamist extremists who had taken control over parts of the country and were launching bomb and gun attacks in other parts of the world. Critics of Russia's action, among them the United States and European states, say it is propping up an Assad leadership that has lost its legitimacy, and that its air strikes have killed large numbers of civilians. Russia says it never targets civilian areas. In remarks cited by the Kremlin, Putin congratulated the Syrian leader on what he said were significant successes on the battlefield achieved by the Syrian military. "The terrorists have laid down their arms in key locations in Syria, which has allowed for the restoration of Syrian infra-structure," Putin was cited as saying. "And of course now, after these military successes, additional conditions have doubtless been created for the renewal of a fully-fledged political process." Assad was making his second visit to see Putin in Sochi. The previous occasion was in November last year. He also visited Putin in Moscow in October 2015, soon after Russia launched its military operation in Syria. (Writing by Maxim Rodionov and Christian Lowe; Editing by Richard Balmforth) Texass lieutenant governor reacted to a deadly school shooting by suggesting schools have too many doors. We may have to look at the design of our schools moving forward and retrofitting schools that are already built. There are too many entrances and too many exits, Dan Patrick said during a press conference after a gunman killed at least 10 people at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas. In a familiar ritual, official updates on the toll gave way to vows from public officials to prevent a similar massacre. Texas Gov Greg Abbott said its time in Texas we take action to step up and make sure this tragedy is never repeated ever again, saying he would work with legislators to find as-yet-unidentified solutions. While some reacted to the bloodshed by calling for tougher gun control laws, Mr Patrick emphasised what he called a hazardous number of entrances and exits to schools There are not enough people to put a guard in every entrance or exit, Mr Patrick said, adding that maybe we need to look at limiting the entrances and exits into our schools so that we can have law enforcement looking at the people who are coming. His remark swiftly drew a wave of rebuttals. Among those pushing back was California Lt Gov Gavin Newsom, a staunch gun control advocate and frontrunner to become the states next governor. Updated @GOP talking point: guns don't kill people, doors kill people, Mr Newsom tweeted in response to a clip of Mr Patricks remarks. Updated @GOP talking point: guns don't kill people, doors kill people. pic.twitter.com/AiOxY1pCkB Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) May 18, 2018 A mass shooting at Parkland, Floridas Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School earlier this year failed to produce any concrete policy changes on the federal level, but it did push the states Republican-controlled legislature and governor to alter gun laws. Gov Rick Scott signed into law measures that raised the minimum age for buying a firearm to 21, allows courts to strip guns from people who pose a threat to themselves and others and authorise schools to arm qualified teachers. The National Rifle Association immediately sued to overturn the new age requirement. (WASHINGTON) The Trump administration will resurrect a Reagan-era rule that would ban federally-funded family planning clinics from discussing abortion with women, or sharing space with abortion providers, a senior White House official said Thursday. The Department of Health and Human Services will be announcing its proposal Friday, the official said on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to confirm the plans before the announcement. The policy has been derided as a gag rule by abortion rights supporters and medical groups, and it is likely to trigger lawsuits that could keep it from taking effect. However, its guaranteed to galvanize activists on both sides of the abortion debate ahead of the congressional midterm elections. The Reagan-era rule never went into effect as written, although the Supreme Court ruled that it was an appropriate use of executive power. The policy was rescinded under President Bill Clinton, and a new rule went into effect which allowed nondirective counseling to include a range of options for women. Abortion is a legal medical procedure. Doctors groups and abortion rights supporters say a ban on counseling women trespasses on the doctor-patient relationship. They point out that federal family planning funds cannot be currently used to pay for abortion procedures. Abortion opponents say a taxpayer-funded family planning program should have no connection whatsoever to abortion. The notion that you would withhold information from a patient does not uphold or preserve their dignity, said Jessica Marcella of the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, which represents family planning clinics. I cannot imagine a scenario in which public health groups would allow this effort to go unchallenged. She said requiring family planning clinics to be physically separate from facilities in which abortion is provided would disrupt services for women across the country. Story continues But Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life of America said, Abortion is not health care or birth control and many women want natural health care choices, rather than hormone-induced changes. Abortion opponents allege the federal family planning program in effect cross-subsidizes abortion services provided by Planned Parenthood, whose clinics are also major recipients of grants for family planning and basic preventive care. Hawkins group is circulating a petition to urge lawmakers in Congress to support the Trump administrations proposal. Known as Title X, the nations family-planning program serves about 4 million women a year through clinics, at a cost to taxpayers of about $260 million. Planned Parenthood clinics also qualify for Title X grants but they must keep the family-planning money separate from funds used to pay for abortions. The Republican-led Congress has unsuccessfully tried to deny federal funds to Planned Parenthood, and the Trump administration has vowed to religious and social conservatives that it would keep up the effort. President Donald Trumps White House has reportedly taken extra precautions in order to stop leaks from within the administration by taking aides phones and whittling down the number of staff present at regular communications team meetings, according to The New York Times on Thursday. Related: Fox & Friends Confronted Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Apology for McCain Dying Comment The effort follows an embarrassing leak of one communications staffer, Kelly Sadler, reportedly joking that the administration did not need Republican Senator John McCains vote for new CIA Director Gina Haspels confirmation because he was "dying anyway." Trending: Kidnappers Threatened To Murder Texas Teen In Text Messages To Mother The report noted that Trump often lamented the poor press coverage his administration has received, that he does not trust aides to do whats in his best interests and that Trump has always had a sense of paranoia when it came to his employees and their work. The extra security to prevent leaks could also be coupled with White House personnel changes, counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway said Monday. Conway, who herself has been accused of being of a leaker, said the leaks have been used by staffers in an attempt to undermine other White House officials. Don't miss: Who Is Meghan Markle's Maid-of-Honor? Why She Didn't Pick Jessica Mulroney Its not so much leaking as using the media to shiv each other, and that was going on quite a bit at the beginning of this administration and its less so now, Conway told Fox News. GettyImages-959610128 Getty Images/Andrew Harrer Story continues Following the leak of Sadlers comment, for which the White House has yet to issue an apology despite outcries from many Republicans, the daily communications team meeting has seen fewer aides in attendance. But a senior White House official told The Times that the cut-down was not to plug up leaks but instead meant to protect information. Most popular: Cliveden House Hotel: Here's Where Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Will Stay on Eve of Royal Wedding Staffers' personal phones are reportedly placed in small storage lockers, with scanning equipment deployed to detect devices not issued by the government. That effort seemed to be far more orderly than former press secretary Sean Spicers method of cracking down on leaks. In February of last year, Spicer reportedly called roughly a dozen staffers into a meeting and demanded they put their phones on a table to show they were not responsible for leaks in the administrations early days, Politico reported. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek President Donald Trumps lawyers could try to challenge the legitimacy of the special counsels Russia probe after learning a government informant spoke to two key campaign aides in 2016, according to Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani, speaking on Fox & Friends Thursday morning, expressed shock over the revelation, made in a New York Times story Wednesday, that one government informant met several times with campaign aides Carter Page and George Papadopoulos, according to current and former government officials. Pages meetings with Russian government officials in 2016 have come under heavy scrutiny, and Papadopoulos has pleaded guilty to lying to FBI officials about his contacts with Russians. I think were going to have to look into whether we can challenge the legitimacy of this entire investigation, Giuliani said. Maybe the special counsel never should have been appointed. Trending: Aaron Schlossberg: Donors Raise Funds For Mariachi Band to Perform For Attorney In Viral Immigration Rant Giuliani asserted that Trumps campaign was being spied on by the FBI and that he was racking his brain trying to determine who the informant might have been. Im shocked to hear that they put a spy in the campaign of a major party candidate, or maybe two spies, he said. Now Im going through my brainsince you know I was a big part of that campaigntrying to figure out who was the spy. Now Im wondering was it this person or that person or this person. Don't miss: This Mutation Protects Mice From Alzheimer's Disease, Could it Work on Humans? The Times report provided a detailed account of the initial stages of the FBIs investigation of Russias interference in the 2016 election and whether the Trump campaign or anyone affiliated with it was privy to Russias attempts. Giuliani, like Trump, has often used media appearances to decry the Russia probe and special counsel Robert Mueller, who took over the FBIs inquiry exactly a year ago Thursday, following the dismissal of former bureau Director James Comey. Story continues The attacks on Mueller, a Republican and former FBI director, were expected to continue as the investigation entered its second year, according to Giuliani. Most popular: Israeli Minister Bans Artwork by Students Who Displayed Support for Palestinians Killed in Gaza Clashes We are going to try as best we can to put the message out there that it has been a year, there has been no evidence presented of collusion or obstruction, and it is about time for them to end the investigation, Giuliani told Bloomberg Tuesday. We dont want to signal our action if this doesnt workwe are going to hope they listen to usbut obviously we have a Plan B and C. GettyImages-959294598 Getty Images/Olivier Douliery This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek The Donald J. Trump Foundation shut down last year after it was found to have violated federal rules on self-dealing. (Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images) President Donald Trump is planning to donate to charity in lieu of gifts for the upcoming royal wedding that he wasnt invited to. A White House spokeswoman said Thursday that the president and first lady Melania Trump would be giving to one of seven charities that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle designated for their nuptials on Saturday, multiple outlets reported. The spokeswoman did not specify which of the seven charities the two would be donating to, or the amount of money they plan to contribute. But the words Trump and charitable are not exactly synonymous. The president has time and again made promises of giving money to good causes without ever following through. In 2016, at the height of the presidential campaign, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer reviewed hundreds of pages of records to find that Trump and his charity hadnt donated a single cent to a major 9/11 charity. Maybe that wouldnt have been such a big deal if Trump hadnt previously boasted about giving $10,000 to the fund. And in a monthslong investigation, The Washington Post called more than 400 charities with connections to Trump only to find a single personal donation from him between 2008 and 2016. His own self-described charity, the Donald J. Trump Foundation, shut down last year after it was found to have violated federal rules on self-dealing. The foundation was wracked with claims it was functioning as a political slush fund, and at one point Trump reportedly spent $20,000 of the charitable money on a 6-foot-tall portrait. The portrait was of himself. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. North Korean defectors demonstrate in central Seoul against the possible repatriation of restaurant workers - AP Two North Koreans, including a military officer, defected to the South early on Saturday morning in the latest upset for Pyongyang after a fractious week in which Kim Jong-un threatened to pull out of June talks with Donald Trump, the US president. The officer and a civilian defected by boat and were picked up by the South Korean military in the Yellow Sea, near the inter-Korean sea border, after expressing willingness to defect, reported the Souths newswire, Yonhap. The defection, the first of a North Korean military officer since 2008, is awkward timing for Seoul, which has a longstanding policy of accepting any North Korean defectors who want to live in the South. Moon Jae-in, South Koreas president, has been at pains to keep this years diplomatic detente between North and South on track, particularly in the run up to June 12 summit in Singapore between Kim and President Trump, which aims to make progress on denuclearisation and peace on the peninsula. But despite a friendly first meeting between Kim and Mr Moon at the end of April, during which they held hands as they crossed their shared border, the diplomatic thaw that began in January showed the first signs of a breakdown last week, and the latest defection could raise tensions further. Thae Yong-ho, the highest ranking North Korean official ever to defect Credit: AFP/AFP In a stinging rebuke on Thursday, North Koreas chief negotiator, Ri Son Gwon, called the South Korean government ignorant and incompetent for going ahead with joint air combat drills with the US, threatening to halt all talks. Mr Ri also hit out at Seoul for allowing human scum to speak at its National Assembly. Although he did not mention him by name, it is believed that Mr Ri was referring to Thae Yong-ho, the highest ranking North Korean official ever to defect, who warned that Kim would never fully give up his nuclear arsenal during a press conference in the Assembly on Monday. Korea summit | Read more Pyongyangs angry outburst at the South followed an earlier threat to Washington last week that it may pull out of the Singapore summit. Citing the joint military drills as one reason, Kim Kye Gwan also took aim at John Bolton, the US national security adviser, for championing the so-called Libya model of denuclearisation as one that could be applied to North Korea. It is essentially a manifestation of awfully sinister move [sic] to impose on our dignified state the destiny of Libya or Iraq which had [sic] been collapsed due to yielding the whole of their countries to big powers, said Mr Kim in a statement. Paris (AFP) - Two young women detained after a deadly jihadist stabbing in Paris have been released from custody following two days of police questioning, a judicial source said on Saturday. A judge ordered that the two women, who were taken in for questioning on Thursday, be released. Knife attacker Khamzat Azimov, 20, a naturalised Frenchman of Chechen origin had been on France's two main watch lists for suspected radicals since 2016. A week ago he killed a 29-year-old man in the attack in Paris's busy Opera district before being shot dead by police. A friend of the dead man, Abdul Hakim A, also a Chechen-born French national, was arrested on Sunday in the eastern city of Strasbourg, where the two men grew up, and later transferred to the headquarters of France's domestic intelligence services in Paris. He was charged with "associating with criminal terrorists" on Thursday and remanded in custody. A source close to the inquiry said earlier one of the women was Ines Hamza, a radicalised 19-year-old who married Hakim A before trying to leave for Syria in January 2017. The U.S. has agreed to scrap a training exercise involving B-52 bombers as part joint of military drills with South Korea that have provoked Pyongyang's ire, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing American officials. The request reportedly came from the South Korean government, which cautioned against generating tensions with North Korea ahead of a planned meeting between Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12. The drills began on Wednesday in South Korea. North Korea reacted with fury on Tuesday at the news of the drills, code-named Max Thunder. The country canceled talks with South Korean officials planned for this week and has threatened to ax the Kim-Trump summit. Trending: Kidnappers Threatened To Murder Texas Teen In Text Messages To Mother 05_18_Kim Jong Un KCNA/via Reuters The regime also blamed comments made by national security adviser John Bolton for its change of attitude. Bolton suggested adopting the Libya model to push North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program. As North Korean officials remember all too well, this ended up with Libyan dictator Muammar el-Qaddafi being captured and killed by NATO-backed rebels about eight years after announcing he would dismantle Libyas nuclear weapons program. Kim himself has not yet commented on the matter. North Korean state-controlled media reported on Friday that the supreme leader chaired a meeting of the ruling party's military commission, the first in two years, without disclosing the date of the gathering. Don't miss: Who Is Meghan Markle's Maid-of-Honor? Why She Didn't Pick Jessica Mulroney Kim was portrayed wearing a white suit and giving instructions to a room full of military officials. He discussed "organizational measures," including a reshuffle of senior officials and a "radical improvement in military training," as well as strengthening party ideology throughout the ranks. Story continues 05_18_Kim Jong Un_2 KCNA/via Reuters "The meeting discussed and decided on a series of organizational measures to further strengthen the revolutionary army of the Party militarily and politically and improve the overall work for defending the country," read a report in the state-run Korean Central News Agency Most popular: Cliveden House Hotel: Here's Where Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Will Stay on Eve of Royal Wedding North Korea has also displayed its dissatisfaction with Seoul by refusing to accept a list of South Korean reporters it had invited to witness the dismantlement of the Punggye-ri nuclear test facility, planned for the end of May. "The government tried to notify [North Korea of the names of] our journalists who will cover the event for the nuclear test site dismantlement in Punggye-ri through the communication channel at Panmunjom, but the North has not accepted this," a South Korean Unification ministry official said Friday, as quoted by the Yonhap News Agency. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee leaders said on Thursday they will hold a series of hearings in coming months looking at what they see as serious threats from China, continuing strong calls in Congress for tough dealings with Beijing. "China has only become emboldened and now may be the pre-eminent threat to American security, our economy and our values," U.S. Representative Devin Nunes, the committee's Republican chairman, said at a hearing focused on China's military expansion. He said the committee would also look at issues including China's efforts "both legal and illicit" to acquire national security technology and U.S. intellectual property, its "influence campaign" and its technology strategy. The public hearing - unusual for a committee that conducts most of its business behind closed doors - took place the same day as Washington and Beijing were launching a second round of talks to try to avert a trade war. Representative Adam Schiff, the committee's top Democrat, said he hoped the panel would hold more public hearings related to China, particularly focusing on cyber security threats. Ahead of those talks, members of Congress, including President Donald Trump's fellow Republicans, have been pushing back on suggestions that Trump might ease a clampdown on one major Chinese company, telecommunications equipment maker ZTE Corp, in exchange for eased agricultural tariffs. Separately on Thursday, Republicans and Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee unanimously backed an amendment that would bar Trump's Department of Commerce from renegotiating sanctions on ZTE, a rebuke to Trump. The measure will be included in a Commerce, Justice and Science appropriations bill due to be considered by the full House of Representatives later this month. At the hearing, Schiff said, "We need to consider that the military challenge is part of a larger national strategy by China to project its power and to secure its national interests by whatever means necessary." He said that included sales of "potentially compromising" telecommunications equipment in the United States by ZTE and Huawei, another major Chinese company. U.S. intelligence agencies have warned that ZTE's products pose a threat to U.S. cyber security, alleging that they could be used to spy on Americans or steal intellectual property. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Cynthia Osterman) SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, who is leading a trade delegation in Washington, has met U.S. President Donald Trump, state broadcaster China Central Television said on Friday. A second round of talks between senior Trump administration officials and their Chinese counterparts started at the U.S. Treasury on Thursday morning, focused on cutting China's U.S. trade surplus and improving intellectual property protections. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders had earlier said Trump would meet Liu later on Thursday. Liu said the two countries should work together with mutual respect to promote stable and healthy ties, the People's Daily said in a post on an official microblog account. "China is willing to strive together with the United States to appropriately handle and resolve trade issues felt by both sides on a basis of mutual benefit," the official newspaper cited Liu as saying. He said the two sides should push to ensure trade cooperation continued to be a "ballast stone and propeller" of U.S.-China relations. The paper said Trump had called for strengthening of trade and investment ties in sectors such as energy, manufacturing and agriculture, as well as pushing ahead work on intellectual property protection. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on goods worth up to $150 billion (111 billion) to combat what he says is Beijing's misappropriation of U.S. technology through joint venture requirements and other policies. Beijing has threatened equal retaliation, including tariffs on some of its largest U.S. imports, including aircraft, soybeans and autos. (Reporting by Adam Jourdan and Wang Jing; Editing by Paul Tait) Brdo castle (Kranj) (Slovenia) (AFP) - The United Nation's food agency and the European Union on Saturday called for global action to protect pollinators, and bees in particular, which are crucial for ensuring food security. "It is not possible to have food security if we don't have pollinators," the head of the UN's Food and Agricultural Organization, Jose Graziano da Silva, told a conference in Slovenia ahead of the first-ever World Bee Day. Pollinators, such as bees, birds, bats, butterflies and beetles "are responsible for most of the crops and food that we eat," he said. To cope with the impact of pesticides, shrinking forest areas and reducing wildlife, the world needs to find "ways to increase, preserve biodiversity," he said. To underline the importance of the issue, and following a Slovenian proposal, the UN has named May 20 as World Bee Day, as it marked the birthday of Anton Jansa (1734-1773), a Slovenian pioneer in modern beekeeping. Bees help pollinate 90 percent of the world's major crops, but in recent years many have been dying off from "colony collapse disorder", a mysterious scourge blamed partly on pesticides. The UN has warned that 40 percent of invertebrate pollinators -- particularly bees and butterflies -- risk global extinction. EU environment commissioner Karmenu Vella, also attending the conference, announced that Brussels is scheduled to present its action plan to protect pollinators on June 1. "Basically, we'll be addressing the threats, the causes, the consequences but also the actions that we have to take," to protect pollinators and stop the decline of biodiversity, Vella told journalists. "We have to take actions not just in Slovenia, not just in Europe, but globally," he added. Last month, EU countries voted for a ban on the use of three neonicotinoid pesticides in fields, allowing its use only in covered greenhouses where they cannot get into the environment. Graziano da Silva saw the ban as "the right way forward." Jerusalem (AFP) - The opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem, after Washington recognised the disputed city as Israel's capital, sparked deadly demonstrations in Gaza in which Israeli forces killed dozens of Palestinians. Here is an overview. - Bloodbath - Hours before the embassy's controversial opening Monday, tens of thousands of protesters gather at the Gaza-Israel border, defying Israeli warnings to keep away. The border had been a flashpoint for deadly demonstrations that began on March 30, with some protesters attempting to breach the fence as part of demands that Palestinian refugees be allowed to return to their homes now inside Israel. Clashes quickly flare and Israeli soldiers positioned on the other side of the barrier open fire. By the end of Monday, 59 Palestinians have been killed, most of them by Israeli snipers. At least 2,400 are wounded. A top official from Gaza's ruling Islamist movement Hamas says most of those killed are its members. - 'Massacre' - An eight-month-old baby dies overnight after inhaling teargas, marking the deadliest day in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since the 2014 Gaza war. The Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority condemns the "terrible massacre" and calls for "immediate international intervention". European nations call for calm and Amnesty International condemns the "abhorrent violation" of human rights. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defends the use of force. "Every country has the obligation to defend its borders," he says on Twitter, accusing Hamas of inciting the protesters. "Hamas is intentionally and cynically provoking this response," US President Donald Trump's administration adds. - The embassy opens - The embassy is officially opened when Trump's daughter Ivanka unveils a plaque and a seal. Trump hails it as a "great day for Israel" and says in a video message: "Our greatest hope is for peace." Story continues For Israel, the relocation of the embassy from Tel Aviv formally recognises all of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a crushing blow to Palestinians who see the city's east as their capital. - Investigations demanded - Protests continue on the Gaza border with less intensity on Tuesday, with another two Palestinians killed. Calls mount for an enquiry into the violence, with the Arab League urging the International Criminal Court to investigate "the crimes of the Israeli occupation". Turkey, whose President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday accused Israel of "state terror" and "genocide", tells the Israeli ambassador to leave temporarily. Israel responds by expelling the Turkish consul, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuses Hamas of deliberately putting children in the line of fire. - US support - US ambassador Nikki Haley defends Israel at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, saying its forces had acted with restraint in the face of provocation by Hamas. The US State Department says Hamas is using the unveiling of the American embassy as an "excuse" to encourage violence. On Wednesday, Guatemala also inaugurates its Israel embassy in Jerusalem. The next day the Israeli army carries out strikes against Hamas, saying it is responding to gunfire against soldiers stationed along the border and the town of Sderot, near Gaza. - UN probe - The Arab League on Thursday calls for an international probe into alleged crimes by Israeli forces. On Friday Kuwait submits a draft UN resolution| calling for an "international protection mission". In Geneva the UN Human Rights Council votes to send an a team of international war crimes investigators to Gaza. Israel condemns its "hypocrisy". Erdogan hosts Muslim leaders for a summit in Istanbul, where thousands mass in support of the Palestinians. Students at Santa Fe High School in Texas spent Friday morning in fear as a gunman killed 10 people and injured 13 others at their school. Law enforcement officials took a male suspect into custody later Friday a 17-year old believed to be a student at the school. The tragedy marked the 16th school shooting in 2018, according to a count by The Washington Post. It was also the 10th since the February massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which left 17 dead and sparked a nationwide conversation about gun violence in America. Santa Fe High, you didnt deserve this. You deserve peace all your lives, not just after a tombstone saying that is put over you. You deserve more than Thoughts and Prayers, and after supporting us by walking out we will be there to support you by raising up your voices, tweeted Emma Gonzalez, a survivor of the Parkland shooting. Sabika Sheikh Sabika Sheikh was a YES program exchange student from Pakistan. The programs manager, Megan Lysaght, confirmed her death via email to all of the YES program participants. This is Sabika, shes a friend of ours and shes an exchange student from Pakistan. Today, she was killed in the school shooting of Santa Fe, Texas. I never took this personally but now Im devastated and I think something should be done. This could be any of us. pic.twitter.com/raJ2KurL27 Boutaina (@Boutayn62531577) May 18, 2018 Cynthia Tisdale Cynthia Tisdale was a substitute teacher at Santa Fe High School. Her brother-in-law, John Tisdale, confirmed her death in a Facebook post on Friday evening, saying she had been teaching an art class when the shooting began. Cynthia planned on one day retiring and being a full-time grandmother. It will never happen, he wrote. She is survived by her husband, the Rev. William Recie Tisdale, and four children, he said. Story continues Chris Stone Chris Stone, 17, was missing for much of Friday while his friends and family frantically called him and checked local hospitals to see if he was among the injured. Multiple outlets confirmed his death on Friday evening. Photos the teens family released showed him smiling as he got ready for the high school prom just a week before he was killed. A tough update to bring you. @abc13houston has learned Chris Stone was one of the students killed at Santa Fe High School. His family shared these photos of him taken just the other week. He was a junior that was in art class this morning. pic.twitter.com/YV4JdeTniH Nick Natario (@NickABC13) May 18, 2018 Angelique Ramirez The family of student Angelique Ramirez confirmed to CBS-affiliate KHOU that she was killed in the shooting. Araceli Ramirez, who identified Angelique as her baby sister in a Facebook post, wrote: You deserved so much, you had so much planned for yourself and they took that away from you. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. Family confirms this is Angelique Ramirez, one of several people killed in the shooting at Santa Fe High School. #khou11 pic.twitter.com/CygzlKFN2k Rekha Muddaraj (@RekhaKHOU) May 19, 2018 Shana Fisher Shana Fishers aunt Candi Thurman confirmed on Twitter her niece didnt survive the shooting. In a tweet earlier Friday, Thurman also a student at the school said Fisher was in an art class when the gunman opened fire, shooting her in the leg. Its hard to believe one of the sweetest kids you would ever meet had a punk kill her, Tammy Fisher Whalen, who also identifies as Fishers aunt on Facebook, wrote in a post. Shana i love you sweet girl ..im sorry we couldnt help you. Kyle McLeod The family of Kyle McLeod, a student at Santa Fe High School, confirmed to ABC News that the young man was killed during the shooting. Kim Vaughn Kim Vaughns mother, Rhonda Hart, said in a Facebook post earlier Friday that her daughter was in first-period art class at the time of the shooting. Her family later confirmed to ABC News that she had died. Later in the day, Hart urged her Facebook friends to contact lawmakers in a post that included a hashtag of her daughters name. Folkscall your damn senators. Call your congressmen, Hart wrote. We need GUN CONTROL. WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR KIDS. Jared Black Jared Black had just turned 17 the week he was killed. His birthday party had been planned for Saturday, but now his parents must make arrangements for his funeral. Family friend Elizabeth McGinnis has set up a GoFundMe page to cover the cost of his family to fly to Texas. Our hearts are so sad for them, McGinnis said on the page. I was there when they heard the news. Such a rough day for all. Bobby, Jareds Dad, sat in misery for 13 hours not knowing if he was one of the victims. Jared Black, 17. (Photo: Family Handout) Ann Perkins Substitute teacher Ann Perkins was one of two adults killed in the shooting. She was often affectionately referred to as Grandma Perkins, CBS Dallas-Fort Worth reported. A Facebook post from a friend first confirmed her death. Ashleys mom, Ms. Ann, has passed away as a result of todays tragic events, the post said. She was an amazing mom and an adored substitute who was loved by all. Ann Perkins was a beloved teacher, family friend, & woman. She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, & students. She lived an impeccable life filled with traveling, love, family, & a bit of champagne. Rest easy our beautiful nurturing angel. I love you. pic.twitter.com/E4F1ss1hQb (@lemonylyd) May 18, 2018 Christian Riley Garcia Christian Garcia, 15, loved riding Jet Skis and night fishing with his family, The Washington Post reported. His cousin, Ashley Fonseca, 21, told the publication they had been making plans to go to Six Flags together this summer. In a Facebook post for Crosby Church, the churchs pastor mourned Garcia. He has grown up in our church, I baptized him many yrs ago, the post said. I just left his wonderful, loving family and extended all of the prayers and love for them from our Church. Jenna Amatulli, Sarah Ruiz-Grossman and Carla Herreria contributed reporting. Also on HuffPost Santa Fe High School student Dakota Shrader is comforted by her mother Susan Davidson following a shooting at the school on Friday, May 18, 2018, in Santa Fe, Texas. Shrader said her friend was shot in the incident. Law enforcement officers are responding to Santa Fe High School following a shooting incident in this Harris County Sheriff office, Santa Fe, Texas, U.S., photo released on May 18, 2018. A man hugs a woman outside the Alamo Gym where parents wait to reunite with their children following a shooting at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, on Friday, May 18, 2018. ATF agents arrive on location at Santa Fe High School. A Life Flight helicopter takes off from Santa Fe High School. ATF agents arrive on location at Santa Fe High School where a shooter killed at least 10 students on May 18, 2018 in Santa Fe, Texas. Emergency crews gather in the parking lot of Santa Fe High School. Emergency medical personnel stage in the Santa Fe High School parking lot. An FBI agent is seen in the parking lot of Santa Fe High School. Emergency crews and police gather in the parking lot of Santa Fe High School. Students exit Santa Fe High School. Aerial view of Santa Fe High School. Students are grouped together as they exit Santa Fe High School. Law enforcement vehicles outside of Santa Fe High School. Law enforcement behind Santa Fe High School. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Albertas United Conservative leader Jason Kenney took a shot at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, insulting his intelligence and ability to govern the country. In a Calgary Sun column publishing Wednesday, Kenney said Trudeau doesnt have a clue what hes doing. This guy is an empty trust-fund millionaire who has the political depth of a finger bowl, Kenney told the Calgary Suns Rick Bell. He cant read a briefing note longer than a cocktail napkin, O.K. Albertas UCP leader is standing by his comments, saying he was worked with dozens of MPs in Ottawa and Trudeau wasnt one of them. Kenneys insults were sparked by questions about Trudeau standing up for Alberta and his governments work on pipeline expansion in the area. He doesnt support pipelines. He doesnt believe in this project, Kenney told the Calgary Sun. He allows a provincial government to thumb their nose at the Constitution while doing the square root of nothing to respond. The prime minister, citing his fathers lessons, refused to bring himself to Jason Kenneys level by denigrating an individual using personal attacks after the Alberta politician said he had the political depth of a finger bowl. While in New York City, the prime minister spoke to reporters about the personal attack by Kenny. Trudeau said he is not going to engage with UCP leader. It is not my practice, and it is not I think helpful, to make personal attacks or to denigrate an individual, Trudeau said. My father raised me better than that and Im not going to engage. So did the UCP leader cross a line with his comments? Did he take it too far? Vote in the poll above and leave your thoughts in the comments below. The guest list for Prince Harry and Meghan Markles hotly anticipated royal wedding Saturday may be tightly under wraps, but some world leaders have let slip on their plans to congratulate the newest royal couple. While Harry and Meghans wedding at Windsor Castle will not host as many international leaders or political figures as the 2011 nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton, dignitaries from French president Emmanuel Macron to President Donald Trump have revealed what they plan to present as wedding gifts to the pair. In their planning and preparation for the big day, Harry and Meghan are breaking from tradition in a variety of ways. The gift list is no exception; the couple asked for donations to seven charities of their choice instead of traditional presents. Kensington Palace confirmed via Twitter last month that while the couple do not have any official ties to the charities they have chosen, they represent a range of issues that the couple are passionate about, ranging from sport for social change to the Armed Forces. Despite that request, gifts are still on their way. Here are some of the presents international figures plan to give the couple in celebration of their royal matrimony. The Prince and Princess of Lesotho Emmanuel Macron With a nod to the slick and suave (and fictional) British spy James Bond, French President Emmanuel Macron has selected a 007-themed gift from luxury fashion brand S.T. Dupont to give to the couple as they tie the royal knot. (Macron, who is not invited, says he plans to watch the ceremony on TV.) A purveyor to the worlds greatest names, the French brand can add Prince Harry and Meghan Markles names to that list. They will receive a bespoke pen and a heritage lighter. Its not the first time S.T. Dupont has created a gift for a British royal wedding. In 1947, then French president Vincent Auriol presented a bespoke travel case to the future Queen Elizabeth in celebration of her marriage to Prince Philip, a tradition that was revived by former President Nicholas Sarkozy, who gifted the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge a travel case for their wedding in 2011. Story continues Donald and Melania Trump Although President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are not invited to the wedding, they will still be honoring Harry and Meghans wedding gift wishes. White House Spokesperson Lindsay Walters confirmed Thursday that the Trumps will be making donation to one of the seven charities chosen by the royal couple in lieu of a gift. Jacinda Ardern New Zealands Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the government will make a charitable donation to celebrate Harry and Meghans nuptials. She told reporters that the official donation of NZD 5,000 would go to Pillars, a charity in the country that supports the children of prisoners, and which is celebrating its 30th anniversary on the weekend of the royal wedding. Though the charity is not on the list of seven picked by the pair, Ardern told reporters that the couple were happy that the wedding would be acknowledged by the donation. The couple are both very interested in initiatives that support vulnerable children and young people, she said. Malcolm Turnbull According to Australian media, the countrys prime minister has promised two gifts for Harry and Meghans big day. The first, larger gift, will be a charitable donation of an unspecified amountand the second Turnbull said he would not reveal till the wedding day, saying only that it was very Australian and appeals to their interests. Though the countrys official gift may remain a secret, one of Australias regional governments has chosen to make its own offering to celebrate the couples big day. The government of New South Wales has named two koalas at Taronga Zoo, near Sydney, after Harry and Meghan, and the regions leader, Premier Gladys Berejiklian told local media that the couple could visit them next time they visited Australia. Justin Trudeau Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Canadian government will donate $50,000 to the youth sports-focused charity Jumpstart. Trudeaus office released the statement an hour after Harry and Meghans ceremony on Saturday morning. Today, Canadians joined in celebration as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married, the release read. To celebrate their union, Canada will donate $50,000 to Jumpstart, a Canadian charity dedicated to making play and sports more accessible to children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Since 2005, Jumpstart has helped more than 1.6 million children of all abilities get out on the field and be part of a team. On behalf of 1.6 M Jumpstart kids, thank you @JustinTrudeau & the Government of Canada for this contribution to @CTJumpstart in celebration of Prince Harry & Ms. Meghan Markles #RoyalWedding! https://t.co/t6dFludGLi pic.twitter.com/37WS5wbnbK Jumpstart (@CTJumpstart) May 19, 2018 Trudeau closed with best wishes for the couple. A lifetime of happiness, and all the best as they start this new chapter together. We look forward to welcoming them on a future visit to Canada, he wrote. When President Donald Trump sat at a roundtable on Wednesday and referred to certain immigrants as animals, he was engaging in a practice that has been around for millennia. Go back to ancient Mesopotamia and there are examples of people using language to describe other humans as something less than human, whether insects or parasites or donkeys. It really goes back to the beginning of history, says David Livingstone Smith, a professor of philosophy at the University of New England. And, he says, its always been a dangerous way of thinking. Trump has since insisted on a distinction, even as Mexico has protested: He wasnt talking about all undocumented immigrants but only those who are members of the gang MS-13. Smith, who wrote a book called Less Than Human: Why We Demean, Enslave and Exterminate Others, says that doesnt justify the language Trump used (which he has deployed many times before). Part of the psychology of this sort of thing is that people generalize, he says. What happens when a powerful figure like the President makes that comparison, Smith explains, is essentially people think, immigrants = evil = monsters. Many people who were offended by Trumps language in turn made dehumanizing comments of their own on Twitter, saying that Trump or anyone who continues to support him are the real animals. But that is falling prey to the same bad instinct. We often dehumanize the dehumanizers, as if to say, This has nothing to do with us,' Smith says, and that really prevents us from understanding that were all vulnerable to forming these kinds of derogatory attitudes towards others. Smith suggests that sets us back in eradicating this kind of behavior altogether. One reason that experts raise flags about such language is that dehumanizing words are often precursors to sticks and stones, because they disable inhibitions against acts of harm, as Smith puts it. We are permitted to treat non-human animals in ways that are impermissible in the treatment of human beings, he says. People can roast pigs but they cant roast their mother. Story continues Genocides throughout history have involved the victims being compared to something subhuman. Germans used the word Untermenschen, which literally means subhuman, to describe Jews while making plans to exterminate them. During the Rwandan genocide, Tutsis were described as cockroaches. More recently, Buddhist monks in Myanmar have been describing the persecuted Rohingya population as reincarnated snakes and scorpions all of which can enable the attitude that certain groups are to be dealt with using the same guiltless violence one inflicts on pests. Its easy to see how this works when considering an opposing example: activists crusading to have animals granted the legal status of personhood with hopes that humans would treat them with more respect and care. Dehumanizing language can help enable policy changes too. Sociolinguist Ben Zimmer recalls the example of superpredator, a word popularized by a Princeton academic in 1995 to describe juvenile criminals and a term Hillary Clinton was criticized for using back in the 90s. That label likened violent youth to predatory animals, beings that other humans must protect themselves from by asserting their more dominant place in the hierarchy. (It became particularly associated with African-American youth.) As Retro Report explains in the short documentary The Superpredator Scare, that framing helped the passage of state laws that made it easier to treat juveniles as adults in courts, even though the data about the perceived threat of superpredators proved overblown. This is one of the key concerns surrounding Trumps animals comment: that it will enable policies that are less humane by spreading the idea that there is some species-level difference between people who have citizenship and those who dont. Its of a piece with other dehumanizing rhetoric that Trump has used to appeal to his base and their anxieties about immigration, Zimmer says. Its the same kind of moral panic. That association is only helped along by alien language already in use, as well as the fact that immigrants tend to speak languages other than English. After all, speech is a defining feature of the species, and its easier to deny someone the dignity of viewing them as part of the species if they dont speak your tongue. Zimmer notes that the roots of the word barbarian are related to the word babble, a pejorative label that conjures disdain for the unintelligible speech of foreigners. Some researchers have suggested that having dehumanizing attitudes toward other groups may have neurological effects, dampening empathetic responses in the brain. While academics have debated that idea, Smith says that this old habit persists precisely because its effect on our minds can be so strong. Humans are a highly social species, and for any social animal, there have to be very strong inhibitions against lethal violence in the community, because you cant maintain a social way of life if youre at each others throats, he says. Yet humans can also come to see how violence could be advantageous, whether it allows them to take someone elses land or exploit their labor. So over the millennia, weve developed ways of disabling those inhibitions, he says, one of which is dehumanizing other people so individuals can express certain impulses that you would normally keep under wraps. World War II provides more examples than the obvious one. The Americans dehumanized the Japanese before they dropped nuclear bombs on them, Smith says. (And, he adds, they actually dehumanized the Germans less because of racial similarities.) The Japanese in turn dehumanized the Allies. And there are countless people who have denied the humanity of Adolf Hitler. It makes sense: humans dont want to believe one of their own is capable of such atrocities. But Smith argues that by making exceptions by being dehumanizing to others when it feels righteous or popular or even right is still breathing life into a generally destructive habit. No matter how heinous someones crimes are, theyre still human beings, he says. When people who are angry about Trumps comment then go and paint him as a beast, that doesnt help us to manage this terrible problem, Smith adds. If we want to prevent dehumanization and the atrocities that flow from it, we really need to accept how vulnerable we are to slipping into that way of thinking. That impulse doesnt make someone a bad person, Smith adds, but once that way of thinking is established, it is hard to control. The nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Saturday will mark a break from royal-wedding tradition in a number of ways, from the wedding cake to the invitations. Among the weddings most significant deviations from the past is the very fact that the bride is Meghan Markle: as a divorced, American, Catholic-raised woman of color, she falls into into several categories that stand out on the British royal family tree. But some experts believe that Markle whose father, Thomas Markle, is white and whose mother, Doria Ragland, is African-American wouldnt be the first black royal in British history. One leading theory is that the distinction of being Britains first black Queen or first biracial Queen may belong to Queen Charlotte, who became Queen when she married King George III, who reigned from 1760 to 1820. Born Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the German princess was 17 when she married the 22-year-old British monarch, whom she met for the first time about six hours after arriving in Britain. They had 15 children together, 13 of whom lived to adulthood. According to Mario De Valdes y Cocom, who researched her roots for a PBS Frontline documentary, Queen Charlotte is directly descended from a branch of the Portuguese royal family that had its roots in Africa. When the King of Portugal in the 1200s conquered the town of Faro from the Moors the Muslim population of the Iberian peninsula, with links to North Africa he took the governors daughter as a lover, and ended up having three children with her, Valdes recently told the Washington Post. Valdes research suggests that one of those children married into the de Sousa family, and he has traced six different lines from 15th-century Portuguese noblewoman Margarita de Castro y Sousa down to Queen Charlotte. Get your history fix in one place: sign up for the weekly TIME History newsletter Theres evidence that people back then appeared to have noticed that she looked like she may have come from a mixed-race background. The Queens personal physician, Baron Stockmar, described her as having a true mulatto face, and a poem about the coronation ceremony that was written following her wedding that described her as, Descended from the warlike Vandal race, / She still preserves that title in her face. / Tho shone their triumphs oer Numidias plain (This poem is confusing, as a piece of evidence: Numidia was a North African kingdom, but the Vandals were originally Germanic.) Story continues Experts like Valdes also point to paintings of her, including the one shown above, which is from the 1760s and attributed to abolitionist portraitist Allan Ramsay. She did have mixed-race features, and Ramsay was a portraitist who reflected this accurately and didnt make her look as if she was white, says Robert Lacey, a historian and expert on the British Royal Family who has consulted on Netflixs The Crown and who recently appeared on British streaming service Britboxs WED Talks series. Such treatment was not a foregone conclusion: For example, Queen-consort Philippa of Hainault, who married King Edward III in 1328, was once described as brown of skin all over, but portraits show otherwise. But the question of whether Markle and Queen Charlotte truly share this link remains unsettled. Other experts on the British royal family have called the link too remote to count on not only did Charlotte live hundreds of years ago, but the supposed ancestor at the crux of the argument lived hundreds of years before her. Buckingham Palace, asked to comment by the Boston Globe when the Frontline piece aired, dismissed it as an unimportant rumor. In addition, even if Queen Charlotte did have genetic links to North Africa, deciding whether or not to classify her as black or mixed-race gets into questions about how to define such categories, which would have been seen differently back then and are still complex today. From a research standpoint, Lacey says, the evidence needed to say for sure whether Queen Charlotte or anyone else in the royal family tree was mixed race, or if she identified as such, is thought to be lost, so nowadays were just going on anecdotal evidence. But to other historians, getting the facts straight on Queen Charlotte matters a lot. If modern scholars classify Queen Charlotte as black, the historian Kate Williams told the Guardian in 2009, then that has implications for the roots of the royal families throughout the continent, considering that Queen Victorias descendants are spread across most of the royal families of Europe and beyond. Given the symbolic importance of royalty, even such an incredibly faint link could be significant to the way people see the history of race and racism. Considering the response to Markles entrance into the royal family an event that has elicited racist reactions, as well as admiration from many who see themselves in her its a significance that appears to continue to this day. 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. The Westin Chattanooga announced that it received AAA Four Diamond rating in May, making it the only hotel in Chattanooga to earn this designation. AAA admits less than seven percent of the more than 27,000 AAA Inspected and Approved hotels across the United States onto its Four Diamond list. According to AAAs website, a Four Diamond hotel rating signifies a hotel that is refined, stylish with upscale physical attributes, extensive amenities and a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail. Hotels undergo a rigorous assessment, including an unannounced on-site inspection, in a six-month-long evaluation process. We strive to make the Westin the premier Chattanooga hotel that services visitors and locals alike by going the extra step, says Tom Underwood, general manager of the Westin. The Westin team is excited to learn that our superior facilities and services are recognized in the renowned industry AAA Four Diamond list. The Westin Chattanooga is within walking distance of restaurants, boutique shopping, the Chattanooga Convention Center, the Tivoli Theatre and Warehouse Row. The hotel offers 260 rooms, 24 of which are suites, including some that have private outdoor patios as well as 15,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. AAA Diamond Ratings for hotels represent a combination of the overall quality, range of facilities and level of services offered by the property. The descriptive ratings are assigned exclusively to properties that meet and uphold AAAs approval standards. AAA rates more properties than any other professional rating system in North America and is the only system that uses full-time, professionally trained evaluators to inspect properties on a routine basis. Jerusalem Day is a great time for public discussion on the most interesting, diverse and complex city in Israel, but in recent years, this discussion often turns into a eulogy of the secular population in Jerusalem. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter One cannot deny the challenges a city such as Jerusalem faces, in which two-thirds of the population (Arabs and ultra-Orthodox) are typically not raised according to the classic Israeli narrative shared by the majority of the Israeli population. This diversity poses great challenges to all of the city's populations; it especially pertains to the secular population, which enjoys an absolute majority in the rest of the country. However, this unique situation offers the secular Jerusalemites the opportunity to fully live out their secularity, more so than their counterparts in other cities in Israel. The secular public in Jerusalem enjoys an unprecedented abundance of art and cultural events, with a growing number of restaurants and cafes open on Shabbat (Photo: Shutterstock) Let us start with some facts: There are over 325,000 people in Jerusalem's "general" population (secular and national-religious), and while it is difficult to define, about half of these fall under the standard definition of secular. In Jerusalem, there are more secular people than in distinct secular cities such as Herzliya, Givatayim or Kfar Saba; the secular public in Jerusalem enjoys an unprecedented abundance of art and cultural events; there is a growing number of restaurants and cafes open on Shabbat; and during the last national election, Meretz (a left-wing, social-democratic party) received more votes in Jerusalem than in any other city in Israel, excluding Tel Aviv. However, this is not why secular Jerusalemites fully live out their secularity in Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, you get to experience real pluralism, for all its degrees and downfalls. In this city, you are constantly exposed to other populationsat the workplace, in the supermarket, on public transportation. Civil Society, another fascinating, bubbly phenomenon in this city, further exposes you to people you could not have met anywhere else in Israel: Ultra-Orthodox high-tech entrepreneurs, Arab social activists, or religious feminists. These people, although from different backgrounds and different belief systems, understand the massive force of collaboration needed to advance the city we all live in. It is not a coincidence that in recent years, Jerusalem, the diverse city, has engendered the presence of groundbreaking entrepreneurs from all its communities. We, the secular Jerusalemites, are the reference point for all those fighting for equal rights within their own societies. We are the mirror to which they design their reflective perceptions: how to maintain their lifestyle while simultaneously transforming their communities into a better place. This to me is the essence of secularity: Not a strict secularity that only accepts those whom adopt all secular values, but an open, pluralistic secularity that accepts others despite difficulties and that exposes others, especially those from more conservative communities, to a more liberal and egalitarian alternative. We call it Jerusalemite secularity. We have many more obstacles to face in order to transform our city into a place where all communities cooperate with one another for the benefit of all residents (Photo: Getty Images) Let us not be deluded: This shared-life of such different communities is no easy feat. In recent years, we have witnessed various contradicting phenomena within different communities of the city; for every group pushing towards integration and involvement, there are other groups pushing for segregation and isolation. A great example of this is the current road-blocking demonstrations led by "HaPeleg HaYerushalmi (the Jerusalemite Faction), a minority group in the ultra-Orthodox community. In the upcoming months, leading to the municipal elections, surely many will take interest in magnifying these disputes and opposing efforts like integration and mutual recognition. We are already witnessing some examples of this. We have many more obstacles to face in order to transform our city into a place where all communities cooperate with one another for the benefit of all residents, but we have no other option: According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics demographic forecasts, in 50 years, all of Israel's demography will look much like Jerusalem's demography today. Thus, the models we build and practice today concerning the relations between different communities in Jerusalem will affect the entire State of Israel. Secular Jerusalemites are crucial players in this journey. I would not rush to eulogize us: We still have much more to offer this city. Lior Schillat is the director general of the Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research . Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh said "the blood shed during the March of Return achieved its goal" of mobilizing the world against Israel and garner support for the lift on the "siege" placed on the Gaza Strip by Israel and Egypt. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "The siege on the Gaza Strip is beginning to be truly lifted and there are serious steps to remove it altogether," he said speaking at a mosque in Gaza during Friday prayers, mentioning the opening of the Rafah crossing as proof. Hamas chief Haniyeh (Photo: EPA) He added that "thanks to the demonstrations, the world attacked Israel and demonstrations erupted across the world, even in Western capitals. This is the most appropriate time for reconciliation among all the Palestinian factions and we are ready to take serious steps. The Palestinian issue has returned to the international arena after being forgotten for years." Haniyeh then vowed that, while stating before that the protests had achieved their goals, they will nevertheless not cease until the siege on the strip is "completely lifted." Israel and Egypt have placed a blockade on the coastal enclave ever since Hamas took over it in 2007 in an attempt to curb the terror group's weapon smuggling. Haniyeh previously claimed the goal of the border protests is to promote the Palestinians right of return to what is now Israel. Friday prayer services of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque (: AFP) Meanwhile, Israeli police said the first Friday prayer services of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan ended peacefully at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque. Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says over 90,000 attended prayers at the holy site. Israeli security forces are on high alert as the Muslim fasting month begins this year amid heightened tensions along the Gaza border fence, after 61 Palestinians were killed there Monday by Israeli fire. The high casualty count has drawn sharp international condemnations against Israel and accusations that it is using excessive force. Israel accuses Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza, of exploiting civilians and using the protests as cover for attacks. ISTANBUL - Muslim leaders meeting in Turkey on Friday called for an international force to be deployed to protect Palestinians after dozens of demonstrators were shot dead by Israeli forces on the Gaza border this week. In a declaration at the end of their meeting in Istanbul, the leaders also said Muslim countries should impose "economic restrictions" on countries that followed the United States in moving their embassies to Jerusalem, and said the issue of the Gaza violence should be put on the agenda of the UN Security Council and General Assembly. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday compared the actions of Israeli troops in Gaza to Nazi Germany's treatment of Jews in World War Two. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "The children of those being subject to all sorts of torture in concentration camps during World War Two are now attacking Palestinians with methods that would put Nazis to shame," Erdogan said shortly after addressing a rally of thousands of people in support of Palestinians. The international community "must stop watching the massacres from the bleachers" and send "an international peace force to the people of Palestine, who are losing their young children to Israeli terror every day," Erdogan said, comparing the proposed deployment to peacekeeping forces sent to Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s. Erdogan speaking at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting (Photo: MCT) Erdogan also urged member states and others to prevent Israeli products produced in "illegal Israeli settlements" from entering their markets. The Turkish president's calls were backed by Muslim leaders, who on Friday urged an international force to be deployed to protect Palestinians after dozens of protesters were shot dead by Israeli forces on the Gaza border this week. At a special summit in Turkey convened by Erdogan, they also pledged to take "appropriate political (and) economic measures" against countries that followed the United States in moving their Israel embassies to contested Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, a move they described as a "provocation and hostility against" the Islamic world. Erdogan speaking at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting (Photo: MCT) Erdogan, who is campaigning for re-election next month, used the summit to verbally attack Israel. He also castigated the United States, saying its decision to move its embassy had emboldened Israel to put down the protests at the border with Gaza with excessive force. Most countries say the status of Jerusalem - a sacred city to Jews, Muslims and Christians - should be determined in a final peace settlement between Israel and Palestinians and that moving their embassies now would prejudge any such deal. US President Donald Trump's step to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the embassy there reversed decades of US policy, upsetting the Arab world and Western allies. Guatemala this week became the second country to move its embassy to Jerusalem, and Paraguay said it would follow suit this month. Erdogan speaking at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting (Photo: Reuters) The final declaration of the meeting of the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation described the killing of 60 Palestinians, protesting the embassy move on Monday, as "savage crimes committed by the Israeli forces with the backing of the US administration." It said the violence should be put on the agenda of the UN Security Council and General Assembly, and called on the United Nations to investigate the killings. The Islamic organization also told its members to fall in line and "commit to voting for our common cause" of Jerusalem or risk punitive measures. Turkey's foreign minister had criticized certain members for voting against, abstaining from or not showing up for a United Nations motion in December - some 128 countries overwhelmingly supported the UN against Washington's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The summit was attended by Jordan's King Abdullah, a US ally whose Hashemite dynasty is custodian of Muslim sites in Jerusalem. Abdullah said the US decision five months ago to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital had "weakened the pillars of peace ... and deepened the despair that leads to violence." Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting (Photo: MCT) Iran's President Hassan Rouhani called the Trump administration a "dangerous threat" to global peace and security and urged Muslim countries "to totally cut their relations with the Zionist regime (Israel) and also to revise their trade and economic ties with America." "If Israel faces a united front of Islamic nations, it will never be able to continue its crimes," the Iranian president said. He cited the example of the "new and young generation of Palestine who is aware of their rights and has no intention to withdraw or compromise." Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah criticized the US for becoming "part of the problem and not the solution" and thereby disqualified itself as a peace process mediator by infringing on the Palestinians' "historic, legal, natural and national rights" with Monday's embassy move. Before the summit, Erdogan slammed Islamic countries that failed what he termed "the Jerusalem test," saying "all we Muslims do is condemn" and not unite. Erdogan said Muslim countries were "severe, intolerant and unconscientious" to each other and "toothless and cowardly" to unspecified enemies. He later struck a more conciliatory tone. Protest in Istanbul against Israel Erdogan, along with the Palestinian prime minister, was speaking to hundreds of thousands waving Palestinian and Turkish flags at an Istanbul rally dubbed "Curse Oppression, Support Jerusalem." He told the rally that the responsibility to defend Jerusalem lay with them as crowds chanted "Chief, take us to Jerusalem." A populist with roots in political Islam, Turkish Erdogan has described Israel as "terrorist state." The violence in Gaza led to Turkey and Israel expelling each other's senior diplomats this week. Erdogan has also traded barbs on Twitter with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel, however, was the 10th-largest market for Turkish exports in 2017, buying some $3.4 billion of goods, according to IMF statistics. "We have excellent economic ties with Turkey. And these relations are very important for both sides," Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon told Israel Radio on Friday when asked if Israel should break ties with Turkey. The plight of Palestinians resonates with many Turks, particularly the nationalist and religious voters who form the base of support for Erdogan, who has been in power for 15 years. Florida Highway Patrol arrested a man Wednesday accused of driving under the influence and causing an accident that left one victim with brain damage. Joseph Daniel Nipper, 32, was charged with DUI with damage to property and another person and DUI with serious bodily injury to another person. On Wednesday at around 3:40 p.m., a three-vehicle crash occurred on Northwest 39th Avenue, according to the report. Around 4:00 p.m., FHP officers arrived on the scene to find Nipper still in the driver's seat of his crashed vehicle, according to the report. The second driver, a 75-year-old woman, was transported to UF Health Shands Hospital where she was admitted to the intensive care unit with a brain bleed, according to the report. The victim is still in serious condition, according to FHP Public Affairs Officer Patrick Riordan. Riordan also said the third driver had no injuries. When officers did an inventory of Nippers vehicle, they found a cooler that had one opened and three unopened cans of Bud Light beer, according to the report. One FHP officer reported that Nipper had a strong odor of alcohol coming from him and his breath, according to the report. He was reportedly unsteady, lethargic and had thick, slurred speech. Nipper refused to perform a standardized field sobriety exercise and then was arrested under suspicion of DUI at 4:15 p.m., according to the report. While being transported to Alachua County Jail, he said he wanted an independent blood test. Nipper refused a breath sample and the blood sample while he was in custody. Needing medical clearance to be taken by the jail, officers took Nipper to North Florida Regional Medical Center Millhopper Freestanding ER where he was discharged with instructions of alcohol intoxication, according to the report. He was then taken back to the jail. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now Nipper remained in the Alachua County Jail on Wednesday in lieu of a $45,000 bail. He posted bond on Thursday. Follow Devoun Cetoute on Twitter @devoun_cetoute and contact him at dcetoute@alligator.org. WASHINGTON - The Trump administration is aiming to roll out its much-hyped but long-delayed Middle East peace plan next month amid signs it may further alienate the Palestinians by slashing millions of dollars in funding for humanitarian and development projects in the West Bank and Gaza. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Prime Minister Netanyahu, right, with Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt (Photo: Amos Ben Gershom/GPO) Five US officials and a congressional aide say the administration intends to release the peace plan in mid- to late-June, shortly after the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, although they cautioned that the timing could slip depending on developments in the region. They say the plan's main authorsPresident Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner and Trump's special envoy for international negotiations Jason Greenblatthave already begun quietly briefing select allies and partners on elements of the proposal. Yet any Palestinian willingness to even consider the plan would require conditions to improve and anger to subside considerably in the coming weeks, an unlikely scenario as the Palestinians say evidence of one-sided Trump giveaways to Israel continues to pile up. US allies in Europe and the Persian Gulf also have felt compelled to criticize the administration for its approach. Ostensibly, Trump would need buy-in from those same countries to build enough momentum for any peace plan to succeed. The administration has been resisting congressional demands to fully close the Palestine Liberation Organization office in Washington because Greenblatt and Kushner want to keep that channel open in case the Palestinians are open to re-entering negotiations with Israel based on the plan. The office was ordered closed by former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last November, but has been allowed to stay open for limited purposes under the administration's interpretation of the law requiring it to be shut down in the absence of peace talks. The prospect of Palestinian interest in the peace proposal appears dim, however, particularly since Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas recalled the mission's chief earlier this week to protest Monday's opening of the new US Embassy in Jerusalem . The embassy move is said to have contributed to violent protests in Gaza that were met with deadly force from Israel. Some 60 Palestinians were killed Monday by Israeli forces, drawing condemnations and calls for restraint from Europe and elsewhere. The US declined to join those calls and, while regretting the loss of life, opposed efforts at the UN to open an international investigation into the violence. US President Trump, right, with Palestinian President Abbas (Photo: AP) Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital , the embassy move and the administration's unreserved defense of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies have alienated and angered the Palestinian leadership, which accuses the administration of abandoning its role as a neutral arbiter in the conflict. Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, said any deal needs to be between the Palestinians and Israelnot the United States. "I don't need Jason Greenblatt. I don't need Kushner," Erekat said. "It's our lives." That sense of betrayal may deepen significantly this summer as millions of dollars in US assistance to the Palestinians appears likely to be cut and the funds re-allocated to other regions. That money has been on hold since last year and existing funding for some projects will start to run out in just months if it is not approved in the next two weeks. If that does not happen, the State Department and the US Agency for International Development will have to notify aid recipients that continued US funding is not forthcoming and those programs will begin to be shut down. Local staffers would be laid off and US officials running the projects would be reassigned elsewhere. Of $251 million in US aid planned for the Palestinians in 2018, only $50.5 million has been reported spent, according to the government's online tracker, www.foreignassistance.gov. The remaining more than $200 million is currently on hold, a figure that does not include an additional $65 million in frozen US assistance to the UN Relief and Works Agency, which provides services to Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan and Lebanon. The US aid pays for programs on education, health, good governance and democracy promotion as well as disaster preparedness and security. UNRWA distribution center in Gaza (Photo: MCT) For several months the White House has been sitting on State Department and USAID recommendations to spend at least some of the money, according to the officials. Three officials said there is no indication those recommendations will be acted upon any time soon despite appeals from lawmakers and even expressions of concern from Israel, which sees value in the assistance especially in the security sector. One official said there was "an overwhelming lack of urgency" about making a decision on the funding. The other two said there was no sign that the end-of-May timeframe would be met. "The administration is currently reviewing US assistance to the Palestinians," USAID said in a statement to The Associated Press. "USAID is in discussions with all affected implementing partners on the status of the review, and is working closely with the interagency, as the administration concludes its review." At immediate risk are between five and 10 of the some 20 USAID projects in the West Bank and Gaza, along with proposed new initiatives, the officials said. Without a quick decision those will run out of money by the end of 2018, they said. Nearly all of the others will run out of money in early 2019 unless the US funding is unblocked, they said. Even though Israel didn't officially announce it will not cooperate with the investigation of the UN Human Rights Council into the deaths of protesters in Gaza, it is highly unlikey Jerusalem would agree to take part. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter While 29 countries voted on Friday in favor of a commission of inquiry, 14 abstained and only two opposedIsrael considers the mandate the UNHRC gave itself to be entirely draconian, and claims it has already set its goal: to investigate the wrongs perpetrated against Palestinian civilians who held protests in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the violation of international law, to the point of committing war crimes. The UNHRC's decision instructs the commission to investigate "individual criminals" who were responsible for the crimes, including commanders. In other words, the commission will seek to investigate IDF soldiers and commanders who carried out intentional fire against the protesters. The council members don't just want to launch an investigation, but stress under article 5 of the resolution that the goal is to probe IDF commanderssomething Israel cannot allow. The UN Human Rights Council (: AFP) 50 of the 61 killed in the clashes on Monday were members of the terror group. This isn't the first time the council decides to establish an inquiry commission or a fact-finding team. Israel boycotted previous commissions as well: The Schabas Commission to investigate Operation Protective Edge and the Goldstone Commission that investigated Operation Cast Leadboth were denied entry to Israel William Schabas , who probed Protective Edge, had to work from Jordan. Israel's envoy to the UN Human Rights Council, Aviva Raz-Shechter (Photo: AFP) The report by the commission of inquiry will have no practical ramifications on the ground. The damage will be mostly diplomatic and to Israel's reputation. But this time Israel's starting point is better than in the previous two commissions. Generally, the world accepts the Israeli narrative that Hamas is behind the protests and sends its own demonstrators to bring down the border fencesomething no nation in the world would've allowed. Israel's main problem is mostly in PR. How can it explain the high death toll to the world? Over 100 dead and thousands wounded on the Palestinian side, compared to zero casualties on the Israeli side. So even though the report will have no practical ramifications, it could serve as a legal basis for lawsuits against IDF officers and Israeli officials at the International Criminal Court at The Hague. But similar suits were filed in the past and have yet to be examined. Israel is not a member of the UN Human Rights Council, but its ally the United States is, and it too has been considering for a while now to quit the international body. But Israel actually expects the Americans to stay in the UNHRC in the foreseeable future, at least until the next High Commissioner is elected to replace Prince Zeid bin Raad Zeid al-Hussein, so Washington could influence the selection of his successor. UNHRC High Commissioner Prince Zeid bin Raad Zeid al-Hussein (Photo: AFP) Furthermore, after the commission submits its report to the Human Rights Council, the member states still need to approve and adopt itand the United States' presence is particularly important to Israel to balance the resolutions expected down the road. US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, slammed the council over the decision to set up a commission of inquiry. "At a time when Venezuela lurches toward dictatorship, Iran imprisons thousands of political opponents, and ethnic cleansing has taken place in Burma, the UN's so-called Human Rights Council has decided to launch an investigation into a democratic country's legitimate defense of its own border against terrorist attacks," Haley said. "This is another shameful day for human rights." The countries that disappointed Israel will have to decide in the coming weeks how to response to the vote of several countriesincluding members of the European Unionthat voted in favor of the commission of inquiry. Israel has made quite a bit of effort to convince the seven European members of the council to vote against the resolution and thus undermine its legitimacy. Spain, Belgium and Slovenia have all decided to vote in favor of the resolution despite having tried and failed to add a clause recognizing Israel's right of self-defense. It is safe to assume the disappointing vote will not go unanswered. Jerusalem is considering a harsh response, such as summoning the ambassadors of the countries that voted in favor the resolution for a reprimand. Vote results Germany and Britain disappointed Israel just as much by opting to abstain rather than oppose the resolution, which Israel considers to be disgraceful. It is likely the Germans are seeking to avoid any additional division in the EU in the midst of the Brexit crisis. The British ambassador did propose to form an Israeli commission of inquiry with international representatives, but his proposal was rejected. Three additional European countries abstainedHungary, Slovakia and Croatia. The Foreign Ministry will also have to find answers for the stinging insult from Mexico, which voted in favor of the resolution, even though it has recently changed its anti-Israeli voting patternsvoting with Israel or abstaining from several important votes. Israel is also bitterly disappointed with the Philippines, which voted in favor of the resolution even though the country is considered very friendly towards Israel under President Rodrigo Duterte. There were some achievements There was, however, some comfort in the choice made by four African countries to abstain from the voteEthiopia, Rwanda, Togo and Kenyawhich is considered an achievement of Israeli diplomacy, as do the abstentions of Japan, South Korea, Georgia and Panamawhose president is currently visiting Israel. Ukraine, which in December 2016 voted in favor of the UN Security Council's Resolution 2334 against Israeli settlements, sparking a diplomatic crisis with Israel, chose this time to rectify the damage by missing the vote along with Mongolia. Australia, a country very friendly towards Israel, also deserves praise for choosing to vote against the resolution along with the United States. The next challenge But this isn't the only trouble for Israel on the international stage these days. Kuwait has submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council calling for an international force to be deployed to the Gaza Strip to protect the Palestinians, and the council is expected to discuss the matter on Monday. Even if the Kuwaiti are able to get the nine required votes to pass a resolution in the councilwhich is not a sure thingthe United States will veto it. In such a case, Kuwait could choose to take the resolution to the UN General Assembly, where it has an automatic majority to pass any resolution it wants. Luckily for Israel, the General Assembly has no way of enforcing the anti-Israeli decision it approves. The bottom line is that while the UNHRC resolution was not pleasant for Israel, it's not the end of the world. Israel shouldn't panic in light of the impressive backing from the US and the relatively small diplomatic damage from the events on the Gaza border. The crisis with Turkey was to be expected, mostly due to the upcoming elections in which Turkish President Erdogan wants to reposition himself as the leader of a regional power. South Africa was the only country apart from Turkey to recall its ambassador for consultations. But South Africa has no real influence, and it is not considered an "important country." If after 60 dead on the Gaza border only two Israeli ambassadors were summoned for a reprimand (the ambassador to Ireland and the ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg), Israel can breathe easy. The European Union's energy chief tried to reassure Iran on Saturday that the bloc remained committed to salvaging a nuclear deal with Tehran despite US President Donald Trump's decision to exit the accord and reimpose sanctions on the country. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The European Commissioner for Energy and Climate, Miguel Arias Canete, delivered the message during a visit to Tehran and added that the 28-nation EU, once the biggest importer of Iranian oil, also hoped to boost trade with Iran. "We have sent a message to our Iranian friends that as long as they are sticking to the (nuclear) agreement the Europeans will... fulfil their commitment. And they said the same thing on the other side," Canete told a news conference. EU Commissioner for Energy and Climate Action Miguel Arias Canete (Photo: EPA) "We will try to intensify our flows of trade that have been very positive for the Iranian economy." During his visit to Tehran, Canete is expected to meet with five top Iranian minister over two days, including the Islamic State's nuclear chief, oil minister and foreign minister. Iran's nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi said his country hoped the EU would manage to salvage the 2015 deal, in which Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear program in return for the lifting of most Western sanctions. "We hope their efforts materialize ... America's actions ... show that it is not a trustworthy country in international dealings," Salehi told the joint news conference in Tehran. Ali Akbar Salehi (Photo: AP) EU leaders have united behind the 2015 accord, with Brussels considering banning EU-based firms from complying with the sanctions that President Donald Trump has reimposed and urging governments to make money transfers to Iran's central bank to avoid fines. But EU officials admit there is a limit to what they can do to parry sanctions as a wave of European companies quit business with Tehran, fearing the global reach of US sanctions. "There is no magic wand beyond trying to offer Iran a bit of reassurance," a senior EU official involved in Iran talks told Reuters. Britain, France and Germany back the deal as the best way of stopping Tehran getting nuclear weapons, but have called on Iran to limit its regional influence and curb the missile program. Salehi, echoing Iran's official stance, ruled out any possibility of renegotiating the accord. 'All kinds of possibilities' Salehi said Iran had several options, including resuming its 20 percent uranium enrichment, if the European countries failed to keep the pact alive. He said the EU had only a few weeks to deliver on their promises. "If the other side keeps itself committed to its promises, we also will be keeping ourselves to our promises ... We hope the situation will not arise to the point that we will have to go back to the worst option," Salehi told reporters in English. "There are all kind of possibilities, we can ... start the 20 percent enrichment." Heavy water reactor in Arak (Photo: Getty Images) Under the 2015 deal, Iran's level of enrichment must remain at around 3.6 percent. Iran stopped producing 20 percent enriched uranium and gave up the majority of its stockpile as part of the agreement. Uranium refined to 20 percent fissile purity is well beyond the 5 percent normally required to fuel civilian nuclear power plants, although still well short of the highly enriched, or 80 to 90 percent, purity needed for a nuclear bomb. Iran has struggled to reap benefits from the accord, partly because of remaining unilateral US sanctions that have deterred major Western investors from doing business with Tehran. Iranian officials have tried to assure ordinary Iranians, frustrated by high unemployment and stagnant living standards, that Trump's decision would have no impact on the country's oil-reliant economy. "Unfortunately because of the negative interferences of the US, we were not able to reap the fruits of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Actions) we expected," Salehi said. "So the public opinion is not as supportive as it was before and if the other side does not deliver... we will keep losing the support of our people for the JCPOA." A symbolic gesture The mission led by Canete is a symbolic gesture to urge Iran's leadership to stick to the nuclear deal and shore up support for the relatively moderate President Hassan Rouhani against hardliners looking to constrain his ability to open up to the West, EU officials said. "The mission is very important to us because it shows the EU's determination to stand by its commitment," a senior Iranian official said. Europe sees the pact, limiting Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for the relaxation of economic sanctions, as vital for international security. With the reimposition of US sanctions threatening the accord's economic payoff for Tehran, EU diplomats worry they will lose what little sway they have in the Islamic Republic. Canete will raise with Tehran the possibility of EU governments bypassing the US financial system by making direct payments to Iran for oil exports and to repatriate Iranian funds in Europe - though the move will be up to member states. Iranian President Rouhani (Photo: AFP) In other efforts to shield European firms, the EU's "blocking statute" would ban EU companies from complying with US sanctions and does not recognize any court rulings that enforce American penalties. The EU is also seeking to allow the European Investment Bank to do business in Iran and to scale up euro-denominated credit lines from EU states. But some big names are already heading for the door. French energy group Total said it may quit a multi-billion-dollar gas project that Tehran had repeatedly hailed as a symbol of the nuclear accord's success. The first sanctions to snap back into place are limits on Iranian oil exports that choked off more than half of Iran's oil exports after 2012 - largely due to European and Asian buyers cutting back. "One of the big factors for how the Iranians will react is what oil importers will do and how well the energy system can cope," another EU official said. "It will be difficult for us to deliver on the benefits the Iranians are expecting." Photos published Saturday show the destruction to the military airport in Hama , where several explosions occurred on Friday night. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Eleven people were reported killed in the explosions, with dozens others wounded or considered missing. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said the series of explosions happened inside Hama's military airport and had been heard in Hama city. "Five blasts at least were heard inside Hama military airport ... targeting ammunition and fuel depots," the Observatory added. A Syrian military official told local media the blasts had been caused by technical failure inside the depots. Sky News Arabia, however, reported the explosion was likely an Israeli attack on a stockpile of missiles used by the Bavar-373, the Iranian version of the Russian S-300 missile defense system. Syrian citizens reported seeing an aerial attack, but Syrian official has yet to point the finger at Israel. The Hama air base is used by government warplanes that carry out airstrikes on central and northern Syria. Israeli aerial strikes on Iranian weapons stockpiles have increased recently, with the latest being one of the heaviest Israeli barrages in Syria since the conflict there began in 2011; 50 Iranian targets in the country were bombarded after 20 missiles were fired at Israeli military bases in the Golan Heights. Sweden wants as many young people as possible to visit Holocaust memorial sites to tackle anti-Semitism in the Nordic nation, where neo-Nazi activities have been intensifying in recent years. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The government said it would invest 15 million kronor ($1.7 million) on projects over three years to raise awareness about Nazi crimes against Jews, Roma communities and other groups. "Nazism and racism are growing and spreading. We are therefore launching this investment so that more youth can be equipped with the knowledge to tackle the anti-democratic forces that are growing in Sweden," Culture Minister Alice Bah Kuhnke said in a statement. Members of the Neo-nazi Nordic Resistance Movement march through the town of Ludvika, Sweden (Photo: Reuters) The Swedish Committee Against Anti-Semitism will receive 12.8 million kronor to organize trips to Holocaust remembrance sites, and the Living History Forum, a public authority, is to offer educational tools and resources. Sweden, which boasts a long tradition of welcoming refugees and persecuted groups, is experiencing a creeping rise in neo-Nazi activities in the public and on social media. At the center of this is the Nordic Resistance Movement (NMR), described as the most violent neo-Nazi organization in Sweden by the anti-racism magazine Expo. Openly promoting a racist and anti-Semitic doctrine, the group organized demonstrations on the sidelines of an annual book fair in Sweden's second-largest city of Gothenburg in September and held an authorized protest at a political forum on the island of Gotland last year. Expo estimates that the organization's core consists of barely 80 members, but says it was more active last year than ever before. A Swedish court in July last year sentenced three neo-Nazi activists for up to eight and a half years in prison over bomb attacks against refugee shelters that left one person seriously injured. A 1997 study found that 66 percent of Swedish secondary school students were unsure whether the Holocaust actually happened. The Living History Forum, which was established in 2003 to provide accurate information in schools about the Holocaust, recently launched a similar study, the results of which will be released later this year. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems signed Wednesday an agreement for local production of domestic air defense systems and ground systems with the Romanian company Romaero. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter As part of the deal, Romaero will acquire the know-how and license for the production of air defense systems, including the Iron Dome, the naval iron dome, "Samson" model remote controlled weapons positions and precision "Spike" tactical missiles (also known as Gil). Rafael is estimated to gain hundreds of millions of dollars from the deal. Iron Dome system (Photo: EPA) This purchase comes against the backdrop of some ongoing tensions in Eastern Europe, with Romania's leaders fixing a suspicious gaze at Russia. The new agreement is the first time Rafael has transferred production to Romanian soil. However, this has been part of Raphael's business policy for the past 15 years, during which similar production plans were made with over 50 companies abroad. The promise of creating work for the citizens of the countries with which the agreements are signed is an important element in Rafael's ability to expand its operations in the United States, Europe, South America, Asia and more. "Rafaels cutting-edge solutions are in use throughout the world, as well as in Romania," said Rafael CEO, Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yoav Har-Even. "We look forward to expanding our presence here and to working with our new partners at Romaero as our strategic partner to create new avenues of cooperation with local Romanian industry and suppliers. "This is an essential aspect of our corporate policy and strategya dedication to strong, win-win partnerships and long-term collaboration to establish technological advancement, local production, and capabilities." (Photo: Shaul Golan) Romaero CEO, Remus Vulpescu, also lauded the deal and the company it was signed with, saying, "Romanias increase in defense spending brings unprecedented opportunities for major investments in the defense industry. We are very excited to be teaming with Rafael, one of the worlds most ground-breaking defense industries. "Together we will be able to extend our reach and sales internationally, for state-of-the-art systems produced in Romania and suitable for any platform, to fulfill Romanias needs and requirements. We will work to provide high-quality services and competitive pricing, as well as business development through marketing performance." Three months before the US general elections, the president's son, Donald Trump Jr., met with a group of specialists to get the upper hand against Democratic rival Hilary Clintonamong which was "an Israeli specialist in social media manipulation" now embroiled in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible Russian elections meddling and violations by Trump's campaign team, according to The New York Times. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The specialist, Joel Zamel, is the founder and one of the owners of Psy-Group, which was working at the time on a proposal for Trump's campaign team for a "covert multimillion-dollar online manipulation campaign to help elect Mr. Trump," according to three people involved and a fourth briefed on the effort. US President Trump (Photo: Reuters) Both Trump and Zamel denied moving forward with the campaign, noting it was scrapped after Psy-Group consulted an American law firm who informed it of its illegality, as foreign states, companies or individuals are forbidden from being involved in any US elections. Despite this, Zamel was reportedly paid some $2 million after the election by one of Trump's associates. Zamel has since been questioned about the August 2016 meeting by Mueller's investigators. Additionally, "at least two FBI agents working on the inquiry" have traveled to Israel to interview Psy-Group employees. According to one source cited by The NYT, the special counsel's team has worked with the Israeli police to "seize the computers of one of Mr. Zamel's companies." Investigators have also examined Zemel's ties in Russia. Donald Trump Jr. (Photo: AP) According to the report, wich was published on Saturday, one of Zemel's companies worked with oligarchs related to Russian President Vladimir Putin, including Oleg V. Deripaska and Dmitry Rybolovlev, who hired his company to conduct online campaigns against their competitors. A lawyer representing Zemel denied that his client or any of his companies had been involved in any way in the US elections, noting he is cooperating fully with investigators and that "the US Justice Department clarified from Day one that Joel and his companies have never been a target of the investigation." News Washington, DC - On Armed Forces Day, we pay tribute to the extraordinary men and women who serve our Nation with valor and distinction in all branches of the military. This annual observance honors their steadfast service in preserving our Nations peace, preserving our freedom, and defending our founding principles. Throughout our history, in times of war and peace, our service members have served with bravery, skill, and unwavering devotion to duty. There is no fighting force that rivals that of the United States military. The precious liberties all Americans enjoy are possible because, every day and without exception, our Armed Forces relentlessly and tirelessly carry out the critical mission of protecting our country, our freedoms, and our way of life. Taking care of our Armed Forces is one of the highest priorities of my Administration. Our military has made tremendous gains against ISIS and al-Qaida in Syria and Iraq, with ISIS having lost nearly 100 percent of the territory it formerly occupied. These successes underscore the importance of continuing to support, grow, and modernize our military forces - we must ensure that our Armed Forces remain second to none. Earlier this year, I signed into law legislation that does just that, providing nearly $700 billion in funding for national defense. These funds will increase our militarys capacity - investing billions in new equipment, maintenance, and troop readiness. We will never be able to repay fully our heroes for their selfless service. We must, therefore, guarantee that we support them and their families here at home so that they can effectively execute their missions abroad. I was very pleased to sign into law legislation that gave our troops a 2.4 percent pay raise - their largest pay raise in 8 years. I was also proud to sign an Executive Order this month to enhance employment opportunities for the spouses of our service members. My Administration will not stop in our efforts to encourage all sectors of our country - private and public - to find ways to support our troops and their loved ones. On this day, and every day, we owe a debt of gratitude to our service members stationed at home and those deployed around the world. All across America, we enjoy the blessings of liberty because our Nations finest men and women willingly accept the call to service. We proudly salute our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen, and recognize the families who serve alongside them for their courage and commitment. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, continuing the tradition of my predecessors in office, do hereby proclaim the third Saturday of each May as Armed Forces Day. I invite the Governors of the States and Territories and other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to provide for the observance of Armed Forces Day within their jurisdiction each year in an appropriate manner designed to increase public understanding and appreciation of the Armed Forces of the United States. I also invite veterans, civic, and other organizations to join in the observance of Armed Forces Day each year. Finally, I call upon all Americans to display the flag of the United States at their homes and businesses on Armed Forces Day, and I urge citizens to learn more about military service by attending and participating in the local observances of the day. Proclamation 9615 of May 19, 2017, is hereby superseded. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth 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 News Washington, DC - Today Secretary Pompeo spoke with Foreign Minister of Brazil Aloysio Nunes Ferreira. The Secretary and Foreign Minister reaffirmed the strong bilateral relations between the two countries and the importance of the U.S.-Brazil economic partnership. They discussed our joint economic growth agenda, security cooperation, and global issues. The Secretary also thanked Foreign Minister Nunes for his leadership in advocating for a peaceful, transparent, and democratic resolution to the crisis in Venezuela, and stressed the importance of working together on broader international efforts to expand humanitarian assistance to the Venezuelan people. News Yuma, Arizona - On Friday, May 18, at approximately 10:39 p.m. the Yuma Police Department responded to a motor vehicle collision in the 4500 Block of W. 16th Street. The initial investigation revealed a gray 2006 Nissan Sentra, occupied by a 70 year old male and a 66 year old female, was driving westbound on 16th Street. The Nissan was rear ended by a 2016 Freightliner 16M Rollback tow truck, driven by 28 year old Christopher Peirce. The 66 year old female was pronounced deceased at the scene. The 70 year old man was transported to the Yuma Regional Medical Center in critical condition. Peirce fled the scene; however he was later located by police and arrested. Alcohol is suspected to be a factor in this case as Peirce was found to have a blood alcohol content greater than 0.20, more than twice the legal limit of less than 0.08. 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. Photo credit: Slava Stepanov There are plenty of regions in Russia that can claim to be very remote and very cold, but none as extreme as Yakutia. Its an enormous region in north-eastern Russia with an area roughly the size of India but with a population smaller than that of the US state of Rhode Island. Yakutia is well known for its extreme and severe climate, boasting some of the lowest temperatures ever recorded in the Northern Hemisphere. Two of the coldest inhabited places in the worldVerkhoyansk and Oymyakonlie in Yakutia. Oymyakon is a 500-people settlement, while Verkhoyansk is a former camp for political prisoners. None of them is a fully functioning city. Yakutias capitalYakutskon the other hand, is home to over 280,000 people making it the coldest major city in the world. The average winter temperature here is minus 40 degree Celsius. The soil is permanently frozen, so most buildings are built on raised stilts. Yakutsk is so remote it is six time zones away from Moscow, and two centuries ago, a journey between the two would have taken three months. Today, the city boasts of two airports with regular direct flights from major Russian cities, but flights often get delayed or cancelled because of fog. Most travellers find themselves stranded at Magadan, 2,000 km away via the notorious Road of Bones, the Kolyma Highway, built by Gulag inmates, many of whom died in the process. The other option is to drive down the dilapidated Lena highway that was once awarded the dubious title of the worst road in the world. The last stretch of this journey requires a ferry crossing over the Lena River, which is possible in summer when it is not frozen. During winter, one can simply drive across the ice. In the months in between, when there is neither a clear path for a ferry nor ice strong enough to support the weight of a vehicle, there is no way to make the crossing. Yakutsk in minus 52 degree Celsius. Photo credit: Egor Fedorov/Flickr So why do people live in such a godforsaken place? Because of diamonds, gold, silver, natural gas and pretty much every precious minerals. The region is extraordinarily rich in natural resources. According to local legend, god was flying around the world distributing riches and natural resources, but when he flew over Yakutia he got so cold that his hands went numb and he dropped everything. Ninety nine percent of all Russian diamonds and over twenty percent of all the diamonds mined in the world are mined in Yakutia. The city was originally a small military outpost founded in 1632. Like many Siberian towns, it was used as an open prison where political prisoners were sent to exile. Yakutsk did not grow into a city until the discovery of large reserves of gold and other minerals in the 1880s. The readily available labor force from gulags helped Stalin develop these reserves extensively during the early 20th century industrialization of Russia. Over time, Yakutsk was transformed into a real city with hotels, cinemas, an opera house, universities, pizza delivery service, and even a zoo. An open fish market in Yakutsk. The fish remain naturally frozen. The biggest danger of living in Yakutsk is the extreme cold. When going out one needs to take extreme care to cover themselves from head to toe with as many layers of clothing as possible. It is easy to lose ones nose or a couple of toes to frostbite if not careful. Fur is the only thing that keeps people reasonably warm. You cant wear glasses because the metal frame sticks to your flesh. Stepping outside is a hazard, and so people limit exposure to nature as much as possible. Every outing is carefully planned, which means no unnecessary detours, no loitering or window-shopping. Walking is exhaustive in the cold, so residents prefer to take cars or taxis wherever they go. They leave the engines running while they shop because if the engine freezes it is nearly impossible to start the car again. Many photojournalist who went to Yakutsk reported their cameras freezing solid from the cold. Despite the frigid winters, summers are surprisingly warm, with temperature sweltering in the high twenties and occasionally shooting past thirties. But its hardly a tropical paradise. During the brief summer, the air becomes humid and sticky, and there are swarms of midges and mosquitoes everywhere. A woman enters a local church in a swirl of freezing mist. Photo credit: Amos Chapple Academician Clifford Gaddy of the Brookings Institution believe that settlements such as Yakutsk arent fit for human habitation, and exist solely because of Russias arrogance and crazy 19th-century ideology that you don't really possess land unless you have people there. In the book The Siberian Curse, author Clifford Gaddy estimated that emergency fuel deliveries to Siberian towns alone cost about $470 million per year, and it would be much cheaper and more efficient, he says, to fly people in to work at the mines rather than have fully functioning cities in such conditions. What Gaddy failed to see, however, is that Yakutia was inhabited for thousands of years before precious metals were discovered here. The now extinct Ymyakhtakh culture lived in the Lena river basin during the Late Neolithic period, and the present natives, Yakuts, have been living in the region since the 13th and 14th centuries. These people have developed remarkable adaptability to the weather. Henry Lansdell, a 19th century British traveller, who made a brief stop at Yakutsk on his way across Siberia, reported seeing native Yakut women with bare arms, stand in the open-air markets, chattering and joking as pleasantly as if in genial spring." If you can brave the cold, there is a bunch of interesting things to explore in Yakutsk, such as the Mammoth Museum, where is cryogenically preserved the complete head of a wooly mammoth, the National Art Museum, and the only museum in the world dedicated to permafrost. Photo credit: Amos Chapple Airport terminal in Yakutsk. Photo credit: Magnus H Bjornsson/Flickr Photo credit: Amos Chapple Photo credit: Slava Stepanov Photo credit: Slava Stepanov News Phoenix, Arizona - In coordination with the Presidential Proclamation, Governor Doug Ducey today ordered that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff immediately until sunset, Tuesday, May 22nd in honor of the victims of the Sante Fe, Texas shooting. "Arizona's prayers, support, and deepest sympathies are with the Santa Fe High School community following today's tragic and heartbreaking events," said Governor Ducey. Our hearts are with the family members of the victims and all those affected. In honor and remembrance of the victims, flags at all state buildings will be lowered to half-staff until sunset on Tuesday, May 22nd. Arizona News Tucson, Arizona - Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced a judge sentenced Edgar Allen Fristoe to 170 years in prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor after downloading pictures and video of child pornography on his cell phone. In November 2016, the Tucson Police Department arrested Fristoe after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that child pornography had been uploaded to a Google photos account. TPD investigated and learned the account belonged to Fristoe. He is a registered sex offender who had prior felony convictions in 1981 in Prescott, AZ for attempted sexual conduct with a minor and in Oklahoma for indecent exposure in 2001. After executing a search warrant, detectives found numerous pictures and videos of child pornography on Fristoes phone. Forensic analysis of Fristoes phone revealed he had also transmitted the child pornography to other people using a chat messaging service. All of the victims in the pictures and videos are under 15. Assistant Attorney General Jared Kreamer-Hope prosecuted this case. Latest News Washington, DC - President Donald J. Trump today announced his intent to nominate the following individuals key positions in his Administration: Christopher Fall of Virginia, to be Director of the Office of Science at the Department of Energy. Dr. Chris Fall is the Principal Deputy Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy. Dr. Fall served most recently for over six years with the Office of Naval Research, including as Innovation Fellow, as Director of the International Liaison Office, as Deputy Director of Research for STEM and Workforce, and finally as acting Chief Scientist. During this time, he also served for three years at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy as Assistant Director for Defense Programs and then as acting Lead for the National Security and International Affairs Division. Dr. Fall earned a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia, as well as a master of business administration from the Kellogg School of Management. He was previously a postdoctoral fellow or faculty member at the University of California at Davis, New York University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago. Christine J. Toretti of Pennsylvania, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Malta. Ms. Toretti is an accomplished businesswoman, philanthropist and civic leader. She was President and CEO of the S.W. Jack Drilling Company for over two decades. She has served as vice chair of the Rural Telephone Bank, U.S. Department of Agriculture, as a member of the National Petroleum Council, and on the advisory board for the U.S. Secretary of Energy. Ms. Toretti was also a director of the Pittsburgh branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Ms. Toretti has been Republican National Committeewoman from Pennsylvania since 1997 and founded the Anne Anstine Excellence in Public Service Series and the Dodie Londen Excellence in Public Service Series, to educate, empower and advance women in politics. She received her B.S. from the University of Virginia. Harry B. Harris Jr. of Florida, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Korea. Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr. currently serves as the 24th commander of U.S. Pacific Command. A highly decorated, combat proven Naval officer with extensive knowledge, leadership, and geopolitical expertise in the Indo-Pacific region, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1978 and was designated a naval flight officer in 1979. He earned a M.P.A. from Harvards Kennedy School of Government, a M.A. from Georgetowns School of Foreign Service, and attended Oxford University. During his 40-year career, he served in every geographic combatant command region, and he has held seven command assignments, including the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the U.S. Sixth Fleet, and VP-46. He and his wife, Bruni, live in Hawaii. Ronald Gidwitz of Illinois, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Belgium. Mr. Gidwitz is a partner in GCG Partners and previously led Helene Curtis Industries as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Gidwitz is also Chicago regional chair of the Business Executives for National Security and, for almost thirty consecutive years, and led three important public institutions; the Chicago Economic Development Commission, the City Colleges of Chicago, and the Illinois State Board of Education. In addition, Mr. Gidwitz chaired the Illinois Governors Blue Ribbon Task Force on Workforce Development and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Mr. Gidwitz earned a B.A. from Brown University, Providence Rhode Island. He has received numerous honors and awards including the Bertha Palmer Distinguished Civic Leadership Award from the Chicago Historical Society and been named Laureate by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. Living Section Wellton, Arizona - Share your love of books and reading! The Wellton Library Book Club will meet Friday, June 1st, to discuss The Stars Are Fire by Anita Shreve at 10:00 a.m. All are welcome to attend. The club meets the first Friday of every month through October. Books are available for checkout at the service desk at the Wellton Library, located at 28790 San Jose Avenue in Wellton, AZ. For more information, call (928) 785-9575. Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - An Arizona Western College professor will be traveling to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in June, thanks to a Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad grant. Professor of History Monica Ketchum was awarded a prestigious opportunity to participate in a month-long curriculum building project with 11 other educators from rural Arizona and New Mexico. Most of the costs for the program will be covered. The project, Central Asia: Crossroads of Civilizations, was designed by University of Arizona and New Mexico Highlands University to be academic, experiential, and practical. Educators will get to study how Central Asia bridges Middle Eastern and Russian cultures. The group will develop lessons to integrate area studies and language exposure into many segments of their curriculum for humanities and social science courses. Ketchums curriculum proposal draws from her background in comparative world history and connection to the U.S. borderlands. I plan to look at the region from the perspective of borderlands as a space of cultural and linguistic fluidity. Like our own region, Central Asia is multicultural and multilingual, she explained. Ketchum has developed curriculum in the past comparing the Aral Sea, which straddles Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, with the nearby Salton Sea. Lake desiccation, public health, and environmental concerns are common themes, she noted. I try to find ways to help students to relate to other parts of the world so that inability to experience distant lands is not a barrier to learning and understanding. Project participants will learn about the literature, history, geography, culture, music, languages, politics, art, and architecture of Central Asia from various experts. Teachers will also receive 40 hours of language instruction 30 in Russian, 10 in Kazakh while studying at Nazarbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan. Travel, visits to museum and cultural sites, talks by regional scholars, and interaction with local people will give participants experiences and insights that they can bring back to their classrooms along with photos and cultural artifacts purchased as part of the project. Ketchum shared that she was surprised and honored to be chosen for the program. My academic background is in Latin American and British/British Empire history. I have never studied Russian or any language that uses the Cyrillic alphabet, so I thought that might limit my chances. Im excited to have been selected and look forward to the experience. Prior to departure, participants have been completing Russian language classes online and studying the history and culture of Central Asia, focusing on Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Besides the history, Ketchum has enjoyed gaining insights into the culture through literature and poetry. Ketchum earned her bachelors and masters degree in History from California State University, Long Beach. She started teaching part-time for AWC in 2009 and has been working full-time for the college since 2012. She also teaches part-time for both Imperial Valley College and San Diego State University-Imperial Valley Campus. Weddings are always joyous occasions where we celebrate love and get to see a lucky couple tie the knot. This was the case on Sunday, 30th August 2015, when Rose Mensah, a famous 55-year-old Ghanaian actress, also known as Akua Ataa Kyeiwaa married Daniel Osei who is a Spare Parts dealer in Kumasi. Daniel is popularly known as American man. Kyeiwaa has acted in numerous movies and she is well known for her witty acting. Source: ultimatefmonline.com Rose Mensah got her the name Kyeiwaa by acting as a witch in a movie that went by the same name. Rose is a single mother of two adult girls and she did her wedding when she was 52 years old. Although Kyeiwaa wedding ceremony ended well without a glitch, the marriage was short lived as it only listed four days. We will explain later on in this article why the marriage lasted for such a short time. But, here are the details of the much-publicized but small and intimate traditional wedding. Where did Kyeiwaa and Daniel meet? Kyeiwaa and her now divorced husband Daniel Osei had dated for a year before choosing to get married in a traditional Ghanaian wedding ceremony. Kyeiwaas wedding location The two wedded on a Sunday in a beautiful ceremony that took place at Brofoyeduru in the Ashanti region of Kumasi. This was a small ceremony which was attended by close family members and friends as the well-known actress wanted a small and intimate wedding. It is understandable as she is quite famous due to her acting and if she left the invite open to anyone, most of her fans would have attended the ceremony. Some of her close pals from the acting industry also attended the ceremony. READ ALSO: I nearly adopted a child Gifty Anti encourages women Among the famous stars that graced her wedding were; Vivian Jill, Mercy Asiedu, Wayosi, Papa Kumasi, Big Akwes, Matilda Asare among other celebrities. These are mostly her fellow actors and actresses in the Ghanaian movie industry. The MCs for the wedding were actress Mercy Asiedu and comedian Abenkwan. Their plan was to hold a church wedding later on but four days later, Kyeiwaa found out that Osei was a married man and that he had children. Source: livefmghana.com Source: eveyo.com Source: ghanafuo.com Source: empressleak.biz If the photos did not satisfy your curiosity, below is a Kyeiwaa wedding video where you will get a slideshow of some of the photos of what went down during this ceremony. There was no real footage of the actual Kyeiwaa wedding video. Most of the videos available have the audio of the scandal that broke out after the wedding which is discussed below. From the Rose Mensah Kyeiwaa wedding pictures above, we see that the bride chose to wear two dresses. One for the morning event and the other one for the reception. The one she wore for the morning occasion matched the outfit that her groom wore. For the reception, she wore a lovely one strap-multi-colored dress. The groom did not change his outfit. From the pictures shared, there seems to have been no groomsmen or bridesmaids as with other weddings. The theme colors for the wedding were blue, white and green as seen from the wedding outfits and the decorations used. READ ALSO: 5 interesting things about John Dumelo's wedding Kyeiwaa wedding scandal Source: www.ghanacelebrities.com Just a few hours after the wedding, a woman known as Florence Kyei made headlines. She called one of the radio stations in Ghana and claimed that she had been married to Daniel, the groom for about twenty years. And from the time Florence made these claims, there were more twists and turns that followed. Below are some of the facts you should know about the Ghanaian actress Kyeiwaa wedding scandal. The Ghanaian actress was legally married to Daniel Akwasi. There are even Kyeiwaa wedding pictures available online to prove that the wedding actually took place. We have shared the photos above. According the woman who claimed to be married to Daniel, already had two children with him, a girl and a boy. The son was 17 years at the time when the scandal broke and he was in senior high school at a school in Ghana. The girl was in Junior High School. Florence reported that when her children heard about the incident, the younger one went on a hunger strike. Florence claimed that Kyeiwaa set her eyes on her man when she visited Florences house after the death of her mother. She claimed that Rose Mensah had come to their home to request for some help and thus knew that her husband was married. Florence claimed that she had warned her husband many times about the actress attitude. She claimed all this in an interview with Shaft FM. Florence also claimed that her husband apologized to her after finding out about the incident and confronting him when he returned home. She claimed that she did not accept the apology and that Daniel had to call her father to speak to her to take him back and that they were not considering divorce since they loved one another and the incident that happened would not change anything between them. She did not rule out that the famous Ghanaian actress might have lured her husband with some charms so as to get married to him. The comical part about the Kyeiwaa wedding is that Daniel Akwasi, made his wife believe that the wedding was part of a movie. When the wedding made headlines, Daniel went home and apologized to his wife. He told her that he was shooting a movie and that he did not expect such attention from the media. Florence believed him since on the night he got married, Daniel did not spend time with Kyeiwaa. He went home to his wife, told her this story and then they slept together till the next morning. Kyeiwaas father, Nana Appiah Kubi, confirmed his daughters wedding to Daniel as reported by Neat FM. He further added that Daniel made a fool of himself with the fake stories he gave that the Kyeiwaa wedding was a movie. But, Akwasi claimed that Kyeiwaa is his only wife and denied that Florence is his wife. As reported by Kasapa FM, Daniel told them that he had married a lady in Italy sometime back but to come back to Ghana because his wife could not conceive. He said that while in Ghana, he had a relationship with a lady who bore him a child. When he went back to Italy after some time, he discovered that the wife he had left there had also conceived. He claimed that the relationship with the two women ended in 2012. However, this station reported that Florence said that Akwasi was a snake under grass. In traditional Ghanaian customs, a man has to pay dowry before being allowed to marry his bride. This was not any different in the case of Kyeiwaa. Akwasi had paid dowry but after the whole saga, Kyeiwaa and her father returned her dowry on Thursday, the 10th of September, 2015. Kyeiwaa decided to leave the marriage and said she does not date married men. She said that Daniel was not truthful and that when she realized that he had a wife, she decided to divorce him. Kyeiwaa said that she had heard rumors that Daniel was married but she ignored them. She still gave him the benefit of doubt. She did not want to think that he had a life. She thought she would gain more attention and fame with the negative PR but some few days after the wedding, she realized that people were saying the truth. Daniel did not give any hints that he had a wife. Although they had dated for a year, he was quite cunning and did not give much away about his marriage. He chose to deceive her. Kyeiwaa said that Daniel is quite the smooth talker and any lady would fall for him quite easily. Kyeiwaa said that they had met in the streets of Kumasi. Daniel had informed her that he had a child but assured her that he was not engaged to the mother of the child. It thus came as a surprise for her when she discovered that Daniel was in fact married and that he had not one but two children. A colleague of Kyeiwaa, the actress Vivian Jill, who attended the wedding, said that David hired some people who came to the wedding as his family relations. They were thus able to deceive all who attended the wedding ceremony that he had relatives and thus the wedding progressed on well without any suspicions. READ ALSO: Facts about John Dumelo's wife Mawunya Nana Appiah Kubi, Kyeiwaas father said that Kyeiwaa introduced Daniel to the family and the two families met to discuss the details of Kyeiwaas wedding. Her father stated that on August 31st 2015, him, his brothers, nephews, sisters and the whole family attended Kyeiwaas wedding as is expected in a traditional Ghanaian wedding ceremony. She had introduced Daniel as the man who had asked for her hand in marriage and the family had welcomed the decision. Nana insisted that the marriage was real and that it was not a movie. However, Kyeiwaas father did not agree with the reports that circulated in the media which said that the whole affair was a disgrace to their family. He insisted that there is no way that his daughter would have known that her husband to be was a married man. He claimed that the disgrace was on the part of Daniel since he was the one who had lied to his daughter and also to his family. As tradition demands, Kyeiwaa had introduced her fiancee to her family one month before the traditional wedding ceremony. Nana said that Daniel came with a pregnant woman and another man but he did not disclose whether they were family members or not. Nana was asked by the media if he took time to talk to his future son-in-law or if he did a background check on him before the day of the wedding. Nana replied that he had not spoken to him about anything. Nana said that he had tried to contact both Kyeiwaa and Daniel after the news broke out that Daniel is married but both of them were not responding to his calls. Nana also denied reports circulating in the media that there was a crisis family meeting held after the occurrence of this incident. As stated above, the family had to return the dowry and this was a sad end to the beautiful Kyeiwaa wedding. Rose Mensah had to go on with her life but she did not go back to her estranged husband since she sought divorce from him. she is still single and here is not much information available about her ex-husband, whether he is still married to his wife or his whereabouts now. As of a year ago, it was reported that Kyeiwaa had taken a break from acting to rest but she had stated that she would be back. She was living in the United States at the time and the main talk then was not about her wedding or marriage. It seemed to be all forgotten and what dominated the headlines was concerns that she was bleaching her skin. There is no talk about future wedding or marriage plans so we will just have to wait and see what the future holds for her. READ ALSO: Dumelo's wedding strengthened 'blood-bond' with NDC? Source: Yen - The veteran journalist warns of consequences for appointees who cannot keep quiet - He says that discussions in the media of government issues makes the administration unpopular Editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, has indicated that the President, Nana Addo Akufo-Addo, will very soon lay off a number of his appointees. He was speaking on Peace FMs Kokrokoo morning show on Wednesday. Kweku Baako pointed out that some appointees have not exercised good discretion in dealing with the media. These individuals, Baako believes, have brought issues to the public space that only gives a bad picture of the government. READ ALSO: Hunger has driven many men to become pastors Apostle Francis Amoako Atta For him, there are appropriate channels within the government to address issues. But when the media reports and discusses the issues government could have kept silent, it makes the administration unpopular. The Jubilee House, seat of government Baako told the host of the show, Kwame Sefa Kayi: Those Presidential appointees who, when they have problems, they rush to the media and put their case forward . . . Theyre not helping the government and for that matter the President. If there are problems between people who are in government manning different institutions of State and you have difficulties, but cannot refer your case to the appointing authorities or (lieutenants) the appropriate agencies . . . is not to the credit of the system. I wouldnt say people should be silent. Silence is not always golden but they have to be careful. Kweku Baako refused to mention the names of those individuals he was accusing of indiscretion. He however reiterated that their sacking is bound to happen and that he was sure. He also agreed with host Kwami Sefa Kayi that certain issues Kwame mentioned were examples. READ ALSO: Nayas slept with Ernest Opoku because of Tracey Boakye - Radio Presenter drops bombshell The boss of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) recently came out to refute the Energy Ministers assertion that TOR will be turned into an oil tank farm. In another example, CEO of the Ghana Cynlinder Manufacturing Company Limited, Frances Essiam, has been pointed. She is cited for moving from one media house to the other explaining her side of an ongoing issue. Watch our video on what UN experts say about politicians in Ghana: Do you have amazing and critical stories for us to publish? Reach out to us on Facebook and Instagram. Source: Yen Popular Ghanaian broadcaster, Kofi Okyere Darko, better known as KOD, has outdoored lovely branded shirts for public use. This comes a few days after he was condemned by social media users for comments he passed on the same platform earlier. In a bid to announce the wedding of actor and entrepreneur, John Dumelo, KOD took to social media to express his excitement about his invitation to the wedding. READ ALSO: Lawyer caught attempting to bribe Anas? He then advised women who wanted to be wives of celebrities not to be all over but to learn from Dumelos wife, Gifty. This did not go down well with some people, who reacted to it. Yvonne Okoro reportedly noted that KOD could merely have congratulated John Dumelo without comparing his wife to other women. Few days after the incident, KOD, also a designer, has made shirts with the inscription ALL OVER THE PLACE. In a recent Facebook post, he put photos of T-shirts he had designs under the Nineteen57 clothing line with the caption: YOU ASKED FOR ITyou are getting it. READ ALSO: All the facts about mobile interoperability Renovation of Nana Addos GHc9.5m private residence: 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.com.gh Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD), a Ghanaian radio presenter and fashion designer, stirred the hornet's nest last Friday when he took to Facebook to congratulate John Dumelo on his planned wedding. Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD) KOD had said that Dumelo chose a "quiet" and "unknown" lady for a wife, and that most male Ghanaian celebrities tended to favour such women. He went on to urge women to learn from that and refrain from being "all over" the place. "Got me wondering why most men in the public eye settle for quiet/unknownn [sic] women and not the ones all over. That could be a lesson for some of our sisters ooo. Men want women who can make a home and not be all over," KOD wrote. The radio presenter's remark instantly drew condemnation from many Ghanaian female celebrities, including Yvonne Okoro, Lydia Forson and Juliet Ibrahim and Sandra Ankobiah, who deemed it as a veiled attack on them. Yvonne Okoro The angry celebrities, most of whom are single and searching, nearly tore KOD apart verbally, prompting him to quickly delete the "offending" post from Facebook. Faced with the possibility of clashing with the aggrieved celebrities at Dumelo's wedding the next day, KOD chose to stay away from the event. He later claimed that an important family photoshoot prevented him from attending the wedding. KOD did not attend the wedding of John Dumelo and Gifty Mawunya, despite suggesting that previous day that he would attend. While KOD was bashed by female celebrities and some "feminists" on social media, some Ghanaians defended him on social media, describing his remark as "the truth". According them, there are celebrities who are indeed "all over" and whose conduct leaves much to be desired. They said the behaviour of such female celebrities makes them unattractive to men looking to get married. Here are some celebrities the social media users mentioned as being "all over" the place. 1. Moesha Boduong Moesha Budong Many Ghanaians were appalled recently when Moesha Boduong granted an interview to CNN and confessed that she was sleeping with a married man. She said the man was taking care of her rent and other expenses in exchange for her sleeping with him. Some social media users say when KOD talks about some ladies being "all over", he is referring to people like Moesha. 2. Xandy Kamel Xandy Kamel Xandy Kamel is another celebrity who has been described by some Ghanaians as being "all over". The actress was recently in the news after she described her Kumawood colleague, Bill Asamoah, as a "one minute" man. She had earlier called another Kumawood actor, Big Akwes, "weak" in "jigi jigi". 3. Rosemond Brown Social media users have tagged Rosemond Brown as an attention seeker and "loose talker". She has admitted to being in a relationship with a married man, who is sponsoring her day in day out. She also recently stated that she did not mind if dancehall star, Shatta Wale, "chopped" her "tonga" for only one night. READ ALSO: 50 powerful photos from John Dumelo's wedding that you shouldn't miss 4. Nayas Nayas has been mentioned among the "all over" squad by some Ghanaians for sleeping with a married gospel artiste, Ernest Opoku, and later claiming that she was pregnant for him. She shocked Ghanaians when she forced her way into the studio of Adom FM in Accra and lashed Ernest Opoku with a cane while he was on a live radio programme. Subsequent media reports have raised doubts about the authenticity of her pregnancy. READ ALSO: Jesus Christ made a lot of mistakes Obinim 'exposes' son of God in latest video Share your views on this with us in the comments section below. Top Signs That You Are a True Ghanaian | Yen.com.gh 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 The Vice President of the Republic, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has reiterated the Nana Akufo-Addo governments determination to transform Ghanas economy through the use of Information Communication Technology in all spheres of national life. Government is thus keen to provide opportunities for Ghanaians, especially students, to acquire cutting edge knowledge in ICT to drive the digitization agenda and improve the life of the ordinary citizen. Vice president, Dr. Bawumia READ ALSO: More details emerge as president of concerned law students dies mysteriously Vice President Bawumia assured of governments commitment to ICT education when he met the 2017 and 2018 batches of the Huawei Ghana Seeds for the Future Programme at the Jubilee House, Accra on Friday 18th May, 2018. Initiated in 2008, the Seeds for the Future Programme is Huaweis most heavily invested global corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity. The programme was launched in Ghana in 2015 and 45 Ghanaian students have participated so far. The programme seeks to develop local ICT talent, enhance knowledge transfer, promote a greater understanding of and interest in the ICT sector and improve, encourage regional building and participation in the digital community, according to officials of Huawei. The 10 students of the 2018 batch will undergo a 2 week programme in Beijing and the high-tech manufacturing hub, Shenzhen where they will study cutting-edge information and telecommunication technologies at Huawei HQ Training Centre. Huawei will share its ICT expertise and experience in managing a multinational corporation with the young ICT professionals and help fuel the development of local ICT industries. ICT key to transforming Ghanas economy Bawumia Join YEN on Instagram to be always informed and entertained! Outlining some ongoing ICT-based reforms being undertaken by Government, including the implementation of a paperless system at the ports, a National Digital Property Addressing System, Mobile Money Interoperability Payment System, the soon-to-be-issued National ID Card and plans to digitise all land records, Vice President Bawumia said it was important to also train the human resource to fully implement the digitisation agenda. Vice President Bawumia expressed Governments appreciation to Huawei and called on other companies to emulate their example of offering training to Ghanaian youth, who will make up the workforce in a few years. In brief remarks Hon Ursula Owusu-Ekuful (MP), Minister for Communications; H.E. Jiang Zhouteng, Acting Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to Ghana; and Mr Tommy Zhou, Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Ghana, urged the students to take advantage of the opportunity to not only acquire knowledge in ICT, but also imbibe the qualities that have made China a force to reckon with. Top 5 United Nations Experts on Ghana Politicians: Read more: READ ALSO: John Dumelos wife speaks for the first time about her husband 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 Family members, colleague actors and some sympathizers of veteran Ghanaian actor and comedian, Super OD, have gathered at the Swedru-Abodom Park in the Central Region to observe the final funeral rite of the actor. Veteran actor, Super OD before his death The popular actor born Asonaba Kwaku Darko, died at the Agona Swedru Government Hospital on Tuesday, February 13 2018 after battling his life with sickness. A family member of Super OD (Photo, video credit: Adomonline.com) READ ALSO: Fuse ODG warns Ghanaians over BET awards Super OD's remains arriving Super OD will be buried later today, Saturday 19, at his hometown, Agona Abodom, after series of activities to bid him final farewell to eternity. Some sympathizers gathered Due to Super ODs influence with the Osofo Dadzie Group, some famous showbiz personalities including the ever popular Osofo Dadzie himself, have all been part of the wake-keeping ceremony leading to the funeral service later today. Some family members of the late actor Unlike the one week observance of the veteran actor, Adomonline.com report states that there is hardly space for one to maneuver as sympathizers have virtually taken over the Abodom Township wanting to pay their last respect to the actor. READ ALSO: Obrafour and Sarkodie drop latest 'banging' song and is about Moesha Super OD will be laid to rest later today Further reports state that, the Octopus band are treating sympathizers who are visibly heartbroken to an emotional dirges to ready the atmosphere for the final funeral ceremony. Some family members of OD Former Ghanaian leader, John Dramani Mahama who is a known admirer of the late actor is expected to be at the funeral along with other political figures to pay their respect to Super OD. READ ALSO: Meet 24-year-old arrest for attempting to sell AK47 rifle 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 China and Spain should join hands and speak with one voice, given increasing global uncertainties and anti-globalization trends like unilateralism and protectionism, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said. Both nations should jointly promote multilateralism, build an open world economy, and protect the free-trade system with the World Trade Organization at its core, said Wang, who is also a state councilor of China. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Spanish Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Alfonso Dastis in Madrid, May 17, 2018. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn] Wang made the remarks in a meeting on Thursday with Spanish Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Alfonso Dastis. Wang said Spain is a regional power and an important EU member with global influence, and is a good friend of China in Europe. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Spain as well as the 13th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership. Wang said China appreciated Spain's constant support in the Belt and Road Initiative. Both sides should strengthen the alignment of respective national development strategies and enhance cooperation in technology and tourism. Both nations should also open up cooperation in such areas as interconnectivity, infrastructure, energy and telecoms. For his part, Dastis said Spain is willing to push the Spanish-Sino partnership to a new level as both nations celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. The Spanish side, he said, spoke highly of the great potential and important opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative, and will actively participate in jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative. Spain is also willing to discuss cooperation with China in exploring the third-party market, and strengthen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, environmental protection and new technologies, Dastis said. Spain is opposed to unilateralism and protectionism, sticks to multilateralism and protects the process of globalization, he said, adding that Spain is willing to strengthen strategic communication and cooperation with China and jointly maintain global peace and stability. At a joint press conference with Dastis after their talks, Wang said that both nations have agreed to seize the historical opportunities of jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative and push bilateral relationship to a new level. Spain has recently unveiled it's a new version of its Asian strategy, in which it sets the Sino-Spanish ties as a priority and expresses willingness to align Spain's development strategy with the Belt and Road Initiative. China appreciates Spain's stance, Wang added. As one of the most popular online Defense and Security magazine, Army Recognition editorial team with its Defense Web TV has covered the Black Sea Defense & Aerospace exhibition that was held in Bucharest (Romania) from the 16 to 18 May 2018. The BSDA 2018 is an International tri-service defense Exhibition and Conference dedicated to Defense, Aerospace, Homeland Security, Cyber Security and Safety & Security which takes place every 2 years in the capital of Romania. The outside exhibition area of BSDA 2018, Black Sea Defense & Aerospace exhibition in Bucharest, Romania. May 17, 2018. (Picture source Army Recognition) Over 270 exhibitors from North America, Europe and Asia including 25 countries and military delegations from Saudi Arabia, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Egypt, Lebanon, Lithuania, Pakistan, Portugal and Vietnam have attended the edition 2018 of BSDA, according to a press release published by the Romanian Ministry of Defense. During the opening ceremony, the Romanian Minister of Defense Mihai Fifor said that BSDA defense exhibition Fair is an occasion for the Romanian State defense Companies to conclude advantageous partnerships that would bring back, through off-set programs, significant amounts of money to revive the national defense industry. Romania is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union, and is a Strategic Partner of the United States. Romania has committed to the NATO guideline of spending at least 2.0% of GDP on defense for the following ten years. In August 2017, Romanias Supreme Defence Council (CSAT) has announced that the country would spend a total 9.8 billion euro ($11.6 billion) on modernizing its military under the new plan. In June, the U.S. State Department said it approved the possible sale of seven Patriot missile defence systems worth $3.9 billion to Romania. The BSDA is also an opportunity for the Romanian defense industry to showcase latest defense and security products fully designed and developed in Romania. Romanias arms exports increased in 2017 compared to the year before, according to official statistics released by the government. A report by the Foreign Ministry Of Romania said the value of arms exports in 2017 amounted to almost 187 million . Bucharest also sold 263 million worth of licenses. In 2016, Romania exported about 178 million worth of weapons, about 57.3 million of which went to the Middle East. Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva Friday, agreeing to enhance bilateral cooperation. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi meets with Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva in Lisbon on Friday. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn] Wang said China highly values China-Portugal relations and would like to deepen high-level contacts with Portugal. China stands ready to synergize its Belt and Road Initiative and Portuguese development strategies to give full play to their respective advantages, and strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, energy, finance and other fields. Meanwhile, both countries will tap new cooperation potentials, broaden maritime cooperation, thus injecting powerful impetus into China-Portugal ties, he added. Wang said both sides should continue to make good use of the China-Portugal forum to expand cooperation in third-party markets in Africa, Latin America and other areas, and boost exchanges in international and regional affairs. Silva said China's investment is reliable and has played a key role in creating jobs and promoting economic development in Portugal. The Belt and Road Initiative has bright prospects, and is of great significance in promoting regional inter-connectivity and achieving common development and prosperity. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi holds talks with Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva in Lisbon on Friday. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn] Portugal would like to actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, and deepen cooperation in trade, investment, education, culture and other fields through the Portugal-China forum to achieve more pragmatic results. Portugal is the third leg of Wang's four-nation trip, which has taken him to France and Spain and will take him to Argentina. The Chinese foreign minister also met with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Antonio Costa in Lisbon. Sridevi left for the heavenly abode in February at her nephew Mohit Marwahs wedding in Dubai. After family and well-wishers gave their last respects to veteran actress Sridevi, her body was taken to the crematorium for her last rites in Mumbai on Wednesday. (Photo: Viral Bhayani) Sridevi left for the heavenly abode in February at her nephew Mohit Marwahs wedding in Dubai, and today, three months, her death still remains a mystery. The officials claimed she died of accidental drowning, but that doesnt reason much with her fans who think the death could be murder. Now Free Press Journal went on to report that retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Ved Bhushan, who runs a private investigation agency (PI) in Delhi feels Sridevis death looks more like a planned murder than an accident. "Its very easy to put someone in bathtub forcefully until victims breathing stops without leaving evidence of the crime, and then label it as an accidental death. This looks like a planned murder," said the ex-cop. Sridevi was recently honoured at Cannes 2018 after receiving the National Award back in India for Mom. Boney Kapoor, Janhvi and Khushi had received her awards. As a result, all that begins as a promising start soon peters out in the middle into a dismal script that goes all over the place. Rating: Cast: Manoj Pahwa, Seema Pahwa, Alka Amin, Vinay Pathak, Sanah Kapoor, Dolly Ahluwalia Director: Harsh Chhaya Our middle class values once again are at test this week in debutant director Harsh Chhayas Khajoor Pe Atke. The premise is perfect: a patient about to kick the bucket and is admitted to the ICU in a Mumbai hospital where expenses mount every hour, so does anxiety writ large on tension-filled faces, which are more concerned about the futility of a lifeless body that might depart any moment. Chhaya also gathers some of the finest actors who are remembered for their fresh appeal in numerous roles they have enacted in Bollywood. So theres Manoj Pahwa, the underutilised Seema Pahwa and Alka Amin, Vinay Pathak and Dolly Ahluwalia as family, who park themselves in a hospital the moment they get to hear the comatose condition of their close relative. Their concern is not so much about the ailing brother Deven. While Ravinder (Vinay Pathak) frets about a business deal, his older brother Jeetus (Manoj Pahwa) wife Susheela (Seema Pahwa) is worried about the expensive plane tickets that would cost them a bomb. Their sister Lalita (Dolly Ahluwalia) shows fake concern too but gushes about the miracles that her godman could bring about in such trying moments. Jeetu and Sushilas daughter Nayantara (Sanah Kapoor) is least agonised about her uncles plight or his familys troubled situation; she is keen to come to Mumbai to try her luck in films. For all of them, the Mumbai trip is either a burden or a dream come true where some male members see it as an opportunity to explore the big bad world of dance bars and their dancing women who look game for anything. Our togetherness thats so often becomes the leitmotif in many Indian films, and this film too, is no exception. Banking on close kith and kin has always been the most cathartic way to fight any tragedy in this part of our land. In fact, right from Aditya Chopra to Karan Johar and Sooraj Barjatya to Mahesh Bhatt and even Imtiaz Ali and Farhan Akhtar have often emphasised the need of family and their support in our cinema. And therefore, in Chhayas dark comedy too, the news of a brothers ill health triggers an instant reaction from all near and dear ones who are seen rushing to the hospital in Mumbai where the patient is admitted. Soon the lounge of the hospital turns into a cozy place for a family reunion even as some of the young make elaborate plans of going out to have some fun on the side, while all along reminding one another of their reason to come all the way to be with their uncle who is apparently battling for life. As each relatives self-serving motive gets more and more exposed, the wife Kadambari (Alka Amin) tries to drown her tragic moments by consuming pastries and ice creams throughout the time she waits in the lobby, only because she knows no other way to help handle the crisis. Within no time, the anxiety-ridden predicament leads to another crunch when the relatives start finding out details of their ailing patients bank details and his investments. The mounting hospital bills are on everyones mind, but not on their lips for the fear of getting judged wrongly. Chhaya, who has been a competent actor, had a winner on his hands with a good ground for an enjoyable fare. He has also managed to cast some good actors who have time and again proved their track record. But did he just leave them with their talent to perform the way they pleased to? At least thats what it seems when one finds Ahluwalia (who was brilliant in Shoojit Sircars Vicky Donor, and even won the National Award for the Best Supporting Actress) overacts almost in every scene. Both Manoj and Seema infuse their roles with their natural ability to get into the skin of their characters but have little support from writers. Only Sunita Sengupta, who plays Pathaks wife, performs her role the way she ought to have but her role is too inconsequential to get noticed at times. As a result, all that begins as a promising start soon peters out in the middle into a dismal script that goes all over the place. If only Chhaya gave us circumstances that progress naturally as a result of peoples greed and selfishness while dealing with heart-breaking and unfortunate moments, many scenes would have turned out truly memorable. Instead, there is forced laughter and exaggerated expressions of hamming actors to let us into an obligatory comic mode. The writer is a film critic and has been reviewing films for over 15 years. He also writes on music, art and culture, and other human interest stories. An online promotion on the book says: Read on to find out how Abhijeet gets from captain to brigadier in record time. An Army source told this newspaper: We will definitely act on this book and its title which is very derogatory to the wives of Army officials and soldiers. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: A livid Indian Army is framing a written complaint to online retailer Amazon and also mulling options, including taking legal recourse, over the sexual content and title of a racy online e-book Indian Army Wife. An Army source told this newspaper: We will definitely act on this book and its title which is very derogatory to the wives of Army officials and soldiers. It is our duty to protect the honour of Army wives who are known to sacrifice everything, including their husbands, for national duties, said Col. Aman Anand, spokesperson, Indian Army. The 68-page book, the Kindle edition of which was first published in September 2016, is written by Aman K and is the story of a brigad-iers wife who explains how she became an exhibitionist at a young age and then how she became a shared hot-wife (a woman who has sex with other men with her husbands approval) in order to accelerate her husbands career. An online promotion on the book says: Read on to find out how Abhijeet gets from captain to brigadier in record time. This story has it all, from flashing a school teacher to husband watching and more... Calling the book demeaning, defamatory and scandalous, Maj. Gen. T. Parshad (Retd), former Judge Advocate General (JAG), said: I am not aware of the contents of the book but after reading the book details, I find it absolutely derogatory. It is not only the duty of the Army but of the entire nation to safeguard the honour and reputation of our ladies from such scandalous write-ups, which for monetary benefits defame the Army wives as a class. Aman K is the pseudonym of someone who purportedly described himself in 2016 on an online portal as a London-based 33-year-old born to Indian parents there. Aman Ks other equally suggestive titles include Indian Hotwife: Seduced by her Personal Trainer, My Indian Wife First Time Shared, Married But Available: Indian Hotwife, etc. The court listed the matter for further hearing on May 29. The bench also stayed the proceedings initiated by the Press Council of India (PCI) under the Press Council Act against some of the media houses for disclosing the identity of the child victim in the rape case. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Google and other social media platforms have done a great disservice to the nation by uploading contents which revealed the identity of an eight-year-old girl who was raped and killed in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Delhi High Court said Friday. The court issued notice to social media platforms Google, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube after their Indian subsidiaries told the bench that they were not the concerned entity to reply to the court's notice on the issue. "You have done a great disservice to the nation. India has been branded... It is an injustice to the nation and to the victim's family. This kind of publication is not permissible," a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Hari Shankar said. The bench also said messages and images were circulated on Whatsapp showing India in a bad light. It also observed that the entities cannot absolve themselves for the illegal activities on their websites and the law was the same for everyone. The court was informed by the counsel for the social media platforms that the court has arrayed as parties the Indian subsidiaries which were not responsible for the contents on the websites and it should make the parent companies a party. It also asked the counsel for the foreign entities to take instructions as to how much they were willing to deposit to the Jammu and Kashmir Victim Compensation Fund as compensation for the victims. The bench also stayed the proceedings initiated by the Press Council of India (PCI) under the Press Council Act against some of the media houses for disclosing the identity of the child victim in the rape case. PCI has initiated the proceedings on receiving a reference from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting regarding the suo motu cognisance taken by the high court in the Kathua rape case. The court listed the matter for further hearing on May 29. It was also informed by one of the counsel that in Srinagar, the child victim's photographs were pasted on autos and buses. To this, the court said it was conscious of its boundaries and limitations and would pass such orders which could be executed. The bench had earlier observed that the names or photographs of a sexual abuse victim should not be revealed as such actions have long term "detrimental consequences". It had on April 18 directed 12 media houses to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for revealing the identity of the minor rape victim. It had also indicated that it may enhance this amount, which has to be deposited in the Jammu and Kashmir Victim Compensation Fund. The media houses had apologised before the court. Later, the bench added several other media houses and websites and asked them to pay the amount and file their response as to why action be not taken against them for disclosing the identity of the rape victim. In its news reports connected with the case, The Press Trust of India had not disclosed the name or put out a photograph of the victim. The court had directed that wide and continuous publicity be given to the statutory provisions of the law regarding the privacy of victims of sexual offences and punishment for revealing their identities. While Section 23 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act lays down the procedure for the media to report cases of sexual offences against child victims, Section 228A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) deals with disclosure of identity of victims of such offences. The penal law provides for jail term of two years with a fine. On April 13, the high court had issued notices to 12 media houses and prohibited all of them "from effecting any publication including the name, address, photograph, family details, school details, neighbourhood or any other particulars which may have an effect of leading to the disclosure of the identity of the child victim". The eight-year-old girl from a minority nomadic community had disappeared from near her home in a village near Kathua in Jammu region on January 10. Her body was found in the same area a week later. The state police's Crime Branch, which probed the case, filed the main chargesheet against seven persons and a separate chargesheet against a juvenile in a court in Kathua district last week. The chargesheet revealed chilling details about how the girl was allegedly kidnapped, drugged and raped inside a place of worship before being killed. ''The chair passed the proposal and said the objections would be considered (later)," Suthar, who is an office-bearer of JNUTA said. The draft of the proposal was prepared by a four-member committee headed by Ajay Kumar Dubey, a professor of the Centre for African Studies. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Academic Council "passed" a proposal to set up a Centre for National Security Studies under which there would be a course on "Islamic Terrorism", a professor who attended its meeting on Friday said. Many members of the Academic Council opposed the proposal to impart courses on 'Islamic Terrorism', arguing that it was communal in nature, Sudhir K Suthar, a special invitee to the 145th meeting of the Council, said. "Many members opposed the topic 'Islamic Terrorism' so as to not club any religion with terrorism, and suggested to call the phenomenon 'religious terrorism'," Suthar, who is an office-bearer of the JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA), told PTI. "There was a debate on the issue in the meeting with many members supporting it too, saying that it was a globally accepted phenomenon and majority of the cases (of terrorism) were associated with the religion," another Academic Council member, who was present in the meeting, said. "The chair passed the proposal and said the objections would be considered (later)," Suthar said. The draft of the proposal was prepared by a four-member committee headed by Ajay Kumar Dubey, a professor of the Centre for African Studies. According to the proposal, in the first five years, the centre will only focus on research activities. "The centre may have only M.Phil and Ph.D students (initially). After five years, the centre may start MA programme. In the first year, two professors, two associate professors and four assistant professors may be recruited to give the centre a good and visible shape," according to the proposal. Dubey told PTI, "Report was circulated for feedback and discussion. All suggestions including objections will be considered by the committee (later)." Opposing the move, JNU Students Union president Geeta Kumari said, "In a deeply problematic and shocking move the JNU VC also allowed the tabling of a course/topic on 'Islamic Terrorism' under the Centre for National Security Studies." "This grotesque propaganda of Islamophobia in the name of academic courses is deeply problematic. It seems the RSS-BJP's election propaganda material will be prepared through these courses rather than studying the nature of terrorism in general," she added. Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa confidently said, '100 per cent I am going to have absolute majority.' Bengaluru: Minutes ahead of the floor test, B S Yeddyurappa resigned as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. Yeddyurappa will now submit his resignation to Governor Vajubhai Vala. The Governor will now call the second largest party, which is Congress and Janata Dal Secular alliance, to form the government in the state. Yeddyurappa was the chief minister for barely 55 hours, after a Supreme Court order truncated the 15-day window the Governor gave him to prove majority. These are the LIVE updates from Karnataka: 4:05 pm: B S Yeddyurappa resigns as the Chief Minister of Karnataka ahead of the floor test. 04:05 pm: "I will lose nothing if I lose power, my life is for the people," B S Yeddyurappa ahead of floor test 04:03 pm: "We will get 28 out of 28 seats in Lok Sabha," B S Yeddyurappa ahead of floor test. 04:02 pm: "If only people would have given us 113 seats instead of 104, we would have made this state (Karnataka) a paradise: B S Yeddyurappa ahead of floor test 03:52 pm: "I have traveled throughout the state for the last two years and have seen pain on the faces of people. I can't forget the love and affection I received from people," says B S Yeddyurappa ahead of the floor test. 03:50 pm: "People have blessed us with 104 seats. The mandate wasn't for Congress or JD(S)," Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa ahead of floor test. 03:42 pm: Congress MLAs Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil, who were said to be missing, take oath as an MLA in Karnataka's Vidhana Soudha. Watch live session of Karnataka Assembly where floor test will begin shortly: 03:27 pm: Somashekara Reddy, BJP MLA and brother of Janardan Reddy said, "I was with my brother in Taj West End. Nobody was in my contact. I don't even know who are they, Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil (Congress MLAs). I did not even go to Goldfinch Hotel." 03:14 pm: Visuals of Congress MLA Pratap Gowda Patil, who was said to be missing, entering Vidhana Soudha. #WATCH: Dramatic visuals of the moment when Congress MLA Pratap Gowda Patil who was said to be missing, entered Vidhana Soudha. #KarnatakaFloorTest pic.twitter.com/XINBGZvped ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 03:01 pm: Union Minister Ananth Kumar and Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa are present in the CM chamber in Vidhana Soudha. 02:51 pm: Congress MLA Pratap Gowda Patil having lunch at Vidhana Soudha, Congress's D K Suresh and Dinesh Gundu Rao present with him. Photo: ANI | Twitter 02:39 pm: "Pratap Gowda Patil has come. He will take oath as an MLA then he will vote for the Congress. He will not betray the Congress party," says DK Shivakumar of the Congress. 02:38 pm: "I am sure he (Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa) will resign before the trust vote," says Congress' D K Shivakumar. 01:58 pm: One of the 'missing' Congress MLA Anand Singh seen leaving Bengaluru's Goldfinch hotel. 01:27 pm: Security tightened outside Goldfinch Hotel in Bengaluru where reportedly the two 'missing' Congress MLAs are holed up. Security tightened outside Goldfinch Hotel in Bengaluru where reportedly the two 'missing' Congress MLAs are holed up #karnatakafloortest pic.twitter.com/sEJFPvwAlS ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 12:58 pm: BJP MLA G Somashekhar Reddy is with the two 'missing' Congress MLAs Anand Singh and Pratap Gouda: ANI sources BJP MLA G Somashekhar Reddy is with the two 'missing' Congress MLAs Anand Singh and Pratap Gouda: Sources #KarnatakaFloorTest ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 12:55 pm: VS Ugrappa, Congress said, "He (BJP's BY Vijayendra) called the wife of a Congress MLA and asked her to request her husband to vote for Yeddyurappa. He said, we'll give your husband a ministry or else we'll give Rs 15 crore to your husband." He (BJP's BY Vijayendra) called the wife of a Congress MLA & asked her to request to her husband to vote for Yeddyurappa. He said, we'll give your husband a ministry or else we'll give Rs. 15 crore to your husband: VS Ugrappa, Congress. pic.twitter.com/CwzHTy3Ol7 ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 12:30 pm: "BJP will be exposed to the whole world. They know very well that they are 104, still they are trying everything & anything to buy our MLAs. But, our MLAs are intact. Two of our MLAs are still not here, whenever they come they will surely support us," said Veerapa Moily. BJP will be exposed to the whole world. They know very well that they are 104, still they are trying everything & anything to buy our MLAs. But, our MLAs are intact. Two of our MLAs are still not here, whenever they come they will surely support us: Veerapa Moily, Congress pic.twitter.com/T6SjtoWJm9 ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 JD(S) MLAs HD Kumaraswamy & HD Revanna inside Vidhana Soudha in #Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/WBvD0PechF ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 Visuals of BJP MLA B Sriramulu & CM BS Yeddyurappa inside Vidhana Soudha ahead of #FloorTest which will be held at 4 pm. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/rUbxCtVqrr ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 11:46 am: After winning assembly elections, B Sriramulu & BS Yeddyurappa have resigned from Lok Sabha, their resignations have been accepted by the Speaker. After winning assembly elections, B Sriramulu & BS Yeddyurappa have resigned from Lok Sabha, their resignations have been accepted by the Speaker. (file pics) #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/085VcK6jwv ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 11:38 am: Two Congress MLAs Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil have not yet come to the assembly for oath-taking. Two Congress MLAs Anand Singh & Pratap Gowda Patil have not yet come to the assembly for oath-taking. #FloorTest to be held at 4 pm today. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/I5zInGgWAn ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 11:30 am: "The SC heard the pleas of the Congress, all their pleas have been rejected. The desperate attempts of Congress to remove him from post has failed. I think they are scared and did not even want a floor test in the first place," said senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi. The SC heard the pleas of the Congress, all their pleas have been rejected. The desperate attempts of Congress to remove him from post has failed. I think they are scared & did not even want a floor test in the first place: Mukul Rohatgi #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/llWp9UOJhE ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 11:14 am: CM BS Yeddyurappa & Siddaramaiah take oath as MLAs at Vidhana Soudha. CM BS Yeddyurappa & Siddaramaiah take oath as MLAs at Vidhana Soudha. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/WpqdEuT5OW ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 11:12 am: Supreme Court rejects Congress-JD(S) plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah, he will continue to be pro-tem speaker Supreme Court rejects Congress-JD(S) plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah, he will continue to be pro-tem speaker. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/eMhgYgC0m9 ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 11:09 am: Hearing on Congress-JD(S) plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah: Supreme Court says, "Live broadcast of floor test would be the best way to ensure transparency of proceedings." Hearing on Congress-JD(S) plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah: Supreme Court says 'Live broadcast of floor test would be the best way to ensure transparency of proceedings.' pic.twitter.com/kdS7NXGXrA ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 11:08 am: Hearing on Congress-JD(S) plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah: Supreme Court says, "Law can't direct the Governor to appoint a particular person as Pro-tem Speaker. Unless convention becomes legal norm, it can't be enforced by Court." Hearing on Congress-JD(S) plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah: SC says 'Law can't direct the Governor to appoint a particular person as Pro-tem Speaker. Unless convention becomes legal norm, it can't be enforced by Court' ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 11:06 am: Hearing on Congress-JD(S) plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah: Kapil Sibal argues "I am requesting that don't allow KG Bopaiah to take the floor test." 11:00 am: Inside visuals of Vidhana Soudha. Floor test to be held at 4 pm today. Photo: ANI | Twitter Photo: ANI | Twitter 10:58 am: Plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker: Justice SA Bobde says, "There've been instances where senior most MLA wasn't appointed as Pro tem speaker." Kapil Sibal replies saying, "KG Bopaiah has different history. His decision of disqualification was set aside by this Court earlier." 10:54 am: Hearing on Congress-JD(S) plea challenging appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah: Kapil Sibal says, "Long standing convention has been broken after the appointment of Bopaiah', adds "Even SC has ratified this practice in two judgments." 10:50 am: Inside visuals of Vidhana Soudha. Floor test to be held at 4 pm today. Photo: ANI | Twitter 10:45 am: Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Kapil Sibal to appear for Congress and JD(S), Sr Advocate Ram Jethmalani also present; AG KK Venugopal & ASG Tushar Mehta along with Sr Advocate Mukul Rohatgi to defend appointment of Pro tem speaker. 10:43 am: Hearing on Congress-JD(S) plea challenging the appointment of pro tem speaker KG Bopaiah, begins in the Supreme Court. 10:40 am: Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa and other BJP MLAs arrive at Vidhan Soudha. 10:35 am: Second bus of Congress MLAs arrives at Vidhan Soudha 10:23 am: HD Kumaraswamy of the JD(S) said, "For me, today is not an important day, the important days will come in future. Up to 4 pm, BJP will try to poach our MLAs. All the MLAs are together, no one is going to go to the other side. None of our MLAs are trapped. Siddaramaiah and I will go together." Photo: ANI | Twitter 10:20 am: Congress MLAs leave from Hotel Hilton for Vidhan Soudha 10:07 am: Bus carrying BJP MLAs arrives at Shangri-La hotel in Bengaluru for the party legislature meeting 09:58 am: Siddaramaiah arrives at Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru Photo: ANI | Twitter 09:20 am: Ramalinga Reddy on Congress MLA Anand Singh who was missing said, "Physically he is not with us but he is in contact with our leaders. He has to come to Vidhana Soudha today. He will definitely vote for us. He is with us. He will come back." Physically he is not with us but he is in contact with our leaders. He has to come to Vidhana Soudha today. He will definitely vote for us. He is with us. He will come back: Ramalinga Reddy on Congress MLA Anand Singh pic.twitter.com/8Et15LVq0i ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 09:10 am: KG Bopaiah, the pro-tem speaker, at Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru. The Supreme Court on Saturday morning will first hear whether BJP lawmaker KG Bopaiah is qualified to be the temporary speaker or not. Photo: ANI | Twitter 09:00 am: Visuals of security outside Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru Photo: ANI | Twitter 08:45 am: Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "Numbers are against the BJP. Numbers are in favor of us. MLAs are in our favour. We will form the government in the Karnataka Assembly today." Numbers are against BJP. Numbers are in favor of us. MLAs are in our favour. We will form the govt: Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress on #FloorTest in the Karnataka Assembly today #KarnatakaElection2018 pic.twitter.com/rASaQJnwrq ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 08:40 am: On Saturday morning, Karnataka Congress and JD(S) MLAs who were shifted to Hyderabad, to avoid poaching of MLAs, reached Bengaluru ahead of the floor test. 08:32 am: A confident Yeddyurappa said, "100 per cent I am going to have absolute majority. Tomorrow I am going to take all that decision which I promised to the people of Karnataka." 100% I am going to have absolute majority. Tomorrow I am going to take all that decision which I promised to the people of Karnataka: CM BS Yeddyurappa #KarnatakaElection2018 pic.twitter.com/ouhYprTqhh ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2018 08:30 am: Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa arrived at Shangri-La hotel for the party legislature meeting on Saturday morning. He will soon leave for the Assembly where the trust vote is set to take place later in the day. 'Oath ceremony (as Chief Minister) to be held between 12 noon-1 pm on Monday,' H D Kumaraswamy said. Bengaluru: In a new development which comes barely a few hours after BJP's B S Yeddyurappa resigned from the post of chief minister of Karnataka, Janata Dal Secular leader H D Kumaraswamy said he will take oath as the CM of the state on Monday. "Karnataka Governor has invited him to form the government in the state. Oath ceremony (as Chief Minister) to be held between 12 noon-1 pm on Monday," Kumaraswamy said. He said that his party JD(S) and Congress is ready to form the government in Karnataka. He said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana CM KC Rao congratulated him. "Mayawati ji has also blessed me," Kumaraswamy said. "I have invited all regional leaders for oath ceremony. I've also invited Sonia Gandhi ji and Rahul Gandhi ji personally," JD(S) leader and son of former prime minister Deve Gowda, H D Kumaraswamy said. Kumaraswamy said he has invited senior Congress leaders, BSP supremo Mayawati and Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Telangana for his swearing-in ceremony on Monday. BS Yeddyurappa resigned from the chief ministerial post after a long, emotional speech in the assembly on Saturday. After ending the speech and announcing his resignation, Yeddyurappa walked out of the assembly. In the election that took place on May 12 and the results of which were announced on Tuesday, BJP had won 104 seats, eight short of the majority mark of 112. The Congress and the Janata Dal Secular had won 78 and 38 respectively. The Congress and the JD(S) had taken their legislators out of Karnataka to prevent them from being poached by the BJP. The 14-kilometre long Zojila tunnel will be Indias longest road tunnel and Asias longest bidirectional tunnel. Security are on a high alert on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Jammu and Kashmir. (Photo: AFP) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is arriving on a visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, will kickstart work on prestigious Zojilla tunnel that will provide all-weather connectivity between Ladakh and the Valley, and lay foundation stones for or inaugurate other infrastructure projects. The Prime Minister is also expected to dedicate to the nation the 330-MW Kishenganga Power Project constructed in the Gurez area of Kashmir. The prime minister will attend the commencement of work on Zojila tunnel on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway at an event in Jive-tsal in Leh today, an official spokesman said. Modi to attend separate events at SKICC Modi will also lay foundation stone for the Srinagar Ring Road and Jammu Ring Road at separate events at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) Srinagar and at the General Zorawar Singh Auditorium in Jammu. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari will also be present at the events. The 14-kilometre long Zojila tunnel will be Indias longest road tunnel and Asias longest bidirectional tunnel. Earlier this year, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, had approved the construction, operation and maintenance of this two-lane bi-directional tunnel with parallel escape (Egress) tunnel between Baltal and Minamarg on the Srinagar-Leh section of the National Highway at a cost of Rs 6,800 crore. All-weather connectivity The construction of this tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh. This route remains snow-bound for a large part of the year, and is ravaged by frequent avalanches. As a result, road connectivity to places in the Ladakh region stands disrupted for long periods, preventing even essential supplies from reaching people, shutting down businesses, affecting healthcare and education. The tunnel will cut down the time taken to cross the Zojila pass from the present 3.5 hours to just 15 minutes, besides making the drive much safer and convenient. The construction of the tunnel is expected to bring about all-round economic and socio-cultural integration of these regions. In addition to direct jobs generated during construction, it will also lead to massive indirect and spinoff jobs due to acceleration of economic growth. The government is committed to development of manpower skilled for tunnelling jobs in Jammu and Kashmir. The project has strategic and socio-economic importance, and will be an instrument for the development of the economically backward districts in Jammu and Kashmir, the spokesperson said. The Zojila tunnel has been planned as a smart tunnel. It will have latest safety features like fully transverse ventilation system, uninterrupted power supply (UPS), tunnel emergency lighting, CCTV monitoring, variable message signs (VMS), traffic logging equipment, over height vehicle detection, tunnel radio system, etc, the spokesman said. It will have pedestrian cross passages at every 250 metres and motorable cross passages and lay-bys at every 750 metres, he said, adding emergency telephones and fire-fighting cabinets will be installed at every 125 metres. Ring roads to reduce traffic congestion The Ring Roads in Srinagar and Jammu are aimed at reducing traffic congestion in these cities and making road travel safer, faster, more convenient and more environment friendly, the spokesman said. The 42.1-Km, four-lane Srinagar Ring Road will link Galandar in West Srinagar to Sumbal in Badnipora district, he said. Being built at a cost of Rs 1,860 crore, this road will provide a new route from Srinagar to Kargil and Leh, and reduce travel time. There will be a major bridge, three flyovers, 23 tunnels and two via-ducts on this route, he said. The 58.25-km, four-lane Jammu Ring Road, being built at a cost of Rs 2023.87 crore, will link Jagati (western Jammu ) to Raya Morh. There will be eight large bridges, six flyovers, two tunnels and four via ducts on this route, the spokesman said. Modi will attend the closing ceremony of the birth centenary of 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche in Leh. He will also attend the convocation of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu. 'I will not face the confidence vote, I am going to resign,' BJP's BS Yeddyurappa told in an emotional speech. Bengaluru: With the hands of the clock silently moving towards 4 pm and the House getting ready for the trust vote in the Karnataka Assembly, the lawmakers of the state were in for a shock when newly sworn-in Chief Minister of the state B S Yeddyurappa resigned from the post on Saturday. "I will not face the confidence vote, I am going to resign," BJP's B S Yeddyurappa told in an emotional speech before walking out of the assembly to submit his resignation to Governor Vajubhai Vala. Yeddyurappa, who took over as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on Thursday after BJP had won 104 seats in the recently concluded assembly elections, had maintained till Saturday that he was "100 per cent sure of winning" the trust vote. The words of Yeddyurappa were echoed by Union Ministers and senior BJP leaders Prakash Javadekar and Ananth Kumar. The Congress and the Janata Dal Secular who have formed an alliance in the state, however, accused the BJP of trying to bribe or threaten their MLAs before the test of strength. Couple of hours before the Supreme Court-ordered floor test was about to happen, there was commotion over two Congress lawmakers - Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil - who were missing from the assembly on Saturday morning with the party alleging that they had been "held captive" by BJP legislator Somasekhara Reddy, who was also missing when his name was announced for oath-taking this morning. According to reports, the BJP leadership in Delhi "did not want any taint" on the party ahead of the 2019 general election. The BJP has 104 lawmakers - 103 after one of the MLAs was made pro-tem speaker for today - which was eight short of the majority mark of 112. The Governor of Karnataka had given Yeddyurappa 15 days to prove his majority. The days were cut to hours by the Supreme Court on Friday, who ordered the BJP to take a trust vote today. The Supreme Court order and the implication of "horse-trading" was an embarrassment to the BJP. According to reports, BJP was unsure about winning trust vote under the circumstances. In 1996, former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had also resigned just before a trust vote in parliament, after delivering a landmark speech. Rahul Gandhi added that Mr Modis model of leadership is that of a dictator. New Delhi: The BJPs efforts to poach legislators from other parties has failed and democracy has won in Karnataka, a jubilant Congress said soon after BJP leader and chief minister of Karnataka B.S. Yeddyurappa announced his decision to resign without facing a trust vote on Saturday. Addressing a hurriedly-called press conference, Congress president Rahul Gandhi attacked the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly, saying all kinds of tricks were tried to purchase Congress MLAs. A combative Mr Gandhi accused the PM of directly authorising the purchase of MLAs in Karnataka and went on to say: So the idea that the Prime Minister spreads in the country that he is fighting corruption is a blatant lie, he is corruption. Mr Gandhi added that Mr Modis model of leadership is that of a dictator. Mr Gandhi also accused the BJP and RSS of attacking the countrys institutions, saying: Did you notice that after the entire exercise in the Karnataka Vidhan Sabha, the BJP legislators and Speaker chose to leave the House before the national anthem? It shows they can disrespect any institution if in power, both BJP & RSS have disrespected institutions. Mr Gandhi further added: My message to the Prime Minister is that he is not bigger than the institutions of his country, not bigger than the people of his country, not bigger than the courts in this country. Advising the BJP and RSS, the Congress president said that they should learn a lesson from the developments in the southern state. Mr Modi is not bigger than India, or the Supreme Court... Hope BJP, RSS have learnt this lesson. In reply to a question, Mr Gandhi said it is a good idea that Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala should tender his resignation. He, however, warned that whoever replaced Mr Vala may do the same thing. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted on Friday: Operation Lotus fails! #BSYeddyurappa remains 2 day CM as the country predicted, breaking his own record of being 7 day CM. Democracy Wins! Constitution Wins! Former Union minister P. Chidambaram also said that democracy in Karnataka was saved for the time being. Poor Mr Yeddyurappa. When the puppeteers fail, the puppet falls and breaks, he tweeted. These parents are also less likely to plan activities with their children like play dates so children get left out. A parents serious depression could raise the rate at which a childs friendships lapsed each year by more than 100 percent. (Photo: AFP) Parenting styles and a parents mental health problems, particularly depression, play a role in a childs ability to keep friends in elementary school, suggests a recent study in Finland. With data on 1,523 Finnish children and their parents, researchers compared mothers and fathers parenting styles and depressive symptoms to predict how long friendships formed in the first grade would last, and how quickly friends would fall away. Its natural for children to make new friends and drift apart from others over the years, and the study team found that, on average, only 8 percent of friends from first grade remained friends in sixth grade. But a parents serious depression, for example, could raise the rate at which a childs friendships lapsed each year by more than 100 percent above the average, the researchers report in the Journal of Family Psychology. Kids with parents, especially mothers, who were significantly more psychologically controlling than average, engaging in behaviors like using guilt, shame or withdrawing love, for instance, lost friends at a rate 26 percent higher than average each year. We believe psychological control is harmful to childrens friendships because children adopt the same strategies of psychological manipulation with their friends so they cant keep them, said lead author Brett Laursen, a psychology professor at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. Friends also dont want to come over to a childs house if their parents behave badly, Laursen said in a telephone interview. For the study, Laursens team, along with Noona Kiuru and Jari-Erik Nurmi of the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland, recruited parents and first-grade children at four schools in Finland. They had parents answer questionnaires about themselves and their children, and kids were asked which three classmates they liked to spend time with during recess and which three they least liked to spend time with. The kids were asked the same questions in subsequent years. Based on the parents responses when their kids were in first grade, researchers rated their levels of controlling behavior as well as depression symptoms on a scale of 1 to 5, establishing a middle ground of around 2.5 as the average level of these characteristics in these groups of parents. Researchers then categorized individual parents by how much above or below this norm they fell. Analyzing the childrens changing friendships over the years, researchers found that a large proportion formed in first grade, 48 percent, were dissolved by the second grade. By third grade, just 27 percent were still intact, and by fifth grade, it was 17 percent. But when parents fell somewhat below the average for psychological control, for example, their childs risk of friendship dissolution in second grade was 8 percent lower. And when a parent had significantly higher than average depression symptoms, the childs risk of friendship dissolution in second grade rose from 46 percent to 64 percent, in third grade it rose from 35 percent to 53 percent, and this heightened risk persisted through sixth grade. A parents level of depression was also associated with higher levels of behavioral control, such as curfews and monitoring, as well as psychological control and lower levels of affection, researchers found. Laursen noted that children with depressed parents dont have the kinds of engaging relationships with their parents that leave them well adjusted. They often have mood regulation problems, such as temper issues and anxiety. These parents are also less likely to plan activities with their children like play dates so children get left out because theyre not a desirable friend, he said. One thing I hope parents realize from this study is that the way they interact with their children has effects that extend beyond the household, he added. One good reason to get help with depression is to do it for your children. One limitation of the study was that Scandinavian parenting styles may not be generalizable to parents elsewhere. I think the big risk of a study like this is that it overly and narrowly defines how people ought to parent, said Dr. Steven Schlozman, co-director of the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, who was not involved in the study. The study should be taken in the context of your unique family system and your culture, community and values, he said in a phone interview. Parents should take some assurance in this study that as long as theyre managing their own mental wellbeing that it wont negatively impact their childrens friendships, said Christina DiBartolo of NYU Langone in New York, who was not involved in the study. The volunteers undergo fair amount of hardship on their visits to supply sanitary napkins to slum-dweller's doorsteps. The dress code for the wedding is day dress and hat for female guests, but the ladies chose pastel-coloured Banarasi and Chanderi saris. (Photo: File) Four Indian women dressed in brightly-coloured silk and organza saris are among the special guests invited by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to their wedding in Windsor Castle on Saturday. Suhani Jalota, the founder of Myna Mahila Foundation, arrived in the UK from Mumbai with three other colleagues earlier this week. Their women's empowerment charity, which produces and distributes low-cost sanitary napkins to women in Mumbai's slums, is the only non-UK organisation hand-picked by the royal couple as beneficiaries of donations in lieu of wedding gifts. "We are all very excited to be representing India at the celebrations. We are so honoured that she (Markle) chose us and kept her word that she would help us in every way she can," said Jalota, who is among 600 guests to witness the wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. Her colleagues, Deborah Das, Archana Ambre and Imogen Mansfield, are among the 1,200 members of public invited to the wedding picnic party on the grounds of the Castle. "It's all like a dream. This was the first time we sat on a plane and it did make me quite emotional," said Ambre, who along with Das made their first plane journey outside India for the wedding. While the dress code for the wedding lists day dress and hat for female guests, Jalota's group chose pastel-coloured Banarasi and Chanderi saris with Indian motifs from among the handwoven designs created by Indian firm Raw Mango to make an Indian splash at the royal wedding. They are also carrying a specially hand-crafted wedding gift for the newly-weds a painting of a myna bird outline with messages for Meghan Markle from all the women involved with the charity. "It is written in calligraphy as Meghan herself is a calligraphy artist," says Jalota. The 26-year-old's association with the royal bride dates back to 2016, when she first met Meghan at an awards ceremony and then subsequently the then actress and UN goodwill ambassador visited the Mumbai-based charity during a tour of India in 2017. "Meghan was always involved in the field of women's empowerment and was very keen to support the work of organisations that try and make a difference at a grassroots level. She has been a constant source of support for us and this latest development has been truly incredible," said the social worker, who has noted a hundred-fold spike in traffic to the Myna Mahila Foundation website ever since it was named among just seven charities on the royal wedding gift list last month. "It will certainly go a very long way in building our credibility and getting our voice heard on a global platform," said Jalota, who plans to utilise the funds generated as a result of the royal attention towards enhancing the foundations work across more slums of Mumbai. The organisations focus would be to reach all the slums of the city before expanding to neighbouring areas of Ahmednagar, Pune and Latur in Maharashtra. The foundation works on providing women in urban slums stable employment close to their homes. Besides producing low-cost feminine hygiene products, trained female volunteers go door-to-door to try and break taboos around menstrual hygiene by getting women to talk about these issues. "The namesake of the organisation, Myna Mahila Foundation, refers to a chatty bird The name echoes the undercurrent of this issue: we need to speak about it, to be 'chatty' about it," Markle wrote in Time magazine after her India visit in March last year. "The women's work opens the dialogue of menstrual hygiene in their homes, liberating them from silent suffering, and equipping their daughters to attend school," she wrote. The Myna Mahila Foundation was born in 2015 out of Jalota's own belief, which women's empowerment hinges upon an open dialogue and was inspired by the work of Nobel Peace prize nominee Dr Jockin Arputham. "Myna Mahila is more than an employer in Mumbai slums, it was created by women for women and is as such a woman's entrepreneurial project in what is commonly considered to be an unlikely place but is actually full of incredible potential," says the organisation's mission statement. The volunteers undergo fair amount of hardship on their visits to supply sanitary napkins to slum-dweller's doorsteps, as they would not otherwise consider buying such products. They are often met with hostility but over time they have succeeded in making an impact on a large number of families in the Govandi slum area of Mumbai. After their day amid royalty at Windsor Castle, the four Myna women plan to tour the sights of London before returning to their work in the slums of Mumbai next Wednesday. Her acting career behind her, Markle's royal duties are likely to focus on youth, the Commonwealth and women's empowerment. Determined to give herself options, Markle studied theatre and international relations at Northwestern University. (Photo: AFP) Meghan Markle once struggled for roles but the US former actress has now landed the biggest part of all as she prepares to marry Prince Harry on Saturday to become the newest face in Britain's royal family. At 36 and with a successful self-made career behind her, few doubt that the television star and humanitarian activist will be a worthwhile addition to the cast of the monarchy. Markle made her name as savvy paralegal Rachel Zane in the US legal drama series "Suits", but cultivated a high profile for herself outside the show too. She became a United Nations advocate for women's empowerment and a global ambassador for the World Vision Canada relief agency. The Los Angeles-born star had more than two million followers on her now-closed Instagram account and ran a successful lifestyle blog, The Tig. Markle was also revealed as the anonymous blogger behind The Working Actress, which chronicled the struggles of hustling for parts in Hollywood. "She comes across as very poised, eloquent, thoughtful," said royal writer Andrew Morton, who has penned a biography of Markle. "She's very focused and someone who has been very ambitious and really wants to give back. Her great phrase is 'make the change'," he told AFP. "Meghan's a smart girl. She knows exactly what she's getting into." - Ancestors royals and slaves Rachel Meghan Markle was born on August 4, 1981 to Thomas Markle, a white, Emmy Award-winning television lighting director who worked on top US shows like "Married With Children", and Doria Ragland, a black social worker and yoga instructor. On her mother's side, her ancestors were slaves who worked on cotton plantations in Georgia. Her mother's surname is taken from a slave owner. On her father's side, genealogists have traced her ancestry back to king Robert I of Scotland, who reigned from 1306 to 1329. Markle's parents split when she was two and divorced five years later. She is now estranged from her older half-sister and half-brother. They made their presence felt in the wedding build-up, with Tom Junior scathing about her attitude towards the family and Samantha Grant venting forthrightly in several media outlets. Meanwhile her father set himself up for staged paparazzi photos which backfired, then suffered chest pains and needed heart surgery, causing him to miss her big day. Markle went to a private Catholic girls' school where she was remembered for her strong sense of right and wrong. Aged 11, her letter-writing campaign got the consumer goods giant Procter and Gamble to change a washing-up commercial, referring to people rather than just women. Determined to give herself options, Markle studied theatre and international relations at Northwestern University. She graduated in 2003, after which she landed a six-week internship as a press officer at the US embassy in Argentina. "She had all that it takes to be a successful diplomat," said Mark Krischik, her superior in Buenos Aires. - 'Suits' springboard Returning to Los Angeles, in 2004 she fell in love with go-getting film producer Trevor Engelson, who helped her get on the acting ladder as she struggled for bit parts. They married in Jamaica in 2011. Soon after their engagement, Markle had landed her signature role in "Suits". Filmed in Toronto, their relationship became a long-distance one. A series of flops followed for Engelson while the struggling actress became a star, and the marriage collapsed in 2013. Through a mutual friend, she met Queen Elizabeth II's grandson Harry in July 2016 while visiting London. Their romance quickly blossomed on a whirlwind camping trip to Botswana. After their engagement was announced in November, Markle accompanied Harry, now sixth in line to the throne, on several public events. Arthur Edwards, The Sun newspaper's royal photographer since 1977, said her style at public engagements was unusual. "I've seen Meghan do selfies and give autographs, which the royals never do." But Majesty Magazine editor Ingrid Seward told AFP that some readers "don't like her way of being outspoken, saying what she thinks, having views on politics and everything else". She added: "Everybody's intrigued by Meghan, whether they like her or not". Her acting career behind her, Markle's royal duties are likely to focus on youth, the Commonwealth and women's empowerment. With Harry, his brother Prince William and his wife Kate, the four will have the task of renewing the monarchy's relevance to a younger generation. The cops will seek Bhardwaj's custody for arresting him in cases pertaining to Delhi. When the victim got suspicious of getting duped, the accused began avoiding his calls and meeting him. New Delhi: The Delhi police has initiated a probe against a conman for duping two businessmen of Rs 4.4 crore and Rs 3 crore respectively on the pretext of selling them Bitcoin mining set-ups. The businessmen were promised 150 per cent returns in lieu of their investment. The accused was arrested from Pune. The accused has been identified as, Amit Bhardwaj, a resident of Shalimar Bagh, was arrested by Pune police from Indira Gandhi International Airport in April. He had allegedly duped more than 8,000 people in this way. It is also alleged that the total amount he had garnered from this racket is over hundreds of crores of rupees. Bhardwaj's name, earlier came up during investigation conducted by the Cyber Cell when they had busted a cryptocurrency gang run by two men, Kamal Singh and Vijay Kumar, who had duped around 2,500 people. According to the police, in a fresh complaint, a victim, who has an export firm on Barakhamba Road, said that Bhardwaj introduced himself as a trader who dealt in gold, diamonds and Bitcoin with expertise in getting good returns on investments. The victim introduced his father and brother to him. "To win my confidence, Bhardwaj introduced me to one Rajesh, whom he claimed had collaborated with him to acquire a gold mine in Guinea, Latin America. He also showed some papers in this regard. After a few meetings, he offered to transfer the shares held by the duo in the mine," the victim alleged. The accused also produced a forged share purchase agreement. When the businessman showed interest, the accused gave him a "better" offer. Claiming also to be experts in Bitcoin mining, the crooks told him to invest in it. The victim had no knowledge about cryptocurrency and sought more information. He was told that the virtual currency gave 100 to 150 per cent returns on investments, said the police. The victim was made to speak to several clients, who supposedly got substantial returns. "It later came out that these people were members of the Bhardwaj gang," police added. When the victim got suspicious of getting duped, the accused began avoiding his calls and meeting him. The victim then approached police as filed a case against him. The cops will seek Bhardwaj's custody for arresting him in cases pertaining to Delhi. The court would hear arguments on the quantum of sentence to be handed down to Madhuri Gupta on Saturday. Madhuri Gupta was arrested on April 22, 2010, by the special cell of the Delhi Police for allegedly passing on sensitive information to Pakistani officials and remaining in touch with two ISI officials. (Photo: File) New Delhi: Former diplomat Madhuri Gupta, who had served at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, was on Friday convicted by a Delhi court for passing on sensitive information to Pakistan's ISI and compromising national interest. Additional Sessions Judge Sidharth Sharma held the former diplomat guilty under various provisions of the Official Secrets Act for the offences of spying and wrongful communication of information protected under the law. The court would hear arguments on the quantum of sentence to be handed down to Madhuri Gupta on Saturday. Madhuri Gupta, who was the Second Secretary (Press & Information) at the Indian High Commission, was convicted under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act which attracts a maximum sentence of three years and fine or both. She was arrested on April 22, 2010, by the special cell of the Delhi Police for allegedly passing on sensitive information to Pakistani officials and remaining in touch with two ISI officials, Mubshar Raza Rana and Jamshed. not Former Flagler elections chief Kimberle Weeks gets 30-day jail sentence, remains free Another unjust steward convicted of crimes in Northeast Florida.How arrogant to tape record a telephone conversation when permission was DENIED to Flagler County Supervisor of Elections KIMBERLE WEEKS.As Bill Clinton said in his Second Inaugural Address, "Nothing great was ever accomplished by being small." It appears WEEKS was petty and small-minded. Just the sort of egotistical person we doneed in public office. (Photo:).Kudos to Seventh Circuit State's Attorney Ralph Joseph Larizza for bring this successful prosecution of white collar crime in the Flagler County Courthouse. What's next? Prosecution of Sheriff DAVID SHOAR in St. Johns County? Yes, we can!By Frank FernandezPosted May 18, 2018 at 11:23 AMUpdated May 18, 2018 at 8:12 PMBUNNELL Former Flagler County elections supervisor Kimberle Weeks was sentenced Friday to 18 months of probation, with the first 30 days to be spent in jail.But Weeks spent little more than an hour at the Flagler County jail from where she was released at 4:12 p.m. Friday.Her attorney, Kevin Kulik, convinced the judge to allow Weeks to remain free on $25,000 bail pending appeal of her seven felony convictions for illegally recording conversations, including a telephone conversation with the Florida Secretary of State, who asked for jail time.Before handing down her sentence, Circuit Judge Margaret Hudson asked Weeks if she wanted to say anything.No maam, Weeks said.Those were the only words she spoke during Fridays hearing other than talking to her attorney.In allowing Weeks to remain free while she appeals, Hudson noted that there are legitimate issues to appeal. The case involves crimes committed in a digital age prosecuted with laws from an analog era.Hudson also ordered Weeks to pay $2,871 for the costs of the investigation, far less than the $33,000 that Assistant State Attorney Jason Lewis had requested, which would have included the wages of employees involved in the investigation.Weeks attorney, Kevin Kulik, argued that it was rare to charge such hourly wages in a criminal case and in the end the judge did not.Based on state sentencing guidelines, Hudson could only sentence Weeks to prison after making a special written finding that Weeks would present a danger to the public otherwise, Kulik argued in court and in a motion filed Thursday.Weeks, 57, faced up to five years in prison on each of the charges, which are all third-degree felonies.In seeking jail time for Weeks, prosecutor Lewis argued that she ignored the law and derided and mocked the people she recorded illegally. He said as a public official, Weeks should be held to a higher standard.At the end of the day, what Ms. Weeks did completely and utterly decimated this community, Lewis said. It was a complete disregard for everything that she swore to uphold when she took office.He told the judge that some of her victims felt she should get jail time.That included Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner and Gary Holland, assistant general counsel for Florida Department of State. Holland was assistant director of the division of elections for the Florida Department of State when Weeks committed the crimes.Lewis read from an affidavit from Detzner and Holland in which they said Weeks deserved time behind bars.We both believe that her actions violated the public trust for an elected constitutional officer and she brought discredit upon her elected office, Lewis read. She flagrantly violated her constitutional oath of office.Palm Coast City Clerk Virginia Smith testified and asked the judge to hand down an appropriate sentence. Although she did not ask for jail or prison time, Smith made clear that she felt Weeks crimes were serious.As a dedicated public servant, I had to rise above the utter chaos you caused while you served as the Flagler County Supervisor of Elections, Smith said in a voice that seemed full of emotion at times. Your crimes negatively impacted many but my office in particular.Smith said Weeks crimes took a toll on the community.Your crimes cost money, she said. But more importantly, they damaged trust the trust of Flagler County citizens and voters.Kulik, a Fort Lauderdale attorney, questioned the impact of Weeks actions on the community.The prosecutor said this case was devastating to the community, Kulik said. Its hard for me to imagine that. Maybe it was but its up to the court to make a determination whether thats true or whether its some kind of exaggeration for sentencing.He said the case had been devastating to Weeks. He said Weeks has five children and numerous grandchildren who care for her and dont see her as this criminal deserving of jail time.I would submit that this whole event has been very devastating to Ms. Weeks, her husband and her whole family, Kulik said. Theyve had to read about her in the paper now for several years.He said that since she left office, Weeks now primarily cares for an 81-year-old man who was a friend of her fathers. He said she is not paid for the tasks but does it to help him.Weeks was indicted in May 2015 and arrested, originally on 12 charges. But her attorneys fought successfully to knock some of those off.During the trial, prosecutors painted Weeks as an egotistical elections chief who began making the illegal recordings of public officials after she felt disrespected and got some bad press. They said her intent was to protect her image.Weeks attorneys countered that she had detected ethical violations involving local officials and possible voter suppression, and she was trying to bring it to the attention of state authorities.Weeks had asked Detzner for permission to record him during an April 2014 phone conversation. Detzner declined but Weeks recorded him anyway and later told some people she wasnt sure what she had done was legal.At the time, Weeks was feuding with Palm Coast officials over polling sites. Detzner urged Weeks to resolve the dispute with the city. Weeks shot back at Detzner, telling him his letter was inappropriate and gave her a black mark in the media.Lewis said at the sentencing hearing that Weeks believed she was above the law.Her conduct reflects a complete lack of respect for the law, Lewis said. The man was shot by 2 people, including juvenile over loan of Rs 700. A man named Kamal and a juvenile fired on Noor Mohammed on May 18. (Photo: ANI/Representational) New Delhi: A man was shot in the leg allegedly by two people, including a juvenile, following a fight over a loan of Rs 700, the police said on May 19. A man named Kamal and a juvenile fired on Noor Mohammed on May 18, they said. Noor owed Kamal Rs 700, but was not returning it. Kamal was arrested while the juvenile was apprehended. The newly-formed alliance has claimed support of 117 MLAs in the 224-member House with an effective strength of 221. New Delhi: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s attempts to subvert democracy has miserably failed in Karnataka. Mr Kejriwals comment came after Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa resigned before facing a crucial trust vote in the Assembly, bringing an end to a political thriller that began after the May 12 elections threw up a hung verdict. BJPs attempts to subvert democracy have miserably failed in Karnataka. BJPs lust for power through foul means stands completely exposed. Will BJP learn any lesson now? Indias judiciary has risen to the occasion and has safeguarded our democracy, Mr Kejriwal said in a tweet. Mr Yeddyurappas resignation will pave the way for formation of a government led by JD(S) state chief H.D. Kumaraswamy, who has the backing of the Congress. The newly-formed alliance has claimed support of 117 MLAs in the 224-member House with an effective strength of 221. Terror outfit was behind 2005 Diwali blast. New Delhi: The ghost of Batla House encounter continues to haunt security agencies as Ariz Khan, alias Junaid an operative of Indian Mujahideen (IM) wanted in the 2005 Delhi serial blasts case and arrested by National Investigation Agency (NIA) earlier this year, for his alleged involvement in the explosions in year 2005 in national capital has provided an eyewitness account of the notorious encounter in year 2008 between Delhi police and IM terrorists in South Delhi in which encounter specialist Mohan Chand Sharma was killed. This encounter had shaken the national politics and polarised at that point of time. IM operative Atif Ameen tried to escape but inspector Sharma, who was awarded the Ashok Chakra posthumously, caught hold of him. Atif then grabbed Sharma's gun and started firing when a Delhi police team raided the flat where the IM terrorists were holed up, according to the account given to the NIA by Ariz Khan alias Junaid. Following the arrest of Junaid by Delhi police earlier this year, the NIA interrogated him at length. "He told the agency that besides Atif and Chota Sajid, he was also present in the Batla House flat along with - Shahzad Ahmed alias Pappu and Mohammaded Saif. One of their associates, Zeeshan, left the flat in the morning to take an exam," said a senior home ministry official. He told the interrogators that he was woken up by policemen and brought to the hall where he saw two policemen covering Atif and Shahzad. Two other policemen were watching over Saif and Chota Sajid. "Suddenly Atif tried to run but was held by inspector Sharma. Atif caught hold of inspector Sharma's gun and started firing," Ariz told interrogators, according to the home ministry officials. The police team returned fire, resulting in the death of Sajid and Ameen but Shahzad and Ariz managed to flee from the flat. Ariz's lawyer, MS Khan, maintained that his client "was not involved with any outfit called Indian Mujahideen or any blasts". Sources said that Junaid told the investigators that IM was behind the blasts on the eve of Diwali in 2005. On October 29, 2005, at 5.35pm, the first of the Delhi serial blasts at Tooti Chowk in Paharganj killed 17 people and injured 108 others. The second blast took place 25 minutes later in the busy Sarojini Nagar market in which 50 people died and 104 were injured. The third blast took place at Okhla, injuring 13. Ariz had managed to escape from the Batla House flat during the 2008 police encounter in which inspector Mohan Chand Sharma was shot dead. Intelligence agencies caught up with Ariz in Nepal in February this year, where he was held along with an aide, Abdul Subhan Qureshi, aka Tauqeer. While police arrested five people, the incident prompted resident doctors at hospital to go on day-long strike. The patient's family members alleged that it was due to negligence on the doctors' part and beat up 2 resident doctors including a woman while they were on duty. (Photo: Pixabay/Representational) Mumbai: Two resident doctors including a woman were allegedly beaten up by a patient's relatives at the state-run J J Hospital on May 19, police said. While police arrested five persons, the incident prompted the resident doctors at the hospital to go on a day-long strike. The incident took place in the morning when Zaida Sanaullah Sheikh (45), a resident of Mumbra who was being treated for a gall bladder ailment, died. Her family members alleged that it was due to negligence on the doctors' part, and beat up Dr Atish Parikh and a woman doctor who were on duty, a police official said. They also allegedly ransacked the ward. CCTV footage of the incident went viral on social media. Police arrested five members of Sheikh's family, including a woman, for the alleged assault. Resident doctors at the hospital announced a day-long strike in protest. The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) alleged that despite repeated requests, there was no adequate security at the hospital. MARD chief Dr Sarang Donarkar, in a letter to the Dean of J J Hospital, alleged that the number of security guards has been reduced to half. The minors were allegedly threatened to not disclose anything related to crime to the police. Mumbai: The three accused who had allegedly threatened minor victims of a sexual assault case were been given interim protection from arrest by the Bombay high court. The minors were allegedly threatened to not disclose anything related to crime to the police. The court has also asked the state government to file a reply on the Anticipatory Bail Application (ABA). A vacation bench of the Bombay high court comprising Justice V.L. Achaliya was hearing an ABA filed by Ankit Jain, Suresh Jain and Meena Jain. The court relied on the Supreme Court judgement and accepted the application and gave interim protection from arrest to the three accused till May 23. According to the prosecution, two minor children were sexually assaulted by two caretakers of the childrens hostel belonging to the Jain Mandir at Palghar. The two accused, Mayank Jain and Anil Jain, were arrested by the police but the Jain Mandir management committee members, namely Ankit Jain, Suresh Jain and his wife Meena Jain, had threatened the two minor victims not to disclose anything to the police in order to save the reputation of their trust. After receiving complaints from parents of the children, the Talasari police station of Palghar had registered an FIR against the three under Section 4,8,9(f) and 12 of Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act (PCSO) and Section 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The applicant argued that the FIR discloses no offence under POCSO against them. The only allegation made against the applicants is that they are members of the management committee and they threatened to cause the complainant bodily harm. The prosecution has opposed the ABA saying the accused came directly to the High Court without approaching the Palghar sessions court and requested the court to refuse the ABA. The accuseds lawyer cited the Supreme Court judgement, which says the HC can entertain ABA in such sensitive cases where news is constantly appearing in the print and electronic media. A CR official said that the RPF will ensure that these places are not used by drug addicts leading to inconvenience for the commuters. Mumbai: In light of the Elphinstone Road stampede last year which killed 22 people and injured many others, the Central Railway (CR) plans to build a shed near railway stations for commuters ahead of the monsoon. The CR has identified seven railway stations where such sheds will be built. The CR has conducted a survey from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to Kalyan to identify the stations where sheds need to be built for passengers to wait till the rain stops. Sunil Udasi, chief public relations officer of CR, said, We have identified Mumbra, Kalwa, Thane, Mulund, Nahur, Kurla and Currey Road stations. We will set up sheds on 20 square metre area as additional holding capacity for commuters at these stations. A CR official said that the Railway Protection Force (RPF) will ensure that these places are not used by drug addicts leading to inconvenience for the commuters. Two-hundred-and-sixty personnel of the Maharashtra State Security Force (MSSF) have also been inducted to monitor commuters and the railway premises on a contract basis. On September 29, 2017, a crowd gathered on the foot over bridge at Elphinstone Road station to avoid getting wet in the rain, leading to a stampede that killed 22 people and injured several others. Meanwhile, the Western Railway (WR) has identified areas prone to flooding. On the basis of this analysis, the WR will pay more attention to certain sections including Grant Road, Elphinstone Road, Dadar, Matunga Road to Mahim yard etc. He spent time at his favourite bookstore with fans and cut cake which had book jacket image of latest work "Ranji and the Music Maker". Author Ruskin Bond celebrates his birthday by cutting a cake with children who share their birthdays with him, at Cambridge Bookstore in Mussoorie, on Saturday. (Photo: PTI) Mussoorie: One of Indias most loved authors Ruskin Bond turned 84 today and celebrated the day amid children and also launched his latest book, which is inspired by a letter from one of his many fans in Sri Lanka. On the occasion, he spent time in the evening at his favourite bookstore, Cambridge, with hundreds of children and adults alike and cut a cake which had the book jacket image of his latest work "Ranji and the Music Maker". Bond had a special message for children on his birthday: look for books that interest you and read them. "Remember, once a reader always a reader. So look for books that you like, if possible set up your own library and develop the habit of reading," he said. Children who share their birthday with Bond also cut the cake with him. Todays celebrations were no less than a festival with kids and adults across the town and beyond waiting in long queues outside the store for their favourite author to sign a book for them or click a selfie with them. Penguin Random House has been celebrating Bonds birthday here for the past several years. Published by Penguin Random House imprint Puffin India, "Ranji and the Music Maker" is about young Ranji who once in the middle of his languid holiday, stumbles upon assorted musical instruments in the storeroom - first a shrill flute, then a blaring little trumpet and, finally, a too-big drum that may have once sounded a battle march. He stages impromptu concerts down the road, not sparing his neighbours, the cats around his porch, or the peace-loving inhabitants of the zoo. But all Ranji is really seeking is a friend wholl hear the magic in his din. "Ranji and the Music Maker" has illustrations by Sayan Mukherjee. "The book was set off, inspired you might say, by the photograph of a small boy playing his flute for a kitten sent to me by a reader in Sri Lanka. I imagined the little boy as Ranji," said Bond. Bond was born in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, and grew up in Jamnagar, Dehradun, New Delhi and Shimla. As a young man, he spent four years in the Channel Islands and London. He returned to India in 1955. He now lives in Landour, Mussoorie with his adopted family. At the age of eight, Bond escaped his jail-like boarding school in the hills and went on to live with his father in Delhi. His time in the capital is filled with books, visits to the cinema, music, and walks and conversations with his father ? a dream life for a curious and wildly imaginative boy, which turns tragic all too soon. His first novel "The Room on the Roof", written when he was 17, received the John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then, Bond has written a number of novellas, essays, poems and childrens books. He has also written over 500 short stories and articles that have appeared in magazines and anthologies. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1993, the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014. According to the police, graduation ceremony was over when the shooting happened. According to the Clayton County Fire and Emergency Services, one adult female was killed after being shot multiple times. (Photo: ANI | Representational) Atlanta (Georgia): At least one person was killed and two others wounded in a shooting at a high school graduation ceremony in Clayton County of the United States' southeastern province Georgia on Friday night (local time). The incident took place on the campus of Mount Zion High School. According to the Clayton County Fire and Emergency Services, one adult female was killed after being shot multiple times. The injured have been shifted to the hospital, reported Fox News. According to the police, graduation ceremony was over when the shooting happened. An investigation is underway. This comes barely hours after when at least eight people were shot dead in Santa Fe High School in an early morning shootout in the southeastern Texas city of Santa Fe, about 50 kilometres away from Houston. Assistant principal Cris Richardson told CNN that the gunman has been arrested. A second person has been detained as well. At least, one police officer was also injured in the shooting, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said on Twitter. The sheriff further added that the shooter, who was arrested, was a former student of the school. As per media reports, explosive devices were found at the site of the shooting and other surrounding areas. The death toll is likely to rise as multiple deaths have been reported due to the shooting incident; two law enforcement sources told CNN. An investigation for the same is currently on, according to the police. In 2018, there have already been 22 incidents of shooting in schools where many have died and several others were injured. Thousands of people join together after Florida school shooting that killed 17 to pleading with lawmakers to change the nations gun laws.(Photo: AFP) Mumbai/ Washington: With the increase in numbers of mass shooting in United States in 2018, there have already been 22 incidents of shooting in schools where many have died and several others were injured. These shootings average out to more than 1 shooting per week. Santa Fe High School shooting, Texas: In the latest deadly school shooting to hit United States, 10 people, mostly students were killed when a teenage classmate armed with a shotgun and a revolver opened fire in a Texas high school on May 18, 2018. The gunman, arrested on murder charges, was identified as Dimitrios Pagourtzis, a 17-year-old junior at Santa Fe High School. He is being held on capital murder charges, meaning he could face the death penalty. Read: Ten dead in Texas school shooting, student arrested Governor Greg Abbott said 10 people died and another 10 were wounded in "one of the most heinous attacks that we've ever seen in the history of Texas schools." Abbott said the gunman apparently carried out the attack with a shotgun and a .38 revolver that were legally owned by his father. Abbott also added that searches were being conducted at two residences and "explosive devices" had been found, including a "CO2 device" and a Molotov cocktail. He said journal entries by the gunman suggested he wanted to commit suicide but "he gave himself up." Abbott said there were no "warning signs" about the suspect, who had no criminal history, although he did post a picture on his Facebook page of a T-shirt with the words "Born to Kill" on it. The series of the attacks came into the limelight after Florida high school shooting in February 2018 which became an incident that urged Donald Trump to come forward and address the issues regarding the safety of the citizens as well as on the possession of arms. Florida high school shooting: A former student armed with an AR-15 rifle opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on February 14, 2018, killing at least 17 people, officials said, in a harrowing shooting spree that saw terrified students hiding in closets and under desks as they texted for help. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel identified the gunman as Nikolaus Cruz, 19, a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland who loved guns and had been expelled for "disciplinary reasons". Read: Former student kills 17 in shooting spree at Florida high school "We have already begun to dissect his websites and things on social media that he was on and some of the things... are very, very disturbing," Israel said. "He had countless magazines, multiple magazines, and at this point, we believe he had one AR-15 rifle," the sheriff added Israel said he was uncertain about the exact number of people injured, but at least 14 were taken to hospital and two had died there of their wounds. Nikolas Cruz was arrested about an hour after a shooting rampage and was found with multiple ammunition magazines and one AR-15-style rifle. Palmdale shooting, California: A 14-year-old boy used a rifle to shoot a former classmate in the arm on May 11, 2018 at their Highland High school in California and dumped the gun in a field before he was caught in a shopping centre, authorities said. Read: Palmdale shooting: Chaos after multiple shooting reports, 1 student wounded Los Angeles County deputies detained a 14-year-old former Highland High School student in the shooting of a 15-year-old boy, who was hit in the arm. The shooting was sparked by a dispute between the two students, said Captain Darren Harris with the sheriff's department. "We were very fortunate that the incident wasn't much worse than it was," Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell said at a news conference. "The outcome was much better than anybody could have anticipated." McDonnell said the 14-year-old suspect had fired multiple gunshots in a courtyard but did not elaborate on whether the teen was aiming for anyone in particular. The teen was caught about an hour later at a shopping centre after the boy called his father to say he fired his gun in the air and was headed to a grocery store near campus, McDonnell said. He said the teen's father called a family friend who's an off-duty police officer and told him where the boy was. The off-duty officer, who works for Los Angeles police, then detained the teen without incident. He was being held on suspicion of attempted murder. It's unclear where he got the rifle. Great Mills, Maryland shooting: A 17-year-old male student shot two other students at Great Mills High School in Maryland on March 20, 2018 morning before a school resource officer engaged him and stopped the threat, authorities said. The incident began in a school hallway at 7:55 am, just before classes started. Authorities say Austin Wyatt Rollins, armed with a handgun, shot a female and a male student. The shooter had a prior relationship with the female student, St. Mary's County Sheriff Tim Cameron said. Read: Maryland high school shooting leaves 2 in critical state, gunman a student School resource officer Blaine Gaskill responded to the scene in less than a minute, the sheriff said. Gaskill fired a round at the shooter, and the shooter fired a round simultaneously, Cameron said. Georgia shooting: In the latest shooting post Texas incident, one person was killed and two others wounded in a shooting at a high school graduation ceremony in Clayton County of the United States' southeastern province Georgia on May 18, 2018 night. The incident took place on the campus of Mount Zion High School. According to the Clayton County Fire and Emergency Services, one adult female was killed after being shot multiple times. Read: After Texas, 1 dead, 1 injured after shooting in Georgia According to the police, graduation ceremony was over when the shooting happened. An investigation is underway. President Donald Trump, post the Florida school shooting, said he believes armed teachers would deter school shootings and better protect students when they happen. Trump vowed to address mental health issues after the shooting, but his administrations recommendations for reforms included no concrete details, other than reviewing health and education privacy laws. Trump administration proposed, such as rising the minimum age for buying guns to 21 from 18, or requiring background checks for guns bought at gun shows or on the internet. With shooting numbers rising rampantly, the question still remains that is United States administration able to control the arms possession and when will the new laws be implemented to control the deaths and injuries of innocent people? Are we going to face any more shooting and if yes, then tomorrow which school is it going to be? Chinas Foreign Ministry has denied reports that China is willing to cut trade surplus by US$ 200 billion dollars. Still, talks are "constructive". Washington (AsiaNews/Agencies) Larry Kudlow, a top White House official, spoke to journalists yesterday about two days of high-level meetings between China and the United States that are designed to stave off a trade war. He said that Beijing is meeting many of our demands but There is no deal yet to be sure, and its probably going to take a while to process, but theyre coming to play. I believe they want to make a deal. Liu He, Xi Jinpings top economic adviser, is in Washington at the helm of a Chinese delegation. Yesterday Chinas Ministry of Commerce scrapped an anti-dumping levy imposed on US sorghum, which would have virtually ended imports. The official reason is that the measure would have damaged Chinese farmers, who use it as animal feed. By contrast, reports that Beijing offered Washington a package of measures to cut its trade surplus with the United States by US$ 200 billion a year have not been confirmed. Yesterday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman called the suggestion a rumour. However, he did note that the negotiations are ongoing and they are constructive. Frustrated by a trade imbalance of US$ 375 billion dollars with China, the United States and its president have long accused Beijing of propping up its export, of failing to protect copyrights and of stealing or of forcing the transfer of technology in order to do business in China. For this reason, President Donald Trump has proposed a series of duties worth hundreds of billions of dollars on Chinese products. As a countermeasure, China imposed levies on American products. Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. Rubric China Economy Freedom of religion India Islam Social Doctrine of the Church Vatican Geographic area Afghanistan Africa Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Bhutan Brunei Cambodia Central America Central Asia China East Asia East Timor Europe Georgia Hong Kong India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Lebanon Macau Malaysia Middle East Mongolia Myanmar Nepal North America North Asia North Korea Oceania Oman Pakistan Palestine Philippines Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia Singapore South America South Asia South East Asia South Korea South West Asia Sri Lanka Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Thailand Turkey Turkmenistan United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Vietnam Yemen by Sumon Corraya In Bangladesh, the holy month of fasting and prayer began yesterday. President Hamid prayed for the well-being of the country and its imams. For a young man, Ramadan is a time to cleanse life of its negative things. The authorities uncover cases of adulterated food for iftar with thousands of mangoes seized and destroyed. Dhaka (AsiaNews) Ramadan began yesterday in Bangladesh. Speaking on this occasion, Bangladeshi President M Abdul Hamid said that the holy month is a time of self-restraint, self-rectification and forgiveness. In his message to fellow Muslims, the president also noted that "Ramadan is the month of Rahmat (mercy), Barkat (blessing), Maghfirat (forgiveness) and Najat (salvation). It offers us the unique opportunity to be closer to Allah and to achieve peace and forgiveness." Mr Hamid went on to say that fasting, which distinguishes this period dedicated to prayer, "helps to establish cooperation, concord and brotherhood between rich and poor". He ended praying for the well-being of the country and its imams. For Muslims, this period is a time of reflection on one's own existence and on good intentions to improve it. "During Ramadan I purify myself through fasting and prayer, said Rony Talkudar, a young Muslim who spoke to AsiaNews. I cleanse the negative things from my life. I think it's the best time of the year dedicated to spirituality." According to Rony, "all Muslims should follow the teachings of Ramadan and put them into practice in their lives. If we all achieve self-restraint, self-rectification and forgiveness, our country would be a better place to live in." "Allah will bless me for my fasting, prayer and honest life, said Musfikur Rahim, a student at a madrassa, (Quranic school). Ramadan is the best time to obtain God's mercy." Still, Rony bemoans the fact that during Islams holy month, "some merchants tend to take advantage [of the situation] and increase the price of goods. In other Muslim countries the cost of goods is reduced, he said, but in Bangladesh it increases. The reason is that officials take bribes and [thus] boost criminal activities". Evidence of widespread corruption is the seizure and destruction by police of thousands of adulterated mangoes in Dhaka yesterday. The fact that some dishonest retailers sold such products did not surprise many people. The authorities discovered that food destined for iftar was treated with dyes and oils. Iftar is the meal Muslims take to break the fast after sundown. In the case of mangoes, certain substances were used to make the fruit more attractive to buyers even though they were bad for human health. Manila (CNN Philippines Life) From African-American female business women seeking inspiration from Meghan Markle to how the Harry-Markle union can change the attitudes of people about race and ethnicity, here are articles online that could equip you should you find yourself in a debate on the ramifications of the existence of a monarchy or even a royal wedding quiz night. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's big day will cost over 1,000 times more than the average wedding here's where it will all go If youre wondering how much a Royal wedding costs, heres a piece on the expected amount of cash needed for the ceremony. Kate and Williams was reported to amount to $32 million (approximately over 1 billion pesos), while Meghan and Harrys is expected to cost even more. Royal wedding etiquette From where to sit to how one acts around the Queen, guests at Prince Harry and Meghan Markles royal wedding will have to follow strict rules. Here is a quick guide to all the royal wedding etiquette rules. Meet the Bridesmaids and Page Boys for the Royal Wedding Theyre Cute! Here is a list of the bridesmaids and page boys who will be walking down the aisle of St. Georges Chapel. This includes goddaughters and godsons, and children of Harry and Meghans friends. For some black Britons, Meghan Markle is something of an inspiration her mixed race identity and struggles to adjust to and learn as much about British culture somehow reflect experiences of black immigrants. Photo from THE ROYAL FAMILY/FACEBOOK No Cinderella: Margo Jefferson on the real Meghan Markle An in-depth look at the life of Duchess-to-be Meghan Markle, Pulitzer Prize winning writer Margo Jefferson presents the life of Markle all the way from her childhood in a Los Angeles neighborhood to her public engagements with the Royal Family, where she spoke of her being a biracial feminist. Has Meghan Markle changed Britains attitude to race and royalty? The Meghan-Harry marriage has changed the spirit of various communities in the UK; people have felt that the couple is more accessible, and British people from the largest African-Caribbean community in the UK are even hosting a Meghan and Harry club night. We wouldnt have done the same for William and Kate, says a club host. The monarchy is at its strongest in years, unlike the government The monarchy is said to represent the dignified branch of the UK constitution; the parliament being the efficient one. While the monarchy received a slew of controversies 20 years ago (Charles and Dianas divorce, the silence of the Queen after Dianas death, etc.), it seems that the monarchy, with the marriage of Harry to an American divorcee, is a brilliant chapter in the story of the UK monarchy. What Meghan Markle means to black Britons For some black Britons, Meghan Markle is something of an inspiration her mixed race identity and struggles to adjust to and learn as much about British culture somehow reflect experiences of black immigrants. However, for others, Markle, and the whole royal wedding, are mere distractions to the issues of intolerance and racism in the nation. Meghan and Harry's wedding is expected to cost more than Kate and Williams, which was reported to amount to $32 million (approximately over 1 billion pesos). Photo from THE ROYAL FAMILY/FACEBOOK Royal Wedding Fever: The View from Windsor The royal wedding will be held at St. Georges Chapel in Windsor, a town southeast of England, which last hosted a big royal event in 1863. This article looks into the history of the town, as well as how a considerable number of English people who live in Windsor have cashed in on the Royal celebration. Stores have congratulatory displays to go with different kinds of Royal wedding merchandise from snow globes and ladies fascinators to towels and bottles of rose. Meghan Markle Keeps Breaking Royal Fashion Protocol, As Well She Should Royals are constantly under pressure to follow strict rules and protocol, including when it comes to their fashion choices. But Duchess-to-be Meghan Markle has been constantly defying royal fashion protocol, and for some, its opening up a conversation on how elitist and archaic some of these rules actually are. The Markle effect: black women see the royal wedding as workplace inspiration A 2014 study found that of the over 10,000 business deals, only 0.2 percent of black women were recipients. African American women in business are hoping that the royal wedding could have a positive impact on their businesses, as they see Markle as an inspiration. PARKLAND, Fla. (AP) Survivors of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, are expressing outrage and heartbreak after authorities said a student killed 10 people Friday at a high school in Texas. The attack at Santa Fe High School is the deadliest school shooting since a former student was arrested in the killing of 17 people at Florida's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day, a massacre that mobilized a nationwide movement for gun reform. It also came on the last day of school for Stoneman Douglas seniors, who finish classes earlier than other grades. "My heart is so heavy for the students of Santa Fe High School. It's an all too familiar feeling no one should have to experience. I am so sorry this epidemic touched your town Parkland will stand with you now and forever," Parkland student Jaclyn Corin said in a tweet. She also directed her frustration at President Donald Trump, writing "Our children are being MURDERED and you're treating this like a game. This is the 22nd school shooting just this year. DO SOMETHING." Classmate David Hogg, who helped start the #NeverAgain movement with Corin, predicted that politicians would descend on the Texas campus acting like they care to boost their approval ratings. Cameron Kasky echoed their sentiments on Twitter: "Prepare to watch the NRA boast about getting higher donations. Prepare to see students rise up and be called 'civil terrorists' and crisis actors. Prepare for the right-wing media to attack the survivors." A handful of Twitter users did began to question the facts of the Texas shooting Friday, at least one accusing a Santa Fe student of being a #CrisisActor after she told a local television station she'd always felt like a shooting would eventually happen at her school. Most of the victims of Friday's shooting at a Houston-area high school were students, authorities said. "Santa Fe High, you didn't deserve this. You deserve peace all your lives, not just after a tombstone saying that is put over you. You deserve more than Thoughts and Prayers, and after supporting us by walking out we will be there to support you by raising up your voices," tweeted Emma Gonzalez, one of the movement's leading voices. Monday marked three months since a former student with an AR-15 was charged in the attack in Parkland, Florida. The movement that resulted led to gun reform legislation being passed in Florida, and a continuing national debate over guns and school safety. "They're part of this now," Stoneman Douglas student Charlie Shebes said. "I want to talk to them," he added. "I'd like to say it gets better, but it actually gets a lot worse before it gets better." March For Our Lives released a statement urging Americans not to simply let this latest shooting pass without action. The group said some Parkland students had already reached out to the Texas survivors. "This is not the price of our freedom. This is the most fatal shooting since the one at our school and tragedies like this will continue to happen unless action is taken," the statement said. Stoneman Douglas student Kayla Renert recalled how she traveled to Washington for the massive gun reform rally in March. "On the bus in D.C., I said we continue to say never again but it keeps happening again. This was again. We worked hard to make Douglas the last mass school shooting and unfortunately three months later there was another," said the 15-year-old sophomore. Delaney Tarr tweeted: "I should be celebrating my last day of high school, but instead my heart is broken to hear of the tragedy at Santa Fe. We cannot let this continue to be the norm. We cannot." ___ Kennedy reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. NEW YORK (AP) From pubgoers in pajamas to merrymakers in finery at a posh hotel, Americans cheered and teared up Saturday as they watched Meghan Markle marry Prince Harry in a royal wedding with trans-Atlantic resonance. People gathered at wedding watch parties some before dawn at a Hollywood pub and New York's swanky Plaza hotel, in oceanfront towns in Florida and spots in the Rocky Mountains, to see an American of mixed race heritage become part of Britain's royal family. If the U.K. and the U.S. have long enjoyed a "special relationship," this gave it a whole new meaning. "It was a real-life fairy tale," said Erin Massa, 34, who watched at a Minneapolis pub. "If someone my age from America can suddenly become a princess, essentially, anything really is possible." About 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) away at a home in Burlington, New Jersey, Paula Jackson gasped when Markle emerged from the Rolls-Royce that brought her to St. George's Chapel in Windsor, the British royals' longtime home. "I'm just so happy for her," said Jackson, dressed in a jeweled blazer and tiara. "She will be an example for our young, African-American women." At gatherings around the U.S., viewers admitted Markle's beauty and naturalness. But they also marveled at the boundary-breaking union between the 33-year-old prince who has been open about how grief shadowed his life for decades after the 1997 death of his mother, Princess Diana, and the 36-year-old American actress who has spoken out about coming to terms with her biracial identity as the daughter of a black mother and white father. Some viewers wiped away tears as they watched the wedding from Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, Markle's alma mater. "It's all my family can talk about," said 15-year-old sophomore Daniella Bueno, who got up at 3 a.m. to join dozens of students, parents and staffers for the event. "She's representing our school in such a beautiful way." Across the country, Varinda Missett and Ellen Polkes donned hats, gloves and bejeweled high heels and went to the Plaza early in the morning because they "wanted to see a California girl become a princess," Missett said. A crowd in fascinators and tiaras gathered for the storied hotel's first royal wedding viewing party, which came complete with deviled eggs, black pudding, Earl Grey tea butter biscuits and cake pops with champagne and flower liqueur. "We love a great love story," said Maureen Farley, the hotel's director of hospitality. "This surely is one of the best." If there was a certain historical irony in Americans celebrating British royalty nearly 242 years after the Declaration of Independence, it had little sway Saturday over Americans who say they were simply rallying around love. "I think this is a wonderful new way to be royal," said Ralph Campbell, 67, who donned a three-piece dark suit and bow tie for a watch party at Brit's Pub in Minneapolis. He called the ceremony "a global wedding" and added: "I think it will only help the cause of peace in the world." Another guest at Brit's Pub, British native Victoria Rylee, had no problem with an American marrying a British prince. After all, "I married an American," Rylee, 71, said with a laugh. At a pajama-and-viewing party at the Cat & Fiddle Pub in Hollywood, California, British-born actor Craig Young was happy to watch a woman from his adopted hometown join the royal family in his homeland. It was something "we never thought would happen, and which we're very excited about," said the actor, 44, who wore a bathrobe and Prince Harry mask. For Meghan Woods, who was at the Plaza's fete in New York, the takeaway was simple. "There are so many terrible things going on in the world that when there's something like this love bringing people together, a reason to celebrate," she said, "why not?" ___ Dalton reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Jeff Baenen in Minneapolis, Alexandra Villarreal in New York and Errin Haines Whack in Burlington, New Jersey, contributed to this report. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. BAYONET POINT, Fla. -- The father of a Pasco County man charged with aggravated child abuse for allegedly fracturing a three-month-old infant's skull and leg defended his son Friday. Brandon Madrishin, 26, charged with aggravated child abuse Hillsborough Child Protection Team doctor says injuries a sign of abuse Grandfather: [Madrishin] would never hurt his children "Brandon is a good father, he's a loving father, he's a caring father," Michael Madrishin said of his son, Brandon Madrishin, 26. According to a Pasco County Sheriff's complaint affidavit, Brandon Madrishin was arrested Thursday. He allegedly told deputies a one-year-old in his care knocked a television onto a three-month-old, causing the injuries. The report, however, states a doctor with the Hillsborough Child Protection Team reviewed an x-ray, examined the child and found the injuries were "not accidental and was a sign of abuse." A doctor with the Pasco Child Protection Team found that the medical information, along with what investigators called Madrishin's "inconsistent changing story" were consistent with inflicted head trauma. The Pasco doctor is noted in the sheriff's report as stating the leg fracture is similar to those seen in infant head trauma cases caused by "shaking or rough handling." Michael Madrishin insists his son would never hurt his children. "He had his eyes on the situation, but all it took was a second for it to happen," Michael said. Michael explained the three-month-old is one of his twin grandsons born in February. They're children he said Brandon didn't think he'd be able to have. Madrishin said his son was awaiting the birth of his first child when he began undergoing treatment for AML leukemia. "The doctor told him he was going to be sterile from the chemo," Michael said. Then, last year, Michael Madrishin got a phone call from his son. "I go, 'What?' 'You're gonna be a grandpap.' I said, 'Get out of here, you're kidding,'" Michael remembers. "He was ecstatic." Michael went on stay his grandchildren have been placed into foster care. Natalie Harrell, communications director for the Florida Department of Children and Families Suncoast Region confirmed that the Pasco Sheriff's Child Protection Investigation Division opened an investigation involving the family, but said DCF doesn't conduct CPI investigations in the county. Pasco Sheriff's Office spokesperson Melanie Snow said the office does not comment on child abuse cases. Michael said he just wants to see his son reunited with his children. "All he wants to do is hold his kids and tell them he loves them," Madrishin said. "This is a horrible accident that never should've happened." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 19) China may fund all phases of the multi-billion-peso Mindanao Railway project, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) revealed Saturday. "The ongoing multi-agency and government-to-government discussions are aimed at evaluating whether to finance Phase 1 of Mindanao Railway with Official Development Assistance (ODA) from China," the DOTr said in a press release. The ODA is a government aid, a loan or grant that aims to promote the economic development of developing countries. The first phase of the railway project, spanning over 100 kilometers, will connect the cities of Tagum in Davao del Norte, Davao City, and Digos in Davao del Sur. It is expected to reduce travel time from 3.5 hours to 1.3 hours. The project costs around P36 billion, which was initially supposed to come from the national budget under the General Appropriations Act. But the DOTr said it might be better for China to finance the entire project, whose cost has yet to be revealed. "Since China already expressed intent to finance the future phases of Mindanao Railway, there is concern that if Phase 1 is not implemented by China, it will be more difficult to get China's support for the much longer future phases of the Mindanao Railway Project," the agency added. The DOTr said this phase is "on track" with its target completion date of 2021 amid allegations the project is being delayed as there are certain officials manipulating the bidding process by favoring certain contractors. During the 2016 campaign, then presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte said he would prioritize the Mindanao Railway project, which he said would be feasible if the country can strike a deal with China. He also said he was willing to ''shut up'' about the South China Sea dispute if China could build him a railway in the south. For Immediate Release, May 18, 2018 Contact: Amaroq Weiss, (707) 779-9613, aweiss@biologicaldiversity.org Court Agreement: Washington Will Give Public Notice Before Killing Wolves Eight-hour Warning Could Permit Judge to Halt Slaughter Plans OLYMPIA, Wash. Washington wildlife officials will have to give eight business hours of notice before killing wolves in the state, under a new agreement reached today in Thurston County Superior Court. Judge Chris Lanese ruled from the bench today that a challenge by the Center for Biological Diversity and Cascadia Wildlands of a kill order for the Sherman Pack in Washington was moot because the agency had already destroyed the pack. But Judge Lanese emphasized that the issues raised by the lawsuit were of great public importance and deserved to be fully evaluated. To that end, the judge obtained a commitment from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to provide public notice before killing wolves, ensuring the conservation groups have a chance to stop any killing. The judge suggested that such a request for emergency relief was extremely likely to be granted, to prevent the state from killing wolves before there is a chance to have a court rule on the full merits of the claim. Were deeply saddened by the loss of the Sherman Pack, but this new public notice agreement could save other Washington wolves, said Amaroq Weiss, west coast wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. The packs dissolution is exactly what youd expect if you kill pack members. State officials need to realize that recklessly killing wolves is totally unacceptable given the still fragile recovery of these important animals. The groups suit challenged the agencys August 25, 2017 order authorizing killing of members of the Sherman pack. At the time of the kill order, the Sherman pack consisted of only two wolves. The state killed one Sherman wolf on September 1, 2017. We dont like that a state endangered wolf was killed and a pack lost, but were glad were going to get our concerns with the Departments wolf management heard, said Nick Cady, legal director for Cascadia Wildlands. The science increasingly shows that killing wolves isnt an effective means to address livestock loss and the public doesnt want it. Overall, since 2012, the state has killed 18 state-endangered wolves, nearly 15 percent of the states current confirmed population of 122 wolves. The judge noted that fifteen of the wolves killed since 2012 were killed on behalf of the same livestock owner; those kills have now led to the eradication of three entire wolf packs, including the Sherman Pack last summer, Profanity Peak pack in 2016, and the Wedge pack in 2012. The rancher in question has been a vocal opponent of wolf recovery and has historically refused to implement meaningful nonlethal measures designed to protect his livestock from wolves. Washingtons wolves were driven to extinction in the early 1900s by a government-sponsored eradication program on behalf of the livestock industry. The animals began to return from neighboring Idaho and British Columbia in the early 2000s, and their population has grown to 22 confirmed packs as of the end of 2017. But wolf recovery in Washington is still a work in progress. Wolves remain absent from large areas of the state, and although the population has been growing, it remains small and vulnerable. Given the continued endangered status of wolves, conservation groups are urging the state and livestock operators to stick to nonlethal methods as the sole means for reducing loss of livestock to wolves. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 19) The private citizen who filed a graft complaint against Solicitor General Jose Calida dared the government's top lawyer to reveal his Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs). In a two-page letter Friday, Jocelyn Marie Acosta said Calida should show his SALNs for the years 2016, 2017, and 2018. "Being the architect of the quo warranto petition, you now have the burden of showing to the People that you have more integrity than the Chief Justice," Acosta said in her letter. Calida earlier said Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno lacked integrity for failing to file her SALNs, prompting him to file an ouster plea to the Supreme Court, which was granted on May 11. Acosta's freedom of information request supposedly showed the Solicitor General owns 60 percent of the capital stock of Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency (VISAI), a security agency of four government agencies, namely: the National Economic and Development Authority, National Anti-Poverty Commission, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, and National Parks Development Committee. The citizen said Calida's family ownership of VISAI, as reported by the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 29, 2016, shows "a clear conflict of intertest." Acosta urged the Solicitor General to show he "accurately declared" his family's ownership of VISAI. Acosta, a known Sereno supporter, filed on May 10 a graft and administrative complaint against Calida at the Ombudsman, for seeking the ouster of Sereno through a quo warranto petition. (CNN) Meghan Markle will make a striking feminist statement in her wedding to Prince Harry on Saturday, choosing not to be chaperoned for much of the procession down the aisle of St. George's Chapel, Windsor, CNN has learned. In an unprecedented step for a royal bride in the UK, Markle will walk unescorted down the aisle of the chapel nave, after being met at the West Door by a member of the clergy. She will be accompanied in this first part of the wedding procession only by her bridesmaids and page boys, with the senior church figure walking ahead. Prince Charles will join her when she reaches the Quire, where the main royal guests will be seated. The Prince Harry's father will walk Markle down the Quire aisle to the foot of the altar. But Charles will not give her away to her husband-to-be in the traditional sense; instead, he will stand back as Markle approaches Prince Harry. CNN understands that Markle came up with the plan herself. It was always the intention that her father Thomas would meet her at the Quire and she would walk the first part alone. Ill health has since prevented him from coming. Both Charles and Harry are delighted with the plan, CNN understands. No other royal bride in the UK has walked unescorted down the aisle at their wedding ceremony. Markle's decision indicates that she wishes to assert herself as a strong, independent woman who is prepared to challenge royal norms. "Ms. Meghan Markle has asked His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to accompany her down the aisle of the Quire of St George's Chapel on her Wedding Day," Kensington Palace said in a statement. "The Prince of Wales is pleased to be able to welcome Ms. Markle to The Royal Family in this way. Charles, Harry's father and Meghan's future father-in-law, has experience stepping in to assist brides on their big day. In 2016, he walked Alexandra Knatchbull a goddaughter of the late Princess Diana down the aisle when she married Thomas Hooper, as her estranged father watched from the pews. As preparations continued on Friday, Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Harry's grandfather Prince Philip, 96, will attend the wedding on Saturday, less than two months after he had hip surgery. 'Part of the family' In a post-engagement interview with the BBC in November, Prince Harry said that his father was one of the first members of his family to meet Markle. "The family together have been absolutely solid support," he said. Markle also had warm words for the royal family. "The family has been great," she said, adding that she was starting to feel "a part of not just the institution but also part of the family." The ceremony takes place at noon local time (7 a.m. ET) on Saturday. Markle will arrive at Windsor in a car with her mother, Doria Ragland, traveling up to the castle via the Long Walk, where members of the public will get their first glimpse of the bride. The car will stop at the castle to let Meghan's mother out and pick up some of the bridal party before continuing to the church. There will be six young bridesmaids and four page boys in total, with Prince Harry's nephew Prince George and niece Princess Charlotte among them. Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, will meet Queen Elizabeth for tea at Windsor Castle Friday, Kensington Palace said. Harry and Meghan were seen arriving at the castle Friday afternoon. Ragland met several other members of the British royal family Thursday. She had tea with the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall father and step-mother at Clarence House in London. Later, she met the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their two older children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, during wedding rehearsals in Windsor. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Meghan Markle will begin bridal procession alone, in bold feminist statement." 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 After the last month, there is greater comprehension about strategic and over-arching issues between the leadership of and China, Indian to said on Saturday. Prime Minister and met in April in an unprecedented two-day 'heart-to-heart' summit in the central Chinese city of Wuhan to "solidify" the India- relationship after the Dokalam standoff last year. Today, especially after the between Prime Minister and Xi Jinping, where our two leaders had several hours of heart-to-heart discussions, specially on strategic and over-arching issues, there is a much greater comprehension of each other amongst the leadership of our countries, Bambawale said. Troops of and were locked in the 73-day standoff in Dokalam after the Indian side stopped the construction of a road by the in the disputed area. Addressing a meeting to commemorate the 157th birth anniversary of India's poet laureate Rabindranath Tagore at the here, he said Tagore was fascinated by China and its ancient civilisation. Tagore was one of the earliest modern thinkers of who understood and comprehended the benefits of mutual understanding and cooperative partnership between India and China, the two great civilisations of Asia, he said. I believe that our job at events like this one today is to expand friendship and understanding between the people of India and China, he said. Through our efforts to remember Tagore, we are doing our little bit for enhancing understanding and trust between our people. This will stand both our countries in good stead and will contribute in making the 21st century an Asian century, he said. A large number of Tagore fans specially students of Peking University, which the poet visited during one of his two visits to China in 1924 and 1929, attended the meeting where some of them also sang his poetry in Chinese. A dance performance was also held. His first visit is described, both in China as well as in India, as a major event in the literary circles of the two countries, Bambawale said. This visit to China left a very strong impression on Rabindranath Tagore, and he made friendships here, especially with the young Chinese poet Xu Zhimo, who was his official translator during the trip, he said. Upon his return to India, he established the world famous Cheena Bhawan at Shantiniketan with the idea that it would be a bridge for intellectual exchanges between our two countries. He appointed Professor Tan Yunshan as the first Director of Cheena Bhawan, who in turn did yeoman service for closer understanding between India and China, he said. Professor Dong Youchen of Centre for South Asian Studies of the Beijing Foreign Studies University made an elaborate presentation about the impact made by Tagore and his poetry on China. From the mundane existence as a government clerk, B S Yeddyurappa became the chief minister for a third time on Thursday, but broke his own record of the most short-lived head of government in Karnataka on Saturday, as he bowed out of office in three days. The 75-year-old Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yeddyurappa navigated the choppy waters of politics with the consummate ease of a seasoned oarsman, often against the tidal waves of adversity, but failed to anchor the BJP's boat safely in the shifting sands of Karnataka politics. Having failed to muster seven additional votes to add to the BJP's strength of 104 MLAs to sail through the trust vote, he announced his resignation on the floor of the Assembly and put in his papers, breaking his own record set in 2007 when he had to demit office in seven days. He was chief minister for barely seven days from November 12 to 19 in 2007, before the JD(S) pulled out of the coalition government, reneging on a power sharing arrangement. A hardboiled RSS Swayamsevak, Yeddyurappa, joined the Hindu right organisation when he was barely 15, and cut his political teeth in the Jana Sangh, the BJP's forerunner, in his hometown Shikaripura in Shivamogga district. He became the Jana Sangh's Shikaripura taluka chief in the early 1970s. Currently a Lok Sabha member from Shivamogga, he was first elected to the Legislative Assembly from Shikaripura in 1983. The Lingayat strongman is known to have espoused the cause of farmers, something which was repeately referred to by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his election speeches. A Bachelor of Arts, Yeddurappa, who was jailed during Emergency, worked as a clerk in the social welfare department before taking up a similar job at a rice mill in his native Shikaripura. Later, he set up his own hardware shop in Shivamogga. Yeddyurappa may have landed in the hot seat in 2004 itself when the BJP emerged as the single largest party, but the Congress and JD(S) of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda cobbled together an alliance, and a government was formed under Dharam Singh. Known for his political sagacity, Yeddyurappa joined hands with H D Kumaraswamy, Deve Gowda's son, in 2006 and brought down the Dharam Singh government after the chief minister was indicted by Lokayukta in an alleged mining scam. Under a rotational chief ministership arrangement, Kumaraswamy became the chief minister and Yeddyurappa his deputy. Yeddyurappa became the chief minister for the first time in November 2007 but his term in office lasted just seven days as Kumaraswamy reneged on a power sharing arrangement and walked out of the alliance. He was made the chief minister once again after the BJP came to power in May 2008 but had to step down in July 2011 following his indictment by the then Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde in an illegal mining case. In the 2008 polls, the Lingayat heavyweight led the party to victory, and the first BJP government in the south was formed under him. Soon controversies swirled around Yeddyurappa over alleged abuse of office to favour his sons in allotment of land in Bengaluru. The indictment by Lokayukta in an illegal mining scam was the last straw that broke the camel's back, and he was forced to resign on July 31, 2011. On October 15 that year, he surrendered before the Lokayukta court, after it issued a warrant against him in connection with alleged land scams, and was in jail for a week, dealing a body blow to the BJP's claim of being a party with a difference. Sulking after having been made to quit, Yeddyurappa broke his decades-long association with the saffron party and formed the Karnataka Janata Paksha. However, ploughing a lonely furrow, he failed to make the KJP a force to reckon with in Karnataka politics but wrecked the BJP's chances of retaining power in the 2013 polls, winning six seats and polling about 10 per cent votes. As Yeddyurppa faced an uncertain future and the BJP looked for a leader with a formidable reputation to lend its campaign the required heft ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the two cosied up to each other. On January 9, 2014, Yeddyurappa merged his KJP with the BJP. In the Lok Sabha elections that followed, the BJP won 19 of the state's 28 seats, a remarkable turnaround for the party which had secured a measly 19.9 per cent votes in the Assembly polls just a year ago leading to the fall of its first government. Notwithstanding the taint of corruption, Yeddyurappa's status and clout grew in the BJP. On October 26, 2016, he got a huge relief when a special CBI court acquitted him, his two sons and son-in-law in a Rs 40 crore illegal mining case, which had cost him the chief ministership in 2011. In January 2016, the Karnataka High Court quashed all 15 FIRs against Yeddyurappa lodged by the Lokayukta police under the Prevention of Corruption Act. In April that year, he was appointed the state BJP chief for the fourth time. The Lingayat leader, however, continued to be dogged by controversies, with the anti-corruption bureau launching proceedings against him in an alleged illegal land denotification case. He petitioned the high court, which stayed the ACB proceedings against him. The taint of alleged corruption notwithstanding, the BJP declared him its chief ministerial candidate, ignoring the taunts by the Congress. With the and JD(S) set to form the government in after the failed in its efforts, chief Amit Shah said today that governments formed by "such unholy" alliances are unlikely to last long and also rubbished charges of horse-trading by his party. In his first comments after leader resigned as the chief minister of today, Shah maintained the party did not indulge in any manipulation, and said rather it was the which not only indulged in horse-trading but has "bought the entire stable". Speaking at a conclave organised by India TV here, Shah hit back at over the latter's corruption charges against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he "does not take" the remarks of the president "seriously". The BJP president exuded confidence the BJP would win more seats in the 2019 general elections than it won in 2014. "I can't comment on how long this government will be able to work. But governments formed by such unholy alliances are unlikely to work for long," Shah said. He asserted that the mandate given by the people of favoured BJP, which emerged as the single largest party winning 104 seats. The Congress was rejected by the people, he said, adding that the Gandhi-led party tried to return to power "from backdoor" in alliance with the JD(S). "It is obvious from the result (Yeddyurappa's resignation) that we did not engage in manipulation to form government, like the Congress did," he said. Shah observed that the JD(S) directed its attack on the Congress during the campaigning for the May 12 assembly polls and questioned what kind of "principle-based alliance" is it that aimed solely at keeping the BJP away from power in the state. On the horse-trading allegations levelled by the Congress, Shah hit back saying: "Horse-trading is certainly wrong. But it is the Congress which has bought off the entire stable." Asked about the Congress celebrating the BJP's failure to form the government, Shah said the old party has evolved a new theory of "seeing victory in its defeat" under Gandhi's leadership as he contended that the people rejected it by giving 78 seats in the state as against BJP's 104. The BJP president said the people of the state will "punish" the Congress-JD(S) combine the next time it goes to election and asserted the BJP will put on an impressive show in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in the state and Uttar Pradesh. Shah took a jibe at Gandhi over his remark that he was ready to become prime minister if the Congress emerges as the biggest party after the next parliamentary polls. "None of his (Gandhi's) colleagues are seen saying so.(Congress leader) Ghulam Nabi Azad may say so after my comment... One should see dreams based on size," the BJP chief quipped. He also dismissed Gandhi's allegations that the BJP disrespected the country's institutions. To a question, Shah said the opposition parties were against the BJP in the 2014 general polls too, and added that the ruling party will win the next election with an "even bigger mandate". He trashed questions on the prevalence of "atmosphere of fear" in the country under BJP's watch. "Yes, there is an atmosphere of fear prevailing, but for anti-nationals," he said. Shah listed Modi government's achievements in various areas, including healthcare, women safety and education. He hailed the "surgical strike" India carried out across the Line of Control in September 2016. However bitter-sweet the post-election victory or defeat is, beyond politics, at the core, lies the Constitution. And the Opposition, though it is not a part of the executive, it is an important institution in parliamentary democracy under the aegis of it. And it does influence and impact the executive in ways more than one. With 104 members belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Karnataka legislative assembly will witness a balance it has never seen. The leader of opposition, whoever it will be, will be supported by an unprecedented number of legislators. Till now, since the ... The Supreme Court on Friday overruled Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala and asked Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to prove his majority in the assembly at 4 pm on Saturday. The Governor had given 15 days to Yeddyurappa to prove his majority. The court said the Yeddyurappa government should not take any major decision till its majority is proven. After being sworn in as CM on Thursday, Yeddyurappa had announced waiver of all farm loans of up to Rs 100,000. The SC order is seen as a triple blow to the BJP as it has been given 48 hours to prove its claim of majority, the ... Karnataka Election result 2018: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader B S Yeddyurappa on Saturday resigned as the chief minister of Karnataka, two days after he took oath. Delivering an emotional speech in the Karnataka Assembly, Yeddyurappa slammed the "opportunistic alliance" between Congress and Janata Dal (Secular), labelling it "unholy". Yeddyurappa said his only ambition was to serve people. My entire life has been a test. Today is another. People of Karnataka have voted for us, and shown faith in the BJP. "I will lose nothing ... 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 State-owned (BoI) would be able to realise around Rs 19.93 billion from the first successful NCLT resolution concerning and Bhushan Steel, an official said. The amount would not include hair-cuts, BoI managing director and chief executive officer D Mohapatra said. The realisation of the amount would lead to NPA reduction and increase profitability of the bank, he said. "The first successful NCLT resolution involving and will help in realise Rs 19.93 billion. If there are haircuts, the amount will be written back from provisioning," Mohapatra told at news conference here today. In the first list of 12 accounts sent to NCLT for resolution under (IBC), BoI's exposure was Rs 83 billion. In the second list of 27 accounts, the exposure was Rs 30 billion, he said. "Once all the resolutions are successfully completed who is expected in FY 2019, the bank will see a rise in profitability", he added. Under the Standby Letter of Credit (SLOC) scheme, the bank was able to recover Rs 90 billion and some Rs 5 billion remains, he said. Mohapatra said that (PNB) had returned Rs 25 billion to BoI which it had honoured in the Nirav Modi scam. The bank was also in the process of rationalising the number of ATMs based on cost-benefit analysis, he said. Retail, agri and MSME advances constituted more than 50 per cent of the total lending of the bank, Mohapatra said. (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.) Chinese telecom company ZTE Corp will have to change its management, including by possibly appointing new board members, to win a reprieve from US sanctions that shut it off from key suppliers, the director of the White House National Economic Council said. Were not talking about letting them off scot-free by any stretch, Larry Kudlow, President Donald Trumps top economic advisor, said in an interview on Fox Business Network. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is having a second look at remedies. 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 Ebola experts from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention are ready to go to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where an Ebola outbreak has spread to a major African city, increasing the risk of a global outbreak. The CDC, which played a major role in responding to the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, already has experts in a field office in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who are working with the health ministry there, CDC spokesman Tom Skinner said. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Friday that the DRC faced a ... A report in the journal Pediatrics warns that watching 13 Reasons Why, a popular Netflix series about a teen girls suicide, may be inadvisable for some youngsters. Mental health professionals have raised alarms that the series which closes with a graphic depiction of the main character killing herself could push other young people toward suicide. The second season of the show will air on May 18, while the first season remains available on Netflix. In an article titled, 13 Things Pediatricians Should Know (and do) About 13 Reasons Why, Michael B ... At least two militants associated with the terror outfit Islamic State (IS) have been killed in US drone strike in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province. The two militants were apparently operating as snipers and were killed in Haska Mina district, reported Khaama Press, citing, the provincial government media office in Nangarhar, as saying. The statement added that the airstrike was carried out in the vicinity of Gagar area. This comes in tandem with various ongoing counter-terrorism operations in certain provinces as the militant and terrorist groups are attempting to expand their insurgency activities. 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. No comments have been received from the anti-government armed militant groups including the IS militants in connection with this report by far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least one person was killed and two others wounded in a shooting at a high school graduation ceremony in Clayton County of the United States' southeastern province Georgia on Friday night (local time). The incident took place on the campus of Mount Zion High School. According to the Clayton County Fire and Emergency Services, one adult female was killed after being shot multiple times. The injured have been shifted to the hospital, reported Fox News. According to the police, graduation ceremony was over when the shooting happened. An investigation is underway. This comes barely hours after when at least eight people were shot dead in Santa Fe High School in an early morning shootout in the southeastern Texas city of Santa Fe, about 50 kilometres away from Houston. Assistant principal Cris Richardson told CNN that the gunman has been arrested. A second person has been detained as well. At least, one police officer was also injured in the shooting, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said on Twitter. The sheriff further added that the shooter, who was arrested was a former student of the school. As per media reports, explosive devices were found at the site of the shooting and other surrounding areas. The death toll is likely to rise as multiple deaths have been reported due to the shooting incident, two law enforcement sources told CNN. An investigation for the same is currently on, according to the police. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Governments in the world are now looking at using artificial intelligence to better patrol the borders. The United States, Canada, and the European Union are testing out which includes lie-detecting computer kiosks using the latest AI tech to determine whether a person is lying to deceive officials, Digital Trends reported. AI-based systems will be the next step after facial-recognition systems which are already deployed at some of the key airports around the world. The lie-detecting will go beyond just facial recognition and incorporate a method to spot signs of potential shiftiness. These will include eye movements, vocal changes, odd posture or facial movements. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The European Union on Friday felicitated veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan with a Citation. Amitabh took to his blog on Friday night to share a few photographs from the Europe Day celebration in Mumbai. "A decoration again. From the EU, the European Union on Europe Day celebration, to felicitate me with a Citation. Humbling and gratified," Amitabh wrote. "Such is the nature of these events that are most humbling and filled with gratitude. It makes me want to run away from it all, but certain obligations need to be accepted. And so I did," he added. Amitabh was joined by his daughter Shweta Nanda at the event. "Far too much attention is given and I find it difficult to digest or accept what is written and said. I am least deserving, and most unworthy of such, but they insist and I comply. But EU is a robust institution and when they decorate they do so after much consideration... I am most obliged and thankful," Amitabh added. The EU Ambassador to India, Tomasz Kozlowski, also took to Twitter to thank Amitabh for gracing the event. "Thank you shri Amitabh Bachchan for being Guest of Honour at Europe Day in Mumbai! It was occasion to facilitate Mr Bachchan for his artistic achievements and extraordinary contribution to building cultural bridges between Europe and India," he tweeted. In another post, Kozlowski wrote: "Real pleasure and honour to have opportunity to meet Shri Amitabh Bachchan, the most famous Indian cinema artist, known and popular also in Europe." Meanwhile, Amitabh also shared on his blog that he in 2019 he will complete 50 years in the Indian film industry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A First Information Report (FIR) was registered on Saturday at a counter-terrorism department police station over the foiled terrorist attack at the Frontier Corps (FC) Madadgar Centre in Quetta. The police said that the FIR has been registered under the name of an FC constable, Abdul Shakoor, just a day after the attack took place, Geo TV reported. "The case includes sections on murder, attempted murder and anti-terrorism," police said. On Thursday, five suspected terrorists tried to ram an explosive-laden vehicle into the security premises of the FC Madadgar Centre. Following this, security personnel sprung into action and gunned down the terrorists. A motorway police officer, Mohammad Idrees, who was wounded in the gunfire, succumbed to his injuries on Friday. According to eyewitnesses, they heard multiple explosions and sounds of sporadic gunfire. The area where the attack took place is mostly residential, with a few government buildings located in the vicinity. As per a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the attack was in response to the killing of the chief of the terror organisation Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) in Killi Almas in Balochistan on Thursday. Also, two suicide bombers were killed and one terrorist was injured, who was later arrested by the security forces. During the operation, a Pakistani army soldier, Colonel Sohail Abid was killed, while four others were injured. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) German Chancellor said the 2015 is better than none. As per Deutsche Welle, German Chancellor and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks over the recent exit of the United States from the also called as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) at Sochi in agreed with Europe's stand to remain part of the nuclear deal. Further, said, "I know that the deal is anything but perfect but it is better than no deal." She added that "Germany, Britain, France, and all our partners in the European Union continue to support this deal and remain in this deal and we know that a very specific situation arose that we Europeans need to discuss with Iran." Merkel said that the European Union is "currently discussing" a law that would block US sanctions on European companies wanting to invest in Iran. On May 8, President Trump announced the US withdrawal from the JCPOA which limited the country's uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. Merkel also discussed the difference of opinion between and over supporting the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad and its role in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Both leaders further vouched for Minsk accord to ensure peace in eastern Ukraine and it must involve Germany, France, Russia, and Ukraine. While discussing the problems of Syrian refugees, Putin called on the European nations to help rebuild Syria if they want refugees to return to their country. The European Union had been miffed with the US over leaving the With only few more hours to go for the Royal Wedding, the Kensington Palace has released the official 'Order of Service' for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding ceremony. The programme revealed several details from the highly-anticipated festivities, including a schedule for the royal family's arrivals and the hymns to the vows. The wedding will take place at St George's Chapel, set in the Lower Ward of Windsor Castle. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding will start with prayers and will be followed by music. Kensington Palace released the 'Order of Service' for Harry and Meghan's wedding and the most noticeable element of the document is that Thomas Markle, Meghan's father, is still included as the person who will walk Meghan down the aisle to the high altar of St. George's Chapel. (Although, it was updated by the palace that due to Meghan father's health issue, Prince Charles will walk her down the aisle.) Prince Harry and Prince William will arrive at 11:40 BST. They'll be followed by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, at 11:42 BST, then Doria Ragland, Prince Charles will arrive, followed by the Queen Elizabeth II, and finally, the bride herself. The 'Order of Service' states that the American actress has omitted the word 'obey' from her vows following in the footsteps of Princess Diana and Kate Middleton. The amended vow reads, "I Meghan, take you, Harry, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part; according to God's holy law. In the presence of God, I make this vow." Prince Harry's vows are as follows: "I Harry, take you, Meghan, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part; according to God's holy law. In the presence of God, I make this vow." The service will conclude with a performance of 'Stand by Me' by Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir. Approximately 600 guests, including Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, are expected to attend the royal wedding scheduled to take place today. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) H. D. Kumaraswamy will take oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on May 23 instead of May 21, the Janata Dal (Secular) said on Saturday. "The Governor has invited HD Kumaraswamy to form the government. He will take oath as the chief minister on Wednesday, May 23 at around 12:30 pm," JD(S) Secretary General Danish Ali told ANI. Earlier in the day, Kumaraswamy was invited by Karnataka Governor Vajubhai R. Vala to form the government in the state, after Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) B.S. Yeddyurappa stepped down ahead of the floor test in the state assembly. However, Yeddyurappa, in his address at the Vidhana Soudha said he will fight for the rights of the people of Karnataka till his last breath, even if he did not get the required mandate. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) United States First Lady Melania Trump on Saturday returned to the White House after a successful kidney procedure, the office announced in a statement. Melania was discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland after five days, The Hill reported. "She is resting comfortably and remains in high spirits. Our office has received thousands of calls and emails wishing Mrs. Trump well, and we thank everyone who has taken the time to reach out," the White House said in a statement. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump took to his Twitter account to express gratitude towards people for supporting his wife. "Our great First Lady is doing really well. Will be leaving hospital in 2 or 3 days. Thank you for so much love and support!" Trump tweeted. On Monday, Melania's operation for a "benign" kidney condition was completed successfully. As per a White House official statement, Melania underwent an embolisation procedure to treat a benign kidney condition. According to New York Times, Johns Hopkins Patients' Guide to Kidney Cancer describes the kidney procedure as an arterial embolisation in which a special sponge-like material is placed into an artery that supplies blood to the kidney. A thin tube catheter is inserted into a vessel in the leg and into the main vessel feeding the kidney. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Green Good Deeds, the societal movement launched by Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan to protect and promote good living has found acceptance by the global community. Dr Harsh Vardan at the ongoing 4th BRICS Ministerial in Durban, South Africa had urged the BRICS nations to jointly help in development of a social movement to fight for the protection and conservation of The next BRICS Ministerial on Environment has agreed to include "Green Good Deeds" in its official agenda in the next Ministerial in Brazil and another meeting in Russia said Dr Harsh Vardhan. Earlier in his opening remarks at the Ministerial, Dr Harsh Vardhan had urged the grouping to jointly work for developing a movement around Green Good Deeds. "I urge upon the BRICS countries to jointly help in development of a social movement which could be emulated by the rest of the world," Dr Harsh Vardhan told the ministerial delegations from the 5-nation grouping. There was wide acceptance to the suggestion and UN Environment Programme representative at the conclave Jorge Laguna Celis, acting Deputy Executive Director lauded the initiative. "In India, we are trying to develop a societal movement of Green Good Deeds, which are small positive actions to be performed by individuals or organisations to strengthen the cause of environmental protection," Dr Vardhan had told. The minister had launched a nationwide social movement to protect the environment and promote healthy living. The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change had drawn up a list of over 500 Green Good Deeds and asked people to alter their behaviour to Green Good Behaviour to fulfil their Green Social Responsibility. These small positive actions to be performed by individuals or organisations to strengthen the cause of environmental protection,were put on a mobile application named "Dr Harsh Vardhan App". Reacting to the adoption of Green Good Deeds by BRICS Ministerial on Environment, Dr Harsh Vardhan said, international conferences on Environment had been deliberating and adopting declarations. But he wondered how these declarations could be put to practice at the ground level, involving every section of the society. "Green Good Deeds" is an idea to take it to the people and get them involved," said Dr Harsh Vardhan. The minister had formally launched the nation-wide campaign in January 2018. He enlisted the cooperation of thousands of people - students, teachers, voluntary organisations, Residents Welfare Associations, professionals to adopt these deeds. Dr Harsh Vardhanis credited with spearheading a similar movement around Polio Eradication in India in the 1990s, which resulted in complete elimination of polio from India. As a result, the World Health Organisation had declared India Polio Free on March 27, 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Malir district in Pakistan, Rao Anwar, who is an accused in the extra-judicial killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud, was on Saturday brought to an anti-terrorism court (ATC) for a hearing. Prior to his appearance, the disgraced police officer filed his bail petition stating geo-fencing and joint investigation reports and charge-sheet have contradictory information. Anwar was to appear in the court on May 2, but did not do so citing ill health, reported Geo TV. Anwar was presented in court without handcuffs yet again, despite earlier protests by the deceased's family against protocol for the suspended police officer, the report said. An inquiry committee found Anwar guilty of committing the crime. The team, in its report, cited eyewitness' accounts and said the 27-year-old Naqeebullah was 'picked up', along with two others on the suspicion of their linkage with terrorist groups on January 3 by security personnel and taken to the Sachal Police Post before being moved to another location. Anwar and other officers are in the dock for killing at least four men, during what they claimed was a raid on a suspected Taliban hideout in Karachi. Relatives of Naqeebullah from South Waziristan tribal district rejected claims of him having militant links and maintained that he was an aspiring model who had been a resident of Karachi since 2008. They added that Naqeebullah was looking for a job and had been running a shop in the city. His killing evoked a national outcry and triggered protest rallies in several cities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The fifth and final leg of the 600 km long motorcycle expedition organised by Indian Navy as part of Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Western Naval Command was flagged off from Visakhapatnam. The expedition was flagged off by Rear Admiral Mahesh Singh NM, Chief Staff Officer (Operations) Eastern Naval Command, from here on Friday. Twenty Naval Officers including women officers with 10 motorcycles are participating in the expedition which is aimed at highlighting the importance and spreading awareness on coastal security along the coast. The expedition is divided into five legs. The first leg of the expedition was flagged off in Mumbai on May 5 and would conclude in Kolkata on May 21. Four officers are riding the entire length from Mumbai to Kolkata while remaining are participating in various legs During the ride, the naval personnel will be sensitising the local population regarding importance of security and how they could contribute towards the same. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Saturday lambasted Nawaz Sharif's remarks on the 2008 Mumbai attacks, saying that such statements were "unbefitting and anti-Pakistan". Speaking to media, Ashraf said, "Nawaz's statement was condemned worldwide and is not befitting of an ex-prime minister. Nawaz's statement benefitted India." He asserted that such comments had hurt the sentiments of the people of Pakistan, Geo TV reported. Calling Sharif to withdraw his statement immediately, Ashraf added, "His statement is anti-Pakistan and therefore he should withdraw it." Last week, during an interview with the Dawn, Sharif had stated, "Militant organisations are active. Call them non-state actors, should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Explain it to me. Why can't we complete the trial?" "We have isolated ourselves. Despite giving sacrifices, our narrative is not being accepted. Afghanistan's narrative is being accepted, but ours is not. We must look into it," he added. His remarks were immediately picked up by Indian media, which termed the former prime minister's statement as a confession of Pakistan's role in the Mumbai attacks that left 166 people dead. It was being seen as an admission of Pakistan's involvement in the terrorist attacks in 2008. Later, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday accused Indian media of twisting the remarks of Sharif on the 26/11 terror attacks and appealed to members of the National Assembly not to indulge in political gamesmanship and put national security at risk. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli will be visiting China next month, the state-news Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) agency reported. Prime Minister Oli made the revelation after he was unanimously elected as the Parliamentary Party Leader of the newly formed Nepal Communist Party after the merger of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) and the Maoist Center this week. The Nepal Prime Minister said that the relations of Nepal with India and China was improving constantly relying on the base of balanced diplomacy and national sovereignty and will be visiting China after one month, the RSS stated in its news without further details. Along with this, Prime Minister Oli also made the commitment to activate the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and other regional and international organisations. Prime Minister Oli assumed office in mid-February this year and started his maiden foreign visit to India in April. About a month after the Nepal Prime Minister's visit to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to Nepal on a two-day state visit last week. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leaders of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states arrived in Istanbul on Friday for a summit, called by Turkey, over the killings of about 60 Palestinian protesters by Israeli forces along the Gaza border. The extraordinary summit has been called by the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his capacity as the Chair of the OIC Summit. Erdogan has accused Israel of "genocide" and being run as an "apartheid state", reported the Express Tribune. Representatives from over 40 countries, including presidents, prime ministers and other high-level officials took part in the event, according to several media reports. Foreign ministers of the OIC member states also gathered on May 18 in Istanbul, hours ahead of the extraordinary summit, which expressed solidarity with the Palestinians. Since March, Gaza had witnessed massive Israel-Palestine clashes that have claimed lives of more than 100 people including 60 Palestinians and injuring several others. The protests escalated on Monday after the transfer of the United States embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel' capital Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinians had gathered on the Gaza Strip's eastern border to take part in protests marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of Israel which Palestinians refer to as the Nakba, Arabic for "Catastrophe" and protest the relocation of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Earlier on Thursday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the loss of lives in Israel- Palestine clashes in Gaza. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South Asia Minority Alliance Foundation (SAMAF) Chairman Nadeem Nusrat has warned that Pakistan would plunge into further diplomatic isolation if immediate measures are not taken to address the grievances of the country's ethnic and religious minorities. He expressed deep concern over reports of unlawful arrests and enforced disappearances of 24 young Christians in Pakistan. In a statement issued to media, the chairman of US-based advocacy group strongly condemned these acts and demanded immediate recovery of the missing Christians. South Asia Minority Alliance Foundation is an advocacy group raising awareness about the rights of ethnic and religious minorities in the region. State brutalities against Mohajirs, Balochs, Pashtoons and the people of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) have been a common occurrence in Pakistan. Unfortunately, these brutalities have now been extended to country's religious minorities as well, and Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadis are being targeted on a daily basis in different parts of the country, the statement quoted Nadeem Nusrat, as saying. "For years, Mohajirs, Balochs, and Pashtoons have been the victims of enforced disappearances in Pakistan. Hundreds of young Mohajir men have gone missing in Karachi alone having been abducted by Pakistan's Punjabi-dominated security agencies," the statement added. As per reports emerging from Karachi, Pakistan's Christian minority has also become a target of the notorious practice of enforced disappearances, as at least 24 Christian men have gone missing after being allegedly abducted by Pakistani law enforcement agencies in pre-dawn raids. "These reports suggest that mask-wearing raiding officers routinely barge into houses of Christians in Karachi, often by forcibly breaking the doors, drag male members out of their beds and take them away," read the statement. The whereabouts of these men have not been revealed to their family members, lawyers and none has been produced before any court of law as yet. Nusrat said that there have been numerous armed attacks on churches in Pakistan and the target killing of Christians is on the rise. In Quetta, the heavily militarized capital city of restive Balochistan province, many Christians have been killed by militants belonging to state-sponsored religious extremists in the last few weeks, alleged Nusrat. The controversial blasphemy law is also being used to suppress the voice of religious minorities in Pakistan. Many members of religious minorities have been killed by religious zealots or arrested on false charges under the blasphemy laws. He further said that religious extremist groups working under the patronage of military establishment are fueling hatred and terror against the minorities including Christians. Hardliners within Pakistan's military establishment are using these proxies to impose their hardline religious agenda in the country. The statement even noted that the minorities in Pakistan are at the mercy of these jihadi groups who are operating freely without any fear. The SAMAF Chairman said that our organization believes in religious harmony and equal rights for all minorities and is striving for the rights of all deprived classes in the region. Nusrat said that SAMAF members are raising voice for Christians in their meetings with US lawmakers and at decision-making forums. Nadeem Nusrat urged the US administration and community to put more pressure on Pakistani authorities to stop human rights abuses and protect the lives and interests of all minorities in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Saturday summoned a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) to discuss matters pertaining to national and regional security. The meeting, which is to be held at PM House in Islamabad later today, would be attended by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat and the chiefs of Armed Forces, among others, Geo TV cited anonymous sources as saying. According to the report, the border situation would also be discussed during the meeting. Earlier on Monday, Pakistan's NSC met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Abbasi to discuss "misleading media statement" attributed to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Top military leaders, the acting foreign minister, chiefs of the navy and air force and other top civil officials of the government attended the meeting at the Abbasi's house. Sharif in an interview given to the Dawn newspaper had said on Saturday, "Militant organisations are active. Call them non-state actors, should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Explain it to me. Why can't we complete the trial?" It is being seen as an admission of Pakistan's involvement in the terrorist attack in 2008. The case is now in its 10th year, but Pakistan is yet to punish any of the suspects. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress Party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala stated that personal statements on Karnataka Governor Vajubhai R. Vala will not be accepted. Surjewala's statement comes after former Member of Indian Parliament (MP) Sanjay Nirupam drew a parallel between Governor Vala and the loyalty of dogs. "The Karnataka Governor murdered democracy. However, the Congress will not support any such statements. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress have regard even for their worst enemies, unlike Prime Minister Modi. Any statement made on him (Governor Vala) personally won't be accepted," Surjewala told ANI. Earlier in the day, B.S. Yeddyurappa announced his resignation as chief minister of Karnataka ahead of the floor test that was scheduled for him to prove majority at the state assembly. Soon after, Nirupam said, "Vajubhai Vala ji has established a new record of loyalty in this country. Perhaps, every man in this country will now name their dogs as Vajubhai Vala, because nobody can be more loyal than this." "Today, democracy has won in the country. The people, who on the basis of their money and their ego, wanted to rule the world have lost today. This day will be remembered as the day when (Prime Minister) Modi and (Amit) Shah lost," he added. On a related note, H. D. Kumaraswamy will take oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on May 21 between 12 noon and 1 pm. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lok Sabha member and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politician Ananth Kumar on Saturday lashed out at Congress President Rahul Gandhi for calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'corruption'. "What is he saying about Prime Minister Modi? This is the Prime Minister who has provided a scam less government. If he puts such an allegation, the people will say he has lost his mind," Kumar told reporters here. Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not only abetting the corruption, but is corruption himself. Addressing the media, post B.S. Yeddyurappa's resignation, Gandhi said, "You have seen openly how the PM directly authorised purchasing of MLAs in Karnataka, so the idea that PM spreads in the country that he is fighting corruption, is a blatant lie, he is corruption". Gandhi also thanked the Opposition for standing together and defeating the BJP. "I am proud that opposition stood together and defeated the BJP and we will continue to do so. In India, the will of the people is everything. I would like to thank the people of Karnataka and our partymen and Janata Dal (Secular) leaders for defending what is much more than simply the election of Karnataka," he added. BJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa exited the Vidhana Soudha to meet governor Vajubhai R. Vala. This comes after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader announced his resignation as chief minister ahead of the floor test that was scheduled for the Yeddyurappa government to prove majority at the state assembly. Meanwhile, former finance minister Yashwant Sinha said that Karnataka goes on to show that there is still some morality left in "Karnataka shows there is still some morality left in but alas not in the BJP. Now the governor should also resign," he wrote on Twitter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged youth of Jammu and Kashmir who have lost their way to return to the mainstream. The Prime Minister also explained that returning to the mainstream would be their contribution to the development of the Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a gathering here, Prime Minister Modi said, "There is no substitute for peace and stability. I urge the youth who have lost their way to return to the mainstream. The mainstream is their parents and family. The main stream is their contribution to development of Jammu and Kashmir." The Prime Minister also made it clear that whatever the security forces are doing in the state is applaudable. "The youth of the state will get new employment opportunity with the new project. What the security forces are doing for the youth of the state is applaudable. Youth who have lost their way, have taken to stone pelting and picked weapons are making their own state unstable. It is the need of the hour to come out of this situation," he said. Prime Minister Modi today inaugurated the 330-MW Kishanganga hydroelectric power project and also laid foundation stone for the semi-ring road project in Srinagar. The Prime Minister said that he felt privileged to dedicate to the nation the Kishenganga power project as this project is one of the biggest examples of engineering. He also congratulated the people of the Valley for this project and said that the project will open new roads to development for Jammu and Kashmir. "The ring road will provide connectivity to Akhnoor, Rajouri, Pooch and Kashmir. Raya Morh will be seamlessly connected with Jagti on the western side of Jammu via the new Jammu ring road," Prime Minister Modi said. He said, "This project will not only give free but enough electricity to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Presently, the amount of electricity the state needs, most part of it is given by others states. This 330-MW project will be helpful in reducing the problem of electricity to a large extent." Meanwhile, Jammua and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti thanked the Prime Minister for announcing an unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir during Ramzan. "I am thankful to PM Modi that he thought about us and announced an unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir during Ramzan. We expected that we will get the same response from Pak but unfortunately we didn't get it," the Chief Minister said. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister addressed a gathering at the closing ceremony of the birth centenary celebrations of 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche and the commencement of work on Zoji La Tunnel in Leh. The entry and exit points in Jammu and Srinagar have been sealed by the police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), with vehicles being allowed after thorough checking. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Syrian counterpart on Saturday that foreign armed forces would soon leave Syria. As reported by CNN, the two leaders hailed the beginning of a "political process" in Syria to fight off terrorism. Putin said in a statement that "Foreign armed forces will be withdrawn from the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic." He further acknowledged the victory of Syria in fighting off terrorism. "We presume that, in connection with the significant victories and success of the Syrian army in the fight against terrorism, with the onset of a more active part", Putin added. A group of countries including the United States, Turkey, Russia, and Iran had deployed their troops in Syria. Russia also emerged as Assad's most powerful support and it intervened on his behalf in 2015. Further, Iran has also been a permanent ally of President Assad. Assad's visit comes just over a week after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to Moscow. It has been reported that Russia is unlikely to intervene in Israel's actions in Syria, despite Russia's condemnation of Israel's latest airstrikes on May 9. Earlier on May 5 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkish armed forces will continue staying in Syria. Later on April 25, United States President Donald Trump said that he would "love to go out from Syria". Syria has been reeling under an eight-year-long civil war when the Syrian army went on to crackdown the democratic forces in the nation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Priyanka Chopra, India's very own unofficial representative at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, took to the authentic British plaid with a sass. In a very British manner, PeeCee rocked a plaid suit from Alberta Ferretti at the very first public appearance after arriving in the London to attend her close friend's wedding to the Prince of England. The Bollywood's 'Desi' girl complemented the tailored suit with a very off-the-shelf, subtle t-shirt in grey and denim T-strap heels. The 35-year-old actress gave off very cool vibes, sporting just a ring and simple hoops for earrings. Her cat-eye glasses added to her overall appeal. Priyanka and Meghan became friends after meeting at an event in 2016. Since then, they have been good friends, often clicked together. Also, they both work with the United Nations. Priyanka is in the United Kingdom to attend the royal wedding at Windsor Castle grounds on Saturday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday inspected the preparations of the Kumbh Mela in Allahbad. He reached Allahbad earlier in the day and held a meeting with officials in regard to the preparations of Kumbh Mela. In the evening, he is scheduled to leave for Varanasi to take stock of the situation in view of the Thursday's Varanasi bridge collapse. At least 18 people were killed and 11 critically injured when a huge slab of a flyover under-construction in Varanasi's Cantt area came down, crushing on cars and a local bus underneath. Following the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had announced an ex-gratia for the affected families and met the victims at the Kabir Chaura Hospital in the city. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lanka called for a two-state solution to end an on-going war between Israel and Palestine in Gaza. As reported by Colombo Page on Saturday, Sri Lanka suggested a two-state theory at a special session of the United Nations Human Rights Council and called for a dialogue-based solution. Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Ambassador A.L.A. Azeez, while delivering a statement on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, emphasised on focusing on the security of all civilians in the conflict-ridden territory as he said that civilian's human rights must be upheld and be protected at all times. "We take this opportunity to call for an end to violence and violation of the right to life and dignity of all persons as well as respect for the International Law, "Ambassador Azeez said. He rallied for the need of dialogue to help solve the crises at hand and ensure peace to civilians. The ambassador further showed his faith in diplomacy and political leadership who might consider the option for two-state. Since March 30, more than 1,000 children have been injured by Israeli forces in the besieged Gaza Strip during demonstrations, according to UN Children's Fund. On March 14 Israel and Palestine again clashed against each other at the Gaza Strip when at least 62 Palestinian demonstrators lost their lives and more than hundred were injured. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South Korea held a meeting on Friday to discuss on reducing the impact of the United States' decision to exit the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran on local economic affairs. As reported by the Yonhap news agency on Saturday, a session was hosted Deputy Foreign Minister for economic affairs Yun Kang-Hyeon where they discussed strategies to deal with changing dynamics of the nuclear deal and its impact on their country. Following exit from the nuclear deal, the United States had announced the imposition of sanctions on Tehran with firms given 90-day or 180-day grace periods, depending on their business sector. Such economic measures are bound to impact Iran's trade relation with other countries including South Korea. Meanwhile, South Korea is planning to meet relevant agencies in the United States to ensure wavering of the sanctions on Iran. "The government will make constant efforts based on close cooperation among relevant authorities to minimize effects from future U.S. steps to the South Korean economy and firms with business ties with Iran," the ministry said. Last week, United States President Donald Trump's administration announced that it would quit the Iran agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), saying it's flawed and incomplete. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari made controversial remarks on Friday when he warned road contractors of dire consequences if they indulged in corrupt practices. The union minister said they will be put before bulldozers instead of crushed stones if they indulge in corruption. Addressing a gathering of tendu leaves collectors and unorganised labourers here, Gadkari said, "kaam theek se ho raha hai, nahi ho raha hai yeh thekedaaron ko dekhna hai. Maine unko ko bataake rakha hai ki agar kaam (road construction) theek se nahi hua toh main mitti ki jagah aapko daal dunga (The contractors have to see whether the roadworks are happening properly or not. I have told them that if work is not being done properly, I would throw them under bulldozers instead of crushed stones)." Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was also present at the event. The Union minister said he will not tolerate corruption and asserted that the money does not belong to contractors but "the poor of this country". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday condoled the death of over 100 passengers in the Cuban airplane crash. As reported by the Xinhua news agency, Xi sent specific condolences to Cuban and Mexican leaders as passengers of both their countries lost their lives in the incident. In his messages to Raul Castro, the first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), and Miguel Diaz-Canel, president of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba Xi expressed shock over the heavy casualties reported in the incident. Xi further mourned the dead and sent heartfelt messages to the deceased's families. In his message to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Xi mourned the Mexican crew members, killed in the air crash, and extended sincere condolences to their families. Earlier on Saturday Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sent a message of condolences to Diaz-Canel over the air crash. More than 100 passengers onboard Boeing 737 Cubana de Aviacion died after the plane crashed soon after it took off from Havana's Jose Marti airport. A total of 104 passengers were said to be onboard. So far, only three women survived the crash, all still in serious condition. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Karnataka government led by B.S. Yeddyurappa resigned before going in for the floor test in the Vidhan Soudha here on Saturday. Yeddyurappa resigned after he wasn't able to establish his majority. In his speech inside the Vidhan Soudha, Yeddyurappa said he will fight for the rights of the people of Karnataka till his last breath even if he did not get the mandate. The floor test was to be conducted on the instructions of the Governor of Karnataka, Vajubhai R. Vala after the Congress-JD (S) alliance also claimed the right to form the government in the state on the basis of the 117 seats it had as compared to the 104 seats that the BJP had. On Friday, while hearing a petition of the Congress-JD(S) alliance, the Supreme Court reduced the 15-day original time given by Governor Vala to the BJP to prove its majority in the house and asked the party to hold the trust vote on Saturday at 4 p.m. The Congress-JD(S) alliance welcomed the top court's move, saying the BJP's bluff had been finally called out. On Saturday, the Supreme Court also rejected the Congress-JD (S) petition to remove K.A. Bopaiah as pro-tem speaker ahead of the floor test and appoint the senior most legislator R.V. Deshmukh in his place. The apex court instead ordered the videographing of the floor test to ensure transparency of proceedings. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hours after 10 people were killed in a Texas school shooting in the US, a 40-year-old woman was killed and at least two others were wounded in another shooting incident in Clayton County in Georgia late on Friday, police said. At least two persons were shot at, of whom one has died near the Mt. Zion High School just south of the state capital Atlanta, the Clayton County police told Channel 2 Action News. The victim with three shots in her chest was declared brought dead at Piedmont Henry Hospital. The Clayton County Fire Department said there were at least three victims "two with gunshot wounds", who were taken to hospital. Investigators said both victims were females. There was a graduation ceremony happening across the street at the Clayton County Performing Arts Centre when the incident occurred. It was unclear if the people who were shot at were attending the graduation ceremony, the officer added. A 21-year-old victim was taken to Atlanta Medical Centre with gunshot wounds to the leg. A third woman, who was pregnant, was not shot rather she was injured after being pushed, the media reported. Earlier on Friday, 10 people were killed in a school shooting in the southeastern Texas city of Santa Fe, a sheriff told the media. The shooting began shortly after 7.30 a.m., at Santa Fe High School in Galveston County, Ed Gonzalez, the sheriff of neighbouring Harris County, said, Efe reported. Gonzalez said one suspect was in custody and that a second "possible person of interest" also had been detained. Commenting on the shooting, US President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter: "School shooting in Texas. Early reports not looking good. God bless all!" Gun violence is a major political issue in the US. Trump said in a speech at the National Rifle Association's annual leadership meeting in Dallas, Texas, earlier this month that the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, which protects citizens' right to bear arms, would never be "under siege" while he is the President. Speaking about a February mass shooting at a school in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 people, Trump said the solution was to allow "highly trained teachers to carry concealed weapons" in the classroom. --IANS qd/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A coalition of activists from eight countries, including India and Myanmar, has called on Facebook to put in place a transparent and consistent approach to moderation. In a statement issued on Friday, the coalition demanded civil rights and political bias audits into Facebook's role in abetting human rights abuses, spreading misinformation and manipulation of democratic processes in their respective countries. Besides India and Myanmar, the other countries that the activists represent are Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, the Philippines, Syria and Ethiopia. The demands raised by the group bear significance as Facebook has come under fire for its failure stop the deluge of hate-filled posts against the disenfranchised Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar. The social media giant is also facing criticism for its role in enabling political manipulation in several countries around the world. The new coalition comes less than two months after activist groups in Myanmar sent a public letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg calling for greater transparency, The Verge reported on Friday. "Many of the countries here have been engaged with Facebook for years to try to receive justice in our communities," one of the activists Thenmozhi Soundararajan, Executive Director of Equality Labs, was quoted as saying. Equality Labs is a South Asian organisation that aims to end the oppression of marginalised communities. "And what we're finding is that Facebook has different standards for different markets," Soundararajan said. The is despite the fact that countries outside of North America and Europe represent 72 per cent of Facebook's daily users, the activists said. The coalition calls into question Facebook's usual approach of tackling moderation issues on a country-by-country basis. "The point of siloing moderation out across different countries is to set different benchmarks as to what they're willing to change," Soundararajan said. In Sri Lanka, activists argued that the lack of local moderators -- specifically moderators fluent in the Sinhalese language spoken by the country's Buddhist majority -- had allowed hate speech run wild on the platform, The Verge report said. The coalition particularly demanded parity of service from Facebook, independent human rights audits to examine the social media giant's processes and products, and sustained transparency around specific processes. --IANS gb/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In an unprecedented move in the modern history of the Catholic church every bishop in Chile has offered his resignation to Pope Francis, in a case involving sex abuse scandal, media reported. Thirty one active bishops and three retired bishops on Friday announced their resignation after a three-day emergency summit at the Vatican to discuss Chile's sex abuse scandal. The simultaneous resignation of all the bishops in a single country is thought to be unprecedented, CNN reported. The resignations came as the bishops said they placed the issue "in the hands of the Holy Father so that he might freely decide for each one of us". Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said he had no comment on whether Pope Francis would accept the mass resignation. In response to the resignation of the country's bishops on Friday, Marie Collins, a former member of the Pope's Commission for the Protection of Minors, said that the gesture was not enough. "No bishop removed -- all allowed to resign. Really nothing changes," Collins wrote on Twitter. Pope Francis called the country's bishops to Rome after he received a 2,300-page report detailing sexual abuses by priests in Chile. At the centre of the scandal is the Bishop of Osorno, Juan Barros, whom Francis appointed in 2015 amid an outcry that Barros had known about and covered up abuses. The Pope stridently defended Bishop Barros, calling accusations against him "calumny". In an about-face in April, after receiving the Vatican investigator's report, the Pope said he had made "grave errors in judgment", and apologised to Chile's sex abuse victims. In May, the Pope met privately at the Vatican with three of Barros' main accusers and asked their forgiveness. --IANS in/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday demanded the immediate resignation of Karnataka Governor Vajubhai R. Vala in view of the latest political developments in the southern state. "The events of the day have thoroughly exposed the dirty nexus between the (BJP) party and the Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala, who had violated all norms of Constitutional decorum and democratic principles to sub-serve the interests of his political masters. "The Governor should immediately step down on ethical grounds in view of the developments in the assembly. Vala, a RSS functionary was clearly working at the behest of the BJP leadership, had lost all moral right to continue in office. The august office of the Governor had been maligned and denigrated by Vala and the Supreme Court should order his dismissal if he fails to resign," he said in a statement. Hailing the developments in Karnataka Assembly as a "vindication of the Congress party's moral and political stand and a total loss of face for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)", Amarinder Singh said that the BJP had "stooped to new lows of political impropriety in its desperation to grab power in the state by hook or by crook". Reacting to the resignation of B.S. Yeddyurappa ahead of the crucial floor test, he said Indian democracy had been saved from "total desecration at the hands of the power-hungry BJP". He said that the Supreme Court had come to the rescue to uphold the Constitution of the country. --IANS js/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Barcelona on Saturday presented its new kit for the 2018-19 season, featuring a jersey with 10 vertical stripes representing Barcelona's 10 districts. Barca is to debut the new kit on Sunday while hosting Real Sociedad, the last match of the current La Liga season, reports Efe. The 2018/19 jersey returns to the vertical blue and garnet-colored stripes across the entire jersey, replacing the current season's design of narrow lines concentrated in the center. The Catalan club's president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, and Barcelona's mayor, Ada Colau, attended the presentation ceremony. Bartomeu pointed out that Barca owes a lot to the city, and the new kit is intended to honorthat special bond, while Colau said it was a matter of pride that Barcelona wants to further strengthen its links to the city with their new jersey. --IANS kk/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jonas Cullwick, a former General Manager of VBTC is now a Senior Journalist with the Daily Post. Contact: [email protected]. Cell # 678 5460922 China has landed bombers, for the first time, on disputed territory in the South China Sea prompting fresh US warnings that it is destabilising the region, said China's air force. A video showed an H-6K landing and taking off from a base on Woody Island, the largest of the Paracel Islands, BBC reported on Saturday quoting experts from the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) as saying. Woody Island, which China calls Yongxing, is also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan. Although China has deployed fighter jets to Woody Island in the past, this is the first time bombers have landed on a South China Sea island, the AMTI said. It added that an H-6K could reach all of South East Asia from the island. However, Beijing's Defence Ministry did not specify where the bombers landed but said the training involved simulated strikes against sea targets. An H-6K pilot, Ge Daqing, was quoted in a statement as saying that the training "sharpens our courage and enhances our capabilities in a real war". The long-range H-6K bomber was among those which took part in drills on islands and reefs to improve China's ability to "reach all territory". The sea, a key trade route, is subject to overlapping claims by six countries. China has been accused of militarising the sea to support its vast claims. Analysts say bombers will likely soon land in the Spratly Islands further south, where runways and hangers have been built on reefs. From there H-6Ks could reach northern Australia or US bases on Guam, said the AMTI. --IANS and/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Celebrations broke out at the Congress party office here as hundreds of its cadres greeted the fall of the 3-day BJP government on Saturday by bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets among themselves and even passersby. "Our cadres celebrated the victory of democracy by breaking hundreds of coconuts at the party minutes after Yeddyurappa resigned and the three-day BJP government fell," a beaming Congress spokesman Ravi Gowda told IANS here. As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to muster the numbers (112) required for a simple majority in the 224-member hung assembly, Yeddyurappa chose to step down than face the crucial floor test for trust vote, as directed by the Supreme Court on Friday. Terming Yeddyurappa's resignation as a victory of the Constitution and the rule of law, former Congress Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said democracy had won in Karnataka. "This is a victory of the public mandate, a victory for our institutions and ideals enshrined in the Constitution. My hearty congratulations to every member of the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) for sticking to the path of truth," tweeted Siddaramaiah soon after Yeddyurappa resigned. Lashing out at state Governor Vajubhai Vala for giving Yeddyurappa 15 days to prove that he had majority in a hung House, the Congress leader said the BJP was hell bent on forming the government by any means though it had only 104 legislators. "The BJP's attempt showed it had no respect for the Constitution or the people's mandate. It had been functioning in a dictatorial manner, misusing powers to usurp the state. It has kept the Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate and the Income-Tax department under its clutches," charged Siddaramaiah. Likening Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP's National President Amit Shah to Hitler and Goebbles of Nazis in Germany, Siddaramaih said without the blessings of the duo (Modi and Shah), the BJP's state unit could not have indulged in horse-trading and blatant subversion of the Constitution. "Karnataka has shown the BJP that democracy is not for sale in India," tweeted Siddaramaiah. Congratulating legislators of the Congress and JD-S for staying together and united in the hour of grave political crisis in the state, Congress General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad lauded them for resisting arm-twisting by the Centre and its agencies. "They stood by the party principles and decisions taken by the party leadership. Some of our legislators were held captive and under the illegal custody of the BJP. But when they got the opportunity to reach the assembly, they stood by the party. None of the 117 legislators of the Congress, JD-S and Independents had defected," claimed Azad. Hailing also the judiciary for rising to the occasion and advancing the floor test in the assembly to two days from 15 days the Governor gave to Yeddyurappa to prove majority in a hung House, Azad said there was no reason why the BJP was given over two weeks. "Giving 15 days was against the spirit of the Constitution, as it would have allowed horse-trading -- winning over legislators of rival parties through bribes and other inducements. The Governor knew that the BJP had no numbers," recalled Azad. Azad also accused the BJP leaders of luring the Congress members with money and other offers, which they had refused outright. "It's a victory of democracy, Constitution and the people of Karnataka," added Azad. --IANS bha-fb/ahm/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 100 people were killed after a Cubana de Aviacion Boeing 737-200 crashed soon after takeoff from Havana's Jose Marti International Airport, a media report said on Saturday. Three female passengers are in critical condition after surviving the crash. Flight DMJ 0972 heading from Cuba to Holguin was carrying 111 people, including 105 passengers and six crew members, when it plummeted at 12.08 p.m. on Friday in Santiago de Las Vegas, just miles from the runway, CCN reported. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who was at the scene of the accident, later offered his condolences to the victims' families. He said the cause of the crash was under investigation. The Boeing was owned by the Mexican airline Aerolineas Damojh and leased to Cubana de Aviacion, the Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement. The chartered flight "suffered a failure". The plane appeared to swerve to one side and revved its engines before crashing, said an eyewitness. A large fireball followed by a plume of smoke was visible near the airport, added witnesses. Search and rescue personnel descended on the area--with some residents helping--as firefighters tried to extinguish the flames. Cuba announced two days of mourning, during which flags will fly at half-staff. Boeing issued a statement of condolence and said, "A Boeing technical team stands ready to assist as permitted under US law and at the direction of the US National Transportation Safety Board and Cuban authorities." In November 2010, a domestic passenger plane with 61 passengers and 7 crew members crashed in Cuba while travelling from Santiago de Cuba to Havana. --IANS and/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Attempts by Facebook and Google to tackle "dark ads" and foreign interference in the run-up to Ireland's referendum on abortion have not been entirely successful, data from a transparency group seen by CNN has shown. Ireland's abortion laws -- some of the most restrictive in the developed world -- are enshrined in the eighth amendment to the country's constitution, which places an unborn child's right to life on equal footing with that of the mother. On May 25, Ireland will vote to repeal or retain the amendment. The Transparent Referendum Initiative (TRI), a volunteer organisation set up to monitor social-media posts about the referendum has collected ads from 180 Facebook groups targeting the Irish voters. Facebook announced it would ban all ads from foreign groups on May 8, and said: "We understand the sensitivity of this campaign and will be working hard to ensure neutrality at all stages. "We are an open platform for people to express ideas and views on both sides of a debate. Our goal is simple: to help ensure a free, fair and transparent vote on this important issue." But the TRI data shows that out of around 200 new ads related to the vote since that announcement, at least 31 per cent have been administered at least in part by page managers outside Ireland, CNN reported. Google also announced it would not accept any political ads on any side of the campaign last week. "Following our update around election integrity efforts globally, we have decided to pause all ads related to the Irish referendum on the Eighth Amendment," a statement read. Yet screenshots sent to TRI from voters in Ireland after that announcement showed ads continuing to appear on Google's platform. One week after Google said it would "pause all ads related to the Irish referendum on the Eighth Amendment", some ads were still appearing in those searches. Google said they had "taken action" after being showed this ad. Irish law bans foreign citizens and groups from making donations to campaign groups and prohibits political ads on television or radio broadcasts during campaigns, CNN said. The ad bans do not extend online or on social, meaning anyone is open to buying an ad on platforms like Facebook or Google. --IANS in/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Drugs Controller General of India plans to come out with vaccine specific regulatory policy and a manual for regulatory requirements for commercialization of new drug and on how to conduct clinical trials in India, it was announced on Saturday. S. Eswara Reddy, Drugs Controller General of India, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation said that since pneumococcal is one of the major priority vaccines, they would first come out a policy to facilitate introducing indigenously-produced vaccine. Speaking at a symposium on 'research and development of vaccines: issues, challenges and opportunities' organized by PC2 Scientific Services, a strategic and technical consulting company in association with Federation of Asian Biotech Associations (FABA) and CR RAO AIMSCS at University of Hyderabad, he listed out the steps being taken by his organisation to promote innovation through transparent system and regulatory changes. Reddy said they were also in process of making new regulations for conducting clinical trials and new drugs. "We will fix time lines. 30 days will be maximum timeline for giving response to their applications. If response is not received within 30 days, the application will be deemed approved," he said. He also proposed to conduct symposiums across India and invite research institutions to know their regulatory challenges. The regulator will reach out to research and innovation centres by disseminating information about the regulatory requirements for commercialization of their products. Reddy underlined the need to communicate to media the facts about the deaths due to clinical trials. He told the gathering that media gives a wrong projection about the number of deaths. He said media reports that during last 7-8 years, 25,000 patients died during clinical trials in India while the fact is that only 5 percent of these deaths are actually due to clinical trials. "For example, during clinical trials related to cancer, patients who are already in terminal stage die. The death of such patients is not due to clinical trials," he said. With the drug developers and researchers raising concern about the restrictions on import of animal models, the Drug Controller General hoped that the Union Environment and Forests Ministry would look into the issue. He said the import of animals was restricted by the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA) guidelines and suggested that the innovators, industry and regulator make a joint representation on the issue. Some participants spoke how the researchers were forced to go abroad because of non-availability of such animals in the country for studies and the restrictions on the import. Reddy said the issues was relating in the country losing its credibility and the forex reserves. Manuel Elkin Patarroyo, the malaria vaccine scientist from Columbia, was the keynote speaker. The symposium was attended by delegates from scientific research & academic and industry both from India and abroad. Dr. Dasari V Ravi Kumar, Director of PC2 Scientific Services, pointed out that Hyderabad is producing about 33 per cent of global vaccines dosages and 35 per cent to the pharmaceutical production in the country. --IANS ms/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi University on Saturday made an appeal to the teachers' association members to take up evaluation of exam sheets -- abandoned by them in protest -- for the sake of the "future of students" and also so that results can be announced in time. "The annual/semester exams of the University of Delhi commenced from first week of May 2018. Due to a call given by Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA), there has been little participation of the teachers from different colleges of university in the evaluation of answer-scripts for the undergraduate courses," the varsity Registrar said in a statement. "Considering the future of students, an appeal is made to the teaching fraternity of the University of Delhi to join the evaluation process and complete the evaluation well in time so that results can be declared without delay," it added. Opposing the 'graded autonomy' as proposed to colleges by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the DUTA teachers have been boycotting the evaluation of answer sheets since May 9. The association is of the view that the proposed 'autonomy' is an underhanded move to bring "self-financing schemes and online courses", which will have "far reaching consequences" and may lead towards privatisation of higher learning institutions. It registered its protest with the ministry and University Grants Commission also on Friday against a probable grant of status of autonomy to the university's St. Stephen's College. The teachers' body has alleged that the college -- the only one to apply for autonomy so far among DU colleges -- had applied for the status of autonomy without taking into account the opinion of teachers and students of the college. "The DUTA has been forced to give a call for evaluation boycott. It appeals to students and parents to lend support to the struggle to save Delhi University and its colleges as institutions of affordable quality education," the association had said in a statement on Friday. --IANS vn/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A large-scale scam involving stealing of iron bars from factory trucks and their subsequent sale, while evading taxes, has been busted here, Ghaziabad police chief Vaibhav Krisha, who personally led the crackdown, said on Saturday. The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) also said that while the mastermind has been arrested, it was learnt that the scam was taking place with the collusion of local police officers and hence three officers, including two Station House Officers (SHOs), were removed from their posts. Addressing a press conference here, Krishna said he had received intelligence that iron bars are being trafficked illegally. Therefore on Friday night, he said he conducted random checking and intensive patrolling, with personnel from five police stations, on National Highway-24 from UP Gate to Pilkhuwa, during which 20 trucks and iron bars worth around Rs 3 crore were seized. As many as 21 persons, including mastermind Satish Yadav, who were in the business for decades were held, he added. "After Yadav's admission that he was committing crime in collusion with thana level police, I have sent SHO Kavi Nagar Samarjit Singh, SHO Vijay Nagar Naresh Kumar Singh and police post incharge bypass Pavendra Singh to police lines," said Krishna. According to the SSP, the drivers of the trucks, upon grilling, confessed their crime and revealed that they were operating at the behest of Yadav, who also nabbed when piloting trucks from his separate vehicle. Divulging his method, Yadav said that he used to intercept the trucks coming out of the factory, and his men used to unload iron bars from them and put scrap of the same weight instead, due to which the theft would not be detected when the truck was to be weighed at the weighing bridge. It was direct loss to the buyer and the iron mafia was getting 100 percent profit on the stolen product, the SSP said. "Such random checking would continue covering different sectors in future also, so that the police force is not rusted and will remain active," he added. --IANS sps/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump, who has had an adversarial relationship with the world body, surprisingly showered praise on Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying he was "working hard to 'Make the UN Great Again'". The unexpected kudos in his tweet came after their meeting on Friday, which played off his election slogan of "Make America Great Again" and appeared to show a newly found appreciation that the world body could help Washington by dealing with conflicts after several developments that have highlighted the rift between Trump's US and the UN. Trump's praise of Guterres was centred on monetary savings for the US as he added in his tweet, "When the UN does more to solve conflicts around the world, it means the US has less to do and we save money." The UN has been at odds with Trump's world view with the General Assembly criticising Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the US embassy there, Guterres opposing Washington's decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, and the UN failing to act jointly with the US against Syria. The White House said that two of those issues -- Iran and Syria -- figured in the talks between Trump and Guterres. A UN statement said: "The Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for the continued US engagement in the work of the UN." The meeting with Trump capped two days of Guterres's diplomacy in Washington where he made rounds of Congressional leaders to try and revive the flagging support for the world body, especially with cuts in US contributions to the UN looming. While neither the UN nor the White House gave details of who were at the talks, Trump's tweet included a photograph that showed them with Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Permanent Representative Nikki Haley, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Trump's National Security Adviser John Bolton. Trump also praised Haley, saying in the same tweet that she "is doing a fantastic job!" She is credited with squeezing out $285 million out of the 2018-2019 UN budget of $5.4 billion, saving about $63 million for the US, which foots 22 per cent of budget. The White House said they also discussed UN reform -- which is focused on saving even more -- and "the President reiterated his support for the Secretary-General's efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the UN". Another topic in their discussions was North Korea, where Trump is hoping for a breakthrough in his upcoming talks with that nation's leader Kim Jong-un leading to Pyongyang's denuclearisation. The UN statement said that they discussed the "broader situation" in the Middle East, without indicating if this week's Palestinian protests in Gaza during which more than 60 people were killed in firings by Israeli forces came up. Guterres's Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said that before the talks with Trump, he met with Pompeo and Bolton. A former permanent representative, Bolton once said that if the UN headquarters building "lost ten stories, it wouldn't make a bit of difference". On Thursday Guterres even had a meeting with the Freedom Caucus, a hardline right-wing group of Republican members of the Congress, who are very critical of the UN. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in) --IANS al/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP legislature party leader B.S. Yeddyurappa along with co-legislator B. Sreeramulu resigned as Lok Sabha members on Saturday after taking oath as the MLAs of the newly-constituted state Legislative Assembly, a party official said. "Yeddyurappa and Sreeramulu have submitted their resignations as Lok Sabha members to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit spokesman S. Shantharam told IANS here. Yeddyurappa represented Shivamogga parliamentary segment in the state's northwest Malnad region, about 300km from Bengaluru and Sreeramulu was from Ballari (reserved) segment from the state's northern region. Yeddyurappa was elected for the eighth time from the Shikaripura assembly segment in Shivamogga district on May 12 when polling was held in 222 constituencies across the state and results were declared on May 15. The 15th state Legislative Assembly session has been underway since 11 a.m. with the newly-elected legislators taking oath. The oath-taking of all the legislators will be completed before 4 p.m. At 4 p.m., pro tem Speaker K.G. Bopaiah will conduct a floor test in the House to ascertain if Chief Minister Yeddyurappa enjoys majority in the hung House, as directed by the Supreme Court on Friday. --IANS bha/in/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav was on Saturday admitted to a government-run hospital here after he complained of breathing problem and chest pain, a party leader said. According to RJD leader Bhola Yadav, Lalu Prasad suddenly complained of breathing problem and pain in his chest after which he was admitted to the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science. "Lalu is under observation..." he said, adding that Lalu Prasad has been suffering from as many as 16 ailments. The convicted RJD chief was granted provisional bail of six weeks earlier this week after nearly five months at the Birsa Munda Central Jail where he is serving a jail term since December 23, 2017 in connection with the fodder scam. Lalu Prasad was admitted to RIMS in Ranchi on March 17. He has been convicted in four fodder scam cases since 2013, the latest being the Dumka treasury case in which a special CBI court sentenced him to 14 years in jail. --IANS ik/qd/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Maharashtra's main opposition Congress and NCP hailed the outcome of Saturday's quick-paced political developments in adjoining Karnataka as "a victory of democracy". Leader of Opposition in Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil termed it as "a big victory of democracy" after Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa quit before the vote of confidence in the legislature. "This is a harbinger of change for the entire countrya The Bharatiya Janata Party has been completely exposed before the people of the country and the situation will now change in India," said the Congress leader. Leader of Opposition in Council Dhananjay Munde, of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) said "Rs 100 crore lost, but the 100 crore people of the country have won" and this is a clear "victory of peoples' power over money power". Maharashtra Congress President Ashok Chavan said this was "a victory of democratic and secular forces" in Karnataka. "The Congress-JDS legislators stood firmly and did not fall prey to the allurements of Modi-Shah-Yeddy, showing solidarity for democracy and secularism," he said. Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam tweeted: "My salutes to the newly-elected Congress-JDS MLAs who rejected the Rs 100-150 crore bribe offers to each by the BJP to sell their souls. But they didn't do that for their commitment towards the party and ideology." His party colleague and former Union Minister Milind Deora said in a tweet: "Biggest epidemic in - abuse of power and power to abuse. Fortunately, democracy always prevails." NCP state spokesperson Nawab Malik said: "When money, muscle power and all else failed, Yeddyurappa and the BJP displayed fake morality and ran away to resign. This shows that 'Right is always Might and Might can never be Right'." Meanwhile, state Samajwadi Party President Abu Azmi, welcoming the Karnataka political twist, also said: "Democracy wins." --IANS qn/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On a mission to find thousands of new planets, NASA's next planet hunter, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), has successfully completed a lunar flyby, bringing the satellite a step closer to searching for new worlds, NASA has said. The spacecraft passed about 8,000 kilometers from the Moon on Thursday, which provided a gravity assist that helped TESS sail toward its final working orbit, the US space agency said on Friday. As part of camera commissioning, the science team snapped a two-second test exposure using one of the four TESS cameras. The image, centreed on the southern constellation Centaurus, reveals more than 200,000 stars. "I'm excited to share the first image from one of the four cameras aboard TESS, our new planet-hunting satellite! You're looking at more than 200,000 stars in this remarkable image," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a tweet. Launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on April 18, TESS is the next step in NASA's search for planets outside our solar system, known as exoplanets. TESS is expected to cover more than 400 times as much sky as shown in the test image with its four cameras during its initial two-year search for exoplanets. A science-quality image, also referred to as a "first light" image, is expected to be released in June, NASA added. The spacecraft will undergo one final thruster burn on May 30 to enter its science orbit around Earth. TESS is expected to begin science operations in mid-June after reaching this orbit and completing camera calibrations, NASA said. --IANS gb/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday said that there was "need for transparency" in the appointment of judges and the "autonomy of the judiciary should be respected". Replying to questions at the daylong India TV Conclave on 'Four years of Modi government', Prasad said that there was unanimity among political parties on the National Judicial Accountability Commission (NJAC) Bill but it was struck down by the top court. "The Supreme Court Collegium in its verdicts in 1993, 1998 and 2015 had admitted that the Centre had the right to review the decisions taken by the Collegium, and the present government was only exercising that right," he said. Without naming Justice C.S. Karnan of Calcutta High Court, who was jailed for six months by the Supreme Court for contempt, he said: "When we went through the file of that judge, it was written that he was an appointee of the Collegium. "It was written on the file that he had a good knowledge of various laws. Naturally, that judge had no knowledge about contempt. So, somewhere or other, there is need for improvement in judiciary," he said. He also pointed out that apart from the stay on judges' appointment in 2014 and 2015 due to NJAC issue, 126 judges were appointed in 2016 and 117 judges in 2017, and appointment of more is in the pipeline. As he said "Transparency in judiciary is our commitment", Prasad, asked if it was his view that there was no transparency in judiciary now, replied: "I didn't say this. There is need for improvement, and that is the directive from the judiciary itself." He again reiterated that the government's sending back the file relating to the appointment of Uttarakhand Chief Justice K.M. Joseph "has nothing to do with the verdict given by Justice Joseph striking down President's rule in the state". On the unprecedented press conference by four sitting Supreme Court judges, he said: "I would not say anything on this. I have full faith in the farsightedness of the apex court judges in ironing out their differences." He however hit out at Congress President Rahul Gandhi for raising the judges issue at his rallies in Chhattisgarh. "Despite being defeated at the hands of the people, Rahul Gandhi cannot run this country through the corridors of the court by using a sponsored case. The nation will be run by only those who have got the blessings of the people through vote. Rahul Gandhi raised Justice B.H. Loya's death case in his rallies, but there is no logic behind this. "It has been a tradition not to drag the judiciary into politics in our democracy. In most of his speeches, Rahul is raising the issue of 'boycott by judges'. What does he want to convey?" he asked. The Law Minister said: "It is a matter of pride for me that our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, that we all fought for the rights of press, citizens and judiciary during the emergency. "Who superseded Justice Shelat, Justice Grover and Justice Hegde? Why did Justice H.R. Khanna said during emergency that there could be no compromise on the issue of liberty of citizens?" he asked. On the Karnataka controversy, the Law Minister reminded that then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was given 15-20 days time to prove his majority by the then President S.D. Sharma, V.P. Singh was given one month time to prove majority by then President R. Venkataraman and P.V. Narasimha Rao was also given one month time to prove majority. He alleged that Congress MLAs in Karnataka "were locked up in a resort" because the leadership did not trust them. --IANS aks/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nepali photojournalist and mountaineer Purnima Shrestha scaled Mount Everest on Saturday, becoming the first photojournalist from the Himalayan country to stand atop, authorities said. This is the first ascent of 27-year-old Shrestha to the 8,848-metre high mountain. "Purnima Shrestha reached the summit on Saturday morning at 8.10 a.m.," Gyanendra Shrestha, an official at the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, told Xinhua news agency from the base camp. Temba Tsheri Sherpa, a world record holder Everest climber and the head of Sherpa Khangri Outdoor, a company which handled Shrestha's expedition, said: "I feel very happy to share that she made it to the top along with other Chinese climbers in the team. The team will hopefully get back to base camp by Sunday." Shrestha, who hails from Nepal's Gorkha district, had left for the summit bid on Tuesday from the base camp. According to Sherpa, it usually takes four to five days for the climbing team to reach the top from the base camp via four different high camps. Shrestha, who has been doing photojournalism for last five years, is affiliated with Karobar national daily along with Food and Wine magazine. Besides the summit, she also organised a solo photo exhibition in the Everest region, the first of its kind, under the theme "Smiling Nepali Women", featuring portraits of Nepali women from all walks of life. "The major objective of the exhibition is to promote Nepali culture and tourism of the country. It will enable the world climbers and trekkers gathering in the region to know other aspects of Nepal", the photojournalist had said earlier. The exhibition was supported by Nepal Tourism Board, government's body to promote tourism and Photojournalists' Club of Nepal (PJ Club). According to Nepal's Tourism Department, the official government body which issues climbing permits for the Everest expedition, 346 mountaineers from Nepali and foreign teams have taken the permits this year. --IANS mag/soni/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three persons, including a school principal have been arrested in Nigeria for allegedly tying two students to makeshift crucifixes and flogging them for coming late to school, police said. Investigators found evidence that pupils were being flogged by a teacher in front of their school in the remote town of Ayetoro in Ogun state. Photographs showed a Nigerian boy tied to a cross for coming late to the private school on May 16, CNN reported. "They were tied to a wooden tree made to look like a crucifix when a policeman on patrol saw them. When the principal and the school proprietor were requested to untie them. they refused. "They even beat one of the people who intervened," Abimbola Oyeyemi, Ogun State police spokesman told CNN. The state's police command said it was investigating the case and said the school's principal, owner, and a teacher have been charged with assault and intention to cause grievous bodily harm. The school authorities could not be immediately reached for comments, CNN said. Corporal punishment is a common form of discipline in many Nigerian schools despite increasing evidence of its negative outcomes on children. Nigeria is not among the 60 countries states and territories that have banned its use against children though internationals organisations are calling for it to be outlawed. The UN children agency estimates that around 300 million children aged two to four receive some form of physical discipline from their parents or caregivers on a regular basis. --IANS in/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP President Amit Shah on Saturday hit out at Congress President Rahul Gandhi for celebrating B.S. Yeddyurappa's resignation in Karnataka as a "victory", saying the mandate was to get rid of Siddaramaiah and claimed that such coalition will not last long. "If someone is seeing its victory in defeat, than who can stop him. The BJP has already won the Karnataka elections and the people of the state have clearly given their mandate to get rid of Congress," he said at a programme of India TV. He said that Gandhi has started a new tradition of celebration even after party's defeat. "He (Gandhi) has propounded a new theory that how to see a win even if his party is defeated. They won in nine Lok Sabha by-polls and they celebrate it as their victory but why they forget that we have snatched 11 states from them," he said. The BJP chief said that the BJP will not make any efforts to topple the government in Karnataka. "Such governmet will not last long in the state. Congress leaders have themselves not accepted their alliance with JD-S," he said. He said that the BJP had claimed of winning 130 seats in Karnataka elections but the number of seats won was not less. "It is an achievement for us. We wanted to expose the Congress government before Karnataka and I believe we have succeeded in that. We had approached the people of Karnataka with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's four years' achievements and the way Siddaramaiah government had been exploiting the state and we emerged victorious," he said. Responding to allegations of horse-trading by the opposition leaders in Karnataka, Shah said: "This would not have been the result had we offered to bribe and buy the MLAs of other parties." Over Gandhi's allegations that the Modi government has waived off the loans of industrialists, he said: "Rahul Gandhi should name one businessman whose loans we have waived off, or he should accept that he misleads the people of the country." --IANS bns/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) I have never seen the electronic media so totally defiant of the BJP government. Home Minister Rajnath Singh's avowed intention to calm by announcing a Ramadan ceasefire appears to have been dismissed as "appeasement of Pakistan and terrorists". A guest peering out of one of the six windows on the TV screen was frothing in the mouth. "Murderers of our brave jawans are being shamelessly appeased." The other went one better: "A brave nation does what the Sri Lankan army did to the LTTE - just finished them off." The anchor on this Aaj Tak show Thursday evening looked angrier than both. This apparently is common fare. The Communist Party of India is receiving signals from its unit that it may have to rename itself. The 'I' in the CPI has been hurting the state unit for quite some time. But after the recent surge in shootings, stone pelting, "encounters", sustained images of wailing women, trailing the spate of funerals, and relentless media jingoism, the "I" now invites physical danger. True, a defunct party by any name will remain defunct, but even so, Communist Party of (CPK) will at least not incur the wrath of the street. The relative Ramadan peace is a good occasion to take stock. Even in days of drift in Kashmir during the time of P.V. Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, there was a semblance of political control by the National Conference and the PDP. Elements of the Hurriyat had fingers on the street pulse. The scene recently has been anarchic: there was no control. Recent increase in violence was described by reliable sources as "indigenous" which is not what officials say. A narrative which discounts outside "meddling" is not honeyed music to the establishment. Nor to that shrill panel - on Aaj Tak. Ironical, isn't it, that the absence of outside support to the insurgency disturbs us? Just when Kashmir was at fever pitch, the mayhem in Aligarh Muslim University erupted around the photograph of Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Friends are in error if they consider the undiluted hooliganism on view in Aligarh an occasion to engage in a serious debate on Jinnah's culpability in partitioning the country. The hoodlums of Aligarh were not busting their guts to have Jinnah's portrait removed from the AMU union office. Quite the contrary. Hindu Yuva Vahini would love to provoke Aligarh hotheads to dig their heels in to preserve Jinnah in the university precincts. This will be the ammunition which can come in handy at all times. The campus will be the ordnance depot for frequent explosions in the service of the projected Hindu Rashtra. This is not the first time in recent decades that AMU has been exploited for saffron Ever since Prime Minister V.P. Singh aggravated identity by implementing the Mandal Committee report providing reservation in government jobs to lower castes, the BJP has rushed to prevent the caste structure from crumbling. Hindu consolidation, by building up the Muslim ogre, has been the obvious strategy. Aligarh was frequently the target as part of this strategy. There was no Arnab Goswami in the 90s but Hindi newspapers played a lead role in widening the Hindu-Muslim divide. A story appears in newspapers that, after horrendous riots in Aligarh city, some of the injured Hindus being taken to the University Medical College for treatment are being killed by Muslim doctors and interns. Even though the university is only three hours drive from New Delhi, newspapers choose to rely on unverified agency copy which, in turn, quotes upper caste Hindi newspapers. An incredible scene is being enacted on the outskirts of the university. Local scribes seated on chairs arranged in a circle under a mango tree, sip tea even as one Krishna Kumar Navman, BJP MLA from Aligarh, holds them in his thrall with graphic accounts of murders in the hospital. "Has anyone visited the Medical College?" I ask. They had not, they say, because it is "risky". At the medical college the picture is surreal: petrified doctors encircle me. "No one has come to us for clarification," they complain. Why have they not reached out to the journalists with their story? After a long, pregnant silence, they speak up. They thought it would be dangerous stepping out of the campus "in the midst of communal violence". This is what I call uninstitutionalized apartheid. That was 30 years ago when there were no TV channels to inculcate saffron nationalism on the scale I saw the other day and which I have mentioned above. Folks overtly agitated or elated at the turn of events in Aligarh may find it sobering that Pakistan's Jinnah is not the only leader around whom communal polarization can be contrived. Ram Navami processionists in Kankinara, 24 Parganas in West Bengal, were so overpowered by the spirit of Rama that they pulled down the statue of Congress President and India's first Education Minister, Maulana Azad - a person, who in his outlook was exactly the opposite of Jinnah. This was in preparation for the Panchayat elections currently in the news. Protection to anti-namaz lumpens in Gurugram, or those who pasted a Maharana Pratap Road placard on Akbar Road (the placard was removed the next morning), Modi clenching his fist at Tipu Sultan during the recent campaign, are minor episodes in an epic of hatred being manufactured for 2019 of course, and beyond if need be. In this gameplan there is no real, long-term respite for Kashmiris, Muslims or Indo-Pakistan peaceniks. Alongside, the rage of the Dalits and tribals is spiraling out of control. There is an element of simulation in anti-Muslimism for political reasons but the retribution faced by Dalits and tribals in the countryside is visceral. (A senior commentator on political and diplomatic affairs, Saeed Naqvi can be reached on saeednaqvi@hotmail.com) --IANS naqvi/mr/ky (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Saturday that the Supreme Court's time limit of two months to the Punjab and Haryana High Court to make public the report of Justice Dhingra Commission will be over in the next ten days. "Thereafter, the court would take a decision and make the report public," Khattar said at a function organised here. He said that the BJP government in the state had highlighted the wrong doings of the former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Robert Vadra. The one-man Justice S.N. Dhingra Commission of Inquiry was set up by the Manohar Lal Khattar government in May 2015 to probe the controversial grant of licences for prime commercial properties in Gurgaon (now Gurugram), including those to Congress President Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra. The commission had submitted its 182-page report to the Khattar government on August 31, 2016. Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has hit out at the Commission and the BJP government in Haryana for carrying out a "witch-hunt". Hooda had demanded that the report of the Dhingra Commission be made public. Hooda had trashed the whole move of the Haryana government to get only a handful of licences probed, including one granted to the firm owned by Vadra. The report has pointed out irregularities in grant of licences and allotment of land to individuals and companies, including Vadra and his companies, in prime areas of Gurgaon city in Haryana, adjoining national capital New Delhi. The report, according to sources, had indicted the previous Congress government (2005-2014) in Haryana led by Hooda, for irregularities in grant of licences. It has pointed out to alleged connivance of the Hooda government in favouring Vadra and others. Dhingra is a retired judge of the Delhi High Court. Referring to corruption during the Congress rule, Khattar said that the CLU (change of land use) system was started in 1990 and the power to grant CLU rested with the Director, Town and Country Planning Department, but later the system was changed and all CLU related matters were sent to the Chief Minister. "Efforts were made in 1996, 2001 and 2006 to change this system, but it was finally changed in 2016 by our government and the power to Agrant CLU is back with the Director, Town and Country Planning Department," Khattar said. --IANS js/ahm/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An alliance headed by former Shia militia chief Moqtada Sadr has won the parliamentary elections in Iraq, the poll panel said. Final results released by the Electoral Commission gave Sadr's Saeroun bloc 54 seats, while current Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi was in third place with 42. Sadr, a long-term adversary of the US, cannot become Prime Minister himself as he did not stand as a candidate, the BBC reported. However, he was expected to play a major role in forming the new government. Sadr has reinvented himself as an anti-corruption champion after making his name as a militia chief fighting US forces after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He is also a fierce critic of Iran. These elections were the first since Iraq declared victory over the Islamic State (IS) group in December, the BBC reported. Some 5,000 American troops remain in Iraq supporting local forces, which were fighting the IS. The Saeroun (Marching Towards Reform) list is an alliance between Sadr's Istiqama (Integrity) party and six mostly secular groups, including the Iraqi communist party. It pushed the pro-Iranian Fatah (Conquest) alliance into second place with 47 seats. Fatah combines the political wings of militias in the Shia-led paramilitary Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) force and is led by former Transport Minister Hadi al-Amiri. The defeat of Abadi's Nasr (Victory) alliance came as many voters expressed dissatisfaction with corruption in public life. Sadr's party and its allies campaigned on a platform of fighting corruption and investing in public services. Despite Abadi's poor showing, he might yet return as Prime Minister after negotiations which must now be completed within 90 days to form a new government, the BBC reported. Whoever is named Prime Minister would have to oversee the reconstruction of Iraq following the battle against IS, which seized control of large parts of the country in 2014. International donors pledged $30 billion at a conference in February but Iraqi officials have estimated that as much as $100 billion is required. More than 20,000 homes and businesses were destroyed in the second city of Mosul alone. More than two million Iraqis are still displaced across the country and IS militants continue to mount deadly attacks despite having lost control of the territory they once held. Turnout at the May 12 election was only 44.5 per cent -- much lower than in previous polls. --IANS in/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An alliance headed by former Shia militia chief Moqtada Sadr who led two uprisings against the US-led invasion of Iraq has won the parliamentary elections by obtaining 54 seats, the Electoral Commission said on Saturday. According to the final results, incombent Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi was in third place with 42 while the pro-Iranian Fatah alliance was second with 47 seats. The State of Law coalition led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki won 25 seats, while the National Alliance of Ayad Allawi got 21, the BBC reported. In the Iraqi northern provinces, the two main Kurdish parties won the most seats, as the Kurdistan Democratic Party got 25 while the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan obtained 18. Sadr, a long-term adversary of the US, cannot become Prime Minister himself as he did not stand as a candidate, according to the BBC report. However, he was expected to play a major role in forming the new government. Sadr has reinvented himself as an anti-corruption champion after making his name as a militia chief fighting US forces after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He is also a fierce critic of Iran. He also campaigned on a platform of investing in public services. Whoever is named Prime Minister will have to oversee the reconstruction of Iraq following the battle against IS, which seized control of large parts of the country in 2014. International donors pledged $30 billion in February but Iraqi officials estimated that as much as $100 billion was required. More than 20,000 homes and businesses were destroyed in the second city of Mosul alone. Over two million Iraqis are still displaced across the country and IS militants continue to mount deadly attacks despite having lost control of the territory they once held. Turnout at the May 12 election was only 44.5 per cent -- much lower than in previous elections. --IANS soni/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On a day-long Jammu and Kashmir visit to inaugurate developmental projects, two days after the government announced an unconditional Ramadan ceasefire in the state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asked "misguided" Kashmiri youth to join "mainstream" India for a life with dignity. Amid a separatist called shutdown and protest march and restrictions by authorities in Srinagar, Modi with a message of development and peace wrapped up in the evening his whirlwind trip that took him to all the three regions -- Ladakh, Kashmir Valley and Jammu. He inaugurated 330 megawatt Kishenganga power house in Kashmir and a 41.2-km long Ring Road project to decongest Srinagar city, He started work on the Zojila Tunnel to provide an all-weather link to Ladakh and reduce the distance to the cold desert region by three hours from Srinagar. In Jammu, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stones of the Pakul Dul Power Project and the four-lane 58.2-kilometre-long Jammu Ring Road. He also inaugurated the Tarakote Marg and Material Ropeway of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board to facilitate pilgrims visiting the shrine. Before flying back home, the Prime Minister attended the Convocation of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology in the winter capital. In partially-curfewed Srinagar where schools and colleges were closed for the day, Modi addressed a gathering at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), advising those youth who have lost their path to return to the mainstream. "The mainstream is their family and parents. The mainstream is their participation in the development of the state. Every stone or weapon picked up by misguided youth injures their own. You will have to come out of this atmosphere. Not only for your future but for the future of Jammu and Kashmir. You will have to join the Indian mainstream." Invoking the composite culture of Kashmir, Modi said former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee always advocated and supported "Kashmiriyat" and "Modi is also the disciple of the same 'Kashmiriyat'". He said development was the only solution to all problems of the state and hoped that "time will come soon when Jammu and Kashmir will re-emerge as the crown and coronet of peace and progress for the entire country". Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who shared the dais with the Prime Minister, took a dig at Pakistan for not responding positively to India's "goodwill gesture" of Ramadan ceasefire that was declared on Thursday. "It takes a large heart and a position of strength to declare the Ramadan ceasefire. You have tried to dress the wounds of our people and I assure you that your positive step will be reciprocated by 10 positive steps by our people," Mehbooba Mufti said. She said the Prime Minister had the mandate and the stature to solve all the problems of the people in the state, recalling that remedies were in the agenda of alliance between the PDP and the BJP. Earlier in Ladakh, Modi spoke at the closing ceremony of centenary birth celebrations of the Buddhist spiritual leader, Kashuk Bakula and asked those in Jammu and Kashmir regions to follow people of the cold desert region who have set an example in human endeavour in their urge for progress. "Despite hardships and inaccessibility, Ladakhis have set up an example in endeavouring hardships and yet continuing their march of progress and development." He said Ladakh today was a far cry from its past when it was known just for three things "totu" (pony) "sottu" (powdered corn) and "patu" (local tweed). "Your self-confidence has taken Ladakh to great heights from those days of backwardness. The entrepreneurship of the women of Ladakh is an example for the rest of the country." In Jammu, Modi said urged agricultural scientists to revisit their strategies that must meet the growing challenges of climate change and paucity of water. Addressing the 6th convocation of the agricultural university in Jammu, Modi told agricultural scientists and graduating students that "five Ts including training, talent, technology, timely action and trouble free approach" were essential for bringing forward a technological revolution in agriculture. "Today morning I got the opportunity to visit various parts of the state. From Leh to Srinagar and the Jammu region many developmental programmes were started today. "It has been my confidence that the state has the potential to reach the greatest heights of government." --IANS sq-sar/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said Spain and China should have more high-level visits, plan for the future and strengthen cooperation in trade, tourism, culture and sports. Rajoy made the remarks during his meeting on Thursday with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Xinhua reported on Friday. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Spain as well as the 13th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership. Rajoy said the Spanish-Sino relations enjoy sound development momentum. "I have visited China three times. And I was impressed last year when I attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing," he told Wang. Rajoy added that Spain and China should also play their respective advantages and enhance cooperation in the third-party market in Latin America and Africa. The Prime Minister said both Spain and China stand for the maintenance of multilateralism and the multilateral system, and both nations should strengthen communication and coordination, so as to play positive roles in contributing to world and regional peace. For his part, Wang said China supports the Spanish government in its efforts to protect national unity and believes that the Spanish side will continue supporting China in protecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Wang said both nations should make use of the upcoming high-level visits this year so as to push the Sino-Spanish comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level. China, Wang said, appreciated Spain's support in the Belt and Road Initiative. Both sides should strengthen the alignment of respective national development strategies and look for new cooperation potential and expand cooperation fields, Wang said. Wang said China is opening more to the outside world, and both nations look to have brighter cooperation future in various fields. --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sterlite Power is planning an investment of $4 billion by 2022 in power projects in Brazil where it has won orders last year to build transmission lines, the company said on Saturday. Sterlite Group Chief Executive Pratik Agarwal said in a statement that the company is looking to grow rapidly in the country and establish its headquarters in Sao Paulo as a base for future expansion. "We have already committed ourselves to $1 billion (in projects). And we are open to expanding this in three to four times over the next three to four years," he said. In this direction, Sterlite has already structured a local team and is currently looking for an experienced executive to take command of Brazilian operations to lead an expansion that may pass in the short or medium term to other countries. "Sao Paulo will be our headquarters in Latin America to look beyond Brazil," Agarwal said. In this regard, he cited Argentina, Chile, Mexico and possibly Peru as potential countries of interest, and pointed out that the push to these markets could take place over a period of 1-3 years. Besides participating in government auctions for new projects, Sterlite will also evaluate possible acquisitions as part of its strategy in Brazil, the Chief Executive said. In its first bid in Brazil in April, Sterlite took out a broadcast concession with a discount of 58.9 per cent over the government's maximum allowable revenue for the project. The company also took one more project at the same auction and a third at another in December, where it bagged the largest project on offer. The construction of these lines already sold will require about $1 billion, the statement said. According to Agarwal, the company's strategy is to have a good return even after the high discounts through intensive use of technology, good planning of works and advance delivery of the lines, which help generate additional revenue. The company has already secured funding and all environmental licenses for one of its three projects and there is great confidence in being able to deliver them in advance, it added. --IANS bc/qd/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Grammy-winning pop star Taylor Swift is ready to part with her Beverly Hills bungalow after listing it for $2.95 million. Swift, 28, purchased the home in 2012 for $1.77 million using a limited liability company, records with PropertyShark show, reports people.com. The home is a popular Midcentury Modern design, said listing broker Drew Mandile of Sotheby's International Realty. Spanning 2,950 square feet, the four-bedroom house has skylights, beamed ceilings, a pool, a 1,000-bottle climate controlled wine cellar and an elaborate security system with 11 cameras, according to the listing Mandile shares with son Dean Mandile and Brooke Knapp. --IANS nv/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three wanted criminals involved in dacoity, murder and rapes were killed in a gun battle with the police in Uttar Pradesh early on Saturday in Aligarh, an official said. Two of the dacoits killed in the police encounter carried a reward of Rs 25,000 each in the Kasganj district, the police spokesman added. Police Control Room received a distress call around midnight regarding their presence in the Dado police station area. Police teams were dispatched and a combing operation was started, Rahul Srivastava, public relations officer (PRO) to the Director General of Police said. During the combing operation, the police team was fired upon by the criminals in which two officers sustained bullet injuries, Srivastava said. The police officers then fired in retaliation critically wounding three dacoits. The police managed to get confessions on the way to the hospital, Srivastava added. All three have succumbed to their injuries, he said. --IANS md/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday appealed to those Kashmiri youth who have joined violence to return to their homes and live a life of dignity and peace. Addressing an official function at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar where he inaugurated the 330mw Kishenganga Hydel Project and also laid foundation of Srinagar Ring Road, Modi said: "The PDP-BJP government is trying its best to bring back the misguided youth who have left their homes and families." "It is time that these youth return to their families. Each stone thrown by a misguided youth hurts the hearts and minds of the people in Jammu and Kashmir. "Those who have been helping violence in the state from across our borders are themselves disintegrating this time," he said. "Atalji (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) always advocated and supported 'Kashmiriyat' and Modi is also the disciple of the same 'Kashmiriyat'." The Prime Minister said the people of state know how they have been deceived by forces inimical to peace. The Central government has appointed a special representative to speak to all elected people to find a way out of these difficult times, he said. "There is only one solution to all problems and that is development. All those countries in the world who followed violence are finding ways and means to shun it and save their people. "Time will come soon when J&K will re-emerge as the crown and coronet of peace and progress for the entire country." Modi said it is the love and affection of the people that brings him here so often. "The holy month of Ramadan is the time when we re-dedicate ourselves to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad. It's an honour that I am here during the holy month of Ramadan." The Prime Minister said everybody associated with the Kishenganga project needs to be complimented because it was a difficult task. "The 42km-long Srinagar Ring Road, whose foundation I have laid today (Saturday), will go a long way in providing connectivity that is vital for progress and development. "Jammu Kashmir of the 21th century is going to be a model of progress and prosperity. It was said in the past that waters and vitality of mountains does not help the people living in these mountains. But this saying is being proved wrong here as the waters and vitality of your mountains is now being used for your betterment and progress." Modi said tourism has been a part of J&K's development, but today's tourism has changed fast. "Today's tourist wants a better eco-system and cleanliness, and the more you address these issues, the more number of tourists would be coming here." Pointing out that connectivity is very essential to improve the eco-system, he said: "Before coming here, I started the work on Asia's longest tunnel. Whether it is the Srinagar Ring Road or any other connectivity project, the completion of these road projects will save you time and increase your earnings." "Better roads will definitely add to the beauty of the state. I am happy that the people of state are helping themselves. I recently saw a video in which a five-year-old girl, Jannat, is shown cleaning the Dal Lake." Modi said one lakh local youth are being trained under the "Himayat" programme, adding that around 16,000 youth have been given scholarships to study outside the state. He said the J&K Police would soon complete the recruitment process of 5,000 youth. "Security forces have lent a helping hand to mitigate the sufferings of the people during floods and natural calamities. "Every sacrifice made by our security forces is remembered and respected by every citizen of the country." Modi is now scheduled to address the convocation of Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) in Jammu city. He will also lay the foundation stone for 58.2km-long Jammu Ring Road before flying back to New Delhi. --IANS sq/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday appealed to those Kashmiri youth who have joined violence to return to their homes and live a life of dignity and peace. Addressing an official function at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar where he inaugurated the 330mw Kishenganga Hydel Project and also laid foundation of Srinagar Ring Road, Modi said: "The PDP-BJP government is trying its best to bring back the misguided youth who have left their homes and families." "It is time that these youth return to their families. Each stone thrown by a misguided youth hurts the hearts and minds of the people in Jammu and Kashmir. "Those who have been helping violence in the state from across our borders are themselves disintegrating this time," he said. "Atalji (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) always advocated and supported 'Kashmiriyat' and Modi is also the disciple of the same 'Kashmiriyat'." The Prime Minister said the people of state know how they have been deceived by forces inimical to peace. The Central government has appointed a special representative to speak to all elected people to find a way out of these difficult times, he said. "There is only one solution to all problems and that is development. All those countries in the world who followed violence are finding ways and means to shun it and save their people. "Time will come soon when J&K will re-emerge as the crown and coronet of peace and progress for the entire country." Modi said it is the love and affection of the people that brings him here so often. "The holy month of Ramadan is the time when we re-dedicate ourselves to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad. It's an honour that I am here during the holy month of Ramadan." The Prime Minister said everybody associated with the Kishenganga project needs to be complimented because it was a difficult task. Modi said: "The 42km-long Srinagar Ring Road, whose foundation I have laid today (Saturday), will go a long way in providing connectivity that is vital for progress and development. "Jammu Kashmir of the 21th century is going to be a model of progress and prosperity. It was said in the past that waters and vitality of mountains does not help the people living in these mountains. But this saying is being proved wrong here as the waters and vitality of your mountains is now being used for your betterment and progress." The Prime Minister said tourism has been a part of J&K's development, but today's tourism has changed fast. "Today's tourist wants a better eco-system and cleanliness, and the more you address these issues, the more number of tourists would be coming here." Pointing out that connectivity is very essential to improve the eco-system, he said: "Before coming here, I started the work on Asia's longest tunnel. Whether it is the Srinagar Ring Road or any other connectivity project, the completion of these road projects will save you time and increase your earnings." "Better roads will definitely add to the beauty of the state. I am happy that the people of state are helping themselves. I recently saw a video in which a five-year-old girl, Jannat, is shown cleaning the Dal Lake." Modi said one lakh local youth are being trained under the "Himayat" programme, adding that around 16,000 youth have been given scholarships to study outside the state. He said the J&K Police would soon complete the recruitment process of 5,000 youth. "Security forces have lent a helping hand to mitigate the sufferings of the people during floods and natural calamities. "Every sacrifice made by our security forces is remembered and respected by every citizen of the country." Modi is now scheduled to address the convocation of Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) in Jammu city. He will also lay the foundation stone for 58.2km-long Jammu Ring Road before flying back to New Delhi. The 330mw power project has been constructed by the HCC Ltd on an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) basis for the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd (NHPCL), said HCC's Group CEO Arjun Dhawan in Mumbai. The project, construction on which started in January 2009, has several firsts to its credit in Indian infrastructure, besides overcoming major geological and engineering challenges, at a cost of around Rs 5,750 crore, Dhawan said. While 12 per cent of the power generated from this project will go to Jammu & Kashmir, the rest will go to several other states, he added. --IANS sq-qn/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As per pre-poll promise, the BJP government in Tripura on Saturday announced new recruitment policy and annulled the earlier employment rules framed by the previous Left Front government, a senior minister said. "The state government framed new recruitment policy for recruiting government employees in Tripura. The cabinet also cancelled the earlier employment policy framed by the previous Left Front government," Education and Law Minister Ratan Lal Nath told the media after a cabinet meeting. The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, who also holds the home portfolio and also the Chief of Bharatiya Janata Party Pradesh Committee. Nath, accompanied by Agriculture and Transport Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, said that the BJP framed the new recruitment policy because it wanted transparency and fairness. "The earlier government while recruiting employees has done political favouritism, partiality and ignore the quality candidates. From now onwards, written examination would be done for recruiting employess for the the group "C" and group "D" posts. In some cases (ten per cent) interview would be taken for the technical posts. The entire interview process would also be videographed." The minister said that to recruit government employess for the group "C" and group "D" posts a separate institution would be constituted and the existing Tripura Public Service Commission would be further strengthen for selecting best candidates for the required government posts. He said that the cabinet also modified the existing pension system giving preferances to the parents of the expired employees. Nath said the government would soon promulgate an ordinance to authorize Block Development Officers and Panchayat Secretaries to deal the financial matters as 50 per cent Gram Pradhan (panchayat chief) either resigned or not attending office after the BJP led government came to power on March 9. The BJP government on Saturday also decided to enhance the salaries and allowances of the Judicial officers with effect from January 2016. Opposition Congress while reacting to the new recruitment policy of the BJP government, has urged the government to give preferances to the plotically victimsed and overaged educated youths and to set up Staff Selection Commission like institution to recruit government employees. "The BJP government should undertake a special drive to fill up those vacant posts reserved for the tribals and scheduled caste communities," state Congress Vice-President and former legislator Tapas Dey told the media. Meanwhile, the BJP within five days after assuming office on March 9, had stopped the recruitment process except those initiated under the court's directions raising criticism from the opposition parties. --IANS sc/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UAE-based Aries Group on Saturday announced it will use its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds to produce 1,000 regional films in the next five years under its "Project Indywood". The project will be launched with the pooja of a film titled "Aickkarakonathe Bhishaguaranmaar" at Punalur near here on Sunday, said Aries Group Chairman and CEO Sohan Roy. "'Aickkarakonathe Bhishaguaranmaar; will mark the launch of Project Indywood's ambitious plan to produce 1,000 regional movies in India in the next five years. Besides prominent actors from the industry, twenty talents discovered through the national-level auditions conducted by Indywood Talent Hunt will play important roles in the movie," he told media here. Biju Majeed will direct the film, whose script is written by K. Shibu Raj. P.C. Lal will wield the camera and Biju Ram will compose the music for the film, which would be shot in Kerala and completed in one schedule. Roy, a Kerala-born marine engineer-turned-film director, shot to international acclaim in 2011 with his film "DAM999" which was selected for the Oscar race that year in three categories - Original Song, Original Score and Best Picture. Though "DAMA999", which tells the tale of a cracking dam built during colonial rule and how it impacts nine characters, failed to secure a place in the final nomination list of the 84th Academy Awards, it bagged two honorary awards at the Global Music Awards held at California. --IANS sg/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) German Chancellor Angela Merkel has told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the Middle East situation had been complicated by the US' withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. According to a statement issued by the German government, Merkel made the remarks on Friday during her meeting with Putin in Russia's Black Sea city of Sochi, Xinhua news agency reported. Merkel told Putin that Germany, like the rest of Europe, did not want to leave the agreement and wanted to continue to support it. With regard to the Iranian nuclear programme, the agreement gives "more security, more control and, above all, more transparency". But there are also topics "that have to be talked about with Iran", Merkel said, referring to the concerns of the Iranian ballistic missile program, and the question of how to proceed after the expiration of each element of the nuclear agreement. Merkel stressed after her talks with Putin how important it was to have an open exchange of ideas, especially if the two countries have different views, adding that the German-Russian cooperation had endured serious differences. "But if you want to solve problems, you have to talk to each other," Merkel was quoted as saying. With regard to the situation in Ukraine, Merkel said the Minsk accord was the "only basis" to achieve peace in east Ukraine, and agreed with Putin that it was important to station a UN peacekeeping troop in the area. With regard to Syria, Merkel said that Germany would continue to support UN's mediation efforts with full force, saying it was important the already-agreed upon process of constitutional reform really got going. --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US Treasury has announced it has imposed sanctions on an influential Venezuelan political figure, three persons related to him and his alleged "corruption network". The Treasury said in a statement on Friday that it has designated Diosdado Cabello, the first-vice president of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, the party of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and Cabello's wife and brother, Xinhua reported. A businessman, Rafael Alfredo Sarria Diaz, who has been accused of acting on behalf of Cabello, was also on the blacklist. The statement referred to Cabello as "the second most powerful man in Venezuela" after Maduro, accusing him of money laundering and involvement in trafficking drugs from Venezuela to Europe. Meanwhile, the Treasury also blocked three companies and 14 properties in the United States, which were believed to be owned or controlled by Sarria. "We are imposing costs on figures like Diosdado Cabello who exploit their official positions to engage in narcotics trafficking, money laundering, embezzlement of state funds, and other corrupt activities," said US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin in the statement. The sanctions would freeze any assets that a blacklisted person holds under US jurisdiction and ban any US individuals or companies from making business deals with them. The US has been stepping up pressure on the South American country by imposing a string of sanctions on its senior officials. Venezuela does not recognize any sanctions imposed on the country without UN authorization, president of the National Constituent Assembly (ANC) Delcy Rodriguez said on Wednesday. The latest sanctions came ahead of Sunday's presidential election in Venezuela, in which Maduro is up for reelection. --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Activist Suhani Jalota, who runs Myna Mahila Foundation, attended the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Saturday in an elegant sari designed by Indian brand Raw Mango run by designer Sanjay Garg. Sanjay Garg, Textile Designer and Founder, Raw Mango told IANS: "We are excited that we were able to represent and create something more than what meets the eyes - the sari is a symbol that is rooted in culture, heritage and history, which speaks to one's individuality & identity, therefore becoming a medium to express oneself." Myna Mahila foundation empowers women to speak about issues they are most afraid to discuss aloud - they encourage and employ women from urban slums in Mumbai to manufacture and sell affordable sanitary pads back into their communities, improving menstrual hygiene, providing stable employment, and building a trusted network. Suhani met Meghan in 2016 when the former went to give an acceptance speech at the Glamour College Women of the Year Awards. Meghan married Britain's Prince Harry at St George's Chapel in Windsor. --IANS nv/vm (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When we talk about advertising potential on Facebook, the fact is that 2.2 billion global users -- almost a quarter of the world's population -- constitute the largest marketplace on Earth that can be explored better with intelligent communication and targeted, age-specific outreach. Facebook India has done its homework and has real, contemporary data based on primary research and insights survey on how Indians, especially millennials, are shopping on smartphones and still, many fall off the grid and cancel orders in the middle of their purchase journey. In India, there are nearly 380 million smartphone users as of today, according to Counterpoint Research. The number of Internet users in India will reach 500 million by June, says a joint report by The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and Kantar IMRB. On the other hand, the mobile phone customer base now stands at over 1.17 billion, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Facebook today has 217 million users in India -- a huge market to tap into and advertisers know this well -- and are aware of the future too when seven in 10 smartphone purchases will be mobile influenced by 2022. "We now have reliable data how people are buying on smartphones. We can make their path to purchase smooth, make those quickers reduce friction, increase sales and cut costs for businesses," Sandeep Bhushan, Director, Facebook India and South Asia, told IANS in an interview. "We are mapping the friction and planning products and tools for businesses to reduce the friction and, therefore, can provide greater value for businesses and consumers alike in a secure way," Bhushan added. Currently, mobile influences 58 per cent of smartphone purchase decisions, amounting to $8.5 billion worth of sales and it is expected to grow 1.8 times to reach 73 per cent and influence $15.6 billion worth of sales by 2022, according to a joint Facebook-KPMG report. Facebook influences 33 per cent of purchase decisions amounting to $4.8 billion worth of sales and it is expected to grow two times to reach 44 per cent and influence $9.5 billion worth of sales by 2022. According to Bhushan, Facebook is ready to help smartphone brands reduce the consumer drop-off from their purchase journey, creating $3.1 billion worth of potential revenue for them by 2022. "We can reduce purchase time by 14 odd per cent. We also know that sales can go by up to $3 billion, built on the fact that consumers will use mobiles for various purposes and the device offers all kinds of possibilities. We can do right messaging at the right place with mobile and cut the friction," Bhushan informed. After facing the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, Facebook recently cleared that it does not tell advertisers who you are or sell your information to anyone. "We provide advertisers with reports about the kinds of people seeing their ads and how their ads are performing, but we don't share information that personally identifies you. You can always see the 'interests' assigned to you in your ad preferences, and if you want, remove them," Rob Goldman, Vice President, Ads at Facebook, wrote recently in a blog post. Facebook's mobile advertising revenue represented approximately 91 per cent of advertising revenue for the first quarter of 2018 -- up from approximately 85 per cent of advertising revenue in the first quarter of 2017. "We understand that consumers are different -- men, women, young, old, affluent and non-affluent -- and have different purchasing patterns. Businesses can reach the right audience on Facebook where they can target by age. "Consumers below age 25 are more tech-savvy; so businesses can provide them with deeper, technical information about a product. For consumers like me, all I need to know is my favourite brand has a new feature or not. This is what we do -- simplify the path to purchase," Bhushan told IANS. To take the vision closer to reality, Facebook is already running a programme with one big smartphone player. "In this programme, the moment you see an ad, you click, the lead form opens, auto populates, you click again and get a call from the promotor of the retail store next to you within an hour," the Facebook India executive informed. "We have interesting, intelligent forms which are auto-filled that gives customers flexibility and mental peace. All of this was not possible earlier," Bhushan told IANS. The data lets advertisers reach the right people, including millions of small businesses, who rely on Facebook every day to reach people who might be interested in their product. "We are ready for products in any Internet situation. 2G is still default in India despite so much 4G talk as there are more mobile handset users that smartphone ones; so we have covered them too with Facebook Lite," Bhushan stressed. (Nishant Arora can be contacted at nishant.a@ians.in) --IANS na/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP's efforts to expand in southern states suffered a blow on Saturday with its two-day old government collapsing as Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa resigned before a trust vote in an assembly where no party has majority. The party now hopes that the move, akin to what then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee did in 1996 after failing to garner enough support for his 13-day old government, will help it gain sympathy in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Despite knowing the fact that it was short of the required numbers, the BJP leadership went ahead to stake claim and took risk of allowing Yeddyurappa to take oath as Chief Minister. This is what Vajpayee -- the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Prime Minister -- did almost 22 years ago. The BJP, which considers Karnataka as its gateway to south, tried its best to win the trust vote after forming the government on Thursday but failed to sustain it. Despite this, BJP leaders are hopeful Yeddyurappa's emotional speech in the Assembly before resigning and clearing his vision for the cause of farmers and downtrodden, will help the party in 2019 elections. "Yeddyurappa did the same way Atal Bihari Vajpayee made his speech in the Lok Sabha in 1996 before resigning as the Prime Minister," a senior BJP functionary told IANS, recalling how the BJP-led NDA returned with a thumping majority in the elections that followed. "The BJP surged all over the country and formed governments (in many states) with coalition as well as of its own in 2014. We are hopeful of emerging in south too through Yeddyurappa," he said. With the possibility of relatively fewer seats in the Hindi belt states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and other north Indian states during the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, BJP President Amit Shah has been working on a strategy to compensate a bit from the probable loss of seats in southern part of the country. But after Yeddyurappa's resignation, Shah's startegy has suffered a jolt as it provided an opportunity to the opposition camp to remain united. The Assembly poll results clearly indicate that if the Congress and JD-S join hands in 2019, it will be a tough task for the BJP. In 2014, the BJP had won 17 out of total 28 Lok Sabha seats of Karnataka. Out of total 129 seats of southeren states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka and Kerela, the BJP could win only 21 in 2014. With the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) quitting the NDA, the BJP has already suffered a jolt in south as its position has weakened considerably in Andhra Pradesh where Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is campaigning against the Modi government for not meeting the demand of special status to the state. To compensate TDP's departure from the NDA, the BJP has been eying YSR Congress. But that looks like not an easy task as YSR Congress itself has been vehemently opposing the Modi government for not meeting the demand of special status. In 2014, the BJP could won only two out of 25 seats in Lok Sabha in Andhra Pradesh. In Tamil Nadu, the BJP is also facing the ire of the people as the Union government has failed yet to constitute a Cauvery Management Board. With AIADMK in power and DMK as the main opposition, the BJP has very little space for its emergence in the state. In the 2016 state Assembly elections, the BJP even found it hard to identify candidates for the 234 constituencies in the Dravidian state. The BJP is now trying to make inroads in Kerala but it will again not be an easy cup of tea for the party. Although the BJP improved its vote share by around nine per cent in 2016 state Assembly elections, but it failed to stop Left Democratic Front from retaining power. In that year, the BJP opened an account in the state assembly -- a first in the history of Kerala. The BJP is hopeful of gaining ground in Telangana but faces a tough contest from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi and the Congress. In 2014, it could win only one seat out of total 17 in the state. Now, with the country all set to face general elections next year, the only state through which the BJP could have made inroads in south was Karnataka. With Karnataka gone now, Yeddyurappa made an emotional last bid to win people's heart ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. "I will travel across the state non stop. We have received tremendous love and support across the state. For 2019, I promise, we will win 28 out of all 28 Lok Sabha seats. I won't relent. I will continue to fight till my last breath," he said in the Assembly, before meeting Governor Vajubhai Vala to resign. (Brajendra Nath Singh can be contacted at brajendra.n@ians.in) --IANS bns/sar/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Power of Saffron The one thing that the Bharatiya Janata Party has in surfeit, is confidence. Party President Amit Shahs office has a map that shows all the BJP states marked in saffron. When the struggle to claim Karnataka was still on and the party had not yet reached the majority mark, the state was marked out in saffron in that map just to remove any doubts workers might have had. The world according to BJP? Interesting politics in the offing Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has told supporters to get ready for a mini General Election. Five YSR ... Prime Minister on Saturday appealed to "misguided youngsters" to shun the path of violence and join the national mainstream, saying every stone or weapon picked by them led to the path of instability. Speaking for the first time after the government announced an halt to anti-militancy operations in the state during the holy month of Ramzan, the prime minister said there is no alternative to peace and stability. "My appeal to these misguided youths is to return to the national mainstream, which is their own family, and participate in the development of Jammu and Kashmir," he said while dedicating the 330-MW Krishenganga power project to the nation. Its progress was monitored by the Prime Minister's Office. Amid the chanting of "Modi, Modi", the prime minister inaugurated the project and laid the foundation stone for the Srinagar Ring Road at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre. The 42.1-km, four-lane Srinagar Ring Road will link Galandar in west Srinagar to Sumbal in Bandipora district and reduce traffic congestion. Modi is on a one-day visit to the state's three regions -- Leh, Kashmir and Jammu. In Leh, he launched the construction of Zojila tunnel to provide all-weather connectivity to Ladakh. Beginning his speech in Kashmiri, Modi asked people in Srinagar to accept his "salaam" and wished them health and prosperity. He spoke passionately for about 30 minutes highlighting the importance of 'Kashmiriyat'. He said former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a fan of the concept, "and I am also a follower." Modi said the state government and the Centre have "a policy, determination and strength to take bold decisions". He said the halt to operations during Ramzan will help expose "those who have been spreading terrorism in the name of Islam". He said there were many vested interests who do not want to see a prosperous "But friends, we need to reply to these foreign powers by keeping our march to prosperity going," he said. The state government and the Centre are striving hard to bring into the mainstream the misguided youths who are under the influence of false propaganda from a foreign power, he said. "Every stone or weapon picked up by the youth of this state is only meant to destabilise their own state. We have to take the state out of instability for our future generations," he said. "The misguided youths will not only have to join but also the national mainstream of the country," he added. On the alienation of the youth, the prime minister said, "There is no power which can create a wedge between two brothers... People who have been engaging in creating a wedge between Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the country are now on the verge of extinction." Dwelling upon Kashmiriyat', he said, "Last year, I spent my Diwali with the jawans in Gurez and today I am amidst you during the holy month of Ramzan." He reiterated his Independence Day address from Red Fort last year where he had said, "Na gaali se samasya sulajhne wali hai, na goli se, samasya suljhegi har Kashmiri ko gale lagane se (The Kashmir problem cannot be resolved by either bullets or abuses. It can be resolved by embracing all Kashmiris)." He said for ensuring permanent stability, the Centre has appointed a special representative to whom anyone can go and put forth their viewpoint. "From the side of the government, we are leaving no stone unturned for ending the cycle of violence. But the onus on ensuring an alliance between Kashmiriyat and democracy lies with the people of Jammu and Kashmir," he said. The prime minister concluded his speech in Kashmiri, telling people that may God bless them. Earlier, in her welcome address, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti thanked the prime minister for announcing the halt to anti-militancy operations during Ramzan. "Let me share with you Prime Minister sir, today the mothers of the Kashmir Valley are sleeping peacefully as they know that there won't be any operations. She said she knew that it was a difficult decision, "But such decisions are taken when the Centre has the will and the determination and you showed your magnanimity in announcing such a decision. It definitely needs lot of courage," she said. "If the Centre has taken one step towards the people of Kashmir, the people will take 10 steps to come close to New Delhi, to come out of the cycle of violence," she said. Mehbooba regretted that despite efforts by Delhi, Pakistan is yet to respond. "We had an unfortunate incident yesterday at the border in Jammu region where civilians and BSF personnel were killed." She thanked the prime minister for agreeing to the consensus at an all party meeting where it was resolved to have a 'unilateral ceasefire'. Two "missing" Congress MLAs were today located at a hotel here and brought to the Karnataka Assembly by the party leaders under police protection ahead of the crucial trust vote to be sought by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. Anand Singh and Pratap Gouda Patil were not present in the Assembly when their names were called out for taking the oath during the special session underway. Based on a tip-off that they were in the hotel, the Congress issued a whip directing them to come to the House and sought police help. Senior Congress leader D K Shivakumar said both of them were brought to the Assembly. Earlier, senior Congress leader Veerapa Moily said the two legislators were absent, but expressed hope that they would turn up and support the party in the floor test, slated to be taken up at 4 pm. "They (BJP) know very well that they are 104. Still they are trying everything and anything to buy our MLAs. But, our MLAs are intact. Two of our MLAs are still not here, whenever they come they will surely support us," he told reporters. The leader of Congress in the Assembly Siddaramaiah issued the whip directing the duo, untraceable ever since the Assembly election results were declared on May 15, to come to the Vidhana Soudha, the seat of state legislature. The Congress said they sought police help to track the two so that the whip can be issued to them. Director General of Police Neelamani M Raju, along with Bengaluru police commissioner T Suneel Kumar, rushed to the hotel to trace them. The Congress suspected the presence of BJP's Ballari MLA G Somashekhara Reddy with its missing MLAs. Reddy is mining baron G Janardhana Reddy's brother. On police presence at the hotel, Congress leader H M Revanna said, "They (police) say the Supreme Court has directed the police to protect the members (of legislative assembly)." Lok Sabha member D K Suresh Kumar, who accompanied Revanna said, "we came here to do our duty."The Congress has been accusing the BJP of trying to lure away its MLAs to boost its numbers for the floor test in the Assembly. The Karnataka elections threw up a hung assembly with the BJP emerging as the single largest party with a tally of 104 seats but falling short of numbers. The Congress-JD(S) combine has staked the claim with the governor to form the government, saying they have 117 MLAs with them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three CPI(M) workers were arrested today in connection with the recent killing of a BJP worker in New Mahe near here, police said. The three were picked up from a lodge in Kozhikode district late last night and arrested this morning, they said. Shamij (40) was pulled out of his auto-rickshaw and hacked to death on May 7 by a six-member gang, hours after the killing of CPI(M) local leader Babu in adjacent Mahe, an enclave of Union Territory Puducherry. In total, there are eight accused in the case related to the killing of Shamji, police said, adding that a search was on for five others who are at large. The Puducherry Police had last week arrested three persons in connection with the killing of Babu and said the incident was a fallout of long-standing enmity between him and the accused. Tension gripped the area after the twin murder. Both the Kerala and the Puducherry police had deployed additional personnel in the area to prevent any further untoward incident. The killings shattered the four-month long lull in political violence involving workers of the ruling CPI(M), and the BJP and RSS workers in the Kannur region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today told students in Jammu that their real test would begin in a "big, open classroom" awaiting them outside their university, and asked them to set goals for 2022, when India celebrates 75 years of independence. Addressing the students at a convocation at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) here, Modi said: "I urge you to keep in mind 2022, and you and your university should set some goals for yourself." He said the university and the students should carve out a place for themselves in farm innovation, and added that goals will be important when India celebrates 75 years of freedom. He told students they "are awaiting a big, open classroom outside this university and that is where the real test lies." The prime minister, who was on a day-long visit to the state's three regions - Leh, Kashmir and Jammu, laid emphasis on development of agriculture and horticulture in the country. Modi said the introduction of technology is bringing new opportunities and called for the implementation of a "new culture" in the agriculture sector in the "changing times". He said his government at the Centre is encouraging technological intervention in farming. "As many 12 crore soil health cards were distributed in the country and 11 lakh farmers got this card in J&K," the prime minister said. He said "Per Drop More Crop" should be the mission. In the past four years, Modi said, nearly 24 lakh hectares of land was brought under the micro and sprinkler irrigation system and the Cabinet has sanctioned Rs 5,000 crore for it. He said the decisions are aimed at doubling the income of farmers. Modi told the university students that India expects them to deploy scientific approach, technological innovation and research towards the development of the agriculture sector. He also gave gold medals to five students at the convocation. Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra, the chancellor of the university, and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, the pro-chancellor, attended the hour-long ceremony. Pradeep K Sharma, the university's vice chancellor, said: "It is indeed a great occasion that the prime minister is visiting the campus for the sixth convocation and has accepted the request to be the chief guest which will have a long lasting influence on students of the university." A total of 444 degrees were conferred on candidates who had successfully completed their study programmes during the convocation, which began at 5 pm at Baba Jitto Auditorium in Chatha area. The SKUAST has been ranked 10th among all state agricultural universities in India in 2017-18. It was placed second in getting maximum numbers of ICAR-JRF fellowships in veterinary sciences for the year 2016-17. Sharma said the university has established a placement and counselling cell for developing soft skills in students. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Air Commodore S R Menon today assumed the command of Air Force Administrative College (AFAC) here. Menon took over charge from Air Commodore V P S Rana, who has been posted to the Headquarters Training Command in Bengaluru, an official release said. The handing and taking over of command was carried out in a solemn ceremony held at AFAC, it said. Before his new assignment, Menon had served at the Headquarters of South Western Air Command, Indian Air Force, the release added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has been honoured by European Union for strengthening Europe-India cultural ties. The 75-year-old actor took to Twitter to share the pictures from the award ceremony and thanked EU Ambassador Tomasz Kozlowski for bestowing him with the honour. "Thanks to #EU Ambassador Kozlowski @EU_Amb_India #EUIndiaEkSaath, for bestowing a prestigious award on me from the EU for being a bridge builder between India and Europe," Bachchan tweeted. Kozlowski responded to the actor's post on the microblogging site saying his films bring European cinema lovers close to the Indian culture. ? "Thank you @SrBachchan for celebrating with us Europe Day and European Year of Cultural Heritage. Your artistic accomplishments & contributions to Europe-India cultural ties are unique. You bring Indian culture closer to European film lovers. We honour you for that! @EU_in_India," Kozlowski wrote. Daughter Shweta accompanied Bachchan for the award ceremony. Bachchan, whose last release "102 Not Out", co-starring Rishi Kapoor, was well-received by critics as well as audiences, will next be seen in "Thugs of Hindostan". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP leader and Haryana Pradesh Veopar Mandal president Bajrang Dass Garg and his supporters today joined the Congress in the presence of former Union minister Kumari Selja here. Speaking to reporters, Garg expressed faith in the Congress and praised the party's policies. Rajya Sabha Congress MP Selja accused the BJP of trying to "eliminate" India's democratic system. Every section of society is "unhappy" with the BJP government, she claimed. "On one side, farmers are not getting right prices for their produce and on the other, traders are hit by the Goods and Services Tax. Every businessman is in trouble because of the anti-business policies," she alleged. The SC/ST Act has been diluted under a conspiracy by the BJP government, the Congress leader alleged. "That is why now, incidents of torture of Dalits have increased," she claimed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shortly after B S Yeddyurappa resigned as the chief minister, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying "he is corruption" as he authorised "buying" of MLAs and hoped the BJP-RSS learns a lesson from Karnataka. Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters soon after BJP's 3-day-old government fell, he said the opposition parties will unite in the coming times to defeat the BJP and the RSS. Training his guns on the prime minister, an aggressive Gandhi said Modi claims about fighting corruption "is a blatant lie" and accused him of not just promote corruption but being "corruption personified". "The idea that the prime minister spreads around this country that he is fighting corruption is a blatant lie. He is corruption, He is doing everything to subvert this nation and he is doing it across the board," he said. Gandhi alleged that there are phone conversations of MLAs being attempted to be purchased by the BJP, saying "that was directly authorised from Delhi". He said the people have seen "how the prime minister directly authorised the buying, purchasing of MLAs in Karnataka, from our party and from the JD(S)". "In the end, India's voice and democratic spirit will always triumph over tyranny," Gandhi later tweeted, saying 'satyamev jayate' (the truth shall prevail). Asked what his message was to the prime minister after the Karnataka defeat, the Congress chief said he should understand that he is not bigger than India, its people, the Supreme Court, the members of Parliament and the state Assembly. "The prime minister needs to stop thinking that he is bigger than every single institution in this country. The prime minister needs to understand that he has not only been chosen to lead this country, but also to respect the institutions of this country. "I am doubtful that the prime minister will understand that because he has been trained throughout his life by the RSS never to respect any other institution except the RSS. But that is the message that not me, but the people of Karnataka and the people of India have given to the prime minister," he said. The Congress leader said he was very proud that the opposition has stood together and defeated the BJP and "we will continue to do" it. "We will protect the voice of people in every state, wherever we feel the BJP is attacking people...The opposition will unite and coordinate and defeat the BJP...We are going to work with the opposition to defeat the BJP," he said. Noting that he is not a casteist and does not believe in untouchability, Gandhi said the Congress, along with the opposition, will continue to fight the BJP-RSS. He claimed that everybody in this country knows that the prime minister's model of leadership is not that of a democratic person. "It is that of a dictator. Everybody knows that. You know, I know that. The Supreme Court knows that. Even the prime minister knows that." Asked whether he supports the demand for resignation of Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala, he said the bigger issue is that there is no institution in this country that is "immune from the assault of the RSS". "The governor, with all due respect, has no choice. Even if you were to say, make the governor resign and replace him, the new man will also behave as this man behaves. It is because he has no power any more. The power is now completely controlled by the prime minister and by the RSS. "So yes, it's a good idea if he resigns, but I can guarantee you that under the BJP rule the next man will do exactly the same thing. That's the point," he said. Gandhi accused the BJP-RSS of disrespecting every institution in the country and the mandate of the people and cited the example of the BJP MLAs and the Speaker in Karnataka choosing to leave the House before the national anthem was played. He said the BJP-RSS was "rubbishing" every single institution in this country and disrespecting anybody simply because they happen to be in power. "This is something that the BJP and the RSS do again and again and again. There is no institution in this country that is worthy of the respect of the prime minister, (BJP chief) Amit Shah and the RSS and they believe that every single institution can be destroyed and stepped upon by them. "They disrespected the mandate of the people of Karnataka...I am very proud to say that they have been shown that in India power is not everything, in India money is not everything, in India corruption is not everything, in India the will of the people is everything," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Miscreants hurled bombs at a police control room (PCR) van and injured a home guard in Kurunti village under Cuttack Sadar area in Odisha, police said. Cuttack Deputy Commissioner of Police Akhileswar Singh told newsmen that miscreants had demanded extortion money from a local contractor, who had refused to pay and informed the police about it. When the police team reached the village to investigate the matter yesterday it was attacked. "Seeing the PCR van near the contractors house, some miscreants hurled bombs at it. A bomb hit the rear of the van and exploded breaking its glass. A home guard received minor injury in the incident but is now normal after undergoing treatment," Singh said. adding the miscreants have been identified. The miscreants have been identified and two persons have been detained at Cuttack Sadar police station and are being questioned, a senior police official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BRICS ministerial on has agreed to include "Green Good Deeds", a societal movement to protect and promote good living, in its official agenda in the next ministerials of the grouping in Brazil and Russia, an official statement said today. Earlier this year, Minister Harsh Vardhan had launched the nationwide social movement to protect the environment and promote healthy living. The environment minister had drawn up a list of over 500 'green good deeds' and asked people to alter their behaviour to green good behaviour to fulfil their green social responsibility. These small positive actions to be performed by individuals or organisations to strengthen the cause of environmental protection, were put on a mobile application named Dr Harsh Vardhan App. BRICS comprises of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. "Green Good Deeds, the societal movement launched by Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan to protect environment and promote good living has found acceptance by the global community. "Harsh Vardan at the ongoing 4th BRICS Environment Ministerial in Durban, South Africa had urged the BRICS nations to jointly help in development of a social movement to fight for the protection and conservation of environment. "The BRICS Ministerial on Environment has agreed to include 'Green Good Deeds' in its official agenda in the next Ministerial in Brazil and another meeting in Russia said Harsh Vardhan," an official statement said. The minister had formally launched the nation-wide campaign in January 2018. He enlisted the cooperation of thousands of people students, teachers, voluntary organisations, Residents Welfare Associations, professionals to adopt these deeds. Earlier in his opening remarks at the Ministerial in Durban, Harsh Vardhan had urged the grouping to jointly work for developing a movement around Green Good Deeds. "I urge upon the BRICS countries to jointly help in development of a social movement which could be emulated by the rest of the world, Dr Harsh Vardhan told the ministerial delegations from the 5-nation grouping. There was wide acceptance to the suggestion and UN Environment Programme representative at the conclave Jorge Laguna Celis, acting Deputy Executive Director lauded the initiative. In India, we are trying to develop a societal movement of Green Good Deeds, which are small positive actions to be performed by individuals or organisations to strengthen the cause of environmental protection, Harsh Vardhan told the Ministerial. Reacting to the adoption of Green Good Deeds by BRICS Ministerial on Environment, Harsh Vardhan said, international conferences on Environment had been deliberating and adopting declarations. But he wondered how these declarations could be put to practice at the ground level, involving every section of the society. Green Good Deeds is an idea to take it to the people and get them involved, said Dr Harsh Vardhan, according to the statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Catalonia's new president Quim Torra today named two former ministers, jailed by Madrid for backing independence from Spain, together with two others who fled into exile, to his regional government. Torra appointed his government by decree, but it could still be blocked by Spain, which has insisted his administration be "legal and viable" after it imposed direct rule on the region in October when the then Catalan government declared independence. Torra -- who was elected by the Catalan parliament on Monday and sworn in on Thursday -- named 13 "advisors" to his government, including Jordi Turull and Josep Rull who are currently being held in custody just outside Madrid. Two others, Toni Comin and Lluis Puig, are in exile in Belgium, where they fled with deposed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont. Turull and Rull both accepted their nominations on Twitter. Their lawyers have asked for both to be freed provisionally so they can take up their duties from Wednesday. The appointment of Torra as Catalan leader marks the end of nearly seven months of political limbo in the northeastern Spanish region, which has been under direct rule from Madrid since the central government deposed Puigdemont following a failed declaration of independence on October 27. Puigdemont is currently in Berlin awaiting potential extradition to Spain, where he faces jail on charges of rebellion and misuse of public funds. Torra, a 55-year-old editor who has long campaigned for independence and was handpicked by Puigdemont, described himself as a "caretaker president" who considers Puigdemont as the "legitimate" leader. In a brief swearing-in ceremony on Thursday, Torra promised to "loyally fulfil the duties of the post of regional president being faithful to the will of the Catalan people represented by the Catalan parliament." But he did not promise to obey the Spanish Constitution nor the statute that regulates Catalonia's autonomy. He appeared flanked only by a Catalan flag, without the traditional Spanish flag and portrait of the king that protocol states must be present, in a small side-room of the regional government building in Barcelona. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China has for the first time landed strategic bombers on an island in the disputed South China Sea, drawing sharp reaction from the which said that the move will "raise tensions and destabilise the region". China's air force said that its fighter jets, including an H-6K bomber, had recently conducted take-off and landing training on an island reef in the resource-rich (SCS). The training had elevated the air force's abilities of "reaching its full territory, assaulting in full time and space, and striking in full scope", the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted the People's Liberation Air Force (PLAF) as saying. Wang Minliang, a military expert, was quoted as saying that the bombers' take-off and landing training was "beneficial to enhance the real combat ability against all kinds of security threats in the sea". People's Daily, the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper, yesterday posted a video on its Twitter account featuring a series of the H-6K's training programmes, including take-off, landing and flying. Chinese bombers including the H-6K conduct takeoff and landing training on an island reef at a southern sea area pic.twitter.com/ASY9tGhfAU People's Daily,China (@PDChina) May 18, 2018 The Chinese move invoked sharp reaction from the which said that it will "raise tensions and destabilise the region". A spokesman at the Pentagon, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Logan, called the exercise an act of "China's continued militarisation of disputed features in the South China Sea", the Post report said. Bonnie Glaser, a China security expert at the Centre for Strategic and Studies in Washington, said the location of the H-6K landing was believed to be Woody Island Yongxing island in Chinese on which China's Sansha city government is located. China had established Sansha City, a prefecture-level city of Hainan Province, in 2012 to administer the islands identified by China as Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha island groups and their surrounding waters. "I believe this is the first time a bomber has landed in the No doubt the H-6K will soon land on an island in Spratly (Islands) since hangers there are built to accommodate bombers," the Post quoted Glaser as saying. In early May, the said that it was prepared to take measures against militarisation of the South China Sea, after Beijing reportedly installed new missiles on outposts in the Spratly Islands known in China as the Nansha Islands that are also claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines. China claims almost all of the South China Sea but Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims. The US is periodically deploying its naval ships and fighter planes to assert freedom of navigation. China will ramp up its purchase of US goods to reduce its massive trade imbalance with the United States, the two countries said in a joint statement at the conclusion of the latest round of high-level trade talks between them. The two sides also agreed on "meaningful increases" in United States agriculture and energy exports. The US will send a team to China to work out the details, the joint statement at the conclusion of the trade delegation level talks between the two countries on May 17 and 18, stated. "There was a consensus on taking effective measures to substantially reduce the United States trade deficit in goods with China. To meet the growing consumption needs of the Chinese people and the need for high-quality economic development, China will significantly increase purchases of United States goods and services," the joint statement said. This will help support growth and employment in the United States, it said. The United States delegation included Secretary of the Treasury Steven T Mnuchin, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross, and United States Trade Representative Robert E. Lighthizer. The Chinese delegation was led by State Council Vice Premier Liu He, Special Envoy of President Xi. The delegations also discussed expanding trade in manufactured goods and services. There was consensus on the need to create favourable conditions to increase trade in these areas. "Both sides attach paramount importance to intellectual property protections, and agreed to strengthen cooperation. China will advance relevant amendments to its laws and regulations in this area, including the Patent Law," the joint statement said. The two trade delegations agreed to encourage two-way investment and to strive to create a fair, level playing field for competition. "Both sides agreed to continue to engage at high levels on these issues and to seek to resolve their economic and trade concerns in a proactive manner," said the joint statement. The opposition Democratic Party criticised the Trump Administration for "having failed to make much progress in trade disputes with China". Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the trade agreement had a glaring hole in lack of a "specific agreement" on protecting America's intellectual property in China. " The key to a strong agreement is protecting our intellectual property here in America and stopping the Chinese from keeping out our best goods until we hand over our trade secrets and know how in such things as required joint ventures," Schumer said, adding that the the joint statement lacked anything specific on those fronts. "Furthermore, there is no mention of ZTE. If the administration capitulates on ZTE and allows it to continue to exist, even if they are fined - they've been fined once already - that will signal to President Xi that we are weak negotiators," Schumer alleged. Last month, the US Commerce Department moved to block the ZTE Corp., a major supplier of telecoms networks and smartphones based in China, from importing American components for seven years, accusing it of misleading American regulators after the company settled charges of violating sanctions against North Korea and Iran. In a surprising move, President Trump said he would help the Chinese telecommunications company get "back into business. In a report 'The Wall Street Journal' said the Trump administration failed to get China to accept its demand for a USD 200 billion cut in the US bilateral trade deficit. "Chinese officials resisted committing to any specific targets after two days of contentious negotiation," the US daily said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Final results from Iraq's election confirmed today that an alliance spearheaded by populist cleric Moqtada Sadr has triumphed, but the fiery preacher faces a huge task to form a governing coalition. Sadr's Marching Towards Reform bloc won 54 of the 329 seats in parliament in a major upset at a May 12 vote that saw a record level of abstentions as Iraqis turned their back on a widely reviled elite. The nationalist -- whose Shiite militia battled US troops after the 2003 invasion -- faces a deeply fragmented political landscape and opposition from key player Iran after he called for foreign influence in Iraq to be cut. Sadr, who has reinvented himself as an anti-corruption crusader in an alliance with secular leftists, is looking to be the kingmaker and oversee the formation of a cross-sectarian, technocrat government from some dozen parties. But negotiations -- which tentatively began after the vote -- look set to drag out and it remains far from certain that Sadr's group will claim power after the first vote since the defeat of the Islamic State group. Poised in second place with some 47 seats is the pro-Iranian Conquest Alliance made up of ex-fighters from mainly Shiite paramilitary units that battled IS. The Victory Alliance bloc of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who hoped voters would reward him for seeing off the jihadists, performed worse than expected and was back in third place on 42 seats. Sadr declared on Twitter that the results showed "reform has won and corruption is weakened," but he faces a tricky regional context as he begins coalition negotiations. Writing in The Washington Post Friday, premier Abadi insisted his government would do "all it can to ensure that the transition to the next government is conducted in a stable and transparent manner". He called for "dialogue" to create a new government that "must be demonstrably non-elitist (and) representative of the people rather than dominated by one side or denomination". Abadi -- who came to power in 2014 as IS rampaged across Iraq -- has balanced off rivals the US and Iran and could still remain in position as a consensus candidate. The protracted horse-trading comes at a time of high tensions after Washington's withdrawal from a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran and fears of a tug-of-war over Iraq. Even before Sadr's victory was confirmed, Iran had already been convening meetings to try to block him from forming a government. Iran dispatched the powerful general Qassem Soleimani to Baghdad, who has met with several members of Iraq's old guard including Abadi and his predecessor Nuri al-Maliki. According to officials, Soleimani has ruled out any alliance with Sadr, who surprised many last year by visiting Iran's regional foe Saudi Arabia as Riyadh seeks increased involvement in Iraq. Soleimani's shuttle diplomacy is aimed at gathering enough parties opposed to Sadr to deny his alliance a governable majority and a route to the powerful position of prime minister -- though Sadr himself says he is not in the running for the top job. The US, which still has thousands of troops in Iraq from the fight against IS, is also looking to push its interests after the vote. Washington envoy Brett McGurk has been meeting with leading politicians in both Baghdad and the autonomous Kurdistan region to the north. Attracting the Kurds and the marginalised Sunni community will prove important for anyone seeking to come to power, as Iraq looks to carry out the mammoth task of rebuilding after the defeat of IS. Sadr "will probably try to form a large coalition, including Shiite parties, potentially involving the list of Abadi, and the Sunnis and Kurds", said Raphaele Auberty, an analyst at London-based BMI research. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Warning corrupt government officials of stringent action, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said they are being paid decent salaries and should learn to live within their means. "If government officials accept bribes, they will face stringent action. A few among them are bringing a bad name to the entire government machinery. They are being given decent salaries and should learn to live within their means,"he said. He was addressing a gathering here after launching the automated intelligence building application software 'Suvega', powered by 'DIGIT DCR'. DIGIT DCR is one of the components of DIGIT (Digital Infrastructure for Governance Impact and Transformation) platform developed by 'eGovernments Foundation',a Bengaluru based NGO, which drives urban transformation. Speaking on the occassion, Viraj Tyagi, CEO of the NGO said DIGIT DCR, launched in Kerala for the first time, was in line with Kerala's broader IT mission to be on top in digitalisation. "It is also an end-to-end citizen-friendly solution as the plan can be uploaded to receive real-time compliance assessment and solution and progress can be tracked," he said. eGoverments Foundation was in talks with the Centre to deploy 'DIGIT' as the default national urban governance platform. "By 2020, we aim to deploy DIGIT across 2,000 urban local bodies in the country," Tyagi said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A special session of the Karnataka Assembly began this morning with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa set to take the floor test that would determine the fate of his three-day old government. The session started with the singing of the national song, Vande Mataram, following which Pro-Tem Speaker K G Bopaiah welcomed and congratulated the members elected to the 15th Assembly and started administering the oath to them. Earlier, the Supreme Court, hearing Congress-JD(S) combine's petition challenging the appointment of Bopaiah as pro-tem speaker by Governor Vajubhai Vala, ordered live telecast of proceedings of the floor test, slated for 4 PM. Recording the statement of Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the BJP-led Karnataka government and the governor, that there would be live telecast, the court said it was not necessary to go into all the prayers of the petitioners. The Congress-JD(S) combine in its petition has contended that the appointment of Bopaiah was contrary to the tradition of choosing the senior-most legislator for the post. In the Assembly, Bopaiah read out the procedures to be followed during the oath taking of the members. Yeddyurappa took the oath first, followed by Congress Legislature Party leader and his predecessor Siddaramaiah. Then the other members started taking oath in batches of five one after the other. The floor test is scheduled for 4 PM as per the Supreme Court's yesterday order that drastically reduced the 15-day window given by the governor to Yeddyurappa to prove majority. Elections held on May 12 to 222 of the state's 224 seats have resulted in a hung assembly with the BJP having 104 MLAs, while the Congress won 78 seats and JD(S) 37. Polling in two seats will be held later. The Congress-JD(S) combine has claimed the support of 117 MLAs, including one each from the BSP and the KPJP, and one Independent. The JD(S)'s effective strength will be 36 at the time of voting, as its leader H D Kumaraswamy has won from two seats. This will also reduce the strength of the House to 221 and the BJP will require 111 votes for a simple majority. At about 4 PM, Yeddyurappa is expected to move the motion seeking vote of confidence, after which voting will take place. Earlier, Congress and JD(S) MLAs who were camping at a hotel in Hyderabad, fearing alleged attempts of poaching by the BJP, came back to the city this morning. As per the apex court's directions, the police have made massive security arrangements in and around the Vidhana Soudha, the seat of the state legislature, for the smooth conduct of the floor test. Public entry to the Vidhana Soudha has been restricted, and officials and staff of the Secretariat are being allowed to enter the premises after thorough checks. Yeddurappa was sworn in as chief minister on May 17, two days after the results were declared and the governor accepted his claim to form government. The decision was challenged in the Supreme Court by the Congress and the JD (S) and passing interim orders on their petition, the court yesterday directed that the floor test be conducted today. Yeddyurappa has asserted that he has "100 per cent confidence" that he would prove his majority in the Assembly. With the BJP having only 104 MLAs, it remains to be seen how the party will rustle up the numbers and prove majority. Reports suggested that the BJP has reached out to Congress and JD(S) MLAs, who are unhappy over coming together of their parties for power, to abstain from attending the House today. The other plan is to ensure that at least seven MLAs cross vote in BJP's favour. Congress-JD(S) made the legal challenge against Bopaiah's choice as pro-tem speaker contending that the governor's action in appointing "a junior MLA" was "brazenly unconstitutional". A four-time MLA, Bopaiah was the Karnataka Assembly speaker from 2009 to 2013 and had disqualified 16 MLAs and bailed out the then Yeddyurappa government ahead of a no-confidence vote in 2010. The Supreme Court in 2011 had quashed Bopaiah's order disqualifying the 16 MLAs ahead of a no confidence motion which had ensured survival of the government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress will chalk out its strategy and power-sharing arrangement with the JD(S) in Karnataka tomorrow, when its top leaders will hold discussions with party chief Rahul Gandhi in the national capital, ahead of the swearing-in of H D Kumaraswamy as the chief minister of the southern state. According to sources, senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot will arrive in Delhi tomorrow morning and hold discussions with Gandhi, before finalising the power-sharing arrangement with the JD(S) in the Karnataka government. The two leaders were stationed in Bengaluru to steer the party's strategy ahead of the floor test in the Karnataka Assembly today. The BJP's B S Yeddyurappa, however, resigned as the Karnataka chief minister without taking the floor test. "Everything will be decided in Delhi tomorrow, when the top leaders of the party will hold discussions with Rahul Gandhi," a Congress leader said. The Congress has extended support to the JD(S) to form a government in the southern state under a power-sharing agreement. While Kumaraswamy will be the chief minister, the deputy chief minister is expected to be from the Congress and a Dalit is likely to be appointed to the post. The Congress has 78 MLAs in the 224-member House and the JD(S) has 37. The H D Deve Gowda-led party had a pre-poll tie-up with the BSP, which has one MLA. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The famous dabbawalas in Mumbai distributed sweets among the relatives of patients undergoing treatment in government-run hospitals here today to celebrate the wedding of Prince Harry of the British royal family and former actress Meghan Markle. The dabbawalas ferry tiffins of home-cooked food to thousands of office-goers in the city every day. Mumbai Dabbawala Association runs a 'Roti Bank', through which free-of-cost food is provided to the relatives of patients undergoing treatment at the government-run Tata Memorial Hospital, KEM Hospital and Wadia Hospital. "Today, along with the regular food, we distributed sweets to them. Though we were not invited (for the wedding), this was our way of expressing our happiness on the occasion," Subhash Talekar, spokesperson of the association said. The relationship of Mumbai's dabbawalas and the royal family dates back to 2003, when Prince Charles had come on his maiden visit to Mumbai. He had then met the dabbawalas and had lauded their work acumen, accuracy and punctuality, and was impressed with their work culture. "We have an emotional bond with the British royal family. Prince Charles had invited us for his wedding some years ago. The royal family treated us with a lot of respect when we attended the wedding," Talekar said. According to him, the dabbawalas have also sent a salwar kurta and a "pheta" (turban) for Prince Harry and a Paithani saree for Meghan Markle. Some five thousand dabbawalas deliver around two lakh lunch boxes to offices in Mumbai every day. They are known for their flawless delivery system, which has been studied by global management experts. Harry (33), fifth-in-line to the British throne, and Markle (36) are set to get married in a ceremony at St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle today. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A sessions court has rejected the bail plea of 34 accused, including BSP district president Kamal Gautam and Bhim Sena district chief Upkar Bavra, in connection with the violence during the 'Bharat Bandh' on April 2. Turning down the bail plea, Additional District Sessions Judge Gaurav Srivastava said there was no case of bail. According to the government's lawyer Jitender Tyagi, the police had registered a number of cases against the accused under different sections relating to violence and rioting. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader was arrested on April 5, while Bavra surrendered in a court in Muzaffarnagar on April 13. Both were sent to judicial custody. The stringent National Security Act has been invoked against Bavra. Dalit groups had called for a 'Bharat Bandh' on April 2 to protest the Supreme Court order that they claimed diluted the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former diplomat Madhuri Gupta, who had served at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, was today sentenced to three years in jail by a Delhi court which convicted her for passing on sensitive information to Pakistan's ISI. Additional Sessions Judge Sidharth Sharma gave her the maximum sentence for the offences of spying and wrongful communication of information protected under the law. Gupta, who was the Second Secretary (Press & Information) at the high commission, was held guilty yesterday under various provisions of the Official Secrets (OS) Act. She has been granted bail by the court to allow to appeal against the conviction and the sentence. While convicting her, the court had said that the e-mails "passed on by the accused were categorically sensitive information which could have been useful to the enemy country... and its secrecy was of utmost importance". Gupta was convicted under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act which attract a maximum sentence of three years and fine or both. She was arrested on April 22, 2010 by the special cell of the Delhi Police for allegedly passing on sensitive information to Pakistani officials and remaining in touch with two ISI officials, Mubshar Raza Rana and Jamshed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indus Dolphin, one of the world's rarest mammals, has not been sighted in Beas river ever since molasses from a sugar factory leaked into it, leaving a large number of fish dead, officials said today. About 40 sq km area from Goindwal Sahib to Harike is the natural habitat of the critically endangered dolphins which are found only in India and Pakistan. The officials said there was considerable damage to the aquatic life after molasses from a sugar factory leaked into the river in Beas town, about 40 km from Amritsar, on May 17. "We have been searching for dolphins in Beas river but they have not been sighted yet by our teams which have been looking for them after the incident," Punjab Chief Wildlife Warden Kuldeep Kumar said today. Around 30 members of the World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF) along with teams of district forest officials have been searching for dolphins in Beas. The visibility was also low because the water had turned rusty brown due to pollutants. "We are hoping that dolphins may have survived," Kumar said. According to the latest census, there were between six to 12 Indus dolphins in Punjab. The strength of Indus Dolphins in Pakistan is estimated be around 1,800, said Kumar. Meanwhile, gharials remained unaffected after the spill, the official said. "Gharials are safe. We have spotted around 16 of them in upstream of Beas river," said Kumar, adding that he strength of Gharials is estimated to be 47. "There has been considerable damage to aquatic fauna because of molasses getting spilled into the river," said Kumar. Tonnes of fish died because of reduced oxygen level in the water, he said. "Even the fish seeds (fertilised eggs) have also damaged in this incident," he said. As many as eight to ten varieties of fish, including cat fish, common carp, died because of pollutants in the river, he said. Meanwhile, fish continued to die as water containing pollutants reached Tarn Taran and Ferozepur districts, he said. "Yesterday, water mixed with molasses reached Rajasthan feeder canal. An alert was issued to villagers not to use canal water for drinking purposes," Kumar said. However, he said the situation has improved to a large extent in Beas following the release of fresh water. The Punjab government yesterday ordered the seizure of security deposit worth Rs 25 lakh of the sugar factory. It had ordered the sealing of the Chaddha Sugar Mill of Kirri Afgana in Gurdaspur from where molasses leaked into the Beas and caused the death of fish. A probe was ordered into the incident and the report of which would be submitted within three days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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 Ethiopia says more than 1,000 of its citizens will be released from detention centers in Saudi Arabia after a request by new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a visit to Riyadh. Ethiopia's state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate quotes government spokesman Ahmed Shide as saying the release will start Saturday. Saudi Arabia began mass deportations of illegal migrants, including tens of thousands of Ethiopians and Somalis, in November after several months of warnings. Saudi authorities have said the kingdom detained around 250,000 people violating its residency laws in a crackdown. An estimated 400,000 Ethiopian migrants were believed to be living in Saudi Arabia as of late last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Every stone and weapon raised by misguided youths destabilises Jammu and Kashmir and the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said asking the people of state to make efforts to come out of this instability. The prime minister, who is on his first visit to the state after announcing suspension of anti-militancy operations during holy month of Ramzan, said there are foreign powers at play in the state which do not want development of Jammu and Kashmir. Every stone, every weapon, raised by misguided youths destabilises their own Jammu and Kashmir. The state will have to come out of this atmosphere of instability, he said. Modi said the youths need to join mainstream development of India and of Kashmir for their future and that of coming generation. He said the central and the state government have policy, intent and capability to take decisions to solve development issues of the state. "I would urge everyone to channelise their energies in the development of the state. The solution to every problem is only development, development, development," he said. The prime minister dedicated to the nation the 330-MW Kishenganga Power Project constructed in the Gurez area of Kashmir. Modi also laid the foundation stone for the Srinagar Ring Road at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) Srinagar. The 42.1-Km, four-lane Srinagar Ring Road will link Galandar in West Srinagar to Sumbal in Badnipora district. The Ring Road in Srinagar is aimed at reducing traffic congestion in these cities and making road travel safer, faster, more convenient and more environment friendly. "Not a single year has passed since I took over as the prime minister when I did not visit the state," he said. The prime minister said this month is to remember Prophet Mohammad's teaching and message. "The lessons of equality and brotherhood from his life can take country and the world forward in true sense," he said. The prime minister said it was a happy coincidence that the ceremony for handing over the project is taking place in the month of Ramzan. "The project will not only provide free but also sufficient power to the state. A large portion of power requirements of the state are supplied from other parts of the country. This 330 MW project will solve the shortage of power issue to a considerable extent," he said. The prime minister said the government is trying to provide power to every house in the state under the Saubhagya scheme. He said an important part of Jammu and Kashmir's development is tourism but it cannot run on old methods. "The tourists now want facilities. They do not want to be stuck in narrow lanes for hours. They want continuous power supply, they want hygiene. Better air connectivity," he said, adding that the government was working for a modern ecosystem that is required for the development of tourism. "There will be an increase in tourists in J and K with stronger ecosystem. The youths of the state will get new employment opportunity with it," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former diplomat Madhuri Gupta, who had served at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, was today sentenced to three years in jail for passing on sensitive information to Pakistan's ISI, with a Delhi court saying her actions caused a "severe security threat". Additional Sessions Judge Sidharth Sharma gave her the maximum sentence for the offences of spying and wrongful communication of information protected under the law, observing that an educated woman like her did not deserve any leniency. Sixty-one-year-old Gupta, who was the Second Secretary (Press & Information) at the high commission from 2007 till her arrest on April 22, 2010 during a visit here, was held guilty yesterday under various provisions of the Official Secrets (OS) Act. After passing the sentence, the court granted bail to Gupta to allow her to appeal against the conviction and the sentence. She was suspected by Indian intelligence agencies of spying for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence since 2008. According to the prosecution, the Ministry of External Affairs had received information that Gupta had been maintaining unauthorised contacts with Pakistani intelligence officials and was passing on sensitive official information personally as well as through electronic means from her computer at her office and residence in Islamabad. The prosecution had stated that she passed on the information to the ISI handlers through her e-mail account from October 2009 to April 2010. The court said that Gupta was a modern educated woman who had served in different embassies and at the time of the offence, she was posted in a very sensitive position in the high commission. "Undoubtedly, from a person of her stature, it was expected that she would act in a more responsible manner than an ordinary citizen as she was at a high position of trust but her actions tarnished the image of the country and has caused severe threat to the security of the country. "Therefore, she does not deserve any leniency in punishment," the court said. While convicting her, the court had said that the e-mails "passed on by the accused were categorically sensitive information which could have been useful to the enemy country... and its secrecy was of utmost importance". Gupta was convicted under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act which attract a maximum sentence of three years and fine or both. She had sought leniency from the court on the ground that she was a senior citizen, a single woman and was a victim of circumstances. Public prosecutor Irfan Ahmed had opposed her submissions stating that she was an educated woman and was holding an important position and that it was not expected from a person of her stature to be involved in such activities. He had said that she understood the consequences of her act. Gupta was arrested on April 22, 2010 by the special cell of the Delhi Police on the charge of passing on sensitive information to Pakistani officials and remaining in touch with two ISI officials, Mubshar Raza Rana and Jamshed. While convicting Gupta, the court had observed that in one of the e-mails, she had promised to collect information regarding hydroelectric power projects in Jammu and Kashmir which could have had a serious repercussion on the country's security. "It is seen that the accused was unable to give such information but her intention of passing on such information and her going to Jammu after giving the false excuse of attending marriage points out her intention of helping the enemy country. "She had been giving information regarding various postings of officers of defence, MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) and HCI (High Commission of India) as well as their family particulars, which could have caused danger to the life and security to said officers and their family," the court had said. It had also noted that various electronic gadgets, including laptops and Blackberry mobile phones which were purchased in her name, contained e-mails sent to various ISI handlers. The court had convicted Gupta for the offences under "second part" of sections 3(1)(c) (obtaining, publishing or communicating to any person any secret official information which is useful to an enemy) and 3 (wrongful communication of information) of the OS Act and section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code. It, however, had absolved her from the "first part" of Section 3(1)(c) of the OS Act that attracts a maximum punishment of 14 years, holding that none of the information divulged by her pertained to any work of defence or to the naval, military or air force or affairs of the government. Gupta had denied the incriminating evidence against her and had stated that she was innocent and was falsely implicated in the case by the officials of the high commission and the MEA with whom she had strained or frosty relations, in connivance with police officials in Delhi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The three-day-old BJP government in Karnataka collapsed today, minutes before the scheduled trust vote, with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa resigning in a tame anticlimax to what promised to be on the edge of seat political thriller. With defeat staring him in the face, Yeddyurappa announced his decision to quit on the floor of the Assembly after a brief emotion-laden speech. Hours later, H D Kumaraswamy, the chief ministerial candidate of the newly formed JS(S)-Congress-BSP alliance, met Governor Vajubhai Vala, and said he has been invited to form the government. "Today, the BJP government failed to show their strength in the House. On that basis governor invited me to form the next government," Kumaraswamy told journalists. The 58-year-old leader, son of JD(S) supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, said the governor gave him 15 days to prove his majority, but asserted "we don't need 15 days". The oath ceremony, he said, will be held between noon and 1 pm on Monday. Though Yeddyurappa kept exuding confidence about winning the trust vote, as the D-day loomed he failed to muster support of 7 additional MLAs required to ensure the longevity of his government. "I am going to resign as chief minister....I will go to Raj Bhavan and submit my resignation. "I will not face confidence vote....I am going to resign," he told the Assembly at the end of a brief emotional speech, and headed straight to the Raj Bhavan where he handed over his resignation to Governor Vajubhai Vala. The 75-year-old Lingayat stalwart's resignation will pave the way for formation of a government led by JD(S) state chief H D Kumaraswamy, who has the backing of the Congress. The newly formed alliance has claimed support of 117 MLAs in the 224-member House with an effective strength of 221. The political instability in the state stemmed from a split verdict the electorate gave on May 15, with the BJP emerging as the single-largest party but falling short of a majority. The Congress, which finished second with 78 seats, moved swiftly and stitched an alliance with 37-member JD(S), and even backed its leader H D Kumaraswamy for chief ministership, plunging the state into a welter of confusion, with accusations of bribery and poaching flying thick and fast. Amid allegations of poaching attempts by the BJP, the Congress herded its MLAs at a resort outside Bengaluru, while those of the JD(S) hunkered down in a hotel in the state capital. They were later shifted to a hotel in Hyderabad and returned only after the Supreme Court yesterday ordered a floor test on a Congress-JD(S) petition. As things grew murkier, the Congress released audio tape where Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa was purportedly heard trying to lure an MLA with the promise of a ministerial berth if he backed the BJP government during the trust vote. There were allegations that Congress MLA Anand Singh was "abducted" by the BJP, but he turned up at the Vidhana Sauda minutes before Yeddyurappa began his speech. He was seen shaking hands with fellow Congress members and then sat with them. An emotional Yeddyurappa gave enough indications of his resignation during his speech when he said,"I have seen the struggle of farmers, gave land to them, wiped their tears. I wanted to waive their loans up to Rs 1 lakh...but..." He recalled his struggles as a politician, and said how he helped build the party, which once had just two MLAs. Now it has 104, he said. "I went to the houses of poor, stayed with them. I have faced trial by fire all my life, but I will serve my people till my last breath," Yeddyurappa said, his voice choking as he fought back tears. Regaining composure, Yeddyurappa said he would now travel across Karnataka and ensure the party won all 28 seats of the state in the Lok Sabha elections and 156 in the next Assembly polls. The 8-term MLA and twice an MP, Yeddyurappa then announced his decision to step down. Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who along with several top party leaders were present during the floor test, thanked the judiciary for preventing "horse-trading" and "protecting the Constitution, democracy and rule of law". Azad said the governor gave 15 days time to Yeddyurappa as he was convinced he lacked the support of MLAs required to clear the floor test. "The governor gave them two weeks for breaking our parties....for horse-trading," he said. He said the alliance was now waiting for an invitation from the governor to form the government. It was Yeddyurappa's shortest stint in power. He became the chief minister for the first time for seven days in 2007, but his government collapsed as the JD(S) reneged on honouring a power sharing arrangement and withdrew support. He became the chief minister for a second time when the BJP formed its first government in Karnataka in 2008. Yeddyurappa was at the helm of the state for over three years before he was made to quit follwong indictment by the Lokayukta in an alleged mining scam. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The three-day-old BJP government in Karnataka collapsed today, minutes before the scheduled trust vote, with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa resigning in a tame anticlimax to what promised to be on the edge of seat political thriller. With defeat staring him in the face, Yeddyurappa announced his decision to quit on the floor of the Assembly after a brief emotion-laden speech. Hours later, H D Kumaraswamy, the chief ministerial candidate of the newly formed JS(S)-Congress-BSP alliance, met Governor Vajubhai Vala, and said he has been invited to form the government. "Today, the BJP government failed to show their strength in the House. On that basis governor invited me to form the next government," Kumaraswamy told journalists. The 58-year-old leader, son of JD(S) supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, said the governor gave him 15 days to prove his majority, but asserted "we don't need 15 days". After meeting the governor, Kumaraswamy had said the swearing-in ceremony would take place tentatively between 12 and 1.50 pm at Kanteerava stadium on May 21. However, Kumaraswamy later in the evening said the swearing-in would be held on May 23 as May 21 happens to be the death anniversary of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, and therefore it would not be appropriate to hold the ceremony on that date. Rajiv Gandhi was killed in a suicide bombing in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, in 1991. Though Yeddyurappa kept exuding confidence about winning the trust vote, as the D-day loomed he failed to muster support of 7 additional MLAs required to ensure the longevity of his government. "I am going to resign as chief minister... I will go to Raj Bhavan and submit my resignation. "I will not face confidence vote... I am going to resign," he told the Assembly at the end of a brief emotional speech, and headed straight to the Raj Bhavan where he handed over his resignation to Governor Vala. The 75-year-old Lingayat stalwart's resignation will pave the way for formation of a government led by JD(S) state chief Kumaraswamy, who has the backing of the Congress. The newly-formed alliance has claimed support of 117 MLAs in the 224-member House with an effective strength of 221. The political instability in the state stemmed from a split verdict the electorate gave on May 15, with the BJP emerging as the single-largest party but falling short of a majority. The Congress, which finished second with 78 seats, moved swiftly and stitched an alliance with 37-member JD(S), and even backed its leader H D Kumaraswamy for chief ministership, plunging the state into a welter of confusion, with accusations of bribery and poaching flying thick and fast. Amid allegations of poaching attempts by the BJP, the Congress herded its MLAs at a resort outside Bengaluru, while those of the JD(S) hunkered down in a hotel in the state capital. They were later shifted to a hotel in Hyderabad and returned only after the Supreme Court yesterday ordered a floor test on a Congress-JD(S) petition. As things grew murkier, the Congress released audio tape where Chief Minister Yeddyurappa was purportedly heard trying to lure an MLA with the promise of a ministerial berth if he backed the BJP government during the trust vote. There were allegations that Congress MLA Anand Singh was "abducted" by the BJP, but he turned up at the Vidhana Sauda minutes before Yeddyurappa began his speech. He was seen shaking hands with fellow Congress members and then sat with them. An emotional Yeddyurappa gave enough indications of his resignation during his speech when he said, "I have seen the struggle of farmers, gave land to them, wiped their tears. I wanted to waive their loans up to Rs 1 lakh... but..." He recalled his struggles as a politician, and said how he helped build the party, which once had just two MLAs. Now it has 104, he said. "I went to the houses of the poor, stayed with them. I have faced trial by fire all my life, but I will serve my people till my last breath," Yeddyurappa said, his voice choking as he fought back tears. Regaining composure, Yeddyurappa said he would now travel across Karnataka and ensure the party won all 28 seats of the state in the Lok Sabha elections and 156 in the next Assembly polls. The 8-term MLA and twice an MP, Yeddyurappa then announced his decision to step down. Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who along with several top party leaders were present during the floor test, thanked the judiciary for preventing "horse-trading" and "protecting the Constitution, democracy and rule of law". Azad said the governor gave 15 days time to Yeddyurappa as he was convinced he lacked the support of MLAs required to clear the floor test. "The governor gave them two weeks for breaking our parties... for horse-trading," he said. He said the alliance was now waiting for an invitation from the governor to form the government. It was Yeddyurappa's shortest stint in power. He became the chief minister for the first time for seven days in 2007, but his government collapsed as the JD(S) reneged on honouring a power sharing arrangement and withdrew support. He became the chief minister for a second time when the BJP formed its first government in Karnataka in 2008. Yeddyurappa was at the helm of the state for over three years before he was made to quit follwong indictment by the Lokayukta in an alleged mining scam. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The three-day-old BJP government in Karnataka collapsed today, minutes before the scheduled trust vote, with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa resigning in a tame anticlimax to what promised to be on the edge of seat political thriller. With defeat staring him in the face, Yeddyurappa announced his decision to quit on the floor of the Assembly after a brief emotion-laden speech. Though exuding confidence about winning the trust vote, as the D-day loomed he failed to muster support of 7 additional MLAs required to ensure the longevity of his government. "I am going to resign as chief minister....I will go to Raj Bhavan and submit my resignation. "I will not face confidence vote....I am going to resign," he told the Assembly at the end of a brief emotional speech, and headed straight to the Raj Bhavan where he handed over his resignation to Governor Vajubhai Vala. The 75-year-old Lingayat stalwart's resignation will pave the way for formation of a government led by JD(S) state chief H D Kumaraswamy, who has the backing of the Congress. The newly formed alliance has claimed support of 117 MLAs in the 224-member House with an effective strength of 221. The political instability in the state stemmed from a split verdict the electorate gave on May 15, with the BJP emerging as the single-largest party but falling short of a majority. The Congress, which finished second with 78 seats, moved swiftly and stitched an alliance with 37-member JD(S), and even backed its leader H D Kumaraswamy for chief ministership, plunging the state into a welter of confusion, with accusations of bribery and poaching flying thick and fast. Amid allegations of poaching attempts by the BJP, the Congress herded its MLAs at a resort outside Bengaluru, while those of the JD(S) hunkered down in a hotel in the state capital. They were later shifted to a hotel in Hyderabad and returned only after the Supreme Court yesterday ordered a floor test on a Congress-JD(S) petition. As things grew murkier, the Congress released audio tape where Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa was purportedly heard trying to lure an MLA with the promise of a ministerial berth if he backed the BJP government during the trust vote. There were allegations that Congress MLA Anand Singh was "abducted" by the BJP, but he turned up at the Vidhana Sauda minutes before Yeddyurappa began his speech. He was seen shaking hands with fellow Congress members and then sat with them. An emotional Yeddyurappa gave enough indications of his resignation during his speech when he said,"I have seen the struggle of farmers, gave land to them, wiped their tears. I wanted to waive their loans up to Rs 1 lakh...but..." He recalled his struggles as a politician, and said how he helped build the party, which once had just two MLAs. Now it has 104, he said. "I went to the houses of poor, stayed with them. I have faced trial by fire all my life, but I will serve my people till my last breath," Yeddyurappa said, his voice choking as he fought back tears. Regaining composure, Yeddyurappa said he would now travel across Karnataka and ensure the party won all 28 seats of the state in the Lok Sabha elections and 156 in the next Assembly polls. The 8-term MLA and twice an MP, Yeddyurappa then announced his decision to step down. Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who along with several top party leaders were present during the floor test, thanked the judiciary for preventing "horse-trading" and "protecting the Constitution, democracy and rule of law". Azad said the governor gave 15 days time to Yeddyurappa as he was convinced he lacked the support of MLAs required to clear the floor test. "The governor gave them two weeks for breaking our parties....for horse-trading," he said. He said the alliance was now waiting for an invitation from the governor to form the government. It was Yeddyurappa's shortest stint in power. He became the chief minister for the first time for seven days in 2007, but his government collapsed as the JD(S) reneged on honouring a power sharing arrangement and withdrew support. He became the chief minister for a second time when the BJP formed its first government in Karnataka in 2008. Yeddyurappa was at the helm of the state for over three years before he was made to quit follwong indictment by the Lokayukta in an alleged mining scam. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police in Paris have opened an investigation after an actress accused French film director Luc Besson of rape, judicial sources said today. "Luc Besson categorically denies these fantasist accusations," the film-maker's lawyer Thierry Marembert told AFP. "(The complainant) is someone he knows, towards whom he has never behaved inappropriately." Judicial sources said a "complaint has been made for acts qualifying as rape by the plaintiff which happened Thursday night into Friday in Paris," adding that Paris police were investigating the allegation against the 59-year-old. Informed sources said the victim went to police on Friday to file a complaint against Besson, who notably directed The Big Blue, Nikita and Leon, after the alleged assault at the Bristol hotel in the French capital. The sources said the complainant said she had been in a relationship with Besson for around two years, stating that she felt under an obligation owing to their professional relationship. One source close to the investigation said Besson was out of the country and had not been questioned. According to Europe 1 radio station, which broke the story, Besson's accuser said she had "drunk a coup of tea, then felt unwell and lost consciousness". The station quoted her as saying that when she came round she remembered being sexually assaulted. Besson, who heads the EuropaCorp production and distribution company, created the Cite du cinema studio complex north of Paris in 2012. But the company has been battling financial difficulties over the past year with its blockbuster "Valerian" 3D space opera proving a flop. Besson is a top name in the French film universe with 12 Cesar nominations and 17 films under his belt. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Several countries have evinced interest in procuring the indigenously developed Akash missile, a top Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) official said here today. There is a growing demand for the Akash, an all-weather medium-range surface-to-air missile, and many nations have shown interest in it, DRDO Chairman S Christopher told reporters here. Developed by the DRDO, the Akash missile system has the capability to neutralise aerial targets such as fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles as well as ballistic missiles. Talks were underway with the countries and "it (orders for the missile) will come", Christopher said without divulging further details. To a query on the allocation for research and development, he said this year the organisation has a budgetary allocation of Rs 2,000 crore. Christopher, who was here to participate in a function, also said there were export inquiries for the BrahMos missile. BrahMos is a joint venture between the DRDO of India and the NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM) of Russia. PSU Bharat Dynamics Ltd Chairman and Managing Director, V Udaya Bhaskar said the Akash missile is going to be in good demand for another three to four years as both the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army need them in good numbers. L&T Board whole-time Director (Defence) Jayant Patil said a new aerospace facility in the district will become operational in another 10 months and it will manufacture rocket motors for ISRO. The defence arm of the L&T, which has so far invested Rs 500 crore in the unit here, is also supplying air frame to BrahMos missile and will expand the product range in the near future. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Chief Justice of India T S Thakur today spoke out against the controversial January 12 press conference held by four senior judges of the Supreme Court, saying they "need not look for outside help for resolving their institutional problems". Justice Thakur was referring to the presser by four senior judges -- justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- who had virtually raised revolt against Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra by levelling litany of allegations against him. They had alleged that the situation in the top court was "not in order" and many "less than desirable" things have taken place, which has put the "democracy at stake". The former CJI, who dubbed the presser as a "disturbing" event, said that the issues brought into public domain in the press conference gave the media and the politicians an opportunity to discuss matter which "ought to have been addressed and solved within the confines of the Supreme Court". "Breaking away from tradition, four senior judges of the Supreme Court brought into public domain certain issues which had caught the limelight and had given the media and politicians an opportunity to talk about and discuss matters which can and indeed ought to have been addressed and solved within the confines of the Supreme Court. "No political party or media house or politician can be accused of indiscretion when judges of the Supreme Court make a public statement that democracy in the country is in danger," he said. Justice Thakur said that when judges want the nation to decide issues, which they can and ought to decide themselves, anyone witnessing it would feel disturbed by the development that the highest judiciary was unable to decide issues concerning its working and was taking it to the public at large. "When a strong and disturbing statement, like selling of souls by the judges appears in the media; when judges want the nation to decide issues, which they can and ought to decide themselves, anyone who is connected to the institution and even dispassionate observers would feel disturbed by the development where judges are unable to decide issues concerning working of their institution and seek to take the same to the public at large," he said. Justice Thakur was speaking on the topic of 'Independence of Judiciary' at an event organised by an NGO, Global Jurists, founded by former Delhi High Court judge Kailash Gambhir who also expressed similar views about the January 12 presser. Thakur said that instead of appealing to the nation for help, the four judges ought to have used the "tremendous reservoir of talent" available in the apex court for finding solutions to the problems. "An appeal to the nation is not what would have helped the judges. I firmly believe that judges need not look for outside help for resolving their institutional problems. There is a tremendous reservoir of talent in the Supreme Court which can and ought to be used for finding solutions. Judges have to look within and not without for guidance," he said. He further said,"The nation trusts them for their wisdom and would be happy if they use it for solving not only problems of others, but their own problems also. Judges ought to rise above their individual prejudices, if any, and think in the interests of the institution and future of the country." The remarks by Thakur came a day after Justice Chelameswar shared the dias with CJI Misra on the last working day of the apex court. The Supreme Court has gone on a summer break and Justice Chelameswar will retire during the vacation on June 22. It is a custom in the apex court that a judge on the last working day before retirement shares the dias with the CJI. The January 12 presser was held at the official residence of Justice Chelameswar. Justice Gambhir, who also spoke at the event, referred to the stalled elevation of Uttarakhand Chief Justice K M Joseph to the apex court and said that instead of the "internal bickerings", the collegium ought to have sent the file back to the government immediately. He said that the independence of the judiciary was threatened not only by the political executive, but also from within itself. He also termed as shocking the row between the CJI on one side and the four senior most judges on the other. Apart from him, the other speakers included former Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Vijender Jain, former veteran scribe H K Dua and former Law Commission Member Mool Chand Sharma who said that the recent attempt to impeach CJI Misra by the Congress was a "political tool to threaten and scare" the judiciary as the party did not have the numbers to support their move. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Shiv Sena in Goa has asked the Congress to spell out its stand on the Mahadayi water dispute since the party, in alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular), was slated to form a government in neighbouring Karnataka. Goa and Karnataka are at loggerheads over the sharing of the river's water and a case is currently being heard by the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal. The river, which originates in Karnataka, flows down to Goa, where it is popularly known as Mandovi. "Goa cannot be oblivious to the politics in Karnataka. The question now remains is whether we can really heave a sigh of relief over the Mahadayi issue? The BJP had promised water diversion (to Karnataka) if they were voted to power in Karnataka," said Senas Goa spokesman Rakhi Prabhudesai Naik. "The Shiv Sena demands that the Congress party in Goa make a categorical statement on the issue of Mahadayi now that they have their government in Karnataka. We will not tolerate any compromise on this issue by the Congress just to please their voters," she said. She said that the Congress in Goa should clearly state that they would not compromise on the issue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government is examining a proposal which will reduce the clearance time for foreign registered chartered planes to fly in and out of to just one day. The proposal has been forwarded by the aviation regulator to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, keeping in mind the problems faced by business class travellers and others flying to in getting clearance, a time-consuming process. "There are many categories in this. For majority of them, has proposed one day for clearance. Final view will be taken in consultation with stake-holders and security agencies," a official said. The proposal, if cleared, will come as a boon for corporate leaders and high net worth individuals who face mired problems getting clearance for their last-minute travel plans. A committee of secretaries is expected to examine the proposal, given the security implications. The ministry, though, remained optimistic about getting the clearance. DGCA has made it easier for Indian registered charter aircraft to fly abroad by removing several preconditions. Charter planes now simply need to file the flight plan with air traffic control and operate their flights. Nineteen persons, including 12 women and three children, were killed, and six others injured after their truck overturned near Dholera in Ahmedabad district early today, police said. The incident took place at Bavaliyari village on the Ahmedabad-Bhavnagar Highway when the driver of the cement-laden truck, which was coming from the Pipavav Port, lost control over the vehicle and it turned turtle. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the kin of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident. "My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives due to an accident near the Bhavnagar-Ahmedabad Highway in Gujarat. I pray that those who have been injured in the accident recover at the earliest: PM," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted. "Saddened by the loss of lives due to a road accident near Bhavnagar-Ahmedabad Highway. May those who have been injured recover at the earliest. I pray for the departed souls. Om Shanti," tweeted Rupani. Ahmedabad Superintendent of Police R V Asari said the victims were labourers. "Twenty-five labourers were travelling in the truck. The vehicle, carrying cement, overturned and 19 of them were crushed to death," he said. The deceased included 12 women and three children, he said, adding that while 18 died on the spot, another died in a hospital. The six injured were admitted to a nearby hospital, the officer said. "The driver apparently lost control over the vehicle. After the mishap, he escaped from the spot. A search has been launched to trace him," Asari said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump has said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was working hard to "Make the United Nations Great Again and lauded his UN envoy Nikki Haley for doing a fantastic job at the world body. Guterres met Trump in the White House on Friday and, according to a readout provided by the UN Chief's office, the two discussed the situation in the broader Middle East, the Korean Peninsula and the ongoing United Nations reform. The Secretary-General also expressed his appreciation for the continued US engagement in the work of the United Nations. Following the meeting, Trump, in a tweet, praised the UN Secretary General for his leadership at the UN, saying he was working to make the world body "great again," using his campaign phrase of 'Make America Great Again.' "Just met with UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres who is working hard to 'Make the United Nations Great Again.' When the UN does more to solve conflicts around the world, it means the U.S. has less to do and we save money. @NikkiHaley is doing a fantastic job!" Trump said in his tweet. A readout of the meeting provided by the White House that the two leaders discussed issues of mutual interest, including North Korea, Syria, Iran, and reform of the United Nations. "The President reiterated his support for the Secretary-General's efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the United Nations. The two committed to work together in the months ahead to address these and other common threats and challenges," it said. The relationship between the UN and Trump has been contentious as Trump has been very critical of the world body. His administration has pulled out of the landmark UN agreement -- the Paris Climate deal, underscoring the rift between the US and UN. As President-elect, Trump had tweeted that the United Nations has great potential "but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!" The US also negotiated a USD 285 million reduction of the UN budget for 2018-2019 compared to the budget for 2016-2017. "The inefficiency and overspending of the United Nations are well known. We will no longer let the generosity of the American people be taken advantage of or remain unchecked," Haley had said following the announcement of the budget cuts last year. "This historic reduction in spending in addition to many other moves toward a more efficient and accountable UN is a big step in the right direction. While we are pleased with the results of this year's budget negotiations, you can be sure we'll continue to look at ways to increase the UN's efficiency while protecting our interests," she had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court has ordered issuance of notice to the Tamil Nadu government on a petition seeking parole to S A Basha, the alleged mastermind of the 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blasts which killed 60 people. A vacation bench of justices V Parthiban and P D Audikesavalu passed the order recently on the habeas corpus petition filed by Basha's daughter, Mubeena. The bench directed the authorities concerned to file a response within four weeks. The serial blasts had taken place ahead of BJP leader L K Advani's campaign meeting in Coimbatore in 1998. Basha was arrested in 1991 in connection with a murder case by Coimbatore city police and remanded to judicial custody. The trial court awarded life imprisonment to him in the case. He was also arrested in connection with the 1998 serial bomb blasts cases. The sessions court on August 1, 2007, convicted him and sentenced him to life imprisonment. According to the petitioner, Basha has served more than 20 years in the prison since 1991. She sought a direction to prison authorities to grant her father a one-month parole as he has to hold discussions with his family on an important matter before taking a decision. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a relief to a single mother struggling to get an error in her child's birth record rectified, the Madras High Court has ordered the deletion of the existing name in the father's name column of the certificate. Allowing the petition filed by Mathumitha Ramesh, Justice M S Ramesh directed the Tiruchirapalli Corporation to remove within a week the name of Manish Madanpal Meena entered in the birth certificate. The judge then posted the matter to June 11 to report compliance. The petitioner's problems began after she gave birth to a child through intrauterine fertility treatment with the help of a sperm donor. After the birth, the corporation issued a birth certificate which showed the father's name as Manish Madanpal Meena, her friend. Since Meena was not the child's father, the petitioner approached the authorities concerned, seeking removal of the name. However, her request was turned down by officials, who claimed that errors pertaining to the name of the father alone can be rectified, but the removal of the name from the birth certificate was not contemplated under the relevant law. The woman then moved the Madurai bench of the court, which gave her liberty to approach the Revenue Divisional Officer concerned with a representation. Her representation was rejected claiming that only the registrar was the competent authority for such rectification. Hence, the petitioner filed the plea in the court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Union Home Ministry official was among four people arrested by the ACB here for allegedly demanding and accepting bribe from Pakistani Hindu migrants for granting Long Term Visa (LTV), officials said. Acting on a tip-off, Senior Office Assistant P K Mishra and his three agents - Ashok, Govind and Bhagwan Ram - were detained on Thursday night from a hotel in the outskirts of the city, Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials said. The four accused were arrested last night after an FIR was registered against them, they said. One more accused a former assistant section officer of the Rajasthan Home secretariat, Kundan Lal, is at large, officials said. Mishra, Kundan and the three agents had been deliberately not approving the applications of visa extension and LTVs to migrants from Pakistan for want of money, DIG (ACB) Ajaypal Lamba said. The three agents identified themselves as Pakistani migrants who have attained the citizenship of India, the officer claimed. Lamba said the visa applications were sent from the foreign registration office here to the state home department in Jaipur which then forwarded it to the Union Home Ministry, where Mishra would not approve the application unless he would receive bribe through his agents. Depending on the financial capability of these poor migrants, they would charge from Rs 500 to 2000 or even more, in some cases, for clearing their applications," Lamba said. Mishra would then visit Jodhpur to collect the money extorted from the migrants by his agents, he said. The DIG said Mishra has been engaged in extorting money for the last three years. We have started an investigation in the matter and do not rule out possibility of more names in this racket," Lamba said. Hindu Singh Sodha, president of Lok Seemant Sangthan, an organisation fighting for the rights of migrants, termed it a huge racket that has been active since long. He demanded a high level inquiry into the matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The husband of a 34-year-old Indian-origin pharmacist found murdered in her home in northern England earlier this week was charged with her murder today. Mitesh Patel, 36, appeared at Teesside Magistrates Court where he was charged with the murder of Jessica Patel and was remanded in custody to appear before Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday. "We have lost Jessica, a kind hearted, gentle and selfless person who was loved dearly by her family and friends. She was completely dedicated to all of her family and her loss has brought an unbearable pain," said a statement released by local Cleveland Police on behalf of Jessica's family. We as a family are devastated and we would kindly request that everyone respects our privacy and allows us the time to grieve in peace, the family tribute added. Jessica Patel was found at her home on The Avenue in Linthorpe suburb of Middlesborough with "serious injuries" on Monday and pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem was conducted but the cause of her death had not been released for "investigative" reasons. According to local reports, the victim ran a local chemist shop on Roman Road in Middlesborough with her husband, whom she met while studying at university in Manchester. The husband was said to be "distraught" as he "adored" his wife by people who knew the couple. "They were a really nice, friendly couple and they've become popular in the area since they took over the pharmacy," one of the couple's neighbours added. The couple's home is close to their pharmacy, which they ran for around three years. Both the home and work premises were the focus of intense police searches through the week. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As part of its commitment to provide eco-friendly green services, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations would be set up at the Metro stations here by the the L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad). A contract had been signed with the Powergrid Corporation of India to promote EV Charging Stations at metro stations, LTMRHL said in a release here today. "To start with, Powergrid shall develop charging stations at Miyapur and Dr. B R Ambedkar Balanagar Metro Stations, it said. Powergrid shall subsequently develop EV charging stations across the entire metro corridors. "We are committed to provide best in class eco-friendly green Metro services to the citizens of Hyderabad and this is a step in that direction," LTMRHL MD & CEO KVB Reddy said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The India Meteorological Department (IMD) today warned that a thunderstorm would hit the Delhi-NCR late tonight. A dust storm or thunderstorm accompanied with squall and wind with speed of over 80 kmph would hit the Delhi-National Capital Region, the IMD said in a statement. On May 17, gusty winds with a speed of up to 71 kmph coupled with light rain had swept across the national capital. An 18-year-old man was killed and 13 people were injured in the dust storm that hit Delhi in the early hours on May 16. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BubbaJones said: So, because she chose to have sex she looses control of her body ?? For how long ?? Does that mean she can't refuse sex to someone else ?? Does that mean she can't seek treatment for illness or disease ?? Click to expand... Sabcat said: Ahhh, i used to take that position too as NAP clearly states that one cannot use force against another unless the other initiate the violence but is the woman not using violence against the unborn? It is a catch22. There is a good interview on this very subject I will see if I can find it. Click to expand... BubbaJones said: If you're going to go there, then is an unwanted pregnancy NOT an assault on the woman's body ?? Is she not allowed to defend herself from it ?? Click to expand... Nope.I am saying this.If you truly believe in NAP then you can understand the argument. If you also believe in the free market of ideas than you should be able to accept that people of similar belief system should be able to create a community where they share this fundamental belief and let if flourish or fail on its own merits free from the federal governments intervention.It is not that difficult of a concept.Take Iowa as an example. Let's say Iowa wishes to ban abortion our right. So What? Build an abortion clinic on the MN boarder.MN has a law against no limit poker. If I want to play no limit I jump on the freeway and go to Iowa.I am personally pro abortion but i support nullification. I support Colorado and their weed laws. How can I support both of those things but not support Iowa to take the same stance in regards to abortion. It would be disingenuous.As to the abortion/NAP argument. I have to concede that if you believe that that is a human being than from your perspective NAP does apply. Who am I to tell you otherwise? Build your abortion free society. I will build an abortion clinic at the edge of it and profit off of the demand that you are not filling. India has dragged the US to the World Trade Organisation's dispute settlement mechanism over the imposition of import duties on steel and aluminium, an official said. India has stated that the decision will impact exports of these products to the US and it is not in compliance with global trade norms. "India has filed a dispute under the aegis of the on the issue of imposing import duties by the US on certain steel and aluminium products," the official said. The country has sought consultations with the US under the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism. Seeking consultation is the first step of dispute settlement process. If the two nations are not able to reach a mutually agreed solution through consultation, India may request for a dispute settlement panel to review the matter. On March 9, US President imposed heavy tariffs on imported steel and aluminium items, a move that has sparked fears of a global trade war. Trump signed two proclamations that levied a 25 per cent tariff on steel and a 10 per cent tariff on aluminium imported from all countries except Canada and Mexico. India too has sought exemptions from the hefty tariffs. Biswajit Dhar, the professor of economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said the US decision would not only impact India's export of these goods but would also affect global trade. India's exports of steel and aluminium products to America stood at about $1.5 billion every year. Some experts, however, opined that dragging the US in the dispute over the issue is not in favour of India as New Delhi has a trade surplus with America. India's exports to the US in 2016-17 stood at $42.21 billion, while imports were $22.3 billion. Both the countries are already involved in disputes at the global trade body. The disputes are in the areas of poultry, solar and steel. The US recently filed a dispute against India on export incentives alleging these support measures harm its workers by creating an uneven playing field. Four Indian women dressed in brightly-coloured silk and organza saris are among the special guests invited by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to their wedding in Windsor Castle today. Suhani Jalota, the founder of Myna Mahila Foundation, arrived in the UK from Mumbai with three other colleagues earlier this week. Their women's empowerment charity, which produces and distributes low-cost sanitary napkins to women in Mumbai's slums, is the only non-UK organisation hand-picked by the royal couple as beneficiaries of donations in lieu of wedding gifts. "We are all very excited to be representing India at the celebrations. We are so honoured that she (Markle) chose us and kept her word that she would help us in every way she can," said Jalota, who is among 600 guests to witness the wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. Her colleagues, Deborah Das, Archana Ambre and Imogen Mansfield, are among the 1,200 members of public invited to the wedding picnic party on the grounds of the Castle. "It's all like a dream. This was the first time we sat on a plane and it did make me quite emotional," said Ambre, who along with Das made their first plane journey outside India for the wedding. While the dress code for the wedding lists day dress and hat for female guests, Jalota's group chose pastel-coloured Banarasi and Chanderi saris with Indian motifs from among the handwoven designs created by Indian firm Raw Mango to make an Indian splash at the royal wedding. They are also carrying a specially hand-crafted wedding gift for the newly-weds a painting of a myna bird outline with messages for Meghan Markle from all the women involved with the charity. "It is written in calligraphy as Meghan herself is a calligraphy artist," says Jalota. The 26-year-old's association with the royal bride dates back to 2016, when she first met Meghan at an awards ceremony and then subsequently the then actress and UN goodwill ambassador visited the Mumbai-based charity during a tour of India in 2017. "Meghan was always involved in the field of women's empowerment and was very keen to support the work of organisations that try and make a difference at a grassroots level. She has been a constant source of support for us and this latest development has been truly incredible," said the social worker, who has noted a hundred-fold spike in traffic to the Myna Mahila Foundation website ever since it was named among just seven charities on the royal wedding gift list last month. "It will certainly go a very long way in building our credibility and getting our voice heard on a global platform," said Jalota, who plans to utilise the funds generated as a result of the royal attention towards enhancing the foundation's work across more slums of Mumbai. The organisation's focus will be to reach all the slums of the city before expanding to neighbouring areas of Ahmednagar, Pune and Latur in Maharashtra. The foundation works on providing women in urban slums stable employment close to their homes. Besides producing low-cost feminine hygiene products, trained female volunteers go door-to-door to try and break taboos around menstrual hygiene by getting women to talk about these issues. "The namesake of the organisation, Myna Mahila Foundation, refers to a chatty bird The name echoes the undercurrent of this issue: we need to speak about it, to be 'chatty' about it," Markle wrote in Time magazine after her India visit in March last year. "The women's work opens the dialogue of menstrual hygiene in their homes, liberating them from silent suffering, and equipping their daughters to attend school," she wrote. Myna Mahila Foundation was born in 2015 out of Jalota's own belief that women's empowerment hinges upon an open dialogue and was inspired by the work of Nobel Peace prize nominee Dr Jockin Arputham. "Myna Mahila is more than an employer in Mumbai slums, it was created by women for women and is as such a woman's entrepreneurial project in what is commonly considered to be an unlikely place but is actually full of incredible potential," says the organisation's mission statement. The volunteers undergo fair amount of hardship on their visits to supply sanitary napkins to slum-dweller's doorsteps, as they would not otherwise consider buying such products. They are often met with hostility but over time they have succeeded in making an impact on a large number of families in the Govandi slum area of Mumbai. After their day amid royalty at Windsor Castle, the four Myna women plan to tour the sights of London before returning to their work in the slums of Mumbai next Wednesday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian-origin chef and social entrepreneur invited by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to their wedding arrived with some specially-baked treats at Windsor Castle today. Rosie Ginday, dressed in a bright yellow flowery dress, said she felt really special to be chosen to be a part of the royal couple's special day. "It is really exciting. They have used their special day to shine a light on organisations working to impact communities, which is so lovely and I hope they have a lovely day," said Ginday, born in the UK to Punjabi parents. The 34-year-old is the founder of Miss Macaroon, a social enterprise that produces and sells "macaroons", which are small round-shaped biscuits typically made from ground almonds and coconut. The company ploughs back its profits into employment training opportunities for young people as part of a Macaroons that Make A Difference (MacsMAD) programme. The Birmingham-based enterprise had impressed Harry and Meghan when they visited the city as an engaged couple in March this year and had also got a taste of some of the macaroons. "I have some of my macaroons with me for the picnic at the Castle," said Ginday, who is among a select 1,200 members of public invited to the grounds of Windsor Castle in recognition of the impact they make in their communities. The entrepreneur set up Miss Macaroon in 2011 from a desire to combine her passion for social enterprise and premium quality baking. She trained as a high-end pastry chef at University College Birmingham and moved on to working in Michelin starred kitchens across Britain before turning into an award-winning businesswoman. Her business model is based on creating hand-crafted and gluten-free macaroons, as well as bespoke logo-printed macaroons for other businesses and designer brands for branding and event purposes. She also owns Birmingham's first macaroon and prosecco bar, which opened in the city in October 2016. "My personal reward is that, as well as seeing young people flourish in what is a highly competitive industry and work confidently and diligently in the pressurised environment of a professional kitchen, I know my customers are also investing in these young people with the purchase of our products," she says. Prince Harry, the sixth in line to Britain's throne, and his former actress bride chose to depart from protocol by having no official guest list of political leaders, choosing members of the public as their guests instead. British Prime Minister Theresa May and US President Donald Trump are conspicuously absent from the guest list of the royal wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Noting that India and the United States are currently having discussion on a wide variety of state-of-the-art military hardware, a senior US official today insisted that New Delhi signing the "foundational agreements" with it would broaden the scope and potential of bilateral defense relationship. Ahead of her visit to India next week, Tina Kaidanow, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, told a group of reporters that it is important for Indian officials to understand these foundation agreements because it allows them to do so much more. "These are the kinds of things that we conclude with all of our friends and allies. It broadens the scope of the potential for the defence relationship," she said. "Our hope is that ... the Indian government has the sovereign right to decide obviously ... but for all these agreements that we can come to a good understanding because that allows us to do so much more in the defence space," Kaidanow said in response to a question. India-US bilateral defence trade has risen from near zero to USD 15 billion since 2008. India is projected to spend billions on military modernisation over the next decade. Her talks in India will focus on expanding the security cooperation while furthering opportunities for American industry. Referring to the Lockheed-offer to relocate its F-16 manufacturing base to India under "Make in India", she said a lot of what the two countries are talking about here is indeed in the co-production, co-development arena. "My hope is that the Indian government can come to some relevant decisions in the not so distant future," she said. While bilateral defence trade figure of USD 15 billion is very compelling, but increasing this figure will hinge on not only how the two countries agree to sign foundational agreements, but also to come to an understanding on the contracts and all the other kinds of things that have to happen as a function of concluding some of these deals. "That's the reason for a trip like mine is to see how far we can further some of those efforts," the senior US official said in response to a question. The scope of India-US defence trade relationship has expanded fairly dramatically over the last decade and the Trump administration would like to see that expand even further. "We consider the Indians to be important partners for us," she said adding that the US is currently engaged with India in a "very good, very productive, very robus" conversation on a whole host of things that they might choose to acquire from Washington at some point. Much recently, a US team was in India to look at some of these things and to talk more with their Indian counterparts, she noted. When asked about India's interest in armed drones and some of the other high-tech military hardware, Kaidanow said the US is still in the process of trying to discern exactly what their requirements are and then how it can provide the right tactical equipment that will meet those requirements. "Part of this will be not just our decision but also the Indian government's decision as to what they procure," she said. "We are having a full conversation on the entire array of things that India might be interested in. Nothing is necessarily precluded. It's just a function of what meets the requirements and what we can provide to meet the necessary requirements," Kaidanow said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said Jammu and Kashmir has the potential not only to generate electricity to meet its own needs, but also to provide power to other parts of the country. The government is making efforts to ensure that all households in the state are electrified, as the focus is to improve the existing power distribution system, the prime minister said. "Jammu and Kashmir has many rivers that have potential for electricity generation. This state has the potential not only to meet its own requirements, but can also produce power for the rest of the country," he said. "Keeping this in mind, we have been working on several projects for the past four years," Modi said after inaugurating the 330-MW Kishanganga power project here. He said that work on the 1,000-MW Pakal Dul power project in Kishtwar district will start soon. "We are also making efforts to provide uninterrupted electricity supply to every household in Jammu and Kashmir, and advanced technologies such as smart meters are being used, and street lights are being modernised. "Rs 4,000 crore is being spent on improving the power distribution network in J&K so that every village and town of the state is lit up," he said. The prime minister said that the government was not only working on providing electricity to households in villages of the state, but also to ensure power bills do not become a burden on these households. "Under the Ujala scheme, we have provided over 78 lakh LED bulbs and this has saved electricity to the tune of Rs 400 crore every year. Electricity connections are being provided free of cost to households in the state that were hitherto not electrified," Modi said. Earlier, Union Minister of State for Power, New and Renewable Energy R K Singh said commissioning of the Kishanganga power project was a special day for the country. "Now, we are using our rights (of power generation) under the Indus Water Treaty. It will also help us increase the generation capacity of the Uri-I and the Uri-II power projects," the minister said. Singh congratulated the state government for ensuring electrification of all the 134 left out villages in Jammu and Kashmir. "We had to use helicopters at to deliver equipment at many places. We have set a deadline of electrifying all households in Jammu and Kashmir by the end of this year. According to a briefing I have got, I am confident that the state government will accomplish it by November," he added. Singh said the next target of the government is to provide uninterrupted power supply across the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Independent MLA from Jammu and Kashmir's Langate constituency Sheikh Abdul Rasheed was detained today for taking out a protest march against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state, police said. Rasheed along with the supporters of his party Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) took out the protest march from his official residence in Jawahar Nagar, a police official said. The officer said that a police contingent, deployed at Rajbagh, asked the protesters to disperse, but they did not budge and tried to march towards SKICC where the prime minister was attending a function. Several protestors, including Rasheed, were detained, he said, adding that the legislator was taken to the Rajbagh police station. He claimed that Rasheed was carrying a black flag and a balloon as a mark of protest against the prime minister's visit. On Thursday, Rasheed had said that his party would show black flags to Modi during his visit to the Valley. "The AIP will receive Modi with black flags to make the global community realise that India is not serious and sincere in resolving the Kashmir issue and also as a protest against police atrocities in the Valley," Rasheed had told reporters here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Shoplifters", a heartwrenching tale by Japanese veteran director Hirokazu Kore-eda about a family of small-time crooks who take in a child they find on the street, won the Palme d'Or top prize at the Cannes film festivaltoday. Accepting one of global cinema's most coveted honours from jury president Cate Blanchett, Kore-eda said movies made him hopeful for the state of the world. "Maybe because of the cinema, the people who usually fight each other, the countries that are fighting each other, may be able to come together," he said. Spike Lee won the runner-up Grand Prix for "BlacKkKlansman", a searing broadside against racism with the stranger-than-fiction true story of an African-American police officer who manages to infiltrate the highest levels of the Ku Klux Klan. Lebanese actress-director Nadine Labaki, one of three female filmmakers among the 21 contenders, earned the third-place Jury Prize for "Capernaum" set among the poorest of the poor in Beirut and featuring a devastating performance by a 13-year-old Syrian refugee boy. It was the first edition since the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault scandal rocked the film industry, sparking the #MeToo movement. Presenting the best actress prize, Italian star Asia Argento, who has said she was raped by the Hollywood mogul at Cannes in 1997, told the ceremony he would never be welcome at the event again. "This festival was his hunting ground," said Argento, who says she was 21 when Weinstein attacked her in his hotel room. "He was seated among you... But things have changed. We are not going to allow you to get away it." Kazakhstan's Samal Yeslyamova nabbed best actress for "Ayka" by director Sergey Dvortsevoy for her wrenching portrayal of a young jobless immigrant from post-Soviet Central Asia who abandons her baby in Moscow. Polish Oscar winner Pawel Pawlikowski took the prize for best director for "Cold War", a tragic love story set against the backdrop of the Iron Curtain. Pawlikowski, who won the foreign-language movie Oscar for "Ida" in 2015, caused a scandal at home when he told AFP at the festival that the film had been "blacklisted" by the nationalist government. Warsaw denied the claim. He said his award was "a rare piece of good news" for his country. Marcello Fonte of Italy clinched best actor for his much-loved performance as a soft-spoken pooch groomer who stands up to a local heavy in Matteo Garrone's "Dogman". "Three Faces" by Iran's Jafar Pahahi, who was barred from attending the festival, shared the best screenplay prize with Italian director Alice Rohrwacher's "Happy as Lazzaro". The much-praised Belgian transgender drama "Girl" won the Camera d'Or prize for best first film. It had earlier scooped the Queer Palm prize for LGBT-themed cinema and the best actor award for Victor Polster in the Un Certain Regard sidebar section. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taking a swipe at Congress President Rahul Gandhi for accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of authorising 'buying off' of MLAs and disrespecting institutions, Union minister Prakash Javadekar today said it was like "Satan reading the Bible." "Modiji, who rose from poverty to become Prime Minister, this, they (Congress leaders,including Gandhi) are not able to digest and hence should the Congress level such baseless allegations? It is like Satan reading the Bible." "This is coming from a family member whose whole family has been doing nothing but corruption,"he told reporters here. Gandhi made these remarks at a press conference at the Congress headquarters in Delhi soon after B S Yeddyurappa announced his resignation as Karnataka Chief Minister in the assembly, not facing the floor test. Gandhi had attacked Modi, saying "he is corruption" as he authorised "buying" of MLAs and hoped the BJP-RSS learns a lesson from Karnataka. Javadekar termed as "laughable", Gandhi's remark that the collapse of the three-day old BJP government was Congress' victory. In fact, BJP has comprehensively defeated Congress in the elections, which is reflected in former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and 14 ministers losing from their respective constituencies, he said. Javadekar also said Congress was reduced to 78 seats from 122 in the previous election and hence "it is a defeat of the grand old party." BJP, on the other hand, increased its tally from 40 to 104 seats and people know it is BJP's victory, he added. Javadekar also hit out at Gandhi for levelling "fallacious" charges that BJP leaders had tried to "poach" Congress MLAs, by releasing fake audio and video clips in the media. "The audio clips and videos are fake and allegations of Rahul Gandhiji that we were wooing their MLAs is 'thukar bhaghna' (spit and run) case," he added. Javadekar termed the Congress-JDS alliance as the most opportunistic. "This is the most opportunistic alliance. They were abusing each other before the hustings. Rahul Gandhi also had made derogatory remarks against former Prime Minister Deve Gowdaji," he said. "Kumaraswamy had said he would imprison Congress leaders for corruption during campaigning.Now I give an open challenge to JD(S) whether it will jail Congress leaders." "This we call a 'surrender deal', a deal to close all files of corruption against Congress leaders," he said. He also said that an alliance not based on ideology does not work. Javadekar said it was in fact the Congress which has been destroying institutions, including the judiciary, media and Parliament. "Let me remind Rahul Gandhiji that it was the Congress which imposed the Emergency and censored the media. There are many instances in history where Congress has abused the judiciary and other institutions," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) staged a protest here today, demanding the withdrawal of a unilateral halt on security operations in the state announced by the Centre. A group of JKNPP activists led by its chairman and former minister Harsh Dev Singh staged the protest at Exhibition Grounds here. We have staged the protest to draw the attention of the prime minister to various issues haunting the Jammu region, Singh told reporters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in the state today to inaugurate various projects. Opposing the unilateral ceasefire announced by the Centre during the holy month of Ramzan, he said that the move had "backfired". "In the wake of separatists and other terror organisations rejecting the government's move, Pakistan opened unprovoked firing and shelling on the borders claiming a number of precious lives, he said. Four civilians and a BSF jawan were killed while 12 others were injured as the Pakistan Rangers rained mortar shells on villages and border outposts in Jammu yesterday. Referring to the the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua, Singh sought intervention of Modi for transfer of the case from the crime branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police to the CBI. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It takes a village or community to raise children is what "they say". Did you demonstrate all the traits before the youth that will teach them to kill? Justin Timberlake has postponed the European leg of his The Man Of The Woods tour and cancelled three shows in the UK. The 37-year-old hitmaker was scheduled to kickstar the next leg of tour in Paris on 22 June but it has been pushed back to July 3 at AccorHotels Arena in the French capital. A statement released by Live Nation said Timberlake apologises "for any inconvenience to fans". "The Man Of The Woods European tour start has been slightly delayed resulting in the following changes to the UK performances," the statement read, according to Contactmusic. "Unfortunately, we are unable to reschedule the concerts previously scheduled for June 28 in Birmingham, July 2 in Manchester and July 6 in Glasgow, fans holding tickets will receive a refund at point of purchase," it added. The European leg of the tour will take Timberlake, who is currently touring in the US, to countries including the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Norway and Germany. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rival political parties in Bihar crossed swords over the political storm in Karnataka, where the three-day-old BJP government collapsed today, minutes before the scheduled trust vote. BJP leaders in Bihar said that B S Yeddyurappa, who resigned as the Karnataka chief minister, has "followed the glorious legacy" of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, while Opposition parties including RJD, Congress, Hindustani Awam Morcha described the saffron party's aborted bid to form government in the southern state as "the last nail in its coffin". RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav predicted that the developments in Karnataka mark the countdown for the BJP's ouster from power in states such as Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh later this year and in the Lok Sabha polls next year. "The BJP is trying to get power through the back door in Karnataka like it did in Bihar last year. But it has been asked to leave by the back door itself," Yadav told reporters here. He also asked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to "break his silence" on the Karnataka political issue. He also wondered if Kumar's silence should be inferred as "an endorsement of the BJP's dirty tricks". Congress legislature party leader Sadanand Singh, in a strongly-worded statement, said the developments in Bengaluru mark the "victory of democracy and the defeat of the BJP's machinations." "It is also the beginning of a Modi-Mukt Bharat," he remarked, retorting the Prime Minister's slogan of "Congress-Mukt Bharat". HAM founder and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said the democracy and the Constitution have won against money and power. "This win will prove to be the last nail in the coffin for the BJP," he added. The BJP had combined with the JD(U) in July last year to form government in Bihar after the Grand Alliance ministry comprising the JD(U), the RJD and the Congress had collapsed. Buoyed by the political developments in Karnataka, RJD, Congress, HAM and CPI-ML under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav had yesterday met Governor Satyapal Mallik and staked claim to form government in Bihar as a single largest block on lines of Karnataka. But, BJP leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi maintained that Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala had done nothing wrong by inviting Yeddyurappa, leader of the single largest party in Karnataka, to form government. "Heavens would not have fallen if he (Yeddyurappa) had been granted two weeks' time to prove his majority. But the time limit that was fixed upon the petition of those desperate for power, had left resignation of the Chief Minister as the only respectable option," Modi tweeted. "By deciding to quit instead of taking part in a test of strength, Yeddyurappa has followed the glorious legacy left behind by Atal Bihari Vajpayee," he said in another tweet, referring to the former Prime Minister's resignation within 13 days of assuming power in 1996. Modi also decried the post-poll Congress-JD(S) alliance in Karnataka and said "unconditional support by a party with 78 MLAs, to a party with only 38 and yet eyeing the chief minister's chair, just to keep the single largest party out of power can not be termed as democratic". He also ridiculed the Opposition coalitions in Goa and Bihar staking claim to form governments. "The NDA governments in these states are not surviving on the mercy of the Opposition. If the opposition had the numbers, it would have brought no-confidence motions in the assemblies instead of staging demonstrations," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court, which had to conduct emergency hearings on the bitter power tussle in Karnataka, today apprehended that it might be forced to do it again if this legal fight is not put to rest. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Congress-JD(S) combine, at the outset expressed his regret to a three-judge bench headed by Justice A K Sikri for being forced to sit on the first day of summer vacation to hear its plea against Pro Tem Speaker K G Bopaiah. "First of all, I must apologise to the bench for this inconvenience of assembling on a Saturday," Sibal said. When the bench, also comprising justices S A Bobde and Ashok Bhushan, was about to rise after ordering live telecast of crucial Karnataka floor test, another senior advocate A M Singhvi, representing the alliance, said, "We hope that we will not disturb the bench on Sunday." "That is what we were also talking about," the bench said. During the hearing, Attorney General K K Venugopal made a request to the bench to use microphones as the scribes standing behind in the courtroom were unable to hear the observations. The bench promptly obliged the attorney general and all the three judges switched on their microphones. Later, when the bench was about to dictate the order, Sibal again requested Justice Sikri, heading the bench, to switch on the mike and said, "As politicians we know how to make ourselves heard... "But we are not politicians. We don't care," the bench responded. In a historic pre-dawn hearing which started at 2:11 am and concluded at 5.28 am, the apex court on May 17 had refused to stay Governor Vajubhai Vala's decision to administer oath of office to B S Yeddyurappa as chief minister. Last night, the alliance again moved a fresh plea for emergency hearing to challenge the appointment of Bopaiah as the pro tem speaker which got listed today on a holiday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the fall of BJP's three-day-old government in Karnataka, H D Kumaraswamy heading the Congress-JDS coalition is set to become the chief minister for a second time on May 21. Governor Vajubhai Vala today invited Kumaraswamy, who is the leader of Congress-JD(S) joint legislature party, to form the government. "On the invitation of the Governor I have met him on the basis of the request we had submitted on May 15 for the formation of Congress-JD(S) coalition government....he has invited us to form the government," Kumaraswamy, who is also state JD(S) chief, said. Speaking to reporters after meeting Vala, he said the Governor has directed him to prove the majority on the floor of the House in 15 days but he would do it much before. Kumaraswamy said the swearing-in ceremony would take place tentatively between 12 and 1.50 pm at Kanteerava stadium here. His meeting with the Governor came hours after B S Yeddyurappa stepped down as Chief Minister without facing the floor test in the assembly as the BJP fell short of numbers. The post election stitched alliance of JDS and Congress, which claims the support of 117 members, has already staked its claim to form the government and said it would be headed by Kumaraswamy. The third son of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda had earlier headed the BJP-JD(S) coalition government for twenty months from January 2006. Kumaraswamy said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, BSP chief Mayawati, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana Chief Minister Chandrashekar Rao and several other regional leaders would be invited for the swearing-in ceremony. He thanked UPA chief Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Mayawati, Congress leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ashok Gehlot, K C Venugopal, former chief minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC chief Parameshwara and also workers and legislators of both Congress and JD(S) for their support. Kumaraswamy said modalities relating to government formation and number of ministers, who will be taking oath, would be discussed tonight under the leadership of Ghulam Nabi Azad, and made public tomorrow. He said the Congress and JD(S) would form a coordination committee on how to run a stable government and have mutual understanding so that it completes its full term. Asked by when he will prove majority, Kumaraswamy said "As soon as possible we will call the assembly session to prove majority.... though Governor has given 15 days, we will not require that much time." Expressing apprehension that the BJP would again indulge in "operation Kamala (poaching on MLAs)", he said "I'm aware of it that they will create problem. JD(S) and Congress leaders will take all precautionary measures for it." He also ruled out any kind of differences among the party cadres on alliance with the Congress. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad was rushed to a hospital here today after he complained of vertigo, breathing problems and uneasiness. He was discharged after a couple of hours. The former Bihar chief minister would visit Mumbai next week and then Bengaluru for further treatment, his family physician said. Prasad, who is serving sentences in three fodder scam cases in a Ranchi jail, is out on a six-week provisional bail granted by the Jharkhand High Court on medical grounds. "The former Bihar chief minister was admitted here, following complaints of vertigo, because of which he had fallen at home. He also complained of breathing problems and uneasiness. He has thoroughly been examined by our specialists. His records show that he suffers from a number of ailments like diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney problems," Manish Mandal, medical superintendent at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), told reporters. The RJD supremo spent nearly a couple of hours at the hospital before being discharged. He was visited by senior party colleague Abdul Bari Siddiqui. Later, Prasad's family physician S K Sinha told reporters that the RJD chief was discharged as his condition was stable. On Tuesday, Prasad would visit Mumbai, where he had undergone a bypass surgery a few years ago, Sinha said, adding that after consultations with doctors in Mumbai, he would leave for Bengaluru for the treatment of his kidney problem. The RJD chief had been in jail since December 23, when he was convicted in a case related to fraudulent withdrawal of money from the Deoghar treasury in the 1990s, when he was the chief minister of undivided Bihar. He was convicted in two more fodder scam cases while he was in jail. Poor health had led to Prasad being shifted from the Hotwar jail in Ranchi to the RIMS hospital, from where he was taken to the AIIMS in Delhi for further treatment. He was discharged from the AIIMS after a month amid strong protests by the RJD supremo himself as well as his party colleagues. Prasad had come to Patna last week on a three-day parole to attend the marriage of his elder son Tej Pratap Yadav, while a decision on his provisional bail was pending. The bail was granted to him while he was in Patna. After the expiry of the parole, Prasad had returned to Ranchi on Monday and spent a couple of days in jail, before being released after furnishing bonds and sureties. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Director Lars von Trier has responded to the controversy around his film "The House That Jack Built", which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. During its screening at the festival, several audience members exited after it showed a serial killer, played by Matt Dilllon, murdering women and children. In an interview with Cineuropa, the Danish director said he was pleased by the reaction and he felt "very relaxed". "It's quite important not to be loved by everybody, because then you've failed. I'm not sure if they hated it enough, though. If it gets too popular, I'll have a problem. But the reception seemed just about right, I think," Trier said. The director said he read a lot of Patricia Highsmith while penning the script of the film. "I don't know too much about serial killers, but I do know a bit about psychopaths. And I've never killed anyone myself If I do, it will probably be a journalist," Trier added. This was Trier's first trip back to Cannes since he debuted "Melancholia" in 2011. The director was banned in the following years after joking about "sympathising with Hitler" Talking about "The House That Jack Built", Cannes director Thierry Fremaux had earlier said that the film featured "a subject so controversial that it could only appear in an out-of-competition slot at the festival". Trier said he received a "warm welcome" on his return to the festival. "They made it very clear that I would not be in competition this time around, as a little piece of remaining punishment for me. Thierry Fremaux has been working hard for me for some reason, it was difficult to remove the persona non grata thing, very difficult. Anyway, it's kind of stupid to compete in film," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There is no problem between India and Nepal that could not be resolved if both the sides show sincere desire to find the solution for the pending issue, former Nepalese prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said today. Nepal's remarks came at a symposium on "PM Modi's visit to Nepal: A Futuristic View". Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Nepal on May 11 and 12. Speakers at the symposium described Modi's two-day state visit to Nepal as a great success stressing on the need for implementing the agreements signed between Nepal and India to the benefit of both the countries. They also underlined the need for forging collaboration between Nepal and India for promotion of tourism and development of trade and hydro electricity power. Former prime minister Nepal said that there is a huge potential to further enhance Indo-Nepal relations in the context of Modi's visit. Nepal said that the visit was ice breaker and pointed out that there is no problem between the two countries that could not be resolved if both the sides show sincere desire to resolve the pending issues. Nepal said that India and Nepal need to move forward with positive mindset to fulfill past resolutions. Addressing the function organised by Nepal-India Friendship Society, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri said the concept of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" pursued by prime minister Modi and the concept of "Samridh Nepal, Sukhi Nepali" floated by Nepal Prime Minister K P Oli can be supplementary to each other for the benefit of people of both the countries. Senior Nepali Congress leader and former Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat said that Modi's visit has helped to renew bilateral ties highlighted special bonding between the two countries. He said that India being a rising global power can be a great source of capital investment and development for Nepal. Rashtriya Janta Party Nepal's leader Rajendra Mahto said that Nepal-India relations are very special. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 45-year-old man, who had come to visit his wife with an intention to kill her for filing a cheating case against him and his family, was arrested from northeast Delhi's Maujpur area, police said today. Manish Kaul alias Varun Kaul alias Ashutosh Marwa alias Vishesh Dheeman alias Sanjeev Chaddha tried to fire at a policeman but the bullet got stuck in the pistol, they added. In March, a woman doctor had filed a cheating case against Kaul. She alleged that she came in contact with Kaul via a matrimonial website in 2015, when he introduced himself as a doctor, police said. She said she married Kaul the same year and her father gave gold ornaments worth Rs 20 lakh to her in-laws as dowry and spent nearly Rs 50 lakh on their wedding, they said. After the wedding, her in-laws started demanding more dowry. Her father-in-law, who had claimed that he retired from the Indian Air Force as a doctor, molested her twice, she said. Also, he never worked in the Indian Air Force, police said. Later, she came to know that her husband's real name was Varun Kaul and that he was not a doctor. She also came to know that he has various cases filed against him in Delhi, Chandigarh, Goa and Maharashtra. After she approached the Delhi Police, a team from Moti Nagar police station conducted raid in Panchkula and two women were nabbed, they said, adding the accused and his father had escaped. Yesterday, Kaul visited his wife's clinic with an intention to harm her, but she was not present at the clinic. Kaul then threatened one of her colleagues with a pistol, police said. A police team immediately reached the clinic and noticed Kaul walking away briskly. A policeman chased him and asked him to surrender but he took out the pistol and tried to open fire when the bullet got stuck in the firearm. He was overpowered by policemen and arrested. During interrogation, the accused revealed that he is a BAMS degree holder and not an MBBS degree holder as claimed by him, said Vijay Kumar, deputy cvommissioner of police (West). He had committed a number of frauds by purchasing new luxury cars on bogus demand drafts. He and his father were arrested in September 2008 by the Mumbai Police in connection with cheating cases registered in Hauz Khas and Rohini in Delhi. The accused had also cheated two other women by promising to marry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court has expressed its displeasure that the Ministry of Defence has "not even bothered" to respond to the letters addressed to it by the CBI's Special Investigation Team (SIT) that is probing the alleged extra-judicial killings and fake encounters by the Army, Assam Rifles and police in Manipur. A bench comprising justices Madan B Lokur and U U Lalit asked the SIT to conclude by June 30 its investigations in the cases related to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), judicial inquiries and those on which the Gauhati High court had given its findings. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Singh, appearing for the CBI, told the bench that he would take up the matter with the Ministry of Defence to ensure necessary cooperation. "We have also seen from status report no. five (filed by the SIT) that letters have been addressed by the SIT to the Ministry of Defence in some cases as far back as in February, 2018 but the Ministry of Defence has not even bothered to respond to those letters," the bench noted in its order. "The ASG says he will take it up with the Ministry of Defence and ensure that necessary cooperation is extended and letters will be responded with promptitude. We expect the Ministry of Defence to fully cooperate with the SIT," the court said and listed the matter for hearing on July 2. Singh told the court that the SIT would give a list of documents to the chief secretary and director general of police (DGP) of Manipur to ensure that all the materials were made available to the probe team or at least, an explanation on which documents were not available and why was given. "We would require this to be done in a time-bound manner," the bench observed, while noting that in the status report filed by the SIT, there were several entries concerning non-supply of documents by the police and other agencies. The apex court directed the in-charge of the SIT, Sharad Aggarwal, to furnish the list within a week and said it expected that the chief secretary and DGP of the north-eastern state would respond to it "positively within three weeks". "On the basis of the material on record i.e. the report of the CFSL (Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory) and documents and statements of witnesses, we expect the SIT to conclude the investigations by June 30, 2018 in respect of cases pertaining to Table II (judicial inquiry and high court cases) and III (NHRC) and file the final report under section 173, CrPC," the court said. As many as 31 FIRs have been lodged by the SIT under the category of cases in Tables II and III. During the hearing, the CFSL director assured the court that the reconstruction of the crime scene would be done expeditiously and he would ensure that the tasks pending with the department were completed at the earliest. The apex court had earlier directed the SIT to expedite its probe into the alleged fake encounters, which had come under the scanner of the NHRC, the Gauhati High Court and some commissions of inquiry. The court had, on February 12, expressed its displeasure over the progress of the SIT probe in these cases and observed that something was "terribly wrong". The court, which is hearing a PIL seeking a probe into as many as 1,528 cases of alleged extra-judicial killings in Manipur, had on July 14 last year set up the SIT and ordered registration of FIRs and a probe into the alleged extra-judicial killings in the north-eastern state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Meghan Markle's father, who followed his daughter's wedding to Prince Harry on TV from California, described it as "emotional and joyful," and voiced regret he was unable to attend, TMZ reported today. "My baby looks beautiful and she looks very happy. I wish I were there and I wish them all my love and all happiness," Thomas Markle said, according to the US celebrity website. Markle is recovering from heart surgery, and in the absence of her father, Meghan was brought to the altar by Prince Charles, now her father-in-law. Even before the announcement of the surgery, Thomas Markle's presence was in doubt after controversy erupted over the publication of seemingly staged photos showing him preparing for the wedding. Thomas Markle complained about being hounded by paparazzi before apparently agreeing to stage his own photos, an apparent bid to control his own image that backfired badly. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Spumante said: She doesn't even live in her district. She is a loony. Click to expand... Several lawmakers don't live in their district, about an even mix between Republicans and Democrats. Are they loons too?As far as political donations coming from within the district or out of it, the numbers run from 0% (Republican) to Maxine's 7% to a max of only 20% coming from within a congressperson's district.So, what's the solution? For years, I've been advocating making lobbying illegal, ending PAC's, and establishing a national tax or surcharge to finance elections with each candidate getting a certain amount to campaign on.Of course, the NRA would never let that happen, so as far as Maxine goes, as I said before, she represents and fights for the people of her district.She's doing her job. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti forgot to address state Governor N N Vohra in a gaffe today at an event attended here by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Vohra was among the dignitaries on the dais when Modi dedicated the 330 MW Kishanganga power project to the nation. As the chief minister was about to finish addressing them, she realised her mistake and apologised to the Governor. "I am sorry I forgot to mention the name of Governor sahib. I hope he will excuse me," an embarrassed Mehbooba said before continuing with her speech. The prime minister was in Srinagar during his day-long visit to the state, covering the three regions Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was today detained after he defied house arrest and tried to march towards Lal Chowk city centre hereto demand the resolution of the Kashmir issue during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state. Farooq, who was under house arrest, came out of his Nigeen residence and tried to march towards Lal Chowk, a police official said. He said a posse of policemen, waiting outside his house, took the Hurriyat chairman into preventive custody and shifted him to the Nigeen Police Station. Farooq yesterday said the government should allow the people to assemble at Lal Chowkso that they can convey their 'Mann ki Baat' to the prime minister during his visit today. Mr Modi all have been listening to your 'mann ki baat' for years now. As you come heretomorrow, allow us Kashmiris to peacefully gather at Lal Chowk so that you hear our 'Mann ki baat'! It's just three words-- Resolve Kashmir Dispute," Farooq had said in his address to Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid here. Separatists under the banner of Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) had asked people to observe a complete shutdown and march to Lal Chowk city centre to convey to Modi their demand for resolution of the Kashmir issue. The JRL, which comprises Mirwaiz, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mohammad Yasin Malik, had in a statement said, "India will try to use the visit of its prime minister to mislead the world community and its own people by claiming that people of Jammu and Kashmir are happy being part of India. The ground reality is that the situation in the state is like hell." Meanwhile, the police also took into custody several leaders and activists of the JKLF after they tried to march towards Lal Chowk. The JKLF activists were taken into custody near Maisuma, a JKLF spokesman said. He said they were immediately shifted to Kothibagh police station. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, separatist leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani were put under house arrest today as restrictions were imposed in parts of the city following their call to march towards Lal Chowk. The police reached the Hyderpora residence of Geelani and Naseem Bagh area residence of Farooq and conveyed to them the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir authorities of placing them under house arrest as a precautionary measure, officials said. "As the authoritarian rulers once again belie any claim to democracy by imposing #HouseArrests #Curfew #Restrictions #Barricades #Blockades closure of educational institutions on the visit of Indian PM to valley, I will peacefully march towards #LalChowk at 11 am," Farooq tweeted this morning. The separatists had given a call for a march to Lal Chowk, located in the heart of the city, to protest against the alleged violence by security forces in the valley. During his Friday sermons, Farooq had said that the one month suspension of anti-militancy operations in the Valley was not enough. He had urged the Centre to revoke draconian laws such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Public Safety Act besides initiating a dialogue process with Pakistan and the people of Kashmir, especially the separatist groups. Lal Chowk has been barricaded and all entry points sealed to prevent people from gathering in the area, the officials said. Tight security measures were placed in the entire city last night in the wake of the prime minister's arrival here this afternoon. Restrictions were imposed in downtown areas and vehicular movement, other than that of tourists, was bare minimum. The roads wore a deserted look as people preferred to remain indoors. A three-tier security ring has been been thrown around the city ahead of Modi's visit and all roads leading to the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre were blocked for any vehicular movement, According to the traffic police advisory, all roads leading to the venue would be closed till tomorrow afternoon until the prime minister is in the city. The river police wing of state police, the CRPF and the BSF have been deployed in the Dal lake while the Army has been asked to dominate the Zaberwan peak overlooking the venue where Modi would carry out the inaugurate a power project and a ring road around Srinagar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), founded by actor-politician Kamal Haasan today held deliberations with different political parties and farmers' organisations on the Cauvery dispute while the DMK and 'Superstar' Rajinikanth gave it a miss. While Kamal Haasan had personally invited DMK Working President MK Stalin, he had spoken to Rajinikanth over the phone seeking his participation in today's meeting. The meeting was attended by TTV Dhinakaran's Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) and Dr S Ramadoss-founded Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) besides some farmer's bodies. Stalin had earlier said DMK and its allies, including Congress, had decided not to attend the event as there was "no need" to do so. Responding to the abstention of DMK, Haasan said Stalin might have said so because "of a lack of understanding over what we had planned to do today." "If he had understood it, we believe he would not have said so," Haasan, flanked by PMK leader and its Lok Sabha MP Anbumani Ramadoss and AMMK functionary and former MLA Thanga Tamilselvan, told reporters after the meeting. Asked about Rajinikanth, Haasan's peer and aspiring politician, not attending the event, the MNM founder said he had wanted the former to participate. "When I invited him (over the phone) he said I (Haasan) had started a party but he was yet to and therefore how could he attend the event." "That was his view. My view is that he could have come," Haasan added. He said such meetings would continue and expressed hope that Rajinikanth would attend them in the future. Though Rajinikanth had announced in December 2017 that he will launch a political party which will contest from all 234 seats in the next Assembly elections, he has formally entered so far. When reporters asked if there would be any alliance between PMK and MNM for the local body polls, Ramadoss replied in the negative, saying was not at all discussed in today's meeting. "The deliberations revolved around farmers and Cauvery and how to save them," he said. Earlier, Haasan said topics discussed in today's meeting included a demand to declare the Cauvery delta region as a "protected agriculture zone" and more focus on addressing environmental issues. The Supreme Court had yesterday approved the Centre's draft Cauvery Management Scheme, for smooth distribution of water among four southern riparian states. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man was today attacked by a tiger in the buffer zone of Madhya Pradesh's Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, forest officials said, adding that he survived after thrusting the wooden handle of his axe into the animal's mouth. The incident occurred today morning in the forest near Barbaspur under Dhamokhar range in the tiger reserve's buffer zone, said Forest Ranger Vijay Shankar Shrivastava. "Rakesh Baiga (40) had gone to the area to pick tendu leaves along with other villagers. The tiger attacked him but he managed to save himself by thrusting the axe handle into its mouth," the official said. He said that the tiger fled into the forest after hearing the screams of the victim and others accompanying him. He added that Baiga sustained serious injuries to his body and also suffered a fracture in the jaw. "He has been shifted to Jabalpur for specialised treatment," the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over eight months after it set sail from Goa, the all-women crew of the Indian Navy on board the naval vessel INSV Tarini, will return to the state on Monday after the historic circumnavigation of the globe. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will welcome the all-women crew when it arrives near Panaji, from where they had embarked on the journey on September 10 last year. "The Defence Minister and Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba will be present for the flag-in ceremony of the ship near Panaji on Monday," a Navy spokesperson said. The expedition named 'Navika Sagar Parikrama' is led by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi and it is the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew, the spokesperson added. The crew also included Lt-Commanders Pratibha Jamwal and Swati P, and Lieutenants Aishwarya Boddapati, S Vijaya Devi and Payal Gupta. The six women officers trained under Captain Dilip Donde, the first Indian to solo-circumnavigate the globe in 2009-2010, the Navy official said. The expedition was sailed in six legs, with stopovers at the Fremantle (Australia), Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falkland Islands), Cape Town (South Africa) and Mauritius. "It covered 21,600 nautical miles in the Indian-built sailing vessel INSV Tarini that visited five countries and crossed the Equator twice, sailed across four continents and three oceans, and passed south of the three Great Capes - Leeuwin, Horn and Good Hope," the spokerperson said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NMCG Director General Rajiv Ranjan Mishra today reviewed progress of the Yamuna River Front Development (RFD) project 'Asita', being implemented by the DDA and asked officials to expedite the work, according to a statement. The project is named, Asita, which is another name of the Yamuna river. It aims to restore, revive and rejuvenate its flood plains and make them accessible to the people of Delhi. River Front walks, a major component of the project, will enable people to develop a relationship with Yamuna, it said. A special focus of the project is on reviving the river's bio-diversity in the national capital. National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) director general Mishra, along with other officials from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), visited sites that fall in the area being developed under first phase of the project on the western bank of the Yamuna spreading from Old Railway Bridge to ITO Barrage, the statement said. Followed by a detailed inspection of area near Vijay Ghat, the inspection team took stock of the progress of work at locations near DTC depot and the abandoned Raj Ghat power plant. A tree plantation activity was also undertaken on the occasion, it said. The project envisages creating a green buffer area approximately 300 m wide along the river edge with species of riverine ecology. Besides, a wide belt of 150 m along the peripheral roads will be developed as greenways for public amenities that will include a continuous trail of pathways and cycle tracks. To revive the ecosystem of the flood plains, wetlands will be created to store the flood waters and also to improve groundwater recharge which will eventually result in flourishing of bio-diversity in the flood plains, the statement said. "An environmentally conscious approach for integration of the river into the urban fabric of the city has been adopted. A people-friendly bio-diversity zone will be created for people to interact freely with the river's ecosystem, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A North Korean military officer, accompanied by a civilian, defected to the South across the Yellow Sea today, a South Korean report said, citing a government source. "A small boat was spotted in waters off the north of Baengnyeong Island" near the inter-Korean border, the source told Yonhap agency, adding that the officer, who holds the rank of major, and a civilian were aboard the vessel. "They expressed willingness to defect," he said. A Korea Coast Guard official said relevant authorities were investigating the case, declining to give details. The defection was the 14th involving a North Korean soldier since 2000. The last defection by a North Korean military officer took place in 2008, YTN TV said. It is the first defection by any North Korean since a historic summit between the two Koreas which saw their leaders agree to pursue the denuclearization of the peninsula and a permanent peace. In November last year, a North Korean soldier drove to the heavily-guarded border at speed and ran across under a hail of bullets from his own side. He was hit multiple times in the dramatic defection at Panmunjom truce village. In 2012 a North Korean soldier walked unchecked through rows of electrified fencing and surveillance cameras, prompting Seoul to sack three field commanders for a security lapse. In June last year, two of four crew members on a North Korean fishing boat which drifted to the South refused to return home and they were allowed resettle in the South. A month later, five North Koreans in another small boat crossed the sea border into South Korean waters and expressed their wish to live in the South. More than 30,000 North Korean civilians have fled their homeland but it is very rare for them to cross the closely guarded inter-Korean border, which is fortified with minefields and barbed wire. Most flee across the porous frontier with neighbouring China. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistani authorities have blocked the circulation of a leading English daily in many parts of the country, a media watchdog has alleged, days after the newspaper published ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif's controversial remarks on the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. The interview of Sharif, which reportedly displeased the Pakistan's powerful military establishment, appeared in Dawn newspaper's May 12 issue and the blocking began on May 15, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said as it condemned the "latest attack on media freedom in Pakistan". According to RSF, distribution is being disrupted in most of Balochistan province, many cities in Sindh province and in all military cantonments. Sharif dropped a bombshell in an interview with Dawn newspaper last week when he said: "Militant organisations are active. Call them non-state actors, should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Explain it to me. Why can't we complete the trial?" His comments triggered a massive controversy, drawing sharp criticism from all quarters. The National Security Committee (NSC) - Pakistan's top civil-military body - also condemned his statement in a high-level meeting. The Press Council of Pakistan has notified Dawn's editor that the newspaper breached the ethical code of practice by publishing content that "may bring into contempt Pakistan or its people or tends to undermine its sovereignty or integrity as an independent country". "The unwarranted blocking of the distribution of one of the main independent newspapers has yet again shown that the military are determined to maintain their grip on access to and information in Pakistan," RSF said. "It is clear that the military high command does not want to allow a democratic debate in the months preceding a general election. "We call on the authorities to stop interfering in the dissemination of independent media and to restore distribution of Dawn throughout Pakistan," RSF added. Several lawmakers on both sides of the aisle had fired a broadside at Nawaz for statement about the Mumbai attack, with some going as far as demanding that the PML-N supremo be tried for high treason; that his name be placed on the Exit Control List, and a thorough investigation be undertaken to determine the reasons behind the statement made by three-time prime minister. Ten Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants from Pakistan killed 166 people and wounded dozens in Mumbai in November, 2008. Nine of the attackers were killed by police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was caught. Kasab was executed after a court found him guilty and handed down the deathsentence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan is giving finishing touches to its action plan that proposes measures for combating money laundering and terror financing to prevent itself from being placed on the grey list of a global watchdog next month, according to a media report. A compliance report has been submitted by the Pakistani government to the Asia-Pacific Group (APG) a sub-group within the Paris-based watchdog Financial Action Task Force detailing the steps taken thus far and those that will be taken in the future to bring Pakistan's financial, regulatory and legal landscape into compliance with the watchdog's requirements, Dawn reported. On Friday, a meeting was convened at the Foreign Office to review the proposed actions which are to be discussed with APG joint working group in Bangkok next week. This was the last in a series of meetings taking place within the government as officials race to meet the June deadline by when Pakistan will be placed on the FATF grey list. A senior official in the finance ministry was quoted as saying in the report that a delegation from Pakistan would depart within the next few days for consultations with the APG's Joint Working Group in Bangkok. That meeting will discuss the steps proposed by Pakistan to be taken after June to exit the grey list. The report has been drawn up by the Financial Monitoring Unit, a department housed in the State Bank of Pakistan, according to sources with knowledge of the matter. The FATF earlier sent an email to the SBP highlighting its concerns over the amnesty scheme introduced by the government in its last budget. The email points out that Pakistan is required to inform FATF before announcing any such scheme. To address their concerns, Pakistan included a provision to specify that proceeds of crime are not eligible' for the amnesty scheme. The senior official confirmed that the placement of Pakistan on the grey list was set to commence in June. He said the action plan drawn up by the government would set conditions for Pakistan to meet in a period of one year, the report said. None of those working on the matter were willing to discuss the details of the action plan. "Whatever conditions are being finalised, we will implement it administratively," one source said. The details of action plan remained under negotiation with the FATF and set to be finalised by next month, the official said. Pakistan was listed as grey in 2012 but was removed in 2015 after strenuous efforts to address the concerns of the group. The US spearheaded the latest efforts to place Pakistan on the Grey List and was supported by the UK, France and Germany. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was set up in 1989 with a primary aim to set standards to combat money laundering, but in 2001 its mandate was expanded to include countering terror financing. It can take action against any country by including a country in black or grey lists. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thank God you're not the leader of our Country, you'd still be kissing the asses of all other nations on this planet, and appeasing ISIS, and Hamas at every turn, Iran would be well on it's way to nuking Israel, and North Korea would be planning it's first strike against Guam, oh, and our economy would be in the crapper. I could go on and on but sorry just doesn't cut it when lives, and one's Country are at stake. -_- The Congress and several other parties today hit out at the BJP, claiming all attempts to use money and muscle power failed in Karnataka and asked the saffron party to take lessons from the episode. Soon after B S Yeddyurappa resigned as the chief minister, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi launched a strong attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that "he is corruption" and his claims of fighting it were "a blatant lie". He also said that the opposition parties will now on unite to fight the BJP-RSS and defeat it in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. "The idea that the prime minister spreads around the country that he is fighting corruption is a blatant lie. He is a corruption. He is doing everything to subvert this nation and he is doing it across the board," he said at a press conference. An aggressive Gandhi alleged that there were phone conversations of MLAs being attempted to be purchased by the BJP, saying, "That was directly authorised from Delhi." "In the end, India's voice and democratic spirit will always triumph over tyranny," he later tweeted, saying 'satyamev jayate' (the truth shall prevail). The Congress leader said he was very proud that the parties opposed to the BJP, stood together and defeated it in Karnataka and "we will continue to do" so. "We will protect the voice of the people in every state, wherever we feel the BJP is attacking the people...The opposition will unite and coordinate and defeat the BJP (in 2019). We are going to work to defeat the BJP," he said. Noting that he is not a casteist and does not believe in untouchability, he said the Congress, along with other parties will continue to fight the BJP-RSS. As the three-day-old BJP government collapsed in Karnataka, without facing a floor test, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, BSP's Mayawati, SP's Akhilesh Yadav, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav and Left leaders dubbed it as a victory of democracy and truth. Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Banerjee termed it as a "victory of the regional front" and of democracy. "Democracy wins. Congratulations Karnataka. Congratulations DeveGowda Ji, Kumaraswamy Ji, Congress and others. Victory of the 'regional' front (sic)," she tweeted as she greeted JD(S) leaders H D Deve Gowda and H D Kumaraswamy as well as those of the Congress party. The BJP, however, put up a brave face with Union minister Prakash Javadekar saying the party knows how to "respect democracy" and the Congress was treating an electoral defeat as a victory. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar claimed that the new government would not last long as it was an "unholy nexus." Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati said the use of money power and state machinery is not always helpful, as she asked the BJP to take lessons from the fall of its government in Karnataka. With its "defeat" in Karnataka, BJP's dream of capturing every state has suffered a setback, she said. "The governors appointed by the BJP are under pressure of working according to the party's diktats," she alleged, asking them to step down instead of succumbing to pressure. She also said the Supreme Court ensured that BJP's "designs" are defeated. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav termed the collapse of the Yeddyurappa government as a "victory of the people's mandate" and asked the central government to resign on moral grounds. "Those who thought they could buy everyone have learnt the lesson that there are still people left who don't consider a business," he said in Hindi on Twitter. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav also took to Twitter, saying, "Truth can never be defeated! Truth will always defeat a lie or liar!." Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that BJP's attempt to "subvert democracy" in Karnataka "failed miserably". "BJP's attempts to subvert democracy have miserably failed in Karnataka. BJP's lust for power through foul means stands completely exposed. Will BJP learn any lesson now? India's judiciary has risen to the occasion and has safeguarded our democracy," he said on Twitter. Left parties termed Yeddyurappa's resignation without a trust vote as "victory of secular democratic forces". "It's a victory of secular democratic forces. The BJP never had the numbers, but the governor invited them to form government. The party was given time for horse-trading. Karnataka showed that the BJP's downslide has started," CPI leader D Raja said. In his press conference, Gandhi also alleged that everybody in this country knows that the prime minister's model of leadership is not that of a democratic person "It is that of a dictator. Everybody knows that. You know, I know that. The Supreme Court knows that. Even the prime minister knows that." Asked whether he supports the demand for resignation of Governor Vajubhai Vala, he said, "The governor has no choice...Yes, it's a good idea if he resigns, but I can guarantee you that under the BJP rule the next man will do exactly the same thing." Senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram said democracy in Karnataka was saved for the time being. "Poor Mr Yeddyurappa. When the puppeteers fail, the puppet falls and breaks," he tweeted. Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala said the BJP's "operation lotus" to poach legislators from other parties has failed and democracy has won in Karnataka. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A court here today summoned Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad, who is serving sentences in three fodder scam cases in a Ranchi jail and is out on a six-week provisional bail on medical grounds, in connection with a defamation case. Sub-judge Om Prakash passed the order, taking cognizance of a complaint lodged by a member of the Bihar Disaster Management Authority, Udaykant Mishra, who has accused the RJD chief of making disparaging remarks about his friendship with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The court posted the matter for further hearing next month. The RJD supremo had allegedly made the defamatory remarks at a rally in Bhagalpur in September last year. He had also attacked the Nitish Kumar government over the multi-crore-rupee Srijan scam in Bhagalpur. Prasad had allegedly referred to the close friendship between Mishra and Kumar and claimed that the chief minister stayed at the former's house and not at the circuit house, whenever he toured Bhagalpur. The Srijan scam, which involves fraudulent withdrawal of money from the treasury by an NGO, is being investigated by the CBI. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Concerned over depleting underground water levels, the Punjab Local Bodies department has decided to supply canal water for drinking purposes to Ludhiana, Amritsar and Patiala. Punjab Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said the need for immediate measures to check the rapid decline and deterioration of ground water has been realised by the state government. The state government has already initiated the process of switching to surface water (canal water) based water supply for three cities of Ludhiana, Amritsar and Patiala, an official release said. Detailed proposals were made by the Department of Local Government under the guidance of Principal Secretary A Venu Parsad and CEO of PMIDC Ajoy Sharma for supplying treated potable water through canal in these three cities. Sidhu said considering huge investment requirement in this project, the Punjab government has approached the Centre for arranging funds through external funding agencies such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB). He said the Union government will send the proposal to the World Bank for Ludhiana and Amritsar and to ADB for Patiala, for the assistance and fund allocations. The total cost pertaining to the implementation of the project in the three cities is Rs 3,508.10 crore, the minster said, adding the process of approval and sanctioning of loan from lending agencies and selection of contractor is expected to be completed within 12 to 14 months. Drinking water supply system of Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala is based on ground water, he said. The cities have witnessed sharp decline in ground water levels in the last few years. The situation is worsening due to unregulated and over extraction of ground water. As per the reports of Central Ground Water Board, the groundwater levels in these cities have declined at an alarming rate of approximate one metre per year in last three-four years. The report mentioned that the extraction of ground water in these cities was 150 per cent more than the net groundwater availability, and therefore, these areas have been declared in 'dark zone' category. Giving citywise details, Sidhu said water for Ludhiana city, with a population of more than 16 lakh according to the 2011 census, is proposed to be served through Sidhwan canal. The proposed works will include water treatment facilities, transmission network, additional storage facilities and revamping of old and damaged distribution system of the city area. Amritsar with population of 11.37 lakh will be served treated surface water from MBL canal. The works will require investment of about Rs 1,339.24 crore. The city of Patiala, with a population of 4.45 lakh, will get water from Bhakra canal and will require investments of the order of Rs 700 crore, for construction of new facilities and revamping of existing distribution system. The deterioration of groundwater quality is the major concern in the cities. The CGWB reports indicate that groundwater in shallow aquifers of Ludhiana and Amritsar, closer to industrial units, was contaminated due to presence of heavy metals. The deeper aquifers has also started showing water quality deterioration as the values of certain parameters such as hardness, total dissolved solids, alkalinity are exceeding the acceptable limits of drinking water as per the norms. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Yami Gautam is prepping hard for her role of an intelligence officer in upcoming film "Uri". As part of her training, the "Kaabil" actor will soon start learning Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). "The prep work for 'Uri' has just begun. In terms of the action training, we are shortlisting best options and MMA is a crucial part of the role and that's why intense training for that will be what time would be invested in," Yami said in a statement. "The MMA is more to suit the body language which the script demands. Playing an intelligence officer on screen commands a certain degree of discipline and needs a body mannerism which is tough and MMA training will serve exactly that," she added. "Uri", to be directed by Aditya Dhar, is based on Indian Army's surgical strikes across the LoC. "Raazi" star Vicky Kaushal will be playing the role of a commander-in-chief who led the 2016 surgical strike in Uri. The film produced by Ronnie Screwvala's production arm, RSVP, will go on floors soon. Yami will be next seen in "Batti Gul Metre Chaalu" alongside Shahid Kapoor. She is playing a lawyer in the film. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today kickstarted work for Zojila tunnel, Asia's longest and strategic bi-directional tunnel, to provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh. The prime minister who is on a day's visit to all the three regions -- Leh, Kashmir and Jammu-- of Jammu and Kashmir also attended the closing ceremony pof the 100th birth anniversary celebrations of the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche (Buddhist spiritual guru) here. The tunnel will cutting down the time taken to cross the Zojila pass from three and a half hours presently to just fifteen minutes. Zojila pass is situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National highway and remains closed during winters due to heavy snowfall cutting off Ladakh region from Kashmir through roads. The project aims at construction of 14.15 kilometer long two lane bi-directional single tube tunnel. At the ceremony here, Modi said projects worth Rs 25,000 crore would either be initiated or inaugurated today in all three regions and it showed the commitment of the central and the state governments towards the speedy development of the state. On developmental work carried in the country after forming his government, he said 18,000 villages which did not receive power since Independence have been given electrical connectivity within 1,000 days. There are four crore households in the country which do not have electricity even after 70 years of Independence and they will be given power connections within a year and a half, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Odisha on May 26 and address a public meeting at Cuttack, BJP state president Basant Panda said here today. The Prime Minister's visit is being held on the occasion of the NDA government at the Centre completing four years in office, Panda said. The NDA came to power on May 26, 2014. Modi's visit is significant in wake of the state BJP's defeat in the recent Bijepur bypoll and certain urban polls, though the party had performed well in the last year's panchayat elections. Both the Lok Sabha polls and state Assembly election will be held next year. A team of senior BJP leaders visited the venue of the prime minister's meeting, the Bali Jatra ground, at Cuttack on the bank of river Mahanadi last night, Panda said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two of Prince Harry's ex-girlfriends were among thousands of guests who attended the star-studded royal wedding at the iconic St George's Chapel today. Chelsy Davy, 32 and Cressida Bonas, 28, were all smiles as they arrived at the Chapel to watch their ex-boyfriend take Meghan Markle, 36, to be his lawfully wedded wife. Davy had an on-off relationship with the 33-year-old Prince between 2004 and 2011.. They have remained friends after going their separate ways seven years ago and she has been a regular feature at royal functions, The Telegraph reported. Davy arrived in a navy Alaia dress and matching fascinator, with Bonas was seen wearing a colourful gown by Eponine London. Harry is also said to have remained on friendly terms with Bonas since their relationship ended in 2015. Davy and the Prince originally met in Cape Town, South Africa, while he was on his gap year, the report said. Bonas dated Harry for three years between 2012 and 2015. It is thought that the pair were originally introduced through Princess Eugenie. She apparently struggled with the scrutiny of her love life and wanted to pursue her career as an actress. She is on amicable terms with the Prince and attended the Invictus Games after they split, but they are not particularly close, the report said. "2,640 people were invited from charities close to the couple, as well as 1,200 people who were nominated by their Lord Lieutenants," The Royal Family tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It's wedding day for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the iconic St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle today, months after the couple announced their engagement to the world. The 36-year-old bride will arrive with her mother, Doria Ragland, and then be walked down the aisle by Harry's father, Prince Charles, to exchange her wedding vows at the altar at 1200 noon local time. The wedding will be telecast live across the world. Harry and Meghan will be Duke and Duchess of Sussex after their wedding today, Kensington Palace said. After an hour-long ceremony, which will include hymns and readings, the newly-weds are set to take a tour of Windsor city centre in a traditional open-top Ascot landau horse-drawn carriage. On the eve of their wedding, Prince Harry, 33, came out to mingle with the crowds in Windsor and told then he was feeling "relaxed". Markle said she was feeling "wonderful" as she arrived with her mother at Cliveden Hotel near the wedding venue. Her mother is the only member of her family to attend the wedding after Markle announced earlier in the week that "sadly" her father, Thomas Markle, would not be walking her down the aisle due to health reasons. As many as 100,000 people are expected to line the streets of Windsor, around 41 kms from London, hoping to catch a glimpse of the happy couple. A total of 2,640 people are expected to be among the invited guests within the castle grounds. Four Indian women from Myna Mahila Foundation, the Mumbai charity chosen by the royal couple among six others as beneficiaries of donations in lieu of wedding presents, dressed in their brightly-coloured saris will be among this group. Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, a close friedn of Meghan, will also be present at the wedding. Around 30 members of the royal family including Queen Elizabeth II, 92, and the 96-year-old Duke of Edinburgh, who is well enough to attend after undergoing a recent hip operation, will be part of the formal wedding party. According to the official order of ceremony between "His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and Ms Meghan Markle", the couple will pledge themselves to one another, saying: "For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part." Harry, the sixth in line to the British throne, will pledge to love, comfort, honour and protect his former actress bride as they become husband and wife. Markle, a divorcee, has chosen not to read out the archaic part of the wedding vows about wanting to "obey" her husband and Prince Harry has chosen to have a wedding ring. The ceremony will be officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, with the service broadcast to millions across the world. "There's profound affection between them which is wonderful and a deep understanding and mutual support," he said. Markle has 10 bridesmaids and pageboys, all under the age of eight, including Harry's nephew and niece Prince George and Princess Charlotte, the children of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, the 27th presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church, from Chicago, will give an address at the wedding and the Rt Rev David Conner, Dean of Windsor, will conduct the service. As a representative of Harry's late mother's side of the family, Lady Jane Fellowes, the sister of Diana, Princess of Wales, will give a reading. As the bride and groom sign the wedding register, 19-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason winner of the 2016 BBC's Young Musician will perform three pieces by Faure, Schubert and Maria Theresia von Paradis, with musicians from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the English Chamber Orchestra and the Philharmonia. Each detail has been chosen by the royal couple to blend traditional elements of British pageantry with a modern outlook and English customs blended with an American influence, as a nod to Markle's country of birth. Most of the ceremony will see the Prince and Markle referred to simply as "Harry and Meghan", instead of the usual full repetition of their full names: Prince Henry Charles Albert David and Rachel Meghan Markle. The guests will then attend a lunchtime reception at St. George's Hall in the Castle, hosted by the Queen the groom's grandmother. During this reception, Markle will reportedly break with tradition for royal brides and make a speech. Later today the newly-weds will celebrate with 200 close friends and family at a private reception less than a mile from Windsor Castle at Frogmore House, hosted by Prince Charles the groom's father. The couple had a whirlwind romance after being set up on a blind date by a mutual friend last year. They announced their engagement on November 27 2017, during which Harry said the "stars were aligned" when the "beautiful" actress, best-known for her role in the TV series 'Suits', "tripped and fell" into his life. The couple will live in Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace as a married couple, where their neighbours will be Prince William and Kate - Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. With the weather forecast said to be ideal for a wedding day offering sunshine and light breeze, hundreds of royal wedding street parties are also planned across the length and breadth of the UK. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after intense shelling and firing by Pakistan left five people including a BSF jawan dead here, the situation on the International Border (IB) in Jammu region remained by and large peaceful but schools in the affected areas were closed as a precautionary measure for the second day today, officials said. Barring minor incidents of firing at two places during the night, the IB in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts remained almost peaceful compared to the past few days, a senior BSF officer said. He said a few shots were fired at the Indian side in Samba and Akhnoor sectors in the early hours today. Four civilians and a BSF jawan were killed while 12 others were injured yesterday as the Pakistan Rangers rained mortar shells on villages and border outposts in one of the worst ceasefire violations on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jammu and Kashmir, triggering fear and panic among the border residents. Modi arrived in Leh district of Ladakh region this morning and was scheduled to reach here later in the day after visiting Srinagar to inaugurate several development projects and address a convocation of a university here. The firing from across the border started on May 15 when the BSF foiled two infiltration bids in Samba sector, resulting in the death of a jawan manning a forward post. A day earlier, a group of five suspected terrorists were noticed moving into Hiranagar sector of Kathua district, prompting a massive search operation. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Jammu Arun Manhas said over 50 families were displaced due to yesterday's intense Pakistani shelling in R S Pura, Bishnah and Arnia sectors of Jammu, and were provided shelter at different camps by the government. Schools within five kilometres from the International Border remained closed as a precautionary measure, he told PTI. He said though there was no report of firing since yesterday afternoon, several precautionary steps have been taken to avoid civilian casualties and the camps activated for the displaced persons have been provided all required facilities. Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a spurt in Pakistani shelling and firing along the IB and the Line of Control (LoC) this year. Over 700 incidents of ceasefire violations were reported so far, which left 38 people including 18 security personnel dead and scores injured. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Buoyed by today's collapse of the 3-day-old BJP government in Karnataka, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi launched a strong attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of authorising buying off MLAs and disrespecting institutions. Gandhi also said while Modi talks of fighting corruption, "he is corruption". Shortly of B S Yeddyurappa announced his resignation as the chief minister in the Karnataka Assembly, the Congress president told reporters that the prime minister was not bigger than India, the Supreme Court and institutions. He hailed the unity shown by the Congress-JD(S) combine and said the opposition parties will work together to defeat the BJP. People saw how BJP MLAs, the Speaker left the House before the national anthem was played. It shows they don't respect institutions," Gandhi said. Prime Minister Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah do not respect any institution...This is the idea we are fighting, he said. Gandhi also said that he hoped that the BJP and the RSS "learn lessons" from the political developments in the southern state. The Supreme Court had yesterday ordered a floor test in the Assembly at 4 pm today, drastically slashing the 15-day window given by Governor Vajubhai Vala to Yeddyurappa to prove his majority. To a question, Gandhi said that it is a good idea that the governor should tender his resignation. The Congress chief, however, added that one who replaced Vala may do the same thing. Targeting Modi, Gandhi alleged, The prime minister authorised, encouraged buying off MLAs. He talks of fighting corruption, but he is corruption. Earlier, Yeddyurappa announced his decision to resign without facing a trust vote in the Assembly. "I am going to resign as the chief minister....I will go to Raj Bhavan and submit my resignation," he said. "I will not face the confidence vote....I am going to resign," he told the Assembly after a brief emotional speech. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One of India's most loved authors Ruskin Bond turned 84 today and celebrated the day amid children and also launched his latest book, which is inspired by a letter from one of his many fans in Sri Lanka. On the occasion, he spent time in the evening at his favourite bookstore, Cambridge, with hundreds of children and adults alike and cut a cake which had the book jacket image of his latest work "Ranji and the Music Maker". Bond had a special message for children on his birthday: look for books that interest you and read them. "Remember, once a reader always a reader. So look for books that you like, if possible set up your own library and develop the habit of reading," he said. Children who share their birthday with Bond also cut the cake with him. Today's celebrations were no less than a festival with kids and adults across the town and beyond waiting in long queues outside the store for their favourite author to sign a book for them or click a selfie with them. Penguin Random House has been celebrating Bond's birthday here for the past several years. Published by Penguin Random House imprint Puffin India, "Ranji and the Music Maker" is about young Ranji who once in the middle of his languid holiday, stumbles upon assorted musical instruments in the storeroom - first a shrill flute, then a blaring little trumpet and, finally, a too-big drum that may have once sounded a battle march. He stages impromptu concerts down the road, not sparing his neighbours, the cats around his porch, or the peace-loving inhabitants of the zoo. But all Ranji is really seeking is a friend who'll hear the magic in his din. "Ranji and the Music Maker" has illustrations by Sayan Mukherjee. "The book was set off, inspired you might say, by the photograph of a small boy playing his flute for a kitten sent to me by a reader in Sri Lanka. I imagined the little boy as Ranji," said Bond. Bond was born in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, and grew up in Jamnagar, Dehradun, New Delhi and Shimla. As a young man, he spent four years in the Channel Islands and London. He returned to India in 1955. He now lives in Landour, Mussoorie with his adopted family. At the age of eight, Bond escaped his jail-like boarding school in the hills and went on to live with his father in Delhi. His time in the capital is filled with books, visits to the cinema, music, and walks and conversations with his father a dream life for a curious and wildly imaginative boy, which turns tragic all too soon. His first novel "The Room on the Roof", written when he was 17, received the John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then, Bond has written a number of novellas, essays, poems and children's books. He has also written over 500 short stories and articles that have appeared in magazines and anthologies. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1993, the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a shocking incident, a manager of a private school was arrested for attempting to rape a six-year-old girl student in Muzaffarnagar's Jansath town, police said. The accused, Ajay Garg, believed to be in his early 30s, was arrested yesterday from his residence following a complaint by the girl's father, Circle Officer SKS Pratap said. According to police, Garg had been sexually harassing the kindergarten student for some days but out of fear, the victim kept mum. On Friday, Garg took the girl to a vacant room in the school and tried to sexually assault her, but the girl raised an alarm, police said. Gripped by panic, Garg let the girl go. She then informed her parents about the ordeal as well as the previous sexual advances that the accused had made. Garg has been booked under various sections of the IPC and the POCSO Act, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Shiv Sena today took out a march in Aurangabad city to protest alleged bias of police in the aftermath of the violence last week. The march was taken out despite the police yesterday denying the permission. It started at Paithan Gate and was to head for the Divisional Commissioner's office, but police forced the procession to move towards the SB College ground. Sena MP Chandrakant Khaire, who led the march, alleged that police wrongfully arrested Hindus. Clashes in this central Maharashtra city on May 11 had claimed two lives. According to police, local unrest over the civic authority's action against illegal water connections led to the riot, which soon got a communal colour. Police have arrested Laxminarayan Bakharia, alleged mastermind of the violence, Shiv Sena corporator Rajendra Janjal and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) corporator Feroz Khan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Several Congress workers, who had gathered to welcome state unit chief Kamal Nath here, today lost their wallets to pickpockets, police said. "Incidents of pickpocketing were reported when workers and leaders of the Congress had gathered near a helipad at New Betul ground. Several victims have filed police complaints," said Kotwali police station in charge Rajesh Sahu. He said that one of the victims had stated that he lost Rs 55,000 while two others had lost Rs 15,000 and Rs 12,000. He said that efforts were underway to nab the pickpockets. Nath was here to attend a convention organised by the Congress' district committee. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today lashed out at the Shiromani Akali Dal, saying the opposition party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and his wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal were indulging in "petty politicking" on the issue of farmers' plight. He said the people of the state, particularly the distressed farmers, had expected the former deputy chief minister and his union minister wife to pressure the central government to come to the rescue of the farming community. "But far from doing so, the Badals were simply indulging in petty politicking on such a sensitive issue, which was a matter of life or death for the farmers," Singh said in a statement here. He said that instead of asking the BJP-led central government, in which the SAD is a part and Harsimrat a minister, to come out in support of the Punjab government's programmes to alleviate the sufferings of the farmers, Badal was leaving no opportunity to undermine the state government's efforts on this count. The chief minister also dismissed as "ridiculous and baseless" the SAD chief's reported allegation that he was "trying to pass the buck" on farm loan waiver. He lashed out at the SAD president for "trying to mislead the farmers" with his "brazenly false and unfounded" statement. Singh said had the SAD-BJP government done anything for the state's farmers during their 10-year rule, the farming community would not be under such acute distress today. While his government, said the Chief Minister, was doing everything in its powers to bring succour to the beleaguered farmers, the "financial mess" left by the Badals and their government prevented it from give immediate total relief to them, necessitating the Centre's intervention. He said a total of Rs 999.98 crore worth of cooperative bank loans of 2,02,186 farmers had already been waived, and the waiver of the remaining debt of farmers in this category would be given by November this year, notwithstanding the "financial mess" inherited by his government from the previous government. Singh also sought to know if the Centre did not have any responsibility towards the farmers of Punjab, considering that the agrarian problem has "assumed the proportions of a national crisis". "While my government will continue to find ways and means of waiving the debts of the farmers, as promised, the farming community will not forget or forgive the treatment meted out to them by the Akalis, led by the Badals," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Holder Elina Svitolina dominated Anett Kontaveit 6-4, 6-3 in 74 minutes today to reach a second straight final at the Italian Open. The Ukrainian will play for the trophy in Sunday against the winner of the high-profile semi-final between Maria Sharapova and top seed Simona Halep. The first meeting between Svitolina and Kontaveit featured four breaks of serve in the first eight games, with the fourth-seeded defending champion snatching the early lead after 39 minutes. Svitolina moved to 3-1 in the second set, reached 5-3 with an ace and served out victory a game later on her second match point. "I'm very proud of myself already that I reached the final. You know, it was really tough, from the beginning, from the first match," world number four Svitolina said. "I work for these kind of matches, I work on it every day. When my opponent tries to hit everything, I have an answer. "And when my opponent tries to play maybe a little bit more into court I can attack, so that's an answer. "Today, I think I was very solid with my performance. And this was really, really good. I'm very proud of this, that I could stay really consistent all match." Kontaveit, ranked 26th, has been on a roll against top-10 opponents, upsetting second-ranked Caroline Wozniacki and No.9 Venus Williams this week. "It was definitely a really good week for me. She was really tough today and played really great. I'm only taking the positives from this week," the Estonian said. "She had an answer to everything I gave her, it made me maybe try and do too much or do things I didn't want to do." Svitolina will be bidding to win her eighth successive final dating back to last season as she bids for a third title this year after winning in Brisbane and Dubai. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A student who killed 10 people, including a Pakistani exchange student, at a school in the US state of Texas told investigators that he had spared certain students so he could have his story told. Dimitrios Pagourtzis, 17, walked into Santa Fe High School yesterday armed with guns and explosives and opened fire at students. He has been charged with capital murder and aggravated assault of a police officer. Dazed and bruised community is still confused about the happenings after the shooting. They are heart broken and mourning the deaths of innocent lives lost in the shooting and preparing for mass funerals soon. A Pakistani exchange student, Sabika Sheikh is amongst the 8 students and two teachers killed. Cynthia Tisdale, a substitute teacher in her 60s, also died in the shooting. They say her three children and eight grandchildren were her passion. Another Substitute teacher Ann Perkins was among those who died. According to those who knew her, she was a beloved teacher and was well-loved in the community. Several students tweeted, calling her the "sweetest lady" and a hero. One of the most critically injured victims was Santa Fe ISD police officer John Barnes, who was shot when he confronted Pagourtzis. Officer Barnes, 47, remains in critical condition. The suspect told investigators that he had spared certain students so he could have his story told, the authorities said. A Galveston County Sheriff's Office investigator wrote in an affidavit that Dimitrios Pagourtzis had waived his right to remain silent and had given a statement admitting to shooting multiple people. The investigator, identified only as J. Roy, also wrote that Mr. Pagourtzis had said that he did not shoot students he did like so he could have his story told. President Donald Trump and Governor Greg Abbott ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of the victims. "We grieve for the terrible loss of life, and send our support and love to everyone affected by this horrible attack in Texas. To the students, families, teachers and personnel at Santa Fe High School we are with you in this tragic hour, and we will be with you forever," President Trump said in a tweet. Texas Governor Abbott said at a conference that "unlike Parkland, unlike Sutherland Springs, there were not those types of warning signs." He was referring to the Feb. 14 school shooting in Florida and one in November inside a church in a town near San Antonio. In addition to Pagourtzis, two others were detained, said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. It is not clear if they are connected to the shooting. There were also disturbing hints on his social media pages, including photos with a gun and knife, a "Born to Kill" t-shirt and a coat with a Nazi medallion and other symbols of evil and rebellion. Police say Pagourtzis also planted explosive devices in and around the school, which is located about 30 miles southeast of Houston. They warned there might be other devices out there and Santa Fe residents should stay alert. However, a motive wasn't immediately clear for the nation's deadliest attack since February. Pagourtzis was held without bond in the Galveston County Jail on charges of capital murder and assault of a peace officer, said the county sheriff, Henry Trochesset. Court documents show Pagourtzis hid a shotgun and .38-caliber revolver under a trench coat, walked into the school around 7:30 a.m. and began firing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A government ayurveda hospital here will start the treatment of thalassaemia patients with goat blood under a project funded by the Punjab government and the Centre, a medical officer working at the hospital said. A fund of Rs 35 lakh has already been released by the Union Ministry of Health for the project, Hemant Kumar, medical officer at the Government Ayurvedic Hospital, said. In addition, the Punjab government has also contributed Rs 13 lakh for the project, he said, adding that the treatment is likely to start in four-five months. "Goat blood is injected into a patient's body through the rectum. This does not let the haemoglobin level in the patient drop. Over a period, the patient no longer needs blood transfusion. Initially, blood has to be given four times and the frequency is reduced to three times and later two times and so on till the patient is fully cured," Kumar said. However, when contacted, A G Thomas, a former director of the CMC Hospital, said there was "no substantial proof in this form of randomised control trial". He said those practising it should publish their line of treatment in international medical journals. Kumar and Shevali Arora, another doctor working at the hospital, would be in charge of the new method of treatment. They have been trained at an Ahmedabad hospital. The Akhandanand Ayurvedic Hospital Ahmedabad in Gujarat is already running such a programme, Kumar said. Atul Bakar from Gujarat was the first to start this treatment, Kumar claimed. The equipment for the purpose are being procured. This is a 5,000-year-old method, but nobody was practising it till Bakar took the initiative and tried it successfully, claimed Vatsyayan, another ayurvedic expert. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Anupam Kher, who plays the role of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in "The Accidental Prime Minister", says it is the most difficult film of his career as he has to get every little nuance right. The film is based on the book of the same name, written by Sanjay Baru, who served as the media advisor of Manmohan Singh from 2004 to 2008. "I am approaching this part of Dr Manmohan Singh completely from an actor's point of view. There is a book and screenplay for reference. I have worked on it for six months. It is the most difficult film as he is the most visible person and so it is not easy to portray him. "Also, the world knows him. His language, his movement... so it is more difficult. I need to internalise the character and be that person," Kher told PTI. The actor says the fact that he has to make audiences believe that the person they are seeing on-screen is Dr Singh, makes the film even tougher. "Lot of mimics can do a better job than me. But I think for two hours for audience to believe that this can be Dr Manmohan Singh is most important. "It is too early to talk about it in detail. The first look has made me both happy and nervous. It is a two hour film and it is being made on huge canvas," Kher says. To bring more honesty to his performance, the actor is watching, a lot of material that is available on Internet, besides following the script. The film is being made in English and Hindi by debutant Vijay Ratnakar Gutte and it produced by Bohra Brothers. Kher, who has been vocal about various issues on the social media, believes that it is sad that when somebody gives "opinion on social causes or on the country", people say he should "join politics". "My comment as an individual is sufficient to make a difference to even five percent of people. Whenever I talk about country, people say I should join politics, if ever that happens, I think never say never about anything. "But in the coming years it is not happening. If that ever happens I will scream from rooftops as I would need people. Currently, the idea is no (to join politics)," he adds. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pravin Togadia, who recently quit the Vishwa Hindu Parishad today hit out at the Centre for suspending security operations in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan and demanded its withdrawal. Referring to Pakistani shelling that killed civilians and a BSF jawan yesterday in Jammu, the hardline right wing leader said, "Pakistan is waging war in the month of Ramzan and we are talking of peace." He said, the "Central government's decision to stop security forces not to use weapons against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir during Ramzan is demoralising and humiliating security forces and encouraging Jihadi terrorism." Togadia, who after over three decades of association with the VHP quit the organisation on April 14, said, "I condemn this decision of the Central government and demand that it be withdrawn."Asking the Centre to get tough with Pakistan, he said Pakistan had nothing to do with Ramzan as it did not hesitate to 'kill' civilians and security personnel during the holy month. In a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, "Indian Prime Minister is much more concerned with Ramzan and that is hurting the nation." His comments come at a time when Narendra Modi is on a visit of Jammu and Kashmir today. Togadia, who had to quit the VHP following reported differences with the RSS for targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Ram temple issue, wanted all trade relations with Pakistan severed including imports. Asked if he would go back to the VHP, he evaded a direct reply and said his resolve to work for the Hindu society continued as before. On the circumstances that forced him to quit the VHP, a key Sangh Parivar outfit, he said "let us look forward," adding he continued to work for the peace and prosperity of Hindus everywhere. Togadia was here to launch free legal aid, and healthcare services for needy Hindus. The free services also include providing free rice to indigent among the Hindus, he said adding such services were already available in several States including Kerala in the south and it was now being expanded to Tamil Nadu. The firebrand leader has been critical of the Prime Minister on several issues and he had slammed Modi for calling 'gau-rakshaks,' (cow protectors) as 'gundas' (goons). On May 16, the Home Ministry had announced conditional suspension of security operations in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of Prime Minister Modi's visit during Ramzan, a move seen as a bid to bring peace and provide a conducive atmosphere in the restive valley. The Ministry had however said that the security forces, reserved the right to retaliate if attacked or if essential to protect the lives of innocent people. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and opposition National Conference leader Omar Abdullah had welcomed the Centre's decision. The move of the Centre is similar to the Non Initiation of Combat Operations announced by the first NDA government, headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, during Ramzan in 2000. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy today voiced his support to his Karnataka counterpart, Vajubhai Vala, for inviting B S Yeddyurappa of the BJP to form the government in the southern state, saying he had "acted in his best conscience". Yeddyurappa quit after just three days in office, without facing the floor test in the Assembly today. Asked about his take on Vala's role, Roy told reporters, "The Karnataka governor acted in his best conscience. That matter, as far as I understand, was left to the discretion of the governor, subject to correction by the Supreme Court." He was speaking on the sidelines of the inaugural session of Tripura NASYACON 2018, which has been organised by the state AYUSH mission. Vala had asked Yeddyurappa to take the floor test within 15 days of his swearing-in on May 17, but the Congress and the JD(S) had moved the Supreme Court, which directed the BJP leader to take the test today. The May 12 polls to 222 of the 224 constituencies in Karnataka threw up a hung Assembly, with the BJP emerging as the single-largest party having 104 MLAs but falling short of a majority, while the Congress won 78 seats and the JD(S) 37. Yeddyurappa's resignation will pave the way for formation of a government led by Karnataka JD(S) chief H D Kumaraswamy, who has the backing of the Congress. The post-poll alliance of the two parties has claimed the support of 117 MLAs in the 224-member House, with an effective strength of 221. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump has nominated US Pacific Command Commander Admiral Harry Harris as America's new Ambassador to South Korea ahead of his historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un next month. North Korea has warned that it might not attend the much-talked about summit between Trump and Kim, due to take place in Singapore on June 12, over being pushed "into a corner" on nuclear disarmament. Leaders of North and South Korea held a meeting on April 27 and agreed to work to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons. The nomination of the 61-year-old commander is subject to conformation by the US Senate. Admiral Harris earlier was nominated by Trump as his next envoy to Australia, but the president changed his mind and decided to send him to South Korea. Currently serving as the 24th commander of US Pacific Command, Admiral Harris is a highly decorated, combat-proven Naval officer with extensive knowledge, leadership and geopolitical expertise in the Indo-Pacific region, the White House said. A frequent visitor to India, Admiral Harris has been a strong advocate of India-US relationship. He graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1978 and was designated a naval flight officer in 1979. He earned an MPA from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, MA from Georgetown's School of Foreign Service, and attended Oxford University. During his 40-year career, he served in every geographic combatant command region and has held seven command assignments, including the US Pacific Fleet, the US Sixth Fleet and VP-46. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump accused the Justice Department today of trying to frame him by planting a spy in his 2016 campaign an allegation his own lawyer said might not be true. Promoting a theory that is circulating in conservative circles, Trump quoted Fox Business anchor David Asman and tweeted: "Apparently the DOJ put a Spy in the Trump Campaign. This has never been done before and by any means necessary, they are out to frame Donald Trump for crimes he didn't commit." But Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani cast some doubt on that. On whether there was an "informant" in the 2016 presidential campaign, Giuliani told CNN, "I don't know for sure, nor does the president, if there really was one," though he said they have long been told there was "some kind of infiltration." Last week, the National Review raised the question of a possible FBI spy in Trump's campaign. The article cites work by Republican Rep. Devin Nunes, an ardent Trump supporter and head of the House intelligence committee, who has demanded information on an FBI source in the Russia investigation. Virginia Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee, objected today to such demands, emphasising "the critical importance of protecting sources and methods." "It would be at best irresponsible, and at worst potentially illegal, for members of Congress to use their positions to learn the identity of an FBI source for the purpose of undermining the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in our election," Warner wrote in a statement. "Anyone who is entrusted with our nation's highest secrets should act with the gravity and seriousness of purpose that knowledge deserves." The New York Times reported separately this week that at least one government informant met several times with Carter Page and George Papadopoulos, both former foreign policy advisers for Trump's Republican campaign. The newspaper attributed the information to current and former FBI officials. Also today, Giuliani said special counsel Robert Mueller has narrowed his possible interview subject areas from five to two as negotiations continue over whether the president will sit down and answer questions in the Russia investigation. Mueller is investigating possible coordination between Russia and Trump's 2016 campaign. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two local journalists were arrested for allegedly extorting money from a government employee in Bhiwandi town, police said today. The accused, identified as Rangnath Tangdi (44), editor of Saptahik Sabdhadoot, and Pandurang Benke (52), editor of Saptahik Bhagyodaya Vruttant, were arrested on Thursday, police said. Chief of the Anti Extortion Cell (AEC) of Thane police, Pradeep Sharma, said these two journalists had published in their publications against the 45-year-old complainant, a sectional engineer with Bhiwandi Panchayat Samiti. They sought money from him for not publishing any further against him, he said. "While Tangdi made a demand of Rs 40 lakh, Benke demanded Rs 25 lakh from the complainant. He finally paid Rs 1.50 lakh to them," Sharma said. However, the duo continued to demand money by threatening him. After this, the victim lodged a complaint with police. The accused were called at Thane guest-house on the pretext of collecting money on Thursday evening. The AEC laid a trap and nabbed them while accepting Rs 10 lakh from the complainant, Sharma said. The duo was booked under IPC sections 384 (extortion), 385 (putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion) and 387 (putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion), police said adding that further investigation into the case is on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two North Koreans defected to the South across the Yellow Sea on Saturday, a South Korean report said, citing a government source. "A small boat was spotted in waters off the north of Baengnyeong Island" near the inter-Korean border, the source told Yonhap agency. "They expressed willingness to defect," he said. A Korea Coast Guard official said relevant authorities were investigating the case, declining to give details. One of the men was initially identified as a soldier due to a misunderstanding and the government later corrected its statement to say they were both civilians, Yonhap said. It is the first defection by any North Korean since a historic summit between the two Koreas which saw their leaders agree to pursue the denuclearisation of the peninsula and a permanent peace. In November last year, a North Korean soldier drove to the heavily guarded border at speed and ran across under a hail of bullets from his own side. He was hit multiple times in the dramatic defection at Panmunjom truce village. In 2012 a North Korean soldier walked unchecked through rows of electrified fencing and surveillance cameras, prompting Seoul to sack three field commanders for a security lapse. In June last year, two of four crew members on a North Korean fishing boat which drifted to the South refused to return home and they were allowed resettle in the South. A month later, five North Koreans in another small boat crossed the sea border into South Korean waters and expressed their wish to live in the South. More than 30,000 North Korean civilians have fled their homeland but it is very rare for them to cross the closely guarded inter-Korean border, which is fortified with minefields and barbed wire. Most flee across the porous frontier with neighbouring China. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At a time when India plans to purchase five S-400 Triumf air defence systems for around $4.5 billion from Russia, the US on Firday said its friends and allies should take into consideration the law under which any significant purchase of military equipment from Moscow would attract American sanctions. US officials said the major defence purchase by India from Russia would attract sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries through Sanction Act (CAATSA), which was signed into law by US President Donald Trump in August 2017 and went into effect in January this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold an informal summit in the Russian city of Sochi on Monday, and official sources said the possible impact of the US sanctions against Russia under CAATSA on Indo-Russia defence cooperation may also figure during the talks between the two leaders. "CAATSA is a feature and we need to take it seriously. The (Trump) administration is always bound by US law. This is a US law. I'm hoping that not just India, but all of the partners that we engage with will understand that we will have to evaluate any potential large defence purchase from Russia seriously because that's what the law demands of us," Tina Kaidanow, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, told reporters during a conference call today. Kaidanow travels to India next week, during which she will hold talks on defence trade and peacekeeping, which are among two key areas of the rapidly growing US-India partnership as envisioned in the administration's Indo-Pacific strategy. Referring to the conversation that the US is having with India and other countries on CAATSA, Kaidanow said the US wants this to be a positive discussion, not framed on the negative. "We are going to have to continue to have that conversation with both our Indian counterparts and about how do we deal with the CAATSA issue. But, I will tell you again, it is US law. We need to take it seriously. Our partners need to take that into consideration as they make their decisions. I can't stress that enough," Kaidanow said. When specifically asked if she sees the possibility of US imposing sanctions on India, if it goes ahead with its defence deals with Russia, the senior US official said that everyone should read that legislation carefully and understand its intent. "The intent is not to sanction our partners. The intent is to emphasise how important it is that Russia's malign behaviour all over the world is countered and by virtue of purchasing large-scale Russian system, what you're doing is enabling that kind of behaviour. That's the intent of the legislation," she said. India is not going to allow its defence engagement with Russia to be dictated by any other country, the sources said earlier this week, adding New Delhi has been lobbying with the Trump administration on the issue. Kaidanow sought to clarify that the message was intended not just for India but for all its partners as they contemplate these purchases. She underscored the "positive incentives" to buy American products which are "good" and address relevant security needs besides making their forces interoperable in certain instances. "Think about what you're doing when you purchase Russian product. It has a distinctly negative byproduct and that is you are creating an environment in which they are better able to do some of the things that we know are problematic," Kaidanow said. She acknowledged the US understands the historic defence relationship between India and Russia. "We understand all of that. It's a function of what are we talking about? Are you buying, a single truck; are you buying a large scale system ... these are things we're going to talk about," she said. Amid reports of massive breach of social security numbers along with identity theft, US lawmakers, encouraged by India's Aadhaar, explored the possibility of biometrics as an option, but privacy issues prevented experts from arriving at a consensus. In the US, a Social Security Number (SSN) is a nine-digit number issued to American citizens, permanent residents and temporary working residents. "Congress must not replace the SSN with a national biometric identifier. This would be a very bad idea," Samuel Lester, Consumer Privacy Counsel, Electronic Privacy Information Center told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing on future of social security numbers. This approach, he said, would pose serious privacy and security risks. "These risks would only be compounded if the US were to move towards a national biometric identifier," Lester said. Paul Rosenzweig, senior fellow, R Street Institute tended to disagree. "It really is a difference between a centralised database in a distributed database. Biometrics as a localised identifier is actually something that the President (Barack) Obama's White House supported as a substitute for passwords because they are a more readily usable by most citizens than the password system," Rosenzweig said responding to questions on biometrics from Congressman John Larson. According to Steve Grobman, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, McAfee, said India opted for the biometric system because they needed to ensure that an individual only registered a single time for benefits. "So, by using biometrics, it prevented an individual from registering in one town and then walking down the road to another town and registering again. In that case, bio-metrics was a practical technology in order to solve that specific problem," he said. The US does not has that problem at India's scale, he said. "Therefore, we should look for other less privacy intrusive mechanisms as a first step. Things such as smart cards can be a much more rapid practical option that could be distributed without requiring every citizen to have biometric," Grobman said. But if a key requirement is that an individual's identity is not transferable, or that an individual can't have multiple IDs, then biometrics may be worth considering, he said. "India has moved to a national biometric identity programme, allowing 1.3 billion citizens to prove their identities through fingerprints, facial recognition and eye iris scans. The country faced an even more difficult problem than compromised SSNs because there was no single starting database of citizens. "Because benefits came with being a citizen, there were concerns that an individual might attempt to register in one town under one name and then register in another town under another name. The Indian government addressed this issue by creating a biometrics database to register its population," Grobman said. "If your biometrics were already in the database, the government would know that you were a duplicate person. It also provided a mechanism that let you walk into any government office and reprove that you were you," he said. Lester said when Congress passed the Privacy Act in 1974, they were explicitly responding to and rejecting calls for a national identification system. There are national identification systems that rely on biometrics and other countries that raise really grave civil liberties and privacy concerns, Lester said while responding to a question during the hearing. "For example, in India their new biometric system Aadhaar was recently breached, compromising the biometric data on its 1.2 billion citizens," he said, adding that any problems with a biometric system are demonstrated by the recent breach of the US Office of Personnel management. Paul Rosenzweig said that the idea of a Smart card is a good interim solution. "But the smart card, a security system is not itself a terribly robust. We've all experienced a credit card fraud as well," he cautioned. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today said the country's farmers should be provided with knowledge and essential resources to make farming viable and attractive. He was interacting with scientists, faculty members and research fellows at the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) here, an official release said. The Vice President said there was a need to make agriculture sustainable, viable and attractive by creating required infrastructure, providing timely credit and value addition to farm produce. The central government's e-NAM project is the way forward for proper marketing. "Agrarian distress is mainly due to high costs of inputs, small and tenant farmers, production loss, instability in yields, low prices, climate change, droughts, rain-fed cultivation, poor irrigation and debts...." "In order to address these key areas, I think that the most critical need is to establish a dialogue with farmers and provide them with knowledge and material resources to increase their incomes," he said. Naidu further said providing information to farmers on the demand for their produce in advance was essential to prevent distress sale. Providing affordable and reasonable credit to farmers is also equally important. Loan waiver was not a permanent solution as it would not help in creating long-term sustainable activity, he noted. The Vice President also wanted institutions such as MANAGE to educate the farmers on the need to diversify crops to overcome challenges of climate change and sustain their incomes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today termed the resignation of B S Yeddyurappa as Karnataka Chief Minister a "victory of democracy" and said it was a day everybody should feel proud of. "This is not an ordinary victory. Entire people of the country will be happy. It is a proud day for all of us," Naidu said at a meeting of women self-help groups leaders here this evening. He said normally a party with majority would be invited to form the government. "But, going against the tradition, the (Karnataka) governor did not invite Congress-JDS combine (that has majority) to form the government. They are adopting different traditions in different states... one in Goa, another in Meghalaya, because they have power," he said. Lashing out at the BJP, the Telugu Desam Party chief said: "They spoiled in Tamil Nadu, misused the governor's office, finished off persons with leadership qualities. They tried to derive political benefit in Tamil Nadu and tried the same in Karnataka." He claimed that the BJP's next target would have been Andhra Pradesh (had it succeeded in Karnataka). "Entire nation is happy with the current turn of events. As a chief minister and a firm believer of democracy, I am expressing my happiness," Naidu said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today did what Atal Bihari Vajpayee had done over two decades ago --resign without facing a floor test. Led by Vajpayee, the BJP had in 1996 formed the government at the Centre and was asked to take a floor test. Vajpayee -- who was sworn in by then President Shankar Dayal Sharma -- too did not have the numbers to back his claim. Vajpayee had made an emotional speech in the Parliament before announcing his resignation. Lack of requisite numbers did not mean the BJP had served the motherland less, he had said. The 13-day Vajpayee government was later replaced by the one led by H D Deve Gowda, whose son H D Kumaraswamy is now set to be the next chief minister of Karnataka with the Congress's support. The three-day-old BJP government in Karnataka collapsed today, minutes before the scheduled trust vote, with Chief Minister Yeddyurappa resigning in a tame anti-climax to what promised to be an edge of the seat political thriller. With defeat staring him in the face, Yeddyurappa announced his decision to quit on the floor of the Assembly after a brief emotion-laden speech. Though exuding confidence about winning the trust vote as the D-day loomed, Yeddyurappa failed to muster the support of 7 additional MLAs required to ensure the longevity of his government. Yeddyurappa's three-day tenure as the chief minister of Karnataka also turned out to be one of the shortest in Indian history. The 75-year-old BJP leader was sworn in as the chief minister of Karnataka on May 17. He resigned before facing a Supreme Court-mandated floor test today. The BJP veteran's initiation to the league of chief ministers with tenures of a few days, however, happened over a decade ago. In 2007, Yeddyurappa had to resign as the chief minister of Karnataka after just eight days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)